.@Jesilea interviews Arcadia Day at the Meet the Character Blog Fest! #TeenReads #Giveaway

Guess who's being interviewed as part of the Meet the Characters Blog Fest???

Arcadia Day!!!!

Pinning a slightly introverted, seventeen year old girl down for an interview was a little tricky, but I finally convinced Cady to do it. Make sure to stop on by DelSharee Gladden's blog today to learn more about my favorite psychic empath.

http://delshereegladden.blogspot.com/2013/10/character-interview-arcadia-arcadias.html#.Umc4-PmsiM4

★ Don't forget to enter the 

huge giveaway! ★

Review: BAD IDEA by @DamonSuede. 5 Stars #AmReading #LGBTRomance

Some mistakes are worth making.

Reclusive comic book artist Trip Spector spends his life doodling super-square, straitlaced superheroes, hiding from his fans, and crushing on his unattainable boss until he meets the dork of his dreams. Silas Goolsby is a rowdy FX makeup creator with a loveless love life and a secret streak of geek who yearns for unlikely rescues and a truly creative partnership.

Against their better judgment, they fall victim to chemistry, and what starts as infatuation quickly grows tender and terrifying. With Silas’s help, Trip gambles his heart and his art on a rotten plan: sketching out Scratch, a “very graphic novel” that will either make his name or wreck his career. But even a smash can't save their world if Trip retreats into his mild-mannered rut, leaving Silas to grapple with betrayal and emotions he can't escape.

What will it take for this dynamic duo to discover that heroes never play it safe?

Damon Suade has done it for me again! Proving that romance transcends stereotypes, Bad Idea has completely charmed me.  This book isn’t just a gay romance - it is a book about the human needs of love and acceptance.  As a straight, married woman from the mid-west, I might not be who Suade and his publishers would envision as their target market, but I’m telling you, Suade’s books are now on my “automatic buy” list.

Like Suade’s previous novel, Hot Head, the dialog in Bad Idea is witty, and the prose quietly genius. I never use the highlight function on my Kindle, but I had to break it out for this novel. Little pearls of wisdom abound:

“Sometimes an artistic career felt like climbing a glass mountain wearing nothing but bacon fat.”

“S’important to have old friends...They remember who you were before you made yourself up.”

“Never make a permanent mistake to solve a temporary problem.”

These are characters I’ve never met, but somehow, always wanted to know.  Trip and Silas are both men trying to find their place in the world in their own ways.  On the surface, they couldn’t be more different - Trip is quiet and anxiety-ridden; Silas has a charm that is larger than life.  The two bond over the geekdom of comics.  What is better than a sexy nerd?  TWO!!!  But the relationship is not perfect.  Both men stumble and fumble their way toward each other, making plenty of mistakes along the way.  But the issues between them are not trite and contrived as I find in so many other books; rather Trip and Silas come across as real people, as if they didn’t have an author orchestrating their actions and peering over their shoulders. As an author myself, I know how incredibly hard that is to do.  

I can’t review this book without commenting on the erotic scenes.  The sex in this book is just the right combination of realism and romance - hot, steamy and tender with just a touch of comic relief mixed in for fun.  While I have no problem with M/M sex, there are readers out there who do. If you happen to be one of these people, do everyone a favor and don’t read the book.  But for readers who are more open to that sort of thing, you will find the eroticism heart-racing.

At 136,000 words, Bad Idea is a fairly long novel, but the depth of the story keeps the plot moving.  Aside from the main romantic plot, there are many other conflicts at work.  Trip battles endlessly between creating art for commercial purposes and creating art that he loves.  Complicating matters is his boss and “Unboyfriend”, Cliff, who treats Trip like his personal branded, cash-cow, and who cuts Trip off at the knees every time he strays from his planned route. Artists of all types can relate to the battle of “selling out” to make a living and doing what you love. I love reading about other authors’ creative processes , so Trip creating his new graphic novel character Scratch was really fun.  (And I’m thrilled to see on Damon Suade’s website that Scratch will be coming to life in his own novella in 2014.)

I could go on and on about how much I loved this book, but this review is getting long. Check it out for yourself. Bad Idea is actually a truly brilliant idea.

Overall, I give Bad Idea...

Character development - 5 bookmarks (Even the supporting characters are fabulous!)

Love story - 5 bookmarks

Geek references - 5 bookmarks

Sex scenes - 5 bookmarks (HAWT!!!!)

Dream cast (otherwise known as who I pictured while reading) - Kellan Lutz (Silas), Max Irons (Trip), Ryan Reynolds (Cliff), David Tennant (Kurt)

**** Bad Idea releases for sale 

on October 22, 2013. ****

Hottest Guy Contest is on at the Meet The Characters Blog Fest. #Vote4Bryan #Giveaway

My character, Bryan Sullivan, is in the running in the Hottest Guy contest in the Meet the Characters Blog Fest. He has some stiff competition, so we need your votes! Stop in and vote today. Voting also enters you in the running for a huge book giveaway.  Just link on the button below. 

Meet the Characters Blog Fest - Lots of fun and great prizes! #AmReading #October

Welcome to the Meet the Characters Blogfest!

Readers, get ready for a whole month of some of the most interesting, hottest, attention grabbing characters in today's YA, NA, Romance, Horror, and Paranormal fiction! 

All month long I'll be introducing readers to amazing characters through character bios, artwork, interviews, and contests. Check out the schedule below from what you'll find each day this month. 

That's Not All...

We'll be having some fabulous contests, each of which has it's own giveaway. Readers will get to vote on the characters, and one lucky voter in each contest will win a copy of the book the Winning Character comes from. The character giveaways will include: 

Hottest Guy Contest (10/4)

Feistiest Girl Contest (10/11)

Cutest Couple Contest (10/18)

Steamiest Couple Contest (10/25)

There will also be one MAIN GIVEAWAY starting today where 1 LUCKY WINNER will win a prize pack of 40 books from some of today's hottest new authors. Additional winners will be chosen to receive runner-up prize packs as well. Scroll down and enter below! 

SO, WHAT CAN YOU FIND EACH DAY?

10/2 -- Character interviews with Zadie Stonebrook (My Sister's Reaper - Dorothy Dryer),            Tizzy Donovan (Laid out and Candle Lit - Ann Everett), Kristi Becker (A Plain                  Wish - Cyndi Lord), Zander Roth (Wicked Hunger - DelSheree Gladden)

10/3 -- Character Bios from Kristi Becker (A Plain Wish - Cyndi Lord), Bryan Sullivan                    (Arcadia's Gift - Jesi Lea Ryan), Brandon James (Love and Other Games - Aria                  Kane

10/4 -- Hottest Guy Contest (Stop by and vote for your favorite!)

10/7 -- Character Surprise Posts from authors RH Ramsey and DelSheree Gladden

10/8 -- Character Artwork from The Other F Word (Susan Stec) and Wicked Hunger                    (DelSheree Gladden) 

10/9 -- Character interviews with Kate Everett (A Slight Change of Plan - Dee Ernst),                  Jean (In Polester Pajamas - Catherine Dougherty), Ben (Twenty-Five - Rachel                    Hamm), Vanessa Roth (Wicked Hunger - DelSheree Gladden)

10/10 -- Character Bios from Kassia (Ice Magic), Maze (The Ballerina and the Fighter -                    Ursula Sinclair), Lucien (Smoke, Wings, and Stone - Marijon Bradley)

10/11 -- Feistiest Girl Contest (Stop by and vote for your favorite!)

10/14 -- Character Surprise Posts from authors Kara Leigh Miller, Sharon Kleve, Linda                  Budzinski 

10/15 -- Character Artwork from On a Wing and a Dare (Linda Ulleseit), Invisible                            (DelSheree Gladden)

10/16 -- Character interviews with David Corbin and Jon Reyes (Sign of the Throne -                    Melissa Eskue Ousley), Rosie (In Polyester Pajamas - Catherine Dougherty),                        Ketchup (Wicked Hunger - DelSheree Gladden)

10/17 -- Character Bios from Nadia (love and Other Games - Melinda Dozier), (Karen                      Gastreich), (HL Carpenter)

10/18 -- Cutest Couple Contest (Stop by and vote for your favorite!)

10/21 -- Character Surprise Posts from authors Stephanie Wardrop, Lucy Crowe, Ana                    Blaze

10/22 -- Character Artwork from Haunting Joy (Lena Goldfinch) and The Destroyer                        Trilogy (DelSheree Gladden)

10/23 -- Character interviews with Rachel Blackstone (The Relcutant Medium - GG                        Collins), Nell (The King Series - Tawdra Kandle), Arcadia ( Arcadia's Gift - Jesi                  Lea Ryan), Olivia & Mason (Invisible - DelSheree Gladden)

10/24 -- Character Bios from (Karin Gastreich), Sam and Cole (Fate War: Alliance - EM                    Havens)

10/25 -- Steamiest Couple Contest (Stop by and vote for your favorite!)

10/28 -- Character Surprise Posts from authors Susan Stec, Shauna Roberts, Lisa                          Cresswell

10/29 -- Character Artwork from My Sister's Reaper (Doroth Dryer), Twin Souls                            (DelSheree Gladden)

10/30 -- Character interviews with Nathan Shaw (Reflection - Kim Cresswell), Nia (In the              Winds of Danger - Linda Ulleseit), Jayden or Merch (dark Night of the Soul - EM                Havens)

10/31 -- Winner's Announcements!!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway Javascipt for the Meet The Characters Blog Button Link for the Rafflecopter Widget • Embed on your site : http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/share-code/YTFhNGU1ZmNjMWE0M2MxZjMxMWMwNTZkNDc2YzI3OjMz/ Link back to my Blog: http://delshereegladden.blogspot.com/

Get a jump on a new series! ARCADIA’S GIFT is #free 9/2-9/6 on #Kindle.

Interested in reading my new book ARCADIA’S CURSE, but haven’t read the first book in the series yet? Well you’re in luck! ARCADIA’S GIFT is on sale this week for free on Kindle. It’s a great way to jump into a new paranormal romance series risk free. 

All I ask is that you foster some good reading karma and post a short review on Amazon or GoodReads when you are done reading. Reviews serve two purposes - they provide me with much needed feedback, and they inform other interested readers whether a book is worth reading. All reviews are appreciated!

Thank you for all your support!

~Jesi

Happy book release day! ARCADIA’S CURSE now on #Kindle. #YALit

After a new bumps along the way, Arcadia’s Curse, the follow up to my novel Arcadia’s Gift, is now available on Amazon. 

“The build of the story is a slow burn, like a fuse curling through an empty storehouse ONLY to find out that the fuse is attached to ten tons of fireworks. 

Holy Climax, Batman!”

~ Shannon Mayer, author of Priceless and The Nevermore Trilogy

Think high school sucks? Try being an empath who has to experience everyone else’s suckage on top of your own. (Literally.)

In the months since her family life imploded and her psychic gifts began to arise, Cady has struggled to figure out how she can fit into her normal life without going crazy from the constant presence of emotional energy. Her grades have tanked. Her best friend is afraid of her. And she begins to have doubts about why her boyfriend, Bryan, is really keeping her around. But a chance meeting with another gifted girl online opens up a whole new world of possibilities. Unfortunately, this new world comes at an awful price.

Check it out today!

ARCADIA'S CURSE cover reveal! Hot new novel by @Jesilea coming soon. #AmReading #YA

Oh, I'm so excited to share with you the cover of my new book, ARCADIA'S CURSE! 

This is the second book in my Arcadia series, and I can't wait for you all to read it.  My tentative release date for the e-book will be Monday, August 26, 2013.  That's if the Kindle Gods are on my side. Keep your fingers crossed.

In the mean time, I wanted to tell you a bit about the book.  

Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal Romance
Editors:  Tawdra Kandle & Stacey Blake from Promotional Book Tours (Highly recommend!)
Publisher: Me!
Cover Designer: Phatpuppy Art
Font designer: Jose Casco

Description:

Think high school sucks? Try being an empath who has to experience everyone else’s suckage on top of your own.  (Literally.) 

In the months since her family life imploded and her psychic gifts began to arise, Cady has struggled to figure out how she can fit into her normal life without going crazy from the constant presence of emotional energy.  Her grades have tanked.  Her best friend is afraid of her.  And she begins to have doubts about why her boyfriend, Bryan, is really keeping her around.  But a chance meeting with another gifted girl online opens up a whole new world of possibilities.  Unfortunately, this new world comes at an awful price. 

***  For an exclusive excerpt, check into BestSelling Reads on Monday, August 26, 2013!

Cover reveal! DEADLY CALL by @Martha_Bourke. #shifters

Cover designer - Natasha Brown

About the Book

Deep in the shadows of Boston, Massachusetts, the Order—a secret brotherhood of New Breed warriors—is all that stands between a takeover by shifter supremacists.

Diesel, the most charismatic of the brothers, exudes a love for life all the while carrying a terrible burden. A veteran of the Iraq War, he is haunted by the traumatic events of a single night. Poisoned by shame and certain he is cursed, Diesel fears he is a danger to everyone around him.

Helen, the Order’s stunning and gifted surgeon, has a few demons of her own. Even as she and Diesel give in to the deepest pleasures of the mating call, something still holds her back. Destiny threatens to divide them, until, in the midst of unimaginable tragedy, they must banish the ghosts of the past to save their future.

About the Author 

Martha Bourke grew up in Burlington, Vermont, a magical place where street art meets cosmopolitan sensibilities meets nature. She is an accomplished teacher who has spent the last fifteen years creating Spanish language programs for elementary schools and traveling extensively. For most of her life, she has had a fascination with foreign languages, culture, and mythology – a passion that colors and enriches the world of Jaguar Sun, which now encompasses two series.

