S.J. Pajonas's Blog, page 157
February 17, 2014
SUMMONED Cover Reveal
Rainy Kaye was one of the first bloggers that I met when I became a New Adult author. She’s so easy to get along with and has worked hard to bring lots of attention to the New Adult category. I’ve heard about this book now for months and can’t wait to read it.
• • • • •
Twenty-three year old Dimitri has to do what he is told—literally. Controlled by a paranormal bond, he is forced to use his wits to fulfill unlimited deadly wishes made by multimillionaire Karl Walker.
Dimitri has no idea how his family line became trapped in the genie bond. He just knows resisting has never ended well. When he meets Syd—assertive, sexy, intelligent Syd—he becomes determined to make her his own. Except Karl has ensured Dimitri can’t tell anyone about the bond, and Syd isn’t the type to tolerate secrets.
Then Karl starts sending him away on back-to-back wishes. Unable to balance love and lies, Dimitri sets out to uncover Karl’s ultimate plan and put it to an end. But doing so forces him to confront the one wish he never saw coming—the wish that will destroy him.
SUMMONED by Rainy Kaye
Genre: New Adult Paranormal
Release Date: March 28, 2014
Queue it on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
About the Author
Rainy Kaye is an aspiring overlord. In the mean time, she blogs at RainyoftheDark.com and writes paranormal novels from her lair somewhere in Phoenix, Arizona. When not plotting world domination, she enjoys getting lost around the globe, studying music so she can sing along with symphonic metal bands, and becoming distracted by Twitter (@rainyofthedark). She is represented by Rossano Trentin of TZLA.
KILLING HONOR Cover Reveal
New Adult is not just about contemporary romance. Today, I have a romantic suspense to showcase!
• • • • •
Only she ignites the passion within him…
Navy SEAL Brody Battles’ last mission ended with him shot twice. He’s made enemies he’d like to forget ever existed all over the world. He’s more than ready to go home to the family he left behind, but when he returns, he faces sleepless nights, a possible security breach and the fear that his family has moved on without him.
Only he fills the void left in her heart…
Marrying her childhood sweetheart sounds like a fairy tale dream come true, but not for Devyn. Thanks to his job, her husband has been off on a secret mission for so long, he’s never even seen his daughters in person. But now he’s back, and the fairy tale life is in sight, but Devyn’s not sure the man that returned is the same man who left.
…and only death quenches their enemy’s thirst for revenge.
Stitching their broken family back together proves difficult when nightmares and secrets build a wall between them. And while they’re adjusting to being a family again, an enemy waits in the shadows, salivating for the sweet taste of revenge.
This New Adult title includes adult situations and language and may not be suitable for readers under 18 years.
KILLING HONOR by S.M. Butler
Series: Lucky Thirteen, #1
Genre: New Adult Romantic Suspense
Release Date: March 24, 2014
Length: Novel
eISBN: 978-1-938927-12-6
Print ISBN: 978-1-938927-13-3
Queue it on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20743235-killing-honor
About the Author
S.M. Butler is a new adult romantic suspense and military romance author with a penchant for Dr. Pepper, ice hockey, and world domination, not necessarily in that order. She lives in Texas under a not-so-secret identity (Suzan Butler, who writes adult romance) with two monsters of her own while she works on her next step in her evil plans to take over the world. She loves to hear from readers.
Website: http://www.suzanbutler.com/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/SuzanButler
Facebook: http://facebook.com/SuzanButler
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/suzanbutler
February 15, 2014
Writing Reviews As An Author
I’ve been on Goodreads since 2009. I distinctly remember joining when all of my friends joined and logging my first couple of reviews there. Before I joined, I had a blog about life, movies, knitting, and reading, and I sometimes posted my thoughts there. I didn’t have much of a readership (and that blog is long gone), and I didn’t post real reviews either — mostly just thoughts on books, knitting patterns, and movies I both loved and hated. I’ll never forget the time I slammed a knitting designer for an awful pattern that was fraught with errors. Man, was she pissed. And then a few months later, after other complaints from other knitters, that designer changed the pattern and changed the way she did business. Can’t say I was surprised! Anyway, I’m getting off-topic. If you look back at my Goodreads reviews, you’ll find they’re largely positive, even before I started writing and publishing my own books. There are a few reviews where I have specifically called out bad editing or poor copy editing, and I’ll stand by those assessments today. I have the integrity to stand by opinions I’ve already muttered and murmured to the whole world.
This past week, I saw something that I had never seen before. I saw authors YELLING in ALL CAPS at each other that reviewing as an author is A BAD IDEA. YOU SHOULD NEVER DO IT. EVER. I was shocked, honestly. I’ve reviewed many books from fellow authors, propped them up, and recommended their books around. Many have done the same for me. I’m a positive person, and while I’ve written “bad” reviews in the past, I certainly haven’t done it recently (except for one book. ONE BOOK. Ugh.) But wow, I saw those other authors yelling and screaming, and I was taken aback. I defended myself for writing reviews, and I’m sure it looked bad. I’m sure it pissed a few people off. But I watched them yell, and it made me think hard about my policies on this topic.
