Cathrina Constantine's Blog, page 32

#CTST #CelebrateTheSmallThings

It's time to Celebrate the Small Things Hop over to Lexa Cain's and join in this fun weekly Celebration. Lexa's wonderful co-hosts are:L.G. Keltner @ Writing Off The EdgeTonja Drecker @ Kidbits Blog
Supposedly the 30 degree weather is behind us. I've heard that before!
I inspected my gardens and was pleasantly surprised to see sprigs of green wrestling through the mushy soil.

The worst part about spring is having a 75 pound Labrador Retriever romping in the mud and then coming into the house. 

And the best part of having children is being invited over to their homes for dinner, which is where I'll be on Saturday!!!

Enjoy your weekend!!!

Hot New Book Release by Kristin D. Van Risseghem #fantasy

The Passage, a Dance, & a Little White DressRelease Date: April 13, 2016
Synopsis:It's been a week since 17-year old Zoe Jabril found out her best friend is a Guardian Angel, her boyfriend is a Nephilim, and a fellow classmate is a Fairy. What makes Zoe so special? She’s destined to unify Enlightens to battle evil—that is, if Demons don’t kill her first.
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With ‘Project: Enlightens Unite’ underway, Zoe learns the history of the area wolf pack and realizes she's in a race against time to get her newly discovered talents under control. Despite struggling to fight a mysterious attraction to her new neighbor, rescue her boyfriend from Demons, and travel into Fairyland to convince the Summer King to join the fight, Zoe must still attend high school classes so her nosy parents don’t suspect anything is out of the ordinary before Demons can mount another attack.

Zoe will need all the help she can get, from the most unlikely of sources, if she’s to save her boyfriend's life and prevent the Devil from escaping Hell on her eighteenth birthday.
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Chapter 1 Excerpt:
ZOE

Last night, a friend of mine rose from the dead—and I was the one who brought her back. So I guess . . . I’m an angel. Or, at least most of my friends think I am.
     Even wrapped tightly in the arms of my favorite oversized PINK hoodie, I shivered. It was chilly for mid-April while sitting on my front porch with the sun just coming over the horizon, but that wasn’t where the tremor had come from.
     I glanced up, startled by the high-pitched squealing of truck brakes that rang above the music playing from my iPod. The truck turned into the cul-de-sac and careened straight into the next door neighbors’ driveway. What made it really strange was the house had been empty since last October. I could still see the top of the “For Sale” sign on the manicured front lawn. I pulled out my cell phone to text my boyfriend, Shay.

     Me: Good morning!

     As I waited for a response, a gray uniformed driver open his door and climbed down. He walked to the back of the truck; then multiple doors slammed.
     “This furniture goes into the living room on the main level,” a man said.
     I didn’t particularly want to be a nosy neighbor, but I couldn’t help myself. I eased higher on the top step, hoping to get a look at the man who seemed to be in charge. His back was to me, so all I could tell was he had short blond hair. He glanced down at something then looked back up, turned, and pointed toward a number of other, smaller trucks in the cul-de-sac parking. More uniformed men jumped out of the smaller trucks and gathered around their boss, waiting for instructions. I had no interest in watching a bunch of people move boxes, so I just stayed on the step and waited for my best friend, Kieran, and Shay.
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PURCHASE LINKS:
Website     |     Amazon     |     Nook     |     Smashwords
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Author Bio:Kristin D. Van Risseghem grew up in a small town along the Mississippi River with her parents and older sister. And after receiving a double Bachelor of Science degree from Winona State University in Paralegal and Corrections, she worked as a Paralegal for various law firms around the Twin Cities for 14 years. Then she left the legal field and is now a Senior Buyer for a technology company.

Currently, Kristin lives in Minnesota with her husband and two Calico cats. She also loves attending book clubs, going shopping, and hanging out with friends. She has come to realize that she absolutely has an addiction to purses and shoes. They are her weakness and probably has way too many of both.

In the summer months, Kristin can usually be found lounging on her boat, drinking an ice cold something. Being an avid reader of YA and Women’s Literature stories, she still finds time to read a ton of books in-between writing. And in the winter months, her main goal is to stay warm from the Minnesota cold!

Kristin’s books are published by Kasian Publishing.

Website           |           Twitter                        |           Facebook
Giveaway:

https://gleam.io/fb/0GGJH

#IWSG Insecure Writer's Support Group

http://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com/p/iwsg-sign-up.html
Join Alex J. Cavanaugh and a multitude of writer's in this monthly hop to help support one another!

Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!

