Stacey Joy Netzel's Blog, page 8

Holiday Gifts of Love Blog Hop - Win prizes!

Welcome to my Hop Stop

When I was growing up, my dad used to play Santa Clause for the neighbors around the lake, and after he was done, he'd come by our house to take pictures. It was always a treat when we'd hear the jingle bells outside the door and his hearty, "Ho, Ho, Ho!"

He inspired the character of Santa Butch in my Romancing Wisconsin series, and I had a blast writing scenes with him. I plan to expand the series and continue cameos by Santa Butch, but in the meantime, you can read all about him and his matchmaking schemes in my brand new Holiday Boxed Set:


The Romancing Wisconsin Volume I (Holiday Boxed Set) includes the 2010 Write Touch Award-winning stories Mistletoe Mischief , Mistletoe Magic , Mistletoe Match-Up , and the brand-new exclusive bonus short story, Mistletoe Rules .

Christmas recipe for love—combine a matchmaking Santa, lots of mistletoe, one iron-clad rule, fated hearts; mix and stir. The Riley siblings don't stand a chance. 

MISTLETOE MISCHIEF: Christmas in July at the zoo is the last place single parents Eric Riley and Marissa Wilder expect to find love. Thanks to some mistletoe mischief in the form of their two young daughters and Santa, they discover mistletoe rules were not made to be broken.

MISTLETOE MAGIC: Major Mark Riley plays Court Jester to Janelle Walsh's Snow Queen at the Christmas Parade and is instantly captivated by the cute redhead whose grandpa just happens to be Santa. When Mark learns she's the tenant he evicted from his newly purchased property, it's going to take a little bit of Santa's mistletoe magic to save their romance.

MISTLETOE MATCH-UP: When Lisa Riley comes home for her brother Mark's Christmas Eve wedding, her high school rivalry with his wife Janelle's cousin, Derek Walsh, picks up right where it left off, only this time Derek has the upper hand. Santa bides his time as they battle it out because he's waited a whole year for this mistletoe match-up.

Exclusive holiday bonus story, MISTLETOE RULES: When Benedict Riley first meets Susan Whitcomb at a college holiday dance, she’s engaged to be married to another man. In this story where mistletoe rules, you’ll learn how the Riley Family Mistletoe Rules all began one fateful Christmas, not too long ago…

EXCERPT with Santa Butch from Mistletoe Mischief :
Eric braced a hand on each girl’s shoulder, waiting until the crowd thinned. “Thank Santa for the ride.”
Reese and Heather sounded a chorus of thanks before taking off across the asphalt path toward Marissa. Eric made sure they reached the tree before turning around to face the older man.
“This was great. Thanks.”
“You’re welcome.” Butch shifted his gaze toward Marissa and the girls. “So, I expect you’ll be taking the lady and her daughter home?”
“Ah…” Eric frowned, wondering where the man would get that idea.
Butch backhanded him on the arm. “Open your eyes, boy. She can’t drive with her foot all wrapped up like that.”
Eric absently flexed his shoulder as Butch climbed back up to the driver’s bench. The old guy might be…old, but he still packed a wallop. Then his words registered. Eric’s gaze went straight to where Marissa sat, smiling up at the girls, her foot extended in front of her. He started to smile, too, unconsciously straightening.
Santa was absolutely right.
Butch gave a merry chuckle. “Got ya thinking, now, don’t I?”
Eric reached up to clasp the man’s hand with a grin of appreciation. He’d been dreading the end of the field trip without even realizing it. Now he didn’t have to figure out a clever way to see her again to collect on the invitation from earlier. When he started to back away from the wagon, Butch tossed a handful of leaves down toward him. Eric caught them, then laughed.
Mistletoe. Santa was handing out presents early this year. Eric eased the green sprig into one of his pockets, careful not to crush the precious gift.

Santa Butch winked at him before lifting the reins to urge the reindeer forward. Over his shoulder he called, “Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!”

~~~You can get your copy of the Boxed Set here:
Amazon , BN , Kobo

Leave a comment telling me if you prefer SNOWMEN or SANTAS in your Christmas decorations (don't forget  your email address!)use the Rafflecopter to enter the contestand have a Merry Christmas!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Don't forget to visit the other blogs for chances to win TONS more individual prizes, plus...

Holiday Gifts of Love Blog Hop Prizes:

1st Grand Prize: Kindle Fire or Nook Tablet2nd Grand Prize: $200 Amazon or BN Gift Card3rd Grand Prize: Swag Pack that contains paperbacks, ebooks, 50+ bookmarks, cover flats, magnets, pens, coffee cozies, and more!

Merry Christmas!

Stacey Joy Netzel

(who loves her Santa Butch, but collects snowmen because they're so cute!)

 

Looking for a good book this Christmas?

The Beach Book Blast is throwing an EBOOK EXTRAVAGANZA !
December 11-12th
Hop on over there to check out all the new holiday booksand even a bunch that are not strictly holiday themed.
All books are under $5 and make a GREAT GIFT foryourself, or the wonderful readers in your life. 


MERRY CHRISTMAS!
Stacey Joy Netzel

Meet the Book Blogger: Karielle

Please welcome Karielle from  Books à la Mode
 
Karielle is one of the very first book bloggers I met. She's tough, but honest--exactly what other readers want from a review, and authors should to! So, let's get to know Karielle, shall we?

When and how did you get started with book blogging?
When I first started Books à la Mode, it was a place for me to vent, to write, to blow off the kind of steam any repressed, frustrated, but passionate kid would suffer from. That I got sucked into the world of literary blogging and bookish endeavors (reviews, interviews, giveaways, tours, et cetera) was pure happenstance. It happened like this:
I'd always loved reading, loved books as tools for escapism. The summer before I started 10th grade, I read The Hottest State , by Ethan Hawke, and it struck me fiercely. Incredibly emotionally resonating, it became a book I grew attached to, a book I knew I would never forget. The moment I finished the last page, I furiously jotted down my thoughts onto the front cover, title page, dedication page, every blank space in the book I could find, out of fear that I would forget such a feeling in a few day's time. That was something I didn't want to ever happen; to forget the instant rush and reverence of a phenomenally affecting book would be truly tragic. I later typed up these musings onto the blog, making sure they would actually be coherent for other readers (in a mad state, my mind is but a dissonant jumble of words and at worst, feelings). I reposted to Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Goodreads. People loved it. People requested their own books be reviewed.

That's how the modern-day  Books à la Mode  was born.

I'll be frank with you. The above process is pretty much how all my reviews are written: with a stroke of passion and a drop of insanity ;)

Sounds like the best way--raw reaction and emotion to the written word.

What can readers expect from your reviews?
A unique rating: while I do have a five-heart scale for the sake of retail sites, my criteria is individualized and personalized depending on the book. My reviews not only contain ratings, but also verdicts: why such a book deserves such a rating. The review itself is mostly justified opinion; my reviews are highly subjective and extremely personal; I’ll tell you straight-off what I hate, what I adore, but more importantly, why, as well as analysis: I tend to critique the plot, characters, and author’s style a lot; what I wish would have seen happen, what was weak, what was strong, from a more objective point of view. I try to balance partiality and professionalism.

Recently, you started a brand new Meme on your blog; tell us about it.

Back to the Classics features one book (or series) each week (or however often you choose to post) that you consider classic. It doesn't have to be a Greek classic or a Victorian novel... contemporary classics are always welcome!
This is a free meme, meaning there's no scheduled post dates, no requirements, no prompts—it's completely up to YOU what you decide to post. You're welcome to write a review, ramble in anticipation, make historical rundowns, or provide any other interesting content pertaining to the book you choose. This is supposed to be a fun way to fawn over your favorite books while sharing with your readers your preferences as well!

Sounds great - I hope it catches on and lots of bloggers join in.

What is your favorite genre and is there anything you won’t review?
Literary fiction, by far. I’m a fan of almost all fiction, really: romance (including erotica), sci-fi, mystery, thriller, young adult, children’s, fantasy, paranormal. I’m purposely excluding historical fiction here because, while I won’t not review it, I’ve noticed a trend over a years that I don’t enjoy most historical fiction books I read. Just preference. I’ll consider the occasional health- or politics-related non-fiction book, as those are personal interests of mine, but usually when I read non-fic, I don’t exactly enjoy myself... it feels like I’m reading for school (which I get enough of already!).

Reading should definitely be fun if you're not working toward a grade.

How many review requests do you get per week, and how many are you able to actually review per week?
Including tour requests, maybe about 40 a week? Normally, my ‘acceptance rate’ is around 10 per week, but I’ve recently closed my review queue because I’m awfully busy this semester at school, so now I’ve become much more selective. I’ll only take a book if it really captures my attention, not just if someone requests a review for it. I used to accept almost all requests, but I simply don’t have the time to do that anymore. Once school’s over, hopefully I can accept new books regularly again.

Where is your favorite place to read?
I love snuggling in bed, though I often end up falling asleep ‘cause it’s so comfy LOL. I like quiet, public places too, such as a corner café (the patios at Panera rock!) or the library.

Karielle & Austin
Do you have a pet who loves to snuggle with you when you read? 
I’ve the cutest puppy in the universe, no joke. Meet the main man in my life, Austin :D  He’s a little too.... restless.. to snuggle with while reading, but he’s definitely a sweetheart.


He looks like a little Boyd's Bears Teddy Bear!

Paper books or ebooks— and why?
Paper, always. This is probably a really trite answer, but there’s seriously nothing better than being able to flip pages, smooth my hands over a glossy or matte cover, and just carry a print book around.

What does it take in a book to absolutely annoy you to the point where you quit reading or throw the book at the wall?
Stilted dialogue. Can’t stand it. I’ve gritted my teeth through some embarrassingly poorly-executed dialogue in fiction in the past, but no more. Once I encounter it, I’ll gently put it down because if I continue, I know there’s a chance I’ll start beating it with a stick (or bashing my head against the wall, plucking my eyes out, etc etc etc).

Oh, boy! (note to self: Make sure dialogue is NOT stilted!)

What interview question are you always wishing someone would ask but never does? Now answer it for us!
What’s your worst habit?
Being the world’s worst caller-back(er?) or ever picking up my cell, for that matter. The moment I come home I just throw my phone on my bed and forget about it til I check it once before turning in for the night. So if you’re trying to reach me at home, best bet is via land-line or email (which, on the contrary, I check 24/7).

I so get this!

Have you ever stayed up reading all night even when you had to work the next day, and what was the book you cursed while fighting to stay awake all afternoon?
I do this with too many books... *sigh*. Recently, The Original Sinners series by Tiffany Reisz (The Siren and The Angel) did more than excellent at keeping me up all night. Bonus points, I didn’t get anything done those nights (e.g. errands, homework) either! I think when I was in fourth grade...? I stayed up under the covers, pretending to sleep, so that I could finish The Million Dollar Shot by Paul Gutman. I used the crack of light under my bedroom door to read it. I reckon this is why I’m so near-sighted today... it’s all Gutman’s fault *grumble*.

:)

What is your favorite kind of M&M’s? (Plain, Peanut, Almond, Peanut Butter, Pretzel, Dark Chocolate, Coconut)
Dark! Milk chocolate’s always just been too sweet for me. Peanut and almond are pretty addicting, though, I’ll admit. Peanut butter doesn’t taste like peanut butter and pretzel M&M’s are always stale. And coconut?!?! There’s coconut?!?

Thanks for answering this one! We're the opposite in this--I love the Peanut Butter and Pretzel, and Dark isn't sweet enough. *grin* And yes, there's coconut!

Do you like to hear from an author after a review? How do you and your fans feel about authors following, reading and posting on your blog?
When authors give me insight about what they thought about my review of their work, I think it reflects their writing as much as it does mine. As much as I love compliments, I’m also always eager to hear constructive feedback, because it helps me improve the quality of my reviews. If they’ve nothing to say about it, no problem, a simple thank you is fine. I can’t stand it when I send off links to reviews and never hear from the author again. It’s not only unsettling, but it feels like they either hate the review or could care less about it, it makes me feel bad :( So authors, please please at least acknowledge that you received the review, even if you don’t like it! This already-half-insane blogger needs peace of mind ;)

I can say, when reviews come in that are less than stellar, it's a bit unsettling for authors, too. Not that we don't appreciate the honesty and constructive criticism, but our books are our babies, so sometimes an author might not reply because they don't really know what to say, or they're sad the reviewer didn't love it. Or they've been conditioned to not reply to reviews AT ALL. I'm not excusing those who don't respond, because I know you've taken time to read, and write your review, just explaining maybe why they may not have. You're completely right in saying that an acknowledgement and polite "Thank you" is appropriate. (Though I must add, arguing with the blogger's opinion is not.)

As for authors following and posting at the site, of COURSE I love it! It thrills me when authors leave comments on or subscribe to my posts because receiving recognition from writers I so much adore and revere myself, is an amazing feeling — it’s like my work is being appreciated in return.

Do you know how many books currently reside on your To Be Read list?
Absolutely not — my to-be-read stack is piled to infinity and beyond. Literally the only thing in my life guaranteed never to end.

Authors everywhere love that last answer! Austin's growing up, and he's still adorable. :)
Thank you so much for taking time out of your busy schedule to answer questions and visit, Karielle. I really enjoyed getting to know you better and hope readers did, too.


Karielle has a beautiful blog with some great pictures, so check it out and then follow her online:
Books à la Mode Twitter: @touurnesol Goodreads
Readers, now it's your turn ~ any questions for Karielle? Or you can simply wish her happy holidays while she's overseas!

Giving Back in December with a little bit of Mistletoe Magic

 Amazon, BN, Apple, ARe, Kobo, SW
Buy this book in December for just $2.99, and 100% of my royalties (approximately* $2 for every copy sold) will be donated to my local WI no-kill animal shelter:

Happily Ever After Animal Sanctuary
Wait - did I forget to mention the first book in the Romancing Wisconsin series is FREE?

