An Excerpt from Lauren Clark's Stay Tuned - Stay Tuned Blog Tour

As part of this special promotional extravaganza sponsored by Novel Publicity, the price of the Stay Tuned eBook edition has dropped to just 99 cents this week.

What’s more, by purchasing this fantastic book at an incredibly low price, you can enter to win many awesome prizes, including lots of Amazon gift cards (up to $100 in amount) and 5 autographed copies of the book. Be sure to enter before the end of the day on Friday, December 2nd, so you don’t miss out.

To Win the Prizes:

1. Purchase your copy of Stay Tuned for just 99 cents on Amazon or Barnes & Noble (You’ll need it for the big contest on Friday)

2. Fill-out the form on Novel Publicity to enter for the prizes

3. Visit today’s featured event; you may win an autographed copy of the book or a $50 gift card!

...And I can win too!

Over 100 bloggers are participating in this gigantic event, and there are plenty of prizes for us too. The blogger who receives the most votes in the traffic-breaker poll will win a $100 gift card as well. So when you visit Novel Publicity’s site to fill-out the contest entry form, don’t forget to say that I referred you, so I can get a point in the poll.

The Featured Events include:

Monday, Radio Interview with Novel Publicity! We’re kicking-off on the Novel Publicity Free Advice blog. We interviewed Lauren on our radio show Sunday night and have embedded the full podcast and blogged about its highlights. Give it a listen and then leave a comment on the blog post. This is a great chance to get to know more about this fun and bubbly author. One commenter will win an autographed copy of Stay Tuned. Don’t forget to enter for the other contest prizes while you’re over there!

Tuesday, Twitter sharing contest! A tweet is tiny, only 140 characters. But on Tuesday, it could win you $50. Send the following tweet across the twittersphere, and you just may win a $50 Amazon gift card. An autographed copy of Stay Tuned is also up for grabs. The winners will be announced Wednesday morning. Here’s the tweet: Take a break from the holiday frenzy, and read Stay Tuned. It's fast, fun, and reduced to just 99 cents! http://ow.ly/7zA1e #whirlwind

Wednesday, Google+ sharing contest! Yup, there’s yet another awesome opportunity to win a $50 Amazon gift card, and this time it just takes a single click! Visit Google+ and share Emlyn Chand’s most recent post (you’ll see the Stay Tuned book cover included with it). On Thursday morning, one lucky sharer will be $50 richer. An autographed copy of Stay Tuned is also up for grabs. Two chances to win with just one click! How about that?

Thursday, Facebook sharing contest! Stop by Novel Publicity’s Facebook page and share their latest post (you’ll see the Stay Tuned book cover included with it). It’s ridiculously easy to win! On Friday morning, one lucky sharer will be $50 richer. An autographed copy of Stay Tuned is also up for grabs.

Friday, special contest on the author’s site! Are you ready for some more fun? Take a picture of yourself with your copy of Stay Tuned either in paperback or on an eReading device, tag Lauren Clark’s Facebook page, and you can enter to win one of three Amazon gift cards! A $100 prize will go to the most creative photo, $50 to the best BFF photo, and $50 to the photo with the most people in it. An autographed copy of Stay Tuned is also up for grabs. If you need help learning how to tag a photo, you can visit Lauren’s Facebook page for detailed instructions.


 Remember, it’s all about the books!


About Stay Tuned: What happens when a #1 news team becomes the top story instead of reporting it? For TV producer Melissa Moore, crisis management comes with the job. From employee disputes to her high-maintenance boss, there’s not much she hasn’t seen or can’t handle. But no one—including Melissa—expects a fistfight during the ten o’clock news. When sexy-but-crazy Alyssa Andrews lands a punch on her co-anchor’s face, Melissa jumps on set to help. She’s determined that WSGA’s reputation won’t be destroyed on her watch. Both anchors are fired and Melissa agrees to fill in—but not before polishing her look from haircut to heels. While the new Melissa wows WSGA viewers, her personal life starts fraying at the edges. Melissa’s husband is away more than he’s home, leaving cryptic Post-it notes in his wake. Her mother’s antics spiral out of control at the nursing home and a stalker decides Melissa is her next target. What happens next? Stay Tuned to find out… Get it on Amazon or Barnes & Noble.

About the Author: Lauren Clark has been a voracious reader since the age of four and would rather be stranded at the library than on a desert island. In her former life, she worked as an anchor and producer for CBS affiliates in Upstate New York and Alabama. Lauren adores her family, yoga, her new Electra bike, and flavored coffee. She lives near the Florida Gulf Coast. Visit her on her website, Twitter, Facebook, or GoodReads.

Now please enjoy this sneak peek of Stay Tuned...

Chapter 1

Alyssa Andrews was missing.

Gone, vanished, MIA with just minutes to airtime.

“Melissa, where is she?” Our news director, Joe, shot a harried look in my direction. After dealing with a broken studio camera, spotty satellite reception, and last-minute script changes, his nerves were fried to a crisp.

“She’ll be here,” I promised, knowing my confidence was a front. Alyssa, one of WSGA-TV’s main news anchors, was a constant source of angst in my already-stressful job.

She was young, talented, gorgeous…and chronically late.

This lack of punctuality was a problem, especially when WSGA ran a show at exactly six and ten o’clock every night. Not a moment later.

WSGA was Macon, Georgia’s number one news station and had been for two years running. If we wanted to keep it that way, timing was everything. Every second mattered.

