Big, Fat 400 FB Likes giveaway!

Yay!! You did it! Because of your awesomeness, my author page on FB is growing and I'm so thankful.

So thankful, in fact, I'm hosting a giveaway. Woot!

I'm happy to announce I'll be giving away a complete ebook set of my Hanaford Park trilogy (Eve Of Samhain, Pleasures Untold, Faythe Reclaimed).

Even more awesome is the fact I managed to wrangle some of my fabulous author friends to participate as well. Check out the awesome list of books available below!

Blurb taken from Goodreads:

Seems like Leo Scott has it all: looks, brains, and athletic talent. He's captain of his high school swim team with a bright future in college and beyond. But Leo has secrets. His mother's crippling car accident has devastated his family and left Leo to deal with his father's abuse, battered and alone.

Leo's girlfriend Audrey Rose is poised for her own share of success. As one of Florida's top high school swimmers, Audrey dreams of college swimming stardom. But there's an obstacle to her glorious rise to the top. Her number-one supporter--her father--is in prison for murder.

Part murder mystery, part tale of young love in a military family, this gripping story takes readers on a journey from Pensacola to Annapolis. Leo and Audrey must band together to rise above the adversity they encounter and find their true selves in the process. When everything's on the line . . . streamline.

Blurb taken from Goodreads:

Charlotte Barnes believed her life was perfect until a betrayal forced her from everything she knew and loved. Devastated and trying to put the past behind her, Charlotte sought a new life in a new town.

Now, five years later, her fiancé has convinced her it’s time to return home and face her past. But will the truth she learns and the people she reconnects with destroy her carefully crafted happiness?

Hannah Downing has created an emotional rollercoaster about lost love and the way one indiscretion can change the course of your life. Charlotte questions every decision she’s ever made, but she may discover that when you lose everything, you can truly find yourself.

Blurb taken from Goodreads:

Jennifer Whitney was the last American virgin. At least that’s what she felt like in 1986 as she began her sophomore year at Central Illinois University. She was proud of her decision to wait for the right guy, and yet she was getting restless. It seemed like everyone around her was doing it... and having fun doing it, too. She didn’t want to become the campus slut or anything, but surely there was a difference between a trashy skank and a nice girl with a little experience. Perhaps it was time to stop relying on fate to guide her and instead take matters into her own hands. And with that realization, Jen decided to find “the one” and lose her virginity, although not necessarily in that order...

Nicki Elson has created a heroine that everyone will cheer for as she comes of age in the mid-1980s. Whether you lived through the decade and survived the bad hair and acid-wash jeans, or just heard the wild stories, readers of all ages will identify with Jen Whitney as she searches for “the one,” enjoying her romantic ups and downs, made even more entertaining by Nicki Elson’s amusingly wry sense of humor.

 Blurb taken from Goodreads:


Maggie Brock has everything under control. Even her divorce, though painful at the time, registers only as a minor blip in her carefully constructed universe. Her life in Prairie Oaks has once again returned to a smooth, predictable pace…until an angel shows up in her bedroom.

The angel is just as bewildered as Maggie about why he’s been sent to her, but their unsuccessful efforts to gain understanding of the mystery fade to the background as their relationship grows. Soon, Maggie’s biggest problem becomes the angel himself, as her feelings for him develop into something less than saintly.

While Maggie struggles to keep her desires pure, a nefarious being lurks in the shadows of Prairie Oaks, watching and waiting for the opportunity to fulfill his ambiguous purpose. Preying on her conflicted emotions, the demon manipulates her at every opportunity, but the one to deliver Maggie directly into his hands is the last person she’d expect.

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A Day In the Life of Andrea Heltsley

Hello, my lovelies! Back at you with another fabulous "Day In The Life" post. Enjoy!

Andrea Heltsley is a transplant from St. Louis to Tennessee who decided writing was
more fun than science. She writes new adult books and has a very active imagination. Andrea is always thinking of new ideas and penning them for her
next book. She has a passion for the new adult industry and plans to continue
writing in the genre.



