Making Hard Choices – I’m With You @taylordeanbooks Tag Team Giveaway

Posted on March 29, 2016 by fundinmental

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Welcome to my Tag Team Event! Laura and I are the Tag Team Bloggers. You can find Laura at fuonlyknew. We Tag Team an author and publish our posts at the same time. Whether it’s for a cover reveal, giveaway, review, interview, or something more, the author will be tagged by us and you will be alerted to go to Laura’s blog or mine to see additional content. It’s really fun to see how differently we view the same book and you get an extra chance to win with our giveaways!

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Taylor Dean’s I’m With You will not only tug at your heartstrings, it will break your heart and put it back together again. Making the hard choices is when you really know you are alive.

Add me to Goodreads now.

MY REVIEW

I cannot imagine the paralyzing effect losing a child would have on me. Taylor Dean does an amazing job of wringing every drop of emotion from me, but leaving me satisfied at the end.

Child loss. Trisomy 18 – incompatible with life.

The heartwrenching decision. Hope. Compassion. Love. Romance.

Taylor even includes a couple of cleaning tips while Chloe is cleaning house. It is writing like this that keeps Taylor Dean’s stories “real”.

Catastrophes draw some people closer, while tearing others apart. Each person must find their way of dealing with what little control there is left in life when tragedy strikes. . The characters are so developed and complex, I feel as if I know them, some friends, others not so much.

Two women, so totally different…and Jack. Chloe is just too nice, in my book. I want her to kick some Tanya ass and maybe even smack Jack up side the head and tell him to get real. I got very pissed at Jack, and even Chloe at times. I wanted to punch Mark in the face. What a dip shit. I was so angry the last third of the book…Men…but, it is true, Men Are From Mars and Women Are From Venus. We all deal with things in our own way…to survive.

When I think the worst is over, Taylor throws even more terrible angst my way. I knew it was too easy for Happy Ever After. Something else had to happen. I kept waiting for the proverbially other shoe to drop. It did more than drop, it collapsed!

I’m With You left me wrung out, emotionally spent. I sat in silence, regrouping.

As I read about Jerad tears filled my eyes. I had to pause before reading Taylor’s note. Trisomy 18 is real and personal for her and her family and I would like to thank them so much for sharing their story.

5 STARS

For a review with another perspective and another chance at the great giveaway shown below, be sure and check out Laura @ fuonlyknew.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

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 she had a passion for writing, specifically romance. Whether it’s paranormal, contemporary, or suspense—you’ll find all sub-genres of clean romance in her line-up.

To find out what Taylor Dean is up to, follow the links below:

Website/Blog / Facebook / Twitter / Goodreads

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MY REVIEWS FOR TAYLOR DEAN’S BOOKS

Tears of Love – For Nick by Taylor dean ( Review)
A sweet romance – Joshua’s Folly by Taylor Dean (Review)
sierra by taylor dean – Come on over and take a peek (Book trailer)
Missing Any Memories? i have people by taylor dean (Review)
sierra by taylor dean (Review)
the middle aisle by taylor dean (Review)
Is he a ghost? A vampire? Is he even real or just a figment of her imagination? (Lancaster House Review)

GIVEAWAY

Three winners!

To enter answer the question or leave Taylor Dean some love below and leave your email so you can be notified. Giveaway ends October 7, 2015.

What is your happiest or most tragic memory?

Giveaway 3/29/16 – 4/8/16. .

For a review with another perspective and another chance at the great giveaway shown below, be sure and check out Laura @ fuonlyknew.

Grand Finale – Her Summer Crush @lindahopelee

Posted on March 28, 2016 by fundinmental

On Tour with Prism Book Tours.

Launching the Book Tour for
Her Summer Crush
By Linda Hope Lee

We hope you enjoyed the reviews and excerpts shared during the tour! If you missed any of them, go back and check them out now…

Launch – Introduction to Her Summer Crush

After I finished Eva’s Deadline, I kept thinking about Luci and Cody. Did she get over her crush? Did Cody get to follow his dream? What happened to these two people? Soon I was playing the “what if?” game and writing Her Summer Crush

Bookworm Lisa – Excerpt

“CODY JARVIS! What’s he doing here?” Luci Monroe stared at the man who’d just stepped out the back door of her parents’ home.

