Blackness Awaits by Norma Jeanne Karlson Blog Tour, Review, Excerpt, and Giveaway

May 15^th Thursday: Insane About Books REVIEW & EXCERPT
May 16^th Friday: In the Spotlight INTERVIEW
May 17^th Saturday: Fiction Dreams 5 RANDOM THINGS
May 18^th Sunday: Bibliophilia, Please INTERVIEW
May 19^th Monday: Confessions of a Librarian in Training REVIEW
May 20^th Tuesday: Books, Coffee and Wine REVIEW
May 21^st  Wednesday: Racing to Read REVIEW
May 22^nd Thursday: Bajgajka Loves Books and Giveaways MUSIC PLAYLIST
May 23^rd Friday: Library of the Seen TENS LIST
May 24^th Saturday: Star Angels’ Reviews REVIEW
May 25^th Sunday: Addicted Readers 7 FAVORITE BOOKS
May 26^th Monday: Hello Jenny Reviews GUEST POST
May 27^th Tuesday: Once Upon a Twilight REVIEW & DREAM CAST
May 28^th Wednesday: Literary Nook REVIEW & THIS OR THAT

As he enters the room looking like death personified, lifeless and haunting, she knows…blackness awaits. 

Aaron Kavanagh is not to be trifled with. He’s powerful, commanding, fierce and currently homicidal. The only thing that matters in Kavanagh’s world is Shannon Kelly. She’s the beat of his heart (yes he has one) and the peace to the fury that constantly simmers within him. Without her, his life is empty and barren. Someone took what is his and he’ll stop at nothing to get her back.

Dylan Kellerman is lost. The love of his life has been ripped from him, leaving a tattered tortured shell of a man. On the brink of murderous insanity he must battle to find Shannon, even if she hates him. Dylan has betrayed her and he knows she won’t forgive his indiscretions. None of that matters now. All that matters is finding her. As long as she’s safe Dylan can continue to live a sad wasted existence without her by his side. Shannon brought Dylan back to life, without her in the world he’ll cease to exist.

Shannon Kelly is gone. Stolen from her home and loved ones, she must now fight. Fighting has never been an issue for her, but this is a new opponent that she isn’t prepared for…her past. When every reality she thought she knew is called into question, Shannon learns her life isn’t what she thought it was. With the promise of a future with Dylan stolen from her before her world implodes, Shannon must rely on the family that has protected her for the last thirteen years to come for her. She won’t win this fight on her own…Shannon is going to lose.

Excerpt

CHAPTER 1

Kavanagh

     I’m going to commit murder. I can feel it in my bones, in my pulse, in each breath I take. I’m pretty sure O’Sullivan, Cal, and Aidan are on board with my plan. Kid went upstairs with Kellerman and twenty minutes later Taylor dropped his bomb. Kellerman got a fucking chick pregnant when he was in Seattle. I don’t know specific dates on when he and Kid became a couple, but I know he was all over her shit and fully warned before he went back to Seattle in October. Yeah, I’m going to commit murder. We have to get Kid out of here before we beat his head in. 

“Make sure Kid’s not in the room for this shit,” I say to whoever’s listening. I get chin lifts in response. O’Sullivan has been cracking his knuckles and pumping his fists since we saw the first picture of Kellerman and that chick. She’s cute…that’s all I can say about her. She’s nothing compared to Kid. Kellerman must be a fucking idiot. The blood is rushing past my eardrums with such force I don’t hear Kid and Kellerman come down the stairs. I’m barely aware of the Army vs. Navy game on the TV. The four of us turn to look at them as Kellerman starts to talk.

     “I beyond fucked up today guys,” Kellerman tries to grovel. “I feel like total shit about it and I can assure you, I’ll never let anything go that far again. I love Kid more than I can even tell you guys and I know you all love her just as much. I meant what I told Kav all those weeks ago. If I hurt her I’d deliver myself to you all willingly. I’m here and I deserve whatever you wanna give me. I was wrong.” I stand up and move toward Kellerman never looking at Kid. Kid keeps her fingers interlaced with his and I want to break everyone of his as they touch her. I won’t do anything to him while she’s here. I won’t put her in the middle like those two pricks did earlier. I can feel Kid’s eyes on me while the guys approach my back.

     “Kid go to the office and talk to Taylor,” I order without looking at her. Kellerman maintains eye contact with me, not in a confrontational way…he doesn’t know what’s coming.

     “Kavy,” Kid warns.

     “Kid, we need Kellerman alone for a few minutes. You need to leave,” O’Sullivan orders her from behind my back.

