Selfish Motives

In book two of the Ozark Destinies Series, we find Mari now in the hands of her progenitor, struggling with this new relationship and the absurdity of Christoph driving her to develop the rare gift of foreshadowing --despite discovering he specially bred her over four generations. But if she could see into the future, she knows it might mean seeing a way of escaping him, of returning to Troy. Considering Mari lost to him, Troy pursues a coldhearted course of revenge against the woman who betrayed her, while trying to stay a step ahead of David’s intent to prosecute him for Mari’s murder after Christoph fabricates her death in human society. Disgusted with Troy’s appearing to have abandoned Mari, Garlin begins implementing a plan to abduct her from the Springfield enclave, even at the cost of renewing the war between the Kansas City and Ouachita Colonies.

Now in the hands of her progenitor at the Springfield enclave, Mari struggles with this new relationship and Christoph driving her to develop the gift of foreshadowing. Rare as the ability is, it seems an absurd expectation, even having learned that he’d specially bred her over four generations in order to use her visions as an advantage in battle. But it’s in her own interest to try. Seeing into the future could mean seeing a way of escaping him, of returning to Troy. Though guarded as she is, there’s little doubt it would be a life forever on the run. It seems the only way she’ll ever see that way out is by not fighting Christoph’s rights to her and appearing to accept her place in the clan. As her sight begins unfolding, she finds her visions not only aiding Christoph but resulting in her own unexpected rescue missions with the help of Tiara, her new handmaiden. Considering Mari lost to him, Troy pursues a coldhearted course of revenge against the woman who betrayed her. Leading her down the path of a future together, his discovery of Hannah’s hidden past will bring her to her downfall. That is, if he can keep her in the dark long enough as he tries to stay a step ahead of David. Still under Mari’s captivation, he’s intent on prosecuting Troy for her murder after Christoph fabricates her death in human society in order to sever all ties to her old life. Mari’s having planned for her future only makes matters worse. Disgusted with Troy’s appearing to have abandoned Mari, Garlin begins implementing his plans to abduct her from Springfield, even at the cost of renewing the war between the Kansas City and Ouachita Colonies. Involvement with the warriors at the Joplin enclave for their military intelligence is risky business. With the help of a friend and an unexpected ally in the cause, getting in to the Springfield enclave, however, may not be quite as hard as getting back out.

Shanda Adams resides in the Ozark Mountains of northwestern Arkansas. Her studies in cultural anthropology, in which she earned a college degree, underlie her creation of a complex secondary world hidden from humankind. With the release of Once Awakened earlier this year, launching the Ozark Destinies Series, most of her time lately has been devoted to getting the second book ready for publication, editing book three for release in the Fall, and the completion of book four. Outside of writing, she spends as much time as possible hiking and camping in the surrounding state parks and wilderness areas, combining a love of nature and photography. She enjoys quiet evenings around a campfire, curling up on the couch with her dog and a good book, and watching the birds daily visiting feeders outside her office window.