March AUTHOR'S Kindle Fire Giveaway

March AUTHOR'S Kindle Fire Giveaway

Kindle Fire HD Giveaway!

The winner will have the option of receiving a 7" Kindle Fire HD (US Only)

Or $199 Amazon.com Gift Card (International)

Or $199 in Paypal Cash (International)

Sponsoring Authors

Cascade Brides by Bonnie Blythe

Twenty-Five Years Ago Today by Stacy Juba

The Return of the Dragon Riders by Kristian Alva

Prison Nation by Jenni Merritt

The Stone Guardian by Theresa McClinton

For What It's Worth by Karey White

Hidden Heart by Camelia Miron Skiba

The Gryphon Series by Stacey Rourke

Shifting Pride by Laura Diamond

Fire Within (Guardian Witch #2) by Ally Shields

The Light of Asteria by Elizabeth Isaacs

Kiss Me, I'm Irish by Bella Street

Legend Unleashed by M. Latimer-Ridley

Innovera Yakov- The Journey of a Thousand Eyes by Kia Garriques

The Gifted by Deborah Andreasen

Reflection by Kim Cresswell

Forbidden Temptation of a Vampire by Jodie B. Cooper

Family Magic by Patti Larsen

Fall of Sky City by S.M. Blooding

Blood Oath by T.L. Clarke

Grace Doll by Jennifer Laurens

A Tale of the Other Kind by Leandi Cameron

Alexander Drake by Elizabeth Parkinson Bellows

Owlet by Emma Michaels

Aura by Rebecca Talley

Giveaway Details
1 winner will receive their choice of a Kindle Fire HD (US Only), $199 Amazon Gift Card or $199 in Paypal Cash (International).
Ends: 3/31/13

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer http://iamareader.com and sponsored by the authors. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

Because of You by TE Sivec Cover Reveal

 Because of You (Playing with Fire #2) 

by TE Sivec 

Release Date: April 29, 2013

Cover Design: Sarah Hansen at Okay Creations (www.okaycreations.net)

BLURB:

Brady Marshall has made a career of playing it safe. When he decides to do something rash and becomes

a Navy SEAL, he thinks he's finally escaped the rigid structure of the high society life his parents forced

down his throat. All he does is trade in one set of rules for another. He follows military protocol to a T, but it

still results in the death of an entire team of Navy SEALS and puts his best friends directly in harm's way.

He’s struggled to stay afloat and not drown in grief, guilt, and booze, but he's losing that battle quickly.

When his baby sister flees her abusive husband and shows up on his doorstep with his young niece in tow,

he has no choice but to clean up his act. He will stop at nothing to protect them and never let them down

again, even if it means taking a job that goes against everything he believes in. If protecting a pop star

princess who thinks she's better than everyone means he can keep a roof over their head, what other choice

does he have?

Layla Carlysle has lived a life of luxury. She's been a star since the young age of fifteen, and every record

she releases shoots straight to the top of the charts. She has people surrounding her every single day

telling her how amazing she is, how beautiful she is, and how lucky she is, but she’s never felt more alone

in her entire life. She wants nothing more than to break free and do what she really wants to do: write her

own music, sing her own songs, and find a way to finally be happy with her life. The only thing standing in

her way is her mother, Eve Carlysle. Eve has controlled every single aspect of her daughter’s life and will

stop at nothing to achieve fame and fortune, even if that means using her daughter to get there. When an

overlyamorous

fan’s letters become increasingly more sinister, Brady will have to suck up his opinion of

how the other half lives to take the job seriously. The pair will need to learn to trust each other and put aside

their differences before the letters become a reality and someone’s life is in jeopardy.

Brady has been to hell and back, and he refuses to let anyone else get close to him again. Layla has never

lived her life for herself, and the emptiness is threatening to break her for good.

Sometimes our lives are already planned for us, but because of you, all of that could change in an instant.

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17281845becauseofyou

 Because of You – the second in the Playing with Fire series. This is Brady’s story, and I can tell you, based on what I’ve read, it’s going to be great! Because of You will be released early April.

