Description:
Sophie Galen is an advice columnist who is saving the world - one damned person at a time. Shy and sensitive Sophie has all but given up on love until she meets Marek, a mysterious stranger who seduces her with his striking good looks and his take-charge attitude. Yet the darkness she senses within him may be more than she is prepared to handle when Marek draws her into a world of vampires, werewolves, and treachery. Forced to leave behind the comfortable routines and certainties of her past, Sophie makes unbearable sacrifices and uncovers hidden truths about herself and the world around her.
A dark urban fantasy story with witty dialogues and compelling mythology, Bleeding Hearts is an satisfying read that's easy to like. Plenty of loose ends are left dangling which makes the sequel sound all the more promising! - Carmel (Goodreads)
EXCERPT
“What a waste of money.” A hard voice startled me and snapped my spine
taut. It was hard to misinterpret that particular tone.
I counted to five before turning around. “Sorry? Did you say something?”
A hefty mountain of olive drab, mirrored Oakleys, and black work boots
leaned against the wall of the pizza joint where the awning cast the deepest
shadow. His black knit cap, the kind I imagined muggers favored, enhanced my
perception of a threat. Strong. Harsh. Dangerous. Funny I didn’t see him the
first time I looked--he was sort of hard to miss.
“Of course I did.” Caustic words dripped like acid as he snapped the
collar of his canvas coat up around his ears. “You’re delusional if you think
he’ll go to your little soup kitchen. He’s a drunk. You gave him rum money.”
“How do you know? Just because he’s a bum doesn’t mean he’s...” I
floundered, flustered, fishing for words and not finding them fast enough. “A
bum.”
He laughed, Brillo Pad-on-skinned-knees mean.
“Of course he is. It’s his nature. Why do you think he’s on the street?
Kiss your charity goodbye.” He jammed his hands into his pockets, hunching his
shoulders and looking, if it were at all possible, even more menacing. “You
won’t survive in this city if you don’t stop being so naïve.”
“I am not naïve!” My retort drew alarmed looks from a lady who clutched
her bag and quickened her pace as she passed me. I should have followed her. “I
just don’t think the worst of everyone I meet. Unlike some people, apparently.”
“So when a bum asks for a quarter, you offer to feed him for a lifetime?
This is the city, lady. Learn the rules.”
“Good advice. First rule is, don’t talk to strangers.” I never wanted a
medal for being nice but I didn’t need to be criticized, either. Turning on my
heel, I stomped away.
Mr. Tall Dark And Pushy didn’t seem to get the hint. His low voice grated
across my nerves, sounding uncomfortably close behind. “I’m not finished.”
“Oh yes, you are.” I spun around but, when I saw he still hadn’t moved, I
faltered. I guessed arrogance helped a voice to carry.
Remembering the focus of my irritation, I jabbed my hands onto my hips,
fighting the overwhelming urge to march over to him and do something foolish.
Usually I’m more flight than fight. I should have been running but my smart
mouth had taken over. “I don’t know who you think you are but you’re messing
with the wrong lady.”
“No, I don’t think I am.” He straightened and shrugged his jacket into
place.
I backed up a step, as if the distance between us were inches instead of
feet. It was his reach that worried me. “You don’t think, period. Who even
talks to people like that?”
Even his chuckle was arrogant. “You’ve got spirit.”
“You’ve got nerve. And no, I’m not coming any closer so quit telling me
what to do.”
“I didn’t say a thing.”
“Well—” I sputtered. Didn’t I hear him say it? “Stop—thinking it, then.”
He laughed, sounding delighted to have irked me to the point of
incoherence. Dismissing me with a wave, his tone became more condescending.
“Forget I said anything and go home.”
I fisted my hands, wanting nothing more than to leave, but I had a
historic need to have the last word. When sufficient words failed me I stamped
my foot.
He leaned at the waist, looking over the tops of his sunglasses. His
bright green eyes flashed, much brighter than if they’d simply captured a glint
of sun. “I said, go on home.”
I snapped an about-face and marched all the way to my stop without
pausing. His sardonic laughter taunted me, scalding my cheeks long after I
caught the bus. By the time I got home, I’d forgotten every odd detail,
including the brief realization I hadn’t seen his mouth move when he told me to
leave. The weird occurrences had been swept from my mind, leaving behind a
diluted version of a generic encounter.
I’d forgotten everything except being angry. What can I say? I could hold
a grudge with both hands tied.
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About the author:
Ash Krafton is a writer of all things spec fic. She believes spectacular endings make the best beginnings… Why not? One billion black holes can’t be wrong.
Her first novel BLEEDING HEARTS: Book One of the Demimonde is available through Pink Narcissus Press. The manuscript earned finalist distinction in several Romance Writers of America 2011 competitions and has earned several other awards. The follow-up BLOOD RUSH (Demimonde #2) was published in 2013 and the third installment WOLF’S BANE (Demimonde #3) is expected mid-2014. Her urban fantasy novelette STRANGER AT THE HELL GATE is available through the Black Rose line of The Wild Rose Press.
In addition to novel-length fiction, Ash enjoys writing poetry and short fiction, some of which earned awards and distinction in several national competitions. One of her poems was selected as a Pushcart prize nominee. She’s a member of Pennwriters, RWA, Pikes Peak Writers, SFPA, and the Maryland Writers Association.
She also contributes to Query Tracker’s blog at http://querytracker.blogspot.com.
Ash resides with her family in a rural town in the heart of the Pennsylvania anthracite coal region. She’ll never leave, either, because coal is just another example of a spectacular ending waiting for a brilliant beginning. (It’s kinda fitting.) And because, like a black hole, once you’re in… …you can never get out.
I love this series and I can't wait for Wolfsbane. Thanks for the giveaway opportunity.
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