new adult romance – Page 12 – Sydney Aaliyah Michelle

C – College and College Football

Published on April 3, 2014 by Sydney Aaliyah Michelle16 Comments

My story takes place at the University of Texas at Austin, the Longhorns. Most of my close high school friends went to UT, so I was familiar enough with the campus to write about it.

Every teenager who grows up in Texas, at some point has to make the decision whether they are a UT or A&M fan. My brother went to Texas A&M, the home of the Aggies and I spent a lot of time in College Station. Enough time that I knew I didn’t want to go to school there.

When it was time for me to pick a school, of course, begin the wander that I am, I picked a place out of state, but if I did stay, I would be a Longhorn.

UT Austin had this laid back, artistic, cool vibe. That’s so me.

I wasn’t really into college football until I went to college at Florida State University. If you’ve ever been to a college football game and seen 70,000 people: alumni and students, 100% caught up in the emotion of everything happening on the field, then you know what I’m talking about.

UT Austin Facts:

Number of Students: 51,000

Mascot: Bevo, the Longhorns

Colors: Burnt orange and white

Established: 1883

Rally Cry: Hook’em Horns

Famous UT Alumni: Laura Bush, Janis Joplin, Matthew McConaughey, John Hamm, Marcia Gay Harden, Owen Wilson, Renee Zellweger, Tom Landry

Over the course of the book, my main character learns what college football is all about in the south. How a city lives and dies by their team. The players are treated like super stars and the results of a game can determine how the rest of the week will go. You can run through the gambit of emotions while watching a college football game.

Do you follow college football? Who is your favorite college football team?

Please add Another New Life to your Goodreads list.

B – By the Numbers and IWSG

Published on April 2, 2014April 1, 2014 by Sydney Aaliyah Michelle40 Comments

Another New Life – By the Numbers

70,021 words – you’ll read it in one sitting.
2 first kisses – interesting twist.
35 chapters – It sounds like a lot when you say it like that.
5 sex scenes – very tasteful, I promise.
18, the age of the main female character – She’s a mature 18.
3, the number of movies referenced in ANL – They work there way in there, I can’t help it.
5, number of football plays described in the game – I’m a football fan, but the scenes are relevant to the story.
30, the number of days it took to writer the first draft – Huge shout out to the greatness that is JuNoWriMo – Sign Up for 2014 is open.
12, the number of guys the roommate hooks – you will meet her on Thursday.
?, number of times you will laugh and cry – You tell me after you read it.

In a few weeks, the sales numbers will be the only numbers I will be ~~consumed with~~ concerned about. 🙂

Are you ~~obsessed~~ concerned with numbers: # of followers, # of comments, # of book sales?

I have tons of insecurities especially with putting the final touches on Another New Life, but I wanted to take this month’s post to thank everyone of you who have supported me during this process. Your support means more to me then you will ever know.

What are your insecurities this month? If you’re not a member of IWSG, you are missing out. They are a great support group for writers at all stages of a writer’s life.

Have a great month and make sure you visit some or all of the other bloggers on the A to Z Challenge.

One more thing, ok actual three more things, this indie author needs your help:

If you want to sign up for my cover reveal on April 10th, please sign up, here!

If you want an ARC in exchange for an honest review, please sign up, here!

Please add Another New Life to your Goodreads list.

A – Another New Life

Published on April 1, 2014April 1, 2014 by Sydney Aaliyah Michelle48 Comments

Welcome to the 2014 Blogging from A to Z Challenge. My name is Sydney Aaliyah Michelle and my theme for A to Z is Another New Life by me. It is my debut novel scheduled for release in May 2014. I can’t wait to tell you all about it.

You may be sick of it by the end of the challenge, but my hope, after 26 posts, you’ll want to read it.

I want to take a moment to thank and congratulate Mr. Arlee Bird on hosting another A to Z Challenge, the best blog hop of the year.

