Books: The Cheapest Vacation You Can Buy











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Crow's Row

From Goodreads: For college student Emily Sheppard, the thought of spending a summer alone in New York is much more preferable than spending it in France with her parents. 

Just completing her freshman year at Callister University, Emily faces a quiet summer in the city slums, supporting herself by working at the campus library.During one of her jogs through the nearby cemetery while visiting her brother Bill’s grave, Emily witnesses a brutal killing—and then she blacks out. When Emily regains consciousness, she realizes she’s been kidnapped by a young crime boss and his gang. 

She is hurled into a secret underworld, wondering why she is still alive and for how long.

Held captive in rural Vermont, she tries to make sense of her situation and what it means. While uncovering secrets about her brother and his untimely death, Emily falls in love with her very rich and very dangerous captor, twenty- six-year-old Cameron. She understands it’s a forbidden love and one that won’t allow her to return to her previous life. 

But love may not be enough to save Emily when no one even knows she is missing.

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Hockley has written a truly riveting love story that captivated me from the very beginning! I loved every minute of this novel, even the ending, though it angered me and even made me cry.  Leaving my emotions raw, Hockley has created a very powerful novel, and though the male lead, Cameron, is a crime boss, making tough decisions that occasionally end in the death of someone, he’s hard not to like.

It felt like an entire lifetime passed as I read.  Hockley has really fleshed out her characters, giving the reader a glimpse into their very souls, and I too found myself falling in love with Cameron.  I loved the pacing of the novel, and Hockley’s ability to fit all the pieces of the story together in such a perfect way, though the ending… was like a knife in the gut.

It’s not a mystery novel, but there is much suspense within the pages of Crow’s Row.  Hockley presents different scenarios that made me feel as if the story would go one way, but then it went in an entirely different direction, causing me slight heart attacks as I feared for Emily, for Cameron, for Rocco… I had a lot of pent up fear as I read, sure that something terrible was about to happen.  And it eventually did.  Emily is, afterall, held captive by a crime boss, and though he’s a dreamy, sexy character, he’s also the head of a group of killers.  Bad things are going to happen to some of the characters, and while I think I knew this is the back of my mind, it still shocked me and left me flabbergasted when they did.

There isn’t a happy ending, per se, but it does work perfectly with the novel, though I hate to say it.  The ending just about killed me.  I wasn’t expecting it, and I spent the entire last portion of the novel on pins and needles, screaming and crying because I couldn’t believe the twist the novel took.  This beautiful love story ripped my heart out in the end, but at the same time, it’s worth all the pain.  Upon finishing the novel I felt a hole in my own heart, just like some of the characters, and any author that can make me feel this deeply about fictional characters is one worthy of praise.  Hockley is indeed a literary genius, one to watch, and I am really hoping that there will be a sequel to this novel someday soon.  My heart needs to repair, and I’m dying for things to change. Five stars.

5 stars

Available Now:

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excerpt“I know you don’t believe anything I say, so there’s no point in me trying to defend myself to you anymore, even if it kills me to see you so disgusted with me.

But there’s one thing I do need you to know: I love you Emmy. I’ve loved you for a very long time.”

He turned his eyes to me for the briefest of moments, and I felt a crack in my newly erected armour.

“To have you here with me … I guess in some sick way, for a while, I thought that this could work. Hurting you was the last thing I wanted to do, but it looks like I managed to do that anyway.”

He took another breath. “This place is where I have to be, but it’s not a place where you can or should be. There’s nothing that I can do to change that. I won’t force this life on you.”

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4f337-juliehockleyAbout Julie Hockley:

A former germaphobe and clean-freak turned mother of two, Julie collects enough tears and snot in a month to recreate Slimer Monster from Ghostbusters. Other than playing devoted wife and mama, Julie is the funniest person in the room (according to the 3 year-old and 2 year-old in said room) and can build the most awesome Lego rocket ship you’ve ever set your eyes on (according to her). Oh, and she has a full time career and has also written a bestselling novel. Superhero, or just downright insane?

 

 
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Ascendant Banner for Raine Available Now

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Return of the Ascendant

 

From Goodreads: Expecting to enjoy another typical college night at a frat party with friends, Kyra Vaughn’s plans derail when she’s almost killed…twice. Her savior, a tall, sexy stranger who calls himself TaeDane, claims that he’s the personal bodyguard for the Ascendant of Alametria. She’s convinced he’s crazy.

Especially when he insists that she’s the Ascendant.

With dark enemies hunting her down, Kyra has no choice but to trust her supposed bodyguard. Ty vows to help her remember her past and return her safely to Alametria, but someone seems intent on interfering, challenging his abilities at every turn.

As Kyra’s memories emerge, she remembers that Ty is more to her than he’s let on…much more than he’s allowed to be. She’ll also discover that there are many things about her planet and herself that she’d rather forget. In the end, she’ll have to make a choice: cling to the life she knows, or risk it all to become the person she’s destined to be.
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Fast-paced and full of heart-pounding adventure, Thomas takes readers on a ride they won’t soon forget as Kyra learns the truth of her heritage in Return of the Ascendant. I am in awe of Thomas’ sheer writing ability, in love with Ty, and dying to know what happens next. Thankfully, Thomas does not make it a habit of leaving her readers on a cliffhanger, and while this novel is the first in a series, it does have an epic conclusion that helps tide readers over as we await the next installment of this amazing alien series.

Currently residing on earth, the only planet Kyra consciously knows she’s ever lived upon, her world comes crashing down as a handsome and mysterious stranger enters her life, carrying her away as the shadows creep down upon her and her friends. Complete with romance, epic battles, and a plot that thickens at every turn, Kyra’s story is sure to entice readers from the very beginning, drawing them in and not releasing until the very last page.

As Kyra slowly begins to remember her past and accept her future as the Ascendant, the ruler of worlds, she must battle the rigid and unforgiving etiquette of a society she wants nothing to do with, and a group intent on stopping her from accepting her right as the Ascendant. It’s heart-pounding fun, and I will admit that there were multiple times that my entire body tensed as Kyra and Ty found themselves up against the odds, facing difficult, dangers, and even heinous situations.

This one is a MUST read; I highly recommend it to all NA lovers 18+–reader beware, there are a few hot hot scenes, hence the age warning.

There is also a short novelette prequel to this novel called” The Ascendant,” which focuses on the memory Kyra shares with Ty concerning a car accident. While explained well enough in Return of the Ascendant, this short novelette is well worth the read as it is more specific and sheds light on the story. I read the novellete first and was dying to read The Return of the Ascendant by the end–“The Ascendant,” too, is indeed a must read. Find it in the Take Me To Your Reader Anthology.  Five stars all around.

5 stars

I received this novel from the author in exchange for an honest review.

AVAILABLE NOW for just 99 cents!!!

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Kobo

iBooks–Coming Soon

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Raine ThomasAbout Raine Thomas:

Raine Thomas is the award-winning author of a series of YA fantasy/romance novels about the Estilorian plane, including the Daughters of Saraqael trilogy and the Firstborn trilogy. She is also the author of the bestselling New Adult Contemporary Romance, For Everly, and the much-anticipated spin-off, Meant for Her.

She is a proud member of Romance Writers of America and is a contributing blogger to The Writer’s Voice. When she isn’t planning weddings, writing, or glued to social media, she can usually be found on one of Florida’s beautiful beaches with her husband and daughter or crossing the border to visit with her Canadian friends and relatives.

Ways readers can connect with Raine:
Twitter
Facebook
Goodreads
Pinterest
Linkedin
Website
Blog

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Giveaway

WinClick this Rafflecopter Link to enter!!

 



While sharing marketing tips and discussing cover art, independent authors Amanda Aksel, Heather Hildenbrand, and Sara Panek all came to the same conclusion; wouldn’t it be great if there was a publishing house that offered all the resources of traditional publishing, while still allowing the creative freedom of independent publishing? They set out to create their vision, and Elephantine Publishing was born.

ElephantineElephantine is a collaborative publisher. Their goal is to partner with authors to turn a love of writing into a successful career for years to come. They work side by side with authors through every step of the publishing process to create a unique and professional title to share with the world. Using strategic marketing, Elephantine provides their authors with industry tools and resources to build readership and grow sales.

Elephantine’s aim is simple: To provide access to all stories worth telling, whether or not the words fit into a neatly labeled box. Words that resonate in your bones. Stories you’ll never forget.

Become a part of the herd!

Read the guidelines and submit your query.



Best Kind of BrokenToday is release day for Chelsea Fine’s Best Kind of Broken, the first book in Fine’s New Adult contemporary romance series, Finding Fates. It’s available NOW, so after reading the hot teasers below and entering the giveaway, be sure to go out and grab your copy!!

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Synopsis:

SOMETIMES MOVING ON MEANS MOVING IN

Pixie Marshall wishes every day she could turn back time and fix the past. But she can’t. And the damage is done. She’s hoping that a summer of free room and board working with her aunt at the Willow Inn will help her forget. Except there’s a problem: the resident handyman is none other than Levi Andrews. The handsome quarterback was once her friend-and maybe more–until everything changed in a life-shattering instant. She was hoping to avoid him, possibly forever. Now he’s right down the hall and stirring up feelings Pixie thought she’d long buried . . .

