Blog Tour: The Upside of Being Let Down - Guest Post: London Casey

The Upside of Being Let Down by London Casey
Age Group: Adult
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: January 7, 2014

Book Description:

The fact that AJ's sister is a stripper has been the bane of AJ's existence for as long as she can remember. Every guy that has showed interest only wanted to get closer to her sister. 

After being kicked out of college, and subsequently out of her apartment, AJ heads to the strip club for some sisterly advice. Instead, she lands in the apartment of a cute stranger who seems way too eager to help.

Bryan is a regular guy looking for the simplicity in life. A strip club is definitely not his idea of simplicity, but he is pleasantly surprised at who he finds not prancing around on stage. In the middle of a strip club his eyes are glued to a woman that is fully dressed and thus begins a rollercoaster romance that he never saw coming.

When a risky dare is set in motion, an earth shattering truth is unraveled and AJ no longer knows who she can trust. Can Bryan prove that he loves AJ and help save her bond with her sister before it's too late?

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Writing under the London Casey name, I’m given the chance to really explore the new adult genre. With The Boys of Down Crash, I loved writing about rockstars and all that comes with their life through the eyes of a band that’s growing. My next series doesn’t have rockstars in it. It’s a very deeper series, dealing with more issues and focuses more on the characters than the last new adult trilogy I wrote.

Promotional Event: Permanent (Indelibly Marked #1)

Permanent (Indelibly Marked #1) by Kim Carmichael
Age Group: New Adult
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: October 7, 2013
Buy Links:

Amazon ♥ B & N

Book Description:

An accountant's calculated attempt to fit in entangles her with Hollywood's hottest tattoo artist who thrives on standing out. Worlds collide as the two decide what is truly permanent.

What is Permanent?

Always on the outside looking in, accountant, Lindsay Stevens, has calculated her transformation from a small town, nerdy bookkeeper to a sleek, high-powered accountant down to the last penny. With all her checks finally in balance, she moves to California to start a new life free of her embarrassing past she never wants revealed.

As Hollywood's hottest tattoo artist, Shane Elliott thrives on standing out. Charismatic and free of commitments, he travels through life with a wink and a smile, hiding the letters he receives from the IRS as if they don't exist. Now with bills to pay and tax collectors breathing down his back, for the first time in his life Shane can't charm his way out of his situation. However, when his new neighbor literally falls into his life, he knows he has struck gold once again.

Though Lindsay tries to keep her distance, she suddenly finds herself trying to hide her true self as she thrust into a world she doesn't think she belongs, but can't resist. In his good-time life, Shane must discover there is more to life than a party if he wants something more.

With their lives intertwined, the two must learn accept each other, themselves and their love. Worlds collide as they decide what is truly permanent.

Permanent is the first book in the Indelibly Marked Series that follows the lives and loves of those surrounding Permanent Tattoo.

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Excerpt:

Unable to stop herself, she opened what he called accounts receivable, jumping back when more papers poured out onto the floor.

“You never thought of using a file folder?”

“I thought about it.” He picked up the papers, forced them back inside the cabinet and kicked the drawer closed as if trapping an animal.

“Out of curiosity, what happened to that thought?”

“I knew I wouldn’t do it, so I just kept this system.”

Review: The Wind Whisperer

The Wind Whisperer by Krista Holle
Age Group: Young Adult
Genre: Paranormal
Release Date: October 2013
Buy Links:

Amazon ♥ Barnes and Noble

Book Description:

At fifteen, Anaii is the most important member of her tribe—and the most mysterious. Ever since Anaii can remember, the spirits of the wind have whispered of fertile hunting grounds and imminent enemy attacks. But when her people are ambushed by a brother clan without any apparent cause, the spirits remain eerily silent. 

As the village prepares to retaliate, Anaii is pressured by her best friend, Elan, to marry him. It’s an old plea—Elan has spent a lifetime loving her, but Anaii only sees a childhood playmate out of an imposing warrior. Stifled by Elan’s insistence, Anaii escapes into the forest where she meets Jayttin, the beautiful son of the enemy chief. 

Enamored by Jayttin’s carefree spirit and hope for peace, she repeatedly sneaks away to be with him, but when her deception is discovered, Elan is devastated. Pledging his lifelong affection, Elan gives her a passionate kiss, and Anaii begins to see her friend in a new light. While Anaii is tormented over which man she must choose, the wind whispers of a new threat that could destroy both tribes. Only a union will afford a chance at survival, but the reality of that union is based on one thing—which man Anaii chooses to die.

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I decided to read "The Wind Whisperer" by Krista Holle, even though it seemed like it would be something out of my comfort zone, and I'm glad I did. This could read as historical fantasy fiction (which isn't a normal read for me), as it takes place in a Native American tribe, and we are immersed in that world.

Anaii is special to her tribe. She was left there by a mother, who was also an outsider, and even from the start, her blue eyes set her apart from the brown-eyed tribe. When you throw in that she can speak to the wind, she's definitely unique. Yeah, the girl talks to the spirits of the wind. Which is a pretty cool talent, since she can ask them about anything (as long as it happens within a certain radius, the spirits can only see so far) and they'll tell her what's going on.

