Monday, November 30, 2015

Release Day Launch: Act Like It by Lucy Parker

It’s release day for Act Like It by Lucy Parker! I am so excited to share this new contemporary romance with you! Lucy is sharing an excerpt and a giveaway with us today, so be sure to check it all out!

Act Like It RDL Ban


About Act Like It
ActLikeItWeb (1)

This just in: romance takes center stage as West End theatre's Richard Troy steps out with none other than castmate Elaine Graham Richard Troy used to be the hottest actor in London, but the only thing firing up lately is his temper. We all love to love a bad boy, but Richard's antics have made him Enemy Number One, breaking the hearts of fans across the city. Have the tides turned? Has English rose Lainie Graham made him into a new man? Sources say the mismatched pair has been spotted at multiple events, arm in arm and hip to hip. From fits of jealousy to longing looks and heated whispers, onlookers are stunned by this blooming romance. Could the rumors be right? Could this unlikely romance be the real thing? Or are these gifted stage actors playing us all? 

Buy Links: Amazon | Amazon UK | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | iTunes   

Excerpt

It would have helped if she’d got further than the couch part of the couch-to-5k training plan she’d printed off the internet. Lainie crossed the finishing line and immediately dropped her head toward the ground, leaning her hands against her thighs and fiercely rejecting the urge to vomit. She was embarrassingly unfit, but if the chain-smoking, foulmouthed comedian two steps ahead of her could finish with a smile on his face and no visible signs of nausea, then so could she. She straightened with an effort, cringing as her back made an audible cracking sound. Performing in a play was a physical job, for God’s sake. It required stamina. She didn’t even have the excuse of sitting behind a computer all day.

Camera lights flashed as more participants made it over the line. They included several soap actors, a controversial political commentator, a popular abstract artist, and a DJ from Radio 1. The fund-raising committee had managed to put together a respectable hit list of names for the Shining Lights UK 5k, considering that Fun Runs were among the least popular of charitable events. She couldn’t even say the term without an ironic inflection on the first word. What kind of half-witted masochist actually enjoyed running on a drizzly October morning in London? On a weekday, no less, when there were plenty of people about with laptops and coffee cups, observing the mania with perplexity.

Lainie had tried to suggest an alternative—a bake-off, a rock concert—but the director of the foundation was a jogging enthusiast who refused to believe that other people might not share his predilection for spandex. She saw him now, standing by the refreshment table, doing some kind of yoga stretch and looking cool and unfazed. He didn’t even have sweat stains in his armpits. Unnatural.

“Well done!” he called to her. “How was that?”

About thirty-five minutes of pure, wheezing hell, thank you for asking.

“Great,” she said, desperately sucking air into her abused lungs. “Brilliant way to start the day.” If you enjoy unrelenting pain. “I beat my personal best time.”

Which was true, in the sense that she had never run a 5k before and hopefully never would again.

Oh, well. It was all money for worthy coffers.

“Couldn’t agree with you more,” he enthused. “Nothing more invigorating than an early morning run.”

The poor man had obviously never had early morning sex. Or a caramel latte.

He nodded toward the throng of spectators, shivering under their support banners. “Good to see the SOs out in force, as well.”

“The SOs?” she asked blankly, trying to follow the direction of his gaze. Had she failed to swot up on necessary athletic jargon as well? Safety Officers? Sports Officials? Sulky Octopi? She had no idea.

“Significant others. Always helps to have a cheerleader on the sidelines, doesn’t it?” He chuckled. “Yours looks a bit worn around the edges. Dragged him out of bed early, did you?”

Completely at sea, Lainie didn’t respond. Then she finally saw what—or rather whom—he was looking at. Richard was leaning against a pop-up art installation. The enormous statue of a polar bear wore an identical frown and a similar amount of facial hair. The bear was evidently very worried about the status of global warming; a stroppy and still unshaven Richard appeared more concerned with his own warmth, or lack thereof. His hands were thrust in his pockets and he was doing the standing jig-dance of the cold and crabby, bobbing from one foot to the other.

