How to use this Page

Happy Monday! Here's my mishmash of thoughts:

1. Scholastic Book Fair  I'm working the Scholastic Book Fair at my daughter's school again this week. Even though I just placed an online order, I'm sure I'll be buying more books.
2. Cricket's Drive Around Town  This weekend I got the color illustrations for my upcoming picture book and they blew my mind. This book is going to be so adorable!
3. Into the Fire  I just sent my edits off to my editor this past weekend for Into the Fire, which is coming in January 2014 through Month9Books. And I updated my FB author page so the gorgeous cover is on there. :)
4. Stalked by Death ARC  My Stalked by Death ARC arrived on Saturday! Squee! I thought I wasn't getting it until BEA, so I'm really excited to get to hold my pretty book!
5. Advantage: Heartbreak  Less than 10 days until the release of Advantage: Heartbreak, novella #2 in the Game. Set. Match. Heartbreak series. Yay!

Add a Comment

Summary:
Temporary. That one single word best describes my life these last few years. I'm working at a temporary job until I can finally break free. I'm my little brother's temporary mother since our mom doesn't give a crap about either of us. And I'm the temporary girl all the guys want to get with because I give it up so easily. According to the rumors, at least. But now I'm the temporary girlfriend of Drew Callahan, college football legend and all around golden guy. He's beautiful, sweet, and he's hiding way more secrets than I am. He's brought me into this fake life where everyone seems to hate me. And everyone seems to want something from him. The only thing he seems to want though is Me. I don't know what to believe anymore. All I know is, I think Drew needs me. And I want to be there for him. Forever.

My thoughts:
I'm on a New Adult kick lately and at $.99 on Kindle, I couldn't pass this one up. I'd heard really great things about it, and I wasn't disappointed. Fable is a girl with a reputation, though the rumors aren't exactly true. I really liked her right from the start. And Drew is broken in so many ways. While I quickly figured out one of the ways, another threw me for a loop—in a good way. It added the perfect amount of conflict and set up book two. The dynamic between Fable and Drew is incredible. Drew asks Fable to pretend to be his girlfriend for a week, while he goes home for Thanksgiving. Fable doesn't know Drew's motive, but since he pays her a lot of money, she doesn't really care. 

At first, Drew and Fable are faking their feelings for each other for the benefit of Drew's family. But very quickly, the feelings become real, and they are both fighting against them. Warning for those who don't like explicit sex scenes: Murphy tells all in this book. If you blush easily, this may not be the book for you. That aside, the romance is great. I'll definitely be checking out the next book in the Drew and Fable series, Second Chance Boyfriend.

Just for fun: Would you—or have you ever—pretend(ed) to be in a relationship with someone?

Add a Comment

I'm really excited to take part in the cover reveal for Come What May (Heartbeat #2) by Faith Sullivan!

Title: Come What May (Heartbeat #2)
Author: Faith Sullivan
Expected release date: June 4, 2013
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Age Group: New Adult




Book Description:

Adam is through with love.

He unravels blaming himself for what happened with Katie.

His final moments with her echo through his nightmares.

She owns him body and soul.

To dull the pain, Adam invites a string of women into his bed. Fueled by alcohol and desperation, his meaningless hook-ups provide little comfort. When he closes his eyes, it's Katie he sees.

The only one who helps to ease his guilt somewhat is Jada. But as his new ambulance partner, Adam considers her off limits. He doesn't want to get seriously involved with anyone, much less her. Yet he can't stop fantasizing about the feel of her caramel skin against his.

Despite his intentions, Adam's bond with Jada deepens as they respond to a series of emotional calls. Their mutual attraction becomes undeniable. But how can he give his heart to Jada when it still belongs to Katie?





Random Things about Author, Faith Sullivan:

- She was so much smarter as a teenager.

- She's a slow reader.

- She tends to like a book more for its characters rather than its plot.

- She appreciates people who are genuinely kind and come through when you need them.

- As a creative person, she's not always fun to live with, but she keeps things interesting.

- She misses the days when all she had was a rotary phone that didn't even have an answering machine.

- She's a child of the 1980s, and a teenager of the 1990s.

- She loves her dog.

- She likes to travel and see new places - when her limited budget allows.

- She thinks in another lifetime she lived in the UK somewhere by the coast.

- When she feels an emotion, she feels it deeply. It's a curse.

- She has an overactive imagination. Writing helps alleviate that problem.

- Nine times out of ten, she believes a good book trumps reality.


Author Links: Blog | Amazon | Twitter | Goodreads

So, what do you think?

Add a Comment

Happy Monday! Here's my mishmash of thoughts:

1. Edits  I've gotten several new editing clients in the past two weeks, so I'm keeping busy.
2. Emailing myself  I have an entire folder in my inbox of emails from myself. LOL This is how I keep track of things (along with my day planner). Anyone else email themselves?
3. Field Trip  This week I'm going on my daughter's kindergarten field trip. We were told to wear clothes that can get dirty because we're going to a farm. And did I mention it's supposed to rain? I hope the weather holds out for us.  
4. Free Monthly Newsletter  My free monthly newsletter goes out at 5pm EST today. If you aren't already signed up but would like to receive it, you can sign up here.
5. Romancing the R.A. Cover Reveal and Giveaway  I'm participating in the cover reveal for Ashelyn Drake's upcoming New Adult romance through S.B. Addison Books. Check it out.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Add a Comment

Reader Gut Reaction: Kirby Larson is a familiar face to many of us old-school bloggers, since she's been to many a Kidlitcon and SCBWI conference. Her first book about Hattie Brooks, Hattie Ever After, introduced us to a (dare I use this hackneyed... Read the rest of this post

Display Comments Add a Comment

Add a Comment

Author: Anne Faye
Publisher: CreateSpace
Genre: Romance
ISBN: 9781482758214
Pages: 170
Price: $9.99

Author’s website
Buy it at Amazon

Julia Manning is happy with her simple life. She has a job in a bookstore, volunteer work at the nursing home, and a quiet apartment. After being dumped at the altar ten years ago by Zach Richards, she has no intention of ever loving again or getting married. And now she is determined to solve the mystery behind a rose ring that one of the nursing home residents claims was once hers.

