​

Lone Digger by Caravan Palace
This one is just such a cool, upbeat tune, I could totally see Masie bouncing around to this in the club.
We Found Love (cover) by Postmodern Jukebox
This is already my go-to for the more romantic scenes in the books, so slow and jazzy.
Let’s Misbehave by Irving Aaronson & His Commanders
A true classic of the period. So fun and liberating.
You Don’t Love Me by Caro Emerald
I just love her voice. This is what Masie sounds like in my head.
Booty Swing by Parov Stelar
This entire album in on my phone. It’s impossible to be sad and listen to this music.
A Little Party Never Killed Nobody by Fergie and GoonRock and Q-Tip
I have most of the new Great Gatsby soundtrack, but this is hands down my favorite.
We Can’t Stop (cover) by Postmodern Jukebox
I feel like Miley would be right at home in this period, she would be the flapperest of flappers.

You can listen to the playlist here: 

If you’d like to check out the book trailer, you can see it here: https://youtu.be/ZaOmqCgPxM0
 
Pre-order your copy of THE CANARY CLUB here: http://a.co/1QzpGrL
See where it all began with the short story anthology, GLITTER AND GOLD here: http://a.co/d9jP88M
Join me at my website, www.sherryficklin.com or the official CANARY CLUB website, www.thecanary.club
​

Bad Bloods: November Rain and November Snow

Black Crown by Camille Corazon and Silent Ryder 
Murakami by Made In Heights 

Bad Bloods: July Thunder and July Lightning

Black Sheep by Gin Wigmore
Hey Mami by Sylvan Esso 
Kill of the Night by Gin Wigmore
Ain’t Gonna Drown by Elle King
Castle by Halsey
Drift by Alina Baraz & Galimatias 

You can listen to Shannon's playlist right here: 

ShannonAThompson@aol.com
@AuthorSAT
www.ShannonAThompson.com
Facebook/AuthorShannonAThompson

I don’t know about other writers, but music has played a huge part in my work. If I get writer’s block, I listen to music until inspiration hits. If I am having a hard time finding the right emotional tone for a scene, I listen to music. Sooner or later, I find the perfect song to set the mood.
 
In my book Crushed, there is a scene that has been tagged “the red dress scene.” The main character, Kristen, goes on a date with the boy she is falling hard for, and his name is Zach. It is a bittersweet moment because he is leaving town. They don’t think they’ll see each other again. She shows up wearing a sexy red dress, and the two of them dance amid lit candles on his terrace. The song that was playing for them and for me was “Lady in Red” by Simply Red.
 
Most of the time my characters are not listening to the song that I am playing. That was just an extreme case. But it worked.
 
While writing my Order of the Spirit Realm series, starting with the book Bait, I listened to a lot of different music. The key male character in these books is a guy named Nick Gallos; although, he also goes by Tyler Beck and lives a second life as a rock singer. Nick Gallos is a vampire hunter. He and his friends grew up wanting to have a rock band, so they did. They tour the world and slaughter vampires when they aren’t on stage.
 
Nick’s band plays some songs during the course of the books that are unknown to readers. They are songs I made up because the band has to have their own music since they are so famous. But they also play a few songs that were written by other bands. One of them is “Kickstart My Heart” by Motley Crue. 

Music is just so important to my writing. I can’t overstate that fact. I don’t think I’d be able to write without it. 

Maybe because I have absolutely no musical talent in my body, I've held music in high esteem most of my life. When my dreams of at least being the cool Stevie Nicks in an indie band somewhere were thoroughly put to sleep by my realization that I can't even keep a beat, I decided to stick to being a music fan girl. The Penny Lane life is real, folks! And it's a noble calling, to be sure.
 
Music is and always has been a huge part of my writing life, too. Between the countless movie soundtracks I blasted for emotional inspiration, to the bands that I have counted on again and again for energy through their songs, music is my go-to for creativity. But there's one band that always sticks out most for me in terms of inspiration: the appropriately named British band Muse.
 
While working on the Alien Pop Star series, I was endlessly inspired by the color, bonkers personality, and silly swagger of Muse's Panic Station music video. It was a celebratory video of epic proportions, and in a lot of ways, it inspired me to get back to my most honest and glittery self. It also inspired the zany universe of Griffin, Dev, Daisy, Kammie, and all of the people they meet in their intergalactic journeys.
 
Muse is more than a band for their fans. They represent a love of life, a curiosity, a questioning of authority and technology, a dreaminess about the future, and a real family spirit among so many of the fans. Many of my closest friends have come to me through music, and several of them through Muse specifically. Their live shows are also just out and out the best spectacles ever.
 
