Jaycee Ford's Blog, page 3
September 28, 2015
Roaming the Oregon Trail, one Love Bug at a time
In May 2014, I had decided to self-publish. Not even a month later, I was planning my signing tour for 2015. I hadn’t even published a book and I was ready to go. Ambitious? Indeed. The first four were in what I call my “comfort zone,” meaning they were all within driving distance. But as I looked back now with all that pre-planning, I know now that I was giving something to myself. As many of y’all know, a few days after I published Watching Fireflies, I landed in the hospital for a month. During that month stay in the hospital, I won’t lie. There was a bit of worry. My pancreas was literally eating me alive (shockingly enough, my liver was solid). After three surgeries, I was more excited than ever to live the life I was given. So, second chance on life meant that Jaycee stepped out of her comfort zone. Stepping out of my comfort zone means …
PORTLAND!
It was like my subconscious knew my future and said, “You’re gonna do this, Jaycee. You’re gonna go north and you’re gonna go west. And you’re gonna do this all by yourself!”
So three books and three surgeries later, I found myself on a plane.
BUT WHY STOP THERE!
I bypassed Portland. I mean, this was the Northwest. I’ve been north. I’ve been west. But I’ve never been Northwest. This was a totally new direction on the compass for me. So, first stop …
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON
I get off the plane after a long flight with a little layover in Oakland, California (which was SUPER dry; I like my humidity), and I’m so proud of myself. I’m in a new city all by myself. And then I realized that I wasn’t actually in Seattle. I had to take a little train. Trains are cool. I handled that like a pro. I figured I’d get a cab when I got off the train. *shakes head* There were no cab stands … just a plain ole Seattle street … at night … all by myself. Thankfully, I did get a number for a cab. And calling a Seattle cab from a phone was much like calling a New Orleans cab from a phone.
No one ever answers the phone.
A few months prior to Seattle, I was taught the ways of Uber by my bestie Alex Rosa while we toured Dallas, Texas along with Len Webster at the RT Booklovers Convention. Did Seattle have Uber? Of course, they did!
That was a long ass day. I explored just a little bit that night after checking into my hotel. I went to a bar which had a bartender named Tom. (How fitting!) And I had myself a beer and chatted with Tom a bit. But the craziest shit was next door to the bar. It was called a “Pot Shop.” We’re not talking about All-Clad. No non-stick frying pans here, my friends. Yep … you guessed it. We’re talking weed. Mind=BLOWN. I was good with my beer. Eyes wide open at a Pot Shop. Crazy shit, I say.
Seattle is the home of Starbucks. Because of this, I avoided Starbucks at all cost. The next morning, I found this adorable place called Bauhaus Books and Coffee … coffee AND books. No brainer. It was here, though, that my mind got blown a little more. Enter my dog Dixie saying, “I don’t think we’re in the south anymore.” Now, I understand the concept of unisex bathrooms. One door, one toilet. Seattle has a different type of definition. It’s a pick a door, any door situation. And, yes. Your stall neighbor is standing up to pee. Wide eyed again, I left the bathroom. I admit, I did not wash my hands, but I did have hand sanitizer. I’m not gross. To be clear, it’s a wonderful concept and the world should embrace this. It was just a little shock first thing in the morning.
After my latte, I was ready to take on Seattle. One crosswalk at a time.
I do love their crosswalks.
Uber came into play again and I found Pike Place. It was like the French Market in New Orleans but on steroids. I LOVED IT! I made one single purchase besides lunch:
I could not resist for the most obvious reasons. *plug Hornet’s Nest here* The day continued on as I walked … and walked … and walked … Seattle has some hills, dude. I definitely got in my steps for the pedometer. I took a break in a bar called Montana and had my first Rainer beer. T’was good. I had another. It was happy hour. $2.00 beers. That’s another thing that’s mind blowing. They have some cheap beer up there. Ah-mazing. As the night crept on, I found myself underground. No, I didn’t get shanghai’d. I went on the Seattle Underground Tour. There was a day tour, but the one at night ended with a free drink. So, naturally (obviously). After my free drink, I went around the corner to what is known as the oldest bar in Seattle: The Central Saloon. I think the stool I sat on pre-dated the 1892 establishment date. But yes, I had another Rainier. I’m a creature of habit.
