L.T. Kelly's Blog, page 3
August 20, 2015
***Guest Post*** A lovely visit from Andrew Joyce.
My name is Andrew Joyce, and I write books for a living. Lucy has been kind enough to allow me a little space on her blog to promote my new book, MOLLY LEE. The story is a female-driven account of a young naive girl’s journey into an independent, strong woman and all the trouble she gets into along the way.
Now you may possibly be asking yourself, What is a guy doing writing in a woman’s voice? And that’s a good question. I can only say that I did not start out to write about Molly; she just came to me one day and asked that I tell her story.
Perhaps I should start at the beginning.
My first book was a 164,000-word historical novel. And in the publishing world, anything over 80,000 words for a first-time author is heresy. Or so I was told time and time again when I approached an agent for representation. After two years of research and writing, and a year of trying to secure the services of an agent, I got angry. To be told that my efforts were meaningless was somewhat demoralizing to say the least. I mean, those rejections were coming from people who had never even read my book.
“So you want an 80,000-word novel?” I said to no one in particular, unless you count my dog, because he was the only one around at the time. Consequently, I decided to show them City Slickers that I could write an 80,000-word novel!
I had just finished reading Mark Twain’s Huckleberry Finn for the third time, and I started thinking about what ever happened to those boys, Tom and Huck. They must have grown up, but then what? So I sat down at my computer and banged out REDEMPTION: The Further Adventures of Huck Finn and Tom Sawyer in two months; then sent out query letters to agents.
Less than a month later, the chairman of one of the biggest agencies in New York City emailed me that he loved the story. We signed a contract and it was off to the races, or so I thought. But then the real fun began: the serious editing. Seven months later, I gave birth to Huck and Tom as adults. And just for the record, the final word count is 79,914. The book went on to reach #1 status on Amazon twice, and the rest, as they say, is history.
But not quite.
My agent then wanted me to write a sequel, but I had other plans. I was in the middle of editing down my first novel (that had been rejected by 1,876,324 agents . . . or so it seemed) from 164,000 words to the present 142,000. However, he was insistent, so I started to think about it. Now, one thing you have to understand is that I tied up all the loose ends at the end of REDEMPTION, so there was no way that I could write a sequel. And that is when Molly asked me to tell her story. Molly was a character that we met briefly in the first chapter of REDEMPTION, and then she is not heard from again.
This is the description from MOLLY LEE:
Molly is about to set off on the adventure of a lifetime . . . of two lifetimes.
It’s 1861 and the Civil War has just started. Molly is an eighteen-year-old girl living on her family’s farm in Virginia when two deserters from the Southern Cause enter her life. One of them—a twenty-four-year-old Huck Finn—ends up saving her virtue, if not her life.
Molly is so enamored with Huck, she wants to run away with him. But Huck has other plans and is gone the next morning before she awakens. Thus starts a sequence of events that leads Molly into adventure after adventure; most of them not so nice.
We follow the travails of Molly Lee, starting when she is eighteen and ending when she is fifty-six. Even then Life has one more surprise in store for her.
As I had wondered whatever became of Huck and Tom, I also wondered what Molly did when she found Huck gone.
I know this has been a long-winded set up, but I felt I had to tell the backstory. Now I can move on and tell you about Molly.
As stated earlier, Molly starts out as a naive young girl. Over time she develops into a strong, independent woman. The change is gradual. Her strengths come from the adversities she encounters along the road that is her life.
With each setback, Molly follows that first rule she set against self-pity and simply moves on to make the best of whatever life throws her way. From working as a whore to owning a saloon, from going to prison to running a ranch, Molly plays to win with the cards she’s dealt. But she always keeps her humanity. She will kill to defend herself, and she has no problem killing to protect the weak and preyed upon. However, when a band of Indians (for instance) have been run off their land and have nowhere else to go, Molly allows them to live on her ranch, and in time they become extended family.