    “Go ahead Kiddo. I’ll be fine,” Kellerman soothes her. I’m going to break that jaw he’s working.

Kid turns to walk away, and I relax a little that she isn’t putting up more of a fight. My relief was premature, because she stops and turns back around.

“Guys, I know this is a man thing that I’m not a part of. But you all are my family…Kel included. He’s my future now too guys. I’m no cake walk to be with, but he’s fightin’ for me like only you guys have. Think about that before you do anything stupid,” she pleads before turning and walking away. She won’t feel that way after she talks to Taylor. I hate that she’ll be hurt, but she deserves to know.

     Once she rounds the corner and I hear the office door shut it takes everything I’ve got in me not to launch at this motherfucker.

     “Pool house,” I growl at him. He nods and moves toward the back door. I can’t risk Kid hearing us so the pool house is the best place to get this done. Once Taylor dropped this shit storm at our feet he told us he’d explain things to Kid while we dealt with Kellerman. I don’t know how long we have, but getting out of the house buys us more time.

      We enter the pool house. It’s one large open space with six oversized beds that house all the brothers when they visit off to the right and an open kitchenette with a large breakfast table to the left. It’s a light airy beach house feel not really the place to maim, but it will have to do. Kellerman goes in first followed by me, the guys trailing. No one says a word. Kellerman stops in the middle of the room. His head is held high, but I can see he’s apprehensive. I’d be scared fucking shitless facing us in a room.

     “We’re gonna kick the livin’ shit outta you,” I inform him in a growl resembling English. “Then you’re gonna pack your shit, get on a plane, and crawl back to Seattle.” His face is calm and collected with the first sentence, strained and confused at the last.

     “What’re you talkin’ about back to Seattle?” Kellerman asks.

     “You think we’re gonna let you stick around and go back and forth? Kid deserves better than that and you fuckin’ know it,” Aidan seethes, moving to my right. Aidan’s a big motherfucker. I’ve never seen him as pissed as he is right now, scary isn’t the right word.

     “Back and forth?” Kellerman repeats.

“This is not Sesame Street motherfucker. You heard him,” Cal jumps to his brother’s side. Cal can go off the rails but it’s rare. He’s the calmest of our bunch, but he’s hell on wheels when he gets going. O’Sullivan moves to my left and I can feel the fury oozing from every inch of him. He’s a fighter through and through. I have no doubt that he can, and will end Kellerman. Kid’s the soft spot for all of us and we would all gladly sacrifice anything for her.

     “I’m startin’ to feel like I don’t know what’s goin’ on,” Kellerman says as he looks at all our raging expressions.

     “He explained it,” O’Sullivan says motioning to me. “Don’t see the problem.” He’s so furious I’m surprised he can form words much less sentences.

     “I get the ass beating. I put my hands on her and shouldn’t have. I’m down for whatever you four got planned. I’m not fuckin’ leavin’ Kid though. I don’t know what makes you think I would leave her, but I’m stayin’.” Kellerman’s confident as he talks. I have no doubt he’ll take the beating, but he’s not making Kid a stepmom or taking her away from us to Seattle that’s for damn sure. She deserves the world not some slut’s sloppy seconds.

     “Fuck this shit,” O’Sullivan roars and lunges at Kellerman. He lands a brutal right hook along Kellerman’s jaw, snapping his head to the side. Kellerman stumbles but doesn’t go down. O’Sullivan is a man possessed now that he’s started. He grabs Kellerman’s shirt to hold him in place as he repeatedly crushes his face. Kellerman doesn’t fight back.

     “Fight back you pussy!” O’Sullivan screams as he releases Kellerman’s shirt only to connect a left cross splitting the skin below his eye. Stumbling back Kellerman falls to the floor. He’s breathing hard as he stays down.

     “Who’s next?” Kellerman asks without a hint of snark. He’s really going to let the four of us beat his ass. We’ll kill him. He looks done after O’Sullivan; the three of us on top of it is too much. I have to be the voice of reason in the room as I see Aidan making his way toward him.

      “He’s had enough,” I state firmly. Aidan snaps his head back to me with a look of shock on his face.

      “You’re lettin’ him off that easy Kavanagh?” Aidan grumbles.

      “He’s gotta be able to walk through the airport.”

     “I’m not goin’ to the airport,” Kellerman mumbles spitting blood into his shirt. This sets me off.

