Rambling Time!

The only book news I have is the stuff I already posted about:

Love's Deception is with the editor for a 2nd read-through, but no release date yet.

I do have a cover!!! And I LOVE it!!! But no reveal yet on that either. You can, however, add it to your TBR by clicking here. 

Man's (Not) Best Friend (part of the Must Love Dogs charity anthology) is also with the editor for a 2nd read through.  That will be out on 9/25! Pre-order your copy today for only 99 cents by clicking here.

So I'll just ramble a bit...

• My boss retired at the end of last month...my new boss doesn't know our product, but he seems nice & smart - fingers crossed!
• My 3 yr old has a love/hate relationship with her new preschool...
• I thought I forgot my lunch at home today & stopped by on the way back to work from running errands during my lunch break to pick up an overpriced sandwich at the wannabe deli in our building...only to realize I did in fact bring my lunch AFTER I already ate the sandwich...

So if that doesn't sum up my month, I don't know what does...lol

The Beauty Beneath News!!!!!

I thought I might have 2 separate posts about this topic this week, but alas, the week got ahead of me. But really, they're related anyways, so I post works just fine!

The Beauty Beneath was feature in Maryse's Book Blog's Newsletter this week!!!! YAY!!!!

It has an excerpt in it, some fun facts about the book, some fun facts about me, AND A GIVEAWAY!!!!!!!

It's also on SALE for 99 cents!!!!!!!!!

Yep, you read that right!!! So much goodness!!!

So go check out the newsletter by clicking here.

And make sure you grab your copy of the book while it's still on sale!

BUY LINKS:

AMAZON

B&N

SMASHWORDS

iTUNES

KOBO

Charity Anthology!!!

I might be posting more than once this week because a lot is going on!

First, it was my girl's first day of preschool yesterday! Ahhh!!! She's a "big girl" now (her words) lol.
My boss came back from his 2 week vacation (and is leaving us again in 2 weeks - for good...early retirement to take care of his dad). 

And now...onto today's book news. It's about the charity anthology I'm a part of. It's to raise money to help a very sweet girl (who's smart, determined, and going places) get a service dog. So, naturally, the anthology is all about service dogs! Eighteen amazing authors (yours truly included) have teamed up to give you the anthology.  Here's the cover (with all the authors listed).

It's releasing on 9/25, and you can pre-order it for only 99 cents by clicking here.

My story is called Man's (Not) Best Friend.

And here's the (unedited) blurb:

Man’s best friend was not my best friend. Never was, never was going to be. Except now I was not only going to have to live with him, I was going to depend on him.

There was only one, and I mean only one thing that scared me in this life. Dogs. My very, very not best friend.

And here was Breezer, my service dog, the dog that was going to prevent me from serious harm. So, what the heck was I supposed to do? Get over my fear, of course. But how? Enter Kianna Campbell, therapist extraordinaire. Beautiful, sexy, and smart…lucky for me, she was single. Unlucky for me, she was a professional through and through.

That left me with no choice: beat my fear so I could win the girl. I just hoped I could.

😄

Book Updates!

Before I provide my book updates, does anyone want to volunteer to help me with my blog since I am clearly not good at posting every week? ;) Any takers? No? Yes?

Okay, fine...book stuff.

Just a quick update:

• I'm writing a short story as part of a charity anthology to help a very sweet, smart and determined girl get a service dog. I'll share more info on that in a different post.
• Love's Deception is currently on the 2nd round of edits. As soon as that's done, I'll have a release date!
• My next story after that will be Hidden Love. I'm currently writing it.
• The Beauty Beneath will be on 99 cent sale ALL next week!!!! I'll be sure to write a post about it too :)

That's all for today. Happy Friday! Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!

I fee like...

...my blog posts should be book-related, which is why sometimes, I just don't post because I have no updates. But that doesn't have to be the case, right?

I can just ramble about updates to my life...what do you guys think?

Let's try it...today's ramble is the fact that my girl (she's 3 - just turned 3 last month) is taking swimming lessons right now & she is SO not getting it, lol.  There's another girl in her class who is also 3, and she's jumping no problem, kicking her legs, paddling her arms, and my girl is scared to jump lol.  She's also starting a preschool program next month.  She's at an in-home daycare right now.  I'm nervous!  She's growing up too quickly!!!

That's about it for me.  Do you all have any fun stuff you want to share with me?  I promise to listen & respond if you do!

I swear if it's not one thing...

....then it's another.

