Lindsay Detwiler's Blog, page 28

Diary of a Rocker’s Kid Haley Despard

 

DIARY OF A ROCKER’S KID

by Haley Despard

Series: DORK #1

Publisher: Limitless Publishing

– SYNOPSIS –

Madison Daley’s father has concealed the truth from her for seventeen years…

Raised on a Kentucky farm, Madison is stunned when a conversational slip reveals her father Michael is a famous ’90s rock star known as the Grim Weeper. Michael left the spotlight and his mansion behind when Madison was dropped off on his doorstep by a woman in a black mask. A dark past is revealed, and the only thing Madison isn’t allowed to know is her mother’s name.

The answers Madison needs can only be found in Beverly Hills…

Though she does hope to persuade her dad to return to the stage, Madison’s real mission is to discover the identity of her mother.

But she is slightly distracted—literally—by the boy next door. Giovanni Abate’s father is an action film star, his stepdad is a major designer, and Gio has his own claim to fame. Madison catches the handsome, young Italian actor’s eye, and their mutual attraction makes for a hotter summer than she ever could have imagined.

Madison hasn’t set foot in California since infancy, but a lot of people are certain she has…

After Madison has a makeover, people are sure they’ve seen her somewhere before, and she is extremely curious about the identity of her supposed doppelganger. As she looks into this strange situation, she’s unaware that Gio is hiding a potentially devastating secret.

Could finding the answers she seeks change Madison’s life forever?

Or will it just lead to more questions to fill the…

Diary of a Rocker’s Kid.

– PURCHASE –

KINDLE: http://amzn.to/1XE4T1S

PAPERBACK: http://amzn.to/1TDgetu

 

 

 

– EXCERPT –

June 2, 2015

Mission L.A. Complete

We’re here…and it’s the best

feeling in the world.

As soon as I walked in those

double doors, I immediately felt at home. That has never happened to me before.

The farmhouse felt like home because it was all I had, but this place has Dad,

Cass, and me written all over it. It’s a rocker’s mansion for sure, and Dad

already told me some stories about the wild parties they used to have in here.

I enjoyed hearing about how completely off the walls Cass and he were. It makes

me think maybe he’ll forgive me for the shit I plan to do once I’m legal…or not

so legal.

He’s loosening up a lot now

that we’re in L.A. He’s even treating me like an equal in a lot of ways. I

guess he’s finally realizing I’m close to becoming an adult. Also, he said he

plans to go out with Cass a lot while we’re here. Score for me! The less

parental supervision, the better.

I’m not sure how to feel about

meeting Stephan Lowe’s family tomorrow. According to Ana, Steph’s partner is

Alfonzo Abate, a major action film star. He’s easily an A-list actor, and I’ve

watched and obsessed over all his movies. His teenage son Giovanni is an actor,

too. He was a supporting actor on one of my favorite tween-teen shows, Jackson and Julia, until it got cancelled last year. He is constantly in the news, and

girls everywhere obsess over him. My palms sweat and my throat dries up just

thinking about him. I mean, this guy is swoon-worthy, and I’m about to meet him

tomorrow. That has me terrified. What am I going to say to two actors I’ve

worshipped for the past few years of my life? Especially one my age?

I can see it now—

“Hi, I’m Mads. You’re gorgeous.

I want to marry you. I know I’m the Basket Baby, but maybe we can look past

that. I’m even willing to start over on a deserted island together and forget

either of us has a name. We can just sit on the beach day and night in nothing

but our birthday suits and let the world fade away for the rest of our lives.

Sound good? Great. I’m on my way to the courthouse to get emancipated right

now.”

I’m dying laughing over here.

That’s so unrealistic it’s almost not funny.

Almost.

Anyway, now that I know who I’m

meeting, I’m considering letting Ana give me a full-scale makeover tomorrow.

She’s been wanting to do that for years, and now we’ve finally got the perfect

opportunity. Plus, it’s kind of necessary. I’m looking at the ends of my hair,

and…yep, I’ve got split ends. They’re all over the place. Definitely getting a

haircut, and I might color it, too, even though that’s wayyy outside my comfort

zone.

