Not a Mistake by Amber Belldene…ARC Review

Not a Mistake releases today! 

NAM cover

Synopsis:

Sometimes a scandal isn’t a sin…

On the night she graduates from seminary, Jordan Sykes finds herself in bed with Dominic Lawrence, the ethics professor she’s crushed on for years. Two months later, she discovers she’s pregnant and is determined to hide it to protect his career. Maybe, if she loves her new church like hell, they won’t fire her for being a single mother.

Dominic knows the difference between right and wrong, and he’s filled with remorse after sleeping with his favorite student. He’s offered the job of his dreams, but he’d be a hypocrite to accept without making things right with Jordan first.

Dominic proposes marriage to save their careers, never expecting they will prove a perfect—and passionate—match. But can Jordan give her heart to a man who still believes the first night they spent together was a mistake?

My Review:

Not a Mistake is the first book in author Amber Belldene’s newest series, the Hot Under The Collar series. I have been a big fan of Ms. Belldene’s since first reading her years earlier and I always look forward to more from her.  This book was fabulous and kicks off what I know is going to be a great series.

Not only is this s story about a one night stand turned serious when the gal finds out she’s pregnant but there are more than just a few lines crossed when it happened…one being a former student/professor relationship and the other being both he and she are priests.  Talk about a doozy!

From the very start I felt for both Jordan and Dominic. Both had their personal take on why their one night was wrong and why it shouldn’t have happened.  Both were all caught up in knots about this pregnancy and what it would mean for their futures. personally and professionally.  Both couldn’t deny the attraction and admiration they felt for each other.  Both know they are going to try to do what’s right…and hopefully they’ll find a happy ever after along the way. The turmoil they feel is palpable and I was so invested in this couple.  I always enjoy the emotion Ms. Belldene brings into her characters and this was no exception.  Jordan is smart and strong and admirable in her journey.  Dominic broke my heart with the guilt he felt in being wrong to have feelings for Jordan.  Man, their story is definitely rocky and has plenty of ups and downs but it is such a beautiful one and I just loved it.  Oh, and the ending? Totally perfect!

One of the other things I really enjoyed was Ms. Belldene bringing her other expertise into this book.  Being a Christian minister in her daily life, it turned this story from not just a regular romance, but instead a look into what life as a minister is like.  I personally learned a lot and I really appreciated it! I’m so glad Ms. Belldene decided to write a story combining both of her worlds: write and minister.

Thank you. Ms. Belldene, for another wonderful read!  I can’t wit to see what you have in store next!

4LovesRLB

Four Loves

J signature

Book links:

Amazon  |  Goodreads

NAM2

NAM#

 

About the author:

I grew up on the Florida panhandle, swimming with alligators, climbing oak trees and diving for scallops…when I could pull myself away from a book.  As a child, I hid my Nancy Drew novels inside the church bulletin and read mysteries during sermons—an irony that is not lost on me when I preach these days.

I’m an Episcopal Priest and student of the worlds’ religions.  I believe stories are the best way to explore human truths, and I’m passionate about the deep ties between spirituality and sexuality. Some people think it’s strange for a minister to write romance, but it is perfectly natural to me, because the human desire for love is at the heart of every romance novel and God made people with that desire.

I write paranormal, historical and contemporary romance and live with my husband and two children in San Francisco.

My literary agent is the fabulous Becca Stumpf of the Prospect Agency.

Website

 

 

The Sins That Bind Us by Geneva Lee…..Release Day Blitz

the sins that bind us release blitz

Meet Jude in The Sins That Bind Us by Geneva Lee!

NOW LIVE!

the sins that bind us now available

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1QPbMHz

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1V49irN

iBooks: http://apple.co/1XcHUqW

Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/21pQP8Q

the sins that find us cover

Blurb

I wasn’t given a choice. Not when I did my first line of cocaine. Not when I became a single mother. But I changed, and every decision I’ve made was to protect myself and my son from my weaknesses—and my past.

Until Jude came along and made me question everything, even my own secrets.

The sins I carry with me can never be discovered. Life handed me broken bits of people and left me to construct my own world, and it’s too fragile to take a chance on Jude Mercer.

We write our own stories.

We build our own prisons.

We weave our own lies.

We commit the sins that bind us.

the sins that bind us teaser 1

About the Author:

geneva lee

Geneva Lee prefers fantasy to reality, especially fantasies involving powerful, dangerous, and sexy men. You can find her devouring a good romance while avoiding the laundry and the children. She lives in Kansas City with her family.

