Celeste Garrett has finally found a happy balance in her life as the Chosen One, thanks in large part to a certain hunky Irishman. But if there’s any lesson she should heed since receiving her calling it’s that everything can change in the blink of an eye. Soon a terrible new threat, unlike anything she’s ever encountered, causes her to make a gut-wrenching choice that will strip her of someone she holds dear.
As much as she’d like to have a pity party for one, there’s no time for that now because wedding bells are ringing in Gainesboro! In between dress fittings and rehearsal dinners Celeste will have to fend off attacking demons and leering pirates. As if the Dark Army wasn’t scary enough our heroine is faced with the horrifying trauma of attending a bachelorette party with her mom and watching Grams do Jello shots. Is a walk down the aisle even possible for a member of the Garrett family when the Dark Army is out to destroy them? More importantly, will the Dark Army Glee Club sing at the reception?
Raise your glass to the happy couple, and get ready for a wedding…Conduit-style.
As much as she’d like to have a pity party for one, there’s no time for that now because wedding bells are ringing in Gainesboro! In between dress fittings and rehearsal dinners Celeste will have to fend off attacking demons and leering pirates. As if the Dark Army wasn’t scary enough our heroine is faced with the horrifying trauma of attending a bachelorette party with her mom and watching Grams do Jello shots. Is a walk down the aisle even possible for a member of the Garrett family when the Dark Army is out to destroy them? More importantly, will the Dark Army Glee Club sing at the reception?
Raise your glass to the happy couple, and get ready for a wedding…Conduit-style.
Excerpt
I wriggled my toes deeper into the sand and readjusted my sketchpad to get a better angle. Sea gulls screeched their high-pitched call, interrupting the sweet serenade of the gently lapping waves. A small fire crackled in front of me, more for ambiance than necessity. It was a comfortable seventy-five degrees in our tropical paradise. I glanced up from my artwork and gazed at Caleb. He strummed softly on his guitar, his skin aglow thanks to his kinship with the fire. I shook my head and cast the sketchbook aside. It was pointless. In no way could I capture his true beauty or the vitality he drew from the elements.
I leaned back on my elbows and stretched my legs out. “Are you ever going to tell me where this place actually is?”
A glossy lock of hair fell across his forehead as he looked up with the half-grin I adored. “Whar’s the mystery in that, lovey? Isn’t it better tah think it’s just a bit o’ heaven carved out for you and me?”
I closed my eyes and tipped my head back. “If it was heaven, I wouldn’t have to take Dramamine to get here.”
The sand crunched as Caleb set his guitar down. “The Dramamine is just so ya don’t turn green when we teleport. Has nothin’ to do with the end location.” He rose from the rock he’d been sitting on and rounded the fire pit. His bare foot nudged my hip. “Sit up. The show’s about tah start.”
I pushed myself up and brushed the sand off my hands. Caleb slid behind me, and pulled me back against his chest. I took a deep breath and exhaled slowly to savor the moment. I was right where I was meant to be—where I belonged.
Purple, pink, and gold zigzags decorated the sky. Their image reflected off the water turning it the color of melted gold. “It’s gorgeous.”
“As are you, my love.” He dotted a kiss just below my ear.
I snuggled deeper into his arms and watched as the sun disappeared behind the water’s edge and the sky darkened. Unfortunately it also signaled our time together was drawing to a close. “What time is it in Tennessee?”
Caleb rocked onto his hip to slide his cell phone out of his pocket, and then clicked the screen to life. “Ya’ve got about thirty minutes until ya’re curfew.”
“Thirty minutes, huh?” In a brazen move totally out of character for me, I swung both my legs over one of his and tried on a saucy grin. “What could we possibly do in thirty minutes?”
“Well, not that.” His emerald eyes burned with barely concealed desire. “’Cause this beach isn’t quite that isolated. But there are other things … ”
He freed my hair from its ponytail and weaved his fingers through it to shake the strands loose. Gently at first, his lips found mine but the heat and intensity quickly grew.
