Can you believe it? It’s already time to post the third excerpt of RISING DARKNESS! The last few months have flown by!
The following excerpt is a snippet of when the hero and heroine, Michael and Mary, meet up for the first time in the book. When they connect, they have a lot to deal with, including complex and even contradictory feelings for each other.
This is the last excerpt before RISING DARKNESS releases on April 2nd, and I’ve decided to hold a special contest for it. The details, along with information on a Goodreads contest, are below the excerpt.
Happy reading!
* * *
RISING DARKNESS EXCERPT
Barnes & Noble | Amazon | The Book Depository | IndieBound
Drifting.
A bloodred petal in twilight.
She felt as empty and dry as a drained chalice. An abundant golden river flowed into her. Her parched soul soaked up the current. It was as strong and rich as burgundy wine, and as warm and nourishing as summer.
She surfaced from the black pit and became aware, as if from a great distance, of details around her. She was no longer hallucinating an out-of-body experience. Instead, she lay on the cold gravel between her Toyota and another parked car. Her body felt heavy and weak on the sharp rocks.
The unfamiliar car’s headlights threw a slant of harsh illumination on the scene. A pack of wolves ringed the area. Someone knelt over her, dark head and broad shoulders silhouetted against the angled light. Large, heavy hands rested flat on her torso, one at her sternum and the other on her abdomen.
The car headlights seemed thin and white, and as dim as shadows, compared to the man who shone from within like the sun.
The golden river poured into her.
A powerful sense of recognition flooded her, along with an incandescent joy. She took a breath and sighed, an easy expanding movement, for the moment free from fear and pain. Moving one hand across the uneven gravel toward the man, she smiled with relief at waking up from the long dark.
“There you are,” she said in a blurred voice to the radiant silhouette. “I’ve missed you so. I had the strangest dream. . . .”
Déjà vu swept over her, and her half-conscious mind groped after the feeling. Hadn’t she said this before? Hadn’t she said it many times as a small child, as she blinked up at her mother’s bewildered, frightened face?
Mommy, I had the strangest dream.
I dreamed I was—
She slammed awake for real. The brilliant radiance faded.
An unknown man knelt over her, silhouetted against the headlights of a car. She looked from the strange man to the ring of watching wolves and knocked away the hands that rested on her torso. Quick as a cobra, he grabbed her wrists and pinned her to the ground. She strained against the restraint, her heels scrabbling for purchase on the loose rocks.
The man shook her once, then again, harder, as she continued to struggle. “Stop it,” he ordered. His voice sounded harsh and rough as the rocks upon which she lay.
She was bewildered at the strange tricks her own mind played on her. She didn’t recognize this man. She had never seen him before in her life.
He was not Spring Jacket or Sport Coat. He was someone different. Someone new, bigger. Stronger, more deadly.
She made a terrified sound, bent her head and tried to sink her teeth into one of those iron hands shackling her wrists.
With an agile twist the man avoided her bite. The world pitched as he heaved her body up and around. He was so strong and fast, panic surged all over again at how easily he manipulated her weight.
She kicked and clawed for his eyes but somehow ended up sitting between long, powerful jeans-clad legs, crushed back against the man’s hard chest, her arms crossed in front of her while he held her wrists. She tried to butt her head back into his nose. He hugged her tight and buried his face in her neck.
She recognized the position. It was a safe restraint hold, and it was as effective as a straitjacket. The whiskery skin covering the man’s jaw abraded her neck, but no matter how she yanked or struggled, she couldn’t budge his long, tough body.
Finally, defeated, she stilled. Her blood pounded in her ears, her breathing serrated in the cold quiet night. Her captor’s breathing was unruffled. Gradually she became aware of the wolves’ sharp animal interest in the fight. She stared. The wolves, while a quieter presence, were as much of a bizarre image as the attacking hawks had been.
Hardly aware that she spoke aloud, she whispered, “I don’t understand.”
“Maybe now we can get somewhere,” the man said. His voice was rough velvet in her ear, the proximity mimicking a loverlike intimacy.