Here goes nothing. Hopefully I

won’t come back bald. That’s my secret fear when entering a salon.

Ttyl,

Mads

 

Diary

of a Rocker’s Kid #1 Playlist

Diary

of Jane – Breaking Benjamin

American

Idiot – Green Day

Whisper

– Evanescence

Fire

and Ice – Within Temptation

Victim

– Avenged Sevenfold

Unholy

Confessions – Avenged Sevenfold

Meant

to Live – Switchfoot

Extraordinary

Girl – Green Day

Let’s

Get Rocked – Def Leppard

Beverly

Hills – Weezer

The

Best Damn Thing – Avril Lavigne

Madness

– Muse

I

Love Rock N’ Roll – Joan Jett

Sweet

Child O’ Mine – Guns N’ Roses

Dani

California – Red Hot Chili Peppers

Rockstar

– Nickelback

Riot

– Three Days Grace

Complicated

– Avril Lavigne

Titanium

– Madilyn Bailey

Oceans

– Evanescence

You’re

Gonna Go Far, Kid – The Offspring

Famous

– Puddle of Mudd

Lost

in Paradise – Evanescence

Afterlife

– Avenged Sevenfold

Welcome

to the Family – Avenged Sevenfold

 

 

– ABOUT THE AUTHOR –

Haley Despard was born and raised in small, yet ever-expanding Simpsonville, South Carolina. She discovered a love of writing at age fourteen and hasn’t been able to turn off the motor fingers since then. Today she lives just a stone’s throw over in the country side of Greer, SC with her husband, son, and Boston Terrier. Her loves include cats (even though she’s allergic because the universe hates her), reading, composing music, blogging, amateur photography, fro-yo, mall shopping trips, and anything that begins with, ends with, or includes the words “milk chocolate.” She also enjoys gaming with her husband on occasion and driving through the countryside with music on full blast.

Haley’s books will include a combination of feminism, romance, diversity, family values, complicated storylines, and maybe even a scheming heroine or two. She loves to defy conventions and standards and continually thinks outside the box. If you want to read something fresh and original, pick up a Haley Despard novel. A book should be able to make you gasp, sob, laugh hysterically, and want to hug the main character all at the same time.

Haley is very interactive on Facebook and Twitter so don’t hesitate to contact her at one of the links below, or you can email her at hdespardauthor@outlook.com.

LIMITLESS PUBLISHING: http://www.limitlesspublishing.net/authors/haley-despard/

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/haleydespard

TWITTER: https://twitter.com/HaleyDespard

GOODREADS: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14171202.Haley_Despard

WEBSITE: https://diaryofarockerskid.wordpress.com/

 

– GIVEAWAY –

3 ecopies of Diary Of A Rocker’s Kid up for grabs!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

Winning the What If War: Thoughts From a Fellow Worrier

“Mom, is Ernie sleeping?”

With this line, the what if war began.

I was very young when our hamster Ernie met his maker. As a naive child, I of course thought he was just resting and he would soon spring back to life. My mother had the unfortunate but necessary task of enlightening me that Ernie was, in fact, gone forever and that we all met this demise at some point.

I was crushed. Immortality was truly a think of the fairy tales. And thus, my journey to worrying began.

The “What If” Anxiety

Don’t get the wrong idea. I didn’t become a creepy child wearing all black incessantly scribbling rings and whispering “seven days” in the corner of my room. I had a happy childhood, and I would say I was relatively normal.

With one caveat. I worried. About everything.

And I still do.

These worries stem from what I call the “what if war.” It’s a ceaseless battle of questions and pessimism all wrapped into one.

There are the big what ifs. When I was deciding whether or not to get a second degree in education, my passion, there was: what if I’m forever a substitute and never get a job? During our apartment years, there was the : what if we can never afford a house? When my first book was published, there was the : what if everyone hates it? What if I fail?

There are also the small what ifs. What if I offended that person? What if I lost that quiz? What if I have a typo on that document?

Why Worrying is Worthless

The what if war is often pointless. I’ve found over the years most of the what ifs never happen, and I just regret wasting my time on pointless, endless speculation.

