by Kate L. Mary

Post-Apocalyptic/Zombie Series

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***Warning: Contains Spoilers for Broken World***

Stranded in the middle of the Mojave Desert, surrounded by zombies, Vivian and Axl are sure they’re facing the end. The dead are closing in and the shelter they were promised is sealed tight. Just when they think they’ve run out of time, the doors are thrown open. Five years underground with all the provisions there for the taking. It’s almost too good to be true. With the promise of security, Vivian hopes she’ll finally able to deal with the loss of Emily, her growing feelings for Axl, and the terrifying new world they’re facing.

But their sense of security is soon shattered when they discover the shelter isn’t the utopia they thought it would be. It seems the company that built the shelter decided to solve their financial problems by selling off provisions, which means the group has to find a way to get supplies. Or face starvation.

And Vegas is the closest city.

With her feelings for Axl stronger than ever, Vivian volunteers to accompany him and a few others on a trip into one of the biggest tourist cities in the world. Vegas is overrun with the dead, but there are other survivors as well. Only not everyone they meet is a welcome sight. As the emotional baggage piles up, Vivian and Axl’s bond grows stronger, but it doesn’t take long to realize that zombies aren’t the only thing they have to fear.

“Here goes nothin’,” Axl says, echoing my thoughts.

He leans down and fools with the wires under the steering wheel. The dead bang against the car, but even more have surrounded the sedan. I dig my nails into my legs while I wait for Axl to do whatever he has planned. He grunts, and a few sparks fly. My entire body jerks when the deafening sound of the alarm rings through the car.

The world around us explodes. The bodies go crazy and converge on the car, banging on it with their hands, their bodies, their faces. They leave thick smears of black on the windows as they desperately try to get in. The door handle rattles, and some even climb on top of the car.

They’re wild and frantic. It’s so terrifying that for a moment I can’t remember exactly why we decided to do this. My heart pounds and I cover my ears, trying to block out the sounds of the hammering and the alarm. Trying to keep the terror at bay. All I want to do is run, but there’s nowhere to go. The realization that we’re stuck hits me so hard I start to shake.

Then the sedan drives off. It turns the corner with the truck close behind it, and I relax just a little. They’re going to make it. Nathan and his wife, their daughter. Two other little boys who have years ahead of them. Trey can get back to Parvarti and Winston to his daughter. They will have food and safety. That’s why we chose to commit suicide in this horrifying way.

Axl pries my hands away from my ears and pulls me against his chest. He wraps his arms around me as the pounding continues. He doesn’t say anything, and neither do I. All I can do is watch silently as the truck pulls out of sight.

After a few minutes, he turns the alarm off, but the damage is already done. They know we’re in here, and they won’t give up until they’ve broken in. A crack starts at the corner of the windshield and travels across. Then another. A dead man hurls himself against the glass and pounds his fists. Hundreds of cracks fan out across the windshield in a frightening web pattern, and I have to stifle the urge to scream. It’s safety glass, so it doesn’t give. At least not yet.

“I won’t let them get us.” Axl’s lips brush against my head, and strands of hair fall into my face. They tickle my nose, but I can’t find the motivation to move them aside.

I nod and swallow against the lump in my throat. He doesn’t mean he won’t let them get in, because we both know there’s nothing we can do about that now. Surprisingly though, I’m okay with it. A bullet to the brain sounds a lot better than being ripped apart by the undead.

Kate L. Mary is a stay-at-home mother of four and an Air Force wife. She spent most of her life in a small town just north of Dayton, Ohio where she and her husband met at the age of twelve. Since their marriage in 2002, they have lived in Georgia, Mississippi, South Carolina, and California.

Kate enjoys any post-apocalyptic story – especially if zombies are involved – as long as there is a romantic twist to give the story hope. Kate prefers nerdy, non-traditional heroes that can make you laugh to hunky pieces of man-meat, and her love of wine and chocolate is legendary among her friends and family. She currently resides in Oklahoma with her husband and children.

