Summer Reads Scavenger Hunt!

My top 5 summer reads and a ridiculously good give-away!

Oh, summer, beautiful, beautiful summer. When, for 8 fabulous weeks, I don't have to wake up early, be in traffic for an hour (one way, mind you), and deal with work. Instead, I get to sleep until the glorious hour of 7:45am, entertain a 3 year old, and attempt to get my house clean enough to counteract the insanity of the last 10 months.

But I digress!

Summer is also the time for reading, lots ofs reading, lots and lots of reading. The best is when it's a gorgeous day outside and I can sit on my deck, happily half-lost in a book while my kiddo plays with her water table or splashes in her kiddie pool (although if the pool is out, I usually end up in with her, it's hot out here!)

What's on my list for this summer you say? Here we go!


1) Hopeless in Hotlanta - Dawn Pendleton and Magan Vernon

2) 21 Days - Bethany Lopez (okay, so I've already read this one, but I want to read it again
when I can actually read for more than 10 minutes at a time)

3) Dancing with Deception - Andrea Heltsley (LOVED Dancing with Death)

4) The Dream Slayer - Jill Cooper

5) Break You - Jennifer Snyder


Do you need something new to read this summer (or fall, or maybe when winter hits?) Well, then check out this ridiculously awesome give-away.

The Summer Reads Scavenger Hunt will run from TODAY until midnight on SUNDAY (19^th July). To enter to win FORTY signed paperbacks by a wide range of authors PLUS $30 worth of Amazon Gift Cards, simply hop around ALL participating stops, collect all of the highlighted numbers, add them together, and then go enter the requested details along with your calculated answer in the ENTRY FORM. You can find more information on how the stop works HERE. All stops will direct you to the next place to hop across to. And don’t worry if you get lost, because the entire list of participating authors can be found HERE.


But, wait, that's not all! You can also win some fabulous swag from Aimee Laine!! She is giving away a print copy of Little White Lies AND Surrender!

  

a Rafflecopter giveaway




Ready for more fun? Then bop over to http://www.jabelfield.wordpress.com and keep scavenging!

Or, if you have all of your numbers and are ready to enter, then hop across to the Summer Reads Scavenger Hunt Entry Form.

The Only Answer - Cover reveal

Woot, woot! A cover reveal for a new Magan Vernon book!

Title: The Only Answer

Author: Magan Vernon

Age Group: NA

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Release Date: 8/11/14

Goodreads

SYNOPSIS

The sequel to the international hit, The Only Exception.

A boy burdened with a family legacy. A girl haunted by a shattered past. Both searching for answers to a future threatened by the unknown.


Three years ago, conservative Trey Chapman and liberal Monica Remy met their match in one another - and made the only xception that would change their lives forever.


Now, Trey's father is running for president, forcing Trey and Monica to put aside their personal beliefs to be the model of perfection.

But fate has other ideas, casting the family in scandal.

Some seek to use that disgrace to further their family legacy, while others refuse to let go of the past. Trey and Monica soon find themselves lost among questions that challenge their true feelings.

Will they be able to rediscover that the only answer lies with one another, or will they lose each other forever?

Be sure to add The Only Answer to your to-read list on Goodreads!

 EXCERPT

“Did anyone ever tell you that you’re very persistent?” she said, taking the brush and can.

“Every single day of my life and you love it.” I picked up the other can and brush.

She smiled, shaking her head. “Yeah, yeah. You’re lucky I put up with you.” She turned toward the wall. “You want me to just start painting?”

“Yes. Get a big enough square so we can see if we like that color for the wall. At least one foot by one foot.”

“That’s very precise measurements,” she said, looking at me out of the corner of my eye.

“Always best to be precise, Miss Remy.” I smiled, waiting for her to start painting to I could work on my own.

“Very true, Mr. Chapman.” She finally took her eyes off me and began stroking the brush against the wall.

I wasn’t sure how long it would take her to paint so I had to work fast. I didn’t even care if I spilled on my five-hundred dollar suit coat as long as I got the job done. By the time I was finished I turned fully toward Monica. My nerves were at an all time high and my heart was beating so fast I couldn’t even count the beats as I waited for her to look at me.

