Friday 30 January 2015

Cover Reveal + Giveaway! Losing at Love by Jennifer Iacopelli

book2-publicity-front
Losing at Love by Jennifer Iacopelli

Release Date: February 24th
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Grass courts, tennis whites and the fiercest competition in the world. Wimbledon. After two crazy weeks in Paris, the girls of the Outer Banks Tennis Academy are headed to London with just one thing on their minds: winning. Indiana Gaffney is fresh off a surprise win at the French Open junior tournament. Sponsors are clamoring for her attention, but what she wants more than anything—aside from a wild card to Wimbledon—is to be with Jack Harrison, but international fame and a secret relationship rarely mix well. When Penny Harrison dreamed of playing at Wimbledon she never imagined agonizing pain shooting through her ankle with every step. With just a month until the tournament and the whole world expecting her to win, she’s determined to play, with or without the support of her coach or the love of her life, Alex Russell. For the first time ever, no one expects anything from Jasmine Randazzo. After a crushing first-round defeat in the French Open juniors, the tennis world has given up on her, but worse than that, so have her parents, her best friend Teddy and maybe even her coach. With everyone writing her off, can she find it within herself to go after her dreams?
We also have the cover redesign for the first book in the series; 

book1-publicity-front
Nestled along the North Carolina coast, the Outer Banks Tennis Academy is the world's most elite training facility. In this pressure-cooker environment, futures are forged in blood and sweat, and dreams are shattered in an instant. Penny Harrison, a rising female star, is determined to win the French Open and beat her archrival, Zina Lutrova. But when her coach imports British bad boy Alex Russell as her new training partner, will Penny be able to keep her laser-like focus? Tennis is all Jasmine Randazzo has ever known. The daughter of two Grand Slam champions, she's hell-bent on extending her family’s legacy and writing her own happily-ever-after...until her chosen Prince Charming gives her the just-friends speech right before the biggest junior tournament of the year, the Outer Banks Classic. With a powerful serve and killer forehand, newcomer Indiana Gaffney is turning heads. She’s thrilled by all of the attention, especially from Jack Harrison, Penny’s agent and hot older brother, except he keeps backing off every time things start heating up. With so much at stake, dreams—and hearts—are bound to break. Welcome to OBX: Where LOVE is a four-letter word, on and off the court. 
(To celebrate the cover reveal, Game. Set. Match. is on sale for .99!!)
GSM: Amazon | BN | iTunes | Kobo | Goodreads 

Stepping into the sunshine, Indy shouldered her bag and turned towards the OBX library, her mind running through the assignments she still had to complete when a shadow crossed over her path, a large body falling into step with her, close, but not touching, their strides matching.

“Jack,” she said, glancing up at him sideways, a small smile threatening at the corner of her mouth.

“Indiana,” he said, echoing back her name, sending a shiver down her spine. He was the only one allowed to call her that, the only person who made the name she’d hated since forever sound friggin’ good.

They walked together without another word, turning the corner that separated the courts from the residential area of the complex, but her stride was suddenly cut off when Jack shuffled his feet, sliding his arm around her waist and pulled her into a shady walkway between buildings. Her bag slid off her shoulder, but he caught it before it crashed to the ground and smashed her laptop to smithereens. He let it settle on the ground gently before leaning over her, forcing her to step back into the wall. Walls were their thing. Their first kiss had been against a wall in a random hallway at Roland Garros, their second pressed against the wall of their hotel in Paris and now that they were back in North Carolina, they found any excuse to push each other against a wall and kiss until they were gasping for air and their bodies begged for relief.

Jack’s lips trailed from her temple, using the wall behind her as an anchor before bending his head to hers. Pushing up onto her toes, Indy met him halfway. She’d never been so grateful for every millimeter of her five feet ten inches as she was when she was kissing Jack. His hands slid through her hair, twisting it around his fingers, then cradling the back of her head, drawing her mouth more firmly against his. Indy brought her hands to his torso, gripping his t-shirt, letting her palms press against the cut of muscle that disappeared into his cargo shorts. The skin on skin contact made his breath hitch, his mouth opening just enough to allow her tongue to slide in, deepening the kiss, before letting her teeth nip at his bottom lip. A groan rumbled in his throat as he stumbled forward, pressing his body full length against hers. He wrenched his lips from hers, trailing his mouth over the line of her jaw to the spot just behind her ear. It was her turn to gasp and her head fell back as she arched into him. No one had ever kissed her there before. Jack smiled against her skin as her fingertips dug into his sides and she let a moan slip free as he focused his attention on that spot, scraping his teeth against it then soothing that small pain with a flick of his tongue. Her hands scrambled to get purchase against his shoulders, desperate for some leverage, anything to help her slide her body against his. Then he was gone, his hand gone from her hair, his mouth gone from her neck and his body inches then feet away. Indy blinked at him, trying to figure out what happened when the voices echoing down the pathway towards them finally reached her ears. Bending down, he lifted her bag as she ran her fingers through her hair, knowing he’d made an unholy mess of it.