Website │ Facebook │ Twitter

When a deadly virus sweeps the country, Vivian Thomas sets out for California in hopes of seeing the daughter she gave up for adoption. Then her car breaks down and she’s faced with a choice. Give up, or accept a ride from redneck brothers, Angus and Axl. Vivian knows the offer has more to do with her double D’s than kindness, but she’s prepared to do whatever it takes to reach her daughter.

The virus is spreading, and by the time the group makes it to California, most of the population has been wiped out. When the dead start coming back, Vivian and the others realize that no electricity or running water are the least of their concerns. Now Vivian has to figure out how to be a mother under the most frightening circumstances, cope with Angus’s aggressive mood swings, and sort out her growing attraction to his brooding younger brother, Axl.

While searching for a safe place to go, they pick up a pompous billionaire who may be the answer to all their problems. Trusting him means going into the middle of the Mojave Desert and possibly risking their lives, but with the streets overrun and nowhere else to turn, it seems he might be their only chance for survival.

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Title: Induction Day

Author: PK Hrezo

Series: Butterman Travel, Book 2

Published by: PK Hrezo

Date published: Aug. 31, 2014

Genres: New Adult Fantasy

Book Length: 190 pg

Steam Rating: Sweet & Steamy

Main Characters: Bianca & Tristan

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Is saving 1500 people from death worth losing the only person you love?

The year 2069 is coming to a close, and eighteen-year-old Bianca Butterman’s time-craft license is finally official. She’s ready for the Induction Day she’s waited for since she was a kid—the one that will secure her name on the Butterman family tree of time travelers. But ever since the media discovered Bianca is pop superstar Tristan Helms’ latest new honey, everything Bianca does or says becomes a target of criticism. Having her professional credibility topping the gossip sites across social media is an open invitation for the government to step in and regulate Bianca’s Induction. Now she will have to ask herself if saving 1500 people from drowning is worth losing everything she’s ever worked for, including the Butterman family biz.

Welcome to Butterman Travel, Incorporated; a full service agency designed to meet all your exclusive time travel needs. We’re a family owned and operated business with one hundred years of experience. A place where you can rest assured, safety and reliability always come first.

Anxious to attend some special event from the past? Or for a glimpse of what the future holds? 

You’ve come to the right place. We’re a fully accredited operation, offering an array of services; including, but not limited to: customized travel plans, professionally piloted operations, and personal trip guides. *Terms and conditions do apply

Use our Web conferencing to contact our frontline reservation specialist, Bianca Butterman, who will handle all your inquiries in a professional and efficient manner, offering a tentative itinerary and free fare quote, so you can make the most of your time trip.

We look forward to serving you at Butterman Travel, Inc., where time is always in your hands.

Trailer by DA Botta

PK Hrezo

PK Hrezo is a native Floridian rarely found without her flip flops on. She shares her home with her firefighter husband, their two children, and big dog named Ripley. When not creating characters and their worlds, PK can be found at her other job of rearranging passenger’s itineraries for a major international airline. The only hobbies she loves more than traveling are reading, writing, and music, and when the four are combined she exists in total bliss.

Purchase links are available via my website at http://down-the-rabbithole.com/?page_id=39

It’s not exactly what I was anticipating, but I don’t see any better options dancing out in front of me either. This may just work. And I’m running out of time. If I can find Tristan fast enough, we can still see how long it takes to get to the bridge. I want to be ready for departure through the time-port right after impact with the berg.

Guilt wells up from my guts. Guilt for having a way out, and guilt for knowing it, while Adelaide and so many others will panic and struggle and cling to the hope they’ll make it out of the freezing ocean alive. They will never stand a chance. Not tonight, if I leave and take away the very solution I’ve been waiting the last four years to give them.

Title: In Between Seasons

Author: Cassandra Giovanni

Series: The Fall Series

Date published: July 28, 2014

Genres: New Adult Post-Apocalyptic Romance

Book Length: 312 pages

Main Characters: Kate and Hunter

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“Kate and Hunter tried to be what their families expected but ultimately chose to be true to themselves. In their own way, both did what they were told…until they found each other. ~Dylan

In 2021 the world as we know it changed. The government collapsed, and the worst characteristics of human nature were shown as the world fell into ruins. Years after The Fall, the Tribes that were established are still at war. They still fight to keep what they pillaged, and most of all, they fight to keep their lies a secret. In a world filled with deception, nothing is as it seems.

