Lucy Felthouse's Blog, page 306

Join the Night Owl Reviews Winter Wonderland Web Hunt

OPENS DEC 1st – The GRAND PRIZE is a Kindle Wi-Fi and 5 eBooks from Silver Publishing.

What is a Web Hunt? It's a scavenger hunt that takes place on the web. You visit websites and find the answer to a question. Plus along the way you can find great new authors and new titles while entering to win prizes. USA Shipping only.

Complete the entry form and click "Submit" for your entry details to be submitted.

Entrants must be 18 to enter and be a USA citizen. Many stops on the tour are for HOT romance sites.

For more info, and to join in, head here or click the banner.

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Guest Blog: Lauren Clark

As part of this special promotional extravaganza sponsored by Novel Publicity, the price of the Stay Tuned eBook edition has dropped to just 99 cents this week.

What's more, by purchasing this fantastic book at an incredibly low price, you can enter to win many awesome prizes, including lots of Amazon gift cards (up to $100 in amount) and 5 autographed copies of the book. Be sure to enter before the end of the day on Friday, December 2nd, so you don't miss out.

 

To Win the Prizes:

1. Purchase your copy of Stay Tuned for just 99 cents on Amazon or Barnes & Noble (You'll need it for the big contest on Friday)

2. Fill-out the form on Novel Publicity to enter for the prizes

3. Visit today's featured event; you may win an autographed copy of the book or a $50 gift card!

 

…And I can win too!

Over 100 bloggers are participating in this gigantic event, and there are plenty of prizes for us too. The blogger who receives the most votes in the traffic-breaker poll will win a $100 gift card as well. So when you visit Novel Publicity's site to fill-out the contest entry form, don't forget to say that I referred you, so I can get a point in the poll.

 

The Featured Events include:

Monday, Radio Interview with Novel Publicity! We're kicking-off on the Novel Publicity Free Advice blog. We interviewed Lauren on our radio show Sunday night and have embedded the full podcast and blogged about its highlights. Give it a listen and then leave a comment on the blog post. This is a great chance to get to know more about this fun and bubbly author. One commenter will win an autographed copy of Stay Tuned. Don't forget to enter for the other contest prizes while you're over there!

Tuesday, Twitter sharing contest! A tweet is tiny, only 140 characters. But on Tuesday, it could win you $50. Send the following tweet across the twittersphere, and you just may win a $50 Amazon gift card. An autographed copy of Stay Tuned is also up for grabs. The winners will be announced Wednesday morning. Here's the tweet: Take a break from the holiday frenzy, and read Stay Tuned. It's fast, fun, and reduced to just 99 cents! http://ow.ly/7zA1e #whirlwind

Wednesday, Google+ sharing contest! Yup, there's yet another awesome opportunity to win a $50 Amazon gift card, and this time it just takes a single click! Visit Google+ and share Emlyn Chand's most recent post (you'll see the Stay Tuned book cover included with it). On Thursday morning, one lucky sharer will be $50 richer. An autographed copy of Stay Tuned is also up for grabs. Two chances to win with just one click! How about that?

Thursday, Facebook sharing contest! Stop by Novel Publicity's Facebook page and share their latest post (you'll see the Stay Tuned book cover included with it). It's ridiculously easy to win! On Friday morning, one lucky sharer will be $50 richer. An autographed copy of Stay Tuned is also up for grabs.

Friday, special contest on the author's site! Are you ready for some more fun? Take a picture of yourself with your copy of Stay Tuned either in paperback or on an eReading device, tag Lauren Clark's Facebook page, and you can enter to win one of three Amazon gift cards! A $100 prize will go to the most creative photo, $50 to the best BFF photo, and $50 to the photo with the most people in it. An autographed copy of Stay Tuned is also up for grabs. If you need help learning how to tag a photo, you can visit Lauren's Facebook page for detailed instructions.

 

Remember, it's all about the books!

