{Book Blitz + Author Interview} Channel 20Something by Amy Patrick

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From award-winning author and two-time GOLDEN HEART® finalist Amy Patrick comes a New Adult contemporary series about twenty-somethings entering the world of TV broadcasting, where what happens behind the scenes is the real news.

22-year-old Heidi Haynes is almost one year into her “real life”. She has her first reporting job, her first apartment, and a comfortable relationship with her college sweetheart. But for some reason she’s not as eager to talk about walking down the aisle as he is.

Heidi secretly longs for big cities, big-market breaking news, and real independence from her way-too-close-by helicopter parents. Problem is, the last time she left the security of home for new places and new people, things didn’t go so well. Disastrously, in fact, and she came running back to a local college and a “safe” boyfriend.

Aric Serrano is definitely not safe.

He’s six-feet-four-inches of missing-Hemsworth-brother-hotness and plans to stay in small-market-Southern-Hell just long enough to grab a cup of coffee and put together a kick-ass “escape tape”. He’ll serve his one-year contract, then he’s taking off for a higher rung on the TV sports ladder—alone—the way he likes it. Then he meets his new co-anchor.

Heidi would be so much more comfortable if she could simply ignore Aric. He’s just her type—the type she’s so careful to avoid these days. But that becomes impossible when she's forced to work closely with him on the weekend newscast. Now the attraction between them is growing even faster than the ratings, and what happens behind the scenes is the real news

What sets your book apart from other New Adult books on the market?

I think CHANNEL 20 SOMETHING is unique in that it gives the reader a peek inside a profession not many have inside access to, TV news, and what it’s like for people just starting out in the broadcasting business. Because that was my career for 12 years, I’m able to write about it in an informed way while telling an entertaining and romantic story. I also focus more heavily on the romance than the sex in my series. There are some hot scenes, but CHANNEL 20 SOMETHING and the upcoming books fall more into the category of fun and flirty than erotic romance.

What made you decide to write New Adult romance?

I think it’s a fantastic time period in life to write about because SO MUCH happens during the years you’re 18-26, and the decisions you make during that time can determine the entire direction of your life (yeah, no pressure there). There’s probably no other time of life that holds more possibility or more romance than those years. My own life during that time was an exciting, crazy, wonderful mess. I did so many stupid things, but also many amazing things, and I’m sure a lot of people can say the same.

Your main character Heidi grew up in a small Mississippi town, but always longed to get away, go exciting places, see exciting things. Where did you dream of going when you were in high school and college?

I always wanted to visit Hawaii, and I grew up without a lot of money, so that was a real dream. I did have the opportunity to vacation there a few years ago when I worked in California, so I can check that one off the list. Career-wise, I dreamed of making it to New York, the top news market, and working at the network someday. As I got older and further along in my TV news career, I did have the chance to do that, but my dreams had changed by then.

Anywhere you still dream of travelling?

I’ve never been to Europe, and I especially want to see Italy, Greece, and Paris. I’m betting that if things work out for Heidi and Aric, they *might* choose one of those locations for their honeymoon… someday. J

Is the next book in the 20 SOMETHING series a continuation of Heidi and Aric’s story, or does one of the secondary characters get their own story?

There’s no cliffhanger ending. You’ll get a full, satisfying ending for Heidi and Aric, though they’ll make appearances in the other 20 SOMETHING novels. Book 2 will focus on Mara as its main character, and Book 3 is Kenley’s story.

Biggest celebrity crush?

As you may have guessed from the story blurb for CHANNEL 20 SOMETHING, I have a little thing for Chris Hemsworth. Liam’s up there on my list, too. And I have a huge crush on Tom Hiddleston, who plays Loki in the Marvel movies.

Thank you so much for having me here today. I’m thrilled to be a guest on your blog! 

Amy is a two-time Golden Heart finalist (2013 and 2014) who writes Young Adult fiction as Amy DeLuca and New Adult romance as Amy Patrick. She lives in Rhode Island with her husband and two sons and actually craves the heat and humidity of Mississippi, where she grew up. She's been a professional singer and news anchor and currently narrates audio books as well as working as a station host for a Boston TV station.

