Scripted Social Author Event 2016

WOW!  What an event!  So many awesome authors & readers & bloggers, the swaggy goodness (altho I tried to keep the swag to a minimum this go-around because I really need a decorating plan for my library before I go crazy w/ more swag!  LOL  I'm thinking frames, but we'll see.), the TREATS!  Yes, authors had treats at their tables, and that was awesome!  

This Scripted Social Event was put on by Southern Belle Book Blog & they did a WONDERFUL job!  Seriously, the table spacing, the volunteer coordination, everything was just marvelous.  I really enjoyed being a volunteer, too!  I was originally going to sit w/ my author-pal, Rochelle Paige, but things got moved around & I ended up being the ticketer-wrist bander for Olivia Cunning.  

I almost thought I wasn't going to make it in time - I arrived in Des Moines Friday night, so I'd be in town on Saturday & not have to leave home super early.  Heh.  Plus, I love hotel stays.  So, today, I headed out from the hotel in plenty of time to grab some coffee & get to the event.  I thought.

Turns out, the Starbucks that is like five minutes away from the hotel was hiding from me this morning.  D'oh!  THEN, I had the adventure of driving around downtown Des Moines for an hour, trying to find where to park.  There were several garages, but the one I pulled into apparently was the reserved one.  *sigh*  Then I found a Holiday Inn & asked if I could hop a ride on their shuttle, since I'm staying at a different IHG hotel & am an IHG member.  They said sure!  Yay!  Except... the shuttle had just left to take someone to the grocery store.  D'oh!  The front desk ppl were super helpful & tried to give me some options (Uber, calling me a cab) but those didn't work out.  I did get to see some ppl who were there for a wedding, tho.  That was cool.

So, I called Erin to tell her I was lost & running late, and she graciously said it's no problem & she'd see me when I got there.  I went back downtown to try again to find parking, and ended up at a DIFFERENT Holiday Inn.  And this one had a shuttle coming back in a few minutes.  Perfect!  I joined the square dancers & - did I mention there is also a square dancing convention going on here this weekend?  Yeah, ppl are in some pretty kickass costumes, too!  The square dancers were all suuuuuper nice & we dropped them off first.  I made it to the Marriott only 10 minutes late!  GOD IS GOOD!

Of course, because I was late & already frazzled, I was REALLY frazzled trying to get to all my pre-order authors.  And not be a dork.  But, let's face it.  I am now and will always be, a dork.  So, embrace it & be honest & move on!  :)  And make ppl laugh in a good way, bringing joy!!  I think I accomplished that... I know the authors & bloggers & readers I met brought ME immense amounts of joy!  : )  

Rochelle was coming out as I arrived, so I was able to give her a hug.  I love hugs, but I forget to ask for pictures & hugs when I'm at the author's table... D'oh!  Goal for the next signing... 

Scott & Jessica Hildreth were my first table, and they are OMH SUPER SWEET!  They had to deal w/ being my anti-anxiety peeps (in the grand tradition of Amber Nation & Savannah Stewart at my first multi-author signing in Indy two years ago...*grin*).  Scott gave me a fist bump & then said, "That'll make sense when you read it."  LOL  Yup, makes sense now!  

I made it to most of my pre-order peeps before it was time to put my Ticket hat on for Olivia Cunning.  Stacey Lynn had cookies & cupcakes, which were yummy!  Kristen Mazzola gave me a purple rubber ducky.  So cute!  Her BFF/assistant was awesome at the upsell for her books, too!  Kathryn Andrews... gosh, her Hale Brothers series blew me away & I got the box set - which is HUUUUGE - & it was so nice chatting w/ her!  Karla Sorenson - oh my heck, I didn't realize I have all her books, but haven't read them yet, but her covers are beautiful!  And she was one of my favorite ppl to meet!  