About Stay Tuned: What happens when a #1 news team becomes the top story instead of reporting it? For TV producer Melissa Moore, crisis management comes with the job. From employee disputes to her high-maintenance boss, there's not much she hasn't seen or can't handle. But no one—including Melissa—expects a fistfight during the ten o'clock news. When sexy-but-crazy Alyssa Andrews lands a punch on her co-anchor's face, Melissa jumps on set to help. She's determined that WSGA's reputation won't be destroyed on her watch. Both anchors are fired and Melissa agrees to fill in—but not before polishing her look from haircut to heels. While the new Melissa wows WSGA viewers, her personal life starts fraying at the edges. Melissa's husband is away more than he's home, leaving cryptic Post-it notes in his wake. Her mother's antics spiral out of control at the nursing home and a stalker decides Melissa is her next target. What happens next? Stay Tuned to find out… Get it on Amazon or Barnes & Noble.

About the Author: Lauren Clark has been a voracious reader since the age of four and would rather be stranded at the library than on a desert island. In her former life, she worked as an anchor and producer for CBS affiliates in Upstate New York and Alabama. Lauren adores her family, yoga, her new Electra bike, and flavored coffee. She lives near the Florida Gulf Coast. Visit her on her website, Twitter, Facebook, or GoodReads.

 

Now please enjoy this guest post from the author….

 

Nine Myths and a Truth: The Real Story Behind the Scenes at a Local Television Station**

10. Reporters are paid tons of money! FALSE—Reporters at small television stations are paid a little more than minimum wage. They are required to have a college degree and many just-out-of-school jobs are classified as a "One Man Band, " which means that the reporter carries the camera, shoots the footage, does the interviews, then writes and edits the story.

9. Reporters get to meet famous people! SOMETIMES—I was fortunate enough to meet Vice Presidential Candidate Geraldine Ferraro and many local senators and congress members. However, I did interview Eliott Spitzer while he was New York State's attorney general. Now that's just creepy!

8. Reporters and anchors get lots of perks! SOMETIMES—Reporters do often get sideline tickets and backstage passes to events. However, it's often a reporter attends only AFTER her or she covers the actual event, which means working for at least the first part of the concert, fundraiser, or dinner.

7. It's always glamorous! NOT REALLY—Often, reporting took me to crime scenes, car crashes, bad neighborhoods, dairy farms, voting polls, and raging fires. My most unique assignments included reporting on a lost Emu and covering cattle judging at a local fair. In Alabama—try to stay cool and look pretty in 105-degree heat! In Upstate New York, this meant trudging through the deep snow to get a story.

6. If you're an anchor, people do your makeup and choose your clothes! FALSE—In smaller markets, you do your own makeup (MAC is the best!) and bring your own clothes. Sometimes, the television station might give you a small clothing allowance, but a few hundred dollars doesn't go far when you work 5 days a week.

5. Viewers call in and tell anchors how wonderful they are! SOMETIMES—I admit, I did get some fan mail and it was pretty fabulous. However, most often, people called in to complain about (1) an outfit someone was wearing (which a viewer didn't like it), (2) a story reported on (which a viewer didn't like it), or (3) a story that didn't get coverage. There was one particular viewer who didn't like the way I said "Iraq." (It's not Eye-rack. It's Ir-aq)

4. The hardest part of the job is interviewing people! FALSE—I loved that part! I thought it was so amazing to talk to people from all walks of life and find out why they were a farmer, a policeman, or a teacher. I liked asking questions that made people think. Some of the most rewarding stories were health-related (recovery from an illness) or the features about children. The hardest part for me was the shift I worked: 2 am – 10 am. (This meant getting up at 1:15 am every morning!!)

3. You always have to dress up! FALSE—On the weekends, in smaller markets, it's pretty common for anchors and reporters to wear a formal suit or top, but have jeans underneath and casual shoes (hidden under the desk). I've known some sports guys to wear tennis shoes or flip-flops on set!

2. The camera adds ten pounds! FALSE—It's actually more like fifteen or twenty! People often commented on how short I was or how much thinner I was in person. (Sigh!)

