Guest Post: Love with a Side of Crazy by Tina Susedik

Love With a Side of Crazy by Tina Susedik

Genre: Contemporary Romance/Mystery

Soul Mate Publishing

Amazon

Blurb:
To afford sending extra money to his parents to help with the care of his invalid brother, Brent Hopkins, an accountant by day, works as a male stripper at night. When a crazed fan pulls him from the stage, his injuries send him for an extended stay at a rehabilitation center. During his months at the center, mysterious angel statues and other gifts begin to appear in his room. A break-in at his apartment, leaves him feeling vulnerable. Is he going crazy or does he have a stalker?

Marie Phister, a physical therapist, was at the club the night Brent is yanked to the ground and takes care of him until help arrives. Later, as his physical therapist, she doesn’t let on that she is aware of his identity. As their mutual attraction grows, a stalker threatens their relationship.

Is her stalker and Brent’s, one and the same? Can they solve the mystery before it’s too late?

About the Author:  

This is award-winning, multi-published author, Tina Susedik twenty-second published. As a child, Tina Susedik always had stories floating around in her head, but had no idea those stories could be put down in book form as writing stories wasn't taught in her classes. One day her brother (yes, her brother) introduced her to Kathleen Woodiwiss’ The Flame and the Flower. Tina was hooked and a love of reading, and eventually writing romance, began. Besides her romances, she is also a non-fiction writer with seven history books in print. She also has written and published three children's books. She also writes under her pen name, Anita Kidesu. This summer she will begin hosting a radio talk show, “Your Book Garden” on Authors on the Air Radio Network.

Tina has been married for forty-five years and lives in Northwestern Wisconsin. She has two children and five grandchildren. After careers in accounting and teaching (not necessarily at the same time), she found her career in writing is what fulfills her the most. When not writing, she loves camping, hiking, photography, reading, and playing with her five grandchildren.

She is a member of Romance Writers of America, Wisconsin Romance Writers of America, Sisters in Crime

Social Media Links for Tina Susedik

http://tinasusedik.wordpress.com./

Twitter: @tinasusedik

Website: tina-susedik.com

Facebook: Tina Susedik, Author

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1754353.Tina_Susedik

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/tinasusedik/

Newsletter: http://tinasusedik.us11.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=874ff86e3f10f756a138fbc3a&id=1cfdf516fc

Book Blitz: Happy Endings Book Club Boxed Set Books 1-3 by Kylie Gilmore

Happy Endings Book Club Boxed Set Books 1-3
Kylie Gilmore
Publication date: January 10th 2018
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

Book 1: Hidden Hollywood
She’s on top…
When superstar actress Claire Jordan researched her role for the Fierce Trilogy movies, she never expected the bond she feels with the author and her romance book club aka The Happy Endings Book Club. Soon Claire finds herself confessing her secret longing for a regular guy—no more egocentric wealthy players—and the book club is all too ready to help. In disguise as a regular girl, she’s all set for a date with book-club-approved Josh Campbell.
He’s on top…
Billionaire tech CEO Jake Campbell is weary of gold-digging women, especially the glamorous superficial types. So when his identical twin, Josh, calls in a favor, asking Jake to step in as him on a date, Jake figures one of Josh’s cute girl-next-door types might be just what he needs. One night of passion with the sweet girl next door leaves Jake wanting more, except she seems to have vanished.
Sometimes a Happy Ending is just the beginning.

Book 2: Inviting Trouble
Madison Campbell has worshipped her older brother’s best friend, Parker Shaw, for as long as she can remember. So the night before he leaves for the Air Force, she decides he’s leaving town with her virginity. All she has to do is transform her tomboy self into a sexy woman with a bit of borrowed makeup and some creative fashion choices. The results? One drunken kiss that Park doesn’t even remember.
Ten years later, no man has ever gotten close to her heart the way Park did. And now that he’s back, the very unfeminine Madison refuses to blow her second chance. But when her bold attempts to snag his attention (“Oops! Dropped my towel.”) fail miserably, she does something completely insane—she caves to a makeover from the meddling matchmaker in charge of The Happy Endings Book Club. Hey, Park, you want some of this? Madison is about to find out.

Book 3: So Revealing
The last thing Charlotte Vega needs is a cocky HOT stuntman like Ty Campbell in her life. But when he pulls the ultimate stunt—a sexy romantic gesture that ends with a charming invitation to a sunset dinner cruise—she finds him impossible to resist. Cue disaster.
Their rocky first date goes from bad to worse when his yacht (okay, it’s actually borrowed) gets stranded in deep mud. Turns out there’s nothing Ty can do but wait hours and hours for high tide with no power, no way to cook dinner, and a hangry sexy-as-hell woman.
But Ty is determined to salvage the date so he starts a game to pass the time. Only what Ty learns makes him realize he may have just botched a date with the perfect woman. How will he ever win her now?

The Happy Endings Book Club series continues with Book 4, Formal Arrangement, plus more!

