Because my life is total chaos and my newest website offers a simple blogging option built right in, I'll no longer be posting on here.
Come join me on www.AuthorJenniferAnn.com!
Monday, September 11, 2017
Wednesday, August 2, 2017
Goodreads Ratings (A Public Service Announcement)
Imagine for a moment that you've put your blood, sweat, and tears into one project for hundreds of hours because it's your lifelong passion, and you're so invested in this thing that you can't sleep at night or focus on daily tasks because ideas are whispered into your ear 24/7. Imagine that you've decided to make this passion your career, and hope it will feed your family and maybe keep a roof over your head. You invest over a thousand dollars that you don't necessarily have into this project, hiring professionals to help make it shiny enough to entice strangers to buy into your passion.
Easy enough, right? Now with that being said, my momma taught me to be kind to people, and I don't have it in me to ever give a book either a 1 or 2 rating. In my mind, a 3 = pretty good. If I can't say it was at least a 3, I won't rate it. Part of that may be due to the "Minnesota Nice" mentality that I can't seem to shake, but I also don't think it's warranted. Simply because I can't get into humans having sex with dinosaurs in space doesn't mean the book wasn't well written. If I give a book one star because it's not my thing, that's sending an unfair message to people who do enjoy reading about humans having sex with dinosaurs in space. (By the way, humans having sex with dinosaurs in space is a real thing. Apparently you can make this shit up.)
To those who do take the time to write a thoughtful review, whether only the minimum amount of characters required or several paragraphs long, you have no idea how much your effort is appreciated. If I had J.K.'s success, I would take each and everyone of you out for a beer. Scratch that - I would throw you all one helluva party with Charlie Hunnam and Brock O'Hurn serving the beer. Shirtless. On a beach in Maui. With Jack Johnson playing his ukulele.
Now imagine that this project is rated on a star systems, and before you've even released your precious baby into the wild, it's given the absolutely lowest rating possible. Though this seems totally unfair, there's nothing you can do to change it.
Such is the glamorous life of an author.
It seems there's a misnomer when it comes to Goodreads ratings, as far too often users see it as a system to remember which books they want to read. Sometimes I won't even have finished the book or written a blurb and I'll find a single one-star rating. Please, I beg you, for the love of authors who have devoted their lives into writing, don't ever use the star system for these purposes. By doing this, you're unfairly tarnishing the author's reputation/brand and making it more difficult for them to sell their passion.
According to Google, this is the universal standard rating system:
1 - Poor
2 - Fair
3 - Average
4 - Good
5 - Excellent
Easy enough, right? Now with that being said, my momma taught me to be kind to people, and I don't have it in me to ever give a book either a 1 or 2 rating. In my mind, a 3 = pretty good. If I can't say it was at least a 3, I won't rate it. Part of that may be due to the "Minnesota Nice" mentality that I can't seem to shake, but I also don't think it's warranted. Simply because I can't get into humans having sex with dinosaurs in space doesn't mean the book wasn't well written. If I give a book one star because it's not my thing, that's sending an unfair message to people who do enjoy reading about humans having sex with dinosaurs in space. (By the way, humans having sex with dinosaurs in space is a real thing. Apparently you can make this shit up.)
A prime example of a book I didn't enjoy even though well written would be J.K. Rowling's Casual Vacancy. There's no denying the woman has a beautifully tight prose, but this non-magical tale was simply not for me, so I chose not to rate it. However, over 24,000 readers gave it one star. First of all, I'd give anything just to have that many people give my book a chance. However, if this book had been written by anyone else, those ratings would have the potential to kill the author's career.
Ratings are everything when you're trying to get your book into the hands of readers.
Accordingly, I implore you to take Goodreads ratings quite seriously. You're leaving a permanent mark on someone's career. Please don't be flippant about clicking your mouse, making a last second decision like it's a yellow stoplight. Stop to really give it some thought. It's only fair you spend a minute or two on your review considering how many hours the author put into creating their "baby."
To those who do take the time to write a thoughtful review, whether only the minimum amount of characters required or several paragraphs long, you have no idea how much your effort is appreciated. If I had J.K.'s success, I would take each and everyone of you out for a beer. Scratch that - I would throw you all one helluva party with Charlie Hunnam and Brock O'Hurn serving the beer. Shirtless. On a beach in Maui. With Jack Johnson playing his ukulele.
With these lovely visuals in mind, I'm off to write.
Wednesday, February 15, 2017
FIGHTING FOR ALEXA Release & Random Thoughts
You guys. I can't believe I've published seventeen books in my writing career.
SEVEN. DAMN. TEEN.
Whenever someone asks what number I'm on, I honestly never remember (part of that's because I'm getting closer to becoming an AARP member). Even right this moment I feel like I should run into my office and count one more damn time for good measure. Then again, that's probably my mild OCD showing its bastard face. At least as I sit here and reflect on the last 42 years of my life (ouch that hurts...today's my bday), I can look back at everything I've done and be proud as hell.
To give you a glimpse into my background, in third grade I wrote a short story about My Little Pony and declared I would one day be an author. I often skipped hanging with my friends as a teenager to type away on my little Apple IIc, writing what's now known as "fanfic" that involved my favorite movies like Sixteen Candles and Breakfast Club.