Social Media Links:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/GenevaLeeAuthor

Instagram: https://instagram.com/genevaleeauthor

Facebook Author page: https://www.facebook.com/genevaleebooks?fref=ts

Facebook Fan Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/805941596129318/

Goodreads Author page: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8056653.Geneva_Lee?from_search=true&search_version=service

Goodreads Fan Group: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/159927-geneva-lee-books

Newsletter signup: http://eepurl.com/LVO81

promo 2

 

Porn Star by Laurelin Paige & Sierra Simone….Release Day Blitz

 

PS TOUR BANNER.jpg

Synopsis:

You know me.

Come on, you know you do.

Maybe you pretend you don’t. Maybe you clear your browser history religiously. Maybe you pretend to be aghast whenever someone even mentions the word porn in your presence.

But the truth is that you do know me.

Everybody knows Logan O’Toole, world famous porn star.

Except then Devi Dare pops into my world, and pretty soon I’m doing things that aren’t like me—like texting her with flirty banter and creating an entire web porn series just so I can get to star in her bed. Again. And again.

With Devi, my entire universe shifts, and the more time I spend with her, the more I realize that Logan O’Toole isn’t the guy I thought he was.

So maybe I’m not the guy you thought I was either.

PS Available Now KE

Buy Links

Amazon / iBooks B&N / Kobo

Add to your TBR on Goodreads.

PORN STAR JEANS.jpg

Catch up with Logan O’Toole HERE: http://laurelinpaige.com/loganotoole/

Enjoy a sneak peek of Porn Star’s Logan O’Toole now on iBooks: http://apple.co/1Vlrew9

About the Authors:

 

laurelinpaige

NY Times & USA Today Bestselling author Laurelin Paige is a sucker for a good romance and gets giddy anytime there’s kissing, much to the embarrassment of her three daughters. Her husband doesn’t seem to complain, however. When she isn’t reading or writing sexy stories, she’s probably singing, watching Game of Thrones and the Walking Dead, or dreaming of Michael Fassbender.

Facebook / Twitter / Amazon / Goodreads / Instagram / Website

SierraSimone

Sierra Simone is a USA Today Bestselling former librarian (who spent too much time reading romance novels at the information desk.) She lives with her husband and family in Kansas City

Facebook / Twitter / Amazon / Goodreads / Instagram / Website

The Love Emergency Series by Samanthe Beck…Blog Tour Stop

Meet Samanthe:

Wine lover, sleep fanatic, and USA Today Bestselling Author of sexy contemporary romance novels, Samanthe Beck lives in Malibu, California, with her long-suffering but extremely adorable husband and their turbo-son, Hud. Throw in a furry ninja named Kitty and Bebe the trash talking Chihuahua and you get the whole, chaotic picture.

When not clinging to sanity by her fingernails or dreaming up fun, fan-your-cheeks sexy ways to get her characters to happily-ever-afters, she searches for the perfect cabernet to pair with Ambien.

Connect with Samanthe: Site | Blog | Facebook | Twitter

About the Books:

EMERGENCY Engagement, Book One

He needs the kind of rescue only she can provide…

Glass artist Savannah Smith expected a marriage proposal for Thanksgiving—just not from her strong, silent, super-hot neighbor. But when misplaced mail and a wayward can of paint lands them in a compromising position right as her family arrives for dinner, they assume he’s “The One” she’s been talking about.

Then his family shows up.

Fate dealt a crippling blow to paramedic Beau Montgomery’s heart, and he isn’t about to put it at risk again. Except, with his mother crying tears of joy over his surprise engagement to the sexy little blonde next door, he can’t bring himself to ruin her “Christmas miracle.”

Somewhere between the paint can to the head and the chaotic family trip to the ER, Beau manages to talk Savannah into being his fake fiancée long enough to survive the holidays.

If, of course, they don’t fall in love first…

Purchase: Amazon | B&N | iTunes | Kobo

Add to Goodreads

EMERGENCY Delivery, Book Two

Madison Foley is determined to stand on her own two feet, no matter how wobbly her circumstances. Fate, however, keeps throwing her off balance, and then sending heroically hot paramedic Hunter Knox to save her.

She’s put men on the back burner until she gets her life on track.

But Hunter’s got other plans.

Decisions. Decisions.