Absently excusing herself from the grinning director, Lainie hurried over to him, blowing on her own ungloved hands. Now that she had stopped running, the chill was creeping in.

“What are you doing here?” she asked, amazed and irritable. This had not, as far as she knew, been on their agreed list of activities, and she couldn’t imagine he was pining for her company. She felt justifiably annoyed with him for turning up when she was a red-faced, snot-nosed mess. Not that she had ever exactly bowled him over when she was a painstakingly curled, professionally made-up siren, either.

Although he hadn’t seemed repelled during that one rain-saturated moment earlier in the week. Which she was never going to think about again. She’d been telling herself so all week.

He hadn’t wanted to kiss her.

Had he?

About the Author
Author Photo - Smaller 

Lucy Parker lives in the gorgeous Central Otago region of New Zealand, where she feels lucky every day to look out at mountains, lakes, and vineyards. She has a degree in Art History, loves museums and art galleries, and doodles unrecognizable flowers when she has writer’s block. When she’s not writing, working or sleeping, she happily tackles the towering pile of to-be-read books that never gets any smaller. Thankfully, there’s always another story waiting. Her interest in romantic fiction began with a pre-teen viewing of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice (Firth-style), which prompted her to read the book as well. A family friend introduced her to Georgette Heyer, and the rest was history. 

Links: Twitter | Website  

Enter Lucy’s Giveaway! 

Saturday, November 28, 2015

Stacking the Shelves (171)

Stacking the Shelves is a meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews where bloggers share what books they got throughout the week!

From Publisher

That's right, this week a beautiful book showed up in my mailbox and it was Penelope Douglas' newest release! I LOVE Penelope's books, so I am definitely excited to see how this one ends up! 

From Amazon
I am so so so so so excited to finally own this book! My sister read Tangled a couple of years ago and really enjoyed it, and I have been dying to read it ever since. I saw it on Amazon and snagged it from the used section for only $5. How could I pass that up? Hopefully I can fit it into December and read it before the new year! 

That's it for me! What did you all add to your shelves this week? 

Wednesday, November 25, 2015

Waiting On Wednesday (219)

This is a meme hosted by Breaking the Spine where every Wednesday bloggers highlight a book that they are eagerly anticipating the release of!

PS I Like You
By Kasie West
Release Date: July 26, 2016
What if the person you were falling for was a total mystery?

While Lily is spacing out in Chemistry one day, she picks up her pencil and scribbles a line from one of her favorite songs on the desk. The next day, someone else has written back to her on the desk! Soon enough Lily and the mystery student are exchanging notes, and lyrics, and even sharing secrets. When Lily finds out that her anonymous pen pal is a guy, she's flustered -- and kind of feels like she's falling for him. She and her best friend set out to unravel the identity of the letter writer -- but when the truth is revealed, the guy is the LAST person Lily could have ever imagined it to be. Now that Lily knows the truth, can she untangle her feelings and gather the courage to listen to her heart?

From beloved author Kasie West (The Distance Between Us) comes an utterly charming story about mixed messages, missed connections, and the magic of good old-fashioned secret admirer notes.


--------------------------

Every book by Kasi West has the most adorable cover ever. This one is definitely no exception! I think the whole plot line sounds super cute and I can't wait to see who the person is that is writing to her on her desk in Chemistry. Sure, it sounds like a fluffy YA romance, but those are my favorite :)