Martha and her husband of fifteen years have carved out their own little piece of Vermont in the Massachusetts countryside. When not writing, she loves spending time with her animals, listening to good music, thrifting, and adding to her Converse collection. 

Cover Reveal: NINETY EIGHT by Shannon Mayer #Romance #NewAdult

Title:  Ninety Eight

Author: Shannon Mayer

Expected release date:  October 17, 2013

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Age Group: New Adult/Adult

Cover designed by:  Damon Za;  (http://damonza.com)

Cover reveal organized by: AToMR Tours; http://atomrbookblogtours.com

GOODREADS:  http://bit.ly/13xx8yG

Book Description:

Speed Limits

Lottery Tickets

Elevator Buttons

Numbers are everywhere—they play such a vital role in our everyday lives. But what would happen if we measured love with equations just as we do our morning cup of coffee? My nana had many recipes in her cupboards, but it was her calculations for love that she insisted I live my life by; and I’ve followed her rules all these years.

One Animal

One Moment

One Critical Impact

That’s all it took for the numbers to start flying in a jumbled mess through my brain as I stared into the violet eyes that would forever make me question my choices. In a split second, the possibilities and reality of true love are revealed and I’m questioning all I’ve ever known.

A Tree

White Fences

Stolen Moments

I can’t ignore the storm brewing around—and within—me. Everything I am is confronted by these new numbers, and all they represent. My past, present and future will all be determined by the gambles I make right here, right now. Again, it’s all about the numbers.

And what I’m learning is, one plus one doesn’t always equal two and sometimes three times isn’t always the charm.

About the Author

Shannon Mayer lives in the southwestern tip of Canada with her husband, dog, cats, horse, and cows. When not writing she spends her time staring at immense amounts of rain, herding old people (similar to herding cats) and attempting to stay out of trouble. Especially that last is difficult for her.

She is the author of the The Nevermore Trilogy; a romantic suspense series, The Rylee Adamson Novels; a paranormal urban fantasy romance series, A Celtic Legacy; an urban fantasy romance series and High Risk Love; the first new adult romance novel in The Risk Series.  Her newest romance, Ninety Eight; a contemporary new adult romance, is scheduled for release in October of 2013.

Author’s social media links:

Website:  www.shannonmayer.com

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/ShannonMayerAuthor

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/TheShannonMayer

Disturbing trend in #Youngadult & #NewAdult books

I read a ton of YA and NA romance, and I’ve noticed a trend for some time now that bothers me.  For a long time, I ignored it and let it go, but it has gotten to a point that I feel I need to speak up.

Dear teen and adult readers:  Jealousy, possessiveness and violence do not equal love.

I like an alpha male as much as anyone, but I find so many authors turn their male leads into brutes.  If your hero punches a guy in the nose for having a perfectly innocent conversation with the heroine, he has anger and control issues.  That’s not cool.  If the girl can’t speak on the phone with the boy who has been her best friend since they were in diapers without lying to the hero about it for fear he will lash out, there is a problem.  If the heroine is afraid of the hero’s violent, jealous outbursts, that is abuse.

I’m not talking about the normal every day jealousy within reason.  If the girl has given the hero a reason to mistrust her, then I can see him being upset or cautious when he witnesses a situation that looks bad.  But if an entire relationship is built around him controlling her that is wrong.

My concern here is that by romanticizing this bad behavior, authors are sending the wrong message to young women. I won’t say which books I’m talking about, because I’m sure you all have your own examples, but I finished a book this morning where the entire story revolved around the hero and his brothers being psychotically controlling over the girls in the book, including their (not so) little sister.  While the guys were acting like bullies, the girls giggled and made excuses about how much the guys love them and want to protect them. 

This is not normal behavior.

When I was in high school, my best friend was a boy.  We each dated plenty of other people.  Whenever a guy expressed an interest in me, I let him know up front the role that Phillip played in my life.  If he had a problem with it, then he was free to move on to someone else.  That said, most guys were cool with it and didn’t give me any grief.  So if real guys can be reasonable and understanding, why can’t book boyfriends? 

Oh, I know.  The jealousy creates a conflict and thus adds to the plot.  If this was happening in only a few books, I wouldn’t have an issue with it.  If in the end the hero learns his lesson and grows from it, I’d be over-the-moon excited.  But lately it seems to be the main plot point in most of the YA and NA romances I read, and it is always the heroine giving in to the hero’s ridiculous rules and demands in the end.

Authors, I’m pleading with you, please be a little more responsible about the messages you are sending.  Be careful equating romance with things like possessiveness and control.  Would you want your daughter dating a guy who treated her in this way?  If not, don’t do it to your heroines.