Purchase: Amazon | B&N | iTunes | Kobo

Add to Goodreads

Giveaway:

Samanthe will be giving away a $50 Amazon Gift Card to one randomly chosen winner.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

1,001 Dark Nights Bundle 4….Release Day Event

Bundle Four - RDL banner

 

We are absolutely thrilled to bring you the Release Day Launch for 1001 Dark Nights: Bundle Four! 1001 Dark Nights: Bundle Four is brought to you by 1001 Dark Nights. The Bundle contains 6 novellas, including 2 novellas from 1001 Dark Nights Discovery Authors, K.L. Grayson and Mari Carr! This is one hot bundle. Grab your copy today!

 

Bundle Four - cover

Amazon US | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon AU

 

About 1001 Dark Nights: Bundle Four:

From New York Times and USA Today Bestselling authors Carrie Ann Ryan, Heather Graham, Kristen Proby, and Cherise Sinclair, and introducing K. L. Grayson and Mari Carr…

Six Dark Tales. Six Sensual Stories. Six Page Turners.

Every Dark Nights tale is breathtakingly sexy and magically romantic.

 

Experience the 1001 Dark Nights: Bundle Four Here…

 

Bundlemania graphic - Wicked Wolf

WICKED WOLF by Carrie Ann Ryan

Gina Eaton has always known fate can be tricky, but when she finds the one man that could be her mate, she might throw caution to the wind. Quinn Weston puts his whole being into two things: the safety of his Pack and his son. When the two Alphas put Gina and Quinn together to find a way to ensure their treaties remain strong, fate has a plan of its own.

 

Bundlemania graphic - Graham

WHEN IRISH EYES ARE HAUNTING by Heather Graham

Devin Lyle and Craig Rockwell are back, this time to a haunted castle in Ireland where a banshee may have gone wild—or maybe there’s a much more rational explanation—one that involves a disgruntled heir, murder, and mayhem.

 

bundlemania -Proby graphic

EASY WITH YOU by Kristin Proby

With a murderer terrorizing the Tulane University campus, Asher Smith finds himself toe-to-toe with the one woman that haunts his dreams. Lila Bailey has fought for every good thing in her life during every day of her thirty-one years. Aside from that one night with an impossible to deny stranger a year ago, Lila is the epitome of responsible. When some of her female students are viciously murdered, Lila’s shaken to the core. But when Lila becomes the target, can Asher save her in time?

 

Sinclair - bundlemania graphic

 

MASTER OF FREEDOM by Cherise Sinclair

Detective Atticus Ware needs a woman to give her heart as well as her body. When Virginia Cunningham is invited to observe BDSM classes on a wilderness camping trip, she’s shocked—her fiancé had insisted BDSM was a fabrication to sell books. But when Atticus lures her into participating, she learns submission under the hands of a powerful Dom is beyond anything she’d imagined.

 

L.O.V.E. bundlemania graphic

LIVE WITHOUT REGRET: L.O.V.E. by K. L. Grayson

How can those four letters cause so much pain? Everyone talks about how great love is, with all the flowers and the butterflies, but that wasn’t my experience at all. Love wasn’t something I wanted or even needed. But then Connor Jackson came into my life.

 

bundlemania graphic

OFF LIMITS by Mari Carr

According to the bro code, enacted by Evan Sparks and Logan Grady years ago, sisters are out. However, Lacy Sparks isn’t about to let a silly boyhood pact stand between her and the man she’s wanted for nearly twenty years. She’s waited long enough. Logan thinks she’s too sweet to give him what he needs. He’s about to learn as far as Lacy’s concerned, in bed or out, nothing is off-limits.

 

 

Header 1001 Dark Nights

 

About the 1001 Dark Nights: Bundle Four Authors:

Carrie Anne Ryan - author picCarrie Ann Ryan:

New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author Carrie Ann Ryan never thought she’d be a writer. Not really. No, she loved math and science and even went on to graduate school in chemistry. Yes, she read as a kid and devoured teen fiction and Harry Potter, but it wasn’t until someone handed her a romance book in her late teens that she realized that there was something out there just for her. When another author suggested she use the voices in her head for good and not evil, The Redwood Pack and all her other stories were born.

Carrie Ann is a bestselling author of over twenty novels and novellas and has so much more on her mind (and on her spreadsheets *grins*) that she isn’t planning on giving up her dream anytime soon.

Visit Carrie Ann’s website and follow her on Facebook and Twitter.

 

Heather Graham - author picHeather Graham:

New York Times and USA Today best-selling author Heather Graham has always been an avid reader, from classics to sci-fi, mystery, horror, thriller, romance, and all kinds of non-fiction. She’s fairly certain that her mom’s deliciously crazy family–arriving in the US a bit before her birth from Ireland–gave her the love of storytelling. She started out in theater and commercials, but once her children began to arrive, she stayed home and gave writing a try. She’s incredibly grateful to be doing what she’s doing for a living. Heather belongs to MWA, RWA, Sisters in Crime, HWA, and ITW, and has the recipient of the RWA Lifetime Achievement Award, a Silver Bullet for charitable works, and this year, she will receive the Thriller Master title from ITW. She has over 200 novels in print, and has been published in 22 languages.

