Friday, July 29, 2011

Interview & Giveaway with Cynthia Selwyn


Today I have Cynthia Selwyn on the blog. She was very kind to take the time to let me interview her and offer an awesome giveaway. The winner will get a choice of one of her e-books. Dog-Gone But Not Forgotten that I reviewed yesterday or In The Cards. I hope you enjoy reading the interview as much as I did. She give some great advice.

Welcome to Beck’s Book Picks. I am very excited to have you here today.
Hi! I'm excited to be here. Thanks for having me. :)

First off, tell us a little bit about yourself?
Well...I'm a writer, an editor, mother of three, wife of one. I love dogs and horses and I drink too much coffee. I love to meet people and especially love to make them smile.

Doggone But Not ForgottenWhy did you decide to write romance and erotica?
I don't think it was a decision as much as it is just what I write. We all have stories boiling inside us; some of us like mysteries, some of us crave adventure. I've tried to write other types of stories--fantasy,for example--but in the end, the stories I create are romantic.
As for erotica--well, my first one really was a personal challenge. I never could write a sex scene without blushing. I mean, it was hard for me to even look at what I was writing as I wrote it. Realizing that--especially as a married woman with three kids (well, two, at the time)--I decided it was time to wo-man up and just write the stuff. So I did. And it got easier. Now I edit eroticas, including m/m--without even blinking. I can even come up with alternative words
for...um...well...you know. That thing. (Is this a G-rated site?)
(hee hee, NO!)

Tell us a little about your latest release.
My latest release, Dog-gone But Not Forgotten,was actually written in response to a call for submission from a now-defunct publisher, where either the hero or the heroine worked with
animals. (Breathless Press is the current publisher.) anyhow, that's why Jack--the hero--is the town dog officer. And it's why Carrie--the heroine--has an incorrigible dog. Well...kind of, anyway. The dog, Ellie, has her own agenda.
The story takes place in Narragansett, Rhode Island, not far from where one of my sisters live. I needed a place close to the beach, small in size but not too small town-ish. Narragansett is a tourist location and there are a lot of summer homes there, rented in winter by students from the University of Rhode Island. I'm not sure where the themes in the story came from, though--there were times it just wrote itself and I was surprised at what I read as I typed. (Yes, that happens! Notice my answer to your first question...) This is my favorite story to date, though. I love it.


I love reading about dogs in books, it always adds a little bit of humor.Tell us a little about the dog you wrote about in your story.
Huh.I can't help but tell you a LOT. Ellie is an Irish Wolfhound. Have you ever seen them?They're awe-inspiring. The American Kennel Club standard says the ideal size for one at the shoulder is from thirty to thirty-four inches tall, and there are photos of them standing on their hind legs and towering over a man. The minimum weight for an adult male is 120 pounds. We're talking a pony sized dog, here! But here's the really cool thing about them: they're nicknamed "Gentle Giants" and I've seen that for myself.
You see, one day, I took my black-brindle Cairn Terrier, Duffy, for a walk on a nearby wooded path. If you're wondering what a Cairn's like, all you need to do is watch Toto in the Wizard of Oz. Anyhow, we encountered a man walking his Irish Wolfhound, who was black-brindle/gray and also named Duffy. My Duffy, being a small dog of great courage, thought he should show Big Duffy how tough he was, and stood on his hind legs barking and growling very bravely. Big Duffy wagged his long tail in a gentle swish, sort of bent his neck waaaaay down and licked my Duffy's
nose...and I fell in love with this breed of dog. (My Duffy will tell you another story--but he tends to be a bit delusional anyway.)
In Dog-Gone But Not Forgotten,Ellie is a dog on a mission--she wants to get Jack and Carrie together. Finally. And she does it. :) When I started the story, all I knew is I needed to make her do things that cause problems for Carrie--what she ended up doing were things I never expected. I think my favorite thing was the way she destroyed a children's birthday party; at the time, my youngest was still into a preschool show starring a famous purple dinosaur (you know the one, I'm sure...). As a parent frequently trapped in a car with a CD of nauseatingly cheerful songs sung by that dinosaur and saccharine-sweet kids, I found it quite satisfying to let Ellie have at him and rip him to shreds. Not that I'd ever rip him to shreds in front of my child--or any child. But boy, was that a cathartic moment. :) I think I even cheered as I wrote the scene. Thank you, Ellie.

