Welcome to my stop on the Howling Heart blog tour being presented by IFB Tours! Today I have an excerpt from the book for you and don't forget to scroll to the bottom of the post to enter the tour wide giveaway!
The Howling Heart
Author: April Bostic
Genre: Fantasy/Paranormal
Release Date: August 1, 2013
Publisher: Eternal Press
Buy Links: Amazon
Description:
Paige Donovan is an
ambitious college graduate who aspires to reach the top of the corporate
ladder. She’s climbing fast when she's given the promotion of a
lifetime at a prestigious fashion magazine in New York City. Her bright
future comes to an unexpected halt after news of her father’s death. She
inherits his old cabin in the Colorado Rockies, and just when she
thinks her luck couldn’t get any worse, she has a car accident in the
mountains and awakens in the small, remote community of Black River.
Soon, she’s engulfed in the mystical world of Varulv---wolves descended from 12th century Scandinavia and blessed by Norse gods with the ability to appear human. Paige is desperate to return home, but she never expects to fall for her rescuer, Riley Gray, a charming young werewolf from England who offers her an alternate future with his pack.
Now, she must choose between the career she’s always wanted and the love she’s always dreamed.
Soon, she’s engulfed in the mystical world of Varulv---wolves descended from 12th century Scandinavia and blessed by Norse gods with the ability to appear human. Paige is desperate to return home, but she never expects to fall for her rescuer, Riley Gray, a charming young werewolf from England who offers her an alternate future with his pack.
Now, she must choose between the career she’s always wanted and the love she’s always dreamed.
That night, I invited some close friends and a few co-workers to my apartment.
Trevor was there, but we couldn’t act like a couple. It really sucked I couldn’t express my
feelings for him in my own home.
My best friend, Julie, was at the party and decided to help our situation. While I
chatted with a few guests, she approached me and whispered in my ear. “Take Trevor
into the bedroom for a few minutes and make out with him.”
I almost spit out my champagne. She laughed and her olive green eyes blinked
innocently. “You know you want to. Just look at him over there.”
I turned around and saw Trevor leaning against a wall with a champagne glass in
one hand. He looked delectable and handsome in his simple black t-shirt and denim jeans. He had hit the gym extra hard lately and it was definitely paying off. The short
sleeves showed off his muscular arms.
I took another sip of my champagne and mumbled, “Um, maybe later.”
Julie shrugged before she walked away. “Suit yourself.”
Later became sooner when I finally decided I wanted a private moment with my
boyfriend. Unfortunately, I couldn’t find him. I decided to ask Julie, but ironically, she
was anxious to tell me something.
She approached me with a worried look on her face. “Paige, you need to go
outside,” she said urgently.
In less than a second, my expression changed from concern to confusion.
“What?”
“Go outside. I would come with you, but you need to see it for yourself.”
“See what?” I felt uneasy by her insistence and swallowed hard. I wasn’t sure I
wanted to see this.
“Just go! Hurry!”
She took my glass and I walked swiftly out my apartment door and down the hall.
I had almost made it outside, but didn’t need to take another step. I saw what Julie
wanted me to see: Trevor and Heather in a romantic lip-lock.
Anger boiled inside me and quickly bubbled over. “Trevor!” I was surprised my
voice didn’t break the glass on the entrance door.
Still in a lover’s embrace, Trevor and Heather unsealed their lips from one
another and looked at me standing in the hall. My vision quickly blurred with tears of
betrayal. When Trevor’s wide eyes met my gaze, I ran out the entrance door and
attacked him. My fists pounded into him, but he managed to push me off his body. He grabbed my arms in a vice grip. “Paige! Calm down!”
I struggled against his hold until he released me. Then I slapped his face as hard
as I could.
He doubled-over, and I heard Heather’s shrill voice. “You’re one crazy bitch!”
I think primal rage took control of me after hearing her annoying voice, because
the next thing I remember, Julie pulled me off Heather and she ran down the street
crying.
Trevor leaned against a parked car, his left cheek bright red from my hand. I
approached him slowly and his whole body stiffened in caution. I felt tears on my cheeks
and my vision was still blurry.
The boil inside me had cooled to a simmer, so I spoke calmly. “You were just
using her, right? That kiss meant nothing? She means nothing?”
He took a deep breath and looked me in the eye. “Yeah.”
I wasn’t surprised he lied to my face. I scoffed, and felt insulted he thought I was
stupid and blind. “Yeah right.”
I turned to walk back into my apartment building. That’s when he said, “Paige, I
swear! You have to trust me!”
I wanted to keep walking, but I like to have the last word. I turned around and
shook my head. I even smiled, but it wasn’t friendly. “Fuck you. Why should I ever trust
you again? Get out of here and don’t ever come back. Don’t text me or talk to me at work.
We’re over.”
Luckily, he didn’t argue with me or else I would’ve had to kick him in the balls.
My hands ached and I felt something itchy. I looked at them and saw long blonde strands wrapped around my fingers. I must’ve pulled out Heather’s hair during our fight.
I smiled to myself. I hope she has a bald patch.
When I got back inside my apartment, I put on a mask of indifference. I didn’t
want people to see I was on the verge of exploding in tears.
Julie came up to me with gentle and kind eyes. “Do you want everyone to leave?
I’m sure they’ll understand.”
“This is great, isn’t it? I'm supposed to be celebrating the opportunity of a lifetime,
and instead I find my boyfriend cheating on me.”
I laughed, and I think I approached delirium because I couldn't stop. Julie gave
me a concerned look, and put her hands on my arms, which stopped my crazed laughing
fit.
“I’m sorry, but you had to know. I saw them when I was going outside to smoke a
cigarette. They didn’t see me, so I ran back in to tell you so you could see it for yourself.”
“Gee, thanks,” I said with false gratitude.
I went to the kitchen counter to pour myself another drink. I gulped down an
entire glass of champagne and then proceeded to pour another one.
Julie took the bottle from me and spoke gently. “Don't worry. You'll meet a guy
who will love you the way you deserve.”
“Not in this city,” I scoffed, pessimism lacing my words.
She smiled sympathetically, stood behind me, and slipped her arms around my
waist as she placed her head on my shoulder.
She sounded wistful when she said, “Yeah, maybe not, but he's out there...just
waiting for a girl like you.”My house phone rang and I sluggishly made my way over to answer it. I saw my
mother's number on the Caller ID.
“Hi, Mom.” I remembered I hadn't told her about my promotion. “Guess what?
Nina promoted me at work today. I was going to call and tell you. She named me
Creative Designer.” I tried to sound cheerful, but was too weary from my break-up with
Trevor.
“That’s nice.” She didn't sound thrilled, and my heart dropped like a stone to the
pit of my stomach. She sighed heavily. “Oh, God, your promotion makes what I have to
tell you more difficult.”
“What do you mean?” Something told me this might be a private conversation.
“Hold on, I’m going to talk to you in my room. I'm having a party to celebrate my
promotion, so it’s a little noisy.” I carried the cordless phone into my bedroom and
closed the door. “Okay, what were you saying?” I sat on the bed and cradled the phone
against my ear.
“It’s your father.” She paused, and I had a feeling she was about to drop a bomb
on me. “He’s dead.”
Yep, she did.
I stood and yelled into the receiver, “What do you mean he’s dead?”
“He had a heart attack this evening. The doctors at the hospital couldn’t save
him.”
My brain tried to process this horrifying news and I couldn’t spare tears to burst
out crying like I wanted. I had used so many on Trevor's infidelity.
“Look, I can’t handle this right now. I just caught Trevor cheating on me and--”
“To hell with Trevor! This is your father! He’s dead!”
Trevor was there, but we couldn’t act like a couple. It really sucked I couldn’t express my
feelings for him in my own home.
