Lacey Wolfe's Blog, page 15

Cover Reveal for Jennifer James and Mina Carter

I'm so excited to have Mina Carter and Jennifer James' new covers on the blog today. I don't have other authors here to often, so this is a treat. I usually host authors over at Find Your Next Read. But I love these two authors, so I'm having them here too. :) Check out these covers and drool... Peyton’s Ride (Riding with the Hunt #1) by Jennifer James

Divorcee Peyton Reynolds is ready to get out of town after her mother's death. A month long cross country ride on her Harley, free from her estranged family's judgement and the memories of her ex-husband's betrayal. A last check-up on her new cruiser leaves her alone in the garage with sexy town bad boy, Ian Coghlan.

Ian Coghlan knows he's nothing but bad news for a woman like Peyton. His killer affection has held him back from acting on a five year old attraction. One tiny grin in the gorgeous, curvy, brunette's direction and sockets start flying out of the tool boxes.

Pixie pranks abound, his old biker gang roars into the parking lot...and that's only the beginning of the mayhem.

When Peyton is left bleeding to death, he has to decide if he can let her go or if he's willing risk her eternal hatred for changing her life forever.
Links--Peyton’s Ride

Goodreads-- https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18488922-peyton-s-ride?ac=1


About the Author--Jennifer James

For a girl whose first book was called “The Scariest Forest Ever,” the jump to romance may seem to be a far one. But a love of happy endings and the stories she kept making up in her head for strangers on the street lead to an unhealthy amount of time spent behind the keyboard typing away and giggling mischievously over sassy heroines, sexy heroes, and healthy sprinklings of geek humor.

With time split between a day job staring at teeth, two little girls, college courses, workaholic husband, and too many voices in her head, Jennifer still finds time to sneak off and devour all the books she can find – even if it means hiding in the closet to read them.

She insists on her jokes being dirty, drinks spiked, and tattoos placed in intriguing, muscular places you can only find when the clothes come off.


Author Links--Jennifer James

Website--- http://www.authorjenniferjames.com/
Blog--- http://www.authorjenniferjames.com/?page_id=14
Facebook--- https://www.facebook.com/JenniferJames.Author
Twitter--- https://twitter.com/JenniferJames34
Goodreads--- https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6444267.Jennifer_James
The Reaper and the Cop by Mina Carter

Death’s big business. For Laney Larson, it’s a full time job.

The latest in a long line of Reapers, Laney hits Liberty, Oakwood expecting the usual ‘reap and run’ type of job. However the small town holds far more secrets than she expects, including a sexy cop who blind-sides her reaper instincts big-time.

Liberty. It used to be a nice town until the things that go bump in the night moved in.

Detective Troy Regan moved to Liberty to claw back a little of his soul after working homicide in the big city. But the sleepy little down has problems of the paranormal kind and it’s police department have gone from calls about lost cats to Boggarts in the basement. Then the seriously nasty stuff moved in.

Sparks fly when a sexy Reaper meets a hot as hell Cop...

Troy’s not sure exactly what flavour of paranormal Laney is, but he doesn’t care. She’s tiny, delicate and gorgeous. When he finds a Lycan looming over her in an alley, all his protective instincts flare up. He needs to get her home, keep her safe…in his bed.

But is she the answer he’s been looking for to fill the empty spot in his heart, or the most dangerous creature he’s ever met?


Links--The Reaper

Goodreads-- https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20643880-the-reaper-and-the-cop


About the Author--Mina Carter

Mina was born and raised in the East Farthing of Middle Earth (otherwise known as the Midlands, England) and spend her childhood learning all the sorts of things generally required of a professional adventurer. Able to ride, box, shoot, make and read maps, make chainmail and use a broadsword (with varying degrees of efficiency) she was disgusted to find that adventuring is not considered a suitable occupation these days.

So, instead of slaying dragons and hunting vampires and the like, Mina spends her days writing about hot shifters, government conspiracies and vampire lords with more than their fair share of RAWR. Turns out wanna-be adventurers have quite the turn of imagination after all...