How is it being an e-book author?
I love being an e-book author. I know some people feel that you're not really published until you can hold an actual book in your hands, but I love the flexibility of e-books and e-publishing. (It doesn't hurt that I edit for several e-publishers, either.) Plus, I watch my kids and their friends using their computers and phones and gadgets, and I know that this is the future. Now is the time to get into this media; someday the opportunities that currently exist will be harder to find.
Oh...and I do have a book which is in print and in ebook format--it's called Kissing Trick,
and I wrote it as C.D. Yates for The Wild Rose Press. I gave copies of the book to my family members the Christmas of the year it was released,2009. Two months later, I was at one of my sister's houses, and she was using it as a coaster. It had coffee rings on it...
THAT doesn't happen with an ebook. ;)


Can we find your writing anywhere else on the web?
I have a blog at cynthiaselwyn.blogspot.com that I sometimes post at; I'm hoping to be more coordinated with that in the future. Like...in August. I'll also be blogging at Author-Wise.com, for a company a writer friend of mine (Silke Juppenlatz) and I are putting together. It's primarily for independent authors (please refer to my previous comment about opportunities which
exist in e-publishing). Of course, with my background and experience in editing, I'm going to edit. Silke is a great artist and a techie, too--she's going to be offering covers and e-book formatting. (You can see a sample of her work if you look up my independently published book,
The Madonna of the Horses, at Amazon. It's gorgeous!) Silke and I see how some writers are practically taken advantage of in order to achieve their dreams of publication--and we want to offer an alternative. Or at least, a reasonable price. :) We've been there, too--now it's time to pay it forward as they say.


What gets your creativity flowing and puts you in the mood to write?
Ooh.I hate to say I have to be in the mood to write. To paraphrase a quote by (cough--Geek Alert!) Yoda, "There is no mood. There is only do." You have to sit your behind in the chair, apply fingers to keyboard, and write. Even if it's crap, it's something that you can rework another time.
But--when I'm in a creative funk--I find doing something right-brained will usually silence the inner editor who lives in the left side of the brain. So drawing is good--especially when it's something that gets those alpha waves flowing. Driving is helpful. Gardening is great.
Housecleaning is very repetitive/boring and good for stimulating thought. (Could be the cleaning chemicals stimulating thought, but you didn't hear that from me.) And if that fails, I always find a little horse time--though for me, that usually means volunteering to clean a stall while my daughter rides--is a wonderful thing. Especially if I'm alone and away from the constant barrage of MomMomMomMomMom...since stall cleaning usually involves poop and other stinky stuff, I usually am.


Any writing quirks?
Not really. Except...I love office supplies. Pretty notebooks--college ruled only-- with coordinating-colored pens...medium point only, black ink only...highlighters to match the notebooks (sometimes with pink for heroine, blue for hero)...um...yeah. No. No quirks. I don't think.

A fun fact that everyone might not know about you?
I got my degree in English and secondary education--I'm a teacher. Two of my sisters are teachers. Three of my nephews and two of my nieces are teachers...we're wondering if there's a teaching gene

Any tips for new writers you might like to share?
Yes.Learn. Take workshops. Meet other writers. Join a critique group! You're going to need the support of other people who understand your need to lock yourself away in order to spend time with imaginary people only you can hear.

Lastly, is there anything you would like to share?
Just my thanks for having me here, today. Great questions--I had fun!

Now be sure to enter this great giveaway. Fill out the form below.



