Angela N. Blount's Blog: Solitary Refinement , page 2
December 8, 2014
Incandescent: Release-Day!
The first book in the Hidden Races Series
by M.V. Freeman
“When fire meets a force of nature an Incandescent is born.”
Laurie Hudson gave up “normal” a long time ago. Isolated from friends and family, she becomes a bartender for an upscale restaurant while she fights to suppress her strange affinity for fire. Around new owner Mikhail Petrov, her careful control disintegrates. She is at once drawn to his urbane, cool demeanor and irritated by his overbearing manner. Now she finds all of her hard won choices being taken away as she is catapulted into a world of Mages, Darks, and mysterious Elementals, all working just below the surface of humanity. As she learns to survive, Laurie realizes her freedom could mean the destruction of the frustrating man she’s come to care for.
A formidable figure in this strange world, Tri-Elemental Mikhail Petrov commands earth, air, and water. He doesn’t give a damn what the untrained Fire Elemental Laurie wants. Her rare power is the key to his freedom, and he doesn’t hesitate to seize her for his use—an act that propels him into a war he isn’t ready to fight. The cost could mean his life and the destruction of his people. With the Mages closing in, Mikhail faces a choice: destroy the fledgling relationship with Laurie to gain his coveted freedom, or sacrifice himself for hers.
Available Now: http://www.amazon.com/Incandescent-M-V-Freeman-ebook/dp/B00PNQG6XG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1416503786&sr=8-1&keywords=mv+freeman
Author Bio:
M.V. Freeman lives in North Alabama. A nurse by day, at night she enjoys creating and exploring alternate worlds within our own. She gravitates toward stories of determined heroines and anti-heroes who push the boundaries as they both fight to find their light in the dark.
M.V. is represented by Victoria Lea from The Aponte Literary Agency. Her award-winning and best-selling debut novel INCANDESCENT is the first in the Hidden Races Series. Currently she is working on the third book in the series, while plotting others. When not writing, she can be found reading, cooking, throwing around kettle bells, or making coffee. You can find out more about her here at: www.mvfreeman.com
October 25, 2014
Once Upon an Ever After – FREE from 10/25-10/29!
Once Upon an Ever After is currently FREE on Kindle until October 29th, 2014! 
Please take advantage of this offer while it’s still on, and share with others if you get the chance!
September 13, 2014
Review of C.J. Redwine’s Deliverance + Giveaway!
Enter to win a signed ARC copy of Deliverance!
(You won’t want to miss this.)
BLURB:
Everything hangs in the balance, and nothing is certain: Rachel has been kidnapped by enemy forces and is being taken to Rowansmark while Logan, imprisoned and awaiting trial, is unable to leave Lankenshire. Separated from each other and their Baalboden comrades, each must find a way to achieve what they desperately want: to rid their world once and for all of the Commander and the tech that controls the deadly Cursed One.
Fighting through her pain and embracing the warrior she’s become, Rachel will do whatever it takes to escape her enemies’ clutches and join Logan in his fight. But when she learns a secret that changes everything, she realizes that escaping Ian and his tracker friends is no longer an option if she wants to save the people she loves. Instead, she’ll have to destroy Rowansmark from the inside out—if she can survive the journey through the Wasteland.
Logan needs allies if he wants to thwart Rowansmark’s power grab and rescue Rachel. But securing allies will mean betraying his beliefs and enlisting the help of the man he hates more than anyone: Commander Jason Chase. Driven by his fierce love for Rachel and his determination to make their world safe, Logan may be just the weapon the city-states need to defeat the Cursed One.
But as Rowansmark bears down and uneasy alliances are tested, will Rachel and Logan’s love for each other be enough to surmount the unbelievable odds against them?
REVIEW:
A worthy conclusion to this epic dystopian fantasy series.
Climbing down off of that cliffhanger Deception left us on, we find Rachel still injured and being dragged across the Wasteland by Rowansmark trackers—one of whom is especially bent on killing her. Logan, meanwhile, is forced to forestall rescuing her while he strikes off to amass an army with the excruciatingly hesitant “help” of the ever-vile Commander Chase.
