The Darkest Touch by Gena Showalter TEASER & EXCERPT & REVIEW!

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR GENA SHOWALTER UNLEASHES

THE MOST ANTICIPATED LORDS OF THE UNDERWORLD TALE YET

THE DARKEST TOUCH

December 2014

From New York Times bestselling author Gena Showalter comes the long-awaited story of Torin, the most dangerous Lord of the Underworld yet…

Fierce immortal warrior. Host to the demon of Disease. Torin’s every touch causes sickness and death—and a worldwide plague. Carnal pleasure is utterly forbidden, and though he has always overcome temptation with an iron will, his control is about to shatter.

She is Keeley Cael. The Red Queen. When the powerful beauty with shocking vulnerabilities escapes from a centuries-long imprisonment, the desire that simmers between her and Torin is scorching. His touch could mean the end for her, but resisting her is the hardest battle he’s ever fought—and the only battle he fears he can’t win.

THE DARKEST TOUCH

GENA SHOWALTER

Gena Showalter is a New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author whose books have appeared in Cosmopolitan and Seventeen magazines, as well as Entertainment Weekly. Her novel Red Handed has been optioned by Sony Television. Critics have called her books “sizzling page-turners” and “utterly spellbinding stories,” while Showalter herself has been called “a star on 

the rise.” Her mix of humor, danger and wickedly hot sex provides wildly sensual page-turners sure to enthrall. 

Excerpt

She appeared in front of him, displaying more tanned
skin than she concealed, her hair falling around her face
in lush, golden waves. Her eyes glittered with remnants
of her anger. Her lips were slightly swollen and pinker
than usual.
“Temper much?” she quipped.
His relief was palpable. She hadn’t forgotten him! But
the relief was quickly replaced by concern. “Are you all
right? Did someone hit you?”
She blinked with confusion. “No. Why?”
“Your lips are swollen.”
She rubbed them, color heating her cheeks. “Someone
didn’t hit me, but someone sure did hit on me.”
Hit on her. As in kissed her.
Already on edge, Torin. Utterly. Erupted.
He forgot everything he’d planned to do and say and
got in Keeley’s face, snarling, “Who was it?”
Her eyes widened. “Hades. Why?”
“You dare ask why? You belong to me! We agreed.
You do not kiss other men, Keeley. Ever. Have you forgotten
my rules?”
Her jaw dropped, and she gasped out a few unintel-
246 the darkest touch
ligible words as if she couldn’t quite figure out what to
say to him.
He stood in place, breathing too quickly, too heavily,
his throat and lungs burning. He reached for her, but
as so many times before, fisted his hands and dropped
them just before contact. This is crazy. I’m crazy. I have
to leave.
“Are you…thinking about touching me?” she asked,
her eyes widening again.
No, she had to leave. He could not be in public right
now. “Go shopping. Buy yourself something pretty.
My treat.” He basically tossed his credit card at her. He
should be calm by the time she finished. “Come back
in an hour. Maybe two. Actually, we’ll reconvene tomorrow.”
“You are,” she said. “You’re thinking… Even craving
me. You don’t like the thought of another man’s hands
on me, and you want to replace the memory with your
hands.”
That. Yes. Hades would die, and Torin…Torin would
touch this woman and never stop.
He gnashed his molars. “Last chance, Keeley. I suggest
you take it and leave.” Soon. His control was almost
completely shredded.
“No way. You’re the big bad warrior, yet I’ve had to
come on to you time and time again. I’ve had to battle
within myself—worth the price or not worth it. Well,
it’s your turn.”
“There is no damn way you just suggested I haven’t
done the same. I’ve battled.”
“When have you ever caved without prompting from
me? You’ve resisted me so easily, always walking away.
Sure, you’ve snarled while you’ve done the walking,
gena showalter 247
but still you left me behind. So, tell me. When did you
ever—”
“So easily?” he roared. Had she just said so easily?
She had no clue about the intensity of his need—but he
would teach her better.
Torin cupped her by the nape, yanked her close and
smashed his mouth against hers. The kiss was a brutal
assault meant to silence her, to dominate and possess.
He held her still, making her take it, take everything.
But the moment she softened against him, welcomed
him inside her mouth, the darkness churning inside him
switched gears. From the need to punish and master to
the need to seduce and please.
This was Keeley. His princess. She deserved his best.
He gentled the pressure, rolling his tongue inside her
mouth, learning her all over again, tasting her. Summer
berries and melted honey. So sweet. And mine. All mine.
He framed her cheeks, angled her head and rolled his
tongue just a little deeper. This time, she met him with
a roll of her own.
That was his undoing.

Venom, vixen, viral, virgin, valor, and volatile!  Too many V words? Eh, no worries cause this was gooood! How long have you waited for this? Well folks, the wait is over and it is so worth it. There is a tremendous amount of sexual tension. The slow burn, cat-and-mouse, and all-consuming kind of chase that makes the pay off worth it: that’s what we get.

Torin is so sweet, and his longing to be able to touch and be touched makes him an instant book boyfriend. No matter the demons, he is on my list. Then comes the red queen from the cell next door, Keeley. She wants him dead…. well maybe.

The Lord of the Underworld has been the most dangerous and the most (in my opinion) wanted warrior to get his happy ending. The journey to that is a long one, but a great one.

Long time fans of the series will be in heaven. The wait is over. Grab a bottle of wine and settle in. It’s gonna be one hell of a ride!

T~

ARC provided by Harlequin/RockStar Promotions

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The Darkest Touch Pre-Order Campaign

If we reach 10,000 pre-orders for The Darkest Touch before the November 25^th release date, Gena Showalter will:

·        Post a never before seen sexy video showcasing the model of Torin’s cover in live action shots!

·        Chance to win a $100 gift e-card from the bookseller of your choice.

·        Gena will share chapter one of The Darkest Touch before the release date!

·        Chance of winning 1 of 10 signed copies of the backlist book of your choice, just in time for Christmas.

To enter The Darkest Touch Pre-Order Campaign,
 visit http://members.genashowalter.com/page/the-darkest-touch for details.