Christa Simpson's Blog, page 33

Share the Love

Love heart uidaodjsdsew (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Thank you so much for all your support!! Whether you have purchased my book, shared the news or given me your writing advice from your informative and inspiring blogs, you’ve all been a major part of my self-publishing journey thus far, whether you realize it or not. For that I thank you.

What a humbling experience to sell so many books in such a short period of time. I only wonder what sales will look like in one month’s time. Unfortunately I can’t see into the future, though that would be pretty cool if I could.

There is one thing that would rest my mind though… to get a couple of reviews out there.  For those of you who have purchased, read and enjoyed TWISTED, I wonder if I could trouble you to leave a review on

TWISTED has finally been released!!!

I’m super excited to share that my debut romance novel TWISTED has been live for 24 hours now and has sold… please excuse me while I finish my happy dance… 53 copies on amazon!!!

And none of those copies were me.  Lol.  Or my family for that matter.  In fact, only one purchase was from Canada.  Thanks Brandi. 

Why did none of my family buy one you ask?  I come from a Crackberry family… I’m the only one who’s upgraded to a Samsung GS3 phone but I still cling to my Blackberry Playbook as an ereader.  They’re all waiting for my Smashwords Edition to be released, which should be coming very soon.

So do you even buy your own book?  I was going to, just so I could double check for any formatting errors or typos I might have missed.

Then there’s the whole return thing.  How do you return an ebook exactly?  Just curious.  More suspicious than anything.

Thanks so much to everyone who purchased a copy of my book.  I hope you enjoy it!  And if you do, which I’m sure you will, please tell me what you liked.  Thanks!!

If you haven’t checked it out yet, you can do so now at the following links or online at your local amazon store.

USA:  http://www.amazon.com/Twisted-The-Series-ebook/dp/B00BLP8TJM/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1362006864&sr=8-2&keywords=christa+simpson

Canada:  http://www.amazon.ca/Twisted-The-Series-ebook/dp/B00BLP8TJM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1362006921&sr=8-1

UK:  http://www.amazon.co.uk/Twisted-The-Series-ebook/dp/B00BLP8TJM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1362007012&sr=8-1

Here it is… my new book cover!!

Here it is. The moment you’ve all been waiting for. Okay, so maybe it’s only the moment I’ve been waiting for. It’s my TWISTED cover reveal…

Twisted by Christa Simpson.  Cover by Razzle Dazzle.

Twisted is my debut novel of a three book series. It’s a contemporary romance with a paranormal twist. Don’t be fooled by the genre “New Adult”.  There is very tasty adult content in it. Click here to read the back cover blurb: http://christasimpson.wordpress.com/twisted/

Thanks to Razzle Dazzle for making it happen.  If you’re looking for affordable cover design yourself, you should check out their stock of pre-made covers just waiting for you.     https://www.razzdazzstock.com/product-list.php?pg1-cid68.html

So, what do you think?  You likey?

If you’re a man (and unwilling to admit that my cover model is totally hot) then is it at least something you could see your wife or significant other reading?  

I know I’d totally read it.

Primal – Part 2 of 2

Here’s part two of my book review of the PRIMAL novel, which is review of the third and fourth novellas therein by Lora Leigh and Jory Strong. For these two alone I give 5 stars!!  *****

3.    ANGEL-CLAIMED by Jory Strong.

I got right into this story the second I started reading it. Jory Strong made it easy to understand the world they were living in and developed the world around you as you got to know the characters.

Sajia was a djinn and blood slave to a predominant vampire family. She was living every day like it could be her last, because it could be.

Addai, a dark angel, had been searching for her for over a thousand years and finally learns that they will be reunited soon. When Addai, white wings and all, insists to Sajia that she was his wife in a previous life and he’d done everything in his power to get her back, she can’t help but feel some inexplicable bond that they share.

Though she doesn’t remember their life together, she learns that he is no stranger, since he continually shares his memories of them making love, which usually involved her submissing.  She initially refuses to let him dominate her, until she can’t fight the urge to submit to him. When she finally gives in to his desirous demands -and lets him tie her up- it means so much more than super-hot domination. It means she trusts him.

Here’s a few lines to sum up the rebirth of their intimate relationship:

The deep craving for her willing submission gave him the strength to take a step backward and say, “You know what I want.  Lie down and position yourself so I can tether your wrists and ankles to the bed.” 

She was so wet, so needy that tears nearly leaked from the corners of her eyes.  He overpowered her with his beauty, with the depth of his desire for her.  Never would she have imagined complying so readily, so easily…

She didn’t know what to expect, only that she craved his attention.  Needed his touch as desperately as she needed air to live.

