Eden Summers's Blog, page 3

Make 2015 Your Bitch

I apologise in advance. I've already downed a bottle of wine in early preparation for the new year. My hubby has to work night shift, so I'll be asleep before the sun goes down. But before the year ends, I wanted to share some of the dribble I have muddling my mind. Be prepared...this may not make a whole lot of sense.
MAKE 2015 YOUR BITCH!!
I don't know about you, but my life doesn't seem to be getting easier. The years progress and I'm not getting any younger. I'm sure as hell not getting prettier and I'm almost positive I'm not getting any funnier. So in 2015, I'm making life my bitch.

I challenge you to do the same.

I'm going to be a little selfish. Taking time for myself is going to happen. I'm going to quit my guilt addiction. I want to write. I want to smile. Every hour. I want to love. I want to have fun.
So to summarise, I'm going to become self absorbed. :)

I've lived a highly strung existence since my children were born. I wasn't a good enough mother, friend, lover, person. My diet wasn't perfect. I don't socialise enough. Exercise? Pfft. Yeah, I'm always writing. I barely see the sun.

But 2015 is going to be the year I find balance.

And I want to take this gift of life and make it my motherfu*kin' bitch. 'Cause that's what you do with great gifts, right? You make the most of them.
THANK YOU
I also want to say a HUGE thank you to everyone who touched my life this year. To the readers. The bloggers. The friends. And yeah, even the haters. You all play a special part in my life. 2014 was a great year for me. I achieved greatness this year. Greatness for me, anyway.

But what I want to do in 2015 is smash the previous greatness out of the ball park and I want to help others to do the same. So tell me, what are your goals? What are your dreams? Are you going to make 2015 your bitch?

Maybe if we do this together it won't be just another one of my tipsy ramblings.

My Inspiration

My babcia celebrated her 90th birthday less than two weeks ago. From as early as I can remember she has always been a solid part of my life. She's the reason for my gherkin and ham sandwich fetish. She's also the reason I crave food that makes my husband screw up his nose, like brawn and pierogi.

But the older she gets, the more she reflects on the past. Over the years, I've learned a lot about the events that shaped the strongest woman I know. I never heard them when I was little. She always kept her stories close to her chest. It's now, when I'm older and eager to listen to every word, that she opens up and releases the built up emotional nightmares.

She inspires me to be more. I want to write about a woman who encompasses unbelievable strength, heart and determination, just like her. A warrior who had to witness her mother bury two children in the garden, a foot outside the kitchen door due to the harsh reality of the Polish depression. I want to write about the beautiful soul who was given away as a child and sent to be raised by her aunt because her mother could no longer look after her. I want to write about the brave girl who was forced to become an adult when she was taken by the Nazi's and made to do things I can't even imagine. I want to pay tribute to her and tell the story of someone who was beaten by Germans simply because she didn't milk a cow properly. Or someone who can withstand childbirth and then be forced to work the fields mere hours later even though her daughter was taken away.

But who can do justice to a woman that inspiring?

Every story I hear fills me with awe. Her experiences are beyond the scope of a woman who has lived in a blessed Australian life. But I'll do more. I'll be more. Because of her. And hopefully one day I'll have words written in print to express what she means to me.

Sorry for the ramble. I needed the catharsis. xoxo

Pre-order Giveaway

A Shot of Sin is now up for pre-order and I'm doing my little Snoopy dance. This novel is the first in the Vault series and also the first story I have signed with Samhain Publishing.

To give this sexy story the best chance to succeed I'll be enticing as many people as possible to take a chance on this book before the release date. Pre-ordering is extremely important to us writerly folk. When you one-click that pre-order button, you're not only letting the author know you're excited about the book, but you're also giving the publisher confidence in the author and the series.

But don't panic, you don't have to pre-order to enter this giveaway. However, the more people to one-click and email me their proof of purchase (to preorder@edensummers.com) the more prizes I will add to the giveaway.

To start off, by entering you can win this gorgeous Shot of Sin necklace made by Swagmaster Designs.
Additional Prizes I will add additional prizes depending on the number of pre-order entries submitted.
If I receive 15 I will add one of the below prizes to the giveaway. Then again if I reach 50, 100, 175 and 250.
Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Kobo

You can also check out the first chapter of a Shot of Sin here.

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Cover Reveal - A Shot of Sin

Throw back a shot of pure pleasure.

