Title:
Uprising
Author:
Dawn Jayne
Publish Date: Published November 2012 by Time and Tide Publishing
Synopsis:
Heralds are the most powerful of all angels, secretive and feared, created for a single purpose. Only those most courageous and worthy earn a place within the elite choir, and only by breaking ancient oaths held sacred can the honor be stripped. It's a punishment that hasn't been imposed in over two-thousand years, until a single reckless act sets off a firestorm, threatening to consume all creation.
Rise Hawke never suspected she'd been marked to play a role in the deadly events unfolding in the spiritual realm. Independent and resistant to authority, she isn't thrilled when she meets Dominik, an angel with new wings, an old grudge, and a mysterious agenda he's determined to impose.
Vowing to uncover the secrets kept from her, Rise soon learns that knowing what you are isn't nearly as dangerous as discovering why. Hunted by those who want to destroy her, and controlled by those who would see her fulfill her purpose, she is forced into a brutal battle set in motion long before she was ever born. It soon becomes clear that what one angel will risk to earn the title of Herald, is matched only by what another will do to keep it.
Uprising is far from your average Angel story.
Uprising was totally not what I expected. I was intrigued by the type of angels involved, and how they somewhat got along with each other. Each choir has their own purpose, and that truly was a shocker to me. I love how a story can totally throw you off balance to the unexpected!
Rise was raised by a father with a stiff hand, literally. She has difficulty trusting which makes her very independent. Little does Rise know, this will help her with the destiny that has been bestowed upon her. I wanted to feel sorry for her at times, but realized that through her own will power, she overcame her domestic obstacles.
Dominik, having just received his wings, is given a mission that should have been given to a more advanced angel. Dominik shows complete courage and strength, and his devotion is
extraordinary.
Uprising moves fast....so fast, I never saw the most integrate twist in the plot coming. NEVER. And I was totally floored by it in a good way. At that point, I honestly said out loud, “You have got to be kidding me!” Nope, never saw it. The little plots going on at the same time collided dramatically. It was a fascinating read and I highly recommend it!
My Over All Rating:
Uprising
Blurb (book 1 Fires of Providence Series):
"Uprising"
Book 1 in Fires
of Providence Series
BUY LINKS
Excerpt:
Chapter
One
Tyre
Tyre suspected the young woman
would hold a grudge against him. Not because he was going to kill her—she’d
thank him for that later—but because of the sex. He knew he took things a bit
too far this time, but curiosity got the better of him. With any luck, the
inevitable reprimand would be light, but it was hard to tell these days. Being
an angel was getting tricky.
The girl, Katie Theresa Connors, had an Irish name and features to match, with
pale skin and a mop of red hair. The Catholic School uniform
completed the look, though it was currently in a state of disarray.
“I’m never going to get all these wrinkles out,” she said. Her attempts to
smooth the knee-length plaid skirt bunching around her waist were proving
troublesome in the confines of the car. She finally gave up and started to work
on the white blouse.
“I hope my roommate’s asleep when I get back.” She buttoned up, then readjusted
her little cross necklace. “She has such a big mouth; the whole senior class
will know.” Katie re-wrapped a blue scarf around her neck, arranging it with
practiced hands until it was a fluffy bow. She looked around, felt under her
bottom, and patted around on the floorboard. Tyre picked
up the small handbag from where it had fallen between his feet, and held it up
by the strap.
“Thanks.” She pulled out a tube of lipstick, dotted on some color and blended
it with her finger before adding a touch of gloss. Tyre knew it
was bubblegum flavored; the taste still lingered on his lips. He couldn’t say
he cared for it.
Katie made a few last adjustments to her hair and looked with satisfaction at
her reflection in the little mirror before flipping up the visor. She favored Tyre with a
brilliant smile.
“So, do I still look like a girl who snuck out of a hotel to have sex with a
complete stranger?” She stretched across the seat and kissed him.
“Yes, you do,” Tyre said.
She giggled, but he wasn’t joking. “And all things considered, we’re hardly
strangers.” He winked. She blushed and bit her bottom lip, probably thinking he
was being flirtatious instead of literal.
Tyre chuckled. He was getting
tremendous amusement at her expense tonight, in several ways. Though Katie had
tried to put on a show of innocence, he knew their tryst hadn’t been the girl’s
first. He was aware her history and it was nothing short of scandalous. With a
recently deceased mother and a father working two jobs to keep his children in
private school, Katie had tried to find respite from grief and loneliness.
She’d discovered the allure of cads, and there had been quite a few. Tyre couldn’t
begrudge her the small comfort, especially since her desperate need for
intimacy—even the illusion—had served him quite well. He turned the keys in the
ignition and adjusted the rearview mirror which had been knocked out of place
during the somewhat awkward liaison.
“You were right about the monuments,” Katie said. “They were amazing at night.
I’m glad you invited me.”
“I’m glad you accepted. Though I admit, I was surprised; I tend to intimidate.
The scars didn’t frighten you?”
“Not much,” Katie said with a shrug. “I kind of like the one around your eye. I
had fun tonight. I hope you did, too.”
Tyre knew she wasn’t talking
about the Washington D.C. scenery.
