Allie Boniface's Blog, page 5
April 29, 2016
TGIF, everyone! I hope you've had a great week -- and if you didn't get a chance to stop by and read the excerpt from 
April 27, 2016
Spring Secrets: Meet Sienna and Mike!
Just three shorts weeks until Spring Secrets officially releases, so how about some excerpts to whet your appetite? Today's is from early in the book, when Sienna Cruz and Mike Springer first see each other in his gym after she left town months earlier. As always with these two, the attraction is fast and hard...**********
Sienna began to sweat ten minutes into the workout. Didn’t help that Mike had changed into navy shorts and a black tank top that showed off every muscle in his gorgeous body. Why didn’t we ever sleep together? she wondered as they went through a series of punches, kicks, and a few rounds of sparring. She blew her hair from her forehead and backpedaled as he took a drink of water.
“You’re looking good,” she said.
He grinned. His gaze raked her from head to toe and turned her hotter than she already was. He adjusted his gloves and approached again, moving toward her on his toes and letting her take a few practice swings as he did. On the last swing, he ducked, moved in, and wrapped one strong arm around her waist, pulling her tight against his chest. Sienna’s breath hitched. He grinned again for a second before letting her go. “Gotta protect against that,” he said.
But she wasn’t sure she wanted to. His torso had felt pretty damn nice pressed against hers. “Give me another chance?”
He took a few steps back and spread his arms wide. Tattoos covered his skin, and their intricate designs distracted her for a moment. He had ink on both legs too, which made for one heck of a piece of artwork standing across from her.
“I’m ready,” he said.
She blinked, surprised at the desire surging through her. So am I. You have no idea.
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Spring Secrets releases on May 17th - or you can pre-order it today at any of the links below! (Check and see if the Samhain store is still running a 30% off special)
Samhain Store
Amazon Kindle
B&N Nook
Apple iBooks
Kobo Books
April 22, 2016
Friday Flash Giveaway!
Happy Friday, readers! Today, in honor of the two books featured below, I'm doing a sports-focused giveaway question. First of all, congrats to my fellow writer Liz Matis, for her sports romance Guarding the Quarterback. The hero in that book is a pro football player who ends up falling for the sexy female bodyguard who's hired to protect him after multiple death threats.The hero in my upcoming book, Spring Secrets, is a buff gym owner and baseball fan who passes on his love of the game to a class of special needs students that the heroine just happens to be teaching.
Sports make up a central part of many people's lives, that's for sure, whether it's recreational or college and professional teams they follow or even the amazing talents of the Olympic athletes we all get to see every few years. In a tip to sports lovers everywhere, here's today's Friday Flash Giveaway question:
What's your favorite sport? It could be one you watch, one you play or your kids play, a team, individual, or even made-up favorite sport you play with friends on the weekends. I'd love to know!
As always, one commenter will be chosen at random to win a $5 Amazon gift card today. So...let's play ball!
April 20, 2016
Writer's Wednesday: Spring Secrets is Coming!
Ooh, readers, I'm excited to share the news that the next book in my Pine Point series, Spring Secrets, is releasing in less than a month: on May 17th! Now, you probably know that part of why I love writing stories set in small towns is because there are always secrets hidden behind the surface, kind of like the Peyton Place syndrome, right? And that's exactly what I set out to explore in this book, both the idea of secrets and skeletons in closets AND the fact that sometimes those are better left alone. Over the next few weeks, I'll be sharing excerpts here so you can get to know my characters and the town of Pine Point itself. I hope you love the cover -- a little bit sexy and dark, right? But notice that there's a playing field in the background, a baseball field to be exact. The good ol' American sport takes a central role in this book...you'll have to wait and see how!
Spring Secrets Blurb:
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Be careful where you dig for secrets…
Sienna Cruz left Pine Point at age fifteen after her mother’s untimely death. Eleven years later, a job teaching special needs kids has brought her back. At least, that’s what she wants everyone to believe.
Raised in a poverty-stricken, single-parent household, Sienna is earning her PhD with a dissertation proving even too-perfect-to-be-real Pine Point is a hotbed of small-town secrets and scandal.
