This Time Around by Ellie Grace Preview

Title: This Time Around 

Author: Ellie Grace 

Genre: Contemporary Romance 

Age Group: New Adult 

Expected release date: July 15, 2013   

Nora Montgomery left home and heartbreak behind in South Carolina when she moved to New York City after her high school graduation. Now, four years later, she returns home and is forced to confront the past she left behind and the reckless boy who broke her heart. It’s not long before the pieces of her past begin to blur with the present and she realizes that the feelings she had for her first love never really went away. As old dreams resurface and new truths come to light, she begins to question the future she's always planned on. Jake Harris has spent four years regretting the night he let her get away. When she finally reappears in his life, he is determined to win her back and prove how much he’s changed. She might never forgive him for that night, but if he tells her the truth about what really happened it will shatter the world she thought she knew. If he doesn’t, he might not get a second chance. He’s already lost her once and he won’t lose her again. They come from two different worlds that are threatening to tear them apart…can they make it this time around?

Excerpt:

A drop of water landed on my cheek, waking me up and interrupting my moment of tranquility. I opened my eyes and saw that the blue sky had turned grey and mean with the promise of a summer storm. This was a common occurrence around here. Short summer storms would come through on even the most beautiful of days.

“Jake, wake up!” I nudged his arm and started packing up the last remnants of our picnic before everything got soaked. He opened his eyes groggily, jumping into motion when he saw the clouds overhead threatening to dump rain all over us.

We moved quickly across the water, thanks to his speedy rowing, and were only a few yards away from the dock when the sky opened up and rain started hammering down on us. I shrieked and made a pathetic attempt to cover myself with the cardigan I was holding, while Jake just looked at me and laughed.

When we edged up against the dock I practically leapt out of the boat and carried my guitar and the picnic basket back to the shelter of the cabin. I was about to go inside to get away from the storm, but when I looked for Jake I saw that he was still out on the dock. He was leisurely pulling the rowboat up onto the dock and flipping it over, clearly in no hurry despite the buckets of rain coming down over his head.

“What’s taking so long?” I said, rushing to the end of the dock where he was still standing, “In case you didn’t notice, we’re getting drenched!”

Jake just smiled. “Since when do you care about getting a little wet? The Nora I remember used to love running around in rainstorms.” He strode over to me and ran his hands up my arms. “It’s kinda nice, isn’t it?”

I nodded, stepping closer and looking up at him through the sheets of rain. He was gorgeous… especially when he was dripping wet. I reached up and traced his jawline, trailing my finger through the droplets of rain and watched as his eyes turned dark with desire.

Within a half a second his mouth was on mine and his hands were at my hips drawing me closer. His kiss started off slow but when his tongue met mine it became needy and impassioned. I slowly ran my hands up his hard chest and over his shoulders, pulling myself closer to him. His grip around me tightened and he moved his hands down, grabbing my bottom and lifting me up. I wrapped my legs around him and held onto him firmly.

“I want you,” he grumbled against my lips, “I can’t wait any longer.”

About the Author

Ellie Grace is an avid reader, chocolate lover and caffeine addict. When a story popped into her head that she couldn’t seem to shake, she decided to pursue her childhood dream of becoming a writer. When she’s not writing, she’s usually curled up with a book by one of her many, many favorite authors.  

Feature & Follow, Book Blogger, and Celebrate the Small Things!

I am excited to participate in the awesome Feature & Follow hosted by Parajunkee and Alison Can Read.  Check out their fabulous websites for the info and join the Hop! Follow me via bloglovin' or GFC and I will always follow back. 

This week's question:

What is your preferred reading format? Hardcover, eBooks, paperback etc?

Well, up until about three weeks ago I would have said I had to have a book in my hands. And while I still love to hold a physical book (I'm not picky, a hardcover or paperback is fine), I am starting to love my Kindle. It doesn't replace the real thing for me, but it is extremely convenient.

Hosted by Ramblings of a Coffee Addicted Writer

So would you read a book just because of the hype?

My answer....sometimes. It depends on the author. If it's one I love, I'm probably reading the hyped book anyway. There are some that I've read because everyone was talking about them (Divergent, Delirium, Harry Potter). But there are others I still haven't picked up (ahem...50 Shades) and I just never will.

