He counts her smiles every day and night at the train station. And morning and evening, the beautiful commuter acknowledges him—just like she does everyone else on the platform. But Blake Hartt is not like the others . . . he’s homeless. Memories of a broken childhood have robbed him of peace and twisted delusions into his soul. He stays secluded from the sun, sure the world would run from him in the harsh light of day. 


Each day, Livia McHugh smiles politely and acknowledges her fellow commuters as she waits for the train to the city. She dismisses this kindness as nothing special, just like her. She’s the same as a million other girls—certainly no one to be cherished. But special or not, she smiles every day, never imagining that someone would rely on the simple gesture as if it were air to breathe. 


When the moment comes that Livia must do more than smile, without hesitation she steps into the fray to defend the homeless man. And she's surprised to discover an inexplicable connection with her new friend. After danger subsides, their smiles become conversation. Their words usher in a friendship, which awakens something in each of them. But it’s not long before their bond must prove its strength. Entanglements from the past challenge both their love and their lives. 


Blake’s heart beats for Livia’s, even if her hands have to keep its rhythm. Love is patient. Love is kind. Love never fails. Love never fails, right? 





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I've lost count on how many FF posts I've missed but it's good to be back on track again! I sincerely apologize for the lack of posting and commenting this year and I will try my very best to visit your blogs every once in a while like how you do to mine. Without further ado :

Q: Do you read one book at a time or do you switch back and forth between two or more?

Carrier of the Mark - Leigh Fallon Published : October 4th 2011

When Megan Rosenberg moves to Ireland, everything in her life seems to fall into place. After growing up in America, she's surprised to find herself feeling at home in her new school. She connects with a group of friends, and she is instantly drawn to the darkly handsome Adam DeRís. 


But Megan is about to discover that her feelings for Adam are tied to a fate that was sealed long ago - and the passion and power that brought them together could be their ultimate destruction.  


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Hey y'all,


I know I haven't been blogging much (blame school!) and I haven't been getting around to your blogs or even to reply your comments (blame school!), but thank you for still visiting my blog and comment on my posts! (I swear after this year, and if I'm not repeating the course, I'll be much more free).


Getting to the point, few Fridays ago, I was extremely excited to write a review for Counterfeit Love, an ebook that I won from Ritesh's blog that I was daring enough to approach the lovely author, Elysa Hendricks for an interview! Thanks Ritesh for the encouragement! So without further ado...

Introducing the Family. 

1. Hey Alexandra, I heard you have a recent addition to your family. How’s your little pet doing? And how about school? Does daddy make you breakfast every morning?

Hi, Miss Anne. Samson is my best friend. Daddy said he's living up to his name. He's getting too big to get in my lap. (She tugs Samson's large head onto her lap. He gives her a happy doggy grin.)

School's fun. I like math. Ms Reed, my teacher says I'm really smart with numbers. I get A's. Maggie thinks it's in my jeans, but I figure out the answers to the problems on paper or in my head. I don't keep the answers in my jeans. That'd be cheating. Besides some days I wear a dress.

Daddy still makes dinner most nights. Grandma Blake taught him how to cook and she shows me stuff when she visits. But Maggie's taking cooking lessons from Mrs. Larkin and she's getting better at cooking. Even though sometimes they're lumpy, I like her pancakes. She puts chocolate chips in them. (She gives Maggie an apologetic smile. She grins back.)

2. What do you think of Maggie?

Maggie's the best mother. Since she and Daddy got married we have lots of fun. She lets me help catch computer bad guys. And she's a lot better with girl stuff like clothes, make-up and boys than Daddy.
"Make-up? Boys?" Jared butts in looking mildly alarmed. "You're not allowed to be interested in boys until you're a least thirty."
(Alex giggles.)

3. With Maggie in the family, does your dad still sew your costumes and cook dinner? And in your opinion, who’s food taste better?

Like I said, Daddy does most of the cooking and I help. Maggie cleans up. She says it's safer and better tasting that way. But she sews a lot. She made me a bunch of new clothes. All my friends are jealous.


4. Maggie, in our eyes, Jared is the epitome of perfection, but surely he has some bad habits, does he?

Not really. Sometimes he can be a little bit stuffy, but mostly I think he's just about perfect.

5. Jared, where do you see yourself ten years from now?

Right where I am now. Teaching at Council Falls high school and living with my two favorite people. (He wraps one arm around Maggie and the other around Alex.) I've also started my own small computer consulting firm in conjunction with Maggie's computer security company. I tell companies what they need and she makes sure their systems are secure.

6. Maggie and Jared, how’s life? ~grins~

(Jared looks at Maggie.) Perfect. (She blushes.)



7. What is your idea of family time?

Jared - Spending our evenings together, going for a walk or a bike ride, reading, playing a game, watching some TV. Nothing terribly exciting I'm afraid.

