Nichole Giles's Blog, page 7

New Release Spotlight: "Fallen Angel" by Lisa Swinton

Fallen Angel
Antonio does not believe in love at first sight until he sees her fall into a street in Milan and get hit by a motorcycle. Compelled to know if she can return his affection, he becomes Renatta’s hospital volunteer only to learn that the accident erased her memory. Together they must discover her past, present and future. In the way of happily ever after stand her opera career, tyrannical mother, and fiancé.  Antonio must win Renatta’s heart before she bends to the will of her mother and marries Marcello.  Failure means a lifetime of loneliness, for love at first sight never happens twice.  You can buy it here: http://www.amazon.com/Fallen-Angel-Lisa-Swinton-ebook/dp/B00HX4L38E/ref=la_B00HXNXDCO_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1390338367&sr=1-1  About the Author
Lisa Swinton caught the romance bug early by way of fairy tales and hasn’t been able to cure it since. Instead, she feeds her addiction with romance novels and films. In between being a doctor’s wife and mother of two, she occasionally puts her B.A. in Musical Theater to good use via community theater, church choir and teaching the art of singing. In her elusive spare time she enjoys researching her family tree and baking (especially with chocolate). She loves to travel, Jane Austen, and all things Italian. In her next life, she plans to be a professional organizer


Social Media Links: http://lisaswinton.blogspot.com/https://www.facebook.com/AuthorLisaSwintonhttp://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00HXNXDCORafflecopter Giveaway:  a Rafflecopter giveaway

In Which I (possibly) Skipped Church and Ended Up Chasing a (real life) Criminal

So … There’s this thing that happened. And it was a one of those things that people think only happens in movies or books—and most of the time that’s probably true.  Unless, of course, you’re married to the Chief of Police in your town. (And actually, even when he wasn’t the chief, stuff like this happened to us—so yeah. Maybe it’s more about being married to a cop? We have been known to apprehend shoplifters at the grocery store with our cart half-way full and our ice cream melting. But I digress.)
Back to this particular Sunday. I work with the young women in our church, and it was my turn to teach the lesson. My plan included asking a lot of questions that would require responses from the girls, which meant I needed candy with which to bribe / reward them. So after the larger congregation meeting, my husband and I skipped our next class for a gas station run.
My husband’s personal car is also his duty car, which means our Tahoe has red and blue LED lights and a police radio installed, and the radio is always on whenever we’re in our town. We had just left the gas station and were heading back to church *coughcough* when dispatch notified the on-duty officers that county officers were in pursuit of a suspect (read: suspected carjacker) who had just driven into our town, crashed his first stolen car, and then stolen a second one.
The suspect was less than a mile from us. And being the chief, my husband needed to make sure everything went smoothly with this pursuit, since safety is always an issue. And so the LEDs went on, as we zipped between streets, passing a number of seemingly stunned onlookers, and a number of vehicles which the suspect had crashed into before he took off and fled on foot.
At that point, my husband armed himself and put on his bullet-proof vest as he instructed me to take his car and go back to church. But the foot chase didn’t last long, and with the help of concerned citizens who kept him in sight, officers apprehended the suspect and took him into custody before I could adjust the driver’s seat so I could reach the gas pedal. 
My husband returned to the car. “I’m going to be a while dealing with these accidents. Why don’t I take you back to church?”
Sunday school just got a whole different meaning.

“Well,” I said, feeling rather accomplished, considering that it was before noon. “My car is there, and so are our kids.”
And so back to the church I went. And guys, believe it or not, I made it in time to teach my lesson. Not only that, I learned one myself. Next Sunday we should probably skip the gas station run. Unless we plan to fight other Sunday afternoon crimes. If only I could remember where I put my cape…

*Interested in the real news story? You can watch the clip here or read about it here.

Exciting New Release: Sun & Moon by Lee Strauss (Book One in the Minstrel Series) and TWO Giveaways!

Sun & Moon by Lee Strauss(Book One in the Minstrel Series)Coming January 26th! If you’re a fan of the movie Inside, Llewyn Davis, ABC television’s Nashville or Colleen Hoover’s upcoming novel, "Maybe Someday", the Minstrel Series is for you! The Minstrel Series is a collection of contemporary romance novels set in the singer/songwriter world. The books are companion novels, with shared settings and characters, but each are complete standalone stories with a HEA (happily ever after) and no cliffhangers!