“You’re fine,” he muttered, handing her the bag, then keeping the distance between them as a group of junior boys stomped past them, none giving them a second glance.

“You have good ears,” Indy said, biting her lip at the close call. If those boys had seen them, the news would have spread like wildfire through the OBX campus and everyone would have known by the end of the day. She was only seventeen for another few months, but that wasn’t really the problem, seventeen or eighteen wouldn’t matter to other people. She was a young tennis pro, he was an up and coming agent. The last thing either of their careers needed was the heightened publicity of a controversial relationship, even if Jack Harrison was far more of a gentleman than any guy she’d ever met. Sometimes a little too much of a gentleman, truth be told. Jack shrugged, glancing back over his shoulder again before facing her fully.

“I’m sorry about this.” She reached out and took his hand, “We both agreed,” she said, entwining their fingers together, “it’s just between us for now. It makes sense for the both of us.” Pressing his lips together in a thin line, he nodded, but she knew he wasn’t entirely convinced.

“Jack, we talked about this. You said you were okay with it.” “I just wish it were different,” he said, tugging her closer, pressing a soft kiss to her forehead. His hands released hers and dropped to her hips, the edges of his thumbs brushing against her hipbones in slow circles sending shivers over her skin. “Me too.” She wanted to scream it from the rooftops that this amazing guy was hers. That he had deep green eyes and a smile that brightened them whenever he looked at her. That he was brilliant in ways that she couldn’t even fathom with his degree from Harvard. That he’d fought their attraction for so long because of that ingrained sense of honor, like one of those heroes in a fairy tale, except Jack was real, flesh and blood.

"Have you thought...maybe we should tell Penny?" Indy asked, her fingertips landing on his forearms, gently stroking up to his elbows and back down to his wrists. Jack let out a heavy breath. "Penny has a lot on her plate right now."

"I know, I just feel funny keeping it from her. Jasmine knows."

"We'll do whatever you want to do. This is your show, baby."

"I don't need a supportive…" she hesitated, almost using the word boyfriend, but that didn't really fit, did it? Not if they were keeping it a secret, "I need honest Jack." He leaned back, looking her in the eye. "Honest? Honestly, my sister doesn't do well with change. It freaks her out and right now, I'm not sure that the idea of you and me will go over that well. On the other hand, if we don't tell her and she finds out?"

"She'll be pissed."

"Yep."

"Maybe we wait a little longer. We could tell her in London?" Jack nodded, "Face to face instead of over the phone."

“There’s always Skype,” she said, not really sure if she wanted to know what Penny, the only girl who’d made an effort to befriend her when she first arrived at OBX, would think if she found out she and Jack were together.

“There’s that.” Indy shook her head. They should do it in person. They should have done it before they left Paris, but Penny had been so devastated by withdrawing from the tournament that it hadn’t felt like the right time then either.

“In London. We’ll be there in less than a week. We’ll tell her then.”

“Okay, in London.” They stood there for a moment, just breathing each other in until Jack leaned away. “I’ve gotta go. I have a meeting with a potential new client this afternoon and I’ve got to prep.” Indy snorted a laugh. “Right, like you don’t already have a complete profile worked up along with potential sponsors to contact if they sign.”

“You know me so well,” he said, leaning around the building, checking the pathway for any more unwanted spectators. “I’ll go this way.” Indy nodded back in the opposite direction. “And I’ll go that way.” With a bow, he was gone, around the corner and out of sight, so she turned and adjusted her bag over her shoulder, heading out from between the buildings and towards the library.

She’d have about half the time to get her Calc done than she originally planned. Fingertips pressing against that spot on her neck lightly recalling the feel of his mouth and the way her entire body was lit on fire by his touch, it was totally worth it.

