A delightfully readable, enticing, stormy and steamy, no-holds-barred, "Bayou Gothic," first in a trilogy about Malaise ("Mala"), a young Bayou girl with a shady (and shaky) family background, who is an excellent cook, a student in Criminal Justice, and ready for the police academy. Author Angie Sandro serves up a heaping potion of hoodoo, romance, murder, sensuality, backwoods witching', ghostly possession, and vengeance. I nearly had to use a fire extinguisher on my Kindle.;)
EXCERPT:
Landry’s truck sits in the driveway when I stroll out of the house at a quarter to eight in the morning. I’m in such a glorious mood that I don’t bother trying to sneak off without him catching sight of me. It would’ve been easy, I learn upon climbing on the bumper and sticking my head through the truck’s open window. He has the seat pushed back and his legs stretchedout kitty corner across the passenger seat. Snores, loud enough to scare a bear, echo through the cab.
I reach in and poke his shoulder a few times. “Wake up, Sleeping Beauty.”
Landry’s thick lashes flutter then open to meet mine. “I’m supposed to be woken with a kiss, not a jab.”
I snort. “I don’t kiss slimy critters. You’re playing double duty as a frog, and I throwthem in a frying pan with a little butter and garlic.”
“Oh, so now you’re trying to butter me up?”
The heat of a blush rises. “Saints, boy. You’re fraying my last nerve.” I plant my hands on my hips, toe tapping. “What are you doing here? In case you forgot, I’m mad at you.”
“No you’re not.” He grins and runs his fingers through his thick hair. My breath catches as my brain stutters. I shake my head to dispel the wave of pheromone-induced stupidity that washes over me. My noses twitches. Why does he have to smell so good? Like cinnamon and brown sugar. “Did you forget yester—”
An oily paper bag flies in my direction. I grab it out of the air before it drops to the ground. It’s warm in my hands, and the smell makes my mouth water. “Ooh, cinnamon rolls,” I mumble around the melting mouthful of cinnamon-y goodness. “I love these.”
“I know,” Landry says, throwing open the truck door.
I hop off the bumper with a scowl. The arrogant jerk thinks he has me eating out of hishands; all he has to do is flutter those insanely long eyelashes, smile to show off his pearly whites, and tempt me with fresh, warm buns.
“These are mine?” I clutch the bag to my chest as I eye him in suspicion.
“Yeah, they’re your favorite, right?”
“Mmm hmm.”
Landry props his elbow on the open window and ducks his head. Black hair tangles across his face, hiding his eyes. “I hoped you’d be more accepting of my apology if I bribed you with sweets. Forgive me for being an ass yesterday?”
Lucky guy. He figured out the fastest way to soften my heartstrings—sugar. Wait how does he know they’re my favorite? Stupid question. It’s like him knowing my nickname and my job. He pays way too much attention to me, and I’m kinda scared to ask why. I stare at my sticky fingers, then lick the icing off one by one. Landry’s gaze draws my attention. He’s staring at my mouth. My gut tightens in response, and I slowly lick my lips. Get a grip. Don’t trust him just because he says he’s sorry.
I concentrate on the mouthful of cinnamon roll. Each chew echoes the rapid patter of my heart. God, why does my body react like this when I’m around him? Why? He’s still staring at me. Can’t he tell I’m uncomfortable? Oh, I get it. He’s irritating me on purpose so I can’t totally ignore him.
I pass the empty bag to him. “You’re not going away, are you?”
“Nope.” He smiles.
I reach in and poke his shoulder a few times. “Wake up, Sleeping Beauty.”
Landry’s thick lashes flutter then open to meet mine. “I’m supposed to be woken with a kiss, not a jab.”
I snort. “I don’t kiss slimy critters. You’re playing double duty as a frog, and I throwthem in a frying pan with a little butter and garlic.”
“Oh, so now you’re trying to butter me up?”
The heat of a blush rises. “Saints, boy. You’re fraying my last nerve.” I plant my hands on my hips, toe tapping. “What are you doing here? In case you forgot, I’m mad at you.”
“No you’re not.” He grins and runs his fingers through his thick hair. My breath catches as my brain stutters. I shake my head to dispel the wave of pheromone-induced stupidity that washes over me. My noses twitches. Why does he have to smell so good? Like cinnamon and brown sugar. “Did you forget yester—”
An oily paper bag flies in my direction. I grab it out of the air before it drops to the ground. It’s warm in my hands, and the smell makes my mouth water. “Ooh, cinnamon rolls,” I mumble around the melting mouthful of cinnamon-y goodness. “I love these.”
“I know,” Landry says, throwing open the truck door.
I hop off the bumper with a scowl. The arrogant jerk thinks he has me eating out of hishands; all he has to do is flutter those insanely long eyelashes, smile to show off his pearly whites, and tempt me with fresh, warm buns.
“These are mine?” I clutch the bag to my chest as I eye him in suspicion.
“Yeah, they’re your favorite, right?”
“Mmm hmm.”
Landry props his elbow on the open window and ducks his head. Black hair tangles across his face, hiding his eyes. “I hoped you’d be more accepting of my apology if I bribed you with sweets. Forgive me for being an ass yesterday?”
Lucky guy. He figured out the fastest way to soften my heartstrings—sugar. Wait how does he know they’re my favorite? Stupid question. It’s like him knowing my nickname and my job. He pays way too much attention to me, and I’m kinda scared to ask why. I stare at my sticky fingers, then lick the icing off one by one. Landry’s gaze draws my attention. He’s staring at my mouth. My gut tightens in response, and I slowly lick my lips. Get a grip. Don’t trust him just because he says he’s sorry.
I concentrate on the mouthful of cinnamon roll. Each chew echoes the rapid patter of my heart. God, why does my body react like this when I’m around him? Why? He’s still staring at me. Can’t he tell I’m uncomfortable? Oh, I get it. He’s irritating me on purpose so I can’t totally ignore him.
Hi,
ReplyDeleteI just wanted to pop by to thank you for hosting my release day blitz and for your honest review (sorry about it almost setting your Kindle on fire. Naughty book likes to play with magic ;). Joking aside, I do really appreciate your help in getting the word out about DARK PARADISE. :)