1. I've heard that anchors use Preparation H under their eyes to reduce puffiness!? TRUE—I've done it, anyway. When you're working 2 am – 10 am, there's only so much coffee and sugar can do!

Overall, it was an amazing opportunity to work as an anchor, producer, and reporter at two CBS affiliates. I made some wonderful friends, worked with many talented people, and really enjoyed the experience.

**These comments are solely the views of the author and do not represent the actual experiences of every anchor or reporter who currently works in or has previously worked in television news.

Sex Toy Review: Vibe Therapy Delight 7 Function Silicone Rabbit Vibrator

I could tell as soon as this bad boy arrived that it was 100% quality. The packaging was attractive and well-made, which definitely gave me the early impression that I was going to be impressed. I wasn't wrong. The Vibe Therapy Delight 7 Function Silicone Rabbit Vibrator is a toy to be reckoned with. It's attractive and the look and feel of it exude luxury.

The vibrator takes 3 AAA batteries which are easy to insert and remove – always a bonus, especially if they run out when you're using it! The Vibe Therapy Delight 7 Function Silicone Rabbit Vibrator, as you can probably guess from its name has seven vibrating functions, varying in power, and it's easy to switch between them and find out which you prefer. The firm bunny ears also make sure that plenty of the power is transferred to where you need it most.

The girth isn't massive, but it's thicker than some so bear this in mind. If you're using lube, don't forget to use the water based kind, otherwise there's a chance you will wreck this beautiful toy. And you don't want that as it's orgasms galore with this toy!

So if you're looking for a powerful vibe that does the job and is built to last, check out the Vibe Therapy Delight 7 Function Silicone Rabbit Vibrator, from SexToys.co.uk.

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Blissemas is Almost Upon Us!

 

What's Blissemas?

[image error]The sensual season of Blissemas starts on the 1st December and will finish on the 22nd December. What is this magical event? Well, let me tell you.

Once upon a time there was an author and that author had an idea! "Why not combine my name with the word Christmas and make up a new and exciting time of the year where I give away prizes and festive joy to all!"

That Author was Victoria Blisse and in 2010 Blissemas was born and was a roaring success. 2011 came around and as she thought of ideas for Blissemas she was hit with festive inspiration!

"I should hire some elves and make Blissemas better than ever."

Apparently though, Elves are in short supply at the end of the year so instead she employed a host of sexy wordsmiths to join in Blissemas and make it the biggest, bestest Blog Hop of the year!

So this is where you come in. Every day of Blissemas one of the elves… erm, authors will post up gems of delight in the guise of festive stories, excerpts, recipes, hints and tips and more. But this isn't it oh no, there is more, dear readers, much more. For every blog you read and comment on you will get yourself an entry into a prize draw.

Ooooooh, prize draw! What are the prizes though? Good question. Prizes will be awarded randomly throughout the season by Santa Blisse, I mean Victoria Blisse including free eBooks and other Blisse goodies but the biggest prize of all is a… KINDLE! Yes, you could Win your very own Kindle and have it in time to toast in the New Year!

So check out the Blissemas participants and get your comments at the ready. Blissemas is the most wonderful time of the year!

 

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Blissemas Participants

 

1st Dec: Allie Standifer
2nd Dec: Jan Irving
3rd Dec: Suz deMello
4th Dec: Victoria Blisse
5th Dec: Lisabet Sarai
6th Dec: Justine Elyot
7th Dec: Sharazade
8th Dec: Liia Ann White
9th Dec: K D Grace
10th Dec: Maria-Claire Payne
11th Dec: Aliyah Burke
12th Dec: Victoria Blisse
13th Dec: Lucy Felthouse
14th Dec: Talia Carmichael
15th Dec: Taige Crenshaw
16th Dec: Indigo Skye
17th Dec: Wendi Zwaduk
18th Dec: Victoria Blisse
19th Dec: Nobilis Reed
20th Dec: Lexie Bay
21st Dec: Nichelle Gregory
22nd Dec: Mitnik

Book Review: Twisted Wing by Ruth Newman

Article first published as Book Review: Twisted Wing by Ruth Newman on Blogcritics.