I produced both evening shows, which meant—among a dozen other tasks—organizing the day’s stories, writing copy, and checking video. Each segment had to run seamlessly between three-minute commercial breaks.

Deep breath, Melissa. Send up a little prayer. She’ll show up.

The red numbers on the clock continued to march forward.

Another deep breath. Everything’s in place. Alyssa just needs to walk in and get on set…

“Tighten up on camera one.” Joe peppered the room with demands. “Mic check, now, not yesterday.”

Tim Donaldson, Alyssa’s co-anchor, obliged, counting backwards from the number five.

Joe’s thick fingers punched buttons on the massive keyboard in front of him. “Bring up the live shot.”

Still, no Alyssa.

Joe raked a huge hand through his long gray hair. “Five minutes!” he growled, with a glare into his empty coffee cup.

At this point, it was Joe’s show to run. He was in charge. I shuffled my scripts. “How about I call her?”

“She’s an adult,” he grumbled. “You shouldn’t have to.”

Joe expected nothing less than perfection. He was experienced, hard working, and a stickler for detail. Alyssa’s nonchalance made him crazy.

Which, at 9:55:36 on a Friday night, gave him the patience of a gnat. On crack.

This was particularly dangerous for an unsuspecting new employee, all of twenty years old and pimple-faced, who crept up behind us.

Joe ignored him at first, barking an order to me instead. “Fine, fine. Melissa, tell Princess A. she’s needed in the studio.”

On autopilot, I punched her extension, eyes focused on the row of monitors above my head in case she decided to appear.

While the phone rang, the new kid rocked on his heels nervously. I flashed a smile and shook my head gently in his direction, hoping he’d get the hint.

Not now.

Nope. The kid stood there, coughed lightly, and waited for one of us to turn around.

“What?” Joe finally snapped.

The force of the word made the kid’s body jerk back. Jaw open, unable to speak, his face turned crimson.

Joe waited about a second for the kid to talk, and then leaned back over the control panel. He pressed at switches, clearly annoyed. The kid looked sick. Joe rolled his eyes. My anxiety level cranked up ten notches.

9:58:09. Less than two minutes.

Wait…a flash of an ivory suit and blond hair.

“There she is,” I interrupted the tension with a cool nod toward the monitors.

Front and center, Alyssa sauntered into the studio, lips puckered, blowing her shell-pink nail polish dry. She slid into her seat next to Tim, and gave him a playful pat on the shoulder.

Joe muttered something I couldn’t repeat.

I stifled a loud sigh of relief and glanced around the room. The new guy was the only one in the building unimpressed with Alyssa’s arrival. With a shaking hand, he reached out and tapped Joe’s burly shoulder.

“Mr. Joe, there’s a problem with one of the machines—”

Joe’s back stiffened. He turned a millimeter in the kid’s direction and exploded. “Get your butt back there. Get one of the engineers. Fix it. Call someone.”

I caught the now-completely mortified kid’s eye, and motioned for him to come toward me. Grabbing the nearest piece of paper, I jotted down the engineer’s extension and held it at arm’s length with a kind smile. Poor guy. Lots to learn.

With a grateful look, the new kid plucked the scrap from my fingers and darted away.

Time to get started.

I settled in, gripped my pen hard, and looked up.

Okay. Alyssa’s collar was turned under. Minor detail, but sure to garner at least five viewer complaints. You wouldn’t believe what people called in about.

I leaned toward the microphone to let Alyssa know.

“Dare you not to tell her,” Joe muttered. It wasn’t a secret that the guys would willingly let Alyssa go on air with underwear on her head. She hadn’t made friends. Or tried to.

Tim, her co-anchor and current boyfriend, didn’t count.

“Just part of those darn producer duties, Joe. You know that.” I flashed him a smile and pressed the button to talk. “Alyssa, fix your collar.”

Her mouth parted into an O. Alyssa frowned, glanced down, and straightened the pale edge. Just in time.

Like a well-directed movie, the WSGA-TV opening video flashed across monitor one. Macon, Georgia’s skyline filled the screen.

My body tingled with a familiar rush of excitement. It happened every time we went on air. The cameras and lights, the beat of the music, the thrill of live television.

Here we go.

Seconds later, Alyssa and Tim appeared under the lights, their bright anchor smiles pasted on.

“Good evening, I’m Alyssa Andrews.

“And I’m Tim Donaldson.”

And on it went, without a blip, for the first ten minutes. I started breathing again after the third break.

Stanley and Sunshine, the weather cat, were ready for the five-day forecast, check.

Commercial break, check.

Sports, check. I didn’t worry about that three-minute slot. Plenty to talk about, visual stories; the anchors could get away with jokes and ad-libbing. Viewers loved it.

We rounded out the show with an inspirational kicker about a local scholarship winner, a kid first in his family to go to college. He’d won forty thousand dollars and was going to Georgia Tech to study astrophysics.

The show wrapped with a standard goodnight, credits, and a wide shot of the WSGA set.

The second the master control operator switched to break, Alyssa flounced off the set in silicone fashion. She barked into her jewel-encrusted cell phone about her min-pin puppy’s cancelled spa appointment and stomped out of the studio, teetering precariously in four-inch heels.

Yikes!

I climbed the flight of stairs back to the newsroom, relieved the night was almost over.

The phones started to ring five seconds later.

Married to Murder Blog Tour

I am really excited to have Jennifer Oberth guest blog here. I had the opportunity to read her short story "Married to Murder" and as short stories go, this one was absolutely enchanting and funny. Checkout my review below the guest post.


