Karice Bolton's Blog, page 4

Beyond Control Cover Reveal Contest!

Hope your week has started off wonderfully! The cover reveal for Beyond Control was a lot of fun and there were a ton of blogs participating so that was great. It's finally time for me to show it here... I can't wait to hear what you think!! And one lucky commenter will win a $10 Amazon card and a Beyond Control bookmark! The winner will be randomly chosen on August 8th! The cover was designed by Claudia at Phatpuppy. And the typography was done by Ashley at BB Designs (AKA Bookish Brunette)! Love them both!! They are both so fabulous to work with. 
I also have a 'naming a character' contest coming up for the third book in this series, which I'm totally looking forward to. It will be so much fun to name the main love interest with your help! I'll post the details surrounding that in August!


This is my first contemporary romance (New Adult) and the first in the Beyond Love series. However, it can be read as a stand-alone! This book has been a real joy to write, and I was often surprised at where Jason and Gabby's story led. I hope you enjoy it too! I'll start posting excerpts in the weeks to come!
----Still tweaking the blurb, but here it is again:
Gabby Sullivan learns in college that some things are
impossible to control, and whenever life has spun out of control bad things
seem to happen. She promises herself that she’ll stay a safe distance from the
top three culprits:

Sex

Love

Relationships

But some things are beyond control…

Gabby handles her mom’s death and brother’s sudden abandonment
just about as well as anyone could at the age of twelve. Left feeling alone, she
finishes high school, developing a bit of a wild streak, and lives like there’s
no tomorrow. That is until an illness stops her in her tracks. Learning to
control life around her becomes her comfort. With a visible scar that reminds
her and the world that she beat the odds, it’s impossible for her to put
everything behind her, no matter how hard she tries. 

Right out of college she begins working at her family’s
company and buries herself in the safety of the corporate world. No extra time,
no life, no relationships. It’s safe to say she might be a little demanding and
overly ambitious. She’s got everything under control, just how she likes it. 

Jason’s been trying to piece his life together after a
personal tragedy, only it’s not working. He’s thrown himself into his work, but
he’s only becoming angrier. He’ll never forgive himself and doesn’t expect
anyone else to either.

When the back of his vehicle is clipped by an obnoxious limo
driver he can’t wait to let the driver have it until he hears Gabby’s voice
coming from inside the sedan. There’s something soothing about it, something
familiar.

The moment she sees him, she knows her life will never be
the same. But she doesn’t know why. He’s everything she said she never wanted.
He’s cocky, arrogant, and infuriating. With his dazzling amber eyes, dark hair
and chiseled features she can hardly remember where she’s going, let alone
where she’s been and maybe that’s a good thing. She begins to let him show her
what life could be, if she really lived it.

Neither wants their past to define their future, but
sometimes destiny has something else in store. It’s only as their love grows
and secrets are revealed that they realize a devastating connection from their
past might actually tear them apart.

------So, what do you think? The release will be at the end of August, but I haven't picked the actual date yet. I'll keep you posted! 

Also, I'll be in Stamford, CT at the Stamford Author Event on August 10th with over 35 authors. Hope some of you guys can make it! The event is FREE but registration is recommended. Plus it enters you into some great contests. Here is the link!
Have a wonderful week everyone! 

Beyond Control Teaser/Contest, plus Pulling The Camp from Nook and Kobo

Hope everyone has had a wonderful July. Only a week left??? Yikes! So I've got a few updates before I begin all of the Beyond Control teasers and such for the summer. (And don't forget to enter to win a $10 Amazon Card and bookmarks.)


So the first announcement is that I've decided to pull The Camp from Nook and Kobo and place it in the Amazon Prime program. The Camp hasn't really found its happy place, so I thought this would be the perfect title to experiment with. What this means to you is: 



1) Amazon prime members can borrow The Camp for FREE. 2) I may or may not run a Free day on it now and then over the next three months. 3) If anyone's interested in getting it on Nook or Kobo now would be the time because I have to take it off sale at all outlets for three months except for Amazon... I haven't really known whether or not to give it a go, and I know there are some big risks, but I thought in this instance I don't really have much to lose. I plan on pulling The Camp tonight so it will probably take a day or so to be removed from KOBO and Nook, and about the same time to be placed in the Prime program. We shall see!