Twisted Wing is a crime/psychological thriller set in Cambridge, England. It tells a story of the thriving city, with its students and academics… and a serial killer. We're thrown in at the deep end, the headless and heavily mutilated body of a female undergraduate being one of the first things we hear about. It's the start of a series of bizarre and incredibly unpleasant murders by a killer nicknamed the 'Cambridge Butcher,' who appears to be targeting Ariel College students. The students are naturally fearful, and are drawn closer together, making the effort never to be alone, to sleep alone, etc.

But as their friends are picked off, the students also start to wonder if it's one of their own committing these atrocious crimes. And when Olivia Corscadden is found catatonic and covered in blood at the scene of a murder, psychiatrist Matthew Denison is sure that the identity of the killer is buried somewhere in Olivia's head. He just has to delve between the many layers of Olivia's messed-up subconscious in order to unearth the truth. But when he does uncover the truth, will anyone believe him?

Twisted Wing is a captivating book. From the very beginning you'll find yourself sizing up each of the characters, trying to figure out who the murderer is. However, Newman has carefully weaved this tale with so many twists and turns that you'll probably change your mind a dozen times before the actual killer is revealed. The book is well-written, but I found the way the timeline jumped around quite confusing at times, which did detract from my enjoyment, as did the sudden appearance of characters whose relevance you were then left to figure out. Overall, I enjoyed Twisted Wing, but the structure could have been better, which is the only thing that prevented it from getting top marks.

Available from:

Amazon UK

Amazon US

Book Depository

Waterstone's

Guest Blog: Jess Anastasi

I'd like to welcome Jess Anastasi as part of the Noble Romance Authors "Timeless Desire" blog tour. Take it away, Jess…

Do you have any unusual writing rituals?

I always tend to need something to snack in with me when I sit down to write. Considering how much time I spend writing, this could become a very unhealthy occupation! For some reason, when my brain is working, I need to eat, I don't know if that brain power is using calories or something. But I try to eat stuff that's not too bad health-wise like rice biscuits or celery. Though I find myself eating chocolate a lot more often than I should…

What was your ideal career when you were a child?

Mostly I remember having absolutely no idea what I wanted to do with myself, even toward the end of high school when my friends were making big decisions about which university they were going to and what career they would pick. I didn't apply for university, I just figured I'd work something out eventually (lucky my parents were so laid back about that) and then it was actually the year after I left high school that I sat down to write my first book.

How do you get yourself in the mood to write?

A lot of other authors find this a bit odd, but I've literally had to learn how to turn my writing brain on and off like a switch. Its not about being in the mood, it's about when I have time. My parents own a business and I try to help them out when I can. I have 2 toddlers at home, so being a mom takes up a lot of time. I have to do all the usual mommy things like cooking, washing and cleaning (and cleaning, and more cleaning. And cleaning something five seconds after I just cleaned it because the kids walked past and messed it up again). My writing comes after all that, so when I find an hour to myself, I have to get into it right away. Every second I get needs to be used!

What's the best writing tip you've ever been given?

To avoid using 'was' at all cost! Okay, the occasional 'was' isn't going to matter, but I used to litter them all through my work. Like, twenty a page. Seriously, it was that bad. I've since learned that using 'was' can create passive writing, is usually an indication that I'm telling, not showing. Plus, if you take out was and use more words to expand on what you were trying to say with that one word, it can make for more in-depth writing.

What's been your biggest writing challenge? How did it turn out?

I don't know that you could technically call it a writing challenge, but trying to get an agent comes to mind straight away. And I don't know how its going to turn out because I still haven't managed to get one yet!

Thanks for having me on your blog, Lucy, and readers, please leave a comment so you can win one of the many great prizes on offer!

