Cassandra Dean's Blog: Blog of Bloggy Blogness, page 31

What’s Your Favourite Book? [CONTEST]

Sharing My Favorite Read Giveaway Hop is being hosted by

Reading Romances!

 

Hi peeps,

Welcome to the Sharing My Favourite Read Giveaway Hop! Big thanks to Reading Romances for hosting the hop.

Hmmm, where to start…Oh my lord, I have so many favourites!

Favourite Historical – Lord of Scoundrals by Loretta Chase (blustery, blockhead hero and a smart, no-nonsense heroine – LOVE).

Favourite Paranormal – Demon Angel by Meljean Brook (angel hero and demon heroine – MORE LOVE).

Favourite Urban Fantasy – Magic Burns by Ilona Andrews (brusque heroine and growly hero – I’M SENSING A PATTERN HERE).

Oh, I could go on and on…so I shall*:

Favourite Erotica - Control by Charlotte Stein

Favourite Fantasy (romance) – Resenting the Hero by Moira J. Moore

Favourite Fantasy (high) – Wizard’s First Rule by Terry Goodkind

Favourite Horror – The Shining by Stephen King

Favourite Comic – Fables by Bill Willingham

Favourite Crime/Suspense – Exit Strategy by Kelley Armstrong

Favourite of my books…well, that’s a bit of a toughie. I love all my babies equally!

 

And now, the contest#!

Comment below and tell me all about your very favourite book. What is it about this book that makes you love it so?

One lucky commenter will win an ebook copy of EITHER ENSLAVED OR TEACH ME! Also included will be a signed postcard of both ENSLAVED and TEACH ME, as well as an ENSLAVED magnet!

International entries are welcome – if The Book Depository and Australia Post can reach your country, you can enter!

Thanks for hanging with me, peeps. I look foward to reading your comments

xx

Click below to see the other awesome giveaways!

 

* I have a page where I detail why I love some of these books – check it out at CD RECOMMENDS…

 

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# The small print: Comment before midnight on 01/07/2012 (Australian Central Standard Time) to be entered to win EITHER one (1) ebook copy of ENSLAVED OR one (1) ebook copy of TEACH ME. Also included in the prize pack will be one (1) signed TEACH ME postcard, one (1) signed ENSLAVED postcard and one (1) ENSLAVED magnet. Winner will be selected via random.org, with winner’s name posted on this blog by 02/07/2012. 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. International entries are welcome. No purchase necessary to enter. Odds of winning depend on number of entries received. Void where prohibited.

Six Sentence Sunday – Silk pt 6

Hi peeps!

Well, I left the house without completing my Six Sentence Sunday post because I’m a silly duffer. I will update with my six sentences asap!

In the mean time, here’s a picture of the caberet show and cocktails I’m neglecting you all for:

[image error]

Can’t stop thinking about Cabin in the Woods

Dear Drew Goddard and Joss Whedon,

Cabin in the Woods was amazing. I came out of the cinema exhilirated and couldn’t rid myself of a loony grin as I caught the train to my abode. No doubt my fellow commuters thought me strange and simple-like, but this is okay. They probably do not yet know The Majesty That Is Your Film.

I have read on the interwebs that a sequel to Cabin in the Woods may occur. In light of this, I have come up with a way to continue the glories you have started.

Click ONLY if you’ve already seen Cabin in the Woods (or if you’re Drew Goddard or Joss Whedon)

Seriously, peeps.

HUGE, MASSIVE SPOILERS

 

highlight from here:

POST APOPOLYTIC DYSTOPIA
in the Woods. And the world*

:to here to see

 

YOU’RE WELCOME

Further, there should be then created a tie-in series, comprising five books, and as it is The Right Thing To Do, I will deign write them for you. That is the kind of generous soul I am.

YOU’RE DOUBLE WELCOME

Love

Cassandra

xx

 

* Because I would like to see highlight from here: a Big Ancient God filled with fury and thunder :to here to see smash the Mall Balls.

