Laura McCarthy Benson's Blog, page 9

Cover Reveal: Autumn Rose, Abigail Gibbs

Autumn Rose lives in a sleepy seaside town in the southwest of England, but buried deep under the surface of her quiet life are dark secrets. Her grandmother is dead, murdered eighteen months before, and the whirling social scene of London in which she was brought up is a world away. Even worse, at her new school she is shunned and condemned-all because of the swirling marks on her skin that prevent her from blending in the crowd.



But the appearance of a handsome young man at her school-who has the same curious markings as Autumn Rose-sends her world into turmoil. Suddenly the marks are cool and Autumn is thrust into the limelight, but her sudden popularity brings danger as her secrets threaten to come to light. Plus, there is the fact that Autumn keeps dreaming of a human girl who is about to be seduced by a very dark Prince… and Autumn must figure out how to save her before it is too late.



Abigail Gibbs was born and raised in deepest, darkest Devon, England. She is studying for a B.A. in English at the University of Oxford and considers herself a professional student, as the real world has yet to catch up with her. Her greatest fear is blood and she is a great advocate of vegetarianism, which logically led to the writing of her first novel, Dinner with a Vampire.She splits her time between her studies, stories, and family, and uses coffee to survive all three.










Amazon| Barnes & Noble| IndieBound| 

Books-A-Million|Bookstore| Image Map

Cover Reveal: A Little Too Much, Lisa DeRochers

Some news about Lisa Derochers and her newest book, A LITTLE TOO MUCH!!! Which will be out November 12 at all your favorite outlets!



I have to say this cover is HOT HOT HOT!



The first one is super exciting: Maryse of
Maryse’s Book Blog (www.maryse.net) will be hosting a book club/Q&A with Lisa Desrochers herself
THIS WEDNESDAY (10/2) at 3PM EDT! Lisa will be there
answering all of your burning questions about the series, as well as
anything else you’d like to ask her! It will start exactly on time, so
make sure to be there so you can squeeze your questions
in.




The second treat will
definitely be important for those of you who want all of the details
regarding your favorite New Adult books and authors:
the newly-created Between the Covers Facebook page!
Make sure to “like” it so you can be completely updated on all the
important (and delicious!) New Adult books (and author events!!).






Finally, make sure you connect with Lisa through
Facebook,
her blog,
and her twitter!















































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In the follow-up to Lisa Desrochers’ explosive New Adult novel A Little too Far, Alessandro Moretti must face the life he escaped and the girl he loved and left behind.



Twenty-two year old Hilary McIntyre would like nothing more than to forget her past. As a teenager abandoned to the system, she faced some pretty dark times. But now that’s all behind her. Hilary has her life on track, and there’s no way she’ll head back down that road again.



Until Alessandro Moretti—the one person who can make her remember—shows up on her doorstep. He’s even more devastatingly gorgeous than before, and he’s much too close for comfort. Worse, he sees right through the walls she’s built over these last eight years, right into her heart and the secrets she’s guarding.



As Hilary finds herself falling back into love with the man who, as a boy both saved and destroyed her, she must decide. Past or future? Truth or lies?

Cover Reveal: It's Not Over, A.L. Zaun

This cover is HOT HOT HOT!




I've been lucky to become good friends with Ana since her book THE DO OVER came out last spring and I'm so excited for this one. 




When this book is released in a few months, please make sure you grab it. You will fall in love with Maddy and Rick. I guarantee it! 














It’s Not Over





A.L. Zaun




Release Date:  December 9, 2013

Genre:  Adult Contemporary

Cover Design:

Robin Harper from Wicked by Designs

Photographer:

Tomasz Zienkiewicz




Synopsis




“If I let go…will you catch me?”




He had wanted

her to help him win his ex-girlfriend back. She had wanted to teach him a few

lessons on how to treat a woman. Neither one had planned for the unexpected.







I couldn't stand by and watch. It hit too close

to home. I had to run fast and far to get away and forget him. He weaseled his

way into my life, making me question rules I lived by and turned my orderly

life upside down. I'm falling apart and coming undone. I don't do that. I'm

Madison Stuart. I live life by my rules. I won't be derailed by a man. I

won't...I can't.











She's gone. I'm desperate and going insane. I'll

do whatever it takes to find her. Nothing’s going to keep me away from

her. I don't know when it happened, but I won't let her go, not like this. What

has she done to me? I'm Rick Marin for crying out loud. I don't chase women,

but she's not just any woman. She's Maddy—my Maddy—and I need her.











