Title: Absolution
Author: P.L. Parker
Genre: Paranormal/Vampire romance
Book Blurb:
From the mists of time…dark powers arise.
Born in blood and entombed for six hundred years, the dhampir Chloe awakens. Zaccarius, the most feared Slayer of all, is sent to determine her worth and, if necessary, to render justice. Enthralled by the purity of her mind, he becomes her protector, only to fall beneath the armies of the Dark Master Jochad.
Ancient and dying, Jochad demands Chloe choose—her blood for the life of her lover!
Watch the book trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TU0EHWSz054
Excerpt:
She heard voices, she knew she did. Deep within the bottomless void where she’d buried herself so long ago, the voices gnawed at her sub-conscious. P’raps it’s a dream! Like so many before. But no, she heard them again. Voices—real voices. She had to reach them. I have to let them know I be here and alive! She struggled upwards, swimming through the viscous layers of darkness.
Don’t leave me! She prayed, harder than she’d ever prayed before in those endless dark years. I’m here! Don’t leave me!
“Pretty disgusting, isn’t it?” A male voice said, though she was unsure of the words. He sounded so strange. English, but not English.
Help me! She could feel the heat emanating from their bodies, smell their scent, hear the blood pumping through their veins. She was so close. Why canst they not know she be here?
“Look at those teeth.”
She felt a light brush across her face, like the fluttering of moth wings. This be not a dream!
She ached to reach them, to touch a living creature once again. Don’t leave me in this place. Grant me death if ye wouldst, but don’t leave me again.
An ornate, bejeweled necklace rested on the chest cavity of the cadaver. Earl reached down and touched the ornament, pricking a finger in the process. Dark splotches of blood dripped on the mummified remains. The cadaver shuddered spasmodically, eyes rolling up from the depths of the skull and popping open. Earl screamed, falling back. Benny froze in horror, his bladder emptying in reflex. A skeletal hand lifted, reaching towards them.
“Vampire!” Benny screamed, jerking back. “Run—it’s a vampire!”
Stumbling and tripping, they scrambled behind a large rock and hunkered down, shivering in abject terror.
Earl stretched up, trying to see.
“Do you see it?” Benny whispered, frantic and horror-stricken. “What are we going to do? It’s between us and the door. Can you see it?”
“Shut up.” Earl hissed, his teeth chattering. “It’ll hear you.”
Behind them, a sepulchral voice whispered. “Where be the ungodly?”
Terrified and struck motionless, they gaped at each other.
The voice whispered again. “I canst not see it.”
In slow motion, they turned a slightest degree, catching a whiff of death. The thing lurked behind them, crouched down—with them! In their hiding place!
Howling in fright, they leapt over the rock wall, at the same time eliminating any avenue of escape they might have. Clutching each other, shaking uncontrollably, they waited in terror for ‘it’ to strike.
The creature hobbled towards them, one arm outstretched, only to sink to the ground at their feet. “I canst not flee,” it said, the raspy voice plaintive in its intonation. “I be too weak. Ye must help me.”
The voice coming from the thing had a strangely soft, feminine cadence. The rags covering the body could have been, at one time, a woman’s gown. Thin strands of long black hair covered the decayed scalp, now bent forward in utter misery.
“Where be my papa?” it asked, again in that weird, feminine voice.
Motionless, unable to speak, the two stood, quavering and horror-struck.
“Doest ye have some of my papa’s elixir?”
Extricating himself from Benny’s death grip, Earl took a deep breath, his voice quivering. “Are you going to kill us?”
Benny gasped. “Shut up,” he hissed. “Do you want to give it ideas?”
The creature started, as if surprised. “Why wouldst I do such a vile thing?”
Earl glanced sideways. Benny’s myopic eyes bulged behind his round glasses. He gulped, clearing his throat. “We just thought….”
The creature reached out. “Please,” it pleaded again. “I need my papa’s elixir. Doest ye have it? I hunger so.”
Buy Links (including Goodreads and BookBub):
If you could dress up as anything or anyone this Halloween, what or who would it be and why?
I always opt for the aliens! My favorite costume, though, was the year I found this tee shirt that said “I’ve used up all my sick leave so I’m calling in dead.” I made up my face to look like a cadaver and wore the shirt into work. My boss couldn’t even look at me! I loved it!
Explain why your featured book is a treat to read:
Besides the darkness surrounding vampire stories, this is a fun book.
The story begins as Chloe, a 600-year-old half-vampire, is resurrected by two unsuspecting research assistants. She’s not the norm for a vampire, in fact, she didn’t know she was a vampire. Her father cared for her and kept her “condition” to himself and his friend Gavin, and when he couldn’t care for her anymore, he entombed her hoping that someone in the future could save her.
Zaccarius, the hero, is hot, tortured, and when he is sent to determine her worth, he falls under her gentle spell.
There is a lot of humor in this novel, centering around the two research assistants, Earl and Benny, and a female cousin of Benny’s, Shauna. Lots of action and a different viewpoint to the whole vampire mystique.
Giveaway –
One lucky reader will win a $75 Amazon (US or Canada) gift card.
Open internationally. You must have an active Amazon US or Amazon Canada account to be eligible.
Runs October 1 – 31
Drawing will be held on November 1.
Author Biography:
I write stories with alpha males and strong, determined women. I am a dreamer, an avid reader of fiction, a sometimes gardener and an inept crafter. I live in Idaho. I have three sons, a daughter-in-law, a granddaughter and little grandson. I’ve had many interests in my life. Over the years, I taught and performed dance but as time passed, I decided to try my hand at a new endeavor - writing. I enjoy life and all its promises.
Social Media Links:
Website: https://www.plparker.net/
Blogspot: http://plparker.blogspot.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/PLParker