Teaser Tuesday!

We're back again with the last Teaser Tuesday of July! 

I've just finished a book, which leaves me without a current teaser to share with y'all. But don't fret, I always have a stack of books to refer to. This week, I am taking teasers from a book that I am eager to read: Touch If You Dare by Stephanie Rowe. 

With a title like that, how can you possibly go wrong! 

 Teaser #1

For a long minute, they stared at each other, and then her heart began to thump again, responding to his call. 

And the bastard heard it. She saw the struggle in his own eyes, and then he silently held out his arm again. 

She fought it, lasted for almost two seconds, and then she took his arm. 

They walked into Symphony Hall. 

Together. 

Toward a future that was as horrific as it was ravenously decadent. 

And neither of them could say 'no.'

Teaser #2

It was time to get back in control. His sword clenched in his fist, he surveyed the room restlessly, needing anything that would help him. "You got any knitting needles and yarn?" Hell, he'd try anything. 

"Kitting needles? No, sorry." She stalked over to the bed and grabbed a book titled Living with Fear. "But I can give you exercises so you stop freaking out about your life." 

Touch If You Dare has a 3.9/5 star rating and is available on Amazon.  

Review of A Family Affair by Mary Campisi

Published: February 15, 2011
Publisher: Mary Campisi
ASIN: B004OL2OKK

Christine Blasksworth's father died on a stretch of icy road he had traveled hundreds of times, leaving her family at a loss. Upon the reading of his will, she finds that there may be more to his trips than originally thought. Deciding to do a little investigating of her own, Christine finds herself in Magdalena, New York, face-to-face with his dirty little secret: another woman and an illegitimate child. Naturally, she is furious, with the woman, the child, her father. Then, as she starts to learn more about this family and the small town they live in, she starts to wonder: who was the real family, hers, or theirs?

This one really caught me off guard. I loved the premise, which is what brought me to read it, and when I opened it, I can't say that I was sucked right in, but I wanted to see where it was going and how it would all play out. Plus, the writing was solid, the characters well-developed and each with a distinct personality that I found intriguing.

Once I got into it, I discovered a story that was heartfelt. The author has a way of telling something seemingly so simple, but infusing each moment with passion, tenderness, and a caring so deep that it had me a little choked up at times. I could see it, feel it, and that is what really makes a story shine at the end of the day. I wanted to hate the father, but in the end, could only see it from a perspective of, if not right, then not totally wrong either. I could sense the struggle of all parties involved to live the life they had, surrounded by lies and treachery, but bound by love, devotion, and duty. The ending wasn't neat and tidy, cleaning up all the loose ends, and I felt that it was more true to life that way. Not everything could be wrapped up and smoothed overnight. It would take work, but for the moment, with the way it did end, it left me with the feeling that things were falling into place and that, no matter what Christine had to face tomorrow, she had found her slice of happiness that her father had been struggling to obtain, without all the messy strings and unanswered questions.

A Family Affair can be purchase, for FREE, on Amazon Kindle here.

It's Teaser Tuesday!

Alright folks, let's see what we have on the shelf today!

This week's teaser comes from a little gem I picked up in the library called The Bodyguard. It contains three stories of passion, adventure, and mystery with wizards and shadow wranglers and all that kind of romantic stuff we women love to read about. Plus, any book that has Gena Showalter's name on it has my stamp of approval, 'cause you know it's going to be good! 

 

NOTE: Because this is an anthology, I am going to take a teaser from two spots in the book, rather than off of one page. 

Flipping to random page....ah, here we go. 

Teaser #1

"I should walk away from you," he said darkly. 

"Yeah, well, I should walk away from you."

Now his eyes narrowed. Every word out of her mouth seemed to anger him."Do it, then. Walk away."

"Believe me, that's not a problem." Except it was.

Teaser #2

She's a tango. Don't trust how you feel. Trust what you know. 

"Cold?" If this was  the right thing to do, then why the hell did just doing his job feel like a betrayal? 

"No. Yes," she said, nuzzling his chest as she shivered again. "It's always cold here, but your body is toasty-warm as an electric blanket. This is the warmest I've been in years--No, don't move; I don't need anything covering me but you." 

Damn it. She was a snuggler. 

The Bodyguard has a 3.7/5 star rating and is available on Amazon.

