Alex Franks believes the madness is behind them. With Ascension Labs under his direction and the forces threatening Emma's life overcome, they have a chance at a normal life, and keeping his secrets safely buried. But a shadow rises from Alex’s past, and she wants him back. Criminally brilliant, Hailey Westmore will stop at nothing to claim the boy she was meant to be with. 

Without warning, Emma Gentry finds she cannot trust anything. Not her mind, her memory, not even herself. Tragic events and unexpected deaths stalk Alex and Emma, testing them in ways they would never imagine, and may not survive. Alex carries a new secret, and a horrifying guilt that Hailey uses to her advantage. 

Emma’s life and sanity hang in the balance, and Alex may have created a monster... (From Goodreads)

EMMA GENTRY

(1) Deep red sweatshirt; (2) white tank top; (3) jeans; (4) sneakers; (5) backpack; (6) Mugz-N-Chugz breve with caramel; (7) black-blue eyeliner; (8) Dracula by Bram Stoker

I always take note of how the author describes a character's style because like I said, it gives a hint of their personality. With Emma, I chose the outfit she wore that night. If you have read the first book, you'll know what I mean. It's also evident that she prefers comfort and sticks to very casual pieces. A sweatshirt, a hoodie, a shirt or tank, jeans and sneakers will always be her go-to look. Aside from the specific descriptions, I added some pieces that I think Emma would wear: the beanie and the ragged accessories. There was a time in my life where I was a girl-in-sneakers-and-loves-stacked-simple-bracelets-phase. So I went back to that time and somehow applied my choices on Emma. I pictured her as a beautiful girl who hides herself from everyone by not catching so much attention hence the layered clothing and the beanie. I also know she's a tough cookie to break because she punches guys without hesitation so I think the leather backpack would be appropriate and for flight purposes, sneakers will help her run as fast as she can. She was a spitfire alright and somehow rebellious which explains the black-blue eyeliner, and she loves Dracula.

Alex Franks by arraabella featuring etnies shoes

ALEX FRANKS

(1) inky dark jeans; (2) light weight hoodie; (3) battered brown leather jacket

Similar to Emma, Alex is into hoodies, sweatshirts and layered looks, too. Well, you will understand if you have read both books. This also shows that he is an introvert, quiet and mysterious. I would've preferred him wearing a fit white shirt under that jacket but a hoodie will do. The less skin, the more we're curious. *wink wink* LOL. Just kidding. ;)

Surprise for extra outfit sets! These are inspired by their costumes on the Halloween dance in the first book, Broken.

Modern Princess by arraabella featuring crystal tiaras crowns

MODERN PRINCESS

I just loved this dress and when I saw it on Polyvore, I just knew that I should use it to create this set for Emma. It just gives off a classic but modern feel to it which is perfect for the story's concept. This is a different take on Emma's style because this reveals too much skin as opposed to the previous look. I think she'll look dazzling in this which explains everyone's stares especially Alex's.

Modern Zorro by arraabella featuring Paul Smith shoes

ZORRO

To stick with the traditional and modern look merged together, I chose pieces that would still emulate the Zorro outfit if it will be worn nowadays. Looking at it, I just removed the suit, and added the vest and the mask. Oh, I can see how dashing Alex is. 

Don't they look good together? :)

SOUND SNIPPET:

I chose these songs since I believed they were perfect and meant for Emma and Alex's love story. It will tell you their tale as soon as you listen to it and heard the lyrics. I will have to warn you though because these might contain spoilers from the first book. So if you haven't read the books, just read on your own risk.

Now and Forever by Richard Marx

Whenever I'm weary
From the battles that raged in my head
You made sense of madness
When my sanity hangs by a thread I lose my way, but still you
Seem to understand
Now & Forever, I will be your man

I can hear this playing whenever Alex have lapses due to his condition and Emma will always be there to help him stabilize. She is his clarity to his insanity.

