Grimmer Intentions by Jodi Hutchins

Hear a reading by the author from Grimmer Intentions by Jodi Hutchins @HutchinsJodi on this episode of Book Clips, the mini podcast that gives listeners a taste of a book.

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Synopsis

She screwed up. She broke protocol. She saved a life. Grim Reaper Margo Petrov may have resurrected a drowned surfer on the brink of death, but she isn’t earning any awards or receiving employee of the month from Corporate; she’s under more scrutiny from the Grim governing body than ever before. Since she has a massive secret that could spell disaster if revealed, she sure as hell doesn’t want to be in the spotlight, in any form.

Margo vows to keep her head down and stay out of trouble, reaping her quota of spirits lest she cause more problems for herself and the woman she saved with an illegal blood bond. She certainly shouldn’t be opening doors to the Fae lands or offering her neck to an Empusa woman suffering from bloodlust, but Margo’s laundry list of bad decisions keeps growing. With the threat of becoming decommissioned by Corporate looming in her periphery, Margo stumbles deeper into the politics of her people and soon realizes their intentions are far worse than she initially thought.

Transcript for Today’s Show

Please note this transcript has not been edited and is automatically generated meaning certain words will be incorrect.

you are listening to book clips a mini podcast in which authors and erasers do readings from novels check out the show notes for the synopsis and by links for this book this is Jodi Hutchins reading a passage for my second novel grimmer intentions book – and my paranormal romance series tales from the Grimm a gentle breeze caressed her face soft and rippling like the ocean that lay beyond the sandy beach the sand nearly scorched the bare soles of her feet and the Sun poured warmth over her back glancing up Jackie took in the otherworldly hues of the sky visible brushstrokes lining the silver clouds a lucid dream she realized months had passed since she’d experienced one and the revelation along with the strange recent events in her life left her with a deep foreboding glassy water licked the shore spilling over the sand before receding back she’d been to the stream beach before nestling herself under the ever-present warmth from the Sun and enjoying the calm meditation brought her to the same place serenity peace tranquility these qualities kept bringing her back to the only place she could find her balance she was free from the physical stressors of keeping her beast at bay holding back the bloodlust associated with her being and splitting her two lives apart nothing bad would come of her in her safe place and she didn’t have to avail herself in a disguise depending upon who she was around a murder of crows flew overhead before dipping into the ocean with each wave they bobbed along with the oddly colored water streams of dark blue swirled with grey dappled with white brushstrokes the painted landscape elicited a smile from Jackie and she continued her walk down the beach puffy white clouds obscured the tangerine tinged sun causing thick rays to shimmer over the sand oh how she wanted to paint the scene in front of her to capture the elegance of the orange glaze sand or the crows afloat on the water surface light flickered her line of sight and she yanked her gaze from the bobbing blackbirds to the assaulting ray Jacky squinted to see where the glinted originated from none other than Margot the grim lounged against an overturned lifeguard stand shaving a piece of driftwood with a thick pocketknife the Sun reflected on the metal surface and shone into Jackie’s eyes again and she started towards the enigmatic woman the scenario was very similar to when the two women met for the first time in Brent’s home Marcos lip ring had caught a glimmer of light shining directly in Jackie’s eyes shortly after that Margot had accidentally called her vampire and upon Jackie correcting her Marga response had been rude leading Jackie to kick her in the leg she assumed this is where her subconscious conjured the action from but this is different Jackie thought she dreamt of people before but she couldn’t recall the last time she’d brought someone with in her place of serenity of course Margot was Jackie’s own doing her own mental depiction of the groom dressed in red flannel pajamas not that Jackie could ever imagine Margot wearing such an outfit to bed Margot appeared so out of place but completely where she belonged hi Chucky said as she stopped next to the lifeguard stand Margot looked up and smiled wide well isn’t this weird her cerulean gaze was the strangest color Jackie had the pleasure to see Margo’s eyes reminded her of a precious stone she found on the beach one day the vibrant Azure kyanite calling to her from beneath the tawny sand she still had the rock tucked away in the tiny tin box beside her pillow along with a few other gems however a fire shifted a light within the woman’s eyes casting flames and