Showing posts with label book tour. Show all posts
Showing posts with label book tour. Show all posts

Wednesday, March 25, 2015

Riddle of Fate by Tania Johansson ~ #Book #Review and #Excerpt #Paranormal


Riddle of Fate by Tania Johansson
Publication date: May 29th 2014
Genres: Paranormal, Young Adult

Synopsis:
Khaya’s life, a life the Order say was never meant to be, is thrown into turmoil when she discovers she has a second ability. The Company who employs people like her – with rare and special abilities – insists that having more than one inevitably leads down a dark spiral into madness. So they are watching and waiting, ready to terminate her at the first sign of trouble.
Now, on the run from the Company’s agents while trying to prove her sanity, Khaya realises they are not the only ones she should fear. Angels are working towards her demise as well.
The question that haunts her is this: What did she do that was terrible enough to elicit the wrath of angels? And can she trust the mysterious Derrin, or is he the cause of all her tribulations?


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AUTHOR BIO
I grew up in a small town called Ficksburg in South Africa and moved with my family to England aged fifteen.

I then completed my schooling through a correspondence course from South Africa. This challenging time taught me a lot of self-discipline and determination. Qualities that have been invaluable while writing my first novel.

In 2004 I started studying optometry at Aston University in Birmingham, UK and currently I live and work as an optician in Kent.

In 2008, I married my wonderful husband, Tor. He has been such an amazing support and wealth of internet wizardry from when I started writing through to designing a cover for Book of Remembrance, to publishing my book on amazon as well as setting up this website. I cannot thank him enough.

Reading has always been one of my passions. I have fond memories of trawling through the library aged five (yes I was a geek from a young age!). More recently, I found myself wondering about the process writers must go through to complete a novel. I started thinking about how they would go about planning out a story and keeping track of all the various aspects of it. Finally, I decided to try my theories out. I have not looked back since!

I started writing Book of Remembrance end of May 2011 and finished it in December 2011. Since then, I have self-published it as an e-book on amazon. I have also started writing the follow up novel, which is untitled at the moment.

Author links:


I loved this book, it was amazing. I really liked Khaya's character though she was a bit naive at times. I think she trusted way to easy. She did prove to be a strong character by the end, and grew to love that about her.

I loved Derrin, can't see how we wouldn't love him. Major swoon worthy, that one. He was willing to give up everything for the girl he loved.

I hated Brier right off, he just never seemed to be a good person to me, and I had a bad feeling about him. He was a major jerk, and was glad at what happened with him.

Overall this is a great standalone paranormal book, that I really loved. I think anyone who enjoys paranormal books will love this too. Its written very well, and hooks you right from the beginning.

I give it 5 out of 5 stars

I was given a copy of this book by the author for my honest review.



