Megan Hand's Blog, page 2
February 18, 2013
Drum Roll Please...
Dun dun-dun DUN! It's HERE!
In less than NINE hours, I'll be releasing my AWESOME cover that the amazing Allie Brennan rocked out for me, and I'm SO excited.
Here's the summary if you haven't read it yet!
Torn between two realities.
A choice that will mean life or death.
But she won’t know anything… until she wakes up.
College
sophomore, Lila Spencer lived Friday night twice. She doesn’t know how
or why, just that she did. As if she split in half and went in two
different directions.
Out clubbing with her friends, Heather and
Nilah, the girls rock it out and party hard. What begins as an innocent
night will lead to a deadly fight for their lives, and Lila might be
their only chance for survival.
In bed with her boyfriend, Jay, Lila is safe and warm as she drifts to sleep in the arms of the man she loves. Until she is sucked into a horrifying nightmare of her friends' deaths.
As
the sunlight warms her face on Saturday morning, the two scenarios
collide. But there can be only one outcome. Will she wake up in her warm
bed with Jay by her side, devastated and grieving for her friends? Or
was she there to save them?
The answer is just the beginning.
Add to Goodreads HERE
In less than NINE hours, I'll be releasing my AWESOME cover that the amazing Allie Brennan rocked out for me, and I'm SO excited.
Here's the summary if you haven't read it yet!
Torn between two realities.
A choice that will mean life or death.
But she won’t know anything… until she wakes up.
College
sophomore, Lila Spencer lived Friday night twice. She doesn’t know how
or why, just that she did. As if she split in half and went in two
different directions.
Out clubbing with her friends, Heather and
Nilah, the girls rock it out and party hard. What begins as an innocent
night will lead to a deadly fight for their lives, and Lila might be
their only chance for survival.
In bed with her boyfriend, Jay, Lila is safe and warm as she drifts to sleep in the arms of the man she loves. Until she is sucked into a horrifying nightmare of her friends' deaths.
As
the sunlight warms her face on Saturday morning, the two scenarios
collide. But there can be only one outcome. Will she wake up in her warm
bed with Jay by her side, devastated and grieving for her friends? Or
was she there to save them?
The answer is just the beginning.
Add to Goodreads HERE
February 15, 2013
Sneak Peak: Awaken
SNEAK PEEK at the soon-to-be-released AWAKEN by Jaime Guerard
[image error]
Title: Awaken
Author: Jaime Guerard
Expected release date: March 15, 2013
Genre: Paranormal Romantic Thriller
Age Group: Young
Adult; 14 – 20+
Cover Designer: B Design;
http://bdesignpublishingservices.wordpress.com/
Event organized by: AToMR
Tours
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17281806-awaken
Book Description:
Three things run through my mind at this very moment…
ONE, my life as I once knew it will never be the same.
TWO, the person I’m in love with might not even exist.
THREE, the deception that has unfolded before me has the power of life
and death.
Sixteen year old, Breanna
Davis, has heard the saying; life isn’t always what it seems…well, that saying
rings true now more than ever. As horrifying visions appear before her,
revealing tragedies that will forever change the fate of those she loves, she
realizes that she may be the only person who can stop them from becoming
reality.
Amongst the chaos of this new
discovery, Bre is faced with a stranger, Eve, who moves in on Bre’s friends and
begins to follow her every move. As Eve’s true motives begin to surface, Bre
must fight against, not only the visions, but the dangers Eve holds close.
There is another secret kept-
Collin, a boy held captive in Bre’s dreams, the boy she is secretly falling in
love with but isn’t sure he even exists. As she tries to make it work with
Austin, an old friend who could possibly be more, Bre battles against her
feelings for Collin.
Bre is faced with an almost
impossible decision, to choose her life or follow her destiny. If she
doesn’t intercede, people will certainly die. If she does, her own life could
be at stake. In the end, if she fails, she’ll lose everything.
About the Author
Jaime grew up in a small town in Northern California. Having
a passion for dance and music, never would she have thought herself to become
an author.
In late 2008, a story was born and a writer was developed. Jaime found the
pieces of her novel beginning to take form and soon she had a full novel in her
hands. Awaken is Jaime's first published novel. With many features still in the
works, this debut novel is just a taste of the action-packed romantic thrillers
to come from this aspiring new author.
Jaime is a committed wife and mother of 3, who loves life and doesn’t take
anything for granted.
Blog | Facebook | Twitter
PROLOGUE
I
stood there, silently watching him, my mind willing me to move forward, but my
body remained frozen. My heart began to beat heavily, the way it always does when he comes into view. He was just ten feet away from me now. I felt
lightheaded and found it difficult to breathe.
I decided this time I had to move slowly. I had to focus on slowing down my mind to take everything in.
I took one step closer, studying him carefully. His dark, almost black hair glistened in
the descending sun. Even though I wasn’t
looking directly at his face just yet, his
beauty took my breath away. I felt it coming, one more step and he would know I
was here.
I was anxious to see his face again, but unwilling for
our encounter to end. I took a deep breath and moved, as if the simple action of taking each step was timed, he
turned and rose to his feet, his face blank. I thought my heart was going to race out of my chest. I hoped for a sign this
time, some kind of acknowledgment from him. Was he happy to see
me? Was I not what he was expecting? What secret thoughts were running through his
mind?
I
knew the time had come. No more stalling, I had to go to him. I began moving toward the stream where he
stood. This time, I would look directly at him, look into his eyes and make myself known.
“Bre, this is Collin,” a voice introduced
me as I approached. Though the voice was somehow familiar, I was
oblivious to who had said it. All I cared about was
making sure I captured this moment in every detail. Collin’s deep,
royal blue eyes looked into mine and I
realized I had never felt like this before.
