Exclusive Excerpt: Turning Tides by Mia Marshall

MMarshall-Turning Tides.printToday, I am excited to welcome author Mia Marshall, who is here to give us a glimpse into her newly released third Elements novel, Turning Tides.

Aidan Brook is hours away from a peaceful life. Once she accepts her future as a banished elemental, she can leave her family’s island and return to Lake Tahoe, where she’ll spend the rest of her days controlling her magic in a calm, stress-free environment. That plan hits a snag when a member of the elementals’ governing body is murdered-and Aidan’s best friend is accused of the crime. Before the body cools, Aidan is racing against the clock to prove Sera’s innocence. To make matters worse, she must face the consequences of the bond she now shares with her favorite bear shifter-all while her sanity grows less predictable by the day. Magic, murder, and mayhem: it may look like a typical Aidan Brook day, but she’s about to discover, when the tides start to turn, even a water elemental can’t control what happens next.

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Exclusive Excerpt: Turning Tides

In Turning Tides, Aidan’s best friend Sera is accused of murder and, as usual, Sera’s father can’t resist butting in. Unfortunately, his version of ‘help’ involves kidnapping his daughter. This will make it rather difficult to prove Sera innocent, so Aidan is desperate to stop him—as only a water elemental can.

I dove into the ocean, calling my magic back and demanding it push me through the water at unnatural speeds. The water fed off my desperation until I was nearly as fast as the speedboat. I only needed to delay them for a few seconds, just long enough to reach Sera.

I begged the magic to fly toward the boat. I felt the water molecules attach, felt the control in my fingers. I pictured the magic spinning, turning in faster and faster circles until a whirlpool began to form, one capable of swallowing the boat whole.

I didn’t know if Josiah could swim. I didn’t much care, either.

The engine roared, trying to escape the ravenous water, but whichever direction it turned, the whirlpool followed, relentlessly pulling it down. From my position under the water, I saw the moment the boat gave up the fight. It was sucked under the waves, along with its passengers.

I raced for Sera. She was still in Josiah’s arms. He stared at me through the water, unmoved. He wouldn’t let her drown, I knew. He was counting on the fact that I wouldn’t either, and was waiting for me to save them both.

Most people move slowly under water, their muscles unable to work at full speed with the ocean’s weight pressing against their bodies.

I wasn’t most people. I pulled back my right arm and punched Josiah hard in the nose.

His head jerked back, and his grip lessened. I hit him again, enjoying it probably more than I should. I wasn’t strong, but I had my element on my side. Plus, I hated this man, and it’s staggering how much fuel hatred provides.

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Meet Mia Marshall!

Mia Marshall has always been obsessed with stories. When younger, her version of cleaning her room involved neatly organizing her books, then ignoring all other messes in favor of re-reading The Wizard of Oz series just one more time. As an adult, she earned an unnecessary number of degrees in literature, education, and film. She planned to spend the rest of her life teaching stories to others until she got distracted and started writing those stories herself. Mia has lived all over the US west coast and throughout the UK. These days, she lives somewhere in the Sierra Nevada mountains, where she is hard at work on the next Elements book.

Mia MarshallContact Info: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Google+ | GoodReads | Amazon | Pinterest

Want to purchase Mia’s novels?
Elements

  1. Strange Fires
  2. Broken Elements
  3. Shifting Selves
  4. Turning Tides

And in case you missed it, check out the snazzy new ebook covers the Element series has.

MMarshall-Broken ElementsMMarshall-Shifting SelvesMMarshall-Turning Tides.digital

About Jackie 3282 Articles
I am a 30-something SAHM with two adorable boys and a supportive husband who is very tolerant of my reading addiction. I love to read and easily go through about a dozen books a month – well I did before I had kids. Now, not so much. After my first son was born, I began to take my hobby of reviewing a little more serious and started Literary Escapism to help with my sanity. I love to discuss the fabulous novels I’ve read and meeting all the wonderful people in the book blogging community has been amazing.