Thursday, June 19, 2014

Zoku's Hope by Chelsea O’Neal Giveaway & Excerpt


After Jaiden found Daniah in Juniper, they returned to Garnet City. Daniah is destined to become Queen of Zoku, a race of angel half-breeds who protect the humans from a soul-stealing evil. Now, Daniah is learning of her abilities and responsibilities as queen. Just as things seem to be going smoothly, a group of Zoku show up to help, led by an angel, Shelly.

Mallory has been on her own for most of her life, trying to protect and save those around her.  She is Toyek, and she's been hiding in plain sight while fighting for her life. She is intent on finding her friend’s daughter, whatever it takes, when an innocent trip to the supermarket takes an interesting turn.

Orion has been hired to find a female and, as a Tracker, finding people is his specialty. He discovers much more than he was looking for when he runs into the beautiful Mallory. While pursuing both his target and the resistant Mallory, he finds himself fighting to defend Princess Daniah and the Zoku.

Can Orion and Mallory work together to help Daniah be the hope the Zoku so desperately need? Or will a few surprises and a tragedy be all it takes to break the united front of the Zoku fighting against the evil Meikal?

Excerpt
At some point, I realize I am dreaming and this time I am not running, I am standing in a garden much like the one outside my window, alone.
“It has been a while since I have seen you. I can’t say it’s good to see you, though.”
The same voice that tormented me in my dreams before breaks my solitude, and I whirl to find him.  I don’t even bother to respond, my stomach filling with dread, as I know that the only way out of this dream is when he pushes me out.  I am sleeping alone.  For the first month after we got back, I slept in the same bed as Jim before we decided that we were probably OK. The only way out of a dream like this is either a person of the opposite sex pulls you out with skin-to-skin contact, or if the dream walker pushes you out.
“Not going to say hi?” the voice taunts, and I feel (rather than see) the object coming at me from behind.
I dodge, but I’m too slow and now there is a knife imbedded in my shoulder.  I cry out before I can stop myself, the pain intense and sudden.  I feel the blood soaking my shirt, and it occurs to me that I will probably die before I get out of this dream.
“Guess you’ve gone soft on training. Thought I wasn’t coming back for you, huh?” he taunts further. Without warning, another knife is stabbed into my stomach. “I am going to finish what I started with your family,” he says in a low voice, and I barely hear him through the pain blossoming in my body.
I bent over when the knife went into my stomach, and the thought of death becomes more certain. I sense the foot being kicked at my face just before it hits me.  I lean back, fighting the pain in my abdomen and shoulder, and almost manage to move far enough.  The foot, which is attached to a vicious looking woman, connects with my forehead and I fly backwards, landing hard on my back.  My vision blurs, and I try to roll to ease the pain in my shoulder as the knife jams in farther.  My senses dull, and even though the voice is taunting me and the woman is smiling down on me like a reaper come for my soul, I only blink and breathe through the rolling pain.
Suddenly, I hear a growl and the woman lunges for me a split second before I hear a man calling my name. My vision goes completely black, and I only wish unconsciousness would have followed; instead I feel pain, loads of pain.
“Jim, I need you to get to Cord’s as fast as you can. Bring Zach!A panicked voice says. Instead of figuring out who it is, I focus on trying to pass out; that way, I don’t have to deal with the pain.
“Jane, please come to your cottage, now!” I hear the same clipped voice say, then I feel something soft against my face.
“Cord, love, are you with me?” He asks. I blink, realizing that I am blind again, just like the dreams before, and I let the tears come.  “I felt the first knife, and I tried to get here as fast as I could, I’m so sorry I wasn’t faster,” the voice says softly, and I feel air across my face. 
I feel the light pressure of something soft against my lips, then I smell the most wonderful smell.  Instantly, the voice is Trevor and the smell is him, and I figure he must have just kissed me.  How terrible, I think, that I can only get some feeling and emotion from this male when I am pretty close to dead.  I cry harder, the pain growing white hot as my heart throbs.
