Where’s the Love? Blog Hop

I know I haven't blogged in forever and a day. Personal drama and revisions have kept me away and I'm so sorry. But I think Valentine's Day is the perfect time to get back in the blog saddle and spread a little romance...

Between the Sheets is hosting a steamy blog hop to heat you up and leave you begging for more.



Here's a scene from my YA SF Romance, SEEK...

He takes my face in his hands. His mouth crushes mine. I’m hypnotized by his heat, his roving lips. Everywhere is Jonathan. Everything is Jonathan. Only joy, need and want.

 My hands grope him as if independent from my brain. They roam over the tight muscles in his neck, the smooth skin of his chest, the line of baby-fine hair that runs vertically down from his waist. My fingers bump the waistband of his jeans and I hesitate, temporarily distracted by high school memories of girls bragging about lewd things they’d done with random boys at parties. 

 I am not those girls. This is Jonathan and we’re in love. We’re not using each other for temporary gratification, so I take a shaky breath and forge on. His heart hammers as I hastily fumble with his zipper. 

His hand closes hard over mine. “Keira,” he breathes in my hair, “I don’t want to…” 

 I don’t wait to hear the rest. “Oh,” I gasp, jerking my hands away.

“You didn’t let me finish.” His hand is on my cheek again. “I don’t want to do anything that makes you uncomfortable,” he says, sweetly nudging my chin. 

“I’m not uncomfortable. I’m excited. There’s a difference.” Great, I sound like a child and I hate my voice for betraying me.

“You’re trembling,” he says holding my unsteady hand out as proof.

I try a different approach, one that involves me sounding as though I’ve asked this before. “Do you have protection?”

Be sure to check out the rest of the sizzling blog list on Between the Sheets

Sharla Lovelace: The Reason is You, Release Party and Giveaway!

Welcome back, Sharla Lovelace!  

 The Reason is You is available now. 

In the small river town of Bethany, Dani Shane never fit in.  Being different pushed her to the fringes of society, and even leaving town for two decades didn’t stop the talk.  Now, with her sixteen year-old daughter Riley in tow, Dani is back in Bethany looking for a fresh start.  Too bad her plans for staying under the radar are about to be thrown out the window.
Mischievous and sexy, Dani’s old friend Alex still has the power to rock her world, but there’s a big obstacle standing in their way–Alex has been dead for forty years.  With a ghost popping up at inopportune moments and sparking conversations with her teenage daughter, Dani scrambles to find solid ground and get a grip—both on her sanity and her heart.

Click on the image above to read the first chapter of The Reason is You.

Win a copy of The Reason is You 

and a $25 Gift Card for Barnes & Noble

*see details below

1.      Since your last interview on Addicted to Words, which strangely enough was almost exactly one year ago (read here), how has your life changed? 
I got so so so so much busier. LOL.  Writing under contract is very different than when you’re just under your own timeline, so that was eye-opening.
2.      Will there be a sequel to The Reason is You?  

Not at this time, my next book is a stand-alone. 

3. What are you writing now?   
 ;) it’s still in the infant stage…so can’t say…it might turn to goo if I do.
4.  Will you have a new book coming out soon? 
My second book, BEFORE AND EVER SINCE, is scheduled to come out in November.
5.  Book signings? Where can we meet you and get our copies of The Reason is You signed? 
I will be doing a May 19^th book signing in Beaumont, TX.  I’m also looking at some Houston stores, but I don’t have any dates yet.  My website www.sharlalovelace.com has a “What’s Happening” tab that I try to stay diligent about updating, so you can always check there.  In any case, I’m always happy to mail out a signed bookplate sticker for your book.  Shoot me a message on the Contact form on my website, and I’ll get one out to you.  It’s not as fun and personal, but it beats driving 500 miles. LOL!
6.  What are your plans for the future, when all of this crazy release stuff settles down, anything you can’t wait to do that you’ve had to put on hold?  
 Go on vacation!!
7.  Goodreads…are you going to peek at the reviews, or duck and run? 
Ohhh, I can already tell I’m going to be a bit obsessive at first.  I already go looking.  J  But I’m only giving myself a couple of weeks to indulge, and then I’m walking away from that.  It’s not good for the muse!
8.  Do you have any advice to give to aspiring writers?    
Do your research on agents and editors, and customize to them…make it personal.  And make it professional.  And develop a thick skin.
9.  Is there anything that you would like to say to your readers, fans…or Goodreads reviewers?    

