Cover Reveal: Epiphany by Christina Jean Michaels

Title: Epiphany by Christina Jean Michaels

Publication date: July, 2013 

Genre: NA/17+ Romantic Suspense

Book Description:

“I had my first psychic dream when I was nine. Psychic implied power, and powerful wasn’t a word I’d use to describe myself. I couldn’t foretell the future or conjure visions at will, but I couldn’t think of a more fitting word to describe what I sometimes saw in my dreams.” 

For 23-year-old Mackenzie Hill, tossing her life down the garbage disposal is easy after a painful incident shatters her life. Her heart is bleeding, and moving to Watcher’s Point is a chance to start anew, only she isn’t prepared for the guy who walks out of her dreams and into the flesh. Literally . . . because she’s been dreaming about this sexy stranger for years. 

Mackenzie is even less prepared to face the dark nature of her dreams. They’ve turned disturbingly gruesome, full of blood and murder, and when they begin to coincide with the media’s headlines, she and Aidan realize her visions might be the key to stopping a madman from killing again.

Only Aidan has painful secrets of his own, and perhaps the biggest danger of all is falling for him.

About the Author:

Christina Jean Michaels was born in Paradise, California, but she has found the true home of her heart in Eugene, Oregon, where she finds plenty of inspiration for storytelling. 

When she was young, her mother said she hated words. Now she can't imagine not writing. She became an avid reader when she was thirteen and discovered the world of Sweet Valley High. About a year later she realized she could play God and write about her own characters. She has been writing in some form ever since.

She lives with her husband and their four children—three rambunctious UFC/wrestling-loving boys and one girl who steals everyone’s attention.

Goodreads ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Website

Drowning In You: Guest Post & Giveaway

Drowning In You by Rebecca Berto

Publication date: April 12th 2013 

Genre: New Adult Contemporary Romance

Synopsis: 
Secretly crushing.

Crushed by a tragedy.

Charlee May’s been crushing on Dexter Hollingworth since she was fifteen. Five years later, a horrific skiing disaster at Mason’s Ski Lift Resort leaves her millionaire dad critically injured and her mom dead at the hands of Dexter operating the lifts. Charlee is suddenly the sole caretaker for her little brother while their world falls apart. 

Dexter couldn’t be more different from Charlee. He’s tattooed, avoids exclusive relationships and his Dad has a fair share of illegal dealings. With Dexter’s reputation, almost everyone believes he planned the Mason’s skiing disaster.

And after all these years he’s still crushing on Charlee May, the girl who’s too good for him.

When this cruel twist of fate ties Charlee’s family and Dexter’s reputation together, Charlee and Dexter wonder if their feelings are reciprocated, while Dexter discovers his dad is trying to steal the May’s millionaire fortune. 

But like an addiction, one look, one touch, one taste—they’re hooked no matter the consequences.

Best New Adult fiction

It’s a given. I guestimate that New Adult novels take up over 50% of my reading and being the New Adult junkie I am, I wrote a little book called Drowning in You. I remember what made me write it: Beautiful Disaster and Easy.

New Adult has a special place with me. When I wrote the first draft of Drowning in You, I was 21. I’m now 22 and these characters in these sorts of books are around my age and though I’m more of a mature, old woman inside than some part-animal freak, they’re going through a similar stage of life as I was at that stage: discovering love, life, careers—what is my purpose?

So, I wanted to share my favorite New Adult literature. Some are wildly popular, selling 500,000+ copies and some are lesser known, but after reading them, all deeply touched me. All 5+ stars in my eyes.

And, no. I won’t do a ten to one countdown because I can’t order my favorites. Sheesh!

Here are my equal favs:

Beautiful Disaster, Jamie McGuire

This book was loved or hated because of Travis’ bad ways and Abby’s acceptance of him. For me, when I still have a book hangover nine months after reading said book, I know it’s a special one. I loved Travis as per so many others in the female population.

Easy, Tammara Webber

One of the first ever New Adult books I read, and what an introduction to the genre! Lucas is one of my top book boyfriends, and I so adore the mixture of not only sexual chemistry between Lucas and Jacqueline, but also the emotional punch this story delivers and the serious message behind it all.

