Sneak Peek Sunday - April Emerson

Coming July 21st 

a new adult erotic romance

from Secret Cravings Publishing

A Flawed Heart
by April Emerson

Synopsis:
Claire Brighton has just finished college and is abandoning her warm, southern home in favor of gritty New York City. She searches for the perfect roommate and finds Lydia Taylor. Lydia lives a life of privilege in her father's penthouse, but like Claire, she's ready to go out into the world on her own. Claire and Lydia rent a little apartment in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, not far from Lydia's older brother, Jason. Claire is intrigued by Lydia's stories of Jason, who is the black sheep of the family—and a musician. The minute Claire hears him sing, she falls for him. Claire thrives in her new urban surroundings, treasuring her time with Jason and exploring her new found sexuality, but both Claire and Jason carry shadows with them. They're each fighting to move on from wounds of their past, but they learn that they will need each other to do it. 

Excerpt:

Jason takes a sharp breath in, flicks his cigarette away and takes a step toward me. The intensity of his eye contact makes me apprehensive. I never talk about my daddy with anyone. I look down at my feet and Jason gently grabs and holds my wrist. The top of my head only reaches the base of his neck. I stare at his fresh tattoo. It’s black, white, and gray. It’s a Lilly with script around it. I can barely read it in the dim light but looking closer I see it says, ‘Never let go’.

“The tattoo. It’s for your mother?” I whisper.

Jason nods and leans down toward me. He presses his forehead against mine. The only sound is our breathing. I feel our pain in my chest. My heart is ripping open, and I want to comfort him and hold him and kiss him. I tilt my head back and look into Jason’s eyes. The current running between us is palpable. I part my lips and press them to his. The kiss is shy and tentative. His lips are so soft…they taste like beer and peppermint, and they’re warm and strong against mine. I realize how brazen I’m being and pull away. As I move back, Jason’s grip on me tightens and he places his hand on the small of my back so I can’t step away.

I smile and kiss him again. This time he presses my body to his and work his lips over mine, at first gentle and then rough. He lets go of my wrist and I’m free to touch his body. I place one hand over his heart and the other reaches up to touch his hair. He moans, grips my neck, and tilts my chin up with his thumb. The kiss becomes more desperate, more filled with desire—and warmth spreads through my body. He backs up against the wall and begins to kiss my neck. He tangles his hands in my hair.

I take this opportunity to breathe, but he kisses me again as he slides his hand down to my ass. I wrap one leg around his, craving more contact, wanting to ease the ache I’m feeling. He gets hard as my body rubs against his. He moans as I grind up against him and kisses me harder. I move my mouth to his shoulder and nibble at his flesh. I’ve never felt more aroused or been this forward. I feel as though I could kiss him every day and never tire of the way our mouths and bodies fit together. His grip tightens, and I know he must be feeling it too.

“You’re so beautiful. You feel so good.” He knots his fingers in my hair and kisses me again.

Just then, I hear the worst possible sound. The emergency door opens and Ben is standing there.

Cover reveal:

 Cover by Jada D'Lee Designs

Connect with April

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Be sure to check out April's other books!

Purchase a signed copy here

Saturday Snapshots - 6-28-14

Saturday Snapshots is a picture prompt brought to you by Author to Author, meant to inspire the creative genius within you.

Maybe you'll be moved to write flash fiction for it, perhaps it will kick start an old idea for a novel, or it may inspire a new short story. Whatever it does, we hope you'll enjoy these images around the web.

If inspiration does hit, we hope you'll post a snippet in the comments.

Today's image: Signs

photo credited to M. B. Feeney

Tempting Tuesdays ~ Snickers Carmel Apple Salad

Last salad of the month had to be a dessert salad. I originally saw this recipe made with Twix instead of Snickers on I $ave A 2 Z. I used the Snickers because I wanted the peanuts and nougat honestly and I loved it. You can make it either way though.