Levi can’t believe he’s living with the one person who holds all his painful memories. More than anything he wants to make things right, but a simple “sorry” won’t suffice–not when the tragedy that scarred them was his fault. Levi knows Pixie’s better off without him, but every part of him screams to touch her, protect her, wrap her in his arms, and kiss away the pain. Yet even though she’s so close, Pixie’s heart seems more unreachable than ever. Seeing those stunning green eyes again has made one thing perfectly clear–he can’t live without her.

BUY LINKS:

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

AddtoGoodreadsLevi Pinks____________________________________________________________________________

See what others are saying about Broken Kind of Broken:

“By turns humorous and heartbreaking, Best Kind Of Broken has become one of my favorites!” — CORA CARMACK, New York Times bestselling author of Losing It.

“You’ll fall for Pixie and Levi, just like I did!” — JENNIFER L. ARMENTROUT (J. Lynn), #1 New York Times bestselling author of Wait For You

“Tangled with friendship, history and heartbreak–not to mention a huge dose of humor–Chelsea Fine’s New Adult novel is not to be missed! Beyond an incredibly HOT read, Pixie and Levi’s longing for each other will have you rooting for them till the very end.” — JAY CROWNOVER, New York Times bestselling author of Rule

“This book destroyed me. Tore me into little tiny pieces. But somehow with lots of laughs and some very steamy times, Chelsea put me back together again! Chelsea Fine’s style is witty, visceral and fresh. All I wanted to do was crawl inside this book and live with the characters. And now all I want is MORE.” — CHELSEA M. CAMERON, New York Times bestselling author of My Favorite Mistake

“Sandwiched between laugh out loud moments and some serious heat, Best Kind of Broken is an unforgettable story of loss and forgiveness that will leave your heart aching.” — LISA DESROCHERS, USA Today bestselling author of A Little Too Far

Best Kind of Broken… is a masterpiece full of raw emotion, snarky retorts, and steamy tension that will leave readers in love with both Pixie and Levi, and wanting much more.” — A BOOK VACATION REVIEWS

BKB Teaser 3

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EXCERPT:

Levi is so distracting. His arms are all raised, and his shoulders are all broad, and he’s fixing crap, and it’s just…it’s just…annoying.

With a huff and a puff and some choice words in my head, I grab my sliced bell peppers and force my feet to the stove. I throw the vegetables into a frying pan, grab a wooden spoon, and ignore Levi’s close proximity.

My body hums.

I ignore that too.

I steal a glance in his direction and watch as the corded muscles in his forearm flex as he unscrews something on the fire alarm box. Why does he have so many muscles in his forearm? That can’t be healthy.

I drop my eyes to the frying pan and focus on bell peppers, because bell peppers are interesting and they don’t have backs the size of Alaska or copious amounts of forearm muscles.

The forearm muscles that I’m not thinking about lightly brush my shoulder and the humming inside my body knots together and zips around like a bumblebee on crack.

I casually turn down the heat on the stove, like that’s the reason I’m suddenly a human vibrator, and go back to stirring. Levi goes back to screwing.

Bell peppers.

I’m thinking about bell peppers.

He brushes against me again, except this time his forearm grazes my breast and my body immediately goes wild like I’m some love-starved teenager and the humming dives low in my belly and the stove gets hotter and my breaths get shallow and suddenly bell peppers are the sexiest vegetable on earth.

From the corner of my eye, I catch his Adam’s apple bobbing with a nervous swallow, which can only mean one thing. The boob brush was an accident.

Well crap.

If he had been trying to cop a feel with his Hulkish forearm, I could have responded with some kind of snarky “you’re a pervert” comment. But it wasn’t on purpose and somehow that makes it sexier and now the cracked-out bumblebee is buzzing in my nether regions and my hands are starting to tingle and why the HELL is this stove so hot?

I turn the burner down another notch and take a slow, deep breath. I have a boyfriend. A great boyfriend. So this sexual frustration I feel around Levi is nothing to get my bee-loving panties in a bunch about. I just need to calm down.

Levi lowers his arm for a moment, his eyes still on the alarm, and stretches his neck.

Ah, the neck stretch. The universal sign of stress. Well at least I’m not alone in my frustration. My hot, distracting, pants-are-so-inconvenient frustration.

Wait, what?

Who said anything about pants? I am NOT thinking about pants—or lack thereof. Damn you, bell peppers!