So here’s the deal, I’m still going to be cataloging the books I read in Goodreads. You’ll know what I’m reading when I decide to update. If I don’t like a book, you will never know. I don’t even update my status on Goodreads until I’m into a book and loving it, and that has been my policy for almost a year. When I’m done with a book, I’ll mark it as read and write a sentence or two. If I LOVE LOVE LOVE a book that I feel it must be shouted, I will give it 5-stars and a few paragraphs. Because god, there are some books I just love with all of my soul. They must be shared.
There will be a few instances when I will put those LOVE LOVE LOVE reviews up on my blog especially for an author’s blog tour. I did this with Starla Huchton’s NEMESIS last year (have you read The Endure Series? Because you should!) and I will do this for BUTTERMAN (TIME) TRAVEL, INC. next week. This goes along with shouting some books from the rooftops because I love them that much. But I am not a book blogger, just an author and reader, who loves some books enough to recommend them to others.
One more thing… In all my notes on books, I will remark on copy editing if it’s particularly bad. Sorry. This is the one place I draw the line. The English language has grammar rules, and it is a copy editor’s profession to know those rules and employ them properly. If you’re a copy editor for a traditional publisher and this is a job you are paid to do, all the more reason to do it well. If you’re a self-publisher and you’re not doing this well, I hope you see my notes and try harder next time. I will not remark on your themes, your characters, the way the world was built, or your employment of similes, but if you didn’t put commas before coordinating conjunctions that married together two independent clauses for your entire book, I’m gonna say something. If you spelled your own main character’s name wrong in the first chapter three times (yes, I did see this in a book last year), I’m gonna say something. Don’t ruin a perfectly good story by getting these things wrong. I want your book to be a good book as much as you do. Trust me. There is nothing worse, as a reader, than suffering through a badly copy edited book. And for all the authors that say, “But I didn’t edit the book, why are you telling me this?” It’s YOUR NAME on YOUR BOOK. YOU OWN IT. All the more reason to watch the way it’s edited and say something if it’s wrong. Learn the grammar rules yourself, and you’ll never be caught off-guard! Okay. That’s my new policy.
February 13, 2014
FACE TIME Cover Reveal
It is my pleasure to present the cover to my upcoming novel, FACE TIME, to all my readers. It was designed by Carrie Butler of Forward Authority. Carrie is an amazing designer and I enjoyed working with her once again (she also made the book trailer for REMOVED). Since this is a contemporary romance, I really wanted people on my cover, but I knew it would be difficult with an interracial couple to find the right stock photo. Carrie and I brainstormed ideas about playing with the theme of the novel, dating over FaceTime, and only showing the face of either Laura, the heroine, or Lee, the hero. After much searching, I eventually landed on some stock photo site in Singapore with a wide-range of Asian models. I found my Lee and the rest was all Carrie. She came up with that super cute header and the color scheme (after I asked her to go more blue). She’s really fantastic. If you need a cover designer, you should go with her.
Blurb, excerpt, and giveaway are below! Want to know when FACE TIME is on sale? Sign-up for my newsletter!
After the best first date ever, Lee thought Laura was funny, intelligent, and impulsive; a whirlwind of bright laughter and happiness. Laura loved Lee’s sweet smile and the way he expertly filled in every awkward pause. He held her hand and then pulled her in for the most perfect kiss she’s had in years. What could possibly be wrong? Just the 7000 miles that separates them the next day.
Even though Lee has gone home to Seoul, Laura can’t stop thinking about him. What starts as an innocent text thanking him for their dinner date becomes something much more: someone either of them can’t live without. But Laura’s got a live-in mother going through a midlife crisis, and Lee’s stressful traveling schedule means they’ll be apart for some time. Life, family, and a complicated past also get in the way, and they’re both going to need actual face time to figure it out.
Told from both Lee and Laura’s point of view, FACE TIME is a funny, romantic, modern-day story about two people who connect across the world.
Queue FACE TIME on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20434205-face-time
If you want to be alerted when FACE TIME is on sale, sign-up for the newsletter.
Excerpt
Lee’s eyes are bloodshot and tired, his rounded cheeks sunken in with fatigue, but it looks like he won’t leave unless someone comes along and peels him off the couch.
I hate to do it, but I lean forward and squeeze his knee. “Lee, you look so tired, and I know you have to be up early. We should call it a night.”
Disappointment falls over his face and he sighs, putting his hands on his knees and forcing himself to stand up. Once my coat is buttoned-up, he reaches out his hand and helps me up with a smile.
Outside, I direct him north on Broadway to Third Street where I can get a cab going west towards Chelsea and be home in ten minutes. I used to walk this area all the time when I went to NYU, and the corner of Third is as good a place as any to say goodbye. An NYU building towers over this corner, fenced in by greenery and a large tree arcs out overhead. In a few weeks, the branches will be filled with buds and trees will explode with leaves all over the city. I can’t wait for spring.
“You live on Fifteenth Street, right? I saw the address you sent me,” Lee says, his hand clutching mine. “Over by Chelsea Market?”