The awesome co-hosts this month are: Megan Morgan, Chris Votey, Viola Fury, Christine Rains, Madeline Mora-Summonte, L.G. Keltner, Rachna Chhabria, and Patricia Lynne! 

I completed my first draft on my ms that had been put on hold for over a year. I tried something totally different this time. After the initial read through to get reacquainted with my characters, I began to write and didn't return to the the beginning and edit like I normally do when I get stumped. I forced myself to move forward and not look back. 
Thinking the beginning of the ms was sound, I sent out the first 3 chapters to betas. I was wrong, of course, and they gave me tons of sound advice. (But remember, every reader has differing opinions. And both betas gave me differing advice. You must create your own writing style) 

Now, as I'm editing and creating a second draft, I'm either duped into thinking --- this ms isn't too bad, or I'm clearly not seeing past my nose. 

This time the editing process seems somewhat easier. I've learned a thing or two about grammar and my over usage of adverbs and adjectives. (I still have a thing for them)

All writer's have a different style of writing and what works for them. I discovered that sometimes I need to mix it up a bit, especially when I'm in a slump.

Prah, Constantine & Baryeh Reviews #romance

This month the team has review Bedding the Wrong Brother by Virna DePaul
Melina Parker has always excelled in two things: research followed by hands-on application. She prides herself on being a lady in public, but after she's dumped yet again for being a lady in the bedroom, she's ready to go back to school.

Determined to find her inner sex diva, she enlists her childhood friend, Max Dalton, to tutor her after hours. Instead, she ends up in the wrong bed and gets a lesson in passion from Max's twin brother, Rhys Dalton, a man Melina's always secretly wanted but never thought she could have. 

Despite craving the occasional adventure, Melina's a small-town girl who wants roots and a family. Rhys and Max, on the other hand, are celebrities who travel from one city to another, changing bed partners as easily as plane flights. Rhys is outwardly the more reserved of the two but, unable to believe his good luck when he finds Melina waiting for him, he gives Melina her first taste of multiples right out the gate. Come morning, she's so mortified that she threw herself at Rhys that she blurts out the truth about her tutoring experiment. Not about to let her get away from him, Rhys convinces Melina that when it comes to sexual lessons, he's more than man enough for the job. His biggest challenge is teaching Melina that when it comes to pleasure, the key to his own is hers.

Can a woman who's always longed for hearth and home find satisfaction with a man whose entire life has been about moving on to the next big thing?


Cathrina's Review

What's a twenty-something girl to do when she feels totally inadequate under the sheets? Discuss her problems with her girlfriends, of course! It's decided Melina will bed the love of her life's brother to assist her in that department. 

Max and Rhys are identical twins, and sexy as hell. Melina, Max, and Rhys have been best buds forever. She has quite a thing for Rhys, but never had the gumption to follow it through. Now these guys are big time magicians and girls are swooning all over them.

Melina convinces Max to help her, however, Max is freaked because he also knows Rhys has a thing for Melina, but the two of them never seemed to connect. Now, Max tricks Rhys to take his place in the bedroom to assist Melina with her problem. How does this play out, you ask? Melina is blind as a bat and she can't see which identical twin walks into the room.

There's hot and titillating scenes that'll make you blush, but oh so sweet. I thoroughly enjoyed Bedding the Wrong Brother by Virna DePaul. And if you like sexy romance, you'll like this book.

Now let's head over to read Nana and Empi's review.

The Thing That Turned Me: An Anthology

THE THING THAT TURNED MEComing May 31, 2016By: Stay Classy Publications



I'm honored to be a part of this anthology with all of these fabulous writer's

#CTST #CelebrateTheSmallThings

It's time to Celebrate the Small Things Hop over to Lexa Cain's and join in this fun weekly Celebration. Lexa's wonderful co-hosts are:L.G. Keltner @ Writing Off The EdgeTonja Drecker @ Kidbits Blog
I love this weekly blog hop. It's fun, easy and I get to rethink the week.

As far as writing goes: Last night I'm happy to report I wrote those two magical words on my WIP...THE END. 
It's the first draft and a lot can change. 

We had a good weather week, but that's all going to change. Snow is predicted for the weekend. Blah!

Today starts the A to Z Challenge. I'm sitting out this year for some much needed writing time. I wish them all good luck. And it'll be fun hopping around!!!
Here's the link to hop around to all the sites:
http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/p/a-z-challenge-sign-up-list-2016.html

#CTST #CelebrateTheSmallThings

Have a Blessed & Happy Easter It's time to Celebrate the Small Things Hop over to Lexa Cain's and join in this fun weekly Celebration. Lexa's wonderful co-hosts are:L.G. Keltner @ Writing Off The EdgeTonja Drecker @ Kidbits Blog
Last weekend was wonderful with my son home. We celebrated with an Irish Dinner of Corned Beef & Cabbage. We're Irish one day a year!!!

