Deadly Designs

Design #2

by Dale Mayer

Drawing is her world...but when she's banished to a deadly new world and needs help, it's his world too.

Her... Storey Dalton wants to go home - but something goes terrifyingly wrong and she ends up in her worst nightmare. There's no escape...not without Eric or her stylus. Then she finds someone who needs rescuing even more than she does...

Him... Eric Jordan races to save Storey, only to realize a close family member has betrayed them both. Now the enemy is closing in on him. When he meets up with Storey, he knows her plans are a bad idea, but she won't be dissuaded...and it could be their only way of staying alive.

It... The stylus, now bonded to Storey's artistic soul, is determined to survive this new chaos - against all odds. But damaged from a prolonged separation, he can't help Story or Eric - without making things worse.

Them... Storey is determined to make things right. Eric is determined to help her. Neither counts the personal cost, until their very lives are in danger.

Genres: Young Adult, Romance, Paranormal

222 pages, Paperback

First published October 10, 2012

About the author

Dale Mayer is a USA Today bestselling author best known for her Psychic Visions and Family Blood Ties series. Her contemporary romances are raw and full of passion and emotion (Second Chances, SKIN), her thrillers will keep you guessing (By Death series), and her romantic comedies will keep you giggling (It's a Dog's Life and Charmin Marvin Romantic Comedy series).

She honors the stories that come to her - and some of them are crazy and break all the rules and cross multiple genres!

To go with her fiction, she also writes nonfiction in many different fields with books available on resume writing, companion gardening and the US mortgage system. She has recently published her Career Essentials Series. All her books are available in print and ebook format.

To find out more about Dale and her books, visit her at http://www.dalemayer.com. Or connect with her online with Twitter at www.twitter.com/dalemayer and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/dalemayer.author. If you like Dale Mayer's books and are interested in joining her street team, sign up here - https://www.facebook.com/groups/40238...

Books by Dale Mayer

Psychic Vision Series
Tuesday's Child
Hide'n Go Seek
Maddy's Floor
Garden of Sorrow
Knock, Knock...
Rare Find
Eyes to the Soul - fall/winter 2014

By Death Series
Touched by Death - Part 1 - Free
Touched by Death - Part 2
Touched by Death - Full book
Haunted by Death
Chilled by Death - fall/winter 2014

Second Chances...at Love Series
Second Chances - Part 1
Second Chances - Part 2
Second Chances - Full book

Novellas
It's a Dog's Life- romantic comedy

Charmin Marvin Romantic Comedy
Broken Protocols #1
Broken Protocols #2
Broken Protocols #3

New adult/adul crossover Books
In Cassie's Corner
Gem Stone (a Gemma Stone mystery)

Design Series
Dangerous Designs
Deadly Designs
Darkest Designs

Family Blood Ties Series
Vampire in Denial
Vampire in Distress
Vampire in Design
Vampire in Deceit
Vampire in Defiance

Non-Fiction Books
Career Essentials: The Resume
Career Essentials: The Cover Letter
Career Essentials: The Interview
Career Essentials: 3 in 1

Reviews

[CarolKat · Rating 5 out of 5]

By the end of the first book we've had a look at a few different dimensions, including one that Storey has created for the Louers. The Toran's which is Eric's, the Louer's old and new and of course Storey's. Oh and the creation also caused a time problem within Storey's.

At the end of all that, instead of being sent home Storey is sent to a difficult situation, one she recognizes by the smell. Her sketches are portals and now she's here without her backpack, sketch book or her stylus. She is however, soul connected to her stylus so she finds a way to communicate although the stylus isn't answering her. It's using her words to communicate with Paxton an elder and Eric through Paxton's stylus.

As she looks for a way out, she finds a Louer child, alone except for her pet. The portal to the new dimension is damaged so no one can come back for her. Now Storey has a new project but first she needs to get out of the old Louer dimension.

