Zara Hoffman's Blog: Zara Hoffman's Goodreads Author Blog, page 26

My Freshman College Experience

click for more entries I've been debating about writing this for a long time. The reason I finally decided to make this post is because my friend Sierra (who is also a writer) shared an in-depth blog post yesterday about how she had been struggling with some of the same stuff I had, unbeknownst to me. She's also one of my favorite bloggers, so you can find her two blogs linked underneath "Blogs I Like" to the right in my sidebar.

Anyway, I thought college really would be "the best years of my life," and they may be. I hope not, though. Because, honestly? People who think their life peaked in college must not be that happy now. But back to the whole point of this. The nicest way to put this is: I was disillusioned in my first semester and fell into a depression.

I slept all the time (more than usual), and I knew I was using it to avoid dealing with stuff, but I got more tired because I was so emotionally drained. I didn't want to do anything. And I mean that. Normally, I write one story start-to-finish, but sometimes I take a week-long break, or switch projects temporarily, before getting back on track. For the few times I need a break from writing altogether, I switch to making inventory for my organization, Our Hope Is Here. And when I don't feel like doing anything, I read. But starting from October through Winter Break, I was internally miserable, even if I pretended I wasn't.

And I didn't tell my mom. 1. I couldn't really call her all the time. 2. I didn't want to make a big deal about it because I wasn't sure if there was something wrong with me, the school, or the combination. 3. I had no idea how to articulate what I was feeling.

During Winter Break, I broke down and told my mom how I had been feeling. I was at a breaking point, but I'm sure all the drugs (I had 3 wisdom teeth taken out at the time) must have helped break down my barriers.

I made a plan to be more active, hang out with my friends more, etc. I did all of that. And things got better, but not enough. I was still depressed. I did re-edit  The Belgrave Legacy , and got it all ready for publication (it's available for preorder now). I did update the Our Hope Is Here website. I did a lot of things (including being the assistant costume designer for our college's production of Dog Sees God — a play about the ​Peanuts characters as teenagers).

But I don't think I've been more glad to finish a school year since I graduated from my middle school back in 2011.

This summer, I focused a lot on doing things I love: writing, music, and most importantly working on getting myself back to normal. That's why I agreed to do The Landmark Forum (and subsequently The Advanced Course — you can read about my experience here). And that definitely helped. I feel a lot better happier now, but I'm still afraid I'll fall back into the pit I did last year once I go back to school. I guess I'll just have to keep focused on maintaining my mental health. And you know what? That's not a bad priority to have.

Did your freshman year go similarly? Differently? Better (I hope)? Please share below.

#FicFest Agent Round

You may remember me announcing the finalists and alternate for Team Israel... And then a lot of radio silence. But now it's finally here! Today starts the Agent around where agents will read the query & first 3 pages of all the finalists' manuscripts. It's super exciting!
Since I'm the leader of Team Israel, though, I'm only going to be linking to my team's 3 finalists' posts: Seeds of Odium Hidden Under The Moon The Luckiest Happy reading! If you're an agent participating in the contest, I hope you find something you like and leave a comment below.

And, because I'm not a totally selfish person... here's a master list of all submissions (I changed my mind in the course of writing this post): Beauty Bound

#FicFest Agent Round

It's finally here! Today starts the Agent around where agents will read the query & first 3 pages of all the finalists' manuscripts. It's super exciting!

Since I'm the leader of Team Israel, though, I'm only going to be linking to my team's 3 finalists' posts: Seeds of Odium Hidden Under The Moon The Luckiest Happy reading! If you're an agent participating in the contest, I hope you find something you like and leave a comment below.

And, because I'm not a totally selfish person... here's a master list of all submissions (I changed my mind in the course of writing this post): Master #FicFest Submission List

Blog Tour: Hitched, Vol 1 by Kendall Ryan

About the Book Marry the girl I’ve had a crush on my whole life? Check.

Inherit a hundred-billion-dollar company? Check.

Produce an heir… Wait, what?

I have ninety days to knock up my brand-new fake wife. There’s only one problem—she hates my guts.

And in the fine print of the contract? The requirement that we produce an heir.

She can’t stand to be in the same room with me. Says she’ll never be in my bed.

But I’ve never backed down from a challenge and I’m not about to start now.

Mark my words—I’ll have her begging for me, and it won’t take ninety days.

