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Sneak Peek Sunday ~ The Certainty of Deception (The Truth in Lies Saga #2) by Jeanne McDonald

 
Jeanne McDonald is revealing an excerpt of her upcoming release The Certainty of Deception (The Truth in Lies Saga #2) coming July 8, 2014.

“Granny,” Jared laughed, slipping out Lindsey’s hold to embrace the woman.  “How are you, sweetheart?”
She tweaked his cheek.  “Better now that we have some fresh meat in this house.”
I couldn’t help but laugh.  This old woman had a feisty spirit.  “Mhm,” she moaned, looking at me.  “And your pictures don’t do you justice, handsome.”  She waddled toward me, her eyes roaming down my body, as though she were admiring the package.  “Very nice.  My granddaughter has impeccable taste.”  She cupped my chin between her index finger and thumb, pulling my face to hers.
McKenzie turned around, her eyes wild with surprise. “Granny!”
Granny waved her hand, dismissing her granddaughter.  “Hush, child.  I’m just getting a good look at this fine specimen of a man.”
“I told you he was a hottie,” Lindsey confirmed, stepping away from me to return to her work.
“You did.  No woman could resist these eyes or dimples.  I bet you get lucky with all the ladies, don’t cha?”
My smile widened.  This woman was a riot.  “I do okay.”
“Don’t be so modest.”
“Drew? Modest?  He wouldn’t know modesty if it bit him in the butt,”Jared declared.  
A loud laugh, more like a snort, came from where McKenzie stood.  I shifted my eyes to catch her hand flying up over her mouth.  The most beautiful shade of red painted her face and neck as she covered her mouth, turning her back to us.
“You see,” I started, “I have eyes for only one woman.” I glanced over to McKenzie.  I couldn’t see her face, but her posture told me she knew exactly whom I was referring to.  
“I have my charms, sonny, but we just met.  Let me get to know you first before you go around tellin’ everyone you have eyes for only me.”
My mouth dropped.  For a moment, the old woman had stunned me.  However, I regained my composure quickly.  “Sweetheart, you’re a beautiful woman, but you couldn’t handle me.  I’m afraid I’d break you.”
Granny released my chin and patted my cheek.  “Boy, you don’t know how wrong you are.”  She reached around and pinched my backside.  “Firm.  Nice.”  I about died right there.  Not many people could make me blush, but this old woman certainly was an exception.
“Mother!” Bill scolded her.  “Mind your manners.  You don’t want to scare the boy to death.”
Granny cocked her head to the side, glaring at her son.  “He’s no boy, Billy.  Drew here is all man.”
Jared and Gavin practically killed over in laughter.  “How is it that you know my name, but I don’t know yours?” I asked.
She patted my butt and grinned, exposing her oversized dentures.  “I’m Glenda,” she stated, “but everyone calls me Granny.”
“What if I call you Glenda?”

Her thick tongue washed over her teeth.  “Only if you’re screaming it.”
 






Begin McKenzie and Drew’s journey with The Truth in Lies.  Now available on Amazon.



Mark your calendars.  The Certainty of Deception Blog Tour and Online Release Party starts July 8th, 2014.  
 


After years of living in the darkness of his past, Andrew Wise, a young attorney working for his family’s law firm in Sarasota, Florida, has finally broken free of the demons that haunt him.  Wealth, success, happiness, and true love; everything a man could ever dream of, was right at his fingertips.  Or so he thought.  But in the blink of an eye, all of that changed.  Upon discovering that his ex-girlfriend, Olivia Hamilton, was pregnant, Drew fell back into some old habits, which led to him losing the one person that mattered the most in his life – McKenzie Evans.
 
When McKenzie left him and returned to Texas, Drew was beside himself.  The night before she left, he made an agreement with her best friend Jared Christopher, that he would give her time and space to come to grips with the fact that he’d fathered her best friend’s child.  Now, two months later, he feels as though he held up his end of the bargain, Drew can’t take their separation any longer.   With his brother’s wedding mere weeks away, Drew devises a plan to win McKenzie back.
 
Under the guise of a bachelor getaway for Gavin, Drew, along with his brother and Jared, jets off on an adventure to the panhandle of Texas.  There, he will learn what made McKenzie who she is and will find strength within himself that he never realized existed.  
 
In this charming sequel to The Truth in Lies, Drew and McKenzie discover that not everything is as it seems, forgiveness is a matter of acceptance, and true love really can conquer all.
 

 

Jeanne McDonald began telling stories at the ripe young age of five, when her mother considered the truth to be a lie due to her extensive embellishment to the retelling of an event.  She wrote her first short story when she was twelve years old, and at the age of sixteen she tried her hand at poetry.  She reconnected with her love for writing in 2010 thanks to the encouragement of a dear friend. 