Check out the Teaser over at Madison's Blog

T.E. Sivec

Author Bio:

This is the pen name of Tara Sivec. Under T.E. Sivec, she writes romantic suspense novels. T.E. Sivec lives

in Ohio with her husband and two children, living the dream of being a fulltime

writer.

Connect with TE:

Website: http://www.tarasivec.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TaraSivec.authorpage?fref=ts

Twitter: https://twitter.com/TaraSivec

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6555817.T_E_Sivec

Protecting What's His - by Tessa Bailey

Protecting What's His - 

A Line of Duty novel by Tessa Bailey

She’s running from the law, and the law wants her bad.
The opportunity was just too damn delicious for Ginger Peet to pass up. The purse full of money she finds—$50,000 to be exact—could give her and her teen sister the new start they need. So she grabs the cash, her gothy sibling, and their life-sized statue of Dolly Parton, and blows outta Nashville in a cloud of dust.Chicago, here we come…
Turns out, Chicago has some pretty hot cops. Hot, intense, naughty-lookin’ cops like Derek Tyler, who looks like he could eat a girl up and leave her begging for more. And more. Tempting as he is, getting involved with the sexy homicide lieutenant next door poses a teensy problem for a gal who’s on the lam. But one thing is certain—Derek’s onto her, and he wants more than just a taste.
And as far as he’s concerned, possession is nine-tenths of the law.

Title: Protecting What’s His

Author: Tessa Bailey

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Length: 273

Release Date: February 2013

ISBN: 978-1-62266-789-5

Imprint: Brazen

“Scorching hot, and laugh out loud funny! You’ll want to read this book again and again.”
- New York Times Bestselling Author Katee Robert

Chapter One

© 2013 Tessa Bailey

To steal or not to steal, that was the question.
Nothing happened. And didn’t that just figure?
Instead, her conscience wiggled out of her chest, moseyed across the room, and perched itself on the giant, unused stereo system circa 1992. It crossed its arms and shrugged as if to say, “Union break. You understand.”
Ginger cocked an eyebrow. It appeared her imagination was already overcompensating for the absence of her conscience.
She plopped down on the dingy carpet, pulled her knees up to her chest, and inhaled a shaky breath. Her night shift at Bobby’s Hideaway had been crazy as usual, what with the dueling bachelorette parties and frat guys from Vanderbilt screaming drink orders at her until 4:00 a.m. Typical night in downtown Nashville.
Most nights, she screamed right along with them. Playing the part. Laughing at jokes she couldn’t even hear above the honky-tonk music. Giving as good as she got. Was it pure coincidence that tonight, when she’d been unable to muster a single smile for her good ol’ boy regulars, she came home to find a pile of cash waiting for her?
Furthermore, their mother hadn’t darkened their door in months, but had picked tonight of all nights to stop by and catch a nap. The last time Ginger spoke—okay argued—with Valerie, she’d been stripping to make a living. If you called passing through life in a drug- and alcohol-induced hazeliving. At least she’d managed to pass out with dignity and not wake Ginger’s seventeen-year-old sister, Willa, in the process. Willa tried valiantly to hide her depression over their mother’s habitual absences, but Ginger knew it cut her deeply.
Ginger didn’t take kindly to anyone hurting her sister. Mother or not.
She narrowed her gaze once more at the cash-filled purse. No way had Valerie pulled in this much cash twirling around a pole. She sifted through the bulging rolls of hundred-dollar bills held together by rubber bands. What she wouldn’t give to have this much money. The pile of cash in front of her represented freedom. Change. A chance to pursue something other than pouring drinks to support herself and Willa.
Willa.
This could be Ginger’s one and only chance to get her sister away from this broken-down heap called a house. Away from the danger of the strange men her mother brought home when she actually came home. Away from the fate of ending up passed out on a thrift-store couch while your twenty-three-year-old daughter debated ripping you off.
And. Yet. Ginger knew with absolute certainty that if she took this money, just walked out the door with it, it would come back to take a chunk out of her ass. Moreover, it occurred to her that this one poor decision moved her one giant step closer to her biggest fear.
Becoming her mother.
Ginger had to believe the pile of skin and bones on the couch had once possessed dreams and ambitions of some sort. Then one misguided choice landed her in a G-string and pasties shaking it for some trucker named Dirk to a played-out eighties anthem.
If Ginger could just be a good enough person for long enough, she could flip the script for Willa, though. Willa, who’d skipped the sixth grade, swore like a sailor, and took photographs that could make Ginger cry, would have a chance at becoming something. Someone.
She glanced around at the peeling paint, stained carpet, and twice-pawned television set. Without the responsibility of playing parent to her sister, Ginger would have lit out a long time ago, leaving Nashville in her rearview mirror. The thought of falling asleep in her squeaky twin bed in the room she shared with Willa, only to wake up tomorrow and complete the same bleak routine—riding the bus into town to work a double shift, then still struggle to put dinner on the table and make rent, all the while looking out for her sister—made her feel nauseous.
I can’t see past tomorrow anymore and that ain’t good.
As her idol Dolly Parton once said, “If you don’t like the road you’re walking, start paving another one.” Hell, she was going to need a fleet of cement mixers.
And for that, she’d need some cash.
Ginger fanned the money in front of her face, inhaling the musty scent. Surely the guilt would appear any moment and she would stuff the purse back into the crook of Valerie’s arm and pretend she’d never seen it in the first place. She could then fall asleep with a clear conscience and the false hope that her mother had turned over a new leaf and would use the money to feed Willa, move her sister into a nicer home.