Maggie - Since moving to Council Falls I've discovered that excitement is vastly overrated. In real life boring can be good. The simple things are what's important. Like waking up in the morning when Alex and Samson invade our bed.

Jared groans - We really need to get a king-sized bed.

Alex - I like when we go to the park or Great-Grandma and Grandpa Blake's farm. I'm learning to ride a horse. Visiting Grandma and Grandpa Blake in Florida after we went to Disney World was fun too.

8. Jared and Maggie, what is your sweetest memory yet?

Jared - Finding out that the woman I love was indeed a woman and not a teenaged girl.

Maggie - Funny you didn't seem happy about it at the time. I think just knowing that there are people who love me and will always be here for me is the sweetest thing of all.

9. This question is open to everyone! Tell me something random about yourselves.

Alex - Can I tell? Can I? (Alex bounces up and down, disturbing Samson who plops down on the floor with a disgruntled woof.)
(Jared looks at Maggie, who smiles and nods.)

Alex - In September I'm going to be in the fourth grade and (she pauses for dramatic effect) I'm going to be a BIG sister! Daddy and Maggie are going to have a baby. We don't know yet if it'll be a boy or a girl, but Daddy and I are hoping for a girl. Maggie says she doesn't care, but if she wants a boy she can have him the next time. (Maggie looks slightly alarmed, but Jared grins.)

10. This is unusual for me, but…Samson….tell us how you feel to finally found a home.
Woof, woof, ark, bark, growl. Howl.
That means he likes living with us. And he wants a baby girl too. (Alex translates.)

And now, introducing Elysa Hendricks, the one who make the story happen!

1. How did you come up with the idea for Counterfeit Love? And where have you found your inspiration to write about such wonderful characters?

Characters seem to spring to life in my mind without much conscious thought on my part. Sometimes I think they'll real people who exist in an alternate reality and somehow I've tapped into their lives. If I could teach them to type my writing would go so much faster.


Truthfully, the character of Maggie was inspired by a woman I knew who at 26 years old was always being mistaken for a teenager as well as my 28 year old son who was once asked if he needed a child's menu at a restaurant. And Jared is loosely (very loosely) based on one of my high school English teachers who I had a crush on. It wasn't until decades later that I learned that handsome hunk was gay.

2. What was the hardest part of writing the story?


Balancing Jared's sexual attraction to Maggie with his strong moral resistance to even thinking about one of his students as woman. I think I managed to walk that fine line. 

3. Do you have a favorite quote and character from the book?

Not really. Counterfeit Love is pretty much a three character book - Jared, Maggie and Alex - each is my favorite in their own way. I did like Widow Larkin's line - "Don't go giving me a look like butter wouldn't melt in your mouth. I've been alive a long time and I've learned to read people pretty well. If you're eighteen then I just turned thirty, and Eisenhower was president then. Watch your step little miss. Council Falls protects its own."


4. Can you tell us something random about yourself?


What do you want to know? My life is an open book. No deep dark secrets. No skeletons that I'm aware of. Basic vanilla bland and boring. But like Maggie says, Boring is good. Excitement is vastly overrated.


I'm 5'6" tall. I have curly hair and brown eyes. I'm an author, a wife, a mother, and a daughter. Everything else is subject to change without notice.


Oh, I'm a freaking optimist. I rarely take things totally seriously. And I have an absolutely terrible memory for people's names and faces. So if I run into you and we've met before, don't be insulted if I get a deer-in-the-headlights look. It's not you, it's me. 

5. So do you have a new story in mind?

I always have at least two or three stories actively in progress along with dozens of ideas in the simmering stage. As I lie in bed at night waiting to fall asleep characters whisper in my mind - write my story, no, write mine.


I love to read and to write all different sub-genres of romantic fiction - contemporary, historical, sci-fi and fantasy.


Right now I'm working on finishing up a contemporary fantasy romance about a matchmaking cat. I also have an adventure romance set in the jungle between a mercenary and a grade school teacher caught up in a South American revolution.


And a friend and I co-wrote a humorous women's fiction novel called GRANNIES AND TRANNIES: VEGAS OR BUST, which we're shopping around to agents and editors.

Hello everyone!


As you can see, today is my day for Lizzy Ford's blog tour! Don't you just love the amazing blog tour button? It took my breath away every time I see it. Without further ado, let's get started!



1. Interacting with readers.  I had no idea how rich the interactions with others would be when I started.  My writing has improved dramatically this year because of the feedback I receive from my readers, and I’m grateful to them for helping me become a better writer.

2. Unleashing the demons!  I call my muses ‘demons,’ mainly because they give me little time to rest! It’s wonderful to be able to create new worlds and books for a living.

