by Destiny Blake Genre: YA Time Travel Release Date: April 26th 2016 Summary:
Everybody wants to go to heaven but nobody wants to die
Andora died and she remembers every last detail of her gruesome death. One would think after going through that ordeal, she could face just about anything. Sheâs about to find out.
Soon after her death, Andora discovers that heaven doesnât want her and hell doesnât have room for her. Sheâs not about to question the latter all things considered. See, Andora wasnât exactly a nice person and as far as faith goes, she only believed in herself. Come to think of it, she probably wasnât scheduled to meet St. Peter at the pearly gates.
According to the Gatekeepersâthe beautiful ones who stand guard over the afterlifeâsecond chances are rarely given but Andora earns one anyway. The Gatekeepers decide where she should spend the rest of her life and off she goes, traveling through time to a historical realm of perpetual hell, also known as the early 1800s.
Andora begins life as a prairie girl, but soon faces another untimely death. Landing in front of the Gatekeepers for round two, she takes it as a sign. Desperate to live a more acceptable life, Andora quickly realizes that being good isnât as easy as it looks particularly for those with mischief in their veins.
To make matters worse, her second-second chance is one she shares with another subject. A handsome rogue of a boy, Rebel makes it his mission to land in front of the Gatekeepers as often as possible. However, thereâs a small problem with his plan. Thereâs no way to guarantee that the Gatekeepers will always be there to guide them into a new world and they soon discover that a fresh start is anything but a sure thing.
âWeâre coming to your world. Welcome to oursâ¦.â Gatekeepers by Destiny Blake
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Excerpt
The day I died really sucked. Waking up in front of a righteous bitch with plenty of superior attitude? Well, letâs just say⦠it made dying look like a walk in the park.
A barely audible light tapping of a booted toe yanked me into sudden consciousness. Pressing my cheek against the black and white tile flooring, I stared up at the one attached to the boot. Iâd been here before. Given the look on Vengeanceâs face, she wasnât exactly happy to see me again.
âWell? What are you waiting for?â She crossed her slender arms. âYou know the routine. Get up. On your feet, Lassie!â
Lassie. I hated that name.
âWe donât have all day.â Vengeance smirked. It was the kind of grin that left chills up and down my spine. âWe have to assign another identity. We wouldnât want to keep your new family waiting now would we?â
âOf course not, Veng,â I grumbled, deciding to stick with the nickname. Veng didnât seem to care for it. The flaring nostrils and clenched fists provided proof. Before I could congratulate myself for crawling under her skin, the wicked wench grabbed my ear and forced me to stand.
âOuch!â I screamed.
âThere, there,â she muttered sardonically.
In the distance, several Gatekeepers rushed down the corridor. They were undoubtedly told of my arrival.
âVengeance, how many times do we have to remind you? Do not torture the subjects. Itâs bad for morale and ââ Thorne came to an abrupt halt as soon as he rounded the first pawn-shaped column. He sucked in a sharp breath before he dramatically exhaled and asked, âAndora. What are you doing here?â
I shrugged. âCanât seem to live without dying. You know how it is.â
âNo, I donât think I do,â he said suspiciously. âWhy donât you start at the beginning and tell us how this happened.â
âOh you mean Iâm the first subject to return to the fold?â
âWhy are you here?â His voice was firmer this time.
âI donât know.â
âShe remembered,â Vengeance said.
Thorneâs gaze shifted from one Gatekeeper to the next. âCan any of you explain this?â
Dayz smirked. âNo idea. But by the look on your face? Youâre not exactly disaââ
âSilence,â Thorne snapped, focusing on me once more. âWhat happened?â
âConsidering how much trouble sheâs been, it wouldnât surprise me if someone killed her again,â Vengeance said.
âWas that necessary?â Dayz asked. Dayzâs lanky build made him appear somewhat awkward but I liked him. He was kind which was an apparent rarity among the Gatekeepers.
âTruth trumps necessity,â Vengeance pointed out.
About that time, a door slammed on the other side of the welcome chambers. Another recognizable face appeared. âGuess Iâm not the only human up for reassignment.â
âRebel?â I couldnât believe my eyes. Weeks before, we were brought together for reeducation. We were separated when the Gatekeepers pitched him into the future. A short time later, I was tossed into the past.