Tuesday, November 24, 2015

Release Day Launch: Butterfly Dreams by A. Meredith Walters

butterflydreamsbanner
        bdcover
In a powerful romance hailed as “heartbreaking, real, and breathtakingly beautiful” by Stacey Lynn, New York Times bestselling author A. Meredith Walters tells the story of a troubled young woman and the unforgettable guy who teaches her to live—and love—to the fullest. She’s waiting to die. . . . Corin Thompson is paralyzed by her obsession with mortality. Having lost both of her parents, she is terrified by the idea that she too will die young, and she loses control at any sign of illness. But when Corin connects with someone who has survived a very real brush with death, she begins to see the world in a whole new way. He’s learning to live. . . . As Corin struggles under the weight of her neuroses, Beckett Kingsley is attempting to rebuild a life that feels all too temporary. With the ever-present threat of heart failure never far from his mind, he just wants to make the most of whatever time he has left. And that means pursuing the girl he never expected to find. Together, Corin and Beckett finally learn to let go of their fears and take solace in everyday pleasures. Who knows what the future holds? After all, nothing lasts forever—the only promise they have is right now.


Advance praise for Butterfly Dreams

“All the feels: poignant, funny, sad, beautiful, and inspiring! Your own belly butterflies will take flight.”New York Times bestselling author Katy Evans

“A. Meredith Walters is the author I turn to when I want to get sucked into a beautiful story that packs an emotional punch.”New York Times bestselling author Sawyer Bennett

Butterfly Dreams is one of the most poignant books I’ve read all year. It’s heartbreaking, real, and breathtakingly beautiful. A. Meredith Walters weaves a story that draws you in from the very first page and refuses to let you go even once it’s finished.”—Stacey Lynn, author of the Nordic Lords series

“The ending nearly killed me, but I survived. I read this book in one sitting, and what a roller coaster of a story. The author did an amazing job. . . . I found myself unable to put the book down.”—The Book Hookup


EXCERPT


My doorbell rang.
What?
I looked at the clock and realized it was already 7:30.
So that meant it was Beckett on the other side of the door.
Shit.
I looked down at my half-naked body.
Shit!
And then I started freaking out.
“I’ll be right there!” I yelled.
Should I let him in?
But I was practically naked!
I couldn’t let him see me like this!
Maybe I should own it. Shake my hips and let him get a look at the goods.
Like that would ever happen.
Crap, what was I going to wear?
I grabbed a pair of jeans from my floor and wiggled them on, not really paying attention to which ones they were.
I reached into my closet and pulled the closest shirt off the rack. I tied my hair into a ponytail and slipped on a comfortable pair of ballet flats.
I hoped Beckett hadn’t planned on five-star dining because I was dressed more for a McDonalds milkshake before hanging with the bowling league.
“Sorry,” I said, out of breath, opening the door and letting Beckett inside.
“I was starting to think I needed to break in and make sure you hadn’t gotten stuck in the toilet or something.” Beckett looked damn near perfect in a dark pair of jeans and button-up blue shirt the same color as his eyes.
He had even gotten a haircut. Way to make me feel like a total underachiever in the getting ready department, buddy.
“Looks like you cut yourself,” I said, indicating the piece of toilet paper stuck to his chin.
“Fuck. I forgot about that,” he muttered, pulling it off, looking embarrassed.
“You should have left it there. It’s cute,” I teased, putting on my black wool coat.
“You ready?” he asked.
“As I’ll ever be.” I gave him a wide smile and he laughed.
“I’m not taking you to your death by firing squad. You could act a bit more excited.”
I jumped up and down, clapping my hands together. “OMG, Beck! I can’t wait!” I gasped.
“Is that better?” I asked, closing my apartment door behind me and locking it.
“Much.” Beckett leaned down and I swear he was checking out my ass.
“Excuse me, but what in the hell are you doing?” I demanded.
“Are you aware that the Cheshire cat is on your right butt cheek?”
I craned my body to get a look at what he was talking about. And sure enough, there was a bright purple patch with the damn Cheshire cat on my derriere.
“I must have picked up the wrong jeans,” I groaned. These were my hanging-out-doing-laundry jeans. Not meant to be seen by anyone but myself and the cat.
“I was in a rush. I couldn’t figure out what to wear. It was stressful,” I tried to explain, pulling my coat down over my feline-covered bum.
“The last thing I want is to stress you out, Cor-Cor.”
I smacked his arm. “I thought I warned you about using that damn nickname,” I threatened.
“I show up with toilet paper stuck to my face and you have a cat on your butt. I think we make a pretty awesome pair,” Beckett snickered, unlocking his car.

