Anna Cruise's Blog, page 2
May 20, 2013
COVER REVEAL: A RARE VINTAGE by Delancey Stewart
Ooooh, look! Cover reveal today for Delancey Stewart's A RARE VINTAGE! She'll be at the New Adult Sleepover Weekend with me and a whole bunch of other super-awesome authors!
Title: A Rare Vintage
Author: Delancey Stewart
Pub date: May 31, 2013
BLURB:
Isabella DaSilva, a fiery grad student from Cornell's wine program is eager to leave her past behind her and forge a future in the vineyards of the West as an apprentice at Chateau Sauvage, a winery seeking to produce wine like no other California wineries had so far -- Rhone varietals.
She arrives at Chateau Sauvage to find that wine might not be her only interest. The winemaker, Jonathan Sauvage, is tall, dark, and handsome, and clearly in need of help. Together, they work to make a pioneering wine in an effort to keep the struggling winery afloat. Each struggles with their demons -- hers in the form of a painful and mysterious past; his created by memories of what once might have been. In the process, they find that the pain of their shattered pasts fit together perfectly, making their union as perfect as the wine it produces.
A Rare Vintage features an intense and commanding hero who isn’t afraid to ask for help, and a woman who knows that while she might technically be the apprentice, she has plenty to teach Jonathan Sauvage.
This book is the first in the Wine Country Romance series.
BIO:
Delancey Stewart is the author of Through a Dusty Window: New York City Stories 1910-2001 and A Rare Vintage, the first in her Wine Country Romance Series. A Rare Vintage releases on May 31st.She is also working on the Girlfriends of Gotham Series for Swoon Romance. The first book, Men and Martinis, will be released in fall 2013.Stewart has lived on both coasts, in big cities and small towns. She's been a pharmaceutical rep, a personal trainer and a direct sales representative for a French wine importer. Beyond all that, she has always been a writer in some way shape or form. A military spouse and the mother of two small boys, her current job titles include pirate captain, monster hunter, Lego assembler and story readers. She tackles all these efforts at her current home in Southern Maryland.
EXCERPT:
They opened the bottle in the kitchen and then wandered to the living room with generously full globes of deep crimson wine. Isabella sat at one end of the couch, tucking her legs underneath her, and leaned forward, holding out the glass."To your dad," she said.Jonathan extended his glass and the sound of the glasses touching seemed to echo through the still room."To continuing to build what he began," she concluded.Jonathan took a sip, his eyes never leaving her face.Isabella found herself breathing more heavily, as if it took a great deal of effort for her to sit here on the couch next to this wildly attractive man, drinking wine. He’d gone from being arrogant and closed-off to open and generous in one evening. She wanted to slide across the couch, wrap her arms around his neck and pull him to her—to feel his weight on her. The more she tried to focus on behaving normally, the more difficulty she had quelling the butterflies that were careening around in her stomach. She tore her eyes from his face and found herself staring at the muscular chest evident under the thin western shirt instead. Get a grip on yourself! She chastised.Jonathan had been watching her, his gaze never leaving her face, and he seemed to sense her struggles to maintain control over her suddenly flaring desire. A smile began on his lips and he put his glass down on the coffee table in front of them. His eyes darkened."Isabella," he said. "I know you've just gotten here…"She was not usually a forward woman, but something in his voice dampened her fears. She put her glass on the table and slid across the caramel leather of the couch until she could feel warmth radiating off of him. She looked into his eyes, not entirely sure of herself until she saw the barely-contained desire in his gaze. She felt a shift as her own physical desire pushed aside her efforts to maintain conscious control of the situation."Jonathan," she breathed as her arms wound around his neck. His breath was hot on her neck as she pulled him gently toward her. He leaned forward, wrapping his arms around her back as he laid her down. They slid back slowly until the full length of their bodies was pressed together, and finally, his lips found hers. They kissed softly at first, and then Isabella felt Jonathan's control falter as he let out a low groan and began to kiss her hungrily. He pushed her lips apart and his tongue plunged into her mouth. She tasted the wine lingering there, and she opened her mouth to him eagerly, her own tongue meeting his while her hips pushed upwards against him, feeling the hard urgency of his erection pressing against her hip through her jeans. He groaned again, a low guttural sound filled with desire, and she began to feel the edges of her consciousness darken as the remnants of her self-control faded into her own desire for him.
