Zøe Haslie's Blog, page 5
February 21, 2018
3 Days, 3 Quotes, Day 2
Hi, lovelies! How are you? Like I told you yesterday, I have been nominated for this great challenge by Michaela’s blog Journy into Books. And, again, this is really, reaaaally hard for me, because it means picking up just one quote from a book, when there are so many quotes I love 
Today, I picked a quote from one of my all-time favorite novels, Gabo’s “One Hundred Years of Solitude”. This quote is beautiful in its simplicity and it makes me open my eyes and appreciate the present when I get too overwhelmed.
“It’s enough for me to be sure that you and I exist at this moment.”
Sadly, tomorrow is the last day of this lovely challenge. BUT, good news, I started chasing epiphanies on Twitter. You can join me! Use the #ChasingEpiphanies and show the world the epiphanies you caught 
Meet multi-genre author Cecily Wolfe
Hi, guys! Today I want to introduce you to Cecily Wolfe in this great interview
In the next minutes, Cecily will tell us about her life as a writer, her sources of inspiration and what it’s like to self-publish your books–the pain and the joy of it!
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Q. Welcome to the blog. Please introduce yourself and tell us about your work.
A. Hello! I am Cecily Wolfe (aka Ceci) and I write whatever my characters tell me to write, so there is a variety of genres on my list, from YA to contemporary romance and family drama to Christian historical romance. I wouldn’t rule anything out for the future, either.
Q. Are you a self-published author or traditionally published? What’s the first book you published?
A. Self/small press. My first book was A Harvest of Stars, back in the summer of 2016.
Q. What’s the first book that had an impact in your life and how?
A. A Helen Keller biography back in the third grade. I became obseseed with learning everything I could about her, because I was fascinated by all that she accomplished in spite of being blind and deaf. It started me for long periods of time and really absorbing what I was reading, and then I started writing short stories about Helen and what I imagined were some of her adventures. That book got me on both the reading and writing tracks, and I am still on both.
Q. As a writer, what are the topics you feel are the most difficult to write about and why?
A. I think it is hard to write about grief and loss, as well as guilt. These are complicated feelings and everyone feels them and handles them differently. I’ve had conflicting responses to my stories for this reason. Some readers relate to what a character is experiencing, and others think it is not realistic because they don’t have the same experience. I think it is important to remember that we are all different, and try to be understanding of our differences.
Q. If one of your books turned into a movie, which one would it be? Which actors would have the lead roles? Who would direct it?
A. Over on Pinterest, I have photos pinned of actors I would envision in some of these roles. I love fancasting! For my Cliff Walk Courtships series, I see Liana Liberato as Catherine, Alexander Ludwig as Will, Lily Collins as Sarah, and Finn Cole as Sam. Arthur and Josie – I’m not sure. I kind of see Zoe Boyle, blonde, of course, for Josie. I’d love to know what CWC readers think! For A Harvest of Stars, a young Amelia Warner as Locklyn and a young Martin Truex, Jr. (not an actor, a NASCAR driver/champion, but he looks like my Isaiah!). For Reckless Treasure, either Elle Fanning or Kiernan Shipka as Tricia, Drew Seeley as Mitch, Jenna Coleman (although she isn’t blonde – can we make her blonde?) as Francesca, and Georgia Lock as Ashley. My other books and stories – I haven’t fancast yet, but again, I’d love to know what readers think!
Q.What is it like to self-publish your books? What does it mean to be an indie author?
A. It means a lot of work above and beyond the writing part. More work than I ever imagined, but it is worth it. It also means struggling to find a way to get my books in the hands of readers when there are so many books out there, and I have a very slim marketing budget.
Q. A word of advice for aspiring authors?
A. Just do it – and keep doing it! If you love to write, go ahead, and worry about everything else afterwards. You have a story to tell, and there are bound to be readers waiting to read it. Don’t give up!
Q. Do you like to hear from readers? Please let us know how to stalk you online
February 20, 2018
3 Days, 3 Quotes, Day 1
Hi, lovelies! How are you? I have been nominated for this great challenge by Michaela’s blog Journy into Books. And this is really, reaaaally hard for me, because it means picking up just one quote from a book, when there are so many quotes I love
But I can do it! Hmm… After a lot of deliberation, I decided for… a quote from “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz”, by L. Frank Baum. I chose this beucase ever since I read it as a small kid it stuck with me, and when I had my heart broken for the first time, I finally understood it in a whole new level
“Hearts will never be practical until they can be made unbreakable.”