Follow Rick and Madison’s story, The

Do Over’s most notorious couple, as

they learn that It’s Not Over.


















Add it to your TBR on

GoodReads




http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17937669-it-s-not-over








Giveaway





a Rafflecopter giveaway







Need The Do Over?



The Do Over




Find A.L. Zaun at:




Https://www.FaceBook.com/ALZaun01




Https://www.Twitter.com/AnaZ01




http://www.pinterest.com/alzaun/its-not-over/




http://www.alzaun.com/l







About A.L. Zaun:








A.L. Zaun graduated from Florida International

University with a degree

in English Literature when the dinosaurs roamed the earth and cellphones were

the size of a brick. Her impressive degree did absolutely nothing for her

professional endeavors in health care management but did stir her imagination

and opened up the world of books in a new way. 







Armed with a large bottle of Diet Pepsi and a

multi-pack of Extra Sugar-Free gum, A.L. Zaun spends her evenings bringing to

life the characters that dominate her thoughts and interrupt her sleep. 

Cover Reveal: It's Not Over, A.L. Zaun

This cover is HOT HOT HOT!




I've been lucky to become good friends with Ana since her book THE DO OVER came out last spring and I'm so excited for this one. 




When this book is released in a few months, please make sure you grab it. You will fall in love with Maddy and Rick. I guarantee it! 














It’s Not Over





A.L. Zaun




Release Date:  December 9, 2013

Genre:  Adult Contemporary

Cover Design:

Robin Harper from Wicked by Designs

Photographer:

Tomasz Zienkiewicz




Synopsis




“If I let go…will you catch me?”




He had wanted

her to help him win his ex-girlfriend back. She had wanted to teach him a few

lessons on how to treat a woman. Neither one had planned for the unexpected.







I couldn't stand by and watch. It hit too close

to home. I had to run fast and far to get away and forget him. He weaseled his

way into my life, making me question rules I lived by and turned my orderly

life upside down. I'm falling apart and coming undone. I don't do that. I'm

Madison Stuart. I live life by my rules. I won't be derailed by a man. I

won't...I can't.











She's gone. I'm desperate and going insane. I'll

do whatever it takes to find her. Nothing’s going to keep me away from

her. I don't know when it happened, but I won't let her go, not like this. What

has she done to me? I'm Rick Marin for crying out loud. I don't chase women,

but she's not just any woman. She's Maddy—my Maddy—and I need her.











Follow Rick and Madison’s story, The

Do Over’s most notorious couple, as

they learn that It’s Not Over.


















Add it to your TBR on

GoodReads




http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17937669-it-s-not-over








Giveaway





a Rafflecopter giveaway







Need The Do Over?



The Do Over




Find A.L. Zaun at:




Https://www.FaceBook.com/ALZaun01




Https://www.Twitter.com/AnaZ01




http://www.pinterest.com/alzaun/its-not-over/




http://www.alzaun.com/l







About A.L. Zaun:








A.L. Zaun graduated from Florida International

University with a degree

in English Literature when the dinosaurs roamed the earth and cellphones were

the size of a brick. Her impressive degree did absolutely nothing for her

professional endeavors in health care management but did stir her imagination

and opened up the world of books in a new way. 







Armed with a large bottle of Diet Pepsi and a

multi-pack of Extra Sugar-Free gum, A.L. Zaun spends her evenings bringing to

life the characters that dominate her thoughts and interrupt her sleep. 

Musings on self pubbing, editing, and other things.

I've been reading a lot of self-pubbed books lately. Some have been fantastic and some are exceptionally cringe-worthy. It all goes with the territory. I've read traditional pubbed books that I've loved and some that I've positively hated.



With a lot of these self-pubbed authors getting big publishing deals, are they still considered self-pubbed? Also, since when did indie become interchangeable with self-pubbed? I know there are a lot of bloggers who frown on queries they get from people who are self-pubbed. I understand why, but I think the backlash of automatically thinking that they're not going to be good enough is old school. A lot of the people who decide to self pub (they never even try to go thru the normal route, it's just not for them), are willing to spend thousands of dollars on editing services. And just like self-pubbing, editing services are hit or miss.



I've seen editing services pop up on a daily basis. Some people fancy themselves an editor. Not sure how, or why, but it happens. Just like some people fancy themselves a writer. I think we all have an inner writer in us. It seems to be the number one question when asked -- "What is the one thing you want to accomplish?" "I'd love to write a book."



