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Friday, June 29, 2012

Book Nibbles

The Reunion Game by Jan Scarbrough is our Nibble for today.

The Reunion Game is the fourth ebook novella in the re-release of
the Ladies of Legend original title, Finding Home. First time released as a
separate ebook!

Pickings are slim in Legend, Tennessee, until a high school reunion gives thirty-something Jane Smith a second chance to exorcise the demon of Graham Winchester and get on with her life.

Switching places with her famous and glamorous twin sister is just what small town girl Jane needs to get Mr. Most Likely to Succeed into bed and out of her heart.


Get your copy for $.99 today on Amazon.


Jan's Bio: I've dreamed of being a writer since I reported on freelance writing for a career project in the
ninth grade. After majoring in English at Western Kentucky University, I taught high school English for
five years. Since 1982 I've made my living as a writer — a technical writer — but I didn't have the nerve
to make my dream come true until after a life-threatening illness in 1988. I've enjoyed my process of
becoming a published author. A member of the Romance Writers of America, I've been active in my local
Kentucky RWA chapter and am a member of Novelist, Inc. My best friends are fellow writers. Who else
will check a point plot for me or understand GMC and POV? I live in Louisville, Kentucky, along with
two dogs and four cats. I enjoy taking riding lessons on the American Saddlebred Horse. I'm a member of
the American Saddlebred Horse Association . I volunteer at The Luci Center, a non-profit 501c3
organization located in Shelbyville Kentucky providing therapeutic riding and hippotherapy for
individuals with disabilities.


My thoughts:
I haven't read The Reunion Game but how can you pass up this cover! I have read her Tangled Memories and really enjoyed her writing. I'll be adding this book to my TBR pile, for sure. Plus, at only 85 pages, this is sure to be a quick, yummy read!




Monday, June 25, 2012

Writing, Writing, Writing

A good friend of mine just finished writing 80K words in 28 days! Like I told her, that's Nano on crack. Let's take a moment to celebrate her achievement.

*claps in a circle*

Me, I'm still editing. It's a necessary evil. Kind of like underwear. No one sees them, but you know they're there but you'd rather skip 'em. Think of all the time you'd save not editing or putting on underwear. Sure the editing takes way more time but who wouldn't love a few extra seconds in the morning.

*crickets*

I've mentioned before that I had grand plans of doing all this writing and editing since I was let go from my day job. That was until I actually tried to write. While pregnant. (This is why I'd rather skip the undies. I have ligament pains and forgoing panties would save some time. TMI? *shrugs*) This little darling is sucking the creative juices from my body. So while I planned on finishing a Honey Creek that is 40K, edit my YA due out next year and then edit and rewrite my Nano from 2011 so I can submit to agents, I'm still editing my YA. Sure my HC is done but I'm not where I thought I'd be on my timeline and the birth of this little sweetie is fast approaching. The Nano? For-get-about-it (done in my best New Yorker accent)

Which brings me back to my friend and her 80K words. How did she do it? Besides ridic amounts of coffee and short of locking her kids in a room (I kid, she'd never do that!) she outlined. And I don't mean a rough roman numeral outline. I mean 10 pages of an outline. When it came time to fill in the actual words, she had a wonderful guide to follow.

I know most authors do the same. Me? Not so much until now. She's inspired me.

With my friend in mind, I have a new game plan. Finish my YA, which I hope to get done before vaca at the end of the month or if not, before September (birth month). Crack open my Nano. It's rough and needs about 20K more words to be completed. But I want to read through it once, make notes and then create an outline with all the extras I want to add. Then I'll attack it with edits and rewrites. The notes and outline will also help me to create a synopsis (I write mine last) so when it comes time to submit to agents, I have that step done. I don't plan on participating in Nano this year. With a new baby, I'm not sure I can handle another thing on my plate. But you never know when inspiration will strike. I could be recovering in the hospital when a dinger of a story hits.

Okay, that's my two cents. Take what you want and happy writing.

Tuesday, June 19, 2012

Monday, June 11, 2012

Trying something new...

In case you haven't noticed, but I've added a Pregnancy Journal page to my blog. I'm still figuring out how to manipulate the page but my goal is to update it daily. This pregnancy has not been usual from day 1 and as I get older, I notice many things that didn't plague me in my previous pregnancies. If you have a comment or a story to share, I'd love to hear from you.

