FREE BOOK... Popping the Cherry *updated*

Big news!!

Popping the Cherry has been picked up by Apple/iTunes has part of their 'first in a series' promotion which means you can pick up the first book in my Facing the Music series for absolutely nothing.

Yep, it's FREE!

If you've got an iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch or Mac, go and grab your copy HERE.

Oh, and fear not, Kindle and Kobo users, the promotion has been price-matched by Amazon and Kobo too but I'm not supposed to shout too loud about that.

UPDATE: Now free on Google play and NOOK as well!

Go, tell your friends and help spread the word.

And as if that wasn't exciting enough, allow me to unveil the brand new trailer...

NEW RELEASE: A Girl Called Malice

After a year in the making, the time has finally come for Alice to make her mark on the world.

I have plumbed the depths of my emotions and spent an obscenely unhealthy amount of time trapped inside the head of one very messed up character and I couldn't be more proud of Alice's story and her eventful journey.

It’s not easy being the Queen Bee.

Alice Taylor should know.

You know that girl. The one that the whole school’s social life seems to revolve around. Alice used to be that girl until she decided to quit sixth form college. Suddenly her ‘friends’ aren’t so interested in following her around and her attention-grabbing behaviour is about to get her kicked out of home. With nowhere to go and no one to turn to, her world starts spiralling seriously out of control.

Only new friend Zac Newton seems to believe in her. Lifeguard and poolside hottie, Zac is quite literally her lifesaver. But then, he’s never met ‘Malice’, her mean-girl alter ego, and Alice wants to keep it that way. She knows this is her last chance for a fresh start until her sordid past catches up with her at the worst possible moment.

As everything Alice has worked towards comes crashing down around her, she realises that the hardest thing of all is being yourself…

Giveaway...

To celebrate the release, I am running a giveaway on Facebook and Twitter; all you have to do is share a photo of you with A Girl Called Malice open on your ereader or tablet. Simple!

Buy it now...

Add to Goodreads

Released: 3rd October 2014
ISBN: 978-1-474-00755-9

Amazon UK ¦ US
Kobo
Nook UK
Google Books
Sainsbury's
Blinkbox (Tesco)
eBooks.com


More links will be added to the A Girl Called Malice page of my website as they go live.

I hope you love A Girl Called Malice...and Alice...as much as I do!

Happy reading,
Aurelia x

COVER REVEAL... A Girl Called Malice

It's all getting very exciting with the standalone sequel to Popping the Cherry less than a fortnight away from release, and today I am delighted to reveal the cover for A Girl Called Malice...

It’s not easy being the Queen Bee. Alice Taylor should know. 

You know that girl. The one that the whole school’s social life seems to revolve around. Alice used to be that girl until she decided to quit sixth form college. Suddenly her ‘friends’ aren’t so interested in following her around and her attention-grabbing behaviour is about to get her kicked out of home. With nowhere to go and no one to turn to, her world starts spiralling seriously out of control.

Only new friend Zac Newton seems to believe in her. Lifeguard and poolside hottie, Zac is quite literally her lifesaver. But then, he’s never met ‘Malice’, her mean-girl alter ego, and Alice wants to keep it that way. She knows this is her last chance for a fresh start until her sordid past catches up with her at the worst possible moment.

As everything Alice has worked towards comes crashing down around her, she realises that the hardest thing of all is being yourself…

I am so ridiculously excited that it's almost time for you to get your hands on Alice's story; I hope you learn to forgive her and let her into your hearts.

On that note, I shall be back with the pre-order/buy links as soon as they are available but in the meantime, I'd love it if you could add it to your TBR list today...

Price drop... Popping the Cherry **JUST 59p/99c**

So this happened over the weekend!

Since then, the price has gone down even more in the UK! o_O

Yes, you can now snap up a copy of Popping the Cherry, book 1 in my YA/NA series, for the princely sum of just 59p in the UK and only 99c in the US. Oh, and it's €1-ish for my Irish and other European contingent.

Crazy!

The promotion is across most major ebook retailers including Amazon, iTunes, Kobo, Nook UK, Google Books and more. You can find all of the links HERE.

The blurb...

Click here for book trailer

You only get one first time...

From driving tests to relationships, Valentina Bell thinks she's a failure, with a big fat capital F. At this rate, she's certain she'll be a virgin forever. So Lena's friends plan Operation: Popping the Cherry to help her find the perfect first time.

Yet somehow disastrous dates with bad boy musicians and fabulous evenings with secretly in-the-closet guys aren't quite working out how Lena planned.

Soon Lena's avoiding Operation: Popping the Cherry to spend time with comforting, aloof Jake, her best friend's older brother ,who doesn't make her feel self-conscious about still clinging to her V card. But could Jake show Lena that sometimes what you're looking for most is right by your side?

A Forever for the twenty-first century

Twenty Questions with... Stina Lindenblatt

For today's round of #TwentyQuestions, I am delighted to welcome Stina Lindenblatt onto my blog, author of Tell Me When released earlier this year by Carina Press (kind of like the big sister of my own publisher, I guess).

Since my deadline is hanging over me like a ticking time bomb, I shall jump straight in with the questions...

ACT ONE – all about you…

Stina Lindenblatt writes New Adult contemporary romances and currently lives in Calgary with her husband and three kids. When she isn’t writing or lost in a romance novel, Stina loves to spend her free time behind the camera lens. She’s also a contributing blogger on the Querytracker blog.


1) Have you always been a writer or is it something you fell into?

I’ve wanted to be a writer since I was nine years old, but I didn’t start officially writing stories until I left my job as a pharmaceutical drug rep to become a stay-at-home mom. 

2) Do you have a particular writing style or ritual?