Butterfly Dreams graphic #1     Butterfly Dreams graphic #2    
   
About the Author

The New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of Contemporary and Paranormal romance including The Find You in the Dark and Bad Rep series as well as the upcoming stand alone romance, Reclaiming the Sand, and a dark new adult series for Gallery Books.

A. Meredith spent ten years as a counselor for at risk teens and children. First working at a Domestic Violence/Sexual Assault program and then later a program for children with severe emotional and mental health issues. Her former clients and their stories continue to influence every aspect of her writing.

When not writing (or being tortured with all manner of beauty products at the hand of her very imaginative and extremely girly daughter), she is eating chocolate, watching reality television that could rot your brain and reading a smutty novel or two.

A. Meredith is represented by Michelle Johnson with the Inklings Literary Agency.

Top Ten Tuesday: Books I'm Thankful For

This is a meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish where each week bloggers share a list of books for the prompt given. So hopefully I'll have a new list to share with you all each week!

This Week's Topic: Top Ten Books I'm Thankful For

It's the week of Thanksgiving, which means that everyone is talking about what they are thankful for. I am very excited to be looking at books that I am so thankful have entered my life. These books have either influenced me as a reader or influenced my life in general and I couldn't be more thankful for them!

1. Harry Potter by JK Rowling 
2. Outlander by Diana Gabaldon
3. Maybe Someday by Colleen Hoover


4. The Boys Next Door by Jennifer Echols
5. Ready Player One by Ernest Cline
6. Breathe, Annie, Breathe by Miranda Kenneally 


7. Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles 
8. Two-Way Street by Lauren Barnholdt 
9. Me Before You by Jojo Moyes


10. The Last Song by Nicholas Sparks

Monday, November 23, 2015

Book Spotlight + Giveaway: How to Seduce a Scot by Christy English

How to Seduce a Scot
By Christy English 
Release Date: December 1, 2015
He’s the terror of the ton...

The plan is simple:
1. Descend from the Highlands to face the aggravation of a London Season;
2. Foist his wild sister off on some gullible English lord;
3. Retreat before the ladies of the scandalized ton can get any ideas.

Determined to see his hellion of a sister wed, Highlander Alexander Waters is willing to face anything—even the English. He just didn’t expect his own rough manners to cause such a riot…or for a blooming English rose to catch his eye.

Gently bred Catherine Middlebrook must find a respectable man to marry or her family will be ruined. She won’t allow herself to be distracted by Highland barbarians…no matter how her body may thrill whenever Alex is near.

Catherine wasn’t part of the plan, but as their battle of wills escalates, Alex comes to realize this “proper” English girl is as wild as the Highlands themselves...and nothing will stop him from having her.

Buy Links
Barnes and Noble: http://bit.ly/1MKz10e
Books a Million: http://bit.ly/1PCobPd
Indie Bound: http://bit.ly/1O3HVcG


What Kind of Historical Romance Heroine Are You? 



About the Author
Ever since Christy English picked up a fake sword in stage combat class at the age of fourteen, she has lived vicariously through the sword-wielding women of her imagination. A banker by day and a writer by night, she loves to eat chocolate, drink too many soft drinks, and walk the mountain trails of her home in North Carolina.



Giveaway

Saturday, November 21, 2015

Stacking the Shelves (170)

Stacking the Shelves is a meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews where bloggers share what books they got throughout the week!

From Publisher
These AMAZING books came in the mail this week and, let me tell you, I definitely did a happy dance when I opened the packages. Seriously, JR Ward's new book??!?!?! Ah! While I wasn't a big fan of the first book in Lauren Dane's Ink & Chrome series, I'm willing to give this book a shot! Thanks to the amazing publishers for these books! 