Chapter One
Of Past Things. Things Best Forgotten


He sat in the shadows, crouching in the upper alcoves. Coming here was a risk. A risk that he’d taken several times over the last fifteen years. Should he be discovered, they would carry out his sentence. He knew that. Still, he had to make sure.
It was his responsibility.
He squinted to see better in the gloom. Five Masters were gathered this time. Five. The last time there were five, it had been his trial. He shivered. Best not to think back on that day.
“Did he agree?” the Highest asked, his voice echoing through the cavernous room.
“Of course,” Meir said.
He should have known Meir would be involved. He had always been keen to rectify the ‘mistake’. “He didn’t want to die. Not really,” Meir continued. “He will find the girl –”
“Yes,” Garelle interrupted, “but what if she doesn’t accept him? Your entire plan rests on him being able to connect with her.”
“It will be fine,” Meir said, his words clipped. “As long as he follows the instructions, which he will, everything will fall into place soon enough.”
Garelle shook her head, her pale face pinched. She flicked her long braid back over her shoulder. Meir did not appear to notice her disapproval. Or he chose to ignore it. Would the Order carry out a plan that did not have Garelle’s support?
“How will he know when to proceed to the next stage of the plan?” the Highest asked.
“As we decided,” Meir said, “I did not disclose everything to the mortal. I have instructed him to await my orders.”
The Highest nodded his bald head making his heavy gold earring swing. The hefty piece of jewellery that was the emblem of the leader of the Order gleamed in the dim light. “It is done, then. Meir, be certain to monitor the situation and keep me informed.”
Meir bowed and the Highest vanished from the room. Garelle glared at Meir before she too disappeared. She was soon followed by the other three and he was once again left alone with his thoughts.
He cursed under his breath. Had he arrived a few minutes earlier, he would have learned what they intended. The little that he’d heard made him uncomfortable. He didn’t know how they had lost track of the girl in the first place, but he’d been glad they did. Now that they had found her, they wouldn’t let her be.
What would they do?
That was what troubled him most. Many years had passed since the incident, but in all that time, they never stopped looking for her. The Order had strict laws about interfering with the lives of mortals. Surely just because he broke their laws, it didn’t mean that they would too. They couldn’t. Could they?
He scrubbed a hand through his dark curls. Just as he was about to leave, Meir reappeared, followed by Heran. “I told you there would be no questions,” Meir said.
“Do you think Garelle suspects?” Heran said, wringing his hands. 
“No. She is simply being her usual contemptuous self. Don’t worry about her, I have this in hand.”
“What do you want me to do?”
“Make sure this mortal does as he is supposed to. If he strays, remind him of what he stands to lose.”
Heran nodded. “What are you going to do?”
“That is my concern. Now, go.”
Heran inclined his head before disappearing. He scrutinised Meir as he paced up and down the length of the room. What was he planning? Clearly, something that the Order wasn’t aware of. The ball of tension tightened in his stomach.
He waited until Meir vanished from the room as well before Leaping to the top of the bell tower. He often came here when troubled. It was quiet up here. Calm. Peaceful. Soothing.
The village below was still as only a little village could be during the small hours of the morning. He gazed up at the stars. They had always seemed a place he would have liked to escape to. A place where he could find peace. Perhaps that's where people go when they die, he mused.
It was only when the sun rose over the distant mountain that he realised how long he had been sitting there. He stood, stepping up onto the ledge. Sitting idly will accomplish nothing, he told himself.
The time had come. He would have to go to her. He stepped off the ledge.


You can find the rest of the blogs on this tour, Here.
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Tuesday, October 7, 2014

#Giveaway ~ Tortured Souls (The Orion Circle #1) by Kimber Leigh Wheaton ~ #YA #Paranormal


Tortured Souls  (The Orion Circle #1)
by Kimber Leigh Wheaton
Publication date: June 29th 2014
Genres: Paranormal, Romance, Young Adult

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Synopsis:
Sometimes Rest in Peace isn’t an option.
Kacie Ramsey sees ghosts—and it’s ruining her life. Her mother left, her father blames her, and no matter how hard she tries, she can’t keep the ghosts away. Now a new power has emerged. Nightly visions of grisly murders and a relentless predator draw her to the brink of insanity.
When the phantom appears at a party, Kacie’s longtime crush, Logan, saves her. He invites her to join the Orion Circle, a group of supernatural hunters with chapters in schools all over the country. Through the Circle, Kacie learns to embrace her spiritual powers, and for the first time in her life she feels in control rather than a victim.
But the Foxblood Demon will not give up so easily. A demented serial killer in life who trapped the souls of the thirteen children he murdered, imprisoning them within the walls of his mansion. Now in death, he plots his return while drawing power from the pure souls of the children. He recognizes something in Kacie he’s never seen before—a medium powerful enough to provide a vessel for his tainted soul.
Kacie can’t ignore the tortured souls of the children crying out to her every night. With Logan at her side, she will fight the Foxblood Demon. But can they banish this powerful phantom, or will Kacie lose not only her body, but her eternal soul to the monster.


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AUTHOR BIO
Kimber Leigh Wheaton is a YA/NA author with a soft spot for sweet romance and is a member of Romance Writers of America.