Friday, June 8, 2012

Book Nibbles

Today on Book Nibbles we have Cat Shaffer's No Safe Place.
Even small towns hide secrets…

When Lissa Williams loses both her job as editor of a hard-hitting news magazine, and her fiancé, in a one-two punch, she doesn’t plan to compound her troubles by first getting drunk and then into a sexy stranger’s bed. Nor does she expect to wind up in the tiny hamlet of Oslo, West Virginia, three months later, after her best friend is carjacked and left to die. Her shock at realizing that the first person she meets in Oslo is the same sexy stranger who had rocked her world in a single night, is softened by the realization he doesn’t remember her. But how long can she keep things that way when he insists on volunteering as her handyman at the wreck of a house she’s rented?

Folks in Oslo know Nat “Duke” O’Keefe as the man who’s taken over the town’s tow truck service. No one suspects his real job is undercover cop with an elite, multi-state task force investigating a sophisticated auto theft ring financing a global trade in illegal weapons. When a beautiful woman shows up in the two-bit town of Oslo, his boss orders him to cozy up to the town’s newest resident and figure out just what she’s up to. That suits him fine, until the sparks between them light a strange remembrance, a tinder of desire, and danger that may kill them both.



I haven't had the pleasure of reading No Safe Place yet but I have met the author and she's wonderful!



Format:Kindle Edition
NO SAFE PLACE is the kind of romantic suspense I enjoy. It has tension and mystery, but it isn't too dark or edgy. I read it in one day because I needed to know what happens next. If you enjoy the Harlequin Intrigue line, you'll want to read this story.

If you like romantic suspense, add No Safe Place to your TBR list this summer.

Sunday, June 3, 2012

Writing Re-Start

Lately, I've felt a little blah about writing. Maybe a better word is unmotivated. I'm sure it all has to do with being pregnant and this new life is literally sucking the creative juice from me but I won't blame her yet! Several weeks ago, I finished a 40K word YA Honey Creek due out next year. I had a deadline and reached it with time to spare. My plans were then to begin edits and rewrites on another YA that is also due out next year but still needed some work. I've gotten until December to finish so I'm not worried. Yet I can't seem to find the motivation to get cranking. I mean, I love this story. It's a little suspenseful, not something I normally do. So instead, I've been a stay-at-home mom, cleaning, keeping the fam fed and making plans for this new little baby since she was a complete surprise and the lingering thought of working on my YA nags at me. But I haven't completely taken a break from my craft. Nope. I've been to the library, which has finally expanded their YA collection, and making my way through older YA titles hoping the reading would spark some typing from me. Nope. Then I attended a conference this weekend and WHAM I'm feeling the writing love! I'm not sure what did it. Was it being surrounded by other awesome writers, most way more popular than myself? Was it sitting and chatting with my fellow TMPers and sharing our thoughts about upcoming projects? Or was it sitting in on a presentation on how awesome YA is and what stories had influenced other authors. Yes. Yes. And yes. So while I took away awesome information from the conference, I also found my mojo! In fact, I've been home for 8 hours (most of those were me sitting on my butt while I watch my feel unswell) and I've written 2 blog posts for this week. In the morning, I hope to be up early, refreshed, coffee in hand and my YA pulled up on the screen in front of me. I want to have it edited, rewritten, and beta read before this baby comes since I might be out of commission for a few weeks afterwards. But once she knows her momma is a busy writer, I plan to begin working on another YA MS as well as a new Honey Creek. Follow me on Twitter (@JenniA8677), where I'll keep anybody who'll listen up to date. Thank you and good night!

Book Nibbles Round-Up

For awhile, I've been featuring titles here under the name Book Nibbles. Books I've either enjoyed or might enjoy. Today, I'd like to take a minute to run through these titles again and mention whether I have read since posting and what I thought. Who knows, maybe you'll find something you'll like as well.

Also, to find a listing of all the books I've read, check me out on GoodReads (I love that place!).

The books listed are in no particular order:

Raeliksen by Renee Vincent: Loved this book. A historical romance that kept my eyes glued to the pages. I cried, laughed and fell in love. Now, I just need to read Mac Liam, Book 2 in her trilogy.

