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Showing posts with label Cole. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Cole. Show all posts

Monday, April 20, 2015

Blog Tour- HUNTED by Abi Ketner and Missy Kalicicki A Playlist and A Giveaway


I am so excited to kick off the HUNTED Blog Tour! I freaking love this series and Lexi, Cole (swoons) and Zeus!  I have Abi and Missy's Sinners Series playlist to share today. Make sure to enter the giveaway below for a Sinners Series T-Shirt!

Haven't heard of HUNTED? Check it out!


Title: HUNTED
Author: Abi Ketner & Missy Kalicicki
Publisher: Month9Books
Pub. Date: April 28, 2015

It’s been three months since the revolt against the Commander’s fifty-year-old regime failed. 

Under a new ruler, things were supposed to change. Get better. 

Now, Wilson is in charge. But, can he really be trusted? Can anyone?

Lexi and Cole soon find out, as life takes an unexpected turn for the worse.

In this ever-changing world, you must hunt or be hunted.

Many more lives will be lost.

Many more dreams will be crushed.

Many more fears will be realized.

When Cole is once again faced with losing Lexi at the hands of a monster, one capture will change everything.

Forever. 

HUNTED is the electrifying sequel to the bestselling debut BRANDED, A Sinners Series, by Abi Ketner and Missy Kalicicki.


What readers are saying about BRANDED…


"Branded was a riveting and exciting dystopian read that will have you at the edge of your seat. I could not put it down and was entranced by this dark and unique world!" -Ben Alderson, Booktuber at BenjaminofTomes


"Fast paced and fun, BRANDED has something everyone will love. Abi Ketner and Missy Kalicicki have created a unique dystopian romance that's sure to stand out in today's market!" -Lindsay Cummings, Author of The Murder Complex


Connect with BRANDED fans on Instagram at:
#abiandmissy
#Sinnersfandom
#Sinnersseries
#Colexi
#Sinnersseriesbranded
#Brandedofficialfanpage
#Brandedfandom
#Lexihamilton



Now on to the playlist! I'll add the videos to some of my favorites and YouTube links to the rest!

Sinners Series Playlist- Music really inspires both of us and we’ve got a playlist per book.  So we’ll give you our playlist for HUNTED!!! 


Skillet- Awake, What I Believe (had to post the Assassins Creed video version lol), Rise



Black Veil Brides- In the End



Linkin Park- When They Come for Me, Line in the Sand, Until it’s Gone



Band of Horses- Funeral


Coldplay- Sky Full of Stars, Midnight





Lana Del Ray- Dark Paradise




About Abi and Missy
Abi and Missy met in the summer of 1999 at college orientation and have been best friends ever since. After college, they added jobs, husbands and kids to their lives, but they still found time for their friendship. Instead of hanging out on weekends, they went to dinner once a month and reviewed books. What started out as an enjoyable hobby has now become an incredible adventure.




Giveaway Details:

(1) Sinners Series T-Shirt US only.





a Rafflecopter giveaway


Tour Schedule:
4/20/2015- Two Chicks on BooksGuest Post

4/21/2015- Magical Urban Fantasy ReadsGuest Post

4/22/2015- Reading TeenReview

4/23/2015- Novels on The RunReview

4/24/2015- A Life Bound By BooksInterview
4/24/2015- Mollie The Reader- Review

4/25/2015- Tales of A Ravenous ReaderInterview
4/25/2015- A Reader’s Legacy- Video Review


4/26/2015- Good Choice ReadingGuest Post

4/27/2015- Chapter by Chapter- Interview
4/27/2015- Addicted Readers- Review

4/28/2015- BenjaminoftomesLaunch Day Live Show
4/28/2015- Page Turners- Interview

4/29/2015- Once Upon A TwilightGuest Post

4/30/2015- Mundie MomsReview

5/1/2015- Paranormal Book ClubInterview


Wednesday, October 1, 2014

Cover Reveal- HUNTED by Abi Ketner and Missy Kalicicki and a Giveaway!