You Were There by Southern Sons

I guess you heard, I guess you know
In time I'd have told you, but I guess I'm too slow.
And it's overly romantic but I know that it's real I hope you don't you mind if I say what I feel.
It's like I'm in somebody else's dream,
This could not be happening to me.

But you were there, and you were everything I'd never seen.
You woke me up from this long and endless sleep.
I was alone.
I opened my eyes and you were there.

Alex always said that Emma was his dream. He still can't believe that she is his dream and it really came true. I can also hear this playing in the scene where Alex woke up and the first thing he saw was Emma's face. ;)

ADD TO YOUR READING LIST

Dracula by Bram Stoker

A rich selection of background and source materials is provided in three areas: Contexts includes probable inspirations for Dracula in the earlier works of James Malcolm Rymer and Emily Gerard. Also included are a discussion of Stoker's working notes for the novel and "Dracula's Guest," the original opening chapter to Dracula. Reviews and Reactions reprints five early reviews of the novel. "Dramatic and Film Variations" focuses on theater and film adaptations of Dracula, two indications of the novel's unwavering appeal. David J. Skal, Gregory A. Waller, and Nina Auerbach offer their varied perspectives. Checklists of both dramatic and film adaptations are included. 

Criticism collects seven theoretical interpretations of Dracula by Phyllis A. Roth, Carol A. Senf, Franco Moretti, Christopher Craft, Bram Dijsktra, Stephen D. Arata, and Talia Schaffer.  

A Chronology and a Selected Bibliography are included. (From Goodreads)

 Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

Mary Shelley began writing Frankenstein when she was only eighteen. At once a Gothic thriller, a passionate romance, and a cautionary tale about the dangers of science, Frankenstein tells the story of committed science student Victor Frankenstein. Obsessed with discovering the cause of generation and life and bestowing animation upon lifeless matter, Frankenstein assembles a human being from stolen body parts but; upon bringing it to life, he recoils in horror at the creature's hideousness. Tormented by isolation and loneliness, the once-innocent creature turns to evil and unleashes a campaign of murderous revenge against his creator, Frankenstein. 

Frankenstein, an instant bestseller and an important ancestor of both the horror and science fiction genres, not only tells a terrifying story, but also raises profound, disturbing questions about the very nature of life and the place of humankind within the cosmos: What does it mean to be human? What responsibilities do we have to each other? How far can we go in tampering with Nature? In our age, filled with news of organ donation genetic engineering, and bio-terrorism, these questions are more relevant than ever. (From Goodreads)

This is not the end yet! Here is another surprise! A.E. Rought will be giving away signed copies of Broken and Tainted, a custom-made Zombie Deer 'sock monkey' stuffy, and a $25 gift card from Amazon or Book Depository (winner's choice). Enter below:
a Rafflecopter giveaway

NOTE: Giveaway will end on October 31st!

Imagine a modern spin on Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein where a young couple’s undying love and the grief of a father pushed beyond sanity could spell the destruction of them all. 

A string of suspicious deaths near a small Michigan town ends with a fall that claims the life of Emma Gentry's boyfriend, Daniel. Emma is broken, a hollow shell mechanically moving through her days. She and Daniel had been made for each other, complete only when they were together. Now she restlessly wanders the town in the late Fall gloom, haunting the cemetery and its white-marbled tombs, feeling Daniel everywhere, his spectre in the moonlight and the fog. 

When she encounters newcomer Alex Franks, only son of a renowned widowed surgeon, she's intrigued despite herself. He's an enigma, melting into shadows, preferring to keep to himself. But he is as drawn to her as she is to him. He is strangely... familiar. From the way he knows how to open her locker when it sticks, to the nickname she shared only with Daniel, even his hazel eyes with brown flecks are just like Daniel's. 

The closer they become, though, the more something inside her screams there's something very wrong with Alex Franks. And when Emma stumbles across a grotesque and terrifying menagerie of mangled but living animals within the walls of the Franks' estate, creatures she surely knows must have died from their injuries, she knows. (From Goodreads)