C.K. Bryant

Featured Author - Elle Strauss

2012-02-24T00:01:00.001-07:00

I'm happy to feature an awesome INDIE author on my blog today. Please make her feel welcome.

Elle Strauss

Elle Strauss writes Young Adult and Middle Grade fiction. She's a married mom of four, and lives in the beautiful Okanagan Valley, famous for beaches and vineyards. She's fond of Lindt's sea salt dark chocolate and hiking in good weather. Her Young Adult rom/com time-travel CLOCKWISE and contemporary/otherworldly Middle Grade IT'S A LITTLE HAYWIRE are now available on Amazon.

You can get to know Elle a little better by stalking her here:

Website: www.ellestraussbooks.com
Twitter: @elle_strauss
Facebook : Elle Strauss - Author
Goodreads: Elle Strauss Goodreads Author
Google+: Elle Strauss
Wattpad: Elle Strauss

Her newest Release:

IT'S A LITTLE HAYWIRE

by Elle Strauss

Illustrated by Tasia Strauss
Owen True is eleven and eleven twelfths and has been "exiled" to the small crazy town of Hayward, WA, aka, Haywire, while his mother is on her honeymoon. All he has to whittle away the time is the company of Gramps, his black lab Daisy, and his Haywire friends, Mason and Mikala Sweet. They don't look so hot this year, in fact, the whole town has gone to pot since the mill shut down.

Owen has his first encounter with a real life homeless man who ends up needing Owen's help in more ways than one. But how does a rich city kid help the small town's suffering citizens?

And what is Owen to make of the fog train and its scary, otherworldy occupants that appears out of thin air on the old tracks behind Gramps' house? Do they have the answer Owen is looking for?

Here's what Elle has to say about the illustrations inside her new book:

It’s a Little Haywire is the type of book that lends itself to illustrations. It’s been compared in style to Because of Winn Dixie, (which thrills me, I’m a big fan of that book) and it and Kate DiCamillo’s other books benefited by having illustrations.

The thing is, when you indie publish you have to hire out and pay for everything up front, and also finding the right illustrating style for your book could be a challenge too. I also wasn’t sure how the illustrations would “blend” in an e-book format, but one of the great things about indie publishing is the ability to try new things and test the waters.

There are a lot of great illustrators out there, and I’m sure I’m not the first to add illustrations to an e-book. The happy news for me was I have a terrific illustrator who lives in my house and already owed me money. (My seventeen year old daughter) Terrific! Let the bartering begin!

It was fabulous to be able to work on this book with her, and I love the fact I could add her name to the credits,Tasia Strauss.

Order your own copy of IT'S A LITTLE HAYWIRE here: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0072Z5DWQ
It's normally 2.99 but it will be FREE for Feb 22 and 23 only.

Isn't she GREAT???? Be sure to follower her on all the links above and check out her other book, Clockwise, on her website.

My Inner Child

2012-02-16T08:39:00.001-07:00

I've had a lot of stress in my life lately, so a little over a week ago I decided to take a break from everything internet and writing. I needed to step back and reevaluate a few things and get in touch with my inner child. I'd been neglecting her lately.

A lot!

In the process, I discovered a few unhealed wounds from when I was younger, wounds I tried to ignore and put aside for another day. Today is that other day and it's not going to be easy. In fact, it's going to take months, maybe years, to get through a lot of the crap in my head and come to terms with the verbal and psychological abuse I endured as a child. The old saying, "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me," is so not true. Sometimes the wounds left by other's words hurt far more than the ones left by their hands. And they take longer to heal because we hear them over and over in our heads long after the offender has been removed from our lives.

My demon? YOU'RE NOT GOOD ENOUGH!! YOU'LL NEVER AMOUNT TO ANYTHING!! NO MAN WILL EVER LOVE SOMEONE WHO IS FAT . . . LIKE YOU!!! That's the one that hurts the most. Not because I'm single, but because I have a man who loves me very much and proves it every day. And I still don't trust in that love. I still think he'll change his mind at any minute and take off. I need to get over that and let him love ME, fat and all.

Maybe that's why I stay overweight, to test him. To test everyone. To see if I can be loved as I am. To prove my abuser wrong. I know it's all in my head, that I'm the one that puts the food in my mouth. I'm the one that doesn't put the effort into exercising. But the voice still has its influence. And it's time I snuffed it out.

My inner child needs to be free. I need to be free. So, I plan to call a friend of mine who has offered to help with the weight loss thing. Another friend who has offered to help with the exercise. And another one who's a great listener and will understand "the voices." Friends are good for that kind of thing. I should have let them in sooner.

Like now.

How do you deal with your demons? Any advice you'd like to pass along to my inner child?

Happy V-Day . . . A Giveaway . . . And a New Release!

2012-02-14T16:58:00.001-07:00

Whoa! I've been offline for a little over a week to deal with some personal/family issues and I've missed so much. My inbox is overflowing. My blog is such a mess. *Looks around* Dang! I lost two followers. That makes me sad. I'm sorry I wasn't here blogging away, but life decided to stand up and slap me on the face and the only way I could deal with all the stress was to take a step back and BREATHE for a few days.

Even though the challenges in my life haven't changed, I seem to have a better grip on them and my emotions. So hopefully things will be on the upswing.

So, how have you guys been?

OOOOH, I have a great idea. I feel like giving something away, so . . . leave a comment below telling me what you got for Valentine's Day and I'll put your name in a drawing and pick someone to win the ebook version of BOUND. If there's a bunch of comments, I'll draw more than one name. Sound like fun?

And here's a little BONUS for all of you. IN HIS EYES is now available and there's a deleted chapter from BOUND inside that you're going to LOVE. The purchase links are on the sidebar at the right, but use Smashwords because you can get it there for FREE!!! And TRUST ME! You're going to enjoy every story in this anthology. They're all about love told through the eyes of the HUNK in the story. All Young Adult. All totally yummy.

Don't forget to leave a comment to enter the drawing. I'll draw a winner at midnight MST, Wednesday, the 15th.

HUGS

Awesome Giveaway and Interview

2012-02-06T12:01:00.000-07:00

Dudes!

Go check out my interview on Jean Book Nerd and enter to win a signed copy of my debut novel, BOUND.

Jean's such a cool chick. Tell her I said HI!!!

Great Gift Ideas for Valentine's Day

2012-02-04T00:01:00.001-07:00

GUYS -- here's a Valentine's Day trivia question for you. What's

more romantic than a sizzling love story?

NOTHING!!

That's right. If you're in search of the perfect Valentine's Day gift, look no further,
because I'm about to point you in the direction of some dreamy
books. Whether you gift her a collection of e-books or wrap one
special paperback up in pretty paper with a single red rose on top,
you're bound to score BIG POINTS on Valentine's Day with these
novels.

BOUND by C. K. Bryant

CLOCKWISE by Elle
Strauss

CROSS MY HEART by
Katie Klein

DESTINED by Jessie Harrell

EXILED
by RaShelle Workman

GLIMPSE by Stacey
Wallace Benefiel

HOW TO DATE AN ALIEN by Magan Vernon

THE SECRET OF SPRUCE
KNOLL by Heather McCorkle

TANGLED TIDES by
Karen Amanda Hooper

THE VEIL by Cory Putnam Oakes

WATCHED by Cindy
Hogan

and...

IN HIS EYES, an anthology from The Indelibles,
featuring love stories from the swoon-worthy guys from our novels
arriving on V-Day!

