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A teaser trailer for Embraced, the second novel in the Samantha Scott Novel. Publisher: Eternal Press

It’s sort of surreal to actually see someone who lives inside my head.

Here is Emmalina (Emma) in full-on hollow witch mode. Scary/beautiful/awesome

Drawing by JW.

Hi friends, family, readers, Samantha lovers! I have to tell you that I had a really hard time pulling an excerpt from Embraced to share with you. I ended up deciding on the prologue with the hopes all my limbs stay intact.

Rachel

PROLOGUE

“We’ve all got both light and dark inside us. What matters is the part we choose to act on. That’s who we really are.�� �� Sirius Black

The knife came out of nowhere. It sailed in my direction threatening a fate worse than death. Another betrayal. I caught the handle using quick reflexes and shock yielded quickly to anger. I swallowed hard, lifted my chin and boldly met his gaze. I lowered the knife to my side and watched in horror as he approached, murderous ire permeating his features. He stopped in front of me. He was so close I felt his hot, heavy breaths coming erratically. I clenched the handle of the knife unsure if I would be able to harm him; the man I loved. His face, a glowering mask of rage suddenly transformed. He was a tortured man, a desperate man; I knew then, my man was gone. My magic started pooling around me readying, knowing an attack was imminent. He grabbed my hand that held the knife, his nostrils flared with fury. I was breathless, numb, hung in the moment like a puppet on weakened strings.

“Stop, don’t do this,�� I said, my voice wavered as resentment masked my haunting despair. His sturdy grasp stayed on my hand as he shut his eyes tightly and tried to calm his breathing. I took the moment to plead with him again, although the cast to defend myself was on the tip of my tongue.

“Please. Just talk to me.�� My talisman tattoo lit as it did in any heightened emotional state. Very slowly, without taking his eyes off mine he raised my hand and the knife to point straight at his shirtless chest—directly above his heart. Blood welled where the tip pierced his skin. I was a prisoner to his grip—unable to move for fear that I’d harm him further. He twisted the knife deeper until a steady stream of blood ran down his chest. Bile rose in my throat strangling any words that would help the situation. He finally spoke,

“Do it, Samantha.�� His voice was sharp, but the pain in his eyes seared my heart. I shook my head subtly and with a pang, I realized he was serious. This would be the end. I regained an ounce of composure, but my response was feeble.“You don’t have to do this. There’s always a way.�� Not so , my heart whispered back. He didn’t believe my words either. His mouth quirked up in one corner as he shook his head in disagreement.

“I am disgusted with myself. Help me, Samantha. Only you can ease my torment.�� I bit my quivering lip as I listened to the man I loved beg to die—pleading to end his life because of our differences.

“This,�� he said as he pointed with his free hand to the bloody knife and his heart. “Is yours. Shut it down or let it live, but make a decision. I can’t deal with this anymore.�� A tear sneaked out of the corner of my eye. His beautiful wide eyes were questioning for a moment and then It was like some sixth sense had finally awakened him; he knew exactly what I would do.

“Kiss me or kill me, Samantha,�� he said. I hesitated briefly, and ��then screamed out in absolute horror as he pulled my h and, and the knife in further knowing I wouldn’t stop him.

Coming August 2013��

The cover for Embraced, the second novel in the Samantha Scott series has arrived. The book trailer and excerpts will be trickling in, too.

“Some decisions change everything…��

Cover art by the talented Amanda Kelsey.

Sam is looking pretty pensive. Wonder what she’s up to these days?

Poe House Books, a quaint, quirky bookstore in my hometown hosted a book signing for Escaped.��

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If you’ve picked up your copy of Escaped, please remember to leave a review on Amazon, ŷ������ or Barnes and Noble.��

The book trailer for Embraced will be coming soon. Stay tuned.��

Love & light,

Rachel��

News alert! News alert! News alert!

Samantha and the gang will be coming back for more action, more adventure…and more love. Embraced, the second novel in the Samantha Scott series will be released by Eternal Press on August 1st.��

What can you expect in Embraced?

Some decisions change everything��

Samantha digs a little deeper to find out about her witchy past. What she discovers sends her world and her magic into overdrive. She discovers secret realms and begins to uncover a truth she always somewhat anticipated. While she is half Bruxa–a light witch, something more sinister may lay claim on her other half.

After the stone curse wears off and Jade returns to Cadiza to assert her rule, and��Blythe, the dark magic ruler makes a bid for her help,��Samantha is forced to choose a side. Should she embrace the known? A life that she has loved and revered since birth. Or does she stay true to her tenacious vendetta against the Elders council for their tyrannical ways?

Swaying her decision is her omnipresent match, Xander and the very human love of her life, Malakai. With both men still vying for her affections, Samantha has bold decisions to make. She has to make them quickly as time is running out. The threat of war between light and dark witches is scary, but the fact that magic is bleeding into the human world is disastrous. Will Samantha be swayed by her heart or her head?

Click the image to go to the Barnes & Noble Marketplace. Remember to leave a review after you’ve finished!

Escaped has hit the Amazon Kindle store. Click the book to go to the Kindle store!

Check back here for updates. The Nook version should be available at Barnes & Noble online shortly and the paperback will be available for order at both Amazon and B&N.com within the next week or so.

Remember the Nook giveaway is still going (until the 15th) to enter. Enter every day for a chance to win!