Visit Heather Graham’s website and follow her onFacebook and Twitter.

 

Kristen Proby - author picKristen Proby:

New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author Kristen Proby is the author of the bestselling With Me In Seattle and Love Under the Big Sky series. She has a passion for a good love story and strong, humorous characters with a strong sense of loyalty and family. Her men are the alpha type; fiercely protective and a bit bossy, and her ladies are fun, strong, and not afraid to stand up for themselves.

Kristen lives in Montana, where she enjoys coffee, chocolate and sunshine. And naps.

Visit Kristen Proby’s website and follow her on Facebook and Twitter.

 

Cherise Sinclair - author picCherise Sinclair:

Having to wear glasses in elementary school can scar a person for life.

Dubbed a nerd at an early age, Cherise Sinclair has been trying to live up to the stereotype ever since. And what better way than being an author?

Known for writing deeply emotional stories, the USA Today Bestselling Author has penned sixteen erotic romance novels, most with a BDSM theme. (Please do not mention the phrase mommy porn in her presence.) Her awards range from a National Leather Award to a Romantic Times Reviewer’s Choice nomination to a GoodReads BDSM group award for best author of the year.

Cherise lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband. Their two fledglings have left the nest recently to try their wings and hopefully will fly high and strong. The “ascendant erotica queen” (Rolling Stone Magazine) now spends her days writing with occasional supervision from a sadistic calico cat.

Visit Cherise Sinclair’s website and follow her on Facebook and Twitter.

 

KL Grayson - author picK.L. Grayson:

K.L. Grayson resides in a small town outside of St. Louis, MO. She is entertained daily by her extraordinary husband, who will forever inspire every good quality she writes in a man. Her entire life rests in the palms of six dirty little hands, and when the day is over and those pint-sized cherubs have been washed and tucked into bed, you can find her typing away furiously on her computer. She has a love for alpha-males, brownies, reading, tattoos, sunglasses, and happy endings…and not particularly in that order.

 

Find K.L. Grayson on her website and follow her on Facebook and Twitter.

 

Mari Carr - auhor picMari Carr:

Writing a book was number one on Mari Carr’s bucket list and on her thirty-fourth birthday, she set out to see that goal achieved. Too many years later, her computer is jammed full of stories — novels, novellas, short stories and dead-ends and she has nearly eighty published works.
Virginia native and high school librarian by day, Mari Carr is a New York Times andUSA TODAY bestseller of contemporary erotic romance novels. Join her newsletter so you don’t miss new releases and for exclusive subscriber-only content.

Find Mari on her website and follow her on Facebook and Twitter.

 

InkSlinger PR Blogger Banner

Palm South University: Season Two (Episode 2)….Release Blitz & Review

Title: Palm South University: Season Two Episode Two
Author: Kandi Steiner
Release Date: March 15, 2016
Find on Goodreads

Drama. Lies. Sex. 

Welcome to Palm South University.

The weather isn’t the only thing heating up in South Florida. At a school where fraternities and sororities don’t exactly play by the rules, relationships are bound to be tested. Parties and sex are definitely key ingredients in the Palm South recipe, but what happens when family issues, secret lives, and unrequited love get tossed in the mix?

Follow Cassie, Bear, Jess, Skyler, Erin, Ashlei, and Adam as they tackle college at a small, private beach town university. Written in television drama form, each episode of this serial will pull you deeper and deeper into the world of PSU.

Where the sun is hot and the clothes are scarce, anything can happen.

You can also grab the Season One Box Set today!
review
Kandi is just throwing it all out there this season – and it’s only episode TWO!!!

I honestly feel like I am watching this play out before on a TV show, not something I am reading in a book. You can easily see everything play out before you and feel everything from these characters POV’s.

In this episode, we see how things are moving along for Adam, Erin and Ashlei. And let me tell you – nothing is ever as it seems.

I am still seeing Adam as an a**hole but I have begun to see where he’s got some confusion and hesitation on things. Not because he’s a dick, but because he’s young a dude and still learning to navigate life.

Erin – GEEZUS. I don’t even know where to start. But I will say I am very interested in seeing how things play out for her. I actually cried for her. Gutted me.