From Half Price Books
Yes, I went back to Half Price Books after already going there last week for their coupon week. I just couldn't resist! I found these three beauties in the clearance section, which means the YA titles were only $1 each and the Abbi Glines book was only $2. Then I got to use my education discount (10% off) on top of that! I just love Half Price Books :)

From OTSP Secret Sister
I got the most amazing package ever from my secret sister. Seriously, I thought the previous packages were amazing, but this one sure does take the cake. First off, she sent me First & Then. AHHHHH. Seriously, I have been swooning over this book ever since I heard about it and I actually have a copy now! The theme was "treat yourself" which I thought was absolutely adorable. I love the chevron headband and the face masks! And, I am OBSESSED with EOS lip balm and actually don't have this flavor yet! It's all just too perfect. Thanks so much, Secret Sis! 

Wednesday, November 18, 2015

Waiting on Wednesday (218)



This is a meme hosted by Breaking the Spine where every Wednesday bloggers highlight a book that they are eagerly anticipating the release of!

Starflight 
By Melissa Landers
Release Date: February 2, 2016
Life in the outer realm is a lawless, dirty, hard existence, and Solara Brooks is hungry for it. Just out of the orphanage, she needs a fresh start in a place where nobody cares about the engine grease beneath her fingernails or the felony tattoos across her knuckles. She's so desperate to reach the realm that she's willing to indenture herself to Doran Spaulding, the rich and popular quarterback who made her life miserable all through high school, in exchange for passage aboard the spaceliner Zenith.

When a twist of fate lands them instead on the Banshee, a vessel of dubious repute, Doran learns he's been framed on Earth for conspiracy. As he pursues a set of mysterious coordinates rumored to hold the key to clearing his name, he and Solara must get past their enmity to work together and evade those out for their arrest. Life on the Banshee may be tumultuous, but as Solara and Doran are forced to question everything they once believed about their world--and each other--the ship becomes home, and the eccentric crew family. But what Solara and Doran discover on the mysterious Planet X has the power to not only alter their lives, but the existence of everyone in the universe


-----------------------------------

I have been extremely fortunate to have been able to meet Melissa Landers not once, but twice in the past two years. She always attends Books By the Banks, an amazing author event held in Cincinnati, OH. When I was there last month, Melissa told me that I looked familiar and I completely had a heart attack. She remembered me from last year! This year, we chatted about her Alienated series and then she told me all about her new book, which I had no idea about. She told me it was a mix between the movie Overboard and the TV show Firefly. Little did she know, I LOVE Overboard and actually watched it a ton when I was younger. Gotta love a super young Kurt Russell and Goldie Hawn! While I haven't seen Firefly, I have definitely been interested in watching the show for awhile now. Needless to say, the comparison to those two stories has me beyond excited to pick up this book. February can't come soon enough! 

Tuesday, November 17, 2015

Naughty or Nice Blog Tour: Guest Post + Giveaway


Hello, everyone! I am beyond excited to be a stop on the Naughty or Nice Winter Blog Tour! Today, we are celebrating the releases of six great books and I have a super fun holiday post from Lucy Parker to share with you all! With the holidays fast approaching, Lucy has some cute and delicious recipes that you can indulge in this holiday season. Enjoy! And don't forget to check out the awesome giveaway at the end of this post! 


It’s almost that time of year again.

Christmas carols are starting to play on a continuous loop at the mall, your mailbox is overflowing with festive junk mail, overexcited children can be coerced into good behaviour by vague threats about the all-seeing eyes of Santa Claus, and candy cane-spiked hot drinks are back on the menu. The nights are drawing in and there’s a hint of snow in the air. Or, if you live here in the southern hemisphere, it’s becoming swelteringly hot and you’re cranking up the barbeque and whipping out the beach towels.

So what better time than to hang out in a stifling kitchen and try to make things with melted chocolate?

The basic recipe for these comes courtesy of my mum, who’s been making them for years, and these truffles are the taste of Christmas for me. I’ve discovered in recent years that it’s very easy to make them all cute and whimsical as well as freakin’ delicious.

