Happenstance Release Day and Q&A with Jamie McGuire

As with a lot of other people Jamie McGuire is one of my favorite authors. She, along with a handful of others are the ones that have me quaking in my boots and totally fangirling whenever I meet them. They are rock stars in my world! So, in order to break out of my shell a little more this year I reached out to Jamie to see if she would do a little Q&A with me and she said YES! I was only limited to 5 questions - she's a busy lady - so I had to think hard. Here is what I came up with and her responses:




From tattoos, to fan art, to the butterfly in the jar - the blue butterfly, on the front of both Beautiful Disaster and Walking Disaster, has become a symbol in the book world that is synonymous with the name Jamie McGuire. Where did it come from and what significance does it hold?
The butterfly in the jar cover was created by Justin McClure from Wichita, KS, and it is really very literal. Butterfly = beautiful, trapped in a jar = disaster. I wanted Walking Disaster to carry over something from the Beautiful Disaster cover, and the butterfly seemed like the best choice. That cover was created by Damon of damonza.com.



Understanding that ideas for plot lines and characters come from many different places has anything in your books ever happened to you in real life? If so, what?
In my opinion, all the best scenes in my books are pulled from my real-life experiences. So much of Beautiful Disaster actually happened to me in college, but I'll never admit to which parts!




I have just completed a re-read of the Providence Series and have decided that it's my favorite. This was a revelation to me because I am a die-hard Travis Maddox fan (still am!), but this was the series that introduced me to you and made me a life-long fan. Where did the idea stem from and how long after completion did you self publish?
I'm so glad to hear Providence is your favorite! As my first novel, it is special to me, and I worked really hard on it because it's set in a real place. Providence began as a story about a girl who finds out after her fathers death that he hired a body guard for her, but not until after they fall in love. It turned in to a paranormal after I read Twilight and knew I needed something in my book to stand out. It took me 11 weeks to finish Providence, and I self-published it almost a year to the day that I started writing it.




Is your husband more of a Travis (or a Trent), Jared or Nathan and why?
My husband is more of a Nathan for sure. He's quiet, his feathers never seem to get ruffled, and he always puts everyone else first.




Happenstance will be released on May 9th so of course it's time to move on to the next best thing? Have you already started working on your next project? Any hints?
Since completing Happenstance, I'm taking a well-deserved summer off. I've written 5 back-to-back novels, beginning in August 2013, and I'm ready to give my wrists a rest and spend quality time with my family. Beautiful Oblivion comes out July 1, so I'll be working on promotions for that, but other than that I will be working with my daughter on her debut novel, Eyes of the Woods over the summer, and she'll be publishing in August 2014, and I'll publish the second installment of the Happenstance novella series during that time as well. Then my next self-published project, Apolonia will release October first. It's a dark, new adult sci-fi romance, and it will knock your socks off!


Mark your calendars for:
May 9th - Happenstance
July 1st - Beautiful Oblivion
August - Eyes of the Woods
            - Happenstance (2)
October - Apolonia




Happenstance Buy Links:
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/happenstance-jamie-mcguire/1119235980?ean=2940045824415

 http://www.amazon.com/Happenstance-A-Novella-Jamie-McGuire-ebook/dp/B00JOPR0ZK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1398791395&sr=8-1&keywords=jamie+McGuire

http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/428422

https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/happenstance-a-novella/id861714958?mt=11

Free/Reduced Book Links

Here are some links for book deals. You need to register and then you will receive daily emails for free or reduced books. Know of any more? Feel free to add them in the comments.






http://www.bookgorilla.com/


https://www.bookbub.com/landers/index2.php?source=gakn356&gclid=CMeN9dXig74CFUoV7AodtQ8AKA


http://digitalbookspot.com/

Check out Jamie McGuire's latest news & pre-order now!

#Happenstance by Jamie McGuire is NOW AVAILABLE for pre-order! Grab your copy now and have it on your e-reader on May 9th!
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00JOPR0ZK/ref=redir_mdp_mobile
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/happenstance-a-novella/id861714958?mt=11
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/428422
B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/happenstance-jamie-mcguire/1119235980?ean=2940045824415

My Stubborn Heart by Becky Wade

In an effort to genre hop, like I committed to do this year, I started in on this book categorized as Contemporary Romance, but it borders on Christian Romance. I was pleasantly surprised with how much I enjoyed it.