Happy Endings Book Club Series
Book 1: Hidden Hollywood
Book 2: Inviting Trouble
Book 3: So Revealing
Book 4: Formal Arrangement
Book 5: Bad Boy Done Wrong
Book 6: Mess With Me
Book 7: Resisting Fate

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo / Google Play

99¢ for a limited time only!

—

EXCERPT:

Hidden Hollywood Excerpt
© 2016 Kylie Gilmore
Claire bit her lower lip. “Dammit. This is why I can’t have real relationships. I can’t trust anyone.”
“You can trust me.”
She sighed. “I don’t even know you.”
“Get to know me.”
“Jake…” She looked away.
“One date, the real deal. Jake and Claire.”
She was tempted. He could tell. She didn’t give him a no right away and now she was searching his face, looking for the truth. He leaned forward, brushing his lips against hers, coaxing. He pulled back and met her eyes, fully prepared to do this all night if he had to. Coaxing, charming, easing his way in. He’d thought coaxing would be too difficult with the way he wanted her, but having her pull away was much harder.
She spoke quietly. “You don’t want that kind of spotlight on you. It’s not pretty.”
It wasn’t a no.
“I want you, and whatever comes with it, I don’t care.” He cradled her face with both hands. “I want Claire.”
She closed her eyes, and he dropped his hands to her shoulders, sliding them down the satiny smooth skin of her arms to her hands. He took her hands from behind her and pulled them forward, just holding them. She didn’t pull away. He sensed she was leaning toward letting him in.
Finally she spoke, the words filling him with elation. “We’d have to keep it quiet.”
Not that he wanted to keep it quiet. He just wanted to be with her so much he was willing to play the game her way. For now. He kissed her softly and spoke against her lips. “Is that a yes?”
“Yes.” She shoved him away. “Now stop kissing me. One date. Jake and Claire.”
“Why do I have to stop kissing you?”
“Because you want to get to know me, remember?”
“I can get to know your body first. Get reacquainted.”
She laughed. “Yeah. I’ve heard that one before.”
He figured she probably did. Everyone wanted the sexiest woman alive. He’d seen the magazine giving her that honor and her bikini body splashed everywhere. He knew that kind of attention didn’t always bring out the best in people, and he realized he had to stand out from the pack.
He stepped back and helped her off the table.
“Such a gentleman,” she teased.
“It’s all an illusion,” he replied, not bothering to hide the edge of unsatisfied lust in his voice.
“Story of my life,” she said breezily. “I’ll text Hailey to let you know when I’m free.”
“At least give me your number now that we’ve established how much you lust for me.” She laughed, and he grinned. “I’d like to stop going through other people.” He pulled his cell from his pocket, punched in the code, and handed it over.
She typed her number in while saying, “I never give this number to anyone. Only a handful of people have it on a need-to-know basis. Can you handle that kind of responsibility?”
“What do you think?” It was an honor and, hell, he’d earned it with all his restraint.
She met his eyes, fire back in hers. “I hope so. I swear I will hunt you down—”
He cut her off with a kiss. Not a gentle one. The kind that said he’d be taking what he wanted and she’d damn well like it. She sagged against him.
When he was good and ready, he broke the kiss and snagged his cell from her limp hand. “Later, Claire Jordan.”
She fought back a smile and then beamed a big one at him, stunningly beautiful in her well-kissed, hot-for-him state. “Later, Jake Campbell.”
He grinned and headed out the door. Now that was more like it.

Author Bio:
Kylie Gilmore is the USA Today bestselling author of the Clover Park series, the Clover Park STUDS series, and the brand new Happy Endings Book Club series. She writes humorous romance that makes you laugh, cry, and reach for a cold glass of water.
Kylie lives in New York with her family, two cats, and a nutso dog. When she's not writing, wrangling kids, or dutifully taking notes at writing conferences, you can find her flexing her muscles all the way to the high cabinet for her secret chocolate stash.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter / Newsletter

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Guest Post: The Heroines Journey by G. Miki Hayden

Blurb:

Two girls separated by centuries, one living in the Middle Ages and one in the here and now, find common ground in their heroines’ journeys: the need to forge their own lives and identities and the hope of meeting that one, true love.

Amazon

Heroines Rule in The Heroine’s Journey

We’ve heard about the Hero’s Journey for most of our lives. That’s the model of what all fiction is supposed to be. But now, we girls and women are coming into our own—the time is up, and today is ours. Our struggles have become noticeable in society and the gender so totally submerged throughout human history is on the rise—and owning our equality with the male.

Yet the truth is that life isn’t all about gender; it’s about finding our authentic selves and being able to live from that with courage and intelligence.

Mostly, though, my novel, The Heroine’s Journey, is meant to be fun. Two girls help each other across the centuries and are clever enough and determined enough to succeed at what they need to do.

Today, this very day, youth is coming into its own and taking hold of the ideals that have been held up in our society while not being entirely enacted. So, hero or heroine, this is our time. Humanity and love will certainly conquer.

Here's an excerpt for a little taste!

