MY SUPER SWEET SIXTEENTH CENTURY GIVEAWAY, COVER REVEALS, AND SOME OTHER NEWS!

Good Morning, readers!


I know it's been a while since I've blogged, but...that's the life of an agent/author, busy, busy, busy.

Now, first things, first.

In honor of my client, Rachel Harris's upcoming release, My Super Sweet Sixteenth Century, I'm hosting a giveaway complete with two paperback copies of the novel and some pretty cool swag!

On the precipice of her sixteenth birthday, the last thing lone wolf Cat Crawford wants is an extravagant gala thrown by her bubbly stepmother and well-meaning father. So even though Cat knows the family’s trip to Florence, Italy, is a peace offering, she embraces the magical city and all it offers. But when her curiosity leads her to an unusual gypsy tent, she exits . . . right into Renaissance Firenze.

Thrust into the sixteenth century armed with only a backpack full of contraband future items, Cat joins up with her ancestors, the sweet Alessandra and protective Cipriano, and soon falls for the gorgeous aspiring artist Lorenzo. But when the much-older Niccolo starts sniffing around, Cat realizes that an unwanted birthday party is nothing compared to an unwanted suitor full of creeptastic amore.

Can she find her way back to modern times before her Italian adventure turns into an Italian forever?

How to enter 

You must be a follower of this blog. (Bonus points if you follow me on twitter as well.)

You must have My Super Sweet Sixteenth Century added to your TBR list on goodreads. If you haven't added it already, you can add it here.http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13101487-my-super-sweet-sixteenth-century

Finally, answer the following question - If you could travel back in time to any era, what would it be and why?

This contest is open internationally. Please leave your name and email address in the comment section. This contest ends on 9-29-2012.

Good luck!

Cover Reveals

If you guys missed these epic cover reveals for Trisha Wolfe's amazing book, Fireblood, you can check that out here.http://www.electrifyingreviews.com/2012/09/cover-reveal-fireblood.html

Secondly, the gorgeous cover for Stalked by Death(book two in the Touch of Death series) by Kelly Hashway. You can check out the cover here. http://www.rachelharriswrites.com/blog/2012/9/6/gorgeous-cover-reveal-kelly-hashways-stalked-by-death.html 

Some more news!

So... many of you have been patiently waiting on the releases of Yelling Out Loud (Whisper To A Scream 2) and Beautiful Nightmares(The final installment in the asylum trilogy). I assure you that I am currently working on both of these books and hope to have them completed soon. As of right now, YOL is scheduled for a September 30 release and BN is scheduled for October 16. The release date of YOL may change, but BN is solid. That date is not changing. Also, I've been thinking of ways of how I can give back to the readers. I try to think of creative ways to show my appreciation for all your passion and support for my books and I think I have found a brilliant way to show how much you support means to me. Inside of Beautiful Nightmares will be both of Aurora's novellas. There will be one at the beginning. One at the end. Also included will be two separate chapters, one written from Damien's point of view and one written from Elijah's after their first encounters with Adelaide. So I hope you enjoy them. And thank you, thank you, thank you, a million times over for your passion over my books and for your support. I am nearing the 50,000 books sold mark and I could not have done it without you!

Also, in honor of the upcoming release of the final installment in the asylum trilogy the price of Insanity and White Walls will be dropped for a limited time only.

Insanity will be .99 cents. And White Walls will be 1.99.  

*Please note when reading that this series is written out of order and purposely done so. They are also NA titles, not YA titles so there are some scenes and situations that may not be suitable for readers under 16 years of age. 

I hope everyone has a great weekend!

Cheers!

 

Teasers from Beautiful Nightmares and So Far Gone!

Yay!!!!

It's Saturday!

Yes, I know I know, I rarely do Saturday posts, but I wanted to give those of you who loved Insanity and White Walls something special.

Some teasers!

Yay again!!!

So here we go....

Here is a teaser for So Far Gone (Aurora O'Reilly 1)

The year is 1950 and I’ve just turned sixteen.

You know what that means?