âDonât act surprised. I told you weâd meet again.â
âYes you did.â I felt uncharacteristically safe when he hugged me. âItâs good to see you.â
He stepped away and quickly turned to Vengeance. âIf you ask me, you should just keep us here.â
âThatâs not an option,â Vengeance said. âAnd someone should hurry up and explain how this can even happen. Iâm beginning to get bored.â
âPoor thing,â I muttered, catching a scowl from Thorne.
âSome people refuse to die.â Rebel popped his neck and grimaced. âItâs called cheating death.â
Dayz closed the distance between us. âHow did you die this time, Andora?â
âWell, you seeâ¦. I was preparing to eat a bite of bird whenâ¦â
âA bite of bird?â Dayz wrinkled his nose.
âGo with it. I was only a prairie girl for a week. Do you think I had time to learn that particular eraâs slang?â I scoffed. âI did not.â
âGod save the queen,â Rebel teased. âMaybe next time theyâll place you in a castle where you belong.â
âOr a dungeon,â Vengeance suggested. âIâm sure I can think of a crime or two to pin on you.â
Copyright © 2016 Destiny Blake
Excerpt provided for promotional purposes & pending final approval for publication
About the Author
An avid reader and full-time writer, Destiny Blake enjoys YA paranormal, commercial and literary fiction, mysteries, thrillers, and unique fantasy novels. After 15 years of writing for the market, Destiny decided it was time to write what she liked to read. The end goal was to pen stories that readers would love and her grandchildren would later cherish as well.
The author invites all readers to follow her on Twitter @AuthorDestiny and to stay in touch by writing:
[email protected]. To help Destiny celebrate the debuts of Legends and Gatekeepers, readers can send their copy and pasted proof of purchase to the email above. Include a snail mail address to receive a promotional product. Please include âLegends & Gatekeepers Proof of Purchaseâ in the subject line. Offer ends on April 15, 2016. Void where prohibited by law.
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Hope
EXCERPT: Maggie plunks her bag down, grabbing the spot next to me. “Ten minutes ‘til the fun begins,” she says. She glances around furtively before adding, “Who knows what torture she’ll dish out today. But inquiring minds want to know: will she reach new levels of cattiness or will we be left sorely disappointed?” She grins wickedly as she finishes tying a ribbon on her pointe shoe. Neither of us fares well when Alexa Damore teaches class. She’s known for her snide comments and keen ability to pick people apart. “I’ll take disappointment over outright humiliation any day,” I counter. “But who knows. Maybe one of these days she’ll be miraculously transformed.” Maggie arches an eyebrow. “What?” I continue. “It’s not too much to hope for–a little prayer can’t hurt. Pray with me. ” I fold my hands together and duck my head down. Maggie smacks me.I stick my tongue out at her while I finish tying my shoes. I refuse to climb on the negativity train with her. It’s never a good way to start class. The door to the studio glides open and a sudden hush sweeps through the room, as if the oxygen has been sucked away. Alexa Damore has arrived–but she’s wearing street clothes–and she’s not alone. Benjamin Stafford, Artistic Director of Manhattan Ballet Theater, also known as the man who holds our future in his hands, stands in the center of the room. From where I stand, the ambient light behind him illuminates the outline of his body, as if he’s a living embodiment of a god. Then again, he is a god in the world of ballet. The silence is deafening as he slowly rotates around, gazing at each of us in turn. He flashes a brilliant smile and it’s all I can barely look at him. He’s even larger in life than he is onstage with broad shoulders, chiseled features, dark, tousled hair, and blazing blue eyes. On any given day he’s something to look at, but the glowing outline thing further illustrates the glaring difference between him and everyone else in the room. His eyes fall on me and my heart flutters in my ribcage. I immediately stand a little bit taller and suck in my gut. My breath gets shallower and tighter. I close my eyes and force myself to breath normally. Passing out in class is not the way I want to make an impression.