So really, it's like getting 2 for 1 and giving to charity!
Two books for less than the cost of a cup of coffee at Starbucks or McDonalds...what are you waiting for?
Buy Mistletoe Magic:  Amazon, BN, Apple, ARe, Kobo, SW
Get Mistletoe Mischief for FREE:Amazon, BN, Apple, ARe, Kobo, SW
And have a MERRY CHRISTMAS!!
The animals from Mistletoe Magic and the Animal Sanctuary say, "Thank You!" 
  Duke and Daisy                                     Rose 
Zara
Read an Excerpt

Any likes and shares of this post are greatly appreciated!

Lastly, if you want the complete set of 3 Mistletoe stories, check out:

MISTLETOE MATCH-UP
Amazon, BN, Apple, ARe, Kobo, SW

Thank you!

Stacey Joy Netzel

(*sales in some countries only receive 35% royalty -vs- 70%, in which case the amount is $1)

Thanks for Great Books Blog Hop/Fall Release Event

Hello! If you're in the US, I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving with family and friends. If you're outside the US and don't celebrate the holiday, I still hope you had a wonderful weekend.

The theme for this new WG2E Street Team blog hop is "Giving Thanks for Great Books"...hmmm...I don't have one specific book that I'm thankful for, it's more like all books in general. See, I grew up painfully shy and reading was my escape to far-off places and sometimes even other worlds. Books stimulated my imagination and I met all kinds of 'friends' that I didn't have living out in the country.

 
Some of the books on my keeper shelf back then: The Black Stallion Series, by Walter Farley; Dragon's Blood, by Jane Yolen; Where The Red Fern Grows (though you couldn't pay me to read it now knowing I'd bawl at the end), Outsiders, and as I got a bit older, I became addicted to Jack Higgins' books for awhile (I loved the intrigue).

  Then I discovered ROMANCE and had tunnel vision for years. It's only just recently that I started to branch out again into other genres with Indie books by my online writing friends. Here are two I normally wouldn't have read but ended up LOVING. Aren't those covers gorgeous??

 

In addition to being thankful for all the wonderful books out there, I'm extra grateful for my mom's encouragement of reading, and two wonderful reading teachers while I was growing up. Mrs. Hutchins (who is no longer with us), and Mrs. Sherman. THANK YOU!

My individual prize** for the blog hop is:
(see below for entry rules)
 2 Wine Bottle Stoppers
I've had a few releases this fall, including the re-releases of 3 Romancing Wisconsin holiday stories (see books on left side of blog), the short paranormal ghost story Beneath Still Waters (Part One) in the TALES FROM THE MIST anthology, and most recently, Rising Above (Still Waters Part Two).


RISING ABOVE(Still Waters Part Two)
Imagine you’ve lived before, but don’t remember or believe it’s even possible. Therein lies the danger. For in not believing and learning from your pasts, the power shifts to the one who would see you dead. Again.
Ryan James never gave much thought to ghosts or the idea of reincarnation—until the appearance of the beautiful Ali Whitman triggers terrifying visions that feel like real life. As he pieces together their past lives, he discovers they aren’t the only players. Worse, if he can’t convince Ali to believe before their past adversary makes the next move, he’ll lose her all over again.
EXCERPT:
   When the second chime of the doorbell went unanswered, Ryan cursed under his breath and stepped off the porch to return to his vehicle. He’d wait. Not only did he want to explain his absence from class, but he needed to know if she knew of her mother’s link to the Still Waters legend. If she didn’t, something inside him insisted it was imperative she be made aware now.
