Book Tour for Dark Inheritance: Fallen Empire by K. Reed (Guest Post & GIVEAWAY)

England is in turmoil after a plague leaves a path of death and destruction behind in this intriguing historical story, Dark Inheritance: Fallen Empire by K. Reed.  The concept of honor and loyalty is no longer a guarantee and trust is never easy for those left behind.  Join me today for an in-depth look into this book as well as an amazing giveaway.  So help me welcome K. Reed to my blog today talking about the dystopian themes of sci-fi stories blended into a historical world................

How do you successfully combine sci-fi with romance?

I don’t approach any story as science fiction, fantasy, or any sub-genre really. I approach it as a romance, in whatever circumstances they find themselves in. Romance is universal throughout the genres; whether it’s Princess Leia and Han Solo in Star Wars, Rose and Jack from the Titanic, or Aragorn and Arwen from Lord of the Rings, romance lives in just about any setting.

Including a plague ridden Regency world.

Dark Inheritance: Fallen Empire takes romance, the integral part of any story, and sets it among the ruins of society. I knew I wanted to write a Regency, a la Jane Austen, but I wanted something different. By creating the Fallen Empire world, where a devastating plague killed more than half the population, I also had the British government fall.

It’s in this setting where I set my couple, Grayson, Baron Harwich and Lady Juliette Adair. They find each other in the most trying circumstances where trust is as scarce as safety. I’ve taken elements from history such as the Black Death and the fall of the Roman Empire, and married it to Regency England, then I created the juxtaposition between the societal rules that are well known from Regency England and that most basic of all human needs—survival.

Survival is a common thread through many science fiction/fantasy stories. Survival, much like romance and other aspects of human nature, are commonalities woven all genres. For me, the best way to combine science fiction/fantasy and romance is simply to tell the most human story I can.

Dark Inheritance: Fallen Empire by K. Reed

The once glittering ballrooms of Regency England now lay desolate. A plague has ravaged the countryside. The government has fallen. What vestiges of order remained have been consumed by the endless funeral pyres.

Grayson, once the Baron of Harwich, sought only to protect his people. Rescuing a half-dead woman was not among his plans. But something about her pulled at him. Perhaps it was her beauty, still evident beneath the pallor of loss. Perhaps it was the recently fired rifle at her side. Or maybe he was simply tried of death. All he knew was that the plague had taken too much already. He couldn’t let it take her as well.

Lady Juliette Adair had been ready to die with her brother. She didn't expect to be shown mercy in a world that had no room for mercy. When Grayson saved her she questioned his motives but soon found herself intrigued by him, drawn to him.

Societal rules were a thing of the past, dead along with the ton. Juliette had no manner by which to measure her growing closeness to Grayson any longer. But when she discovers he may not be the man she thought she knew more is at stake than just her heart. The secrets she carries could make a king or destroy one.

EXCERPT:

“How do you survive if you gather every beggar you find?” she wondered softly.

Grayson took a step closer and, even if he didn’t know himself why he insisted on taking her back to Harwich, answered honestly. “I’ve never taken one before now.”

Shaking her head, Juliette glanced to her brother. “Do not start with me, then. I should be here.” She gestured to the body. “By his side.”

When her eyes met his again, he saw it. Despite her weakness, her delicate state, strength sparked in her blue eyes. Unbidden, fury flashed through him at her words, at a sentiment that contrasted with the look in her eyes.

He’d given his men strict instructions. No matter what they saw, how many begged for mercy, they were to perform their duties—find supplies to help their village, their people.  Never had they disobeyed him.

Today marked the first time his commands had been broken. And it was he who had broken them. Instinct, an unnamed feeling, wouldn’t allow him to leave her behind. Grayson was drawn to her, wanted her. Juliette touched a part of him he’d thought long abandoned.

Leaning closer, Grayson said clearly, “I have no interest in your absolution.”

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Romance author with an historical twist.

Too many post-apocalyptic stories, movies, and what-ifs crowded her head, and K Reed decided to do something about it. So she plotted one out, decided an historical post-apocalyptic romance was the way to go, and wrote that one instead.

A lover of all things historical, of strong heroes with equally strong heroines, and of sexy pirates, she’s going to explore the post-apocalyptic world of plague-ridden 1804 and the gritty criminal element of Victorian England.

Luckily she has an understanding family, supportive friends, and a day job that offers her the flexibility she needs to plot, plan, and write. Sure, one day she’d like to travel the country in search of fantastic storylines and great locale pictures, but for now she’ll stick to the east coast and the internet.

@kreedauthor
www.kreedauthor.com
kreedauthor@yahoo.com

All Romance:
http://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-darkinheritancefallenempire-784840-160.html

Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Dark-Inheritance-Fallen-Empire-ebook/dp/B0081657LM/ref=sr_1_12?ie=UTF8&qid=1336506593&sr=8-12

Barnes and Noble:
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/dark-inheritance-k-reed/1110618728?ean=2940014395595

Print:
https://www.createspace.com/3867147

**********GIVEAWAY**********

The author will award nine Post-apocalypse survival baskets (which include tea, a fan, a shawl, a bracelet and more -- Plus ONE Grand Prize basket will include an iPod Touch) to randomly drawn commenters throughout the tour.

-Giveaway is OPEN TO US/CAN ONLY!
-To be entered, MUST leave a comment, along with your email addy.
-Winners will be chosen randomly from all comments made throughout the tour, so the more tour stops you make a comment on the greater your chances of winning.  A list of all participating blogs can be found here.
-Giveaway ends at 11:59 PM CST on 6/8.