Music Monday – Grace Kinstler #musicmonday #americanidol

.

Happy Monday everyone and welcome back to Music Monday! Let’s share some songs we’ve been enjoying lately!  If you would like to play, and I really hope you do, please see the rules and link up below HERE

  • You can see my Giveaways HERE.
  • You can see my Reviews HERE.
  • If you like what you see, why don’t you follow me?
  • Look on the right sidebar and let’ talk.
  • Leave your link in the comments and I will drop by to see what’s shakin’.
  • I am an Amazon affiliate/product images are linked.
  • Thanks for visiting fundinmental!

All Good Things Must Come To An End – lancaster house and the middle aisle bookblast

BOOKBLAST!!
The Tour of Lancaster House & The Middle Aisle has come to an end. In celebration of this unique tour of the Lancaster Mansion, we are giving away 10 eCopies of both books!! & sharing highlights from the Tour. Yep!! Catch the entire tour right here…
 

On tour with Prism Book Tours
2/11 –
Unputdownable BooksGuest Post Paranormal 

What inspired me to write a paranormal romance?

2/12 – I AmA Reader, Not a WriterGuest Post Inspiration

The American Idol performance that inspired Lancaster House

2/13 – Fundinmental
Guest Post by Taylor Dean

Lancaster House contains many secret passageways and hidden rooms.


Letters to the CosmosReview of Lancaster House

thought-provoking romantic read that isn’t afraid to confront darkness

2/14 – Oh,The Books You’ll ReadReview of The Middle Aisle

I didn’t think that this book would be as good as the first one but I was wrong.  Taylor Dean is a literary genius.


Proud Book NerdExcerpt

 Luminous, bright green eyes were trained directly on her. 

2/15 – LDS& Lovin’ It – Review of Lancaster House

I wanted to actually leap into the book and visit the place, old and damaged or not.  I loved the idea of secret hiding places and staircases that go nowhere

2/17 – PhantasmicReads – Guest Post Inspiration for the Lancaster House

The Hayes Mansion . . . is it haunted?


Lavender & Camomile Press Highlight

–     Colorimetry – Guest Post the Mansion

The mansion that served as inspiration for writing Lancaster House

2/18 – TheReading DiariesExcerpt

Reviews: Lancaster House & The Middle Aisle

2/19 –  Living a Goddess LifeReview Lancaster House

the imaginative Lancaster House within the novel really captured my attention.


Beck Valley BooksGuest
Post by Taylor Dean

I Scared Myself!

2/20 –
Living the Goddess Life Recipe from Lancaster House

2/21 – Passionand LifeGuest Post Excerpt

The doorway was gone.The room had been re-sealed and the wall, painted. There was no evidence it had ever been opened.


Books Mystify –  Review of Lancaster House & The Middle Aisle
2/22 –
Christy’s Cozy CornerReview of Lancaster House

 Her story becomes even more alive in this follow-up to Lancaster House. It is a story woven with great detail and raw emotion.

2/24 – Christy’sCozy CornerReview of The Middle Aisle

I give it 5 stars! 

A Buckeye Girl ReadsGuest Post 1920’s Slang

Dewdropper: young man who sleeps all day and doesn’t have a job

2/25 – Livinga Goddess LifeReview of The Middle Aisle

The Middle Aisle… toyed with the question of Zoe’s sanity, which I found to be the most compelling part of the books.


IcultgenGuest Post Excerpt

“Excuse me, I need to iron my shoelaces. Can you help me?”

2/26 – FUONLYKNEWGuest Post the Doctor

 “I consulted my psychology-degreed daughter as I wrote Doctor Channing.”

2/26 – Who’sThanny?  – Review of Lancaster House in Portuguese

A sequência de Lancaster House, The Middle Aisle, já está disponível. Aguardem pra saber mais sobre essa história!


Letters to the Cosmos
Review of The Middle Aisle

Dean adds some great storytelling to mix, turning the concept of an unreliable narrator so completely on its head that the reader is never quite sure what is real, what isn’t, and how it will all end.

2/27 – Livinga Goddess Life Recipe from The Middle Aisle

2/28 – ABuckeye Girl ReadsReview Lancaster House & The Middle Aisle

 This series just has a way of pulling you in and not wanting to come up for air.

