A New Series
from Amazon Best-Selling Author Annette Marie, RED WINTER is coming…
“Soon all her
human fears would become meaningless. Her future had been written by the kami,
and her destiny awaited her.”
In the enchanting new fantasy RED WINTER by Annette Marie, Emi Kimura
has been preparing her entire life to become the mortal host of a goddess. When
she discovers the lies surrounding her true fate, she makes a dangerous bargain
with a fox spirit to seek out the truth. As her final days as a mortal
approach, she must choose whether to bow to duty ... or fight for her life.
Synopsis:
Emi is the kamigakari. In a few short months, her
life as a mortal will end and her new existence as the human host of a goddess
will begin. Carefully hidden from those who would destroy her, she has prepared
her mind, body, and soul to unite with the goddess—and not once has she doubted
her chosen fate.
Shiro is a yokai, a spirit of the earth, an enemy
of the goddess Emi will soon host. Mystery shrouds his every move and his ruby
eyes shine with cunning she can’t match and dares not trust. But she saved his
life, and until his debt is paid, he is hers to command—whether she wants him
or not.
On the day
they meet, everything Emi believes comes undone, swept away like snow upon the
winter wind. For the first time, she wants to change her fate—but how can she
erase a destiny already wrought in stone? Against the power of the gods, Shiro
is her only hope … and hope is all she has left.
Release
Date: October 21, 2016.
Order Red Winter Now:
Add RED WINTER to Your
TBR List on Goodreads!
Excerpt
for RED WINTER (Red Winter Trilogy
Book 1)
The
yokai didn’t move, just held her in
place with a strength she couldn’t fight. She tipped her head back to see his
face, to gauge his intent. His gaze traveled across her room, intent and
analyzing. Then his eyes flicked down and he appeared almost surprised to see
her staring up at him. His mouth curved into a sly grin, flashing pointed
canines.
His
amusement at her terror sparked a tiny surge of anger. “Let me go!”
“Ah,
little miko, didn’t anyone ever tell
you not to run from yokai?” His deep, purring voice sent a shiver across her
skin. He leaned down as his hand on her throat forced her head back. He brushed
his nose along her jaw, from her chin up to her ear. “It’s the surest way to
make us pounce,” he whispered, his breath tickling her ear.
Goose
bumps raced down the back of her neck and she clenched her jaw. “Get your hands
off me.”
He
hummed as he pushed his face into her hair, inhaling through his nose. “But
didn’t you put your hands on me first?”
“I
was treating your wounds.” She summoned her most commanding tone, desperately
hoping her voice wouldn’t quaver. “You’re proving that your kind’s reputation
is well deserved with such disrespect and ingratitude toward the person who
saved your life.”
His
head came up and fear shot through her that she’d offended him, that he would
surely kill her now. Instead, he made a thoughtful noise, and his hands fell
away, releasing her.
She
almost leaped out of his lap but remembered his comment about running from
yokai. With more self-control than she’d thought she had, she carefully stood,
walked four steps, and turned to face him. He stayed where he was, lounging on
the bed with his feet on the floor, casually propped up on one arm. His head
tilted to one side as he watched her, and that slight, knowing grin played
about his lips.
She
sank down to kneel on the floor, mostly because her legs were shaking so badly
she was afraid he’d notice. As nonchalantly as possible, she slid her hands
into the opposite sleeves of her kimono and pinched her hidden ofuda between two fingers, ready to pull
the paper talismans out.
“No
need for that, little miko,” he remarked, each word almost caressing her. How
could he have such an otherworldly yet still human voice? “I will not harm
you.”
She
flushed, embarrassed she’d been so obvious, but didn’t let go of the ofuda.
“What was that—that assault then?”
“Assault,
you call it? That little embrace?”
“You—”
She broke off with a small shake of her head. If he was determined to ignore
the inappropriateness of forcefully holding a woman against him and rubbing his
face on her, nothing she said would change his mind. “You have the manners of a
dog.”
“What
did you expect? The ritual greetings of the imperial court?”
“Some
respect for the person who saved your life would have been welcome.”
“Ah,
yes, you did save me, and I am very grateful.” He idly tugged at a lock of his
hair as his gaze slid down her and back up again. “I am in your debt. Tell me
your desire and I will fulfill it.”
“My—my
desire?” she choked.
He
smirked again. “A favor, little miko. I am saying I owe you a favor.”
Celebrate the Release of RED WINTER with a
Giveaway!
Grand
Prize: 1 Winner will Receive a $25 Amazon Gift Card
Runner-Ups:
3 Winners will Each Receive one $10 Amazon Gift Card Each
Annette
Marie is the author of the Amazon best-selling YA urban fantasy series Steel & Stone, which
includes the 2015 Goodreads Choice Award nominee Yield the Night. Her first love
is fantasy, a limitless realm of creativity where she can break all the boring
rules of real life, but fast-paced urban fantasy, bold heroines, and
tantalizing forbidden romances are her guilty pleasures. She proudly admits she
has a thing for dragons, and her editor has politely inquired as to whether she
intends to include them in every book.
Annette
lives in the frozen winter wasteland of northern Alberta, Canada (okay, it’s
not quite that bad). She shares her life with her remarkably patient,
comparatively sensible husband and their furry minion of darkness—sorry,
cat—Caesar. When not writing, she can be found elbow-deep in one art project or
another while blissfully ignoring all adult responsibilities.
To find out
more about Annette and her books, visit her website at www.authorannettemarie.com
