Romance

EXCERPT: “This One’s For You” by Brandy Jellum

November 4, 2015 1 Comment

“This One’s For You” by Brandy Jellum

Blurb: All alone in a new state, Brennan Daniels has only the memories of her best friend, Reagan, to keep her company as she starts college.

Reagan is the reason for everything Brennan does—before she died, she made Brennan promise to stay good until she found a man worth keeping. No boys, no dating, and definitely no falling in love—those were the rules for college, and Brennan carved them into the brick walls guarding her heart…

But there’s a fire burning behind those walls, and when Brennan meets Owen Scott, the (mysterious) new guy across the hall, she can’t deny the pull between them. He is everything she should never want. Everyone warns her to stay away—even Owen himself—but the heart wants what the heart wants, even if it knows that it’s going to get hurt—even if it means throwing old promises to new flames…

EXCERPT

My body started to shake as the first tears streamed down my cheeks. I slid down to the floor, pulling my knees to my chest, and rocked back and forth. As more tears fell, my sobs became louder. Everything I had been holding in until that moment burst free from the dam I had carefully built.

Every emotion: anger, sadness, guilt, desperation, fear, anxiety, remorse, and rage overcame me in that single second. Everything I was afraid to let myself feel, I was feeling all at once. My body shook violently as the tears continued to stream down my face, and my throat was hoarse from crying.

It happened—I finally broke.

For the first time in almost a year, I let myself feel something—really feel something. The tears I had shed in the past were nothing compared to the ones I was crying now. The pain was unbearable. I wanted it to all go away. I wanted to rewind the clock just a little bit. I’d rather deal with my brothers acting like fools than to feel this.

This was the moment everyone close to me was waiting for, the moment when I finally let everything sink in. They were waiting for me to break. I was surprised it wasn’t sooner.

My sobs echoed the breaking of my heart. Speaking for the things I couldn’t say—the one thing I wanted to shout loud enough for everyone to hear; it wasn’t fair! Why was the most beautiful person I’d ever known stripped from this earth before it was her time?

Seeing Ronnie, hearing his plan, brought everything to the surface. Why couldn’t he stay away? Everyone was constantly pushing me, and this time they pushed me too far. I went right over the cliff, and there was no end in sight.

I barely heard the soft knock against the bathroom door over the sound of my own sobs. I held my breath, waiting to see if it was just my imagination, when there was another rap against the wooden door.

I heard a loud sigh and a soft thump against the sturdy wood. My chest heaved as I kept as quiet as I could, my face soaked with tears. I wiped at them furiously, trying to get them to stop. The more I fought against it, the faster they seemed to fall.

My mouth was dry. I licked my lips, tasting the saltiness of my broken heart.

“Brennan . . .” Owen said.

“I’ll be out in a moment.”

I bit my bottom lip. I had to get myself together. I needed to get up off the floor, put a smile on my face, and go on like nothing happened. There was a reason why it had taken so long for me to break—I kept pretending I was fine. It wasn’t healthy, but staying on the cold bathroom floor bawling wasn’t either.

I had to go back to the way I was prior to this. I had to grin it and bear it. Like nothing in the world could get me down. It was the only way I was going to survive.

**Find “This One’s For You”: Amazon Barnes & Noble Goodreads

* * * * *

**About author, Brandy Jellum: Brandy’s passion for writing began long before she actually sat down to write. As a child, she has had an obsession with reading, everything from the classic stories by Jane Austen to YA Fiction by Richelle Mead. Finally, in 2012, she decided to create her own stories for people to fall in love with. Brandy bounces back and forth writing both Romance and Young Adult Fiction (which is mainly just for fun). At the beginning of 2014, Brandy signed a contract with publishing company Booktrope. She is very excited about the next chapter of her life and cannot wait to share her books and passion with readers. When she isn’t writing, she can be found chasing after her husband, her four children and her black lab, Diesel. Or curled up on her favorite corner of the couch with her newest book.

**Contact Brandy: Website Facebook Twitter

* * * * *

**GIVEAWAY**

**Click HERE to enter to win the Rafflecopter giveaway!

* * * * *

**Click HERE to see other stops on Brandy’s Chick Lit Plus Blog Tour!

EXCERPT: “Clutch: A Novel”

November 3, 2015 1 Comment

“Clutch” A Novel” by Lisa Becker

Blurb: Clutch: A Novel is the laugh-out-loud, chick lit romance chronicling the dating misadventures of Caroline Johnson, a single purse designer who compares her unsuccessful romantic relationships to styles of handbags – the “Hobo” starving artist, the “Diaper Bag” single dad, the “Briefcase” intense businessman, etc. With her best friend, bar owner Mike by her side, the overly-accommodating Caroline drinks a lot of Chardonnay, puts her heart on the line, endures her share of unworthy suitors and finds the courage to discover the “Clutch” or someone she wants to hold onto.