My nerves flared with an intensity that burned deep within me and held
me captive in his gaze. Every
bit of him was perfect. His silky
hair fell perfectly over each side of his face. Occasionally, a strand or two
would move gently across his forehead and dance along his eyes. His shirt
melted into his chest, making it impossible for me to ignore the definition of
his body.
He slowly lifted his hand,
gesturing for me to take it. “It’s nice to meet you
Bre.” His bright smile stretched across his mouth as he waited for me to
respond.
I swallowed, knowing what was going
to happen next. I tried again to slow my mind down even more, pleading with
myself to make this moment last. When I couldn’t hold on any longer, I reached out my hand in one last attempt to succeed. But
I failed, and woke up.
[image error]
Title: Awaken
Author: Jaime Guerard
Expected release date: March 15, 2013
Genre: Paranormal Romantic Thriller
Age Group: Young
Adult; 14 – 20+
Cover Designer: B Design;
http://bdesignpublishingservices.wordpress.com/
Event organized by: AToMR
Tours
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17281806-awaken
Book Description:
Three things run through my mind at this very moment…
ONE, my life as I once knew it will never be the same.
TWO, the person I’m in love with might not even exist.
THREE, the deception that has unfolded before me has the power of life
and death.
Sixteen year old, Breanna
Davis, has heard the saying; life isn’t always what it seems…well, that saying
rings true now more than ever. As horrifying visions appear before her,
revealing tragedies that will forever change the fate of those she loves, she
realizes that she may be the only person who can stop them from becoming
reality.
Amongst the chaos of this new
discovery, Bre is faced with a stranger, Eve, who moves in on Bre’s friends and
begins to follow her every move. As Eve’s true motives begin to surface, Bre
must fight against, not only the visions, but the dangers Eve holds close.
There is another secret kept-
Collin, a boy held captive in Bre’s dreams, the boy she is secretly falling in
love with but isn’t sure he even exists. As she tries to make it work with
Austin, an old friend who could possibly be more, Bre battles against her
feelings for Collin.
Bre is faced with an almost
impossible decision, to choose her life or follow her destiny. If she
doesn’t intercede, people will certainly die. If she does, her own life could
be at stake. In the end, if she fails, she’ll lose everything.
About the Author
.jpg)
Jaime grew up in a small town in Northern California. Having
a passion for dance and music, never would she have thought herself to become
an author.
In late 2008, a story was born and a writer was developed. Jaime found the
pieces of her novel beginning to take form and soon she had a full novel in her
hands. Awaken is Jaime's first published novel. With many features still in the
works, this debut novel is just a taste of the action-packed romantic thrillers
to come from this aspiring new author.
Jaime is a committed wife and mother of 3, who loves life and doesn’t take
anything for granted.
Blog | Facebook | Twitter
PROLOGUE
I
stood there, silently watching him, my mind willing me to move forward, but my
body remained frozen. My heart began to beat heavily, the way it always does when he comes into view. He was just ten feet away from me now. I felt
lightheaded and found it difficult to breathe.
I decided this time I had to move slowly. I had to focus on slowing down my mind to take everything in.
I took one step closer, studying him carefully. His dark, almost black hair glistened in
the descending sun. Even though I wasn’t
looking directly at his face just yet, his
beauty took my breath away. I felt it coming, one more step and he would know I
was here.
I was anxious to see his face again, but unwilling for
our encounter to end. I took a deep breath and moved, as if the simple action of taking each step was timed, he
turned and rose to his feet, his face blank. I thought my heart was going to race out of my chest. I hoped for a sign this
time, some kind of acknowledgment from him. Was he happy to see
me? Was I not what he was expecting? What secret thoughts were running through his
mind?
I
knew the time had come. No more stalling, I had to go to him. I began moving toward the stream where he
stood. This time, I would look directly at him, look into his eyes and make myself known.
“Bre, this is Collin,” a voice introduced
me as I approached. Though the voice was somehow familiar, I was
oblivious to who had said it. All I cared about was
making sure I captured this moment in every detail. Collin’s deep,
royal blue eyes looked into mine and I
realized I had never felt like this before.
My nerves flared with an intensity that burned deep within me and held
me captive in his gaze. Every
bit of him was perfect. His silky
hair fell perfectly over each side of his face. Occasionally, a strand or two
would move gently across his forehead and dance along his eyes. His shirt
melted into his chest, making it impossible for me to ignore the definition of
his body.
He slowly lifted his hand,
gesturing for me to take it. “It’s nice to meet you
Bre.” His bright smile stretched across his mouth as he waited for me to
respond.
I swallowed, knowing what was going
to happen next. I tried again to slow my mind down even more, pleading with
myself to make this moment last. When I couldn’t hold on any longer, I reached out my hand in one last attempt to succeed. But
I failed, and woke up.
February 14, 2013
Author Interview: Lisa Harley
Lisa Harely is a writer BESTIE of mine. I don't keep that secret. In honor of her official DESTINED TO CHANGE release, which is TODAY, Valentine's Day, I am interviewing her. Right here. Right now.
(((drum roll)))
PLEASE WELCOME - Okay, this is silly.
Me: Lisa, it’s nice to have you here. *stands to shake lofty
author’s hand*
Lisa: Happy to be here, Megan.
Me: Please have a seat. *points to plush red chair*
Thank you for coming today. So, I’ve read your book, and I
must say, I loved it.
Lisa: Aw, Megan…that makes me smile. Thanks…
Me: I was captivated with Lorelai’s story. It broke my heart and
made me swoon. Let’s discuss the swoons first.
Lisa: Yay, I love swoons!
Me: There
are three men in your story. How did each of them come to you? Did they come
fully formed or did they reveal themselves slowly?
Lisa: I have had these characters and this story
in my head for years. I just never took
the time to write it down. Declan and Cade were so easy for me to write. They
were always on my mind. I felt like I
really knew them. Jaxon took some work.
