Thursday, August 29, 2013

My Haunting Love Blog Tour


I am so pleased and honored to be the one to premiere the My Haunting Love Tour on my blog! Jamie Wilsoncroft, a talented Write More Publications author, released her debut YA (young adult) novel, My Haunting Love recently! Please read on to find out more about this haunting tale of young love…

JHappy ReadingJ

 

Summary

Calista Rose is a sixteen year old deaf girl who senses something strange in her new home. Soon she meets a ghost named John and becomes smitten with his good looks and charming ways. Little does she know that falling in love with him brings out the true evil that lingers in her home.

 
John is holding a terrible family secret. His life was ended at the hands of his vengeful stepmother, the same woman who inflicted pain on his entire family. When Calista moves into his ancestral home she awakens something in him he never could have imagined. A chance at the love he never got to have.

 
But falling in love with Calista is anything but easy. Their love awakens not only John, but the evil lurking inside the house.

 
In her debut YA novel Jamie Sue Wilsoncroft takes us on an adventure of first love, repentance, and that all important quest to belong.

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My Haunting Love Review: In this YA (young adult) novel, we meet Calista, who is not your traditional heroine. For the most part, she is your normal average moody sixteen year old, except she’s deaf and she can see ghosts. In this thrilling tale, we meet a lovable ghost, John, with a tragic past, and before you know it, Calista is swept up in the mayhem and mystery of John’s past.  Just when you think you have it figured out, Wilsoncroft throws a curveball and it becomes even more sinister than originally anticipated! It’s hard not to get swept up in this novel.

Final Thought: I hope there is more YA on Wilsoncroft’s writing list!

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Excerpt:

My legs shook as I stared up at him. This whole thing was surreal. I wanted to reach out and touch him, but my hands were glued to the side. He was beautiful, more beautiful than any human I had ever seen. I couldn’t hear him, but I could see he was laughing under his breath as his shoulders shook up and down. My mouth dropped in awe as he slowly raised his hands and began to sign.

     “You aren’t scared are you?” He asked moving his hands gently. I realized I hadn’t breathed since the moment I felt the tap on my shoulder.

 “No,” I signed, slowly raising my hands. My legs shook as I stood not two inched from him….a ghost.

  He tilted his head back and laughed. “Can I help you paint?” He signed without hesitation.

    Flabbergasted, I blinked a few times. “Uh… yeah… sure if you want to,” I replied, staring at him in disbelief. His shoulders shook again as he laughed, enjoying my reaction. John had warned me ahead of time that he was going to show himself to me, but I wasn’t expecting this. It wasn’t because he was so beautiful and handsome, but because he was so human-like. Part of me was waiting for something scary or gory to face me, but he totally blew me away. This was nothing like any of those ghost movies or books I had read.

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Jamie Sue Wilsoncroft lives in Pennsylvania with her hubby, two children and 3 dogs. She is a professional dog groomer by day and a writer by night. Writing romance novels is her specialty. While this is her first YA novel, Jamie is the author of several other contemporary and NA romance books. You can find her on Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

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Follow along with the rest of the stops on the My Haunted Fall blog tour:

A Writer’s Perspective~~ August 30th

Write From The Heart~~~ August 31st


Lust, Love, and Ghosts ~~~ September 3rd

My Adventures in Being Me~~~ September 5th

Confessions of a Bookaholic ~~~~ September 9th

I Love Books~~~~ September 10th

Tiffany’s Book Hangover~~~ September 11th

Saph’s Book Blog~~~ September 14th

A Writer’s Boost~~~~  September 15th

 

 

Be sure to register for prizes on Rafflecopter!


 
Get your copy of My Haunting Love  Today!






Thursday, August 8, 2013

The Fault In Our Stars



Sometimes we are lucky enough to be a part of something that moves us in a way we can’t explain. I’m lucky, I’ve experienced this sort of dramatic movement several times in my lifetime (and it’s not always good but usually very necessary). Yesterday was my most recent experience, well more like the last few days.

I’ve recently finished reading The Fault In Our Stars by John Green, and yes, it has changed me…I have a long list of books that have done this, but none quite so thoroughly as Fault, and certainly not recently. How has it changed me exactly? I’m not entirely sure yet, as I’m still muddling through the emptiness and void of finishing this book.  But here are a few things I know about my experience with this story.

First, John Green is talented…insanely so! As a writer, I am puke green with envy at what this man can do with the written word. The way he brings the characters, the setting, the seriousness, the humor, the unfairness, the love, and the joy to life on these pages is beyond remarkable. The words dance on the pages and the pictures flash like neon signs in the mind. It’s almost a seductive process (well, for this nerd girl it is).