I don’t have any exciting rituals. Hmmm. This probably means I need to start some. I do turn off the Internet whenever possible (i.e. when the kids aren’t home) to avoid the temptation of playing around on it. I’m very easily distracted.

3) Is there a book or an author that has influenced you in your writing?

Yes and no. There are a lot of YA and NA authors I love, both because of their writing and their stories. One of my favorite authors is Katie McGarry. When I wrote Tell Me When, I wanted to write a story that touched readers the same way Pushing The Limits affected me. That book makes me cry every time I read it.

4) Is there one piece of writing (or life?) advice that has stuck with you, or that you would like to share?

Read. Read. Read. And never stop challenging yourself to do better. Both would explain my overstuffed bookshelves, especially when it comes to books that deal with the craft of writing.

5) Can you tell us three things about yourself that we probably don’t already know?

I’m originally from England but now live in Canada. I’ve also lived in the US and Finland. I have a Master’s of Science in exercise physiology and a Physical Education degree. Oddly enough, the one class I almost failed in high school was physical education. 

6) What five luxury items or gadgets would you hate to be without?

My MacBook Air (I love using Scrivener on it). My iPod Touch. I use it for music and ebooks. And that’s about it. 

ACT TWO – all about your new release…

Amber Scott should be enjoying life as a college freshman. She should be pursuing her dream of becoming a veterinarian. She should be working hard to make sense of her precalculus math class.

She shouldn’t be waking up her college roommate with screaming nightmares. She shouldn’t be flashing back, reliving the three weeks of hell she barely survived last year. And she definitely shouldn’t be spending time with sexy player Marcus Reid.

But engineering student Marcus is the only one keeping Amber from failing her math course, so she grudgingly lets him into her life. She never expects the king of hookups will share his painful past. Or that she’ll tell him her secrets in return, opening up and trusting him in a way she thought she’d never be able to again.

When their fragile future together is threatened by a stalker Amber thought was locked away for good, Marcus is determined to protect her—and Amber is determined to protect Marcus…even if that means pushing him away.

7) Congratulations on your recent release of Tell Me When, what was your inspiration for writing the story?

I was stalked while in university. When I decided to write a New Adult story, I knew I wanted to write about stalking since it’s common problem for high school and college students.

8) Did the story flow from your finger tips or did some scenes take a bit of cajoling?

Once I realized the story was about a girl trying to reclaim her life after she had been stalked and kidnapped in high school, the story came fairly easily to me. 

9) I see Tell Me When is your debut, how long did it take for the initial spark of the story to make it onto the page and then onto the publisher’s desk?

It took about eight months from the time I came up with the idea for the story to when Carina Press offered the two-book contract. Considering it used to take me a year to write a book before I’d start querying it, eight months was fast for me.

10) Do you have a favourite paragraph or sentence from your story that you would like to tantalise us with?

I continue kissing him and feel something stir deep. I quickly stamp it down as I pull away. A subtle taste of victory courses through me.  My experiment, a success.

11) Over to you, what can you tell us about Tell Me When, to make us rush out and buy it?

The book has been described as a beautiful, heartbreaking story. It deals with tough subject matter, some of which hasn’t been addressed in New Adult stories before now. I can’t say what it is because it’s a major plot point. All the reviewers have avoided mentioning it directly, but it is part of the story that has touched them the most.

12) What can we expect from you next? Is there something you are working on right now? 

Let Me Know is the sequel to Tell Me When. It’s scheduled to be released September 1st. Tell Me When is a standalone novel, but there were some lose threads at the end of it and Carina Press asked me to write a sequel. 

I’m also working on another New Adult contemporary romance tentatively titled Heat It Up. It was inspired by my time in Finland when I was in university. I’ll be sending it to my agent soon.

QUICK FIRE ROUND – it’s pop quiz time…

13) Plotter or pantser?

Plotter

14) Digital books or print books?

Both, but mostly digital.

15) Tea or coffee?

Neither. I’m not a fan of hot drinks. Diet Dr. Pepper is my fav.

16) Extrovert or introvert?

Introvert

17) Facebook or Twitter?

Twitter

18) Christmas or birthday? 

Christmas

19) Morning person or night owl?

Morning person

20) Sweet or savoury?

Depends on my mood. 

And that’s a wrap!

Thank you so much for taking part, Stina, I wish you every success with your new release.

To discover even more about Stina Lindenblatt, and to keep up with her latest projects and shenanigans, you can visit her at:

Website/blog     Facebook     Twitter     Pinterest

Buy it now…

Add to Goodreads

ISBN: 9781426897887
Released: 20th January 2014

Carina Press
Amazon UK / US
Nook UK / US
Kobo
iTunes

Excerpt…

He shrugs. “Our relationship only lasted the summer, but I quickly discovered that plenty of girls wanted to have sex with me. I was fine with that.” He looks back at me. “I was fine with that till I met you. You’re the only girl who makes me feel something.”

“Me? I haven’t had sex with you.”

Pain flickers on his face for a brief second. I can tell he’s thinking back to the night he almost tried to take things that far. “No, but just holding you makes me feel alive. This makes me feel alive.” He lowers his lips to mine and lightly kisses my mouth. 

His smell, a combination of safety and spice, wraps me in a comforting cocoon. He makes me feel alive.

Twenty questions with... Chanel Cleeton

I am delighted to welcome Chanel Cleeton onto my blog today.

Chanel has jetted in for a round of Twenty Questions to celebrate her debut release,  I See London released earlier this month by Harlequin HQN.

ACT ONE – all about you...

Chanel Cleeton writes New Adult contemporary romances. Her New Adult debut, I SEE LONDON, will be released by Harlequin (HQN) on February 3, 2014, followed by a sequel, LONDON FALLING, on July 7, 2014. An avid reader and hopeless romantic, Chanel is happiest curled up with a book. She has a weakness for handbags, puppy cuddles, and her fighter pilot husband. Chanel loves to travel and is currently living an adventure in South Korea.


1) Have you always been a writer or is it something you fell into?

It’s sort of something I fell into. I’ve ALWAYS been a reader. Books have played a huge role in my life. From there I progressed to writing. Once I caught the writing bug I was a goner :)

2) Do you have a particular writing style or ritual?

I don’t! I wish I did. My schedule is a bit chaotic right now so there’s really no method to the madness. The only thing that is normally a given is that I always write short and then add more when I’m editing.

3) Is there a book or an author that has influenced you in your writing?

Everyone :) I’ve been reading romance novels since I was ten years old so the romance genre has been a huge inspiration for me. Authors like Nora Roberts, Judith McNaught, and Brenda Joyce changed my life.

4) Is there one piece of writing (or life?) advice that has stuck with you, or that you would like to share?

Write daily. Nora Roberts gives that advice and it really helps to make writing a habit.

5) Can you tell us three things about yourself that we probably don’t already know?

I can’t whistle, my first language was Spanish, and peas are my least favorite vegetable.

6) What five luxury items or gadgets would you hate to be without?

Ooh this makes me realize how bad my technology addiction is…my iPhone, laptop, Kindle…actually I think that’s it. Three’s not so bad :)

ACT TWO – all about your new release...

Maggie Carpenter is ready for a change— and to leave her ordinary life in South Carolina behind. But when she accepts a scholarship to the International School in London, a university attended by the privileged offspring of diplomats and world leaders, Maggie might get more than she bargained for.

When Maggie meets Hugh, a twentysomething British guy, she finds herself living the life she always wanted. Suddenly she’s riding around the city in a Ferrari, wearing borrowed designer clothes and going to the hottest clubs. The only problem? Another guy, the one she can’t seem to keep her hands off of. 

Half French, half Lebanese, and ridiculously wealthy, Samir Khouri has made it clear he doesn’t do relationships. He’s the opposite of everything Maggie thought she wanted…and he’s everything she can’t resist. Torn between her dream guy and the boy haunting her dreams, Maggie has to fight for her own happy ending. In a city like London, you never know where you stand, and everything can change in the blink of an eye.

7) Congratulations on your recent release of I See London, what was your inspiration for writing Maggie’s story?

When I was seventeen I moved to London to attend an international university. It was an incredible, life-changing experience. I wanted to write a story about a girl who had a similar adventure in her life.

8) Did the story flow from your finger tips or did some scenes take a bit of cajoling?

In the beginning the book was a bit challenging because it was my first attempt at writing New Adult. But once I settled in and caught my stride it began to flow really well. I just needed my characters to tell me their story :)

9) I realise I See London is your debut, how long did it take for the initial spark of the story to make it onto the page and then onto the publisher’s desk?

I started writing the story in October of 2012, we went on submission in May 2013, and had an offer in June. I wrote the book through one of the CRAZIEST times in my life- I was working, finishing my final year in law school, and preparing to move to South Korea. I literally got my agent’s notes on the manuscript as we were boarding our flight to Seoul. It was hectic and exciting :)

10) Do you have a favourite paragraph or sentence from your story that you would like to tantalise us with?

“There was something magical about London nights, something in the air that whispered possibilities—and adventure on the horizon. It was in the air tonight.”

11) Over to you, what can you tell us about I See London, to make us rush out and buy it?

I See London is set at an international university in London. The characters are from all over the world and bring unique life experiences with them. It definitely provides for a different take on the traditional university experience. Plus, there’s the added bonus of trips to Paris and Venice and a very swoon worthy half French, half Lebanese hero :) It’s a romance but it’s also very much a story about following your dreams.

12) What can we expect from you next? Is there something you are working on right now?

The sequel to I See London, titled London Falling, will release from Harlequin HQN on July 7th. I just turned it in to my editor last month. I have two NA projects in the works right now but they’re still “in development.” :)

QUICK FIRE ROUND – it’s pop quiz time...

13) Plotter or pantser?

Pantser

14) Digital books or print books?

Both

15) Tea or coffee?

Coffee

16) Extrovert or introvert?

Both

17) Facebook or Twitter?

Twitter

18) Christmas or birthday?

Christmas

19) Morning person or night owl?

Night owl

20) Sweet or savoury?

Both

And that’s a wrap!

Thank you so much for taking part, Chanel, I wish you every success with your new release.

To discover even more about Chanel Cleeton, and to keep up with her latest projects and shenanigans, you can visit her at:

Twitter     Facebook     Website

Buy it now...

Add to Goodreads

ISBN: 9781459255470
Released: 3rd February 2014

Harlequin
Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Kobo
iTunes

(not currently available in the UK)

Twenty Questions with... Brandi Kennedy

Make yourself comfortable for another round of Twenty Questions.

This week I am delighted to welcome Brandi Kennedy into the hot seat, author of The Kingsley Series, The Selkie Trilogy, and Fighting For Freedom.

Let's go!

ACT ONE – all about you…

Well, my official bio says, “Brandi Kennedy is an American writer who is finally living her childhood career dream. As a child, books were her world, and through adulthood that love of words has never changed. A woman of varied interests, Brandi loves photography, music of all kinds, knitting, crochet and of course, mothering her two young daughters. Currently, she finds her home in the heart of Knoxville, Tennessee, among the mountains and the members of her extended family, where she spends her days at the computer, bringing fresh and incredibly real characters to life.”

But really, I’m just a girl, making her way through life. I love my friends, I love my daughters and my family. But through all of that, there’s this need to create something, and I love that too, even though it set me apart from the people I knew for most of my life. Writing has opened the world up to me though, and introduced me to people who “get it,” in the way that my loved ones never could. And I think it’s that feeling of creative community that really allows me to do what I do.


1) Have you always been a writer or is it something you fell into?

I think I’ve always been a writer. When I was little, I would write little stories all the time, and I’d write poetry. There’s always been a part of me that’s completely in love with words, the descriptive painting of regular prose, or the lyrical rhythm of poetry. I love all of it, and I can’t remember a time when I didn’t.

2) Do you have a particular writing style or ritual?

Not really. Honestly, I have found that getting myself locked into a certain type of writing or a certain writing place ... well, I guess it stifles me. I do tend to write more easily if I have some sort of running outline though – it doesn’t always cover the entire story, but I do better if I’ve got at least a vague idea of where the next chapters are going. Then again, I wrote Fighting For Freedom and Wrestling Harmony with basically no plan at all, just pretty much following the characters around in my head. That’s seems to have worked fairly well, too.

3) Is there a book or an author that has influenced you in your writing?

If I’m giving you the first answer that flows out of me? I’d say it was Johanna Lindsey’s Love Only Once. That was the book that introduced me to romantic fiction for the first time, and I literally couldn’t put it down. Everything about it fascinated me. If I give something that’s maybe more inclusive, I’d list Nicholas Sparks, Nora Roberts, Marie Force. Diana Gabaldon. But if I’m giving the question real thought and a deeper answer, I’d say it all influences me. Everything I read influences the flow of my writing, the style of my descriptive text, my dialogue, right on down to my punctuation style. Because of this, I’m careful of what I read.

4) Is there one piece of writing (or life?) advice that has stuck with you, or that you would like to share?

Strive to be professional. Read and re-read. Edit, and then edit again. And NEVER let your skin be so thin that you can’t accept the criticism or opinions of others as something that could be helpful to you. Even the most hurtful things can be the things that fuel your determination to better yourself and your craft, if you let them.

Before my horribly unpopular To Love A Selkie grew and became the much-loved Selkie, I got a review that totally shattered me for a few minutes. It was mean and hateful, simply because the reader didn’t like the ending, and was written without regard for their love of the characters or any other aspect of the story. Among other things, the review said that To Love A Selkie was “very badly wrote.” And it took me a while to recover from that, but once I got over the irony of a review that contained the phrase “badly wrote,” I started looking on it as a thing that could fuel me. It’s been over a year since that review, I think, and to this day, every good review on my books makes me sit back with a satisfied smile, and say to myself, “Well. That one must have been ‘goodly wrote.’”

5) Can you tell us three things about yourself that we probably don’t already know?

Well, I guess that depends on whether or not you’ve read my blog. Over the course of the last year, I’ve done series posts that included 50 Random Things About Me and a 20 Questions set that I found online one day and wanted to answer. But if I had to give three things off the top of my head, I can give these: One, I design my own covers and swag. Two, I have entire random scenes written out for books that aren’t planned or plotted, that include characters with no names or definite information. They just pop into my head and I write them down for later. And three, when I first wrote To Love A Selkie, I did it on a little 10-inch Netbook with about five keyboard keys that didn’t work half the time.

6) What five luxury items or gadgets would you hate to be without?

First, my phone. I’m pretty that if I had to live in a world that didn’t include my cell phone, I’d shrivel up and die from the abject misery. For me, it’s a pocket TV, it’s my connection to the music I can’t live without, and it keeps me in touch with the people that keep me sane. Second, my laptop, because I use it exclusively to write, and without writing, I’m not sure I could survive. It’s too much a part of me. Third, air conditioning. I simply don’t want to exist in a world without a/c. I’m too hot-blooded for that. Fourth, my Kindle. I still love old fashioned regular books, but since I like to read really weighty novels, I prefer my kindle. It’s better on my carpal tunnel/tendonitis thing that haunts my right wrist and hand. And honestly, I’m not sure there is a fifth one, unless I can use the internet as a luxury item, lol. I really can’t live without it, but I’m not sure it’s really a luxury item.

ACT TWO – all about your new release…

Harmony Kingsley is still carrying lingering anxieties from the past. She doesn’t trust easily, and she struggles to accept change, but right now, it seems like everything is changing. And she’s not sure she can keep up.

One of those changes is tall, strong, confident, and impossibly sexy. In the end, will Xander’s love be a change that Harmony can trust and accept?

7) Congratulations on your recent release of Wrestling Harmony, Book Three in the Kingsley Series, what was your inspiration for writing Harmony and Xander’s story?

Well, first off, it was just Harmony’s turn, and I loved her energy and her struggle. But Xander Harrison is pulled directly from a love of professional entertainment wrestling that borders on obsession.

8) Did the story flow from your finger tips or did some scenes take a bit of cajoling?

A little of both, I suppose. Some of it just came easily, but there were bits I struggled with and scenes that I wrote over and over before I felt that they were aligned right with the characters in the story.

9) How long did it take for the initial spark of the story to make it onto the page and then onto the publisher’s desk?

Haha! Well, since I’m my own publisher, I can say about a millisecond. The entire story was written on the publisher’s desk. In all seriousness, I think the story took three months, maybe four, from writing the first word to clicking publish on Amazon.

10) Do you have a favourite paragraph or sentence from your story that you would like to tantalise us with?

“I don’t have words for her,” Xander answered. “She’s sunlight in the morning. She’s moonbeams; she’s the star I follow when I’m on the road and I’m heading home.”

Adam nodded, a slow smile spreading over his lips. “She’s good morning,” he said, nodding slightly as Eva looked over and met his eyes.

“And she’s goodnight,” Xander finished.

11) Over to you, what can you tell us about Wrestling Harmony, to make us rush out and buy it?

Well, first off, I should clarify that even though Wrestling Harmony is the third book in the Kingsley Series, the series doesn’t have to be read in order, or even together.