"Cinderella," griped Gwen to her best friend Kresta, while the two sat in the noisy cafeteria eating a "Healthful Wednesday" lunch of chow mein. "What was Cinderella's claim to fame? The size of her foot? Give me a break here. So she got the guy. That's it?""You're right," agreed Kresta, tapping a bit more soy sauce from a miniature paper cup onto her food. "She didn't do anything clever or smart. She was just a ‘good' girl. Any luck she stumbled over was by way of the fairy godmother's generosity. Very handy.""Yeah," continued Gwen. "And those females in Shakespeare who dressed like men. What's up with that? They had to hide their gender to achieve anything? That can't be what the Heroine's Journey is all about."The girls stared at one another. Gwen pondered.As two of the members of the boy's basketball team passed the girls' end of the table, Gwen's attention wavered, and Kresta shifted in her chair: Lance Reilly and Jerod Afifa. Gwen's heart rate increased, and her mouth drained of moisture. Although getting the guy wasn't her idea of an ultimate objective, the concept did have a certain pulse-accelerating appeal.Deep in a conversation that demanded hearty peals of male laughter, neither athlete gave the girls a glance.

G. Miki Hayden has published a steady flow of short stories in anthologies, national magazines, and small press publications. She has had a number of novels in print, including Question Woman & Howling Sky, a new adult fantasy set after a series of cataclysmic ecological disasters; Strings, a middle grade fantasy based very loosely on string theory; and The Heroine’s Journey, a young adult mind-meld fantasy spanning many centuries. Miki teaches writing online at Writer’s Digest University, has been on The New York Times summer reading list, and won a short story Edgar.

Blitz: The Inheritance by Mika Lane

The Inheritance
Mika Lane
Publication date: February 6th 2018
Genres: Adult, Romance

Life was good. I was tending bar, making enough to get by, paying my rent, and enjoying the occasional cocktail with my best friend gay boyfriend, Matty. And then I got the call. One of my customers had passed. The one who we nicknamed “Grandpa,” who’d watch us for hours from his seat at the bar, sucking on the same beer, never leaving a tip.
For some reason the old coot left me his estate. Huh? He looked like the last person in the world to have an “estate.” Well, did your mother ever tell you not to judge a book by its cover?
And thanks to good old Grandpa, it looks like I may never have to work again.
But of course there’s a catch. There’s always a catch. I only get Grandpa’s money if I’m 25 years old (check), and married (not checked; not by a landslide). And–I only have 30 days to pull this off.
I didn’t see how I could make it happen, until four eligible bachelors waltzed into my life. Then, I had a whole different set of problems…

Goodreads / Amazon

—

SNEAK PEEKS:

God, they were both gorgeous—Nat with his preppy, chiseled looks, and Linc with his short ponytail and facial scruff—each of them bringing their own unique brand of sexy to the table. But there was something about the two of them together, as if they were feeding off one another. Their combined sensuality was way more intense than merely taking each’s lust and adding it together; it was as if two plus two equaled way more than four.

—

I wrapped my fingers in a fistful of her hair and drew her toward me, touching lips that were as delicious as I knew they’d be. I let my fingers trail down the front of her blouse, where they landed on a magnificent breast topped with a very hard nipple. Shit, if I wasn’t careful, I was going to explode right there in my pants.
Those damn pillow-soft lips seared into mine, and when my tongue sought entrance into her mouth, she whimpered like she’d not been properly kissed in a long, long time. Strangely, time both stood still and sped up as we got lost in a kiss before we pulled apart, both gasping for air as the boat rocked lightly in its slip.

Author Bio:
Writing has been a passion of Mika’s since a young age (her first book was "The Day I Ate the Milkyway"), but erotic romance is now what gives purpose to her days and nights. She lives in magical Northern California with her own handsome alpha dude, sometimes known as Mr. Mika Lane, and an evil cat named Bill. A devotee of the intelligent and beautiful, and lover of shiny things, she’s a yogi, hiker, traveler, thinker, observer, and book worm. She has been known to drink cheap champagne and has way too many shoes.
A National Reader's Choice Awards finalist, Mika always deliver a hot, sexy romp, often with imperfect characters, and a promised happily ever after (or at least happy for now).
She LOVES to hear from readers, and can be found at www.mikalane.com, and facebook.com/mikalaneauthor, when she's not dreaming up naughty tales to share.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter

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Quest For A Popstar Release Day!

Today is the day! Quest for a Popstar is out in the world! You can find it on Amazon, and also add it on Goodreads. If you're interested in reviewing, request your copy HERE.
I'm really excited about this one! I hope you enjoy it.

Review: Perfect For You by Ashelyn Drake

From Goodreads:
Seventeen-year-old Meg Flannigan isn’t very self-confident, but what girl would be after her sophomore-year boyfriend dumped her by making out with another girl in front of her locker? 

Now a senior, Meg catches the eye of not one, but two gorgeous guys at school. Sounds good, right? What girl wouldn't want to be in Meg's shoes? One cute boy happens to be her boyfriend, and the other? Well, he wants to be. And Meg? She't torn between Ash, the boy she's been with for nearly five months, and Noah who is pretty irresistible. 

