Happy Halloween! #Holiday #Books

Halloween is a yearly celebration observed on October 31, All Hallows' Day. Typical activities include trick-or-treating, bonfires, bobbing for apples, haunted houses, costume parties, telling scary stories, scary movies and pranks.

Telling scary stories or reading them is the subject of the day. Take a seat before the fireplace or lay across the bed with a hair-raising book with a cup of coffee, tea or your beverage of choice. Here are two suggestions--one dark, the other light:

Liebster Award!

Hi All! I've been nominated by Elle of 411 on YA Books for the Liebster Award. I'm honored!

Okay. Here's six random facts about myself:

1. I am a huge Doctor Who fan. The jury is still out on whether I will love this twelfth doctor (Peter Capaldi) as much as I adore the tenth one (David Tennant).
2. Other than my obsession with the Doctor (see #1), I love DIY. I'm putting together plans to build a tiny house as a retreat for writing.
3. My favorite food is fried green tomatoes.
4. My favorite flower is the Lotus.
5. I love dancing!
6. My favorite genre is romance.

Here are the questions Elle asked:

1. What made you want to start blogging?
I've always loved books and reading. This my way of keeping up with the new releases I wanted to read.
2. What is your favorite book of all time?
My favorite book of all time is Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen.
3. Who is better, Harry or Ron?
Ron.
4. If you could meet one author and ask them one question, who would it be, what would it be, and why?
Beverly Jenkins. I'd ask of all the genres, what made her choose to write African American historical romances.
5. How do you decide what your next review is?
My decision is based on when the pre-release is set to go live. If I have more than one, I try to represent with different genres for the designated post.
6. When did you start blogging?
I started a private blog (like a journal,really) in 2006. I started my public blog in 2009.
7. Where in the world would you go if you had two tickets to anywhere? Who is that second ticket for and why?
I'd go to England. The second ticket would be for my mother. We like traveling together.
8. Do you have late fees on local library books?
No late fees. I usually check out ebooks from the library. They automatically go back to the library on the due date.
9. How do you feel about Twilight?
Not my favorite as far as the books are concerned, but I loved the movies. That's odd for me because I usually like the book but not the movie.
10. What is/was your least and most favorite classes in school? Why?
Government. The teacher was boring. She did nothing to make the class interesting.
11. Pick any profession in the world. Why did you pick that one?
Genealogist. It's like detective work figuring out a family's history.


My Nominations:

Sahara
Lynne
Christy
Jane


The rules for the nominees:

-Link back to the person who nominated you.
-State six facts about yourself
-Answer eleven questions asked by the blogger who nominated you.
-Nominate other bloggers with under 500 followers.
-Ask them eleven questions.
-Let them know that you nominated them!

My Eleven Questions for the Nominees:

1. What made you want to start blogging?
2. What is your favorite book of all time?
3. What is your favorite flower?
4. If you could meet one author and ask them one question, who would it be, what would it be, and why?
5. Do you have a favorite season?
6. When did you start blogging?
7. Where in the world would you go if you had two tickets to anywhere? Who is that second ticket for and why?
8. Do you have late fees on local library books?
9. Quick! It's a cold winter day! What book do you snuggle up with?
10. What is your favorite outdoor activity?
11. Pick any profession in the world. Why did you pick that one?

Monday Musing

Good Morning!

I thought I'd share what my writing space looks like. I converted the second bedroom of my home into an office. The color scheme of the room is white, black with many shades of pink.

There are two windows wearing varying colors of pink curtains and white blinds. Between the windows is my black wooden triangle-shaped/corner desk with a black and fushia rolling chair. The desk holds my netbook, a landline phone, a dark pink based lamp with a white shade, my pink/fushia office tools and a clear in-tray for holding pages of edited works in progress and internet research.

My printer is on a black tray table next to the desk. Above the tray table, on the wall is a white magnetic board with small round multicolored magnets used as a storyboard or for messages.

Three black bookcases. One, a small two shelf bookcase. The top is used to hold open books currently in use. The shelves hold computer software and travel videos for out of state/country settings. Another, a small three shelf that holds five books each shelf. These are the books that are used all the time. The last, a large five shelf bookcase holding the rest of my books on craft of writing.

There is a TV for taking breaks from writing and a stereo system for listening to music when I need to be in the mood for writing romantic scenes.

A light pink, peach, beige and white sleeper sofa with throw pillows round out the room. It's used for those all important naps when the brain is too tired to function.

It's not too obvious that I like black and pink is it?

What is your writing space like?

Teaser Tuesday Snippets

Welcome to Teaser Tuesday. Each Tuesday, I will post a snippet of a book from my personal bookshelf. Some books may be fiction. Some may be on the craft of writing. Here's today's selection.

Could she tell the truth about her first few years at The Circle if he asked? Maybe it wouldn't hurt for him to know, to understand what she'd gone through to become a total bitch. She squeezed her eyes shut for a few seconds. She wanted to escape from him and the emotions he made her feel. Going from one job to another had pushed away the desire to live a normal life, to be loved by a man, to have two point five children, and to won a minivan parked next to the white picket fence.

"How old were you the first time you walked across The Circle's vestibule?" he asked with deliberation.

Damn! He was good. She could lie or try to avoid the question but he must know something and he'd already proven he could sense a lie. She took a deep breath and straightened.

"Fourteen."

Pages 100-101, Circle of Desire by Carla Swafford



Here's the Blurb

She knew how to fight but not to love...