This is from a review on Amazon:
“A young female in nineteenth-century rural America would have needed courage, fortitude, and firm resolve to thrive in the best of circumstances. Molly Lee possesses all of these, along with an iron will and an inherent ability to read people accurately and respond accordingly.”
I reckon that about sums up Molly.
I would like to say that I wrote MOLLY LEE in one sitting and everything in it is my pure genius. But that would be a lie. I have three editors (two women and one guy). They kept me honest with regard to Molly. When I made her a little too hard, they would point out that she had to be softer or show more emotion in a particular scene.
I set out to write a book where every chapter ended with a cliffhanger. I wanted the reader to be forced to turn to the next chapter. And I pretty much accomplished that, but I also wrote a few chapters where Molly and my readers could catch their collective breath.
One last thing: Everything in MOLLY LEE is historically correct from the languages of the Indians to the descriptions of the way people dressed, spoke, and lived. I spend as much time on research as I do writing my stories. Sometimes more.
It looks as though I’ve used up my allotted word count (self-imposed), so I reckon I’ll ride off into the sunset and rustle up a little vodka and cranberry juice (with extra lime).
It’s been a pleasure. Thank you for having me over.
Andrew
August 12, 2015
***COVER REVEAL*** Kissing Cassie by ME!
Title: Kissing Cassie
Author: L.T. Kelly
Genre: Contemporary romance
Publisher: Resplendence Publishing
Release date: 26th of August 2015
Add to your Goodreads TBR shelf: https://goo.gl/3AaLUy
I’m so insanely happy to present this cover for your viewing pleasure.
Admittedly, I was terrified about how this would turn out. I was used to selecting my own photographs and having control over every aspect of the process working in conjunction with a freelance designer.
My conversion from indie to publishing house has been quite smooth so far. That’s despite me shuffling around in the dark and feeling clueless. My editor as been amazing! We’re so completely on the same wavelength, that really shone through during the cover making process.
The cover designers over at Resplendence are receptive and understanding. They want their authors to love their covers. I adore mine.
Within ten minutes of it dropping in my inbox I ordered an poster size image. I can’t wait for it to be framed and next to my other titles on my office wall!
I hope you all love my cover as much as I do! Join me on FB and Twitter to help me share it and grab your chance to WIN a $5 Amazon gift card!
Blurb:
When high school drama teacher Cassie Thornton finds herself drowning in a failing marriage, she struggles to get her head above water. Her husband, Robert, is a workaholic science professor at Oxford University with a sordid secret. After eight years of marriage, Robert’s blatant disinterest in her forces Cassie to demand they go on a vacation, hoping it will reunite them.
Gorgeous Jared Peterson is the cream of Hollywood actors. His squeaky clean image, coupled with his outstanding results at the box office, has earned him respect industry wide. That’s until his cunning fiancé and co-star goes on a rampage, setting out to destroy his reputation. How else could he cope with her betrayal except to escape Tinseltown?
When Cassie and Jared meet on the island of Majorca, it sparks a life changing chemistry between them. Jared refuses to continue with his career without her by his side. Cassie must decide whether to give up life as she knows it, or leave it all behind to give their love a chance.
Connect:
Facebook: https://goo.gl/uWDDiw
Twitter: @ltkelly2
July 31, 2015
***REVIEW*** Malibu Betrayals by M.K. Meredith
Blurb
Hollywood screenwriter Samantha Dekker spent the last year picking up the pieces after her husband’s suicide. Along with grief, guilt, and tabloid hell, she’s had to watch helplessly as the film industry slammed its doors in her face. Now Sam has the rarest of Hollywood opportunities—a second chance…working with the one man she swore never to see again.
Hunktastic A-lister Gage Cutler knows that Sam blamed him for his part in her husband’s death. Still, Sam is the one woman he can never forget. All he wants is a second chance of his own—to prove he’s not the player she remembers. And Malibu is the perfect backdrop to make a girl swoon.
