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Holiday HeatÌýbyÌýNoelle Adams

(Love for the Holidays)

Publication date: November 6th 2013
Genres:ÌýContemporary,ÌýNew Adult

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Synopsis

Available exclusively in Love for the Holidays (five book Christmas bundle)

After being hit with heartbreaking tragedy, Carrie has thrown herself into a hot, secret relationship with Matt. With Christmas approaching, she realizes she might wantÌýeven more from her sexy, damaged artist, but the boundaries around their relationship make anything deeper than sex impossible.

Matt was the rising star of the art world, but he hasn’t painted since a tragic accident two years ago. His passion for Carrie finally inspires him, but first he mustÌýconvince her that the heat between them is far more than just sex.

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“What is it?� Matt asked. His vivid eyes were knowing and astute. Sometimes she wondered how far inside her soul they could see.

“N´Ç³Ù³ó¾±²Ô²µ.â€�

“Feeling guilty about your sleazy affair?� he asked with light irony.

His question was perceptive—just shy of the truth—and it left her feeling a little uneasy. To hide her response, she raised her eyebrows. “I thought you said ‘affair� wasn’t the appropriate word.�

He chuckled and reached over to skim his fingers along her back again, lingering on the spot he’d admired before—the deep curve and dip just above her bottom.

She watched him in silence. He was looking at her body with an expression that was both amused and strangely hungry. His coloring had evened out, although he was still wet with perspiration. Her eyes dipped from his face to his chest, and she couldn’t help but notice the lines of faint scars there. There were a lot of them. And more on his arms. Plus the two deep ones on the side of his head.

He’d barely survived that car accident two years ago.

Matt’s body wasn’t perfect—wasn’t flawless and invulnerable. His muscle development was lean, masculine, and efficient, but he wasn’t a body-builder. And he was scarred. Scarred so deeply. Scarred in so many ways.

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Holiday Heat is available exclusively in Love for the Holidays, a five book Christmas bundle that will be on sale for just $.99 from December 11 throughÌýDecember 24!

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Book Trailer

´Ú´Ç°ùÌýLove for the Holidays~ ~

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Noelle Adams

Noelle handwrote her first romance novel in a spiral-bound notebook when she was twelve, and she hasn’t stopped writing since. She has lived in eight different statesÌýand currently resides in Virginia, where she teaches English, reads any book she can get her hands on, and offers tribute to a very spoiled cocker spaniel.

She loves travel, art, history, and ice cream. After spending far too many years of her life in graduate school, she has decided to reorient her priorities and focus onÌýwriting contemporary romances.

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‘Erasing: Shadows� by K.D. Rose

Erasing: Shadows #1

Publication date: December 18th, 2013

Genres: ,

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SYNOPSIS

What if to save the ones you love, you had to unlock the key to a different reality?

Generations of mystery smash together when a seemingly traditional family must shatter their illusions of normality to confront themselves and their friends, leaving no possibility unexplored in order to rescue- well, who exactly? Watch the Ross family, the High Five Gang, and multiple generations dig into an innovative explosion of imagination where they must confront numerous realities, real-world danger, and worst of all—their own teenage hormones!

In a place where nothing is as it seems and shocks are around every corner, even the people you thought you knew may find themselves strangers in this moving and provocative reality-bender. With breathless pacing and psychological intrigue, Erasing: Shadows and the High Five Gang will keep you guessing until the very end.

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‘Erasing: Shadows� by K.D. Rose.

I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is going to be a slightly mixed review, so before I get to the nitty gritty I’m going to just make clear that this author has obvious talent, and is a natural storyteller and any criticisms I make during this review are only made in the hope to give constructive advice to the author, which may help improve the novel if it were to be revised.

The author created an engaging, intriguing and clever storyline. The way that she used the idea of astral travel and created her own world with it is just one example of her strengths as a writer. However I feel that, like myself, other readers may have trouble falling into the story as there was little if any detailed explanations of what exactly astral travel is. I feel that in the author’s reminder to ‘show and not tell� a lot of the detail that explains the storyline was left out before we were thrown into the action. In my own opinion a short prologue that gave a brief insight into the history of Michael and Mira’s travels, and what exactly astral travel means, would have really helped me get to grips with the concept of this book a lot quicker. As it is, having finished the novel I still don’t think I fully understand exactly what astral travel means, or why they needed to make certain astral trips to find their missing son.

Having these missing elements had me struggling to make it through the first half of the novel as we were introduced to more characters who have astrally travelled in the past with the Ross� before I really understood the concept of the story. I understood Michael and Mira’s desire to find their son, but I still don’t understand how them travelling to the astral plane and meeting at a certain meeting point would help them recover their son. With a little more explanation as to the ins-and-outs of astral travel at the begining of the story I feel this would have made me better understand the story.

This being said, I am so glad that I made it past the 50% mark of the story as I really engaged with the later storyline and began to connect to the characters in ways that I found difficult earlier when struggling with concepts and terminology. I adored Stu’s character and am so excited to see if a relationship develops between him and Madison in future books in the series. In the day since finishing this book, I have been smiling when I think about the few, but meaningful, interactions that they shared in this book.

I am also excited to see more of Mira’s character in the real world. Despite her being a main character throughout the book, I look forward to seeing the mother Mira rather than the child Mira. Her character was brilliantly portrayed throughout this story and the author’s portrayal of a young Mira wandering the astral plane with a mysterious young friend was so intriguing and suspenseful to read as I saw the emotional progression of Mira through her childhood and waited in anticipation for her reunion with her husband and the ‘High Five Gang�.

Overall this was a unique, exciting and intriguing story which had me on tenterhooks as I reached the later stages of the novel. It was clever, imaginative and showed the true skill of the author. The author has a wonderful prose-like writing style that is a real pleasure to read. My only suggestions for improvement would be to give more explanation or detail regarding the astral travel aspects of the novel as I spent most of the novel feeling as though I only knew half of the story and was just trying to keep up with the characters.

3.5 stars, and an enjoyable read.

ARC provided through Xpresso Book Tours

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~ Purchase Links will be posted after publication on the 18th December 2013 ~

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Presents

ÌýUnwanted Stars

(Love of My Life #4)

By Melissa Brown

RELEASE DATE: February 3rd

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SYNOPSIS

It’s funny how the tiniest of things can change your life� an invitation, a simple kiss goodnight, a matchbook�

Auden Kelly is in need of a change.

She’s trading in her nine-to-five sales job for the adventure of a lifetime: a one year contract with a European tour company.

For one full year, Auden will get paid to see the world. What could be better? Her brother gives her a journal, instructing her to document all of her adventures as she travels from country to country. And that’s exactly what she does.

When a mysterious stranger enters her life, however, everything changes: her expectations, her priorities and her view of the world. And nothing for Auden will ever be the same.

Note: Although these books are part of a series, they do not need to be read in order

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I was distracted from my daydreaming by the most intense eyes I’ve ever seen. The were blue, the brightest blue. Although one of them had a patch of brown next to the pupil. Tan skin, blue eyes, dark brown hair. And a stare that made me uncomfortable.

I’d noticed him before. The first day of the tour, in fact. He reminded me of Henry Cavill. Broad shoulders, tight ass, bulging muscular arms and a gorgeous face. When he smiled, he had a boyish look about him, but when his lips were pressed tight, like when he was listening to Anabelle describe the sights, he looked like an alpha male. A hot, dangerous alpha male. I’d purposely avoided him because I didn’t want to give Anabelle any ammunition towards getting me fired. And now that I knew Tom had blabbed, I felt even more determined to keep my attraction in tact. I’d purposely stayed away. I hadn’t even heard his voice yet. Was he American? Canadian? British?

But, now he was staring and I couldn’t avoid him any longer.

