October 2013 – Sydney Aaliyah Michelle

Game On Bloghop! – Sports Crush

Published on October 28, 2013 by Sydney Aaliyah Michelle15 Comments

No big surprise, I am a sports fan and I have talked about my sports crush here, and here. A small mention here and here, and even here. So, Mr. Aikman has been covered on sydneyaaliyah.com.

But, I guess I could pick another crush in order to support my friend Kyra Lennon on the release of the 2nd edition of Game One and the new covers for the series. As someone who appreciates the romance surrounding the world of sports, I was excited for this Bloghop. First, Bloghop Rules!

The Game On Series is centered around a soccer team in the U.S, and those of you who have already read the books will know the hottie of the series is Radleigh McCoy. Between October 28th and October 31st, I want to hear from you about your sporting crushes!

Does David Beckham do it for you? What about swimming sensations Michael Phelps or Rebecca Adlington? When did you first notice your sporting crush, and what do you like best about them? Have you ever been lucky enough to see them in action? Please keep posts to a maximum of 500 words.

Another one of my sport crushes:

Dale Earnhardt, Jr.

I love his North Carolina accent and his laid back personality. I love that he loves Jay Z and Elvis Presley, equally. Check him out in Jay Z’s, Show Me What you Got Video.

I never meet Dale, Jr., but my mother did. She went to a banquet where he was honoring her boss along with some other important people. I was supposed to go, but couldn’t get out of a work trip. He signed an autograph for me, though. It said, “Hey Syd., Can’t believe you’re not here. Next time. Dale, Jr.” – SWOON!!!!

Now it’s your turn, tell me about your sports crush?

Fractured Legacy by Skye Callahan – Character Interview

Published on October 25, 2013October 24, 2013 by Sydney Aaliyah Michelle4 Comments

Cole, thanks so much for your time. I am excited to get to know you better.Hi Sydney, nice to meet you!

Tell me a little about yourself. Well, my name is really Nicole but I’ve gone by Cole since elementary school—the name still tends to throw people off. When clients are told to expect Cole Anderson, they don’t usually expect a girl to show up. I work for a research organization called Aicil and we specialize in paranormal activity and artifacts.

You are Kaylyn’s younger sister, but you kind of baby her, why is that? Kaylyn can be…flighty. I love her to death, but it’s hard to keep up with her. Half the time, I don’t even want to know how her mind works. She can be brilliant, but that also means she gets bored easily, and when Kaylyn gets bored, oh Lord, can she get into trouble… I probably understand her better than most people do, but that isn’t saying much.

How did you two get along as kids?Pretty much the same as we do now. Except back then, we hunted down imaginary bad guys on bicycles that were horses one day and motorcycles the next. We argued over which Power Ranger was the cutest and chatted around bonfires as often as possible.

You have a very unique and some may say unbelievable job, how did you get into this line of work? Kay and I were always into weird stuff, hanging out in cemeteries, reading ghost stories, researching strange myths… But we have an uncle who works as a bail bond recovery agent, and we always wanted to work with him. We learned self-defense and bow to handle guns before we learned to drive, and after I turned 18, we spent a year working for him. One day we were approached by Carlisle who wanted us to handle a private case—which all turned out to be a test to see if we were fit to be paranormal investigators. And that led to our employment with Aicil.

Do you have to have some paranormal sixth sense to do this kind of work? No, you just have to be willing to see things that most people overlook. We all have our strengths, and some do have a kind of sense for paranormal beings, but we rely on instinct and each other to get the job done.

Do you enjoy working with your sister? Sometimes, but I’m sure that would be true of all siblings. Our relationship gives us some advantages—we know how to read each other and our relationship makes it easier to be open and candid with each other, most of the time.

Kaylyn doesn’t seem to have very good luck with men, how is your love life?I’ve been with Dan for about two and a half years, but we’ve known each other since high school. It is hard when I can’t tell him exactly what I do for a living, but I think we’ve built up a good foundation of trust, so he doesn’t really push when I tell him I can’t talk.

Do you offer Kaylyn relationships advice? How does she take it? Kaylyn takes relationship advice about the same way she takes any advice–with snarky comments. She’s stubborn beyond all reason.

What did you think of your new boss, Jonah, when you first meet him? I don’t know. To be honest I was more concerned with the trouble Kaylyn had already gotten into. I had a lot of other things on my mind, but I respected that he came in to do a job. A lot of what he told Kaylyn was exactly what I and her training partner tried to tell her for years. I think some structure will do her good.

