Dark Awakening

Blurb

For two centuries the New World Order has used the church to persecute and control the masses, creating a perfectly behaved, genetically ideal society. But not everyone embraces the Order’s tyrannical and oppressive rule. Heavily outnumbered, the rising Templar faction desperately seeks an advantage that will end the war and win their freedom. Abducting the reckless and magically-gifted Caitriona Sinclair, Commander Duncan MacKinnon, leader of the Templar rebellion, soon finds himself in a dangerous game of hide and seek to keep Caitriona safe and out of the Order’s clutches before the Templars are ready to openly defend themselves against the Order’s savage attack.

Through it all, Caitriona and Duncan fall in a desperate and deep love, struggling not to give in to their passions. But with Caitriona bound to another, her ‘handler’ Nicolas, and Duncan bound to his oath to protect and free his people, love, it seems, cannot always conquer all.

Bio

Karlene Cameron lives in the Pacific Northwest where she practices and teaches marketing, chases sunshine, and dallies in wine, whiskey and coffee. Karlene has written several articles for national publications including Appaloosa Journal, Performance Horse magazine and several newspapers. She blames her conspiracy theory obsession on her sister who, to this day, swears we never sent a man to the moon. When not writing, Karlene can be found plunking away at the piano, rafting the white water of the Wenatchee river, or enjoying a good cup of coffee (or wine) depending on the hour. She is currently working on the next book in the Dark World series, Dark Gathering.

Excerpt

Caitriona Sinclair knew how she was going to die. She had seen her death countless times since she was a young girl. Each time the vision splashed violently across her mind, she trembled and broke out in a cold sweat. But it wasn’t just the images that disturbed her; the loneliness and heartache that ripped through her left her gasping and afraid.

Her death wasn’t peaceful, nor was it a sacrifice for someone she loved. Her death was violent and bloody, perpetrated at the hands of a dark, powerful stranger and the blade he so skillfully maneuvered.

She took a deep breath to steady her nerves and reached up to smooth a stray strand of reddish-brown hair from her pale heart-shaped face, blinking several times to clear the remaining imprints from her mind. As with all the other times she’d witnessed her death, she felt unsettled. She had no idea who the stranger was and, more importantly, why he wanted her dead. His face was always shrouded by darkness. The only real discerning characteristic was the tattooed Celtic knot that circled his left upper arm. A chill ran across her body and she began to shiver uncontrollably. She knew the headache wouldn’t be far behind – a horrendous parting gift from a vision she was all too familiar with.

Caitriona sank back in the cold, unyielding office chair that had been a permanent fixture in the old building long before she had been promoted to the rather small office. She ran her hand through her long hair, pushing away the nostalgia that threatened to consume her day. Having lost her mother and older sister in a violent car accident when she was only thirteen years old, Caitriona had been raised by her mother’s widowed sister. While neither abusive nor uncaring, the woman had seldom shown any great degree of love or affection toward Caitriona. Her aunt was devoted to Christ and had raised Caitriona as only a good Christian woman could; with hours of religious study, prayer and service to others. Once, Caitriona had tried to talk to her aunt about the nightmares and visions that haunted her. Her aunt’s horrified expression, along with ensuing hours of prayer and scripture, reaffirmed Caitriona’s belief that it was best to remain silent.

https://amzn.to/2L82UA4

D L Blade

D L and I connected through social media. I’m a sucker for books about witches so her’s look interesting!

Author Bio:

I grew up in southern California where I studied at The California Healing Arts College for massage therapy, then working as a Massage Practitioner for thirteen years. I now live in Colorado, where I worked in the real estate business for a time, before deciding to focus on family and writing. 

I always loved writing, concentrating on poetry rather than prose when I was younger. That changed however, when I had a dream one night that inspired my debut novel, The Dark Awakening.

In my spare time, I enjoy a wide variety of hobbies, including reading, attending rock concerts, and exploring new vegan restaurants in Denver. 