Note: That story is not one to be read while sitting next to your children. Just sayin’. But still, I enjoyed it.

4.    PRIMAL KISS by Lora Leigh.

There’s a reason why Lora Leigh’s name is so largely printed on this cover. Her story kicks ass. They totally saved the best for last.

You haven’t known attraction and arousal until you’ve experienced the mating heat from Creed, a lion breed.  (This was my first breed novel, and while I was skeptical and a little shocked at times, it is definitely not my last.)

When Kita takes off from her secure homestead, to run from her father and her family troubles (her uncle was conducting research against the Breeds), her father’s body guard, Creed, takes off to retrieve her. He knows she doesn’t want to be found, but also warned her before she left that if she took off, he’d find her. He was prepared for it, having tracked the navigation in every vehicle she could have possibly taken and even tagging her wallet. Knowing her trip, thanks to her GPS, Creed takes a short cut to her hideaway in the forest. He beats her there, her being directionally challenged, and here’s what happened when she gets there.

“Did you have a nice drive?”

A screech erupted from her throat as her eyes flew open, her hands jerking, scrambling for the doorknob and managing to do no more than turn before he was suddenly there.  Kita cried out in shock as his hand flattened against the door, pushing it closed and pressing her against it.  Full body contact.

In the year he had been in her father’s employ, she had never felt the full effect of his hard, muscular body, or the heated warmth it generated… CENSORED

“Did you really think I’d let you get away so easily?” 

Dark, rough, so sexy she swore her knees weakened.  Kita swallowed tightly.  “How did you find me?”

“Maybe I’m just smarter than your average hired gun,” he drawled.

Kita felt her lips.   She hated it when that happened around him.  That need to be kissed.  It was so intense, an ache that quickly struck to other, much more sensitive areas.  

You’ll have to read for yourself if you want to know exactly just how intensely she was stricken by him. Warning… Hot Hot Hot!!!  But very satisfying. The ending I mean.

Do you read Lora Leigh’s books? If so, could you share your fav title(s) with me so I can try another one of her novels on for size? Thanks!

Primal – Part 1 of 2

This is my book review of PRIMAL, a novel wherein four authors shared their primitive-desire novellas. I’ve reviewed the first two stories here. (If you must, skip ahead to #2… a much better review!!)

1.  Bleeding Heart by Michelle Rowen.

The collection started with this vampire story about a human woman who was injected with a serum thanks to being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Her blood becomes infected and without a cure she’ll surely die. The short of it is, a bounty hunter-type, who kills vampires, but is part vampire himself, takes her with him to a research lab to see if this scientist can help her. The scientist is “mad” and turns on them, yada yada yada.

All I can say is that I found the injuries to the main characters ridiculously dramatic and, if the girl was only human, there was no way she could have recovered from the injuries she sustained. Even the bounty hunter recovered at a ridiculous rate. I know that’s his thing, but one second he’s dead on the floor, the next second he’s beating up multiple vampires at a time.

I also became bored when the pair continued to travel farther and farther through the halls in the underground warehouse. It felt like they were just running around, down the same set of bland halls, with no reasonable purpose, when they should have been escaping from the vampire dangers that were released on the lower levels.

I didn’t like it.

After reading an excerpt from her follow up novel, NIGHTSHADE, I became a little intrigued to read on. It’s a tough call though. Definitely not the next on my ‘to read’ list.

2.  Skin and Bone by Ava Gray.

What can I say?  I love this author.  The characters, Silas and Juneau, have an amazing connection that starts out when he saves her from a pile of rubble which is all that’s left to the southern country they’re in.  Everyone she knows is dead.  He was alone, hiding, from the start.  As they make their trek to some form of civilization, he worries that she’d be afraid of him because he’s so big and scary looking, but she sees him like her knight in shining armour.  I loved that.

I could not stop thinking about the characters connection. They were so in tune with each other. And of course, there was hot sex.

SPOILER ALERT!!!!

Ava Gray did a really good job creating suspense at the end of the story. Juneau leaves Silas, because they think it’d be best, when really they both want to be together and see where it’d go. Circumstances don’t allow for it and his “friends” advise Silas that if Juneau doesn’t contact him within one month after leaving him, then they’ll erase her memory because she’d seen too much. She contacts him on the last day, by email, but the mind-eraser guy was already on his way to visit her. Suddenly Silas is racing to her… trying to get to her first, before she forgets about him forever.

I was like “Nooo!!” But then he did get there in time, and I was like “Yay!!”

