The Keyis a YA paranormal romance loaded with mystery.
First part of Chapter One:
Madelyn staggered in a haze through her day, yawning and rubbing her tired eyes. The dreams had begun yet again in earnest, causing her sleep to be restless. Sighing to herself, she hitched her full backpack a little higher on her back.
She was new to Coal Creek High School. Because it was the middle of the year, there were no empty lockers-- meaning she carried all her books everywhere she went. She sighed as she shouldered the heavy load.
She entered English class and headed to the back left hand corner to sit. Her first day of class it had been the only open seat and she was grateful. Fortunately, it provided her a place to store her books, shoving them in the back corner out of the way. It also gave her a place to hide from ogling eyes. But today as she glanced back, another butt filled it.
He was arrayed all in black. He wore a black t-shirt, black jeans, and black boots. His hair was thick and wavy reaching just below the nape of his neck. He was handsome in a dark, kind of way. He lifted his eyes to her face and offered a grin.
“Am I in your seat?”
Honey and venom dripped from his words, but she was in awe. He spoke to her? “Yeah, but hmm,” she was at a loss. How did you tell someone like him to let you have your seat?
“Mr. Henley told me to sit in the back. How lucky am I?”
“Excuse me?” Now she was really confused.
“Well, I was lucky enough to sit in the seat of such a beautiful young woman.”
Madelyn heard a gasp. She looked behind her and saw Stephanie with her mouth agape. Stephanie stared at her friends surrounding her and stuttered, “What, what, did he say? He couldn’t be talking to her.”
One of her groupies ran to the bathroom and came back with a wet towel, placing it on her forehead. Stephanie twisted her head like she was in a state of confusion. Madelyn turned away from the pitiful sight.
“Yes, that’s my seat.”
“Did she just speak to him? I need a fan! Someone fan me! Now what’s happening? I can’t see. The world looks so dark and confusing.” Stephanie was really pouring on the drama.
The stranger moved, offering her the seat back. “Sorry about the mix-up.” He held his hand forward. “I’m Dougal Lachlan. It’s very nice to meet you.”
Madelyn glanced at Stephanie. She was on the verge of stroking out. She faced Dougal and said, “It is nice to meet you. I’m Madelyn Clevenger. But most people call me Maddie.”
As Maddie accepted Dougal’s hand, a huge thud could be heard, as Stephanie slipped from her chair and toppled to the floor.
"The Key" received 4-stars from The Romance Studio (review at Amazon) and 4.5 Bites from Bitten Books. Thanks for taking the time to look at my novel!
First part of Chapter One:
Madelyn staggered in a haze through her day, yawning and rubbing her tired eyes. The dreams had begun yet again in earnest, causing her sleep to be restless. Sighing to herself, she hitched her full backpack a little higher on her back.
She was new to Coal Creek High School. Because it was the middle of the year, there were no empty lockers-- meaning she carried all her books everywhere she went. She sighed as she shouldered the heavy load.
She entered English class and headed to the back left hand corner to sit. Her first day of class it had been the only open seat and she was grateful. Fortunately, it provided her a place to store her books, shoving them in the back corner out of the way. It also gave her a place to hide from ogling eyes. But today as she glanced back, another butt filled it.
He was arrayed all in black. He wore a black t-shirt, black jeans, and black boots. His hair was thick and wavy reaching just below the nape of his neck. He was handsome in a dark, kind of way. He lifted his eyes to her face and offered a grin.
“Am I in your seat?”
Honey and venom dripped from his words, but she was in awe. He spoke to her? “Yeah, but hmm,” she was at a loss. How did you tell someone like him to let you have your seat?
“Mr. Henley told me to sit in the back. How lucky am I?”
“Excuse me?” Now she was really confused.
“Well, I was lucky enough to sit in the seat of such a beautiful young woman.”
Madelyn heard a gasp. She looked behind her and saw Stephanie with her mouth agape. Stephanie stared at her friends surrounding her and stuttered, “What, what, did he say? He couldn’t be talking to her.”
One of her groupies ran to the bathroom and came back with a wet towel, placing it on her forehead. Stephanie twisted her head like she was in a state of confusion. Madelyn turned away from the pitiful sight.
“Yes, that’s my seat.”
“Did she just speak to him? I need a fan! Someone fan me! Now what’s happening? I can’t see. The world looks so dark and confusing.” Stephanie was really pouring on the drama.
The stranger moved, offering her the seat back. “Sorry about the mix-up.” He held his hand forward. “I’m Dougal Lachlan. It’s very nice to meet you.”
Madelyn glanced at Stephanie. She was on the verge of stroking out. She faced Dougal and said, “It is nice to meet you. I’m Madelyn Clevenger. But most people call me Maddie.”
As Maddie accepted Dougal’s hand, a huge thud could be heard, as Stephanie slipped from her chair and toppled to the floor.
"The Key" received 4-stars from The Romance Studio (review at Amazon) and 4.5 Bites from Bitten Books. Thanks for taking the time to look at my novel!