Shyla Colt's Blog, page 10

We believe what we tell ourselves

I know it’s been a while since i had an uplifting post. Life got in the way, and i had to stop the mid-week inspiration. My husband left for deployment and i had a slue of contracts signed. Right now i’m poking my head up for air on a dead line, and i realized. i don’t have to have a dedicated day to share something uplifting.

In this life, I think we all know there are no handouts, but what we aren’t told enough, is to be our own number one fan. Believe in yourself, because there will be so many times others won’t. Times when you’ll depend on your dream, grit, hard work, and confidence to carry you through to the next phase in your journey. Look yourself in the mirror daily and say, I love you, you’re awesome, you can do this, and mean it! Don’t let others’ minimization of your accomplishments, step towards your dream, or goals ( no matter how big or strong) affect you. It’s not a reflection on you. It doesn’t measure your worth or progress. It shows them for who they are. People without the courage to chase their own dreams have a hard time watching others go for theirs. Be proud, be enthusiastic, be vocal, celebrate, and fill up your time with things that make you happy. I’ve learned so many things about myself, others, and life during my walk toward where I want to be, and I have so far to go. Never be afraid to live life out loud and show the world everything you are my loves. On that note, I’m off to dive head first into my day. 10k down, 40 more to go then, I get to have some much dreamed of downtime.

Evernight Book Boyfriend Blog Hop

The Book Boyfriend Blog Hop is back and better than ever!

The authors of Evernight have a brand new team of swoon-worthy book boyfriend candidates. A sexy assortment of cowboys, Doms, detectives, millionaires, royalty, vampires, soldiers, and shifters are just a click away.

Get ready to find your next book boyfriend…

Aidan , Sexy, masculine, and scarred, this massive male will steal your heart and love you for the rest of you life, if you can get behind the walls he’s built up to protect what’s left of his heart. Magic, and mystery come to life in Secrets Kept as we get an inside look on dark family secrets, and watch a love story for the ages unfold.

Blurb

What you don’t know can hurt you…

Behind the striking veneer, television star Aiden hides a dark past. Emotionally paralyzed, and resigned to the title of permanent bachelor, he leaves a string of broken hearts and cool sheets in his wake. Then free spirited Mya walks in and cracks the casing around his stone heart. Unable to offer her the love she deserves, he walks away.

Intuitive, Chakra healing, and new age store owner, Mya never met a lost cause. Drawn like a moth to a flame to the man who hides behind a mask, she’s burned by his swift rebuke. Though Aiden’s spirit screams out, begging for peace, she keeps her distance.

Her pride crumbles when a strange occurrence linked to Aiden begins, escalating at an alarming rate. Scared for her life, they must delve into the past he wishes to forget in order to save her life.

What’s up for grabs?

• One lucky hopper will win a $100 Amazon Gift Certificate sponsored by Evernight Publishing.

• Plus, each author is giving away their own unique prize! So visit each blog hop stop for a host of fabulous prizes to win.

How to enter? Answer this question in the comments below…

To be entered to win a copy of Secrets Kept and a $10 Amazon GC tell me what business , Aiden works in.

Be sure to leave the answer and your email address to be eligible to win a prize. Each comment gives you an entry for the grand prize (one per blog hop stop).

Keep hopping to the next author or blogger. After you’ve met each hero click here to vote for your favorite book boyfriend. You’ll earn an extra grand prize entry!

You’re one step closer to meeting your next Book Boyfriend…



Click Here

Cleiss Blog hop

Hey ladies and gents, here’s a sneak peek at what’s coming next from Cleiss, be sure to comment below.

Homecoming

Jenna bright

Staring at the hard-hewn planes of the face in front of me, I searched for hints of the boy I’d known, so many years ago. The boy who’d given me my first kiss, late at night in the winter cold, on my parents’ front porch. The boy who’d taken my virginity in the afternoon sun on the riverbank that last summer.

The boy I’d thought I would be with forever, until university, and distance, and life pulled us apart.

Except now life had pushed us back together, and I couldn’t help but remember the feel of his lips on my skin and his hands on my body.

“You look…” I tensed, waiting to hear which way he’d go. Would he lie and say I hadn’t changed in ten years? Or would he finish with “different,” his tone suggesting, “worse”?

Neither as it turned out. “God, Sally, you’re more beautiful than I could have dreamed.”

His words surprised a laugh from me, and suddenly we were standing there laughing as if we’d never left, never quarreled, never said good-bye.

“Let’s go for a walk,” I suggested, and he took my arm with a smile.

Perhaps it was inevitable that we would end up down by the river; it had always been our spot, long before that hot, sticky afternoon he trailed his hands up my thighs, tugging down my knickers and replacing them with kisses.