“Yeah. I go there all the time. The neighborhood has grown in the last few years especially. It doesn’t look anything like it did when I moved in.”
“Seoul is always changing. After the war, it just grew and grew and now there are new buildings up every year there.”
Our conversation dies as we near the corner, and I slow down to a stop. I… I really don’t know what to do. I know this can’t go anywhere.
“I can get a cab going crosstown from here,” I say, looking down at my shoes. “If you walk back over to Lafayette, you can get a cab going uptown.”
“Okay. Laura…” He turns to face me, so very close. He withdraws his warm hand from his pocket and softly strokes the length of my chin, pushing my eyes up to his. I guess I’m not the impulsive one tonight. “I’d like to see you again. Somehow. I don’t know when I’ll be back in New York, though.”
“I understand.” I clench my legs together because a fire is burning right in the middle of them, and I haven’t had sex in so long I don’t know what to do with the feeling. My vibrator doesn’t count. “Maybe we can keep in touch, if you’re up for it.” I smile at his eager face, only three inches from mine.
“I think I’m up for almost anything when it comes to you. In fact…” He steps in even closer, letting go of my hand and pulling me in by the small of my back. “I’m going to kiss you, and I’m not going to regret it for a second.”
Pulling my face to his, our lips meet hesitantly at first, warmth growing between us as a breeze curls around my legs and up my jacket. His lips brush against mine, feathery light and playful, soft and sweet, the test kiss when you put your toes in the water and see if the bath is hot enough. Then I lean in and bind my lips to his. This kiss goes all in, a deep inhale followed by the kind of release that makes my eyes roll back in my head. If I were paying closer attention, I’d notice the curry, the beer, and the coffee, but instead all I sense is the seed he’s planting in my soul, the one that takes root and convinces me I’m a worthy person again, worthy of love and affection, worthy of attention.
I set my hands free from their safe haven between us and wrap them around his waist, sighing and enjoying this regret-free kiss. It just pushes Lee even closer, both of his hands on my cheeks, guiding my mouth into his, and his relief is evident in the release of his muscles along his waist and back.
Earlier, I wanted to pause time in several instances — when he took my photo, when he held my hand, when he smiled at me over the top of the coffee bar — but, now, this is what I want to remember. This is the moment when he likes me for all the right reasons, and I want to capture that blissful ignorance and never live without it.
The moment unsticks, our lips pulling away at the same time, and he kisses me along my left cheek to my ear. I hug him close and rest my forehead on his shoulder.
“Thank you for tonight, Laura,” he whispers in my ear, and I nod into his sweater, letting myself feel happy for this instead of sad he won’t be here tomorrow. We dislodge our arms from each other and do our best to smile at one another before he takes my hand, leads me to the curb, hails a cab, and puts me in it.
“Don’t be a stranger, Lee,” I say, before raising my eyebrows at him and closing the door.
My last glimpse is the smile on his face, his hand raised in goodbye, as my cab speeds away down Third Street.
Participating Bloggers
I’d also like to thank Lola of Lola’s Blog Tours for organizing this cover reveal. She put together a great list of bloggers and most of my friends were able to participate as well. Thank you to each of you who helped me out today! Links to all their blogs are below.
Caribbean Accent Book Reviews
Lola’s Reviews
Big Book Little Book
Rustys Reading
Lusty Penguin Reviews
True Story Book Blog
Laurie’s Thoughts and Reviews
So, You’re a Writer
Comfort Books
Oh, The Things I’ve Learned
Florentine Lily
The Phantom Paragrapher
(un)Conventional Bookviews
Afternoonbookery
HEAs Are Us
Between the Pages
Biblio Belles
sue cover reveals & promotions
Fantasy floozies
Author Yolanda Allen
Chanel Cleeton
A Little Bit of R&R
Welcome to Your Next Fantasy
Rachel Harris Writes
Selena Laurence
Olivia Linden
Alessa Hinlo
Trinas Tantilising Tidbits
Juliana Haygert
Through the looking glass
For Whom The Books Toll
Sporadic Reads
Brianna Lee Book Reviews
ScriptLand
Dark Novella
Ophelia London
RUSH INTO YOU Cover Reveal
I’m pleased to present the cover to Brianna Lee’s RUSH INTO YOU. This is her debut work and another New Adult novel to add to category. I love New Adult. There is something for everyone in this category!
• • • • •
I had it all.
I was captain of the cheerleading squad and star of the debate team. I was smart and popular and living the dream.
Until that night.
That one fateful night changed everything.
Now everyone hates me—everyone. They stay far away.
It’s safer.
Drugs numb the pain, and sex pays for the drugs.
Being alive is my punishment.
Then I meet him. Ryker Rosse.
Tattoos, sinful body…and his eyes. His eyes are irresistible. He is captivating. He treats me with respect.
He sees me.
Ryker brings happiness into my life of regret, but I don’t know if I deserve happiness. Some mistakes can never be forgiven.
Or can they?