Uber got me back to the bar next door to the Pot Shop, and you guessed it! I had another Rainier and chit chatted with Tom, who was from London. He looked kind of stately. There was one thing I wasn’t used to, being a NOLA girl. Bars close at 2:00. Alas, I did have a train to catch. It was time to go to PORTLAND! I mean, I was on this trip for working purposes. Haha.
I hopped on an Amtrak with the plan to do some plotting. After all the beer the night before, I just enjoyed the sights passing me by (and maybe a little nap).
I checked into the Crowne Plaza for the Passion in Portland Author Event and got busy setting up for the signing. After some food, I found a bar named Dixie Tavern … not quite the Dixie’s Tavern from the Love Bug Series, but close enough. I didn’t stay out too long. I had a signing to do.
I’m in there in the middle somewhere. Take a moment and play “Where’s Jaycee?”
I met so many fabulous writers. Genuinely good people. This signing would be epic, but I didn’t know just how epic it would be.
My table was ready to go. And then they let the VIPs in. By the end of that pre-public time. I only had five copies left of Watching Fireflies because I brought more of the first book. Thirty minutes later, I was out. Completely sold out. Even sold out of the mason jars. I underestimated Portland’s mad love for cowboys … and mason jars. In the middle of throwing koozies at people. I had a buddy stop by.
Just my editor, Josh. You never know what country or state he’s gonna be in, but I was so glad to see him. After hanging out with Josh at my table and throwing more koozies at people, I celebrated my sellout with a beer at the hotel bar and then got ready for the after party. Models, Karaoke, and possibly a little Baby Got Back (but I’ll never tell).
After a little backup dancing, my editor hijacked me and he showed me some of Portland’s nightlife.
I know that Voodoo Doughnuts was right there. But it was beer time. I still had plenty of time left, but there’s never enough time in Portland. The last part of my stay, I rented a room in someone’s basement near the Alberta Arts District. First Airbnb experience was a good one. After I dropped off my bags, I took a stroll for some food and ended up at the McMenamins-Kennedy School which was an old school building that got reclaimed and turned into a hotel, pubs, movie theatre … it had a little of everything.
It was my last full day in Portland and there were two things that needed to be accomplished. The first was locate my mothership.
Powell’s Books. It is a reader’s Mecca. I roamed around that store for hours. I finally let loose and let myself buy some stuff.
The last thing I needed to do was to experience Voodoo Doughnut. But I could not do this alone. This was an epic moment. One of the last words written at the end of Watching Fireflies was an acknowledgement to my editor.
To Josh Vitalie … I think I owe you a donut.
Mission accomplished.
The sad day came where I had to go back home. Don’t get me wrong. I’m a NOLA girl until my dying day, but Portland is a little piece of amazing. And while writing this post, I was officially invited to the 2016 signing. So, I am happy to say, Portland, keep a beer chilled for me. I’m coming back!
And while I have your attention, Mosquito Chase comes out on November 25th. Pre-orders exclusively available through iBooks. All other outlets will be available in October.
So, Portland, with your beer, beards, and books, Keep on Buzzin’! ♥
The post Roaming the Oregon Trail, one Love Bug at a time appeared first on Jaycee Ford.
September 22, 2015
FAHRENHEIT – ALEX ROSA
Title: Fahrenheit
Author: Alex Rosa
Genre: Erotic Romance
Release Date: September 22, 2015
Synopsis
Lauren Michaels is exhausted with the push and pull of copy editing for Los Angeles’s woman’s magazine, Frenzy, which caters to pop culture, style, and above all, sex.
She wants to write for the magazine rather than edit, but her boss is convinced that Lauren’s conservative tendencies won’t fit in with the risqué nature of what Frenzy is about.
Convinced to make her mark, Lauren begs for the chance to prove her self.
Her boss agrees, tasking her with the impossible, in hopes of failure, because although she doesn’t want her to become a journalist, she doesn’t want to lose her as Editor-in-Chief, either.
Her daunting mission? To investigate the growing popularity of sex clubs in Los Angeles, and figure out how the sensual underworld functions.
Out of her element, Lauren starts her search with pen and paper in hand at a local sex shop, hoping she’ll find a trail that leads to the dark lairs of sex and fetishes.
Trying to hide her inexperience, and pretending she’s a professional sex kitten, this trail instead leads her to one brooding, Nathan Sanders.