She is married to her soul mate, has a teenage son, and shares her home with three dogs and four cats. No, she doesn’t live on a farm, she just loves animals. Her house is filled with dragons, though she does lament that they are the porcelain, non-flying variety.

Kimber Leigh is addicted to romance, videogames, superheroes, villains, and chocolate—not necessarily in that order. (If she has to choose, she’ll take a chocolate covered superhero!)

Her debut novel, Shadow Fire, is the first book in the Light Chronicles series. Watch for book two, Stolen Moon, a standalone sequel, coming August 2014.

Author links:


This was an interesting read that I did enjoy. Though it did have a very tame feel to it, unlike many paranormal books I read. Almost like it was meant to be tamed down for maybe younger readers maybe.

But I still did enjoy it, just was a weird feel. The main character I would say is very immature and weak, soft is a word that comes to mind. I did however liked Logan alot. There romantic parts were very mild, but nice.

The idea of this Scobby Do type Team is fun and interesting, even if not exactly original, the different abilities however is a great addition to a traditional ghost hunter group.
Overall this is an interesting  read,

I do recommend this book to paranormal lovers and do look forward to reading the next book.

I give 4 1/2 out of 5 stars

The cover: Well, I am not fond of the cover, again, I get that sweet tame feel from it.I didn't automatically think Paranormal when seeing this cover. If I hadn't found this book for a tour, I do not think while looking at book covers that it would even catch my eye. The cover is done great , just do not feel it fits the book.

I was provided a copy of this book for my honest review.

This review is also at Goodreads, and Amazon





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Monday, August 18, 2014

#Giveaway ~Borrowed Promises by Judith Ingram (Moonseed Trilogy #2) ~ Promo Post ~ #Paranormal Romance ~ Excerpt

Borrowed Promises
Moonseed Trilogy
Book 2
Judith Ingram

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Genre: paranormal romance

Publisher: Vinspire Publishing, LLC

Date of Publication: May 31, 2014

ISBN: 978-0-9890632-4-1
ASIN: B00JD0H2ZE

Number of pages: 249 pages
Word Count: 73,300 (approx.)


Book Description:

On the night of the new spring moon, a near-fatal accident propelled Victoria Reeves-Ashton over a century back in time to awaken in the body of Katherine Kamarov.

Now, after three months of pretending to be Katherine and laboring to repair relationships damaged by Katherine's brash and selfish personality, quiet and gentle Victoria finds that her heart is putting down roots in Katherine's world, in her family relationships, and especially in a deepening friendship with Katherine's winsome cousin Michael.

Hidden letters reveal the story of other moonseed-time travelers like herself-and Victoria realizes that she and Katherine will likely be returned to their own times the following spring. Tension mounts when a rich and handsome suitor applies to marry her, and Victoria must choose whether to accept him for Katherine's sake or to follow her own heart.

Ryan Ashton, the husband Victoria left behind, is baffled by the woman his wife has suddenly become. Unwilling to believe her story about an exchange in time, Ryan struggles to understand the stark transformation of his timid, remote wife into a sexually aggressive and captivating siren. Against his better judgment, he falls hard for this new woman who is a perplexing mixture of cruelty, sensuality, and tenderness, a woman who he suspects has the power to either break his heart or heal the aching loneliness he has lived with all his life.


Excerpt:

I bit my lip, wanting to avoid any subject that could ruin the easy camaraderie of our afternoons together. Michael had been friendly and funny, teasing me gently, treating me with the easy affection of an older brother. Once or twice I'd caught him watching me with a fierce intentness that made my heart skip. But then he'd grin or offer a quip that made us both laugh, and the uncomfortable moment would pass.
I enjoyed the lightness of our friendship, grateful for the reprieve. In the rose garden at Summerwood and later on the trip to San Francisco, I had felt the slow but persistent budding of a new feeling that both thrilled and frightened me. The lightest touch of Michael's hand pricked up hairs along my skin like electricity; his boyish grin twisted a slow, sweet pain deep into my body. His clean, male scent in close proximity could stun me with unexpected waves of need, often forcing me to look away so he wouldn't see the flame in my eyes.
I couldn't allow Michael to guess where my heart was taking me—because of Raymond.
Although many things were unclear to me, one fact seemed certain—Katherine must marry Raymond Delacroix and have at least one child with him. If I gave in to my new feelings for Michael, and if I were cruel enough to let him see them, then I risked both hurting him and ruining Katherine's chances with Raymond when she came back to her own time.
And Katherine would come back. I was convinced of it, all my desperate wishes to the contrary. She would marry Raymond, give birth to Elise, and secure a future that would eventually lead to her daughter painting a picture of Katherine and me at the bridge over Two Trees Creek. By the same token, I would return to life as a lingerie model and a cold marriage with Ryan Ashton. Ryan.
"What?" Michael's voice made me jump and turn my head.
"What?"
"You said 'Ryan' again."
"I did?"
Michael had removed his glasses, and he blinked at me from only a foot away. God, he has beautiful eyes, I thought. Soft gray-green depths that held me breathless, fighting a slow, aching pull to be in his arms.
"He's…nobody," I said.
Michael was studying me, his eyes so solemn and searching that I couldn't look away. He didn't speak, but in that moment my heart yearned toward him, and he saw it. His expression changed. His gaze moved slowly from my eyes to my mouth.
I turned my face away and shut my eyes over a sudden sting of tears.
"Kat?" he said softly.
His voice held a new, cautious note of intimacy. A moment later his thumb brushed my wet cheek, and the tenderness of his touch wrenched a low cry from me. I pushed his hand away and struggled to sit upright.
"Don't touch me!" Pain made my voice sharp. "You can't touch me, Michael!"
But his hand was already under my elbow, helping me to sit. He pushed a handkerchief into my hand.
"Here. Take it." He sounded bewildered and hurt. "Seems you'd rather do the job yourself."
He watched me wipe my eyes and blow my nose with his handkerchief. I couldn't look at him, and after a moment he reached for his glasses and slipped them on.
In a tight voice he asked, "Do you still want to visit Union Square?"
I pressed the soggy handkerchief to my lips and nodded.
Michael pushed himself to his feet and thrust out a hand to help me up. We folded the blanket between us, careful not to touch each other's fingers, and he picked up the hamper. As we crossed the grass in uneasy silence, a fresh roll of tears made me reach into my handbag for a clean handkerchief. A flash of copper tumbled into the grass.
I stopped quickly, but Michael was quicker. He scooped up the coin, examined it briefly, and gave it back to me.
"You still carrying that thing around?"
I looked up at him, my handkerchief arrested halfway to my face. "My coin? What do you know about my coin?"
He squinted at me and frowned. "You're kidding, right? I was with you when you paid a nickel for that worthless thing at the county fair. You said it was good luck, and you carried it around in your pocket for years." He stopped at my look. "What is it?"
"Michael, are you certain this is the same coin?"
I handed it back to him. His gaze lingered on my face, puzzled, before he examined the coin. He weighed it briefly on his palm, flipped it over, and gave it back to me.
"Of course I'm certain." He pointed his finger at the familiar nick in the rim. "There's where the wagon wheel ran over it, and you were so furious because you thought the magic was ruined." He screwed up his eyes against the sun and studied me. "What's the matter with you, Kat? You're looking at me like I've got two heads."
I shook my head in dazed wonder, suspended once again in that universe where Katherine's world and mine overlapped and where it made perfect sense that her lucky coin should have somehow come to me—twice.




About the Author:

Judith Ingram weaves together her love of romance and her training as a counselor to create stories and characters for her novels. She also writes Christian nonfiction books and enjoys speaking to groups on a variety of inspirational topics. She lives with her husband in the San Francisco East Bay and makes frequent trips to California's beautiful Sonoma County, where most of her fiction characters reside. She confesses a love for chocolate, cheesecake, romantic suspense novels, and all things feline.