  

And then there's the HUGE surprise I got at Kelly Elliott's table... I'd pre-ordered Broken Love, because it's one of my favorites of hers (my favorite is Broken - and in this awesome bag that I won was a puzzle of Broken!!!  Squee!!!) and she said, "Oh!  Carrie!  You won!"  and I'm all like, "Oooh, what'd I win?  Keychain?  Signed book?"  And she pulls out this bag full of stuff & it's a really cute bag & I'm all excited!!  AND THEN she pulls out ... A KINDLE!  I won a Kindle!!!  *flop*  I was floored.  What a blessing!  I'd been debating buying one for a while (ever since I got my new phone) & was pretty well set on it & BAM!  God is good, ALL THE TIME!  *bounce*  

Mr Bear wanted in on the action in most of the photos.  

LOL

My Kelly Elliott bag also included that awesome puzzle & Love You to the Moon plaque!  

LOVE!!!  

Tijan was a lot of fun & Amy Daws... oh my goodness, sweetheart!  I know I keep saying that.  Her banner (which was really cool) made me think of a different book & I thought I had met her in Chicago, but she wasn't in Chicago, so ... whoops!  Then I felt bad, but her covers were also amazing & I the books sound good, so I had to have one!  : ) 

Now, Ticketing!  It was CRAZY there for a while, but so much fun.  Everyone was happy & patient & so nice!  And I was able to set all my stuff in the corner behind Olivia's table, where it was safe & sound & I didn't have to carry everything everywhere.  I only pre-ordered 10 books & yet somehow came out of there w/ two bags full of books... LOL  (LOVE IT!!!)  

Happily, the crazy part of the line died down about 2:30/3 & I was able to go around to more tables & then head out.  

One of my favorite box set book covers!  

I believe Elle designed this... : )  

Kandi gave me a cookie, and I think Allison may have given me chocolate dipped cookies?  Someone did, and they were delicious!  I haven't eaten Kandi's cookie yet.  But I'm sure it's delicious.  I also got to meet Maggi Myers... Again, SO NICE!  Her BFF was her assistant, too - I love all these friends traveling together & hanging out at the signings & supporting each other.  Makes my heart happy!  : )  

Allison Bliss, Staci Hart, Kandi Steiner, Tracey Garvis Graves, and of course ROCHELLE were my other pre-orders.  All ppl I would have liked to have hugged & gotten pictures w/ (read: EVERYONE) but I don't have ANY.  By the time I made it to Tracey & Staci, my back was spasm-ing (even w/ setting the books in the corner, because I didn't move around enough w/ the clipboard, my back punishes me.  Grrrr) and hugs & pictures weren't on my mind.  Til I left, because of COURSE I think of it then.  *sigh*  

Anyway, can we talk about the awesomeness of Staci Hart's picture book for Wasted Words for a moment?  It's gorgeous, and I adore the concept!  I believe the couple who modeled for this story are a real-life couple, and seriously, you can feel the love & playfulness & amazing chemistry.  *swoon*  

So, that was my adventure at this round of bookie goodness.  : )  My next event is Writers On The River in East Peoria, IL, on July 9th.  I was on the fence about going, but then one of my favorite authors who will be there (A.D. Ellis - read her!!!) PM'd me to ask if I was going & how could I say no?!  So, that tipped me over.  It's only a couple hours away, too, so I can make it a day trip.  : )  Oh, AND CP Smith will be there, and I haven't met her, but I have loved all her books, and we've chatted on FB, so I want to meet her in person!  

I'd hoped to get to watch Leyton play baseball while we were all here, but his game today was at 10, so I didn't have time to go before the signing.  And apparently they didn't play well today (*frown*) so no game tomorrow.  But at least they get to go to the trampoline place tonight!  : )  

How's your weekend been?  What's happening in your world??  And what authors would you like to meet (or have you met)?!  : )  TTFN! 