Her passions include a “mild” Starbucks addiction, music, reading, quotes, movies, and romance.  When she’s not spending time with her family, she can be found reading, writing, chatting with her friends or diligently working toward her bachelor’s degree in Speech Pathology and Audiology.  A proud Texan, Jeanne currently resides in the Dallas/Fort Worth area with her family.

Website   |   Facebook   |   Twitter
Goodreads   |   Amazon

 

Filed under: Sneak Peek Sundays

Sneak Peek Sunday ~ How to Get Ainsley Bishop to Fall in Love with You by T.M. Franklin

Today we get a sneak peek of How to Get Ainsley Bishop to Fall in Love with You, the new YA release coming from T.M. Franklin on June 12th!

“You realize you’re forgetting one very important thing, don’t you?”

“What’s that?” I followed Viney’s gaze to the auditorium doors in time to see Ian Buckley stride into the room, all sun-bleached hair and tanned skin, with broad shoulders and biceps perfectly wrapped up in a letterman’s jacket. “Oh. Ian.”

“Yes. Ian.” Viney leaned against the console next to me. “Good-looking, popular jock. How do you compete with that?”

“Looks and popularity aren’t everything.”

“Right. He’s also rich and has a great car.”

“His family owns a dealership. Hardly a great personal achievement.” Still, I chewed on my thumbnail as Ainsley waved to Ian, a bright smile on her face. Ian was a bit of a challenge. More than a bit, actually. Not insurmountable, though. He wasn’t perfect either, and definitely not perfect for Ainsley, even though she had yet to see it.

“He thinks pi was named after, you know, pie,” I told Viney.

It took a minute for him to get it. “Seriously? Apple or blueberry?”

I laughed, shaking my head. “I’m not kidding. I heard him talking to Nathan. He said that’s why it’s used to find the circumference of a circle. Because a pie is a circle.” I mean the logic wasn’t entirely flawed, but still. Pie. Really?

Viney’s mouth twisted as he watched Ian clowning around with Nathan in the front row of seats. “So he’s not the sharpest knife in the drawer. He’s still Ainsley’s boyfriend.”

“On-again-off-again.”

Viney grimaced as she bent down to kiss him. “Looks like it’s ‘on-again’ to me.”

I sighed heavily. The truth hurts. “I know. She’ll see the light, though. It’ll just take some convincing.” I hoped I sounded more confident than I was.

Viney eyed me sideways. “You’re going to bad-mouth her boyfriend?”

“Of course not.” Not only would that be unethical, it would also be ineffective. I’d seen enough romantic comedies to figure that out. Not that I liked romantic comedies. I did have a mom, though, and every now and then she got the pick on Movie Night, so my dad and I had to endure it all with side eyes and quiet huffs. (She got annoyed if we huffed too loud.) I figured it was good research fodder, anyway, although there were definitely as many items for a not-to-do list as for a to-do one in one of those movies.

So, yeah, bad-mouthing the current boyfriend would definitely fall on that not-to-do list. Ian wasn’t a bad guy anyway, not really. Just not right for Ainsley. Not like, well, me.

“I simply mean to show her that she has options,” I said.

Ainsley burst out laughing as Ian swept her off the stage and swung her through the air before wrapping her up in a tight hug.

“Good luck with that,” Viney muttered.

The Ainsley Blog Tour is underway! Don’t forget to enter the giveaway to win a signed paperback, or some other fun prizes!

Seventeen-year-old Oliver Wendell Holmes (Yes, his parents are just that peculiar, but his brother’s name is Sherlock, so it could have been worse) knows that he’s different. He’s quirky, awkward, and he’s okay with that. Oliver also likes making lists-meticulous procedures for achieving his goals, step-by-step. Whether it’s “How to Get an A in Chemistry” or “How to Get Accepted to MIT,” he has a process, and it’s worked for him so far. He doesn’t even care that the popular kids mock him. Oliver’s got his eye on the prize.

So when he decides it’s time to declare his feelings for Ainsley Bishop, the girl of his dreams, it’s only natural for him to make a list-a point-by-point strategy to win her heart. He knows it will take a grand gesture for her to see all he has to offer, and her approaching birthday provides the ideal opportunity for Oliver to put his plan into action.

Finding the perfect gift is a challenge Oliver meets with his usual dogged determination. He’ll need to watch her carefully for clues to pinpoint exactly what he should give her. And along the way, he might just learn that what Ainsley really needs is not quite what he expected.

Ainsley is available now for Pre-Order!
Amazon |Barnes & Noble |iTunes |Kobo | TWCS
 

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T.M. Franklin started out her career writing non-fiction in a television newsroom. Graduating with a B.A. in Communications specializing in broadcast journalism and production, she worked for nine years as a major market television news producer, and garnered two regional Emmy Awards, before she resigned to be a full-time mom and part-time freelance writer. Her first published novel, MORE, was born during National Novel Writing month, a challenge to write a novel in thirty days. MORE was well-received, being selected as a finalist in the 2013 Kindle Book Review Best Indie Book Awards, as well as winning the Suspense/Thriller division of the Blogger Book Fair Reader’s Choice Awards.

