by Pauline Gruber
Genre: YA Paranormal Romance
Release Date: December 15th 2013
Summary:
Good versus evil just got complicated.
Sixteen-year-old Lucy Walker just wants a normal life, until she learns she is half-witch, half-demon. Now she’s got other problems, like keeping her demon dad from killing her boyfriend, the witches in her life from killing her demon dad, and her non-supernatural friends safe from both sides. She’s walking a tightrope between good and evil, drawn to both, uncertain which she will ultimately choose.
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Excerpt from The Girl and the Raven
Chapter One
This
is how life as I know it ends. One minute I’m sitting on the couch, watching my
favorite TV show, carefully avoiding the burned crater in the center cushion, a
constant reminder of The Incident. The next minute…I hear tires crunch over
gravel.
is how life as I know it ends. One minute I’m sitting on the couch, watching my
favorite TV show, carefully avoiding the burned crater in the center cushion, a
constant reminder of The Incident. The next minute…I hear tires crunch over
gravel.
My
head jerks toward the window as a tingling sensation crawls down my arms. I
mute the TV and hold my breath, listening. Best-case scenario, it’s Ronny—the
unemployed, soul-sucking boyfriend—dropping Momma off early. Or Mr. Bilmer, our
next-door neighbor, arriving home from his weekly bowling night. Worst case?
Best not to think about that. I reach under the cushion and retrieve my knife.
My heart leaps into my throat when whoever it is tears off, sending rocks
ricocheting off the side of our trailer.
head jerks toward the window as a tingling sensation crawls down my arms. I
mute the TV and hold my breath, listening. Best-case scenario, it’s Ronny—the
unemployed, soul-sucking boyfriend—dropping Momma off early. Or Mr. Bilmer, our
next-door neighbor, arriving home from his weekly bowling night. Worst case?
Best not to think about that. I reach under the cushion and retrieve my knife.
My heart leaps into my throat when whoever it is tears off, sending rocks
ricocheting off the side of our trailer.
I
jump up from the couch, knife in hand and fling the door open. Glowing
taillights retreat as I step onto the rickety wooden stoop. Once my eyes adjust
to the darkness, I see her.
jump up from the couch, knife in hand and fling the door open. Glowing
taillights retreat as I step onto the rickety wooden stoop. Once my eyes adjust
to the darkness, I see her.
Not again.
Sure
enough, I spot Momma dumped in a heap in the front yard. Ronny…soul-sucking
scumbag.
enough, I spot Momma dumped in a heap in the front yard. Ronny…soul-sucking
scumbag.
It’s
the thirtieth of May and Momma just got her monthly disability check. So what
did she do? Buy groceries? Take me out to dinner to celebrate the end of
freshman year? No. She couldn’t resist a party, especially one starring heroin.
the thirtieth of May and Momma just got her monthly disability check. So what
did she do? Buy groceries? Take me out to dinner to celebrate the end of
freshman year? No. She couldn’t resist a party, especially one starring heroin.
“Come
on, Momma.” I grab her by the shoulders and try to hoist her up, eager to get her
inside. Mrs. Albright and Ms. Bigsby, the nosey bodies across the way are
probably watching.
on, Momma.” I grab her by the shoulders and try to hoist her up, eager to get her
inside. Mrs. Albright and Ms. Bigsby, the nosey bodies across the way are
probably watching.
Momma’s
stiff and heavy. And why does she feel so cool? I yelp as she slips from my
hands and hits the ground with a solid thud.
stiff and heavy. And why does she feel so cool? I yelp as she slips from my
hands and hits the ground with a solid thud.
What the...?
I
stand frozen to the spot. I close my eyes against the sudden nausea. Goose
bumps break out over my body. I swallow hard. Twice.
stand frozen to the spot. I close my eyes against the sudden nausea. Goose
bumps break out over my body. I swallow hard. Twice.
“Momma!”
I force myself to grab her again, to shake her, ignoring what I already know to
be true. “Wake up!”
I force myself to grab her again, to shake her, ignoring what I already know to
be true. “Wake up!”
