Synopsis
In a fiery tale filled with villains and heroes, this first
installment of the Earth Angel series takes readers on a magical journey rich
with emotion, intrigue, and danger. Fans of Twilight, The Red Queen, The
Selection, and Harry Potter will devour this breathless fantasy set in a modern
mystical world.
It all starts with a letter . . .
Eighteen-year-old Layla Callaway doesn’t believe in magic or
soul mates. And if angels were real, her mother would still be alive.
But her mom’s dead and a surprise inheritance is about to change
everything.
The Earth Angel series is a young adult adaptation of The Mystic
Series by B.C. Burgess.
Excerpt
Quin could
feel it coming—the perfect intro to an unusual subject. “There are a lot of
things people don’t see,” he pointed out. “That doesn’t mean they don’t exist.”
“But that’s
like saying anything’s possible,” Layla argued.
Quin’s heart
skipped a few beats, his free hand flexing as nerves erupted, twitching his
entire body. Everything was riding on how he handled the next few minutes. “So
you need proof to believe in something,” he said, trying to keep his voice
casual, but his anxiety was at an all-time high.
Layla
thought for a moment then nodded. “Yeah. In order for me to say I honestly
believe in something, I need proof. I could consider a theory, and find it
plausible, but that doesn’t equal belief.”
“So if I
told you I have a pair of jeans at home,” he teased, trying to ease his
tension, “you wouldn’t believe me?”
“Very
funny,” she laughed, “and completely off subject. Now, if you tell me there’s a
purple alien staying in your guestroom, we’ll be back on track.”
“I don’t
believe in purple aliens,” he countered.
Layla tilted
her head. “How can you believe in one and not the other?”
“You believe
I have jeans, yet you dismiss soul mates.”
“I’ve seen
jeans, so I know they exist.”
“So it’s
definite. For you, seeing is believing.”
“I would
have to say, yes, it’s definite.” She paused, chewing her lip as she looked
down. “That doesn’t mean I’m not open to ideas. I like to hear theories and
form opinions. I just can’t support them without proof, and I won’t change my
desired lifestyle based on blind faith.”
“I think
that’s a strong and honest point of view,” he commended.
“Maybe. Or
maybe it’s stubborn and contrary.” She stopped spinning her twig and looked him
in the eye. “What else do you believe in?”
He
hesitated, terrified to come right out and say it. “A lot of things. There are
a lot of secrets out there.”
“But no
purple aliens,” she added.
“Not that
I’m aware of,” he confirmed.
She laughed
and shook her head. “Okay. So what is out there?”
She’d done
it again. She’d given him the perfect intro. After a deep breath, he took the
plunge. “How do you feel about magic?”
“What do you
mean?”
“Do you
believe in magic?” he rephrased, barely breathing as he searched everything
about her—face, posture, hands, the air around her.
“Are you
asking if I believe magicians really do possess miraculous power?” she asked.
“No,” he
clarified. “I’m not talking about sleight of hand or smoke and mirrors, which
is what you see at public magic shows. I’m talking about real magic. The kind
the public doesn’t see.”
“You’re
forgetting,” she replied, “I need to see to believe.”
“Right,” he
mumbled.
“Do you
believe?” she asked.
Quin maintained
sober eye contact as he answered. “I do.”
“Hmm…” she
mumbled, curiously searching his gaze. Then she shrugged. “I guess that’s no
different than believing in soul mates, and since we can’t prove each other
wrong, it’s a moot point.”
Quin took a
moment to memorize her smile before risking it. “What if I told you I could
prove it?”
Her lips
dropped as her forehead furrowed. “I guess I’d ask you how.”
Quin filled
his lungs then scooted around, sitting cross-legged in front of her. She pulled
her knees from her chest, crossing her legs as well, and he took her twig,
tossing it aside so he could have her hands.
“Layla,” he
breathed, meeting her stare, “I’m not like most people.”
“I know,”
she smirked.
“That’s not
what I mean,” he continued. “I’m saying I can do things other people can’t.”
She tilted
her head, biting her lip as she watched his eyes. “Like what?”
