Friday, February 27, 2015

#Excerpt: YEAR OF LIVING BLONDE by Andrea Simonne


Excerpt:
Natalie glances at the clock. It’s almost ten. Kind of late for visitors. Pausing the television, she goes over and peeks cautiously through the front window.

A bolt of lightning streaks through her.

Anthony is standing on her front porch. He’s wearing his motorcycle jacket and holding his black helmet at his side. The big bad wolf at her door.

What’s he doing here?

She glances at herself in the hall mirror. No makeup and her hair a mess. Great.

He rings the bell again and she marches over, ready to take the offensive. Ready to tell him to go away. But when Natalie yanks open the door and sees the expression on his face, she hesitates.

“What’s wrong?” she asks finally.

He takes his time with his reply. “I needed to see you tonight.”

“Did something happen?”

“It’s a long story.” He smiles, but there isn’t much humor in it.

She’s never seen Anthony like this before. He never looks anything less than perfect, but there’s strain on his face and around his eyes, and she suspects this is the real man

He takes a step toward her, lowering his voice. “Let me in, Natalie.”

Standing broad-shouldered and solemn in her doorway, he’s an imposing figure, but she isn’t afraid. Despite the fiasco with the bakery, she realizes she still trusts him.

Without a word, she steps out of the way to let him come inside.

The door closes and she walks back into the living room. There’s a sound and she sees that Anthony has dropped his motorcycle helmet on a chair.

“This is a bad idea,” Natalie tells him. “I don’t know why you came here. I shouldn’t even be talking to you.”

“I think you know exactly why I’m here.” His voice is low as it vibrates through the room.

There’s an erotic thrill at his words. “How can I be with you after what happened?”

“Because this isn’t about any of that.” For a moment, his eyes darken with regret, but then turn heated. “Whatever happens next is between you and me.”

Natalie shakes her head, but Anthony moves closer until he’s in right in front of her. She feels his hand on her cheek as the other cradles her head, gently holding her still. “Don’t,” he says, his tone imploring. “Don’t say no. Tell me to stay.” 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~


BLURB:
A funny and sizzling romp about discovering your inner pin-up girl...

Plain-Jane bakery owner Natalie Anderson has always followed the recipe for a safe life. When her husband dumps her for a seductive older woman, it’s time to throw out that recipe and start from scratch. She cooks up a plan to transform herself from mousy brown to sexy blonde. Meanwhile, she’s trying to expand her Seattle bakery, La Dolce Vita, but runs into an obstacle in the form of her irritatingly handsome landlord.

Astronomer Anthony Novello’s good looks and charm usually guarantees him a free pass with women, though that’s not the case with his new tenant, Natalie. Plain, plump, and persnickety—he’s never met a woman more annoying. But when Anthony returns from a telescope observing run, he makes a discovery of the non-celestial kind. Natalie has changed. He’s amazed to find himself attracted to her. Sparks fly as he tries to convince her there’s more to him than meets the eye.