Except they’re not alone. Someone is watching Sam and Gage’s steamy off-screen romance with the most dangerous of intentions…
Review
First we meet Sam as she’s just beginning to recover from the loss of her husband, photographer to the stars, Ethan. Her life and career has been torn apart by the press following his untimely death, and she continually uncovers evidence that her marriage was a lie. The problem is I think she already knew that…before he died.
Sam, Hollywood screenwriter, had began to realise her marriage was over after an unplanned night in the company of Gage Cutler, hunky Hollywood actor. Unfortunately, Gage came to be the man she ultimately blamed for her husband’s death.
The story sneaks you behind the scenes of a Hollywood set, and engulfs you into the world of the rich and famous when Sam is invited to work on a film. The only problem being is that Gage is the leading man in more ways than one.
The electricity between the pair leaps off the page and fizzles through your skin. I was begging for these two to get it on. When they did I wasn’t disappointed. M.K. creates magic on the page that will keep you awake all night and have you falling asleep at your desk the next day. The writing style is like floating on crystal clear, calm waters, whilst sipping your favourite drink. It is that smooth, enjoyable, and easy to read.
The romance aspect isn’t all this book is about though, the element of suspense and mystery will keep you guessing until the end.
This HOT HOT HOT, tale of love, loss, heartache and sheer unimaginable attraction will be your perfect beach read this summer. If you don’t go and get it right now you’ll be missing out.
I award Malibu Betrayals
5 Hollywood clapper boards
Buy links:
Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1SCOUtg
Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1GE8nCM
Amazon CA: http://amzn.to/1g6oW5N
Kobo: http://bit.ly/1VwlSQf
iTunes: http://apple.co/1g6paKb
GooglePlay: http://bit.ly/1CVDE9A
Entangled: http://bit.ly/1Vwl6Tf
Add the book to Goodreads ➜ http://bit.ly/1JfTRaX
Excerpt
“There’s something between us. Has been since the night we met.”
Sam closed her eyes, but when he slid her hands around his neck, she snapped them open. He stepped in, crowding her, gathering her body into his arms and up against his length. His chest rose and fell in rapid succession—in time with hers. Lips, full and wide, hovered over hers for a beat, and he whispered. “Admit it.”
His warm breath wafted over her skin and goose bumps bloomed down her neck and chest. God yes. She was ready for a fling, for some fun with a gorgeous man who’d taken up way too much of her brain space. She didn’t want to wait any longer, so she leaned in, stopping a hair’s breadth from his lips and whispered, “Kiss me.”
His quick grin and squeeze of her hips with his hands teased. He barely brushed his mouth over hers, leaving a tingle behind. His heart thundered against her breasts, and the most delicious sensation rolled low in her belly.
Finally.
Closing her eyes, she closed the distance between the heat of their wanting lips. Gage brushed his lips against hers, absorbing her, pulling her tighter against him, releasing a rush of heat from her center through her limbs. Something akin to breathing again washed over her. She coiled her arms about his head and shifted higher in his embrace, kissing him back with all the pent-up woman she’d shoved down for so long.
He moaned low in his throat, and a surge of power tightened her grip around his neck. Yes. This is what she wanted, what she needed. Gage lifted her to the counter, and with a wide sweep of his hand, odds and ends crashed to the floor. The action, raw and hurried, called to a part of her she just realized existed. He wedged his hips between her knees, and she wrapped her legs about his waist, celebrating his lack of restraint. “God, Sam, I’ve wanted to taste you forever,” he whispered against her skin as he brushed his lips along her jaw and down her neck.
Her head fell back, and she kneaded his shoulders, lost as fingers of the most delicious fire licked up her spine and spread along her skull. She couldn’t breathe, yet he was all the air she needed. She couldn’t think, yet he filled her mind.
He found his way back to her mouth, his lips gliding in a whispered caress as his tongue slid against her own. She pressed into him, desperate to get closer, losing herself in the feeling of being desired.
Someone pounded on the door and they froze. “The rain’s stopped. Five minutes until shooting, Mr. Cutler.”
“Fuck.”
Sam swallowed, wanting to giggle, but the effort would cost too much. “You aren’t finished?”