In addition to MORE and its sequel, The Guardians, Franklin penned the Amazon best-selling short stories A Piece of Cake andWindow, which also won a Blogger Book Fair Reader’s Choice Award for Short Story/Fantasy. Her new YA romance, How to Get Ainsley Bishop to Fall in Love with You, is Franklin’s first love story without a paranormal or fantasy element, although she believes love is the best kind of magic.

TWELVE, the final installment in the MORE Trilogy will be released in the fall of 2014.

Connect with T.M. Franklin

Website | E-mail | Facebook | Twitter

 

Filed under: Sneak Peek Sundays

Sneak Peek Sunday ~ Soldier On by Sydney Logan

Sydney Logan is offering an awesome giveaway in anticipation of her upcoming release, Soldier On! You could win one of three ARC copies of Soldier On or a $10 Amazon gift card! Meet Steph and Brandon by watching the book trailer and then enter the giveaway. Good luck!

 

Release Day – June 20
Genre – New Adult/Romance/Military

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Sydney Logan is an Amazon bestselling author who may or may not have an unhealthy obsession with music (seriously, she loves everything from Eminem to Johnny Cash). She also has an amazing husband and a ridiculously spoiled cat, both of whom join her in soaking up the stunning views from their East Tennessee front porch.



Find her books on Amazon, iTunes, B&N, and TWCS Publishing House.



Visit her online at www.sydneylogan.com.

Filed under: Sneak Peek Sundays

Sneak Peek Sunday ~ Redemption by Lindsey Gray

Celebrate the third anniversary of the release of Lindsey Gray’s Paranormal Romance sensation, Redemption.

Lily is one of only three vampires in known existence. After falling in love with a human, sexy and talented musician Ian, she realizes their love is putting him in mortal danger. She flees from her life in Boston to the solace of her frozen waste land.

As her past continues to haunt her, Ian seeks out the only family Lily has ever known. Becca introduces Ian to a world he never thought possible as they embark on a search for Lily, starting in the bowels of a mysterious company called The Manchester Group.

Will Ian and Becca find her? Or will the reemergence of a long lost love take a hold of their future?

 
Add to Goodreads.



























































Excerpt
 

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“Did you know the Ahbmonites had resurfaced?”
 
If Lily could have gone any paler at that moment, she would have. Flashes of the man with jet black hair and pure blue eyes flooded her mind. The small symbol on the inside of his wrist burning its way into the permanent recesses of her brain.
 
“I wasn’t sure, but I guess you are telling me they have.” Lily lolled her head to the side, cupping her jaw with her hand propped up on the arm of the chair.
 
“They called him Liam, if that helps,” Renee spoke up cautiously, obviously realizing the severity of the situation.
 
“I never knew his name, but I felt it – the pull that Martin told me about. It scared the hell out of me, if I’m being honest. Once I realized what was happening, I got out of there as fast as I could.” Ryan gently began massaging her shoulders in attempt to ease the tension of the conversation.
 
“Well, this guy is one of them, markings and all and he has Becca, Sam, and Ian.”
 
Lily sat straight up in her chair. “What! How?!”
 
“An Anarcori. Remember that little gold box with the red orb that was lost in the twenties?” Lily nodded. “He’s got it and he knows how to use it. I don’t see how he can be alone on this one.”
 
“Hold on just a moment.” Ryan came around the side of Lily’s chair to face her. “What exactly is an Ahbmonite and why would he take your friends?”
 
Lily looked to Abe for any sort of explanation, but he had none. She then rose from her chair and pushed Ryan down into it.
 
“There are so many legends about how vampires came into existence; some even saying that Judas Iscariot was one of the first, after his transgressions with Jesus of Nazareth.From all that I learned from my sire, Martin, the line we come from started long ago in Jerusalem.” Lily took a deep unnecessary breath before moving on.
 
“According to Martin and all the books that we have held over the years, the Ahbmonites were basically food for a quartet of vampires. The four, all males, found the odd race of humans fascinating. They were drawn to them unlike any other human, not to kill them but for them to nurture each other. The vampires fed from a type of blood they never had tasted before and the Ahbmonites acquired vampire traits strengthened in them with each feeding. When their human bodies could no longer handle the vampire traits, they were either killed or turned. After a few centuries, the families began branding their children with the mark of the black flame. Martin’s sire was one of the Ahbmonites, but he believed that it was time for their race to end. Stop using humans as cattle and learn to live off the blood of animals. That fight eventually led to the practical extinction of the vampire race. Now, only three of us remain.”
 
