Guest Post: "Sweet as Sin" by Kenya Carlton

I have Kenya Carlton on my blog today to do a guest post and talk a little about her book "Sweet as Sin". You can read Ava's review by scrolling down to the next post.

One More Try

Like all of you crazy book fiends, I read a lot and a lot of it fast, but I won’t re-read.  Once I’m done, I’m done unless I need to answer questions for a test and thankfully I’m not taking any.  Only a few books make the cut where I would even consider giving them another whirl. To be clear, I’m not a book snob. I just believe with so many books out there, I should keep it moving.  Life is short, and I won’t to get through a lot.  I compiled a small list of books that I would revisit in case of a book shortage inside of my home.

Anything by Stephen King but not the Dark Tower series. Sorry, cult followers, couldn’t get into it, but other than that I love all things Stephen King.  I have my absolute favorites, which could be culled into a whole other blog post.

Gemma Halliday, Spying in High Heels-This series is such campy fun.  The heroine is a shoe designer who falls into clothes and solving mysterious. I will be the first to admit my taste is all over the board.  Depending upon my mood, I tend to have different levels of brainpower I would like to exert, and this is level 10 chocolate and escapism, all aboard!

Eileen Rendahl’s Don’t Kill the Messenger series is completely unique and fun.  Melina gets her officer man in the first book, and he believes all the weirdness from the word jump.   You don’t really know which way this messenger for the supernatural book series will go. Normal underworld rules for this series do not necessarily apply.

Dean R Koontz’s Odd Thomas Series-This series is being made into a movie and that gives me the sweet shivers. I love Odd Thomas and just hope whoever is behind the introduction of this nerdy reluctant hero to the big screen doesn’t screw it up.

 

Sweet As Sin

By Kenya Carlton

Genre: Multicultural Paranormal Romance 

Sweet as Sin Blurb:

The rich and available Captain Drake Devilin had the biggest body count in World War I.  Injected with serum that turned him into something unnatural, Drake’s troop annihilated the enemy, but once his tour ended, Drake was plunged into a world of family tragedy and financial ruin.  

 Sienna Caldwell is stunning to even the biggest cynic; with her exotic looks and rich brown skin, the playboy wasn’t exempt from her charms.  Buckling under the pressure of his financially strapped inheritance, Drake makes a deal with the devil to marry the prosperous landowner in order to protect her.  

After one year, he can return the black beauty back to her island and collect on the fortune that will save his family’s reputation, but the task proves far easier said than done.   The war may have made Drake into something lethal, but he soon finds his new bride was born more powerful than he could ever imagine.  Not only does Drake have to figure out away to keep his hands off his alluring wife, but also he has to make sure she stays alive.

 

“May I?” The shadow at Sienna's small cottage door asked. Drake's muscular frame was a stark contrast to the chaos from the elements beyond him.

“Do you need an invitation?”

“For the sake of my honor and politeness, I certainly do,” Drake admitted. Not completely satisfied with his answer she considered his request. He may not be the undead but he was definitely something.

Sienna sat nestled in her favorite love seat, facing the fire finally relenting, she told him, “Be my guest.” She noted the quick way he surveyed his surroundings when he stepped across the threshold, first the exits-windows, décor than finally his eyes settled upon her. Unwilling to bend to his close scrutiny, she took a sip from her wine.

“It's cozy here, not anything like the resort. May I?” She nodded for him to help himself to her spirits as he took a seat in a cushioned chair. Masculine man, dainty chair taking up space with his mere presence made Drake appear even bigger and stronger than he had in the gazebo.

“Courage?” she asked him pouring a glass.

“Restraint,” Drake answered before holding it up for a toast. “To good decisions.”

“Good decisions,” she reiterated kissing his glass with hers. A moment was taken to drink and think before he began to press her for answers.

“It's a simple proposition,” he stated.

“Is it?” Sienna tightened the shawl she held around her bare arms, the fire made no difference to the temperature of the room; she merely made the fire for ambiance but now she felt exposed so close to this imposing man. The bright and colorful flames helped with her state of mind as well as the red wine and Mary Shelley book that now lay abandoned on her lap.

“You're exquisite,” he said matter-of-factly.

“That didn't sound much like a compliment, Mr. Devilin.”

“Why aren't you married?”

“A proposal has never come up.”

“I find that hard to believe.” In a single gulp, he finished his wine.

“How old are you, Mr. Devilin?”

“I‟m thirty six. Please call me Drake.”