I so loved this story. Purpose… Passion… and a Happy Ever After.

I’m curious to hear what you thought of these stories, if you’ve already read them.

Stay tuned for part two of this review.

One of my favourite Twisted excerpts…

Mouth 6 (Photo credit: Bernard DURET)

In light of the fact that I have finally found my new book cover, I’d like to share one of my favourite excerpts from my debut novel TWISTED.  Read on for a sample of the relationship between Abigail Jenkins and Edwin Santora.

Here goes…

Being inside his personal space was incredibly awkward.  It wasn’t exactly the place I had expected to be this morning, but there I was, wearing nothing but a barely there bra.

My eyes flashed away from his glimmering aqua glance and landed on his luscious smiling lips.  Lower yet, my eyes focused in on his smooth chest peeking out of his crisp white, mostly unbuttoned shirt.  Damn it.  He looked like a tasty morning treat, his shirt fully tucked into those black slacks hung handsomely from his masculine hips.

I swallowed the lusty lump from the back of my throat.  “Sorry,” I said softly.  I didn’t even know whether I was apologizing for getting in his face or eyeing his body like a piece of man candy.

It didn’t seem to matter to him.  He took my chin in his hand and looked right through me with his piercing gaze.  “You can feel sorry for a lot of things, but this shouldn’t ever be one of them.”

His lips covered mine, his drugging kiss long and slow, as I struggled with myself to make him stop.  I should have.  But I couldn’t.  I didn’t.

Edwin stopped first and smiled at my carelessness.  I stood there a little stunned and a lot disappointed with my lack of judgment.  With fists bunched at my side, I forced a stern look to make its appearance.  It was hard to keep it together.

“What do you think you’re doing Eddie?”

“I couldn’t help myself, and you didn’t stop me.  What do you expect?  I’m only a man.”

How could I argue with that?  I loosened my fists and took a deep breath, relaxing my tense muscles.  “Well maybe you can give me some notice next time,” I said sarcastically.

“I didn’t plan for this.  It just happened,” he insisted.

“I’m sure.  You’re lips just bumped into mine.”

“Like you just happened to rush out of your door at the exact time I was passing,” he challenged.  His arrogance was starting to make me angry, but I was relieved to feel any emotion other than sadness and despair.

Agitated, “Wait a minute: that really happened,” I argued.  “Don’t try and turn this on me.”

“Mmm, hmm,” he replied, pressing my every button.

“Well I hope you enjoyed yourself, because I’m not gonna let you take advantage of me like that again.”  I backed away, more for me than for him.  He smelled so good.  Too good.

He laughed and just stood there, shaking his head, staring at me.  His fresh aftershave and fragrant cologne mixed with his arousal in an enticing aroma.  It had a terrifying effect on me, heightening my senses and messing with my mind.  After being so dangerously close to him, I was desperate for some privacy to regain my composure.  But his eyes never left mine and I worried that he was magically deciphering my thoughts.  Nerves getting the best of me, I did what any reasonable woman would have done in the circumstances: I bolted for the washroom.

“I was just going to brush my teeth,” I announced, trying to prove my innocence.  I ducked into the washroom, feeling safe once I was out of the fathomless aqua force field he was wielding.

“Oh really?” he replied, following after me.  “Funny.  Because that’s exactly what I was coming to do.”

My grass coloured eyes grew wide with anxiety and as soon as I noticed, I glared at myself in the mirror.  Time… space… I need…

Edwin appeared nonchalantly in the reflection behind me.  I tore my eyes from his firm chest and confident stare, and fixed them on my toothbrush, as I shakily applied the paste.  I put the tube down and pressed both of my hands against the cold marble countertop to support my weight, stop the shaking and avoid his mystical eyes.

Continuing with his casual lack of concern, Edwin reached around me and under my outstretched arms to retrieve the toothpaste and his brush.  I closed my eyes and inhaled his scent, totally disarming my anger and arousing my budding curiosity.

I took a deep breath.  “What are you doing?” I asked, as I ran my brush under the water.

“Brushing my teeth.  Obviously.”

“Hah!” I replied, with a mouthful of paste.

Edwin began to fight me for the sink bowl, playfully hip checking and trying to shove me out of the way.  I defended better than a seasoned veteran, boxing him out with my hips and rear-end.

“I better warn you,” Edwin mumbled, with paste foaming around his lips.  He nudged me aside and emptied his mouth full into the sink.  “I may try and kiss you again when you’re done brushing.”