Now, the air was cooler, less heavy with heat and need. But the pulse of my blood, the wanting in my body, was louder than ever.

Ten years, it kept screaming. Ten years too long. If I only got one more chance with this man… But that wasn’t what we were here for. We were old friends, catching up. That was all.

“And so I knew it was time to come back home,” John said, finishing up a story I hadn’t even been listening to. I looked up to apologize, caught his eye…and lost my breath.

There. There in his gaze, in the way his looks lingered on my neck, on my skin…I could see heat. Want. I blinked, wondering if it was just a reflection of my own need. But no…still there.

“God, Sally. I missed you so damn much. I missed us.”

“Me too,” I breathed, knowing exactly what he meant. It wasn’t just the companionship, or the love, or the way we made each other feel when we were together. From the first moment I’d felt his hands holding my hips, felt his cock sliding inside me, I’d known. This was something special. Something rare. I had not been with many men since, but enough to confirm what I already knew in my heart. John and I…sex wasn’t just physical gratification. It wasn’t even just making love. It was something more.

Tugging me down to the grass of the riverbank, John settled me between his legs and pulled me back to rest against his chest.

“Maybe you’ll pay a little bit more attention to this story,” he said. I started my apology, but he just rested his hands on my thighs and said, “Shh. I never told you why I brought you here, the first time we made love, did I?”

Mid-Week Inspiration: A little Change never killed nobody

Mid-Week Inspiration: A little Change never killed nobody ( sung to this tune CLICK HERE )

New Years Resolution. Those lofty aspirations that sound good at first, but become increasingly hard to keep. I personally don’t do them often, because I’m a fan of pruning regularly. No, not that thing you do if you stay in the bathroom to long. More like the thing you do with a tree where you cut back the bad parts to keep it healthy and thriving. *Nods. Now you’re getting it. *offers cup of coffee or tea to awake then senses. I often look at my life to see what works, what doesn’t, decide where I’d like to make improvement and what goals I’d like to achieve. I think it’s essential to happiness to truly know ourselves. It sounds easy, but I think it gets lost in the business of life. Women especially, will put themselves low on the priority list to make room for other things.

I dubbed this year. The year Mommy matters too. Right now you’re going “ What does that even mean, Shyla?” Its small changes. Carving out the time to put on a little dab of makes up, do my hair in a new style, shopping for me. ( That was a big one, with two growing children I feel like I’m eternally in a loop of keeping up with their growth spurts). The end result? I’m happier for sure, my confidence has gotten a boost. I forgot how nice it is to simply focus on you. *Drop kicks mom guilt. You know the feeling. The one that says we should be doing something pertaining to them. I challenge, find one thing you’d like to change, something small, and easily managed. Stick with it for a week, and see how you feel the next week.

Mid-week Inspiration: Live on your own terms, It’ s never too late to make changes

Today’s Mid-week inspiration was actually something I wrote up on my “Family FB.” I knew it’d be perfect for here, and I really wanted to share. It’s no shock to anyone I used to be shy. I mean the “Reformed Shy Girl” tag line kind of screams it. But as I get old the one thing I regret was missed opportunities, and letting fear hold me back. I know we’ve all seen the post “If you could go back in time and tell your younger self one thing, what would it be”. It made me think, and this is my answer. I’m posting it directly as/is because I believe sometimes you just can’t recreate the moment.

Life’s too short for hesitation, crippling self-doubt, and not being the person we’re meant to be. I’m not perfect by any means. I fall, no amend that I straight eat it, but I always get up and keep going. Times get rough, your boat may be rocked, but don’t ever just sit there and take what life gives you. 2014 is brand new and open to possibilities, now is the time for change. Be you, be fresh, be dope, be an original, don’t settle, don’t imitate, don’t hate. I saw a post circulating that asked if you could go back in time to tell your younger self one thing, what it would be. “Be Fearless.” Now, since I’m not the Doctor I can’t go back. I can, however, move forward with that new philosophy. Ready to make this my best year ever despite the curves that may appear in the road out of no where. #Rwaar

I’ve dubbed 2014 the year of Rwar. What’s your theme this year?

Mid week Inspiration Keeping the positive vibes flowing!

You know I’m all for positive thinking, and moving forward. Well this year I decided to seek those things out with a vengeance. That’s meant testing out some new methods. The results have been incredible, interesting, and unexpected. The one I’m going to talk about today is a combination of visualization and writing.