In the future, I hope to continue to write exciting novels that will captivate my readers and bring them into the worlds that I create using my imagination.

Tell us about yourself
I grew up in southern California, now living in Denver, Colorado. I love to read, and often had unique ideas of great stories but never put them down on paper, until last year when I released my first novel, The Dark Awakening. I also carry a real estate license that I used for a few years before deciding that writing was my passion and it was all I really wanted to do.

When did you know you wanted to be an author?
In 2009 I started to write my first book, for me. In 2017, someone read my book and told me I should publish it, so I did. It’s been quite a journey since.

What genres do you like to read? Dark romance or YA paranormal. Are these the same genres you write in?
I write YA paranormal and branching to other genres such as thrillers, mystery and adult romance.

Is your book for adults, young adults or children?

16+ due to mild language and violence

What is your current release or project?

Book two of my series will be released on May 18th

Tell us about the key characters.

Mercy is a strong-willed heroine who starts off confused and not understanding what is happening to her. You will see quite a development in her character as you go into book two. Caleb is a mystery guy, stubborn, arrogant and obsessed with having Mercy back into her life, but he also holds secrets. Maurice is a villain you love to hate. Handsome, but devilish.

What is your blurb or synopsis of the book?

The Dark Awakening:

Just as Mercy pieces her life back together after a vicious attack, she notices a stranger lingering in the shadows, and watching her every move.

Mercy isn’t certain if what she’s seeing is real, but when Mercy crashes her car on the side of the road, she’s rescued by a handsome and mysterious man named Caleb, who she finds herself both drawn to, and afraid of.

Caleb reveals to Mercy that she’s strongly linked to an ancient coven; the roots slowly dragging her back to Salem. He also claims to be in love with her, but can she trust him?

This story takes you on a journey of magic, secrets, betrayal, and abduction, in a world filled with witches, vampires and werewolves, which Mercy and her friends never knew existed.

Mercy must discover who she truly is, and find the powers within her to save mankind.

The Dark Underworld:

Mercy’s life changed forever when she discovered that not only is she a witch, but that she was born to rid the world of vampires once and for all.

After a year of intense training to hone her powers, she and her coven are pulled into a murder case in her hometown of East Greenwich. The coven, with the help of a friend with direct ties to the investigation, discovers that a vampire attack claimed the victim’s life. Mercy suspects the killer belongs to a new clan in town, The Black Horse, and goes undercover in the vampire underworld. There, she’ll discover dark, long-hidden secrets and face her father from her previous life, who she learns is the leader of this ruthless undead.

New relationships will develop, friendships will be tested, and lives will be lost.

As Mercy draws closer to finding the killer, a villain from her past creeps out of the shadows. Maurice, centuries-old vampire, is thirsty for revenge after her coven took down his clan.

The Chosen Coven will now have to combine the forces of the Universal Elements, to fight the darkness that falls on their city.

Share an excerpt

“I need to go. Thanks for finding my phone.”

I stepped quickly to the side to walk by him, but he moved into my path, blocking me from going any further.

“Mercy, relax. I’m not going to hurt you.”

Everything around me froze in place and my heart stopped in its tracks. He knows me.

How did he know my real name?

Do you have a favorite scene?
I love the scene from that excerpt, when Mercy sees Caleb for the first time after he had tracked her down to share a dark secret about her past. There is a sense of attraction, but she’s terrified of him.

What advice would you give a beginner?
If you have an idea, publish it. Don’t be afraid and keep going.

Social media links:

Facebook  https://www.facebook.com/dlblade/

Twitter  https://twitter.com/DLBlade_Writer

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/booksbydlblade

Other

Blog link www.dlbladebooks.com

Purchasing links

The Dark Awakening: smarturl.it/TheDarkAwakening

The Dark Underworld: smarturl.it/TheDarkUnderworldB2

The Chosen Coven Box Set (Books 1-2): smarturl.it/TheChosenCovenBoxSet