Her
body doesn’t move right. Doesn’t feel right. Bile fills my mouth and I lean
over and spit onto the crunchy, dead grass. I run my hand along Momma’s throat
to that spot where her pulse should be. Nothing. My breaths are jerky, out of
control.
body doesn’t move right. Doesn’t feel right. Bile fills my mouth and I lean
over and spit onto the crunchy, dead grass. I run my hand along Momma’s throat
to that spot where her pulse should be. Nothing. My breaths are jerky, out of
control.
“Come on, Momma! Please!”
I
grab her thin wrist with my trembling fingers and press hard, desperate to feel
something.
grab her thin wrist with my trembling fingers and press hard, desperate to feel
something.
No…no…no!
I
lay her arm across her belly and race to the trailer next door, my heartbeat
thudding in my ears.
lay her arm across her belly and race to the trailer next door, my heartbeat
thudding in my ears.
“Mrs.
Bilmer!” I pound my fist on the flimsy door. “Mrs. Bilmer, it’s Lucy!” A light
comes on and I hear the shuffle of slippers on linoleum. “Mrs. Bilmer, please!
I need your phone!”
Bilmer!” I pound my fist on the flimsy door. “Mrs. Bilmer, it’s Lucy!” A light
comes on and I hear the shuffle of slippers on linoleum. “Mrs. Bilmer, please!
I need your phone!”
“Don’t
you go beating down my door, Lucy Walker!” she says, opening the door a crack.
“What's the matter? Problems with your momma again?”
you go beating down my door, Lucy Walker!” she says, opening the door a crack.
“What's the matter? Problems with your momma again?”
“Call 911!” I choke. “Call them
right now!”
right now!”
Book Two:
The Girl of the Gargoyle (The Girl and the Raven #2)
Release Date: June 26th 2015
Summary:
Dating a gargoyle is great, until his family gets involved.
Being half-witch/half-demon and dating Marcus, a gargoyle and demon enemy, is complicated enough for Lucy. She can almost tolerate Jude, her demon father, forcing her to undergo combat training. But when Marcus's long-lost family returns to Chicago, her world begins to crumble. Marcus's mother wants him to leave to join the gargoyle clan; his father wants him to help kill Jude. There's one major problem with this: if Jude dies, Lucy dies.
Marcus will do whatever it takes to save Lucy and her father. Meanwhile, Lucy has her own plan and with the aid of a surprise newcomer, seeks help from the most unlikely-and dangerous-source.
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Excerpt from The Girl and the Gargoyle
Chapter One
Lucy Walker
The
clatter of my cell phone bouncing against the nightstand startles me awake. My
heavy lids refuse to open. Another late night on the roof with Marcus—and that
was after spending two hours working on a killer CD mix for him. Did he
struggle this much when he made my CDs last year?
clatter of my cell phone bouncing against the nightstand startles me awake. My
heavy lids refuse to open. Another late night on the roof with Marcus—and that
was after spending two hours working on a killer CD mix for him. Did he
struggle this much when he made my CDs last year?
I snuggle into my pillow, sleep
beckoning. My phone vibrates again. I reach for it with a groan. Marcus is probably
the only person I would forgive for bugging me this early. Maybe my gargoyle
boyfriend wants to meet me for an early morning kiss? Nothing could top that.
beckoning. My phone vibrates again. I reach for it with a groan. Marcus is probably
the only person I would forgive for bugging me this early. Maybe my gargoyle
boyfriend wants to meet me for an early morning kiss? Nothing could top that.
Seriously??? Are you kidding me???
You’re the luckiest girl alive!
You’re the luckiest girl alive!
I reread Katie’s text, but it makes
no sense.
no sense.
I bolt upright. Is
it possible she saw us last night? Crap. I fell asleep on the roof with Marcus.
He and his wings, in all their glorious beauty, delivered me safely to the
ground. He doesn’t need his wings for that small of a jump. He did it for me.
He knows I love them.
it possible she saw us last night? Crap. I fell asleep on the roof with Marcus.
He and his wings, in all their glorious beauty, delivered me safely to the
ground. He doesn’t need his wings for that small of a jump. He did it for me.
He knows I love them.
I swallow a shriek as I spot the
figure leaning against my dresser.
figure leaning against my dresser.