(But she keeps that sword sharp, just in case the writing career is just a dream and she really *is* an adventurer.)

The boring part: A full time author and cover artist, Mina can usually be found hunched over a keyboard or graphics tablet, frantically trying to get the images and words in her head out and onto the screen before they drive her mad. She's addicted to coffee and would like to be addicted to chocolate, but unfortunately chocolate dislikes her.


Author Links--Mina Carter

Website--- http://mina-carter.com/
Blog--http://pinterest.com/minacarter77
Facebook--- http://facebook.com/mina.carter
Twitter--  http://twitter.com/minacarter
Goodreads-- http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2920063.Mina_Carter


Giveaway

There is a reveal wide swag giveaway provided by Jennifer and Mina. It ends. 2/14. GiveawayTools code is below.
Entry-Form Reveal Party!

Join us for some FB fun and a Cover Reveal Party! Games, prizes, authors acting a little crazy. Guaranteed to be a good time. February 1st, 2014  6pm-10pm EST

To join visit… https://www.facebook.com/events/580802852013388/

Cute Kitten Vs Mirror

How cute is this? It's adorable!!! I saw this last week on Facebook and watched it several times. One, it reminded me of my kitty Valerie and two, it's just so funny! Enjoy and happy Friday! -Lacey

Crafty Wednesday

It's crafty Wednesday. Today I am sharing my latest finished crochet project, the cat sac I made my cat! She loves it! And I love this pattern. It just might be my favorite. Might. I want to make something else with it. Maybe a scarf.

This was a double crochet where I chained three each turn of the work. So first I chained my width, then added 4 more chains. On the first row, I inserted the hook on the 4th opening and double crocheted down the chain. And at the end of each row, I chained three, then inserted the hook in the first hole. Make sense? Maybe? Hopefully if you crochet it does.

This is what it looked like before I started the sac part.  Just in case she didn't like, I stitched it up (single crochet) in a different color so I could easily take it apart. In this photo, I have two ends stitched shut. I ended up taking the bottom part off, so now its more of a tube, so her feet and head can be outside each opening.

But she loves it.  A lot! She spends a lot of time nuzzled in it next to me on the couch. I think this was an excellent thing to make her.

Right now I'm making my husband a blanket. This is going to take awhile, but it's what he wanted. I am doing three colored yarns at once in a single crochet. It's SUPER thick. I will share my progress next week. What are you working on? -Lacey

Candy Crush Addict?

GIFSoup Are you addicted to this game? When you first started playing, did it haunt your dreams? All you could see were those darn candies. And lives, you needed more and more and more in order to win the next level. It was so frustrating, yet you had to keep playing. And then you did it. You beat that level! And the next five you flew through, only to get stuck again. AGH! WHY?! Yup, me too! I was so addicted to this game, it was always on my mind. I started to play it this past August and I flew up the board. I was like, this is awesome. I love it. But then, I got stuck. Like really stuck. I remember the level well. 140. I had to get 99 of 3 different colors in a limited number of moves. I was stuck....for a long, long time. The game was no longer fun. But then, I finally beat it. And the addiction started all over again.

I started through the next world and just kept getting stuck. It sucked. When did the game get so hard? But I reminded myself, others had beat it, so I could too.

Once beating the world, I kept going up the board. Now, I am stuck. But after getting stuck so much, I decided I was done. Level 208....you've stumped me.

I've put it aside and moved on to Farm Hero Saga. Yeah, by the same makers and just as additive. Ugh! My addiction to this one is nothing like Candy Crush. I don't dream about it. I don't have to play it all the time. I don't feel the need to text my friends and talk about it.

Yes, true story. I've had text conversations about Candy Crush. I've tweeted about it. It was bad...

Of course, if I beat level 208, because I do still play the game about twice a week when bored somewhere waiting on something, will the addiction come back? I would like to think not. I wasn't crazy about the dream world they added when I realized I was playing the same exact levels I'd already done. Well played Candy Crush Makers! 