     I pick Kellerman up by the throat and pin him against the wall squeezing as I speak, “You will get your sorry ass on a plane. Today! She’s had enough pain in this life, you motherfuckin’ piece of shit.” I squeeze harder the more I speak, because the more I speak the more infuriated I’m becoming. “If you think for a second I’m gonna let you take her from me, you’re sadly mistaken. What she’s learnin’ today about you, you dickless fuck, is gonna wreck her. Get outta this fuckin’ city today or we’re comin’ for you.” I squeeze one more time before I let him drop. He slides down the wall gasping for air, coughing and choking.

“I’m not leavin’ her,” Kellerman gasps out. Aidan hurls forward and kicks him over and over and over in the torso.

     “You fuckin’ are!” Aidan screams as he lands his final blow. Kellerman falls to the side spitting out blood from what I’m guessing is some internal damage at this point. Maybe we are going to commit murder. This motherfucker seems intent on dying in our pool house.

     “Not,” Kellerman mumbles before he passes out.

     “What the fuck?!” Cal bellows. “Is he insane? Why’s he lettin’ this go on?”

      Aidan bends down and starts checking Kellerman’s vitals. His doctor brain must have just kicked in gear. No pun intended (maybe a little pun intended).

     “Guessin’ his spleen is damaged maybe his liver too,” Aidan explains without much concern in his voice while standing up. “We need to decide what we’re doin’ here.”

     “Wait for him to wake up. See where his head’s at,” I say. I can’t put him over my shoulder and walk him out in front of Kid. He has to leave on his own. We all sit around the breakfast table and stare at Kellerman waiting for his pathetic ass to wake up.

My Review

First off, I am SO excited for this book, and HONORED that I get to start off this tour.

As you know, Blackness Takes Over ends with the cliff hanger of all cliff hangers, Shannon Kelly, aka Kid, is kidnapped from her own house.  How, just how can this happen with all her protectors around?  Well, you won't find out the complete puzzle until the end.

Blackness Awaits is everything I expected it to be and more.  Seriously, it starts out full throttle.  So much so that as I was reading, I thought sure I was getting ready for the end, and when I checked that percentage reading on my kindle, you have no idea how excited I was to see that it read only 26% read...yeah, I wasn't ready for it to end and was jumping for joy that I had so much left to read!!  THAT tells you how much excitement there was in just that short amount of time.

Cal, Kav, Sully and Kellerman are in overdrive to try and save Kid.  They are pulling all their resources in because they know time is of the essence.  The more time that passes, they know Kid's survival is.....they dare to even think it.  The whole family is in, doing everything they can.

Kid is smart, and her uncle trained her well.  His voice is always inside her, and Kid does what she can to unsure her own survival.  These kidnappers are brutal....no hearts...no souls...so how will she escape?  And WHY is she even in this position to begin with?  WELL, you will find out...it's story of betrayal that Kid will never see coming.

I have completely fallen for ALL the characters in this story.  Each one has a different personality and how they interact with Kid.  Kid has been brought into an incredible family unit that can never be separated.

Kellerman has a whole new drama going on in his life besides what is happening to the love of his life.  With the help and devotion of Kid's extended family, they have a whole new fight to deal with.

This whole story is so amazing, I feel a complete contentment on discovering this amazing read.  It's one of those stories that stays with you WAY after it has ended.

You can purchase Blackness Awaits at the following Retailers:
  

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Blackness Takes Over is Norma Jeanne’s debut novel. What began as an homage to the home town of a homesick Midwestern girl, unfolded a story of love, danger, humor, and trust. She’s currently working on her untitled sophomore effort. We can’t wait to see what thrilling saga she leads us through next!

Originally from Kansas City, Missouri, Norma Jeanne recently found herself relocating to the United Kingdom. Now living in Belfast, she took hold of the opportunity to kick the 9-5 job for a chance to become an author. The best part: working from her home office, she gets to spend more time with her cast of crazy characters (written and real).

In her free time Norma Jeanne is a voracious reader and consumes books as readily as meals. She is a people watcher by nature and uses her experiences in life, observed or otherwise, to build the worlds and characters that thrive in her books. A believer in the strength of the human spirit, Norma Jeanne writes the stories of people that persevere when all appears to be lost.

“Rage, rage against the dying of the light.” –Dylan Thomas

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GIVEAWAY

5 Winners will receive an  E-Copy of  Blackness Takes Over by Norma Jeanne Karlsson.
2 Winners will receive a Signed Copy of  Blackness Takes Over by Norma Jeanne Karlsson.
3 Winners will receive 4GB USB flash drives by Norma Jeanne Karlsson.
7 Winners will receive Postcard and Bookmark by Norma Jeanne Karlsson.
4 Winners will receive Sticky Notes and Pens by Norma Jeanne Karlsson.
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