Professional editing, proofreading, line editing is costly. Self-pubbing is not for the squeamish. You might think you just hit that publish button on Amazon, Smashwords, Createspace, etc... but it's not quite so easy. You need to get buzz going. You need to have beta readers who will help you make your story better. The ones who say "OMG, I love this, it's so good!" yeah, they don't help you one iota. You need that constructive criticism. You want that person to tell you that this scene doesn't work for one reason or another. You want someone to be truthful.



A few months ago, I came out against a self-published author because I didn't think they way she was promoting herself was good for the industry. Yes, I was disgusted with spending money on what I thought was complete crap to be miserably disappointed that she decided to hold off and publish when she reached a certain milestone. Minions came out of the woodwork to condemn my opinions. But again, they were my opinions. I still hold fast and true to those.



I've always been a bit of a booksnob. Even when I was a kid. I give equal credence to self-pubbed books as I do to classics and award winners. If a book is written well, if the story is told well, then I don't care if you're a nobody. I just want to read a good story. You could be Booker Winner AS Byatt and you can still write a crap novel. I adore Nick Hornby, but one of his novels completely turned me off. I just didn't get it. End of story. I didn't give up on his writing. Not everyone is going to hit one out of the park. Austen. Everyone loves Austen. I hated EMMA. I've read it several times, seen numerous adaptations of it and still can't seem to like it. But throw P&P and S&S and even Mansfield Park at me, and I'm a pig in shit.



See like all these famous authors, they all have issues. Some self-published authors get better with their second/third/fourth books. Some never do. But we cannot negate the passion they have for writing, reading or love of books.



I enjoy reading, reviewing, picking apart books for the good, the bad and the ugly. People do it with movies all the time. We have to weigh each book the same regardless of way it was published. We spend a lot of money on books either physical or e-book form.









Posters by Delacroix. Bottom is Blind Milton, top is Shakespeare quote. Somewhat.

Musings on self pubbing, editing, and other things.

I've been reading a lot of self-pubbed books lately. Some have been fantastic and some are exceptionally cringe-worthy. It all goes with the territory. I've read traditional pubbed books that I've loved and some that I've positively hated.



With a lot of these self-pubbed authors getting big publishing deals, are they still considered self-pubbed? Also, since when did indie become interchangeable with self-pubbed? I know there are a lot of bloggers who frown on queries they get from people who are self-pubbed. I understand why, but I think the backlash of automatically thinking that they're not going to be good enough is old school. A lot of the people who decide to self pub (they never even try to go thru the normal route, it's just not for them), are willing to spend thousands of dollars on editing services. And just like self-pubbing, editing services are hit or miss.



I've seen editing services pop up on a daily basis. Some people fancy themselves an editor. Not sure how, or why, but it happens. Just like some people fancy themselves a writer. I think we all have an inner writer in us. It seems to be the number one question when asked -- "What is the one thing you want to accomplish?" "I'd love to write a book."



Professional editing, proofreading, line editing is costly. Self-pubbing is not for the squeamish. You might think you just hit that publish button on Amazon, Smashwords, Createspace, etc... but it's not quite so easy. You need to get buzz going. You need to have beta readers who will help you make your story better. The ones who say "OMG, I love this, it's so good!" yeah, they don't help you one iota. You need that constructive criticism. You want that person to tell you that this scene doesn't work for one reason or another. You want someone to be truthful.



A few months ago, I came out against a self-published author because I didn't think they way she was promoting herself was good for the industry. Yes, I was disgusted with spending money on what I thought was complete crap to be miserably disappointed that she decided to hold off and publish when she reached a certain milestone. Minions came out of the woodwork to condemn my opinions. But again, they were my opinions. I still hold fast and true to those.



I've always been a bit of a booksnob. Even when I was a kid. I give equal credence to self-pubbed books as I do to classics and award winners. If a book is written well, if the story is told well, then I don't care if you're a nobody. I just want to read a good story. You could be Booker Winner AS Byatt and you can still write a crap novel. I adore Nick Hornby, but one of his novels completely turned me off. I just didn't get it. End of story. I didn't give up on his writing. Not everyone is going to hit one out of the park. Austen. Everyone loves Austen. I hated EMMA. I've read it several times, seen numerous adaptations of it and still can't seem to like it. But throw P&P and S&S and even Mansfield Park at me, and I'm a pig in shit.