Wine Country Romance -- Book One: A Rare Vintage (Amazon, May 31, 2013)Girlfriends of Gotham -- Book One: Men and Martinis coming soon! (Swoon Romance, Summer 2013)
https://delanceystewart.wordpress.com/https://www.facebook.com/delancey.stewarthttps://twitter.com/DelanceyStewarthttps://twitter.com/DelanceyStewart
May 15, 2013
A Day In The Life Of JC Emery
So I'm doing this really cool thing in December. It's called the New Adult Sleepover Weekend and I'm going to be there with some KICK ASS NA authors. A few of us decided, "Uh, hey, it might be cool if we, like, got to know each other a little better. You know, since we'll be sleeping over together and all."
And, since I thought YOU might want to get to know some of these authors a little better, too (because we want to see YOU at NASW), I thought I'd share the cool interviews we did with each other. For the next few Wednesdays, I'll be posting them.
AND...because I just love all these new friends of mine so much, if you leave a comment here, I'll pick ONE lucky winner each week and gift them a copy of that author's book. Yeah, you're welcome. :)
First up, the lovely and talented JC Emery!
BIO
As a child, JC was fascinated by things that went bump in the night. As they say, some things never change. Now, as an adult, she divides her time between the sexy law men, mythical creatures, and kick-ass heroines that live inside her head and pursuing her bachelor’s degree in English. As it is for most writers, finding balance is a challenge. JC is a San Francisco Bay Area native, but has also called both Texas and Louisiana home. These days she rocks her flip flops year round in Northern California and can’t imagine a climate more beautiful
With the support and encouragement of her parents and sister, JC set out to figure out what she wanted to do when she grew up. Most days, the jury is still out; however the thing that stuck with her no matter what she pursued was her love of the written word.
JC writes adult, new adult, and young adult fiction. She dabbles in many different genres including science fiction, horror, chick lit, and murder mysteries, yet she is most enthralled by supernatural stories-- and everything has at least a splash of romance.
http://jcemery.com/http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6902956.JC_Emeryhttps://www.facebook.com/jcemeryauthor
And, since I thought YOU might want to get to know some of these authors a little better, too (because we want to see YOU at NASW), I thought I'd share the cool interviews we did with each other. For the next few Wednesdays, I'll be posting them.
AND...because I just love all these new friends of mine so much, if you leave a comment here, I'll pick ONE lucky winner each week and gift them a copy of that author's book. Yeah, you're welcome. :)
First up, the lovely and talented JC Emery!
BIO
As a child, JC was fascinated by things that went bump in the night. As they say, some things never change. Now, as an adult, she divides her time between the sexy law men, mythical creatures, and kick-ass heroines that live inside her head and pursuing her bachelor’s degree in English. As it is for most writers, finding balance is a challenge. JC is a San Francisco Bay Area native, but has also called both Texas and Louisiana home. These days she rocks her flip flops year round in Northern California and can’t imagine a climate more beautiful
With the support and encouragement of her parents and sister, JC set out to figure out what she wanted to do when she grew up. Most days, the jury is still out; however the thing that stuck with her no matter what she pursued was her love of the written word.
JC writes adult, new adult, and young adult fiction. She dabbles in many different genres including science fiction, horror, chick lit, and murder mysteries, yet she is most enthralled by supernatural stories-- and everything has at least a splash of romance.
http://jcemery.com/http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6902956.JC_Emeryhttps://www.facebook.com/jcemeryauthor
May 13, 2013
MAVERICK Sneak Peek
Who wants a sneak peek of MAVERICK? You do?? Oh good! Because I have one for you!!
Here it is. The first chapter of MAVERICK (May 21, 2013).
