Book Review: Mama Mary Chats about Marcus and Nicola in Love (From this Moment On by Bella Andre) #The Sullivans + Giveaway

I loved The Look of Love so much and I was intrigued by Marcus that I had to jump right into From This Moment On.  I usually try and space out my series a little more, but once you meet The Sullivans you can't get them out of your head and each book introduces you just a little more to the next sibling to be featured and you just have to read about him or her.  It's like potato chips you just can't stop.  And I'm glad I didn't.  Come see why and be sure and enter the giveaway, there are still a few days left in the tour.

My review today comes from Mary Sullivan, matriarch of this wonderful clan of 8 siblings.  Mary has been waiting many years for her children to finally find love so hear what she has to say about Marcus and Nicola.

Hi everyone, Crystal asked me here to talk about Marcus and Nicola.  We are talking right after our family brunch which was rather interesting.  I'm not going to go into all the details because I for one don't know them, but I would like to share this love story which I hope has a happy ending from a mother's point-of-view.

First there is Marcus, my precious first born, who while he is taller and much bigger than me will always be my baby, but he is so much more. And no I don't play favorites no matter how my kids joke about it.  But Marcus had to grow up early when his father died and he was a wonderful help to me.  I honestly don't know what I would do without him.  His bond to his family is strong and while he might beat up on one of his brothers from time-to-time or pick on his sisters (I know all about the Naughty and Nice nicknames), he would fight to the death for any of them at any time.  They are close even when they don't see each other often.  You know I really hurt when he dated that Jill girl, I knew she wasn't right for him, but what's a Mom to do?  I couldn't tell him that, it would just make it worse and he's a thirty-six year-old man.  He can make his own decisions.  So you have to know it thrilled me that night to receive a phone call from Nicola asking if my son was a safe man.  I knew then that Jill and Marcus was over and he was seeing someone else.  I also knew that even if Marcus thought it was a fling, that Marcus doesn't do flings any more.  Especially since Chase has settled down with Chloe.  That boy was looking for a wife and a family.  He had an idea in his mind of what that looked like, but I think he had his idea blown out of the water by Nicola and that was good, that's what you need to fall in love.

Ah, Nicola, what can you say when you first meet a girl over the phone and you know she's hooking up with your son?  But I know my boys are not innocent.  They like to think I think I don't know about them, but you can't have six sons and not know what goes on. {Mary gives a hearty laugh here}.  But I just had this feeling.  And somehow between Lori working with Nico and Marcus hooking up with a girl name Nicola I had a feeling they were one and the same, so I was thrilled to see her show up at my house.  Nicola has a wonderful heart, she's been hurt and is a little gun-shy, but I could see when I met her that she was in love with Marcus. They both just needed some pushing to get where they trusted and could work things out.  But I had full faith in them.  When love is that strong it can work through all things.  It reminded me a bit of me and their father way back then.  That is the love I want for my children.  Chase found it and I believe Marcus has found it, I just hope he went after it and got it.  I want Nicola in my family so bad. She is such a wonderful fit for our family.

Thank you Mary for sharing your feelings today.  I agree after reading Marcus and Nicola's story that they are such a wonderful fit.  I won't share all the details, but one thing Mary didn't touch on is the heat that they share.  Wow are they scorching, I mean these two look at each other and I think the room will combust, or maybe it was just me.

I thought The Look of Love was wonderful, but I think From This Moment On may have topped it.  Two wonderfully romantic men in one family so far.  I'll say it again, if my husband wasn't already a very romantic man I think I would need to find me a Sullivan of my own :)

My Rating:  5.0/5.0

About From This Moment On:
With FROM THIS MOMENT ON, bestselling author Bella Andre introduces you to Marcus, the second Sullivan bad boy, whose life will never be the same from the moment he meets Nicola….

For thirty-six years, Marcus Sullivan has been the responsible older brother, stepping in to take care of his seven siblings after their father died when they were children. But when the perfectly ordered future he's planned for himself turns out to be nothing but a lie, Marcus needs one reckless night to shake free from it all.

Nicola Harding is known throughout the world by only one name - Nico - for her catchy, sensual pop songs. Only, what no one knows about the twenty-five year old singer is that her sex-kitten image is totally false. After a terrible betrayal by a man who loved fame far more than he ever loved her, she vows not to let anyone else get close enough to find out who she really is...or hurt her again. Especially not the gorgeous stranger she meets at a nightclub, even though the hunger - and the sinful promises - in his dark eyes make her want to spill all her secrets.