However, when Natalie’s ex-husband decides to win her back, she’s forced to choose. Is her year of living blonde over? Or is this the start of a new and much sweeter life….
~~~~~~~~~~~~~

AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Andrea Simonne grew up as an army brat and discovered she had a talent for creating personas at each new school. The most memorable was a surfer chick named "Ace" who never touched a surf board in her life, but had an impressive collection of puka shell necklaces. Eventually she turned her imagination towards writing. Andrea still enjoys creating personas, though these days they occupy her books. She currently makes her home in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and two sons.

You can find Andrea at:

You can buy Year of Living Blonde at:

Follow the tour and comment; the more YOU comment, the better the chances of winning. The tour dates can be found here: 



a Rafflecopter giveaway
 



Thursday, February 26, 2015

#Review: REMOTE by Lisa Acerbo



4 of 5 stars

 How much would you give up for technology? How much personal freedom is okay to let go of? These are the questions that Lisa Acerbo's REMOTE explores. New State on the outside looks like the perfect paradise to live and grow old in, but what happens when a citizen questions the practice of "hooking up" to the latest technology. Technology that allows you to relive your most sought after fantasies. Do you want to be famous, date a supermodel or be a super soldier? It can all happen in the virtual world and New State citizens are required to hook-up every night, no questions asked.

In the caves not far from New State, a group of people live who do not want to be "hooked up" to technology, who cherish their individuality and their freedom of choice. Yara, is the daughter of one of the leaders and one the best raiders the undergrounders have, but her life is inexplicitly changed when she meets tech-head Josh during a raid. 

I thought the premise of the book was good with well-thought out ideas about a society who had complete control over their citizens. It kept my attention throughout. The drone program was inventive, but the romance between Yara and Josh seemed a bit rushed. Within a matter of weeks, their relationship had changed dramatically. War can change people and I think that's what the author was trying to convey. When you live in a life and death situation routinely, you begin to cherish others much more quickly.

YA fantasy/sci-fi fans will enjoy this story although not everything is wrapped up neatly at the end of the book so a sequel is surely coming.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Amazon buy link: http://www.amazon.com/Remote-Lisa-Acerbo-ebook/dp/B00PYY9R92/ref=twoen-20



AUTHOR BIO:
Lisa Acerbo is a high school teacher and holds an EdD in Educational Leadership. She lives in Connecticut with her husband, daughters, three cats, and horse. She is the author of Apocalipstick and has contributed to local newspapers, news and travel blogs including The Patch and Hollywood Scriptwriter.

Author links:
https://twitter.com/Apocalipstick_


Giveaway:
Tour-wide giveaway (INTL)
  • $20 Amazon Gift Card

a Rafflecopter giveaway
 


#Pre-order Romance: RESISTING TEMPTATION by Bonnie Paulson

Redemptionseriessale


RomancingRedemptionFrontName

Facing a life of prostitution or homelessness, Rosie Scott must make a choice centered on keeping her and her sister safe in the wilds of an unforgiving Montana land. With their background, the two girls need a fresh start.In Colby, Montana opportunities are as thick as needles on a pine tree. Savvy and independent, Rosie decides to take a chance and start a business, earning her the respect of many town residents.

She catches the eye of two men. One interested in exploiting her past and one interested in redeeming her heart. But Rosie’s secrets and who she really is shadow her hopes for happiness. Can a man love her most when her past refuses to leave?

Pick it up for FREE

Amazon / Barnes and Noble / iBooks/ Kobo

 

RR2Front
Desperate to find her place in the world, Sara Beth dreams of applying for the Miss Wrangler Montana competition that tours with the rodeo circuit. Riding horses has become her anchor until a near fatal accident takes more from her than she’d ever willingly sacrifice. Determined to prove his business training, Johnny seeks out the Rourke family to call in an old favor. When he embroils himself in Sara Beth’s life, he has to prove they’re nothing more than friends.

Seeking independence, both Sara Beth and Johnny lean on each other more and more, until love threatens their friendship. Will they seek out each other or be confused by their dreams? Can either of them leave their past and embrace their future?  

Buy on Amazon / Barnes and Noble / iBooks / Kobo

 

resistingredemption
With her heart at war with her mind, Lisa’s need to chase dangerous fun over boring responsibilities tugs at her emotions. Love is the last thing she expects to find, especially with her past revolting against her future. The only love Ryan’s heart has room for is for his motherless son. But, when he finds himself yearning for Lisa, Ryan has to convince himself and her that he’s all the thrill she’ll ever need.

