Six Sentence Sunday: Running From Shadows... Such a Tease! #SSS #YA #PNR #Pinterest

Hooray for Six Sentence Sunday!

Thank you for stopping by. I'm excited to participate with such a fantastic group of writers! 

(NEW!) Guess what?? Running From Shadows has finaled in another contest!!! This makes THREE total so far!! Squee!!! Reveal Your Inner Vixen! (Maryland Romance Writers chapter of RWA)!!!!!

Today I'm sharing from my (unpublished) young adult paranormal romance Running From Shadows, currently being read by a lovely agent and an editor!! Squee!!

Follow Greta Shore (a 17-year-old, black-haired wiccan beauty) and Paxton "Pax" Craig (an 18-year-old, blond-haired college student with a dark secret) as they discover the fate of their forbidden love. 

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Last week... Greta FINALLY goes into Paxton's cabin. It opens into one big room, sparsely furnished but neat, with a loft above the living room and an eat-in kitchen with a warm and inviting woodsy pine scent. The smell reminds her of him…Goddess, this boy makes her feel tingly and good and oh-so nervous. She stumbles over her words. “I’m Greta, by the way. Greta Shore.” 

Cover Art by Danielle Fine

“I know.” Tall, with the kind of body that got you a billboard in Times Square, the way he watched me with his blue-eyed gaze set my skin on fire. If only I could give myself to the flames.

Goddess, I must be losing it. 

“How?” I started to pick at a hangnail on my thumb and stopped--this boy didn’t need to know my bad habits.

Tune in next week for more Greta and Pax!! ;) Thanks again for stopping by! Your support and feedback is greatly appreciated! Get a sneak peek for more awesome authors at SSS.

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Extra! Extra!

*Would you like to see some pics of Greta and Pax? Check them out here! Gotta love Pinterest!! Ooo, stalk me there too, please...uh, here! ;)

*Autumn's Harvest Blog Hop winner is...Susan Platt!! Thank you to everyone who entered!! And a BIG thank you to my virtual assistant, Florence Price, for organizing everything. She rocks!! For more info on her services, click here.

*The winner of editor Danielle Fine's FREE critique is Lucy D. Briand!!!! Congrats, Lucy, you'll love working with Dani!!
 
*Witch Way to Turn is doing so well!!!! It's getting great reviews! I'm just so proud of my baby!!! Can you tell??? ;D Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Lyrical Press. Would love for you to add it to your to-be-read list here! 

*If you'd like more information on having a custom book cover designed for your next publication or WIP inspiration, check out Danielle Fine's website! 

Book Review -- Keir by Pippa Jay!!! (5 STARS) @pippajaygreen #bookreview #Goodreads

Keir by Pippa Jay
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Loved this book! Keir was a fantastic read. The hero (Keir) and the heroine (Quin) had so much rich character development. Both of them were riddled with emotional--and physical--scarring; however, it was beautifully woven into the storyline to make them stronger people. Together they were able to overcome their insecurities.

Keir is packed with action, adventure, intrigue and spicy love scenes...but one of my favorite things was the role reversal. Keir was the inexperienced one, and I loved that Quin taught him--not just how to make love, because that was hot--but how to experience life and to open himself up to forgiveness. Keir suffered a great many things, but Quin was there to support, encourage and bring him back to life.

A few of my favorite lines from the book:

“I am not friendly. I am dangerous.”

He felt her presence in his mind still, like cool hands soothing his fevered thoughts. It both disturbed and comforted him. Was she an angel in human guise? Or some demon sent to torment him before delivering him to his final hell?

His words filled her with a sadness so sharp she had to fight down tears.

He screamed for help as they took him through shadowy streets to an unknown place, but no one came.

Why am I such a sucker for tortured souls?

“We weren’t meant to have these powers, Keir, but it’s how we use them that defines who and what we are.”

“Friends may easily become enemies. Prosperity attracts envy. We must always be wary of complacency and misplaced trust.”

Would learning the truth justify the risk?

For the first time in remembrance, he wanted to touch and be touched in return. To hold her and have her return his embrace freely, with more than a friend’s affection. To feel her white skin under his fingertips. To brush the hair from her face as the breeze did now, and run his fingers through it.

He leaned close to her, and the darkness of his eyes seemed to swallow her soul. “Your fears will come to pass.”

I have more, but pretty soon I'll be quoting the entire book! So go buy it! :) Keir is a must read!

Special features!!!

The author was kind enough to share the song that was her inspiration for Keir's character... Justify by The Rasmus! Check the vid here!

Watch the Keir book trailer here! 

