I don’t know about you, but this week flew by for me. I was constantly busy, but still didn’t accomplish everything I’d planned. Anyhoo, it’s Friday, so that means another excerpt from The Insurgent! Release day is next week, and it’s really crept up on me. Today’s snippet is from Asher’s perspective. He’s in his private room in The Colony, and let’s just say things aren’t going his way. Everything and everyone he cares about have been ripped away. In a burst of anger, he’s trashed his room.

Asher

My legs collapsed, and I fell to my knees.  The throbbing in my head hammered against my skull.  Like my brain was trying to force its way out somehow.  It was agonizing, and my stomach twisted with nausea.  My lungs heaved, still short of oxygen.  I crawled over to what was left of the mattress and rolled onto it.   

I’m here.

Clutching my head, I searched the room for the source of the voice.  I still couldn’t see.  Someone could have easily slipped in while I destroyed the room. 

Give me control.

So close.  It was so close.  But where?

End your pain.

In my head.  The voice echoed in my head. 

It was him.  A36.

Through the crushing agony I gritted my teeth and struggled to force the word through my lips. 

“No.” 

But I felt him clawing his way out, inch by inch from the deep abyss inside me where I’d kept him imprisoned for my own sanity and the safety of others.

You have nothing left.

I squeezed my eyes shut and shook my head.  But he spoke the truth.  All that held me together were the scars of everything I’d lost.  Everyone I’d ever loved.  

And scars could be easily ripped open.

To preorder, go HERE. The Insurgent is also available for request on NetGalley through May 30th. As a heads up, Subject A36 (The Colony #1) will be on sale for $0.99 May 25th through May 27th, so if you haven’t had a chance to read it, here’s your opportunity to get started!

It’s Derby weekend! Which means a fun weekend of friends, parties, horses, and food – and Son #1 will be here. As a bonus, it’s Mother’s Day weekend so at least I’ll have one kid home. Happy Mother’s Day to all the mothers out there whether you’re a mom of children, fur babies, plants, etc.!

Today’s excerpt is from Brynn’s POV. She’s Asher’s longtime girlfriend and a fierce operative. In this scene she’s on a hostage rescue mission with her team. Things are going smoothly until A36 shows up, and they’re instructed to abort immediately. Brynn sends the team ahead of her while she tries to hold off A36 long enough for them to escape.

Luci gawked at me as if I were delusional before she turned and sprinted toward Mason and Naira.  I laid down a spray of bullets in front of A36, and he diverted his attention toward me.  From the corner of my eye, I saw my three team members move in the direction of the fence.  They were easy targets.  He could probably pick them off blindfolded based on sound alone. 

A36 cast a glance in their direction, and I put a bullet on the ground in front of him to remind him I was still here.  Keeping his gun trained on me, he stepped out from behind the shelter of the Jeep door and flashed me a wide smile.  A smile I knew well.  One that lit up my world and made even the worst of days a little brighter.  Only it wasn’t quite Asher’s smile.  This one was laced with malice and challenge.  It taunted me, dared me to take the shot.  A36 slid through the moonlight quietly like the predator he was, all hard angles and taut muscles.  Gone were the sandy blond waves he’d always tied back for missions, his hair now closely cropped. 

My hands trembled as I kept him in my sights.  What was I doing?  A lethal killer closed the distance between us every second, and I stood here waiting for what?  A tearful reunion?  No matter the certainty I felt deep down that he wouldn’t harm me, was I really willing to take that chance?  I could be dead in the next thirty seconds.

He was only fifteen feet away now, gun still raised, while I remained cloaked in the building’s shadow.  “You’re not even making this a challenge.  Where’s the fun in that?” He grinned as if this gave him great pleasure.  There wasn’t even a hint of recognition in his eyes or any sign A36 knew my identity.  I was a stranger to him. 

Preorder your copy HERE.

If you’re a NetGalley reviewer, The Insurgent preapproval link is HERE.

Happy Friday! You know what that means – It’s time for another excerpt from The Insurgent, and today’s is from Declan’s POV. Do we trust him? Should we not?

After passing more of the shallow vessels impersonating humans, I finally reached my office, swung open the door and halted.  Hairs rose on the back of my neck.

I was afraid to move a muscle. 

To even breathe. 

Casually leaning against my desk, ankles crossed, was a dangerous predator.  He watched me intently.  Muscles rippled in his forearms as he flipped a silver dagger in one hand. 

