Now or Never: Wizards of Nevermore

BOOK: Now or Never: Wizards of Nevermore
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Praise for Michele Bardsley’s

Wizards of Nevermore Series

Never Again

“Excellent world building, original concepts, and a compellingly dark atmosphere.”


Publishers Weekly

“The consistently excellent Bardsley introduces a new world with the launch of her Wizards of Nevermore series.…The opening salvo in this edgy and sexy series provides more evidence of Bardsley’s supreme storytelling chops! Great stuff!”


Romantic Times
(top pick)

“Don’t miss out on this dark, vibrant, and sexy new world.”

—Fresh Fiction

“The world of the Wizards of Nevermore is refreshingly new and fully developed yet interwoven inside the fast-paced story line.”

—Alternative Worlds

“Combines all the suspense and excitement of a magical tale with the sensual allure of a sweet and passionate love story. I hope there’s a sequel in the works because I can’t wait to visit the good folks of Nevermore again.”

—Jeanne C. Stein, national bestselling author of the Anna Strong Vampire Chronicles

“High-octane urban fantasy at its sexiest. Michele Bardsley is the master!”

—Mario Acevedo, author of
Werewolf Smackdown

“Darkly superb, sinfully sexy—
Never Again
should be read over and over again!”

—Dakota Cassidy, national bestselling author of the Accidental series

“Bardsley pulls no punches, opening this new series with a book that’s gritty, sexy, and absolutely captivating. I never wanted
Never Again
to end.”

—Nicole Peeler, author of
Tempest’s Legacy

“Grim and whimsical, sexy and sinister,
Never Again
is a wicked paranormal triumph and a clever twisty homage to Poe with a splash of Lovecraft. I loved it!”

—Mark Henry, author of
Road Trip of the Living Dead

“Wow!
Never Again
is a gripping addition to the paranormal genre. I loved this tale of lost characters finding each other in a world of intriguing magical realities and eerie small-town secrets.”

—Carolyn Crane, author of
Double Cross


Never Again
sizzles when it should but doesn’t skimp on the murder, magic, or intrigue. This one deserves a spot on any romance lover’s bookshelf.”

—J. F. Lewis, author of
Crossed

Praise for Michele Bardsley’s

Broken Heart Series

Come Hell or High Water

“The sex scenes are molten, the main characters engaging yet deliciously flawed, and the story line keeps you hooked from first page to last.”

—Fresh Fiction

“Bardsley has brought us another amazing story.…Phoebe and Conner’s struggle between their feelings for each other and what they must do is captured by Bardsley’s endless wit and humor.”

—Night Owl Romance

“Bardsley is a true gift to the literary world.…It takes little more than a page or two to suck the reader back in and remind them why Broken Heart is one of their favorite places to visit.”

—Bitten by Books

Over My Dead Body

“The latest chapter in Bardsley’s delightfully humorous series launches the action quickly and adds more danger to the mix.”


Romantic Times
(4½ stars)

“A great paranormal romance that I would definitely recommend to readers who enjoy a fast-paced story that will leave them guessing until the end.”

—Fresh Fiction

“[Bardsley’s] writing inspires emotions that will have you sobbing and then laughing hysterically with just the turn of a few pages.”

—Bitten by Books

Wait till Your Vampire Gets Home

“Has action aplenty and a free-spirited, wittily sarcastic heroine who will delight fans.”


Booklist

“Bardsley has one of the most entertaining series on the market. The humor and wackiness keep hitting the sweet spot. Add Bardsley to your auto-buy list!”


Romantic Times
(top pick, 4½ stars)

Because Your Vampire Said So

“Lively, sexy, out of this world—as well as in it—fun! Michele Bardsley’s vampire stories rock!”

—Carly Phillips

“Five ribbons! I laughed nonstop from beginning to end.…Michele Bardsley always creates these characters that leave readers feeling like they are our next-door neighbors.”


Romance Junkies

Don’t Talk Back to Your Vampire

“Cutting-edge humor and a raw, seductive hero make
Don’t Talk Back to Your Vampire
a yummylicious treat!”

—Dakota Cassidy

“A fabulous combination of vampire lore, parental angst, romance, and mystery. I loved this book!”

—Jackie Kessler

“A winning follow-up to
I’m the Vampire, That’s Why
filled with humor, supernatural romance, and truly evil villains.”


Booklist

I’m the Vampire, That’s Why

“From the first sentence, Michele grabbed me and didn’t let me go! A vampire mom? PTA meetings? A sulky teenager? Throw in a gorgeous, ridiculously hot hero and you’ve got the paranormal romance of the year. Get this one NOW.”

—MaryJanice Davidson

“Hot, hilarious, one helluva ride.…Michele Bardsley weaves a sexily delicious tale spun from the heart.”

—L. A. Banks

“A fun, fun read!”

—Rosemary Laurey

“Michele Bardsley has penned the funniest, quirkiest, coolest vampire tale you’ll ever read. It’s hot and funny and sad and wonderful, the kind of story you can’t put down and won’t forget. Definitely one for the keeper shelf.”

