Excerpt & Giveaway with Hailey Edwards

A Feast of Souls by Hailey Edwards

Genre: Fantasy Romance
Heat Level: Mainstream
Publisher: Samhain Publishing; 12/18/12
Series: Araneae Nation, #2
Format: Any digital format
Words: 85k

The only way to save her is to bind their souls as one.

Araneae Nation, Book 2

Born with the ability to communicate with the dead, few things take Mana by surprise. But when a canis lopes into her life, announcing himself as the long-dead father of a childhood friend, she’s shocked. To make matters worse, he has a dire message that she alone can deliver.

Now Mana must face Vaughn, the male who inspired one too many girlish fantasies, and impart the spirit’s message—without acknowledging her source—so the soul can be laid to rest.

With rumors of a burgeoning clan war setting his nerves on edge, the last thing Vaughn needs is for an innocent to get caught in the crosshairs. But the woman he remembers as an awkward girl refuses to leave his side until he’s heard her out. That’s not the only change in her that calls to him. Her kindness soothes his battle-scarred soul—and he craves her in ways a warrior shouldn’t.

When they are both captured, they learn of an even greater threat. The plague devastating the southlands has come to his clan home. And his best—and only—chance to keep his people alive is the female who walks among the dead.

Product Warnings: This book contains one fierce hero with a nose for danger, one stubborn heroine who smells like trouble, and one wolfish spirit who makes most relationships with the in-laws seem downright tame. Fur, fangs and some biting should be expected. But never fear, the hero has a sword, and he knows how to use it.

Links to purchase:
Samhain | Amazon | B&N

Excerpt:

Pleasure flushed Vaughn’s cheeks when he spotted his ring on my finger. I folded my hands and earned his scowl. The male beside him stared at the signet, and I wondered what it meant to him. Vaughn approached Sakwa and grasped my hips. I slid into his arms, and he drew me flush against him. His hands found mine, our fingers twined, and he traced the curve of the gold band.

“Are you sure?” he asked, cheek to cheek.

“I vowed to aid your clan, and I keep my promises.” I nuzzled him. “Thank you for the gift, but I must return it. It was your father’s, and you should keep it. It’s fit for a paladin, not for a…”

I stopped short of maven, dispersing the image of ruling by Vaughn’s side before it set.

“Wear it. It’s my claim.” He lingered with his lips beside my ear. “All other males will know you’re mine.”

My stomach fluttered, and my retort stuck in my throat.

“What? No argument?” His teeth scraped my neck, and I realized several things.

One was that he was not aroused as his actions implied. Two was that my spine tingled with awareness that our display was being watched. A third was that tension radiated from him to me.

I forced out the question he must have expected. “Why did you give me the ring?”

“To protect you.” Anguish thickened his voice. “Or to damn you, damn me.”

His meaning sat heavy on my shoulders.

Protection if Isolde lived. Death if she had already died.

He thinks this might be a trap. The ring gave the illusion I was at least a potential wife for Vaughn. Playing the role of partisan to the current heir meant the new dynasty, if there was one, would take my head in case I carried the next generation in my womb.

I cupped his cheek. “I accept the risks.”

“Then you must accept me as well.” Those pointed teeth of his drew furrows over my racing pulse. Before I did more than gulp a rasping breath, he struck. His fangs sank deep, his lips fused to my throat and his venom scorched red-hot through my veins. Slow throbs pulsed between my legs and made my knees weak. I fell against him, fisting his shirt, eager and drawing him closer.

I had heard rumors Mimetidae venom was aphrodisiacal.

Now I believed them.

My skin was alight with desire for this male. The punch of his teeth, the strength of his arms, there was nothing he could ask of me in this moment that I would have the will to deny him.

Meet author Hailey Edwards

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.

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Giveaway Details

Hailey is gifting one lucky commenter from each tour stop, a digital copy of a title from her backlist. (A Feast of Souls is not included in the options.) The contest is open internationally and will run the duration of the tour (ending 12:01am EST 12/22/12). The winner(s) will be randomly selected and notified via email.

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Additional Tour Stops: