Saturday, June 7, 2014

Review ~ Love Undone by Diana Nixon

Good Morning!
It's been awhile since I posted and there are a few reviews coming your way because I finally had time to read! Who knew that would happen again? I just want to take a second and remind everyone my giveaways are still going on and you can click here and read the details! Now today I have a review for you of a New Adult book (not suitable for under 18!) and I loved this book. It probably wasn't the best book to read at work, but I loved it none the less. If you haven't checked out Diana Nixon, I would highly suggest that you do. Who hasn't wondered if love should get a second chance? I hope to read more by Diana :)

** Not suitable for under 18! **

Your heart tells you to jump, but your mind wants you to stay cautious of the man before you, do you jump or run? Kassie wakes up in the hospital with all her memories, the good and the bad, all gone. As she is picking up the pieces there is a man with dangerously alluring dark blue eyes that causes her already hurting mind to spin even further. He makes her heart skip beats, but there is a small voice that tells her she should keep her guard up.

Love Undone by Diana Nixon was very well written, good flow without extra fluff some books might add. Kassie has fun witty fights with Daniel the alluring dark man. Daniel will make any woman weak in the knees. I loved reading this story, you feel for both characters. Kassie because she is trying to piece together a life she can not remember, and redealing with tragedies from her past. Daniel, well no one is perfect and no one has a clean past, but you still got to love him. This might be a book that I will eventually pick up a paperback if there ever is one :) go grab yourself a copy!






Interview with Diana:
1.      Where did you come up with the plot to Love Undone?
-          I started writing this book before Christmas, and frankly, it was supposed to be a little different. I even thought about writing it in collaboration with another author. Then, I read my notes and realized that I wanted it to be different from my previous stories. So I tried my best to make it more emotional, touching, catching and memorable. And today, reading the reviews, I can see that I’ve succeeded! It DOES make my readers feel and this is exactly what I wanted from Love Undone. It shows how fast everything that you love and live for can be taken away from you, by accident or death. I also wanted to show how much we shall cherish every person we love, because we never know when his/her travel might end…

2.      Do you believe in love deserves another chance?
-          I do. Personally, I’m sure that everything deserves a second chance, because we all know that the first pancake is always a failure, lol

3.      You have written both YA and NA books, do you prefer to write one over the other?
-          Well, YA books are always beautiful and romantic, while NA stories are more open and show a different side of the youth, where not only happy smiles exist. Now that I have worked in both genres, I think I like NA books more. Or maybe I just feel like I’m too old to write more YA books, lol However, I’m thinking about writing another YA story:) In other words, you never know what to expect from a writer:)

4.      What is your favorite dessert?
-          Ice-cream, with strawberry or chocolate:)

5.      You speak several different languages, which was the hardest for you to learn?
-          Those that I speak were not too hard to learn. There’s only one language that I think I will never be able to learn and it’s French. The pronunciation and spelling are killing me:) Now I’m working on a book that needs French phrases, and I have to check the spelling of every work, over and over again, before sending the text to the editor, because sometimes even she, a French native speaker, can’t understand what I wanted to say, lol

6.      Was there anything that was hard for you to write in this story?
-          The whole story was hard to write. Maybe because unlike other books, I wanted this one to be so heart-shattering? So, yes, it took me awhile to make all those ideas from my head look good on paper:)

7.      Is there a specific routine you have to writing?
-          No routine; more coffee, more chapters:)

8.      What is your favorite book that you've read?
-          I don’t have one:) I like different books, from Gone with the Wind to The Da Vinci Code.

9.      Do you prefer to read off an e-reader or a physical copy?
-          Physical copies are easier to read, but unfortunately, we live in the world of never-stop running, lol, that’s why e-books are always with us, on our phones, e-readers, notebooks.

