The Holders (Holders #1)
Release Date:
03/05/2013
Summary from
Goodreads:
17-year-old
Becca spent her whole life protecting her brother from, well, everything. The
abandonment of their father, the so called 'experts' who insist that voices in
his head are unnatural and must be dealt with, and the constant threat of being
taken away to some hospital and studied like an animal. When two
representatives appear claiming to have the answers to Ryland's perceived
problem, Becca doesn't buy it for one second. That is until they seem to know
things about Ryland and about Becca and Ryland's family, that forces Becca to concede
that there may be more to these people than meets the eye. Though still highly
skeptical, Becca agrees to do what's best for Ryland.
What they find at St. Brigid's is a world beyond their imagination. Little by little they piece together the information of their family's heritage, their estranged Father, and the legend of the Holder race that decrees Ryland is the one they've been waiting for. However, they are all--especially Becca--in for a surprise that will change what they thought they knew about themselves and their kind.
She meets Alex, a Holder who is fiercely loyal to their race, and for some reason, Becca and Ryland. There's an attraction between Becca and Alex that can't be denied, but her true nature seems destined to keep them apart. However, certain destinies may not be as clear cut as everyone has always believed them to be.
Becca is lost, but found at the same time. Can she bring herself to leave Ryland now that he's settled and can clearly see his future? Will she be able to put the the feelings she has for Alex aside and head back to the US? And can Becca and Ryland ever forgive their father for what he's done?
What they find at St. Brigid's is a world beyond their imagination. Little by little they piece together the information of their family's heritage, their estranged Father, and the legend of the Holder race that decrees Ryland is the one they've been waiting for. However, they are all--especially Becca--in for a surprise that will change what they thought they knew about themselves and their kind.
She meets Alex, a Holder who is fiercely loyal to their race, and for some reason, Becca and Ryland. There's an attraction between Becca and Alex that can't be denied, but her true nature seems destined to keep them apart. However, certain destinies may not be as clear cut as everyone has always believed them to be.
Becca is lost, but found at the same time. Can she bring herself to leave Ryland now that he's settled and can clearly see his future? Will she be able to put the the feelings she has for Alex aside and head back to the US? And can Becca and Ryland ever forgive their father for what he's done?
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Excerpt
“The
second set is beginning,” Bastian continued, coolly offering me his
hand. “May I have the pleasure?”
I
paused only slightly and took a moment to listen carefully to the
song wafting through the air, praying it was a meter I recognized and
would be able to dance to. Silently I began to count. There were
three beats per bar which meant three/four time. It was a waltz. A
quick glance at the couples who were already dancing confirmed my
assessment and the slight tension in my shoulders broke. I had this.
Jocelyn,
however, was clearly not as confident in my dancing abilities as I
was. “I’m sure Becca would be delighted,” he said suddenly,
obviously feeling this situation demanded he step in, “but I’m
not sure she realizes–”
“I
would love to,” I interrupted, taking Bastian’s hand with a
smile.
As
he led me away from the group and onto the dance floor, I knew
Jocelyn wasn’t happy with me, but I wasn’t worried. If he was
afraid that I was about to embarrass myself by stumbling all over the
dance floor, then he was going to be pleasantly surprised. If his
fear was that I would probe Bastian about spying on me back in
Pennsylvania, well… he was right. But just because I planned to
dig, didn’t mean I couldn’t handle the situation tactfully.
Though,
given my history, I couldn’t pretend that his fears were entirely
unfounded…
Trying
to ignore the fact that every single eye in the room was fixed on us
as we crossed the it and took to the floor, I kept my head high, my
smile easy, and my mind on the mission. I wasn’t going to let their
whispers and pointed stares get to me this time, not now that I fully
understood the sort of shady frauds I was dealing with. These people
were as underhanded as they came and had been playing us for fools.
And by the end of this dance I planned to be able to prove it.
When
we reached an open space in the center of the dance floor, we stopped
and turned to face one another. My heart began to kick my ribs a bit
as we assumed the dance position and I saw all the other couples
twirling around us like extras from a Rodgers and Hammerstein show.
Reminding myself that it was just a waltz and that I was more than
capable, I held my breath and waited for his lead, trying my best to
look as calm and collected as he did. He glanced down at me to
confirm I was ready, and a moment later we were gliding around the
room like pros.
Or
he was anyway.
I
was doing my best to keep up, while also making sure not to let
anyone realize I was having trouble. I had been prepared to waltz,
and we were waltzing all right, but it wasn’t the traditional box
step that I was used to. Apparently Bastian preferred open footwork,
which involved larger steps and a lot more spinning, consequently
making it much grander than its box cousin – and more difficult.