But Muse wasn't my only musical powerhouse of inspiration for the Alien Pop Star books! David Bowie, the Weeknd, Goldfrapp, Dragonette, Lana Del Rey, Daughter, White Lies, the Horrors, and Chrome Canyon were among go-to artists. Below is a list of some songs I listened to while writing the series, editing the series, thinking about the series, or convincing my publisher to let me extend my deadline a little again. Oooops. Enjoy!

Buy link for Dating: https://www.amazon.com/Dating-Alien-Pop-Star/dp/1634221753
 
Buy link for Engaged: https://www.amazon.com/Engaged-Alien-Pop-Star/dp/1634222296

Here's all the places where you can check in with Melanie and all the amazing stuff she does! Everything she does is awesome!  
You won't want to miss a thing!

 YouTube  - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUAZzbSuTfzW0_mu9sPemnA

Twitter -  https://twitter.com/VampLovingDork
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/VampireLovingDork/
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/vampirelovingdork
Telfie - http://telfie.com/VampireLovingDork (There is actually a Vampire Loving Dork sticker going live today lol) 
Voice of TV - https://voiceoftv.com/VampireLovingDork

Nerd Girl Book Reviews - http://nerdgirlofficial.com/blogs/nerd-girl-official-street-team-vv/melanie-aka-nerd-girl-vamp-vv/

Email  - Vampirelovingdork@gmail.com

Seventeen-year-old Allie Collins would rather spend the summer locked up in her bedroom than return to her family's cabin. Where she once found joy and freedom playing in nature, she now holds fear and guilt for the incident that occurred a year ago. One rainy, summer afternoon changed everything for Allie. However, Allie's dad forces her to join him, his new wife and step-son back at the cabin where the life-altering accident occurred. His intentions are good, but his methods prove more damaging than anything to Allie's fragile emotional state. 
​
Fortunately, Allie meets two potential book boyfriends, who keep things interesting!

Meet DAMIEN MICHALES:
While working through her grief, Allie has a few run ins with a shady character named Damien. He seems to be following her. Watching her. His purposes are unknown, yet Allie feels drawn to Damien in a way she can't even explain, in a way that pulls deeper than the immediate attraction alone. There's something about this dark haired, mysterious stranger with the piercing blue-grey eyes that invites Allie to talk about what happened last summer to her cousin. She discovers he holds secrets of his own and is running from a past that comes careening back into both of their lives in a dangerous way.

And then there's AARON JACKSON:
Charming, arrogant, tender. Aaron is the tag-along best friend of Allie's obnoxious step-brother, and Aaron is not afraid to share his disapproving opinion of Damien. Protective and instinctive, Aaron likes to offer advice--even when he's not asked for it, which drives Allie crazy sometimes. Aaron plays a major role in Allie's life, both in helping her work through her fears as well as unraveling the mystery behind Damien.

Get to know these guys for yourself! Find Lingering Echoes on Amazon.

Better yet, start this three-book series with a look at the prequel, RUMORS. It's FREE on Amazon and Barnes & Noble!
​
Rumors brings you back one year prior to Lingering Echoes, exploring Allie Collin's senior year and what it was like for her after her cousin died in the accident. Readers gain a glimpse into who Allie was before guilt and grief hardened her personality. This book allows you to see the toll that grief plays, causing havoc and discord in the life of a teenage girl who once felt so normal--a sixteen-year-old, star athlete who seemed to have it all. But what do you do when the mold of your identity no longer fits?

On today's blog, we have Holly Kelly and her very special book boyfriend! Check it out below! 

Today on the blog we have Kasi Blake! Here she discuss' some of her own characters and why they are her fave book boyfriends! 

Do you agree with Shannon's choices? Voice your opinion in the comments below! 

Today on the blog for #CTPShare, we have Holly Kelly and her book Rising!

Amazon link for Rising: http://www.amazon.com/Rising-Book-1-Holly-Kelly-ebook/dp/B00EZRNT5W/
Barnes and Noble link: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/rising-holly-kelly/1116855622?ean=2940045667876
IBooks link: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/rising/id713337972?mt=11
 
My website: http://authorhollykelly.com
Youtube link for The Rising Series Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dgn6OlBqxkc  

​Where are you from? 
I was born in Utah but moved around a bit—living in Utah, Kansas, Texas, and Hawaii. Hawaii was my favorite place to live. I absolutely adore the ocean and would love nothing better than to live close to the shore again, but alas I’m back in landlocked Utah—but my husband and I have aspirations of someday buying a winter home in Fiji.

When and why did you begin writing?
It’s funny, but I’d never considered writing fiction until nine years ago—when I started writing my first “practice novel”—I actually wrote three of those. And no, they will never see the light of day. That ship has sailed.
Why did I begin writing? Well, I’d always been an avid reader, but it never crossed my mind that I could write a book myself. Then eight years ago, I read something Stephenie Meyer wrote. It was rough, it was unedited—it was a scene her publisher cut from Twilight. When I read it, I thought it was horrible. And then the thought struck me. I bet I can write better than that.  That moment, I opened up Microsoft word and started writing. I didn’t think it over. I didn’t plan it out. It was an impulsive thing. But then, once I started writing, I couldn’t stop. And when I wasn’t writing, I was imagining scenes in my head, thinking out characters, and basically spending my time in the world I was creating.  And this is how I live even now—always with one foot in the real world, and one foot in the world of my imagination.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?
I considered myself a writer when I started writing. I think people put too much stock into what it means to be “a writer”. To me, if you write, you’re a writer—end of story.
What inspired you to write your first book?
My first book was a mishmash of everything I’d been reading. But my first published book, Rising, was something special. I actually got the inspiration for Rising from a picture. It was a picture of a mermaid, but this mermaid’s tail was unlike any I’d seen before—it was flesh colored. And it got me thinking, what if a mermaid was born on land, but she didn’t know she was a mermaid? She simply thought she was horribly deformed. That day, I started writing.

Do you have a specific writing style?
I’m a pantser—which means I don’t outline, I write by the seat of my pants. I’ve tried outlining; in fact, I spent a lot of time outlining Avenging—the third book in the Rising Series. I hoped that it would speed up my process. It turned out to be a complete waste of time for me. I couldn’t for the life of me, stick to it. It felt constrictive and unnatural, and it actually slowed me down—a lot. I ended up abandoning it and just wrote. I just let the story lead me, and often I’m just as surprised as my readers when something exciting happens or when secrets are revealed.

What books have most influenced your life most?
This is a really hard question! I simply love books—paranormal, fantasy, contemporary, romance… there are just so many. It’s easier to say what authors have influenced me. My favorite author is Amy Harmon. She writes mostly contemporary and a few paranormal. Her books are powerful! I’ve never read an author who has more heart than Amy Harmon! With her books, you laugh, you ball your eyes out, and you become so involved with the characters, that you literally feel you are inside the story. Some of my other favorites are J.K.Rowling, Sherrilyn Kenyon, Julie Garwood, Janet Evanovich, Stephenie Meyer, Brandon Mull, and Rick Riordan.

If you had to choose, which writer would you consider a mentor?
Actually, I consider a Facebook group my mentor. I’m a member of The Author’s Think tank. There are many amazing bestselling authors—including New York Times bestsellers—who are active in that group. I would be lost without them. Any question I have related to writing and publishing, they can answer and have. I wouldn’t be where I am without them.

Are there any new authors that have grasped your interest?
With all the authors I associate with, it’s hard to pick just a few. There are many talented upcoming authors. My favorites are the authors from Clean Teen Publishing. CTP has an amazing eye for spotting a good book. I’m continually amazed at the caliber of the books they release. Of course, I may be biased seeing as they are my publisher, but they really have a treasure trove of talent!

What are your current projects?
I’ve got two projects right now. I’m currently working on a new book called Cursed by the Fountain of Youth. It’s a paranormal romance with a crazed, murdering lunatic; ghosts; forbidden love; and the curse of eternal youth. And then next book introduces a twisted version of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. This one comes from my love of all things Halloween. It’s a spooky story with witches, headless horsemen, severed heads, and a Beauty and the Beast-style romance.
​
What would you like your readers to know?
For those who are aspiring authors, don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t do it. I heard it all myself—even from close family members.  I heard I would never get published, and that I would never write anything people would want to read. I didn’t believe it, and you shouldn’t either. Use criticisms as a spring board. Prove those naysayers wrong!  It’s not an easy journey, it will take time and a heck of a lot of writing under your belt to get there, but you can. If you just move forward and never give up, you too can become a published author!

Today featured on the blog we have Tamara Grantham and her book Dreamthief! #CTPShare

​Visiting Faythander is a nasty business. Forget the fairies and unicorns, most people come back with lost memories and mental problems. Olive Kennedy knows. She's the therapist who treats patients suffering from Faythander's side effects. Despite her empty bank account, she takes pride in her job as Houston's only Fairy World medical doctor. She's never failed to cure a client--until now.

Traveling back to Faythander wasn't on Olive's to-do list. But she has no choice. The fate of both Earth and Fairy depends on her ability to stop an ancient being called the Dreamthief. To complicate matters, she may be losing her heart to someone who can't love her in return. Saving the world, she can handle. Falling in love--not so much.

As if battling the forces of evil wasn't difficult enough...

Amazon http://www.amazon.com/Dreamthief-Fairy-World-MD-Book-ebook/dp/B011WJIQOO/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1447026269&sr=8-1 
B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/dreamthief-tamara-grantham/1122339909?ean=2940152040425 
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/560839 
Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-ca/ebook/dreamthief 
itunes: http://linkmaker.itunes.apple.com/en-us/details/1020475376?q=tamara%20grantham&country=us&media=books&genre=all 
Newsletter sign-up: http://eepurl.com/bv7HZX

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/tamaraclairegrantham
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/tamaragrantham
Website: http://www.tamaragranthambooks.com
​

​I woke up in a bad mood. Before I’d even opened my eyes, I could tell it would be a long day. Han Solo leapt onto my face and made himself comfortable. It was hard to sleep with fifteen pounds of cat on my face, although I tried.
The shower didn’t help my bad vibes. I kept thinking about the night before, about that thing I’d seen in the mirror. As I dressed, I avoided the mirror. Last night’s vision conjured images from something I’d seen a long time ago, something I thought I wasn’t afraid of anymore—a dream I’d had as a kid. 
I guess even grown-ups get scared of nightmares. 
I wore my jade green sweater and leather boots, smoothed on some lip gloss, and hoped the circles under my eyes wouldn’t scare Jeremiah into a worse state. 
My heart clenched at the thought of my godson. I couldn’t stop feeling guilty. Maybe if I’d visited more often, this wouldn’t have happened. What would Jeremiah’s mom think of me? Shawna had trusted me to be her son’s godmother, and I’d given her my word to protect him. 
But I couldn’t blame myself yet. Maybe I could still help. I’d never been able to help kids before, but I would try.
A gust of November air stung my face as I opened the door and made my way down to my car. The humidity made the cold air seep through my clothes and burrow into my skin. Wrapping my knit scarf close, I headed for my Thunderbird. It fit the definition of transportation most of the time.
The car was a 1971 classic—yellow with black stripes down the sides. I’d fallen in love at first sight… I just wished I’d looked more closely under the hood before I bought it. Hoping it would be warmer out of the wind, I grabbed the handle, pulled the squealing door open, and climbed inside. 
Nope, not much warmer. Smells of old car greeted me, scented with what was supposed to be a honeysuckle air freshener. My hands shook as I jangled the keys into the ignition. With a silent prayer, I turned the key. The engine cranked on the first try. 
Lucky. Maybe today wouldn’t be as bad as I thought.

A little late today with our #CTPShare! on the blog today we have Kasi Blake and her book Bait! 

​After sixteen years on the run, Bay-Lee joins her emotionally distant father at his New Zealand school. On her first night there, he dumps her on the doorstep and walks away. Big surprise. Minutes later, a bag is thrown over her head, and she’s kidnapped for Orientation. The hunter in charge calls her Bait. According to him, that’s all she’s good for, to be used to draw out monsters for experienced hunters to kill. 

Before Bay-Lee can move up to the rank of Hunter, she will have to prove herself, battle wraiths, a reaper in disguise, and a stampeding border monster. With the addition of her classes, she’s going to be way too busy for a social life. Falling in love is not on the agenda. 

Then, she meets Nick Gallos. With the intimidating rank of Warrior, Nick is gorgeous, arrogant, and just plain rude to her. It’s obvious from their first meeting that Nick is hiding a dark past overflowing with secrets, and her father is right smack in the middle of it. Nick seems to be using her to get even with her father, and she won’t tolerate that. What a jerk. 

So, why can’t she stop thinking about him? 