Top Reads (and Authors) of 2015 (Part II)

There were also some authors who either published A LOT or I discovered them & they had a lot of stories for me to read.  Some were w/in the same series & some were various stand alones, but each of these authors had more than a few books I read & fell in love with in 2015.  I HIGHLY recommend checking each of them out to see if their stories are something you think you'd love, too!  : )

- Hadley Quinn
- Kristen Ashley (OF COURSE - she's not new-to-me this year, but I read A LOT of her books this year!)
- MJ Nightingale
- Maryann Jordan
- Rachel Brookes (Be My December... *swoon*  seriously!!)  
- Rochelle Paige (again, y'all know I love Rochelle, no surprise I gobble up her books like popcorn!)
- B.N. Toler
- CP Smith
- KC Lynn
- K Webster
- A.D. Ellis (OMH, her Torey Hope books are DELIGHTFUL!)(and I also got to meet her last year & she gives awesome hugs, so if you're ever at a book event where she's at, stop by her table & say hi!)
- Katy Regnery
- Michelle Lynn 
- Kaylee Ryan 
- Aurora Rose Reynolds (like w/ Rochelle, y'all should know by now that ARR writes it, I will read it!)
- Annalisa Nicole
- Harper Sloan
- Kristen Proby
- Skye Turner (her With Gratitude And Love that she put out this year was SO SWEET!!)(She also pointed me in the direction of my favorite way to say THANK YOU to our troops overseas - Cup of Joe For A Joe through Greenbeans Coffee.  Truly an amazing program & I encourage everyone who wants to give a thank you to check it out!)  
- Alexa Riley (I've read a few & mostly loved them a lot!  They are short & steamy & insta-love.  The only one so far I haven't been ga-ga over is Taking The Fall & that's because the main guy in that story annoyed the bleep out of me.  HOWEVER I'm still glad I read it because the stories following it about other characters in that one were enjoyable!)  
- Belle Aurora - I'd been hesitant about reading Willing Captive, but when I did - LOVE!  And then she came out w/ Lev this year & that was one of my top top top stories of the year!!  *sparkle hearts*  
- Monica Murphy
- Lynsay Sands
- Tammy Falkner 
- Kelly Elliott
- Sabrina Paige (Elias, Silas, Luke - her West Bend Saints series gets two thumbs up!!)
- Amber Nation
- Savannah Stewart (Graceful Scars - grab it now!!!)
- River Savage (Knight's Rebels series - gritty but not overly bloody or whatnot.  STEAMY.)  
- M.E. Carter (Change of Hart & Hart to Heart - emotional & fabulous!)
- Scarlett Cole (The Strongest Steele was my vote for best read of the year on the GR awards!!!)  
- Tess Oliver
- Katherine Andrews (Unforgettable Sun, book 3 in her Hale Brothers series - BEST!!  LOVE!!!)  

Again, let me know if you have read, or do read, any of these, and what you think!!  : )  

TTFN!

Top Reads of 2015 (Part I)

Wow!  What a year!!  2015 brought in lots of new (or, new to me) authors & series.  I was blessed to meet some of my favorite authors (Kristen Ashley!  Meghan March!  Rachel Brookes!) and I don't even want to think about how much money I've spent on Amazon.  LOL  But soooo worth it, every penny - even those pennies spent on books I didn't really like, because nothing ventured, nothing gained, and with the amount of gems I found, I cannot complain!  : )  

So, let's get to it!  I'm not putting a number on this list - I'm essentially going through my GoodReads challenge (goal: 300 books; I'm currently reading book 298) & picking the ones that tug at me.  I don't want it to get too bogged down, so I'll try to restrain myself!  2015 was seriously FULL of amazing books!!  

(WARNING:  I didn't do a very good job of restraining myself.  But come on, out of THREE HUNDRED BOOKS, I think I did okay narrowing it down...maybe?  Don't give up on me!  Read the list!!)  (Love you!)

Mugs of Love by Norma Jeanne Karlsson - This was a totally random find, I don't even remember from which site or how I stumbled upon it, but I began recommending it to people when I wasn't even 1/2 way through it.  It was refreshing & amazing!  

Bent Not Broken and Be Here Now by Julia Goda - These were fabulous!!  Julia's writing style reminds me a lot of Kristen Ashley, and I wasn't expecting that at all when I picked up the first book.  Pleasant surprise & these are both re-read favorites!!  