My kiddos are sick again (in June!!!!).  They're not supposed to get sick in June.  In the winter, yes, but not in the Spring/Summer.  As a result, I'm behind on work.  And as a result of that, I'm behind on writing/book/author life.

And, of course, every time they cough (thank you nasal drip! grrr), I feel so bad for them. And, not much I can do for them because they're so little.

That's all for this week - just me venting. Lol.

Amazing Takeover Event!

I'm resigned myself to just saying I'll post once a week-ish.  Clearly, it's not happening every week...but...I'm pretty proud of myself for being fairly consistent in posting.  Not like those month-long spans where I was MIA.

Anyways...

The wonderful Tammy from Sassy Sisters Book Corner had a birthday this month.  And, in honor of her bday, she's hosting a 2-day takeover event that is PACKED (and I mean PACKED!) with amazing, amazing authors.  It's already 1/2 way through day 2, but it's not too late to catch it, scroll through the giveaways from earlier today and yesterday, and meet and check out some new authors and ones you already know about! And yes, I took over earlier today. I have 3 giveaways going on.

Go join the event by clicking here.

I don't know how others do it...

I'm friends with some other authors & even in a few reader groups for them. I hear their stories, and I swear everyone is juggling so much in life and pumping out books every 2 months, on average (or so it seems).  I'm lucky if I can get 1-2 out a year.

I will admit I'm a busy bee myself.  I have an almost 3-year old and a 1 year, and they take up a lot of my time.  My hubby leaves earlier then me and gets home later, so I'm the one getting them ready in the mornings & picking them up from daycare.  I work 8-5, and then when we get home, I feed them & play with them until it's time for bed.  Thankfully, the hubby cooks!!! YAY!!!!  But, I do the cleaning, and dishes, and laundry...etc. Basically, I do the chores.  Not to say the hubby doesn't try to help, but realistically, it's faster if I just do it (because I'm a bit of a control freak and I have specific ways of doing things) than if I show him how.  Sometimes, though, I'm too tired to care & however he does it, he does it. lol.  By the time I'm done with all this, I'm ready for bed.  I write nowadays when I have a few minutes to spare.

And yet, I know I'm not the only one with so many responsibilities.  So...I don't know how others do it.  But, I'm 100% envious.  And also, more power to them!  But for now...I've got one completed story that will be coming out soon - details to come as soon as I have them.  And I'm working on another.  Fingers crossed for me!

Okay, rant over...carry on ;) hehe

Sound Off!

I feel like I'm talking to myself over here...

Is there anyone out there listening (or rather, reading) my rambling posts?

If you are, Happy Passover to those celebrating this week!  And Happy Belated Easter!  (Better a day late than never! lol)

That's all I got for you this week ;)

Happy Monday!

(I totally LOL'd when I saw this pic)

Did you know....

That I have a very cool reader group.  It's small, but that sort of on purpose.

If you follow me at all, you'll realize that I ramble on and on about what's going on in my life, but I don't share "details" - i.e. I don't post pics, I don't talk about specifics (like my kid's names - Emmie & Elon FYI - matching E names not on purpose lol), etc.

But I do all those things in my reader group, which is also why it's small - I feel like I can trust the people in it with my life.  (Yes, I'm very superstitious.)  If you think you're trustworthy and/or you want to join my group, look up DC's Diamonds on Facebook.

I also talk books, do giveaways, sneak peaks, ask for feedback, etc.

So come join!  (Let me know if you need/want the link.)

Save My Heart SALE - Last Day!!!

I'm a bit behind today because it was a crazy week last week & an even crazier weekend!

I'm playing catch up at work, at home, at life lol, and even at all this bookness :)

So, just a quick blog - Save My Heart is on sale for only 99 cents! It's been on sale since Friday, and today is the last day!  So, go grab your copy now before it goes back to $2.99!

BLURB:

Life and death. Exact opposites. One brings great joy. One brings great sorrow. But without one, there is no other.

I gave my daughter life when I was just eighteen. And now, at sixteen, she faces death.

From the minute I heard her little heart beating, she was my everything. It didn’t matter that her father had left me, his empty promises a whisper in the wind. It didn’t matter that I had needed to figure out how to get an education while being a young, single mother. It didn’t matter that I had acted as both mother and father while trying to give her everything I could. It didn’t even matter that she was born with a big heart that had us in and out of the hospital for all her life. None of that mattered because just one look at her, one smile from her, and one, “I love you, Mom,” was enough to make any day better. No love greater existed than that of a mother.

But now I was about to lose her. My everything.

