Colleen Houck's Blog, page 20

*Contest of the Month* Yesubai: The girl with the Lavender Eyes

 

Yesubai is a pivotal character in the 300 year old story, one that shaped the lives of Prince Ren and Prince Kishan of  the Mujulaain Empire forever.  The Rajaram family sought to protect young Yesubai, a rare gem, from her evil father Lokesh.  Obsessively, Lokesh planned the destruction of the royal family by using his only daughter Yesubai as bait. She was betrothed to Ren the future King, and with Ren away at war, Kishan fell in love  with the lovely Yesubai.

 

 

Yesubai grew up in a household of fear.  She became  independent in her lonely childhood.  She was wise beyond her years and sought to protect others from her father’s wrath. Her only friend was her nursemaid Isha.  She lived a life of solitude and had a quiet strength. 

 

 

Lokesh slowly gained power by betrayal and murder.  Eventually he became the military leader and 2nd in command of the Bhreenam kingdom.  The naïve king of Bhreenam sought to  extend his reach  by finding a agreeable match and suitable marriage for Yesubai.  He invited many powerful and rich men to gaze upon the beautiful young girl.  All while her father, Lokesh, seethed at the kings presumption.

 

 

 

Eventually a deal was struck and Lokesh approved of a match between Prince Ren and Yesubai.  As Yesubai visited the Rajaram family she fell in love with Kishan.  The twist in Lokesh’s plans gave birth to even more sinister plans for the Rajaram family and their future. 

 

 

Tiger’s Promise is some of Colleen’s most compelling story telling as young love tries to find a safe harbor and as a broken girl discovers what a real family should be.   It’s hard to take this journey with Yesubai knowing what the end will be, but you have to ask yourself if love and doing what’s right are worth giving all you have.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Last year I found a doll that looked like Yesubai, and knowing how Colleen loves to gather collectibles from her books I knew she would love her.  Unfortunately, the doll didn’t have lavender eyes.  However my mother in law makes dolls for a living and I asked for her professional help.   Soon the dolls eyes matched those of beautiful Yesubai.  Isn’t she lovely?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Concurso do Mês Apenas para o Brasil Fans

Ok fãs Brasil, meu maravilhoso editor no Brasil, a Editora Arquiero, pediu-me para sediar um concurso especial com VOCÊ na mente!

Para o mês de fevereiro você pode entrar para ganhar o seu próprio exemplar do meu livro O Despertar do Príncipe e um saco simplesmente twittar #ODespertarDoPrincipe no Twitter.

Sim, é simples assim! Cinco vencedores serão escolhidos no início de março por isso não deixe de verificar novamente no meu site para ver se você ganhou!

Além disso, fique atento para uma nova capa do livro revelam algum dia em fevereiro!

Tome cuidado e ‘até a próxima vez,

Linda Louise

YA Books I’m Looking Forward To In 2016!

My YA 2016 Pics!

Any of you who follow me know I love reading, especially YA books. Last year I managed to read over 100 books and I’ve set a similar Goodreads goal this year. Here are the top 20 books I’m looking forward to in 2016. I’m sure I’ll be adding more to this list as the year progresses but for now here you go!

 

Overview

Raisa was just a child when she was sold into slavery in the kingdom of Qilara. Before she was taken away, her father had been adamant that she learn to read and write. But where she now lives, literacy is a capital offense for all but the nobility. The written language is closely protected, and only the King, Prince, Tutor, and Tutor-in-training are allowed to learn its very highest form. So when she is plucked from her menial labor and selected to replace the last Tutor-in-training, who was executed, Raisa knows that betraying any hint of her past could mean death.

Keeping her secret guarded is hard enough, but the romance that’s been blossoming between her and Prince Mati isn’t helping matters. Then Raisa is approached by the Resistance—an underground rebel army—to help liberate the city’s slaves. She wants to free her people, but that would mean aiding a war against Mati. As Raisa struggles with what to do, she discovers a secret that the Qilarites have been hiding for centuries—one that, if uncovered, could bring the kingdom to its knees.

 

Overview

Princess Winter is admired by the Lunar people for her grace and kindness, and despite the scars that mar her face, her beauty is said to be even more breathtaking than that of her stepmother, Queen Levana.

Winter despises her stepmother, and knows Levana won’t approve of her feelings for her childhood friend–the handsome palace guard, Jacin. But Winter isn’t as weak as Levana believes her to be and she’s been undermining her stepmother’s wishes for years. Together with the cyborg mechanic, Cinder, and her allies, Winter might even have the power to launch a revolution and win a war that’s been raging for far too long.

