A.L. Zaun's Blog, page 5

Birthday Celebration!

Let's have a party!  It's my birthday and I'll cry  party if I want to!

I normally hate my birthdays. I mean, honestly, I get in a bad mood, cry all day. It's the craziest thing, but then the next morning, I wake up and I'm perfectly content with life.

Today was different.  Last night, Beth Mac Mullin, one of my beta readers revealed to me a trailer she made for The Do Over.


 Can I tell you something?  I LOVE IT!!!  I mean it.  It's awesome!

And because it's my birthday and because I have this fabulous trailer and well because we have over 1,110 followers on Facebook, I'm having another giveaway.



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Make sure to enter!

Happy Reading!

~Ana

Disclaimer:  ARC winners must have an Amazon Kindle Account.

COVER REVEAL: Destined to Succeed by Lisa M. Harley

DESTINED TO SUCCEED LISA HARLEYJUNE 9TH, 2013
Synopsis: 
What would you do if what you worked your entire life to build was suddenly destroyed?
Cade Walker is a cowboy Casanova. He’s cocky and he doesn’t care who knows it. He was raised on Walker Ranch and was destined to one day take it over. What he didn’t know was how soon that would happen. After his parents are killed in a car accident he is thrust into becoming a responsible adult. Well, sort of. Cade is always responsible when it comes to business, but pleasure, now that’s a whole other story.
Suzanna Mallory is a red-headed spitfire, who also happens to be Cade’s best friend. She has loved Cade since they met when they were nine years old, but Cade just isn’t the type to get married and settle down. Suzanna finds herself in an abusive marriage and the only thing that keeps her sane is her daughter, Isabella, and working with Cade at Walker Ranch.
When a fire threatens to destroy the future of Walker Ranch, Cade and Suzanna have to work together to save it.
What will this mean for her marriage or to the feelings that she has for Cade?
And now that Cade thought he found love with Loralei Harper, only to realize she didn’t feel the same way, is he ready to settle down?
Is Cade Walker Destined to Succeed?






Destined to Succeed Excerpt:  Cade walked up behind me and pulled my hand with the shot glass up to his mouth. He had me press it to his lips as he slammed it back. He was standing so close to me. His chest was pressed against my shoulder. "You havin’ a party without me, hon?” I could feel his breath against my neck.
“A party just ain’t a party without Cade Walker, right?” I was trying to be funny, but my voice was shaky because he was just too close for me to think straight. He gently turned me around to face him. I felt his finger under my chin as he tilted my head up to look at him. His eyes were smoldering and this might have been the shots talking, but he was totally kissing me with those eyes.


Author Bio: I grew up in a really small town in Missouri. Very similar to the fictional town I wrote about in my novel. I moved to the big city right after I graduated. I work full-time and I am mom to a beautiful little girl. I started writing in October when a group I am in had a prologue contest. I didn't win the contest, but everyone who read my prologue asked for more of my story. I decided I had to finish it and get these characters that were in my head out on paper. During the writing process it became clear that this was going to be more than one novel. It had to be a series. I have at least 2 more novels planned for the Destined Series. I also have an idea for a YA novel that stems from one of the characters in Destined to Change...hint, hint. When I was asked to write this bio I explained that I am really boring and it would be really short...so, that's about all there is to know about me. I love music and honestly couldn't have written this book without my Spotify playlist. I am kinda obsessed with frogs (not real ones) and office supplies are my downfall! I could spend my whole paycheck at the stationery store...boring, didn't I already say that? lol Also, I am slightly addicted to Facebook and Voxer. Please message me on either one...I would love to hear from all of you.
Author Links:Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/Destinedtochange Twitter:  https://www.twitter.com/Lharley77 Goodreads:  http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17368908-destined-to-succeed

1000 Likes Celebrations!!!

"AHHHHHH!"  Yes, that's me screaming.  I can't believe that my author page reached 1000 Likes.  I am both humbled and excited.  Thank you all so much for your support and encouragement.

To help celebrate, I'm having a little giveaway.  I asked you what you wanted and the majority wanted an ARC and Gift Card.  Well, I'm feeling very very generous so this is what I'm going to do.  I'm raffling 4 ARCs and 1 $10.00 Gift Card.

The only catch:  ARC winners must have a Kindle Email Account.  All ARCs will be sent directly to your Kindle.

a Rafflecopter giveaway Good luck and Thank you so very much!

~Ana

3 ARCs -- 900 Likes Celebration

I am beyond overwhelmed and appreciative to have so many people click the like button my Author Page. https://www.facebook.com/alzaun01.