Website, blog & free weekly devotional: http://JudithIngram.com






Tour giveaway

4 signed paperback copies of Borrowed Promises with bookmarks.

4 ebook copies (.pdf or .epub) of Borrowed Promises.

4 sets of Moonseed notecards; each set of six cards features scenes from the story, sketched by artist Amy Wong.

4 Amazon gift cards at $25 each.

4 coffee mugs featuring the book cover for Borrowed Promises along with tagline, "The past isn't always behind you…".

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The rest of the tour can be found here

Friday, May 30, 2014

#Giveaway ~ Dark Promise by M.L. Guida (Underworld #2) ~ #Review



Dark Promise (Underworld #1)
By M.L. Guida

Genre: Contemporary Paranormal

Publisher: Kensington
Date of Publication:  March 4, 2014

ISBN: 978-1-61650-537-1
ASIN: B00IPQWZWW

Number of pages:  146
Word Count:  36000

Amazon    iTunes    BN    ARe

Book Description:

Love can unlock the secret to saving two worlds.

As the Golden Aspen Tree withers, darkness consumes the Dragon Demons of the Underworld, turning them feral. Prince Eric Wyvern must keep his darkness at bay and woo the silver-haired human tainted with angel blood whose touch is prophesied to save the Golden Tree and restore light to the Underworld.
Cassandra Wright, a gifted psychic, has dreamed of Eric her whole life. When her dream lover joins her on a ski vacation, he plunges her into a nightmare.

Imprisoned in a dying world filled with abuse and torture, she must become the Demon Prince’s mate or remain trapped forever. If she fails to fulfill the prophecy, the darkness will spread to her world. But how can she give herself to this dark and frightening version of the man of her dreams?



About the Author:

M.L. Guida has been in love with the paranormal since she was a little girl. Vampires, demons and witches oh my! She has always been fascinated by these supernatural beings and weaves these creatures into her novels. But the love story is the center of every novel. Strong heroes and heroines are what drive her stories and their ability to overcome conflict and live happily ever after.  She lives in beautiful Colorado and many of her stories are based in the mountains.

Besides writing, she enjoys taking her dog for walks and cheering her nephews and nieces on at their games. When on vacation, she’s always up for a good ghost tour and has gone on tours in London, Edinburgh, Rome and Key West. Her favorite being London’s Jack the Ripper tour.  

Author Links






I gave this book 4 stars, but would have done 3 ½ if it was an option at all the review sites. I guess my biggest problem with this book, it that I hated Cassandra in a big way. I really tried to like her, I really did, but she rubbed me the wrong way from the start and it just got worse when she finally meets the guy she has dreamed about for so long. She was such a bitch in the beginning. Seemed she was nervous and I guess she got brave enough to be extremely rude. She did the exact opposite of what she really wanted. I mean she dreamed of this man for years ,very sexual dreams too, and she is a virgin, which makes her even more unbelievable to me.

I was confused a bit at why so much time was devoted to Cassies best friend, Lilly, as well as her ex as they really didn’t contribute much to the story. It was short enough as it was, so to me could have done without it. It just wasn’t relevant in my opinion.

Cassie has always felt like an outcast because of her abilities, and I found it nuts that when someone comes along and actually has explanations for her, she blows them off, I just found her very unlikable.

Loved Eric though, he is too good for Cassie in my opinion. So thank goodness for him, or it would have been harder to like this at all, But I did like the story overall. The best parts for me where when Cassie and Eric were on Earth, not the Underworld. I found the torture scenes very disturbing too. I do not recommend this for any younger readers, only adults due to the explicit sex scenes and the gory torture scenes.

Overall it’s gripping and you won’t want to put it down. I still do recommend it to the mature crowd who doesn’t mind the disturbing gore of torture and sex scenes that are pretty graphic.

4 out of 5 stars.

Cover: I think the cover is really well done, it’s actually what drew me to the book. Very cool. 5 out of 5 on the cover alone.