On the heels of her smash hit and New York Times bestselling Screwed series, Kendall Ryan brings you Hitched, a romantic comedy that delivers heart and heat. The Excerpt"That’s the whole point of doing this trial period—to see how well we can play ball together before committing to a team-up. I’m doing my best to become friends with you, so . . .”
 
He tilts his head with a half-smile. “Just friends? I’ve got my sights set a little higher.”
 
Gee, I never would have guessed, what with his constant attempts to steer the conversation toward sex.
 
I quirk one eyebrow in skepticism. “Friendship is all we need to pull this thing off. And we’re pretty much starting from square one . . . I would call us acquaintances, at best. Don’t you think you’re being a little overambitious?”
 
“Nope,” he replies, cocky smile still firmly in place.
 
I roll my eyes. “Wow. Your arrogance truly has no limits.”
 
“If I can put my money where my mouth is . . .” His lustful smirk makes it clear exactly where he’d like to put his mouth. “Then it’s not arrogance. Just confidence.”
 
“What makes you think I would want more with you, anyway? You aren’t exactly my type.”
 
I expect him to just give me a knowing look, or maybe toss back some mild innuendo. What I absolutely did not expect was, “Because I have a nine-inch cock.”
 
I almost choke on my martini for a third time. I splutter, “Is that number supposed to impress me?”

​...
 
I give him a skeptical look. “You want to show me your dick?”
 
“If it’ll help convince you.” He drains the last drops of his Scotch and stands up. “Come on, let’s go.”
 
I stare after him as he walks away.
 
Is he serious? He’s just going to whip it out? I look around to see if anyone is watching me, then I get up and follow him to the bar’s back hallway, near the restrooms, unable to comprehend why the hell I’m humoring him. This is ridiculous.
 
Once we’re safely in a private corner, Noah undoes his belt, opens his fly . . . and pulls out a fucking fire hose.
 
Holy mother of God. My hands fly to my mouth. I want to gasp in shock, but there’s no way I’m giving him the upper hand.
 
He was right. His cock is nothing short of massive, and it’s not even fully erect right now. Nine inches may actually be a conservative estimate of what it might look like hard. He must destroy men’s egos every time he walks into a locker room. And I don’t even want to think about what he destroys with women . . .
 
“Meh. I’ve seen bigger,” I force out, fighting to maintain my composure.
 
Noah chuckles. “I don’t think so, sweetheart.”
 
“Well, th-that monster is not coming anywhere near my uterus. No, thank you. I prefer to keep my organs intact.”
 
Noah’s grin widens. “I doubt that, but just to be on the safe side, I’ll ease it in nice and slow. Piece of cake. Plus, you’ve got good health insurance, right?”
 
“That is not funny, Noah. Now, put that thing away or I’ll remove it.”
 
I try to sound stern, but my shaking voice and bright red cheeks surely give me away. Why the hell can’t I stop staring?
 
He chuckles—yeah, the jerk can definitely see right through me—but he obliges, tucking the beast back into its lair. About the Author A New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling author of more than a dozen titles, Kendall Ryan has sold over 1.5 million books and her books have been translated into several languages in countries around the world.

She's a traditionally published author with Simon & Schuster and Harper Collins UK, as well as an independently published author. Since she first began self-publishing in 2012, she appeared #1 on Barnes & Noble and iBooks charts around the world.

​Ryan has been featured in such publications as USA Today, Newsweek, and InTouch Magazine.

Visit her website for the latest book news and fun extras.

Blog Tour: The Copula Chronicles by Vanessa Kimball

About the Book Title: The Copula Chronicles
Author: Vanessa Kimball (as V. Angelika)
Genre: NA/A Urban Fantasy/SciFi**

Includes the 4 books*:
Origin (Copula Chronicles, Book 1), is a roller coaster ride straight into an unreality intent on spinning you around in the alternate history of the origin the new world Jesca has been thrust into. Make no mistake, your reality will be turned upside down with the techno-thriller plausibilities of what our world and its inhabitants could possess within. When all is said and done, you will find yourself planted in a new reality of weighty urban fantasy with profound thought-provoking conspiracies of the spiritual and scientific link to our existence and what our world may become now that Jesca’s new reality has been set into motion.

Descend (Copula Chronicles, Book 2), pulls you deeper into the inherited reality Jesca and her new found clan of guardians are forced to surrender to in order to save the earth and humankind. The reality of genetic manipulation, ancient myths and theories, and the immediate threat of extra-terrestrial abduction and invasion are revealed in this second installment. Edge of your seat techno-thrilling conspiracies paired with dramatic mystery, suspense, and sacrifices are fulfilled in this spiraling global cataclysm Jesca and the guardians are faced with at every turn.
​
Ascend (Copula Chronicles, Book 3) , takes you beyond the veil of our world and into one beholding the supernatural, spiritual, psychological and techno-thrilling futurism in terrifyingly perfect harmony.