So when her mom arranges a date with a man she couldn’t tolerate when she was younger, Julia is less than thrilled. And when Zach suddenly appears out of nowhere, she doesn’t know how she’ll cope, especially when he ends up working at the bookstore with her.

Zach’s behavior when she first meets him is not praiseworthy. He is dating a questionable woman and he shows very little remorse for leaving Julia in her predicament. As Julia delves deeper into the mystery of the rose ring, she discovers a love that was once strong, but was ultimately lost. Would Julia also be throwing away her own love for Zach by not choosing to forgive?

The Rose Ring is a nice love story told from two perspectives. Although only one leads to a happy ending, the other brings a sweet sense of closure and forgiveness. I really enjoyed this book, and I look forward to seeing more from this talented author.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

Add a Comment

All hail the cooperative! I know I'm always on my soapbox for the Little Guy, but seriously, many readers never see books that aren't put out by the Big Five publishing houses (it used to be Big Six, before the Random Penguin House thing). Curiosity... Read the rest of this post

Add a Comment

Reader Gut Reaction: Janelle Tenner was supposed to be dead. For a few minutes, she WAS. And then…she wasn't. And her life since then is irrevocably different. Before: beach lifeguard, academic powerhouse, popular hot boyfriend, not much to worry... Read the rest of this post

Display Comments Add a Comment

Reader Gut Reaction: The first book in this trilogy, Under the Never Sky, was on my radar since it launched, but I hadn't gotten around to reading it until my library recently dangled a free e-book version of it and its sequel in front of me. Being... Read the rest of this post

Display Comments Add a Comment

D.J.  Swykert’s short fiction and poetry have been published in The Tampa Review, Monarch Review, Sand Canyon Review, Zodiac Review, Scissors and Spackle, spittoon, Barbaric Yawp and BULL. His novel, Maggie Elizabeth Harrington, won a literary competition with The LitWest Group in Los Angeles in 2002.  Alpha Wolves, D.J.’s Noble Publishing’s bestselling novel, was released in April, 2012.  Children of the Enemy, D.J.’s OmniLit’s bestselling novel, was published for the first time in 2009 and a third edition published in September 2012 by Cambridge Books.

Hi D.J., Please tell everyone a bit about yourself.

D.J.: I’m a blue collar person from Detroit. I’ve worked as a truck driver, dispatcher, logistics analyst, operations manager, and ten years as a 911 operator, which was the very best job of all of them. I write stories like you’d watch a movie and put them down on paper. I have written in different genres; crime, romance, and even a little bit in literary fiction. The last sentence in my writing bio is always: He is a wolf expert. I am not a biologist. I raised two arctic hybrids, had them for eleven years, and have written two books in which they join the other protagonists.

When did the writing bug bite, and in what genre(s)?

D.J.: The first thing I ever wrote was a poem to impress my art student girlfriend. That was right after high school. It wasn’t very good, but she was impressed with my effort. I’ve been scribbling things ever since.

When you started writing, what goals did you want to accomplish? Is there a message you want readers to grasp?

D.J.: I’ve always wanted a career that I enjoyed. I looked at writing as a possible means to that end. I’ve had some small success, enough to be encouraging, but I’ve always worked for a living. If there’s a central theme to my writing it’s that all life has value. My characters tend to question norms. I tend to question what is considered normal. I like animals, I have empathy for the hardships they endure and my protagonists usually do as well.

Briefly tell us about your latest book. Is it part of a series or stand-alone?

D.J.: The Death of Anyone is essentially a mystery/suspense story with romance and a little science in it. The story centers on homicide detective Bonnie Benham’s search for the killer of young girls.

This book has a couple of the same characters from an earlier unpublished novel I hold the rights to titled Sweat Street, but I wouldn’t consider it a sequel. If I have some success with The Death of Anyone I may look to publish the first book. And perhaps consider another story with Detective Bonnie Benham. This is not the first time I’ve written from a female POV, but it’s the first time for a female police detective.

What’s the hook for the book?

D.J.: The book introduces readers to a DNA search technique not in common use here in the U.S., Familial DNA. A lot will be written on this subject as the real life trial of Lonnie David Franklin, The Grim Sleeper unfolds in California this year. The trial will set precedence for future use of this DNA search technique and I suspect will eventually lead to a Supreme Court decision on it’s admissibility as evidence. The defense is going to severely question LAPD investigating Lonnie Franklin in the first place as there was no direct evidence linking him to the crime.

How do you develop characters? Setting?

D.J.: They say write what you know, so I set my story in Detroit, where I grew up and lived for a long time and can authentically describe the city and places for the scenes in my story. When I make up a character I usually visualize someone in my head and then give them the characteristics I believe suits the character in my story. I wrote a story about a thirteen year old girl trying to save a pack of young wolves from a bounty hunter. In my mind I visualized Maggie Harrington as Jodie Foster in an old film, Taxi Driver, where she played a thirteen year old prostitute. I used Jodie’s image to describe the girl and my own feelings for animals to impart her emotions concerning the wolves. This is how I generally develop a character.

Who’s the most unusual/most likeable character?

D.J.: I think Bonnie Benham is both unusual and likeable. She was originally in narcotics, but washed out. In her own words she became more “narcotic” than “narc.” As she investigates the murders of adolescent girls she is trying to resurrect herself as well as seek justice for the victims. This makes Bonnie a very edgy homicide cop. The story contains several suspects who are both likeable and unlikeable.

Do you have specific techniques to help you maintain the course of the plot?

D.J.: I’m a ponderer.  I do a lot of thinking about my character and the story in my head before I begin to write. I usually have figured out how I wish to end the story. When I begin to write I put my character into a situation and from there the chapters all point towards the ending. It doesn’t always work out quite as simply as this sounds, but this is how I begin.

Do you have a specific writing style? Preferred POV?