To Have by M.L. Pennock - I admit, I clicked on this one because of the cover.  Get your mind outta the gutter!  LOL  It reminded me of Mugs of Love (the cover, not the story) & I clicked.  Then I read the synopsis & I clicked again to buy.  My instinct for this one was SPOT ON.  It is a true love story & written sooooo wellll!  I love the pacing & story line & romance in this one.  It made my soul happy.  : )  

Capture by Rachel Van Dyken - Intriguing premise, well-written, and the story had all my favorite things!  Friendship, attraction, no relationship angst... gorgeous!  It's book 1 in a spin-off series from the author's Seaside series (which I haven't read, but am interested enough to look them up later).  

Hammer's Fall and Nyght's Eve by Laurie Ramos - I believe my friend Rochelle mentioned Hammer's Fall & I fell head over heels for this one!  I read it in January & wanted the next book right away, but it was waaay out of my comfort zone for price.  Then, later in the year, it went on sale & I SNATCHED that puppy up!  There's a 3rd book I haven't purchased yet, but I'm anticipating enjoying it, as well!  

SEAL of Protection series by Susan Stoker - Susan was a new-to-me author this year.  I don't know how I came across her (probably FB) but Protecting Fiona (book 3 in the series) grabbed me w/ the synopsis.  Once I read it, I was hooked on Susan's writing style & storylines!  I've enjoyed the whole series & she has since come out w/ a couple connected but separate series that I am also enjoying/looking forward to!  

Ashes & Embers series by Carian Cole - another random find (seriously, the theme this year) was book 1 in this series, Storm.  Such a unique premise - two strangers stranded in a truck in a snow storm & one just happens to be a member of a very popular band & the heroine has NO IDEA who he is!  It wasn't all sunshine & roses, but it was soooo sweet!  I snatched up the remaining books in the series throughout the year, but ended up not reading them yet.  Until Talon (book 4), which had another super unique premise - two strangers get married as part of an experiment, and it looks like the people who put this together got it totally wrong, as these two supposed "perfect matches" seem to have NOTHING in common.  The journey their story takes is sooooo sweet and heartbreaking, with some surprise twisty roadblocks thrown in the way.  I absolutely fell in love with Talon.  : )  

Beneath This Ink & Beneath These Chains by Meghan March - ALL THE STARS!  That was the beginning of my review for BTI.  It's book 2 in the series, and I hadn't read book 1 (Beneath This Mask), so it was another random find.  I read it in February & ended up randomly meeting Meghan (in line at the KA signing) in July.  I still get a little ferkelmpt (totally misspelled that) thinking about how THAT all went down!  But this is about the stories!  Each book started out w/ a unique, new-to-me premise & continued on w/ a writing style & story that pulled me in & wouldn't let me go!  *hearts*  

Two Truths And A Lie and Play It Again by Ashley Stoyanoff (PRG Investigations) - Elena & Jason and Piper & Vance totally pulled me into their stories!  TTAAL was a random blog/FB find.  I read a snippet of a blurb, clicked on the book & immediately started reading.  Play It Again popped up on my kindle while I was out of town w/ my mom & I squealed like a little girl at Christmas.  *grin*  And immediately started reading.  My mom MAY have been mid-sentence when this happened... LOL  

Fighting Silence & Fighting Shadows (On The Ropes series) by Aly Martinez - Aly became an auto-click for me after reading her Wrecked and Ruined series last year.  OTR is connected to that series, but can be read on its own as well.  I just LOVE connected books/series, especially when I don't realize they're connected!  Both these series deal with heavy subject matters, real-life issues & problems that will rip your heart out, but I promise it's worth it (and I'm not one for having my heart ripped out, so that is definitely saying something!) and when the pieces are all put back together, you're a better person.  Or, at least, I felt like a better person after reading each of her books.  I felt like I went on the journey w/ each character, and her writing & stories are PHENOMENAL.  So, there's that.  : )  
  
Brothers of Ink and Steel series by Allie Juliette Mousseau - this is a spin-off series of a series I haven't yet read (but want to!) & was yet another random find.  I truly love the FB author/reader/blogger community!  