GIVEAWAY! Safe With You
EXCERPT: “You’re killin’ me, Simon.” I lower the bat and look at the imaginary watch on my wrist. “I don’t have all day.” She sticks her tongue out at me and pitches a floater. It comes toward me in slow motion with a million arrows begging me to launch it into next year. My mind switches off and instinct takes over. Before I can think, my left heel rises off the sandy dirt and I raise the bat back farther. I crush the ball so hard I almost expect the casing to fly off. The sound of contact reverberates and explodes like a strike of lightning splitting a tree. Olivia’s head arcs with the ball and follows it as it lands about ten feet beyond the right field fence. “Nice throw!” The swing takes my breath away completely. I almost need to use the bat as a cane for support. A familiar smile flows across my face and the rush comes back as if it never left … the rush of playing and knowing this is what my life was meant for. The hole in my heart starts to close and the missing piece reappears as quickly as it went. “Kyle!” She runs over to me with the same amount of wide-eyed astonishment I think is all over my face. “That was incredible! Your stance, your follow-through, everything was perfect. For someone who hasn’t played in a few years, you’re pretty awesome.” She sighs and the most beautiful smile stretches across her face.” (Kyle, Chapter Six)
GIVEAWAY! Are you ready to meet Javier Almeida? Cristin Harber's DELTA: REVENGE is available today! Make sure you pick up your copy of this explosive and incredible new novel from Cristin Harber!ABOUT DELTA: REVENGEA Tortured Hero with a Heart of Gold Growing up on the streets of Rio de Janeiro, Javier Almeida has only his older sister to protect him. When she’s sold to a human-trafficker, he vows to hunt down those responsible. Years later, Titan Group’s Delta team finds him, tattooed and brawling, a vigilante protector with information they want. They take him in and train him, working him harder than a man should be driven, until he’s a soldier harboring an obsession. Ready for revenge, Javier ghosts his way across the globe, tracking the men who took his sister and working elite private security jobs. Meets Sweet and Sassy Jilted at the altar, Sophia Cole turns the reception into a one-woman party. She’s intent on devouring all the cake and champagne, so she can bask in the calories she’s been avoiding. In the midst of the revelry, he walks in, the one man she can never ignore. Javier is her older brother’s black ops teammate—an automatic Do Not Go There. But if there’s one thing better than fondant and a buzz to ease the wounds of a cheating fiancé, it might be a one-night stand with a South American military man. It's a Game Changer Javier didn’t expect to see Sophia again. He never thought he would even want to see her again. He shouldn’t have touched her, but his mind won’t stay away from her. Now, Sophia Cole is thousands of miles away from the safety of her parents’ lavish estate and working alongside him in hell. She’s a staffer at an Embassy, and he’s there to keep them alive. There are bombs and bullets and blood-hungry enemies. And then she’s taken. Gone. Just like his sister. But so much worse.Buy DELTA: REVENGE now: Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Kobo | iBooks GET A QUICK PEEK:She couldn’t breathe. Her pulse jumped, and the most feminine part of her body came alive. A current of desire and electricity bounced between them, both their breaths quickening. He stepped closer until they touched. Her chest rose, and his fell. Javier’s hand moved to her bicep, drifting, sliding. He caressed up her neck— so careful, so delicate that he gave her pinpricks until he captured the back of her head with the force of his strong fingers threading harshly through her hair. Sophia sucked a breath and resisted him just because… hmm, just because his grip was iron strong and sure. “You want to move?” The tenor of his voice sent trembles straight to her nipples. “I don’t.” Javier leaned toward her neck. His breath was hot, his lips even better. They were close enough to feel the heated tickle of skin on skin. “No?” Gently, he tugged her hair. “Sophia Cole…” Oh, God. He pulled again, firmer, tilting her face so their eyes lined up. She felt as though he could see her every thought without her speaking a word. “Mmm, nice.” She couldn’t stop arching and making that same mmm sound he did. Her eyelids slipped shut, letting the feeling run through her veins, awakening every nerve. “Paixão.” The whisper of the word contrasted with his hard body, which backed her to the wall. “So good for me.” His weight pinned her and, despite the dominant hold, nuzzled her neck. Stubble scratched her as the scent of his shampoo made her weak. Scratchy and coarse, his fingers flexed into her scalp. “It kills me you’re here, and I don’t believe what you’re doing is about aid work—” “It is,” she barely whispered. “Liar.” His teeth grabbed her earlobe. The bite stung, and the pain skipped straight down her neck, igniting an erotic fire in her blood, making lust fire in her veins. She wanted more, needed to feel the bite again. But he released and licked the tiny spot and gave it a kiss, and all Sophia could do was tilt her head, a silent plea for him to do it again, which went unanswered. “Tell me, are you lying?” Melting at the