HUGE #Giveaway Event and a NEW Jolene Perry Book!

Happy Monday, reader-friends!

I don't know about you, but I'm feeling spring on the way... #eeep!

I'll get to this HUGE GIVEAWAY in a second, but first...

You hear me talk a lot about my fab cover designer and amazing writer-friend Jolene Perry...

Well, Jolene is a "hybrid" author, meaning she has both self-published and traditionally published books.

And they're all amazing... go to her website (link) right now and pick one to read.

I'll wait.

...

Which one did you pick?

J/k... Jolene's newest book The Summer I Found You is published by Albert Whitman Teen, and it is as gorgeous as it is breathtaking...

Get me on Amazon!

AND!!! I'm so excited because we have Jolene herself here today to tell you about it!!!

Take it away, Jo~

All the Swoony Stuff 

by Jolene Perry

So. When I'm making the rounds and doing a million blog posts to spread over the internet, I get to be supah specific.

Today I'm going to share some of my favorite swoony moments from THE SUMMER I FOUND YOU but first, the blurb:  

All they have in common is that they're less than perfect. And all they're looking for is the perfect distraction.

Kate had the perfect boyfriend--until he dumped her. It couldn't have come at a worse time: ever since she found out she has diabetes, she's been trying to cope. She just wants to feel normal again.

Aidan planned on being a lifer in the Army and went to Afghanistan straight out of high school. Now he's the guy with one arm and nothing is the same as it was before. He wishes he could forget.

When Kate and Aidan meet, things couldn't be more awkward. Neither wants to get attached, and they both could use some fun. But what if they need each other more than they realize?

Amazon | Barnes & Noble

First off from Kate...

Now that I’ve leaned over, the warmth of him hits me, and we’re close. Really close. Aidan’s breath hits my face, and I slide my arms over his toned stomach and down his muscular arm to get my arms around the baby. And for the first time, I’m touching a guy who I’d really, really like to see with his shirt off. Our eyes catch, and his breath blows across my face. 

Whoa. Butterflies are running circuits through my insides, over a guy who’s two years older, and only wants to hang with me so I can babysit with him.

What’s wrong with me? I’m like all hormonal or something. Even making out with Shelton didn’t make me all breathless like this. I scoop up the bundled baby, and lay him down in his bed, relieved I didn’t break him or wake him or something.

I back away from the crib and run into the stomach and chest I was just thinking about...

And then from Aidan...

I open my mouth to argue, but I suddenly feel pretty dumb for not thinking about it earlier. And I’m completely distracted by how her hand feels on my chest. As her hand slides down, her eyes follow, and I want for her to have wanted to touch me way more than I should.

All I hear is my breathing and I’m still staring at her hand, which is now nearly to the top of my jeans.

She drops her arm, and steps around me leaving me feeling very on edge, and maybe a bit like I want her to touch me that way again. I go around the front of the car and climb into the driver’s seat—still feeling the heat from her touch. I have no idea if I’m thrilled or terrified that I said yes to going with her tonight. Kate isn’t like Georgia, my Air Force girl. It wouldn’t be a hook-up once in a while kind of thing. Nerves start to press in.

I settle into the seat, and the car takes over my thoughts. I love this car. I run my hand over the top of the steering wheel a few times.

“When you’re done fondling your vehicle, I need you to show me how to shift.”

I chuckle, and turn as sideways as I can, pushing the clutch in with my left foot.

“Put your hand on the shift.”

She does. Her hair falls over her face a bit as she looks down, but I can still make out her dark eyes staring in concentration.

“Now you just follow the map on the top, you’ll feel a bump and then you’re in neutral, pull it back farther and you’ll be in second.”

She pulls down and the shifter goes slack in neutral. “Now what?” Her eyes are still focused on her hand. 

“Pull back more and you’ll slide into second.” 

