Allie Bock's Blog, page 11

December 1st Update

 Hey Guys,

How have you been?

I wanted to write this a couple days ago, but things in my life kind of fell apart. I am fine and so is Hubby. And of course, Tank is ok. He has been sleeping in bed with us most nights because he is special. ;) I'll tell you about it once everything is resolved. 

Anyway, my second full length novel Second Chance with My Bull Rider is coming out on December 15th. Actually, it had a soft release last weekend so it is out for sale right now. But there are a couple platforms that are having trouble with being hacked and locked down. For example on Barnes & Noble it doesn't have a cover image for some strange reason. Don't buy that one. Give me a bit to straighten it out.

I am looking for ARC readers. What is an ARC reader? It is someone who gets a free copy of my book and in exchange I just ask for you to post a review (if you like it) on 2 platforms like Amazon, Apple, Kobo, Google, Barnes & Noble, Goodreads, BookBub, etc. You can post a negative review if you really want to, but that does hurt my feelings. I'd recommend an email with constructive criticism. That will help me become a better writer!

So to get an ARC follow the link below!

ARC Copy

Thanks a bunch!

Allie

Mid-November Newsletter

 

Mid-November Newsletter

Hi lovely Readers,

How are things going with you? 

Things here are good. My little brother came to spend the weekend with us. We ate at a couple of different restaurants, shopped at the used bookstore, and watched movies. We are both huge Harry Potter fans, so we watched both Fantastic Beasts movies. It was the first time he had seen both of them back to back.

He is also a writer, and in the afternoon, we spent time "parallel play". It is where we would work on our own projects, but be together in the same room. I am working on the next Sunnydale novel where Lindsay finds love. He writes historical fiction, so he was drafting. I don't know what it was about because he is evasive when I ask him questions. We had a great time together, and it was great to see him as I don't see him very often.

Writing Updates:

I am almost done with my next book. Yah!!! I have to put the finishing touches on it and then it will be ready for the world. 

I have a deleted scene from Falling for My Cowboy for you. Click on the button below to get it. 

If you haven't read Falling for My Cowboy, you can find it HERE.

Also, did you know that all my e-books (the 2 that are out) you can get from your local library? I have my e-books on Overdrive and Hoopla. If you can't find it when searching the apps, ask your librarian to add them to the library's catalogue. It's a triple win, you can read my books, the library gets traffic, and my books get read. ;)
Until next time, lots of hugs,
Allie

Deleted Scene Some new reads for you!

IT IS A STEAMY ROMANCE! A $0.99 book!

A Steamy Cowboy Billionaire Romance

Two damaged souls are thrown together. Through a passionate love that grows, they have to find a future which can overcome their pasts.

Regan
I need to do things my way and I don’t need help. Or so I thought. This wounded bird has come into my life to heal me – can I heal her at the same time? She finds a way past my defenses and into my heart – but can I do the same?

Samantha
Escaping a past full of pain, I meet a man who can see into my soul. We are brought together, the perfect storm of passion, but we need to control it before it destroys us. Can he give me the strength I need to move on from my past?


This is a Steamy, Short and Sweet Cowboy Romance Story. No Cliffhangers. Bound to Stay is the First story in Hartley Ranch Cowboys Brothers Series. Find yourself intrigued and captivated by these four hot Cowboy Brothers in their love journey. Each book can be read as a standalone.

On Pre-order and Coming out in April 2021!

"You saved my life."
"I did. Now I'm the one who's drowning."

I was playing Mr Darcy in a modern Pride and Prejudice film adaptation, shot on a Greek island. I was Hollywood's golden boy, Wes Spencer. A billionaire. One of the youngest Academy Award nominees. A prodigy.

She was just a stunt girl from Greece, surfing and diving into the azure waters of the Corfu beaches between my takes.

There was no reason for us to meet. The stunt girl and the actor. Our worlds should have never collided, but they did.

We went from a near-death experience to indifference, from indifference to hate and from hate to... to something I never would have imagined.

She changed my life and then she disappeared. I guess nearly dying in my arms scared her too much, and she couldn't come back from that. I was scared too. I still have nightmares about losing her, but this... this is worse than all my nightmares put together.