*****

Cadmiel, the Angel of Destiny, knows better than anyone what a bitch fate can be. Five hundred years ago, the only woman he ever loved was killed, shredding his soul and leaving a void in place of his heart. Now Archangel Michael comes to him with a shocking and forbidden proposal. He wants Cadmiel to travel back in time and save Emilyn. Though Cadmiel wishes beyond all reasoning to do as the archangel asks, messing with time goes against his own beliefs and the very foundations of angel lore. But Michael doesn't give Cadmiel a choice and thrusts him through time and space, back to 2012.

The first time Emilyn saw the gorgeous man, she was affected on a level she couldn't comprehend. Cadmiel isn't like any other guy she's ever met, and he makes her wish love at first sight were true. But there are forces at work she never dreamed real. In the space of a day, she goes from normal, every-day college student, to a pawn in an apocalyptic war between angels and demons.

Emilyn's very life is in Cadmiel's hands. Will he risk the future of the entire universe to save her, or let her die and destroy himself in the process?

Buy link: https://www.nobleromance.com/Books/337/Savior

*****

Jess has been making up stories ever since she can remember. Though her messy handwriting made it hard for anyone else to read them, she wasn't deterred and now she gets to make up stories for a living. She loves loud music, dumb movies, and a good book on a rainy day. Jess lives in regional Victoria, Australia with her very supportive husband, two kids, one spoiled border collie, and one seriously crazy cat.

Websites:

http://www.jessanastasi.com

http://www.jessanastasi.blogspot.com

At Noble Romance Publishing:

https://www.nobleromance.com/Authors/130/Jess-Anastasi

At Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/s?ie=UTF8&x=0&ref_=nb_sb_noss&y=0&field-keywords=jess%20anastasi&url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&_encoding=UTF8&tag=lucyfelt-20&linkCode=ur2&camp=1789&creative=390957

*****

COMMENT TO WIN!

As part of the Noble Romance Authors Blog Tour, we're giving away some fantastic prizes, including: a Kindle, some fantastic sex toys kindly donated by SexToys.co.uk, gift cards, author swag, eBooks and much, much more. Just leave a comment on this post (please leave your email address in the body of the comment), then hit the next blog on the tour by clicking the button below. If you visit each and every post today and leave a comment, you'll increase your chances of winning. Good luck! 

Also click this button to check out the bonus blogs, where we'll be giving away some very special prizes! 

Cyber Monday Specials

[image error]As it's Cyber Monday, reputed to be the busiest online shopping day of the year, All Romance eBooks have been doing some awesome discounts, including several of my titles. So if you want to bag some of my titles at a bargain price, now's the time!

Brick Dust & Bedsprings is just $0.75!*

Naughty Delivery is just $0.75!

Seducing the Myth is just $3.99!

Fang Bangers (containing one of my stories) is just $1.49!

I Kissed A Girl (containing one of my stories) is just $3.49!*

I Kissed A Girl II (containing one of my stories) is just $2.49!*

*These titles have best-seller stars, too!

 

Black Friday Book Bonanza Giveaway

The end of the year is creeping up, and it's time to clear some space on the bookshelves. What better time to give away books than the holidays? Instead of running out to the stores on Black Friday, stay in and win new or new-to-you books. The hosts for this hop are Heather from Book Savvy Babe, Jenn from The Bawdy Book Blog, and Lisa from Alive on the Shelves. The dates: 12:01 AM Friday November 25 through 11:59 PM November 27 (EST).

So, what are you waiting for? Follow the instructions on the below Rafflecopter to enter to win a $5 gift card for NobleRomance.com! (Open internationally) Then scroll down to the button to see the rest of the blogs taking part in the bonanza!

<a href="http://rafl.es/enable-js"&am... need javascript enabled to see this giveaway</a>.Hit the rest of the blogs in the bonanza!

Black Friday Fun!

Welcome to our Black Friday blog hop, organised by the super Cassandra Carr! See below for the huge list of prizes!

