new adult – Page 9 – Sydney Aaliyah Michelle

I – It’s Cover Reveal Day

Published on April 10, 2014 by Sydney Aaliyah Michelle24 Comments

I’ve waiting a long time and it’s finally here. Wait, no. Not that. That’s still a few weeks away (June 2nd to be exact). But, this is just as good or at least good for right now.

It’s Cover Reveal Day!!

Title: Another New Life

Author: Sydney Aaliyah Michelle

Publication Date: June 2, 2014

Genre: New Adult Contemporary Romance

Cover Design: Cover design © Arijana Karčić, Cover It! Designs – She is amazing!!

**This book contains adult subject matter. Not intended for young readers.**

Miranda Preston is a walking contradiction. Beautiful on the outside, but, 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 scholarship to the University of Texas at Austin, 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?

Giveaway

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So, that’s it. That my first ever book cover. How cool is that? Really! How cool is it? Let me know what you think. And, be sure to sign up for the giveaway. You can win a $10.00 Amazon Gift Card.

Huge thank you to all the bloggers who participated in my cover reveal today! I am humbled by the support of this writing community. I will try and visit you all and thank you with the biggest virtual hug I can muster.

Tattoo Tuesday – AJ Pine

Published on March 25, 2014March 24, 2014 by Sydney Aaliyah MichelleLeave a comment

AJ is probably still out celebrating her new release, If Only, which came out yesterday. I am honored to have her visit Tattoo Tuesday. AJ, your five questions start now:

1. How old were you when you got your first tattoo? I was 24.

2. How many tattoos do you have? If only one, do you want more? I have two. I just got my second one, and YES, I want more! I can understand people saying tattoos are addicting. Yes it hurts, but it’s also a ton of fun. Is it weird that I enjoy getting inked? 🙂

3. What inspired you to get your first tattoo or favorite tattoo? Tell me your tattoo story. My first tattoo was just because I wanted one. Not a huge story. But my recent one is all about story. My debut novel, IF ONLY, a New Adult contemporary romance, just released yesterday. Yay! I promised myself I’d celebrate writing milestones with more ink, and I wanted there to be meaning attached to this one. My favorite poem by Emily Dickinson poem that, since her poems aren’t titled, starts with the line, “Hope is the thing with feathers–“, and for me it’s this idea of hope being this selfless entity that is always there, silent and unquestioning. When it comes to writing and publishing, it’s really easy to get discouraged. Not losing hope is so vital to keeping at the writing game. While I was querying my first book, I was writing IF ONLY. When the first book didn’t get the response I hoped for (see…I hoped), I got IF ONLY ready and started querying and entering it in contests…and it won one, an Editor in the Alley pitch contest on the NA Alley Blog. Fast forward a year later, and my book is with a fabulous publisher, Entangled, and my story is out there. The idea of hope, and the poem I love, those are the reasons for the feather tattoo on my arm. Putting that first book out there, letting it go and become something that doesn’t belong only to me anymore, that’s the reason for the bird breaking off from the feather.

4. Tattoos on a significant other, like or dislike? Explain why? I like tattoos on anyone. They are hot. ‘Nuff said.

5. Do the character’s in your books have tattoos? If so, pick a character and tell me his or her tattoo story? Why was this story incorporated in the book? Both my hero and heroine get tattoos. My main character, Jordan, gets the Hebrew word, Ahava, tattooed on her wrist (in the Hebrew characters). She’s studying abroad in Scotland, and while visiting family in London over the holidays, her cousin takes her to a tattoo shop as a surprise. Ahava means love, and it has multiple connections to the story–to Jordan’s relationship with her best friend as well as Jordan’s own self discovery. And of course, the book is a romance, so the tattoo ties in there as well. Like I said, the hero gets a tattoo as well, but I can’t reveal his without revealing too much about the book. You’ll just have to read. I included the tattoo story line simply because I love ink and the idea of permanence in this type of expression…as long as you choose art you know you’ll want forever!

About AJ Pine:

AJ writes stories to break readers’ hearts, but don’t worry—she’ll mend those hearts with a happily ever after…maybe. The first book she wrote was YA, but now she’s two-timing her first love with NA. She’s always in the middle of reading two to three books, adores online shopping (everything from groceries to shoes), and she still loves vampires, whether it’s Eric Northman or the Salvatore brothers. When she’s not writing, AJ is sneaking off to her day job as a high school English teacher or hanging with her husband and kids in the Chicago burbs.

Sometimes it takes crossing an ocean to figure out where you belong.

It’s been two years since twenty-year-old Jordan had a boyfriend–which means it’s been forever since she, well, you know. But now she’s off to spend her junior year in Aberdeen, Scotland, the perfect place to stop waiting for Mr. Right and just enjoy Mr. Right Now.

