Author: Elisabeth

Rockin’ Reads Hop #Giveaway

By Elisabeth Giveaways September 23, 2015 20 comments
rockin reads

So I guess today’s blog hop is about books we read that rocked? I tried to come up with books about rock – as in, rock star romances – except it turns out I haven’t read too many of those that really rang my bell. So if you’ve got some recommendations for those or any other books that rocked your world, please leave me a comment!

So I LOVE to talk books, and I love to share books that have really made me swoon, so that’s what I’m doing with this hop today. Share yours in the comments, and I will give one poster a signed copy of one of my paperbacks, plus some swaggy things!

Now – my recent fave comfort reads:

The Bollywood Affair – I had the pleasure of hearing Sonali Dev talk about her book at last year’s WRW Reader/Blogger Luncheon (we’re doing another one on October 10! You should totally be there!) and it just sounded so fascinating I had to check it out. I got so engaged in the richness of the story and the drama of it that my husband started making fun of how I wouldn’t put the book down. Given the way I read, that’s really saying something.

The Understatement of the Year by Sarina Bowen (new adult, male/male) – another author mentioned this book in a discussion, and I eventually grabbed it and read it over and over. The love story is so sweet and it makes me actually want to watch college sports, which isn’t even usually my thing. The whole series is great. If you’re a purist about starting with book 1 of a series, you’ll actually want to go here.

Forgotten Sins – Rebecca Zanetti is always awesome, and I mean – a fiercely loyal superhuman soldier with amnesia, and the woman who loves him. Need I say more?

The Siren – this envelope-pushing erotica novel by Tiffany Reisz is one I go back to again and again not simply for the sexy chemistry between the characters but because I love Reisz’s lyrical writing style so damn much. <3

Let’s Pretend This Never Happened – Jenny Lawson’s “mostly true memoir” isn’t romance and apparently isn’t even entirely fiction, but I swear to you that you will laugh until you can’t breathe. Worth the price of the book, even though I typically bristle at paying more than ten bucks for an e-book. She has a new one out also, even better I’m told, though I haven’t had the joy of checking it out yet.

(For some reason I can’t get the linky script working that shows all the other hop participants, but for a full list you can go here: http://theherdhops.blogspot.com/2015/09/rockin-reads-giveaway-hop.html or try #RockinReads on Twitter, etc.)HBN_FB4b

Giveaway: Win your choice of paperbacks (from my Evergreen Grove or Chronicles of Yavn series), plus a little swag:

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Acts of Creation Release Day Giveaway

By Elisabeth General August 18, 2015 32 comments
Acts of Creation cover

Cover design by Babski Creative Studios ~ Photo by Michael Stokes

[button type=”tiny” url=”http://tiny.cc/ACAMZ” target=”_blank”] Amazon Order[/button] [button type=”tiny” url=”http://tiny.cc/AOCApple” target=”_blank”] Apple Order[/button] [button type=”tiny” url=”https://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/acts-of-creation” target=”_blank”] Kobo Order[/button] [button type=”tiny” url=”http://tiny.cc/AOCBN” target=”_blank”] B&N Order[/button] [button type=”tiny” url=”http://tiny.cc/AOCARe” target=”_blank”] ARe [/button][button type=”tiny” url=”http://tiny.cc/AOCGoogle” target=”_blank”] Google Play[/button]

Every book release is special. I mean,  you work and type and have nightmares (I do, anyway), and cackle maniacally when you think of something brilliant only to decide later that it’s the stupidest thing ever (and then later that it’s fucking brilliant again, depending upon your blood to caffein/alcohol ratio). I love what I do, and I’d do whether I made buckets of money or none at all (buckets of money are nice though, at least so I’m told). *ahem* Point is, I said my last release was special, and I’ll probably say it next time. 😉

ACTS OF CREATION is a book I cherish for a lot of reasons. The deeply emotional and personal nature of the Evergreen Grove series, for one thing, made this series a both a challenge and an amazing journey for me. I owe a huge thank-you to Lori Wilde for the brief time she spent mentoring me, and the advice she gave to try writing something more emotional. Well, I did. While neither At the Stars or Acts of Creation were at all about me, I drew on my experiences as a survivor of assault in writing about Cassie’s experiences in At the Stars–and to some extent, Michelle’s experience in Acts of Creation.

