Little Things Blog Hop

Hi everyone my name is BK Rivers and I am one of over 100 authors/bloggers/ on
the Little Things Blog Hop! Make sure you visit each stop and enter the posted giveaway and don't forget to enter the main rafflecopter which has a $50 amazon gift card grand prize and tons of other prizes!

For those of you who don’t me, I am the author of Raining Down Rules, a new adult contemporary romance novel. As a writer, it's commonplace to throw out author jargon, so in case you're not sure what new adult is, let me sum it up for you.

New Adult is a fairly new classification for novels (like young adult or women's fiction), and typically the main character(s) are between the ages of 18 and 26 who are attending college, or maybe working their first real job or possibly just living on their own for the first time. These characters also go through a period of self-discovery and come out at the end of the novel a better and stronger version of who they were at the beginning of the book.

I'm going to jump right in to the giveaway for my stop on the Blog Hop.

I am offering 2 copies of Raining Down Rules to the winner, 1 for you and 1 for your friend! Here's a little about my book:

Jemma Bowers hasn’t kissed anyone in over a thousand days. She knows—she’s counted.

For twenty-year-old Jemma, rules are not meant to be broken…even if she’s the one who created them. Friendships have boundaries, relationships mean trouble, and don’t even get her started on sex. Haunted by the death of her mother and her father’s abandonment, Jemma finds herself hungry for something meaningful and permanent, but is afraid of what may happen if she pursues it.

Jordan Capshaw can’t fight his addiction. Not even if it will cost him his career…

When Jemma finds Jordan drunk and barefoot in the street, she convinces him to get in her car. Aside from the fact he’s the lead singer of her favorite band and pretty much the rock star of her dreams, she quickly realizes his addiction is a monster neither of them can control.

Who knew choosing between a rock star and a fireman could be so difficult?

Emotions run high as Jemma soon finds herself caught between the troubled rock star and her growing affections for Vic Harper, a swoon-worthy firefighter from her past. But when her grandmother passes away, leaving her with no other family, Jemma’s world falls apart.

To save herself from further heartbreak, she risks it all by breaking her own rules, and putting her heart on the line.

After all, the heart just might be the biggest rule breaker of them all.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Visit next: Clover Autrey

Main Blog Hop Giveaway:

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Thank you so much for stopping by and good luck with all the giveaways! 

Facebook New Year's Hop & Giveaway

You’re Invited!

What's a better way to kick off 2016 than with 30 giveaways?

On January 10th join a collection of authors for a day of giveaways! We have everything from New York Times bestsellers & Amazon bestsellers, to new authors, and even a few bloggers so there will be something for everyone.

Here’s how it works:

All you have to do is visit the authors’ Facebook pages and look for the post with #NewYearHop at the top. Each author will be hosting a giveaway so follow their directions on how to enter and when you're ready follow the link they'll provide to the next author's page.

Here's the full list of participating authors:

Mia Hoddell

A.K. Morgen

Aimee McNeil

Lindsay Detwiler

Marianne Rice

Michelle Jo Quinn

Debbie De Louise

Susan Mac Nicol

Kat Shehata

Natalina Reis

A. Gorman

Ottilie Weber

R. Holland

BK Rivers

Theresa DaLayne

Carissa Lynch

Jaci Wheeler

Carolyn LaRoche

Lilly James

Amy Reece

S Valentine

Alison Mello

Lisa Cardiff

Blissfully Bookerized

Jennifer Allis Provost

L.J. Sealey

M.A. Stacie

J.L. Drake

Kim Black

ES Carter

*All authors/bloggers are responsible for their own giveaways. They will be choosing the winners and sending out prizes.*

I am excited to give away one eARC copy of RAINING DOWN RULES which will be released on February 9, 2016. Winner will receive their eARC copy through their kindle email address. Here is the book blurb (cover will be released on Tuesday, January 12th!!):

Jemma Bowers hasn’t kissed anyone in over a thousand days. She knows—she’s counted.

For twenty-year-old Jemma, rules are not meant to be broken…even if she’s the one who created them. Friendships have boundaries, relationships mean trouble, and don’t even get her started on sex. Haunted by the death of her mother and her father’s abandonment, Jemma finds herself hungry for something meaningful and permanent, but is afraid of what may happen if she pursues it.