Today Abi Ketner, Missy Kalicicki and Month9Books are revealing the cover for HUNTED, book 2 in the Sinners Series releasing in July 5, 2015! Check out the smoking hot cover and enter the giveaway to win a signed copy of BRANDED!









On to the reveal! 



Title: HUNTED
Author: Abi Ketner & Missy Kalicicki
Publisher: Month9Books
Pub. Date: July 5, 2015
Find it: Goodreads

It’s been three months since the revolt against the Commander’s fifty-year-old regime failed. 

Under a new ruler, things were supposed to change. Get better. 

Now, Wilson is in charge. But, can he really be trusted? Can anyone?

Lexi and Cole soon find out, as life takes an unexpected turn for the worse.

In this ever-changing world, you must hunt or be hunted.

Many more lives will be lost.

Many more dreams will be crushed.

Many more fears will be realized.

When Cole is once again faced with losing Lexi at the hands of a monster, one capture will change everything.

Forever. 

HUNTED is the electrifying sequel to the bestselling debut BRANDED, A Sinners Series, by Abi Ketner and Missy Kalicicki.

What readers are saying about BRANDED…

"Branded was a riveting and exciting dystopian read that will have you at the edge of your seat. I could not put it down and was entranced by this dark and unique world!" -Ben Alderson, Booktuber at BenjaminofTomes

"Fast paced and fun, BRANDED has something everyone will love. Abi Ketner and Missy Kalicicki have created a unique dystopian romance that's sure to stand out in today's market!" -Lindsay Cummings, Author of The Murder Complex

"Branded is a fast paced, heart pounding and swoon worthy read that will make you fall in love with this dark and twisted world." -Sasha Alsberg, Booktuber at ABookUtopia

Connect with BRANDED fans on Instagram at:
#abiandmissy
#Sinnersfandom
#Sinnersseries
#Colexi
#Sinnersseriesbranded
#Brandedofficialfanpage
#Brandedfandom
#Lexihamilton


About Abi and Missy 

Abi and Missy met in the summer of 1999 at college orientation and have been best friends ever since. After college, they added jobs, husbands and kids to their lives, but they still found time for their friendship. Instead of hanging out on weekends, they went to dinner once a month and reviewed books. What started out as an enjoyable hobby has now become an incredible adventure.



Giveaway Details:

1 winner will receive a signed copy of BRANDED, Us Only.

1 winner will receive an eBook of BRANDED, International.





Monday, September 8, 2014

Blog Tour- THE QUEEN OF ZOMBIE HEARTS by Gena Showalter My FavoriteQuotes and an awesome Giveaway!


Hey y'all! I'm super excited to be taking part in THE QUEEN OF ZOMBIE HEARTS blog tour! I adore Gena and this series is one of my all time favorites! It has a ton of swoony boys, zombies, and a kick ass heroine whom I love. I'm going to be sharing my favorite quotes from all 3 books, just a warning it's a long post. Most of my "quotes" turned into small passages. I wanted to not only feature Ali and Cole but also some of my other favorites too! Oh and make sure to stick around for the awesome giveaway!

Haven't heard of THE QUEEN OF ZOMBIE HEARTS? Check it out!




THE QUEEN OF ZOMBIE HEARTS
Author: Gena Showalter
Release Date: September 30, 2014
Add it to your TBR!  Goodreads
AmazonBarnes & Noble
        
I have a plan.

We'll either destroy them for good, or they'll destroy us.

Either way, only one of us is walking away.

In the stunning conclusion to the wildly popular White Rabbit Chronicles, Alice "Ali" Bell thinks the worst is behind her. She's ready to take the next step with boyfriend Cole Holland, the leader of the zombie slayers…until Anima Industries, the agency controlling the zombies, launches a sneak attack, killing four of her friends. It's then she realizes that humans can be more dangerous than monsters…and the worst has only begun.