My high school English teacher encouraged me to send my work in for a contest, and I think I won some kind of award (#oldladymemory). In college I struggled with what path to take as my advisors told me I likely wouldn't make a career out of writing. I wasn't interested in the other options involving an English major, and one afternoon ended up picking a career path from the phone book.
Basically, the start of my career was a total shit-storm.
Unfortunately, I didn't go after my dream until several years later when a dear family member was diagnosed with cancer at a young age. At that point I realized that tomorrow isn't promised, and I knew I owed it to myself to see if I could become a successful author. So in 2012 I quit my full-time job and self-published my first young adult paranormal book, What I've Done.
It's insane to think how much my life has changed since.
So damn many people have played a part in my journey, and I'm bummed that I can't possibly thank everyone in the acknowledgements found in the back of each book. From each individual blogger to fans, my incredible author friends and family, there are literally hundreds of humans who influenced my success in one way or another. If you're reading this, there's a good chance you're one of them, so THANK YOU! I'm fortunate to have come in contact with so many kind souls in the past five years who have offered advice or comfort during tough times, held my hand, and encouraged me to keep going. They even make up for the jackholes who have tried their damnedest to bring me down.
I decided one way to thank my fans was to throw a fun giveaway that includes a $50 Amazon gift card, a Michael Kors bag, a signed paperback, The Sweary Colouring Book, and VS body coconut milk! If you haven't entered yet, you can still stop HERE now through the 28th of February to be in the running for these awesome prizes. I'd give away more if I could afford it, but the expenses associated with being an indie author are ridiculously expensive.
So if you're interested in the crazy stories that go through my head, you can currently grab Fighting for Alexa on Kindle, iBooks, Nook, and Kobo for just 99¢ but I'm pretty sure I'll be putting it on Kindle Unlimited soon and raising the price. So if you're interested, now's your chance to grab that baby. I don't change the price and switch the retailers to be an asshole, I promise. Being an indie author is pretty much like being a meteorologist. We never know when it's going to rain or everything around us will be sucked into a funnel. This is one of the hardest jobs I've ever had, but also the most rewarding.
Please know that I'm eternally grateful for all you do for me from purchasing my books to leaving reviews and sharing my posts on social media! You're truly the best!
XOXO,
Jen
SEVEN. DAMN. TEEN.
Whenever someone asks what number I'm on, I honestly never remember (part of that's because I'm getting closer to becoming an AARP member). Even right this moment I feel like I should run into my office and count one more damn time for good measure. Then again, that's probably my mild OCD showing its bastard face. At least as I sit here and reflect on the last 42 years of my life (ouch that hurts...today's my bday), I can look back at everything I've done and be proud as hell.
 |
| My first computer. GREEN SCREEN, baby. |
My high school English teacher encouraged me to send my work in for a contest, and I think I won some kind of award (#oldladymemory). In college I struggled with what path to take as my advisors told me I likely wouldn't make a career out of writing. I wasn't interested in the other options involving an English major, and one afternoon ended up picking a career path from the phone book.
Basically, the start of my career was a total shit-storm.
Unfortunately, I didn't go after my dream until several years later when a dear family member was diagnosed with cancer at a young age. At that point I realized that tomorrow isn't promised, and I knew I owed it to myself to see if I could become a successful author. So in 2012 I quit my full-time job and self-published my first young adult paranormal book, What I've Done.
It's insane to think how much my life has changed since.
So damn many people have played a part in my journey, and I'm bummed that I can't possibly thank everyone in the acknowledgements found in the back of each book. From each individual blogger to fans, my incredible author friends and family, there are literally hundreds of humans who influenced my success in one way or another. If you're reading this, there's a good chance you're one of them, so THANK YOU! I'm fortunate to have come in contact with so many kind souls in the past five years who have offered advice or comfort during tough times, held my hand, and encouraged me to keep going. They even make up for the jackholes who have tried their damnedest to bring me down.
I decided one way to thank my fans was to throw a fun giveaway that includes a $50 Amazon gift card, a Michael Kors bag, a signed paperback, The Sweary Colouring Book, and VS body coconut milk! If you haven't entered yet, you can still stop HERE now through the 28th of February to be in the running for these awesome prizes. I'd give away more if I could afford it, but the expenses associated with being an indie author are ridiculously expensive.
Please know that I'm eternally grateful for all you do for me from purchasing my books to leaving reviews and sharing my posts on social media! You're truly the best!
Jen
Tuesday, March 1, 2016
BROOKLYN ROCKSTAR Book Trailer
Honestly, these are way too much fun to make.
Grab Brooklyn Rockstar on Kindle Unlimited: http://amzn.to/1ntG3B9
Grab Brooklyn Rockstar on Kindle Unlimited: http://amzn.to/1ntG3B9
Sunday, May 24, 2015
It's Finally Here! THE LIST by Kate L. Mary
The List
College of Charleston series, Book #1
Kate L. Mary
NA Contemporary Romance
╣Synopsis╠
The List.
Twenty things every girl must do before she turns twenty. . .
Body piercing
Get drunk
First kiss
But thanks to her crazy, over-protective father, Annie Roth is way behind schedule. Good thing it’s her first semester of college, because Annie is more than ready to start checking off items. . .
Fake ID
Skinny dipping
Road trip!!!
