Down to You by M. Leighton

Down to You (The Bad Boys Series #1) by M. Leighton

 
★★★★★
Let me start this review by disclaiming that I consider M. Leighton  to be an author friend of mine. I know from personal experience that she's an amazing mentor because she was one of the very first authors to reach out to me when I began this indie author journey. The fact that she does not embrace the 'eat your young mentality' instantly turned me into a life-long fan of hers. Despite her New York Times Bestselling Author status, she's not forgotten the people who helped her to achieve her goals. She works tirelessly (morning, noon, and night) promoting her fellow authors and bloggers while writing book after book. Everything she does is impressive and further proves she's the real deal.
 
Now, on to the review of Down to You (The Bad Boys Series #1). This is a quick, fun read that will not leave you disappointed. It will, however, leave you craving Up to Me (The Bad Boys Series #2), which is due to be release January 6, 2013. After reading Down to You (The Bad Boys Series #1), I'm confident in saying Olivia, Cash, and Nash will forever be engrained into reader's minds, and they will long be equated with the hot and sexy couples that readers never seem to get enough of. As important and exciting as the chemistry between Olivia, Cash, and Nash are the book's twists and turns and Down to You (The Bad Boys Series #1)'s unexpected ending... which of course I wouldn't think of spoiling in this review.

If you haven't already, make this one of your next reads... especially if you like to get into and out of a good book quickly. I read this in a matter of a few hours (after a tree fell on the powerlines by my house on Christmas, and my entire household was forced to slow down play board games and read). The only caution I'm going to give is related to the genre. It is an adult contemporary romance, and by M. Leighton's own book description, it is NOT appropriate for younger readers.

Giveaway Winner Announced

The Building a Following Giveaway winner is Cindy Perez. (Congrats, Cindy!) The contest was as fun as it was successful. There were 263 entries and a 10% increase in the number of people following my blog.

I'd like to thank everyone who participated and all of my fans, friends, and followers. Their support is critical to what I do. I'll be returning on 1/4/13 with Welcome Back: 2013 Resolution. Until then, Happy Holidays to you and yours.

 

 

 

 

The Secret of Ella and Micha by Jessica Sorensen

The Secret of Ella and Micha (The Secret #1) by Jessica Sorensen

★★★★★

Ella and Micha... could two young people be more messed up yet compliment each other more perfectly? I think not.

Jessica Sorensen has a rare talent when it comes to building sexual tension between characters, and The Secret of Ella and Micha (The Secret #1) perfectly exemplifies her ability. She hooks you at the beginning by creating characters you instantly adore. Then, she builds a world filled with dysfunction and reality that Ella and Micha must overcome... together. 

I actually downloaded this book a few weeks ago and popped it open when I needed to kill some time before an appointment. I found myself wanting to find out what happens to them and between them so I went home and finished reading it. Lucky for me, it is a quick, easy read because I have very little time (most of my books are 'read' via audiobooks on my commute to work).

Go ahead and take a few minutes to fall in love with Ella and Micha AND Jessica Sorensen. You won't be disappointed.

 

YA Indie Carnival - Givaway + Bonus

It's that time of year again, when the YA Author Sponsors host a giveaway meant to build a following. Anyone interested in participating will have from 12/14 to 12/21 to visit our blogs, read/respond to our questions, AND join any or all of our sites in order to be entered for the giveaway (see Rafflecopter below or on the individual sponsors' sites). The winner will receive seventeen wonderfully, exciting books (plus a few other prizes) by some amazing authors. The grand prize winner will be announced on December 24th right here on this blog. Don't delay, scroll down to the Rafflecopter, enter, and visits our blogs.

BONUS: Anyone responding to this question (pulled from a recent Time Magazine poll) is automatically entered to win a copy of The Warrior Trilogy Boxed Set (Warrior, #1, #2, & #3) [Kindle Edition]:

 

If by some slim chance the Maya Long Count calendar is accurate and the world ends on December 21st, which song (or book or movie or fictional man/woman) would you want to hear (or read, watch, or be with) during your final moments?  

