Category: Uncategorized

Thank you to Laurielu from Bona Fide Reflections as well as Suz, Annie, Francesa, and Angela from Under the Covers for hosting the Love Struck Giveaway Hop!

Is there a book or a series that you have read which has left you completely smitten? A hero/heroine that makes other heroes/heroines pale in comparison to the feelings you have for your “true” love?
Yes! And that series is The Bronze Horseman by Paullina Simons. 

It’s a historical romance taking place in Russia during WWII. The hero Alexander is soooo swoon-worthy. He’s a tall, dark soldier (my favorite), quiet and brooding with a quick wit, and utterly in love with the heroine Tatiana.

“Tatiana said. “Go on with Dasha. She is right for you. She is a woman and I’m-” 
“Blind!”, Alexander exclaimed. 
Tatiana stood, desolately failing in the battle of her heart. “Oh, Alexander. What do you want from me…”
“Everything”, he whispered fiercely.

A bus came. The soldier turned away from her and walked toward it. Tatiana watched him. Even his walk was from another world; the step was too sure, the stride too long, yet somehow it all seemed right, looked right, felt right. It was like stumbling on a book you thought you had lost. Ah, yes, there it is.

Lady Jayne from Goodreads supplies photos of how she sees the characters in her reviews, and she thinks Henry Cavill would make a good Alexander. I have to agree. 

Tatiana: “Why did we spend two days fighting when we could have been doing this?”
Alexander: “That wasn’t fighting, Tatiana. That was foreplay.”
 
Gah! Alexander is such an awesome book boyfriend.

I want YOU to read The Bronze Horseman, so I’m giving away an Amazon or Barnes & Noble gift card of $10 to help you do just that. And since my novels feature tall, dark, and handsome military men, I’m also giving away an ebook of With Good Behavior. This giveaway is INTERNATIONAL.
a Rafflecopter giveawayPlease visit HERE to see the other participating blogs!

Readers, are you tired of waiting for your favorite author’s next book?

Writers, are you struggling to stick to your timeline?

I know I’m not progressing through my WIP On Best Behavior as quickly as I’d like.

Time for a helpful guest post from writer Samantha Gray!

Take it away, Samantha…

5 Ways to Keep Writing No Matter What

Writing is not for the faint of heart. We confront feelings that are powerful and sometimes very complicated. We bare our souls for the world to see. We offer this gift to the world, perhaps secretly terrified of rejection. No wonder so many writers are suicidal, or alcoholics, or dry up and become reclusive hermits, never to be heard from again. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Below are some heartfelt suggestions for how to keep going in those moments where you just want to give up on your dream:

1. Drop what you’re doing. No, really. If you’re having a genuine morale problem, AKA writer’s block, it’s less important that you make progress on the particular project of the moment than it is that you recapture a sense of forward momentum and happy flow. That doesn’t mean you stop writing. Quite the opposite: the whole point here is not to stall out, not to freeze like a deer in headlights. Rather, try writing something random, low-pressure, and above all, fun. There’s no harm in a little side project. Who knows, maybe this little throwaway will even become your main project. Your block could be your heart telling you you’re barking up the wrong tree.

2. Remember, NO ONE IS WATCHING. Your precious baby is yours alone for now, to nurse as you see fit. You get to decide when it finally gets released into the world, and that time hasn’t come yet, so your piece can be as bad as it wants to be for now. Remember that bumper sticker slogan, “Work like you don’t need the money, Love like you’ve never been hurt, Dance like no-one’s watching”? Well, write like no one can see. Because they can’t.

3. Think back to when you first fell in love with writing. What were you working on then? Try to find a way to reconnect with that feeling, and work that one-time inspiration back into what you’re doing. What was it that you enjoyed most about it? Get back to those basics and you may find that what you’re putting on the page is revitalized.

4. Reread your favorite book, something you purely love. Even if it’s totally unrelated to your own writing goals, it may help you rediscover that feeling described above. Something totally different from your own project (science fiction instead of romance, poetry instead of fiction) may shake you out of your funk and offer new inspiration.

5. Take a walk. Sitting at your desk all day is simply not good for you, physically or mentally, especially at those times when you don’t feel good about what you’re doing. I describe this as an “occupational hazard” for writers and people think I’m joking, but it’s true. Prolonged periods at a chair are bad for your back, your circulation, your digestion…and don’t get me started on the bleary-eyed, discombobulated feeling I get from staring at a screen for hours on end. On that note, I’m out of here! Time to go get some fresh air. Happy scribbling!

Samantha Gray is a freelance writer based in Houston, Texas, who offers college advice to those interested in furthering their studies and careers. She can be reached for questions or comments at samanthagray024@gmail.com

Thank you, Samantha! I can definitely vouch for the boost that comes from taking a walk. Exercise increases cerebral blood flow, letting the creativity flow like liquid. Check out another post by Samantha about great YA books HERE.

