Cassandra Dean's Blog: Blog of Bloggy Blogness, page 18

Hump Day Hook #humphook

 

Welcome to Hump Day Hook, a weekly list of authors showcasing their work around the Internets. A big thanks to the wonderful peeps at Hump Day Hook for making this possible.

Right, on with the hook itself! A blast from the past and a smidge from ENSLAVED, my very first published book!

“But I wanted you, Lucia.” He tucked my hair behind my ear and his hand rested warm against my cheek. “I would have given anything to take you away, to save you from hurt. I still would.”

Finally, I thought what to say. “It has been eight years. More. How can you…It has been eight years.”

“I have not wavered.” His eyes were steady on mine. His hand was so very warm.

As if in a dream, I reached up and cradled his hand in both of mine. Closing my eyes, I turned to kiss his palm. His other hand smoothed my hair, trailing over my shoulder, down my spine. Leaning into his touch, I shivered with emotion that finally, after all these years, he was touching me.

My hand slid up his forearm, tracing the muscles I found there. He turned my face to his, and I opened my eyes to find his gaze upon me, soft and warm and hard all at the same time. My hand moulded his shoulder as he cupped the back of my head.

We kissed.

 

Learn MORE about ENSLAVED here

 

Visit Hump Day Hook and discover more wonderful authors!

 

 

Winner! Rites of Spring Blog Hop #RitesofSpring

Hi peeps,

The Rites of Spring Blog Hop is all over and it’s time to pick a winner! Congratulations go to…

 

Joy F!

 

Joy F has won a signed ROUGH DIAMOND postcard, a signed FOOL’S GOLD postcard, a ROUGH DIAMOND magnet and a FOOL’S GOLD magnet.

Thank you again to all of you who stopped by and make sure you stop by Jessica Subject’s blog to see if you won the Grand Prize!

xx

 

 

 

Winner! Lucky in Love Hop #LuckHop

Hi peeps,

The Lucky in Love Hop is all over red rover so now it’s time to pick a winner of THE DIAMOND SERIES giveaway!

 

Congratulations go to…

 

Catherine!

 

Catherine has won a signed ROUGH DIAMOND postcard, a signed FOOL’S GOLD postcard, a ROUGH DIAMOND magnet and a FOOL’S GOLD magnet.

Thank you again to all of you who stopped by and make sure you stop by Carrie Ann Blog Hops to see if you won the Grand Prize!

xx

 

 

Have you been watching…Being Human (UK)

My love of TV + my blog = Awesome fun sharing times.

Enjoy the shows I think are The Shizz

 

Being Human (UK)

 

It’s all over, peeps. After five seasons and a complete change in cast, the show that started off as a cosy drama about English twenty somethings but became a supernatural gem about a vampire, a werewolf and a ghost who just wanted to be human is done. And what a show it was.

Being Human is a UK tv series that hooked me right in from the beginning. The first season is outstanding, with the three supernatural flatmates bonding fantastically, as well as tortured marvellously by their supernatural status. George is like a big puppy, who hates that he turns violent once a month. Mitchell is tortured by blood and addiction, and struggles mightily to keep his darkness at bay. Annie doesn’t know how she died, or why she just can’t move on. As the season progresses, they lean on one another and become a family, uniting to face the awesome villain Herrick.

The fourth and fifth season has a completely changed cast, which was a little weird at first but I soon came to love Hal, Tom and Alex.

Um…

You guys, I’m racking my brains to come up with eloquent and elegant words to describe how awesome Being Human is and why you should watch it, but alas my brains are not cooperating. Stupid brains. Let me just encourage you to check it out, watch the first few eps and then tell me it is not the sauce that is awesome. Go on. I dares you

Plus, Aidan Turner is in it and he’s just super pretty.

 

Check out Being Human on
YouTube ~ Amazon.com ~ Amazon.co.uk ~ JB Hi-Fi

 

PS, make sure you check out the online spinoff, Becoming Human, as well!

 

 

 

Hump Day Hook #humphook

 

Welcome to Hump Day Hook, a weekly list of authors showcasing their work around the Internets. This is my very first time Hump Day Hooking so please be gentle with me A big thanks to the wonderful peeps at Hump Day Hook for making this possible.

