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Alana Joli Abbott ([personal profile] alanajoli) wrote2012-05-11 10:09 am

Guest Blog: Jennifer Estep (an excerpt)

I big welcome back to Jennifer Estep! Jennifer's Mythos Academy series is continuing with Dark Frost, which releases on May 29. As the first stop on her blog tour, we've got an excerpt from that book -- she'll post an additional excerpt on May 23rd at Young Adult Book Reviews, so check it out!

Jennifer's also offered a US ONLY giveaway of a print copy of Dark Frost. To enter, make a comment below; you can earn an extra entry if you tweet a link to this post and tell us about it in the comments. Posts and tweets must be in by midnight EST on Monday May 14. We'll announce the winner on Tuesday the 15th. And now, without further ado, here's Jennifer!



--

“Is Logan here with you?” I couldn’t keep the hope out of my voice.

Nickamedes had opened his mouth when a voice interrupted him.

“Right here, Gypsy girl.” A low voice sent chills down my spine.

My heart pounding, I slowly turned around. Logan Quinn stood behind me.

Thick, wavy, ink black hair, intense ice blue eyes, a confident smile. My breath caught in my throat as I looked at Logan, and my heart sped up, beating with such force that I was sure he could hear it.

Logan wore jeans and a dark blue sweater topped by a black leather jacket. The clothes were designer, of course, since the Spartan was just as rich as all the other academy kids. But even if he’d been dressed in rags, I still would have noticed the lean strength of his body and his broad, muscled shoulders. Yeah, Logan totally rocked the bad-boy look, and he had the man-whore reputation to match. One of the rumors that kept going around the academy was that Logan signed the mattresses of every girl he slept with, just so he could keep track of them all.

I’d never quite figured out if the rumors were true or not, or how Logan would even manage to do that in the first place. Sure, I’d touched the Spartan and flashed on him with my psychometry, but I’d mostly seen his fighting skills, since that’s what Logan had been thinking about and what I had needed to tap into at the time. I didn’t know how many girls Logan had dated, but the rumors didn’t matter that much to me because the Spartan was just a really, really great guy. Smart, strong, funny, charming, caring. Then, of course, there was the whole saving-my-life-multiple-times thing. Kind of hard not to like a guy when he kept get you from getting killed by Reapers and eaten by Nemean prowlers.

Logan’s eyes dropped to my throat and the necklace I wore there—the one he’d given me before school had let out for Christmas. Six silver strands wrapped around my throat, creating the necklace, while the diamond-tipped points joined together to form a simple, yet elegant snowflake in the center of the strands. The beautiful necklace looked like something a goddess would wear. I thought it was far too pretty and delicate for me, but I loved it just the same.

“You’re wearing the necklace,” the Spartan said in a low voice.

“Every day since you gave it to me,” I said. “I hardly ever take it off.”

Logan smiled at me, and it was like the sun had erupted from a sky full of storm clouds. For a moment everything was just—perfect.

Then Nickamedes cleared his throat, popping the bubble of happiness I’d been about to float away on. A sour expression twisted the librarian’s face as he looked back and forth between his nephew and me.

“Well, if you’ll excuse me, the museum’s closing soon, and I need to make sure the staff is ready to start packing up the items for transport back to the academy in the morning.”

Nickamedes pivoted on his wingtips and strode out of the weapons room without another word. I sighed. Yeah, I might not be the most dedicated worker, but I always felt like there was another reason that Nickamedes hated me. He’d pretty much disliked me on sight, and I had no idea why.

I put the librarian and his bad attitude out of mind and focused on Logan. He’d texted me a few times over the holiday break, but I’d still missed him like crazy—especially since I had no idea what was going on between us. Not too long ago, we’d shared what I thought was the kiss to end all kisses, but he hadn’t exactly declared his love for me in the meantime—or even asked me out on a real date. Instead, we’d been in this weird holding pattern for weeks—one that I was determined to end.

I drew in a breath, ready to ask Logan how his winter break had been and what was going to happen between us now. “Logan, I—”

Shouts and screams ripped through the air, drowning out my words.

I froze, wondering if I’d only imagined the harsh, jarring sounds. Why would someone be shouting in the museum? A second later, more screams sounded, followed by several loud crashes and the heavy thump-thump-thump of footsteps.

Logan and I looked at each other, then bolted for the door. Daphne and Carson had also heard the screams, and they raced along right behind us.

“Stop! Stop! Stop!” Daphne hissed.

She managed to grab my arm and the back of Logan’s leather jacket just before the Spartan sprinted out of the room. With her great Valkyrie strength, she was easily able to yank both of us back.

“You don’t know what’s going on—or who might be out there,” Daphne warned.

Logan glared at her, but after a moment, he reluctantly nodded. I did the same, and Daphne loosened her grip on us. Together in a tight knot, the four of us crept up to the doorway and peeked through to the other side.