Where it gets complicated? Ryan and Chris. Best friends. Both sweet, funny, totally hot, and totally into Annie.
But there are some things on The List that Annie only wants to do with Ryan. . .
Lose it
Get Heart Broken
Fall in love
╣Excerpt╠
“I don’t want to go crazy, Cami. I just want to experience the normal things teenagers experience. While I’m still a teenager. I’ll be nineteen next month, and I haven’t done anything! I have one year.”
Cami nodded as a slow smile spread across her face. “Kind of like a bucket list for your teen years.”
I grinned and my wet hair bounced around when I nodded emphatically. “Exactly!”
Cami jumped to her feet and started pacing the room. “That I can help with! But we should start a list right now. Write it all down, so we can mark it off as we go.”
My insides jumped and fired to life, and I got to my feet too. “That’s a great idea.”
Cami grabbed a notebook and flipped it open, then grabbed a pink Sharpie. At the top of the paper she scribbled Annie’s Bucket List. “Okay, what’s first?”
I chewed on my bottom lip and ran my hand through my damp hair. “Let’s start small. Buy makeup.”
Cami nodded and jotted it down, then said, “And some new clothes and shoes. Girly stuff.”
She wrote down, buy a dress and heels and I inwardly cringed. Wearing heels seemed a bit unrealistic, but I was determined to do this. Even if I fell out of my shoes and broke my arm in the process.
“Get highlights,” I said.
Cami giggled while she wrote. “With your hair, I’d get lowlights.”
I nodded even though I had no idea what she was talking about. She’d know better than me.
Cami looked up and raised an eyebrow. “Get your ears pierced?”
“And something else too! Like my nose or my belly button!” I was getting really excited. Bouncing around like Cami. I’d always been intrigued by the way most girls these days glinted under the lights. It was rare, especially in California, to see girls in their teens without multiple piercings. I wanted to be one of those girls.
Cami wrote it down before looking back at me. “A tattoo?”
I hadn’t even considered that one. Something inside me jumped, but with the painful way it twisted I wasn’t sure if it was fear or excitement. “I don’t know…”
“We’ll put that one on the shelf for now. What else? Just fire them off and I’ll write as fast as I can.”
I took a deep breath and went for it. She was willing to help, so I shouldn’t be scared about revealing how little I’d done. “Go on a date, go to a formal, go skinny-dipping, get drunk, have a first kiss, stay up all night, take a road trip with a group of friends.” I took a deep breath and peered at her out of the corner of my eye, but she hadn’t even blinked and she was still scribbling away. “Have sex….”
╣Teasers╠ 
╣About the Author╠ 
╣Social Media╠ Monday, April 13, 2015
Excerpt of ADAM'S LIST
Man have I been bad about blogging or what?? Incase you missed the news, Adam's List is now available on Kindle Unlimited
and Chloe's Dream (NYC LOVE Book 3)
was released April 3rd! In lieu of booze, streamers, and party hats, I'm going to share an excerpt from Adam's List. This is one of my favorite scenes in which Adam and Jewels are still trying to define their complicated relationship despite their undeniable attraction to each other. They're in the back of the pickup truck in a grassy field outside of Toledo, a couple of days into their road trip.
“Trust me, this song is more fitting.” I flip over to lay above him with one hand holding me up and the other trailing down his stomach, headed for his pants. I dance around on top of him, mouthing the words to the song. Adam’s eyes grow wider when the song breaks into the chorus.
I dip my head down, reluctant and cautious. He kisses me with a fire unmatched by anything, hints of champagne and the cheese balls we broke out for our makeshift dinner on his tongue. I breathe deeply through my nose, catching his musky scent mixed in with the outdoors. His lips, both benevolent and eager, stroke and brush around mine, giving room for his tongue to press its way in. When I reach down to tug at his shirt, wanting to finally feel the muscles of his stomach without fabric getting in the way, his hand wraps around my fingers.
He looks up, his eyes filled with so much emotion, it’s as if he’s about to cry. “Just kiss me, Jewels,” he whispers. “Nothing else.”
and Chloe's Dream (NYC LOVE Book 3) was released April 3rd! In lieu of booze, streamers, and party hats, I'm going to share an excerpt from Adam's List. This is one of my favorite scenes in which Adam and Jewels are still trying to define their complicated relationship despite their undeniable attraction to each other. They're in the back of the pickup truck in a grassy field outside of Toledo, a couple of days into their road trip.Chris Martin launches into his old line about stars shining “just for you.” I grab my phone, desperate for him to stop. This thing can’t be about romance. Doesn’t he understand by now he can destroy me with just one of his sexy looks?
I flip through my playlist until I come across Nine Inch Nails’s “Closer.”
“Hey. Go back.” Adam eyes me with suspicion. “New favorite band, remember?”
“Trust me, this song is more fitting.” I flip over to lay above him with one hand holding me up and the other trailing down his stomach, headed for his pants. I dance around on top of him, mouthing the words to the song. Adam’s eyes grow wider when the song breaks into the chorus.
“Whoa!” he yells, nearly shoving me over. “I thought we agreed to take this slow.” He springs for my phone, eagerly stopping the song like it’s making his ears bleed. After a few clicks, the members of Typhoon are crooning into the night, discussing the perils of love of all goddamned things.
