Showing posts with label Shayne Leighton. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Shayne Leighton. Show all posts

Tuesday, January 12, 2016

Guest Post: Shayne Leighton + Of Light and Darkness


Today I'm so pleased to turn the blog over to author Shayne Leighton, whose latest New Adult Paranormal Romance Of Light and Darkness just hit shelves yesterday. I thought a fun way to introduce this world and its heroine, Charlotte, to readers would be to take a closer look at her bookshelves, so below you'll find a few of the titles that she highly recommends! 

CHARLOTTE RECOMMENDS...

Greetings to those reading this. Charlotte Ruzikova here–writing this during the daylight hours. I should be sleeping, but I wanted greatly to prepare you all for your impending journey into the Occult City and I didn't want Valek to find out what I was doing. (You'll know more about him later.)

Naturally, before venturing over the borders and into our town, forbidden to all human kind, there are some things you should know...for your safety. Perhaps, there are even a few things you should read up on before you begin your journey. I have a few recommendations.

Firstly, heed my warning about Lycanthropes guarding the city borders. They have a no-tolerance policy for mortals trying to pass through the woods into our town. It's wise to carry objects that might distract them. A dead rabbit might do the trick. Maybe, even, a goat leg!

In all Occult Cities, many things are possible. There are Witches, obviously Vampires, Elves, Shifters, dragons, and such other terrifying beasts...Fae being the worst.

J.K. Rowling does a decent job of naming a few possibilities in Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them. That's my first recommended piece of reading, and perhaps the most important.

Sarah, my best friend and Francis' indentured house Witch, might want you to read up on a few spells and incantations to prepare yourself for the sorcery sort. For this, I'd recommend reading The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern. It won't teach a mortal any magic tricks, but it is a good example of the fact that, in my world, things are not always what they seem!

Also, Prague is a city of vast secrets and steeped in mystery. Locals say the streets of Prague seem to change, as if by magic, every day. It would be wise to arm yourself with a guide that appreciates such magic...for I don't think any normal map would help you. For this, I recommend City of Dark Magic by Magnus Flyte.

Of course, if you're still a bit hesitant about your trek, Autumn: An Introduction by Shayne Leighton is a good way to test the waters. It will give you a taste of what's to come. I'll even get you started by offering you the copy from my library: http://www.instafreebie.com/book/5531

Most inhabitants are nice. Remember to keep to the shadows and not to trust just anyone...

I look forward to your visit to the Southernmost Bohemian Occult City.

Cheers,
Charlotte

Thanks so much Charlotte and Shayne!

• • • • • • • • • • • • • •

OF LIGHT AND DARKNESS


Shayne Leighton's stunning NA debut is a fiercely imaginative, multilayered contemporary fantasy where Erin Morgenstern's The Night Circus meets Anne Rice's The Vampire Chronicles in a story about a girl caught between two societies . . . two sides . . . and two loves.

Raised by a Vampire in a secret society of Witches, Shifters, and Elves, Charlotte finds that she is the freak in her world of magic and wonder. When she stands before an army of impossible obstacles, the likelihood of survival in this coming-of-age modern fairy tale is slim, resulting in a war between light and darkness.

Charlotte knows no other home than the one nestled deep in the woods of Eastern Europe, where Witches draw spells of enchantment, Shifters throw tea parties, and Elves are the closest in kin.

As genocide and war threatens her life and her home, Charlotte will not allow her one true love to be destroyed. Fighting for her adopted coven of rogue monsters, she will do whatever it takes to save them...and she'll do it before the sun comes up and light takes over forever!


Find Shayne + Of Light and Darkness:

Sunday, August 4, 2013

Things of Awesome: August Edition

Hey Everyone!

It's been a while since I've done a Things of Awesome post because I pretty much fail at being consistent when it comes to my own features on this blog. A feature or meme someone else has created? I'm on top of it almost every week, but apparently that same determination to stick with something cannot be applied to my own monthly feature. *sigh* Oh well. I do have some really fun things to share with you for this month though, so I hope you enjoy!