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{Book Blitz + GIVEAWAY!!!} Choosing You by Allie Everhart

Choosing You by Allie Everhart

(The Jade Series #1)

Published: September 23, 2013

When Jade is given a scholarship to an elite private college in Connecticut, she sees it as a chance to finally escape her painful past and get a fresh start. She’s determined to succeed and that means keeping her focus on school and not guys. But her plan falls apart her first day on campus when Garret, a rich prep school boy with swimmer abs and a perfect smile, offers to help her move in.

Jade tries to push him away, but she can’t deny her attraction to him and Garret won’t let her. Things quickly heat up between them, but then come to a sudden halt when reality hits and Jade realizes that a relationship with Garret may never be possible. He comes from a world of wealth where there are rules, including rules about who he can date. And not following those rules has consequences.

As the two of them try to overcome the obstacles working to keep them apart, Jade is confronted with another challenge. On her 19th birthday, she receives a letter that her now deceased mother wrote years ago. In it are revelations that explain her traumatic childhood but also make her question the past she’s been running from.

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Author Interview

Why did you write Choosing You? 

About a year ago I started reading some New Adult books and I liked them so much I couldn’t stop! At the time I wasn’t even considering writing my own New Adult book because I was still writing my Young Adult series, The Samantha Project, (written under a different name). That series has some romance in it and I found that I really liked writing those scenes. I liked all the emotion that came through when the main character was dealing with her conflicted feelings over the two guys in the book. So when I finished that series, just for fun, I wrote an emotion-packed scene in which a girl in college is struggling to deal with issues in her relationship with a guy as well as issues from her past. After writing that scene, I instantly connected with Jade, the main character. The story took off from there and that scene ended up being the opening scene in Choosing You. 

What else can you tell us about Choosing You that’s not in the description/blurb? 

Jade and Garret take time to get to know each other in this book. There’s no insta-love. In a lot of the books I read, the guy and girl meet and are in love the next day. I didn't want that for these characters. I wanted the relationship to build over time. Jade and Garret are definitely attracted to each other from the very beginning but they’re not in love right away. They’re friends first and Jade has to learn to trust Garret before she’ll move the relationship forward. This is more like real life, but it also creates tension and anticipation for the reader which is good because it keeps the story moving forward. 

Another thing to mention is that I really wanted this book/series to have a strong female as the main character. Jade is tough and resilient. She lived through a difficult childhood and came out ahead. But sometimes her tough exterior is used to hide the emotions that she needs to deal with, and that’s where Garret comes in. He’s the only person who’s able to get her to deal with things and express the emotions she tries so hard to hide. 

Why did you decide to include a mystery in the book? Why not just straight romance? 

I wanted to make the story run deeper than just the romance. My YA series has lots of twists and turns, suspense, conspiracies, secrets, etc. I like all that stuff. I find it fun to read about. The Jade Series doesn’t have all of that, but it has some of it. There’s a mystery that runs through the whole series that involves both Jade and Garret. And as with my other series, there are some unexpected twists and suspenseful moments.

About The Author

Allie Everhart writes about dating, love, and romance. She’s also a freelance writer for magazines and websites. Before freelancing, she was a book editor for a publishing company where she worked on several NYT bestselling nonfiction books. She loves to read as much as she loves to write. And when she’s not reading or writing, she’s outside running, which is when she gets her best book ideas.

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{The Genesis Blog Tour} An Interview With Author K. L. Kerr

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The vampires of Dayson city are preparing for war. Having lived in constant fear of the Archway Corporation for decades, desperation has forced them into action. Their solution is to bring the First vampire, Alistair, back from the dead, a warrior famed for eradicating entire armies in the name of his kind. 

For fledgling vampire Catrina Malinka, the fabled return of some unknown deity falls low on her list of concerns. Between fending off strangers trying to kill her in her dreams and trying to rein in an uncontrollable power that no one else even understands let alone shares, Catrina is forced to fight her assumed role in the war against Archway, which threatens to send her down a path she doesn’t want to travel.

The first book in The Blood of Ages series, “The Genesis” is an urban fantasy about the inescapable nature of Fate and the corruption of power.

1) With so many vampire novels out nowadays, readers have a wide selection of series to choose from. What makes the Blood of Ages series stand out from the crowd?

