Monsters & Angels
Anne Marie Andrus
Publication date: October 11th 2017
Genres: Historical, New Adult, Paranormal Romance
Anne Marie Andrus
Publication date: October 11th 2017
Genres: Historical, New Adult, Paranormal Romance
Fledgling nurse Sorcha Alden knew she had the skills to save lives, but she never dreamed that her own life would be the one in danger.
Driven by tragedy to honor her family name, Sorcha embarks on a journey that takes her from the bleak but familiar streets of New York, through the sultry and seductive city of New Orleans, and into the brutal jungles of Nepal. Forging friendships and carrying on her mother’s mission of healing was her dream. Plunging into a love affair with the mysterious Dr. Ashayle could have been a fairytale.
Being murdered and waking up as a blood-thirsty monster—became her living nightmare.
Torn away form a life that had just begun, Sorcha returns to New Orleans as a newborn vampire, forced to start over in a cutthroat underworld of devilry and decadence. Complicated politics, bitter rivals and jealous ancestors stand between her and the promises she’s still determined to keep.
In a realm where the boundary between good and evil is as murky as the Mississippi River and immortal does not mean invincible, will Sorcha ever risk her shattered heart and love again? Can the magical harmony of the Crescent City give her enough courage to fulfill her eternal destiny?
Excerpt
Sorcha wrapped the blue cape around her nurse’s uniform and
shivered in the evening chill. Damn
schedule changes. I’d give anything to feel Vir’s arms around me right now.
We’ve barely spoken since our night together. She tucked a stray hair into
her nursing cap, bowed her head and crossed her heart before the mourners
headed toward the compound. Wonder if he
misses me?
Walking at the end of the funeral procession, Sorcha
absentmindedly checked for her locket and found it wasn’t around her neck.
Panic drove her trembling hand as she searched inside her blouse and uniform to
see if it had fallen off. She slowed and scanned the path behind
her. Stupid chain must have broken. If
it dropped in the cemetery, it would be gone by morning. Thieves roamed freely
at night, stealing anything left at the graves. How can I get there and back without anyone noticing?
Pretending to tie her shoe, Sorcha deliberately let the group
walk on. Nobody looked back. She retraced her steps to the gravestones and
scoured the ground. Nighttime was swallowing the forest, but the warped tree
she leaned on during the service was easy to spot. She slowly turned in a
circle, her eyes straining to focus.
“Oh, thank God!” Sorcha caught the faint twinkle of gold in the
moonlight. Lunging across the ground she grabbed the locket, folded it into her
fingers and touched it to her forehead.
Now, catch up with everybody else.
With the locket jammed deep into her cape pocket, Sorcha
sprinted for home.
The creature struck from the left.
Sorcha’s ribs splintered like twigs as the beast clamped huge
jaws around her waist and razored her skin to ribbons. She was tossed like a
rag doll into a headstone, demolishing the ancient rock and shattering her
spine. Sizzling pain exploded and then ceased, replaced by a blast of cold.
Sorcha struggled to focus on the burning blue eyes and jagged teeth of a wicked
tiger.
Blue
fire.
Laughing at her broken body, the savage creature pierced her
neck with its fangs and gulped.
Frosty serpents slithered through her veins as they were drained
of life. Sticky dark blood everywhere but
inside me—my blood. Voices
Sorcha didn’t recognize buzzed next to her ear.
“Did you check to see if she’s dead? Wait, who am I kidding? Of
course she is—you’ve killed everyone.”
The
tiger can talk?
“I executed our plan, followed the scent. She shouldn’t have
been here.”
Two
beasts? Another killer.
“Haven’t you taken enough life this week? Exceptionally sloppy.”
“I know you want our brother alive, but I can’t risk the
competition. Father already ignores me.”
“The depth of your insecurity boggles my mind. If this was our
brother, would you have murdered him and told Father it was an accident?”
“Would you have allowed it?” The first killer snarled, “Perfect
brother.”
“I can’t keep up with you when you’re this deranged.” The second
killer knelt beside Sorcha and gently closed her eyelids. “Such a pretty young
thing. What a waste.”
Not
fair!
“Leave the animals and thieves to clean up this mess. Forget
her.”
Author Bio:
Anne Marie has been an equestrienne, chorale singer, candy-striper, EMT, and baseball fan. Roaming the back roads of New Jersey with her family, she found great respect for antiques, historical locations and the stories they hold. Her current list of favorite pastimes include coffee, bourbon, and Les Miserables--which requires more bourbon. She has been known to attend sporting events just for the flyover. The boat she and her husband christened Glory Days, is her escape from the chaos of everyday life.
The inspiration for Anne Marie's debut novel, Monsters & Angels, is her fascination with vampires and her passion for everything New Orleans. When she isn't writing, she can be found working nights with the critical care team in a busy trauma center.
Thanks for being on the tour! :)
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