Singing Librarian Books – Excerpt

The ocean sparkled under a sun about to slip below the horizon, and the waves made a soft shushing sound as they rolled onto the shore. If only she could escape there now. When something upsetting happened, a walk on the beach always helped to calm her. Cody’s unexpected appearance was certainly one of those times. As soon as the party was over…

Bookworm Nation – Review

“I thought this was a fun read, a nice escape in a charming small town setting. If you enjoy contemporary romance this is a good one!”

I Am A Reader – Excerpt

“Are you finished now?” Her words came out sharper than she’d intended. She must be in worse shape than she’d realized.

He frowned. “Not okay to take your picture? You’re the guest of honor. Besides, you’re a good subject.”

Wishful Endings – Review

“It was a fun and sweet story from beginning to end, with fun characters, complex family relationships, and a light romance.”

Katie’s Clean Book Collection – Review

“I always enjoy the characters journeys of growth and overcoming hard things. I really loved the setting–I love the beach and could picture living in this great, small town. I also loved the relationships between each character and his/her family members, as well as Luci in the role of a mentor to Tessa. This is a gentle, sweet, and clean summer romance, perfect for a pool or beach read.”

Rockin’ Book Reviews – Excerpt

“Cody sat at the table, put down his mug and clicked the mouse. A new picture flashed onto the screen. Another shot of Lucy. He chuckled. He’s taken more pictures of her tonight than of anyone else.”

Love, Laughter, Friendship – Excerpt

“I like my place,” he said. “It’s cozy and has everything I need.”

“Maybe so, but do you think you’ll ever find a woman who’ll put up with all this?” Olive went to the sofa and plumped up the loose cushions.

“Not a question that needs to be answered, because I’m not looking. Not right now, anyway.”

Thoughts of a Blonde – Review

“I enjoyed this story. The characters are fun with a lot of potential there — would have liked to have seen them decide to test their relationship waters earlier in the book.”

Her Summer Crush
by Linda Hope Lee
Adult Contemporary Romance
Mass Market Paperback & ebook, 368 Pages
March 1st 2016 by Harlequin Heartwarming

She’s over her crush…isn’t she?

Luci Monroe is on top of the world. She’s just graduated from journalism school and she’s already landed her dream job in PR. Then Cody Jarvis saunters into her office. Nothing like finding out that your teenage crush, now a gorgeous, globe-trotting, freelance photographer, is going to be your staffer for the summer. Never mind. They’re both professionals. And she’s over him. Kind of. Anyway, he’s not interested. Cody is always waiting to disappear on his next assignment, and Luci needs someone stable. Someone who wants to build a life right here in Willow Beach…

Goodreads│Amazon│Barnes & Noble│Harlequin│Kobo

Linda Hope Lee writes contemporary romance, romantic suspense, and mysteries. She enjoys traveling especially to small towns in search of story ideas. She’s also an artist, specializing in watercolor, pen and ink, and colored pencil. Photography provides inspiration for both her writing and her art. She lives in the Pacific Northwest, where many of her stories are set.

Website│Goodreads│Facebook│Twitter

Other Books by the Author

Tour Giveaway

$50 Amazon eGift Card
3 copies of Her Summer Crush (print if US, ebook if international)
Open internationally
Ends April 1st

a Rafflecopter giveaway

To see all my Giveaways, go HERE.
If you like what you see, why don’t you follow me?
Look on the right sidebar and let’s talk.
Leave your link in the comments and I will drop by to see what’s shakin’.
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Teaser Tuesday #64 – I’m With You @taylordeanbooks

Posted on March 22, 2016 by fundinmental

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TeaserTuesdays-ADailyRhythm3 Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Booksandabeat.

Anyone can play along! Just do the following: Grab your current read. Open to a random page. Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page. BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!) Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

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Taylor Dean’s I’m With You will not only tug at your heartstrings, it will break your heart and put it back together again. Making the hard choices is when you really know you are alive.

I will be doing a Tag Team review and giveaway along with Laura at fuonlyknew on 3/29/12.

If I’m With You by Taylor Dean sounds like a book for you, be sure and come on by to enter. Taylor always has a lovely giveaway and we look forward to seeing you there.

Add me to Goodreads now.

MY TEASE

“I’m fine Renee. I really am. Please don’t worry about me. It takes to recover from…

“It’s been a year. We’ve all been patient with you, especially Mark. You have to do your part.”