As the surviving slayers prepare for war, Ali discovers she, too, can control the zombies…and she isn't the girl she thought she was. She's connected to the woman responsible for killing—and turning—Cole's mother. How can their relationship endure? As secrets come to light, and more slayers are taken or killed, Ali will fight harder than ever to bring down Anima—even sacrificing her own life for those she loves.





Now on to the quotes!

Meet the Queen and her Court

Alice in Zombieland

My Favorite between Ali and Cole! I chose a passage between Ali and Cole that was hot!!!!!!

“Are you trying to tell me you’ve never been kissed?”

I pressed my tongue to the roof of my mouth. He looked so dubious, and his tone had bordered on insulting. “Yeah. So?”

“So, I’m shocked, that’s all. You’re …you.”

“In-sul-ting. “Me?” I asked stiffly.

“Yeah. Hot,” he said.

Wait. Me? Hot?

He laughed down at me. “No one’s told you that, either, have they?”

I could only shake my head.

“You’ve clearly been hanging around idiots.” His gaze lowered—and stayed—on my lips, and he lost his gleam of amusement. “I’m going to kiss you, Ali.”

Here? Now? I thought again, my panic returning and my brain short-circuiting. “But I might be bad at it, and we don’t know each other well, and you don’t—And I don’t—And we can’t—“The words rushed out of me, but nothing came out fully formed.

“Apparently I do. And you will. And we can.” With that, he lowered his head, meshed his lips against mine and stole my breath.

About Ali’s bad driving.

“I can't promise we'll ever use you for a hasty getaway," Cole said, "but with a little work, you might be able to race my grandmother-while she's on her scooter.” 

Argument between Kat and Cole about Frosty.

“He ignored me, thank God, saying to Kat, "Let go of Frosty's leash. You're choking the life out of him."

Kat's eyes narrowed to tiny slits, a sure sign of her aggression. "He deserves to choke. He didn't keep little frosty in his pants this summer." the words snapped like a whip.

"He did." Cole snapped back with unwavering confidence.

"Not."

"Did."

"Not!"

"Did,"

"Not, not, not!" she shouted with a stomp of her foot.

"What are we five?" Cole said.

"Six.”

Through The Zombieglass

Don’t normally condone violence but this scene between Cole and Ali was hot!

“I felt my hand curl into a fist. Felt my elbow draw back. Felt my arm dart forward, my knuckles crack into Cole's jaw. I couldn't stop myself.

His head whipped to the side, and blood leaked from a cut in his lip.

Behind me, gasps of shock abounded.

"I'm recovered," I said. "Believe me now?"

Those violet eyes slitted when they found me. "Assault and battery is illegal."

"So have me arrested."

He closed what little distance there was between us. Suddenly I could feel his warmth of his breath caressing my skin. "How about I put you over my lap and spank you instead?"

"How about I knee your balls into your throat?"

"If you're going to play with that particular area, I'd rather you use your hands."

"My hands aren't going near that area ever again."

A pause. Then, "I bet I could change your mind," he whispered huskily.

"I bet I could bash yours." I drew back another fist, but he was ready and caught me midswing. His pupils dilated, a sign of arousal. Another sign: he began to pant. He was acting like I'd tried to unbuckle his jeans rather than smack fire out of him.

"Hit me again," he said, still using the same whispered tone, "and I'll take it as an invitation."

I was just as bad. I trembled with longing I couldn't control and struggled to catch my breath. "An invitation to do what?"

His grip loosened, his fingers rubbing my skin. A caress, not a warning. "I guess we'll find out together.”

Love me some Gavin and the scenes between him and Ali are classic and funny!

“Plus—and please hear me when I say this—I was serious every time I told you I have no interest in you.”

His grin only widened. “You realize you’re just making yourself more attractive to me, right? First, do you really not understand how beautiful you are? Even to a guy like me. And second, there’s never been a female I couldn’t win over.”

Me? Beautiful? “Maybe you’ve gotten the women you’ve wanted in the past, but there’s always a first time for failure.”

He clutched his heart, as if in pain.