Buy Keir!! Amazon ~ B&N ~ Lyrical Press

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View all my reviews

My Midweek Mayhem, #WIP Snippet, #CritiqueGiveaway and Random Picture Goodness! #amblogging

Working it out…  

• Loved this 5 Star review of Witch Way to Turn from The Romance Studio! Check it here :) 
• Next Monday, November 19, I find out if Running From Shadows made it into the 3rd Annual Baker's Dozen Agent Pitch Contest, so keep those fingers crossed! Check the line-up of amazing agents here!
• Awesome interview with my talented editor, Danielle Fine!! Stop by (here) and comment for your chance to win a FREE critique of your query, synopsis and first chapter (Ends Tomorrow)!
• Stop by tomorrow for my review of Keir by Pippa Jay!! A 5-Star sci-fi romance!!  

Hearing voices…

• I've gotten Witch Way book #2 back from my editor! Update... I'll be rewriting chapters 1-4 to have it better match flow/tone of the rest of the story... I'd written the first 80ish pages a long time ago before WWTT was published. Soo the beginning needed some re-vamping! Get it?? Vamp...teehee :P
• Am doing setting description edits for Running From Shadows. Gotta make my demon-slaying unicorn story sparkle and shine even more than it already does!! Am on page 90 of 281...
• Currently going gangbuster on my work-in-progress (a new adult urban fantasy with cursed dragon shifters and is unlike anything I've ever written)! Crossed over 35k words yesterday! 
• Read last week's snippet here!   
• Here's a teaser for you (the opening page)... 

         Impatience gnawed at the edges of Zoe Moore’s sanity. She clicked her phone on. Again. Why hadn’t he texted? Looking at it isn’t going to make him text any sooner.
         She shoved the cell back in her messenger bag and willed herself to face the professor. The PowerPoint show he clicked through could've been pictures of naked people for all she cared, even though Introduction to Psychology was her favorite class so far. But knowing she’d finally get to meet the one person who had been there for her all summer took precedence whether she wanted it to or not.
         Screw it. She took the phone back out, her heart hammering and clicked it on. Nothing. Still. Scrolling through she reread the text from last night, even though she had it committed to memory: Can’t wait 2 meet u. Will send place & time in the morning.
        Not to nitpick or anything, but morning had come and gone. When the bell rang in ten minutes it would be noon. Keeping the phone hidden under the white speckled desk, she scanned through what she’d written. Maybe she’d said something to turn him off. How had she responded to his last text? Can’t wait to meet you too!
       Oh hell. She’d spelled everything out and used an exclamation point. Maybe that’d been too much? Had she come across as needy? Did a stupid punctuation mark determine her future happiness? She’d tried to play it cool. But he was always so sympathetic. She’d almost told him about the surgery. No time felt quite right though. Was he really standing her up? No explanation or anything? Damn. This was ridiculous. How neurotic could she get?

Waiting game…

Cover Art by Danielle Fine

• On week #23 of waiting to hear back from a lovely agent who is reading Running From Shadows.*continues to keep fingers and toes crossed and keeps querying* (Update: The lovely agent retweeted me on Twitter over the weekend...not sure what the tweet-age could mean, but it made me smile!)
• On week #15 of waiting to hear back from the editor I pitched to at the RWA conference in July. *also continues to keep all possible body parts crossed*

Reading...

• Currently I am beta-reading for an awesome friend and writer... Katheryn!
• Currently reading Winter Fairy by Lola Karns!! Check it out here! 
• I'm a judge in the Finish The Damn Book Contest! Excited to participate! (This is my local RWA Chapter's contest.) Check out my awesome Chesapeake Romance Writers' Chapter here!

Bonus material...
*Tune back in for SSS on Sunday for more steamy goodness from Running From Shadows! Pax and Greta are FINALLY in his cabin... Oh yeah, baby! LOL

*Would love to get more Likes for my author page! Click here... Thanks! 

*Add Witch Way to Turn to your to-be-read list here! 

*Watch the awesome Witch Way to Turn book trailer here!!

*Beautiful cover art for Running From Shadows and Witch Way to Turn book trailer by Danielle Fine... Check her website for more cover art, editing and book trailer services.

Random Alert! Random. Alert. Alert. Alert...

Rusty pup: Whaa? That was already there. Swear. Me: Uh huh, don't believe you. Rusty pup: Look into my innocent eyes, human, I own you. Me: Demon pup!

Absolutely no idea why I took a picture of my kitchen... Maybe cos it was actually clean? For once :)

iHeart weeping willow trees! I normally mention them at least once in my stories. LOL They are one of my top three fave trees...followed by Japanese Maples and Crepe Myrtles.

Six Sentence Sunday: Running From Shadows... Such a Tease! #SSS #YA #PNR #AHHop #EditorInterview #Critique #Giveaway

Hooray for Six Sentence Sunday!

Thank you for stopping by. I'm excited to participate with such a fantastic group of writers! 

(NEW) Guess what?? Running From Shadows is a finalist in the Launching a Star Contest (SpaceCoast Author's chapter of RWA)!!!!!

Today I'm sharing from my (unpublished) young adult paranormal romance Running From Shadows, currently being read by a lovely agent and an editor!! Squee!!

Follow Greta Shore (a 17-year-old, black-haired wiccan beauty) and Paxton "Pax" Craig (an 18-year-old, blond-haired college student with a dark secret) as they discover the fate of their forbidden love. 