Book Review - Family by Design

2012-02-02T00:01:00.023-07:00

Family by Design
by Heather Justesen

Genre: LDS Romance
Publisher: Cedar Fort, Inc. (January 8, 2012)
Pages: 256
Purchase on Amazon

Cover Blurb

Before he could think better of it, he blurted out, “I understand your concerns. I’m going to speak to my commander about getting an early discharge. My girlfriend, Rena, and I have talked about getting married. There just hasn’t been any rush.”

As soon as the words were out of his mouth, he wondered what he was thinking. Yes, they had discussed marriage, but not to each other! He and Rena had never even dated.

Tucker’s on his way to the biggest challenge of his life. Rena already has it all—except a family of her own. But neither one expected their friendship would take such a dramatic turn.

When Tucker becomes the guardian of his newly orphaned niece and nephew, he knows he can’t handle them alone, not when he might be shipped out with the Marines at any moment. Desperate, he turns to Rena for a major favor. His marriage proposal would give her everything she wants, but can she learn to live without the romance she’s always dreamed of?

As time, prayer, and a life-changing kiss work a little magic in her heart, Rena wonders if someone up there has a plan for her that’s better than anything she could’ve come up with on her own. And though it seems crazy at first, this could become her chance for a marriage that will last for eternity.

My Thoughts:
I loved this book! No big surprise. This isn't the first book by Heather Justesen that I've loved and I'm sure it won't be the last. The thing that made this book touch my heart was the military aspect of it. It brought a lot of emotions to the surface because my dad was in the army and served two tours in Viet Nam. I remember what my mother went through every day, not knowing if he was dead or alive, so the feelings Rena went through in this story were portrayed realistically in my opinion.

I also loved the Tucker, although I wanted to smack him a couple of times for not telling her he loved her before he did. Man, Rena went through a lot waiting for this guy to speak his mind. But she hung in there to the end and, even though they went through more than any couple should have to endure, it was all worth it.

I want to thank Heather for keeping me up nights. I had a hard time finding little snippets of time during the day to read this book, but it was always on my mind. I have it on my Kindle, so would carry it everywhere, but still struggled with finding a quiet moment to read it. More than once, I woke in the middle of the night and reached for my iPhone to read on the little screen until my eyes wouldn't stay open any longer.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who's looking for a great LDS romance to keep them up all night. Oh, and bring a box of tissues. You'll need them.

BONUS:
Check out this companion novela. I can't wait to read it.

Chelsea Robison has never forgotten the older boy next door whom she crushed on as a teen, so when she runs into him at the restaurant he’s preparing to open, it’s a delightful shock. And learning he’s available again is more than a little tantalizing.

Vaughn Krenshaw had never seen his neighbor as more than a nice kid—but Chelsea had definitely grown up in the decade since they saw each other last. He’s attracted to the feisty red head, but still struggles over his wife’s death the previous year. And then there’s his five-year-old daughter, Molly, who really liked Chelsea—until she realized the woman was dating her dad.

As Chelsea starts to wonder if their love for each other will be enough to make things work, a specter from Vaughn’s past rises, making her question whether she really knew him at all.

PLUS:

Heather’s holding a host of giveaways on her blog throughout the next few weeks, so head on over to HER BLOG and sign up to win. You'll also find a list of other reviews you can read.

Enjoy!

Dealing with Bad Reviews

2012-01-30T07:54:00.000-07:00

I love this comic strip. It's so true, isn't it?

While the majority of the reviews for my debut novel, BOUND, have been very positive, there have been a handful of readers who, for whatever reason, didn't like my book. And you know what? That's okay.

I've read a lot lately about authors who have commented on bad reviews, complaining that the review wasn't fair or that the reader's opinion was harsh and mean. In return, the entire reviewing community has lashed out at the author, starting a frenzy of author/reviewer bashing throughout the blogesphere.

It makes me cringe.

Nothing good can possibly come from such a confrontation and it only gives both the author and the reviewer a bad reputation. Don't get me wrong, I've been in their shoes, wanting to express my disappointment in how the reviewer chose to, not just express their opinion about my book, but the negative way in which they chose to do it. Taking personal jabs at another individual for ANY reason is wrong. But what good would it do for me to comment on it? It's not going to change their mind. It would only make ME look bad and that's not what I want either.

So I put on my big girl panties, thicken my skin and move on to my next book. There's no way I'm going to please every reader, but the ones who do like my work will always be there to cheer me on. I write for them.

How do you deal with bad reviews? Have you ever had someone attack you personally? How did you handle it?

Getting to Know Me

2012-01-26T08:40:00.002-07:00

For the past week I've been busy with interview requests, filling out forms for this, that and the other thing, and basically doing a ton of busy work. Needless to say, I've neglected my writing & blogging duties. Hopefully, that will change very soon as I come to the bottom of my enormous do list.

What I'd like to do is take a two week sabbatical and do nothing but write and revise BROKEN, but with an autistic son and a live-in mother-in-law with a mental disorder, I don't think I'll be breaking away from my life any time soon. In fact, I'm probably not going to be going to any writing conferences this year, which makes me very sad. It's the only time I get to see my writing buddies and have the opportunity to make new friends (and my only respite from the circus at home). But, as my friend Wendy would say, there is a season for everything, and the season I'm in is for taking care of others, not myself. I just have to be okay with that.

And speaking of taking care of myself, I've been the focus of some attention lately and I'd like to share it with you. Here are three interviews that posted this week. I know, interviews are boring, but, even if you don't want to read them, please visit the blogs and leave a comment to show your support for me and the bloggers that took the time to get to know me better. I'd be so happy if you did.

On Writing Fiction (Interview by Wendy Swore)

Epilogue Reviews (Interview by Lauren Rusa)

House of Millar (Interview by Aine Massie)

So, what did you think? Did you find out anything new about me? Was there something you wanted to know but didn't find the answer for?

New Release! - THE GREEN, by Karly Kirkpatrick

2012-01-16T16:38:00.000-07:00

Karly Kirkpatrick and DarkSide Publishing are excited to announce the release of Kirkpatrick’s third novel, the edgy YA contemporary romance, THE GREEN.

Book Description:

How far would you go to save your dream?

Seventeen-year-old Ariceli Pisa is a senior at the prestigious Cambridge High School and has her sights set on Northwestern University. She's a cheerleader, a member of the National Honor Society...and a drug dealer. That's not the only secret she has to keep from her best friend Naomi--she’s also madly in love with Naomi’s ex-boyfriend, James Bartlett. Trying to balance her life at Cambridge High with her new demanding job keeps her teetering on the edge of disaster.

THE GREEN is available in ebook format at the following retailers for $3.99:

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/The-Green-ebook/dp/B006XZS16Q/ref=sr_1_12?ie=UTF8&qid=1326754697&sr=8-12

Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-green-karly-kirkpatrick/1037769334?ean=2940013762183&itm=2&usri=karly+kirkpatrick

Also available on Amazon UK, Germany, France, Italy, and Spain.

For more info about Karly and her books, check out www.karlykirkpatrick.com and www.darksidepublishing.com.

And the Winners Are . . .

2012-01-14T16:58:00.000-07:00

A big HUGE thanks to everyone who participated in the INDELIBLES on Fire Blog Hop. We had a great turn out and have chosen a winner of the KINDLE FIRE. WOOT!!

Are you ready?

Me too, so head on over to our official INDELIBLES blog to see if you've won.

BUT WAIT!!