As a Thank You!  I'm raffling off 3 ARCs of The Do Over.
The only catch....I can only send it to Kindle users.  Unless you're okay with a PDF file.  

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Here it is.  Enter!!!

THANK YOU  --THANK YOU -- THANK YOU

Win an ARC -- 800 Likes Giveaway

In less than five (5) weeks, I'll be publishing my debut novel, The Do Over.  Honestly, this has been an incredible journey, and I'm very excited and can't wait for you to read it.  I'm so grateful and humbled that to have had the privilege of sharing snippets of my story with you.  You are awesome!

I want you to meet and fall in love with Dani, Liam and Rick, but not only them, I want you to get to know the friends and trusted sidekicks, Candace, Chris, Macy and Madison.

The Do Over is a story that I hope we can all relate to on some level.  It's about knowing when to hold on and when to let go.  It's about the hope of a second chance and new beginnings.

Right now, The Do Over is in the trusted hands of Jovana Shirely from Unforseen Editing.  I'm on pins and needles.  I want to  see how she tweaks things to make it even better. But honestly, it's pretty good right now.  I had the girls from Editing Divas, Maria and Trish, take a look at it and got the thumbs up.

I've started sharing the ARC (Advanced Reader's Copy) with some trusted bloggers and was asked about sharing it with some of you, the readers.

So how about we work together to help get the word out and create some excitement about The Do Over.  I promise to do my part.  I'm a woman of my word.  So when I reach 800 likes on my author page, https://www.facebook.com/alzaun01, I will raffle 1 ARC to a Kindle User.  When I reach 900 likes, I'll raffle another one and so on until May 20th.

Why Kindle Users?  Because I'll be sending the ARC directly to your Kindle address and unfortunately right now, the Nook doesn't offer this feature.  You still qualify if you have a Kindle App on your phone or tablet.

So what do you think?  Let's make some noise and get people excited.

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No Fooling Around in April

Time is passing by quicker and quicker each day.  I can't believe that Monday will be April Fool's Day.  I need to be on my game.  The girls at work tend to enjoy playing pranks.  One year, they moved my car to a completely different parking garage.  Another year, they called the manager and told her they weren't coming to work that day.  Every ten minutes, Michelle got another call.  That was actually pretty funny because I had to "act" livid and threaten people's jobs.  Then, they wanted me to "fire" Tashica since it was her idea.  So, I did.  Except that I told Tashica that it was a joke and to take it seriously.  The girls flipped out because Tashica grabbed her stuff and stormed out the door, followed by her friends trying to console her.  All of this with a straight face.

But none of that!  I'm not joking.  It's Saturday, and I'm at the office.  Clearly, I"m not working since I'm on FaceBook and blogging, but I should be hard at work, catching up on everything that I didn't do this week because I was networking and well thinking of my novel.

The only way I know how to enjoy today, while I'm in an office on a glorious Saturday morning, paying penance for my slacking at work is to have a giveaway.  And this one is no joke.  I'm raffling Travis Maddox.  Well, not him him.  I'm gifting an ebook of Walking Disaster by Jamie McGuire, and for the record, I will cease all other reading to spend time with Travis.  I'm also gifting 2 copies of Bitter Angel by the amazing Megan Hand.  I had the privilege of reading this book in January.  Can I tell you something?  It's amazing, awesome and get ready to be blown away!  Keep your eye on Megan, you'll be seeing more of her.

Enjoy your Saturday, enter the drawing and remember, sharing is caring!

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Happy Saturday!

When an Opportunity Come Knocking

How do you decide how to rate a book? Is it based on the ending? The quality of the writing? The accessibility of the characters? 

The Opportunist by Tarryn Fisher is a masterfully written tale of love, lies, and manipulation. The story is crafted to lure you in, have you fall in love with the main characters, Olivia and Caleb. These perfectly flawed characters are made loveable, in spite of some atrocious acts in the name of "love". Who can't relate to not using the best judgement or taking advantage of a situation of usings someone's misfortune for your gain? 

The story takes place in the present and takes you into the past to develop the characters and allow the reader to experience a rich past. It's that past woven into the present that makes sews your heart for these characters. 

The humor and lightness drives the reader through this journey unsuspectingly. The reader is always aware of something horrible having been perpetrated to break this couple up in their past. However, the writing style is disarming and has the reader rallying for redemption of love lost and found. 

Based on that alone, I LOVED this book. I would read it over and over again.