Giveaway Package Includes:
Transfer Student by Laura A.H. Elliott
Shadow Slayer (Shadow Series, #2) by Laura A.H. Elliott
Vampires Rule (The Rule #1) by K.C. Blake
Werewolves Rule by K.C. Blake
Raven (The Raven Saga, #1) by Suzy Turner
December Moon (The Raven Saga, #2) by Suzy Turner
The Lost Soul (The Raven Saga, #3) by Suzy Turner
The Ghost of Josiah Grimshaw by Suzy Turner
Golden Blood (Time Spirit Trilogy, #1) by Melissa Pearl
Black Blood (Time Spirit Trilogy, #2) by Melissa Pearl
Pure Blood (Time Spirit Trilogy, #3) by Melissa Pearl
Of Sun & Moon (Midnight Guardian, #1) by Bryna Butler
Warriors of the Cross (Warrior, #1) by T.R. Graves
Guardians of the Cross (Warrior #2) by T.R. Graves
Enemies of the Cross (Warrior, #3) by T.R. Graves
Red Madrassa (Algardis #1) by Terah Edun
Pazuzu's Girl by Rachel Coles

a Rafflecopter giveaway

YA Indie Carnival - Famous Character's Personal Ad

This week, the sponsors of the YA Author Club are having a little fun. We are creating the personal ad for a book's famous character. Below is my take on a personal ad as written by Kelsey Hayes from Tiger's Curse (The Tiger Saga, #1) by Colleen Houck:

Young orphaned college student seeking an older Indian prince who is willing to become Indiana Jones-like in order to hunt, find, and retrieve priceless trinkets. A tolerance for tigers, brothers, and goddesses required. The enjoyment of poetry--reading and writing--is preferred.

Next week, don't forget to join us when we have our 2nd Annual Christmas Giveaway. Stay tuned for more details on how to win the package.

Giveaway Package:
Transfer Student by Laura A.H. Elliott

Shadow Slayer (Shadow Series, #2) by Laura A.H. Elliott 

Vampires Rule (The Rule #1) by K.C. Blake

Werewolves Rule by K.C. Blake 

Raven (The Raven Saga, #1) by Suzy Turner

December Moon (The Raven Saga, #2) by Suzy Turner

The Lost Soul (The Raven Saga, #3) by Suzy Turner

The Ghost of Josiah Grimshaw by Suzy Turner

Golden Blood (Time Spirit Trilogy, #1) by Melissa Pearl

Black Blood (Time Spirit Trilogy, #2) by Melissa Pearl

Pure Blood (Time Spirit Trilogy, #3) by Melissa Pearl 

Of Sun & Moon (Midnight Guardian, #1) by Bryna Butler

Warriors of the Cross (Warrior, #1) by T.R. Graves
Guardians of the Cross (Warrior #2) by T.R. Graves

Enemies of the Cross (Warrior, #3) by T.R. Graves

Tiger's Destiny by Colleen Houck

Tiger's Destiny (The Tiger Saga #4) by Colleen Houck
 
★★★★★
 
Colleen Houck  has done an incredible job of maintaining The Tiger Saga's excitement, adventure, tenderness, and passion with Tiger's Destiny (The Tiger Saga #4). I've said before that this is one of my all-time favorite series, and with its final book, that statement still holds true. 
 
Colleen Houck's  ability to tell a great story that is unbelievable—yet believable—is one of her many talents. She is just as phenomenal at creating  characters who are so relatable that the reader has no choice but to laugh when the characters laugh, cry when the characters cry (very real crocodile tears), and love when the characters love.
 
I'm not going to give anything away. This saga is too special for someone (other than Colleen Houck) to tell about it. In order to fully enjoy Tiger's Destiny (The Tiger Saga #4), you must read it, experience it, and fall in love with it yourself. That can't be done if you get bits and pieces because they will absolutely spoil the adventure and rid you of the angst you must feel as you try to theorize about the character's destinies as the story plays out. 
 
In my opinion,  Colleen Houck  wrapped the series up perfectly while leaving the tiniest opening for it to continue should she ever want to resurrect The Tiger Saga. For that, I'm thankful because as soon as I finished, I felt that familiar letdown that has followed the ending of every one of the The Tiger Saga's book. No matter how nicely everything was wrapped up, I still want more Kelsey, Ren, Kishan, and Durga.