****
ONE
Something—no, someone—was rubbing against my leg. Soft skin, silky smooth, gliding back and forth over my calf. My thigh. Fingertips traveled from my hip to my stomach, nails digging gently into my abs.I grunted and forced my eyes open. A naked chick with blond hair was curled up next to me. A naked chick whose name I couldn't remember.She bent her head close to my bare chest and her lips grazed my skin. “Good morning,” she said, her voice soft.Her long hair was a mess of tangles, her mascara smudged, but she was still beautiful. Tan and thin, her tits the best money could buy. She looked like half the other chicks in Southern California. Hell, she looked like all the chicks in SoCal.I yawned and the odor hit me like a freight train. She smelled like cigarettes and stale beer. And sex.Or maybe that was me.“Hey,” I mumbled.She smiled and lowered her head again. Her tongue danced in circles on my skin as her fingers trailed down my stomach. I should have felt something, some little spark in my gut, some twinge in my cock. But I felt nothing.Chelsea?Cheryl?What was her name? Something with a Ch. I was pretty sure of that.I swallowed. My mouth was bone-dry, like someone had shoved a handful of cotton down my throat. I rubbed at my eyes and glanced at the nightstand. Four cans of Bud Light littered the top, along with a flashing alarm clock and a discarded black lace thong. I pushed the panties to the floor and picked up a can. Empty. So was the next one. The third was half-full and I downed the warm, flat beer, washing away the cotton in my mouth.I set the can back down and looked at the top of Ch's head. She'd stayed glued to me, her hand traveling lower, her fingers brushing the tip of my dick. “Yo. I gotta go.”
Her tongue licked at my nipple and she kicked at the sheet so she was fully exposed. My eyes traveled the length of her body and I drew a quick breath. At least I hadn't been so drunk that I'd brought some sea hag back to my room. I could have done worse. Much, much worse.I closed my eyes, trying to remember. Chantelle? Charity? “Hey,” I said, rubbing my temple and re-opening my eyes. “You hear me?”Ch lifted her head and gave me what I'm sure she thought was an incredibly seductive look. “You can be a little late,” she said, tightening her grip on me.The bummer part for her was that I'd seen that look a hundred times before. And I'd see it again the next morning. Same look, just different faces. “I already am,” I said, easing out from under her. My legs were heavy as I set them on the floor. Wasn't gonna be good for the waves. “So I gotta jet.”“Come on, baby,” she said, sliding her body across the sheets. “We can be fast. Get your blood pumping before your heat.”I rolled my eyes and started searching the hotel room for my board shorts. I didn't need her to get my blood pumping. The only thing that got my blood pumping any more was the water. I'd probably said something to her in the bar the night before. Something clever, something that made her feel like I really wanted to be with her, something that got her excited, knowing she was going to get to fuck the best surfer in the world.But I couldn't even remember her name.I found my shorts, light blue and white, wadded into a ball under the desk. I reached down and pulled them out. I unrolled them and pulled them up over my legs.“No time,” I said, tying the drawstrings tightly around my waist.She sat up and tugged on the sheet, covering her ass but leaving her tits exposed. “Well, I guess we'll have to save it for tonight then.”I could feel her eyes on me as I crossed the room. It was a nice hotel—the best Huntington Beach had to offer—but to me, it was just another place to crash. A place to sleep before I woke up and started the same shit all over again. I grabbed a container of mints sitting on the dresser and popped two of them in my mouth, feeling them burn away the lingering taste of alcohol. I rolled them around with my tongue, making sure I hit every spot. The tour frowned at alcohol on my breath at check-in. I kept thinking they'd get used to it, but it hadn't happened yet.“Kellen?” the girl asked, pulling the sheet tighter around her, sort of like a topless toga. “We can hook up tonight? Right?”I crouched down, looking for my t-shirt. I found more of her discarded clothing—a black lace bra, a skirt that looked like it hadn't covered nearly half her ass—but couldn't find it. I straightened myself and looked at her. “What?”“We can hook up tonight, right?”I frowned. What was her name? Cheyenne?