 

Overview

Solara Brooks needs a fresh start, someplace where nobody cares about the engine grease beneath her fingernails or the felony tattoos across her knuckles. The outer realm may be lawless, but

it’s not like the law has ever been on her side.

Still, off-world travel doesn’t come cheap; Solara is left with no choice but to indenture herself in exchange for passage to the outer realm. She just wishes it could have been to anyone besides Doran Spaulding, the rich, pretty-boy quarterback who made her life miserable in school.

The tables suddenly turn when Doran is framed for conspiracy on Earth, and Solara cons him into playing the role of her servant on board the Banshee, a ship manned by an eccentric crew with their own secrets. Given the price on both Doran and Solara’s heads, it may just be the safest place in the universe.

It’s been a long time since Solara has believed in anyone, and Doran is the last person she expected to trust. But when the Banshee’s dangerous enemies catch up with them, Solara and Doran must come together to protect the ship that has become their home-and the eccentric crew that feels like family.

 

Overview

The electrifying next installment in the Red Queen series escalates the struggle between the growing rebel army and the blood-segregated world they’ve always known—and pits Mare against the darkness that has grown in her soul.

Mare Barrow’s blood is red—the color of common folk—but her Silver ability, the power to control lightning, has turned her into a weapon that the royal court tries to control. The crown calls her an impossibility, a fake, but as she makes her escape from Maven, the prince—the friend—who betrayed her, Mare uncovers something startling: she is not the only one of her kind.

Pursued by Maven, now a vindictive king, Mare sets out to find and recruit other Red-and-Silver fighters to join in the struggle against her oppressors. But Mare finds herself on a deadly path, at risk of becoming exactly the kind of monster she is trying to defeat.Will she shatter under the weight of the lives that are the cost of rebellion? Or have treachery and betrayal hardened her forever?

 

Overview

 

Destiny and darkness collide in this romantic, sweeping new fantasy series from New York Timesbestselling author Sophie Jordan.

Seventeen years ago, an eclipse cloaked the kingdom of Relhok in perpetual darkness. In the chaos, an evil chancellor murdered the king and queen and seized their throne. Luna, Relhok’s lost princess, has been hiding in a tower ever since. Luna’s survival depends on the world believing she is dead.

But that doesn’t stop Luna from wanting more. When she meets Fowler, a mysterious archer braving the woods outside her tower, Luna is drawn to him despite the risk. When the tower is attacked, Luna and Fowler escape together. But this world of darkness is more treacherous than Luna ever realized.

With every threat stacked against them, Luna and Fowler find solace in each other. But with secrets still unspoken between them, falling in love might be their most dangerous journey yet.

 

Overview

A dark epic fantasy inspired by the tale of Snow White, from C. J. Redwine, the author of the Defiance series. Perfect for fans of A Court of Thorns and Roses and Cinder.

Lorelai Diederich, crown princess and fugitive at large, has one mission: kill the wicked queen who took both the Ravenspire throne and the life of her father. To do that, Lorelai needs to use the one weapon she and Queen Irina have in common—magic. She’ll have to be stronger, faster, and more powerful than Irina, the most dangerous sorceress Ravenspire has ever seen.

In the neighboring kingdom of Eldr, when Prince Kol’s father and older brother are killed by an invading army of magic-wielding ogres, the second-born prince is suddenly given the responsibility of saving his kingdom. To do that, Kol needs magic of his own—and the only way to get it is to make a deal with the queen of Ravenspire, promise to become her personal huntsman—and bring her Lorelai’s heart.

But Lorelai is nothing like Kol expected—beautiful, fierce, and unstoppable—and despite dark magic, Lorelai is drawn in by the passionate and troubled king. Fighting to stay one step ahead of the dragon huntsman—who she likes far more than she should—Lorelai does everything in her power to ruin the wicked queen. But Irina isn’t going down without a fight, and her final move may cost the princess the one thing she still has left to lose.

 

Overview

Riders. A new fantasy adventure from New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Veronica Rossi.

For eighteen-year-old Gideon Blake, nothing but death can keep him from achieving his goal of becoming a U.S. Army Ranger. As it turns out, it does.

Recovering from the accident that most definitely killed him, Gideon finds himself with strange new powers and a bizarre cuff he can’t remove. His death has brought to life his real destiny. He has become War, one of the legendary four horsemen of the apocalypse.

Over the coming weeks, he and the other horsemen–Conquest, Famine, and Death–are brought together by a beautiful but frustratingly secretive girl to help save humanity from an ancient evil on the emergence.

They fail.