He pulled back just enough for her to see his eyes narrow with an intensity she felt to her toes. “I’m not nearly finished.”
About the author
MK Meredith writes single title contemporary romance promising an emotional ride on heated sheets. She believes the best route to success is to never stop learning. MK’s lifelong love affair with peanut butter continues, only two things come close in the battle for her affections: gorgeous heels and maybe Gerard Butler…or was it David Gandy? Who is she kidding? Her true loves are her husband and two children who have survived her SEA’s (spontaneous explosions of affection) and live to tell the tale. The Meredith’s live in the D.C. area with their three large fur babies…until the next adventure calls.
Connect
July 3, 2015
****Romantic Sci-Fi**** Rarity from the Hollow by Robert Eggleton
As you know I’m not accepting reviews at the moment due to having to catch up with some work on my own writing. Having said that, I’m more than happy to post up promotional material and I’m still reading what I’ve already accepted.
The author of Rarity from the Hollow, Robert Eagleton contacted me and asked me to give some space to his Sci-Fi novel. I must be in a strange mood because I immediately dismissed it, I’m not usually like that, but I can’t stomach Sci-Fi. The author immediately corrected me, this book is a romantic Sci-Fi. Anyone worth their salt defends their book and their reason for submitting it to a certain blog. So here it is, well done Mr. Eggleton for standing up to L.T. Kelly, I admire you (not you dear husband, that wasn’t an invite, sit back down.)
I beg you to check out the publishers link, this book has received so many delightful accolades that it must be worth a read.
Lacy Dawn is a true daughter of Appalachia, and then some. She lives in a hollow with her worn-out mom, her Iraq War disabled dad, and her mutt Brownie, a dog who’s very skilled at laying fiber optic cable. Lacy Dawn’s android boyfriend has come to the hollow with a mission. His equipment includes infomercial videos of Earth’s earliest proto-humans from millennia ago. He was sent by the Manager of the Mall on planet Shptiludrp (Shop ‘till You Drop): he must recruit Lacy Dawn to save the Universe in exchange for the designation of Earth as a planet which is eligible for continued existence within a universal economic structure that exploits underdeveloped planets for their mineral content. Lacy Dawn’s magic enables her to save the universe, Earth, and, most importantly, her own family.
“A unique way to bring two different races together. At first, I was worried that I was not going to be able to like the world Mr. Eggleton had created. But I was surprised that as I read more of the book, the people had a way of touching a part of you that I was not expecting at all. A good read for any lover of satire and science fiction. A well written book.”
— Mia, Reviewer for Coffee Time Romance
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Rarity-Hollow-Robert-Eggleton-ebook/dp/B007JDI508
http://www.doghornpublishing.com/wordpress/books/rarity-from-the-hollow
June 26, 2015
****ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE EPIC KIND****
So, I finished Kissing Cassie in March of this year and submitted it to publishers.
My heart has skipped many a beat, tears have been shed, and my confidence knocked out of the ring as though it’s been ten rounds with Mike Tyson.
However, I’m so thrilled to announce that Kissing Cassie has been selected for publication by Resplendence Publishing.
They promote themselves as a boutique publisher only accepting 1% of their submissions, so I’ve done extremely well to pique their interest let alone snag a contract with them!
Although I’m an author, there simply aren’t the words to describe how I’m feeling right now. I think I may just have to go ahead and have a sapphire ring tattooed on my butt! (That’s the Resplendence heat level that Kissing Cassie is at.)
I can’t thank my beautiful beta readers enough, they have all been contacted to inform them of the books success and I hope they’ll all enjoy a well deserved acknowledgement!
For now, Lucy’s Lit Lovin’ Blog will be closed for submissions for review due to the vast amount of work I’ll have on my hands to get Kissing Cassie ready for publication, plus an energized view at getting Kissing Katie written.
To all of you, thanks a million for your support. You’re all worth a million dollars in my eyes. :-).
