{Book Blitz: Guest Post + Giveaway) State of Pursuit by Summer Lane

Summer Lane, author of State of Pursuit, shares to us how to find inspiration to write. Future writers, like myself, ready your pens and paper!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Summer Lane is the author of the national bestselling Collapse Series, which currently includes State of Emergency, State of Chaos, State of Rebellion and the fourth installment, State of Pursuit - releasing June 6th, 2014. She owns WB Publishing, and is the CEO of The Art of Storytelling, an upcoming creative writing program for children.

Summer is also the founder of Writing Belle, an online magazine dedicated to the art of storytelling. She is a consultant, creative writing teacher and journalist. Check out Writing Belle for interviews with upcoming authors and insights into the world of publishing! http://writingbelle.com/

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The best things in life are free. For me, that includes the environment in which we find ourselves living in. I think that the everyday world is the best material for stories, and I often find inspiration for my books from the common occurrences going on around us every day.  The entire premise of The Collapse Series was based on the idea that everyday things are no longer common – they are defunct. Society as we know it has suddenly deteriorated, and survival is based on how fast you are, how strong you are – and what you are willing to do to stay alive.

I live in the Central Valley of California. I’ve lived here for most of my life, surrounded by orchards of fruit trees, packinghouses and cold storage sheds. I’ve always been able to see the majestic Sierra Nevada Mountains from my house – they’re just a half an hour away. I utilized the awesome setting of this place in Cassidy Hart’s story. I threw the average citizen into an intense situation and watched them struggle to stay afloat. It wasn’t a matter of writing the story – it was showing it. In fact, I found that most of the time, the story told me what to do!

 My favorite setting thus far in the series was Camp Freedom in the high mountains in State of Rebellion. I used a variety of different ideas from different campgrounds in the Sierra Nevada Mountains as springboards for the camp, and I hope that I get to return to that setting at some point in the series!

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State of Pursuit by Summer Lane

(Collapse Series #4)

Published: June 6, 2014

Genres: Dystopia, New Adult

Amazon || Barnes and Noble

SYNOPSIS:

Cassidy Hart is alone.

Her Commander and the love of her life, Chris Young, has gone missing in action. A horrific battle with Omega has left too many good men and women dead, and Cassidy must bear the burden of leadership in the militia on her own.

But she’s not about to give up.

With the help of her faithful friends – and former enemies – she will stop at nothing to rescue Chris and ensure victory for the militias in their fight against the all-powerful Omega forces.

The game has shifted. This time, Cassidy is one step ahead of the enemy.

This time, Cassidy is in charge.

Collapse Series #4 – YA/NA Romantic Adventure – National Bestselling Series

GIVEAWAY:

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{Book Blast} Hexed by Michelle Krys

Welcome to the Release Day Celebration for Michelle Krys and Hexed!

Series: The Witch Hunter #1

Publisher: Delacorte Press

Amazon || Barnes and Noble || Indiebound

SYNOPSIS:

If high school is all about social status, Indigo Blackwood has it made. Sure, her quirky mom owns an occult shop, and a nerd just won’t stop trying to be her friend, but Indie is a popular cheerleader with a football-star boyfriend and a social circle powerful enough to ruin everyone at school. Who wouldn’t want to be her?

Then a guy dies right before her eyes. And the dusty old family Bible her mom is freakishly possessive of is stolen. But it’s when a frustratingly sexy stranger named Bishop enters Indie’s world that she learns her destiny involves a lot more than pom-poms and parties. If she doesn’t get the Bible back, every witch on the planet will die. And that’s seriously bad news for Indie, because according to Bishop, she’s a witch too.

Suddenly forced into a centuries-old war between witches and sorcerers, Indie’s about to uncover the many dark truths about her life—and a future unlike any she ever imagined on top of the cheer pyramid.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Hi there! I'm the author of the YA novel HEXED, slated for publication with Delacorte Press/Random House Children's Books Spring 2014. I'm repped by Adriann Ranta of Wolf Literary Services. Visit me at michellekrys.com or follow @MichelleKrys on Twitter.

GIVEAWAY:

Enter to win 1 signed copy of Hexed (US only) and 1 of 3 signed swag! (INTL)

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{Cover Reveal} Live for Me by Erin McCarthy

Welcome to the cover reveal of Live for Me by Erin McCarthy. Cover is designed by Okay Creations.

