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May
10 2012 | ||
Less than a month now! CHAOS BURNING is the second in my Bound by Magick series with Berkley Sensation. It’s Simon’s story (you meet him in HEART OF DARKNESS). The world takes a hard, dark turn in this one!
The life of Lark Jaansen, hunter in Clan Gennessee, has been shaped by violence and unrest and it defines her future. Well-trained and resilient, she’s met her militaristic match in Simon Leviathan, a warrior not of this world. Locked in mutual admiration, and a desire so hot it burns, Lark and Simon have something else in common: they love the dark, and as a shadow is cast over their world, they’re each coming into their own.
A mysterious war has been waged among the Others. As witches and humans turn against each other, as fae retreat in fear, and as vampires rise, Lark and Simon discover that an unseen force is behind it. A single, hungry entity older than recorded history has returned to gorge on the magick of his victims. He is the Magister, nothing less than the end of time. Finding him is Lark and Simon’s first hope. Surviving him is their last.
Bound by Magick: CHAOS BURNING by LAUREN DANE
Copyright 2012, Lauren Dane
All Rights Reserved, The Berkley Publishing Group
Releasing June 5
“I don’t know why you have to be so good at everything.” Lark looked up, and up some more until she met Simon’s gaze. He’d offered her the refuge of his home, as if by instinct he’d known she needed it, needed the solace of friendship and safety away from the ugly reality of her job.
Nonplussed, he shrugged. “I could say the same of you.”
She tossed her cards down. “Not with this hand.”
He laughed. “Nope.”
“Not like you don’t have enough money.” She waved a hand around.
“It’s a nice life.”
“Understatement.” She stood. “All right. I need a swim. I must tell you how many benefits there are to being your friend. Pool. Great land to run. Home gym to drool over. You’re pretty okay to look at too. Top-shelf booze. You like cards and scary movies and you never complain about how many calories are in whatever you’re eating.”
“You’re always welcome to enjoy my place.”
She did. And she appreciated it. Over the last month or so she’d been in Seattle, she’d come to really enjoy the time she spent at Simon’s house. And to value the friendship of the man who owned it. So funny how they’d clicked so well, right from the start. She had real friends in Seattle and the way things were going, the darkness descending on them, she’d needed that connection.
“Thank you. I mean that.”
There was a long moment between them and he shook his head as if to free himself from it. He grinned. “I don’t think I’ve ever been here when you used the pool. I admit to being curious as to what you’d wear to swim in. Come on. I’ll meet you down there. You can make me lunch when we finish.”
She socked his arm and her knuckles hurt. He was solid. Like a damned tank. And she couldn’t tell a lie, she was pretty interested to see how he filled out swim trunks.
“Fine. You did grill the last time I was here. I suppose it’s my turn.”
She headed into the spare room he’d generously assigned her. A place she could put her stuff when she came out to run or use the pool or garden. The view was stunning from in there. As it was pretty much from everywhere else in the house.
Simon Leviathan had become a friend. A person who never judged, though clearly she amused him and possibly offended his sense of style. He played cards, drank, smoked cigars, stayed up late and had impeccable taste. He also enjoyed things like making bullets and going to the shooting range. He was a total dude, but in the least annoying way possible. Nothing to complain about at all except for the way they got constantly interrupted by women coming on to him. That bugged her. Yes, sure, she got that their thing wasn’t that kind of thing. But women who just walked up between a man and the woman he’s having a drink with to blatantly come on to the guy were jerks.
Changing quickly, she gave herself a look over her shoulder at her back and butt. Helena had given her the suit for her last birthday. It showed more skin than she usually did, but it fit well and made her feel sexy so that was a win.
Though she was more pale than usual because she’d been inside so much, the view still wasn’t that bad at all. Just because he was in the guy-friend camp didn’t mean she wasn’t going to look nice. He was, after all, ridiculously handsome so she’d be slacking if she didn’t at least try to keep up.
Grabbing a towel, she headed through the breezeway toward the pool house. Not that she’d catch up to him in the looks category. He was beautiful. As if he’d just stepped from an issue of GQ for Others. Smooth. Debonair, clever. His clothes were expensive and tailored. They didn’t make his size off the rack anyway, so she supposed tailoring was a necessity.
Not that he was unaware of his appeal. She found it charming. He knew he was hot shit and he worked it. Never to anyone else’s detriment, which is probably why it was charming instead of douchey.
On the other hand, she was sloppy and silly and awash with color. She knew it and was just fine with it. It made her happy and that’s what counted. She’d given up trying to be something she wasn’t a long time ago. She wouldn’t be gorgeous and classy like Helena or Meriel. But she was Lark, one hundred percent, and that was important.
Today’s prize is a digital ARC of CHAOS BURNING – I’ll announce the winner in next Monday’s Winner’s Post
May 10th, 2012 at 3:44 am · Link
Wow! Another big hit on the horizon!
May 10th, 2012 at 4:01 am · Link
I like lark. She seenlms funky and fun…which should bring some interesting situations.
May 10th, 2012 at 4:14 am · Link
I can’t wait to read this book!
May 10th, 2012 at 4:48 am · Link
Just re-read book 1 of the series last night as a matter of fact! Really enjoyed Simon and loved the peak we get of this book at the end of book 1. Ready for more new LD goodness! 🙂
May 10th, 2012 at 5:52 am · Link
I can’t wait to read this!!! This will be another great one!
May 10th, 2012 at 5:53 am · Link
I do like Simon. Great excerpt but too short. I wanted to see Simon in the pool!