SCORCHED PRE-ORDER CAMPAIGN


This book was one of the ones I was most excited to grab at BEA this year because DRAGONS. Yes. I haven't read very many books that feature dragons, so I was pumped to get my hands on this and promptly devoured it as soon as I got home. I thoroughly enjoyed it and will post my review when it gets a little closer to release day on September 3rd!

The team at Sourcebooks has put together a fun pre-order campaign for this book, so I'll let them explain how it's all going to work:

It’s Game of Thrones meets The Terminator in award-winning author Mari Mancusi’s newest, powerful new series, Scorched which will be in stores on September 3rd!

A Gift for You, for Pre-Ordering SCORCHED by Mari Mancusi


We have a special offer for U.S. and Canada YA fans for the release of Scorched by Mari Mancusi in stores in a little over three weeks! If you pre-order the book, we will send you an exclusive dragon charm—perfect to wear as jewelry or to decorate as an accessory. You have until September 2 or until quantities run out.

Here’s how to get your charm:

1. Pre-order the book (print or eBook) through any retailer (Barnes & Noble, Amazon, your local independent bookseller/Indiebound, Books-A-Million, Hastings, etc.)

2. Email your proof of purchase (receipt or picture of the receipt) to teenfire@sourcebooks.com. Put “Scorched Pre-Order” in the subject line. Don’t forget to include your home address (US & Canada only please) so we can send you the dragon charm! If you’ve already pre-ordered this book—not a problem! Send us your receipt!

3. You will get an email back confirming when the items have been sent out.

4. Enjoy
Scorched when it comes out in September!

Optional: take a pic of you and your dragon charm and share it with Mari Mancusi or Sourcebooks Fire on Twitter! You can find Mari @marimancusi and Sourcebooks Fire @sourcebooksfire.


COVER REVEAL: BROKEN


In addition to launching the pre-order campaign for Scorched, Sourcebooks has also recently revealed the cover for Broken, a new young adult novel from CJ Lyons releasing November 5th. Isn't it gorgeous?

Fifteen-year-old Scarlet Killian has one chance for a normal life. Only problem? It just might kill her. Diagnosed with a rare and untreatable heart condition, Scarlet has never taken the school bus. Or giggled with friends during lunch. Or spied on a crush out of the corner of her eye. Scarlet has come to terms with the fact that despite the best efforts of her doctors and parents, she's going to die. Literally of a broken heart.  So when her parents offer her a week to prove she can survive high school, Scarlet knows her time is now... or never.

Scarlet can feel her heart beating out of control with every slammed locker and every sideways glance in the hallway. But for the first time in her life she makes real friends. She also makes new discoveries about the truth behind her illness... a truth that might just kill her before her heart does.

• • • Find CJ online • • •

CRAVE

Releasing this week is Crave by Monica Murphy, a new adult contemporary romance from Avon Books, and they have decided to tease readers into a frenzied state of anticipation by releasing the first three chapters in advance. Woot! Should you find yourself dying to read the rest of the book, be sure and pre-order now as Crave is currently available at a special price of $1.99, but only until Tuesday (August 6th) when the book releases. Find out more about Crave and check out the link to the first three chapters below!


Billionaire Archer Bancroft always gets what he wants—and he’s wanted Ivy Emerson, his best friend’s sister, for far too long. Being forbidden and untouchable only makes her more tempting. When a million-dollar bet with his friends throws down a challenge-last bachelor standing takes it all-Archer knows he can win. That is, until one enchanted evening with Ivy takes his heart for a ride.

Ivy knows Archer is nothing but bad news: Infuriating, arrogant…and completely intoxicating. But despite her best efforts, she can’t seem to keep away. When a stolen kiss leads to a night of heated passion, Ivy realizes she’s in trouble and in head over heels.