D.J.: I think my best writing is in first person. But The Death of Anyone and Children of the Enemy are in third person past tense, which most readers I think prefer. First person works good as a narrative for a strong character in a short book, but since it can only get into the one character’s head it can get a bit tedious.

How does your environment/upbringing color your writing?

D.J.: I grew up in Detroit, so, for crime or mystery stories I’ve set them in Detroit, which unfortunately has held the Murder Capital of the World title several times. I have also written stories set in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, where I lived on the Keweenaw Peninsula for a decade. Love it up there, a true wilderness much like Alaska only with smaller mountains. But the winter is extremely long, turbulent and prohibitive.

Share the best review (or a portion) that you’ve ever had.

D.J.: I liked this review left on Amazon:

The Death of Anyone by David Swykert, reads like a Jessie Stone movie, was a true page turner for me. His subject is close to our hearts and the viewpoint is an eye opener. He has interwoven the personal problems of some of his Characters making them real. He also has a flair for writing some romantic scenes that most ladies will find endearing. If you enjoy a mystery, some anxiety and a little romance I would recommend you read The Death of Anyone.

What are your current projects?

D.J.: I have an offbeat/quirky romantic tale titled The Pool Boy’s Beatitude. The book will publish this summer by a small Indie press out of Detroit, Rebel e Publishing. They do have a book distributor and a small print run will be done. It’s the story of an alcoholic physicist who drops out and is cleaning swimming pools to earn a living, skimming what he refers to as the “Infinite Pond.” The story follows the human orbit of Jack Joseph and his trail of broken relationships until he ultimately lands himself in a county jail.

Where can folks learn more about your books and events?

D.J.: I have a page on an artistic collective called: www.magicmasterminds.com You can find information about my work, and me on the site, and see a host of other amazing artists, musicians and writers.

Thanks for joining us today, D.J.!

D.J.: Thanks so much for the opportunity.

Add a Comment

by Rachel Lieberman

I write YA, and I often ask myself, “Does my writing promote good messages to teen girls?”

Now, don’t get me wrong. Stories that preach = BIG FAT NO. Making your story a mouthpiece for your beliefs is never a good idea.

This is not your job.

BUT that doesn’t mean that you’re never allowed to wonder who’s going to read your stories, and what those readers will get out of their experiences.

For my graduate lecture, I took a look at how feminist and post-feminist literary theory can help us look at YA literature and decide for ourselves what messages we want to send. Feminism is, at its core, the belief in equal rights for all genders, but of course there are many definitions and variations among those definitions. The question of choice (who gets to choose, and what they should choose) is sometimes a point of contention among critics.

I think that one of the reasons so many critics find fault with Twilight and novels like it is because Bella’s choices may be her own, but they are consistently at odds with the choices we want our girls to make. When we show characters who consistently choose dangerous, controlling partners, our fear is that young adult readers will also choose dangerous, controlling partners.

I don’t think this is an invalid concern, but my intention isn’t to debate or argue it. That’s for another time, another post. My intention is to say, that if you’re a YA writer and this is something you are thinking about, there are ways to develop a good feminist story without making it preachy or propaganda. I’ll share some methods that I found useful and talked about in my lecture.

1. What does your main character want? If it’s just a relationship, consider that in real life, a desire for a relationship is usually a symptom of a deeper desire for something else, like security or acknowledgment. Consider what other forces might be at work, and you’ll avoid creating shallow characters whose problems can be solved by a significant other.

2. Make sure your character stays active. Find places in the story that force her to act, that take away her safety net and test her. This is true of practically any story, but in YA romances, it’s especially important. She doesn’t need to be a hero, but she shouldn’t rely on her love interest too much.

3. Pay attention to your character’s love interest. Speaking of the love interest, don’t forget to pay attention to him! Or her. What does he want? Does he act in a way that harms the main character, and if so, are there negative consequences? If your character has to choose between two love interests (very common these days), is the choice made too easy (by having one character turn out to be a jerk)?

4. Romance novel vs. novel with romantic elements. A romance novel is a little different than a novel with romantic elements. A romance novel’s plot is dependent on the relationship between two characters, so if you want to write a story with feminist undertones, you might choose the other path.

5. Why do your characters get together? Think about the reasons your characters are together. Is it because they find each other so attractive? Or do they share a deep, mutual connection? The more you develop the relationship, and the reasons for it, the more likely you are to connect with readers.

6. The moral of the story. All of these factors combined puts you in a better position to control the final factor: the moral of the story. Once you’ve finished a draft, it might be a good idea to take a look around. What’s happened to the characters? Who’s alive? What have they had to sacrifice? Your character’s rewards and punishments reveal a lot about your story’s message. Is it the message you want?

There are, of course, many more factors than these six that you will need to pay attention to in order to write a great novel. But this is a place to start if your aim is to write a story with romantic elements that will both appeal to teen readers and give them characters and situations they can look up to.

Rachel Lieberman works in higher education and writes YA. Her short fiction has appeared in Opium, Awkward, Emprise Review, and others. She holds an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts. She lives in Tampa.

Visit Rachel’s blog: A Reputation in Digital Form: The Writerly Musings of Rachel Lieberman

Follow Rachel on Twitter: @LiebermanRachel

This blog post was brought to you as part of the March Dystropian Madness Blog Series.

Display Comments Add a Comment

by Rachel Lieberman

I write YA, and I often ask myself, “Does my writing promote good messages to teen girls?”

Now, don’t get me wrong. Stories that preach = BIG FAT NO. Making your story a mouthpiece for your beliefs is never a good idea.

This is not your job.

BUT that doesn’t mean that you’re never allowed to wonder who’s going to read your stories, and what those readers will get out of their experiences.

For my graduate lecture, I took a look at how feminist and post-feminist literary theory can help us look at YA literature and decide for ourselves what messages we want to send. Feminism is, at its core, the belief in equal rights for all genders, but of course there are many definitions and variations among those definitions. The question of choice (who gets to choose, and what they should choose) is sometimes a point of contention among critics.