Live for Me by Erin McCarthy

(Blurred Lines #2)

Publication Date: June 23, 2014

Genre: Contemporary, New Adult, Romance

SYNOPSIS:

The solace she sought…

In and out of foster care her whole life, Tiffany Ennis has never had space or privacy, so housesitting a mansion on the coast of Maine with only the absentee rich owner’s dog for company is pure bliss. But her peace is shattered when the injured owner returns to his compound unexpectedly.  Tiffany finds him to be sexy and intriguing, showing an interest in her that must be mocking, given that everyone’s always told her she’s plain, nothing special.

Becomes an affair she never expected…

Devin Gold, known in the music industry as Gold Daddy, is usually in New York City attending drop parties and having men and women alike throw themselves at him, and Tiffany wishes he’d stayed there.  There’s no reason for a top producer to hole up in Maine in the dead of winter, and every time she turns around he’s asking her prying questions.  She finds herself starting to enjoy their intellectual conversations and clever sparring matches, and in a hot minute she’s falling for him.  Even knowing that he’s a decade older, filthy rich, and could only want her for his momentary amusement.
Yet even when he hosts beautiful and confident guests from the city, he still seems to prefer her company, and is protective when odd things start happening around the house, threatening her safety.  But how far is Tiffany willing to go with a man who is still very much married, estranged wife or not, just to feel special?

And all the lines between past and present and right and wrong are blurred…

Buy You Make Me, the first book in the Blurred Lines series on Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

USA Today and New York Times Bestselling author Erin McCarthy sold her first book in 2002 and has since written almost fifty novels and novellas in teen fiction, new adult, and adult romance. Erin has a special weakness for New Orleans, tattoos, high-heeled boots, beaches and martinis. She lives in Ohio with her family, two grumpy cats and a socially awkward dog.

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{Book Blitz: Interview + Giveaway} Two Little Lies by Rhonda Helms

Today is the release day of Two Little Lies by Rhonda Helm. What better way to spend this day than to get to know the author and the book!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

 Rhonda Helms started writing several years ago. She has a Master's degree in English and a Bachelor's degree in Creative Writing. She also edits for Carina Press (an imprint of Harlequin Publishing) and freelance edits.

When she isn't writing, she likes to do amateur photography, dig her toes into the sand, read for hours at a time, and eat scads of cheese. WAY too much cheese.

Rhonda lives in Northeast Ohio with her family.

Website || Twitter || Facebook || Goodreads

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How did you come up with the concept for TWO LITTLE LIES?

When I was writing the other book in the series, ONE BROKE GIRL, I realized that Kyle and Natalie belonged together, no question. Natalie has loathed Kyle since elementary school, when he threw her lunchbox out a bus window. Kyle’s now a sexy, cynical PI; I knew I wanted something work-related to give them a reason to start talking. Hence the research into Natalie’s boyfriend and the start of the story. These two characters practically wrote themselves.

What are you working on right now?

I’m doing a New Adult two-book series for Kensington Publishing, so I just finished drafting the second book (the first is called SCRATCH, coming Sept 30). And I have a few other teen and New Adult book ideas battering around my head that are all begging for my time. ;-)

What is your go-to snack while writing?

Does wine count? Hah. I also enjoy noshing on chocolate or chugging a Diet Coke. Gotta love addictions…

What was your favorite scene to write in this book?

Oh, this one’s easy. The bathroom scene, hands down. I was like, OMG these two are a bit naughtier than I realized. Hah. I kinda pushed my own personal envelope a bit while writing it. I hope you guys enjoy!

How can readers learn about what’s up next for you?

You can drop by my website at http://rhondahelmsbooks.com to find out more about all my teen and adult romance releases. Make sure to sign up for my newsletter at http://bit.ly/1x35SsU. I do exclusive giveaways, teasers, and other fun things!

TWO LITTLE LIES:

Two Little Lies by Rhonda Helms

(Edgewood Falls #2)

Publication Date: June 9, 2014

Genre: New Adult, Contemporary, Romance

Amazon (US) || Amazon (UK) || Nook || iBooks || Kobo

SYNOPSIS:

Natalie Goldsmith has a fabulous life and an equally awesome boyfriend. So what is her best friend Bianca thinking when she says she suspects West is cheating—and confesses that she’s hired a PI to prove it? Totally not cool.

Especially since the cynical PI, Kyle Winslow, is her grade school nemesis. With a smug, know-it-all look on his face, Kyle declares he can smell a cheater from a mile away, and he’s willing to bet it all on West. Well, if he wants to waste his time chasing a lie, more power to him. But just days later, he presents irrefutable evidence of her boyfriend’s unfaithfulness, and Natalie’s enviable life takes a total nosedive.