EXCERPT

Mimi Johnson was casually dressed in a brightly-colored blouse with enormous turquoise jewelry and equally-oversized glasses. Despite that largesse, the only thing truly bigger than her personality (and her bosom) was her handbag. It was always perfectly matched to her clothing, shoes, and jewelry. She was like a walking Chico’s advertisement, if you added forty years, forty pounds, and a Virginia Slims cigarette. From her Mary Poppins-like bag, she pulled out a box, impeccably-wrapped in glossy pink paper with a white grosgrain ribbon bow. A cigarette teetered between her two fingers while she produced a lung-hacking cough.

“Open it… <cough, cough> …sweetie. Open it,” she said to her seven-year-old great niece, Caroline, a beautiful and vibrant girl with long blonde hair and oversized blue eyes.

Alive with anticipation, sweet young Caroline eagerly took the box and smiled up at Mimi. She gingerly removed the ribbon, planning to save it for later. The glossy paper was less of interest and she ripped through it quickly. She opened the box and gently lifted out a hot pink purse, adorned with pale pink flowers and rhinestones. An enormous smile overcame her. Caroline nearly set her own hair on fire from Mimi’s cigarette as she bounded into her aunt’s arms.

“Oh, thank you, Aunt Mimi. It’s lovely.”

And that was when Caroline’s love of handbags began. From big and loud ones that would make Mimi proud to unimposing wristlets, from bowler bags to satchels; it didn’t matter if they were made of canvas or calf-skin leather, were distressed or embellished with metal studs. Hell, she didn’t care if you called them pocketbooks or purses. She just loved them all – almost as much as she loved Mimi.

By the time she was a junior in high school and well on her way to being class valedictorian, it was the hundreds of bags Caroline owned that helped her conceptualize her ticket out of her suffocating small Georgian town. She would design handbags. And it was Mimi who was her steadfast cheerleader.

“Caroline, sweetie… <cough, cough> …you find something you love and you just hold onto it.” It had never mattered if Caroline was asking Mimi’s advice about a friend, lover, or career. The advice was always the same: “Find something you love and hold onto it.”

Mimi’s words ever-present in her mind, Caroline headed to the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising and spent four years in Los Angeles learning everything there was to know to pursue her passion. Then, right out of college, she spent three years working in the design and marketing departments of two of the world’s leading high-end handbag designers.

She was schooled in beauty and how to accessorize the perfectly-coiffed women on the way to their Botox appointments. But Caroline was pulled by the nagging feeling that the very person who had inspired her career, Mimi, could never afford the bags she designed, even if Caroline used her generous employee discount on Mimi’s behalf. And God forbid Mimi would ever accept one as a gift, always preferring to give rather than receive. But Caroline believed there was no reason for anyone to be denied the ultimate in accessories. She saw an untapped market of designing beautiful and affordable bags, but she just wasn’t sure she was start-up potential. Again, it was Mimi who nudged her to learn the business side of things and apply to MBA programs. When Caroline was accepted to Harvard Business School, Mimi of course encouraged her.

“You’ve got this, sweetie. <cough, cough>,” she said. “It’s in the bag.”

***

Caroline was sitting in Financial Reporting and Control on her first day of Harvard classes (and yes, the class turned out to be as boring as it sounded). That’s when she first eyed Mike, who was wearing a faded pair of Levi jeans, a washed-out vintage Rolling Stones T-shirt, and Converse sneakers. He oozed charisma. Turning her head away from him and back toward the front of the lecture hall, Caroline thought that if he were a handbag, he would be a grey leather tote – confident and dependable, but not trying too hard.

Mike surveyed the large lecture hall as he walked in, a Starbucks coffee cup in each hand. After descending the steps slowly, he took a seat next to Caroline and planted one of the white and green cups on her desk.

Flashing a wide, dimpled smile, which she mused he reserved for getting girls to drop their panties, he said, “Here. You look like you’re going to need this.”

“Thanks,” she replied in a suspicious tone, turning her head sideways to look at him and raising an eyebrow.

“I’m Mike,” he said, again flashing a smile and reaching out for a handshake.

“I’m Caroline. Thanks for the…”

“Latte.”

“Latte,” she confirmed. “Thanks. But just so you know, I’m not gonna sleep with you,” she said in an apparent attempt to establish up front she wasn’t taken in by his obvious charm.

“I know,” he replied matter-of-factly.

Before she could respond, Professor Beauregard, a stout man with excessive eyebrows, spoke up.

“Please take note of where you are seated. I will send around a seating chart for you to mark your spot. This will be your seat for the remainder of the semester.”

“Looks like we’ll be seatmates,” Mike said, grinning at her.

“Looks like it,” she replied.

***

About three months into the first semester, Caroline learned that her fun-loving, easy-going new best buddy Mike wasn’t exactly who he appeared to be.

* * * * *

About the author: In addition to Clutch: A Novel, Lisa Becker is the author of the Click Trilogy, a contemporary romance series comprised ofClick: An Online Love Story, Double Click and Right Click. She’s written bylined articles about dating and relationships for “Cupid’s Pulse,” “The Perfect Soulmate,” “GalTime,” “Single Edition,” “Healthy B Daily” and “Chick Lit Central” among others. She lives in Manhattan Beach, California with her husband and two daughters.