“We hooked up last night,” I said. She smiled at me. “I know. So we should do it again. Because we, like, totally clicked.”We hadn't. I knew exactly why she was naked in my hotel bed and it wasn't because I'd suddenly decided she was the one. I'd been drunk. I hadn't wanted to be alone. And she was beautiful.I knew there was no way she could believe what she was spewing, either. She didn't give a shit about me. She didn't even know me. She wanted to do me because of who I was. She wanted to hang on. She wanted to tell her friends she was hooking up with Kellen Handler. I tossed my stuff in the beat-up blue duffel flattened on top of the dresser. My boards were already on the beach, waiting for me. Along with about five thousand spectators. And Jay's ghost.I slid my feet into my sandals. I ran my hand through my hair and offered her a half-smile. “Stay as long as you want this morning. Think checkout's at noon.” I wasn't going to tell her that I wouldn't be checking out, that I'd be in that same room for the rest of the weekend.Her face fell but I was immune to it. I'd seen it before, more times than I could count. Disappointed, mad, maybe even sad. Nah, I thought. Not sad. She just wanted the conquest, thinking she was the one who was finally going to reel me in.“Don't you want my number?” she asked. “I'm not some psycho that—”I looked at her for a minute and then sighed. “Look, I don't even remember your name,” I said, trying not to sound too harsh. “And I'm sure you're cool, okay? But it was one night. I'm outta here after the finals. So there's really no point.”She loosened the sheet, pulling it up over her breasts. She'd lost a little of her confidence.“Yeah, but next time you come through, you could call me. We could hook up again.” She offered a tentative smile. “Pretty sure you had fun.”My temples throbbed, and it wasn't just from listening to her babble. I'd drank twice as much as I'd planned to last night. Like usual. If Jay had been there? He always cut me off when I was getting close to the line, especially during competitions. He knew when to stop me and he knew I'd listen.But he wasn't around anymore and I didn't listen to anyone.“Did I?” I asked. “Because I don't even remember.” I picked up my phone and checked the time. “I gotta roll.”“You really don't want my number?” she asked, disbelief in her voice.I wasn't going to stand there and explain myself. I could tell her it was me and not her, but that would sound like a line. Didn't matter if it was true or not. I could tell her I didn't know when I would be coming back through again and I didn't want to get her hopes up.
But I didn't want to waste my time with reasons. Or hers. It all just sounded like bullshit and she wouldn't get it and then she'd start asking questions and then I'd get pissed and it would just get worse.I hoisted the bag over my shoulder and opened the door to the room. I glanced at the girl in my bed whose name I couldn't remember and said the same thing I'd said a hundred times before.“No,” I told her. “I really don't want your number.”
****
There you go. The first chapter of MAVERICK. And I know, Kellen doesn't come off like much of a nice guy here, does he? But, remember, I don't write about assholes. And Kellen most certainly is not one. A little damaged and a little messed up but still a good guy.
You can read more about him in just a couple of weeks!! If you just can't wait, you can always sign up for an e-ARC. I'll be sending out a few at random -- sign up sheet is here.
Here it is. The first chapter of MAVERICK (May 21, 2013).
****
ONE
Something—no, someone—was rubbing against my leg. Soft skin, silky smooth, gliding back and forth over my calf. My thigh. Fingertips traveled from my hip to my stomach, nails digging gently into my abs.I grunted and forced my eyes open. A naked chick with blond hair was curled up next to me. A naked chick whose name I couldn't remember.She bent her head close to my bare chest and her lips grazed my skin. “Good morning,” she said, her voice soft.Her long hair was a mess of tangles, her mascara smudged, but she was still beautiful. Tan and thin, her tits the best money could buy. She looked like half the other chicks in Southern California. Hell, she looked like all the chicks in SoCal.I yawned and the odor hit me like a freight train. She smelled like cigarettes and stale beer. And sex.Or maybe that was me.“Hey,” I mumbled.She smiled and lowered her head again. Her tongue danced in circles on my skin as her fingers trailed down my stomach. I should have felt something, some little spark in my gut, some twinge in my cock. But I felt nothing.Chelsea?Cheryl?What was her name? Something with a Ch. I was pretty sure of that.I swallowed. My mouth was bone-dry, like someone had shoved a handful of cotton down my throat. I rubbed at my eyes and glanced at the nightstand. Four cans of Bud Light littered the top, along with a flashing alarm clock and a discarded black lace thong. I pushed the panties to the floor and picked up a can. Empty. So was the next one. The third was half-full and I downed the warm, flat beer, washing away the cotton in my mouth.I set the can back down and looked at the top of Ch's head. She'd stayed glued to me, her hand traveling lower, her fingers brushing the tip of my dick. “Yo. I gotta go.”