This special skill makes her a prized possession for the chief of her tribe, although it makes others wary of her. The chief holds her on this high pedestal where she is a part of his council, even though she is just a young girl, and that doesn't sit right with everyone. Most of the men think she's this weird abomination, and the women think she's lazy since she doesn't help out with the normal women's work.

Author Spotlight: Krista Holle

The Wind Whisperer by Krista Holle
Age Group: Young Adult
Genre: Paranormal
Release Date: October 2013
Buy Links:

Amazon ♥ Barnes and Noble

Book Description:

At fifteen, Anaii is the most important member of her tribe—and the most mysterious. Ever since Anaii can remember, the spirits of the wind have whispered of fertile hunting grounds and imminent enemy attacks. But when her people are ambushed by a brother clan without any apparent cause, the spirits remain eerily silent. 

As the village prepares to retaliate, Anaii is pressured by her best friend, Elan, to marry him. It’s an old plea—Elan has spent a lifetime loving her, but Anaii only sees a childhood playmate out of an imposing warrior. Stifled by Elan’s insistence, Anaii escapes into the forest where she meets Jayttin, the beautiful son of the enemy chief. 

Enamored by Jayttin’s carefree spirit and hope for peace, she repeatedly sneaks away to be with him, but when her deception is discovered, Elan is devastated. Pledging his lifelong affection, Elan gives her a passionate kiss, and Anaii begins to see her friend in a new light. While Anaii is tormented over which man she must choose, the wind whispers of a new threat that could destroy both tribes. Only a union will afford a chance at survival, but the reality of that union is based on one thing—which man Anaii chooses to die

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When did you first realize that you wanted to be a writer?

I’ve always enjoyed writing but I knew I wanted to seek it as a profession when I sent The Wind Whisperer to a fifteen-year-old girl I’d never met.  I was in desperate need of a sample or “beta” reader.  Her father told me she stayed up all night to read it.  That was the best feeling in the world.

What comes first for you, the characters or the plot? 

The plot for me comes first. Without some obstacle to overcome your protagonist will simply spin in circles no matter how fascinating they are.

Where did the idea for "The Wind Whisperer" come from? 

Review: Surfacing (Swans Landing #1)

Surfacing (Swans Landing #1) by Shana Norris
Age Group: Young Adult
Genre: Fantasy
Release Date: November 15, 2011
Buy Links:

Amazon

Book Description:

Sixteen-year-old Mara Westray has just lost her mother, and now, being shipped off to live with the father she doesn’t know is not how she imagined grieving. She’s already counting down the days until she turns eighteen and can leave the tiny island of Swans Landing.

But from the moment she steps off the ferry, nothing is as ordinary as it looks. Whispers of a haunting song on the wind make her see impossible things, and she isn’t sure she can trust her judgment about what is real and what isn’t anymore. Maybe she can’t even trust her judgment about quiet Josh Canavan, whose way of speaking in riddles and half-truths only confuses her more, luring her deeper into the secrets hidden beneath the ocean’s surface.

As she tries to unravel the events that led to her mom fleeing the island sixteen years ago, Mara finds that the biggest secret of all is only the beginning.

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Surfacing by Shana Norris follows 16-year-old Mara Westray as she deals with the death of her Mother while moving to a new town to live with the Father she’s never known. Living on an island full of people who ridicule and condemn her for unknown reasons, Mara decides to figure out the answers to the questions no one wants to answer. But what she finds isn’t exactly what she was expecting.

I adored this book. I have such a ridiculous love for mermaids and Surfacing took that love to the next level. Norris did a great job of bringing her version of mermaids, also known as finfolk, to life. Mara was such a great character. You’ve got this angry 16-year-old who has spent her entire life not know who or what she is only to be bombarded with the truth at the worst possible time.

Promotional Event: Frontline (Frontline #1)

Frontline (Frontline #1) by Alexandra Richland
Age Group: Adult
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Thriller
Release Date: August 6, 2013
Buy Links:

Amazon ♥ B & N

Book Description:

When nurse Sara Peters treats celebrity billionaire Trenton Merrick for a mysterious injury to his forehead, she is blindsided by what follows: a passionate exchange in the examination room, followed by an invitation to Trenton's mansion the next night.

Trenton spins a web of deceit and seduction around Sara that both repels and attracts her. One part humanitarian, the other international financial mogul, his professional and public life are a curious contradiction. 

As Sara journeys deeper into her feelings for Trenton and begins unraveling the mystery behind his injury, she finds herself embroiled in a game of trust and betrayal, where the odds are stacked in Trenton's favor, and the outcome for the loser is too terrifying to conceive.

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Excerpt:

Mr. Merrick moves closer and drifts his fingertips down my face. I close my eyes and press my cheek against his palm.

“Didn’t you enjoy our kiss last night, Miss Peters?” His voice sounds rough, wanting.

“Yes, I did.”

I whimper as he sweeps his hand around the back of my neck and brings his lips to my ear. “Then come to my estate for dinner this evening.”