“And you've never been married?”

His smile was one of a pure blooded playboy. “It's never come up,” he replied with a lopsided smirk.

“What's good for the goose is not necessarily good for the gander, I suppose.”

Sienna grabbed the wine bottle and offered him a refill; he gladly accepted.

“I understand my benefit in this whole crazy scheme but not yours.” He gently pushed.

“Does that make you uncomfortable, not knowing?”

“It makes me question the sanity of this request, Sienna. I don’t believe in one sided deals and I don't believe in modern day martyrs.”  From the intense look in his eyes, she believed what he said.

Agitated by this man's closeness and all he would change in her world, she uncurled her feet from beneath her and set them on the floor. The storm beyond her four walls picked up. Sienna crossed to the window to watch the thunder and lightning explode.

“I'm afraid my answer remains the same.”

Kenya has a B.A. in Mass communication, Television and Radio. She has fifteen years in production of television and film and five in television engineering. In 2009 Kenya Produced Dawn a short film and Executive Produced Destination Everywhere the pilot for a travel series through her production company Black R.O.K Productions established in 2008.

Review: "Sweet as Sin" by Kenya Carlton

"Sweet as Sin"
Author: Kenya Carlton
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Pages: ebook
Source: Review copy in exchange for a honest review.
Published: September 19, 2011

Buy Links: Amazon

Goodreads Blurb:
 The rich and available Captain Drake Devlin had the biggest body count in World War I. Injected with serum that turned him into something unnatural, Drake’s troop annihilated the enemy, but once his tour ended, Drake was plunged into a world of family tragedy and financial ruin.

Sienna Caldwell is stunning to even the biggest cynic; with her exotic looks and rich brown skin, the playboy wasn’t exempt from her charms. Buckling under the pressure of his financially strapped inheritance, Drake makes a deal with the devil to marry the prosperous landowner in order to protect her. After one year, he can return the black beauty back to her island and collect on the fortune that will save his family’s reputation, but the task proves far easier said than done. The war may have made Drake into something lethal, but he soon finds his new bride was born more powerful than he could ever imagine. Not only does Drake have to figure out away to keep his hands off his alluring wife, but also he has to make sure she stays alive.

My Review:

Married because of a deal (or basically an offer one could not refuse) that would save both Sierra’s life and Drake’s financial status gradually changes for both of them. Neither able to decide immediately planned to take a little time to ponder before a final decision. But quickly their choice was taken away from them due to a tragic event. With no other option but to make the best of the situation, they each embark on their own personal journeys that unavoidable lead them back to one another.

A different type of paranormal read. There is just the right touch of paranormal characters/creatures throughout the story and each one added their own type of flair to the plot. I have to say I do have favorites, even though all of the characters were amazingly written I found that Sienna and Maddie drew me most. It’s not the fact that they were main characters, but their growth in both their actual character and in love.

The story was a bit of a slow start and to be able to fully understand what was going on you had to wait to read though at least half way. At times the character switches were not smoothly transitioned or noted to us (the reader) and it made it slightly difficult to keep track of the who. But once it picked up it was magical, action packed and sensual. Sienna was one female character many looked up to and I also looked up to her. She was very wise, caring, beautiful and a force to be reckoned with that many envied (and despised). I was left with some unanswered questions from things (and people) left lingering and were not brought up again. Does this mean a possible book 2 in the future?

Anyone looking for a paranormal read with a different approach will enjoy this read :)

 One scene in the book comes off to be a forced sex scene that some may see as rape. I feel the need to mention this for those who steer clear of those types of actions.

Overall Rating:

Sex Rating:

 

Guest Post & Giveaway: "The Beach" by Jaye Frances

I'd like to welcome back a old friend Jaye Frances to the Romance Book Junkies. She is here today to do a guest post and she has donated a Kindle edition ebook of "The Beach" for a giveaway.

Thank you, Danielle, for having me back on Romance Book Junkies with my new sci-fi fantasy release, The Beach, a “duella” including the bonus suspense thriller Short Time.

When I was working on this particular book, I knew that I wanted to combine two different stories that expressed a common theme, yet stood independently on their own merit. Both tales are written from the male point of view, and my hope is that the perspective of these two very divergent men will strike a familiar—and unnerving—chord with the reader.

The commonality shared by these men? As each struggles with the disappointments of life, they are presented with an opportunity to change their circumstances. As their choices become an irrevocable destiny, the consequences of their actions are eerily similar.