Most of all, it was the moment when Cassie met Dante in At the Stars that told me there was something even deeper for me to explore in Evergreen Grove: An estimated 1 in 6 men are survivors of sexual abuse, and yet I feel that I see them rarely as romance heroes. When I saw Cassie befriended Dante in At the Stars– this proud, strong, Puerto Rican boxer who had been abused by his former coach–I knew I needed to write his story. What came out as ACTS OF CREATION was kind of frightening, because for all of my research I’m not a guy and I could only try my best to tell his story well. But Also, I honestly fell in love with Dante, and the story of him and Michelle falling in love and shoring each other up was, for me, heartwarming, romantic, and sometimes even humorous.

I hope you’ll fall in love with Dante and Michelle just like I did:

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About Acts of Creation:

He’s living a lie.

 Dante Ramos: Champion. Ladies’ man. Party animal. Women want him, and men either want to be him or put his lights out for sleeping with their girlfriends. It’s all an act. Inside, he’s so full of self-loathing he’s on a fast-track to self-destruction.

 She’s living in the shadows.

 Meeting Michelle at a support group for assault survivors shows Dante a new world of possibilities. Finally, someone in his life might understand him, and she creates in him a fierce need to protect. Trouble is, Dante lives his life in the spotlight, and the only thing Michelle wants is a place to hide.

Regular price – 3.99.

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Excerpt – Dante’s POV – All rights reserved: 

I escape into the bright daylight, blinking and disoriented after the bleak, unnatural gym lighting. The warm afternoon should be breezy and refreshing, but instead I can’t breathe.

All of my lies are about to collapse on top of me.

I can think of one person I want to talk to about this. She was such a good listener, and how did I repay the favor? By sneaking away from her room at two in the morning.

I pull out my phone anyway. Perv that I am, I’m thinking about the way she felt when I slid out of bed last night. The way the moonlight from the window caressed her body. Asshole.

I’ve hit the “dial” button without thinking. I’m about ready to hang up and go deal with my shit like I’m used to doing, when she answers with the words, “I didn’t think I’d hear from you.”

Girl isn’t beating around the bush. Which is fair. I owe her an answer. One I’d be happy to give if I knew how to explain in a way that didn’t start out with, “The first thing I wanted when I woke up last night was to bury myself inside you and forget the rest of the world…”

“Dante? Hello? Am I talking to the inside of your pocket right now?”

Shit. I clear my throat. “I hear you. I mean…not my pocket. I’m here.”

“Is everything okay? Last night I thought maybe you were too overwhelmed or something. After what you told me. I didn’t mean to push you.”

Jesus. She’s apologizing to me. This girl’s got a better heart than anybody. If my mother were here, she’d probably tell me to marry her.

 

Get it here: [button type=”tiny” url=”https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25165039-at-the-stars” target=”_blank”]Add to Goodreads TBR[/button] [button type=”tiny” url=”http://tiny.cc/ATSAmazon” target=”_blank”] Amazon Order[/button] [button type=”tiny” url=”http://goo.gl/lrV5HL” target=”_blank”] Apple Order[/button] [button type=”tiny” url=”http://goo.gl/WgEIft” target=”_blank”] Kobo Order[/button] [button type=”tiny” url=”http://goo.gl/9QoPY6″ target=”_blank”] B&N Order[/button] [button type=”tiny” url=”http://tiny.cc/ATSARe” target=”_blank”] ARe [/button][button type=”tiny” url=”http://tiny.cc/ATSGoogle” target=”_blank”] Google Play[/button]

EXTRAS: Want to share ACTS OF CREATION with the interwebs? Feel free to download one of these teaser graphics to post to your favorite social media locations:

 

AOC_promo1

 

 

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Dante and Michelle’s Playlist:

  • Human Touch – Bruce Springsteen
  • Immortals – Fall Out Boy
  • Ed Sheeran – Photograph
  • Dave Matthews – Crush
  • Tiesto – Red Lights
  • OneRepublic – Feel Again
  • Simple by Olive Carpet, at least I think that’s who it’s by. I heard this song performed by an a capella show choir when I was in college, and then later found it on Napster or wherever, because yes I was an asshole who downloaded illegal music in college and heeey, I had no idea one day I’d be a person whose livelihood also often got illegally downloaded by assholes so I guess that’s my karma. Anyway, I no longer have the mp3 of that song, and I don’t know where else to get it. I can’t seem to find it anywhere now, and there IS in fact a band called Olive Carpet, but Simple doesn’t seem to be one of their songs so perhaps I was drunker than I thought back at school. Nevertheless, I still love this song and it was in my head constantly while writing Acts of Creation – if you see me at a con or anything, I just might sing a little of it for you. 😉 OH – and if anyone can find me a recording of this, I’ll send them a signed book or a gift card or something.

Happy reading, everybody!! <3

Get it here:  [button type=”tiny” url=”http://tiny.cc/ACAMZ” target=”_blank”] Amazon Order[/button] [button type=”tiny” url=”http://tiny.cc/AOCApple” target=”_blank”] Apple Order[/button] [button type=”tiny” url=”http://tiny.cc/AOCKobohttp://tiny.cc/AOCKobo” target=”_blank”] Kobo Order[/button] [button type=”tiny” url=”http://tiny.cc/AOCBN” target=”_blank”] B&N Order[/button] [button type=”tiny” url=”http://tiny.cc/AOCARe” target=”_blank”] ARe [/button][button type=”tiny” url=”http://tiny.cc/AOCGoogle” target=”_blank”] Google Play[/button]
GIVEAWAY!! To celebrate the release, I’m giving away a $25 gift card from either Amazon or B&N – I apologize, but I’m making this a US only giveaway, because europe and even Canada has so many weird rules now–supposedly Canada requires a test of skill? I dunno. It’s all very confusing, and for now I’m trying to keep it simple until I can learn more. Thank you for understanding! I hope the fact that AOC is on sale for release week will assuage the irritation of my international readers at least a little. 😉

 

At the Stars Release Day!

By Elisabeth General May 5, 2015 0 comments
ATS_promo1

Credits: Cover photo by Michael Stokes Photography – Cover design by Babski Creative Studios – Cover model, Adam Von Rothfelder

(congrats to our cover reveal giveaway winners, Deb and Nina!)

At the Stars is out today! I spent two years writing this book, and while every book I’ve written has been special, I poured my heart and soul into it like I never have any other story. I truly hope you all enjoy.

Some books come easy and some books come hard. Jake and Cassie’s story took years of stops and starts to get onto the page. Today is a HUGE day for me, just to see At the Stars out in the light of day. I hope all of you love it, I really do. Honestly, I’m grateful simply to see At the Stars finished and out in the world.

I want to say an extra big thank you to those who pre-ordered the book. New adult isn’t something you’ve seen from me before, and you took a huge risk. I extend to you the biggest, squishiest virtual hug ever. To everyone who checked out At the Stars and everyone who plans to, huge hugs to you, too. I hope Jake and Cassie’s story makes you laugh, cry, and feel warm, fuzzy things.

Get it here: [button type=”tiny” url=”https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25165039-at-the-stars” target=”_blank”]Add to Goodreads TBR[/button] [button type=”tiny” url=”http://tiny.cc/ATSAmazon” target=”_blank”] Amazon Order[/button] [button type=”tiny” url=”http://goo.gl/lrV5HL” target=”_blank”] Apple Order[/button] [button type=”tiny” url=”http://goo.gl/WgEIft” target=”_blank”] Kobo Order[/button] [button type=”tiny” url=”http://goo.gl/9QoPY6″ target=”_blank”] B&N Order[/button] [button type=”tiny” url=”http://tiny.cc/ATSARe” target=”_blank”] ARe [/button][button type=”tiny” url=”http://tiny.cc/ATSGoogle” target=”_blank”] Google Play[/button]

About At the Stars: 
A GIRL TRYING TO LEAVE HER PAST BEHIND

I was a normal teenager who loved music and dancing, until the day I was attacked in my favorite record store. A few years later when my mom succumbed to depression and took her own life, I couldn’t stay in my hometown with all the memories and the curious stares. I decided to get in my car and just go – except my car decided it was done going outside a tiny place called Evergreen Grove. That’s where I found Jake. Or I guess Jake found me.

A GUY WHO CAN’T LET HIS GO

For the last eight years, all I can think about is the day I ended another man’s life. Then I manage to save Cassie’s, and I feel like maybe I’ve got some kind of second chance. To do what I couldn’t before, or maybe even for something bigger. Something like love. If only I could feel like I deserve her…

Excerpt – Jake’s POV – All rights reserved: 

All at once she bites her lip and I see her going for the drinks, but I slap my hand over hers. “You shouldn’t be walking home late. It’s dangerous.”

She gives me a look like she’s being patient with me. “It was good enough to get here. I’ll have AJ with me. We’ll be fine.”

She gestures toward the patio door where her buddy is probably waiting for her to return with the drinks. Dante chooses that moment to come inside, and I don’t like how he’s looking at her. Too much like he had a good dinner, and she could be dessert.

The icing on the cake comes when AJ calls through the open door. “Hey birthday girl, you bringing us drinks or what?”

Stupid fucker.

Dante grins at Cassie, veering her way like a homing missile. “Birthday girl, eh?”

She smiles slightly, trying to take the drinks again. “What do I owe you?”

My hand tightens over hers. “On the house.” I lean close, so nobody else can hear me over the din of music and chatter in the bar. “If you let me give you and AJ a ride back tonight.”

I can’t even believe it when she starts to pull away. “I can pay for the drinks.”

I’m still gripping her hand and feeling a surprising unwillingness to let the subject drop. “You’re not walking home in the dark on a night when everybody’s out getting stupid, with nobody but your skinny sidekick for protection.”

She presses her lips together, giving me what I figure is supposed to be a death stare for a few seconds before she caves. “Fine. My feet hurt anyway,” she says with a slight smile.

Cassie turns to go back to her table with her friend, and I turn to deal with Dante. My chest is tight and my heart is skipping around. I don’t take time to wonder why getting what I wanted has me more weirded-out than I was before.

Get it here: [button type=”tiny” url=”https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25165039-at-the-stars” target=”_blank”]Add to Goodreads TBR[/button] [button type=”tiny” url=”http://tiny.cc/ATSAmazon” target=”_blank”] Amazon Order[/button] [button type=”tiny” url=”http://goo.gl/lrV5HL” target=”_blank”] Apple Order[/button] [button type=”tiny” url=”http://goo.gl/WgEIft” target=”_blank”] Kobo Order[/button] [button type=”tiny” url=”http://goo.gl/9QoPY6″ target=”_blank”] B&N Order[/button] [button type=”tiny” url=”http://tiny.cc/ATSARe” target=”_blank”] ARe [/button][button type=”tiny” url=”http://tiny.cc/ATSGoogle” target=”_blank”] Google Play[/button]

EXTRAS: Want to share At the Stars with the interwebs? Feel free to download one of these teaser graphics to post to your favorite social media page:

ATS_webslider1

Look at this handsome devil!

ATS_webslider2

 

Cassie and Jake’s Playlist:

  • Mother Love Bone – Chloe Dancer / Crown of Thorns
  • Matt Nathanson – Come on Get Higher
  • Ed Sheeran – Thinking Out Loud
  • Death Cab for Cutie – Underneath the Sycamore
  • Greenday – Waiting
  • Sugarland – Run (ft. Matt Nathanson)
  • Howie Day – End of Our Days