Just when you think there can’t be anyone more loathsome than the obsessively brutal Commander, readers are introduced to the cult-leader-like Rowan and all of his manipulating sociopathic glory. (You know, just in case Logan’s vindictively psycho brother didn’t add quite enough crazy to the pot.) Ultimately, the overarching story begins and ends with the clash of these two madmen, and all of the lives caught in the middle of their deranged power struggle.
After the wanton good-guy slaughter of the second book in this series, this reader was jazzed with righteous indignation and eager to finally see some bad guys getting smote for a change. Redwine /really/ makes you wait for some satisfying taste of justice and closure in this final book—and without giving anything away, I can only say that she does deliver with that solid sense of closure.
For those most interested in the romance part of the plot, I’ll warn ahead of time that the vast majority of the story sees our hero and heroine kept separate from one another in all but thought. This reader found the division fitting, as they were both fighting different internal conflicts and coming to terms with their own personal demons, producing significant character growth as refined–and in many ways redefined–individuals. There’s no shortage of emotional depth, as themes of revenge vs. justice, misogyny, hatred, grief, healing, and sacrifice are explored with agonizing intensity.
Kudos as ever for the strong female characters, and the warning still so highly applicable in much of the modern world:
*”We walked through the streets with our protectors. We wore our dresses. We gave up our education because that was the price of safety. That was the bargain we made with the devil we knew to escape the devil we didn’t.” –Rachel
A few new character introductions round out the characterization, with the silver-tongued Lankenshire emissary, Conner, leaving a particularly vibrant impression. (Personally, this reader is hoping he gets his own book…or at least a novella. >.>) I’d love to know what happens to Samuel, but unless I missed something, that particular end didn’t seem to get tied up. (Potential room for another spinoff, there?)
After so much running around, near-misses, and a pretty significant twist, the wrap-up felt a bit hurried. But overall, the breakneck pacing and poignant introspection finished off this series on a memorable note. This reader will be more than happy to own the whole set.
July 5, 2014
Once Upon an Ever After – Cover Reveal
Happy Independence Day weekend!
I’m pleased to now be able to show off the cover for the companion anthology to Once Upon A Road Trip. Not too much agonizing this time around, as it’s following a matching design scheme. I think it suits the first-person narrative perfectly. ^_^
Projected full release date is 11/01/2014! Pre-order should be available soon.
Blurb: Set after the events of Blount’s debut memoir, Once Upon A Road Trip, this short story anthology focuses on the unusual courtship of Angeli and Vincent.
When Angeli left Minnesota on a post-high school road trip, all she wanted was to see the East Coast and finally meet some of her online friends. She didn’t expect to end up in a long-distance relationship with a computer-savvy Southern boy. Yet Vincent seems determined to defy the odds. To prove his intentions, he sets off on his own quest to visit Angeli and win her family’s approval. But along the way he’ll have to contend with her offbeat friends, trigger-happy father, and a few questionable run-ins with Northern hospitality.
South meets North this time around, and “normal” isn’t anywhere on the map.
With a thousand miles and radically different upbringings between them, can Angeli and Vincent forge a forever-worthy bond? Or are the roadblocks they face too much for either of them to overcome?
March 19, 2014
Once Upon A Road Trip nominated for a 2014 RONE’ Award!
I am VERY pleased and honored to announce that ‘Once Upon A Road Trip’ is up for for a RONE’ Award (InD’tale Magazine) in the Young Adult category!!! Voting is going on now through this Sunday, the 23rd of March, so you only have a few days to show your support–if you are so inclined.
http://indtale.com/polls/new-adult-2013
This award is reader’s choice, which means real live readers (like you!) need to head over there and VOTE! (Voting requires that you create an account to verify you are a l...
November 19, 2013
Review of Deception + Giveaway!
