Blog Tour Stop: A Cast of Shadows by Hailey Edwards (plus giveaway)

A Cast of Shadows

by Hailey Edwards

Genre: Fantasy Romance

Series: Araneae Nation series, #2.5

Publisher: Samhain Publishing

Pub. Date: February 12, 2013

Words: 31, 114

Back Cover Blurb:

The strongest net is no match for destiny.

An Araneae Nation story.

Daraja has grown up watching her brothers journey down the river on the traditional Deinopidae rite of passage. Each returned with riches from their travels, and lovers with whom to share their lives.

Now she has reached the age where she would strike out on her own to seek her fortune—if she were male. Instead, she is expected to sit patiently, weave her nets and wait for the river to bring a husband to her.

Patience, however, has never been her strong suit.

Brynmor haunts the forest surrounding the city of Cathis, his disembodied spirit inextricably bound to the wild canis roaming his lands. Until the day he stumbles across a brazen trespasser in his woods.

Compelled to step in when the canis suspect her of poaching one of their own, Brynmor fears he has lost a piece of his ragged soul to the feisty, adventure-seeking female. And when the canis confront the real poachers, he is forced to choose which life to sacrifice. Hers…or his own.

Warning: This book contains one heroine with a knack for weaving nets and one hero who relishes getting caught. Expect singing, some howling, ghostly shenanigans, and the start of a love that transcends death.

Buy it here: Samhain | Amazon | Barnes and Noble

Excerpt:

Brynmor had been the Mimetidae leader, their paladin, while he lived. But leaving his clan, his beloved city of Cathis, upon his death had proven impossible. Instead, he chose to remain in the Second World rather than ascend to the spiritlands. There was the matter of his son, who ruled their clan in his stead, and whose forgiveness lingered forever outside of Brynmor’s reach.

There was also the issue of Brynmor’s wife…

He shut down thoughts of Isolde before the familiar shame overtook him.

All ties to his clan should have broken upon his death. But he had clung to his old life, to his old relationships. Though his body had died, his soul remained. If the gods opposed his decision, if they existed at all, they hadn’t met him on the precipice of death or approached him since then.

He preferred their indifference. He was enjoying his afterlife on Second World.

Since stumbling across Daraja, he was enjoying himself more than he had in a long while.

“It’s unusual for a female to travel alone,” Brynmor said to distract the canis. It was unheard of in most clans and yet another reason he meant to glean more information from her belongings.

“There is safety for anyone in numbers. Female or not, it is unwise to travel in unfamiliar territory alone.” Errol’s pace slowed. “She is a hunter. Do you think she means the pack harm?"

“I can’t say. She might catch and eat her fill of salmo during their run and then leave. But if she stays, we should prepare for the possibility she might also catch one of us.”

Whipping his bristled tail against Brynmor’s leg, Errol growled. “Let us do as you said. We will examine her belongings and determine her purpose in our woods. If she means to hunt us…” Errol locked eyes with him, and Brynmor’s gut twisted into knots, “…we will run her to ground, feast upon her flesh and gnaw her bones.” Errol’s lips peeled from his teeth. “Scipio and I will drag her carcass to the edge of the woods and leave it as a warning to all the other two-legs.”

Scipio was Errol’s beta, which begged the question, “Why not ask for my help?”

The canis snorted. “You have her scent in your nose. You are tracking her even now.”

Denial pursed Brynmor’s lips, but he chose to ignore Errol instead.

Despite his fascination with Daraja, she was a transient interest, here and then forgotten. His bond with Errol, that was permanent. Their souls were intermingled, inseparable, except perhaps in the case of Errol’s death. Binding his spirit to a mortal creature meant Brynmor’s grasp on life was tenuous at best. By using Errol’s body to house his essence, Brynmor created a new state of existence. As his ability to touch the living world increased, so did his presence within it. No longer was he cursed to an existence without substance. He could now manifest flesh, touch and taste, savor and enjoy the world around him. He could live. And he had Errol to thank for his second chance.

Author Bio:

Born in the Deep South, Hailey is a lifelong resident of Alabama. Her husband works for the local sheriff’s department and her daughter is counting down the days until she’s old enough to audition for American Idol. Her doxie, Black Ilex, helps Hailey write by snoozing in his recliner in her office.

Her desire to explore without leaving the comforts of home fueled her love of reading and writing. Whenever the itch for adventure strikes, Hailey can be found with her nose glued to her Kindle’s screen or squinting at her monitor as she writes her next happily-ever-after.

Find Hailey Online: Website | Goodreads | Twitter | Facebook | Pinterest

Giveaway Guidelines:

Hailey is gifting a digital book from a select list of her backlist titles to a commenter per number of tour stops. The contest is open internationally to anyone 18 years or older, or the age of majority, and will run from 12:01am EST 2/11/13 – 11:59pm EST 2/18/13. No purchase is necessary. Void where prohibited by law. The winners will be randomly selected via the widget and notified via Lit Connect (http://litconnect.com) within five days close of the tour.

Please follow the Rafflecopter directions for ways to enter.

Additional Tour Stops and Information:

You can find additional stops and an opportunity to gain virtual currency for goodies by following this tour via the web scavenger hunt at Lit Connect, and on the A Cast of Shadows Event Page: http://litconnect.com/virtual-tour-a-cast-of-shadows-by-hailey-edwards

a Rafflecopter giveaway