So are you addicted? Have you played the game? Or are you avoiding it?

Crafty Wednesday!

The first ones I made. These are in my living room. This June will be 2 years in our new house. LOL - I still call in the new house, even though, A - It's not a brand new one, and B - after 2 years, how new is this house anymore?

Anyway, our old house (yeah, you're gonna get old a new in this blog) didn't have vaulted ceilings. Just regular 8 ft. ceilings. Nothing fancy and glamorous, and I must admit, it was nice. The house stayed warm all the time and it wasn't complicated to decorate. But we out grew it and needed to move closer to hubby's work. So we are at the new house now. 

This house...it certainly had vaulted ceilings. Wait, let me take that back, I don't know if it's considered vaulted. The foyer and the living room are 24 feet high! I believe these are called 2 story rooms. Yes, when looking at houses, it's all Oooo and Aaah! Then you move in and you think, how the hell do I decorate all these tall walls!

Well, I'm going to tell you. Just in case you're cheap like me or want to attempt to be crafty, when really, you're not. These are up in my stair/foyer area. I went a little more bold in my colors. I'm usually a neutral kinda gal. I believe the technical term is tape art. It's so super, duper easy. Just buy canvases in the size you want. I got 7 on sale at Micheals for like...$12 I think? I'm not positive. 

Choose your paint colors. Then get your tape (Frog tape works best) and tape off your design. Do about 2-3 layers of paint. Let it dry. Pull the tape off. You are done! See, easy! And then you've filled your walls with art. And not just any art. Your art! And boy, when people come over, they really like it. You get a sense of pride. :)

Check out my Things For Around The House board on pinterest. You'll see other things that are easy. Because let me tell you, easy is my way. 

See ya next week! -Lacey

When Did I Become The Mom to Older Kids?

When did I become the mom to older kids? I guess to some, my children are still young. They are only 7 and 9. But I've entered this new world of parenting.  I don't have babies and I don't plan to have anymore. 

I've become that lady who likes babies, but I'm not really going to offer to hold yours for you. Oh, and I probably won't feel the need to change the diaper if I am in fact holding the baby. Okay, wait! It isn't that I dislike babies. I adore them. I have nieces and nephews and I love playing with them, holding them, and spoiling the hell out of them. It's just, I don't have that motherly desire anymore to go ga-ga over babies.

Over the holidays, we had a house full. Lots of little ones running around. I didn't realize before this holiday how much things have changed. The bottles, the diapers, the needing mommy for everything, and pleading with them to please eat and not throw it to the dog. Mine are older...they don't need me for so much. Though my youngest still tries to feed her food to the dog.

Wait...when did this happen? When the heck did my kids get older and become the "older" kids?
GIFSoup Over the Christmas holidays while they were home, they fed themselves breakfast and lunch. Got snacks and drinks when they needed them, and for the most part, we all did our own thing. When the holidays were over, I was a little sad for them to go back to school. I truly enjoyed my time with them. I like where we are at in this mother/child relationship.

It's easy.

There, I said it. The truth to it all. This is easy! This is fun! I get to spend more time joking with them, going out without having to chase them across wal-mart, then try to remember where I ditched the cart. No temper tantrums when I don't get them candy in the check out aisle. Okay, that was a lie. Even my 9 year old will put on the pouty face.

Though, I do wonder. Is it fun and easy now with the teenage years looming ahead. Agh! Those years scare the absolute crap out of me. The independence they are going to want. Driving, boyfriends, girlfriends, sleep overs. Oh, and the attitude. The "I hate you!" that I know is coming that will crush me.

I'm going to enjoy these few years as the mom to the "older kids." Because the next phase is the mom to "the teenagers." 

Where the heck is that pause button?

Yikes, and after the teenage years...they move out. Oh dear... -Lacey I just released a quirky, fun, and steamy romance titled Arranged Love!

Arranged Love is now Live! (Giveaway)

I'm so excited to share my new release with you. Below is the blurb, plus an excerpt, as well as a giveaway running until the end of the month. If you pick this story up, I do hope you truly enjoy it.

