Friday, September 21, 2012

Bewitching Book Tour: ELEMENTAL by Kelbian Noel



I'm excited to bring you another book tour.  Elemental, book one of the Elementals series, is a YA urban fantasy novel that I can't wait to read!  I've got an excerpt for you, as well as some information about the book and the author.  Plus, there's a really cool witchy giveaway going on for the entire tour. Enjoy!



Short Excerpt Elemental



The kiss is tender, as usual. But aggressive in a way that makes me regret inviting him over. Maybe I should have just gone to the mountains. Watching Dad play the part of the Holly King for the coven’s Yule ritual would be less uncomfortable.
Toby pulls my right leg over his lap, so that I face him.
He really is good at multi-tasking, I think as our lips stay connected the whole time.
His hands snake up my back and as he pulls me closer to him, he lets out a low moan.
This is going way too fast.
After several tries, I pull away with success.
“What?”  Toby asks, breathless. His face is flushed in the muted glow of the living room.
“I just…I’m kind of…are you sure you’re not hungry?”
“Positive.” He pulls me back to him. “I have everything I need right here.”
This time I kiss him. I figure, if I take the lead, I can determine the pace. But I’m wrong. Five minutes later, Toby’s thick fingers are fumbling with the buttons on my shirt.
I put my hands over his. “Wait.”
“You should’ve worn a t-shirt,” he says laughing. “Do you want to do the honors?”
I shake my head, roll off him and sit up. “I think maybe we’re going too fast.”
Toby props himself up on one elbow. “I can go slower. Sorry, I’m just excited, that’s all.” He reaches forward to cup my chin.
Excited is an understatement.
“No, Toby. I mean with everything. Maybe we should…wait.”
He drops his arm and looks up at me, his hopeful expression falling.
“I’m sorry,” I say. “I thought I was ready. I just feel like this is too weird. In my living room, when my parents aren’t home. I mean, what if they walked in or—”
“You said they wouldn’t be home until tomorrow.” Toby sits up. “And you promised.”
“I know, I just—”
“How long am I supposed to wait, Baltimore, huh? We’ve been together for almost two years. Do you have any idea how hard it’s been?”
“No. Why don’t you enlighten me?” I cross my arms.
“Are you kidding? In case you haven’t noticed you’re kind of the town freak.”
My mouth drops open and I narrow my eyes. “Then I guess that makes you the village idiot.”
“Maybe it does. I mean, I like you. A lot. I always have. You know what my friends say? That you put some kind of spell on me. That you’re controlling my feelings.”
I can’t hold back the bark of laughter. “Seriously? And, what? Now you’re thinking there’s some truth to that bull?”
Toby slips his shirt back over his head and stands to his feet. “I don’t know what to think. I know that despite your quirks, I’m still into you. But it doesn’t seem to be paying off, does it?”
“Quirks?” I gape.
“Your parents are witches.” Toby throws his hands in the air. “You’re…well not my regular type.”
“You mean I’m not blonde and blue-eyed.”
No. You’re different. You’re not one of those girls who cares what she looks like.”
Was that supposed to be a compliment? “Wow.”
“I mean you’re beautiful. I love your face. Your skin. Even your hair.”
I push past him and head to the kitchen. “You should stop talking now.”
Toby grabs my wrist. “I’m serious, Baltimore. I’m so into you it hurts, but sometimes I swear you don’t see me the same way.”
I sigh and allow him to entwine his fingers with mine. “What are you saying? Sleeping with you will validate my feelings for you?”
Toby kisses my nose. “It would mean a lot to me if we could get past this. I love everything about you.” He tugs on one of my dreadlocks. “And I want to love even more of you.”
Our lips meet again and as I wrap my arms around his neck, I consider his words. Maybe he’s right. Then why do I feel so sick about it?
I pull away and meet his gaze. “I promise you, when the time is right I’ll—”
His mouth covers mine again, muffling my words. I grunt beneath his body and as he pins me to the kitchen wall, I push against his heavy chest but Toby’s hands tighten around my waist. I thrust my knee upward, connecting with his groin.
He yelps, staggering backwards. “What the hell?” He hunches over, steadying himself with one hand on the kitchen table. “What’d you do that for?”
“Me?” I back up and wipe my mouth with the back of my hand.
“So that’s it? The answer’s just no?”
“I’m saying not right now. I’m not ready.”
“Baltimore.” He holds me by my shoulders, squeezing a little bit harder than normal. “Don’t do this to me. I love you.”
“Then wait.” I’d seen that response in a movie once. And was ready to use it at a moment’s notice. The moment is right, but it has no effect on him.
He grabs me again, holding tighter this time. Palming the back of my head he smothers my lips with his eager wet ones.
“No.” I push him hard startled by the volume of my voice.
When the ground shakes beneath me and the dishes begin to rattle, I subconsciously go into survival mode. It isn’t until I’m under the kitchen table looking up at Toby that I realize how silly the situation is.
Earthquakes in Utah?
Toby glances around, frantic. Flames explode from the fireplace and he yelps. Water burst from the sprinklers and he covers his head with his arms. When the porch door flies open sending a tunnel of wind through the kitchen, the look on his face is one of pure astonishment.
Our eyes meet and for the first time I see something on Toby’s face I’ve never seen before. Fear. Of me.