He’s daunting, charming, and a little too dark and mysterious for her taste, but Lauren knows he’s what she needs as her way in.
What she doesn’t see coming is that Nathan is all too willing to invite her to a nightclub she’s only ever heard stories about, and also the fact that Nathan know’s Lauren doesn’t have a clue what she’s getting herself into.
However, he can’t turn down the idea of helping her out with her research once she confesses the whole story.
This could be fun, they said. There’s no harm in it, they agreed.
Little do they know, a little research can serve up some unexpected results.
Buy The Book
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Ibooks | KOBO
Excerpt
I continue on, in search of a more bearable aisle in this sex shop.
Frenzy Magazine isn’t shy of the phallic-shaped items that line the row I approach, and I note that the dildos on the shelves display all the colors of the rainbow. How quaint.
I nod, wondering why the hell I’m smiling at dildos.
Looking around the shop, I realize I’m alone, and the employee at the front has now busied himself with rearranging the nudie magazines on the wall. It gives me the comfort I need to snoop.
I lift my hand up to a large, purple penis-shaped silicon form. I am tempted to grab it, but I’m a bundle of nerves, so instead I poke at it. My hand knocks it to the floor with a cringe-worthy slap, igniting a loud buzzing sound.
“Shit, shit, shit,” I whisper, watching this wobbling dick bounce around on the linoleum. I’m hopping back and forth, because it’s rolling around as if it’s chasing me.
I have to stop it, right?
I bend down, forced to touch it completely, and the vibration is much stronger in my hands now that I’m holding it. I examine the thing, looking for an off switch to no avail.
“What the fuck?”
Finally, through deductive reasoning, I twist the bottom, and it stops shaking. I diligently place it back on the shelf, deciding I’m done with dildos for now, and turn around to face the other side. I’m more baffled by what I see than I was of the Technicolor vibrators.
I grab for what looks like a necklace my grandmother would have worn with her knitted sweaters. The wooden beads are larger than I would have expected. I lift it off the rack, and I realize it’s not really a necklace, but a string of wooden bobbles. I bring it closer to my face, wondering what the hell—
“So, do you like anal?”
I gasp, flinging myself back a step at the brash question, but nearly fall over when my vision collides with an electric, hazel-gold stare looming over me. The man who’s asked me this blunt question has a dazzling shit-eating grin on his face, and I want to smack it.
I can’t figure out how I didn’t see this monstrosity of a man among my scouring. I wouldn’t be able to miss him. His dark, 6’4” features beg to be noticed. His ruffled black hair and days of stubble on his jaw are hard to miss, but I can still see dimples under his scruff, which has me deciding against violence for the time being.
I remind myself of my purpose, and examine his penetrating gaze, wondering if he’s the fetish, underworld type.
That smile says maybe.
“Excuse me?” I gasp, going crimson in the process.
I pull in a deep breath when he takes two deliberate steps toward me, putting only twelve inches between us. I’m trying to fathom how I’m in this situation, because I’m positive people leave each other alone in Los Angeles. It’s like an unspoken rule. Heaven forbid we smile when we pass each other on the street.
However, maybe when you’re in a place like this, you invite these kinds of questions. Obviously, they might be into what you’re into. Like a bookstore. You see someone holding The Hobbit in the aisle, you could probably assume he or she likes fantasy, and you could potentially start a JRR Tolkien conversation that the person would appreciate.
When I put the argument together like that in my head, my eyes dart to what is sitting in my outstretched hand. I cringe.
The idea turns me red. I try to remember my assignment, and that this might be a good thing. If I like JRR Tolkien, he might like it too. If I’m in a sex shop, maybe that means I like secret societies of sex dungeons like him, right?
Good lawd.
“Well, you’re holding anal beads, so it felt like a fair question. A bold one, but a fair one.”
A cluck of laughter escapes me. Yup, like a chicken. Bakawk. I examine the round beads in my hand, noting that the idea of these large round balls entering through an exit is horrifying. I place them back on the rack.
I am so sorry, grandma.
“Um, no. I-I don’t like anal.” I lick my lips, feeling uncomfortable.
“Anything particular?”
I tilt my head to get a better look at him, and the twitch to the corner of his mouth matches the lift of his right eyebrow.