   His step faltered as the hairs on the back of his neck suddenly stood on end. He spun around to see if Ali had appeared, but saw no figure silhouetted in the window by the closed door, or in the others on that side of the house.   The feeling of being watched persisted, and he lifted a hand to rub at the disturbing sensation while glancing over his shoulder. The only place that made sense was the main house. Backing toward her parents’ place, he did one more visual sweep of the guesthouse in the gathering dusk. Just past the corner of the brick structure, he caught a glimpse of the pond.   Without conscious thought, he reversed direction. Her fear of the water made it highly unlikely she was there, but it didn’t stop him from moving forward with an unexplainable urgency.   The uneven circle of water came into sight. Cat-o-nine tails bent to the will of the wind, and the pond’s surface rippled with each gust. Ice ringed the edge, but it was being eaten away by the constant movements of the disturbed water.   His heart rate picked up speed when thoughts of last night’s discoveries whirled through his mind. Snippets of countless dreams he’d recorded over the years coalesced into a common theme he’d never before recognized until this moment.   Water and death forever intertwined.   Like James and Alianna.   And Elizabeth.   He halted. He’d quit creative writing in a sleep-deprived, paranoid panic, and then spent the rest of the day second-guessing his decision. Common sense told him the Still Waters ghost was nothing more than a well-preserved legend. Any similarities to happenings and tragedies over the past century and more were purely coincidence.   And yet…how did one overlook the repetition in the newspaper clippings of the drownings in the Rocky Mountain National Park? Including the original legend, the death count totaled eight. James and Alianna—the ill-fated hero and heroine of the story, and two of the men who’d persecuted Alianna. In the nineteen twenties a couple teenaged kids, William and Anna, had drowned Romeo and Juliet-style, and most recently, two more deaths, three years apart. Only this time, they were connected by both location, and by way of a common friend in one Professor Elizabeth Fielding.   Friend…or foe?   Another gust of wind sent a blast of cold air under the hem of his jacket and snuck under his shirt. The freeze seemed to clear his mind, and he saw the full scope of his thoughts. He glared toward the water, hugging his coat tighter while he acknowledged the sheer insanity of thinking the professor was an evil witch reincarnated.   Annoyance and determination carried him forward, onto the small, rectangle shaped dock. Right now, he’d prove to himself the whole damn f***ing thing was nothing more than his overactive, paranoid imagination.Staring down at the dark water, he took a deep breath, and spoke.   “Alianna.”   Something moved beneath the surface.   His heart thumped hard in his chest. Through the wind ripples, it was hard to tell if it was a fish, or weeds—or something else. He glanced around self-consciously, squatted down and squinted into the murky depths.   Weeds.   He breathed again and repeated, “Alianna.”   The wind continued to blow.   “Alianna.”   Reeds rustled on either side of him. Ice cracked between the swaying stalks, but as the seconds passed, that was the extent of anything out of the ordinary. His shoulders relaxed as he smiled in self-conscious relief. See? Nothing but a myth. Thank God he’d come to his senses before talking to Ali. Too bad he hadn’t done this before dropping his class.   All of a sudden the air stilled, as if the world had drawn a breath and held it. As the water calmed, a face rose up from the gloom below. Ryan fell back with a startled curse. In the next moment, horrified recognition registered.   “Ali.”   The force of his forward lunge threw off his balance. The smooth, weathered wood offered no purchase as momentum carried him over the edge. He thought he heard his name on the wind a split second before plunging into the pond.

~*~To continue reading...

Rising Above (Still Waters Part Two)
Amazon, BN, AppleARe, Kobo, SW



TALES FROM THE MISTBeneath Still Waters, by Stacey Joy Netzel (Part One)
Amazon, Amazon UK, BN, AReKobo, SW, Goodreads
(Note: While not absolutely essential, it is recommended to read Part One first in order to get the overall scope of the story.)


To enter for my individual prize, leave a comment and your email address below telling me a book you're thankful for.(**Prize shipped in USA and Canada only. If winner is international other than Canada, they will receive their pick of two ebooks from my backlist.)
To enter the for the overall Blog Hop GRAND PRIZES, go to the Beach Book Blast blog 1 $25.00 Olive Garden gift card for dinner out with someone special1 $10 Olive Garden gift card for drinks with someone special (or dessert? *grin*)
And don't forget to check out the other authors in the hop:


Fabio Bueno @ http://www.fabiobueno.comDebra Burroughs @ http://www.DebraBurroughsBooks.comL.C. Giroux @ http://www.lcgiroux.com/thoughtsStacy Green @ http://stacygreenauthor.com/Janice Lane Palko @ http://www.thewritinglane.blogspot.comPJ Sharon @ http://www.pjsharonyawriter.blogspot.comLily Silver @ http://romancinghistorylove.blogspot.com/Tamara Ward @ http://www.authortamaraward.blogspot.com/

Thanks so much for hopping by and best of luck with all the prizes!

Stacey Joy Netzel

Meet the Book Blogger: Adria

Welcome to Adria, from A Breath of Life  

Adria is a sweetheart I met through Danielle at The Book Whore Blog and I was thrilled when she agreed to answer some of my questions. Without further ado...

When and how did you get started with book blogging?
I haven't been blogging for long, only a few months. I love reading romance novels, I love talking about them and I love writing reviews and I don't know why it never occurred to me to start a book blog until recently.

What can readers expect from your reviews?
My honest opinion of course. I always like to talk about things that I want to know whenever I read a review. Is the plot strong? Is the hero too overbearing? Is the heroine weak? If I like a certain author's books will I like this one? I try and give readers the most information about the book without revealing anything that can't be found on the book blurb.

What is your favorite genre and is there anything you won’t review?
