Snippet Saturday – Author’s Choice
May
26
2012

How about a snippet from CHAOS BURNING where Simon really starts to see Lark as someone more than his buddy…


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 faes 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

“If you were any other person, I think I’d be worried about your penchant for going on long walks alone at two in the morning.” Simon looked her up and down after she’d proclaimed she needed to go for a long walk. This witch and her walks. Didn’t she remember there were people out there trying to hurt her?

And she happened to look like an easy target that night. Albeit a pretty one. She wore a short skirt showcasing legs he thought he’d been the only one to see when she swam in his pool or ran on his land.
But she’d come to his club after her date. He reminded himself of this fact. And she’d returned from her date with a giant slice of cheesecake that she’d presented to him with a grin.

He was defenseless against cheesecake. And it was pretty delicious. She’d situated herself at his table and chattered away while he’d wondered just exactly how her date had ended.

Early enough, he thought somewhat triumphantly. It had been just after midnight when she’d shown up.

Was there a kiss? Probably not. He’d have scented that. “So I didn’t know you liked shifters.”

She snorted and stole a strawberry from his plate. “Are we on that again? What’s not to like, anyway? When shifters aren’t rogue and making my job harder, you’re all pretty cute. And I know I won’t break any of you.”

He couldn’t stop his grunt. Break? “What is it you do to your boyfriends that breaking them is an issue?”

“Humans are fragile. That’s all I meant. Perv.”

Why did he continue this banter? He should stop; it was veering from light flirtation to something else. He didn’t . . . he glared at her . . . he shouldn’t think dirty, filthy sexy things. But now he couldn’t stop thinking them. Damn it.

“Anyway, he’s nice. Dinner was good. He reads.”

Simon snorted. “He reads? You expect me to believe you really dig that this wolf reads? And by the way I am not a shifter. I am Lycian.” He sniffed, indignant.

And she sniffed right back. “First of all, yes, yes, I do dig that he reads, thank you very much. I happen to find smart, well-read men sexy and interesting. That you’d assume I was shallow ticks me off. Also, I’m sorry if I insulted you with the shifter thing.”

He waved a hand. “Stupid, knee-jerk reaction. I don’t think you’re shallow.” Off balance, he shifted and changed the subject back to walking and away from this dangerous territory. “Why don’t you come back to my place? You can walk on my land all you want. Hell, I’ll even come with you.”

“I can’t run in this dress.”

He bet she could, actually. He’d yet to doubt her ability to do whatever she wanted to. Though she did look nice in it. Short with heavy tights. But not sexy high heels. Soft, well worn boots that rode to her knee. She had a new streak in her hair. Shocking pink she continued to tuck behind her ear. She even had date makeup, which he had to admit she did a pretty good job with.

Date. He mentally snorted. When did she even have time to meet anyone? She worked all the time. Had traveled to Toronto just the week before to aid with an investigation of missing members of the local clan. That hadn’t ended well, though he knew she’d made some important connections with the clan up there.

He knew she took the deaths of those witches personally and held herself responsible for not finding them in time. As her friend, he wanted to make her feel better for it. That was all there was to it. She needed some rest and some solace and he could give it to her.

“You still have workout clothes at the house. We can walk instead of taking a run.”

What could some werewolf named Tad give her? Simon would not only be an ear for her troubles but actually help her with solutions. Some skinny hipster wolf couldn’t do that. Simon would give her a safe place and an outlet for the stress of her job. Hell, he could teach her a few things about a true wolf’s wild side.

He frowned because he was back to thinking some filthy things about her again and it wasn’t normal.

“Why are you making that face? I’ll come with you back to your place. It’s not that I’m trying to escape you or anything. I just like to be out late. I love the quiet of the world at three in the morning. I love the light. It’s not dark. Not daylight. It’s as if the whole world is washing from one thing to the other, like a slow wave.”

The light from the cases over the bar cast deep blue over her face. In the right light she was beautiful. That realization struck him dumb for long moments.

“You’ve got a way with words.”

Surprise lifted her eyebrows and then she smiled. “Thank you.”

He shrugged, suddenly off balance. He stuffed his hands in his pockets. “You’re welcome.”

“While you say you’d be worried if it was anyone else but me, I think you are worried. Which is partly sweet because it’s nice to have people concerned for my safety and all. But also hello, sweet, pretty Lycian, I am totally capable of walking outside at any time of day or night.”

Sometimes she’d lecture him in this prim sort of voice. He liked it when she got that way, when all that kooky hippie stuff faded into something more stern.

Facets. She had them, that much was clear. Like how at different times of the day, and in different lights and whatever weird-ass clothes she decided to wear, she could be fey or hipster chick or even one of those boho ladies who seemed to congregate at the organic coffee place down the road from his house.

“I know. And yet I like to urge you to keep to safer behaviors that won’t get you kidnapped and drained by mages. Silly me.”

Be sure to visit today’s other snippeters!