Usually she did everything she could to try and beat me. I loved her competitiveness and the way she challenged me. But not today. Now I just wanted her to finish her painting and finally turn toward me. But she wasn’t even looking in my direction. She was lost in thought, meticulously painting the tiny red square on the wall.

I wasn’t one to get flustered but I let out an audible groan. That was when she widened her eyes and finally turned toward me. “What the hell is your problem, Trey?” She dropped the paint brush in her can, red paint splattering on her hands.

I opened my mouth to answer but she cut me off before I could speak. “You rushed me through dinner so we could see your new apartment, an apartment that I’m not even going to really be living in because I can’t get a real job. Then as soon as we get here you’re rushing me to get in the bedroom so you can paint a freaking wall when we’re both dressed up for the convention. I’ve put up with a lot from you and I know you’re nervous about tonight, but you have to freaking relax or you’re going to drive me crazy!”

I cleared my throat. “Okay.” I nodded. “I understand I’ve been on edge tonight, but there’s a perfectly good reason and we can discuss it after I see which paint color is better for the wall.” I stepped back, smiling with my hands in my pocket.

She raised an eyebrow, turning away from the wall and putting her hands on her hips. “What kind of stunt are you trying to pull right now? Are you hiding something? Is this where you  break up with me?”

I usually loved her stubbornness but now Monica was getting to be a little bit too much. I was already on edge and had it all planned out, but nothing was going quite right. Love was never perfect that way, but once I found Monica I learned that things didn’t have to be perfect to work out.

Slowly I extended one hand and kept the other in my pocket. “Just come stand here with me and look at the wall and stop being so obstinate.”

She crossed her arms over her chest. “What if I said no?”

I took a few steps toward her until we were toe-to-toe. I didn’t say anything. Instead I just smiled and put my hands on her waist, lifting her in the air. She squealed as I walked backwards a few steps before setting her down a couple feet away.

“You’re very persistent, Mr. Chapman.”

I took her hands in mine. “I am when I know what I want and I’ve known that I’ve wanted you since the first time I saw you. The first time you opened your mouth and spoke to me. I knew there wasn’t going to be anyone else but you.” Slowly I turned her toward the wall and she gasped, removing her hands from mine and covering her mouth as soon as she read the words I painted on the wall: Will you marry me?

I pulled the velvet box out of my pocket and stood in front of her before I got down on one knee and opened the box, holding it open for her. The woman at Tiffany’s told me the diamond cut was called the Lucida after the brightest star in a constellation. She didn’t even need to tell me all of that before I was sold on the square diamond with it’s diamond side stones and  opened curved diamond band.

There something incredibly unique about it. Something that caught my eye. Just like Monica did.

I swallowed hard, trying to focus on my words instead of the tears that welled up in her eyes. These weren’t tears of sorrow like the night she poured her soul to me after Alpha Mu’s barn dance. These were tears of joy. “Monica Remy, It’s been three years since you first walked into my life. Three of the best years I’ve ever had. We’ve laughed together. Cried together. Everything. Together. I can’t imagine my life without you. I picked out this apartment especially so I could share it with you and our future collectively. And I hope that you’ll do me the honor of marrying me.”

I held my breath waiting for her response, counting down each second to my heart beat. Finally she nodded slowly before removing her hands from her mouth. “Yes,” she whispered. “Yes. Yes. Yes. A million times yes!” she said louder.

I couldn’t hold the grin that was threatening to split my face. I put the ring on her finger, slowly standing up before wrapping her arms around her waist. “You’ve made me the happiest man in the world tonight, Monica.”

About Magan Vernon

Magan Vernon is a Young Adult and New Adult writer who lives with her family in the insurance capital of the world. When not writing she spends her time fighting over fake boyfriends via social media. You can  find her online on 

Website  |  Facebook  |  Twitter

Crazy Dreams Release!

It's live!!

Title: Crazy Dreams (Dreams #1)

Author: Dawn Pendleton

Release: June 30, 2014

  Stone Tucker has big dreams. Someday, he wants to be on a country radio station. Flash forward to reality, and Stone isn’t any closer to his dream than he was months ago when he left his high school sweetheart and hometown in Pennsylvania to move to Nashville. Every one back home thinks he’s going to fail, and unfortunately, Stone has started to believe it, too.

  Enter Ember Daniels.