Without further ado, here is the post:

The New Way Readers and Authors Connect

By Jennifer Oberth, author of the Ella Westin Mysteries.

There are so many issues people have with Twitter and Facebook and other social media. I'm not referring to technical issues – don't even get me started with technical issues! But the impersonal feel of these interactions. The strange turnaround effect of social media distancing us from each other instead of bringing us closer.

It's time to change that. As authors, there's no excuse (except the time it takes to craft a plan, much like we do outlines or notes or a good sit-down-and-think) not to really communicate via social media. Ask yourself why you became an author in the first place? To connect. To inspire. To entertain. To reach.

Right? And while I might love to hear about a favorite author's eating of a taco, I really don't care about the other fifty or so I follow or look up. But if the author Tweeted about a taco used as a murder weapon, or some charming, connected, humorous communication - I feel included.

This goes for readers, too. As a reader, if you make me laugh, you've got me. If you share pertinent info, I'll retweet it.

Most (I assume all) authors are readers and fans, too. As an author, think of what you like, who you follow, what reaches out and grabs you. Examine that and then provide your own version of that. Don't copy someone else's style because it'll come off as disingenuous. Discover and develop your own style. By playing around, don't worry if you're not perfect the first time out or even the hundredth. We're all learning – we're all like the kid learning to walk for the first time. Nothing stops them from getting up again.

Allow feedback from your readers. Encourage it.

And readers, talk back! Communicate with your author and let them know you like them or they've got you. Just as you would write a review of a book that affected you (good or bad), do the same (respectful) thing in social media.

How cool is this day and age when you, as a reader, can read a book and instantly communicate with the author? I once sent an e-mail to an author to tell him how much I was enjoying his book – before I even finished the book! That's cool!

This is an age where you can connect with authors instantly and give feedback that may effect the author's next work or two. E.J. Copperman, for example, blogged his next book cover before it was finalized and asked for reader feedback. No one would have done that ten years ago. Use the opportunity the new age of social media offers and really enjoy it. (Just remember you're communicating with human beings so be respectful.)

Authors, do in social media, what you do as an author and CONNECT WITH YOUR READER.

Readers, you can help published authors you enjoy get noticed by word of mouth, posting reviews and following them online. Obscurity is the arch enemy of the author.

If both sides take responsibility in our 'social media-ing', I think we can come out of this happier, more connected people. Isn't that why we're writing and seeking out books in the first place? And Blogs like this one?!

----------------

Jennifer Oberth is a mystery writer from Chicago. She’s written Married To Murder, (Kindle, Nook) and Honeymoon Homicide, (Kindle, Nook) – 99¢ short story mysteries. You can reach her on her Blog, Twitter and Facebook Page.

Stop by and say ‘hi’!

Blurb

The soon-to-be Mrs. Ella Westin doesn't remember adding 'solve a murder' to her bridal to-do list but when she stumbles over the dead body of her matron of honor, it looks like she'll have no choice. Especially as her groom is the one and only suspect. Throw in bad weather, a deaf hairdresser, a ruined wedding cake and a not so retired pirate and it's enough to make Ella want to throttle everyone in sight.

Can she catch the killer before the wedding is called off? Or will she be Married To Murder?

My Review:

This was a short story I thoroughly enjoyed reading, and is set in 1800s. Ella is a very determined bride to be. When she stumbles upon a body in the morning of her wedding. It turns out the body belongs to her maid of honour. Her boss insists she has to investigate the case, given that the evidence points to her soon to be husband. And she has only two hours  before her wedding to find the murderer, clear her fiancée off all the charges and get married. Besides being a determined bride, I found Ella’s character to be witty through her thoughts and dialogue. Ms. Oberth wrote a very satisfactory ending of the story, with an unexpected turn of events.
 I highly recommend this short story, and I’m looking forward to  reading more of Ms. Oberth’s stories.


5/5 Stars

Interview with Lauren Clark, the Author of Stay Tuned

As part of this special promotional extravaganza sponsored by Novel Publicity, the price of the Stay Tuned eBook edition has dropped to just 99 cents this week.

What’s more, by purchasing this fantastic book at an incredibly low price, you can enter to win many awesome prizes, including lots of Amazon gift cards (up to $100 in amount) and 5 autographed copies of the book. Be sure to enter before the end of the day on Friday, December 2nd, so you don’t miss out.

 To Win the Prizes:


1. Purchase your copy of Stay Tuned for just 99 cents on Amazon or Barnes & Noble (You’ll need it for the big contest on Friday)

2. Fill-out the form on Novel Publicity to enter for the prizes

3. Visit today’s featured event; you may win an autographed copy of the book or a $50 gift card!

 ...And I can win too!
Over 100 bloggers are participating in this gigantic event, and there are plenty of prizes for us too. The blogger who receives the most votes in the traffic-breaker poll will win a $100 gift card as well. So when you visit Novel Publicity’s site to fill-out the contest entry form, don’t forget to say that I referred you, so I can get a point in the poll.

The Featured Events include:

Monday, Radio Interview with Novel Publicity! We’re kicking-off on the Novel Publicity Free Advice blog. We interviewed Lauren on our radio show Sunday night and have embedded the full podcast and blogged about its highlights. Give it a listen and then leave a comment on the blog post. This is a great chance to get to know more about this fun and bubbly author. One commenter will win an autographed copy of Stay Tuned. Don’t forget to enter for the other contest prizes while you’re over there!