Legacy (Copula Chronicles, Book 4), is the final installment in this edge-of-your-seat urban fantasy, science fiction fused series and Kimball holds nothing back in her arsenal of spine-tingling, mind-boggling, thought-provoking,mystery-seeking, and heart-pounding content to bring the Copula Chronicles to full circle.

*Each of the books in the Copula Chronicles series are new versions of the Piercing the Fold series. New content and extensive re-writes have been added to the Copula Chronicles Collection.
​
**18+ due to some explicit language and sexual content. Guest PostIt all started with a show on The Learning Channel or Discovery Channel, can't quite remember.  It was late on November 22, 2010  and I was decompressing in front of the television.  I was watching a show about the plausibility of wormholes.  That was it.  My mind started going through the "what ifs".  I started Googling everything from wormholes to galactic collisions to multiple universe theories.  This one character stood  prominent in my mind––the main character of the series, Jesca.  Her image, her features, her stature, everything was there when she came to my mind.  That night she was born.  The next day, November 23, 2010 I started drafting the first book in the series. The research on cosmology, quantum physics, and metaphysical theories began.  One year of research and I felt capable of tackling the plot I was creating for this series. 
 
Some may not know that this series was originally called the Piercing the Fold series when it released in 4 books from 2012 to 2014. It was originally written for Young Adult, but seemed to attract the new adult and adult audience more.
​
With my publisher’s support, Crushing Hearts Black Butterfly Publishing, we stopped distribution and I re-wrote significant portions of each of the books to suit a mature audience with greater depth.  Looking back, it is the best thing I have ever done for these characters and this storyline. I realize that these characters could hold so much more weight on their shoulders once I started digging deeper into what they were made of.   I re-wrote, re-titled, re-covered each of the books in the series to become the Copula Chronicles––a new adult sci-fi/ urban fantasy series.  X-Files meets Dr. Who is what a few fans have deemed an appropriate description.  
 
Is the series everything I want it to be? With the new re-writes, hell yes it is…and so much more!  Going through rewrites reminded me how special and timeless these characters and this storyline  had become to me. Mind and soul, I was captured by them all over again.
 
What made me release all 4 books on the same day? Well, how many readers do you know that would love to have an entire series released on the same day so they don’t have to wait for the next book to release? TOO MANY TO COUNT!  Cliffhangers are a bitch and the way these four books intertwine, not just because they are part of a series, makes it more important to have them release simultaneously.  To those die-hard serial readers, this simultaneous release is for you J 
 
Spin-off series? Dwellers, the Rephaim tribe, side-characters like Corinna and Sam, Elicia and Nick, Tessa.  There are so many avenues with a spin-off series from the Copula Chronicles, and I have them all in my sights. While it’s not in the immediate works ( two other projects are taking precedence), it will see the light of day within the next couple of years. Giveawaya Rafflecop-ter giveaway About the Author Venessa started her journey in the world of books in 2010. Currently, Venessa is writing in the Adult Romance genre as well as the Young Adult Contemporary Fiction genre. However, expect the unexpected from her writing since she tends to surprise her audiences with her diversity and original take in the genres she has written. Her New Adult and Adult fiction can be found under the pen name V. Angelika as well. When Venessa is not writing, she is chauffeuring her three little Kimballs to extracurricular activities, catching a movie with her hubby, and staying up way too late reading and brainstorming new projects she has up her sleeve. Blog Tour ScheduleJune 25th
Nerdy Dirty & Flirty         Excerpt
The Linseyverse               Review
Stuffed Shelf      Excerpt

June 26th
The Recipe Fairy              Excerpt
Love Affair With Fiction                Excerpt
Socially Awkward Book Nerd       Excerpt

June 27th
Grownup Fangirl             Excerpt
The book slayer               Review
Zara's Scribblings    (you are here)    Guest Post

June 28th
Barbara's Book Blog        Excerpt
Roxy's Reviews                Excerpt
What Is That Book About             Excerpt

June 29th
Have Words Will Scribble            Review
Turning Another Page    Excerpt