I was provided a copy of this book for my honest review.

This review is also at Goodreads and Amazon




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5 mug and pen sets

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Wednesday, May 21, 2014

#Giveaway ~ Taking Angels (The Angel Crusades #1) by C.S. Yelle ~ #Review #Excerpt ~ #Paranormal




Taking Angels by C.S. Yelle
(The Angel Crusades #1)

Publication date: March 26th 2013
Genres: Paranormal, Young Adult

Synopsis:
Book 1 in The Angel Crusades Series by CS Yelle

Britt Anderson went along with everything the doctors said for nearly four years, but she was still dying at eighteen. The cancer had won leaving her without a future, without any options, and without control. No control, except for how she would leave this world. As Britt tries to end her life by going into the frigid waters she realizes her mistake. She struggles to get back to shore, to cry out for help, but her atrophied muscles are useless and the frigid water steals the breath from her chemo-scarred lungs. Despite her father’s attempts to reach her, she flies over the waterfall.

When Allister Parks finds Britt’s fragile body on the riverbank something calls out to him. Ignoring the warnings of his sister, Allister brings Britt back from the edge of death. The only problem is that an Eternal like Allister isn’t allowed to touch those who have already passed from this world. It is forbidden; an infraction punishable by death.

As Britt relishes her new cancer-free life and senior year of high school, her very existence threatens Allister’s place in this world. Allister struggles to keep Britt a secret from the Eternal Council and out of the hands of the only Eternal who already knows the truth: the one who stole her guardian angel.

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AUTHOR BIO:

C.S. Yelle was born and raised in Grand Rapids, MN, the “almost” middle child of six.  He attended Grand Rapids Senior High School where he enjoyed music and sports.  He received his BS in Chemistry from Mayville State University, Mayville, ND in 1987.  He taught 7-12 Science and coached for six years in several North Dakota schools and currently works as an Executive Account Manager in the Water Treatment Industry where he has been for nearly seventeen years.  He is the father of four and grandfather of one.  He writes novels, screenplays, and an occasional short story.  He has been writing seriously for over ten years and plans to continue until his fingers are unable, maybe longer.  He currently resides in a Minneapolis, MN suburb with his wife Jennifer and their rat terrier, Holly.

Author Links:


Wow, this book was absolutely amazing! I mean, amazing in a big way. I never read a book quite like this, I did not really know what to expect, and am so glad I read it. I was hooked from the first few chapters, and it kept me on the edge of my seat throughout the whole book. I was neglecting my family and animals, as I could not tear myself away from this book.

I loved the main character Britt, she is such a strong girl, and she grew so much in this book. I love all the revelations we find out about her. I also just love Allister, he is the ultimate male there is, that is until Gabe came along about halfway, and there is some major tear-jerker moments, I mean big time. Right now after finishing the book I am still reeling from that last few chapters.

We are not left with a huge cliffhanger, but a bit of one. I am so upset at what happens with Gabe, I have no idea of his fate. I can’t tell you too much about him as it could spoil it for you.
I love the concept of the Eternals, it was a new one to me, and really loved it. We still have the angels around, and the Eternal who is killing innocent people by stealing their guardian angel (which lives inside a person in this) and kills them.

I liked the mystery around Britt, on why she seems to draw people to her, and how they just feel the pureness in her and come to care for her fast. Even the one who tried to kill her is drawn to her, as is Gabe.

I love Britt’s 3 best friends; they are a great support for her. Her parents really impressed me on the understanding they have on the changes with Britt and why she needs to do the things she does.

I can’t stress enough how awesome this book is. One of the best I have read in a long time, It was written so well too, and just the right amount of questions at the end to make you want the 2nd book now, but not enough of a cliffhanger to make you mad, lol.

I highly recommend this book, and give it 5 huge stars out of 5.

Cover review: I give the cover 5 out of 5 stars too. It’s done well, and fits the book. It attracted me some, but more important it didn’t turn me away like some covers will.

I was given a copy of this book by the author for my honest review.

