Spotlight: Moon High

DESCRIPTION:

Andrew Alden is one of only fifty students worldwide chosen to study at Moon High, the prestigious, moon-based Spac
e Travel Academy. All that stands between him and making history is doubt he can live up to his famous Grandfather's legacy, and fear he may not want to go through with it after all. As he awaits lift off, Andrew finds his long-time rival, Corbyn, also managed to get a seat on the hover shuttle. A fearless, fiery Irish boy named Liam distracts Andrew from his worries with comical antics. They bond quickly, arriving at Moon High for an extraordinary first year of holopod adventures, entity trapping experiments, shifting alliances, and astro tag rivalries. 

Andrew’s efforts to conform are quickly overshadowed by discovery of an alien species and a high-ranking deception that threatens to destroy the school his Grandfather founded. Andrew, Liam, and their deductive-minded friend Emma, race to uncover the truth behind the mortal threat, before they are caught by the Director they believe caused the crisis. 

This award-winning, young adult, science fiction novel is quick-paced and suspenseful with humorous and endearing moments. There are also touches of perseverance, hope, philosophy, and bonds of friendship. 

“Moon High” received an Honorable Mention in the Southern California Book Festival in November, 2015.

L.W. Turek is a former journalist and teacher. This is Turek's third book. Other titles include "Curiosity's Leap" (for children ages 8-12) and "Three Carrots and a Pea Coat", a fully illustrated book (for children ages 2-6).

Moon High on Amazon

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Disclosure: this post contains links to an affiliate program (Amazon), for which I receive a few cents if you make purchases. 

Review: Something in the Air

Title: Something in the Air

Author: Marie Landry

Page Count: 246

My Rating: 4 TURTLES: A great read, I definitely recommend.

*Thanks to Netgalley for giving me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

Amazon

Description:

Her life hasn't gone as planned, but she's about to realize that sometimes the best things happen when you stop expecting life to be a certain way...

When Rose Morgan put off her college plans to help her mother through a difficult time, she thought it would just be a bump in the road of her journey. She got a job to help pay the bills and started picking up the slack at home. But three years later, her bumpy ride hasn’t smoothed out yet, and Rose feels stuck. She’s working at a job she hates and living with a manipulative mother. She’s tired of feeling like her life has stalled, tired of the resentment and anger building inside her with each passing day.

Then Declan Connelly appears in her life, and even though the hot Irishman is seriously tempting, Rose is determined not to let him in. She’s afraid to suck anyone into her bizarre life, especially someone who seems too charming for his own good. She soon learns there’s more to Declan than his sexy accent and charismatic personality, though. He’s a good man, and he wants Rose in his life, baggage and all. He’s got his own, and he isn’t scared away like she originally feared he would be. 

Everything in Rose’s life is changing quickly. It’s finally her time--time to figure out what she wants and what her future holds. Time to get swept off her feet and not fight it. But when her plans might take her away from all the amazing new things in her life, including Declan, Rose has to make a choice. Is she willing to chase her dreams, even if it means letting go of love?

Review:

I’ve been a fan of the New Adult genre ever since it started sprouting up a few years ago, but something that set this book apart that I really liked was that it wasn’t set on a college campus. Of course the campus setting makes a lot of sense since many people the age of New Adult protagonists are in college (I should know, I’m writing this review from my dorm room), but that’s not the path of everyone. I really liked how Landry explored this in the novel because protagonists who are already in college have that step of their lives planned out, which means the plot wholly follows the romance, no complaints there. But I loved how this story had an even wider scope of a girl trying to figure out what kind of life she wanted to lead on top of a budding romance.

I also really loved the characters in this book. Even the less important ones still were engaging and multi-dimensional, which adds so much to the story. The family dynamics shown at times were rough, but never felt contrived. I would also, on a personal note, like to commend this author for having a guy/girl best-friendship that did not turn into a love triangle once the love interest was introduced. I love stories about best friends falling for each other, but I feel like I read about it so often that every time two people of different genders are best friends I keep waiting for one of them to confess their love for the other. This book had so much going on it definitely did not need any extra drama to propel it forward!

I’d definitely recommend this one. It’s a quick read, but a great new addition to the New Adult genre!

Disclosure: this post contains links to an affiliate program (Amazon), for which I receive a few cents if you make purchases. 

Guest Post: Alexa Piper

How To Write A Love Scene

By Alexandra Seidel

Before we get into that, let’s be clear about what a love scene is, at least in the context of this post. A love scene is intense. It is the point in a story when two characters (and one of them is the protagonist) get to know each other better, when one enters the orbit of the other. Such scenes can contain sex, but you can just as well build heat or give the story momentum without having anyone take their clothes off.