Leaving Pine Point turned out to be the biggest mistake of Mike Springer’s life. After eight years on the West Coast, coming home to open a local gym is the first step toward a fresh start, this time with the support of friends and family.
Sparks fly the moment Sienna walks into Mike’s gym, and it isn’t long before they’re workout partners with benefits. Then her research not only hits too close to Mike’s fiercely guarded past, it exposes a sordid truth about skeletons Sienna didn’t know she had in her own closet.
Warning: Contains a class of cute kiddoes that will melt your heart and a sexy tattooed gym owner who can pump more than just iron...
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If you'd like, you can pre-order Spring Secrets today at your favorite online retailer!
**30% off at the Samhain Store!
or you can purchase on:
Amazon Kindle
B&N Nook
Apple iBooks
Kobo Books
April 15, 2016
Friday Flash Giveaway!
It's that time of year again if you live in the United States -- income tax day! Did you get yours in on time? We usually pay each year, but this year we got some money back from the government, since we had solar panels installed on our roof last summer (fantastic investment, by the way -- I highly recommend it). So now hubby and I are trying to decide where we want to invest the money. We know it will be in home improvements, because there are some projects we've been eyeing for a while. It's just a matter of which ones get priority. I said the other day, "If we won the lottery, we wouldn't have to worry. We could do all of them!" Which brings me to today's flash giveaway question:
If you won the lottery tomorrow, what would you do with the money??
I'll pick one commenter randomly from everyone who stops by today to win a $5 Amazon gift card. Let's dream a little, shall we?
April 8, 2016
Friday Flash Giveaway!
Oh my goodness we had SNOW at my house earlier this week. After 80 degree temps three days before! My poor flowers don't know what to do. Hope spring isn't quite as fickle or schizophrenic where you are. My question for today is about how or where you find out about new books or authors you'd like to read. Word of mouth from friends? Blog posts? Ads? Reviews posted on Amazon or in the NY Times or somewhere else? Do you just follow your favorite authors online so you know when they're coming out with a new book?
Tell me your best or favorite ways to find out about new books to read, and as always, one commenter will be chosen randomly today (I use www.random.org, in case you were wondering) to receive a $5 Amazon gift card.
P.S. New cover reveal for my May release coming shortly! Can't wait to share it with you all :)
April 1, 2016
Friday Flash Giveaway!
Can you believe it's April??I was never one for April Fool's Day jokes, although I do remember one time my (now)husband and I were newly dating, and he called his older brother and told him I was pregnant -- as an April Fool's joke. He had his brother on speaker phone so I could hear the conversation, and it was pretty funny to hear the huge pause, followed by some very measured and awkward sentences of advice, until my husband gave up the joke.
I know there are people who love to play jokes on others on April 1st, so in the spirit of April Fool's Day, here's our flash giveaway question:
Do you like April Fool's Day? Do you enjoy playing practical jokes on other people? Do you have a great joke to share that you either played on someone or fell for yourself?
As always, I'll choose one person randomly from all those who comment today to win a $5 Amazon gift card. Happy April, everyone, and watch out for those jokers!!
March 18, 2016
It's Release Day!
Readers, I am SO excited that Soldier of Love is releasing today! I hope you've had a chance to read some of my "Story Behind the Story" blog posts over the last couple of months...if not, just scroll down to see some of my research and thoughts behind creating this story. Although it's Book 5 in the Hometown Heroes series, you can read it as a stand-alone novel. Here are some early reviews from Goodreads readers, some of which totally brought tears to my eyes. I did not know when I started writing this book that it would become as meaningful, deep, and difficult to write, but I'm so glad readers are responding to the story of Heath and Franny:"This is a truly well-written and heartfelt story about two emotionally scarred souls who find solace and healing in one another. Their road is not an easy one, and I appreciate the author's understanding of the long and difficult process of dealing with the effects of PTSD, something I've seen made light of in other, more poorly written and badly researched novels about wounded warriors..."