Tuesday, Twitter sharing contest! A tweet is tiny, only 140 characters. But on Tuesday, it could win you $50. Send the following tweet across the twittersphere, and you just may win a $50 Amazon gift card. An autographed copy of Stay Tuned is also up for grabs. The winners will be announced Wednesday morning. Here’s the tweet: Take a break from the holiday frenzy, and read Stay Tuned. It's fast, fun, and reduced to just 99 cents! http://ow.ly/7zA1e #whirlwind

Wednesday, Google+ sharing contest! Yup, there’s yet another awesome opportunity to win a $50 Amazon gift card, and this time it just takes a single click! Visit Google+ and share Emlyn Chand’s most recent post (you’ll see the Stay Tuned book cover included with it). On Thursday morning, one lucky sharer will be $50 richer. An autographed copy of Stay Tuned is also up for grabs. Two chances to win with just one click! How about that?

Thursday, Facebook sharing contest! Stop by Novel Publicity’s Facebook page and share their latest post (you’ll see the Stay Tuned book cover included with it). It’s ridiculously easy to win! On Friday morning, one lucky sharer will be $50 richer. An autographed copy of Stay Tuned is also up for grabs.

Friday, special contest on the author’s site! Are you ready for some more fun? Take a picture of yourself with your copy of Stay Tuned either in paperback or on an eReading device, tag Lauren Clark’s Facebook page, and you can enter to win one of three Amazon gift cards! A $100 prize will go to the most creative photo, $50 to the best BFF photo, and $50 to the photo with the most people in it. An autographed copy of Stay Tuned is also up for grabs. If you need help learning how to tag a photo, you can visit Lauren’s Facebook page for detailed instructions.

 Remember, it’s all about the books!


About Stay Tuned: What happens when a #1 news team becomes the top story instead of reporting it? For TV producer Melissa Moore, crisis management comes with the job. From employee disputes to her high-maintenance boss, there’s not much she hasn’t seen or can’t handle. But no one—including Melissa—expects a fistfight during the ten o’clock news. When sexy-but-crazy Alyssa Andrews lands a punch on her co-anchor’s face, Melissa jumps on set to help. She’s determined that WSGA’s reputation won’t be destroyed on her watch. Both anchors are fired and Melissa agrees to fill in—but not before polishing her look from haircut to heels. While the new Melissa wows WSGA viewers, her personal life starts fraying at the edges. Melissa’s husband is away more than he’s home, leaving cryptic Post-it notes in his wake. Her mother’s antics spiral out of control at the nursing home and a stalker decides Melissa is her next target. What happens next? Stay Tuned to find out… Get it on Amazon or Barnes & Noble.

About the Author: Lauren Clark has been a voracious reader since the age of four and would rather be stranded at the library than on a desert island. In her former life, she worked as an anchor and producer for CBS affiliates in Upstate New York and Alabama. Lauren adores her family, yoga, her new Electra bike, and flavored coffee. She lives near the Florida Gulf Coast. Visit her on her website, Twitter, Facebook, or GoodReads.

Let's get to know Lauren better through a rousing Q&A...

Did you always want to be a writer?

Yes. For as long as I can remember. Of course, my parents always remind that I also wanted to be an Indian princess named Tiger Lily, but that dream was more short-lived. On a serious note, I do have fond memories of spending my summer days toting stacks of books back and forth from my house to our town’s library. It always seemed like a magical place, with endless stories to get lost in.

You worked as both an anchor and producer after graduate school. How did that influence the writing of Stay Tuned?

So much! It was an accident, really, getting into broadcast journalism. I always thought of myself as a behind the scenes kind of girl, but after my first day on the job, I loved it and stuck with it for the next 6 years. Working in television is never boring. There’s always a story, always the next show. The camaraderie in the newsroom is like nothing else I’ve ever experienced. It’s like living in a big, loud, mostly happy, very dysfunctional family every day.

What gave you the idea for Stay Tuned?

True story: A few months before I took my first television job as a part-time health reporter, the two main anchors at one of the local television stations (who were romantically involved) got into a fistfight. They were outside the building, in the station parking lot. Shortly thereafter, they were both fired. In the months that followed, the two of them bantered back and forth in newspaper editorials, threatened lawsuits, and fueled all sorts of crazy retaliation stories. I never forgot about that incident and always thought about what might happen if such a fistfight happened on air, during a newscast. What would happen? How would it be handled? Who would fix this kind of mess?

What did you learn from being on air?

It’s very humbling, really. As a producer, especially, you are in charge of what’s being put out there—the news stories people watch and talk about each day. It’s a big responsibility to get it right. Not just sometimes, but all of the time. There were many sobering days—car accidents, house fires, school shootings—and those stories should be told with sensitivity and care. It’s someone’s son or daughter or parent. Everyone matters.

What was your most memorable experience as an anchor or reporter?

I was on set during 9-11. I remember sitting there with our weatherman and waiting to be cued to go back on air after the commercial. CBS cut in and showed footage from a plane crashing into the Twin Towers. It was surreal and awful. We were all in shock. It didn’t seem possible. All I wanted to do was go home and hug my son.

Was it a difficult decision to leave television?

Yes and no. I loved so many parts of broadcasting. I was able to meet fascinating people – Vice Presidential Candidate Geraldine Ferraro, then-New York Attorney General Eliott Spitzer among many others. I adored the people I worked with, especially the folks behind the scenes. I was also fortunate enough to win several AP awards for anchoring and reporting.

