Dark Secrets by Shona Husk

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Release Date: Feb 18, 2013. Many thanks to Netgalley for the review copy.

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Shona Husk is back with a new fantasy paranormal that will blow you away! Ms. Husk has long been one of my favored authors with her Shadowlands Series being dear to my heart. I picked up Dark Vow, not sure that I'd enjoy it as much, as it is written in the First Person & I've always shied away from novels like that, but within the first few paragraphs, I was easily hooked. The way the lovely Ms. Husk looks at fantasy is just spell-binding! She weaves a creative web & snags the reader into her world. 

This book introduces us to the gorgeous yet disturbed Haidyn Mast, and the complicated world in which he resides, as an owner of a "lust house", trying to stay off the radar of the "Powers That Be". He has made a life for himself by using his magic to make his customers believe they've had an amazing time with him, yet he never has need to use his body, only his mind.. His carefully created world starts to fall apart when her realizes his long lost love the beautiful, shy Anisa, has married one of his greatest enemies and also a longtime customer of Haidyns' so he knows all to well how brutal Anisa's new spouse can be. However, Anisa's new husband Brixen, the Lawman, quickly puts together the fact that Haidyn may know something about his lovely new wife and sets out to destroy Haidyn, just as much as he fights his desire for him.. Can Haidyn & Anisa pull together & manage to survive? Or will Brixen mange to win this evil game & send Haidyn to the hangman's noose before these two star-crossed lovers get a chance to reunite?

Pre-order a copy of this amazing fantasy paranormal novel & find out! Shona Husk takes great care with details & easily pulls you into the new worlds she created in her fantastic mind. Check out the lovely Ms. Husk today! You don't want to miss this book!

Platinum gives Shona & "Dark Secrets": 

4.5 Platinum Rings!

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BLURB:

Six years ago, Haidyn Mast left his home and his betrothed Anisa to follow his magical calling. Too weak to join the Arcane Guild and too ashamed to return home, he has made a life as a prostitute--to all outward appearances. In truth, he sells his mind but not his body, using magic to let his clients experience their most secret fantasies while his hands stay clean. Even the Lawman, the arbiter of justice in Reseda, is one of his clients, but Haidyn would rather not know the extent of that man's depravity.

Though successful, Haidyn is shunned as a whore and his lack of formal training is causing his power to grow out of control. He's ready to retire and leave the city, but when he sees his Anisa standing at Lawman's side, he knows he must rescue her from the abusive enforcer. Risking his life and his sanity, he devises a plan, knowing that failure will mean death for him, and a lifetime of torment for her... 

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EXCERPT:

The Lawman raised his hand and waved, thanking everyone for

coming. I’m sure he realized we were only here to see his wife. He

turned, and for a moment I saw long hair like gold, a color that was

unusual in Westly County. Most folk had either copper-colored hair,

like me, or dark hair if they’d drifted over from Easly County.

My heart clenched and missed a beat. A pang of longing for

someone I’d left behind before I’d learned to value love.

Then the new wife stepped forward, dragged by Brixen’s hand. I

couldn’t breathe. Brixen’s wife was my Anisa.

I stumbled back.

How had she ended up on that bastard’s arm? My blood ran hot

then cold at the thought of what he’d do to her—and I knew

everything that went on in his twisted mind.

Anisa smiled and waved. Her dress was Lawman’s white.

I had no right to feel resentful or want her back. I had walked

away from her six years ago. But the memory of what we’d had still

kept me awake at night.

I’d been young and full of pride, about to join the most powerful

Union in Prasine. She was my promised, but when the Union had

refused me entrance I’d been unable to go home. Shame had trapped

me in Reseda. I couldn’t face her, knowing I’d failed to get in. Once

I’d slipped further, I’d known I could never go back no matter how

bad things became.

Now she was here. At Brixen’s side.

My stomach twisted and gave me a mouthful of bitter bile.

My stomach twisted and gave me a mouthful of bitter bile.

I’d fallen so deeply into the gutter that I had no hope of ever

climbing out and being seen as anything but scum by her. The crowd

began to shift and disperse; I slunk back the way I’d come, eager to

be gone before either the Lawman or his wife set eyes on me. I

couldn’t bear to be seen by either today. How was I going to face

Brixen when he came to my bed?

The liquor I’d drunk became poison in my blood. In the small side

road I placed my palm against the cool stone wall, my gut heaving. I

swallowed hard and closed my eyes and fought for control. I couldn’t

fall apart in public as that would be bad for business and would

attract too much of the wrong attention.

I straightened slowly, then I smoothed my coat and forced my feet

to move as if I had not a care in the world. But my boiling blood was

killing me and every time I blinked I saw Anisa on the Lawman’s

arm. Tonight she’d be in his bed. I wanted to turn around and tell her

to run, that whatever he’d told her were lies. I didn’t want her to

know the horror that dwelled in the Lawman’s heart. But I couldn’t

say anything. She’d made her vow before the ten Lords, which was

more than I’d ever done, and I doubted she’d believe a word out of

my mouth.

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