Colleen Houck's Blog, page 18
April 4, 2016
YASH Bonus Material
For those of you who participate on the YA Scavenger Hunt, you may have already seen this but for those who missed it, here are the three things I revealed on the Hunt. The first thing is the title of the third and last book in the Reawakened series. This is the book I’m currently writing. The title of book three is…REALIGNED! The second thing I revealed on the hunt is a sneak peek screenshot of the still in progress book trailer for Recreated. Are you ready?
And the third thing was a sneak peek from RECREATED. Enjoy!
Colleen Here-One of Lily’s challenges as she tries to rescue Amon in RECREATED is that the bond that exists between the two of them causes romantic feelings to overwhelm any immortal that comes across Lily. In this scene, Lily attempts to fend off the advances of the very good-looking god, Horus.
“I beg you not to go,” he said, interrupting my thoughts. “The netherworld is dangerous. It’s unlikely you’ll survive, let alone rescue your”—he frowned—“boy. Stay here with me. You’ll grow to cherish me over time just as I do you. There are so many things I can show you. Teach you. I can take you to a world where we can swim in a purple ocean and float on pink clouds. I can keep you warm on a planet of sparkling ice that casts prisms of light so high into the sky that the world is encased in rainbow hues. With me you’ll never experience pain, sorrow, or death.” Horus took a step closer and touched his forehead to mine. “Stay with me and be my love. Or, if that is not something you can do, then . . . just stay.”
This time Tia wasn’t the only one moved by his words and I knew that was inherently dangerous. His promises stirred the air, wrapping around us, brushing against our defenses. The wispy tendrils seemed to touch the tender spots of my consciousness. It was tempting. How easy it would be to just let everything go and remain in the golden city of Heliopolis. Not worrying about the complications of being a sphinx. Not feeling the weight of the world on my shoulders. Just heading off to the far reaches of the universe and seeing the amazing wonders these gods have created.
Tia was the one to pull back this time. She’d wanted to experience the passion he offered, to perhaps find a mate of her own, but she wasn’t willing to give up our quest. Flashes of our prior dream filled my mind. We must stop the Unmaker. He is not what we . . . what I . . . need at this time.
Closing my eyes, I nodded. Grateful for her acquiescence, and giving Horus a tight smile, I determinedly pushed against his chest and stepped away. Turning toward the mirror, I looked up at him in the reflection. “We must fulfill our purpose,” I said. “We are flattered . . . no . . . we are privileged,” I amended, “to have one such as you find us interesting. Honestly, we don’t know what awaits us and we are frightened, but we must try. Do you understand?”
Horus didn’t reply immediately but ran his hand around to the back of his neck. His eyes were wild with fear and he was desperately seeking something, anything to dissuade us. I gazed at him steadily, confidently, and he finally straightened and nodded. “I do.” He lifted a hand toward me and then stopped as if he thought better of it. With his head lowered, he said, “Will you allow me to help you prepare?”
I turned, surprised. “I thought everything was done.”
“Not quite.”
He picked up a small jar and poured out some of its contents into his hand. The scent of perfume wafted toward me. “What is it?” I asked.
Indicating I should turn around, he rubbed his palms together and stroked his fingertips down my neck. “It’s a mixture of oil and myrrh, the purest oil in the cosmos. It’s taken from a flower that grows in the snow at the upper altitudes of a mountainous planet a great distance away.” Horus moved to my side and took my hand and then pushed the sleeve of the robe all the way up my arm. Slowly he massaged from my shoulder down my arm, over my elbow to my wrist and then down my hand all the way to my fingertips, making sure to get oil between each finger.
As he moved to my other arm, he asked, “Do you know how Anubis prepares bodies at the time of their death?” I nodded. “You must be adorned in a similar way.”
“Do I have to wear mummy wrappings?” I asked.
He smiled. “No. But you will need to wear white. You must be dressed in fresh clothing of the purest shade. If you cannot remain barefoot, you will wear sandals of the same color that wrap around your legs.”
Speaking of legs, Horus had now crouched down and taken hold of my foot. As he ran his oiled palm under the sensitive arch and then up the back of my calf, I danced away nervously.
Horus let me go and looked up at me. “I won’t hurt you.”
“I . . . I know. I’m just not used to getting a massage standing up,” I stammered, trying to come up with something less embarrassing than nobody has ever touched me like that before. Tia wasn’t helping either. She was enjoying his ministrations too much to protest.
