Pandora's Box by Gracen Miller

Howdy, Eclectic Author readers! I’m Gracen Miller and the author of the paranormal romance series, The Road to Hell. I’m a hopeless daydreamer masquerading as a “normal” person in southern society. When I’m not writing, I’m a full-time basketball/football/guitar mom for my two very active sons and I’m a devoted wife to my real-life hero-husband of twenty years. I’m addicted to writing, paranormal romance novels and movies, Alabama college football—Roll Tide Roll!—and coffee…addictions are not necessarily in order of priority. Coffee is nectar from the gods and blending coffee and writing together generates the perfect creative merger. Many of my creative worlds are spawned from coffee highs…except for at the moment because I’ve placed myself on a self-imposed caffeine restriction. Not sure what I was thinking, because it’s not going so good. ;-)

Many who know me personally are surprised by what I write. I’ve heard this comment more times than I can count, “You’re too sweet to write stuff that dark and wicked”. Well, actually, no I’m not too sweet and the darker and wickeder I can write a story, the happier I am. I grew up watching horror movies. Watched The Exorcist at the age of 5—gotta wonder what my parents were thinking, but it started a life-long love of all things paranormal and horror.

Here’s a taste of one wicked and dark entity in book one of the Road to Hell series, Pandora’s Box…

PANDORA’S BOX

Explained by Pandora

Where does the road to Hell begin?

Forget everything you’ve heard about me. I’m not the mythical box Pandora opened, releasing all the woes unto the world and trapping only hope inside. Oh, no, I’m so much more. Seriously, the legend amuses me. It is child’s play compared to what I am. How gullible you humans are. You shouldn’t have dismissed me so casually. As I emerge again, my eyes dawning on a new world, I’m intrigued by your arrogance…

With good intentions?

Through my new host, I’ll crush you while exposing the evils of the world for your innocent eyes to behold. That’s what you humans seek, right? Enlightenment? To understand the mysteries of the universe? Well, I promise to lay bare the naked truth of your marriage and parentage. I’ll even unravel the hoax of religion for your viewing pleasure. When I’m finished, I promise all your pointless hopes will have died along with the myriad revelations…

Or by demonic design?

Give into my persuasion…I don’t want much just control of your soul and body. To those who trapped me, I promise to laugh as I make you bleed. My human host will be in for one wild joy ride as I lay the world to waste…

In a small, sleepy Alabama town, the battle for mankind’s liberty has begun…

Madison Wescott wasn’t my choices of hosts. She’s too strong, too tough, and not the weak-willed sort I’d choose. But she’s got potential, a husband with a secret, and a mother I can taunt her with from the grave. Just a few problems, the immortal teacher at her side and I need to convince her to allow me in the driver’s seat…but stubborn will last for only so long. I’ll eventually break free and I’ll own her. It’s just a matter of time. I have nothing but time. Until then I’ll enjoy the adventures in the passenger seat and mocking the decisions she makes. When I’m driving, I’ll rock this world to its knees …

To find out how I incorporated the legend of Pandora’s Box into my Road to Hell series, open up the first book in the series, Pandora’s Box.

Pandora's Box

by Gracen Miller

Pandora's Box Available at Decadent Publishing

Where does the road to Hell begin?

What happens when your son turns homicidal overnight and your husband disappears on his way to work? Do you cower in fear or fight for your life? Madison Wescott fights against the odds. Distrustful of a God she doesn’t believe in, she finds herself face-to-face with a world she didn’t know existed and discovers her own soul is darkened with demonic connections.

With good intentions? Or by demonic design?

Phoenix Birmingham bursts into Madison’s life in a whirlwind of sarcasm and sexual appeal. A hero for the masses—and for her jaded heart—but few will ever know the sacrifices he has made or the sacrifices to come. Discovering her entire life has been influenced by multifaceted paranormal beings, Madison is determined to defeat the apocalyptic blueprint fate has decreed, but only one man dares to challenge the supernatural forces manipulating them. Even with Phoenix’s aid, can destiny be denied? Or will demonic design prevail while they pay the crucial price with their souls?

In a small, sleepy Alabama town the battle for mankind’s liberty has begun...

Excerpt:

“May I?” He held up the medical supplies.

She nodded and watched as he doused gauze with antiseptic. “Dr. Nix at your service,” he said with a grin, two adorable dimples charming her where words failed.

Madison rolled her eyes, and tipped her head to the side to give him better access. He brushed her hair off her neck, back behind her shoulder. Such a simple gesture, yet it felt terribly personal. The air grew thick and sticky with her awareness of him. She shifted in her seat and crossed her legs.

Madison stared into his eyes. Green, she thought, his eyes were green, gorgeous and intense, with ridiculously long eyelashes women would fantasize about. If they didn’t, they should. A flicker of compassion, concern, and something else she couldn’t identify flashed in his eyes.

“Ready?” he asked.

The husky tenor of his voice forced her gaze to shift to his mouth. Nice, sexy lips, designed for kissing. She gave a mental shake but couldn’t resist wondering how his mouth would feel on hers.

“Madison?” Humor deepened his voice, a touch of a smile tilted the edges of the lips she’d been fantasizing about, and she realized she still stared at them. “You ready?” he asked again, and her eyes widened in embarrassment over her foolish stupor.

She swallowed hard. “Yeah.” She whispered past the lump in her throat and forced her vision to lock on the wall over his shoulder. Good God, what was wrong with her? Her pulse throbbed like crazy, and she felt woozy. Loss of blood! Must be why she reacted that way. No other explanation made sense.

Even though the antiseptic stung like hell, the gentle touch coming from such a gruff man surprised her. “It’s not bad,” he said, dabbing the blood away. “Just a nick.”

Well, she could nix the blood loss theory. Exhaustion and stress were the only other excuses she could come up with. “I’ve suffered worse.” Her voice sounded off, kind of hoarse. She tried to clear her throat delicately, but he must have noticed her unease, because his perceptive eyes met hers. Again, she thought she caught the edge of concern reflected in their green depths.

“This isn’t the first time he’s attacked you?”

“No. It’s the first time he’s tried to seriously kill me, though.” She sighed as she closed her eyes, ready to give up fighting, the sudden tears threatening to fall. Okay, woozy and acting strange because of strain…not because of him. Seriously, as far as first impressions went, she wasn’t impressed.

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Contest

Leave a comment, with a valid email, for a chance to win your choice of one of my back titles from Decadent Publishing. I’ll draw a winner on April 24, 2012. Good luck!

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Thanks for having me with you An Eclectic Author!

Huggles,

Gracen

Where you can stalk me—not really!—but I would love to meet and interact with you:

~ Website ~ Blog ~ Facebook ~ Road to Hell series FB Fan Page ~
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