Lucky Seven

Hey peeps,

I’ve been tagged by the wonderful Victoria Blisse to participate in Lucky Seven* Thanks, Victoria!

So, here’s how it works: Go to page 7 or 77 of your latest work. Read down to the seventh line and then post online the next seven lines or sentences. Then head off and tag seven more writers.

I thought I’d take this opportunity to highlight Silk, the work in progress I’ve been teasing in some of my Six Sentence Sunday posts. Silk is the tale of Thomas, a promising barrister and newly minted Member of Parliament, and Nicola, a lady who just can’t seem to keep away from scandal. They’ve known each other for most of their lives, though they have been apart for some of that time. Here, Nicola pens a letter to Thomas from half a world away:

Bombay, India, 8 November 1842

Dear Thomas,

I am so very sorry for the passing of Lord Harry and Lady Millicent. I cannot even begin to fathom how you must feel. I wish I were with you, dear friend, to give you any comfort or whatever you might require of me.

Know my thoughts are with you, and should I be able, I would rush across the lands and space between us to be by your side.

All my love,

Nicola

So now, I tag seven writers…Hmm…

Okay, Lucy Clark, Tamara Gill, Jessica E Subject, Barbara Sheridan, Astrid Cooper, V. S. Morgan, Ashlynn Monroe – You’ve been officially tagged!

 

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*You know, Lucky Seven just makes me think of Lucky Number Slevin (called The Wrong Man in Oz), a film by starring Josh Hartnett and Bruce Willis. I LOVE this film. It’s super fantastic. Also, FYI, Paul McGuigan directed four of the six episodes of Sherlock. His style is so distinctive and brilliant, and I just think his collaboration with Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss is the bestest.

WINNER! Shameless Summer Giveaway Hop! [CONTEST]

And we have a winner! Congratulations…

Mary!

Mary has won an ebook copy of ENSLAVED, a signed TEACH ME postcard and a TEACH ME magnet. I hope Mary enjoys Lucia and Marcus’s story immensely!

Congratulations again to Mary and thank you to all who entered. I LOVED reading all your comments on how to have a Shameless Summer – will definitely keep them in mind for when summer hits Australia in December…

xx

ps, There’s another Giveaway Hop happening right now! If you want to check it out, please go here.

Six Sentence Sunday – Silk pt 5

Six Sentence Sunday is upon us once more! Thanks, as always to the lovely peeps at Six Sentence Sunday for this awesome initiative. Thanks also to all of you who comment, it’s such a pleasure to read your words

Some sad news first, the lovely peeps at Six Sentence Sunday have decided to call it a day. The last official Six Sentence Sunday will be 27 January 2013, so, that’s plenty of time for us to get used to the idea that after that date, there will be no official Six Sentence Sunday. I would like to extend a big thank you to the all the Six Sentence Sunday peeps. It has and continues to be a wonderful initiative, and I’m very proud to have been a part of it.

Now, back to Silk. Thomas and  Nicola are studying one of Thomas’s defence cases together…

She turned her gaze from the papers before her to the man beside her.

Thomas looked at her, his thumb pressed against a smile.

Brows drawing together, she said, “Was there something, Thomas?”

Removing his thumb from his lips left only his smile. “You’re rather adorable when you concentrate.”

Heat flared in her cheeks and, quickly, she looked down at the paper.

If you would like to read some other wonderful six sentences, click on the picture below to be taken to the list.

Thanks for dropping by, peeps!

Lovestruck Giveaway Hop! [CONTEST]

The Lovestruck Giveaway Hop is being hosted by Under the Covers Book Blog and Bona Fide Reflections.

Let the celebrations begin!

Hi peeps,

Welcome to the Lovestruck Giveaway Hop! Thanks to the lovely ladies of Under the Covers Book Blog and Bona Fide Reflections for hosting this hop.