The majority of vampire novels these days seem to centre around the idea that either vampires are evil, else they're remorseful over what they are or have become. I've tried to steer away from both, while at the same time taking them back to the old school, where it's all about the hunger and the blood.

2) How did you come up with the idea for The Genesis, and why did you decide to make it a series?

I had the original idea for this book almost thirteen years ago, so the details are a little hazy now, but basically it was an amalgamation of films I'd seen recently, namely "The Matrix" and "Blade". Originally, the book was supposed to be stand-alone, but once I'd reached the end, I realised I hadn't spent enough time in this book's universe or with its characters. There was so much more than needed to be discovered and uncovered.

3) What did you enjoy the most about writing this novel?

I really enjoyed the time spent in the Otherworld, as it allowed for a bit of surrealism.

4) What did you dislike the most?

I occasionally had a tough time with Fox's character. It was sometimes difficult to draw the line between unreasonable and just a complete douche.

5) What are some of your favorite vampire novels/series?

I'm a big fan of Tanya Huff's Blood series, and while it's not technically vampires--more demons, though they do drink blood--my favourite book is Justine Musk's Bloodangel.

6) Any favorite quotes that you'd like to share?

"I can be disciplined, when circumstance calls for it. I mean, I spend nearly every night with you, and I haven’t put a bullet in either of our heads yet."

7) What book are you reading right now?

I'm working through Jim Butcher's Dresden Files at the moment. I'm currently upto book three, Grave Peril.

8) Where is your favorite place to go when you need to think?

I generally sit at my desk at home, put on the pair of noise-cancelling headphones I paid far too much money for, and close my eyes. That or I take a bath. I get some of my best ideas in the bath.

9) If you could create a soundtrack for The Genesis, which songs would you be sure to include?

Well, I do have my Blood of Ages iTunes playlist, all of which I would like to include, though I suspect they don't make movies long enough to cover 26 hours of music! I'd need to at least include "Freak on a Leash" by KoRn, "I Stand Alone" by Godsmack, and "Backwards" by Apartment 26.

Born and raised close to North York Moors, initial setting of American Werewolf in London, one might be excused for thinking K. L. Kerr's interests might lie with those furry beasts. But she has always preferred monsters of the fanged variety, having written the very first draft of her novel, The Genesis, aged sixteen.

When not writing, Kerr can be found playing the MMORPG, World of Warcraft, or listening to music from video game soundtracks. She still lives in the North of England, close to The Moors (keeping to the roads, naturally), with two cats who--like all cats--think they're people.  

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{A Purrfect Match Blog Tour} Book Review, Author Interview, & Giveaway!!!

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When a bad day at work culminates in losing out on a promotion, Jim Sanders shifts into his animal form to let off steam. Then his bad day turns into a bad night—while prowling his Atlantic City neighborhood as a large gray house cat, he’s caught in a torrential downpour. What little luck he has washes down the gutter when his new boss, Andrew Wright, catches him taking shelter on his porch, brings him inside, and starts calling him Mr. Frosty. 

As a feline, Jim becomes the inadvertent confessor for his boss’s lonely son, Tony, a victim of schoolyard bullying. As a human, he feels drawn to Andrew, a man he wanted to resent. Finding love was never part of Jim’s plan or the future—not with his bizarre secret—yet suddenly he finds himself navigating that minefield anyway. But not everything is easy, especially for an interracial gay couple dealing with prejudice in the workplace, at Tony’s school, and even within their own families.

Okay, so I've dabbled in reading m/m fanfiction and short stories before, but I have to be honest in saying that this was the first full-length m/m romance novel that I have actually read. I was really drawn to the story after reading the synopsis - I mean, this guy who can turn into a cat ends up in the home of the man who was chosen for a promotion over him. I must say, I am a sucker for romances in which one person initially hates the other, but slowly starts to fall in love as they get to know them. That's one reason why I'm so addicted to Asian dramas.

And in the romance department, this book did not disappoint. Andrew (the new boss) and Jim (the shape-shifter) were absolutely adorable together. You can see that Jim wanted to hate Andrew for getting chosen for a job position over him, but when Andrew started spilling all of his feelings to him while Jim was in his feline form (which Andrew's son, Tony, dubbed Mr. Frosty), he started developing feelings for the man and his son.