  Ember lost her dad years ago in a car accident, and more recently, her older sister to leukemia. She’s had her fair share and then some of heartbreak and needs to get away from the modeling life her mother has been pushing on her. A summer trip to Nashville is just what she needs to find herself. She isn’t prepared for Stone, with his hot body and overall indifferent attitude toward her.


  One night can change everything, and with seemingly endless summer nights, Ember and Stone both discover exactly what they’re looking for.

AVAILABLE NOW AND FOR ONLY $.99!!

Amazon † iBooks  

About Dawn Pendleton...

Dawn Pendleton spends her time between Maine and somewhere warm for the winter, dragging her husband and pup wherever she goes. A lover of travel, an avid reader, and a softie at heart, Dawn writes romance novels that face the dark reality of life, which is that not everyone gets a happily ever after right away.

Want to meet Dawn? Check out the list of Events she will be attending!

Website † Facebook † Twitter

Enter to win a $10 gift card >> HERE

Crazy Dreams cover reveal

How did this one pass me by? The new, (omg hot dude!) cover for Dawn Pendleton's newest upcoming release, Crazy Dreams! I have read all of the books in her Broken series and LOVE them, so I can't wait for this one to come out.

Title: Crazy Dreams (Dreams #1)

Author: Dawn Pendleton

Release: June 30, 2014

  Stone Tucker has big dreams. Someday, he wants to be on a country radio station. Flash forward to reality, and Stone isn’t any closer to his dream than he was months ago when he left his high school sweetheart and hometown in Pennsylvania to move to Nashville. Every one back home thinks he’s going to fail, and unfortunately, Stone has started to believe it, too.


  Enter Ember Daniels.


  Ember lost her dad years ago in a car accident, and more recently, her older sister to leukemia. She’s had her fair share and then some of heartbreak and needs to get away from the modeling life her mother has been pushing on her. A summer trip to Nashville is just what she needs to find herself. She isn’t prepared for Stone, with his hot body and overall indifferent attitude toward her.


  One night can change everything, and with seemingly endless summer nights, Ember and Stone both discover exactly what they’re looking for.

About Dawn Pendleton...

Dawn Pendleton spends her time between Maine and somewhere warm for the winter, dragging her husband and pup wherever she goes. A lover of travel, an avid reader, and a softie at heart, Dawn writes romance novels that face the dark reality of life, which is that not everyone gets a happily ever after right away.





Want to meet Dawn? Check out the list of Events she will be attending!

Website † Facebook † Twitter

New Book reveal!

DISTANCE by Andrea Heltsley

Cover by Regina Wamba of Mae I Designs

Releasing on all platforms July 27, 2014 

A note from Andrea: I'm so excited to share the cover of my upcoming release, Distance with everyone! Regina Wamba of Mae I Designs designed the cover!!!! 

I hope you love it as much as I do!

Synopsis:

Lexi has sworn off guys for good.

She’s always been a hot mess, but accidentally finding her boyfriend of three

 years cheating on her is just too much for her to handle. 

All she wants is to get this summer done and over with, 

so she and her best friend Elena can travel cross country for college.

 Then she will finally be free of this town, the friends that dropped her in favor of her ex,

 and her klutzy reputation.

Lexi's policy was working perfectly, until a guy named Mason comes to her rescue. Not once 

but twice in one night. For once, her mishaps have led to something good.

She’s feeling things that scare her, but she’s drawn to him. Can Mason break through her 

walls, or will she stick to her plan and steer clear of him? 

This is a new adult romantic comedy. 

Recommended for ages 17+ due to mature content. 

Add it to Goodreads

AUTHOR BIO:

Andrea Heltsley is a new adult and young adult author.

 She started writing in 2012 and hasn’t stopped since. 

She lives in Tennessee with her husband and two Italian Greyhounds. 

Ice cream, coffee and candy are always necessities. 

When writing, Andrea loves to listen to all kinds of music and always has a candle burning. When she’s not writing, you can find her nose in a book.

 Her favorite forms of entertainment are reading, 

Shakira and The Vampire Diaries.