This doesn’t quell the battle, though. The what ifs still swirl, sometimes to the point of haunting me.

I think a part of the war can also be attributed to my personality. I’m a perfectionist by nature. I don’t like to make mistakes. So the what ifs become an accessory to this characteristic.

I guess the best question is: how do you win the what if war? How do you make yourself let go of the worries?

Quelling What Ifs

You don’t. Not completely.

But you learn to quiet them a bit. For me, the answer rests in my loved ones. My husband is not a what if worrier. He worries about the what ifs when they become whens. And then, he’s a what now kind of guy. As long as you’re still breathing, there’s still hope for it to work out. This is his motto. Being married to someone like this definitely helps balance out my tendency to overthink things.

Advantages to the What If War

I also think you learn to use it to your advantage. The what if worries can help you be more observant and can also help you be more goal-oriented. I tend to make rational choices because of my worrying.

It’s also certainly been a huge help in my writing. I’ve had a lot of practice imagining what could happen. This certainly translates to an easier creative writing process and an ability to predict where a plot line could go.

So the what if war wages on, but I’ve been trying not to pay as much attention. The what ifs in life will always be there, and for some of us, we will always battle them.

But I think the best question we can ask is not what if; it’s what now?

Carolyn La Roche: In the Shadow of The Shield

In the Shadow of the Shield by Carolyn La Roche
The Secrets Lives Series #2
Genre: Contemporary Romance | Mystery
Release Date 12/15/15
Publisher: Limitless Publishing
– SYNOPSIS –
When a police officer falls, justice must be served.
Donnie Massey was an honest, skilled police officer. That’s probably what got him killed. When his wife Diana watches him die in front of her, the worst part is going to be telling their son, Jackson.
After a year of mourning, Diana decides it’s time to move on with their lives. The first step to getting closure is to visit Donnie’s grave. But when she gets there, she’s not alone…
Good cops are rare. Carter Ryan is one of them.
Mentored by Donnie, Carter is at the grave when his widow shows up. It may not be the best timing, but he needs her help. Carter admits the fallen shield may not have died in the line of duty, but was likely murdered while involved in a secret investigation with deep criminal ties. Diana agrees to aid in unveiling the truth. Donnie deserves that much.
The definition of insanity…
As the two work side by side, a new and delicate romance begins to bloom. But would falling for another cop be the worst mistake of Diana’s life, or the best decision she’s ever made? When the investigation leads them to an underground meth ring, their mission goes from risky to down right perilous.
After a brush with death hits too close to home, will Diana risk loving another cop? Or will their chance at happiness be forever buried in the shadow of the shield?

– PURCHASE –
KINDLE: http://amzn.to/1NgXayN
PAPERBACK: http://amzn.to/1NgXcqu



– THE SECRETS LIVES SERIES –


Book #1: UNDERCOVER IN SIX INCH STILETTOS
Available on Kindle Unlimited!
Kindle: http://amzn.to/1QjWD2N
Paperback: http://amzn.to/1QjWLiN
 
– MEET THE AUTHOR: CAROLYN LAROCHE – 
 

Carolyn LaRoche grew up in snow country but fled the cold and ice several years ago. She now lives near the beach with her husband, their two boys, two finicky cats and one old dog. When she is not at the baseball field cheering on big hits and home runs, she is busy teaching science to unwilling teenagers.

Limitless Publishing: http://www.limitlesspublishing.net/authors/carolyn-laroche/ 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorCarolynLaRoche 
Twitter: https://twitter.com/CarolynLaRoche
Website: http://carolynlarocheauthor.blogspot.com/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7734909.Carolyn_LaRoche

 

Nobody’s Obligation Rebecca Barber

Ava Jacobs is a shy accountant by day, aspiring romance writer by night—and her first novel just got published…

 

 
Romance isn’t a big component of Ava’s life. That is, her real life. As the monotonous nature of crunching numbers and drawn-out board meetings slowly eats away at her, the only bright side to her otherwise mundane routine lies on the black and white pages of her debut romance novel. Her inspiration? A long-time infatuation—Tyler Andrews.
 
