Sorcha O'Dowd's Blog, page 30

Release Day Blitz + Review ~ ‘The Rental’ by Rebecca Berto!

The Rental by Rebecca Berto

(The Rental #1)

Publication date: September 22nd 2014

Genres: Adult, Erotica, Romance

۞

SYNOPSIS

At first, Rick Delaney watched Vee Wyland with the hungry eyes of a fox as if she were a rabbit … his rabbit. But one day, he slunk away without notice.

Months away from graduating high school, Vee’s life is on the verge of crumbling. At home, dire finances and long hours test her family. Her boyfriend hardly pays attention to her. And she can’t shake her feelings for his older brother, Rick.

Then, all in one night, tragedy tears her teetering life into shreds.

When Rick and Vee reunite, the sparks fly. However, she unwittingly signs away a future for both of them. In his world, a place called The Rental, she becomes Victoria and Rick becomes Rhett. One part of her watches with fascination, while the other unfurls and embraces her sexual awakening. It began as a game, but the consequences are real.

Following their heart’s desire is forbidden, but walking away could strip their hope for a future.

The Rental is an erotic romance that explores how sex isn’t purely physical; sometimes, it’s a gateway to your soul.

۞

۞

Book Review ~ ‘The Rental’ by Rebecca Berto ~ 5 Stars!

I always adore reading a book by Rebecca Berto. Her ability to create such dynamic characters, ones who are both relatable and realistic always leaves me feeling great after I’ve finished the book, as I feel like I’ve been taken on a journey with real people who I admire and feel connected to because of their real flaws and everyday troubles which we as readers also go through.

The Rental was a book that puts out all the stops. Rebecca Berto has created a sexy, exciting and intriguing world inside The Rental, and it is one that has opened my mind in a way that other books in the erotica genre haven’t necessarily done. I adored Vee and her desperation to help her mother with bills after her father’s sudden and tragic death was something that made her a real idol for me. I also loved that she didn’t go into the Rental world with a close minded view of prostitution, but with a genuine curiosity for the world inside the Rental, and the way that sex and pleasure isn’t something to shy away from but to embrace as another way of showing love and affection, as well as accepting that when people are lonely, sometimes comfort in this form is a healthy fix. It was such an eye-opening premise that underlined this story that I connected with the story on such a deep level and felt bereft to leave the world of Tne Rental behind until the next book is released.

Now Rick. *phwoar! *fans self* How does Rebecca Berto do it? She created a sexy, intriguing but flawed individual who was so real to me. He wasn’t put on a pedestal and held to unrealistic expectations, which made him so much more attractive as the hero of the story, and something that made me feel I would be more likely to find a man like him in real life, which is what a good book should do for a reader, and as always Berto does this perfectly.

I absolutely adored the writing style in this book. The character development is paced so well, and I loved the decision to author made to introduce the reader to her characters almost a year previously to the events in the second half of the book. It gave it a real sense of time passing and the changes that the characters had made over this time, and how much the circumstances they’d found themselves in the time that had passed had shaped the decisions they were making in this second part of the novel.

As always Rebecca Berto has delivered with a fantastically written and incredibly sexy story that has me dying to return to the world of the Rental soon!

5 Stars!

۞

۞

The strippers arrived at midnight, and we could hear their voices from the entry oozing with sex. They went to the garage and everyone crowded around, even those who lurked in small groups outside the front or inside the living room. But the crowd was too large and people spilled into the paved section out the back. Cara, myself, and the other girls linked hands and pushed with the crowd to secure a good spot.

We were in the second row in a circle. In the centre were three chairs, and two guys helped set up poles. To the side lay a long table with some gifts for Rick. I wanted to give Rick my own personal gift, although the girls freeloaded tonight. He and I were barely friends, but I felt compelled to get him something. On one side of the gift table was a box with a slot at the top. I left momentarily to put a ten-dollar note in, and then returned to watch.

It took fifteen minutes for everything to begin but when it did, my heart sped up, and I could hardly think past the excitement. The memory of Rick and me in the laundry had my heart fluttering yet pounding with confusion, and all I knew was I wanted to see more of this guy.

Justin stood in a clump of guys on the opposite side. I hadn’t seen him for over an hour now, and I kept holding my gaze his way in hope he looked, but he was interested in what was about to unfold. He fell into a daze, stared at something or nothing, and then snapped himself back to the scene.

But, Rick—he watched me and held my gaze.

He stood with his arms crossed over his chest. Did he know his biceps bulged like that? Or two veins on either side of his neck were strained? And his tightened lips … did he know how controlled and stern he was? There wasn’t a side to him that didn’t appeal to me.

My mouth was dry and it became impossible to swallow. I ran my tongue over my lips and ran my fingers through my hair. I lifted it up over my shoulders and lolled my head to allow air. When I looked back, Rick had a grin on his face. I feared he knew a whole lot more than he should, probably more than I knew about my own thoughts.

They started chanting Rick’s name, so I joined in. The strippers quickly discovered who he was and strutted up to him. One grabbed his left hand, one his right and the other pulled him forward with the hooks in his jeans.

“Ahem, ahem,” Justin cleared his throat.

The middle stripper kicked Rick down with the tip of her stiletto. He crashed into the chair, fingers curling around the arms tightly.

“So,” Justin continued, “Rick needs to be cleaned. He is a naughty boy who hasn’t been home for over a year. Now he’s back and his clothes are filthy, his mouth needs to be washed out, and he probably needs some attention down below.” Raising his voice, he said, “What do we think, guys?”

Everyone cheered.

The DJ restarted the music as all three strippers magnetised to Rick. One unbuttoned his shirt and tore it off. The other was on her knees between his legs and undid his jeans. I took deep breaths to calm down, but it was hard with Rick lounged back on the chair, arms spread over the sides, and his hands clenched around the ends—probably to stop himself from touching one of the girls. He widened his legs and one girl fit in between them.

Oh, and that little, incy wincy,

teeny weeny factor he had nothing on

besides his royal blue briefs.

I wasn’t sure I could wear that colour again.

The strippers tortured him during their dances. He looked up and down at them or called out to the boys, but not once did his briefs tent up. In fact, from his glazed expression, he was miles away with consuming thoughts, such as those ones that overtook him in the laundry earlier. He—I even dared to think—looked possibly bored as those three slim and sexy strippers tried to please him.

The strippers continued, attending to Justin’s requests. One opened a bottle of water and decided both her and Rick need cleaning. She tipped her head back, breasts cradling Rick’s face and poured the bottle down, water gushing all over them. Rick jerked back and forward into her with the shock of the water. Another girl was behind him, and her hands ran up and down his chest. After soothing him, she toed one of her feet down the side of his face, down his chest, along his briefs and back. The other danced by herself, touching her curves, and stripped for Rick to watch.

Something about their confidence reeled in my interest. The way they laughed louder, danced more seductively, flirted heavily with what they could and couldn’t do while bare-chested and near naked looked natural. My body flushed, but it had nothing to do with embarrassment. A sensation had released in me, and it was similar to when I slammed into Rick’s chest at my house.

Two of Rick’s friends soon sat down in the chairs next to Rick, and the strippers departed. They gave both of the other two lap dances. Apparently, Rick would get some more attention later, but he called it quits for now, needing ‘space.’

I left also, heading to the laundry room. Ditching that cool cup of ice water had been a mistake. I needed a bath of ice water. And a fan.

۞

۞

The Rental

(The Rental #1)

~ Amazon UK ~ Amazon US ~ B&N ~ iBooks ~ Kobo ~

The Masquerade , a short prequel to ‘The Rental’ series is available now as a free download!

~ Amazon UK ~ Amazon US ~ iBooks ~ Kobo ~ Smashwords ~

۞

Prize: Open Internationally

*$10 Amazon gift card*

~ A Rafflecopter Giveaway ~

~ Goodreads giveaway ~

۞

۞

Rebecca Berto

Rebecca Berto writes stories about love and relationships. She gets a thrill when her readers are emotional reading her books, and gets even more of a kick when they tell her so. She’s strangely imaginative, spends too much time on her computer, and is certifiably crazy when she works on her fiction.

Rebecca Berto lives in Melbourne, Australia with her boyfriend and their pets.

۞

~ Facebook ~ Goodreads ~ Twitter ~

۞

Book Blitz organised by Xpresso Book Tours.

۞

Tour Stop ~ ‘Maximum Exposure’ by Jenny Harper.

Jenny Harper and Accent Press are thrilled to announce the publication of Maximum Exposure, the newest addition to the Heartlands Series.