RUSH INTO YOU by Brianna Lee
Genre: New Adult Contemporary Romance
Release Date: April/May 2014
Cover Design: Okay Creations
Queue it on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18602071-rush-into-you
About the Author
Brianna Lee is an avid reader and flavored ice coffee addict. She is also a book reviewer and blogger for Brianna Lee Book Reviews and lives in Massachusetts with her beautiful daughter.
As a busy, single mom, and aunt, she often has to write her stories in a notepad app on her cell phone, but late at night you will find her typing on her laptop until she passes out on her keyboard…literally.
Brianna encourages readers to contact her as she loves to hear from you! Email her at authorbriannalee@live.com.
Website: http://www.authorbriannalee.blogspot.com
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/auth_briannalee
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/authorbriannalee
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4940466.Brianna_Lee
February 12, 2014
Top 10 Songs to Dance To
Today, I have my friend and fellow author, Chanel Cleeton, here to promote her new release, I SEE LONDON. I asked her to provide me with a top tens list and I love what she provided. Take it away, Chanel!
• • • • •
Much like my heroine, Maggie, when I moved to London for university I discovered the fun of going out dancing. Before university I was always a shy dancer—way too self-conscious and concerned with making a fool of myself. The more I went out clubbing in London the more I discovered how fun it was to just let loose. It has stuck with me ever since. I love dancing—even if it’s just around the house or yes, even in the car. Here are the ten songs I always have to dance to:
1. “La Tortura” by Shakira feat. Alejandro Sanz
This song is a VERY special one for me and it’s number one for a reason. I met my husband on a summer cruise in the Caribbean. We were at the ship’s disco and he saw me across the room and came over and asked me to dance to this song. I said yes and the rest is history 
Almost eight years later he’s still my favorite dance partner.
2. “Shake It” by Metro Station
This is such a FUN song. One of my favorite memories from my wedding is dancing to this song with my dad. We may have even done “the sprinkler.” I’m not sure it’s possible to hear this song and not want to dance.
3. “Hips Don’t Lie” by Shakira feat. Wyclef Jean
I’m Cuban so pretty much any song about shaking your hips is an automatic win for me.
4. “Seven Nation Army” by The White Stripes
This song is such a huge London memory for me! My favorite nightclub in London, Aura, used to always play this song. Whenever I hear it I’m instantly transported back to being an eighteen-year-old girl trying to be cool
5. “Don’t You Worry Child” by Swedish House Mafia
This is a newer find for me but I am OBSESSED. I’ve been driving my husband nuts listening to it on repeat but it’s such an amazing song.
6. “Good Girls Go Bad” by Cobra Starship feat. Leighton Meester
I have a soft spot in my heart for this song. Not just because Leighton Meester played Blair Waldorf, one of my all-time favorite TV heroines (Gossip Girl), but also because I may identify with the good girl with a wild streak vibe, just a bit
7. “Take Your Mama” by Scissor Sisters
I fell in love with the Scissor Sisters when I lived in London and this is probably my favorite of all of their songs. I definitely sing along off-key whenever I hear it. Dancing is a must.
8. “Mr. Jones” by Counting Crows
This is a bit of a throwback for me—back to my high school days. I used to drive around belting this song out at the top of my lungs. It’s kind of a challenge to dance to but something about it fills me with the dancing spirit. It’s one of my all-time favorite songs.
9. “Dancing Queen” by ABBA
If you’re having a bad day, just listen to ABBA. Mamma Mia is one of my favorite musicals and I pretty much love all of ABBA’s songs. There’s something about Dancing Queen that makes it impossible to not want to shake your hips. Love it!
10. “Under Pressure” by Jedward
Love, love, love this song. Another fun song when you’re in the mood to totally let loose.
What about you? What songs make you want to dance?
About the Book
Maggie Carpenter is ready for a change— and to leave her ordinary life in South Carolina behind. But when she accepts a scholarship to the International School in London, a university attended by the privileged offspring of diplomats and world leaders, Maggie might get more than she bargained for.
When Maggie meets Hugh, a twentysomething British guy, she finds herself living the life she always wanted. Suddenly she’s riding around the city in a Ferrari, wearing borrowed designer clothes and going to the hottest clubs. The only problem? Another guy, the one she can’t seem to keep her hands off of.
Half French, half Lebanese, and ridiculously wealthy, Samir Khouri has made it clear he doesn’t do relationships. He’s the opposite of everything Maggie thought she wanted…and he’s everything she can’t resist. Torn between her dream guy and the boy haunting her dreams, Maggie has to fight for her own happy ending. In a city like London, you never know where you stand, and everything can change in the blink of an eye.
This is a New Adult romance recommended for readers 17 and up.
Amazon: http://amzn.to/1cQXjYm
Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/1khLGx1
iTunes: http://bit.ly/1fBFzRj
Harlequin: http://bit.ly/1nENamw
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18778603-i-see-london
About the Author
Originally a Florida girl, at seventeen Chanel moved to London to attend an international university. In the four years that followed, she received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees, learned how to dance, travelled through Europe, and made lifelong friendships. Chanel fell in love with London and planned to stay there forever. But fate intervened on a Caribbean cruise, when an American fighter pilot with smooth dance moves, swept her off her feet.