protective, truthful accusation, she let sanity leave her. If only he’d give her a biting smack of a kiss again. “Maybe.” Javier moved faster than she could anticipate. His mouth took hers. A reward. Better than she imagined. His tongue probed, hot and needy. Wanting. His hands crawled over her body, but, God, her mind spun so fast she couldn’t place what was where or how it happened, just that he kissed like a man who could set her insides on fire and make a kiss turn into a touch passionate enough she could’ve been floating. She cupped his rough cheeks, and Javier moaned. As if something she did was anything as amazing as what he was doing to her. Their tongues tangled, and his hands clawed her, pulling her to his muscular chest, eating her mouth as though her lips were the only things that could keep the world turning. This tough, strong man telling her good girl, calling her paixão, was worshipping her body, and whatever she had done to deserve it, she wanted to do again. Javier growled again. Or maybe this time the masculine sound was a groan. Whatever the noise, he responded because of her. He gripped her hips, backing them again, this time to her bed. The mundane, utilitarian bed was nothing like the last bed they’d been in, and she couldn’t wait to jump into it.Buy DELTA: REVENGE now: Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Kobo | iBooks WANT TO WIN?Want to win a signed copy of DELTA: REVENGE and a Titan mug? Enter to win via the Rafflecopter below! a Rafflecopter giveawayMEET CRISTIN & GET YOUR COPY SIGNEDCristin Harber will be signing copies of DELTA: REVENGE with Kate Perry and Ava Miles at the 86th & Lexington Barnes and Noble in New York City on April 28th, and she would love to see you there! For more information please see the event page here!ABOUT CRISTIN HARBERCristin Harber is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling romance author. She writes sexy, steamy romantic suspense and military romance. Readers voted her onto Amazon’s Top Picks for Debut Romance Authors in 2013, and her debut Titan series was both a #1 romantic suspense and #1 military romance bestseller. Website | Newsletter | Facebook | Team Titan Facebook | Twitter | GoodreadsAbout the BookAuthor: Robyn DeHart Genre: Historical Romance England, 1838. Gabriel Campbell, Duke of Lynford never intended to carry that title, but when his reckless brother gets himself killed in a duel over a woman, Gabe has no choice. Now he’s sworn off love, blaming the woman that broke his brother’s heart and led to his untimely death. Lilith Crisp, Lady Thornton, knew from a young age that pretty girls grow up and get married off to the highest bidder. Being paraded around London as her husband’s trophy has taught her some unique skills and now she can manipulate any man for his darkest secrets. Gabriel’s position in the Brotherhood of the Sword leads him directly to Lilith’s door. For Gabe, Lilith is the one woman he’s always wanted, and Lilith is now forced to deal with a man who seems immune to her charms. But a secret about Lilith’s niece brings them together to face a danger that threatens not only their lives, but the fate of England’s Crown. Resisting Lilith is getting more and more difficult and Gabe finally recognizes that he can’t keep blaming her for his brother’s fate. Finding love means forgiving the past and that might be the one thing they simply can’t do… Author BioNational Bestselling author, Robyn DeHart’s novels have appeared in the top bestselling romance and historical romance lists. Her books have been translated into nearly a dozen languages. Her historical romantic adventure series, The Legend Hunters, were not only bestsellers, but also award-winners, snagging a Reader’s Crown and a Reviewer’s Choice award. She had three releases in 2013 and 2014 will see four more, all set in the popular historical romance Regency and Victorian eras. Known for her “strong dialogue and characters that leap off the page” (RT Bookclub) and her “sizzling romance” (Publishers Weekly), her books have been featured in USA Today and the Chicago Tribune. A popular writing instructor, she has given speeches at writing conferences in Los Angeles, DC, New York, Dallas, Nashville and Toronto, among many others. When not writing, you can find Robyn hanging out with her family, husband (The Professor) a university professor of Political Science and their two ridiculously beautiful and smart daughters, Busybee and Babybee as well as two spoiled-rotten cats. They live in the hill country of Texas where it’s hot eight months of the year, but those big blue skies make it worth it. LinksRobyn’s Links Sign up for Robyn’s newsletter www.robyndehart.com/newsletter/ Robyn’s website www.robyndehart.com Robyn on Twitter twitter.com/RobynDeHart Robyn on Facebook www.facebook.com/pages/Robyn-DeHart-H… Robyn on Goodreads www.goodreads.com/author/show/288853…. Book Links Giveawaya Rafflecopter giveaway
Single by Collette West
Genre: Adult, Contemporary Romance
Series: Stockton Beavers #1
Underdog Luke âSingleâ Singleton is yearning to make a comeback. After getting hit in the neck with a pitchâan injury that nearly cost him his lifeâhe has one last chance to play for his hometown team, the Stockton Beavers. But his mom has Alzheimerâs, and heâs all she has to depend on. How can he pursue his career, much less someone special?