My thoughts on the book:
After I was able to get past the gorgeous cover (couldn't stop looking at it) and read the first page, I knew this was going to be my kind of story. This is big for me, because I've never read anything by Lee Strauss before, and I'm always hesitant to start reading a book by a new author--especially one that comes so highly recommended. But I was drawn in immediately, turning the ten minutes of reading time I had into two hours and 100 pages.

I have a soft spot for flawed, but lovable characters, and Lee has done a great job in creating this with both down-on-her-luck Katja and mysterious, brooding Micah. Both have troubled backgrounds and lots of baggage, and both are searching for redemption, love, and happiness (though neither of them realizes it). Another thing I love is the rich German culture and beautifully unique setting that gave the story another whole dimension. On top of all that, the author has included ORIGINAL MUSIC, which is, in my opinion, off the hook cool, especially because the main character is a singer/songwriter. So yeah.

If you're a fan of happily ever after stories that are steamy without being explicit, I definitely think this is one to add to your collection.

Katja Stoltz is a risk-taking singer-songwriter hoping to make it in the indie music scene in Dresden, Germany. Micah Sturm's a brooding uptown banker on a quest. Driven to the streets, Katja is picked up by Micah - but he doesn't want what she thinks he does. There’s an undeniable attraction between them, a gravitational pull they both struggle to resist. Katja knows she mustn’t fall in love with this handsome enigma. There’s something dark lurking beneath the surface. He could be dangerous. And even if her life isn’t on the line, her heart most definitely is.

 *not erotica - no explicit sex or coarse language

This series is an exciting collaboration between Lee Strauss as an Indie Author and several very talented Indie Singer-Songwriters. Four original songs produced by Norm Strauss are featured in Sun & Moon and are performed by award-winning Canadian singer-songwriter Kim McMechan . MP3 links are included at the end. Check out the music video!

All the songs from the Minstrel Series can be found at Bandcamp. The Minstrel Series also has its own Facebook page. Go Like it to follow all the upcoming Minstrel Series news! Pre- orders now available at the pre-release price of 2.99! (Price goes up after launch) itunes | kobo | Barnes & Noble
Also, now available on Amazon.
Lee is giving away prizes to celebrate the upcoming launch of Sun & Moon. Enter to win a $50 Amazon gift card, MP3s of all four songs featured on Sun & Moon, and a 12 month calendar from Dresden, Germany featuring many of the settings found in Sun & Moon.

Dresden, Germany One More Giveaway:

Just because you read about it here, Lee has graciously offered to give away one e-copy of her book East of Eden to one of my readers. All you have to do to enter is leave a comment on this post. Something along the lines of, "Please enter me," or, "Count me in," or something else that tells me you'd like to be considered for the prize. Be sure to include your email address. If I can reply to your comment and have it arrive in your inbox, that works too, as long as I can track down my winner. (And by that I mean I don't want to have to employ the help of the NSA to find you.) If you follow my author page on FB, make sure to mention that as well, and I'll give you an extra entry. (And yes, I will be checking.)  

You have until midnight, central time, on Saturday, February 1st. The winner will be notified via email and announced here next week. (I don't usually do a big announcement for prize winners here, but for this one, I will.)


About Lee Strauss: 
Lee Strauss writes romantic mixed genres set in the past, present and future for YA and adult readers. She also writes light and fun stuff as Elle Strauss. She divides her time between BC, Canada and Dresden, Germany, and enjoys drinking coffee and eating chocolate in both places. Find out more at www.ellestraussbooks.com.
Social Media Links:
The Minstrel Series Facebook pageLee Strauss Facebook author pageTwitter: @elle_straussPinterestBlog: www.ellestraussbooks.com
YouTube channel

Cover Reveal: ELEVATED by Elana Johnson

Guys! I am so excited about this book. I was one of the lucky early readers, and let me tell you, I am SO IN LOVE with this book. Seriously. And it's like, the fastest read ever. Super short, all in verse, and incredibly romantic. If you're a fan of romance (and really, who isn't?) you definitely need to put this on your to read list. 
Now, check out this gorgeous cover! 
Fabulous, right? 
About ELEVATED: The last person seventeen-year-old Eleanor Livingston wants to see on the elevator—let alone get stuck with—is her ex-boyfriend Travis, the guy she's been avoiding for five months.