I still have the winners of my own personal giveaway to announce. And I refuse to wait another second. So, here they are.

The winner of the $25 Gift Card from Amazon.com is . . .

Taffy Lovell

And the 5 winners who will each receive an e-copy of my debut novel, BOUND are . . .

Sher A Hart

Carol McGuire

Deb Cushman

Vicki Reljin

Kristin Feliz

CONGRATULATIONS! I will be sending each of you an email in the next day or so with instructions on how you can retrieve your prize.

So, what was your favorite part of the blog hop?

Which book peeked your interest the most and tops your TBR list?

(Besides mine. I already know you ALL want to read BOUND)

INDELIBLES ON FIRE GIVEAWAY BLOG HOP!

2012-01-08T20:46:00.002-07:00

Introducing the Indelibles

Welcome to The Indelibles Blog Hop!

Hi, there! For those of you who've never been here before, my name is Christine and I'm the author of BOUND, the first book in THE CRYSTOR Series.

*WAVES*

Kick off your shoes and make yourself at home. There's a lot to look at here and you're welcome to stay as long as you want, browse the tabs above to find out more about me and the projects I'm working on, or scroll down and read some of my latest posts.

But first, take a look at all the fun stuff the INDELIBLES are up to.

* * *
In celebration of our official launch, we are giving away a KINDLE FIRE! If you’d like to start at the beginning of the INDELIBLES ON FIRE GIVEAWAY BLOG HOP, then please start here: http://indeliblewriters.blogspot.com/

If you are already mid-hop, then welcome to your next stop! By following the link at the bottom of this post, you can proceed to the next author (and check out the awesome, individual giveaways we are doing along the way!). If you are entering to win the KINDLE FIRE, don’t forget to make a note of the keyword at the end of every blog post - the words spell out a phrase you will need to enter the contest on the last stop.

Who are we? If you’re a fan of YA fiction, you'll be happy to know that marketing guru Shelli Johannes Wells has teamed up with twenty-four other indie and small press authors (moi included) to bring you the . . .

“We are indie authors who write middle grade and young adult fiction.

We are dedicated to leaving a permanent mark on the world with our stories and words.

We are The Indelibles.”

Each week, we’ll explore fun, fabulous, and fierce topics for today’s teens, drawing on pop culture and themes from the books we write. Check out our official launch Monday, January 9th for fun giveaways at http://indeliblewriters.blogspot.com/.

We’ll also be having a “blogger” chat on January 17th and a writer/author chat on the 18th to answer questions about self and indie pubbing.

See our blog for details.

And here's where I'm supposed to tell you a little more about myself and my book. I'll make it brief. If you want to know more, you can click around on the tabs above.

ABOUT ME
I'm a totally cool Army brat that moved more times growing up than I care to count. All those moves made it hard to make friends, but I sure got to see a lot of this great country. I also lived in Germany for three years . . . COOLNESS. I like to think I was preparing myself to be a writer. Talk about some great settings for my books. And the people I met will most definitely make it into my stories. Okay, moving on.

I've been married for 26 years, have two wonderful sons, one dog (because my husband ran over my other one) and one cat. My house sits in the middle of sage brush and lava rock with a beautiful view of the Snake River Canyon near Twin Falls, Idaho.

Let's see. What else? Oh, I wrote this awesome book. WOOT!! Check it out!

BOUND (#1 in THE CRYSTOR Series)

by C.K. Bryant

YA Paranormal Romance

When a photo shoot ends in tragedy, Kira discovers her best friend, Lydia, has been keeping a secret. Knowing the truth, and accepting it, will change Kira’s life forever and thrust her into a world of ancient curses, magical objects, and savage enemies. What happens next will challenge everything Kira knows about her world, herself and the shape-shifting warrior she’s falling in love with. No longer the timid mouse her mother accused her of being, but a woman who finds the mental and physical strength to endure and survive.

BOUND is a heroic tale of true friendship, infinite sacrifice and untamed love.

If you want to know more, click on THE CRYSTOR SERIES tab above. You can read the first three chapters on the Wattpad link there or read all the great reviews. The purchase links are on the sidebar to the right.

And now for my AWESOME giveaway.

I'm drawing 6 prizes: FIVE e-book copies of BOUND

and ONE $25 Gift Card from Amazon.com

Contest opens: January 9th, 2012 @ 12:01 am MST

Contest ends: January 12th @ 12:01 am MST

These dates and times may or may not match the times of the INDELIBLES giveaway.

I've made it easy by providing you with a Rafflecopter form to fill out. When you're done, there's a KEYWORD that you'll need for the INDELIBLE giveaway below along with the link to the next blog on the tour. GOOD LUCK!! I hope you win the KINDLE FIRE!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The KEYWORD for the INDELIBLES giveaway is: FABULOUS

The next stop on this tour is to the FABULOUS website of Laura Pauling!

Indie Book Fair

2012-01-02T00:01:00.001-07:00

Did you find a new Kindle, Nook, or iPad under the Christmas tree? Browse the Indie Book Fair and find a new ebook to break in that reader! These great new books were released Nov 2011-Feb 2012 by Indie authors, priced right so that taking a chance on a new author doesn’t have to break your wallet. (Check out my previous Internet Book Fair for other great Indie finds.)

[Indie = self-published or small-publisher, for the purposes of this post, because no matter how we’re published, we’re all in this together, trying to get the word out about our books]

Note: Links are given for Amazon, but most authors publish across all e-book formats. Click on the author’s name for additional purchasing options, including paper copies.

For Your Browsing Pleasure

Contemporary (Adult)

Build a Man by Talli Roland (Chick Lit)
Slave to the rich, rude and deluded, cosmetic surgery receptionist Serenity Holland longs for the day she's a high-flying tabloid reporter. Unfortunately, every pitch she sends out disappears like her clients' liposuctioned fat, never to be seen again. Then she meets Jeremy Ritchie -- the hang-dog man determined to be Britain's Most Eligible Bachelor by making himself over from head to toe and everything in between -- giving Serenity a story no editor could resist. With London's biggest tabloid on board and her very own column tracking Jeremy's progress from dud to dude, Serenity is determined to be a success, even going undercover to gain intimate access to Jeremy's life. But when Jeremy's surgery goes drastically wrong and Serenity is ordered to cover all the car-crash goriness, she must decide how far she really will go for her dream job. $0.99 on Amazon

The Golden Sky by Elisa Hirsch (Memoir)
The night I met Cade I never would’ve thought that two years later, after we were homeless street musicians in Hawaii, we would have a little girl and another baby on the way. Our son was born with the type of birth defects that make televangelists cringe. The “death home” gave him a really nice funeral, the kind I’d never wished to attend. We lost it after that, totally cemented in our grief. Cade got into drugs, joined a rock and roll band, and I kicked him out of the house. That was how I met: Earl (an old man and unlikely best friend), the “big sag” (a middle aged woman who still flashed folks), Todda (the stripper next door), and Chris (a cowboy who fell in love with me). It wasn’t until I killed a rogue skunk, and my daughter nearly choked on a fry, that I gave my husband another chance. But could our marriage recover from the death of our son? $2.99 onAmazon

Someone Else’s Fairytale by E.M. Tippetts (Contemporary Romance)
Jason Vanderholt is the hottest actor under thirty with legions of screaming fans. Chloe Winters is a college student who hasn't gotten around to watching most of his movies. When they meet by chance, he is smitten, but it just isn't her fairytale. In fact, it could be her worst nightmare as her past, attracted by the bright lights of the media, comes back to haunt her. $0.99 on Amazon

Historical Romance (Adult)

The Duke’s Divorce by Anne Gallagher Available late January 2012
A simple trip to the Scottish Highlands finds the Duke of Cantin with a bride he does not want. With her impeccable beauty and fiery disposition, Fiona takes Society by storm. As their prearranged divorce proceedings draw near, can Fiona change his mind? Check author's website.