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About the Author
Collette West grew up as somewhat of a jock-nerd hybrid. Entering the world three weeks premature, her dad nearly missed her birth because he had seats behind the dugout for a sold-out, highly-anticipated match-up between two of baseball's biggest rivals. Not to be outdone, her book-loving mom taught her how to read by the time she was three. A love of the game coupled with an appreciation for the written word were instilled in Collette's impressionable brain from a young age. No wonder her characters believe in the philosophy: sports + romance = a little slice of heaven.
Splitting her time between the Pocono Mountains and Manhattan, Collette indulges her inner fangirl by going to as many games as she can from hockey to baseball and downloading every sports romance novel in existence onto her iPad. When she's not clicking away on her laptop, she enjoys walking her dog in Central Park, satisfying her caffeine craving at the Starbucks on Broadway and keeping an eye out for Mr. Right. But above all, she loves dishing with her readers. Email her at [email protected].
She is the author of NIGHT GAMES, GAME CHANGER and GAME ON.
Amazon | Purchase official New York Kings Fan Gear
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Excerpt
But I'm not about to let her blow me off so easily, not when we were finally starting to enjoy ourselves. This time, I pull on the corner of her scarf and end up drawing it down over her shoulder, spinning her around. I have her off-balance, trying to find her footing, when she falls into my arms.
Her eyes never stray from mine when her hand comes to rest on my neck at the exact spot where I got hit. I swallow hard, never believing anything in the world could feel as good as this. If given the choice, I'd go through all the pain and rehab all over again just to have her do what she's doing to me now. She glides her fingers along my jaw and across my goatee before lightly skimming them over my lips, making me shudder with pleasure. I lean in, and she lowers her hand, her eyes burning into me. Intent on capturing her lips with mine, Iâm close enough to feel her warm breath on my face when suddenly she pushes me away from her, taking a step back.
Holding a hand to her forehead, sheâs unable to look at me. "Sorry⦠I tripped andâ"
"Roberta," I gasp, struggling to catch my breath. "It's okay. Iâ"
Yet all she says is, "C'mon," before turning and leaving the alcove.
I run a hand across my face, trying to make sense of what just happened. I almost kissed her⦠And for a split second, I could've sworn by the fire in her eyes that she'd really wanted me to. God, could she possibly have feelings for me? No⦠That's just crazy. She probably didn't want to hurt my feelings, and to save me the embarrassment, she graciously backed away before anything could happen. Yeah, that sounds more like it. Now we can just pretend like she tripped and I caught her and go on our merry way. My fingers stray to my neck, right where hers were. Because that's what she wants, right?
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Giveaway
a Rafflecopter giveaway by Julia Ember Genre: YA Fantasy Release Date: April 21st 2016 Harmony Ink Press Summary from Goodreads: After a savage attack drives her from her home, sixteen-year-old Mnemba finds a place in her cousin Tumeloâs successful safari business, where she quickly excels as a guide. Surrounding herself with nature and the mystical animals inhabiting the savannah not only allows Mnembaâs tracking skills to shine, it helps her to hide from the terrible memories that haunt her. Mnemba is employed to guide Mr. Harving and his daughter, Kara, through the wilderness as they study unicorns. The young women are drawn to each other, despite that fact that Kara is betrothed. During their research, they discover a conspiracy by a group of poachers to capture the Unicorns and exploit their supernatural strength to build a railway. Together, they must find a way to protect the creatures Kara adores while resisting the love they know they can never indulge.
About the Author
Originally from Chicago, Julia Ember now resides in Sunny Scotland where she learned to enjoy both haggis and black pudding. She spends her days working as a professional Book Nerd for a large book wholesaler, and her nights writing YA Romantic Fantasy novels. She also spends an inordinate amount of time managing her growing city-based menagerie of pets with Harry Potter themed names.