Happy reading, everybody!! <3

Get it here: [button type=”tiny” url=”https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25165039-at-the-stars” target=”_blank”]Add to Goodreads TBR[/button] [button type=”tiny” url=”http://tiny.cc/ATSAmazon” target=”_blank”] Amazon Order[/button] [button type=”tiny” url=”http://goo.gl/lrV5HL” target=”_blank”] Apple Order[/button] [button type=”tiny” url=”http://goo.gl/WgEIft” target=”_blank”] Kobo Order[/button] [button type=”tiny” url=”http://goo.gl/9QoPY6″ target=”_blank”] B&N Order[/button] [button type=”tiny” url=”http://tiny.cc/ATSARe” target=”_blank”] ARe [/button][button type=”tiny” url=”http://tiny.cc/ATSGoogle” target=”_blank”] Google Play[/button]

Cover Reveal + Giveaway: At the Stars

By Elisabeth Giveaways April 13, 2015 98 comments
At_the_stars_front_hires

Cover photography by Michael Stokes – Cover design by Babski Creative Studios – Cover model, Adam Von Rothfelder

 

I started writing At the Stars years ago, and had to put it aside – partly because of other deadlines and family obligations, and partly because the story was a little too much for me at the time. I saw the image I absolutely needed to use for the hero, Jake, on Michael Stokes’s facebook page last March, and that finally pushed me to finish the story. I’m so happy and proud to finally have it done!

At the Stars is different than anything I’ve written before – it’s more emotional, the characters are younger, and laden with a whole ton of emotional baggage. It’s angsty, but it was a story that had been eating at me forever and when a story does that you have to get it out.

About At the Stars:

A GIRL TRYING TO LEAVE HER PAST BEHIND
I was a normal teenager who loved music and dancing, until the day I was attacked in my favorite record store. A few years later when my mom succumbed to depression and took her own life, I couldn’t stay in my hometown with all the memories and the curious stares. I decided to get in my car and just go – except my car decided it was done going outside a tiny place called Evergreen Grove. That’s where I found Jake. Or I guess Jake found me.

A GUY WHO CAN’T LET HIS GO
For the last eight years, all I can think about is the day I ended another man’s life. Then I manage to save Cassie’s, and I feel like maybe I’ve got some kind of second chance. To do what I couldn’t before, or maybe even for something bigger. Something like love. If only I could feel like I deserve her…

Pre-order Now!

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Excerpt (Cassie’s point of view):

“You can’t live off muffins and granola bars. You need a sandwich. Hell, so do I. We both need a break from this shit.” He grabs the box of muffins and rolls his massive shoulders, while my surprise keeps me rooted and watching him walk away. He turns at the door, still looking irritated. “You coming?”

I look toward the back. “Delia?”

“Be on time tomorrow,” she calls. “It’s multigrain day.”

Jake only smiles a little and pushes open the door, waiting. His arms and chest move under his button-up work shirt, pulling me forward in spite of my confusion.

God, I think this is the first guy I’ve honestly liked the way I used to hear my friends talk about at school. The giggles and the fake drooling and face fanning followed by ridiculous comments like “He’s so pretty” or “I’d totally do him in a phone booth.”

I mean, how stupid is that? When was the last time anybody even saw a phone booth?

Here, now, following Jake and his brisk stride across the street to his truck, it finally all makes sense: AJ’s right. I like him. I like the way he keeps trying to help without treating me like I’m fragile. I like the way he looks at me, like I’m a woman he finds attractive, not a wounded animal he has to pity. I like that he feels easy to talk to, even when he’s all growly.

I don’t feel scared or tentative around him. And in spite of his dire warnings, I’d like to hang around him more.

I want to spend time with him so much I’m following him even though I don’t have a clue where we’re going, and even though I’m still a little annoyed by his sandwich comment. I half suspect if we passed a phone booth right now, I might give the thing a moment’s pause.

Then, out of nowhere the tears come. Only for a second, because now isn’t the time to get emotional. It never is, so I shove them down.

He’d never get it, what liking him this way means, even if I tried to explain. He’s already given me one serious friend-zone lecture.

I sniff and blot my eyes on the edge of my T-shirt. Thankfully, he’s too busy unlocking his truck to notice.

Anyway, I like him enough that maybe the friend-zone is okay.

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GIVEAWAY!! To celebrate the upcoming release of At the Stars, I’ll be choosing two winners (or the giveaway doohickie will) to win either a $25 Amazon gift card or a signed paperback copy of At the Stars.

Happy reading!

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