And Ashlei – this girl has herself in so much deep shit, I will be amazed if she comes out of this the same person she was. She has a great heart and just got caught up in the wrong things at the wrong time. But her relationship with Bo I think will be her saving grace.

Kandi has us once again teetering on the edges as to what happens in the next episode and what’s going on at Palm South University!!

C signature
She swallows, and I watch with more curiosity than I should as her eyes flick to my mouth quickly before finding my gaze. “I should go touch up my makeup.”
It’s then that I realize how hard we’re both breathing, how close we’re standing. Dropping her hands, I shove my own back in my pockets and nod. “Okay. I’ll see you out there.”
Before I can think more about what the hell just happened, I turn on my heel and make my way toward the side stage exit.
“Adam?”
I pause, turning slowly, afraid she’ll tell me I was over the line. Afraid I’ll lose her, even though she’s not really mine to keep.
“Thanks. Really.” She smiles with just one side of her mouth, just for a moment, before backing into the bathroom and slowly closing the door.
“Anytime,” I reply to no one. And I know even though she didn’t hear it, she knows it’s true as much as I do. I’d be there for her no matter what.
I just can’t decide if that’s a good thing.

Kandi Steiner is a Creative Writing and Advertising/Public Relations graduate from the University of Central Florida living in Tampa with her husband. Kandi works full time as a social media specialist, but also works part time as a Zumba fitness instructor and blackjack dealer.

Kandi started writing back in the 4th grade after reading the first Harry Potter installment. In 6th grade, she wrote and edited her own newspaper and distributed to her classmates. Eventually, the principal caught on and the newspaper was quickly halted, though Kandi tried fighting for her “freedom of press.” She took particular interest in writing romance after college, as she has always been a die hard hopeless romantic (like most girls brought up on Disney movies).

When Kandi isn’t working or writing, you can find her reading books of all kinds, talking with her extremely vocal cat, and spending time with her friends and family. She enjoys beach days, movie marathons, live music, craft beer and sweet wine – not necessarily in that order.

 

Dear Heart I Hate You by J. Sterling….Cover Reveal

DEAR HEART I HATE YOU BY J.STERLING- COVER REVEAL

DHIHY Cover

PRE-ORDER ON IBOOKS:

https://geo.itunes.apple.com/us/book/dear-heart-i-hate-you/id1092824775?mt=11&at=1l3vqNs

Synopsis:

JULES

I didn’t plan on him. …

Or for him.

Or anything that had to do with Cal Donovan from Boston.

Meeting him had been a complete and utter surprise, taking me one hundred percent off guard. I met new people every single day in my line of work and none of them affected me. Wasn’t that the way of things though? You could meet a thousand people and they’d all mean nothing to you, but then you’d meet that one and they suddenly meant everything.

I had always been focused on work. When did making yourself your number one priority become such a negative thing? I wasn’t entirely sure, but I learned fairly quickly after my last breakup that men didn’t like being second on the priority scale. And they seemed to be intimidated by a motivated woman, calling me things like “hard to handle,” “challenging,” and “difficult.”

Being single seemed to work best for me and I had no plans on changing my relationship status anytime soon.

And then I met Cal.

And he fucking ruined everything.

ABOUT J. STERLING:

WebJenHat3

I got fired from my last job.

It’s true.

I know you’re sitting there thinking, “Jenn, how could anyone in their right mind fire someone like you?” And I’d love to give you a good reason, but the truth is that sometimes being all sorts of awesome isn’t fun for other people. They don’t always tend to like it. lol 🙂

So I picked my pride off the floor, bought a laptop and started writing my first book. And you know what I realized? Writing stories that meant something to me was a million times better than working my ass off for someone who didn’t really care about anything other than the bottom line.

My soul has never felt more satisfied.

My heart has never been more full.

I’ve never worked so hard in my life, but I love every second of it. I truly do.

It is SO worth it.

All of it.

Every moment.

The journey it took to get to this point- I wouldn’t change a thing.

So thank you for reading, loving and recommending the stories I write to other people. Your word of mouth is my very best friend…. that and your reviews. 🙂

I sincerely appreciate each and every one of you.

FOLLOW HER ON SOCIAL MEDIA:

https://www.facebook.com/TheRealJSterling

The Rise of Genesis y M.R. Merrick…Release Day Blitz




A new fantasy series from the 
Young Adult Author M.R. Merrick!
 




In a world where being Supernatural means you’re in danger, Ash Lawson is front and center. After years of helping others escape ATOM—a government entity known for abusing Supernaturals—he’s captured, and saving himself will prove to be the most difficult task he’s undertaken.
 