A good friend of mine told me I was having a hard time writing him
because he was my dream man…and it’s hard to create your dream man. I have to
agree with her. I knew guys like Declan
and Cade, but I could only dream of one like Jaxon…swoon.
Me: As
you were writing it, did you crush harder on one of your men? Or did they all
receive equal author love?
Lisa: They all received equal author love…but one
of them…whew, he totally makes me swoon. (Hmm, I wonder which one?)
Me: Is
it true you already have a fan club for one of your men?
Lisa: Yes, that rumor is true. Cade has his own Facebook fan club: Cade’s
Cuties.
Me: Okay, now let’s discuss the novel in its entirety. Did
you know the endgame from the beginning, or did the characters surprise you?
Lisa: Actually, I wrote the last chapter right
after I finished the first chapter. I
always knew where I wanted the characters to go, but they definitely surprised
me a few times along the way.
Me: Were
there moments when you wondered whether your characters were going to rebel
against your wishes?
Lisa: You’ve read the book…you know one of my
characters definitely has a mind of his own.
That man tried to rebel at every turn…but I reeled him in. J
Me: What
was the most fun process of writing this book?
Lisa: Um, finishing it? lol Honestly, the entire process was fun. Some of
it was really scary and made me super nervous.
I am so thankful to have met so many awesome people while I was working
on this book that helped me through all of that. (One of those people is
sitting across from me in a plush red chair.)
Me: Aww *blushes* Why thank you. I will take credit for that. I hear there is a second book in the works. But I have on
personal authority that we cannot discuss this second book quite yet, because
(obviously) it would give very important details away. Do you have an estimated release date for book two?
Lisa: I hope to release Destined to Succeed in
July 2013.
Me: I
also hear there are going to be some new men in this book. How many
exactly? And how hot are they on a scale of 1-10.
Lisa: DTS will center around five men. Five very hot, super sexy men. I would definitely rate them all at a 10 on
the hotness scale. Ya’ll will definitely
swoon over these guys.
Me: Finally, would you like to share some pictures of your men?
Lisa: Here ya go!
Me: WOW, Lisa! You weren't kidding about the hotties!! And Lorelai, what a cutie! Thanks again for coming! And congrats on your release. Have a safe trip back :)
Lisa: Thanks for having me Megan…I had a blast spending the
morning with you.
Find Destined to Change on Amazon
Find Lisa Harley on her Site or Facebook
(((drum roll)))
PLEASE WELCOME - Okay, this is silly.
Me: Lisa, it’s nice to have you here. *stands to shake lofty
author’s hand*
Lisa: Happy to be here, Megan.
Me: Please have a seat. *points to plush red chair*
Thank you for coming today. So, I’ve read your book, and I
must say, I loved it.
Lisa: Aw, Megan…that makes me smile. Thanks…
Me: I was captivated with Lorelai’s story. It broke my heart and
made me swoon. Let’s discuss the swoons first.
Lisa: Yay, I love swoons!
Me: There
are three men in your story. How did each of them come to you? Did they come
fully formed or did they reveal themselves slowly?
Lisa: I have had these characters and this story
in my head for years. I just never took
the time to write it down. Declan and Cade were so easy for me to write. They
were always on my mind. I felt like I
really knew them. Jaxon took some work.
A good friend of mine told me I was having a hard time writing him
because he was my dream man…and it’s hard to create your dream man. I have to
agree with her. I knew guys like Declan
and Cade, but I could only dream of one like Jaxon…swoon.
Me: As
you were writing it, did you crush harder on one of your men? Or did they all
receive equal author love?
Lisa: They all received equal author love…but one
of them…whew, he totally makes me swoon. (Hmm, I wonder which one?)
Me: Is
it true you already have a fan club for one of your men?
Lisa: Yes, that rumor is true. Cade has his own Facebook fan club: Cade’s
Cuties.
Me: Okay, now let’s discuss the novel in its entirety. Did
you know the endgame from the beginning, or did the characters surprise you?
Lisa: Actually, I wrote the last chapter right
after I finished the first chapter. I
always knew where I wanted the characters to go, but they definitely surprised
me a few times along the way.
Me: Were
there moments when you wondered whether your characters were going to rebel
against your wishes?
Lisa: You’ve read the book…you know one of my
characters definitely has a mind of his own.
That man tried to rebel at every turn…but I reeled him in. J
Me: What
was the most fun process of writing this book?
Lisa: Um, finishing it? lol Honestly, the entire process was fun. Some of
it was really scary and made me super nervous.
I am so thankful to have met so many awesome people while I was working
on this book that helped me through all of that. (One of those people is
sitting across from me in a plush red chair.)
Me: Aww *blushes* Why thank you. I will take credit for that. I hear there is a second book in the works. But I have on
personal authority that we cannot discuss this second book quite yet, because
(obviously) it would give very important details away. Do you have an estimated release date for book two?
Lisa: I hope to release Destined to Succeed in
July 2013.
Me: I
also hear there are going to be some new men in this book. How many
exactly? And how hot are they on a scale of 1-10.
Lisa: DTS will center around five men. Five very hot, super sexy men. I would definitely rate them all at a 10 on
the hotness scale. Ya’ll will definitely
swoon over these guys.
Me: Finally, would you like to share some pictures of your men?
Lisa: Here ya go!
Me: WOW, Lisa! You weren't kidding about the hotties!! And Lorelai, what a cutie! Thanks again for coming! And congrats on your release. Have a safe trip back :)
Lisa: Thanks for having me Megan…I had a blast spending the
morning with you.
Find Destined to Change on Amazon
Find Lisa Harley on her Site or Facebook
February 13, 2013
I'm a Juice Girl
I need juice to survive. This is not to be mistaken
with orange juice, meh. Or veggie juice, good for me but blech! But I do love
me some creative juices.