Her tongue licked at my nipple and she kicked at the sheet so she was fully exposed. My eyes traveled the length of her body and I drew a quick breath. At least I hadn't been so drunk that I'd brought some sea hag back to my room. I could have done worse. Much, much worse.I closed my eyes, trying to remember. Chantelle? Charity? “Hey,” I said, rubbing my temple and re-opening my eyes. “You hear me?”Ch lifted her head and gave me what I'm sure she thought was an incredibly seductive look. “You can be a little late,” she said, tightening her grip on me.The bummer part for her was that I'd seen that look a hundred times before. And I'd see it again the next morning. Same look, just different faces. “I already am,” I said, easing out from under her. My legs were heavy as I set them on the floor. Wasn't gonna be good for the waves. “So I gotta jet.”“Come on, baby,” she said, sliding her body across the sheets. “We can be fast. Get your blood pumping before your heat.”I rolled my eyes and started searching the hotel room for my board shorts. I didn't need her to get my blood pumping. The only thing that got my blood pumping any more was the water. I'd probably said something to her in the bar the night before. Something clever, something that made her feel like I really wanted to be with her, something that got her excited, knowing she was going to get to fuck the best surfer in the world.But I couldn't even remember her name.I found my shorts, light blue and white, wadded into a ball under the desk. I reached down and pulled them out. I unrolled them and pulled them up over my legs.“No time,” I said, tying the drawstrings tightly around my waist.She sat up and tugged on the sheet, covering her ass but leaving her tits exposed. “Well, I guess we'll have to save it for tonight then.”I could feel her eyes on me as I crossed the room. It was a nice hotel—the best Huntington Beach had to offer—but to me, it was just another place to crash. A place to sleep before I woke up and started the same shit all over again. I grabbed a container of mints sitting on the dresser and popped two of them in my mouth, feeling them burn away the lingering taste of alcohol. I rolled them around with my tongue, making sure I hit every spot. The tour frowned at alcohol on my breath at check-in. I kept thinking they'd get used to it, but it hadn't happened yet.“Kellen?” the girl asked, pulling the sheet tighter around her, sort of like a topless toga. “We can hook up tonight? Right?”I crouched down, looking for my t-shirt. I found more of her discarded clothing—a black lace bra, a skirt that looked like it hadn't covered nearly half her ass—but couldn't find it. I straightened myself and looked at her. “What?”“We can hook up tonight, right?”I frowned. What was her name? Cheyenne?“We hooked up last night,” I said. She smiled at me. “I know. So we should do it again. Because we, like, totally clicked.”We hadn't. I knew exactly why she was naked in my hotel bed and it wasn't because I'd suddenly decided she was the one. I'd been drunk. I hadn't wanted to be alone. And she was beautiful.I knew there was no way she could believe what she was spewing, either. She didn't give a shit about me. She didn't even know me. She wanted to do me because of who I was. She wanted to hang on. She wanted to tell her friends she was hooking up with Kellen Handler. I tossed my stuff in the beat-up blue duffel flattened on top of the dresser. My boards were already on the beach, waiting for me. Along with about five thousand spectators. And Jay's ghost.I slid my feet into my sandals. I ran my hand through my hair and offered her a half-smile. “Stay as long as you want this morning. Think checkout's at noon.” I wasn't going to tell her that I wouldn't be checking out, that I'd be in that same room for the rest of the weekend.Her face fell but I was immune to it. I'd seen it before, more times than I could count. Disappointed, mad, maybe even sad. Nah, I thought. Not sad. She just wanted the conquest, thinking she was the one who was finally going to reel me in.“Don't you want my number?” she asked. “I'm not some psycho that—”I looked at her for a minute and then sighed. “Look, I don't even remember your name,” I said, trying not to sound too harsh. “And I'm sure you're cool, okay? But it was one night. I'm outta here after the finals. So there's really no point.”She loosened the sheet, pulling it up over her breasts. She'd lost a little of her confidence.“Yeah, but next time you come through, you could call me. We could hook up again.” She offered a tentative smile. “Pretty sure you had fun.”My temples throbbed, and it wasn't just from listening to her babble. I'd drank twice as much as I'd planned to last night. Like usual. If Jay had been there? He always cut me off when I was getting close to the line, especially during competitions. He knew when to stop me and he knew I'd listen.But he wasn't around anymore and I didn't listen to anyone.“Did I?” I asked. “Because I don't even remember.” I picked up my phone and checked the time. “I gotta roll.”“You really don't want my number?” she asked, disbelief in her voice.I wasn't going to stand there and explain myself. I could tell her it was me and not her, but that would sound like a line. Didn't matter if it was true or not. I could tell her I didn't know when I would be coming back through again and I didn't want to get her hopes up.