That means that this glorious year, I’ll be introduced to society as a debutante. Something that I’ve been dreading since my mother brought it up six months ago. During a luncheon with a few of her women’s league friends I’d been picking at my salad, when my mother first mentioned it. Then she patted my forearm. I smiled politely, turned my head and scowled. Whether it was proper for a southern belle or not, there was no way I was going to let Mabel O’Reilly, shove me into some frilly, frou-frou dress and parade me around in front of society like a poodle at a dog show.

I don’t want to be a purebred

I’d rather be a mutt.

 “Aurora!” mother’s voice bleeds through the pale pink walls of my bedroom. “I have a surprise for you!”

Damn it.

The click clack of her heels sound offs against the wooden floors. “I promise you, darling, you’re going to love it!”

A bout of nausea whips through my stomach when I realize she’s only a few feet away from my bedroom. With frantic heart beats and trembling fingers, I slide open my window at the exact same time my mother’s fist connects with the door. “Open up, sweetheart!” Her voice has a light airy feel to it. She’s in a good mood. That’s about to change in a minute.

I stare down at the two story drop from my bedroom and tell myself that I’d rather jump out this window than see what surprise my mother has in store for me. Even thought part of me has a feeling that her surprise will be a puffy white dress that she’s selected for me to wear to the Biloxi Debutante ball.

The door cracks open revealing a sliver of my mother’s profile. I take that as my cue. Oh hell’s bells. I’d rather break both my legs jumping out this window than try on that hideous dress. I plummet from my window at the same time my mother says, “Aurora, darling, are you in here?”

My back slams into the ground first, hard. My abrupt impact knocks the wind out of my lungs and I choke out the breath lodged in my throat. I continue gasping, willing my lungs to start working again.

I sit up, still in a daze at the same time my mother pokes her head out my window. “Aurora, what are you doing down there?” She holds a white dress up in the window and my eyes widen.

My lips press into a straight line. That dress is uglier and gaudier than I thought it would be. With it’s poofy white sleeves, full ruffled skirt, and bodice adorned with little gems and knick-knacks.  

“Isn’t it lovely?” mother gushes. A wide smile stretches on her full rosy lips. “Now come back inside so I can see you in it.”

I hop to my feet. “Sorry to disappoint you, mother.”

The smile falls from her lips. “What?”

At that moment, I take off running. I run fast, ignoring the burn in my lungs and the stiffness in my joints.

“Aurora Jean!” mother shouts, her voice carrying on the wind. “You get back here this instant!” I glance over my shoulder at my mother’s whose body is tensed, a frown residing on her lips. “Just wait until your father hears about this!”


Now, a teaser from Beautiful Nightmares!

There is nothing but darkness.

It surrounds me.

Swallows me like a boa constrictor desparate to have a meal in its’ belly.

But even though it’s pitch black, I can hear him. His voice bleeds through the walls and I know that I have to go to him. I have to go to him because I love him. I ache when I’m not near him. And hearing the pain in his voice nearly cripples me.

Elijah sits at his desk. He’s sobbing, his hands fisted through his locks of gold, his chest heaving as he lets out another anguished cry. “Why, Adelaide?” he screams. “Why?” He raises his head slowly, his beautiful golden eyes brimming with tears, and he clenches his jaw. Suddenly the emotion in his features twists from sorrow to rage. He stands. His face is red hot like the hearth of a fire and in one swift motion he sweeps his arm along the length of his desk sending all of the papers, folders, pens, and paper weights clattering to the floor. He lets out another fierce anguished cry.

“Elijah, love. What’s wrong?”

My question is met silence.

“Tell me, my love,” I press on. “What can I do to make it better?”

My words don’t seem to ease his suffering at all. He begins pacing behind his desk, hands balled in fists at his side. He stops mid-pace and in an abrupt reaction he picks up the antique globe next to his desk and he chucks it with force into the wall. “Why Adelaide?” he repeats his previous question and falls back into his chair in a heap.

I’ve reached the point where I can no longer hold back my tears and I rush to him, clinging to his arm and crying, “I can’t take this. I can’t take seeing you like this, Elijah. Please. You’re breaking my heart.” I’d give anything to take away his pain. I’d give anything to whisper heartfelt words into his ear and let him know that everything will be all right. That we will be all right.

Some more INSANITY.....

Hello readers!!!!

I hope everyone is having an epic summer.

I just wanted to share a little bit of news with you...