June 12, 2015
***REVIEW*** Sex God by Matthew Armstrong
Blurb
Unfulfilled in his marriage and life, Alex Sterling makes an indecent proposal to his wife, Angela, which sets them off on an erotic adventure of self-discovery, revealing dark and repressed parts of themselves. On the verge of losing everything that is most important to him, Alex is a man in early life crisis, playing a high-stakes game and going to extreme measures to save what he values most. Is he going through a mental breakdown or is this some sort of spiritual transformation? He has no idea as his grasp on reality crumbles and all his worst fears are inevitably realized.
Review
The story is told in the voice of Alex, a personal trainer and estate agent living in Spain. He’s married to Angela, they have two children. Alex is bored senseless in his marriage and approaches his wife asking her for an open relationship, which she readily agrees to.
It appears that Angela is eager to reignite a past relationship, sort of like ‘the one that got away’. She admits this to Alex, who has already made that discovery by checking messages on her phone. This information, coupled with the fact that she suddenly becomes keen on improving her body seems to put Alex off having the sexual affair he was originally eager to begin.
To be honest I struggled with how this couple had ever come together in the first place, they continually remind each other that they love each other, yet the words are completely unbelievable to me. When Angela states that she’s not physically attracted to Alex I literally cringed, I found their relationship so awkward and unnatural that it spoiled most of my reading pleasure.
The book cover is quite appealing and spoke of what the story was about.
However, the sex scenes were very well executed and well written. I also thoroughly enjoyed the part where Alex embarked on his journey of self discovery after Angela left Alex for her lover, my heart went out him to the pit of my stomach. Although I felt that the ending was rushed somewhat, I was happy that Angela returned and provided me with that happy ending.
Overall I enjoyed the majority of this book, I award Sex God three personal trainers.
Buy Links
May 24, 2015
***REVIEW*** The Art Of Going Home by Nicole Sorrell
Blurb
For the first time in a decade, Maddie Chandler returns to her small home due to the unexpected death of her surrogate mother, her beloved “Aunt” Ceci. To deal with her overwhelming grief she finds herself relying on the steadfast strength of her high school crush, local attorney Zac Redondo. Though she scolds herself for depending on him so much, she can’t seem to find the strength to resist their mutual attraction.
During her visit, Maddie is haunted by childhood memories of her twin sister Angeline, who was killed at the age of ten. She is persuaded to investigate the unsolved murder only because she fears refusal will threaten her very sanity. Her mother eventually succumbed to mental illness after Angeline’s death, and Maddie is terrified she will also be overcome by madness. Her inquiries into her sister’s case uncover years of deceptions that were maintained to safeguard her from the brutal truth. Not only is her life threatened by her pursuit of justice for her twin, it ultimately causes her world to shatter.
Sometimes funny, sometimes poignant, Maddie’s personal journey exposes her vulnerabilities as she struggles to accept the love of the man who holds the key to her future happiness. While coping with the hostilities of her estranged father she discovers the true meaning of family from a boisterous clan that is not linked to her by blood, and unwittingly strengthens the fragile bond with the one relative she was determined to say goodbye to forever.
This novel is intended for mature readers.
Review
I went into this book a little unsure, this is going to sound fickle, but I judge books by their covers and having read the blurb for this one I wasn’t sure that I ‘got’ it. Having read the book, I still don’t. I’m not a huge fan of the cover and it really doesn’t speak to me.
This is an intricate tale of a small town misfit, Maddie. She fled to a big city having spent most of her life being accused of her twin sisters murder.
Maddie returns to town following the death of someone she held dear, and straight into the arms of her surrogate family, namely the gorgeous Zac.
The author clearly displays the characters in the way they are meant to be received, most notably Maddie’s mother and father, they are completely weird. This story is a lovely tale woven with a beautiful romance and a harrowing mystery.
I thoroughly enjoyed the plot, I found it captivating and unpredictable, and the romantic aspects kept the story deliciously buoyant throughout.
There are twists and turns in this novel that will continually keep you guessing, as well as a sizzling romance that will have you pulling at your collar.