Will Lisa’s past destroy their future before either of them can accept the true meaning of love?  

Pre-order and get the special price of $.99!

 Amazon / Barnes and Noble / iBooks / Kobo

Bonnie 

Bonnie R. Paulson mixes her science and medical background with reality and possibilities to make even myths seem likely and give every romance the genetic strength to survive. Bonnie has discovered a dark and twisty turn in her writing that she hopes you enjoy as much as she has enjoyed uncovering it. Dirt biking with her family in the Northwest keeps her sane.  

Follow on:

Facebook / Blog / Twitter / Goodreads / Newsletter / Literary Addicts / Amazon

Wednesday, February 25, 2015

Interview with Katherine Owen, THIS MUCH IS TRUE


Can you give us a brief overview of your book? Is it part of a series?
Both on the verge of fame. A ballerina who lies. A baseball player who believes her. Well, the truth changes everything.
This Much Is True is the story of Tally Landon, a gifted ballerina, and Lincoln Presley, an up-and-coming baseball player intent on pleasing the world. Fate brings them together through tragic circumstances the first time, and the second time they both experience this powerful connection. Even so, the lies Tally tells Linc as well as the truth he withholds from her eventually tear them apart.

This isn’t a sugar-coated love story with a bad boy covered in tattoos and a good girl waiting to be rescued. Um…no. This is an emotional read full of angst about a heroine, who is both selfish and self-destructive, and a hero, who has his own set of baggage preventing him from being there for her when she needs him the most.

Are they destructive? To each other? Yes, at times.
Salvable? Most definitely.
Redeemable? Absolutely.

This Much Is True was written as a standalone, but readers wanted more so it has become a series. The Truth About Air & Water, Book 2 in the True, Truth In Lies series is available. I’m writing Tell Me Something True, Book 3. Look for its release in mid-2015.

Do you have a favorite character?
There’s probably a tie between  Tally Landon in This Much Is True and The Truth About Air & Water (Truth In Lies series) Jordan Holloway in my novel, When I See You. These are very complicated characters which made them a challenge to write.

In When I See You, Jordan is capable, prepared, realistic about what happens in life; and she is a survivor. And I like all those things about her.

In This Much Is True, Tally Landon is not quite at Jordan Holloway’s level yet. Granted, Tally is ten years younger. In This Much Is True, Tally is becoming seasoned and tested by fate, but she is resilient; and she will survive. Both characters are wicked smart and somewhat intent on an implicit, self-preservation quest. These two would have to be my favorite characters because, at times, they were hard to love and garner empathy for which challenged me to write in such way to gain empathy and love for them, especially Tally’s character.

Have you ever had a minor character evolve into a major one? Did that change the direction of the novel at all?
Yes! This happened in This Much Is True with the character of Rob Thorn. In the early novel drafts, I really liked Rob, but he was eclipsing our hero, Lincoln Presley, far too  much, so I had to make Rob more of a bad boy in the final draft of the book, but he became an important character to the storyline.

Did you try the traditional route to publishing, i.e. querying agents/publishers?
I did try the route toward traditional publishing. I came close with a few agents with full manuscripts with my debut novel Seeing Julia, which won the Zola Award with the Pacific Northwest Writers Association Literary Contest in 2010. However, self-publishing was beginning to take off, and I was tired of waiting and changing and trying to read into the minds of agents in getting my work out into the world. I like being in control of my own destiny and self-publishing provided that opportunity for me.

If you used a graphic designer/publisher’s designer, how involved were you during the creative process for your cover?
I didn’t use a graphic designer. I do all my covers for both the e-book versions as well as the trade paperback versions. I have a background in this from my days in corporate public relations and marketing work.

Do you belong to a critique group? Have they helped improve your writing?
I don’t belong to a critique group. I did take classes for a few years with The Writers Studio, which I cannot recommend often enough. At The Writers Studio, we had peer reviews of our work every week as well as the writing teacher’s critique of each assignment. It was a tremendous experience. I really grew as a writer. Now, I have beta readers for some of my novels, but I don’t belong to an organized critique group right now.

What is your writing process? Do you outline your story or just go where your muse takes you? Do you listen to music or do you like silence?
