Free Novel Read

Mutts Like Me Page 16


  By the time I’d practically chewed a hole in my thumbnail, it was after three o’clock in the morning and she still hadn’t called. Heaving a sigh, I trudged up the creaky stairs to put on some pajamas, tossing my clothes from today onto the ever-present Leaning Tower of Laundry that took up a corner of my room, and got into bed.

  My mind was no less easy at four a.m. when it finally gave way to sleep and disturbing dreams about faceless strangers.

  *****

  Available now at multiple retailers; or sign up on my website to receive it for free! Just send a message with the subject: “Reluctant Gods Request”

  https://keriarmstrong.com/contact/

  Mutts Like Me Character Bios

  The Factions:

  Awakened/Sleepers – An ancient race of highly advanced, gifted humanoids. They were divided among those who felt that genetic manipulation and enslavement of lower species and humans was just, and those who disagreed. In advance of a coming world-wide catastrophe many millennia ago, they put themselves into stasis with a few trusted Watchers to look after them and awaken them at a time when the earth would habitable again. Those still in stasis are called Sleepers.

  Mutts – the hybrid offspring of the genetic experiments the Awakened created and humans, or Awakened and their own creations.

  Watchers – genetically or technologically enhanced creatures or humans who were trusted to look after the Sleepers and awaken them at the appropriate time.

  Main Characters:

  Alejandro – Mutt. Alpha werewolf, father of Marti. Helps train and lead a gang of Mutt resisters who are fighting the Awakened.

  Alex – Mutt. Vampire/Kitsune trickster hybrid, cousin of Toshio.

  Caleb – Mutt. Witch/werewolf hybrid, twin to Cassandra, mother is Nia, a witch. Father unknown. Is a talented and powerful witch but has trouble shifting.

  Cassandra – Mutt. Witch/werewolf hybrid, twin to Caleb, mother is Nia, a Witch. Father unknown. Is a strong shifter but has trouble casting spells.

  Gabriel Lara – business owner and business partner of Laurent (Jean Marc Laurent). Introduced in Mutts Like Me. His story will be told in Midnight Ink.

  Jean Marc Laurent – business owner and business partner of Laurent (Jean Marc Laurent). His story will be told in Nightingale.

  Marti – Mutt. Daughter of werewolf father, Alex, and human mother. Introduced in Mutts Like Me.

  Nia – Mutt. Powerful witch. Mother of Cass and Caleb, friend of Marti’s father, Alejandro.

  Sunjoo – Dragon shifter.

  Toshio – Mutt. Fox shifter, cousin of Alex, friend of Marti, Cass, and Caleb.

  All of these characters will be seen again in the rest of the series, whether briefly or significantly.

  Dear Reader

  Thank you for spending time with this book. I hope you enjoyed this story and the sneak peek at the next book in the series.

  The story of Marti and the book’s title came from a conversation I had with my mixed-ethnicity daughter when she referred to one of her friends as “A mutt, like me.” She complained that there just weren’t enough people like herself represented in the media and was always happy to see them. I wrote this story for her and her friends, hoping they wouldn’t feel so alone. Well, at least in terms of racial diversity. I’m not sure yet if any of them are shapeshifters, witches, or vampires. The jury is still out. I mean, I seldom see any of them before dark….

  Meanwhile, if you enjoyed the story, please leave a review at the purchase site or on Goodreads to help others can find the book as well. Every review helps Amazon decide whether they’ll make it easy for readers to find the books, or if they’ll hide them way in the back, behind cans of Spam.

  About the Author

  Keri Armstrong lives in the Midwestern region of the United States with her daughter and their two spoiled cats.

  You can reach her by email, keriarmstrongbooks@gmail.com or through her website, https://keriarmstrong.com/contact/.

  Also by the author:

  NOVELS:

  TURNED

  Sometimes a vampire hunter just can't get a break.

  Available October 26, 2017

  SERIES:

  THE AWAKENING

  Step into the world of The Awakening, where every supernatural creature you ever heard of is not only real, they're coming out of the closet and into the streets.

  Shifters, dragons, witches, vampires, mermaids, and more – all products of genetic experimentation by an ancient race – have been in hiding for thousands of years, ever since their makers put themselves into stasis in advance of a worldwide catastrophe, leaving their creations and “lesser” humans to their fate.

  Now those in stasis are awakening and want to re-establish their world domination. But the world has changed in the tens of thousands of years since they were in control, and the creatures—and their half-human, “mutt” offspring— aren’t going to give up without a fight.

  THE AWAKENING

  1: Mutts Like Me – available now

  2: Reluctant Gods – available now

  3: Nightingale – Coming 2017

  4: Midnight Ink – Coming 2018

  GRAVE DECISIONS – A magical young adult series

  1: Enchanted – Coming 2018

  2: Entangled – Coming 2018

  RED DEVILS AND REDNECKS

  Demons are raising hell along the border of Kentucky and West Virginia.

  Coming 2018

  Acknowledgements

  Thanks first, of course, to my daughter who inspired the book.

  Beyond that, there are so many great people who have helped and inspired me over there years that I wouldn’t even know where to begin to name them all: All of my writing and cover design friends, both online and in person (you know who you are!), and special thanks for the support of the World Wise Writers and the women of Magical Musings. Love you all.