But Meg is playing with fire. Pitting two boys against one another, even if she doesn't intend to, could end badly if she isn't careful. PERFECT FOR YOU is a teen romance from bestselling author Ashelyn Drake, where one girl will risk everything to find her perfect match.




My Thoughts:
This was a book I've had sitting on my kindle for a while. I had it on my 2017 TBR purge, so I squeezed it in right in the nick of time!
My feelings were pretty meh. It wasn't terrible, but it wasn't great.  The characters were pretty ordinary, and I didn't feel any real connection to the MC. She was just a typical silly girl. The guys were the same, just ordinary.
I did root for Ash all along, simply because Noah was so... stereotypical.
Anyway, read it, thought it was cute, and checked it off my list.

Review: Rival Love by Natalie Decker

From Goodreads:
Skylar Fletcher is a proud Harris Academy Bulldog! She has everything she’s ever wanted: a perfect boyfriend, great friends, and her dream college waiting for her in the fall. But nothing lasts forever. Skylar's world shatters when her mom decides it is time to move and drags Skylar, kicking and screaming, into Bobcat territory.

At Delmont High School, home of the Bobcats, Skylar has no friends and is often bullied. To make matters worse, her home life sucks thanks to all-star quarterback Caleb Morgan, nephew of her mom's live-in boyfriend.

At first Skylar and Caleb want nothing to do with one another. But they soon discover they're not that different after all--and each is harboring a secret attraction to the other. But can a Bulldog and a Bobcat ever really be more than friends? And are Skylar and Caleb willing to risk everything to find out? Rival Love is a debut young adult contemporary romance from Natalie Decker. 



My Thoughts:
I read this book because it's been sitting on my kindle for a few years and I'm trying to shrink my TBR  list, especially long term items. This was an easy read, good pace, although sometimes I wished there was more detail and internal dialogue.
I enjoyed Skylar and Caleb. Both had strong personalities and good depth to them. I enjoyed watching them come together, which helped me speed through this book.
The problems came from two things for me.
1. That ending. Absolutely killed an otherwise great YA story. Seriously, it sucked hard. I feel like there needs to be one more chapter or something to give a real conclusion.
2. Skylar's mom. Oh. My. Gosh. I'm not sure to start. Let's try from the beginning. No mother is that selfish. Yeah, she's in love with a guy after forever being alone. That's great, but moms, especially single moms, are fiercely aware of their kids needs and feelings. There were so many better ways her mom could have and would have handled things like waiting until the end of the school year, arranging a boundary exception, especially since these were private schools, attending a different but closer private/charter or even a public school etc. A mom also would never have removed a kid from a situation where a potential full ride to college through sports was established.  Especially knowing how hard a kid worked and how passionate they were. I also feel like making her mother that oblivious to an obvious and clearly harsh rivalry was a plot device and made her mom unbelievable. And to add to the insult, her mom was completely clueless to the bullying when her own boyfriend worked at the school. As someone who works at a school, we know who the bullies are, and the signs of bullying, even if none of the kids tell. Teachers aren't stupid, especially in this day and age of anti-bullying. The resolution of her mom thinking a few friends would make things better was too weak for me.
These two things alone ruined an otherwise enjoyable novel. The characters were great, the typical teen scenes were amusing, and I enjoyed flipping through the "pages".  I will read the next book though, and hopefully my issues will be resolved.

Cover Reveal for my Novel; Quest for a Popstar!

I'm so excited to reveal the cover for my new novel and the first book in my new trilogy Reality Romances! I seriously love this cover and I think it captures the essence of the book perfectly!

So, here it is:

RELEASE DAY for Widow of Papina!

I am so excited for this release! Originally titled "Papina", Widow of Papina was a novel I trialed as a self-published book. But, I felt like going down that road wasn't giving it the attention it deserved, so I pulled it, and signed a contract for it with Soul Mate Publishing, who have previously published three of my other works.(Branded, Dancing in the Athenian Rain, and Brownlow Baby)

And now, today I am launching back into the world with a new cover, fresh editing, and ready to to amaze! (I hope for that last part at least) So grab your copy today!

AMAZON

Blog Tour: My New Crush Gave to Me by Shani Petroff

My New Crush Gave to Me
Shani Petroff
Published by: Swoon Reads
Publication date: October 31st 2017
Genres: Contemporary, Romance, Young Adult

This sweet, funny holiday romance from the author of Romeo And What’s Her Name features cute boys, plenty of rom-com mishaps, and a determined heroine readers are certain to fall for.
Charlotte “Charlie” Donovan knows exactly what she wants for Christmas: Teo Ortiz. He’s a star athlete, a National Honor Society member, and the most popular guy in school. Plus he contributes to the school paper, where Charlie is a co-editor. Basically, he’s exactly the type of guy Charlie’s looking for. The only problem is—he barely knows she exists.
But Charlie has a plan: rig the paper’s Secret Santa and win his heart with the perfect gift. The catch? She has no idea what to get him. Enter J.D. Ortiz–Teo’s cousin, and possibly the most annoying person on the planet. He’s easy going, laid back, disorganized, and spontaneous—the exact opposite
of Charlie (and Teo). But he knows what Teo wants, so she’s stuck with him.
Yet, the more time Charlie spends with J.D., the more she starts to wonder: Does she really know what, or rather who, she wants for Christmas?
Shani Petroff’s newest young adult comedy of errors, My New Crush Gave to Me, is the perfect read for those searching for some love and laughter along with their holiday spirit.