Right, on with the hook itself! This is a smidge from FOOL’S GOLD, book the second in The Diamond Series:

Expansively, Ethan exhaled. “A woman after my own heart. Careful, Miz Pearl, you keep anticipating my needs like this, and I just might have to court you proper.”

She snorted. “After all the fighting and fussing we subjected the town to? None would believe it.”

“Probably not. But I’d be moved to be convincing.”

“Of course you would.”

He arranged a pious look upon his features. “It would be the right thing to do. I like the town. I like its folk.” Hooking his fingers in her robe’s sash, he tugged her close. “I like you.”

“Do you?”

“Damn right.” And again he kissed her.

 

Learn MORE about FOOL’S GOLD here

 

Visit Hump Day Hook and discover more wonderful authors!

 

 

Rites of Spring Blog Hop #RitesofSpring

 

 

The Rites of Spring Blog Hop is hosted by Jessica E Subject and Heather Long. Let the celebrations begin!

 

 

 

 

 

Hey peeps,

Welcome to the Lucky in Love Blog Hop! Big thanks go to Carrie Ann Ryan for hosting.

Spring might be upon the Northern Hemisphere but here in the South we’re heading into autumn and I, for one, couldn’t be happier. Here in dear old Oz, the temperatures in summer can get to 45 degrees Celsius (113 Fahrenheit) and I’m mighty glad we have a whole year before we suffer such again. Seriously, peeps, I don’t know what I’d do without airconditioning!

However, this blog hop is about spring and renewal and a time for firsts. First loves, firsts rush of emotions, first kisses…so on that wonderful and full introduction, here’s a first kiss – Pearl and Ethan of FOOL’S GOLD can’t stand each other, and yet put them together in an abandoned saloon with an oncoming blizzard and a whole mess of firsts are notched up:

Grabbing her upper arms, he hauled her against him, and ignoring her shocked gasp, he covered her mouth with his.

She stood stock still under his hands, her lips parted with her surprise. Pressing his advantage, he traced his tongue over the slight opening, and with a sigh, she allowed him entry. She tasted of whiskey and coffee and a flavor all her own, a flavor that signified Pearl and wickedness and a teasing smile she never meant. Sliding his hand up her arm, he cupped the back of her head and finally touched the glory of her hair. The strands were cool and silky, and he reveled as they threaded through his fingers, at the feel of her mouth under his, in the way she finally kissed him back. Her tongue flicked at his, and she tempted him with her taste, with a nip at his lip, with a retreat and a bold storming forward, with the way her arms snaked about his waist to hold him tight. God, he’d wanted to do this forever, had wanted it even though he told himself he didn’t, and forced her from his thoughts over and again.

Breaking the kiss, he stared down at her. Great black lashes swept over eyes dazed with passion, lips reddened now by his own. His heart beat madly, his blood a thrum against his ears. Gently, he combed his fingers through her hair, her glorious, fiery hair he’d wanted to touch forever. “I’m in need, Miz Pearl.”

 

 

Christmas in Freewill

Christmas Eve, the Diamond Saloon is empty of its people, and Pearl la Monte has a hankering to retire early. A pounding at the Diamond’s door rids her of such a fool notion. Her irritation rises when she sees the prissy, polite-like Garrett standing outside.

Ethan Garrett has a powerful need to gain succor. When the saloon’s voluptuous redheaded singer scowls at him from the threshold of the Diamond, he doesn’t stop to think on how his ire at her has disappeared. Or how he just wants to spend some time in her company.

When a blizzard storms in, trapping them, will they spend their time arguing or find their irritation for each other disguises something more?

 

Available from these eBook retailers:

Decadent Publishing
Barnes & Noble | Smashwords | All Romance eBooks
Amazon.com | Amazon.co.uk

 

And now, the giveaway#!

Comment below, leave your email address, and you’ll go in the running to win!

One lucky commenter will win a signed FOOL’S GOLD postcard, and a FOOL’S GOLD magnet, a signed ROUGH DIAMOND postcard, and a ROUGH DIAMOND magnet. International entries are welcome – if Australia Post can reach your country, you can enter!

 

But wait, there’s more**!

We have TWO grand prizes. You as a reader can go to EACH blog and comment with your email address and be entered to win.

 

1st Grand Prize:
Kindle Fire (international)

2nd Grand Prize:
$50 Amazon.com gift certificate

Enter by clicking the below:
a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

 

Click below to win more awesome prizes!