I appreciate any and every person that buys my book…the whole experience is very surreal and it still seems bizarre to me that the book is out there.  I hope you all enjoy it, and will tell your friends!

10.  Where can we find more interviews with you?   
Well, for the next fifteen days, I’m on a blog tour with Goddess Fish Promotions, and you can see all the stops here:  http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2012/01/virtual-book-tour-reason-is-you-by.html  or go to my website to the “What’s Happening” page…I have them listed there by date.
11.  Where can we buy The Reason is You?    
All major bookstores around the country, and online as well. Also on Amazon.
12.  Where can we find your blog:  www.sharlalovelace.com/my-blog     
Twitter:  www.twitter.com/sharlalovelace
Facebook:   www.facebook.com/sharlalovelace

Thanks for joining us again, Sharla. Happy Book Release!

* To enter to win The Reason is You by Sharla Lovelace and a $25 Gift Card to Barnes & Noble...

1. Leave a comment for Sharla below.
2. Tweet, blog, pin or facebook brag about the contest and leave a link.
3. Leave your email so we know where to find you.


Contest runs now through April 30th, 2012


Good luck!

Shattered Dreams Release Party & Give Away!

Look what is sitting beside me, waiting for a new home...

Leave your email in the comments and SHATTERED DREAMS could be yours!

Let the countdown begin!

 Introducing

SHATTERED DREAMS by Ellie James

Synopsis:
Sixteen-year-old Trinity Monsour wants nothing more than to live a normal life. But that isn’t as easy as it seems. Trinity is different. She is special. She sees visions, and for those she’s seen, it’s already too late.

Trinity arrives on her aunt's doorstep in New Orleans with virtually no knowledge of her mysterious heritage. She begins settling into life at a new school and even starts making friends. But all too quickly her dreams accelerate; twisted, terrifying visions of a girl locked in a dark room. And when the head cheerleader, Jessica, goes missing, Trinity knows she has no choice but to step forward with what she's seen. 

But people believe that Trinity has information about Jessica's disappearance not because of a dream, but because she is involved. She is kind-of dating Jessica's ex-boyfriend, Chase, and Jessica did pull a nasty prank on Trinity. Revenge seems like the likeliest scenario.

Nothing prepares Trinity for the dark odyssey that ensues while searching for Jessica, including the surprising romance she finds with Chase, or the shocking truths she learns, not just about the girl who has gone missing, but the past that has been hidden from her.

SHATTERED DREAMS releases in just a few days! December 6th, 2011, from St. Martin's Griffin and you can win a copy right here!

To find out more about Ellie James...

Author Site

Twitter

Shattered Dreams Facebook page

To win:

Contest open to US residents only, sorry.

Leave your email address in the comments below.  

Contest ends December 15th at midnight.

Winner chosen at random.

Good Luck!

The 21 and Over Holiday Sanity Survival Guide

Feeling overwhelmed with the pressure cooker of all the holiday fun resting on your shoulders, threatening to pop your brain cells one by one…?  Chill out. It’s only Thanksgiving. The real fun hasn’t even begun, after all, the holiday's are not just about this day or that. They are a collection of gatherings, shopping, house cleaning, cooking, family, friends, panicking and…

I’m not helping?

Well maybe this will…

In the spirit of fun, I thought I would share some useful secrets on how I breeze through the holidays unscathed and even manage to enjoy myself.

Scenario #1. Your husband has invited co-workers over for some holiday cheer. Translation: there’s going to be a house full of loud men yelling at a TV because some other loud man is rooting for the other team and they stand to lose [Lose: a four letter word capable of destroying a man’s ego in two seconds flat. Warning: man does not recover well from loss and may sulk or pout for days following].