See like all these famous authors, they all have issues. Some self-published authors get better with their second/third/fourth books. Some never do. But we cannot negate the passion they have for writing, reading or love of books.



I enjoy reading, reviewing, picking apart books for the good, the bad and the ugly. People do it with movies all the time. We have to weigh each book the same regardless of way it was published. We spend a lot of money on books either physical or e-book form.









Posters by Delacroix. Bottom is Blind Milton, top is Shakespeare quote. Somewhat.

Introducing Brooklyn Wright from The Keatyn Chronicles by Jillian Dodd

Get ready to get Sun Soaked! Hang on to your boy shorts,
bikinis, or whatever the heck you prefer cause it's about to get a little
wet in here.




Team Brooklyn is busting boards
nationwide to invite you on a 




HOTTIE RIDE!!!




From coast to coast




And sea to sea




Brooklyn Wright's




The Hottie for me!




Introducing Brooklyn Wright from 




The Keatyn Chronicles by Jillian Dodd




Being
a slave to the wave has never felt sooooo good!!! #KCCrush #TeamBintheKC
@Jilliandodd @Keatynchronicle

FINAL Cover Reveal Puzzle Piece: Rome, Jay Crownover (A Marked Men Novel)

I have no words. I'm in love. I just wish he was shirtless. Seems more Rome like.  Sigh... I'm hot right now. Fanning self.




Is it January, yet?









Title: Rome (Marked Men #3)

Author: Jay Crownover

Genre: New Adult

Published Date: January 7th, 2013

Publisher: William Morrow an imprint of HarperCollins Publishing



Synposis:



Cora Lewis is a whole lot of fun, and she knows how to keep her tattooed bad boy friends in line. But all that flash and sass hide the fact that she’s never gotten over the way her first love broke her heart. Now she has a plan to make sure that never happens again: She’s only going to fall in love with someone perfect.



Rome Archer is as far from perfect as a man can be. He’s stubborn and rigid, he’s bossy and has come back from his final tour of duty fundamentally broken. Rome’s used to filling a role: big brother, doting son, super soldier; and now none of these fit anymore. Now he’s just a man trying to figure out what to do with the rest of his life while keeping the demons of war and loss at bay. He would have been glad to suffer it alone, until Cora comes sweeping into his life and becomes the only color on his bleak horizon.



Perfect isn’t in the cards for these two, but imperfect might just last forever . . .



Goodreads

Cover Reveal Puzzle Piece #3: Rome, Jay Crownover (A Marked Men Novel)

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!




Holy Hotness! I want me some ROME like right now!




OMGOMGOMGOMGOMG!!!




Love






Preorder Links:




Amazon     Indiebound   Itunes    Barnes & Noble










Synposis:




Cora Lewis is a whole lot of fun, and she knows how to keep her tattooed bad boy friends in line. But all that flash and sass hide the fact that she’s never gotten over the way her first love broke her heart. Now she has a plan to make sure that never happens again: She’s only going to fall in love with someone perfect.




Rome Archer is as far from perfect as a man can be. He’s stubborn and rigid, he’s bossy and has come back from his final tour of duty fundamentally broken. Rome’s used to filling a role: big brother, doting son, super soldier; and now none of these fit anymore. Now he’s just a man trying to figure out what to do with the rest of his life while keeping the demons of war and loss at bay. He would have been glad to suffer it alone, until Cora comes sweeping into his life and becomes the only color on his bleak horizon.




Perfect isn’t in the cards for these two, but imperfect might just last forever . . .




Author Information:






I'm supposed to share interesting details about myself so that my readers get to know me so here we go in no particular order: I'm an natural redhead even though I haven't seen my real hair color in years, I'm a big fan of tattoos and have a half sleeve on either arm and various other pieces all over the place, I've been in the bar industry since I was in college and it has always offered interesting insight into how men and women interact with each other, I have 3 dogs that are all crazy, I live in Colorado and love the snow, I love music and in all reality wish I could be a rock star not a writer or a bartender but I have zero talent so there is that.




I love to write, love to read and all I'm interested in is a good story with interesting characters that make the reader feel something.





Website: http://www.jaycrownover.com










Twitter @jaycrownover

Cover Reveal Puzzle Piece #2: Rome, Jay Crownover (A Marked Men Novel)

We are getting closer and I'm getting so excited! 




I cannot WAIT for ROME! ARGH!




What are your thoughts on the parts of the cover? I'm loving it!




Again, you'll notice that there are buy links embedded. So feel free

to pre-order!