Thus, there are three decorating options: The Classic, The Christmas Pudding and The Rudolph. Pick your favourite—or try them all. J

(All versions taste best if stored in the fridge and served chilled. Dangerously, can also eat them straight from the freezer.)

The Classic Version
(Can be doubled or tripled. I recommend quadrupled. They’re really good truffles.)

• ½ packet wine biscuits (not as interestingly boozy as they sound. If you’re in America, graham crackers would probably be a good substiture. If you’re in the UK, digestive biscuits should work. A packet of wine biscuits is 250g.)
• ¼ cup cocoa powder
• 1 cup icing sugar (powdered/confectioner’s sugar)
• ½ cup desiccated coconut
• 100g butter (softened to a spreadable texture, but not melted)
• 2 tablespoons sherry
• 1 teaspoon rum essence

(1) Put biscuits/cookies in a food processor and pulverise. If you don’t have a food processor, you’re probably going to need to put them in a plastic ziplock bag and get really aggressive with a rolling pin. We need fine crumbs.

(2) Add the cocoa powder, icing sugar, coconut and butter. Mix well.

(3) Add the sherry and rum essence. Mix some more. And take a few deep breaths, because it should be smelling really good now.

(4) With wet hands, roll the mixture into small balls.

(5) If making The Classic* version, roll each ball in either chocolate hail (chocolate sprinkles) or dessicated coconut. Put on trays in the fridge to chill.

If you want something a little more time-consuming and a lot more cute…


The Christmas Pudding Version
You’ll need:

• 1 packet Oreos or similar chocolate cookies, crushed into crumbs
• White chocolate
• Red and green-coloured gummy candy

What to do:

(1) Make the truffles through to step 4.

(2) Instead of rolling the truffles in chocolate hail or coconut, roll each truffle in the crushed chocolate cookie crumbs.

(3) Melt the white chocolate in a smaller bowl. Chop the red and green gummy candies into small pieces.

(4) Spoon a small dollop of white chocolate onto each truffle (for the Christmas pudding icing) and place one piece of red gummy candy and two pieces of green candy on top (for the holly and berries).

(5) Leave to set completely. 

The Rudolph Truffles Version
You’ll need:

• A bowl of melted dark chocolate
• Miniature pretzels
• Red M&Ms
• White chocolate chips
• A thin skewer

What to do:

(1) Make the truffles through to step 4.

(2) Instead of rolling the truffles in chocolate hail or coconut, dip each truffle in dark chocolate until coated.

(3) Break the miniature pretzels in half until you have pieces that look vaguely like reindeer antlers, with a bit of a imagination.

(4) Push two antlers/pieces of pretzel into the top of each truffle.

(5) Put one red M&M on each truffle for the nose.

(6) Place two white chocolate chips on each truffle for the eyes.

(7) Dip the tip of the skewer into the melted dark chocolate and dab a tiny dot onto each white chocolate chip.

(8) Leave the truffles to set completely.

(9) Look at how cute they are.

All versions of the truffles make great treats for after Christmas lunch, and they make fantastic homemade gifts for friends and co-workers.

Happy Holidays!
(And if you do decide to make these, please tweet me at @_LucyParker, because I’d love to see! J)

Check out Lucy's novel! 
Act Like It
By Lucy Harper
Release Date: November 30, 2015
This just in: romance takes center stage as West End theatre's Richard Troy steps out with none other than castmate Elaine Graham

Richard Troy used to be the hottest actor in London, but the only thing firing up lately is his temper. We all love to love a bad boy, but Richard's antics have made him Enemy Number One, breaking the hearts of fans across the city.

Have the tides turned? Has English rose Lainie Graham made him into a new man?

Sources say the mismatched pair has been spotted at multiple events, arm in arm and hip to hip. From fits of jealousy to longing looks and heated whispers, onlookers are stunned by this blooming romance.

Could the rumors be right? Could this unlikely romance be the real thing? Or are these gifted stage actors playing us all?
 

Giveaway
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