For the duration of the event, Jenny and ‘Maximum Exposure’ will be welcomed onto a selection of top book blogs for reviews and the odd guest post. Remember to enter the giveaway for the chance to win yourself either an e-copy of Maximum Exposure, a chic daisy photo frame or a cute Daisy teddy.

۞

SYNOPSIS

‘She’s a professional photographer – but is she ready to expose her heart?

Adorable but scatterbrained newspaper photographer Daisy Irvine becomes the key to the survival of The Hailesbank Herald when her boss drops dead right in front of her. And while big egos and petty jealousies hinder the struggle to save the paper, Daisy starts another campaign – to win back her ex, Jack Hedderwick.

Ben Gillies, returning after a long absence, sees childhood friend Daisy in a whole new light. He’d like to win her love, but discovers that she’s a whole lot better at taking photographs than making decisions, particularly when she’s blinded by the past.

When tragedy strikes Daisy’s family, loyalty drives her home. But it’s time to grow up and Daisy must choose between independence and love.’

 

۞

۞

Book Review ~ ‘Maximum Exposure’ by Jenny Harper ~ 5 Stars!

I always love stories where we are introduced to a group of very different personalities but whom all have the same drive and desire. The news room at the ‘Hailesbank Herald’ was the perfect setting and it was these characters and their little quirks, their relationships with each other, and their desperation to keep their jobs going, was what made this book a real winner.

I adored Daisy, and she was the most relatable heroine I have encountered for a long time. Hopelessly in love with her ex-boyfriend who left her for another woman, her situation had me connecting with her so deeply, that I really felt for her in every moment when her hope was crushed within her. One of the main things that made this book such a great one was how deeply I connected to Daisy, not just as a character but as a real person. Her utter loneliness in the later parts of the book really struck a chord with me, and I was even reduced to tears at one point, understanding and empathising with her loneliness and her desire to find a place for herself.

Ben was not so much a traditional romantic hero, but nevertheless he was the perfect man for Daisy, something that made me root for him throughout the book, even when I didn’t agree with some of his actions. His feelings for Daisy were so lovely to read, but I felt my heart break when he decides to forget about her by entangling himself with her roommate. My heart ached for Daisy, and I wanted to smack Ben around the head for being so, albeit unknowingly, insensitive, and in essence causing Daisy to feel more and more isolated, even in her own home. It was little things like this that really made this book a great read, as I felt connected with the characters and affected by their own problems and mistakes.

I loved the journey that Jenny Harper took me on with these characters, and I really loved seeing Daisy’s development when she leaves her small town and tries to find herself. The strong characters in all the members of the news team made them feel like colleagues of my own, each known for a particular characteristic, and it made me feel as though I was leaving my own work friends as I finished the book.

This was a fun, heart-warming but also emotional story that had me thinking about the characters long after I’d finished it.

5 Stars!

۞

~ Amazon UK ~ Amazon US ~

۞

Jenny Harper

Jenny Harper lives in Edinburgh. She is the author of four books about Scotland and Scottish culture, a history of childbirth, and The Sleeping Train for young readers. When she isn’t writing, she enjoys walking in the Scottish countryside or anywhere warm, and travelling to Europe, America and India.

 ۞

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Amazon | Goodreads

 ۞

Enter the tour giveaway to win:

1st Prize: An e-copy of Maximum Exposure by Jenny Harper

2nd Prize: A daisy photo frame

3rd Prize: A Daisy Teddy

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Giveaway is UK only. Jenny Harper and CandleLit Author Services reserve the right to cancel or amend giveaway details at anytime and without prior notification.

۞

$0.99 ACROSS THE BOARD eBOOK SALE + GIVEAWAY! September 19th – 21st!

Award-winning author Katie Jennings is running a sale on all of her eBooks from September 19th thru September 21st! Check out what’s for sale below:

The Dryad Quartet:

The Vasser Legacy:

So Fell The Sparrow:

۞

Also, in addition to the collection of eBooks being on sale, she’s running a birthday raffle for a signed print copy of her ghostly romance, So Fell The Sparrow! Sparrow won an Honorable Mention in the 2014 Readers’ Favorite International Book Awards, and is a #1 bestseller in Ghost Suspense on Amazon.

Please help spread the word and share this post! :)

۞

Book Blitz ~ ‘Worlds Collide’ by S.M. McEachern.

Worlds Collide by S.M. McEachern

(Sunset Rising #2)

Publication date: March 3rd 2014

Genres: Dystopia, Young Adult

۞

SYNOPSIS

In a desperate attempt to escape execution, Sunny O’Donnell and Jack Kenner find a way out of the Pit and into a world still believed to be toxic with radiation. Under the brilliant sun for the first time in their lives, they not only discover that the earth has healed from nuclear war, but there are people outside the Dome.

In Worlds Collide, the second book of the Sunset Rising trilogy, Sunny and Jack must continue a life of subterfuge in order to stay alive and find a way to free the Pit. But in their attempt to save the urchins, they uncover the horrifying truth about President Holt and the evil he could unleash on the world.

۞

The drops soon gathered speed and turned into a downpour, as if someone had turned on a showerhead. It made a drumming noise against the hard-packed earth, which came as a surprise. I had no idea rain made a sound.

Everyone on the training field carried on as though there wasn’t a storm in progress. Dena continued with her tour. It wasn’t until a flash of light lit up the sky that Dena said it was time to go inside. The unexpected flash was blinding, but it was the booming noise that followed that sent me careening into Jack’s side. For just an instant I wondered if it was an attack.

Jack’s shoulders shook with barely concealed laughter. I shot him a look. “As if you’ve ever been in a storm,” I said.

The trek back up to the courtyard was a little trickier on wet ground. As we went, the lightning became brighter and the thunder louder. Jack’s sunglasses weren’t much protection. I never thought I’d be relieved to go back inside a mountain again, but I was.

Pausing inside the entranceway to shake the water off, I took in the big empty room—what was once the lobby of the hotel. The grotto was made entirely of stone tile with high arched ceilings. The ghostly outlines of bygone furniture hinted that the hotel was once quite grand, but now crumbling tiles and dark stains ground into the stone had robbed it of its beauty. I rubbed the toe of my boot against one of the dark spots, wondering what it was.

“Human misery is a stubborn stain,” Dena said. “A lot of skeletons were found here, the floor darkened by their decay.”

A shiver went down my spine when her meaning registered. How many people had sought refuge here after the war, only to die a slow horrible death? Were they from the valley? Were they the same people who had been turned away from the Dome by the bourge? The stains of decay were everywhere. For a moment I closed my eyes against the mental image of what they must have had to clear out of here in order to reclaim this building.

Behind me the door opened and a few people entered the lobby. They glanced in our direction and continued to the far side of the room.

“The entire hotel is built inside the mountain, hidden to the outside world,” Dena said.

I watched the small group open the bags they carried and spread out blankets on the floor.

Jack pointed to the artificial lighting. “You’ve made your own light?”

Dena smiled. “It’s not nuclear science. It’s just a filament.”

Jack looked a little embarrassed by his question. I had thought the same thing until Jin-Sook had corrected me. As much as I professed that these people weren’t heathens, I still made assumptions about them, as though they wouldn’t be as smart as we were. But as we walked through the reclaimed ruins, I was reminded of the ingenuity of the human spirit. As someone who came from the Pit, this was not something I should’ve forgotten.

۞

Sunset Rising

(Sunset Rising #1)

~ Amazon UK ~ Amazon US ~ B&N ~ iBooks ~ Kobo ~

Worlds Collide

(Sunset Rising #2)

~ Amazon UK ~ Amazon US ~ B&N ~ iBooks ~ Kobo ~

۞

Prizes

*50$ iTunes Gift Card (INTL)*

*5x eBook copy of Worlds Collide (INTL)*

~ A Rafflecopter Giveaway ~

۞

2014 has been a big year for your writing career. Can you tell us a bit about that?

Yes, it has been big a year for me. For one thing, I published the second book of the “Sunset Rising” series, entitled “Worlds Collide”, last March. I was happily surprised when it rocketed up the Amazon ranking chart and maintained a spot in the top ten Amazon action and adventure romance bestseller list for months. That in turn attracted new hybrid-publisher Vook to ask me about acquiring the Sunset Rising series. After a few phone calls, many emails, and a lot of deliberation, I signed with Vook. I’m very happy I did.

I’m also working on the third book of my series, tentatively titled “New World Order”, which I plan to release in January 2015.

In the past, you’ve blogged about enjoying being an indie author, but you signed with Vook?