Frowning slightly, he asked, “Would you prefer to lie down?”
“No. Let’s just . . .” I wrung my hands and shook them out. “Let’s just get this over with quickly. Okay?”
“As you wish,” he said softly, and held out a steadying hand.
I leaned against the table, fingering the soft fabric as his palm found my leg again. He swiped the oil up and behind my knee, to halfway up my thigh, only lingering there for a fraction of a second before he did the same thing to the other one. Relief spilled out of me in a shaky breath as he stood up and turned me to face him once again.
Ignoring my obvious discomfort, he dipped his fingertips back into the jar and stroked his thumbs across my eyebrows. Asking me to close my eyes, he touched each eyelid, leaving a whisper of moist, tingling oil behind. The lobes of my ears were next and then he traced the edge of my jaw on both sides. The last thing he did was touch the pad of his thumb to my bottom lip.
His gaze fixed on my lips and his expression became hungry and hot. Lifting his eyes to mine, he whispered, “You are ready.”
I swallowed, the sensation thick and searing my throat. “Thank you,” I murmured languidly.
“You’re welcome,” he answered with a warmth that spoke volumes. We stood, unmoving for a few more heartbeats until I noticed he was smiling. “Lily,” he said.
“Yes?” I answered, my eyes now drawn to his mouth.
“If you keep looking at me like that, I’m not going to let you go anywhere.”
I inhaled and realized I had stopped breathing for a few seconds. Turning away from him felt torturous, but somehow I did it and stepped toward the little table containing my weapons and my dress. That’s when I noticed the heart scarab peeking out from under the folds of white. I brushed my hand against it and the passionate fog that I’d been enveloped in dissipated, my mind completely clear.
Narrowing my eyes, I turned and my suspicions were confirmed when I saw the self-assured grin on Horus’s face. “You tricked me, didn’t you?” I accused.
He shrugged like the popular boy at school who knew he could get away with naughty behavior if he flirted with the teacher. “There’s no way you would have paid any attention to me at all if you had that on your person. Catching you unawares while bathing was the only way I could try to steal you away from him.”
“You’re despicable,” I said, though my skin was still too warm from his touch to lend any weight to my words. “I knew we should’ve strangled him, Tia.”
Horus raised his hands in surrender. “I’ve lost. I’ll admit it. And rightfully so.” He sighed. “It’s been centuries since I’ve had to work so hard to gain a woman’s interest.” When he saw my irritated expression, he added, “Take heart. You rejected me all on your own.” Leaning closer, Horus stretched out a hand to find something on the table behind me and brought his very tempting mouth to within inches of mine. He smiled when he found what he was looking for and added, “Mostly.”
YA Scavenger Hunt Winners Announced for Colleen Houck!
Wow, how’d you like the YA Scavenger Hunt? I hope you were able to discover new books and authors as well as find my hidden reveals (I hid three things; the title for book three in the REAWAKENED series, a steamy sneak peak from RECREATED and a screen shot from the upcoming RECREATED book trailer!). If not, sorry! I guess you’ll have to hang tight to find this out in the near future.
Alright, are you ready to see which Ten lucky winners will receive the first book in both my series, TIGER’S CURSE AND REAWAKENED?
The winners are:
Aylea Stephens
Theresa Snyder
Hannah Chute
Jamie Graveling
Tiffany Johnson
Heather Burgess
Seline Bala
Calla Walker
Brygitt Pfaff
Brittany Ashby
An email has been sent to the winners. In order for me to ship you these books, be sure to respond to your email with your mailing address. Please be aware that if you do not respond within the next seven business days, another winner will be chosen.
Thanks again for checking us out and enjoy your new books!
Winner Announced for April Colleen Houck Book Club Chat!
As promised, a winner is randomly selected from each book club chat and April’s winner is:
Natasha
Congrats Natasha! You’ve won a book of your choice from author Colleen Houck (books that have been released) and a book by author Melinda Salisbury! Please respond to the email sent to you within the next seven days or another winner will be selected.
Welcome to …
Our last book we featured for book club was Time’s Divide by Rysa Walker. If you’re just tuning in, or are new to this online book club, it’s super easy to join. I host the club on Goodreads and each month you get the chance to ask authors questions. You can ask anything from what they like to eat to what they’re writing right now. You don’t have to read the book to participate and every month I choose one lucky person from the chat to win a prize! The prize includes the book or books I’ve read from that author that month as well as your pick of any of my books as well and some extra fun stuff I throw in! What’s the catch? There is none, this is just a great way for us authors to network and for you, the readers, to branch out and have fun! So, for our next book club pick, I’m excited to feature . . .