His hand slid up my leg and lingered on the curve of my hip. “Ya know,” he whispered, his voice low and husky, “it’s been far too long since I’ve made ya purr. I’m beginning to think I lost my touch.”
I brushed my cheek against his and moved up to deliver a soft kiss to the tip of his ear lobe. “I’ll let you in on a little secret. I’ve been stifling it. Didn’t want you to get lazy.”
His head fell back as he laughed. “Lazy? With you on me arm?” He wrapped both arms around my waist and flipped me so my back was in the sand. Raven locks fell forward and framed his handsome face when he leaned over me. “That’s an impossibility if e’er there was one.”
I ran my hands up his chest, over the raised ridges of the lacework of scars that decorated his torso, and linked them behind his neck. “And you love it.”
In a blink his humor vanished, burned away by the intensity of his gaze. “No,” he corrected. “I love you.”
Our lips met in a fiery explosion and we lost ourselves in each other’s touch. My hands raked down his back, wanting to free him from the burden of his shirt.
He caught my wandering digits and tried to pull away. “Celeste, the fire … ”
“I know. It’s fantastic,” I murmured and reached for him again.
He swatted my hands away and nodded past me. “No, lovey, the fire. Look!”
I didn’t want to look. I knew whatever it was would ruin the moment. I wasn’t wrong. From within our small fire visible hands had formed. I sat up and cocked my head to watch; my eyes narrowed in confusion. The flaming fingers clawed and reached skyward, digging their way out. The fire blazed up toward the evening sky. Arms grew from the hands.
“What the heck is that?” I asked, more irritated than surprised.
“Safe to say it’s demonic in nature, aye?”
“Of course it is,” I grumbled.
I leaned back on my elbows and stretched my legs out. “Are you ever going to tell me where this place actually is?”
A glossy lock of hair fell across his forehead as he looked up with the half-grin I adored. “Whar’s the mystery in that, lovey? Isn’t it better tah think it’s just a bit o’ heaven carved out for you and me?”
I closed my eyes and tipped my head back. “If it was heaven, I wouldn’t have to take Dramamine to get here.”
The sand crunched as Caleb set his guitar down. “The Dramamine is just so ya don’t turn green when we teleport. Has nothin’ to do with the end location.” He rose from the rock he’d been sitting on and rounded the fire pit. His bare foot nudged my hip. “Sit up. The show’s about tah start.”
I pushed myself up and brushed the sand off my hands. Caleb slid behind me, and pulled me back against his chest. I took a deep breath and exhaled slowly to savor the moment. I was right where I was meant to be—where I belonged.
Purple, pink, and gold zigzags decorated the sky. Their image reflected off the water turning it the color of melted gold. “It’s gorgeous.”
“As are you, my love.” He dotted a kiss just below my ear.
I snuggled deeper into his arms and watched as the sun disappeared behind the water’s edge and the sky darkened. Unfortunately it also signaled our time together was drawing to a close. “What time is it in Tennessee?”
Caleb rocked onto his hip to slide his cell phone out of his pocket, and then clicked the screen to life. “Ya’ve got about thirty minutes until ya’re curfew.”
“Thirty minutes, huh?” In a brazen move totally out of character for me, I swung both my legs over one of his and tried on a saucy grin. “What could we possibly do in thirty minutes?”
“Well, not that.” His emerald eyes burned with barely concealed desire. “’Cause this beach isn’t quite that isolated. But there are other things … ”
He freed my hair from its ponytail and weaved his fingers through it to shake the strands loose. Gently at first, his lips found mine but the heat and intensity quickly grew.
His hand slid up my leg and lingered on the curve of my hip. “Ya know,” he whispered, his voice low and husky, “it’s been far too long since I’ve made ya purr. I’m beginning to think I lost my touch.”