One night is all Nicola and Marcus agree to share with each other. But nothing goes as they plan when instead of simply tangling limbs, they find a deeper connection than either of them could have anticipated. And even though they both try to fight it, growing emotions - and sizzling attraction - keep drawing them closer together.

Close enough for them to wonder if stealing one more secret moment together can ever be enough?

How to win great prizes:

The Sullivans are on tour with Novel Publicity. Follow along for your chance to win amazing prizes. We've got special romantic swag baskets for each book, an iPad Mini, Kindle Fire, Nook Color, and Kobo eReader, and Amazon and iTunes gift cards. WOW! You'll also get introduced to this amazing contemporary romance series via excerpts as well as interviews with and guest posts from New York Times and USA Today best-selling author, Bella Andre. You'll definitely want to learn more about the family that has captured the world's heart. All the info you need to join the fun and enter to win amazing prizes is RIGHT HERE. Remember, winning is as easy as clicking a button or leaving a blog comment--easy to enter; easy to win! To Win the Prizes:

1. Purchase any of the Sullivan ebooks by Bella Andre for just $4.99 (optional)
2. Enter the Rafflecopter contest on Novel Publicity or below (it's the same one)
3. Visit today’s featured social media event (that's where the HUGE prizes are)

a Rafflecopter giveaway
  
About The Sullivans: In this sexy, emotional and funny contemporary romance series, each member of the Sullivan family will eventually find true love...usually where he or she least expects it. Get the eBooks via Amazon US, Amazon UK, Barnes & Noble, the iBookStore, or the Kobo Store. Audiobooks are also available for the first five in the series (with more coming soon). Plus, keep an eye out for paperback editions coming from Harlequin Romance starting Summer 2013.

 

About the Author: New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Bella Andre has always been a writer. Songs came first, and then non-fiction books, but as soon as she started writing her first romance novel, she knew she'd found her perfect career. Known for "sensual, empowered stories enveloped in heady romance" (Publishers Weekly) about sizzling alpha heroes and the strong women they'll love forever, nearly all of her novels have appeared on Top 10 lists at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Apple and Kobo. Her books have been Cosmopolitan Magazine "Red Hot Reads" twice and have been translated into nine languages. Winner of the Award of Excellence, The Washington Post has called her "One of the top digital writers in America" and she has been featured by NPR, USA Today, Forbes, and The Wall Street Journal. She has given the keynote speech at Book Expo America on her self-publishing success and has sold more than one million books. If not behind her computer, you can find her reading her favorite authors, hiking, swimming or laughing. Married with two children, Bella splits her time between the Northern California wine country and a 100 year old log cabin in the Adirondacks.

• Sign up for Bella's newsletter at www.eepurl.com/eXj22
• Visit Bella's website at www.BellaAndre.com
• Follow Bella on twitter at www.twitter.com/bellaandre
• Join Bella on Faceboook at www.facebook.com/bellaandrefans

***I received this book through Novel Publicity for an honest review.  I was not compensated in any other way except receiving the book for free.  ***

Book Review: The Look of Love by Bella Andre (plus great giveaways to enter)

Today instead of a typical book review, I thought I would talk to some of the characters and ask them what they thought about the main characters Chloe and Chase so you could get a feel for the romance and story of The Look of Love.  No spoilers involved, it's a romance so you know there will be a happy ending, and everything else is pretty much at the beginning of the book. So come meet some characters and find out about Chloe and Chase and get hooked on The Look of Love by Bella Andre.

Ellen, you met Chloe in an interesting way, how did you end up feeling about her?

Oh you could say it was interesting, but you'll have to read to get all the details, I'm a little too embarrassed to go into those right now.  At first I was disappointed. I mean I wanted my chance with Chase, but being around Chloe the happiness is kind of contagious. She just draws you in even when she's feeling possessive of Chase.  So I like her and there are no hard feelings, I may have seen him first, but she captured his heart so what do you do?  Hey there are five more brothers, oh I mean four more since one is my boss.  My man is out there somewhere I know.

Marcus, what did you think of Chloe when you first met her?
I thought she was beautiful, stunning, and was a little jealous that Chase met her first. I then thought my brother was the sly devil all of us Sullivans' are and she would be the flavor of the day/week and be gone soon.  But she did have this damsel in distress quality about her . . .  but Chase doesn't go for that.