1. Do you need this scene?

This is one of the reasons why I like to make a distinction between love scene and sex scene. In romance, there is a lot of, well, steamy romance going on. This is absolutely fine, it’s like the laser guns in an sf tale, and readers shouldn’t be ashamed of what they like to read.

But the love scene? The love scene is a different beast. In it, characters discover how they really feel for one another, they learn something about themselves and the other person that they didn’t know before.

So yes, you do need a love scene (in romance writing), but before you have two people declare their undying love for one another, make sure the story demands it. Make sure it adds to the tension and doesn't slacken it.

2. Did anyone say tension?

Yes, yes I did. And please, a lot of it. Tension is what keeps the readers interested in our plot. If there is no tension, all that remains is boring, sappy. So let there be obstacles, a jilted lover lurking in the shadows, a quest that's waiting, our protag's desires and wants that conflict with their relationship to the love interest.

This tension is also ultimately what builds the plot of the story, and it is what keeps the protagonist on their toes. Therefore, the tension needs to be real, a real threat or something the protagonist does really need to do, or else.

3. Hold on a minute, what just happened?

The purpose of a love scene is change. Something in the protagonist will change: they realize a truth about themselves that they were not aware before. Something in the love interest will change: they will reveal to themselves and the reader why they care about the protagonist. Taken together, these insights will change the chemistry between the protagonist and the love interest, ideally in a way that allows the plot to move forward with the tangible motivation of a survivalist running from a horde of zombies.

So best be clear in how these changes are articulated. Seeing as there are at least two people involved in a love scene, dialogue is a good way to go, but it never hurts to make change seen and felt. Seen in how the characters now act, and are able to act, differently, felt in the new ways they now interpret what they see around them.

With these three points in mind, any love scene should turn out just fine. And it can be just about as steamy as the author wants it to be, too, because why not?

About Luminous Dreams:
Relax, close your eyes... and dream. Eight tales, eight sensual dreams of enchantment, wanderlust and lovers’ longings, of searching and finding; these dreams tell of birds of fire, curses that lie like bridges between night and day, and hunger for sweet seduction.

Luminous Dreams is available in trade paperback and ebook via Amazon.com, All Romance eBooks, WorldWeaverPress.com, and other online retailers, and for wholesale through and Ingram. You can also find Luminous Dreams on Goodreads.

About Alexa:
Alexa Piper enjoys writing, romance, and the paranormal. This said, becoming a paranormal romance writer seemed perfectly reasonable, but for Alexa, it is more than that; it's fun. Alexa’s work has appeared in the Red Moon Romance anthology Demons, Imps, and Incubi and The Naughty List. Luminous Dreams is Alexa's first collection, and she hopes her readers will have as much fun reading it as she had writing it. Check out Alexa’s online home (alexapiper.com) for all things related to her writing and be sure to follow her on Twitter @prowlingpiper. 

Author Interview: Laney Smith

How did you get the inspiration for your book?
I watched a movie where there was a line that didn't fit the character. It bothered me to the point that I wanted to write a story where the characters didn't have weird or awkward lines. I didn't have a story idea at that point. Then, I think it was the next day that I was driving in my car and a song came on the radio. I don't know what it was about that song, but it opened the flood gate and I couldn't write fast enough to keep up with it. The whole thing just rained down on me. It was a gift. I've always loved writing. But, I believe everything has a "season." Apparently, this is my season. I'm so in love with this story.

Could you talk a bit about your publication process/experience?
For me, it was very easy. I've learned a lot since I started. But, I had an editor and she was really good at catching me without altering my style, if that makes sense. A lot of editors take the author out of the story. So, I was happy to work with her. But, aside from that, I did it through Createspace and I'm not tech savvy. They have a cover creater that helps the author design their book cover. So, the fact that there is a finished product is a statement in itself. If I can do it, anyone can do it. 

If you could jump into the world of your favorite book, who would you be and what would you do?
It may sound arrogant, but I would have to jump into Lock Creek. I see this world non-stop and it's so beautiful. It's where I would want to be. The community, the friendships, the setting, and let's not forget Sheriff Derrick Decker! I would give Anne a run for her money and I'd try to steal Derrick away from her. Maybe I would be the new antagonist.

Are you currently working on any projects?
I'm always working on projects. I have so many stories wanting to be written. I have a real problem with how many stories flood in. They start strong and then another one comes up. It drives me insane. I really wish I could finish one before another one starts. 

What is something that surprises people about you?
I'm shy. I can stand in front of a room filled with people and give speeches. That doesn't bother me. I can meet tons of people and I usually remember them. But, if I'm just in my day-to-day life and I attend a party where I only know one or two people, I'm really shy and for some reason, that is a hang up for me.