Need series by Cynthia P O'Neill - I Need You Always (book 1) was a random FB find in June.  I didn't realize it was a D/s story until I was already sucked in.  I'm not so much "into" that, and don't generally seek out books that are about the lifestyle, but this was done SO WELL and the explanations & family connections in this case were so amazing!  I have snapped up each book in this series & LOVED every single one!  

Sweet Hope and Sweet Soul by Tillie Cole - OH MY GOODNESS!  Amazing, amazing, amazing.  The cadence of the writing, the story, the fact that SH was to be the last in the series & then the fans really wanted to know what happened to one of the other characters & thus SS was born.  I have found that sometimes when fans... *ahem* pester ... request a book the author wasn't planning on writing, it can go horribly, horribly wrong.  The vibe isn't there, because the book wasn't the author's brainchild, really, and the characters don't "speak" to them in the same way.  This is SO NOT THE CASE w/ SS.  It was marvelously beautiful & I could seriously gush about it for paragraphs, but I won't.  : )  Just trust me & pick up her Sweet Home series (Sweet Rome was my favorite prior to Sweet Hope)!  *grin*  

Rush & Endless Possibility by Emma Scott - I'd been intrigued by Rush for a while - reviews were very favorable & the hero is scarred & broken, which equals one of my favorite types of hero!  It took me a while after purchasing to read, however, for various reasons.  When I dove in, though, I was pulled right into the story immediately & enjoyed it immensely!  It's lovely & perfect!  AND THEN when I was finished & looking for other books by this author (because it's book 3 in a series of stand alones), Endless Possibility popped up (NOT a stand alone - read it after Rush, as it's a continuation of sorts of Noah & Charlotte's story) & it had JUST been released!  I again was like a kid at Christmas!  LOVE!!!  So, for the best reading enjoyment, I recommend reading these two back to back.  : )  

Take The Fall series by Marquita Valentine - YES!  This is another spin-off series of a series I haven't read (yet) & currently has 2 books.  The stories are intense by not angsty, and so, soooo sweet!  

Forever My Angel by Kelly Walker - this is book 4 in the Chadwell Hearts series & was a highly anticipated part of the story for me.  : )  No One's Angel is book 1 & reading the series in order & together is a treat!!  

Hearts of Fire by L.H. Cosway - book 1 in this series, Six of Hearts, was one of my FAVORITE reads of 2014, and HoF fit right into that expectation.  SoH is about an illusionist & his awesome plot for revenge against those who had a hand in killing his family & hurting the girl he loves.  HoF is about his brother, presumed dead, who is a fire eater & performer w/ the circus.  EXCELLENT writing & an enjoyable story!!  The set up for book 3, King of Hearts, is wonderful & I'm looking forward to reading it (but have been putting it off because it looks to be really emotional & I have to be in the right place for that!).  : )  

Evergreen Grove series by Elisabeth Staab - These books are emotionally charged, written beautifully & and made me both cry & laugh.  Definite recommendations!  Book 3 is a m/m, which I bought to support the author but likely won't read, because I just don't want to read m/m books.  (A.D. Ellis's Sawyer is the other m/m story I have bought for the same reason.  These are, currently, the only two authors who have written a m/m as part of a series that I've bought, thinking their writing styles MIGHT have me reading one, someday, maybe.  *laugh*)  

Breaking A Legend by Sarah Robinson - Another surprise find & LOVELY story!  It's book 1 in a new series & I'm looking forward to the next one!  There is some drama & a little angst, but mostly it's a story about Rory & Clare & their interactions, how they fall in love & help each other become the best versions of themselves.  SWOONY GOODNESS ALERT as well.  : )  (And there's this dog... and the real life story about the dog is heartbreakingly beautiful!)   

Heart Shaped Hack by Tracey Garvis Graves - WOW!  This story is hilarious & full of heart & feels & happy vibes.  There's a happy ending, and it can be read as a stand alone, but there will also be a continuation of sorts, which I'm looking forward to - and I generally do NOT like that sort of thing, but I think Tracey will pull it off... 