She concentrates for a few moments, and jerks, but nothing happens. I scoot even farther sideways to put my left hand over hers. Our eyes catch. Okay. Breathe. This is just a girl. No big deal. 

“Okay, first.” I move our hands into first. “Second.” I move our hands again. We go through all the gears a few times. My hand on hers. Me trying to keep my heart beating normal, trying to force my chest to relax. This is crazy. I’m just touching her hand.

And finally this from Aidan :-D

I don’t even have to look to know her cheeks are turning red,and that she probably just said something she didn’t mean to. This is when her bursts of honesty are really going to help. She leans forward until the top of her head is pressed into my chest, hiding. Her arms wrap around my sides, keeping us together.

“I can’t believe you just said that.” I kiss her softly on the temple, and run my hand slowly up and down her arm.

“Me either.”

I touch her chin until she lifts her head from my chest and looks back up at me. It’s stupid, but I want her to kiss me first this time. Like I want to make sure she really does want this as much as I do.

But now I wonder—what will she actually think about me only having one arm? What will happen when she accidentally runs her hand over where my arm should be? Will it matter? Will she care?

I’m actually relieved that my shoulder stump is against the seat. Out of reach.

She leans forward and our lips come together in a small soft kiss before pulling away. I kiss her back, but this time our kiss is deep enough that the electricity flies through my body sending tingles to my toes, fingertips, every piece, every part. All of it. And I should probably be thinking more, but it feels so good to not think, to just feel. I slide my arm around her waist, frustrated I don’t have more power to keep her close, and kiss her again.

~ ~ ~

So. Care to share any swoon-worthy books you've read lately? Because I'm always looking for a great love story...  

~Jolene

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Yay! Thanks, Jolene!!! Doesn't The Summer I Found You sound uh-mazing??? Run get it:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble

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Now for the HUGE GIVEAWAY!

FIFTY of your favorite YA and NA authors will celebrate being Irish for a day and play on Pinterest. There will be more than 45 e-book giveaways! 

Join the Facebook party HERE! and don't miss a thing!!!

Participating Authors:

Lila Felix   A. W. Exley  Melissa Pearl   

Jessica Gibson  Cindy M. Hogan  Sarah Ashley Jones  

Marie Landry  Rachel Morgan  Jennifer Snyder 

Stacey Marie Brown  Jessica Therrien  D.L. Raver 

Stacey Wallace Benefiel  Marilyn Almodóvar  Angee Taylor 

A.O. Peart  Devyn Dawson  Rick Chiantaretto 

Raine Thomas  L.P. Dover  Tamara Hart Heiner  

Leigh T Moore  Meradeth Houston  Amber Argyle 

Tawdra Kandle  Carlyle Labuschagne  Lisa Collicutt

Christy Dorrity  Stephanie Fowers  Kristina Renee

Faith McKay  Charlotte Abel  Jamie Ayres

A.M. Hargrove  Charli Webb  Amy Harmon  

Alyssa Rose Ivy  Kristie Cook  Lani Woodland

T.M. Franklin  Laura Howard  Sharron Riddle

Eliza Tilton  S. M. Boyce  Bethany Lopez 

Dawn Leigh  L.A. Casey  Emma Adams  

Amber Garr  Liz Long

a Rafflecopter giveaway


That's it for me, reader-friends! Have a SUPER week~

Echoes, #TTYL, and a chance to #WIN!

Happy Friday, reader-friends!

Checking in with some FAB new books -- one is coming, one is out NOW, and you can #WIN!

Here we geaux~

Coming Soon! Great author-friend (and fellow Indelible), Cheri Lasota has an amazing YA contemporary romance with ghosts and a mystery and a lighthouse....

Check out this gorgeous picture-teaser for it:

On Goodreads

Here's the blurb:

Echoes in the Glass
by Cheri Lasota

Finnian bears the scar of an unspeakable crime.
McKenna hides the pain of a terrible betrayal. 
When all their secrets are laid bare, will the truth rip them apart or forever silence the echoes of the past?