Sexy, sweet (and possible player) Griffin may be her perfect, no-strings-attached match. He’s fun, gorgeous, and makes her laugh. So why can’t she stop thinking about Noah who, minutes after being trapped together outside the train’s loo, kisses Jordan like she’s never been kissed before? Never mind his impossible blue eyes, his weathered, annotated copy of The Great Gatsby (total English-major porn)…oh, and his girlfriend.

Jordan knows everything this year has an expiration date. Aberdeen is supposed to be about fun rather than waiting for life to happen. But E.M. Forster, Shakespeare, and mistletoe on Valentine’s Day make her reconsider what love is and how far she’s willing to go for the right guy.

To learn more about AJ Pine, connect with her on her Blog, Twitter, Facebook and Entangled Author Page.

If you have a book coming out or just want to tell your tattoo story and want to be featured on Tattoo Tuesday, let me know by leaving me a message in the comments.

Cover Reveal Sign Up – Another New Life

Published on March 16, 2014 by Sydney Aaliyah Michelle4 Comments

I am super excited for my cover reveal on April 10th, 2014, but I need your help.

If you have some time and some space on your blog or Facebook page, please sign up for my cover reveal.

Each blog that participates will be entered to win a $25.00 Amazon gift card.

Who couldn’t use $25.00 worth of Amazon greatness.

Thanks so much for everyones help and support!

“From the first day we met, it was Troy and me against the world.”

Another New Life by Sydney Aaliyah Michelle

New Adult Contemporary Romance

Book Blurb: Miranda Preston is a walking contradiction. Talent, 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 live, 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.

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

Sydney Reviews Shattered Veil by Tracy E. Banghart

Published on March 11, 2014March 10, 2014 by Sydney Aaliyah Michelle2 Comments

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

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Synopsis: When everything that defines you is stripped away, who do you become?For Aris, a talented wingjet pilot, war means sacrificing everything: her home, her name, her face–and the one promise she swore she’d never break.In the small village of Lux, everyone flies wingjets, but nobody flies them like Aris Haan. When she’s not dancing through the skies, she’s spending every minute with Calix, whom she’s loved since childhood. They plan to Promise, but instead he is sent to defend their dominion against a bloody invasion. Determined not to lose him, Aris follows, joining an underground network of women inside the male-only military. Using secret technology that allows her to pass as a man, she becomes “Aristos”, a Flyer in a search-and-rescue unit.As Aris grows stronger on the battlefield and more comfortable in her guise as Aristos, her personal mission becomes less and less clear. When she and her enigmatic commander, Major Vidar, uncover an astonishing conspiracy that could destroy everything, she must make a choice that will determine not only the fate of her heart, but the future of her dominion.

Mulan meets Battlestar Galactica in Shattered Veil, the story of how one young woman’s quest to save her beloved leads her to save the world.

Review: It’s been a recent occurrence in my long reading life that I have grown quite fond of science fiction books. I am envious of the skill of world building. Creating a world from scratch and being able to describe the site, sounds, smells, air, ground, and space for the reader is nothing short of a miracle to me.

Tracy E. Banghart doesn’t this like a master and Shattered Veil is a well done book. The world she builds, the technology she invents, the characters she creates makes me want to pack up and move to this world and see it up close and personal.

On top of the amazing new world, there is a great New Adult story about a girl who though her world was heading in one direction, but finds herself in a situations that turns her world upside and changes the way she thinks about everything. Typical New Adult theme taken in a completely different direction and I enjoyed the journey it took me on as I read the book.

I also want to take the opportunity to thank Banghart for making this book the start of a true series. I’ve read so many 1st books in series where I had no desire to see what else happens to the main character. Writing a series seems to be the popular thing at this time.

Shattered Veil is book 1 because Aris’ story isn’t done and I am so looking forward to seeing how she continues to grow.

I am ready to declare Aris the new Katniss. Shattered Veil is all that is good about New Adult Science Fiction books and more.

A few of my favorite things

Tattoo References: “blood-red tattoo that encircled the women’s shaved head. ” “a tattoo of a sleek blue and black fish dove down his cheek, another curling under his ear and along his throat.” “large and black with leaf-green accents, impossible to miss. She’d asked for an olive tree to remind her of Lux.” It was a tattoo rich environment.

Movie References: The book had a great movie-like pace and I loved the characters. It would make an amazing movie.

Favorite Line: “Travelers often suffered vertigo when visit Lux; the milky walkways that connected the buildings, built high on carbonated stilts, were translucent, and the impenetrable chest-high path walls transparent.” – An amazing example of Banghart’s world building.