"A heartbreaking, wonderful read! PTSD is so very real for many of us, whether we or someone close to us is suffering from this disorder. Finding a way through the pain and turmoil is very difficult and finding someone who understands that can be more difficult. Franny and Heath are such deep characters and I am looking forward to reading the next Hometown Heroes."
"All the ingredients for a very readable romance. A hot ex military hero, suffering from PTSD; a ditsy, quirky heroine with issues from her past; a beautiful location; good characters; romance, some sexy scenes."
"I loved this book. Being a military wife, I can say she did an amazing job in describing a soldier and the issues they go through when they become just plain civilians and not military. I loved how both of the characters are fighting their own demons and how they gradually fall in love. Beautiful love story."
"I just loved this story. The others [in the series] are great, don't get me wrong, but this one is the best of the bunch, hands down. Hats off to you for this dramatic, compelling, and heart-rendering love story anyone can read and not want to put down."
"The healing of the characters and the love was stupendous. Allie Boniface continues to amaze me with the way she can suck me into her stories. Loved it!"
And it wouldn't be Friday without a Flash Giveaway, right? So today, in honor of my "book birthday," I'm choosing one reader at random to receive his/her choice of the following:
1. All of the Hometown Heroes books, #1 - #4, in ebook format.
OR
2. Choice of any one Hometown Heroes print books, signed by Yours Truly (open to both US and international readers).
OR
3. $10 gift card to Amazon
All you have to do is comment and tell me which you'd pick if you win! I hope you'll pick up a copy of Soldier of Love today. It's available at the following e-retailers, as well as in print at Amazon too. Please enjoy, and if you'd like, leave a review. Thanks and have a wonderful Friday!
Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Apple iBooks
Kobo
March 11, 2016
Friday Flash Giveaway!
Happy Friday, readers! Today's giveaway is a little different than my traditional ones. Today I'm giving away a freebie to everyone! If you'd like to read the first three chapters of my upcoming novel Soldier of Love, it's available now absolutely free. Just click the link below, and you can choose the file format that works best for you. I hope you'll enjoy your sneak peek at this book -- it releases one week from today!
Sneak Peek at Soldier of Love
Sneak Peek at Soldier of Love
March 9, 2016
The Story Behind Soldier of Love - Part Six
As I’ve mentioned many times in this blog series, I had the help of some good friends in writing Soldier of Love and trying to get the details right. One of my greatest supporters has been my friend Joe from high school, who’s had a starred career in the military. (At the bottom of this blog post is a picture of some of the letters he wrote me from basic training in the Marines. At times like these, I'm glad for the nostalgic side of me that kept things like that. Who writes letters anymore?)Today I thought I’d let Joe take over:
Q: Welcome, Joe! How long have you known Allie?
A: I have known her since Grade School, and we grew up together in the same small town. We have managed to stay in touch throughout the years.
Q: How long have you served in the military?
A: I have been in the Military for over 24 years. I spent four years of my enlistment in the Marines, and have been in the Army now for a little over 20 years.
Q: What makes you proudest of your service?
A: That is a tough one. There is so much that I am proud of. I guess I would have to say that the Military made me a good enough role model for my son to follow in my footsteps. That was very special to me.
Q: What do you wish more people (civilians) knew about those who serve?
A: I wish more people knew that the men and women of this great nation are protected by great men and women. These men and women are grandfathers, grandmothers, fathers, mothers, husbands, wives, sons, daughters friends and family. They are often looked at as "Soldiers" and people often forget that they are more than that.
Q: How do you feel about being the inspiration behind the hero of a romance novel?
A: Actually, this very is flattering. Being part an someone's inspiration is a good feeling. I am not a very romantic person, so maybe I can learn something from this!
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Readers, Joe is as smart and kind in real life as he sounds here (sorry ladies, he’s also married). If you want to read the whole story he inspired, it’s releasing in less than 10 days!
Soldier of Love is the story of a veteran returned from war and the woman he falls in love with. It will release at all retailers on March 18 but is (finally!) available for pre-order now at the sites below if you just can't wait!
Amazon Kindle
Barnes & Noble Nook
Apple iBooks