Ryan held out his hand in invitation. She took it and snuggled into his lap as visions of blue eyes and black flames raced through her mind.
 
“He took them to use as leverage against you?” Abe looked up at Lily as her gaze met his.
 
“I’m not sure of any other explanation. If this Liam is the same man I encountered in Las Vegas, he knew all about me and wanted to be my companion.” She felt Ryan’s hand moving up and down her spine attempting to soothe the strained muscles.
 
“So, you drank from this guy and now he’s got some vampire traits, enough that he could take all three of them?” Renee inquired.
 
Lily turned to Ryan and nodded shamefully. “I’d never felt that kind of pull ever in my existence as a vampire. It was truly some sort of biological connection, like somehow we were made for each other. As though our existence depended on one another.”
 
“What now?We just sit around and wait for him to call?” Renee was full of questions, yet all completely relevant.
 
“I’d need to get to Martin’s library. All of his books are stored there. It’s just outside of Reading.”
 
Renee straightened up in her seat. “You mean the Reading that’s in the UK? I’ve never been to the UK.”
 
“Looks like today’s your lucky day.” Abe took Renee’s hand, lacing his fingers through hers before patting her hand.

 
 
Author Bio
 

Lindsey Gray dreamed of several different careers as a child. On the short list were doctor, chef, and actress. None held her attention as much as putting pen to paper and creating her own world through words. Since 2010, she has published three novels and one short story with The Writer’s Coffee Shop Publishing House. In 2013, she went on her first self-publishing adventure and produced her novella, Fireworks, and joined the ranks of Renaissance Romance Publishing with their winter anthology, Melting the Snow.

 
A mid-west native, Lindsey enjoys spending time with her husband and two children,rooting for the Green Bay Packers, reading whatever she can get her hands on, and making life interesting at every turn.

Find Lindsey Gray
Blog / Facebook / Twitter / Amazon / Barnes & Noble
 
Giveaway
 
In celebration of Redemption‘s third anniversary and Armchair Book Expo of America, Lindsey Gray is giving away an eBook copy of Redemption and a $10 gift card from Amazon or Barnes and Noble.
 
 

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Filed under: Sneak Peek Sundays

Sneak Peek Sunday ~ Éire’s Viking Trilogy: Éire’s Devil King by Sandi Layne

Coming in 2015
The final novel of Sandi Layne’s Éire’s Viking Trilogy: Éire’s Devil King

Currently a work in progress, this final book completes the telling of one way that the Northmen—the vikingr—came to settle in Éire and how one of their number, Tuirgeis, claimed the title of High King of that island.

Based in history, Tuirgeis’s story will complete the story Sandi Layne began to tell when Tuirgeis captured Cowan and Agnarr captured Charis the healer in Éire’s Captive Moon.

Blurb Idea:

A man of ability and ambition, Tuirgeis has nurtured the desire to carve a place of leadership for himself on the Green Island, Éire, that he has raided multiple times. After the death of his wife, he takes his surviving son to Éire and comes to learn that there is more to claiming a kingship than merely overpowering the locals.

While he is attracted to an Éire-woman for his new wife, Tuirgeis seeks to find ways to not only settle in this new land but also to learn to live with the people there, not just overthrow them.

Having connections with his adopted brother, Cowan, and Agnarr, his former countryman, Tuirgeis feels he has the support he needs to make his claims strong.

Bloodthirsty tyrant? Overly ambitious leader? Prideful warrior? The histories tell one tale of Tuirgeis, acknowledged usurper and High King of Ireland; I am telling another.

 

Sneak Peek of the Work in Progress:

Ide spoke. “The Ostmen will be gone in the morning.”

“Well, perhaps,” Charis murmured as the sweet scents of mead and ale wafted through the evening air ahead of Cowan and Tuirgeis. She did not care for ale, but did find mead to be a pleasant beverage. It never interfered with her senses as it did with others, but she liked the mellow flavor. “They might be leaving closer to midday if their heads are as heavy as the smell of their drinks.”

The women chuckled softly just as Cowan called, “What is it, wife?”

“We came to spend time with Aislinn and the baby,” Charis replied, moving toward Cowan until she could look him squarely in the eye. “Why are you away from the fire?” she asked in Gaeilge.

Cowan translated. Tuirgeis shook his head and rolled his shoulders as if he felt stiff from inaction. “I have spent enough time with men,” he stated through Cowan. “I wished for other, softer company.” A challenge was in his gaze as it clashed with Charis’s and she felt as if her spine was iron.

Cowan drew her to him and she allowed herself to sidle away from the Northman. After dropping a kiss to the top of her head, her husband blew out a breath. “Softer company, Tuirgeis? Well, you remember my daughter Aislinn, of course.”