—Kate Douglas

A
LSO BY
M
ICHELE
B
ARDSLEY

T
HE
W
IZARDS OF
N
EVERMORE
S
ERIES

Never Again

T
HE
B
ROKEN
H
EART
S
ERIES

Must Love Lycans

Cross Your Heart

Come Hell or High Water

Over My Dead Body

Because Your Vampire Said So

Wait till Your Vampire Gets Home

Don’t Talk Back to Your Vampire

I’m the Vampire, That’s Why

NOW OR NEVER

Wizards of Nevermore

Michele Bardsley

A SIGNET ECLIPSE BOOK

SIGNET ECLIPSE

Published by New American Library, a division of

Penguin Group (USA) Inc., 375 Hudson Street,

New York, New York 10014, USA

Penguin Group (Canada), 90 Eglinton Avenue East, Suite 700, Toronto,

Ontario M4P 2Y3, Canada (a division of Pearson Penguin Canada Inc.)

Penguin Books Ltd., 80 Strand, London WC2R 0RL, England

Penguin Ireland, 25 St. Stephen’s Green, Dublin 2,

Ireland (a division of Penguin Books Ltd.)

Penguin Group (Australia), 250 Camberwell Road, Camberwell, Victoria 3124,

Australia (a division of Pearson Australia Group Pty. Ltd.)

Penguin Books India Pvt. Ltd., 11 Community Centre, Panchsheel Park,

New Delhi – 110 017, India

Penguin Group (NZ), 67 Apollo Drive, Rosedale, Auckland 0632,

New Zealand (a division of Pearson New Zealand Ltd.)

Penguin Books (South Africa) (Pty.) Ltd., 24 Sturdee Avenue,

Rosebank, Johannesburg 2196, South Africa

Penguin Books Ltd., Registered Offices:

80 Strand, London WC2R 0RL, England

First published by Signet Eclipse, an imprint of New American Library,

a division of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.

First Printing, March 2012

10   9   8   7   6   5   4   3   2   1

Copyright © Michele Bardsley, 2012

All rights reserved

ISBN: 978-1-101-57702-8

SIGNET ECLIPSE and logo are trademarks of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.

Printed in the United States of America

Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise), without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the above publisher of this book.

PUBLISHER’S NOTE

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

 The publisher does not have any control over and does not assume any responsibility for author or third-party Web sites or their content.

If you purchased this book without a cover you should be aware that this book is stolen property. It was reported as “unsold and destroyed” to the publisher and neither the author nor the publisher has received any payment for this “stripped book.”

The scanning, uploading, and distribution of this book via the Internet or via any other means without the permission of the publisher is illegal and punishable by law. Please purchase only authorized electronic editions, and do not participate in or encourage electronic piracy of copyrighted materials. Your support of the author’s rights is appreciated.

For Steve…

Du fyller mitt hjerte med glede.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

I adore my agent, Stephanie Kip Rostan, her assistant, Monika Verma, and all the wonderful folks at the Levine Greenberg Literary Agency. I luvs you all!

Chocolate-covered, gold-embossed gratitude goes to my wonderful editor, Kerry Donovan, to the very groovy Jesse Feldman, who rules the world and all who live in it, and, of course, to Extreme Team NAL.

Heartfelt thanks to my awesome Viking, Steve Freeman, for helping me brainstorm several key elements in this novel (including the cursed gun and the absinthe bar). He’s also the reason I know about Lagavulin scotch. You are my real-life romance hero. I love you!

Big smoochy-woochy lurve to my babies, Kati, Reid, and Emma, and to my grandson, Keegan. You all make my world a happier place.

I have
mucho
adoration for Renee George and Dakota Cassidy, who are brilliant, kind, loving, ass-kicking, hilarious women. Mwah!

Qwill, aka Second Supreme Overlord, could probably take over a small country if she weren’t so busy running my little corner of the Internetz. You’re awesome, Q!

Special thanks to Kaz, who is a spectacular friend, great listener, tequila connoisseur, and freaking genius.

Big awesome hugs, thanks, and luuuuurve to the
Book Addicts: Cid, Suzan, Linda, and I-live-in-Japan Alice. Y’all rock!

Smooches to Wendy Bocock and Amanda Fenley, who held my hand (and by “held my hand” I mean “badgered me relentlessly”) about finishing this book.

I also want to acknowledge my adoration for the Jennifers (Wendy, Amanda, Mindy, and Stephanie), who were named as such because I could never remember who the hell they were. But I do now! Really!

To my Minions and to all my fans everywhere—you rock! Your continued support and enthusiasm for my books mean the world. Thank you!

Ah, distinctly I remember it was in the bleak December,

And each separate dying ember wrought its ghost upon the floor.

Eagerly I wished the morrow;—vainly I had sought to borrow

From my books surcease of sorrow—sorrow for the lost Lenore

For the rare and radiant maiden whom the angels name Lenore

Nameless here for evermore.

—From “The Raven,” Edgar Allan Poe

Table of Contant

Origins of the Magicals and the Mundanes

Prologue

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

BOOK: Now or Never: Wizards of Nevermore
11.24Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
ads

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