A world traveller since childhood, Julia has now visited over 60 countries. Her travels inspire the fictional worlds she writes about and she populates those worlds with magic and monsters.
When he reached the baobab tree, the unicorn looked around in confusion. The trance of the moonstone seemed to break with the humans closing in on him. He sniffed the horns around him, squealing and pawing the ground in distress. Three of the riders threw their ropes, catching him around the neck. As he struggled to back away, others advanced. Men taunted the stallion with their whips, making him kick and try to rear. When his feet lifted, they threw more ropes, circling the nooses around his powerful feet. As a group, they wrestled the unicorn to the ground, throwing themselves on top of him the moment his knees touched the grass.
Even with the weight of six on his back, and men all around holding ropes anchoring him to the ground, the stallion kept fighting. His eyes rolled back in his head, his legs thrashed and I could hear his screams from the cliff. Iâd never heard a unicorn make a sound before, and hearing it now sent a chill through my entire body. His screams were different than a horse, higher in pitch, with a vibrating tremor that made him sound almost like a singer at the crescendo of a performance. The leader of the group advanced on the now subdued unicorn, holding what looked like a handsaw. The stallion tried frantically to spear the man with his horn, but three of the followers held the animalâs head in place. Still he tried, snorting and staring his captor in the eye, silver-tipped horn poised like a sword toward the leaderâs heart. Kill him, I found myself praying. Fight them. Kill him and this will all be over. The saw began to tremble in the manâs hand as he swiped again and again across the base of the stallionâs horn. Fragments the size of fingernail clippings covered the earth like snow. Beside me, I felt Kara start to shake. Her whole frame quivered with silent sobs. The horn fell to the ground and all at once, the stallion quit struggling. The men climbed off him and loosened their hold on the ropes that bound him. The groupâs leader reached for one of the ropes around the unicornâs neck. He turned and the stallion followed him, meek as an old broodmare. His eyes seemed to blink back a heavy sadness, the only echo of his proud battle song. by Destiny Blake Genre: YA Paranormal Release Date: April 26th 2016 Summary:
Vampire Legend Sinclair has a premonition. He dreams of a grand battle between humans and an elite class, demigods in a contemporary world. Privileged and arrogant, these âEntitled Onesâ plan to hoard natural resources to ensure global longevity for their families and friends. Everyone else is disposable.
As the war of wars is set to unfold, Legend anticipates an uncertain future. He plots against rulers and nations, but soon devises a way to protect average citizens from the forthcoming agenda of destruction. Siring numerous children, Legend leaves his North Carolina home only to return for his daughter and sons in the predawn hours of their eighteenth birthdays. They attend Summer Assembly, a training ritual that will prepare them for the whispering promise of a coming age destined to change the course of history. Meanwhile, a select few hold fast to yesterdayâs corrupt propaganda, an outline for disaster. With an evil plan for global evacuation and the extinction of all common men, the Entitled Ones organize their enforcement of a wicked initiative. But in their defeat, the Legend family will triumphantly rise as true wonders of the reformed world.
A legacy from the grave, legends since birth
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Excerpt
About that time, a hissing noise filled the room. Everyone looked up and their gasps resounded. They were on their feet in record time as spiraling smoke twisted out of the vents and the room temperature hit hell-hot in a matter of seconds.
âOpen this door!â Captive jiggled the knob. âLegend! Are you out there?â
Tole slammed his body against their only means of escape. âLet us out of here!â
They all joined him. Fists pounded in repetition. Everyone pleaded for help.
Gideon rushed to the eye-level window on the far wall. Jamming his fists against the panels, he cried out in agony as he glanced up at the billowing smoke above them. âFire.â
âArenât you the smart one?â Umbrage ran his palms across the walls. âHurry. See if we can find something to trigger a secret passageway.â
âYouâve watched too many movies,â Captive said.
As Gideon and Umbrage tried to find a way out, the air thickened with chemical-like vapors. They coughed, gagged, and suffered as they choked on fumes. Orange and red flames surrounded them. The blaze burned hotter.
âKeep your heads down! Itâs another test!â Captive yelled.
In the middle of a coughing fit, Sin screamed, âThen weâre seconds away from failing!â
âToughen up, sister. Even Legendâs games eventually find an end.â Captive stared into the fire and caught Gideonâs gaze. Perhaps it was then when Captive realized what Gideon had long since accepted.
