It’s a celebration of cover reveals on the blog this week! Darkness Taunts is the sequel to Darkness Haunts, a kick-ass urban fantasy featuring a heroine who is in most ways, plain human. Except for the fact she’s a sensor, able to detect magic and neutralize it. Melena isn’t a damsel in distress, however. This ex-military chick knows enough moves to give you a good beating…or just shoot you. Anyway, on to the cover, which is GORGEOUS, and a sneak peek excerpt.
Darkness Taunts by Susan Illene
Book two of The Sensor Series
Cover Design: Phat Puppy Art w/typography by Bookish Brunette
Expected Release Date: June 30th, 2013
Add the book to your To-Read list on Goodreads.
BLURB:
Melena Sanders has managed to avoid all things inhuman for most of her life, but after coming to Fairbanks, Alaska to rescue her best friend from supernaturals she hasn’t been allowed to leave. That is, until her long-time nemesis comes to collect a favor she owes him. Lucas might be half angel, but he’s all bad as far as she’s concerned.
Paying him back might get her out of town for a while, but her new destination will be anything but enjoyable. Mel’s got to help the nephilim take care of a demon possession outbreak in Juneau. Although something like this hasn’t happened for thousands of years, Lucas is certain Melena’s rare abilities are the key to solving the problem.
With violence in the capital city growing, she’s going to have to figure out how to stop it fast before the trouble spreads to other places. Not only that, but working closely with Lucas is changing the dynamics of their hate-hate relationship—worrying her even more than the demons. Getting back to her captivity in Fairbanks never looked so good.
EXCERPT:
Lucas climbed into the passenger seat. Though his large frame took up a lot of space, he still looked comfortable, in control. There were no delays leaving the airport. The whole thing had been arranged for a quick and smooth pick-up. I wasn’t used to Lucas being so accommodating.
“Did you eat?” he asked.
“Yeah, Emily and I went out to a restaurant earlier.”
He glanced over at me. “You didn’t feel like poisoning her with your cooking before you left?”
I fiddled with his navigation system—might as well get the lay of the land. “That joke got old a long time ago.”
“I wasn’t joking,” he said. “Leave the GPS alone.”
I switched to scanning the radio stations. “Where are we going?”
He nudged my hand away from the controls and shut it off. “To my cabin. We made some progress during your absence. I want you rested and ready to help interrogate a demon first thing in the morning.”
A thrill went through me. My job in the military had been as an interrogator and I was damned good at it with my lie detecting abilities. Plus I’d gained a lot of experience during my combat tours. “You got one?” I asked.
“Yes,” he said. “I’ve worked on him already, but he hasn’t revealed anything of value…yet.”
I shot him a disgruntled look. “You should have waited for me.”
“Time was of the essence, sensor. You’ll get your chance.”
“Then why not go talk to him tonight?” I asked.
“Demons are at their strongest during the hours of darkness. You’ll have better luck after dawn.”
“Fine.” I sat back and tried to admire the snow covered mountains. They would be easier to see during the day, but the moon lit them up enough for me to catch brief glimpses as we drove.
“Sensor,” Lucas broke the silence. “The next time I call…pick up the damned phone. Do not make me come in person to speak with you.”
“That’ll give me incentive,” I said. The pompous ass. He wouldn’t threaten me and get away with it. I let a couple of minutes go by.
“Do you know why I’m glad you never call me by my real name?” I asked.
We were stopped at a traffic light. I’d waited for that. He turned to look at me and raised a blond brow. “I suppose you’re going to tell me.”
I studied my fingernails. “Yesterday, when I heard you say Melena for the first time it gave me chills. It was like the devil himself had walked over my grave and spit on it. I’d rather you not say it again.”
The light turned to green. He jerked his attention back to the road. Lucas was a master at keeping his emotions in check, but he still gripped the wheel a little tighter than before.
Pick up the first book in the series, Darkness Haunts, at Amazon, B&N, and Kobo.
ABOUT SUSAN:
Instead of making the traditional post high school move and attending college, Susan joined the U.S. Army. She spent her eighteenth birthday in the gas chamber…an experience she is sure is best left for criminals. For eleven years she served first as a human resources specialist and later as an Arabic linguist (mostly in Airborne units). Though all her duty assignments were stateside, she did make two deployments to Iraq where her language skills were put to regular use.
After leaving the service in 2009, Susan returned to school to study history with a focus on the Middle East. She no longer finds many opportunities to test her fighting abilities in real life, unless her husband is demanding she cook him a real meal, but she’s found a new outlet in writing urban fantasy heroines who can.
CONNECT WITH SUSAN ONLINE:
Website- www.darknesshaunts.com
Facebook- http://www.facebook.com/SusanIllene1
Goodreads- http://www.goodreads.com/Susan_Illene
Twitter- https://twitter.com/@susan_illene
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