BLOODBORNE by Gregg Luke – Countdown to Summer 2011

First day of summer!

Now that summer is officially here, LDSWBR is excited to present BLOODBORNE, the latest novel by Gregg Luke.

If you haven’t read any of Gregg’s books before, you are missing out on some of the best mystery-suspense novels around. We all love Gregg’s books, and each one gets better and better.

Gregg graciously agreed to tell us more about BLOODBORNE. Keep reading for a special sneak peek! Don’t forget to leave a comment on each Countdown to Summer 2011 post by June 24, 2011 for your chance to win an autographed copy of BLOODBORNE as well as a $50 Amazon gift card and several great summer reads.

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A title like BLOODBORNE and its creepy cover already set a chilling aura to your new novel. What is it about?

“From the back cover: One ordinary afternoon, research specialist Dr. Erin Cross steps into a local deli to get some lunch, and nearly takes a bullet instead. Thanks to the timely intervention of a former Marine, she walks away from the seemingly freak incident. But when she returns to find her lab under security lockdown and her apartment ransacked, she realized the attack was anything but random. Erin can’t make sense of the threat, given her low profile after a disastrous H1N1 vaccine trial. She doesn’t know her former colleague has used the virus to develop a potent bioweapon or that her recent research hold a key to his success. And she doesn’t know that his collaborators want her dead before she blows the whistle.

Fleeing for safety with her research in hand, Erin unravels the threats with the help of the timely Marine, former Special Ops agent Sean Flannery. But the closer they come to finding answers, the more questionable Sean’s behavior becomes. His erratic moods and suspicious communications are more fitting for an enemy than a friend. And as the crisis comes to a head, Erin can’t be sure who harbors more secrets—the bioterrorists pursuing her or the one man who can give her protection.”

In BLOODBORNE, a sociopathic genius has developed a deadly virus that he weaponizes using mosquitoes as the delivery mechanism. Erin Cross figures this out and is called on to stop her former colleague’s experiments on the partially populated island of Ni’ihau in the Hawaiian chain. At the same time, she is running from assassins and trying to help the man she was praying would help her. It has lots of cool science and medical intrigue, but I kept it on a basic level so readers who get bored over too much detail will still get a thrill out of the story.

There are some very creepy elements to the story and some twists that will totally catch you off guard—and may even keep you up at night. The novel starts out in Lehi, UT, goes to Cedar City and the Dixie National forest, and ends up on Ni’ihau in Hawaii. As per usual, I’ve tried to keep all the facts in the novel accurate, with only slight embellishment to heighten intensity. I guarantee my readers will like this new novel, and I hope first-time readers will become instant Gregg Luke fans.

Best selling author Josi Kilpack said, “BLOODBORNE is classic Gregg Luke—sinister motives, gripping suspense, and intricate details. His pacing will leave you breathless.”

BLOODBORNE will be released this August. I will be doing book signings and blog tours all month (details to follow). I will also have a book trailer out in a few weeks. Keep watching LDSWBR, Facebook, YouTube, and my website (www.greggluke.com) for its premier. Until then, here is the first chapter to whet you appetite.

As for this summer, I plan on finishing up my wip, a thriller based on more blood. In it a psycho scientist-wannabe thinks the blood of centenarians, (people over 100 years old), have some special property to it, so he travels the country harvesting it. What he does with it and how it all turns out will chill your blood.

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BLOODBORNE

CHAPTER 1

Erin Cross’s phone plinged and vibrated, indicating the receipt of a text message. The incoming number was a string of zeros; no name was attached. She pressed VIEW.

You are about to die.

She palmed her phone and glanced around. Giamboli’s sandwich deli looked like it usually did at this hour: Estelle Giamboli, an old Italian woman seemingly fresh off the boat, stood at the cash register near the entrance, chatting with whoever would give her an ear; a young man and woman, both in company aprons with their names embroidered as Sam and KrisAn, assembled sandwich orders behind a half-wall divider. The people she didn’t recognize were the other patrons: an older couple sitting at a table across from the register, a quintet of high school-aged girls clucking and squealing around a table near the back, and a dark-haired man sitting alone two booths down from Erin’s small table. The man looked to be in his early forties. He was reading from a notebook and was smiling. He was kinda cute, but probably full of himself. Most of the good-looking ones were. A corner of sandwich and an unmolested pickle were all that remained on his plate. His cell phone sat next to his crumpled napkin.