Jeremy did you think Chloe would end up with Chase?
Umm, is Marcus around or any of the other brothers?  No, good, okay, being around so much studly man-ness just makes me stutter and be so nervous. Well that first day Chase had my prepare a picnic basket and while this isn't an out-of-they-way request from Chase, I mean he loves the ladies, why can't he play for my team, um, sorry.  But back to what I was saying, it was the way he asked me and his intentions, even that first day, I could tell she was different to him. He had already kind of slacked of his man-ho activities if you know what I mean, he's getting older I guess, but she just seemed to stop him in his tracks. I could see the way he looked at her and it was real.  And Chloe was so sweet.  I really wanted her to like him, he needs a good woman since he didn't want a good man and I thought Chloe was the best I have seen around him, so yes I thought they would end up together.

Jackie and Amanda, what did you think of Chloe and Chase?
Amanda: Well I've worked with Chase and for an older man, he is hot, but he's too old for me. I saw the way he looked at Chloe when I ran into her when I threw my tantrum.  I really liked Chloe then. She didn't talk down to me or act like I was doing anything wrong, she just helped me work through  my feelings like a sister would.  So I liked her and what she did for my dress was just amazing.
Jackie: Chloe was sweet and the looks Chase threw her during the day definitely had sparks to them.  Chloe was like a Mom to me during the shoot, what don't look at me like that, I know there's not that much age difference, but she's just different, she's not like us, and I mean that in a good way. I think she will be good for Chase.  But there will be a lot of disappointed models if he's off the market.

Chase, what did you think of Chloe?
She was a stunner, was my first instinct, but it was something more than that too. I'm not one of those guys that rescues women but for some reason I felt like I should help her. My Mom raised me to be good to women, and I have been {he gave me a wink and then gave Chloe a hand squeeze}.  I will admit to being a love them and leave them type, but somehow when I met Chloe that all flew out the window from the first look. It baffled me. Every protective instinct came through around her, I think I would have beat my brother up if he came near her, oh wait, nevermind, that's nothing new.  But seriously, I felt like she was mine and I wanted to make her mine.

Insert a whole bunch of awwws here :)

Chloe, what did you think of Chase?
Honestly I didn't want a man and I thought he was too good to be true.  I mean look at him. Men like him are usually stuck on himself and then I find out there are 5 more of him and one's a movie star. Oww (that was Chase elbowing Chloe).  Just joking sweetie, but all of them are amazing but none of them are as amazing as Chase.  My first impression, this was a man I could fall in love with, but I can't do that.  That was my first thought, okay my first thought was actually, this man could be an axe murderer and that would be just my luck, but my next thought after figuring out he wasn't an axe murderer was about falling in love.

Insert kissing noises as these two can't keep their hands off each other.

So if you're intrigued by learning this little bit about the characters involved and the love story (and trust me there is a lot more to it, you know there is a happy ending, but you don't know the in-between).  You will want to read The Look of Love. It was my first book by Bella Andre and the first book in The Sullivan Family series which does not have to be read in order, but I'm a little obsessive and had to start at the beginning and I'm honestly wondering if anyone can top Chase.  It will take a lot, but I'm willing to find out.  If you like your romance honest, hot and great, then try out The Look of Love and you'll fall in love with the Sullivan Family and Chase and Chloe.

My Rating:  5.0/5.0

About The Look of Love:
With THE LOOK OF LOVE, bestselling author Bella Andre introduces you the Sullivan family. In this fun and emotional contemporary romance series, when a Sullivan bad boy falls...he falls hard. And it's forever.

Chloe Peterson is having a bad night. A really bad night. The large bruise on her cheek can attest to that. And when her car skids off the side of a wet country road straight into a ditch, she’s convinced even the gorgeous guy who rescues her in the middle of the rain storm must be too good to be true. Or is he?

As a successful photographer who frequently travels around the world, Chase Sullivan has his pick of beautiful women, and whenever he’s home in San Francisco, one of his seven siblings is usually up for causing a little fun trouble. Chase thinks his life is great just as it is—until the night he finds Chloe and her totaled car on the side of the road in Napa Valley. Not only has he never met anyone so lovely, both inside and out, but he quickly realizes she has much bigger problems than her damaged car. Soon, he is willing to move mountains to love—and protect—her, but will she let him?

Chloe vows never to make the mistake of trusting a man again. Only, with every loving look Chase gives her—and every sinfully sweet caress—as the attraction between them sparks and sizzles, she can’t help but wonder if she’s met the only exception. And although Chase didn’t realize his life was going to change forever in an instant, amazingly, he isn’t the least bit interested in fighting that change. Instead, he’s gearing up for a different fight altogether…for Chloe’s heart.