I brush off the relevant fact that he chose to play the mix I named “romance,” and frown. “I thought we agreed we were coming back to drink champagne and get it on. You’re becoming the reversed version of a cock block.”
“Come here.” He pulls on my hips, his expression suddenly serious.
And, holy shit, now they’re singing about strangers in the dark...and stars...I should stop this right now. The music, the relationship, whatever game we’re playing. But one look into Adam’s eyes, and I’m a total goner.
I dip my head down, reluctant and cautious. He kisses me with a fire unmatched by anything, hints of champagne and the cheese balls we broke out for our makeshift dinner on his tongue. I breathe deeply through my nose, catching his musky scent mixed in with the outdoors. His lips, both benevolent and eager, stroke and brush around mine, giving room for his tongue to press its way in. When I reach down to tug at his shirt, wanting to finally feel the muscles of his stomach without fabric getting in the way, his hand wraps around my fingers.
He looks up, his eyes filled with so much emotion, it’s as if he’s about to cry. “Just kiss me, Jewels,” he whispers. “Nothing else.”
I fall back into him, wrapping my lips with his, not dwelling on reasons why he’d be upset, not caring that I promised myself I wouldn’t get emotionally attached. I take his probing tongue between my lips and suck hard, rubbing my body against his in sync with our kisses. Adam backs down, pulling away just enough to reclaim his tongue and lightly suck on my bottom lip. Every time I try to kick it up a notch, he’s quick to slow it back down.
I finally give in to his sweet gestures and marginal PG rated intentions. We continue kissing forever and ever under the bright stars, burning through the playlist I created with high hopes for such an occasion. The only stroking and touching of any kind involves heads and faces, and it’s filled with compassion, tenderness. Although I’m still burning for him from head to toe, there’s an intense need to match his pace and prove to him I want this. I want him.
Every time we stop to catch our breaths, Adam studies me closely, as if waiting for me to profess my love for him. As if wanting to tell me he’s in love and doesn’t ever want to let me go.
We’ve entered dangerous territory. You can’t kiss someone with so much emotion if you’re preparing to walk away. Alarms ring through my head, too loud and too obvious to be ignored. There are way too many complex emotions being passed between us.
I already know he’s going to shatter my heart.
GET IT NOW:
Thursday, April 9, 2015
THE LIST by Kate L. Mary
Body piercing
Get drunk
First kiss
But thanks to her crazy, over-protective father, Annie Roth is way behind schedule. Good thing it’s her first semester of college, because Annie is more than ready to start checking off items. . .
Fake ID
Skinny dipping
Road trip!!!
Where it gets complicated? Ryan and Chris. Best friends. Both sweet, funny, totally hot, and totally into Annie.
But there are some things on The List that Annie only wants to do with Ryan. . .
Lose it
Get Heart Broken
Fall in love
I was fortunate enough to get my hands on an ARC of this sweet/steamy/fun novel and couldn't put it down. If you haven't heard me gush about Kate L. Mary's writing before, check out either this excerpt from her adult zombie series or this one. The List is a contemporary romance, proving Ms. Mary can write an amazing story no matter the genre. Now for my review.
Holy sexual frustration, Batman! I can't remember the last time I read a romance in which I so badly wanted the characters to get past their issues and get it on already! This was a great, entertaining read about a girl trying to find her way in college after leading a sheltered life. I love that the characters are flawed and have so many real life issues keeping them apart. I hope the small loose ends are covered when we hear Cami's story in the next book. Literally sat down and read it in one day. This was one of my favorite reads, which is no surprise considering the author. Kate L. Mary has written another emotional masterpiece that will stay with me for a long time!
Preorder The List on Amazon
Kate L. Mary is a stay-at-home mother of four and an Air Force wife. She spent most of her life in a small town just north of Dayton, Ohio where she and her husband met at the age of twelve. Since their marriage in 2002, they have lived in Georgia, Mississippi, South Carolina, and California. Kate enjoys any post-apocalyptic story – especially if zombies are involved – as long as there is a romantic twist to give the story hope. Kate prefers nerdy, non-traditional heroes that can make you laugh to hunky pieces of man-meat, and her love of wine and chocolate is legendary among her friends and family. She currently resides in Oklahoma with her husband and children.
Thursday, February 5, 2015
Cover Reveals by Danielle Sibarium
For Always
“There’s nothing you can’t do if you want it bad enough.”
I entered the world with a massive defect. I attracted death. Like a magnet. I could feel it all around me. It wrapped its icy fingers tight around my chest, leaving me no room for escape. That was my life before I met Jordan Brewer, the boy I became infatuated with. Obsessed with. The boy that became my everything.
I knew he wanted me, too. I saw it. I felt it. But he was older, and wouldn’t act on his feelings. I knew in time I’d make him mine. Just as he promised me a future together, his life was torn apart. He turned away from me and shut me out of his life. Could I convince him to let go of his past and hold on to me? Or would he continue to punish us both for something he couldn’t control?
For Always purchase links:
And Forever
“Sometimes being with the one you love hurts more than being without them.”
“There’s nothing you can’t do if you want it bad enough.” This is the mantra Jordan Brewer drilled
I love Jordan, and Jordan loves me, but something always gets in the way. I had to fight tooth and nail to convince him we belong together. Now he’s mine, but I’m not sure our love is strong enough to survive.