“It was a unique experience, one I may remember with fondness.” He didn’t
mention he had other feelings as well, ones not as noble. The girl had given
him problems in the past, and he considered his motivations held a touch of
malevolence. Why he was risking himself to save her again was vexing. It had been
quite a hassle this time, too, which reminded him...
“Why didn’t you leave the hotel last night?” he asked, switching on the
headlights and maneuvering through the darkened parking lot.
“What are you talking about?”
Tyre pulled into sparse traffic and
headed for the interstate. “Last night, at nine
fifteen, you were going to leave the hotel and start walking North
on the highway, toward the entertainment plaza. You dressed in an ill-fitting
purple skirt, applied far too much make-up, and styled your hair in a way you
thought appeared exotic, but simply looked unkempt. Then, after such woeful
efforts, you failed to depart. Why is that?”
Katie puffed out an angry breath. Tyre knew she
was taken aback by his recitation of private moments, and perhaps his opinion
on her fashion sense.
“How did you know that?” she demanded, but then leaned closer. “Are you
psychic?” Her eyes lit at the idea, any offense apparently forgotten.
“Not by your definition of the word, but I am a good listener. You must’ve mentioned
it at some point.” Tyre shrugged
as if the answer were of no consequence, though he wanted to wring the truth
from the girl. “I was just curious as to why your plans changed.” He presented
her with an endearing smile. He could be charming when he wished.
Katie slapped a hand over her face and looked out the window at the passing
trees. “I swear, I don’t remember saying any of that. I can’t believe I told
you about the hair! I ramble sometimes.”
Tyre agreed, but didn’t say so.
There was no need for rudeness, after all.
“Sister Bernard was on patrol,” Katie said. “She pulled a chair out of her room
and sat at the end of the hall all night, reading. She wouldn’t let anyone get
by, not even to get a snack from the vending machine. The other chaperones trusted
us, but Sister B is insane.”
“Afraid one of her girls would sneak out and engage in sinful acts? You’re
right. Insanity.”
Katie giggled, and Tyre shook
his head. He should’ve guessed one of the clergy caused all the trouble. He did
appreciate the irony, though. He pulled up the sleeve on his jacket and glanced
at the thick, metal bracelet on his wrist, often mistaken for a timepiece. It
glowed brightly and Tyre frowned.
He’d been out too long and needed to hurry things up.
“Cool watch,” Katie commented, leaning over to get a better look. “That’s a
Yin-Yang symbol on the face, right? Where did you get it?”
“It’s called a taijitu,” Tyre said,
explaining the black and white symmetrical pattern of the design. “It was
issued at work.”
Katie turned in the seat and curled one leg up so she could fully face him.
“Where do you work?”
“That’s a complicated question. Let’s just say it’s a large organization, and
I’m part of a rather select group.”
“What do you do?”
Tyre pinched the bridge of his
nose and squeezed his eyes shut. He had no desire to engage in the infamous
post-coital chitchat, but since she’d been accommodating earlier, he decided to
indulge her.
“I travel,” he said. “I’ve done a little of everything, but on this trip I’m in
Collections.”
“I bet you get to go all over the world. I’m jealous. I’ve never even been on a
plane. I think flying would be amazing.”
“It is.” Tyre was
pleased to say something truthful. He merged onto the interstate and picked up
speed. There wasn’t much traffic at this late hour, as was his plan; he didn’t
want or need an audience tonight. He accelerated further, and the engine of the
car struggled to keep up. He should’ve stolen one with more power, but he’d
been in a time crunch.
“Hey, I think you missed the exit.” Katie pointed as they passed by a ramp.
“So I did. We appear to have something in common now.”
“You’re going too fast.” Katie turned back around and buckled her seat belt.
Tyre knew she was beginning to
realize something was out of place. He was a little relieved; she’d been far
too trusting until this point, and though it had been useful to him, he still
found her casual acceptance a curious thing. He normally encountered fear, or
at least suspicion, and employed unique, even brutal, methods to gain compliance.
He decided to think on the matter later, put the girl’s odd behavior from his
mind, and pushed on the gas again.
Katie tensed, grabbing hold of the dash for security. “You need to slow down. I
mean it, Dominik, I’m getting scared.”
Tyre forgot about that
particular deception; there were so many tonight it was hard to keep up.
“That’s not my name, by the way.” He reached across the seat and shook her
hand. “Tyre. Pleased to meet you.”
“What?” She lost some color. “You lied to me?”
He knew this would soon be least of her issues with him.
“So, your name is…Tyre?” Her
voice held a touch of anger. “Like a teardrop?”
“Like the Phoenician city, if you must make a comparison. I thought you might
prefer the name Dominik.” He didn’t tell her why; she’d get the joke soon
enough. “But, you’re right to be upset, and I’m going to make it up to you.
Watch me.”
Tyre made sure Katie’s eyes were
on him, and called upon one of his more theatrical abilities. He shivered;
within seconds, his black hair turned to blonde, his green eyes to brown, and
he altered his height to give himself more length. He added a full beard, but
it was too itchy; he removed it and flashed a grin at his passenger.
