Derailed Teaser and a Giveaway

With Derailed releasing in less than a week, I decided to post up a teaser. I also thought it would be a great time for a giveaway. The giveaway is for print copies of Derailed, Flight, and Beckoning Light (U.S./Canada) and some signed bookmarks (international).

I pulled off my tank as soon as I hit the dock. I hadn’t unpacked my swimsuits yet, and I wasn’t about to let that stop me. I stripped off my skirt, standing alone on the faded wood dock. Dad was the only one who ever took care things like that, and he’d been gone five years. Wearing only a grey bra and panties, I looked down at the black water and hesitated for a second before diving in.

Cool water greeted me. It was too early in the season for the water temperature to have risen yet. I sunk further down—away from two boys, one who left me and one who I left. I came up for air, the saltiness of my tears blending in with the water.

I floated, letting the slight current move me. Part of me hoped it would take me so far out I’d never find my way back again. The lights from the dock lit the night, but with my eyes closed, I could pretend the world had gone dark.

I’m not sure how long I floated when a voice broke me out of my reverie.

“A little late for a swim, isn’t it?”

I opened my eyes and looked up at the dock to see Ben sitting with his legs hanging over the edge. “A little late for a visit, isn’t it?” I shot back, not ready to face him.  

“Well, if you recall, we were supposed to be catching up tonight. You left before that could happen.”

“I wonder why I did that?” I swam reluctantly over to the dock.

“You ready to come out yet?”

“Not with you watching.”

“Like I haven’t seen you wet and naked before.” He smirked.

“I’m not naked.”

“See, so really there’s no reason to worry about it.”

The Rafflecopter is for print copies of each book with bookmarks (US/Canada) and the first 10 people to comment below all get signed bookmarks (international).

Thanks for stopping by! 

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Derailed Prologue

Derailed releases in just two weeks, and I thought it was a good time to share the prologue. Although I am always nervous about a new release, this one has me especially anxious because it comes from a very personal place. Although the story is completely fictional, it developed out of some unresolved feelings from the death of a close friend. I think in some ways it allowed me to write a happier ending for someone I cared about. I loved writing Derailed, and I hope you all enjoy reading it just as much.

Prologue

The message was only three words, but his failure to respond had changed everything. I need you… Too emotional to speak, I'd stopped at three words. The words were true. I did need him. I needed his arms around me and his reassurances that I’d be okay, that it wasn’t my fault. He hadn’t heard his phone, or so he told me that August when he pleaded over and over with me to forgive him. I couldn't forgive him. My anger was the only thing keeping me from hating myself.

Focus Cover Reveal

I'm excited to reveal the cover to Focus, the second book in the Crescent Chronicles! This cover was designed by Claudia of Phatpuppy art! Focus will be releasing in January. 

Freshman year of college is hard even when you're not tied to the future king of a supernatural society.

 

Allie dives into college head first with Hailey as her roommate and the city of New Orleans as her backyard. As things within The Society heat up, Allie realizes that whether she’s with Levi or not, she's in far too deep to turn back.

 

Thanks to The Bookish Brunette for organizing an awesome cover reveal! 

When Inspiration Strikes...

A year ago I never would have believed I’d be releasing a contemporary romance. Truthfully, a year ago I never would have expected to be releasing a new adult book. I’m the kind of person who loves to plan, and that part of my personality usually spills over into my writing. I’ve had the end of the Afterglow Trilogy planned out since before Beckoning Light released, and I could have told you the ending to Flight ages ago, but Derailed wasn’t even a thought until a few days before I started writing it.

I hesitated at first. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to veer off my carefully planned schedule of book releases, but in the end I had to write it. It started out like my other books. First I developed the characters and everything else fell into place—but it was all so sudden and unexpected. I have to say, I liked it. Maybe that’s why I couldn’t stop with Derailed. I fell in love with Clayton Falls, the tiny coastal town that serves as the backdrop, and I wasn’t ready to leave. The result is that I’ll be releasing a companion novel called Veer in a few months. It’s also a new adult contemporary romance, and features some characters you’ll get to meet in Derailed soon.

So have I learned anything from this experience? Yes. As wonderful as planning is, I’m always going to leave a little room open in my writing schedule in case inspiration hits me unexpectedly. 

Derailed Cover Reveal

Today I'm excited to reveal the cover for Derailed! This cover was designed by Stephanie Nelson of Once Upon a Time Covers! I'm so in love with this cover, and it fits the feel of the book perfectly!This New Adult Contemporary Romance is scheduled for release on September 26th! I also wanted to let you guys know that when I finished writing Derailed, I realized I wasn't ready to say goodbye to the fictional coastal North Carolina town of Clayton Falls. I'm excited to announce that I'll be releasing a companion novel called Veer later this fall.

When you're lost, sometimes the only place you can go is home.

Broken over the death of her fiancé, Molly leaves law school to return to her childhood home in North Carolina. Expecting to lay low until she can figure out what else to do with her life, she finds herself in the arms of her high school sweetheart, the boy who represents everything from the past she tried to leave behind.

Looking for an escape, she instead finds a way back to the girl she almost forgot existed and a future she never dreamed possible.
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Julie at A Tale of Many Reviews organized an awesome cover reveal! Here's a list of the fantastic bloggers who signed up to help reveal the cover! There is also a giveaway to win an eARC of Derailed!