Ingredients

1 small package Vanilla Instant Pudding (I used French Vanilla. YUM!)
1/4 cup milk
1 large tub whipped cream
1 to 2 packages of Snickers bites halved or 12 fun size snickers cut into thirds
3 to 4 Granny Smith apples, diced
Carmel sauce

Blend pudding mix with 1/4 cup milk. Once blended, add whipped cream.

Mix all ingredients together. Allow to set up in refrigerator for at least 30 minutes.

Drizzle with Carmel sauce just before serving. ENJOY!

Sneak Peek Sunday - Sydney Logan

Sydney Logan is celebrating the release of her third novel, Soldier On! Keep reading to learn more about the book, click the buy link to grab your copy at the special introductory price, and be sure to enter the giveaway at the bottom of the post!

 

 Release Date: June 20

Genres: Romance/Military/New Adult

  

Will his call of duty break both their hearts?

Losing her father in Desert Storm has left Stephanie James with a bitter soul when it comes to the military. As a college senior juggling a full course load, Steph's only goal is to graduate with honors at the end of the semester. She’s focused, determined, and a firm believer in all work and no play. Then she meets Brandon Walker at a New Year’s Eve costume party. Despite his disguise, Steph finds herself attracted to the camouflaged soldier who curls her toes with a scorching midnight kiss.

Brandon is an engineering major and ROTC student from the hills of Kentucky. Growing up as the son of a major general has given Brandon firsthand knowledge of the struggles military families sometimes face. Now that his father’s memory is fading, Brandon is even more determined to make his dad proud and graduate as an officer in the United States Army. Then he meets Stephanie, and suddenly, his focus is less on his military service and more on the pretty brunette who has stolen his heart. When he becomes aware of Steph’s resentment toward the military, he worries their relationship is doomed. 

When faced with the realization that she's fallen in love with a soldier, can Steph’s wounds from the past be healed with love in her present . . . and in her future?

 

Regular Price: $2.99 (ebook) 

Also available in paperback

                                             

Sydney Logan is an Amazon bestselling author and holds a Master's degree in Elementary Education. With the 2012 release of her debut novel, Lessons Learned, she made the transition from bookworm to author. Her second novel, Mountain Charm, was released in 2013. She is also the author of four short stories – Mistletoe Magic, The Little Drummer Boy, Force of Nature, and Stupid Cupid. A native of East Tennessee, Sydney enjoys playing piano and relaxing on her porch with her wonderful husband and their very spoiled cat.

 

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Saturday Snapshots: 6-21-14

Saturday Snapshots is a picture prompt brought to you by Author to Author, meant to inspire the creative genius within you.

Maybe you'll be moved to write flash fiction for it, perhaps it will kick start an old idea for a novel, or it may inspire a new short story. Whatever it does, we hope you'll enjoy these images around the web.

If inspiration does hit, we hope you'll post a snippet in the comments.

Today's image: Pretty Rain

Photo credit:
http://webneel.com/wallpaper/sites/default/files/images/04-2013/pretty-rain.jpg

The Wednesday Word

Author To Author’s Newsletter                                                    

June 18, 2014

*Note: This edition of the Wednesday Word was published one day late on June 19th due to power outages from severe storms in the North East on June 18th. Thank you for understanding. :)

Virtues of a Writer

 Humility in Writing

Humility: Being able to respect one's own limitations.

Doesn't sound very motivating, does it?

In the writing world, we are told by our peers to put our best foot forward and have no fear. To try, try, try, and never give up. Though it might seem confusing and contradictory, humility can play an essential role in your writing process.

Let's break down that definition a bit and see what value we can derive from it.

Respect.

Respecting yourself is key to any success you seek to achieve in life.

Respect one's own limits.

You know your limits. You know what tires you out or turns you off from the work you love.

Pushing yourself too hard by setting unrealistic expectations for yourself can lead to writer burn out pretty quickly. If your word count goals are dragging you down, take a break. If your promotional activities are too taxing, back off for a while. (Professionally, of course. If you have others depending on you, you need to be clear with them by letting them know what you are going through and notifying them of any changes you plan to make.)