Kentucky Blues by Cat Schaffer: I have not read but heard wonderful things. I can't wait to see Cat again at the Lori Foster Reader Writer Get Together in June.

Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare: Devoured the second book in the series. The twists, turns and cliffhangers make me starved for the next installment. A YA must read.

Rescue Me by Jennifer Johnson: I fell in love with this book. I have the pleasure of working with JJ and her writing. We are both in the Men in Uniform anthology and I loved her story in there too. In fact, I loved Rescue Me so much, I immediately read Double Dog Dare which is another snarky, fun, sweet romance.

Late Harvest by Suzanne Barrett: I haven't read yet but a friend said she couldn't put it down. Gesh, my TBR list just keeps growing and growing.

Secrets by Jan Scarbrough: This is a re-release that I haven't had the pleasure yet.  A sweet Contemporary Romance that was nominated for a 2011 CAPA from the Romance Studio.

The Most Intimate Wish by FL Bicknell. This book is an erotic title and I haven't jumped in yet.




Purrfect Voyage by Ruth J. Hartman. I haven't had the pleasure yet but I always love a romantic comedy. Plus, some how I mixing cats and a big boat might be really funny.




Be Mine, Valentine. Krista Ames has a short story in this anthology that was so cute. In fact, I read the entire anthology and found the short doses of love to be just what I needed to get into the February 14th spirit.

Rebuild My World by Cheryl Norman. This contemporary romance with suspense is added to my TBR list. What about you?



According to Plan by Madison J. Edwards. Loved this book. It is a bit on the steamy side but the story is not covered up by the clothes flung in these naughty scenes.. You can't help but fall in love with the characters and cheer them on.

Two Brothers by Christina Wolfer. Again, I loved this story. To watch the Amanda and Jacob figure things out ( I mean fight each other) was told wonderfully.










Skeleton in a Dead Space by Judy Alter. First off, I love the author. I haven't read her book yet but she's gotten wonderful reviews and now with the second title out in the series, I really need to step it up.

Buried in Briny Bay by Bobbye Terry. Another mystery I haven't read yet. This is book one in her Briny Bay Mystery series.

Ariel by Gabriel Madison. I really enjoyed the is YA Paranormal. The action was intense and I couldn't put it down. Now if only the author had another book coming out soon. *taps foot*

Love's Long Shadow by Ciara Knight. This short novella precludes her Battle of Lost Souls series. You get a glimpse into the world of fallen angels and demons. Really enjoyed this read and waiting to read her next book, Rise From Darkness where the story continues.

There you have it. I hope my little insight helps. I tried to keep it clean with my selection. But for all my reviews, you can friend me on GoodReads.

Thank you!


Friday, June 1, 2012

Book Nibbles

A favorite historical fiction is on today, Mac Liam by Renee Vincent.


Get a copy from Amazon for only $2.99!

A tortured soul….

Breandán Mac Liam, the strapping young hunter from Ireland’s lush forests, is in love with Mara, an ineligible beautiful princess. For seven long years, he has been vividly haunted by her memory, taunted by the throes of his heartache. And not even the thought of her marriage to a Northman can extinguish the fierce, burning desire running rampant through his soul.

An innocent heart….

Mara, the spirited Connacht princess, has no idea she is the object of the Irishman’s longing. She is living out her days on Inis Mór, raising a troubled son and trying to endure the cruel loneliness that afflicts her heart.

A deadly secret….

Ordered by the king on his deathbed, Breandán must return to Mara and bring her through the perilous lands of Connacht to fulfill her father’s last dying wish. But as their worlds collide, Breandán not only finds himself wrapped in the arms of Mara’s embrace, but thrown into a struggle to defend his honor.

With Mara caught between the family she loves and the father she knows, can Breandán uncover the mystery of her past and still protect her from a secret that threatens them all?





OMG! I love this book! I have a special place in my heart for Irish Historical Romances and Book One in the Emerald Isle Trilogy does not disappoint!  Not only does Vincent have a fantastic way with the historical facts, language and terms, but she pulls you right in and holds you there. If this is not on TBR list, you need to add it!