YA Indie Carnival - Vote... Vote... Vote

This week, the YA Indie Carnival sponsors are posting topics on voting. For me, this is going to be short and sweet (NaNoWriMo waits for no man). In the spirit of elections, voting, and may the best man (ah-hum... woman) win mentality, I'm posting a link. With it, you can go and vote in Goodreads Choice Awards 2012.

Important Notes & Special Pleas:

In the Nominees for Best Romance and Nominees for Best Goodreads Author categories, you will find On Dublin Street by Samantha Young. The book cover was designed by Phatpuppy Art... my book cover designer.  
 
In the Nominees forYoung Adult Fiction category, there are three nominations for authors who were at one time members of the YA Indie Carnival.  

• Crash (Crash #1) by Nicole Williams
• Because of Low (Sea Breeze #2) by Abbi Glines
• The Vincent Brothers (The Vincent Boys #2) by Abbi Glines   

 

 



YA Indie Carnival - Work In Progress

This week, the YA Indie Carnival sponsors are sharing their current work in progress. This is an extremely timely topic for me because I'm taking on the NaNoWriMo challenge. I plan to write 50,000 words in November.

In order to keep myself excited about the project, I invested in a book cover (last week), formulated a story (last weekend), and began the story (yesterday). I'll be sharing all of that with you and asking for forgiveness because this is a draft so rough I would normally not share. I should also mention that this particular book will not be young adult. Instead, it will be a very dark and sexy mainstream fiction. I decided that if I was going to go out of my comfort zone (writing non-stop without editing), I would go all out. The verdict is still out, but you can take a few minutes reading the summary/excerpt, ogling the cover (courtesy of Phatpuppy Art), and letting me know your thoughts.


Introducing... Grave Bound (Secrets, #1)

SUMMARY:
For her entire life, eighteen-year-old Emily Riddles swore by her community's code of secrecy. It may have been simple, keep it in the family, but it wasn't always easy to follow. The one time she broke the rules with Levi, her summer fling and outsider boyfriend, she saw firsthand what happened to those who forgot the code. She may never know how Owen, her father, found out about her and Levi's late-night meetings or the details of their private conversations, but she would forever remember what happened when he did. Owen tied Levi to a tree and whipped him to death while making her watch. From that day forward, she knew the ramifications of sharing anything with anyone about The Community. She also knew she'd never make that mistake again.

Levi's murder did little to quench her father's fury. He hatefully taunted Emily by reminding her that he did not kill Levi... that she and her loose tongue had cost him his life. When Emily did nothing, said nothing, and conformed to Owen's demands just as she'd been taught her whole life to do, he knew he had his bluff in. He could do anything to her and in front of her. His secrets would forever be safe.

Owen had been right until Emily's world turned upside down. The commune was raided, and every woman and child was swooped away and sent to safe houses. Regardless of their label, Emily never felt safe. Owen and his gang of hellions had been arrested, and she would be blamed for everything. In retaliation, her father would beat her to death—most likely on the same tree Levi died—unless she could win back his trust.

Based on the special interest the young DA, Tope Bryson, paid her during interviews, Emily suspected the raid was as much about finding a star witness as it was about locating evidence. No matter how she felt about the compassion shown to her by Tope, Levi's death, and her fear that her own father wanted to end her life... the secrets she held, her father's secrets, were grave bound.

 

EXCERPT:

"happily ever after my ass!" Emily said, slamming her book closed. She looked around and realized everyone who'd accompanied her to the lake for the first swim of the summer had long since gone home. Emily's friends had learned years ago her love of books came before everything. Once started, she would keep reading until finished. Nothing short of a burning house could distract her.

For the millionth time, Emily wished she could be more like everyone else in the commune... wished she could conform... wished she didn't resent with every fiber in her being the fate in store for her. It was the destiny of every woman in her community on their twenty-first birthday.

YA Indie Carnival - Spooky, Scary, & Eerie

It's that time of year when the sponsors of the YA Indie Carnival post stories or excerpts that will have you biting your nails and begging for people to sleep with you for the next few days. This post is timely for me. I'm writing a scene for Dark Angels of the Cross, and it has had such an unexpected impact on me that my sleep has become fitful and restless because my dreams are so deadly... foretelling... and--worst of all--real! 