This book doesn't have any sex. (GASP) I know right?????? Can't remember the last time I read one of those. Cat in the Hat? LOL! It doesn't have any foul language. What the H*LL is right! It doesn't have a lot of melodrama either. So, what does it have? Great likable characters, a sweet romance & a great story! The heart of every 'good' book.


Kate Donovan has taken a break from her job to accompany her Grandmother back to Redbud, PA to restore the Gran's childhood home. Kate is a social worker who is not so thrilled with her job at the moment, and has a couple of bad long-term relationships in her recent past. She has no problem leaving it all behind her, even if it's just for a little while, but at 31 she wonders if God will ever send her 'the one'.


Matt Jerreau is the man Kate's Grandmother has hired to do the heavy renovation work on the house. He is a former great NHL hockey player who left the sport when his former beauty queen wife died from a brain tumor. He is hiding out in Redbud avoiding people, God, and his past.


From their first meeting Kate is drawn to Matt. Getting to know him reaffirms her suspicions that he needs her help. Whether he knows it or not. Knowing how he felt about his wife Kate knows that he could never feel about her the way she is feeling about him. Although......


Throw in some good food, zany elders, Friday night poker, and an Elvis look-a-like and let the fun begin!

Maybe Someday by Colleen Hoover (spoiler free)

Nope, not dead - just waiting for a review worthy book. I found it in Maybe Someday.






Birthdays are not always what they are cracked up to be. Sydney finds this out on her 22nd. Losing your boyfriend & best friend all in the same day is NOT what she wished for.






She finds herself catapulted into a new life with the virtual stranger that she has been 'flirting' with across her apartments courtyard for the last several weeks. Ridge has been serenading her from his balcony and captivating her with his tunes.






Ridge noticed Sydney as soon as she started accompanying him during his nightly balcony jam sessions. Something about her caught his eye and he doesn't think twice about 'rescuing' her when the need arises.






An invisible force draws them together. Real life forces keep them apart.






That's all you get. To tell you more would give away spoilers. There is a twist in this book that I did NOT see coming and that takes this book to a whole nother level. I LOVED it!






If you haven't heard there is an accompanying soundtrack to this book by the oh-so-handsome and talented Griffin Peterson. (Who I will be drooling over at Book Bash in June!)




I recommend that you download the songs and listen as you read. This too takes it to a whole nother level. Colleen Hoover is nothing but a trend setter. I hope we see more of this in the future.






If you've read the book & wish to discuss further I'm more than happy to do so. PM me because I have a lot to say - just can't do it in this review.






Official release day is Tuesday March 18th, although some store have advance copies. This is how I got mine! Check out your local BAM & see or pick it up on Tuesday.






Happy reading everyone!






Beat, beat, pause.
Beat, beat, pause.
Beat, beat, pause


I <3 Ridge!!!!!!!

In the Stillness by Andrea Randall

Real life is hard. Don't let anyone tell you any differently. People put in the same situation deal with that situation in different ways. While this book dealt with situations that are out of my realm of understanding I consider it one of the top 10 that I've ever read. One of the best love stories hands down.


I don't cut. I don't know anyone who cuts. Last week my son came home from school telling me about his friend who got caught at school cutting. So, while I thought the premise didn't have anything to do with me life laughed & said 'oh yes it does'. That experience made me want to read this book even more.


The other thing is that I admire Charles Sheehan-Miles and love his books. When he recommends a book I take note. This read is a result of his recommendation.


Natalie is a wife and mother and terrible unhappy at both. A catastrophic event from her past has scarred her in more ways than one. When an unforeseeable event pushes her to make a decision, she has long struggled with, her past meets her future head on. Through her attempts at learning to cope with life's struggles she finds the person she used to be. A person whose past does not dictate her future.