Frosty and Kat well because they rock!

“Kitty Kat,” Frosty said.

“Jerk face,” she retorted, surprising me.

His eyes frosted over in tribute to his name. “What’d I do this time?

“Nothing. I thought I’d be mad just to be mad and liven things up. We were getting stale.”

In a snap, he lost his air of coldness. He barked a laugh. “You’re too sexy for words, you know that?”

Another swoony one between Cole and Ali.

“It’s too late for that. I’m going to kiss you, Ali.”

I was the one to shake my head. “You made your bed.”

“Yes, but I want you in it.”

THE QUEEN OF ZOMBIE HEARTS- Smaller teasers for this one since I know some of you haven’t read the book yet.

Gavin trying to give Ali sex advice because it’s hilarious.

“So you want any tips for taking things from ordinary to extraordinary?” he asked. “I’m something of a sexpert.”

“Actually, you’re something of a slutpert.”

“Don’t be ridiculous. That’s not even a word.”

Cole and Ali J

“Ali.” His voice, so husky, was temptation and silk, stroking over me. “Did I ever tell you all the reasons I love you?”

“No.” I licked my lips and shook my head, gathered the courage to face him. His eyes were heavy-lidded, smoldering.

He liked the tattoo.

“Tell me now,” I commanded softly.

“Where should I start?”

“How about with number one?”

Meet River! New hot boy!

“She isn’t your angel cake, or pop tart,” Cole snapped. “She’s mine.”

Don’t laugh. Or snicker.

“Yeah.” I said. “I’m his.” And okay, I snickered. But only a little!

Cole flicked me an irritated glance. I batted my eyelashes at him, all what did I do now?

“I could have her if I wanted her,” River said, his ego showing, “but I don’t, so this argument is pointless.”

And more River because he’s kinda awesome!

“Are you challenging me to a Zombie Kill Off?’

“Person who slays the most evil spirits wins?” He nodded. “Done.”

“Not done. There’s no way to keep track. The ones I fight turn to ash.”

His grin widened. “Smack talk already.”

Cole and Ali Talking about Kat’s awesomeness.

“Yeah, but she’s loyal and sweet and funny,” I replied, “And if I wasn’t in love with you, and I was into girls, and she was into girls, I’d be all over her. Guaranteed Frosty wouldn’t stand a chance. She’s already assured me I’m irresistible.”

He stopped rubbing to peer at me with abject desperation. “Let’s pretend. Just for a day. You’re into girls.”

Boys! I gathered clean clothes and shouldered my way past him.

“What?” he called as I shut the door. “Was it something I said?”

Kat to Ali.

“Always blame the guy.” She said. “That’s my new motto. And I’ve been plotting revenge. It goes a little something like this. We run away together, get married the way I know you want to, and then, just for grins and gigs, we send the boys a postcard that says, and I quote, Are you still planning to murder your postman?”

This girl…Light. Of. My. Life. “I’m in!”





About Gena:


GENA SHOWALTER is the New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author of the Intertwined novels and several other popular YA and adult series. Her stories have been featured on MTV and in Seventeen magazine and have been praised as "unputdownable.” Growing up, she always had her nose buried in a book. When it came time to buckle down and get a job, she knew writing was it for her. Gena lives in Oklahoma with her family and three slobbery bulldogs. Become a fan on Facebook, follow her on Twitter @GenaShowalter and visit her at genashowalter.com/young-adult/ and at HarlequinTEEN.com.




Giveaway Info:

Each tour stop is offering up a copy of either ALICE IN ZOMBIELAND, THROUGH THE ZOMBIE GLASS, or QUEEN OF ZOMBIE HEARTS!

One lucky grand prize winner will receive a $100 gift card and a complete set of the White Rabbit Chronicles. To enter for the grand prize, you MUST follow the tour each day, hunt down the white rabbit, and answer the daily question.

Please enter via the Rafflecopter form. Giveaway is open to US/Canada.