On February 1st, you will be able to purchase the��ebook,��Escaped: A Samantha Scott Novel��in the following formats: PDF, PDB, MOBI, LIT and EPUB��at the . As that is the day the book is being released into the various systems, catalogs and databases the approximate timeframes you can expect to see Escaped (in print and other ebook formats)��elsewhere are listed below:

Available in the Nook Store (Barnes & Noble): 1 week*

PRINT Edition on Amazon: 2-3 weeks*

PRINT Edition on B&N: 2-3 weeks*

Available in the Kobo Store: 2-3 weeks*

Available on iTunes: TBD

* an approximation of time after the release date
Eternal Press Buy Link:

You can order any Eternal Press book, both print and ebook, through Lightning Source Distribution which includes the following:

US:

Ingram
Amazon.com
Baker & Taylor
Barnes & Noble
NACSCORP
Espresso Book Machine

UK:

Amazon.co.uk
Bertrams
Blackwell
Book Depository
Coutts
Gardners
Mallory International
Paperback Bookshop
Argosy Ireland
Eden Interactive Ltd.
Aphrohead
I.B.S �� STL U.K
Libreria Ledi
Eleftheroudakis

I scoured the book for an excerpt that would properly portray Samantha in her best light. Maybe “best�� isn’t the correct word. Her snark rivals mine *gasp* and there was one scene I kept going back to. So, without further ado, I give you Samantha and Malakai’s very first, very awkward meeting. ��-Rachel

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���������������������� I first saw Malakai across the courtyard in the town square of Cadiza. It was winter and I was outside to get away from everyone else. The human had large bags in both hands. Fresh meat, I thought with a small smile, feeling sorry for his obvious auditing detail and jealous of his freedom all at the same time. He glanced in my direction and acknowledged me with a small head tilt, pausing to look at me a touch longer than normal. It was as if he saw me there first. It was an odd occurrence as I was usually the first horse out of the gate. I flashed him my best smile and returned to the open book in my lap. Maybe if I studied these spells long enough I’d be able to come and go as I pleased too. It was a doubtful sentiment, but I remained stubbornly hopeful.

Out of the corner of my eye I saw he was still standing there looking lost.�� “He looks more entertaining than you right now,�� I said to my spell book as I slammed it shut and trudged through the crackling, icy lawn. I knew what I wanted to do next―a test.

Touching my newly minted tattoo, I wandered toward the handsome stranger. First things first. Let’s see exactly what we’re working with here. I briefly shut my eyes to concentrate as my diamond-shaped ink lit up. I whispered, “The air is hot, the air is heavy, he’s unprepared, so make him ready.�� The wind whipped around him, immediately responding to my cast. His battered brown leather bags were the first casualties, hitting the ground twenty feet away.�� His shirt flailed wildly and was stripped off his well-muscled back in the next moment, despite his avid attempts to hold it on. I stifled back a laugh, biting my lip as I watched the shirtless stranger dance around the courtyard in the middle of winter. When he realized saving his shirt was a lost cause, he grabbed his pants, which were now threatening to take flight. I was caught up admiring my handiwork of a cast but even more caught up in the unbelievable body gracing this man. I must have been ogling with abandon because when I finally wandered my gaze up to meet his, he was staring directly at me with a menacing look.

I quickly ended the cast by mumbling, “The air is stiff, the air is cold, I say it now, release your hold.�� I let go of my wrist and pointed up at the sky with a baffled look on my face. I shrugged and tried my best to look like an innocent bystander, hoping he’d turn his death glare elsewhere so I could escape―or stare at his almost naked body some more.

Unfortunately, neither happened. He wagged his finger to summon me over. With the wind gone, he started collecting his clothes. It was a lose-lose situation. I pulled my gloves higher hoping to hide my tattoo. I’d tell him I didn’t have my talisman yet, give him a little attitude, and be on my way if he so much as gave me an accusing look. Most witches in Cadiza feared the visiting humans because they knew too much and could get you into a lot of trouble with the Elders. Neither fact bothered me. He needed to know that.

I approached slowly while he was facing away gathering his bags. “Hey. Crazy weather today, huh?�� I inched closer to make sure he heard me.

He shrugged on his shirt, effortlessly ruining my view. He turned around so quickly I thought he was using speed skill. “You must be Samantha Scott. I’ve already been warned.�� He looked attractive even at his angriest. I blushed and wished I had worn something more girly. “I’d appreciate it if you’d keep your undefined skills as far away from me as possible. Jade is going to love to hear how your abilities to control the natural elements have progressed.�� He raked a hand through his still-perfect sandy-colored hair and bent to pick up his bags, dismissing me without words.

Oh, pretentious was he? We’d see how far that got him. I may not have had anonymity on my side but I still had my attitude.�� I tapped him firmly on the shoulder and waited for him to face me. ��”Yes, I am Samantha Scott.�� I pointed my finger into his chest as hard as it could and left it there. “If you, whatever your name is, want to get along here in Cadiza and live a long life, I would suggest you get a sense of humor quickly. While you’re so busy being a pious, self-righteous, boring human you should probably hit the gym. Windstorms are common in these parts as are rain storms.�� I removed my hand from his chest and quickly touched my wrist, murmuring, “Thickly clouded, water to the brim, drench this man, make him swim.�� I released my wrist as the clouds opened up and rain began to pour on him.

I took a few steps backward, never taking my eyes off his, and stood on the edge of his personal rainstorm. I squinted my eyes and cackled. “If your muscles aren’t up to par when your shirt is off, let’s face it you won’t be winning any wet-T-shirt contests around here either.�� I turned on my heel and walked away, then wrapped my jacket a little closer and thought how miserable it would be to be wet.

* * * *