Today is the release of the second installment in the DARK PARADISE SERIES. DARK SACRIFICE, and I am thrilled to be hosting this day for the awesome Angie Sandro. I am currently reading Dark Sacrifice and can not wait to post my review. So far I can tell you guys this is a must read!!! A page turner like the first book Dark Paradise.
DARK SACRIFICE
Angie Sandro
August 5, 2014
Grand Central Publishing/ Forever Yours
A GIFT AND A CURSE
Mala LaCroix sees dead people -really. After using her psychic gifts to catch a killer, she's locked in a psych ward and must strike a deal with the devil to secure her release. Apprenticed to a dark arts practitioner, Mala vows to free herself and save her loved ones from danger. But she doesn't know who to turn to when her crush on Landry Prince turns into something more serious.
A FATE WORSE THAN DEATH
Landry has sacrificed everything to protect Mala. A near-death experience changes him forever, and now he, too, possesses supernatural powers he doesn't understand. Mala and Landry must band together to defeat the dark forces-both human and otherworldly-who would use their abilities for evil. Even as they fall for each other, they must prepare to battle for their very souls .
EXCERPT:
On
Saturdays, the local farmers set up a market in Paradise Park. I plan to do my
veggie shopping there since I didn’t get my garden planted this year. The
streets bordering the park are packed. I’m lucky to find a spot in the parking
lot of First National Bank kitty-corner from the Memorial Rose Garden. Colorful
tents are lined up in orderly rows in the square. Each section is separated,
with the organic foods in one row and regular folk who want to sell extra
produce in the other. Local shops also set up booths selling everything from
pastries, coffee and tea, handmade clothing and soaps, fresh eggs, organic
meat, and toys and games. A freaktastic clown stands on the street corner with
a tank of helium and a gaggle of kids around him. I’m tempted to buy Landry a
balloon to cheer him up.
The
passenger door slams shut as soon as I shut off the engine. Landry wastes no
time coming around to open my door and lift me to the ground before I can
squawk in protest. He strides off while I grab my cloth shopping bag, leaving
me to stare after his retreating back in shock. When he’s halfway across the
street, he pauses and turns around.
“This is
your idea. Hurry,” he yells.
“I’m
coming.” I shut the door and run to catch up. When I reach him, he moves around
me until I’m on his blind side. He starts forward again, but slows his steps so
they match mine. If I didn’t know him so well, I’d think he didn’t have a care
in the world, but I do. He walks like he did in jail—shoulders back and tight,
chest slightly raised. He scans the area, alert for a threat.
I take
his hand, squeezing when he tries to pull away.
We blend
into the crowd, strolling up and down the rows. It’s a mix of people of all
ages. A few people say “hi.” Most don’t. A large percentage of them stare. I
feel like I’m at the mercy of paparazzi.
“Smile
and wave,” I mutter from the corner of my mouth, jabbing Landry in the side
with my elbow.
“Huh?”
“You’re
acting like you’ve done something wrong, but you haven’t. Don’t let these fools
see you sweat. Weakness breeds violence. Like a silverback gorilla in the
jungle, you need to beat your chest and fling your poop at someone.”
His
snort-laugh doubles him over, and I pat him on the back. “That’s perfect,” I
say. “No worries.”
He turns
and lifts me into a breath-stealing hug. “Thanks,” he whispers in my ear and
presses a brotherly kiss to my forehead. Wish he’d move his lips a little
lower. Would a few inches kill him?
My voice
comes a little thick and raspy too, and I cough to clear my throat. “No
problem.”
How long
has he been standing here holding me? We have an even larger audience than
before. Now we really are the object of paparazzi-like behavior as people snap
pictures of our embrace with their phones. I wrap my arms around his neck and
press my cheek against his. “Cheese,” I say, grinning for the cameras.
A couple
of high school kids start to laugh.
One
yells, “Give her another kiss, Landry.”
“Yeah,
Landry. Give me a kiss.” I bat my eyelashes, whispering in his ear, “I swear if
you drop me on my ass in public—”
I don’t
have to finish the threat.
His
mouth steals across mine.
I lean into him, head tilting. My arms tighten
around his neck. His lips are soft and juicy, like peaches. Yum. My thoughts
scatter and swirl, leaving only the sensation of his mouth on mine.
He
breaks free first and lowers me to my feet. He avoids my gaze. “Did it work?”
he asks, running his fingers through his black hair so it falls forward to
shield his eye again. He shifts from his forward foot to his back which somehow
puts distance between us without him having to move.
I laugh,
playing off the hurt. “Yeah, we gave our fans a titillating bit of new gossip
to take the place of the old. Rumors about our relationship will be flying
through town before lunch.” I glance around to be sure. The crowd drifts away,
realizing there’s nothing more to see. Even better, nobody hurls insults or
throws dead animals at our heads. “Let’s go.”
GET YOUR COPY AT:
B&N/KOBO/ITUNES/GOOGLE PLAY
Angie Sandro was born at Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri. Within six weeks, she began the first of eleven relocations throughout the United States, Spain, and Guam before the age of eighteen.
Friends were left behind. The only constants in her life were her family and the books she shipped wherever she went. Traveling the world inspired her imagination and allowed her to create her own imaginary friends. Visits to her father's family in Louisiana inspired this story. Angie now lives in Northern California with her husband, two children, and an overweight Labrador.
Friends were left behind. The only constants in her life were her family and the books she shipped wherever she went. Traveling the world inspired her imagination and allowed her to create her own imaginary friends. Visits to her father's family in Louisiana inspired this story. Angie now lives in Northern California with her husband, two children, and an overweight Labrador.
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