Now–bound, bloodied, and drugged–Gideon is interrogated by the authorities about his role in a battle that has become an international incident. If he stands any chance of saving his friends and the girl he’s fallen for–not to mention all of humankind–he needs to convince the skeptical government officials the world is in imminent danger.

But will anyone believe him?

 

Overview

A Torch Against the Night takes readers into the heart of the Empire as Laia and Elias fight their way north to liberate Laia’s brother from the horrors of Kauf Prison. Hunted by Empire soldiers, manipulated by the Commandant, and haunted by their pasts, Laia and Elias must outfox their enemies and confront the treacherousness of their own hearts.

In the city of Serra, Helene Aquilla finds herself bound to the will of the Empire’s twisted new leader, Marcus. When her loyalty is questioned, Helene finds herself taking on a mission to prove herself—a mission that might destroy her, instead.

 

Overview

In the concluding book in the otherworldly Taking trilogy, Kyra struggles to understand who she is as she races to save the world from complete destruction.

Ever since Kyra was abducted by aliens and then returned to earth, she has known there was something different about her. Now she knows the truth: she is an alien too. Her alien captors replaced all her human DNA with their own—gifting her with supernatural powers like incredible healing, enhanced eyesight, and telekinesis. But when she’s captured by an unexpected enemy, Kyra begins to wonder if her abilities are also a curse. And is she, as her enemies believe, meant to play some key role in helping an impending alien invasion? Is it programmed into her, something inescapable? Or can she fight that destiny?

No matter what the truth is, Kyra is sure of one thing: She just rescued the love of her life, Tyler, and she is not going to stand by and let anyone hurt him or her friends. Whatever it takes, Kyra will do everything in her power to save the world…even if it means making the ultimate sacrifice.

 

Overview

The much anticipated sequel to the breathtaking The Wrath and the Dawn, lauded by Publishers Weekly as “a potent page-turner of intrigue and romance.”

I am surrounded on all sides by a desert. A guest, in a prison of sand and sun. My family is here. And I do not know whom I can trust.

In a land on the brink of war, Shahrzad has been torn from the love of her husband Khalid, the Caliph of Khorasan. She once believed him a monster, but his secrets revealed a man tormented by guilt and a powerful curse—one that might keep them apart forever. Reunited with her family, who have taken refuge with enemies of Khalid, and Tariq, her childhood sweetheart, she should be happy. But Tariq now commands forces set on destroying Khalid’s empire. Shahrzad is almost a prisoner caught between loyalties to people she loves. But she refuses to be a pawn and devises a plan.

While her father, Jahandar, continues to play with magical forces he doesn’t yet understand, Shahrzad tries to uncover powers that may lie dormant within her. With the help of a tattered old carpet and a tempestuous but sage young man, Shahrzad will attempt to break the curse and reunite with her one true love.

 

Overview

In one devastating night, violin prodigy Etta Spencer loses everything she knows and loves. Thrust into an unfamiliar world by a stranger with a dangerous agenda, Etta is certain of only one thing: she has traveled not just miles but years from home. And she’s inherited a legacy she knows nothing about from a family whose existence she’s never heard of. Until now.

Nicholas Carter is content with his life at sea, free from the Ironwoods—a powerful family in the colonies—and the servitude he’s known at their hands. But with the arrival of an unusual passenger on his ship comes the insistent pull of the past that he can’t escape and the family that won’t let him go so easily. Now the Ironwoods are searching for a stolen object of untold value, one they believe only Etta, Nicholas’ passenger, can find. In order to protect her, he must ensure she brings it back to them— whether she wants to or not.

Together, Etta and Nicholas embark on a perilous journey across centuries and continents, piecing together clues left behind by the traveler who will do anything to keep the object out of the Ironwoods’ grasp. But as they get closer to the truth of their search, and the deadly game the Ironwoods are play­ing, treacherous forces threaten to sep­arate Etta not only from Nicholas but from her path home . . . forever.

 

Overview

A fighter dedicated to saving humankind from dragons in strictest secrecy.

That was what Garret Xavier Sebastian thought he was part of as a soldier of the Order of St. George. What he learned from a fiery dragon hatchling twisted all he believed in and set him on a collision course with certain death-but not without a chance to put things right.

Betrayed and on the run again, Ember and rogue dragon Riley discover an unthinkable truth about Talon and St. George. They’ll need Garret’s skills and insider knowledge of the Order to negotiate an impossible deal-and if they fail, there will be no way to stop all-out war.