I have to admit, I do like having control over my books. When I want to do a promotion, or put the books on sale, or give the books away if I want to, I don’t have to ask permission from a publisher. I can just do it. So yes, when Vook first approached me I was hesitant to sign with them. However, Vook is a different kind of publisher; they are a “hybrid publisher.” They provide an enhanced publishing platform with ongoing marketing support via proprietary software that tracks ebook sales so authors can make better and more informed marketing decisions, and authors retain all copyrights and control over their books.

I officially joined them in July and I have received so much more than they promised. Vook is a dynamic, enthusiastic team of individuals that have partnered with me to bring my series to readers through all ebook retailers at affordable prices. Good for authors and good for readers! And as a company, they’re growing and constantly investing in themselves and their authors. For instance, they recently acquired their first publishing imprint, Byliner. I’m really excited to be a part of Vook, because I truly believe they are the future of publishing.

Your third book of the “Sunset Rising” series, tentatively titled “New World Order”, will be released in January?

That’s the plan. I’m madly writing everyday and no longer take weekends off! Not that I mind. Writing a book is like reading a good book; I don’t want to put it down. And this third book has a LOT going on. It’s definitely the most action-packed of the series, with minor characters from the first two books sharing Sunny’s spotlight.

You do a lot of world-building in the series. What’s your process for creating a post apocalyptic world?

In a nutshell, research and imagination. I love research because not only does it give me a good, solid foundation to begin my stories, but it also ignites my imagination. It’s kind of like taking what is and projecting what can or could be. So I read a lot of non-fiction articles and I also reach out to experts, most of whom have been really happy to help me. Dr. Bergren of the National Institute of Nanotechnology and Chris Kratt of the Wild Kratts have been two super helpful resources. I’ll be doing an interview with Chris this weekend, talking about what a post apocalyptic creature world might look like, and will have it up on my blog by September 18th if you’re interested in checking it out.

Is your third book the last one of the “Sunset Rising” series?

The series was named for the heroine, Sunset O’Donnell (Sunny), and the first three books are told from her point of view (spoiler alert: there’s another person sharing the story in book 3!). But as I said above, I’ve gone to great lengths to create a new world. I can definitely see more books told from other characters points of view as they reinvent their civilization and explore a post nuclear earth. And with recruiters, scorchlanders, and northerners out there, who knows what they’ll find…

 

۞

S.M. McEachern

S.M. McEachern was born in Nova Scotia, Canada. She attended Dalhousie University in the 1990s where she earned an Honours Degree in International Development Studies. She worked in the field of International Development for several years, specializing in ocean development.

“Sunset Rising” is S.M. McEachern’s first novel. She says the idea for the story first came to her in the 1990s when she researched a Bio-Dome experiment in Arizona for an academic paper. The thought that the world might one day need a Bio-Dome to escape a global catastrophe set her imagination into overdrive. And the ethics behind such an idea formed the backdrop for Sunset Rising.

Her goal in writing the novel is to entertain the reader with an interesting plot and colourful characters.

۞

~ Facebook ~ Goodreads ~ Twitter ~ Website ~

۞

Book Blitz organised by Xpresso Book Tours.

۞

Book Blitz ~ ‘Danger and Desire: Boxed Set’

Danger and Desire Boxed Set

Publication date: September 15th 2014

Genres: Adult, Romance, Suspense

۞

 

SYNOPSIS

Danger and Desire: Ten Steamy Romantic Suspense Novels

Hold on tight for ten tales of intrigue and passion from New York Times Bestselling and award-winning authors. Men in uniform, sexy spies and pulse-pounding action fill over 650,000 words of this limited edition boxed set.

New York Times Bestseller Katie Reus – Sensual Surrender

RITA Award Winning Author Carolyn Crane – Against the Dark

USA Today Bestseller Pamela Clare – Skin Deep

New York Times Bestseller Dianna Love

Dee J. Adams – Against the Wall

USA Today Bestseller Norah Wilson

USA Today Bestseller VK Sykes – Lethal Confessions

Amber Lin

USA Today Bestseller Misty Evans

New York Times Bestseller Kaylea Cross

The individual novels cost over $35 in total and have more than 2,000 5-star reviews on Goodreads. This set is only available for one month, so grab your copy now!

۞

 

Excerpt from Deadly Pursuit by Misty Evans

Taking two steps back, she pointed the gun at his chest. “Emilio Paloma-Londano, you are under arrest by the United States government for charges relating to the organization and running of the San Diego Mafia.” She took a deep breath and one more step back as she watched Emilio’s face transform from utter confusion to pure anger. “Drop to your stomach and put your hands behind your head.”

He stood stock still, effectively refusing to lie down on the ground, but all hell broke loose around them. FBI, DEA, and local police officers emerged from the nearby lifeguard house and descended from the boardwalk. Spotlights came on, illuminating Emilio, still standing, and Celina, who managed to return her dress straps to her shoulders while never moving the gun sight from Emilio’s heart. Their eyes locked on each other and though he didn’t move or say a word, Celina felt the intensity of his hatred penetrating every cell of her body.

Special Agent Quarters came up beside her and took the Glock from her grip while she watched two police officers force Emilio face down in the sand. Within seconds, his hands were cuffed and his rights read. She stood there shaking, teeth chattering, arms crossed over her very wet, cold breasts. The officers raised Emilio back to a standing position, and again the dark eyes she knew well snapped to hers. Again she saw the depth of his anger. And then he took her by surprise.

He ignored Quarters and spoke to someone behind Celina. “Give her my jacket so she can cover herself.”

As Celina watched Emilio be led away, a soft warmth fell over her shoulders and enveloped her. Instinctively she pulled it closer, stuffed her arms into the sleeves. It was not Emilio’s jacket, but a red Billabong sweatshirt.

She smiled as she turned to face Cooper. “Thank you,” she said, forgetting the past few months of fear and manipulation the moment she saw his face.

It was a beautiful face. Not in the pretty L.A. boy actor way. Those types of faces she saw all the time and they were fake. No, Cooper’s was a rugged beauty, deeply tanned and handsome. It was the controlled face of a man who lived with danger every day for several decades.

His gaze was as serious as always as he stared down at her. “You all right?”

“Better than fine.” Now that you’re here. Every time she stood next to the DEA agent, she felt like she’d just downed a triple mocha latte with whipped cream. Warm, buzzed, and ready for seconds. “How’d I do?”

He was silent for a moment, studying her. “You went off the rez and we need to talk about that, but…you did okay, kid.”

Celina’s smile faltered. Kid? Kid? “I’m not a kid, Cooper. I’m twenty-four years old.” She held his stern gaze. “I did better than okay and you know it. I just nailed Emilio Londano.”

Said out loud, those words seemed to vibrate in the air. The moon smiled down at her and she drew her first fearless breath in months. She felt a sudden hot rush in her veins, a tingling sensation shooting through every cell of her body.

Letting her head fall back on her shoulders, she let it come, this rush of accomplishment instead of fear. It roared through her.

Laughing up at the sky, she sang out, “I did it! I arrested the Lord of the Cartel World!” She took a few steps back, staring at the sky, and held out her arms. Twirling, she let her herself enjoy the sweet tingle of relief and success racing through her body.

۞

 Interview with Author V.K. Sykes.

What comes first, the plot or characters?

When I’m writing romantic suspense, I almost always begin with plot, but it quickly winds up being the characters who steal the show. Plot premise: A psychic vision shows a woman a murder through the killer’s eyes (she sees the victim but not the killer), and she sets out to “solve” the yet-to-happen crime in time to prevent it. Then I figure out what I need in the way of characters to serve the plot. What kind of woman would do that? What would motivate her to go that far? What kind of setting do I want? What kind of hero do I need to match her up with? And what if after I tempt her with the sexy hero, I reveal to the heroine that the would-be-victim is the hero’s ex-wife, planting a seed of doubt I her mind? What are the hero’s strengths and flaws and blind spots? How do they complement or contrast with the heroine’s? What makes her fall in love with him, and him with her? And so it goes until the plot takes a back seat as the characters come alive and start to steer the story.

By contrast, with the N.L. Wilson Dix Dodd cozy mysteries (jointly written with writing partner Heather Doherty), it’s all about character. Knowing Dix and her foibles as intimately as we do, hilarious plot ideas present themselves faster than we can write them.

When writing descriptions of your hero/ine, what feature do you start with? Eyes, hair

I like to pick a broad, general impression first. When the heroine first lays eyes on the hero, what is the thing that jumps out at her? Is he exceptionally tall? Does he have a physicality that radiates off him? Does the room feel smaller when he’s in it? Does she look beautiful, aloof and untouchable, but when she speaks, her voice is like sex on a stick, even when she’s brushing our hero off? I like to start with those broad stroke impressions, then work my way around to the more specific physical attributes. Although sometimes if they have a startling physical characteristic – his amazing eyes, her gorgeous hair – I definitely use that too.