 

 

Review of Crash by Nicole Williams

Published: July 18, 2012
Publisher: Nicole Williams
ASIN:B008N0LUE4


Lucy lived her life surrounded by a loving family, wealth and promise, until the day her brother was murdered. From that day on, her happy world began to unravel. Her father lost his job, his mind slipping from reality, her mother turned to work and directed her anger at every person who crossed her path, and Lucy searched for creatures she could fix, making the last five years something of a pitiful nightmare. The only thing Lucy has left is her dancing and the dream of being accepted into the prestigious Julliard.

Then she meets Jude Ryder. Tall, athletic with a killer smile and endless charm, Lucy recognizes right away that he is everything she should be avoiding. He's a heart breaker, a smooth talker and has a rap sheet longer than her arm, but she finds that, although her gut is telling her to steer clear, her heart is jogging to keep up.

Wow, but this book was a real page turner. It kept me up way past my bedtime and when it was clear that sleep was imperative, I took the needed break, then was right back at it this morning. I simply couldn't out it down. Simple writing, but highly engaging and compelling. Miss Williams has created fantastic characters with strong personalities and a lot of depth. Jude was that dark and tortured boy with an equally dark and tortured past. His default was anger, to the point of self-destruction that was cringe worthy at times and a little frightening, forcing me to ask, what would I do in Lucy's situation? Even when I thought, enough is enough, this boy is too damaged to pursue without risking personal harm, I still couldn't walk away any more than Lucy could. He's exactly the type of character that gives you just enough of his softer side to know there is one and that he is redeemable if he would just let someone in, and that, along with a host of other reasons, makes him swoon worthy in my book. I have only read a few books with characters that moved me like Jude did, and if I had to compare one that he gave a good run for his money, it would be Patch from Hush, Hush.

Lucy, for all the crap she's been through, was remarkably balanced. Although she intended to step lightly with Jude, as any teenager would do, she always ended up stomping and stumbling through all her well intentioned safeguards. She was relatable and likeable and that is an important quality, especially in a first person novel.

I am thrilled to have had the pleasure of reading this and know that the characters will be with me for a while. Overlooking small editing issues, I feel this is a well deserved 5 stars, and I would recommend it anyone who likes a Ya novel (recommended for 18+ due to some strong language) with plenty of romance, heartache, and deception.

Crash is Available on Amazon Kindle here.

When is the best time to get creative?

"Creativity -- like human life itself -- begins in darkness." --JULIA CAMERON

Okay, I will be the first to admit that most of the time, as I sit down in front of the computer screen and my fingers hover over the keys, I am distracted. Anything interesting in the old email today? A new review? What's that article all about? I should read it. By the time I realize I have done absolutely nothing, I have wasted an hour (sometimes more) doing absolutely nothing. After a bit of reprimanding has been done, I get serious, open up the right file and just as I get my bearings and my thoughts come together...mommy duty kicks in, and we're back to square one. 

Is this how it goes for you?

My husband tells me he found a quote somewhere that claims creativity is best at night. I get to thinking about this, realizing I can draw some serious lines to this theory from my own experience. You see, I spend a good portion of the day struggling to reign in my thoughts long enough to put out a couple of lines, until I just have to walk away for a bit. In the evening, I tend to come back, put on some music, and try again. And you know what? It flows. 

Why haven't I recognized this pattern before?

I tried Googling it to see if this theory holds any weight, and I found people everywhere asking others the same question, saying that they seem to only be truly creative at night. Then I found an article in The Washington Post saying that if you are a morning person, research shows that you are most likely to be creative at night. On the other end of the spectrum, if you are a night owl, then your creativity should hit you during the morning hours. 

So, the question I pose is, which side do you fall on? 

Attention Readers!

Just a quick reminder....

Today marks the official release of Spring Cleaning! It is available for purchase at the following locations: 

ebooks

Amazon
Barnes & Noble 

Kobo

Smashwords

Lulu
 

Paperback

Lulu

Note: You can pick up this title today and tomorrow only for free on Smashwords when you use the coupon code: TX82M. 

For those of you who pick it up, thank you so much for your support. Happy reading!

Teaser Tuesday

It's that time again! 

This week's teaser is from a yummy little read entitled Demon's Bride by Zoe Archer, and is the second book in her Hellraiser series. 