 

Overview

Cursed with a horoscope that promises a marriage of Death and Destruction, sixteen-year-old Maya has only earned the scorn and fear of her father’s kingdom. Content to follow more scholarly pursuits, her world is upheaved when her father, the Raja, arranges a wedding of political convenience to quell outside rebellions. But when her wedding takes a fatal turn, Maya becomes the queen of Akaran and wife of Amar. Yet neither roles are what she expected. As Akaran’s queen, she finds her voice and power. As Amar’s wife, she finds friendship and warmth.

But Akaran has its own secrets – thousands of locked doors, gardens of glass, and a tree that bears memories instead of fruit. Beneath Akaran’s magic, Maya begins to suspect her life is in danger. When she ignores Amar’s plea for patience, her discoveries put more than new love at risk – it threatens the balance of all realms, human and Otherworldly.

Now, Maya must confront a secret that spans reincarnated lives and fight her way through the dangerous underbelly of the Otherworld if she wants to protect the people she loves.

The Star-Touched Queen is a lush, beautifully written and vividly imagined fantasy inspired by Indian mythology.

 

Overview

In this stunningly creative debut, Nicole Castroman reimagines the origins of history’s most infamous pirate–Blackbeard–and tells the story of the girl who captured his heart and ultimately set him on his path of destruction.

When Edward “Teach” Drummond, son of one of Bristol’s richest merchants, returns home from a year at sea, he finds his life in shambles. Betrothed to a girl he doesn’t love and sick of the high society he was born into, all Teach wants is to return to the vast ocean he calls home. There’s just one problem: he must convince his father to let him leave and never come back.

Following the death of her parents, Anne Barrett is left penniless. Though she’s barely worked a day in her life, Anne takes a job as a maid in the home of Master Drummond. Lonely days stretch into weeks and Anne longs to escape the confines of her now mundane life. How will she ever achieve her dream of sailing to Curaçao–her mother’s birthplace–when she’s trapped in England?

From the moment Teach and Anne meet, they set the world ablaze. Drawn together by a shared desire for freedom, but kept apart by Teach’s father, their love is as passionate as it is forbidden. Faced with an impossible choice, Teach and Anne must decide whether to chase their dreams and leave England forever–or follow their hearts and stay together.

 

Overview

Mortals rule the desert nation of Miraji, but mythical beasts still roam the wild and remote areas, and rumor has it that somewhere, djinn still perform their magic. For humans, it’s an unforgiving place, especially if you’re poor, orphaned, or female.

Amani Al’Hiza is all three. She’s a gifted gunslinger with perfect aim, but she can’t shoot her way out of Dustwalk, the back-country town where she’s destined to wind up wed or dead.

Then she meets Jin, a rakish foreigner, in a shooting contest, and sees him as the perfect escape route. But though she’s spent years dreaming of leaving Dustwalk, she never imagined she’d gallop away on mythical horse—or that it would take a foreign fugitive to show her the heart of the desert she thought she knew.

Rebel of the Sands reveals what happens when a dream deferred explodes—in the fires of rebellion, of romantic passion, and the all-consuming inferno of a girl finally, at long last, embracing her power.

 

Overview

Alien queen Kora has a problem as vast as the endless crimson deserts. She’s the first female ruler of her territory in generations, but her people are rioting and call for her violent younger twin brother to take the throne. Despite assassination attempts, a mounting uprising of nomadic human rebels, and pressure to find a mate to help her rule, she’s determined to protect her people from her brother’s would-be tyrannical rule.

Eros is a rebel soldier hated by aliens and human alike for being a half-blood. Yet that doesn’t stop him from defending his people, at least until Kora’s soldiers raze his camp and take him captive. He’s given an ultimatum: be an enslaved bodyguard to Kora, or be executed for his true identity—a secret kept even from him.

 

Overview

Seventeen-year-old Bo has always had delusions that he can travel through time. When he was ten, Bo claimed to have witnessed the Titanic hit an iceberg, and at fifteen, he found himself on a Civil War battlefield, horrified by the bodies surrounding him. So when his concerned parents send him to a school for troubled youth, Bo assumes he knows the truth: that he’s actually attending The Academy, a school for kids who, like Bo, have “superpowers.”

At The Academy, Bo falls in love with Sofia, a quiet girl with a tragic past and the superpower of invisibility. Sofia helps Bo open up in a way he never has before. In turn, Bo provides comfort to Sofia, who lost her mother and two sisters at a very young age.

But even the strength of their love isn’t enough to help Sofia escape her deep depression. After she commits suicide, Bo is convinced that she’s not actually dead. He believes that she’s stuck somewhere in time — that he somehow left her in the past, and now it’s his job to save her.

 

Overview

On a continent ruled by three empires, some are born with a “witchery,” a magical skill that sets them apart from others.

In the Witchlands, there are almost as many types of magic as there are ways to get in trouble–as two desperate young women know all too well.

