Giveaway and Blog Tour: "A Spear of Summer Grass"

"A Spear of Summer Grass"
by Deanna Raybourn

Publisher: Harlequin Mira
Release Date: April 30, 2013
Source: ARC sent by publicist/publisher in exchange for blog post


Summary from goodreads.com:
Paris, 1923

The daughter of a scandalous mother, Delilah Drummond is already notorious, even amongst Paris society. But her latest scandal is big enough to make even her oft-married mother blanch. Delilah is exiled to Kenya and her favorite stepfather's savannah manor house until gossip subsides.

Fairlight is the crumbling, sun-bleached skeleton of a faded African dream, a world where dissolute expats are bolstered by gin and jazz records, cigarettes and safaris. As mistress of this wasted estate, Delilah falls into the decadent pleasures of society.

Against the frivolity of her peers, Ryder White stands in sharp contrast. As foreign to Delilah as Africa, Ryder becomes her guide to the complex beauty of this unknown world. Giraffes, buffalo, lions and elephants roam the shores of Lake Wanyama amid swirls of red dust. Here, life is lush and teeming-yet fleeting and often cheap.

Amidst the wonders-and dangers-of Africa, Delilah awakes to a land out of all proportion: extremes of heat, darkness, beauty and joy that cut to her very heart. Only when this sacred place is profaned by bloodshed does Delilah discover what is truly worth fighting for-and what she can no longer live without.

About A Spear of Summer Grass (from the publicist)
New York Times bestselling author of the Lady Julie Grey series enters a new era with A Spear of Summer Grass.

Paris, 1923
The daughter of a scandalous mother, Delilah Drummond is already notorious, even amongst Paris society. But her latest scandal is big enough to make even her oft-married mother blanch. Delilah is exiled to Kenya and her favorite stepfather’s savannah manor house, until gossip subsides.

Amidst the wonders—and dangers—of Africa, Delilah awakes to a land out of all proportion: extremes of heat, darkness, beauty and joy that cut to her very heart. Only when this sacred place is profaned by bloodshed does Delilah discover what is truly worth fighting for—and what she can no longer live without.

If you blend glamour from The Great Gatsby and romance from “Out of Africa,” you are beginning to grasp the stunning new novel that is A Spear of Summer Grass.


About the author
A sixth-generation native Texan, New York Times bestselling author Deanna Raybourn grew up in San Antonio, where she met her college sweetheart.  She married him on her graduation day and went on to teach high school English and history.  During summer vacation at the age of twenty-three, she wrote her first novel.  After three years as a teacher, Deanna left education to have a baby and pursue writing full-time. Fourteen years and many, many rejections after her first novel, she signed two three-book deals with MIRA Books.

Deanna’s novel Silent in the Grave won the 2008 RITA® Award for Novel with Strong Romantic Elements and the RT Reviewers’ Choice Award for Best First Mystery. The Lady Julia Grey series has been nominated for several other awards, including an Agatha, three Daphne du Mauriers, a Last Laugh, four additional RITAs, and two Dilys Winns. Dark Road to Darjeeling was also a finalist for the RT Reviewers’ Choice Award for Best Historical Mystery as well as a Romantic Reviews’ finalist for Best Book of 2010.

Visit Deanna Raybourne’s Official Site

GIVEAWAY RULES
The publisher and publicist have generously provided two copies of "A Spear of Summer Grass" for two lucky readers of my blog.
All you have to do is fill out the Rafflecopter form below.
  • US/CAN only
  • Books will be mailed out by the publisher
  • Must be 18 or over 
  • Ends May 27
Thanks to everyone for entering! Good luck!

This ARC was sent by the publicist and publisher in exchange for a blog post.

33 comments

  1. I look forward to this book. I love her Lady Julia series.

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  2. Book sounds really cool, though I admit I find the cover a little drab, :)

    Still, thanks for sharing the info and hosting this giveaway.

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  3. I like the cover (sorry Alex!) because it's faded and gives me the feeling of stepping back in time. Would definitely like to read. Thanks for posting and the giveaway :)

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  4. I love the cover and it sounds like a fabulous book! Thanks for the chance to win!

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  5. I've only read one other book by Raybourn. I liked it so maybe I'll give this one a try. I like the idea of it being set in Africa. That's kind of different.

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  6. The cover is very much reminiscent of an older period of time. The setting of Africa has caught my attention since my sister went for holidays there last year and loved it.

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  7. I desperately want to read this book! I loved Deanna's Julia Grey series and this book has been popping up with awesome reviews! Thanks for sharing!

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  8. I"m looking forward to reading the new series. I love Lady Julia so I have high hopes for the new one.

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  9. I love the juxtaposition of the Roaring Twenties ... and African safari. Excited for this one!

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  10. please enter me for this giveaway!!!
    A Spear of Summer Grass sound like a definitely read for me!!

    thank you!!

    cyn209 at juno dot com

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  11. This is the first time I have heard of "A Spear of Summer Grass" by Deanna Raybourn but I'm looking forward to getting to know the book and the author better.

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  12. I loved Out of Africa, so beautiful but heartbreaking! Hmmm combining it with Gatsby...I don't know, perhaps it's heartbreaking too! Oh I hope it has an HEA. Have you read it yet Carrie?

    Heather

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  13. I like her Lady Julia series, so I'd like to see how she writes about another era.

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  14. I feel like I can relate to this author. She was a young mother and wife, as I am. I have never heard of this author before, but from the description of the book, I think I would love it! Thanks so much for the chance to win this book!

    babydjs_mom@yahoo.com

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  15. Thanks for the giveaway! We love all kinds of books here, and Im thinking historical is the best way to go this summer.

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  16. i to was a young mother and wife now am older tho so i think this book would be one i would really understand

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  17. The synopsis really caught my attention. It's been a while since I've read an historical fiction and this sounds great.

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  18. i've never read this book but it looks great!!!

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  19. A Spear of Summer Grass certainly has an interesting setting.

    Nancy
    allibrary (at) aol (dot) com

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  20. Wow she grew up right here in San Antonio. The synopsis sounds interesting so I'd like to see how things turn out for Delilah.

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  21. I cannot wait to read this I just added to my TBR on Goodreads thanks so much:)

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  22. I follow via feedburner email - I think that this book sounds very interesing and I would like to find our how things go for Delilah Drummond

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  23. Out of Africa meets Great Gatsby, count me in! Thanks for a chance to win this wonderful book!

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  24. I read one of her Silent books and she sort of reminded me of Nora Roberts. Love to find new great reads. Thank you.

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  25. I loved the Silent of the Grave books-- they are great-- so anything Deanna does will be interesting--thanks

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  26. i would love to read this book. i love unwinding at night with a good book

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  27. If you had said nothing at all about this book, the cover alone would have drawn me in. It also sounds delightful. Thanks for the opportunity.

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  28. Sounds like a good summer reading for me!

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  29. sounds like a good read I love the cover of the book,,reminds me of an old English scene

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  30. I haven't read anything by Deanna Raybourn yet...but knowing she's a RITA winner makes her a top pick for me.

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  31. It sounds good.
    donna444444@yahoo.com

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Thanks so much for your lovely comments!