My best friend, Julie, was at the party and decided to help our situation. While I
chatted with a few guests, she approached me and whispered in my ear. “Take Trevor
into the bedroom for a few minutes and make out with him.”
I almost spit out my champagne. She laughed and her olive green eyes blinked
innocently. “You know you want to. Just look at him over there.”
I turned around and saw Trevor leaning against a wall with a champagne glass in
one hand. He looked delectable and handsome in his simple black t-shirt and denim jeans. He had hit the gym extra hard lately and it was definitely paying off. The short
sleeves showed off his muscular arms.
I took another sip of my champagne and mumbled, “Um, maybe later.”
Julie shrugged before she walked away. “Suit yourself.”
Later became sooner when I finally decided I wanted a private moment with my
boyfriend. Unfortunately, I couldn’t find him. I decided to ask Julie, but ironically, she
was anxious to tell me something.
She approached me with a worried look on her face. “Paige, you need to go
outside,” she said urgently.
In less than a second, my expression changed from concern to confusion.
“What?”
“Go outside. I would come with you, but you need to see it for yourself.”
“See what?” I felt uneasy by her insistence and swallowed hard. I wasn’t sure I
wanted to see this.
“Just go! Hurry!”
She took my glass and I walked swiftly out my apartment door and down the hall.
I had almost made it outside, but didn’t need to take another step. I saw what Julie
wanted me to see: Trevor and Heather in a romantic lip-lock.
Anger boiled inside me and quickly bubbled over. “Trevor!” I was surprised my
voice didn’t break the glass on the entrance door.
Still in a lover’s embrace, Trevor and Heather unsealed their lips from one
another and looked at me standing in the hall. My vision quickly blurred with tears of
betrayal. When Trevor’s wide eyes met my gaze, I ran out the entrance door and
attacked him. My fists pounded into him, but he managed to push me off his body. He grabbed my arms in a vice grip. “Paige! Calm down!”
I struggled against his hold until he released me. Then I slapped his face as hard
as I could.
He doubled-over, and I heard Heather’s shrill voice. “You’re one crazy bitch!”
I think primal rage took control of me after hearing her annoying voice, because
the next thing I remember, Julie pulled me off Heather and she ran down the street
crying.
Trevor leaned against a parked car, his left cheek bright red from my hand. I
approached him slowly and his whole body stiffened in caution. I felt tears on my cheeks
and my vision was still blurry.
The boil inside me had cooled to a simmer, so I spoke calmly. “You were just
using her, right? That kiss meant nothing? She means nothing?”
He took a deep breath and looked me in the eye. “Yeah.”
I wasn’t surprised he lied to my face. I scoffed, and felt insulted he thought I was
stupid and blind. “Yeah right.”
I turned to walk back into my apartment building. That’s when he said, “Paige, I
swear! You have to trust me!”
I wanted to keep walking, but I like to have the last word. I turned around and
shook my head. I even smiled, but it wasn’t friendly. “Fuck you. Why should I ever trust
you again? Get out of here and don’t ever come back. Don’t text me or talk to me at work.
We’re over.”
Luckily, he didn’t argue with me or else I would’ve had to kick him in the balls.
My hands ached and I felt something itchy. I looked at them and saw long blonde strands wrapped around my fingers. I must’ve pulled out Heather’s hair during our fight.
I smiled to myself. I hope she has a bald patch.
When I got back inside my apartment, I put on a mask of indifference. I didn’t
want people to see I was on the verge of exploding in tears.
Julie came up to me with gentle and kind eyes. “Do you want everyone to leave?
I’m sure they’ll understand.”
“This is great, isn’t it? I'm supposed to be celebrating the opportunity of a lifetime,
and instead I find my boyfriend cheating on me.”
I laughed, and I think I approached delirium because I couldn't stop. Julie gave
me a concerned look, and put her hands on my arms, which stopped my crazed laughing
fit.
“I’m sorry, but you had to know. I saw them when I was going outside to smoke a
cigarette. They didn’t see me, so I ran back in to tell you so you could see it for yourself.”