Or she could seize the opportunity fate was dropping in her lap and get the heck out of Dodge…
As Ginger picked up the purse and slung it over her shoulder, she learned something very important about human nature. Oftentimes people make questionable decisions. And even though they already taste the fat regret sandwich headed their way, they do it with a smile.
She gave her trembling, wide-eyed conscience the finger and went to pack.

Guest Post - 

Tessa Bailey

Tessa Bailey
Author of PROTECTING WHAT’S HIS
From Brazen Books at Entangled Publishing
www.tessabailey.com

Character Development


Every character needs a weakness. To me, that specific weakness is the trait that makes them interesting. Superman is so strong because of the weakness he has to overcome: kryptonite. The fact that he overcomes it each time and ultimately saves the city makes him stronger than if he had zero weaknesses in the first place! In romance novels, the kryptonite for the hero is almost always the woman. I like to write men who walk around thinking they're invincible until SHE shows up and blasts that theory to hell. A man realizing his next breath depends on HER staying or leaving is always my favorite part of a novel - and Derek definitely feels that in PROTECTING WHAT'S HIS.

Ginger, my heroine in PWH, has a few weaknesses, too. She fears becoming her mother, a strung-out stripper who neglected Ginger and her little sister as a child. Because Ginger is such a strong character, if I didn't throw in a significant weakness, she would probably appear less intelligent and too cocky for her own good. It's so important for characters to have their own version of kryptonite or they would have nothing to overcome and we would have nothing to cheer for!  It's the first thing I like to decide on when character building. What is this character fighting to overcome? How will they overcome it? Then the story begins to build itself :)


Author Bio : 


Tessa lives in Brooklyn, New York with her husband and young daughter. When she isn't writing or reading romance, Tessa enjoys a good argument and thirty-minute recipes.

Follow Tessa on Twitter @mstessabailey
https://twitter.com/mstessabailey

Facebook

Thrown by a Curve by Jaci Burton

Thrown by a Curve by Jaci Burton

Sports medicine specialist Alicia Riley has the job of her dreams, until she's assigned to star pitcher Garrett Scott. Undergoing shoulder rehab, it's make it or break it time for Garrett, and he needs to focus to get back on the mound in time for opening day. But close proximity and combustible chemistry is a dangerous combination, and both Alicia and Garrett have a lot to lose if this doesn't work.