the irises something Jackie had never witnessed before meeting Margot whimsical the last word Jackie would ever associate with the woman sitting on the ground had become the only descriptor relatively close to defining Margot in that moment sit with me Margot offered scooting over Jackie settled beside Margot who lifted her arm and wrapped it around Jackie surprisingly she found the contact incredibly comforting and she nestled into Margot side this was definitely new there’s something to be said about the beauty of a crow shadow Margot muttered her voice far off Jacky smiled what does I mean turning to face her Margot offered her a crooked smirk I don’t know but it sounded good doesn’t it makes about as much sense as me being here I feel like I stepped into one of your paintings the black bird hopped over tilting its head to gaze up at Jackie she held out her hand and the creature jumped onto the presented palm with a flutter of their wings I have to admit I love crows I think my background is the blame for that pretty sure all good and pusta have to love black cats and crows Margot chuckled I think that’s a prerequisite yeah the crow fluttered away sighing Jackie relaxed against Marco placing her hand on Mario’s thigh surprised when warmth spread through her from their contact usually when I have these dreams I’m the only cognitive individual I mean besides the occasional talking animal why are you here Jackie didn’t expect an answer because she didn’t know why Marga was there obviously the woman beside her wasn’t really Margo not on her dreams the woman next to her was nothing but a figment of her own imagination no matter how her subconscious were under the real Margo I don’t know Margo averted her gaze I wanted to be with you with me Margo blinked her lower lip disappearing between her teeth yeah I don’t know what any of this means maybe I’m having an existential crisis Margo laughed loudly to her own inside joke that Jackie didn’t get there’s just something about you and I can’t figure out what it is I don’t think it’s only because of the whole bitey thing which is amazing by the way she smirked cupping her hand on her Jackie’s jawline you’re incredible Jackie flung her hair over her shoulder you’re just addicted to me sincerity past martyrs face yeah I think I am I wanted to text you but thought that would have been too weird she smirked not that this is any less weird she said glancing around at the paint at seascape in front of him Jackie also gaze out at the water lapping at the shoreline noting the soft brushstrokes of white foam lingering on the water’s edge the textured grains of sand at her feet the calming rush of the ocean lulled Jackie into a comfort one she sought when she came to the spot to be alone to meditate to share the intimate location with anyone besides the occasional talking animal was something she wasn’t accustomed to Jackie she turned to Margo again yeah we can’t be a couple a painful pang drenched Jackie’s brief serenity what are you talking about Margo frowned her expression uncomfortable I have to leave well I might have to leave the country why leaning forward Marga wrapped her arms around her knees bunching up her pajama pants Jackie never imagined witnessing fear on Marcos features but she couldn’t deny the dread marring her expression I can’t tell you but I have to leave America there’s so much going on with corporate and leaving might be my best option for everyone’s sake you have to leave here Jackie whispered no she rationalized this all stemmed from the talk she had with Ezra the conversation about weird things happening with the Grimm Jackie shook her head as if to shoo away the weird dream it didn’t work Margot peered at the textured sky is a cotton candy cloud drifted by her face pensive yeah maybe probably she lowered her head and looked at Jackie if it comes down to it I won’t have a choice Jackie yes you do there’s always a choice why can’t you just stay seriously you have no idea that’s not your fault it’s mine she paused shaking her head then parting her lips as if to speak again but glanced down at her hands instead firelight twinkled in her eyes before she vanished from Jackie’s dream completely a vapor of mists left in her wake a chill crept into Jackie’s being and she wrapped her own arms around herself as the cloud where Margot sat dissipated I have some sick sense of creativity she said to the crows meandering in the sand a few feet from her one of them bobbed its head at her and winked a black button I while I couldn’t cure her the crow rasped Jackie would through her flip-flop from a right foot and threw it at the crow rolling her eyes as she forced herself to wake up mrs. Jody Hutchins and you’ve been listening to a passage from my second novel grimmer intentions book – and my paranormal romance series tales from the Grimm thanks for listening you have been listening to book clips check out the show notes for the synopsis and by links for this book if you are interested in showcasing your novel then check out the show notes for more information