Convinced she’s a part of the witness protection program, sixteen-year-old Jewel Rose is shuffled around the globe with her family like a pack of traveling gypsies. After arriving at lucky home twenty-seven, she stumbles upon a mysterious boy with magical powers claiming to be her guardian... and warning of imminent danger. Despite the obvious sparks between them, Jewel discovers a relationship is forbidden, and the more she learns about dark, brooding Roman, she begins to question who she can even believe—the family who raised her, or the supposed sworn protector who claims they’ve been lying to her all along.
As she struggles to uncover who her family has really been running from, she is forced to hide her birthmark that reveals who she is. With new realities surfacing, unexplained powers appearing, and two tempting boys vying for her heart, Jewel battles to learn who she can trust in an ever growing sea of lies, hoping she’ll make it through her seventeenth birthday alive.
Young Adult Paranormal Romance.
SPECTRAL
Excerpt
I finished the last of my drink, grabbing the glass Chase left behind, downing that one too. By that time, my head was a little woozy. I made my way closer to the stage and listened as Roman’s cousin’s voice rang out in an amazing raspy tenor. Roman’s fingers moved swiftly along the guitar frets and I couldn’t help but think how sexy he looked standing there. The music vibrated the floorboards beneath me and through my body like waves crashing on the shore, carrying me out with the feeling of the tide. I imagined it took me to a faraway island, away from my mess of a life. As Roman played, he watched me sway to the music through wisps of his dark brown hair that hung down across his eyes. I mingled in the midst of several others who danced, carefree to the world.
They must have played for almost half an hour before they stopped to take a break. After a few moments of silence, a CD started playing. Softer notes carried across the room and the couples moved closer and slow danced together.
My stomach tied itself into a tight knot as Roman lay his guitar down and walked toward me.
I bit down on my lip. “You guys were awesome.”
“Hey there, little butterfly,” he said with a grin when he reached me. He held out his hand for me to dance with him. “May I?” he asked all proper like. His slight, but totally sexy accent, made me swoon.
“Um, sure.” I placed my hand in his and he drew me into him. Warmth radiated through his shirt and his familiar scent, ocean breeze mixed with cinnamon, tickled my nose. His lips twitched upward at the corners, and I imagined tracing my fingers across his mouth.
What’s wrong with me? Of course I’d had a few little crushes over the years, but this felt different. There was something about Roman that made me giddy whenever he was around.
He leaned down and whispered into my ear with a husky voice. “Were you drinking?”
“Just a little,” I said feeling my face flush hot. Then I added defensively, “It was the first real drink I ever had.” I didn’t want him to think I was reckless. Lightweight.
Roman leaned back to study me and his jaw relaxed. He pulled me against him again and thankfully he changed the topic. “Hey, thanks for coming.”
“No problem, I’m having a blast.” I tucked a stray strand of hair behind my ear, and then wrapped my arms around his neck, entwining my hands behind him. He was a lot taller than me, so I stood on my tip-toes as he held me tightly. My shirt had shimmied up a bit, and I was totally aware of his warm hands against the bare skin on my lower back. His touch sent shivers down my spine.
We danced against each other, the music and neon lighting transforming our bodies into fluid rhythm. His toned chest through the soft fabric of his t-shirt and the gentle sway of his hips against mine was intoxicating.
I tried to gather my senses. “Where are you from anyway?” I asked, realizing I didn’t know much about him.
“Italy originally. But I’ve been traveling around a bit.”
“Ah, that’s what it is.”
“What do you mean?”
“Your accent…I was wondering where you were from.”
He chuckled. “You’re the one who has an accent.”
“Touché…and I guess we have more in common than we first thought, huh?”
Amusement warmed his eyes. “Oh yeah? You’re from Italy, too?”
“No, not that part. The traveling around part. My family’s like a pack of gypsies you could say.” I forced a half smile.
“True?” His voice rose at the end of my name softly as he tilted my head up towards him.
I willed my eyes to stay focused on his as my heart rate climbed. “Yeah?” I asked, secretly hoping he would ask to kiss me, my eyes beginning to linger on his lips. I couldn’t tell if it was just the alcohol, or his total hotness that was making me swoon. Probably a combination of both.