Juls Review The best thing about Jaci Burton's books are the hot sweaty and buff yet svelte men. And this one doesnt disappoint. What woman can resist a man who is large and in charge.  Garrett is the best pitcher around but this ego got he best of him and knowing he was injured he didnt pull out of a game. It cost him dearly. The baseball season is just around the corner and all his efforts to get back on the mound is slowly becoming nonexistent. He's been the it guy and no one wants to call him out on his bullshit attitude except for Alicia, one of the therapist on staff.  Garrett got a taste of her sassiness and no nonsense attitude and he was totally on board for her to get him back on track. What he didnt expect was the feelings and emotions she brings out in him. His past doesnt allow him to believe in love but this woman has worked miracles on him both physically and emotionally. Alicia is direct and to the point. There are no excuses in her book. And she's good at what she does. She's known all her life what she wanted to do and she wants to perfect it even more. She wants to prove her worth and now getting Garrett back on the mound is of up most importance. What she didnt realize is that all work can make for dull Alicia. Garrett shows her its not just all about work but that you can enjoy every aspect of life. Alicia and Garrett have quite the chemistry. Their sexual tension even made my stomach flutter. And when they finally come together, you sigh right along with them.  Some details were missing and things felt a bit rushed but for the most part very enjoyable read.

Jen's Review  I hate to do this to my favorite series!!! but I only gave it 3 stars - I love this whole series, Jaci Burton is my favorite Sports author - and she did a GREAT job with this book - I totally loved all the baseball talk, the whole physical therapy thing - But Gavin and Alicia were just Lacking somehow. Being a Riley, I would think Alicia would have been a bit more.... out there. Considering Jenna's story, and Alicia's brother Cole. But even though Alicia is a strong girl, she doesn't take Garrett's crap. And then that leads me to Garrett - he's not the big player that they said he was.. not even a little bit. Sure right now his main focus is getting his shoulder back to normal, but what i don't get, is how the professional trainers would pacify him to the point that he wasn't working his arm the right way?? That's how it starts off. Garrett isn't healing fast enough. He's starting to think his shoulder isn't going to heal fast enough and he's not going to be able to pitch this season. When he asks Alicia her opinion, she really gives it to him. Letting him know that he's full of crap and doesn't do what he's supposed to do. So Garrett does what is expected. He'll take the girl who swears she can get his arm in shape. Because she wont take his crap. We don't get to read much of his crying, or whining about the pain, or being difficult, because in this story, Garrett is pretty good at following directions that Alicia gives him. Even though she says he's being difficult.... Anyways - Alicia takes him on a few different ways of getting his mind off his shoulders. Instead of consistant intense weight lifting, she takes him up a rock wall. She has a few different ideas on how to stretch his arms and start breaking down the scar tissue, and get his shoulder back into shape. Finally he's ready to start working out with the team. Not pitching, but working out. And this brings them both to Florida, staying in the same beach house.... well, you can see where this is going :) And it goes there.. and it's HOT! Jaci really knows how to make a relationship work :) I love it. This book would have been better if Garrett was a little more .... manly - I understand he was hurt and all that, but still .... Looking forward to One Sweet Ride in June - I don't think I've read any Car racing books yet - but I do love a good street Race :) And Gary seemed so sweet at the restaurant. I can't wait to get to know him better :)

Wait for You by J. Lynn

Wait for You by J. Lynn,  Jennifer L. Armentrout 


Some things are worth waiting for…

Traveling thousands of miles from home to enter college is the only way nineteen-year-old Avery Morgansten can escape what happened at the Halloween party five years ago—an event that forever changed her life. All she needs to do is make it to her classes on time, make sure the bracelet on her left wrist stays in place, not draw any attention to herself, and maybe—please God—make a few friends, because surely that would be a nice change of pace. The one thing she didn’t need and never planned on was capturing the attention of the one guy who could shatter the precarious future she’s building for herself.

Some things are worth experiencing…

Cameron Hamilton is six feet and three inches of swoon-worthy hotness, complete with a pair of striking blue eyes and a remarkable ability to make her want things she believed were irrevocably stolen from her. She knows she needs to stay away from him, but Cam is freaking everywhere, with his charm, his witty banter, and that damn dimple that’s just so… so lickable. Getting involved with him is dangerous, but when ignoring the simmering tension that sparks whenever they are around each other becomes impossible, he brings out a side of her she never knew existed.