It would be up to Kieran to hold me up if my world came crashing down. Dr. Kieran Bell. He came into my life—our lives—and knocked down every wall I had ever put up. He wasn’t just my daughter’s doctor; he was my friend. He was more than my friend. And now, I knew I’d need him more than ever. I just hoped against hope that this time, life wouldn’t result in death.


BUY LINKS:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B077LH994S/
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/save-my-heart/id1318022410
B&N: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/1127548173
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/save-my-heart-1

Eye Injuries Are No Fun!!! (BUT GIVEAWAYS ARE!!!!)

This week didn't turn out quite how I'd hoped it would.

So you all know my week last week was taken over by sick kiddos...well this week was taken over by an eye injury on my part.  I was out of commission from Saturday through Tuesday.  I was somewhat functional yesterday, and I'm pretty good today (not 100% but much better).

Alas, I haven't updated my website like I wanted to yet.  That probably won't happen until next week because the next couple of days are hectic.

But...

I did promise a giveaway!!!

So how about we try the $5 AMAZON EGIFT CARD GIVEAWAY again...

To enter, either shoot me an email at authordcrenee@gmail.com saying anything you want or comment on this post.  I promise to respond (that's how you know you're entered).  If I don't respond within a day-ish, try me again. This giveaway will go through Sunday night (3/24/19).

And go...

FLU/Cold Season Sucks!

Doesn't it???

I have a 1 year old (well, next week, he'll be one) & a 2 year old - that does not bode well in the sick department during this time of near.  Needless to say, I haven't done as much book-wise (that includes writing, blogging, updating the website, etc.) as I'd have liked to.

But my goal this week is to update my website at least - to include Let Hate Go (because it's not there).  And to include my June book signing.

I also posted a $5 amazon eGift Card giveaway a few weeks ago that no one entered :( waaaahhhh!!! you guys don't love me. boo!!!  I'll be posting another one on Monday instead, so pretty please let folks know so that:

1. News spreads about my website, and

2. The giveaway doesn't go to waste

Thanks!!!

Cupid's Aim series

I know it's my fault for not being active on the blog for a while, and even when I am, I'm sporadic...but you all aren't being very proactive with my last post...it's a GIVEAWAY!!!! $5 Amazon eGift Card giveaway!!!!

Go check it out & enter!!!

Ok, now onto Cupid's Aim...

If you remember from my other post, Cupid's Aim is a series of 6 novellas (roughly 25K each) from 6 different authors.  They're all romance.  They were all published in March.  They're all stand-alone's.  And, they all have HEA's!

Let Hate Go was book 5 in the series (see my post from Monday to learn all about Let Hate Go!)

Here is info on the other books in the series:

BOOK 1: Kamikaze Heart by Chelle C. Craze

Here is the blurb:
A heart could only withstand so much abuse before embracing the wreckage.

When the flames of heartache declared war, I was defenseless to the ambush.  Unforeseen tragedy ripped me apart and I was imprisoned by the guilt.  To survive, I ran.

It was then I met him, but I wasn't ready.  Yet, hearts were reckless and selfish all on their own.

Consequences aside, I was forced to shed a piece of my armor and head into battle.

Get your copy on Amazon now.
Check it out on Bookbub.
Add it to your TBR by clicking here.

Follow her Facebook page by clicking here.

BOOK 2: Arrow of Love by Clementine Floyd 

Here is the blurb:
Nora was done with Valentine's day and blind dates.  Especially those set up by her well-meaning friends.  This year, she's hiding out in a small mountain town in a quaint little cabin along with her three foster kittens.

David is a successful veterinarian who has no time to meet the "one." So, when one of his clients says she knows the perfect woman for him, he decides to break his no blind date rule.  Nora sounds like someone he could build a life with.

Nora won't even entertain the thought of meeting her best friends' regular veterinarian.

What happens when a well-meaning friend sends you the man of your dreams, but you don't know it?

All you need is Cupid's arrow and a good dose of luck.  Join Nora and David on their adventure to their very own happily ever after.

Unfortunately, Amazon hasn't been very nice to Clementine Floyd, and it hasn't released her book yet, but this is supposedly the link for Amazon.  So please keep your eyes out for her book & grab your copy when it's finally live!

Meanwhile, go friend her on Facebook by clicking here.

BOOK 3: Love in Bloom by Jaime Russell

Here is the blurb:
On her wedding day, Bethani Joy had it all. One thing was missing. The groom. Still heartbroken and lost, she took the call of help from her aunt and fled to safety.