**Contact Lisa: Web Facebook Twitter YouTube Pinterest

* * * * *

**GIVEAWAY**

**Click HERE to enter to win a Beaded Clutch from Mei Vintage!

* * * * *

**Click HERE to see other stops on Lisa’s Chick Lit Plus Blog Tours!

BOOK FEATURE: “Any Way You Fight It”

October 30, 2015 Leave a Comment

“Any Way You Fight It” by Monique McDonell

Blurb: Matchmaking came easily for Cherie . . . unless she was matching herself. A successful realtor, Cherie could sell a piece of property with ease, she could match up her friends with their perfect mates, but she couldn’t seem to find love for herself. Heck, even her seventy-five-year-old Nona was dating again! Cherie had the perfect love once, or so she had thought. But that was a long time ago, and yet, Luke was the standard by which she measured all potential mates.

After matching her two best friends and watching them live their happily ever afters, Cherie decides it’s time to make a change and get back in the game. Now all she needs to do is balance what she wants (a Luke-alike) with the demands of her crazy Italian family (a good, Catholic Italian boy).

Just when she is ready to shake off her past and move forward, her past walks through the door of her favorite local pub with her best friends. Luke is back, looks better than ever, and still has eyes for Cherie. And Cherie can’t control the heat she still has for him. But as with most long-lost loves, he has a past as well, and that past just might prevent Cherie from finding her happiness despite what her Nona’s visions predict.

Can Cherie and Luke make peace with their pasts and look forward to a new life together? Or will this be the final good-bye?

* * * * *

EXCERPT

Lucy called me the next day. I was unlocking the door to my office. I was juggling keys, a folder, a latte, and an open house sign but I still managed to take the call.

“What’s up, buttercup?” I said.

“Not much . . .” I could visualize her on the other end in kitchen whites and a hairnet trying to come up with a witty reply. “You sound perky today. Piper said you were exhausted last night.”

“I was. Still am, actually.” That wasn’t a lie. I barely slept, tossing and turning all night with sexy and angry thoughts about Luke. “Your call perked me right up. Oh yeah, and I’m about to down my third coffee.”

“Oh, I hope you’re okay.”

“I’ll be fine. What’s happening there?”

“Well, you met the hottie corporate sent to help us with branding.”

“Don’t you have a fiancé already?” I tried not to let jealousy seep in. Keep it light, Cherie.

“A girl can look. Anyway, you don’t have a fiancé . . .”

“Yeah, well, I don’t want a fiancé, and even if I did, I wouldn’t want that guy.”

“He seems pretty cool.”

“Not my type.” I needed to shut this down. “Anyway, he’s probably married. How long is your new eye candy in town anyway?”

“He’s not, married I mean. A week or two, but he’ll be back and forth.” Great. “Maybe you two could . . .”

“Thanks for pimping out your new colleague, but if I wanted a guy, I could find my own.” I tried to sound haughty. “Anyway, Lucy, I have to run. I have about a million calls to return. ”

I dropped my bundle, minus the coffee of course, on the office sofa and turned at the sound of the bell above my front door tinkling. There in resplendent glory -today in chinos and a white shirt with sleeves rolled to the elbows, offsetting a killer tan- was Luke.

“Not your type, huh?” he said, closing the space between us a little.

“First of all, don’t you know it is rude to eavesdrop and second, definitely not.”

“I used to be,” he said, one hand shoved in his pocket and the other gesticulating.

“Well, we all used to be different, didn’t we?”

“I bet we’re not all that different, you know.”

“That’s hardly a ringing endorsement for either of us.” I leaned back against the edge of my desk, using it to balance me, and took a long sip of my latte. Some days there just wasn’t enough coffee in the world.

“I don’t know, I thought we were decent kids back then . . .”

“Until at least one of us wasn’t.”

“And which one was that?” he asked as if he didn’t know. The bastard.

“What brings you here, Luke? I kind of have a lot to get done today.”

“I wanted to see you.”

“You’ve seen me.” I sounded like such a cold bitch. He would have no doubt that I had changed by the end of this conversation. It wasn’t that I didn’t want to be that sweet young girl again, but he’d changed me and anyway, I was not her. I was an independent thirty-year-old woman.

“And I wanted to say obviously I had no idea you had any connection to Piper, and I’m sorry we were both blindsided that way last night.”

“It’s okay. Small world and all that.” I tried to take another sip of my coffee but, sadly, the well was dry.

“It was really nice to see you, Cherie. I’ve often wondered how you were, what you did . . .” his voice trailed away.

I wanted to say, Dude, you could have called or written or maybe not just vanished back then, but I didn’t.

“You’re obviously keeping well.”

“Can’t complain.” He shoved his second hand in his pocket. “So, do you want to still act like we don’t know each other? These are your friends; this is your life . . .”

That was nice at least. “I kind of assumed yes. Then again, I don’t like lying to them . . .”