GOOD GRIEF!  This is why I'm not a professional blogger.  I love my books so much that I just go on & on & want you to love them, too.  Or, rather, I want to share all my authors & books so those who might also love them get a chance to hear about them!  *grin*  

There were so many other authors/books... I'm making another list & if you aren't sick of me yet, go on & read part II (it's shorter, I promise!  More of a list than any descriptions...!).  

If you end up picking one (or more) of these up & loving it (them), too, let me know!  : )  

TTFN!

Rock Chick Rendezvous - Indianapolis 2015

Yesterday I had the amazing opportunity to road trip to Indy and meet Kristen Ashley.  She's written at least 40 books (I have about 10 paperbacks & 33 on my kindle...) and is one of my favorites!!  : )  Her stories always feature the ALPHA-est of alpha guys, and they've been an inspiration for many of my favorite characters by other authors.  Her heroines can be a little clueless... sometimes that annoys me and sometimes I feel like I totally understand and am RIGHT THERE with them!  

Kristen's Amazon and Goodreads if you'd like to take a closer look

So, a little while ago I heard about this year's RCR tour - Virginia, Indy, Denver, Phoenix.  Of those, Indy was closest to me & I thought I could probably do it as a day trip.  Normally I would try to make a whole weekend of it (there were parties & get togethers aside from the signing on Saturday), but my vacation budget was already used on a trip to Denver at the end of May.  And, btw, the reason I went to Denver?  Because that's where a lot of Kristen's books take place.  And from reading about these places, the area, the BEAUTY, I had to see it for myself.  Denver does NOT disappoint, ppl, and I can't wait til I have an opportunity to go back & spend another week there!  : )  

I headed out on my journey early Saturday morning, arriving at the Books-A-Million (or, BAM!) just at 2 o'clock.  I'd planned to be there a little early, at 1 (it was supposed to start at 2), but I'd forgotten about the time change - Indy is an hour ahead!  Whoops!  Still, God always knows what He's doing, and the time I arrived, and the time I made it into line worked out better than I could have ever imagined!  

The ladies in front of me in line were very friendly & we chatted about journals & things around us as we waited in line.  A bit later, ppl started arriving behind me in line, and I started chatting w/ them.  The three ladies, Sandy, Rachel, and Meghan, were quite a lot of fun.  Meghan started to find different books & things that amused us all & took pictures w/ them to post later.  Rachel's from Australia & aside from loving her accent, she also had a really fun sense of humor!  Sandy reminded me of my aunt Sandy (which was slightly ironic in that I didn't know her name until the end of the signing!), having fun hanging out & chatting about book blogs & the like (not that Aunt Sandy would talk about book blogs, just her fun attitude)!  : )  

As we're making our way through the line, chatting about various authors they want to find in the shelves & take pictures w/ (seriously, how neat is it when you're combing the shelves & you see one of YOUR books or one of YOUR authors on the shelf?  In the independent publishing world that doesn't happen all the time, ya know?) I realize I'm having so much fun I haven't had even ONE anxiety attack since they joined the line.  I felt like they enjoyed having me as part of their "group" even though they could have just chatted for a minute & then turned away.  Rachel even went so far as to include me in her "Ellen selfie" which was super sweet.  The type of anxiety I have has certain triggers, which I try to avoid but with things like signings, I know I can't.  I'd already experienced a couple of the triggers when I attempted to join the line earlier, but I'm thankful I didn't let them hold me back, or send me back to my car & headed home.

So, when we'd first started talking, Meghan mentioned she writes romances, too, but she didn't mention her last name or titles or anything, and I didn't want to push.  I mean, she's there as a fan of KA, just like me, and I didn't want to make her feel like she had to be "on author mode."  The same w/ Rachel, she would mention characters or whatnot, but again, I didn't want to be all, "Have I heard of you?"  I don't know, it just seems rude to do that when they're out & about.  Like asking for autographs when ppl are having dinner (or, good lord, in the loo - who does that?!?!)  I don't know if that makes any sense, but I was just having a good time and enjoying not having a panic attack!!  