Plagued with the belief that when she speaks the truth, bad things happen, Elly hasn’t told Trav anything. Not why she broke up with him and cut off all contact. Not what happened the day her father returned from his deployment to Afghanistan. And certainly not that she misses him and still thinks about him everyday.

But with nowhere to hide and Travis so close it hurts, Elly’s worried she won’t be able to contain her secrets for long. She’s terrified of finally revealing the truth, because she can’t bear to watch a tragedy befall the boy she still loves.

Buy Links:Kobo: http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/elevatediTunes:On Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18947183-elevated

Praise for ELEVATED:"ELEVATED will take you on an emotionally gripping journey through the highs and lows of first love."~Carolee Dean, author of Take Me There and Forget Me Not
"Poignant, raw, and intense, ELEVATED is a novel that will grip your heart and linger in your mind long after you turn the last page."~Stasia Ward Kehoe, author of Audition and The Sound of Letting Go


About Elana Johnson:Elana Johnson’s work, including Possession, Surrender, Abandon, and Regret, published by Simon Pulse (Simon & Schuster), is available now everywhere books are sold. Her popular ebook, From the Query to the Call, is also available for download, as well as a Possession short story, Resist. School teacher by day, Query Ninja by night, you can find her online at her personal blog or Twitter. She also co-founded the Query Tracker blog, and contributes to the League of Extraordinary Writers.

Social Media Links:Website/blog: http://elanajohnson.blogspot.com/Twitter: https://twitter.com/ElanaJFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/possessionthebookTumblr: http://elanajohnson.tumblr.com/Wattpad: http://www.wattpad.com/user/elanajohnsonLeague of Extraordinary Writers: http://leaguewriters.blogspot.com/WriteOnCon: http://writeoncon.com/Elana on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4044383.Elana_Johnson


To celebrate the book's upcoming release, Elana is holding a giveaway for Paypal cash (which is the most awesome idea ever). You can enter to win here: a Rafflecopter giveaway

Do People Read Blogs Anymore?

I’ve been blogging for years. And when I say years, I mean at least eight. In that time, I’ve made a lot of really amazing friends and connections, some who are writers, some who are readers, others just fabulous support for those of us braving what was—at one point—new territory.
At some point, blogging was the “in” thing. Everyone who was anyone, or who wanted to be anyone, or who was hoping to someday become someone was being told to start a blog. To promote that blog. To gain followers for said blog. Not only that, we were told to set a blog schedule and stick with it. Blog consistently. Do whatever it takes to keep your readers interested.
And it was awesome. Bloggers all over the world suddenly became well known. They made money talking about the things that most interested them. Some of those bloggers are still making good money, blogging daily, and have a consistent and loyal following.
Enter Facebook/Twitter/Instagram/Pinterest.
Suddenly, blogs feel a lot less popular. And it’s no wonder. These other places are a quick and easy way to connect with people and have actual conversations that don’t involve writing essays and leaving comments. And yet, some of us have kept at it. We’re seasoned, we’ve built our audience one by one (or some of us have) and we’re determined not to let our audience down. But as I’m looking at the future, at the amount of time/energy/dedication it takes to remain consistent, I wonder. Do people actually read blogs anymore?

If you’re here reading this, obviously you do. So why are you here? What keeps you coming back, and what do you forsee in your blog-reading future? 