With that said, Harmony Kingsley is a girl struggling not only with the loss of her career dream, but from the fallout of a really traumatic event she witnessed the effects of at a young age. In this story, she’s going through the hardship of figuring out who she is as an individual, and that means discovering a new dream, letting go of the past, and stepping out of the shadow of her family to finally become her own woman in an entirely new way. And this new sense of self of course leads Harmony into discovering love for the first time.

I should also let readers know that even though it’s marketed with the rest of the Kingsley Series as a contemporary romance, in so many ways, it’s really a New Adult romance, with all of the integral discovery of your classic coming-of age.

12) What can we expect from you next? Is there something you are working on right now?

Currently, I’m working on the fourth book in the Kingsley Series, which is Michael’s story. I’ve also got plans to write the second book in the Selkie Trilogy this year, and the sequel to Fighting For Freedom.

In the meantime, I’m finalizing plans and preparations to appear at the Tennessee Valley Author Event in Knoxville, Tennessee. That’s July 12th of this year, and it’ll be my first public event – I’ll be with 100 other authors, meeting fans and signing books, and I am unbelievably excited.

QUICK FIRE ROUND – it’s pop quiz time…

13) Plotter or pantser?

I’m a little of both.

14) Digital books or print books?

Digital, mostly.

15) Tea or coffee?

Tea.

16) Extrovert or introvert?

Introvert, for sure.

17) Facebook or Twitter?

Facebook.

18) Christmas or birthday?

Christmas.

19) Morning person or night owl?

Night owl.

20) Sweet or savoury?

Depends on the mood I’m in.

And that’s a wrap!

Thank you so much for taking part, Brandi, I wish you every success with your new release.

To discover even more about Brandi Kennedy, and to keep up with her latest projects, you can visit her at:

Amazon Author     Blog/Website     Facebook
Twitter     Goodreads     YouTube

Tennessee Valley Author Event Information

Buy it now…

.

Released: November 2013
ISBN: 9781494207731

Amazon UK / US
Barnes & Noble

Twenty Questions with... Monica Garry-Allen plus GIVEAWAY

Today's blog post brings an end to the 2013 guest spots as I take a break next week for Christmas. It's hard to believe that a year passed since I started my Twenty Questions guest interviews but I hope you've enjoyed them. I already have many guests lined up for 2014, continuing in the now familiar Thursday slot, and kicking off on January 2nd.

So, for my final guest of 2013, I am delighted to welcome Monica Garry-Allen onto my blog, author of Christmas Confusion, recently released by Front Porch Romance. Monica also comes bearing a gift so remember to scroll all the way to the bottom to check out her giveaway.

ACT ONE – all about you…

Monica Garry-Allen has loved reading for as long as she can remember. As a child her mother always purchased books for her at her school’s book fair. Back then her favorite book was The Little Mermaid. Now days she reads and tells stories to her nieces and nephews during her weekend sleepovers. She loves kids, especially her wonderful nieces and nephews, but does not have any of her own yet.

Monica is a full time Clinical Laboratory Scientist. When she is not working in the lab she’s writing humorous love stories and steamy romances. She recently married the man of her dreams, Dempsey Allen, who motivates her to be the best writer she can be. She has a loving family who supports her one hundred percent and friends who can’t wait to read her next story. She resides in the southern part of Mississippi where she enjoys shopping, reading, writing and spending time with her family.

1) Have you always been a writer or is it something you fell into?

I’ve always been a writer, in my head. LOL. I work as a Clinical Laboratory Technician but I’ve always dreamed of being a writer.

2) Do you have a particular writing style or ritual?

I have a ritual... I love to write in complete silence. I have my own office and it bothers me a great deal when my hubby comes in and asks me anything.... especially stuff he already knows the answer to like, do you want something to eat; of course I want something to eat. LOL, just joking. But seriously I do need complete silence when I write. I take everything I need into my office with me so that I don’t have to leave out and do anything. The things I need are water, juice, a snack and a dictionary. J

3) Is there a book or an author that has influenced you in your writing? Or perhaps one piece of advice that has stuck with you that you’d like to share?

There are a few authors that influence my writing: Kresley Cole and Bertrice Small are a couple of them. My husband gives the best advice. He always tells me to never give up. He’s my biggest supporter.

4) Can you tell us three things about yourself that we probably don’t already know?

1 - I got married in June of this year.

2 – I’m the youngest of 8 children.

3 – My favourite television show is, ‘The Walking Dead’. #TeamDaryl

5) What five luxury items or gadgets would you hate to be without?

1 – My laptop

2 – My cell phone

3 – My husband (LOL)

4 – Toothe paste

5- Soap

6) The festive season is looming large, do you have a particular Christmas tradition that you like to indulge in? Or how about New Year’s resolutions; will you be joining in the madness for 2014?

Christmas Traditions – When I was younger my mother always allowed me to open one gift at night. Now that I am grown, my husband and I still open one gift on Christmas eve.

My New Year’s resolution this time around is to learn how to cook.

ACT TWO – all about your new release…

Can two people be any more confused than Bailey and Max?

Bailey Cooper is very much attracted to her neighbor Max Davis. Unfortunately for Bailey, Greg – Max’s lover is slowly becoming one of Bailey’s best friends. Bailey’s emotions are torn; she adores Greg’s friendship while at the same time she craves Max’s touch. What is a girl to do when she ‘thinks’ the man she's in love with is in love with someone else?

Max Davis and his baby brother Greg Davis are co-owners of the apartment building they live in. Max has fallen for his tenant, Bailey, but she avoids and ignores all of his advances. Max becomes suspicious of the friendship blooming between Greg and Bailey. He believes she has a crush on his brother but Max wants her all to himself. Now he has to think of ways to keep Bailey and Greg apart.