Maybe this was how he always waltzed, or maybe he assumed that I
wouldn’t be able to handle the more difficult style and would have
to bow out, but either way I was determined to hold my own. The dance
may have looked and felt different, but it was still a waltz, and
that meant that the footwork was generally the same. My other saving
grace was the fact that, while still a lying cad, Bastian was a very
strong lead and wittingly or no he was making me look far better than
I was. Uncle Joe would have been proud.
As
we twirled around the perimeter of the dance floor I waited for him
to say something. After all, he had to know that I’d recognized
him, so it was only a matter of time before he came at me with
something: an excuse, a test question, or maybe even a threat. But
the longer I waited the more clear it became that he didn’t plan on
saying anything… at all. It looked like he didn’t have anything
to say. But that was fine… because I had plenty.
“Nothing
to say this evening?” I asked, keeping my sarcasm – just barely –
in check.
“Forgive
me,” he replied after a moment, though there was a new aloof,
almost bored air to his tone, “I am not myself tonight. You look
lovely this evening, and are quite a… proficient dancer… for an
American.”
“The
dance?” I asked, gritting my teeth as I let his blatant insult go.
“Is that really what you want to discuss?”
“We
are dancing,” he
said with a haughty inflection that made me want to stomp on his
foot, “so it seemed an appropriate subject. Would you prefer the
weather, or perhaps a commentary on the entertainment this evening?”
God,
what an ass!
I
hadn’t known him all that well in school, so I wasn’t sure if he
was acting this way to try and repel me and my questions, or if
“self-righteous dick” was just his natural state, but I was not
about to be deterred. “I was thinking something more like Mr
Sacklehide’s honors English class, or maybe Mrs Tatala’s Algebra
3,” I said innocently, listing a few of the classes we’d shared.
Certain
I had him in a corner, I looked up at his face as I waited for him to
respond, looking for the spark of panic in his eyes. Unfortunately,
he must have been prepared for my veiled accusations, because all I
got from his expression was confusion and a mild hint of annoyance.
“Am I supposed to know what you are referring to?” he asked after
he realized I was not going to expand.
“Oh,
I’m pretty sure you do.”
“Then
it would appear you are mistaken,” he replied casually, actually
having the gall to roll his eyes.
So
this is how it was going to go? Denials and lies? Playing dumb?
Treating me like a pest wasting his precious time? Not a chance. If
this asshole actually thought he was going to get away with this, he
had no idea who he was dealing with – but he was about to find out.
Game
on.
Praise for Series:
“The twisty plot and swoony romance of The
Seers kept me turning the pages as I fell in love with Becca and Alex all over
again.”
Trisha Wolfe, author of Fireblood
“It had a gripping plot, plenty of exciting twists and
turns and some pretty fantastic characters which all combined to keep me glued
to the pages.”
A Dream of Books
“If this is any notion of what Julianna Scott
can do, I cannot wait to see what is next. The Holders was refreshing and just one heck of a good
read.”
The Book Cellar
“I am so thankful this is only the beginning of a
series because I couldn't imagine not being able to read a continuation of
Becca's story. The Holders is a novel too entertaining and emotionally
charged to pass up!”
Lovey Dovey Books
“There are a lot of other things to love about The Holders – a detailed history and Celtic element come to mind
– but it was really the characters that sold this novel for me.”
More Than Just Magic
Julianna was
born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and spent the majority of her educational
career convinced she would be a musician. However, after receiving her music
degree from Edinboro University of Pennsylvania, she realized that she'd been
born in the wrong era for her dreams of singing jazz to adoring fans clad in
zoot-suits and flapper dresses to come true, and began to wonder if her true
calling might be elsewhere.
While Julianna had always excelled in writing throughout school, she'd never considered it a career possibility until about three years ago, when she'd gotten her first story idea and decided to go for it. She grabbed her laptop, started typing away, and has never looked back.
While Julianna had always excelled in writing throughout school, she'd never considered it a career possibility until about three years ago, when she'd gotten her first story idea and decided to go for it. She grabbed her laptop, started typing away, and has never looked back.
Author Links:
Pre-Order Gift:
As a special gift to anyone who pre-orders The Seers,
we are giving away a free e-book with several scenes from The Holders written
from different character's points of view! All you have to do to get yours is
pre-order The Seers, then email your receipt or other proof of purchase to
Julianna Scott at juliannascottbooks@hotmail.com, and she will send you the e-novella in the format of your
choosing. That's it! And if you have already pre-ordered The Seers, not to
worry! Send your receipt along, and you'll get your copy too!
***GIVEAWAY***
1 – Necklace (as pictured) plus ebook copies of The Holders
and The Seers
Book Blitz Organized by:
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