I think that one of the reasons so many critics find fault with Twilight and novels like it is because Bella’s choices may be her own, but they are consistently at odds with the choices we want our girls to make. When we show characters who consistently choose dangerous, controlling partners, our fear is that young adult readers will also choose dangerous, controlling partners.

I don’t think this is an invalid concern, but my intention isn’t to debate or argue it. That’s for another time, another post. My intention is to say, that if you’re a YA writer and this is something you are thinking about, there are ways to develop a good feminist story without making it preachy or propaganda. I’ll share some methods that I found useful and talked about in my lecture.

1. What does your main character want? If it’s just a relationship, consider that in real life, a desire for a relationship is usually a symptom of a deeper desire for something else, like security or acknowledgment. Consider what other forces might be at work, and you’ll avoid creating shallow characters whose problems can be solved by a significant other.

2. Make sure your character stays active. Find places in the story that force her to act, that take away her safety net and test her. This is true of practically any story, but in YA romances, it’s especially important. She doesn’t need to be a hero, but she shouldn’t rely on her love interest too much.

3. Pay attention to your character’s love interest. Speaking of the love interest, don’t forget to pay attention to him! Or her. What does he want? Does he act in a way that harms the main character, and if so, are there negative consequences? If your character has to choose between two love interests (very common these days), is the choice made too easy (by having one character turn out to be a jerk)?

4. Romance novel vs. novel with romantic elements. A romance novel is a little different than a novel with romantic elements. A romance novel’s plot is dependent on the relationship between two characters, so if you want to write a story with feminist undertones, you might choose the other path.

5. Why do your characters get together? Think about the reasons your characters are together. Is it because they find each other so attractive? Or do they share a deep, mutual connection? The more you develop the relationship, and the reasons for it, the more likely you are to connect with readers.

6. The moral of the story. All of these factors combined puts you in a better position to control the final factor: the moral of the story. Once you’ve finished a draft, it might be a good idea to take a look around. What’s happened to the characters? Who’s alive? What have they had to sacrifice? Your character’s rewards and punishments reveal a lot about your story’s message. Is it the message you want?

There are, of course, many more factors than these six that you will need to pay attention to in order to write a great novel. But this is a place to start if your aim is to write a story with romantic elements that will both appeal to teen readers and give them characters and situations they can look up to.

Rachel Lieberman works in higher education and writes YA. Her short fiction has appeared in Opium, Awkward, Emprise Review, and others. She holds an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts. She lives in Tampa.

Visit Rachel’s blog: A Reputation in Digital Form: The Writerly Musings of Rachel Lieberman

Follow Rachel on Twitter: @LiebermanRachel

This blog post was brought to you as part of the March Dystropian Madness Blog Series.

Add a Comment

A Week to Be Wicked by Tessa Dare.

We first met bookish geologist Minerva Highwood and rakeish Lord Payne in the first Spindle Cove novel, A Night to Surrender.

Minerva's a member of the Royal Geological Society and has been published several times in their journal. And, she's just made a discovery that's sure to win a handsome prize at their next conference. A few problems:

1. She has no way to get to Edinburgh to present her findings.
2. The Society doesn't know that M. R. Highwood is a woman.

So, she enlists the help of Lord Payne. If he'll accompany her to Scotland, she'll pay their way and then she'll give him the prize money, which should be enough to keep him entertained in London until he has access to his fortune. He also has to agree NOT to marry her sister.

But Lord Payne has some of his own conditions-- he doesn't ride in an enclosed carriage, he doesn't travel at night, and he doesn't sleep alone.

So, they're off to Scotland, but from the start, nothing goes as planned. Who cares what the Royal Society thinks-- Payne and Minerva may never get there at this rate! Plus, back in Spindle Cove, their friends know that something about this journey doesn't quite add up...

We got a glimpse of Payne and Minerva in A Night to Surrender and so I was extremely happy to find this book was all about them. I love them together, I love how Payne coaxes Minerva out of her shell without making her feel bad about who she is and what her passions are. I love how Minerva has her mind made up about Payne and how every wrong she is. Also, this really is the worst road-trip in history-- the kind that you're so glad you're not on, but are hilarious to read about. The two of them together are so great.

This is my favorite of the Spindle Cove series. (So far, I see there's a new one coming out this spring! Yay!)

Book Provided by... my local library

Links to Amazon are an affiliate link. You can help support Biblio File by purchasing any item (not just the one linked to!) through these links. Read my full disclosure statement.

Add a Comment

Reader Gut Reaction: Gadget Girl: The Art of Being Invisible, by Suzanne Kamata, comes out in May, but I've been cleared by the author to get some buzz going—and I'm thrilled to be able to do so with a book that deftly handles many facets of the... Read the rest of this post

Display Comments Add a Comment

ebook of Love All by Kelly Hashway


ebook of Spectral by Shannon Duffy


ebook of Purgatory Reign by LM Preston


Simply fill out the rafflecopter below to enter. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

And don't forget to check out the other stops in the hop.

Add a Comment

Please welcome Tessa Bailey to the virtual offices today.  She is celebrating the release of Protecting What’s His, the first in her Line of Duty series.  After we chat with Tessa, you can enter for your chance to win a copy of Protecting What’s His!

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Describe yourself in 140 characters or less.

[Tessa Bailey] Hot-and-bothered stay-at-home-mom turned writer, Brooklynite, foodie and hopeless romantic.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Can you tell us a little about Protecting What’s His?

[Tessa Bailey] “To steal or not to steal?” is the opening line of the book. Ginger, our mostly fearless heroine is deciding whether or not to steal fifty-thousand dollars from her passed-out stripper mother. Ultimately, she decides to take the cash (and her little sister, Willa) on the run to Chicago. She thinks she’s gotten away with it until she meets homicide cop and sexy new neighbor, Lieutenant Derek Tyler.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] How did you come up with the concept and the characters for the story?

[Tessa Bailey] I like a heroine who is a little bad. And a lot impulsive. I came up with Ginger, a fast-talking country girl, as a character first. Then I gave her an important and difficult choice to make at the beginning of the book. I built the story based on that decision. Of course, I needed someone to counteract Ginger’s personality, so I came up with Derek, the sharp, young lieutenant with a need to control. Watching him as he tries to control wild child Ginger makes for a very entertaining story!