“Particular?”
“Yeah, that you’re into.”
I look around again, having a hard time holding back another cringe when I realize there’s an inflatable sex doll hanging feet above me.
“I just like sex, but I guess I’m curious, which is why I’m here.”
I shake my head, baffled by my words. When did I get so honest, and when did I decide to take this assignment seriously?
Maybe it’s the opening of this guy’s shirt, showing a little bit of chest hair, that convinces me, or it could be the fact that his eyes tell me he’s playful as much as he’s serious. It’s in the way his stare pulls me in, and then skips to a different surface of my body before pulling me back in again.
“Curious?” he repeats.
The way the word rolls off his tongue screams of possibility, and I don’t know how he’s done it.
“Yeah, I’m always curious.” I smile.
“Funny, because I’m always looking for an adventure.”
My brows pull together. I have half a mind to ask him if that means multiple sexual partners, or general life experiences. By the way he fills out his black Henley, I think it’s more like option one.
“I don’t understand how those two go together.”
The corners of his mouth reach from ear to ear, and I get this weird, sinking feeling I’ve just issued a dare.
About The Author
Alex Rosa lives in San Diego, California. When she isn’t scouring city parks or cafe’s to write she is more than likely trying to convince her friends to join her on her next adventure. A sufferer of wanderlust, she is always looking for a new mountain to climb, a canyon to hike, or a plane to board. Her resume consists of coroner, to working at a zoo, and most recently as an executive assistant, but finds her home amongst words, whether it be in books, or in film. Her obsessions are on the brink of bizarre, but that’s just the way she likes it. Represented by Erin Niumata of Folio Literary Management.
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads | Pinterest
Giveaway
The post FAHRENHEIT – ALEX ROSA appeared first on Jaycee Ford.
August 14, 2015
Review: WHAT WE’LL LEAVE BEHIND and WHAT YOU LEFT BEHIND by Len Webster
Duel Review
What We’ll Leave Behind
WHAT WE’LL LEAVE BEHIND is an amazing prequel written by Len Webster. I wouldn’t expect anything less from this author.
Steve and Julian lead separate lives and meet in a foreign land. Everything you’d hope to expect in a first love is brilliantly written with all of the butterflies included. Even with a permanent marking to seal their quick devotion, it isn’t enough to keep the evil of doubt away. Thankfully, it’s just the prequel.
In true Len Webster form, WHAT YOU LEFT BEHIND makes your heart stop. Angst is a word that gets tossed around a lot in describing romance novels. But with Julian Moors, rest assured, your heart will be at ease. He’s definitely up there with all-time favorite book boyfriends.
At the end of WHAT WE’LL LEAVE BEHIND, you were left with wondering how these two would cross paths again. It is recommended to read these in order with the Thirty-Eight Series (THIRTY-EIGHT DAYS and THIRTY-EIGHT REASONS) because then you’d know a little something that the characters didn’t know. Now, of course, I don’t want to spoil the fun, but seriously consume every book Len Webster has ever written.
Connect
Follow Len and keep up with her future works. I know she has a lot up her sleeve and you don’t want to miss it!
Facebook: facebook.com/lennwebster
Twitter: twitter.com/lennwebster
Instagram: instagram.com/lennwebster
The post Review: WHAT WE’LL LEAVE BEHIND and WHAT YOU LEFT BEHIND by Len Webster appeared first on Jaycee Ford.
August 10, 2015
SALE BLITZ – WATCHING FIREFLIES
It’s time to Celebrate!
Watching Fireflies is turning ONE on August 19th!
Help me celebrate with a huge birthday bash!
Give Me Book Promotions is hosting a Sales Blitz.
For a limited time starting on August 19th, Watching Fireflies will be $0.99!
Sign up HERE to help spread the word!
#WrangleACowboy 
July 20, 2015
FAHRENHEIT by ALEX ROSA • Cover Reveal
Title: Fahrenheit
Author: Alex Rosa
Genre: Erotic Romance
Release Date: September 22, 2015
Pre-Order Links
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Ibooks | KOBO
Synopsis
Lauren Michaels is exhausted with the push and pull of copy editing for Los Angeles’s woman’s magazine, Frenzy, which caters to pop culture, style, and above all, sex.
