Gabriel's Angel
Author: Caroline MacCallum
Genre: YA Paranormal Romance
Book Description:
When destiny gets it wrong, a lifetime of true love hangs in the balance.
Gabriel Black doesn’t want to believe he’s been dumped, but when the texts, calls and sweetly scented letters from his long-distance girlfriend, Elle Cassidy, suddenly stop, what else can he think?
Just as well his family is starting a new life away from the rat race, which means he can find out what’s going on face to face. But when things don’t go to plan, he finds it hard to keep his cool. And when life gets downright creepy, Gabe’s hot temper quickly burns through his veins as he struggles to comprehend his situation.
When the dust settles, he learns that a twist of fate means he’ll have to navigate a new, never-before-trodden path if he’s to have Elle at his side. It’s not easy, danger lurks in the shadows and he has to fight to protect what’s his. But Gabriel and Elle have allies, the ghostly glow of the moonlight is their friend, family love provides breathtaking strength, and together they can face the future no matter how many soul-takers try to tear them apart.
Author: Caroline MacCallum
Genre: YA Paranormal Romance
Book Description:
When destiny gets it wrong, a lifetime of true love hangs in the balance.
Gabriel Black doesn’t want to believe he’s been dumped, but when the texts, calls and sweetly scented letters from his long-distance girlfriend, Elle Cassidy, suddenly stop, what else can he think?
Just as well his family is starting a new life away from the rat race, which means he can find out what’s going on face to face. But when things don’t go to plan, he finds it hard to keep his cool. And when life gets downright creepy, Gabe’s hot temper quickly burns through his veins as he struggles to comprehend his situation.
When the dust settles, he learns that a twist of fate means he’ll have to navigate a new, never-before-trodden path if he’s to have Elle at his side. It’s not easy, danger lurks in the shadows and he has to fight to protect what’s his. But Gabriel and Elle have allies, the ghostly glow of the moonlight is their friend, family love provides breathtaking strength, and together they can face the future no matter how many soul-takers try to tear them apart.
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Praise for Book
Romantic paranormal novel Gabriel’s Angel has just hit the shelves and is already gathering 5* reviews.
“A
beautifully written book with a fantastic storyline. Definitely an
author to watch out for, looking forward to the next book!”
“Enjoyed this so much, couldn't put it down! Loved the romance between Gabe and Elle!”
“Even at 20 years old impossible to put down! Fabulously written with a captivating story for all ages. 100% recommend.”
“Complements to the author! A great storyline, looking forward to the next one. Highly recommended.”
Excerpt
“Come with me, Elle,” Gabe instructed through gritted teeth as he paced past Elle and Jay, who were still sitting on the wall. “Now!”
Elle jumped to her feet.
Jay remained seated with a smug smile hanging from his lips. He appeared pleased to witness Gabe’s distress, as if he’d intended it all along. He lifted his cupped hand, took another drag of his roll-up then shot a stream of hot smoke from the side of his mouth.
“What’s the matter?” Elle asked.
Gabe paced away. He didn’t even pause to make sure she was following. She would be.
“Gabe, please... Wait.”
He left the school premises, strode along the pavement then pushed through the rusty gate and onto the deserted path. He stalked halfway down its tunnel of trees then pivoted in a shard of dazzling sunlight to face Elle. “I think you know what the matter is.” He lifted his shades and perched them on his head. Shoved his hands so hard into his jeans front pockets they dragged low on his hips.
“No, Gabe, I don’t.” Elle came to an abrupt stop. “Well, there are so many things that could be wrong, so I don’t really know where to begin.”
“Why were you talking to Jay?” Gabe demanded.
“Pardon?”
“Why were you talking to Jay? I want to know why you two were looking so cozy and friendly. I didn’t even think you liked him.” He curled his fists into balls at the thought of Jay oozing his decaying, smoke-infused scent onto his girl.
“I don’t particularly like him, but I have to talk to someone... It’s too lonely otherwise, being on my own all the time.”
“What about Chad? I thought you two kept each other company.”
“I don’t know where he is. I haven’t seen him all day. I didn’t see him much yesterday either, but I was with you so that was fine. I don’t feel lonely when I’m with you.”
Gabe frowned. It was obvious where Chad would be—next to Becky—but that was another problem he’d have to deal with later. For now, his head could only cope with this one, standing in front of him.
“I’m sorry.” Elle’s voice shook slightly. “But if you must know we were discussing you.”
“Humph.”
“And, and I’m sorry if I scared you last night, and this morning in Mr. Lucas’ office. Really I am.” She held out her hands. “But I had to see you. I had to speak to you. I wanted to be there to support you.”
