Cover Reveal ~ Playing Pretend by Juliana Haygert

Playing Pretend

by Juliana Haygert

Genre: NA Contemporary Romance

Word Count: 65,000

Release date: March 2014

Cover: Berto Designs

Summary from Goodreads:

As the Governor’s daughter, Charlotte McClain is an expert in playing pretend. High society, the men her mother shoves in her direction and a Pre-Law major are all a part of her perfect pretense. But when she pretends to be a nobody during Spring Break, she meets someone who rocks her world.

Mason Rowell knows heartbreak and Spring Break don’t mesh well, so he allows the mysterious Charlotte to seduce him. What should have been a fling, results in something deeper. After Spring Break has long since passed, he moves to Washington to pursue his graduate degree, but what he never expected to find living among the rich and pompous, was the girl who gave him the strength to change and the desire to start anew.

When the guy Charlotte can’t forget goes from a sensual memory to temptation in the flesh, her facade is put to the test. If she surrenders to his charms, she risks ruining her mother’s perfect career and master plan. Playing pretend is what Charlotte does best, but how long can she pretend she doesn't love the man who made her proud of her true self?

**A light, sexy NA Contemporary Romance**

About the Author:

New Adult author and contributor at NA Alley blog.

While Juliana Haygert dreams of being Wonder Woman, Buffy, or a blood elf shadow priest, she settles for the less exciting—but equally gratifying—life of a wife, mother, and author. Thousands of miles away from her former home in Brazil, she now resides in Connecticut and spends her days writing about kick-ass heroines and the heroes who drive them crazy.

Author Links:

    



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Release Week Celebration + Giveaway ~ TAKEN by Felicia Starr

 

Title: TAKEN (Breaking the Darkness, #1)

Author: Felicia Starr

Expected Release Date: November 11, 2013

Genre: Fiction | YA | Paranormal

 

Opening her eyes to an imposing prison of complete darkness, Kasha is accused of possessing powers and abilities she had no previous knowledge of until the moment she comes face to face with herself while meditating. Haunted by memories strung together by lies and deceit, she soon discovers that maybe her beloved grandmother kept a few secrets she had not been aware of.  Secrets that could be her salvation… or her undoing.   As she struggles to control her newfound powers, only time will tell if they will be enough to help her decipher who has imprisoned her or what they want from her. She must search for the answers and the freedom she so desperately desires. Could a handsome guy whom vows to help her get away prove to be the man of her dreams… or perhaps her worst nightmare?

NOT KNOWING WHO TO TRUST, SHE MUST FIND A WAY TO ESCAPE BEFORE SHE PAYS THE ULTIMATE PRICE AND FINDS HERSELF TAKEN BY THE DARKNESS.

You must betray your heart and walk amongst the darkness in order to find the truest light.

 

 

 

 

Without the sun and moon to guide my inner clock, there was really no way for me to distinguish how many nights or days had passed. The darkness was different from any I had experienced before. My eyes could not quite adjust.

 

Although I had a real bed and a partial bath with a toilet and small wash sink, there was no sense of comfort. What seemed to be the only entrance was   sealed so tight that no light seeped in from the perimeter. There were no windows; the walls were cold and barren. My hands explored my surroundings, yet I could not even find an outlet or light switch.

 

I tried to escape my fears by focusing on remembering less stressful times, most of which were with Gram. I replayed the past in my head, hoping that somewhere hidden in those memories might be a clue as to what happened and how I ended up in the dark.

 

When my fear and confusion subsided enough, I willed myself to sleep. It was my only escape from the heaviness the darkness imposed upon me. This didn’t help my capacity to estimate the length of my imprisonment. I didn’t know how long or how often I drifted off to sleep. There were moments I lay there struggling to determine if my eyes were open or closed.

 

One would think the quiet would be soothing, only it amplified every little thing. I realized there was no true stillness. I could envision the flecks of dust floating through the air, crashing into the floor like pellets of hail on a summer day. The anticipation of hearing footsteps approaching my room sent continuous chills up my spine with every little noise the silence allowed.

 

There was something about the smell in the air and the chill of the walls and floor that led me to believe I was still somewhere in the desert. The lack of moisture in the atmosphere left my mouth sticky and dry. Being dehydrated from lack of fluids wasn’t helping. I wasn’t sure if the faucet water was safe to drink.

 

The pains in my stomach reminded me how much I longed for a veggie-filled pita with hummus and feta cheese. My mouth watered at the thought of a guilt-filled bag of Doritos. I should have been grateful I wasn’t completely being starved in there. I don’t know how or when, but food did appear in my room from time to time—and I use the term food loosely. A couple of crackers or a piece of jerky doesn’t really constitute food to me. I had to take what I could since I still didn’t have a clue where I was, who was keeping me, or why.

 

Since Gram died, while I was away at college, there really wasn’t a home to go back to. I decided to take the small amount of money she left me and put most of it in the bank. I’d just moved to Santa Fe and prepaid a year’s rent for a studio-sized house on a small side street. Santa Fe was appealing because it was close to the last place Gram lived, La Cienega, just outside the city limits. The sad thing is, without employment and friends or family in the new city, no one would miss me.

 

At this realization, my heart grew heavier. Although I could feel the burn in my throat, threatening the shower of tears, I choked it back. Tears wouldn’t fight off the shadows. Appearing resilient would help me keep up my strength.

 

I contemplated screaming out, demanding an answer as to why I was there. Trepidation brought that action to a silent halt. I didn’t want to face the potential terrors that stalked the future. I watched enough crime television shows to know how much worse this could get. I counted on my silence as my best defense.

 

I continued to make desperate attempts at feeling around the walls that encased me. Pressing my face against the cold surfaces, I struggled to hear a trace of someone, anyone, only my ears were denied. Could it be I was truly alone in this unwarranted exile? Perhaps this was it; in the end the darkness would consume me.

 

I dropped to my knees at the center of my prison. I could feel the surge of sadness and anger coursing through my body. My core heated and it felt as though my blood was on fire. I acknowledged each pore of my skin as the fine hairs stood at attention from the vibration that shook my extremities. With my teeth clenched and my eyes pressed shut, I tried to regain my breath and focus on Gram.

 

In a whisper, I called out to her. “Gram… Gram, I know you are out there watching over me. I just wish I could hear your voice.”

 

I continued to speak to her in my head. As much as I always wished something exciting would happen to me, being incarcerated in this godforsaken dark box wasn’t at all what I had in mind.

 

As I looked down toward the amulet resting on my chest, my fingers encased the charm. I closed my eyes, and memories of the time my grandmother draped it around my neck flocked to the forefront.

 

It was the summer I turned sixteen. Gram and I took a road trip to the Painted Desert, one of our favorite places to visit. I loved being surrounded by mountains made of rainbows of rock. Some people referred to this location as the “badlands.” When I was there, though, I felt filled with a unique sense of lightness that almost lifted me off my feet. Being there was effortless.

 

I could walk for hours, soaking in the beauty and freshness of the landscape. I felt connected, not necessarily to anything in particular; I just felt at one with nature. It was like the spirit of the earth moved through me. Even when I was alone on a trail, I never felt lonesome.

 

The day Gram gave me this necklace, it was as if the heavens had opened up and dumped colors all around us. The sun sank past the painted-rock walls that bordered our location. The sky swelled with layers of purple, pink, orange, and even a touch of gold at the tips of the earth. Gram always knew how to pick just the right moment and location to make a special occasion feel magical.

 

“Kasha, you are becoming a strong and beautiful young woman. The women in our family have always had a special bond with one another. You must always remember, even when we’re not together, we’re a part of each other, linked always.”

 

I knew part of what she was being at had to do with my mother. It had been many years since I saw her last, but now was neither the time nor place to start thinking about that. Squeezing the pendant in my hand, a giant, slow breath helped push her out of my head, for now.

 

Gazing back down at my necklace, I pretended to make out more than the silhouette in the darkness. In my mind, I could see the pentagonal piece of petrified wood encased in silver. The pie-shaped stones enhanced each point of the rounded pentacle. Beautifully etched floral designs in the metal surrounded the stones. A remnant of something engraved on the rear side was almost visible, but it had worn down long before I took possession. If only I could make out what had been there; I often fantasized about what it might have said.

 

I wasn’t sure if there was any significance to the markings, but they looked ancient. Maybe it once belonged to an Egyptian pharaoh or a Celtic princess. Too bad I never took the time to ask Gram if she knew the history of this piece. It would have been interesting to know to whom it had belonged.

 

“You have an intensity about you that is unrivaled. Keep this with you at all times. You will find it will keep you grounded and connected to what is important.”

 

Gram always said weird stuff like that. I’d gotten used to it and stopped trying to figure out if her comments had hidden meanings. As a kid I would get embarrassed when she talked like that in front of other people. I saw the way they looked at her, probably thinking, What a shame that beautiful woman is so crazy. It was that quirkiness I grew to love most about her when I became a young adult.

 

I guess Gram was at least a little bit right about this amulet. Holding it brought thoughts of her to me. It seemed to cool me down and calm my nerves. At the same time, it warmed me and gave me comfort. A brief moment of peace helped subdue the constant fear and avoid the panic that could set in at any moment.

 

 

Author Felicia Starr lives five miles from her favorite Jersey Shore destination with her amazingly supportive family.  She loves to spend time creating special memories with her husband and two young boys.   Everyone expected her first publication to be a cookbook, but her love for writing has surpassed her love for cooking.  Felicia graduated magna cum laude from Kean University with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a post baccalaureate in elementary education.  She is a licensed real estate sales person, a certified yoga instructor, and most importantly, a stay-at-home mom.  