How to win great prizes:

The Sullivans are on tour with Novel Publicity. Follow along for your chance to win amazing prizes. We've got special romantic swag baskets for each book, an iPad Mini, Kindle Fire, Nook Color, and Kobo eReader, and Amazon and iTunes gift cards. WOW! You'll also get introduced to this amazing contemporary romance series via excerpts as well as interviews with and guest posts from New York Times and USA Today best-selling author, Bella Andre. You'll definitely want to learn more about the family that has captured the world's heart. All the info you need to join the fun and enter to win amazing prizes is RIGHT HERE. Remember, winning is as easy as clicking a button or leaving a blog comment--easy to enter; easy to win! To Win the Prizes:

1. Purchase any of the Sullivan ebooks by Bella Andre for just $4.99 (optional)
2. Enter the Rafflecopter contest on Novel Publicity or below (it's the same one)
3. Visit today’s featured social media event (that's where the HUGE prizes are)

a Rafflecopter giveaway
  
About The Sullivans: In this sexy, emotional and funny contemporary romance series, each member of the Sullivan family will eventually find true love...usually where he or she least expects it. Get the eBooks via Amazon US, Amazon UK, Barnes & Noble, the iBookStore, or the Kobo Store. Audiobooks are also available for the first five in the series (with more coming soon). Plus, keep an eye out for paperback editions coming from Harlequin Romance starting Summer 2013.

 

About the Author: New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Bella Andre has always been a writer. Songs came first, and then non-fiction books, but as soon as she started writing her first romance novel, she knew she'd found her perfect career. Known for "sensual, empowered stories enveloped in heady romance" (Publishers Weekly) about sizzling alpha heroes and the strong women they'll love forever, nearly all of her novels have appeared on Top 10 lists at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Apple and Kobo. Her books have been Cosmopolitan Magazine "Red Hot Reads" twice and have been translated into nine languages. Winner of the Award of Excellence, The Washington Post has called her "One of the top digital writers in America" and she has been featured by NPR, USA Today, Forbes, and The Wall Street Journal. She has given the keynote speech at Book Expo America on her self-publishing success and has sold more than one million books. If not behind her computer, you can find her reading her favorite authors, hiking, swimming or laughing. Married with two children, Bella splits her time between the Northern California wine country and a 100 year old log cabin in the Adirondacks.

• Sign up for Bella's newsletter at www.eepurl.com/eXj22
• Visit Bella's website at www.BellaAndre.com
• Follow Bella on twitter at www.twitter.com/bellaandre
• Join Bella on Faceboook at www.facebook.com/bellaandrefans

***I received this book through Novel Publicity for an honest review.  I was not compensated in any other way except receiving the book for free.  ***

Book Review Interview: Cora Flash and the Diamond of Madagascar by Tommy Davey (Cora Interviews Me) + Giveaway

Today for a little something different, Cora Flash from Cora Flash and the Diamond of Madagascar stopped by to interview me to find out my thoughts on the book.  It's kind of like a review in an interview.  Check it out and let me know your thoughts on the format.

Cora: What did you think of the setting of Cora Flash and the Diamond of Madagascar?
I loved it.  I think it worked great for this novel. Train travel is just not used like it use to be so it is a novelty and really added something to the book. It's like a throwback to the great old movies that you seem to like so much.  I also like it because it provides a closed in and limited environment. Only so many people can be involved in the theft. It heightens the tension as well because you are trapped on a train with a thief.

Cora: Do you think I was nosy or do you think I really just wanted to help.
Oh I definitely think you wanted to help.  I thought you handled yourself well for your age. I thought you were very aware of your setting and what was going on around you.  You also seemed a good judge of character. Your mind always seemed to be working.  I really enjoyed reading about you and getting to know you.  I think you could grow into quite a fine detective!

Cora: Okay, who besides me was your favorite person on the train from the first part of the book (we don't want to give anything away)?
I liked the newlyweds Ted and Sheila.  I liked how they took you in right away, befriended you but didn't talk down to you. They were friendly and helpful to you and to the others.

Cora: What is one thing outside of the plot that stands out to you about the book?
The breakfast that was served, I am still thinking of how yummy the french toast sounded.