****

They think they’re fooling their parents, but really, the joke’s on them.

Kayla Ames’s parents could win an award in meddling. Every time she turns around, they’re setting her up with someone new. Try as she might, she can’t convince them to butt out of her love life.

 Ryan Newell isn’t looking for love. After having his heart torn to shreds by his ex, he’s determined to never again fall in love and leave himself that vulnerable to being hurt. His parents, however, believe he just needs some help finding the right woman, and their friends’ daughter, Kayla, might be a perfect match. 

Realizing they both have the same problem—parents who won’t stop nagging them about finding a partner—Ryan and Kayla agree to an arrangement of sorts. All they have to do is pretend to date, and they don’t even have to see each other, they can discuss the details of their “dates” via email. But then the email conversations lead to real dates, and Kayla finds herself struggling to keep her feelings for Ryan in check as he’s made it clear love will not enter into the equation for him. Then Kayla’s parents suddenly announce they’re getting a divorce, and she begins to wonder if maybe Ryan has the right idea. 

When it all gets to be too much for Kayla, she has a hard decision to make—agree to stay with Ryan and never experience love, or walk away for her chance to find it. Amazon | Nook | Beachwalk Press | All Romance  Excerpt Leaning forward, Kayla grabbed the remote and turned the TV off. It was early still and since she wasn't tired, sleep wasn't an option. She could go out again. Maybe call a friend to go to a club or something. Or she could go back to the bar from last night…no, no she couldn't.

If she went out though, she'd have to change. And she was really comfortable. She grabbed the remote again, and as the TV turned on, she swore she heard someone tap on her door. Was Bunny chewing on something she shouldn't be?

Kayla got off the couch, but saw the rabbit had taken a corner and was lying there, far away from the front door. She peeked through the peephole and, to her surprise, she saw Doug, or whatever his name was. Why was he there? And what was he carrying in his hands?

Taking a deep breath, she opened the door. "Hi."

"It's nice to see you again." He smiled an oh-so-sexy grin. "Your parents sent me with food. They insisted I get this to you right away."

"They did, huh?"

He held the bag out to her and she took it. "Could I come in?"

She sucked in her bottom lip and weighed her choices. Send him away and be done with this, or see what he wants. What did she have to lose? "Sure."

Doug brushed past her into her house. She stood back a moment, watching him as he glanced around and then finally took a seat on her couch. Kayla joined the mystery man in the living room, tossing the bag of food on the coffee table as she sat on the love seat opposite of the couch he was on. Her stomach rumbled as she inhaled the aroma from the bag now sitting on the coffee table.

"So, what brings you by, besides the food?" she asked, and quickly added, "Please tell me your real name as well. It's only fair since you know mine."

"Kayla, and it's a lovely name. Mine is actually Ryan. Ryan Newell." He took a moment to rub his temple and proceeded. "Obviously, our parents are interested in us hooking up."

Hooking up…they'd covered that already. "I'm sorry. My parents are a bit over the top."

"I'd have to agree. Yours are a little worse than mine. Usually my parents leave me alone, but with your folks, it was like they were double-teaming me. They feel very strongly about you and I getting to know one another."

"Figures. I'd say we accomplished that in a way they probably weren't wanting."

He grinned again. Her heart fluttered. She needed to pack this man up and get him out of there.

"Why don't we give them what they want?"

What did he say? He couldn't really want to go along with them. "Excuse me."

"Let's date, for them. It'll get them to leave us alone."

She laughed. He wasn't serious, was he? "Brilliant plan, but I'll pass for now."

"Just hear me out. I'm not looking to fall in love. But if we pretend to be dating, our parents won't try to set us up anymore. We don't even have to see one another. We can discuss our dates and be on the same page with our stories."

"Wait." She held her hand up, staring at the dark-haired man that made her stomach do summersaults. "You're saying we aren't going to actually date. We never have to see one another. But our parents will think we are."

He nodded.