The Sleeping Prince
by Melinda Salisbury
A little teaser
Ever since her brother Lief disappeared, Errin’s life has gone from bad to worse. Not only must she care for her sick mother, she has to scrape together rent money by selling illegal herbal cures. But none of that compares to the threat of the vengeful Sleeping Prince whom the Queen just awoke from his enchanted sleep.
When her village is evacuated as part of the war against the Sleeping Prince, Errin is left desperate and homeless. The only person she can turn to is the mysterious Silas, a young man who buys deadly poisons from Errin, but won’t reveal why he needs them. Silas promises to help Errin, but when he vanishes, Errin must journey across a kingdom on the brink of war to seek another way to save her mother and herself. But what she finds splits the world as she knows it apart, and with the Sleeping Prince drawing nearer, Errin must make a heartbreaking choice that could affect the whole kingdom.
Learn more about this author and her books at melindasalisbury.com.
I’m very excited to check out this author and her novel! Also, you can participate in an ongoing chat with Colleen and Melinda asking just about anything you’d like HERE on this blog post in the comments section throughout April!
Also, remember that you don’t need to read the book to participate. It’s a GREAT opportunity to get to know the authors and ask any questions you’d like!
For fun there will be a GIVEAWAY for one lucky participant!
Happy reading everyone!
~Till next time,
Linda Louise Lotti
April Colleen Houck Book Club
Our last book we featured for book club was Time’s Divide by Rysa Walker. If you’re just tuning in, or are new to this online book club, it’s super easy to join. I host the club on Goodreads and each month you get the chance to ask authors questions. You can ask anything from what they like to eat to what they’re writing right now. You don’t have to read the book to participate and every month I choose one lucky person from the chat to win a prize! The prize includes the book or books I’ve read from that author that month as well as your pick of any of my books as well and some extra fun stuff I throw in! What’s the catch? There is none, this is just a great way for us authors to network and for you, the readers, to branch out and have fun! So, for our next book club pick, I’m excited to feature . . .
The Sleeping Prince
by Melinda Salisbury
A little teaser
Ever since her brother Lief disappeared, Errin’s life has gone from bad to worse. Not only must she care for her sick mother, she has to scrape together rent money by selling illegal herbal cures. But none of that compares to the threat of the vengeful Sleeping Prince whom the Queen just awoke from his enchanted sleep.
When her village is evacuated as part of the war against the Sleeping Prince, Errin is left desperate and homeless. The only person she can turn to is the mysterious Silas, a young man who buys deadly poisons from Errin, but won’t reveal why he needs them. Silas promises to help Errin, but when he vanishes, Errin must journey across a kingdom on the brink of war to seek another way to save her mother and herself. But what she finds splits the world as she knows it apart, and with the Sleeping Prince drawing nearer, Errin must make a heartbreaking choice that could affect the whole kingdom.
Learn more about this author and her books at melindasalisbury.com.
I’m very excited to check out this author and her novel! Also, you can participate in an ongoing chat with Colleen and Melinda asking just about anything you’d like HERE on this blog post in the comments section throughout April!
Also, remember that you don’t need to read the book to participate. It’s a GREAT opportunity to get to know the authors and ask any questions you’d like!
For fun there will be a GIVEAWAY for one lucky participant!
Happy reading everyone!
~Till next time,
Linda Louise Lotti
April 1, 2016
April Contest of the Month! Winner Announced!
Winner for April 2016 Contest of the Month
is
Brygitt Pfaff
To celebrate the up and coming release of RECREATED on August 2nd, we would like this month’s contest to refresh o
ur minds with the details of Reawakened.
There will be many ways to enter the contest, just pick one or all of the ways below and either write a review of Reawakened on any any of the below websites, and click to add Reignited, Recreated and Realigned and to your 
“To Be Read” list on GoodReads.
Add Reignited, Realigned and Recreated to your
TO BE READ list on GoodReads
Write a review on Amazon, GoodReads, and Barnes and Noble
What are you going to WIN?
All that you see in the picture above + I’ll throw in 3 more surprise books.
Contest runs from 4/1/16 to 4/22/16
Good Luck!
April Contest of the Month!