One random commenter (can be on any of the blogs) will win a Kindle Fire, along with all the prizes below! That's the easiest kind of shopping I can think of…

Prizes:

- Cassandra Carr: copy of either of my two current releases, Talk to Me or Head Games

- Kristabel Reed: back list copy of one of her stories and then on her own blog a $10 GC plus a copy of her newest release, Risque, a Regency Menage Tale

- Lucy Felthouse: back list copy of any of her single-title books

- Cari Quinn: back list copy of one of her books

- Leigh Elwood: two back list copies of her books

- Natasha Blackthorne: copies of her two Regency era novellas: Grey's Lady and Waltz of Seduction

- Amber Kallyn: e-copy of Dragos 1

- Camryn Rhys: Kindle copies of The Barn Dance and Off the Record – Foodie Erotic Romances

- Lissa Matthews: two of her back list books

- Misa Buckley: an e-copy of Ironhaven and To Reach the Dawn

- Lacey Wolfe: a copy of Ambers Muse

- Courtney Sheets: a $25 GC to Ravenous Romance and a copy of Kona Warrior – PDF

- Sara Brookes: an e-copy of one of my back list books

- Cynthia Arsuaga: a copy of an e-book, and on her own blog five book charm book tethers

- Louisa Bacio: .pdf copy of my first book in The Vampire, The Witch & The Werewolf series, and on her own blog a $10 certificate to Ravenous Romance, and each commenter will also be entered to win a Goody Bag of new Orleans treats

- Malia Mallory: one copy each of The ABC's of Erotica and Santa's Back Door Baby

- Cynthia Eden: a copy of Angel of Darkness (either print or digital)

- Carrie Ann Ryan: an e-copy of The Alpha's Path

- Jacquie Rogers: a Smashwords coupon for Faery Merry Christmas, plus on her own blog, a free copy of Much Ado About Marshals

- KT Grant: a print copy of Sweet and Sinful and an ebook copy of her next release, Xavier's Loving Arms

So what are the rules? Simple: visit as many of the blogs as you can and leave a comment for the blog owner. For every comment, you'll get one entry into the grand-prize drawing. Be sure to leave your e-mail address with every comment so we can find you if you win! And don't forget that several blog owners are giving away prizes specific to their blog, too!

So, what are you waiting for? Leave a comment here, then check out the rest of the blogs in the tour:

Book Review: Bloodlines by Richelle Mead

Article first published as Book Review: Bloodlines by Richelle Mead on Blogcritics.

As a lover of the Vampire Academy books, I was glad when Richelle Mead said she'd be writing more in the same world. In Bloodlines, we get to learn more about the Alchemists, a group of humans who act as a barrier between the vampires and humans – keeping the humans safe and unaware of the existence of the vampires.

Sydney was a fairly major character in the later Vampire Academy books, and if you haven't read any of them I would stop reading this review now as it's impossible to continue without giving something away from the previous books. Sydney aided dhampir Rose Hathaway in her escape from prison after her wrongful accusation of murder. For that, she was in serious trouble with the Alchemists who believe their job is merely to act as a bridge between humans and vampires – not to befriend vampires or dhampirs. Now, however, Sydney's thrown in at the deep end again – the sister of the Moroi Queen needs protection and must go into hiding, and Sydney is to live with her and protect her.

It's a job she doesn't really want to take, but feels she must redeem herself somehow, as well as protecting her younger sister from a life of servitude with the Alchemists. However, things are never easy and as Sydney settles into life posing as her charge Jill's sister, she quickly discovers there is much more going on than meets the eye, and she's not sure who she can trust.

Overall, this was a great introduction to a new series with some characters we already know and love, as well as some new ones. As a total fangirl of Dimitri Belikov, I was disappointed he wasn't in this book more, but there's still plenty of action and enough going on that I didn't mind too much. Bloodlines is a great tale of love, hate, betrayal, secrets and magic – and I'll definitely be continuing to read this series and look forward to the next book.

Available from:

Amazon UK

Amazon US

Book Depository

Waterstone's