10.  What advice would you give to those who are either just starting to write or trying to get the ball rolling?
-          Never listen to those saying that your book is not good enough to be published:) Every story deserves a reader. And at least one 5* review:)


Love Undone
By Diana Nixon
Available from JUNE, 3rd 2014
What would you do if all your memories were gone?
One day Kassie wakes up and realizes that her life is nothing but an endless emptiness…
One tragic incident takes away everything that she has ever cherished and loved: family, friends and all the best moments that she ever lived through. 
Now everything seems unknown, including a beautiful stranger,
whose mere look makes her heart beat faster. 
Who is that reckless and mysterious man? Is he just an old friend or an enemy? Sinking into the vortex of indescribable emotions, they will give in to the most irresistible temptation ever,
just to fall in love with each other, again and again...


EXCERPT
“It’s not safe to go there alone, Miss,” he said, stopping at what looked like an old barn.
“Trust me, I’m so pissed that no one will dare touch me,” I said, giving him the money.
“Do you want me to wait for you?”
“No thanks, I’m meeting a friend here,” I said, as I spied Daniel’s car near the entrance. I got out of the taxi and headed for the steps.
A huge guy about my age stood in my way. “Are you a member of the club?” he asked gruffly.
“No, but I know one of the members.”
“Who?”
“Daniel Farrell,” I said, hoping my voice sounded firm. I didn’t want him to think that I was an easy target.
“He’s fighting now. You sure you want to see it?”
“He’s what?” I didn’t expect such an answer.
“It’s a boxing club, you know? People come here to fight.”
I swallowed hard. “Yes, I need to see him.”
He opened the doors for me, and nodded to the stairs, leading to the ground floor.
“Be careful with the crowd. People get really crazy when Dan’s fighting.”
I nodded silently, feeling my palms sweating. What the hell am I doing here?

I only took a few steps down the stairs, when someone caught me by the hand.
“Don’t go there, Sweetheart. They will eat you alive.”
I looked up at the guy, and my knees trembled even worse. He was head and shoulders above me, and the dragon tattoo on his upper arm only made my fear grow. I will kill Daniel for making me drag my ass here, I thought irritably to myself, trying to break free of the guy’s death grip. It wasn’t hard. He let me go, and pulled a lighter from his pocket. I stood still, not knowing what to do next. He smirked, with his bright-blue eyes watching me intently. There wasn’t anything seductive about his gaze. He probably thought I was the stupidest creature ever, since I willingly crossed the threshold of The Underground alone. He lit a cigarette and blew out a thick cloud of smoke right into my face. I grimaced.
“I remember you,” he said, leaning against the opposite wall. “Last time you were here, you were really pissed.”
“This time isn’t much different. Wait, I’ve been here before?”
“Yeah, about two years ago.”
“What was I doing here?”
“Looking for Daniel, I guess.”
“Do you know him?”
“Of course. I know all of my fighters.”
The realization hit me. “You must be the owner of this place.”
“Want to watch the fight?”
“Not really. But I need to talk to Daniel.”
“Come with me,” he said, turning around and heading up the stairs. I hesitated. “Come on, I’m not gonna hurt you. I care about my life, you know?”
“And what’s that supposed to mean?” I asked, following him. Apparently, my courage was back.
“Dan will make me eat my balls if I touch you.”
Huh, that surely makes me feel better, I thought to myself.
“I heard about the explosion. And about your brother.”
“You knew him?”
“I saw him a few times. He came to watch Dan’s fights. Sorry about your loss. I’m Kane, by the way. And you are-”
“Kassie.”
“Right.”
“Here we go, my little kingdom,” Kane said, opening the door to what I supposed was his office. “You are safe here. Want a drink?” he asked, nodding to a small bar in the corner.
“Do you have water?”
“Will soda do?”
“Yeah, thanks.”
I walked to a huge window opening to the round arena with a few dozens of people standing around it. They were shouting and applauding, watching the fight. Even from the distance, I could recognize Daniel as one of the fighters.
“He will be all yours in less than 10 seconds,” Kane said, giving me a glass of soda. “It’s the longest time he spends on one opponent.”
I looked at Daniel again and gasped quietly, when his fist connected with the other guy’s jaw. What surprised me most was Daniel’s expression. It was severe and focused, making shivers run up and down my spine.
Kane opened the window and my hands shot to my ears at the loud cheering and shouting coming from downstairs. When Daniel attacked again, the other guy’s defense shattered. He fell to his knees. His nose met Daniel’s fist again. I grimaced as more blood spilled to the floor.
“Not a comfortable sight, is it?” Kane said, smirking.
“That is not the word,” I said quietly, still watching the poor guy’s motionless body lying in the center of the circle.
“That’s it, the moment of victory,” Kane added, applauding Daniel.
I didn’t share his enthusiasm, and I truly hoped I wouldn’t vomit right in the middle of his ‘kingdom.’ I felt terribly sick.
Before leaving the circle, Daniel applauded himself, helped his opponent to his feet (which was kind of unexpected) and looked around, smiling briefly at the admiring praises coming for the sideliners. And then, he looked up and right at the window where Kane and I were standing. Our gazes locked, and it was the very moment that I regretted coming to the club. Daniel’s expression became murderous. 

