Author: Alex Hayes
Genre: YA/New Adult Paranormal Romance
Publication Date: August 6, 2019
Description:
All Dean wants is to escape…
But he can’t leave his younger brother, Ty, in the care of their alcoholic mother. And when their abusive father shows up, Dean has to get Ty out. Which means joining Shri — his best and only friend — in taking a job out of state and breaking the law by stealing his brother away.
Cadi’s life is almost back together after Dean blew it into a million pieces. She’s come to terms with her life as a shape-shifter — well, almost. She’s still trying to wrap her head around the fact that a vicious enemy is out to destroy the remnants of her people.
As if Cadi doesn’t have enough to deal with, Dean’s about to land on her front doorstep, forcing her to decide whether to let him into her secret world or slam the door in his face.
The Chameleon Effect series, starring shape-shifter teens with extraordinary superpowers, is sure to appeal to Young Adult and New Adult readers who enjoy romance with a paranormal twist.
Dean tugs at my sleeve. “Look, maybe it’s time we talked.”
Breath catches in my throat. “A-About what?” I don’t stop walking.
“About us?”
My heart threatens to burst out of my chest. “There is no us, Dean.”
The phone in my pocket buzzes like an angry bee. I ignore it.
“Cadi, I didn’t mean it like that.” Dean’s tone is irritated. “I’m talking about everything that happened before you left. I made a mistake… several mistakes, and I’m sorry. Hurting you was the last thing I intended.”
“Well, I got over it. Coming here worked out for me. Everything’s fine.”
“Then why won’t you talk to me?”
My eyes drop to the ground. “I am talking to you, Dean.”
He barks out a laugh. “This isn’t talking, Cadi. You act like you’re dodging bullets.”
I sigh and drop my pace. “We’ve been down this path before.” I roll my eyes at my own cliché. “Not this literal path…” Ugh, obviously. “I mean… you know what I mean. There are some things you’re better off not knowing.”
Like I’m an alien, a refugee from another planet, who is green and scaly in her natural form and has a bond mate who could fry your eardrums and kick your ass to the moon. At the same time.
“Why is telling the truth such a scary thing for you?”
I drag my fingers through my hair. “Because I seriously don’t think you could handle it.” I glare at him, anger blooming in my chest. “You shouldn’t have come here.”
His hands clench. “I had no choice! Do you think I wanted to come face to face with you again, knowing you hate my guts?”
“I do not hate your guts,” I growl. “I just wish you’d…” I huff, “stayed out of my life.” I expect him to storm off, but he doesn’t.
“Well, I can’t,” he responds, icily. “Tom hired me to do a job. If you want to treat me like shit, go ahead. I’m used to it. But I’m not leaving.”
My heart clenches. Now I feel like shit. “I never meant to treat you like… anything. Or hurt you.” I stop short and stare at him. “But I have to protect myself.”
His eyes reflect pain and disappointment. “I’m your friend, Cadi. You shouldn’t have to protect yourself from me.” He shakes his head and strides away.
Alex Hayes wrote her first fiction story when she was twelve. Inspired by her mother’s storytelling, she began work on her first novel, Ice Cracks, at eighteen. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree in English, Creative Writing from San Francisco State University. In her twenties, she moved from Marin County, California to Boston, Massachusetts, where she built a career as an IT professional in database engineering. In 2004, she self-published Ice Cracks, which became a semi-finalist in the 2005 IPPY Awards.
Alex splits her time between Grand Junction, Colorado and Guanajuato, Mexico. When she isn’t writing, she’s helping her partner, Lee, renovate a 450 year old hacienda. She is mother to one beautiful daughter and many wonderful cats.
Thanks for hosting today, Steph! :)
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to reading this series. Thank you
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