 

=====================================================================

# The small print: Comment before midnight on 24 March 2013 (Australian Central Daylight Time) to be entered to win one (1) signed FOOL’S GOLD postcard, one (1) FOOL’S GOLD magnet, one (1) signed ROUGH DIAMOND postcard and one (1) ROUGH DIAMOND magnet. Winner will be selected via random.org, with winner’s name posted on this blog within three days of the close of the giveaway. Cassandra will also contact the winner by e-mail; the winner will be required to reply with their postal address so Cassandra can send the prize to them.

Only one entry per ISP address. Entrants must be over 18 years of age. By entering, you agree Cassandra can use your name when announcing the winner if you should win. If potential prize winner forfeits or does not claim the prize, prize will be re-awarded, in Sponsor’s sole discretion. All prizes will be awarded. International entries are welcome. No purchase necessary to enter. Odds of winning depend on number of entries received. Void where prohibited by law.

**Grand Prize held by Jessica E Subject and Heather Long will be drawn on 24 March 2013 (US Time). Please direct any queries to http://www.markofthestars.com/wp/?page_id=10037

 

 

 

 

Lucky in Love Hop #LuckHop

 

 

The Lucky in Love Blog Hop is hosted by Carrie Ann Blog Hops. Let the celebrations begin!

 

 

 

 

 

Hey peeps,

Welcome to the Lucky in Love Blog Hop! Big thanks go to Carrie Ann Ryan for hosting.

Golly gosh, I can’t believe St. Paddy’s Day is almost upon us! Where has this year gone? St. Patrick’s Day isn’t hugely big in my neck of the woods, though a lot of people love using it as an excuse to hang out at the local Irish pub and drink a pint of Guinness or two. Seeing as the day falls on a Sunday this year, I expect there’ll be a lot of sore heads rocking up to work on Monday morning

But on to the other part of the celebrations, the Lucky in Love part. My word, isn’t that what we’re all here for, to read stories of those who are lucky in love, to sigh over the romance and the wonder of a couple discovering how much they, like, like like each other. I love reading a love story, and am so very privileged to write what I love. Yay for romance!

So now, without any further attempt at a coherent segue, my latest foray into the world of the Lucky in Love!

 

THE DIAMOND SERIES, BOOK 2

 

Christmas in Freewill

Christmas Eve, the Diamond Saloon is empty of its people, and Pearl la Monte has a hankering to retire early. A pounding at the Diamond’s door rids her of such a fool notion. Her irritation rises when she sees the prissy, polite-like Garrett standing outside.

Ethan Garrett has a powerful need to gain succor. When the saloon’s voluptuous redheaded singer scowls at him from the threshold of the Diamond, he doesn’t stop to think on how his ire at her has disappeared. Or how he just wants to spend some time in her company.

When a blizzard storms in, trapping them, will they spend their time arguing or find their irritation for each other disguises something more?

 

 

And now, the giveaway#!

How do you like to celebrate your St Patrick’s Day? Will you be wearing green? Are you partial to a Guinness or two? Comment below, leave your email address, and you’ll go in the running to win!

One lucky commenter will win a signed FOOL’S GOLD postcard, and a FOOL’S GOLD magnet, a signed ROUGH DIAMOND postcard, and a ROUGH DIAMOND magnet. International entries are welcome – if Australia Post can reach your country, you can enter!

 

But wait, there’s more**!

We have TWO grand prizes. You as a reader can go to EACH blog and comment with your email address and be entered to win. Yep, you can enter over 300 times!

 

1st Grand Prize:
A USD$100 Amazon or B&N Gift Card

2nd Grand Prize:
A Swag Pack that contains paperbacks, ebooks, 50+ bookmarks, cover flats, magnets, pens, coffee cozies, and more!***

 
CLICK HERE TO WIN MORE AWESOME PRIZES!

 

=====================================================================

# The small print: Comment before midnight on 19 March 2013 (Australian Central Daylight Time) to be entered to win one (1) signed FOOL’S GOLD postcard, one (1) FOOL’S GOLD magnet, one (1) signed ROUGH DIAMOND postcard and one (1) ROUGH DIAMOND magnet. Winner will be selected via random.org, with winner’s name posted on this blog within three days of the close of the giveaway. Cassandra will also contact the winner by e-mail; the winner will be required to reply with their postal address so Cassandra can send the prize to them.

