[Summer Countdown Blitz] Dark Innocence by Claudette Melanson with @lovingthebook
Summer Reads Countdown with @lovingthebook
Day 10 Dark Innocence by Bella62
Claudette Melanson
writes dark fantasy in Kitchener, Ontario with four bun babies: Tegan, Pepper,
Butters & Beckett. She graduated from Indiana University of Pennsylvania
with a BA in English, BS in English Education and an MA in Literature.
Harboring a deep admiration of vampires since the age of five left her with the
desire to eventually become one, and now fuels the creation of her favorite
paranormal characters. She hopes to one day work full time as an author, since
there are many, many stories playing out inside her head.In her very scant spare time, she enjoys watching Japanese Anime and reading
vampire stories…along with other genres of great fiction, as well as riding
every roller coaster she encounters in both her hometown and away at signings.
An advocate for good health and ketogenic eating, her favorite foods are
bulletproof coffee, cashew-flour crust pizza and treats made with xylitol and
almond, coconut or cashew flours.
writes dark fantasy in Kitchener, Ontario with four bun babies: Tegan, Pepper,
Butters & Beckett. She graduated from Indiana University of Pennsylvania
with a BA in English, BS in English Education and an MA in Literature.
Harboring a deep admiration of vampires since the age of five left her with the
desire to eventually become one, and now fuels the creation of her favorite
paranormal characters. She hopes to one day work full time as an author, since
there are many, many stories playing out inside her head.In her very scant spare time, she enjoys watching Japanese Anime and reading
vampire stories…along with other genres of great fiction, as well as riding
every roller coaster she encounters in both her hometown and away at signings.
An advocate for good health and ketogenic eating, her favorite foods are
bulletproof coffee, cashew-flour crust pizza and treats made with xylitol and
almond, coconut or cashew flours.
Future dreams include a cabin boasting a roaring fire, isolated inside a
snow-filled wood in the Yukon—the perfect writing spot—and the completion of
dozens of future novels and stories. A Rabbit Rescue fanatic and loving bunmom,
she also hopes to help rescues all over the world save many innocent lives.
Connect with the Author here:
~ Facebook ~ Website ~ Amazon ~ Twitter ~
When a cruel pranknearly claims Maura’s life, one of her classmates, Ron, rushes to her rescue.
Darkly handsome & mysteriously accepting, Ron doesn’t seem to want to stay
away, but Maura is reluctant to get too close, since her mother has announced
she’s moving the two of them to Vancouver…nearly 3,000 miles away from their
hometown of Indiana, Pennsylvania.
If life wasn’t already challenging enough, Maura begins to experience bizarre,
physical changes her mother seems hell bent on ignoring, compelling Maura to
fear for her own life. Vicious nightmares, blood cravings, failing health and
the heart-shattering loss of Ron—as well as the discovery of a tangled web of
her own mother’s lies—become obstacles in Maura’s desperate quest for the
unfathomable truth she was never prepared to uncover.
This book is now free on Amazon!!!
Make sure you get your copy now!
~ Amazon ~ Amazon CA ~
~ Amazon UK ~ Amazon AU ~
~ Amazon UK ~ Amazon AU ~
Snippet:
Maura being pursued in a dark alley
There weren’t any doorways in which to hide down this stretch of
alley, and I’d realized, once I’d started toward the restaurant, it was
deceptively longer than it had seemed upon first inspection. Every time I turned
around, the space behind me was empty, as it had been the last five times I’d
jerked my head around, certain I’d catch a glimpse of whomever I knew had
to be there. I was about halfway through the narrow, dark walkway now, my skin
consumed by the cold-running chill of fear.
alley, and I’d realized, once I’d started toward the restaurant, it was
deceptively longer than it had seemed upon first inspection. Every time I turned
around, the space behind me was empty, as it had been the last five times I’d
jerked my head around, certain I’d catch a glimpse of whomever I knew had
to be there. I was about halfway through the narrow, dark walkway now, my skin
consumed by the cold-running chill of fear.
Maybe I should call Caelyn? *No, Maura,* I stubbornly told myself,
*you’ll scare her to death. You’re probably imagining it.* I could envision the
near hysterics at the other end of the line and ruled that option out
completely. Besides, I was almost at the other end. If anything
should happen at this point, I was sure someone would hear me scream. Wow…I
really didn’t want cause to scream… I rubbed my hands over my arms in an effort
to calm, comfort and warm myself.
*you’ll scare her to death. You’re probably imagining it.* I could envision the
near hysterics at the other end of the line and ruled that option out
completely. Besides, I was almost at the other end. If anything
should happen at this point, I was sure someone would hear me scream. Wow…I
really didn’t want cause to scream… I rubbed my hands over my arms in an effort
to calm, comfort and warm myself.
I tried to put myself at ease by telling myself anyone who smelled
as good as this guy could be no homeless drug addict. And if he meant me harm,
wouldn’t he have made his move before I’d gotten this close to the crowded
street? As I inched through the last quarter of the alley, I took in a deep
breath, just to catch one last whiff of whatever scent this guy was wearing. I
tried to store it in memory, so I could try to find some to give Ron—and
myself—as a Christmas present.
as good as this guy could be no homeless drug addict. And if he meant me harm,
wouldn’t he have made his move before I’d gotten this close to the crowded
street? As I inched through the last quarter of the alley, I took in a deep
breath, just to catch one last whiff of whatever scent this guy was wearing. I
tried to store it in memory, so I could try to find some to give Ron—and
myself—as a Christmas present.
“You know I’m here, don’t you, Maura?”
My legs felt like cooked spaghetti, and it was all I could do to
keep from collapsing in utter fear, right there on the sidewalk. Though the
deep, male voice was smooth and beautiful…it still should not carry across the
night in the syllables that made up my name.
keep from collapsing in utter fear, right there on the sidewalk. Though the
deep, male voice was smooth and beautiful…it still should not carry across the
night in the syllables that made up my name.
My brain fumbled around inside itself for a reasonable
explanation. One of the teachers must have been at the library? A far more
rational part tossed out the thought that even if one of the
teachers from my school was the mysterious, sweet-smelling man in the alley, he
had been lurking around, not allowing me to catch a glimpse of him. And I just
couldn’t propose any way that could be a good thing.
explanation. One of the teachers must have been at the library? A far more
rational part tossed out the thought that even if one of the
teachers from my school was the mysterious, sweet-smelling man in the alley, he
had been lurking around, not allowing me to catch a glimpse of him. And I just
couldn’t propose any way that could be a good thing.
Then, my brain tossed out the oddity that this person, whoever he
might turn out to be, had stalked me, frightened me, made me doubt my own
perceptions, only to let me get so close to a place of safety? He’d cruelly let
me believe I’d soon be in a well-lit restaurant, only to take it away when I
thought I was home free. My ever-increasingly volatile temper flared white-hot,
burning away most of the fear I’d felt. I irrationally whirled to face whoever
he may be, infuriated by the twisted way he’d kept me rooted to the edge of the
darkness at the very last moment.
might turn out to be, had stalked me, frightened me, made me doubt my own
perceptions, only to let me get so close to a place of safety? He’d cruelly let
me believe I’d soon be in a well-lit restaurant, only to take it away when I
thought I was home free. My ever-increasingly volatile temper flared white-hot,
burning away most of the fear I’d felt. I irrationally whirled to face whoever
he may be, infuriated by the twisted way he’d kept me rooted to the edge of the
darkness at the very last moment.
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