Safiya is a Truthwitch, able to discern truth from lie. It’s a powerful magic that many would kill to have on their side, especially amongst the nobility to which Safi was born. So Safi must keep her gift hidden, lest she be used as a pawn in the struggle between empires.

Iseult, a Threadwitch, can see the invisible ties that bind and entangle the lives around her–but she cannot see the bonds that touch her own heart. Her unlikely friendship with Safi has taken her from life as an outcast into one of of reckless adventure, where she is a cool, wary balance to Safi’s hotheaded impulsiveness.

Safi and Iseult just want to be free to live their own lives, but war is coming to the Witchlands. With the help of the cunning Prince Merik (a Windwitch and ship’s captain) and the hindrance of a Bloodwitch bent on revenge, the friends must fight emperors, princes, and mercenaries alike, who will stop at nothing to get their hands on a Truthwitch.

 

Overview

Return to the darkly beautiful world of The Sin Eater’s Daughter with a sequel that will leave you awed, terrified . . . and desperate for more.

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 her, 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 shatters everything she believed about her world, and with the Sleeping Prince drawing nearer, Errin must make a heartbreaking choice that could affect the whole kingdom.

 

Overview

From “talented wordsmith” (Publishers Weekly) Lisa Maxwell comes a lush, atmospheric fantasy novel filled with twists and turns about a girl who is kidnapped and brought to an island inhabited by fairies, a roguish ship captain, and bloodthirsty beasts.

For as long as she can remember, Gwendolyn Allister has never had a place to call home. Her mother believes they are being hunted by brutal monsters, and those delusions have brought them to London, far from the life Gwen had finally started to build for herself. Gwen’s only saving grace is that her best friend, Olivia, is with her for the summer.

But shortly after their arrival, the girls are kidnapped by shadowy creatures and dragged to a world of flesh-eating sea hags and dangerous Fey. And Gwen begins to realize that maybe her mother isn’t so crazy after all…

Gwen discovers that this new world she inhabits is called Neverland, but it’s nothing like the Neverland you’ve heard about in stories. Here, good and evil lose their meaning and memories slip like water through your fingers. As Gwen struggles to remember where she came from and tries to find a way home, she must choose between trusting the charming fairy-tale hero who says all the right things and the captivating pirate who promises to keep her safe.

Caught in the ultimate battle between good and evil, with time running out and her enemies closing in, Gwen is forced to finally face the truths she’s been hiding from all along. But can she save Neverland without losing herself?

This list should keep you avid readers busy for at least a little while Happy reading! Feel free to comment on which books you like and why!

 

 

Modern Ink Society- January 2016

FEATURING GUEST

Alexandra Monir

A Day in the Life of an Author

Welcome to the twenty-fourth session of

 THE MODERN INK SOCIETY!

“You don’t have to see the whole staircase. Just take the first step.”

 — Martin Luther King Jr.

 




 Her Featured Book is

  

 

 Introducing the lovely Alexandra Monir,

A Day in the Life of an Author

A lot of people imagine that being an author consists of sitting at a cozy desk  
overlooking a garden or lake or otherwise picturesque setting, a dreamy smile on your face as you type away in a fit of brilliance. Er, not exactly. The reality  
involves a lot more staring into space, asking yourself “Um, what happens now?” until you finally figure it out, obsessing over paragraphs and sentences and dialogue, and then running around doing Author Business: emails, marketing, events.
 
   The truth is, you always feel behind on something. If you’re killing it on your manuscript and hitting your word count goals, chances are you’ve had to neglect some promotional tasks, such as guest blog posts, social media, your newsletter, etc. And if you’re in full-on marketing mode, touring and spreading the word about your latest release, it’s practically a miracle if you can squeeze in any writing. That’s why, during those in-between times when I’m not too close to a deadline or a book release, I try to divide my workday in hourly chunks. So it basically looks something like this:
 
    First thing in the morning, while I’m still in my PJs, I get out my lap desk and write an hour from bed. Unless I have a morning meeting, this is an absolute must-do ritual for me. No matter how busy the rest of the day gets, having that hour under my belt gives my story some progress and momentum.
 
    After that, it’s time for my patient doggie to go out! Taking her for a walk is the best when it comes to clearing my head, and also coming up with ideas or 
solutions on plot and characters. Once we’re back inside and she’s fed and good to go, I sit back at the computer and do an hour of Author Correspondence: responding to any emails that have come in from my editor or agents, and reaching out to them with any questions or ideas I might have on current or upcoming books.
 