Losing her is breaking me. Without her I am constantly suffocating.
But how can I get her back, when she won't even talk to me? When she won't even tell me what I did?


Save Me is a companion book to Lose Me, written from the point of view of everyone's favorite British movie star, Wes Spencer. It's a new story.

What we are reading!

Hey everyone! 
How are you doing this November? We have been busy with regular work and writing for NaNoWriMo, so I don't have much time for reading. 
I am listening to audiobooks as I drive around the countryside. I average about 3,500 a month. That is alot of miles and alot of time to listen to things.
I am finishing Penny Reid's Knitting in the City series. I am on book 7, A Marriage of Inconvenience. It is my favorite one so far. Kat is adorable and she actually has demons in her past that it is fun to read about her growth as a person. 



Penny Reid
I also just finished Pamela's Cove series. These books are shorter, about 4-5 hours each. It make them perfect of a quick listen when you don't want to spend all week listening to a book. They were great. It followed a family on Nantucket and all of their problems. It was more of a family saga than an actual romance, but I enjoyed it!



Pamela Kelley

November Newsletter

Allie Bock Writes November Newsletter

Hi readers,

Thank you to everyone that responded to the last newsletter with their favorite authors. For the winner of the drawing check your email today!

I definitely have new ones to read. I have far too many favorite authors to just pick one. I love reading Linda Lael Miller, Nora Roberts, Kate Morton, Phyllis A Whitney, and Mary Stewart. They are my go-to if I am stuck. This past week, I took myself on a book date to the used bookstore in town and picked up a BJ Daniels western romantic suspense. This is my first read of hers and so far I'm loving it.

Writing Updates:

I am doing NaNoWriMo this month, which stands for National Novel Writing Month. The goal is to write 50,000 words by the end of the month. This is my third time trying it and I have yet to complete 50,000 words. Maybe this year. The story I am writing is Lindsay's story. She needs to choose between selling her family ranch or getting married. I haven't worked out all the details yet.

I do have a cover reveal for you. This is Second Chance with My Bull Rider. It will be coming out this month, but I don't have an exact date. Life gets in the way sometimes. I will of course let you know when it is out. What do you think of the cover?

Ranch Life Updates:

Here in Minnesota, it has gotten cold expectantly, like snow and freezing rain. Our cows are still out on summer pasture as their winter pen isn't quite ready. Then, the snow hit two weekends ago and we have gone into survival mode, chopping ice out of water tanks, feeding hay, and providing wind blocks until we can move them. The good thing is I was able to buy new gloves for the winter. :) They are the kind with the mitten cover that can flip off. Definitely a life saver for handling hoses, opening gates, and taking off halters. Everyone is doing fine, though. They grew winter coats fast and adjusted to the cold weather well. Rita (the cow) even had icicles hanging from her ears the other morning, but I forgot my phone to take pictures of it.

Other than, I hope you are well and staying warm! Until next time,

Allie

Alliebock@hotmail.com

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What am I reading Wednesday!

Hi guys, 
How are you doing? It is cold and snowy here in Minnesota, which makes it perfect reading weather. 
I haven't done a lot of reading this month. I've been listening to podcasts on writing, author interviews, and romance books. Tank and I are reading BJ Daniels' novel, Wild Horses. 


Book Blurb from Goodreads:

It took only one impusive moment on an empty two-lane highway to cost her everything.

A man's responsible for his own prosperity—especially if he's Cooper Burnett, the most determined cowboy in the West. No one knows what he sacrificed to claim a piece of Beartooth, Montana, for himself and his beautiful fiancée, Livie. No one knows what he's willing to do for love…until a stranger's twisted vendetta threatens the happy ending they should've had long ago.

One fateful mistake isn't the only secret Livie Hamilton is keeping from her fiancé. Victimized during a treacherous blizzard by a man she thought she could trust, she's pregnant…but unsure who the father is. With an unknown blackmailer threatening to expose her, she must confess to Cooper and trust he'll still protect her. But when the truth falls into place, she may lose the only man she's ever loved—or worse.

What are you reading?

October Update

 

Hi guys!