In the following excerpt from the bonus novella Short Time, the main character is enjoying the good life, unconcerned about anything, or anyone, that doesn’t serve his personal agenda. Believing he’s fallen through the cracks of the system, he pursues a hedonistic lifestyle without a second thought to the bill that has yet to be paid.

Here’s an excerpt from Short Time:

“Slow down, take it easy. You’re acting like this is going to be your last piece of ass.”

I relaxed my grip and lifted my hands, leaving red dimpled imprints where I’d squeezed her thighs. Marking her.

“I’m small, like a pixie,” she’d said on the phone. “And I’m expensive. VERY expensive.”

“You worth it?” I’d asked.

“You won’t have any complaints.”

She was right—worth every penny.

She was a tiny girl, perfectly proportioned with gravity-immune breasts, a sculpted waist, and Pilates-toned thighs. Her entire body was brown from the sun, the color unbroken by tan lines, and when she’d first laid back on the bed, I’d been content to run my hands up and down the entire length of her, letting my fingers linger in the cracks and crevices, amazed by the smoothness of her skin.

Her face had a comforting welcome, not pretty the way a high school homecoming queen is pretty, but still softy innocent, without a hint of the hardness that was no doubt building just under the surface. I especially liked her short dark hair, and the way she let me grab it from behind as I play-forced her head down on my cock.

I wondered how old she was, and then realized I didn’t care. I leaned back against the headboard, deriving nearly as much pleasure from watching the muscles in her butt flex and quiver as I did from the skill of her mouth.

“You didn’t pay for all night so we need to wrap it up.” She looked up at me with a childlike seriousness that reminded me of my neighbor’s daughter asking me to buy another box of trail scout cookies.

“How much for all night?”

“Another five thousand.”

“You’re not worth another five thousand. No whore is worth that kind of money.”

“Then it’s now or never, stud. I can give you another ten minutes, that’s all. So you better climb on if you want to finish.”

I tucked her slight form underneath me and slid inside.

Tomorrow I’ll have myself a couple of blondes. But no dye jobs.

Two real blondes.

Here’s a brief synopsis of the stories:

Alan loves the beach. More than a weekend respite, it is his home, his refuge, his sanctuary. And for most of the year, he strolls the sand in blissful solitude, letting nature—and no one else—touch him. But spring has given way to summer, and soon, the annual invasion of vacationers and tourists will subdivide the beach with blankets, umbrellas, and chairs, depriving Alan of his privacy and seclusion—the fundamental touchstones of his life.

Resigned to endure another seasonal onslaught of beach-goers, Alan believes there is nothing he can do but prepare for the worst. 

But fate has other plans.

Delivered to him on the crest of a rogue wave, the strange object appears to have no purpose, no practical use—until Alan accidentally discovers what waits inside. Now he must attempt to unravel an ageless mystery, unaware that the final outcome will change his life, and the beach, forever.

In the companion novella Short Time, you’ll meet a respectable but bored middle-class executive, who exchanges his future for six months of excess and extravagance, only to find out the price he must pay for his hedonistic indulgence is beyond anything he could have imagined.

  

Jaye Frances is the author of The Kure, a paranormal-occult romance novel, The Possibilities of Amy, a coming-of-age romance, The Cruise-All That Glitters, a humorous adult satire about looking for love at sea, and The Beach, a sci-fi fantasy about a man who is given the opportunity to receive his ultimate wish and lives to regret it. She is also a featured columnist for the NUSA SUN magazine. Born in the Midwest, Jaye readily admits that her life’s destination has been the result of an open mind and a curiosity about all things irreverent. When she’s not consumed by her writing, Jaye enjoys cooking, traveling to all places tropical and “beachy” and taking pictures—lots of pictures—many of which find their way to her website. Jaye lives on the central gulf coast of Florida, sharing her home with one husband, six computers, four cameras, and several hundred pairs of shoes. For more information, visit Jaye’s website at www.jayefrances.com, or Jaye’s Blog at http://blog.jayefrances.com

The Beach  is available now in kindle eBook on Amazon

 at a special Introductory Release Price of $0.99

Until September 15, 2012

My website is:  http://www.jayefrances.com

My blog is:  http://blog.jayefrances.com

Goodreads:

http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5232105.Jaye_Frances

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15824616-the-beach 

My Facebook Page:

https://www.facebook.com/jayefrancesauthor

Amazon link for The Beach:

http://www.amazon.com/The-Beach-ebook/dp/B008X76CD6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1344891688&sr=8-1&keywords=the+beach+by+jaye+frances#_

Amazon Author Page:

http://www.amazon.com/author/www.jayefrances.com

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Guest Post & Giveaway: "Seducing Cinderella" by Gina Maxwell

I'm very excited today to have Gina Maxwell on my blog for a guest post about the title of her book and she has donated a ebook copy of "Seducing Cinderella" for a giveaway.