“Look for the White Rabbit Contest”: Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, the white rabbit will appear on a different blog and stay there for 48hrs. Once you have found the rabbit, click on it and you will be directed to a Rafflecopter entry form for the Grand Prize Giveaway! To enter, you must answer the daily question found at the tour stop!!!


Where could the Rabbit appear? On all Book Blogger Tour Hosts and The Harlequin Paranormal Blog, so go now and hunt the rabbit. Will you find it?

DAILY QUESTION-Which one of Jaime's quotes do you love the most?


Make sure to look for the WHITE RABBIT at the other tour stops!

Monday, September 8th - Two Chicks on Books Harlequin Paranormal Blog 
Wednesday, September 10th - The Book Swarm 
Friday, September 12th - Supernatural Snark 
Monday, September 15th - Such a Novel Idea 
Wednesday, September 17th - Bewitched Bookworms 
Friday, September 19th - Katie's Book Blog 
Monday, September 22nd - The Y.A. Bookworm Blogger 
Wednesday, September 24th - Adventures of a Book Junkie 
Friday, September 26th - Book Rock Betty

Friday, August 1, 2014

Get BRANDED! Check out BRANDED by Abi and Missy and enter the Giveaway!

Get-Branded-banner
Welcome to the GET BRANDED promo for Branded (Sinners #1) by Abi Ketner and Missy Kalicicki presented by Month9Books! I freaking LOVED this book and am dying to get my hands on book 2, HUNTED! Be sure to enter the giveaway found at the end of the post.
Branded-Cover
Fifty years ago The Commander came into power and murdered all who opposed him. In his warped mind, the seven deadly sins were the downfall of society.

To punish the guilty, he created the Hole, a place where sinners are branded according to their sins. Sinners are forced to live a less than human existence in deplorable conditions, under the watchful eye of guards who are ready to kill anyone who steps out of line.

Now, LUST wraps around my neck like thick, blue fingers, threatening to choke the life out of me. I’ve been accused of a crime I didn’t commit, and the Hole is my new home.

Constant darkness.

Brutal and savage violence.

Excruciating pain.

Every day is a fight for survival.

But I won’t let them win. I will not die in the Hole.

I am more than my brand. I’m a fighter. My name is Lexi Hamilton, and this is my story.
add to goodreads
Branded (Sinners #1) by Abi Ketner and Missy Kalicicki
Publisher: Month9Books
Chapter-by-Chapter-header---Excerpt