“Are you sure that is a good idea?” a voice rang out from just a few steps behind her, the French accent giving its owner away, if the superiority and condescension weren’t enough of a clue. Indy spun around and came face to face with her agent, tall, blonde, perfectly put together in a silk blouse and linen skirt, somehow looking completely cool and calm despite the blaze of the sun. She was in town before they all left for England, mostly to go over her plans for Indy’s future off the court.

A denial formed on Indy’s tongue, but she knew it was useless. Caroline had seen them and it probably just confirmed what she’d suspected for a while. Her agent was damn good at her job and it wasn’t like she and Jack had been super careful about keeping private moments behind closed doors.

“Good idea or not, it’s none of your business.” Raising her eyes to the sky and shaking her head Caroline said, “You are my business, Indiana.”

“How many times do I have to say it? Don’t call me that, and my tennis is your business,” Indy corrected. “Keep your nose out of everything else.”

“It is not that simple,” Caroline insisted, her voice inching up in pitch.

“It really is.” She turned on her toe and walked away, wanting to look back, hoping that Caroline’s brow was furrowed and her hands were on her hips, lips pursed in aggravation. But looking back would ruin the moment because despite getting in the last word, Caroline now had the upper hand and it was only a matter of time before she used it to her advantage.

Screen Shot 2014-08-07 at 3.09.39 PMJennifer Iacopelli was born in New York and has no plans to leave...ever. Growing up, she read everything she could get her hands on, but her favorite authors were Laura Ingalls Wilder, L.M. Montgomery and Frances Hodgson Burnett all of whom wrote about kick-ass girls before it was cool for girls to be kick-ass. She got a Bachelor's degree in Adolescence Education and English Literature quickly followed up by a Master's in Library Science, which lets her frolic all day with her books and computers, leaving plenty of time in the evenings to write and yell at the Yankees, Giants and her favorite tennis players through the TV.





Tuesday 27 January 2015

Happy Release Day! I Was Here by Gayle Forman

I Was Here by Gayle Forman
Publication Date: January 27th, 2015
Genres: YA, Contemporary, Romance, Mystery
Cody and Meg were inseparable.
Two peas in a pod.
Until . . . they weren’t anymore.

When her best friend Meg drinks a bottle of industrial-strength cleaner alone in a motel room, Cody is understandably shocked and devastated. She and Meg shared everything—so how was there no warning? But when Cody travels to Meg’s college town to pack up the belongings left behind, she discovers that there’s a lot that Meg never told her. About her old roommates, the sort of people Cody never would have met in her dead-end small town in Washington. About Ben McAllister, the boy with a guitar and a sneer, who broke Meg’s heart. And about an encrypted computer file that Cody can’t open—until she does, and suddenly everything Cody thought she knew about her best friend’s death gets thrown into question.
A mystery-piece-it-together story YAY! I also have the alternate cover;


Who's looking forward to this book? And if you've read it, what did you think?


Monday 26 January 2015

Blog Tour and Giveaway! Sing For Me by Gracie Madison

Sing For Me by Gracie Madison
Publication date: January 23rd 2015
Genres: New Adult, Paranormal Romance
Madeline Noel fled war-torn Heaven to hide within the mortal world, but the blessing that could protect her from evil is the holy realm’s forbidden power.As a talented soprano for the Eden Theatre Company, Madeline hides among prima donnas and tone-deaf flutists. Her perfect voice may entertain audiences, but a careless laugh may shatter glass, and her greatest scream can kill. To control her unrestrained voice, the angels forbid Madeline from embracing the emotions that strengthen her song. Anger. Fear.
Love.
The demon-hunter Damascus vows to defend Madeline from Hell’s relentless evil, but he cannot protect her from her own feelings. Though they deny their dangerous attraction, her guardian becomes her greatest temptation.
Surrendering to desire may awaken the gift suppressed within Madeline’s soul, and neither Heaven nor Hell will allow such absolute power to exist.


Purchase:

INTERVIEW

1.       Where did you get your inspiration for Sing For Me?
Hmm…I actually wrote Sing For Me back in 2009, but I still remember getting the idea for a beautiful theater with this amazing soprano hiding from all these creepy, dark, and dangerous creatures in the stage wings. I wanted to make sure the heroine was strong and confident but also vulnerable. The best way to show that was to make her greatest weapon also her greatest weakness. I loved the thought of a singer forbidden to experience the emotions behind her songs for fear of losing control and endangering herself, Heaven, and Hell.

It all hit me at once, and I just knew I had to write it!

2.       Who was your favourite character to write about?
I love my secondary characters, especially Natalie, the determined director’s-assistant-turned-prophet who is hunted and tortured by the most wicked and evil creature of all—a prima donna. And I have to say I do love Shiloh, the youngest and most unique of the angels guarding the main characters. He drives on the wrong side of the road, is addicted to the Home Shopping Channel, and understands my main character’s struggle to control her emotions better than anyone. It’s fun to write a character so quirky and yet so serious. 

3.       What is your current favourite book/the book you always recommend to people?
Patricia A. McKillip’s The Riddle Master of Hed series. Absolutely gorgeous writing. She was the first fantasy author I found who really inspired me to write, and I absolutely cannot recommend her work enough. Alphabet of Thorn is also just a magical book. She writes beauty and mystery and power so effortlessly. I love it!

4.       Are any of the characters inspired by real people?
I think a little bit of me is in most of my heroines, but I’ve never tried to base a character off of someone I know—I think I’d blush too much during the romantic scenes!

5.       Do you usually have to do a lot of research in preparation for writing your books or do you just see where the story goes?
I absolutely love to research new topics, it’s one of my favorite parts of starting a book. For Sing For Me, I was obsessed with opera and theaters and plays/performances. The more I know about the subject, the easier the book is to write.
As for the writing, I am a born plotter. I have tablets after tablets filled with every little bit of the story written down before I even start. If I don’t outline, I get a little twitchy.

6.       Who designed the cover? It’s gorgeous!
The cover was designed by Rebecca Berto from Berto Designs. She is a gifted designer and writer and I absolutely love working with her!

7.      Are you working on anything new that your fans can look forward to?
I have plans on top of plans on top of plans! Super excited about the whole Angels and Arias trilogy. Sing For Me released on January 21st, 2015. The sequel, Divine Interlude will release in late April or Early May. The final book, Prima Donna, should be out in early summer. Then, starting in the fall, I’ll have a brand new, five-book series focusing on a coven of witches and their unexpected soulmates—wolves, vampires, demons, oh my! All New Adult, all paranormal, and all so exciting
Thank you so much for the opportunity!


GIVEAWAY!




Gracie Madison would spend every day, all day writing…if it were socially acceptable.  Ever since she was a little girl scribbling with a crayon, Gracie’s dedicated herself to her books and all the supernatural and paranormal, creepy and beautiful stories and characters born within the pages. Now Gracie is committed to finally sharing those books with the world.  When the laptop is pried from her hands, Gracie is probably working her day job, rooting on the Steelers, or out with her husband searching for Pittsburgh’s best sushi.



Sunday 25 January 2015

Book Blitz! The Queen's Gift by T.R. Allardice (+ Interview)



The Queen’s Gift by T.R. Allardice
Publication date: December 15th 2014
Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult

Fifteen-year-old, late-bloomer Jean Elliott dreams of becoming a Genie like her mom. When her family relocates to Tokyo, Jean is forced to use sleight-of-hand tricks to fool everyone at school into believing that she’s a normal Preternatural or risk expulsion. When her power finally appears, it comes in the form of the Queen’s Gift–an unspeakable magic that strips power from all Preternaturals and heralds the arrival of the new queen.After an absence of two hundred years, not everyone wants the monarchy to return and they’re willing to go to great lengths to keep the status quo. When buried secrets rip Jean’s family apart, she has a choice to make: Walk away and hope for the best or embrace the power that’s known to lead to madness in order to save her family.
Jean’s greatest dream has turned into her biggest nightmare and no matter how hard she tries, there’ll be no wishing the Queen’s Gift away.
Purchase: 
B&N

INTERVIEW

How did you come up with the idea for The Queen’s Gift?

I actually came up with the idea after a trip to Tokyo, Japan. I felt so out of my depth there, yet utterly fascinated by the culture. I wondered what would happen if you sent a teenager there and she had to deal with school plus the cultural divide. Throw in some magic—or lack thereof, and you have a lot of potential conflict.

How many books will be in the series?

Right now, I have two more books planned, but honestly, it depends on what it takes to tell the story. I’d always planned for it to be a trilogy, but I knew there could possibly be four books in the series.

Are you working on any other books?

Yes, I’m currently working on two more young adult books that will be the start of two more series. They have boy lead characters and contain an ensemble cast much like The Queen’s Gift. One is set in Scotland and the other is in New York.

How do you pick the settings?

I tend to go with places I’ve been to so that I have a real feel for the location. Most of the time, I’m traveling someplace and suddenly a story idea comes to me. That’s what happened when I was in London last year. The story that came to me there is currently stewing in my subconscious. 

Who are your favorite Young Adult authors?

There are so many great young adult authors out there. It’s going to be hard to name them all. Off the top of my head (and I know I’ll be forgetting some), my favorites are: Melissa Marr, J.A. Templeton, Holly Black, Tawny Stokes, Neil Gaiman, Rachel Caine, Richelle Mead, Rick Riordan, J.K. Rowling, Maggie Stiefvater, Rachel Vincent, and Jennifer Armentrout.

Which Winchester brother would you pick? 

Dean, but I do love Sam’s dimples. LOL!

If you could be any character, who would you be?

Probably Superman, but I am tempted by Iron Man and Spiderman. 

What do you do when you’re not writing?

I try to spend time with real people, though it doesn’t always work. Characters can be very demanding. ;)

If you weren’t a writer, what would you do?

I’d probably go back to school and finish my degree. Not sure what kind of job I could get with a mythology degree though.

Last question. If you could have lunch with any writer, who would it be?

That’s easy. J.K. Rowling. Hands down. 
Thank you for having me.

AUTHOR BIO

T.R. Allardice writes young adult, new adult, and humorous horror stories. Most of what she writes incorporates several genres. The content won't always be 'safe'. What's the fun in that? She is a member of the Horror Writer's Association, Novelist Inc. and the Author's Guild. She has thirty-one books published under another pen name. To find out more about her upcoming work, go to: www.trallardice.com

Book Blitz and Giveaway! One Night with her Roommate by Noelle Adams


One Night with her Roommate (One Night novellas, #5) by Noelle Adams  
Publication date: January 2015
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

Ever since her former roommates deserted her, Meg has had to share an apartment with a lazy, obnoxious ass. He won’t pick up after himself, and he refuses to get a good job. Plus, he doesn’t always wear enough clothes—which is really a problem, because he’s hot.

Maybe he’s occasionally funny. And every now and then he can be sweet. But mostly he’s just annoying. It doesn’t matter how much he’s starting to flirt with her—Meg is going to resist. She’s way too smart to fall for a guy who never takes anything seriously.

But then everything changes in only one night...
Purchase: 

EXCERPT

“I want to stay here.”
“Okay.” Meg tried very hard—and not very successfully—not to feel pleased by this decision. “Well, at least go to bed. You don’t look…good.”
He gave a huff of amusement. “Thanks a lot.”
“I just mean you look tired.” She reached up and pressed her palm against his rough jaw. “You look tired.”
“I am tired.” He leaned his face into her hand.
“Do you have a headache?” she asked, trying to make sense of the pained tension she saw on his face.
“Yeah.”
“So go to bed.” She felt deep and tender and protective, as if he were hers to take care of.
“I want you to come to bed with me.” His voice was slightly hoarse, and his eyes suddenly blazed with something that looked like need, like hunger, something far deeper than lust.
It thrilled her and terrified her both. She dropped her hand. “East, I can’t—“
He reached up and took her face in both of his hands. “I want you tonight.”
God help her, she wanted him too. So much. So deeply. So desperately. The emotions ran through her so powerfully she swayed on her feet.
But she’d been smart for too many years, and she couldn’t throw it all away now. She took a step back with a hitch in her breath. “I can’t.”
East’s shoulders slumped slightly. “Yeah,” he murmured, turning away and opening the refrigerator to pull out a beer. “That’s probably right.”
He popped the cap and then took his beer to sit on the couch. He kind of collapsed there, sprawled out over all three cushions. He looked so weary—almost wounded—that Meg simply couldn’t leave him alone.
She might wish that he didn’t come onto her at inappropriate times—in inappropriate ways—but she couldn’t seem to resent him.
Her brain told her that she should, but in this her brain had to be ignored.

GIVEAWAY!



About the Author

Noelle handwrote her first romance novel in a spiral-bound notebook when she was twelve, and she hasn’t stopped writing since. She has lived in eight different states and currently resides in Virginia, where she teaches English, reads any book she can get her hands on, and offers tribute to a very spoiled cocker spaniel.

She loves travel, art, history, and ice cream. After spending far too many years of her life in graduate school, she has decided to reorient her priorities and focus on writing contemporary romances.


Wednesday 21 January 2015

Love Notes Box Set Promo Tour: Revenge of a Bank Geek Gone Bad (+ giveaway)


Revenge of a Band Geek Gone Bad by Naomi Rabinowitz
Release Date: February 2nd, 2015
Shy, overweight Melinda Rhodes' sophomore year of high school isn't going so well. Her own mother mocks her weight. Her pants split in the middle of school, earning her the nickname, "Moolinda." She then loses first chair flute in band to Kathy Meadows, her pretty and popular nemesis.
Her luck changes when she catches the eye of Josh Kowalski, a rebellious trumpet prodigy and class clown. Josh has also been hurt by Kathy and asks Melinda to help take Kathy down. Mel figures that she has nothing to lose ... and Josh is adorable with gorgeous blue eyes and a winning smile. She agrees to team up with him and looks forward to finally getting back at her rival.
At first, the pair's pranks are silly, and as they work together, Mel comes out of her shell. Even better, she finds herself falling for Josh and it appears as if he might feel the same way about her.
However, their schemes become more and more dangerous and Mel is surprised to discover her dark side. Just how far will she go to get what she wants -- and is Josh really worth the risk?

PLAYLIST by Naomi Rabinowitz

Love, revenge, betrayal and redemption are all important themes in my novel, REVENGE OF A BAND GEEK GONE BAD, but music also holds a very prominent place in the story. Here is a list of the artists and songs mentioned in the book – so turn up the volume and play along!

HINDEMITH FLUTE SONATA (Paul Hindemith): This modern-sounding flute piece is played by Melinda at a concert. In real life, I played this sonata in a music competition.

POULENC FLUTE SONATA (Francis Poulenc): This is another classical piece, which Mel performs – and another sonata which I used for competition.

IMAGE (Eugene Bozza): Mel’s flute-playing nemesis, Kathy, attempts to play this highly difficult piece. Let me tell you, it’s TOUGH, so props to Kathy!

ARPEGGIONE SONATA (Franz Schubert): Mel’s flute-playing friend, Maya, performs this in a recital.

JETHRO TULL: This British rock group includes the awesome flutist Ian Anderson. Josh, who is a lover of classic rock, introduced Mel to this band. I like Tull’s songs, “Bungle In The Jungle” and “Thick As A Brick.”

SWEENEY TODD: THE DEMON BARBER OF FLEET STREET: This dark and twisted Stephen Sondheim musical tells the story of a vengeful and murderous barber – and is one of my favorites! The opening theme, “The Ballad Of Sweeney Todd,” is one of the songs played in Mel’s band’s fictional medley, Broadway For The Band.

LES MISERABLES:  The beautiful ballad, “On My Own” from this musical is also included in Broadway For The Band.

ANNIE: Broadway For The Band also includes “Tomorrow” from this famous musical about an orphan.

WEST SIDE STORY (Leonard Bernstein): Melinda notes that this is the band’s most difficult number. When I was in band, we played a medley from this popular musical, which included the songs, “Maria,” “I Feel Pretty,” “Tonight” and “Mambo!”

DIZZY GILLESPIE: Josh idolizes this legendary jazz trumpet player and even has a poster of him in his bedroom. Though no specific Dizzy tunes are mentioned, one of my favorites is “A Night In Tunisia.”

FUR ELISE (LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN): Josh’s doorbell plays this classic Beethoven piece.

*The following are all classic bands which are featured in posters on Josh’s walls. For each, I’m listing a couple of my favorite tunes.*

THE ROLLING STONES: “Satisfaction,” “Start Me Up”
PINK FLOYD: “Another Brick In The Wall,” “Comfortably Numb,” “Hey You”
THE BEATLES: “Eleanor Rigby,” “Yesterday,” “Let It Be,” Love Me Do”
KANSAS: “Dust In The Wind,” “Carry On Wayward Son”
METALLICA: “One,” “Enter Sandman”
STEELY DAN: “Do It Again,” “Reelin’ In The Years”
CREAM: “White Room,” “Born Under A Bad Sign”
THE RAMONES: “I Wanna Be Sedated,” “Blitzkrieg Bop”
AC/DC: “Highway To Hell,” “Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap”
TIME OUT (THE DAVE BRUBECK QUARTET):  Josh plays this amazing jazz album for Melinda when he’s driving her to a late-night “surprise” on Long Island. My favorite pieces from it are “Take Five” and “Blue Rondo a la Turk.”

GIVEAWAY!


CONNECT WITH THE AUTHORS:
Shane Morgan ~ www.shanemorganwrites.com

Friday 16 January 2015

Book Blitz and Giveaway! Withering Hope by Layla Hagen



Withering Hope by Layla Hagen
Publication date: January 19th 2015
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Aimee’s wedding is supposed to turn out perfect. Her dress, her fiancé and the location—the idyllic holiday ranch in Brazil—are perfect.
But all Aimee’s plans come crashing down when the private jet that’s taking her from the U.S. to the ranch—where her fiancé awaits her—defects mid-flight and the pilot is forced to perform an emergency landing in the heart of the Amazon rainforest.
With no way to reach civilisation, being rescued is Aimee and Tristan’s—the pilot—only hope. A slim one that slowly withers away, desperation taking its place. Because death wanders in the jungle under many forms: starvation, diseases. Beasts.
As Aimee and Tristan fight to find ways to survive, they grow closer. Together they discover that facing old, inner agonies carved by painful pasts takes just as much courage, if not even more, than facing the rainforest.
Despite her devotion to her fiancé, Aimee can’t hide her feelings for Tristan—the man for whom she’s slowly becoming everything. You can hide many things in the rainforest. But not lies. Or love.
Withering Hope is the story of a man who desperately needs forgiveness and the woman who brings him hope. It is a story in which hope births wings and blooms into a love that is as beautiful and intense as it is forbidden.

Purchase: 
Amazon: no pre-order available. Purchase link will go live on January 19th 


EXCERPT

(Aimee’s POV)
I wake up covered in cold sweat and something soft that might be a blanket. I can't tell for sure, because when I open my eyes, it’s dark. When I try to move, a sharp pain in my temple makes me gasp.
"Aimee?"
"Tristan." The word comes out almost like a cry. In the faint moonlight coming in through the windows, I see him leaning on the seat in front of me, hovering over me. I imagine his dark brown eyes searching me worriedly.
"Are you hurt?"
"Just my temple, but I'm not bleeding," I say, running my fingers over the tender spot. I assess him next. It’s difficult given the dim moonlight. His white uniform shirt is smeared with dirt, but he appears unharmed. I turn my head toward the window. I can't gauge anything outside in the darkness.
"Where are we?" I ask.
"We landed," Tristan says simply, and when I turn to look at him he adds, "… in the rainforest."
I nod, trying not to let the tight knot of fear in my chest overtake me. If I let it spiral out, I may not be able to control it.
"Shouldn't we … like… leave the plane or something? Until they rescue us? Is it safe for us to be inside?"
Tristan runs a hand through his short, black hair. "Trust me, this is the only safe place. I checked outside for any fuel leaks, but we're good."
"You got out?" I whisper.
"Yes."
"I want—” I say, opening my seatbelt and trying to stand. But dizziness forces me back into my chair.
"No," Tristan says, and he slumps in the seat opposite mine on the other side of the slim aisle. "Listen to me. You need to calm down."
"How deep in the forest are we, Tristan?"
He leans back, answering after a long pause. "Deep enough."
"How will they find us?" I curl my knees to my chest under the blanket, the dizziness growing. I wonder when Tristan put the blanket over me.
"They will," Tristan says.
"But there is something we can do to make it easier for them, isn't there?"
"Right now, there isn't."
"Can contact someone at base?" I ask weakly.
"No. We lost all communication a while ago." His shoulders slump, and even in the moonlight, I notice his features tighten. His high cheekbones, which usually give him a noble appearance, now make him look gaunt. Yet instead of panic, I’m engulfed in weakness. My limbs feel heavy. Fog settles over my mind.
"What happened to the engine?" I whisper.
"Engine failure."
"Can you repair it?"
"No."
“There is really no way to send anyone a message?”
“No.” As if in a dream, I feel Tristan put a pillow under my head and recline my seat.