June 30th
Alpha Book Club              Excerpt
The BookWhisperer       Review

Release Day Blitz: The Copula Chronicles by Vanessa Kimball

About the Book Title: The Copula Chronicles
Author: Vanessa Kimball (as V. Angelika)
Genre: NA/A Urban Fantasy/SciFi**

Includes the 4 books*:
Origin (Copula Chronicles, Book 1), is a roller coaster ride straight into an unreality intent on spinning you around in the alternate history of the origin the new world Jesca has been thrust into. Make no mistake, your reality will be turned upside down with the techno-thriller plausibilities of what our world and its inhabitants could possess within. When all is said and done, you will find yourself planted in a new reality of weighty urban fantasy with profound thought-provoking conspiracies of the spiritual and scientific link to our existence and what our world may become now that Jesca’s new reality has been set into motion. 

Descend (Copula Chronicles, Book 2), pulls you deeper into the inherited reality Jesca and her new found clan of guardians are forced to surrender to in order to save the earth and humankind. The reality of genetic manipulation, ancient myths and theories, and the immediate threat of extra-terrestrial abduction and invasion are revealed in this second installment. Edge of your seat techno-thrilling conspiracies paired with dramatic mystery, suspense, and sacrifices are fulfilled in this spiraling global cataclysm Jesca and the guardians are faced with at every turn.

Ascend (Copula Chronicles, Book 3) , takes you beyond the veil of our world and into one beholding the supernatural, spiritual, psychological and techno-thrilling futurism in terrifyingly perfect harmony.

Legacy (Copula Chronicles, Book 4), is the final installment in this edge-of-your-seat urban fantasy, science fiction fused series and Kimball holds nothing back in her arsenal of spine-tingling, mind-boggling, thought-provoking,mystery-seeking, and heart-pounding content to bring the Copula Chronicles to full circle.

*Each of the books in the Copula Chronicles series are new versions of the Piercing the Fold series. New content and extensive re-writes have been added to the Copula Chronicles Collection.

**18+ due to some explicit language and sexual content. Exclusive Excerpt​The concrete turns to gravel, dirt and then rock as I enter a trailhead and descend into the dense woods. The sun shimmers on the fallen leaves and damp mulch. As sweat starts to run along my temple, the cool air hitting my face is refreshing. I focus on my breath, the ground, the music and the movement of my body.
 
The sound of twigs breaking close by stops me in my tracks. Suddenly, the vibration I held in my body at the book store is filling me again, the humming in my ears returning. The dizziness doesn’t come, but my heart is pounding out of my chest and I can’t catch my breath. A flash of darkness out of the corner of my eye sets me on guard. Whatever it is, it’s not an animal; it stands upright.
 
I turn my music off, pull my ear buds from my ears, and start running again. My legs take longer, stronger strides, stronger than I have ever taken before. The leaves beneath my feet are a blur, yet the sound of them crunching beneath my feet is like crushing plastic in a trash compactor. My arms work quickly to push away the branches blocking my path. All of a sudden, the feeling something was following me, closing in quickly rushes through my body. The same feeling I get in my nightmares and in the bookstore yesterday!
 
Still running, I turn to look behind me. A blur of darkness in the land- scape catches my eye. It moves quickly, shifting around the wooded obstacles just as I am. The humming is even stronger now, clouding my thinking and my vision as I run through shrubs and branches, searching for an opening to clear the woods. Suddenly, there’s light piercing the darkness, a clearing. It has to be the one above the lake.
 
I put more power into my pumping arms and stretching stride. The sun- light becomes brighter as the trees open their canopy, releasing me from the woods like a rock in a slingshot.
 
As soon as I’m out, my body takes on a mind of its own and I turn toward the woods crouching low to the ground, as if I’m ready to combat this force stalking me. My heavy breathing is animalistic, unlike the panic I had in the woods, and for the life of me, I have no idea why I’m not getting the hell out of there.
 
Forced to stare into the trail that expelled me, I fear that I’ll see some kind of monster any second, but nothing appears. Just rustling leaves on the rocky ground. My body, still detached from my mind, eager to flee, I pace in front of the opening to the woods as my breathing evens out as if I’m being held prisoner to the fear of what might attack me. The humming sound is diffusing quickly and the vibration is minimal compared to the tremor of my racing heart. Giveawaya Rafflecop-ter giveaway About the Author Venessa started her journey in the world of books in 2010. Currently, Venessa is writing in the Adult Romance genre as well as the Young Adult Contemporary Fiction genre. However, expect the unexpected from her writing since she tends to surprise her audiences with her diversity and original take in the genres she has written. Her New Adult and Adult fiction can be found under the pen name V. Angelika as well. When Venessa is not writing, she is chauffeuring her three little Kimballs to extracurricular activities, catching a movie with her hubby, and staying up way too late reading and brainstorming new projects she has up her sleeve.
Blog Tour ScheduleJune 25th
Nerdy Dirty & Flirty         Excerpt
The Linseyverse               Review
Stuffed Shelf      Excerpt


