Amanda Aksel's Blog, page 5

Seven 11 Blog Hop- November!

Can you believe it's November already?! I'm sure most of you are getting ready for the holiday season and looking forward to a Thanksgiving feast. 

I gotta be honest, ever since I became a vegetarian, turkey day just isn't what it used to be. Anywho . . .
Today is November 11th, which means it's time for the Seven 11 Blog Hop.
Here's seven lines from my upcoming novel, The Commitment Test, the sequel to The Man Test. Coming January 2015!

Enjoy!

“Thanks, Krystal,” Andy said with a wink before sipping his Jack and coke. She leaned on the bar, boobs spilling out of her tight tee.

“You got it,” she replied.

“Andy,” I said through my teeth. “This is serious. Can you please stop flirting with the bartender for two seconds?”

“I can do two things at once.”

And there you have it, Lovers!

IT'S BONUS TIME! Here are the links to 6 other AMAZING authors who have agreed to share seven lines from their upcoming books. Get a behind the scenes glimpse of 6 stories!
Heather HildenbrandBethany LopezKayla SmithJustine WinterSM Boyce
Steph Nuss



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Happy October Everyone! Sorry I've been out of touch. The...

Happy October Everyone! Sorry I've been out of touch. The Commitment Test has really tested my commitment to writing. It may be the most difficult book I will ever write. But It's almost done!
Today is October 11th, which means it's time for the Seven 11 Blog Hop.
Here's seven lines from my upcoming novel, The Commitment Test, the sequel to The Man Test.

Enjoy!

“You’re a Derm now?” I asked.
“Yeah, cosmetic.” His chest welled with pride. Great, his chemically peeled skin hadn’t aged a day, and I was using department store eye cream. I didn’t even know why I still used it, it doesn't make a difference.
“Don’t worry, I wore sunscreen,” I said with a nervous laugh.

And there you have it, Lovers!

IT'S BONUS TIME! Here are the links to 7 other AMAZING authors who have agreed to share seven lines from their upcoming books. Get a behind the scenes glimpse of 7 stories!
Heather HildenbrandBethany LopezAlicia Sheehy Kayla SmithJustine WinterKasi Blake
Like free stuff? Enter these giveaways!
a Rafflecopter giveaway a Rafflecopter giveaway

Did you like this post? Share it with your friends using the links below and leave a comment.

For updates on the Marin Test Series be sure to sign up for my Reading is for Lovers newsletter!
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Seven 11 Blog Hop

Can you believe it's September already? I'm still enjoying the summer air, but I can tell that autumn is close by. 

Today is September 11th, which means it's time for the Seven 11 Blog Hop. 

Here's seven lines from my upcoming novel, The Commitment Test, the sequel to The Man Test. 

Enjoy!

    Commitment begins with the best of intentions. That’s what I thought as I sat across the yuppie couple in their early thirties, silence hanging between them for the reflective moment. She tapped her fingers along her bottom lip, while he massaged the bridge of his nose. They were close to a breakthrough. I could feel it. Ten seconds later and still nothing. It was like the two were playing a game of honesty chicken, each hoping the other would speak first. 

And there you have it, Lovers!

IT'S BONUS TIME! Here are the links to 9 other AMAZING authors who have agreed to share seven lines from their upcoming books. Get a behind the scenes glimpse of 9 stories!


Steph NussHeather HildenbrandBethany LopezShawn McGuireAlicia Sheehy Kayla SmithHeather BrewerJustine Winter
Kasi Blake

Also, you can enter here for a chance to become a Beta Reader on Justine Winter's next book!


a Rafflecopter giveaway


Did you like this post? Share it with your friends using the links below and leave a comment.

For updates on the Marin Test Series be sure to sign up for my Reading is for Lovers newsletter!

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For more on The Man Test click here.

Seven 11 Blog Hop with GIVEAWAYS!!!

Hello Lovers!

Today is August 11th, which means it's time for the monthly Seven 11 Blog Hop! Plus, I've got some fun giveaways for you this month. 

I'm still working on book two of The Marin Test Series, The Commitment Test. In this novel, Marin is expecting a proposal from James, but the proposal never comes. Will Marin be forced to choose between marriage and James? 
Haven't read book one of The Marin Test Series, The Man Test? Get your copy here.

Seven lines from The Commitment Test . . .

“What’s this?”

“This is how I got Jon to propose in two and a half months after years of refusing to settle down,” Ginger said.

My eyes widened and my jaw dropped. “Are you serious?”

“Completely serious."

It was as if I had been sitting miserably on my couch, flipping channels, and then finding that be all end all informercial. Could this book really help me get my proposal?

And there you have it, Lovers!

IT'S BONUS TIME! Here are the links to 9 other AMAZING authors who have agreed to share seven lines from their upcoming books. Get a behind the scenes glimpse of 9 stories!