“Auden, right?� he asked, offering me a fresh blueberry from a ziploc bag. I narrowed my eyes at him and his choice of snack. Here we were, in Amsterdam. He could buy a brownie laced with pot or a million different kinds of sweets. But, he was munching on blueberries.

“Thanks,� I said, grabbing a couple berries from the bag and popping them into my mouth. They were juicy and sweet. Almost intoxicating.

Stop it, Auden.

“Have you worked here long? I’ve never seen you before.� It was then that I really heard his accent. British. Delicious.

“I’m new. But, why would you have seen me before?� I tilted my head in confusion.

“My mates and I like to take trips every few months. Blow off steam.� He said, popping another berry into his mouth. His lips were a gorgeous shade of peach. “And Jordan’s the best.�

“I see.� I said, pressing my lips together, not knowing what else to say. It wasn’t often that a man could get me tongue tied. But, it was happening. All I could focus on was the dimple on his right cheek when he smiled. And how his left eye had a small patch of brown within the blue.

“Unique name.�

“Huh?� He snapped me out of my daze. “Uh, yeah. I guess.�

“Don’t hear it very often.� He said.

It was then that I realized I didn’t know his. And it was my job to know it. How was I going to get out of this one?

“Campbell,� he said,“Campbell Hutchins.�

“Like the soup?� I said. As soon as the words left my mouth, I knew they were unprofessional. But, he simply laughed.

“Wow, never heard that before.� He said, running his fingers through his silky brown hair, “My friends call me Hutch.�

“Seriously?� I asked, taken aback.

“What do you mean?� He looked confused.

“As in Starsky & Hutch?� I pressed.

“You are way too young to know that reference.� He said, shaking his head from side to side.

“They made a movie reboot when I was in high school. Ben Stiller and Owen Wilson…remember?�

“Right.� He said with a lopsided grin. He had such a boyish charm to his smile, it was unnerving.

“Besides, you don’t seem old enough to know the original show either. That was the seventies.� I narrowed my eyes at him. He could be in his early thirties, but there was no way he was old enough to have watched that show when it was on the air.

“Saw it in reruns.� He said with a shrug.

“Nice to meet you, Starsky.� I said with a smirk. He shook his head at me and extended his hand like the English gentleman that he was. I tried my best not to feel the electrical current coursing through every nerve in my body. This was a brand new sensation. Which is saying a lot considering my boy-crazy history. This was unique and terrifying and wonderfully exciting. “Sorry, I mean Hutch of course. So, Campbell…where’d your parents think of that one?�

“Do you always interrogate tour members about their names?� he asked with a chuckle. My cheeks turned pink when I realized I usually didn’t give a crap about people’s names or the origin of said names. But, he was different. It was like I needed to know anything I could learn about this handsome stranger.

“Just answer the question,� I said, flirting with a tilt of my head and arms crossed across my chest.

For a second, everything stopped as Campbell looked down at my feet. He smirked as his eyes climbed up my calf and to my thighs. They lingered there for just a second before continuing up to my torso, my chest and finally my face. When our eyes met, he grinned and I suddenly felt as naked as the day I was born.

“Tradition.� He answered. When I looked confused (because obviously I’d forgotten the question since he’d studied every inch of my body as if he wanted to devour me). “I’m named after my great grandfather. He was kind of a hero in my town.�

“Where are you from?�

“J±ð°ù²õ±ð²â.â€�

What?

“Um, no. Try again.�

“What do you mean?� he asked with a chuckle.

“I’m from the states, pal. I know when someone’s from Joi-zee and when they’re not. And you clearly are not. Where are you really from?�

He threw his beautiful head back in laughter, that dimple once again making a grand entrance on his cheek. Something twitched in my belly—desire, I think. Until I realized he was laughing at me.

“And you call yourself a tour guide? The island of Jersey…one of the Channel Islands…� His voice trailed off as he leaned his forehead in my direction. If he could read my mind, this is what it would say:

I.

Am.

A.

Dumbass.

You know those moments when you really just want to crawl in a hole and forget your poor excuse for a life? Yeah, this was one of those moments. I could never get that moment back. I could never convince this gorgeous man that I was not only aware of the Channel Islands, but had probably been to one or two of them as a child. I just wanted to slink back to the tour bus and hide behind the seats. So not like me. I didn’t let men get under my skin. Hell, I got under their skin. Who was this guy?

“Uh–Of course,� I said, stumbling on my words. “I was just kidding.�

Just then, I was saved by another member of the tour. A mousy brain haired American girl named Becca.

“Excuse me, Auden. Anabelle needs you.�

Thank God.

“I’d better, um…go,� I said.

“Until we meet again,� he said with a chuckle.

Not if I can help it. The next three weeks would be agony if I had to dodge that gorgeous man every time our bus made a stop. Lord, beer me strength.

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Giveaway

Win a $25 Gift Card

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Bouquet Toss

(Love of My Life #1)

SYNOPSIS

Ever since Daphne Harper graduated from college, all of her friends have fallen in love, become engaged and walked down the aisle. Be it a blessing or a curse, Daphne (a hopeless romantic and perpetual single girl) catches the bouquet at every single wedding she attends.

Daphne’s love life is a mess. Her first love, Mayson, haunts her heart and keeps her from pursuing happiness with any man who comes along. As she struggles to move on from the one who got away, Daphne wonders if she will ever break her curse and find her happily ever after.

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Champagne Toast

(Love of My Life #2)

SYNOPSIS

Kate Armour and Evan Maxwell fell hard and fast for each other while attending college. Their once passionate and loving relationship ended when old scars eventually tore them apart. Two years after their breakup, they’re each struggling to piece together what went wrong in an attempt to move forward.

Kate, a no-nonsense bartender, must face her past while attempting to focus on her future.

Evan is stifled by his bitter heart, which threatens each and every relationship he attempts after walking away from Kate.

Will life offer them a second chance at love or are old patterns simply too hard to break?

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Picturing Perfect

(The Love of My Life #3)

SYNOPSIS

Hadley Foster has been through a lot in her twenty-two years: the death of her beloved father, her mother’s descent into mental illness, and the loss of her soulmate, Jason Kelly, from whom she walked away years ago.

Despite all this, Hadley has remained hopeful and optimistic about life. She has been with upstanding investment banker Tucker for six years, and the future looks bright—until a trip to Europe with her best friend brings a series of events no one could have foreseen. Suddenly the brilliant future she has envisioned for herself seems to shatter before her eyes. She is faced with a stark choice: move on again, or pick up the pieces.

Back home, nerdy but handsome Jason Kelly is now a successful writer who could have anything—and anyone—he wants. But deep down, he still misses his beloved “Haddie� and dreams of winning her back.

When destiny leads their paths to cross once more, Hadley and Jason must confront not only their painful past, but what the future may hold for them both.

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Melissa Brown

I have always been fascinated with books�-ever since I was a little girl sitting in front of my record player, following along with my huge 12×12 storybooks.

I love books—everything about them. I love reading them, being surrounded by them in bookstores and libraries, and most recently, writing some of my own.

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That One Summer by C.J. Duggan.

(Summer #3)

Publication date: December 17th 2013

Genres:ÌýContemporary,ÌýNew Adult,ÌýRomance

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SYNOPSIS

Loving Chris Henderson would be wrong. Diabolically disastrous. IÌýmean, what is there about him to love? He’s moody, bossy, brooding, aÌýcontrolÌýfreak, and that’s on a good day â€� but there was one achinglyÌýobvious fact that haunted my every thought, every minute of every day â€�

He sure could kiss.

As the countdown to the new millennium begins, there is one thingÌýeveryone agrees on: no one wants to be in Onslow for New Year’s Eve.

So that can only mean one thing: road trip!