What did they want from her? She didn’t understand. Not at all. Did they really expect her to erase the incident from her life? Why couldn’t she talk about it? Why couldn’t she remember it? Why did it bother everyone so much that she didn’t want to forget?

(page 100 in paperback)

How does a mother get over losing her child? How long does it take. I have never lost a child, so I cannot say, but I would guess it takes as long as it takes and sometimes a person never does get over it. I cannot imagine the pain and anguish of letting your child go. Trisomy 18 is real and personal for Taylor Dean and her family and I would like to thank them so much for sharing their story in the form of a novel.

GOODREADS BLURB

Can three little words irrevocably change your life?

When the doctors inform Chloe Brennan that her pregnancy is “incompatible with life,” her subsequent choices will change her path forever.

She becomes one of the quiet, unsung heroes of this world, incredibly strong, yet somehow wrongly looked upon as damaged.

Three people will pierce Chloe’s existence: her husband, a stranger, and a precious baby.

One will say goodbye, one will say hello, and one will say both at the same time.

I’m With You is a novel about selfless love and the sacredness of life.

Please note: While this book is a romance novel, it also deals with the sensitive issue of baby loss grief.

The emotions are real, and sometimes dark.

If you are sensitive to this issue, this may not be the book for you.

To see all my Giveaways, go HERE.
If you like what you see, why don’t you follow me?
Look on the right sidebar and let’s talk.
Leave your link in the comments and I will drop by to see what’s shakin’.
Problem commenting, look for the twitter, facebook…buttons.
Thanks for visiting fundinmental!

Giveaway – Breaking the Story @AshleyWFarley

Posted on March 19, 2016 by fundinmental

Breaking the Story
Ashley Farley
Publication date: March 17th 2016
Genres: Adult, Suspense

Passion, peril, and a scandal that will rock American politics.

Scottie Darden’s life is a disaster. Her marriage has become toxic, and her career as a photojournalist has stalled out. To attract the attention of the main players in the news industry, she needs a standout story with a unique perspective. What she finds is a scandal that could turn the 2016 presidential election upside down. But before she can release her damaging images to the media, Scottie must uncover the truth behind the photographs. She turns to handsome mystery man Guy Jordan for help. When they join the campaign trail in search of answers, their investigation quickly becomes deadly.

Hop on board for a wild ride of adventure where desire ignites, lives are threatened, and secrets are revealed.

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Kobo / iTunes

BOOK TRAILER:

EXCERPT:

Her cell phone lit up on the seat beside her, and Brad’s name appeared across the screen. She reached for the phone and powered it off. The next time she communicated with him would be through an attorney.

Scottie contemplated her options for a place to spend the night. Already approaching the fifty-mile mark, she couldn’t drive much farther on her spare tire. Her best friend, Anna, had been avoiding her since Christmas, since Scottie had inadvertently placed Anna’s husband in danger of losing his medical license. The rest of her friends would undoubtedly be spending quiet weekends at home, nursing their babies and making love to their husbands. She could drive to Church Hill to her brother’s house, where she knew she’d find a sympathetic shoulder to cry on. But Will would want all the details, and she wasn’t ready to give voice to her drama. Tonight, she needed time alone to think. Tonight, she needed to drink tequila.

She took a right-hand turn onto the Boulevard, drove one block, and then turned left onto Franklin Street. She parked under the portico in front of the Jefferson Hotel, handed her key to the valet, and went inside to the front desk. After booking the cheapest room available, she wheeled her suitcase around the corner and rode the elevator to the third floor. The consolation prize to having the smallest room in the most luxurious hotel in the city was the stunning view overlooking downtown Richmond.

Author Bio:

Ashley Farley is a wife and mother of two college-aged children. She grew up in the salty marshes of South Carolina, but now lives in Richmond, Virginia, a city she loves for its history and traditions.

After her brother died in 1999 of an accidental overdose, she turned to writing as a way of releasing her pent-up emotions. She wrote SAVING BEN in honor of Neal, the boy she worshipped, the man she could not save. SAVING BEN is not a memoir, but a story about the special bond between siblings.

HER SISTER’S SHOES—June 2015—is a women’s novel that proves the healing power of family.

Merry Mary—October 2015—a holiday novella, a young woman longing for a child stumbles upon a Christmas miracle.