 ****

Last week... Pax tells Greta that she's been marked by a shadow demon and if she wants to find out why she needs to come inside. But will she go inside his cabin?? Well, my lovelies, after weeks of teasing, today you FINALLY find out whether she does or not!!! Are you shocked? :P

Cover Art by Danielle Fine

Alone with a strange boy in a cabin in the middle of nowhere. How smart was that?

I turned to walk away, but it was so dark. Goddess, this deep in the forest even the stars were blotted out by the trees and…it almost seemed as if the darkness was moving. The hairs on the back of my neck stood on end.

I turned and raced up the stairs after him.

And since you've waited so long...here's a little bit more about Pax's cabin. teeheehee Paxton's cabin opens into one big room, sparsely furnished but neat, with a loft above the living room and an eat-in kitchen with a warm and inviting woodsy pine scent. The smell reminds her of him…

Tune in next week for more Greta and Pax!! ;) Thanks again for stopping by! Your support and feedback is greatly appreciated! Get a sneak peek for more awesome authors at SSS.

****

Happy reading!

*(Ends TOMORROW) I'm participating in -- the Autumn's Harvest Blog Hop!! Enter here for your chance to win an e-Book copy of Witch Way to Turn and a $15 Amazon Giftcard!! Comment on the post for a chance to WIN a Kindle Fire or a Nook Tablet!!

*(WIN a FREE Critique) For a chance to win a free query, synopsis and first chapter critique by Editor Danielle Fine just comment on the post here!!!
 
*Witch Way to Turn is doing so well!!!! It's getting great reviews! I'm just so proud of my baby!!! Can you tell??? ;D Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Lyrical Press. Would love for you to add it to your to-be-read list here! 

*If you'd like more information on having a custom book cover designed for your next publication or WIP inspiration, check out Danielle Fine's website! 

Autumn's Harvest Blog Hop: Ooo the Giveaways! #WitchWayToTurn eBook, $50 Amazon Giftcard AND Grand Prize #KindleFire or #NookTablet!!

Why do I love Autumn? Well, I'm usually a strict creature of habit, but when the leaves begin to turn and the chill in the air nips at my soul... I'm ready for change. Ready for new beginnings. Ohh, and I adore wearing coats, scarves and boots. Just saying! And that moment when I can start a fire, brew a cup of hot tea or apple cider and curl up with a good book, well, I'm in Heaven. One of my favorite young adult books that blends paranormal changes with coming of age into a woven strand of awesome is Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater. A must read (especially for werewolf lovers)!  

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From November 9th through November 12th, I'm participating in the Autumn's Harvest Hop hosted by Carrie Ann's Blog Hops. And to one lucky Follower, I'll be giving away an e-Book of

Witch Way to Turn, along with a $15 Amazon Gift Card!

Book Blurb:

Can you give one guy your heart and another your soul?  

The last thing eighteen-year-old Breena Cross needs in her life is more complications. It’s all she can do to balance studying, working, trying to keep her foster-sister safe and drooling over the new guy at work. But things go from complicated to crazy when a fit of rage ignites the dark magic inside her and she finds herself fending off the supernatural underworld. 
Myles, Breena’s drool-worthy coworker and vampire convict, is carrying a load of secrets--one of which is that he’s fang-over-lip in love with Breena and in danger of violating the terms of his sentence.
Orin is a soul-hungry assassin sent to kill Breena. However, he takes one look into her eyes and sees his own lost humanity. For once thinking of someone other than himself, he chooses not to end her life, even though it means risking his own.
Despite a convict and an assassin fighting over her, all Breena wants is custody of her sister. But to do this, she will need help from both Myles and Orin. And if Breena doesn’t learn to control the darkness within, she could lose her sister…forever.

WARNING: Contains strong language and some graphic content. 
A Lyrical Press Young/New Adult Paranormal Romance 
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Details:

One (1) e-Book copy of Witch Way to Turn and a $15 Amazon Gift Card!
Open to International Entries.
Drawing for the Giveaway will be held on
November 13, 2012, and the winner will be announced on
November 13, 2012.   
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To be eligible to enter the Giveaway, you must "Follow" this site then enter with the Rafflecopter Form below. One entry per person please. For optional extra chances to win, Like Me on Facebook, Follow me on Twitter or Friend me on Goodreads. 

But that's not all....

We have THREE grand prizes. You as a reader can go to EACH blog and comment with your email address and be entered to win. Yup, you can enter over 200 times!

Now for the GRAND Prize! Drum roll please...

1st Grand Prize: A Kindle Fire or Nook Tablet

2nd Grand Prize: A $50 Amazon or B&N Gift Card

3rd Grand Prize: A Swag Pack that contains 10+ paperbacks, ebooks, 50+ bookmarks, cover flats, magnets, pens, coffee cozies, and more!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

And here's a list of everyone participating in the Hop!