No longer the mousey, invisible, shy girl from years ago, TammyÌýMaskala is finally making up for all those lost summers. A new year withÌýnewÌýfriends, which astoundingly includes the bossy boy behind the bar,ÌýChris Henderson.

She likes her new friends (at least most of them), so why does she secretly feel so out of place?

After chickening out on the trip, a last-minute change of heart seesÌýTammy racing to the Onslow Hotel, fearing she’s missed her chance for aÌýride.ÌýThe last thing she expected to meet was a less-than-happy OnslowÌýBoy leaning against his black panel van.

Now the countdown begins to reach the others at Point Shank beforeÌýthe party is over and the new year has begun. Alone in a car with onlyÌýtheÌýinfuriating Chris Henderson, Tammy can’t help but feel this is aÌýdisastrous start to what could have been a great adventure. But when theÌýawkwardÌýroad trip takes an unexpected turn, Tammy soon discovers thatÌýthe way her traitorous heart feels about Chris is the biggest disasterÌýof all.

Fogged up windows, moonlight swimming, bad karaoke and unearthedÌýsecrets; after this one summer nothing will ever be the same again.

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The Boys of Summer (Summer #1)

Book 1

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An Endless Summer (Summer #2)

Book 2

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That One Summer (Summer #3)

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Pre-order Links

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1. What is your writing process like, what comes first, characters or story?

Definitely the characters, they are first and foremost in my thoughts, they’re the ones that dictate how the story is to be told. Just when I think I have it mapped out one way to write the story a character will usually throw me for a loop and take me in a completely different direction. Although I am very organised in my office in my surroundings in the dead of night I write mainly by the seat of my pants with only a vague outline in my head on where I want to the story to go, that’s the bit I love about writing, the discovery.

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2. What sparked the idea for the series ?

It was something that has been churning in my mind since I was a little girl, even if it was something no more mapped out than a group of friends hanging lakeside over a summer. It was an idea that has manifested into an entire world and I felt that I owed it to that eleven-year-old little me to develop it into a story. I know I was eleven because I had found an old exercise book with the story plotted out in my child-like handwriting and I could seldom believe it was something that had been swimming

3. Are there any parallels that could be drawn from your life and the Summer Series?

I grew up in a small country town in Australia so I am well aware of what it’s like to have to make your own fun. Unfortunately our town wasn’t set on the banks of Lake Onslow but it was still a nice place to live. My first job was working as a barmaid at the local hotel and I remember the fear of my first shift and learning the ropes.

4 .If you had to pick your favorite scene from ‘An Endless Summer �?

There are so many scenes I love. Chris and Tammy are so dynamic together but without giving too much away there is a late night swimming session that was quite fun to write.

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5. Which two things do you think readers might not know about you ?

I am addicted to Pepsi Max and buying handbags, lots and lots of handbags.

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C.J. Duggan

C.J Duggan is an Australian author who lives with her husband in a rural border town of New South Wales, Australia.

‘That One Summer� is Book Three in her Mature Young Adult Romance Series ‘Summer�.

For more on C.J and ‘The Summer Seriesâ€�, visitÌý

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Positively MineÌýbyÌýChristine DuvalÌý
(Freshman Forty #1)

Published by:ÌýBloomsbury Spark
Publication date: December 19th, 2013
Genres:ÌýContemporary,ÌýNew Adult

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SYNOPSIS

It is four weeks into her freshman year of college, and Laurel’sÌýfirst test was unexpected. Discovering she’s pregnant isn’t exactly whatÌýshe hadÌýplanned for her first semester, and while she intends to tellÌýher emotionally-distant father, being away at school makes it all tooÌýeasy to hide.

An imperfect heroine plagued by bad choices and isolated during whatÌýshould be the best time of her life, readers are sure to identify withÌýLaurelÌýas she confronts teen pregnancy, in secret.

Note: This book was previously titled Freshman Forty before it was picked up by Bloomsbury. The author would love it if those who previously reviewed Freshman Forty would re-post their review under the new title and cover on your blitz post.

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Check out the ‘Positively Mine� Book Trailer

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Excerpt from Christine Duval’s Q&A with Goodread’s New Adult Book Club

Raquel wrote: “Hey Christine! I’m curious about where you got your inspiration for the idea behind Positively Mine? It was unlike any book I’ve read, in a refreshing way!�

Hi Raquel,
A couple years ago my dearest friend announced she was pregnant and at the same time my babysitter was going off to her freshman year of college. I don’t know why but I started thinking, wow, if you were newly pregnant and heading away to college, you really could hide it from people back home (I know I have a weird brain). I’ve had 2 kids, so I know how the weight comes on and realized Laurel could easily hide it through Thanksgiving and Christmas. Then I just let Laurel tell me her story.

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Caryn wrote: “Hi Christine, I really enjoyed Positively Mine. ÌýHow did you weave together elements of fiction with such a strong sense of place that was based on a specific area of upstate?â€�

Easy…I lived up in the Finger Lakes for 4 years. It is a beautiful place when the sun is shining but there are a ton of dark, grey, cold days. You live for the sunny ones but honestly, when I was there in college, my mom received more than her share of phone calls from me begging to come home just to see the sun. Ultimately, the good friends I made kept me planted but it is a long, hard winter (thus easy to hide behind a big coat).

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Holly wrote: “Hi Christine! Really enjoyed Positively Mine! What is your writing process? Do you find you write better at certain times of the day or do you run to the computer when inspired? Also, how did you connect with your publisher?�

Hi Holly,
I am the most undisciplined writer that ever lived! I have no process. I drive a lot in my car and let the story unfold in my head and then go back home and recreate it when I have time. Still, that usually backfires because at that point my characters have changed their minds and all of a sudden I am writing a completely different story. A prime example of this is in Positively Mine. I never meant for Sheryl to end up pregnant. It happened as shocking for me as it was for Laurel! Seriously, I was writing and all of sudden she just cleared the room and announced it. I had no plan of this, no outline. Regarding Bloomsbury, I saw on NA Alley � a blog I follow � that they were starting Bloomsbury Spark and I sent an inquiry to Meredith Rich and a few months later the rest is history!

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Beatriz wrote: “Hi Christine, I really enjoyed reading your book. Congratulations! Are you working on a sequel? If so when can we expect it by I would like to know how long did it take you to complete your book?�

Thanks so much Beatriz! I am working on the sequel and hopefully will have it complete this winter, after Positively Mine is released. I wrote the first draft two years ago during a NANOWRIMO competition (National Novel Writing Month), where you are challenged to write 50,000 words in 30 days. Then I put it away for December, picked it back up in January and had it complete to enter into the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Contest around the third week of that month. But it has evolved quite a bit since that version thanks to a bunch of beta readers and a really good critique group who demanded more of my characters and more from the plot.

ÌýI’d recommend doing NANOWRIMO if you are just starting out writing your first novel. It really is an inspiring month and around the clock, through Twitter, there is someone in the world working on their novel. I remember I used to do word sprints in the middle of the night with a girl in South Africa. We’d turn on the timer and race write for ten minutes then compare how many words we wrote. With NANOWRIMO, it is all about quantity, not quality. You push yourself to write as much as you can and amazingly by doing that, you let your guard down and really surprise yourself with what you come up with. Plus, it forces you to look at your novel every day so it is always with you, you are always thinking about your characters. And, there’s one right around the corner since it is an annual event. Best of luck with your project!

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Sherry wrote: “One of the things that struck me about your book is the very strong and distinct voice of Laurel. She feels very real. Is she based on anyone, or a group of people, you know?�

She really isn’t based on any one person or even a group of people. Some of the situations she finds herself in are based on real things. Not the pregnancy but the premature death of her mom, the places, the struggle to move on while her dad is building a new life with someone. I don’t think there is one person out there who hasn’t witnessed, whether first hand or via a good friend, someone who needs to accept a parent’s new husband or wife. And the gossipy doorman…yeah.

I think the choice to write the book in first person, present tense helped to strengthen Laurel’s voice. It isn’t an easy way to write because everything is happening to your character while you are writing it. I was very influenced by two books when I set out to create this story: Laurie Halse Anderson’s “Speak� and Julie Buxbaum’s “The Opposite of Love.� I loved how Laurie was able to keep Melinda quiet the whole year in a believable way when she had such a big secret to tell. And, I love the way Julie balances strong emotion and humor as her main character Emily is forced to face her fears.

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Prize (Open internationally):

�$50 gift card for Amazon

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Christine Duval

Christine Duval is an authorÌýand freelance writer who lives in New Jersey with her guitar-playingÌýhusband and two children. She is a member ofÌýthe Society of Children’sÌýBook Writers and Illustrators, New Jersey’s Women Who Write, and theÌýAuthors Guild. When not creating fictionalÌýcharacters, she writes for anÌýupscale real estate company and has overseen online content and socialÌýmedia for several well-known magazines.

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In Darkness We Must AbideÌýSeason 2ÌýbyÌýRhiannon FraterÌý
Publication date: December 16th 2013
Genres:ÌýAdult,ÌýHorror,ÌýParanormal

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SYNOPSIS

In Darkness We Must Abide is the epic saga of one young woman caught in the dangerous world of the creatures of the night.

Vanora is haunted by the night her faith in those she loved wasÌýshattered. After fleeing Houston, she takes refuge in Austin and createsÌýa normalÌýlife with her roommate Rhonda. Despite her newfound happiness,ÌýVanora is tormented by dreams and visions of an enigmatic and dangerousÌýalbino vampire.

When her world starts to fall apart and Armando comes back into herÌýlife to warn her that her brother is in danger, Vanora realizes that sheÌýcan’tÌýescape her destiny. Evil threatens her family, and she mustÌýventure into the darkness to save everyone she cares about.

As she seeks to uncover the truth about the terrifying albino vampireÌýand her purpose in his schemes, Vanora starts to realize that the manÌýsheÌýloves most may be her greatest enemy. Rhiannon Frater delivers aÌýchilling adventure once again with this multi-part epic serial with aÌýdynamicÌýcast, old school vampires, bloody action, a smoldering forbiddenÌýlove, and a terrifying villain set against the backdrop of a modern dayÌývampireÌýwar.

This book includes all five episodes of the second season of the serial.

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In Darkness We Must Abide Season 1 (Episodes #1-5)

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In Darkness We Must Abide Season 2 (Episodes #6-10)

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In Darkness We Must Abide

Season 2 Excerpt

By

Rhiannon Frater

Vanora forced her eyes to open, abandoning the nightmare for the real world. The dream still clung to her mind and body. Attempting to sit up, she found herself paralyzed. It felt as if the bands of the nightmare world were keeping her strapped to the mattress, reluctant to release her. It struck her that she could still sense the power of the vampire. Fearfully, her gaze searched the gloom filling the room as she became horrifically aware that the vampire was near.

The door to the bedroom stood ajar. She knew for certain she had closed it when she had gone to bed. Now the darkness beyond the cracked door held the promise of growing danger. When he surreptitiously entered her room, Vanora shuddered at the sight of the pale vampire. His tall, pale, masculine form hesitated as he perhaps realized she was awake. Vanora strove to force her limbs into action, but her body refused to obey. The vampire slunk further into her bedroom, his movements quick and sure, like any predator.

“Rhonda invited me in,� the increasingly familiar deep voice murmured. He glided through the shadows of her bedroom, the moonlight straining through her gauzy curtains illuminating his pale skin.

Vanora willed herself awake, yet the world remained unchanged. Pinned to her bed, she was vividly aware of the approaching vampire. The power emanating from the vampire surged around her. It was wicked and enticing all at once. Cold prickles flowed across her flesh, her skin burned by the icy touch of the vampire’s presence. Vanora lay trapped on her bed, unable to call out or move.

The vampire stopped at the edge of the mattress, staring down at her. She could see that he was bare chested, his long legs clad in black leather. White hair fell in waves over his shoulders. Kneeling on the bed with slow, seductive movements, his face drew terrifyingly near, the purple fire of his eyes bright in the darkness. The light of the moon glinted off the silvery strands of his goatee.

“You don’t yet know who I am, and that’s how it should be. I need you to wait for me. Wait for the time when we can be together. Yet, I cannot resist seeing you just this once.�

Vanora strained to speak, but her lips remained frozen. Only her eyes were blessed with movement. The vampire lowered his head, tilting it so that his face disappeared into the gloom. He was so close, she felt as if her heart would stop from fright. Yet, the darkness within her craved to hold him close to her trembling body. That realization terrified her even more than the vampire.

“You look so frightened. There’s no need to be,� he whispered. “I would never hurt you.�

One of his hands caressed her face gently. It was the strong hand of a warrior and it felt soothingly wintry against her fevered face. As his fingertips traced her lips, her terror began to dissolve.

What was happening to her?

The bliss sweeping through her limbs untethered her body. Raising her hand, Vanora caught the vampire by the wrist. Beneath her unsteady grip, she could feel his incredible strength. His long body settled over her like a cloak, trapping her beneath him. His face was so close to hers, his lips brushed lightly over her chin and mouth as he spoke.

“We belong together, Vanora.�

“No,� she protested, finding her voice. It sounded shrill.

He slid a hand through her hair affectionately. “I love your hair. It’s so long and white. Like mine.�

“Please, let me be,� Vanora gasped. She couldn’t abide the sensations his touch created within her. It was a betrayal of all she held to be true.

“Don’t be afraid, Vanora. My little white witch. My love.�

The vampire’s mouth captured hers in an ardent kiss.

A dark essence flowed out of the depth of her soul, filling her with desire. It screamed with triumph, free at last. Vanora felt the great wings of her power reach out to embrace the vampire. Everything within her cried out for him. She was complete in his arms. Whole at last. Not lost, but found.

Vanora lost herself in his kiss. His lips and tongue were so cold against the warmth of her mouth. The sharp tips of his canine teeth raked her tongue, but she didn’t care. He was hers and she was his. Tangling one hand in his hair, she wrapped her legs around him, relishing his weight between her thighs. Dragging her other hand down his back, she felt the muscles beneath his smooth white skin.

“You feel it,� the vampire whispered against her mouth.

“Yes,� Vanora panted.

Trapped within the web of their joined power, she invited the seductive touch of the vampire. His hand gripped her thigh, pulling her hard against the erection straining beneath the leather of his trousers. It was then that she felt something hard against her shoulder blade. It was cool metal. Distracted by the sensation, she tilted her face from the vampire. His mouth descended to her throat, lightly biting her, but not drawing blood. Through the haze of desire, she realized the bit of metal was her cross.

The wicked carnality she had felt at his kiss began to fade as Vanora concentrated on the discomfort of the cross pressing into her skin. It warmed, pulsating beneath her. Mentally shoving away the sinister force enveloping her emotions, she struggled to regain her sense of self. The cross became unbearably hot, slashing through the vampire’s seduction.

Vanora’s mind came sharply into focus as her body numbed to the vampire’s ardor. Their mingled auras no longer felt like salvation, but slavery. Her heart and soul cried out for Armando, and she felt sullied by the touch of the vampire.

“Wait,� she whispered, pressing him away.

The growl that emanated from the vampire was terrifying. His hands tightened possessively on her body.

“Help me,� she said, thinking rapidly. She took hold of the top of her pajamas.

The vampire chuckled, gripped the fabric and yanked the tank top over her head. As it came free, Vanora caught hold of the chain of her necklace, yanked the cross forward, grasped it in one hand, and shoved the silver pendant against his skin.