As we get closer to the front of the line, Meghan says something & it reminds me I was going to write down their names so I could look up their books later, but - uncharacteristically for me - I didn't have a pen.  And then I was like, DUH!  And I whipped out my phone to use the Notes section.  (Seriously, I'm still not used to having a phone that does stuff like that!)

And this is when the hanging out in line w/ three cool fellow rock chicks, which was already the best time in a line I'd had in a LONG time, became my FAVORITE part of the trip.  Meghan is Meghan March, who happens to be one of my recent favorite authors.  She wrote Beneath This Mask, Beneath This Ink, and Beneath These Chains (BTM is the first book in the series, which I haven't read yet - I somehow stumbled upon BTI in February & fell in love with it - the writing, the banter, the storyline!  I gave it all the stars when I reviewed because it deserved them!)  Rachel is Rachel Brookes, whose recent release Be My December I stumbled upon again randomly & had to buy right away from the description.  The sequel, Be My Temptation just released this month, as well.  : )  

Meghan's Amazon and Goodreads if you'd like to take a closer look

Rachel's Amazon and Goodreads if you'd like to take a closer look

I had been hanging out w/ one of my favorite authors and an author whose work has intrigued me, and discovered they are JUST as awesome as I would have thought.  Actually, I'd emailed w/ Meghan a bit in a fan-girly capacity after reading BTI & signing up for her newsletter.  To know she's as awesome in person?  Brilliant!  

After that, meeting Kristen, which was the reason for the trip, was just like the icing on an already amazing cake!  : )  Unfortunately, between trying to tamp down my fan-girling on Meghan & making sure I didn't pass out, and the fact that Kristen was running late & her ppl were putting off some "hurry up" anxious vibes, I completely forgot EVERYTHING I wanted to tell Kristen!  I wanted to thank her in person for writing Denver in such a way that I HAD to go there, and for her recommendations when I'd asked where I must visit while there.  I'd told her this on FB after I got home, of course, but I had the opportunity to tell her IN PERSON, and I biffed it.  In my defense, I got distracted by her kickass watch... (As a side note, her ppl were very, VERY nice & they did not mean to put off the hurry up vibe - it wasn't in a rude way at all, it was just feeding my own anxiety and was in no way their fault.  I totally got where they were coming from!!)

And they DID remind me to get a picture.  *grin*

AND THEN, Meghan very kindly offered to take a picture, and Rachel very kindly got in on the action, AND THEN Meghan also signed my author book that goes w/ me to all my signings!  (Kristen's sister also looked through it, which was cool)(she had nifty earrings on, too!!)

I also must shout out to the BAM! employee who was super friendly & sweet & helped me out a lot when I finally got to my place in line.  After what had happened w/ the girls in line when I arrived, she also really helped calm down my anxiety so I was able to chat w/ the NICE ppl around me in line this time around.  Whew!  : )  

And then it was time to get back in the car for the adventurous trip home.  I MAY have gotten off on the wrong turn right after leaving BAM!  And I MAY have ironically ended up at an Amazon facility... *grin*

So... That's my story!  It was a blessed, blessed day, and I'm SUPER thankful for all of it!!  (Well, maybe not my aching joints today from the 10+ hour round trip all in one day, but everything else!!  LOL)  

TTFN!

a question

Do you ever find yourself buying books in a series when they go on sale, even tho you’ve never read anything in the series – or, in some cases, by the author?  But for whatever reason, when you see that a book in that series is on sale, you snatch it up w/o even looking to see what it’s about?

 

That happens for me w/ Addison Moore’s Kisses series.  I think I have them all – I’m not even sure, actually.  Book 5 just showed up on my list for 99 cents & I snatched it up.  I have no idea what it’s about.  I don’t even remember what it’s called (oh, wait, Rock Candy Kisses maybe?).  But I saw it & said, “CLICK” and now it’s mine.  And yet – I haven’t read any in this series yet.  Not for any particular reason, they just haven’t made my rotation yet.  : ) 

 

Of course, now that I’m thinking about them, I might have to remedy that.