Now, a happily ever after later, Chanel is living her next adventure in South Korea. An avid reader and hopeless romantic, she is happiest curled up with a book. She has a weakness for handbags, puppy cuddles, and her fighter pilot husband. Chanel writes New Adult contemporary romances and Young Adult thrillers. Her New Adult debut, I SEE LONDON, will be released by Harlequin (HQN) on February 3, 2014, followed by a sequel, LONDON FALLING, later in the year.
Website: http://www.chanelcleeton.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/authorchanelcleeton
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/chanelcleeton
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/chanelcleeton
February 10, 2014
My Style Is My Style
This post is going to be short and comes with the caveat that this is my opinion, and I know many people would disagree with me. It comes after seeing many people talk about this on the internet. It comes after reading many reviews of not just my work but reviews of hundreds of other books. It’s just me getting something off my chest. That’s why I have a blog.
Here’s the thing, I write genre fiction. I write romance and science-fiction and have even been known to dabble in a little fantasy (just on side projects). I don’t write literary fiction right now. I certainly don’t write purple prose or ever will. My writing doesn’t even have a vague hue of violet, and thank the gods for that. I find that kind of writing pretentious and annoying. Other authors and editors have termed my work as “accessible” and that statement makes me happy. I want my writing to appeal to a wide audience, not just a handful of people who will only read classics and novels that are finalist for awards.
I have a certain style. I like to weave short, concise sentences with longer compound sentences, usually ending in a dependent clause starting with the -ing verb form. Now that I’ve pointed it out you’ll probably notice it, right? It’s the way I write because it’s the way I think, the way I speak, the way I express myself. My books tend to be in first person present tense. I have short stories coming out in November that are third person present tense. I write what I want to write because that’s the way the story spoke to me when I sat down at my computer.
My style, though, is grammatically correct. You’ll be hard pressed to find many grammar errors in my books. Sure I miss a word every now and again because I type faster than my brain, and homophones are my enemy, but I understand the English language intimately. My proofreaders catch things that I miss, and I correct them. I now know the difference between “okay” and “OK”, and that “ok” and “Ok” are not words. I know my comma rules, what a coordinating conjunction is, and when to use parentheses or em-dashes. Because I took the time to learn all of those things. They are not part of my style. They’re a part of being a good self-publisher.
It’s quite possible when you read my books, you may hate my style (or my plot or my characters). That’s totally fine. Many people do. But if you seriously bought my book after reading the sample (you did read the sample right? There are at least 3 places it can be read before buying) and then were disappointed that it wasn’t flowery enough for you, then I have no words. None.
To those that read my books and love my style, I’m happy that you enjoyed them, and I’ll keep writing what I love to write and hope you keep reading them. I’ll continue to write accessible stories for those that want to read them. That’s what I’m here for. That’s my dream.
February 9, 2014
THE DIVIDING LINE Release Day
Finding fellow authors who also wrote multicultural New Adult romance was hard the first few months after I had published. (Of course, not only do I write multicultural romance, but also scifi and still I have trouble finding my people). Until Victoria Smith found me. She invited me to a Facebook group full of other authors who write interracial romance, and I have felt welcome there ever since.
Today she’s releasing THE DIVIDING LINE, the follow-up novel to THE SPACE BETWEEN. I have this book in my queue and can’t wait to read it. The good news for you all is that THE SPACE BETWEEN is FREE on Amazon right now (see image below) and THE DIVIDING LINE is 99¢ for a limited time. Check them both out.
A new love and a new life.
Drake left Chicago with little more than the clothes on his back to be with his girlfriend Lacey. Though he has no regrets, he sometimes wonders if his time spent in Paris has put his life on hold. He’s overworked and underpaid at his dead-end job, and his employer sees him as expendable. His bright light at the end of the day is Lacey, but he finds himself slowly falling into the shadow of her newly-acquired fame. The city of love has found their new starlet in Lacey, but Drake is simply the man by her side.
With all good things there comes a price.
Lacey has been living the dream. She arrived in Paris with nothing but heartache and loss. Now, she’s the rising star of the city’s newest opera and dating the man of her dreams. When her performance contract is extended, she must decide if her new life of glitz and glam is what’s best for a future with the man she loves—or if it’s just what’s best for her.
Paris brought Drake and Lacey together. But when their hopes for the future begin taking them in different directions, they must a find common ground or risk a line dividing them that may prove to be insurmountable.
The Dividing Line is the sequel to the new adult multicultural romance The Space Between.
BUY The Space Between
Amazon: http://amzn.to/LAuvK1
Print: http://www.amazon.com/The-Space-Between-Volume-1/dp/1482349175/ref=tmm_pap_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1391647171&sr=1-4
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16281159-the-space-between
BUY The Dividing Line
Amazon: http://amzn.to/1nVC3pr
BN: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-dividing-line-victoria-h-smith/1118047651?ean=2940148134695
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/405364
All Romance: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-thedividingline-1411374-178.html
Print: http://www.amazon.com/Dividing-Line-Space-Between-Volume/dp/1494840979/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1391374650&sr=8-1&keywords=the+dividing+line+victoria+h+smith
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20456380-the-dividing-line
About the Author
Victoria H. Smith has a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science. She puts it to good use writing romance all day. She resides in the Midwest with her Macbook on her lap and a cornfield to her right. She often draws inspiration for her stories from her own life experiences, and the twenty-something characters she writes give her an earful about it.