“Scared is one way of putting it. You made me think I’d gone insane, lost the plot, was destined for the loony bin.” Gabe ran his hand around the back of his neck and massaged it. “But scared was an overwhelming feeling, particularly up on the cliff in the storm. Bloody hell, that really freaked me out, Elle.”
“I’m sorry, really I am. There have been moments when I’ve felt exactly the same way these last few weeks.”
Gabe took a deep breath. “I don’t feel scared now, though.” He gazed down at her, taking in her pretty features and the delicateness of her eyes. “Scared for my sanity maybe,” he went on, “but not...you know... Not scared of you anymore.” She looked so real, so alive. If he ignored the fact that her hair didn’t lift on the breeze and that the dappled shade spread beneath her feet without hitting her body, he could convince himself she was really standing in front of him, living and breathing, talking and existing.
“Why, what’s changed?” Her voice held hope. “Not that I’m complaining.”
“I guess it’s just...”Gabe rubbed his forehead and tried to smooth out the frown lines etched there. How come he could smell her? It was weird. Her sweet perfume filled his nose, like walking into a candy store, and it threw him into further confusion about reality and illusion. “It’s just,” he said quietly, “you’re here.”
“Yes, yes, I am, and I’m so glad you’re speaking to me again.” She took a step closer.
Gabe didn’t back away. He stood still, in the middle of the path, as a ghost approached him. It was as if he were being sucked into a whole new dimension.
“You’re alive, Gabe, you have every option available to you. You can choose to do whatever you want. Talk to me or not, it’s your choice.” She tilted her head to look up at him and her curls tumbled over her shoulders.
“I don’t have any choice—you’re here, sort of, so of course I have to talk to you.”
“I won’t hold it against you if you decide to ignore me and get on with a normal life. A life you understand, with acceptable rules and boundaries. You can do whatever you want.”
“But I can’t, can I? Not really.” Gabe felt the hole inside him gaping at the reminder of what he’d lost. Of the real future they’d missed out on together. “I can’t do what I want and I can’t have what I want.”
“You can have part of it.”
“How do you figure that out?” This time it was Gabe who stepped closer. It made no sense why he couldn’t touch her. She looked like Elle had always looked, soft and warm and pretty. Like a doll he wanted to pick up and protect.
“You can still have part of me.” She gazed up at him. “You can still hang out with me, spend time with me... Laugh with me. If you want to, we could still do that. I know we could manage it somehow.”
Gabe stooped so his face was right next to hers. “But I can’t kiss you.” He swallowed down a bolt of pain. “That’s what I really want to do, kiss you. I wish I had before...before...you know.”
“You could close your eyes and pretend.” She smiled. “Imagine you’re kissing me, imagine your lips pressing onto mine like you told me about in your letters.”
“Yeah,” Gabe whispered back, his eyes feeling heavy. “I might try that and see how it works out.” He moved in closer still until the lengths of their bodies and their slightly parted mouths hovered only millimeters apart.
He held his breath in anticipation of the connection. But it didn’t come. Just like on Priest’s Nose, there were no soft lips waiting for his. Just empty air, which felt enormous, like falling from a plane without a parachute, flailing for something to grip and finding only vast nothingness.
He pulled back.
“No... Stay,” Elle said. “Stay and tell me what you would do... Tell me every little detail of how you would kiss me if you could.”
Gabe caught her steady gaze and beat down the desire to run. She was right. It was too good to stop. Being near Elle in any way possible was better than nothing. Destined never to actually kiss her, he would take what he could before his rational brain kicked in. Either that, or someone saw him kissing thin air and thought he’d gone insane.
Elle jumped to her feet.
Jay remained seated with a smug smile hanging from his lips. He appeared pleased to witness Gabe’s distress, as if he’d intended it all along. He lifted his cupped hand, took another drag of his roll-up then shot a stream of hot smoke from the side of his mouth.
“What’s the matter?” Elle asked.
Gabe paced away. He didn’t even pause to make sure she was following. She would be.
“Gabe, please... Wait.”
He left the school premises, strode along the pavement then pushed through the rusty gate and onto the deserted path. He stalked halfway down its tunnel of trees then pivoted in a shard of dazzling sunlight to face Elle. “I think you know what the matter is.” He lifted his shades and perched them on his head. Shoved his hands so hard into his jeans front pockets they dragged low on his hips.
“No, Gabe, I don’t.” Elle came to an abrupt stop. “Well, there are so many things that could be wrong, so I don’t really know where to begin.”
“Why were you talking to Jay?” Gabe demanded.
“Pardon?”
“Why were you talking to Jay? I want to know why you two were looking so cozy and friendly. I didn’t even think you liked him.” He curled his fists into balls at the thought of Jay oozing his decaying, smoke-infused scent onto his girl.