Think of ten goals you want to accomplish, write them down, and every day revisit them. Imagine the steps you’ll take, and the moment the goal is achieved. Simple right? Silly maybe? I will tell you this. The things on my list have come true. One by one I’ve gotten to check them off, and some of them were very outlandish. From having an author I admire follow me on twitter ( told you I was a fangirl at heart) to joining with a one a new publisher I’ve been eye balling for awhile. Last night I was asked to participate in an event in February by a publisher I didn’t’ even think knew I existed. It’s been incredible and very uplifting!

What do you do to keep the positive energy flowing in your life? Have you ever done a Vision board? That’s one of the things on my to-do list in 2014.

Indie Author Giveaway! Ring in the new Year with prizes.

So excited to be apart of this one! An Indie author giveaway introducing you to new names, faces, fabulous reads, and let’s not forget… giving you chances to read.

Swing by here to check it out and enter!

12/28/13 to midnight on 1/1/14 – US ONLY!

68 EBOOKS, 7 SIGNED PAPERBACKS, GIFT CARDS & SWAG from various authors!!!

Contemporary, Paranormal & Erotic Romance… we’ve got a nice mix to keep you busy well into 2014! GOOD LUCK!

Christmas Magic with Laurel Cremant

Morning and Happy Holidays! Today i have the amazing Laurel Cremant over to share a bit of Christmas magic with her latest releases

MIDNIGHT MISTLETOE

( The Golden Pack Alphas, Book I)

WARNING: This short novelette/short story of 8,000 words is the first book in this serial and contains snarky dialogue, extremely inappropriate uses of mistletoe, alpha HEROINES and the weres smart enough to chase them.

All were-hybrid, Georgia Walker wants for Christmas is to spend some time away from her pack and in particular, away from one increasingly dangerous enforcer turned Beta. She has every intention of spending her days basking in the warm Caribbean sun and indulging in an island fling, or two. Anything to forget the way a certain were made her pulse race and skin tingle.

Marcus Legrand has only one goal this holiday season, bring Georgia home and finally claim her for his own. Convincing the strong willed ice princess will take all of his skill and patience, but Marcus is no stranger to hunting prey. He has every intention of putting both his rank and heart on the line.

EXCERPT:

Taking a deep breath, she reached her arms overhead, arched her back and inhaled the balmy salted air.

She could almost hear her muscles sigh, but despite the relaxation attempting to spread through her limbs, her body tingled with a tension she knew settled too deep.

Her heat cycle was starting, and there was nothing she could do to relieve the discomfort.

Well almost nothing.

Dropping her hands back down to her sides, she swept her gaze across the small beach. It wasn’t crowded but had a fair number of sunbathers and Zen cravers. And most importantly it had men looking for the same thing she was—a little fun, forgetfulness and zero strings.

Although heat pooled to her center, her stomach rolled in apprehension.

In the past she’d had no problems with finding a willing male to sleep with when she was in heat. She enjoyed sex, and although each year her parents hoped she would chose a permanent mate, no man in or outside of her pack inspired much feeling or devotion. At least not enough for her to be shackled to for life.

But last year, because of The-Wolf-Who-Shall-Not-Be-Named, no one appealed to her.

Instead of rolling around for several hours with a well-endowed chosen playmate, she’d remained locked in her home for days with her vibrator and a healthy supply of batteries.

She had no intentions of repeating the experience. This week, she planned on proving to both her body and wolf, that Marcus wasn’t the only man capable of making her hot.

Her gaze combed the area, looking for a good candidate.

One particular man caught her eye.

He’d been swimming for the last hour, his caramel arms cutting through the water in languid strokes. But now he rose out of the surf resembling a naughty sea nymph, his strong legs leading up to deep blue board shorts. Dry, she guessed the swimming trunks were perfectly modest—but wet they molded to his thick muscled thighs and cupped his cock in a way that left very little to the imagination. And since Georgia’s imagination was better than the average wolf’s she bit back a groan and clenched her thighs tight.

Yum.

Pushing her sunglasses up to her hair, she licked her lips as her gaze traced the diamond bright droplets of water running down his hard chest. They sluiced down his body, aided by the tight ridges of muscles along his abdomen, tunneling down to what looked like one hell of a stocking stuffer.

Merry Christmas to me.

Yes, an island getaway was proving to be the perfect holiday treat.

Her gaze meandered back up his chest and after making a brief note of thick smooth lips and tempting dimples, she made eye contact with her merman come to life.

His eyes gleamed with interest and her lips turned up in her best come-hither smile. He took a step forward and then froze, his gaze focusing on something just over her left shoulder. Shaking his head he turned and continued walking down the beach.

What the hell!

She frowned at his retreating back. Admittedly she was no super model but, she’d never had a problem with luring men her way.