I was born into this world.

Hunter Marks was molded into this world; a General— a person cold and harsh. A person meant to kill me.

We were told to just believe.

We were taught to never question.

We’re supposed to be robots, and accept our roles in this altered society.

Too bad Hunter and I don’t follow the rules.

And we’re a hell of a lot stronger than they ever thought possible.

They’ve been searching for the world’s deadliest weapon.

It’s me.

And I’m not following the leader any more.

By Dylan Quinn

In Between Seasons by Cassandra Giovanni is set in a dystopian society after The Fall in 2021, which resulted after a government breakdown from the 2012 recession. The government has collapsed and Marshal Law has erupted, leaving the country a disaster. Those who survived the war chose sides by forming tribes and staking claim on land; building compounds in the middle of the country. Now twenty years after The Fall, Kate Ericson, daughter of one tribe leader faces the challenges of what comes next in a world she struggles to understand.

It’s Kate’s last day of school. She’s 18, and it’s time for her to take her place with the rest of the woman in her tribe, doing whatever it is women are supposed to do. The problem: Kate is not like other women. Although indoctrinated by the history books and legends told by her own father, she questions things that don’t quite fit. In a world where girls are taught not to question, Kate finds her voice and breaks the status quo only to find her an outcast in her own family.

Though Kate has been dating Trevor, a boy chosen for her by her family, she feels little for him. With not much of promising future ahead, Kate hopes for more than what happens to lie in front of her and seeks a way out by writing her own books. Since those she is supposed to trust refuse to give her any truthful answers, she spends her spare time filling books with her own conspiracy theory’s as to what happened before and during The Fall, and now what lies outside her tribe’s compounds. As Kate becomes brave, she soon realizes that the theories she thinks to be stories are closer to the truth than she ever imagined.

Within weeks of joining the women in her tribe, Kate finds her way out. When Hunter Marks, a sexy general from an opposing tribe is assigned to kidnap and kill Kate, they soon realize what follows will be the beginning of the rest of their lives.

In Between Seasons focuses on Kate and Hunter’s journey in a post-apocalyptic society, struggling to find where they fit in a world neither of them agree with or completely understand. I liked both of the characters. Both Kate and Hunter tried to be what their families expected but ultimately chose to be true to themselves. In their own way, both did what they were told…until they found each other.

This New Adult romance focuses more on the developing relationship between Kate and Hunter, as well as their individual journey’s of self-discovery rather than the “what happened” part of the story. Finding balance between character development and plot points can often be difficult in character-driven stories, but Giovanni pulled it off with an entertaining story.

Although at times there wasn’t much happening and the ending came and went a bit too quickly for my taste, I enjoyed the story. I thought the premise was intelligent, and the struggles Kate and Hunter faced were realistic and relatable. And the teasers—I couldn’t wait to see how Kate was the weapon they needed to survive. I’m looking forward to seeing what the rest of the characters in this series have in store for them.

Cassandra Giovanni

Cassandra doesn’t remember a time when she wasn’t writing. In fact, the first time she was published was when she was seven years old and won a contest to be published in an American Girl Doll novel. Since then Cassandra has written more novels than she can count and put just as many in the circular bin. Her personal goal with her writing is to show the reader the character’s stories through their dialogue and actions instead of just telling the reader what is happening. Besides being a writer, Cassandra is a professional photographer known for her automotive, nature and architectural shots. She is happily married to the man of her dreams and they live in the rolling hills of New England their dogs, Bubski and Kanga.

Cassandra Giovanni is published by Show n’ot Tell Publishing based out of Connecticut, USA.