 

Thursday, July 28, 2011

Dog-Gone But Not Forgotten by Cynthia Selwyn

Readers 18 and older


Doggone But Not Forgotten
Publication Date: June 10th 2011
Genre: Contemporary Romance/ Erotic Romance
Format: E-book
Reviewed For: Breathless Press
My Rating:
1/2

Book Blurb: Eighteen years ago, Jack Radigan took Carrie Moore's virginity—then broke her heart by marrying her best friend. Now Carrie's Nana has died, forcing her back to Rhode Island, where she's trying to sell off Nana's estate before she runs into him. But Nana had a dog not even her lawyer knew about, and it appears Carrie's plan is doomed. Because the Irish wolfhound seems to have an agenda all her own, and it involves making Carrie deal with Jack—the town's animal control officer—on a daily basis. The havoc the beast wreaks is costing Carrie a fortune. Hopefully, it won't cost the last whole bits of her heart, too.
Jack married Becky…but he didn't love her.
She was pregnant and he needed to be a father to the child. Now, Becky's gone, and Carrie's back home. So when her dog runs amok in their town of Narragansett, it's his job to get the animal under control. But first, he has to control his desire to kiss Carrie, the woman he was meant to marry many years before.

My Thoughts: I love sitting down to read books that bring a dog into it. Dogs always seem to bring a  bit more comedy to a book. This dog was so exception. Carrie comes back to the town she grew up in, all in hopes to sell her Nana's home and get back to her new home. However, she gets a call from a local kennel that she needs to pick up her deceased Nana's dog, an Irish Wolfhound. Thoughout the book, there is a mystery around this dog. No one knew this dog existed. This dog was a menance for sure. After the dog has an accident in the car, she is stopped by Jack, the towns police dog trainer. Jack however is the one man she was never able to get over. He is the one who hurt her the most also when leaving her for her best friend.

The two go round in circles as they try to sort out their feelings for one another. What really happend all those years ago. Jack is the only one who is able to help her with this crazy dog. The ending is one that actually came as a surprise to me.

I enjoyed this book. It wasn't to long, so this is something you are able to finish in an afternoon. I think any of my readers who like a little comedy in their romance is sure to like this one.

Be sure to come back tomorrow for an interview with the author and a giveaway of this book or one other.



 

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Book Excerpt & Giveaway: Mia's Book by Tabitha Rayane



I am pleased to also be bring you an excerpt to Tabitha Rayane's book Mia's Book. This one sounds good for sure. By clicking HERE you can see her guest post. There is also a giveaway at the end of each post, so be sure to enter. This is one book your going to want to read. So sit back, and enjoy this little tease for her new book.

The book had changed colors. It was now jet black and lay seductively by the bed. Gently lifting her sheets off, Mia slowly made her way over to it as if she were trying to capture a bird.
Her fingers were trembling. Cold air chilled her hands as she reached out and picked it up. Thick raised letters on the cover gave her instruction. Open Me. And she did.
Rows upon rows of names and numbers merged into each other. It was a phone directory. Mia was disappointed, but curiosity kept her flicking the pages, watching number after number fly by. She was about to close it and just go back to bed when she realized the numbers were all the same and the name wasn’t a name at all—it was another instruction.

Call Me.
Mia flushed with excitement. Was this her ghost lover contacting her for real? She reached for the phone and dialed before she could change her mind.
Silence.
Mia flopped back onto the bed and let the phone fall by her ear. She began to ponder the fear that she might actually be going mad when a voice startled her.
“Hello?” She thrust the handset to her ear and strained to hear. “Hello?” she repeated, barely able to breathe in her excitement.
“Mia?” came a breathy whisper that set her nerve endings alight.
“Yes?” she whispered back.
“I need to s…” The voice faded, and Mia started to panic.
“What? You need to what? Please...don’t go.”
“...see you.” The sound was so faint that Mia had to strain to catch it. “Meet me at the park at dusk.” The line went dead.
Mia was exhilarated. It hadn’t been a dream. She was going to meet her ghost lover once more! She hadn’t been on a date in ages. Not since the insomnia had made her feel like a grumpy old hag. She suddenly felt young again—young and ready for anything…


Sounds excellent! So now I know your wanting more.

If you have to have this now, you can get it from these places.
Buy from publisher http://www.beachwalkpress.com/mia%E2%80%99s-books/
Also available from all good eBook retailers, including Amazon, All Romance eBooks, Barnes & Noble and many more!