Solution #1.  Hot Totty. Offer to fix the fragile men something to eat and take a moment alone to regain your focus of all that is truly important…

Ingredients:

Servings: 1

• 1 ounce brandy
• 1 tablespoon honey
• 1/4 lemon, juice of
• 1 cup boiling water
• 1 tea bag, of choice

Directions:

Coat the bottom of your favorite mug with honey.

Add brandy and lemon juice.

On the side, boil water add tea bag,

Pour the tea into honey/lemon/brandy goodness.

And viola ~ stress…gone. Repeat as needed.

[http://www.food.com/recipe/hot-totty-272914]

Scenario #2. The families are coming. His. Yours. The whole damn lot, together under one roof, yours.  Do I really need to explain the neurosis that comes with this one? I didn’t think so.

Solution #2. Christmas Wassail. This is a warm fruity drink that makes your whole house smell delicious and the alcohol burns off (mostly, so be sure to add a shot to your mug). Great to offer particularly difficult family members (like the kids or grandma).  

2 qt. cider
1 pt. cranberry juice
3/4 c. sugar
2 sticks cinnamon
1 tsp. whole allspice
1 orange
Whole cloves
1 c. rum [The rest of the bottle is for you] (Sailor Jerry’s Spiced Rum is best) http://sailorjerry.com/

Side note:  I make mine with pineapple added to the mixture, it should equal 1/3 of other juices combined, but I'll let you do math - you know me. 

Stud orange with whole cloves. Put all ingredients into crock pot. Cover and cook on high for 1 hour and then on low for 4-8 hours. Serve warm from crock pot. Makes 12 cups.

[http://www.cooks.com/rec/view/0,1922,153182-241204,00.html]

 Scenario #3. Shopping (self explanatory). 

 

Solution #3. Homemade Irish Cream Liqueur [Irish Coffee] This one is a little trickier, but don’t worry I’ve got you covered. You’ll need a designated driver. If your husband is the only one available, plan to distract him once in the store with tools or electronics, works every time. Grab your snowflake covered to-go coffee mug and let’s get started.

1 3/4 c. your favorite liquor (Irish Whiskey, brandy, rum, bourbon, scotch,
or rye whiskey)
1 (14 oz.) can Eagle brand sweetened condensed milk (NOT evaporated milk)
1 c. (1/2 pt.) whipping or light cream
4 eggs
2 tbsp. chocolate flavored syrup
2 tsp. instant coffee
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1/2 tsp. almond extract

In 6-cup blender, at low speed, combine all ingredients; blend until smooth. Serve over ice if desired. Store tightly covered in refrigerator up to one month. Stir before serving.

[http://www.cooks.com/rec/view/0,163,144187-254199,00.html]

Note: Public intoxication is not legal, so I recommend sticking to the recipe on this one. 

  

Scenario #4. You’re hosting the Ugly Christmas Sweater Party (I’m not even going to ask why; we all do dumb things sometimes). 

Solution #4. Gluehwein (German Hot Wine Punch) This is where you're allowed to let loose! Hell, look at what you're wearing, how much worse can it get? Go ahead, drink, live a little!

• 1 (24 ounce) bottle red German wine
• 1 cup water
• 1 whole cinnamon stick
• 2 whole cloves
• 1/2 lemon, thinly sliced
• 1/3 cup sugar

Directions:

Mix everything together in a large saucepan and heat until hot, but NOT boiling. Boiling it will ruin the Gluehwein, so be careful to not set your heat too high. You can pour this into a Crockpot on LOW heat and serve warm. [http://www.food.com/recipe/gluehwein-german-hot-wine-punch-48713]

And, there you have you it, my survival kit for just about any occasion that may arise during this holiday season.

Do you have a family recipe handed down from past generations that you would be willing to share with me? I’d love to hear how you de-stress during this chaotic – yet oh-so-wonderful – time of year.

Cheers if you’re crazy like me and heading out to Black Friday this evening. I hope you find everything on your list, safely. 

Note: This blog is only intended for fun and NOT to be taken seriously, unless you really want to…it’s your life.