She wants to write for the magazine rather than edit, but her boss is convinced that Lauren’s conservative tendencies won’t fit in with the risqué nature of what Frenzy is about.
Convinced to make her mark, Lauren begs for the chance to prove her self.
Her boss agrees, tasking her with the impossible, in hopes of failure, because although she doesn’t want her to become a journalist, she doesn’t want to lose her as Editor-in-Chief, either.
Her daunting mission? To investigate the growing popularity of sex clubs in Los Angeles, and figure out how the sensual underworld functions.
Out of her element, Lauren starts her search with pen and paper in hand at a local sex shop, hoping she’ll find a trail that leads to the dark lairs of sex and fetishes.
Trying to hide her inexperience, and pretending she’s a professional sex kitten, this trail instead leads her to one brooding, Nathan Sanders.
He’s daunting, charming, and a little too dark and mysterious for her taste, but Lauren knows he’s what she needs as her way in.
What she doesn’t see coming is that Nathan is all too willing to invite her to a nightclub she’s only ever heard stories about, and also the fact that Nathan know’s Lauren doesn’t have a clue what she’s getting herself into.
However, he can’t turn down the idea of helping her out with her research once she confesses the whole story.
This could be fun, they said. There’s no harm in it, they agreed.
Little do they know, a little research can serve up some unexpected results.
Excerpt
I nudge my chin toward him to imply the same. He grins, and his eyes are all over my body at once, dragging quickly over my face, down my chest, my hips, legs, and to my toes before making the same journey back up. I feel like his private exhibit.
I twirl his card between the fingertips of both of my index fingers, giving him my own head-to-toe glance.
“Do you do this often? Stroll into this place and ask for sex?”
Saying the word sex out loud feels terrifying, but also empowering, because that’s what this shop is about, and that’s exactly what it means when a place like Fahrenheit is brought up. I may not know what the hell I’m doing, but I refuse to let these lines get blurred in the process. Let’s not confuse the context. I’m (apparently) agreeing to have sex with Nathan Sanders, and I just met him.
He’s so much taller than me, so when he leans toward me, he’s looming over my frame, but his presence seems to encase me, pulling me in with one swift move.
I try to remember that this is about research, and gaining an understanding of what the world of sex clubs and fetishes are about, but when I stare at someone like Nathan Sanders, I start to forget my reasons for standing here. Having his full attention feels almost like a gift. I like the way he looks at me, even if I don’t know him, and while I want to know more about Fahrenheit, a part of me wonders what dark secrets this guy has, too. Regardless, one thing proves very true right now, that whoever he is, Nathan Sanders wants to fuck me, and I can’t imagine a better person who I’d let be my guide, whether he knows it or not.
It’s in the name of science, I tell myself.
My natural inclination to be responsible and compassionate feels bad for being deceptive, but I remember that when a place like Fahrenheit is involved, normally the person doesn’t care about the why you want to fuck them, they just care about the fact you want to. No need to trouble oneself with the details. I mean, he pretty much invited me for sex before knowing my name.
“Call me when you’re sure,” he blurts out, catching me completely off guard, and pulling me out of my analyzation.
“When I’m sure?” I repeat back. I thought we just decided that I was.
“I want you to think on it. Curiosity killed the cat, ya know? Just think about it tonight, call me tomorrow when you’re sure, and we’ll go from there. If you know what Fahrenheit is then you’ll know that it’s not a decision to take lightly.”
My brows pull together.
“I look forward to the call, Lauren.”
“Sure thing, Nate,” I blatantly chide, enunciating the “t” sharply, finding it funny that although he gave me the option to reconsider, he already seems pretty sure about the outcome.
His beautiful mouth does that twitchy thing again with his eyebrow.
“Pleasure meeting you,” he says, his voice sounding deeper and more mysterious now.
“Pleasure was all mine,” I reply, watching him stroll out of the shop, seemingly empty handled, but I assure you, I’m pretty sure he somehow gained ownership of my curiosity, while I seem to be holding the key to his adventure.
About The Author
Alex Rosa lives in San Diego, California. When she isn’t scouring city parks or cafe’s to write she is more than likely trying to convince her friends to join her on her next adventure. A sufferer of wanderlust, she is always looking for a new mountain to climb, a canyon to hike, or a plane to board. Her resume consists of coroner, to working at a zoo, and most recently as an executive assistant, but finds her home amongst words, whether it be in books, or in film. Her obsessions are on the brink of bizarre, but that’s just the way she likes it. Represented by Erin Niumata of Folio Literary Management.
