Welcome to the 2016 October Frights Blog Hop!
You're in the right place, so pour yourself a cup of coffee, and read on...
Today, I'm treating you to an exclusive (unedited) sneak-peek
of my paranormal dark fantasy, Whispers in the Wood.
Coming in 2017
If it strikes your fancy, the Rafflecopter to win a RELEASE DAY ecopy (ePub, mobi, PDF) & a Starbucks $10 gift card is at the end.
*INTERNATIONAL PRIZE PACKAGE: EBOOK & STARBUCKS EGIFTCARD
Winner will be announced on October 16th
Enjoy!
of my paranormal dark fantasy, Whispers in the Wood.
Coming in 2017
If it strikes your fancy, the Rafflecopter to win a RELEASE DAY ecopy (ePub, mobi, PDF) & a Starbucks $10 gift card is at the end.
*INTERNATIONAL PRIZE PACKAGE: EBOOK & STARBUCKS EGIFTCARD
Winner will be announced on October 16th
Enjoy!
There are some places you shouldn’t disturb, places where history lingers. When Rowan travels to England, she finds a remote village, hidden in the shadow of an ancient forest. Vague warnings from the local people aren’t enough to stop her from venturing into the trees, or from picking up a single acorn. It seemed a simple action. But when a stranger emerges from the forest claiming the acorn belongs to him, Rowan finds herself pulled into something both centuries old, and deadly.
Excerpt:
*INTERNATIONAL PRIZE PACKAGE:
EBOOK & STARBUCKS EGIFTCARD
Stars dotted an otherwise inky sky. A full moon shone overhead, surrounded by a luminous fairy ring. She ran down the footpath towards the woods and realized she’d left her jacket behind. In spite of that, Rowan didn’t feel cold. She skirted the edge of the trees, eyeing the orange glow from the campfire, burning like a beacon.
Rowan picked her way quietly through the underbrush. The moonlight was quickly swallowed by trees. The deeper, wild scent of forest soon overpowered the grassy scent of pasture. Forest animals darted from her path, startled from their nocturnal activities. A lick of flame ahead split the murky darkness. She soon came upon a small clearing.
A haze lay over the area like a blanket, though there was no scent of wood smoke. Burning wood crackled from an unattended campfire. Off to the side, an immense oak tree overlooked the glade like a sentinel. Scattered saplings grew at it’s base.
Rowan's heart thumped madly in her chest. The fire's fevered intensity beckoned to her and she approached it. She held out her hands.
"No heat," she murmured. "What the hell?" Firelight danced across her skin.
"No heat," she murmured. "What the hell?" Firelight danced across her skin.
Rowan.
She whipped around, searching the forest with her gaze. “Hello?”
Silence. The forest was still.
“Hello? Is anyone there?”
A small whisper came from behind the oak tree. Two green spots flashed within the darkness. Slowly, Firth emerged from shadows. The fervent green of his eyes caught the firelight. “We meet again.”
She let out a shaky breath. “You scared the crap out of me.”
"Apologies." He stepped forward with a half-bow, his shoulder-length hair glowing a red-gold.
“Are you allowed to camp here?”
“These are my woods.” His voice held a slight edge.
“Your woods?” Rowan kept her eyes fastened upon him as he circled her.
“My. Woods.”
“What did you do to my tattoo yesterday?”
A smile touched his lips. “What do you mean?”
“It’s healed. Look at it.” She pushed up the short sleeve of her T-shirt. “It was still a red gash when we met at the churchyard. You brushed against it when I passed you, and now it’s healed.”
“And you feel I did this, do you?”
She paused, unsure. “Okay, I have another question, then. Have seen a young man with dark hair? He went missing last December.”
"You are a curious little nettle. Why would you ask such a thing?”
“Did you have anything to do with his disappearance?”
“I repeat, why would you ask such a thing?”
“No reason.” Rowan backed away, ready to flee.
“She’s a smart lassie, is what she is,” he said softly. “This doesn’t concern you. Unless you choose it to.”
“Grace is worried sick about her son. Is he…around?”
“He is around.”
Her stomach did a flip-flop. “Can I see him?”
"Perhaps." Firth narrowed his eyes. “Why are you frightened, little nettle?”
“I’m not frightened,” she lied as she backed away.
“Do you wish to see him, or not?”
A stab of fear hit the pit of her stomach. This was a bad idea. “Forget it—”
Moving with preternatural speed, Firth grabbed her wrist and dragged her to the oak tree. He crushed her against its trunk. Gasping with fear, an incongruous scent invaded her senses. It wasn’t the scent of an oak tree, it was the scent of aftershave.
And it was coming from under the bark.
_____________
Coming in 2017
*INTERNATIONAL PRIZE PACKAGE:
EBOOK & STARBUCKS EGIFTCARD
Don't forget to enter my other October Frights Giveaways
Giveaway #1 - a signed copy of Poppy & a Starbucks $10 gift card
Giveaway #2 - Struck is FREE from October 10-14th.
Giveaway is for a $10 Starbucks gift card
Giveaway #3 - an ecopy of Voices & a Starbucks $10 egiftcard
Clarissa Johal is the bestselling author of paranormal novels, Poppy, The Island, Voices, Struck and Between. When she’s not listening to the ghosts in her head, she’s dancing, taking pictures of gargoyles, or swinging from a trapeze. She shares her life with her husband, two daughters, and every stray animal that darkens their doorstep.
Find Clarissa Online:
8 comments:
Okay, I'm sold. This book definitely goes on the reading list.
Ooo...great excerpt, and blurb. :)
I want to enter. My email is johnnysgirl219@gmail.com (Judi Torres)
Thank you so much! I appreciate the comments. (I will most definitely enter you into the contest, Johnny's Girl):)
Sounds like an intriguing book, Clarissa ;)
Darn I was hoping that this was up for preorder it sounds amazing! Luckily I'm a subscriber so I will be on the look out for when it does :)
i want to enter
missy.ellis31@gmail.com
Yay! Subscribing is the BEST way to keep up with my announcements and giveaways :) I appreciate that! Good luck in the contest, everyone!
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