Special thinks to my Minion Leader, Ms. Nicole Ayers This is my second time on Nicole’s Mighty Minion Bureau and I couldn’t be more proud. Also, a quick shout out to my fellow minions, Dale, Andrea, Sheri, Deniz and Melody-Ann. Make sure you visit their blogs and show them some love.

For the A post, I thought I’d tell you a little about my novel, but I have a request, read my blurb and tell me what you think. Be honest, I can take it.

Book Blurb:

Miranda Preston is a walking contradiction. Talented, smart and beautiful on the outside and insecure, haunted and damaged on the inside. Despite these contradictions, she’s ready to start Another New Life.

When her talent wins her a piano performance scholarship to the University of Texas, Miranda arrives on campus determined to experience everything college has to offer and to keep her secrets in the past where they belong.

An easy task, until the first guy who catches her eye happens to be someone, she’s known all her life.

Eight years have passed since the last time Miranda and Troy saw each other. He reminds her of the best and worst times of her life, but she can’t think about one without dwelling on the other. As they grow closer, every day their attraction reminds them they are no longer kids.

The epic romantic love story that is Miranda and Troy seems to be destined for a happy ending, but Miranda knows it’s only a matter of time before her secret is discovered. A secret that will not only destroy their relationship, it will destroy Troy, too.

Can Miranda focus on her future with Troy while preventing her past from tearing them apart all over again?

So, what do you think? Does it make you want to read the book? Suggestions are welcome.

And, as if I hadn’t asked enough, here is one more request.

Please add Another New Life to your Goodreads list.

Sydney Reviews Tyler and Stella (Tattoo Thief, #2) by Heidi Joy Tretheway

Published on February 11, 2014February 10, 2014 by Sydney Aaliyah Michelle3 Comments

Special Tattoo Tuesday Sydney Reviews Feature

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Tyler & Stella (Tattoo Thief, #2) by Heidi Joy Tretheway

Publication date: February 2014
Genres: Contemporary, New Adult, Romance

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Synopsis: Stella Ramsey always says bad boys can’t break your heart. They don’t call, don’t cuddle and don’t send flowers—but what do you expect? For Stella, no strings means no regrets.

When the biggest story of her fledgling career as a music journalist nearly ruins her relationship with her best friend, Stella has one chance to redeem herself. Tyler Walsh could be that chance.

Stella promises the bassist for the rock band Tattoo Thief anything in exchange for behind-the-scenes access. But Tyler doesn’t want anything. He wants everything—and that’s more than Stella is prepared to give. When Tyler’s explosive secret thrusts Stella into the media spotlight, she must choose between the selling the story and telling the truth—and exposing the truth about herself as well.

Review: I will forever be impressed/in awe/envious of Heidi Joy Tretheway for her writing skills. Anyone who can take a character who was the villain in book #1 and make them complex, interesting and sympathetic in book #2, earns my praise and respect.

Let me explain.

I read Gavin & Beryl: Tattoo Thief #1 and sent Heidi a message telling her how much I enjoyed it. It is one of those books I didn’t want to end. Just before I reached the end, I saw a message from Heidi asking if I wanted to read Tattoo Thief #2. I was beyond excited, but then I read the synopsis and my heart dropped.

Without giving away to much, at the end of #1, one of the characters in the book named Stella did not come off well. She did something awful, hurtful and beyond forgivable. So, when I found out she was the main character in #2, I thought, what is Heidi doing?

Well, I am so glad this unexpected turn of events didn’t dissuade me from reading the book. Book #2 is just as interesting, exciting, sad, empowering and sexy as book #1. I was hooked from the first page. I didn’t fall in love with Stella, but I hoped for her transformation and throughout the book, you had no idea whether it would happen or not.

But, the star of the book was Tyler; tattoo’ed and talented, with a hero’s heart (sorry for the alliterations). He made me want to be his friend and take care of him. His story had me guessing and I was 100% satisfied with the results.

I recommend you read the books in order, but you don’t have to. Heidi has a special talent for writing about couples who at first don’t seem to fit, but in the end, you can’t imagine them not being together.

Tattoo References: Lots of great tattoo references. How could there not be with a name like Tattoo Thief. One of my favorites: “Why do yo have all the tattoos? Are you just cultivation a bad-boy image or do they mean something?” Tyler grins. This is something he wants to talk about . . . “they’re about my history.” – love that.

Movie References: None

Favorite Line: “Releasing control to let the other person steer your ship for a while. It’s terrifying and intimate and powerful. It’s love.” – so good!!!!

*Just a few of my favorite things.

Author Bio: Heidi Joy lives in Happy Valley off Sunnyside Road. She swears she did not make that up.

Heidi’s obsessed with storytelling. Her career includes marketing, journalism, and a delicious few years as a food columnist. Media passes took her backstage with several rock bands, where she learned that sometimes a wardrobe malfunction is exactly what the rock star intends.

You’ll most often find Heidi Joy with her husband and two small kids cooking, fishing, exploring the Northwest, and building epic forts in their living room.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

Rumor Has It by Elisabeth Grace

Published on February 7, 2014 by Sydney Aaliyah Michelle2 Comments

Rumor Has It by Elisabeth Grace

(Limelight #1)

Publication date: December 6, 2013
Genres: Contemporary, New Adult, Romance

Synopsis: All publicity is good publicity, right? Unless you’re recent college grad Ellie Wagner and an embarrassing video of you and your boyfriend goes viral. Every man in your life abandons you, but who knew a one-minute clip of your latest doomed relationship would brand you a slut, prevent you from getting your perfect job, and force you to keep doing the one thing you swore you’d never do again…live with your mother.

But staying with mom and her latest boy-toy (is this husband number four or five?) until your life turns around might not be all bad. Especially when you fall – literally – at the feet of a sexy, green-eyed stranger who offers you freedom and a life of luxury on a gold-rimmed platter.

There’s only one little problem – the man of your dreams is none other than Mason Nash, the latest hip-hop star busting up the music charts. Fame and fortune are his calling cards and he’s vying to steal the show on a new reality TV series that will catapult him into mainstream stardom. Hello spotlight.

The man behind the famous persona is perfect for Ellie in every way, but can she overcome the ugly pitfalls that come with Mason’s celebrity status? Or will she be forced to choose between the man she loves and the independent life she longs for? After all, fame and fortune aren’t always what they seem and not all publicity is good publicity…

Excerpt:
“That’s one of the reasons I like you so much. My fame actually works against me with you. I don’t have to worry about you selling a story to the tabloids, or calling in a tip about where we might be so a picture of us together will show up in the media. I know you aren’t going to leak any of the texts I send you.”

“But you can’t know that about me. How could you? We just met.”

He bent his head and kissed my forehead while squeezing me with his arms. “I know.”

With that declaration Mason Nash stole a sliver of my heart. I knew his trust wasn’t given easily.

I didn’t like how much I was growing to need him, how quickly. I didn’t want to feel attached to him. I wasn’t a novice at relationships but if I was honest I’d never really loved anyone. I always knew at the back of my mind that if things didn’t work out I could cut and run and life would continue as I knew it.

I couldn’t escape the feeling that when Mason left, my life wouldn’t go on as it had before. I’d be altered in some way. I hoped against all hope that the piece of my heart he took with him wouldn’t be too large.

We laid in silence for a long while. Our breathing became steadier and my eyes grew heavy as sleep took hold. I fell asleep on Mason’s chest listening to his rhythmic heartbeat, hoping that when he left he wouldn’t rip mine from my chest.

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Author Bio:

Rachael Wade is the Amazon bestselling author of The Preservation Series, The Resistance Trilogy, and the upcoming sci-fi series, The Keepers Trilogy. When she’s not writing, she’s busy learning French, watching too many movies, and learning how to protect animals and the environment.