Attention Young Adult/Dystopian fans! (And fans of quality, dark adventure tales in general…) Some of you have undoubtedly noticed the sequel to C.J. Redwine’s ‘Defiance’ was released at the end of August. If you’ve been holding off getting to it until some cozy holiday reading time came your way, I’m about to light an early fire under your yule log.
Blurb: Baalboden has been ravaged. The brutal Commander’s whereabouts are unknown. And Rachel, grief stricken over her father’s death, needs Loga...
October 8, 2013
Interview with Moriah Densley
I’d like to give a warm, bloggy welcome to one of my new favorite authors, the lovely and multi-talented Moriah Densley! (Don’t miss your chance to help us celebrate Moriah’s re-release and enter the giveaway for a pair of handmade silver earrings.)
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BIO:
Moriah Densley sees nothing odd at all about keeping both a violin case and a range bag stuffed with pistols in the back seat of her car. They hold up the stack of books in the middle, of course. She enjoys writing about Victorians, assassins, and geeks. Her muses are summoned by the smell of chocolate, usually at odd hours of the night. By day her alter ego is your friendly neighborhood music teacher. She lives in Las Vegas with her husband and four children. Published in historical and paranormal romance, Moriah has a Master’s degree in music, is a 2012 RWA Golden Heart finalist, 2012 National Reader’s Choice Award winner in historical romance and ’12 NRCA “Best First Book” finalist.
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“Thanks for having me on today, Angela. I’m a big fan of Once Upon a Road Trip. Dear Readers, if you haven’t read it yet, go get it now!”
Aww, shucks! ^_^ Coming from an author as talented as you, that means the world to me. Thanks for the shameless cross-promotion. 
(And for the record, I totally didn’t bribe you with cookies and endless devotion to get you to say that! >.>)
Tell me about your journey into publication… (Jaunty stroll in the park, or barefoot hike over broken glass?)
“More like the latter. You might say I’m a sadder-but-wiser girl. Third time’s the charm, right?
Everyone keeps saying the publishing industry is changing faster than we can keep up with. It bends its own rules, surprises lurk at every turn, and it seems to make or break you on a whim. If you’re thinking that sounds like an ex-boyfriend, I’m right there with you.
Yes, it took me a few tries to find the right fit, but I’ve learned a lot and met lovely readers and authors along the way. I’m happy at esKape Press, a new independent publisher owned by savvy bestselling authors who believe in putting the author first. They’re going to make it big, I know it.”
Well, it’s not a fairy tale insta-success for most of us. You’re in good company, and I’m willing to bet it’s built some serious character. And possibly, some serious…characters? >.> Congratulations on the new publisher!
You have two unique historicals out there now. What is it that compels you to write that particular genre?
“I adore Victorian history in all its bizarre, romanticist excess. The art, music and literature was lush and imaginative. The aristocracy adapted(kicking and screaming) to the democratic ideals creeping over from America, while the bohemian artists and temperance crusaders duked it out over sensuality vs. propriety. It was a circus of extremes.
Victorians were the original hippies – did you know they even gave their children random names like Princess Cheese, Oral, Thimble-Thrower, Minty Badger, and Toilet? (I swear I’m not making this up.) Setting my stories in the 1860-70s means I have a rich palette of possibilities. It’s license to make my characters oh-so-colorful!”
…I can honestly say I had no idea! >.> I know they say that trends and fashions tend to cycle back around and around, but that’s fascinatingly ridiculous. 
What does your usual writing routine look like?
“Wish I had one. I do projects boom-and-bust, so when I fall in love with a story, it takes over my life until I finish it. Then I burn out until the next time. Blame it on my artistic temperament…”
I’ll henceforth refer to this as “artistic dedication.” It certainly seems to work for you, considering the quality of your results.
Do you work with critique partners?
“And beta readers, yes! I’ve had the same critique partners and beta readers for years now, and I owe them a big thanks. They make me look good. I rely on other sets of eyes to find problems I hadn’t even thought about. I never send a manuscript out unless I have Susie, Mary, Kat, Suzanne, Nicole, and Laura’s stamp of approval.”
As a reader who has deeply enjoyed your work, I’d like to personally thank your screening team!