And the winner of the last Beyond Control Teaser Contest is Jeanine T! Yay!! The contest for today is a $10 AMAZON CARD and bookmarks! Just leave a comment below. Rather than a final teaser, I'm leaving you guys with the preliminary blurb before the reveal tomorrow.
The cover reveal will be happening across the blogosphere on the 24th. It has been organized by Bookish Brunette, and I'm hoping everyone loves the cover! Beyond Control is the first book in the Beyond Love Series but can be read as a stand alone. So here is the preliminary blurb....



Gabby Sullivan learns in college that some things are impossible to control, and whenever life has spun out of control bad things seem to happen. She promises herself that she’ll stay a safe distance from the top three culprits: 
Sex Love Relationships 
But some things are beyond control… 

Gabby handles her mom’s death and brother’s sudden abandonment just about as well as anyone could at the age of twelve. Left feeling alone, she finishes high school, developing a bit of a wild streak, and lives like there’s no tomorrow. That is until an illness stops her in her tracks. Learning to control life around her becomes her comfort. With a visible scar that reminds her and the world that she beat the odds, it’s impossible for her to put everything behind her, no matter how hard she tries. 
Right out of college she begins working at her family’s company and buries herself in the safety of the corporate world. No extra time, no life, no relationships. It’s safe to say she might be a little demanding and overly ambitious. She’s got everything under control, just how she likes it. After all, life is short. 

Jason’s been trying to piece his life together after a personal tragedy, only it’s not working. He’s thrown himself into his work, but he’s only becoming angrier. He’ll never forgive himself and doesn’t expect anyone else to either. 

When the back of his vehicle is clipped by an obnoxious limo driver he can’t wait to let the driver have it until he hears Gabby’s voice coming from inside the sedan. There’s something soothing about it, something familiar. 
The moment she sees him, she knows her life will never be the same. But she doesn’t know why. He’s everything she said she never wanted. He’s cocky, arrogant, and infuriating. With his dazzling amber eyes, dark hair and chiseled features she can hardly remember where she’s going, let alone where she’s been and maybe that’s a good thing. She begins to let him show her what life could be, if she really lived it. 

Neither wants their past to define their future, but sometimes destiny has something else in store. It’s only as their love grows and secrets are revealed that they realize a devastating connection from their past might actually tear them apart.
THANKS GUYS and DON'T FORGET TO LEAVE A COMMENT FOR A CHANCE TO WIN! WINNER WILL BE CHOSEN on AUGUST 1st.

Contest, Cover Teaser, and Title Announcement!

Hey guys!
I'm giving away a $10 Amazon card and bookmarks so stick out the post (lol) and you'll see how to win. Hope your summer is treating you well. We've had quite a few days of sunshine (the Fourth was even sunny), which is awesome and sooo not typical. For some reason in the middle of summer, I've been on a Christmas reading kick (or at least snow involved). I think it's because of all the sunshine we've had. I'm on overload and not quite used to it - lol. I've also just calmed down a bit from a few spider encounters! No... I'm nothing like Triss (Witch Avenue) when it comes to the creepers! They freak me out!! And these suckers were huge and just lurking.
Anyway, I've got a couple of pretty sweet announcements surrounding my latest release + a cover teaser and contest!! Also, the winner of the last cover contest was Mandy and she has been emailed. Yay!!
Okay, so the official reveal is going to be on July 24th. Bookish Brunette is organizing it so I'm super psyched about that.
So here we go... The title of the first contemporary romance is...
BEYOND CONTROL
Here's the next bit of news! It's actually book one in a brand new series. However, it can be read as a stand-alone. Yippee!!
Here's a tiny piece of the blurb about Jason and Gabby:
----------

Neither want their past to define their future, but
sometimes destiny has something else in store. It’s only as their love grows
and secrets are revealed that they realize a devastating connection from their
past might actually tear them apart.

----------

And.... here is the cover teaser!!! I know I'm being stingy, but I don't want to ruin the reveal. <3

And... here is the contest!!!!
Leave a comment and one winner will be randomly chosen to win a $10 Amazon card and bookmarks on the day the next teaser/reveal goes up!! Good Luck everyone and I hope you're excited as I am about the new August release.
xoxo

Guest author post!

Hey, guys!



Dusty Crabtree is stopping by to say 'hi' to everyone. She's the author of Shadow Eyes. I haven't read it yet, but it sounds like a book to put on the TBR list!! Hope you enjoy her post about her inspiration for Shadow Eyes and her favorite teasers. So much fun! And thanks, Dusty for coming to say hi to us all. All of her contact information is at the bottom of the post. 
Later this week, I'll be posting a little something for you all surrounding my contemporary romance! Cover teasers anyone? Woohoo!!
And here is Dusty to speak with us about Shadow Eyes! Yay!! Hope you enjoy...   ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



Thanks for having me, Karice, and for letting me share my YA urban fantasy, Shadow Eyes with your readers! 