Meanwhile, in LA, Ryan divulged in the carefree, playboy lifestyle. One phone call was all it took to bring his life to a screeching halt.

As he searched for an escape and Bethani Joy embraced the future, they found each other on one unforgettable night of passion.

Can the two overcome their fear of mixing the past with the present or will they end as just another one night stand?

Find it on Amazon.
Check it out on Books2Read Universal Links.

Give a follow on her Facebook page.

BOOK 4: ChaShiree M by Love's Lost Embrace.

Here is the blurb:
Ultimatums. Tragedy.

Trimble

My life has been one sad story after another. Until the day she moved in across the street. Our friendship saved me and as the years passed, morphed into something I was too scared to explore for fear of my own emotions.

The space I put between us put her in danger.

Our one night together left us with an unbreakable bond.

My need to protect her, would ultimately lead to her abandonment.

But I was ALWAYS coming back for her.

My Love.

Secrets. Love. Second chances.

Love

My life was perfect. Until the day it wasn’t.

The one bright spot in my dreary days was Trim. The boy across the street. My best friend. My protector. Until the day he decided he didn’t want to be either of those things.

Suffering in silence was my only option. Then Trim found out and I found my way out of the darkness into his arms.

That lasted a minute before we were torn from one another by tragedy and death.

He said he was coming back for me. Told me to look for the letters.

They never came and neither did he.

Until he did.

But can I trust him to stay this time?

Make sure to grab your copy on Amazon now!

Follow ChaShiree's Facebook page.

BOOK 5: Let Hate Go by ME!!!!!

BOOK 6: Swipe Right by Sadie Grubor.

Here is the blurb:
She Said Yes.

To one dating app party. To a one-night stand. To no strings attached. Then the strings got tangled, because his strings were already tied...To a woman staring back from the photo. To a woman being proposed to. To a photo with the caption...

She Said Yes!

Get it release week only for 99 cents on Amazon.

Make sure you follow Sadie's author page on Facebook.

Time to go get your copies of all the books!!!! And enter my giveaway in the last post!!!!

Giveaway Time!!!

I know in yesterday's post, I said I was going to talk all about the Cupid's Aim series in today's post.  I also said I'd do a giveaway today.

I don't want to mix the two.

With that said, this will only be a giveaway post & I'll come back tomorrow to talk about Cupid's Aim!

Ok, giveaway time!!!

Who wants a $5 Amazon eGift Card???

To enter, either comment on this post (with anything!) or email me at authordcrenee@gmail.com (also with anything!).  I will respond to you if you email me (and I'll probably respond to your comment if you comment).  If you don't see an email response from me, try and try again so I know you've entered.  I'll let this giveaway go through the weekend & I'll let random.org pick a winner for me come next Monday.

Feel free to share this giveaway with others!

Until tomorrow...

As Promised...

Look at me being good today :) lol

Get ready for a long post!

Last post was in November, so there's a lot to go over...

First up, catch up time! (both personal & book-related)

• Happy belated Holiday season lol & happy belated New Years!
• So what's happened since November in my life?  Well...I had a TON of bdays in the last quarter of last year + a ton of bdays already this year (and Feb isn't even over yet) - including my bday, yay!
• My baby boy's 1st bday is next month!!! Where does the time go?  I've been busy planning his bday
• It's going to be at a kid's play area, but since it's his 1st, I'm going a bit above & beyond what's expected at a kid's place
• I tend to share more details about my life in my reader group on Facebook, so if you want to hear all about his 1st bday (and/or other stuff in my life, join DC's Diamonds!)
• I finished writing Love's Deception, but it's still sitting on my desktop, eek!  Need to send to my editor & get the ball rolling.
• And finally, Let Hate Go was released on Friday, 2/22!!!
• Time to talk about Let Hate Go...

Who remembers Let Me Go and/or Let It Go?

Let Me Go was my first book.  It's my baby, a fan fave, and my best seller.

I never planned to turn it into a series.  It was always going to be a stand-alone, but Mason's best friend, Benny, was a special character.  And apparently everyone else agreed because I was flooded with requests for Benny to get his own story.  So, of course he did.

Enter, Let It Go.

After this, I got questions on whether the other characters would get stories.  I hadn't planned on it until then, but then the stories came to me!  I wrote them down so I wouldn't forget, and figured I'd get back to write them after I finished the book I was working on.  And then another story idea popped in my head, and another, and so on.  And alas, the Let Go series was semi-forgotten.

