Lauren is visited in her dreams for
years by a stranger claiming to be her destiny. Destiny becomes reality when
paths cross during a failed robbery attempt. Lauren and the stranger experience
chemistry like no other and now her doubt over her long time relationship with
her high school sweetheart is not her only secret…someone else knows about her
keen intuition and sixth sense. A mysterious clairvoyant seeks
Lauren out and tells her not only of her life now but what the future may hold.
Soon Lauren is in the middle of a murder investigation and a questionable
friendship with the key suspect. Law enforcement, friends and family are
concerned for Lauren but unfortunately they are unaware of the true danger…Sinister
forces are at work and will stop at nothing to destroy Lauren’s abilities.
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Guest Post with Nancy...
So a funning thing
happened to me . . .
I should start this with:
I am a magnet for crazy. Funning
things happen to me all the time. I
tried to think about what you might like to read and settled on something that
has nothing to do with being an author, book reviews, publishing, or anything of
the sort. I hope you enjoy this!
This happened about a year ago. Like all moms, it was the end of the week and
I was exhausted. I was watching
television with my husband in our bedroom and had dozed off. It was still pretty early in the evening, so
the lights were on, but when I’m tired I don’t need dark to sleep. I was in the middle of a dream when I
realized I couldn’t breathe. I startled
myself awake and pulled myself out of my dream only to realize: I was now awake and I still couldn’t breathe. I looked at my husband while I was gasping
for air; he was watching me with a strange look, but did nothing to help
me.
My hands instinctively went to my neck and I realized the
t-shirt I was wearing was tight against my neck, so with both hands, I yanked
the neck of my t-shirt as hard as I could.
I got air! But in the same instant I felt claws dig into my back.
Okay, I read a ton of Paranormal Romance, Paranormal
Thrillers and Urban Fantasy books, so at this point my mind is racing through
about 300 plots - trying to identify what beast I was up against! I couldn’t get a word out but knew my husband
could see the pleading for help in my eyes.
I let go of the neck of my t-shirt and the claws eased on my back, but
once again, I didn’t have air.
After watching this cycle a couple times my husband simply
said, “Flash is stuck.”
Flash
is my very cute Jack Russell Terrier. He
burrows under the covers at night because he gets cold. He had somehow burrowed under the back of my
t-shirt and was trying to climb out through the neck of my shirt! Needless to say, a person’s neck and a pudgy
JRT do not both fit through a crew neck t-shirt.
We both got a good laugh out of it, and I was thrilled to
see that I wasn’t under attack from some sort of paranormal beast!
Short Excerpt:
His words made my heart soar, my whole body felt warm and my heart rate began steadily gaining speed. Knowing how badly this visit could have gone, I couldn’t help but push my luck, “Max, I need to ask you one more thing. Could you stay just another minute?”
Max glanced at the watch on his wrist, and I could tell he really did need to leave. “Yeah, but I’ve already been gone for way too long. My partner’s got to be looking for me by now.” He moved a hair closer to me, and I could hardly contain my excitement.
“I know this isn’t the best place, and I understand if you tell me no, but if I don’t ask, it’s going to drive me crazy. I was wondering if you feel anything weird around me?” This sounded so strange, but I didn’t know how best to articulate my question. I needed to know if it was only my imagination.
Max looked me straight in the eye, “Weird, like what?”
I felt the flush of embarrassment on my cheeks as I asked quietly, “Like, chemistry, a little?”
Max stood still as a statue staring at me sitting almost straight up in my bed. His smile faded a little as he leaned into me and whispered, “You mean like this?” He softly slid his hand behind my head, pulling my lips up to his. Gentle at first, then increased intensity until I found that I had wrapped both my arms around him, wires protruding from every direction, and my entire body tingled. I grew lightheaded as he eased his face away from mine. He gently lowered my head back to my pillow and moved his hand to my face. Max traced my lips with his index finger. After a few outlines of my lips, he responded quietly, “Chemistry, huh? No, I hadn’t noticed.” His wide smile reappeared with a vengeance.
My heart monitor went crazy, jumping well into the 100s as an alarm blared to life as if to tell the world what had just happened. Max reached over and pushed a button on the monitor and the alarm muted instantly. As he leaned in for what I was sure was going to be just as passionate as our first kiss, his pocket beeped.
Max stopped, rolled his eyes and fished in his pocket, pulling out his blackberry. He looked at the screen with disappointment in his eyes. “Hey, we just got a call. I really have to go. Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for continuing this conversation tomorrow, but I really can’t stay.”
“I’d like that, too,” unable to say anything else.
He kissed my cheek, “I can’t wait to tell Missy about tonight. Bye.” Max darted out the door as he sprinted off to save someone’s life. The jealous part of me hoped he was being called to help an old fat man.
What I Liked:
This book was an interesting blend of YA, paranormal romance and fantasy. The cover made me think YA as soon as I saw it and the writing style did too. From the beginning, it captured my interest and was a roller coaster ride until the cliff hanger ending. The theme of fate and destiny throughout the book was very compelling. Add characters that resonate, a murder investigation, a twisty plot, dialogue that rocks and a natural flow and you have a great book.
What I Didn't:
Just be ready to buy book two! Cliffhanger-not a bad thing, you just need to get your e-reader ready!
Overall:
This book is the start to a really great series that I will totally be reading. Available for free at Amazon, BN, and Smashwords, you need to check it out. The blend of romance, fantasy, paranormal and YA is really well done and the characters engaged me as a reader. If you want an enjoyable summer read, then you have got to check this one out!
4/5
About the author:
Nancy was born in Sioux City Iowa,
left the cold of the Midwest in 1991 and only returns to see family in the
summer time. She spent ten years traveling the world as a US Marine and settled
in rural SC with her husband and two children. She has three rotten
dogs, enjoys RVing with her family, reading and writing all types of Paranormal
literature.
Twitter: @NancyStraight
Thanks for letting me do a guest post on your blog today and for being the first stop on the Meeting Destiny Blog Tour!! Much love, Nancy
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