In her free time, she enjoys extreme couponing, blogging, reading, and sending off a few tweets on Twitter when she can. She writes new adult fiction romance in the sub-genres of science fiction, urban fantasy, and contemporary, but really, anywhere her pen takes her she goes. She’s also co-founder of NA Alley, a group fiction blog dedicated toward the spread of the ‘new adult’ fiction category.
Website: http://twentysomethingfictionwriter.blogspot.com/
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/VictoriaSmith76
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorVictoriaHSmith
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6440255.Victoria_H_Smith
February 6, 2014
EVOLUTION: ANGEL Cover Reveal
I’m incredibly excited to bring to you the newest creation from author, Starla Huchton. She’s a fantastic and creative writer and also the author of the Endure series which I have featured on here a few times. Her new series focuses on New Adult superheroes, the tagline being, “Superheroes are not born. They are created.” I love that. I’m sure this will be a fun series for you all. And the good news is that all three books will be out before the year is up!
Evolution: ANGEL (book 1) – March 6th
Evolution: SAGE (book 2) – May 6th
Evolution: HEX (book 3) – July 6th
Candace Bristol has always been obsessed with comic books, but in a world where the nightly news often mirrors these inked stories, her dreams of becoming a real superhero could actually come true. After being rescued by members of the government’s AdvaNced Genetic EvoLution (ANGEL) Project four years ago, getting recruited for this elite team is all she’s wanted.
Now 18, she’s finally reached her goal after years of study and physical training, but little could have prepared her for life as a genetic experiment. As though coming to terms with her new ability to manipulate water isn’t tough enough, she never expected to be swept off her feet by one of her fellow recruits.
With genetic alteration, the threat of physical and mental instability hangs over every superhero like a shadow. When one of their own tumbles over the edge of madness, Candace will have to choose between protecting the world, and saving the one who holds her heart.
EVOLUTION: ANGEL by S.A. Huchton
Genre: New Adult Superhero Romance
Release date: March 6th, 2014
Queue it on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20412199-evolution
Excerpt
Prologue
She jumped, trying to see over the crowd in front of her. This was so stupid. Why would they stick her in the back? Wasn’t showing off to as many people as possible the whole point of this?
“Calm down, Candace,” Gabe said. “You keep stepping on my foot.”
She shot him her best “drop dead” look. “Calm down? I’ve been dying to see these guys since they made the announcement last year. Do you have any idea how many chores I had to promise my mom I’d do before she’d sign my permission slip to come to this thing?” She pinched her face and did her best impression of her mother. “Candace, I don’t want you filling up your head with any more garbage than those comic books already put in there.”
Gabe sighed and patted her head. Even at fifteen, only a year older than her, her cousin was already six inches taller. It wasn’t fair. Gabe had no problem seeing past the Neanderthals in front of them. “Don’t worry, Princess. Maybe you can sit on my shoulders or something when they come around.”
She rolled her eyes. “Not funny. And don’t call me Princess.”
“Sure thing, Candy Cane.”
“Ugh. Again with that nickname. Can you knock that off? We’re not kids anymore.”
He thought carefully. “Hmm, would you prefer Cupcake?”
Before she could reply, or punch him, music blared through the loudspeakers on the steps of the capital building. Her heart leapt. They were here! She was actually going to see honest-to-God superheroes in the flesh!
Candace looked in either direction, trying to find an opening where she might be able to push through and get a better vantage point. She went left. Nothing. She went right. Still nothing.
No, wait. Definitely something.
The large fountain wasn’t working. It was roped off and marked as under construction, and no one gave it a second look. The crowd was riveted to the top of the stairs, staring at the guests she couldn’t see.
Yet.
She took a last peek at Gabe, who was completely engrossed in the spectacle, and sunk low as she crept toward the fountain. She wasn’t going to have endured a crowded, eight-hour bus ride to Des Moines with a bunch of smelly dudes for nothing. She came here to see superheroes, and damned if she wasn’t going to do exactly that.
The street police were lined up on the other side of the fountain with their backs to her, as captivated as the rest of the onlookers. Candace ducked between the strips of caution tape and threw her legs over the metal rail. After soaking her shoes in the remnants of the drained water, she clambered up two of the five tiers of the centerpiece and leaned around.
“Ladies and gentlemen,” the Governor said. “Today we mark a new era in the fight against crime, terrorism, and even natural disaster. With the founding of the US Government’s ANGEL Project, we hope to usher in a new time of peace and security for every last one of us. These brave individuals have given over their lives and their very bodies in pursuit of this goal, and it is my extreme pleasure to present to you two representatives of the ultimate first responder unit, the Aquila Team: Marissa Hayden and Christian Markov!”
The applause was thunderous and immediate, but Candace tuned it out. The ANGELs were amazing. Two people, not much older than her, and here they were.