I toss the wooden spoon to the side and move back to the counter where the threat of being turned on by a handyman or, you know, a sautéed vegetable is much less severe.

I bite back a groan. What was I thinking, living under the same roof as Levi? There’s no way I’ll survive the summer.

Hell, I can barely survive breakfast.

Best Kind Of Broken Teaser 1

BUY it for less than $5!

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

Read my 5 Star Review

BKOD Quote 3

AND you can PRE-ORDER books two and three now, too!!

Perfect Kind of Trouble: Amazon | Barnes and Noble

Right Kind of Wrong: Amazon | Barnes and Noble

Finding Fates

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ChelseaABOUT CHELSEA FINE:

Chelsea lives in Phoenix, Arizona where she spends most of her time writing stories, painting murals, and avoiding housework at all costs. She’s ridiculously bad at doing dishes and claims to be allergic to laundry. Her obsessions include: superheroes, coffee, sleeping-in, and crazy socks. She lives with her husband and two children, who graciously tolerate her inability to resist teenage drama on TV and her complete lack of skill in the kitchen.

LINKS:

Website:www.chelseafinebooks.com

Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/ChelseaFineBooks

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ChelseaFine

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/ChelseaFineBooks

Instagram: http://instagram.com/chelseafinebooks

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Fragile CreaturesToday marks the official release day of Fragile Creatures by Kristina Circelli, and I for one, can’t wait to read it!

Synopsis:

Seventeen-year-old Evangeline Frost had a great life, until the car accident that killed her father and turned her mother into a bitter alcoholic. Unable to bear the guilt, Evangeline attempts to take her own life, saved only by the memory of her beloved father.

Left with no other options, Evangeline is enrolled in a program for troubled teens at Kindred Hides Wildlife Preserve. There she meets Caster, a keeper as annoying as he is caring; Jett and Lettie, who treat her more like a daughter than troubled teen; and Ruke, a prized giraffe in mourning for his lost mate.

Immersed in the preserve with her new friends, Evangeline finally begins to heal. But the haunting memories of the accident and her mother’s unforgiving words threaten to destroy her progress. Only her new friends and their unconditional support, along with her own special connection with Ruke, can save her.

Evangeline must learn that there is redemption for her father’s death, and that the bonds between human, animal, and life are not as fragile as she once thought.

Scoop it up now–it’s only 99 cents for Kindle and Nook!

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kristinaAbout the author:

A lover of the written word since the time she first picked up a pen, Kristina Circelli shares her passion for fiction in her multi-genre novels.

Circelli is the author of several fiction books, including The Sour Orange Derby, a young adult novel about family and childhood imagination steeped in southern traditions; Beyond the Western Sun and Walk the Red Road of The Whisper Legacy, which centers on Native American cultures and the legends that come to life in the spirit realm; and The Helping Hands series, books that follow a gang of friends who rescue abused children.

Currently, Circelli works as a copywriter, author, book editor, and creative writing professor at the University of North Florida, where she received her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in English. She resides in Florida, with her husband and two kittens.

Connect with Kristina:

Blog | Website | Goodreads | Twitter | Facebook – Circelli Books | Facebook: Red Road Editing




AlienatedFrom Melissa Landers: Hey, fiction lovers. I’m author Melissa Landers, and I’m thrilled to announce that my debut YA sci-fi romance, ALIENATED, is finally available from Disney-Hyperion! Cue the dancers and toss the confetti, because it’s been a long wait!

In a nutshell, ALIENATED is the story of valedictorian Cara Sweeney, who gets more than she bargained for when she agrees to host the nation’s first intergalactic exchange student, the gorgeous but emotionally-stilted Aelyx (pronounced A-licks) from planet L’eihr. The tone is light and humorous, but I explore some deeper themes as well.

What do reviewers have to say?

“The storyline is out of this world and character development paired with authentic voice is superb. Filled with intrigue and suspense, this book will appeal to both sci-fi and contemporary YA fiction fans.” –VOYA

“Interstellar relations heat up in this start to a new romantic science fiction series. Landers [explores] larger social, ecological, and ethical issues in this tense, fast-paced read.” –Booklist

“The perfect blend of sizzling romance, action, and suspense.” –#1 New York Times bestselling author Jennifer L. Armentrout

“Smart, funny, and epic. I am now awaiting contact from planet L’eihr.” Julie Cross, bestselling author of Tempest.

“Intergalactic exchange students? Yes, please! I fell in love with this story and couldn’t put it down.” Jodi Meadows, author of Incarnate.

If you like hot, swoony science fiction as much as I do, I hope you’ll give ALIENATED a try. It’s now available in stores and online.