I count myself a lucky girl. I’d say about ninety percent of
the time I sit down to write the juices are there, just waiting to be tapped so
they can flow, creating a frothy swirl through my brain before they nosedive into my
keyboard tapping fingers.
Necessity, these
juices.
But, I admit shamefully, there are many times I do not sit
down at my computer because of the simple fear these juices are running low,
moving syrupy slow, or are just plain tapped out. It’s scary for me. I don’t
know why. I get this pum-puhpum in my heart, even when I’ve mapped
out exactly what I’m going to write on a given night. And for some stupid
reason, instead of heading to my office to do exactly what I want to do, I veer off course, settle onto my bed
and spend an evening with my Kindle, soaking in someone else’s creativity, enjoying the flavor of someone else’s juices, and letting my own grow
stale.
Why do I do this? Because it’s easy. I don’t have to lean on
my sometimes unpredictable juices. But, truthfully, it’s silly. And a time
waster. Not that reading is EVER a time waster, it’s not. And often, when the
juices are low, reading can create a
fresh juice swell, which I love.
But now, having pulled back the curtain on my anonymity, and
releasing my Newborn Author Self into the world, I no longer have the luxury of
stupid fears. I must rely on my juices to grow arms when I can’t reach things,
be my weapon in battle, and fight for me
when I can’t fight for myself.
What do my juices ask for in return? That I show up. Seems
very little give for what I take. I know my liquid stash won’t always be full
to the brim. It won’t always have the speed of an Olympic runner or the perfect
flavor I’m after, but I trust it. I trust the juices.
And so should you.
Check out these links HERE and HERE for some ideas on how to get that creative juice ocean moving for you :)
February 8, 2013
Cover Reveal: AWAKEN
I'm SO privileged today to be presenting Jaime Guerard's cover for Awaken. You are NOT going to want to miss this one folks!! Take a minute to check out the GIVEAWAY below too!!
TITLE: AWAKEN
AUTHOR: JAIME GUERARD
GENRE: YA PARANORMAL ROMANTIC THRILLER
EXPECTED RELEASE DATE: MARCH 15, 2013
AGE GROUP: 14 - 20+
COVER DESIGNER: ALLIE BRENNAN (B DESIGN)
MOON IMAGE/TREE DESIGNER: STEVEN ASKEW (RED AND BLACK WALLPAPERS)
BOOK DESCRIPTION:
Three things run through my mind at this very moment…
ONE, my life as I once knew it will never be the same.
TWO, the person I’m in love with might not even exist.
THREE, the deception that has unfolded before me has the power of life and death.
Sixteen year old, Breanna Davis, has heard the saying; life isn’t always what it seems…well, that saying rings true now more than ever. As horrifying visions appear before her, revealing tragedies that will forever change the fate of those she loves, she realizes that she may be the only person who can stop them from becoming reality.
Amongst the chaos of this new discovery, Bre is faced with a stranger, Eve, who moves in on Bre’s friends and begins to follow her every move. As Eve’s true motives begin to surface, Bre must fight against, not only the visions, but the dangers Eve holds close.
There is another secret kept- Collin, a boy held captive in Bre’s dreams, the boy she is secretly falling in love with but isn’t sure he even exists. As she tries to make it work with Austin, an old friend who could possibly be more, Bre battles against her feelings for Collin.
Bre is faced with an almost impossible decision, to choose her life or follow her destiny. If she doesn’t intercede, people will certainly die. If she does, her own life could be at stake. In the end, if she fails, she’ll lose everything.
FACEBOOK / TWITTER / GOODREADS / ABOUT ME
CLICK HERE TO ENTER THE RAFFLE!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
TITLE: AWAKEN
AUTHOR: JAIME GUERARD
GENRE: YA PARANORMAL ROMANTIC THRILLER
EXPECTED RELEASE DATE: MARCH 15, 2013
AGE GROUP: 14 - 20+
COVER DESIGNER: ALLIE BRENNAN (B DESIGN)
MOON IMAGE/TREE DESIGNER: STEVEN ASKEW (RED AND BLACK WALLPAPERS)
BOOK DESCRIPTION:
Three things run through my mind at this very moment…
ONE, my life as I once knew it will never be the same.
TWO, the person I’m in love with might not even exist.
THREE, the deception that has unfolded before me has the power of life and death.
Sixteen year old, Breanna Davis, has heard the saying; life isn’t always what it seems…well, that saying rings true now more than ever. As horrifying visions appear before her, revealing tragedies that will forever change the fate of those she loves, she realizes that she may be the only person who can stop them from becoming reality.
Amongst the chaos of this new discovery, Bre is faced with a stranger, Eve, who moves in on Bre’s friends and begins to follow her every move. As Eve’s true motives begin to surface, Bre must fight against, not only the visions, but the dangers Eve holds close.
There is another secret kept- Collin, a boy held captive in Bre’s dreams, the boy she is secretly falling in love with but isn’t sure he even exists. As she tries to make it work with Austin, an old friend who could possibly be more, Bre battles against her feelings for Collin.
Bre is faced with an almost impossible decision, to choose her life or follow her destiny. If she doesn’t intercede, people will certainly die. If she does, her own life could be at stake. In the end, if she fails, she’ll lose everything.
FACEBOOK / TWITTER / GOODREADS / ABOUT ME
CLICK HERE TO ENTER THE RAFFLE!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
February 5, 2013
I've been nominated for a Liebster!
Smiles all around, I feel loved!!
[image error]
I was nominated for a Liebster. Thank you Jaime Guerard(link) for
being so kind and thoughtful. It’s taken me way to long to complete this post,
but I finally got it done, haHA!
Jaime is putting out her amazing book Awaken in March. I highly
recommend checking out her site. You can find her book on Goodreads here.