How likely are people you meet to end up in one of your next books?
“Very likely, so watch out! Typically a character is a conglomerate of personalities that suits the story. Just the same, I use real people as templates so often, I probably couldn’t reveal who is who without getting myself into trouble.”
Hmm. I’m not sure whether I should lay low, or risk immortalization. >.>
Tell us a little about your current Work In Progress.
“The King of Threadneedle Street, about a financial prodigy who turns the national economy upside down to get what he wants, is next in the Rougemont series and releases December 2013.
I’m currently writing Rougemont #3, featuring a character who was jilted twice in the previous books. One of London’s most eligible bachelors, he causes uproar by taking up with a black woman who *gasp!* works as a writer.
Also trying my hand at contemporary romance. Tentatively titled Starter Wife, it’s set in Las Vegas(where I live), and almost none of the shenanigans in it are fictional. The premise: A high-society housewife gets dumped by her rock star lawyer husband, and her mysterious UFC fighter neighbor keeps saving the day. Can’t remember the last time I had so much fun writing a story.”
You are one busy, diverse lady! I look forward to reading ALL of your works, regardless. But I’d like to personally vouch for The King Of Threadneedle Street–which I still think about even though it’s been months since I experienced it. ^_^ Lets give readers a quick peek at Song For Sophia…
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To win a man’s heart, a woman must have the mind of a diplomat, a general, and Cleopatra, all in one.
Desperation has led Anne-Sophia Duncombe to a life of exile. Still, she is always just one mistake away from capture and a marriage she would rather die than endure. As a last resort to remain hidden from her former life, Sophia attempts a radical scheme; a life of humility and disguise.
Rumor has it Wilhelm Montegue, the Earl of Devon, is insane. A tormented war hero haunted by scandal, he is only tolerated because of his brilliant mind and swarthy good looks. His unmentionable “condition” which keeps him confined to his country home is also the source of his talent for composing music.
When a new housemaid is hired at Rougemont, Lord Devon is perplexed to find himself fascinated by her. He knows the exquisite beauty is keeping secrets but her siren’s voice draws him ever closer, and he can’t resist the intoxicating scent of danger surrounding her.
2012 RWA Golden Heart® Finalist
2012 OKRWA National Reader’s Choice Award Winner, Historical Romance
2012 OKRWA National Reader’s Choice Award Finalist, Best First Book
“5-Crown” Review, RomCon®
What advice would you most like to give to a pre-published author? (And/or…what advice do you wish you had been given early on in your career?)
“Thick skin, my friends. You have to be plucky and indomitable. Take your lumps and come back swinging. And find good writer friends to celebrate and commiserate with. That’s the good news—you’re not in it alone.”
Amen, sister! >.>
If you could have any Disney sidekick creature as a manifestation of
your muse, which one would you pick and why?
“Can I have Kronk’s shoulder angels? From The Emperor’s New Groove? Because when I’m choosing between A and B for plot elements, Z is usually the best choice.”
That’s a new one! I have no rules against a set pair… and I do have a soft spot for the big lug. ^_^
Plastic, paper, or BYOB (bring your own bag)?
“If you ask for “paper” at a Wal-Mart in Las Vegas, the cashier thinks you’re initiating a drug deal. Don’t do that. Just take the plastic and watch your back in the parking lot, because someone is trying to sell you chloroform perfume. You can recycle the bags if it makes you feel guilty.”
…I think I’m just going to chalk that one up to…erm…cultural differences? o.O
Zombies. Undead menace…or improbable, misunderstood love interest?
“The former. Although, I confess I’ve found a way to use the term “zombie apocalypse” in all of my non-historical stories. (“Tomfoolery” and “magical unicorn” are my pet terms for historicals, by the way.)
Why? What’s your take on zombies? Do tell!”