To celebrate the up and coming release of RECREATED on August 2nd, we would like this month’s contest to refresh our minds with the details of Reawakened.
There will be many ways to enter the contest, just pick one or all of the ways below and either write a review of Reawakened on any any of the below websites, and click to add Reignited, Recreated and Realigned and to your “To Be Read” list on GoodReads.
Add Reignited, Realigned and Recreated to your
TO BE READ list on GoodReads
Write a review on Amazon, GoodReads, and Barnes and Noble
What are you going to WIN?
All that you see in the picture above + I’ll throw in 3 more surprise books.
Contest runs from 4/1/16 to 4/22/16
Good Luck!
March 14, 2016
YA Scavenger Hunt Spring 2016 Announcement
It’s coming. . . March 29th – April 3rd, 2016
It’s the YA Scavenger Hunt Spring 2016!
Now that the authors have signed up to participate in this exciting event, we’ve put them into teams of 20 by color. There are nine teams total this round!
Check out the teams below to see which teams your favorite authors will be on and what their featured book will be.
It’s getting close folks!
Eric Lindstrom
Kate Karyus Quinn
Leah Bobet
Emily Hainsworth
Sarah Ahiers
Sara B. Larson
Alyxandra Harvey
Brendan Reichs
Julie Mayhew
Julie Eshbaugh
Joy Preble
Ava Jae
Marissa Kennerson
Lyn Miller-Lachmann
Tobie Easton
Jodie Andrefski
Brynn Chapman
Lea Nolan
Emily Ross
Vicki L. Weavil
Colleen Houck
Jessica Brody
Roshani Chokshi
Matthew Phillion
Livia Blackburne
Christine Fonseca
Patty Blount
Lori M. Lee
Lisa Maxwell
Gina Damico
Sarvenaz Tash
Heather Young-Nichols
Lisa Amowitz
Amalie Howard
Pintip Dunn
Carly Anne West
Julie Reece
Dhonielle Clayton
Deirdre Riordan Hall
Brenda Drake
Dax Varley
Jenny Perinovic
Jessie Costin
Robert L. Slater
Sarah Neeve
Tanya Lisle
Katie Hayoz
L.A. Starkey
Michelle Madow
Stacy Claflin
Clara Stone
Kimberly G. Giarrantano
Marilyn Peake
Rachel Shane
T. H. Hernandez
Janet Lee Carey
Jennifer M. Eaton
Melisa Giorgio
Cheyanne Young
Lisa T. Cresswell
Paula Stokes
Kathy MacMillan
Sarah Jude
Elle Cosimano
C.J. Redwine
Maria E. Andreu
Kathryn Holmes
Daw Kurtagich
Leah Konen
Marieke Nijkamp
Yvonne Ventresca
Melissa Gorzelanczyk
K.C. Held
Sarah J. Schmitt
Rin Chupeco
Amy Christine Parker
Kimberly Sabatini
Austin Aslan
Teri Harman
E. Katherine Kottaras
Stephanie Keyes
Julia Ember
Christopher Mannino
Nina Rossing
Kristi Helvig
Dorothy Dreyer
Dawn Rae Miller
Emily Skrutskie
Catrina Burgess
Karen Kincy
Elizabeth Holloway
Kat Ellis
Chanda Stafford
Jessica L. Brooks
Kat Stiles
Amy McNulty
Phillip W. Simpson
Michelle K. Pickett
A. Lynden Rolland
Gillian Bronte Adams
Faye Bird
Robin Constantine
Amy Allgeyer
Jolene Perry
Meredith Moore
Natasha Sinel
Caroline T. Patti
Erin E. Moulton
Jennifer Brody
Jenny Martin
Joe Beermink
Joshua McCune
Jennifer DiGiovanni
Kate Elliott
Beck Nicholas
Kassy Tayler
Lori Goldstein
Nina Berry
Michelle Levy
Debra Dockter
Amy Plum
LH Nicole
Beth Revis
Joshua David Bellin
Kelly Hashway
Victoria Scott
Becky Wallace
Rita Arens
Vicki Leigh
Michelle Andreani/Mindi Scott
Lisa T. Bergren
Kay Honeyman
Lucy D. Briand
Evangeline Denmark
Jeff Garvin
Madeline Dyer
Christina Farley
Kimberly Derting
T. A. Maclagan
Everly Frost
Ripley Patton
Hilary Thompson
Eliza Tilton
Delfy Hall
Annie Cosby
Michael Alan Peck
Dale Furse
Gerard O’Neill
Melanie Hooyenga
Anne Zoelle
A. G. Henley
Deidre Mapstone
Ty Drago
CK Dawn
Lisa Voisin
Kimberly Loth
Jessica Hawke
Meredith Zeitlin
B. Kristin McMichael
Shonna Slayton
Adi Rule
Leo Hunt
Melanie McFarlane
Tera Lynn Childs
Wendy Higgins
Krystal Wade
Sharon Biggs Waller
Kady Cross
Beth Kephart
Liz Braswell
Cynthia Hand/Jodi Meadows/Brodi Ashton
Patricia B. Tighe
Dawn Ius
Darren Groth
Sarah Tomp
Amy K. Nichols
Emil Sher
Alexandra Sirowy
Brianna R. Shrum
Ilsa J. Bick
So authors and readers,
SAVE THE DATE March 29- April 3, 2016!