Some things should never be kept quiet…

But when Avery starts receiving threatening emails and phone calls forcing her to face a past she wants silenced, she has no other choice but to acknowledge that someone is refusing to allow her to let go of that night when everything changed. When the devastating truth comes out, will she resurface this time with one less scar? And can Cam be there to help her or will he be dragged down with her?

And some things are worth fighting for…

EXCERPT:  Copied from Goodreads It was a lame excuse, but it was the best I had. “How do you really ever truly know someone?” Brit smacked her hands to her cheeks and she shook his head. “He’s not a serial killer.” “Speaking of serial killers, everyone thought Ted Bundy was a really charming, handsome man. And look how he turned out. Psycho.” Jacob stared at me, jaw slightly unhinged. “He’s not Ted Bundy.” “I don’t understand,” Brit whispered. “It’s like someone saying that Earth is flat. Cam is like one of the most eligible bachelors on this campus, probably in this county and state.” I said nothing. “I’m pretty sure I’ve been stunned speechless.” Brit shook her head slowly. “I’m absolutely speechless. Someone capture this with a picture.” “Ha.” Jacob’s grin made my anxiety rise. “Here comes Cam. What a coinkidink.” I face planted the table and groaned as Brit started giggling. Under the table, Jacob kicked my leg and two seconds later, I felt Cam before he even spoke a word. I also caught his fresh scent. Was it weird that I knew him by his smell? That did sound weird. It was weird. “Uh, what are you doing, Avery?” In my head, I strung together as many fuck bombs as I could come up with, because I knew—oh, I knew—that Jacob would not keep quiet. “Napping.” “Napping?” “Yeah.” Cam tugged on the back of my cardigan. “Why do I think that’s not what you’re doing?” I gave an awkward shrug. He sat beside me, his hand on my lower back, and my clothes must’ve gotten thinner, because I could really feel his hand. “Are you sick?” “Aw, he’s so concerned!” Jacob exclaimed. “Avery, you’re such a bitch.” Cam stiffened and his tone was low and something I never heard from him before. “Excuse me?” I lifted my head, eyes narrowed at Jacob. “I’m not sick.” “Okay.” Cam glanced around, and Brit broke out into a fit of giggles. “What’s going on?” Before they answered, I jumped in. “Aren’t you supposed to be in class?” He frowned. “Class was let out early. Don’t change the subject.” I opened my mouth, but freaking Jacob swept in. “Avery has just informed us that you’ve been asking her out and she’s been saying no, and we’ve been explaining to her that she’s insane.” “Well then.” The hard look slipped off his face, and I wanted to slide under the table. “I like this conversation.” Ugh. “So it’s true?” Jacob asked, plopping his elbows on the table. “You’ve been asking her out?” Cam cast me a sideway glance. “I have been, almost every day since the end of August.” On the other side of me, Brit squealed like she was a plush toy that was squeezed. “Since August?” He nodded. Brit turned wide eyes on me. “And you haven’t said a word?” “I’m sort of offended,” Cam commented. I elbowed him in the side. “No, you’re not. And it’s not like it’s everyone’s business.” “But we’re your friends,” Jacob sounded so pitiful that I started to feel bad. He turned to Cam. “We totally support her going out with you.” Okay. I didn’t feel bad for him. “I like your friends, Avery.” Cam grinned at my arched look. “Oh, we think she should,” Jacob said. “Like she should do it right now. “We also told her you weren’t a serial killer,” Brit interjected. Cam nodded. “That’s a glowing recommendation. Hey, at least he’s not a serial killer. I’m going to put that on my Facebook profile.” I smirked. Jacob was positively glowing. “And she compared you to Ted Bundy.” “I hate you,” I muttered, pushing my hair back from my face. “I didn’t compare you to Ted Bundy. I just said that you never really know a person. Everyone thought Ted Bundy was a pretty cool guy.” Cam stared at me, amusement twinkling in his eyes. “Wow. This just keeps getting better.” “Sorry?” I said, fighting a grin.