I brushed my cheek against his and moved up to deliver a soft kiss to the tip of his ear lobe. “I’ll let you in on a little secret. I’ve been stifling it. Didn’t want you to get lazy.”
His head fell back as he laughed. “Lazy? With you on me arm?” He wrapped both arms around my waist and flipped me so my back was in the sand. Raven locks fell forward and framed his handsome face when he leaned over me. “That’s an impossibility if e’er there was one.”
I ran my hands up his chest, over the raised ridges of the lacework of scars that decorated his torso, and linked them behind his neck. “And you love it.”
In a blink his humor vanished, burned away by the intensity of his gaze. “No,” he corrected. “I love you.”
Our lips met in a fiery explosion and we lost ourselves in each other’s touch. My hands raked down his back, wanting to free him from the burden of his shirt.
He caught my wandering digits and tried to pull away. “Celeste, the fire … ”
“I know. It’s fantastic,” I murmured and reached for him again.
He swatted my hands away and nodded past me. “No, lovey, the fire. Look!”
I didn’t want to look. I knew whatever it was would ruin the moment. I wasn’t wrong. From within our small fire visible hands had formed. I sat up and cocked my head to watch; my eyes narrowed in confusion. The flaming fingers clawed and reached skyward, digging their way out. The fire blazed up toward the evening sky. Arms grew from the hands.
“What the heck is that?” I asked, more irritated than surprised.
“Safe to say it’s demonic in nature, aye?”
“Of course it is,” I grumbled.
My Review
Once done with the review scroll down to see how you can be entered to win an e-book of Sacrifice
First things first...those who've followed my blog know well that I am a cover fanatic. So, let's talk about this cover, shall we.................*Microphone please* Thank-you! OMG! I LOVE IT! There is so much put into this cover I just can't even begin to tell you! The uniqueness of it is amazing! No models that you've seen on 20 other books. No looking at it and saying "Hey, I've seen a cover like that on another book". This cover is on it's own and matches the book you are about to read! It's first hand sketched by Crystal Ord and then turned into a cover with added designs by artist K.C Designs. (Find her Facebook page HERE)...Uh huh, safe to say by far one of my favorites! Kudo's to Stacey Rourke for making her covers as unique as her writing style....*O.o* Writing style, oh yes, that's what I'm suppose to be talking about huh? The actual words inside...Ooopppss....Okay, here we go..........
Where on earth do I even start! Oh, I know where...My love for this series! (Good place, huh).
I have been a huge fan of this series since I got my hands on her first book The Conduit! I had never actually LOL'ed while reading a book. My family kept looking at me like I was nuts! (okay, they may not be to far off on that one, but shhh...don't tell them I said that) Embrace, book two had me doing the same thing, The Sidekick Chronicle a Novella as well (The swan scene..OMG..) Now bring in Sacrifice............. Darn you, Stacey! Darn you! You changed up on me! Instead of LOL'ing constantly I had to add tissues! Yes, I said add cause it's still a hilarious read but there are some moments you need those tissues! Someone is suppose to be getting married! (I almost gave away who and had to delete..Ooooppssyyyy) I say suppose to be because well.....that darn Dark Army is at it again..They just won't give those Garrett's a break!(Not that we want them to) but anyhooooo..........The dress fitting kind of gets a bit buggy, Kendall does some things WAY out of character ( make you want to smack her upside the head and knock sense in to her kind of stuff), The bachelorette party get's some...interesting visitors, we have a bit of heartache (okay, a lot), our wonderful gnome's true intentions are revealed and we develop an issue to where we actually have to decide..are we team Rowan or Caleb!! I know right?!?!?!?! I can't believe this! How do you chose that!!!! HOW?!?!?! Why did you do that to me, Stacey? WHY?