I'm preparing for Easter and attending a holy service on this Good Friday. I'll be praying for our world!!!
**He is Risen**

Cover Reveal for Signs of Attraction by Laura Brown

Coming June 14, 2016 from Avon Impulse
Do you know what hearing loss sounds like? I do.All my life I've tried to be like you. I've failed.So I keep it hidden.But on the day my world crashed down around me, Reed was there.He showed me just how loud and vibrant silence can be, even when I struggled to understand.He's unlike anyone I've ever known. His soulful eyes and strong hands pulled me in before I knew what was happening.And as I saw those hands sign, felt them sparking on me, I knew: imperfect could be perfect.Reed makes me feel things I've never felt. It's exciting...and terrifying.Because he sees me like no one else has, and I'm afraid of what he'll find if he looks too closely.The only thing that scares me more than being with him? Letting him go.Goodreads| Amazon | Barnes & Noble | PublisherAvailable for pre-order!
About the AuthorLaura Brown lives in Massachusetts with her quirky abnormal family. Her husband’s put up with her since high school, her young son keeps her on her toes, and her three cats think they deserve more scratches. Hearing loss is a big part of who she is, from her own Hard of Hearing ears, to the characters she creates.

Website | Twitter | Facebook

Constantine Reviews: Darkness Undone by Georgia Lyn Hunter

A fading realm, a warrior bound, and the woman who will save them both… 

Bound to a vengeful goddess, immortal warrior, Reynner, has little time for the fairer sex. The last thing he wants is to be aligned with another female, even if she is the key to finding an artifact and saving his realm. But his stone-cold resistance is tested, his attraction undeniable for the feisty mortal, until she demands the one thing he cannot give her…his trust. 

Eve Leighton avoids intimacy of any sort after an accident in her teens left her with a painful ability to see into another’s mind through physical contact. When an ice-cold warrior claims she is his world’s savior, she’s intrigued, until she dares a look into his soul and sees a man who’s been cruelly betrayed. She agrees to help him and loses her heart. But the man is an unassailable fortress. With quiet determination, she chips away his barriers and a passion darker than night pulls them under. 

As his enemies close in on the hunt for the artifact, Reynner must overcome his own personal demons as battles are fought to claim the woman he loves or lose her forever. And Eve has to face her own mortality and fight for a love of a lifetime. 

Amazon Buy Link: http://www.amazon.com/Darkness-Undone-Warlords-Empyrea-1-ebook/dp/B01AJ8YFCQ/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8

Cathrina's Review:


I can't get enough of the Empyrean Immortals. The Author, Georgia Lyn Hunter didn't disappointment in her fourth installment of these flawed immortals. In Darkness Undone, the main character Reynner has spent an insufferable amount of time in his own personal hell. Warding off the advances of a goddess that yearns for him as her personal boy toy, although, Reynner is hell bent on rebuking her.

Reynner and his immortal cohorts are on the lookout for an artifact that can save their world, and they find it in a lowly human named Eve. Action and fast paced fight scenes abound and I became enthralled with each swipe of the page. Ms. Hunter is a strong and prolific writer, which captures the reader not only in the turbulent action, but also in the hot, sizzling intimate sequences.

Since I've read all of the Empyrean Series, I'm having a hard time deciding which formidable, delectable, and tantilizing Immortal I love the best. If you like this type of genre, then you'll be mesmerized by Darkness Undone. I highly recommend this book.

#CTST #CelebrateTheSmallThings

**TGIF** It's time to Celebrate the Small Things Hop over to Lexa Cain's and join in this fun weekly Celebration. Lexa's wonderful co-hosts are:L.G. Keltner @ Writing Off The EdgeTonja Drecker @ Kidbits Blog
My goal was to write 1k a day on my WIP. I'm happy to report I reached 61k. My characters have broken their secrecy and are eager to tell me where they're heading. I see it all in my head like a movie, the hard part for me has always been putting it in writing.

I haven't been blogging as much since I'm in the throes of writing. (and taking care of grand-babies) I hope to hop around this weekend and visit my fellow bloggers. I miss you all.

The Best Part of This Weekend is: My son is coming home!!!! I haven't seen him since Christmas. I'm so looking forward to seeing his handsome face!!!