Verb Vixen

WIth summer at our door it’s the perfect time to read about skinny dipping right? I’m so happy to be taking part in The Hazards of Skinny Dipping blog tour! Below we have a great Ten Things You Didn’t Know about Reed post from Alyssa herself. Be sure to click the link and enter the rafflecopter to win your own copy too! 

xoxo,

V.V.

10 Things You Don’t Know About Reed

1)    His room is a total mess, but he tries to keep his truck clean. Juliet gets on his back about that difference.

2)    He’s only been skinny dipping once, and it didn’t last long. What happened afterward was much more enjoyable then the dip in the pool.

3)    He’s from the north, but never wants to leave the south. When he first moved to Charleston, he wouldn’t have believed it.

4)    He really likes to cook. He probably got the interest from his Uncle Al, and he still doesn’t understand why Al doesn’t open a place that serves decent food.

5)    He can function well on very little sleep. He’s the opposite of Juliet who gets cranky if she doesn’t get enough.

6)    His favorite movies are action flicks, but he still wants to keep the Halloween horror movie tradition alive.

7)    He’s a history major and kind of wants to become a professor. He just isn’t sure yet.

8)    His favorite part about Juliet is her smile. He swears she has a special one that she only uses for him.

9)    He has a newfound love of pizza sauce. It brings back good memories.

10) He’s going to convince Juliet to become a regular on his paintball team.

Synopsis:

This isn’t a deep book about first loves or self-discovery. If you want a book like that, I’d be happy to recommend one, but I don’t have that kind of story to tell. Instead my story is about rash decisions and finding out that your dream guy is bad in bed. It’s the story of when I finally went skinny dipping, and how my life was never the same again. Oh, and it’s also the story of my freshman year of college and realizing Mr. Right might have been there all along.

Author Bio:

Alyssa Rose Ivy is a New Adult and Young Adult author who loves to weave stories with romance and a southern setting. Although raised in the New York area, she fell in love with the South after moving to New Orleans for college. After years as a perpetual student, she turned back to her creative side and decided to write. She lives in North Carolina with her husband and two young children, and she can usually be found with a cup of coffee in her hand. Follow Alyssa on Twitter, Goodreads, Pinterest and her website.

Enter to win the Hazards Beach Bag giveaway including a tote bag, shot glass, drink koozies and of course the book!

You can get your copy of The Hazards of Skinny Dipping on Amazon or Barnes and Nobles now!

e-ARC provided gratis by InkSlinger PR 

With only two weeks until The Testing’s release, we want to make sure everyone knows about it! Read all about The Testingand also be sure to enter to win one of two copies of the book!

The Testing by Joelle Charbonneau

Keep your friends close and your enemies closer. Isn’t that what they say? But how close is too close when they may be one in the same? The Seven Stages War left much of the planet a charred wasteland. The future belongs to the next generation’s chosen few who must rebuild it. But to enter this elite group, candidates must first pass The Testing—their one chance at a college education and a rewarding career. Cia Vale is honored to be chosen as a Testing candidate; eager to prove her worthiness as a University student and future leader of the United Commonwealth. But on the eve of her departure, her father’s advice hints at a darker side to her upcoming studies – trust no one. But surely she can trust Tomas, her handsome childhood friend who offers an alliance? Tomas, who seems to care more about her with the passing of every grueling (and deadly) day of the Testing. To survive, Cia must choose: love without truth or life without trust.

The Official Website for The Testing Add on Goodreads Preorder the Book: Amazon | B&N | Book Depository Also, don’t forget to download the FREE prequel story. All the details can be found here There are more goodies on The Testingwebsite as well, such as a quiz to see if YOU would be selected for the Testing. 

Joelle Charbonneau began telling stories as an opera singer, but these days she finds her voice through writing. In addition to The Testing trilogy, she is the author of the Rebecca Robbins Mysteries and the Glee Club series. She lives near Chicago with her husband and son. When she is writing, she works as an acting and vocal coach. Visit Joelle on the Web at her Website, Facebook, and Twitter

“The Testing is a chilling and devious dystopian thriller that all fans of The Hunger Games will simply devour. Joelle Charbonneau writes with guts and nerve but also great compassion and heart. Highly recommended.” – Jonathan Maberry, New York Times best-selling author of Rot & Ruin and Flesh & Bone “Trained to rely on her wits, Cia must survive on her courage and trust her instincts, even when it means following her heart ever deeper into danger. A surefire favorite for dystopian fans, The Testing crackles with suspense, passion and betrayal set against a scarred and brutal world.” –Sophie Littlefield, author of Unforsaken and Hanging By A Thread. See the stunning trailer! If you are interested, signed copies can be ordered through Anderson’s Bookshop before June 4. Joelle Charbonneau will be having her launch party here. See Anderson’s website to order! AND even cooler, for all books pre-ordered or bought for her launch party, a donation will be made to Autism Speaks. TWO people will win a copy of The Testing - Open to wherever The Book Depository ships!

Enter the Rafflecopter Giveaway here!

BLOG TOUR: SILENT ORCHIDS by Morgan Wylie

I’m delighted to have Morgan Wylie on the blog today to talk about music and her new book Silent Orchids, out now! Check our what Morgan has to say and check back for my review of The Silent Orchids here tomorrow!

xoxo 

V.V.