One thing people often ask authors is, “Where did you come up with the idea for your book?” The idea for Shadow Eyes actually first came to me as a screenplay for a Christian horror movie. I know. That’s not really a genre. But it should be. Anyway, the movie would have been about a cast of intertwined characters going about their lives and making mistakes with dark, creepy shadows (demons) hovering around them, whispering to them, and influencing them to do evil things. Only the audience would see the shadows though.  

A few years after I’d had that idea, my friend suggested I should write a paranormal novel about angels. I’d always loved the concept of angels and demons in stories and immediately thought back to that screenplay idea. After a lot of thought on how to make the story work for a novel, I decided on a 17-year-old narrator, Iris, who had a special ability to see the shadows, as well as light figures (angels), but nobody else could. 


Shadow Eyes Synopsis: 
Iris Kohl lives in a world populated by murky shadows that surround, harass, and entice unsuspecting individuals toward evil. But she is the only one who can see them. She’s had this ability to see the shadows, as well as brilliantly glowing light figures, ever since an obscure, tragic incident on her fourteenth birthday three years earlier.  

Although she’s learned to cope, the view of her world begins to shift upon the arrival of three mysterious characters. First, a handsome new teacher whose presence scares away shadows; second, a new friend with an awe-inspiring aura; and third, a mysterious and alluring new student whom Iris has a hard time resisting despite already having a boyfriend. 

As the shadows invade and terrorize her own life and family, she must ultimately revisit the most horrific event of her life in order to learn her true identity and become the hero she was meant to be. 

To give you a little taste of Shadow Eyes, here are my top 5 favorite quotes, free of spoilers.


5. “…the second shadow tilted its head back and opened the dark abyss of its mouth. What came out was the most horrible noise I had ever heard. It sounded like the echoing cackle of a demon drowning in a deep well. As piercing as nails on a chalkboard yet as murky and surreal as a nightmare.”



4. It was as if his green eyes were my kryptonite, making all my defensive powers of wit and sarcasm useless. I was exposed and vulnerable. But for some reason, with Patrick…I liked it.



3. “Well, yeah. Since you have a boyfriend, nothing I say or do to you is meant to have any deeper meaning than harmless flirting.” He softened his voice as he leaned in closer to me and began tracing his finger from my hand up my arm to my shoulder. “Now, if you didn’t have a boyfriend…well, let’s just say, you could read as deeply into my actions as you wanted to.”


2. Suddenly, a gush of black water poured from the back seat over my shoulder and into my lap. I barely had time to let out a quick gasp of surprise before it began circling rapidly around my body in a thick spiral, tightening its grip as it climbed up to my face. Within seconds I was smothered, consumed, oppressed, and overcome. 
1. I closed my eyes tightly and slowly put my hand to my forehead. I didn’t have to be completely lucid to recognize that our wreck of a situation had just escalated from a mild concussion to being thrown through the windshield of the car.




Check out Dusty’s blog at http://dustycrabtree.wordpress.com/ Find her on facebook at https://www.facebook.com/dusty.crabtree.1 Follow her on twitter at twitter.com/dustycrabtree Buy Shadow Eyes at http://musapublishing.com/index.php (also available at all major online bookstores) View the book trailer at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v7UP9A0Fm78

Contest! Teaser of latest Cover and more!

I've decided to make my upcoming release the most interactive of any of my book releases so far, and I hope you guys have fun taking part in different Q&A's and contests that I plan on doing as we go! It should be a blast.
So the first question I asked was whether or not you wanted to wait several weeks for the official cover reveal or have bits and pieces revealed before then... The overwhelming response, both here and on Facebook, was to do the tiny sneak peek! So that is what I'll be doing. I will reveal a tiny portion of the cover each week over the next several weeks. I will also begin revealing clues surrounding the story and characters. And speaking of characters, that is what my next interactive piece will be. So stay tuned! I need your help with deciding something VERY crucial and can't wait to have your input. Also, the prize surrounding the winning choice is kind of cool (at least I think so) - LOL.
I will be announcing the title of this New Adult Contemporary Romance in the coming weeks. But I must say, it's killing me not to blurb it right now. You know what? I'm going to do like a hangman type thing surrounding the title.
— — — — — —     — — — — — — —
There it is! That's the title. Actually, the title really sets the tone for the book, and that's why I don't want to say it just yet....
Anywho, I just am so excited about this project and I think the summertime release is fitting. I hope you guys have fun on this journey with me as I continue to ask for your input and offer prizes! And on that note, the winner for the "Poll" contest regarding the cover is Eli Y. Woohoo! Thanks to everyone who left suggestions. It was so much fun.
For the select few who didn't want to see a tiny portion, look away now! But to celebrate the first little chunk that I'm revealing tonight, leave a comment and I'll choose a winner when I reveal the next piece and it will continue like that until the BIG REVEAL.
I'm trying not to give away too much with these teasers!
But here it is.........