Find Cassandra Online

Website  ~  Facebook  ~  Twitter  ~  Goodreads

A Breathless Tease…

Title: 9th Life

Author: Wendy Beck

Series: The Naming of Legends

Published by: Indie

Date published: April 11, 2014

Genres: Paranormal (Shifters), SCI-FI & Fantasy

Book Length: 274 pages

Steam Rating: Sweet

Main Characters: Bastian and Skyler Ashcraft

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“The story is thought provoking, engaging, fun, easy to read and lovable! The extreme depths that this book goes to are mind blowing!” ~Becca

PROCEEDS FROM 9TH LIFE GO TO 
GOOD MEWS NO-KILL CAGE-FREE CAT SHELTER

~ Concerning Zookeepers ~
Working with the wild is a diverse calling. You learn to scale heights and sedate hurts, rate scars and skin rats, celebrate life and suffer loss. Animals are freer with their acceptance and adoration, also fiercer when angered or threatened. All in all, it’s a safe way to live passionately.
So Skyler thought.
Then he came. Lines were blurred.

~ Concerning Shapeshifters ~
Being a shapeshifter is to know life at its depths. The initiated know the truth. It’s all One. Form is an idea. Ideas can be changed. 
But all ideas are not equal.
So Bastian learned.
Then he found her. Lines were crossed.

Skyler Ashcraft never could have guessed the line crossed when she drugged an injured lynx. What Bastian was didn’t even footnote in her zookeeper’s manual. But it did nearly overshadow what he hid.
Secrets are like lines. They divide.
Before and After. Truth or Lie.
Life or Death.

NOTE: New Adult is a diverse genre. 9th Life contains no sex, but the rest of the series does. Mild language throughout. (I get asked about these things a lot so thought I’d share.)

I’m not huge on shifter books, if I am being 100% honest I can’t even really explain why I don’t care for them but I think it has something to do with the romance in them sometimes blurring that line between human and animal and bestiality… So when I got the chance to review 9th Life I was a little bit hesitant. I went over to GoodReads and checked the blurb, I read a few reviews and then I realized that I was hooked already! I simply HAD to read this book!

To put it mildly, 9th Life is NOT simply another shape-shifter romance! Wendy Beck takes this book to an entirely new level with her writing style. The dialog is just so real, if not a bit witty and well “smart-assy” (what it’s a word…okay so it’s totally not a word, but it should be!) especially if you take the internal-dialog into account! It is easy to see how Wendy’s zookeeper background helps to shape the story into something unique and amazing! The descriptions of animals and the world-building are so complex and charming that you will find yourself often forgetting that this is not a true story and you are not really there! The story is thought provoking, engaging, fun, easy to read and lovable! The extreme depths that this book goes to are mind blowing! It makes you think about how life exists, how our physical bodies are affected by matter and energy, and most of all how we can impact our destiny, or fate, with our thoughts and actions. Wendy manages not only all of that, but also works in one amaze-balls romance!

Bastian and Sklyer definitely deserve the MFEO stamp of approval!

Skyler and Bastian are such realistic and deep characters that you will find yourself lost and longing to know more! The chemistry between these two literally left me breathless!

Skyler is a zookeeper…whose life is about to change in ways that she never could have imagined! It’s hard to explain a lot about Skyler and Bastian without spoilers so honestly this part of the review may be shorter than you are used to. When Skyler rescues a lynx that rescued her from a hunter (confusing I know…) her life is thrown upside down in the best of ways!

Bastian is our hero, our shape-shifter, and the amount of details and build up for him is extraordinary! I adore the fact that Wendy went with cats, it’s just a new and un-tapped market on the shifter side of things. I mean a Lynx is a beautiful creature and the way she describes him is just so in depth and perfect that you can’t help but fall in love with him! Watching his reactions to Skyler’s world and culture is just precious and endearing and his honesty and forwardness brings the relationship to a new level.

The romance flows so smoothly and slowly that it is easy to fall in love yourself! I would compare the pace and romance style to that of Ull and Kristia in S.T. Bende’s Elsker Saga! The friendship and bond that Bastian and Skyler form is precious and daunting. As the book moves forward into the second half, the romance gets a little more steamy and we learn of true feelings and breaking hearts. Just like with Ull and Kristia, there are things that hold Bastian back from pursuing Skyler fully. As these revelations came about, I found myself reeling, spinning, and biting my lip as I waited for the next page to reveal something that would fix things. 