What is the hardest part about writing for you?

The hardest part for me has always been developing usable ideas. In many ways, I’m not like most of the writers I know. I don’t have a boundless imagination. The ideas come slow and need lots of nurturing. I have also been my own worst enemy in that regard in the early part of my career. I always wanted to finish the complete story and polish it up the best I could before sharing it with anyone. I thought I was constitutionally incapable of constructive brainstorming, and instead protected and sheltered my tiny flame. But life’s too short for that! I’ve since learned to make use of the fabulous writer brains around me when I get stuck. I don’t always get the solution I’m looking for right off the bat, but I always get something out of it – maybe just a tiny nugget that leads to an eventual breakthrough. Sometimes, though, they knock it right out of the park. Love it when that happens!

Ebook or print? And why?

I will never get over my love of print books. I spent my childhood reading library books, and the smell of one can transport me right back there. But for practical purposes, digital is the way I roll now for most things. I have a few authors whose works I’ve collected in print, and will continue to collect, but I love my Kindle. I love being able to carry a whole library in my purse. I also love the price of digital books, the ease of reading while I eat, scalability of fonts so I can read without my glasses, etc.

Have you ever eaten a crayon?

Not to my knowledge. But I remember once grabbing a cup of what I thought was water off the dinner table and taking a big swig only to find it was vinegar. :::Shudder:::

Are you a plotter or a pantser?

I’ve evolved from a total pantser to a plotter. I don’t start a project now without a roadmap. It doesn’t have to be a meticulously detailed map. In fact, I think if it were too detailed, I would lose those opportunities for real magic to happen. But if I plot out the course roughly, I can have confidence that it’s going to work and I don’t waste as much time feeling my way. I still do flounder a bit between the high point’s I’ve identified—how do I get them from this key plot point to the next major one?—but it’s better than facing that where do I go now? feeling all the way through the book.

What makes you happy?

The older I get, the easier this is to do. I appreciate life more and take joy in small things, like rambling through woods and field with my dog, Chloe, or a rare quiet moment with my cat Ruckus, when she’s content to be held in my arms and purrs. Crawling into bed with fresh, line-dried sheets that carry that clean, outdoor smell. There’s no replicating that with smelly fabric softeners. A cold Rickards Red on a hot summer day, after I’ve mowed the lawn. Finishing a scene and knowing it rocks just as much as you hoped it would.

What are your favorite TV shows?

I skew toward crime dramas, but I like all sorts of shows. This list includes some shows that have long finished, and others that are more recent or current. The Wire, The Shield, Southland, Breaking Bad, Sons of Anarchy, Justified, Luther, True Detective, Hell on Wheels, Rectified, House of Cards, Six Feet Under, Supernatural, every show ever made by Joss Whedon but especially Firefly, American Horror Story, Hannibal, Game of Thrones, True Blood, Dexter, The Walking Dead, Veronica Mars, The Blacklist, Vikings, Orange is the New Black, Girls, Longmire, Call the Midwife…

By now you’re wondering where I find the time to write. LOL. I tend to save up episodes and binge watch. And alas, I am not up to date on many of these shows.

Do you write in multiple genres or just one? If just one, do you ever consider straying outside your genre?

I write in multiple genres. My solo writing encompasses romantic suspense. paranormal romance and soon contemporary romance. With writing partner Heather Doherty, I write cozy mystery, YA paranormal, and even a new adultish dystopian romance. Some of those are published and others we’re still trying to find time to publish.

If you could have one paranormal ability, what would it be?

I would love to be able to heal people and creatures with just a touch. But I’d want to be able to do it without taking on the burden of their disease or pain. Except I’m thinking that probably wouldn’t fly, would it? Because we all know there’s a price for magic… Okay, I’d take on their pain as long it wouldn’t last very long. I’m a wimp!

What is a talent you wish you had, but don’t?

I would love to be able to sing. Much as I love music, I couldn’t carry a tune in a bucket.

If you could keep a mythical/ paranormal creature as a pet, what would you have?

I would have a Griffin. Sort of a like a dragon, but smaller. Or at least mine would be smaller. And no flying in the house.

If you could apologize to someone in your past, who would it be?

I think the most important apology I could give would be to my younger self. I don’t think anyone else could possibly have been a harsher judge. That painfully shy, painfully unsophisticated kid did not deserve the judgment I heaped on her.

Is there a writer you idolize? If so who?

I have always loved and admired Anne Stuart (aka Sister Krissie, the Impeccably Demure). I am an ardent fan of her writing (all genres), and you have to hand it to her, the way she’s survived and thrived in an industry that chewed up and spat out many an author over the decades she’s been writing. She’s always been able to see the lay of the land and reinvent herself. I had the privilege once of sitting in a on a no-holds-barred session with Anne where she talked about her publishing experience, warts and all. And that was back in the day when people didn’t talk very openly about that kind of thing. And I just admire her as an outstanding human.

۞

 

~ Amazon UK ~ Amazon US ~

۞

Prize: Open Internationally

*$100 Amazon gift card*

~ A Rafflecopter Giveaway ~

۞

Book Blitz organised by Xpresso Book Tours.

۞

Book Blitz ~ ‘Hale Maree’ by Misty Provencher.

Hale Maree by Misty Provencher

(Crossed & Bared Series #1)

Genres: Contemporary, New Adult, Romance

۞

SYNOPSIS

NEW ADULT CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE

NOT SUITABLE FOR YOUNG ADULT READERS

Hale Simmons’s life is already bottoming out and she’s only eighteen. Struggling on welfare, while trying to keep her alcoholic father on track, her dreams of having a better life fade a little more each day.

But, when her dad witnesses a brutal accident at the bar one night, it changes the entire course of Hale’s future.

Thrust into an arranged marriage with Oscar Maree, the playboy son of a wealthy man, Hale must learn to trust a stranger to give her the life she’s always wanted.

First, Hale needs to figure out if love can ever happen by accident.

۞

Oscar puts the mug on the counter. I think he’s going to tell me I’m a spoiled brat, or that I don’t know a thing about how relationships work, or that I’m just plain impossible, but instead, he leans forward with one hand on the countertop before he says, “Done.”

My fingertips slip from the door handle.

“I would notice you, Hale,” he continues, “if you walked into a room behind a 500 pound lion that was charging straight at me. I would notice you if the room were full of naked women, and I was in deep conversation about my own death. I will always come running, I’ll eat the dinner, and wear the shirts and I’ve already thought that if you put on ten more pounds, it’d be a sure bet that I would never let you out of my bed. I’ve been trying to soak up every word you’ve said since the first time we spoke, so I think it’s only fair that you try just as hard to hear me now. I think you are perfect for me, Hale, and I’m just waiting for you to realize that I’m perfect for you too.”

It’s like the entire room disappears and all I see is Oscar with his level gaze. He drops his voice to a whisper as he says, “Come here.”

But I stay where I am, with the sun warming my back through the windows, and I shake my head at him.

“No,” I say. “Come running.”

۞

~ Amazon UK ~ Amazon US ~ B&N ~

۞

Prizes

*Signed copy of Hale Maree (US only)*

*Signed copy of Full of Grace (US only)*

*1 eBook copy of any of Misty’s books (INTL)*

~ A Rafflecopter Giveaway ~

۞

Hi there! Thank you so much for having me over for an interview on your blog today! I’m excited to talk with you about Hale Maree and where the idea came from. I will do my best to make this wild and raucous fun, so don your lampshades and let’s jump on into it!!

 1.) Wait a second. First, I’ve got to know if this book is religious. Hale Maree? Full of Grace? But the series name is Crossed & Bared…are these books hot and sexy or do they have a religious element?

Oh my goodness! No, the books are absolutely not religious and by no means meant to be a comment or slight to the Blessed Mother, Mary.

The name of the book came during a conversation I was having with Michelle Leighton. I had just left my job and needed to make a good go in the book world, but I’d had only limited success at that point. I was mired in one of those discouraging, down-with-everything moments and Michelle was trying to yank me out of it. She mentioned that she’d written a ‘Hail Mary’ story herself and that it changed her career. She used the term the same way the Deadliest Catch fishermen on TV put out a Hail Mary string of crab pots. It’s your biggest and best effort, you pour yourself in and hope for the best.

Well, I wanted to write a hot and sexy, contemporary romance. I thought, why not name the book after my hope of its success? And BLAM. That’s how Hale Maree came to be.

 2.) Okay, then how do you explain the second book in the series, Full of Grace?

Full of Grace (FoG) is a spin off—a story told by Landon Grace, who we meet in Hale Maree. I don’t want to spoil the surprises, so…when you’ve read Hale and then read the synopsis for FoG, you’ll totally understand the name of the book!