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo

Author Bio:
Shani Petroff is a writer living in New York City. She’s the author of the “Bedeviled” series, which includes Daddy’s Little Angel, The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly Dress, Careful What You Wish For, and Love Struck, and is the co-author of the “Destined” series which includes Ash and Ultraviolet. She also writes for television news programs and several other venues. When she’s not locked in her apartment typing away, she spends a whole lot of time on books, boys, TV, daydreaming, and shopping online.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter

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Blog Tour: So Near the Horizon by Jessica Koch

The No. 1 Bestseller from Germany - based on a true story! A story of true love ...

Release Date: September 6th 2017

Summary:

Seventeen-year-old Jessica has an uncomplicated life and a promising future. Leaving the house one evening, she has no idea that she’s about to meet the love of her life - or that her entire understanding of the world is about to change. And before long, she’s going to face a decision that will shape her forever…
In 'So Near the Horizon' Jessica Koch describes a life lived somewhere between hope and fear, confronting true events from her own past with raw honesty and frank reflection - and exploring more than one difficult subject along the way.
A story of deep love. A story of trust, courage, pain, despair, and the strength to let go. A true story.

Add to Goodreads

About the Author

Jessica Koch (born in Ludwigsburg, Germany) began writing short stories when she was still in high school, but never submitted her work to publishers. In late 1999, shortly after beginning her studies to become an architectural drafter, she met Danny, a German-American dual national. Her experiences with him eventually formed the basis for So Near the Horizon, though it was nearly thirteen years before she felt ready to bring the manuscript to the public.

The author describes a life lived somewhere between hope and fear, between optimism and despair. She reflects on events from her own past with raw honesty, confronting more than one difficult subject along the way.

Jessica Koch lives near the city of Heilbronn with her husband, their son, and two dogs. The second and third books in the trilogy, So Near the Abyss and So Near the Ocean, are already best-sellers in Germany as well.

Author Links:

Website│Goodreads│Facebook

Blog Tour Organized by:

YA Bound Book Tours

Review: 18 Thoughts (My So Called Afterlife #3) by Jamie Ayres

From Goodreads:
Olga Gay Worontzoff left the Underworld for her final year of high school anxious for things to return to normal, but fate has other plans.

The new hottie at school reads her thoughts but nobody else’s. Her best friend wakes up from his coma acting like a completely different person. Caught in a world that’s a mix of familiar and supernatural, she must confront what she will—or won’t—do to bring him back and stare down her own perceived inadequacies to face a couple of tenacious demons, figurative and literal.

Everything she thought she knew about reality will change as she walks the line between past and present, fear and faith, love and loyalty.

And by the end of a heartbreaking year, she might be forced to realize “normal” in the conventional sense of the word is the one thing she may never achieve.




My Thoughts:
After I finished the first two books, I jumped straight into this one to see how things would end with Olga and the boys. This book started out strong. I loved that we saw Nate and Connor's perspectives as well, although it did make me like Connor even less. He always came across as selfish, even with his intentions for Olga.
But about halfway through, things just got... weird. Things made me uncomfortable and I found myself glancing around to make sure no one else was around.
But what bothered me the most was in book 1 I felt like Olga made massive progress, even book 2 had her continue to grow in ways I understood, even when they were reckless. But I felt like the memory wipe made all of it get reversed, and the parallel "18 Things" were just not as good.
And the ending. Blurg. It was like an anime ending; unsatisfactory. No spoilers, though. I just want to say I did not like it. It could have been so much stronger and way more interesting, plus again, satisfying.
Anyway, I'm glad I read the books. Like Hunger games, most of it was great, except that ending.

Son of a Pitch Finalist: The Magic Within

Title: THE MAGIC WITHIN
Category and Genre: YA contemporary with elements of magic (Not true magical realism)
Word Count: 73,000

Query:
Fifteen-year-old Ana Samuels is not excited about moving to the rainy Pacific Northwest. It's bad enough she's leaving her BFF Clara behind, but she's worried her albinism will turn her into a stare magnet. Ana's plans for survival include playing her fiddle, and keeping to the shadows at her new performing arts school.

Falling for James, a hearing-impaired redhead, is not part of those plans. Neither is finding an old violin in her attic—especially not one that shoots electric shocks and blue flames when she touches it. Sensations no one but Ana can see or feel. A note tucked inside the case promises a gift to whoever can endure the magic long enough to play. Willing to try anything to fix her lonely life, Ana is determined to play. Unfortunately, each attempt fails miserably. Even a ten second touch sends her flying. Frustrated, Ana decides to give up. But the violin has other plans and refuses to let her go, delivering headaches and bouts of unfathomable itching. Symptoms relieved only by touching the violin again. Now she's trapped. She can't play but she can't stop trying. As Ana's obsession grows and the magical side effects chip away at her sanity, her grades plummet, her friendship with Clara crumbles, and her blossoming romance with James is threatened.

When she begins to suspect her mother is seriously ill, Ana realizes her mother needs the gift more than she does. Miraculously, James believes her fantastical story and together they attempt to unravel the mystery of the violin's hold over Ana. In the process, they discover the magical offer is about to end. Ana faces an impossible decision. Play to receive the gift—risking the potentially deadly magic—or refuse, and not only continue her descent into madness, but lose her chance to save her mother.


First 250:
I'm not sure how to get the italics to show up on the website, but I think they are important to show that the vision is happening in real time, like dialogue.
Sweat dripped down the back of my neck and trickled between my shoulder blades. Gross. I swear it was hot enough to melt the lips off a chicken. A vision of a plump hen with liquefying lips flitted through my mind. I grimaced at ridiculous image. Clearly, despite my hat—big enough to cover the entire state of New Mexico—the desert sun had finally fricasseed my brain.
I slid deeper into the shade of our old Desert Willow, careful to keep my pale, melanin-free skin under cover. As far as I could determine, the only positive feature of our impending move to the rainy and miserable Pacific Northwest was the promise of cooler temperatures.
After spending the morning helping my parents do a final sweep of our house, searching through closets and empty rooms for forgotten items, I'd escaped outside. Despite the heat, I needed to get away from the memories of my childhood that tugged at my heart from every corner of our house.
I leaned against the tree and opened my book, trying to lose myself in the magic of Gabriel Garcia Marquez's One Hundred Years of Solitude. I read for a few minutes, then the words began to dance and blur. The world around me hushed and became silent. Our yard disappeared in a smoky haze as I slipped into some kind of bizarre vision.
I’m sitting on a dirty, wooden floor. A dim light filters in through the two stained glass windows at each end of the long narrow room.

Son of a Pitch Finalist: Fearless

Title: Fearless
Category and Genre: YA Contemporary
Word Count: 83,000

Query:
Seventeen-year-old Annie Armani’s life has been a whirlwind: her world was first shaken by the death of her brother, whom she idolized, and then turned upside down when she won her first mixed martial arts title by knocking her opponent out in a single punch. With her next title match on the horizon, Annie’s worried everyone will learn what she already knows: that her victory was a fluke.

Despite being filled with self-doubt and a healthy dose of imposter syndrome, Annie finds herself the focus on a half-documentary, half-reality show chronicling her journey. While she may be a fighter in the ring, she’s shutting out the people around her, including Jake Duff, her new trainer. While TV producers and interviewers attempt to wrangle a sob-story out of her, Annie avoids talking about her personal life, not wanting to come off as anything other than “strong.” If the TV show goes too deep into her life, the whole world might learn about her father’s disappearance during her childhood, her mother’s attachment to a jailbird boyfriend, and Annie’s deep grief over her brother’s recent passing.

As her next title fight approaches, Annie begins to realize her opponent isn’t the only person she’s up against—she’s also battling herself.

First 250 Words:
As I walked into the convenience store, I immediately recognized the fight showing on the old TV sitting in the corner. I pulled the hood of my sweatshirt over my head, stuffing my hands in the pockets. I cursed the fact that my sweatshirt advertised Donovan’s Fight Club, Philly’s premier mixed martial arts—MMA—training facility. I grabbed the milk I had come in for and scooped up a bag of Skittles for my half-sister, Margie. Walking up to the counter, I pulled out a wad of bills from my back pocket. The clerk's attention was on the TV, the fight reflecting in his gray eyes as I put my items on the counter.

“Gimme one sec, okay?” His gaze never left the fight. “This girl’s gonna throw a punch like nothin’ I ever seen before.” He paused to chuckle, still watching. “She’s gonna be the next big MMA star. They’re saying she’ll never lose a fight.”

I swallowed. My throat went dry at any mention of the fight. “Look, I have somewhere to be. Besides, isn’t this fight old news?”

“Old news? They show it over and over, and every time, I have to stop and watch. It’s—what do the kids these days say?—it’s gone viral. The girl’s local, too. Her first real fight, and she won like it was nothin’."

Turning my head to the TV, I was just in time to see the knock-out punch. Just as it had in real time, my stomach lurched.

Son of a Pitch Finalist: Liked

TITLE: LIKED
Category and Genre: Adult Contemporary
Word Count: 75,000

Query:
I stared at his closed casket. An open one wasn’t an option. I killed him. My three-ton Suburban embedded his paper-thin jogger body into the concrete Jersey wall on Highway 71. They say don’t text and drive. They were right. People on social media used every opportunity to remind me daily. I’ve learned many new words. Few are kind. Most are right.

Probation, suspended license, community service, and a marathon. My lawyers sold the judge on a progressive sentence that included my middle-aged Mom-body running a local marathon dedicated to my victim. His family insisted I carry his ashes while competing in the race. If I don’t finish the race, I go to jail on a parole violation. No pressure.

I stole his running journal while apologizing to his niece about the accident. Petty theft was nothing compared to manslaughter. I already hated myself, but needed the training tips. Instead I found my soul mate.

Six months is what I have to fall out of love with a dead man, fall back in love with my husband, and find forgiveness from my family and myself.


First 250 Words:
This is my first funeral.
Glass half-full, it’s not mine.
Glass half-empty, I killed the guy nestled inside the closed casket.
Obliterated may be a better description.
But here I stand.
Thirty-six.
Two kids even Satan wouldn’t admit to fathering.
Squeezed into size fourteen pants riding so far up my ass they should have a canary to make sure the air is breathable. The sweat rolling off my body like a high-speed assembly line isn’t helping.
My hips beg for a sixteen.
Who am I kidding? Eighteen.
I should consider myself lucky that I’m not being fit for an orange prison jumpsuit.
I shimmy between two tables displaying flowered condolence baskets. The pink and white roses shield me from all the eyes entering the room. I’d hide here until the end of the wake if the smell of roses didn’t fill the back of my throat with today’s lunch.
Anything to help me vanish.
Anything to help me forget.
Even on the wrong side of thirty, this wouldn’t be the worst place in the world if I hadn’t killed the guy eternally sleeping under the closed mahogany casket.
Involuntary Vehicular Manslaughter. Court’s words. Not mine.
“Stupid woman reading a text while driving a Suburban”— would’ve been more accurate.
In my defense, the social media director at the high school should be fired for texting “lock-down” when she meant “lock-in.”
Show some responsibility people.
My husband’s high-priced attorney and progressive sentencing are the only reasons why I’m here and not in jail.
“Thanks for coming,” a raccoon-eyed young twenty-something says. I think she applied her eyeliner while driving. Bet she didn’t kill anyone while doing it.

Son of a Pitch Entry: Liked

TITLE: LIKED
Category and Genre: Adult Contemporary
Word Count: 75,000

Query:
I killed him. My three-ton Range Rover embedded his paper-thin jogger body into the concrete Jersey wall on Highway 71. I stared at his closed casket. An open one wasn’t an option. They say don’t text and drive. They were right. People on social media used every opportunity to remind me daily. I’ve learned many new words. Few are kind.

Probation, suspended license, community service, and a marathon. My lawyers sold the judge on a progressive sentence that included my out-of-shape middle-aged body running a local marathon dedicated to my victim. His family insisted I carry his ashes while competing in the race. If I don’t finish the race, I go to jail on a parole violation. No pressure.

I stole his running journal while apologizing to his niece about the accident. Petty theft was nothing compared to manslaughter. I wanted tips on running, not to find my soul mate.

Six months is all I have to fall out of love with a dead man, fall back in love with my husband, and get my body into shape so I can run a marathon and quiet the mean girls on social media who I once thought of as friends.


First 250 Words:
This is my first funeral.
Glass half-full, it’s not mine.
Glass half-empty, I killed the guy nestled inside the closed casket.
Obliterated may be a better description than killed.
But here I stand.
Thirty-six.
Two kids even Satan wouldn’t admit to fathering.
Squeezed into size twelve skinny pants riding so far up my ass they should have a canary to make sure the air is breathable. The sweat rolling off my body like a high-speed assembly line isn’t helping.
My hips beg for a fourteen.
Who am I kidding? Sixteen.
Who has their wake catered in the funeral home? Judging by the size of this spread, these pants are probably going to burst before I leave. With any luck, someone’s gonna stroll through those doors wearing sweat pants ready to tackle the giant seafood platter. I can only hope.
Anything to help me vanish.
I shimmy between two tables displaying flowered condolence baskets. The pink and white roses shield me from all the eyes entering the room. I’d hide here until the end of the wake if the smell of roses didn’t fill the back of my throat with the shrimp cocktail already testing my 12s.
Even on the wrong side of thirty, this wouldn’t be the worst place in the world if I hadn’t killed the guy eternally sleeping under the closed mahogany casket.
Involuntary Vehicular Manslaughter. Court’s words. Not mine.
“Stupid woman reading a text while driving a Range Rover”— would’ve been more accurate.

Son of a Pitch Entry: Stars in a Bucket

Title:Stars in a bucket
Category and Genre: NA CR
Word Count: 92,000


Query:
Life teaches 18-yr old Shana Matthews from small-town Mistyview Falls a few things: falling in love can be overwhelming; being a good person is negligible; repayment for kindness is often painful wrath. But her toughest lesson will be trying to stay afloat after she’s hurled into the deep end, and that with weights attached to both feet.

Shana's settled into taking care of her father and three half-brothers, when-almost overnight-she finds herself at extreme, opposite spectrums. She's happy and head over heels for Casey, and crippled with fear as Lonnie's (her brother) aggressive outbursts towards her increases. Soon Shana is torn between love and her familial responsibilities; and when she chooses her heart, she pays the ultimate and most brutal price for the decision. It drives her to abscond from Mistyview Falls... away from everything she'd ever known and cherished.
Almost 7 years later, Casey happens to cross her path. Despite the enduring love, Shana considers her demons too profound and resists his advances. Despite her obvious desperation to have him leave, Casey is determined to win her back. And in staying, he uncovers the harrowing truths which haunt her, and it's unfathomable. Both their worlds are once more upended as they're faced with the most daunting decisions of their lives... all in the name of love.