Determined to not let this ruin her New Year’s Eve, she goes out on the town, dressed to the nines…and ends up having a drunken night of mind-blowing sex with Kyle. Now the guy she hates is the one person she can’t get out of her mind. Even crazier, he seems just as drawn to her too. The more time they spend together, the more she realizes Kyle could be everything she’s been looking for. But should she risk it all on a guy who says he doesn’t believe in love?

GIVEAWAY:

Enter to win a $10 GC from Barnes and Noble, a copy of One Broke Girl and a copy of All I Ever Wanted.

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{Book Blitz: Excerpt + Giveaway} His To Claim #1: No Strings by Opal Carew

Welcome to the Book Blitz of His To Claim #1: No Strings by Opal Carew. This Book Blitz is brought to you by Xpresso Book Tours.

His To Claim #1: No Strings by Opal Carew

Published: St. Martin's Griffin

Publication: June 3, 2014

Genres: Erotica, Romance

Amazon || Barnes and Noble

SYNOPSIS:

Rafe is a rock musician by night and head of a multi-million dollar family business during the day. Melanie is his former assistant, a wallflower who’s harbored a secret crush on him for years. Someone he’d never even consider sleeping with.  But when Melanie decides to leave behind her shy exterior and live out her own sexy bucket list, the two of them are thrown together in a whirlwind affair that pushes both their boundaries.

His to Claim: Part 1 is the first installment in the scintillating erotic serial novel His to Claim, later to be made available as a complete book featuring special bonus material. Don’t miss the other chapters of Opal Carew’s six-part serial out Summer 2014.  She’s his to claim–he just doesn’t know it.

EXCERPT:

As Melanie stepped outside, Rafe behind her, she regretted that this time with him was about to end. The tattoo had been painful, but not as bad as she’d anticipated. It had been so nice, though, having him there to literally hold her hand through it.

“Would you like a ride home?” he asked.

She gazed at him in his jeans and tank top, tattoos visible over his chest and flowing down his arms and she couldn’t help laughing. “I just got a mental picture of you dressed just as you are now climbing into that shiny, black limo.”

He shrugged. “Sure, why not? Would you like to ride in the limo?”

She had always wanted to. It seemed so glamorous and luxurious. It would be a taste of how the other half lived.

“Or, since it’s such a nice day, we could ride my motorcycle.”

She raised her eyebrow. “You have a motorcycle?”

“That’s right. It’s over there.” He nodded his head toward a big, gleaming, burgundy Harley parked on the street in front of the shop. “But I know some women are a little intimidated by them.”

Melanie laughed. “Not me. I’ve always wanted to ride one.” She walked to the big machine and ran her fingers over the soft, black, leather seat. “I would love to ride with you.”

His lips turned up in a devilish grin. “Really?”

She glanced at him and realized her statement might have sounded a little . . . sexual. 

Suddenly, an image washed through her of straddling Rafe, and slowly moving up and down on him, his big erection buried deep inside her. A wild surge of hormones vibrated through her.

As her cheeks blossomed with heat, she flicked her gaze to the seat again. “Um, yeah. It would be a real adventure. Then I can cross two items off my bucket list—getting a tattoo and riding a motorcycle.”

“I never knew you had such a wild side.”

Before she could respond, he opened the back compartment and handed her a helmet, then pulled one on himself.

She opened her bag and pulled out the light sweater she’d brought with her and started to pull it on. Ever the gentleman, Rafe grabbed it and held it up for her so she could easily push her arms into the sleeves. As she zipped it up, he pulled a black leather jacket from the storage bin and pulled it on.

Oh, man, he looked incredibly hot in denim and leather. He mounted the bike and she climbed on behind him.

Once she was settled, he glanced back at her. “You sure you want to go straight home?”

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Opal Carew is the author of Total Abandon, Pleasure Bound, Twin Fantasies and other erotic romance novels. She also writes as Elizabeth Batten-Carew. “So why do I like writing erotic romance?” she asks. “I like being able to push beyond traditional boundaries.” Opal loves crystals, dragons, feathers, cats, pink hair, the occult and all that glitters. While she writes, she listens to inspirational music, lights candles and keeps crystals near. Before devoting herself to  her passion as a writer, Opal spent 15 years as a software analyst, and she has a degree in Mathematics from the University of Waterloo. She lives with her husband and two sons in Ontario, Canada.

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GIVEAWAY:

Enter to win a $50 gift card from Amazon!

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