Vault of Sin, Book 1

Leo Petrova is between a rock and the hard place in his pants. Shot of Sin, the night club he owns with his two best friends, is short one bartender downstairs. The only available replacement is the upstairs bar manager—the one woman Leo knows he can’t take downstairs, can’t have, can’t touch. The one time he gave in to temptation convinced Leo that Shay’s no match for his sexual demands.

Only a select few know Shot of Sin’s guilty secret, that beneath the packed dance floor lies a very private sex club—the Vault. The place Leo can let his sexual proclivities run wild.

Shay Porter is curious as to why her boss, the king of mixed messages, seems almost desperate to keep her from discovering what’s on the other side of the guarded door at the back of the club.

Sliding out of her comfort zone and into Leo’s arms risks everything. Their friendship, the Vault, and most of all, their hearts.

Warning: This sex club does not carry the government’s stamp of approval. Contains devilish debauchery, delightful deviance, and dancing on the edge of the darkest of sexual desires.

Add a Shot of Sin to your Goodreads TBR here .

Release Date: 13th of January, 2015
Giveaway I lurve giveaways and Really Good Swag saved my butt pulling together this awesome prize on extremely late notice.  There are fours packs to giveaway, all with a ribbon bookmark, key chain and a lip balm. Good luck!

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Rockin' Romance Boxed Set

Are you a rocker groupie? If so, I have a boxed set perfect for you.
Seven sexy rocker romance novels by your favorite authors, all in one box set for a limited time only.

Don't miss your opportunity to score over $20 worth of books for a fraction of the price.

Blind Attraction by Eden Summers - He can seduce with a single glance. She’s been sheltered from the world. Attraction will bring them together, but their pasts will try to tear them apart.

Back-Up by A.M. Madden - Back-Up is a true love story, rock star style. The Back-Up Series (Back-Up, Front & Center, and Encore). Book 4, Backstage, will be available Nov. 2014.

Sizzle by Lexi Buchanan - He has muscle. He has tattoos. He has piercings. He has a mouth that makes her panties wet every time he opens it. He is supposed to be getting married. He is also her boyfriend’s brother...

Drowning by Rachel Firasek - "I dare you." Those words would change adrenaline junkie, Alice Harrison's life forever. She's a party girl that doesn't believe in love until she meets a man that only writes about it.

Wicked Innocence by Missy Johnson - He's a twenty-five years old rock god who thinks I'm twenty-one. I'm only seventeen...

Lifeless by J.M. La Rocca - Scarlett is heartbroken and unemployed. But things take a turn for the better when she gets a job in entertainment and comes face-to-face with sexy star Kade Evans. Can she resist the sexy bad boy?

In A Heartbeat by Hilary Storm - One minute your heart is filled with love, the next your life comes crashing down. Everything can change in a heartbeat. Can Eaven and Talon overcome the obstacles and find love? 
Available for a Limited Time Only
Currently 99 cents on pre-order Amazon
Barnes & Noble (coming soon)
Kobo
iTunes (coming soon)

Concealed Desire ON SALE!!!

I'm buzzed this morning. And no, it isn't because I've overdosed on coffee. I'm barely through my first mug *gasp*.

The reason I'm so excited is because Concealed Desire - the first story I ever wrote - is on sale for the first time. Normally $5.99, it is now 99 cents FOR ONE WEEK ONLY!!

I love this book. Not only because Beth and Dean were my first happily ever after, but because their story was a turning point in my life. Beth and Dean were strong enough to break through my doubts. Their sarcasm and snort-worthy banter kept me up at night, until I dedicated myself to finally finishing a story and gaining my first publishing contract.

If you haven't read about my Aussie playboy and the woman who changed his wicked ways, please take a chance on it while it is only 99 cents.

Amazon US & Amazon UK
Barnes & Noble
All Romance ebooks

To help celebrate and spread the word, I'm doing a swag giveaway. The two packs are pictured below. Included are signed Concealed Desire postcards, a magnet, bookmark, and keychain.

To enter, all you have to do is share the sale. It could be via social media, maybe email a friend who might be interested in reading about Beth and Dean, or share a tweet about it. It doesn't matter how you share, just as long as you do. And you can enter as many times as you like.Then simply enter the Rafflecopter form below.

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How a Heart Breaks

My Saturday started relatively normal - being woken by my two boys, washing, coffee, football.