“How about I say that I realized I recognized you from the neighborhood? Nothing more.”

“Okay, but they’re pretty nosy, so if they wise up or it feels weird for me, I’ll tell them, and I’ll let you know. Lucy and Piper can keep a secret.”

“I don’t suppose you want to have dinner or a donut for old-time’s sake?”

“You know what, I really don’t. It’s nice to see you’re happy and doing well, but . . .”

“Okay.” He turned to leave. “As you wish.”

He did not just quote the Princess Bride to me. Oh yes, he freaking did!

Any Way You Fight It – excerpt 2

“Right—I’m going to give you the abridged version.”

“I’ll take whatever you offer,” she said.

“Well, when I was eighteen I had a romance, I suppose you’d call it.”

“Yeah if this was eighteenth-century England.”

“Whatever,” I sighed. “And it was a secret. He knew, I knew, and one friend.”

“No family?”

“Nope, he wasn’t Italian, and I just didn’t want them stalking me and ruining everything.”

“Makes sense. I never had that kind of family. I could have dated an axe murderer and my mom would have been happy I had a man, but I can see your situation was different.”

“Yeah, so we had this lovely summer fling. And then he dumped me.”

“Ouch.”

“Yeah, and he just left and didn’t say good-bye.”

“That’s low.”

“Yeah, it was. And it hurt and probably more so because no one knew so I had to act all normal and I couldn’t discuss it with anyone.”

“So, you’ve never talked about it?” Her eyes popped wide.

“I never have.” I took a fortifying sip of beer. “The thing is I date, I flirt, but I haven’t really met anyone who made me feel like that guy did.”

“Wow. That’s a long time between boyfriends.”

“Yeah, I went out with a couple of nice guys in college, one for almost a year, but that spark or whatever wasn’t there. And because of my parents’ whole ‘you can’t end up with someone who isn’t Italian’ attitude and because I haven’t met any Italian guys who lit that flame . . .”

“You’ve stayed single . . .”

“Exactly.” I sighed.

“But now you’re ready to move forward, why is that? I mean I know that was big for you to tell me, but you didn’t tell me anything Piper couldn’t have handled.”

“There’s more . . .”

“Oh goody!” She clapped her hands.

“Calm down, Glinda the Good Witch. This is hard for me.”

“Sorry, but what’s changed? Is it because Piper and I have found someone?”

“I think partly, but a couple other triggers have hit as well.”

“I think we need fries for this part?” she asked, waving down the waiter. “Okay continue.”

“First, although it didn’t happen first, my mother has waived the Italian rule. Apparently having a single thirty-year-old daughter who isn’t producing offspring means she has to compromise, so I’m allowed to date non-Italians now.”

“That’s pretty huge for her.”

“Yeah and for me. The thing is part of me is really resentful about it. I’m happy but I’m also thinking—now, why now? Why not ten years ago, five? All these years . . .”

“That makes sense.” The fries landed and we each took one and blew it. We had years of experience and neither of us was stupid enough to burn our tongues now. I squirted ketchup in the corner of the basket. We liked to dunk or scrape our fries through not smother them. “On the other hand, better now than never.”

“I know.”

“So that’s good news for moving forward.” She snapped her fry and popped half in her mouth. “So, what was the other thing?”

“I saw him again.”

“Him? The guy from way back when?”

I nodded. “The guy.”

“Wow. Where? When? Who?”

“Here. Last week. Luke.”

“Holy shit, Cherie. Luke?” Lucy’s eyes were bugging out of their sockets.

“Yep, holy shit.”

“You dated Luke? He dumped you and then he walked in to this very bar years later?”

“Yes.”

“And we made you guys hang?”

“Yes.”

“And how was that?”

“It was freaking weird.” That was an understatement.

“He’s very hot; I can see why you had a fling with him. You have excellent taste.”

“Thanks, I think.”

“So, did you find out why he dumped you?”

“I didn’t ask. It doesn’t matter. It’s old news. Seeing him again just proved to me it is time to get on with my life. It’s time to take a chance again, and now that I can date beyond the Italian-American community, I can find myself a Luke-alike.”

“A what?”

“A Luke-alike. A guy like Luke.”

“Why can’t you just date the real Luke?”

It did seem like an obvious solution but the real Luke was in love with his dead fiancée. I didn’t need to go into that.

“The real Luke lives in New York and is emotionally unavailable. But I will admit he is hot, and apparently that kind of hot is my kind of hot.”

“So you want my help to find you a Luke-alike?” she asked, finally putting the pieces to the puzzle together.

“Chase must know tons of blond, buff babes who could maybe like me.”

“Babe, anyone who doesn’t like you is an idiot. Have you seen yourself? You are gorgeous. And now you’re gorgeous and open to possibilities.”

“I guess.”

She clapped her hands again. “This is going to be so fun. Now I get to be the matchmaker.”

I wasn’t sure how Lucy’s matchmaking skills were to be honest, but she was all I had. It did feel better to have told someone.