 So, let's crack this baby open and see what we've got. 

 

Teaser #1

She looked at him, with the bruise on his face and the scabs on his knuckles, his sandy hair coming out from its queue, and suddenly understood that what made Leo so very dangerous wasn't his humble birth, nor his wealth, and not even his physicality. What truly made him dangerous was this: he honestly did not care what anyone else thought. And that gave him perfect freedom to do exactly what he pleased. 

Teaser #2

"This must be the side of marriage that is so celebrated. A doting, fussing wife."
"I've little experience with the matter," she said, "having never had a wife before."
"Then we are equally innocent on the subject."
One word she would never choose to describe Leo: innocent.    
 

 Demon's Bride sports 4.4/ 5 stars and is available on Amazon.

Spring Cleaning is almost here! 

  

For those of you who have been here before, you may have already noticed the ticker on the left telling you how many days are left until the release of Spring Cleaning. For those of you who are new here, please look to your left...now. 

I would like to bring to your attention that the ticker, which used to have 40 days left on it, now has 2. Why you might ask? Well, I am very excited to announce that the editing process took much less time than originally expected and so I have decided not to delay the process any longer. 

What does that mean for you?

Come Tuesday, July 17th, Spring Cleaning will be available for purchase just about everywhere! That means Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Smashwords, and Lulu. Very soon I hope to add Kobo and a few select others to that list, at which time I will announce and provide links for your convenience.  

Review of J. R. Ward's The Player

Published: May 29,2012
Publisher: HQN Books
ASIN: B007JJSO8U

Ruthless might as well be Gray Bennett's middle name. When the renowned Washington, D.C., insider talks, powerful people listen. But Gray hasn't come home to Saranac Lake to play politics. Or play at all. A tragedy has shaken the unshakable Gray Bennett to his hardened core.

And so has the most unlikely of women.

The mousy redhead who used to run around the Moorehouse B and B—the one he never noticed—is now all fiery hair and lush curves. But sweet Joy Moorehouse is too innocent for a cynic like him. So Gray won't let himself lay a hand on her…until the night he can no longer resist the woman she has become. That's when he discovers a secret that leaves him gasping for breath—and wanting more.

Right out of the starting gate, I liked these characters. Each one has that strong, unique voice I have come to expect in Ward's characters. Gray was powerful, fierce, and commanding, and yet he had that soft under layer that lets you know that he isn't a bad person, but maybe just following down the wrong path. Joy is the type of woman who is caring and thoughtful and gives a lot of herself, probably too much, even at the expense of her own happiness. She has been in love with Gray for years but doesn't really consider herself in his league, not to mention that everyone and their mother seems to be warning her to stay away for her own good.

The story itself was well-written. It had tragedy and sorrow and enough misunderstandings to try a saint's patience. As much as I liked the overall storyline, I was annoyed with Joy and her absolute need to respond to Gray when it seemed to me that, although he had his redeeming qualities, she didn't know that and should have dropped him on his ass, hard...several times. I think what really bothered me about the story, however, isn't all the wishy washy stuff, but the ending.

I have grown somewhat accustomed to the type of endings Ward gives in her BDB and Fallen Angels series that leave me wanting so much more and ready to throw myself over a cliff to get it, that this one left me saying "Huh? Really?" Originality clearly wasn't the name of the game here. Instead, the ending was completely cliched. I can't count how many times this scenario has played out in movies and TV shows where...

*SPOILER ALERT*

...the hero defies death, leaping onto the back of a fast moving train to get to his lady love and plead for her forgiveness, followed up by the spilling of his guts then the down on one knee proposal of which, if she doesn't accept, the lady behind her happily will.

Needless to say, this one fell flat for me. Instead of finishing strong, it took the easy way out. I still love Ward, but I don't know if I will venture into her traditional romance novels again.

Oh, who am I kidding, of course I will! It's J.R. Ward for crying out loud!

 Pick up your copy on Amazon here.

Be Inspired Meme

Thanks to Nickie for tagging me! Now, I have to answer the following five questions, and then tag up to five more lovely and fabulous bloggers. 

 

1. What is the name of your book?

Hmm, let me pick one...A Warrior's Betrayal. 