On the flip side, I worked crazy hours (2 am – 10 am) and, as is typical in the industry, I received very little vacation time. I anchored every holiday (Christmas Eve, New Year’s Eve, you name it) and wasn’t able to spend much time with my young son. After more than six years, I “retired” from TV news. It was then that I really started to get serious about writing fiction.

How long did it take to write Stay Tuned?

About five years, all said and done. I wrote several other novels before that—and those manuscripts will never see the light of day! When I began Stay Tuned, I had just given birth to my second son, so my writing time was very limited. After putting it away for several years, I picked it back up about 12 months ago, brushed it off, and had an editor-friend look it over. We made some changes, tweaked the story, and fine-tuned the plot. A few months back, I was offered a contract with a small publishing company. Another friend introduced me to the talented and fabulous Emlyn Chand at Novel Publicity, who helped guide me through the entire publishing process. It’s been a wonderful journey!

What’s next? A sequel or a stand-alone novel?

Dancing Naked in Dixie is next (stand alone title) and I’m so excited to share that it’s been selected as a finalist for the 2011 Chick Lit Writers “Get Your Stiletto in the Door” Contest (Winner will be announced December 20, 2011).

Dancing Naked follows the story of a talented but scattered travel magazine writer who returns from overseas only to find out she’s on the verge of getting fired. To save her job, she reluctantly accepts an assignment in the Deep South. She’ll be writing an article about Eufaula, Alabama's annual Pilgrimage event, which is a long-standing spring tour of antebellum mansions (the location is featured in the Reese Witherspoon’s movie, Sweet Home Alabama). Upon arriving in Eufaula, Julia falls in love with the area, its cast of charming characters, and her handsome tour guide. When she discovers that a developer has big plans to buy up many of the historic homes and turn the area into a tourist site, it’s up to Julia to save the day.

What is your writing schedule like?

With two growing, active boys and a busy husband, finding time to write is like looking for a missing Lego piece in a houseful of toys (Moms should appreciate that!) I often get up very early and write while everyone else is asleep or go to the lovely campus of our local university and shut myself in a study room. I love it there because I have to shut off my phone and I don’t have the password for an internet connection! No distractions! Of course, I do frequent two or three local coffee shops and draw inspiration from my daily dose of caffeine and good friends!

Who are your favorite writers? Favorite books?

Gosh, there are so many! My all-time favorites include Emily Giffin, Sophie Kinsella, Jodi Picoult, Alice Hoffman, Jennifer Weiner, Chris Bohjalian, John Grisham, Amanda Eyre Ward, and Lisa See. I also love Lisa Scottoline, Janet Evanovich, and James Patterson. Favorite books include: Sue Monk Kidd’s The Secret Life of Bees, Jodi Picoult’s My Sister’s Keeper, and Stellaluna by Janell Cannon (this is a children’s book that I’ve read over and over to my two boys).

What advice do you have for aspiring writers?

Read. A lot. Write. A lot. Revise. A lot. I’m not joking.

Anyone can write. Writing well is different. It takes focus and tenacity and determination. I've heard Stephen King quoted as saying, "The first million words are practice. Malcolm Gladwell, in Outliers, says, "It takes 10,000 hours of purposeful practice to become expert at anything." Just to be clear, at 4 hours a day (28 hours a week), that’s 7 years. I’m not quoting the experts to scare anyone or be a harbinger of doom. It’s the truth.

Pick up a copy of Stephen King’s On Writing. It’s brilliant and so true and funny in so many sections. If you’re serious about becoming an author, learn as much as you can. Read blogs and books about the craft, network with other writers, or go to a writer’s conference. Above all, write!

A review of Three Days,Two Nights by M J Fredrick

Author: M J Fredrick

Word Count 19000 words

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Carina Press

Pub. Date: 24 October 2011

Genre: Adult Contemporary Romance

Description:

Nathaniel Reis screwed up. He put his career as an air force pilot before his marriage to Tess, and wound up divorced. Now that he's left the service, he has a plan to fix things, if only he can get her alone for a few days.


When Tess misses her flight to a corporate retreat, Nat's there with his island-hopper plane and a plot to get stranded in paradise thanks to "mechanical problems." But his plan goes awry when a storm blows them off course and they have to make a realemergency landing-and not on the island where he's stashed supplies.


Tess is furious. She's anxious to get to her retreat, and away from Nat. She's even angrier that being so close to him arouses her in a way she hasn't been for a long time. Rescue can't come soon enough, but in the meantime, she's going to have to trust Nat to keep her safe. Even if she's in danger of falling for him all over again.
19,000 words


My Review:

Three days, two nights was a good read, a book about second chances. The book begins one year after Tess and Nat’s divorce. Nat, after losing Tess after putting his carrier before marriage is determined to get her back. After she misses her flight to her retreat, courtesy of Nat with his plan to woo her back in his life by taking her to a an island where he is to romance her. Unfortunately, everything goes downhill as a storm blows them of course and they end up in the wrong island, living Nat to improvise.

The characters were well developed, and M J Fredrick did a good job of creating tension between the two, and the attraction between them.

I enjoyed reading this short story. It did feel a bit rushed nearly the end once they were rescued, but was satisfied with their Happy Ever After, given their past relationship.

Would recommend it to readers looking for a quick romantic read.

