Rachel Firasek

Quickie Review: Meeting His Match by Katee Robert

2014-07-23T06:56:00.001-05:00

This is a classic Cinderella story deconstructed. What you couldn't tell from the blurb? Caine is the son that stayed loyal to the family biz: works all the time, does what his father wants, and has absolutely no life. Addison is his fairy godlover to be, and when she comes into his life with promises of finding him his HEA, he decides that she's the only woman he wants to take home after the clock strikes twelve. And no, he won't let her go back for the missing glass slipper!

This book was filled with fun dialogue, a little heartache, some mangy mutts that will capture your heart, and a swift kick in the pit of your stomach. I devoured it all in one sitting and hope that the rest of this new imprint from Entangled holds up to such high standards, cause I may be a lifer now.

#TeaserTusday Enemies on Tap by Avery Flynn

2014-07-22T06:30:00.000-05:00

We're going to get right into the nitty gritty of #TeaserTuesday!

"Forbidden fruit had never looked so good to Logan Martin as Miranda Sweet. Not when they were teenagers. Certainly not now."

Their names alone made me buy Enemies on Tap by Avery Flynn! I'm starting it tonight, so I'll probably post a quickie review for your soon. Keep watch.

#MondayMotivation Declutter You

2014-07-21T06:00:00.000-05:00

I've been on a mission this year to get back in the game of writing, to get away from hiding behind editing, and to whip my body back in shape. So far, I've conquered two of the three, but this weight thing will be a work in process for a while.

For my #MondayMotivation post, I thought we could work through some of the things that I've had to work on this year to get out of my slump. And since everyone loves lists, that's how I'm going to map it out for you. We'll start with three things to get you going.

1. DECLUTTER YOUR LIFE

The first thing I did this year was clear out the clutter from my home, my life, and yes, even from some of my friends. (If you'd like some tips on getting started, here's a great website: http://zenhabits.net/declutter/)

I took much needed writing time and set it aside to clean the two years of crap hanging around my house. My family was great at taking care of me while I was sick, but not so good at deep cleaning the house.

Cleaning up my life was probably the hardest thing I've done. We changed our eating habits, added excercise (on a somewhat daily basis) and took care of some odds and ends that I'd put off for so long.

Everyone has those friends that are just energy drains, right? I bet you can name at least a handful of people that qualify. I know I can. It doesn't mean they are not great people, but for you, they are a dilemma in the motivation department. And sometimes, the quickest way to get back on track is taking out the obstacles keeping you behind.

2. TAKE A MOMENT WITH THE MIRROR

I'll be honest, from the neck down, the mirror is not my friend. I don't mind my face so much, I kind of even like it, but years of battling cancer and a healthy addiction to sugar have not been kind to my body.

My hubby actually has been more help in this department. I've joined Weight Watchers to battle the bulge, but he's repeatedly told me that he thinks I'm beautiful no matter what. (ahhh...)

It wasn't until we had a few forced meetings with the mirror and sometimes in the nude before I started believing him. I am still the beautiful woman he fell in love with, there's just more of me. lol.
And once you tackle the battle with the mirror, learn to love yourself the way you are, you're life will start to swing in a different direction. Even if your issue isn't physical, if you're having trouble with motivation, I'll bet you're also having trouble staring at yourself and admitting that you love yourself.

3. DON'T STAND STILL

I've had a lot of conversations about this topic lately. When you stop and stand still you slump. Try it. Get up. Stand in place for a good five to ten minutes. What is happening to your body structure? Your legs are probably bent, you're fidgeting maybe, swaying, your shoulders are probably curved forward. Now sit down. Does the idea of just standing still make you tired now?

When we stand still, we get in a cycle of redundancy. Every night you come home to the same thing. Every morning you dread work because it's the same thing. It's rinse and repeat at its worse.

If you don't set goals, can't see the path before you, you're standing still and you're slumping. It's horrible for motivation and even worse for you. So, today, break your cycle. If you come home every night from work, kick your feet up on the recliner and eat fried takeout, change it up. Stop at the grocery, grab the fixings for something healthier, cook, go through the mail, excercise, call a friend. Do anything that is different from your normal routine.

I can't promise you miracles, but I can tell you from experience that it'll change you. Let's start with these three big things and then work through to the easier stuff.

If you have tried any of these three things lately, please share with us your results. I can't wait to get into this conversation. Let's talk people!

Curse of the Pheonix Bundle Tour June 24th-July 4th

2014-06-24T05:00:00.000-05:00

Woo-hoo! It's release time! I'm so excited to see these books bundled and back out into the world.

Book One: The Last Rising

After paying two millennia’s penance to Osiris, world-weary Phoenix Ice has had enough. Saving souls without any hope for her own redemption isn’t how she imagined spending eternity. Fed up, she decides her next death will be her last. But when she sacrifices her own life for a sexy Texan in a catastrophic plane crash, she has no idea the consequences will be so great…or that she’ll end up back in his life for her next assignment.