Cora: Ms. Fulcher, um, I notice you are a little bit out of the target audience for Cora Flash and the Diamond of Madagascar, in fact, don't you have a son my age?  With that in mind, what do you think of the book for it's age group as a mom and also what do you think of the book as a mom.
For the age group I think the book is perfect. I think it will read perfect and hold middle grader's (who it is aimed for, and who you pointed out I do have one of) attention perfectly.  And while you, the heroine of the story are female, I think the story can appeal to both male and female. It has action, it has a mystery to figure out, it has a cute dog.  I found Cora Flash to be very age appropriate, nothing that would make me hide it from even my 7-year old if he wanted to embark on an above average chapter book for him.
As a mom and a reader, I loved the book.  It held my attention on a night I was finishing up a very boring work project.  I can promise that all I wanted to do was sleep but you, Cora and your mystery was able to keep me going until 1 in the morning. I really enjoyed your spunk and your mystery solving skills.  The book was fun, the mystery interesting and it kept me guessing until the end.  So I would say it scored well on both counts.

Cora: So now I'm curious, I know you rate your reviews typically, how would you rate the book about me?  And would you read the next book in my series, Cora Flash and the Mystery of the Haunted Hotel?
Cora, I would rate Cora Flash and the Diamond of Madagascar a 4.5 out of 5.  And I would definitely read the next book Cora Flash and the Mystery of the Haunted Hotel as well as recommend both books to my 11-year-old son.  Too bad you aren't real, I would love to introduce you to him :)


Thanks for interviewing me today Cora, this was definitely different.  I really enjoyed reading your adventures in Cora Flash and the Diamond of Madagascar and I look forward to more of your adventures by Tommy Davey!

Novel Publicity Blog Tour Notes:

Wanna win a $50 gift card or an autographed copy of Cora Flash and the Diamond of Madagascar? Well, there are two ways to enter...

1. Leave a comment on my blog. One random commenter during this tour will win a $50 gift card. For the full list of participating blogs, visit the official Cora Flash tour page.
2. Enter the Rafflecopter contest! I've posted the contest form below, or you can enter on the tour page linked above.

About the author: Tommy Davey spent his youth writing mystery stories and plays, and watching reruns of Three's Company until every line of dialogue was permanently burned into his memory. When not writing, he enjoys traveling to favorite destinations including New York City and Paris, which he plans to feature in future stories. He lives in Toronto, where he was born and raised, with a Norfolk Terrier named Calvin. "Cora Flash and the Diamond of Madagascar" is his first novel. Connect with Tommy on his website, Facebook, Twitter, or GoodReads.

Get Cora Flash and the Diamond of Madagascar on Amazon or Barnes & Noble.

  a Rafflecopter giveaway

***I received this book through Novel Publicity for an honest review.  I was not compensated in any other way except receiving the book for free.  ***

Book Review & $50 GC Tour Giveaway: Forgive Me, Alex by Lane Diamond

Forgive Me, Alex by Lane Diamond

Publisher: Evolved Publishing

Publish Date: March 19, 2012

Softcover, 260 pages

ISBN13: 9781475008326

My Review:

Forgive Me, Alex was a slightly different take on a suspense/thriller than what I am use to in a good way.  Mr. Diamond uses alternating points-of-view and alternating time frames to tell the story and while doing this really builds up the suspense in both time periods.  I found the story horrifying and fascinating the way a great suspense thriller should be.

Told from the points-of-view of the protagonist Tony and the antagonist Mitchell Norton is a very interesting way to frame the story.  Tony is the ultimate good guy who's had hard luck in his life, but he's in love, he's taking care of his brother and life seems to be good. Mitchell is just a twenty-something not really going anywhere but not really hurting anything when the demons start to strike.  I felt sympathetic to Mitchell to a degree until things started getting out-of-control, then I just felt like he was evil.  I was cheering for Tony during the book even with his brand of vigilante justice.  I felt like the characters were very relatable for a suspense book.  A lot of times times this genre doesn't concentrate on character development, but I felt like I got to know Tony, Frank, the Chief and Linda very well.  I really liked Frank and I really liked the other people that supported Tony in his life, the Chief and his Master at the dojo, these were all wonderful examples of the community at work.