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The Creative Aspect and Business of Writing a Serial

Interview with Rhiannon Frater

Q:Ìý Why did you choose to release a book in this format?

A: I love episodic television when done right. Dexter, Breaking Bad, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, LOST, and Spartacus are just a few of the shows that have enthralled me with their story arcs, character development, and season long plots. I have always wanted to write in a similar format, but for the television in my reader’s mind.

I also love the old penny dreadful, or serial format from long ago. Fiction used to released in installments that could be weekly, bi-weekly, monthly, or quarterly. Readers anxiously looked forward to the next part of the story and the serials continued until they lost steam or ended. Varney the Vampire is a very famous serial that lasted for a very long time.

I absolutely love discussing my favorite shows with other people and getting into long discussions about episodes and anticipating the next one. I hope to inspire that same sort of fervor in my fans for this serial.

Q: Are you writing as we go along?

A: I have a very rough draft of In Darkness We Must Abide. It’s my first full-length original work. I wrote it years ago when I had no real idea about word count limitations, story structure, or had the life experience to address some of the deeper, more adult themes. When I found it buried in the depths of my hard drive and started to read it, I was struck at how episodic it felt. It reminded me a lot of Dark Shadows in that regard. I also realized how immense it was, how much it needed to be revised, and how I had fallen short on several points of characterization and plot. I saw an article about taking a full length manuscript and making it into a serial. That was my a-ha! moment. All the missteps of my youth made it immensely plausible to do a serial.

The story that is being revealed in the serial already exists, but is bare bones. But it’s a very, very rough draft. Therefore, every episode is completely revised.

The beauty of doing the serial is that I can revise the old stuff into a much more dynamic work. Since I don’t have to worry about a word count, I can delve deep into characters and plot lines. It’s incredibly liberating.

To give you an idea of how large this story is, the first complete season is 98,000 words long. Most novels come in between 70,000 and 90,000.

This is one big baby!

Q: Do you keep feedback from your readers into mind while you’re writing?

A: Absolutely! I’ve been listening to everything people have said about the serial. It’s been an overwhelmingly positive experience. Just as I hoped, people are talking about the serial and sharing their thoughts with me.

The fandom for Armando has definitely inspired me to expand upon his character and he has many more scenes than he did in the original. He still plays the same role, but the serial has enabled me to explore his character with a bit more depth.

Of course, sometimes one fan will say they hate something (for example: the inclusion of sexual content), while other fans will tell me how much they love it. One fan’s favorite episode may be another fan’s least. It’s just how it goes.

What I try very hard not to do is make filler episodes. Each episode is layering on top of the previous one to build to the major events later on.

Q: How do you feel about this type of format?

A: As a writer I find it to be a challenge, yet liberating. It creates a unique set of problems (such as the cost of publishing it), but it also allows me to give my fans something to read EVERY month. I love that. They don’t have to wait for six months or a year to read something new from me.

Q: Have you ever read a book in “installments�?

A: I have and I do! I love serials that are done well. I can always tell when someone just chopped up a book. It reads just like a book that was chopped up. There isn’t an episodic feel to it at all and usually it just ends abruptly with no sense of suspense. I drop out of those quickly. Other serials read like a favorite TV show and I eat those up.

Also, I read trilogies and series, which are often just one larger story distributed along multiple books. I find those a bit aggravating because I have to wait so long read the next installment, yet, I know a writer can only write so fast.

I have the wrist and finger pain to prove that.

Ìý

Q: Has the overall response been positive?

A: Overwhelmingly, so. It’s been so encouraging. I wrote As The World Dies as an online serial years and years ago and really missed the interaction with the fans. I love that constant feedback. I notice I’m much happier as a writer right now.

Q: Do you enjoy the process more than writing a traditional novel?

A: They are totally different beasts and serve totally different purposes in my creative mind. I can’t pick one over the other.

Q: Are there people who have issue with the cost?

A:Ìý I have only had it mentioned twice.

Some readers may think of the 20+ episodes that will make up the entirety of the In Darkness We Must Abide serial as one complete book, instead of realizing its actual length is the equivalent of 3 (possibly 4) complete novels. ÌýIn Darkness We Must Abide‘s shortest episode, the pilot, is over 10,000 words long. That’s about the size of 3 to 5 chapters in a regular Rhiannon Frater book. The complete first season is 98,000 words long, which is much longer than most full length novels. If someone buys all the episodes of the first season (.99 per episode plus the free first episode), it’s about the same price as the compilation of the season (3.99).

Because In Darkness We Must Abide is written in episodes that make up complete seasons, and not in a novel format, it doesn’t have actual chapters. In fact, when we compiled the first season for the paperback edition, we didn’t even Ìýattempt to chop it up into chapters. The flow of the story doesn’t work in the regular chapter format. Therefore, we kept the episodes intact within the paperback.

The serial demands the same behind the scenes work as a full-length novel. It needs a cover, editing, copyediting, and formatting. Just because the episodes are 15,000+ words long, doesn’t make it that much cheaper to produce. A serial is actually a quite expensive endeavor.

I’m writing the serial because 1) it’s fun 2) the fans love it.

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Enter the Giveaway below for the chance to win paperback copies of both Season 1 and 2 of In Darkness We Must Abide!

(Open to US and Canada)

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Rhiannon Frater

Rhiannon Frater is the award-winning author of over a dozen books, including theÌýAs the World DiesÌýzombie trilogy (Tor), as well as independent works such as The Last Bastion ofÌýthe Living (declared the #1 Zombie Release of 2012 by Explorations Fantasy Blog and the #1 Zombie Novel of the Decade by B&N Book Blog), and other horror novels. Her next novelÌýfor Tor,ÌýDead Spots, will be published in 2014.ÌýShe was born and raised a Texan and presently lives in Austin, Texas with her husband and furry children (a.k.a pets).ÌýÌýShe loves scary movies, sci-fi and horror shows, playing video games, cooking, dyeing her hair weird colors, and shopping for Betsey Johnson purses and shoes.

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~ Ìý~ ~ ~ Twitter ~ ~ ~

You can also contact Rhiannon by email:

[email protected]

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Letters To NowhereÌýSeries

by Julie Cross

Genres:ÌýContemporary,ÌýYoung Adult

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Letters to Nowhere (Letters to Nowhere #1)

SYNOPSIS

From the International Bestselling Author of theÌýTempestÌýSeriesâ€�

Set in the tough world of Elite Gymnastics�

I’veÌýgotten used to the dead parents face. I’ve gotten used to living withÌýmy gymnastics coach. I’ve even adjusted to sharing a bathroom with hisÌýway-too-hot son. Dealing with boys is not something that’s made it ontoÌýmy list of experiences as of yet. But here I am, doing it. And somethingÌýabout Jordan–being around him, talking to him, thinking aboutÌýhim–makes me feel like I can finally breathe again. That’s something IÌýhaven’t beenÌýable to do lately. He knows what it feels like to be meÌýright now. He knows what it’s like to wonder–what now? I think about itÌýconstantly. I needÌýanswers. I need to know how to get through this. InÌýthe gym, if you’re struggling, you train harder, you do drills andÌýconditioning. How do I workÌýhard at moving on? At being on my own? AndÌýwhat happens if I might be…maybe…probably falling for Jordan? I meanÌýwe live together now. ThatÌýcan’t happen, can it? But kissingÌýhim…well, let’s just say it’s not an easy activity to forget.

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Return to Sender (Letters to Knowhere #2)

SYNOPSIS

If only summer could last forever�

KarenÌýand Jordan might be out in the open with their relationship, but thatÌýdoesn’t make it any easier for them to face events looming in theÌýfuture.ÌýLike Jordan leaving for college halfway across the country. OrÌýKaren’s win at a big international gymnastics competition setting theÌýbar high for herÌýfuture and adding pressure like she’s never experiencedÌýbefore.