Contest!! Taking a poll! Need your input. :)

**Question and a contest!!! Taking a poll!!!** 
Umm. Wow!! Phatpuppy did it again! I'm so in love with this cover for the new contemporary romance that I'm up to for the summer!! I can't wait to show you all!! Eeeep!!! 
Would you guys be into me releasing a tiny little piece of the cover? Just a section? Or do you want me to wait and do the whole thing at once. It might be many weeks for that.... I cropped a little section and can post it to give you a little idea. Your call! Majority rules! 
I'm also posing the same question over on my Facebook page so the poll results will come from both places. One person from each place will be randomly chosen to win a $10 Amazon Card and signed bookmarks!  I'll announce the winners on Sunday with the results and a tiny, tiny piece of the cover if voted for. Otherwise just the winners will be announced with no hint of a cover! Thanks guys!! Can't wait to hear your thoughts!

Shattered Souls is now live!!! + Contest (of course)

Great news to share! Shattered Souls is now live on both Kindle and Nook. Yaaay!! 




A battle is brewing among the covens…
As Triss prepares to defeat the Praedivinus, a new order rises, and this one is far more deadly. Navigating her way through mystic realms, and unknown portals it is up to Triss to recognize real from imagined and stop the two from colliding.

This is the final installment in the Witch Avenue Series, and I hope you enjoy reading it just as much as I enjoyed writing it. I'm busy working away on two new projects to be released this summer. One is a contemporary romance (Stand-alone) and the other is the first book in a new paranormal romance series. Yay!



I'm very fond of Triss and Logan, and I can't thank you guys enough for so many kind messages and emails about their story. Thank you so much! It really means a lot! And I sooooo hope you enjoy Shattered Souls. And if you aren't familiar with the series yet, Lonely Souls is available for free on Kindle!

Also, if I don't seem as peppy as usual, I apparently caught a nasty cold and my throat is on fire!! Eeek!! Need hot tea - STAT! Okay enough moaning about it.


I have provided the links to both Amazon and Nook. Also, Beckstar Reviews provided a review about Shattered Souls based on an advanced copy she received, and I thought you might enjoy reading it too (spoiler free review). I got so excited!! <3



Anywho, leave a comment, and you will be entered to win a set of signed bookmarks and a $10.00 Amazon card. Good Luck! Winner will be randomly chosen on June 25th.



Kindle Link





Nook Link

Shattered Souls Cover Reveal and Contest!

Hey guys~



Hope you had a fantastic weekend! We made it through without injury so that was awesome right there!! My hubby got his stitches out and the girls (our eng. bulldogs) were loving the rain! The self watering containers that Jon built are working AMAZING! I haven't had to water since he made them two weeks ago and the flowers are really growing. It makes gardening much easier!



I've been working on a couple of projects for the graduate program I'm in and am happy the quarter is coming to a close! The classes have been interesting and enjoyable but homework is homework! *shivers*



Okay so enough of me babbling... Below is the cover for Shattered Souls! I hope you guys like it. The cover was designed by Claudia at Phatpuppy and Ashley at BB Designs (Bookish Brunette). I'm so in love with it and it ties together with the story wonderfully. 



Eeek!! Happy Dance!!



SHATTERED SOULS


A battle is brewing among the covens… 




As Triss prepares to defeat the Praedivinus, a new order rises, and this one is far more deadly. Navigating her way through mystic realms, and unknown portals it is up to Triss to recognize real from imagined and stop the two from colliding.










So I hope you guys like it!!!



Now to the contest!



Enter to win a $10 Amazon Card by leaving a comment!



Winner will be randomly chosen on June 4th - release day for Shattered Souls! Also, don't forget to snoop around the blog and enter to win another contest that is ending on June 4th as well!



GOOD LUCK!

Love in Bloom Giveaway Hop

I'm participating in the Love in Bloom Giveaway Hop and am thrilled you stopped by! It is hosted by both the lovely I am a Reader not a Writer and Portrait of a Book Blogs! 