“You’re not safe here.”
It took a second. I stared at his lips, watching the words form, then slowly they connected in my brain.
Wait. What?
Heart hammering, my eyes darted around the room. Taylor sipped soda while playing pool with Jack. A few people sat around chatting. Couples danced happily around us.
“Here?” I asked. “Looks pretty innocent to me.”
“No, not here, here. I mean in Pomona Park.”
A chill trickled through my veins. Crap. What does he know about me? I dropped my hands by my sides. Roman kept his arms around my waist. I narrowed my eyes, brows furrowing in the middle. “Why would you say that?”
“Let’s just say I know things and I care about you.”
Dread crept over me.
I looked over my shoulder trying to catch Taylor’s attention. Of course she ignored me, wrapped up in the male attention around her. I snapped my eyes back at him. “What could you possibly know about me? We just met.”
“Listen, I’m not trying to scare you. I just want to keep you safe. I’m your guardian, Jewel.” He reached down and took my hands, but I jerked them away.
Icicles plummeted down the back of my spine. “Wh-what did you just call me?” I looked back at Taylor again. She’d finally noticed me and now headed in our direction.
Roman slid an arm around my waist, pulling me closer. With his other hand, he made a big circular motion. Around us a filmy substance took shape. I pressed against the barrier, but its pliable force field sprung back. My jaw dropped. We were inside an enormous bubble like the kind I played with as a kid. I used to wish I’d be carried away with those bubbles—now I just wanted to escape from one. The sound of the music muffled as though we were under water and everyone in the room solidified, still as statues. My heart pounded. “What’s going on?” I asked, my throat growing tight. “Did someone send you here after me?”
“Well, yes,” he said, and my gaze snapped to him. He had the good sense to wince. “We’ve been trying to find you for a long time.”
“We’ve been trying?” I clasped my hand over my mouth, my mind racing. “Oh my God, oh my God,” I cried. “You’re gonna kill me, aren’t you?”
Roman frowned. “Jewel, what are you talking about?”
“Stop calling me that!” I shoved against the bubble again, harder this time, but its thick, gooey plasma held firm.
I was trapped.
Shannon Duffy
They must have played for almost half an hour before they stopped to take a break. After a few moments of silence, a CD started playing. Softer notes carried across the room and the couples moved closer and slow danced together.
My stomach tied itself into a tight knot as Roman lay his guitar down and walked toward me.
I bit down on my lip. “You guys were awesome.”
“Hey there, little butterfly,” he said with a grin when he reached me. He held out his hand for me to dance with him. “May I?” he asked all proper like. His slight, but totally sexy accent, made me swoon.
“Um, sure.” I placed my hand in his and he drew me into him. Warmth radiated through his shirt and his familiar scent, ocean breeze mixed with cinnamon, tickled my nose. His lips twitched upward at the corners, and I imagined tracing my fingers across his mouth.
What’s wrong with me? Of course I’d had a few little crushes over the years, but this felt different. There was something about Roman that made me giddy whenever he was around.
He leaned down and whispered into my ear with a husky voice. “Were you drinking?”
“Just a little,” I said feeling my face flush hot. Then I added defensively, “It was the first real drink I ever had.” I didn’t want him to think I was reckless. Lightweight.
Roman leaned back to study me and his jaw relaxed. He pulled me against him again and thankfully he changed the topic. “Hey, thanks for coming.”
“No problem, I’m having a blast.” I tucked a stray strand of hair behind my ear, and then wrapped my arms around his neck, entwining my hands behind him. He was a lot taller than me, so I stood on my tip-toes as he held me tightly. My shirt had shimmied up a bit, and I was totally aware of his warm hands against the bare skin on my lower back. His touch sent shivers down my spine.
We danced against each other, the music and neon lighting transforming our bodies into fluid rhythm. His toned chest through the soft fabric of his t-shirt and the gentle sway of his hips against mine was intoxicating.
I tried to gather my senses. “Where are you from anyway?” I asked, realizing I didn’t know much about him.
