Shadow Rising by Kendra Leigh Castle (Guest Post/Giveaway)

Today I am excited to welcome romance author, Kendra Leigh Castle, back to celebrate the release of the third book in her awesome Dark Dynasties series, Shadow Rising!

Vamp Kitty Don't Care

By Kendra Leigh Castle

Thanks so much to Crystal for having me here today!  I'm thrilled to be celebrating the release of my newest Dark Dynasties book, Shadow Rising, with everyone.

Back when I started working on this book, I knew I wanted to do something a little different.  Okay, I mean, yeah, it's still extra full of vampires.  In fact, this is my first book wherein both the hero and heroine are both of the bloodsucking persuasion.  But Ty MacGillivray and Jaden Harrison, the respective heroes of Dark Awakening and Midnight Reckoning, were both somewhat...angsty.  I like angst in a hero.  Some torment is good.  But once in a while, I need a departure.  I need snark.  I need...well, apparently I needed Damien Tremaine.

If you've followed the series, you'll remember Damien as a smart-mouthed assassin whose moral code is loose to nonexistent.  He's not tormented.  He's not conflicted or confused, and he's not secretly longing for a good woman to save him.  Damien knows exactly what and who he is.  The man is basically the Honey Badger of the Dark Dynasties.  He really doesn't give a—well, you know.

So who is Damien, and why should you want to read about this obnoxious immortal who took up several months of my life and who is still occupying valuable headspace because I can't seem to quit him?  Well, without saying enough to spoil it, I will say that he's the disgraced youngest son of a British nobleman whose tongue is as sharp as his daggers, and who prefers the company of said daggers to that of other people most of the time.  Though he is one of the Cait Sith, a "lowblood" cat-shifting vampire, he avoided the slavery of most of his kind and made his way as a talented assassin with the House of Shadows.  He's a fan of money, expensive things, and good tailoring.  He's also kind of a jerk, but that puts less people off than you'd think.  There's just...something about him.  Which is a good thing, since I gave him a heroine who could take his head off in a heartbeat if she wanted to.  Lucky for Damien, Ariane is as sweet as she is deadly.   The combination is one that, for once in Damien's long life, is impossible for him to walk away from.

Interested?  I hope so!  Damien is a character who quickly became one of my favorites, and I hope readers enjoy seeing him really get to shine in Shadow Rising as he finally gets a story of his own.  Since I'll be hanging out here today in the comments, here's my question for you: do you enjoy the occasional Honey Badger-esque character?  If so, who's your favorite?  I have to admit, I'm drawn to them.  My current favorite is Loki, the god of mischief from Thor and, more recently, The Avengers.  Yeah, he has daddy issues and wants to rule the world, but he definitely misbehaves in style!  And he has that smirk.  I'm helpless in the face of such things.

I'm giving away a signed copy of Shadow Rising to one commenter today, so be sure to say hello!  Thanks for reading!

Ancient Secrets, Dark Passions...
As one of the Grigori, a noble vampire dynasty shrouded in mystery, Ariane has spent her life hidden away in the desert. Like all of her kind, she is a watcher, fated to observe, forbidden to act. Yet when her best friend, Sammael, vanishes, she defies all rules and flees her safe haven to bring him home.
A shape-shifting assassin for the House of Shadows, Damien Tremaine is hired to locate Sammael. His hunt for the wayward Grigori leads him to Ariane, the rogue vamp who stands between him and his bounty. Damien never lets emotion interfere with his work, but a single touch from the sexy, beguiling vampire shatters his self-control. Drawn together by their common goal, what begins as an alliance of necessity soon becomes one of desire. But when the secret at the dark heart of the Grigori comes to light, Damien and Ariane must make a choice that could bind them eternally...or tear them—and everything they care about—apart.

Kendra Leigh Castle is the author of the Dark Dynasties series, as well as several other paranormal romances.  She lives in Maryland with her husband, three kids, and menagerie of pets.  Kendra can be found at www.kendraleighcastle.com, Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.

~*GIVEAWAY*~

As Kendra mentions above she is giving away one copy of Shadow Rising to one lucky reader! To enter, just leave a comment answering Kendra's question on this post and then fill out the rafflecopter below. Additional entries are available but not required. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway