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New Adult Author with smart, strong, real women for heroines, and men who love their inner beauty.
Showing posts with label harlequin. Show all posts
Showing posts with label harlequin. Show all posts
Wednesday, April 16, 2014
Featuring... Some of My Reviewed Favorites!
I have a nice build up of book covers and author pics on this blog. So, I have decided to feature several of these every once in a while. Today I have these babies :-) These are books I have read and enjoyed, and you can find reviews for them on my blog. They all come highly recommended by me!
Thursday, February 13, 2014
Blog Tour: My Inspiration for Samir from I SEE LONDON By Chanel Cleeton
My Inspiration for Samir from I SEE LONDON
By Chanel Cleeton
When I started writing I SEE LONDON I knew I wanted a hero
who came from a completely different background than my heroine, Maggie. I’m a
sucker for taking opposites and throwing them together, forcing my characters
to step outside of their comfort zones. With that idea in mind I began writing
Samir.
Samir is one of the most complex characters I’ve ever
written. He’s struggling with a lot of the same coming of age ideas that we see
in New Adult, but his cultural background provides a different spin on his
transition to adulthood. I loved exploring what coming of age would mean for
him.
Samir is caught between two cultures—his mother is French,
his father is Lebanese. On one hand he was born in Beirut and very much
identifies with his Lebanese heritage; on the other hand he’s spent quite a bit
of time in Paris and his French background is very much a part of who he is.
He’s often caught between languages—his mind a combination of French and Arabic.
Both cultures are very much a part of him and yet at times he struggles to
define who he is. As a Cuban-American I definitely related to his sense of
identity and the feeling that he is, at times, straddling two different worlds.
Samir’s cultural expectations play a large role in his
coming of age development. His family has a very clear path laid out for
him—one that clearly doesn’t involve a girl like Maggie. The differences in
their backgrounds is one of the things that brings them closer together and
forces them outside of their comfort zones, but at the same time it’s also the
wedge that could drive them apart.
For Samir university is a chance to let loose, one final
hurrah before he returns back to Lebanon and steps into the family fold and all
of the expectations that come with it. For Samir graduation means more than
just getting a job, it means a marriage his parents will approve of, a career
that they’ve planned for him, and the need to assume his position as the future
head of his family. It’s a completely different set of expectations than what
we’ve come to associate with coming of age and it will bring a whole host of
challenges for him and Maggie.
BOOK SUMMARY:
Maggie Carpenter is ready for a change— and to leave her ordinary life in South Carolina behind. But when she accepts a scholarship to the International School in London, a university attended by the privileged offspring of diplomats and world leaders, Maggie might get more than she bargained for.
When Maggie meets Hugh, a twentysomething British guy, she finds herself living the life she always wanted. Suddenly she’s riding around the city in a Ferrari, wearing borrowed designer clothes and going to the hottest clubs. The only problem? Another guy, the one she can’t seem to keep her hands off of.
Half French, half Lebanese, and ridiculously wealthy, Samir Khouri has made it clear he doesn’t do relationships. He’s the opposite of everything Maggie thought she wanted…and he’s everything she can’t resist. Torn between her dream guy and the boy haunting her dreams, Maggie has to fight for her own happy ending. In a city like London, you never know where you stand, and everything can change in the blink of an eye.
This is a New Adult romance recommended for readers 17 and up.
When Maggie meets Hugh, a twentysomething British guy, she finds herself living the life she always wanted. Suddenly she’s riding around the city in a Ferrari, wearing borrowed designer clothes and going to the hottest clubs. The only problem? Another guy, the one she can’t seem to keep her hands off of.
Half French, half Lebanese, and ridiculously wealthy, Samir Khouri has made it clear he doesn’t do relationships. He’s the opposite of everything Maggie thought she wanted…and he’s everything she can’t resist. Torn between her dream guy and the boy haunting her dreams, Maggie has to fight for her own happy ending. In a city like London, you never know where you stand, and everything can change in the blink of an eye.
This is a New Adult romance recommended for readers 17 and up.
AUTHOR BIO:
Originally a Florida girl, at seventeen Chanel moved to London to attend an international university. In the four years that followed, she received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees, learned how to dance, travelled through Europe, and made lifelong friendships. Chanel fell in love with London and planned to stay there forever. But fate intervened on a Caribbean cruise, when an American fighter pilot with smooth dance moves, swept her off her feet.
Now, a happily ever after later, Chanel is living her next adventure in South Korea. An avid reader and hopeless romantic, she is happiest curled up with a book. She has a weakness for handbags, puppy cuddles, and her fighter pilot husband. Chanel writes New Adult contemporary romances and Young Adult thrillers. Her New Adult debut, I SEE LONDON, will be released by Harlequin (HQN) on February 3, 2014, followed by a sequel, LONDON FALLING, later in the year.
Originally a Florida girl, at seventeen Chanel moved to London to attend an international university. In the four years that followed, she received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees, learned how to dance, travelled through Europe, and made lifelong friendships. Chanel fell in love with London and planned to stay there forever. But fate intervened on a Caribbean cruise, when an American fighter pilot with smooth dance moves, swept her off her feet.
Now, a happily ever after later, Chanel is living her next adventure in South Korea. An avid reader and hopeless romantic, she is happiest curled up with a book. She has a weakness for handbags, puppy cuddles, and her fighter pilot husband. Chanel writes New Adult contemporary romances and Young Adult thrillers. Her New Adult debut, I SEE LONDON, will be released by Harlequin (HQN) on February 3, 2014, followed by a sequel, LONDON FALLING, later in the year.
AUTHOR LINKS:
Website: www.chanelcleeton.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/
Twitter: www.twitter.com/chanelcleeton
Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/
Website: www.chanelcleeton.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/
Twitter: www.twitter.com/chanelcleeton
Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/
Monday, February 3, 2014
Release Day Blitz: I See London by Chanel Cleeton
I See London
by Chanel Cleeton
“I See London is fun, sexy, and kept me completely
absorbed.” – Katie McGarry, author of Crash Into You
Maggie
Carpenter is ready for a change— and to leave her ordinary life in South
Carolina behind. But when she accepts a scholarship to the International School
in London, a university attended by the privileged offspring of diplomats and
world leaders, Maggie might get more than she bargained for.
When
Maggie meets Hugh, a twentysomething British guy, she finds herself living the
life she always wanted. Suddenly she’s riding around the city in a Ferrari,
wearing borrowed designer clothes and going to the hottest clubs. The only
problem? Another guy, the one she can’t seem to keep her hands off of.
Half
French, half Lebanese, and ridiculously wealthy, Samir Khouri has made it clear
he doesn’t do relationships. He’s the opposite of everything Maggie thought she
wanted…and he’s everything she can’t resist. Torn between her dream guy and the
boy haunting her dreams, Maggie has to fight for her own happy ending. In a
city like London, you never know where you stand, and everything can change in
the blink of an eye.
This
is a New Adult romance recommended for readers 17 and up.
Now,
a happily ever after later, Chanel is living her next adventure in South
Korea. An avid reader and hopeless
romantic, she is happiest curled up with a book. She has a weakness for handbags, puppy
cuddles, and her fighter pilot husband.
Harlequin (HQN) will release Chanel’s New Adult debut, I SEE LONDON, on
February 3, 2014, followed by a sequel, LONDON FALLING, later in the year.
Author Links:
Saturday, January 18, 2014
Guest Post: Chanel Cleeton
I'm starting a new thing where authors can visit my blog and leave a guest post. I really want to help other authors get their name and books out, so I thought this might be a good way of doing it.
So today is my first guest; Chanel Cleeton.
So today is my first guest; Chanel Cleeton.
Finding Inspiration in Everyday Life
One of my favorite things about writing is finding
inspiration in the things around me. For me it can be something small—an image
or a phrase that enters my mind that I can’t let go of. The second book I wrote—the
one that ultimately landed me an agent—came to be when I was walking over a rickety
bridge. I stared down at the creek below and thought “that would be a good
place to hide a dead body.” Just like that, my YA thriller was born.
Other times it’s something bigger—a memory or an experience
in my life that inspires me. My debut, I SEE LONDON, was one of these books.
It’s a New Adult contemporary romance set in an international university in
London. It was inspired by the four years I spent living and studying in
London.
I love that you never know how or when inspiration will
strike. Or where it will take you. For me, my debut started out with the basic
concept of taking a girl from a small town in South Carolina and enrolling her
in an international university in London. In a lot of ways it was similar to my
own experiences. But when I started writing, that’s where the similarities
ended. The great thing about writing is that you can start with a seed that’s
inspired by reality—something you’ve seen or experienced—and transform it into
something completely new.
I always find writing to be an adventure. You go down the
rabbit hole and discover a whole new world. Writing I SEE LONDON enabled me to
relive some of my favorite London memories but it also allowed me to explore a
new set of adventures. I love the old adage, “write what you know” because it
gives a ring of authenticity. But it doesn’t mean, “write just what you know.” Rather, it can give a starting point for your
imagination without limiting you. Everyday life can be your ticket to adventure
and your next story can be just around the corner.
BOOK
SUMMARY:
Maggie
Carpenter is ready for a change— and to leave her ordinary life in South
Carolina behind. But when she accepts a scholarship to the International School
in London, a university attended by the privileged offspring of diplomats and
world leaders, Maggie might get more than she bargained for.
When
Maggie meets Hugh, a twentysomething British guy, she finds herself living the
life she always wanted. Suddenly she’s riding around the city in a Ferrari,
wearing borrowed designer clothes and going to the hottest clubs. The only
problem? Another guy, the one she can’t seem to keep her hands off of.
Half
French, half Lebanese, and ridiculously wealthy, Samir Khouri has made it clear
he doesn’t do relationships. He’s the opposite of everything Maggie thought she
wanted…and he’s everything she can’t resist. Torn between her dream guy and the
boy haunting her dreams, Maggie has to fight for her own happy ending. In a
city like London, you never know where you stand, and everything can change in
the blink of an eye.
This
is a New Adult romance recommended for readers 17 and up.
Book Order Links:
Amazon: http://amzn.to/1cQXjYm
Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/1khLGx1
iTunes:
http://bit.ly/1ewcogY
Author
Information
Originally
a Florida girl, at seventeen Chanel moved to London to attend an international
university. In the four years that
followed, she received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees, learned how to
dance, travelled through Europe, and made lifelong friendships. Chanel fell in love with London and planned
to stay there forever. But fate
intervened on a Caribbean cruise, when an American fighter pilot with smooth
dance moves, swept her off her feet.
Now,
a happily ever after later, Chanel is living her next adventure in South
Korea. An avid reader and hopeless
romantic, she is happiest curled up with a book. She has a weakness for handbags, puppy
cuddles, and her fighter pilot husband.
Harlequin (HQN) will release Chanel’s New Adult debut, I SEE LONDON, on
February 3, 2014, followed by a sequel, LONDON FALLING, later in the year.
Author Links:
Thursday, December 19, 2013
Cover Reveal: I See London by Chanel Cleeton
February 3, 2014
Maggie
Carpenter is ready for a change— and to leave her ordinary life in South
Carolina behind. But when she accepts a scholarship to the International School
in London, a university attended by the privileged offspring of diplomats and
world leaders, Maggie might get more than she bargained for.
When
Maggie meets Hugh, a twentysomething British guy, she finds herself living the
life she always wanted. Suddenly she’s riding around the city in a Ferrari,
wearing borrowed designer clothes and going to the hottest clubs. The only
problem? Another guy, the one she can’t seem to keep her hands off of.
Half
French, half Lebanese, and ridiculously wealthy, Samir Khouri has made it clear
he doesn’t do relationships. He’s the opposite of everything Maggie thought she
wanted…and he’s everything she can’t resist. Torn between her dream guy and the
boy haunting her dreams, Maggie has to fight for her own happy ending. In a
city like London, you never know where you stand, and everything can change in
the blink of an eye.
This
is a New Adult romance recommended for readers 17 and up.
I love, love, love this cover. From the beginning I wanted an iconic London image. I wanted something romantic, sexy, and adventurous that really captured the heart of the book. We played around with a couple ideas, wanting to convey both the sexy NA feel and the unique setting. It was a tough cover- my hero is half Lebanese, so finding stock images was a challenge. Harlequin was amazing to work with and I was so lucky to have tons of input. I actually created my own cover and sent it over to them and they did a beautiful job of taking my idea and improving on it tenfold! There's this line in I SEE LONDON about London nights being full of adventure and possibilities. That will always be London for me and I think this cover represents that spirit perfectly. What do you think?
Originally
a Florida girl, at seventeen Chanel moved to London to attend an international
university. In the four years that
followed, she received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees, learned how to
dance, travelled through Europe, and made lifelong friendships. Chanel fell in love with London and planned
to stay there forever. But fate
intervened on a Caribbean cruise, when an American fighter pilot with smooth dance
moves, swept her off her feet.
Now,
a happily ever after later, Chanel is living her next adventure in South
Korea. An avid reader and hopeless
romantic, she is happiest curled up with a book. She has a weakness for handbags, puppy
cuddles, and her fighter pilot husband.
Chanel writes New Adult contemporary romances and Young Adult thrillers.
Her New Adult debut, I SEE LONDON, will be released by Harlequin (HQN) on
February 3, 2014, followed by a sequel, LONDON FALLING, later in the year.
Saturday, September 28, 2013
Review: Stern by Brenda Jackson
From New York Times bestselling author Brenda Jackson, comes a new trilogy starring three Westmorelands who are impossible to resist: Zane, Canyon and Stern.
Stern Westmoreland never makes mistakes; until he helps his best friend Jovonnie "JoJo" Jones with a makeover for another man. Now Stern wants JoJo for himself. Their attraction is undeniable and there's only one way to test it: one long, steamy night together as much more than friends!
This was a fun read. I enjoyed both Stern and JoJo as characters. Their chemistry is unmistakable, and it's a nice sweet romance with two best friends realizing their feelings for one another. I'd definitely look into the rest of the Westmoreland series to get to know all the character better and understand some of the back story I missed out on in this book.
I'd recommend this for people who like sweet romances, with some steamy scenes thrown in.
Saturday, June 1, 2013
Review - A Texas Hero
So, today, I'm going to give you my review!
To start with, this did not begin how I expected, it was better! I picked this one because I'm a sap and love romances, (Thus my stalking of the Harlequin archives) but it's more than that. It opens with a big BANG and plenty of action.
The story follows Ethan and Abby, both single parents scared by the other parent of their child. Neither are looking for anything, so the tension fizzles between them from the very beginning, but not in a good way! I loved watching them tear the walls down from each other as they struggle to survive and get themselves out of the sticky situation they found themselves in.
But the sticky situation turns out to be a big scheme... I won't say more because I don't want to give out any spoilers. But I loved Ethan's fight. He's one determined guy! And Abby is so real. I think in her shoes I'd do the same thing. I even stopped to hug my own toddler several times while reading.
I enjoyed this very much and am looking forward to the next installment.
5/5 stars
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