Literary Fiction

String Bridge by Jessica Bell
Greek cuisine, smog and domestic drudgery was not the life Australian musician, Melody, was expecting when she married a Greek music promoter and settled in Athens, Greece. Keen to play in her new shoes, though, Melody trades her guitar for a 'proper' career and her music for motherhood. That is, until she can bear it no longer and plots a return to the stage—and the person she used to be. However, the obstacles she faces along the way are nothing compared to the tragedy that awaits ... $6.99on Amazon ALSO: Music Sample!

Mystery

Sherwood Ltd. by Anne R. Allen
Sherwood. The name immediately conjures up images of Richard Greene, Michael Praed and Russell Crowe. Or maybe that sly fox in the Disney version. Only, in Anne R. Allen's latest rom-com mystery the fox is a coyote and there's no Robin Hood. Or is there? In her usual inimitable fashion Allen peels back the layers, one hilarious subplot after another, until you just never know what's real and what's not. Rather like the Robin Hood legend. When the Manners Doctor, Camilla Randall, flies into Robin Hood airport with a suitcase in one hand and a book contract in the other she thinks she's leaving all her problems behind and is about to start a new life. If you look very carefully you may just spot the Sheriff of Nottingham, Maid Marian and even Little John hidden away. But as for Robin Hood himself... You'll just have to read it and find out. $2.99 on Amazon

Short Stories and Anthologies

The Initiate (Cloud Prophet Trilogy) by Megg Jensen (YA Fantasy)
Over a thousand years ago, the gods left Eloh's people and took their magic with them. To win back their favor, her people sacrifice ten female initiates every ten years. No has ever survived. There has never been a Chosen One. Forced into becoming an initiate, Eloh will try to find a way to beat the odds, stay with her boyfriend, and survive the fires that threaten to consume her. But will her lack of faith in the gods and her disbelief in their magic doom her to a painful death? $0.99 on Amazon

Eight by Karly Kirkpatrick (YA Paranormal Short Story Collection)
Prepare to be thrilled and chilled by Kirkpatrick's eight short tales in EIGHT. These eight stories, while short, pack a big punch. There are demon spirits, zombies, and even some human baddies. Each story comes complete with author's commentary. It also includes the previously unreleased short Grenades. $0.99 on Amazon

{CoverComingSoon} In His Eyes by The Indelibles (YA Anthology) - Available February 14th

Just in time for Valentines Day, The Indelibles bring you a one-of-a-kind young adult anthology! Twenty original short stories, all from the point of view of our favorite male characters - some are old flames from our novels and some were dreamed up especially for this anthology. Let these imminently crushable, swoon-worthy guys show you what romance looks like – in his eyes. Add to Goodreads TBR

The contributors to IN HIS EYES include award winners, frequent “Top 100” placers, and hot 2011 debut authors: S.R. Wells, C.K. Bryant, Elle Strauss, Susan Kaye Quinn, Jessie Harrell, Magan Vernon, Lisa Nowak, Heather McCorkle, RaShelle Workman, Ali Cross, Karen Amanda Hooper, Cory Putman Oakes, Laura Pauling, Stacey Wallace Benefiel, Sarra Cannon, Katie Klein & Cheri Lasota.

Transcendent: Tales of the Paranormal by

Lani Woodland, Melonie Piper, Rita Webb, Wendy Swore, Melanie Marks, Heather McCubbin and Evan Joseph (YA Anthology)

Discover the secrets of a siren, fly with a hawk girl over the mountains of Montana, and flee supernatural party-crashers as the décor comes to life in this magical journey through paranormal stories. Along the way, watch for ghosts in a haunted house, or ride through the moonlight with a stranger. Save a comatose boy who has lost his soul, and don’t forget to bring your garlic and wolfsbane—you never know when the shadows will snag you. Transcendent includes eight stories of magic, love, death, and choice by some of the newest names in young adult fiction. $0.99 on Amazon

Young Adult

Open Minds by Susan Kaye Quinn (Paranormal/Science Fiction)
When everyone reads minds, a secret is a dangerous thing to keep. Sixteen-year-old Kira Moore is a zero, someone who can’t read thoughts or be read by others. Zeros are outcasts who can’t be trusted, leaving her no chance with Raf, a regular mindreader and the best friend she secretly loves. When she accidentally controls Raf’s mind and nearly kills him, Kira tries to hide her frightening new ability from her family and an increasingly suspicious Raf. But lies tangle around her, and she’s dragged deep into a hidden world of mindjackers, where having to mind control everyone she loves is just the beginning of the deadly choices before her. $2.99 on Amazon

Bound by C.K. Bryant (Paranormal Romance)
When a photo shoot ends in tragedy, Kira discovers her best friend, Lydia,has been keeping a secret. Knowing the truth, and accepting it, will change Kira’s life forever and thrust her into a world of ancient curses, magical objects, and savage enemies. What happens next will challenge everything Kira knows about her world, herself and the shape-shifting warrior she’s falling in love with. No longer the timid mouse her mother accused her of being, but a woman who finds the mental and physical strength to endure and survive. $3.99 on Amazon

Become by Ali Cross (YA Urban Fantasy)
Sixteen-year old Desolation Black wants nothing more than to stay in Hell where it’s cold and lonely and totally predictable. Instead, she’s sent back to Earth where she Becomes the evil she despises and the good she always feared. When Desi is forced to embrace her inner demon, she assumes her Choice has been made—that she has no hope of being anything other than what her father, Lucifer, has created her to be. What she doesn’t count on, is a reason to want to change—something she’s never had before—a friend. $3.99 on Amazon

Exiled by RaShelle Workman (YA SF Romance)

Worlds divided them. Chance brought them together. Only love will save them. An alien princess exiled to Earth. An arrogant boy. One week to get back to her planet or she'll die. And, her only chance for survival? She must help the boy find his soul mate.

Piece of cake! $0.99 on Kindle

The Secret of Spruce Knoll by Heather McCorkle (Urban Fantasy)
Following the tragic death of her parents, Eren Donovan moves to Spruce Knoll to live with an aunt she’s never met. Little does Eren know the entire town of Spruce Knoll is filled with “channelers”—a magical group of people who immigrated to the small Colorado town when they were driven out of their own lands. Channelers are tied to the fate of the world. As the world slowly dies, so do they—and they alone have the power to stop the destruction of Earth. Soon, Eren learns she not only lives among them, but she is one. When she meets local boy Aiden, his charm convinces her that being a channeler may not be all bad though. $4.99 on Amazon

Destined by Jessie Harrell (Retelling)
When Psyche receives a prophecy gone horribly wrong, she learns that even the most beautiful girl in Greece can have a hideous future. Her fate? Fall in love with the one creature even the gods fear. As she feels herself slipping closer into the arms of the prophecy, Psyche must choose between the terrifyingly tender touch she feels almost powerless to resist and the one constant she's come to expect out of life: you cannot escape what is destined. $0.99 on Amazon

