Authors After Dark

So in four days the BF and I are getting in a car and making the 16 hour drive to Philadelphia for the Authors After Dark conference. I can't even begin to tell you how very excited I am. I started the weekend off a little on the down side since a bunch of my Twitter pals were off to RomCon in Denver. But now that I see how much fun they are having it has just gotten me that much more excited for AAD. AAD will be the first conference that I've ever been to and I'm a little nervous to finally meet some of the people that I've been talking to online for a year now. I know that I'm going to have a ball, I just need to open up and not be so reserved with everyone.

Another thing I'm looking forward to is all the goodies and swag we are going to get. I hear the amount they give out to the attendees is insane. So yay! Who doesn't love free swag? I'm hoping to get a lot so I can give some out here on the blog.

Well I hope the City of Brotherly Love is ready for us all because AAD is going to be a blast. I hope if any of you guys are going you let me know so we can meet up.

Review: Romancing Lady Cecily by Ashley March

 Lady Cecily is waging an inner battle with her emotions. To choose the man she loves or honor her father's wishes and marry a man she's never met. Cecily has developed such strong feelings for Baron Sedgwick but feels as if he doesn't feel the same and that it's all a game of seduction to him.

From the first time Baron Sedgwick caught a glimpse of Lady Cecily he has done everything he could to make her desire him. His feelings for her go beyond just lust but he can't let her see that he loves her. He knows she would never be the man that her father would choose for her so he does everything in his power to make that happen.

This was such a great short story. Normally I try to stay away from short stories because they always seem to be missing something. Everything is just thrown together so quickly that the story just falls a bit flat for me. I never get a real sense of the characters. Not at all the case with this story. Everything came together so well and the pacing of the story just worked. I won't lie, I do wish there was more but only because I enjoyed it so much and I wanted to spend more time with the characters.

Follow Friday #5

Feature and Follow Friday is a blog hop put together by two hosts: Parajunkee and Alison Can Read as a way to help bloggers become aware of other blogs and bloggers. It's a great way to make new blogger friends.

Q. Talk about the book that most changed or influenced your life (was it a book that turned you from an average to avid reader, did it help you deal with a particularly difficult situation, does it bring you comfort every time you read it?).

The book that influenced my life the most was The Thrill Club by R.L. Stine. This was the first paranormal book that I ever read and it just opened my eyes to another world that at the time was so new to me. After I read this book I would devour any paranormal book that I could get my hands on. Now 17 years later I am still loving this genre and I have R.L. Stine's The Thrill Club to thank for it.

1. (Required) Follow the Follow My Book Blog Friday Host {Parajunkee & Alison Can Read } and any one else you want to follow on the list.
2. (Required) Follow our Featured Bloggers- Hands & Home & www.memyshelfandi.com
3. Put your Blog name & URL in the Linky thing on Parajunkee's blog.
4. Grab the button up there and place it in a post, this post is for people to find a place to say hi in your comments
5. Follow Follow Follow as many as you can, as many as you want, or just follow a few. The whole point is to make new friends and find new blogs. Also, don't just follow, comment and say hi. Another blogger might not know you are a new follower if you don't say "HI"
6. If someone comments and says they are following you, be a dear and follow back. Spread the Love...and the followers.

Thanks for stopping by. =)

Contest of Epic Proportions

So today I was checking out author Ashley March's website when I came across this amazing contest that she is putting together along with fellow authors Shana Galen, Lila DiPasqua, Vanessa Kelly, and Heather Snow. I mean this contest is EPIC. Epic I tell you. When each of these authors hit a certain amount of likes on their Facebook page they will each be giving away signed books. Now here's the best part. It's not just one signed book that they are giving out, it will be the author's ENTIRE backlist of novels. All signed by the specific author. Feel free to squee now. Here are the authors of the books they will be giving away.

See, I told you it was epic. I would love to have just one book signed by those authors, but their entire backlist, sweet! Each one of these authors backlist is beyond amazing and extensive. The complete, and signed backlist are from authors:

Lisa Kleypas

Julia Quinn

Elizabeth Hoyt

Cynthia Eden

Julie Garwood

During this contest, all of the above authors will be known as "The Amazing Authors".