But in the light of day, everything seems clearer and Archer’s not so sure a one-night stand is all he wants. Concocting a plan to keep Ivy by his side, Archer might just be willing to lose this bet…and win the jackpot instead.


• • • Read Chapters 1-3 • • •

ARE YOU ALLEGIANT?


Who's excited for the release of Veronica Roth's Allegiant in October? *raises hand* I still haven't read Insurgent yet, I decided to wait until Allegiant came out so I could read them at the same time, that way I wouldn't have to play catch up and try and remember everything that happened. *pats self on back for thinking ahead*

HarperTeen is of course going to be launching an outstanding campaign full of juicy tidbits, prize packs, exclusive sneak peeks, and more, and they've asked me to help in that endeavor, so stay tuned for much Allegiant epicness to come!

As for now, they've released the first set of online assets, complete with headers, backgrounds, buttons and badges should you be interested in decorating your blog, website, or desktop and letting your Allegiant fangirl colors fly. You can find all the graphics HERE. Enjoy!

My favorite background:


THE VAMPIRE'S HOURGLASS: COVER REVEAL + GIVEAWAY

Lastly, I'm excited today to reveal the cover of the newest book in the Of Light and Darkness series by bestselling author Shayne Leighton. The Vampire's Hourglass (New Adult Paranormal Romance) is scheduled to be published by Decadent publishing the end of this year or beginning of next. Be sure and check out the bottom of the post for a fabulous giveaway!


After narrowly surviving a near-death experience in an effort to save Valek from yet another showdown with Aiden, Charlotte awakens inside the forsaken, crumbling walls of the Regime Palace. Though she finds herself surrounded by her closest friends, she is conflicted over her feelings of the sudden absence of her Vampire guardian from her life.
 
With Nikolai there to console her, Charlotte cannot shake the undeniable chemistry she feels for this familiar stranger. But they are running out of time. Charlotte’s peculiar ailment will return and Sarah, the witch, will sacrifice her youth and beauty in order to save her best friend, unless they find the secret, Dark City.
 
Charlotte, Nikolai, Sarah, and several other favored characters travel down to the underbellies of Prague to find Valek. But what they end up discovering are the dark and nasty secrets the elder Vampires have been hiding for centuries. Charlotte must overcome her mortal limitations to win back the heart of the one she truly loves and escape the gates of Abelim with her throat intact in this enthralling, highly-anticipated third installment of the Of Light and Darkness Series.

 Exclusive Excerpt:

           “Does it hurt? You know...when I’m around?”

            He was talking about the scar that still thrived at the side of her throat. The one that appeared there after Valek left his first, initial bite months ago in Francis’ home. The one that had ailed her since and nearly killed her until she unwittingly saved herself by stabbing a hole in her own chest. Not her empty, openly bleeding heart and her feeling of abandonment and being alone, but a literal hole that she created herself some snowy weeks ago when she attempted to end it all to prove herself as something more than just an expendable mortal in this game of light and darkness. She wanted to finally be recognized as a hero, nearly having killed herself for the sake of saving her friends from Aiden. Knowing the tainted taste of the blood from her ruptured heart would drive him away.

            But what did she have to prove for it now? Another giant scar. And more than that, her nightmare came true. Valek was nowhere to be found, no matter how hard she looked. After everything he did, and everything that had happened because of his carelessness, she wasn’t sure how badly she wanted to find him. That thought made her heart constrict. But then again, Aiden had disappeared as well. At least there was that.

       “Not really. Not as much as the emotional pain underneath it,” she finally answered Nikolai’s question honestly. “The heartbreak hurts worse than the scar ever could.”

GIVEAWAY

Signed copies of The Vampire's Daughter and The Vampire's Reflection by Shayne Leighton! This giveaway is open worldwide and ends on August 8th, 2013. Must be 13 or older to enter (with parental permission).

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