She shrank away as much as his tight hold would allow. The sense of profound recognition still beat at her, along with an upsurge of revulsion at his unwelcome nearness. She knew that she had never heard his voice before. The contradictory impulses were so strong, she felt like she was going insane.
“If you fight me or try to get away, I will tie you up,” the man said. “If you promise not to, I will let you go. If you break your promise, I tie you up and you stay tied up. No second chances.”
If he tied her up she was helpless and as good as dead. If she was free at least she had choices, and a chance to get away. Of course she said, “I promise.”
“Right,” he grunted. She knew he didn’t believe her, but he let her go anyway. She took the opportunity to scramble away from him, her shoes digging into the gravel until he warned her with three soft-spoken words. “That’s far enough.”
She’d only managed to get a couple of yards away, while her nerves screamed a chaotic, contradictory nonsense. She was still too close and needed to scramble farther away. But at the same time, she was too far away and needed to fling herself forward, into his arms.
And just as she had known about his voice, she knew that she had never seen his face before in her life.
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GOODREADS CONTEST!!!
There is a Goodreads giveaway of 20 ARCs of RISING DARKNESS. The contest is running from March 1 – March 26th. Please keep in mind, it is publisher sponsored, so I’m not running that contest, just giving readers a heads up.
Entering a Goodreads contest is quick and easy. All you need (if you haven’t done so already) is to set up a Goodreads account, which is free. The contest details are here.
KINDLE GIVEAWAY!!!
The Kindle giveaway is my contest, and it IS international! I am giving away my gently used Kindle, the power cord and a protective sleeve. I am the only person who has used this Kindle.
Here is a photo of the prize:
KINDLE CONTEST DETAILS
Contest rules:
1. Each contestant can have up seven (7) entries. You do NOT have to complete all seven steps to play. All you have to do to enter the giveaway is step #2. Completing any combination of the rest will just give you more chances to win.
2. +1 entry. Leave a comment for me here on my website blog at: www.theaharrison.com/blog. Comments made elsewhere, as for example, on Goodreads, Twitter or on my author Facebook page are fun to read, but they do not count as an entry.
REMEMBER: to get extra entries for the contest, you must include in your comment any details you took from steps #3 and #4.
3. +3 more entries (for +1 entry EACH) for following me on Goodreads, on Twitter (@TheaHarrison) and on Facebook (www.facebook.com/TheaHarrison).
(You must include this information in your comment for contest credit!)
4. +3 entries (1 entry EACH) for 1) tweeting about this contest, 2) blogging about it, or 3) linking to it from your website, or other forms of social media.
Help me spread the word about RISING DARKNESS’s release on April 2nd!
(Remember, you must tell me where and include information on this in your comment on my blog for credit).
5. Anyone is welcome to enter this contest, and the giveaway is international / No P.O. Boxes, please. Not for a Kindle shipment.
6. Dates: The contest runs from March 5 – March 26th. With help from random.org, I will announce the winner on March 26th at 12 noon MDT / 2 pm EST.
Have fun with the contest, and good luck!
I follow you on Twitter, Goodreads and Facebook.
(Smurfette_V, SHeri Vidal, Sheri Vidal)
I shared your status about the contest on FB(Sheri Vidal)
I’m not entering but I’m spreading the word. I Tweeted and shared. I really enjoy your work and thank you for the great reads.
Thanks so much, Viki! 🙂
I love your books and can’t wait for Rising Darkness!
I follow on twitter, facebook and goodreads, Ericka Spivey fb, good reads and @ericka102207 on twitter.
I tweeted about the contest and shared on my fb page. 🙂
I follow you on Goodreads and Facebook and am excited to read this new series! Thank you for everything that you do!
I’m so excited about this new series. I’ve marked it on my calendar! I follow you on Goodreads, Twitter (adgrinstead) and FB. I’ve also tweeted about the contest. Have a great day!
Really looking forward to this book, I follow u on twitter and facebook
thanks for the giveaway. i follow on facebook.