I think the thing I loved best about Forgive Me, Alex was the alternating time frames. Mr. Diamond tells the story going back and forth between 1978 when the initial murders take place and 1995 when Mitchell Norton is released from prison.  The suspense really builds between both time frames even though the reader knows the ultimate outcome of 1978. The reader still doesn't know how the outcome happens and I found the story building up to that fascinating.  Then the story in 1995 starts up as well and has a great suspense line of it's own as well as letting the reader catch up with the main characters (and a few new ones) seventeen years later.  I loved this.  It was never confusing as I thought it might be when I glanced at the table of contents and saw how it went back and forth between the characters and the years.  Each character had his own voice in the writing and each time frame was easy to figure out so even if you didn't pay attention to the chapter headers it was easy to figure out when the action was taking place and who was doing the thinking/talking.  The plot was very well-written and had me hooked from the first page.  And I don't think this was an easy thing to do with the alternating time period and alternating characters.


Forgive Me, Alex is an excellent suspense/thriller.  If you don't mind your suspense a little more on the grisly side (description of the crimes) then you will be okay with this.  I did cringe a few times, but I was fully warned of the content of the book.  It's not over the top and I have read much more graphic books, so don't let my word of warning scare you.  It's about like a James Patterson type book in terms of descriptive crimes.  But the great thing about Forgive Me, Alex is it has completely relatable characters is Tony, Frank and Linda.  They felt real and their feelings were heartfelt. I wanted more of them in the end, so that outweighed the grisly aspect to me.  There is much more to this book than the crimes.  Forgive Me, Alex has an excellent plot, terrific characters and an ending that will stick with me for some time.


My Rating: 4.5/5.0

About Forgive Me, Alex:

Tony Hooper stands in shadow across the street, one amongst many in the crowd of curiosity-hounds gathered to watch a monster’s release. Seventeen years after Mitchell Norton, “the devil,” terrorized Algonquin, Illinois on a spree of kidnapping, torture and murder, the authorities release the butcher from psychiatric prison.

Tony longs to charge across the street to destroy Norton—no remorse—as if stepping on a cockroach. Only sheer force of will prevents his doing so.

“The devil” walks the world again. What shall Tony do about it? Aye, what indeed.

After all, this is what he does. It’s who he is. “The devil” himself long ago made Tony into this hunter of monsters. What a sweet twist of fate this is, that he may still, finally, administer justice.

Will FBI Special Agent Linda Monroe stop him? She owes him her life, so how can she possibly put an end to his?

Tony Hooper and Mitchell Norton battle for supremacy, with law enforcement always a step away, in this story of justice and vengeance, evil and redemption, fear and courage, love and loss.

Novel Publicity Blog Tour Notes:

Wanna win a $50 gift card or an autographed copy of Forgive Me, Alex? Well, there are two ways to enter...

1. Leave a comment on my blog. One random commenter during this tour will win a $50 gift card. For the full list of participating blogs, visit the official Forgive Me, Alex tour page.
2. Enter the Rafflecopter contest! I've posted the contest form below, or you can enter on the tour page linked above.

About the author: I write fiction, long and short. My writings cross over many genres and focus on diverse subjects, ranging from the mysteries of the human mind, with its fragile psychological and emotional states, to the everyday joy and anguish of life on Earth. Ultimately, characters move me – as both a reader and an author. It's all about the people. When not writing, I'm Publisher and Executive Editor at Evolved Publishing. Connect with me on my website, Facebook, Twitter, GoodReads, or via Evolved Publishing.

Get Forgive Me, Alex on Amazon or Barnes & Noble.

  a Rafflecopter giveaway
 

***I received this book through Novel Publicity for an honest review.  I was not compensated in any other way except receiving the book for free.  ***

Book Feature: The Girls' Guide to Dating Zombies

The Girls' Guide to Dating Zombies

Publisher: Potatoworks Press

Publish Date: February 14, 2012

Paperback, 242 pages
ISBN: 978-0984901814

About the Book:
Hattie Cross knows what you're thinking: Zombie sex? Ewwwww. But she also knows that since a virus turned 99.9999 percent of human males into zombies, it's statistically impossible to meet--let alone date--the remaining 0.00001 percent. So she writes "The Girls' Guide to Dating Zombies" to help her fellow single women navigate the zombie-relationship waters.

Her practical how-to impresses the CEO of the largest drug company in the world, and before she knows it, Hattie, a reporter for a downmarket tabloid that specializes in conspiracy theories, is sitting down with the woman who single-handedly invented the zombie-behavioral-modification market. Granted access to the inner sanctum of zombaceuticals, she meets an actual, living, breathing M-A-N.

Now Hattie, the consummate professional, is acting like a single girl at the end of the twentieth century: self-conscious, klutzy and unable to form a coherent sentence without babbling. Worst of all, the human male appears to have impaired her ability to think clearly. Because all of a sudden she's convinced a conspiracy is afoot at the drug company and it seems to go all the way to the top!