Outside Appearances: The Importance of a Cover

As I’m working on edits for BIRTHRIGHT, I’ve also been brainstorming cover ideas and thoughts on what I’d like to see on the cover for DESCENDANT’s sequel. Since DESCENDANT was released, I’ve had a few ideas in mind, including links to some photos that sparked my interest.
But this week, I had an epiphany. The photos I’ve had in mind are lovely, and would work just fine. They’d even match DESCENDANT’s cover, which is something I want. They’d even sort of go with the continuation of the story. But the more I think about it, the more I realize that none of the photos have stood out as just right because they all look so similar to the book that’s already been done. No one wants a second book that reads exactly like the first.
BIRTHRIGHT may be a continuation of DESCENDANT, but it’s another story entirely, with a completely different objective and a number of different characters. BIRTHRIGHT deserves a fitting cover, and that cover should convey the mood of the ongoing story. It deserves a cover that makes people think, “Oh hey, that book looks interesting.”
Thus begins my search for a new cover concept idea.
This same philosophy can be applied to people and real life. Keeping up outward appearances tends to be a constant battle. A daily one. And then one day, years down the road, we realize that somewhere along the line we’ve changed. We’ve grown, and evolved, and our stories are so different than they were five, ten, fifteen years ago (or months—whatever). Suddenly, the outside cover we’ve fought so hard to maintain doesn’t really fit anymore. We’ve aged. We’ve experienced life. We’ve adjusted our thoughts and beliefs.
Maybe it’s time for a new cover. (Or new hair color, skin-care regime, workout routine, whatever whatever.)
The point is, sometimes life, like a story, is far more interesting when we are able to let go of previous conceptions and think outside the box.
Out of curiosity, what are some of your very favorite book covers?

Why I’m not Making New Year’s Goals for 2014.

Yeah, you read that right. I’m not posting a list of tasks I intend to complete for 2014, or giving myself deadlines to accomplish those things.
It’s not that I don’t think making lists isn’t an important step in succeeding. I do. And it’s not that I don’t believe it’s absolutely necessary to have goals and ideas and plans for how to achieve those objectives. I do. In fact, I’ve made goals/lists every year for as long as I can remember.
It’s just that this year I’ve decided to do something a little different. After November’s epic NaNo failure, I learned a very important lesson. Sometimes life gets in the way. Sometimes we have to be flexible and adjustable and learn how to adapt. 2013 was one of those years for me. 2014 might be another. We’ll see.
*cue over-played theme song*
I came in like a wrecking ball…
I still have goals. And hopes. And plans. But this year, rather than a list of goals, I’ve made…wait for it…
Resolutions.
Uh, what? Yeah. Resolutions. Check it out.
I resolve to:
See more good in people.
Respond to rudeness with kindness.
Be more patient, accepting, and tolerant of others.
Not compare myself to other people, or my life-path to anyone else’s life path.
Be a better listener.
Be forgiving of my own flaws, and remember that flaws make us unique.
Write something meaningful and lasting.
Read more books.
Write more words.
Learn how to share what I know with others in an entertaining, informative way.
Find the humor in all things.
Laugh every day.
Do something terrifying and exhilarating and wonderful.

There are other things I hope to accomplish this year. Practical things. Business-minded things. Personal achievement things. But as I think about it, I’ve decided that this list is the more important one, the one that deserves my focus. The one list that might truly make 2014 my best year yet.

Have you resolved anything like this? 

Happy New Year!

Hope you're enjoying your holidays, and are celebrating the end of 2013 and the beginning of 2014. I will be back next week!

Merry Christmas!

*video courtesy of youtube and ThisPerfectPlace.

Eek! The Year is Almost Over.

I just looked at my calendar and realized that after this week my next two blogs fall on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve. My first thought was where has the time gone? And my next one was something along the lines of holy crap, I’m almost out of time.
It’s been a crazy year. An insane year. And I don’t know about all of you, but 2013 has been kind of a big deal for me and my family. Lots of interesting and wonderful growth and change and major life events. And I’m hoping—seriously hoping—that 2014 will be just as awesome.
That said, I have a few goals left to accomplish, which means I better get on them, fast. So for the next three weeks, please forgive me for taking some much needed time off from blogging and instead posting inspirational holiday clips or images for your entertainment.

I’ll be back in January to talk about goals, resolutions, and my plans for 2014. Happy holidays!




*Video courtesy of Youtube and PTXofficial.

I love this video, and hope the artists don't mind my sharing. If you're looking for a unique and awesome holiday album, they have one for purchase on iTunes.