The past few days had been necessary. They were vampires, damned to an eternal existence on earth but without a soul, their fate was sealed by fire. What theyâd seen and heard, that was what awaited them if they didnât follow Legend and save mankind. By saving the world, they spared themselves as well.
Everything their dadâLegend Sinclairâhad shown them was foretelling in a sense, a grand exhibit of what they would endure if they didnât survive. It served as inspiration, motivation to stay alive.
âHelp!â Tole hammered his fists against the door again. Like the others, he had revealed his greatest fear during Summer Assembly. Legend understood what specific triggers pushed each of them into panic mode.
Now, Tole faced his greatest demonâfire.
âDonât do this!â He gasped, his voice wracked with fear. âIâll do anything! Just let me out!â He collided with the door once more, but that door didnât budge.
Gideon hurried to Sin, offering her limited protection, but comfort nonetheless. Diven and Umbrage reassured Tole while Griffin, Captive, and Saber promised to kill Legend given the opportunity. The more they threatened harm to the one who had turned them, the more swirling smoke filled the confined area.
âWe were supposed to be stronger as a group,â Griffin said, coughing between syllables.
That much had been drilled in their heads and yet their current circumstances almost suggested the opposite. No one would gain the upper hand here.
Their hellish experience lasted several minutes, but it seemed like hours, maybe even days. There was no escape. They had one choice, an alternative that shouldâve resounded as a simple unanimous decision. Instead, only five Legends emerged from the fire ready to dance with the fates and embrace their legacy with complete surrender.
The others were left behind.
Copyright © 2016 Destiny Blake
Excerpt provided for promotional purposes & pending final approval for publication
About the Author
An avid reader and full-time writer, Destiny Blake enjoys YA paranormal, commercial and literary fiction, mysteries, thrillers, and unique fantasy novels. After 15 years of writing for the market, Destiny decided it was time to write what she liked to read. The end goal was to pen stories that readers would love and her grandchildren would later cherish as well.
The author invites all readers to follow her on Twitter @AuthorDestiny and to stay in touch by writing:
[email protected]. To help Destiny celebrate the debuts of Legends and Gatekeepers, readers can send their copy and pasted proof of purchase to the email above. Include a snail mail address to receive a promotional product. Please include âLegends & Gatekeepers Proof of Purchaseâ in the subject line. Offer ends on April 15, 2016. Void where prohibited by law.
GIVEAWAY:
by Norma Hinkens Genre: Young Adult Dystopian/Sci-fi Release Date: December 9th 2015 Dunecadia Publishing Summary:
The world is in ruins. Earth’s end is her beginning ...
Derry lives in perpetual fear of capture. The sixteen-year-old and her brother survive underground on a scorched Earth replete with gangs, clones, and mysterious hoverships. When Derry's brother goes missing, her only chance of getting him back is to strike a deal with a group of murderous subversives.
As she leads her fellow preppers on a dangerous mission to save her brother, Derry discovers the world she knows is a lie. Keeping her brother alive may require trusting her enemy and opening her heart to something she never thought possible.
Immurement is the first book in the Undergrounders saga, a series of sci-fi dystopian thrillers. If you like captivating apocalyptic tales, gritty complex heroines, and twists you won’t see coming, then you’ll love this fast-paced, end-of-the-world adventure.
About the Author
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Travel junkie, former professional globetrotter, legend lover, idea wrangler. Norma Hinkens has lived, worked and visited her way across continents, soaking up stories along the way. Her writing is influenced by the resilient characters she met along the way; everyone has a story! Norma grew up among vibrant storytelling traditions in her native Ireland. She's a legend-loving author who takes a fiendish delight in pushing reluctant characters over cliffs to find out what they’re made of. Epic odds, seemingly impossible missions, pasts that haunt, intrigue and misadventure. She’s happiest when wrangling provocative big picture ideas that are never black and white when you turn them inside out. It’s all about the tension in the journey. She currently resides in California with her husband, three children and Chihuahua extraordinaire. She is the author of the YA post-apocalyptic Undergrounders Series: Immurement, Embattlement and Adjudgement. |
About MeI'm a Texas gal with a wonderful husband, an amazing six year old son, and an adorable newborn baby boy! ArchivesCategoriesProud Tour Host For: |