Will a holiday weekend full of chaos, confusion and a little bit of charm finally get Bailey and Max on the right track? Or will a few innocent caresses lead to more Christmas confusion?

7) Congratulations on your recent release of Christmas Confusion; what was your inspiration for writing Max and Bailey’s story?

Bailey’s character came to me one night at work. I wanted to write a story of a young woman who was moving into her first apartment and finding herself falling in love for the first time. But life isn’t simple so I had to give her a few obstacles to overcome and she handles them all brilliantly.

8) Did the story flow from your finger tips or did some scenes take a bit of cajoling?

This particular story was easy to write. The words seemed to just come to me.

9) How long did it take for the initial spark of the story to make it onto the page and then onto the publisher’s desk?

It took me about three months to write this novella, Christmas Confusion. I submitted it to Front Porch Romance in April and received a contract a week later.

10) Do you have a favourite paragraph or sentence from your story that you would like to tantalise us with?

A blush crept up her neck as she reached her hand out to shake his. Max shook her hand, slowly massaging the top of her knuckle with his thumb. “Hi, Bailey,” he whispered, so only she could hear him.

“H-hi Max, how was your vacation?” she asked politely.

“Lonely,” he admitted.

She pulled back from his grip as if scorched. He’d felt it too, felt the way her pulse picked up as he held her hand. She could try to run, but he wasn’t letting her go, not this time; not without a fight.

11) Over to you, what can you tell us about Christmas Confusion to make us rush out and buy it?

Christmas Confusion is a sweet and funny romance. It’s all about the emotions you feel when you experience your firsts as an adult: first apartment, first love and first job.

12) What can we expect from you next? Is there something you are working on right now?

Book two of Christmas Confusion is coming out in 2014, titled ‘Seducing Max’. Also in 2014 I will be releasing a Steamy Paranormal, ‘Her Dream Lover’, written under my pen name – Siren Allen.

QUICK FIRE ROUND – it’s pop quiz time…

13) Plotter or pantser?

Pantser

14) Digital books or print books?

Print

15) Tea or coffee?

Coffee

16) Extrovert or introvert?

Introvert

17) Facebook or Twitter?

Facebook

18) The Snowman or A Muppet Christmas Carol?

A Muppet Christmas Carol

19) Christmas pudding or Yule log?

Christmas pudding

20) Give or receive?

Give

And that’s a wrap!

Thank you so much for taking part, Monica, I wish you every success with your new release.

To discover even more about Monica Garry-Allen, and to keep up with her latest projects, you can visit her at:

Blog     Facebook     Twitter

Buy it now…

Add to Goodreads

Publisher: Front Porch Romance
Release date: 4 December 2013

Smashwords
ARe
Front Porch Romance
Amazon US / Amazon UK
Google Books

Giveaway…

It’s time for a giveaway. Add Christmas Confusion to your to read list then comment here letting me know that you’ve done so for a chance to win a copy of my Romantic Comedy, The Makeover.

Add to Goodreads
Amazon US / UK

Revenge is a dish best served cold… while wearing heels.

April has just learned the real reason behind her boss’ impromptu dinner invitation. He only invited her to dinner with his colleagues to prove a point: that he can show up at an event with a plain Jane and still be considered ‘the man’. She expected better from him and had secretly hoped that one day their friendship would grow into something deeper. But her two best friends won’t let her wallow in her pain. They convince her to give Dr. Stewart a dose of his own medicine. The plan: show up at the dinner looking irresistible and prove to her boss that even nerd girls can be sexy. But first she has to replace her unattractive business suits with something sexier and more revealing. It’s time for a makeover.

Dr. Chad Stewart would never ‘really’ date his secretary. She was too good, to pure for someone as jaded as himself. It didn’t matter that he was half in love with her. But when he needed an ‘average date’ for a dinner party she was the first person he turned to. He thought his secretary was the perfect choice until he arrived to find her looking like his wildest fantasy. But now she knows the real reason for his invite and he can see in her eyes how hurt she is.

Can Chad convince her to forgive him for hurting her or will she walk out of his life… taking his heart with her?

The Popping the Cherry tour bus is now visiting... Liz Fielding

Most of us have heard of the term 'Young Adult' but have you ever wondered what 'New Adult' is?... 

This morning I popped in for a chat with Liz Fielding, prolific Mills & Boon author, to share my thoughts on the the YA/NA genre and whether I feel there is a place in the market for it. Read the full article here: http://lizfielding.blogspot.co.uk/2013/09/new-adult-young-adult-popping-cherry.html

As part of my blog tour, you can enter the giveaway (both giveaways if you're in the UK) via the Blog Tour page on my website.

Out Now...

Carina

Amazon UK ¦ Amazon 

iTunes 

Google 

Sainsburys 

Nook 

Kobo

Trailer reveal... Popping the Cherry

September is here... it's release month for Popping the Cherry!!

So, the teasing is over and I am finally sharing the extended version of the book trailer with you. I hope you like it!

 

You only get one first time… 

From driving tests to relationships, Valentina Bell thinks she’s a failure, with a big fat capital F. At this rate, she’s certain she’ll be a virgin forever. So Lena’s friends plan Operation: Popping the Cherry to help her find the perfect first time. 

Yet somehow disastrous dates with bad boy musicians and fabulous evenings with secretly in-the-closet guys aren’t quite working out how Lena planned. 

Soon Lena’s avoiding Operation: Popping the Cherry to spend time with comforting, aloof Jake, her best friend’s older brother, who doesn’t make her feel self-conscious about still clinging to her V card. But could Jake show Lena that sometimes what you’re looking for most is right by your side?

A Forever for the 21st Century

Click here for excerpt

Early reaction...

"This is by far the best book that I have read so far this year!"