The only problem for me, aside from the cover was, the high volume of seemingly insignificant untied up mysteries, such as who trashed Maddie’s house? She never even returned to the house before she returned home? I found that a little strange? Just little aspects like that made me wonder if they would be covered in a future title, and wether such things would spur me on to read the next book?
The deep routed problems that became unearthed during this story had me in tears, and although initially devastated by those events Maddie seemed to make an almost too quick recovery from the mentally earth shattering discoveries. I found it a tad unbelievable and cold.
The paranormal ghost connection was a beautiful part of the tale that I loved. The frankness of Maddie’s voice was refreshing and the mystery element kept me suitably intrigued. I highly recommend this book to any lovers of the mystery romance genre.
I award The Art Of Going Home three friendly ghosts.
Thats three stars to everyone else!
Author Bio:
Nicole resides in the rural mid-west of the United States. After living in various parts of the country and travelling abroad, she recently moved into the very same home in which she grew up. She enjoys country living as much as the culture of the big city, and looks forward to touring more of the world in the near future. Her constant companion is a tiny Yorkshire terrier name Georgie
Book Links:
Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Art-Going-Home-Romance-ebook/dp/B00Q5FXAHY
Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/Art-Going-Home-Romance-Mystery-ebook/dp/B00Q5FXAHY/ref=sr_1_fkmr2_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1432506654&sr=8-1-fkmr2&keywords=The+art+of+coming+home+Nicole
April 28, 2015
***REVIEW AND GUEST POST*** Gone for You by Jayne Frost.
Gone for You
Blurb:
As the guitarist for the rock band Caged, I know the rules: no relationships. No complications. Leave ‘em smiling when you go, but always go. Besides, it’s not like I’m ever in one place for more than a few days at a time. As the next hottest thing out of Austin, the band and I are riding the wave, and the music is all that matters.
Until her…
Lily Tennison has “complication” written across her beautiful face. But I can’t get involved. The timing’s all wrong. But she’s under my skin, and I can’t resist her troubled eyes and sweet smile. And I do have a little time to kill. Not much, just a few days in Dallas.
So I’ll scratch the itch and move on, like I always do.
Simple, right?
Guest Post by Jayne Frost
Thanks, LT, for inviting me across the pond to write a little something for your blog!
It’s really exciting for me to be able to talk about writing. And romance.
I guess, since I’m currently in the middle of hashing out my ideas for the rest of my
series, Sixth Street Bands, I’d like to talk a little bit about the “other” writers that are
sometimes forgotten when we think of writing as a discipline. Songwriters.
I’ve always loved music. If I could be anything, or do anything, I’d be a musician.
Unfortunately, that skill set is way beyond me. The reason I’ve always been drawn to
music is the story behind each song. To me, songs are three of four-minute stories
that take the listener on a journey. I struggle sometimes to pack all the emotions I
want to display into a full-length book. I can’t imagine having to do it in a few
sentences. But when a song can make you smile, or make you cry, or just make you
FEEL, you know that the person that wrote it has some real talent.
When I decided to write Sixth Street Bands, I wanted to combine my passion for
music and my passion for writing into one book. Or several books, as it were. I
wanted to tell a story about these musicians that all came from similar backgrounds,
growing up together, and the challenges that shaped them into these brilliant, but
often flawed, artists.
I’ve always listened to music to help bring out specific emotions when I write, but
during this process I really began to pick apart songs and try to imagine what kind
of feelings were behind the words. Everybody experiences music differently.
Because I’m a writer, I tend to concentrate on lyrics. What the song is telling me.
That’s my journey. I always shake my head when I’m in the car with my husband.
Our conversation usually goes something like this:
ME: “Did he just say what I think he said?”
HIM: “I have no idea, I just like how it sounds.”
It’s the beat that speaks to my husband. The notes in the songs. That’s his journey.