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What three words best describe Ginger?

[Tessa Bailey] Provocative, Willful, Vulnerable

[Manga Maniac Cafe] If Derek had a theme song, what would it be?

[Tessa Bailey] “Play with Fire” by the Rolling Stones

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Name one thing Ginger is never without.

[Tessa Bailey ] Cowboy boots and Dolly Parton witticisms

[Manga Maniac Cafe]  What three things will you never find in Derek’s bathroom?

[Tessa Bailey] A loofah, volumizing hair gel, decorative soaps.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What is Derek’s greatest regret?

[Tessa Bailey] He’s not the regretful type – although that might change throughout the book 

[Manga Maniac Cafe ] What are your greatest creative influences?

[Tessa Bailey] I have a group of friends who inspire a lot of the female relationships in my book. They are opinionated and swear like sailors. A lot of the time, I’ll ask myself, what would so-and-so say here? I was encouraged to write female characters who speak with more honesty after reading Tara Sivec’s Seduction in Snacks. I adore that book. The characters remind me of my friends.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What three things do you need in order to write?

[Tessa Bailey] Silence, gummy bears and warm socks.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What is the last book that you read that knocked your socks off?

[Tessa Bailey] On Dublin Street by Samantha Young.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] If you had to pick one book that turned you on to reading, which would it be?

[Tessa Bailey] When I was fourteen, I was at a boring family reunion in Maine. I found an old, beat-up copy of “Hidden Fires” by Sandra Brown in my grandmother’s suitcase. It was my first romance novel and I never looked back.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What do you like to do when you aren’t writing?

[Tessa Bailey] Play with my 19-month old, read, go to concerts, think up my next story.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] How can readers connect with you?

[Tessa Bailey] My website is www.tessabailey.com

On Facebook http://www.facebook.com/pages/Tessa-Bailey/107783312730783

Follow me on Twitter @mstessabailey

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Thank you!

GIVEAWAY TIME!!!

Ready for your chance to win a digital copy of Protecting What’s His? Just fill out the widget below. Earn extra entries for following:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Didn’t win? You can purchase Protecting What’s His from your favorite bookseller or by clicking the link below.

About the book:

Add a Comment

Title:  A Risk Worth Taking Author: Victoria James

May Contain Spoilers

From Amazon:

Review:

This book had me invested in Holly’s life by the end of the first chapter.  It was heart-breaking.  It’s her big day at work, and she has worked the last ten years for this moment.  Her wardrobe was carefully picked out, and she is glowing with happiness. She is finally going to be made a partner at the prestigious design firm where she’s employed when she gets the call that makes her realize how pointless her achievement really is.  Her sister and brother-in-law have been killed in an accident, and now she’s left reeling, the guardian of her infant niece.  How can she raise a child alone?  How will she recover from yet another loss?  Everyone she has loved has died – her parents,  the grandparents who raised her and her sister, and now her sister’s gone, too.  It’s just too much, and Holly is devastated.

Returning to her rural hometown to renovate and then flip her grandparents’ house, she is confronted with painful memories of her past.  She has loved Quinn for a lifetime, but he rejected her when she was eighteen.  Now she has to put on a brave front and face him, and all of her childhood memories.  All she wants to do is get the house finished and get out of town, and back to her life in the city where she’s so busy she doesn’t have time to dwell on the emptiness of her life.

I enjoyed A Risk Worth Taking very much.  I loved the interactions between Holly and Quinn, and even enjoyed Emma, Holly’s little niece.  I usually am not a big fan of babies in romances, but Emma wasn’t just window-dressing here.  She was central to the storyline, and she helped both Holly and Quinn’s hearts to heal.  Despite her best efforts to not get caught up in her feelings for Quinn, which still burned bright, Holly’s resolve crumbled as he became an important addition to her new family.  And Quinn, though he didn’t feel worthy of Emma’s love or trust, was able to put his painful past behind him with the baby and Holly’s help. 

A Risk Worth Taking is a feel good read.  You’ll get caught up in Quinn and Holly’s romance, and cheer along as they both learn to trust again.   As Holly puts aside her sadness, she begins to remember all of the happiness she has turned her back on. As she remembers what is really important in life, she is willing to face the risks, and the rewards, of loving Quinn. 

Grade:  B+

Review copy provided by publisher

Add a Comment

Please welcome special guest Nicole Helm to the virtual offices today.  Nicole is here to chat about her new release Seven Night Stand.  She also brought along a $10 Amazon gift card for one of you to win after the interview!

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Describe yourself in 140 characters or less.

[Nicole Helm] I’m a mom of two young boys who writes contemporary romance novels between changing diapers and fielding incessant toddler questions.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Can you tell us a little about Seven Night Stand?

[Nicole Helm] Seven-Night Stand is about a reality TV scout, Vivvy Marsh, who lands at a small private airfield in Kansas to try and find a reality TV show that will work. She’s pretty desperate for Harrington Airfield & Mechanics to be the setting for that show, but small airport owner Nate Harrington has way too many skeletons in his closet to let that happen. What he does let happen is a seven-night stand that turns complicated when feelings enter the equation.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] How did you come up with the concept and the characters for the story?

[Nicole Helm] I actually wrote the first 1,000 words for a contest where the opening scene had to have a man and a plane. Nate and his airfield were born. The reality TV idea came from something my grandpa mentioned in passing once regarding someone calling him from a TV station with the possibility of doing a show on his business (which is an airfield, although a different kind of one than the Harrington Airfield in my book). It never came to fruition, but it was enough of a seed in my brain for me to use it as a story premise.

The characters themselves came from the idea of wanting a woman to be bowled over by a man and a plane in the first thousand words. Thus, hunky Nate was born. He’s got a little swagger, so I knew he’d need a confident woman who didn’t take anyone’s crap. And that’s how Vivvy came to be.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What three words best describe Vivvy?