Jen's Review


WOW! I really loved this book!
The best thing about reading books by Jennifer - is that she knows how to finish it :) Seriously, nothing gets left out at the end, and she does an awesome job with it :)

Avery doesn't have the best life back at home, which is why she moved to West Virginia. To get away from everything. The truth she can't talk about haunts her, and her parents have never cared enough to do anything about it. So leaving the state just seemed like the best way to start her life as a college student.

She is trying to get out of the bubble she has been in for the past 5 years. Trying to break out of the crowd, but she can't help the way she feels when she's running late to class. All those eyes looking at her.

And when she literally plows into a wall, that isn't really a wall, she can't help but feel out of place once again.

Cam *sigh* what a sweetheart. From the first time Avery ran into him, he was hooked. He knew there was something different about her, but he didn't know what.
When they became partners in Astronomy, Avery tried her best to get out of it, Feeling her resistance, Cam decided to push harder to get Avery to change her mind about going out with him.

Things became comfortable in their friendship, but that past of Avery's kept coming back to haunt her. And when Cam saw part of her secret, she freaked out!

Was Avery able to over come her flaws and let Cam see the real her??

Such a cute story - I really loved that there was more to it though. Those mysterious phone calls and texts, the whole thing really kept you guessing.

Recommending this book to everyone :)

I would really like to read more about these two - something tells me this series isn't over *lack of condom maybe *
But there is also the ending where they're talking about Cam's sister.. maybe Jace?? What about Ollie?  And of course there is Brit who seems to be looking for more than she's letting on - and what about Jacob?? Oh I'd LOVE to hear more about Jacob :D
Not sure on any more upcoming books at the moment - but I will keep my eye out for them :D

Favorite Quotes: Just a few because there were so many :)  "He kissed me like he wanted to... eat me up." "You didn't put a shirt on." He cast me a look as he headed into my kitchen. "I know it would break your heart not to see me shirtless." "I'm serious about you, Avery. If you want me for real, you have me." Closing my eyes, I placed my hands in his chest. "I want you for real." It was no friendly peck on the lips. When our tongues touched, my bag slipped off my arm and hit the frosted ground. "Holy crap," Jacob muttered. "I think they're going to make babies." After about an hour, I decided that shopping for a guy sucked. "You were perfect- perfect for me-and I love you. “Jacob is like a sex-starved woman in her mid-thirties, so he can’t possibly understand why you wouldn’t want to take a ride on the town bike.” “Whoa,” Brit breathed, “That was…” “Really hot,” Jacob finished.“I thought you two were going to rip off each other’s clothes and start making babies right here on the dirty, beer covered floor. Like I was going to have to start charging admission for what was about to go down.” “I’d still be nice to you if you were ugly.” “Okay.”  A wicked grin slipped over his full lips. He bent his head down and whispered, “I just wouldn’t offer you any cookies.”  I folded my arms and tried to ignore the close proximity of our faces. “I’m beginning to think cookies is a code word for something else.” “Maybe it is.” He tugged on my bag again as he took a confident step back, forcing me down another step. “And just think about it. If cookie was a code word, whatever it symbolizes, it’s been in your mouth, sweetheart.”

Rock My World by Sharisse Coulter

Orangeberry Book Tours – 

Rock My World by Sharisse Coulter

Contemporary Women’s Fiction

Rating – PG13

Jenna Jax-Anders hit rock bottom in high school. Or so she thought. From rock star heiress to knocked-up has been, she turned it all around, marrying the punk rock baby daddy love of her life. The perfect Hollywood fairytale. Until the day she walked in on him kissing her best friend.

As she struggles to find herself and redefine the world around her, she faces the challenges of raising her over-achieving teenage daughter, the heartbreak of losing her best friend (backstabbing aside), and emerging from the shadows of two famous last names to find her own identity. Oh, there’s also the tiny issue of her husband’s record label, backed by an anonymous mogul whose morally ambiguous creative direction may ruin them all.

But she doesn’t know about that yet.