  – Who’s Thanny?  Review of The Middle Aisle

(…) But I’ll never admit That he’s here. Never again. I need him. I want him. I do not care if he’s not real. I wish I’d never known the truth. The truth sucks. Delusions are fantastic. The world would be a happier place if everyone was allowed to Live Out Their fantasies, live in a dream world where everything is butterflies and roses. (…)

Lancaster House & The Middle Aisle, available in print or eCopy from Smashwords or Amazon:

Taylor Dean:

Taylor Dean
©iStockphoto.com/tinabelle
Taylor Dean lives in Texas and is the mother of four grown children. Upon finding herself with an empty nest, she began to write the stories that were always wandering around in her head, quickly finding that she had a passion for writing, specifically romance. Whether it’s paranormal, contemporary, or suspense-you’ll find all sub-genres of romance in her line-up.



Find & Follow:

Bookblast Giveaway!!10 eCopies of Lancaster House & The Middle Aisle for 10 Winners!!!

March 1 – March 7, 2013

Open only to those who can legally enter. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by Rafflecopter and announced on Rafflecopter and Grand Finale posts as well as emailed and the winner will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Burgandy Ice @ Colorimetry and Prism Book Tours and sponsored by Taylor Dean. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

GIVEAWAY IS NOW OVER. THANKS FOR STOPPING BY

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour-Wide Giveaway Winners on Rafflecopter:

5 WINNERS in USA will receive…. Signed copies of Lancaster House and The Middle Aisle, two Lancaster House bookmarks, two pencils that say, “Believe it, Know it, Accept it,” and a cute little tote bag.

5 International Winners will receive… eCopy of Lancaster House & The Middle Aisle

Open only to those who can legally enter. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by Rafflecopter and announced on Rafflecopter and Grand Finale posts as well as emailed and the winner will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Burgandy Ice @ Colorimetry and Prism Book Tours and sponsored by Taylor Dean. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.
.
GIVEAWAY IS NOW OVER. THANKS FOR STOPPING BY

a Rafflecopter giveaway

To see all my Reviews, go HERE.

To see all my Giveaways, go HERE.

Come visit lancaster house and the middle aisle with Prism Book Tours

On tour with Prism Book Tours


 

One of the secret doors of the Stift Admont library, Austria.

.

*If you missed
yesterday’s post about how American Idol inspired Lancaster House, sneak
through this hidden passage to I Am a Reader, Not a Writer. . . but, watch out for ghosts along the way . .

.

Lancaster HouseLancaster House
by Taylor Dean
Paperback, 304 pages
Published June 7th 2012 by Createspace

Premise: 

Zoe Grayson needs a change. So, she moves to another state, purchases an old, dilapidated 1920s Victorian Mansion, and sets out to restore it to its former glory. As she begins the restoration, she finds herself falling in love with the old house . . . not to mention its illustrious builder, Mr. Lancaster. Zoe becomes obsessed with the house as she discovers its secrets; hidden rooms, secret passageways . . . and a mysterious man who seems to think the house is his. Who is he? More importantly, how does he live in her home unseen and unheard?

The unexpected answers leave her reeling—and questioning everything she’s ever known. To her dismay, Zoe’s actions land her in the local psychiatric hospital, scheming for ways to return to Lancaster House . . . and the love of her life.

.

The Middle Aisle (Lancaster House)The Middle Aisle
by Taylor Dean
Paperback, 356 pages
Published November 26th 2012 by Create SpacePremise:

Zoe Grayson is back in Lancaster House, ordered to bed rest for the duration of her unexpected pregnancy. Doctor Wade Channing, her overzealous psychiatrist, is living in Lancaster House, taking care of her, waiting on her, and tending to her every need. It seems to be the perfect arrangement.

There’s just one catch.

She has to tell him her story—everything that has happened in her life since the moment she escaped from Serenity Hills. It’s been quite an adventure to include renovating another home and a walk down the middle aisle.

But, that’s all over now. Nothing is real. It never was.

How did she end up in this miserable situation?

GUEST POST

Lancaster House contains many secret passageways and hidden rooms. It’s definitely part of its charm. The house itself is a main character in the book without me intentionally writing it that way. But Lancaster House isn’t the only one keeping secrets. I couldn’t resist adding a couple of secrets of my own into the writing of this book.