I’m not sure you could ever identify my actual process. I have trouble identifying it.

Sometimes, I outline. More and more I’ve begun to outline; I hate it. I outline. I write. The story changes and evolves. It looks nothing like the outline I started with. I do an Excel spreadsheet to keep my timeline together but everything else about the process of writing a novel somehow fails me. In the end, the book gets done, but I can’t always tell you nor identify my entire process for getting there. Lightning in a bottle is an apt description for the writing process at times. At least, for me.

As far as music? It’s really quiet when I am not into the heart of the book and writing. Then, when I finally get it together, music plays a huge part of my process. I have massive play lists that ultimately represent the book I’m writing.

Did you hire an editor to review your manuscript before publishing?
Yes, I have a line editor that goes through the manuscript for typographical errors and such. I edit as I go so the story is mostly together by the time it reaches a line editor. I do not utilze a development editor at this point in my writing career because I spend a lot of time on plot and structure with my storylines.


What advice would you give a new author just entering into the self-publishing arena?
Study the market. Follow various writers blogs including JA Konrath’s. His blog posts helped me in terms of making my decision to self-publish.

Don’t be naïve in thinking you have to hire everything out; you don’t. Take classes at Lynda.com if you need to learn a software program such as In Design or Photoshop.

Take writing classes. I recommend The Writers Studio. You will up your game and challenge your craft with writing classes.

Read a lot within your genre and out of it. Reading other writers’ work will improve yours.

Believe in your work, take critique, and plan for it. Readers will tell you the most about your work, good or bad.

Maintain humility about yourself and your work and you will be mostly fine.

This is a lonely profession. Accept it and balance that out, which means participating in the world occasionally. It will feed your stories as well as your soul.

Besides writing, do you have any other passions?
I cook about twice a year usually at Thanksgiving and Christmas. My family appreciates those efforts and laments the time before I was writing full-time when I used to cook more often. Don’t get me started on cleaning.  

Other passions include watching movies from action films like Alien, Divergent, and The Hunger Games to romantic films like Silver Linings Playbook, The Vow, Love & Other Drugs, and Crazy, Stupid Love. Now, you know my favorites.

What’s next for you?
I released the second book in the Truth In Lies series, The Truth About Air & Water, in late August 2014. The enthusiasm for more of Linc and Tally has me writing a third book about these two called Tell Me Something True. It should be out prior to Summer 2015. I’m also working on another novel, Saving Valentines, which I hope to release in the Fall of 2015. Writing, I’m always writing.

Thanks for having me on your lovely blog and asking such thought-provoking questions.

Best,
Katherine Owen


Book & Author details:
This Much is True by Katherine Owen 
(Truth in Lies #1)
Publication date: August 11th 2013
Genres: Contemporary, New Adult

Synopsis:
Both on the verge of fame. A ballerina who lies. A baseball player who believes her. Well, the truth changes everything.

Tally Landon is just trying to survive the death of her twin sister, graduate from high school, and escape her tragic story by pursuing her ballet career in New York. She doesn’t count on Lincoln Presley, Stanford’s baseball wonder, to affect her at all. Adding him to a long list of one-night stands is the plan. Lying to him about her age and name is her standard method of operandi. She doesn’t count on being found out, on seeing him again, or falling in love.

Lincoln Presley’s life is all mapped out for him. There is only baseball. With Major League Baseball circling their favorite prospect with a lucrative offer, he cannot afford to mess up. And, he doesn’t; until he meets up with the girl he saved in that burning wreckage on the 101 on Valentine’s Day months before. By the time he learns her real name and of all the lies she’s told, he’s in far too deep to ever really let her go.

Fate has a different set of plans, but when fame and lies tear them apart, one truth remains.


Purchase:
B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/this-much-is-true-katherine-owen/1116395071?ean=9780983570769

Purchase book 2:

AUTHOR BIO:
Katherine Owen writes contemporary edgy fiction, which translates to: she writes love stories that are contemporary in setting and both edgy and dark. Some readers term her books emotional roller coasters. With her writing, Owen admits she has a fondness for angst, likes to play with a little drama, and essentially toys around with the unintentional complications of love. She contends this began early on when she won a poetry contest at the age of fourteen and appears to be without end. Owen has an avid love of coffee, books, and writing, but not necessarily in that order. She writes both Contemporary Romance and New Adult fiction which includes her bestselling TRUTH IN LIES Series (a series despite despising 'series') beginning with This Much Is True and her latest release, The Truth About Air & Water. The TRUTH IN LIES series is fan-driven. So. There will be a third book about Linc and Tally released in 2015 titled Tell Me Something True.

About Owen's fiction...This is NOT the light trope stuff. She travels a unique, writerly path and enjoys writing dark and angsty (a "non-word" she is fond of) emotional love stories. She often warns readers to be prepared with: time, tissues, wine, Advil or your drug of choice. And, as her most favored character, Lincoln Presley, would say, "do what you must, Princess."



Tour-wide giveaway (US & Canada)
  • 1x signed print copies of both This Much Is True and The Truth About Air & Water 
  • 3x signed copies of This Much Is True

a Rafflecopter giveaway
 


Tuesday, February 24, 2015

#Excerpt: EDGE by Jamie Magee

Excerpt:
That hum, it was so nullifying that it nearly weakened Reveca. It was like stepping out of a hot tub and finding your ground. Only she wasn’t stepping out of anything, including his embrace, his legs and arms which were framing her. Her head fell back on his shoulder; deep breaths were causing her chest to rise and fall gently as she gained her bearings, felt tingles skirting through her body like live wires.
“That went well,” King said in a soft, deep tone.
“You watched?” Reveca asked, closing her eyes, deciding this numb feeling was going to reenergize her, empower her to make sure this spell she was going to use on Gwinn would have no choice but to work.
“Didn’t really have a choice…you had more of my energy than I did during that little exercise.”
She should have felt weak then, assuming that all the magic she used tonight was crutched on his power, but right then as she lay against him, as she felt, really felt, the essence encasing her, she understood that it wasn’t more of him or her, but a balance, a oneness.


Book & Author Details:
Edge by Jamie Magee
(Edge Episode One: Season One )
Publication date: August 18th 2014
Genres: New Adult, Paranormal

Synopsis:
Reveca Beauregard had long ago been dubbed the Queen of Darkness by the dead. To the living she was known as the Pentacle Daughter, the only acknowledged female member of the Pentacle Sons MC, the most lethal biker correlation known to exist. She was rumored to be a witch. That rumor, of course, was true.

New Orleans was her home, at the Beauregard Boneyard, the safe haven the Club resided within. Only those in the inner circle were as Reveca was—immortal. To be as such you had to choose the life, and the life had to choose you. For either to occur, death came first.

Those deaths came from wars the Sons fought with both the mortal and immortal worlds, as they bent the decrees of the modern lawmen and the paranormal world at large who had no hope of opposing the dark splendor of their vengeance.

Presently, the mysterious murder of a mortal coupled with the cold-blooded slaying of Reveca’s close friend has led the lawmen to place their corrupt accusations upon the Sons. A forced barter with a Lord of Death has landed the Club with a soul that is set to rock the foundation the Sons as a whole stand upon.


Purchase:

AUTHOR BIO:
Jamie Magee has always believed that each of us have a defining gift that sets us apart from the rest of the world, she has always envied those who have known from their first breath what their gift was. Not knowing hers, she began a career in the fast paced world of business. Raising a young family, and competing to rise higher in that field would drive some to the point of insanity, but she always found a moment of escape in a passing daydream. Her imagination would take her to places she’d never been, introduce her to people she’s never known. Insight, her debuting novel, is a result of that powerful imagination. Today, she is grateful that not knowing what defined her, led her on a path of discovery that would always be a part of her.

Author links:

Blitz-wide giveaway (INTL) 
  • $25 Amazon Gift Card


a Rafflecopter giveaway
 



Monday, February 23, 2015

#Excerpt: THE APOLLO ACADEMY by Kimberly P Chase


Excerpt:
Chapter 10. Aurora in flight training with Sky, her domineering (and not to mention hot) flight instructor.
Whoop, whoop. ‘Thrust warning, loss of main engine one.’ Whoop, whoop.
The shrill warning bell caused the hair on the back of Aurora’s neck to stand on end. She thrust the throttles on the remaining two engines full forward. She knew Sky stood behind her simulation panel, probably smiling as she struggled to recover from the engine failure he’d just caused with the flick of a switch.
He'd been overseeing everyone’s progress and of course decided now to come over, waiting until she was at an extremely critical altitude before creating this failure for her to handle.