Jordan Capshaw can’t fight his addiction. Not even if it will cost him his career…

When Jemma finds Jordan drunk and barefoot in the street, she convinces him to get in her car. Aside from the fact he’s the lead singer of her favorite band and pretty much the rock star of her dreams, she quickly realizes his addiction is a monster neither of them can control.

Who knew choosing between a rock star and a fireman could be so difficult?

Emotions run high as Jemma soon finds herself caught between the troubled rock star and her growing affections for Vic Harper, a swoon-worthy firefighter from her past. But when her grandmother passes away, leaving her with no other family, Jemma’s world falls apart.

To save herself from further heartbreak, she risks it all by breaking her own rules, and putting her heart on the line.

After all, the heart just might be the biggest rule breaker of them all.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Book Review: Catching Fox

From author Aimee McNeil, comes an emotionally driven story about one girl's unwavering love for a troubled boy named Fox, and his father's redemption.

CATCHING FOX is Aimee McNeil's third novel. She was born and raised in Nova Scotia, Canada, where she continues to live today with her husband and three children. She is a stay-at-home mother that loves every colorful moment with her family. Aimee spends most of her free time indulging in her love of writing.

You can also find her lost in the pages of a good book, or making a mess with her paints. Aimee loves to explore anything that promotes creativity. It is one of the many reason she enjoys writing.

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Book Blurb:
A chance meeting between two young souls is all it took...

When Adalynne Fairweather was just a child, her entire life had already been planned. From Ivy League schools to a career in law, adventure was the one thing out of her reach. That was until a boy with bright green eyes and a monster truck t-shirt wandered into her back yard, giving the adventure she longed for.

Refuge can be found in the most unlikely places…

Damon Knight’s abusive home life left him longing for a childhood he never had—until he wandered into Adalynne’s yard. She took his hand, smiled at him, and even gave him a nickname. Fox. The woods became their escape—a place to flee from reality. He discovered music through Adalynne’s piano, and not long after that, she gave him a guitar. Little did he know that gift would change his life forever. 

Years later, their age is not the only thing that’s changed...

Adalynne’s love for Fox took on a life of its own. As they begin to build their lives, her heart aches for him in ways she can’t understand. As they slowly begin to drift apart, Adalynne becomes more desperate to cling to their secret romance. But Fox is no longer the bright-eyed child from the woods. Her shy, beautiful Fox has grown into a dark, troubled man with a guitar. And when her last attempt to salvage their relationship breaks Adalynne’s heart, catching Fox a second time seems just out of her reach. 

“You remind me of a fox because you are quick, quiet, and…beautiful.”

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Review:

4 / 5 stars


Sex: Yes, although for a new adult novel, the sex scenes are pretty tame compared to some.

Language: Several F-Bombs, and other mild language.

Violence: Nope, though there is some yelling.

Drugs/Alcohol: There is drinking, and some drug use by the male main character, Fox.

Nudity: Yes, it's mentioned a couple times.

What I Loved: I loved the way Fox and Addie fell in love as children. I loved how the tension grew and grew until Addie and Fox exploded, pulling at my emotions. I loved how Addie helped Fox's father and the relationship that grew because of it. I loved how much Fox loved Addie.

Why 4 Stars? I'm a reader who enjoys reading flowing sentences, and I found the writing a little choppy - not that a little choppy is a bad thing, it's just not the reading style I love. I did also find the ending a little predictable, but was so glad it ended the way it did.

What I want more of: I can't say Catching Fox left me wanting. All the pieces were tied up neatly in a pretty little bow and the ending was just about how I would have wanted it.

Who Would Like This? I think Catching Fox would appeal to most anyone who reads NA books. There isn't one thing I can think of that would deter me from recommending this book. Your emotions are tugged, relationships are tested, relationships are healed and more than that, the characters truly grow.

Where Can I Buy CATCHING FOX?

AMAZON US ➧ http://amzn.to/1TMalcT

AMAZON CAN ➧ http://amzn.to/1Yhm8RN

AMAZON UK ➧http://amzn.to/1Qlgjnl

FREE on #KindleUnlimited

BOOK TRAILER ➧ https://youtu.be/L1dy2n5uvxI

Goodreads ➧ http://bit.ly/1NQfErs

>>>>SPOILER ZONE—DO NOT read past this if you don't want to know what happens in the book!<<<<

Seriously...stop reading if you haven't read the book!!