​Amazon Page: http://www.amazon.com/Kasi-Blake/e/B004ZH6MJM
 
iTunes: https://geo.itunes.apple.com/us/book/bait/id642022597
 
Smashwords:  https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/252449
 
Website: http://www.kasiblake.com
 

​Connor vacated the couch long enough to take the knife from her.  He tossed it on the coffee table.  It landed between his sawed-off shotgun and his .38 caliber.
“Leave the artillery at home.”
“What?”  She blinked at him, uncomprehending.  He couldn’t seriously want her to walk out of the house unarmed.  “Are you serious?  Something could attack me.  What do I do then?”
“Depends.  If you are alone, use your extensive combat training and put some of those tricks I taught you to good use.  You don’t need a weapon to take a monster down.  If there are witnesses, I want you to scream like a girl and run in the other direction.”

Kasi Blake is a YA Paranormal Romance/Urban Fantasy writer with a semi-serious addiction to chocolate. Born in sunny California, she now lives on a farm in the Midwest with a dog, two cats, ducks, chickens and cows. When she has the time, she haunts local bookstores, hangs out with friends, and tries to catch up on her reading list. The rest of the time she’s working on her next novel. 

Today featured for #CTPShare we have C.J Hart and her book, The Hunted

​Just your average boy-meets-girl, boy-kills-people story.
 
The Native American Navajo tribe has stories of a monster so wicked, so blood-thirsty, that they are to be hunted down and slaughtered. But are they just legends? Or is something sinister lurking in the shadows? The Yee Naaldlooshi—skinwalkers—have the ability to transform themselves. And they can be anyone. Anything.
 
The Hunters—a group dedicated to tracking the creatures—are hot on their trail and they won’t stop until every last one is dead. But are they all as evil as foretold? Seb, alpha of the Taylor, Arizona reservation pack, begins to question the acts of their kind. But he’s broken a rule and must choose between killing the girl he loves or risking everything to save her. Cassie must fight for her survival. The pack is after her. And they’re no joke. Cass is about to find out how sadistic they can be.

Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00S3EG16C
Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00S3EG16C
Amazon Aus: http://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B00S3EG16C
B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-hunted-cj-hart/1120399937
Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/the-hunted-48
iTunes: https://geo.itunes.apple.com/us/book/the-hunted/id973534729?mt=11

Social media links:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorCJHart
Twitter: https://www,twitter.com/authorcjhart
Instagram: www.instagram.com/littlebirdybookworm
Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/CJHart
Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/reneeshearer87
Tumblr: renee-shearer.tumblr.com
Website: www.cj-hart.com
​

​When I wake, my room is still dark. My skin is peppered with tiny bumps, though it’s hot enough in here to cauterize my organs and dry out my lips. I lay frozen, ears pricked up, listening for the sound that stripped me of sleep.
Rustle, rustle, snuff. Rustle, rustle, snuff, snuff.
Curious and petrified, I open one eye and squint into the night. Is someone in my room? Something? Tree shadows dance across the darkened green walls. It’s quiet again. For a moment, I’m convinced it’s all in my head. Then a movement by the window jolts me. I drag my eyes to the glass.
No way. No. I cannot believe it.
At first, I notice its gray fur, matted in places around its muzzle and ears. Then its spearmint-green, glowing irises lock with mine.
Heat pinballs up my spine, firing signals into my brain. Run! Run!
Kelley—who I’ve known my entire life, Dad’s oldest and dearest friend—warned me of these creatures. Bloodthirsty monsters who can appear to be anyone, anything. They taunt us, track us, and feed on us. The survival rate is nil. And though I’ve never seen a skinwalker up close before, I am not afraid. Something in his eyes tells me not to be. They’re calm, curious. Friendly. Kind. There’s pain in them too, and I can’t help wondering why a sadistic creature would feel anything other than menace.
When I dare for a closer look, a leg tangles in the sheets and I stumble out of bed. I fall on my face. “Ow.” My nose presses into the oak. I swivel my head towards the window. The wolf is gone, a ghost in the night. Just your imagination, Cass. The moonlight playing tricks.
I try to convince myself that is the answer, but it doesn’t work. Throwing open the window, I lean out. Rain drops splash onto my face. The wind is like icicles on my flesh. My eyes scrape across the yard. Is my wolf out there, cloaked in the shadows? I guess I’ll never know.
I shut the window and tiptoe back into bed, where I wait for sleep to find me. But after twenty minutes of lying there, I’m wide awake. I roll over and clench my eyelids shut. In the distance, howling ensues. My wolf? It brings a comfort to me that I’ve sorely missed.
I drift off, listening to his broken cries.