Against her will, Charis took it upon herself to translate the tongue for Ide and Aislinn. If there was any luck in her world, she would not have to spend another evening doing so. Tuirgeis snorted to hear her, a smile in his eyes before they moved to Aislinn.

“Ja. Aislinn. How many children do you have?”

Aislinn understood him to an extent. “Two.”

“And this is Ide. She used to live on the west coast, a bit north of where Muiredach recommended you go,” Cowan said, nodding to the red-haired woman.

Tuirgeis’s smile widened. “I remember you,” he said while Charis moved to stand next to Ide. Cowan translated; Charis refused to do so for the moment. “I saw you when Agnarr wed.” He indicated Ide’s rich curls with a quick gesture of his hand. “Your hair. I like red hair.”

About the Author:

Award winning author of short Celtic fiction, Sandi Layne is the creator of the Éire’s Viking Trilogy, as well as works of contemporary Christian romance.

She began by self-publishing her novels in 2000, garnering a loyal group of readers whom she continues to appreciate to this day.

Married for more than twenty years to a very tolerant (and brilliant!) man, she has two sons, no pets, and a plethora of imaginary friends. Her interests range from ancient civilizations to science fiction for both reading and research. With degrees in English and Ministry, she also claims Theology’s crimson Masters collar which she has been known to don on rare occasions.

If you drive by her window before dawn, it is likely she’ll have a light on for you. Or at the very least, she’ll be alert on twitter.

Find her on her website, Goodreads, Facebook, Tumblr, and Pinterest.

The first two books in the trilogy are already available. Click on the book covers here to be taken to Sandi’s website where you can link up to purchase Éire’s Captive Moon and Éire’s Viking in paperback or e-book editions.

Filed under: Sneak Peek Sundays

Sneak Peek Sunday ~ Soldier On by Sydney Logan

Today’s Sunday Sneak Peek is an excerpt from Sydney Logan’s upcoming military romance, Soldier On.

Summary:

Will his call of duty break both their hearts?

Losing her father in Desert Storm has left Stephanie James a bitter soul when it comes to the military. As a college senior juggling a full course load, Steph’s only goal is to graduate with honors at the end of the semester. She’s focused, determined, and a firm believer in all work and no play. Then she meets Brandon Walker at a New Year’s Eve costume party. Despite his disguise, Steph finds herself attracted to the camouflaged soldier who curls her toes with a scorching midnight kiss.

Brandon is an engineering major and ROTC student from the hills of Kentucky. Growing up as the son of a major general has given Brandon firsthand knowledge of the struggles military families sometimes face. Now that his father’s memory is fading, Brandon is even more determined to make his dad proud and graduate as an officer in the United States Army. Then he meets Stephanie, and suddenly, his focus is less on his military service and more on the pretty brunette who has stolen his heart. When he becomes aware of Steph’s resentment toward the military, he worries their relationship is doomed.

When faced with the realization that she’s fallen in love with a soldier, can Steph’s wounds from the past be healed with love in her present . . . and in her future?

Release Date: June 20, 2014
Genre: New Adult/Military Romance
 

With a disgusted sigh, I toss my cup into an overflowing trash can before maneuvering my way through the dancers and up the stairs in search of my best friend. Bravely, I try a few of the rooms, but all are locked except for a set of open double doors at the end of the hallway.

 

Curious, I step inside, and I’m instantly mesmerized.

 

Frat houses have libraries?

 

This one does, complete with ceiling-high bookshelves. Laptops line one wall, and a giant multimedia screen is attached to another. While all of it is impressive, nothing excites my book-loving heart more than to see the library ladder.

 

Secretly, I’ve always wanted to climb one—the tall ladders that roll from one end of the shelves to the other. Ironically enough, library ladders always remind me of Beauty and the Beast. Or the love scene in Atonement.

 

One of those movies is G-rated. The other most definitely is not.

 

Suddenly nervous, I look over my shoulder before making my decision.

 

YOLO. Carpe Diem. Whatever.

 

Slipping off my shoes, I reach for the ladder and slowly begin to climb. Sadly, this is the most adventurous thing I’ve done in a long time, and I can’t stop smiling. I’ve made it to the fifth rung when I hear someone clear his throat.

 

Crap.

 

I hold on tightly and manage to turn myself around without falling off. When I’m sure I’m steady, I turn and find myself looking into the eyes of a soldier. Possibly Army. Maybe Marine.

 

Not that it matters. I accepted long ago that my hatred for anything military related is a little unhealthy, but when the service strips a girl of the privilege of knowing her father, it sometimes makes a person bitter.

 

I am the epitome of bitter.

 

This particular solider is smiling at me, and I can’t lie, the smile is kind of beautiful. Despite that, my first instinct is to roll my eyes at his outfit. But then, I remember this is a costume party, and he probably just needed a quick and totally uncreative disguise.