Second, these characters, Hazel Grace and Augustus Waters, are the ultimate star crossed lovers, but they never let the unfairness of their situation take away from the special sweetness of their time together. And the witty, dark, jaded, sarcastic repartee between the two is literary brilliance! Then you add in Isaac, the supporting character both Hazel and Augusts need in different ways, to complete the tri-fecta of great characters.

Third, the story is so fucking sad! Right away, you know reading about teenagers with cancer isn’t going to end with unicorns and rainbows. And quite frankly, I’m not usually one for emotional books/movies, but after a few recommendations and a severe curiosity, I felt compelled to experience this for myself. I knew it was going to have some sad parts, but I was in no way prepared for in the amount emotion in the book or the flood of tears. I’m not talking a lone tear escaped or there was a slight lump in the throat. I’m talking full on wailing with hysteric snotty sobs…so gross….yet sooooo cathartic! But that’s not all; I in no way expected to be in mid-snotty-sob, only to burst out laughing. In fact, I’ve never laughed and cried so hard…at the same time…for such a long period of time! I didn’t even know it was physically or emotionally possible. (BTW, I still have a hard time even talking about this book without the eyes welling up and a lump forming in the throat…it’s a side effect of an amazing and intense book).

Fourth, now what? I don’t know; that’s the weird part about the whole thing! I’ve NEVER had a book hangover this bad. Of course, I’m reevaluating almost every life choice I’ve ever made. Reading about cancer can do that to a person, especially when the protagonists are teenagers and half my age. I’m supposed to be working on my own novel right now, but I can’t seem to focus and think about much else. So what can I do besides wallow???

Stay busy. I will continue to write no matter how bad my fingers trip over each other or how many times I get lost in my own thoughts while staring out the window. Of course, now I want my words to dance across the pages, but sadly I just don’t have anywhere near Green’s finesse!  I’ve also turned to old faithful George R.R. Martin (A Feast for Crows) and newly discovered Veronica Roth (Divergent) to help me lose myself in different fictional works.

And if it hasn’t been completely obvious before now, I will spell it out: I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK! GET IT NOW!

 

 

Sunday, August 4, 2013

All In Blog Tour


Hello! Welcome to the second stop on the All In Blog Tour! As a resident of Las Vegas and a fan of Molly Bryant’s work, I just had to check out this book. First off, I flew through this book in a matter of hours. Second, this is NOT one for the kiddies (18+). It’s loaded with adult themes and mature content. Lastly, it has Vice Jackson…hard NOT to crush on the tatted badass with a heart of gold…even if he is a fictional character. Check out the latest post, complete with some background, a sneak peak, a few words from the author and the chance to win an Amazon gift card!


All In is the fourth book for the talented and versatile Molly Bryant. This book takes us to the streets of Las Vegas and into the life of tattoo artist, and professional poker player, Vice Jackson. Vice’s unconventional upbringing with his alcoholic mom has spurred him to better himself throughout his life.  At a time when Vice seems to have all his cards lined up, there is one man intent on bringing him down. Along with the two people he loves most.
 
All In is a no holds barred thrill ride through the streets of Vegas. Can Vice match wits with the man intent on bringing him down? Or will he lay all his cards on the table for one last ill fated round? Here’s a sneak peek:
 

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The best thing that came from my childhood is I met my best friend Skip at the age of eighteen. Skip had seen me standing out front of the corner store in my dirty ripped jeans, Misfits T-shirt, and holey Chuck Taylor’s from endless nights of pounding the Vegas concrete in search of a sale. He than climbed out of his sleek, black 67’ Chevelle and stared at me for a moment from over his Wayfarer sunglasses. I took in his tatted arms and his James Dean like attire. I had no idea how the hell he knew I was selling, he knew though. Skip knew as if I was holding a sign above my head stating that I had a pound of grass in my back pocket.

 
He shook his head and said, “There is a hell of a lot easier ways to make ends meet.”

 
I literally laughed in his face. Not that he had to twist my nuts or anything, I went with him anyway. At that time in my life what did I have to loose. Absolutely nothing, besides the five miles it would take me to walk back to the corner store.”

 
“All In.” I slid the fifty -six grand in Bellagio chips across the green felt.

 
“Bullshit.” Chase looked up with his blue eyes narrowed at me. His pretty boy, blonde hair disheveled from the stress that was upon him. The stress I was causing upon him. I smiled.

 
Chase Miller is a big time roller and drug dealer here in Vegas. He also owns the Nostalgia Casino, which is known for its, tattooed, pin-up style woman. Nostalgia holds the hottest, big money poker tourneys. I had never been there before as I try to steer clear from the drug scene, it always seemed to cause me trouble.

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A few words from the author... 
Hey guys, this is Molly Bryant the author of All In, and I am taking over this blog today.  Just wanted to send you all a quick hello and thanks for stopping by and taking a look at All In. It’s really one of my favorite books I‘ve written so far.