Today on the blog, Erica Kiefer and her book Lingering Echoes! #CTPShare

Lingering Echoes is book 1 in the series. Can be read as a stand alone.
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Lingering-Echoes-2-Book-Series/dp/B01ABSZQRM/
Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/lingering-echoes-erica-kiefer/1117306030?ean=9781940534299
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id736334707?mt=11&ign-mpt=uo%3D4

Facebook: www.facebook.com/ericakieferauthor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/EricaRockKiefer

March Madness continues with Kelly Risser and Never Forgotten! Check it all out below :-)

http://www.amazon.com/Never-Forgotten-Book-ebook/dp/B00LEZ92TA/
https://geo.itunes.apple.com/us/book/never-forgotten/id890209182?mt=11
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/never-forgotten-kelly-risser/1119879980?ean=9781940534534
Book Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NY4UHjCgWJM
Newsletter signup: http://eepurl.com/bdjbqD
​

The sun was hot on my back, but it felt good. I always soaked it up in the summer, knowing that I would be wishing for some of its warmth in the dead of winter.
Icy cold dripped on my shoulder and made me jump. I looked up to the source and saw Evan holding out a water bottle. “Sorry for startling you,” he said. “I thought you might be thirsty.”
“Thanks.” I opened the cap and downed half the bottle. I didn’t realize how thirsty I had gotten. “Did you get the paint?”
Evan held up one gallon of paint and two brushes in response. “Is the sanding done?”
“Almost.” I pointed to the last board. “I just have that one to finish.”
“Okay.” Evan set the paint supplies down near the boards I’d already sanded. “I’ll get started then, and you can join me when you’re done.”
I finished sanding as fast as I could, and then went over by Evan. He smiled and handed me a paintbrush. “You’ve painted before, right?”
“A little.” Mom and I had painted the kitchen in our old house. I didn’t tell him about the mess we made in the process. We were covered in paint, but laughing when we were done.
“Why’d you come here today?” Evan asked.
I shrugged and dipped my brush in the paint.
 “Just a little,” Evan cautioned as he watched me.
“I just wanted to hang with my grandfather a bit, I guess.”
“Is it hard?”
“What?”
“Getting to know them?”
“No… yes… I don’t know. It’s weird. I don’t understand why we never visited them or why they didn’t come see us.”
“Yeah. That’s a little strange, although I can guess why they didn’t come see you.”
I looked at Evan and waited for his answer. His eyes took in the boats surrounding us before he gestured with his paintbrush. “This takes year round dedication. Your grandfather can’t leave.”
“Sounds hard,” I said. Evan returned his brush to the paint bucket. In his haste, droplets of paint flew, and one landed on my nose. Evan started laughing before brushing it off with the sleeve of his shirt.
“Sorry about that.” He grinned at me, but it soon faltered. Once again, I was locked in his gaze. We leaned toward each other. He brushed a strand of hair back from my face and tucked it behind my ear. “Meara?”
“Yes?”
“Do you want to go to dinner?”
“Tonight?”
“Yeah.”
“With you?” I asked, realizing that was an incredibly stupid thing to ask.
Evan grinned again. “Yeah. That would be the general idea.”
“Okay.”

Happy St. Patrick's Day everyone! Today's #CTPShare features Sandy Goldsworthy and her novel Aftermath!

​After losing her father, Emma Bennett moves to her aunt's small town of Westport to finish out her senior year of high school. Emma wants to forget the pain and loss of the past few weeks, and finds relief in the company of Ben Parker—a local boy who she has an instant attraction and uncanny connection with. When Ben seems a little too preoccupied with other responsibilities and has no time for her, Emma turns to the town's hottest flirt—Lucas Crandon, for affection. Unfortunately, she realizes a little too late that sometimes bad boys, really can be bad for you. 

Life as an undercover agent for the Afterworld's Bureau of Investigation isn't an easy job. When Ben Parker finds his soul mate, Emma Bennett in a small town, he finds himself forced to choose between doing his job or rekindling a relationship with the love of his existence. After Ben is notified that a notorious criminal immortal is loose somewhere near Westport, he realizes that his love life will just have to wait. There is a criminal to apprehend before he can have his girl. 

When lives are at stake and immortals are on the loose, can two soul mates find their happy ever after?

