Unspoken
J.A.
Garland
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Publisher: BURST Books
Date of Publication: January 5, 2014
Word Count: 40,738
Cover Artist: E. Smith
Book Description:
Paranormal Bounty Hunter Myka
Quinn left behind her failed attempt at wolf Pack life. Now she is focused on
providing for her brother and staying out of werewolf territory.
But when she’s framed for a
witch’s murder, she must either accept help from a very unlikely source, or
watch the lives of those she loves rip apart.
Excerpt:
If someone says
the root of all evil is money, they’ve never met a witch. Hot on Tara Sobrantes
heels, I hungered for a quick capture. But my past experiences with
brimstone-users had taught me not to eat the candy house until Gretel had
heated the oven. The permanent fireball scar on my right butt cheek reinforced
the lesson.
Capitalizing on
a rare break in the rain, I peered through the branches and foliage I’d
arranged to obscure my position in one of the Pacific Northwest’s oldest
forests. Drawn to the sweet scent of exhaled carbon dioxide, a deer fly landed
on my cheek. I flicked away the bloodsucker while keeping my gaze on a distant
group of figures.
Three hundred
feet away, the Mystic Monks began another round of tiresome morning rituals. For
four lousy days I’d watched them worship their gods. Watched, waited and
shivered through one bone-chilling downpour after another. I knew Tara was
hiding at the monastery. While I might not have her yet, or the large bounty
she’d fetch from shirking a loan shark, I was still in the game.
A man wearing a
burgundy cloak ventured away from the others, heading deeper into the woods. He
glanced around, perhaps to confirm he was alone, and then crouched until he
almost sat. The monk lifted the hem of his woolen robe, carefully draping the
material over his knees. I scrunched my nose and started to look away when
something caught and held my eye. A steady stream of yellow wet the thick
carpet of pine needles between his feet. The men I’d known didn’t squat when
they pissed—I got you, Tara.
I stood, careful
not to make a sound. In the tight cat suit I wore, the movement caused the
plastic edge of my Para Hunter identification card to poke my hip. A practiced
shake released two Fae kissed, silver blades from their leather holsters and
into my hands. Blades were good for close combat, not for the gap I currently
faced. With well placed, gliding steps, I narrowed the opening between us.
Finished
urinating, Tara rose, letting the hem of her heavy robe fall. I quickened my
pace, I couldn’t afford to lose her bounty. My brother was all the inspiration
I needed to complete this job.
A scream pierced
my thoughts and the damp, morning air. The pressurized wail thickened then
transformed into a muted gurgle. Tara’s hood fell backward, revealing a bobbing
metal shaft protruding from under her jaw. Someone, not me, had launched an
arrow into her throat.
Move! I lunged
forward, feet slipping as my boots sought purchase on the slick ground. Razor
sharp, a barb sliced through my suit and lodged into the skin and muscle of my
shoulder. The force of the arrow shoved me backward and to the ground. An
instantaneous, moor-like sweat coated my skin.
My nostrils
flared like a wounded animal, and I scrambled to my feet. Normally, I’ll stubbornly
stand my ground, but I’m not stupid. My attacker knew my position, and I didn’t
know his. If I stayed put, he’d fill me full of metal like a scrap yard.
Racing away in a
crazy zigzag, I heard near noiseless whispers as the air parted, making way for
a barrage of arrows. Bolts lodged into the trees all around me, at head level.
Yes, someone wasn’t trying to scare me off. Someone wanted me dead. Not here,
not now. Not when my brother and his family were counting on me.
Bites of pain
skewered my arms, then a leg. The cold cramp of fear tightened its hold on my
lungs. Holy shit, I was going to die. Adrenaline driven, I pushed forward long
after my wounds should have dropped me.
A misty fog had
descended on the dense pine canopy when I finally allowed myself to stop
running. I sank to the ground at the base of a tamarack pine. In unison, my
muscles and lungs screamed a tortured ditty, whose tune I was hella familiar. I
need a new profession or I’m not going to make it to my thirtieth birthday.
Blinking, I tried
to focus eyes blurry with tears. I had officially accepted Tara’s mark. For two
weeks she was supposed to be off limits to all other Para Bounty Hunters. That
was the unwritten code. Someone violated that code, and that someone was here.
They’d killed her and tried the same with me. Who? Why?
And how had they
found Tara? Some might call it cockiness, I called it first class investigation
skills. I was positive that I alone figured out the connection between brother
and sister. Tara had blended in seamlessly with the monks. It took me days in
that damn hidey-hole to catch her slip.
Lids closing, I
slowed my breathing. Trading pain for awareness, I listened to the steady
dripping that came from the pine needles above. Morning dew ran down the rough
grooves in the bark. A crackle here, a chirp there, then quiet. Head bowing to
my chest, minutes spooled by. A long, low howl broke the quiet, followed by
another, then another--young, excited yips joining in.
I’d forgotten
others beside the monks called the Pacific Northwest home. Wolves hunted in
secluded places like this, and the blood trail I left behind was ideal for
tracking.
