I love Social Media. It keeps me in touch with relatives that live across the country and friends who are just as busy as I am. You know, when you are great friends but rarely get the chance to take off your mommy hats and sit with each other while laughing about the antics of your children and spouses. It is also great for connecting with other authors, new readers, bloggers, reviewers, and Frands. (Fan turned friend.)
But I want to take a moment to talk about a few instances of weird and awkward social media behaviors.
1. When did it become the norm for people to become automatically upset by a difference of opinion? As humans, none of us will always think the same way. Our experiences are rarely 100% the same. So different opinions are normal. For example: If you adore the color black but someone else doesn’t because it is the color of car that ran over their cat, it is ok. People are welcome to love things that you don’t. They are welcome to hate things that you love. Respect their choice, (as long as they are not harming anyone.) and agree to disagree. There is already enough strife and drama in the world. Don’t stir the pot.
2. Can someone explain to me why it has become socially acceptable for people of the opposite sex that you went to high school with to ask you about your relationship or marriage? How is this anyone’s business? Especially some random acquaintance that you shared a Spanish two class with. My marriage is solid as is my aim with a gun. Quit fishing around this married woman. You have been warned. Oh and, it is never ok to message a person to try and get them to divulge the details of their sex life. Stop.
3. Overly aggressive online vendors are probably one of the most awkward and annoying things I deal with. It is fine to send me an invite to a party for slimming products, nail wraps, make-up, dishes, etc. But please, for the love of God, don’t continue to send messages and invites after I have already clicked not going. I saw what you were up to. I am so happy that you love the business that you have joined. I wish you success and happiness. Now stop trying to pressure me into buying the product you are pushing. I mean seriously, it is like you are screaming “Hey, you look a little chubby. Try this product and you won’t be fat.”
4. If your name is anything like: rjejejerrjeebdfe. I am not accepting your friend request. I am not clicking the link you tagged me in. In the words of Gandalf – “You shall not pass!”
5. Online friendships are wonderful, but neglecting the living, breathing people that are right where you are is not healthy. Don’t forget to love the people who love you with more than a good morning text. Live in the moment and hug your family, it will make you happier.
These things are completely and utterly nerve wrenching. Just stop. Instead, be accepting, mind your own garden, take the first “no” for what it is… NO, don’t be a phishing robot, and don’t undervalue your real life friendships.
Infinity
Xandrian Circle Series
Book One
Allaina Daniels
Genre: Urban Fantasy/Romance
Date of Publication: Aug 2015
ISBN: 9781516804696
ASIN: B012UF5K2A
Number of pages: 370 print
Word Count: 97k
Cover Artist: Isaiah Bowling
Book Description:
Professional animal trainer, Carmen Rockwell, is happy living her life on the edge of society. She owns a high profile business that is run by her best friend, Lissy, the only person she thinks she needs in her life. Because of an unusual gift, she is the best in the country at what she does.
She goes away for work and finds herself suddenly drawn into a new world- one that she never knew existed and against her will, it follows her home, demanding that she enter into the life she was destined to live.
An important date is approaching fast, but will she turn away from this new world and hide or will she face her fate head on? One man could make all the difference- but does he love her or is she only a means to an end?
Book Trailer: https://youtu.be/X3x7J4isLLY
Chapter
1
North Georgia
2005
Gabriel Vorrian
was miserable. His business was steady, but boring. His surroundings were just
a little better than spartan, and his quality of life was less than stellar;
but he supposed it was his own fault. He had given up on ever finding true
peace and happiness. When someone had been around as long as he had, day-to-day
life just became one, long stretch of monotony. He was nearing his nineteenth
decade; and although his body was just as healthy and strong as the day he
turned twenty-nine—exposing his timeless, Xandrian heritage—his mind was worn
out.
