The Deep End of the Sea Blog Tour: Excerpt + Giveaway

Welcome to my stop on the blog tour for The Deep End of the Sea by Heather Lyons! Today I have a great excerpt from the book to share with you and don't forget to scroll down and enter the giveaway!

The Deep End of the Sea

Author: Heather Lyons

Genre: YA/New Adult Fantasy/Mythology

Release Date: February 13, 2014

Description:

What if all the legends you’ve learned were wrong?

Brutally attacked by one god and unfairly cursed by another she faithfully served, Medusa has spent the last two thousand years living out her punishment on an enchanted isle in the Aegean Sea. A far cry from the monster legends depict, she’s spent her time educating herself, gardening, and desperately trying to frighten away adventure seekers who occasionally end up, much to her dismay, as statues when they manage to catch her off guard. As time marches on without her, Medusa wishes for nothing more than to be given a second chance at a life stolen away at far too young an age.

But then comes a day when Hermes, one of the few friends she still has and the only deity she trusts, petitions the rest of the gods and goddesses to reverse the curse. Thus begins a journey toward healing and redemption, of reclaiming a life after tragedy, and of just how powerful friendship and love can be—because sometimes, you have to sink in the deep end of the sea before you can rise back up again. 

My favorite god strolls into this main room of the temple, a warm smile gracing his divinely gorgeous face. “Greetings! And how are you on this wonderful day?”

I wait until he’s a few steps away before putting a hand out. Fool would hug me if I let him. Has he no sense of self-preservation? Even though he must already know it, I tell him, “I killed somebody yesterday.”

His well-loved Vans sneakers squeak against the worn tiles as he comes to a halt, my outstretched hand half an inch away from his chest. I drop it as he says, “It’s not your fault.”

“Really? I think Walt would disagree.”

I know it sounds foolish and typical, especially since he’s a god and all, but when Hermes smiles, it’s really breathtaking. My breath catches as he says, “Ah. A poet, then?”

He knows me too well. “I’d been reading Whitman this last week. It seems fitting.”

He attempts to move closer, so I shift backwards and motion him towards his chair. Hermes is here enough that I’ve designated a chair to be his exclusively; Mikkos has one, too. But then, it’s not like I have a ton of visitors who clamor for my company, so giving my closest friends their own seats in my home wasn’t a huge burden. Plus, as Hermes was responsible for bringing me the furniture in the first place, I figure he has every right to find comfort here. “He knew the risks,” Hermes tells me. “Plus, if you want to blame anybody for that man’s death, go ahead and blame my sister.”

It’s a common saying from Hermes, and one I secretly cling to in the dark of night, when my life and deeds press heavily against my heart. Isn’t it always easier to
blame somebody else for our actions? But no, that’s not fair, because it was my responsibility to be more careful.

“Or,” Hermes says, his dazzling smile now bittersweet and wry, “my bastard of an uncle.”

I push my glasses closer to my face. Paranoia over losing him due to any carelessness on my behalf is a constant companion during his visits. “I don’t want to talk about that.” And I don’t. I may tell Hermes nearly everything, but this is not a subject I wade into voluntarily.

“Dusa, it’s been two thousand years—”

Nice way to butter me up, reminding me how old I am and all. “Your point?”

“My point being that after such a lengthy amount of time, I don’t think you’ve ever come to terms with what has happened to you.”

I laugh. I mean, really. How can he say such a thing with a straight face? “Don’t be ridiculous. Of course I have.”

The snakes under my wrap hiss loudly; I tap on the mass to quiet them down.

“If that is the case, then you surely won’t mind if I talk to the Assembly about the matter.”

“No!” The word echoes throughout my statue-filled, yet unbearably empty home. 

Hermes studies me for a long moment. I try not to squirm under his gaze, but it’s difficult. His eyes, a beautiful blue-green that alters with his moods, are piercing, like they can see straight through skin and into cells that make a person whole. Today, they are a happy medium of the two shades. I have to look away, though. It’s too easy to get lost in such eyes.

“Give me a good enough reason not to.”

We’ve had this conversation more times than I can count. “You know why.”

