Hallie Reads: Beauty from Ashes | Excerpt + Giveaway

ABOUT THE BOOK

How far are you willing to go for love?

When Prince Arnion volunteers to infiltrate the prison colony of Gehenna, romance is the last thing on his mind. Rescuing its inhabitants is his only priority. But the corruption in Gehenna runs deep, fueled by the obsessions of its fanatical leader—a king rumored to devour human hearts.

To succeed, Arnion must conceal his identity from the people he’s been sent to save, including a young woman he’s inexplicably drawn to. And when her life is threatened by two merciless guards, the prince risks everything to save her.

Afterward, she wants nothing to do with him or his promises of rescue. But she soon realizes there’s more to Arnion than meets the eye, and what he’s about to unleash on Gehenna will change everything.

Publisher: Christian Faith Publishing

Release Date: July 25, 2022

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Bookshop

EXCERPT

Acadia thought about her options. She could melt back into the crowd and forget about this stranger. Then she remembered seeing how gently he carried the old woman. Acadia felt an indescribable longing in the depths of her marrow. She had to know more about this strange man. If that made her crazy too, so be it. Maybe he wouldn’t even remember her.

Acadia planted herself in front of him, hands on her hips. “Ahem,” she coughed loudly.

Arnion’s eyes brightened. “Oh, it’s you again.”

He smiled at her. The rash still swelled on his face, making Acadia want to cringe. So he did remember her.

She huffed and gave him her most steely-eyed glare. “Why did you do it?”

Arnion scratched the back of his neck. “What, the roll?” He tilted his head slightly to the side and raised an eyebrow at her.

Acadia stomped her foot. “Any of it. The roll, the carrying. Anyone else would have just left her there.” She wanted to shake some sense into him.

Arnion looked at her seriously, smile fading away. “One day of hunger won’t kill me.”

Acadia averted her gaze. Nudging the dust with the toe of her shoe, she mumbled, “That’s a sure way to a quick death. There’s always someone in desperate need around here. You won’t survive long if you keep handing out all your food.”

Her arms fell to her sides, and she nibbled her bottom lip. Before she could think about it further, she reached into her pocket, drew out her roll, and broke it in half.

“Here.” Acadia thrust the larger half into his hands but refused to meet his gaze. “One day of hunger won’t kill me either.” She sighed. Apparently, lunacy is contagious.

“Thank you.”

Arnion’s eyes were wide. He knew what it meant to give up the chance for nourishment in this place. He looked off into the distance for a moment deep in thought. Then he considered the young woman in front of him, who had just offered him something precious. Resolution settled over his face.

“Hold out your half.”

“What? Now you want the rest?” Acadia scoffed. She wanted to take a step back but forced herself to stand her ground.

“No,” Arnion chuckled. “Just trust me.”

Acadia eyed him warily.

Was this some kind of trap?

But she had offered him the roll of her own free will. He had no way of knowing she would do that. She remembered his hand leading her away from the guards, giving her fresh water to drink, and carrying the old woman. She met his serious gaze and pursed her lips wryly. Slowly, Acadia held up the other half of the roll toward him.

Arnion lifted his right hand so that it was hovering slightly above hers and closed his eyes. Exhaling slowly, he reached into his spirit. Geometric patterns of burning white electricity began to trace their way along the roll’s surface. After a moment, they focused on the edges, sparking furiously. Acadia watched, unable to breathe as the roll seemed to knit itself together again out of thin air. In just a few seconds, she held a perfectly complete roll in her palm while the stranger still grasped half of the original in his own hand. She flinched as a final wave of light crackled around the now whole roll in her hand and then vanished.

Acadia shivered. She looked at the roll in her trembling hand and then back at the young man.

“W-what just…how did you…” Her voice trailed off.

“People don’t use their spirits much here, do they?”

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Pamela Hart is the author of Beauty from Ashes and City of a Thousand Tears. Raised on a steady diet of fantasy, science fiction and anime, she spent most of her childhood failing to acquire a Boston accent. Since then, she has slurped ramen in Ikebukuro, stampeded through flamenco lessons in Granada, and splashed her way across a fishpond for the Milkman Triathlon in Dexter. During her travels, she tends to overpack horrendously, but never regrets cramming her backpack full of books to devour along the way. She wanders the planet with Joe, the love of her life, and her adorably maniacal Boston terriers, Willy and Marvin.

Connect with Pamela by visiting pamelahartwrites.com to follow her on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates.

GIVEAWAY

(1) winner will receive a print copy of Beauty from Ashes, 2 themed bookmarks, a $15 Amazon gift card, a book themed tote bag, and a book themed pencil case!

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight January 17, 2023 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on January 24, 2023. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. Open internationally. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.

TOUR SCHEDULE

JustRead Publicity Tours