Amazon Kindle | Amazon Paperback | Barnes & Noble | Book Depo (free international shipping) | Indie Bound

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Nook Giveaway:

To celebrate my book birthday, I’m offering one lucky winner a Nook Simple Touch. I’ll even throw in a $25 gift card to Barnes & Noble so you can fill your new e-reader with whatever you want!

Now for the fine print: This giveaway is open to US residents only. (Sorry, international friends, but you need a US billing address to buy digital content on the Nook.) Due to sweepstakes laws, entrants must be 18 years or older to participate.

Best of luck, and happy reading!

To enter Melissa’s awesome giveaway, click this Rafflecopter link!

Check out A Book Vacation’s 5 star review of ALIENATED HERE!

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M.L.About Melissa Landers:

Melissa Landers is a former teacher who left the classroom to pursue other worlds.

A proud sci-fi geek, she isn’t afraid to wear her Princess Leia costume in public—just ask her husband and three kids.

She lives outside Cincinnati in the small town of Loveland, “Sweetheart of Ohio.”

For more information, or just to say hello, visit www.melissa-landers.com.



Backcover Pomotions Launch February 1st 2014 1pm to 11pm GMT!!!

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Backcover Promotions is very excited for tomorrow–there will be A LOT going on. They will be celebrating with a Facebook party and there will be more going on on their website too!!! So check both regularly throughout the day to make sure you don’t miss anything!!

They have lined up some amazing prizes from sponsors–24 merchandise bundles are up for grabs throughout the day, plus there will be some amazing discounts on their tour packages and some of their other services, too!

To make the day even more fun, they have set up a loyalty card for the event. If you enter 6 contests throughout the day, you will get an extra 20% on any discounts giveaway. If you don’t win any of the main contests, but still enter 6 contests throughout the day, you will get the 25% towards any package you would like. How cool is that?

Please feel free to print the loyalty card and check off your entries, or you can check the entries off in any image program. Once you have a filled card, please email it, along with your name, the contests you entered, and any prizes you have won to kate[at]backcoverpromotions.co.uk

We hope to see you there!!

BCP Launch Loyalty Card



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ABOUT SOAR (The Empire Chronicles #1):

In the city that never sleeps the Chronicles continue…

Serving coffee is temporary, just like Casey’s year off from school. She’s going to come up with a plan to stay in New York City and go back to college, and that plan does not involve dating a paranormal creature—let alone two.

Running the supernatural society of New York is not as fun as it sounds, especially when you still have to answer to your ex-girlfriend’s fiancé. Toby doesn’t mean to bring Casey into the chaos of his life, but he can’t resist the girl who makes him smile when he thought no one else ever could.

Jared’s in New York checking out a security risk for his best friend, the king. He plans to return to New Orleans quickly, but not if it means losing his chance with the brunette who pretends she wants nothing to do with him.

In over her head with a bunch of winged creatures who most definitely are not angels, Casey has to figure out who to trust with her life and maybe her heart.

Read my review HERE!

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EXCERPT:

door

I slowly opened the door and my jaw dropped. Standing there was a shirtless guy with a body that couldn’t be real. Hard. Muscular. Perfect. That’s the way I’d describe his chest. He had abs that would make underwear models jealous.  My eyes zeroed in on a few beads of sweat making a descent down his chest. When they reached his stomach, I forced my eyes up to his face.

He grinned. “So you’re why Toby isn’t getting the job done.”

“What?” I asked, forcing my eyes to stop looking at his chiseled abs.

“You’d distract me too.” He didn’t bother to hide his appraisal.

I looked down and crossed my arms. I met his eyes again and was met by an expression of humor and want that nearly melted me.

“I’m just staying here.” I felt the need to explain myself. If not for my sake or dignity, for Toby’s.  I promised myself it wasn’t because I wanted this sexy guy to know I was single.

“Staying here, huh?” He smiled. “Well, you can stay at my place anytime.”

“Do you live around here?” His wider grin made me regret the words. “I’m just wondering. Not because I want to stay with you.”

“I’m from New Orleans, but I have a place here too—at least I’m borrowing it.”

“Oh. Well, Toby isn’t here.”

“You already said that.” He stepped into the apartment. “Know where he is?”

“No. I don’t.” I took a few steps back.

He matched my movements, ending up just as close to me as he was before. “No kiss goodbye this morning?”

“That would have been hard since I was in the guest room.” I put a hand on my hip. Sexy or not, I wasn’t going to let this guy get to me.

“Guest room? Likely.”

I could feel my blood boiling. How was he getting under my skin so easily? “It’s true. If you’ll excuse me, I need to get my stuff and go home.”