Watch book trailer
Read Chapter 1
Follow Blog Tour on Facebook:


Other books by Diana Nixon:
Love Lines (LL, # 1)
Songs of the Wind (LL, # 2)
From Scratch (LL. # 2.5)
Diamond Sky (LL, # 3)

The Souls of Rain (Heavens Trilogy, # 1)
The Prisoners of Dreams (Heavens Trilogy, # 1.5)

Hate at First Sight (A contemporary romance)

Grab a copy of the book you’d like to read here:

Diana Nixon’s official page:
Follow Diana Nixon on Facebook
On Twitter
On Pinterest
On Goodreads


Saturday, May 24, 2014

Review ~ Raised by Sharon Stevenson

Good afternoon!
So I have a new review for you! I have a couple more in the future so prepare yourself, it's been so long! This one is New Adult or older and it is a Sci-fi book so if that sounds like your kind of thing this is your book. I am happy to have found this new to me indie author :) It is also FREE for all e-readers, another reason to jump on it.


Everyone deserves a second chance even the dead. In the future the world is taken over by beings creating it so that there is magic to be harnessed. Pete has died and someone has brought him back to life, but he doesn't know who or why as he sets out on his journey to avoid being captured and forced into the military. Raised is a story that has characters that are realistic, well the main characters at least, and how realistic as a dead man can be. Sharon Stevenson will have you involved in the characters in a manner where you are going to keep flipping through to find out what happens next.

It usually takes me a little longer to read Sci-fi books. However with Raised I was able to zip through the book in a steady pace. The readers are in a fully developed world without the extra word jungle that I get lost in with some Sci-fi books. The main character has an array of emotions that the readers can understand because they are in the book's world. There are even plot twists. Hang on for book two though...
Goodreads
Amazon
BN
Smashwords
Author website

Sunday, May 11, 2014

Wattpad

Good Morning!
Just a friendly reminder that there is a giveaway going on till June 14! There are two giveaways, one for US only and one that is internationally. However that is not why I am here posting today. I am here to say that I am on Wattpad! I have a couple of chapters of End of the Line, Family Ties, and Beneath the Scars up there. I also posted the whole mini blog series Going Rogue up there as well. That was the part of End of the Line, Aaron's side of the story when he vanishes. However I yesterday posted the first chapter of my WIP Project US. I figured since I was going to be having someone edit that over the summer I would get its toes wet and getting a little attention early. My Wattpad is click here.
~Ottilie

Saturday, May 10, 2014

200 Giveaway!

Hello!
I hit 200 likes on my facebook page! To celebrate I decided to host a mini giveaway, but two. I figured one for US only and one internationally because I feel bad that I keep short changing some readers, but I'm still on a budget. When you click to enter make sure that you are in the right one. I enjoy doing these giveaways so please don't cheat, but help spread the word.

US ONLY GIVEAWAY

a Rafflecopter giveaway


INTERNATIONAL GIVEAWAY


a Rafflecopter giveaway



US Prizes:

Dog Tags:
Geeky moment with the dog tags, I loved the site I found. I was able to put in Marine and it put in the format that I needed for that branch of the military. It has Riley's name on it, blood type, and for his SS# I put the date that the book was published for his SS# :) 


Blue Bracelet:


Green/Yellow



Black
I picked this one, because it made me think of Family Ties :)

Wednesday, May 7, 2014

Cover Revealing ~ Love Undone

Hi!
I'm a little late for this party, but Diana Nixon was nice enough to include me to her cover revealing! I love getting to know these indie authors, and you should check out this book because this cover is gorgeous! It is an NA book.