My youngest , Beau, complained a few times about his tummy hurting, which isn't uncommon. He's had stomach troubles on and off for over a year. So I continued to do what I always do - hug and kiss him whenever he needed it.

He remained at my side at the football. He wasn't himself, but I thought it was just a bad flare up of his stomach issues. Then he refused to eat lunch, and it wasn't the normal Vegemite sandwiches. We were at the footy, participating in the pie with sauce ritual. It became apparent that he was dealing with something more than just a tummy issue. I'd had a fever during the week, what I thought was a major case of the man flu. So maybe that was it.

Within the hour he started to get warm. *Insert alarms*

My boys both have a past of febrile convulsions. My eldest (now 7) seems to have grown out of them. And Beau (now 5) hasn't had one in a damn long time. However, it is always a risky time. So we decided to start the forty minute drive home.

I gave him a piece of raspberry licorice (a treat that will now haunt me for the rest of my life). If he wasn't going to eat lunch, at least he would have a little sugar in his system to give him energy.

From then on things are a little fuzzy. We drove out of the very small town and through another equally small place called Coolamon. Then I turned to the back seat and my life slowed to freeze frames.

Beau was tilted forward slightly. His eyes glassy, looking straight through me, that damn piece of raspberry licorice jutting from his lips. I guess, initially, I thought he was goofing around. Just staring at me for a few seconds before he would snap out of it and throw me one of his cheesy smiles. But he didn't.

I called to him. I grabbed his leg and shook. And still he leaned forward, his eyes glassy, shattering my heart into a million pieces.

By this time my husband could tell there was a problem. I told him to pull over, maybe I yelled. I don't know. And the car skidding into the gravel on the side of the road. I was out the door before we came to a stop. I dug my fingers into his mouth. It took effort to open his jaw because it was locked tight. But I needed to make sure there was no more of that damn raspberry licorice in his throat. And still those eyes wouldn't acknowledge me. He wouldn't snap out of it.

Usually febrile convulsions are violent. My eldest son jerks and  thrashes, he will stop breathing, then within a few seconds he will snap out of it. But Beau is different. He goes deathly still. He doesn't move. And it lasts a lifetime before he becomes conscious.

No matter what I did, he wouldn't react. I was cupping his cheeks, begging for him to look at me. I was undoing his car seat arm restraints (no idea why), I was pulling off his shoes, trying to get clothes off him. But still, he wouldn't react. His jaw was locked tight. His eyes unseeing. Drool dribbling from his mouth.

We needed to do something. I just didn't know what.

I refastened his arm restraints and climbed into the seat between him and his brother, then told my husband to drive....But where the hell were we driving to? We were half an hour from our home towns hospital. Currently on the highway heading out of a tiny town. Years ago, there was a lot of publicity about smaller hospitals being closed. In towns just like the one we'd left.

I think we panicked. Hubby started heading toward home, then he did a 360 and headed back for the town we just left. We didn't even know if there was a hospital. We were frantic. Then Beau started going blue. His lips were getting darker, the drool still dribbling out, the eyes still unresponsive.

I started dialing 000 hoping someone could tell us which way to go. But all they kept asking was 'What street are you on?" I had no f*cking clue. My husband had no f*cking clue. We were simply driving through this small country town, trying to get home.

Then, by luck or divine intervention, a sign was on the left of the road - Hospital 200m. I don't think I've felt so much relief in my life. We were overtaking people in the middle of a lonely street, we had our hazard lights on (the only direction the emergency operator gave us). And as soon as we arrived at the tiny hospital (about the size of a large house) I was out the door dragging my son into my arms within seconds.

He was still unresponsive and before I reached the door, he lost his bladder, soaking us both. I then had to press a doorbell just to enter the hospital - yes, it was that damn small. There were two nurses, plus another they were teaching. They didn't even have a doctor available.

We've gone through this before. The first time I experienced the terror of a febrile convulsion, I was home alone with my first child. I was also pregnant with Beau. And no matter how many times it happens, I never EVER become confident that they will pull out of it. Each time lasts longer. Each time one of my children stops breathing and becomes the most fragile piece of glass in my arms, a part of me dies.

You never know how long it will last. You never know if the next time will be long enough to cause permanent damage. And the raw dose of vulnerability is enough to bring you to your knees.

But then I placed my son down on the hospital bed, shaking, holding my breath and he blinked up at me, his eyes finally registering I was there. And I could finally breath again. It was like a gift. A huge, lifesaving gift that made me want to sob.