   From here, the day tends to follow a loose hour-by-hour pattern. I’ll spend one hour locked in on my current manuscript, then take a five-minute break to clear my head and segue into an hour of…screenwriting, which is my latest career goal! Then it’s either back to my manuscript, or if I’m in edits on a book, I’ll take care of those. And back and forth again. Before wrapping up for the day and getting ready for my husband to come home from work (a.k.a time to make both myself and the apartment look pretty!) I’ll take another hour to respond to any other emails that have come in and respond to tweets and reader messages.
 
   Does the idea of switching projects/tasks every hour sound whiplash-y? If so, you are not alone! I know many people who find this kind of schedule a bit
 nuts—but as a Gemini, I’ve found that constantly switching it up helps keep me energized and excited about my works in progress, and it’s that much harder for me to get complacent.

Of course, when I’m on a deadline, the schedule looks much more like this: Get up. Work on the same manuscript for 10 hours, with breaks only to walk the dog and eat. And when I’m in Book Release Mode, I’m running around to bookstore signings, festivals, interviews, and might not even see my computer.

In a way, these ever-changing phases are what make the life of an author exciting. Just when you get used to a long stretch of writing Work B, suddenly it’s time to launch Work A, and your life goes from private to public. Or maybe you’ve come up with an idea for Work C, and it’s time to clear the decks and focus on that. You never quite know how things will unfold, so it’s a constant adventure.
 
   For all of you writers out there, what is your (somewhat!) daily routine?

A huge thanks to Kady for sharing a day in the life of an author. If you’d like to learn more about Alexandra you can check her out at alexandramonir.com.

Also, don’t forget to participate in the ongoing chat with Alexandra and Colleen through the end of this month! Don’t forget, there will be a GIVEAWAY!

 

 

~Till next time,

Linda Louise Lotti

Are you This or That?

Here’s a fun quiz to see which heroine you are most like, answer the questions below and write them on a sheet of paper:

 

Now, check your answers and compare to the list below:

 

Who are you most like? Leave a comment and let us know. What do you think? Do you agree or disagree?

 

~’Till next time,

 

Linda Louise

 

Coconut Oil Hair Masks

 DIY COCONUT OIL HAIR MASKS

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My hair can feel dry after daily styling and the stripping dry air of the desert here in Arizona.   I do color my hair and I struggle with skipping shampoo days because I want my hair to smell nice.

I also want my hair to feel soft, and over the counter deep conditioners don’t seem to make much of a difference.  I have discovered the benefits of making a homemade body scrub with coconut oil and now I know how great it makes my hair feel. 

I kept it simple for my first mask.  I just rubbed some plain solid coconut oil between my hands to warm it and as it liquefied I then finger combed it through my hair.  I put a light layer throughout paying attention to the ends.  I let it sit in my hair for one hour and the scent of coconuts made it quite a soothing wait.  I shampooed and conditioned my hair as normal, and  I didn’t notice a difference until I brushed out my hair after the shower with little resistance.  I blow dried my hair with a round brush and was surprised that my hair was bouncy after a heavy mask treatment.  It’s soft and I plan on making this my new weekly DIY hair treatment. 

 

 

 

Coconut Oil Hair Mask

 

 

Check out the se additional video’s below for homemade coconut oil hair masks.

 

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Coconut Oil and Honey Hair Mask

 

 

 

 

 

 

Coconut Oil and Castor Oil Hair Mask

 

Coconut Oil, Honey, and Banana Hair Mask

 

Book Reviews for Kids by Kids- The Tale of Emily Windsnap

For those of you who are looking for new books appropriate for middle grade that both boys and girls might enjoy, this is the place to look!

Every month, at least one new book will be added for review right here and they will be reviewed by the best critics, KIDS! That’s right, the one’s who read them will be the judge!

This blog is written by my quirky and adorable niece, Madelyn. She’s super sweet and quite ambitious in everything she sets her mind to. She’s quick to help and give hugs, two of my favoritist things!

Introducing the lovely Madelyn,

“Hi, I’m a Seventh Grader and I love to read and write. I also enjoy dancing and acting. I’m in Drama club and Author’s Team at my school. I’m an A+ student and I love my math class. I love to learn and learn and learn.  I have a brother and a sister. . Right now I’m reading The Tale of Despereaux”

 

 

 

And now, introducing our next middle grade book review for kids, by kids!
Book review on The Tale of Emily Windsnap
by Liz Kessler

 

 

Book Commercial

The setting of this book takes place in a port town and in the deep ocean. In a boat in the harbor, there lives a young girl Emily Windsnap. She lives with her mother and her father is nowhere to be found.