HERE’S HOW
THIS AWARD WORKS:
- I list 11 random facts about myself.
- I will answer the 11 questions asked of me by the person who nominated
me.
- I will then nominate my 11 picks for the award along with my 11
questions for them to answer when they post a response.
- If you’re nominated, your name/link will appear at the bottom of this post
along with your questions. Follow the same format; paste the award badge to
your blog, give us 11 random facts about yourself, answer my 11 questions, and
choose your nominees…but you cannot nominate the blog who nominated you.
11 RANDOM FACTS ABOUT ME:
1. I’m a
sugar junky.
2. I’m
kind of a purest when it comes to caffeine. I like my body to wake itself up,
so I hate coffee. (Gasp!)
3. I’m a
piano teacher and I teach almost 40 kids a week. (Double Gasp!)
4. Pretty
Little Liars is a guilty pleasure. Awesome show.
5. I
started writing seriously as an adult to overcome a quarter-life crisis. (It’s
a real thing. I looked it up.)
6. I have
a two and a half year old son that holds my heart.
7. I
married my high school sweetheart.
8. I have
nine brothers and sisters (Triple Gasp!)
9. I have
a semi-severe case of OCD. (I stack my dishes and towels in alternating colors,
and I don’t like uneven numbers on volumes. So weird. I know this. It’s
incurable.)
10. I
would go to college for the rest of my life if it were free.
11. God
is my life, my sun, my moon, and my stars.
JAIME’S QUESTIONS FOR ME:
Who is your favorite author?
Hem, haw. Hemhaw… I have to put down the biggest cliché and say Stephanie
Meyer. But not for Twilight. The Host is one of my absolute favorite books in the world.
What is your favorite quote?
Way too many to answer this, and I have the worst memory in the world. Sorry.
What type of genre do you
like to read? Why? Anything YA or NA, because I love the possibility and
fire of new love. I also love college. Go figure J
Where do you hope to be in 5
years? A published author making a living off of writing so I can teach a
little less. I would still love to teach, but my dream is to teach for free. I already teach a few students for
free, and I love it.
How long have you been
writing? I wrote as a kid, but as an adult, almost 5 years.
Who has inspired you
throughout your life? Other authors. Especially indie authors. They are
making their dreams come true, and I hope to follow in their footsteps.
What is one word to describe
your personality? Spunky.
What is your favorite book?
Why? The Host. Because it re-sparked my love of reading, and was the push
that drove me to writing. And because it’s just plain awesomeness.
Life’s too short for… (you
fill in the blank) Petty fights. I hate when people fight. It makes me
tired, and it’s a complete waste of time. I prefer to be happy. All the
time.
What is your desert island
food (you only get one choice)? One choice? Really, Jaime? Whine, whine,
whine. Well, if I have to choose one, I’ll say pizza. Because I could live
off it. I can’t live off of ice cream.
If you could have one
celebrity on your speed dial, who would it be and why? BRAD
PITT! Because he is gorgeous and I secretly love him. Winksies, Brad. (The
hubs already knows)
HERE ARE
MY NOMINATIONS.
1. Laura Howard – http://laurahoward78.blogspot.com
2.
Jake Bonsignore – http://jakebonsignore.com
3. Stacy Bailey Darnell – http://literarymaniareviews.blogspot.com/
4. Angie’s Dreamy Reads – http://angiesdreamyreads.blogspot.com/
5. Mary Beth Province – http://www.armywifemb.blogspot.com/
6. Aestas Book Blog – http://aestasbookblog.com/
7. Jessica @ Read My
Breath Away – http://readmybreathaway.blogspot.com/
8. Melanie @ Daydreamer to
Writer – http://daydreamertowriter.blogspot.com/
9. Mandy @ I Read Indie – http://twimom101bookblog.blogspot.com/
10. Stina Lindenblatt – http://www.stinalindenblatt.com/
11. Suzan Tisdale – http://suzantisdale.blogspot.com/
NOMINEES…HERE ARE
YOUR 11 QUESTIONS:
What was your
favorite book growing up?
What is your favorite
Indie/Traditionally published book lately? Please answer both.
Who would you cast in
the leads of your favorite book of all time?
What is your favorite
non-reading/writing thing to do?
Describe your ideal
Sunday. (the day, not the ice cream)
What is your favorite
character name?
If you could live in
any time period, which would it be?
If you could travel
to anywhere outside the U.S., where would you go?
If you could wake up
as anyone, who would it be?
What is your favorite clothing accessory?
If the world could be anything (hint:
Willie Wonka’s world of chocolate) what would yours look like?
CONGRATULATIONS,
EVERYONE. I LOOK
FORWARD TO SEEING YOUR ANSWERS!
[image error]
I was nominated for a Liebster. Thank you Jaime Guerard(link) for
being so kind and thoughtful. It’s taken me way to long to complete this post,
but I finally got it done, haHA!
Jaime is putting out her amazing book Awaken in March. I highly
recommend checking out her site. You can find her book on Goodreads here.
HERE’S HOW
THIS AWARD WORKS:
- I list 11 random facts about myself.
- I will answer the 11 questions asked of me by the person who nominated
me.
- I will then nominate my 11 picks for the award along with my 11
questions for them to answer when they post a response.
- If you’re nominated, your name/link will appear at the bottom of this post
along with your questions. Follow the same format; paste the award badge to
your blog, give us 11 random facts about yourself, answer my 11 questions, and
choose your nominees…but you cannot nominate the blog who nominated you.
11 RANDOM FACTS ABOUT ME:
1. I’m a
sugar junky.
2. I’m
kind of a purest when it comes to caffeine. I like my body to wake itself up,
so I hate coffee. (Gasp!)
3. I’m a
piano teacher and I teach almost 40 kids a week. (Double Gasp!)
4. Pretty
Little Liars is a guilty pleasure. Awesome show.
