Indy Book Fairy: Ariel Rising

Title: Ariel Rising

Author: AJ and CS Sparber

Published: October 30th, 2015

Publisher: Mind’s Eye Press

Genre: YA Paranormal

Recommended Age: 14+

Synopsis:

My dreams were simple. College, a career, and let’s see what happens from there. But things don’t always go according to plan.

My name is Ari Worthington and I’ve had a very eventful week. A life-changing week. The kind of week that would make the average person whimper.

It started when my ex-boyfriend Luke accosted me in the woods.

How badly was I injured? Not a scratch. And Luke? Not so lucky. Nope, I whupped him good. It surprised the heck out of me. And it probably surprised him, too—once he woke up.

And then I met Davin. Handsome, witty, amazing Davin. Perfect in every way, unless you think being an alien, from a planet called Olympus, might be a liability.

“Seriously? Your planet is named after a Greek mountain?” I ask him.

“Actually, it’s the other way around,” he tells me. “The mountain was named after us. We’ve been visiting Earth for a very, very long time. As a matter of fact, we are responsible for human evolution.”

So, ancient aliens are real? Yeah. But there’s more. Davin’s an angel, which I could have handled, would have handled, if only he hadn’t told me I was one, too.

“But we don’t have wings,” I say.

“Real angels don’t need wings,” he counters.

“Ah, that explains everything,” I reply.

So, you think this is just another angel story? Well, it’s not. It’s got humor, romance, adventure, science, tragedy, and… did I say romance? It’ll make you think, and laugh, and cry.

Davin and I, you see, are part of a larger plan. A noble plan. A plan to save the sons and daughters of man, or what’s left of them, after the war. A big war.

Okay, enough of my rambling. Davin and I need to get back to training. And you’ve got some reading to do, yeah?

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Excerpt from Ariel Rising by CS and AJ Sparber:

Davin and I walk to my house in silence. In my mind, I keep seeing our kiss, the expression on his face when he pulled away, how humiliated I felt.

“Well, thank you for seeing me home safely,” I say softly.

“Ari, can we talk?”

“I guess.” I nod toward the swing chair on the front porch. “Let’s sit. I’m really tired.”

I sit down and turn sideways, pulling my knees up to my chin. Davin sits down next to me, keeping as much distance between us as he can. “I hurt you,” he says.

“What makes you say that?”

“I have a well-developed sense of perception.” He manages a thin smile.

“I had no right to kiss you like that, Davin. It was inappropriate. I mean, we’ve only known each other for two days. I don’t know what came over me. One minute I was looking into your eyes and the next thing I knew, I was kissing you…”

“And I kissed you back,” he finishes.

“Obviously. But the way you reacted…it was hurtful.”

“I didn’t mean…”

“It’s not your fault. I was the aggressor.”

“And I was an accessory to the crime.”

“Crime?”

“Perhaps that was a bad choice of words. The fact is, I could not let myself be distracted. We were in a vulnerable position and we were physically drained from the healing.”

His eyes look sad. Conflicted. Can this impossibly old Warrior simply be socially awkward?

“There are more tactful ways to end an ill-timed kiss.”

“Ari,” he says softly, “In times of extreme stress, emotions cannot always be trusted.”

“Balderdash. So, you think I was looking for comfort? A quick kiss, a calming fix?” I practically spit the words out. He thinks I’m weak!

Davin shakes his head slowly. “That’s not what I think at all…” A smile slowly forms on his lips. “Balderdash? I like that word.”

I roll my eyes. “Tell me what you really think, Davin. I’m dying to know. Do you think I’m an emotional wreck?” I’m building up a head of steam. “Why did you kiss me back?”

“It’s complicated.”

“Bull! That’s a copout.”

“Ari…”

“If you want to help me…if you really want to keep me safe, you have to be honest with me. I kissed you because I like you, Davin. I’m attracted to you. Perhaps it’s a reaction to stress, but I need to deal with it, not run from it.” My tone softens as I continue. “I think you like me, too. In fact, I’m pretty damn sure of it.”

The look on his face tells me all I need to know, and I smile inside.

He sighs deeply and nods. “The truth is, I seem to be drawn to you like a moth to moonlight and I’m not sure I understand why. But if I am to keep you safe, I cannot afford to be distracted. Not now. Not yet. Not here.”

I don’t know how to respond, so I stare at him, like an idiot.

About the Author:

When it comes to being a husband and wife (or wife and husband) writing team, there are advantages, or benefits. Chief among them is that you get to practice the love scenes. He writes, she steers, and…well, it’s fun. He is a software designer and she is a doctor of education. AJ and CS Sparber live in the lovely town of Hudson, Ohio, with their son Ryan, their daughter Melanie, and an Aussie shepherd named Hunter.