Fill out this form below for your chance to win an e-copy of this book.




 

Guest Post: Tabitha Rayne



I am very excited to bring you Tabitha Rayne today on the blog. She has a new book out called Mia's Book. After her great post, be sure to enter the giveaway for you chance to win her book in e-book format. Also, click HERE to read an excerpt to her new book. It's steamy for sure!

Sleeping on the Job

Thank you for having me!
I have always loved to be asleep! I have never had a problem in that department. Deep slumber greets me every night without fail (frantically taps head for luck). In fact, I am so in love with it that I wonder sometimes that I may be sleeping my ideas away. I wake up in the middle of the night with some wonderful fully formed stories, novels, films right there ready for the plucking – but then, lacking the foresight to go to bed with a pen under my pillow, I roll over and go right back to sleep, convinced I will remember it in the morning…


So being such a sleeper, I have a romantic notion of how an insomniac treats the night. I imagine how wonderful it would be to have all these writing hours at my disposal – forgetting that I might be a little tired, or grumpy. Not understanding how exhausting it must be seeking something so precious and fundamental that can’t be found.


My main character, Mia in Mia’s Books is an insomniac who has found a way to overcome her trouble with falling asleep. She has discovered that she can drift off by downloading and reading steamy romances. She encounters a problem however, when she her computer breaks down and she has to seek out saucy books elsewhere and ends up in a deserted library...


Gosh, is that the time? I think I am ready for my nap…


*****
Mia’s Books

Ghost lover or mortal—can Mia have both?

Mia has a big problem. She is in love with two people, and one of them happens to be a ghost. After a late night seduction in a deserted library, Mia brings home a haunted book. The book contains a ghost which instructs her to seduce strangers on its behalf. Mia falls in love with one of her conquests and finds herself in a romantic tangle. Can she keep both her lovers, or will she have to choose?



Buy from publisher http://www.beachwalkpress.com/mia%E2%80%99s-books/
Also available from all good eBook retailers, including Amazon, All Romance eBooks, Barnes & Noble and many more!


*****
Tabitha Rayne loves her romance with the heat turned up. She lives in the country with her partner who has the difficult job of having to listen to new ideas and help her to focus on one project at a time.
Blog http://aneroticadventure.blogspot.com/
Twitter http://twitter.com/#!/TabithaErotica

Now For the giveaway. Simply fill out this form below to enter for your chance to win a copy of Mia's Book. Don't forget to check out the excerpt HERE.




 

Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Making Waves by Tawna Fenske


Making Waves
Publication Date: August 2, 2011
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Reviewed for: Sourcebooks
Add to your Goodreads List
My Rating:


Book Blurb: When Alex Bradshaw's unscrupulous boss kicks him to the curb after 20 faithful years as an executive with the world's largest shipping company, he sets out to reclaim his dignity and his pension. Assembling a team of fellow corporate castoffs, he sails to the Caribbean to intercept an illegal diamond shipment. None of them counted on quirky blonde stowaway Juli Flynn, who has a perplexing array of talents, a few big secrets, and an intoxicating romantic chemistry with Alex.

My Thoughts: What a hoot! That's what I have to say first. Pirates, an urn filled with ashes, a woman with a high IQ without any common sense, it was hilarious. When I first started this book Juli was a puzzle to me. In fact, she is a puzzle for the first half of the book. There is something different about her. You aren't sure if she just has a severe case of ADHD or what. She bounces from job to job, trying them all. She gets bored, very easy. Her common sense seems to be out the window and as a reader you find yourself scratching your head wondering what this girl is going to be up to next. Well, after taking some sea motion medicine to get herself ready for a cruise to spread her uncles ashes, oh yeah, did I mention through this whole book she is carrying an urn of ashes. Yes, Tawna Fenske has packed this book full of laughs. So, as she hallucinates she gets on the wrong boat. Instead she crashes Alex's ship (who she met the night before) and they are in fact, pirates.

Juli turns the pirate mission into a disaster but a success. The last few chapters of this book will have you in amazement on one, where the treasure is hidden and two where Tawna came up with such an idea. This author has got some talent and she will surely top your list of authors to watch for their upcoming books.