Steph NussHeather HildenbrandBethany LopezShawn McGuireAlicia Sheehy Kayla SmithS.M. BoyceHeather BrewerJustine Winter
Enter to win a Copy of Steph Nuss' new book Fantasized By You

Enter Below to win a Stacy Marie Brown Swag Baga Rafflecopter giveaway

Did you like this post? Share it with your friends using the links below and leave a comment.

For updates on the Marin Test Series be sure to sign up for my Reading is for Lovers newsletter!

For more on The Man Test click here.

The Man Test- Soundtrack

Hello Lovers!

For those of you who don't already know, The Man Test was originally written as a screenplay. Back then it was called Fool For You. I know, it's a bad title.

So back when I would imagine The Man Test as a film, I used music to inspire some of the scenes. I'm so excited to share these for the first time.

Here are the songs in order of appearance . . .
(If you have the paperback copy, you can follow with the page numbers)

Take a Bow by Rhianna (p.22)

Keep Breathing by Ingrid Michaelson (p.26)

Before He Cheats by Carrie Underwood (p. 57)

The Mating Game by Bittersweet (p. 77)

Womanizer by Britney Spears (p. 95)

Faithfully by Journey (p. 151)

Don't Stop Believin' by Journey (p. 187)

Little Lies by Anna Ternheim (p. 240)

Hazy by Rosi Golan (This would be the theme song. It's so perfect!) (p. 242)

Look What You've Done by Jet (p.254)

Let The Rain by Sara Barielles (p.267)

Scratch by Kendall Payne (p. 275)

Twisted by Carrie Underwood (p. 294)

You can check out this soundtrack here on Spotify



Rosi Golan's Hazy isn't on Spotify, so you can check out the feature song here on youtube!



I hope you've enjoyed The Man Test Soundtrack!


Did you like this post? Share it with your friends using the links below and leave a comment.

For updates on the Marin Test Series be sure to sign up for my Reading is for Lovers newsletter!

For more on The Man Test click here.


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Seven 11 Blog Hop and Birthday Giveaway

Hello Lovers!

Today is July 11th, which means two things . . .

1. It's my 29th Birthday! That's right, only one more year left of my beloved 20s.

2. It's time for the Seven 11 Blog Hop.

I'm currently working on book two of The Marin Test Series, The Commitment Test. In this novel, Marin is expecting a proposal from James, but the proposal never comes. Will Marin be forced to choose between marriage and James?

So, every month on the 11th, I will be posting seven random lines from the new novel. 
THERE'S A BONUS!
Below the seven lines you'll find links to 10 other AMAZING authors who have agreed to share seven lines from their upcoming books. Get a behind the scenes glimpse of 10 stories!

Haven't read book one of The Marin Test Series, The Man Test? Enter my FREE BIRTHDAY GIVEAWAY below for your very own eBook copy!

Seven lines from The Commitment Test . . .

"He made reservations at Masa’s for tomorrow night, which is?” I dragged out the “is” for emphasis.

“Your birthday,” Holly said. 

“And?”

“Valentines Day?” Telly added.

“Exactly, it’s the perfect day for a proposal.” 
And there you have it, Lovers!
Check out more Seven lines below Steph NussHeather HildenbrandBethany LopezShawn McGuireAlicia Sheehy Kayla SmithS.M. BoyceHeather BrewerJustine WinterNikki Jefford
a Rafflecopter giveaway 

Did you like this post? Share it with your friends using the links below and leave a comment. 
For updates on the Marin Test Series be sure to sign up for my Reading is for Lovers newsletter!

For more on The Man Test click here. 

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Infidelity- The Exception or The Rule? - Guest Post by Author, Patricia Mann

In my book, The Man Test, Dr. Marin Johns tries to prove that all men are liars and cheaters. And nobody likes a cheater, right?

Fellow author, Patricia Mann covers the same topic in her debut novel, Is This All These Is? When I asked her about her thoughts on the topic, this is what she had to say . . .

I remember being at a pool party with a group of moms and kids one summer when my boys were young. Somehow the subject of cheating came up. One woman announced that she would immediately leave her husband if he so much as kissed another woman. I couldn’t believe she would tear her family apart over a kiss. Another woman laughed and confessed that she had kissed a coworker in her office just the week before. She didn’t feel bad about it at all, saying, “the guy’s a hottie and my husband doesn’t pay any attention to me anymore.”

 I listened intently as the debate raged on. You see, I’m a little obsessed with infidelity. My debut novel is about a wife, mother and professor who’s tempted to have an affair with a former student. And I just finished the sequel. Unlike most unfaithful characters we find in literature, I wanted my protagonist to be a likeable and relatable person. The cheater is usually presented to us as a heartless monster, right? But what if that’s not always the case? What if the truth is that most perfectly decent, upstanding citizens actually engage in this behavior at some point in their lives?