Real life superheroes.
The pair stepped up to the microphone, ready to give a joint speech. Candace couldn’t take her eyes off of them. They moved with a smooth, preternatural grace, as though they were intentionally slowing themselves for the benefit of the onlookers. Marissa’s smile was radiant as she waved to the crowd. Her caramel-colored skin was flawless. Her thick, black hair hung in the most beautiful waves across her shoulders. Candace wished she had half of the curves this woman displayed in her black, form-fitted skinsuit.
Christian was no less impressive physically, but in a different way. He tossed a little nod of acknowledgment down the steps to a group of squealing high school girls. He was the ultimate definition of an All-American guy: clean cut, blond, blue-eyed, the works. The man had it all and then some. It was no wonder he’d become the ANGEL Project’s poster child. Candace snorted. Yay diversity.
A hush passed over the crowd when he held his hand up, indicating they were ready for the speech. Candace leaned forward even more, her fingers digging into the slippery slime around the fountain ledge.
Christian opened his mouth.
Before so much as a word was spoken, the ground rumbled. Candace didn’t notice it at first, but the nervous shifting of the crowd caught her attention.
It caught the ANGELs’ attention as well.
“Everyone get out of here!” Christian yelled into the microphone.
The police surged forward, doing their best to herd the confused mass of people away from the steps. Someone screamed, soon accompanied by more shouts of alarm. The fountain shook violently and Candace slipped. She scrambled to get a better hold, but it crumbled away, splitting up the middle, followed by an explosion of water that blasted her backwards into the concrete pool. Her back hit the bottom, knocking the air from her lungs, and her skull cracked against the ledge, filling her vision with sparkling lights.
When she could see clearly again, someone stood over her.
He was a massive man, shirtless, shaking, and staring at her with wild eyes. When he sucked in a ragged breath, foamy spittle oozed from the corners of his mouth.
“Tasty…” he hissed at her, bending lower, hands outstretched.
The scream stuck in her throat as terror wrapped its icy talons around her neck.
Another body slammed into the man’s torso, blasting him through the caution tape and onto the sidewalk below.
Christian Markov glanced her way briefly before before launching himself at the strange man again. Who was this invader? Was he one of the back alley genetic evolutions they talked about on the news?
Christian didn’t let up, sending a barrage of punches into the man’s face and body faster than her eyes could track them.
Someone scooped her up and ran, leaping over the fountain railing as though it were a mere speed bump, rather than a three-foot vertical leap. Candace looked up into the face of Marissa Hayden, the sunlight shining a halo around her hair.
Transfixed by the sight, Candace barely registered it when they stopped and Marissa set her down beside an ambulance half a block away. Not wasting a moment, Marissa winked at her, then flew back up the street to help her teammate.
Someone wrapped a blanket around her shoulders and another pushed around in her hair at the back of her head.
“What’s your name, Miss?”
She blinked, only now seeing the paramedic in front of her.
“What?”
“Your name? You hit your head and we need to take you to the hospital. Can you give me a phone number to call?”
“Candace,” she replied, still staring back up the street. “Candace Bristol.”
“We have to get you out of here, sweetie. Can you stand?”
“I didn’t say thank you,” she whispered.
“What was that?”
“I…” She pinched her eyes shut. “My head hurts. I need to call my cousin. I was with him before…”
She winced as she pulled her phone from her pocket. Gabe was going to kill her for sneaking off.
And if he didn’t, she was sure her mother would.
About the Author
A geek of all trades, Starla Huchton has been crafting stories in various genres since 2007. Her first novel, THE DREAMER’S THREAD was released as a full cast audiobook podcast, becoming a double-nominee and finalist for the 2010 Parsec Awards. After releasing short fiction of steampunk, noir fantasy, and other varieties, she released the first three books of the Sci-Fi Romance ENDURE series in 2013. All three books of the EVOLUTION series will be released in 2014, as well as a Steampunk Fantasy novel, MASTER OF MYTH (the Antigone’s Wrath series, book 1), which was the first place winner of the Crested Butte Writers’ contest, The Sandy, in 2012.
When not writing, Starla trains three Minions, a black lab, and a military husband whilst designing book covers for independent authors and publishers at designedbystarla.com.
Website: http://www.starlahuchton.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Starla-Huchton-Author-Page/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/riznphnx
February 5, 2014
Top Ten Romantic Japanese Manga
My tour is over! And we had a good time, a damn good time. But one blogger totally flaked and didn’t post the guest post I wrote for them, much less the reviews they signed on to do. So to make up for it, I’m publishing the list today. Ever think about checking out manga? This is your chance!
Oh, Japanese Manga, how I love thee? Let me count the ways that you suck me in, run up my credit card, and leave me in a ball of laughter and tears. There are many ways that my Nogiku Series are like manga. I like to write strong, complex characters that win you over with a wink or a blank look. I can think of countless moments in manga where a whole page is devoted to one brief moment, and it’s the moment you fall completely in love with a character. If you don’t feel the same way about the moment when Sanaa holds a sword for the first time or when Jiro asks Sanaa out for a date, then I’m doing something wrong as an author.