CHAPTER 1
I’m buried six feet under, and no one hears my screams. The rope chafes as I loop it around my neck. I pull down, making sure the knot is secure. It seems sturdy enough. My legs shake. My heart beats heavy in my throat. Sweat pours down my back. Death and I glare at each other through my tears. I take one last look at the crystal chandelier, the foyer outlined with mirrors, and the flawless decorations. No photographs adorn the walls. No happy memories here. I’m ready to go. On the count of three. I inhale, preparing myself for the finality of it all. Dropping my hands, a glimmer catches my eye. It’s my ring, the last precious gift my father gave me. I twist it around to read the inscription. Picturing his face forces me to reconsider my choice. He’d be heartbroken if he could see me now. A door slams in the hallway, almost causing me to lose my balance. My thoughts already muddled, I stand waiting with the rope hanging around my neck. Voices I don’t recognize creep through the walls. Curiosity overshadows my current thoughts. It’s late at night, and this is a secure building in High Society. No one disturbs the peace here—ever. I tug on the noose and pull it back over my head. Peering through the eyehole in our doorway, I see a large group of armed guards banging on my neighbors’ door. A heated conversation ensues, and my neighbors point toward my family’s home. It hits me. I’ve been accused and they’re here to arrest me. My father would want me to run, and in that split second, I decide to listen to his voice within me. Flinging myself forward in fear, I scramble up the marble staircase and into my brother’s old bedroom. The door is partially covered, but it exists. Pushing his dresser aside, my fingers claw at the opening. Breathing hard, I lodge myself against it. Nothing. I step back and kick it with all my strength. The wood splinters open, and my foot gets caught. I wrench it backward, scraping my calf, but adrenaline pushes me forward. The voices at the front door shout my name. On hands and knees, I squeeze through the jagged opening. My brother left through this passage, and now it’s my escape too. Cobwebs entangle my face, hands, and hair. At the end, I feel for the knob, twisting it clockwise. It swings open, creaking from disuse. I sprint into the hallway and smash through the large fire escape doors at the end. A burst of cool air strikes me in the face as I jump down the ladder. Reaching the fifth floor, I knock on a friend’s window. The lights flicker on, and I see the curtains move, but no one answers. I bang on the window harder. “Let me in! Please!” I say, but the lights darken. They know I’ve been accused and refuse to help me. Fear and adrenaline rush through my veins as I keep running, knocking on more windows along the way. No one has mercy. They all know what happens to sinners. Another flight of stairs passes in a blur when I hear the guards’ heavy footfalls from above. I can’t hide, but I don’t want to go without trying. Help me, Daddy. I need your strength now. My previous desolation evolves into a will to survive. I have to keep running, but I tremble and gasp for air. I steel my nerves and force my body to keep moving. In a matter of minutes, my legs cramp and my chest burns. I plunge to the ground, scraping my knee and elbow. A moan escapes from my chest. Gotta keep going. “Stop!” Their voices bounce off the buildings. “Lexi Hamilton, surrender yourself,” they command. They’re gaining on me. I resist the urge to glance back, running into what I assume is an alley. I’m far from our high-rise in High Society as I plunge into a poorer section of the city where the streets all look the same and the darkness prevents me from recognizing anything. I’m lost. My first instinct is to leap into a dumpster, but I retain enough sense to stay still. I crouch and peek around it, watching them dash by. The abhorrent smell leaves me vomiting until nothing remains in my stomach. Desperation overtakes me, as I know my retching was anything but silent. My last few seconds tick away before they find me. Everyone knows about their special means of tracking sinners. I push myself to my feet and look left, right, and left again. Their batons click against their black leather belts, and their boots stomp the cement on both sides of me. I shrink into myself. Their heavy steps mock my fear, growing closer and closer until I know I’m trapped. Never did I imagine they’d come for me. Never did I imagine all those nights I heard them dragging someone else away that I’d join them. “You’re a sinner,” they say. “Time to leave.” I stand defiant. I refuse to bend or break before them, even as I shiver with fear. “There’s no reason to make this difficult. The more you cooperate, the smoother this will be for everyone,” a guard says. I cringe into the blackness along the wall. I’m innocent, but they won’t believe me or care. The next instant, my face slams into the pavement as one guard plants a knee in my back and another handcuffs me. A warm liquid trails into my mouth. Blood. Their fingers grip my arms like steel traps as they peel me off the cement. The tops of my shoes