Darkspell by Elizabeth Mueller (Paranormal Romance)
Winter Sky believes she is everything ordinary . . . until she is kissed by Alex Stormhold. As seer of Stormhold Coven, Alex is sworn to be Winter’s protector against the darkness that hunts her. Violently thrust into a magickal realm she always thought impossible, she stumbles upon a disturbing secret of her own. Will love prove thicker than magick? $3.99 on Amazon

Untraceable by S. R. Johannes (Thriller)
Grace has lived in the Smokies all her life, patrolling with her forest ranger father who taught her about wildlife, tracking, and wilderness survival. When her dad goes missing on a routine patrol, Grace refuses to believe he’s dead and fights the town authorities, tribal officials, and nature to find him. One day, while out tracking clues, Grace is rescued from danger by Mo, a hot guy with an intoxicating accent and a secret. As her feelings between him and her ex-boyfriend get muddled, Grace travels deep into the wilderness to escape and find her father. Along the way, Grace learns terrible secrets that sever relationships and lives. Soon she’s enmeshed in a web of conspiracy, deception, and murder. And

it’s going to take a lot more than a compass and a motorcycle (named Lucifer) for this kick-butting heroine to save everything she loves. $2.99 on Amazon

Rival Demons (Book 5 of the Peachville High Demons Series) by Sarra Cannon (Paranormal Romance) Available January 20th
After narrowly escaping death at the hands of the Order of Shadows, Harper finds herself thrust into the strange and beautiful world of the shadow demons. But crossing through the portal doesn't mean she is safe. The Order of Shadows is determined to bring her home and transfer the Prima line to the Harris family. They send their most vicious hunters after Harper. Hunters who will not stop until they have found their prey. Determined to keep her safe, Jackson takes her deep into an underground world filled with dangers of its own. Here, Harper will begin a journey that will teach her more about herself and her own path than she ever imagined possible. Add to Goodreads TBR

The Legend of Victor Standish: Under a Voodoo Moon by Roland D. Yeomans (Urban Fantasy/Romance)
Can love kill? Yes ... if you love a ghoul who hungers for your flesh only slightly less than she does your heart. Yet to the lonely street orphan Victor Standish, who has risked his life for a meal, to find love (even for one magical French Quarter night) is worth dying in the morning. $2.99 on Amazon All profits go to the Salvation Army.

Getting Sideways (Book 2 in the Full Throttle Series) by Lisa Nowak (Contemporary)
Getting shipped off to live with his uncle Race was the best thing that ever happened to fifteen-year-old Cody. Then a wreck at the speedway nearly ruined everything. Cody’s making every effort to get his life back on track—writing for the school paper, searching for the perfect girlfriend, and counting the days until he gets his drivers’ license—but there’s no escaping the nightmares that haunt him. A chance to build his own car seems like the perfect distraction. Until Cody realizes he’ll have to live up to Race’s legendary status. But that’s the least of his worries, considering he doesn’t have his dad’s permission. All he has to do is the impossible: keep Race from discovering his lie until he can convince his dad that racing’s safe. Yeah, sure. That’ll be easy. $3.99 on Amazon

Tangled Tides by Karen Hooper (Sea Monster Memoirs)
Yara Jones doesn’t believe in sea monsters—until she becomes one. When a hurricane hits her island home and she wakes up with fins, Yara finds herself tangled up in an underwater world of mysterious merfolk and secretive selkies. Both sides believe Yara can save them by fulfilling a broken promise and opening the sealed gateway to their realm, but they are battling over how it should be done. The selkies want to take her life. The merfolk want something far more precious. Treygan, the stormy-eyed merman who turned Yara mer, will stop at nothing and sacrifice everything to protect his people—until he falls for Yara. The tides turn as Yara fights to save herself, hundreds of sea creatures, and the merman who has her heart. She could lose her soul in the process—or she might open the gateway to a love that’s deeper than the oceans. $4.99 on Amazon

Here by Denise Grover Swank (SF Romance)
Sixteen year old Julia Phillips buries herself in guilt after killing her best friend Monica in a car accident. Julia awoke in the hospital with a broken leg, a new talent for drawing and false memories of the accident, in which she dies and Monica lives. The doctors attribute this to her head injury, but no one can explain how a bracelet engraved with her name ended up at the scene of the accident. A bracelet no one has ever seen before. Classmate Evan Whittaker paid Julia no attention before the accident, let alone after. Now suddenly he’s volunteering to tutor her and offering to drive her home. She can't ignore that his new obsession started after his two-day disappearance last week and that he wears a pendant she’s been drawing for months. When the police show up one night looking for Evan, he begs Julia to run with him, convincing her that Monica is still alive. Julia agrees to go, never guessing where he’s really from. $2.99 on Amazon

The Veil by Cory Putman Oakes (Paranormal Romance)

Seventeen-year-old Addison Russell is in for a shock when she discovers that she can see the invisible world of the Annorasi. Suddenly, nothing is as it appears to be—the house she lives in, the woman who raised her, even the most beautiful boy in town all turn out to be more than what they seem. And when this strange new world forces Addy to answer for a crime that was committed long ago, by parents she has never known, she has no choice but to trust Luc, the mysterious Annorasi who has been sent to protect her. Or so he says . . . $7.99 on Amazon

Embrace by Cherie Colyer (Paranormal Romance)
Madison is familiar enough with change, and she hates everything about it. Change took her long-term boyfriend away from her. It caused one of her friends to suddenly hate her. It’s responsible for the death of a local along with a host of other mysterious happenings. But when Madison meets a hot new guy, she thinks her luck is about to improve. Madison is instantly drawn to the handsome and intriguing Isaac Addington. She quickly realizes he’s a guy harboring a secret, but she’s willing to risk the unknown to be with him. Her world really spins out of control, however, when her best friend becomes delusional, seeing things that aren’t there and desperately trying to escape their evil. When the doctors can’t find the answers, Madison seeks her own. Nothing can prepare her for what she is about to discover. $6.99 on Amazon

Onyx Talisman by Brenda Pandos (Paranormal Romance)
Unrest stirs deep in Scotts Valley. Filled with uncertainty, Julia anxiously awaits Nicholas’ return. Phil, holds the pieces of Julia’s fragile psyche together, secretly hoping Nicholas stays away forever. But Alora secretly conspires to reclaim her talisman and strip Julia of everything she holds dear. Little do they know, a war is coming and more than one vampire would like to see the Prince of Vampires overthrown. Can Julia bargain with fate? Find out how it all ends in this explosive grand finale of The Talisman Trilogy. $3.99 on Amazon

How to Date an Alien by Magan Vernon (Science Fiction)
High school senior Alex Bianchi's estranged father gets her an internship at Circe Operations Center to pad her college applications. But Circe isn't your typical military base. It's an alien-run operation center and not all of the aliens are friendly, especially the one that tries to kill Alex on her first day. When Ace, a dark-eyed Caltian, enters and saves the day, she can't help but be drawn to him. Can these star-crossed lovers survive when they're on the brink of intergalactic war? $2.99 on Amazon

Fireseed One by Catherine Stine (Science Fiction/Thriller)

Fireseed One is a journey into a tricked-out near-future earth where 18 year-old Varik has inherited a vast ocean farm, following the suspicious drowning of his Marine biologist father. When Marisa, a beautiful and devious terrorist, destroys the world's food source, Varik is forced to travel to a lethal hotzone, teeming with dangerous nomads and a strange cult to search for a magical hybrid plant that may not even exist. The catch? He must take Marisa along, the only person who seems to know way, way too much key information. $2.99 on Amazon

