Tuesday, November 26, 2013

Excerpt: The Curse Keepers by Denise Grover Swank



The wall between our world and that of vengeful spirits has protected humanity for more than 400 years. It’s about to come crashing down.
Ellie Lancaster has lived her whole life by the site of the mysterious Lost Colony of Roanoke, the Virginia settlement that vanished without a trace around 1590. Only the descendants of the two men who banished the spirits of an enemy tribe from the material realm know what really happened to the colony. Ellie is one of those descendants—a Curse Keeper. Her father took pains to teach her what he knew of the curse and the responsibilities of its guardians. He taught her that if the two Curse Keepers ever meet, the curse will be lifted, the gate will open, and the raging Native American spirits will be unleashed to seek their revenge.

Despite her father’s seriousness, Ellie has always taken the legend for a harmless fairy tale. Until she meets the darkly handsome, but downright infuriating, Collin Dailey and realizes everything she was told is true. For when they meet, it’s like the air is sucked from the room. Collin’s presence is electrifying… and it’s not just attraction Ellie feels, but the inexorable pull toward her destiny. The prophecy is real, and now Ellie and Collin must battle supernatural forces and their loathing—and passion—for each other to set things right.

The Curse Keepers are all that stand between the world and its destruction.

EXCERPT: Collin gritted his teeth and turned to Marino, the veins on his neck bulging. “I’m waiting 

for her outside this door, and if I get the slightest inclination she doesn’t want to be here, I’m 

coming in to get her.”

Marino laughed and waved his hand to the door. “The time starts as soon as you leave.”

Collin stood with his hand on the doorknob, searching my face. 

Go I mouthed, my back still to Marino.

Collin stormed out and slammed the door shut behind him, and the force caused a faded 

picture with dogs playing poker to shake against the wall. 

I spun around, my heart hammering a staccato of fear. “My two minutes starts now.”

“No need to worry, Ellie. I only want to talk. I’m curious.”

Talking was good. I could do talking. “About what?” 

“What is Collin Dailey’s interest in you?”

“It’s a family thing.”

“You’re related then? You’re not together?”

“Not exactly.”

“Not exactly to which question?”

“Both.”

He grinned and moved closer. “You’re telling me that you’re not fucking Dailey?”

I flinched. “That’s a rude way to put it.”

“Ellie, Collin only fucks women. He never gets into a relationship with them, and he sure 

as hell never loves them. So why is he so protective of you?”

None of what Marino said surprised me, but his bluntness caught me off guard. “I told 

you. It’s a family thing. He feels obligated.”

Marino shook his head. “The only person Collin Dailey feels obligated to is Collin 

Dailey. If he’s not fucking you, and he’s keeping you with him, then you must have something 

he considers valuable.”

While that was true, I was sure Marino would never guess what Collin really wanted, and 

I wasn’t going to be the one to tell him.

“One minute,” Collin shouted through the door.

Marino turned his head to the side, narrowing his eyes. “Fascinating.” Excitement filled 

his eyes.

My breath hung in my throat. “What?”

“The man outside that door is not behaving like the man I know. Why?”

“I have no idea. He’s only helping me sell my candlesticks.”

He laughed. “You’re liar. A good one, but Collin gives you away. If he wants you so 

badly, that makes you incredibly desirable.” He reached his hand to my cheek and slid it down to 

my throat.

I took a step backward. “You think he loves me?”

He laughed again. “Hell no. I told you Collin doesn’t love women. He’s only capable of 

loving himself, but you have something that he’ll risk his own life for and that, my darling, is 

intriguing. I want to know what it is.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Dropping his hand, he studied me again. “I think you do. This is about the Ricardo deal, 

isn’t it?” 

My eyes widened in surprise. What was he talking about?

Marino’s grin spread across his face. “I knew it.”

The door burst open and Collin filled the doorway. “Time’s up. Let’s go, Ellie.”
ABOUT Denise Grover Swank:

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Denise Grover Swank was born in Kansas City, Missouri and lived in the area until she was nineteen. Then she became a nomadic gypsy, living in five cities, four states and ten houses over the course of ten years before she moved back to her roots. She speaks English and smattering of Spanish and Chinese which she learned through an intensive Nick Jr. immersion period.  Her hobbies include witty Facebook comments (in own her mind) and dancing in her kitchen with her children. (Quite badly if you believe her offspring.)  Hidden talents include the gift of justification and the ability to drink massive amounts of caffeine and still fall asleep within two minutes. Her lack of the sense of smell allows her to perform many unspeakable tasks.  She has six children and hasn’t lost her sanity. Or so she leads you to believe.

You can find out more about Denise and her other books at www.denisegroverswank.com.

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