This book has left a profound gaping hole in the middle of my chest. I ache. I finished this book in one day and was crying heavy sobs of pain, of love unfulfilled, angst filled me. I was devastated, destraught and in some ways destroyed. "I was broken" best describes. I ended this book feeling Olivia's pain and loss to the depth of my marrow. 

This book is not a "clean" read. It's not your fairytale ending. Or is it? Maybe this was the best it could be. Maybe, this is their "happy". Sure wasn't mine!

This has got to be the most thrilling rollercoaster ride. I would read this book over and over again in secret hope that the ending would be different. Perhaps, that is the magic of this book as we foolishly hope for love to overcome all things.

The give-a-way is coming to an end soon.  If you haven't already entered, do so and be a pal and share.

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Home Run

The Perfect Game was the Perfect Book.    5 Stars

I loved it. I loved Cassie. She had a great personality and evolved through the book. I liked watching her come out of her comfort zone even though it was scary and often times didn't work out the way she wanted.

Jack Carter? What can I say? I LOVE Jack. Jack had layers, and I wanted to peel each one back. Underneath his hard shell was the heart of a MAN not some guy or a dude. Jack also evolved and that was refreshing to watch. 

The characters didn't stay stagnant. They didn't fall into typical roles found in YA novels where somehow or other they one day magically became these wonderful people without flaws. They battled their demons and insecurities. 

I also enjoyed the plot surrounding Jack's baseball career. Having grown up in a baseball family, I understood what all of that meant. The love of this game is unlike that of other sports. And I found that Jenn Sterling gave an accurate representation of the brotherhood of the teammates, the focus and passion for the game, and the respect for the coach. Baseball is not just about raising up ballplayers; it is about molding men.

The book elicited a range of emotions from swoon, giddyness, tears and heartbreak to more swoon. Just the right combination to keep me from a box of chocolates but enough to make my heart smile.

Click to Buy on Amazon
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Hopelessly Hopeful

http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/485552877
Gone are the days when I hand over a five star rating. I've just read too many books and some have just risen the bar of expectation. I've become very selective.

Colleen Hoover's Hopeless is one of those books that has received my coveted five stars. It has nothing to do with the fact that the writing was spectacular, clean, clear, and the cadence rhythmically in tune with the mood of the story line. Well, maybe it does have something to do with that. First and foremost, I can appreciate the technique, style and talent of the craft, and Colleen Hoover once again out does herself as she uses words and punctuation like an artist's brush stroke to create a beautiful masterpiece. On merit of the craft alone,Hopeless gets five stars. 

Novels require an additional element which elevate the art form to another level. The words need to come alive for the reader. We need to see the world through the character's eyes and feel their heart beat as we connect with the characters as they become real. 

Sky is a protagonist that is flawed, emotional, emotionless and perfectly real. She leaves the protective bubble that is her home schooled life and begins her Senior year at the local high school. Sky is your typical teen living in an non-conventional home. She sneaks boys in through her window, gaining her a reputation before she even opens her first textbook. Her best friend Six lives next door and the two have a true BFF relationship with movies, talks and ice cream. Sky's life is unconventional in that she is technologically illiterate. She lives in a home without a phone (traditional or cell), no television, and no Internet. Is this intentional? A lifestyle choice by her mom, Karen? 

With Six studying abroad, Sky must venture the world of teenage drama alone. Until she meet Breckin, self proclaimed best friend, and supplier of morning java. Six and Breckin are wonderful literary side kicks adding the right amount of flare, drama and humor allowing the central characters to come further alive for the reader.

This brings us to the heart stopping Dean Holder. Dean Holder. Dean Holder. Holder. What can I say about Holder? Holder. His name should sum everything up. Sigh. 

Is there anything wrong with Holder? Sure! He is yet again another flawed character. Holder has a temper. He carries guilt and responsibility that doesn't belong to him. He's angry and...hurting. His heart, in spite, of his great losses is beautiful, gentle, and tender. I could feel his gaze, his touch, and his breath when he spoke. I could hear his words and his heart. I more than live Holder, I totally love him. 

Thank you Barbie for making me stop everything I was doing to read this book. You were right! 

And because at the end of the day, it was worth putting other very important projects on the back burner for a couple days. And therefore for all of the above, Hopeless is a five star. 

If you haven't read it....stop what you're doing and go read it.a Rafflecopter giveaway

Bringing Boston Home

Because I love you!  Because I'm jealous of everyone who went to Boston and don't want us to feel like we missed out on anything.  Because I appreciate you following my blog and Facebook page.



Enter and SHARE SHARE AND SHARE some more!

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