Blog Tour: Provex City by Michael Pierce (Excerpt & Giveaway)

I am so excited to be on the blog tour for Michael Pierce's latest novel, Provex City! A huge thank you to Candace from Candace's Book Blog for allowing me to be a part of this tour! :) On my stop today, I am showcasing an excerpt from this novel as well as hosting a giveaway both for US and International Readers, so be sure to enter! Good Luck! :D

You can check out the other tour stops HERE!

Title: Provex City (The Lorne Family Vault Series, #1) 

Author: Michael Pierce 

Fifteen-year-old Oliver Grain begins his school year fighting off bullies, learning about the boy who committed suicide in his room, and trying to understand why his history teacher, Mr. Gordon, has taken such a personal interest in him. Do you believe in ghosts? Do you believe you can make bullies simply disappear? Do you believe you can walk through walls? Mr. Gordon tells Oliver: "When you truly believe anything is possible, you will be able to open doors where there were only walls." And one of those doors leads Oliver to Provex City, which puts him in far greater danger than he can possibly fathom.

Excerpt:

       The bass coming from the living room rattled my stomach every time the beat hit. I slowly lurched forward, growing more apprehensive of entering the living room with each step. I didn’t want to walk out onto the makeshift dance floor. I didn’t want to make a fool of myself with my first attempt at dancing with a girl in front of all these people. Everyone was focused on their own affairs, but as soon as my awkwardness on the dance floor was noticed, all eyes would be on me. The thought was terrifying.

       I turned the corner and looked out at the sea of bodies moving rhythmically to the music bellowing from the stereo. Most of the dancers enjoying the music were girls, but there were a number of guys making their moves on the increased odds. I noticed my girl, Anna, in the middle of the crowd, swaying with all those around her and holding her drink high in the air where it seemed just as likely to spill. She didn’t seem to be dancing with anyone in particular. Girls and guys surrounded her, and she was dancing with all of them, all moving in a trance-like ecstasy.

I stood there, finishing my drink, gathering my courage, and biding my time for the appropriate moment. But what would be the appropriate moment? In between songs? For her to notice me? For a clear path to emerge? There was no path through the sea of bodies. Everyone seemed to be in some way connected, holding the outsiders at bay. Or were they just obstacles, obstacles I was meant to overcome…

I finished my safety drink and no longer had a way to just stand around without looking awkward. I had to do something. Looking back to the kitchen, I thought of refilling my cup. And then I looked toward the dance floor and thought of moving forward. Finally setting my empty cup down on a small table by the stairs, I dove headfirst into the dance floor.

I did my best to move with the music and squeeze past the entranced, oblivious dancers. I kept my eyes on Anna as I maneuvered forward, deeper into the ocean and realized I had no easy exit. I stumbled, bumped, and shoved my way to the center and no one seemed to care. The close proximity was natural here, and we were all connected. I broke through the final barrier and stood dumbfounded in the presence of Anna grooving and grinding to the music. She had one hand in the air and one hand on some guy’s shoulder, moving seductively. She gracefully twirled 180° and rubbed her body fervently against his, lost in the pulsating beat and feral rhythm of the music.

Anna finally looked ahead and released a surprising burst of excitement at the sight of me standing before her. She pounced on me in jubilation and wrapped her arms tightly around my neck, unknowingly spraying our surrounding guests with what was left of her drink. Everyone around us took a step back with caution and groans of irritation, leaving us separated, yet trapped in the middle of the sea of undulating bodies.

“There you are!” she yelled in my ear. “I’ve been looking all over for you. Are you having fun? Are you happy? Are you here to see me?” she said and stumbled backward when she let go of me. She steadied herself, extending her cup-holding hand to regain her balance. Then she brought the plastic cup up to her lips and attempted to take a thirst-quenching gulp, but got less than a drip. “Aww—it’s all gone.” She dropped the cup on the floor.

Anna got herself back into the swing of the music and moved into me. She grabbed my hands at my sides and placed them on her gyrating hips. She threw her arms around the back of my neck, and we moved to the music as one person. I had no technique and tried not to think about what I was doing, except to follow Anna’s lead into an uninhibited state of consciousness. Anna had help, and I had Anna.

“Do you want to get another drink?” she asked after a few songs. I nodded, and she grabbed my hand and led me out of the water.

Michael Pierce lives in Southern California with his wife, daughter, and two ultra-protective Chiweenies. Provex City is his debut novel and the first book in the young adult fantasy Lorne Family Vault Series.

Links: Blog/Website/Facebook/GoodReads/Twitter/Book Trailer 

International Giveaway!

• 3 winners will receive a paperback of Provex City and a $15 Amazon Gift Card (INT.)
• 5 additional winners will win a paperback copy of Provex City (INT.)

a Rafflecopter giveaway