Erin pressed some apps on her phone to access the caller info.

INORMATION UNLISTED.

She toggled to CALL SENDER.

NUMBER OUT OF SERVICE.

Out of service? Then how could they send a text? Figuring it was simply a glitch in her phone service or just a wrong number, Erin closed her phone and took another bite of her turkey and avocado croissant. Her phone plinged and vibrated again.

Say goodbye, Dr. Cross.

She frowned at the message for a time before realizing she was holding her breath. Perhaps whoever knew her name and cell number was playing a joke—albeit a sick one. Looking up, she noticed the man in the booth was now pressing keys on his cell phone. Was he the one sending her the messages? She didn’t recognize him—

Pling-buzz. You’re dead in 60 seconds.

This was ridiculous. Not wanting to prolong this stupidity—but unable to completely ignore it—she focused on each patron in the deli. None of them looked like a would-be killer or a sick practical joker; at least not the kind you always saw in the movies.

Just then the man in the booth looked up with a serious expression. He glanced at Erin, then at the high school girls across from him, then back at his phone.

It was him—it had to be. Erin pushed away from the table marched over to the man. “I don’t know who you are, but I don’t appreciate your sick jokes,” she snapped.

The man flinched. “Excuse me?”

“Don’t play ignorant. The texting? I saw you do it!”

Taking a hesitant look around, the man appeared sincerely confused. “Is texting not allowed in here?”

“Don’t get smart, jerk face.” Erin tapped her phone. “Text me again and I’ll call the police.”

The man slid from the booth and held out his phone. “Look, I didn’t text you, I promise. I’ll show you my last transmission. See? From me, Sean Flannery, to Britt Flannery, my daughter. Unless your name is also Britt Flan—”

A loud crash stopped him mid-sentence. A man wearing a black ski mask and black clothing had burst through the glass front door, causing it to crack. In his gloved hand was a small metallic box with a short tube sticking out the front, a long, narrow box jutting from the bottom of the grip, and a trigger. The man quickly scanned the deli then raised the box, pointed it at the staff behind the counter, and pulled the trigger. The loud metallic buzzing of machine gun fire fractured the air. Estelle Giamboli screamed and fell. The younger employees dove for cover.

The high school girls screeched and fled to an empty booth.

Sean grabbed Erin and shoved her into the booth. “Stay down,” he ordered.

Still in a fit of anger, Erin hated being told what to do. In spite of the danger, she sat up and watched Sean grab a chair and dash toward the gunman. Still firing at the employees behind the counter, the gunman saw Sean too late. One leg of the chair slammed into his face while another one struck his ribs. The momentum of the assault knocked both men to the floor. The machine gun clattered just out of reach.

As Sean scrambled for the gun, the masked assailant quickly regained his footing and vaulted over the counter.

“Stand up slowly where I can see you!” Sean yelled at the now gun-less man, pointing the weapon in his direction. “You, call 911!” he shouted at Erin.

The masked man slowly rose and faced Sean. The assailant now gripped a large butcher knife in one fist.

“Drop the knife,” Sean ordered.

The gunman pulled off his mask. Erin saw only his profile: Light complexion, cropped, dark hair, early thirties. In a steady, monotone voice, Erin heard him say, “Pro novus ordo seclorum.” He then raised the knife and pointed it at the base of his throat.

“I said drop it!” Sean growled.

An eerie smile spread across the gunman’s face. “It has begun,” he said calmly. And with that, he quickly plunged the blade into his neck, gurgled for breath, then fell to the floor.

The intensity of the whole event finally slammed into Erin, and her adrenaline-charged anger evaporated. Her entire body began to tremble as her mind whirled. Exiting the booth, she dropped her phone.

“Did you get through?” Sean barked.