Fall is finally here! It is one of my favorite seasons. Good thing there are only four seasons to choose from. ;) When I drive around working, the trees are turning. The oranges and reds are beautiful when they frame the golden corn stalks and green grass. The weather is so crisp. My horse gallops around the pasture when I turn her out in the morning, and it is fun to watch. Not too mention, I love pumpkin flavored stuff: coffee, muffins, pumpkin pies, and cinnamon rolls! What's your favorite season?

Writing Update

I got Delilah and Kade's story back from my beta readers and editor. I am working through the comments and suggestions. It should be ready in the middle of November! I can't wait to share it with you!

I do have a fun surprise for you! I thought that Katie and Levi needed an extra epilogue. Click HERE TO GET YOUR COPY for free.

A new release from one of my author friends!One Guy I'd Never Date

Never date your brother’s best friend.

There is one guy Haley said she would never date—Zach Gallagher. He calls her Carrot and treats her like she’s ten. It’s irritating and makes it easy to keep her brother’s best friend on her never list.

When a Thanksgiving camping trip gone wrong forces Haley to accept Zach’s help, her long-time attraction is hard to keep hidden. Despite all the reasons she shouldn’t like him, she does.

And when the drop-dead gorgeous deputy shows a glimmer of interest, she has to figure out how to navigate the new normal. Teasing turns into flirting … until her brother figures it out. He hates the idea of his sister dating Zach.

Choosing between love and family is heart-wrenching, but breaking up a twenty-year friendship is even worse. What price is Haley willing to pay for a happily-ever-after?

Buy Here Love to Prove You Wrong

Sophie-Leigh is one of my One-Click buys. Her Rom-Coms are sweet and funny. She has a book free for a limited time.

Hating the guy who ruined her confidence would be  a lot easier if he wasn’t so freaking sexy.

For Addy, small-town life is just perfect. She’s about to expand her inn with ten new rooms and a petting zoo, and she’s helping the mayor’s son organize his wedding. If only her pet duck would stop escaping all the time, her days would be an absolute breeze.

But then Justin Miller shows up at Addy’s check-in desk. The guy went from small-town stud to lead actor in a popular series, and he’s behaving exactly like the celebrity he is. Smug grins, dimples to die for, and hordes of women chasing him all over town.

Addy has no intention of letting him in her life again—not after what happened in high school. So what if he keeps trying to prove he’s changed? No amount of helicopter rides and intimate outings will change the truth:

Justin Miller is nothing but trouble.

Love to Prove You Wrong is a sweet romantic comedy and the second book in the Old Pine Cove series. All books share the same setting, but each story features a different couple.

Buy Here

Insecure Writers Support Group

Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!
Posting: The first Wednesday of every month is officially Insecure Writer’s Support Group day. Post your thoughts on your own blog. Talk about your doubts and the fears you have conquered. Discuss your struggles and triumphs. Offer a word of encouragement for others who are struggling. Visit others in the group and connect with your fellow writer - aim for a dozen new people each time - and return comments. This group is all about connecting! Be sure to link to this page and display the badge in your post. And please be sure your avatar links back to your blog! Otherwise, when you leave a comment, people can't find you to comment back.
Let’s rock the neurotic writing world!
Our Twitter handle is @TheIWSG and hashtag is #IWSG.
Every month, we announce a question that members can answer in their IWSG post. These questions may prompt you to share advice, insight, a personal experience or story. Include your answer to the question in your IWSG post or let it inspire your post if you are struggling with something to say. 

Remember, the question is optional!

October 7 question - When you think of the term working writer, what does that look like to you? What do you think it is supposed to look like? Do you see yourself as a working writer or aspiring or hobbyist, and if latter two, what does that look like?
The awesome co-hosts for the October 7 posting of the IWSG are Jemima Pett, Beth Camp, Beverly Stowe McClure, and Gwen Gardner!
Thank you to the awesome co-hosts for hosting this month! 
As for the question of the month, here are my thoughts:
When I hear of a working writer, I think of someone holed up in their office, typing furiously on their keyboard, and churning out pages of words every day. I'm not sure that it is a realistic picture for most professional authors, so if you're a working writer, let me know what it looks like for you.
For me, I don't know where I am. My writing is fun and I enjoy it a lot. But, my full time job pays the bills. I am hoping that some day it will be my retirement plan. :) In the meantime, I work on my stories at night and on the weekend. 
How about you? are you a working wrier or a hobbyist or something in between?
Please leave your blog link so I can comment on your posts!
Allie

What I am reading this month with Tank!