 


Elemental

The Elementals, Book 1

Kelbian Noel



Genre: Young Adult Urban Fantasy


ASIN: B008MZ59Q0

Number of pages: 364
Word Count: 71279

Cover Artist: Kelbian Noel

Book Description:

Baltimore Land is a typical teenager whose parents embarrass her completely. She wants nothing to do with her family's beliefs and is convinced their silly rituals only exist to make her life miserable. All she wants is to be normal, but the fact that her parents are witches seriously messes with her social life.

She's doing alright, with a boyfriend who seems to like her just the way she is and an awesome best friend who is fascinated by her lifestyle, but she's not the most popular girl in her small Utah town. In fact, she's kind of the town freak.

When her boyfriend's ex tries to win him back, Baltimore's emotions get the best of her and she soon realizes her parents' beliefs aren't so silly after all--they're just the beginning.



About the Author:



From a very young age, Kelbian loved to read. She found herself engulfed in novels by Janette Oke and L.M. Montgomery, but never seemed to find herself in the pages. At the age of 11 she declared she would write stories that had to do with her own experience, and be the youngest author in history. But life was full of baseball, homework, best friends and boys.

Decades later, having studied writing in college and pursued it as a career, Kelbian decided it was time to get back to her dream. She started writing again, joined a critique group and wrote two novels. Then in March 2011, along came Elemental. This time life's distractions couldn't shake the feeling that the world needed to hear Baltimore's story. At least those who would listen! A year later, Kelbian is excited to introduce Elemental to the world with hopes someone will love the story as much as she does.

Kelbian lives in Toronto, Ontario, Canada with her two children.





 
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8 comments:

  1. What a fantastic excerpt!! How many books are planned for the series?

    And how wonderful you are able to get back to writing with a voice young people can identify with.

    Best of luck to you Kelbian, I look forward to reading more of your work!!

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    2. Hey Rachel :)

      Thanks for the kind words :) And I'm glad you liked it! There are 5 novels planned for this series. The second is due out this coming spring. All five are told from the perspective of 5 different people. The next three are girls, just like Baltimore. I hope you'll check them out!

      Readers can learn more about Baltimore's "sisters" on my website, kelbian.com ;)

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    3. Yay! Can't wait to hear more from you.

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  2. Hi Jen,

    Thanks for having me on your blog today! :)

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    1. My pleasure!! This series sounds wonderful. Can't wait for more!

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  3. Wow, Kel, I enjoyed reading this excerpt. Elemental is right up there on my list. Love the Baltimore's voice as well. :)

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