What section of a bookstore do you go to first?
I don't have a habitual practice. I just roam. I get drawn to different things for different reasons. A bookstore for me is like an art museum. I walk through and stare at the art, picking up things that catch my eye. So, I just meander and wait for something to call to me.

Who's your fictional crush?
Sheriff Derrick Decker from Lock Creek. He's my dream guy. I love that he had a gentlemanly demeanor and he's chivalrous and polite. But, he's not stupid. He's got a cocky edge to him. It doesn't matter how beautiful a woman is, if she's trying to get over on him, he's smart enough to see through her and put her in her place. He's not superficial, and he sees beyond the pretty faces. If there's nothing beyond that, he's just not interested. That doesn't stop him from being polite and respectful. He's just amazing! 

If you could combine the storylines of two books, which ones would they be?

That's a good question. I participated in an anthology about the tenants of a building. Each author wrote about the tenants of each of the apartments in the building. We meshed a lot of the tenant stories, since they were neighbors, and that was very interesting. I'm terribly sorry. This is the first time anyone has stumped me with a question. I can't think of two books I would merge. Good job! You got me!

About the Book:
Lock Creek is a beautiful town. Plush, mature vegetation makes Lock Creek a very airy, cool, comforting bridge between man and nature. The towns’ people have little to no interest in growth. They are content to keep new people and their big corporate ideals out. The memories, the familiarity, and the predictability give the town a special certainty that the residents cherish. On the surface, Lock Creek is the perfect small town. Squeaky clean as it seems, Lock Creek has its share of dirty laundry. Sheriff Derrick Decker was raised in Lock Creek and is loved and adored by most of the people he serves. The majority sees him as a good, patient, honest and loyal man. There is no shortage of adoring ladies, hoping to win his affection. However, not everyone adores Derrick Decker. Some feel he is a con artist who has tricked the people of this community into believing in a fictitious hero. Is the noble Sheriff everything he seems? Or is he as corrupt as the rumors claim? Anne Howard is a shy, but sassy woman. This “girl next-door” is stubborn and loves the thrill of a good challenge. She moved to Lock Creek to be closer to her cousin and childhood best friend, Chelsea Rawlins. Running from her past, Anne sees Lock Creek as the perfect place to hide. Having underestimated this small town, when Anne’s past shows up in Lock Creek, she will be forced to give up the secrets she thought she had buried. After fate steps in, Anne and Derrick start seeing something in each other. Each with secrets from their past, these two people seem meant for each other. Their time together allows them to build a bond, stronger than stone. Like an inferno, their adoration for each other ignites all the right fires. However, Trevor Thomas extinguishes blazes for a living. When he comes to town for a wedding, will he be enough to snuff out the raging fire between Anne and Derrick? Welcome to Lock Creek!

About Laney:

Laney Smith (1974- ) was born in Little Rock, AR and raised in Texarkana, TX until her early teen years when she moved to Aurora, CO. As an adult, she has lived in Walls, MS and currently resides in southern California. She is the oldest of 3 kids and is the mother of two sons. She also has 5 nieces and 1 nephew. She has always had a passion for writing and first contributed poetry to an anthology in 1993-1994. She, later, wrote multiple articles for a local newspaper known as the City News Group. Her current passion is writing fiction - romantic mystery - specifically and is currently working on completing the Time Capsule Series. There is another work in progress for a stand-alone book (untitled at the time of this update). In addition, she has also contributed two pieces to "Tenants of Building 38," an anthology to help raised funds for the American Cancer Society. There is also another piece she submitted for an anthology titled "The Roses," which is another fundraising project for Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and is due for release in May 2015

Author's Website
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Twitter: @OYTLaneySmith
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Disclosure: this post contains links to an affiliate program (Amazon), for which I receive a few cents if you make purchases. 

Spotlight: Jungle Eyes

Synopsis: 
In the spring of 1899, Henry Rochester boards a ship on the docks of New York Harbor and sets sail across the At
lantic. Desperately seeking freedom and adventure, Henry fails to anticipate the violent ocean storm that will destroy the ship, murder his fellow comrades, and leave him stranded on a deserted island. However, Henry is not alone in paradise, as a beautiful young woman, named Elaine, acquaints him with the enchanting, yet evil nature of the jungle. As the two quarrel, reconcile, and bond, love blossoms between them like an exotic wildflower. But when the tide turns, bringing an unescapable wave of danger with it, Henry and Elaine must face the callous brutality of the uninvited.

Purchase Links
Amazon
Amazon (Kindle)
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Barnes and Noble, iBooks, Kobo, and other fine retailers COMING SOON!