 Hi guys, 

Tank and I have been busy writing and doing a bit of reading. Here is what we are doing this month.

We are listening to Penny Reid's Knitting in the City series. I'm downloading them from my local library through the Hoopla app. It's awesome. See if your library has it.

Book Blurb:

There are three things you need to know about Ashley Winston: 1) She has six brothers and they all have beards, 2) She is a reader, and 3) She knows how to knit.

Former beauty queen, Ashley Winston’s preferred coping strategy is escapism. She escaped her Tennessee small town, loathsome father, and six brothers eight years ago. Now she escapes life daily via her one-click addiction. However, when a family tragedy forces her to return home, Ashley can’t escape the notice of Drew Runous—local Game Warden, bear wrestler, philosopher, and everyone’s favorite guy. Drew’s irksome philosophizing in particular makes Ashley want to run for the skyscrapers, especially since he can’t seem to keep his exasperating opinions— or his soulful poetry, steadfast support, and delightful hands— to himself.

Pretty soon the girl who wanted nothing more than the escape of the big city finds she’s lost her heart in small town Tennessee.

Beauty and the Mustache is book #4 in the Knitting in the City series, and book #0.5 in the Winston Brothers series. Each book is a standalone, full length (110k words), contemporary romantic comedy novel, and follows the misadventures and exploits of seven friends in Chicago, all members of the same knitting group. 

Find it on Goodreads!

We are also slowly making our way through Diana Gabaldon's Outlander. My kindle is dying a slow and painful death so I can only read it when it is charged. I'm only about a quarter of the way in, but I loved the TV show. I hope the book is even better

Book Blurb:

The year is 1945. Claire Randall, a former combat nurse, is just back from the war and reunited with her husband on a second honeymoon when she walks through a standing stone in one of the ancient circles that dot the British Isles. Suddenly she is a Sassenach—an “outlander”—in a Scotland torn by war and raiding border clans in the year of Our Lord...1743.

Hurled back in time by forces she cannot understand, Claire is catapulted into the intrigues of lairds and spies that may threaten her life, and shatter her heart. For here James Fraser, a gallant young Scots warrior, shows her a love so absolute that Claire becomes a woman torn between fidelity and desire—and between two vastly different men in two irreconcilable lives.

Find it on Goodreads!

Then for cuteness sake, here's a baby picture of Tank! What are you reading? Have you read either one of these?

Allie Bock Update

 

Hi guys!

I hope your summer has been great! Did you do anything fun? I would love to hear about it if you did.

Writing Update

August flew on by for me and I've been busy with work. I had planned on releasing my third Sunnydale book in the middle of this month, but I'm pushing it back to October. It is Delilah and Kade's story. They used to be high school sweethearts until something happened that tore them apart. I can't tell you as you'll have to read the book when it comes out. ;) Fast forward 11 years, Kade gets himself busted up by a bull at a rodeo and is on bedrest. Delilah left her job as an emergency room nurse and then finds out that she needs money. Kade's brother offers her a position as their in-home nurse to care for Kade. Will she be able to put aside her feelings for him? Will she take the job, even if it means risking her heart?

Anyway, the story is being read by my beta readers and going through a couple rounds of edits. Plus, it is getting a new cover in September. I was going to try to make my own cover, but who am I kidding? I'm not a graphic artist.

My next project is working on deleted scenes and extra epilogues. They should be done by the end of September and I can't wait to share them with you!

Country Living

I thought it would be fun to share a little bit of my life with you. Hubby and I are raising American Bucking Bulls (ABBI). Even though the name has bulls in it, it includes cows, calves, bulls, and steers. It is the second biggest cattle registry in the United States right behind Holestien (the black and white milk cows). ABBI cattle compete at events as 1, 2, 3, and 4 year olds with them being divided into age groups. Then, they become rodeo bulls or go to the Professional Bull Riders events. Their job is too buck off riders in less than eight seconds.

Needless to say, these cows are super athletic. In our first year owning them, we underestimated how high they could jump. Hubby built a corral, alleyway, and chute so that we could give them vaccines, deworm them, and put fly spray on them. The fence around the corral was planned to be six feet tall, but it was only at 5 feet because he ran out of supplies. We had the weekend off and it wasn't going to rain, so we decided that it shouldn't be a big deal to run them into the corral.