Erin stared numbly at her phone on the floor, trying to remember if she had made the call. She could not focus her thoughts, could not rein in her emotions. The room began to swim and she felt her knees weaken.

“Did you call 911?” Sean shouted brusquely.

She stared at him but could not speak.

One of the high school girls stepped from her booth and held up her cell phone. “I did. Police are on the way.” The young woman’s voice was staccato, shaky—exactly the way Erin felt.

Sean nodded, then moved behind the counter.

In spite of her determination to be stoic, Erin’s knees faltered. Losing the last vestiges of willpower, she collapsed back into the booth and forced herself not to cry.

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WOW. How is that for a first chapter? Thanks, Gregg!

Add BLOODBORNE to your to-read list today.

Don’t forget to pick up your copy of BLOODBORNE in bookstores this August.

Watch the video below to learn more about BLOODBORNE, Gregg Luke, and what he’s working on now.

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***Countdown to Summer 2011 Contest***

LDSWBR will hold a drawing on June 25, 2011 for a $50 Amazon gift card, as well as a variety of books being offered by some of the LDS authors featured in the Countdown. This will be a raffle-type drawing, so more entries means more chances to win. There are several ways to enter the Countdown to Summer 2011 contest. See details below.

Book prizes generously donated by the authors:

• The Upside of Down by Rebecca Talley

• Gifted by Karey White

• Bumpy Landings by Donald J. Carey

• Captive Heart by Michele Paige Holmes

• The Perfect Fit by  Michele Ashman Bell

• River Whispers by Kathi Oram Perterson

• Hazzardous Universe by Julie Wright & Kevin Wasden

• Hearts Through Time by Marie Higgins

• Double Deceit by Stephanie Humphreys

• The List by Melanie Jacobson

• The Forgotten Locket by Lisa Mangum

• The Kiss of a Stranger by Sarah M. Eden

• Blackberry Crumble by Josi S. Kilpack

• **Bonus Prize** An autographed copy of BLOODBORNE by Gregg Luke (released August 2011)

Do ANY of the following to enter:

• Post a thoughtful comment on the Countdown to Summer 2011 author posts. Comments can be added on any of the author posts anytime during the contest period (June 1, 2011 through June 24, 2011). Only one comment per person per Countdown to Summer author post will be entered into the drawing. Feel free to comment more than once per post if you’d like, but only one comment will be accepted as an entry.

• Send LDSWBR an email to ldswbr AT gmail DOT com telling us which of the following you have completed. If you already do these things, email us and let us know. Each item gets you 1 entry.

1. Follow LDS Women’s Book Review on Facebook
2. Follow @LDSWBR on Twitter
3. Subscribe to LDSWBR by email (see top right sidebar on website)
4. Follow LDSWBR with Google Friend Connect (right sidebar beneath “Follow LDSWBR”)

• On each Countdown to Summer author post, leave a comment telling us which of the following you completed or already do. Each item gets you 1 entry.

1. Follow the author’s blog (if they have one)
2. Follow the author on Twitter (if they tweet)
3. Follow the author on Facebook (if they have a Facebook page)

• Tweet this message each day. One entry per day. Just copy and paste into your twitter message window to send it (LDSWBR must be able to see the tweet): LDSWBR Countdown to Summer 2011 – Enter to win a $50 Amazon gift card & great summer reads! http://bit.ly/kZ5jXw @ldswbr

• Blog about this contest on your blog then send us the link to your specific blog post. You can find the Countdown graphic badge/button to include in your blog post here. (5 entries)

• Post the following on your Facebook page (3 entries) then send us an email (ldswbr AT gmail DOT com) telling us that you did: LDSWBR Countdown to Summer 2011 – Enter to win a $50 Amazon gift card & great summer reads! http://bit.ly/kZ5jXw

Here are the rules:

• Contest ends at 12:00 Midnight MDT on June 24, 2011.
• Drawing winners will have until 12:00 Midnight MDT on July 2, 2011 to claim their prize. After that time, another name will be drawn to receive the prize.
• Book prizes can only be shipped within the contiguous United States.
• LDSWBR reserves the right to decide what determines a “thoughtful” comment.

Let’s keep counting down to summer with some great reads!