Until the Olympic swimmer read her novel and connected the dots…
 
Tyler Andrews is used to being the center of attention. But when his sister throws a romance novel in his lap, he’s surprised to be the inspiration for the hot, hunky hero. He has no idea who Ava Jacobs is, but he’s not at all happy with her using his likeness to spice up her steamy scenes. When he finally tracks her down, it’s her likeness that intrigues him.
 
It takes just one romantic dance at a company banquet to spark disaster…
 
When Tyler’s manager arranges a daring publicity stunt and offers him as an auction item at Ava’s fundraising banquet, the bids come in quick and hot. Little did Ava expect the winner, a work colleague, to donate Tyler as Ava’s date. With all eyes on the Olympic athlete, Ava can’t refuse a romantic dance. But even though Tyler was the inspiration for Ava’s steamy novel, she refuses to accept his attention if it’s not real.
 
Will Tyler lose the one woman who caught his interest? Or will Ava push him away in an effort to prove she’s…
 
Nobody’s obligation.

Amazon ~ FREE on KU

Rebecca, one of four kids to her parents who are both primary school teachers, was born in Wollongong on the south coast of Australia before moving to the country with her family. After a few years of embracing all that country life had to offer, the family relocated to Port Macquarie with its white sand beaches. After a brief period enjoying the sun and the surf they finally settled in Canberra where Rebecca still lives today. But all through her childhood a notepad and a book where never far away. These days Rebecca is an avid reader, and when she isn’t buried in a book or cheering on her beloved football team she’s spending time with her husband Robert and their overly spoilt dog Levi.
 
Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Pinterest ~ Instagram ~ Goodreads



Perfection is Just an Illusion

Amazon ~ Goodreads

Sweet “Voice of Innocence” By Lindsay Detwiler

Source: Sweet “Voice of Innocence” By Lindsay Detwiler

Voice of experience: 5 things that established authors would tell new writers

A great article for new or seasoned authors :)

Nail Your Novel

A few weeks ago, a bunch of authors gathered for Books Are My Bag day at Barton’s bookshop in Leatherhead, Surrey. Inevitably, some customers asked for advice on writing and publishing. These were the five MFDs (most frequent discussions).

1 You are not alone.

This realisation marked an important threshold. The moment we all found other writers, online or in real-life groups, was like opening a secret door to home. For me, it was a revelation to be among people who treated writing as a routine part of life. Before then, I had a hoard of notebooks with scattered fragments, but couldn’t see a next step. Trying a book seemed a bit improbable, indeed ridiculous. After all, what would I do with it? Meeting other writers made it possible. Within a few months, I was sending short stories to magazines and searching for a grand idea that deserved to be…

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Black Friday Haul in Review: The Best and Worst Beauty Gift Sets

Lipsticks, creams, hair serums, brushes, blushes, and eye shadows litter my bathroom sink. Every morning is a raucous of falling lipstick tubes, lost mascaras, and scattered thoughts.

I do not need a single beauty product.

However, that didn’t stop me on Black Friday. My Ulta haul on Black Friday cost me $60…and I only planned on buying maybe one thing.

But $10 gift sets? $25 Philosophy sets? Who could pass it up!

I’ve had a few weeks to give the new products a try, so below are my reviews for my Black Friday haul products. Check out the products to put under your tree…and the products to leave behind.

Philosophy Purity Exfoliating Scrub and Renewed Hope

$57 gift set: Bought for $25

This set also included a Hope for Hands lotion and a regular Purity scrub, which are both nice. The exfoliating scrub, however, has become my new favorite. It has very tiny scrubbing beads in it. Unlike some exfoliating scrubs, however, this one is gentle enough to use everyday. Most of all, it truly makes my skin smoother! The renewed hope moisturizer is a perfect weight…not too light, but not too greasy. Best of all, it has a really soft, wonderful scent. I will definitely be buying both of these products again!