BREAKING THE STORY is scheduled for release on March 17, 2016. A romantic political suspense. Passion. Peril. And a scandal that will rock American politics.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter

GIVEAWAY!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Hosted by:

Release Day Blitz Giveaway for Ashes in the Sky @chapterxchapter @JenniferMEaton

Posted on March 16, 2016 by fundinmental

AshesInTheSkyRDB

Happy Release Day to

Ashes in the Sky (Fire in the Woods #2)
by Jennifer M. Eaton!!

Join us in celebrating this release from Month9Books!

Enter the giveaway found at the end of the post.

Happy Book Birthday,Jennifer!

After inadvertently saving the world, eighteen-year-old Jessica Martinez is ready to put adventure behind her and settle back into the familiar routine of high school.

Though when she’s offered an opportunity to photograph the inside of an alien space ship, Jess jumps at the chance. After all, she’d be crazy to turn something like that down, right?

Spending time with David on the ship has definite advantages and the two seem to pick up right where they left off. But when Jess discovers a plot to sabotage David’s efforts to establish a new home for his people on another planet, neither David’s advanced tech nor Jess’s smarts will be able to save them.

ASHES IN THE SKY is an action-packed, romantic Sci Fi adventure that will leave readers screaming for more.

Ashes in the Sky (Fire in the Woods #2) by Jennifer M. Eaton
Publication Date: March 15, 2016
Publisher: Month9Books

OTHER BOOK(S) IN THE SERIES:

When a plane crashes in the woods near Jess’s home, the boy of her dreams falls out of the sky—literally. But David’s not here to find a girlfriend. He’s from another planet, and if Jess can’t help him get back to his ship, he’ll be stuck on Earth with nothing to look forward to but the pointy end of a dissection scalpel.

But her father runs their house like an army barracks, and with an alien on the loose, Major Dad isn’t too keen on the idea of Jess going anywhere. Ever. So how the heck is she supposed to help the sweetest, strangest, and cutest guy she’s ever met?

Hiding him in her room probably isn’t the best idea. Especially since her Dad is in charge of the squadron searching for David. That doesn’t mean she won’t do it. It just means she can’t get caught.

Helping David get home while protecting her heart—that’s gonna be the hard part. After all, she can’t really fall for a guy who’s not exactly from here.

As they race through the woods with Major Dad and most of the U.S. military one breath behind them, Jess and David grow closer than either of them anticipated. But all is not what it seems. David has a genocide-sized secret, and one betrayal later, they are both in handcuffs as alien warships are positioning themselves around the globe. Time is ticking down to Armageddon, and Jess must think fast if she’s to save the boy she cares about without sacrificing Earth—and everyone on it.

About-the-Author2

Jennifer M. Eaton

Jennifer M. Eaton hails from the eastern shore of the North American Continent on planet Earth. Yes, regrettably, she is human, but please don’t hold that against her. While not traipsing through the galaxy looking for specimens for her space moth collection, she lives with her wonderfully supportive husband and three energetic offspring. (And a poodle who runs the spaceport when she’s not around.)

During infrequent excursions to her home planet of Earth, Jennifer enjoys long hikes in the woods, bicycling, swimming, snorkeling, and snuggling up by the fire with a great book; but great adventures are always a short shuttle ride away.

Who knows where we’ll end up next?

giveaway2

Complete the Rafflecopter below for a chance to win!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

To see all my Giveaways, go HERE.
If you like what you see, why don’t you follow me?
Look on the right sidebar and let’s talk.
Leave your link in the comments, I’ll drop by to see what’s shakin’.
Problem commenting, look for the twitter, facebook…buttons.
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Saturday Shorts Review – Water & Fire @DemelzaCarlton

Posted on March 12, 2016 by fundinmental

Water & Fire is a prequel novella to the Ocean’s Gift series by Demelza Carlton. My introduction to the series was through a tour for Ocean’s Gift and I am happy to read Belinda’s story and get to know her better.

MY REVIEW

Recommended for Adults.

What do Belinda, Aidan and Lin have in common?

Belinda is a midwife at the Albany Regional Hospital in Australia. She handles things in a calm, matter of fact manner, not allowing anyone to know…

Lin delivers more than TLC at the hospital and I couldn’t help laughing when Belinda caught her bedhopping all over the hospital.

