BetweenClarissa Johal
Genre: Paranormal
Publisher: Musa
Publishing
Date of
Publication: December 13, 2012
ISBN:
978-1-61937-459-1
ASIN: B00ANXNGTG
Number of pages:
300
Word Count: approx.
81, 575
Cover Artist: David
Efaw
Book Description:
How far would you go to redeem yourself?
As a young girl,
Lucinda was able to see spirits, a gift that didn't come without its problems.
Now, a dedicated young veterinarian, she is committed to the idea that every
life can be saved.
After a devastating
accident, Lucinda tries to escape her past by moving to a small town. There,
she meets a newcomer and feels an immediate connection with him. But there is
another mysterious stranger to the small town, one that stirs within her a
mixture of unease and desire.
As Lucinda is drawn
into a bitter tug-a-war from the forces around her, she is likewise pulled into
a dangerous twist of past and present events. Forced to make difficult choices,
she finds that the two men are locked in not only a battle for her life...but a
battle for their salvation.
Excerpt:
The
soporific sound of drumming rain soon lulled Lucinda to sleep and her book
slipped to the floor. The flames in the fireplace burned down low. Muted light
played across the living room window, mixing with the rivulets of rain from
outside. There was a faint knock at the door. Startled awake, Lucinda checked
the small clock that hung on the wall. One forty-nine in the morning. Who
could be stopping by so late? she wondered. Marny? No, she would have
called first. Maybe an emergency with somebody’s pet.
“Just
a minute.” Re-wrapping the blanket around herself, she went to open the door.
As soon as she twisted the doorknob, the unlocked door flew open, blasting her
with a gust of icy wind and rain. Lucinda let out a cry of surprise as she was
temporarily blinded.
A man
stood on her porch. As he stepped closer, he went from a gray, watery outline
to a solid entity. His black sweater dripped with rain and lay like a second
skin on his powerful-looking torso. Dark black jeans were plastered onto his
equally muscular legs.
“Come
in! It’s freezing out there!” Lucinda moved aside as the man stepped over her
threshold.
“I
apologize for knocking so late.” His voice was even and low. “I saw the light
coming from within.” He bowed his head, running a hand through his short, dark
hair. His eyes flickered up to meet hers.
Lucinda
blinked, startled by their flash of shocking, ice-gray.
Darwin
growled at him, hackles raised.
“Darwin!”
Lucinda scolded. “Did you break down somewhere?”
The
stranger paused before answering. “Yes. I broke down.”
“I’m
so sorry! Do you need to use the phone? The only tow truck company I know of
around here is probably closed for the night.”
He
stood dripping in her front room, the water pooling darkly around his feet onto
the hardwood floor.
“Let
me get you a towel. You must be freezing.” She patted Darwin firmly on the
head. “Darwin, stay put.” The dog sat, eying the stranger fixedly. Lucinda ran
into the bathroom and grabbed the only towel she had, which had been tossed
over the shower door. She hoped he wouldn’t notice it was slightly damp.
“Thank
you.” He took the towel from her.
A
shock leapt through their fingers as they touched. Lucinda pulled her hand
back. The dying fire flickered off the hard planes of his jaw. She watched as
he ran the rough, blue towel through his hair, light eyes never breaking
contact with hers. She felt a chill steal through her. “I’ll add some wood to
the fire,” she murmured, embarrassed for staring. She turned away to hide a
blush stealing over her cheeks. “The phone is in the kitchen if you want to
leave the tow truck a message.” The man walked behind her, and Lucinda turned
with a start.
“My
apologies.”
Her
initial alarm dissipated as quickly as it came. She shook her head to clear it.
“I’ll get you the phone. You don’t even know where my kitchen is.” Ducking
around him, she pulled her blanket tighter. Red-faced, Lucinda returned and
handed it to him. He ran a hand through his wet hair again, brushing it away
from his forehead. She found herself staring at him. His face was attractive,
but there was a darkness about it that made her feel slightly uncomfortable.
Not a darkness of color — his skin was quite light — but from within. It made
her heart beat faster. His eyes, however, burned a bright, clear gray.
“Thank
you.” He ran his thumb over the mouthpiece of the receiver.
“Where
are you from, Mister — ?”
“Dead.”
“Excuse
me?”
“The
phone.” He handed it to her. “It is dead.”
Lucinda
took the phone from him and listened to its silence. “The storm must have
knocked out the lines. Damn it. I left my cell phone at work. I don’t have a car,
or I would offer to drive you to wherever you’re staying. Are you just passing
through?”
He
raised a dark, arched eyebrow. “Now that is something you do not hear of these
days,” he said in his low, even tone.
“What’s
that?”
“Not
having a car.”
“I
know. I used to have a car, but the town is so small, I, um, decided to sell it
when I moved here. My bicycle works fine.” His sudden smile was wide and
slightly disarming. It left her feeling jumpy. Lucinda cleared her throat,
gathering her thoughts and holding her hand out formally. “I’m Lucinda Bell.