As I got closer, I realized Chester didn’t run after any ordinary boy. He ran toward the Prince Charming I saw at Lake Bell. Chester jumped on the prince, but didn’t bark.
I was out of breath and at a loss for words by the time I reached them.
“Sorry,” I squeaked out between deep inhales. I hadn’t run that fast since coach had us doing sprints last season. Guess I need to start working out more.
Prince Charming never looked up, but said, “No problem.” He was kneeling, and with both hands, he was scratching Chester’s ears. Chester was in heaven, wagging his tail uncontrollably. It was as if they were long lost buddies.
“Hey, my dog likes you,” I managed to say. I didn’t know what was more embarrassing—my inability to control my dog or the fact that I was so out of shape. Either way, I probably looked ridiculous.
“Yeah, I see that,” he said.
“Ahhh… sorry…” I mumbled. “He’s not usually like that.”
There was an awkward moment of silence before he spoke. “He usually doesn’t like people? Or he usually doesn’t charge toward them?” I saw his smirk, though he still didn’t look up at me. He was focused on Chester who was now licking him in the face.
I was too nervous to laugh. That was a pretty stupid thing for me to say. “Ah, both.”
“Really? Seems pretty nice to me,” he answered still petting Chester. I couldn’t believe what an attention seeker my pup turned out to be.
I reached for Chester’s leash on the ground and inhaled deeply. “He’s usually more protective… More standoff-ish, I guess.” Chester proved me wrong. “Chester, stop.” I tried to sound firm, and tugged on his leash. “Come here.”
“It’s okay,” Prince Charming said and stood up. He was suddenly looking directly at me.
My chest ached. His brown eyes were focused on mine.
“Maybe he just likes me,” he said and flashed me a grin.
My palms began to sweat and I could feel my heart beating faster. He was the most beautiful boy I had ever seen. Say something! I lost my train of thought. “Yeah… I guess.” 
I sounded stupid. I looked stupid.  What was I even wearing?
“Well,” he said.  Could the moment could be any more awkward?
“Yeah, sorry… again…. I’ll get him outa here.” I tugged on Chester’s leash, but he was firmly planted on his butt.
Prince Charming nodded. The silence was uncomfortable.
I’m not sure where I got the confidence, but finally said, “My name’s Emma.”
“Nice to meet you, Emma. I’m Ben.”  He smiled.
I felt a tingle in the pit of my stomach and found myself grinning in return.
Ben kicked the soccer ball up and caught it with one hand. “You play? Or just lounge in the goal?”
“Yeah… I mean, I play.”
“Nice,” he answered.
My cheeks burned and I could tell I was turning red.
“Maybe I’ll see you around, then.” He turned to walk away.
Chester sat obediently by my side. “You were pretty friendly with him,” I said and chuckled. Prince Charming had a name.
Ben.

Reluctant Guardian from The Ransomed Souls Series. 
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Melissa-J-Cunningham/e/B001K8T5EI
B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/reluctant-guardian-melissa-cunningham/1116993461
smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/359270
​

Since I have to have a playlist for everything I write, I'm so happy to share Melissa's playlist :-) 

1. Down, by Jason Walker
2. Holding on and Letting go, by Ross Copperman.
3. Poison and Wine, by The Civil Wars
4. Farewell, by Rosie Thomas
5. Your Guardian Angel, by The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus
6. Almost Lover, by A Fine Frenzy
7. Fix You, Javier Colon
8. Nobody's Home, by Avril Lavigne
9. Someone Like You, by Adele
10. His Love, Vickey Pahnke & John Canaan
11. My Own Worst Enemy, by Casting Crowns
12. In My Arms, by Plumb
13. Without You, byt David Guetta & Usher
14. Possibility, by Lykke Li

Here's a little teaser to read while listening to the playlist! 

This is it. This is my moment, and I'm not going to let some stupid boy and a bunch of his idiotic friends scare me into failing. Closing my eyes, I float through the closed door, letting myself enjoy that slight pull on my soul as I meld with the wood for one second, feeling its aliveness, its purpose. This is one part of being a spirit that is genuinely cool. Everything is alive.
            Once through, the brightness in the room surprises me. As unexpected as that is, what amazes me even more is that the glow radiates around one person in particular.
            Brecken.
            He sits sprawled at his desk, his feet clad in heavy, black combat books, his ankles crossed. A thick, ratty sweatshirt stretches over his wide shoulders, and even though his hair is a mess, it fits him, making him much sexier than is healthy for a seventeen year old boy.  

​For seventeen-year-old Samantha Campbell, running back woods trails usually means freedom from her less-than-perfect life. That is, until the day a morning run turns into a living nightmare. When Samantha wakes up to find herself bound to a dirty, pinstriped mattress, she realizes she’s anything but free. With a masked abductor repeatedly injecting her arm with an unknown substance while holding her captive, Samantha tries in vain to find out what he wants, but he refuses to speak. Until the day he breaks his silence and his twisted words are worse than what she’d imagined. He promises her one day she will fall in love with him but the best part will be that she won't know who he is... until it's too late. 