Morgan:

When I started writing, I thought it was interesting to hear about people’s playlist for their books. But I didn’t really get it. I didn’t think I would be the type of person to write with music—I just didn’t think I would be able to. Now, granted I LOVE music. My husband is a musician and I’m surrounded by it, but write to it… probably not.

There were times when I was writing that I felt stuck or couldn’t find life in the words on the page… it felt dry. To take my mind off it, I put on some music or I’d be somewhere and a song would come on. Suddenly, I would feel it. Whether it be the words to the songs, or just the emotion that poured out from the music itself, it would stir inspiration inside of me. I would see a scene play out in my mind, or I could relate to the emotions the character was trying to portray. All because of the music.

I’ve read several articles other writers have written about their experiences with music. I even read some medical research of studies being conducted to gauge the affects music has on writing and creativity. Music is everywhere! It’s used in movies, TV, commercials, jingles, etc. For most, it provides a focus and an atmosphere for emotion. 

So I put together some songs that I felt inspired by to write. After months of adding music as I would find it, I ended up with over 2 ½ hours worth of music. I found that the songs with lyrics I was eventually able to tune out the specifics of the song and let its emotion or rhythm it take me where I needed to be inside my book or a certain character. I could listen (or not listen and just feel) to it over and over as I would write.

I had a soundtrack made for my specific book, which I also listen to, but at the writing of this post it was not yet available for purchase through iTunes so the songs were unavailable to use in the playlist (see below for more info) So this is a sampling of my Silent Orchids playlist…

As I mentioned above, my husband Steven James Wylie is a musician. He teamed up with talented Blair Masters and they created this beautifully haunting soundtrack that reflects the tone and heart of Silent Orchids. If the links are not yet available, please visit my site or the Amazon preview link here to hear this original music. 

Thank you so much for having me today!! ~Morgan Wylie

I’m so excited to be participating in the Release Day Launch for Suddenly Royal by Nichole Chase. Below you’ll find a synopsis, an author bio, and a link to enter the massive giveaway! But first up, my review. xoxo V.V.

My Review:

You know how sometimes you just have these moods where nothing you pick up can keep your interest. Suddenly Royal is broke that streak for me. A generation of The Princess Diaries readers has grown up and this is the book for them.   

From the beginning, I was charmed with Samantha and her saucy down to earth personality. Suddenly Royal manages to be sweet, sexy, and poignant. The romance story line is everything you’d want it to be (no spoilers!) and is perfectly balanced by the heartbreak and guilt of the dad’s portion of the plot (no spoilers!). I *literally* laughed and cried with this book, a true feat in my opinion. Frankly, every expectation I had for Suddenly Royal was exceeded. It will be a book that I return to and reread for sure if only to spend more time in Lilaria and with the smexy Prince Alex.  With summer around the corner, I cannot think of a better beachy, fun, easy read to take with you to the surf, the sun and the sand.

Overall: A

Get your copy here or enter to win one below!

Synopsis:

Samantha Rousseau is used to getting her hands dirty. Working toward a master’s degree in wildlife biology while helping take care of her sick father, she has no time for celebrity gossip, designer clothes, or lazy vacations. So when a duchess from the small country of Lilaria invites her to dinner, Samantha assumes it’s to discuss a donation for the program. The truth will change the course of her life in ways she never dreamed.

Alex D’Lynsal is trying to keep his name clean. As crown prince of Lilaria, he’s had his share of scandalous headlines, but the latest pictures have sent him packing to America and forced him to swear off women—especially women in the public eye. That is, until he meets Samantha Rousseau. She’s stubborn, feisty, and incredibly sexy. Not to mention heiress to an estate in his country, which makes her everyone’s front-page news.

While Sam tries to navigate the new world of politics and wealth, she will also have to dodge her growing feelings for Alex. Giving in to them means more than just falling in love; it would mean accepting the weight of an entire country on her shoulders.

Author Bio:

Nichole Chase is a daydreamer. No, really, just ask any of the math teachers that had the misfortune of seeing her name appear on their class schedule.
For years she has had story lines and characters begging for attention, but she resolutely pushed them aside to focus on more normal (read, boring) jobs.

Well, no longer! She is currently heeding the voices in her head and frantically writing their stories. Ms. Chase is the author of the Dark Betrayal Trilogy, Flukes, and Suddenly Royal (including several short stories).

Nichole resides in South Georgia with her husband, energetic daughter, dog, tortoise, and two cats. When not devouring novels by the dozens, you may find her writing, painting, crafting, or chasing her daughter around the house while making monster noises.

ENTER THE RAFFLECOPTER GIVEAWAY HERE and win a copy of the book and a swag bag!

Don’t forget to check out the other Blogs Taking Part in the Release Day Launch

Hackaroo Reviews
Bound By Books
I Read Indie
Ladybug Storytime
Whirlwind Books
Roxy Kade
Defiantly Deviant
Vamp and Stuff
Moosubi Reviews
Books Over Boys
Romance Addict
Dazzled by Books
Alli’s World
Literati Literature Lovers
I Heart Big Books
Stuck in YA Books
Magnet 4 Books
3 Chicks & Their Books
The Howling Turtle
Sab the Book Eater
Rumor Has It
Verb Vixen
Kaidan’s Seduction
FicTalk
A Handful of Confetti
Bookmarks, Spoilers & Happily Ever Afters
Novel Thoughts Blog
Kate’s Tales of Books and Bands
My Pathway to Books
Into the Night Reviews
Globug and Hootie

Seeing Night Reviews