The Missing by M.A. Leslie (Paranormal)
Eight-year-old, Ethan Doyle is just a normal kid whose biggest problem in life was to fight for the attention of his busy parents from his older twin siblings. But, after his aunt and uncle tragically die, his family takes in his teenage cousin, Kelsey, and moves to a spooky old, manor house in a new town. At first, everything seems fine, but when he begins to see and speak to a spirit named Lucas, his biggest problem becomes, just staying alive. Lucas was ten years old when the spirits of the house came to him and asked him for help setting their spirits free. Unfortunately, he never made the deadline and as a result the spirits took him and made him a part of the house as well. As he soon finds out, the only way he can save his own soul is to save the souls of the missing boys in the house. With his own deadline in place, Ethan enlists the help of his cousin Kelsey to solve the twenty-year-old mystery of THE MISSING. $0.99 on Amazon

Princess Kandake by Stephanie Jefferson (Fantasy) Available February 1, 2012

In Nubia a woman can be whatever she chooses. At 14, Kandake knows exactly what she chooses...Prime Warrior of Nubia. But her grandmother has said that she will follow her father on the throne. Refusing to abandon her warrior dreams she continues to train. When her brother is kidnapped, Kandake learns she must be both queen and warrior to win his release! See Author's Website

Middle Grade

Blink of a Dragon by Eisley Jacobs (Fantasy)

Discovering she’s connected to dragons is one thing, but when another dragon is caught hanging out in the fifth grade, Meia thinks things couldn’t get any worse. Is she ever wrong! Trouble is brewing in the cosmos and Deglan believes this new dragon holds the answers, but his hopes are crushed when the leader of the exiled dark dragons ambushes them. The fate of the dragons and possibly the whole world falls to Deglan and Meia as they search for the only creature powerful enough to send the dark dragons back into the abyss. What they encounter along the way makes the adventure worth fighting for. $6.99 Paperback preorder

Book Review - Transcendent

2011-12-30T22:47:00.000-07:00

Transcendent, Tales of the Paranormal, is a collection of short stories from some of the newest names in YA fiction; Rita J. Webb, Melanie Marks, Lani Woodland, Wendy Swore, Melonie Piper, Heather McCubbin & Evan Joseph.

What it's about:
Discover the secrets of a siren, fly with a hawk girl over the mountains of Montana, and flee supernatural party-crashers as the décor comes to life in this magical journey through paranormal stories.

Along the way, watch for ghosts in a haunted house, or ride through the moonlight with a stranger. Save a comatose boy who has lost his soul, and don’t forget to bring your garlic and wolfsbane—you never know when the shadows will snag you.

Transcendent includes eight stories of magic, love, death, and choice by some of the newest names in young adult fiction.

Purchase it now for only 99 cents, HERE!
Enter a FABTABULOUS contest and drawing HERE!
Read all the RAVING reviews HERE!

My Thoughts:
What a wonderful treat! I'm not a huge short story fan and can't write one to save my life, so I was a little leery to read this book in the beginning. However, I'm so glad I did. From beginning to end, I was totally captivated by these stories, each unique and reflective of the authors own style and imagination. My favorite has to be Wendy Swores about the homecoming dance. Had me on the edge of my seat the whole time. LOVED. IT.

The other stories also kept my interest and were very enjoyable. I loved having little snippets to entertain me as I found pieces of time throughout my day to read. I highly recommend this anthology to anyone who likes to have the living crap scared out of them and who enjoys an old-fashioned spooky story.

Don't forget to sign up for the contest above.

Book Review - Everneath

2011-12-30T00:01:00.003-07:00

Everneath
By Brodi Ashton

Released Date: January 24, 2012

Here's the blurb:
Last spring, Nikki Beckett vanished, sucked into an underworld known as the Everneath, where immortals Feed on the emotions of despairing humans. Now she's returned- to her old life, her family, her friends- before being banished back to the underworld... this time forever.

She has six months before the Everneath comes to claim her, six months for good-byes she can't find the words for, six months to find redemption, if it exists.

Nikki longs to spend these months reconnecting with her boyfriend, Jack, the one person she loves more than anything. But there's a problem: Cole, the smoldering immortal who first enticed her to the Everneath, has followed Nikki to the mortal world. And he'll do whatever it takes to bring her back- this time as his queen.

As Nikki's time grows short and her relationships begin slipping from her grasp, she's forced to make the hardest decision of her life: find a way to cheat fate and remain on the Surface with Jack or return to the Everneath and become Cole's...

Book 1 is scheduled for release January 24, 2012.

My thoughts:

It isn't often that a book affects my emotions like Everneath did. Nikki's heart wrenching journey as she struggled to get her life back, remember her feelings for others and somehow create relationships out of the mess she left behind, made my mood noticeably different. I wasn't able to sit and read this book in one day like most. I had too many distractions. But the story was with me every second of every day. I couldn't get it off my mind and stole every spare second to continue reading it. Not many books are like that.

I think the part that touched my heart the most was reading about Jack's reaction to Nikki leaving. He loved her so much and not knowing what happened to her or if she was still alive, ripped him apart. You don't hear much about how boys feel in books, they're supposed to be strong and emotionless, not let anything bother them. Not that Jack was a wimp by any means. I LOVED JACK. He was patient and understanding in all the right spots, yet gave Nikki the strength and courage she needed to fight her own personal demons.

I highly recommend this book to ANYONE. Brodi Ashton is my new favorite author and I'll be standing at the front of the line to get her next book.

To learn more about Brodi Ashton, go HERE.

To pre-order your own copy of EVERNEATH go HERE or HERE.

Read Goodreads's Reviews HERE.

Disclaimer: I received an advanced readers copy at no cost to me. This did not influence my review in any way.

Taking a Much Needed Break

2011-12-26T17:02:00.000-07:00

Hi Guys!

I'm dropping in to let you know that I need a break. With the holidays, my kidlet being out of school for a few days and moving my mother-in-law in with us, I'm feeling a teensy bit stressed at the moment, so I've decided to take a few days off and decompress. I'll be back after the first of the year.

I do have a couple of things schedule for my blog, however.

December 30th - Review of Everneath, by Brodi Ashton

You won't want to miss that.

December 31st - Review of Transcendent, an anthology of several paranormal short stories written by a group awesome authors. But don't wait for the reviews, go get it now. You'll be glad you did.

And don't forget that the e-book version of BOUND will be on sale for 99 cents through the end of December. All the links are on the sidebar. The printed version is 13.99, but both Barnes & Nobles and Amazon are offering it for 10.07 with free Prime shipping, so take advantage of that great price while it lasts.

A BIG HUGE

TO EVERYONE!!

I'll catch up with you next year.

HUGS<3

Cover Reveal - Sleepers, by Megg Jensen

2011-12-19T00:01:00.005-07:00

Introducing the new artwork for

Megg Jensen’s bestselling novel

SLEEPERS

To celebrate the re-launch of SLEEPERS in January of 2012, Megg is
giving it a new cover with artwork from the incredible PhatPuppy.
(phatpuppyart.com)

Synopsis: An adoptee raised in a foreign land, sixteen-year-old Lianne
was content with her life as handmaiden to the queen, until a spell
cast on her at birth activated. Now she's filled with uncontrollable
rage and access to magic she thought had been bled from her people
years ago. Even her years of secret training in elite hand-to-hand
combat and meditation can’t calm the fires raging inside her.
Her heart is torn between two boys, the one she’s always loved and the
one who always ignored her. But when the kingdom threatens to tear
itself apart due to rumors surrounding the queen’s alleged affair, who
will Lianne protect and who will she destroy?