The contest is a $5 Amazon Gift Card and a one paperback or ebook copy (winner's choice)!



Winner can choose from:



Watchers Trilogy
Awakening
Legions
Cataclysm



Witch Avenue Series
Lonely Souls
Altered Souls
Released Souls
Ways to Enter!



Subscribe to Blog (lots of contests, info on new releases, and cover reveals)
Follow me on Twitter
Tweet about it
Like my Facebook Page
Post about the contest on Facebook
Leave a Blog Comment ~ What is your favorite song that makes you think about love and romance and all that stuff?





If you snoop around my blog you'll see there are some other contests going on as well!
 And LONELY SOULS is FREE right now on AMAZON!




a Rafflecopter giveaway

Contest! The Camp and Witch Avenue Blog Tour

Wow! Lots going on right now. First, there is a blog tour going on through June 12th where you can enter to win a Kindle Fire. See schedule below. Kelly Vision wrote a really fun review regarding The Camp to kick off the tour. Yaaay! Check out one of the participating blogs on their posting day and you can enter to win via Rafflecopter. I also have a mini contest going on here that I'll tell you about toward the end of this post.
Another cool announcement is that the cover for Shattered Souls (Witch Avenue #4) will be revealed on May 20th right here! Woohoo! It's so lovely thanks to Phatpuppy and Bookish Brunette. I can't wait to show you all. I hope you like it. And what that also means is that Shattered Souls has a release date, which is June 4th! It will be the final installment in the Witch Avenue Series... At least for the 'souls' series.  
Also, Lonely Souls will continue to be FREE on Kindle during the tour! Hope you can pick your copy up if you haven't already.
I'm also starting on a contemporary romance that will be a complete delight to work on. Bit of a change of pace for me. I also have a new paranormal series in the works as well. I hope some of my books get to land on your TBR piles this summer! I just have to get the new ones out there to you - eeek! So much fun! 
Well, some of you might have seen on my Facebook page that my hubby accidentally stabbed himself in the arm as he was making self-watering containers for my garden. He had to have a lot of stitches, but they get to come out soon.... It was quite the scary event, especially because it was near the wrist. It could have been so much worse and we are so lucky. But I will say that the self-watering containers seem to be working really well! Always a bright side I guess? I haven't had to water for over a week. 
That sounds horrible, doesn't it.
Anyway, hope you can mark your calendars for the release of Shattered Souls on June 4th! To celebrate the announcement, I'm giving away a $10 Amazon card and signed bookmarks! Just leave a comment below and the winner will be chosen on June 4th! Good Luck!
And don't forget that on August 10th, I will be in Stamford CT signing books, swag and anything else, and I'd love for you to stop by if you can.

Tour Schedule

May 13 | The Camp | http://kellyvision.wordpress.com | 
May 15 | Guest Post | http://www.memyshelfandi.com/ | 
May 17 | Guest Post | http://thereadingdate.com/ | 
May 19 | The Camp | http://kaidansseduction.blogspot.com | 
May 20 | The Camp | http://fictionfolio.com/ | 
May 22 | The Camp + Guest Post | http://littlehyuts.blogspot.com/ 
May 28 | The Camp | http://thecompulsivereader.com 
May 28 | Witch Avenue + Guest Post | http://bookwormdream.blogspot.com/ |
May 31 | The Camp + Interview | http://prettylittlememoirs.blogspot.com/ |
June 3 | The Camp | http://sparetimebookblog.blogspot.com/ | 
June 3 | The Camp | http://readingandwritingurbanfantasy.blogspot.com/ | 
June 4 | The Camp + Witch Avenue | http://theobsessivereader.com/review-policy// | 
June 5 | The Camp + Guest Post | http://whyanot.wordpress.com// | 
June 5 | Mundie Moms | http://mundiemoms.com | June 6 | http://bookreaderchronicles.com/ |
June 6 | The Camp | http://thekams.wordpress.com/ | 
June 7 | The Camp | http://bookalicious.org/ | 
June 8 | Witch Avenue | http://www.moonlightbookreviews.com | 
June 9 | The Camp | http://goodbooksandgoodwine.com/ | 
June 10 | The Camp + Guest Post | http://ramblingsofabooknerd.com// | 
June 11 | The Camp | http://pageturnersblog.com/ |
June 11 | The Camp | http://alexalovesbooks.com/ | 
June 12 | The Camp + Witch Avenue | http://www.bookscompleteme.com/ |