 

 

Twitter | Facebook | GR | Website
 

 

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Cover Reveal ~ Up For Grabs by Heather Young-Nichols

Up For Grabs

by Heather Young-Nichols

NA (17+) CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE

Swoon Romance

Book Summary:

When Flannery Tate left home for a college halfway across the country in Michigan, she'd only planned on getting an education. But when Cain Dorsey walked into her life, she had no choice but to fall for him. However, what’s a girl to do when her scholarship well runs dry? Return home? Get a job? 

 

Flannery gets creative. She decides to sell the most precious and valuable thing she call - her virginity - to the highest bidder. When Cain discovers her plan, their world crumbles. Will they be able to move past her betrayal and find a way back to each other? Or, is this the beginning of the end? 

UP FOR GRABS is a story of love, heartbreak and truth.
 

About the Author

Heather Young-Nichols lives in Michigan in a house full of activity and has a degree in Sociology. Which means she's gotten used to reading and writing in the midst of chaos and is always observing people.

Author Links:

   

Book Blitz + Giveaway ~ Descendant by Nichole Giles

 

The Book

Descendant by Nichole Giles

Published May 1st, 2013

Published by Rhemalda Publishing (now self published)

Genres: Ya, Fantasy

 

 

Seventeen-year-old Abigail Johnson is Gifted.

 

Blessed—or cursed—with Sight and Healing, Abby lives an unsettled life, moving from place to place and staying one step ahead of the darkness that hunts her. When she arrives in Jackson, Wyoming, she is desperate to maintain the illusion of normalcy, but she is plagued with visions of past lives mixed with frightening glimpses of her future. Then she meets Kye, a mysterious boy who seems so achingly familiar that Abby is drawn to him like he’s a missing piece of her own soul.

 

Before Abby can discover the reason for her feelings toward Kye, the darkness catches up to her and she is forced to flee again. But this time she’s not just running. She is fighting back with Kye at her side, and it’s not just Abby’s life at stake.

 

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17332031-descendant

 

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Descendant-Nichole-Giles/dp/1936850672

 

B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/descendant-nichole-giles/1114967746?ean=2940148648581

 Author Bio 

 

Nichole Giles had early career plans that included becoming an actress or a rockstar, but she decided instead to have a family and then become a writer.

 

She was born in Nevada, the oldest of seven—a number which increased to eleven with the addition of four step brothers—and has lived in Utah, Nevada, Arizona, and South Texas.

 

Her future aspirations include owning a home on a tropical island, even if it's just a vacation home. For now, she plans to travel to as many tropical locations as possible, scouting for her future paradise.

 

Currently, she lives with her husband, one of her two sons (the other is in college), two daughters, two golden retrievers, and one lucky bunny rabbit.

 

Writing is her passion, but she also loves to spend time with her family, travel to exotic destinations, drive in the rain with her convertible top down, and play music at full volume so she can sing along.

 

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=128455014233

 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/nicholegiles

 

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/3384651-nichole-giles

 

Blog: http://www.nicholegiles.blogspot.com/

 

Guest Post Topics:

 

Ten Things You Didn’t Know about Nichole Giles

 

 When I was in high school, drama was my favorite class, and I was somehow involved in every play possible.

 

I once fell off a stage in a pitch-black theater, because I couldn’t see and I wasn’t supposed to be in there. This resulted in a severely sprained ankle.

 

One of my favorite places in the world to spend time is on the beach.

 

I once petted a shark, fed a sea lion, swam with a dolphin, and kissed a sting ray- but not all on the same day.

 

My favorite candy of all time ping-pongs between Kookaburra licorice and Black Forest Gummies.

 

 When given a choice between any dessert, I will almost always choose cheesecake.

 

My all-time favorite food in the world is steamed snow crab (warm, not chilled).

 

I didn’t start writing novels until the year I turned 30.

 

Aside from hitting the major bestseller lists, one of my biggest goals in life is to travel the world.

 

As of the date this list is posted, I am currently a parent to four teenage people, two teenage dogs, one almost teenage rabbit, and a tiny baby kitten. Oh, and also a tank full of fish.

 

Behind the Scenes of Descendant

(Done as a list in order to keep it shorter than the novel itself!)

 

1.    Much cheering on the day Rhemalda publishing offered me a publishing contract for DESCENDANT.

 

2.    Frantic panicking when, a month later, my husband got a job 1500 miles away, and we decided to move our whole life from Utah to Texas.

 

3.    Giddy jubilation when Rhett Hoffmeister and I collaborated to work up cover concepts and turn them over to Melissa Williams for final design.