Take a moment to sit down and accurately assess what you can and cannot do on a daily basis. Jumping on every opportunity that comes your way may seem like the road to success, but more often leads to unnecessary burdens that can put quite a damper on your fiery love of writing.

As a writer, I sometimes have trouble following my own advice. There have been plenty of times when I felt burnt out and needed a break. It's normal, you don't need to feel badly about it or let fear of failure consume you.  Respecting yourself enough to have humility means that you're giving yourself what you need in order to succeed.

By respecting your own limits, you can ensure that writing continues to be an enjoyable activity.

Do you have a hard time respecting your own limits?

What activities tend to lead to your own "burn out" as a writer?



By A2A Member and Contributor, Andrea Goodson. http://www.andreagoodson.wordpress.com   

Exciting News for Author to Author Group Members

Sydney Logan Releases Soldier On

Check out Sydney's website for the release of Soldier On this weekend!

 

 

 

 

 

Download Fireworks for Only 99cents

Lindsey Gray has permanently lowered the price of Fireworks to 99 cents! Check it out! http://lindsey-gray.blogspot.com/2014/06/birthday-celebration-fireworks.html

 T.M. Franklin Hosts Blog Tour and Giveaway

The How to Get Ainsley Bishop to Fall in Love with You Blog Tour and Giveaway continues through June 19th.  Up for grabs: TWO signed copies of Ainsley, THREE eBooks of the winners' choice from the TWCS library, a t-shirt, notebook and pen, and some other fun prizes!

Jennifer Garcia to Visit Long Beach Library

If you're in California this weekend, stop by and visit Jennifer at the Long Beach Library this Saturday, the 21st for a signing and panels with Jami Denise, Lorenz Font, and many others!

Jennifer was also chatting books on Hummingbird Place Blog Talk Radio this week. Click here to listen: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/.../2014/06/16/sweet-romances

Wednesday's Weird Word

Frigorific

Something frigorific causes cold or is chilling

Thank you for reading this edition of Author to Author's The Wednesday Word! Visit us again in two weeks for more news and savings to refresh your bookish pleasures! As always, feel free to share and spread the word! Have a wonderful day!

Tempting Tuesdays ~ Creamy Avocado Pasta Salad

The summer of salads continues! This week just went I was thinking about making a kick-ass pasta salad, this recipe came into my inbox from I Wash... You Dry.

Ingredients

Salad
16 oz cooked large shell pasta
1 Avocado, diced
1 1/2 cups grape tomatoes, halved
6 strips of thick cut bacon, cooked and crumbled


Dressing
1 cup Ranch dressing (I used some Peppercorn Ranch to kick it up a knotch)
1 Avocado
Juice from 1 lime
2 tablespoons fresh basil
1/4 teaspoon salt

Prepare pasta according to package directions. Once drained, run cold water through to cool pasta down. Place in large bowl.

For dressing, place all dressing ingredients in blender and blend until smooth and creamy. Pour over pasta and mix until completely coated.

Fold in grape tomatoes, diced Avocado, and bacon. Season with a little more salt and pepper if need be.

Serve with your favorite dish or maybe a burger and some loaded potato salad. Enjoy!

Sneak Peek Sunday - Jeanne McDonald

Jeanne McDonald is revealing an excerpt of her upcoming release The Certainty of Deception (The Truth in Lies Saga #2) coming July 8, 2014.

“Granny,” Jared laughed, slipping out Lindsey’s hold to embrace the woman.  “How are you, sweetheart?”

She tweaked his cheek.  “Better now that we have some fresh meat in this house.”

I couldn’t help but laugh.  This old woman had a feisty spirit.  “Mhm,” she moaned, looking at me.  “And your pictures don’t do you justice, handsome.”  She waddled toward me, her eyes roaming down my body, as though she were admiring the package.  “Very nice.  My granddaughter has impeccable taste.”  She cupped my chin between her index finger and thumb, pulling my face to hers.

McKenzie turned around, her eyes wild with surprise. “Granny!”

Granny waved her hand, dismissing her granddaughter.  “Hush, child.  I’m just getting a good look at this fine specimen of a man.”