There one. One quote. I did it! Now…
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Finally, I’m supposed to nominate three blogs to join the challenge. And I might do that tomorrow, but today I’m a rebel! And I invite you all to do it or to drop ONE quote (if I could chose one, you can as well!) in the comments ^^
Top Ten Tuesday: It Was Nice While It Lasted
Hi, guys! I’m so thrilled that it’s Tuesday again This week’s TTT Tuesday –hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl– is books I’ve lost interest in. In my case, I’m gonna go for a Top 6 =)
True Believer, by Nicholas Sparks: I think I’ve had enough Nicholas Sparks for a while…
Fangirl, by Rainbow Rowell. I’ve read so many boring reviews on this one that I lost interest.
Divergent, by Veronica Roth. I grew a bit tired of the genre. I’ve heard great things about the series and I haven’t watched the movie just in case I change my mind, but I don’t see it happening…
4. Love Letters To the Dead, by Ava Dellaira. I actually started it three years ago and it made me so sad, I kept putting it down.
5. The Host, by Stephenie Meyer. Self-explanatory.
6. The Vampire Diaries, by L. J. Smith. I just couldn’t finish it.
Can’t wait to tour around in search of your TTT
I’ll be reading you because…
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February 19, 2018
What is Zoe watching?
Hi, guys, how are you? I’ve been working a lot on my second novel, which left me little time to read, so instead, I’ve watched a bunch of movies. I thought I’d make a quick post on my thoughts, sometimes I share them on Twitter along with cool quotes, so make sure you’re following me there ^^
Three Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri
I can’t say how much I loved this one! The story is brilliant, the characters are amazingly full of flaws and you are leaning towards hate but then you want to hug them and tell them everything is going to be OK (even if you know that for some of them it won’t!). I especially loved Sam Rockwell because: a. I love most of his movies, and b. Because his character is simply the best one. You should definitely watch this movie!
The Beguiled
I must say I rarely watch trailers, but I watched this one before watching the movie. The trailer is far more interesting than the movie itself. For me, Sofia Coppola’s movies always look interesting but then I’m like meh… I really loved “The Virgin Suicides” and I keep hoping she’ll do something as brilliant as that, but I never happens…
Only The Brave
Well… This is complicated because it’s based on actual events and 19 firefighters died, so I really don’t want to be disrespectful here. But the movie is way too long and it felt they could have told the story in a much better way (and less Holliwoody, please!)
Bonus track: That 70s Show
I started binge-watching it in January and I’m already finishing Season 7, which makes me panick because I don’t know how my life will go on after Steven Hyde! I love this show, the characters, the quotes, the representation of a past-era, the humor, the sense of sweet melancholy it makes you feel… It just does it for me
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How was your week in movies/Tv series? What are your recommendations? Make sure to drop them in the comments ^^
February 15, 2018
Review: “Destiny” by Cindy Rae Hale
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When Destiny Clark is cast alongside her long-time crush Isaac Robinson in their school’s production of Les Misérables, Destiny is horrified to find that she has to be publicly humiliated by acting out her true feelings of rejection onstage. As their rehearsals begin, Destiny realizes the unimaginable: Isaac has developed deep feelings for her despite their vastly different backgrounds and belief systems.
But can they find the true message of love in a world full of judgement and fear?
Weaving around Destiny and Isaac’s alternating viewpoints, this modern-day retelling of Romeo and Juliet is the first book in a series inspired by the characters of Les Misérables and explores heartbreak, self-discovery, intolerance, and love
My review
Goodreads Rating: 4*
Last week, I was lucky enough to host an interview with Cindy Hale on this blog. You can read it here It was this interview that made me curious about her books and decided to start “Destiny”.
First off, I was never expecting the book I read. I would like to say that I am not a religious person and I really enjoyed reading this. Since I started it, I knew I was off to a new theme in YA and I enjoyed every second of it.