Love Undone
By Diana Nixon
COMING OUT JUNE, 3rd 2014
What would you do if all your memories were gone?
One day Kassie wakes up and realizes that her life is nothing but an endless emptiness…
One tragic incident takes away everything that she has ever cherished and loved: family, friends and all the best moments that she ever lived through. 
Now everything seems unknown, including a beautiful stranger,
whose mere look makes her heart beat faster. 
Who is that reckless and mysterious man? Is he just an old friend or an enemy? Sinking into the vortex of indescribable emotions, they will give in to the most irresistible temptation ever,
just to fall in love with each other, again and again...

Watch book trailer
Read TEASERS
DON’T MISS THE RELEASE OF CHAPTER 1 – MONDAY, MAY 12th !!! – will be available on Diana Nixon’s official page: http://diananixon.blogspot.com/

Other books by Diana Nixon:
Love Lines (LL, # 1)
Songs of the Wind (LL, # 2)
From Scratch (LL. # 2.5)
Diamond Sky (LL, # 3)

The Souls of Rain (Heavens Trilogy, # 1)
The Prisoners of Dreams (Heavens Trilogy, # 1.5)

Hate at First Sight (A contemporary romance)

Grab a copy of the book you’d like to read here:


Follow Diana Nixon on Facebook
On Twitter
On Pinterest
On Goodreads

Monday, May 5, 2014

What am I up to Blog Hop!

Hi!
So you may or may not have seen the the Blog Hop of different authors the past month. Sonya posted a week ago tagging me in her post. She is real sweet you should check out her post. She tagged me and I'll do my best to answer these questions without sounding all over the place!


1. What am I working on? 
Currently I'm working on three different stories. One is in edit mode, one is almost done being written, and I just started a new story the other week. A Pirates' Life for Me is in the edit mode. I wrote this story when I was sixteen and now I'm going back, fixing the sentences and adding more so that it is more show than tell. The power of writing changing as one gets older. It is a Young Adult book, going back to some of my roots. The one that I am finishing up is the second book and last book for End of the Line. Hopefully everyone will like where I took that journey, add more to the world that everyone thought was gone. Lastly my new project all I'll say is that it is New Adult and that Riley might be making an appearance ;) 

2. How does my work differ from others in its genre?
Psh awesome characters of course! I really hope at least, my characters are what makes my stories than any other stories out there. Pirates and the end of the world aren't new concepts, but hopefully it is my characters and their sense of adventure and the love that develops separates my stories from any other.

3. Why do I write what I do?
I write what I write because I have these characters who will not stop talking and begging to be heard! Plus there is that whole I love writing thing. I love teaching and helping students, but there is something nice where I have time to myself at night and I can just get lost in the words. I write what I write because books were and are still a big part of my life. The plots and characters are imprinted in my mind and at times have helped me through times where I needed that time to myself or help. Hopefully I am that escape to someone else.

4. How does my writing process work?
Oh gees, I really wish there was a nice way to put it, but reading this blog I'm sure you can tell I really am not that organized. What typically happens is I usually get my story ideas during times where I have a lot of tests or homework and shouldn't be writing. I usually write at night for a little bit after the homework and work are done. If it's a break than I write any free time that I can get! I usually have the TV on in the background, because I can't handle silence, it unnerves me which might explain why I work in a middle and high school. 


Next on the blog hop...
1. Mia Hoddell
Mia Hoddell lives in the UK with her family and two cats. She spends most of her time writing or reading, loves anything paranormal and has an overactive imagination that keeps her up until the early hours of the morning.

With three poems published before the age of sixteen, Mia moved on to short stories but finding she had too much to tell with too little space, Mia progressed to novels. She started her first series (The Wanderer Trilogy) at the age of fourteen and since then hasn’t stopped writing. Elemental Killers is her second series and with an ever growing list of ideas, Mia is trying to keep up with the speed at which her imagination generates them.
Her blog: click


Thursday, May 1, 2014

Review ~ Hold me Tight by Faith Sullivan

Hello!
So today I got a special treat for you. I have the review for Faith Sullivan's book Hold me Tight which is the third book in her Take me Now series! I was excited to get my hands on the last book in the series!