Katie’s eyes went wide, her mouth fell open and she screamed in terror.
Tyre placed a finger to his ear
and cringed. The girl had impressive volume. With his increased height, his
knees pressed against the dash under the steering wheel, so he reached to the
lever underneath the seat and slammed it back as far as it would go. Katie
continued testing her lung capacity, and in such confined quarters, it needed
to cease.
“You don’t like blondes?” Tyre asked.
“Neither do I. How about this one, then?” He shivered again, changing his
hairstyle to a long, reddish-brown. He switched up his skin tone and swapped
his eye color to a bright blue. He peeked in the rearview mirror to make sure
he’d gotten the costume correct and grunted in satisfaction. He thought Katie
would, under different circumstances, appreciate the look. Most women did.
The terrified girl grabbed her silver cross necklace and pushed her back
against the door, getting as far away from him as she could. Her trembling
shook the seats.
“What are you?” she demanded. “What do you want?”
Tyre considered the questions.
There was no reason he had to lie to her at this point, and he’d grown tired of
the charade anyway. He cocked an eyebrow. “I’m the angel who’s going to save
your soul. Again.”
“You’re insane,” Katie whispered and started rummaging through the glove box,
her hands shaking as she dumped paperwork and other items all over. Tyre guessed
she was looking for something to use as a weapon, so he allowed her to
continue; it would earn him a few moments of quiet and nothing in the car could
harm him.
He hit the accelerator and tested the steering capabilities. It was almost time
for the big finish, and he wanted no mistakes. Tyre started
weaving from one lane to another, relishing the adrenaline rush. He laughed
until a pair of taillights came up fast on the right. “There might be
witnesses.” He turned to Katie. “This could be a problem. Try to act natural,
will you?”
“Witnesses?” Katie repeated, looking back and forth between Tyre and the
road. The broken yellow lines whipped by so fast they appeared almost solid. She
started to cry, but then she, too, spotted the other vehicle. She seized the
manual handle controlling the windows and cranked as fast as she could, calling
out for assistance.
“Brilliant.” He cast a sideways look to the girl. “Well, there’s no way to avoid
them now, is there?” He reached over and grabbed her hand. “Wave. Be polite.”
He waggled her wrist, making her hand dance. “Say farewell.”
“No,” Katie screamed, “please!” She tried to pull her arm free as they passed a
station wagon with brown side panels. The driver and the woman beside him shot
angry glances at the speeding car, but a boy with big dark eyes pressed his
face to the window and waved back.
Tyre kept up the assault on the
car’s engine. He realized he hadn’t switched his appearance since the last
wardrobe change, and breathed in relief as he regained his familiar form. He
turned his attention back to his terrified passenger. “I know you’re upset now,
but you’ll thank me for this later.” He patted her knee.
Katie grabbed the cross around her neck again, clutching it like an anchor in a
storm. She started to rock back and forth in the seat, praying. She rattled off
words without a breath. “Our father who art in heaven hallowed be thy name thy
kingdom come thy will be done…”
“The Lord’s prayer,” Tyre said.
“Excellent choice. Very popular.”
“…on earth as it is in heaven…” She stopped, sobs catching in her throat as the
car switched lanes, coming dangerously close to the guardrail.
Tyre stole a peek at her. “Keep
going, you were doing so well. Give us this day…” He waved his hand as though
helping a child with the alphabet. The car was almost at maximum speed now.
Katie’s chin quivered, and she could barely squeak out the words. “Give us this
day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who
trespass against us…”
“That would be me, right?” The little arrow on the speedometer bounced around,
having reached its limit.
“…and lead us not into temptation...”
“But deliver us from evil!” Tyre roared
the last words along with her, then twisted the steering wheel hard to the
right. Katie wailed as the car lurched, slammed into the guardrail and flipped
end over end. Metal twisted and cracked, tires catapulted into the air, and
glass shattered with the multiple impacts before the car came to rest, upside
down, against an enormous oak.
The crash was devastating, as intended, and Tyre was
pleased with his work. He stood a short distance away, having vacated the
doomed vehicle before things got too ugly. His massive black wings, the mark of
his elite choir, the Heralds, were now in full array. It was a tremendous
relief; keeping wings tucked for too long was uncomfortable. They’d started to
cramp.
He watched as the only remaining tire still attached to the car continued to
spin. The final blow of the crash had been delivered with such force it split
the trunk of an ancient tree, and Tyre shook
his head in regret. He hated destruction of the environment.
About the Author:
Dawn
Jayne is a lifelong Hoosier. She attended Purdue University before enlisting in the
United States Marine Corps. She met her husband, Todd, in Okinawa and enjoys reminding
him she held a higher rank for a while.
When
she's not writing, Dawn takes classes in religious and spiritual studies,
rearranges furniture, and spends as much time as she can with her teenage kids.
She loves midnight movies, hates wearing
shoes, and is terrified of giant sunflowers. Her new favorite hobby is
motorcycle rides with Todd.
Dawn
lives with her family in Indianapolis. www.dawnjayne.com
Confusing
Where you can stalk Dawn:
My
Publisher: www.timeandtidepublishing.com
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