[Nicole Helm] No-nonsense, guarded, driven.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] If Nate had a theme song, what would it be?

[Nicole Helm] Oooh, I love this question! A good theme song for Nate would probably be Guys Like Me by Eric Church. Even though Nate’s a successful businessman, he’s a little rough around the edges, and he definitely embodies his small town.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Name one thing Vivvy is never without.

[Nicole Helm] Her cell phone–her only connection to the outside world when she’s in Kansas.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What three things will you never find in Nate’s bedroom?

[Nicole Helm] This is hard. Nate’s a pretty laid back guy, but I’d have to go with a suit, throw pillows, and hair dye.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What is Vivvy’s greatest regret?

[Nicole Helm] Spending so much of her life fearing connection.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What are your greatest creative influences?

[Nicole Helm] Books. I’m a lifelong reader, I was once an English major and then an English teacher, so books of all shapes and sizes influence–not just my writing life–but my life in general. I also love music, especially country music. A lot of story ideas have started from listening to a country song.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What three things do you need in order to write?

[Nicole Helm] My iPad, something distracting my kids, and the internet so I can procrastinate when I get stuck.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What is the last book that you read that knocked your socks off?

[Nicole Helm] Crazy Thing Called Love by Molly O’Keefe. I think Molly is writing some of the most complex, interesting heroines in contemporary romance right now and this book totally blew me away.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] If you had to pick one book that turned you on to reading, which would it be?

[Nicole Helm] I’ve been a reader my whole life. I remember my dad reading me and my sister a picture book called "Pudgy Pals" when we were tiny, tiny, and I remember the first books I read on my own were a collection of Dr. Seuss books, but I have always, always loved to read. I think I was born with it.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What do you like to do when you aren’t writing?

[Nicole Helm] Spend time with my husband and kids, watch St. Louis Cardinals baseball, hike (if it’s a nice day), bake, and, of course, read.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] How can readers connect with you?

[Nicole Helm] My website: www.nicolehelm.wordpress.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Nicole-Helm/125277964228020?ref=hl

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5832703.Nicole_Helm

But the best bet is Twitter because, as my husband can attest, I spend waaay too much time on it. @NicoleTHelm

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Thank you!

Giveaway Time!!

Nicole is giving away a $10 Amazon gift card!  Please fill out the widget to enter. Earn extra entries by following. Open to US addresses.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

You can order Seven Night Stand from your favorite bookseller or by clicking the link below.

About Seven Night Stand:

Reality TV scout Vivvy Marsh loves her job, but she’ll lose it if she doesn’t find a hit. When she’s sent to Kansas to scout a show, it looks like a bust…until she meets sexy pilot, Nate Harrington. His family would make the perfect show to save her career.
Nate can’t deny his attraction to Vivvy, but no way can he let this show take off. The Harrington family is riddled with secrets, and she wants it all out in the open. For the next seven days, he’s going to stop at nothing to keep her out of his family’s business, even if it means keeping her distracted in his bedroom.

Nicole’s Bio:

I grew up with my nose in a book and a dream of becoming a writer. Luckily, after a few failed career choices, a husband, and two kids, I get to pursue that dream.
I write down-to-earth contemporary romance over the backdrop of America’s flyover states for Entangled Indulgence and Samhain Publishing.
I live in Missouri with my husband and two young sons, and write my novels one baby’s nap at a time. I’m slightly (okay, totally) addicted to Twitter (nicolethelm), the St. Louis Cardinals, and someday owning a barn.
You can contact me at NicoleTHelm@gmail.com. I am a contributor at the From Fact to Fiction blog and the Entangled Indulgence Author’s blog.
Social Media:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Nicole-Helm/125277964228020?ref=hl
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/nicolethelm
Website: www.nicolehelm.wordpress.com
Blog: www.nicolehelm.wordpress.com/blog
Seven Night Stand Buy Links:
B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/seven-night-stand-nicole-helm/1114300676
Kobo: http://www.kobobooks.com/ebook/Seven-Night-Stand/book-ZhbPXJ2v8EumCA_tC8Jdhw/page1.html?s=L2AYTnOAwkuKvZQ48mIjqA

Add a Comment

Paige Cuccaro is making a return visit to the virtual offices.  She’s here today to talk about her latest release From Here To Eternity.  After the interview, please enter for your chance to win a special prize pack.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] If you had a theme song, what would it be?

[Paige Cuccaro] High Hopes. I’m the little old ant trying to move rubber tree plants.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Can you tell us a little about From Here to Eternity?

[Paige Cuccaro] At its core, From Here to Eternity is a story about rediscovered love—the kind of love that becomes a part of you, that sustains you during the best and worst times. The story is set in the future when science has advanced to the point where a person’s life can be extended indefinitely by means of mind transfer into androids that look exactly like the person who’s thoughts, memories and personality they house. This raises the question –How do you define, life? It’s that question that puts the heroine, Rachel and her husband, Dr. Nate Burns at odds. Nate would do anything to have his wife with him. But when he’s forced to chose between her most base moral belief and protecting the secret of eternal life he must do the one thing that would make his life bearable at the same time it goes against everything Rachel believes.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] How did you come up with the concept and the characters for the story?

[Paige Cuccaro] I’m a huge nerd. I love sci-fi stories, especially robot stories. I started thinking (and not for the first time) what it would be like to be an android, like a super advanced version of the six million dollar man. We’ve already come so far in medicine, able to replace limbs with more and more advanced robotic arms and legs. It seems a natural progression that we’ll get to the point where we can literally replace every part and the only thing standing between a human and a fully robotic human will be replacing a person’s brain with a robotic one. That would mean transferring a person’s thoughts, memories, personality, everything that makes them who they are into a robotic brain. If we were able to do that…would you still be able to call that person human? Poof…story born.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What three words best describe Rachel?

[Paige Cuccaro] Opinionated.

Loyal

Determined.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Name one thing Nate is never without.

[Paige Cuccaro] His Global eyewear. In the future it’s their connection to the world, phone, news, entertainment…everything.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What three things will you never find in Rachel’s purse?