Tryst Rivera is a Succubus and veteran at the Academy, a facility tasked with converting underage Supernaturals into cooperative ATOM soldiers. She’s endured her time mostly unscathed, but when Ash arrives and their lives are tethered to one another, she’s placed in immediate danger.
 


With escape at the forefront of his mind, Ash struggles with the idea of life under ATOM’s thumb. He’ll die before he converts, but his life isn’t the only one he’s responsible for, and he already has more blood on his hands than he can bear. When a chance for freedom arises, Ash needs to decide how much—and who—he’s willing to risk for a second chance.
 
 
 









 

 

 
About the Author
 

M.R. Merrick is a Canadian writer and author of The Protector Series, and The Rise of Genesis. Having never traveled, he adventures to far off lands through his imagination and in between cups of coffee. As a music lover and proud breakfast enthusiast, he’s usually found at the computer between a pair of headphones and a large bowl of cereal.

 
Connect to the Author
 
 
 
 
Giveaway
 
Help us spread the word about this book!
 
Win $25 Amazon Gift Card
 
 
 
 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

 



 

Cover Reveal…Hush by E.K. Blair

IMG_4585

 

HUSH by E.K. Blair

Final book in the Black Lotus series

Genre: Dark Psychosexual Thriller

Releases: Tuesday, April 12

 

Synopsis:

I’ve come to learn there is no escaping your past.

It doesn’t matter what you do, it will follow like a phantom–haunting you–reminding you.

 

PRE-ORDER HUSH NOW!

Amazon US  http://amzn.to/1RPYM4K

Amazon UK  http://amzn.to/1McxSzr

Amazon AU  http://bit.ly/1pl2tqa

Barnes & Noble http://bit.ly/21pAkd7

Other books in series:

BANG (#1)  http://amzn.to/1M9QfHp

ECHO (#2)  http://amzn.to/1Pqqoyw


Liberty States Create Something Magical Conference Speaker Interview Series: Heidi Cullinan

LSFW Interview series graphic

Today the Liberty States Create Something Magical Conference Speaker Interview Series continues with author Heidi Cullinan:

 

  1. What made you want to become a writer?

I always lived inside my head as a child, telling myself stories, absorbing those of people around me. I could look at a building and imagine the lives it could inhabit, could see a quiet stream and imagine the intrepid adventurers crossing it. I think story became an addiction I never wanted to break. I wrote for myself for a long time, but my life quietly arranged itself around a career in fiction while I wasn’t paying particular attention. Now it’s a habit and a paying gig, and really, how does it get better than that?

 

  1. Is there one piece of advice you would give an aspiring writer?

Understand you’ll never be “good enough,” and if you’re very lucky your development will teach you to look at that phrase and fracture it daily for the deceitful distraction it is. Also, read and watch and practice writing. Absorb story in every way you can, priority given to reading of course, but any narrative-driven presentation will do. Let story get deep into your bones, so much of it you honestly can’t tell anymore what idea was yours and what grew out of the moss of digested story surrounding you.

 

  1. If you could co-write a book with any author, dead or alive, who would it be?

Sir Terry Pratchett, though I’d be a hot mess of ridiculousness through most of it, simply wanting to sit and watch him work instead of helping.

 

  1. Who is on your bookshelf?

My bookshelf is mostly virtual at this point, but pride of place in paperback goes to Terry Pratchett, Lois McMaster Bujold, Neil Gaiman, Judith Ivory, Jennifer Crusie, Tessa Dare, and Sarah Waters.

 

  1. Can you tell us about one of the most memorable moments in your writing career thus far?

The moment at my first Romantic Times convention when a reader sought me out to have me sign a book of mine she’d brought with her.  It was my first autograph, of my favorite book of mine I’ve written, and that reader has since become a close friend. I love that moment because it was so quiet and gentle and resonant, highlighting the kind of connection which brought me to publishing my work in the first place.

 

  1. Tell us about your newest release/current work in progress.

My latest release is Clockwork Heart, an aberration from my usual contemporary work as an alternate history/steampunk romance. Tinkers. Soldiers. Spies. Pirates. A sweeping tour of continental Europe via the clouds. A little absinthe, a little theft, a little exhibitionism, some naughty use of clockwork prosthetics. Love, adventure, and a steaming good time. You can read more about it and find buy links here.