June 26th
The Recipe Fairy              Excerpt
Love Affair With Fiction                Excerpt
Socially Awkward Book Nerd       Excerpt


June 27th
Grownup Fangirl             Excerpt
The book slayer               Review
Zara's Scribblings    (you are here)    Guest Post


June 28th
Barbara's Book Blog        Excerpt
Roxy's Reviews                Excerpt
What Is That Book About             Excerpt


June 29th
Have Words Will Scribble            Review
Turning Another Page    Excerpt


June 30th
Alpha Book Club              Excerpt
The BookWhisperer       Review

What Not Getting Hired This Summer Taught Me

I'd be lying if I wasn't a little relieved at having a lot of free time this summer to babysit and do a few odd jobs for money as opposed to doing a 9-5 unpaid internship, but I'm also a little bummed none of the literary agencies or publishing companies I applied to wanted to take a chance and hire a college freshman.

To hopefully avoid the same fate next year, I'm taking the time to note what I will do differently next time (this is a preliminary, growing list):
​Start earlier. I started my job search in February and didn't apply until April because most of the opportunities I was looking at didn't open applications until then for summer positions. BUT, I would decide to apply as soon as each application opened, rather than waiting for them all to be ready (I wrote all my applications at the same time, so I could have done this had I known better). It costs me valuable time that I could have been considered for a job.Make sure I have no email problems before, during, or after my application process. This one was kind of out of my hands because Weebly and Google changed their partnership rules when it comes to using Google Apps, and I didn't know how to adapt until it had cost me 2 weeks of not receiving emails (gasp!) The good news is that I now know how to fix it and did.I would interact more with my potential employers on social media. I didn't exactly give them radio silence this time around, but there is still a lot of room for improvement. And while this doesn't guarantee any time of job, it doesn't hurt to demonstrate my interest as much as possible.And last, but not least, I'd have a back-up plan should I find myself in the same position as this summer where none of my plans worked out. I am clearly finding ways to fill my time (the aforementioned babysitting and "odd jobs," writing more blog posts, trying to find clients for my freelancing services, and finishing the draft of The Matchmakers—and hopefully resuming Shattered Glass), but it's hodge-podge nature is due to it being thrown together in the 11th hour.Do you have any job search advice? Or maybe you have a similar story of woe filled with examples of what not to do when looking for employment? Feel free to share it below in the comments!

Blog Tour: A Man Of Honor by Miranda Liasson

About the Book He survived combat…but will he fight for love?

Former Army Captain and venture capitalist Preston Guthrie has always had a thing for Cat Kingston, but he never felt like he could date his best friend’s sister. Plus, he’s a wrong-side-of-the-tracks guy and she’s a white-picket-fence kind of woman. Yet when they met again just before he was deployed, sparks flew. A fire ignited. And the heat was hot. For the first time, he thought a relationship with her might be possible…until an injury in the war changed everything…

Journalist Cat Kingston had a rough couple of years, surviving a broken engagement and the loss of her job. But connecting with Preston last fall seemed right. They shared steamy Skype sessions while he was overseas—until he was wounded, and cut her off without explanation. Now he’s back in town to be the Best Man for her sister’s wedding…and she wants answers.​

Preston’s struggling with a leg wound, but the war scarred him on the inside, too. When Cat pays him a surprise visit and her brother catches them in a compromising position, Preston tells him they’re dating. He’s not sure how he can spend the entire wedding week fake-dating her when the chemistry between them feels anything but… My Boy with the Dragon Tattoo:  10 Reasons Why I Love My Hero, Preston GuthrieHands down, Preston Guthrie is my favorite hero that I’ve written so far. He simply jumped off the page in all his full, tortured glory.
 
He’s upstanding. He’s selfless. He’ll do anything for Cat. And he’s super hot!
 
Now, those of you who know my writing, you’ll know it’s a little humorous, a little sarcastic, a little on the lighter side, but I also like to give my characters real issues. Preston is a vet, and he’s come back…changed. On the inside and out. He had been coming to believe that he could truly deserve Cat Kingston, his best friend’s sister, despite his across-the-tracks upbringing. Then a roadside bomb shattered his knee—and his hopes to have Cat.
 