4/5 Stars

Her Dark Knight Review

Author:      Sharon Cullen

Pub. date:  November 28, 2011
Source:      Netgalley
Publisher:  Carina Press



Description:



Madelaine Alexander is on a mission. When her boss sends her to the hottest nightclub in town to meet with the owner, she won't be deterred, even if that means standing in line for fifty-eight minutes in torturous heels while she'd rather be home in her pj's with a bowl of popcorn.
A Knight of the Templar, Christien Chevalier was given immortality along with the responsibility of protecting the treasure of the Templars. He's been unwavering in his task for centuries until his one true love-who died seven hundred years ago-shows up in his club, demanding his attention.
Christien couldn't protect Madelaine when they first fell in love. She was married to a lord and he was simply a knight. Now, through some unknown miracle, she stands before him again and they have a second chance. But Christien fears that Madelaine is being used as a pawn in a dangerous game, a game of good versus evil that could affect all of mankind...

My Review:

First of all, I want to say that I loved reading this story.

The first time Lainie meets Christien is in a club owned by Christien himself as she delivers some papers for her boss whom she doesn’t like. Immediatly Laine has a feeling she’s met him before, and having dreams/flashes of a past life of a 14^th century Countess leads to more confusion. On the other hand, Christien is taken by her, and in her he sees the woman he loved 700 years ago, but had no way doing anything about  as she was then married to a count. As time goes by Christien is more convinced Lainie is reincarnate of his one and only true love, Countess Madeleine murdered during the 14^th Century.

As they get to know each other, danger lurks everywhere threatening to keep them apart again.

As the story advances,  Christien discovers more intriguing facts about his lovely Laine, who she really is.

I have to say the author did a good job of interchanging between the past (flashbacks) and the present, giving the reader a look of what really happened to Countess Madeleine. Christian and Lainie are well drawn characters, the genuine attraction they feel for each other just leaps off the page. This is a great read, and will be checking out the author’s other books.


5/5 Stars

Weekly Book Blog Hop

Interested in meeting authors and bloggers ? Beck Valley Books host the Wednesday and Saturday blog hop. Would love to see you there, have fun!

A review of Saving Grace by Annie Jones

Author: Annie Jones

Source: Blogging for books

FTC Disclaimer I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.

About This Book

Every year on the night of New Bethany's annual Splendor Belle Gala, reclusive Sera Grayson appears on the porch of her aging antebellum home dressed in a tattered ball gown. Legend

holds she is reliving the greatest disappointment of her life: waiting endlessly for the man who

stood her up more than fifty years ago. Rosemary, Naomi, Gayle, and Lucy, first introduced in

Jones's Prayer Tree, together decide to help out the eccentric old woman-partly to strengthen their own special bond, threatened by time and the demands of everyday life. Will their joint project instead tear them apart forever?

My Review:

What a wonderful story! The story centres around four friends, Gayle, Rose, Naomi 

and Lucy have drifted apart in the last years Naomi being the plotter and schemer in the group discovers that there is a way she can bring the group together: By convincing her friends if they could go visit Grace, is  said to sit on the porch every year on the night of the Annual SplendorBelle Gala waiting for a man who stood her up over fifty years ago. 

I’d say the author did a very good job in creating believable characters. And what I really enjoyed most about this was that, Christian values were nicely woven in the story without coming out as preachy. I enjoyed how the women were there for each other in times of great difficulty, loved the  dialogue as well, the descriptions were well done. There were moments in the story I chucked to myself, others I was touched to the point of being misty eyed. At the end of the story, when Grace revealed what happened over fifty years ago, on the night of the Gala, I found myself reading eagerly, and later smiling, glad to finally know the truth.

Everything was tied up nicely, and I loved the Happy Ever After. After reading this to the last page, I just sighed happily.

WINNERS OF THE SAVE A TURKEY, GOBBLE A BOOK BLOG HOP TOUR

Hi friends!!! 


I'd like to thank you all so much for participating in the Blog Hop, hopefully you all enjoyed the hoppity hop.

The winners of your drawing are…

1st	geschumann
2nd	koonie2888
3rd	mrsqueentutt
4th	shadowluvs2read
5th	romanceaholic

Congratulations to the winners! Emails will be sent to the addesses provided on the comments. 
It was truly wonderful getting to meet new bloggers and authors,  hopefully to see you back for the blog hop in December.  




CeCe

Lazing Sunday - Excerpt from The Soul Collector Series

Hope your Sunday mornings/afternoons are going great. 

I would love to share with you an excerpt from my Soul     Collector series.

A scene taken from the first chapter, whereby Ana Maria is  heading home after a along day of souls collecting.

Here it is:

I ghost into my room. Everything looks the same: my ancient computer still on the table next to the window, photo frames of my family members lined up on the alongside it. Dust clings on the table and bedside lamps, awaiting my return. I trace my hand along the crochet bedspread, and sigh.

This isn’t my life anymore. I leave.

In the realm of After World of Shadow and Light, I head for my rooms in Grim’s brightly lit gothic castle. I shower and change into a red dress with a drooping back, and gold high heels. I complete the look with a gold sash around my waist, and sprinkle glitter along my arms. I smile, enjoying how the glitter sparkles against my dark skin. After applying eye-liner, I pull my hair back into a knot.

 Grim always insists on dressing up for dinner.

Satisfied by my appearance, I descend down the gleaming dark wood stairs, polished to the perfection. The grand staircase is illuminated by dozens of mouth-shaped sconces mounted on the walls, giving the illusion of a gaping mouth breathing out red fire. Shadows flicker all around me. I clutch the brass rail for support, my throat tightens and my heart beats pound loudly and my eyes ache from peering into the shadows.

Outside the arched doorway leading to the dining hall, I pause and take a deep breath, and with my palm brush the thin layer of sweat on my forehead, willing my heart to cease its wild beating. Finally, I take a step forward and enter the enormous hall. The two tables positioned in the middle of the room are decked with gold and black table cloths, crammed full with dinner guests murmuring in low voices.