“What
are you doing in my bedroom?” I snap, my heart hammering against my rib cage.
Jude crosses his arms over his chest. In the year that I’ve known him, my
father has
are you doing in my bedroom?” I snap, my heart hammering against my rib cage.
Jude crosses his arms over his chest. In the year that I’ve known him, my
father has
learned to mimic human gestures
well. Then it hits me. That’s one of my most common gestures.
well. Then it hits me. That’s one of my most common gestures.
“I would like to meet your great-uncles.”
I
swallow hard. “I told you it would happen when the time’s right.” “I’m done
waiting.”
swallow hard. “I told you it would happen when the time’s right.” “I’m done
waiting.”
“Let me ease them into it,” I plead.
My phone vibrates in my hand. That’s
when I remember Katie’s message.
when I remember Katie’s message.
Well????
What
do I say to my best friend and neighbor if she saw Marcus deliver me to my
bedroom window? Play dumb?
do I say to my best friend and neighbor if she saw Marcus deliver me to my
bedroom window? Play dumb?
My
uncles putter around the kitchen, clanging pans and chopping vegetables. The
smell of fresh brewed coffee drifts into my bedroom, followed by the heavy,
smoky smell of bacon.
uncles putter around the kitchen, clanging pans and chopping vegetables. The
smell of fresh brewed coffee drifts into my bedroom, followed by the heavy,
smoky smell of bacon.
“Perfect. We can have breakfast
together,” Jude says.
together,” Jude says.
I return my cell to my bedside
table.
table.
“Please,” I whisper. “Not today.”
The front door creaks open.
Sheldon grabbing the Sunday paper from the sidewalk? How do I get rid of Jude?
I throw off my sheet and blanket, thinking through a safe response to Katie.
Sheldon grabbing the Sunday paper from the sidewalk? How do I get rid of Jude?
I throw off my sheet and blanket, thinking through a safe response to Katie.
“Bernard? Can you come here,
please?”
please?”
Something
about Sheldon’s tone causes the back of my neck to get all prickly. Do they
know Jude’s here? How did he get in, anyway? Did he pick the lock on the front
door?
about Sheldon’s tone causes the back of my neck to get all prickly. Do they
know Jude’s here? How did he get in, anyway? Did he pick the lock on the front
door?
“Lucy?” Bernard calls out.
Jude
pushes himself off the dresser. “I’ll be out front. Come and invite me in.” In
one smooth motion, he climbs out the window. So that’s how he did it.
pushes himself off the dresser. “I’ll be out front. Come and invite me in.” In
one smooth motion, he climbs out the window. So that’s how he did it.
I change out of pajamas and into
shorts and a T-shirt, my stomach churning.
shorts and a T-shirt, my stomach churning.
How do I introduce Jude?
Sheldon
despises him for what he did to Momma. Never mind that he’s been absent my
entire life. How do I explain that Gram played a role in keeping my father and
me apart? And that she used magic to do it? My uncles are in the dark about
everything. They don’t know Gram was a witch. They don’t know about all the
supernaturals living in the three-flat building. And they don’t know I’m
half-witch, half-demon. If they did, I think their heads would explode.
despises him for what he did to Momma. Never mind that he’s been absent my
entire life. How do I explain that Gram played a role in keeping my father and
me apart? And that she used magic to do it? My uncles are in the dark about
everything. They don’t know Gram was a witch. They don’t know about all the
supernaturals living in the three-flat building. And they don’t know I’m
half-witch, half-demon. If they did, I think their heads would explode.
About the Author
Pauline Gruber is a self-professed music junkie, cat wrangler, and travel nut. She went to Paris in the 90's where she discovered a love of three things: croissants, old cathedrals, and gargoyles. Deciding that the paranormal world could use a new kind of hero, Pauline translated her fascination with the protective gargoyle into a suspenseful love story. She is the author of the series: The Girl and The Raven, The Girl and The Gargoyle, and the forthcoming novel, The Girl and The Demon. By day, Pauline is a legal assistant for a Chicago law firm where she steals identities and incorporates them into her books. If you tell anyone, she'll deny, deny, deny.
Pauline lives outside of Chicago with her precocious black cats.
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