scrape along the ground as I’m dragged behind them until they discard me into the back of a black vehicle. The doors slam in unison with one guard stationed on each side of me, my shoulders digging into their arms. Swallowing hard, I stare ahead to avoid their eyes. My dignity is all I have left. The handcuffs dig into my wrists, so I clasp them together hard behind me and press my back into the seat, unwilling to admit how much it hurts. Did they need so many guards to capture me? I’m not carrying any weapons, nor do I own any. I don’t even know self-defense. High Society frowns on activities like that. The driver jerks the vehicle around and I try to keep my bearings, but it’s dark and the scenery changes too fast. Hours pass, and the air grows warmer, more humid the farther we drive. The landscape mutates from city to rolling hills. They don’t bother blindfolding me because they escort all the sinners to the same place—the Hole. Twenty-foot cement walls encase the chaos within. There’s no way out and no way in unless they transport you. They say the Hole is a prison with no rules. We learned about it last year in twelfth grade. To the outside, I’m filth now. I’ll never be allowed to return to the life I knew. No one ever does. “All sinners go through a transformation,” one of the guards says to me. His smirk infuriates me. “I’m sure you’ve heard all kinds of stories.” I don’t respond. I don’t want to think about the things I’ve been told. “You won’t last too long, though. Young girls like you get eaten alive.” He pulls a strand of my hair up to his face. Get your hands off me, you pig. I want to lash out, but resist. The punishment for disobeying authority is severe, and I’m not positioned to defy him. They’re the Guards of the Commander. They’re chosen from a young age and trained in combat. They keep the order of society by using violent methods of intimidation. No one befriends a guard. Relationships with them are forbidden inside the Hole. Few have seen the Commander. His identity stays under lock and key. His own paranoia and desire to stay pure drove him to live this way. He controls our depraved society and believes sinners make the human race unforgivable. His power is a crushing fist, rendering all beneath him helpless. So much so, even family members turn on each other when an accusation surfaces. Just an accusation. No trial, no evidence, nothing but an accusation. I lose myself in thoughts of my father. “Never show fear, Lexi,” my father said to me before he was taken. “They’ll use it against you.” His compassionate eyes filled with warning as he commanded me to be strong. That was many years ago, but I remember it clearly. My father. My rock. The one person in my life who provided unconditional love. “Get out,” the guard says while pulling me to my feet. The vehicle stops, and I’m jerked back to reality. The doors slide open and the two guards lift me up and out into the night. A windowless cement building looms in front of us, looking barren in the darkness. The coolness of the air sends a shiver up my spine. This is really happening. I’ve been labeled a sinner. My lip starts to quiver, but I bite it before anyone sees. They shove me in line, and I realize I’m not alone. Women and men stand with faces frozen white with fear. Some are hardened criminals; others, like me, are innocent. A guard grabs my finger, pricks it, and dabs my blood on a tiny microchip. I follow the man in front of me into the next room where we’re lined up facing the wall. Glancing right, I see one of the men crying. “I didn’t mean to hit the guard. I swear it!” he pleads. I turn my head when I see a guard whip out his baton. The thumping sounds of his beating unnerve me. “Spread your legs,” one of the guards says icily. They remove my outer layers and their hands roam up and down my body. What do they think I can possibly be hiding? I press my head into the wall, trying to block out what they’re doing to me. “MOVE!” a guard commands. So I shuffle across the room, trying to cover up. One.
Two.
Three.
Four.
Five of us sit in the holding room. A woman clings to a man sitting next to her. She grips his arm and I can see the whitening of her knuckles. Her eyes meet mine and then she quickly turns away. He’s bent over his hands, defeated. “I’m not the criminal they say I am,” he whispers. His voice breaks. One by one, they pull people into the next room, forcing the rest of us to wonder what torture we’ll endure. I hear screaming from somewhere inside. An agonizing amount of time passes. I lean my head back and try to imagine a place far away. The door opens. “Lexi Hamilton.” A guard escorts me out of the room, and I don’t have time to look back. The first thing I see is a large photo of a regal-looking man on the wall. His frame is wide and he has cobalt blue eyes and a shock of black hair. He’s handsome, middle-aged, and wears the uniform of the Commander. My jaw drops open. It can’t be… Then the door slams closed. I feel their strong arms pick me up and place me on a table. It’s cold and my skin sticks to it slightly, like wet fingers on an ice cube. They exit in procession, and I lie on the table with a doctor standing over me. His hands are busy as he speaks. “Don’t move. This will only take a few minutes. It’s time for you to be branded.” A wet cloth that smells like rubbing alcohol is used to clean my skin. Then he places a metal collar around my neck. Click. Click. Click. The collar locks into place, and I struggle to breathe. The doctor loosens it some as I focus on the painted black words above me.