I don't want to give too much away with this review, but I would be remiss in not telling you that it deals with some deep subject matter. PTSD and cutting are the main ones. My skin literally crawled reading this story, but if you can get through the first half, the second is not as tough. Aside from the cutting this story hit close to home for me in a lot of ways. I have yet to meet a mother who doesn't wish her kids away at some point in time.  Followed by a boat load of guilt for thinking it. The decisions we make in our teens and early 20's are often not the same ones we would make later in life. It's how we deal with those decisions that define us as people.


In trying to become a well rounded reader I vowed a long time ago to not pigeon hole myself into one genre of books. I have rarely been disappointed in this endeavor. So, I encourage you to step out of your box and try something new!


B&N
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/in-the-stillness-andrea-randall/1115091002?ean=2940016720128


Amazon
http://www.amazon.com/Stillness-Andrea-Randall-ebook/dp/B00CB24VS2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1390357891&sr=8-1&keywords=in+the+stillness

The Ultimate Decision by Cheri Lewis (Minor Spoilers)

I literally just got goosebumps typing that title! I'm weird like that! Why you ask? Because Cheri Lewis is my friend. I FREAKING KNOW A PUBLISHED AUTHOR! She sprung it on everyone as a surprise & man was I ever. I immediately purchased the book & dove in last night. Couldn't stop reading! Was up until 2:30 AM finishing it and I don't regret the book hangover I'm sporting today AT ALL!


As a first attempt at writing Cheri killed it! She brought me to tears in chapter 1 and I DON'T cry when reading. (Very often.) The characters are engaging and run the demographic spectrum. The children are spot-on with true childlike behavior, their mother is as neurotic and frantic as all mothers of 4 young children are, the Aunt is as sweet and feisty as you imagine all true southern ladies are, the developmentally delayed cousin is an accurate depiction of the world of the special needs, the 'man' is as sexy, sweet, strong and mysterious as you want all love interests to be, the best friend is an always-there-for-you-no-matter-what type of friend, her husband is as understanding as all husbands of best friends should be, the town sheriff is as attentive and hot as we wish all our law enforcement officials were, and the other characters in the town of Pollysdale, Alabama add nothing but the best to the storyline. No incidental characters to be found.


Millie is a 36 year old wife and mother deeply in love with her husband Carl. When embarrassing or difficult situations arise she wishes that she had the ability to just disappear. Wouldn't we all like that skill? The biggest curveball that life can throw you has been launched at Millie. She is facing life as a single mother with 4 small children and decides to uproot the family and move in with her Aunt Clara and developmentally delayed cousin James Allen AKA Chunk.  They are welcomed with open arms and while the kids adapt seemingly well Millie seems to find enough ups & downs for them all.  Meeting Alex, the 'caretaker' is her first dip into the pool of embarrassment that is her life. With major bed head, PJ pants, sans bra and coffee spilled all down her front she is looking less than stellar. Alex seemingly has a nefarious past that has all of Millie's mama radar on full alert. Thinking her Aunt Clara is entirely too trusting to invite Alex into her life she is on guard whenever he is around her or her children. As with all 'good' books chaos and romance ensue and I don't want to give anything else away so I'll stop there.  I will say that if you follow my blog and know my reading style you know how this one ends.


*This is the first in a 3 (?)  part series.


Random observations about this process:
-When approached by someone you know you don't think twice about paying to download their book & read it. It was less than five minutes after I found out that it was in my library.


-The $2.99 that I paid for the book was a bargain! I know taking a chance on an unknown is risky, but as in life "nothing ventured is nothing gained." I would gladly have spent double.


-Reading sex scenes written by your friend is a little weird. Especially when they are written so well! Dang girl!


-The behavior of the kids is very spot on for someone who doesn't have any!


-Based on my recommendation I think you should all download this book AND tell your friends about it. Also, make sure to leave reviews as we all know how important that is. It is hard to put yourself out there and open yourself up to the criticisms of the world. Please be kind (but honest) in your reviews!


I am standing tall and giving my friend Cheri a resounding standing O on this one!!!!!


B&N
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-ultimate-decision-cheri-lewis/1118082727?ean=2940148261889


Amazon
http://www.amazon.com/The-Ultimate-Decision-Series-ebook/dp/B00HX8I3FQ/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1390235880&sr=8-2&keywords=The+Ultimate+Decision