He still couldn't talk, it took hours for that to return. But we were on the home slide. My boy was back...and now mummy could lose her sh*t. I was a wreck. I couldn't even answer the nurse's question about his date of birth...well, I did, I just answered incorrectly.

After the doctor was called in, they did the usual observations and within the hour we were back on the road. It's surreal. One minute your son has stopped breathing, your whole life is falling apart around you, then an hour later you are back on the road.

Something so simple, a slight rise in body temperature, sent our world into a tailspin. And the only reason why I'm telling you all is because it saves on therapy bills. Today was horrific for our family. I can vaguely remember my eldest son asking me, 'What does that mean? What does that mean?' when I was telling my husband Beau was turning blue. But we are all home together...funnily enough, watching the damn football.

Hug the ones you love. Smile, even if you don't want to. Remember your life is precious. Cherish the goodness in your life, and always tell the ones you care about how you feel...unless you feel like punching them in the face, then maybe keep that to yourself.

To My Husband...

Ten years ago today, I started my happily ever after.

I married you.

We'd already gone through the romantic cliches everyone else dreams about -  most importantly, love at first sight. Your eyes have always been my weakness. And I know sometimes you don't believe how intuitive I am, but I knew, even as a hormonal teenager, that we would be happy together.

I remember all the cards you used to write. The long hours we spent on the phone when we were separated by a five hour car drive. And how I had to tell you to stop sending me flowers every week because clearly your credit card company didn't approve.

We've been blessed since the day we shared our first drunken kiss inside the walls of the Melbourne Crown Casino. However, not everything has been smooth sailing. Each obstacle has made us stronger...well, except maybe the kids, I'm certain they're sucking away our sanity - but we over come all our challenges together.

You are not only my best friend, you are a part of me that I wouldn't be able to breath without. Your selflessness is one of the many reasons I love you so much. And although we aren't perfect, I know we are perfect for each other.

So, thank you. For the smiles and the laughter, the strength and support. For the unending smart-ass comments that always make me smile. For becoming more like me, and changing me to be more like you. And for returning the love of this high-maintenance gal.

Passionate Addiction Release Day!!!

Just in case you haven't already heard me shouting it from the rooftops, Passionate Addiction is LIVE!!!
Blake and Gabi are getting their happily ever after in the second installment of the Reckless Beat series.

Check it out at the following retailers -
Amazon US
Amazon UK
All Romance Ebooks
PRINT - CreateSpace

It will also be available on B&N, Nook and iTunes, very soon.


Want to read the Prologue? Check it out here.
It wouldn't be a release day without a giveaway. Help me spread the word and be in the running for some great prizes.

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Passionate Addiction Cover Reveal

One thing I've learned, is that I should never, ever get covers designed months in advance.

I've had to sit on this gorgeous picture for too damn long. And I have Willsin Rowe to thank for the spectacular outcome. Yet again, he has designed exactly what I envisaged. I hope you love the cover as much as I do.
Book Blurb

He’s been her ultimate untouchable desire.

Nothing says happy birthday like a rock god flying thousands of miles to surprise a woman he's never met. But that's exactly what happens to Gabi Smith when she gives her long distance best friend a flippant invitation to her laid back girl’s night out. She never expected to turn on the dance floor and find Blake Kennedy’s gaze holding her body captive.

She’s his everything and he’s never laid eyes on her.

Gabi means more to Blake than life itself. She’s his strength, his savior, and the only person who helped to vanquish his demons. No one means more to him than his angel. So when things between them start to sizzle, he's ready to fight for the future he never thought he would deserve.

Skeletons from his past will threaten his only chance at love...

Blake has come a long way—with Gabi's help—to leave the hell of his youth behind him, but sometimes memories don’t want to stay buried. Determined to stand on his own for once, Blake is willing to stretch the truth to keep his troubles from burdening the woman he adores.

Little white lies can create black holes in any relationship. Only time will tell if an Aussie with a heart of gold will forgive her bad-boy boyfriend or if the deceit will end his passionate addiction.

From now until the release of Passionate Addiction on the 15th of November, I will be having a whole heap of fun on my Facebook page - giveaways, quote teasers, posts from the men of Reckless Beat and even a live video chat (if I don't chicken out). So make sure you'like' my page and keep up to date with all the fun. a Rafflecopter giveaway