I sputtered into the sink, reacting to his terrifying words.  “Don’t even think about it!” I squealed, extremely uncomfortable with the notion.

“You asked for notice and service is effective,” he taunted, dipping his mouth to the tap.  He slurped up some water and swished it around in his mouth as I took a mouthful of water myself.

I rinsed out my mouth and dried it on the towel as Edwin spewed out the last of his mouthwash.  I wanted to be mad.  I tried to be mad.  But how could you be mad at that handsome face?

“Don’t say I didn’t warn you,” he said, winking.

There was no denying that spending time like this with Edwin made me feel a lot better about everything.  Playful was doable, and I was pleasantly surprised that he was being so good about it so soon.  Taking my good old time, I flossed every tooth and gargled with mouthwash.  Edwin watched me intently.

I acknowledged his presence, but tried to act emotionless.  It was extremely difficult.  An overpowering inquisitiveness hung thick in the air between us as I dried the wetness from my mouth.  I found myself in desperate need of oxygen, the room entirely starved of it as Edwin stepped up beside me.

So what did you think?

OMG I Just Found My Book Cover!!!

Book Chaos (Photo credit: Sharon Drummond)

I did it!! I bought my first book cover. I found it a few of days ago, premade, forgot to write down the website, then frantically searched the net for it again. I was so terrified it’d be taken that I immediately put it in my cart when I saw it was still available. Then I played around with it for like an hour to make sure the text for my book would work with the photo. It so does!! At last, I emailed the designer, hoping they can reproduce it for me.

I’m a little excited. Can you tell???

Of course, I had to get the approval first from my sister, then from the hubby… his was more agreeing to the cost than anything. He only asked where the naked woman was. Lol. I considered having a sexy couple on the cover, but when I saw this one I knew it was meant to be. This model could totally pass for the image I’ve created for my Edwin. Eeeeee!!!

Cover to follow… as soon as it’s in my hands, er… in my inbox!! 

So I’m A Few Days Late…

Happy Valentine’s day! (Photo credit: DonnaGrayson)

It’s called a job. I have one. I sit at a desk Monday to Friday, 9 to 5, charging an obscene amount of money to give you second hand advice (that I’ve heard my boss deliver over the past 10 years). Between that and the kiddos, I am usually too worn out to publish my blog posts during the week. I do however write down my thoughts… all week. Come Saturday I have lots to say.That is why you’re getting this Valentine’s Day post a little on the late side. Better late than never, I always say. Except for when we’re talking flowers or gifts. Then late is bad. Very, very bad. I’m telling you… don’t do it!!  My hubby knows better. He should, we’ve been married for over 8 years now.

Here’s the card that was delivered with my much too generous flower arrangement.

Sweetheart, right? Wrong. Let’s just say that is not my hubby’s handwriting. And, while I know I’m the most special wife in the whole wide world, the “love of my life” was just a bit too much for me. I laughed out loud at work and, when one of my coworkers asked what was so funny, I read him “the love of my life” part.  He asked what my husband was going to think about that… joking that the flowers must be from a lover.

Of course my hubby, knowing he couldn’t do any better himself (not his thing), told them to write something sappy. I’ll give him a little credit for that much. It could’ve simply read “Love Steven”.

One another note -and I give him a lot of credit for this- together with the large vase of flowers was two smaller pink silk bouquets attached to it… for my girls. He knows a way to a mama’s heart, and of course my girls loved it too.

What do you think about it? Are you okay with someone else writing your man’s love letter?  If you’re a guy, would you steal someone else’s words to appease your woman?  Or do you think it’s sooo wrong in so many ways?  I’d love to hear your thoughts.

P.S. I hope you all enjoyed your Valentine’s Day!! J

The Liebster Award Goes To…

Liebster Blog Award (Photo credit: ObscuredDreamer)

Me?  Who knows?  I’m told I’ve been nominated for the Liebster Award.  Thanks to Cassandra Janey for nominating me!!  You can check her blog out here: http://cassandrajaney.com/

So according to her post, the Liebster Award is mainly for new bloggers with less than 200 followers, in hopes of helping them to become discovered.  Keep reading to see who I nominated.  It could be you!!

In accordance with the rules, I have to write 11 random facts about myself, answer Cassandra’s 11 questions, and then nominate up to 11 blogs myself.  Fun stuff!!  After that, my nominees are supposed to thank me for nominating them, mention me in their blog and do the same as I’ve done here.  Here goes…

11 Random Facts About Me:

1)     I have a cat named Dashington.

2)     My daughters love to dance as much as I do.

3)     I couldn’t downhill ski if my life depended on it.