I’m away at school and Jordan’s playing drums for a local band. We hardly see each other, and when we do, he’s haunted by demons from his past. I’m struggling to fit in and he’s struggling with his ever-growing mountain of guilt. Will we be able to hold on to each other through the tough times, or will it all come tumbling down around us?
Danielle Sibarium Online
Tuesday, January 20, 2015
Snipers: The Definition of Brave
In the wake of the colossal Hollywood hit American Sniper, filmmaker Michael Moore sent out a tweet yesterday saying, "Snipers aren't heroes" and that he was taught they're cowards.
Something tells me Mr. Moore isn't brave enough to say that to a sniper's face.
What gives random bloggers and political activists the right to sit behind their computer and judge the level of bravery obtained by someone who has actually served in the military? Has Mr. Moore ever met a sniper or is he going off the facts he's gathered while stuffing his face with popcorn and watching Hollywood movies?
In the past twenty years, I've friended many real-life Marines as my big brother served back in the 90s, even doing a tour for Desert Storm. He was also a sniper.I'm not going to lie, they tend to be a wild bunch. But what else would you expect from the type willing to face mentally deranged terrorists in order to protect the country they love? Collectively, they're a brave, kind-hearted, and loyal bunch. If I were to call up any of my brother's old buddies with a serious problem, they'd come to my aid in a heartbeat. They're the type who open doors for little old ladies and stick up for someone being bullied at the bar. And they never do these acts for attention or to solicit a "thank you." They do them because they believe in sticking up for what's right. They do it because they spent many years putting their lives on the line for their fellow Americans and that's something you can't just turn off. These are the type of men who don't back down for anything. By very definition, these men are
brave
brāv/
adjective
“Hollywood leftists: while caressing shiny plastic trophies you exchange among one another while spitting on the graves of freedom fighters who allow you to do what you do, just realize the rest of America knows you’re not fit to shine Chris Kyle’s combat boots... May the epic American Sniper bring nothing but blessings to Taya and the children of this true American hero.”
I say we launch a Kickstarter campaign sending Michael Moore to live with ISIS. Let him see first hand what a real coward looks like.
Saturday, January 3, 2015
New Release: MAD WORLD by Kate L. Mary
Mad World
(#3, Broken World series)
by Kate L. Mary
Post-Apocalyptic/Zombie Series
╣Synopsis╠ Mad World is the third book in the Broken World series, which follows a group of survivors after a super-virus has destroyed the world and the dead have come back to claim it as their own…
Vivian didn’t think things could get any worse than losing Emily, and getting to the shelter should have been their salvation. But once again their hopes where shattered when they found out things weren’t as safe as promised, forcing them to head into Vegas in search of supplies.
Vivian
But now Vivian and Hadley find themselves in a situation more threatening than even the dead walking the Earth. Kidnapped by armed men and taken deep into Vegas, they’re cut-off from anyone who cares about them and thrust into a world so sick and twisted it can only be described as madness. Knowing that Axl has no idea where they are and little hope of finding them, Vivian and Hadley must team up with one of the very men who abducted them if they have any hope of escaping their new nightmare.
Axl
Watching Vivian get thrown into the back of a van almost tears Axl apart, and he’s determined to find her no matter what it takes. With the growing tension between him and Angus, Axl finds himself wondering if the price will be his relationship with his brother. Putting both old and new wounds aside, Axl and Angus must infiltrate the group holding Vivian and Hadley, and make their escape through a zombie-ridden Vegas.
But the men in charge of Vegas aren’t the type to easily forget, and the group soon discovers that getting the girls out alive very well could mean the end for them all…
╣Excerpts╠
_______________
Axl
I push my way through the group of people gathered ‘round ‘til I find a face I don’t recognize. He’s a preppy-lookin’ bastard. Older than me, but probably not more than thirty. He’s clean. Obviously he ain’t been sleepin’ in no abandoned buildings, which means he’s with the bastards that took Vivian and Hadley.
I slam him against the wall and push the barrel of my gun right between his eyes, pressin’ it into his skull. “Where the hell is she?”
The guy swallows. His eyes are so big they look like they’re gonna pop outta his head. “You shoot me and you’ll never know,” he says in a surprisingly calm voice.
My entire body shakes, and my finger’s just itchn’ to pull the trigger. But he’s right. I can’t shoot him. Not if I wanna find Vivian.
But I could shoot his balls off.
I jam my arm against his throat and press as hard as I can before movin’ my gun to his crotch. “I ain’t gonna kill you, but if you don’t tell me where she is, I guarantee that by the time I’m done with you, you’ll wish you had.”
"The Monte Carlo! The Monte Carlo!” His voice ain’t calm no more.
“I told ya!” Darla’s shrill voice screams out behind me.
“Shut the fuck up,” I say, not takin’ my eyes off the tremblin’ guy in front of me. “She better be okay.”
He nods as hard as he can with my arm pressed against his throat. “She’s fine. So is Hadley.”
I wince. Damn. I shoulda asked ‘bout Hadley.
Winston steps forward and puts his hand on my back. “Let him go, Axl. We need to let him talk if we’re going to figure out what’s going on."
The muscles in my neck are stretched tight, and my arm twitches as I press it against the guy’s neck. I don’t wanna let him go. I wanna bash his damn face in.
_________________
Vivian
I look back and forth between Axl and the fence. Between the zombies and my reason for life. “What about you?”
The helicopter’s engine dies, and the moans of the dead break through the night sky. They’re louder than the roar of a hurricane. More menacing than a tornado. I can’t leave Axl.
“I’ll cover you,” he yells. He spins to face the zombies. They round the corner. Fifteen feet away at the most.
I grab his arm and pull him to the fence. “Come with me!”
He shakes me off and looks down at my bare feet and legs. “You ain’t protected. Go!”
There’s no way to convince him, plus he’s right. I’m much too exposed. I turn to the fence and climb. The metal digs into my hands and feet. The moans grow louder, and my legs shake, threatening to give out. I keep my head up so I won’t look back. Axl will be more focused if I’m safe. He can take care of himself. He will be okay. My heart races even faster.
The fence is high. Maybe ten feet. My arms ache as they slowly pull my body up. I’m not even halfway there and already I’m shaky.
A shot rings out behind me, and I scream.
Keep moving. Don’t look down.
The wind blows, showering me with bits of sand. My eyes sting and tear up. I blink, but it doesn’t help. A few tears slide down my cheeks. I hang onto the fence with one hand and use my free one to rub my eyes. They burn, but there’s no time to worry about that. I squint as more tears fall and pull myself up a little more. Halfway there.
Axl grunts and Jon curses. Something slams against the fence, and the whole thing shakes. I grip the metal tighter. Fingers claw at my foot, and I scream. Kicking at them. They wrap around my ankle. I kick harder, and the fence sways. I can’t get away!
My fingers curl around the metal links, and I glance down. What was once a man—his face now half-rotten—grips my ankle. His foul teeth chomp, and he moans like he’s in pain. Jon is on the ground, struggling with a zombie. Another one has Axl pinned against the fence. His knife is on the ground.
╣About the Author╠Kate L. Mary is a stay-at-home mother of four and an Air Force wife. She spent most of her life in a small town just north of Dayton, Ohio where she and her husband met at the age of twelve. Since their marriage in 2002, they have lived in Georgia, Mississippi, South Carolina, and California.
Kate enjoys any post-apocalyptic story – especially if zombies are involved – as long as there is a romantic twist to give the story hope. Kate prefers nerdy, non-traditional heroes that can make you laugh to hunky pieces of man-meat, and her love of wine and chocolate is legendary among her friends and family. She currently resides in Oklahoma with her husband and children.
╣Social Media╠ ╣Other Books╠ 
Broken World (Broken World #1)
When a deadly virus sweeps the country, Vivian Thomas sets out for California in hopes of seeing the daughter she gave up for adoption. Then her car breaks down and she’s faced with a choice. Give up, or accept a ride from redneck brothers, Angus and Axl. Vivian knows the offer has more to do with her double D’s than kindness, but she’s prepared to do whatever it takes to reach her daughter.
The virus is spreading, and by the time the group makes it to California, most of the population has been wiped out. When the dead start coming back, Vivian and the others realize that no electricity or running water are the least of their concerns. Now Vivian has to figure out how to be a mother under the most frightening circumstances, cope with Angus’s aggressive mood swings, and sort out her growing attraction to his brooding younger brother, Axl.
While searching for a safe place to go, they pick up a pompous billionaire who may be the answer to all their problems. Trusting him means going into the middle of the Mojave Desert and possibly risking their lives, but with the streets overrun and nowhere else to turn, it seems he might be their only chance for survival.
Shattered World (Broken World #2)
***Warning: Contains Spoilers for Broken World***
Stranded in the middle of the Mojave Desert, surrounded by zombies, Vivian and Axl are sure they’re facing the end. The dead are closing in and the shelter they were promised is sealed tight. Just when they think they’ve run out of time, the doors are thrown open. Five years underground with all the provisions there for the taking. It’s almost too good to be true. With the promise of security, Vivian hopes she’ll finally able to deal with the loss of Emily, her growing feelings for Axl, and the terrifying new world they’re facing.
But their sense of security is soon shattered when they discover the shelter isn’t the utopia they thought it would be. It seems the company that built the shelter decided to solve their financial problems by selling off provisions, which means the group has to find a way to get supplies. Or face starvation.
And Vegas is the closest city.
With her feelings for Axl stronger than ever, Vivian volunteers to accompany him and a few others on a trip into one of the biggest tourist cities in the world. Vegas is overrun with the dead, but there are other survivors as well. Only not everyone they meet is a welcome sight. As the emotional baggage piles up, Vivian and Axl’s bond grows stronger, but it doesn’t take long to realize that zombies aren’t the only thing they have to fear.
Sunday, December 14, 2014
Friday, November 21, 2014
Cover Reveal: THE LIST by Kate L. Mary
Title: The List
Author: Kate L. Mary
Genre: NA Contemporary Romance
Series: College of Charleston series, Book #1
Publisher: Lyrical Press
╣Synopsis╠
The List.
Twenty things every girl must do before she turns twenty. . .
Body piercing
Get drunk
First kiss
But thanks to her crazy, over-protective father, Annie Roth is way behind schedule. Good thing it’s her first semester of college, because Annie is more than ready to start checking off items. . .
Fake ID
Skinny dipping
Road trip!!!