I will admit that the first few chapters of this book were a bit difficult to read. Wendy’s writing style is very unique and real and it took me a bit to get used to. Oh, but once I was used to it…the story bloomed into this amazing world! As I read more and more, so much became clear to me and still more questions would pop up! What a way to write and keep your reader wanting more! I still cannot get over how wonderful this book is! It gets you thinking about the world around you, the possibilities for change, the uselessness of the material things that we have in excess…it is a real eye opener!

9th Life left me with a happy and yet heavy heart, willing to give up my “9th Life” to get my hands on the next book in the series, and crossing my fingers that things go smoothly for Bastian and Skyler because they deserve a happily ever after!

If you are looking for a wonderful, fun and steamy shifter romance that is intense, filled to exploding with action, and emotional conflict then this is definitely the book for you!

Zookeeper-turned-author Wendy Beck is more accustomed to wrestling gators than grammar. She has a conservation biology degree from Oglethorpe University and learned a whole lot of hands-on studying killer whales in Puget Sound, loggerhead sea turtles on Cumberland Island, and everything else at Noah’s Ark in Locust Grove. She went on to serve as the animal caretaker for Bear Hollow Wildlife Trail in Athens for four years before moving back to the Atlanta area to care for the wildest animal of all—her son.

She lives with the love of her life and personal hero, Mike, and can be found reading, writing, practicing kriya yoga, or creating whimsy out of fondant… out of the Lego collection… or sometimes out of both.
Member of the RWA and serves as Membership Chair of the Georgia Romance Writers

What is this extra time you speak of? Because I’m indie published, there’s a mind-numbing amount to do and learn and relearn. I read when I can and hope to find a better balance of time once the learning curves aren’t quite so all-consuming.

I’m almost finished with a novella that overlaps The Naming of Legends trilogy. It’s called Rebound, and it has had the most incredible response from the beta readers. I think I may have given Sky & Bastian a challenge for role of favorite couple. Sky and Bastian’s story plays a huge role in the novella since Rebound is about a couple you don’t realize that you’ve already met.  

Beyond Bastian, of course. He’s my perfect (and inspired by my incredible husband). I’d have to say Dean Holder from Colleen Hoover’sHopeless. 

He was kneeling before me, sliding his hands over my calves, effectively shutting me up. One by one, he pulled my shoes and socks off. I couldn’t suppress a moan at how good it felt to be free after being confined for so long.

“Please don’t make me put those back on.”

“Do I have the ability to make you do anything?”

“I’m scared to answer that.”

“Kiss me.” I leaned in, but an inch away, he said, “Wait.” I went to lean back and he whispered, “Don’t move.”

He placed my hand on his chest, and it felt as if he were running… or terrified.

“Feel that? That’s what you do to me. This moment here, the breath before you touch me. That’s what’s undeniable. I’m beyond confidence, beyond honesty, and far too tempted to slip beyond respecting you.”

I swallowed before whispering, “Respect is overrated.”

“Kiss me quick, Sky.”

“Make me.”

His grip on my wrist snapped forward, yanking me off the bed to land on top of him, the other hand in my hair forcing our lips that last inch. He was heat and cinnamon, the breath you thought you couldn’t take. He gentled quick enough, too quick, but not before I knew the truth.

He could make me do anything.

The amazing Wendy Beck is giving away a signed promo card, earrings & an e-book of 9th Life!

If you could shape-shift into an animal what would it be? 

Title: Cryostorm

Author: Lynn Rush

Series: Touch of Frost Series

Published by: Lynn Rush

Date published: July 11, 2014

Genres: Paranormal Upper YA/NA

Book Length: 331

Steam Rating: Steamy

Main Characters: Mandy Hillman and Nate Ashcroft

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“I’m faced with the vivid reality: the Nate I knew and fell in love with may be lost forever.

And if I get him back, will I still be able to say those three precious words?”

They made his body, she’ll awaken his soul…

Three months ago, my twin sister, Georgia, and I had to die so our loved ones would be safe from the scientists hunting us. After months of searching, we’re close to finding the one person who can help us find closure, Georgia’s adoptive mother, Lois.