“Are you going to wear that?” He gestured to my outfit, and that’s when I remembered what I was sleeping in.

I willed myself not to blush, but I could practically feel the blood rushing to my face.

“I’m guessing those are the guest pajamas, huh?”

“I just borrowed them… Wait, why am I bothering to explain myself to you?”

“I don’t know, you tell me.” He took another step toward me.

“I know the kind of guy you are.”

“You do? Please, tell me. I can’t wait to hear this assessment.”

“You’re arrogant, pig headed, and you think a girl’s just going to fall to her knees if you take your shirt off…” To my credit, I was still standing. “Speaking of which, why is your shirt off?”

He smirked. “Why do you think it’s off?  Since apparently you’re the expert on guys like me. I’m going to ignore the fall to their knees comment. You look cute when you blush, but it might push you over the edge.”

Buy Links:

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

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alysAbout Alyssa Rose Ivy:

Alyssa Rose Ivy is a New Adult and Young Adult author who loves to weave stories with romance and a southern setting. Although raised in the New York area, she fell in love with the South after moving to New Orleans for college. After years as a perpetual student, she turned back to her creative side and decided to write. She lives in North Carolina with her husband and two young children, and she can usually be found with a cup of coffee in her hand.

Links:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AlyssaRoseIvy

Author Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5047249.Alyssa_Rose_Ivyhttps://www.facebook.com/AlyssaRoseIvy

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/alyssaroseivy/

Website: http://www.alyssaroseivy.com/

SOAR Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18176657-soar?ac=1

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AlyssaRoseIvy?fref=ts

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Giveaway:

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/9172c187/



The big day is here!!! *throws confetti* *dances in a dizzying circle*

Phoenix: Author Ink, Heather Hildenbrand’s author consulting business, launches today!!! To mark its launch and its purpose, she am also releasing The Indie Author Guide: A Self-Publisher’s Toolbox. It’s a how-to-when-to guide that delivers MORE THAN the necessary information each aspiring author should know as they build their own publishing business and release their first book along with a specific timeline for when you should be implementing all of these tools.

I am so excited to “give back” with all of the awesome things I’ve learned throughout my journey as a self-published author. I can’t wait to share it all with you! Here’s a little about the book:

The Indie Author Guide: A Self-Publisher’s Toolbox

unnamedWhether you’re an aspiring author or have been published for a year, this guide is full of information, links, and support sites that can help increase sales and streamline your business as a self-published author. This guide is not like other self-help books on publishing. It includes very specific how-to instructions along with a timeline so you also know when to implement each item. If you’re looking for vague instructions or easy banter, this guide is NOT for you. If you need a little sarcastic humor and someone in your ear telling you to get off your butt and make your dream happen, this IS the guide for you!

What’s inside:

–An extensive list of links to editors, cover artists, formatters, and bloggers is included.

–Marketing, blog tours, release day blitzes

–Formatting, cover art and artists for hire, editors, what to ask when hiring out

–Garnering reviews, how and where to meet bloggers

–Where to find review groups, beta readers, critique partners

–Branding, blogging, and social media

–Time management, daily goals, sales strategies, what works, what doesn’t.

All of this and more is included in this hold-your-hand-style guide.

Heather Hildenbrand is the YA and NA author of more than eight novels including the bestselling Dirty Blood series. She is a co-founder of Accendo Press, a collaborative publishing effort dedicated to publishing stories that ignite the imagination, a fiction author, and the owner of Phoenix, an author consultant and coaching company that provides support and information for new and experienced self-published authors as they navigate the waters of self-publishing and marketing.

For more information on Phoenix, visit www.phoenixauthorink.com

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And as a thank-you-slash-I-am-so-excited-to-be-here gift, Heather is offering one lucky winner the chance to work one-on-one with her for ONE MONTH of encouraging, butt-kicking, accountability-induced inspiration and HELP as you get ready to publish or boost your marketing platform HUGELY. You will get phone consultations and in-depth planning sessions and at the end of the 30 days, you will feel so much better, more focused, and excited about your business!

There are also two awesome prize packs with signed books up for grabs, because, yeah, BOOKS. It’s why we’re here. I hope you’ll spread the word about Phoenix as well as The Indie Author Guide and get yo’self entered to win! Good Luck!

Rafflecopter code for AWESOME giveaway!!

Amazon buy link http://www.amazon.com/The-Indie-Author-Guide-Self-Publishers-ebook/dp/B00GQMHSH4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1384778961&sr=8-1&keywords=the+indie+author+guide+hildenbrand

Facebook giveaway page where rafflecopter link is embedded:

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Enduring Light (The Afterglow Trilogy #3)

by Alyssa Rose Ivy

Published August 20, 2013

Enduring Light - ARI

Synopsis:

Fighting darkness takes light.