My Review
So you know I love werewolf stories. Even better when it's a very cool chick who's a wolf. Myka is a bitten werewolf. That means she was born a human and was attacked and survived. I won't go into that devastating event but know that a lot of things changed for Myka when that happened to her. And in the werewolf world, bitten is definitely inferior to being a born pure wolf. In the beginning she was with a pack and in love with the alphas son. But then her inferior status brought about a heartbreaking rejection so she became a line wolf bounty hunter. She works to track down those supernaturals who've done wrong. And her latest bounty has left her injured, framed for murder, with a price on her head and captured by a rival wolf pack. Myka also has a little extra magic that she doesn't understand. So she hides it, until she gets caught.
Lucky for her, she survives her silver injury, is healed by the capturing pack and meets Ari, the alpha. For some reason, he wants to protect her. She just wants to not be framed for murder and go back to being a lone wolf. Ari wants to keep Myka, he is attracted to her so he helps her with the investigation.
Myka is so much fun. Now don't get me wrong, she's a little broken but it doesn't keep her down. She fights for herself and she helps her family. She also makes friends with friendly humans around Ari's pack. She's pretty kick ass and though she's had to be, sometimes I wanna hug her.
Ari is every girls book boyfriend dream. He can be an ass because he's alpha but he's still great. He loves his pack but in the untypical fashion, he'd like to keep peace instead of fighting for it. He leads with respect not fists and fighting though he will if he needs. He's pretty bad ass himself and he's HAWT!
The plot kept me glued to the page! I wanted to know about the secrets surrounding Myka's change and who killed the witch and who's framing Myka! I of course wanted to make sure she got a HEA after all she's been through. There's romance, action, mystery and wonderful writing. I was especially happy with the ending of those bad guys lol! You'll also see a few familiar characters if you've read any other books by this author :) I hope to see these wonderful wolves again and I look forward to the next book!! 5 WOLFY PAWS!!
Author Interview
First, tell me a little about your book …. Unspoken began, and
then due to a slot in an Academy required for my fulltime job, the book
stopped. I was very excited to pick up, (after nine months of Academy and then
three months of field training), where I had left the characters hanging. I the
characters were grateful too J
Do you recall how your interest in writing originated or did
you always just know? I think I’ve always just known I wanted
to write. Magic solves problems like nobody’s business; it’s a great mode for
escapism!
What inspired you to write your first
book and what was it? Liking fantasy so much, it was a given I would make my first real stab
in grade school to write that genre. Tapping away at the keyboard for hours
after school, I produced my first book. I titled it, 'The Locket of Time.' Obviously
about time travel, my heroine found a mysterious locket that enabled her to
travel back to the medieval period. My teachers helped me take cardboard and
cover it with cloth, glue my printed type to the pages, and then illustrate the
masterpiece. I was unbelievably proud of it.
Are experiences based on someone you know, or events in your
own life? Some of the people I work with ‘color’ the
characters, but mostly they are creations all my own.
How do you choose when/which characters die in your books? I don’t like killing anyone off in my books. It’s really a struggle.
Perhaps being a firefighter plays into that, we want everyone to live, no
matter what the cost to us.
Are there any new authors that have grasped your interest? I’ve always had a soft spot from spy thrillers, but lately I’ve been
into sniper/military stories.
Who do you look up to as a writer? Every writer is a hero in my eyes. It’s incredibly hard to balance
work, friends, family and all the other day-to-struggles, PLUS put something
together that is coherent and entertaining.
If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything
in your book? No. I am pretty happy with the way things
spooled out.
Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your
writing? Grammar. I think I was asleep at the wheel
during English classes. Thank goodness I have several friends who are brave enough
to conquer my appalling sentences and make them behave.
What book are you reading now? Or what genre? Right now I am reading “American Sniper” by Chris Kyle. I am really
enjoying the book because he doesn’t mince words or feelings. With him what you
see is what you get.
Did you learn anything from writing your books and what was
it? Stick with it. No matter how long it takes you
to squeeze time and get your story on paper- don’t quit.
Are there any books you think some of us should read, just
because? I just got over a really nasty flu. It had me
down for over a week. The best thing I can say about that was I read a ton of
books. One of my favorite categories is zombies. I love anything and everything
The Walking Dead. No surprise then that I would recommend the series I
discovered while combating the flu—Slow Burn, by Bobby Adair. Try it, I swear
you will be hooked!
Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your
readers? Sure, I’ll leave you with one last random
thought… If you have a Whole Foods Market in your neighborhood, be sure to try
their T-Rex Cheese Puffs. I am a connoisseur of cheese puffs, and those are not
only too hilarious to pass up, but they are super tasty!
About
the Author:
J.A. is a full time firefighter
in California, an addicted trail runner, a connoisseur of all things cheese
puff, and an urban fantasy author. When she isn't slogging through the
obstacles at a mud run, you can find her hunched over her computer unleashing
demons, vampires, and werewolves upon the world.
Tour
giveaway
1 $100.00 Amazon GC
10 ebooks, winners can choose
from Instinct, Dysus Dreamer or Unspoken
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