Snowstorms and an unexpected run-in with GenCorp, the latest entity charged with capturing us, delay our mission and break our spirits. The only light in my supernaturally chaotic life is Nate. He’s given up everything to protect and take care of me, and each minute I’m with him confirms how much I love him. Finally ready to share my heart again, I take the next step, admitting my true feelings.

The mad scientists who want to tear me apart and use my body for a freak show, once again taint my happiness with a disturbing technology that rips Nate from my arms. As I battle GenCorp’s warped technology to save my soulmate, I’m faced with the vivid reality: the Nate I knew and fell in love with may be lost forever.

And if I get him back, will I still be able to say those three precious words?

Lynn Rush

Originally from Minnesota, Lynn Rush currently enjoys living in the sunny Arizona desert with her husband of seventeen years and her loveable Shetland Sheep dog, Maddux. Rush holds a degree in psychology from Southwest Minnesota State University and a master’s degree from the University of Iowa. When she’s not busy writing her next trilogy, she can be found pounding the pavement, training for her next endurance event.

Connect with Lynn on Twitter, through Facebook or her website. Lynn also writes as Reese Monroe and you can find her alter ego there.

Find Lynn Rush Online

Title: Broken World

Author: Kate L. Mary

Published by: Kate L. Mary, Indie

Date published: 7/4/2014

Genres: NA Fantasy

Book Length: 301 pages

Main Characters: Vivian and Axl

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A Post-Apocalyptic Zombie Novel

When a deadly virus sweeps the country, Vivian Thomas sets out for California in hopes of seeing the daughter she gave up for adoption. Then her car breaks down and she’s faced with a choice. Give up, or accept a ride from redneck brothers, Angus and Axl. Vivian knows the offer has more to do with her double D’s than kindness, but she’s prepared to do whatever it takes to reach her daughter.

The virus is spreading, and by the time the group makes it to California, most of the population has been wiped out. When the dead start coming back, Vivian and the others realize that no electricity or running water are the least of their concerns. Now Vivian has to figure out how to be a mother under the most frightening circumstances, cope with Angus’s aggressive mood swings, and sort out her growing attraction to his brooding younger brother, Axl.

While searching for a safe place to go, they pick up a pompous billionaire who may be the answer to all their problems. Trusting him means going into the middle of the Mojave Desert and possibly risking their lives, but with the streets overrun and nowhere else to turn, it seems he might be their only chance for survival.

Kate L. Mary

Kate L. Mary is a stay-at-home mother of four and an Air Force wife. She spent most of her life in a small town just north of Dayton, Ohio where she and her husband met at the age of twelve. Since their marriage in 2002, they have lived in Georgia, Mississippi, South Carolina, and California.

Kate enjoys any post-apocalyptic story – especially if zombies are involved – as long as there is a romantic twist to give the story hope. Kate prefers nerdy, non-traditional heroes that can make you laugh to hunky pieces of man-meat, and her love of wine and chocolate is legendary among her friends and family. She currently resides in Oklahoma with her husband and children.

Follow Kate Online:

Kate L. Mary     Twitter     Facebook

The diner is crowded. I have to squeeze my way between waitresses and patrons, dodging trays and elbows. I bet they haven’t had a crowd like this in here since the 1950s.

There’s a line for the restroom. I stand at the back and dig through my purse until I find Emily’s picture. She smiles at me, and my heart aches.

I didn’t want to give her up, but I was sixteen. It wasn’t safe in my home—if you could even call it that—and there was no way I could bring a baby there. It was just me and my dad. Mom had run off with a neighbor when I was ten. Not that I can blame her for leaving, but I do blame her for leaving me. She must have known dad would need a new punching bag if she left. She obviously didn’t care. That hurts even more than the beatings did. That she didn’t care about me.

I loved Emily the moment I saw her. She was so tiny and pink, and her face was all smashed in from birth, so ugly-cute like all newborns. I loved her enough to give her to the Johnson’s. They sent me updates for a while. Nine months, to be exact. Then they stopped. I can’t blame them. It wasn’t an open adoption, and they never got a single response from me. Maybe they thought I didn’t care. Truth was, it just hurt too much.