Thank you for the giveaway! I adore your Elders series and am looking forward to this series. I follow you on (1)Goodreads and on (2)Facebook…1 Sandra Dillon 2 Sandy Bailey Dillon and I shared on Facebook! Thanks again Thea!! PS Love the pics of Babydoll!
SO excited for the Giveaway!! I follow you already on facebook to keep up with all your release dates..LOVE all your books!! Thank You
Awesome giveaway, thank you!
+1 comment
+1 twitter follower @vanpham88
+1 fb fan: van pham
+1 Goodreads: van pham
I follow you on twitter (triggarickswife)
I follow you on fb (nicole Jackson)
Commenting here.
I tweeted on Twitter: @dianeshirley +1
I follow on FB: diane.c.sadler +1
#182 on my Goodreads shelf! +1
I follow on Twitter @dianeshirley +1
And I’m commenting
Love your series!!! +1
Nice cover and excerpt.
I follow on goodreads (Cindy), FB (Cindy Jade) and twitter (@CindyJade18).
Love your books, I’m looking forward to reading more from you! 🙂
Awesome Give Away!
I follow you on Goodreads and also on FB. Love the Elder Series! Thanks!! 🙂
Hi Thea,
I follow you on facebook and goodreads. I can’t wait for you new book as all your others were so addictive!! Keep publishing for us 😀
Claire
Hi, I follow you on goodreads and twitter. Thanks
If I woke up like that, I’d be terrified. Thanks for sharing the excerpt!
I follow on both Twitter and Facebook, and have tweeted here.
I really had to think about the little subtracton problem there!! 🙂 love your books and writing, will be waiting for the novella release from samhain and for rising darkness. I followed you on facebook and twitter, stregamari both places 🙂
thanks for the awesome giveaway!
+1 comment entry
+1 twitter follower @apham17
+1 FB Fan: Andrew Pham
+1 tweeted : https://twitter.com/apham17/status/309830552133959680
I just finished Elder Races 1-5 and love them! Can’t wait for more!
I follow you on goodreads
I have been in love with your writing since Dragon Bound.
I am a fan on both Goodreads and Facebook as well.
awesome giveaway, thanks!
followed on twitter (@kanuk81) and facebook (Jay M.)
Thanks so much for the generous giveaway Thea! 😀
+1 commented
+1 Twitter follower as @Stella_ExLibris
+1 FB fan as Stella Ex Libris
+1 Goodreads follower as as Stella (Ex Libris)
+1 tweeted here: https://twitter.com/Stella_ExLibris/status/310518607304093696
+1 spread the word on FB here: https://www.facebook.com/stella.exlibris.1/posts/448759501859533
Thank you! *fingers crossed* 🙂
thanks so much for the giveaway, Thea. you are a new for me author. and i would really really like to hava a kindle 😀
+1 comment
+1 fb follower : mariska hadienns
+1 twitter follower : @becunique
I want to win your Kindle so that I can read books easily anywhere. 😀
*Following you on Goodreads (Name: Debie Grace)
*Following you on Twitter (@superdhebz)
*Liked your FB page (Name: Debie Grace)
*Tweeted about the giveaway and your book (https://twitter.com/superdhebz/status/310561618079649793)
*Shared your link to my FB account (https://www.facebook.com/whereisthissunyouspeakof/posts/227959514015280) 😀
wow.. kindle.. i’d love to win this. thanks thea!
+1 comment
+1 fb follow (sienny zne)
+1 gr follow (sienny)
Thanks for the awesome giveaway!
+1 comment
+1 goodreads : erin f
Thanks for the giveaway and for making it international. :))
Congratulations on the upcoming release of Rising Darkness.
Twitter follower acm05
FB fan Anne M.
Good Reads Anne
HI Thea. Congrats on the upcoming release of Rising Darkness. I love the cover.
I am a twitter follower. CrystalGB
I am a facebook fan. Crystal Broyles
Thank you for the awesome contest. 🙂
Crystal816[at]hotmail[dot]com
I just started reading your series The Elder Race so far I love it…. follow you on facebook and goodreads… 🙂
I am totally in love with your writing. I am a big fan of the Elder Races series and just finished reading LORD’s FALL which was excellent. I am excited to bite into this new series (which is pre-ordered) already.