I am a big fan of Aurelia B Rowl. She writes soul-stirring tales that remain in your thoughts long after you are finished reading. POPPING THE CHERRY is a powerful and meaningful new adult story. This is by far the best book that I have read so far this year! This is a Romance Junkies Recommended Read." 5 ribbons - Romance Junkies

"Popping the resistance to love"

I highly recommend this read for all fans of young adult reads, you will take away a powerful message of life has it's up's and down's but it also presents opportunities worth waiting for and the memory of terrific brilliantly written characters." 5/5 stars - Romance Book Haven

Pre-order your copy now...

Add to Goodreads

Carina
Amazon UK
Amazon
iTunes
Google
Sainsburys
Nook UK (coming soon)
Kobo (coming soon)


*If you are a book blogger and would like to get your mitts on the ARC via netGalley invite, please email me. There are also spaces available on the Release Day Blitz tour.

Release Day Blitz and Giveaway: The Singing River by R.K. Ryals

The Singing River

Release Date – August 4, 2013
NA Contemporary
By R.K. Ryals
Cover Design By Regina Wamba of Mae I Design and Photography

In Mississippi, there's a legend about a Singing River, a tragic love story that ended with an entire Indian tribe singing a death chant as they marched stoically into the Pascagoula River to die ...

At eighteen, Haven Ambrose isn't just a high school graduate. In her head, she's an aspiring writer, a traveler, a chef, a slayer of injustice, an astronomer, an archaeologist, and the love child of a famous, rich musician. But reality is harsher. Reality is overdue bills, a crumbling trailer, an absent father, an old addiction, and a hot, crushing summer that may end in disappointment.

For twenty year-old River Brayden, life seems good, but appearances can be deceiving. The oldest son of a wealthy family, he has finished his first year at Harvard to return home for the summer only to discover his younger brother headed down an unforgiving road.

They will be drawn together by a song. For during the late summer, they say the Pascagoula death chant can still be heard near the Singing River. Its call is haunting, its chant a testament of love and sacrifice. It calls to some ... beckoning.

Goodreads...

Add The Singing River To Your TBR List on Goodreads -http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18132842-the-singing-river

Excerpt...

I stepped toward her. “You have a way of making people relate to you.”

She snorted. “I doubt that.”

I was in front of her now, my face peering down into hers. “Really, you do. A few hours of knowing you feels like days.”

“Sounds tiresome,” she teased.

“It’s a gift,” I countered.

There were sudden lines in her forehead, a troubled look in her eye. “Some might call it a curse,” she murmured. “By the end of this trip, you’ll want me gone.”

It was my turn to frown, my gaze studying her face. She had green eyes so dark they could be mistaken for brown and lashes so long they almost touched her brows. True, she was more willowy than curvy, but she was beautiful in an understated, elegant kind of way. The faint freckles on the bridge of her nose drove me crazy.

“Why do you think that?” I asked.

There was something stark and open about her eyes when she answered, “Because I am better at being abandoned than I am at keeping people.”

About the Author...

R. K. Ryals is a scatterbrained mother of three whose passion is reading whatever she can get her hands on. She makes her home in Mississippi with her husband, three daughters, a Shitzsu named Tinkerbell, and a coffeepot she couldn't live without.

Website   Facebook   Amazon
Twitter   Goodreads

Giveaway...

To celebrate the release of 'The Singing River' there's a giveaway!! Don't miss out!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Buy it now...

Barnes and Noble
Amazon

Amazon UK

Twenty Questions with... Tiffany Carmouche

I am delighted to welcome Tiffany Carmouche onto my blog today, author of The Imposter and the newly released sequel, Obsession and Sacrifice, book two in The Alaska Trilogy.

I've actually been trying to post this for several days but got caught up with a new release, so here we go at last with another round of twenty questions as we try to get to know Tiffany that little bit better…

ACT ONE – all about you…

1) Have you always been a writer or is it something you fell into?

I have to say, hearing the voices inside my head is... maybe why I had no friends growing up... Now I pretend my insanity is my literary genius at work.

I do think that we are born with a sense of wonder, some of us let it die when we take on responsibility. Others of us vow to embrace the Peter Pan Syndrome and keep our imaginary friends forever! I think I have always been a writer. There was a time I did let that side of me die and it wasn’t until I began writing again did I realize how much of me I had let slip away.

2) Do you have a particular writing style or ritual?

I love to wrap a cover around me and sit on the bed in a quiet house with my laptop. I have no ritual although I think for fun I may have to develop one. When my muse is being sassy though, I do like to listen to music so maybe she will start dancing and loosen up and give me some inspiration.

3) Is there a book or an author that has influenced you in your writing?

It is really bad. I know you are going to hate me. But I don’t read a lot. I know I will be hung by my toe nails and stoned at dawn... I just don’t have time. I homeschooled my kids so when I read it was something educational. As far as inspiration, my father was an author. Growing up I would hear him make popcorn all the time on his typewriter. My mom was an artist. I think they let me realize at a young age that expressing yourself through the arts is important.

4) Is there one piece of writing (or life?) advice that has stuck with you, or that you would like to share?

My dad use to travel the country doing talks to schools and conferences. He made this big sign that said “What if?” How magic are those two words!? Anytime you are stumped ask yourself those two little words...the possibilities are endless. I have heard a lot of other authors using it nowadays, it makes me smile because I doubt they know where it began. The other thing is just do it. Your style is your own. Create. And don’t worry about perfection at first--just get your ideas down. Then go back and polish them once you have it all written.

5) Can you tell us three things about yourself that we probably don’t already know?

I’m a peanut...at least that is what Jenna Pizzi, author of the Destined Series, calls me. I’m 4’11. Yes, I’m a munchskin! Power to the short people!

I cry when I’m happy and sad. I am one of those pathetic people that cry during the Taster Choice coffee commercials.