But I didn't want to waste my time with reasons. Or hers. It all just sounded like bullshit and she wouldn't get it and then she'd start asking questions and then I'd get pissed and it would just get worse.I hoisted the bag over my shoulder and opened the door to the room. I glanced at the girl in my bed whose name I couldn't remember and said the same thing I'd said a hundred times before.“No,” I told her. “I really don't want your number.”
****
There you go. The first chapter of MAVERICK. And I know, Kellen doesn't come off like much of a nice guy here, does he? But, remember, I don't write about assholes. And Kellen most certainly is not one. A little damaged and a little messed up but still a good guy.
You can read more about him in just a couple of weeks!! If you just can't wait, you can always sign up for an e-ARC. I'll be sending out a few at random -- sign up sheet is here.
May 9, 2013
Cover Reveal & Giveaway: MAVERICK by ANNA CRUISE
Publication Date: May 21, 2013
Genre: New Adult Contemporary Romance
Kellen Handler is in deep.
Ever since he can remember, he’s wanted to be a professional surfer. And he made it, rising to the top of the ranks, traveling the world and riding every break he’s ever dreamed of. His good looks and reputation for living on the edge—both in and out of the water—have made him an international superstar. But when his best friend dies in a tragic accident, Kellen wipes out big time, spiraling so badly that everything he’s worked for starts to disintegrate.
Tour officials scramble to do damage control and demand he work with a public relations company to clean up his bad boy image. It doesn't help that the person assigned to him, Gina Bellori, has her own demons associated with the surfing world.
Against her better judgement, Gina accepts the job and concentrates on repairing Kellen's tattered reputation, despite his protests and despite the pain it causes her. With her past colliding with her present—and Kellen in the thick of it—she begins to realize that some secrets can't stay hidden.
And suddenly, Kellen Handler is no longer worried about losing his career.
He's more worried about losing his heart.
*****
What do you guys think???? I'm super-excited about this one. I dated a lot of surfers growing up in San Diego but none quite as delicious as Kellen... :)
Add to Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17874662-maverick
a Rafflecopter giveaway
May 8, 2013
Guess What? Bad Boys Are ASSHOLES
I am loving the New Adult genre. I love the scenarios and I love the steam. I've always enjoyed reading YA but NA takes everything up a notch, you know? The setting, the plot, the dialogue and—duh—the sex.
You wanna know something I don't love, though?
The bad boys.
Now, now, before you get your panties all in a bunch, hear me out.
I'm not talking about the guys who have a 'tude or who mouth off or act cocky or do stupid shit. I think every guy on the planet has those tendencies. At least some of the time, anyway.
Nope, I'm talking about the other bad boy. The bad boy who is a total asshat to everyone. The bad boy who uses and degrades women, who truly isn't sorry for anything that he does. The bad boy who thinks only of himself. The bad boy who no intelligent woman in her right mind would find worthy of a relationship. The bad boy who is somehow, during the course of the book, miraculously saved by the sweet/virginal/damaged heroine.
VOMIT.
News flash, peeps. These guys don't exist. Guys who are troubled, yeah, they are capable of changing. But the flat-out asshole who can't see past the tip of his own nose? Not you, not your best friend, not your sister, nor a flame thrower will change that guy. And I don't care if he's been abused or hurt or whatever demons he has that haunt his past. He needs a therapist, not a girlfriend, if he even wants to thinkabout changing his ways.
And yeah, I get it. This is fiction. Give me my fantasy, let me have my happily ever after.
Uh. No.
Other authors can do what they want but I am not going to write about the bad-boy-turned-angel. I am not going to degrade my readers—fuck that, any woman—by having my heroine grovel or be treated poorly by a man. There are far too many instances of this happening in real life, instances where women are abused (physically and/or emotionally), raped and murdered by these bad boys. Guys they might have thought they could change, guys they stuck with because they decided to give him “one more chance,” guys they attached themselves to because these poor girls had it in their head that they didn't deserve any better.
VOMIT.
