Title: Origin Exposed
Series: Descended of Dragons, Book 2
Author: Jen Crane
Publication Date:
October 6, 2015
Genre: Fantasy, New
Adult, Romance
Digital ISBN: 978-0-9965756-2-1
Print ISBN:
978-0-9965756-3-8
Blurb:
A Dangerous Secret
In
fiery redhead Stella Stonewall’s new world magic and shape-shifters are
everyday life. Scales, sorcery, shifters—no big. Stella has learned
she’s not only descended of dragons, but of powerful skin changers. She
struggles to keep this rare form a secret, even from her closest friends.
A Bitter Betrayal
Stella
turns to her mentor Rowan Gresham for help. The charming but enigmatic Gresham
forms a plan to improve her troublesome public image. The problem? The plan
revolves around betraying the only family she has left.
A Potential for Something Real
When
Gresham’s motives come into question Stella must rely on the new friends she’s
made at a college for magical shifters. The feral bunch helps set Stella’s
inner beast free. As these friendships flourish, so does the magnetism she’s
always felt toward fierce and noble Ewan Bristol. But it’s so strong it
threatens to overwhelm her.
Can
Stella afford to open her heart now, when her entire future’s at stake, or is
it bolted shut for eternity?
Purchase Origin Exposed:
EXCERPT:
I
had difficulty finding an excerpt that didn’t give away anything from Book 1! I
did find this fun scene from Chapter 22 in Book 2 of Stella and her friend
Timbra’s night out dancing. ~Jen
Chapter
22
Loryn
had recommended a place in town that hosted local musicians on Saturday nights.
Ewan assured me he and Boone would be long gone by then, and we could have all
the fun we could stand without fear of bumping into them.
It
was clear an hour and a half into the night what Timbra’s intention
wasobliteration. I couldn’t blame her, really. She’d been nursing a dreadful
heartache. And I knew as well as anyone the driving desire to be rid of the
oppression of loss and sadness.
The
band was surprisingly good, and when they played an upbeat song Timbra yanked
me up by the arm.
She
threw her head back and her arms out wildly. “Let’s dance!” she said.
I
indulged her. I had nothing against fun, after all. Timbra’s lithe body swayed
and rocked to the beat, assisted by some fairly potent margaritas. Without
fail, the occasion of two girls dancing together served as some unspoken
invitation for horny strangers to jump on back. I shook my head sharply and
shooed them away. Timbra, though, was less forceful.
“Hey,”
I warned a lanky guy whose hips seemed to move on hinges, “Were your parents
octopi or something? Keep your hands to yourself!”
He
smirked, mitigating any handsome that might have been found in his face. “She’s
not complaining,” he said and popped Timbra soundly on the ass. “You’re the
only one here with a problem.” He turned from me, dismissing me well before I
was through.
“Listen,
asshole,” I yelled to be heard above the music. “She’s had too much to realize
what you’re up to. But I haven’t. You and her,” I flicked my finger back and
forth between them, “not happening. She’s in love with someone else.”
“I’m
not looking for love, darlin’, just a little lovin’.” He was
behind Timbra, and banded one arm above her chest, the other at her hips, and
pulled her tightly into his body. He stuck his head to her hair and breathed
deeply before lowering his mouth to the back of her neck. He stared at me as he
pressed his lewd lips to her, daring me to do something about it.
I
was steaming mad. At him. At his audacity. And furious with Timbra for getting
herself into the situation. I had just lifted my hand to snatch her from his
grubby tentacles when I heard a growl from the door so low and menacing it made
the hair on my arms stand up. The warning was audible even over the music, and
every eye in the place shot to the door.
When
I saw what stood at the bar’s entrance I gasped and involuntarily stepped away,
though the beast was nowhere near me.
A
vicious dog the size of a sofa stood nearly to the shoulders of the people at
the bar. Even in the low light I could see that its golden hair was ruffled at
the neck, a clear indicator of its intent to attack. Those closest to the beast
scrambled away, clearing a better line of sight. Some crazy person approached
the maddened dog, and I shook my head back and forth, silently willing the
person not to go near it.
Surprise
suffused my spine like I’d suffered an electric shock. The person approaching
the beast was Ewan—which meant...the beast was Boone.
“Oh,
hell,” I breathed. “Oh, no.”
The
dog stalked toward us, his rumbled growls growing more ferocious with every
pace. When Octoman finally realized he was the one in the dog’s sights, he
threw his arms away from Timbra so dramatically it was almost comical. Almost.
The palpable pull of imminent danger sucked any humor from the space.
Boone’s
wide snarl revealed pointed teeth the size of small daggers. My every instinct
told me to run. Instead, I grabbed Timbra by the bicep and threw her behind me.
I’d never been around Boone’s animal form and he looked violent as hell. I
feared Timbra might bear the brunt of his fury. He was intent on Octoman,
though, and I breathed a little easier.
Mangled
words escaped Boone’s slathering mouth. “Hands. Off. My. Woman.”
The
dancing idiot had the nerve to smirk again. To taunt Boone. “She wasn’t
complaining.”
Boone
roared with fury, deafening those of us closest to him. It scared me. I admit
it. I began backing away and took Timbra with me. Timbra, who at that point
decided to clue in to her surroundings.
“Boone
Adder,” she admonished. “Stop barking, for gods’ sake. This is none of your
concern.”
His
eyes widened with outrage before he uttered a nearly imperceptible, “You.
Next.”
Ewan
had positioned himself between Boone and Octoman. Not his most brilliant move,
in my opinion.