As if sensing my presence, Grim straightens and looks at me. His date on his right, a Rusalka, follows his gaze. She looks me over as if she’s sizing me for competition. Hasn’t she gotten the newsflash? I am the Grim Reaper’s Novice. I hold her gaze. Her blood red lips tighten, she flicks her wet long golden hair from her face and glares at me. Behind her pale white and translucent face, her disturbing pupil-less eyes glow like green neon fire as our gazes lock. Her eyes seem to convey you’re lucky we don’t have a pond around hear, because I’d just drown you. A shiver slithers along my spine. This is one water-nymph I’ll be avoiding in the future.

I turn my gaze to Grim, who is watching me with a proud fatherly smile, and beckons for me to take a seat opposite him.

I clear my throat, and lower myself on the chair opposite him. “Good evening, Grim.” He frowns. “Er… Ernest.” I correct myself. The first time we met, he introduced himself as Ernest, and said it made him feel friendlier. Honestly, I’ll never get used to calling him Ernest, despite his cheerful disposition.

His unmasked handsome, ageless face lights up, giving me a toothy smile. I almost roll my eyes, then stop myself as we have company.

 “Good evening, my Novice,” he says in a deep and cheerful voice.

After settling myself down, I sneak glances at my fellow diners and a giggle escapes my lips. What would my best friends Reiner and Lea think if I told them who my dining guests are?

“Hello,” says a Chimera sitting on my right, and I turn to face her. I’m not sure which of his heads greeted me, as one is flirting with a male Vampire sitting at her other side, and the other two are facing me.

“Hi,” I say, shifting in my chair. “Are you…” I trail off as the two heads lose interest in me.

I sigh. As always, this is going to be one long torturous dinner.

There’s throat clearing on my left. I turn my body to face the Djinn beside me, his smile so bright it’s almost blinding me. The one thousand candle crystal chandelier suspended from the domed ceiling doesn’t make things easier. Candles flicker, shadows dance across his face.

“Hello, I’m Adis,” he says, extending his hand towards me in greeting.


Would love to know what you think. Comments/feedback are highly welcome and appreciated. 

Follow Friday (1)

 

Follow FRiday is a meme hosted by Parajunkee's View and Alison Can Read. Technically, I was supposed to post this on Friday, but linky linked myself on Saturday. If you would like to participate in this exciting getting to know you hop, please click on the links above and you'll be zipped to the host. (I'm kind of behind with the days) And since I wanted to meet other awesome bloggers out there, here it is.

Here is this week's question, one that I have been waiting for like from the beginining of the year.

"Question: Letter to Santa: Tell Santa what books you want for Christmas!"

Dear Santa,

I've really, really tried to be a good mommy this year,  so if you can just bless me with these books, I'll be a very very happy mama.

1. Shatter me by Tahereh Mafi

2. Paranomarlcy by Kiersten White

3. Archangel's Blade by Nalini Singh

4. Unholy Magic by Stacia Kane

So many books to choose from, so little time. 

What about you? What books would you like Santa to bless you with? 

Interviewed by S.L. Schmitz

Today, I'm quite excited, about two things, no three. First, that I'm alive, and on my seventh cup of hot steaming tea.

I got interviewed by the awesome S.L. Schmitz of Charlotte Books Examiner on the Soul Collector series. S.L. Schmitz is the author of  'Let it Bleed' and 'Mina's Daughter: The Harker Chronicles'.  If you would like to read about it, please click HERE and it will take you to the website.

The first two books in The Iron Fey series by Julie Kagawa came in today from Amazon, and I am reallyyyy eager to read them. (I think I'm the only person on earth who hasn't read them). Not that I didn't want to, but my TBR pile was wayyyyy to humongous. Excited about this.

IMMORTALISED IN INK AND WORDS

Have you ever wondered how it would feel to see yourself as a character in a book? To be immortalised in words and ink, and not with fangs or bites?

An author, and also a friend of mine, Victoria Watson, the author of two published wonderfully written short stories 'I should have seen it coming' and 'Keeping Quiet'  is holding a competition on her blog for her next story 'Inside'. 

Please follow this link http://elementaryvwatson.wordpress.com/2011/11/11/its-competition-time/ .There you will find the instructions on what to do to be considered for the entry.

Good luck!

Why I love YA - A Guest post by Emlyn Chand

Today I'm glad, no, delirious (in a good way) to have Emlyn Chand the author of the brilliantly written and addictive YA paranormal novel Farsighted guest post in my blog. I have to say this is one of the best creatively written books, spellbinding in its originality and awesomeness, I've read this year. Therefore, I'm a HUGE fan.

If you haven't had a chance to get a copy of this book, please read on. There is a chance of winning an autographed copy and/or other prizes.

This is a guest post by Emlyn Chand, author of Farsighted

For years, I focused on reading classic literature with the occasional YA novel thrown in as a fun change. But you know what? I'm done moving back and forth between what I think I need to be reading and what I know I want to read. I'm making YA my official genre du jour. And what's not to love?


Let's take a quick journey back to the beginning of it all...


The 1930s were the decade when Juvenile Literature first asserted itself as a genre with books such as Boylston’s Sue Barton series and Rose Wilder Lane’s Let the Hurricane Roar. In the 1950s, JD Salinger’s Catcher in the Rye further defined the protagonists of this genre —those who are not quite grown-ups, but aren’t kids either, those who are in the process of discovering who they are and how they fit into the world around them.