Shadows. Everyone has shadows, from every decision they have ever made. Ivy is hiding with Tim who might be the father of her true life's baby. Eric is drench in confusion of new information and wondering where Ivy ran off after their fight. This story is true to the Faith Sullivan's style, you think you know the characters, but there is a wrench thrown into the mix that the readers did not see coming. One character you feel sorry for might be the character you might want to strangle.

This book keeps up the thrills that the first two had set up. Ms Sullivan keeps true to her beloved characters that her readers fell in love with the first two books. Her writing flows, and paints each scene so that the readers are right there in the scene waiting for the next explosion. She does not leave any loose ends, and ties everything up nicely. A book that I would suggest you readers to pick up :)

**Not suitable for under 18**





Title: Hold Me Tight
Author: Faith Sullivan
Release date: April 30, 2014
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Age Group: New Adult
Ebook available at: Kindle | Nook | Smashwords 





HOLD ME TIGHT Synopsis:

He loves me. He loves me not.

Ivy's heart shatters upon hearing Eric's crushing ultimatum. Despite how much she cares for him, she won't give in to his demands. She has no choice but to leave, even if it's the hardest thing she's ever had to do.

She loves me. She loves me not.

When Ivy walks out, Eric can't help feeling betrayed. Unwilling to put her at risk, he values her safety above all else. By refusing to compromise, he's blindsided when she moves in with a man who's already stolen so much from him.

I love you. You love me not.

Lauren sees Eric and Ivy's split as an opportunity to end their relationship once and for all. When Ivy places herself at the mercy of Eric's rival, Lauren plots to destroy the fragile tie binding them together, even if she endangers Ivy's life in the process.


Excerpt:


But there’s something I have to do before this goes any further.

Slowly, I draw my head away from her embrace, finding the courage to finally meet her eyes. Her hair hasn’t been combed and her face is all tear-stained, but she has never looked more beautiful.

She stands, bracing herself against me. Her breath hitches when I gently start unbuttoning her shirt, but her eyes never leave my face. I stop partway up, raising the bottom half of her cami up and over her baby bump. Dropping down, I run my hands across her stomach, feeling her shiver against my fingertips. Looking up at her, I place my lips on her bellybutton, kissing the child that’s growing within her, the miracle we created.

“I will never ask you to choose again,” I say solemnly, my voice nothing but a whisper.

Ivy starts to cry in earnest, placing her hands atop mine.

“You are my heart now. Whatever happens to you happens to me.” I kiss each one of her knuckles as she sighs deeply, like she’s been longing with all her soul to hear me say these words. “I know I’m not as brave as you are, but I promise to try harder.”

“Eric, stop. You’re the bravest man I know,” she proclaims with a tender fierceness, tears shining in her eyes.

“I’m just so afraid of losing you,” I mutter, breaking down.

“Oh, Eric,” she whimpers, sobbing right along with me. “I know, baby... I know.”

I lean back against the wall, guiding her onto my lap. We don’t say anything more. We just sit there and hold each other, savoring the moment.


What readers are saying about HOLD ME TIGHT:

"I'm so excited! Eric's balls grew back! He's going to fight for her. I envisioned the whole scene in my mind. True romance at its finest." 
- Rhonda Hofmiller

"You are such a tease! What a way to leave me hanging there, after that scene at the kitchen table. DAMN. Hose me down with cold water please!" 
-Natalie Smith

"Hallelujah and praise the Lord, Eric is FINALLY going after what's his! *sigh* What a lovely welcome home present indeed!"
- Ashley Bodette


Books in this New Adult Contemporary Romance trilogy:



About the Author:

Faith Sullivan is an author of New Adult contemporary romances including the HEARTBEAT trilogy, the TAKE ME NOW series and the 9/11 novel, UNEXPECTED. She writes love stories with a little dash of crazy.

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