**Buy “Any Way You Fight It” now: Amazon Smashwords

* * * * *

**About Monique McDonell: I am an Australian author who writes contemporary women’s fiction including chick lit and romance. I live on Sydney’s Northern Beaches with my husband and daughter, and despite my dog phobia, with a dog called Skip.

I have written all my life especially as a child when I loved to write short stories and poetry. At University I studied Creative Writing as part of my Communication degree. Afterwards I was busy working in public relations I didn’t write for pleasure for quite a few years although I wrote many media releases, brochures and newsletters. (And I still do in my day-job!)

When I began to write again I noticed a trend – writing dark unhappy stories made me unhappy. So I made a decision to write a novel with a happy ending and I have been writing happy stories ever since.

I have been a member of the writing group The Writer’s Dozen for eight years. Our anthology Better Than Chocolate raised over $10,000 for the charity Room to Read and helped build a library in South East Asia. I am also a member of the Romance Writers of Australia. I was also had a piece in the Australian non-fiction book Copyfight in 2015.

I have written five stand-alone romantic comedies and three books in the Upper Crust Series; “Any Way You Slice It,” “Any Way You Dream It,” and “Any Way You Fight It.”

* * * * *

**GIVEAWAY**

**Click HERE to enter the Rafflecopter for your chance to win a $20 Amazon Gift Card!

AUTHOR FEATURE: Wendy Janes

October 29, 2015 Leave a Comment

About the author: Wendy Janes lives in London with her husband and youngest son. A number of her short stories have recently appeared in anthologies, and 2015 sees the launch of her first solo novel, What Jennifer Knows.

As well as writing contemporary women’s fiction, she loves to read and review it too.

Wendy is also a freelance proofreader, and a caseworker for the National Autistic Society’s Education Rights Service.

**Contact Wendy: Website Facebook profile Facebook author page Goodreads Author page Twitter

* * * * *

INTERVIEW

Describe yourself in five sentences: Family and friends are very important to me. I enjoy a good chat. I love finding out what makes people tick. Being able to help people makes me happy. You will never persuade me to go on a camping holiday.

When did you know you wanted to work with words? From the moment I learned to read.

Salty or sweet? Sweet. Huge bars of milk chocolate are the best!

Tell us about a day in your life: A typical day will include: working on proofs for clients; advising parents over the phone via the National Autistic Society’s Education Rights Service; writing/editing/researching; catching up with friends on social media; spending time with family. Each day ends with a few chapters of a good book.

What is your writing/editing/publishing process like? My writing process involves lots of thinking and plotting in my head before I actually write anything. Then after the first draft is down, there follows masses of editing, reviewing, re-editing and tinkering.

Hard/paperbacks or eBooks? Paperbacks and eBooks.

If you could meet any author, who would it be? Jane Austen.

Tell us a bit about your job as a proofreader? I count myself extremely lucky to earn my living by reading books every day. I love helping publishers and authors add that final polish to their books: ensuring spelling is correct and consistent; checking each comma, apostrophe, and quote mark… Although spotting typos gives me great pleasure, a greater pleasure is knowing that I’m part of a whole team of people who work with an author to ensure their book is the best it can be.

Do you have any rituals? Not exactly a ritual, but for anything longer than a tweet, I need to write the first draft on paper before transferring the words to my PC.

Is social media a help or a hinder? In terms of being able to connect with lovely people, social media is a very positive thing in my life. However, it’s far too easy to become distracted by dancing kittens and quizzes about who would play you in your film autobiography, and suddenly an hour has whizzed by!

What do you want readers to take away from your books? I’d like readers to feel like they’ve made some really interesting new friends.

What are you working on right now? I’m working on six short stories that are loosely linked to What Jennifer Knows.

* * * * *

**Blurb: A vital member of her Surrey community, Jennifer Jacobs is dedicated to her job as a dance therapist, helping children with special needs to express themselves through movement. Wife of a successful though reclusive sculptor, Gerald, she is known for having a deep sense of empathy, making her a trusted confidante. So when two very different friends, Freya and Abi, both share information with her that at first seems to be an awkward coincidence, she doesn’t tell them. But as the weeks roll by, the link revealed between the two women begins to escalate into a full-blown moral dilemma – and also brings to the surface a painful memory Jennifer believed she had long since forgotten. What is the right thing to do? Should she speak out or is the truth better left unsaid?

**Get “What Jennifer Knows” now: Amazon author page US Amazon author page UK

RELEASE DAY: “Sex, Snow and Mistletoe”

October 28, 2015 Leave a Comment

“Sex, Snow and Mistletoe” by Laura Barnard

Blurb: Melinda is already having a crappy Christmas. Forced to attend some snotty bitch’s wedding is not the way to start out the holidays. But when a car crash pushes her into the path of a handsome stranger she’s glad to follow his snowy, sexy and seductive path. But is he too good to be true? And will she make it to the wedding before her best friend loses her mind with worry?