“Let’s
go, darlin’,” Octoman said before running his arm around Timbra’s shoulders.
I
shook my head in disgust. I knew what came next. The guy was an obstinate fool.
He might just deserve an ass whooping, I thought.
With
a powerful thrust from his back legs, Boone launched himself toward the guy,
managing to knock both Ewan and Timbra to the side.
Boone
had Timbra’s suitor pinned for three seconds, snarling wetly in his face before
Octoman changed—not into an octopus, as I’d imagined—but into some sort of
half-crocodile, half-human combination. He used a thick armored tail to knock
Boone off him, then bolted upright on stumpy legs.
His
face, which had looked so natural in a snarl, elongated to house a fearsome row
of jagged teeth. He snapped them with force, and the crowd erupted in a mass
exodus from the bar. I looked to Ewan to see what we could do. Timbra still lay
on the floor, watching in awe as the two predators circled each other.
Searching for a weakness. Readying to attack. Ewan shook his head at me in a
direct warning to steer clear. I was on board with that program. Getting
between those two seemed a good way to lose a limb.
TEASERS:
Chapter 3
Timbra
Redfern was not only my suite mate at Radix Citadel for Supernatural Learning,
she was a valued friend. My best friend. That she had adorable furry ears and
knobby knees was of no consequence. We all have our little issues. Mine, of
course, was that I didn’t just turn furry; I also grew scales. Tough, armored
scales of auburn and copper covered my body when in one of my new-found animal
forms.
Also Chapter 3
“I’m
sorry for what I said,” he offered again. “It was crude.” Then he stood to his
full height, using the significant advantage to drive home his next point. “For
what it’s worth, I thought we had the potential for something legendary.” He
leaned in close to me, his breath a puff on my forehead beneath my scattered
hair. “And Stella?” he said, barely above a whisper as he ran a finger from the
top of my shoulder down my bare arm.
“Yes?”
I managed before a compulsory swallow.
I
still do.”
Chapter 12
“Don’t go there again,” I said. “We’ve
already been through this. Our relationship is none of your business. Don’t say
something out of jealousy you’ll regret.”
“Jealousy?” He balked, his bold eyes alight
with emotion. “It’s not jealousy that I feel about it, Stella. It’s anger. It’s
profound outrage that he took something that belongs to me. And righteous
indignation that you gave it away.”
I was stunned silent at the truth behind
his words. He meant it. Flutters of forbidden pleasure scrambled up my spine
and filled me with a sick satisfaction. It was a visceral response to his bold
claim. Damn him.
Chapter 24
My lips quivered and my despair threatened
to take me down with it. I sat up straighter. No. I would not break down again.
Never taking his gaze from mine, he rose
from the bed. He bent his knees, his back still straight and strong, and knelt
in front of me. I felt the warmth of his long arms as he pushed them along my
thighs and around my hips. He pulled me into him, forcing my legs on either
side of his waist. We were at eye level and he stared into mine as he slowly
shook his head.
“No,” he said and put the full force of his
gaze, of his powerful bearing, behind his words. “No. You’re Stella Stonewall
and that’s what matters. I’ve known who you are since first I laid eyes on you.
And I like it. Very much.” His voice rasped with emotion. “You’re determined,
and you work hard. You’re kind, generous. You’re the smartest person I know.
You’re good, Stella—I know that like I know myself.”
“You
don’t know what you’re saying,” I whispered and threw my arms around him. “I could be dangerous. And I’m not just
talking physically. Politically, too. Being known as my friend could mean
serious trouble for you.”
“Funny,” he said and kissed high on my
cheekbone where my tears had been moments before. “I forgot to add that you’re
funny.”
I let out a sad chuckle. “You confound me.
You absolutely blow my mind.”
About the Author:
Though she grew
up on a working cattle ranch, Jen Crane has been in love with fantasy and
science fiction since seeing a bootleg tape of Quantum Leap in the 90’s.
She has a
master’s degree, and solid work histories in government and non-profit
administration. One day, though, she said, “Life's too real for nonfiction. I’m gonna write about
love and magic.”
Jen is happily
living out her dream in The South with her husband and three children, striking
that delicate balance between inspiration and frustration.
Find Jen Crane online:
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/JenCrane
FaceBook:
https://www.facebook.com/JenCraneBooks
Twitter:
@JenCraneBooks
Instagram:
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Pinterest:
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Rare Form (Descended of Dragons, Book 1)
Blurb for eBook Giveaway - You need to leave a meaningful comment to win
Giveaway ends September 25
A Secret Past
Fiery redhead Stella Stonewall can’t decide between a margarita and a manhattan.
The rest of her life? Please. Stella has never really fit in, and her pretty world comes crashing down when she learns it was never her world at all.
Rowan Gresham is domineering, brooding, and as sexy as chocolate-dipped sin. When he transports Stella to the magical realm of her parents she recognizes her rightful place immediately. Gresham’s motivations are less clear.
A Scorching Chemistry
The enigmatic Gresham aids in Stella’s metamorphosis and their chemistry ignites, though a long-time girlfriend and a significant age difference stand in the way.
A Battle for the Rest of Her Life
Stella’s life fast-tracks to extraordinary when she enrolls at Radix Citadel for Supernatural Learning, an enchanted college whose students turn furry on the regular. As Stella learns to navigate the magical new world of Thayer she must also find her animal form, a task as elusive as her ancestry. Stella soon faces an even greater challenge: staying alive long enough to learn to manipulate an animal form she never knew she possessed.
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