Shameless by Lex Martin – Release Blitz

Published on by Sydney Aaliyah MichelleLeave a comment

Love Lex Martin. She is my sports romance hero. Her Dearest Series is a must read if you love this category. I expect Shameless to be even better. – Sydney Aaliyah Michelle

 

 Release Date: April 26, 2016
Blurb

Brady…

What the hell do I know about raising a baby? Nothing. Not a goddamn thing. Yet here I am, the sole guardian of my niece. I’d be lost if it weren’t for Katherine, the beautiful girl who seems to have all the answers. Katherine, who’s slowly finding her way into my cynical heart.

I keep reminding myself that I can’t fall for someone when we don’t have a future. But telling myself this lie and believing it are two different things.

Katherine…

When Brady shows up on a Harley, looking like an avenging angel—six feet, three inches of chiseled muscle, eyes the color of wild sage, and sun-kissed skin emblazoned with tattoos—I’m not sure if I should fall at his feet or run like hell. Because if I tell him what happened the night his family died, he might hate me. What I don’t count on are the nights we spend together trying to forget the heartache that brought us here. I promise him it won’t mean anything, that I won’t fall in love.

I shouldn’t make promises I can’t keep.

Shameless
is an adult contemporary romance/spinoff featuring a character from The
Dearest Series, but it can be read as a complete standalone.

AMAZON US | AMAZON UK | UNIVERSAL | B&N | KOBO | iBOOKS

Author Bio

Lex writes adult novels, the sexy kind with lotsa angst, a whole lotta kissing, and the hot happily ever afters. When she’s not writing, she lives a parallel life as an English teacher. She loves printing black and white photos, listening to music on vinyl, and getting lost in a great book. Bitten by wanderlust, she’s lived all over the country but currently resides in the City of Angels with her husband and twin daughters.

Author Links

 

Weird And Amazing Travel’s : 4 Things You Won’t Believe You Can Do in Sydney

Published on by Sydney Aaliyah Michelle1 Comment

This post was posted by Robert Schrader on Weird And Amazing Travel on February 24, 2016.

Perched atop hills and surrounded by water, Sydney is an extraordinarily beautiful city—there’s no doubt about that. What many travelers don’t realize about Australia’s largest metropolis, however, is how many off-the-beaten-path activities exist along Sydney’s well-trodden paths. Whether you’re looking for a rush of adrenaline, an urban retreat into nature, a terrifying game, or the freshest seafood meal you’ve ever had outside Japan, you’ll probably be caught off guard by these surprising Sydney activities.

Sydney BridgeClimb - Flickr user ImagineCup
How can you be afraid of heights with views like this? Flickr user ImagineCup

1.  Climb the Sydney Harbour Bridge

Along with the Sydney Opera House, Sydney Harbour Bridge is by far Australia’s most iconic symbol. Chances are you’ve already scheduled some time in your Sydney trip to marvel at the bridge (likely from the grounds of the Opera House), but did you know you can actually climb the bridge as well, for a Sydney panorama like no other?

BridgeClimb is 100% safe, so abandon your fear of heights, strap in, and enjoy the view! Plus, if you happen to stay in The Rocks, BridgeClimb’s main office is easy to reach by foot, which will give you some time to release anxiety and calm your nerves in advance of your climb.

Sydney Haymarket - Adam J.W.C. via Wikimedia Commons
Get trapped beneath the sunny streets of Sydney’s Haymarket. JWC via Wikimedia Commons

2.  Escape Solitary Confinement

While it’s true that there are worse places in the world to be trapped than Sydney, the fact remains that a windowless room in one city is a windowless room in any city. Indeed, when you visit Mission: Real Life Room Escape, located near Sydney’s popular Haymarket district, it will be your desire to experience all the amazing dining, nightlife, and cultural attractions around that motivate you to break out of the confinement into which this strange experience thrusts you.

The strangest thing about this adventure? The fact that Haymarket is one of Sydney’s brightest, sunniest districts most days.

Sydney Botanic Gardens - AussGa via Wikimedia Commons
They’re arent a lot left, but some spooky bats do call these cheery gardens home. Aussga via Wilkimedia Commons.

3.  Scope Out Bats in the Sydney Botanic Gardens

It won’t shock you that the Sydney Botanic Gardens are beautiful, particularly if you’ve ever visited them. In addition to containing hundreds of plant species from Australia and all around the world, the centrally located gardens allow you to bask in the glow of the glittering Sydney skyline, as well as the bridge and Opera House.

Although authorities have relocated many of the so-called “flying foxes” that have called the gardens home for decades (they destroyed many of the gardens’ plant species entirely), come around sunset for your chance at seeing the hangers-on who’ve remained. You might even be able to see some from your Potts Point hotel if you look closely!

Mr. Perfect by JA Huss – Cover Reveal

Published on by Sydney Aaliyah MichelleLeave a comment

First, a housekeeping note. My writer, book related blog will move here May 1st.

Stay here for all travel-related blog posts. 

Mr. Perfect
J.A. Huss
Publication date: April 27th 2016
Genres: Contemporary, Romance

Wanting the perfect man doesn’t make me crazy. I just know what I like.

A powerful billionaire in a suit wasn’t even my first choice. Mcallister Stonewall was never on my radar, I didn’t even know he existed.

But I do now.

His hands are all over me at work. The heat of his chest pressing against my bare back as he bends me over the desk is the only thing on my mind.

He is my most forbidden desires unleashed. He is my new secret obsession. He is my Mr. Perfect.

Until the moment I realize… There’s no such thing as perfect.