But when Nina Jones (aka-US Gymnastics Dictator), makesÌýplans for Karen and teammate Stevie to train at a gymnastics camp for aÌýmonth—theÌýsame camp where Jordan coaches—romantic summer interludesÌýreplace their fears of being apart. Both Jordan and Karen know that whenÌýfallÌýcomes, some very tough decisions will have to be made, but ´Ú´Ç°ùÌýnow, it’s stolen kisses, racing hearts, and whispered words.

Ìý

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Return to You (Letters to Knowhere #3)

SYNOPSIS

ReleasingÌýDecember 15th 2013

How many dreams can you chase at once?

EvenÌýwith bad boy, TJ, disrupting their morning workouts, Karen and Stevie’sÌýdaily battles with each other are sure to bring both of them closer toÌýaÌýnational title at next month’s championships. It’s the kind of feudÌýthat creates winning results.

Until a fall from the uneven barsÌýshakes Karen’s rock-solid confidence. Not only does she balk every timeÌýshe so much as attempts a routine,Ìýshe’s also facing all this withoutÌýmuch support from Jordan. After receiving some bad news, Jordan’sÌýreluctance to listen to reason causes KarenÌýso much frustration sheÌýbegins to avoid him, needing space to deal with her own issues. He needsÌýsomeone to force him to make the right choice,Ìýhe needs his dad toÌýintervene and Karen knows this, but is torn between her loyalty toÌýJordan and her concern for her coach’s son. Even thoughÌýboth paths leadÌýto the same person—Jordan—it feels like she’s choosing between twoÌýdifferent people.

And then there’s the growing tension between TJÌýand Stevie. They’re obviously on the verge of either ripping eachÌýother’s heads off or rippingÌýeach other’s clothes off. It’s hard ´Ú´Ç°ùÌýeither Jordan or Karen to tell where those two are headed. Tension isÌýbuilding from every possible outlet andÌýthere’s bound to be an explosionÌýof some kind in the very near future.

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Book 1

‘Letters to Knowhere� is currently on sale for $0.99

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Book 2

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Book 3

Release date: 15th December 2013.

~ Amazon UK ~ Amazon US ~

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5 Facts About Letters to Nowhere

1) Since I started writing the book, I’ve envisioned my main character, Karen, as a red-headed McKayla Maroney even though I tried my best not to picture her as anyone specific.

2) I’ve been around the world of competitive gymnastics for at least 15 years and therefore have depicted elite level gymnastics as true-to-life as possible in this book.

3) The romance in LtN is not your typical “insta-love� or “fall in love then break up� format. This will please some and disappoint others.

4) My main character, Karen, has just lost both her parents in a tragic car accident prior to the book’s opening however, I don’t consider this a typical book about death either because there are so many other elements intertwined and Karen is a fighter, she’s constantly driven by one goal or another. It’s about rising up after a fall.

5) LtN is truly the book of my heart because I wanted, for so long, to find a way to combine by two greatest passions � YA Literature and Gymnastics.

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Julie Cross

JulieÌýCross is the International Bestselling author of the Tempest series, aÌýyoung adult science fiction trilogy which includes Tempest, Vortex, andÌýthe final installment, Timestorm (St. Martin’s Press). She’s also theÌýauthor of Letters to Nowhere (8/13), a mature young adult romance set inÌýtheÌýworld of elite gymnastics, as well as several forthcoming youngÌýadult and new adult novels with publishers like Entangled, Sourcebooks,ÌýHarperCollins, and St. Martin’s Press/Thomas Dunne Books.

JulieÌýlives in Central Illinois with her husband and three children. She’s aÌýformer gymnast, longtime gymnastics fan, coach, and former GymnasticsÌýÌýProgram Director with the YMCA.ÌýShe’s a lover of books, devouringÌýseveral novels a week, especially in the young adult and new adultÌýgenres.ÌýOutside of her reading and writing credibility’s, Julie Cross isÌýa committed–but not talented–long distance runner, creator ofÌýimaginary beachÌývacations, Midwest bipolar weather survivor, expired CPRÌýcertification card holder, as well as a ponytail and gym shoe addict.ÌýYou can find herÌýonline via twitter, her personal website, email,Ìýfacebook, Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ, or co-moderating the YAwriters section of reddit.

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Do you have a favorite character from Letters to Nowhere? Why is he (or she) your favorite?

Karen, my main character, is my favorite to write mostly because I’ve wanted to write a book narrated from the point of view of an elite gymnast since my author journey first began. I absolutely love capturing that socially sheltered mindset and pairing it up with a level of maturity and discipline that most adults don’t have. That’s the essence of women’s elite gymnastics. Young girls carrying big loads of responsibility and self-awareness. They have it completely together, there’s always a plan for what’s next. With Karen, I gave her all of those qualities and then I pulled the rug out from under her by taking away her parents in a car accident before the book opens. Then: *Enter cute boy* whom she is forced to share a bathroom with. Who has a tragic past of his own. Who may be the only one that can help her heal.

Were you nervous when you decided to venture outside of your Sci-Fi series and write a contemporary novel? Did you have any reservations at first?

I wasn’t nervous to write the book, but I was super super nervous to tell people about it. Especially online to Tempest series fans. I honestly figured I’d finish the book so the characters would stop tormenting me inside my head, which I know it sounds a little schizophrenic, but it’s the truth and probably never publish it. And just hearing you say that it paid off means that it totally has. I’ve pleased at least one reader. Mission accomplished. Thanks so much for that

Gymnastics is a huge part of this novel and your website says that you were a former gymnastics coach. How excited were you to combine your passions for writing and gymnastics into one project?

It was like Disney World, Universal Studios and a house right on the beach all packaged into one trip that didn’t even require packing or travel time. I enjoyed every phase of creating this story so much, I felt guilty calling it my job.

There are some pretty heartbreaking scenes in the book. Do you get extremely attached to your characters? If so, how do you feel when you have to write a scene that is going to be particularly hard on them?

Normally, I struggle with getting all the tension I need in a first draft because it becomes so difficult to put characters I love through all this emotional trauma. Often I have to step away from the story for a while and then I raise the stakes in the next draft. But with Letters to Nowhere, I had no problem shoving the characters into flaming fire after fire because I knew that in order for Karen (and also Jordan and Coach Bentley) to properly grieve and begin to heal, there was only one way to get past the fire—run straight through it. And the whole time I was writing this book, I knew Karen was a bomb waiting to go off. I knew she’d need to have that moment of realization about her future and what losing her parents really meant. And I wanted to get her there so I could see that she was okay.

What was the hardest part of writing Letters to Nowhere?

Nothing was really hard to write, but I worked the hardest at making the gymnastics element “user friendly� in the sense that I wanted this to be a book for the widest audience possible while still showing a true portrayal of the sport.

What was your favorite part? ÌýÌýÌý

The evolution of “Jaren� hands down. The relationship between Karen and Jordan is built in a way that I hadn’t done before in novel. Not exactly. I rarely do the insta-love thing but what they have is so much deeper than romantic love. Not to spoil anything in the book or future books in this world, but I truly believe that Jordan and Karen will always have a tie that can’t be severed no matter where their paths lead them. They could never hate each other. Many people look back on their first love and the relationship and drama often seem silly. It won’t be like that for these two. Their relationship will always represent a hugely important part of their lives.

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Title: North Pole Reform School
Author: Jaimie Admans
Date of Publication: November 6, 2013

Genre: YA rom-com, fantasy

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SYNOPSIS

Mistletoe Bell hates Christmas. So would you if you had a name like hers. Her Christmas-mad parents make the festive season last all year, and with another Christmas looming, Mis doesn’t think she can take any more. After her carelessness causes an accident at school, it seems like things can’t get any worse.