Now that Turner Alcott has survived the worst, finding a wife and mother for his son matters more than ever before. When the mysterious Ice comes into his life, Turner knows she’s the one—but love is the last thing Ice wants. If he wants to win her heart, Turner must teach Ice how to forgive herself, and prove that love is the ultimate sacrifice.

Book Two: The Last Awakening
For three hundred years, Arabella’s life has been one meaningless death after another. In a cruel twist of fate, Osiris gifts the phoenix her mortality and long-gone voodoo magic with a warning that she must save her next soul within a week without using magic, or she’ll lose her power forever.

Ex-soldier Greyson Meadows desperately wants to be freed from the nightmares and guilt that haunt him. Confronted by a waif of a woman who forces him to face the truth about his past, he runs fast and hard, fighting the need to prove himself worthy despite his perceived failures.

When Ari becomes the target of her own magical blunder, the weak will find strength and the strong will fall. One will have to give up everything so the other can have peace, but will love’s magic withstand the loss?

Book Three: The Last Beginning
Though she’s always hated being a phoenix, Sadie has to admit immortality has its advantages. She’s seen and done more in the last 150 years than she’d ever dreamed of, but she can’t get past the fact that Osiris has done nothing but manipulate her and her fellow phoenixes.

Or that, when her last incarnation as a phoenix comes to a fiery end, the fire slowly begins to consume her body.

Sun god Osiris is ashamed of his role as ruler of the Underworld, but he unless he can figure out how to save Sadie, that’s exactly where she’s going to end up. Permanently. Terrified he’s going to lose her, he takes her on a hunt for The Book of the Dead, which is the only way he knows he can save her—even if it means she’ll hate him forever.

Information:

Title: Curse of the Phoenix Bundle
Author: Rachel Firasek
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Length: 200 pages
Release Date: June 24, 2014
ISBN: 294-0-01297-946-9
Imprint: Entangled Edge

And if you'd like to learn more about me and this series, please check out the stops on my tour. Oh! And don't forget to sign up for the $25.00 GC by way of the Rafflecopter at any of the sites below on their given tour date! :) You all rock so hard. Thank you for helping make this release day awesome!

6/24: Deal Sharing Aunt – Promo

6/24: Racing To Read – Review

6/25: RhiReading – Promo

6/25: Romantic Reads and Such – guest blog

6/26: In The Pages of a Good Book- Guest blog

6/26: Sweet Spot Book Blog – guest blog

6/27: GothicMoms Reviews – Promo

6/30: My Book Addiction and More – Guest blog

6/30: You gotta read – Promo

7/1: In Shadows – Promo

7/1: Reading Between the Wines Book Club – Guest Blog

7/2: All Things Romance – Promo

7/2: In the pages of a good book – Guest blog

7/3: Literary Escapism – guest blog

7/3: She Hearts Books – Review

7/4: Dawn’s Reading nook – Promo

7/4: Becky on Books – Promo

7/7: Eva Millien – Review

7/7: Ramblings of a Book Lunatic – Review

7/8: LITERAL ADDICTION – Guest blog

7/8: Sizzling Hot Books – Spotlight

7/9: I Smell Sheep – Interview

7/9: Bookaholic – Review

7/9: The Reading Room: Cozy, Romance, Mysteries And More With Reviews – Review

7/9: Book Nook Nuts – Promo

Oh, and please share all of this with your social media buddies. Pretty please with cherries! :) I'd love to see my book baby hit the top of the charts!

Back From Outerspace.

2014-06-16T09:00:00.000-05:00

Hey everyone. I haven't blogged in forever. I really thought I was done with it. But...then I get lonely. And I just knew it was time to come back.

So...here I am.
And here's a quickie update of my life in the past six months or so...

Health: Doing A-ok! My January scan came back clean. The doc put me on a six month follow up visit for labs and such and so far, there are no new cancer scares in 2014.

Family: Awesome! I have a senior and freshman now. I'm in perpetual tears as my empty nest syndrome begins. But, as of now, we are all happy and doing well.

Work: I'm still at my day job and yes, I still love it.

Writing: Gah! I'm so behind. I have a ton of goals and I've squished most of them this year because my head was just in outer space. But...I'm working on that. I'm trying to get back on track. And with the gentle prodding--with a taser--by Jennifer James, I'm sure I'll get back on target before the year is out.

What's next: Well, Entangled Publishing has bundled The Curse of the Phoenix series together and we're getting ready for a big release tour with lots of fun and prizes.

I'm working on the sequel to Drowning...Burning is being a nightmare, but I will get it put back together.

And I have the rights back on one of my older stories. I'll be getting that book and it's sequel ready for publication soon. Unless I find a happy home for it. I'll keep you posted. :)

So...that's me. What have you guys been up to? Anything exciting happen? New publications I should check out? Anyone move? Anyone get married? Do tell!

Welcome

2014-06-03T19:08:00.000-05:00

Thanks for stopping by! Please be patient while I get everything set up--again! :)