And yeah, I still get it. This is fiction. This is where we can write our own endings, we can make flawed characters that miraculously change. But I think this line of thinking, this gritty and glamorous portrayal of dysfunctional people and dysfunctional relationships, does a shit ton of harm. Girls reading this stuff, thinking they can actually change someone? Thinking they should stick it out in bad relationships because their guy might come around and become the hero? No thanks.
I want to help those girls out of those situations, not encourage them to stay in them. It's one of the reasons I wrote IF I FALL. Aidan is a first-class prick. And guess what? He's based on someone I knew. Someone I dated. I couldn't change him and thank God I got the fuck away before he did any real damage.
A lot of readers have had a difficult time with that book. It was hard to read...why was Meg so stupid...it was painful to watch her self-destruct...she was unlikeable because she stayed with him and made poor decisions. And I agree. With all of those statements. But that is real fucking life, people.
Look, people can read what they wanna read. And authors can write what they wanna write. Thank God for that. I would never tell anyone that they shouldn't read something.
But I'll promise you this. I will not glorify assholes. Not by reading about them and not by writing about them.
Not now.
Not ever.
May 6, 2013
Cover Reveal & Giveaway -- LOSING FRANCESCA by JA HUSS
BOOK AND AUTHOR INFO:
Losing Francesca by J.A. Huss
Publication date: July 1st 2013
Genre: New Adult Contemporary Romance
Synopsis:Francesca Sabatini came to America to take in the sights, celebrate her high school graduation, and have fun wasting time before college starts in the fall.
That’s not what happens.
Fresh off the plane and barely on American soil more than a handful of minutes, Francesca’s face is recognized by TSA scanners to be a match for a child who was kidnapped twelve years ago.
Brody Mason remembers the day Fiona Sullivan went missing during a family vacation in Italy and it’s haunted him his whole life. So when Francesca shows up at the Sullivan farm down the road, he’s compelled to figure out if this girl really is his long lost friend.
But Francesca knows she’s not Fiona Sullivan. She knows exactly who she is. At least she thinks she knows – until Brody Mason relentlessly pursues her and she begins to have feelings for him. Maybe being Fiona isn’t so bad?
Reality becomes blurred, secrets are revealed, and life will never be the same when the final questions are answered: Is she Francesca or Fiona? And where does she really belong?
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17404206-losing-francesca?ac=1
----
AUTHOR BIO J. A. Huss likes to write new adult books that make you think and keep you guessing. Her favorite genre to read is space opera, but since practically no one reads those books, she writes new adult science fiction, paranormal romance, contemporary romance, urban fantasy, and books about Junco (who refuses to be saddled with a label).
She has an undergraduate degree in horses, (yes, really–Thank you, Colorado State University) and a master’s degree in forensic toxicology from the University of Florida. She used to have a job driving around Colorado doing pretty much nothing but shooting the breeze with farmers, but now she just writes, runs the New Adult Addiction and Clean Teen Reads Book Blogs, and runs an online science classroom for homeschoolers.
Author links:Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter
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May 4, 2013
Cinco De Mayo Giveaway
I loved celebrating Cinco de Mayo when I lived in San Diego. So many fun events and even more yummy places to grab delicious Mexican food and celebrate.
I'm not in San Diego anymore and I can't send you super-awesome Mexican food to celebrate but I CAN do something else.
Something like...A GIVEAWAY!!
Yep, a giveaway. Amazon gift cards -- $5 each because, hey it is CINCO de Mayo -- and e-books, as well.
FIVE winners. (see how clever I am?) :)
Entering is easy. Check the Rafflecopter below.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
I'm not in San Diego anymore and I can't send you super-awesome Mexican food to celebrate but I CAN do something else.
Something like...A GIVEAWAY!!
Yep, a giveaway. Amazon gift cards -- $5 each because, hey it is CINCO de Mayo -- and e-books, as well.
FIVE winners. (see how clever I am?) :)
Entering is easy. Check the Rafflecopter below.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
April 19, 2013
RECALLED Giveaway!
Hey everyone! Guess what?
It's my birthday!!
And since I am so FREAKING excited to be that much closer to dying, I thought I'd give away some copies of THIS fabulous book by my super-sweet author friend, Cambria Hebert. Have you read her stuff? No? You should. Because she is made of AWESOME.
Anyway, her book is about death. And it's a love story. Doesn't get much better than that, right???