“Shush, love, I’m sorry. It will be better soon, I promise,” he says, and I wish with everything I am that it would be.
“Oh, my gosh,” Jane says as she enters my room, then I hear another gasp and I figure it must be Jake.
“Before we can heal her, we have to get the knives out of her,” Jake says. “Trev I need you to hold her steady, and I will pull the one out of her back first. Then Jane, you heal her, OK?” 
Apparently everyone is in agreement, as the next thing I feel is a burst of paint in my shoulder that feels like I was stabbed again, then a numbing sensation that turns into heat. Then I start to feel woozy as some of the pain subsides. I feel myself on the edge of passing out, and I wonder if it is from blood loss or pain, or maybe both.
“I can’t heal the stomach wound without my brother,” Jane says, sounding horrified. “Once you pull the knife out, she is going to lose even more blood,” she says, and her voice chokes up, as if she is crying.
“We can’t leave it in her. I’ll pull it out while Trev holds her, then we’ll both put pressure on her while we wait for Zach,” Jake says, his voice clipped.
“Jim and Zach are on their way, I called them first,” Trevor says, his voice rough.
Suddenly, I feel another shot of fire in my stomach. I must have missed the signal due to my blindness. I feel even more pain as they apply pressure to my stomach, and I can’t help the moan that spills from my mouth.
“It will be better soon, love,” I hear Trevor say, close to my ear. I turn my head without thought to get closer to him, and I feel my mind floating away.  “Please open your eyes, Cord, please don’t fall asleep yet, love,” Trevor says urgently, and I hear the panic in his voice.
I blink my heavy eyelids and try to keep them open. At least, I think they are open.
“Can you heal her eyes?” Jake asks softly. I don’t hear a response, then Jake asks, “Why?”
“It is caused from the magic of the dream. It isn’t a physical wound, it is hard to explain,” Jane pauses, then adds, “Think of it this way: when there is a wound to heal, I can feel it with my power.  So I can feel what exactly is torn and needs mending in her stomach, just as I could in her shoulder.  With her eyes, there is nothing technically wrong; they feel fine, healthy,” she finishes and even in my state I think, Huh.
“Zach, hurry, we are in Cord’s room,” I hear Jake call. He must have heard the door.
“Geez,” I hear Zach mutter, then I feel more pressure on my stomach. 
The pain intensifies, heat flares in my abdomen, but then it numbs a bit.  As some of the pain dissipates, I lean my head closer to Trevor. I feel his face against mine and I sigh, feeling sleepy.
“Almost done, love, hold on,” he says softly, then I hear Jim.
“Here, I have a cloth for her eyes to ease the burn.” Coolness falls over my eyes, and I sigh.
I hear Jim and Trevor chuckle, then I hear a loud sob and wonder what just happened.  I feel more waves of pain, heat, and numbness, and I feel sleepier with each one.
“Tired,” I mumble, and I feel Trevor smile, as his face is right next to mine.
“Can she sleep?  Or should I keep her awake?” Trevor asks, his voice the only thing I can hear clearly. Whatever answer was given, I don’t catch. “Sleep, love, everything is fine,” he whispers, and I feel him lightly kiss my forehead.

About the Author


Chelsea O’Neal lives in her fantasy world where people can fly, vampires could be real, money is never an issue, and the romantic meeting of your true love is a normal happening.  When not relaxing in Chelsea-ville, she enjoys talking with animals that talk back and taking long walks with her Prince Charming…
Actually Chelsea lives in the United States in Nebraska, where she was born and raised, with her black lab Daisey, who hasn’t spoken actual words, but she is pretty sure Daisey understands her. She is yet to meet her Prince Charming, though she is quite sure he is out there.  Chelsea enjoys working in a library as well as a cosmetologist. She is an avid reader and writing has always been her passion. Zoku’s Hope is her second novel, and she is working on her next book now.

The overall tour giveaway is 1 x signed paperback of Zoku’s Hope and book thong (US only) plus $10/£5 Amazon Gift Card (International). 
a Rafflecopter giveaway

1 comment:

  1. Thank you for having me on your blog your post looks awesome!!

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