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It is true, however, that Religion is a main theme in the book –it’s through it that we have conflict, motives, character development and personal growth, etc.–, but the book also addresses themes as forbidden love –very much like Romeo & Juliet forbidden level–, family, faith and tolerance. The last one, however, is very interchangable with the high level of intolerance Destiny suffers in a Baptist school being a Mormon girl, all the bullying and hurtful comments she puts up with on a daily basis.
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Destiny being a Mormon and Isaac, the son of the Baptist school director, their love is meant to overcome a lot of obstacles. But they know that being together is all that matters, that when they sing together or are in the same room, they feel a connection they’ve never felt before, one that even makes them feel closer to God.
Some of the characters in the book are so caught up in their believes that they can get very annoying, and when they are not Sam-and-Dean level of hot, you can’t overlook their petulant arrogance:
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Leaving the main characters aside, I really enjoyed the way family life is portrayed in the book, and I particularly liked Hannah and Preston. In fact –and I’m sorry because this kind of removes the conflict and the book itself–, I wanted Destiny and Preston together! Not forbidden, but great chemistry ^^
All in all, I think Cindy did a great job at balancing out a great dramatic love story in modern times, with annoyingly stubborn characters that won’t change their minds (or maybe they will in the later books, who knows?!) and sweet romance.
February 14, 2018
New Release: Secret Valentine
Today I am very happy to introduce you to a brand new book by author Cherry Christensen! Let’s meet her and get to know more about her new release, shall we?
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[image error] Professor Hannah Wagganer spends her days teaching and her nights dating Glen Arbor’s new mail carrier, Jasper Morgan. Not only does he spark Hannah’s heart, but he has become best friends with her cat, Jingles.
As Hannah prepares for the church Valentine’s Day potluck and makes cards for local veterans, her relationship with Jasper takes a detour when a snowstorm hits town and she seeks refuge at his cottage. While there, Jasper is a warm and gracious host, but at the same time, he’s turned as cold as the February wind. Doubt creeps in, leaving Hannah worrying that she’ll end up spending another holiday alone.
Once again, blessings and suspicions abound when an anonymous donor pays to have the church pipes repaired and other locals suddenly find solutions to their problems. Is it coincidental or the work of a secret valentine?
Meet Cherry Christensen
[image error]Cherry hails from the Great Lakes state of Michigan, where she lives with her husband and two adorably mischievous cats. She does most of her writing at night because she is not a morning person, and wholeheartedly agrees with the anonymous saying, “I could be a morning person, if morning happened around noon.”
In addition to writing, Cherry has traveled overseas, exploring castles in Scotland, soaking in the sights of London, and gazing at the beautiful English countryside out a train car window. Closer to home, she’s gone dolphin watching and parasailing in Florida.
Cherry’s husband is also an author, but he doesn’t share her love of football. Her favorite teams are the Michigan Wolverines and Denver Broncos. Go Blue! Mile High Salute! So, what’s better than watching football? Eating chocolate chip cookie dough during a game!
Let’s read an Excerpt from Secret Valentine
She stood and hurried down the hallway. The door was ajar, swinging on its hinges, but Jingles had vanished. A blast of cold air stung Hannah’s cheeks, and she wondered if the wind had blown it open or if he had managed to wiggle it free. After all, the door was kept unlocked most of the time. Examining the scene, she discovered scratch marks around the doorknob, and a tuft of his fur snagged in the strike plate.
“Here we go again,” she grumbled. “Who do you think you are? Houdini?”
“Meow.” Jingles scampered in the yard near the Church of God next door and stamped the fresh layer of snow with his paw prints.
Hannah snatched her coat from a hook and slipped her feet into a pair of boots. She stepped outside, calling his name.
“I’ll get him,” Jasper hollered, rounding the front of the store. “Mailman to the rescue.” He quickly fell into pursuit of Jingles, luring the feline nearer with a cat treat he plucked from his coat pocket. “Someone’s been a naughty boy.”
Hannah shook her head at her main male man. “You’re encouraging his bad habit by feeding him those.”
Jasper smirked and scooped Jingles into his arms. Trudging back toward the store, Jasper said, “I keep a sampling of cat and dog treats handy for the pets on my route. Makes it easier to corral the cats and stop the dogs from biting my ankles.” He stopped in front of her and gently kissed her cheek. “I missed you the other night.”
Heat coursed through Hannah, chasing away wintry shivers. “I’m sorry I had to cancel our plans, but I had to attend a faculty meeting.” The wind gusts intensified and she pinched her coat collar tighter around her neck. “We better get inside. Can I get you a cup of coffee?”