*Just a few of my favorite things.

Author Bio:

Tracy E. Banghart is a cheesy movie–loving, fantasy football–playing (go Ravens!), globe-trotting Army wife who began “practicing” her craft at the age of five, when she wrote her first story. She loves visiting the international friends she met while pursuing her MA in Publishing and spends a portion of every summer at her family’s cabin in Canada, where she finds inspiration and lots of time to relax on the dock. She lives with her husband, son, two lazy dogs and one ornery cat. When not writing or spending time with her family, she is on a mission to bake the perfect cupcake.

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Playing Pretend by Juliana Haygert – Release Day!!!

Published on March 3, 2014March 3, 2014 by Sydney Aaliyah Michelle4 Comments

Welcome to the Playing Pretend release event, organized by Grapevine Book Tours! Read an excerpt from this NA Contemporary Romance, and enter to win a gift card or eBook copy. Don’t forget to visit the event page for a list of participating blogs with more excerpts and an author interview!

Playing Pretend

by Juliana Haygert

Publication: March 3rd, 2014

New Adult Contemporary Romance

As the Governor’s daughter, Charlotte McClain is an expert in playing pretend. High society, the men her mother shoves in her direction and a Pre-Law major are all a part of her perfect pretense. But when she pretends to be a nobody during Spring Break, she meets someone who rocks her world.Mason Rowell knows heartbreak and Spring Break don’t mesh well, so he allows the mysterious Charlotte to seduce him. What should have been a fling, results in something deeper. After Spring Break has long since passed, he moves to Washington to pursue his graduate degree, but what he never expected to find living among the rich and pompous, was the girl who gave him the strength to change and the desire to start anew.

When the guy Charlotte can’t forget goes from a sensual memory to temptation in the flesh, her facade is put to the test. If she surrenders to his charms, she risks ruining her mother’s perfect career and master plan. Playing pretend is what Charlotte does best, but how long can she pretend she doesn’t love the man who made her proud of her true self?

**A light, sexy NA Contemporary Romance (17+)**

Available on:

Grab your copy today! From now until March 9th, Playing Pretend is only 99 cents!

A sneak peek inside Playing Pretend

I held her arm and pulled her back into the dark hallway. “Wait.”

“Why are you doing this?”

I didn’t let go of her arm. “Honestly, I don’t know. I just … I guess I miss you.”

A small smile appeared on her lips. “Do you miss all the girls you hook up with during spring breaks? Oh, there’s summer too, right? Busy town during summers, right?”

Annoyance was making its way into me. “For your information, I am not that kind of guy.” Wasn’t I? That was what I said I would do. “I had the same girlfriend for three years before you.”

Her smile faded. “Please, Mason …”

“What?” I slid my hands up her arms, pulling her closer. “Tell me about it.” But she didn’t. She averted her eyes. “Why are you acting so stiff and reserved?”

She jerked away from me. “That’s who I am. I call it refined and educated. Or even elegant.”

She was certainly refined, educated, and elegant, but that wasn’t it. “No, no. You’re not like that. Come on. I saw you.”

“Who you saw is someone I cannot be.”

So, that was it. She couldn’t be like that here.

“But that’s who you are, isn’t it?” I walked up to her, towering over her, pushing her against the wall. “That’s who you have to be.”

Her eyes grew wide and she looked side to side, trying to find a way out of my trap.

“What are you going to do? Tell the world what a slut I am?” Her beautiful eyes filled with tears. “What do you want? Will you ask for money to stay quiet?”

I gave one step in her direction, bumping my legs onto hers—only a few inches separated my body from hers now—and reached around her, brushing my fingertips along the bare skin of her back.

“I want you,” I whispered in her ear. Her breath hitched, and I took pleasure in feeling her back arching with my touch, her body shivering with my breath.

Her hands grasped my arms. “Please,” she gasped.

I loved when she begged. “I want the real you. The one that spent six wonderful days with me.” I slid my tongue along her jaw and her nails dug into the skin of my arms. Damn, her scent was like drugs. I was addicted. “The one I know is in there. Let her out. For me.”

“I can’t,” she whispered. Then she pushed me back and, in tears, she dashed away.

While Juliana Haygert dreams of being Wonder Woman, Buffy, or a blood elf shadow priest, she settles for the less exciting—but equally gratifying—life of a wife, mother, and author. Thousands of miles away from her former home in Brazil, she now resides in Connecticut and spends her days writing about kick-ass heroines and the heroes who drive them crazy.

• One (1) $10 Amazon or B&N gift card {INT}

• Two (2) eBook copies of Playing Pretend by Juliana Haygert {INT}

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