And, no I didn’t fail to notice his dreamy accent, hazel eyes, or the way his suits kind of…never mind…

You warned your sister not to do anything inappropriate with him, but you sounded kind of jealous, too. Am I reading that wrong? Well, it’s not like he isn’t good looking, but as I said, Kaylyn can be a bit flighty. Especially where relationships are concerned. After she dated my training partner, he transferred to an office in another country and I had to get a new mentor. I had been training with Rocky for a year and a half! Maybe it wasn’t her fault, but all we need is for her to have a fling with the new boss . . .

Without giving up to much, does what you find out about Kaylyn help you understand her better? Geez, I still haven’t figured out how to process any of that. Between dealing with that and my fiance and his family, we all have a lot of pieces to try and put together in some way that makes sense. I hope knowing the truth about her past inspires Kaylyn to open up more, but we’ll have to wait and see.

Thanks so much for your honesty, Cole and good luck. Thanks for having me! You remembered to sign that confidentiality agreement right? Aicil will kill me if any of this gets out.

If you are enjoying Cole’s interview, that means Aicil didn’t shut me down for disregarding the confidentiality agreement.

Fractured Legacy

Available on Amazon, October 22, 2013.
Kaylyn Anderson’s fascination with abandoned places and dark creatures kindled her work as a paranormal investigator. But when dreams begin to distort reality, she questions what is real and pulls away from everyone she trusts. The opportunity to investigate the Teague Hotel–a long-abandoned landmark that has always piqued her curiosity–provides a chance to redeem herself. Unraveling the hotel’s secrets won’t be easy, but Kaylyn soon finds herself the target of a dark entity that has been trapped in the building for decades.
If Kaylyn stands any chance of defeating the spirit, she’ll have to accept that her fears are real and convince fellow investigators that she hasn’t lost her mind.
Goodreads |Wattpad

About the Author: Skye Callahan

Skye Callahan was born and raised in Ohio and has seen enough unbelievable stuff to feed a lifetime of paranormal stories. When not writing or working at the dayjob, she hangs out with her ethnomusicologist husband and pet ferrets, reads, and takes long walks through the cemetery.
Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Blog

Giveaway

Visit all 14 blogs to collect the words for the passcode to enter the Giveaway!
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Tour Schedule:
October 14- A Creative Mind
October 15-Sunshine & Mountains Book Reviews
October 16-My Beautiful NightMare
October 17-Room With Books
October 18-Ch’kara SilverWolf
October 19-Amber Daulton Author
October 20-All in a Book
October 21-Dawna Raver
October 22-Release Day BLITZ!!
October 23-Depression is my Illusion but Books are my Reality & Books A to Z
October 24-Once Upon a YA Book & Taylor Grace
October 25-Sydney Aaliyah & Because Reading is better than real life

The Faerie War by Rachel Morgan – It’s a Book Blitz

Published on October 19, 2013October 21, 2013 by Sydney Aaliyah Michelle6 Comments

It’s party time!!!

Today is the official online release of Rachel Morgan‘s third Creepy Hollow novel, The Faerie War. After that cliffhanger at the end of the second book, fans can finally find out what happens to Violet and everyone else in Creepy Hollow. If you’d like to get your copy, you can find it at the following online stores, plus a few others:

Amazon US | Amazon UK

Barnes & Noble

iTunes

CreateSpace (print)

There are seven other teaser images displayed on various blogs today. Visit the other fabulous bloggers, below.

And there’s a major giveaway going on!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Empath by Becca J. Campbell – Character Interview

Published on October 19, 2013October 18, 2013 by Sydney Aaliyah Michelle4 Comments

CHARACTER INTERVIEW W/CAM

Hi Cameron and thanks for joining us. Can I call you Cam? Oh, heck yes. No one calls me Cameron but my dad. It’s just weird to hear you say it.

First, tell me a little about yourself: Age, major, likes and dislikes, stuff like that. I’m twenty-four, and undecided on major. Yes, I’m still in college–thanks for bringing that up. Nope, not a sore spot at all, especially with my parents. *rolls eyes* Before you ask–because I can tell you’re going to–no, I don’t still live at home. I’m not a loser, I just took several years off before I decided to start college. *clears throat* What was the rest of the question? Oh, right, likes and dislikes.

I dislike not being able to drive. It sucks that I have to rely on other people to take me around. I’ve thought about breaking the no-drive rule–several times. I did it once–snuck out with Josh’s car when he was zonked out at my place–just to the convenience store. It wasn’t a big deal, I had to have a Dr. Pepper. But my family would kill me if they found out. And I guess I dislike taking their anger more than I hate not driving.

Likes… Well, I like hot girls. I mean, what guy doesn’t? By the way–Sydney, was it?–You aren’t single, are you?

*awkward pause*

Actually–don’t answer that. Sorry, old habits die hard. I think I’ve finally found the girl of my dreams. But if it doesn’t work out… I mean, you could always give me your number–just in case.