“A lot of
things,” he answered, tightening his hold on her hands. He couldn’t help
himself. It took a great deal of restraint not to grip her like his life
depended on it.
“Like what?”
she urged.
Quin sighed
and got it over with. “Like magic, Layla.”
Stunned,
confused and torn between laughing and backing away, Layla had to make sure
she’d heard correctly. “Magic?”
“Yes,” Quin
confirmed.
“You’re joking,”
she assumed.
“No,” he
insisted. “I’m very serious.”
“Magic,” she
repeated, at a loss for something useful to say.
Quin nodded,
and Layla continued to stare, unable to make heads or tails of his confession.
Oh god. He was crazy. She was in the middle of nowhere with a crazy person.
Quin
shifted, his fingers flexing around hers. “What are you thinking?”
“That you’re
crazy,” she snapped, agitated by the whole damn situation. She glanced over her
shoulder, wondering how to handle the handsome nutcase. Then she smoothed her
ruffled feathers and looked back. “I’m sorry. That was mean. But . . . well,
are you?”
“Am I what?”
Crazy, she
thought. “Unwell,” she answered. “Do you take meds and visit with doctors about
your . . . magic?”
Quin smiled
and shook his head. “I’m not crazy, Layla. I’m telling the truth. I can perform
genuine magic.”
Apprehensive
about playing along, Layla looked down, weighing her options. She hated the
thought of blowing him off—returning him to the café before walking away
forever. But she couldn’t sweep the subject under the rug and pretend his
delusional behavior was normal.
“So,” she
whispered, trying to remain sympathetic despite her disappointment, “what kind
of things can you do?”
“Just about
anything,” he answered, relaxing his grip. “Do you want me to tell you or show
you?”
She raised
an eyebrow, wondering how far he would take it. “Both.”
“Okay, but
don’t let it scare you. There’s nothing to be afraid of.”
“Okay,” she
hesitantly agreed.
“Hand me
that twig you were spinning,” he instructed, releasing one of her hands.
Layla
reached out, blindly finding the twig and handing it over.
“Don’t be
frightened,” he pressed, softly kissing her hand. Then he placed it in her lap.
Layla
touched her tingling knuckles, her heart and cheeks flooding with warmth. Damn.
Why’d he have to be crazy?
Quin held
out a hand, and the small stick lay idle in his large palm. “I can make this
twig do pretty much anything I want without touching it.”
“Show me,”
she insisted.
Keeping his
gaze on her face, he took a deep breath and pointed at the twig, which floated
into the air! Layla gasped, clapping a hand over her mouth, and the stick fell
to Quin’s palm.
“Are you
okay?” he asked.
“How did you
do that?” she demanded.
“Magic,” he
answered.
She shook
her head, unable to find her lungs. “This is a joke. This has to be a joke.”
“No,” he
countered, “it’s magic.”
Review
I had been wanting to read
the Mystic Series for quite some time but for one reason or another
something always interfered (a new book, timing, etc.) When I found out that she redid all of the books
but as a Young Adult series I was intrigued. Would that be a good thing or bad?
So many people loved this series and the chemistry that existed between the
characters. Could you keep the chemistry while dialing back the heat?
From the moment I picked up
the book and stated reading I was engaged. However, it wasn’t until the
“Letter” showed up that I couldn’t physically put the book down. I had to
follow Layla’s adventures and discover where and how she would get there. Would
she find the perfect cup of coffee? Who would she meet along her road trip?
Most importantly, would she be able to solve the clues that were left behind
for her?
B.C. Burgess nails it with
this book! I am sure all of the little pieces of “bread” she leaves along the
way are hints at bigger things to come and that excites to me. I am already reading the second book of the
series because I need more Layla and Quin. This book is the perfect cross
between the romance of Twilight and the magic of Harry Potter. If you are
looking for something different…this is it!
Buy Now
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About B.C. Burgess
Hi! I’m B. C. Burgess – author of fantasy and paranormal romance. I’m a
small town girl born and raised in Oklahoma, but I dream big and tend to let my
imagination run wild. I’m addicted to coffee and writing, so the combination is
my idea of heaven. I read every day, if only to my young son, whom I hope to
someday inspire with my passion for reading and writing.