"I'm in." Kayla shrugged. "What could go wrong?" a Rafflecopter giveaway

Funny Cat Videos

It's Friday! Woo-hoo! We've made it. That right there deserves a pat on the back! Earlier this week I shared the story of how I got six cats, so today I thought I'd share a fun YouTube video about cats doing some pretty funny things. Happy Friday! And I'll see you on Monday!

Crafty Wednesday

It's crafty Wednesday! Yay! Last week, I showed you the infinity scarf I made myself HERE. I started to make one for my daughter and wanted to do a different stitch. I ended up taking it apart several times and finally just made it like the one I did mine. 

I love that yarn from hers. It looks so pretty. I wasn't sure at first when I bought it. I thought for sure my daughter would like it. Now that it's made, i want one for myself. Maybe she'll let me borrow it every now and then. What am I working on now? A cat sack. My cat Valerie love to need her paws inside of blankets. She burrows her face into them and needs herself to sleep.  So I thought, let me make her something. It will help me practice and something she will like. And if she doesn't, I'll give it to my daughter to use with her dolls. 

I am doing the double crochet stitch and I like the way it's turning out so far. I think this stitch would make a nice blanket. 

After the sack, I might make tablet sleeves for the kids, or my son has requested a pair of socks. The options are endless.

What have you crafted this week? Next week, I might show you some of the tape paint artwork I've done around the house.

My favorite scene from Arranged Love

Arranged Love releases on the 20th of this month. Yup, right around the corner. I'm excited. I wanted to share with you one of my favorite scenes from the story just to show how awkward it can be when you first start living with someone and learn about how odd they really are. Then you think, Oh God, what have I gotten myself into! I think Ryan is thinking just that! Enjoy.

****

Ryan stood in the kitchen, lost. Where in the world did this woman keep the coffee? He’d checked every cabinet, the pantry, and even the fridge. And yet he had come up empty-handed. There was no way Kayla didn’t drink the caffeinated beverage, was there?

He started opening the cabinets again. It had to be somewhere. There was a coffee maker sitting on the counter. Darn woman was torturing him!

“What’s with all the banging?”

Ryan spun around. “I can’t find the coffee.”
Kayla smirked. “It’s in the freezer.”

“The freezer?” He shook his head. Did he really want to know why she kept it there?

“Yeah, I buy the huge thing of it at Sam’s and keep it in there so it stays fresh.”

“It’s not going to go bad. It’s coffee.”

She shrugged. “I’m picky about the taste. I can’t stand coffee grounds that aren’t cold.” She opened the freezer door and pulled out the container, handing it to him. “I suppose with you here, we can keep it in the fridge.”

“Is there really a difference in taste?”

“Yes.” She turned and walked out.

Ryan finished preparing the coffee. What other little quirks did she have? Would anything top this coffee thing?

As he waited, he opened the pantry to see what cereal she had, but he didn’t find any boxes. Did she keep it in the freezer as well?

“Kayla, where’s the cereal?” he called from the kitchen doorway.

She lay on the couch with her rabbit. “I don’t have any.”

Oh God, this morning was going downhill fast. “What do you mean?”

“I don’t eat it, so I don’t buy it.”

“What do you eat for breakfast?”

“Toast.”

Damn. He was going to have to go shopping. “Would you like me to make you some since I’ll be in here?”

“Thanks, but no. I won’t eat for another hour or two.”

He nodded and went in pursuit of the bread. He’d guess it would be on the counter or in a breadbox, but with the way things were going so far, he decided to check the freezer. Sure enough, that’s where it was. He hated frozen bread. Pushing the door shut, he decided to go out and get doughnuts.

“I’ll be back.” He grabbed his keys from the table in the foyer. “Gonna get doughnuts. Got a kind you want?”

“I’m not picky.”

He snorted and she looked at him oddly. As he made his way out the door and to the car, he realized what he’d been hearing all these years were true. You never really know a person until you live with them.

****

So, what did you think? Do you do anything strange someone would have to learn to live with?