But this is where my one issue with the story falls into place - it seems that Jim is almost immediately thrown into the role of the second father to Tony, even though he has only just begun dating Andrew. It wasn't really believable. I just think that the role of a father is a big one, and since Jim and Andrew were just beginning their relationship, to have given Jim the role of a second father to Tony just made the novel seem a bit insubstantial.

Nonetheless, this was a super quick read, and all of the cuteness between Andrew and Jim really sucked me into the story. They both had fears to overcome about being in a relationship, but once Jim knew he was in love with Andrew, his feelings for him never faltered, and vice versa. There weren't a whole lot of sex scenes in the novel, which left more time for emotional development between the characters, but the scenes that were included were nice and steamy. I could have done without the kinkiness, but I'm sure some people may have enjoyed the book more because of it. To each their own, I suppose! ;)

I suggest you give this one a read if you're into really sweet m/m romances with happy endings!

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Chris T. Kat lives in the middle of Europe, where she shares a house with her husband of almost 15 years and their two children. She stumbled upon the M/M genre by luck and was swiftly drawn into it. She divides her time between work, her family—which includes chasing after escaping horses and lugging around huge instruments such as a harp—and writing. She enjoys a variety of genres, such as mystery/suspense, paranormal, and romance. If there's any spare time, she happily reads for hours, listens to audiobooks, or crafts.

1) How did you get into the m/m romance genre?

I started out as a fan fiction writer about 4 years ago. For a while I wrote strictly in one fandom, then stretched my wings and tried a couple of other fandoms. I enjoyed writing fan fiction very much but I realized early on that I’d probably switch to original fiction at some point. I really wanted to create my own characters, with their own background and obstacles to overcome, so… here I am.

2) What was the hardest part of writing A Purrfect Match? 

Hmm, the hardest part? At first this book was supposed to be a short novella. I needed something cute after writing Silver Lining, which had exhausted me thoroughly.

The hardest part was keeping everything realistic (as much as you can be realistic with someone who possesses the ability to change from a human into a cat)—Jim’s struggle to accept he’s attracted to Andrew, Andrew’s struggle to keep everything together and Tony’s struggle to deal with being a bullying victim.

3)  Which scene was the most fun to write?

There were several scenes I had fun to write, for example the sex scenes. They were easy to write and I simply enjoy writing them—especially since these scenes are a bit on the kinky side. :-)

But I also loved to write Jim’s commentaries whenever he was in his cat form or the scene when Andrew and Jim's parents meet and interrogate Andrew about his new relationship.

4) Did you have any special reason for wanting to highlight the relationship between Jim and his father during their visit to the boardwalk? Why did you choose to make parenting a major focus of the story?

In m/m books I’ve often encountered that the main characters adopt or take in a child and everything always goes smoothly. The kid is always well-behaved and/or especially gifted in some area. I wanted to portray a “normal” child and how it can affect a partnership. I also wanted to show that the parents don’t need to be perfect in all their actions.

Andrew is having a hard time dealing with his new job and Tony's problems at his new school. He feels guilty and wonders what would be the right thing to do. He has the luck to meet Jim, who helps him navigate and accept he doesn't need to be perfect for Tony to love him.

The scene between Jim and his father—Jim’s father hasn’t been keen on having a gay son at first but he’s overcome his reservations. Jim loves his father for that. Since his father is becoming more and more fragile their roles get reversed. Jim thinks about how he perceived his father during his childhood and how different the man is now. All these thoughts help Jim come to the conclusion that he wants to be involved in Andrew and Tony’s life—much more than he thought was possible.

5) What made you decide to make Jim a shape-shifter, and why did you choose a cat?

I didn’t consciously decide to make him a shape-shifter. I saw a picture of a beautiful, large gray cat and instantly had the image of Jim roaming about in Atlantic City in my mind.

I’ve written a few shape-shifter stories so far (mostly fan fiction) and usually the characters shift into dogs and foxes. This time I wanted to write about a different species but nothing too out of the ordinary. Since I find cats fascinating, that's what Jim became.

A Purrfect Match isn't so much about the magical aspect rather than all the things Jim hears and experiences in his cat form. If it hadn't have been for his ability to shift, he might never have gotten to know Andrew and his son, Tony. He might never have fallen in love either. Sometimes it's all about the circumstances whether you find that one person you want to share your life with. Jim is clever enough to realize quickly he found this special someone.