In order to win any of these awesome books you must follow the author whose books you would like to win and become a follower of the author who is offering the specific backlist that you want.  The only way that the books will be given out is if all of the below authors meet their specific follower total. Once the authors hit their totals they will host a giveaway on each of their Facebook pages.

Ashley March (must reach 2500 total “Likes” in order to give away Lisa Kleypas backlist)

Shana Galen (must reach 2000 total “Likes” in order to give away Julia Quinn backlist)

Lila DiPasqua (must reach 3500 total “Likes” in order to give away Elizabeth Hoyt backlist)

Vanessa Kelly (must reach 2000 total “Likes” in order to give away Cynthia Eden backlist)

Heather Snow (must reach 2500 total “Likes” in order to give away Julie Garwood backlist)

So what are you waiting for? Go and "Like" these authors and tell everyone you know to "Like" them. You won't be sorry. They all are awesome and their books are amazing! =)

ARC Review: Stone Cold Seduction by Jess Macallan

Wow. Wow, is the only word I can think of after finishing this book. It was just so good and I couldn't put it down. I just kept turning the page completely absorbed in the story.

Elleodora Fredricks or "Elle" has recently learned that she is part of a supernatural world consisting of Shadow Elves, Light Elves, Oracles, Phoenixes, and Gargoyles. With her future unknown she sets off on a journey to find her fate with her oracle best friend Teryl, and her possible mates Jax the gargoyle and Maclean the phoenix.

I really enjoyed this story and it's great cast of characters. I felt like I connected with Elle and her mission to find fate. I couldn't wait to see what was going to transpire with everything. There were many twist and turns that I can honestly say I didn't see coming.

I can't wait to pick up the next book in the Set in Stone series because I am definitely hooked.

**This was an ARC copy provided by NetGalley**

Random Acts of Kindness-August

R.A.K. or otherwise known as Random Acts of Kindness is the brainchild of Vanessa and Isalys over at Book Soulmates. I think this is a genius idea. You put together a wish list of items that you would like to receive. Then hopefully at the end of the month someone has sent you some items from it. You in turn choose other fellow bloggers from the list and send them items from their wish list. Last month was my first time participating and I had a lot of fun. I was able to give out quite a few books and I even was given a book series I've been dying to read. If you are a fellow book lover I highly suggest joining this event. For anyone interested in participating, here's how:

• Sign up each month you would like to participate
• Show off that you are a R.A.K. participant by grabbing the button
• Create a wish list(on Amazon, Goodreads, on your blog etc) and post it in the Google Doc located in each R.A.K. post for the month
• If you choose to do a R.A.K. for someone, check out their wish list and contact that person for their address
• If you receive any items during the month you participate in, please email or tweet Vanessa so she can update the Google doc.
• At the end of the month SHOW US YOUR R.A.K! Make a post saying "Thank you" to whomever granted one of your wishes and then share it with Book Soulmates

OPEN TO EVERYONE!

Let's keep our International bloggers in mind and in our hearts.

Remember, there is always Book Depository and they offer FREE shipping!

Simple and easy!

LINKS YOU WILL NEED:
Sign up for August {HERE}
See who else is participating in August {HERE}

Random Acts of Kindness-July Wrap Up

R.A.K, otherwise known as Random Acts of Kindness is put together by the lovely ladies from Book♥Soulmates. It's a way for fellow bloggers to get together and give eachother items on their wish lists. This was my first time participating in R.A.K. and it will surely not be the last. It's so much fun and rewarding to give others items from their wish list and it's exciting to see if anyone is going to give you something too.

Sent Out:

To Memrie @ Dark Angel 88

To Stephanie @ Once Upon A Chapter

To Donna @ Book Lovers Hideaway

To Ashley @ Bookaholic Does Blogging

To Kati @ Romancing Rakes

Recieved:

From Kati @ Romancing Rakes

From Jennifer @ The Book Nympho

I can't thank you ladies enough. I can't wait to read these books. Thank you!!