Eric saw horror on Storey's face as the dark mist surrounded her to take her home. He also saw the glee on his father's. Now he needs to know she arrived safely. What he finds is not what he wants to hear. She is not in her dimension or his. With Paxton's stylus communicating with hers they figure out where she is and Eric goes to get her.

Storey didn't just find the Louer child she's named Tammy, she also found more styluses. Everyone is about to get quite the education on those.

Of course getting Tammy to the new dimension isn't going to be easy, and they don't get it right the first time either. We they do but not, they encounter a faction against her father, so not a good place for any of them to be.

The styluses seem to be able to cause a bit of trouble by interfering when they shouldn't.

Eric and Storey grow closer as they face many obstacles in their way to getting Tammy to her parents. More than just a couple of surprises as well and topped off by another OMG ending.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just so y'all know, Dale Mayer delights in leaving her characters in heart-stopping danger. Don't get me wrong, she gives us a satisfactory ending to the book's arc. She doesn't leave us hanging in that respect. However, poor Storey isn't out of the woods yet and she's going to have to fight to get where she needs to be. Metaphorically. Although I guess it could be literally, too. I don't know. The point is, there's a cliffhanger and it's a doozy.

I have to admit that the world here intrigues me. It's alternately high-tech and not-so-high-tech (with some oddly advanced powers) depending on which dimension they're in. Oh, and then there's the everyday, normal dimension that Storey's from. Only it's not so everyday now, is it? It will be interesting to see how *that* gets resolved because it feels like something pretty major and it's one of those things that has the potential to get very bad before it gets better. (Yes, I'm being intentionally vague. You're welcome.)

Storey and Eric are pretty sweet together. I love the way Eric sees her, too. In his world, she's a force of nature. She isn't held back by their way of thinking and she isn't afraid to speak her mind. She fascinates him because of this. Storey's drawn to Eric because he sees her in a way that no one else ever has. Like I said, they're just so sweet together.

Backstabbing, psychic attacks, danger, and cheese all combine to make this a fun and interesting read. Yes, Storey's left in danger at the end, but that just means we get to anticipate her next book all the more. The idea behind the portals and the worlds that have been created here are so engrossing that they'll keep you entertained until the bitter end. Not that the ending's bitter, mind you... you know what? Good book. That's what I have to say about it.

-Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal

[Cherri-Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have to start off by saying that I only do reviews on a series, not on each book (I can never figure out how to do reviews without giving away too much!). I have become email friends with Dale since starting to read her books. I read the Family Blood Ties series and loved it. Because of all of that, I decided to read her other books even though they are not ones I usually would read (silly me!). I cannot begin to explain how thrilled I am that I did read these!!! This is a fantastic series!! The series opens with Dangerous Designs, continues with Deadly Designs and ends with Darkest Designs. The whole concept of bonding with your pencil or Stylus as it is also called, is intriguing, but to bond with it to a level that you can think and speak to it is something else. And then finding out that there are souls - real living souls - inside the Stylus - well, I think that says it all!!! This series is fantastically written, with the first 2 novels, ending with cliffhangers, well, not really even ending as each book flows directly into the next one. I love how Storey - the lead heroine, who the series is about - is able to think outside of the box, is willing to help anyone and everyone, even at her own expense, and is able to find great friendship, a potential life-mate and in the end is able to help different dimensions of people, just by being herself - an inquisitive almost seventeen year old girl. I think that anyone who is looking for a great series to read, should read this one. Dale has a way with words, and is great at being able to draw in the reader (no pun intended) to make you think that you are there in the story with them. In fact she does this so well, that I actually read the entire second book (Deadly Designs) in one sitting!! I have not done that in a really long time, so extra kudos to Dale! In all, READ THIS SERIES and any others from Dale Mayer - you will not be disappointed!!

