Athena's Secrets
by Donna Del Oro
GENRE: romantic suspense w/ESP elements
BLURB:
What if you could read minds with just a touch? Would you be
able to trust anyone?
Athena Butler, the twenty-year-old descendant of an ancient
bloodline of psychics, yearns to lead a normal life. She wants a career, a
boyfriend, independence. Her clairvoyant gift, however, has taught her that
people can be false and dangerous. Although warned to keep her powers a secret,
she's recruited by law enforcement to help search for a serial killer and
uncover a terrorist cell.
She bonds with an intriguing, handsome man, Kas Skoros, who
knows her secret and accepts it. Of the same bloodline, his mother is
precognitive and predicts that they are meant to be together…some day. Kas,
military veteran and Search and Rescue deputy, is skeptical and cynical-- life
is too uncertain--but can't resist exploring his passion for Athena. Yet there
are obstacles beyond their control.
Can Kas overcome these obstacles? Can Athena stay alive long
enough to fulfill her dream?
EXCERPT:
Kas pointed at one of these gravel paths that led through a
thicket of oak trees. He seemed to observe how Spartacus was glued to Athena’s
side, his tongue flopping out happily, and his tail wagging excitedly.
“We’re pals,” she said.
Kas led her down the back terrace steps to the gravel path
behind a row of shrubs surrounding the pool and patio. They’d have to cross
twenty acres—about a half-mile, Kas said—to the family’s boat dock.
“I know,” she said, “Alex already took us out in the boat.”
Kas gazed at her with a speculative look. “Women like Alex. He’s
the family charmer. Guess he stole your heart, too.”
“Hardly. I’ve grown wary of men who’re too charming.” Athena
smiled, bent over and rubbed behind the German shepherd’s pointed black ears
until he almost purred with pleasure. Kas looked surprised.
“He usually takes a long time to warm up to people.”
Athena scratched under the German shepherd’s long jaw. “Like his
master, I suppose. We became friends yesterday during the ski boat ride.
Spartacus told me a lot about you and how he feels about you. You’re his sun
and moon, his alpha and omega. He showed me all the things you do together.”
Kas halted on the path. “You read my dog’s mind?”
She didn’t mean for her tone to be so defensive, but out it
came. “Well, yeah. It’s what I do. I was holding him in the boat. He doesn’t
think in words, of course, but the visual imagery and feelings were there.”
He shot her a crooked smile, then slapped a palm against his
thigh, a signal for Spartacus to heel at his side. The dog looked over at his
master, back at Athena, gave a whine, and reluctantly moved away from her.
He mock-growled at his dog, which caused Spartacus to perk up
his ears. Something was going on with these two-legged humans but the dog
didn’t know what.
“That’s for being a traitor, boy. Telling this girl our
secrets.”
Athena grinned. “Don’t worry, he didn’t reveal secrets about any
of your girlfriends. I don’t think Spartacus knows or cares about that.”
“C’mon, boy.” Kas
beckoned as Spartacus rubbed his fur against his master’s leg.
“You’re something else, Athena,” he added, “You’re here three
days, and already stealing my dog. But you don’t want Alex? Most women I see
hate my dog but crush on Alex. You’re a strange one.”
She almost tripped. Somehow his words both pleased and stung
her. “Strange, huh? Well, I don’t think I want to be friends with you after
all.”
He snorted but kept on walking, leading her down the path. “No
danger of that happening. I don’t make friends with tall, pretty blondes,
especially if they have ESP.”
He thinks I’m pretty.
That thought unsettled her more than she wanted to admit.
“Because of your mother’s precog dream? She saw you ending up
with a tall blonde?”
“Maybe. She said the tall blonde would have the gifts of the
ancient Greek priestesses. That kind of narrows it down, doesn’t it? But hell,
no one tells me what my future’s going to be, not even my own mother.” He
stopped and fixed his gaze on her face. “Anyway, by strange I meant unique,
special. What you, your mother, my mother have—this bloodline of females is
extraordinary. You need to be protected.” He looked away and continued walking.
“Alex and I do what we can for Mom. We guard her secret. We don’t let the
outside world exploit her. Your mother has her husband. I suppose you’ll have
to find a protector, too.” Kas looked down at Spartacus, who was trotting
alongside. Athena heard his implied message: Don’t expect me to be him.
“Yes,” she said, her chin up, “perhaps. Right now I can protect
myself.”
AUTHOR BIO:
Donna Del Oro lives in Northern California with her husband and
three cats. She taught high school and community college English classes for
30+ years and is now happily retired. When not writing novels or reading
voraciously, she travels and sings with the medal winning Sacramento Valley
Chorus.
Donna is a member of Capitol Crimes, the Sacramento chapter of
Sisters in Crime in addition to the Valleyrose chapter of the RWA. She has
judged RITA entries and does developmental editing on the side. Two of her
novels, Operation Familia and Born To Sing, have won national and international
awards.
Follow clairvoyant artist Athena Butler in the next book in The
Delphi Bloodline series: ATHENA’S QUEST.
Giveaway:
A print copy of Operation Familia or Born to Sing.
Follow the tour and comment; the more you comment, the better
your chances of winning.
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