5. I
started writing seriously as an adult to overcome a quarter-life crisis. (It’s
a real thing. I looked it up.)
6. I have
a two and a half year old son that holds my heart.
7. I
married my high school sweetheart.
8. I have
nine brothers and sisters (Triple Gasp!)
9. I have
a semi-severe case of OCD. (I stack my dishes and towels in alternating colors,
and I don’t like uneven numbers on volumes. So weird. I know this. It’s
incurable.)
10. I
would go to college for the rest of my life if it were free.
11. God
is my life, my sun, my moon, and my stars.
JAIME’S QUESTIONS FOR ME:
Who is your favorite author?
Hem, haw. Hemhaw… I have to put down the biggest cliché and say Stephanie
Meyer. But not for Twilight. The Host is one of my absolute favorite books in the world.
What is your favorite quote?
Way too many to answer this, and I have the worst memory in the world. Sorry.
What type of genre do you
like to read? Why? Anything YA or NA, because I love the possibility and
fire of new love. I also love college. Go figure J
Where do you hope to be in 5
years? A published author making a living off of writing so I can teach a
little less. I would still love to teach, but my dream is to teach for free. I already teach a few students for
free, and I love it.
How long have you been
writing? I wrote as a kid, but as an adult, almost 5 years.
Who has inspired you
throughout your life? Other authors. Especially indie authors. They are
making their dreams come true, and I hope to follow in their footsteps.
What is one word to describe
your personality? Spunky.
What is your favorite book?
Why? The Host. Because it re-sparked my love of reading, and was the push
that drove me to writing. And because it’s just plain awesomeness.
Life’s too short for… (you
fill in the blank) Petty fights. I hate when people fight. It makes me
tired, and it’s a complete waste of time. I prefer to be happy. All the
time.
What is your desert island
food (you only get one choice)? One choice? Really, Jaime? Whine, whine,
whine. Well, if I have to choose one, I’ll say pizza. Because I could live
off it. I can’t live off of ice cream.
If you could have one
celebrity on your speed dial, who would it be and why? BRAD
PITT! Because he is gorgeous and I secretly love him. Winksies, Brad. (The
hubs already knows)
HERE ARE
MY NOMINATIONS.
1. Laura Howard – http://laurahoward78.blogspot.com
2.
Jake Bonsignore – http://jakebonsignore.com
3. Stacy Bailey Darnell – http://literarymaniareviews.blogspot.com/
4. Angie’s Dreamy Reads – http://angiesdreamyreads.blogspot.com/
5. Mary Beth Province – http://www.armywifemb.blogspot.com/
6. Aestas Book Blog – http://aestasbookblog.com/
7. Jessica @ Read My
Breath Away – http://readmybreathaway.blogspot.com/
8. Melanie @ Daydreamer to
Writer – http://daydreamertowriter.blogspot.com/
9. Mandy @ I Read Indie – http://twimom101bookblog.blogspot.com/
10. Stina Lindenblatt – http://www.stinalindenblatt.com/
11. Suzan Tisdale – http://suzantisdale.blogspot.com/
NOMINEES…HERE ARE
YOUR 11 QUESTIONS:
What was your
favorite book growing up?
What is your favorite
Indie/Traditionally published book lately? Please answer both.
Who would you cast in
the leads of your favorite book of all time?
What is your favorite
non-reading/writing thing to do?
Describe your ideal
Sunday. (the day, not the ice cream)
What is your favorite
character name?
If you could live in
any time period, which would it be?
If you could travel
to anywhere outside the U.S., where would you go?
If you could wake up
as anyone, who would it be?
What is your favorite clothing accessory?
If the world could be anything (hint:
Willie Wonka’s world of chocolate) what would yours look like?
CONGRATULATIONS,
EVERYONE. I LOOK
FORWARD TO SEEING YOUR ANSWERS!
February 1, 2013
Cover Reveal: Destined To Change
I am hosting a cover reveal for Lisa Harley's DESTINED TO CHANGE, a cute country romance with really hot guys!
Goodreads Summary
Loralei Harper’s destiny was determined before her birth. It was very simple. She was expected to graduate from high school, marry Declan Sharp, and have two kids. She would stay at home with them, while her husband worked on the family farm. But the funny thing about destiny is…it can change in the blink of an eye. Now Loralei has to figure out what to do when everything changes.
Declan Sharp, a sweet country boy, grew up with Loralei. Their parents couldn’t have planned their relationship any better. Loralei was the love of his life and their future was bright, but sometimes life gets in the way of your plans.
Jaxon Daniels, a pierced, tattooed, badass with a gentle soul, just wanted to get out of the city and relax in the country for a little while. The last thing he was looking for was right in front of him. With skeletons in his closet, will he be able to hold on to the woman he loves, when the past comes out to play?
Cade Walker, a cocky cowboy, never gave love a second thought. Sex? Now that was a different story. After a drunken night, all of that changes when he feels something for Loralei...with his heart. This good ole boy learns that alls fair in love and war.
What happens when all of these lives cross paths? Whose destiny will change and who will get their happily ever after?
**Set to release on Valentine's Day!!
You can find Lisa HERE
Goodreads Summary
Loralei Harper’s destiny was determined before her birth. It was very simple. She was expected to graduate from high school, marry Declan Sharp, and have two kids. She would stay at home with them, while her husband worked on the family farm. But the funny thing about destiny is…it can change in the blink of an eye. Now Loralei has to figure out what to do when everything changes.
Declan Sharp, a sweet country boy, grew up with Loralei. Their parents couldn’t have planned their relationship any better. Loralei was the love of his life and their future was bright, but sometimes life gets in the way of your plans.