Andrea's Links:

http://andreaheltsley.blogspot.com
https://www. twitter.com/andreaheltsley
http://www. facebook.com/andreaheltsley
http://pinterest.com/aheltsley/
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5766043.Andrea_Heltsley

Andrea's Books on Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Andrea-Heltsley/e/B007RFLR4E/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1368795418&sr=8-1

Cover Reveal: A Rare Vintage by Delancey Stewart

Blurb:
Isabella DaSilva, a fiery grad student from Cornell's wine program is eager to leave her past behind her and forge a future in the vineyards of the West as an apprentice at Chateau Sauvage, a winery seeking to produce wine like no other California wineries had so far -- Rhone varietals.

She arrives at Chateau Sauvage to find that wine might not be her only interest. The winemaker, Jonathan Sauvage, is tall, dark, and handsome, and clearly in need of help. Together, they work to make a pioneering wine in an effort to keep the struggling winery afloat. Each struggles with their demons -- hers in the form of a painful and mysterious past; his created by memories of what once might have been. In the process, they find that the pain of their shattered pasts fit together perfectly, making their union as perfect as the wine it produces.

A Rare Vintage features an intense and commanding hero who isn’t afraid to ask for help, and a woman who knows that while she might technically be the apprentice, she has plenty to teach Jonathan Sauvage.

This book is the first in the Wine Country Romance series.


Author bio:

Delancey Stewart is the author of Through a Dusty Window: New York City Stories 1910-2001 and A Rare Vintage, the first in her Wine Country Romance Series. A Rare Vintage releases on May 31st.
She is also working on the Girlfriends of Gotham Series for Swoon Romance. The first book, Men and Martinis, will be released in fall 2013.
Stewart has lived on both coasts, in big cities and small towns. She's been a pharmaceutical rep, a personal trainer and a direct sales representative for a French wine importer. Beyond all that, she has always been a writer in some way shape or form.
A military spouse and the mother of two small boys, her current job titles include pirate captain, monster hunter, Lego assembler and story reader. She tackles all these efforts at her current home in Southern Maryland.
Links:

 Blog:

https://delanceystewart.wordpress.com/

 FB:

https://www.facebook.com/delancey.stewart

 Twitter:

https://twitter.com/DelanceyStewart

 Goodreads:

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6581742.Delancey_Stewart

Excerpt:

Isabella removed herself from the back of the four-wheeler as they pulled back up outside the barn. She'd had her body practically wrapped around Jonathan's for the better part of the day as they'd toured the vineyard, and she felt as though she'd been trying to hold back a tidal wave with a teaspoon as she sat behind him, their bodies pressed tightly together. She'd had to restrain herself to keep from laying her head against his strong broad back; had to remind herself that the tan neck was not hers to kiss, the dark hair on the nape of the neck that was just beginning to curl there was not hers to finger. There was something about him, his strength and his silence, that drew her to him.

They'd eaten a hurried lunch of packed fruit and cheese as they looked around the fields, making notes of how things were developing and jotting down best guesses at when harvests would occur in the fall. Isabella felt overwhelmed, but it was a welcome sensation after so many months of uncertainty. Departing New York had been an emotional necessity, but until now, she wasn't sure just where she would belong once she had put that place behind her.

Inside the barn, Jonathan went to a low cabinet at the back of the room and pulled out the thieves—the long tubes they'd use to pull wine from the barrels. He bent down again and found the cups they'd use for tasting.

"Shall we try the Grenache first?" he asked.

Isabella felt excitement rising in her. This was why she wanted to make wine—she thrilled at the idea of taking the raw product of the fields and turning it into something magnificent.

"So this is the 1988," Jonathan said, tapping the last year's huge Grenache barrels. "I'm worried that I've left it too long."

Isabella raised the glass to her lips, letting the vapors rise to meet her nose, closing her eyes and seeing the warm sun, the transformation from the fat ripe grape on the vine to the living juice in the barrel. She swirled the glass, letting the oxygen mix with the juice and watching the color darken slightly. Finally, she took a small sip on her tongue, breathing deeply through her nose and letting the wine oxidize further on her palate. She rolled it around her mouth, and swallowed, eyes still shut. She noted the lingering finish on her tongue, around the sides of her mouth.

She opened her eyes to find Jonathan staring at her openly.

She smiled, and felt her embarrassment at being watched creep up the sides of her face.

"What do you think?" he asked, the amusement still evident in the crinkles at the sides of his eyes, the laugh lines around his mouth. 

