Title: UNRAVELED (The Gatekeeper Chronicles, #2)
Author: Dina M. Given
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Release Date: August 31, 2015
Blurb
Emma Hayes, a mercenary turned monster hunter, finds herself
the secret savior of Earth as she attempts to battle creatures, called Monere,
and keep unsuspecting humans safe.
Emma already has blood on her hands, and the tide of Monere
keep coming. She quickly learns that not all battles can be won with a gun and
she must decide whether to take up Sharur, the magical battle axe, which may
trigger a latent and terrifying magical ability within her.
Emma’s monster hunting skills also catch the attention of a
government operative who enlists her help to discover the identity of another
hunter. This investigation leads Emma deep into the heart of a supernatural
organized crime Syndicate, and all of her notions about the evil nature of
these creatures are called into question when she meets The Syndicate’s leader.
Can Emma unravel the true nature of the Monere and come to
terms with her own magical ability before the next gateway opens, threatening
the future of humankind?
Excerpt
His
light hair was longer than usual and mussed from the excitement of the evening.
A stray lock fell across one brilliantly green eye, the color of a lush
rainforest. His body tensed, showing off every taut muscle through his thin
T-shirt.
He
was beautiful, but he didn’t know it, or if he did, he had never used his looks
to his advantage. I had never seen him flirt, throw around an enticing smile, or
pin someone with a smoldering stare. Although he could certainly do it, he
probably thought that kind of influence was a form of cheating. He could be
such a Boy Scout, but it was charming and made him trustworthy, and to trust
someone was more important than a bad boy attitude any day.
This
man sitting before me had sacrificed his own safety several times to save me.
His job had initially been to keep an eye on me for Alcina and the Mage
Council, and kill me if need be. Not only did he defy his orders, but he did so
spectacularly when he saved my life in Citi Field and sided with a shifter to
ensure my escape. He defied his people and his prejudice for me.
The
sultry air in the subway car seemed to grow warmer and closer as these thoughts
smoldered low in my belly. A rush of longing and gratitude swept through me.
Alex must have sensed it because he chose that moment to lift his head, and our
eyes locked. His expression reflected everything I was feeling, and I was
consumed by a desire to see whether the Boy Scout would ever explore bad boy
territory.
I
stood slowly, as if trying not to spook a nervous horse that was on the
precipice of bolting, before lowering myself onto the futon next to Alex. His
eyes followed my every movement, sweeping across each curve of my body. His
expression didn’t change, but his body stilled, all of that nervous fidgeting
coming to a grinding halt.
I
slid so close to Alex my thigh rubbed against his, and he reacted like I had
electrocuted him with my touch, his leg jerking at the sudden sensation, but he
didn’t move away from the physical contact.
“Thank
you,” I said so softly it seemed as though all of the upholstered fluff in the
room had absorbed the sound.
“For
what?” Alex asked, his eyes now resting on my leg where the clothing had burned
away to reveal the newly healed, creamy skin.
“For
everything,” I said with a small laugh, and he looked up then met my gaze.
“Seriously, you saved my bacon a few times now, and I don’t think I ever
thanked you. I know you didn’t have to do it, and I know it went against your
orders. You put yourself at serious risk for me.”
His
warm hand slipped into mine, and I embraced the unexpected touch, wrapping my
fingers around his. “Emma, no matter what happens I want you to know that you
mean everything to me. You always have. Even though I may have lost my way,
that truth will never change. I need you to believe that.”
The
burning sincerity in his eyes was proof enough.
“I
do,” I said, squeezing his hand gently for emphasis. It felt a lot like he was
saying good-bye. Maybe all of this was just too much for him.
Tears
sprung to my eyes, unbidden, and I turned away to hide them. Alex hadn’t missed
them, though.
With
his free hand, he cupped my chin tenderly and turned my head to face him again.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you.” He looked on the verge of tears
himself.
“You
didn’t. It’s just that… Well, there haven’t been very many people in my life
who have cared enough to want to help me, or to try to save me.” Even though I
didn’t know exactly what Alex had meant by his last statement, I felt compelled
to let him know I wanted to be there for him too. “If you ever do lose your
way, I promise I’ll help you find it again.”
Our
gazes were locked together in a need for connection. I became hyperaware of the
sensation of my thigh pressed against his and the comforting touch of his hand
in mine. My leg shifted minutely, as if it had a mind of its own and wanted to
increase the sensation of that subtle touch, calling attention to it. It had the
desired effect.
Alex
watched me through heavy lids, and I could suddenly feel the air thicken with
anticipation. We were so close. All I had to do was lean in a couple of inches.
I
wasn’t sure if I moved, but Alex’s eyes darted to my lips, which I licked
unconsciously. He sucked in a hard breath as his own lips parted, and I could
see his muscles bunching under his thin T-shirt as his body prepared to move
toward me.
Purchase your copy today!
Unhidden (The Gatekeeper Chronicles, #1)
It’s
not always easy to differentiate between the good guys and the bad guys,
especially when your heroine is a trained killer and she may be falling in love
with her evil hunter…
Emma
Hayes, a former military Special Forces Operative turned mercenary-for-hire,
finds her tightly controlled world turned upside down when she is attacked by
horrible monsters.
Emma
must use every skill in her arsenal to stay alive as she tries to solve the
mystery of why she has been targeted. Her list of enemies keeps growing - from
Zane Shayde, an evil Mage, to a secret branch of the US government - and she
doesn't know if there is anyone left she can trust.
To
complicate matters further, Emma is inexplicably drawn to Zane in a way she
doesn’t quite understand, even knowing her life is forfeit if captured. Who is
he and why does he have this affect on her? How can she fight a being that
calls to her, body and soul?
Emma
is left haunted by questions, doubts and fears as to why she has been targeted,
when they will come for her next, and how she will possibly be able to survive
against an enemy she doesn't understand.
About the Author
Dina Given lives in rural New Jersey – home of farms, horses and the largest hot air balloon festival in North America – with her husband, two crazy kids, and one rescue dog. She is an exercise enthusiast and avid lover of food and wine (hence the need to exercise). Dina also works full time for one of the largest healthcare companies in the world. She attributes her ability to juggle family, work and writing to her obsessive, hyper-focused, Type A personality.
Connect with Dina
Giveaway!
REVIEW
I love the action vibes that come from this book. Reading it got me totally pumped. The first novel established how formidable Emma's adversaries are and how she's totally up to that challenge. Just as in Unhidden, Unraveled is full of monsters and aliens. Some are the traditional fantasy like dragons and vampires. Others are more sci-fi such as brain-sucking parasites and creatures wearing humans.
To me this book gives a little more of the emotional side of Emma. The most important people in her life are being used against her because they're one of her few weaknesses. In my opinion, she seems to worry more about her actions this go around.
Several new characters and lots of background knowledge are introduced into an already explosive atmosphere. Questions of who's really bad or good and what's the actual source behind certain outcomes arise. Although, it's more action than romance, there's a bit of a love triangle going on also.
Fans of urban fantasy should definitely try this series. If you enjoyed the first installment, this one is just as volatile and fun. I'm looking forward to book three.