About the Author:
Lynn Messina is the author of six novels, including Little Vampire Women andFashionistas, which has been translated into 15 languages and is in development as a feature film. She attended Washington University in St. Louis where she studied English Literature. Her writing has also appeared in Self and Modern Bride, among other publications. She lives in New York City with her husband and sons. Connect with Lynn on her website, blog, Twitter or GoodReads.


Novel Publicity Blog Tour Notes:

Get The Girls’ Guide to Dating Zombies on Amazon or Barnes & Noble – you know you want to!

And please vote for my blog in the traffic-breaker poll for this tour. The blogger with the most votes wins a free promotional twitterview and a special winner’s badge. I want that to be me! You can vote in the poll by visiting the official Girls’ Guide to Dating Zombies blog tour page and scrolling all the way to the bottom.

Be sure to enter for your chance to win an autographed copy of The Girls’ Guide to Dating Zombies : ENTER HERE.

Check out this amazing book trailer!

Join us for a live twitterview with the author on Saturday, March 10th at 4 PM EST. Search #emlyn on Twitter, and bring your questions for this lively chat.

Guest Blog: How a Nasa Scientist's Theory Inspired a Paranormal Thriller

As part of this special promotional extravaganza sponsored by Novel Publicity, the price of The Gaia Wars eBook edition has dropped to just 99 cents this week.

What’s more, by purchasing this fantastic book at an incredibly low price, you can enter to win many awesome prizes, including a Kindle Fire, Amazon gift cards up to $100 in amount, 5 autographed copies of the book, and 5 autographed copies of its recently released sequel, Battle for Cascadia. Be sure to enter before the end of the day on Friday, December 9th, so you don’t miss out.

To Win the Prizes:

1. Purchase your copy of The Gaia Wars for just 99 cents on Amazon or Barnes &
   Noble
2. Fill-out the form
   on Novel Publicity to enter for the prizes
3. Visit today’s featured event; you may win an autographed copy of the
   book or a $50 gift card!
4. BONUS: If you leave a comment on this blog post, you have another
   chance at $100!

...And I can win too!

Over 100 bloggers are participating in this gigantic event, and there are plenty of
prizes for us too. The blogger who receives the most votes in the traffic-breaker poll
will win a $100 gift card as well. So when you visit Novel Publicity’s site to fill-out
the contest entry form, don’t forget to say that I referred you, so I can get a point in
the poll.

The Featured Events include:

Monday, Blogaganza on Novel Publicity! We’re kicking-off on the Novel Publicity Free Advice blog. We’ll ask the writer 5 fun and random questions to get everyone talking. Leave a comment or question in response to the post, and you may win an autographed copy of The Gaia Wars or
its recently released sequel, Battle for Cascadia. Don’t forget to enter for the other contest prizes while you’re over there!

Tuesday, Twitter sharing contest! A tweet is tiny, only 140 characters. But on Tuesday, it could win you $50. Send the following tweet across the twittersphere, and you just may win a $50 Amazon gift card. Autographed copies of The Gaia Wars and its recently released sequel, Battle for Cascadia, are also up for grabs. The winner will be announced Wednesday morning. Here’s the tweet: Looking for a YA read that's full of adventure & intrigue? Check out The Gaia Wars. Reduced to just 99 cents http://ow.ly/7ywpZ #whirlwind

Wednesday, Google+ sharing contest! Yup, there’s yet another awesome opportunity to win a $50 Amazon gift card, and this time it just takes a single click! Visit Google+ and share Emlyn Chand’s most recent post (you’ll see The Gaia Wars book cover included with it). On Thursday morning, one lucky sharer will be $50 richer. Autographed copies of The Gaia Wars and its recently released sequel, Battle for Cascadia, are also up for grabs. Three chances to win! How about that?

Thursday, Facebook sharing contest! Stop by Novel Publicity’s Facebook page and share their latest post (you’ll see The Gaia Wars book cover included with it). It’s ridiculously easy to win! On Friday morning, one lucky sharer will be $50 richer. Autographed copies of The Gaia Wars and its recently released  sequel, Battle for Cascadia, are also up for grabs.

Friday, special contest on the author’s site! Win a Kindle Fire or a $100 Amazon gift card, simply by leaving a comment on Kenneth’s most recent blog post. How easy is that? Autographed copies of The Gaia Wars and its recently released sequel, Battle for Cascadia, are also up for grabs.

Remember, it’s all about the books!