3.) Tell me, where did you get the idea of an arranged marriage? That doesn’t happen these days!

A friend of mine actually did arrange his own marriage to a woman overseas. When he told me he was going to do it, I was intrigued at how it would work. I was fascinated at the aspect of marrying a person you’d never met and what it would take to make a marriage like that not only work, but work well with both spouses actually finding love.

I used much more exciting mechanisms to arrange the marriage in Hale, because my focus was not on depicting the culture gap or the red tape of an arranged marriage, but of explore the relationship between two strangers who must make a marriage work and what it would take to create a true romance under those circumstances. Hopefully, readers will enjoy the fantastical story of Hale and Oscar’s pulse-pumping romance.

 4.) You mentioned you had just left your job before writing Hale Maree. Are you a full time writer now?

I am! I spend my days plotting and writing and hoping that my books will bring others some joy.

 5.) What is your next project?

I’m actually working on three projects right now. I’ve got a Young Adult manuscript, a New Adult serial, and a New Adult where I let my raunchy humor out of its cage. Be scared. Hee hee.

This was a great time! I hope that your readers will help themselves to a free copy of Hale Maree and grab Full of Grace while it is still on sale this week too. Regularly $3.99, it’s a dollar off right now! Enjoy!

۞

Misty Provencher

Misty Provencher is a long-term wife, mama, and author. The first two are a bit more recent, but Provencher’s writing roots date back to the hieroglyphics she left in her mother’s womb.

While Provencher can ride a motorcycle, knows how to Karate chop, and has learned enough French, Spanish, and Sign Language to get herself slapped, Misty’s life is actually just the ruse she uses to connect with people. She is totally enchanted with them and spends her days trying to translate the soul bouquets of her muses into words.

Misty Provencher lives in the Mitten. Knock on her internet blog door at: Misty Provencher’s Books, http://mistypro.blogspot.com/ or find her on Facebook and Twitter as Misty Provencher.

۞

~ Blog ~ Facebook ~ Goodreads ~ Twitter ~

۞

Book Blitz organised by Xpresso Book Tours.

۞

Release Day Event ~ ‘Every Time I Think of You’ by Tracey Garvis-Graves.

We’re celebrating the release of Every Time I Think of You by best selling Author Tracey Garvis-Graves! Check out how Tracey came up with the idea for the book and take a peek at the excerpt below. Don’t forget to enter the giveaway!

Title: Every Time I Think of You

Author: Tracey Garvis-Graves

Age Group: Adult

Genre: Romantic Suspense

 ۞

SYNOPSIS

Thirty-year-old Daisy DiStefano has two people she holds dear: the grandmother who raised her, and her three-year-old son, Elliott. But when Daisy’s grandmother is killed in a seemingly random act of violence, Daisy must take steps to protect herself and her child.

Despite a thriving career in San Francisco, thirty-six-year-old Brooks McClain has returned home to spend what little time his mother has left before she succumbs to the deadly disease that is ravaging her. The seasoned investigative reporter has taken a position with the local newspaper and been on the job less than twenty-four hours when he’s summoned to cover the death of Pauline Thorpe.

Brooks is all business, but the more time he spends with Daisy DiStefano, the more invested he becomes; there’s something about a single mother, a defenseless child, and an unsolved crime that has stirred Brooks’s protective instincts like nothing ever has before.

And when the unthinkable happens, Brooks will do whatever it takes to clear the name of the woman he’s fallen for and the child he’ll protect at any cost.

Romantic and suspenseful, Every Time I Think of You shows how far two people will go to fight for the ones they love, and the life they’ve always imagined.

 ۞

 ۞

~ Amazon US ~ Amazon UK ~ Amazon Canada ~ Amazon Australia  ~ Barnes & Noble ~ Apple ~ Kobo ~

 ۞

 ۞

An idea was born.  

One of the questions I’m often asked is, “How did you come up with the idea for this book?” My books are fairly plot-driven, and Every Time I Think of You was no different. I could see the opening scene in my head like a movie so I knew what the inciting incident – in other words, the event that would send the main characters’ lives in another direction – would be. But in this case, my opening scene was the result of not only plot, but also a character. I have wanted to write a book where the main character was a crime reporter for a while now. I tend to gravitate toward heroes who are regular guys, and I wanted to see what would happen when I put this particular hero into various situations (and a little hot water). What would he do? How would he react? What, exactly, was he made of?

However, if main character Brooks McClain was going to be a crime reporter, that meant I had to come up with a crime (which ultimately, I’d have to solve). I’ve never written a book with a mystery or suspense element before, but I wasn’t going to let a little thing like that get in the way of telling this story. I’ve said time and time again that I never want to be an author who writes the same book over and over, but with that motto comes challenges. I have to deal with the discomfort that comes from tackling something different than I’ve done before, and often this means learning new things.

I have a love/hate relationship with research. I keep telling myself I’m going to write a book that doesn’t require as much research, and then I write a book that requires extensive research. I should really start listening to myself! Some of the things I did in the name of research for Every Time I Think of You included taking a four-hour firearms safety course and learning how to load and shoot a gun, which was something I didn’t have any experience with.

I also studied ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, by reading memoirs and poring over countless websites dedicated to the disease. Although the timing of the recent ALS ice bucket challenge is merely a coincidence, it makes me happy to know that this devastating illness is receiving such an outpouring of support from the general public.

I studied addiction, specifically methamphetamine addiction. What I learned was heart-wrenching, eye-opening, and often tragic. In total, I read six memoirs about addiction and read countless online articles. I watched a fascinating Frontline documentary from PBS about methamphetamine addiction and its effects on law enforcement and the community.

I reached out to a criminal defense attorney in California so that I could gain an understanding of that state’s legal processes, and I spent several hours in person and on the phone with my cousin Jack, who is a detective with the Des Moines Police Department. Jack was instrumental in explaining the outcomes of all the different scenarios I proposed (naturally, I named the detective character after him). I interviewed three different crime reporters (who all told me slightly different things), and one of them saved me from a potentially embarrassing gaffe. In Every Time I Think of You, I include an actual newspaper article written by Brooks McClain. Newspaper reporters use the Associated Press Stylebook to ensure that their articles are written correctly whereas The Chicago Manual of Style is the go-to guide for fiction writers. The crime reporter who proofed my article had me make a small tweak so that it was correct in form.

I spoke to a nurse, to make sure I got the details of Daisy’s DiStefano’s work schedule correct. There were less significant things I needed the answers to, such as what kind of jewelry a nurse would be permitted to wear to work and what floor she might work on if she were involved with a particular patient.

In addition to the factual research necessary to write this story, I also had to choose the path I’d take to solve the crime. I learned that there were a few different ways I could handle this: One, I could write the story in such a way that the reader would probably not know who committed the crime until the very end. Two, I could choose the slightly-less-suspenseful route and let the reader be privy to clues that would allow them to guess the identity of the perpetrator much earlier. That way, I could let the focus of the story rest on how the person would be brought to justice. I chose option two because I felt it would lend emotional resonance and depth to the story.

Now that I knew how I’d tell the story, I needed to concentrate on the characters. I usually have a pretty good outline in place before I sit down to start writing. This method doesn’t work for everyone, but for me it helps to have a roadmap of sorts so that I don’t waste too much time writing myself into corners. This is not a spoiler because you know from the blurb that the book deals with the aftermath of the death of Daisy’s beloved grandmother. However, once I was about a fourth of the way through the first draft, I realized that the character I’d chosen to commit the crime didn’t actually do it.

I fought it for a while, but the more I got to know these characters, the more I realized my inner muse was right. This person couldn’t have done it.

Delete, delete, delete, delete. Sigh.

The real perpetrator had a motive, but it was subtle and at first I couldn’t see it. And the person who I’d originally intended to commit the crime was actually somewhat responsible. But it will be up to the reader to draw their own conclusions about what transpired that evening in Daisy’s grandmother’s apartment, because the opening chapter of the book is narrated by Daisy’s three-year-old son, who has a very limited ability to explain it. I actually first wrote this opening chapter from the point-of-view of Daisy’s grandmother, Pauline. It gave the book a much darker tone than I wanted so I scrapped it and decided to let Elliott take the reins.

There is also one final plot thread that I chose not to tie up with a big red ribbon. Initially I wrote a paragraph that would have explained why a certain character made the choice that he did, but then I realized it wasn’t necessary. Readers are smart and book discussions are extra fun when there’s a bit of speculation involved.

