Wolf Cult by Patricia La Barbera
The Tala Chronicles Book 4
In WOLF CULT, the fourth book in THE TALA CHRONICLES, Tala and Matt think they’ve solved their werewolf problems. However, a mysterious woman tells Tala a frightening prophecy. Tala and Matt again find themselves thrown into a whirlpool of pursuit and violence. But this time the stakes are much higher.
Excerpt
Tala bit her lip. She’d dreaded this moment the whole trip.
Matt turned the corner at Blackthorn Road. They passed the cemetery bordering the ancestral house Tala had inherited.
“It’s as spooky as I remember it, even during the day.” She wrung her hands.
Ancient trees’ knots and spindled branches menaced. Invisible hands stole her breath. In the fog, weathered gravestones stood like wraiths.
They approached the house, and the hulking structure challenged her. It wore its mourning dress—dirty gray clapboard.
In the daylight the residence loomed ominous, but the night would amplify the dilapidated Victorian’s threat. Memories haunted Tala.
Matt curbed the red jeep, and they both exited. He removed the luggage. Big sigh. “What the heck do you have in these bags? Body parts?”
Tala stood glued to the pavement, the steps in front of her a dreadful sentry. “Not funny, Matt,” she said, staring at the house. The porch chairs rocked in an eerie rhythm. She dragged herself up the sagging staircase. Tala paused, gazing down at the scuffed porch floor.
When she raised her eyes, the door confronted her. She ran her fingertips along the frame’s indentations. “These are the crosses I carved when I was a teenager.” Tala rubbed her forehead.
“What’s the matter?” He touched her arm.
“What’s always the matter. This house…” She shook her head.
He took her in his arms. “I’m here for you. You’re not alone anymore.”
She looked into his eyes. “Does fear have a smell? Because it’s swirling around me now.”
He smoothed her hair. “No, it’s just your imagination. And old house.”
“We have to move. I have a horrible feeling we can never be happy here. That something else awful will happen.”
“We’ll renovate. It’ll make all the difference.”
Tala gave him a half smile, but she wasn’t smiling inside. He’d understand soon enough. Even though she dreaded what might cause that awareness. “Okay, Matt. I hope you’re right.” She kissed him and then took a deep breath. “Let’s go inside.”
Tala and Matt are the main characters in the shape-shifter series, The Tala Chronicles. They’re both from Wolfeboro, New Hampshire, and have diluted werewolf strains that threaten to destroy their love and their lives. Matt is a Violent and Tala is a Violent Maker. Tala, an artist, has a tragic past that includes child abuse from her mother, also a Violent. Matt is a detective, and his family is clueless regarding his violent behavior. Tala has a feisty black cat named Maeve, who fears no creature.
Michael became a Wolf Slayer because of a horrific childhood incident. He, Tala, and Matt form an alliance. He was convinced that Tala should become a Slayer, too.
Jeremiah is the alpha of the Oregon werewolf pack. Tala turned to the shape-shifters for assistance, but she wondered if they would kill her. Jeremiah and Michael try to cooperate with each other to help Tala and Matt. However, the werewolf and the Slayer are enemies, whose hatred for each other sometimes explodes into brutal confrontation.
Edgar Owl is an elderly Native American locksmith. He attempts to watch over Tala despite the sadness and terrible memories that assault him. His dreams, though often terrifying, sometimes give Tala insight about her hazardous situations.
The following stars would be perfect to play the characters in the movie:
Tala: Jennifer Lawrence in Silver Linings Playbook
Matt: Bradley Cooper in Silver Linings Playbook
Michael: Chris Hemsworth in Thor: The Dark World
Eldritch: Jeremy Renner in Dahmer
Jeremiah: Christian Bale in Out of the Furnace
Edgar Owl: Graham Greene in The Twilight Saga: New Moon
About the Author
Patricia La Barbera, MFA, is an author and an editor, who specializes in genre categories. She also teaches writing classes and judges writing contests. Patricia is an active member of the Horror Writers Association and a member of Mystery Writers of America. She organized the Sarasota Editors Association and SRQ Spec and Mystery Writers.
Website: http://www.patricialabarbera.com/
Other books by Patricia La Barbera:
The Tala Chronicles, Books 1-3
The Celtic Crow Murders
Genre Writing
Humorous Horror Poetry
The author is generously giving one lucky Brooke Blogs reader an ebook copy of Wolf Cult. For your chance to win, enter using the Giveaway Tools widget below. Giveaway runs until 3/1/15 at 11:59PM EST. The only mandatory entry is the comment entry – all other entries are optional and only increase your chances of winning. Good luck everyone!! 🙂 Please see Giveaway Tools widget for full rules/regulations.
Sounds like a good series.
I am sold, this is the first time I heard of this author and let me tell you just reading the excerpt I am sold. My question to the author, do you ever feel like you run out of ideas for your stories and if so how do you bounce back and shuck it off?
I also work in a library. I’ the administrative assistant in the library at my local university. Do you feel working in a library has helped your writing creativity?
So cool, Lynn! I am a library clerk at my local public library. 🙂
Fantastic … must add to my TBR