**Get your copy of “Sex, Snow and Mistletoe” now:

Amazon – US Amazon – UK

* * * * *

**About the author: My name is Laura Barnard and I am an author from Hertfordshire, UK. I’m the chick-lit author of The Debt & the Doormat, The Baby & the Bride, Tequila & Tea Bags and Dopey Women.

In my spare time I enjoy drinking my body weight in tea, indulging in cupcakes the size of my face, drooling over hunks like Jamie Dornan, Ryan Gosling and Leo Dicaprio…oh and my husband of course 🙂 I like wearing yoga clothes and reading fitness magazines while I sit on the sofa and eat chocolate. I’m a real fan of the power nap and of course, READING!

I write not to get rich or famous, but because I LOVE writing. Even if one person tells me they enjoyed my book it makes the midnight typing worth it!

**Contact Laura: Website Facebook or Add me as a friend Twitter Goodreads

Courtney Clark

October 27, 2015 Leave a Comment

Courtney Clark: Besides aspiring to use wit and, yes, sometimes sarcastic comments to write comedy gold, Courtney Clark is a proud pet parent to two awesomely neurotic dogs, a book nerd, a tattoo enthusiast, and her parents’ favorite child (just don’t tell her brother that).

**Contact Courtney: Email Facebook Goodreads Twitter

INTERVIEW

Describe your writing style in five words? Laughing, typing, more laughing, typing.

Tell us about your writing/editing/publishing process: I wrote my first book, A Story of Like: A Decidedly Unromantic Romance Novel, in less than a month. It seemed to flow so easily. Little did I know that the hard part was still ahead. Currently, I am self-published, so I am still learning how to be an editing/publishing/marketing superstar. I’m a perfectionist, though, so I’ll get the hang of it…someday.

Hard/paperbacks or eBooks? eBooks

Have you always wanted to be a writer? Starting at age three, I wanted to be a doctor, but then I took college chemistry (grimace).

Do you have any writing rituals? I like to plot out my chapters on the elliptical machine, so I always keep a notepad and paper nearby when I’m working out.

Salty or sweet? Hmmm…this is like the Sophie’s Choice of snack questions. Nope, I just can’t choose.

At what time of day do you work best? Without copious amounts of coffee, my brain doesn’t actually work until at least 9 AM, so late morning is when I usually get in the zone.

Every author must have (a): perseverance.

Where do you see yourself in five years? Hopefully sipping cocktails somewhere.

If you could meet any other author, who would it be? I think that my chick lit idol has to be Jill Shalvis. I binge read everything she writes, and I would love to pick her brain to see how she comes up with so many uniquely endearing characters.

What do you want readers to take away from your books? Romance is great, but sometimes real life is better. Love isn’t always about instant connections or six-pack abs. For me, it’s about who you laugh with and who is going to be there for you, even when you’ve briefly hopped aboard the crazy train and are mid freak out. I wanted to put something out in the world that showed how amazing the ordinary—making fun of your girlfriend because she laughed so hard she snorted—kind of love can be.

What are you working on right now? Right now I am working on my second novel, An Introvert’s Guide to Living Abroad. I think if the way I’ve been bursting into laughter at the keyboard is any indication, it is going to be one hilarious adventure!

* * * * *

GUEST POST

Congratulations! It’s a…Twitter Account.

After only a few months of using social media to connect with readers, bloggers, and fellow authors, I can now say I know what it’s like to have a baby, except with less poop. Okay, don’t get me wrong, being a mom is a far more difficult and greater job than managing an author’s Twitter account, but for a fledgling author, Twitter can become a real, breathing entity that requires constant attention and care. Who knew?

Second guessing yourself: Just like new parents constantly turning to parenting books, panicking over each and every decision made about their precious bundle of joy, each new author obsesses over each and every tweet. “Is this one funny enough?” “Does the sarcasm shine through?” “Will this get any retweets?” “Wait, why didn’t this get any retweets?” “You know, I’m just going to text Anne and see if she will retweet it.” Although I’ve never been decisive about picking which restaurant to eat at, I’ve always felt confident in my humor and my choice of words. It only took about one week on Twitter, to put all of that self-esteem in doubt.

Two AM Feedings: New parents rarely get any sleep; neither do new authors on Twitter. With new tweeps all over the globe, there never seems to be a good time to disconnect. Whether I’m chatting to my new favorite blogger in New Zealand, who loves my work, or up with the night owls, playing hashtag games and looking for likeminded followers, Twitter never sleeps, and it is always crying for my attention. Chime…

Dangerous Diaper Changes: The diaper explosion is a horror that each and every one of my parenting friends has experienced, one that I don’t envy. Although the poop on Twitter is mostly metaphorical, with the exception of that cheeky little emoji, it is a mess to clean up just the same. I don’t know what makes the Twitter trolls target certain people, but, like a new parent with a diaper changing that should come with a hazmat suit, I was in shock the first time it happened to me. Just…why? How did my sweet, witty comment, turn into a toxic waste dump of negativity? My immediate response was to fire back—big mistake! The comments started to multiply, creating an even bigger mess, and I finally had to learn the beauty that is blocking people on Twitter, which consequently comes in handy while trying to keep dubious characters (the kind that exclusively tweet butt cleavage shots) from my Twitter baby.