Clicking the picture above, you can go ahead and pre-order this book. Yes, there are just a few more days before you will see this one on shelves but I wanted to go ahead and let you know about it.



 

Monday, July 25, 2011

Interview & Giveaway: Carrie Pilkinen (Paranormal Romance)




Welcome To Beck's Book Picks. I am very excited to have Carrie Pilkinen on the blog today.


First off, tell us a little about yourself?
I'm a single mother to two beautiful girls. I'm also a high school teacher. I live in Texas with my kids and two dogs, and we are all having the times of our lives!


Why did you decide to wrote paranormal and erotica together?
My dad got me into paranormal stuff by watching movies all the time.  Dracula, Wolf Man, Frankenstien...I've seen them all. Ghosts and the metaphysical have always fascinated me, so I'm naturally drawn to that sort of thing when I write. As for the erotic part...well, it just sort of came out that way. I didn't plan on being an erotic author when I first started, but sex became a vital part of every story. I think they go well together, because love making can be even more intense when you throw in psychic abilities and magical powers!

Tell us a little about your latest release.
 My latest release is called To Catch a Spirit. It came out in April, and it's about a psychic who's afraid of ghosts and a millionaire with a haunted past and a hidden power. They both have to explore their psychic abilities and catch a ghost before they can make a relationship work.

 Do you find writing paranormal to be easier then a regular romance?
I do. In paranormals, I get to make up everything. Entire worlds if I want to. For me, it's so much easier to write when I'm not confined to the "human world".

 How is it being an e-book author?
It's great! Ebooks become more popular by the minute, and I'm honored to be a part of the future of reading.

Can we find your writing anywhere else on the web?
I have a blog where I occasionally ramble about this and that. I also post excerpts from upcoming novels there. http://carrie-pulkinen.blogspot.com You can also find information on where to purchase my books.

 What gets your creativity flowing and puts you in the mood to write?
Blue October is my muse. Most of my story ideas have come while listening to their music. If you've never listened to them, you should give it a try. I highly recommend the band. Also, a glass of wine, my recliner, and my dog snuggled up next to me...that's pure heaven for writing.

Any writing quirks?
Hmm...none that I can think of.

 A fun fact that everyone might not know about you?
I grew up next door to a cemetery. Literally. A row of bushes and a narrow dirt road were all that separated my house from the graveyard. It's no wonder why I write paranormal! :)

 Any tips for new writers you might like to share?
Don't give up. Finding a publisher or agent is hard work. Harder than writing the book. Just keep honing and editing and doing what you love.

 Lastly, is there anything you would like to share?
Her Guardian Lover, my newest novel is due to be released in October. Check my blog for updates.


**

And now onto a giveaway! Carrie is giving away an e-copy of her book To Catch a Spirit to one lucky winner. This is open to anyone. Giveaway will end August 5th, 2011. Simply fill out the form below.


Check out my review HERE of Carrie's book: Sweet Release











 

Sunday, July 24, 2011

Sweet Release by Carrie Pulkinen

Readers 18 and older


Sweet Release
Publication Date: October 8th, 2010
Genre: Paranormal Romance/ Erotica
Format: E-book
Reviewed For: Breathless Press
Crystal's Rating:



Book Blurb: The day Miranda Billings dies isn't the worst day of her life—but it's close. Miranda dreams of adventure and escaping her boring existence, but death might be too much of an escape. With the help of Andre the demon slayer, she discovers the excitement she craves. If only he’d let her share his quest as well as his bed.
When Andre, the half-demon EMT, finds the woman he loves crushed by a bus, he reawakens her soul with his magic and his blood. Now, Andre must decide if he’s willing to let her join him in his perilous quest to slay demons and save humans. He almost lost her once. Is he willing to risk losing her forever?