About this author

Sharisse Coulter, originally from Lake Tahoe, started with a smidge of college in Paris (not Texas), a dash in Australia and, voilà! A master’s degree in Anthropology framed and placed lovingly on a shelf, never to be dusted off again. Instead, she took the clear path to success, marrying a musician, becoming his manager and touring the country playing gigs, taking photos, and making music videos. Finally, she had a son (and subsequent identity crisis), which fueled the completion of her first novel ROCK MY WORLD. Now at work on her second and third novels, she’s concurrently embarking on a 5 month 55 city national music/book tour while perfecting the art of Lego and enjoying her addiction to reading novels on her iPhone. It’s a wonderful life for an insatiable wanderluster. You can follow the adventure (or come say "hi" in person) at: http://anovelmusictour.com(less)

Guest Post 

A Funny Thing Happened On the Way to Getting Published

by Sharisse Coulter

It all started with an idea—a simple idea of a character—that eventually turned into a story. That story turned into a first draft, and finally, after two years of editing, getting feedback, editing, reading, editing, rinsing and repeating, a fully-fledged manuscript was born. And, not unlike labor, it sounds simple so long as you’re not the one with the contractions. Unlike becoming a mother, however, the publishing process is less instinctual.

I was ready to find an agent, a publisher, and go about a career as a writer the way all my writing idols had done before me. I knew it would be difficult, demoralizing even, getting rejection letters or hearing nothing at all about my manuscript that took two years of my life to create. But I was prepared. Determined.

Partly, my determination came from the fact that I am married to an independent musician. I’ve helped manage his career for the last (near) decade and know what a time-consuming process it is to do-it-yourself. I know how cutthroat the booking process is and how often people lie to your face or sabotage one another in the false belief that only one person will ever Make It. So I knew, for my sanity as well as my marriage, that only one of us could go it alone, and that slot had already been filled. If my novel were going to make it out into the big bad world, it needed to be with the help of one of the traditional publishing houses.

So I did what any over-achiever would: wrote a great query letter, researched agents who represented similar authors, and devoured books on writing, publishing, finding agents, and accepting publishing deals. I was all set. And then, a funny thing happened on the way to getting published: I was offered an opportunity I couldn’t refuse.

My husband and I were approached with the opportunity to go on tour—as a family—and have the creative control to decide what, when and where we would go. For those of you who aren’t up on the current state of the publishing industry, you may not be aware that advances aren’t what they used to be. More than that, an industry hanging on for its own survival is less inclined to take a chance on a new and unknown author. And even if I were lucky enough to get an agent and a publishing deal, it would never have happened in time for our tour, nor would they sink the kind of money into my book promotion to send me, with my family, out on a 5 month 55 city book tour.

Before I had a chance to send out even one query letter, I ended up on the road to indie-pubbing, planning a tour route, and organizing graphics for our 35’ tour bus. What I thought would be the worst thing for my book and marriage has turned into the most incredible adventure of my life. My husband and I will be touring the country on what we’re calling A Novel Music Tour, doing shows together, and helping to promote each other’s creative endeavors. We get to make our living doing what we love and introducing our toddler son to a million new experiences. I have no idea where this path will lead, but I know I’m grateful for the opportunity, and open to the possibilities.

Buy Now @ Amazon, Barnes & Noble & Kobo

Connect with Sharisse Coulter on Facebook & Twitter

Website http://leecoulter.com/tour/

Jul's Review  4 stars 

I just learned of this book from my blog partner and I have to say I'm so excited she recommended this book to me. I was so surprised with this book. There was so much that I didnt expect from this and I loved it all. 

I have to say the blurb gives nothing away about whats within these pages. What I found was a story of secrets, betrayal, lust, loss and so much more. Nothing is what they seem and unlikely people find the honest person within themselves to help those in need. 

I felt so bad for Alex. He only wanted to take care of his family but everything backfires and now his marriage is in shambles. His wife Jenna needs time away from what she's witnessed but Alex thinks she is only getting farther away from him both physically and mentally. And their daughter Felicity, that poor girl, not is she only getting news second hand about her famous parents but a new love has blossomed and even that is taken away so abruptly. 

Tragedy brings them all home and even though their loss is harsh everything falls into place and they all find some semblance of peace. 