A long shadow fell over her and it was her turn to freeze. Despite blocking out the sun, a heated scorch rippled down her body as the approaching shadow crept down her body. Her nipples pebbled to thick points, her pussy clenched and a slow growl worked its way up her throat.

Only one thing made her body react this way and she’d deliberately left it back in Golden Valley.

“Hello Gigi. Miss me?”

BUY LINKS:

Amazon (US): http://www.amazon.com/Midnight-Mistletoe-Paranormal-Romance-Golden-ebook/dp/B00HGG3ZO4

Amazon (UK): http://www.amazon.co.uk/Midnight-Mistletoe-Paranormal-Romance-Golden-ebook/dp/B00HGG3ZO4

Amazon (CA): http://www.amazon.ca/Midnight-Mistletoe-Paranormal-Romance-Golden-ebook/dp/B00HGG3ZO4

All Romance: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-midnightmistletoe-1382945-168.html

Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/midnight-mistletoe-laurel-cremant/1117794339?ean=2940148969877

BLURB:

An unsuspecting mortal, A Keeper of Dreams, And a group of Gods intent on reclaiming powers they no longer deserve…

Melania Wynter has a big problem, the man of her actual dreams is becoming all too real. Determined to gain back some control over her life, she hopes that a a little vacation will be enough for her psyche to stop comparing her real life to the vivid dreams she’s had since childhood. But one patch of ice, a solid pine tree and a nasty bump on the head derail her plans.

Daiomone, Keeper of Dreams has always been drawn to Melania. He’s bided his time, waiting for her to cross-over to his realm, but manipulative God’s have interfered in unexpected ways. With a helping hand from fate, he must go to Melania and keep her safe.

Together they must navigate the wilderness and survive both the cold and trouble-making Gods.

EXCERPT:

“Melania, you need to snap out of it.”

She tensed as Daimone’s voice filled her head again. Reaching up, she touched the throbbing knot on her head and moaned.

It was official. She’d finally gone off the deep end. “This is so not happening.”

His deep chuckle resonated through her mind. “Ignoring me won’t make me go away.”

She huddled tighter against her drawn up legs.

“Trust me. I know,” she mumbled.

He was a major contributing factor in her need for rest and relaxation. Her trip had been a last ditch effort before she threw in the proverbial towel and saw a therapist regarding her little problem.

However, now thanks to a stupid patch of ice, her brain was scrambled and her dream man on the loose. Somewhere on WebMD, there must be a section dedicated to her current condition. It would be a perfectly descriptive affliction that fit her every symptom to a “T”.

Ohshititis—hallucinations and hysteria brought on by extreme situations and chronic bad luck.

“You need to get moving, love.”

Why not just go with it? Considering her circumstances, she was, after all, due for a little hysteria.

“Well, excuse me if I want to take a moment to recover from a death-defying event here.”

“The storm is coming closer, love. You have to get moving.”

Lifting her head, she peered up into the thick veil of snow falling all around her. She blinked rapidly as a flurry of snowflakes drifted down on her face with, she was sure, a type of maniacal glee.

“The clock is ticking, Princess.”

“First of all, you are so not the boss of me. You’re not even real. You’re just a figment of my imagination.”

“We really don’t have time to discuss this right now.”

“Wait, I’m still unconscious, aren’t I?”

She glanced back at her car, partially expecting to see a specter of herself slumped over the wheel.

His long sigh drifted through her mind. She could almost feel his breath tickle the nape of her neck.

“Why do you always have to be so stubborn?” he responded.

She scrunched her brow at his words, refusing to be badgered by a figment of her imagination. Considering the state of things, her choices were either unconsciousness, insanity, or worse yet, admitting that she was well and truly screwed.

She opted for unconsciousness.

It must be the only thing that explained the presence of Daimone’s voice in her head. For as long as she could remember, she’d dreamed of him. He’d appeared in her dreams even as a child. In the beginning, he was a child just as she’d been. But as the years passed, he’d aged along with her.

Sometimes, months would pass between his visits, but even when she dreamed of other people and things, she’d felt him watching her in the corner of her mind. He’d been her secret companion, her solace for years.

Her cheeks heated as she thought of how he’d also become other things to her. It began the night she’d returned from her family’s summer vacation at the beach. She’d only been fifteen at the time and missed frolicking in the sun with friends. That night, she’d dreamed of lying on the beach soaking in the sun.

Daimone had appeared and sat down next to her, nudging her playfully in the ribs. She’d opened her eyes, and for the first time, noticed the breadth of his shoulders, his strong jaw, and twinkling blue eyes.