 

 

About the author:

Heidi grew up in love with story.  She fell asleep listening to Disney long-playing records and read her Little House On The Prairie books until they fell apart.  She ran through the woods inventing stories of witches and fairies and enchanted trees and spent hours beneath the lilac bush imagining the lives of the settlers who had inhabited the homestead log cabin and two-story late 1800s home on her family farm.  She created epic storylines for her Barbies until it wasn’t satisfying enough to do so any longer (age ten), and then she started writing them down.  Her first novel, The Life and Times of Michelle Matthews, was published when she was twelve in the school anthology and took up nearly half of it.

Though Heidi continued to write novels through high school (and still has the Rubbermaid tub full in her bedroom), she stopped in college, deciding it was time to grow up and do something meaningful with her life. When the specifics of that didn’t pan out, Heidi ended up in grad school to become a teacher, and through one of the courses rediscovered her love of romance novels. She began to write again on the side, continued to do so while she taught seventh grade language arts and reading, and when she quit teaching to have her daughter, she took up writing with more seriousness, both as a stress relief and as a potential means of bringing in money.

 

Many million pages later, Heidi has learned a lot about writing, more than she ever wanted to know about publishing, and most importantly, finally figured out that writing IS the meaningful something she wants to do with her life. A passionate advocate for LGBT rights, Heidi volunteered for One Iowa during the fight for marriage equality and donates with her husband as a monthly partner to the Human Rights Campaign and Lambda Legal. She encourages you to support your own local and national LGBT rights groups, too.

Heidi enjoys reading, watching movies and TV with her family, and listening all kinds of music.  She has a husband, a daughter, and too many cats. Heidi is an active social networker, and of course has good old-fashioned email(link sends e-mail).

Website  |  Twitter  |  Facebook  |  Tumblr  |  Pinterest

 

Collared by Nicole Williams….Blog Tour & Review


collared- blog tour.jpg

Buy the Book

 

Amazon US   Amazon UK   Amazon  CA  Nook  Kobo  Ibooks

 

goodreads-badge.png

collared-williams-ebook-2.jpg

AP - Synopsis.jpg

 

When a seventeen-year-old girl vanishes,

A community is shaken.

Parents turn desperate.

Friends hold vigils.

And the boy who loves her searches.

 

When a year goes by,

The community is recovering.

Parents feel hopeless.

Friends feel helpless.

And the boy who loves her continues his search.

 

When ten years go by,

The community has forgotten.

Parents cling to the past.

Friends move toward the future.

And the boy who loves her . . .

Brings her home.

 

Jade Childs spent ten years in captivity, but now that she’s back, the real battle for survival begins. The media shadows her. Flashbacks haunt her. Her old life evades her. Her so-called new life rejects her. She spent too many years in the dark to recognize the light. She spent too long repressing her feelings to remember how to express them. She spent a decade abandoning hope and cannot dare letting it back into her life. Jade’s not just defined by what happened to her—she’s collared to it.

 

When the twenty-seven-year-old woman is found,

A community wants to know the story,

Parents want to forget the story,

Friends want to be a part of the story,

And the man who still loves her faces the greatest challenge yet: letting her go.   

review

I truly have no idea where to even start this review. I knew what I was getting into when I read the blurb of Collared – Hell, it’s what made me want to read it. What I didn’t expect was to feel so much with this book.

“He’s not supposed to be the one…but he always has been The One.”

Nicole wrote one hell of a story. And it’s not just the screwed up things that happen. It’s how you feel every single emotion that Jade goes. From scared to hopeless. From forgotten to broken. From relief to confusion. From fear to learning to love. Learning to live life.

“It doesn’t take long to lose yourself in such a way you almost find yourself hoping you’ll never be found.”

I will not give tell you one thing that happens in this book. Even the smallest parts will take away from the true nature of this story. The story isn’t an easy one but Nicole wrote it beautifully. There wasn’t one moment where I wasn’t having some sort of emotional “breakdown.” Whether it be totally gutted or unbelievably happy to feeling so much empathy for not just Jade, but everyone involved.

“You found me alive.  But then you brought me back to life.”

The characters in this book will touch you and leave a mark. Nicole wrote these characters flawlessly. Not only will you easily see what’s going on, you can seamlessly view everything happening through their eyes. This story is told from Jade’s POV but as Nicole describes how the other characters feel and what they’re going – it’s just so easy to be in their shoes.

“Try again. Fail again. Fail better.”

Nicole, I can’t thank you enough for writing what I can call one of my favorite books of all time. Even though this book took me through so many emotions. I have grown attached to these characters and they have a place in my heart. Thank you!

