Blurb:
Exiled from Faerie when her father dies, half-Fae Ember is surprised by how much the human realm has changed since she was there last. She takes a dangerous job on a merchant airship, hoping a life on the move will keep her well-hidden. Sure, she misses her brother, but years of apathy have numbed her emotions.
When the optimistic and naïve Reilley follows her, it’s annoying to say the least. But when she starts feeling responsible for him, long-stifled emotions crack the ice around her heart.
Faeries, pirates, and traveling players meet in this steampunk fantasy adventure as Ember tries to cope with feelings long forgotten and a past that pursues her.
Excerpt:
I scanned the crowd, but there was no sign of them. My stomach lurched, and I swallowed my panic. I moved as quickly as I could to the place where Reilley had just stood.
To the right was a dim alley with curtained doors lining the sides. I shot into the shady street.
“Reilley?” I called and received no answer.
Up ahead, a curtain covered the light that spilled into the alley. I rushed for that doorway. Ripping open the curtain, I lunged inside.
In the small room, two men sat on crates playing cards on a box in between them. They looked up as I entered.
“Where is he?”
Neither responded as they returned to their game. I spotted a door at the back of the room and barreled toward it. The two men moved to stop me.
“I don’t have time for this,” I told them as they blocked my way.
The one closest to the door I wanted to get through crossed his thick arms over his chest and lifted his chin, looking down at me with a smirk. His wirier friend stepped toward me and pointed the way I’d come.
“This party is closed,” he said with a heavy accent. “If you don’t have an invitation, leave.”
“I just need to get my friend. Then, I’ll leave.”
He shook his head and grabbed my upper arm to escort me out. “You will leave now.”
I rotated my elbow and broke his grip then pulled back and drove the heel of my hand into his nose.
What’s my New Year’s resolution? I’m hesitant to make promises I can’t keep. There’s so much pressure to make a resolution, and it feels horrible when I inevitably fail to live up to it.
Instead, I’d rather think of goals I have for the year. I’d like to spend more time outside, to connect with nature as much as possible (I’d like to say on a daily basis, but I know I won’t do it), to see my third novel published, to spend more time with the people I care about, to live a healthier life, to get my books into the hands of readers who will love them, to laugh every day, to always give a hug when someone needs it and not let my own self-consciousness get in the way, to have more confidence, to not be so defensive, to be more understanding and patient, and to overall take a tiny little step closer to enlightenment.
I think I have my work cut out for me…
Don’t forget to visit the other stops on the tour.
Author Bio and Links:
D. writes stories she wants to read. Her love of the worlds of fiction led her to earn a Bachelor’s in English from Wright State University.
When she isn’t reading or writing, she’s probably hiking, crafting, watching anime, Korean television, Bollywood, or old movies. She may also be getting her geek on while planning her next steampunk cosplay with friends.
She lives in Wisconsin with her husband (John), retired guide dog (Samwise), and cat (Yin).
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ReplyDeleteThanks so much for having me!
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