It was Asher.  But it wasn’t. 

Sure, Ash had killed before, but it was to save hostages or in self-defense.  He’d never outright murder anyone with no justification.  But I sensed the creature in front of me was on a wholly different level.  To him, killing was the same as eating or sleeping.  It was routine, a part of life, something he did every day.  And didn’t think twice about.

A36 stood before me.

Preorder your copy HERE.

If you’re a NetGalley reviewer, The Insurgent can be requested until May 30th!

The Insurgent is going on tour! Through R&R Book Tours The Insurgent will be journeying through the blogosphere June 6th-10th. If you’d like to sign up to host one of those days (review or spotlight) go HERE. Since this is a sequel, Subject A36 (The Colony #1) will also be available if you haven’t read it.

As a reminder, if you’re a book reviewer on NetGalley The Insurgent is available until May 31st!

If a megalomaniac threatened your family, would you give up your freedom for them? Would you give up your soul?

Asher Solomon is faced with that choice. And makes the ultimate sacrifice.

Exactly as Director Silas Reeves expected him to.

Unable to live as the Colony’s premier assassin, Ash retreats to a corner of his mind, ceding control of his body to the alter-ego he was engineered to be—Subject A36. As he’s unleashed to battle the Insurgents, the only family he ever knew, the tide of war shifts in Silas’s favor.

Combined with his expansion into new territories, the director is poised to take over the world.

But the Insurgents don’t give up easily. Not on their cause, and not on their people. With the help of a few double agents deep in the Colony, they stand a fighting chance at ending Silas’s reign.

In order to shut down the program, they face almost insurmountable odds. And their most dangerous foe—their former champion turned killing machine, A36. 

It’s finally here – Sarah is FREE across all markets today only! For your FREE copy, go HERE.

Seventeen-year-old horror fan Cain Shannon thought helping a ghost find her killers would be the supernatural adventure of a lifetime. Now, he just hopes to survive long enough to protect his family and friends from her.

A bet between friends goes horribly wrong, resulting in Sarah’s death. When she returns to seek justice against those responsible, Cain agrees to help her. But when he discovers Sarah has been hijacking his body, he realizes she wants retribution instead of justice.

Terrified of what could have happened when he wasn’t in control, Cain commands Sarah to leave his house – but exorcising her isn’t that easy. She retaliates against her murderers in bloody, horrific ways, each death making her stronger, then sets her sights on Cain. With the help of friends, Cain fights to save himself and his loved ones and searches for a way to stop Sarah before she kills again.

Mark your calendars – Sarah will be FREE Sunday, April 10th only! If you enjoy haunted houses, black cats, angry ghosts, and humorous teen boys, I hope you take advantage of this offer. It was inspired by my cat Shadow, who’s since crossed the Rainbow Bridge, so it was only fair a black cat be included in the story.

“Spectacularly creepy!” –Library of Steubenville

“Dark and twisted.” –The Reading Closet

“A rather well-done haunting thriller.” –Literary License Podcast

“The writing style and general creepiness reminded me of Diary of a Haunting, which I would recommend to anyone who enjoyed this book.” -Barnes and Noble Booksellers

Seventeen-year-old horror fan Cain Shannon thought helping a ghost find her killers would be the supernatural adventure of a lifetime. Now, he just hopes to survive long enough to protect his family and friends from her.

A bet between friends goes horribly wrong, resulting in Sarah’s death. When she returns to seek justice against those responsible, Cain agrees to help her. But when he discovers Sarah has been hijacking his body, he realizes she wants retribution instead of justice.

Terrified of what could have happened when he wasn’t in control, Cain commands Sarah to leave his house – but exorcising her isn’t that easy. She retaliates against her murderers in bloody, horrific ways, each death making her stronger, then sets her sights on Cain. With the help of friends, Cain fights to save himself and his loved ones and searches for a way to stop Sarah before she kills again.

I’m so excited about the upcoming release of The Insurgent (The Colony #2) and was thrilled to get my books early so I could host a giveaway. Thanks so much to all of you who entered (and also gave me more books to add to my TBR).

I put the number of comments on all my social media into a random number generator and the winner is LADY TESSA!

A big congrats to Tessa, and I hope you enjoy The Insurgent. On some days if felt like I put in my blood, sweat, and tears just to get it finished, but I promise your copy won’t contain any bodily fluids, lol. Email me your address at tpolen6@gmail.com, Tessa!