First I need to explain. I vividly remember sitting in my California Lit class in high school, listening to my teacher explain the hidden meanings John Steinbeck placed in the Grapes of Wrath—the types of things that are in Cliff Notes. I was mesmerized. I was impressed. Like the preacher’s name was Jim Casy. Initials: J.C. By no mistake did Mr. Steinbeck choose those initials—he chose the name Jim Casy to mimic the initials Jesus Christ. At least this is what my teacher taught me. Did Mr. Steinbeck confirm this? I have no idea. I’ve always wondered if these types of things are made up by people who study classic literature or if the author really intended it that way! Still, the concept fascinated me. Next I learned about East of Eden. The father’s name is Adam, and his son’s names are Caleb and Aron. (Father Adam=C for Cain and A for Abel) At any rate, you get the whole initial idea thing. To a young student of literature, this was intriguing and I never forgot it. (I grew up living only an hour away from John Steinbeck’s infamous Cannery Row, hence the obsession with Steinbeck.)

With the above thoughts in mind, I set out to name my hero. Since the visual of Adam Lambert was the image that inspired my main character, I decided to stick with A.L. as the initials. Andre Lancaster. Yes, I’ll put secrets in my book just like John Steinbeck, I thought. Brilliant.

Okay, so it’s not that amazing. But it felt amazing. The kind of thing that made me smile to myself whenever I thought about it.

There is one other similarity to Adam Lambert and American Idol placed in Lancaster House.  During the American Idol season, Adam Lambert would show up on stage dressed in his casual attire, with his hair flopping over one eye, looking like an anime rocker. In the next performance he’d show up with his hair slicked back, dressed in a classy suit, singing “Tracks of my Tears.”

To view Adam’s performance of “Tracks of my Tears,” click here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uc2lXKuXUD8

A total transformation. I couldn’t resist having my main character do the same.

.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Taylor Dean .
.
.
Taylor Dean lives in Texas and is the mother of four grown children. Upon finding herself with an empty nest, she began to write the stories that were always wandering around in her head, quickly finding that she had a passion for writing, specifically romance. Whether it’s paranormal, contemporary, or suspense-you’ll find all sub-genres of romance in her line-up.
Find & Follow:
.
.
.
Lancaster House & The Middle Aisle, available in print or eCopy from Smashwords or for Amazon, click on the cover below:

.

TOUR-WIDE GIVEAWAY

.

5 WINNERS will receive….

.

Open only to those who can legally enter. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by Rafflecopter and announced on Rafflecopter and Grand Finale posts as well as emailed and the winner will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Burgandy Ice @ Colorimetry and Prism Book Tours and sponsored by Taylor Dean. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.
.
GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED.
.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

.

Bay window with leaded stained glass windows in a Victorian home. What a lovely spot for a writing desk.

*To learn of another American Idol performance that inspired a certain scene in Lancaster House,come back tomorrow and visit my study at Proud Book Nerd. . . you won’t bedisappointed . . .

 Pssst… to see my real study, hop over to Letters to the Cosmos and Sarah’s review!
.
.

THE TOUR:

.
.
.
.
2/11 – Unputdownable Books – Guest Post
2/12 – I Am A Reader, Not a Writer – Guest Post
2/13 – Fundinmental Guest Post
–          Letters to the Cosmos – Review
2/14 – Oh, The Books You’ll Read – Review
–          Proud Book Nerd – Guest Post
2/15 – LDS & Lovin’ It – Review
2/17 – Phantasmic Reads – Review
–          Lavender & Camomile Press Guest Post
2/18 – The Reading Diaries – Guest Post
2/19 –  Living a Goddess Life – Review
–          Beck Valley Books – Guest Post
2/20 – Living the Goddess Life –  Recipe
–          Colorimetry
2/21 – Passion and Life – Guest Post
–          Books Mystify – Goodreads Review
2/22 – Christy’s Cozy Corner – Review
2/24 – Christy’s Cozy Corner – Review
–          A Buckeye Girl Reads – Guest Post
2/25 – Living a Goddess Life – Review
–          Icultgen – Guest Post
2/26 – Who’s Thanny?  (Byzinha) – Review
–          Letters to the Cosmos – Review
2/27 – Living a Goddess Life – Recipe
–          Tressa – Goodreads Reviewer

2/28 – A Buckeye Girl Reads – Review
3/1 – Grand Finale TBA…
.
.