Hosted by Scribblings of an Aspiring Author

This week I am celebrating family time and the library! I honestly don't know what I'd do with my kids this summer if the library didn't offer so many wonderful programs. If you haven't been to your local library recently you should really check it out. A big shout out to all the librarians!

I am also celebrating the fact that Drop Dead Diva is back! I just love this show. If you have never tuned in, try it. It's a hoot (yes, I said hoot)!

TGIF Everyone!

Landlocked by Tiffany Daune Cover Reveal!

BOOK & AUTHOR INFO:

Landlocked by Tiffany Daune

Series:  Surface, #2

Publication date:  Summer 2013

Genre:  YA Paranormal

Synopsis:

As if staying focused in trigonometry wasn’t hard enough….Eerie visions are plaguing Theia’s mind, driving her insane. Someone or something is reaching out to her, dragging her into a dark underwater world. And, to add to her delirium, she has no control over her newly awakened Siren senses. She thinks she can hear her cat’s thoughts, she wants to pummel Sarah Collins, and she’s trying to keep it together so she doesn’t lose her scholarship. She needs someone who understands—someone bound to the ocean water she craves—she needs Luc. But contacting him is risky, and returning to the water a death sentence. She must find a way to harness her Siren senses even though the waves are calling to her. Denying her intended destiny may be the only way to stay alive.

Goodreads

Author Bio:

Tiffany Daune doesn’t get why people want to grow up or why anyone would ever stop eating candy. Her purse is filled with books, lip gloss and a few pieces of Lego bricks. She writes best with a dish of chocolate chips on hand and finds licorice makes a better straw than plastic.

She lives on an island and believes mermaids may be raiding her candy stash, though she hasn’t caught them, yet.

Surface is her first novel and pairs well with gummy sharks.

Author links: Website/Goodreads/Facebook/Twitter

My Own Mr. Darcy Cover Reveal, Preview, and Giveaway!

After being dragged to the 2005 movie Pride and Prejudice by her mother, sixteen-year-old Elizabeth’s life changes when Matthew Macfadyen’s Mr. Darcy appears on the screen. Lizzie falls hard and makes a promise to herself that she will settle for nothing less than her own Mr. Darcy. This ill-advised pledge threatens to ruin any chance of finding true love. During the six intervening years, she has refused to give any interested suitors a chance. They weren’t Mr. Darcy enough.

Coerced by her roommate, Elizabeth agrees to give the next interested guy ten dates before she dumps him. That guy is Chad, a kind and thoughtful science teacher and swim coach. While she’s dating Chad, her dream comes true in the form of a wealthy bookstore owner named Matt Dawson, who looks and acts like her Mr. Darcy. Of course she has to follow her dream. But as Elizabeth simultaneously dates a regular guy and the dazzling Mr. Dawson, she’s forced to re-evaluate what it was she loved about Mr. Darcy in the first place.

Karey White grew up in Utah, Idaho, Oregon, and Missouri. She attended Ricks College and Brigham Young University. Her first novel, Gifted, was a Whitney Award Finalist.

She loves to travel, read, bake treats, and spend time with family and friends. She and her husband are the parents of four great children. She teaches summer creative writing courses to young people and is currently working on her next book.

Website * Twitter * Facebook * Goodreads

Excerpt 

Janessa folded her arms and looked at me for so long I started to squirm. “What?”

“I wish you’d look at yourself. You’re ruining your life with this stupid obsession.”

“I’m not obsessed.” I stood up quickly, nearly tipping my chair over. I rinsed my plate and put it in the dishwasher. I could feel Janessa’s eyes on me the entire time, but I refused to look at her. “And just because I’m not interested in this guy doesn’t mean my life is ruined.”

“Let me guess. Was he blond?”

“Knock it off.”

“Too short?”

“He wasn’t short. I’ve got to go.” I left the kitchen with Janessa on my heels.

“Was he too cheerful?”

“Oh brother. I’m not having this conversation with you.”

Janessa grabbed my arm and turned me toward her. “Yes, you are.”

“I’m going to be late for work.”

“Then we’d better talk fast.”

“I don’t have anything to say,” I said.

“Then I’ll talk. You listen. You have to start giving these guys a chance.”

I folded my arms tightly. “I give them a chance.”