This review is also at Goodreads and Amazon. ( likes are appreciated )



Excerpt of part of Chapter One


A rush of fear gripped me. What was I thinking? I wanted to live, I wasn’t a quitter. I wanted to fight until I couldn’t fight anymore. But the realization that my choice in the matter was gone hit me as I slid into the current, my head above water for a split second before the sounds went muffled. My silly hat with the big brim pulled away from my hairless head.
I expected them to try and reach me, hoping they would be too late. Now, I prayed that they would come. Paddling with all the strength in my atrophied muscles, I fought the current. It tugged, hard, and carried me away. Mom screamed and Dad shouted right as a loud splash hit the water upstream.
I opened my eyes in the hazy water as a dark shape darted past, too late to catch me. I hit something hard and was airborne, the sound of the falls rumbling in my ears. The feeling was like nothing I’d experienced before. The air and the water mixed to frothy foam and then I plunged underwater again, the sounds going muffled. My body hit the rocks and debris at the bottom of the falls, jarring me and forcing the warm air from my lungs to be replaced by cold, crisp lake water. Spinning over and over I lost my sense of up and down as the churning water kept me lurching from side to side. My head throbbed and my lungs bucked. The water pulled me along and soon black spots filled my vision. The spots spread until the blackness enveloped everything. Then, the pain was over and the next stage of my existence, if any, began.