“Gee, thanks,” I said with false gratitude.
I went to the kitchen counter to pour myself another drink. I gulped down an
entire glass of champagne and then proceeded to pour another one.
Julie took the bottle from me and spoke gently. “Don't worry. You'll meet a guy
who will love you the way you deserve.”
“Not in this city,” I scoffed, pessimism lacing my words.
She smiled sympathetically, stood behind me, and slipped her arms around my
waist as she placed her head on my shoulder.
She sounded wistful when she said, “Yeah, maybe not, but he's out there...just
waiting for a girl like you.”My house phone rang and I sluggishly made my way over to answer it. I saw my
mother's number on the Caller ID.
“Hi, Mom.” I remembered I hadn't told her about my promotion. “Guess what?
Nina promoted me at work today. I was going to call and tell you. She named me
Creative Designer.” I tried to sound cheerful, but was too weary from my break-up with
Trevor.
“That’s nice.” She didn't sound thrilled, and my heart dropped like a stone to the
pit of my stomach. She sighed heavily. “Oh, God, your promotion makes what I have to
tell you more difficult.”
“What do you mean?” Something told me this might be a private conversation.
“Hold on, I’m going to talk to you in my room. I'm having a party to celebrate my
promotion, so it’s a little noisy.” I carried the cordless phone into my bedroom and
closed the door. “Okay, what were you saying?” I sat on the bed and cradled the phone
against my ear.
“It’s your father.” She paused, and I had a feeling she was about to drop a bomb
on me. “He’s dead.”
Yep, she did.
I stood and yelled into the receiver, “What do you mean he’s dead?”
“He had a heart attack this evening. The doctors at the hospital couldn’t save
him.”
My brain tried to process this horrifying news and I couldn’t spare tears to burst
out crying like I wanted. I had used so many on Trevor's infidelity.
“Look, I can’t handle this right now. I just caught Trevor cheating on me and--”
“To hell with Trevor! This is your father! He’s dead!”
“I know! I said I can’t handle this right now!”
“Well, you’re going to have to. You’re his only child, so you have to arrange his
funeral. Come to the hospital now. I’m not dealing with this alone.”
I couldn’t speak. I felt like my world just crashed down on me. Earlier today, a
new path to my future shined brightly with promise. Now my lips trembled violently and
my tear ducts finally exploded. Grief struck me hard and I fell on my bed. I dropped the
phone next to me and cried. This was the only way I knew how to handle losing my
father. I hope my mother was satisfied now.
“Well, you’re going to have to. You’re his only child, so you have to arrange his
funeral. Come to the hospital now. I’m not dealing with this alone.”
I couldn’t speak. I felt like my world just crashed down on me. Earlier today, a
new path to my future shined brightly with promise. Now my lips trembled violently and
my tear ducts finally exploded. Grief struck me hard and I fell on my bed. I dropped the
phone next to me and cried. This was the only way I knew how to handle losing my
father. I hope my mother was satisfied now.
April
Bostic is a New Jersey-based romance author who enjoys unleashing her
creativity and letting her imagination run wild. Her love of romance
books
inspired her to become not just a reader, but also a writer. In
December 2008, she self-published her first novel, a contemporary
romance with a supernatural twist entitled "A Rose to the Fallen". Her
first short story, "Right Here, Right Now", released in January 2012 is
an erotic romance with a dash of S&M. The following year, she
released two more short stories: a romantic urban fantasy inspired by
the Greek myth of Eros and Psyche entitled "Eros, My Love", and a sexy
romantic comedy entitled "Love Addiction". After five years, she will
release her second novel "The Howling Heart" in August 2013, a
paranormal romance that delves into the mystical world of werewolves and
Norse gods.
Cool excerpt. Thanks for participating :)
ReplyDeleteI love paranormal romance especial involving either werewolves or vampires. Cannot wait to read this book. Thank you for the giveaway.
ReplyDelete