Here are the top ten reasons I love this guy, and I hope you will, too!
 
1. He might possibly have been a little bit based on Channing Tatum. I didn’t actually realize this until I did my Pinterest Board about the book. No one else came close.
 
2. He orders fancy coffee drinks without shame.
 
3. He hates shopping but he goes anyway. For antiques, no less. But he does it in style, as you’ll see at the end of the book.
 
4. He’s not above rescuing a gender-confused scrawny black cat.
 
5. He’s a great big brother.
 
6. He’s capable of taming children with a guitar, and he sings some unique songs along the way.
 
7. His tattoo. Oh, lordie, that tattoo! That came about because Preston really does have dragons to slay. Here’s what he says to Cat about them:

​“And in that moment, he knew one thing. If it was possible to slay his dragons, he’d do it. For her.”

​8. He’s helpful without asking, like when he helps Cat in her kindergarten classroom:

​He silently took the string from her hands, his fingers grazing hers, and easily raised the ceiling panel above their heads. Silently, he finished inserting the rest of the flowers. His nearness discombobulated her, and every touch of his hand sent little electric vibes all through her arm. It also gave her a great view of his lean torso, his strong arms, and his broad shoulders as he reached upward to anchor the flowers. She caught a whiff of his cologne, some manly, exotic scent she’d probably sniffed between the pages of Cosmo that signaled gorgeous hunk of sexy man and couldn’t have been more dead-on as far as she was concerned.
 
“Need help with anything else?” he asked, his blue-eyed gaze darkening as it flickered over her.
 
Cat gulped. Not with anything rated PG-13 or under.
 
“I’m good,” she said.

9. He’s not above a little friendly athletic competition with a rival. Here’s Preston talking to Cat about a canoe race he’s about to enter:

“Why, sweetheart, are you worried about me? Don’t be, because I’ll be fine.” He flexed his biceps. “Nothing’s wrong with the guns.” What was he trying to prove? All he knew was as soon as Brady started moving in on Cat, he’d clicked into warrior mode, and it was strangely exhilarating.

“You don’t have to prove anything. To him or to me. Plus, it’s not worth it to jeopardize your leg.”

Common sense told him she was right. But his testosterone had flared, and all he wanted to do was beat the crap out of this guy—figuratively speaking, of course. Mostly.

“I know that.” But he had to prove something to himself. No force on earth was going to allow this guy to move in on his woman.
​
His woman. Before he could figure out what the hell that meant, he’d stepped forward and kissed her. Right on those soft sun-warmed lips, pleased when she made a soft gasp at the contact of his lips on hers. Then he turned and headed down to the lake.

10. He’s terrible at fixing Cat up on dates with other men:

“And speaking of doing my job, I found you a prospect. To date.” He pulled out an iPad from his briefcase. “An investment banker. I’ve known him a long time. I can vouch for the fact that he’s a great guy.”

“Oh, wonderful.” She rubbed her hands together in faux excitement, but deep down, she didn’t have the heart for it.

The man on the screen was white haired. Not gray on the sides or even gray all over but as stark white as a bleached sheet flapping in the breeze.

“I’ve known Carlos since I graduated from college.”

“Is he your grandfather?”

“Ha ha. Very funny.”

“Has he been married?”

“He’s a widower.”

“Kids?”

“Five.”

She shut the iPad. “This does not count as a genuine prospect.”

“I can’t help it if you shallowly reject good candidates based solely on their appearance.”

“I am not shallow.”

He shrugged. “I don’t know what else I would call it.”

“I’m not attracted to fifty-three-year-olds. And he doesn’t even look fifty-three. He looks seventy-three.”

“Your problem, not mine.”

“You suck at this!”

“Maybe you can help me narrow my search by telling me what you’re looking for in a guy.”

“Kind, ambitious, cute. Not a grandfather. Someone who loves me just the way I am.”

​“Who wouldn’t love you just the way you are?” His eyes sparked with conviction. Emotions flickered across his face that she couldn’t interpret—regret, anger, and something else much darker. Want. She could swear he looked at her the way a man looks at a woman he wants to kiss, long and hard and deep.