I love ‘Tomfoolery.’ We should bring it back into common usage. ^_^
As for the romantic appeal of the undead…well…I have to draw the line somewhere. >.> Call me bias, but necrosis seems like a solid reason to put up a giant STOP sign. I did however, enjoy ‘Warm Bodies.’ But I’d argue it was really more about redemption than romantic reanimation…
I’d like to thank Moriah for letting us get to know her a little better! And now, here’s your opportunity to win these: Autumn jasper and Tibetan silver dangle earrings–handmade by Moriah Densley. (I told you she was multi-talented!)
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a Rafflecopter giveaway
LINKS
I love connecting with readers on my blog: http://moriahdensley.com, where I post news, free chapters, and snarky articles about publishing and life as a writer, including a series called “Weird Stuff Kids Say.”
Check out what readers are saying at: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13633768-song-for-sophia?ac=1
Come hang out with me:
http://www.facebook.com/MoriahDensley
http://twitter.com/moriahdensley
http://pinterest.com/moriahdensley/
Read Chapter 1 Free: http://moriahdensley.com/chapter-1-song-for-sophia/
Get the ebook for only .99!
Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/song-for-sophia-moriah-densley/1110496077?ean=2940148438779
Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/358080
All Romance eBooks: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-songforsophia-1304415-162.html
Kobo: http://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/Search?Query=song+for+sophia
June 26, 2013
Cover Reveal (And Other Awesomeness)
This blog is undergoing a little change of address. (No worries, it's a good change!) All future posts can be found on my brand-spanking-new website, along with book announcements and other goodies. Please feel free to poke around and see if you can manage to break anything:
www.angelanblount.com
Oh, and by the way...my first post on the new site contains the full cover reveal for my debut book, Once Upon A Road Trip--due out this fall through from Artifice Press. So while you're challenging the mad coding skills of my web designer, tell me what you think of the cover!
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Cover Reveal!
Well, here it is! Almost exact to what I’d originally envisioned. Multitudes of thanks to Danielle Barnum Photography and Revalis Designs for their flexibility in giving me EXACTLY what I asked for…and then giving me something that worked better. >.<
Long story short, I’d initially requested the model be walking down the center line while holding her arms out at her sides as though she were walking a tightrope. When I got what I asked for, the hubby oh-so-delicately pointed out she looked like she was either trying to pass a sobriety test, or whimsically playing “airplane” on a highway. (Bolstering his argument, he added sound effects worthy of one of our preschoolers.)
The publisher agreed with him.
I’m not at all disappointed with how things turned out. ^_^ But what do YOU think? Feel free to give my comments option a test drive.
Once Upon A Road Trip – Full Cover
May 13, 2013
Interview with #1 Bestselling Author, Rachel Van Dyken!
(Don't miss your chance to win one of her ebooks in our giveaway extravaganza!)
Author Bio: Rachel Van Dyken is the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today Bestselling author of regency and contemporary romances. When she's not writing you can find her drinking coffee at Starbucks and plotting her next book while watching The Bachelor. She keeps her home in Idaho with her Husband and their snoring Boxer, Sir Winston Churchill.
Blurb: Rock star Alec Daniels has it all. Love, fame, money... But being in the limelight isn't all it’s cracked up to be, and after one bad choice comes back to haunt him he is left picking up the pieces of his carefully constructed life. Now he faces the toughest decision of his life:
Deal with his mistake like a man, or dive back into the dark hole of depression, drugs, and denial that have been his comfort for so long.
One wrong move could destroy everything. His girlfriend, his family, and his future.
*To start out, could you tell us about your journey toward publication?
"I started out as most authors do--frantically searching for someone ANYONE to accept my manuscript. I was blessed enough to discover Astraea Press and published my first 16+ books with them. They are a small indie publisher that publishes sweet romance. Once I started getting my feet a bit more wet, I decided to start branching out into self publishing as well as publishing with an indie publisher. My self-publishing titles were New Adult and had more mature themes than what AP would allow. As soon as they started gaining notice, (And I'm still freaking out over this!) I was given the opportunity for representation with a fantastic agency and soon after that, given a four book deal with a big six publisher."
And congratulations on your deal with Grand Central Publishing! Your success is a shining beacon of hope for so many of us still navigating the choppy waters of publication.
