Welcome
to Evernight Teen’s Summer Kick-off Blog Hop!
Shrapnel by Stephanie Lawton
What It's About!
It’s been six years since Dylanie and her family visited a Civil War site and the place came alive with cannon fire. Problem was, no one could hear it but her.
It’s been six years since Dylanie and her family visited a Civil War site and the place came alive with cannon fire. Problem was, no one could hear it but her.
Now she’s sixteen, her dad’s moved out, her mom’s come
out of the closet and Dylan’s got a spot on Paranormal Teen, a reality TV show
filming at historic Oakleigh Mansion. She’ll spend a weekend with two other
psychic teens—Jake and Ashley—learning how to control her abilities.
None of them realized how much their emotional baggage
would put them at the mercy of Oakleigh’s resident spirits, or that they’d find
themselves pawns in the 150-year-old battle for the South’s legendary
Confederate gold. Each must conquer their personal ghosts to face down Jackson,
a seductive spirit who will do anything to protect the gold’s current location
and avenge a heinous attack that destroyed his family.
Excerpt
Dylanie
On the balcony, heavy night air carries the sounds of
crickets and frogs. The ancient railing is solid beneath my fingers but slick
from humidity. The wet dog/rotting fish stench of a nearby swamp blows past and
rustles the live oaks in the front yard. The leaves are so loud that I almost
don’t hear it.
My name—soft, slow and deep.
“Dylanie.”
I jump back from the railing and look around. The
hairs on my neck and arms stand on end, but I can’t see the threat. I haven’t
sensed a thing in my room since Ashley commandeered ghost boy. Slowly, so I
don’t make a sound, I inch forward toward the railing again. Whatever it is,
it’s down there in the dark. From the balcony, I’m able to see the front yard,
the side of the main part of the house, and a massive live oak. Underneath it
stands a man.
It must be Riley or Ward taking a smoke break, but I
don’t see the tiny orange glow of a cigarette. It’s too dark to make out
details. I swat a mosquito on my bare arm, and that’s when the man turns,
looking up at me. Into me. His eyes seem to travel over every inch, memorizing
details. Despite the shadows, I know a slow smile of approval spreads across
his face and it makes my breathing ragged. I see him with my eyes, but also in
my head. I can’t look away. I can’t shut him out. I can’t even move or speak.
“Dylanie,” he drawls, “let me in.”
Invisible fingers caress my cheek and smooth my hair
away from my face. My mind races, but my body’s reaction doesn’t match. It’s
like they separate from each other. I close my eyes and a feeling of well-being
invades.
“Dylanie, please.” His voice comes from far away, soft
and warm, like Jake’s would feel if …
“No! Ouch!” For the second time today, I smack my head
on part of a window. “Who the hell are you and what do you want? God, you
almost had me there.”
He chuckles. “Oh, I intend to.”
In a blink, he’s moved from the base of the gnarled
tree to the stone patio beneath me. Despite the landscape lights, he looks
solid, not like a spirit at all. No haze, no shapeless black shadow figure.
Slowly, so slowly, he raises his head. My legs go weak, and I grip the railing
for support. Below me is the hot dark-haired man I saw on the steps when I
arrived.
“Dylanie, I ask you again. May I come in?”
My brain screams no, no, no!
“Yes.” It comes out like an exhale, one that’s been
trapped inside the air-tight cage that is my pathetic life. It feels good to
say yes to something unapproved and maybe even dangerous.
Another blink and he’s on the balcony with me. Shit.
This close, it’s obvious he’s not much older than me, maybe a few years. He’s
the most human, solid-looking spirit I’ve ever encountered—if that’s what he
is.
Shrapnel is available here!
*************
What’s up for grabs?
•
One
lucky hopper will win a KINDLE PAPERWHITE eREADER sponsored by Evernight Teen.
•
Every
book blogger/reviewer site is giving away one free eBook from Evernight Teen
(winner’s choice of any eBook from Evernight Teen’s website).
•
Plus,
each author offers their own unique prize! So visit each blog hop stop for a
host of fabulous prizes to win.
How
to enter? Answer this:
What
did Dylanie hit her head on?
Be
sure to leave your answer and your email address in the comments below to be
eligible to win a prize.
Continue
hopping to the next stop!