The woman behind me coughs on the back of my head. Hot, moist air hits my hair and brushes it forward. I start to turn around so I can yell at her, but I freeze. She’s not the only one. Half the people in this diner are hacking their heads off. People slump over in booths, their breathing raspy and their faces bright red. A woman moans and shivers. She has on two jackets, but she still shakes so hard her teeth clang together. Her face is covered in sweat. The man next to her urges her to eat something. But he coughs too.

My stomach aches. I’m going to be sick. It’s here.

I forget the bathroom and head back to the table. I have to pee, but I can do it on the side of the road. We need to get out of here. Joshua is back. The three men are tense. They look up when I walk over.

“It’s here,” I say, but they already know.

“We’re gettin’ our shit to go,” Axl says.

He’s pale. So is Angus. His face isn’t as hard as it was before. Death tends to do that to a person. Turn them into spaghetti.

Even Joshua shakes, and he knows he’s immune.

I sit down and wait, wringing my hands on top of the table. My hands tremble so hard that when I pick up my glass to take a drink, it spills everywhere. I set it back down.

“We still need supplies.” Angus’s voice is hollow.

“Why don’t you and the Doc head to the convenience store and grab us some stuff? Vivian and me’ll wait for the food,” Axl says.

Angus gets to his feet, and I stand to let Joshua out. People cough on them when they go by. Angus clenches his fist when a man sneezes on him. But the anger melts away and all the color drains from his face. He walks faster.

“Guess we’ll know soon,” Axl says.

I nod, but I can’t make my mouth work to say anything. My insides curl into a ball. They grow tighter each time I think about it. I should be relieved. Soon the suspense will be over, and I’ll know whether or not I’m going to die. But I’m not. I don’t want to die, and the thought of it happening makes me want to hurl.

Axl and I don’t speak. We just stare at each other. The diner is amazingly quiet, considering how full it is. People cough. There are a few quiet conversations. Otherwise, it’s silent. Deathly silent.

“Thought the end of the world would be more dramatic than this,” he finally says. It makes me jump.

I look around. It is the end. It’s written on the face of every person in the diner. I’m sure it’s on mine. “There should be chaos or panic. Something.”

“Probably is. In the cities.”

He’s right. Here the people are too disappointed. They were so close. They passed their physicals and thought they were in the clear. That they were going to make it. Is that what’s going to happen to me? The thought sends a shiver down my spine.

A Breathless Tease…

For Dylan’s July NA Giveaway,

Kate is offering a Kindle eBook OR signed paperback

copy of Broken World!

Title: Angel (AdvaNced Genetic EvoLution)

Author: Starla Huchton

Series:Evolution (reviews coming soon!)

Published by: Indie

Date published: March 5, 2014

Genres: Superhero/Paranormal/SciFi Romance

Book Length: 297 pages

Steam Rating: Steamy

Main Characters: Candace and Adrian

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“Evolution: ANGEL is an origin story that explores how a superhero becomes who they are. Alternate description: Sexy superheroes. (LOL)” ~Starla Huchton

Candace Bristol has always been obsessed with comic books, but in a world where the nightly news often mirrors these inked stories, her dreams of becoming a real superhero could actually come true. After being rescued by members of the government’s AdvaNced Genetic EvoLution (ANGEL) Project four years ago, getting recruited for this elite team is all she’s wanted. 

Now 18, she’s finally reached her goal after years of study and physical training, but little could have prepared her for life as a genetic experiment. As though coming to terms with her new ability to manipulate water isn’t tough enough, she never expected to be swept off her feet by one of her fellow recruits. 

With genetic alteration, the threat of physical and mental instability hangs over every superhero like a shadow. When one of their own tumbles over the edge of madness, Candace will have to choose between protecting the world, and saving the one who holds her heart.

“A geek of all trades, Starla Huchton has been crafting stories in various genres since 2007. Her first novel, The Dreamer’s Thread was released as a full cast audiobook podcast, becoming a double-nominee and finalist for the 2010 Parsec Awards. After releasing short fiction of steampunk, noir fantasy, and other varieties, she released the first three books of the Sci-Fi Romance Endure series in 2013. All three books of the Evolution series will be released in 2014, as well as a Steampunk Fantasy novel, Master of Myth (the Antigone’s Wrath series, book 1), which was the first place winner of the Crested Butte Writers’ contest, The Sandy, in 2012.