So 12 Rounds has been released! YAY!

On top of that I'm diligently working on Aurora's novella, So Far Gone, and hope to have that out by August 22.

Beautiful Nightmares is also coming together nicely.

I just wanted to take moment to highlight a few things. A lot of fans keep messaging about Infect Me, and Yelling Out Loud(A whisper to a scream 2) wanting to know when these novels are going to be released. I had originally planned for them to be released a while ago, but things happen. My personal life got in the way. So.... The release dates for both novels will be sometime in October. Both probably toward the end of the month being that they are both dark themed novels and my favorite holiday, Halloween, just so happens to be in October.

THEY WILL BE BOTH BE OUT SOMETIME IN OCTOBER. FOR SURE.

On another note, I'll also be writing a sequel to He Loves Me...He Loves You Not called She Loves Me...I Love Her and it will be written from Henry's POV. I am determined to redeem, Henry. DETERMINED.

There's also a milestone I need to celebrate. To date, I have been putting my books out for a year, and I have to thank all of the readers and fans who love the way I write and continue to spread the word about all of my novels. Because of you, I have sold over 28,000 copies of my books and I don't know how I can possibly thank you all enough.

You have made my dream of writing for a living possible and I owe everything to you all.

So thank you, thank you, thank you.

From the bottom of my heart.

Hope everyone enjoys the rest of their week!

Cheers!

Squee! 12 Rounds Cover Reveal and More Randomness!

Good Morning Readers!

Yes... I know. I know.

I has been FOREVER since I've blogged.

BUT...

I guess that means I've been busy.

Hey, what can I say?

An agent/writer's life has never been easy.

I've got clients on sub, feedback I'm compiling, a lot of reading to do, and somewhere in between all of that I do find a little writing time for myself. So I am super duper excited to let you see the cover for my latest new adult/adult romance novel, 12 Rounds.

YAY!

If you guys get a chance to check it out, here's the link to the goodreads page!

Sean (Right-Hook) Reilly knows a few things about himself. One, he's the middle-weight boxing champion of the world with an undefeated record. Two, women find his cocky persona, chiseled biceps, and inked body sexy. Also, the fact that it's known that he doesn't do relationships only adds to his sex appeal. And three, he's Irish, proud of it, and a member of the Braithreachas Don Saol, a branch of the Irish mafia and king pins of the drug cartel taking over the streets of Cleveland.

Connor Doyle(aka Connie) the boss and leader of the Braithreachas Don Saol, has been like a father to Sean, taking him under his wing and teaching him how to survive on the streets after the death of his parents. Sean has never been ungrateful, but has always wanted one thing...

More. More to live for. More to fight for. More to believe in. A chance at a future without drugs or guns. A chance at a future without wondering which day will be his last.

There's only one problem with that. You live by the braithreachas. You die by the braithreachas. And Sean knows whether Connie considers him to be family or not, the only way he'll be leaving the braithreachas is in a body bag.

Hadlee Flax has had a year to overcome her issues. After almost being raped and brutalized, she's putting her best foot forward, seeing a therapist, and has even(with some persuasion from her best friend, Lara) enrolled in self defense classes. And she's doing well moving on with her life until she meets the dark, and conflicted Irish boxing champion of the world, Sean Reilly.

Hadlee is immediately drawn to the gorgeous, cold, and mysterious man who speaks with a slight Irish brogue. She soon learns that there is much more to him than his darkened gaze, cool demeanor, and body covered in tattoos. He's not the type of man she thought he was. And Hadlee finds herself doing something she never thought she would do in the last year...

Falling for a guy.

Falling for Sean Reilly. A man who is on the path to becoming a boxing legend.

One thing Hadlee doesn't know is the other part of Seans' life. His life of drug running, and killing. Or the fact that when he's not boxing he's walking the streets with a gat tucked into the back of his loose jeans, and glancing over his shoulder at every turn.

But it doesn't take Hadlee long to learn that some attractions and relationships can be fatal.

And sometimes...

They just might be worth fighting for.

IMPORTANT WHITE WALLS INFO AND EXCERPT

Morning Readers!

I hope everyone is kicking their week off to a great start!

Now, I have two things to share with you today...