Romance. Plain and simple. I love historical, paranormal, contemporary and I'm starting to enjoy erotic romance after being afraid of it for so long. The one thing I don't enjoy is hardcore BDSM or anything like that. Other than that, I'm game to try anything in the romance genre.

Adventure is always a good thing. *grin*

What was your most exciting ‘fan-girl’ moment with an author?
I've had several. The most recent one is when I participated in a chat on GoodReads with Tessa Dare a few hours before her latest book was to be released and she actually remembered me from Twitter! She's one of my favorite authors ever and she remembered little ole me from a few exchanges on Twitter.

Very cool! 

Where is your favorite place to read?
The thing about me is I can read anywhere no one knows me. It can be in the doctor's office, in a car (that's not moving), in the mall, as long as no one knows me and tries to talk to me I can read anywhere.

Yep *raises hand* (though I can read in moving cars)

Paper books or ebooks— and why?
Ebooks and only because I literally have no where to keep them and I don't fancy the idea of carting 5 or 6 with me when I go out just on the off chance I might get a chance to read. With ebooks, I can have hundreds at my disposal without the burden of carrying them or trying to find a place to store them all. I do however, still enjoy a bound copy, especially if it's signed by the author!

Is your significant other/family supportive of your book addiction?
Absolutely. Since it's just my mother and me and she's the one who started my book addiction when I was 5, she's all for it.

My mom was/is very supportive of my reading, too. Yay for moms!!

What is your beverage of choice while reading?
I know a lot of Hispanics might know this one but it's Manzanita Sol, an apple flavored soft drink made by Pepsi. It's so good, not too sweet and not too fizzy.

I've never heard of that. Is it available everywhere?

Do you have a pet who loves to snuggle with you when you read? 
Yes. I am a huge animal lover with 4 cats and 2 dogs. The only one who snuggles with me is my pit mix Paris (aka "Mr. Pud"). He's a terror around the house, grabbing things and making them into his toys but as far as snugglers go, he's one of the best I've ever had.



Adria and Paris, aka "Mr. Pud"Sassy and sweet. He looks like he's grinning. So cute! 

What does it take in a book to absolutely annoy you to the point where you quit reading or throw the book at the wall?
Hands down a weak female character. I can't stand a whimpering, whining, dumb female character that sits around and waits for a man to tell her what to do or to come and save her. Female characters who can't carry their own weight in a story or who make the story drag are just a huge turn off for me. That is something I have never been able to overlook in any book.

(Taking notes.)

What makes you a fan for life?
Strong characters, both male and female, humor, character chemistry, steamy scenes and a little bit of mystery or danger doesn't hurt either. Also, an author who interacts with his/her fans as often as life permits is someone I'm more likely to become a fan of. It just shows good character when they take the time to hang with their fans.

Have you ever stayed up reading all night even when you had to work the next day, and what was the book you cursed while fighting to stay awake all afternoon?
Yes. Whenever there's a new book by a favorite author that is being released at midnight I will buy it exactly at midnight for my e-reader and stay up all night reading it. Then I pay for it the next day when I can't keep my eyes open. The last one that I did that for was A Lady by Midnight by Tessa Dare.

What is the most challenging part of book blogging? Rewarding?
The most challenging is definitely writing individual reviews for books. I never want to feel like I'm repeating myself in reviews so I always keep a thesaurus nearby.

For writing in general, a thesaurus is my best friend!

Do you like to hear from an author after a review? How do you and your fans feel about authors following, reading and posting on your blog?
Of course! Who doesn't, especially if they're one of your favorites? I love having authors follow me, either my blog or on Twitter and I would love to have some of my favorites post on my blog someday.

Can you share with us up to 5 authors who are auto-buy for you?
Only 5? That's really tough. Okay here it goes (in no particular order): Tessa Dare, Joan Swan, Stacey Joy Netzel, Laurann Dohner and Lydia Dare. I really had to narrow it down because there are 12 authors on my "A Matter of Life or Death" list.

Thank you so much for including me in that list! (Didn't I mention she is a sweetheart?) And I have to laugh--"Only 5?" is a common response from the bloggers I've interviewed so far.

How much is too much for an ebook?
I don't think that ebooks should cost as much as a bound copy, it just makes no sense to me, so anything over $6 for an ebook is sorely pushing it for me.

Do you know how many books currently reside on your To Be Read list?
I'm afraid to do an exact count but I estimate about 50 books give or take 20.

Sounds a bit like mine, but like you, I'm afraid to count...
Thank you so much for taking time to spend with us Adria!  Readers, you can find Adria here:
Breath of LifeReviews (Blog) Twitter: @adria_r Facebook (asAdriana Reyes) GoodReads 

Now, anything more you'd like to know? Adria will be visiting to answer questions you have for her!