“You give them one date, two at the most. But you’re not really giving them a chance because your mind’s already made up before you even go out.”

I was getting annoyed. “I don’t have time for this conversation again.” Janessa was practically reciting word for word what she’d said after my last date. And the one before that.

“Lizzie. If you don’t want to have the same conversation, do something different. Shake things up a little.” She smiled and did a little shimmy. I refused to smile no matter how silly she looked.

“How do you suggest I do that?”

“If this guy… What’s his name?”

“Chad.”

“If Chad calls you back, go out with him again.”

“I don’t see the point.”

“Did you get a serial killer vibe from him?”

“No, I got a nice-guy-that-doesn’t-deserve-to-be-led-on vibe from him.”

“Nice guys are good. So you’ll say yes, right?”

“If I’m not interested, it wouldn’t be fair to say yes.”

“Oh knock off the baloney. You haven’t been fair to a guy since high school. You’re just afraid if you get to know a guy, you might like him. And wouldn’t that be awful? Was Chad funny?”

“Yes, he was funny.”

“Handsome?”

I sighed. “I don’t know if I’d call him handsome, but he was cute.”

“Cute is good. Especially if he was funny. So go out with him again.”

“You act like it’s all up to me.” I walked to the closet and collected my purse. Like a tiger leaping on her prey, Janessa pounced at the bowl on the entry table and grabbed my car keys. “This isn’t funny, Janessa. I’m going to be late for work.”

“Then let’s make a deal. You agree to go out with him ten times before you toss him aside and I’ll give you your keys.”

“Ten times? No way.”

“That’ll give you time to get to know him.”

“You’ve got to be kidding.”

“I’m serious, Lizzie. Ten is a good number. In that amount of time, you can make a real decision. Instead of one based on a stupid movie.”

Now Janessa was skipping through a minefield. “It’s not a stupid movie and I’ve got to go.”

“It’s the stupidest movie in the world if it ruins your life.”

“Nothing’s ruining my life and I’m going to be late. Give me my keys and we’ll talk about this later.” A little tussle ensued as I tried to rescue my keys from her clutches. I almost had them when she darted to the bathroom and shut the door hard and fast, locking it behind her. “This is real mature.”

“I don’t care about mature. You’re my best friend, Lizzie.  I love you and I’m trying to save you from yourself.”

I banged on the door. “Give me the keys. Now.” My voice had become shrieky.

“I’ll give you the keys as soon as you promise you’ll go out with him ten times.”

“I doubt he’ll ask me out again.”

“Why? Were you a jerk?”

“No.”

“Are you sure?”

I hesitated, knowing I hadn’t been very good company. “I’m pretty sure.”

“If he doesn’t ask you out, you have to ask him.”

“No way am I asking out a guy ten times. No way!”

“You just have to ask him out once. If he doesn’t return the favor you can move on. But you have to be nice to him and give him a reason to want to ask you out again.”

“This is the dumbest idea you’ve ever had.”

“Listen Liz, I’m doing this for you. Give a guy a chance before you give him the old heave-ho.”

I leaned my head on the door. “Just give me the keys. Please.” Now I was whining.

“You’re the one keeping yourself from your keys. And probably true love.”

I looked at my watch. Now I’d have to risk a speeding ticket or get to work five minutes late. I wasn’t sure which was worse—a ticket from a police officer or a tongue-lashing from Delia.

“Fine. I’ll go out with him again if he asks me.”

“And?”

“If he doesn’t ask me, I’ll ask him?”

“Right. And how many times will you go out with him?”

“Way too many,” I said under my breath.

“I can’t hear you.”

“Ten times. If he asks me.”

The door cracked open. “And you’ll be nice to him?”

“Whatever you say. Now give me the keys.”

Janessa emerged from the bathroom and triumphantly dropped my keys into my outstretched hand.

“You’re an idiot,” I said.

“An idiot that loves you and wants you to be happy,” she said. She turned and headed down the hall. “Someday you’ll thank me,” she sang.

“If I don’t kill you first.” I slammed the door behind me.

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The Blood Code by Misty Evans Blog Tour

I am thrilled to host Misty Evans on my blog today to celebrate her new release The Blood Code. You can check out my review of this action-packed, secret spy romance here. And don't forget to enter the giveaway for your very own Princess Tennis bracelet. 