"It's not bad," she said, pushing her embarrassment aside. "It's not flabby, so I don't think you've left it too long. There's a decent amount of structure to build on here. There’s some good fruit and a bit of berry. I guess it's all gonna depend on what you've got in the Syrah."

"Let's find out," he said, leading her across the room.

The long hot day in the fields turned into the kind of afternoon that Isabella had dreamed about during her studies. Reading about wine and theory, and tasting in cold supervised classrooms was one thing; actually feeling the raw product in her mouth, sensing the way that the grapes would develop and express themselves was something else.

Good books by lesser known authors

Happy Friday, my lovelies!  Hope the past week has treated you well, and that you've got all kinds of fun stuff planned for the weekend.

Let's get right to it, shall we?

With the rise of self-publishing, there are a LOT more books out there. Don't get me wrong. This is a GOOD thing. I'm an equal opportunity buyer when it comes to books. I don't care whether it's traditionally pubbed, or placed on Amazon by the author him/herself, if a book is written well, I'm going to read it. If I love it, I'll talk about it. And promote it. And gush about the plot and characters to everyone I know.

I'm silly that way.

Here's the thing. Because there is such a huge influx of books on the market right now, it's sometimes hard to find a diamond among the mountain of cubic zirconia. You know what I'm talking about, right? Those stories that take you on an emotional journey. Stories that tug at your heart, make you laugh, make you cry, and leave you with a book hangover that lasts several days.

I'm here to share some AMAZING books from lesser known authors with you. Books that will not only satisfy your hunger for an epic romance, and give you that shmexy tingle you're looking for, but stories that will take you on a journey.

First up:

 Ember by Carol Oates



Blurb taken from Goodreads:

When Candra Ember wakes up in hospital after a dangerous encounter with a red-haired woman, she is shocked to discover that seeing a winged boy wasn’t her imagination. Candra is exposed to a world of rivalry and sacrifice she never knew existed, and the aftermath of a war to save humanity thousands of years ago. Soon she finds herself relentlessly stalked by Sebastian, a beautiful and arrogant Watcher Angel and romantically pursued by his darkly seductive rival, Draven. Ultimately, dubious about her own goodness, Candra’s very existence compromises a tentative peace in the city of Acheron.

Link to Amazon here. 

Carol has a rare talent with words and creates characters that captivate your heart. Her work is money WELL spent. And come on… She writes about super hunky angels. Booyah!
 

Seers Of Light by Jennifer DeLucy

Blurb taken from Goodreads:

Lillian Hunt has never truly lived. Always sensing more to the world than is easily perceived, she fears that her instincts are stubborn flights of fancy, or worse, mental instability. But some things-disappearing strangers, tangible dreams, and visits from malevolent creatures-cannot be ignored. Before it's too late, Lillian is ripped from the only existence she's ever known and thrust into a reality that she always suspected, but could scarcely believe. She must learn the truth about who she is, the powerful beings that wish to destroy her, and the two men who would die to protect her. Jennifer DeLucy has created a unique, enchanting tale of destiny and the ageless power of love in her debut novel, Seers of Light. DeLucy's novel charms readers with quirky characters, while sketching a haunting portrait of one woman's journey on the path of the supernaturally gifted. But be prepared. Once you've entered the world of Seers, you will never be the same.

Amazon link here.

William and Lily's romance sent my little heart all a flutter. No joke. Their chemistry shot off the page, er, well, kindle screen, lol. Jennifer has a gift for characterization, and not only are her lead characters  amazing, but her secondary characters suck you in as well. Did I mention her series falls into the New Adult category? Uh, yeah… Go get you some, stat!

With Good Behavior by Jennifer Lane

Blurb taken from Goodreads:

In a world gripped by organized crime, family dysfunction, and dim hopes of redemption, can true love persevere? For Sophie Taylor, a beautiful psychologist who lost everything when she violated an ethical boundary, and Grant Madsen, a handsome naval officer who sacrificed everything to protect a loved one, finding that love may carry an unbearable cost.

Starting their lives over in Chicago, both are fighting influences from their family and running as fast as they can to escape the past. When their paths cross outside the parole officer's door, the attraction is instantaneous. But a hidden connection may not only shatter their fledgling love, but prove deadly to them both.

