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Grab The Summer Spirit Novella Set.‿➹⁀
A unique paranormal adventure - no one ever had a summer romance like this!
During his last family vacation before college, Charlie Phillips slipped through a crack in reality and fell into another dimension parallel to our own. There, he met the girl of his dreams, and quickly felt the connection between them, but soon he had tough choices to make.
Are these magical creatures Angels here to protect us, or are they Aliens here to take over our world?
A love story like no other, Charlie and Clarisse must unravel the truth about the universe – but they must be careful! Lives hang in the balance, with Karama and Keeper watching, waiting to see which side they choose.
Get the full series in one boxed set – only 99 cents for Valentines or free on KU!
(Offer valid in the US only, regular price $4.99 for the set or 99 cents each individually)!
#LavishPubs #SamanthaJacobey #Angels #Aliens #Romance
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Excerpt from Summer Angel:
Copyright Samantha Jacobey and Lavish Publishing, LLC
The Dark Side
Charlie felt chilled, a dark alley surrounding him. Blinking a few times, he could make out the graffiti covered walls that lined the narrow passage. To his left stood a large dumpster, filled with smelly garbage, some of which had fallen onto the ground and polluted the air. Coughing at the foul mixture, he leaned against the wall, trying to catch his breath.
“Where the hell are we now?” he demanded, more unhappy with their
journey at every stop.
“We’re still in New York,” she supplied in a quiet voice. “Visiting one of my oldest charges,” she continued softly, “One I have tried so many times to help.”
Following her gaze, he could make out a row of cardboard boxes leaning against a wall. The air was cooler in the shadow of the tall buildings, and he emitted a small shiver when he noticed the sound of rustling paper coming from inside the structure. “Is someone in there?” he gasped. He had heard of street people, but had never seen a homeless person beyond those who begged on corners back in Texas.
“Yes,” she agreed softly, “He’s in there.”
“So, why don’t you use your magic, and build him a place to live?” the boy scoffed more loudly, before realizing they might be heard. Inching closer to the makeshift sanctuary, his voice took on a lower disgusted tone, “What kind of Guardian Angel are you, if you let this happen to him?”
Clarisse could hear the accusation, aware that he did not understand. “I cannot make the choices for him, Charlie. I can provide the path or the means, but in the end, it is up to the client to follow them. The woman you saw earlier; she had to choose to make the stop. That is what altered the future for them, and avoided the accident. She could have chosen to continue on, and I would have been powerless to stop it.”
“So it is with this man,” her extended palm indicated her subject, “Many times, I have lain obstacles in his path. Tangents that could have led him to a better place. He chose to sidestep them. The choices we make dictate the lives we lead, Charlie,” her face grew drawn, and he could see the sadness pressing down upon her.
“You’re saying he wants t’ live like this?” he glared at her incredulously.
“Not in so many words,” she whispered, “I’m only saying, he chose not to take a different path. This is where we are, and this is how it is.” Her face shifted, fear taking the place of sadness, “Oh, no!”
“What?” he bit angrily, “Another client you have failed t’ protect?”
“No, Charlie,” she opened her palm, staring at her small white communicator, “It’s time. Come away, precious,” she stepped forward, and he noticed that her wardrobe had changed, and a long white gown flowed about her. Grasping his arm, she guided him away from the box, their backs to it.
Hearing a commotion behind them, the young man paused. Turning to look over his shoulder, she gripped him tighter, preventing him from doing so. He could hear the cries for help, and frowned into her horror-stricken features.
“Don’t look, Charlie!” she implored in a raspy voice.
“What’s happening?” his eyes wide as saucers, he panted, hearing the sound of the cardboard shelter being ripped away and blows being laid upon its occupant.
“Fate will claim him,” she confessed, a tear spilling over and moistening her lashes, “I am duty bound not to interfere.”
The ruckus continued, striking fear into Charlie, his chest growing tight as he struggled to breathe. Staring into her clear blue orbs, her comrade felt confused, “But... you’re his Guardian Angel! Stop them!”
“I can’t,” she cried, oblivious of the two men who had ceased their beating, and begun to paw through the remains, searching the body and its premises.