Crystal's Thoughts: Miranda Billings was having one hell of a day.  Loses her job, gets dumped and then to top it all off....she gets flattened by a bus.  That might seem like the end of it for her, but sexy EMT Andre, whom had been crushing on her for some time now, brings her back to life with his handy dandy half-demon powers.  Now with nothing to lose, Miranda has to make a decision.  Stay on the run fighting demons with a man she barely knows whom isn't even human himself, or figure something else out.  The choice seems almost too easy.  

I enjoyed this story immensely.  Reading this book was like being able to eat a whole box of chocolate covered cherries but only having the guilt of just one piece.  It was short, but felt like I read a whole story.  The passion between the two characters was amazing, leaving me a little breathless and my heart beating a bit harder.  I enjoyed her descriptiveness but was a little confused sometimes as to which characters mind I was in.  All in all I enjoyed what I read.

Be sure to come back tomorrow, I will have an interview with Carrie, and she was definitely a delight to chat with.

Also, Crystal has ventured to her own book blog. If you have liked her reviews, please go check out her new blog: Musings of and Avid Reader.


 

Saturday, July 23, 2011

3 New Books I Am Excited About!



There is one author I just love and I can't pass up if I see her books in any store. I can't get rid of her books and I can't even bear to let someone borrow them. I have one, I could read over and over. Well, the author I am talking about is Victoria Dahl. When I first sat down to read her Tumble Creek Series, I had no idea what I was getting myself into. Talk Me Down was the first book in the series and to this day, I can sit down and re read this book. Anyone who knows me, knows I don't re read books.

So, its been a little while since she has had a new release. I think she likes torturing her fans. However, fans, the wait is almost over!



Coming September 2011 we get this new book:
Good Girls Don't (Hqn)
With her long ponytail and sparkling green eyes, Tessa Donovan looks more like the girl next door than a businesswoman – or a heartbreaker. Which may explain why Detective Luke Asher barely notices her when he arrives to investigate a break-in at her family’s brewery. He’s got his own problems – starting with the fact that his partner Simone is pregnant and everyone thinks he's the father. The last thing he needs is a nice girl like Tessa getting under his skin.


Tessa has her hands full, too. Her brother’s playboy ways may be threatening the business, and the tensions could tear her tight-knit family apart.  In fact, the only thing that could unite the Donovan boys is seeing a man come after their “baby” sister. Especially a man like Luke Asher. But Tessa sees past the rumors to the man beneath.

In October 2011:
Bad Boys Do (Hqn)
Olivia Bishop is no fun. That’s what her ex-husband said. That’s what her smart bob and glasses imply. And with her trademark determination, Olivia sets out to remake her life. She’s going to spend time with her girlfriends and not throw it all away for some man. But when an outing with her book club leads her to a brewery taproom, the dark-haired beauty realizes that trouble – in the form of sexy Jamie Donovan – may be too tempting to avoid.
 Jamie Donovan doesn’t mean to be bad. Sure, the wild streak in his wicked green eyes has lured the ladies before. But it’s time to grow up. He’s even ready for a serious romance. But how can that be when Olivia, the only right woman he has ever met, already has him pegged as wrong

And finally in November 2011:
It was meant to be a one-night stand. One night of passion. Scorching hot. Then Beth Cantrell and Eric Donovan were supposed to go their separate ways. That’s the only reason he lied about his name, telling her he was really his wild younger brother. Hiding his own identity as the conservative Donovan. The “good” one.
But passion has its own logic, and Eric finds he cannot forget the sable-haired beauty with whom he shared one night of passion. When Beth discovers that Eric has lied, however, she knows he cannot be trusted. Her mind tells her to forget the blue-eyed charmer. If only every fiber of her being did not burn to call him back.



So, the later part of this year is going to be a very fun time for reading. Reading each book blurb I can not wait!

Even better, if you go to her website: http://victoriadahl.com/, you can read a few sneek peak excerpts to her books.
If you just can't wait, then head on over to twitter and follow her there, you will not be sorry.