BIO INFO:

Jennifer Estep is a New York Times bestselling author. Jennifer writes the Mythos Academy young adult urban fantasy series for Kensington. Dark Frost, the third book, will be released on May 29. Touch of Frost and Kiss of Frost are the other books in the series. Visit www.jenniferestep.com for excerpts and more information about her books.

Guest Blog: Jennifer Estep (an excerpt)

[identity profile] jenea whittington (from livejournal.com) 2012-05-11 02:33 pm (UTC)(link)
I really enjoyed this series so far. Can't wait to read this one as well.

Jenea W.
www.booksliveforever.com

[identity profile] jenniferestep.livejournal.com 2012-05-11 04:25 pm (UTC)(link)
Thanks! I appreciate that. Glad you are enjoying the series, and I hope you like DARK FROST too.

Guest Blog: Jennifer Estep (an excerpt)

[identity profile] tiffany douglas (from livejournal.com) 2012-05-11 05:04 pm (UTC)(link)
I started with the Elemental Assassin series and continued on to the Mythos Academy and have been sucked into each world and loved every minute. I can't wait for more!

[identity profile] jenniferestep.livejournal.com 2012-05-11 06:21 pm (UTC)(link)
Thanks! I appreciate that. Glad you are enjoying both of my series. There are also several free short stories on the Excerpts page of my website if you haven't read those yet.

Guest Blog: Jennifer Estep (an excerpt)

[identity profile] amy zheng (from livejournal.com) 2012-05-11 09:18 pm (UTC)(link)
Ahhh! I'm so excited. I loved your Elemental Assassins series! I cant't wait for this to come out and read it. ^.^

Re: Guest Blog: Jennifer Estep (an excerpt)

[identity profile] alanajoli.livejournal.com 2012-05-16 06:52 pm (UTC)(link)
Congratulations, Amy, the random number generator picked you! (It must have been your turn -- I know you've done several of the last contests here!)

Please send your shipping address to alanajoli at virgilandbeatrice dot com and I'll send it on to Jennifer! Thanks so much for entering the contest -- and spreading the word!

I CAN'T WAIT!

[identity profile] cathy melon cat guo (from livejournal.com) 2012-05-11 10:27 pm (UTC)(link)
wow i'm obsessed with your Mythos Academy and Elemental Assassin series :) the stories sucked me in on the first page and i finished every book in one sitting xD this was over vacation of course. i can't wait to read Dark Frost!

Re: I CAN'T WAIT!

[identity profile] amy zheng (from livejournal.com) 2012-05-11 10:28 pm (UTC)(link)
cathy really.... -.-

[identity profile] amy zheng (from livejournal.com) 2012-05-11 10:40 pm (UTC)(link)
i posted it to facebook also :P

[identity profile] caitlin usignol (from livejournal.com) 2012-05-11 11:28 pm (UTC)(link)
I really can't wait for this one. Reading the excerpt makes me want it sooner!

[identity profile] jenniferestep.livejournal.com 2012-05-11 11:52 pm (UTC)(link)
Amy -- Thanks! Hope you enjoy DARK FROST.

Cathy -- Thanks! Glad you are enjoying my series.

Caito45 -- Thanks! Glad you are looking forward to the book.

[identity profile] jennifer l. bielman (from livejournal.com) 2012-05-12 09:00 am (UTC)(link)
I want this book so bad. I really love this series.
autumnflower6ATaolDOTcom

[identity profile] caro marie (from livejournal.com) 2012-05-12 01:05 pm (UTC)(link)
i can't wait to read dark frost! the mythos academy series is what got me started on the elemental assassin series & now i can't decide which series is my favorite!
cberthelot61@yahoo.com

[identity profile] amy zheng (from livejournal.com) 2012-05-12 10:10 pm (UTC)(link)
I also posted it on twitter :)

Dark Frost giveaway

[identity profile] monarch29.livejournal.com 2012-05-13 01:48 am (UTC)(link)
I really like the Mythos Academy series. It’s not every day that you find a mythology genre book—especially for YA—written this good. Jennifer Estep is definitely one of my favorite authors. I can’t wait till Dark Frost comes out. :)

[identity profile] jenniferestep.livejournal.com 2012-05-14 12:43 pm (UTC)(link)
Jennifer -- Thanks! I appreciate that. Hope you enjoy the book when it comes out.

Caro Marie -- Thanks! Glad you are enjoying both of my series.

Mont4_A -- Thanks! I appreciate all the nice words about the books.

Dark Frost giveaway

[identity profile] stay cee (from livejournal.com) 2012-05-15 12:12 am (UTC)(link)
Jennifer, you're amazing...which I feel is an understatement. I love your Mythos Academy and Elemental Assassin series! Please keep writing!! :D

stacey (dot) marin (at) laverne (dot) edu

Re: Dark Frost giveaway

[identity profile] jenniferestep.livejournal.com 2012-05-16 12:24 pm (UTC)(link)
Stay -- Thanks! That's so nice of you to say. I appreciate all the nice words about my books.