Another reason is that the cat fits Jim's personality. He likes to be on his own, and he determines with whom he wants to share his time. He chooses “his people”, just like a lot of cats do. How often have you heard the phrase “I didn't choose the cat, he/she chose me”. This statement fits perfectly because Jim chose Andrew and Tony as his family.

6) If you could have any supernatural power/ability that you wanted, what would you pick?

Healing powers would be cool but I think I’d go with the shape-shifter abilities. I’d love to experience a day as a cat, dog, or whatever, just to know what it’s like. Did I mention I’m insanely curious? ;-)

7) What do you like to do when you aren't writing?

I like to spend time with my family. Once a week I drive my daughter to her riding lesson and cuddle the horses (I’m not allowed to ride anymore but so wish I could take up lessons again). Oh, and I do cross stitch—a lot.

8) Do you have any favorite m/m novels that you would like to recommend to your readers?

I really like Witness and The Ghost on My Couch by L.A. Gilbert, Timing by Mary Calmes, Mummy Dearest by Josh Lanyon, Good to Know by D.W. Marchwell, but my favorite has to be Gathering Storm by Lyn Gala.

9) If you were to put together a soundtrack for this novel, what songs would you be sure to add, and why?

Gee, you’re asking awfully difficult questions! Let me think…stop tapping your foot, I’m still thinking… um… I guess I’d go with some of the songs I heard a lot while I wrote the book, so let’s see:

Ai Se Eu Te Pego – Michel Teló

Bridge Of Light – Pink

Lullaby – Nickelback

Somebody That I Used To Know – Gotye

Little Talks – Of Monsters And Men

Gambling Man – Overtones

Friends – Aura Dione

Starships – Nicki Minaj

Girl Gone Wild – Madonna

Breathing – Jason Derulo

Wild Ones – Flo Rida

Turn All The Lights On

Learning To Breathe – Stanfour

Summer Of Love – Cascada

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{Author Interview} Miranda Kavi, Author of RUA

Miranda Kavi is a YA and Urban Fantasy author. She has worked as an attorney, an executive recruiter, and an assistant in a biological anthropology lab. She loves scary movies, museums, and is hopelessly addicted to chocolate. She lives in the Houston area with her husband and daughter.

1) What was your favorite part about writing RUA? 

Writing any dialogue where Tink was involved. He is such a fun, quirky character to write. Oh, and kissing scenes. Those are always fun!

2) What sparked the idea for this novel? 

It was pretty deliberate. I knew I wanted to write a YA, and I wanted to base it on mythology. During my research I ran across the Irish legend of the “People of the Mists.” I was hooked!

3) Are there any similarities between yourself and the heroine, Celeste? 

I wish! I've always wanted to be a saucy redhead. We don’t look or act alike, but we are both very loyal to the people who care for us and we've both moved around a lot.

4) What books have influenced you the most in your life? 

The Dune series blew my mind when I was a kid. BLEW MY MIND!

5) What do you find to be the most challenging aspect of writing? 

Pacing. It’s tough to move the story along at just the right speed. It takes a lot of practice.

6) If you could pick a theme song for RUA, what would it be and why? 

“Lights” by Ellie Goulding. Every time I hear that song, I think of the characters in the book, probably because my main character has light exploding from her hands!

7) As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up? 

An archaeologist, like Indiana Jones. I pursued it through grad school, eventually learning that it’s actually a lot of outdoor manual labor. And there are ticks. And mosquitoes. And snakes.

8) What's your favorite scary movie? 

Do I have to pick just one! I LOVE to be scared. Let’s see. . . “The Exorcist” always stays with me for days after I see it.

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A girl with an unknown destiny. A boy from a hidden world. When Celeste starts at a new school in a small, Kansas town, she hears whispering voices, has vivid nightmares, and swarms of blackbirds follow her every move. She is oddly drawn to aloof Rylan, the other new student who has his own secrets. The exact moment she turns seventeen, she wakes to a bedroom full of strange creatures, purple light emanating from her hands, and Rylan breaking in through her bedroom window. He knows what she is . . . Intriguing and deeply romantic, RUA is page-turning YA novel with a supernatural twist.

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