I’m not an especially fast or prolific writer, and that’s fine with me. Between the research and the actual writing time, this book took fourteen months to complete, and there were times I wanted to pull my hair out. I’d told my husband there were a couple of twists I was hoping to pull off, but wasn’t sure I knew how to accomplish them. I told several people that writing this book made my brain hurt (but one of the readers who received an advance copy told me she kept saying to herself as she read it, “This book is so smart!”). When I hear feedback like that, it tells me that everything I did in the name of Every Time I Think of You was worth it.

I hope you enjoy Brooks and Daisy’s story.

 ۞

 

I glanced at my watch. “I need to get going.” I stood and Daisy followed me toward the door. “Don’t hesitate to call the police for any reason. Pay close attention to your surroundings. Keep your door locked. Don’t ever open it without the chain on.” I paused, once again struck by how alone she seemed. Was anyone watching out for her? “Listen, I don’t mean for this to sound as sexist as it’s going to, but is there a guy around?”

Rarely did I ask such a personal question, especially when the answer was absolutely none of my business.

And I’ll admit to being more than just professionally curious as I waited for her answer.

“There was, but not anymore,” she said. “It’s just Elliott and me. We’ll be okay. When someone knocks, I look through the peephole. If I don’t recognize the person, I leave the chain on when I open the door. I also bought a gun.”

She said that last part with such nonchalance that it took me a second to process it.

“You what?” I probably said it with a little more force than I should have.

She looked taken aback. “Shane helped me pick it out.”

I was speechless. “I’m sorry, but you don’t—”

“Look like the type of person who would own a gun?”

It was hard to argue with that statement when it was exactly what I was going to say. “Yes.”

“I didn’t buy the gun because I wanted to. Frankly, I would rather not own one. They scare me,” she said. “But I bought one anyway because the thought of looking something evil right in the eye and knowing that I’m more than likely going to come out on the losing end of it terrifies me. The fear that I’ll be assaulted, or raped and left for dead, or worse yet, that someone will try to harm my child, is the reason I have this gun. That’s the type I am.”

I saw her then, really saw her. Five foot seven, maybe, but small-boned. She was wearing a fitted V-neck T-shirt that emphasized her slight build. I could see the prominent ridge of her collarbone and the deep hollow at the base of her throat that I suddenly couldn’t stop looking at. She’d be no match for anyone. If she wanted a gun, I was hardly in a position to tell her she couldn’t have one.

“I’m sorry,” I said. “I was out of line. It’s really none of my business what you do.”

“It’s okay. Pam reacted the same way you did. But I’m doing everything I can to be a responsible gun owner. I’ve signed up for the safety class so I can learn how to handle the gun. How to shoot it. I’ll apply for the permit as soon as I have my certificate. I’ll go to the shooting range, and I’ll practice.”

Taking her to the shooting range was something I could do to help her. It would also give me a chance to spend time with her, which was something that was becoming more appealing by the minute. I could feel the boundary between witness and reporter starting to blur, but I really didn’t care. It had been a while since a woman had sparked my interest the way Daisy had. “You don’t have to justify anything to me. It sounds like you’re doing everything right,” I said. “I’ll let you know if I hear anything on the case.”

“I would really appreciate that.”

Elliott put down his coloring book and ambled across the room.

Daisy lifted him into her arms. “You look tired, buddy. Are you ready for your nap?”

“I’m not tired,” Elliott said, yawning and rubbing his eyes.

“Oh, my mistake,” Daisy said, smiling at him. “I think we’ll try a nap anyway, just in case.” She looked at me. “Thanks for stopping by.”

“It was no problem. I’ll see you soon.”

As I stepped into the hallway she said, “Brooks?”

I turned around. “Yes?”

“Maybe I’m reading this wrong, but you seem to genuinely care about my safety, and I want you to know that I appreciate it. I need all the help I can get.”

I met her gaze and held it for a moment. “You aren’t reading it wrong at all. Take care, Daisy.”

She smiled and it illuminated her face, making every feature even prettier. She closed the door, and I made my way down the hall.

It was true that I cared about Daisy’s safety. Maybe Scott DiStefano had never abused or neglected Elliott, but Daisy’s decision to arm herself made me wonder what he’d done to her.

 ۞

ONE WINNER  WILL RECEIVE (INT):

ONE signed copy of On the Island, Covet, and ETITOY. Also included, a $50 gift card to Barnes & Noble and Amazon. Also, the winner will receive an ARC of Tracey’s next work-in-progress, The Girl He Used to Know (an adult contemporary second-chance romance novel). And finally, Tracey will either use the winner’s name in The Girl He Used to Know (first name or last name only, or the actual real name if comfortable) OR the winner can suggest a name for a character.

**The restrictions to this are that it will not be the name of a main character. It will be a supporting or minor character. Also, this is a fictional character. It is not a character based on the winner.

~ A Rafflecopter Giveaway ~

۞

 Tracey Garvis-Graves

Tracey Garvis Graves is a New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Todaybestselling author. Her debut novel, On the Island, spent 9 weeks on the New York Timesbestseller list, has been translated into twenty-seven languages, and is in development with MGM and Temple Hill Productions for a feature film. She is also the author ofUncharted, Covet, Every Time I Think of You, and Cherish. She is hard at work on her sixth book.

Tracey loves to interact with her readers and can be found on Facebook and Twitter.

  ۞

  ۞

Tour Stop ~ ‘One, Two, Three…’ by Elodie Nowodazkij.

One, Two, Three… by Elodie Nowodazkij

Publication date: June 26th 2014

Genres: Contemporary, Romance, Young Adult

 ۞

SYNOPSIS

When seventeen-year-old Natalya’s dreams of being a ballerina are killed in a car accident along with her father, she must choose: shut down—like her mother—or open up to love.

Last year, Natalya was attending the School of Performing Arts in New York City. Last year, she was well on her way to becoming a professional ballerina. Last year, her father was still alive.

But a car crash changed all that—and Natalya can’t stop blaming herself. Now, she goes to a regular high school in New Jersey; lives with her onetime prima ballerina, now alcoholic mother; and has no hope of a dance career.

At her new school, however, sexy soccer player Antonio sees a brighter future for Natalya, or at least a more pleasant present, and his patient charms eventually draw her out of her shell.

But when upsetting secrets come to light and Tonio’s own problems draw her in, Natalya shuts down again, this time turning to alcohol herself.

Can Natalya learn to trust Antonio before she loses him—and destroys herself?

 ۞

Book Review ~ ‘One, Two, Three…’ by Elodie Nowodazkij ~ 4 – 4.5 Stars!

I have a weakness for stories featuring Ballet dancers, and I knew as soon as I read the blurb that ‘One, Two, Three’ was going to be a interesting read.

Elodie Nowodazkji did a fantastic job at introducing the reader to the characters. Straight away I connected to them, and I could feel Natalya’s grief at the loss of her father, and her pain at having her future as a ballet dancer ripped away from her before it could begin.

It was the psychological aspects of this novel that really drew me in, and the author wrote them with such conviction that I felt myself absorbed in the emotional pains and stresses that NNatalya and her mother were going through. Having Natalya’s mother as an alcoholic added another dimension to the story which had my mind reeling with the implications. Would she become violent, emotionally or physically abusive? Or perhaps neglectful? All of the questions rose and I just had to keep reading to find out how Natalya’s home life would play out, and whether the unspoken truths that the two women were feeling would escalate in a way that made their relationship unsalvageable.

Antonio was a real breath of fresh air as a character. He swept in and attempted to keep the moments he was with Natalya light, even reminders of his own painful past returned. It was a sad realisation to see just how much young people are exposed to the dangers of drugs and alcohol, and the ways in which they will use it to escape their troubles. I loved that this story really brought in everyday issues that young people face, as it made it more realistic to read, and giving it all that more of an impact.

I adored how well rounded and developed the secondary characters were, and it was because of this that the novel really excelled. It was cleverly written how these characters were thrust into Natalya’s life, and the uncertainty Natalya feels towards letting people get too close, as it echoed perfectly the safe, solitary sanctuary that Natalya had created for herself at ‘The School of Performing Arts’, and the swift changes she had to make when she returned to a ‘normal’ life.

The only thing that is keeping me from rating this book at 5 stars, is the occasional stunted dialogue and development I felt there was in only a couple of scenes, almost as though it needed just one more look over by a beta reader. The scenes where Natalya gives in to alcohol, especially after her derision and disgust at her mother’s alcohol consumption seemed very suddenly out of character, and I didn’t quite feel her argument with Antonio flowed so well in this instance.

Nevertheless, this was a really wonderful, heartfelt book which is packed with the feel-good factor as we see a young girl overcome her past, and fight for her right to dance.

4-4.5 stars!