3. Living a dream.  I’ve wanted to be a fulltime writer since I was knee-high, and fulfilling that dream is an incredible feeling.

4. Owning my own business.  Being an independently published writer is a lot like owning your own business.  You have to manage the development of a product, marketing, advertising, sales, everything.  Results are directly related to the efforts you put into the business, which isn’t something I’d experienced as someone who worked full time for The Man my whole life.

5. Learning from other writers.  I’m a huge fan of lifelong learning, and I’m meeting a lot of other authors out there who I’m learning a great deal from.  It can be something as simple as a new advertising opportunity or debates on what is the best choice when dealing with book placement.

6. FREEDOM.  Can’t say it enough!  There are tons of opportunities right now.  For those who like to control their own fates, they now can, whereas a lot of writers didn’t have that choice before epublishing came along.

7. Covers.  This will sound funny, but one of my favorite parts of the process is seeing what my cover artist has done.  She’s incredible, especially given that I’m a very poor client in terms of specifying what I want.  I normally give her a blurb and describe how the book feels, and she creates something beautiful and sends it back.  I dance around every time she does!

8. Seeing the paperback version of my book for the first time.  Ebooks are awesome, but it’s not until I receive the paperback version that I sit back and think, WOW!

9. Building a team.  I was always good at building teams for my old jobs, but I never thought about applying that skill to my own goals, until I released my second book last year.  I started working with a freelance book editor and freelance graphics designer in March.  My husband does my I.T. work and helps me with my online presence.  I’m expanding this team now to include 2-3 core beta readers.  Producing a book is a team effort!

10. Achieving goals I never thought were possible.  My favorite book that I’ve written will be released at the end of this month.  It was based on an idea – and a story I started – over ten years ago.  It’s always held this sort of magic to me, so seeing it go out into the world is something I’ve wanted for ten years.  I tried for 10+ years to land an agent or publisher without success (or responses, in most cases), and decided a year ago I’d do it on my own.  And now, ten books later, I’m getting ready to release my favorite book!

About Lizzy

Lizzy Ford is the self-publishing phenom of the sweet paranormal romance series: "Rhyn Trilogy" and "War of Gods" series; and the young adult fantasy trilogy, “The Foretold,” all of which launched in 2011.  She has also authored multiple single title young adult fantasy and paranormal romances. Lizzy's books have reached the bestseller lists on both Amazon US and Amazon UK in multiple categories. Widely considered a freak of nature by her contemporaries for her ability to write and publish a new book every 30-45 days, Lizzy attributes her success to a team that consists of her editor, graphics artist, I.T. Sherpa, and her rabid readers.  


Lizzy released ten books in 2011 and intends to release another ten in 2012, including launching two more series. Lizzy’s books can be found on every major ereader library, to include: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, iBooks, Kobo, Sony and Smashwords. She lives in southern Arizona with her husband, three dogs and a cat.  

Links to Lizzy online:

Website: http://www.guerrillawordfare.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/LizzyFordBooks
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/LizzyFord2010
Google+: https://plus.google.com/b/106728579413949863215/#106728579413949863215/
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4558309.Lizzy_Ford
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Lizzy-Ford/e/B004XTTYOC/

About Lizzy's books

Book 1

Katie thinks she’s going crazy when a baby immortal and death’s personal assistant appear at her doorstep. She’s drawn into a world filled with immortals like Rhyn, an outcast half-breed who claims her as his mate in a show of defiance to his brothers. Rhyn rescues her from Hell and discovers his little human has the gift of immortal immunity that will help his brothers protect the immortal and mortal worlds. 


But Rhyn must keep her alive from good and bad immortals determined to use her and her gift of immortal immunity to their advantage, and Katie must find a way to trust the outcast of the immortal world.

Book 2

Three weeks after leaving Rhyn, Katie learns the Immortals have no intention of letting her go despite her deal with their leader. Rhyn discovers he can only protect her if he accepts his place among the Immortals. However, doing so may cost him the only thing that matters. 


Meanwhile, demons are closing in, and Death orders Katie killed. Death's assassin and the demons pursue them, and Katie will have to choose between Death or Hell to save Rhyn from both.




I seldom see book covers in red. I LOVE THEM.

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Follow Me Friday is a weekly meme hosted by Parajunkee and Alison Can Read. Check out their blogs and join in the weekly meme fun!

Q: Have you ever looked at book's cover and thought, This is going to horrible? But, was instead pleasantly surprised? Show us the cover and tell us about the book.

My first impression of the book.

Childish.

Truthfully, I was hesitant to read the book because of the cover, and the obviously-very-kiddish title. I remembered my last 'kiddish' book was Captain Underpants before I moved on to Teenager's Dreamland. Back to the cover, it looked something cut straight out of a fourth grader storybook, despite how thick it was. However, I should have known not to judge a book by it's cover, ever.