 

Wednesday, July 20, 2011

The Evolution Of Charlie Darwin (Dog Training) by Beth Duman



The Evolution of Charlie Darwin: Partner With Your Dog Using Positive Training
Publication Date: May 26th, 2011
Genre: Selfhelp/ Dog Training
My Rating:





In March of 2011 I adopted a puppy. She is a black lab/rottie mix, but you could never see the rottweiler in her. She could almost pass standards in her appearance to be a black lab. She is a very intelligent dog. She is currently in the adolescent stage of life and this is a pretty tough little stage.

So a few months ago an e-mail came into my inbox asking if I would like to review this book. I jumped on it. We were currently in puppy obedience and she was doing great. However I love reading and love reading about ways I can do anything better. This book deals with a lot of positive reinforcement.

The way this book is set up, its very easy to choose what you want to work on or read about. The table of contents was fairly easy to use. The trainer writing this book was very knowledgeable and I think she  covered almost everything I could have thought about. I did not read this book cover to cover, but by now every section has been read. This book has some great charts in there for you to fill in. You could either make  a copy or use the one in the book. She shares stories of her dog and other dogs. The author explains almost everything in this book to the difference between collars to techniques to use with dog.

If your in the market for a good book in helping with your dog training, this is one I would definitely recommend.
 

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Started a new blog



My Journey As A Writer is my newest blog. If you follow me on twitter you might often see me tweet about writing, editing, and so on. I want to be a writer. Its always been a dream of mine. I think I have what it takes and as long as I stay positive, then I know I can do it. So, I decided to start a blog for me mainly, so I can track how I am feeling, where I am, and yes there have already been two rejections. I can talk about those. At first when my rejections came in, I didn't want to tell anyone, but then thought, I can learn from these. I am learning. And heck, at least they were not full of negative things. Really they just told me where I went wrong, if I could fix these things, then I would be on the right track.

I would love it if you would visit me from time to time to see how I am doing.

Once again, its My Journey As A Writer.


 

Monday, July 18, 2011

Blog Fest Winner



Thank you to everyone who entered my giveaway for Blogfest 2011. What an amazing event this was. I really enjoyed going from blog to blog, see what everyone was giving away. It was nice to take the time to see other blogs too. I don't get around as much as I have been with summer. With all the entrants I wish  I had more prizes, but I don't. I only have one prize.

So now its time to announce the winner. Once I e-mail winner they will have 48 hours to get back to me before I move on to the next winner.

So, the lucky person to win the two chick-lit books up for grabs is......

(winner chosen with Random.org)
Patti P 


Congrats Patti!



 

Expandable Posts- What do you think?



So, I wanted to different look from the normal blog. Not quite sure yet I am fully happy with this. It may be because the program I use, Artisteer leaves these big white boxes of open space and well I don't want that. So there may still be changes. Either way, you can see now there is a nifty "Read More" button. Well by clicking that, the whole post will open. In my mind it makes the blog a little more organized, easier on my eyes at least, and hopefully for readers easier to see what I have been blogging about. Instead of having to scroll down and down and down to see what the past 7 posts were, you can easily see the books, cover, info on book and decide if your interested in my review.

So, let me know what you think. I may be looking for a new template soon, not sure. Do the white boxes of space bother anyone else, or is it just me?

I should note that just coming to this blog post will be a full post. If you are just visiting from the Home of blog, you will see the posts needing to be expanded.



Friday, July 15, 2011

Blog Fest Giveaway July 15-July 17 (Giveaway Over)







Welcome to the 2011 Blogfest! I am so happy to take part of this. By Clicking HERE you can get to the list of all the blogs that are participating. This giveaway is hosted by A Journey Of Books.

What am I giving away?

Two ARC's, that's what!

Two Chic-litsI have recently read and loved!