[Anything by Colleen Hoover], Colleen Hoover

Need I explain myself? All three of Colleen’s novels—Slammed, Point of Retreat and Hopeless—are standouts in fiction. I find myself saying “butterflying” and “I live you” in my life when non-book-junkies think I’m simply crazy. Colleen has wormed in her way as part of my life.

The Edge of Never, J.A. Redmerski

Part of the wonder of this book is the slow, creeping-up-on-you romance. It changes from contemporary to romance to almost erotic to break-your-heart and by the end, author Jessica had drained all my emotions. I was so connected to Andrew and Cam’s story.

Ten Tiny Breaths, K.A. Tucker

What a creeper! I put off this book for no reason for almost half a year. God, I wasted so much time! *sulks* Author Kathleen has a way of writing some serious punch across many platforms. I laughed (even snorted), cried, and had to turn on my fan for many of hot, hot scenes.

(Thompson Sisters series), Charles Sheehan-Miles

This man can write like a woman. Better than most women! It’s strange, in retrospect, that I realized two of the strongest female characters I’ve ever read are written by a male author in both his books in the series, Just Remember to Breathe and A Song for Julia. Lovee.

           

The Sea of Tranquility, Katja Millay

Blew me away. I couldn’t think straight for days? Weeks? I pre-ordered the paperback, like, 130 days before publication. Josh and Nastya are two of my favorite characters both separately and together. TSoT made me ugly cry and after much torture, awwww.

The Enchanted Orchards, Kristin Maddock

I found this little book on a random Amazon search for a romantic literary novel. Like I do with Hopeless, I can’t help but rant and suggest (force) my bookish friends read this. It’s told in a direct style and a poetic voice that had me in love with it from the prologue.

(The Dark Duet series), C.J. Roberts

What a cruel human being. I am disgusted in myself since becoming a C.J. Roberts fan. I love Caleb, the torturer. I like the hot, erotic scenes with him and the beautiful, Olivia. I love everything, which hurts a damn lot considering C.J. loves to torture her readers. Gawd! Just wow.

Charade, Nyrae Dawn

Did NOT expect to cry and fall in love with this book in any way as significantly as I did. Chey and Colt turn out to be such an amazing couple from what started out as lies. It turns from fun, to heart-breaking and romantic and definitely gave me a similar OMG-I-adore feeling as The Edge of Never did.

***

If I may be so bold, I’d recommend Drowning in You for fans of Hopeless and Charade, as it gave me a similar feeling when I wrote it. :)

Goodreads ~ Amazon (paperback) ~ Amazon (Kindle) ~ Smashwords ~ Kobo

About the Author:

Rebecca Berto is the author or the dark contemporary/literary novella, PRECISE and the upcoming new adult contemporary romance novel, DROWNING IN YOU. She is also a freelance editor.

She writes stories that are a bit sexy, and straddle the line between Literary and Tear Your Heart Out. She gets a thrill when her readers  are emotional reading her stories, and gets even more of a kick when they tell her so. She’s strangely imaginative, spends too much time on her computer, and is certifiably crazy when she works on her fiction.
Rebecca Berto lives in Melbourne, Australia with her boyfriend and their doggy. 

You can contact the author by:

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter 

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Hell's Hollow by Summer Stone: Interview & Giveaway

Hell's Hollow by Summer Stone
Publication date:  March 2013 
Genre: YA Paranormal

Synopsis: 
When Seraphina was younger, she healed her best friend's injured hand. Terrified by the inexplicable cure, the girl shunned her. From that day on, Seraphina found herself without friends, a freak and an oddity. And so she obeyed her mother’s rule to refrain from using her innate ability, heeded her mother's warning that its use could land her in the local mental health facility alongside her aunt and grandmother.

But when sixteen-year-old Seraphina finds a mysterious, wounded boy hiding in the hollow in the woods behind her house, she can't hold out against the overpowering urge to help him. She is drawn to him each night, and as they come to know one another, their irresistible attraction blooms.

She longs to uncover his secrets — where he comes from and why he's hiding and how he came to be so wounded — and to share her own, though she knows it's forbidden. And while her healing touch seems to be helping him, it's hurting her. When the symptoms of psychosis — experienced by the women in her bloodline who used their powers — begin to plague Seraphina, she is faced with the unbearable choice of saving her sanity or the boy she’s come to love.

with Summer Stone

What inspired you to write Hell's Hollow?