[Paige Cuccaro] A mini travel tool kit. A copy of Scientific Journal. A tape measure.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What is Nate’s greatest regret?

[Paige Cuccaro] That he had to betray his wife’s beliefs.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What were your greatest creative influences while writing From Here to Eternity?

[Paige Cuccaro] Isaac Asimov. I adore his robot stories.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] List three things on your desk right now.

[Paige Cuccaro] A stuffed leopard holding a heart that says True Love, a can of diet Pepsi and a scented Marshmallow Fireside candle.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What is the last book that you read that knocked your socks off?

[Paige Cuccaro] Sacrifice of Passion by Melissa Bourbon Ramirez

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What do you like to do when you aren’t writing?

[Paige Cuccaro] I’m a huge movie buff. I love watching movies, romantic comedies, sci-fi, adventure, you name it! Except horror. Life’s scary enough. I don’t need a movie to add to things.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] How can readers connect with you?

[Paige Cuccaro] Twitter: @paigecuccaro

Facebook: www.facebook.com/PaigeCuccaro

Blog: beingpaige.blogspot.com

Website: www.PaigeCuccaro.com

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Thank you!

Giveaway Time!!!

Paige and Entangled Publishing are hosing a tour wide From Here To Eternity Prize Pack including 3 DVDs, 2 of Paige’s previous books and a $25 Amazon Gift Card!!

To enter, just fill out the widget below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Didn’t win? You can order From Here to Eternity from your favorite bookseller or by clicking the link below:

About the book:

Add a Comment

Cover Shot! is a regular feature here at the Café. I love discovering new covers, and when I find them, I like to share. More than anything else, I am consumed with the mystery that each new discovery represents. There is an allure to a beautiful cover. Will the story contained under the pages live up to promise of the gorgeous cover art?

Okay, I have to admit that I was a Brady Bunch junky when I was a kid. I watched more than my fair share of the show, and because it was in reruns, I got a daily dose of the big, happy family.  I am curious about Kieran Kramer’s House of Brady series for that reason.   I think this cover is pretty, too, and I love the hues of blue.

This hits stores August  2013.

     

Add a Comment

I first read about this book over at Ms. Yingling's blog.  Romance is always a bit of a tricky thing in that I tend to find them super girly or super sexy.  Farrar has hit the mark with A Song for Bijou in that it offers a boy's point of view without going into the realm of YA.

Alex knows the moment he lays eyes on Bijou that she is something special.  Time seems to slow down so that he notices every detail about her: from the way that she unwraps her straw at Peas 'n Pickles, to her stiff new uniform and the butterfly purple beads that end her braids.  The girl is with motor mouth Mary Agnes and Alex can she that she's not able to get a word in edgewise.  Alex asks his friend Nomura who the girl is, but he doesn't know either.

It doesn't take Alex too long to find out. Bijou goes to St. Catherine's along with Mary Agnes and Ira's sister Maricel, and the boys attend St. Christopher's which is the brother school.  Alex cannot wait to get to know Bijou, which shouldn't be too hard as they have a school dance coming up.

There are, however, a couple of obstacles that Alex has to get around before he can see what the possibilities are with Bijou.  First of, she is living with her Aunt and Uncle who are super strict about her hanging out with non-Haitians let alone with boys.  Then there are Rocky and Trevor - two tough guys who seem to have some interest in Bijou as well.  Lastly, there is the fact that Alex doesn't exactly know what to do in order to get Bijou to notice him!  He's been stuck at an all boys school forever, and hasn't had practice talking to girls aside from his mom and his sister Dolly.

Mary Agnes starts to hatch some plans that will allow not only Alex and Bijou to get to know one another, but herself and Nomura as well.  What follows is a story filled with age appropriate angst, first love, cultural clashes and misunderstandings.  Farrar gifts readers with the bitter sweet dance of first crushes from both Alex and Bijou's points of view.  Cultural and racial differences are not shied away from and Alex and Bijou must both face prejudice in their quest to get to know each other.  A breath of fresh air!

Add a Comment

 

Please welcome best-selling author Jennifer Probst to the virtual offices today! This is a return visit for Jennifer, and I’m so excited to host her again.  The Marriage Bargain is one of the first Entangled books that I reviewed, and Jennifer is one of their first authors that I interviewed!

[Manga Maniac Cafe]  Welcome back, Jennifer!  If you had a theme song, what would it be?

[Jennifer Probst] Well, before I got married it was “Another One Bites the Dust.” Now it’s more a motto from Finding Nemo – “Just Keep Swimming.”

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Can you tell us a little about All The Way?

[Jennifer Probst] Absolutely! It’s a love story of revenge and redemption between a restaurant owner and a food critic. My hero walked away from everything he loved and broke my heroine’s heart. Now he’s back  to right his wrongs, but it’s a hard journey back into her bed and heart. It’s filled with lots of sexual tension, humor, food, music, and fun!

[Manga Maniac Cafe] How did you come up with the concept and the characters for the story?

[Jennifer Probst] I’ve always wanted to write about a food critic and the restaurant world, and I loved the idea of a story centering around a man who made mistakes when he was young and the path back to make things right.

I actually wrote this story a decade ago so I’m thrilled to finally share it with readers!

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What three words best describe Miranda?

[Jennifer Probst] stubborn, feisty, fearful

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Name one thing Gavin is never without.

[Jennifer Probst] A need to get Miranda into bed!

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What is Gavin’s greatest regret?

[Jennifer Probst] Breaking Miranda’s heart

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What were your greatest influences while working on All The Way?

[Jennifer Probst] Frank Sinatra. Everything Italian. Family dynamics. Great food. Spiritual philosophies.  Opera.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What is the last book that you read that knocked your socks off?

[Jennifer Probst] JR Ward’s The Black Daggerhood series – I’ve read three in a row and can’t stop!

[Manga Maniac Cafe] How has your life changed since The Marriage Bargain was released last year?

[Jennifer Probst] Like the glass slipper fit. I’m completely grateful and humbled to be able to write full time now, and dedicate myself to sharing my stories with readers. I have an agent, a few fantastic publishers I adore, and the ability to work from home so I can be with my kids. Doesn’t get better than that!

