About SWEET UNREST:
A world where souls walk free and dreams become portals to the past…
Lucy Aimes has always been practical. But even her rational mind can't explain her dark and familiar dreams of a time long ago, filled with people she shouldn't know, but does. When her family moves to New Orleans, Lucy's dreams suddenly become more intense. Reluctantly drawn into the old city's mystical undercurrent, she searches for answers about the nighttime visions that haunt her.
What Lucy finds is Alex, a mysterious boy who behaves as if they've known each other forever. They've only just met, and she shouldn't be drawn to him, but she is. As she tries to unlock Alex's secrets, a killer strikes close to home and a century-old vendetta unspools, putting Lucy and everyone she loves in mortal danger.
Buy Links:Amazon | BN | Flux | Book Depository | Indiebound
Excerpt
My dad gave a shrill whistle to get everyone’s attention. After introducing himself, he launched into his plans for the property, the new developments that would be coming, and some of the changes the University was going to make so the plantation would become more than just another tourist trap on the River Road.
I couldn’t help but grin as I watched him go on and on. He had been waiting for an opportunity like this since before I was born, and I could tell by the way his whole body seemed to come alive as he talked, he was finally where he needed to be. My own discomfort for the summer, I realized, was a small price to pay for the happiness we were giving him.
I lifted my camera to document the moment, but as I centered him in the viewfinder, my vision blurred, and for a moment, the picture changed. My dad’s mop of reddish hair and lanky body shifted into someone else, someone broader and darker with hooded eyes and a tight, angry mouth. I blinked and the scene shifted back. Dizzy from the vision, I put the camera down and stared at my dad again, but everything was as it should be. The sun was hot and the sky was a clear blue, but a feeling of dread still pricked across my skin. I shook my head to clear it and then I looked over the crowd to see if I could find any better shots to distract myself from the strange sensation that had washed over me.
That’s when I saw him.
He was standing slightly apart from the rest of the employees, leaning against one of the ancient, tangled oaks that lined the wide alley leading up to the main house. Maybe it was the way he held himself, apart and confident, but where most of the other guys in the crowd wore the styles of an earlier century like kids playing dress up, this guy’s clothing seemed to suit him.
And then I really looked at his face, and my breath caught in my throat. Above sculpted cheekbones, his eyes were fringed by dark, thick lashes that softened his otherwise angular face. His lazy tumble of honey-colored hair glinted like molten gold in the sun. He had an almost aristocratic beauty. It might have been a cold beauty, but the warm glow of his sun-bronzed skin balanced the rest of his features.
But he was tense. The way the slash of his mouth was set in a hard line over his strong, sharp chin was completely at odds with the way he casually lounged against the tree. Occasionally, his eyes would tighten in what might have been anger...or maybe pain. I wondered what it was that put such a dangerous look on his face.
Then he looked up and saw me, and our eyes locked. And I felt my world shift. I couldn’t look away from him. His face softened then. The tension left his jaw, his lips parted slightly, and he tilted his head to the side as he examined me. He seemed confused, like he was trying to put together a difficult puzzle as his gaze swept slowly over my body—down my rumpled outfit to my worn shoes and then back up again. His eyes narrowed as they met mine again. I was about to turn away, uncomfortable under his scrutiny, but all at once, his eyes—a green so vibrant and true that the color was clear even from that distance—danced with amusement.
Embarrassed to be caught starring, and even more embarrassed by the laughter in his eyes, I turned away so I could breathe again. I willed my heart to slow back down, took a few deep breaths to steady myself, and turned back.
But he was gone.
I couldn’t help but grin as I watched him go on and on. He had been waiting for an opportunity like this since before I was born, and I could tell by the way his whole body seemed to come alive as he talked, he was finally where he needed to be. My own discomfort for the summer, I realized, was a small price to pay for the happiness we were giving him.
I lifted my camera to document the moment, but as I centered him in the viewfinder, my vision blurred, and for a moment, the picture changed. My dad’s mop of reddish hair and lanky body shifted into someone else, someone broader and darker with hooded eyes and a tight, angry mouth. I blinked and the scene shifted back. Dizzy from the vision, I put the camera down and stared at my dad again, but everything was as it should be. The sun was hot and the sky was a clear blue, but a feeling of dread still pricked across my skin. I shook my head to clear it and then I looked over the crowd to see if I could find any better shots to distract myself from the strange sensation that had washed over me.
That’s when I saw him.
He was standing slightly apart from the rest of the employees, leaning against one of the ancient, tangled oaks that lined the wide alley leading up to the main house. Maybe it was the way he held himself, apart and confident, but where most of the other guys in the crowd wore the styles of an earlier century like kids playing dress up, this guy’s clothing seemed to suit him.
And then I really looked at his face, and my breath caught in my throat. Above sculpted cheekbones, his eyes were fringed by dark, thick lashes that softened his otherwise angular face. His lazy tumble of honey-colored hair glinted like molten gold in the sun. He had an almost aristocratic beauty. It might have been a cold beauty, but the warm glow of his sun-bronzed skin balanced the rest of his features.
But he was tense. The way the slash of his mouth was set in a hard line over his strong, sharp chin was completely at odds with the way he casually lounged against the tree. Occasionally, his eyes would tighten in what might have been anger...or maybe pain. I wondered what it was that put such a dangerous look on his face.
Then he looked up and saw me, and our eyes locked. And I felt my world shift. I couldn’t look away from him. His face softened then. The tension left his jaw, his lips parted slightly, and he tilted his head to the side as he examined me. He seemed confused, like he was trying to put together a difficult puzzle as his gaze swept slowly over my body—down my rumpled outfit to my worn shoes and then back up again. His eyes narrowed as they met mine again. I was about to turn away, uncomfortable under his scrutiny, but all at once, his eyes—a green so vibrant and true that the color was clear even from that distance—danced with amusement.
Embarrassed to be caught starring, and even more embarrassed by the laughter in his eyes, I turned away so I could breathe again. I willed my heart to slow back down, took a few deep breaths to steady myself, and turned back.
But he was gone.
About the Author: Lisa Maxwell is the author of Sweet Unrest (Flux, Fall 2014) and Heartless Things (Simon Pulse, Spring 2016). She has a PhD in English, and when she's not writing books, she’s a professor at a local college. She lives near DC with her very patient husband and two not-so patient boys.
Social Media Links:
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Fourteeners | One Four Kid Lit
Thanks for hosting me!
ReplyDeleteYour readers can also get glimpse of this scene from Alex's perspective on the YA Scavenger Hunt from today until Sunday! http://surrenderdorothy.typepad.com/
This looks like a cool book. I can't tell if it's fantasy or mystery, but I like the whole voodoo theme. :)
ReplyDeleteI like that it is different theme not the 'usual'. This will be on my TBR list
ReplyDeleteGreat book and giveaway!
ReplyDeleteAdded to my TBR! :)
ReplyDeleteThis one sounds good!
ReplyDeleteooo, i like the sounds and the setting of this one. adding it to my want list.
ReplyDeleteI really like the cover of this book and it sounds like a good one :)
ReplyDeleteChanzie @ Mean Who You Are.
I love the cover of this one, and it sounds soooo good! Thanks for the giveaway as well!
ReplyDeleteOooh, this sounds good. It reminds me of The Archived a little bit :) Plus, art is preeetty :)
ReplyDeleteInteresting excerpt
ReplyDeleteI loved the synopsis and really enjoyed the excerpt. Looking forward to reading and definitely added to my wishlist. Thank you for sharing with us.
ReplyDeleteWhat a fascinating book! Thanks for sharing the great excerpt.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing the book and introducing the author to me.
ReplyDelete