BONUS 11. ​Lastly, he’s great in…um, bed. When he loves, he loves completely.
(But you’ll have to read the book to see if I’m right about this one) Giveawaya Rafflecopter giveaway About the Author Miranda Liasson loves to write stories about courageous but flawed characters who find love despite themselves, because there’s nothing like a great love story. And if there are a few laughs along the way, even better! She’s a former Golden Heart winner who writes series romance for Entangled Publishing and lighthearted contemporary romance for Montlake Publishing. She lives in the Midwest with her husband, three kids, and Posey, a rescue cat with attitude. Blog Tour ScheduleJune 21st
Barbara's Book Blog        Excerpt
The Recipe Fairy              Excerpt
I Love Romance               Review
Alpha Book Club              Review
Socially Awkward Book Nerd       Review

June 22nd
Brittany's Book Blog       Playlist
Mommys naughty playground   Review
2 Chicks and a Book        Review
Reese's Reviews              Review
Romance Reviews and More       Review

June 23rd
Author Groupies             Review
EskieMama Reads           Excerpt
Zara's Scribbles (you are here)  Guest Post
NightWolf Book Blog      Review
Ineffable Book Blog        Review

June 24th
Best Book Boyfriends     Review
Romance Book Nerd      Excerpt
E-Reading After Midnight     Review
Jen's Reading Obsession    Excerpt
T&L Book Reviews    Excerpt

June 25th
Love Affair With Fiction    Excerpt
Southern Yankee Book Reviews    Review
I'm A Sweet And Sassy Book Whore    Review
Novel Addiction     Review
Readers Retreats     Review

June 26th
Home.Love.Books          Review
2 girls who love books   Excerpt
Liz's Reading Life             Excerpt
Evermore Books              Excerpt
Ebook Indulgence           Review

June 27th
HOOKED ON BOOKS       Review
G & T's Indie Café           Excerpt
Books2blog        Review
Short and Sassy Book Blurbs       Review
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What Penny Dreadful Teaches Us About Writing Endings

SPOILER'S ABOUND. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED.

There has been a lot of hoopla over the end of the Showtime series Penny Dreadful. I, personally, while surprised that it was actually "The End" believed it concluded at a good spot, in a good way, and was actually always planned this way. The writer and creator John Logan had said he planned through 3 seasons back in 2014. And I originally took this to mean that he would write more as each season passed, but I believe with Showtime's not Game of Thrones-equal ratings, the network's likely reticence to continue past Vanessa Ives' death (played by Eva Green, the only actor who was continually praised as the main gem of the show).

During the season 3 finale E3S9, "The Blessed Dark," the Penny Dreadful twitter went silent. And the next day, the Penny Dreadful Youtube channel released 2 videos of John Logan talking about the end of the show, and the final moments on set. The day after, they started sharing images on their Facebook/Instagram that the end had been "foretold" by quoting past lines from past episodes of the show - I agree with them, and I'll go more in depth in a moment. And finally, yesterday, the Youtube channel released a video of Eva Green talking about the end, and one more video of John Logan talking about Eva Green's last scene she filmed for Penny Dreadful (spoiler: it wasn't her death scene).

Okay, going back into why I should have seen the end coming:The introduction of the Penny Dreadful "penny dreadfuls" (aka comics, see bottom of the post). Why would they need to use another medium for storytelling if the show was going to continue and they would have been able to reveal these stories in flashbacks like they had previously done so?Vanessa's debut of the Season. Broken down since Season 2's end and completely different from the Miss Ives we know and love from Season 1. You can read more of Penny Dreadful Seasons

Penny Dreadful Comics
​So, what can we learn from this? I take away 2 things:You may not please everyoneGood planning will earn respect, if nothing elseWhat did you learn? Comment below."Endings and @SHO_Penny" by @AuthZH #writetip http://bit.ly/PDEndings

Endings and Penny Dreadful

SPOILER'S ABOUND. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED.

There has been a lot of hoopla over the end of the Showtime series Penny Dreadful. I, personally, while surprised that it was actually "The End" believed it concluded at a good spot, in a good way, and was actually always planned this way. The writer and creator John Logan had said he planned through 3 seasons back in 2014. And I originally took this to mean that he would write more as each season passed, but I believe with Showtime's not Game of Thrones-equal ratings, the network's likely reticence to continue past Vanessa Ives' death (played by Eva Green, the only actor who was continually praised as the main gem of the show).