GIVEAWAY



My name is Layla Hagen and I am a New Adult Contemporary Romance author.
I fell in love with books when I was nine years old, and my love affair with stories continues even now, many years later.
I write romantic stories and can’t wait to share them with the world.
And I drink coffee. Lots of it, in case the photo didn’t make it obvious enough.


Book Blitz and Giveaway! A Hot Winter by C.J. Lake


A Hot Winter by C.J. Lake
Publication date: December 2nd 2014
Genres: New Adult, Romance
It was supposed to be a simple job.  A favor for a friend, nothing complicated.  But that was before I realized who Emma was.  I knew I wasn’t imagining the tension between us–still there and getting stronger every second.  She wanted to keep things professional now.  I suppose we’d have to try–because if we gave in…once would never be enough…
I never thought I’d see Matt Winter again, and now here he was.  Working on my house!  Making me nervous, flustered, and almost breathless.  Disarming me and making me feel things I haven’t even considered since my husband died four years ago.  No, I don’t want to want him.  My life was in order before he came, and I’m leaving Boston anyway.  Forget Matt.  It’s the only logical option.  So…why can’t I stay away from him?

Amazon


 Q&A with C.J. Lake

What was the inspiration for A Hot Winter?
I didn’t originally intend to write this story, but Matt and Emma seemed to have instant chemistry in my first book, Constructing Us, so I was compelled to explore them as a couple.  They ended up being perfect for each other (though it’s a ride to get there!).

What makes Matt & Emma such a great couple?
There’s a current of attraction between them when they first meet, but neither knows who the other is.  Once they discover the connection (to Tragan and Andy), they try to dial it back--especially once Matt begins work on Emma’s house.  But it’s virtually impossible not to be aware of each other or to keep their distance.  That initial attraction is always there--and building every time they’re together, despite Emma’s determination to keep things platonic.  Something that works in their favor is that while Matt is four years younger than Emma, he is strong and responsible, with a maturity and a protective nature--exactly what she needs!

If you had to choose, what is your favorite scene?
Well, here’s a very short excerpt from it:
“Jesus, Emma,” Matt rasped, pulling back just enough to look into her eyes.  “Why do you torture me?”
Gazing into those intense, dark eyes, Emma became overwhelmed by a longing that was almost painful.  She reached up and brushed her lips across his.  “I didn’t mean to,” she said softly, and it was the truth.  “Don’t go,” she whispered, digging her fingers into his hair and keeping him close.  Lightly she bit his lower lip.  “Don’t go…”
>>I love this whole scene; it’s erotic and emotional and represents a major turning point for Matt and Emma.  Also, it’s literally just the beginning of their first intense night together…

Can you pick a favorite quote?
Hmm…maybe this:
“Being with Matt did something to her.  It brought back a younger version of herself, a younger time in her life.”
>>This is a theme that’s played implicitly throughout the story and a concept that Emma wrestles with and embraces at the same time.  She’s only twenty-seven, but has responsibilities that make her feel older and more settled than that.  Matt taps into her youthful, fun-loving spirit and almost makes Emma forget the reasons why they shouldn’t be together…

Did you have a music play list for this book?
Yes!  My “soundtrack” for A Hot Winter includes songs that fit Matt & Emma so well.  Like “Teenage Dream” (Katy Perry), “Safe and Sound” (Capital Cities), “Am I wrong” (Nico & Vinz), “Everybody Talks” (Neon Trees), “Green Eyes” (Coldplay), and “Everything Has Changed” (Taylor Swift). 

What else should readers know?
  • A Hot Winter is set in one of my favorite places: snowy Boston!
  • Tragan & Andy, along with other familiar faces from Constructing Us, are back.
  • Though my books have overlapping characters, they are all standalone novels--no cliffhangers!

What’s next?
In 2015, look for Sky High (Book 3 in The Attraction series).  Sky High is a fast-paced, romantic and sexy New Adult romance, featuring Jamie from Books 1 & 2.  Stay tuned for more updates, both on Amazon and Twitter (@brightbluesurf) -- plus, readers can email me at: writercjlake@gmail.com.

GIVEAWAY


C.J. Lake is a storyteller who is passionate about art, surfing, and skiing/snowboarding. Residing near the coast of Massachusetts, C.J. is working on a new book that will feature Tragan Barrett's friend, Matt Winter. Readers can get in touch via email (writercjlake@gmail.com), or follow C.J. on Twitter @brightbluesurf.