Soooo, if you'd like a copy of Recalled, leave me a comment here. Make sure you include your email addy so, when my children choose their random numbers for the winners tonight, I have a way to let you know I chose YOU!
It's my birthday!!
And since I am so FREAKING excited to be that much closer to dying, I thought I'd give away some copies of THIS fabulous book by my super-sweet author friend, Cambria Hebert. Have you read her stuff? No? You should. Because she is made of AWESOME.
Anyway, her book is about death. And it's a love story. Doesn't get much better than that, right???
Soooo, if you'd like a copy of Recalled, leave me a comment here. Make sure you include your email addy so, when my children choose their random numbers for the winners tonight, I have a way to let you know I chose YOU!
April 14, 2013
Selling Scarlett Giveaway!
My good buddy Ella James just released Selling Scarlett, a sexy New Adult title. I'm sooo excited for her, I'm giving copies away! Yep. Just for you.
How do you enter? Leave a comment. I'll pick a few lucky winners tonight and gift them their very own e-copy of Selling Scarlett.
Because I love Ella. And I love you guys.
xoxo
Here's the set-up:
Elizabeth DeVille doesn't belong at a party like this—one where the gowns cost more than her Camry and cigars run higher than her grad school utility bills. Dragged out of seclusion by her best friend Suri, Elizabeth is merely playing dress-up, rubbing elbows with a crowd that banished her troubled family years ago.
Hunter West is tired. Tired of parties, tired of pretending, and tired of trying to right a wrong that haunts him every day. Bourbon heir and professional poker player by day, by night Hunter is gambling with his life in a high-stakes game of crime and blackmail.
When Elizabeth stumbles into Hunter's den of vices, she's a light in the darkness, a flame in the void. And, just like everything he touches, Hunter mars her in a record time. To rectify the damage done, Elizabeth needs money she doesn't have, and she's come up with a foolproof way to get it.
Follow Elizabeth—code-named Scarlett—to the lush Nevada brothel where she'll auction her virginity and risk the only thing that's not for sale: her heart. The highest bidder is a familiar face, with wicked hands and the devil's mouth. And a secret so dark that it could cost her life.
**Mature Content Warning** Not recommended for readers under the age of 17, due to mature language, sexual content, and violence.
How do you enter? Leave a comment. I'll pick a few lucky winners tonight and gift them their very own e-copy of Selling Scarlett.
Because I love Ella. And I love you guys.
xoxo
Here's the set-up:
Elizabeth DeVille doesn't belong at a party like this—one where the gowns cost more than her Camry and cigars run higher than her grad school utility bills. Dragged out of seclusion by her best friend Suri, Elizabeth is merely playing dress-up, rubbing elbows with a crowd that banished her troubled family years ago.
Hunter West is tired. Tired of parties, tired of pretending, and tired of trying to right a wrong that haunts him every day. Bourbon heir and professional poker player by day, by night Hunter is gambling with his life in a high-stakes game of crime and blackmail.
When Elizabeth stumbles into Hunter's den of vices, she's a light in the darkness, a flame in the void. And, just like everything he touches, Hunter mars her in a record time. To rectify the damage done, Elizabeth needs money she doesn't have, and she's come up with a foolproof way to get it.
Follow Elizabeth—code-named Scarlett—to the lush Nevada brothel where she'll auction her virginity and risk the only thing that's not for sale: her heart. The highest bidder is a familiar face, with wicked hands and the devil's mouth. And a secret so dark that it could cost her life.
**Mature Content Warning** Not recommended for readers under the age of 17, due to mature language, sexual content, and violence.
April 11, 2013
IF I FALL Is LIVE!
Number one thing I learned this week? Never try to release a book while moving. Ever.
Despite being knee-deep in boxes and having to run to the McDonald's parking lot to steal Internet access, I managed to upload IF I FALL! It's now live on Amazon.
I love this book. IF I FALL isn't a fairy tale. I adore a good escape book just as much as the next girl, but I also love books like this. Real. Honest.
I hope you enjoy it, too. :)
Despite being knee-deep in boxes and having to run to the McDonald's parking lot to steal Internet access, I managed to upload IF I FALL! It's now live on Amazon.
I love this book. IF I FALL isn't a fairy tale. I adore a good escape book just as much as the next girl, but I also love books like this. Real. Honest.
I hope you enjoy it, too. :)