Aidan is an intern and…

The Nannup Tiger is a native species of Australia, thought to be extinct.

Fact or fiction? Fact, but..

I believe we’ll find out…

Water and Fire is a fun and romantic paranormal story that had me smiling and…well, I’ll leave that to your imagination. The reading is easy and the writing whimsical. At times the heat builds and the story turns sweet and sexy.

I love a good mermaid story and I read Ocean’s Gift before Water and Fire, so I had already met Belinda. I was happy to get more insight into her character.

Demelza shares hints of so much more sprinkled throughout Water and Fire, enticing me, the reader, to want to know more.

4 Stars

My 5 Star Review for Ocean’s Gift

Ocean’s Gift made me teary eyed as I was left with the most awful cliffhanger imaginable…for a mermaid story. Alone…in the sea…

Teaser Tuesday #61 – Betrayed by Jaye Frances

Posted on March 1, 2016 by fundinmental

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TeaserTuesdays-ADailyRhythm3 Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Booksandabeat.

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I have read and reviewed Betrayed by Jaye Frances.

Betrayed (World Without Love, Book I) by Jaye Frances had me sitting, with my mouth hanging open, wanting to throw my kindle at…something. I wanted to scream and rage at the degradation and cruelty that was heaped on Jewel.

This is not for the faint of heart, includes explicit sex, describing the savagery and brutality of human trafficking. Betrayed

Add me to Goodreads now

MY TEASE

He ignored my promise of submission, taking pleasure in watching me labor over each tortured breath. Only when he was sure my convulsions were real and I was on the verge of passing out did he lessen the pressure on the gag, allowing me to inhale a few times before retightening the strap.

(12% on Kindle)

Giveaway for one ebook at the link below:

Evil Walks Among Us – Betrayed by Jaye Frances Guest Post, Giveaway & Review

GOODREADS BLURB

Jewel has everything going for her—a handsome husband, a promising future, and lots of time to explore an island paradise she now calls home.

But when a group of strangers accompanies her husband home for a friendly game of poker, her life quickly becomes a hellish nightmare of deceit and betrayal.

Now her very survival depends on entering a world where sex, domination, and money are inseparable, where women must obey all masters, and where every desire has its price.

“Betrayed” contains mature content and is intended for an 18 and over audience.

Giveaway for one ebook at the link below:

Evil Walks Among Us – Betrayed by Jaye Frances Guest Post, Giveaway & Review

To see all my Giveaways, go HERE.

If you like what you see, why don’t you follow me?

Look on the right sidebar and let’s talk.

Leave your link in the comments and I will drop by to see what’s shakin’.

Problem commenting, look for the twitter, facebook…buttons.

Thanks for visiting fundinmental!

Friday 56 #71 & BB #47 – Fountain Society @wescraven

Posted on February 12, 2016 by fundinmental

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The Friday 56 is hosted by Freda’s Voice.The only rules are to grab a book (any book), turn to page 56 or 56% in your ereader and find any sentence or a few ( no spoilers) that grabs you and post it.

Please join Rose City Reader every Friday to share the first sentence or so of the book you are reading along with you initial thoughts about the sentence, impressions of the book, or anything else the opener inspires.