 

4.    Blind freak out when edits came a month later than expected and we (me, editor Diane, and company VP Emmaline) went sleepless for four days as we pounded out copy edits in time for me to go on a spring break trip with my family. (They were definite troopers!)

 

5.    Surreal heart-throbbing happiness when my author copies arrived, and days later, bookmarks and posters.

 

6.    Shoulder-tightening nerves when the first reviews rolled in.

 

7.    Face-hurting grinning when the reviews were highly positive.

 

8.    Heart break when I found out my beloved publisher was closing permanently.

 

9.    Much frantic scrambling as Rhemalda hands over files and rights revert to me, the author.

 

10.  Super-speedy learning curve as I dive into the self-publishing industry with both feet.

 

11.  More happiness when I received the email that told me DESCENDANT has been nominated for a Whitney Award.

 

12.  Now that the filing is done and all formats of the book republished, relief to know I somehow managed a thing that felt impossible.

 

13.  Excitement and anticipation as I prepare to release BIRTHRIGHT this coming spring.

 

Next Ten Books on Nichole’s TBR/E-Reader

 

1.    Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea

 

2.    Everbound by Brodi Ashton

 

3.    The False Prince by Jennifer Nielsen

 

4.    Finding It by Cora Cormack

 

5.    Lady Outlaw by Stacy Henry

 

6.    The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater

 

7.    The Dream Thieves by Maggie Stiefvater

 

8.    Pivot Point by Kasee West

 

9.    The DiCarlo Brides series (several books) By Heather Tullis

 

10.   Allegiant by Veronica Roth

 

Interview Questions

 

What your favorite scene to write?

NG: Kissing scenes. My favorite scenes to write will always involve kissing. I’m just a romantic like that.

 

How long did it take you to write Descendant?

NG: Ttwo years. But that included some very serious rewrites and restructuring and world building. There was never an outline involved, and I should also add that Descendant was my first solid, real experience with finding a unique idea I felt was interesting enough to pursue publication. The next book I wrote was more like a year, and the one following that was a little less. Every book is different for me, and this particular story has a lot of complicated layers.

 

Will Descendant be a standalone or are you going to write a sequel?

NG: Birthright (book 2) is already drafted and rolling toward a spring publication. I hope to also write a third in this series to round out and complete the story.

 

What are you currently working on?

NG: I am always working on more than one project. For instance, as I focus on rewrites, edits, and other details for Birthright, my agent also has one of my manuscripts on submission, and another one in her inbox for consideration. I am currently fleshing out a new idea which may involve either a co-author or a lot of research, and I am also writing something fresh and new this month for National Novel Writing Month.

 

Who designed the cover of Descendant?

NG: Originally, Descendant was published by Rhemalda publishing, which was a high quality small publisher. The company president came up with the cover concepts using author input (I know, I loved that!), and then sent the ideas to the Rhemalda cover designer, Melissa Williams, (aka Michelle Davidson Argyle) who finished the final designs. When the company closed, I was given the option to keep my cover art, and paid the designer to make the necessary adjustments to remove the Rhemalda logo and add the one for Jelly Bean Press.

 

What was the hardest scene for you to edit out?

NG: My publisher had me cut the first three chapters of DESCENDANT, which meant I had to work a lot of backstory in later to make up for the loss of information. I will say, though, that I’m very happy with the way it turned out.

 

Did any music inspire you while writing Descendant?

NG: Music always inspires me, and I actually listened to music often while writing and editing this particular story. I’ve switched computers three times since this book was originally written, and so my iTunes playlist was lost long ago--but I remember that Coldplay’s Fix You was on it, as well as Til Kingdom Come, and Nickleback’s Far Away, and How Does it Feel by Avril Lavigne.

 

What is the best book that you’ve read recently?

NG: Seige and Storm by Leigh Bardugo (second in the Shadow and Bone series) and Abandon by Elana Johnson (third in the Possession series). It’s very sad to admit this, but I have a huge stack of TBR books, and have been so crazy busy with my work that I am way too far behind on my reading.

 

What is currently in your TBR pile?

NG: Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea by April Genevieve Tucholke, The False Prince by Jennifer A. Nielsen, Everbound by Brodi Ashton, Finding It by Cora Cormack, Lady Outlaw by Stacy Henry, Pivot Point by Kasee West, Catch by Michelle Davidson Argyle

 

Giveaway:

 

Nichole is offering a grand prize pack that includes a print copy of DESCENDANT, a signed poster and bookmark, a wrist band, DESCENDANT lip balm, and a healing crystal AND a $20 Amazon gift card. Then Nichole is also giving away another 1st edition print copy of DESCENDANT and three e-book copies (which will be the new version with the bonus material).

 

Once we pass 100 entries, Nichole will add another $20 gift card to the giveaway list, and after 50 more, another one, and so on for every 50 entries thereafter.

 

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