During the season 3 finale E3S9, "The Blessed Dark," the Penny Dreadful twitter went silent. And the next day, the Penny Dreadful Youtube channel released 2 videos of John Logan talking about the end of the show, and the final moments on set. The day after, they started sharing images on their Facebook/Instagram that the end had been "foretold" by quoting past lines from past episodes of the show - I agree with them, and I'll go more in depth in a moment. And finally, yesterday, the Youtube channel released a video of Eva Green talking about the end, and one more video of John Logan talking about Eva Green's last scene she filmed for Penny Dreadful (spoiler: it wasn't her death scene).

Okay, going back into why I should have seen the end coming:The introduction of the Penny Dreadful "penny dreadfuls" (aka comics, see bottom of the post). Why would they need to use another medium for storytelling if the show was going to continue and they would have been able to reveal these stories in flashbacks like they had previously done so?Vanessa's debut of the Season. Broken down since Season 2's end and completely different from the Miss Ives we know and love from Season 1. You can read more of my love for her character (and the rest of the main cast) here.Malcolm's transformation: he was a hard and ruthless man for all of Season 1, still very much the same in Season 2, but Season 3 shows his softer side (even if he does wield a gun in almost all of his scenes).Killing "loose ends" (aka characters from previous seasons): Hecate Poole (whom I liked, but many didn't) and Inspector Rusk (who pissed me off all the time).Mr. Lyle's departure. I never thought he would leave (and I don't mean that in a sarcastic manner). After surviving Evelyn Poole's wrath, I assumed he would stick with Vanessa as stoutly as Ethan, Frankenstein, and Malcolm did. But I was wrong. Thankfully, he didn't die, but it was still a strong indication that this season wouldn't be the same as the 2 previous ones where he had played an important role in each.Revealing the rest of Ethan's back-story. Besides who/what has been hunting Vanessa, Mr. Chandler's backstory has perhaps been the show's most well-kept secret, and to have it all revealed throughout the season, rather than a single puzzle piece at the very end, was a huge tip-off that stuff was changing.Frankenstein's realization that playing God isn't a good thing. Even though he realized he created a monster in the Creature and Lily by the end of Season 1 and Season 2, respectively, Frankenstein never acknowledged that his resurrection acts were harming people, not merely a means to make his name famous.The revelation of Brona's daughter. Giving back-story for such a complicated and mysterious character normally means they're going to die in this show. It was true for Van Helsing and Mina Harker. But with Brona/Lily, she doesn't die. She's almost "tamed" by Frankenstein and Jekyll, but eventually goes away, leaving Dorian alone.Dorian being left alone. He had asked Vanessa to read his future, to which she replied that not everyone has one. And according to Penny Dreadful, he certainly doesn't. But his "no future" here is better than the literary ending he received from his original creator, author Oscar Wilde.The Creature's family. Just like Brona, his old family is revealed to the audience and then subsequently lost (although differently).The introduction of 2 more Dracula characters, a gender-bent: Dr. Seward and crazy Renfield. This connects us back to Season 1, reminding us who the first villain was. Another connection to Season 1 is Ethan Chandler mentioning "Night Work" and maybe what would happen if he hadn't joined them back then in S3E7, "Ebb Tide")Speaking of the first villain, the introduction of Dracula (S3E2, "Predators Near and Far") is probably the biggest sign that Season 3 would be the last. He's been the big villain since Season 1, even if they never said his name, and for him to appear in the flesh meant that Season 3 was the end game, even though I might not have realized it. One might ask, "Wait, what about Lucifer from Season 2? He's the Devil, isn't he the big baddie?" Well, no. Not necessarily. The tarot card of The Devil in Vanessa Ives' deck shows a creature with wings, carrying a bat. Now, you could say that represents both Lucifer and Dracula (who are brothers—Dracula is older, by the way—as is revealed in S2E8, "Memento Mori" and S3E4, "A Blade of Grass"), but if you remember S2E8, you'll know that Dracula was also an angel cast out of Heaven. So, the wings on the creature/man on the card is actually likely Dracula and not Lucifer.I'm going to group all the "foretold" images shared by the Penny Dreadful social media for #10 below because as seen in reason #9, a lot of what happened was merely closing the plot circle that John Logan began in Season 1. My captions give more context than the season and episode numbers at the top of each image.You can see many of these same points echoed in this IGN video review. But, here is FoundFlix's take on the 2-part finale which, like mine, is much more positive than 90% of the internet's, quiet frankly, explosive response.

Also, completely random note: you may want to purchase the haunting music of Penny Dreadful.Penny Dreadful Seasons

Season 1 Season 2 Season 3 is not available for purchase yet

Penny Dreadful Comics

Issue 1 Issue 2 Issue 3 Issue 4