I'm going to turn things over to Misty now (and grab an apple martini), enjoy!

James Bond, Dirty Martinis, and the Girl Next Door

I write spy stories, and fans, agents, and editors constantly refer to certain characters as Bond-like. In my latest release, THE BLOOD CODE, one of my secondary characters, an MI6 operative, actually uses the line, “Bond. James Bond” when my hero Ryan asks him what his cover identity is. You’d think that line would be overused, but beta readers and one of my editors, as well, commented that they loved that Truman used that line in the story. And after the book released this week, one Goodreads reviewer excitedly proclaimed, “It’s James Bond meets Anastasia!”

So what is it about the Bond character (and his well-known quips) that never gets old? That keeps us coming back for more stories and movies? Is it the mystery that surrounds him? The alpha male attitude? His shaken-not-stirred philosophy?

Martini drinkers insist that a truly good martini is stirred. Me, I’m a margarita gal, so I have no idea. But maybe that’s one of the cool ways James Bond exemplifies the bad boy. He goes against the grain, colors waaay outside the box, and still manages to save the day – and the girl – every time.

And speaking of the Bond girls…they’re never your typical girl-next-door, but that doesn’t stop those of us who are nice girls from imagining we’re in their shoes, does it? They’re beautiful, confident, and sexy. Bond is putty in their hands…well, at least some of the time…and each one is different from the last. Blonde, brunette, redhead. Sometimes his ally, often his enemy. All are crucial to his mission in some way, even if only to make him seem more realistic as an alpha male who loves having a beautiful woman on his arm.

My favorite Bond movie is Casino Royal. My favorite Bond girl? You guessed it. Vesper Lynd. I’d love to be named Vesper, and wouldn’t mind spending time with such a sexy spy.

So let’s shake up some dirty martinis (I’ll take chocolate, please!), throw on a Bond movie, and dish about our favorite Bond (Sean Connery? Pierce Bronson? Daniel Craig?). And if you love a good spy story, check out THE BLOOD CODE. You can read Meredith’s fabulous review here.

HOT NEW COVER!!!

Fifteen years ago, Anya Radzoya fled Russia with her grandmother after the suspicious deaths of her parents, but she can’t escape the royal genes that make her one of Russia’s last living princesses. When President Ivanov blackmails her into returning to Moscow to be his future wife in exchange for her grandmother’s life, Anya discovers he’s planning to unleash a nuclear war. With no one else to turn to, she join forces with CIA operative Ryan Smith.

Undercover at the nuclear summit, Ryan is happy to recruit Anya to find proof Ivanov is resurrecting the Cold War, but he suspects his new asset is a double agent. Anya is determined to rescue her grandmother with or without his help, however, and Ryan finds himself falling for the beautiful princess before he even trusts her. He refuses to let her go it alone, even if it means risking his own critical mission.

Trapped inside the Kremlin with a cunning and ruthless opponent, the two must risk their lives and their hearts to save Anya’s grandmother, as well as millions of innocent people.

Goodreads/Amazon/Barnes & Noble/Kobo/iBooks

About Misty:

Misty Evans is the author of the award-winning Super Agent romantic suspense series. Books in the series have won a CataNetwork Reviewers’ Choice Award, CAPA nominations, the New England Reader’s Choice Bean Pot Award for Best Romantic Suspense and the ACRA Heart of Excellence Reader’s Choice Award for Best Romantic Suspense.

Misty likes her coffee black, her conspiracy stories juicy, and her wicked characters dressed in couture. When not reading or writing, she enjoys hanging out with her husband and their twin sons. Learn more and sign up for her newsletter at www.readmistyevans.com.

Website/Twitter/Facebook/ Goodreads

Tour schedule:

Official Tour Stops

6/17/2013            So Many Reads

6/18/2013            Notes From A Romantic's Heart               

6/19/2013            Reading Between the Wines     

6/20/2013            Going in Circles               

6/21/2013            Storey Book Reviews    

6/24/2013            In My Humble Opinion 

6/25/2013            The Flirty Reader            

6/26/2013            Meredith's Musings       

6/26/2013            Paranormal Book Club 

6/28/2013            Reading on the Rocks

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Cora Carmack's Losing It & Faking It On Sale!