 

2. Where did the idea for your book come from?

Since it is the second in the Brotherhood series, it is very much a continuation of the first, which I left dangling off of a cliff. The initial idea stemmed from a program I was watching on television about angels and demons and heaven and hell and all that good stuff. Since I love Greek Mythology and am fascinated by all that good versus evil stuff, it really have me a good jump in the right direction. 

3. In what genre would you classify your book?

Definitely adult, but also a paranormal, urban fantasy mix.

4. If you had to pick actors to play your characters in a movie rendition, who would you choose?

 

Erias would have to be played by the gorgeous Gerard Butler.

Behr, perhaps a more muscular version of Jonathan Rhys Meyers.

Dehstroy, a character who was introduced in the first, has bit bigger role in this one, and will take center stage in the next, would be best represented by Curtis Stone.

Last but not least, Cheyenne would be played by the lovely Katharine McPhee. 

5. Give us a one-sentence synopsis of your book.

Only one???

Cheyenne is having difficulty readjusting to life outside of a cell, but with her new found friendship in Behr and Dehstroy, she may have a decent shot at returning to normalcy, assuming the big bad demon hit man out to get her doesn't kill her first.

6. Is your book already published / represented?

Nope. It is still in the final preparations before writing can actually begin. After that, count on it being on Amazon by the end of August.

7. How long did it take you to write your book?
It's not finished, but the idea has been cooking for about...eight months I would venture. With an outline on my side, I figure it shouldn't take me more than a month or so to write it all out, assuming I am diligent. 

8. What other books within your genre would you compare it to? Or, readers of which books would enjoy yours?

Brotherhood has been compared to the likes of Sherrylin Kenyon's Dark Hunter series and Ward's Black Dagger Brotherhood. I can definitely see how they might make the connection, because these women and the series in particular, are at the top of my favorite reads list, so it only makes sense that I have gleaned some of my inspiration from them. 

9. Which authors inspired you to write this book?

I am inspired by so much. TV, books, people, dreams...I wouldn't say that an author directly inspired this book, but I would say that the women mentioned before probably helped influence the tone.

10. Tell us anything that might pique our interest in your book. 

The story is one of deception and romance, friendships and lost loves, heartache and sorrow with a sprinkle and a dash of action in between. 

 

Now for the bloggers to tag:

1. Katie Hughart
2. Holly Hood 
3. Lily Harlem 

 

 * Please leave a note if you decide to participate. Thanks!

 Teaser Tuesday!

 
It's that time of the week again! Wait, it's that time of the week, AGAIN? Wow, how time has been flying lately! Well, if you stopped in last week, you already know what's going on. If you're new to the blog, you're in for a treat!

Since I am always reading something, every Tuesday I will share a few lines (teasers) designed to entice you.

Want to play along?

• Pick up whatever book you are currently reading and open it to the page you left off at (If you haven't started it yet, open it to a random page). 
• Without giving anything away, share a few lines that you find particularly great. 
• So everyone knows where to pick up this great new read, don't forget to include the title and author name.

That's it!

Today's teasers are taken from The Player, written by New York Times Bestselling author, J.R. Ward (a.k.a. Jessica Bird).

 

Teaser #1 

"Do you want to be alone?" 

Gray's eyes slid over to her face. His expression was so intense, she had to blink. It was either that or have her retinas toasted. 

"No, I don't want to be alone," he said in a low, husky voice. His eyes flickered downward for a split second before he looked away. "And that's my problem." 

Teaser #2

 She could do this. She really could. If Eve had pulled off the seducer routine with only an apple and some coaching from a snake, surely Joy could make a go of it in a Stella McCartney dress and a pair of Jimmy Choos.    

Do you have a teaser you would like to share? 

The Liebster Blog Award

The Liebster Blog Award

Very recently I was awarded the Liebster Blog Award by Stephanie at: Little Red Reads. It was very unexpected and, wow, what an honor! What is the Liebster Blog Award you might ask?

 

The Liebster Blog Award is given to up-and-coming bloggers who have less than 200 followers. Liebster is a German word which means sweetest, kindest, nicest, dearest, beloved, lovely, kind, pleasant, valued, cute, endearing, and welcome. How sweet is that??

The Rules:
1. Each person must post 10 facts about themselves
2. Answer 10 questions the tagger has given you and give 10 questions for the people you’ve tagged.
3. Choose 10 people and link them in your post.
4. Tell them you’ve tagged them.
5. Remember, no tag backs.