 
When I started this book I just had a vision of a tattooed hero who liked to dress classy, and was running poker tables in Vegas. I had to run with it. Vice is one of my favorite characters to date. He doesn’t want you to feel sorry for him, and he certainly doesn’t want to run and hide from his past. He embraces it and uses it to propel him forward.  Giving him the spunky and energetic Harlow Jean as a love interest was just a bonus. 

 
Do I live the Vegas life style? No. But that’s one of the great things we get to do as writers. We get to immerse ourselves in a world we never would in real life. And frankly, it’s a lot of fun. Who hasn’t dreamed of running off to Vegas and getting tattoos, living it up playing poker?  I know.  But hey, it’s fun to read about.

 
So I hope you enjoy All In. It’s a wild ride, but one you will be glad you took a chance on. Thanks for stopping by all these great blogs. And I look forward to visiting with everyone again.

 

***Be sure to visit all the blogs on the tour and be entered in the Rafflecopter drawing for a $25.00 Amazon gift card. You can find Molly Bryant on Amazon and Goodreads.  Molly Bryant lives in Boise, Idaho, with her husband and two children. She has come to embrace her talents and feel passionate about her ability to fantasize and daydream. The more she writes around her fantasies, bringing them to life, the more her vivid imagination makes sense.

 


 

August 1st The Simple Life http://www.pwrspot.blogspot.com/

August 5th A Writer’s Perspective http://stephaniegreenhalgh.blogspot.com/

August 15th I Read Indie http://twimom101bookblog.blogspot.com/

Thursday, August 1, 2013

Latest Reads: July 2013 (Slacker Edition)


Embarrassment really doesn’t even to begin to describe how I feel about this blog (hence the title). I had a HUGE lofty reading goal for the summer, and what do you know…I haven’t made a dent. I mean, I haven’t even finished the books I was supposed to finish for my July Reads edition...AND it’s NOT July anymore. Holy Moly...what a slacker!

 Here’s the skinny: I’ve been busy!  When the whirlwind of life picks up, something must give, and in this particular month, my bookshelf remained cluttered and untouched (with good reason, of course)!  Personally, I’m pleased to say I got a little traveling in and spent some killer time with the FAM and friends back in the Midwest. And I’ve also started training for a marathon…alright a half of a half of a marathon, but it’s a start.

 Creatively, my publisher and I finalized the cover to my novel and started the editing process, so the debut of The Twistedly True Tale of Ruby Hood is drawing closer! I’ve also been lucky enough to log A LOT of writing time. The first part of July was spent pouring over If the Silver Slipper Fits which is co-authored with the talented Jennifer Paquette. Slippers is comprised of two short stories centering around a pair of perfect ‘silver slippers’ with a bit of an Oz undertone. We hope to have it self-published via Kindle and Creatspace soon.  AND lastly, I’m about halfway into a new piece…my first regular fictional piece (nothing paranormal/fantasy), which I’m thinking of publishing under a pen name. Regardless, this new story, Uninvited, has been a tremendous amount of fun. So far I have a sexy FBI agent, a ‘girl next door’ type, a smug ex husband, a crazed crackhead, a kidnapping and a steamy love affair all swirled together in the quaint Midwestern town of River Grove!  It imperative I get the first draft out of my head and into the computer before the 13-14 school year starts, otherwise I fear the momentum will fade into oblivion.

So without further adieu, please enjoy the reviews of two of the books I did get finished: My Haunting Love by J.S. Wilsoncroft and A Wrinkle in Time by Madeline L’Engle. I hope to have a better edition next month!
 
My Haunting Love: In this YA (young adult) novel, we meet Calista, who is not your traditional heroine. For the most part, she is your normal average moody sixteen year old, except she’s deaf and she can see ghosts. In this thrilling tale, we meet a lovable ghost, John, with a tragic past, and before you know it, Calista is swept up in the mayhem and mystery of John’s past.  Just when you think you have it figured out, Wilsoncroft throws a curveball and it becomes even more sinister than originally anticipated! It’s hard not to get swept up in this novel.
Final Thought: I hope there is more YA on Wilsoncroft’s writing list!
 
A Wrinkle in Time: It’s easy to see why this is a classic! I read it years ago, and started rereading with some of my fourth graders this past year. As one of the very first science fiction books, it was a joy to get lost in this early vision of time travel (originally published back in 1962). The story start with a ‘normal’ family, except this family is more extraordinary than ‘normal’.  The five year is a brilliant savant and some of the members can travel through time and space to new and different lands. In an attempt to rescue their father, three children venture through the portals of time and space. Along the way, they meet an intense and sinister being, and find friendship, inspiration and love with some more lovable creatures and characters. My favorite part was watching the main character, Meg, grow as a character and to realize her own self-worth! L’Engle weaves one heck of a tale.
Final Thought: GREAT reread of one of the classics!