The main reason this subject fascinates me is because it’s personal. I can’t say all I’d like to say on that, because there are people I want to protect. A lot of people. What I can say is that in almost every long-term marriage or committed relationship I’ve seen in my life, one or both partners have strayed. These are people I love dearly, people who I adore and look up to, who I think the world of, and who were also unfaithful to a partner at some point. To err is human, is it not?

Because I write novels and blog posts about infidelity, I’m constantly looking up statistics on the subject. I don’t trust some of them because I can’t imagine that many people are honest on the subject. I think the numbers are higher than the studies suggest. Just now, I found an interesting new question that anonymous study participants were asked and the responses surprised even me, jaded as I am! Roughly 75% of men and women admitted that they would cheat if they could get away with it, if they were assured their partner would never find out. Wow, 75%. How much worse is doing it than saying you would do it if you could?

 I want to thank Amanda Aksel for two things.
1. I’m so grateful that you invited me to be a guest blogger on your website!
2. I really appreciate that you shared Dan Savage’s brief video, Why Monogamy is Ridiculous, with me.

I wish everyone would watch it and at least consider his way of looking at the subject. The entire video is less than 3 minutes and is definitely worth checking out.

This paradigm busting statement was my favorite: “If you’re with somebody 40, 50 years and they only cheated on you a few times, they were good at being monogamous, not bad at being monogamous.” And the following point pretty much sums up how I feel on the subject and why I write about infidelity: “I’m conservative. I think that we should do what we can to preserve marriage and long term relationships, and one way to do that is to encourage people to have more realistic attitudes about sexual exclusivity.” Thanks again, Amanda!

Author Bio:
Patricia Mann is a university professor. She teaches communication studies courses. Patricia lives in California with her husband, their two kids, and a sweet, silly old dog.

Author Website: http://www.patriciamann.me

Buy Links for the book: Amazon
Barnes & Noble
iTunes

Watch the Book Trailer

Where do you stand on long term monogamy? Share your comments below or on Facebook or Twitter using the links below! I can't wait to hear from you!

Did you like this post? Share it with your friends using the links below! And don't forget to sign up for my Reading is for Lovers Club. It's free!
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It's Summertime Lovers!!

Hello Lovers!
I've missed you all! Book two, The Commitment Test, is taking up a lot of my time, and it looks like it will be out sooner than expected!

In the meantime, I'd love to hear all about your lovely summer plans. Here's some things that I'll be getting into . . . 

Summer ReadingHere's my official summer read from one of my favorites, Emily Giffin.

If you're reading my book, chances are you've got this on your summer list too.                                                                                                                

Summer RereadingI absolutely LOVE this novel. Talk about a hilarious love triangle you can't put down. Does anyone else remember Red Dress Ink books?


Summer RecipeI've linked to this Elizabeth Rider recipe before, but it bears repeating. This delicious salad is healthy, and a hit at any BBQ you'll attend this summer. Black Bean & Quinoa Salad
Summer ShowI'm SUPER excited to see my girl, Sara Bareilles, in July. And just in time for my birthday!! Anyone who knows me, knows I'm just crazy about her music and this is the first time I'll be seeing her live since discovering her in 2008!  Little Black Dress Tour Dates
Summer SuitI'm a total beach girl, and you'll definitely catch me with my summer reads along the shore. And while I won't look like this Victoria's Secret model, I'll pretend, for the moment, that I am one. 
Get This Suit


Let me know what you Lovers are up to this summer on Facebook or Twitter! I can't wait to hear from you!
Did you like this post? Share it with your friends using the links below! And don't forget to sign up for my Reading is for Lovers Club. It's free!

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Which Man Test Character Are You?

Sure, you identify with Marin Johns, but secretly you're a Telly or a Holly. 
Take this quiz to find out which Man Test character you are and share your results with me on facebook and twitter! 
 Take the Quiz Now! 
 I hope you have as much fun taking this quiz as I did making it.
 XXO- Amanda 

 Like this quiz? Share it with your friends using the links below!

A Special Thank You!

The last few weeks have been such a joy with the release of my book, The Man Test. I'm so grateful for the outpouring of support and the incredible feedback I've received from readers and reviewers. I want to take this blog time to say a special thank you to those who have made this publishing experience a happy one.

Thank you:
Joe (and Lani)
Chantell
Jessica
Danielle
Sara
Heather
Lori, my mom
Merene
Michelle
Lauran
Carine
Ellen
Rachel S.
Rachel A.
Cory
Dionne
Michiko
Michael
Jennifer
Peri
Amoreena
Antonio

And thank you to the awesome bloggers on the tour:

Julie Valerie's Book Blog

Bookish Diversion

Little Johanne Book World

A Drip of Truth
Laurie Here

Book Loving Mom

Evie Bookish

Best ChickLit 

Connect with Chicklit Club

Frances O Thomas

Chosen By You Book Club

Happy Tails and Tales

Kit ‘N Kabookle

Thanks again everyone! And don't forget to enter my new release giveaway. It ends soon!






a Rafflecopter giveaway