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads | Pinterest
Giveaway
The post FAHRENHEIT by ALEX ROSA • Cover Reveal appeared first on Jaycee Ford.
April 25, 2015
Review: THE SOUND OF GLASS by Karen White
The Sound of Glass by Karen White
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Like sweet southern molasses, THE SOUND OF GLASS grabs you from the opening words. The first chapter sucks you in, needing to find out exactly what happens. All these puzzle pieces fall from the sky (literally) and like Merritt (and Edith), you can’t help but wonder what it’s all about.
In this southern mystery, Karen White takes you into the past and back to the present to figure out a 50 year old fatal mystery. I’m pretty good at guessing things before they happen, and I couldn’t figure it out. Predictable is NOT a word I would use to describe this book.
I loved the social clash of Yankee and Southerners. It was depicted quite nicely. Aside from the mystery, the story also deals with domestic abuse. I’ve read a few reviews where people had issues with this being shown and also depicting women as weak. If they had finished the book, they would have not felt this way. What was depicted is 100% accurate and I appreciate domestic abuse being told in a correct manner, even if it’s a hard subject to deal with in any way.
I received this as an ARC from NetGalley.
The post Review: THE SOUND OF GLASS by Karen White appeared first on Jaycee Ford.
March 30, 2015
The Cliché of Romance is a Cliché
“OMG! Your story is such a cliché! Like the man fell in love with the woman! It’s SO been done before.”
All romance writers can attest to statements such as this. It’s not so much painful as it is annoying.
Dear Reader,
You are picking up a ROMANCE novel. There is a disclaimer that this story will in fact have a happily ever after. Someone will fall in love with someone and their feelings will be returned.
Warning: Love will happen.
Sincerely,
Romance Writers Everywhere
In the Love Bug Series, I’m going to fill you in on a little secret …
[**SPOILER ALERT**]
… the men fall in love with the women.
Wait for it … Wait. For. It!
The women fall in love with the men.
I know you’re saying, “Jaycee, but really. A lot of stories are the same.” And while this is true, it’s just a different way to showcase how 1+2=3. The writers of romance know what the readers of romance want, and that’s what we write. Not every story is for everyone. Some people love Fifty Shades of Grey … others hate it. Some people love Watching Fireflies, and yes, some people hate it. How do you not love a hot cowboy with sparkling blue eyes who falls madly in love upon sight with a regular college instructor? Meh. It happens.
But can we as romance writers write about two people who hate each other before they fall in love? Well, we could, but Jane Austen did it first. How about a second chance at romance? Yes, we could, but Jane Austen did it first. How about a miscommunication that leads to self doubt and then love? Sure! But Jane Austen did it first. So, even though what you read is all the same, don’t blame the romance writers of today … blame Jane Austen.
No … you do not blame Jane Austen. The only thing you blame Jane Austen for is giving us the ultimate book boyfriend.
Any excuse to show Colin Firth as Mister Darcy is a good day.
*waits for reader to wipe drool from chin … writer does the same*
Essentially, the romance realm is the highest grossing genre for a reason. We all have our stories to share. We all have a different way of telling our stories. But in the end, it’s about love.
When you want to describe a romance novel as cliche, ask yourself this:
On that note … I published my third book, Hornet’ Nest. You should totally check it out and get your cliché on. 
The post The Cliché of Romance is a Cliché appeared first on Jaycee Ford.
January 12, 2015
Review of SOMETIMES MOMENTS by Len Webster
One blink,
One breath of air,
One moment in time …
Could change your life forever.
Growing up, Peyton Spencer fell in love with the boy across the road, Callum Reid. As the years went by, it only made sense that they would wind up being completely and utterly infatuated with each other. That was, until the morning Peyton wakes up to find Callum packing up and leaving the small town they lived in. Left heartbroken and with no explanation, Peyton spends the next four years of her life without him, ensuring they never cross paths again.
At seventeen and months after Callum leaves her, Peyton buries her parents—feeling more alone than ever before. Now at twenty-one, she’s inherited the family hotel, The Spencer-Dayle. Just when she thinks life couldn’t get more complicated, the one person that shattered her heart, soul and belief returns. For Peyton, his return opens up all her old wounds and resurfaces the memories she’s tried to forget.