Desperate to save James, Charlotte scours Energo for answers with Calvin and Liam at her side. Kevin and Samantha head to Alaska to find the one item that might destroy Blake, but the search is only the beginning.

As time runs out, Charlotte and Kevin discover that keeping Energo from eternal darkness will take a sacrifice no one expects.

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alyssaroseivyAbout the Author:

Alyssa Rose Ivy is a New Adult and Young Adult author who loves to weave stories with romance and a southern setting. Although raised in the New York area, she fell in love with the South after moving to New Orleans for college. After years as a perpetual student, she turned back to her creative side and decided to write. She lives in North Carolina with her husband and two young children, and she can usually be found with a cup of coffee in her hand.

Links:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AlyssaRoseIvy

Author Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5047249.Alyssa_Rose_Ivyhttps://www.facebook.com/AlyssaRoseIvy

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/alyssaroseivy/

Website: http://www.alyssaroseivy.com/

ENDURING LIGHT Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15742564-enduring-light?ac=1

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AlyssaRoseIvy?fref=ts

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18295681From Goodreads: Lies.
My so-called family lied.
My friends lied.
The only guy I ever liked lied.
My mentor, the one I was supposed to trust, lied.

My entire existence is built on lies and yet now they want my help. Scratch that, now
they need my help. I’ll play the good soldier, but I am no longer the person I was before. This time it will be on my terms. I will trust no one.

I am a weapon. I am Jordyn.

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USA Today bestselling author Tiffany King does not disappoint in her latest release, Jordyn and the Caverns of Gloom, the highly anticipated sequel to her impressive novel Jordyn that released early February of this year.  A spinoff series to the Saving Angels novels, the Jordyn books pick up a few years later with a cast of new characters taking the forefront while the beloved characters from Saving Angels step out of the limelight—but are not forgotten, and still play a crucial part throughout Jordyn’s development.

Filled with lies, secrets, angst, and romance, this second novel is even better than the first, pushing Jordyn to face her inner self and decide where she truly belongs.  It’s a story of healing through acceptance and redemption, but it’s a kicks butt story the entire way.  Although hurt by the betrayal of her loved ones, and the revelation of the truth behind her past, Jordyn has a good heart and refuses to allow her ego to stand in the way of helping those who need her, but she’s certainly not a push over, either.  With trepidation, Jordyn returns to her family only to embark on a hunt for her missing friends, and traveling to the Caverns of Gloom is just part of the plan to save her loved ones.  The other part pushes Emrys and Jordyn back together again… but Jordyn’s walls are higher than ever in his presence, and rightly so.  Who’s side is he on, anyway?

I devoured this novel in one sitting; it’s extremely fast paced and intriguing, and I loved Jordyn’s struggles as she embarked on her mission.  Perhaps one of the hardest things to do as a human is to forgive and forget, and Jordyn isn’t exactly human, so you can imagine the difficulty she has throughout the novel, especially when it comes to trusting Emrys.  King presents the story in such a way that is causes readers to question loyalties on all sides and, as it all comes to a head, sit on pins and needles as the battle scenes unfold and the true plan of escape is revealed.

Jordyn is still a kick butt heroine and I loved watching her fight for her family, grappling with acceptance, forgiveness, and love.  She’s a great character, as are they all, and getting a little glimpse of hell was extremely cool, especially with the ending and the slight cliffhanger that ensues.  Book three can’t come out fast enough!

Overall, this is a great sequel that you won’t want to miss.  Five stars.

5 stars

I received this novel from the author in exchange for an honest review.

AddtoGoodreads

Buy Link:

Amazon

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Tiff_profile_picAuthor Bio:

Tiffany King is the author of The Saving Angels Series, Wishing for Someday Soon, Forever Changed, Unlikely Allies, Miss Me Not and Jordyn: A Daemon Hunter Novel book one. Writer by day and book fanatic the rest of the time, she is now pursuing her life-long dream of weaving tales for others to enjoy.

She has a loving husband and two wonderful kids. (Five, if you count her three spoiled cats).

Her addictions include: Her iphone and ipad, chocolate, Diet Coke, chocolate, Harry Potter, chocolate, and her favorite TV shows. Want to know what they are? Just ask.