Then she wakes up to find The Ghost of Christmases Ruined in her bedroom.

She is taken to the North Pole, to a reform school run by elves determined to make her love Christmas. Stuck in a misfit group of fellow Christmas-haters with a motley crew of the weird and even weirder, watched over by elves day and night, she doesn’t expect to meet cute and funny Luke, who is hiding a vulnerable side beneath his sarcastic exterior. She doesn’t expect to fall in love with him.

But all is not as it should be at the North Pole. A certain Mr Claus is making the elves� lives a misery, and pretty soon Mistletoe and Luke are doing more than just learning to like Christmas.

A YA romantic comedy in which Santa is the bad guy, teaching reindeer to fly is on the curriculum, and zombies have a fondness for Christmas music.

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Suitable for older teens and upwards due to bad language.

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‘North Pole Reform School� is also available in Paperback.

This would be the perfect gift to put under the tree for a book lover this Christmas!

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I’m still looking around for a weapon when two people walk in.

Two small people.

Two� elves?

No, they can’t be elves just because they’re small and dainty and wearing red and green outfits. And they have pointy ears. A little bit like Luke’s, actually.

“Good morning, everyone,� the female one says way too cheerfully. “What a lovely day. It’s so nice to meet you all. I am Elf Tinsel, and this is my husband, Elf Navidad.�

“Hello.� Elf Navidad waves enthusiastically. “Remember, there’s no point in closing the stable door if the horse is wearing spectacles.�

“Welcome to North Pole Reform School. Now, I’m sure you’re all wondering what’s going on here, and we have come to tell you. If you’ll just� wait…� She consults a clipboard in her arms. “There’s one missing, Navi. Have any of you seen another one?�

“Another one of what?� Luke asks.

“One of you,� Tinsel says. She counts us with a pen. “Yes, there are only four. There are supposed to be five. Have any of you seen the other one?�

We all shake our heads in bewilderment.

“Go and see if you can rouse him would you, Navi dear?�

Navidad walks over to one of the other doors and goes inside.

“Now, the rest of you, we’ve brought some clothes for you to wear, and we’ll need you to put them on before we can get started, and—�

Navidad comes back out. “Bit of a problem, Tinsel. He appears to think he’s dead.� He says it in what is supposed to be a whisper to his wife but we can all hear him.

“You know we can hear you, right?� Luke asks.

Navidad turns to him. “Then you won’t mind helping. Be a pal and go and convince the little boy in there that he isn’t dead.�

Luke shrugs. “Maybe he is dead. Maybe we all are.�

“You’re not dead,� Tinsel says. “None of you are dead. As I was trying to get to, this is the North Pole Reform School. You’re in Santa’s Village at the North Pole, and you’re all here to learn a very important lesson. But we can’t start without everyone being here.�

Joe lets out a laugh. “Yeah, right.�

Luke rolls his eyes.

“What, Elf Boy? Why’d you have ears like theirs? Why do you have elf ears? Something you want to tell us?� Joe questions Luke.

“No, okay?� Luke frantically tries to smooth his hair over his ears again. “No, I have nothing to tell anyone. Nothing.�

“I think you’re—� Joe starts.

“Please don’t fight,� Tinsel interrupts. “I will explain everything just as soon as I sort the fifth student out. All stay here, please.�

Tinsel walks over and goes into the room Navidad just came out of. We all go over to crowd around the door and look in. Even Duck Lady has got off the sofa and joined us.

The small room looks the same as the one I woke up in. A small window on one wall, a couple of feet of space between that and the bed. In the corner of this room is a boy, cowering on the floor, the sheet from the bed wrapped around himself and clutched to his chest. Tinsel is crouched in front of him, talking gently. We hear her telling him he is safe and nothing bad will happen to him.

He doesn’t look like he believes her.

“Let me help,� Duck Lady says and pushes herself into the room with the boy and the elf.

Even as I think it, I can’t believe I’m taking this seriously. Elves don’t exist. Santa and his village in the North Pole don’t exist. And yet here I am, watching an elf try to cajole a little boy into believing he isn’t dead.

Luke is squashed in the doorway next to me and I can’t help but look up at him. He really does have the same ears as Tinsel and Navidad. He must sense me looking because he glances down and winks at me. I can’t help but smile back.

Now Duck Lady is crouched in front of the boy too, and Tinsel seems to have taken a step back. Maybe Duck Lady has gone to tell him he’s being watched by ducks; no doubt that will make him feel better.

“Don’t crowd around, please.� Tinsel comes over and starts to herd Joe, Luke, and me out of the doorway. “Go and wait on the sofas—we’ll be out in a minute.�

She eventually pushes us back far enough that she can shut the door in our faces.

“Well, that was rude,� Joe says. “I was only trying to help.�

“No, you were all gawking,� Navidad says. “Not everyone copes as well as you apparently have. Never mind; if life gives you lemons, ask the fish for oranges instead.�

“Yeah, well not everyone is sane,� says Luke.

“So, be straight with us, little elf man.� Joe turns to Navidad. “What’s going on here? We in some kind of weird dream or mad scientist’s experiment or what?�

“Nothing like that,� he says. “We’ll explain everything when Tinsel gets back with the boy.�

“Okay, but where are we really?� I ask him. “I mean, I know we’re not in the North Pole, so where are we? Why have you two put so much effort into your elf costumes? We all know you’re not really elves, so why not just stick on a pair of pointy shoes and be done with it?�

“Wrong on both counts,� he says. “We are in the North Pole and we really are elves.�

“That’s impossible,� I say. “Elves don’t exist, and if we were in the North Pole then we would be dead by now. If the temperatures hadn’t killed us then the polar bears would have.�

“We’ll explain everything in a minute,� Navidad says.

“Hey, maybe you can tell me, little elf man,� Joe says to Navidad again, “what’s white and round?�

Luke and I groan simultaneously.

Navidad thinks it over. “A snowball.�

“Wrong,� Joe says happily. “A red cube.�

“That doesn’t make any sense.�

“Yeah, well not everyone is sane,� Luke repeats.

The door opens and Tinsel comes out, closely followed by Duck Lady and the dead boy.

She goes to stand next to Navidad again. “Now that we’re all here, the most important thing is to get dressed.�

“The most important thing is for you to tell us what the hell is going on here,� Luke says.

“All in good time,� she says. “Navi has arranged some clothes for you. These will be your outfits for the duration of your stay here. Please take them and go back to your rooms to change. Once you have your clothes on, come back out here and we’ll tell you everything.�

“Why not just tell us now?�

“It’s important for you to be dressed in your outfits first.�

“That makes no sense.�

“Not everything has to make sense at first glance,� Navidad says. “A picture is worth two camels on a roundabout.�

Luke rolls his eyes.

“Now, please come and take your outfits from Navi. The sooner you do so, the sooner we can answer all your questions.�

Duck Lady goes up to take her outfit and the little boy follows.

I glance at Luke and he smiles at me. “It can’t be any worse than thermal long johns, right?�

We go and get our outfits too, and I go back to my room to change.

Luke was wrong, though. It can be worse than thermal long johns, and it is. Much worse.

They’ve given me an elf outfit.

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‘North Pole Reform School� by Jaimie Admans ~ 5 Stars!

I always love it when a new book by Jaimie Admans is released. She is one of those authors that you just know will give you a fun story to escape into for a few hours, without the worry that the storytelling will not be up to scratch. ‘North Pole Reform School� was yet another one of her great laugh out loud stories with a spunky heroine, some hilarious secondary characters, and as always exemplary storytelling that just bring the story to life.

Mistletoe Bell’s hate for Christmas is warranted ( I mean parents naming their child is close to crossing the line to child abuse), so to follow her journey through the North Pole Reform School was great fun. The storyline was cleverly created as seeing the reason that the five Reform Pupils ruined Christmas for others makes you think more clearly about the two sides of Christmas. Some people love it, some people hate it.