Finding herself freed from captivity, with her captor still at large, Samantha is on guard against everything and everyone around her. Unfortunately, walling up her heart proves difficult when eighteen-year-old Blake Knightley moves in next door. When Samantha starts experiencing strange changes within her, she realizes her captor may have left her more damaged than she originally thought. Now she must turn to Blake for help in order to unearth the truth behind the monster who started this all... or risk experiencing worse things than just falling in love.

​Step, step, breathe, breathe, step, step, breathe, breathe. My shoes kept a steady rhythm with my burning lungs. I veered off my regular path, opting to hear the crunch of the leaves beneath my feet. The image of my mom’s disapproving face was ignored as I leapt across a gurgling brook. Breathe, breathe, crunch, crunch.
            If I wasn’t mountain biking, I was running. I craved speed and freedom. I had to escape the oppressive perfection of living in the Campbell home. Thinking of my two older sisters, one model and the other a star volleyball player, my legs lunged, lengthening their stride. Not good at team sports and terrified by cameras, I knew my family felt my height was wasted on me.
            Even Jeremy gives me a hard time.
A stitch pinched my side. Breathe, breathe. I knew I was going too fast, not pacing myself right. Something was urging me on, pushing me to scale the hill before me, and plunge deeper into the woods. I refocused on my rhythm, my inhales and exhales, and my body realigned itself, goose bumps shooting across my arms. There it is. I’d hit my second wind and I surged on, not caring where my feet led.
It’s freedom! Complete and--
            There was a rush of air, a whistling in my ear, and a sting to the back of my arm. Instantly, I tumbled to the ground, sliding into the damp morning dew. Cold dirt filled my nostrils as blackness enveloped me. 

Get to know Amanda Strong by clicking read more!

Today for #CTPShare we have Alicia Michaels and The Bionics! 

​All Blythe Sol ever wanted was to be a normal girl. Yet, her dreams of following in her father’s footsteps by joining the military after graduation are crushed when nuclear war comes to the United States in the year 4006. Tens of thousands are killed in a series of attacks on many major cities, while thousands more are left injured from the devastation of the blasts, or terminally ill from the effects of radiation. 

When the government offers the sick and injured a second chance as part of the Restoration Project, how could they refuse? Hoping to put her life back together after the blasts take both her arm and her eye, Blythe enrolls in the program filled with hope. She never expects that the bionic additions will change her life so drastically. When it is discovered that those outfitted with the robotic parts have become enhanced beyond the limits of ordinary human ability, normal can never exist for her again. 

The Bionics become targets of the government, as fear of them spreads across the nation, further enflamed by media propaganda and political conspiracy. Forced to go into hiding or face execution, society’s outcasts band together to form the Restoration Resistance—an underground rebellion which Blythe becomes a part of in order to survive. She could never imagine that joining them would thrust her at the forefront of an imminent revolution, or that it would put her in a confusing tug-of-war between two of her fellow soldiers—Gage Bronson, the mysterious new addition to the Resistance, and Dax Janner, her best friend. Even though Gage is rapidly capturing her heart, she is forced to face the possibility that her feelings for Dax might just go beyond friendship. However, with impending war and the threat of death hanging over her head, Blythe hardly has time to worry about anything as trivial as a love life...

Next up on the list for #CTPShare  we have Becky Doughty and her Fallout Series! Today we get a closer look at book two in the series, A light in the Dark...

“Wow,” I exclaimed with a dramatic sigh, pressing a hand to my chest. “A Captain Crunch aficionado. I think I might just be falling a little in love with you, Sebastian Jeffries.”
It was supposed to be a joke. I really thought I could pull it off, too. But I have this problem. I tend to speak before I think things through. And if I’d thought it through, I might have taken into consideration just how true that statement was.
His silence made it worse. I couldn’t look at him.
“Sorry,” I muttered. I crossed my arms again and moved toward the front steps.
“Wait, Tish.”
I climbed the two steps up before turning around. I hoped the added height would boost my confidence a little, as well as put some space between us.
All it did was elevate me to eye-level with him, and with the porch light behind me, shining on his face, I found myself looking into the strangest shade of blue eyes I’d ever seen. Not blue like periwinkles or the summer sky or crystal blue, all things I’d heard my own eyes compared to, but blue like mottled sea glass, like the still waters of a deep lagoon. Like a love spell cast on a summer night by a magic man.