Whoop, whoop. ‘Stall imminent.’ Whoop, whoop.
Aurora knew she was approaching the aircraft’s stall speed, but the loss of a single engine made it extremely difficult to control the overly large shuttle. Her yoke shook, another warning that a stall was close.
Aurora had to resist the urge to pull the nose of the aircraft up.
"Aurora, you’re going to stall if you don’t increase your airspeed," he whispered right next to her ear. She jumped, accidentally pressing her foot down on the rudder pedal. She still felt his breath on her cheek. Sky’s constant hissing in her ear was more distracting than being yelled at.
“Shit!" She didn’t even have a chance to alter the course of events because she was at too low of an altitude to recover from the spin she'd just entered.
‘Terrain, terrain.’ Whoop, whoop. Pull up, pull up.’
She wasn’t going to make it. It was like her last simulation flight all over again.
The screen cracked and blacked out when the shuttle hit the ground, killing everyone on board. This was followed by flashing red lights and a loud siren that alerted her and everyone else around her of the failure.
She slammed her finger down on the automatic warning system. The red warning lights swarmed around her, making her cringe in on herself. She already knew she had messed up; she didn’t need the incessant light show. If Sky hadn’t scared her half to death, she wouldn’t have stomped down on the rudder so hard at such a low speed. Okay, so maybe scared wasn’t the right word, but his breath on her face definitely distracted her.
"Damn it, Sky!" she said taking her frustration out on the one who was really responsible for her crash.
Now sitting down beside her, his large frame towered over her. He whispered in her ear, "Tell me why you crashed."
He was still too close. "Oh, I don’t know, maybe because you scared me half to death by hissing at me." She touched her ear. "Who does that? It made me stomp down on the rudder."
Sky grinned, showing off his dimples. "Are you saying you were distracted by my very presence?" He had the audacity to wiggle his eyebrows suggestively.
Heat ran to Aurora’s face, but instead of backing down like she normally would, she decided to wipe that grin off of his face. She'd had it with everyone treating her differently. It might not have been the best idea, but she flirtatiously leaned toward Sky anyway. His eyes widened in surprise.
Now that he was distracted, she discreetly pulled a piece of gum from her bag on the seat next to her. "Here, maybe next time your breath won’t cause so much trouble."
His mouth opened in shock, and Aurora took the opportunity to place the gum into his mouth. The instant she did it, she felt horrible. What was wrong with her? That was the most immature thing she’d ever done.
Sky calmly shut his mouth and popped a bubble, but the grin on his face was definitely gone. 
Oh stars, he was going to make her regret that . . .

_________

Book & Author Details:
The Apollo Academy by Kimberly P. Chase
(The Apollo Academy #1)
Published by: Harlequin
Publication date: February 22nd 2015
Genres: New Adult, Science Fiction

Synopsis:
Take off with this dynamic, thrill-seeking, sexy New Adult Science Fiction series debut. Welcome to the exclusive Apollo Academy, where Aurora is about to discover that achieving her dream is only the first step towards her future.

As the heiress to Titon Technologies, eighteen-year-old Aurora Titon can have whatever she wants—clothes, expensive gadgets, anything money can buy. But all she really wants is to escape her pampered, paparazzi-infested life for the stars. Becoming the first female pilot to train as an astronaut for the exclusive Apollo Academy is exactly the chance for which she has been waiting.

Flying is everything she ever dreamed, her best friend also got into the Academy, and the paparazzi is banned from campus. Everything would be perfect, but for her unreciprocated crush on a fellow student, the sexy astronaut bent on making her life hell, and the fact that someone keeps trying to kill her.

The most important education doesn’t happen in the classroom…

Early Praise:
"I am obsessed with this book! Suspenseful, sexy, and just a great read!" - Cora Carmack, New York Times Bestselling author of LOSING IT.

“Exquisite worldbuilding, thrilling suspense, and a sexy flight instructor! Chase’s exciting debut novel is one you don’t want to miss.” - K.A.Tucker, Author of Ten Tiny Breaths and One Tiny Lie


Purchase:

AUTHOR BIO:
Kimberly P. Chase holds a Bachelor's Degree in Aeronautical Science from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, which basically means she's kind of a geek and loves flying airplanes. Naturally, her books tend to include aviation, hot flight instructors, aviator glasses, and—let's not forget—kissing! When Kimberly's not writing or reading, she's hanging out with her husband, five-year-old son, and two dogs in Charleston, SC.

Author links:
  

GIVEAWAY
Blitz-wide giveaway (INTL) 
  • $50 Amazon Gift Card

a Rafflecopter giveaway