A Bibliophile's Thoughts on Books       

The Literati Press             

A Dream Within A Dream             

A Diary Of A Book Addict              

Cupcakes and Literature         

My Seryniti         

A Soul Unsung   

Deea's Journal   

Love of Books    

What's Beyond Forks?   

DforDarla's Definite Reads          

StuckInBooks     

Kimmie's Bookshelf        

Have Book, Will Read     

Nick's Book Blog               

FireStarBooks   

Clean Adult Fiction          

Bethany's Writing Journey           

YA Book Addict 

What the Cat Read         

Bookshelf Confessions  

We Fancy Books               

Paranormal Book Fan     

Emily's Crammed Bookshelf        

passionate Encounters  

whoopeeyoo :D               

Everything A-TO-C           

YA Novelties      

Ali's Bookshelf   

Book- Marks the Spot    

Tien's Blurb         

Jess's Book Blog               

I Read Indie       

A Tale of Many Reviews                

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Flight Release!

Flight is now available!!

Kindle    Nook 

Book Description:

Sometimes you just have to take flight.

A summer in New Orleans is exactly what Allie needs before starting college. Accepting her dad’s invitation to work at his hotel offers an escape from her ex-boyfriend and the chance to spend the summer with her best friend. Meeting a guy is the last thing on her mind—until she sees Levi.

Unable to resist the infuriating yet alluring Levi, Allie finds herself at the center of a supernatural society and forced to decide between following the path she has always trusted or saving a city that might just save her.

Behind the Gate Interview & Giveaway- A.R. Ivanovich

Today I have the pleasure of welcoming A.R. Ivanovich to the blog! She's the author of Haven (The War of Princes). If you haven't had a chance to read this awesome science fiction/fantasy set in a steampunk world, I'm giving away a kindle copy below.

I absolutely love the world you created in Haven, where did the idea come from?

The concept for Haven began with an image and a feeling. The image was a young, armor clad soldier standing beside shadow creatures in the dying light of a green sunset. The feeling accompanying the picture was of the goodness that can survive most brutal kinds of oppression. I needed a place as bright and innocent as this soldier's world was dark and cunning, a polar opposite, and so Katelyn Kestrel and Haven were born.

I know you are currently writing the second book in the War of Princes series, do you expect to close out the story after two books, or do you think there will be more? Any hints as to what your readers should expect in book two?   

(Laughing) I should have known I'd get a question like this. According to family and friends, I'm infuriatingly tight lipped about spoilers, but I'll do my best to answer. At this point, I've planned to make War of the Princes a trilogy. As far as hints toward book two go, readers will continue the journey with Kat, see some familiar faces for better or worse, and learn more about the mysteries surrounding both Haven and the Outside World.

What is your favorite part about being an author?

I love the response from readers. Knowing that one of my imaginary worlds has provided an escape from daily life is, by far, my favorite thing about being an author. Until science catches up, books are the closest things we have to teleportation devices.

What’s your favorite book of all time?

My brain just exploded. I can barely choose what ice cream flavor to buy, let alone pick an all time favorite book. I'll have to choose the entire Dragonriders of Pern series by Anne McCaffrey. Anne has been a lifelong hero of mine, and when I was a kid, she's the one who made me want to grow up to be an author.

What do you do when you're not writing?

That depends on the weather. If it's sunny, I'm outside being outdoorsy, hanging out with animals, or getting my hands dirty one way or another. If it's stormy or dark, I save the world from aliens, robots, zombies, demons, orcs, or other people like myself.  You know, video games. I also make art.

If you found a hidden gate in your backyard, where would it lead to?

Firstly, I would be hysterically excited to find a hidden gate in my backyard. That being said, I'd love for it to lead to a medieval or exotic fantasy world where the extent of our bravery is the only limit in what we can achieve. Wherever the gate leads, let it be away from bills, fences and rules.

Tell us four random things about yourself.

Random things, coming right up. In fourth grade, my teacher called me a "chronic daydreamer" and sent me to detention with the mean kids. I have to open unlabeled doors in hotels to see where they lead. I name inanimate objects. Shenlong is my Wacom Tablet and Molly is my car. Good movie trailers always make me want to cry. It's kind of embarrassing. I end up doing math in my head to distract myself and avoid looking like a complete weirdo.

Want to know more about A.R. and her War of Princes series?
Find her online:
Website
Twitter
Facebook
Goodreads
Amazon

Interested in reading Haven? Just comment below with your email for a chance to win a kindle copy. Giveaway ends Monday, August 13th! 

Haven (War of Princes)

From missing socks to missing people, nothing could remain hidden from seventeen year-old Katelyn Kestrel for long, but after locating a forbidden passage out of her isolated country, Haven, she discovers for the first time that there are some things that should never be found.

Outside the safety of her homeland’s borders, Katelyn meets Rune, a young soldier who will die without her immediate aid. She never considered that helping him would lead to her capture. While being held prisoner by the handsome Lord Dylan Axton, she learns that the outside world is rife with war and controlled by people with extraordinary powers. It becomes clear that there was a very good reason the founders of Haven locked their people away from the rest of the world. The depth of her peril reaches a fever pitch when a ruthless Commander wants Katelyn dead. Her only hope is to return to Haven, but can she survive long enough to find her home?