The Seven Deadly Sins:
Lust — Blue Gluttony — Orange Greed — Yellow Sloth — Black Wrath — Red Envy — Green Pride — Purple
“Memorize it. Might keep you alive longer if you know who to stay away from.” He opens my mouth, placing a bit inside. “Bite this.” Within seconds, the collar heats from hot to scorching. The smell of flesh sizzling makes my head spin. I bite down so hard a tooth cracks. “GRRRRRRRRR,” escapes from deep within my chest. Just when I’m about to pass out, the temperature drops, and the doctor loosens the collar. He removes it and sits me up. Excruciating pain rips through me, and I’m on the verge of a mental and physical breakdown. Focus. Don’t pass out. Stainless steel counters and boring white walls press in on me. And that large, gilded photo stares at me like it’s watching. A guard laughs at me from an observation room above and yells, “Blue. It’s a great color for a pretty young thing like yourself.” His eyes dance with suggestion. The others meander around like it’s business as usual. I finally find my voice and turn to the doctor. “Are you going to give me clothes?” A burning pain spreads like fire up from my neck to my jaw, making me wince. He shrugs and points to a set of folded grey scrubs on a chair. I cover myself as much as I can and scurry sideways. Grabbing my clothes and pulling the shirt over my head, I try to avoid the raw meat around my throat. I quickly knot the cord of my pants around my waist and slide my feet into the hospital-issue slippers as the doctor observes. He hands me a bag labeled with my name. “Nothing is allowed through the door but what we’ve given you,” he says. I hide my right hand behind me, hoping no one notices. A guard scans my body and opens his fist. “Give it to me.” His eyes turn to slits. “Don’t make me rip off your finger.” He crouches down and I turn to stone. I don’t know what to do, so I beg. “My father gave this to me. Please, let me keep it.” I smash my eyes shut and think of the moment my father handed the golden ring to me. “It was my mother’s ring,” he’d said. “She’s the strongest woman I ever knew.” With tears in his eyes, he reached for my hand and said, “Lexi, you’re exactly like her. She’d want you to wear this. No matter how this world changes, you can survive.” I turned the gold band over in my palm and read the engraving.
You can overcome anything… short of death.
“You’re going to take the one thing that matters the most to me?” I say, glaring into the guard’s emotionless eyes. “Isn’t it enough taking my life, dignity, and respect?” A hard blow falls upon my back. As I fall, my hands shoot out to stop me from smashing into the wall in front of me. The guard bends down and grabs my chin with his meaty fist. “Look at me,” he commands. I look up and he smiles with arrogance. “What the hell?” He staggers a step backward. “What’s wrong with you? What’s wrong with your eyes?” “Nothing,” I respond, confused. “What color are they?” “Turquoise.” I glower at him. “Interesting,” he says, regaining his composure. “Now those’ll get you in trouble.” Reality slaps me across the face. I have my father’s eyes. They can't take them from me. I twist the ring off my finger and drop it in his hand. “Take the damn ring,” I say. I walk to the door. He swipes a card and the massive door slides open to the outside. “You have to wear your hair back at all times, so everyone knows what you are.” He hands me a tie, so I pull my frizzy hair away from my face and secure it into a ponytail. My neck burns and itches as my hand traces the scabs that have already begun to form. Squinting ahead in the darkness, I almost run into a guard standing on the sidewalk. “Watch where you’re going,” he says, shoving me backward. His stiff figure stands tall and I cringe at the sharpness of his voice. “Cole, this is your new assignment, Lexi Hamilton. See to it she feels welcome in her new home.” The guard departs with a salute. “Let’s move,” Cole says. I take two steps and collapse, my knees giving out. The unforgiving pavement reopens the scrapes from earlier and I struggle to stand. A powerful arm snatches me up, and I see his face for the first time.

Chapter-by-Chapter-header---About-the-Author

Courtesy of authors' website
Photo Courtesy of authors' website
 Abi and Missy met in the summer of 1999 at college orientation and have been best friends ever since. After college, they added jobs, husbands and kids to their lives, but they still found time for their friendship. Instead of hanging out on weekends, they went to dinner once a month and reviewed books. What started out as an enjoyable hobby has now become an incredible adventure.
Chapter-by-Chapter-header---Giveaway
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