Who doesn't love when a boy and girl meet and fall in love as children? Their love is innocent and sweet, and as it unfolds in Catching Fox, you can't help but want to see Addie and Fox together. Oh my gosh, when she finally gets to attend high school as a senior and sees Fox with his girlfriend, I was heartbroken! His admission to Addie that he never wanted her to know the part of him that wasn't "Fox" but Damon, made you want to slap him as the same time your heart was melting. It was so obvious how much he didn't like who he was and how much it hurt him to think he would never be good enough for Addie.

When we learn that for years he showed up at Addie's home to talk with her father you just fall in love with Fox even more. He tried so hard to prove he was worthy of loving Addie, yet time and time again her parents turned him down. Add that to his own father's abuse, it's a wonder Fox was half the man he turned out to be.

Addie's love for Fox keeps her from loving anyone else, and it consumes her. It's hard to read Fox blow up at her when she comes to him, but yet you can tell how much he's struggling to hold on. It's heartbreaking and some would wonder why Addie won't give up on Fox, but as her father says, "The heart loves who the heart loves."

I did think the ending was a little predictable with the concert and Fox being there and singing to Addie. But what I loved was the fort he had moved to their new house, it was sweet and very thoughtful. I also loved how much Fox loved his and Addie's son in the epilogue - it was very clear and touching.

>>>>If you love stories about young love and how it evolves, grab CATCHING FOX today!<<<<

The Infinity Dream Awards

Hello hello! Leah Bauer over at Heart Full of Ink has passed on the Infinity Dreams Award blog tag to me, and let me tell you all, this one makes you really think—like using all your thinking muscles.  So, thank you very much, Leah! Can you sense my sarcasm, or maybe it's apprehension?...So here's how it works:

• Thank and follow the blog that nominated you.
• Tell us eleven facts about yourself.
• Answer the questions that were set for you to answer.
• Nominate 11 bloggers and set questions for them.

 

11 RANDOM FACTS ABOUT ME:

1. I stopped reading when I was in the 3rd grade.  Meaning not once did I read any of the required reading throughout high school, which included text books.
2. On the opposite side of the coin, the first book I wrote was in 3rd grade called, Lanny the Lovely Elephant (I couldn't draw a Lion at the time so I went with an elephant that I could draw).
3. I like alliteration still to this day.  In fact, the young reader book I'm writing is called Terry Tarantula and his partner is Fred Fly.  All the insects in the book are like that. 
4. I entered the Jr. Miss competition when I was a Junior in high school.  I sang Don't Cry For Me Argentina by Madonna from the Evita soundtrack.  I didn't win, but not because of my singing.
5. I am a certified Wedding Planner and have my Interior Design certificate, too.  I've held so many random jobs that my resume looks like a menu.
6. I am a Jack...er Jill of all trades.  I can pretty much do/make anything I want as long as I see it first.
7. Shannon Hale's THE GOOSE GIRL was the book that made me fall in love with reading...that was 7 years ago.  I've not been able to stop reading ever since.
8. I only read 2 books in high school or junior high for pleasure reading.  Both were horror books.  DOLORES CLAIBORNE by Stephen King and THE AMITYVILLE HOUSE OF HORROR.  In Dolores Claiborne I LOVED how Mr. King described the old woman's skin, it made me really picture what she looked like.  That being said, when I watched the movie I was very bitter at the use of a thin actress.  In the Amity book, there was one point in the story that I threw the book across the room and ducked under my covers and went to sleep with my light on because it scared me so much.
9. I met my husband on the internet - way back before there was such a thing as online dating.  We chatted on an instant messaging program and hit it off.
10. I grew up riding horses and enjoyed my freedom to take off in the morning and ride all day with my cousin.  Cattle drives were amazing unless you had to stop to pee.  That's when you learn you're allergic to wild rose bushes...
11. Without Twitter, I wouldn't have been able to get a publishing contract so quickly for Chasing Forever.  Twitter has been my source for writing contests and pitch parties over the last six months.  Through #PitMad (and Brenda Drake), I was able to receive an offer of publication from Limitless Publishing.  I can't wait to be able to physically hold my book in my hand!