Get to know Tiffany:

Twitter@AuthorTiffany

FacebookTiffany King

PintrestTiffany King

Blogauthortiffanyjking.blogspot.com

GoodreadsTiffany King

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Giveaway:

Two winners (one international and one USA) will win a:

Signed paperback of Jordyn

Signed paperback of Jordyn and the Caverns of Gloom

Swag Bag

Click this Rafflcopter Entry link to enter!

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Jordyn2_BlogTour

August 14th

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August 22nd

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August 23rd

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August 24th

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New eBook Publisher Incubates Teen Serials as Episodic Apps and Film/Television Properties

Santa Monica, CA. ­ Backlit (www.backlitfiction.com) launched its first series of teen franchise ebooks via Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Apple: Borrowing Abby Grace and The Start-Up and The Dig, followed by Young Americans, Future Perfect and The Defiants early next year. Similar to such Young Adult (YA) successes as Gossip Girl and The Hunger Games, Backlit ebooks will create new franchises tailored to, and tested with, teen audiences.

Backlit has a first look film and television deal with Jack Giarraputo of Happy Madison. Jack is one of Hollywood’s most successful producers; his films have grossed more than $2 billion domestically. He is Backlit’s strategic partner, creative advisor and lead investor. Backlit is reinventing publishing by shortening the path from writer to reader, said Jack Giarraputo.

The Backlit model quickly determines audience and franchise value. The speed of ebook production allows Backlit to test fresh commercial ideas with the audiences who will love them, said BacklitPublisher, Panio Gianopoulos. Working closely with some of Hollywood’s best creative minds, Backlit is committed to telling stories that will be loved as books, television shows and movies.

Episodic ebook content will be previewed, via Facebook and Twitter, which allows Backlit to engage teens who routinely find their entertainment online. In addition, immediate audience feedback ,interactivity and spin-offs take on a whole new value when stories are created and released quickly. Focused on Millennial readers with episodic attention spans, Backlit books will be released exclusively in digital every few weeks, yet offer more narrative depth than typical Amazon Kindle Singles can provide.

Appealing to Millennials who consume in 140 character bursts, Backlit Fiction will address young reluctant readers who are increasingly turning to mobile devices for their entertainment needs. Backlit is committed to innovating methods of storytelling in order to attract and convert new readers to the world of books.

Backlit subscribes to the on-demand model, where ebooks are the new apps for fiction consumption. Episodic in nature, Backlit stories can be consumed and purchased anywhere, and read in any order. This pairing of creation and distribution is tailored to the surprisingly text-friendly teen demographic; 15-24 year olds spend on average 50 minutes a day reading. This is nearly double the 32 minutes spent reading by 25-64 year olds, according to Nielsen.

Backlit: Fiction Forward (BFF) will become a quick, ready and trusted companion to the young adult audience. On a unique promotional basis, devoted readers can also win character walk-on opportunities in upcoming episodes; and a unique teen start-up challenge based around The Start-Up series. Backlit is also launching the Backlit Mentors Program (www.backlitmentors.com), whereby the publisher will mentor, crowdsource, and commission new YA authors to write episodes based on their series story lines.

Current Backlit Series:

BORROWING ABBY GRACE (www.facebook.com/borrowingabby): Sent to repair the lives and loves of teenagers on the edge of disaster, smart and sassy Abby Grace has everything going for her, except one thing: a body.  Episode 1: The Shadow | Episode 2: Girl Steals Guy | Episode 3: Teacher’s Pet

THE DIG (www.facebook.com/zoeandzeus): Out of time and out of her element, teenager Zoe Calder finds herself in ancientGreece, battling against the power of the Olympians and the vengeance of a scorned goddess‹all for the strange and mysterious boy she has come to love. Book 1: Zoe and Zeus

THE START-UP (www.facebook.com/doreye,named for the story’s start-up):  When a collegefreshman’s breakthrough software program catapults her into the limelight, she and her twin brother must navigate a treacherous world of money, power, and envy: Silicon Valley. Episode 1: The Start-Up | Episode 2: The Anti-Social Network | Episode 3: Beautiful Code

About Backlit

Backlit is a digital media publishing company that creates ebooks and interactive apps based on original franchises. Backlit incubates teen serials as episodic apps and film and television properties. www.backlitfiction.comBacklit publisher Panio Gianopoulos has spent a decade working in the publishing industry. While an editor at Bloomsbury Publishing, he edited titles across every genre, including bestselling memoirs Chelsea Handler and Anthony Bourdain, the original literary tie-in for the HBO series Deadwood, and the novel that inspired the film Limitless.A former BCG consultant focusing on the entertainment industry, he received hisM.B.A. from Stanford University Graduate School of Business. He is currently the Publisher and Editorial Director of Backlit Fiction, LLC.


et cetera