Excerpt + Giveaway: The Claiming Words by Tricia Drammeh

The Claiming Words

by Tricia Drammeh

Published by: Iconic Publishing

Formats: paperback, kindle, 233 pages

 The Alexanders have always kept their secrets hidden…

When sixteen-year-old Jace Alexander moves to the small town of Oaktree, Georgia, he attracts the attention of every girl in school. Shy, introverted Alisa Cole immediately casts Jace in the leading role of her latest fantasy, but she assumes he’ll never return her interest. After she saves Jace from a Hunter, everything changes. Her accidental discovery of Jace’s secret propels her into a world of magic and danger. Alisa’s newfound courage is put to the test when Jace introduces her to his intimidating older brother,Bryce, and she decides she would rather battle a Hunter than endure another moment under Bryce’s intense scrutiny.

Jace and Bryce aren’t the only ones with secrets…

Rachel Stevens is the girl who has it all. She’s beautiful,
popular, and in possession of an ancient power which endangers not only her, but those sent to protect her. Jace is drawn to Rachel—and he isn’t the only one. The Demon Re’Vel will do anything to claim her—even if it means waging a war with the entire Alexander family. As layers of secrets are peeled away, revealing the truth of her heritage and her family’s betrayal, Rachel struggles to resist an immortal suitor who stalks her in her dreams. With the Alexanders fighting to protect her, can Rachel escape the power of the Demon and his Claiming Words?

-Goodreads Summary

Hi ya'll!  I have a very special treat for everyone today!  Tricia Drammeh was kind enough to send us an excerpt of her new  YA paranormal romance book, The Claiming Words, for all of my great readers here. (You can see my review of it here.)   But that isn't all!  Nope, not by a long shot!  Ms. Drammeh was also kind to offer up a signed paperback to one lucky winner.  This giveaway is open to everyone, including our international readers, so Good luck to everybody!  Rafflecopter is at the very end of the post.

Excerpt:

I sat alone at the back of the lunchroom and picked at the unrecognizable food on my lunch tray. A sudden wind lifted the wisps of hair at the nape of my neck, and in an instant, the hottest guy in our school pulled up a chair to sit next to me.

“What are you doing here?” I blurted, gaping at Jace.

“Do you mind if I sit next to you?” he asked, gesturing at the four empty chairs grouped around the table where we sat.

“You don’t have to,” I said.

“That’s good to know. What is this crap?” The fact that he couldn’t identify the food before him didn’t seem to dampen his appetite. He shoved forkfuls into his mouth, and I cringed as he devoured the mystery meat. Jace chatted in between bites as if it were perfectly normal to be sitting there with me. I felt like I should tell him he was off the hook—that he didn’t have to pretend to like me just because he thought I’d saved his life.

“Hey, aren’t you eating?” he asked. I shook my head, and he attacked my food with gusto. “My brother and I will pick you up for dinner tonight.”

I shivered as I recalled Bryce’s penetrating, cold stare. “I can walk. I like walking.”

“Yeah, but still. It may not be safe,” he insisted, glancing around the cafeteria to make sure no one was watching. They were. Everyone was staring. Jace leaned in closer, and I shivered. “You need protection.”

“Your brother said I’m not the one they’re looking for. What does that mean?” I asked, shocking myself. Ordinarily, I let others ask the questions, but my curiosity couldn’t be contained.

“Shhh. We’ll talk about it later. So, do you want to come over right after school?”

“I don’t know if I can. I mean, I didn’t ask…” I stammered. “My mom’s picking me up today…”

“Just make sure she lets you come over tonight.” His smile stole my breath away and I nodded in agreement. “Let me know if you need help convincing her, because I can be very persuasive,” he claimed. I blushed and glanced away. I imagined he could persuade me to do nearly anything.

Jace continued eating and talking to me as if it were the most natural thing in the world. He didn’t act martyred or uncomfortable. I briefly entertained the idea that perhaps Jace actually saw me as a real person. I’d barely said a word to him, and yet he continued an almost one-sided conversation until the bell rang.

As I scurried nervously from the lunchroom, Jace finished up the last couple of morsels of food on my tray. “Hey, Alisa,” Jace practically shouted across the still full lunchroom. “I’ll see you tonight.”

I nodded to indicate I’d heard him, and then made my hasty retreat. I was painfully aware that half the school was watching me as I rushed to my next class. If he continued to associate with me, he’d better be prepared to join me in the cesspool of Cooper High gossip. I hoped he wouldn’t choose his budding popularity over our newly established friendship. I was tired of being alone.

Author Bio: Tricia Drammeh is a wife and a mother of four children. Although she currently lives in Missouri, she has called many places home, including Georgia, Ohio, and California. She’s worked in retail, customer service, sales, and accounting, but writing has always been her dream career. When she isn’t writing, she enjoys reading, drinking vast amounts of coffee, and spending time with her family and the multitude of animals who have taken over her home. Tricia is currently working on her sixth novel

Wanna contact Tricia Drammeh?  Here are a few ways to do that:

The Claiming Words website

Tricia Drammeh website

Tricia's Blog: http://www.blog.triciadrammeh.com/

Facebook | Amazon | Goodreads

a Rafflecopter giveaway