As the top assassin at The Circle, a shadowy group of mercenaries, Olivia St. Vincent can hunt down anyone. She's been trained since she was a teenager to kill without feeling, to interact with men without love. But when she's kidnapped by the enigmatic leader of a rival organization, she learns she's been lied to for years. She never worked for the good guys.

Collin Ryker believes the sultry woman he's abducted knows more than she's telling about The Circle and its plans to complete domination. Over time, as they work together, Olivia's tenacity and vulnerability captivate him. But if he isn't careful, Collin will fall into the biggest trap of all: caring for a woman who can betray him to his greatest enemy.

Teaser Tuesday Snippets

Welcome to Teaser Tuesday. Each Tuesday, I will post a snippet of a book from my personal bookshelf. Some books may be fiction. Some may be on the craft of writing. Here's today's selection.

"Stop," I said quietly. "Find someone else to toy with. We both know I lack experience, so I don't know how to play the game without getting hurt. Besides, I hate games. I prefer knowing straight up what's real and what's bullcrap."
He sat back, something lurking in his gaze that tempted me despite knowing better. I gulped my wine for a distraction.
"It's your directness and refusal to lie to yourself that I find most appealing. And I'm not toying with you. I'm very serious about making you mine."

Page 107, Once Burned by Jeanine Frost


Here's the Blurb:

She's a mortal cursed with dark power...

After a tragic accident scarred her body and destroyed her dreams, Leila never imagined that the worst was still to come: a terrifying ability to channel electricity and to see a person's darkest secrets through a single touch. Leila is doomed to a life of solitude...until creatures of the night kidnap her, forcing her to reach out with a telepathic distress call to the world's most infamous vampire...

He's the Prince of Night...

Vlad Tepesh inspired the greatest vampire legend of all--but whatever you do, don't call him Dracula. Vlad's ability to control fire makes him one of the most feared vampires in existence, but his enemies have found a new weapon against him--a beautiful mortal with powers to match his own. When Vlad and Leila meet, however, passion ignites, threatening to consume them. It will take everything they have to stop an enemy intent on bringing them down n flames.

Teaser Tuesday Snippets

Welcome to Teaser Tuesday. Each Tuesday, I will post a snippet of a book from my personal bookshelf. Some books may be fiction. Some may be on the craft of writing. Here's today's selection.

"She forced her gaze from the empty fairgrounds they were passing to the austere beauty of his face. Her heart skipped a familiar beat. "Why don't we just go back to one of the hotels? There're two of them that not only have our scent all over them, but come complete with a bed and hot shower."

Page 137, Darkness Unleashed by Alexandra Ivy

Here's the Blurb:



A scarred recluse, Jagr makes no secret of his disdain for others' company. But now, as a member of Chicago's powerful vampire clan, he has certain obligations to fulfill. The latest: track down a missing were pureblood and return her to her sister. The problem: Regan Garrett has no intention of complying. An though Jagr agreed not to harm an inch of this stubborn female's distractingly tempting body, he'll gladly kiss her into submission, awakening an urge he hasn't felt in years. Hell, in centuries...
Regan vowed never to be at the mercy of another man. That goes double for arrogant, steel-muscled vampires with eyes of ice. All Regan wants is revenge against those who imprisoned her. She doesn't need an ally. She certainly doesn't need a mate. But soon Regan will have to choose--between a lust for vengeance, and a passion as dark and dangerous as the night...

Teaser Tuesday Snippets

Welcome to Teaser Tuesday. Each Tuesday, I will post a snippet of a book from my personal bookshelf. Some books may be fiction. Some may be on the craft of writing. Here's today's selection.

"She was a strong, independent woman. A business woman. The sole supporter of herself and her child. Caretaker of her mother. A good friend, an excellent neighbor. She didn't need a man to make herself complete, but that didn't mean she didn't enjoy having one around."

Page 205, Lover's Leap by Emily March



Here's the Blurb:

Twenty years ago the town bad boy, Cam Murphy, left Eternity Springs in handcuffs, riding in the back of a sheriff's van...and breaking young Sarah Reese's heart. The defiant teenager vowed never to return.
In Australia, Cam makes a new beginning. He builds a successful business and suffers few regrets until Sarah--and their daughter--walk into his life, and then immediately run away. Realizing it's time to right yesterday's wrongs, Cam follows Sarah home to Colorado--and turns her world upside down.
Cam wants to know his daughter. He needs to prove to Sarah, the town, and himself that he's changed. Will the residents of Eternity Springs offer forgiveness--and will Sarah have the courage to trust this man asking for a second chance?

Great Book! Check it out.

Teaser Tuesday Snippets

Welcome to Teaser Tuesday. Each Tuesday, I will post a snippet of a book from my personal bookshelf. Some books may be fiction. Some may be on the craft of writing. Here's today's selection.

"The water glowed in the middle with a flickering orange-red flame. The colors made the water seem even more inviting, and she walked over to the pool to give herself time to collect her thoughts. She had made the decision to see this through, now she just had to figure out how to maneuver her way through the pitfalls."

Page 174, Dark Peril by Christine Feehan

A Perfect Fit by Naima Simone

This book is hot! I want the fairy tale if my prince is as "Fiore-ously" sexy as Darius and my Cinderella as strong, yet feminine as Rowyn. This is book 2 in the Fairy Tales Unleased series from Breathless Press. Check out Naima Simone's other books on her website, www.naimasimone.com