 ۞

 

~ Amazon UK ~ Amazon US ~ B&N ~ iTunes ~ Kobo ~

 ۞

Prize: Open Internationally – Ends September 23rd

*50$ Amazon Gift Card*

*50$ to the project of their choice on DonorsChoose.org*

~ A Rafflecopter Giveaway ~

 ۞

Elodie Nowodazkij

Elodie Nowodazkij was raised in a tiny village in France, where she could always be found a book in hand. At nineteen, she moved to the US, where she learned she’d never lose her French accent. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Modern Language & Linguistics, and later earned master’s degrees in German Cultural Studies and European Studies. Unbeknownst to her professors, she sometimes drafted stories in class. Now she lives in Germany with her husband and their cat (who doesn’t seem to realize he’s not human), and uses her commuting time to write the stories swirling in her head. She’s also a serial smiley user.

 ۞

~ Facebook ~ Newsletter ~ Twitter ~ Website ~

 ۞

 

Blog Tour organised by Xpresso Book Tours.

Click the banner above to follow the ‘One, Two, Three…’ Blog Tour.

 ۞

Release Day Event ~ ‘Every Time I Think of You’ by Tracey Garvis-Graves.

We’re celebrating the release of Every Time I Think of You by best selling Author Tracey Garvis-Graves! Check out how Tracey came up with the idea for the book and take a peek at the excerpt below. Don’t forget to enter the giveaway!

Title: Every Time I Think of You

Author: Tracey Garvis-Graves

Age Group: Adult

Genre: Romantic Suspense

 ۞

SYNOPSIS

Thirty-year-old Daisy DiStefano has two people she holds dear: the grandmother who raised her, and her three-year-old son, Elliott. But when Daisy’s grandmother is killed in a seemingly random act of violence, Daisy must take steps to protect herself and her child.

Despite a thriving career in San Francisco, thirty-six-year-old Brooks McClain has returned home to spend what little time his mother has left before she succumbs to the deadly disease that is ravaging her. The seasoned investigative reporter has taken a position with the local newspaper and been on the job less than twenty-four hours when he’s summoned to cover the death of Pauline Thorpe.

Brooks is all business, but the more time he spends with Daisy DiStefano, the more invested he becomes; there’s something about a single mother, a defenseless child, and an unsolved crime that has stirred Brooks’s protective instincts like nothing ever has before.

And when the unthinkable happens, Brooks will do whatever it takes to clear the name of the woman he’s fallen for and the child he’ll protect at any cost.

Romantic and suspenseful, Every Time I Think of You shows how far two people will go to fight for the ones they love, and the life they’ve always imagined.

 ۞

 ۞

~ Amazon US ~ Amazon UK ~ Amazon Canada ~ Amazon Australia  ~ Barnes & Noble ~ Apple ~ Kobo ~

 ۞

 ۞

An idea was born.  

One of the questions I’m often asked is, “How did you come up with the idea for this book?” My books are fairly plot-driven, and Every Time I Think of You was no different. I could see the opening scene in my head like a movie so I knew what the inciting incident – in other words, the event that would send the main characters’ lives in another direction – would be. But in this case, my opening scene was the result of not only plot, but also a character. I have wanted to write a book where the main character was a crime reporter for a while now. I tend to gravitate toward heroes who are regular guys, and I wanted to see what would happen when I put this particular hero into various situations (and a little hot water). What would he do? How would he react? What, exactly, was he made of?

However, if main character Brooks McClain was going to be a crime reporter, that meant I had to come up with a crime (which ultimately, I’d have to solve). I’ve never written a book with a mystery or suspense element before, but I wasn’t going to let a little thing like that get in the way of telling this story. I’ve said time and time again that I never want to be an author who writes the same book over and over, but with that motto comes challenges. I have to deal with the discomfort that comes from tackling something different than I’ve done before, and often this means learning new things.

I have a love/hate relationship with research. I keep telling myself I’m going to write a book that doesn’t require as much research, and then I write a book that requires extensive research. I should really start listening to myself! Some of the things I did in the name of research for Every Time I Think of You included taking a four-hour firearms safety course and learning how to load and shoot a gun, which was something I didn’t have any experience with.

I also studied ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, by reading memoirs and poring over countless websites dedicated to the disease. Although the timing of the recent ALS ice bucket challenge is merely a coincidence, it makes me happy to know that this devastating illness is receiving such an outpouring of support from the general public.

I studied addiction, specifically methamphetamine addiction. What I learned was heart-wrenching, eye-opening, and often tragic. In total, I read six memoirs about addiction and read countless online articles. I watched a fascinating Frontline documentary from PBS about methamphetamine addiction and its effects on law enforcement and the community.

I reached out to a criminal defense attorney in California so that I could gain an understanding of that state’s legal processes, and I spent several hours in person and on the phone with my cousin Jack, who is a detective with the Des Moines Police Department. Jack was instrumental in explaining the outcomes of all the different scenarios I proposed (naturally, I named the detective character after him). I interviewed three different crime reporters (who all told me slightly different things), and one of them saved me from a potentially embarrassing gaffe. In Every Time I Think of You, I include an actual newspaper article written by Brooks McClain. Newspaper reporters use the Associated Press Stylebook to ensure that their articles are written correctly whereas The Chicago Manual of Style is the go-to guide for fiction writers. The crime reporter who proofed my article had me make a small tweak so that it was correct in form.

I spoke to a nurse, to make sure I got the details of Daisy’s DiStefano’s work schedule correct. There were less significant things I needed the answers to, such as what kind of jewelry a nurse would be permitted to wear to work and what floor she might work on if she were involved with a particular patient.

In addition to the factual research necessary to write this story, I also had to choose the path I’d take to solve the crime. I learned that there were a few different ways I could handle this: One, I could write the story in such a way that the reader would probably not know who committed the crime until the very end. Two, I could choose the slightly-less-suspenseful route and let the reader be privy to clues that would allow them to guess the identity of the perpetrator much earlier. That way, I could let the focus of the story rest on how the person would be brought to justice. I chose option two because I felt it would lend emotional resonance and depth to the story.

Now that I knew how I’d tell the story, I needed to concentrate on the characters. I usually have a pretty good outline in place before I sit down to start writing. This method doesn’t work for everyone, but for me it helps to have a roadmap of sorts so that I don’t waste too much time writing myself into corners. This is not a spoiler because you know from the blurb that the book deals with the aftermath of the death of Daisy’s beloved grandmother. However, once I was about a fourth of the way through the first draft, I realized that the character I’d chosen to commit the crime didn’t actually do it.

I fought it for a while, but the more I got to know these characters, the more I realized my inner muse was right. This person couldn’t have done it.

Delete, delete, delete, delete. Sigh.

The real perpetrator had a motive, but it was subtle and at first I couldn’t see it. And the person who I’d originally intended to commit the crime was actually somewhat responsible. But it will be up to the reader to draw their own conclusions about what transpired that evening in Daisy’s grandmother’s apartment, because the opening chapter of the book is narrated by Daisy’s three-year-old son, who has a very limited ability to explain it. I actually first wrote this opening chapter from the point-of-view of Daisy’s grandmother, Pauline. It gave the book a much darker tone than I wanted so I scrapped it and decided to let Elliott take the reins.

There is also one final plot thread that I chose not to tie up with a big red ribbon. Initially I wrote a paragraph that would have explained why a certain character made the choice that he did, but then I realized it wasn’t necessary. Readers are smart and book discussions are extra fun when there’s a bit of speculation involved.

I’m not an especially fast or prolific writer, and that’s fine with me. Between the research and the actual writing time, this book took fourteen months to complete, and there were times I wanted to pull my hair out. I’d told my husband there were a couple of twists I was hoping to pull off, but wasn’t sure I knew how to accomplish them. I told several people that writing this book made my brain hurt (but one of the readers who received an advance copy told me she kept saying to herself as she read it, “This book is so smart!”). When I hear feedback like that, it tells me that everything I did in the name of Every Time I Think of You was worth it.

I hope you enjoy Brooks and Daisy’s story.

 ۞

 

I glanced at my watch. “I need to get going.” I stood and Daisy followed me toward the door. “Don’t hesitate to call the police for any reason. Pay close attention to your surroundings. Keep your door locked. Don’t ever open it without the chain on.” I paused, once again struck by how alone she seemed. Was anyone watching out for her? “Listen, I don’t mean for this to sound as sexist as it’s going to, but is there a guy around?”

Rarely did I ask such a personal question, especially when the answer was absolutely none of my business.

And I’ll admit to being more than just professionally curious as I waited for her answer.