1. I know that everyone who has read Insanity is anxiously awaiting the sequel, White Walls which is due out tomorrow.

But...

Sadly the release date has been pushed back. I know this is probably a total bummer, but sometimes things work out better this way.

2. I know this probably won't tide you over, but I've pasted a longer excerpt of White Walls below and I hope that you enjoy it.

The new release date is Monday June, 25, 2012 (This date is solid. It is NOT changing.)

White Walls Excerpt

My surroundings have started to fade in and out of focus. The trees whirl around me in circles. Browns, greens, and blacks. Browns, greens, and blacks. I have to stop and place my arm against one of the trunks. I drop my head, exhaling. The dizziness is overwhelming. I can't remember the last time I ate or drank anything. I can't remember what day it is.

My entire body is covered in beads of cold sweat and I've started hallucinating.

“Psst, Addy.” Damien's hushed voice rings out through the trees. “Come find me.”

I groan softly and try to lift my head. I don't have the strength to play his game right now.

“Addy.”

“No!” I shout and my voice trails, echoing as it travels along the cleared muddy path. “Why are you doing this? Why?”

I try to lift my head again and I succeed, but only to rest it in the crook of my elbow. My eyes are on the ground and I notice a pair of brown shoes, an added accessory to the forest debris along the path. My eyes travel upward, taking in Damien's appearance. He doesn't look like the Damien I was seeing when I was in Oakhill. He looks like he did the last time I saw him. He looks the way he looked a second before he died.

I suck in breath that I can't release. My lips quivers at the sight of the dried blood on his light blue button up. His skin is pale, his lips gray. And the haunting, lifeless look in his blue eyes is too much to bear. I blanch and look away. “No,” I cry. “No.”

He moves closer, twigs snapping beneath his feet, followed by a rustling of dead leaves. My body goes rigid. Panic flushes through my blood stream. I can feel him right next me and his cold, rancid breath fans across my face. I inhale then exhale quickly, gagging on the way he tastes, like a dug up corpse. “What's the matter, Addy?” His fingers are in my hair and his voice is eerie. Emotionless.

This is not my Damien. This is not my Damien. This is not my Damien.

I repeat the words in my head. This is not my Damien. He's a manifestation of my mind similar to a nightmare. “Stop,” I whisper, thinking pleading might actually work. I'm wrong.

The dead vision of the love of my life laughs. The laugh isn't pleasant. It's dark, cold, and evil. He pets my head and repeats his previous question, “What's the matter, Addy?” His fingers feel like slime as they slide across my skin. They keep sliding and sliding and they send a shiver of fear down my spine. I shudder and use all the strength I have to pull away from him. I stare into his dead eyes. “But I thought you loved me?” His clammy grayish skin bunches on his forehead.

Yes. Loved is the key word.

Will always are another two.

There will always be a part of me that loves him. There will always be a part of me that remembers the Damien I met one summer on a dirt road in West Des Moines, Iowa. The Damien who was beautiful, smart, caring, and funny. The Damien who stole my heart, promised to love me forever, and had plans for our future.

A future that was cut short and killed by my evil, conflicted father.

I have since learned that even though a part of me will always love him that doesn't mean I can continue to love him the way I used to. Because he's dead. And I can't go on loving a poltergeist for the rest of my life.

Hope you all enjoyed this!

Cheers!

White Walls Cover Reveal!

Morning Readers!

I have something exciting to share with you today!

The cover for the sequel to Insanity...White Walls!

Personally I love it, but be sure to drop me a comment below and let me know what you think!

 I've also included the playlist for White Walls below. I also just wanted to say that this book (actually, the whole trilogy) is written backwards and purposely done so. This book takes place during Adelaide's first visit to Oakhill, her escape, and showcases her relationship with Elijah(Dr. Watson). And yes...Damien comes along for part of the ride too.

White Walls Playlist.

1. The Violet Hour - The Civil Wars
2. Canon in D - Johann Pachabel
3. Volcano - Damien Rice
4. I'm Ready For Love - Joshua Ledet (American Idol Rendition)
5. Get Thru This - Art of Dying
7. Kings of Medicine - Placebo
8. Hurt - Christina Aguleira
9. Screaming Infidelities - Dashboard Confessional
10. Stricken - Disturbed
11. Breakin Me - Jonny Lang
12. Push - Matchbox Twenty
13.  Life After You - Daughtry
14. Haunted -Taylor Swift



Also check out the blurb for my next book, coming out the first week of July, 12 Rounds!