If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go and why?

I would travel to Ireland to explore all the old castles, crumbling or standing it wouldn't matter. The only problem with visiting is I know I would fall in love and want to buy some small cottage in the middle of nowhere with the old rock fences and stay there the rest of my life.

Who is your favorite book character and why?

Jane Eyre because she overcomes so many struggles, pushes herself to love and when her heart is crushed she does what so many of us would do and runs away.  When she comes face to face with her love she reconciles with him, pushing away her fears and embraces love fully.

What do you do when you have writer’s block?

I find my motivation to move past writer's block through music and reading.  I find if I'm feeling stuck then I know I need to read.  I don't read just a few chapters, though, I read 1-2 books a day for about a week and then my block usually dissolves.  If I'm struggling with a particular scene then I just put in my earbuds, crank up the music and do some word wars or sprints with friends.

What was the last book you read that kept you up reading late into the night?

Hmmm...any book I've read, honestly.  Like I said above, I read 1-2 books in a day thus sometimes I stay up until midnight to finish.  But the most recent that really stuck with me was THE CONSEQUENCES OF LOVING COLTON by Rachel Van Dyken - it was a little predictable but had me laughing and crying and I was unable to put it down.

There was great chemistry between the two main characters, and who doesn't love a story about the girl crushing on her brother's best friend?   This one has a happily ever after that makes fairy tales swoon.

 Describe your current WIP in 140 characters or less.

Recovering substance abusing rockstar returns home 2 reconcile w/parents, stumbles upon the love he left behind & is blown away by a secret.

If you could have any superpower, what would you choose and why?

I would have the blinky-scrunchy-nose trick that I Dream of Jeanne had - especially when it comes to laundry.  I blink and BOOM laundry is clean, dry, folded and put away. 

What’s one under-appreciated book you think everyone should read and why?

This one is tough.  One of my favorites is THE GOOSE GIRL by Shannon Hale.  It's a fairy tale retelling and I loved it and have read it probably 4 times in the last 5 years.  I'm not exactly sure if this would be considered under-appreciated, but it's one I recommend everyone read!

Are you a plotter or a pantster? What sort of planning, if any, do you do before writing your first draft of a novel?

I started out writing as a pantser, wrote one complete novel in 30 days and realized I had so many plot holes and inconsistencies that I wanted to try to do some basic outlining.  Now, I do quite a bit more planning for my novels.  I start out by learning about my characters and putting a famous actor/actresses face to my character.  I figure out what they want or what their motivation throughout the novel is.

After I do that for each of my main or secondary characters, I move on to a timeline and important dates for each character.  After that, I write a 1-2 sentence breakdown for each chapter in the novel.  Then, I start writing and see how closely my story follows my outlining!

What are three words that best describe your personality and why?

Honest - because I despise lies and lying.
Creative - I'm always writing something, baking something new, working on some household decorating project, sewing, crafting or sketching.
Supportive - I enjoy helping others feel uplifted and so supporting them and their choices is something I feel is important in a friendship or relationship.

If you were going on an adventure, what would you pack in your knapsack?

This is a tricky one...being married with 3 kids my hubby and I haven't been on a couple's vacay or retreat in 8 years (umm...it's time to get away).  I would for sure bring my good camera, mosquito repellent (because I'm like a magnet to those suckers), clean underwear, sunscreen and dry shampoo!

What is the most played song on your iPod (or whatever apparatus you use to listen to music)?

Do Disney movies in the car count?  No?  Shoot!  Okay, I don't have an iPod or anything like that to listen to music anymore.  I used to have a Discman (do they still make those?)  I listen to the radio or Pandora any time I can, and always when I'm writing.  My favorite Pandora station is the Gotye station I've created.  Favorite artists include: Gotye, Snow Patrol, Sia.