“I don’t particularly like him, but I have to talk to someone... It’s too lonely otherwise, being on my own all the time.”
“What about Chad? I thought you two kept each other company.”
“I don’t know where he is. I haven’t seen him all day. I didn’t see him much yesterday either, but I was with you so that was fine. I don’t feel lonely when I’m with you.”
Gabe frowned. It was obvious where Chad would be—next to Becky—but that was another problem he’d have to deal with later. For now, his head could only cope with this one, standing in front of him.
“I’m sorry.” Elle’s voice shook slightly. “But if you must know we were discussing you.”
“Humph.”
“And, and I’m sorry if I scared you last night, and this morning in Mr. Lucas’ office. Really I am.” She held out her hands. “But I had to see you. I had to speak to you. I wanted to be there to support you.”
“Scared is one way of putting it. You made me think I’d gone insane, lost the plot, was destined for the loony bin.” Gabe ran his hand around the back of his neck and massaged it. “But scared was an overwhelming feeling, particularly up on the cliff in the storm. Bloody hell, that really freaked me out, Elle.”
“I’m sorry, really I am. There have been moments when I’ve felt exactly the same way these last few weeks.”
Gabe took a deep breath. “I don’t feel scared now, though.” He gazed down at her, taking in her pretty features and the delicateness of her eyes. “Scared for my sanity maybe,” he went on, “but not...you know... Not scared of you anymore.” She looked so real, so alive. If he ignored the fact that her hair didn’t lift on the breeze and that the dappled shade spread beneath her feet without hitting her body, he could convince himself she was really standing in front of him, living and breathing, talking and existing.
“Why, what’s changed?” Her voice held hope. “Not that I’m complaining.”
“I guess it’s just...”Gabe rubbed his forehead and tried to smooth out the frown lines etched there. How come he could smell her? It was weird. Her sweet perfume filled his nose, like walking into a candy store, and it threw him into further confusion about reality and illusion. “It’s just,” he said quietly, “you’re here.”
“Yes, yes, I am, and I’m so glad you’re speaking to me again.” She took a step closer.
Gabe didn’t back away. He stood still, in the middle of the path, as a ghost approached him. It was as if he were being sucked into a whole new dimension.
“You’re alive, Gabe, you have every option available to you. You can choose to do whatever you want. Talk to me or not, it’s your choice.” She tilted her head to look up at him and her curls tumbled over her shoulders.
“I don’t have any choice—you’re here, sort of, so of course I have to talk to you.”
“I won’t hold it against you if you decide to ignore me and get on with a normal life. A life you understand, with acceptable rules and boundaries. You can do whatever you want.”
“But I can’t, can I? Not really.” Gabe felt the hole inside him gaping at the reminder of what he’d lost. Of the real future they’d missed out on together. “I can’t do what I want and I can’t have what I want.”
“You can have part of it.”
“How do you figure that out?” This time it was Gabe who stepped closer. It made no sense why he couldn’t touch her. She looked like Elle had always looked, soft and warm and pretty. Like a doll he wanted to pick up and protect.
“You can still have part of me.” She gazed up at him. “You can still hang out with me, spend time with me... Laugh with me. If you want to, we could still do that. I know we could manage it somehow.”
Gabe stooped so his face was right next to hers. “But I can’t kiss you.” He swallowed down a bolt of pain. “That’s what I really want to do, kiss you. I wish I had before...before...you know.”
“You could close your eyes and pretend.” She smiled. “Imagine you’re kissing me, imagine your lips pressing onto mine like you told me about in your letters.”
“Yeah,” Gabe whispered back, his eyes feeling heavy. “I might try that and see how it works out.” He moved in closer still until the lengths of their bodies and their slightly parted mouths hovered only millimeters apart.
He held his breath in anticipation of the connection. But it didn’t come. Just like on Priest’s Nose, there were no soft lips waiting for his. Just empty air, which felt enormous, like falling from a plane without a parachute, flailing for something to grip and finding only vast nothingness.
He pulled back.
“No... Stay,” Elle said. “Stay and tell me what you would do... Tell me every little detail of how you would kiss me if you could.”
Gabe caught her steady gaze and beat down the desire to run. She was right. It was too good to stop. Being near Elle in any way possible was better than nothing. Destined never to actually kiss her, he would take what he could before his rational brain kicked in. Either that, or someone saw him kissing thin air and thought he’d gone insane.
Caroline MacCallum studied creative writing at Cardiff University. She loves stories, whether it’s reading them or writing them. Throw in a dash of paranormal, a good sprinkle of love and a lot of excitement and she’s in her element.
Gabriel’s Angel is her first YA romance and there’s more on the way. Give her a Like on Facebook and follow her on Twitter.
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