All in all, taking care of my Twitter baby has been a daunting task, one that I am still trying to figure out as I go. However, through all of the poop, neediness, and self doubt, Twitter has provided me with a place to connect to other book lovers, writers, and fabulous bloggers, making it a positive experience I wouldn’t trade for the world.

* * * * *

**Blurb: He’s every woman’s idea of the perfect man: a middle income job, a receding hair line that only Mr. Clean would envy, and a body fit for the beer Olympics.

Who could resist?

Meet Addison Anderson. Although Addy is happy with her life—she has a job she loves, family and friends who support her, and her very own sidekicks in her neurotic Superdog named Lola and a nefarious looking cat named Moustachio—she’s missing the one thing that every girl wants, a plus one to couple’s game night. Enter Charlie. Not exactly the man of her romantic fantasies, Addy is quick to put him in the friend zone, but as he rapidly becomes an invaluable part of her life, Addy must make a big decision: which is more important, that elusive spark or someone to share her life with? Join Addy on her comic voyage as she discovers that not every story is a story of love, sometimes it’s a story of like.

**Buy “A Story of Like: A Decidedly Unromantic Romance Novel” now:

Amazon Barnes & Noble

BOOK FEATURE: Anthem Trilogy: Light My Fire, Start Me Up, and Call Me

October 20, 2015 1 Comment

Anthem Trilogy: Light My Fire, Start Me Up, and Call Me by Kristina Knight

LightMyFireCoverPic

Light My Fire: Lily MacIntyre’s life is offtrack, and she knows exactly how to right it: shed her America’s sweetheart image in a big way. Getting down and dirty in a limo with rocker Nate Lansford seems like the perfect solution. Plus, she’s had a mad crush on him practically since birth. The only problem? Nate is her brother’s best friend…and he doesn’t see her as anything other than a surrogate little sister.

StartMeUpCoverPic

Start Me Up:Matchmaker Nina Wright might work in LA but she keeps Hollywood types off her client list. She doesn’t need their drama and she doesn’t like the way so many of them exchange lovers like last year’s accessories. But she needs one happy, high-profile client to get her business off the tabloid pages and back on solid ground.

Hollywood hottie Chase MacIntyre wants the gossip surrounding his lastest fling to stop and he knows exactly how to do it: show up on his next red carpet with a new woman and once he meets Nina Wright he knows she is the woman to stop the presses.

The problem? Once they’re under cover, this business-only agreement is definitely too hot to handle…

CallMeCoverPic

Call Me: Katrina Phillips is itchy. The job that has always challenged her seems stifling, her friends are all pairing off and she’s been without male companionship for seven long months.

Josh Hanna is paying off a debt: fly to LA, play backup for the house band during the season finale of Star Power and then back to his boring – and sober – life in San Francisco.

But five years hasn’t been long enough to douse the flames between them, and its hard to remember why things went so badly in the first place…

* * * * *

EXCERPT

“Call Me”

“What do you think I’m doing here?” she countered, crossing her legs and spreading her arms over the back of the seat. “You practically invited me.”

The car began moving. Well, at least he hadn’t kicked her out of the limo.

“I said hello.”

“You told me not to leave on your account.”

“And then you did.”

“I thought you might want a little more privacy.” She slid across the side bench to Josh’s seat, bent her leg to sit sideways and rested her head against her elbow. “This is pretty private, I’d say.”

He watched her for a long moment. “You’re here for sex.”

Kat nodded. “I don’t usually go for casual, but since we have a history, this isn’t your typical one-night stand.”

“This isn’t what I expected when I came down here tonight.”

“This isn’t what I expected when I showed up for work tonight.” She reached out to trace her finger along his jaw. That contact zinged along her nerve endings straight to the butterflies flapping around in her belly, electrifying their beat.

“I’m headed straight to the airport.” He leaned toward her.

“LA traffic’s a bitch no matter what time of day it is.”

“You’re not the girl I remember.” This time he reached for her, his hand drawing a path of fire down her arm. “The girl I remember—”

She cut him off before he could get started on the girl she used to be. The girl who was of so little importance he felt no qualms about walking away from without a single word. Well, she’d grown up since then. Had other relationships. Sure, none of them as serious or deep as what she thought she’d had with him.

But then, she’d never really had him, had she?

* * * * *

About author, Kristina Knight: Once upon a time, Kristina Knight spent her days running from car crash to fire to meetings with local police–no, she wasn’t a troublemaker, she was a journalist. Her career took her all over the United States, writing about everything from a serial killer’s capture to the National Finals Rodeo. Along the way she found her very own Knight in Shining Cowboy Boots and an abiding love for romance novels. And just like the characters from her favorite books, she’s living her own happily ever after.

Kristina writes sassy contemporary romance novels; her books have appeared on Kindle Best Seller Lists. She loves hearing from readers, so drop her a line!