Ten Random Facts About Me:
1. I love animals...all kinds.
2. I hate parties, gathering, and the like, but I love talking and hanging with my gals.
3. Sweet tea is like water to me. I must have it to survive.
4. I'm ridiculously shy.
5. I could quite literally live off of Asian cuisine. It represents all the major food groups, right? Right?
6. I'm always listening to music. So much so that I am singing it when I wake up in the morning until I pop in the ear buds again.
7. I'm really organized, but I'm also a pack rat. A very organized pack rat.
8. I secretly worry that I may be addicted to books, and it's quite possible that one day the rescue squad will have to dig me out of my own home.
9. Everyone who has ever entered my life has left a lasting impression, and even if they have forgotten about me, I will never forget them.
10. I'm stoic, but sometimes when I am alone, I have a good cry, especially when I think about my dad.


Questions from Stephanie:
1. What's the story behind the blog name?
--The truth of it is, I was scouring my brain for a title that would best represent me and my twisted sense of humor, and that's what cropped up. Not a particularly exciting tale, I know.

2. Favorite place to read?
--I will read anywhere and everywhere. Just give me a book! But I am partial to the loveseat in my living room. If I get fatigued from an all day book gorge, it lets me stretch out and continue on in comfort.

3. Best book-to-movie adaptaion, in your opinion?
--OMG, that would have to be the Sookie Stackhouse novels. I started reading those before there was even talk that it would become a show and the first season was a surprise. I was able to follow each episode chapter to chapter for the entire first book! That's got to be a record or something.

4. Name 5 books that everyone should read at least once in their lifetime :]
--Well, while I like some of the classics, they are not my favorite, so I won't even pretend to push them on anyone. I think my favorite book--and one that I have pushed numerous times--would have to be Sherrilyn Kenyon's Acheron. It's just so complex, deep, emotional, disturbing, and beautiful all wrapped up into a tight little package. It's definitely a book I could read again and again.


5. How long have you been book blogging for?
--My blog is a over a year old, but I have only recently started working to get it off the ground. Before that, I was--and still am--helping to manage a blog with a friend and fellow author. So, I keep pretty busy.

6. What's your favorite thing to participate in (memes, reviews, giveaways, challenges, etc.)?
--I absolutely LOVE reviewing books. I love discovering new books and shooting off my thoughts about it. Anytime I can put in my two cents is a good day.

7. What do you want to do or what do you do, career wise?
--Right now I am a wife and mother, but I just completed my degree and have one more to get under my belt before I hit the streets. My plan is to become a book editor so I can spend my days reading books and scoping out upcoming talented writers. I want to open the doors to those who might otherwise be turned away or overlooked. There's a lot of talent out there!


8. What are your top 5 favorite book blogs?
--Batty for Books; Between the Bind; The Little Death; Lily Harlem; Wanted Readers

9. Who are your book boyfriends?
--If I list them all, we'll be here all day. Highlights, then.
Acheron (DH); Wraith (LoD), Wrath (BDB), Rhage (BDB); Zsadist (BDB); Vishous (BDB); Shade (Demonica); Thanatos (LoD); Dimitri (VA); Gideon (LotU)...etc., etc.
Did someone turn up the heat in here?

10. What is your favorite genre to read?
--Definitely paranormal romances. They are the best of many worlds...and the hot sword toting, fanged, muscle bound men don't hurt either.

People I'm Tagging:

1. Paranormal Romance Addict

2. The Bawdy Book Blog

3. The Book Lover's Realm

4. Book Rants

5. EBookObsessed

6. Naomi's Book Reviews

7. One Good Book Deserves Another

8. Pedantic Phooka

9. Books for the Insomniac

10. Vamps R Us

Questions for my Tag-ees:
1. What's the first book you read that made you catch your breath?
2. If you could be any character, from any book, who would it be? Why?
3. What started you blogging? 
4. What is your favorite Quote?
5. What is your guilty pleasure?
6. If you could be any character, from any book, who would it be? Why?
7. If you could be any animal, what would it be and why? 
8. What kinds of books do you gravitate toward (genre)? 
9. What kind of qualities do you look for in a hero/heroine?
10. Recommend one book that you think everyone should read at least once. 

Brandi

Indie Author of the Month!  