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iTunes / Kobo

1200PERFECT_FULL_spread

five_powerful_men

 

Author Bio:

JA Huss is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of more than twenty romances. She likes stories about family, loyalty, and extraordinary characters who struggle with basic human emotions while dealing with bigger than life problems. JA loves writing heroes who make you swoon, heroines who makes you jealous, and the perfect Happily Ever After ending.

You can chat with her on Facebook (www.facebook.com/AuthorJAHuss), Twitter (@jahuss), and her kick-ass romance blog, New Adult Addiction (www.newadultaddiction.com).

If you’re interested in getting your hands on an advanced release copy of her upcoming books, sneak peek teasers, or information on her upcoming personal appearances, you can join her newsletter list (http://eepurl.com/JVhAr) and get those details delivered right to your inbox.

Website / Blog / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter

 

GIVEAWAY!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Hosted by:

XBTBanner1

O – Shannon O’Connor #atozchallenge

Published on by Sydney Aaliyah MichelleLeave a comment

O

My goal this month was to show the diversity in sports romances. Not just in the characters, but in the sports, too.  Here is my tribute to water sports.

Welcome Shannon O’Connor.

 

1.     What is it about the sport in your romance that inspired you to write about it?
I wanted to write about the city I live in which is Huntington Beach. It’s also called Surf City so I chose the hero to be a professional surfer, so it was kind of a given. Originally, I didn’t set out to make it a Sports Romance–it was always about these two people that meet and how love evolves through challenges. 
 
2.     Is your sports hero based on a real sports figure? If so, who and why?
Not really based on a real person, but I wanted him to be and act as close to a real pro-surfer as I could write him. There is some significance to his last name. It happens to be Slater which is associated with surfing because of the famous Kelly Slater. What many people don’t know is my last name is Slater, so when I started writing him–the name Chad Slater fit him so well, that when I decided to publish the book I had to come up with a pen name for myself, which is my birth name.
 
3.     What kind of research did you do for the sport in your romance?
Already knew a good amount, but I researched which competition boards were most popular with the pros. I also watched and took notes while watching US Open of Surfing and other competitions around the world. I followed the schedules mapped out on the internet so that the surfers in my books had real places they would be flying to. Plus, asked my husband things since he used to surf quite a lot.
 
4.     Best advice for other authors who want to write sports romance?
Really know the sport you want to write. It needs to be something you can relate to or the readers won’t be able to relate along with your writing. Only write it if it feels right. 
 
5.     What sports romance are you working on next?
In the future I will spin off surfers met in The Waves Trilogy. I’m also thinking of co-writing with my author friends someday, if it works out. 

Shannon is giving away an ebook combo pack of her Red Waves-book one & White Waves-book two. Tell her about a water adventure, real or bucket list. 

26802390Readers can follow me on Twitter & Instagram @thewavestrilogy. Website: www.AuthorShannonOConnor.com and FB page is www.facebook.com/AuthorShannonOConnor 

What to Pack for a trip to Costa Rica?

Published on by Sydney Aaliyah Michelle1 Comment

I am super excited. A new addition to the bucket list. I had no idea about Costa Rica. I mean, yeah, it’s a country in the tiny narrow section of Central America. It has great beaches. It’s like any other Central America country. Right? Nope. I was so wrong and am moving Costa Rica up to the top of the list. I am just a plane ticket and one perfectly packed suitcase away from this “Rich Coast” vacation.

El Ocotal, Costa Rica

Located on the north-east coast, El Ocotal, Costa Rica is small beach town with a large beach resort on Ocotal Bay. To enjoy the beauty of this country, I will definitely pack my bathing suit. Costa Rica is known for its beautiful beaches and none are more beautiful than the ones on the Pacific Ocean side of the Spanish-influenced country.

Fortuna, Costa Rica

The interior of Costa Rica is just as fascinating. It’s full of rich tropical rain forest, mountains, and waterfalls. I packed my hiking shoes to traverse the forest and find one of these pockets of tranquility in Fortuna, Costa Rica. Fortuna borders the Volcan Arenal National Park. The 29,000-acre park is two volcanos side by side, both dormant for several thousand years. The park offers several hiking trails carved in the lava fields and forest of the park.

 

Volcan Arenal – Image courtesy of Cindy Baker via Trover.com

Tamarindo, Costa Rica

Further down the west coast is another beautiful beach town called Tamarindo, Costa. The city is a popular tourist destination for Costa Ricans on holiday. I need to pack my surfboard for my visit to Tamarindo. It has some of the best waves on the West coast. Waves reach up to 12 feet in November and December. Once I wear myself out from a day of surfing, I can’t wait to sit back on my surfboard, relax, and watch one of the most beautiful sunsets in the world.

Tamarindo Beach – Image courtesy of Garrett Britton via Trover.com

Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica

Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica is a national park near the urban area of Quepos. The scenery is some of the most breath-taking in the world. The 682 hectares is home to several birds, wildlife, and plants, but its most interesting residences are the three different species of monkeys. The beach is considered one of the top 25 beaches in the world, so I will make sure and pack my sunscreen. I’ll be spending a lot of time hanging out on the white sand beaches of Manuel Antonio Park.

 

Image provided by Erika Calvert via Trover.com.

Papagayo, Costa Rica

Located on a peninsula that jets out into the Gulf of Papagayo is Papagayo, Costa Rico. This area of Costa Rica has some of the most amazing resorts. The rich and romantic seek out Papagoya Peninsula for their getaways. I packed my riding boots because I want to see this part of Costa Rica on horseback. Guided tours wind through the hills and valleys and if I’m lucky, I find one of those beautiful waterfalls the country is known for.

Have you been to Costa Rica?