On sale now for only 99 cents!

Check out some awesome reviews on Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11815829-sleepers

Sales outlets for SLEEPERS:
http://meggjensen.blogspot.com/p/where-to-buy-meggs-books.html

Megg on the web:
Website: http://www.meggjensen.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/meggjensenauthor
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/meggjensen

Bah Humbug! Or Is It Something Else?

2011-12-16T15:52:00.000-07:00

I'm trying to figure out why this is how I feel this Christmas. I'm usually all festive, putting up decorations, buying presents and I have to admit that I LOVE wrapping them and putting fun little bows on top to make them pretty. But this year . . . not so much.

And it's not just me. My husband and son feels the same way.

We didn't even put up our tree until last Monday and we didn't decorate it. No star or angel at the top. No tinsel. No garland. Just little white lights that twinkle in the night. I have to admit that I like the looks of it. Simple. Glowing. Peaceful. That is when it's on at night. During the day, when the lights are off, it's just a blog of green plastic pine needles standing in the corner. What's festive about that?

I did put up the nativity scene. Maybe that's what I'm thinking this year, that I want to be more spiritual, think about the true meaning of Christmas. I have been thinking a lot lately about how lucky I am for the atonement and how grateful I am that the Savior died for me. Things have been tough this year. Our business isn't doing well with the economy like it is. We've gone out less (okay, not at all). Have squandered nothing. Pinched pennies until they resemble those you put through machines that get all squashed. But in all of that, we still find ourselves lucky to have each other, blessed to be a forever family and have a home to call our own. Some people don't even have that.

So, maybe it isn't so much a "Bah Humbug" Christmas as much as it is a time for us to find peace and be thankful for our simple life. To be grateful for the little things and not worry so much about how many presents are under the tree or how full we can pack the kidlet's stocking.

What do you think? Is it okay to minimize the hoopla and festivities for the holidays? Can we still have a good Christmas without all the traditional fluff and commercialized expectations?

2011-12-14T00:01:00.001-07:00

I'm proud to be a part of something so huge and important today. Not only am I featuring a fabulous book and author, but a cause that I believe whole-heartedly in. For years I've loved the white tiger, an endangered species, and even put one as a character in my debut novel, BOUND. I've collected giraffe figurines and stuffed animals since before I can remember and marveled at other species that are rare and quickly depleting in numbers. So when I heard that Heather McCorkle was donating a portion of her book sales to save the endangered species, I was quick to get in line to host her and her book on my blog. And because the white tiger was already taken (dang it) I'm featuring the giraffe in today's post.

Here's a little about Heather's book, The Secret of Spruce Knoll.

Following the tragic death of her parents, Eren Donovan moves to Spruce Knoll to live with an aunt she’s never met. Little does Eren know the entire town of Spruce Knoll is filled with “channelers”—a magical group of people who immigrated to the small Colorado town when they were driven out of their own lands.

Channelers are tied to the fate of the world. As the world slowly dies, so do they—and they alone have the power to stop the destruction of Earth. Soon, Eren learns she not only lives among them, but she is one. When she meets local boy Aiden, his charm convinces her that being a channeler may not be all bad though.

As Eren and Aiden’s relationship develops, so too does a mystery in Spruce Knoll. The town holds many secrets—and many dangers. It soon becomes apparent that the untimely death of Eren’s parents was no accident and that her life might be in danger too. Only time will tell if Eren can embrace her unwanted power and protect the only family she has left.

Add it to your Goodreads' list HERE!

A special edition of The Secret of Spruce Knoll is releasing from Compass Press this month and Heather's doing a special tour to go along with it. The special part, a percentage of the proceeds from every special edition sold (in every format) between its release date and 12-12-2012, will go toward Heather’s favorite charity that protects endangered species. Her goal is to make at least $10,000 for the charity. YES! It's a lofty goal, but if we all do our part, it's totally doable.

Get your copies at Amazon or Barnes & Noble

Of course there are prizes during the tour which goes from December 1^st through the 17^th. Prizes include a symbolic endangered species adoption of the winner’s choice (a $50 donation by Heather to the charity for the endangered species of the winner’s choice, and cute stuffed animal for the winner!), signed copies of her novels and great swag. For full details, and to enter, go here: http://heathermccorkle.blogspot.com

Now, I'd like to tell you a little about the Giraffe. And just in case you're wondering if I'm telling the truth about loving them, check out THIS POST I did a while back about them.

Now for a little Trivia:

These facts were taken from THIS awesome website! Hope they don't mind sharing.

1. The word Giraffe, comes from the Arabic word - zerafa, which means charming or lovely one. Giraffes can be found in southern, central and eastern Africa. As of now, their population is in good standing.

2. Giraffes graze in the savannas in Africa, eating leaves from the trees, mostly acacia trees. They can go several days with no water, and stay hydrated by the water of the leaves.
3. The Reticulated Giraffe has the most distinctive pattern of dark patches separated by thin lines. The most irregular pattern belongs to the Masai Giraffe of East Africa.

4. The neck of a Giraffe can be as long as 8 feet! Their tongue is a foot long. Both man and giraffes have the same amount of neck bones - 7. The heart of a Giraffe is very large in order to pump blood all the way up to it's head.
5. The Giraffe is the tallest animal of all. Male giraffes normally weigh between 2,400 and 3,000 pounds and can stand up to 19 feet tall. Female giraffes can be up to 16 feet tall and weigh between 1,600 and 2, 600 pounds.

6. Giraffes have knobs or horns on the top of their heads that are used to protect the head in fights. These grow to be around five inches long.
7. Male giraffes do not use their horns as weapons against predators, the only time they use them is to fight peers.
8. Giraffes are social animals that travel in large herds consisting of both males and females of all ages.

9. The gestation period is typically 15 months. During the first week of life, the baby giraffe is carefully guarded. While the mothers feed, the calves are kept in nursery groups.

10. Spotted hyenas and lions are the predators of the calves. Between 50 to 75% fall prey, despite the mother's efforts to protect and hide. Adults are too big to be prey and can kick the lion to death if it comes too close.
11. Giraffes typically live to be about 25 years old in the wild.

What's your favorite endangered species?

12 Days of Christmas - INDIE BOOK BLOWOUT!!!

2011-12-12T20:29:00.001-07:00

I hope you're ready for this.

LOTS of books are now being offered for only

99 cents

It's the

INDIE BOOK BLOWOUT's

12 Days of Christmas

And of course, my debut novel, BOUND is one of them, so head on over to their website and check out all the great books they have to offer. You'll want to come back every day until the 24th to see more books. BOUND is on day 3 (December 14th), but you can purchase it at any of the links on my sidebar for the same LOW price. I'll have it that low until the end of the month, so you can give your new Nook or Kindle Santa brings you some BOUND love.

2011-12-10T23:56:00.000-07:00

Looking for a great read? Here's a couple of books that will appeal to both girl and boy. Take a look.

Getting Sideways: Book 2 in the Full Throttle Series

Getting shipped off to live with his uncle Race was the best thing that ever happened to fifteen-year-old Cody. Then a wreck at the speedway nearly ruined everything. Cody’s making every effort to get his life back on track—writing for the school paper, searching for the perfect girlfriend, and counting the days until he gets his drivers’ license—but there’s no escaping the nightmares that haunt him.