My husband can mangle the words to a song like no one I’ve ever met. Lucky for
him, he’s got me to explain EVERY SINGLE word in detail. His eyes glaze over with
boredom when I start to do that, but that’s another story. He sees the romance in
songs, even if he doesn’t always know why. When my husband gave me my first iPod
as a present, too many years ago to count, he engraved it with three simple words
that he uses to describe us. Him and me.
Words and Music.
I am the words and he is the music. Now that’s romantic.
That is exactly why I thought a rock star romance series would be so much fun to
write. Just like the songs on my favorite CD, all the stories are wound together with a
common thread, but individually, they each tell their own tale. And just like music,
every story is romantic. I love the romance in music. Like books, almost every piece
of music has an element of romance if you look deep enough. In a song, it may be
one note. One verse. In a book, it might be a look, or an action, that makes even the
cockiest character appear vulnerable and romantic.
If I’m able to convey a little piece of emotion through the story, through the words
I’ve written about the characters I love so much, then I’ll have done what I set out to
do. It may take a little longer than three to four minutes, but in the end…it’s the
journey that matters, not how long it took to get there.
Review
Cameron is a typical rock band lead guitarist…he’s a bad boy. He’s definitely not looking for all the complications of a relationship.
His band is playing a gig in Dallas when his publicity-seeking bitch of a manager releases the location of their hotel. The band flees to The Manor to seek some privacy.
Lily is an adorable, beautiful girl with a complicated history. She’s afflicted with a stutter, and was born into a high society family, from which she has been estranged. Her family had her life planned out for her, when Lily strays from the path her family cut all ties. She also works at The Manor.
Cameron’s immediate attraction to the gorgeous Lily is explosive. He sets about the chase and Lily resists in the most amusing of ways.
The story is told in first person, from Cameron’s point of view. In the beginning I found his movements a little effeminate. I wasn’t sure if the story would work out for me. As soon as Lily was introduced, that seemed to be ironed out.
The dialogue is realistic and I really enjoyed the author’s style. It’s snappy, funny, and endearing. I’m not sure if this is a short read, or if I just devoured it whole? I read it in two sittings, which is a bit of a record for me, because I don’t skim read.
The book cover is stunning; it made me want to read it.
I loved Cameron and Lily together. I felt all of their emotions and egged the couple on from the beginning. The sex scenes fit well for the book, they were sweet and passionate all at the same time.
However, there was something missing for me. I missed Lily’s POV immensely. I really wanted to know what was going on inside her pretty little head, and get to grips with some of her motives. Although, in a way, it was refreshing to read a book from a male first person POV. I know I sound like I’m contradicting myself, I just really liked Lily, and I wanted more of her.
If you’re looking for a charming, witty read with all the elements of a sweet romance, with a hint of spice then Gone for You is perfect.
I award Gone for You 4 guitars.
Bio (with social media links) for Jayne Frost:
I guess I should start with the basics. The backstory. I was born and raised in California. At this point I’m usually asked what it was like to grow up near the beach, but sadly, I don’t know. I grew up in the “other” part of California. Perfect for an aspiring writer, if you ask me. You learn a lot about keeping yourself busy when the nearest house is a mile away…and it belongs to your grandparents.
By the time I went to high school, I started writing romance. Why? Because I met my very own prince charming. I wrote love poems in my journal about the green eyed boy that stole my heart. He promised, the way all storybook hero’s do, to sweep me away and take me on a grand adventure. And he did.
We picked up and moved to the Lone Star State, and began the story of us. The best stories begin without a road map or a compass. Veering off course makes the journey so much more interesting.
True to form, just when I thought my life was set, we started the next adventure. I traded in my cowboy boots and followed my green eyed boy to Las Vegas. My home will always be in Texas, but my heart is anywhere that he is.
Writing is what I love. I might stray from the romance every now and then if that is what moves me…but I always come back. Some of the stories don’t seem romantic at all. They are gritty stories about flawed characters that find each other and hold on tight. Those are the stories that speak to me. Because that’s life. I believe that every story should have a happy ending- even the difficult ones.