He’s not the same boy she once fell in love with. He’s guarded and keeps secrets close to him. Peyton knows her life will begin to unravel.
Untold truths will finally come to light. Whether or not Peyton wants to hear it, the truth will undoubtedly break her heart all over again.
• REVIEW •
I don’t even know where to begin with this story. Let me pick up my heart and put it carefully back inside my chest. I say carefully because it’s weeping at the beauty that is SOMETIMES MOMENTS. The story is told through the eyes of Peyton Spencer. As an adult, she’s the sole owner of a hotel in a small Australian town, but when she was a teenager, she was Callum Reid’s. That’s all that mattered to her. Life did it’s thing that it always does and became an evil bastard. Peyton, with the help of her friends, forged through life without the man who stole her heart forever. She moves on, never forgiving and never forgetting.
Callum comes back into her life. She tries with all her might, but her heart won’t rest until Callum resumes his place by her side, even if he can’t promise forever. And this is where my heart becomes a puddle of mush. Book hangover severity at its finest, one that you’ll want to experience again and again.
I often read Nicholas Sparks for that level of desperation and love that one needs in their reading life. I believe this book just overtook any and all books that Mr. Sparks had bestowed upon me. Len Webster allows the reader to not only see love, but feel the agony of love. It’s an agony that will stay with you. It’s an agony that you’ll never forget.
I give SOMETIMES MOMENTS five stars.
An ARC was supplied to me in exchange for an honest review.
This review does not do the book justice. You have to experience it yourself.
GOODREADS LINK
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22093502-sometimes-moments
PURCHASE LINKS
Amazon: http://amzn.com/B00OMWKWH8
Amazon AU: http://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B00OMWKWH8
Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00OMWKWH8
PLAYLIST
Spotify link: https://play.spotify.com/user/lennwebster/playlist/5GeTInzlrz2jjpAatjZzxW
AUTHOR LINKS
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lennwebster
Twitter: https://twitter.com/lennwebster
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7502135.Len_Webster
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Len- Webster/e/B00HIFA2GM/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_14
Instagram: http://instagram.com/lennwebster
GIVEAWAY
Signed Paperback of Sometimes Moments
$25 Amazon Giftcard
The post Review of SOMETIMES MOMENTS by Len Webster appeared first on Jaycee Ford.
November 22, 2014
TRYST – New Adult debut by ALEX ROSA – Cover Reveal
Eons ago (or two years ago) I became friends with this chick named Alex Rosa. She was just starting the process of self-publishing her first book Emotionally Compromised and I wrote for free, trying to figure out if this was a hobby or something more. Now, I’ve self-published my second book and editing my third while Alex has scooped up a deal with Penguin Intermix.
I’ve read Tryst prior to publication and it is the epitome of “New Adult Romance.” I can’t wait until you mean Skylar and Blake.
March 17th 2015
In this sensational New Adult debut by Alex Rosa, boyfriends are too much trouble. So what’s the harm in a little fun?
With an abusive relationship behind her, Skyler moves out of her Orange County apartment, changes her phone number, cuts ties with her friends, and moves in with her brother Josh, a talent agent with a spare room in his incredible house in Hollywood.
Josh is happy to take Skyler under his wing, but he has one rule: she can’t sleep with his roommate, Blake. That’s fine by Skyler. She doesn’t want a man in her life right now—and certainly not cocky Blake who’s with a different girl every night. But his all-American boy charm and his ripped model physique are difficult to refuse. Josh will never know if no one ever tells him. And a little secret now and then never hurt anyone…
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18803573-tryst?ac=1
Pre-order:
Penguin: http://www.penguin.com/book/tryst-by-alex-rosa/9780698194649
Amazon: http://goo.gl/tNf6I9
iBooks: http://goo.gl/og8fwf
Barns and Noble: http://goo.gl/LXTfgK
Books A Million: http://goo.gl/uLKwAz
Read the First Three Chapters Online:
Book Country: http://goo.gl/GdyaQx
Wattpad: http://goo.gl/4juXys
When Alex Rosa isn’t scouring city parks or cafes to write, she is most likely trying to convince her friends to join her on her next adventure. A sufferer of wanderlust, she is always looking for a new mountain to climb, a canyon to hike, or a plane to board. Her résumé consists of coroner, zoo worker, and most recently executive assistant, but she finds her home amongst words, whether it is in books or in film. Her obsessions are on the brink of bizarre, but that’s just the way she likes it.