Or, I can casually change the subject and forget you just hit on me. *clears throat and tries to suppress the grin spreading across her face * You are quite the adventure seeker, what do you enjoy doing when you’re not climbing rocks or exploring caves? Probably working out or chilling at the beach. We go to California several times a year. I used to live there, and I still have beach withdrawals every now and then. If I couldn’t go snowboarding, I don’t think I’d make it living in Colorado.

What was your first impression of Jade? Hot, in a she-doesn’t-know-it kind of way. Hey, I’m being honest. I like that in a woman. But anyway, it’s more than that now. She’s got this weird, mysterious quality. I don’t really know what it is. I’m not great at describing stuff like that, but she’s cool and it makes me want to be around her.

Although I understand you needed to explain your near catatonic state, you didn’t hesitate in telling her about your special skill. Why did you trust her with your secret? I guess I don’t consider my déjà vu thing a secret. I’ve mentioned it to several people. I think making something secret makes it this huge thing, whereas I’d rather play it chill and not make a big deal of it. Yeah, I have weird episodes, but they are over pretty quick and don’t impact my life a ton. It’s like this big taboo thing with my parents ever since they found out, and since I can’t talk to them about it, I might as well talk to someone.

Why are you wasting time in college, you could probably find a way to use your talents to make some money? Is it a “talent” if you can’t control it? If I could control my déjà vu, I could probably make some serious cash gambling, or maybe solving crimes like that dude on Psych. Too bad I got the raw end of the deal. Seriously, you can’t imagine how many times I’ve wished it was different.

I really like your brother Josh and your sister Chloe. You all seem so close. Tell me about them. Sure, I guess you could say we’re close. Probably because we’re close in age and have similar interests. Josh is cool, except when he gets all emo and quiet and won’t tell me what’s bugging him. Usually when that happens he’ll just disappear with his guitar for a few hours or maybe a day, but then he comes out acting normal again. I don’t usually ask him about it, ‘cuz if I try, he won’t tell me what his deal is. *shrugs* Josh is just Josh and you have to go with it.

Chloe’s cool for the most part. I mean, you got the girl drama, like what’s going on with the dude she likes–not a specific guy, just the guy of the week or whatever. And there’s the emotional roller coaster once a month, but other than that, she’s all right. I used to give her a hard time when we were kids–it was totally warranted, though. She was the biggest, whiny, pain in the butt. I’m glad she grew out of that. She’s probably glad I don’t sit on her anymore. I used to pin her to the ground until she screamed for Josh to come save her. *chuckles* Good times.

You seem like such a good guy and a good brother and a good friend, what kind of boyfriend are you? Umm… I’m not sure how to answer that. I mean, I think I can show a lady a good time, but I don’t have a ton of experience with long-term relationships. For one thing, women are confusing. I’ve had some girlfriends who really enjoyed messing with my head. One minute a woman says she likes something, the next she hates it. How is a dude supposed to know what to do?

Anyway, I’ve never been in a really, super-serious relationship. I’ve dated around, but at a certain point the… I don’t know… interest… wears off. I guess what I’m trying to say is, there hasn’t been that spark in the past–that magic feeling that draws you to a person.

I guess that kinda goes back to your question about… you know… her. That spark was instant. It was like some type of kinetic energy or whatever when we first met. And then hanging out with her… it just kept growing, like this flame or something.

*cringes* Aww, geez, that sounds so lame, like I should be writing lyrics to one of Josh’s sappy tunes. Seriously, scratch that part. Jade’s cool. That’s what I meant. She’s a cool girl.

Thanks for being so honest, Cam. I appreciate the time and if you don’t mind me saying, any girl would be lucky to be with you.

Empath (Flawed Book One)

Supernatural empathy isn’t a gift, it’s a curse. Anywhere she goes, Jade’s emotions are replaced by those of the people around her.

Jade grew up in a suburb of Colorado Springs, protected from other people by her parents. Now she faces college—and the world—with nothing to shield her from unwanted feelings.

When Cam, a classmate with a major crush on her, unintentionally hijacks her emotions, Jade struggles to keep from being carried away in feelings of attraction. When Ethan, a psychopath with a thirst for fear, fixates on her, the emotional impact could be lethal.

Caught in a deadly trap, Jade must untangle the emotions and find a way to use her empathic curse to overcome this killer or be overcome by him.

During the Empath Blog Tour (September 16th – October 20th), the first book in the Flawed series will be on sale for a discounted price of $0.99. Grab it for cheap while you can!

Author Bio

Becca J. Campbell is the author of the New Adult Romantic Science Fiction novels Foreign Identity and Gateway to Reality, New Adult Romantic Paranormal Thriller Empath (The Flawed Series #1), and Sub-Normal, a series of Science Fiction short stories.