First 250 words:
Changes…

I remember that I once read something I had thought so beautiful at the time.
Things change, people don’t.
I am now unable to recall where exactly I had seen it, but the four little words had offered such a dedicated promise that it had etched itself upon my hopeful heart, that unforgettable summer I turned 19. I had held onto that assurance, no… I had clung to it with such desperation like a drowning person would a life-raft, just waiting for the day that my circumstances would change.
I was my mother’s daughter; always-doing-something-good-for-someone-else-Shana. I was altruistic and everybody knew it. And I suppose for me, having too good a heart turned out to be a bad thing. I had believed that in reward for my kind nature, my life would turn around for the better. Rather foolishly, I had settled my faith in Karma. I was too young and innocent back then. So ridiculously naïve. Harsh reality was standing on the side-lines, just out of view, waiting for its’ chance to give me a wake-up call.
Things change… people don’t?
What a crock. Soon I would know better-I learned that the hard way. The worst way possible, which you would never even want to imagine! The one day I had stood on the jetty, overlooking the lake and I thought that I had never seen a sight more spectacularly beautiful. The grass and trees were lush and green, the blue sky clear and the water sparkling.

Review: Little Forevers by Katie Kaleski

From Goodreads:
Phoebe likes Gage, but there's a problem—he's her brother's best friend.

As the result of an extra-marital affair, Phoebe Bautista has had little contact with her dad, none with her step-mom, and her siblings have just recently learned of her existence. Now she goes to stay with them while her mom is on assignment in The Yukon for three months. As she tries to find her place and navigate the developing and rocky relationship with her temporary family, she begins to spend time playing music with her brother, Oliver, along with his best friend, Gage.

Gage is cute, smart, has selective mutism, and makes Phoebe’s heart skip a beat, but she knows she has to fight her feelings for him, so she doesn’t ruin her growing bond with Oliver. But the more time the three of them spend together, the harder it becomes to ignore what she feels for Gage, especially when she learns he might like her too.

And with her dad pretending everything’s fine, the fact that she might never belong anywhere, and knowing that she only has so much time with her new family, Phoebe might not make it out with her heart intact. 

My Thoughts:
***Thank you to YA Bound for giving me the opportunity to review this book***
First up, I love this cover. So pretty! It was the first thing to make me stop and want to take a look.
The story itself is fun and sweet, with characters that are unique, a little nerdy, and interesting. The meat of the story and characters was charming. I loved the infusion of Filipino culture as well!
My problem was that I felt like I was reading a first draft. The editing was basically non-existent, and it got worse as the book progressed. Wrong words (signing instead of singing for example) missing punctuation, and errors just littered the book. It became a distraction from the story because at times I had to go back and mentally edit things just to make sense of them. This was disappointing, and I wish it wasn't an issue so I could love the raw essence of the story.
I hope the author does clean up the manuscript because this is a fun story!

Review: 18 Things by Jamie Ayres

From Goodreads:
Olga Gay Worontzoff thinks her biggest problems are an awful name and not attending prom with Conner, her best friend and secret crush since kindergarten.

Then, Conner is killed in a freak boating accident and Olga feels responsible for his death.

When she downs an entire bottle of pills to deal with the emotional pain, her parents force her into counseling. There, her therapist writes a prescription in the form of a life list titled “18 Things”: eighteen quests to complete the year of her eighteenth birthday.

But there’s more to Olga’s quests than meets the eye and when her therapist reveals a terrifying secret, her world is shaken.

There’s only one thing she knows for certain: her choices won’t just affect her future, but all eternity.



My Thoughts:
This book... I'm not sure how to put into words my thoughts without giving away too much. I'll start from the beginning.
18 Things starts out strong; heartbreaking, and powerful. I really felt Olga's grief. That shows real skill. I was hooked, and, since it was on audible, I listened while I worked around my house and in my car pretty much non-stop.
Nate is the perfect match for Olga. He's sweet and kinda goofy and nerdy, just like her. Although, the narrator gave him a ridiculous TMNT kind of voice, I did enjoy him, even if Olga was totally oblivious to his obvious liking of her.
There were some super cheesy moments that made me cringe as it moved into the second half of the book. Things that teens haven't said or done since the 90s. The guys all having TMNT voices only highlighted the awkward. And what was with the dis of Bill and Ted?? No. Next it will be Ferris Bueler and BTTF. Not acceptable.
That end... ohh, I was pretty mad about it actually. At work all day I brewed over that twist. But the fact that I cared so much said how involved I got with the book. I hated it because it felt so unjust for the characters I'd come to care about.
So yes, I'll be "reading" aka audible, the rest of this series. Excited to see what happens next, because there were some big loose ends with this one!