I heard a voice. Melodic and sweet; female I thought, but couldn’t tell for certain. The words indiscernible, the voice sounded urgent then stern; something I didn’t want to hear upon my arrival in heaven. I cringed.
Then another voice came, deeper but no less sweet. Calm and soothing it flowed on, pulling me with it. I longed for it to keep speaking, to fill my ears with its infectious happiness and joy. The voice I needed to hear in heaven. A much better welcome, I concluded.
I pried my eyes open but my vision blurred, showing me nothing but light and shadows. Blinking to clear them only made it worse. The voice touched my ears again, the deeper one. I took a deep breath, surprised by the wonderful odors of pine and lilac, the enveloping happiness consuming me.
I blinked again, beginning to see them as more than just shapes. Halos of blonde hair against the sun and a faint glow about them. They were angels, both of them. Even though my sight remained cloudy I could discern one female and one male as they stood before me; the collage of green starting to take the shapes of trees behind them. The familiar sound of the waterfalls and a rushing river drifted to my ears and mist wet my skin. How could that be?
“What have you done?” the female’s voice accused, her words finally clear.
“I don’t know,” the deeper voice said.
“You did something different,” she pointed out.
I frowned. What did he do?
“I touched her, but it didn’t work the same.”
“This is not good,” the female warned. “You touched her too late.”
“What are we going to do?” he asked.
“We? There is no ‘we.’ You touched her, I didn’t.”
Both faces turned to me again. The shapes became clearer as the two heads of hair came into focus.
“Don’t tell anyone, you have to promise,” the deeper voice pleaded.
“Fine, but if they find out, you’re on your own.”
I closed my eyes and everything began to jerk and twist as sirens sounded in my ears and the smell of antiseptic filled my nose, pulling me out of my peaceful dream. Opening my eyes, my parent’s faces lurched into my field of vision.
“She’s awake,” Dad shouted.
“Oh my God,” Mom cried. “Britt, can you hear us? Britt?”
I tried to sit up, but found my body strapped down making it impossible to move.
My parents vanished. A woman and a man stuck their heads over mine, one with a light attached to his head shining in my eyes, blinding everything else.
“Britt, you’re okay, but we’ve got you on a backboard so you won’t be able to move,” the man said, definitely not the musical voice from earlier.
“You’re in an ambulance in route to the Ely Hospital,” the woman explained.
“Can you remember what happened?” the man asked, lifting an eyelid and looking at my pupil.
“I drowned?”
“You nearly drowned,” the man corrected.
“Do you know where you nearly drowned?” the woman asked.
“The BWCA?”
“Good, good Britt.” The man smiled down at me.
I heard my mother crying and wished I hadn’t. Tears welled up and began to spill from the corners of my eyes.
“Britt, it’ll be okay.” Dad squeezed my hand lightly. “Everything will be okay.”
I’d survived but now the cancer would win, taking away my choice. My one chance to take control back and I’d chickened out.
“Don’t cry, Britt.” Mom comforted me. “You’re going to make it.”
I cried harder; the thought of lying in a hospital bed, nothing more than a husk of myself and withering to nothingness filled my mind.
We pulled into the emergency room entrance, the automatic doors whirring open as they wheeled me in. The two paramedics were on either side with Mom and Dad following close behind. The fluorescent lights beat down from overhead as we sped past.
“Oh great,” I sighed. “I’m home.”
We went into a room with two nurses and a doctor rushing in behind us, calling out directions to the paramedics. The doctor examined me while the nurses put an IV in one arm and a blood pressure cuff on the other. They attached electrodes to my chest and began switching on all the standard equipment until the room beeped and chirped, just like old times.
The doctor straightened from listening to my heart and lungs, his brows furrowed.
I looked up at him and he smiled.
Noticing my inquiring look, he nodded. “Sounds fine. Lungs clear, heart strong. Do you feel pain anywhere?” He continued to press his hands along my body, searching for breaks along my rib cage and then moving to my arms and legs. He pulled back the warm blankets the ambulance crew wrapped me in.
“No, I feel …” the thought trailed off. I didn’t feel any pain. None. Not the continuous aching of my muscles, joints, and bones from the cancer. Even more surprising, nothing hurt from the trip over the falls and the landing on the rocks below. I had to be in shock.
“She’s stable. Let’s get her to x-ray and see if anything is broken,” the doctor ordered. “If those come back clear, we can take you off the backboard and check you out further.”
They wheeled me out of the room with the monitors and IVs attached to hooks on the bed, the cords and tubes tapping against the side rails of the bed. I lay under the x-ray machine as it hummed above me, taking pictures and possibly reducing my chances of having children in the future, although the cancer would pretty much have seen to that already.
We returned to the room, passing the concerned faces of my parents as we rolled in. Seeing them reminded me of the worst part: the pain they continued to endure every day my future hung in the balance.
The bed jerked to a stop and the nurse clicked the brake on the wheels. The doctor stood over the top of me before the bed stilled and unbuckled the straps fastening me to the back board. With the help of the nurses they slid the device out from beneath me and eased me onto the soft mattress.
“Nothing’s broken,” he said with a smile. “How you managed that one is a miracle.” He stepped away to write something in my charts.
I lifted my head and looked at my body for the first time since going over the falls. My arms and legs, stomach and chest, looked … normal.
My mouth and eyes shot open. My body lookednormal. Not sickly, not post chemo, post radiation, but normal, not in the process of dying. My muscles were full and firm. My bones didn’t stick out like before, but were covered smoothly by healthy looking skin, not the pale white, almost yellow skin I’d come to expect.
“Mom, Dad,” I shouted, my voice on the edge of hysteria.
They rushed in from just outside the door, their eyes on mine, searching for my anguish, my fear. Their concern turned to confusion.
“Look at me,” I cried.
“We are,” Dad said, still concentrating on my eyes and face as his mind tried to justify what he saw and what he should see.
“Mary,” he said. “Look at Britt.” He placed a hand on her chin, moving it to look at my body.
Mom’s face first went white and then flushed red.
“Oh, Britt,” she gasped, rushing to me, sending one of the nurses sprawling. She put a hand to my head as she pulled me to her chest.
“I think your hair is growing.” She leaned back, her eyes wide, looking at my head.
I raised a hand to my scalp and, sure enough, the beginnings of new growth tickled my fingertips. Closing my eyes to my parents and their joy, the fading vision of the two angels floated in my thoughts. Why did they send me back? Was I not worthy? The way the angels discussed “touching” me made me feel uneasy, uncertain.
What did they do to me?




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