The Next Big Thing Blog Hop

Thank you, Kristine Cayne for tagging me for The Next Big Thing. I just started her romantic suspense DEADLY OBSESSION and love it so far!

The Next Big Thing originated on the She Writes site, as far as we could work out, and is designed to raise awareness of our work, or work in progress. We do that by answering ten questions about it. We graciously thank the person who nominated us, and tag five other authors whose work could well be that NEXT BIG THING.

Kristine had a great post last week all about her HOT firefighter series, Six-Alarm Sexy, and the first book in the series specifically,  Under His Command . Now it's my turn to answer some questions about my upcoming work in progress.


What is the title of your next book?
     Next book to be published: Hold On To Me , book 8, Welcome to Redemption Series written with Donna Marie Rogers.
     Next book to write: Run to Rome , book 2 of my Italy series.


Italian countryside southeast of Milan

Where did the idea [for Run to Rome] come from for the book? Readers meet Ben and Evalina in the first book, Lost In Italy. I really wanted to give these two a happily ever after at the end of LII, but they both have so much more to work through before they earn that. The idea for their story came when my brother called me at about 3am Italy time, his flight was cancelled out of Milan due to the volcano in Iceland erupting (remember that??) and he was racing through the night to catch a plane out of Rome at about 8am before they shut down that airport as well. Along the way he encountered a huge traffic jam because of a large fire along the autostrada, so he was navigating all the back roads. Unforeseen events the characters have no control over creates great conflict when they have a time constraint, so I plan to make things really difficult for Ben.
Storm clouds over Rome
What genre does your book fall under? Romantic suspense/action adventure.

Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition? Ben would be played by sexy Jensen Ackles; walk-on-the-wild-side cocky confidence on the outside hides the boy looking for approval, acceptance, and a place to put down some permanent roots. Elisabetta Canalis would make a perfect Evalina; sexy, tough undercover cop persona masks a vulnerable, lonely side - she's terrified of opening her heart after having lost everyone she's ever loved.


 
How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript? It's not written yet, but Lost in Italy took me a year. I'm hoping to knock out Run to Rome in less than 6 months.


Crumbling old fortress, scheduled for renovationWho or What inspired you to write this book?  Lost In Italy  was inspired by a real-life event, and while writing that book, I fell in love with Halli's brother Ben and the fiesty, emotionally-wounded Evalina.  

What else about your book might pique the reader interest? In the fall of 2011 my brother took me along on his business trip to Italy and during one of our free weekends, we drove the general route Ben and Evalina will take from Milan to Rome.  The pictures through the blog today are ones I took for inspiration, and I will use them while writing the book to add authentic flavors of Italy, as well as adding some local stories told to me by my brother's friend, Emilio.


Palazzo Pfanner gardensWhat is the one-sentence synopsis of your book? This is a very rough draft since as you just read, the book is not written yet. 

Charged with delivering the goods to rescue his mother, Ben Sanders must reach Rome before his pursuers catch him and without losing his heart to the sexy Italian undercover cop who left him after one incredible night of passion nine months earlier.

Mediterranean coast

Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency? Self published. I'm enjoying my full-time writing career and doing fairly well on my own, so I'll stick with this business model for now.

What other books would you compare this story to within your genre? This is such a hard question since I don't get to read as much as I used to. So instead of comparing it to some books that have blurbs that sound like what I plan mine to sound like, I'll say that Run to Rome  will be just like Lost in Italy . It'll have plenty of heart-pounding suspense along with a healthy dose of adventure, a sexy romance, and the occasional light-hearted moment before the dramatic climax and heart-warming ending. Going the movie route, I'd compare my Italy series to Sahara or the Indiana Jones movies...with a lot more romance.

To get an idea of what Run to Rome will be like, my best suggestion is to check out:


Amazon Kindle Now it's time to pass the torch to 5 more deserving authors so they can tell you about their amazing work. Their posts (which will have the same title: The Next Big Thing Blog Hop) will be live on or around November 28. Here they are:

Lily Silver
CC MacKenzie
Val Clarizio
Jill James
Tamara West
Thank you for joining me on The Next Big Thing Blog Hop. I hope you'll visit my nominees next week when they post their answers to the ten questions.
~ Stacey 

Have a great week!

There will be a lot going on this week on my blog, so before all the posts begin, I'd like to say to all of you in the US, Happy Thanksgiving!! I hope you get the chance to spend some time with those you love most and give thanks for what you have.

I don't have big plans for a huge Thanksgiving feast this holiday, but am looking forward to a nice, quiet night spent with my hubby and kids. Nice dinner, maybe a game or a movie.

If you're not celebrating the US holiday, I still wish you a wonderful week and hope you take some time to appreciate the blessings in your life.