THE STORY OF THE PERFECT TITLE

This title did not come easily! Until about a month before its release it was known as Indulgence #1 (SC was originally set to release for the Indulgence line, but my smexy scenes were a little too steamy, and therefore more appropriate for Brazen *wink*). My editor, Liz, and I wanted something that conveyed the Ugly Duckling trope, but it’s not an easy thing to accomplish without insulting the heroine right in the title.

I’m not even sure how long we went back and forth. Neither of us really liked any of our suggestions. At some point, I suggested a title with “Seducing” in it that I liked, but Liz didn’t. Then a little bit later, she suggested one with “Cinderella” in it that she liked, but I didn’t. Then, just before I pulled the last chunk of hair from my scalp, I looked down at my notepad and somehow my eyes put the two words together. I swear the Heavens opened and choirs of angels sang. LOL Okay, maybe it wasn’t that dramatic, but I definitely felt like it was perfect, and thankfully Liz agreed! From then on my book had the perfect title: Seducing Cinderella.

Without a doubt, my favorite fairy tale is Cinderella. I mean, who wouldn’t want a Fairy Godmother (or in Lucie’s case, a Sexy Godfighter) to poof her into a killer gown to attend the party of the year where the man of her dreams falls instantly in love with her? Yeah, I know, sign me up!

But even though the title implies a retelling of an old favorite, it actually isn’t. Truly, the only similarity Seducing Cinderella has with the original fairy tale is that Lucie goes from being unnoticed and plain to getting a complete makeover and attending a function where the man she’s been crushing on finally notices her and asks her out.

The main difference is that Lucie’s transformation isn’t only physical. More important than her outer appearance, Reid gives her an internal makeover, helping her see that she’s a beautiful woman both inside and out, and anyone who doesn’t see that isn’t worth her time or effort. In the end, Lucie is definitely more confident and comfortable in her own skin, but she doesn’t suddenly have the attitude of an A-list celebrity on the red carpet. It would be unrealistic for someone to change that drastically in such a short period of time, so I was okay that she still had a few nervous moments.

But getting back to the title…

Once we set it in stone, I went back through the book and made sure the title fit the story. The seduction part was a given. It’s a huge part of the storyline, so nothing needed fixing there. As for the other half, Reid had already referred to Lucie as Cinderella once, so all I had to do was add a few more subtle references throughout and tweak a couple of scenes—namely the end—to pull the theme through just enough to support the title without beating the reader over the head with it.

In the end, Seducing Cinderella ended up being my very own Cinderella story—taking me from Unpublished Author to NY Times Bestselling Author in only 5 weeks—so I guess it’s perfect in more ways than one…and I couldn’t be happier!

Title: Seducing Cinderella

Author: Gina L. Maxwell

Genre: Category – Contemporary

Length: 277 pages

ISBN: 978-1-62266-949-3

Release Date: July 2012

Imprint: Brazen

 

He’ll teach her the art of seduction…for a price.

Mixed martial arts fighter Reid Andrews’s chance to reclaim his title as light heavyweight champ is shattered when he’s injured only months before the rematch. To make sure he’s healed in time, his trainer sends him to recuperate under a professional’s care—Reid’s best friend’s little sister, all grown up.

Disorganized and bookish Lucie Miller needs some professional help of her own. She’d do anything to catch the eye of a doctor she’s crushed on for years, so when Reid offers seduction lessons in exchange for 24/7 conditioning for the biggest fight of his career, Lucie jumps at the chance.

Soon Reid finds himself in the fight of his life…winning Lucie’s heart before she gives it to someone else.

Purchase from Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Seducing-Cinderella-ebook/dp/B008NGFLPC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1343865466&sr=8-1&keywords=seducing+cinderella

Purchase from Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/seducing-cinderella-gina-l-maxwell/1112180837?ean=2940014977678

 

Growing up in small town Fort Atkinson, WI, Gina L. Maxwell, formerly Bisbee, could often be found onstage in the latest theatrical production, performing with her high school show choir, or holding office in her local FFA chapter. She dreamed of following in her father’s footsteps in the entertainment business, of enabling her audience to forget about life for a few hours as they enjoyed the stories she told through her love of singing, dancing, and acting. It wasn’t until her sophomore year in college when she realized she had no acting talent to speak of and her dream needed some adjusting. Another ten years would pass before she discovered a different means to accomplishing the same dream.