The plot of this story is about Emily. She gets curious about her past and when she goes to the pool for school, something odd happens. She asks her mother who dismissed her. Emily decided to figure out what happened. She went swimming in the ocean and found a mermaid who saw that Emily had a tail. Emily went to school with her and loved it. Emily decided to start looking for her father. She eventually found her father and reunited her family.

This book was very good. Highly recommend the first book in this series to anyone. If you like mermaids and love some adventure this book is for you.

 

Here’s a list and link to the other books we’ve reviewed:

Wednesdays in the Tower by Jessica Day George

The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin

The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo

Bunnicula: A Rabbit-Tale of Mystery by Deborah and James Howe

A to Z Mysteries: White House White Out by Ron Roy

The Sisters Grimm: The Problem Child by Michael Buckley

Captain Underpants and the Attack of the Talking Toilets (In full color) by Dav Pilkey

Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney

 

Invasion of the Overworld by Mark Cheverton

Igraine the Brave by Cornelia Funke

The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe by CS Lewis

Spiderwick Chronicles by Tony Di’Terlizzi and Holly Black

Artemis Fowl, book 1 by Eoin Colfer

The BFG (The Big Friendly Giant) by Roald Dahl

How to Train Your Dragon: How to Break a Dragon’s Heart, Book # 8 by Cressida Cowell

~ Till next time,

Linda Louise Lotti

RECREATED, the Sequel News Plus a Contest!

It’s here, it’s finally here! RECREATED, the sequel to REAWAKENED is officially scheduled to hit the shelves this August 2nd, 2016! It may seem like so so far away but for a select few of you, it could be much sooner!

Have you seen the new book cover? If not, check it out!

Did I say this book could be available to some of you sooner? Why yes, yes I did. Would you like to know how?

I thought so. Colleen has a coveted box of advanced reading copies of RECREATED and she’d like to award them to her die hard fans through the monthly online contests. So, for this month, we are hosting a REAWAKENED ART CONTEST through January and February where three lucky winners will win an ADVANCED READERS COPY of RECREATED!

Before I explain the contest rules, lets take a look at some of the art for the original book covers for REAWAKENED and RECREATED.

 

 

 

Here’s the original RECREATED book jacket,

If you look closely, you can see great detail in the art. The process of creating a book cover is more lengthy than you might expect. The art design goes through several versions before it is finalized. Colleen is given a sneak peak and an opportunity to offer feedback.

Are any of you artistic? Would you like to spread your creative wings and enter for a chance to win RECREATED? This contest is for ALL skill levels and is a great way to explore your creative side.

January ART Contest! 

 

The theme for this contest is REAWAKENED

You can really get creative with this one. In the past we’ve seen some amazing drawings, paintings, sketches, sculptures, stuffed animals and the like. Really it can be anything you consider to be art! If you need some creative fuel, check out Colleen Houck’s Pinterest board FAN ART or read (or reread) REAWAKENED.

Here’s the scoop on how this will work,

Contest runs now through February 29th.
Artwork must be linked. You can upload your picture using facebook, flickr, pinterest, etc. A really good place is Deviantart.com (if you haven’t uploaded your art there before its easy, just go to deviantart.com and sign up to become a member, its free!
No limit on number of entries
All ages and skill levels welcome!
The art needs to be related to the theme REAWAKENED

That’s it! Three lucky participants will be randomly selected as the winners!

This contest should be fun and we encourage you to invite your friends, children, neighbors and family to participate! It’s a fun way to develop your talents and have a little friendly competition!

We will also be featuring some of the art submitted when we announce the winners at the beginning of March so be on the look out for that! Check out below for some previous art!

 

 

Isn’t the art work amazing? These last three REAWAKANED pieces were mailed to Colleen, if this belongs to you, you can submit this as your contest entry!

I can’t wait to see what you come up with! Don’t be shy and give this contest a try!!!

~ Till next time,

Linda Louise Lotti

Colleen Houck Book Club- January 2016!

Welcome to the New Year!

 

Happy New Year everyone! Last year was such a blast and I’m really looking forward to all the wonderful things that 2016 might bring! Our last book we featured for book club was Prisoner of Cell 25 by Richard Paul Evans.

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 discover new favorites!

So, for our first book of 2016, I’m excited to feature . . .

 

Suspicion

by Alexandra Monir

Here’s a little teaser

“A modern-day twist on the classic thriller, Rebecca, with a dash of the  supernatural, a powerful romance, and a deadly family mystery.

“There’s something hidden in the maze.”

Seventeen-year-old Imogen Rockford has never forgotten the last words her father said to her, before the blazing fire that consumed him, her mother, and the gardens of her family’s English country manor.