Jaxon Daniels, a pierced, tattooed, badass with a gentle soul, just wanted to get out of the city and relax in the country for a little while. The last thing he was looking for was right in front of him. With skeletons in his closet, will he be able to hold on to the woman he loves, when the past comes out to play?
Cade Walker, a cocky cowboy, never gave love a second thought. Sex? Now that was a different story. After a drunken night, all of that changes when he feels something for Loralei...with his heart. This good ole boy learns that alls fair in love and war.
What happens when all of these lives cross paths? Whose destiny will change and who will get their happily ever after?
**Set to release on Valentine's Day!!
You can find Lisa HERE
January 28, 2013
Review - Tight Knit
You have seen this beautiful cover on here before. Today I'm review Allie Brennan's Tight Knit.
Goodreads Summary
Talia Gregory relies on
her Nan for everything, especially helping her calm the anxiety that
controls her life. But Nan gets sick, and it couldn’t be worse timing.
Talia’s panic attacks are getting worse, her boyfriend is a jerk, her
best friend is distant, her parents are more absent than usual and she’s
stuck planning the Cozy Christmas Charity Drive for her knitting group
in place of Nan. If that’s not panic inducing enough, enter Lachlan.
Lachlan
McCreedy doesn’t rely on anyone. Not after what he’s been through. It’s
him and Gram, nothing else matters but keeping his past buried, and his
secrets hidden. So when Gram forces him to help with her Christmas
sale, Talia is the last thing he expected, and trusting her with his
secrets comes as a shock to both of them. But when he unexpectedly falls
for her, the question becomes can he trust her with his heart?
Buy on Amazon
This book is one of the cutest things I have ever read, and
that’s saying a lot. It’s the debut baby of my genius cover artist, AllieBrennan, and I’m so glad I moved it
up my list.
I was immediately drawn into Talia’s panic-driven world. I
wanted to hug her, tuck her into my heart, and strip her of all her fears. With
her sweetheart personality, it was heart-wrenching to see her suffer. But panic
attacks are something that so many do suffer from, I appreciated this subject
being brought to light. Though I do actually knit (I’m terrible at it) and
crochet (pretty good at it), I wasn’t sure how I’d respond to the knitting
aspect being such a big part of the novel, but I loved it. It was a great
addition to the story, wonderfully unique. I was pleasantly entertained by each
of the ladies Talia meets with. Nan and Georgina
both made me laugh, made me cry. I have only one grandmother that I’m close
with, but we live so far away. This story made me miss her terribly.
Lachlan was what I like to call a
real dream. He was incredibly real and honest and hooked me from the get-go,
but he’s a dream because he’s a dream. Duh. He’s cute and kind. Can be an ass
at times, but what guy isn’t? And come on, girls. We can admit that the jerky
part of a guy makes us swoon sometimes. Even prudish little jock-hater me can
appreciate the swoon-worthiness of a guy being a guy. My heart also broke for Lachlan
and the suffering her went through as a child.
What started as a classic case of two broken people finding
each other became so much more. The characters were deep. They brought me to
tears and wrenched at my heart more times than I can remember. For me, this
novel was a slow read, which is not to mean that it was long and/or dreary. The
opposite actually. When I term a novel a “slow read” it simply means that the
story was so beautiful, I took my time reading it and digested every delicious
word. I didn’t rush through paragraphs of inner monologue to get to the
dialogue, I enjoyed it all.
If you haven’t put this on your to-read, do it now. And if
you can, I suggest moving it up the list. You won’t regret it.
Connect with Allie:
Author Website
Facebook
Design Website
Facebook
Oopsy, I forgot to add one of my favorite quotes:
She puts my arm in her lap and runs both her hands up and down it. The sensation is tormenting me, the mixture of desire for her to keep going and the pain of the memories those scars hold is too much... Talia drops my arm and my heart falls with it. There's no turning back now.
Goodreads Summary
Talia Gregory relies on
her Nan for everything, especially helping her calm the anxiety that
controls her life. But Nan gets sick, and it couldn’t be worse timing.
Talia’s panic attacks are getting worse, her boyfriend is a jerk, her
best friend is distant, her parents are more absent than usual and she’s
stuck planning the Cozy Christmas Charity Drive for her knitting group
in place of Nan. If that’s not panic inducing enough, enter Lachlan.
Lachlan
McCreedy doesn’t rely on anyone. Not after what he’s been through. It’s
him and Gram, nothing else matters but keeping his past buried, and his
secrets hidden. So when Gram forces him to help with her Christmas
sale, Talia is the last thing he expected, and trusting her with his
secrets comes as a shock to both of them. But when he unexpectedly falls
for her, the question becomes can he trust her with his heart?
Buy on Amazon
This book is one of the cutest things I have ever read, and
that’s saying a lot. It’s the debut baby of my genius cover artist, AllieBrennan, and I’m so glad I moved it
up my list.
I was immediately drawn into Talia’s panic-driven world. I
wanted to hug her, tuck her into my heart, and strip her of all her fears. With
her sweetheart personality, it was heart-wrenching to see her suffer. But panic
attacks are something that so many do suffer from, I appreciated this subject
being brought to light. Though I do actually knit (I’m terrible at it) and
crochet (pretty good at it), I wasn’t sure how I’d respond to the knitting
aspect being such a big part of the novel, but I loved it. It was a great
addition to the story, wonderfully unique. I was pleasantly entertained by each
of the ladies Talia meets with. Nan and Georgina
both made me laugh, made me cry. I have only one grandmother that I’m close
with, but we live so far away. This story made me miss her terribly.
Lachlan was what I like to call a
real dream. He was incredibly real and honest and hooked me from the get-go,
but he’s a dream because he’s a dream. Duh. He’s cute and kind. Can be an ass
at times, but what guy isn’t? And come on, girls. We can admit that the jerky
part of a guy makes us swoon sometimes. Even prudish little jock-hater me can
appreciate the swoon-worthiness of a guy being a guy. My heart also broke for Lachlan
and the suffering her went through as a child.