I had a great time reading about this family and regardless of what may be portrayed in the media nothing is what they seem. Go to the source and ask them directly. You will find the real story.

Never Too Far by Abbi Glines

Never Too Far by Abbi Glines
My rating: 4 of 5 stars


He had held a secret that destroyed her world. 

Everything she had known was no longer true. 

Blaire couldn’t stop loving him but she knew she could never forgive him.
Now, she was back home and learning to live again. Moving on with life… until something happened to send her world spinning once again. 
What do you do when the one person you can never trust again is the one that you need to trust so desperately? 

You lie, hide, avoid, and pray that your sins never find you out.

EXCERPT: 
“You don’t have to go with him. I told you that I could fix this. You have me, B. You’ve always had me.”

I swallowed the lump in my throat wishing this were true. Cain believed it. I could see it in his face. But I knew better. If I needed a friend, Cain would be there but he was no one’s savior.

I pulled my bag up higher on my shoulder and thought carefully about how to explain this to him. He wouldn’t understand the truth. Bringing up how he had failed me when my mom was sick and I was so alone would only hurt him. “I need to do this. Who knows, I may be right back here in a couple days or a week. I don’t know. But I do know that I need to face this.”

Cain let out a frustrated growl and ran his hand through his hair. “You don’t trust me to take care of you. That hurts so damn much.” He let out a defeated laugh. “But then why should you? I let you down before. With your mom… I was a kid, B. Things are different now. I know what I want. I… God, B, I want you. It’s always been you.”

A lump formed in my throat. Not because I loved him but because I did care for him. Cain was a big part of my life. He had been for as long as I could remember. I closed the distance between us and reached out and grabbed his hand. “Please, understand. This is something I have to do. I have to face this. Let me go.”

Cain let out a weary sigh. “I’m always letting you go, B. You’ve asked that of me before. I keep trying but it’s slowly destroying me.”

I had always thought that Cain had moved on. That when he’d chosen all those other girls over me that his feelings for me had changed. Seeing the broken desperate look in his eyes now I wondered if I’d misunderstood.(less)






Jen's review
Awesome!! I was anxious to read this considering how the last book left! We knew Blair was going to get pregnant after that last time - wow!

Things are still strained with Blair and Rush - She just doesn't know what to do, but she knows now that she's pregnant, she has to figure it out, and fast -

At the grave site, she talks with her mom, and just as Becka walks up, Blaire knows that this is the sign she needed. Unfortunately it meant Becka needed Blaire to come back to Rosemary to be her roommate, and Blaire wasn't sure she could handle it. She knew she had to keep the baby a secret, but when Woods offered her her old job back, she couldn't pass up those tips.

So now Blaire's back... And Rush couldn't be happier.

When A few people stumble on the fact that Blaire's pregnant, she is suddenly around people who want to help her. And she loves this. But she knows it wont last.

After the morning sickness slides away, the new pregnancy dreams kick in. I've been pregnant a few times, never once had an exciting pregnancy as Blaire did, but hey, everyone is different, right :)

When Rush gets the feeling that Blaire is a little more excited to see him than he had hoped, he pushes her as far as she'll let him. Instant regret appears, and he doesn't understand what's going on.

Blaire wants to tell Rush, but knowing that he'll always choose Nan and his mom over her, she didn't want to ruin this child. She wanted this child to feel loved and special. She didn't want it to feel like it wasn't good enough for it's father.

So Blaire kept pushing, but the dreams kept coming, and she had a hard time keeping away from Rush.

Rush is a sweetheart throughout this whole book. He is far different than the dominant playboy in the first book. He takes charge of things, though but his feelings for Blaire come first, always... at least until Nan starts to get in the way...

This was a cute story - not my favorite of Abbie's but I did enjoy it.
I hear on Facebook this was supposed to stop after 2 books, but the fans have convinced her to write a 3rd. I'm excited to read about the pregnancy and how things really play out with Nan after the "Truth" comes out - I'm also anxious to find out who Wood's hooks up with. He's too nice of a guy to be alone!!!! And Grant! When does he get his story??

Too many nice guys :)

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