For seven years, images of her parents’ death have haunted Imogen’s dreams. In an effort to escape the past, she leaves Rockford Manor and moves to New York City with her new guardians. But some attachments prove impossible to shake—including her love for her handsome neighbor Sebastian Stanhope.

Then a life-altering letter arrives that forces Imogen to return to the manor in England, where she quickly learns that dark secrets lurk behind Rockford’s aristocratic exterior. At their center is Imogen herself—and Sebastian, the boy she never stopped loving.

Combining spine-tingling mystery, romance, and unforgettable characters, Suspicion is an action-packed thrill ride.”

 

Learn more about this author and her book at www.alexandramonir.com.

I’m very excited to check out his novel and I look forward to chatting with all of you on Goodreads throughout January!

So everybody who wants to join us, go get your hands on this book. You can start leaving your questions right away (but don’t share spoilers just yet).

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

My 2015 Book Boyfriends

Anyone who’s read me knows I like romance. For that reason, I’ve decided to dedicate a blog post to my top ten book boyfriends of 2015. In no particular order, here they are!

 

Jace Weyland

The Mortal Instruments Series by Cassandra Clare

   

“There is no pretending,” Jace said with absolute clarity. “I love you, and I will love you until I die, and if there is life after that, I’ll love you then.”

Elias Veturius

An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir

   

And she has no idea how pretty she is – or what kind of problems her beauty will cause for her at a place like Blackcliff. The wind pulls at her hair again, and I catch her scent – like fruit and sugar.

“Can I give you some advice?”

Her head flies up like a scared animal’s. At least she’s wary. “Right now you…” Will grab the attention of every male in a square mile. “Stand out,” I finish. “It’s hot, but you should wear a hood or a cloak – something to help you blend in.”

Carswell Thorne

Cress by Marissa Meyer

   

“I promise, I will not let you die without being kissed.”

Aladdin

The Forbidden Wish by Jessica Khoury

   

“The things that were once sweet to me are now bitter. The sun is not half so bright. The stars seem dimmer. All this wealth and luxury feels meaningless. All the world is in your shadow, Zahra. I cannot help but see you when I close my eyes.”

Khalid Ibn al-Rashid

The Wrath and the Dawn by Renee Ahdieh

   

“Shazi, I prefer the color blue to any other. The scent of lilacs in your hair is a source of constant torment. I despise figs. Lastly, I will never forget, all the days of my life, the memories of last night—For nothing, not the sun, not the rain, not even the brightest star in the darkest sky, could begin to compare to the wonder of you.”

Raffe

Angelfall by Susan Ee

   

“It is not the gentle kiss of a couple on a first date, nor is it the kiss of a man driven by simple lust. He kisses me with the desperation of a dying man who believes the magic of eternal life is in this kiss.”

Malyen Oretsev

Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo

   

“I missed you every hour. And you know what the worst part was? It caught me completely by surprise. I’d catch myself just walking around to find you, not for any reason, just out of habit, because I’d seen something that I wanted to tell you about or because I wanted to hear your voice. And then I’d realize that you weren’t there anymore, and every time, every single time, it was like having the wind knocked out of me. I’ve risked my life for you. I’ve walked half the length of Ravka for you, and I’d do it again and again and again just to be with you, just to starve with you and freeze with you and hear you complain about hard cheese every day. So don’t tell me why we don’t belong together,” he said fiercely.”

Ash Darkmyr Tallyn

The Iron King by Julie Kagawa

   

“His forehead bumped softly against mine, his brilliant silver gaze searing into me. “I plan to keep you, from everyone, for as long as I’m alive. That includes Puck, the false king, and anyone else who would take you away.” One corner of his mouth quirked, as I struggled to catch my breath under his powerful scrutiny. “I guess I should’ve warned you that I have a slight possessive streak.”

Luc

The Beautiful and the Cursed by Page Morgan

   

“Ingrid deserved better than selfish kisses and an empty, hopeless future. Even if the Dispossessed allowed it, she deserved to be more than Luc’s human obsession. He would end it, cut himself off from her. He could better protect her then. That was all Luc was. It was all he could ever be. Her watchman. Her guardian. Her gargoyle.”

Flynn Cormac

This Shattered World by Aime Kaufman & Meagan Spooner

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“You’re the most important thing in this universe. You; this vessel; the people of this planet; lovers, warriors, artists, leaders, dreams more numerous than stars. Each mind unique, each thought created for an instant and then broken apart to form new ones. You don’t understand the unbearable beauty of being you.”

There you have it! Who were your book boyfriends this year? Do you have any recommendations for me? Let me know in the comments below.