[A.R. Von · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good continuation from where Dangerous Designs left off, a 3.5 rating rounded to a 4 for me. It did not go in the direction I expected it to, but it was no less good than the first. Still an amazingly creative, vivid world with twists, excitement, adventure and a few surprises. Anyone looking into reading this without reading the first in the series can rest at ease, Deadly Designs was written so it can be read as a stand-alone. It contained a perfect amount of information that allows the reader to flow right along with the story and its characters; a read that many YA paranormal fans will enjoy :)

Storey is experiencing a bout of homesickness and it seems that she’ll get anywhere else but there. She and Eric end up on yet another mission (mostly not by choice), but this time it’s to help two others in need of assistance. One, known as the enemy to Eric’s people, the other is a new found enemy of Storey. She has grown up a lot from when she was first introduced to us. I’m beginning to see her more as a woman and not a teenager. She puts herself at risk for others in need, even if they are the enemy. A character that sets many great examples for others.

Eric has also grown in character a great deal. He’s now gotten to experience more of life than he ever has through the eyes, mind and exuberance that is Storey and he’s enjoying each new experience, well except for a few minor (hee hee) bumps that are in their path.

I look forward to the next in the series. There was a lot left hanging by the end and some questions not answered. Knowing there is going to be another in the series, one thing I am hoping that Storey and Eric finally realize what the truly mean to one another and have a happily ever after.

[Laurie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Deadly Designs picks up where the first book Dangerous Designs closed. Storey has been banished to another dimension. She is alone though she wishes Eric was there with her, she soon realizes that she is not quite as alone as she thought.

I enjoyed this episode and think it is a worthy successor to the first. This is not a stand-alone series. The books will need to be read in order to get full enjoyment. I particularly like that the world-building is continuing to be surprising. That expansion is the ideal backdrop showcasing the thrilling adventures of Storey and Eric.

Though I felt this episode takes off a little slower than the first, once it picks up steam (towards the latter part of the first chapter) I became immersed in the action and had to read it to the end before I could disengage from the characters and their exploits . There is definitely danger but there is also a bit of innocent romance and mystery. Storey begins to really come into her own in this installment. Eric and she make a good team and I am looking forward to more adventures featuring this duo.

This book was given to me by the author with no review requirement. Even though I am a mature reader I often enjoy Young Adult fiction. I think this series is a particularly fun read.

[Charlotte · Rating 2 out of 5]

Although I originally gave this book three stars, I felt that I had to change it because I didn't really like it that much. It bothered me majorly how similar Storey and Eric's speech was even though he was supposedly more uptight because of the customs in his dimension. Neither of the two of them talked like most teenagers would instead they were both majorly uptight and spoke like they were just meeting instead of being boyfriend and girlfriend. The repeated use of "his/her gaze widened" also drove me a bit crazy. Not to mention the fact that Storey always seems to get pushed or pulled out of portals at inconvenient times in the two books in the series I've read so far. I wish there was a bit of a noticeable difference in ways things go badly for her

[Denise · Rating 5 out of 5]

'Deadly Design's is as great as the first book 'Dangerous Designs'. As with the first book, this one was also well written. The story was fantastic. I love this series. I am looking forward to reading the next book. The twists were unexpected and a delight. I fell in love with 'Tammy'. The bond grew between Storey and Eric. Overall, 'Deadly Design's' is an awesome read. I recommend this book for any age. Once I started reading, I had to finish.

[Holly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great book, and completely different than what I usually read. The premise had the potential to be very poorly explained, but the author did a great job. I actually bought the third book in the series, and am reading that one. Great character development, and not too far out there to loose my interest..

[Lynelle Clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent read with the same intensity as the first book.
Then the cliffhanger...?
My review will be available on my blog on the 12/03. Enter the competition in order to stand a change of winning your copy.

[Michelle Baldwin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dale mayor is an amazing author... I'd recommend anyone buy her books you won't be disappointed... I can never put down any of her books always value for money she keeps you hooked......I'm one of her biggest fans xxxx