Author links:
Website: http://www.authorarosa.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/author.arosa
Twitter: https://twitter.com/oh_alexrosa
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/alexrosa
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/alexxrosa/
Instagram: http://instagram.com/oh_alex
The post TRYST – New Adult debut by ALEX ROSA – Cover Reveal appeared first on Jaycee Ford.
October 20, 2014
Man Crush Monday – Food Network Style
I have been wanting to embark on the phenomenon that is Man Crush Monday. I’m always late to the party. I figured why not put two of my favorite things together into one post: Men and Food. Some of you know that I’ve had a few medical issues the past couple of months. There will be more on that another time, but essentially, I’ve recently had trouble eating due to these health issues. So, I thought I’d be able to fix this by watching lots and lots of the Food Network. It’s actually worked. I lost 20 pounds while in the hospital and gained 5 back. I’m content now. No more pounds! So, I watch the Food Network for other reasons…
The Men!
I couldn’t resist starting this off with Alton Brown. Always Good Eats, Alton. Always.
The only non-human thing that could be considered sexy is food. In all of my romance novels, I wrote about some insanely delicious meal.
“Tonight we are serving Caesar salad to start, followed by Chicken Marsala, which is served with linguini in a light mushroom cream sauce.”
That’s probably one of my top 10 favorite dishes, and by testing WATCHING FIREFLIES on Wattpad, it was the most highlighted sentence in my whole story. There was also pot roast. Meat is always mouthwatering. In DRAGONFLY AWAKENING, Paul and Ellie dined on pizza from Lombardi’s in New York City as well as chowed down on Fettuccini Alfredo with bacon (Because it’s bacon. Everything is better with bacon.) In HORNET’S NEST (publishing February 2015), Katherine and Lance will have a little chocolate fun. That’s all I’m saying.
Food is sensual. When you eat something mind blowing, you moan. It’s impossible not to.
“I’ll have what she’s having.”
Even something as simple as cheesecake … dear Lord. Now just imagine if you had cheesecake (or pasta or a flipping piece of buttered toast) served to you by these men, and yes, these men are chefs and are on the Food Network. THIS is why I watch.
At 43 years, this yummy man has seven restaurants, has won the “Best New Restaurant of 2003″ from the James Beard Foundation for “L’Impero” and the “Best New Chef” from Food & Wine Magazine in 2004, has written three cookbooks (he’s a writer!), and has me glued to the TV when he’s the judge on Food Networks’ Chopped. AND … he’s Italian. *fans self* Never forget to salt your pasta water with this one.
A man that is an Iron Chef and that can look that good in a suit easily makes my #MCM list. One always needs a little salt and pepper when cooking, and I like how that salt and pepper looks.
*giggles*
A newbie to the Food Network, Mr. Mauro won the seventh season of the Next Food Network Star, and this is where he won my heart with his humor and his sandwiches. Who doesn’t love a sandwich? His show is called The Sandwich King, but if I remember correctly, on the Next Food Network Star, he wanted to name his show Between Two Buns (or was it Between the Bread? I can’t remember). The romance writer then swooned.
When you say Food Network, my first thought is of Bobby Flay. He’s been on that channel since the very beginning, and my mad love of gingers is probably why I keep coming back for more. He has an insane amount of restaurants and been on an insane amount of shows. He’s the epitome of food competitions. His focus is Southwestern cuisine. So, he’s a ginger that likes some spice. Now you see why he’s on my list!
A man who can cook like nobody’s business and he’s a bad ass with tats. *faints* He also just opened Johnny Sánchez in my home city of New Orleans with my favorite NOLA chef John Besh. I have yet to go, but I am super excited. There’s just something about Mr. Sanchez … I need to go back for seconds.
Don’t we look cute together??? ♥
There are too many men on the Food Network that make me hungry. I will have to do a continuation one day. These are my first top five in no order. I cannot rank men that look like this and cook like they do.
But the biggest question is … do they also do dishes? Cuz THAT would be hot!
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