I’ve spent a lot of time recently talking about TEACH ME, my second book. For this hop, though, I thought I’d talk a little bit about my first book, ENSLAVED. I haven’t really talked about it for a time, and I feel it deserves some love and affection.

 

I was to teach a slave.

Marcus, a gladiator in my father’s ludus, was compelled to my presence to learn of Rome’s gods, her legends. When first he came, fear consumed me – fear of this silent, resentful slave who burned with his anger.

Time, though, changes much. Marcus softened and I grew unafraid. As we became closer, I grew more than merely unafraid – I grew to love him. Never did I think we would be separated.

I was wrong.

I forced myself to forget. Forget Marcus, forget the almost-smile he gave to me alone, forget everything but my life as it was now. Then, one day, I wandered into a market and spied Marcus, and the truth I had always hidden, thought to forget, was thrust upon me.

I had never ceased to love my slave.

 

I was so happy when ENSLAVED was accepted for publication by Decadent Publishing. Not only did I love the story, it was to be my very first published work. Squee! I was now a published author!

In ENSLAVED, Lucia spends a lot of time pining away for Marcus, struck by love and unable to act upon it. In fact, in this excerpt, it’s rather obvious exactly what about Marcus has captivated her

Leaning my forearms against the balustrade of the viewing platform, I watched Marcus battle another of my father’s champions, a Greek my father had purchased years ago. Back and forth they sparred, strength and speed behind each move.

The Greek raised his sword, striking fast. Marcus blocked the move and the strength of both gladiators locked the swords together. Face set in concentration, muscles standing in relief, Marcus strained against the force of the Greek. Mouth dry, I ran my gaze over his arms, his shoulders, the play of his back as he pushed against the sword. His loincloth had fallen from his hip, such that he appeared as naked from the side, a thin strip of cloth bisecting his hip the only break in the golden expanse of his flesh.

Raising his shield, Marcus broke the stalemate. The sudden move severed my fascinated gaze, and I swallowed to wet my throat as Marcus battered the Greek about his shoulders and head, the heavy blows sure to fell a smaller opponent. With a grunt, the Greek stumbled. Quick though he recovered, and once more set to spar.

As he blocked the Greek’s advance, Marcus’s gaze sought mine. Leaning further over the balustrade, I offered him a grin and won for myself a fleeting glimpse of his almost-smile. It seemed to me he kept such an expression for me alone, for it was certain I had never seen him gift it to another. It may be I fooled myself to believe such, but what harm was there in a small fiction?

 

And now, the contest#!

Comment below on your favourite lovestruck moment. It can be a book, or your life, or something completely made up! Let me know the wild and crazy times of the lovestruck. Go nuts, peeps!

One lucky commenter will win an ebook copy of ENSLAVED, as well as a signed TEACH ME postcard and TEACH ME magnet! International entries are welcome – if Australia Post can reach your country, you can enter!

Thanks for hanging with me, peeps. I look foward to reading your comments

xx

Click below to see the other awesome giveaways!

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# The small print: Comment before midnight on 23/06/2012 (Australian Central Standard Time) to be entered to win one (1) ebook copy of ENSLAVED, one (1) signed TEACH ME postcard and one (1) TEACH ME magnet. Winner will be selected via random.org, with winner’s name posted on this blog by 25/06/2012. 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. International entries are welcome. No purchase necessary to enter. Odds of winning depend on number of entries received. Void where prohibited.

Exciting Announcement – ‘By Moon and Sea’, part of SMUT BY THE SEA

Hi peeps!

I’m so very excited to announce to you all that I will be part of Smut by the Sea, an anthology edited by Victoria Blisse and Lucy Felthouse!

My short story, ‘By Moon and Sea’, will be featured alongside other awesome authors (see below). ‘By Moon and Sea’ is a saucy tale, featuring a bit of naughty Victorian fun between a newly married couple on their honeymoon by the seaside. Moonlight and the ocean play a delicious part in this short erotic tale.