Don't worry, for those of you who've read A Whisper To A Scream and have a special place in your heart for Adam and Ellory, you'll be seeing more of them soon, too!



Hope you guys liked the cover!

<3 Have a great day!

Cheers!

White Walls Teaser!

Good morning Readers!

I know it's been a good while since I've posted.


With agenting and writing, my life has been a little hectic lately.

What I'm most excited about though, is the opportunity to share a little snippet from the sequel to Insanity, White Walls.

If you've read Insanity, you know that this is a trilogy and the last book in the series will be Beautiful Nightmares. White Walls I assure you, is packed full of crazy, creepy, and plenty of swoon-worthy romance.

I hope you enjoy the teaser!

And be sure to check it out on June 19th!

White Walls Teaser!

In my head, I hear Mommy's voice.

There is no Daddy. It's like he never existed. It's always just me and Mommy.

Me and Mommy.

Me and Mommy.

The sun drips into the horizon splashing colors of yellow, brown, molten orange with fragmented hints of pink. The assortment of colors fill my gaze and I close my eyes as a gust of cool wind blows tendrils of black from my cheeks. Mommy stands behind me, pushing me on the tire swing. She sings to me.

Softly.

Sweetly.

“Little bird, little bird, spread your wings and fly. Little bird, little bird soar through the sky.” Her voice is warm and harmonious as it flits through the air. The sound of it brings me so much joy.

“Mommy,” I giggle with a grin and glance at her over my shoulder.

She smiles back at me. The smile touches her violet eyes, and there's a flush of pink in her pale cheeks. “I love you, little bird.”

“I love you too, Mommy.”

“I have to go, little bird. Be good now.”

I frown and tears spring to my child-like eyes. “No Mommy! Don't leave me!”

Mommy doesn't listen. Her smile twists from a happy one to a sad one as she backs away from me. “Be good, little bird, be good.”

The tire swing soars higher. I turn, tears dripping off my chin and reach out for her. “No Mommy! Please don't leave me!”

“I'm sorry little bird.” Mommy catches the tire swing by the rope handles and places her lips against my ear. I can feel her skin resting against mine. Her flesh is cold. Clammy. Dead. “I'll always love you, Adelaide. Now be good and fly away,” she whispers. Her voice isn't warm anymore. It's scratchy, raspy, and ragged.

“I want you to fly with me, Mommy. Please,” I beg her in my tiny voice and choke on a sob lodged in my throat. “Please Mommy.”

I face her and rest my forehead against the rope. The sky darkens, the bright colors evaporate, and raindrops that look like ashes float down from the heavens, coating the dead brown and yellow grass in our front yard. Mommy walks backwards, slowly. Wobbly. I try to run after her, but an invisible force straps my thighs to the swing. Thrashing, I contort the upper half of my body as far as I can. Pain stabs at my heart and I cry out for her one last time. “Mommy! No!”

The woman I see behind me isn't my mommy. The woman behind me has skin that's melting away from her bones, all dull, gray, and lifeless. Her vibrant violet eyeballs are bulging from her head, and tiny droplets of blood drip from her sockets.

I scream.

I sob.

I shake.

Out of fear and out of pain.

The woman behind me begins to disintegrate. Her skin melts away from her muscles and organs and turns to ash when it hits the ground. She's open, exposed, and I can see her heart pounding. I hear her life-force thumping. Ba boom. Ba boom. Seconds later the pinkish, red organs' steady beat slows before the organ itself shrivels into a deep crimson colored rock and falls out of her chest. Dropping my head into my small hands, I cry quietly to myself. The woman behind me is not my mommy.

No...

The woman behind me is nothing but a corpse. 

Just to be clear, I wanted to address the genre of Insanity and it's sequels. So many people think this is YA. It is not. It is far too graphic in some areas to be considered YA. And it was never intended to be YA. It's actually a New Adult novel as are the sequels. 

Hope you guys enjoyed the teaser!

 Cheers!