It was really the name of the town that inspired me. For years, my family and I have gone up to the Sierra Foothills and there's a big street sign in a rural area, much bigger than most street signs, that says Hell's Hollow. Every time we would pass that sign, I would think, Someday I'm going to write a book about a town called Hell's Hollow. I didn't know what it would be about until I started writing it. I started with the name of the town and then with the protagonist and just let them lead me into the story.

What is your writing process like?

I need quiet to really be able to get to the sweet spot where the writing flows. So I don't listen to music and I prefer not to be at a noisy café. My best writing comes when I let the character tell me the story. With Hell's Hollow I was surprised by many elements of the storyline, none of which would have happened if I'd really tried to guess at what would come next. So listening for the voice of the characters and the voice of the story are key for me.

What were your favorite elements of Hell's Hollow to write?

I really enjoyed writing the growing relationship between Seraphina and Zach. I loved the build up from strangers to friends to something more. And because she isn't sure if he's real or a figment of her potential loss of sanity, there's an element of mystery that was fun to play with.

Also, the crazy parts! I loved writing her psychotic grandmother and also the scenes where Seraphina's own sanity begins to waver. I actually did quite a bit of research on different types of psychosis and based much of her aunt and grandmother's behavior on videos I watched of schizophrenic patients.

Were there parts of the story you didn't enjoy writing?

I always struggle a bit with writing the parts when everything is going wrong. I'm impatient to get to the places where things are working out. So I really have to push myself to hold out and let things be bad for a while. It makes the payoff of the happy parts so much richer.

Did you do much research for Hell's Hollow?

I did! I actually really enjoyed my research for this book. First, I spent time in the area of the Sierra Nevada foothills where the story takes place and even went to Big Trees State Park to get a feel for the giant trees that live in the Hollow. I spent quite a bit of time online researching psychosis and schizophrenia. I also did a lot of research on the history of the area — both of the Native American tribes that lived there and on the Gold Rush history. Other areas of research included the serpent-handling religion of West Virginia, alternative forms of healing, mythology about Hell, diseases caused by wild animals, baking and a few others I won't mention so as not to give anything away.

In Hell's Hollow, Seraphina has the ability to heal. Her grandmother hears people's thoughts. And her aunt sees the future. If you could have any super power, what would it be?

Ooh. That is a tough question! I have secretly always wanted Seraphina's power. But there are others that would be super cool too. I'd say flying, but I'd probably get motion sickness :)

Why does Seraphina, who has always obeyed her mom's rule about not using her special ability, decide to start trying?

Partly, it's because the tugs from the Hollow have begun to keep her awake at night and bother her all day. And partly, it's because of Zach. She wants to help him. There's also one more piece, which is that she's sixteen and her mom's rule feels wrong to her, and she's getting brave enough to make up her own mind.

 Quick Qs:

Ocean or mountains: ocean

Winter or summer: summer

Chocolate or vanilla: Always, always chocolate

Movie night or dancing: movie night

Harry Potter or Hunger Games: yes

Favorite type of food: Thai

Favorite rainy day activity: reading, of course

Favorite recent(ish) movie: Pitch Perfect

Favorite sound: laughter

Trivia about Hell's Hollow:

Sera's favorite baked good is an ooey gooey sticky bun.

Zach's favorite candy is a Mars bar.

Sera has 3 older brothers. They were inspired by the 3 brothers of my best friend from kindergarten. That friend never hesitated to tell people that her middle brother was her favorite. It's very clear that Sera's middle brother is her favorite too. And he's her favorite for the same reason — he's sweet to her.

The Tale of Hell's Hollow, which Sera tells Zach in the novel, was partly inspired by actual events that took place in that part of the state during the Gold Rush.

You can purchase these books at:

Goodreads ~ Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble

About the Author:

Summer Stone loves immersing herself in the worlds that live inside her mind. When she's in the real world, she likes kicking back on the beach, exploring new places, reading (of course) and eating rich, gooey chocolate. She loves spending time with her husband and kids, which she does as much as she can. Summer writes young adult and women's fiction, both supernatural and contemporary, realistic and looks forward to sharing her novels with you! 

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter

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