Within those ten years Gina married her high school sweetheart, had two beautiful children, and moved more times than she cared to count. In 2009 she started writing as a hobby while her kids were in school, and it quickly became an obsession she couldn’t stop, and then a dream to publish stories of love and passion for romance addicts just like her.

Three years later, her dream came true when she signed with Entangled Publishing for a total of seven books in two of their imprints.

Her Fighting for Love series with MMA heroes debuted July 20^th, 2012 for the digital Brazen imprint with the first book, Seducing Cinderella, and reached #9 on Barnes & Noble’s best seller list in just seven days.

The first book in her paranormal romance trilogy, Desires of the Soul, is set to release both digitally and in mass trade paperback in Summer 2013 for the Entangled Select imprint.

When she’s not writing or wrangling plot bunnies, Gina keeps busy with her wonderful family and their ever-growing extra-curricular schedules. Thanks to their immense patience and support, she’s able to do The Thing She Was Meant To Do and live her dream of bringing a little romantic fantasy to the world, even if only in the pages of a good book.

Author Website: http://ginalmaxwell.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Gina_L_Maxwell

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6446604.Gina_L_Maxwell

Tour Schedule:  http://www.entangledinromance.com/2012/08/13/seducing-cinderella-blog-tour/

Gina has generously donated one ebook copy of "Seducing Cinderella" to give away on my blog. This giveaway is going to be international and you must be 18 or over to enter. Just fill out the rafflecopter below to enter.

 

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Review: "Seducing Cinderella" by Gina L. Maxwell

"Seducing Cinderella"
Author: Gina L. Maxwell
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Pages: 435
ISBN: 9781622669493
Source: Publisher in exchange for a honest review.
Published: July 20, 2012 by Entangled Publishing: Brazen
Author's Website: http://www.ginalmaxwell.com



Goodreads Blurb:
 Mixed martial arts fighter Reid Andrews’s chance to reclaim his title as light heavyweight champ is shattered when he’s injured only months before the rematch. To make sure he’s healed in time, his trainer sends him to recuperate under a professional’s care—Reid’s best friend’s little sister, all grown up.

Disorganized and bookish Lucie Miller needs some professional help of her own. She’d do anything to catch the eye of a doctor she’s crushed on for years, so when Reid offers seduction lessons in exchange for 24/7 conditioning for the biggest fight of his career, Lucie jumps at the chance.

Soon Reid finds him himself in the fight of his life...winning Lucie's heart before she gives it to someone else.

My Review:

A truly romantic, sensual, fun, funny, passionate, flirtatious and enchanting read that I found I had a very hard time putting down. Great for anyone (except young audiences due to sexual content and some language), even those who have never tried contemporary romance will find enjoyment from it!

Lucie is a Physical therapist whom adores her job. She loves getting people back into form by helping them along with their healing process. She’s a beautiful person inside and out and does not realize this for herself. She feels plain, unattractive and incapable to be what men look for and need in a woman. But she strongly yearns for the picture perfect life, husband, kids, white picket fence and the whole nine yards. She has had her eyes set Dr. Stephen Mann for quite some time, but it never goes past their professional relationship. Once again feeling even more inadequate she’s sobbing in her office when her next patient walks in and sees the state she is in.

Reid is a champion MMA fighter (and boy oh boy is he hot!) He’s determined to win back the championship belt but needs to mend his shoulder before he can set foot in a cage again. Going to the PT he’s to meet and walking in the door he’s absolutely shocked by what and who he finds. It’s none other than his best friends’ sister Lucie she’s at her desk crying. Immediate protectiveness engulfs him and he’s determined to find out who has done this to her and why.

A deal is stuck between the two of them. She’s to help heal him in time to win back his title and he’s to teach her how to win the man she desires. It’s a true delight to see the relationship grow stronger between the two and their antics are the best.

I found both character’s learned a lot from their time with one another. Reid showed Lucie how to open up and explore the power she holds as a woman. Lucie (unintentionally) showed Reid that love is not impossible and having it in your life does not weaken you, but actually makes you a stronger better person from the experience. The transformation of both of them was great to experience!