This is so thrilling, I can’t wait to have more information for you guys.

Stay tuned for more details!

The line up (in alphabetical order):

A Proper Seaside Holiday by Victoria Blisse
Against the Current by Heidi Champa
By Moon and Sea by Cassandra Dean (that’s me!)
Communing with the Mighty Neptune by Cynthia Richards
Dodging by Lucy Felthouse
Ice Cream Kisses by MA Stacie
I Like it Wet by Tanith Davenport
Last Chance Summer by Lexie Bay
Love in the Low Season by Justine Elyot
One Scoop or Two by Slave Nano
Skin by K D Grace
Swashbuckling by Lily Harlem
The Man on the Balcony by Tamsin Flowers
Una’s Retreat by Tabitha Rayne

ps, Smut by the Sea is up on Goodreads! Add it to your bookshelf

Six Sentence Sunday – Silk pt 4

Six Sentence Sundayis upon us once more! Thanks, as always to the lovely peeps at Six Sentence Sunday for this awesome initiative. Thanks also to all of you who comment, it’s such a pleasure to read your words

Before we get to the six sentences, I’m currently part of the Shameless Summer Giveaway Hop, and am giving away a copy of ENSLAVED, as well as a signed TEACH ME postcard and a TEACH ME magnet.

Comment for your chance to win!

Now, continuing on with Silk, Thomas and  Nicola have entered the shenanigan stage…

Grabbing her upper arms, he hauled her to him. And then, he kissed her.

Stunned, she stood stock still as his lips brushed hers, light and sweet. Gently, his tongue traced the seam of her mouth, and with that small touch, fire swept through her. Tangling her fingers in the soft strands of his hair, she pulled him closer. Then, she kissed him back.

If you would like to read some other wonderful six sentences, click on the picture below to be taken to the list.

Thanks for dropping by, peeps!

Shameless Summer Giveaway Hop! [CONTEST]

The Shameless Summer Giveaway Hop is being hosted by Red Hot Books, Romance Around the Corner and Michelle’s Book Blog.

Let the celebrations begin!

Hi peeps,

Welcome to the Shameless Summer Giveaway Hop! Big thanks to Jen of Red Hot Books, Brie of Romance Around the Corner and Michelle of Michelle’s Book Blog for hosting the hop.

So on with Shameless Summer! At the moment, it’s the furthers thing from summer for me – in Australia, June is the beginning of winter, and everything is grey and cold and rainy. All I want to do is snuggle up to a heater with a blanket and a nice, warm Nathan Fillion

I’m very jealous of the Northern Hemispherers and the warm, summery fun times they’re currently experiencing. Oh to be on a beach somewhere, sipping a cocktail and watching Nathan Fillion frolic in the waves – I’m a simple lass at heart.

 

And now, the contest#!

Comment below on your favourite summer extravagance. Do you like to laze by the pool? Are you longing for a cold beer on a warm night? Are you hoping to spy some scantily clad men (in the pursuit of Scientific Purposes*). Comment below and let me know!

One lucky commenter will win an ebook copy of ENSLAVED, as well as a signed TEACH ME postcard and TEACH ME magnet! International entries are welcome – if Australia Post can reach your country, you can enter.

Thanks for hanging with me, peeps. I look foward to reading your comments

xx

Click below to see the other awesome giveaways!

*As every lady knows, the examination of scantily clad men is purely in the interest of Science. Science is totally our friend.

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# The small print: Comment before midnight on 16/06/2012 (Australian Central Standard Time) to be entered to win one (1) ebook copy of ENSLAVED, one (1) signed TEACH ME postcard and one (1) TEACH ME magnet. Winner will be selected via random.org, with winner’s name posted on this blog by 18/05/2012. 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. International entries are welcome. No purchase necessary to enter. Odds of winning depend on number of entries received. Void where prohibited.