A flash of heat had raced across her flesh as sunlight had kissed his golden skin. For the first time, she felt the urge to kiss a boy. Her body had yearned to touch and be touched.

Her lips quirked as she thought back on that dream. She’d acted on impulse then. She’d reached up and pulled him down to her, pursing her lips onto his. He’d yanked away looking surprised, but she still remembered the way she’d tingled at the touch of his lips on hers.

She rarely saw him in her dreams for several years after that. He would appear as a passerby or random face in a crowd, but never played a starring role. Not until her parents died several years after she completed college did he become a reoccurring feature in her dreams again.

“As much as I love this little jaunt down memory lane, it’s time to make a decision.”

His voice had lost its calm tone and held a definite edge of irritation.

“I’ll make this easier for you. You’re not unconscious, you’re not crazy. So that leaves only one option.”

“Don’t say it,” she said.

“You’re fucked, love, and not in a good way.”

She groaned.

Of course she was.

BUY LINKS:

Amazon (US): http://www.amazon.com/Wynters-Modern-Fairy-Wynter-Tales-ebook/dp/B00HGI7MSM

Amazon (UK): http://www.amazon.co.uk/Wynters-Modern-Fairy-Wynter-Tales-ebook/dp/B00HGI7MSM

Amazon (CA): http://www.amazon.ca/Wynters-Modern-Fairy-Wynter-Tales-ebook/dp/B00HGI7MSM

All Romance: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-wynter039sfall-1381922-143.html

Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/wynters-fall-laurel-cremant/1117786927?ean=2940148910886

ABOUT LAUREL CREMANT

Laurel is a romance author, who like most writers loves to read. Her first love (pun intended) has always been romance. From the sappy YA romance novel to the more risqué erotica novels, Laurel is a sucker for a good love story.

Laurel writes paranormal and contemporary romance and is a self-proclaimed, out of the closet nerd. She admits that she can’t seem to avoid adding a bit of “nerdology” or “geek-dom” to all of her books. Living in Miami, she also admits that she can’t seem to avoid giving her heroines gorgeous shoes, “In Miami, we worship everything strappy, open toed and just plain hot!”

AUTHOR WEBSITE & LINKS

Website: http://www.LaurelCremant.com

Blog: http://www.laurelcremant.blogspot.com

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/LaurelCremant

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/LaurelCremantAuthor

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/LaurelCremant

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/laurelcremant

Back in Black~ Mid Week Inspiration Keeping the Faith

Hey my Colts. To all my loyal readers I have to say a huge , Im’ sorry. I fell off the face of the earth blogger wise. My family was dealt a tough blow we’re just recovering from. The Hubby deployes just before Thanksgiving totally out of the blue. Normally we prep the kids months before hand but this time … we only had a couple of days. It’ s been rough on them and I’ve been completely focused on the adjustment period. For those of you who’ve never been through a deployment or watched someone there’ s a window of 1-3 months depending on the age of the child where they may act out, regress, etc in response to the absence of their parent.

We’re over the hump of that, and things are starting to coast smoothly. * giant sigh of relief from this mommy writer. I’m happy to say I’m back. This week for Mid-week inspiration I wanted to talk about what helps me through the rough bits, faith and a crap tone of positive thinking. You know those movies where the lead has a goal and she plasters her mirror with posts its reminding her of it? Yeah, that’s me , only the post it’s are in my head. It sounds silly right? But maybe Stuart Smiley had something going.

This leads me to my latest book, Rediscovering Joy, which deals with people rebuilding themselves from their lowest point. We all break down, but I think the most important thing is how we put ourselves back together.

Release Date Dec 21st!

Blurb

Ford Lincoln is an ex Pastor bitter and bent by the devastating plane crash that stole his wife and young brother. Raised in a home with abusive, drug addicted parents he’s always played the role of protector. But when he discovered he could leave it all behind, he dedicated his life to doing better; bringing the two people he loved most, along with him. Depressed, and slightly intoxicated he revisits his old parish one night during the Christmas season, and discovers, someone with a need greater than his own.

Kerry Taige has seen the worst of life. Bartered to a Pimp to keep her mother’s drug addiction feed it was ,Ford’s wife Trisha who helped her escape her old life. Laid off from her job with an eviction notice on her door and her ex Pimp, Tremaine, circling her like a shark, things are grim. Until she enters her church at night, and received a solution in the form of Ford Lincoln. Sparks leap between the two of them, jolting them both and if they’re willing to battle their demons they may the best present of all, love.

Congrats to the Blog Hop Winner!

I had an incredible Blog hop! A huge thank you to everyone who participated! The winner of their pick of 3 books In my back list is Maggie Steele!

Best,

Shyla