He looked around
his modestly-sized home and grimaced. He could live in a much nicer place, but
why bother? The small, two-room cabin was livable and suited his needs,
providing him with the basic necessities, even if they weren’t exactly
comfortable. Not aging in a typical fashion dictated a move every ten years or
so, but this place was his solution to that. There were no neighbors, and only
the most intrepid visitor would attempt to trek the steep, two-mile hike of the
driveway—if one could call it that. It was more of a narrow trail with massive
overgrowth which barely accommodated one compact car. There was a dangerous,
rickety bridge that went over a furious river about three-quarters of the way
up. Once there, if the solitude didn’t turn someone away, the interior would
perhaps convince all but the most well-meaning to leave.
There were no
family photos, no pieces of artwork, and no signs of a person with a life -
just wood and the most basic of amenities. He moved in eleven years ago and had
never taken the time to unpack. The place was a realm of utter chaos and
disorganization. There were clothes everywhere and stacks upon stacks of
papers. Sighing, he bent over one stack and began sorting it into piles at a
languid pace. He stopped when one particular piece caught his attention.
It was a
postcard with peaceful waters on one side and a note on the other. His hand
shook as he read the familiar script:
Even the faithless
deserve the peace that all people crave and would die for. You still have time;
continue your search.
He set it down
in the to-be-thrown-out pile, sighing and rubbing his face with both hands.
With a sudden spurt of anger, he sent the whole thing flying across the room
with one, tormented swipe of a large, long-fingered hand. Didn’t they realize
that he had lost hope a long time ago? The grim reality of his situation rooted
him to the spot, until he caught sight of himself in the mirror which hung over
his desk. Underneath the dark, uncut hair and rugged beard, he was still young
and strong. Though his outward appearance pronounced his youthfulness, he could
feel the bending of time in his mind. He didn’t have much time left, and he had
lost all faith that he would ever find his saving grace.
Amber eyes
stared back at him with indifference. Resigned, he moved around to the large,
leather chair and sent off the email he was working on. The mundane details of
his human existence kept him moving forward when nothing else did. Minutes
later he stood up from his desk, stretched to his full height, towering over
the room. He then shifted into his favorite form—a gray wolf—and shed his
clothes.
Gabriel’s mind eased as he shook out
his thick coat and stretched out his lupine body. When he shifted, he was
calmer. The anxious energy he kept contained while in human form, dwindled
away, and contentment took its place. He needed to run and burn off some of the
built-up energy he had stored; but, he had to wait for the cover of darkness,
so as not to be shot by a hunter.
The unexpected,
familiar scent of his brother, Elijah, infused his senses. He could hear
thundering noises in the kitchen—as if being made by an elephant, not a
six-foot-four-inch, two-hundred-pound man. Without a sound, Gabriel padded
across the plush, chocolate-brown carpet and through the maze of unpacked
boxes. He followed the sounds and crouched down in the shadows, lurking,
waiting for his brother to realize he had been noticed.
Gabriel looked
on as Elijah froze in place and scanned the room with his eyes—obviously
sensing that he was being watched. He made a slow pivot and saw Gabriel.
Elijah placed
his hand over his chest and blew out a dramatic breath of relief. “One day,
brother, you are going to sneak up on the wrong person and get your fluffy ass
beat.”
Gabriel let out
a low, warning growl, baring his fangs.
“I was just here
to deliver some damn groceries. Quit acting so territorial,” Eli snapped. He
placed the half-gallon of milk into the mostly-empty refrigerator and threw the
plastic shopping bags into the overflowing trash can. He leaned against the
sink and watched them fall to the floor, annoyance stamped on his face. “If you
keep up the attitude, you grouchy son-of-a-bitch, I’m going to muzzle you. You
need to get out of this house. Go drink a few beers or chase some piece of ass
around. Quit being a whiny bitch. Quit wallowing in self-pity and live a
little.”
Gabriel lunged
for his brother, looking for a fight; but, Eli teleported away before he could
get close enough to tear a chunk out of him.