*What does your writing process typically look like?
"It's insanity. I have up to four manuscripts open at any given time. I like to switch between genres. So I may have a regency open and then decide to write some New Adult, then switch back over. I usually get up, go for my run, get my coffee (get ready for my day), and sit down at my computer. I write anywhere from 6-12 hours a day most of the time it's more. My poor husband is so understanding. An authors work is never done, so I usually bring my computer or iPad with me everywhere. I work until eleven or midnight, and sometimes wake up in the middle of the night if I have an idea. I LOVE it though and would not change it for the world!"
I guess one woman's definition of insanity is another woman's definition of 'awesome.' I should like to borrow your straightjacket sometime. ;)
*What do you think has drawn you to writing within the New Adult contemporary and Historical genres?
"Historicals have always called to me because I LOVE the idea of the regency rake, how delicious is that? I think I was drawn to YA or NA for similar reasons. I wanted to put something out there that was kind of angsty yet still fun. I wanted to write the contemporary bad boy and found that it was really a fun niche for me" ;)
Ah, rakes and angst. You surely MUST have an understanding husband. ;D
*Looking back at all you've undergone up to this point in your career as an author, what would you have done differently?
"Nothing. I only say that because I truly feel like every choice and every decision has led me to where I am today."
Coming from you, I can believe that.
*Would you tell us a little about your current Work In Progress, and what you have in mind for your next project?
"Right now I'm working on the sequels to The Bet and Elite. The Wager is the second book in The Bet series and stars the "other brother," Jake Titus. He's a bad boy millionaire who doesn't care about anyone but himself. The catch is, his grandma's out to change all of that by any means possible. It's been a lot of fun so far! Elect, which is the sequel to Elite, is kind of like Gossip girl meets The Godfather. It's about a group of mob bosses who are pretty young, and a girl that's been under their protection, without her knowledge, for the past eighteen years. It's loosely based on true events and has been a really exciting WIP for me ;) I LOVE the research behind it and get to have a lot of fun with the characters."
I'll look forward to hearing more about all three of those in the near future.
Irrelevant, nonsensical questions:
*If you could have any Disney sidekick creature as a manifestation of your muse, which one would you pick and why?
"As a muse...okay I would totally pick the dragon from Mulan, or possibly the cricket ;) They are HILARIOUS and always meant well! I love the dialogue from that Disney movie and would love to have two little companions whispering in my ear all hours of the day."
Mushu! Why am I not surprised your muse would be raucous and full of sass? ;)
*Paper, plastic, or BYOB (bring your own bag)?
"BYOB if I can, and if not...then paper..only b/c I save the paper bags and make caramel popcorn every Christmas!"
Ooo...I want in on your Christmas candy list. >.> Or at least the recipe. I can already hear my dentist prepping her lecture... but it will be SO worth it.
*If you were banished to live in a storybook world, in what book would you most prefer to find yourself trapped?
"Hmm....probably Cinderella, but only if I was actually Cinderella. She has awesome shoes and got the prince in the end." ;)
If you overlook the years of emotional abuse and servitude, I suppose she did end things on a high note. ;)
And now, let's have a look at an excerpt from your latest release, Shatter...
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Alec
Crap. What the hell were we going to do at a bed and breakfast? We could eat, but we couldn’t really sleep, not if we had that stupid restaurant opening in a few hours.
My control was seriously slipping. I flexed my hand and began reciting the states in alphabetical order. Other than burying myself deep in the girl I loved — it was the only way I could relax. Running had stopped working, and I knew it was absolute insanity to run fifteen miles a day. Singing helped, but we were supposed to be acting, not singing. Alabama, Alaska, Arizona…
I took the stairs two at a time. Arkansas, California… Thankfully, the elderly couple was already waiting for me in the main dining room.
“Alec!” Mr. Smith came forward with arms open. I hugged him and then kissed Mrs. Smith on the cheek. There were only a few guests and most of them were over the age of sixty. They probably thought I was the Smiths’ grandson.
The familiar smell of the restaurant calmed me down. “I need a favor.”