I’m the town veterinarian.”
“Cronan.”
He slid her hand into hers.
The
name stirred something within her. Something between fear and a feeling she
couldn’t place. His icy grip was overly firm, and she fought the sudden urge to
run. She drew her hand back and pulled the blanket around her again. “You’re
freezing. Do you want a cup of tea?”
“I do
not require anything to drink.”
“Okay.”
Lucinda shifted her weight nervously. “Well, that’s three new people I’ve met
recently. That never happens in this town.” Something indecipherable flickered
across Cronan’s face. “Where are you staying?” Lucinda asked.
“I
have yet to take up residence.” Eyes still appraising her, he ran the towel
down his neck, catching water droplets in its thirsty folds. Lucinda’s gaze
followed the towel. “Oh. Well, the closest place to stay is at the motel down
the main highway.”
Cronan
cocked his head slightly. A shudder of wind and torrential rain slammed against
the windows.
“But,
of course,” Lucinda continued, “you can’t possibly walk there in this weather.
It’s about ten miles away, and it’s kind of late.”
“It is
late.” His gray eyes studied her thoughtfully. “And I would not want to get
into an accident.”
Her
heart skipped a beat. “No, of course not. You can stay here tonight, Mr.
Cronan. I don’t have anything for you to change into. I have a clothes dryer
but…well, um, you can borrow a blanket while your clothes are in the dryer, if
you want.” Lucinda felt herself blush and mentally kicked herself for it. Shut
up! Shut up!
“I
have not the need to change into anything presently.” He caught Darwin’s fierce
glare and chuckled. “And please, call me Cronan.” His light eyes locked with
hers again.
“Cronan,”
she repeated. “That’s an unusual name.”
“It is
a family name.”
“Oh.”
Her heart hammered in her chest. Maybe this is a bad idea. The thought
was pulled away like the tide, and her panic subsided as quickly as it came.
The clock ticked loudly, marking their silence. “Well, you can sleep in here.
The fire should keep this room warm. I would offer one of the other bedrooms
but there’s no furniture in them.”
“Thank
you, this will be quite comfortable, Lucinda.” Her name rolled off his tongue
in an intimate way that made her face grow warm.
“You’re
welcome.” Studying his face, she felt like she had missed something. “Let me
get you a blanket.” Dashing into her bedroom, she realized too late that she
was wrapped up in her only blanket. She fingered its worn saffron threads. His
clothes are wet. And he’s probably colder than he’s letting on. Grabbing
the sheet from her bed, she neatly folded the tartan blanket and wrapped
herself in the sheet.
“Here.”
She came back out and set the blanket down in the chair. Cronan glanced at it,
his expression unreadable. “I have others,” she lied, “but this is my warmest
one. Come on, Darwin.” She turned and walked toward her bedroom door, aware of
his eyes boring into her back. She shut the door, and for the first time since
moving in, she locked it.
Cronan
stood alone in the middle of the room and gazed into the fire. Walking over to
it, he pressed the damp towel against his face, inhaling deeply. A smile spread
across his lips. He turned and his gaze fell upon the tartan blanket. Just as
quickly, his smile faded like a memory.
Review
Lucinda has always known she was unusual, seeing spirits is not something she willingly comes out and shares about herself. However she has built a peaceful life for herself as a veterinarian. When Lucinda finds that she now has three men in her life, everything begins to change and she realizes she is the center on a teeter totter between two men who are looking for their salvation, while the other is wanting to be more than a friend. With her life being pulled in all directions, will Lucinda find the right path to take?
This reminded me a lot of one of the first Gothic mystery's I ever picked up. It was haunting, unpredictable, and intriguing. All the characters were unique and your drawn in from the first chapter. Excellent read.
Lucinda has always known she was unusual, seeing spirits is not something she willingly comes out and shares about herself. However she has built a peaceful life for herself as a veterinarian. When Lucinda finds that she now has three men in her life, everything begins to change and she realizes she is the center on a teeter totter between two men who are looking for their salvation, while the other is wanting to be more than a friend. With her life being pulled in all directions, will Lucinda find the right path to take?
This reminded me a lot of one of the first Gothic mystery's I ever picked up. It was haunting, unpredictable, and intriguing. All the characters were unique and your drawn in from the first chapter. Excellent read.
About the Author:
Clarissa Johal has
worked as a veterinary assistant, zoo-keeper aide and vegetarian chef. Writing
has always been her passion. When she’s not listening to the ghosts in her
head, she’s dancing or taking photographs of gargoyles. She shares her life
with her husband, two daughters and every stray animal that darkens the
doorstep. One day, she expects that a wayward troll will wander into her yard,
but that hasn’t happened yet.
Author website: http://clarissajohal.com/
Author Blog: http://clarissajohal.blogspot.com/
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