I am a FB and Good Reads follower (Sandy LIon), as well as twitter (@sdylion).
I tweeted: https://twitter.com/SdyLion/status/311221376184905729
and spread the word on FB:http://www.facebook.com/sgstoops/activity/517629168280223?og_perm_src=OPEN_GRAPH_SINGLE_STORY
and spread on google+:
https://plus.google.com/u/0/110065925510693017576/posts/hvFG6RsDuEf
I follow the blog and want to thank you for the giveaway opportunity,
sdylion(at)gmail(dot)com
I follow on facebook and goodreads. Love your books!
Thank you for running this competion but just out of curiosity will your kindle be loaded with your book? Having made a comment on your facebook page about e-readers I’m really crossing my fingers for luck.. I thoroughly enjoy your Elder Races series but have not yet begun the Shadow series although I’m looking forward to it.
(Please could you explain why there is a maths problem to be solved above the comment box.)
Thanks for the great contest!
I follow you on Twitter (sandymattgtbtu) +1
I am a Facebook fan (romancescribe) +1
I’m a fan at Goodreads (sandym) +1
I tweeted the contest +1
I posted the contest on Facebook +1
Hello can’t wait to see what is coming next in your books.
I follow you with Goodreads as a fan and on twitter as @1wren.
I also shared on twitter: https://twitter.com/TheaHarrison/status/314146398641741824
I am so excited every time one of your books is published – thank you for making my world a much better place! I followed you on FB, twitter, and Goodreads (Joy Purcell, Daniel Campbell, Joy Purcell).
Oh, love this!!
I´m a fan on both FB & GR (Linda Larsson & fr_larsson), i follow on twitter (@fr_larsson) and i tweeted /https://twitter.com/fr_larsson/status/316260566949830656)
Thanks for the giveaway, Happy Release & Happy Monday!
//Linda
I thought I already participated, but can’t find my entry. … I follow you on facebook and look forward to anything to devour out of your pen, keybord, whatever 😉
happy release day!
manuela
I love your books and can’t wait to read this one as well. I follow you on twitter, facebook and goodreads. Thanks for the chance to win.
Love your books and can’t wait for the next one to come out.
I follow you on Twitter as @scarymary66
I follow you on fb as Mary Kirkland
I tweeted the contest- https://twitter.com/scarymary66/status/316277747846635521
miztik_rose@yahoo.com
Love all your books! Write faster, please….LOL.
Cant wait for the new book!
I follow you on Goodreads &Facebook as flowerlady
I follow you on FB and Goodreads. I shared your book release and contest on FB.
FB and Goodreads under Susan McQuade
I follow you on FB and Goodreads. On FB under Ashley Myers- Clark and Ashley Clark on Goodreads. Love your books!! 🙂
I love reading your books, they are so entertaining. I pre-ordered your next book.
+1 for sharing on Facebook
+1 for Goodreads.
+1 for Twitter: https://twitter.com/BrendaG_131
So excited about this contest. I can’t wait to read Rising Darkness. 1
FB Follower (Sheryl Stanley Nyary) 1
Twitter Follower (@sheryllynne74) 1
Goodreads (Sheryl Nyary) 1
I posted contest to Twitter and my FB 2
Total of 6
Thank you for sharing the fun and joy with us. Congratulations on the upcoming release, looking forward to the read.
Facebook / Goodreads follow Denise Zaky
Twitter follow @ZDz59001
FB post – https://www.facebook.com/denise.zaky
tweeted – https://twitter.com/ZDz59001/status/316416754530271232
(total 6) dz59001[at]gmail[dot]com
Congrats on your upcoming release! I cannot wait for it to hit bookshelves!
+1 Twitter: LadyVampire2u
+1 Goodreads: Lady Vampire
+1 Facebook: Aprille Shadowspeak
+1 Tweet: https://twitter.com/LadyVampire2u/status/316472714472853504