May 10th, 2012 at 6:32 am · Link
I would complain about the shortness of the excerpt but I know you are just starting us out easy and as release date draws nearer you will start the teasing in earnest. So mean. I am eagerly awaiting release day.
May 10th, 2012 at 6:50 am · Link
I can’t wait to read this! Lark and Simon sound great together! Thanks for the tease 🙂
May 10th, 2012 at 6:52 am · Link
Yet something else nice and fuzzy to look foward to this summer–its books like this that allows me to get through the rough work weeks. 🙂 Can’t wait for this one, think I’ll go back and re-read the first one.
May 10th, 2012 at 7:00 am · Link
Now to do a reread of Heart of Darkness.
May 10th, 2012 at 7:09 am · Link
I am really looking forward to this one! Heart of Darkness is next on my list and just in time with the release of Chaos Burning coming soon!
May 10th, 2012 at 7:25 am · Link
Yay! Thanks for the sneaky peek. Really looking forward to reading this one too!
May 10th, 2012 at 7:28 am · Link
I can’t wait to read this one!
May 10th, 2012 at 7:31 am · Link
Have been waiting for this book for so long
May 10th, 2012 at 7:44 am · Link
I cannot wait for this one! I’m going to reread #1 Memorial Day weekend to get ready.
May 10th, 2012 at 7:52 am · Link
Friends to lovers ~ LOVE it! CANNOT wait!
And OMG, not only does Simon sound awesome, that cover ROCKS!
May 10th, 2012 at 8:22 am · Link
Sounds awesome. Looking forward to reading this book.
May 10th, 2012 at 8:30 am · Link
Can’t wait.
My son was just over my shoulder and said “WOW, what a great tattoo!” I agree with him :).
May 10th, 2012 at 8:34 am · Link
Pick Me! Pick Me! PICK ME!!! *ahem* please. 🙂 I love how this whole world fits together. I need to go back and read the Cascadia Wolves too.
May 10th, 2012 at 9:18 am · Link
I can’t wait for this book – it sounds like another hit!
May 10th, 2012 at 9:23 am · Link
The release date can’t come soon enough. Any chance you could move it up?? 🙂
May 10th, 2012 at 9:38 am · Link
sounds great, loved the first one.
May 10th, 2012 at 9:57 am · Link
Love your books cannot wait for this one to come out. I know it is going to be another great book. Thanks for the tease, now its even harder to wait for it to come out.
May 10th, 2012 at 10:08 am · Link
I loved Heart of Darness! Can’t wait for this one.
May 10th, 2012 at 10:13 am · Link
I’m sooo ready for this one I have a bunch of new books to read soon from some of my favorite authors…yeppie
May 10th, 2012 at 11:25 am · Link
Only a few more weeks!
May 10th, 2012 at 11:29 am · Link
Know I have to reread from the beginning Cascadia Wolves, De La Vega Cats and Heart of Darkness.
May 10th, 2012 at 11:46 am · Link
This sounds so good. Simon sounds amazing and I can’t wait to read more about him YUMMMMY!!
May 10th, 2012 at 11:50 am · Link
Looking forward to reading this!
May 10th, 2012 at 11:58 am · Link
I wish this book was out now! I’m having surgery tomorrow and although it’s nothing serious I’ll be pretty much confined to my bed for about a week, this book would have been a perfect companion 😛
Good thing there are other exciting new releases coming to tide me over until this book hits the (e)book shelves!
May 10th, 2012 at 12:12 pm · Link
I can’t wait to read this book!! 🙂
May 10th, 2012 at 12:33 pm · Link
I’m so excited about this book, can’t wait to read it!!
May 10th, 2012 at 12:48 pm · Link
I like the cover and excerpt.
May 10th, 2012 at 1:55 pm · Link
Thank you for the excerpt, I really enjoyed reading it. The characters seem great. I really have to read Heart of Darkness!
May 10th, 2012 at 2:16 pm · Link
You are having such a fabulous year, Lauren, and now here is another story I can’t wait to read.
May 10th, 2012 at 4:10 pm · Link
I have a chance of winning after all!!! Yippee! 😀
May 10th, 2012 at 4:28 pm · Link
Wow! This snippet makes me really anxious for release day. I can’t wait!
May 10th, 2012 at 5:09 pm · Link
The heroine sounds tough in this story and that’s a good thing. I also like that there are witches involved.
May 10th, 2012 at 5:09 pm · Link
Simon and Lark sound like a fun couple to read about. I enjoyed that snippet.
May 10th, 2012 at 7:30 pm · Link
Yay! So exciting!
May 10th, 2012 at 7:49 pm · Link
Wow another fantastic read. Cant wait.
May 11th, 2012 at 5:19 am · Link
Thanks for the excerpt 🙂
Cannot wait to read this!!
May 11th, 2012 at 10:46 am · Link
I have one question… is it June 5th, yet??
May 11th, 2012 at 8:07 pm · Link
Love Lark and Simon and their vibe as buddies, and really looking forward to see the evolution of their relationship. Thanks for the excerpt Lauren and the giveaway.
May 11th, 2012 at 10:18 pm · Link
Another great book! Thanks for sharing your gift with us 🙂
Happy Mother’s Day all.
May 13th, 2012 at 6:00 am · Link
This sounds like another great read!
Jennifer B.
NYC
May 14th, 2012 at 5:19 pm · Link
I can’t wait to read the first book so i can be ready for this one. It sounds great!