***
Gulf Coast
Florida 2008
It had been a
long, exhausting day. Carmen was a well-known, animal trainer on the east
coast—one who just happened to have a special ability that made her better at
her job than anyone else in her field. She could speak with animals, feel their
emotions, and with just a little bit of mental conversation, she could
completely rewire bad habits in one session. Her clients knew she was worth the
money. They just didn’t need to know the exact why. She was with the last
client of the day and was beyond ready to go home.
The German
Shepherd stood in front of Carmen, alongside its annoying, bossy, human. The
dog tilted its head with affable curiosity, trying to figure out for sure what
she was seeing. Carmen kept her face blank and sent peaceful thoughts its way,
and the dog lay down with a sigh. Carmen linked her mind to that of the dog and
asked, “So, why are you being so destructive?”
“I get so bored
when she leaves me alone and I can’t help myself. She doesn’t mean to be so
busy, though,” Athena answered without hesitation. It was obvious she adored
the debutante on the other end of the bedazzled leash. The old adage, “Love is
blind” had never been truer than in that moment in Carmen’s estimation.
Carmen couldn’t
change personality traits in an animal any more than she could change them in a
person. If Athena was suffering from boredom caused by neglect, then the only
thing Carmen could do was make Athena’s owner aware of her failures.
“Miss Hall,”
Carmen spoke in clipped tones, unsure of why this client got under her skin
with so little effort. She always did her best to remain professional with
whatever situation her job tossed her into. But this particular woman made her
want to throw away all of her hard-earned manners and just go back to what felt
was natural—throat-punching any uptight pain-in-the-ass who got in her way.
She let out a
long, dramatic sigh. Maybe the job was finally getting to her, or perhaps it
was the heat and humidity. She had felt a storm brewing ever since she had
woken up that day. Or, it could have been linked to the feeling of being
watched that she’d experienced that morning while getting dressed. Whatever the
reason, something was off.
“German
Shepherds are a working breed. Their innate temperament will not allow them to
become couch-potato pets. You need to give Athena a task.” Carmen nodded toward
the dog while adding, “She needs to be exercised, too.”
A young blonde
with perfect teeth and a very expensive manicure—Miss Hall seemed to be the
essence of everything that equaled an overindulged princess living in Panama
City on Daddy’s money. Carmen almost hated her at first sight, almost. Her
dislike was cemented as she wondered how the princess kept her hair
stick-straight when the humidity did nothing but turn Carmen’s into a constant
waterfall of flaming curls.
“Miss Hall, if
you do not put in the effort that it will take to teach Athena anything, she is
going to continue eating your Jimmy Choo’s. She will chew on your couch, your
adorable dinette set, and shred all of your magazines. You need to take her out
to run more often. You also need to take her to obedience classes. Athena is
not the problem here, you are.”
Damn. Carmen winced
a bit inside. She was losing her patience, and she was sure that Miss Hall had
become offended. Oh well. Carmen sighed to herself and narrowed her eyes. Too
bad. I’m not done. Miss Hall would, no doubt, never refer her to one of her
friends, but Carmen didn’t care. She abhorred clients like this one; although,
she usually had more patience with them.
“How dare you
speak to me in that tone?” Miss Hall shrieked, as her blemish-free, tanned
complexion began to mottle. “I did not pay you to come in here and disrespect
me. I paid you to fix her. She is the problem, not me,” she snarled while
jabbing a flawless, manicured finger toward the dog and eyeing Carmen with
almost-feral intent. “I do not have a problem, and I do not appreciate you
taking that tone with me.” Her ranting had changed her at-first-pleasant face
into one of a grade-A she-bitch.
Carmen took a
calming breath. It didn’t work. “Listen to me, you shallow, vapid little girl.
You called me. You needed me. I do not need you as much as you needed this
reality check. If you cannot wake up and realize that you are in the wrong
here, then you need to find Athena a new home. A home with people who
understand what she needs and will provide for those needs. Don’t you dare
punish this beautiful creature for acting the way you have made her. You
created these issues. She is just responding in a natural way to the confines
you have created. She’s only eighteen months old. In human years, that is just
shy of ten. You wouldn’t treat a ten-year-old child the way you have treated
this poor dog, would you?”