TAG! You're it:

Gypsy Rae Choszer | C.M. McCoy | Kaitlyn Johnson | Nicole Lynn Hoefs | Louisa Aricheta | Vanessa Peay | Laura E. Weymouth | Sydney Scrogham | Jennifer Farrar | Katerina Baker | Laura Brown |

Here's what I want to know about you:

1. Is there a certain snack you like to eat while writing?
2. What do you do to get in the mood to write?
3. What is your favorite obscure word?  Use it in a short pitch for your current WIP.
4. What is one food you can't live without?
5. Name a celebrity you would love to spend a day with.  What would you do?
6. If you could take a class in anything, what would it be and why?
7. What is one book you can read over and over again, why?
8. What inspired your current WIP?
9. Who is your favorite book hero, why?
10. If you could live in any time period, what would it be and why?
11. Which would you rather be, a vampire or werewolf, why?

The Next Big Thing Blog Hop

So last week, my blogging buddy tagged me in a blog hop post and what's a person to do?  Play along, of course!  So here is a link to Sarah's blog post in which she was also tagged.

Let's just get right to it:

1 - What is the working title of your book?

A Horse Named Penelope

2 - Where did the idea come from for the book?

I was brainstorming for 2012's NaNoWriMo at a writer's conference just before Nano and there was this idea forming in the back of my mind.  I had intended on going into Nano writing a Middle Grade book about a boy who lost something at school and accidentally came across a little red door that leads him to other historical era's.  But to me the title of the book (The Little Red Door) sounded more like a Young Adult contemporary novel and I felt it needed to have something to do with drug abuse of some kind.  I know - weird, but I gave it some thought and it developed into the story that it is now.  And I have to say -- I LOVE it.

3 - What genre does your book fall under?

Young Adult Contemporary

4 - Which actors would you choose to to play your characters in a movie rendition?

I haven't thought much about this yet, which is odd because when I write, a lot of times I end up writing what something looks like in my head.  Like the way a scene comes across on a movie screen - I see it in my head and then I write it.  Suffice it to say, my characters are pretty faceless in my head.

But - if I had to pick the perfect Natalie, someone who is pretty without trying too hard, short, and complex, she could definitely be played by: Emmy Rossum



As for Gabe, he's a little harder to pinpoint.  I'm in a weird actor/fan place as I don't necessarily think the younglings out there can fit the bill.  In my perfect world, my Gabe would be: Matt Bomer.



5 - What is a one-sentence synopsis of your book?

Is it bad that I haven't written one yet?  Oh well, here is the "book jacket" description of Penelope:

Natalie Miller has felt invisible to everyone around her ever since she can remember, even her own parents don't seem to notice her. In a desperate cry for love and attention, she does the one thing she thinks will end her misery: commit suicide. But she can't even get that right.

With the advice and recommendations of the hospital doctors, Natalie is sent to an Equine Rehab Camp to recover from her "accident" as her parents call it. Camp life is dreadful and group is even worse - but Natalie doesn't mind the horses. With the help of a horse named Penelope and a boy named Gabe, Natalie learns to love herself and to treasure the life that is hers.

6 - Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?

I plan on submitting my writings to agents - no matter what novel it is.  I feel that agents are there to help you get the best deal that work for you and, honestly, the self-pub route just confuses me.

7 - How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?

Well, seeing as how this novel is not yet finished, I'd say so far, 4 months.  I did some very BASIC planning at the end of October, wrote like mad in November (then got sick because of being pregnant), took December off and am now getting back into writing.  I think I'll have the first draft finished by the end of February - which would make the start to finish writing this book about 4 months.

8 - What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?

Okay, another odd answer.  Truth time.  I'm not much of a contemporary novel reader.  I've read a few Jodi Piccult novels which were okay for me, but not exciting.  I prefer to read Young Adult fantasy or dystopian or light sci-fi - and you don't find many books out there in those genres dealing with suicide.

9 - Who or what inspired you to write this book?

It's hard to say really what inspired me to write Penelope.  It's funny really, because when I'm working on a book there's this nagging feeling I get that tells me the story needs to be told.  I feel like my characters have something to say and something to learn and by writing it down I feel like I've accomplished something.

10 - What else about your book might pique the reader's interest?

I think the main thing about this book is that it's not depressing.  Suicide in itself is so heavy, but this book remains positive and my character Natalie grows so much as a person throughout the story.  She finds confidence, friendship, love and the relationships with her parents and peers becomes something she loves.

And there's a horse - who doesn't love a horse?!?

Tagged

Cheri Miklich

RULES:
Answer these ten questions about your current WIP on your blog.
Tag (up to) five other writers/bloggers with their links so we can hop over and meet them.