I was pleasantly surprised at how funny the story was, and how carefree and vibrant the characters were! I initially planned to just read  a few pages into the story, before I knew it, I was in too deep. I had the best laugh and best cries, until today I still remembered how the book had got me excited.

I.Love.It.

Thank you for stopping by my blog! Please leave your link and I'll be sure to check your post!

Have a great Friday!

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Tell Me Something Tuesday is a weekly meme created by Cambria Hebert. Click on her link and join in the TMST fun!


Tell Me Something....


Do you usually like the book better than the movie or the movie better than the book? What is your favorite book to movie adaptation you have ever seen.

Definitely not the latter.

I am huge fans of both movies and books, however I disliked watching a movie adaptation if I had read the book beforehand.

Take Twilight as an example. I had great time watching Twilight because I had zero expectations for the movie, but the subsequent chapters weren't that much appealing because I've gone ahead and bought the books to read. Which I sort of regretted because I have high expectations for the next installments and hated when I disappoint myself. I have to blame myself for not liking New Moon as much as I liked Twilight, I supposed if I never read the books, I would love Twilight even more instead of criticizing the movie for not being like the book. I have to say, books set a pretty high standard for the movie.

I love to watch movie adaptations, only if I have never read the book because I couldn't stop myself from comparing, and I hated myself when I do that. Well, I am looking forward to Hunger Games though, I try to not expect anything and just let the movie 'wow' me.

I enjoyed watching several movie adaptations such as Percy Jackson, I am Number Four and Beastly because I went to watch the movie without knowing the plot, and I came out happy and content. Even more, I found myself loving the story even more after I watched the movie and then read the book.

In a nutshell, I will like a movie adaptation if I haven't read the book.

And for my favorite? Well....I can't say I read much books which was made into movies, but I loved Harry Potter, so there ya go!



Comment and please give me a feedback! (I sounded so cynical in this post....) Don't forget to leave your link below so I can check yours out too. Happy Tuesday!

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Hello Everyone,

It's Sunday and I'm too lazy to do my homework, so today I have been reading Free Short Stories that I downloaded from Smashwords.com, and to my surprised I was addicted to each and every one of them.


1. Brenin by Mirriam Smyth
Dylan can't say he's ever met someone like Bre before. She's warm, giving, loving and compassionate. Dylan just doesn't realize how giving she is until she suffers an immense loss. It's not about just understanding but about depending on each other. It's about Dylan giving her what she's always given away so easily: love. 

My Review 
This one is a real tearjerker, a short 42 pages story that will leave quite an impact on your day.  A great and heartwarming story about family and love.



2. A Secret Admirer by Alexia Pranks 

A romantic short story about a lonely girl finally meeting her guy on Valentine's Day. 

My Review 
14 pages.
I must have a thing for short stories.
Besides the promising cover art, the story was surprisingly good! A quick and cute romantic story that left me grinning like an idiot.



3. Madison by Mirriam Smyth

Madison's first glimpse of Damien Stone was fleeting - she walked by him, greeting him with a smile. He was nothing more than a stranger. Damien barely acknowledged her existence until he caught her scent - she was his. But his appearance in her life forces a change she doesn't understand, a change he wants to help her understand. 


My Review
A refreshing short story about werewolves and vampires which reminded me how seriously a werewolf takes his mate!


For more free books, please visit Smashwords! Only from 4th-10th March!

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Ten years ago, in a failed attempt to save his marriage, Jared Blake left his hometown. Now he’s widowed, back in town to raise his young daughter and return to his true calling – teaching. The last thing he needs or wants is his attraction to his student - high school senior, Maggie McCade.


Maggie McCade is in high school hell. To ferret out a computer hacker and further her dream of starting a security firm, 29-year-old Maggie goes undercover as a student. The last thing she needs or wants is to fall in love with her prime suspect – her teacher, Jared Blake.


4.5 stars 
Reviewed by,

Follow Me Friday is a weekly meme hosted by Parajunkee and Alison Can Read. Check out their blogs and join in the weekly meme fun!

Q: What book would you love to see made into a movie or television show and do you have actors/actresses in mind to play the main characters?

Max Irons was also my dream cast for Four from Divergent.










Abby Abernathy - Deborah Ann Woll 





You might recognize her from True Blood. She played Jessica and I love her from the show!







I'm sorry I haven't been getting to your blogs on last Friday but I promise I'll make it up to you in this week. It is hard to juggle between University assignments and blogging but now that I am through with this hell week, I am a little bit more free to dedicate my time to blogging!

Thank you for dropping by my blog and check out my FF post, please leave a link to your  blog and I'll check out yours too! Happy Friday!

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