Catch up with New York Times bestselling New Adult sensation Cora Carmack. LOSING IT is $0.99 and FAKING IT is $2.99 at etailers everywhere! Get your copies now and then get ready for her newest release KEEPING HER, coming in August!

LOSING IT.

Virginity.

Bliss Edwards is about to graduate from college and still has hers. Sick of being the only virgin among her friends, she decides the best way to deal with the problem is to lose it as quickly and simply as possible--a one-night stand. But her plan turns out to be anything but simple when she freaks out and leaves a gorgeous guy alone and naked in her bed with an excuse that no one with half-a-brain would ever believe. And as if that weren't embarrassing enough, when she arrives for her first class of her last college semester, she recognizes her new theatre professor. She'd left him naked in her bed about 8 hours earlier.

FAKING IT

Mackenzie "Max" Miller has a problem. Her parents have arrived in town for a surprise visit, and if they see her dyed hair, tattoos, and piercings, they just might disown her. Even worse, they're expecting to meet a nice wholesome boyfriend, not a guy named Mace who has a neck tattoo and plays in a band. All her lies are about to come crashing down around her, but then she meets Cade.

Cade moved to Philadelphia to act and to leave his problems behind in Texas. So far though, he's kept the problems and had very little opportunity to take the stage. When Max approaches him in a coffee shop with a crazy request to pretend to be her boyfriend, he agrees to play the part. But when Cade plays the role a little too well, they're forced to keep the ruse going. And the more they fake the relationship, the more real it begins to feel.

COMING IN AUGUST!

Pre-Order NOW!

Amazon           Barnes and Noble

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Cora Carmack is a twenty-something writer who likes to write about twenty-something characters. She's done a multitude of things in her life-retail, theatre, teaching, and writing. She loves theatre, travel, and anything that makes her laugh. She enjoys placing her characters in the most awkward situations possible, and then trying to help them get a boyfriend out of it. Awkward people need love, too. 

Let's Get Ready to Enter!

So, with all of the amazing writing contests always happening on the web I wanted to think of a way to help would-be entrants put their best foot forward. Most contests ask for a short pitch followed by the first page. So, I thought every Tuesday I would showcase one sample and open it up to comments from other fellow writers and even book bloggers.

I will monitor comments, making sure all feedback is constructive and thoughtful (although I know that technically won’t be necessary because the writing/reading community is awesome!). All samples will be anonymous; unless you want to share that you are the author in comments. This will allow the writer to experience a bit of what it’s like to have their work critiqued in an open environment. Plus it will give them the opportunity to polish up their entries for an upcoming contest or the query process.

If you are interested in throwing your hat in the ring send me an email using the form on the left side of this page and I will start a list. I will email you one week before your sample will go live on my blog. To get the most feedback possible spread the word on Twitter, your blog, Facebook, and anywhere else.

So what do you guys think? If you’re interested in offering feedback or possibly getting a critique let me know in the comments so I can gauge the interest. I will post samples as long as I receive them. Happy Writing!

Want Garrick?

I am so EXCITED! Are you anticipating Keeping Her just as much as I am? Did you love Losing It? Well, check out what the fabulous Cora Carmack has for her amazing fans below! If you were dying to get inside Garrick's head in Losing It, you are in for a huge treat. Read the message from Cora herself below and then, after you recover, read on for more Garrick! 

As if this wasn't enough, Cora and Jay Crownover will be participating in a Goodreads chat on 6/26 AND there will be a Faking It book club on Cora's facebook page on 6/27 from 3-4 p.m. EDT where you can live chat with Cora about the book and ask her all your burning questions! Um WOW!

Preview Package: Cora Carmack's KEEPING HER by AvonBooks

A new e-book novella from Cora Carmack, the bestselling author of Losing It and Faking It!

Garrick Taylor and Bliss Edwards managed to find their happily-ever-after despite a rather . . . ahem . . . complicated start. By comparison, meeting the parents should be an absolute breeze, right?

But from the moment the pair lands in London, new snags just keep cropping up: a disapproving mother-in-law-to-be, more than one (mostly) minor mishap, and the realization that perhaps they aren't quite as ready for their future as they thought.

As it turns out, the only thing harder than finding love is keeping it.

AVAILABLE AUGUST 13, 2013

Pre Order Now!

http://avonromance.hc.com/keeping-her/