Young Adult Giveaway Hop

That awesome hopper Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not a Writer, is at it again with another giveaway hop! Amanda from Book Love 101 is the co-host.

I'm giving away ebooks of my mature YA Streamline to two winners.

Seems like Leo Scott has it all: looks, brains, and athletic talent. He's captain of his high school swim team with a bright future in college and beyond. But Leo has secrets. His mother's crippling car accident has devastated his family and left Leo to deal with his father's abuse, battered and alone.

Leo's girlfriend Audrey Rose is poised for her own share of success. As one of Florida's top high school swimmers, Audrey dreams of college swimming stardom. But there's an obstacle to her glorious rise to the top. Her number-one supporter--her father--is in prison for murder.

Part murder mystery, part tale of young love in a military family, this gripping story takes readers on a journey from Pensacola to Annapolis. Leo and Audrey must band together to rise above the adversity they encounter and find their true selves in the process. When everything's on the line . . . streamline.

To enter, simply complete the Rafflecopter form. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Make sure to hop over to as many participating blogs as you can.

Seriously Series Reading Challenge

Sufferin' Succotash, it's the Seriously Series Reading Challenge!

(read the above with a lisp)

Thank you to Amanda at On a Book Bender and Kelly at Reading the Paranormal for hosting this challenge! I participated in their Summer Series 2012 Challenge, and this this is an expanded version.

I just finished writing my first and only romantic suspense trilogy -- The Conduct Series -- and I'm a huge fan of series, from Diana Gabaldon's Outlander Series to Paullina Simon's The Bronze Horseman Series to Stephanie Perkins YA Series.

For this challenge, I'll focus on two categories:

1) Series started before 2013

2) Series started during 2013

My goal is 1-6 series in each (gotta leave time for two careers!), putting me in the Semi-Serious distinction.

Want to join us? Visit Kelly HERE.

And now it's time to bounce on the Omnific Author Blog Bounce! Join us at Omnific.

2013 Feminist Reads Challenge

I'm excited to participate in two reading challenges this year, and the first is the Feminist Reads Challenge sponsored by The Hiding Spot.

Quoting Sara from The Hiding Spot:

"Personally, I love reading about girls and women that are capable of kicking butt and taking names. I'm not just talking about the girls out there who are physically able to do this, but about the girls who have the tenacity and courage to rise and reach and grow, no matter the life they've been born into, forced into, or ended up in by some unfortunate turn of events.

Every year I read many fantastic books from a variety of genres that feature women and girls that embody this spirit and determination.

Feminism is defined as:

• A movement for granting women political, social, and economic equality with men.

True, but also fairly boring. I think Rebecca West summed it up pretty well we she said:

"I myself have never been able to find out precisely what feminism is: I only know that people call me a feminist whenever I express sentiments that differentiate me from a doormat."

Here's how I define feminism and feminists:

• Feminism is supporting and helping to create strong girls and women.Women who have the ability to take care of themselves, who believe in themselves, and who have the freedom to pursue their dreams and share their beliefs, values, and opinions.
• Feminists encourage and support strength, independence, individuality, and passion in women of all ages.
• Feminists fight for people. Yes, they obviously fight for women, but I think it can also be said that they fight for what is right. For equality for all. For every person to have a voice, an education, a fighting chance.

Therefore, any book that features, by your standards, a strong female character or supports feminist ideals is eligible for this challenge! Examples include: The Hunger Games, Divergent, The Dairy of Anne Frank, Matilda, The Handmaid's Tale."

Thank you for the great reading challenge, Sara! I'm already reading about a strong heroine in Trust in Advertising by Victoria Michaels. 

I'll go for the MEDIUM challenge, meaning I commit to reading 5-10 feminist books. Please join in by signing up at The Hiding Spot.

2012 Reading Challenges

Did you participate in any reading challenges in 2012?

I joined several, and thought I'd share my reviews if you're looking for recommendations in Romantic Suspense, Young Adult, Swimming, or Series.