Where it gets complicated? Ryan and Chris. Best friends. Both sweet, funny, totally hot, and totally into Annie.
But there are some things on The List that Annie only wants to do with Ryan. . .
Lose it
Get Heart Broken
Fall in love
Available for preorder now!
~Coming May 25, 2015~
╣Excerpt╠ I closed my eyes when my head started to spin. “Have a first date, a first kiss, smoke a cigarette, get a fake ID, go skinny dipping. Have sex.”
When I opened my eyes, Ryan was staring at me. My heart pounded. He was so close I could feel the heat radiating off his body. It made the blood sizzle in my veins.
“All that before you turn twenty?” he whispered. I nodded and his eyes went over my face, lingering on my lips. “How long do you have?”
My heart pounded in my ears, drowning out the ocean and the wind. Even the music from the party. “A year. I turn nineteen September fifth.”
“Seems doable,” he said, scooting closer. “How many things have you marked off?”
“Four before tonight.” My heart pounded even faster, and I inhaled sharply. His eyes were still on my lips and it made my brain even fuzzier than the alcohol. “Now I can cross off getting drunk, and Cami says we’re going to stay out all night.”
He pulled back a fraction of an inch. “How drunk are you?”
I shook my head and blinked a few times when my temples pounded. “I don’t have anything to compare it to.”
He frowned, then his eyes went to my lips. “We can cross something else off, if you want.”
╣Teasers╠ 
╣About the Author╠ 
Kate L. Mary is a stay-at-home mother of four and an Air Force wife. She grew up in a small town just north of Dayton, Ohio where she and her husband met at the age of twelve. Since their marriage in 2002, they have lived in Georgia, Mississippi, South Carolina, and California.
Kate enjoys any post-apocalyptic story - especially if zombies are involved - as long as there is a romantic twist to give the story hope. Kate prefers nerdy, non-traditional heroes who can make you laugh to hunky pieces of man-meat, and her love of wine and chocolate is legendary among her friends and family. She currently resides in Oklahoma with her husband and children.
Be sure to check out her bestselling BROKEN WORLD series, which is a top 100 book in dystopian and post-apocalyptic fiction on Amazon.
╣Social Media╠ Saturday, November 15, 2014
COVER REVEAL: LOVE ADDICTION ANTHOLOGY
I'm excited to announce Adam's List is part of an anthology being released December 15th, cover designed by yours truly! I adore the other seven authors I've teamed up with and know you'll enjoy their sweet and spicy love stories. Make sure to add the box set to your Goodreads list (link at bottom of this post)!
LOVE ADDICTION: a holiday anthology
8 moving stories of love and lust to melt away your winter blues.
Coming December 15th!
The books included:
Casey Cassidy gets what she wants.
Determined to get over Jason and find a man that wants a family, she moves to Breckenridge, Colorado.
Landing a job skiing every day, Casey finds Blaine Johnson - a wish come true. A hunky surfer turned ski instructor, he checks off every requirement on her list.
Except for the one she forgot to add.
Blaine has a secret. A secret so big it keeps intimacy smoldering, when Casey needs fire. No matter how hard she tries, the embers won’t ignite. Can she live without passion to get the family she craves?
When Jason comes to town, Casey questions everything she wished for. Their consuming love threatens to explode and ruin her dream. Will she have to choose between a family and the love of her life?
"I wanted him, but more than that, I didn't want to disappear again. That scared me the most."
Miranda Preston is a walking contradiction. Beautiful on the outside, but, insecure, haunted and damaged on the inside. Despite these contradictions, she’s ready to start Another New Life.
When her talent wins her a piano scholarship to the University of Texas at Austin, Miranda arrives on campus determined to experience everything college has to offer and to keep her secrets in the past where they belong.
An easy task, until the first guy who catches her eye happens to be someone she’s known all her life.
Eight years have passed since the last time Miranda and Troy saw each other. He reminds her of the best and worst times of her life, but she can’t think about one without dwelling on the other. As they grow closer, every day their attraction reminds them they are no longer kids.
The epic romantic love story that is Miranda and Troy seems to be destined for a happy ending, but Miranda knows it's only a matter of time before her secret is discovered. A secret that will not only destroy their relationship, it will destroy Troy, too.
Can Miranda focus on her future with Troy while preventing her past from tearing them apart all over again?
‘Nothing is worth losing you,’ he whispered.
‘You wouldn’t lose me. I’d be there to support you and help you reach your dreams.’ I smiled and ran my hand down his beautiful face.
At eighteen, Ava is sure she has found her soul mate in Jardine. Convincing their friends and family that what they have is more than just a crush, however, is an entirely different story. Jardine's parents have his life mapped out with plans that don't include Ava.
Their plans to get into med school and start their future together crumble when cricket sensation Jardine is selected to play for the Australian team, and expected to spend most of the year touring internationally. Ava knows since they agreed to follow their dreams, no matter the cost, she has to let Jardine go.
Ava also discovers a new inspiration to move on with her life. But can she keep it a secret from Jardine? If he discovers the truth, everything between them could be destroyed.
“Sweet as hell. Unexpected. Reassuring. It was as if he wanted me to know, in his own particular Noah way, that he hadn’t forgotten about me.”
He’s twenty-four. She’s eighteen.
His life is exactly the way he’s always wanted it to be...stable.