Miss Hall
stepped back, aghast that anyone would speak to her that way. Carmen wasn’t
just anyone, though. She was a woman who had lost her entire family at a young
age, had grown up in and out of the foster system, and still managed to come
out on top. She had worked hard for everything she had. She didn’t let anyone
or anything stand in her way. Carmen wasn’t afraid to get dirty or ruffle a few
feathers, and she could tell by the shocked look on Miss Hall’s face, she had
figured that out.
Miss Hall
smoothed her hair down in frustration. “I will take what you have said under
advisement. You are free to go now.” She straightened her clothes in a
dismissive manner.
For the first
time all day, Carmen felt amused; but, she refused to allow her smirk to cross
her lips. She didn’t want this woman to sense any weakness in her. She needed
to drive her point home first. “You call me and tell me what you decide to do.
If you decide to keep her and train her, I know some local people who can help.
If you decide to find her a new home, let me know as well. I may be able to
help. Either way ... you will let me know what happens. I don’t want to have to
call animal control.” Carmen locked eyes with her, daring the unpleasant woman
to contradict her.
“Fine,” she
huffed. “God, you sound just like my mother.”
Carmen walked
out before she could let the obscenities taking up space in her mind escape her
mouth. She took her keys off of her belt loop and unlocked her little car. It was
a red 1994 Mazda Mx6. There was something special about this little car. It was
older, but something about it made Carmen fall in love with it. She started it
up, pressed the clutch, put it in gear, and made herself proud by controlling
the urge to spin the tires as she drove away.
Driving fast
evened her temper most of the time, but in that moment, a jet plane at Mach
three wouldn’t have soothed her. Uncooperative clients, jerk ex-boyfriend, the
constant feeling of being watched... it was all beginning to wear on her.
Carmen turned the radio off and suppressed the urge to fly around the puttering
car in front of her. She hit the steering wheel with the palm of her hand
instead.
“Maybe I need a
vacation?” she said aloud to the empty car, as she expelled a frustrated sigh.
Her stomach roared, reminding her she hadn’t eaten all day. Or maybe I just
need to eat.
She pulled into
the Waffle House four blocks from her house. “Hi, Carmen!” the staff and
handful of regulars chimed at her. Several of the male customers looked her up
and down with unwelcome appreciation. One of the braver ones called out, “Hey,
baby.” Another one whistled and grinned. “I wish I was whatever you’re
ordering.”
Carmen didn’t
even spare a glance. “I wish you were, too. Because then you’d be deep-fried
and quiet.”
He threw his fork down as his buddies erupted
into bellows of laughter.
As she strolled
to her regular booth, Carmen passed Penny—another regular—who was seated at the
bar. The lady’s button-down shirt and demure demeanor refreshed Carmen’s
memory. She was the librarian from the library downtown.
“Heya, Penny.
Hiding out from your grandmother today?”
The petite
brunette nodded, offering a shy laugh. “Yes, sometimes I just need a break, you
know?”
Carmen laughed
but didn’t break stride. “Yeah, except I need a break from people every day.”
She found the
waitress behind the counter. “Hey, Tiff. Can I just get my regular?” Tiffany
nodded and wrote down the order to call it in.
Carmen smiled.
She was a part-time fixture there. She couldn’t help it. Hash browns soothed
her, and anytime she had a dumb client, bad day, or craving; she ate hash
browns smothered with almost everything. She was sure that one day her thighs
and ass were going to pay the ultimate price for her indulgence, but it hadn’t
happened yet. Carmen went to her favorite booth in the corner and sat with her
back to the wall while she waited, with the smell of wonderful, greasy food
teasing her. It almost helped her relax.
About the Author:
Allaina Daniels is a sassy domestic goddess from Georgia whose addiction to caffeine is surpassed only by her passion for the written word.
Her debut paranormal romance, Infinity, was released in August 2015; and, her second novel is expected to be available by summer 2016.
Allaina is an avid reader and reviewer of all genres and enjoys connecting with her readers on social media.
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