EXCERPT and GIVEAWAY
Damaged
(Dark Road Book 2)
(Dark Road Book 2)
by Krys Fenner
Damaged is the second book in the Dark Road series by Krys Fenner. Also available: Addicted (read my blog post). Coming soon: Avenged.
Damaged is currently on tour with Xpresso Book Tours. The tour stops here today for an excerpt and a giveaway. Please be sure to visit the other tour stops as well.
Description
Hope springs eternal for everyone except Bella Kynaston. She survived the rape, but the aftermath is a whole other story. She struggles to figure out who she really is as more truths are revealed about her heritage. With no real anchor, sometimes ending it all seems like the only way out.
David has loved Bella for three years. Too bad he feels as if he no longer deserves a chance with her. Much to his surprise that’s exactly what he gets, but she’s far more damaged than he ever imagined. Still, he’ll do anything to help her even if it means losing himself in the process. Any transgression can be forgiven. Or so he thinks.
Will Bella find the peace she so desperately seeks if the pain permanently ended? Is there someone who can get to her in time? Or will the damage she’s suffered prove too much to bear?
Excerpt
Bella half-glanced at Alex. “You look fine.”
“That’s what you said about the last pair of jeans.”
“They were fine, too.”
“You’re no help!” Alex exclaimed loudly and stomped back into the changing room.
It was cruel, but Alex’s reaction when Bella failed to compliment her amused the hell out of Bella. She’d only agreed to the trip to the mall to escape her parents. They were back in the house, and although her parents had been eager to return, she was the one who had to go back to the room where it all started. But between the pills and her capacity to stay out of the house, she managed to hide her pain well. Even better than she had as a child.
“What about this?” Alex stepped out in a tight, black miniskirt. The black should’ve washed out her white legs; instead, her skin glowed with an ethereal beauty.
“Fine.”
“Fine? Again?”
Bella snorted a tiny giggle and whipped a hand to her mouth to stifle a laugh.
Alex crossed her arms. “You’re screwing with me.”
“Maybe. Who’re you trying to impress, anyway?”
“Raul’s going to be at the party.” Alex blushed.
“You must really like him.”
“I do. He’s, you know, different.”
“I’ll take your word for it.” Bella grinned. “Try something else. You might give the poor boy a heart attack in that skirt.”
Alex brushed the skirt down and glanced at her legs. Self-loathing flitted across her face. She nodded and disappeared back into the changing room.
Bella sighed. She hadn’t mean the comment to come off as negative. It was supposed to be a compliment, but it appeared her friend didn’t take it that way. “Alex.”
“No, no. It’s okay. You’re right. I’ll just change into something else.”
How could she forget her friends had their own demons? Alex had never accepted she was beautiful. The girl was tall and thin, and her skin was flawless, but she could pinpoint everything that was wrong with her body. Now that Bella thought about it, she had never seen Alex in a skirt. Alex had often complained about her legs. They were too long, they were too pale, people could see her freckles.
Lord, she felt so stupid. Bella had enjoyed teasing her friend about all the jeans the girl had tried on, but hadn’t thought twice when she commented on the skirt.
Someone brushed against Bella’s back. She flinched and her whole body stiffened. She spun around and swung, and the palm of her hand smacked the face of the guy behind her.
“What the hell!?”
Oh. It was just some stranger. Shit! Bella shoved a hand through her hair and inched backwards. Surely, he hadn’t done it on purpose, but that never mattered. She panicked, now, at even the slightest hint of anybody’s hands near her body.
“I ... I ... I’m sorry.”
“Get a grip, would ya? Sheesh.” The guy shook his head and walked away.
Bella eased her back against the wall, gripped her head, and slowly slid to the floor. This wasn’t the first time she’d hit some random person. Her body was a time bomb triggered by the slightest touch. She’d talked to the freaking doctor her parents asked her to see. But nothing improved. It all just got worse with every day that passed.
That monster had invaded her life and stolen all she’d had, leaving a horrible world in its place. It seemed like everything would be better if she hadn’t survived. The pain she carried in her chest wouldn’t exist. The fear she faced every time she left her house would be gone. There would only be peace.
Peace. Not heaven. Just peace. Bella hiccupped, and her tears subsided.
[Want more? Click below to read a longer excerpt.]
Praise for the Book
“Another great cover from Krys Fenner! […] The characters are well-developed and it was inspiring to see Bella finally start making some better choices. I'm anxious to see where the author takes this story, and I think it will really make or break this series. It's really a great dark YA!” ~ T. Schu
“This book was darker and emotionally gripped me until the bitter end.” ~ Laura Hernandez
“Great book.” ~ Michelle Olms
“This is the second book in Bella's story. Bella's story is one of pain and suffering and what extreme's she goes to in order to ease some of it. The amount of pain and heartache a person goes after being the victim of terrible things is shown vividly in this story, it is a palpable one that makes you want to take this young girl and hug it all away for her. That perhaps makes this a hard story to read, but also well worth the read.” ~ Terry
“I found this book hard to put down. […] I will definitely read more books from this author.” ~ Rebecca
About the Author
Krys Fenner has been infinitely passionate about writing and helping people for as long as she can remember. To date, she has published two books, numerous poems, and is now avidly working on a fantasy series. Krys received an Associate of Arts in Psychology and is currently working on her B.A.
Giveaway
Enter the tour-wide giveaway for a chance to win some great prizes (open internationally). Grand Prize: Signed copy of Addicted and Damaged, plus $20 Amazon gift card and gifts of healing ($75 value). First Prize: ebook Damaged by Krys Fenner and Winner Choice ebook. Second Prize: ebook Damaged by Krys Fenner and Damaged by Willow Winters. Third Prize: ebook Damaged by Krys Fenner and ebook by C.L. Romans. Additional prizes: 3 paperback copies of Damaged; 2 $10 Amazon gift cards.
Links
