14 October 2010



Falling Under Excerpt
*Exclusive, never before seen - First time online!!!
copyright Gwen Hayes

No matter how far I went towards the music, I got no closer. It always seemed “just over here” a little more, and I carried on further and further until I realized I was in a maze of shrubbery. A labyrinth.

Only there shouldn’t have been one on the grounds.

Turn back. But it was too late. I tried but the path changed as I walked and I had the sensation that I was walking towards the middle of the maze instead of back to my house no matter what I did.

The haunting strains of an unfamiliar melody filtered through the branches. My trained ear picked the musicians out to be a quartet. The tune captured a gothic mood and was rising to a crescendo when I arrived to a gazebo alight in candles.

I should be panicking. Yet, the pull was so strong, like a moth to flame I carried on.

Cautiously, I made my way up the steps. The candles were tied to thorny branches, eerie yet beautiful. I rubbed my arms, but the shivers continued. A nightgown was little protection.

“I’d always hoped you’d come, but I didn’t dare expect you.”

My breath hitched at the masculine voice. I whirled towards it instead of away, like a smart girl would have done.

The young man bowed deeply. “Theia.”

He wore an old fashioned gray suit, with tails on the jacket and a black cravat pinned with a symbol I didn’t recognize. His dark hair was thick and looked so soft I had to resist the urge to touch him. Looking into his dark eyes was like falling into the stars, making me feel weightless and disoriented.

“Who are you?” I asked, at odds and embarrassed that he was dressed so formally while I was dressed for bed.

“I’m so happy you’ve come,” he answered. “Now the celebration can commence.”

I stole another look at him. He was taller than me and the cut of his jacket could have distorted his figure, but I didn’t think it did. Broad shoulders and a tapered waist, like that of an athlete. His face was perfect…but not. Unearthly, yet beautiful.

He clapped his hands twice, and the spans of green grass surrounding the gazebo ignited instantly with candelabras and torches, illuminating what appeared to be a party in progress.

A jeweled pewter goblet was thrust into my hand, and I surveyed the scene in wonder. Tables sheeted in red and black cloths were laden with food and drink. The revelers, costumed in silk and lace, smiled garishly at each other and carried on muted conversations without moving their lips, their faces made up like lurid clowns.

The orchestral quartet drew my gaze as they started a new, haunting song similar to the one that led me to the gazebo. But it wasn’t the song that held my attention. It was their appearance. Much like the man standing next to me, they were dressed to the nines—black tuxedos and top hats. But where their faces should have been, instead they bore only flesh with no features.

I gasped in horror. “What is happening?”

I turned to my host, and his face clouded briefly with what looked like regret. Quickly, he returned his debonair mask over his features. “You look lovely.”

I wanted to scream or cry with frustration. I was frightened by what I was seeing, what I was feeling, but instead I answered, “Thank you.”

He smiled and it was beautiful and horrible what I saw in it. Hope that should not be born and desire that could never fruit. Whether they were my feelings or his, I did not know.

My fingers relaxed on the stem of the goblet and it slipped through my hands. In slow motion, the cup fell to the ground, spilling blood red liquid throughout its descent.

I awoke in my bed, my nightgown stained red.




Title: Falling Under

Synopsis: In her dreams he’s irresistible—seductive, charming, and undoubtedly dangerous. But when he appears to her when she’s awake—and captivates her just the same—she’s not sure which way is up and which is down.

Theia Alderson has always led a sheltered life, not allowed the same freedoms as the rest of the teenagers in the small California town of Serendipity Falls. But when a devastatingly handsome boy appears in the halls of her school, she feels every urge she’s ever denied burning through her at the slightest glance from Haden Black. Theia knows she’s seen Haden before—not around town, but in her dreams.

Theia doesn’t understand how she dreamed of Haden before they ever met, but every night has them joined in a haunting world of eerie fantasy. And as the Haden of both the night and the day beckons her forward one moment and pushes her away the next, the only thing Theia knows for sure is that the incredible pull she feels towards him is stronger than her fear. And as she slowly discovers what Haden truly is, Theia’s not sure if she wants to resist him, even if the cost is her soul.

Available from New American Library March 1, 2011.

Preorder Online:

Amazon | Borders | Barnes and Noble | The Book Depository

From Gwen Online:

Website | Blog | Twitter




Gwen has donated a $10.00 Amazon Gift card
for this giveaway!!!
So exciting!


Here are the rules and how to enter:

You MUST complete the form to enter. No entries in comments please they won't count. Comments are welcome, so share your love with Gwen!
You must be at least 13 years old to enter.
This contest is open to INTERNATIONAL!
Contest ends: Oct. 28th, 2010

THIS CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED!
CLICK HERE TO ENTER


Good luck to everyone who enters. If you have any questions, please see my policy page or feel free to email.

A huge Thank You goes out to Gwen for saying yes to our event, giving me the honor of sharing for the first time the exclusive Excerpt from Falling Under, which I am SO excited to read!! And thank you so much for the donation making this giveaway possible!!

Check out Jessica's Haunted Halloween post with............

REMINDER: *If you are interested in the COMMENT CONTEST, remember to include your email address with your comment for an extra entry!
Please ready full entry rules HERE.

*I am not compensated at all for any of the links within this page.