“There was, but not anymore,” she said. “It’s just Elliott and me. We’ll be okay. When someone knocks, I look through the peephole. If I don’t recognize the person, I leave the chain on when I open the door. I also bought a gun.”

She said that last part with such nonchalance that it took me a second to process it.

“You what?” I probably said it with a little more force than I should have.

She looked taken aback. “Shane helped me pick it out.”

I was speechless. “I’m sorry, but you don’t—”

“Look like the type of person who would own a gun?”

It was hard to argue with that statement when it was exactly what I was going to say. “Yes.”

“I didn’t buy the gun because I wanted to. Frankly, I would rather not own one. They scare me,” she said. “But I bought one anyway because the thought of looking something evil right in the eye and knowing that I’m more than likely going to come out on the losing end of it terrifies me. The fear that I’ll be assaulted, or raped and left for dead, or worse yet, that someone will try to harm my child, is the reason I have this gun. That’s the type I am.”

I saw her then, really saw her. Five foot seven, maybe, but small-boned. She was wearing a fitted V-neck T-shirt that emphasized her slight build. I could see the prominent ridge of her collarbone and the deep hollow at the base of her throat that I suddenly couldn’t stop looking at. She’d be no match for anyone. If she wanted a gun, I was hardly in a position to tell her she couldn’t have one.

“I’m sorry,” I said. “I was out of line. It’s really none of my business what you do.”

“It’s okay. Pam reacted the same way you did. But I’m doing everything I can to be a responsible gun owner. I’ve signed up for the safety class so I can learn how to handle the gun. How to shoot it. I’ll apply for the permit as soon as I have my certificate. I’ll go to the shooting range, and I’ll practice.”

Taking her to the shooting range was something I could do to help her. It would also give me a chance to spend time with her, which was something that was becoming more appealing by the minute. I could feel the boundary between witness and reporter starting to blur, but I really didn’t care. It had been a while since a woman had sparked my interest the way Daisy had. “You don’t have to justify anything to me. It sounds like you’re doing everything right,” I said. “I’ll let you know if I hear anything on the case.”

“I would really appreciate that.”

Elliott put down his coloring book and ambled across the room.

Daisy lifted him into her arms. “You look tired, buddy. Are you ready for your nap?”

“I’m not tired,” Elliott said, yawning and rubbing his eyes.

“Oh, my mistake,” Daisy said, smiling at him. “I think we’ll try a nap anyway, just in case.” She looked at me. “Thanks for stopping by.”

“It was no problem. I’ll see you soon.”

As I stepped into the hallway she said, “Brooks?”

I turned around. “Yes?”

“Maybe I’m reading this wrong, but you seem to genuinely care about my safety, and I want you to know that I appreciate it. I need all the help I can get.”

I met her gaze and held it for a moment. “You aren’t reading it wrong at all. Take care, Daisy.”

She smiled and it illuminated her face, making every feature even prettier. She closed the door, and I made my way down the hall.

It was true that I cared about Daisy’s safety. Maybe Scott DiStefano had never abused or neglected Elliott, but Daisy’s decision to arm herself made me wonder what he’d done to her.

 ۞

ONE WINNER  WILL RECEIVE (INT):

ONE signed copy of On the Island, Covet, and ETITOY. Also included, a $50 gift card to Barnes & Noble and Amazon. Also, the winner will receive an ARC of Tracey’s next work-in-progress, The Girl He Used to Know (an adult contemporary second-chance romance novel). And finally, Tracey will either use the winner’s name in The Girl He Used to Know (first name or last name only, or the actual real name if comfortable) OR the winner can suggest a name for a character.

**The restrictions to this are that it will not be the name of a main character. It will be a supporting or minor character. Also, this is a fictional character. It is not a character based on the winner.

~ A Rafflecopter Giveaway ~

۞

 Tracey Garvis-Graves

Tracey Garvis Graves is a New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Todaybestselling author. Her debut novel, On the Island, spent 9 weeks on the New York Timesbestseller list, has been translated into twenty-seven languages, and is in development with MGM and Temple Hill Productions for a feature film. She is also the author ofUncharted, Covet, Every Time I Think of You, and Cherish. She is hard at work on her sixth book.

Tracey loves to interact with her readers and can be found on Facebook and Twitter.

  ۞

  ۞

Tour Stop ~ ‘One, Two, Three…’ by Elodie Nowodazkij.

One, Two, Three… by Elodie Nowodazkij

Publication date: June 26th 2014

Genres: Contemporary, Romance, Young Adult

 ۞

SYNOPSIS

When seventeen-year-old Natalya’s dreams of being a ballerina are killed in a car accident along with her father, she must choose: shut down—like her mother—or open up to love.

Last year, Natalya was attending the School of Performing Arts in New York City. Last year, she was well on her way to becoming a professional ballerina. Last year, her father was still alive.

But a car crash changed all that—and Natalya can’t stop blaming herself. Now, she goes to a regular high school in New Jersey; lives with her onetime prima ballerina, now alcoholic mother; and has no hope of a dance career.

At her new school, however, sexy soccer player Antonio sees a brighter future for Natalya, or at least a more pleasant present, and his patient charms eventually draw her out of her shell.

But when upsetting secrets come to light and Tonio’s own problems draw her in, Natalya shuts down again, this time turning to alcohol herself.

Can Natalya learn to trust Antonio before she loses him—and destroys herself?

 ۞

Book Review ~ ‘One, Two, Three…’ by Elodie Nowodazkij ~ 4 – 4.5 Stars!

I have a weakness for stories featuring Ballet dancers, and I knew as soon as I read the blurb that ‘One, Two, Three’ was going to be a interesting read.

Elodie Nowodazkji did a fantastic job at introducing the reader to the characters. Straight away I connected to them, and I could feel Natalya’s grief at the loss of her father, and her pain at having her future as a ballet dancer ripped away from her before it could begin.

It was the psychological aspects of this novel that really drew me in, and the author wrote them with such conviction that I felt myself absorbed in the emotional pains and stresses that NNatalya and her mother were going through. Having Natalya’s mother as an alcoholic added another dimension to the story which had my mind reeling with the implications. Would she become violent, emotionally or physically abusive? Or perhaps neglectful? All of the questions rose and I just had to keep reading to find out how Natalya’s home life would play out, and whether the unspoken truths that the two women were feeling would escalate in a way that made their relationship unsalvageable.

Antonio was a real breath of fresh air as a character. He swept in and attempted to keep the moments he was with Natalya light, even reminders of his own painful past returned. It was a sad realisation to see just how much young people are exposed to the dangers of drugs and alcohol, and the ways in which they will use it to escape their troubles. I loved that this story really brought in everyday issues that young people face, as it made it more realistic to read, and giving it all that more of an impact.

I adored how well rounded and developed the secondary characters were, and it was because of this that the novel really excelled. It was cleverly written how these characters were thrust into Natalya’s life, and the uncertainty Natalya feels towards letting people get too close, as it echoed perfectly the safe, solitary sanctuary that Natalya had created for herself at ‘The School of Performing Arts’, and the swift changes she had to make when she returned to a ‘normal’ life.

The only thing that is keeping me from rating this book at 5 stars, is the occasional stunted dialogue and development I felt there was in only a couple of scenes, almost as though it needed just one more look over by a beta reader. The scenes where Natalya gives in to alcohol, especially after her derision and disgust at her mother’s alcohol consumption seemed very suddenly out of character, and I didn’t quite feel her argument with Antonio flowed so well in this instance.

Nevertheless, this was a really wonderful, heartfelt book which is packed with the feel-good factor as we see a young girl overcome her past, and fight for her right to dance.

4-4.5 stars!

 ۞

 

~ Amazon UK ~ Amazon US ~ B&N ~ iTunes ~ Kobo ~

 ۞

Prize: Open Internationally – Ends September 23rd

*50$ Amazon Gift Card*

*50$ to the project of their choice on DonorsChoose.org*

~ A Rafflecopter Giveaway ~

 ۞

Elodie Nowodazkij

Elodie Nowodazkij was raised in a tiny village in France, where she could always be found a book in hand. At nineteen, she moved to the US, where she learned she’d never lose her French accent. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Modern Language & Linguistics, and later earned master’s degrees in German Cultural Studies and European Studies. Unbeknownst to her professors, she sometimes drafted stories in class. Now she lives in Germany with her husband and their cat (who doesn’t seem to realize he’s not human), and uses her commuting time to write the stories swirling in her head. She’s also a serial smiley user.

 ۞

~ Facebook ~ Newsletter ~ Twitter ~ Website ~

 ۞

 

Blog Tour organised by Xpresso Book Tours.

Click the banner above to follow the ‘One, Two, Three…’ Blog Tour.

 ۞