Please include the title of the book and the author’s name.

~~~Next up on the list is Fountain Society by Wes Craven.

Wes Craven also directed Scream and A Nightmare on Elm Street. Will Fountain Society scare your pants off?

The hardcover is super cool.

The man’s head is three dimensional, making it super creepy.

MY FRIDAY 56

“Maybe not,” said the banker. “You’ll have a club in your hands then and you’ll be twice as dangerous.”

(page 56 in hardcover)

MY BOOK BEGINNINGS

The cell held fifteen men. It was ten by twelve and stank of sweat, filth and fear. The only amenity offered was a hole in the center of the concrete floor which served as a toilet.

Why they are in the cell, I can’t tell ya.

GOODREADS BLURB

The brilliant Dr. Peter Jance, a Nobel Prize-winning physicist, is only weeks away from succumbing to cancer. But a top-secret government organization known as the Fountain Society gives Peter a new lease on life by transplanting his brain into the body of his much younger clone. When the brand-new Peter becomes disgusted with the immorality of the project and wants out, he finds himself on the run for his very life.

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I am a “cover girl”.

Jacket Design by Timothy Hsu and Jackie Seow

What does the cover say to you? I shared two, which do you like the best?

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To see all my Giveaways, go HERE.

If you like what you see, why don’t you follow me?

Look on the right sidebar and let’s talk.

Thanks for visiting fundinmental!

$100 Book Blast Giveaway-His Personal Relationship Manager

Posted on February 10, 2016 by fundinmental

His Personal Relationship Manager by Jennifer Peel has such a cute cover and a $100 book blast giveaway, I couldn’t resist sharing it. Don’t you want to be walking on that beach right about now? LOL Don’t forget to enter the giveaway!

His Personal Relationship Manager by Jennifer Peel

Kenadie Marshall suffered the most public of humiliations, being left at the altar. Instead of wallowing in her misery, she makes it her mission to help others find true and lasting love, all while swearing off relationships for good. Between the software application she developed and a team of relationship managers, her brainchild, Binary Search, has an uncanny knack for choosing the perfect match almost every time.

Attractive and loveable Jason Hadley is taken with Kenadie Marshall from their first meeting. Determined to win her over, he does anything and everything he can think of, even if it means using her firm’s service and dating other women to stay close to her.

Will Kenadie realize she’s met her match before it’s too late? Or will Jason’s ploy go too far? Find out in His Personal Relationship Manager, a romantic comedy with an epic battle of wills.

Praise for the Book

“One of the best romantic comedies I’ve read in a long time!” – Becky Monson, Bestselling Author of the Spinster Series
“There’s nothing more satisfying than a story with a great plot, strong characters, and a romance that makes me swoon. This story has it all and more! I loved every minute of it!” – Katie from Katie’s Clean Book Collection

Excerpt

He paused for a moment. His intense gaze had me feeling undone. “Are you happy, Kenadie?”
“That’s a complicated question.”
“Well, you are a complicated woman.”
“I don’t try to be.”
“It was a compliment.”
“How do you do that?”
“What’s that?”
“You always know what to say to make me feel better about myself.”
“Well, that’s easy. You give me good material to work with.”
“Jason … Today, I’m happy.”
“You don’t know how happy I am to hear that,” he said smoothly.

Author Jennifer Peel

Jennifer Peel is the mother of three amazing kiddos. Wife to her one and only for the past twenty-one years. Lover of late night talks, beach vacations, the mountains, pink bubble gum ice cream, tours of model homes, and southern living. She can frequently be found with her laptop on, fingers typing away, indulging in chocolate milk, and writing out the stories that are constantly swirling through her head.

Website * Twitter * Facebook

Book Blast Giveaway – $100 Amazon Gift Card or $100 in Paypal Cash

Ends 2/25/16

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. 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 here as well as emailed and 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 Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the participating authors. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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To see all my Giveaways, go HERE.

If you like what you see, why don’t you follow me?

Look on the right sidebar and let’s talk.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Leave your link in the comments and I will drop by to see what’s shakin’.

If you have a problem commenting, look for the twitter, facebook…buttons.

Thanks for visiting fundinmental!

A Sweet Romance – Mending Heartstrings by @AriaGlazki

Posted on February 9, 2016 by fundinmental

Mending Heartstrings by Aria Glazki

Genre: Adult Contemporary Romance (Sweet heat level)
Cover Designer: Christa Holland at Paper & Sage

Release Date: February 9, 2016

GUEST POST BY ARIA GLAZKI

I am so excited to have Aria Glazki here today to talk about covers. I am a “cover girl” so I am always curious about how an author chooses their covers and who does them.

Why Does Cover Design Matter?

Covers matter. When we’re young or discussing ideology or speaking metaphorically, we like to say otherwise. But just like your carriage when walking into an interview affects the impression you’ll make, so too does a book cover instantly affect a reader’s opinion of your book. Then again, like it or not, that’s the point.