Describe Evolution: ANGEL in 15 words or less!

Evolution: ANGEL is an origin story that explores how a superhero becomes who they are.

Alternate description: Sexy superheroes. (LOL)

We all need a hero! Tell us about the protagonist in Evolution, Was there a real-life inspiration behind him or her?

My heroine is a hero in the most literal sense possible. Candace Bristol has spent 5 years working to become a superhero and finally reaches her goal, but, like most things, it turns out to be quite different than she imagined. She’s driven and never lets anyone tell her she can’t do something, which is something I love about her and sincerely feel there needs to be more of in fiction. But, she also comes to realize that sometimes you can’t do everything on your own, and friends you can trust make all the difference in life. She’s not really based on any particular person, though.

Who is your favorite character in the book? Why?

I think my favorite character in the series is probably Candace’s cousin, Gabe. He’s super-supportive and puts up with all of Candace’s drama. Also, he has a fantastic sense of humor. It isn’t really a one-sided relationship, though, as Candace loves him just as whole-heartedly as he does her and helps him whenever she can.

What was your favorite chapter (or part) to write and why?

My favorite bits from the series typically involve conversations between Candace and Jackson, or Candace and Gabe. I’m a sucker for snarky banter, and Jackson never fails me there.

Are you the driver or a passenger in your book? (Are you in control of where the story goes or does it sort of just happen?)

A bit of both, I think. I make loose lists of plot ideas, but my characters always manage to throw a wrench or two in my plans. Generally I can stay on target, but how I get from A to B isn’t always my choice.

Where do superheroes fit in book genres?

Technically, I’ve placed my books in Science Fiction Romance, but it’s very light on science, and would probably easily fit in with Paranormal Romance. The difference for me is in how you explain the extraordinary. My superheroes come into their powers via scientific means, as opposed to magic, but, really, that’s such a tiny part of the story I sort of hate having to label it as such. I don’t want to scare off any readers that might see the Sci-Fi tag and lose interest. For me, the important part is the characters and their journey. So long as they’re grounded in a believable world, I keep the boring details to a minimum.

So why superheroes then?

Really, why not? If folks can write about vampires and werewolves falling in love and fighting evil, why not humans with comic-book type abilities? See also: the Avengers movie. Great story and some really delicious eye candy. LOL

What’s next for you?

The final book in the Evolution series goes live on July 6th, but I’ve still got more planned for the year. In September I’m releasing a Steampunk Adventure called Master of Myth (Antigone’s Wrath #1), and then in November I’ve got a gender-flipped retelling of Snow White called Shadows on Snow. Both of these are content and language clean, so will be suitable for most audiences (as opposed to the Evolution series which is for 18+ readers).

I have to throw in at least a few SILLY questions!

You’re having a party. What character from your book do you hope attends? Why? What character do you hope doesn’t attend? Why?

There aren’t many characters from book 1 that I wouldn’t want at a party, but I think Gabe would be an absolute blast at one. I’m pretty sure he’d come up with some amazing games. Jackson would probably be surly and sit in a corner all night, so he can stay home.

If your book were a dessert what would it be and why?

S’mores! Because chocolate! Also: Jackson’s touch on those marshmallows makes them a pretty apt snack to go with these books!

What books are on your nightstand or by your chair?

Oh man. SO many. I absolutely have to read Clicks by Amy Evans because I’ve had it for a year and really need to get to it. But, I just discovered Being Jamie Baker by Kelly Oram, which is YA superheroes and it’s really tempting to drop everything I’m doing and read it RIGHT NOW.                                    

Who is your favorite “Book Boyfriend”? What series is it from and who wrote it?

I’m not so much into the book boyfriend thing, but I really loved Garrett Reese from Misty Provencher’s Cornerstone series. That’s a YA title and kinda makes me feel weird about liking him so much, but whatever. LOL. I have a huge weak spot for intelligent men, so any fictional guy I fall in love with must have brains and not just looks. Smart is my sexy!

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