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43 comments:

  1. Creepy ending! I love it!!

    jessbess2505[at]yahoo[dot]com

    ReplyDelete
  2. That was such a good excerpt! Thank you for the fabulous post and giveaway :)

    Stephanie
    2love.stephanie@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  3. Oh my gosh! I cannot wait to read this book now. Thanks for the awesome giveaway! ^_^

    hauntingorchid (at) aol (dot) com

    ReplyDelete
  4. So cool to get a preview of a new book. Thanks so much!

    jlynettes @ hotmail . com

    ReplyDelete
  5. How eerie! But now I'm hooked. I can't wait to read this book!

    settle.nicole at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  6. This book sounds so different! Great excerpt, and thanks for giveaway!

    candace_redinger at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  7. I can tell that Falling Under is going to be amazing! The excerpt was perfect.
    Thanks!
    Pokadots1121@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  8. Thanks for the love everyone! I'm really excited to be invited to this shindig. Did you SEE the other authors who are participating? I'm such a fangirl!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Can't wait to read this book. Sounds amazing and alluring.


    DforDarla(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  10. Great excerpt. I can't wait to read this!


    deadtossedwaves at gmail dot com

    Vivien

    ReplyDelete
  11. I have a love hate relationship with excerpts. Everybody loves a sneak peek but then its just a tease until the book comes out.


    romancebookjunkiesdanielle at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  12. Ahh the excerpt is amazinggg. Is in my mental TBR pile :)\

    aprilxu2222@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  13. That book cover is one of the most gorgeous I've ever seen! Thanks for the giveaway--This book is going on m wishlist.

    ReplyDelete
  14. What an amazing book cover!

    msdarcy22@aol.com

    ReplyDelete
  15. Mysterious and creepy! Thanks for great excerpt.

    nalynboni AT gmail DOT com

    ReplyDelete
  16. Wow the excerpt was really good! I want to read Falling Under now! It's totally on my TBR list :)

    ReplyDelete
  17. I really want to read this one! Great post... Very spooky!

    stephanie_xoxo27@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  18. OHhhhhh...amazing!! I can't wait to read it!!

    ReplyDelete
  19. That excerpt was AWESOME, and Falling Under is definitely going on my TBR list now! Thanks so much for sharing, ladies! :)

    mindfulmusings(at)live(dot)com

    Pllluuuussss.....who's hit 1000 followers? YOU'VE hit 1000 followers! Yay! **Throws confetti, dances a jig, plays loud music, blows kazoo** Congrats girl! You definitely deserve it! :D

    ReplyDelete
  20. I agree with Jessica....creepy ending!! LOL!! But I love it : ) Thanks SO much for the giveaway!

    AND 1000 followers!! WOW

    : O

    I only have a measly 42....sad....BUT I'm happy for YOU! *grin*

    CONGRATULATIONS!
    Hannah
    hccelie[at]gmail[dot]com

    ReplyDelete
  21. Oh yum, this one sounds absolutely delicious! And yet another title gets added to my neverending wishlist!!!

    Crazy Cat Lady
    ccllibrary(at)aol(dot)com
    http://crzycatladyslibrary.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete
  22. Thanks for having a giveaway. This book looks great.

    bchild5@aol.com

    ReplyDelete
  23. Thanks for the excerpt! I SOOO am adding this to my to-read list. It sounds amazing!

    ReplyDelete
  24. This book sounds very interesting! The excerpt got me hook! The beginning was interesting - got me wanting to read more and more! Then when I read what the book was about I got even more excited! Can't wait for this one!

    beautiful_molly at hotmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  25. Creepy! Thanks for the story and giveaway!

    Don't forget to check out my giveaway.

    ashleysbookshelf[at]gmail[dot]com

    Ashley's Bookshelf

    ReplyDelete
  26. Thanks for the sneak peak at the book! This is the first time I'm hearing of this book and I'm excited to read it. I added to my TBR list. And thanks for the giveaway! :)

    jacindahinten(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  27. I really, really want to read Falling Under! It looks so good! It's been on my wishlist for awhile now!

    Thanks for the excerpt and another great contest! This year's Halloween certainly has been very exciting!

    theresa9854@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  28. I had never heard of this one before, but I just added it to my 'To-read' list! It sounds eerie and creepy and deliciously good. Thanks for giving us that excerpt Gwen :D

    wickedawesomebooks(at)hotmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  29. You guys are making me even more excited! Why is March so far away?

    ReplyDelete
  30. Ack! I forgot if I've entered this contest already ):

    ReplyDelete
  31. this book looks amazing! thanks for the contest!

    ReplyDelete
  32. This book looks awesome, thanks for the contest.

    DforDarla(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  33. Thanks so much for a brilliant giveaway!!

    ReplyDelete
  34. Wow, perfect excerpt. I love this cover. It is so eerily beautiful.

    ReplyDelete
  35. Awesome. Thanks for sharing!

    bacchus76 at myself dot com

    ReplyDelete
  36. What a generous giveaway! Thanks! I had never heard of this book before but it looks great.

    booksobsession(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  37. Okay... I think I need this book now. : )

    ReplyDelete
  38. That is such a beautiful cover!

    ilikethesebooksblog@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  39. Loved this excerpt! Thanks so much!

    twilightforever.edward at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  40. This is great excerpt; it makes me curious about the book. The lovely cover doesn't helps too (I am such a sucker for a pretty cover). :)

    germaine.dulac@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  41. WOW this is awesome. Cant wait to buy this :) Going on my TBR

    truthbetold004 at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete

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Hi, I’m Lisa and I'm a proud bibliophile.

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