Blurb:
Joclyn Despain has a scar. In fact, it is almost like a
brand on her skin. She doesn’t know why it appeared on her neck, but she
doesn’t want anyone to see it, including her best friend Ryland, who knows
everything else about her. The scar is the reason she hides herself behind
baggy clothes, and won’t let the idea of kissing Ryland enter her mind, no
matter how much she wants to.
The scar is the reason she is being hunted.
If only she knew that she was.
If only she had known that the cursed stone her estranged
father sent for her 16th birthday would trigger a change in her.
Now, she is being stalked by a tall blonde man, and is miraculously throwing
her high school bully ten feet in the air.
Joclyn attempts to find some answers and the courage to
follow her heart. When Ryland finds her scar; but he knows what it means, and
who will kill her because of it.
Excerpt:
“I better get
going to class,” Wyn said, without looking away from me.
I watched her as
she turned to leave, ratty shoulder bag draped across her back. I wanted to run
after her, explain why everything upset me, and explain about Ryland and my dad
and everything. But, I couldn’t make myself move.
Wyn took a step
to the side, leaving a break in the small group of students leaving the
cafeteria. That small movement gave me a clear view of the door, and the blonde
man standing next to it.
I looked away
from Wyn’s retreating back to meet the stare of bright, blue eyes. My stomach
clenched in fear as his gaze bored into mine in a glance so intense I felt the
blood drain from my face. All the times I had seen him, I had felt
uncomfortable, like I was being stalked, and, this time was no different.
Except, now I knew without a doubt that he was following me. My frantic heart
felt like it was going to beat right out of my chest.
The man leaned
forward, his back arching him forward. His eyes narrowed as he continued to
stare into me. A shiver wound its way up my spine causing me to gasp for a
breath I hadn’t remembered holding. At my sudden intake, a coy little half
smile spread across his face as if he enjoyed it. My stomach clenched in even
further terror, my mind casting away any thoughts of what that smile could
mean. I didn’t want to know. He continued to stare into me before releasing me
as he turned to walk out of the cafeteria.
I didn’t dare
move, even though class had already started and I was left alone with the
janitorial staff and the smell of ammonia. I continued to stare at the vacant
door as the edge of fear ebbed away and my spine started to relax. I shouldn’t
be so worked-up over one random man staring at me, even though he had been
following me. But it could be anything right?
At the age of five Joclyn was bitten by something that sent her into a coma after experiencing tremendous pain. After almost six months she woke with only one side effect of the bite. A small raised red scar like a brand with a black mark in the middle. Since then she has wanted to do nothing but to disappear. Instead she did the best she could to hide the mark behind her ear on her neck by wearing baggy clothes and long hair hanging over it. She blames the mark for her fathers disappearance. Her parents argued about the significance of the mark. Then one night the arguements stopped and Joclyn woke to find her father had left.
Now she's almost sixteen and her mom works for the scrooge from hell. Fortunately the Devil's son is little piece of heaven named Ryland. He's her best friend but in 3 months he's supposed to leave for college. With time running out their hearts start feel the pressure. But their love and friendship is forbidden by Ryland's father. Ryland realizes what he wants most is to love Jos. Then he discovers her mark. Joclyn biggest fears become a reality as she loses Ryland because of the mark. She feels like everything leaves her because it. But the mystery of the Mark is now revealed. Her absent father returns, friends from school aren't who they appear to be, and Ryland's father is a bigger threat than she ever imagined. She's a Chosen Child, marked by the Kiss of a creature that resembles a small, winged dinasaur with a human like face. My heart breaks reading about the torture Ryland has had to endure at the hands of his father.
I loved this story. I wanted a different ending which means my heart is totally invested in the characters and reading the next book. You will love the mix of magic and romance and action. Your heart will swell and break as you read Kiss of Fire.
About the Author
Rebecca Ethington is a mother to two, foster mother to many, and wife to her best friend of 14 years. She was born and raised in the mountains of Salt Lake City, and hasn’t found the desire to leave yet. Her days are spent writing, running a travel agency, attending school full time and enjoying life with her amazing family.
Links:
Website: www.rebeccaethington.com
Twitter: @RebEthington