 

This month I would like to introduce to you Pat Ritter, author of The Drover.

 

Genre: General fiction; adventure 

Publication: October 23, 2011

Purchase your copy on Amazon and Smashwords today!

Description: 

Harry Williams from the age of ten years wanted to become a drover, like his father and grandfather before him. This is his life story of leaving school at ten years old, operating his first droving plant at thirteen years and fully operational at twenty-one years old. Droving is now a craft past its used by date. Harry Williams didn't think so.

About Pat Ritter: 

Hi Everyone,

Let me introduce myself. My name is Pat Ritter. Since 1988 I have been writing and publishing books and until recently through Writing Queensland have decided to publish my books as e-books on this and other websites.

Writing and self-publishing became expensive especially the marketing end of the business. I experienced little problems with my first book 'Closing The Gap' however after writing and self-publishing six other books the printing costs out-weighed the expenses.

At this stage of my writing I am trying to convert from writing true life stories to fictional or better known - storytelling and it's difficult I can tell you.

Reading is a passion for me and when I read I try and place myself in the writer's seat and endeavour to work out how they wrote the story. I enjoy reading interesting stories filled with passion, desire with a happy ending.

If you have a look at my website www.patritter.com.au all of my books are exhibited plus stories I have written and published.

I'm happy to meet you.

I'm also proud to be involved in Operation eBook Drop.

Pat Ritter
Author/Self Publisher

To learn more about Pat, you can find him here. 

What people are saying:

"Great read! Pat Ritter's writing is so detailed and descriptive that you can really see in your mind's eye what life was like as a drover in outback Queensland many years ago. My teenager is now starting on the book as well as there is stuff in this book they will NOT learn at school. The main character, Harry, is very likable and I did develop an appreciation of our forefathers and what they went through, and the grace by which they lived while out in the rough 'n tumble. I'd love to see a movie made out of this book! Lots of good ingredients there."

5.0 out of 5 stars--

"There are many books written about a bygone era and The Drover is one such. Pat Ritter's novel tells the true story of Harry Williams, a drover who hit the road at 13 and followed the life until it eventually faded due to the arrival of road transport for shifting stock.

"Harry Williams was a magnificent man who saw his share of tragedy in losing his newborn son and who took on his deceased sister's twelve children without much assistance from his brother-in-law. Altogether Harry and his wife, Rose, raised fifteen children during their life on the road.

"I thoroughly enjoyed this account and hope many people read this chronicle of stamina, honesty and a work ethic which would send many of today's youth into shell-shock just thinking about it. The hardy people of our history need to be written about before their deeds are long forgotten. The muster of the long paddock is enacted once a year in northern Australia and it is about to begin right now. It is heartening to see the tradition maintained and writer's such as Pat Ritter are doing their bit"

 

NEW! Teaser Tuesdays

This is something new to the blog. Since I am always reading something, every Tuesday I will share a few lines (teasers) designed to entice you.

Want to play along?

• Pick up whatever book you are currently reading and open it to the page you left off at (If you haven't started it yet, open it to a random page). 
• Without giving anything away, share a few lines that you find particularly great. 
• So everyone knows where to pick up this great new read, don't forget to include the title and author name.

That's it!

Now, my teasers of the week have been taken from Gena Showalter's latest release, Wicked Nights, the first book in the Angels of the Dark series.

Teaser #1

"Humans fail to realize how easy demons are to welcome. The negative words you speak, the detestable things you do. Utter a lie, meditate on hate, entertain the urge to commit violence, and you might as well sound the dinner bell."  

Teaser #2

"But how can a person stop feeling fear?"
It is not what you fear that truly matters but what you say and how you act while feeling that way."  

 

After the celebrations are over, the explosions of color in the night sky, good food, and laughs are but a memory, it's time to wind down and relax--and what better way to do that than with a good book!

Running July 3rd through the 5th, you can pick up a copy of ALL four of my books (Darkness & Lies, Addicted to Magic, Faerie Tales..., and Buried Secrets) FREE on Amazon!

Come see what people are saying, pick up a copy for yourself, your mother, father, aunts, and uncles, and for heaven's sake, don't forget to invite your friends! There's something for everyone, so don't miss out! It's doesn't get better than FREE!

Need directions?

Buried Secrets

Darkness & Lies

Addicted to Magic

Faerie Tales