The Liberation of Alice LoveWish You Were Here

Simply Fill out the Form below and then go HERE to check out the other blogs!
Then Hop to these next 5 blog:
Being Tazim
Believing Is Seeing
Bewitched BookWorms
Bibliophiliac
Bitten By Paranormal Romance






 

Wednesday, July 13, 2011

A Life That Fits by Heather Wardell



A Life That FitsPublication Date: June 1st, 2011
Genre: Chick-lit, Women's Fiction
Reviewed For: Author
Other Reviews: Planning To Live, Stir Until Thoroughly Confused
My Rating:




Blurb: Twenty-eight-year-old Andrea returns home from a business trip to find Alex, her boyfriend of fourteen years, nervously waiting for her. Assuming he's finally going to propose, Andrea's instead horrified to learn he's been cheating on her and is leaving to be with the other woman, who he calls Andrea's opposite. 
At first Andrea's paralyzed by shock and sadness, but the business analyst soon forms a plan: change every last detail of her life and become her opposite so Alex will come back to her. 
It's a challenge at first, but soon Andrea's loving the changes she's making, the new activities she's doing, and the new people in her life. But will she change enough to get Alex back? And if she does, will he fit into the wonderful new life she's creating for herself?



My Thoughts: This was a new style for me when it came to Heather Wardell's work. Usually I meet the character where they are in their present life. Then she takes me back on a journey through time to show me everything they had gone through. I would then get to return to the present and finish up with what decision this character had to make. So, when I sat down with A Life That Fits, I met Andrea and had expected a story on how her and Alex had gotten to the point of him breaking up with her. Instead, I got to go on a different journey with Heather's writing and I got to go with Andrea as she found her way to who she was. Not this person who for 14 years had done everything Alex had wanted her to do. She learned who she was and what she wanted. She made drastic changes in her life and then finally settled back into the middle and discovered who she was and what she wanted.

There were times in this book I wanted to shake Andrea as hard as I could. I wanted to give her a good talking to and tell her to get over Alex, he was no good. I knew at some point his character would crawl back begging for a return. There were several other characters in the book I enjoyed. One was Loren. I really enjoyed getting to know him. When reading this, you will meet Tina and you will want to chase her away and tell Andrea she is no good. The author weaves in a lot of different characters. This is a very good book and I think any of my readers who enjoy chick-lit are going to love this. There is a slight romance in this book in the background, but it is not the main part of the book.

I would definitely add this book to your to be read list. Be sure to check out Heather at her website and see what she's up to on facebook and twitter.
http://www.heatherwardell.com/

 

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Making Her Nights by Keri Ford



Making Her Nights (Uninhibited in Apple Trail, Arkansas)
Publication Date: June 20, 2011
Genre: Contemporary Romance/ Erotica novella
Series: Uninhibited in Apple Trail, Arkansas #4 (can be read alone)
Reviewed For: Publisher and Author
Other reviews of Keri Ford: Through The Walls (#1), On The Fence (#2), and In The Hay (#3)
My Rating:



Book Blurb: Chief Deputy Mike Gabel is the man in charge in Apple Trail. No one gives him more trouble than a certain blonde. While her stunts are frustrating to deal with, it’s the constant way she keeps him trapped in knots. 
Tiffany McBride has a reputation for being a trouble maker. She’s been betting and causing trouble since her parents died when she was a teenager. What looks like a young woman sewing her oats, it’s actually desperate measures to gamble for extra money to put food on the table. 
When these two acknowledge their attraction, sparks fly…that is if Mike’s public position can survive Tiffany’s frowned upon reputation.



My Thoughts: I have been anxiously awaiting to get my hands on this book. I have been so lucky to have been given the chance to read each book Keri Ford has written for this series. This one was no let down either. In my weeks of waiting and finally loading it on my e-reader, then finally getting lost in it, I was satisfied. In fact, Keri's humor continues to grow. While reading this book, I spit my coke out. Keri knows how to weave a tale of two characters so hot for one another and then brings you to the point of falling on the floor laughing.

In this book, Mike gets his turn. In past books, Mike has been there in the background since he is police chief of this small town. One girl has driven him crazy for years, and she happens to be one of those who causes the most trouble, Tiffany McBride. Mike is a very controlled man, who does everything by the book. Tiffany breaks him down. I do have to say, I saw a side of him I hadn't expected in the intimate scenes. However, I am not giving that away, just like I am not giving away what make me spit my coke out.

I believe the next book in this series will be out in August. I am super excited about this one since the main girls name is Rebecca. I can't see what kind of trouble she gets herself into, especially since there was a small excerpt in the back of this book.