**Contact Kristina: Website Facebook Twitter Pinterest Goodreads Google+

COVER REVEAL: “Peri in Progress”

October 12, 2015 2 Comments

“Peri in Progress” by Cat Lavoie

**Release date: October 28th**

Blurb:

You know what they say about best-laid plans…

After a disastrous thirty-first birthday party where she gets stood-up by a man she isn’t supposed to be dating, Peri McKenna decides it’s time to change what hasn’t been working—which is pretty much everything. Her love life is going nowhere fast, she’s bored to tears by a job that makes her the office pariah, and the lifelong junk food addiction that used to be somewhat quirky is now positively problematic. To top it all off, her newly-purchased home is falling apart and wishful thinking hasn’t done much to fix the leaky roof.

It’s time be an adult now that she’s officially ‘thirty-something.’

But when the first step of Peri’s self-improvement plan backfires, she starts to wonder if change might be overrated.

Enter Milo Preston, an up-and-coming chef who’s in town to take over a local restaurant. When Peri and Milo begin working together, she finds it hard to ignore his easy charm and captivating emerald-green eyes. Since Milo is her best friend’s estranged brother, Peri has to keep reminding herself that he is completely off-limits. As they grow closer, Milo introduces Peri to new foods, the joy (and pain) of jogging, and makes her think her luck might finally be turning.

But when the past catches up with them, Peri finds herself back at square one. Will she be able to sort herself out—or will the roof cave in on her once and for all?

**Click HERE to find “Peri in Progress” on Goodreads!

**Be sure to use the tweet, “COVER REVEAL! @Catenabi reveals the cover of book 3, PERI IN PROGRESS, on sale 10/28! #chicklit http://bit.ly/1L6nCdy” to share in the excitement!

Amanda Kozik

October 8, 2015 Leave a Comment

About author: Amanda Kozik is an emerging author. Accidentally Heroic is her first published novel. Previously published works include “My Conversation with Madison” and “The School Mascot”.

**Contact Amanda: Email Book Sample Chapters

INTERVIEW

Describe yourself in five words: I am one odd duck.

You knew you were a writer when…: I baffled my 7^th grade English teacher with my quirky stories.

Salty or sweet? Sweet

What is your writing/editing/publishing process like? Writing is the passion of a new romance. Editing is the commitment and growth of a marriage. Publishing is the stress of divorce.

Hard/paperback or eBooks? When I am reading, definitely paperback. For my readers, either format is fine. I simply want them to read and enjoy.

Do you have any writing rituals? I do not write “Chapter 1” in the original draft. My superstition has always been that if I label the first chapter I seldom make it much further.

What are you reading right now? My husband hooked me on the Dresden files. Currently I am on Ghost Story.

If you could meet anyone famous, who would it be? I’d say Neil Gaiman, but I’d be too awe-stricken to speak. So, I will go with Patricia Wrede.

Writing wise, where would you like to be in five years? I’d like to have an established readership and be able to write full time.

What’s the best advice you’ve been given? Write the story you want to write.

What do you want people to take away from your books? I want them to have a sense of catharsis, laugh, cry, and just feel.

What are you working right now? The Kindle Format of Accidentally Heroic and (just started) the draft to a new series.

* * * * *

Accidentally Heroic

Blurb: In a world saturated with Superheroes, Accidentally Heroic puts a new spin on the genre. The novel opens humorously and quickly evolves into a tale that is one part noir, two parts love story, and every last page packed with the grandiose action that marks the world of comic books. The characters may be saving the day, but they still have to go to work on Tuesday.

EXCERPT

“You know what I could go for?” Larry mused with a broad grin. Oh god, I thought. I already knew.

“Black Rook Burgers.” Yup, it was as I feared.

“Really man? They’re nasty,” I replied in a vain attempt to avoid a four hour vigil at the porcelain shrine.

“Nah, they’re classic.” Larry ushered me into his Grand Am. We had been on the road for hours; our most recent stop had been unsuccessful. Unlike the Midwest, Nevada had hundred-mile stretches without good gas stations. There was gas, but that was it, no food, no frills, none of the luxuries many associate with road trips. As such, I was skeptical I’d find the proper facilities to handle Black Rook aftermath, but you couldn’t argue with Larry. Larry was one of those people; he was a force of nature. Murphy’s truth, he managed to find the one and only Black Rook Burgers in a 300 mile radius.

Sure enough, four hours later I was crawling out of a gas station restroom. It was the sort of bathroom that is a crime against humanity. Given my composure, slumped and sweaty on the ground, you’d never know my real identity.

“Mm, so good, I can still taste it.” Larry patted his belly.

“Unfortunately…” I muttered, alluding to the rancid taste in my mouth. Larry picked me off the ground by my left arm. He shoved me into my seat and walked to the other side of the car. So right about now you’ve figured out the obvious, right? Yup. Larry and I are superheroes. Like I said, obvious.

Romance

Footer

For inquiries

Follow Us