It’s clear that the success of a certain boy wizard (does he even need to be named?) brought readers to YA in droves. And from there, literature for a young adult audience is absolutely everywhere.


Of all the great material that is available, YA may have the widest readership — with middle grade children wanting to read a step ahead, adults wanting to remember what it was like to be young and, of course, with the teenage audience for which the books are primarily focused.


I am 26, and I love YA literature.


It, like other genres, allows for an escape from your own reality, as you become enmeshed in an exciting, fictional world. It features characters who are malleable and who grow into themselves during the course of the novel. It’s often fast-paced and exciting, using a style of prose that is engaging and easy-to-read. If a YA book strikes a chord with you, you may be able to pick up with its adventures again, if the novel has been turned into a series, trilogy or saga. And guess what, there are actual happy ending sometimes, woo hoo!


So which YA books have I read and enjoyed? I’m a Harry Potter nut, of course. I'm also coo coo for Hunger Games and most recently, Matched. I’ve enjoyed series such as: Percy Jackson and the Olympians, The City of Ember, Twilight, and His Dark Materials. Louis Sachar’s Holes also kicked butt, and I look forward to reading The Tiger Series by Colleen Houck.


The truth is, I’ve only avowed my devotion to this genre quite recently--about a year-and-a-half ago, actually. Just six short months before I decided that YA was so happenin', so exciting, I just had to write it myself!


Much of what I’ve read has been multi-book series, which means I haven’t yet discovered all of the great literature that’s out there, just waiting for me to pick it up and enter its compelling world of adventure, excitement, and intrigue.


Please, humble book-blog reader, which YA novels are your favorites? Let's generate a go-to list of reading gems and discover the favorite books we haven't gotten the chance to read yet.

Blog Tour Notes

THE BOOK:  Alex Kosmitoras may be blind, but he can still “see” things others can’t.  When his unwanted visions of the future begin to suggest that the girl he likes could be in danger, he has no choice but to take on destiny and demand it reconsider. Get your copy today by visiting Amazon.com’s Kindle store or the eBook retailer of your choice. The paperback edition will be available on November 24 (for the author’s birthday).


THE CASH PRIZES:  Guess what? You could win a $100 Amazon gift card as part of this special blog tour. That’s right! Just leave a comment below saying something about the post you just read, and you’ll be entered into the raffle. I could win $100 too! Please help by voting for my blog in the traffic-breaker poll. To cast your vote, visit the official Farsighted blog tour page and scroll all the way to the bottom. Thank you for your help with that.


THE GIVEAWAYS:  Win 1 of 10 autographed copies of Farsighted before its paperback release by entering the giveaway on GoodReads. Perhaps you’d like an autographed postcard from the author; you can request one on her site.


THE AUTHOR:  Emlyn Chand has always loved to hear and tell stories, having emerged from the womb with a fountain pen grasped firmly in her left hand (true story). When she’s not writing, she runs a large book club in Ann Arbor and is the president of author PR firm, Novel Publicity. Emlyn loves to connect with readers and is available throughout the social media interweb. Visit www.emlynchand.com for more info. Don’t forget to say “hi” to her sun conure Ducky!


MORE FUN: There's more fun below. Watch the live action Farsighted book trailer and take the quiz to find out which character is most like you!

SAVE A TURKEY, GOBBLE A BOOK BLOG HOP TOUR (NOV 14-21)

COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS, DREAM, EAT, LOVE, HOP ON THE TOUR

 

 

SAVE A TURKEY, GOBBLE A BOOK BLOG HOP TOUR (NOV 14-21)

HERE ARE THE RULES

1) HAVE FUN!!!

2) INVITE ALL OF YOUR FRIENDS!!! SPREAD THE WORD!!!

3) THIS TOUR STARTS: Monday, November 14, at Midnight (Arizona Time)
    THIS TOUR ENDS: Monday, November 21, at Midnight (Arizona Time)
    Winners will be drawn and posted November 22nd! ***

4) MEET AND MINGLE WITH ALL THE AUTHORS & BOOK PAGES! EXPERIENCE A NEW DESTINATION AT EVERY STOP! PARTICIPATE IN EVERY BLOG CONTEST AND BE ENTERED FOR CHANCES TO WIN MULTIPLE PRIZES! EVERY BLOG VISITED IS ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO WIN!!
  

5) PARTICIPATION AT ALL BLOGS IS RECOMMENDED, BUT NOT REQUIRED. REMEMBER, THE MORE BLOGS YOU HOP, THE BETTER YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING PRIZES. EVERY AUTHOR & BOOK PAGE IS WAITING TO MEET AND INTERACT WITH YOU, SO PLEASE BE SURE TO SHOW THEM SOME LOVE!

 

6) DID I MENTION TO HAVE FUN? WHOO! HOO!! HERE WE GOOOOOOOOOOOO!***Authors & Book Pages have full discretion to choose an alternate winner in the event any winner fails to claim their prize(s) within 72 hours of their name being posted or after notification of win, whichever comes first. Anyone who participates in this blog hop tour is subject to these rules*** 

 

Follow my blog, follow me on twitter @ CeCeMR, and leave a comment with your email address so I can contact the winner.  You’ll be entered to win a $10 Amazon gift certificate. 
(Five winners will be chosen.)

Good luck! 

Cecilia M. Robert 

HAVE A BLESSED THANKSGIVING.


Click  HERE  to return to the Blog Hop Linky List.