Megan Hart:Read in bed!
Rhian Cahill
Eliza Gayle
Jody Wallace
Mandy M Roth
Lissa Matthews
Leah Braemel
Mari Carr
McKenna Jeffries
Myla Jackson
Taige Crenshaw
Delilah Devlin
HelenKay Dimon
Shiloh Walker
Shelli Stevens
Zoë Archer
Lauren Dane

Today’s prize is a signed copy of CHAOS BURNING. Winner chosen from comments to this post and announced in Monday’s Winners Post
. Good luck!

31 comments to “Snippet Saturday – Author’s Choice”

  1. Christine
    May 26th, 2012 at 5:26 am · Link

    I love those little internal dialogues Simon is having in his head. Only makes me want to read it a lttle more.



  2. Aurore
    May 26th, 2012 at 5:27 am · Link

    Great excerpt! Thank you. Lark and Simon look like a wonderful couple. I can’t wait for the book to be out!



  3. Janet K
    May 26th, 2012 at 5:47 am · Link

    It’s like dangling a carrot in front of horse, you’ve made your readers anxious to get their hands on a copy of this book. Way to go Lauren Dane!!!



  4. elaing8
    May 26th, 2012 at 5:48 am · Link

    Loved the excerpt.Looking forward to reading this book.



  5. Susan W.
    May 26th, 2012 at 6:20 am · Link

    Thanks for all the snippets! Can’t wait until the story comes out.



  6. StacieD
    May 26th, 2012 at 7:13 am · Link

    I like that he’s freaked out by his feelings for her. It really seems to have thrown him off of his game.



  7. Louise
    May 26th, 2012 at 8:19 am · Link

    Awww. I love that they are both deep. :mrgreen:



  8. JenM
    May 26th, 2012 at 9:09 am · Link

    What a great excerpt. I love the “friends first” aspect of this book.



  9. Carrie F.
    May 26th, 2012 at 9:23 am · Link

    I love Simon ..Can’t wait for this book!!!



  10. Dominique
    May 26th, 2012 at 9:39 am · Link

    Aw Simon was jealous. They have such a sweet friendship can’t wait to read on how their relationship blossoms.



  11. Robbye
    May 26th, 2012 at 11:52 am · Link

    I love the men in your books and I think I’m really going to love Simon. Can’t wait to get my hands on this book.



  12. Melissa B
    May 26th, 2012 at 11:55 am · Link

    I <3 this!!



  13. Blanche
    May 26th, 2012 at 11:57 am · Link

    They really are meant for each other, they are perfect together!! Can’t wait to read the entire book!! 🙂



  14. Diane Mc.
    May 26th, 2012 at 12:10 pm · Link

    Can’t wait for it.



  15. Viki S.
    May 26th, 2012 at 12:35 pm · Link

    Another excellent excerpt. Thank you.



  16. Pamiam
    May 26th, 2012 at 1:41 pm · Link

    Love the snarky banter between these two. Thanks for the snippet.



  17. Jordan H
    May 26th, 2012 at 1:57 pm · Link

    I’m so looking forward to reading this book.



  18. Kimh
    May 26th, 2012 at 2:54 pm · Link

    Great excerpt whoo can’t wait 😎 😀



  19. Diane
    May 26th, 2012 at 3:59 pm · Link

    I love the Saturday snippets 🙂 you get so many great authors giving all these scenes that will be pure temptation 😮



  20. bn100
    May 26th, 2012 at 5:23 pm · Link

    That was a great snippet. The cheesecake part was cute.



  21. ELF
    May 26th, 2012 at 6:53 pm · Link

    Nice excerpt, and now I want dessert, lol.



  22. Jen B.
    May 26th, 2012 at 6:54 pm · Link

    OMG! Another excerpt! I would love to win this one!!!!!



  23. Melissa Lamb
    May 26th, 2012 at 7:26 pm · Link

    WOW!! I loved the excerpt!! I can’t wait to read the whole book. These teasers are just leaving me wanting more!! 😉



  24. Suzanne
    May 26th, 2012 at 9:22 pm · Link

    Great snippet, a little serious and little laughs. Best of all on the cover I love his art work- Tattoes can be so expressive. I have a real love of them. 😛



  25. Marc
    May 27th, 2012 at 7:46 am · Link

    More teasing. So cruel. Can’t wait.



  26. Lori T
    May 27th, 2012 at 9:08 am · Link

    I can’t wait! I love the chemistry they have with each other. Did I mention that I can’t wait?



  27. Susan E.
    May 27th, 2012 at 9:12 am · Link

    Love the dynamic between these two. Can’t wait to read it!



  28. Chelsea B.
    May 27th, 2012 at 9:40 am · Link

    Ohhhh! I can’t wait to read this book! LOVED the excerpt!



  29. BrynaG
    May 27th, 2012 at 10:02 am · Link

    can’t wait to read!!!



  30. Pamk
    May 27th, 2012 at 6:00 pm · Link

    Man this can’t come soon enough for me



  31. Spav
    May 28th, 2012 at 6:20 am · Link

    Loved the excerpt. Can’t wait to read this.



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