Title: Above the Abyss (The Beartooth Chronicles, Book 2)
Author: Kim McMahill
Genre: Dystopian
Book Blurb:
The residents of Beartooth have survived the first round of stratospheric aerosol injections intended to cool the planet, but predators have found their way to the community, outsiders have arrived seeking refuge, and their closest neighbor is now ruled by an extremist faction. As the nation continues to spiral towards anarchy, most residents believe their isolated location will shield them from human and animal invaders and a country in crisis, but Ash and Caleb have seen and heard too much to ever feel safe again.
Excerpt:
“Are you sure you don’t want to come with me and Dillon? The small deer herd is hanging closer to Bob’s ranch than I’d like. It will be a good opportunity for an easy harvest, but mostly, I’d like to push the herd back. If any predators are following them, we don’t want the deer hanging too close to the livestock,” Caleb said as he slid his knife into its sheath attached to his belt.
“As fun as that all sounds, I thought I’d spend some time in the greenhouse this afternoon. There are a lot of new blossoms on the tomato and squash plants. I’m going to try and pollinate them myself with a small brush since my bees are unavailable at the moment.”
Caleb pulled her into his arms and gave her a long kiss. She laced her fingers behind his neck and returned his kiss, pressing her body tight to his.
“Sometimes you make it really difficult for me to leave,” he said as he let her go, put his quiver over his shoulder, and picked up his bow.
“My project shouldn’t take as long as yours, so I’ll be waiting for you when you get home, and we can pick up where we left off,” Ash replied with a sly smile.
“I’m holding you to it,” Caleb said as he walked out the door.
Ash gathered up several small brushes and made her way to the greenhouse. She was a little surprised not to see Graham but was happy to have some quiet time alone. She wasn’t a trained horticulturist like her mom had been, but she still found solitude in gardening.
As she gently dabbed the brush into one small, yellow, tomato blossom to pick up pollen and transfer it to another, she thought about the bees. She hoped she’d done enough to protect them over the winter. The act of hand pollination reminded her once again how important they were to the survival of the community, and not just for the honey they provided.
She finished with the tomatoes and knelt in front of a zucchini plant loaded with large, yellow flowers. Since zucchini plants could get quite large, they had planted them along the far end of the greenhouse. She dabbed a clean brush into a blossom and had to lean forward and stretch to reach the next flower.
“Ash.”
Her hand froze. She recognized the voice, and it sent chills racing across her skin. Over the past year, she had convinced herself that she had nothing to fear from Tyler, but this was the first time she had found herself alone with him. In such a small community it was likely he knew Caleb was out hunting, and Graham was nowhere in sight.
She slowly rose and turned toward him. He was halfway between her and the entrance, and his expression was unreadable.
“What do you want?” she said, trying to keep her voice calm.
“I just want to talk,” he replied.
“You’ve said that to me before, and it didn’t turn out well for either one of us.”
His expression changed. She couldn’t tell if it was a smirk or a smile, but whatever it was, it didn’t put her at ease, and the greenhouse suddenly felt very cold.
“Caleb will find out you approached me when I was alone, and once again you’re blocking my way. I won’t plead for mercy on your behalf this time.”
He looked around as if just realizing he stood between her and the only way out of the greenhouse.
“I’m willing to take my chances.”
Buy Links (including Goodreads and BookBub):
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3Vvf1Ni
Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/above-the-abyss-kim-mcmahill/1145691119?ean=2940185971802
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1573463
Apple Books: https://apple.co/45gresp
Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Kim_McMahill_Above_the_Abyss?id=G8UMEQAAQBAJ
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/above-the-abyss-the-beartooth-chronicles-book-2-by-kim-mcmahill
What’s the first binge-worthy book you read and why was it a must-read?
The Hunger Games was one of the first dystopian novels I ever read, and I was hooked. Fortunately, all three were out when I started the series, so I binged on them back-to-back.
What makes your featured book a binge-worthy read?
I hope readers will find The Beartooth Chronicles original, exciting, entertaining, and a bit frightening. Readers will no doubt fall in love with the characters, especially Ashley (Ash) and Caleb, and hopefully be compelled to follow them as they enter adulthood and learn about love, grief, and tragedy while experiencing epic adventures along the way. There are already two novels in the series out to begin your binge, and the third and fourth will be released soon. Above the Abyss is the second novel. The first, Refuge from the World, came out in March, and book 3, Isolated from Anarchy, is due out in a few months. The fourth, Evil Under the Mountain, is slated for early 2025.
Giveaway –
One lucky reader will win a $100 Amazon gift card.
Open internationally.
Runs August 1 – 31, 2024
Drawing will be held on September 2, 2024.
Author Biography:
Kim McMahill started out writing nonfiction, but her passion for adventure, stories of survival against the odds, and speculating about the future of humanity and our planet, soon turned her attention towards fiction. Along with her novels, she has published over eighty travel and human-interest articles, and contributed to a travel story anthology. Growing up in a beautiful mountain west community, traveling the world, and enjoying a rewarding career with the National Park Service, has given her the opportunity to live in amazing places, experience incredible adventures, and witness many changes in our world, all of which have helped shape her stories.
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Goodreads author page: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/849945.Kim_McMahill
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Kim-McMahill/e/B007IK0EJW/
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