He runs a hand through his sandy hair, a bit longer lately than he’s worn it for years. I rather like it this way, all askew and artful at the same time. “While I can understand your hesitation—”

I know him well enough to not fear disagreeing. “You most certainly do not.”

He sighs in quiet frustration.

“Hermes.” I lower myself onto a chaise, as it’s the only kind of furniture suitable for reptilian bodies, and pick at a worn spot near the seam. I’ve put off reupholstering it far too long. “We’ve gone over this.”
I sneak a quick peek over at him as he leans forward, arms against his knees. He’s wearing one of my favorite t-shirts of his, a thin and fraying red one whose picture of a surfer has faded to the point of obscurity. The first time I saw him in it, I thought him to be exactly what a beach bum traversing the Mediterranean ought to look like—all gorgeous and golden in skin and hair. As I find him to be the most beautiful person I’ve ever met, inside and out, I can only imagine how the ladies in the outside world must fall at his feet.

I often imagine what his life—and everyone else’s—must be like nowadays. What it’d be like to walk in a city with buildings as high as the sky and transportation as fast as the wind. And I wonder, as I have for the bulk of our relationship, just what it is he gets out of these visits, and from me. Because he is a god, a beautiful one who’s charming and intelligent and witty, and I am a monster that kills unsuspecting adventurers.

In all these years we have been friends, I’ve been too afraid to ask why he keeps coming back. Because there’s always the fear that, one day, he’ll choose not to. 

Heather Lyons has always had a thing for words—She’s been writing stories since she was a kid. In addition to writing, she’s also been an archaeologist and a teacher. Heather is a rabid music fan, as evidenced by her (mostly) music-centric blog, and she’s married to an even larger music snob. They’re happily raising three kids who are mini music fiends who love to read and be read to.  

Links:

Website: http://www.heatherlyons.net

Author Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/heatherlyons

Twitter: https://twitter.com/hymheather

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/heatherlyonsbooks?fref=ts

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/hymheather/

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Follow the rest of the tour:

February 12

Lovin Los Libros-Character Interview (Medusa)
Vilma’s Book Blog-Excerpt and Review
Bookaholics Anonymous-Review Only
Books She Reads-Review Only

February 13

A Bookish Escape-Review Only
The Book Beacon-Review Only
The Road is You-Review Only

February 14

TSK TSK What to Read-Playlist and Review
Romance Addict-Review Only
Imagine A World-Review Only
Movies Shows & Books-Guest Post
A Nook for Books-Review Only

February 15

Book Briefs-Character Interview (Hermes) & Review
Seeing Night Reviews-Review Only
Part of that World-Review Only

February 16

A Dream Within A Dream-Excerpt
Rumpled Sheets Blog-Review Only
The Phantom Paragrapher-Review Only

February 17

Cocktails and Books-Excerpt and Review
Reading the Alphabet-Review Only
Pandora’s Books-Review Only
The Book Trollop-Review Only

February 18

Starbucks N Books-Guest Post and Review
Riverina Romantics-Review Only
Sofia Loves Books-Review Only
Nomi’s Paranormal Palace-Review Only

February 19

The Book Hookup-Review Only
ReaderGirls-Excerpt
Total Book Geek-Review Only
Kat’s Book Buzz-Review Only

February 20

Library of a Bookwitch-Guest Post and Review
Kate’s Tales of Books & Bands-Review Only
Gabic Reads-Review Only
Dowie’s Place-Review Only

February 21

Book Nerds Across America-Review Only
Poisoned Rationality-Author Interview and Review
Bound by Books-Review Only
Alii’s book Jungle-Review Only

February 22

The Book Whisperer-Review Only
Behind Closed Covers-Guest Post and Review
The Bo0ki3-Review Only
Confessions from Romaholics-Review Only

February 23

Not Everyone’s Mama-Review Only
WTF Are You Reading?-Guest Post and Review
NWA Gossip Girl-Review Only
No BS Book Reviews-Review Only

February 24

What’s Beyond Forks-Dream Cast and Review
My Favorite Things-Review Only
The Unofficial Addiction Book Fan Club-Review Only
Imaginary Reads-Author Interview

February 25

Pink Fluffy Hearts-Excerpt
Book Angel Booktopia-Fun & Different Idea and Review