4)     My first concert was Bush in Auburn Hills, Michigan.

5)     I was the captain of my college varsity volleyball team.

6)     I believe in love at first sight.

7)     My favourite food as a kid was lasagna.

8)     I’m surrounded by the Great Lakes but I’ve never seen an ocean.

9)     I am so not a morning person.

10)  I met my hubby at a Stag and Doe.

11)  I drive a van, even though I spent most of my life stating that there’s no way in hell I’d ever drive a van… ever. Lol.

Answers to Cassandra’s 11 Questions:

1)     Favorite decade for music?  I love keeping current.

2)     Left or right-handed?  Right handed.

3)     Do you know how to dance?  You know it… hip hop, the works.

4)     How many languages do you speak?  Sadly, one.  I can understand and read French, but when it comes to speaking it… yikes.

5)     Coke or Pepsi?  Coke Zero.

6)     Sum up yourself in 3 words.  Loving momma.  Competitive.  Determined (aka stubborn). 

7)     Favorite book?  A Perfect Storm by Lori Foster.

Sponge Bob (Photo credit: EEPaul)

8)     Do you still watch cartoons?  My kids leave me no choice.  Damn you Sponge Bob Square Pants.

9)     Are you a leg shaker or pen(cil) tapper?  Pen tapper for sure… but worse, a pen clicker.

10) What would you name your own Planet?  Calistana??  I don’t know.  You put me on the spot here. 

11) Do you think Ghosts exist?  No, but it’s fun to pretend.

Here are my 11 questions for those nominated by me:

What book are you currently reading?
E-reader or paperback?
What’s your favourite colour?
Dog or cat?
Which celebrity would you most like to meet?
Rich or famous?
What colour did you wear to prom?
If you could change one thing about yourself what would it be?
Do you prefer to play or watch sports?
What is the best ice-cream flavour?
Summer or Winter?

I know, I’m real creative, right?

And the nominees are…

(Warning: if you’ve been at this for a while.  Like Cassandra said, I’m new at this.  That’s my excuse and I’m sticking to it.  Regardless, these people deserve the recognition.)

http://lifein64squarefeet.com/ This dude has some seriously good writing advice.

http://stevenharz.com/ Poetry at its finest.

http://thelettervy.wordpress.com/   Vy’s a thoughtful writer and pronounces her name “V”, like the letter.

Last, but certainly not least…

http://kirstywirsty.wordpress.com/ This girl is one hell of a writer.  No seriously.  She writes from the heart and it’s damn good.  She’s got me reading this lesbian lover series and I’m happily married… to a man.  I know she has significantly more than 200 followers, but I thought I’d drop her name anyway to let you know what you’re missing out on.

So now you know a little something about me.  Are you going to share back?  I hope so.  Congrats to the nominees!!

Late for the Wedding

This is a historical romantic suspense novel by Amanda Quick, the final book in a three-part series, about Lavinia Lake and Tobias March, occasional business partners and sometimes lovers.

Book Review:

I wish I could give it a five, but it just wouldn’t be fair.  I would have to say the first two books in the series were more to my liking.  I actually preferred the bantering between Lavinia and Tobias and hoped for a little more of it in book three.  It didn’t necessarily live up to my expectations in that department. I also hoped, since the book is called “Late for the Wedding“, that there would actually be a wedding at the end.  Not the case.  Kind of disappointing.

Despite all of that, I still very much enjoyed the story.  Though I discovered the murderer the second the person was introduced, there was a fun twist on the end that I thought was ingenious.  She also wrapped up – for the most part – the murder mystery and I was satisfied with the ending.

I also enjoyed the sub-plot very much.  The connection between Anthony and Emeline had me more intrigued at times than the main plot.  I just wish there could have been little blurb about them at the end to tie up loose ends and officially give them their HEA.  I actually wanted to hear about their happily ever after, not just know that it was going to be.

I’ve always enjoyed an Amanda Quick novel and recall being very into this story when I first started it.  I even got to a point of incredible suspense where I just had to know what was going to happen next.  Then I put it down.  Picking it back up a few weeks later, the suspense was lost.  Even rereading a few chapters, I never quite got back into it and I really didn’t feel like starting over entirely.

Wedding (Photo credit: teresachin2007)

I’m just saying, my review may be biased because of the way I read the story.  I loved it to a point and then never really got back into it.  I only wish that I could have, because I was really looking forward to the HEA for Lavinia and Tobias.

Overall, I think the series was a good read.

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Find this and more of my reviews at Goodreads:  http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/74483.Late_for_the_Wedding