Needless to say I loved all the event's in Sacrifice! Poor Celeste..Her brothers relationship,her Grams..Jello shots, her mom and Kendall a stripper all in one scene! HAHAHA! Priceless! Just, just priceless.... I can't even express to you how much you need to read this book or series if you have yet to read the first ones! You get all of it in Sacrifice! Humor, pain, action, sorrow, love, rising love, deception shock.....I mean really! How can you not want to read this!
This series is great for all ages! I had NEVER been able to get my teenage daughter to sit down and read a series without forcing her until The Gryphon Series! After reading The Conduit she came to me begging me to give her the rest of the books...Now, she patiently (*shakes head*, not so patiently) awaits book four! Almost as patiently (crosses fingers behind back) as me!!!!!
Way to go Stacey, on another great book! (Screams, can I have book four now!!)
Buy Sacrifice HERE!! Don't argue, just do it!
I have been a huge fan of this series since I got my hands on her first book The Conduit! I had never actually LOL'ed while reading a book. My family kept looking at me like I was nuts! (okay, they may not be to far off on that one, but shhh...don't tell them I said that) Embrace, book two had me doing the same thing, The Sidekick Chronicle a Novella as well (The swan scene..OMG..) Now bring in Sacrifice............. Darn you, Stacey! Darn you! You changed up on me! Instead of LOL'ing constantly I had to add tissues! Yes, I said add cause it's still a hilarious read but there are some moments you need those tissues! Someone is suppose to be getting married! (I almost gave away who and had to delete..Ooooppssyyyy) I say suppose to be because well.....that darn Dark Army is at it again..They just won't give those Garrett's a break!(Not that we want them to) but anyhooooo..........The dress fitting kind of gets a bit buggy, Kendall does some things WAY out of character ( make you want to smack her upside the head and knock sense in to her kind of stuff), The bachelorette party get's some...interesting visitors, we have a bit of heartache (okay, a lot), our wonderful gnome's true intentions are revealed and we develop an issue to where we actually have to decide..are we team Rowan or Caleb!! I know right?!?!?!?! I can't believe this! How do you chose that!!!! HOW?!?!?! Why did you do that to me, Stacey? WHY?
Needless to say I loved all the event's in Sacrifice! Poor Celeste..Her brothers relationship,her Grams..Jello shots, her mom and Kendall a stripper all in one scene! HAHAHA! Priceless! Just, just priceless.... I can't even express to you how much you need to read this book or series if you have yet to read the first ones! You get all of it in Sacrifice! Humor, pain, action, sorrow, love, rising love, deception shock.....I mean really! How can you not want to read this!
This series is great for all ages! I had NEVER been able to get my teenage daughter to sit down and read a series without forcing her until The Gryphon Series! After reading The Conduit she came to me begging me to give her the rest of the books...Now, she patiently (*shakes head*, not so patiently) awaits book four! Almost as patiently (crosses fingers behind back) as me!!!!!
Way to go Stacey, on another great book! (Screams, can I have book four now!!)
Buy Sacrifice HERE!! Don't argue, just do it!
Young Adult and Teen Reader voted Author of the Year 2012.
Stacey Rourke is the author of the Gryphon Series. She lives in Michigan with her husband, two beautiful daughters, and two giant, drooly dogs. Stacey loves to travel, has an unhealthy shoe addiction and considers herself blessed to make a career out of talking to the imaginary people that live in her head. She is currently hard at work on the continuations of this series as well as other literary projects.
Visit her at www.staceyrourke.com
Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Stacey-Rourke/
or on Twitter @Rourkewrites.
The Conduit book one can be purchased HERE
Embrace book two can be purchased HERE
The Sidekick Chronicles Novella can be purchased HERE
Sacrifice can be purchased HERE
How to win an E-copy
Want to win an E-book of Sacrifice for either you or a friend? It's easy to enter! Just comment on this blog whether or not you will be adding it to your TBR, purchasing now and just trying to win for a friend or even what has you the most interested in this book or series as a whole! See....Easy! Have not read the first books? You can even opt to get one of those instead.
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