C signature

AP- Excerpt.jpg

 

I feel something swirl at my ankle, then it grabs me. I’m sucked under instantly as the undercurrent slams me to the ocean bottom and tumbles me around. It’s happened before, so I don’t panic. I know that once it’s done with me, it will let me go. Once it’s twirled me around a few times, it will leave me alone.

I can feel it starting to lose momentum when two arms brace around me and break me free. When we pop through the surface, Torrin spins me around, terror drawing up his expression.

“Are you okay?” He holds me with one hand, inspecting me with the other like he’s going to find an elbow or organ missing.

I’m totally wet. I feel ocean water draining out of my ears and nose. My hair feels like a cyclone just had its way with it, and I know my skin’s red and blotchy from the sand exfoliation treatment I just received free of charge.

I laugh. This is what alive feels like. I remember.

It’s adrenaline pulsing so hard in my veins they feel about to burst. It’s feelings that twist my stomach into knots. It’s feeling so cold my body goes numb and so attracted to someone my body feels the opposite of numb.

This is it. Living. I can almost feel the blood warm in my veins as it starts to run again.

“Why are you laughing?” Torrin’s face flashes with relief when he sees I’m okay, but he doesn’t let go of me.

On the beach, my parents slowly make their way back to the beach blankets once they’ve seen I’m okay.

“That was fun.” I rub my stomach because it hurts. From the laughter. I’d forgotten stomachs could hurt from laughing.

“Fun? Not my idea of fun.”

I wipe the water from my face and find just as much sand pasted to it. “What’s your idea of fun then?”

Torrin’s still shaking his head when he suddenly shouts, “This!”

He pulls me under the water with him. He lets me go right away, but I don’t want him to. I don’t want him to ever let go.

           I splash him when he resurfaces a few feet away. “Did you just dunk me?”

           He splashes back. “I just did.”

           “You’ve heard of payback, right?” I move a little closer, ignoring the way I can feel my parents watching us from the beach.

           “I’ve heard of it. Not really a big fan though.”

           When I lunge at him and try to knock him under, he’s clearly bracing for it because all I do is smash into him. My wet body against his, our arms tangled together, our faces too close to not be aware of where each other’s mouths are . . .

           “What’s this payback thing again?” He’s practically gloating, so I come at it from a different angle.

           My eyes drop to his mouth and stay there until his lips part from his breaths coming faster. When my hand curves against the side of his face, sweeping down the line of his jaw, I feel his chest moving hard against mine. His arms tangle tighter behind me because I’m slipping through them. When that doesn’t work, he hoists me higher, and his arms form a net beneath my backside.

           I need to clear my head before I can’t remember what I’m doing.

           My eyes lift to his and hold there. When he blinks, a drop of water rolls off his eyelashes. My hand slides lower until my thumb is touching the corner of his mouth.

           “Torrin?” I whisper, my mouth lowering.

           “Yeah?” His voice is rough, coming from low in his throat.

           I move my mouth just outside his ear. “This . . . is . . .”—I burst free of his hold and slide his legs out from beneath him with my foot—“payback!”

           He goes down with a surprised shout and an explosive splash. I’m laughing again, and so is he when he pops his head above the water.

“Well played, Childs.”

           “Thank you very much,” I say with a bow, hoping he can’t see right through me the way I feel he can sometimes.

If he does, he’ll know. He’ll know I would have rather kissed him. I would rather still be kissing him. He’ll know that while I’m content to put most of the past behind me, there’s one part I want to pack and bring with me to the future.

           Him.

           I think he might see it though, because I think I might see it in him too.

The sun catches his eyes just right when he looks at me. “You always had a way of taking the ground right out from beneath me.”

 

Collared 1.jpg

 

 

AP - about the author.jpg

 

Nicole Williams is the New York Times and USATODAY bestselling author of contemporary and young adult romance, including the Crash and Lost & Found series. Her books have been published by HarperTeen and Simon & Schuster in both domestic and foreign markets, while she continues to self-publish additional titles. She is working on a new YA series with Crown Books (a division of Random House) as well. She loves romance, from the sweet to the steamy, and writes stories about characters in search of their happily even after. She grew up surrounded by books and plans on writing until the day she dies, even if it’s just for her own personal enjoyment. She still buys paperbacks because she’s all nostalgic like that, but her kindle never goes neglected for too long. When not writing, she spends her time with her husband and daughter, and whatever time’s left over she’s forced to fit too many hobbies into too little time.

 

Nicole is represented by Jane Dystel, of Dystel and Goderich Literary Agency.

 

Website   Facebook  Twitter  Blog

 

Ardent 4.JPG