Seventeen-year-old Finnian Bell has been on the run for years, but he finally has a chance to rebuild his life while restoring an abandoned lighthouse on the Oregon Coast.  

McKenna Lucas, the lightkeeper’s daughter, is still reeling from the pain of an event that has shattered her innocence. Fear and bitterness have turned her heart from Finnian, but he is determined not to let her go.

The lighthouse harbors dark secrets of its own…

When Finnian and McKenna uncover the story of two teens hidden in the tower back in 1934, they discover a shocking connection that bridges time and death.

Add it on Goodreads Today (link)!

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Out Now! Bethany Lopez (link) has been a FAB writer-friend for ages, and she's got a fun new YA contemporary romance series, "Stories of Melissa."

Book #4, TTYL (link), JUST came out Tuesday! Check it out:

On Amazon

TTYL (Stories of Melissa #4)
by Bethany Lopez

The last few months have been a rough road for Melissa. Her grades have slipped, her parents treat her like a prisoner, and her closest friends are too involved in their own lives to spend time with her. 

Desperate to escape her depressing funk, she starts spending more time with Layla, who introduces her to a new crowd...the wrong crowd. 

When Melissa starts to go down a dangerous path, can anyone get through to her before she does something she'll regret?

Amazon | Barnes & Noble

And you can #WIN Books #1-3 of the "Stories of Melissa" along with an audiobook of Make it Last by following this (link)!

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On Amazon

Sale Alert! One last note - If you haven't had a chance to start the Dragonfly series (by moi!),

Book #1 - Dragonfly is on SALE for 99 cents!

Get it Today!

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iTunes | Kobo

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That's all I've got for today, reader-friends! Have a SUPER reading-weekend~

Let's Get Lucky! A huge #SALE and 13 Ways to #WIN!

Happy Friday 13th, reader-friends!

Fall swooshed in overnight bringing cooler temps. I don't know about you, but I'm in the mood for some scary Halloween movies!

But before we get to all that, I've teamed up with 12 amazing writer-friends to bring  you a HUGE "Get Lucky" Sale and Giveaway for this weekend!

Check it out:

ALL only 99 cents this weekend!

All of the books on that graphic are only 99 cents this weekend!

Books by Jolene Perry, Bethany Lopez, L.M. Augustine, Cassie Mae/Becca Ann, Laura Howard, Allie Brennan, Ashley Wilcox, Quinn Loftis, Trisha Wolfe, Nazarea Andrews, Julia Crane, Lizzy Ford... Me!

That's right, Undertow is only 99 cents this weekend! Can you believe this haul?

Part of the deal is we each have to respond to: The First Time I Got Lucky. 

The first time I got lucky in writing was when I started this blog and met my very first writer-friend Hart Johnson. From there, I met Susan Quinn then Matt MacNish, Jessica Bell, eventually Jolene Perry...

All have turned out to be such incredible, supportive friends.

This blog has been a huge part of my writing success, and I've been blessed and lucky to meet so many amazing reader-friends through it. Including YOU! Thank you!!!

And now for the MEGA Giveaway! Check this out...

a Rafflecopter giveaway

So have FUN! Take a chance, and GET LUCKY! See you Monday~

Get Indelible and #WIN! And a new Undertow Picture-Teaser

It's (picture) Teaser Tuesday, reader-friends, and I've got a new Undertow teaser from Bill's diary for you...

But first, New Release news: Great writer-friend Bethany Lopez has a new book out, Indelible, and it is flying up the charts! (woohoo!!!)

See what you think~

On Amazon

After a year of partying, Sam decides to buckle down and focus on college. Things are going great until a one-night stand leaves her pregnant and alone. 

Raising a child while going to school isn’t easy, but Sam is determined to be strong for her daughter. She doesn’t have time for guys or relationships, and takes great care to protect her child and her heart.