For more information go to www.yash.rocks
Silky Straight Cleopatra Hair
As Colleen got ready for REAWAKENED book release party I watched her hair dresser transform Colleen’s strands into spun silk. I loved all the tips and tricks Jessica shared as she transformed Colleen’s hair. Not many of us are born with perfectly straight silky hair and those of us who are, wish we had curly hair. It’s fun to have options. With a little time and some great tips we can tame our hair whichever way suits us and walk out the door with confidence blowing through our hair.
After washing her hair Jessica used a spray to help protect and reduce the amount of time it took to dry Colleen’s hair. Something like these should do just fine.
Blow dry your hair until completely dry.
Any time you use a blow dryer, curling iron or flat iron you should use heat protectant like Tresemme Heat Tamer to protect your hair from the high temperatures. Make sure your hair is dry so you don’t fry your hair. Use the lowest setting on your flat iron that you can.
Less heat = Less damage.
Run the flat iron through your dry hair in small pieces starting at the bottom of your head pinning up the rest of your hair in clips. Use a comb to smooth the hair in front of the flat iron to produce smooth tangle free results.
When your hair is all straight apply a smoothing cream like Bed Head After Party to control those flighty fly aways, and give you hair that silky Egyptian shine.
Shara Lane
Silky Straight Egyptian Hair
As Colleen got ready for REAWAKENED book release party I watched her hair dresser transform Colleen’s strands into spun silk. I loved all the tips and tricks Jessica shared as she transformed Colleen’s hair. Not many of us are born with perfectly straight silky hair and those of us who are, wish we had curly hair. It’s fun to have options. With a little time and some great tips we can tame our hair whichever way suits us and walk out the door with confidence blowing through our hair.
After washing her hair Jessica used a spray to help protect and reduce the amount of time it took to dry Colleen’s hair. Something like these should do just fine.
Blow dry your hair until completely dry.
Any time you use a blow dryer, curling iron or flat iron you should use heat protectant like Tresemme Heat Tamer to protect your hair from the high temperatures. Make sure your hair is dry so you don’t fry your hair. Use the lowest setting on your flat iron that you can.
Less heat = Less damage.
Run the flat iron through your dry hair in small pieces starting at the bottom of your head pinning up the rest of your hair in clips. Use a comb to smooth the hair in front of the flat iron to produce smooth tangle free results.
When your hair is all straight apply a smoothing cream like Bed Head After Party to control those flighty fly aways, and give you hair that silky Egyptian shine.
Shara Lane
March 3, 2016
March Contest of the Month! ****Winner Announced!!!***
Winner Announced
Giovanna you are the winner
Check your email for instructions on how to collect your prize
To celebrate the up and coming release of RECREATED on August 2nd, we would like to theme the contest with this new book cover in mind.
Introducing March’s Contest of the Month. . .
“RECREATED Book Look” Pinterest Board Contest
Here’s how the contest will work.
Simply go to Pinterest (or any place with pictures that inspire you) and design your own book collage on Picmonkey.
The collage needs to have the book cover included and the contest will run for the month of March.
When you’ve finished it, leave a comment below including a link to your jpeg picture.
You may design two (or more if you want) “book looks” and can be entered for a chance to win up to two times. (You can design one for any of Houck’s books)
What will you win you ask? A FREE BOOK and a Reawakened theme prize pack!
Here are a couple examples,
I had fun making one and I’m sure you will too! Ready to get creative and enter for a chance to win?
Set. . .
Go!
Have fun!