The Eclectic Bookshelf hosted the Romantic Suspense Challenge. This is my favorite genre so of course I gobbled up these sexy and suspenseful reads:

Black Ops by Cindy Gerard:
1. Show No Mercy
2. Take No Prisoners
3. Whisper No Lies
4. Feel the Heat
5. Risk No Secrets
6. With No Remorse

MacKinnon's Rangers by Pamela Clare (Historical Romantic Suspense):
1. Surrender
2. Untamed
3. Defiant

Skin Deep by Pamela Clare

Sempre by J.M. Darhower

***

Next is the Young Adult Reading Challenge. This doesn't include all the awesome New Adult books I also found in 2012. Here are some great reads:

Destiny's Fire by Trisha Wolfe

Ember by Carol Oates

Embrace by Cherie Colyer

Smart Girls Get What They Want by Sarah Strohmeyer

Insurgent by Veronica Roth

Anna and the French Kiss and Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins

Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry

Catching Jordan and Stealing Parker by Miranda Kenneally

Lexapros and Cons by Aaron Karo

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

***

It appeared I was the only one who joined my Swimming Reading Challenge, ha ha. Here are the swimming books I read and reviewed:

Swimming Out of Water by Catherine Garceau

Here's a list of swimming books I hope to read soon!

***

Finally, I'm pleased with the progress I made on the All Series, All Summer Challenge hosted by Amanda at On a Book Bender and Kelly at Reading the Paranormal. You can check out the books I read HERE.

I haven't signed up for any 2013 challenges yet...any recommendations?

Bad Boy Rehab Hop Giveaway

Bad Boy Rehab Hop

January 10 – January 17, 2013
Hosted by I Am A Reader, Not A Writer and The Book Hookup

We tried giving up Bad Boys for our New Year’s Resolution…..
but try to make me go to rehab and I said no no no. 

Bad Boy (n.) person

1. A guy who has many characteristics of a naughty, naughty boy.
OMG let the drooling begin.

2. A heartbreaker with a five o’clock shadow.
Rawrrrrrr!

3. Independent and willful. Does what he wants when he wants. Never follow trends, they follow him.

4. Someone that’s not looking for trouble, but there’s a serious sense of danger about him.
We love danger!

Usable Note: A bad boy is a gorgeous man with MANY layers and is INSANELY irresistible to women.
 *raises hands*… YES PLEASE!

While I'm at the age where good boys tend to hold more appeal, I definitely understand the allure of a man who's strong, willful, risky, and HAWT. 

The heroine of my romantic suspense series, psychologist Sophie Taylor, falls for such a bad man -- Logan Barberi. He's a tall, brooding, Italian; a gambling addict who seems to possess many secrets, including a criminal background. Bad boy's got issues. And whoops, Logan is Sophie's psychotherapy client so she DEFINITELY shouldn't be falling for him. But how can she resist?

I'm giving away two ebooks of my novel With Good Behavior (The Conduct Series #1) so you can get to know Logan better. The handcuffs on the cover say it all.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Check out the bad boys across the blogoverse!

Crazy Stupid Love New Adult Giveaway

To piggyback on my first post of 2013 lauding the New Adult genre, I'm joining the Crazy Stupid Love New Adult Giveaway!


Thank you to Talk Supe for hosting this fun hop.

Stop back February 21st - 28th when I will give away a gift card to purchase a New Adult book, and discuss MY favorite NA books. (And the list is quickly building!) I'm about to start Point of Retreat, the sequel to Slammed, and I can't wait.

If all goes well, I'll be writing my own NA story by then.

I'm also participating in giveaway hops before that, including the Bad Boy Rehab Hop, Young Adult Giveaway Hop, and Follower Love Giveaway Hop. See my sidebar for details.

Insecure Writers' Support Group: New Year, New Adult

Happy New Year to all insecure writers out there! Thank you to Alex Cavanaugh for bringing us together to vent, cajole, disclose, and lift up.

I write this post at midnight after just reaching 100,000 words on my WIP On Best Behavior. YAY! Of course I'm not finished yet but I'm only a couple of chapters away -- home stretch, baby. And I feel extra giddy because it's the third book of a trilogy. My first series!

Here's my one complaint for today: Why does it take so loooooonnnggg to write? WAAH.

When you're wrapping up one novel, do you already start mentally writing your next one? I have an idea for a New Adult romance percolating, and I can't wait to get started...after I finish and edit On Best Behavior, and after a little break.

What's the New Adult genre, you ask? If you're unfamiliar with NA, it's about characters ages 18-25. Read more HERE.

I love this time of life, particularly the university years. College and the beginning of graduate school was such a time of growth for me, and this potential for character change inspires me.

I've read some fantastic NA books, including Poughkeepsie by Debra Anastasia,  Slammed by Colleen Hoover, Easy by Tammara Webber (review HERE), and Where She Went by Gayle Forman (review HERE).

What do you think about New Adult? Love it? Hate it?

I think New Adult may be the hot genre of 2013. Do you agree? If not, which genre do you predict to be hottest?