This year I give special thanks for my family, our health, the fact that I've been able to live the dream and write full-time, my friends, and my readers.

I'd love for you to share what you're thankful for. The more positive vibes in our universe the better!

Stacey Joy Netzel

Veteran's Day

(If you're looking for the Autumn Harvest Blog Hop post, click HERE )
To all the men and women in theUnited States Armed Forces,past and present, 

who have fought for and protected our freedom,and are currently serving our country,

THANK YOU!
Wayne, Dad, Don, Uncle Ron, Scott, Uncle Art, Sam, Brandon

Autumn Harvest Blog Hop - Win Prizes!

Welcome to my Hop Stop in the Autumn Harvest Blog Hop !


To me, Autumn is...
A wonderful fall vacation in the Colorado Rockies.
My kids carving pumpkins
Having fun in the leaves
Autumn is my favorite time of year. Crisp apples. Pumpkin pie. I like wearing jeans and a sweatshirt while being outside. I love the smell of wood smoke in the air from our outdoor wood burner and the crunch of dry leaves underfoot. I even enjoy the rainy, gloomy days - as long as I'm tucked away in my warm house with a steaming mug of tea.

I've set a few of my books in the Fall of the year. Most recently is my story in the TALES FROM THE MIST Anthology.

BENEATH STILL WATERS (Part One)


An old legend tells of a beautiful witch unjustly persecuted who became a ghost bent on revenge.The danger lies in not believing.
On a sorority camping trip in the Colorado Rocky Mountain National Park, Becca scoffs at the story of the Ghost of Still Waters, despite the convictions of her fellow campers, Liz and Shane. When Liz challenges her to summon the witch’s spirit, will Ali’s disbelief seal her fate?
EXCERPT:
“Back in the eighteen hundreds, there was a young witch who lived in these mountains. In fact...” Ted paused and looked around. “What remains of her cabin isn’t too far from here.”
Megan gave a little moan, as if the long-dead woman would suddenly appear right behind her.
“The townspeople were all scared of her, but since she kept to herself mostly, they left her alone. Then one day—”
“Does this witch have a name? And why were they scared of her?” Becca fired off the questions as Megan glanced uneasily over Johnny’s shoulder.
“Shh,” Liz said with annoyance.
“The legend warns against speaking her name.”
“Don’t encourage him,” Shane added.
“Why not?” The fearful question came from Megan.
“She practiced black magic,” Ted explained. “They say if you speak her name it could awaken her spirit.”
The fire popped, throwing a shower of sparks skyward. Becca noticed Megan and Liz both jerk in reaction, as if the witch had sent a sign.
She didn’t believe there was an ounce of truth to the story. “You guys probably don’t even know it.”
Ted met her gaze with a solemn nod.
“Are you chicken?” she challenged him and Shane. Now she was starting to have fun.
“Some things are better left unspoken,” Shane warned.
“Just tell us.”
Despite Liz’s urging, Ted hesitated. Becca guessed it was part of their presentation.
“Her name is ... ”
“Don’t say it,” Shane breathed, closing his eyes. “Please don’t say—”
“Alianna.”
A burst of rustling leaves preceded a loud clatter in the forest behind them. 

Get your copy of TALES FROM THE MIST 

Amazon, Amazon UK, BN, ARe, Kobo, SW, Goodreads


~*~
RISING ABOVE  (Still Waters Part Two) is also available:


Amazon , BN , ARe , SW

Imagine you’ve lived before, but don’t remember or believe it’s even possible. Therein lies the danger. For in not believing and learning from your pasts, the power shifts to the one who would see you dead. Again.

Ryan James never gave much thought to ghosts or the idea of reincarnation—until the appearance of the beautiful Ali Whitman triggers terrifying visions that feel like real life. As he pieces together their past lives, he discovers they aren’t the only players. Worse, if he can’t convince Ali to believe before their past adversary makes the next move, he’ll lose her all over again.



MY PRIZE for the Hop and how to win it:
PartyLite Trick or Treat Fragrance Warmer w/melts
Now, if you're visiting all the hop stops, I'm going to guess you've answered what your favorite part of autumn is about a hundred times, so my question is:

What's the most creative pumpkin you've ever carved?
(Remember--comments here also enter you into the overall Blog Hop grand prizes)

a Rafflecopter giveaway 
And don't forget to visit all the other blog stops to win more fabulous prizes!


1st Grand Prize: A Kindle Fire or Nook Tablet2nd Grand Prize: A $50 Amazon or B&N Gift Card3rd Grand Prize: A Swag Pack that contains 10+ paperbacks, ebooks, 50+ bookmarks, cover flats, magnets, pens, coffee cozies, and more!