“Anything.” Mrs. Smith pinched my bicep and winked. “Now, what can we do for you?”
What could they do? Oh you know, erase a few nights from my memory and convince Bob, my bodyguard, to assassinate the one person who could ruin my entire freaking existence with one push of a button. “Um, how about a room? Something nice? I want to spend some time with Nat away from everything.”
“Done.” Mr. Smith walked over to the main desk and pulled out a key. “Enjoy yourselves.”
I reached for my wallet to pull out my credit card, but he held up his gnarled old hands. “Oh no you don’t. You’ve done so much for our business already, son. This one’s on the house, alrighty?”
“Please. Let me pay.” I offered one last time. Charity made me feel nervous, like I couldn’t control the situation. Wow, I had issues.
“Nope. That’s final.” Mr. Smith held out his hand for me to shake it. I wanted to shake it. Instead, I just stared at it and told myself to stop freaking out. It was a free room for a few hours, not a house. Smiling, I reached for his hand and shook it.
“Thank you.”
“Have fun! And let us know what you want for your meal.” Mrs. Smith waved goodbye as I turned and jogged back out of the building.
Nat was in the middle of the patio, her blonde hair blowing in the wind. I could watch her forever. She tucked her hair behind her ears and crossed her arms. She had no idea how precious she was to me — or how deep she had etched herself into my soul. I couldn’t help but wonder… would she curse me later for that very thing?
I tried to push the dark thoughts away, but it was hard. My brain felt fatigued, probably all that alphabetizing. I managed a smile as I walked up to her and whispered, “Surprise,” dropping the key into her hand.
“You bought me a car! You shouldn’t have!”
I paused. “Wow, never actually thought about it. Do you want a car? I guess I could buy you a car. Would that make you happy?” I smirked at her eye roll. “Would you jump up and down and possibly make out in the backseat with me?”
“Maybe.” She blushed.
“Would you scream my name over and over and over again?” I kissed her hard on the mouth. “Would you be mine forever and always?” Damn, I was losing my mind. The need to be with her was trumping everything. I knew it was wrong. I was using her. Using the way she made me feel in order to push away my demons. But nothing else was working. Not the pills, not my ridiculous staff of people that I pay millions to keep. Nothing. Only her kisses, her touch. If I was going to hell, I wanted to take every shred of this feeling with me.
Nat exhaled and pulled back. “Yes. I would.”
“And all because of a car?” I squinted, trying to calm my heated body down. “Hmm, too bad this key doesn’t lead to a car. But…” I grabbed her hand. “I think you’ll still feel the same way when this afternoon is over with.”
“Oh? That confident, huh?”
I stopped and pulled her into my arms for another earth-shattering kiss. “Extremely.”
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In celebration of her May 19th release, Rachael is giving away 10 ebooks! You read that correctly. She has made available 5 copies of 'The Bet' and 5 copies of 'Elite' for a total of 10 winners! (If you have a preference, please be sure to list it in your comment when you enter.) The drawing ends Tuesday, May 20th, 2013 at midnight CST. Winners will be announced and contacted by mid-day on May 21st. Take advantage of extra chances to enter!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Other titles by Rachel Van Dyken
"The Bet"
"Elite"
"The Wolf's Pursuit"
"The Devil Duke Takes A Bride"
"Tear: A Seaside Novel"
"Pull: A Seaside Novel"
"Whispered Music"
"Upon A Midnight Dream"
"The Ugly Duckling Debutante"
"Waltzing With The Wallflower"
"Beguiling Bridget"
"Savage Winter"
"The Redemption of Lord Rawlings"
"The Seduction of Sebastian St. James"
"Every Girl Does It"
"An Unlikely Alliance"
"Compromising Kessen"
"The Parting Gift"
"Taming Wilde"
And Coming soon!
"Shatter: A Seaside Novel"
"Divine Uprising"
"When Ash Falls"
"Elite"
"Fall: A Seaside Novel
"The Wager"
"The Spinster Club"
Solitary Refinement
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