Boy were we wrong! Well, we got them in fine. We had 2 black cows that led the way. But then there was Wiggins. She was a large white cow with small black spots. She had long sweeping horns and fire the blew from her nostrils. (The white cow in Falling for My Cowboy was modeled after her.) She had a 3 month old calf by her side that trotting into the pen after her.

I closed the gate behind them as Hubby started them towards the chute. Wiggins took one look at him, eyed the far wall of the corral, and snorted. He took a step towards her to turn her. Her head came up, her eyes blazed, and she took off at strong trot passed him. She took three strides before launching herself into the air with the grace of a deer. She folded her front legs up close, sailing over the fence to land in our yard. Then, she trotted down our driveway, away from the herd.

We did get her back into the pasture, but we didn't try to get her into the corral until it was over 6 feet tall.

Corn Chowder Recipe

This is the season for sweet corn. We love to eat it with loads of butter and salt, but we always have leftovers, being it is just the two of us. I found a recipe on Pillbury to use our leftover corn. It was so good!

Ingredients:

Corn (I had 8-10 ears of cooked sweet corn. The original recipe called for 2# of frozen corn)

1# of red potatoes

1/2 cup of chopped onion

32 oz of Chicken broth

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon of pepper

2 tablespoons of corn starch

2 cups of half-and-half

Chopped Bacon - optional

Cheddar Cheese - optional

Directions:

1. Remove corn from the cob and put kernels in crock pot.

2. Dice potatoes to the size you like.

3. Chop 1/2 cup of onion

4. Put corn, potatoes, onion, chicken broth, salt, and pepper in crock pot

5. Turn on high for 3-4 hours.

6. My hubby doesn't care for cooked potatoes so I took over half of the cooked mixture and ran it through my blender and put it back in for another 30 minutes.

7. Whisk the cornstarch into the half-and-half.

8. Pour it into crock pot. Add bacon if you are using it. Stir. Cook on high for another 15 minutes.

9. Ladel out and enjoy!

I made it with the bacon and thought it would have been great without it too. It freezes well also!

This is a portion of my September newsletter. I also include some great reads and specials. If you would like to receive it sign up HERE and receive My Cowboy Crush for FREE ($2.99 value).

September IWSG

 

Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!

Posting: The first Wednesday of every month is officially Insecure Writer’s Support Group day. Post your thoughts on your own blog. Talk about your doubts and the fears you have conquered. Discuss your struggles and triumphs. Offer a word of encouragement for others who are struggling. Visit others in the group and connect with your fellow writer - aim for a dozen new people each time - and return comments. This group is all about connecting!Be sure to link to this page and display the badge in your post. And please be sure your avatar links back to your blog! If it links to Google+, be sure to change it as Google+ is going away in January. Otherwise, when you leave a comment, people can't find you to comment back.
Let’s rock the neurotic writing world!
Our Twitter handle is @TheIWSG and hashtag is #IWSG.   
The next posting day is September 2nd. 
Sign up here.Every month, we announce a question that members can answer in their IWSG Day post. These questions may prompt you to share advice, insight, a personal experience or story. Include your answer to the question in your IWSG post or let it inspire your post if you are struggling with something to say.
Remember, the question is optional!!! September 2 question - If you could choose one author, living or dead, to be your beta partner, who would it be and why?  My awesome co-hosts for the September 2 posting of the IWSG are PJ Colando, J Lenni Dorner, Deniz Bevan, Kim Lajevardi, Natalie Aguirre, and Louise - Fundy Blue!
My answer to the Question:
First of all, I apologize for being late to the party. I had planned on writing my post last night but ended up working to midnight and starting over this morning at 7. This girl needs her sleep.
Can I have more than one person as my beta partner?
No? OK, I would have to chose Nora Roberts. She has an amazing author carreer, she knows the romance genre inside and out, and she is just awesome. I love everything she writes and she is my inspiration.
If I could have more than 1 person, I would chose Kate Morton because her books suck me and don't let me go. I wish I could write like that. Phyllis A Whitney would be the other. Can you imagine the conversations that would be happening?
How do you want as a beta partner?