 

Tarte Maracuja Oil and Eye Cream

This set was only $10 on Black Friday, which was a true steal! The oil is…well, oily, so I only use it at night. However, I do notice I wake up with super soft skin when I use it and my skin looks brighter. I love the eye cream because it also seems to soften the eye area. I’ve noticed a few tiny creases around my eyes which are driving me bonkers! This helps me at least feel better about them :)

 

Sebastian Hair Spray

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$7.99 on Black Friday and STILL ON SALE!!!!

This is my new favorite hair spray. Some sprays don’t give me the hold I need. Others just make me itchy. This would is a perfect balance between keeping my hair in place and giving me a helmet appearance. It also has a great scent

Living Proof Smoothing Spray and Control Hairspray

This is the only product I would leave behind. It was only $10, and I’ve always wanted to try these products.

I hate them.

The smoothing spray, in my opinion, is nowhere near as nice as the Kenra Blow Spray. I honestly can’t tell a difference when I use it. The hairspray has a weird, spicy scent to it and it doesn’t hold. At all. I was super disappointed in this.

How about you? Did you get any awesome beauty steals on Black Friday? Any purchase regrets? Let us know below!

 

Reviews for Without You

Check out what reviewers are saying about my second novel, Without You, available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

“Beautiful, heart-wrenching words come from Ms. Detwiler as she brings her story to life in a way where no one is the villain, but the stories ring as realistic as a chapel bell.” Tome Tender Blog, tometender.blogspot.com

“Without you is a really nice contemporary romance and is definitely an easy, quick read for a quiet weekend. I’d say it’s pretty similar to the type of story written by Nicholas Sparks.” My Expanding Bookshelf Blog


” I fell head over heels for this book! Lindsay executed the way monotony can be a problem in marriage so well in this novel. I fell in love with each single character! ” ~SandraTheBookworm


” I read this book in two and a half days. I honestly couldn’t put it down. I hope that the author writes a sequel since I would love to read more of the story. If she does, I will be first in line to get it.” ~Elizabeth Cole, #NerdProblems Blog

Diary of a Rocker’s Kid by Haley Despard

Diary of a Rocker’s Kid by Haley Despard

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

**I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review***

The Diary of a Rocker’s Kid is an edgy story about a girl discovering her identity and trying to come to terms with who she is. It follows the story of Madison when she learns about her father’s secret identity as a rock star. She has to abandon her Kentucky life and is thrown into the rocker’s lifestyle, to both her stress and happiness. Along the way, she meets one of her favorite celebrities, Gio, and a romance ensues.

Overall, I thought Ms. Despard did a great job at capturing Madison’s character realistically. I truly felt like I was reading about a “real” teenager. All of her hangups on small details and her obsessions over her love life felt genuine. I also thought the dialogue was very realistic. The conversations flowed smoothly and helped drive the plot. I liked Madison’s character and found things I could connect with her about, despite our age difference. Overall, I thought the plot was interesting. I would describe it as an edgy Princess Diaries kind of feel, which was neat. Madison lives out many of our dreams–she becomes a wealthy celebrity overnight. However, she also shows us the price of fame, which was interesting to think about.

The only thing I did not like in this book was the character of Gio. He had some redeeming moments throughout the book, but overall, I found him to be a bit smug. I just felt like Madison could do better. I felt like Gio was sort of a disaster waiting to happen for her…but perhaps that was part of the point. I also wasn’t crazy about the ending because I felt like it was way too abrupt.

Overall, this book is a great young adult read. Ms. Despard does not shy away from the sometimes harsh realities of teenage life and celebrity life, which I applaud her for. Her book speaks to contemporary youth, famous or not, and highlights identity issues everyone faces at some point. Ms. Despard forces the reader to explore the idea that sometimes our lives aren’t what they seem.

View all my reviews

Book Giveaway: Win a Copy of Without You

You still have time to enter to win my coffee, cupcake, and book lovers giveaway. Just visit me on Facebook and like, share, and comment on the post.

Up for grabs: a signed copy of Without You, a cupcake candle, a cupcake sign, a coffee cookbook, and some Starbucks hot cocoa.

Keep it for yourself or for the bookworm in your life for the holidays!