What started as a classic case of two broken people finding
each other became so much more. The characters were deep. They brought me to
tears and wrenched at my heart more times than I can remember. For me, this
novel was a slow read, which is not to mean that it was long and/or dreary. The
opposite actually. When I term a novel a “slow read” it simply means that the
story was so beautiful, I took my time reading it and digested every delicious
word. I didn’t rush through paragraphs of inner monologue to get to the
dialogue, I enjoyed it all.
If you haven’t put this on your to-read, do it now. And if
you can, I suggest moving it up the list. You won’t regret it.
Connect with Allie:
Author Website
Design Website
Oopsy, I forgot to add one of my favorite quotes:
She puts my arm in her lap and runs both her hands up and down it. The sensation is tormenting me, the mixture of desire for her to keep going and the pain of the memories those scars hold is too much... Talia drops my arm and my heart falls with it. There's no turning back now.
January 22, 2013
Review - There is No Light in Darkness
Goodreads Summary
A past hidden in darkness. Her present cloaked in secrets. The future holds the only truth that cannot be escaped.
After
the mysterious and violent death of her parents, Blake Brennan finds
comfort with an unconventional family. As the dramatic loss of her
parents continues to haunt her—and hinders her from reciprocating love
that others give freely—Blake embarks on a harrowing journey in search
for the truth.
Living in a constant state of fear and need for
control, vivid nightmares reveal details that lead to perilous
situations. The past begins to collide with the present, and Blake must
decide if the truth is worth losing the ones she loves.
Can love conquer all as her past comes to light? Or will Blake realize that there is no light in darkness?
Book contains: Explicit language & sexual content.
Buy on Amazon
Buy on B&N
There is No Light in Darkness… How to begin this review,
because I have a lot of things to say. First, thank you Ana Zaun for adding me
to Claribel’s Facebook Beta group. That’s right, folks. I got to beta this sucker. And, oh, was it so
worth the eye ache I got after staring at my laptop for ten hours straight.
First, I have to commend Claire (I have to call her by her
first name. It feels weird referring to any author as Ms. So-and-So when I know
them.) for such a wonderful debut.
The book begins with Blake as an adult, but continuously flashes
back to her childhood throughout the novel, giving us glimpses into the mystery
that surrounds her mother’s death. This worked very well for this story, and it
was woven seamlessly. I was never confused as to what was happening, where we
were, past or present. The mystery drew me in instantly. I immediately wanted
to know what happened to Blake’s mother. The situation behind it was intense
and built beautifully as Blake begins to uncover details and the people behind
everything.
Blake was strong, loving, vulnerable, and smart. She made
mistakes, but she had a good head on her shoulders. Her burning curiosity kept
her delving into the delicate details of her mother’s death, but her sense of
self-preservation smartly kept her safe when necessary.
Cole. Holy Hot hot hothothot
Cole. There are not enough words in the English dictionary to describe the
hotness of Cole. He takes the cake on the piles of book boyfriends I’ve
accumulated over the years. Not that he’s the Be All End All, but he is
definitely in the that atmosphere. And the way he loved Blake… again, no words.
He was honest and real and loved from the deepest core of his heart. I could feel it. Yet he was enough of an ass to
make you want to just punch him in the arm really hard every now and then.
The rest of Blake’s family/friends make up a very
entertaining and loyal band of misfits. They come to life on the page, and I
wanted to squeeze each of them and thank them for making me smile.
But mostly, Cole… Okay. Nope. Not going to go there. There
have been some recent cat fights in my circle over who is the reigning Mrs.
Cole Murphy, and if I talk about him anymore, I’m afraid I will be showing up
to work tomorrow with a black eye. So I’ll stop right there.
In all, this novel was awesomesauce, amazeballs, greatness,
and a whole ton of other words I don’t really like to say out loud, or type,
but I feel like I need to because I loved this story that much. Be on the look
out for Claire’s next installment in this series.
Coming Soon!
Find Claire Contreras on Facebook and on Goodreads
January 14, 2013
Cover Reveal: The Forgotten Ones
Check out my friend, Laura Howard's, GORGEOUS cover! I am very much looking forward to her book The Forgotten Ones coming in May this year! Contest below for a chance at a $50 Amazon OR B&N Gift Card!
Title: The Forgotten Ones
Author: Laura Howard
Genre: NA Paranormal Fantasy Romance
Expected release date: May 15, 2013
Age Group: New Adult
Cover Designer: Stephanie Mooney
Book Description:
Allison O'Malley just graduated from college. Her life's plan is to get a job and take care of her schizophrenic mother. She doesn't have room for friends or even Ethan, who clearly wants more.
When Allison's long-lost father shows up, he claims he can bring her mother back from the dark place her mind has sent her. He reveals legends of a race of people long forgotten, the Tuatha de Danaan, along with the truth about why he abandoned her mother.
Laura Howard | Facebook | Twitter
Share on Facebook and/or Twitter and you could win a $50 Amazon (or B&N) Gift card!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Title: The Forgotten Ones
Author: Laura Howard
Genre: NA Paranormal Fantasy Romance
Expected release date: May 15, 2013
Age Group: New Adult
Cover Designer: Stephanie Mooney
Book Description:
Allison O'Malley just graduated from college. Her life's plan is to get a job and take care of her schizophrenic mother. She doesn't have room for friends or even Ethan, who clearly wants more.
When Allison's long-lost father shows up, he claims he can bring her mother back from the dark place her mind has sent her. He reveals legends of a race of people long forgotten, the Tuatha de Danaan, along with the truth about why he abandoned her mother.
Laura Howard | Facebook | Twitter
Share on Facebook and/or Twitter and you could win a $50 Amazon (or B&N) Gift card!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