An avid lover of stories that tiptoe the line between fantasy and reality (even when they plunge off one side or the other), Becca looks for new angles on bridging the gap between the two. She holds a special place in her heart for any story that involves superpowers or time travel. Her passion is defying the limits of her own creativity. You can find her on her Author Blog, Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, Pinterest, and Amazon.

Courage by Carrie Butler – Character Interview

Published on October 17, 2013 by Sydney Aaliyah Michelle13 Comments

Aiden Ross – Character Interview

**After Strength, but before Courage**

Hi Aiden, I am really excited to learn more about you.

Hi, Sydney! I’m excited to be here. Just a little nervous, though. I’ve never been interviewed before…

Don’t be nervous. I’ll start with an easy one. Tell me a little about yourself.There’s not much to tell, really. I’m a third year information technology student with glow-in-the-dark ginger skin. Or at least, that’s what Gabby calls it…

What do you look for in a girl?Oh man. That’s a loaded question. I definitely want someone who understands me, but I don’t want someone as… introverted as I am. Otherwise, we might spend the rest of our lives awkwardly staring at each other, you know? *grins*

She should be loyal, too, and compassionate. Maybe a little feisty…

Fiesty, uh? You sound like your describing someone specific. Are you involved with anyone at the moment?Uh, that’s a negative. The closest I’ve come is some girl who used me to copy homework.

What’s the craziest thing you have ever done for a girl? I honestly wish I had an answer to this one. When it comes to girls I like, I just… choke. I can’t tell them, let alone make some grand, movie-scale gesture. It’s pathetic, I know.

No, it’s kind of sweet. You can at least talk to girls. You’re really close with Rena, how did you two meet? Oh man. It was almost three years ago. We had freshmen comp. together, and some of our classmates liked to give me a hard time—which wasn’t really a new thing for me, so I tried to ignore it. But Rena didn’t. It was actually pretty cool. We’d barely even spoken before that, but she went off on everyone for being jerks. I think she even threatened to stab some guy in the neck with her pencil. Anyway, the professor suggested she study that chapter independently—meaning she got kicked out for a week—so, I tracked her down to give her my notes. As it turned out, we got along really well. Crazy, huh?

Sounds like she has no problem doing crazy things for her friend. She seems cool, but she’s dating Wallace. What do you think of him, do you two get along? Wallace… isn’t my favorite person. Unfortunately, he’s Rena’s favorite person, so I have to deal with him. All. The. Time.

That must be tough and Rena seems like she has a lot going on, must be hard being her best friend sometimes? Yeah, she’s always knee deep in one project or another. It’s cool, though. She means well.

Does she know how lucky she is to have a friend like you? Hah! Oh, I wouldn’t say that, Sydney. I’m lucky she and Gabby let me hang around. Seriously. I’m pretty sure I embarrass those two on a daily basis. But what are friends for, right? 😉

Title: Courage

Author: Carrie Butler

Series: Mark of Nexus #2

Expected Publication: October 15th, 2013

Category: New Adult (NA)

Genre: Paranormal Romance (PNR)

Short description: Rena Collins never thought she’d long for the past—back when affection from Wallace, her freakishly strong boyfriend, was the most dangerous aspect of her life. But now that the human-altering organization known as ERA has gone on the offensive, nothing is safe. Her bloodline is exposed, her relationships torn apart, and just when it seems like things can’t get any worse, ERA ups the ante. To save mankind from forced evolution, Rena will have to mend her broken ties and form a resistance… hand-in-hand with the one she hurt most.

1.	A Bookish Escape (1)	2.	Cherie Reich – Author (1)
3.	Refracted Light Reviews (1)	4.	Second Book to the Right (2)
5.	Alex J. Cavanaugh (2)	6.	Jessica Loves Books (2)
7.	The Peasants Revolt (3)	8.	Ellie Garratt (3)
9.	Queendsheena (3)	10.	J.L. Campbell (4)
11.	Cathy Keaton Writes (4)	12.	Juliana Haygert (4)
13.	Random Things In Action (5)	14.	Some Like It Paranormal (5)
15.	Daily Drama of an Aspiring Writer (5)	16.	In Between – Adriana Dascalu (6)
17.	Annalisa Crawford (6)	18.	The Book Hookup (6)
19.	Sydney Aaliyah Michelle (7)	20.	Krista McLaughlin (7)
21.	Cally Jackson Writes (7)	22.	The Rest Is Still Unwritten (7)
23.	Author Jacqueline Gardner (8)	24.	Tia Bach – Author (8)
25.	Queekie Girl Reads (8)	26.	Kittie Howard (8)
27.	The Unofficial Addiction Book Fan Club (1)

Month: October 2013