She’s quite possibly the very definition of unstable.
Noah saved her.
Georgina never wanted to be saved.
Growing up, Noah Clark was passed from one relative to the next until he finally ended up living with his abusive, alcoholic uncle in Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina. Thanks in part to the unwavering love and support of his best friend, Ellie Turner, Noah survived those years, escaped his uncle, and grew into the man he is today. Now he runs his own business and lives a pretty normal, no-nonsense life—one where he maintains a high level of control.
Georgina is Ellie’s younger sister. Four months ago, Noah saved Georgie’s life, but he thought that was where his involvement with his friend’s sister would end. Now Georgie has returned home from the recovery facility her parents sent her away to and Noah, still haunted by the night that connects them, can’t stop himself from continuously trying to protect this girl he barely knows. But is he willing to give up all of the control he’s worked so hard to build in his life and risk everything for her? Even more importantly, would she do the same for him?
McGreers Special Christmas Edition, McGreers #7
"He hadn’t taken his eyes from hers.
They were the blue-grey of the sky now. Sunlight sparked against them.His lips were close, then they met hers.
When she kissed him back, it felt like she was melting inside, melting into Shane McGreer."
Fresh-faced intern Candi Bamberger flies to Beaver Creek, Colorado to scope out the action, but not the kind smokin’ snowboard star Shane McGreer has in mind! Shane shows her amazing moves, and not just in the half-pipe. He’s fallen hard, but Candi’s in deep freeze. Will he warm her up in time for a McGreer Ranch Christmas Eve?
"Here it is. Here is all I have to give. Everything in my life comes down to you."~Brant Edgemont
Holly Edgemont used to love celebrating Christmas, that is, until her whole world was turned upside down by an unexpected divorce from her college sweetheart Brant. This year, not only is she divorced, but the kids are going out of state with her ex Brant, leaving her utterly alone. Holly's party-girl friend Sloane tries to break her out of her frump by dragging her along to holiday parties where Holly meets cute and available Chris. But when Holly realizes that she still has feelings for Brant, she has a decision to make: Learn to trust her long time love who broke her heart, or move on for good.
Brant Edgemont is a divorced father of three, and hopelessly in love with his ex-wife, Holly. He made the biggest mistake of his life walking out two years ago. Despite his pleas to reconnect, Holly still resists him. Is it too late to rekindle their love? Or will Holly move on for good, leaving Brant himself heartbroken and alone? Down To You is not just a romantic love story. It is a story of familial love, friendship, betrayal, redemption, and the magic that can happen at Christmas time when friends and family join together.
.jpg)
"We’ve entered dangerous territory. You can’t kiss someone with so much emotion if you’re preparing to walk away."
She's ready to give up on life, hiding her depression with sarcasm and booze. He's got a secret and quit college, with few friends to lean on. When they discover each other, the sexual attraction is undeniable. So why does it seem impossible for them to be together?
Everyone wanted to be Jewels Peterson in high school. Naturally beautiful, exceptionally smart, talented cheerleader, life of the party, and with an All-American boyfriend to boot. One regrettable choice and fatal accident later, and Jewels found herself unceremoniously knocked off her pedestal. Now she’s in college, going through the motions, but not really living.
Adam Murphy is easy-going, charming, considerate, and crazy good looking; he’s exactly the kind of guy Jewels pictures herself being happy with. But Jewels is already involved with someone, and Adam makes it known that he’s guarding a dark secret, one that makes him the wrong guy for her. Trumped by the promise of an innocent friendship, Jewels is forced to ignore her overwhelming hunger for Adam.
After Jewels unknowingly helps Adam create a bucket list, they embark on the adventure of a lifetime that pushes their platonic relationship to its limits. But does she want to be with Adam without knowing the truth behind the skeletons in his closet, or is being with him just another pointless thing in her life?
Passionate Hippie + Hot Lumberjack = Enough heat to melt the fiercest Alaskan snow storm.
Cassidy catches a plane to Alaska to meet celebrity and friend, Jeremy Wren, to tackle her biggest environmental protest to date. But when she gets there, Jeremy's flaked again and now she has to take on the Goliath, Whetman Logging, by herself.
But lumberjack, Teague Whetman isn't who she expected. He's sexy and nerdy and nothing like his old man--the Whetman behind the monster that she's come to destroy. Determined to see her protest through, she handcuffs herself to his saw and shuts down the operation...right as a late-Spring storm rolls in.
Hammered by the snow, the little town of Bear Ridge shuts down, including the airport and Cassidy's way out. Left with no other option, and with the storm turning deadly, Teague takes her to his place...
Will Teague and Cassidy be able to keep each other at arm's length, or will the softly falling snow, candlelight, and their intense attraction be too much to resist?
Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1uAlYW8
Amazon CA: http://amzn.to/1xefJyk
Amazon AU: http://bit.ly/1A49tqk
Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/16j8JoA
Kobo: http://bit.ly/1smVsFA
Pinterest Board: http://www.pinterest.com/sadarlington1/love-addiction/
Amazon CA: http://amzn.to/1xefJyk
Amazon AU: http://bit.ly/1A49tqk
Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/16j8JoA
Kobo: http://bit.ly/1smVsFA
Pinterest Board: http://www.pinterest.com/sadarlington1/love-addiction/
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)