About The Gaia Wars: DEADLY SECRETS have been
buried in the Cascade mountain wilderness for centuries. Hidden. Out of sight and out of mind. Until today… Warren Wilkes, age 13, doesn’t like what a greedy housing developer has done to his peaceful mountain community, so he vandalizes the developer’s property, flees into the wild, and stumbles upon an ancient human skeleton revealed by torrential rain. More than old bones have been exposed, however, and the curious artifact Warren finds makes him question his own identity, and his connection to an ancient terror. A terror destined to rise again and annihilate all that Warren loves. He must fight or see his whole world destroyed. Get it on Amazon or Barnes & Noble.

About Battle for Cascadia: When Warren Wilkes, age 13, stumbles upon a mysterious relic deep in the Cascade Mountains, wonder reigns. Brimming with secrets and sentient energy, the relic leads Warren to a fantastic chamber, and to shocking revelations about his identity. Now wonder has turned to dread. A forgotten terror—a demon that knows Warren better than he knows himself—has risen again and is assembling an army; gathering power with a singularly evil goal in mind: to capture and enslave the wild spirit of the Earth itself. As war erupts and the planet slips into chaos, Warren embraces his destiny and finds help where he least expects it. Get it on Amazon or Barnes & Noble.

About the Author: Kenneth G. Bennett is the author of the Young Adult novels The Gaia Wars and Battle for Cascadia (the second book of The Gaia Wars), as well as the forthcoming Exodus 2018, a paranormal thriller set in the Puget Sound region of Washington State. A wilderness enthusiast who loves backpacking, skiing and kayaking, Ken enjoys novels that explore the relationship between humans and the wild. He lives on an island in the Pacific Northwest with his wife and son. Visit him on his website, Twitter, Facebook, or GoodReads.
 

Now please enjoy this guest post from the author...

HOW A NASA SCIENTIST’S THEORY INSPIRED A PARANORMAL THRILLER


THE GAIA WARS is fiction, but it was inspired—at least in part—by The Gaia Hypothesis. This hypothesis, proposed by NASA scientist James Lovelock, states that the Earth—the entire Earth—is a living thing. A vast, “super-organism.”

I read an article about Lovelock’s theory a few years back and thought it was the coolest thing I’d ever heard.

The Earth is alive. Think about it. If Lovelock’s correct, the Earth isn’t simply a chunk of interstellar rock hosting a collection of random ecosystems; it’s a cohesive entity. An organism. A being. I daydreamed about this idea, mulled it over; wondered how it might be incorporated into a novel. And in my imagination, I took the theory to the next level: What if the Earth is not simply alive, I asked, but also sentient?

I did some reading, and discovered that a lot of so-called primitive cultures believed this very thing. Understood it in their bones. Our ancestors were in tune with the planet in ways that we’ve forgotten. They could feel her heartbeat. Interpret her rhythms. They created Earth Goddesses to worship and celebrate.

Gaia (pron. guy-uh) is one of the principal deities of the Greek Pantheon. Other cultures used other names: the Tibetan people called the deity Chomolungma—Goddess Mother of the World. The
Sumerians knew her as Ninhursaga. To Mesoamerican peoples she was Tlazolteotl.

A fictitious Pacific Northwest culture called the Denelai is at the center of THE GAIA WARS. As readers learn, the ancient Denelai people believed in the Earth goddess so profoundly that she would sometimes appear to them in human form.

At the start of the novel, troubled 13-year-old Warren Wilkes unearths a treasure deep in the Cascade Mountains while fleeing the law, learns about the Denelai and Gaia’s periodic visits, and finds that on one such occasion in 1550 AD, the tribe was attacked and the Earth Goddess wounded. The Indians were slaughtered and Gaia lost her memory and vanished into the wild.

As Warren soon discovers, Gaia is still alive and still trapped in human form. What’s more, the beast that attacked the Indian village 500 years earlier is on it’s way back with an army bred specifically to capture Gaia, unlock her secrets, and seize control of the planet. Warren must fight or see his whole world destroyed.

Readers seem to like the idea of a paranormal thriller with a thinking, feeling Earth at its heart. The feedback has been tremendous. Humbling. Yesterday (November 24, Thanksgiving Day) THE GAIA WARS rose to #17 on Amazon’s list of Top 100 Best Sellers in Children’s Action & Adventure. The Second Book of The Gaia Wars, BATTLE FOR CASCADIA, (just released) is also doing well. A huge thank you
to all the wonderful readers giving these books a try!