“I thought you would never ask.”
“Let’s go.” Hannah wriggled out of her coat and returned it to the hook, waiting for Jasper to deposit Jingles on the floor. The cat meowed and ran off, bounding up the stairs. Hannah slid behind the counter and powered off her CD player before filling Jasper’s cup with steaming black liquid. “This will warm you up.”
He loosened a scarf tied around his neck and took a long sip. “Ah. It’s nice, but I can think of more interesting ways to thaw out.” He winked and set the cup aside.
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Reviewer Quotes from Amazon
“The attention to detail in the descriptions of the weather and landmarks makes you feel like you’re in a winter wonderland of romance.”
“Cherry Christensen is a superb smooth story teller and an expert humorist.”
Other Books by Cherry Christensen
The Fearful Heart, Secret Angel, and Love’s Full Circle
Her books are available on Amazon, Kobo, Smashwords and Google Play.
Stalk Cherry Christensen online!
Facebook, Blog, Pinterest, Goodreads, Amazon, BookBub and Google+.
The Valentine’s Day Book Tag
Hello, everyone! How are you? I saw this a few minutes ago in Lili’s Blisful Pages, a Valentine’s special by CC’s Books. Let’s have some fun!
1. Standalone book you love
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I was going to go with my all-time favorite, One Hundred Years of Solitude, but The Notebook seemed like a better choice for the ocassion.
2. Dystopian Book You Love
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I’m not sure this one counts as Dystopian, since it’s usually portrayed as Science-Fiction, but in my mind, it is, so here you are, Warm Bodies.
3. A Book that You Love but no one else Talks about
[image error]I’m gonna pick a book I read recently, because I know how much I loved it and how good it was. Yet, I haven’t seen it around…
You can actually read my review here.
4. Favorite Book Couple
So many. But, guess what? I did my top eight yesterday. So, check it out here!
5. Book that Other People Love but you Haven’t Read Yet
Again, so many! These two are priorities at the moment:
6. A Book with Red on the Cover
[image error] I wouldn’t normally choose Historical Fiction, BUT I read this one recently, it has red and it will have to do (?)
7. A Book with pink on the cover
[image error] This is also one of my recent reads, but I love Sarah Dessen and I love the covers of her books, so this is my final choice
And, since it is Wednesday and we’re talking about pink…
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8. You were given a box of chocolate, what fictional boyfriend/girlfriend would given them to you
Him
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9. You are Single on Valentines Day. What Book would you read? What TV show would you watch? What Movie would you watch?
Book: Something by Kasie West if I had any new books by her. Since I don’t, I’ll keep going with my TBR List!
TV Show: I don’t know why, but I’m watching Peaky Blinders and That 70s Show (I watched the first six seasons in a month… I need help!)
Movies: Soooo many to choose from! Bridget Jones is a classic for a single Valentine’s. But I also love watching Ten Things I hate About You on this date. We’ll see…
10. You are in the Book Store. All of a Sudden you get shot with an arrow by Cupid. What New Release will you love?
The Curse Prince. Because I’ve seen it around so much that I’m extremely curious about it And I read only great reviews about it, so it can’t be a let-down!
That’s all for now. If you want to do this tag, please leave the links on the comments so that I can check out your answers
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February 13, 2018
Giveaways ♥
Hi, guys! How are you? As we all share our love for books and free books , I wanted to let you all know that today I updated my Facebook page with tons of freebies and Giveaways hosted by different authors on different channels.
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So, please, help me spread the word and don’t miss this great oportunity to find out new books and new authors! Invite your friends to like the page and share it around your social media ^^
Back to you, beautiful readers!
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TTT: Favorite Fictional Couples
This week’s TTT (an initiave hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl) is free! So, I chose my 8 favorite fictional couples
But first, I encourage you to check out my YA Valentine’s Special!!
Elizabeth Beneth & Mr. Darcy
Augustus Waters & Hazel Grace
Heathcliff & Catherine
4. Ron & Hermione
5. Severin & Elle (read review here!)
6. Rosie & Alex
7. Noah & Allie
8. Xander & Cayden
I’m looking forwards to your TTT =)
As always, I’ll be touring around blogs