I dream of going on a worldwide couch surfing tour! I would love to see the world (and our beautiful country for that matter). Do any of your readers have a couch they would like to offer J

6) What five luxury items or gadgets would you hate to be without?

Internet!

Electricity – We so take it for granted!

My computer-my baby!

My phone

My car

ACT TWO – all about your new release…

7) Congratulations on your recent release of Obsession and Sacrifice. I have read online that the character for Nicole was by inspired by your own experiences; what can you tell us about her?

Yes, Nicole’s character is naive, sassy and hard headed and adventurous like me.

8) Did the story (so far!) flow from your finger tips or did some scenes take a bit of cajoling?

I don’t write when I don’t feel an inspiration. There is too many other things that I need to do. I would say that it flowed from my finger tips when the muse struck.

9) How long did it take for the initial spark of the story to make it onto the page?

I began writing during the Nano Challenge. So I wrote the first book in a month-the second in 3 because I was still working through edits of the first. For beta readers and edits it took 13 months for both books in total from inspiration to being published. (There is a lot of down time during Beta readers and edits that you just twiddle your thumbs and wait J )

10) Do you have a favourite paragraph or sentence that you would like to tantalise us with?

Sneak peak Obsession and Sacrifice ©2012 Tiffany Carmouche

“ ...My lips parted, too shy to say how much I wanted it, but hoping he would try again.

The moisture in his eyes glistened with the light of the flame, but he quickly wiped it away.

“You’re alive,” he whispered, almost as if he didn’t believe it. “You’re alive.”

As he gazed at my lips, a tingle entered my stomach, replacing the annoying growl. He leaned in to kiss me, but I had no idea who this sexy stranger was and a kiss could open doors I wasn’t ready to enter, even though his lips looked so appetizing...”

11) Over to you, what can you tell us about The Alaska Trilogy, to make us rush out and buy the first two instalments?

(I have more than twenty 5 star reviews) I thought I would share some instead.

"At first, I wasn't sure if I would like this book (The Impostor) because it's a romance novel, or so I thought. This book is so much more than just a romance novel. It is perfectly written. I was in tears at one point. Throughout the whole story I was on the edge of my seat, yelling (in my head) at the characters. BAMM!! Shit goes down. You’re now at the end of the book left with the biggest cliffhanger ever. Luckily for me, I had book two sitting next in line.”~ Justine Vandale

“The Impostor ...was fast paced and intriguing, sucking me in from the moment that I began reading it. If every author’s debut novel was this amazing, there would be millions of best sellers. That’s how impressed I was with this book. The characters were amazing and fleshed out, avoiding the cliché moments that most characters seem to find themselves in these days. And can I just say, Dylan is WOAH! He’s my new book boyfriend. Don’t get any ideas. There’s suspense, romance, mystery...this book has it all. No matter what genre you normally read, you will definitely enjoy this book. I have been in a book funk lately, unable to really find a book that could make me forget where I am, but this book did that for me.”~ Review done by R&M Fab Book Reviews

“Obsession and Sacrifice was a riveting story that tugged at my heart even more. It simply blew me away. I haven't read any of Tiffany's book until I read this series. Her writing is so beautiful and so read that I can't wait to read her other books now. Obsession and Sacrifice picks up right where The Impostor left off. This story was beautifully crafted and well thought out. I was so enthralled with the story that I had no clue what was going on around me. I was drawn into the story and felt everything the characters felt. It was as if I was right there with them the whole time. I loved that about this book!!!”

“There were so many twists and turns in this book that it left me breathless.” ~Kristina Snyder

“Obsession and Sacrifice is a romantic suspense of epic proportions.” ~Becky Johnson

“…A crazy thrill ride and I never want to get off.” ~Justine Vandale

“Awaiting breathlessly for number three.” Liz DiMaggio

“…Outstanding romance, intrigue, suspense & action.” ~Nicki Wilson

“Intrigue, Deception, Romance and the beauty of the rugged Alaskan landscape…are the settings for Tiffany Carmouche’s masterpiece of writing.” ~ Theresa Stuart

12) What can we expect from you next? Is there something you are working on right now, or is it all about getting the third book of the trilogy written?

I am working on the third book in the trilogy. And I am writing Out of the Shadows. It is about people overcoming abusive situations to give hope to the people who are still trying to break free. (I am accepting submissions from people who have escaped an abusive situation) You can expect some of my poetry out this year and some spin offs of this series. I have a lot of ideas that are ready to be written it is just finding the balance between living life and writing about it. I like to do both. Imagine that J

QUICK FIRE ROUND – it’s pop quiz time…

13) Plotter or pantser?

Both J Sorry it depends on the muse for the day J

14) Secret Seven or Famous Five? (please tell me you know them!?)

I don’t L

15) Digital books or print books?

Print, there is nothing like curling up in bed or in front of a fire with a paperback!

16) Tea or coffee?

Coffee!

17) Cats or dogs?

I have both. Racoons are my favorite and I really would love a horse or a Big cat like a tiger. That would be awesome!

18) Extrovert or introvert?

Both. It really depends where I am, and who I am around.

19) Save or spend?

Ask me that again when I have a fortune lol.

20) Facebook or Twitter?

Facebook, although I want to get the hang of twitter I haven’t yet. I look forward to jumping into that world as well. I hear only good things!

And that’s a wrap!

Thank you so much for taking part, Tiffany, I wish you every success with your series and must say, I’m intrigued, so I will be adding them to my TBR list.

To find out even more about Tiffany, and keep up with her projects, you can visit her at:

Website     Fan Club     Facebook

Buy it now...

Goodreads:
The Imposter, A Love Story

Obsession and Sacrifice 

The Imposter, A Love Story:
Amazon (ebook)
Amazon (paperback)
Barnes & Noble

Obsession and Sacrifice:
Amazon (ebook)