Author Bio: 
Lindsay Marie Miller was born and raised in Tallahassee, FL, where she graduated from high school as Valedictorian. Afterwards, Lindsay attended Florida State University and graduated Summa Cum Laude with an English Literature major, Psychology minor, and Specialized Studies in Markets and Institutions. Lindsay is the author of the romance novels: Jungle Eyes, Me & Mr. Jones, and Emerald Green. Jungle Eyes is the beginning of a new romantic action/adventure trilogy. Emerald Green is the first installment in a four-part series of Young Adult romantic thrillers. And the New Adult romantic thriller, Me & Mr. Jones, will be accompanied by a sequel. In her free time, Lindsay enjoys singing, playing the piano and guitar, and writing songs. The author resides in her hometown of Tallahassee, FL, where she is currently working on her next novel.

Contact Links
Twitter: @Lindsay_MMiller
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LindsayMarieMillerAuthor
Amazon: www.amazon.com/author/lindsaymariemiller
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/LindsayMarieMiller
Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/LindsayMarieMiller




Disclosure: this post contains links to an affiliate program (Amazon), for which I receive a few cents if you make purchases. 

Author Interview: Joycie Russ

How did you get the inspiration for your book? 
I have a lot of ideas for story lines. As I write things come to me. I may start out with one idea and hit upon something completely different as I begin to write.

Could you talk a bit about your publication process/experience?
 A little scary to step out and do, but all in all it has been pretty good. It is a learn as you go. Each time you learn something new and find that there are other ways of doing things. I am glad that I took the plunge.

If you could jump into the world of your favorite book, who would you be and what would you do?
It may show my age, but I would be any heroine from a Harlequinn romance novel with a happy ending in the 1970s. 

Are you currently working on any projects? 
Yes I am working on my third book as well as a short story.

What is something that surprises people about you? 
Perhaps how old fashioned I am. 

What section of a bookstore do you go to first? 
It would have to be my favorite, mystery!

Who's your fictional crush? 
I do not have one currently.

If you could combine the storylines of two books, which ones would they be? 
I honestly don't know.

About the Book:
Jade Simmons, a young homicide detective has a recurring dream that leads her into reopening a cold case as a favor to a friend. As she searches for answers, she discovers old family secrets and she finds herself further from finding the answers she desires. Will she be able to find the killer before the killer finds her?

About the Author:
A Richmond Native, Joycie Russ has written several short stories. She loves to write and stopped when she became a wife and mother. She feels like she has returned to her first love. She has published her very first book in The Jade Mysteries, There's Always Love, about a young homicide detective whose strange dreams lead her to reopen a cold case. There's Always Adventures in Love is the sequel.

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Author Website

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Disclosure: this post contains links to an affiliate program (Amazon), for which I receive a few cents if you make purchases. 

Spotlight: Evan and the Land of Letin: A Heart Afire

About the Book:
Readers that still secretly yearn for alternate lives in the lands of Oz or Narnia must read Evan & the Land of Letin: A Heart Afire. This first installment in a fresh new series is contemporary take on classic o

therworld tales. But, instead of the expected adolescent leading our way through a new world, we have Evan Transce, a complex protagonist less like Dorothy Gale and more like Holden Caulfield and Charlie the Wallflower.

Evan is months away from graduating high school when he witnesses his grandparents die by way of a vanishing, seemingly sentient flame. On top of balancing social and school stresses, Evan now begins to question the validity and reality of everything around him. Despite logic and reasoning, Evan knows one thing for certain - the fire is now his foe.

Lured by a watery reflection that isn't his, Evan soon finds himself in a dark and dying land. Memories of his life before quickly fade, but on the horizon, a Great Fire has overtaken the sea. Something deep in Evan tells him this is the same flame from his suppressed past.

Guided by a bodiless voice, Evan faces off against a monstrous flying cat, a decomposing warlock, and a nature-wielding witch, before being rescued by powerful elphs who whisk him to their kingdom above. With Evan's help, the elphs aim to discover a limitless life source, said to destroy the Great Fire...

About the Author:

Jared was born in 1990, approximately 100 yards away from Walt Whitman's grave, with the given last name of Caracciolo. Approximately 24 years later, still unable to pronounce his last name, he dropped it for something far simpler. He currently lives in an attic with slanted ceilings in the South of New Jersey. Fortunately for him, in that little old attic, there's uncountable secret passages that take him to whichever quadrant across the Land of Letin that his heart desires in a blink of an eye...

Jared is an avid reader, an admitted pop-music addict, and an eternally heart-broken Philadelphia sports fan.

Follow him on Twitter & Instagram @goblynscratch <3 span="">

Find Evan and the Land of Letin: A Heart Afire on Amazon





Disclosure: this post contains links to an affiliate program (Amazon), for which I receive a few cents if you make purchases.