Smash alerted me to an informal reading challenge this summer: the All Series, All Summer Challenge hosted by Amanda from On a Book Bender blog and Kelly from Reading the Paranormal blog.

The goal of the challenge is to make progress on or finish some series that you’ve started. It’s an informal challenge…Kelly states “You’re welcome to join us. There is no sign up, no pressure, no check-ins, no anything except a driving need to have a reason to push these books to the top of our respective TBR piles.”

Here are some series I plan to work on this summer (thereby making progress on the Romantic Suspense and YA Reading Challenges as well):

Black Ops by Cindy Gerard (Romantic Suspense):
3. Whisper No Lies
4. Feel the Heat
5. Risk No Secrets
6. With No Remorse
7. Last Man Standing (I have signed copies of the last two from RT!)

I-Team by Pamela Clare (Romantic Suspense):
1.5 Heaven Can’t Wait

MacKinnon’s Rangers by Pamela Clare (Historical Romance):
1. Surrender
2. Untamed
3. Defiant

Play by Play by Jaci Burton (Sports Romance)
1. The Perfect Play
2. Changing the Game
3. Taking a Shot

Divergent by Veronica Roth (YA Dystopian)
2. Insurgent

If I Stay by Gayle Forman (YA Contemporary)
2. Where She Went

Catching Jordan by Miranda Kenneally (YA Sports Romance)
2. Stealing Parker

Ember by Carol Oates (YA Paranormal)
1. Ember
2. Iridescent


Gabriel’s Inferno by Sylvain Reynard (Adult Contemporary)
2. Gabriel’s Rapture

Fifty Shades (Erotica)
1. Fifty Shades of Grey
2. Fifty Shades Darker
3. Fifty Shades Freed

Hanaford Park by Lisa Sanchez (Adult Paranormal)
3. Faythe Reclaimed

Black Dagger Brotherhood by J.R. Ward (Adult Paranormal)
5. Lover Unbound
6. Lover Enshrined
7. Lover Avenged (this list is already too optimistic!)

Time to share some photos from my book signing May 11th at a wine shop in Columbus, Ohio.

Aunt Nancy sent these beautiful flowers for the event, brightening the table and my day.

My three books were up for sale, including newly released Young Adult Sports Romance STREAMLINE. Check out the fun Sexy Swimmer buttons featuring hero Leo Scott!

I was super excited my bff Gwynn made it, all the way from Virginia! Gwynn and I swam and played volleyball together in college, and she said Streamline gave her insight into my tough mental preparation for swim races.

According to Gwynn, “This is an AWESOME book! I stayed up entirely too late last night to finish this, and am now highly recommending it to you! Jen developed some fabulous characters that completely drew me in, and I could not put the book down until I found out what happened to them. It has drama, love, twists and turns…and for me it was neat because much of the plot was centered around swimming. It took me back to my days in the pool.”

 

Thanks to I Am a Reader, Not A Writer blog and Page Turners blog for hosting the *Splash* Into Summer Giveaway Hop!

I have the perfect prize for the Splash Into Summer Hop: a swimming book! (I hope this giveaway will make a big *SPLASH* hee hee.) I’m offering a signed copy of my new Young Adult sports romance, STREAMLINE.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Today I’m hosting author Roland Yeomans, who’s just released a new fantasy novel: END OF DAYS.

I met Roland through blogging and we got to know each other better in the A to Z Challenge. I really love both his writing and the high school setting for this supernatural novel. Roland says:

“I’ve read many YA books set in schools, and very, very few mention what goes on in the classrooms. The action all transpires before or after class, making the school almost non-existent when for students, it makes up a bulk of their weekly lives. In END OF DAYS, I brought the class into the lives of the students. Seeing as it was a high school for and taught by supernaturals, the classes were hardly boring!”

Here’s are a couple of excerpts from End of Days:

1) Wolf Howl, a Lakota shaman, is a teacher at St. Marrok’s.  He begins his classes with:

         Renfield held up a long forefinger.  “As all of us must do as we live each day, each week, each year.”

Roland is giving away one ebook of End of Days to a lucky commenter! So get your supernatural groove on and talk to us, Obi Wan.

Congratulations to my pub sister Lisa Sanchez for the release of her sixth publication: Fayth Reclaimed!

I’m in awe of my psychotherapy clients when they put their faith in me and in the healing process. They come to therapy betrayed and broken, but they take the extraordinary risk to step outside their comfort zone, hoping things will get better. That’s faith.

What’s faith to you? How do you reclaim it?

What a wonderful blog tour! Julie from A Tale of Many Reviews set up a kickass schedule, and I deeply appreciate all the lovely bloggers’ time and talents. Because Streamline is an atypical YA, I was nervous about readers’ reception to the story, but I’m so pleased Leo Scott elicited deep emotion from many readers.