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What do you like to do when you aren’t writing?

[Jennifer Probst] I love my family. I adore getting together with everyone over a great dinner, seeing my nieces, taking vacations, just enjoying time together. I love reading, dogs, food, wine, and hanging with my friends.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] How can readers connect with you?

[Jennifer Probst] I love readers! I’m consistently on twitter, facebook, and respond to all emails. Visit my website at www.jenniferprobst.com or drop me an email at romancewriter121@yahoo.com

Thanks so much for having me here today!!

[Manga Maniac Café] Thank you!

You can purchase All The Way from your favorite bookseller or by clicking the link below:

Book Blurb:

About Jennifer Probst:

Jennifer Probst is a New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author of contemporary romance fiction, both sexy and erotic.  Visit her at the following:

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2965489.Jennifer_Probst

Website: http://jenniferprobst.com/

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/jenniferprobst.authorpage

Twitter: @JenniferProbst

Add a Comment

I have been enjoying quite a few Entangled series releases, and I thought it would be fun to share some info about the books slated to hits store shelves today.

BLISS

The Practice Proposal by Tracy March

 

Buy it here:

Amazon

B&N

Books on Board

 

Just For Summer by Jenna Rutland

Buy it here:

Amazon

B&N

Books on Board

Indulgence

A Risk Worth Taking by Victoria James

Buy it here:

Amazon

B&N

 

 

Tempted by Trouble by Michelle Smart

 

Buy it here:

Amazon

B&N

Books on Board

 

Faking It by Diane Alberts

Buy it here:

Amazon

B&N

Books on Board

 

 

The Baby Bargain by Jennifer Apodaca

 

Buy it here:

Amazon

B&N

Books on Board

 

 

The Cinderella Makeover by Hope Tarr

 

Buy it here:

Amazon

B&N

Books on Board

 

Date by Mistake Anthology

Buy it here:

Amazon

B&N

Books on Board

And don’t forget about Jennifer Probst’s latest, All The Way.  Jennifer was my special guest yesterday, so please click here to see what we talked about.

Book Blurb:

Buy Links:

Amazon

B&N

Add a Comment

Dorothy Callahan is visiting the virtual offices today to chat about her book Taming the Stallion.  Check out what she has to say.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Describe yourself in 140 characters or less.

[Dorothy Callahan] I’m an avid animal lover who has always dreamed of being a published author. I’m also a chocoholic who refuses any 12 step program.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Can you tell us a little about Taming the Stallion?

[Dorothy Callahan] Raylie really just wants to get a great promotion; she’s done with men and dating. Her baggage is tragic and too hard to deal with, so she represses it, focusing instead on her career. She takes a horse case despite dealing with her past, because she really thinks she can make one more headline arrest.

Ashton is the top horse trainer/breeder around, so the fact this Peace Officer wants to arrest him is ludicrous. He just wants to know who’s poisoning his horses, and the ones he’s losing point to someone being aware of his secretive past.

Neither one really wants anything to do with the other, but they just can’t fight their attraction, despite the risks to their professional careers. Who’s going to solve this case?

[Manga Maniac Cafe] How did you come up with the concept and the characters for the story?

[Dorothy Callahan] Working in a busy humane society gave me lots of ideas for stories, and, being an animal lover with a defined sense of justice, I knew my heroine would have to embrace those qualities as well. Plus, in all my years working at the humane society, no one ever stumbled on anyone as great a catch as Ashton! All I needed was a situation that put both of them at their personal worst, then stepped back to watch what would happen.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What three words best describe Raylie?

[Dorothy Callahan] Driven, empathic, unwavering. She is definitely NOT a closet romantic. Nope. (Ignore her artwork. She does.)

[Manga Maniac Cafe] If Ashton had a theme song, what would it be?

[Dorothy Callahan] "Unanswered Prayers" by Garth Brooks.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Name one thing Raylie is never without.

[Dorothy Callahan] Her sidearm.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What three things will you never find in Ashton’s bedroom?

[Dorothy Callahan] Neutral colors, art work, potpourri.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What is Ashton’s greatest regret?

[Dorothy Callahan] Dropping out of college, despite how his life prospered.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What are your greatest creative influences?

[Dorothy Callahan] Movies, so I can "veg" and let the juices flow, chocolate, because, well, it’s chocolate, and my husband, who is the best sounding board in the entire world.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What three things do you need in order to write?

[Dorothy Callahan] A pen to chew on, a cat on my lap, and silence.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What is the last book that you read that knocked your socks off?

[Dorothy Callahan] Ooh, it’s a tie between "Darkfire Kiss," by Deborah Cooke, and "Homer’s Odyssey" by Gwen Cooper.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] If you had to pick one book that turned you on to reading, which would it be?

[Dorothy Callahan] A book I read as a child about a young boy whose father (a forest ranger) rescued a mountain lion cub, and as she grew into adulthood, the boy risked his life to return her to the wild. I can’t recall the name of it, but I read it about 8 times in elementary school. (I think the librarian hid it from me after a while….) After that, in middle school, it was Piers Anthony and Robert Asprin.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What do you like to do when you aren’t writing?

[Dorothy Callahan] What do you mean? 
I love to watch movies, read, renovate our house, and shop for antiques. I’m also a Facebook junkie. I love to repost!

[Manga Maniac Cafe] How can readers connect with you?

[Dorothy Callahan] Online at Dorothy Callahan Author on Facebook, or dorothycallahan.com to visit me.  In person, just talk about movies, your pets, or antiques!

Thank you so much for inviting me to your blog! I appreciate the opportunity to be here.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Thank you!

You can purchase Taming the Stallion from your favorite bookseller or by clicking the link below. 

About the book:

About the Author:

Dorothy Callahan lives in upstate New York with her wonderful husband, a pride of demanding cats, and two loyal dogs, all rescued from shelters (not the husband). When she is not writing, she enjoys shopping for antiques and renovating their pre-Civil War house.

Add a Comment