Anyone who has read The Warrior Series knows I will not shy away from suspenseful or thrilling or brutal scenes. The one I'm living through is so much more. It's all of that rolled into one and built on top of an extreme sense of loss. I won't say anything more, but fans of the series are in store for lots of surprises. Just stay tuned.

In the meantime, I've included the parking garage scene from Guardians of the Cross. This is one of the scariest scenes of the book according to my beta reader. If you've ever had to walk alone through a dark parking garage at night, you can understand why.

Don't forget to take a few minutes to browse the other members' sites.  ENJOY!

 ☠ ☠ ☠ ☠ ☠

Brody screeched to a stop, jumped out of the car, grabbed Mallory, and carried her toward the ER.  “Allie, park the car and meet us inside,” he called over his shoulder. 

Unable to do anything but follow directions, I climbed into the driver’s seat.  At the automated garage gate, I pushed the red light and sat impatiently while the arm slowly lifted, allowing me entrance.  I didn’t bother taking the yellow time-stamped ticket from the machine.  I was completely irritated by the time I reached the third floor without finding an empty spot. 

I whipped Brody’s car into it and cut off the engine.  At that exact moment, the entire garage went black.  Reality hit me hard.  I had to wade through this darkness, alone, in order to make it inside where Mallory and Brody were waiting.  Logically, I knew my heart was not beating as fast as a hummingbird’s, but it felt like it was pounding at the same rapid rate.  Regardless, I refused to call Brody away from Mallory or make her wait when she needed me.    

Ignoring the blackout and my fear, I got out of the car and slammed the door closed behind me.  Sucking in courage like it was air, I felt my way along the warm hood of the car and over to the cold cement wall in the middle of the garage.  I let the familiar barrier guide me toward the staircase.  No matter how hard I tried, I could not ignore the uneasiness bubbling its way to the surface of my nerves.  Everything – the absolute stillness, quiet, and gloom – reminded me too much of the morning I was attacked... too much of Daryl's plans for me.  

I wanted to run toward the ER, but my inability to see my hand in front of my face prevented the sprint I craved.  I was forced to awkwardly fumble my way along the divider, stumbling several times. At the end of the wall, I knew there was a crossover that would lead me to the staircase. Somehow, it looked darker and more ominous than the garage.  Was that possible?   

I, before I knew what was happening, tripped over a block meant to protect pedestrians from traffic.  Despite my own racket, I heard footsteps speeding toward me. With a force that caused my breath to catch, I regretted my every decision that day.  On my knees, I prayed for the strength to make it out alive. 

 

☠ ☠ ☠ ☠ ☠

 

13 on Halloween (Shadow #1) by Laura A.H. Elliott

13 on Halloween (Shadow #1) by Laura A.H. Elliott  - ★★★★★

Within the covers of 13 on Halloween (Shadow #1), Laura A.H. Elliott has brilliantly exemplified the narcissism and the varying levels of maturity that sometimes plagues tweens. Twelve year-old Roxie still loves jumping on the trampoline, but those types of juvenile tendencies take second place to her discovery of boys (especially Hayden, the cutest guy in the eighth grade), make-up, and the changes a young woman's body undergoes when she becomes a teenager.

Overshadowing absolutely everything else in Roxie's world is her obsession with becoming a 'peacock' or one of the popular kids. Periodically, her pre-tween self rears her head and longs for a life where her brothers still joke with her and her mother is her closest confidant. As quickly as she has those types of thoughts, she switches back to the person willing to risk anything and everything to become Queen Roxie.

Roxie's thirteenth birthday... her first ever birthday party changes everything. With it, the party begins, astral projection becomes possible, and the world changes.

I should mention that I listened to 13 on Halloween (Shadow #1)'s audiobook and found the narrator to be as talented as Laura A.H. Elliott. I wasn't sure what to expect from an indie author when it came to this format. I was not disappointed. After listening to 13 on Halloween (Shadow #1), I can tell you the professionalism was comparable to that of the traditionally published books... only it didn't cost nearly as much. 13 on Halloween (Shadow #1) was $1.99. Every other audiobook I've ever bought has costs between $25-$30. I will definitely be looking for other indie author's books to 'read' via audiobook. Their stories are as good as traditionally published books, and they are extremely affordable.