Before I give you my top ten picks for Japanese romantic manga, let me explain that there are two basic types of manga: Shonen and Shojo. (Actually, there are many more, including more explicit types like hentai and yaoi, and several others I won’t get into here. Google, if you’re interested.)
Shonen manga is marketed towards a young male audience, 10 – 18 years old. It includes more kicking of butt, fighting, etc. Shojo manga is marketed towards a female audience, 10 – 18 years old and includes more relationships (not always romantic), school situations, and fantasties.
For the purpose of this list, I chose all Shojo manga, which I love! I’ll admit it. I’m sucked into manga easily. And if I don’t have a book I’m reading, you’ll find me reading manga.
10. Vampire Knight - for my first recommendation, I’m presenting a manga I haven’t read yet, but everyone RAVES about and is in my queue. This one’s about a vampire boarding school where the normal people come to class during the day, and the vampires come at night. There’s a whole backstory with the main character, Yuki, having been saved by a vampire as a young child, and the story includes lots of love interests. The story is now complete, so you can get them and be assured of an ending!
9. Nana – This is another I have not read but I hear is beautiful and sweet, and this is also in my queue (I really need more spare time). It’s about two young women named, Nana, who accidentally meet and become roommates in Tokyo. It chronicles their lives trying to make it in the big city. The author was sick for a while but, from what I can gather, is finishing the series.
8. Boys Over Flowers – This was a super popular manga that was turned into a Korean drama that is probably one of the most talked about and first recommended Korean dramas of all time. Seriously, if you ask anyone, “I want to start watching K-dramas, where should I start?” Most people will respond with Boys Over Flowers. Just remember it was a Japanese manga first!
7. Maid-sama! – I only got halfway through this series before I was sucked into revisions on my own books and it is truly a gem. The plot of this one cracks me up. The lead, Misaki, is a tough-as-nails heroine trying to reform her school that is only recently a co-ed school. She rails against all the bad boys! I love her! But she’s poor and needs to make money so she hostesses at a local Maid Cafe (Do you know about these? There’s one in Manhattan now!) The school hot boy finds out and strikes a deal with her. You’ll need to read to find out.
6. High School Debut – I love this manga so darn much, it’s sick. Haruna is a former softball player, kind-of jock type girl, that knows nothing about romance. So she convinces Yoh, the coolest boy in school, to coach her in romance. So many hijinks ensue and all the time you are rooting for them to get together. Sigh. It’s fantastic.
5. Fruits Basket – This manga is a classic and been around now for ages (since 1998). What I love about this one is that the members of the family the heroine, Tohru, goes to live with are all possessed by members of the Chinese Zodiac. How random is that? And it’s such a great plot device. She becomes a positive influence on their lives and helps them break the curse that’s bestowed on them. If you need a long manga with lots of episodes, this one is for you. It goes on and on for a very long time.
4. Kyou Koi wo Hajimemasu – Plain Jane meets Cool Luke. I’ll admit that this one is hard to find and the English translation of the name, “Today our love begins”, is awful, but oh my, the hero is so fine. If you like the chiseled men in your romance go with this. It’s also one of the few shojo manga I’ve read where the couple goes all the way, and the drawing of it is enough to make you fan yourself.
3. Kimi no Todoke – The premise behind this one cracks me up. Have you seen Ringu, the original Japanese horror film that came before The Ring? The female main character in Kimi no Todoke, Sawako, looks exactly like Sadako from The Ring, so she gets called Sadako and everyone is afraid of her. But she’s super sweet and shy and totally harmless. There are so many great moments in this manga where the other characters are freaked out by her and she’s like giving them chocolate or something sweet and nice. A cool boy totally falls for her but she’s awkward and doesn’t know what to do. Totally cute and heartwarming.
2. Shinobi Life – This is the one manga that I fell in love with after the very first few pages. In fact, I named a character in the Nogiku Series, Beni, after the main character in this one. A time traveling ninja thinks that ordinary, modern-day Beni is a princess and must protect her. There’s a curse on her family and lots of time traveling back and forth between feudal Japan and modern-day Japan. It blew my mind with the craziness, but I was sooooooo in love with Kagetora, his sword, his mystery, his… *fans self* Let’s just say that it’s well worth the read!
1. Love*Com – And finally my number ONE… Lovely Complex or Love*Com for short. This one wins first place because it’s not only romantic but it is funny as hell. I had to stop reading it in bed at night because I was waking my husband with all my giggling. Risa (I named another character in Nogiku Series after her!) is the tall girl in class and Atsushi is the short guy. Their teacher constantly jokes that they’re a comedic act like “All Hanshin Kyojin“, and, though the ribbing gets on their nerves, they manage to get along for quite some time. Then they fall for each other. This manga has the great, amazing, heart-stopping moments that make you believe in true love. I cried reading it several times because it was so perfect. You won’t be disappointed with this one.
It would be remiss of me to not point out how to read most of these. Many I bought from Amazon but there is also a great app for both iPhone, iPad, and Android called MangaStorm. It has many of the manga I’ve listed above. Read and enjoy!