“Italy originally. But I’ve been traveling around a bit.”
“Ah, that’s what it is.”
“What do you mean?”
“Your accent…I was wondering where you were from.”
He chuckled. “You’re the one who has an accent.”
“Touché…and I guess we have more in common than we first thought, huh?”
Amusement warmed his eyes. “Oh yeah? You’re from Italy, too?”
“No, not that part. The traveling around part. My family’s like a pack of gypsies you could say.” I forced a half smile.
“True?” His voice rose at the end of my name softly as he tilted my head up towards him.
I willed my eyes to stay focused on his as my heart rate climbed. “Yeah?” I asked, secretly hoping he would ask to kiss me, my eyes beginning to linger on his lips. I couldn’t tell if it was just the alcohol, or his total hotness that was making me swoon. Probably a combination of both.
“You’re not safe here.”
It took a second. I stared at his lips, watching the words form, then slowly they connected in my brain.
Wait. What?
Heart hammering, my eyes darted around the room. Taylor sipped soda while playing pool with Jack. A few people sat around chatting. Couples danced happily around us.
“Here?” I asked. “Looks pretty innocent to me.”
“No, not here, here. I mean in Pomona Park.”
A chill trickled through my veins. Crap. What does he know about me? I dropped my hands by my sides. Roman kept his arms around my waist. I narrowed my eyes, brows furrowing in the middle. “Why would you say that?”
“Let’s just say I know things and I care about you.”
Dread crept over me.
I looked over my shoulder trying to catch Taylor’s attention. Of course she ignored me, wrapped up in the male attention around her. I snapped my eyes back at him. “What could you possibly know about me? We just met.”
“Listen, I’m not trying to scare you. I just want to keep you safe. I’m your guardian, Jewel.” He reached down and took my hands, but I jerked them away.
Icicles plummeted down the back of my spine. “Wh-what did you just call me?” I looked back at Taylor again. She’d finally noticed me and now headed in our direction.
Roman slid an arm around my waist, pulling me closer. With his other hand, he made a big circular motion. Around us a filmy substance took shape. I pressed against the barrier, but its pliable force field sprung back. My jaw dropped. We were inside an enormous bubble like the kind I played with as a kid. I used to wish I’d be carried away with those bubbles—now I just wanted to escape from one. The sound of the music muffled as though we were under water and everyone in the room solidified, still as statues. My heart pounded. “What’s going on?” I asked, my throat growing tight. “Did someone send you here after me?”
“Well, yes,” he said, and my gaze snapped to him. He had the good sense to wince. “We’ve been trying to find you for a long time.”
“We’ve been trying?” I clasped my hand over my mouth, my mind racing. “Oh my God, oh my God,” I cried. “You’re gonna kill me, aren’t you?”
Roman frowned. “Jewel, what are you talking about?”
“Stop calling me that!” I shoved against the bubble again, harder this time, but its thick, gooey plasma held firm.
I was trapped.
Shannon Duffy
I write Middle Grade and Young Adult. I grew up on the beautiful east coast of Canada and now live in Ontario, Canada. I'm the mom of one sweet boy. I love writing, reading, working out, shopping, traveling, and my guilty pleasure is reality TV. My YA Paranormal Romance, SPECTRAL, (Tribute books), and the first in my MG Fantasy series, GABRIEL STONE AND THE DIVINITY OF VALTA is out now. Look for the Gabriel Stone sequel, GABRIEL STONE AND THE WRATH OF THE SOLARIANS, Feb/14. (Month9Books). I also have a new YA Cyberpunk series coming out. The first novel in the series is titled, AWAKENING. (Entangled Publishing). Release date to follow.
Check out my website at www.shannonduffylit.com for more on my books and extra stuff. Follow me on Twitter at @shannonduffylit and my Facebook page for more updates.
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thanks so much for this giveaway! its amazing
ReplyDeleteI think I had the chance to read this... last year? but I just couldn't get into the story! A shame, because it sounded really interesting. Thanks for sharing this except, though! :)
ReplyDeleteI actually haven't read the novel myself, but I agree, it does sound interesting!
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