 

“I don’t think this room is open to visitors,” he says, his tone soft and deep.

 

I wonder if that’s his natural speaking voice or if he’s just playing his role as a badass. The guy certainly looks like a soldier, dressed in his head-to-toe camouflage and smeared-on face paint. 

 

“It was actually the only room that wasn’t locked, which is kind of stupid if you ask me. This is the one room in the house you guys shouldn’t want trashed. Drunken idiots could really do some damage in here.”

 

He grins, and my breath catches in my throat as he steps closer. I tighten my hold on the ladder, because a smile that makes a girl’s heart race isn’t the best thing when she’s trying to maintain her balance.

 

“I noticed you downstairs.”

 

Embarrassed, I glance down at my ridiculous dress. “I’m a little hard to miss in canary yellow. I’m going to kill Tessa—”

 

“That’s not why I noticed you.”

 

He’s closer now, with one hand pressed against the shelf behind me. He’s tall, but thanks to the ladder, we’re practically nose-to-nose. Normally, I would be frightened of a complete stranger invading my space, but honestly, this is the most relaxed I’ve felt all night. With his athletic build, there’s no doubt he could hurt me if he wanted, but I’m not afraid. For one thing, his breath doesn’t stink and his speech isn’t slurred. For another, he’s gazing at me with a pair of big brown eyes that make my stomach do this weird somersault-thing, and my stomach hasn’t done somersaults in a very long time.

 

Before I can ask why he noticed me, shouts erupt from downstairs.

 

“Ten, nine, eight . . .”

 

“Do you have someone to kiss at midnight?” he asks.

 

I simply shake my head. He steps closer, pinning me between his body and the bookshelf.

 

“You do now.”

 

Horns blare below, but I barely notice because in the next second, his mouth covers mine. His lips are featherlight and sweet, causing warmth to spread through my veins and settle in my heart. I sigh, causing my lips to part slightly, allowing him to deepen the kiss. One of his hands stroke my cheek as he leans in, pressing his body tighter against mine. His quiet groan vibrates through me, and I’m ready to let go of the ladder and wrap my arms around him when he suddenly pulls away.

 

“Wow,” he whispers.

 

I’ll say.

 

I open my eyes, and all I can see is his smile.

 

“Happy New Year,” he says.

 

Then he’s gone, sprinting from the room before I can even formulate a coherent response.

 

Amazon bestselling author Sydney Logan holds a Master’s degree in Elementary Education. With the 2012 release of her novel, Lessons Learned, she made the transition from bookworm to author. Her second book, Mountain Charm, was released in 2013. She is also the author of three short stories. A native of East Tennessee, Sydney enjoys playing piano and relaxing on her porch with her wonderful husband and their very spoiled cat.

Please visit her website at www.sydneylogan.com.

Filed under: Sneak Peek Sundays

How to Write When You’re Feeling Stressed?

Ever since I sat on the plane to come home from my youngest’s American Heritage trip, shit hit the fan at work. It has been only two weeks but feels like a lifetime. I’d love to sit here and list all the problems and issues, but I don’t want to bore you with my drama.

But what I would like to talk about is how do we deal with the stress life brings us on top of everything else and still find the time, energy, and desire to write?

I honestly do not have the answer to that question, I know I talked about getting over writer’s block in one of my A to Z posts and all of those suggestions are fine and dandy. But writer’s block is not really my issue. I just think I’m so mentally exhausted I can’t do another thing. See, even after a hellish day at work, I must come home and feed the family, then I have tons of homework to do. I write all the time, academically, but after that’s all said and done, I don’t want to write for me. And that would be fine, but since I’m the type of person that lives in my head a lot, like, I worry, think, plot, plan, and write stories in my head all day. You know, worry about scheduling things, and think about all the things I need to do at work, and plan how I’m going to do then, and plot on how to solve those problems, and not just work wise but at home and for school, too, etc… It never stops. I’m a worry wort. Also, anxiety runs high in my family so I know I have my work cut out for me in that area.

I’ve also noticed these past two weeks, with all the stress, that I tend to pull into myself when I’m feeling overwhelmed. As if I have no room for anything else, so I try to stay clear of soliciting more issues. Instead I walk around with a full head and no energy to release it. And this isn’t a pity party. I mean, I know I’m not the only busy, stressed out person in the world. But I’d like to know how everyone else deals with this.

A few days ago I read a blog post from Kallypso Masters, and it was about Morning Pages (an exercise she learned from another author/teacher). And the idea is to write three pages, by hand, daily in a journal. Nothing creative, just the stuff that’s in your head. It sounds like a stellar idea, perhaps it would help me feel as if I’m not carrying so much in my mind and allow me to feel lighter, not so stressed. Now I’m going to worry on how to fit that in my morning schedule. :) See … see the pattern here.