You can find me at Twitter at @jaynefrostbooks, Facebook, Pinterest, and my website.
You can read Gone for You at:
Amazon: http://bit.ly/goneforyou
Goodreads: http://bit.ly/goneforyouGR
April 2, 2015
An Easter gift from me to you. :D
Happy Easter to all followers of Lucy’s Lit Lovin’ Blog! I haven’t had a book sale for a whole nine months! I’ve been so busy with writing Kissing Cassie that I sort of forgot about poor Teagan and her wonderful adventures.
I hope you’ll indulge her. I’m making Falling to Pieces FREE. Falling into You is just 99c/99p. Both are available on Amazon, on sale/free, for a limited time only. Don’t miss out!
Amazon.com: http://goo.gl/AmQIPl
Amazon.co.uk: http://goo.gl/ZOD3f8
Amazon.com: http://goo.gl/iltJFH
Amazon.co.uk: http://goo.gl/S1Cx5V
All links will open on a new page. I sincerely hope you’ll enjoy the books! As always, remember to leave a review!
HAPPY EASTER!
March 25, 2015
***REVIEW*** Arranged by Arlene Valle.
I have been meaning to pick up this beautiful looking book for what seems like forever. The air of mystery and suspense contained in that solitary pearl in a shell really got to me.
When I started reading I wan’t disappointed. I was thrown straight into the action. Sam is in her late twenties, blonde and gorgeous, she’s also a nyphomaniac. No, I mean a real all out medically diagnosed sex addict. Her boyfriend, Reid, is a fifty something, stinking rich, handsome devil. He knows fine well that he’ll never be enough for her.
The book starts when Reid recruits lawyer, Max, to become Sam’s lover. It’s glaringly obvious their attraction for each other is through the roof, and Reid doesn’t seem to mind. In fact he hires him to work on a huge building/development project on Isla Margarita.
I’m assuming the author has some ties with Isla Margarita, a large portion of the book is set there. She describes the place so vividly that you can almost feel the hot breeze blowing on your face and the sand streaming between your toes. However, it’s described in present tense although the book is written in past tense. I can understand where that has come from, the island exists, so it was written like that because ‘it is’. Unfortunately, the tense shift only served to pull me out of the story somewhat.
With a brand new job, Max emigrates to Isla Margarita. He unceremoniously dumps Sam, thinking that sleeping with his new bosses wife would no longer bode well. However, the relationship between them is far from over. Max turns into an epic asshole, I wound up with a strong dislike for him.
Sam in true sex addict style doesn’t just stick with one extra lover. She seduces Jim too. He’s an ex-cop who moved to the Island and started a successful fishing charter business. Oh boy! You can only imagine the fun they had on his boat! There is an element of murder mystery factored in. I’m guessing it was placed to introduce Jim to the story, because if you’re looking for a murder mystery you’ve come to the wrong book.
Valle is completely out of the box with Arranged. It’s like nothing I’ve ever read before. Her sex scenes are absolutely mind-blowing, unique, fresh, and inspirational. They don’t carry the story though, they compliment it. Her writing and plot are as smooth as glass. As captivating as a diamond glinting in the sun. Until…
Excuse my mini rant here. It is a whole other blog post. In as much to say that the books ending is at least another book. I loved this book so much that I did something I never do. I went to the author and asked her why on earth did she end the book that way? Although I understand why she ended the book the way she did, I don’t agree with it. It was an ending that showed that the author doesn’t trust her outstanding ability.
Arlene Valle is an accomplished and fantastic author. She’s got it all. A thrilling story, beyond superb sex scenes, and three dimensional characters that I crave to see more of. Luckily, I know she’s planning more. For that I immensely grateful.
Bearing everything I’ve said in mind. I award Arranged four rare and beautiful pearls.
You NEED to like her FB page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Arlene-Valle-Author/153996208087598?fref=ts
Amazon USA: http://www.amazon.com/Arranged-ARLENE-VALLE/dp/146697320X/ref=tmm_pap_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1427310660&sr=1-1