ANDREA'S LINKS:

http://andreaheltsley.blogspot.com

https://www. twitter.com/andreaheltsley

http://www. facebook.com/andreaheltsley

http://pinterest.com/aheltsley/

http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5766043.Andrea_Heltsley

a Rafflecopter giveaway

21 Days Release!!

*Personal endorsement*

I was able to read 21 Days when it was still toddling around as a beta, and OMG it is fabulous. You guys know that I'm a fantasy girl, and this is definitely not a fantasy book, and I absolutely loved it. I was pleasantly surprised by how much I connected with Sasha, as I usually don't connect with characters who are so completely unlike myself, and I definitely had an opinion of her from reading 8 Weeks, but she very, very quickly touched me and I felt like she was "that friend", where you aren't quite sure how you became friends because you are sooo different, but you couldn't imagine life without them.

And TJ, *swoon*. That's all that needs to be said, haha. 

21 Days is a fabulous romance, sweet and sexy (and yes, there are some scenes that perhaps younger teens/children shouldn't be reading, be warned, this is not YA), and just an absolutely heartwarming and great book. I highly recommend it!!!

With no further ado, here it is!!

Release Day

21 Days

Time for Love, book 2

Cover by B Designs

Photograph by K Keeton Designs

Edited by Red Road Editing

Formatted by White Hot eBook Formatting

Blurb:

Sasha and TJ are no strangers to enjoying sex with no strings attached, so when they decide to act on their mutual attraction, there should be no reason why they can’t apply that same philosophy to each other.

Money has never been an issue for Sasha, which made proving herself as a real estate dynamo a personal challenge she was determined to conquer. Raised in a gilded world masking neglect and disappointment, she learned not to depend on anyone, especially when it comes to love and relationships. Men are great for companionship, but she isn’t looking for anything serious.

Used to going without, TJ has worked hard to be able to support himself. When he loses his job and his home in one fell swoop, he faces relying on others for the first time in his adult life. Then Sasha steps in, offering him a place to stay until he’s back on his feet. He grudgingly agrees, but vows to be out of her guest room within 21 days.

They'll discover that a lot can change in 21 days, especially when they decide to give the idea of "friends with benefits" a try. As each day passes, Sasha and TJ become closer than they’ve ever been. Will they be able to go back to being just friends when their days together are up, or will they allow their personal hang-ups to get in the way of what they really cherish most?

Purchase Links:

Amazon

Smashwords

iTunes

Barnes & Noble

If you haven't read book 1, 8 Weeks, it's currently On Sale until June 6th!

Purchase Links:

Amazon

B & N

iTunes

Smashwords

I promise I'm still here!

Did I let you all know what was going on with me lately? I don't think so, and for that, I apologize. Due to many factors, I've had no time in my life, so it's been lucky for me to have so many incredible authors putting out cover reveals and new releases and things for me to post about!

So, what have I been up to?

Well, I actually started taking classes 2 months ago to change careers, from education to medical administration (specifically coding, billing, and other office stuff). As you can imagine, this takes quite a bit of time in the form of studying and tests and teaching my brain how to learn again. 2 months down, 10 months to go. However! My hope is that when I finish and get a job in the field, I will be making more money (which means more books!) and have more time (which means more books!) and be able to attend more events (you know, with the more money and more books thing).

I've also been busy meeting with high school students, which has been AMAZING. It began with guest speaking at the LCPS Battle of the Books finals, and just last week I was blessed with the opportunity to speak with a group of Creative Writing students from an LCPS high school. While I still get so nervous about speaking to a group that I have to talk myself down from a mild panic attack in the car, I have so much fun during the talk and during the resulting Q&A sessions. It's kind of like riding a roller coaster. The entire time you are waiting in line, your stomach is churning and you think about leaving and you are torn between thinking, "this is going to be awesome!!" and "what the heck did I get myself into?" And then you do it, and it's awesome, and you leave going, "I want to do it again! Let's do it again!"

The Lady of Steinbrekka was officially chosen as an LCPS Battle book for next year! OMG. This is still very surreal to me, and it is awesome seeing my book on posters hung throughout the high schools of LCPS. I cannot wait to attend the semi-finals and finals next year and listen to the questions and answers that the competition comes up with regarding my books.

But have no fear! Soon I will be back, at least a little more. In only 2 weeks I will be freed from my 2 hours per day commute and 7 hour work day and be able to devote significantly more time to my characters, my books, and, the most important part, my readers!