“I told you he was a hottie,” Lindsey confirmed, stepping away from me to return to her work.

“You did.  No woman could resist these eyes or dimples.  I bet you get lucky with all the ladies, don’t cha?”

My smile widened.  This woman was a riot.  “I do okay.”

“Don’t be so modest.”

“Drew? Modest?  He wouldn’t know modesty if it bit him in the butt,”Jared declared.  

A loud laugh, more like a snort, came from where McKenzie stood.  I shifted my eyes to catch her hand flying up over her mouth.  The most beautiful shade of red painted her face and neck as she covered her mouth, turning her back to us.

“You see,” I started, “I have eyes for only one woman.” I glanced over to McKenzie.  I couldn’t see her face, but her posture told me she knew exactly whom I was referring to.  

“I have my charms, sonny, but we just met.  Let me get to know you first before you go around tellin’ everyone you have eyes for only me.”

My mouth dropped.  For a moment, the old woman had stunned me.  However, I regained my composure quickly.  “Sweetheart, you’re a beautiful woman, but you couldn’t handle me.  I’m afraid I’d break you.”

Granny released my chin and patted my cheek.  “Boy, you don’t know how wrong you are.”  She reached around and pinched my backside.  “Firm.  Nice.”  I about died right there.  Not many people could make me blush, but this old woman certainly was an exception.

“Mother!” Bill scolded her.  “Mind your manners.  You don’t want to scare the boy to death.”

Granny cocked her head to the side, glaring at her son.  “He’s no boy, Billy.  Drew here is all man.”

Jared and Gavin practically killed over in laughter.  “How is it that you know my name, but I don’t know yours?” I asked.

She patted my butt and grinned, exposing her oversized dentures.  “I’m Glenda,” she stated, “but everyone calls me Granny.”

“What if I call you Glenda?”

Her thick tongue washed over her teeth.  “Only if you’re screaming it.”

Begin McKenzie and Drew's journey with The Truth in Lies.  Now available on Amazon.

Mark your calendars.  The Certainty of Deception Blog Tour and Online Release Party starts July 8th, 2014.  

After years of living in the darkness of his past, Andrew Wise, a young attorney working for his family’s law firm in Sarasota, Florida, has finally broken free of the demons that haunt him.  Wealth, success, happiness, and true love; everything a man could ever dream of, was right at his fingertips.  Or so he thought.  But in the blink of an eye, all of that changed.  Upon discovering that his ex-girlfriend, Olivia Hamilton, was pregnant, Drew fell back into some old habits, which led to him losing the one person that mattered the most in his life - McKenzie Evans.

When McKenzie left him and returned to Texas, Drew was beside himself.  The night before she left, he made an agreement with her best friend Jared Christopher, that he would give her time and space to come to grips with the fact that he’d fathered her best friend’s child.  Now, two months later, he feels as though he held up his end of the bargain, Drew can’t take their separation any longer.   With his brother’s wedding mere weeks away, Drew devises a plan to win McKenzie back.

Under the guise of a bachelor getaway for Gavin, Drew, along with his brother and Jared, jets off on an adventure to the panhandle of Texas.  There, he will learn what made McKenzie who she is and will find strength within himself that he never realized existed.  

In this charming sequel to The Truth in Lies, Drew and McKenzie discover that not everything is as it seems, forgiveness is a matter of acceptance, and true love really can conquer all.

Jeanne McDonald began telling stories at the ripe young age of five, when her mother considered the truth to be a lie due to her extensive embellishment to the retelling of an event.  She wrote her first short story when she was twelve years old, and at the age of sixteen she tried her hand at poetry.  She reconnected with her love for writing in 2010 thanks to the encouragement of a dear friend. 

Her passions include a "mild" Starbucks addiction, music, reading, quotes, movies, and romance.  When she's not spending time with her family, she can be found reading, writing, chatting with her friends or diligently working toward her bachelor's degree in Speech Pathology and Audiology.  A proud Texan, Jeanne currently resides in the Dallas/Fort Worth area with her family.

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