Anyway, I’d love for you all to share with me how you work through the stress of everyday life and still continue to write. Any advice or even story in the comments would be wonderful.

 

 

Filed under: Writing

Meet An Author ~ Sandi Layne

There are many profiles that detail the author’s lifelong dream of authorship being realized with the publication of their first novel or short story. This is not one of those profiles. To make an exceedingly odd story moreso, Sandi Layne had no wish to be a writer, but went through a storyline bootcamp in the form of strange dreams for a month and took careful notes. Fifteen years later, she’s still writing stories that veer slightly off the beaten path, both in Christian and historical fiction. Married for more than twenty years to a very tolerant (and brilliant!) man, she has two sons, no pets, and a plethora of imaginary friends. Her interests range from ancient civilizations to science fiction for both reading and research. With degrees in English and Ministry, she also claims Theology’s crimson Masters collar which she has been known to don on rare occasions. If you drive by her window before dawn, it is likely she’ll have a light on for you. Or at the very least, she’ll be alert on twitter. She invites you to visit her online space at http://sandyquill.com. Bring coffee.

Sandi has written one of my favorite series: Éire’s Viking. You can check out my review of Éire’s Captive Moon and Éire’s Viking. If you like Vikings, healers, historical romances, real depictions of the life back in those times, then you’ll love these books. She actually just released book two of the trilogy and it was even more amazing than the first one.

 

 

 

 

 

Sandi writes a variety of Historical Fiction, Romance, and Christian stories, but I have only had the pleasure of reading her Historical Fiction. But not only do I love her books, I enjoy her as a person and consider her a friend.

Check out her books on Goodreads, you won’t be sorry.

Another author friend of ours, Lissa Bryan (who I’ll be featuring soon as well, and also writes historical fiction) and Sandi were running commentary on the show Vikings. As each show aired they’d Tweet their thoughts and have discussions on costumes, plots, language, etc… If you like that show then you must read their discussion.

Go ahead and connect with Sandi on Twitter, her blog, or Facebook. Pick up one of her books and then come back and let me know what you thought. You won’t be sorry.

 
Filed under: Meet An Author

Sneak Peek Sunday ~ The Land of the Shadow by Lissa Bryan

 

The sequel to the End of All Things will be released in August. The End of All Things told the story of the pandemic that destroyed modern society. Carly and Justin traveled across the ravaged US, searching for a safe home, but it was also a journey into love.

The Land of the Shadow tells the story of their struggle to build a safe refuge for their growing family. Carly has to decide how far she’s willing to go to protect those she loves when danger looms on the horizon.

 

Ω

Carly was still awake when he came up to their bedroom, reading by a kerosene lamp. She smiled at him and held her arms out. Happy to go into them, he gave her a kiss, sitting down beside her on the bed.

“Home from prowling?” she asked.

“I wasn’t prowling tonight. I was talking with our newest resident.”

“What do you think?”

“I think she’s going to fit in fine.”

Carly laughed. “Is that all you’re going to say?”

He nodded. “It’s all that’s important.”

He stood and went to undress, hanging up his clothes—they weren’t able to wash everything after one wearing like the old days. He pulled on a T-shirt and shorts, then climbed into his warm bed next to his wife. This was one of his favorite parts of the day, when he felt most content. This was a place where he belonged. Though he hadn’t realized it, he’d been searching for this all his life, and he had it at last.

“I guess it is.” Carly plumped up his pillow before he lay down beside her. “I’m glad you’re home. I always worry when you’re out there, you know.”

“I know. I worry about you, too. ‘Safe’ doesn’t really exist anymore. There are so many things—”

“Chicken thieves . . . alligators.”

“Don’t remind me.” He groaned and pulled up the sheet. It was all the covering they could stand in the heat.

“I feel safe with you.” She snuggled up against his side. “And I know you’ll do your best to keep our community safe. And your best is pretty darn good.”

“I’ll do anything I can to protect you and Dagny,” he said. “’Til my dying breath.”

“And the new world we’re building . . . it feels strange to think this is the beginning of someone’s history book. Like, we’re the Pilgrims, the new settlers.”

He smiled. He always liked when Carly had these grandiose fantasies. It meant she thought of their story as having a happy ending. That fate really was leading them, and the generations that would come after them, to a great destiny.

“Someday, they will write poems about you. The legend of the warrior-king.”

Carly said it in a light, teasing manner, but he knew she did wonder about it. How they would be remembered. How they would be judged for the decisions they made in its creation, and its protection.

“Someday, they will write fairy tales about you,” Justin replied. “The Druid Queen who could call animals to her side, whose judgments were compassionate and just, and whose beauty was like the summer sunshine.”