Overall Rating:

Sex Rating:

Interview: "Integration" by Imogen Rose

I have Imogen Rose on my blog today for a interview so lets give Imogen a big welcome to Romance Book Junkies.

I know you get asked this question over and over, but can you tell us a little about yourself? Maybe something juicy. ;)

I do… and how can a responsible mom share her juicy secrets online? :D  So, for the boring stuff… Although I have lived in New Jersey for over ten years, I’ve never met any of the Jersey Housewives or Snooki or The Situation. Before I moved here, I lived in London, where I trained and worked as a surgical immunologist. I love travelling, shopping, and watching YA TV. I am scared to death of spiders… well, and most creepy, crawly things. I love jewelry, a passion I share with my younger daughter. I fancy myself a good singer, although my daughter yells at me to shush every time I belt out a song. :/

When did you first start writing? Are you a full time author or do you do it on the side?

Like most moms, I made up stories to entertain my kids when they were small. When I took them for walks around the neighborhood, I‘d make up little stories about the people and animals who lived in the houses and garages along the way. We often passed a little shed, which my daughter used to creep past so as to not wake the “bears” who lived there. I started writing fiction about three years ago, after my younger daughter asked me to write down one of my stories, and my new career grew from that. I am a full-time author now.

Do you have an author who has really inspired you?

I was a huge fan of Enid Blyton when I was younger. I am pretty sure my love for boarding school tales stemmed from her wonderful novels.

How long does it normally take you to write an average book or your last book?

It takes me just under a month to write the first draft, then another two months to polish, and have it edited and proofed.

What do you think makes a story great?

A great story is one that stops me from putting it down at bedtime. Irresistible characters who have me rooting for them within a compelling plot keeps me turning the pages.

Can you describe your book "Integration" in one sentence?

I am always in awe of people who can do this. I find it really hard because the story is so layered in my mind. That being said, “The rule is simple in this private boarding school populated by students from the most elite of society who are blessed and  cursed from the bloodlines of the most powerful paranormal families in the world—Trust no one.

Have you done lots of research for your books, or do the stories just come to you?

The stories just come to me. I occasionally have to stop and do research as I write.

What are you currently working on?

I am working on the fifth book in the Portal Chronicles—Fusion. I hope to have it published by this Christmas.

Just for fun:

Hardback or Paperback?  Hardback
Dog ears or Bookmarks? Bookmarks
YA novels or Adult novels? YA
Library or Bookstore? Bookstore
Reading glasses or No glasses? No glasses
Snack while reading or No snacks? No snacks
Beach or Mountain? Mountain
Vampire or Werewolf? Vampire
Hot or Flirty? Both
Movie 1st or Book 1st? Movie 1st
Contemporary or Historical? Contemporary
Page-Turner or Tear Jerker? Page turner

Integration

Bonfire Book 2

By Imogen Rose

Second Haiku warning:

A boyfriend missing

A lover must pay in blood

A princess must die

Welcome back to Bonfire Academy.

Book Trailer http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IVFSWpyCWJI

Broken. I couldn’t think of a better word to describe it. I felt as if I’d been torn to bits, maybe even shredded. I was suffocating, surrounded by a wet tightness of skin and flesh all crusted together. My body was home to excruciating stabs of pain searing about randomly before a final thrust of sheer agony. I couldn’t tell if the source of the pain was within me or if I was being repeatedly sliced open with a knife. Did it matter? I felt as though it was only a matter of seconds before my thoughts would end.

“Cordelia!”

My name. I flinched as the same voice repeated my name again and again. Why? Who was it? It—he—sounded familiar. I heaved as the voice triggered the memory of his face. Then, not being able to stop the bile from traveling up my throat, I gagged and purged, emptying my stomach completely. The next time he muttered my name, his voice was laced with disgust. But his revulsion couldn’t compete with my utter repugnance and disbelief at what he’d done. Him. Someone I had trusted with my life, even though the rule was clear:

Trust No One.

Imogen Rose is the author of the bestselling series, Portal Chronicles, which has attained cult status within indie literature and become a favorite among teens and adults alike. An immunologist by profession, Dr. Rose published her first work of fiction in 2010. She now writes full time and is currently working on her second teen series, Bonfire Chronicles. Imogen was born in Sweden and has lived in several places, counting London among her favorites. She moved to New Jersey in 2001. A self-confessed Hermès addict, Imogen freely admits to being obsessed with Kurt Cobain. She enjoys shopping, traveling, watching movies, and hanging out with her family, friends, and Chihuahua.