Holding him, inhibiting him from seeing their actions, Clarisse trembled in the darkness of the alley. Sliding his arm around her slender frame, Charlie pulled her closer to him, his own horror overwhelmed with the urge to protect her. He could feel the warmth of her air brushing his cheek, keeping the heaviness of the shadow that surrounded them at bay. A moment later, the two men ambled up the narrow path, walking right next to the couple.
“Did ya get a whiff o’ this stack o’ cash?” one of them wafted a fist full of bills, “Couple
‘o grand here, but it smells like ass!” he cackled.
“Half o’ that’s mine,” the second man rejoined with a punch to the arm, “An’ I don’ care what it smells like! It all spends th’ same.”
Charlie could feel his gut wrench at their degrading demeanor. “Oh my God,” he breathed, turning enough to see the bloody corpse and what remained of his home strewn across the pavement. “You hid us, so they couldn’ see an’ attack us, too,” he deduced, gripping her more firmly, “Like some kind o’ cloaking magic.” The very air around them seemed to grow even colder as he held her thin frame.
Glaring at him in surprise, she inhaled deeply, holding it for an instant before releasing it loudly; “Sure, Charlie,” she nodded.
Turning back to face her squarely, the young man jumped at the sight of a hooded figure, standing over her shoulder.
“Well, who is this now?” the stranger spoke in a low moan, removing the cover from his head.
Instantly, the girl stiffened, emitting a small cry. Spinning in her new friend’s arms, she placed herself between the two males, and shook her head slowly, her heart pounding at the surprise visitor.
Looking him up and down, Charlie noted he wore a black robe, his skin equally dark; human shaped, but definitely something else. “Who the hell are you?” he demanded, his voice filled with bravado.
“I am Gous,” the new arrival hissed.
“Go away, Gous,” the blonde screamed, wiping at her tears while straightening herself to her full height, “You may have taken the beggar, but this one is mine!”
Low laughter rumbled from beneath the dark cloth, “Is he now?” His beady brown eyes shifted to auburn, “What if I’m still hungry?” His dark lips parted, exposing sharp white teeth.
“Can’t you fight him? I mean, what is he?” Charlie stood closely behind her, speaking quietly into the back of her head. His instincts on edge, he recognized the ebony stranger as a foe.
“I am a Dark Angel,” Gous proclaimed, the sound of his voice grating on the boy’s nerves like nails on a chalkboard. “I am the minion of Fate.”
Shifting, her white robes billowing around her, she called back, “You have no business here! Be gone, before I summon the Keeper!”
The Dark Angel laughed at her challenge, “Are you frightened, boy?” His eyes had grown brighter, the red overpowering the brown, looking more like glowing embers. When Charlie failed to respond, he addressed his nemesis, “The beggar was always mine. I only took my time, allowing him to suffer before I devoured him. Watch yourself, Clarisse. I think you are mine as well,” he ended with a sneer.
“I will never be yours!” her jaw clenched. Leaning closer to her, Charlie’s arms tightened around her waist as if to hold her from physically attacking the interloper. “Away with you!”
Too frightened to speak, the young man waited. The hair on his neck standing on end, he watched a hand slide out of the robe, rising slowly to caress her trembling chin with an extended digit.
“Enjoy your time while you can, Summer Angel. The darkness is coming, and there is nothing you can do to stop it!” His words filled with ominous foreboding, he turned his back on the couple, disappearing the instant his hood had been dropped back into place.
Anyone who knows me could tell you, I am a friendly kind of person, never met a stranger and take up conversations anywhere at any time. I work hard, and my mind never seems to shut down, as I wake up often in the middle of the night with ideas pouring out and demanding to be dealt with. Of course that means much of my books were written in the middle of the night.
I grew up and still live in the great state of Texas where everything is bigger, where we have warm weather and a central location. I love my state, my town, and my family, which includes my four sons, my significant other, and many friends as well.
I have thoroughly enjoyed writing the books that are currently available and hope you will enjoy reading them just as much. And of course, there will be many more stories to come.