Thank you to Julie from A Tale of Many Reviews for hosting the Streamline Blog Tour (and creating this beautiful banner)!

Here is where you enter for the grand prize of a $25 gift card of your choice (Amazon, etc.)

/*{literal}{/literal}*/ a Rafflecopter giveaway<a href=”http://rafl.es/enable-js”>You need javascript enabled to see this giveaway</a>.
STREAMLINE TOUR SCHEDULE
(We’ll post links when they’re up!)

Monday, May 7:
The Autumn Review ~ Review & Giveaway
The Fairytale Nerd ~ Excerpt #1 & Giveaway
StuckInBooks ~ Review & Giveaway
A Diary Of A Book Addict ~ Review
The Bookish Babes ~ Review
Tater’s Tall Tails ~ Excerpt #2 & Giveaway
Book Nerd ~ Review
Realm of Fiction ~ Interview with Leo & Giveaway
A Pocket Full of Books  ~ Excerpt & Giveaway
Splash Of Our Worlds ~ Review
The Book Barbies ~ The Writer’s Cave & Giveaway
Journey with Books ~ Review & Interview with Audrey
Supernatural Snark ~ Review

Tuesday, May 8:
Sweet Southern Home ~ Review & Giveaway
Chapter by Chapter ~ Review
Maji Bookshelf ~ Review
Insightful Minds ~ Review
Kindle and Me ~ Excerpt #3 & Giveaway

Wednesday, May 9:
FireStarBooks ~ Excerpt #4 & Giveaway
Pink Polka Dot Book Blog ~ Review
J.R. After Dark ~ Review
So Simply Sara ~ Review
Little Library Muse ~ Review
Cozy Up With A Good Read ~ Review & Excerpt #5
Mostly YA Book Obsessed ~ Author Interview
A Trail of Books Left Behind ~ Review
Nicole’s YA Book Haven ~ Excerpt #6 & Giveaway

Thursday, May 10:
JJ iReads  ~ Review & Excerpt #6
Refracted Light | YA Book Reviews ~ Top 10 with Jennifer Lane, Interview, & Giveaway
Living Fictitiously ~ Review & Top 10 with Audrey
Journey with Books ~ Review & Excerpt #7
Letters Inside Out ~ Review
Novels On The Run ~ Review
Livin’ Life Through Books ~ Top 10 with Leo & Giveaway
Shiirleyy’s Bookshelf ~ Excerpt #8 & Giveaway

Friday, May 11:
I solemnly swear that I’m up to a book ~ Review
Electrifying Reviews ~ Music Playlist & Giveaway
We Fancy Books ~ Review/Creating Chemistry & Giveaway
Good Choice Reading ~ Excerpt #9 & Giveaway

Saturday, May 12:
The Magic Attic ~ 6 Words for STREAMLINE & Giveaway (visiting the Girls Who Fly blog)
A Tale of Many Reviews ~ Twitter conversation & Giveaway
Jennifer Lane’s Blog ~ Dream Cast and Grand Prize

I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I kind of miss April’s A to Z Blogging Challenge. Therefore, guest blogger Heather Smith is bringing you one more “Z” post as she talks about finding zeal in your blogging.  Take it away, Heather!

Anyone can be a blogger.

Anyone.

Take a look around the blog world and you’ll see people of all walks of life blogging about their passions, their lives, or what they think will make them money.

But not everyone can be a successful blogger. A second, closer look at the blogging world will show that there are definite ranks in blogging. There are the big-time bloggers who have made an empire out of their blogs, the successful ones that blog on the side but still have amassed a loyal readership, and the blogs that rarely see the light of day.

So what does it take to be a successful blogger?

1. Consistent posting: It’s the only way you’ll gain a steady readership. People don’t like to commit to reading blogs that are sporadic with their posting at best. You have to be dependable with your posting – whether it’s once a week or once a month, so long as there is some rhyme and reason to how you approach it.

2. A loyal readership: Once you develop a loyal base readership they’ll be your biggest fans and the best promoters of your blog. They’ll want to share you work so that more people will see what you have to say because they feel they have a relationship with you. In fact, it’s sort of reminiscent of a proud mother, wanting to showcase your work and share your insight.

3. A high level of zealousness: This is the differentiating factor between regular bloggers and the successful ones – the pure, unadulterated passion with which they approach their particular niche in the blogging market. Readers can quickly see when someone is posting just to get up content and when someone is posting something that they are enthusiastic about, something that they love and that they really believe in.

Anyone can be a blogger, sure. But not everyone can be a great blogger. Zealousness makes all the difference.

Author Bio

Heather Smith is an ex-nanny. Passionate about thought leadership and writing, Heather regularly contributes to various career, social media, public relations, branding, and parenting blogs/websites. She also provides value to nanny service by giving advice on site design as well as the features and functionality to provide more and more value to nannies and families across the U.S. and Canada. She can be available at H.smith7295 [at] gmail.com.