 

Link to Amazon here. 

I'm a sucker for military men. I'm also lover of romantic suspense. Ms. Lane writes both very well. This series has it all: romance, suspense, humor, mobsters. A really, really good read, and one I highly recommend.

Do yourself a favor. One click these bad boys and see for yourself what awesome reads they are. Then, after you've read them, log onto Amazon and leave a review. That's the best kind of thanks you can give an author. Happy reading!

A Day In The Life Of JC Emery

Hey, peeps! Got a fun post for you today. Take a peek into a day in the life of author JC Emery!

 

As a child, JC was fascinated by things that went bump in the night. As they say, some things never change. Now, as an adult, she divides her time between the sexy law men, mythical creatures, and kick-ass heroines that live inside her head and pursuing her bachelor’s degree in English. As it is for most writers, finding balance is a challenge. JC is a San Francisco Bay Area native, but has also called both Texas and Louisiana home. These days she rocks her flip flops year round in Northern California and can’t imagine a climate more beautiful

With the support and encouragement of her parents and sister, JC set out to figure out what she wanted to do when she grew up. Most days, the jury is still out; however the thing that stuck with her no matter what she pursued was her love of the written word.

JC writes adult, new adult, and young adult fiction. She dabbles in many different genres including science fiction, horror, chick lit, and murder mysteries, yet she is most enthralled by supernatural stories-- and everything has at least a splash of romance.

http://jcemery.com/

http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6902956.JC_Emery

https://www.facebook.com/jcemeryauthor

250 Facebook Likes Giveaway!!

Hey, peeps! I asked for more likes for my Facebook page, and you delivered! Mwah!

So, because you all are such awesome people, I'm going to give away three ebook sets of my complete Hanaford Park series!

Yeah, baby!!!

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Books I'll read twice

Hey, peeps! Long time no talk, eh?

I've been holed up in my writing cave these many months, and have managed to finish two novels and am half-way through a third! Yahoo!

The downside to riding a creative wave is that when you come up for air, you realize you've neglected everything else—like your blog, lol!

Anyhow, I thought I'd write up a quick post today about books I've read more than once.

We've all got them… Certain books we get swept away in. Books we try to read slow, try to savor, try to make last for as long as possible. We mourn the characters when the story is over, feeling as though we've lost a best friend.

So, what do we do?

We scroll to the first page—or if you're reading a paperback, you crack open the cover—and start all over again.

There have been several books I've read more than once over the past six months. Yeah, yeah, yeah… I know what you're thinking. If I didn't have time to blog, why did I have time to read?

Simply put: I can't NOT read. It's what keeps me sane.

Listed below are a few of the books I enjoyed so much I had to read them a second time :)

Blurb taken from Goodreads:

Sparrow Fisher is transforming. No longer dressed up in antiquated clothes and ideals, she is finally trying on her freedom.

Before she moves to New York City, she meets Ian Sterling, a musician Sparrow has dreamed about since she first saw him. The attraction is instant, but their relationship isn't so simple.

Over a five year span, Sparrow and Ian run into each other in unusual places. Each time, Sparrow has to decide if she can trust him, if he feels the same for her, and finally, if love is really enough.

Blurb taken from Goodreads:

A fallen boxer.
A woman with a broken dream.
A competition…

He even makes me forget my name. One night was all it took, and I forgot everything and anything except the sexy fighter in the ring who sets my mind ablaze and my body on fire with wanting…

Remington Tate is the strongest, most confusing man I’ve ever met in my life.

He’s the star of the dangerous underground fighting circuit, and I’m drawn to him as I’ve never been drawn to anything in my life. I forget who I am, what I want, with just one look from him. When he’s near, I need to remind myself that I am strong–but he is stronger. And now it’s my job to keep his body working like a perfect machine, his taut muscles primed and ready to break the bones of his next opponents . . .

But the one he’s most threatening to, now, is me.

I want him. I want him without fear. Without reservations.

If only I knew for sure what it is that he wants from me?

Blurb taken from Goodreads:

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’s 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…

These three stories had me swooning, smiling, laughing, crying, and pretty much everything in between. If you haven't picked up a copy of any of these, YOU NEED TO. They're worth a first read. And a second. And a third… You get what I'm saying.

Have a great day!!!