I for one do like Christmas, but my Christmas spirit usually extends from Christmas Eve to Boxing Day so to my surprise I found myself siding with the Reformers on their stance of Christmas. Jaimie Admans is very clever in the way she portrays conflict for teenage characters as whenever I read her books I am immediately transported back to my own teenage years where I remember thinking how unfair teachers were when they wouldn’t listen to my side of the story. This is real teenage conflict, and I love how Jaimie always creates this so realistically in her books, especially in North Pole Reform School. Seeing the Elves treat the reformers as though they are completely to blame for ruining somebody else’s Christmas made me well up with adolescent feelings of unfairness, and really helped me connect to the characters in a way that I have found more difficult in stories where the teenage protagonists act years above their age.

I loved the atmosphere that Jaimie Admans created in this book. It was a unique view of the North Pole, and with the added threat of North Pole Zombies (To avoid spoiling I will just say ‘HILARIOUS�), the North Pole became a more fantastical place and further away from the characters normal world, almost as though they were on a different planet.

I laughed out loud so many times whilst reading this book and cringed with the characters as they were forced to endure the most festive of chores in order to be allowed to return home. The idea of having to eat Mince Pies and Candy Canes for every meal had me wrinkling my nose and craving a salad. Me craving Salad never happens, so this just does the author further credit for using her brilliant wit and storytelling in a way that had me craving healthy food!)

Saving Christmas was the main storyline that evolved in ‘North Pole Reform School� and it was great to see Mistletoe and Luke work together to save a celebration that they have always disliked. I really adored Luke as a character and loved how he was realistically portrayed as a teenage boy. He was annoyed at the world, felt good after doing something bad, but had a bigger heart than we as readers and the elves ever knew, in his deepest desire to keep his younger sister safe.

Overall this was a fantastic festive read which I would recommend to all. With Jaimie Admans wit and storytelling, this is one that will have you howling with laughter, groaning at the injustice of being forced to be cheerful at Christmas, and sitting on the edge of your seats in suspense to find out whether Christmas will be saved.

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Jaimie Admans

Jaimie is a 28-year-old English-sounding Welsh girl with an awkward-to-spell name. She lives in South Wales and enjoys writing, gardening, drinking tea and watching horror movies. She hates spiders and cheese & onion crisps. She has been writing for years but has never before plucked up the courage to tell people. North Pole Reform School is her fifth novel and she hopes you enjoy it. There are plenty more on the way!

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Entwine (Entwine #1)

by Rebecca Berto

Genre: New Adult, Romance, Contemporary

SYNOPSIS

Sarah Langham’s life was the epitome of normal until her dad slept with another woman when she was sixteen. It ripped her family apart.

Twenty-two-year-old Sarah has it together, though.

Waiting at the train station to go home from her first day of her first proper job out of university, she spots a man.

He is an enigma to her. She’s drawn to him, with his square jaw; buzz of hair; and his tall, solid frame, seen under the contours of his business suit. And he’s been looking at her, too. Fate pulls them together that night on a whirlwind date, exceeding anything Sarah’s experienced before. He’s even more into her than she’s into him. Finally, she wants to trust a guy for the first time since she was sixteen.

But then they discover something.

Something that meant they were never two strangers at a train station.

And it threatens to tear their future apart before it, really, ever begins.

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I was only a few paragraphs into Rebecca Berto’s ‘Pulling Me Under�, when I knew that this author was about to take me on an unforgettable journey. So as soon as ‘Entwine� was released, I downloaded it immediately and proceeded to devour it over the course of one night.

In Entwine, as always, Rebecca Berto has created some amazingly realistic characters that I find so easy to connect to. Sarah Langham’s introduction in this story gives us a clear indication of her, at first not overtly obvious, vulnerable nature through her internal dilemma of whether or not to make her attraction clear when she is confronted with the rather sexy stranger Malik on her train journey home. Her thoughts and actions immediately had me connecting with her as not a character, but a real person. Rebecca Berto set the scene perfectly, giving a sense of what the train commute home is like and this really had me invested in the characters and story due to the realism she created within them. One scene that really sticks in my mind was where Sarah agrees to spend the evening with Malik in the nearby shopping centre, but immediately begins to worry about going off with him. This was brilliant as it reminds readers that a nice hot fast-paced romance in a book is all well and good, but in reality going off with a male stranger can have dangerous consequences.

I loved the storyline in ‘Entwine�. I’m a bit of a sucker for a bit of an age gap between my hero and heroine, possibly because I like the idea that older men have more life experience whilst younger women can bring a fresh sense of fun to a relationship with an older guy. The relationship that developed between Malik and Sarah was beautiful, and I loved the instant connection they had. Something about them meeting on a train had the romantic in me squealing (I blame Harry Potter for this obsession I have with trains), and I really enjoyed the banter they shared in the not-so-pleasant predicament of being delayed on a train, which brightened the moment for them.

I really admire Rebecca Berto for the ease with which she pulls off tricky subjects in her books. This book dips into a few different issues showing the effects of alcoholism, abandonment, adultery and how these things don’t just affect the relationship between a couple, but also the relationships that their children will form based on what they have experienced from their parents. Sarah’s vulnerability and difficulty feeling content in her adult relationships gave a clear indication of what having a cheating parent can cause, especially when that parent becomes a less permanent feature in their life.

The author’s writing style is simply wonderful. ‘Entwine� has a perfect blend of prose-like and matter-of-fact language which I absolutely adored. Something I find saddening with a lot of contemporary fiction today is that good old fashioned ‘showing and not telling� is often ignored in favour of having the reader get to the nitty gritty drama of the storyline more quickly instead of pacing the story. The use of ‘Then� and ‘Now� for the flashback scenes to Sarah’s childhood was executed perfectly, and allowed us to have snippets of information about Sarah’s past at a more suspenseful pace, allowing the reader to become more intrigued about the reasons behind Sarah’s abandonment and trust issues, rather than giving away Sarah’s entire childhood story at the start of the story.

This was a clever, thought-provoking, emotional and hot romantic read. I absolutely adored it and can’t wait for the next in the series. I need me some more Malik!

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Rebecca Berto

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Also check out Rebecca Berto’s Cover Design Company

Berto DesignsÌý

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Never Say NeverÌýbyÌýC. Marie Mosley

Publication date: December 2013

Genres:ÌýContemporary,ÌýNew Adult,ÌýRomance

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Synopsis: Ìý

All he wanted was a distraction�

All she wanted was to conquer him�

Instead, they both got a reason to change their minds�

Forever was never an option�

� Never Say Never.

Never Say Never follows two friends, Kasey and Jonah, that have known each other just short of forever. In a single moment, they decide to take their friendship to a different level…with no strings attached. Neither of them intended for things to go so far. Kasey and Jonah fall, fight, and re-fall for each other in only ways that the two of them can. Knowing each other’s past can be a double-edged sword. But in Harden Fields, there are always skeletons left hanging in the closet…they just don’t hang around for long.

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The indistinctly, barely warm end of summer air around us was a telltale sign that Ìýfall was well on its way. but the sweltering heat had all but completely vanished. I could still feel the faintness of heat lingering on [her] skin from the sun’s rays.Her beautiful, delicious, flawless tanned skin. The two of us lay tangled in each other’s arms in the barn loft at my grandparent’s horse farm and Harden Fields. This has quickly become my favorite place to get lost with her.

The fragrance sent a vanilla and jasmine surrounded me, as I continued to trail kisses down her neck. I loved to feel the softness of herur skin beneath my lips. The warmth of her body and the way her eyes looked into mine made me want to hold onto her, keeping her with me forever.

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Prizes (open internationally):
-paperback copy and swag

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C. Marie Mosley

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