Whether in thumbnail form on a bookseller’s site, as a lovely art print, or integrated into an author’s promotional materials, the book cover is often the very first experience a reader has with a book. A natural conclusion is that the cover represents the story—its tone, its quality, and its subject matter. A bad cover can kill any chances of sales, while a good one can encourage readers to consider the blurb or possibly even one-click a title. And despite all that, authors often have very little, if any, control over the cover representing their work. Traditionally published authors, that is.

It isn’t a secret that Mending Heartstrings was originally traditionally published. Much as I would like that first cover to stop being associated with this book, it is available in plenty of places online. Of course, I had no say in that first cover. The publisher purchased it, informed me, and that was (almost) that. I managed to convince them to replace the original head of wheat with a guitar pick so that the cover would have at least some connection to my story, but that was it.

Let’s look at the two covers side by side:

Original Cover

New Cover

From the colors—faded, tan tones on the left and a vibrant mix on the right—to the subject matter, the differences are immeasurable. While the cover on the left could be a nice fit for a calm, quiet book, it does nothing to represent the story of passion, music, and longing that is Mending Heartstrings. The cover on the right, however… Well, I’ll leave you to make your own conclusions, because I could gush about it endlessly. And before the question of the designer’s abilities comes up, both covers were designed by the fantastic Christa at Paper & Sage. The only difference was who made the choice—my original publisher, or me.

Though neither on its own is terrible—and there are plenty of terrible covers out there—these two covers represent entirely different moods and subjects. If you’re looking for an uplifting romance, which cover would draw your eye? Which would encourage you to pause and read the blurb? Which gives you an idea of the characters involved? In my opinion (and I hope you’ll agree), the cover on the right wins hands down.

This is why cover design is touted as so important. Covers are at the forefront of all the marketing efforts; it’s their job to lure a reader and to provide an instant sense of what kind of story lies within. There’s a reason why so many romance novels once had Fabio on the cover: readers would know in less than a second what genre lay inside. This is also why, with one choice, the fate of a book can be sealed. And why I am thrilled to finally have a cover that does Mending Heartstrings justice.

Thanks so much for sharing your thoughtsa , Aria. I think this is a great post and can be very helpful to others. 🙂

MY REVIEW

Mending Heartstrings by Aria Glazki is a sweet romance novel that exceeded my expectations. Romance is not one of my favorite genres, no murder or blood and guts massacres, but some of the ugly things in life does make this read as if it could be happening to a friend of mine…or yours.

Ordinary girl meets country singer.

Who wouldn’t jump at the chance to take a road trip with your very own hottie?

She’ll be traveling with Kane, Bobby, Steve…and Mitch.

Well, Sabella does. She is not your drop dead gorgeous with a figure to die for kind of gal. She is more like the girl next door and I want so much for her not to get in over her head and have her heart broken.

I love her friend, Gina. Feeling down, Gina will raise you up. I used to have a friend that reminds me so much of Gina and without her in the world the sun seems to have dimmed a little. Gina is a vibrant and colorful character, full of love and life. She only sees the upside of life, until…

I kept thinking, how can I fall in love with a novel that is all about romance, no murder, no horror, you know, those ugly things in “life”. Well the ugly does rear its head and it comes in human form.

I am surprised and delighted by how much I enjoyed Mending Heartstrings. The romance was real, with all the ups and downs that make us know we are alive and in love.

I received a copy of Mending Heartstrings by Aria Glazki in return for an honest review.

4 Stars

Kane’s a country singer who’s tangled with too many deceitful women. He’s learned his lesson: girls are for flirting and fun; emotions are for his music. But after spending a night with an earnest woman unlike any he’s known, he can’t force her out of his mind. So he goes in search of the woman he knows only as “Elle.”

On her last night in Nashville, the staunchly pragmatic Sabella found herself in a situation more suited to a romance novel than reality. Swept away, she ignored her rigidly self-imposed rules, succumbing to the fantasy just this once. But she knows real-world relationships have nothing in common with their fictionalized portrayals. When Kane unexpectedly shows up at her Portland apartment, she must choose between the practical truths she has learned and the desire for a passionate love she has struggled to suppress.

Despite the distance, Kane’s tour schedule, and their meddling friends, both are drawn to the chance for a romance neither quite believes is possible.

Aria’s writing story started when her seventh-grade English teacher encouraged her to submit a class assignment for publication. That piece was printed, and let’s just say, she was hooked!

Since then, Aria has run a literary magazine, earned her degree in Creative Writing (as well as in French and Russian literatures), and been published here and there. Though her first kiss technically came from a bear cub, and no fairytale transformation followed, Aria still believes magic can happen when the right people come together—if they don’t get in their own way, that is.

Other than all things literary, Aria loves spending time with her family, including her two unbearably adorable nieces. She also dabbles in painting, dancing, playing violin, and, given the opportunity, Epicureanism.