A chance to build his own car seems like the perfect distraction. Until Cody realizes he’ll have to live up to Race’s legendary status. But that’s the least of his worries, considering he doesn’t have his dad’s permission. All he has to do is the impossible: keep Race from discovering his lie until he can convince his dad that racing’s safe.

Yeah, sure. That’ll be easy.

Haven't read the first book? Running Wide Open is on sale now for 99 cents.

Running Wide Open: Book 1 in the Full Throttle Series

Cody Everett has a temper as hot as the flashpoint of racing fuel, and it's landed him at his uncle's trailer, a last-chance home before military school. But how can he take the guy seriously when he calls himself Race, eats Twinkies for breakfast, and pals around with rednecks who drive in circles every Saturday night?

What Cody doesn't expect is for the arrangement to work. Or for Race to become the friend and mentor he's been looking for all his life. But just as Cody begins to settle in and get a handle on his supercharged temper, a crisis sends his life spinning out of control. Everything he's come to care about is threatened, and he has to choose between falling back on his old, familiar anger or stepping up to prove his loyalty to the only person he's ever dared to trust.

Praise for Running Wide Open:

"It doesn’t matter if you are a racing fan or not, Running Wide Open will captivate you and capture your heart." – Cari J, Amazon reviewer

“The roar of engines practically explodes off the page in this compelling, heart-thumping debut. Cody Everett is a straight-shooter with attitude, smarts, and whip-cracking wit; he doesn’t pull any punches, and neither does author Lisa Nowak. The collision of Cody and the world of stock car racing makes for a great story, one of the best I’ve read in a long time. Running Wide Open is a book not to be missed.” - Christine Fletcher, author of Tallulah Falls and Ten Cents a Dance

"The racing is easy to understand and does not get in the way of a rattling good story. I still couldn’t put it down on a re-read." – Elisabeth Miles, Amazon reviewer

"We race stock cars during the summer and even though this is a recommended read for Young Adults, we are seniors and enjoyed every page. We can hardly wait for the sequel to come out. MUST READING!" – Maxci Jermann, Barnes and Noble reviewer

"I say read this book, it’s fun, it’s beautiful, it’s a very cool read that will give you a feel-good state of mind. Awesome read." - L.E.Olteano, Butterfly-o-meter Books

Author Bio:

In addition to being a YA author, Lisa Nowak is a retired amateur stock car racer, an accomplished cat whisperer, and a professional smartass. She writes coming-of-age books about kids in hard luck situations who learn to appreciate their own value after finding mentors who love them for who they are. She enjoys dark chocolate and stout beer and constantly works toward employing wei wu wei in her life, all the while realizing that the struggle itself is an oxymoron.

Lisa has no spare time, but if she did she’d use it to tend to her expansive perennial garden, watch medical dramas, take long walks after dark, and teach her cats to play poker. For those of you who might be wondering, she is not, and has never been, a diaper-wearing astronaut. She lives in Milwaukie, Oregon, with her husband, four feline companions, and two giant sequoias.

Connect with Lisa online:

Twitter: http://twitter.com/Lisa_Nowak
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/LisaNowakAuthor
Google +: http://bit.ly/LisaNowakGooglePlus
Blog: http://lisanowak.wordpress.com/
Subscribe to her newsletter for updates about coming attractions: http://bit.ly/LisaNowakNewsletter

The Review Is In

2011-12-08T20:16:00.000-07:00

Here's the review I've been waiting for today. Head on over to John Waverly's blog and read what he has to say about my heart throb MC, Octavion. It's not pretty. Then come back and tell me what you think. Do you agree with him? It's okay if you do. I'd like to know what you really think about how some male characters are portrayed in YA novels. What will our kids get out of it? Here's the link:

http://www.johnwaverly.com/2011/11/bound-by-ck-bryant-book-review.html

Another Day Perhaps

2011-12-08T18:51:00.002-07:00

Okay, so the guy with the bad review never posted. Sorry about that. I'll keep watching his blog and as soon as it goes live, I'll post a link here. Can't wait to get your opinion on it.

In the meantime, isn't this a cool picture. I can't remember where I got it. Sorry. But I think it's beautiful. Kinda goes with my book a little, too.

I love white tigers.

A Goodie, a Deal & a Bad Review, OH MY!

2011-12-07T16:36:00.001-07:00

Look what I got today!!

Isn't it beautiful?

RaShelle Workman sent it to me and of course I cried. There's nothing like seeing your book cover on something awesome to bring out the tears.

That's my son, Joshua peeking out from the top of the blanket. He thinks it's cool and wants to keep it, but NOT! It's all mine. I'm always cold so this throw will come in handy while I'm writing in my office.

THANKS, RaSHELLE!!! You're the best. EVER!!!

Oh, and I've got some good news for anyone who wants to buy my book, but couldn't afford it.

You can now!

The digital version (Nook, Kindle, E-reader) is now available for only 99 cents EVERYWHERE. That's Amazon, Barnes & Nobles AND Smashwords. And the paperback has been lowered on Amazon from $13.99 to only TEN BUCKS!!! It's also got FREE shipping if you're on PRIME. Can't beat that deal.

The links are on my sidebar.

Let's see, what else?

Oh, come back tomorrow for a unique look at BOUND. A man's point of view. This particular "male" reviewer has some harsh words to say about my heart-throb, main character, Octavion. He asked my permission to post it and I say, BRING IT ON! So come back and I'll give you the link and let you decide if you agree with him or not. I'll also have a few things to say about his review.

See you tomorrow!

How To Date An Alien

2011-12-05T14:17:00.000-07:00

Today I'd like to introduce YA author Magan Vernon!

HOW TO DATE AN ALIEN:

High school senior Alex Bianchi's estranged father gets her an internship at Circe Operations Center to pad her college applications. But Circe isn't your typical military base. It's an alien-run operation center and not all of the aliens are friendly, especially the one that tries to kill Alex on her first day. When Ace, a dark-eyed Caltian, enters and saves the day, she can't help but be drawn to him. Can these star-crossed lovers survive when they're on the brink of intergalactic war?

Buy it on Amazon
Buy it on Smashwords

AUTHOR BIO:

Magan is self-proclaimed geek-to-glam poster child who channels her inner geek by writing science fiction for teens. Even though she slept with a night light until she was in middle school for fear of alien attacks. She now lives with her husband, daughter, and dog in central Illinois where she still sleeps with a night light...just in case.

And the Winner Is . . .

2011-12-05T12:21:00.000-07:00

First, I want to thank everyone who participated in the YA Scavenger Hunt. I gained over 70 new followers (friends), a ton of Facebook and Twitter followers and had 71 awesome comments. I can't wait to get to know all of you better. So . . . I guess you want to know who won the big prize, eh?

Drum Roll Please!

And the Winner is . . .

Sandra Lin

Colleen Houck will contact you (if she hasn't done already) and I will email you a free ebook of BOUND in the next day or so. I hope you enjoy it.

WAIT!! I'm not done!

I also need to announce the winner of ANOTHER e-copy of BOUND.

Are you ready?

#174 - Jessirae

I will also send you your e-book in a day or so.

CONGRATS to the winners and a big thanks to everyone who entered.

If you'd like to purchase BOUND, check out the links on my sidebar.

If you'd like to read the first THREE chapters, head on over to WATTPAD and you can read them for FREE.

And watch for my holiday special beginning later this week.
The e-book version of BOUND will be available for
only 99 cents.