She smiled. “You are quite the poet yourself.”

“Will they remember how much I loved you? That’s the most important part of the story. I want the world to remember that. I want to write it in the stars.”

She turned and kissed him, and then there was no more need for words.

Ω
 

The Land of the Shadow will be released in August. Check out the Goodreads page here.

Praise for The End of All Things
But this isn’t just a story of two people who find love in the unlikeliest people and places. This story is also about survival and the difficult decisions people have to make to ensure it. –Amy, Goodreads

The End of All Things is more about hope and second chances, and I very much enjoyed the tale ….  highly recommended for all fans of apocalyptic fiction. It’s a well-written book with excellent pace, plot, and best, it has real soul.– Jade Kerrion, Goodreads

I am not usually fond of The End of the World As We Know It books, but this book was so much more than a post apocalypse story. It contained adventure, mystery, sadness and a truly sweet romance. –Pamela, Goodreads

 



 
Lissa Bryan 

Lissa Bryan is an astronaut, renowned Kabuki actress, Olympic pole vault gold medalist, Iron Chef champion, and scientist who recently discovered the cure for athlete’s foot … though only in her head. Real life isn’t so interesting, which is why she spends most of her time writing.

She is the author of three novels. Ghostwriter is available through The Writer’s Coffee Shop, Amazon, iTunes, and Kobo. The End of All Things is available through TWCS,Amazon, and iTunes. Under These Restless Skies is available through Amazon, iTunes, Barnes & Noble, and directly from the publisher.

She also has a short story in the Romantic Interludes anthology, available from TWCS, Amazon and iTunes, or can be purchased separately from Amazon. A short story collection featuring the characters from The End of All Things is also available from Amazon.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Tumblr | Goodreads |Pinterest | Google+ | LinkedIn | About.me



Filed under: Sneak Peek Sundays

A-Z Challenge ~ A to Z Reflection Post #AtoZChallenge

First, I’d like to thank all the wonderful people that put together this challenge. There were a lot of people signed up and tons of blogs to check out. Not an easy feat to check up on everyone. (I’ve posted the A to Z team’s links at the bottom of this post)

Please go to the A to Z Challenge Blog to see other post, other reflections, or to do it yourself next time.

I have to say this challenge was a lot of fun. The preplanning, or as much as I could, the anticipation, the nervousness, and, of course, trying to figure out what to write. Picking a word or theme for each letter was half fun and half nerve-wracking. Most of the time, I wrote about silly stuff, but it worked and I got it done.My most popular post was the one about my sister, Kristen. I had no idea what to do with “K” so I decided to write a little ditty about her. :)

The crazy posts were written while I was eating breakfast, standing in line to a museum, or on the bus during my son’s eight grade American Heritage trip. The other parents would ask me what I was doing and why was I always working. And I was working and doing homework as well, but I had to blog every letter… I made a commitment, right? Trying to figure out what to write while running around was an adventure. So, I gave tidbits of our trip and the cool things we were seeing. Other times, I used little writing assignments I had been given in some of my literature classes. But most of the posts were about me in some way shape or form. You can see all of my posts here.

During the challenge, I noticed a steady increase of traffic. It’s addicting. Now, I’m looking for things to write about so I can keep it coming. Because, we have to post things in order to have them stop by and visit, right? So, because I usually don’t post on a daily or weekly basis, you’d hear crickets on my blog.

The thing I’ve learned from this is I like interacting with people and I want to give them a reason to visit me. I’m going to figure out a commitment I can stick with and keep up with it. Maybe blog once or twice a week, find a theme to talk about, and maybe even highlight another author once a week. Next year, I’m definitely signing up. No question about it. However, I think I’d like to find a theme and stick with it. It might make it easier to continue. Also, I think it’s important to try and preplan and write the posts ahead of time. Some of the posts I did schedule, but I ran out of time before my trip and just had to wing it. Next time, no more winging it, I’ll have it all done early on.

A HUGE thank you to those that stopped by with comments and likes to my posts. And for sharing your blogs with me. I found a lot of great new people to visit. It’s been fun!

For my visitors, what was your favorite post of mine?

And for other A to Z bloggers what was the favorite post you wrote?  

 Here is the A to Z Team with their links:

Arlee Bird: Tossing it Out
Alex J. Cavanaugh: Alex J. Cavanaugh
Stephen Tremp: Author Stephen Tremp
Tina Downey: Life is Good
Damyanti Biswas: Amlokiblogs
Jeremy Hawkins: [Being Retro]
Nicole Ayers: The Madlab Post
M. J. Joachim: M. J. Joachim’s Writing Tips
Heather M. Gardner: The Waiting is the Hardest Part
AJ Lauer: Naturally Sweet
Pam Margolis: An Unconventional Librarian

Filed under: A to Z Challenge, Writing