Only one entry per ISP address. Entrants must be over 18 years of age. By entering, you agree Cassandra can use your name when announcing the winner if you should win. If potential prize winner forfeits or does not claim the prize, prize will be re-awarded, in Sponsor’s sole discretion. All prizes will be awarded. International entries are welcome. No purchase necessary to enter. Odds of winning depend on number of entries received. Void where prohibited by law.

**Grand Prize held by Carrie Ann Blog Hops and will be drawn on 19 March 2013 (US Time). Please direct any queries to http://carrieannbloghops.blogspot.com

***Unfortunately, this portion of the prize is only open to US entrants.

 

 

Have you been watching…The Guild

My love of TV + my blog = Awesome fun sharing times.

Enjoy the shows I think are The Shizz

 

The Guild

 

The Guild is the very first web series I watched regularly. It has a lot to answer for, hey? The Guild follows the adventures of Codex, an introverted violinist who deals with her social awkwardness by spending most of her time deep in a multi-player online game (much like World of Warcraft). We are quickly introduced to her ‘guild’ The Knights of Good, other online gamers who form a brotherhood of sorts as they traverse the game world. At the beginning of the series, they only know each other through the game, but that changes when they meet up in real life. Shenanigans ensue.

The Guild is a fantastic comedic web series, introducing stellar characters who I easily recognise my own geeky self in. It’s also notable because it launched the online juggernaut that is Felicia Day. I first noticed Felicia’s work as an actor on Buffy, the Vampire Slayer, that little TV show I love with a passion. She had a small recurring part in the final season, playing a potential slayer. Then, when she wrote her own show about a girl gamer and her adventures in the real world, she couldn’t find a studio who was interested. Deciding to produce it herself, she teamed up with her co-producer Kim Ivey and The Guild was born. Six series later, The Guild is an online phenomenan and Felicia Day now has a small You Tube empire on the channel she created, Geek and Sundry.

Anyhoo, back to The Guild. It’s evolved so much over the six series, fleshing out the characters and forming a surprisingly touching and funny ha ha journey for each. I think my favourite is season three, with the introduction of the Axis of Anarchy and Wil Wheaton as Codex’s opposite and nemesis, Fawkes. Hijinks ensue.

It looks like The Guild is all over red rover, but it was ever so much fun. Check it out, you won’t be sorry.

The Guild website

The Guild on You Tube

 

 

Author Chat now on at The Romance Reviews!

Peeps, my Author Chat is now live! Visit The Romance Readers, sign in and you can chat away with me. There’s also a giveaway. Pretty nifty, right?

See you all there!

Have you been watching…Husbands

My love of TV + my blog = Awesome fun sharing times.

Enjoy the shows I think are The Shizz

 

Husbands

 

Husbands tells the tale of two young men who wake up legally married after a drunken Vegas night. After causing a media storm, athlete Brady and tabloid darling Cheeks decide to stay together…after all, they have been dating for six weeks. What could go wrong?

Created by Jane Espenson and Brad Bell, Husbands is a web series sitcom which is both uproaringly funny and suprisingly heartfelt. Brady and Cheeks are still learning about each other, and what was considered cute and bearable when they were dating now grates and drives the other insane. In recent times, sitcoms are blurring the line between drama and comedy, able to switch from one end of the emotional spectrum to the other. Husbands ably demonstrates this.

The second season leans a little more to the dramatic side, becoming a bit satirical in the best of ways. Brady’s agent (played by Joss Whedon!) fears a backlash against the out and proud Brady in his choice of husband, the flamboyant Cheeks. Cheeks is asked to toned down his ‘gayness’, which is offensive on so many levels. Asking anyone to change their personality is just wrong, and to be asked to do it so someone else’s public persona is doubly wrong. It doesn’t matter if you’re gay, straight or a penguin – this leaves a bad taste in your mouth. Having said that, Cheeks’s attempts to be ‘straight’ are hilarious. And when Brady decides it was wrong to ever have asked Cheeks to change his personality and decides to ‘gay’ it up, even more hilarity ensues.

I love Jane Espenson, she of Buffy and Battlestar Galactica fame, and will watch anything she writes. I hadn’t heard of Brad Bell before this, but he is mighty impressive, pulling writing and acting duties on Husbands (he plays Cheeks). Winning awards all over the place, I highly recommend this series and can’t wait until the third season airs.

 

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