Judd doesn’t fit the mold of a college ballplayer. His long hair and tattoos may fit the life he’s created for himself, but baseball is the one thing he takes seriously. When he meets Sam, he’s immediately drawn to her curves and refusal to put up with his crap. When Judd learns the truth, can he handle the responsibility that comes with loving a single mother?

Sam yearns for the fire that Judd fuels in her, but her child’s needs have to come first. Can two people at different stages in their life find a way to make a life together?

Photo by K Keeton Designs
Cover by B Design
Indelible is a New Adult Contemporary Romance

Get it Today! Amazon | GoodReads

And click here to #WIN a signed copy of Indelible or a $25 Amazon Gift Card (link)!

About the Author:

Bethany Lopez began self-publishing in June 2011. Since then she has published various YA and NA books.

She is a lover of romance, family, and friends, and enjoys incorporating those things in what she writes. When she isn't reading or writing, she loves spending time with her husband and children, traveling whenever possible.

HUGE Congrats to Bethany! whee!!! *throws confetti*

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And now for the new Undertow picture-teaser...

Warning--the drama gets pretty intense in this installment (but you knew that going in, right?).

From Bill's private diary...

On Goodreads

What happens next? What happened to get us here?

You'll get the whole story, secrets and lies and all, on July 18. (And then the plot really thickens...)

Add Undertow on Goodreads today (link)!

Sign up to help with the Release Launch on July 18 (here)!

Need to read Dragonfly (Book #1)? Get it on 

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | iTunes

THANK YOU!

Have a super week, reader-friends~

Tuesday Teaser & A New Release!

As promised, I've got another snippet from Dragonfly, Book #1 of my brand new series coming June 6!

It's a journal entry that sort of sets the stage, and I'm considering it (possibly) being the start of the book blurb. So I'd love to hear your thoughts!

Here you geaux~

The first time I saw the Gulf of Mexico, I didn’t believe it was real.

The colors were so vivid—turquoise and deep marine blue splashing on sparkling-white grains of sand—it was as if the whole place glowed in the sunlight. It was beautiful. Magical. I had no idea it would change my life.

That my parents’ decision to move our family almost a thousand miles south, to their tiny hometown just off the coast, would drop me into the middle of a decades-old impasse.

A separation mandated by a long-forgotten crime.

A secret I would accidentally uncover.

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And now for the New Release!

Great writer-friend Bethany Lopez has a new book out today!

It's a contemporary fairytale, and if it's anything like her other books, it's going to be awesome. The cover is gorgeous.

On Amazon

At 900 years old, Nissa is finally ready to follow her mother's path and become the best Fairy Godmother she can. She’s not thrilled when her first assignment turns out to be a teenage human girl with self-esteem issues, but she knows she has to start somewhere. Her assignment has dealt with bullies since her freshman year and they haven’t let up. If Nissa can’t help her regain her self-confidence her future is bleak.

To complicate matters Nissa experiences all the signs that she's met the being fated for her. This impossibility distracts her from her purpose. After all, fairies and humans aren't meant for each other. How can her heart believe otherwise? Can Nissa successfully complete her first assignment as a Fairy Godmother? Will the fates allow Nissa and Levi to be together? And even if they do, will Levi believe Nissa once she reveals the truth?

Get it today! On Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Smashwords 

Bethany Lopez was born in Detroit, Michigan, and grew up in Michigan and San Antonio, Texas. She went to High School at Dearborn High, in Dearborn, Michigan, which is where she has set her Young Adult series. 

She is married and has a blended family with five children. She is currently serving in the United States Air Force as a Recruiter in Los Angeles, California. 

She has always loved to read and write and has seen her dream realized by independently publishing her novels through Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Smashwords.

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Yay for Bethany! Here's wishing her all the best of success.

Quick Question: My Google Reader has disappeared .. I thought we had until July for this. Anyway, what are you guys using to replace Google Reader? Suggestions welcome!

And have a super week, reader- and writer-friends~ <3