Well, end of last year, I was invited to join a "super secret project."  It was several authors writing 25K-ish word novellas, all romance, all HEA's, to be released within the month of February (for Valentine's Day, of course 💖😉). As I was thinking of what story to write, bam, it hit me - my opportunity to come back to the Let Go series.  That's how Let Hate Go came to be.  It's not only book 2.5/3 in the Let Go series, but it's also book 5 in the Cupid's Aim series.

The books weren't announced until the cover reveals at the end of January.  There were/are 6 authors in total.  Five of the books have been released (Let Hate Go included), and the last is coming tomorrow!

This post is already long, so I'll be back tomorrow to tell you all about the Cupid's aim series!

Meanwhile, if you feel like picking up a copy of Let Hate Go (and/or Let Me Go, and/or Let It Go), here are the buy links:

Let Me Go:
Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Smashwords
iTunes
Kobo
It's on Audio too! Audible

Let It Go:
Stand Alone & Sequel to Let Me Go
   Benny’s Story

Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Smashwords
iTunes
Kobo

Let Hate Go
Stand Alone & Sequel to Let Me Go & Let It Go
   Eddie’s Story
Also part of the Cupid's Aim Series
   (6 books by 6 amazing authors!)

Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Smashwords
iTunes
Kobo

I know I promised a giveaway in today's post, but I'm worried I lost some of you while you trekked through reading this long, rambling post, so I'm thinking I should post it as it's own post tomorrow.  Come back tomorrow, I promise to be back again!!!

I’m the worst blogger ever!

I know I’m officially a broken record because I always say I’m back & I’ll be good about posting. And then lo and behold, I disappear again.

This is me trying again! Lol.

I’m squeezing this post in while my 11 mo old is trying to climb me like a jungle gym & my 2 yr old is preoccupied eating spinach. (Thank goodness she loves veggies! Hope I didn’t just jinx myself lol).

This is just me telling my very small amount of followers that tomorrow I’m going to update my website (including adding the events I’ll be attending this year), doing a big catch-up post, and I’ll include a giveaway!

Wish me luck!!

Also forgive any typos - see above for why this might not be my finest post ever lol.

HEADS UP!

7 UP ;)

Anyone remember that game?  Heads Up, 7 UP...We used to play in school on rainy days.  It's pouring here today in Los Angeles, and we were talking about it.  I don't even remember the rules, but I remember you had to put your head down and one hand up; someone would go around and tap you, and that meant you either had to put your thumb up or down.  Then I think we had to guess who tapped us.

Anyways...little ramble aside...I've been trying to see how many folks pay attention to me. So I'll be doing a blog giveaway soon (i.e. next week).  I'm giving you the heads up so you can tell your friends to pay attention to me! (Yes, I'm needy like that lol).

I'm also awesome ;) hehe

So make sure to spread the word and the blog love, and check back next week!

EEK! I KEEP DISAPPEARING!

I know, I know...I did it again...I went MIA.

In my defense, a lot has been going on:

• I work for an insurance company - I specifically work on Medicare in the Finance Department & Medicare Open Enrollment started in October.  I swear I haven't had any downtime!
• I got into a pretty nasty car accident (boo!).  So I have been dealing with that.
• The fires in the LA area were pretty close to home - my family had to evacuate.
• And of course, life...a toddler and a baby make it hard to get online as much as I used to be able to.

I'm back...again...for now...lol.  I can't promise I won't disappear again, but I promise I will try now to.

Now for a few updates:

• I sent out this month's newsletter today.  If you missed it, you should go check it out - there is a little something extra in it.  Click here.
• I started sending out Enough (the free full length novel I promised) via my newsletter.  It's one chapter a week.  The Prologue and Chapter 1 are already out.  Chapter 2 is coming this week.
• See below for the cover & blurb I created for it all by myself (can you tell it's not professional? lol)
• If you missed the Prologue, click here to read it.
• If you missed Chapter 1, click here to read it.
• If you still need to sign up for my newsletter, click here to do so.
• I'm working on a story called Love's Deception.  Sadly, it's slow-going now that time passes me by too quickly, but it's almost done!  Stay tuned for more info on it as I get closer to a completion date!

 

That's it for today!  But like I said, I'm back...so that means I'll be posting again next week!

BE ON THE LOOKOUT

Just a heads up:

I have a story I wrote and never published.  Rather than publishing it (bc it's already been a few years), I'm going to distribute it for free - most likely a chapter a week.  Still working out the details on how & when, but I promise to keep you all updated as soon as I do.