2014 - I feel Like I'm Back on Track (book-wise)

As of 8 AM today, I've read over 300 books this year.  My GoodReads count is 319, but it only counts one read per book per year, and I'm a BIG re-reader, and I count re-reads, even if I read Acheron 7 times in two months.  Don't judge me!!  

I absolutely LOVE all the indie authors I've found this year.  I've been fortunate enough to meet some of them - Colleen Hoover, Heidi McLaughlin, Tina Reber, Cora Carmack, Jen Sterling, KA Tucker, Tessa Teevan, Mia Sheridan, Tia Louise, Mahalia Levey, Amber Nation, Savannah Stewart, A.D. Ellis, ROCHELLE PAIGE!  : )  I want to meet more (CP Smith, Skye Turner), and see these guys again, and ... and... and!  There are a few book events in 2015 that I'd love to get to, but we'll see how well they mesh w/ vacation time & money.  Both important when planning trips, ya know?!  

So, I don't know how ppl pick their favorites through a year of reading.  Of course, if you know me at all, you know that I have a hard time picking a favorite ANYTHING.  I have many best friends, can't put one on the top of a list.  I have many favorite foods, drinks (well, okay, COFFEE, but there are many places I like to get my coffee from...?  LOL), movies, books, authors... I thought about doing a top 10 of the year, then I keep shifting things, so ... one of my other bloggy peeps is part of a hop doing a top 14 of 14.  They actually are doing all sorts of fun things AND have nifty pictures of the books.  (I'm still not tech savvy enough to know how to do that, but I'll figure it out eventually!  LOL)

For me - I'm just going to look at the books on my GR list & pull out some favorites from that.  The one that I just finished today, Change of Hart by M.E. Carter, gets special props because it was FANTASTIC & completely (except the epilogue) from the male POV & I loved it lots!!  : ) 

The year started off w/ a book I didn't really like at all (which was sad, because it was one I'd been anticipating for months!), so I needed a recovery read right away (Acheron again!).  But then I did some re-reads of Laura Kaye's Hearts of the Anemoi series, in anticipation of the final book, East of Ecstasy.  This series blew me away with its world-building & depth of the characters and stories.  Highly recommend this series (and actually, her Hard Ink series is completely different, but also highly loved and recommended by moi!).  : ) 

There was Ruin by Rachel Van Dyken, which is sorta an apt name as I loved it so much it sort of RUINED other books for me for awhile.  Hangover, but the best kind.  I discovered more of Tess Oliver & was given the opportunity to read an ARC of Dray.  I re-read Freefall just because.  It's still my favorite of the series (Nix & Scotlyn: The Wedding came out this month & it was BRILLIANTLY done!).  : )  

I discovered the amaaaazing KATY REGNERY!!!!  I don't even know what to say about Katy, other than she is an awesome person and I've loved every single book of hers that I've read.  Check her out, NOW!  *grin*  And while you're at it - Annalisa Nicole.  *swoon*  I won a signed paperback from her, and after reading it immediately wanted MORE.  Happily, it was book 1 in a marvelous series, so I got right on that.  *laugh*  Both these ladies write sweet, somewhat intense stories that will leave you w/ the feels but the happy feels.  Like a breath of fresh air.  Or a hug.  I love hugs.  : D 

I fell even more in love with Cambria Hebert's Take It Off (TIO) series, reading Tipsy more than once because it's awesomely sweet & fun.  All of her books in this series (with the exception of Tempt, which I didn't really like as much) are re-reads for sure!  

I devoured everything put out by Rochelle & Crystal (Aurora Rose Reynolds), Harper Sloan, Kristen Proby, Hilary Storm, Heidi McLaughlin, Tammy Falkner, KC Lynn... I love falling in love with good books, and I ADORE connecting w/ the writers of these stories on FB.  Or anywhere, really.  It's just amazing to me that they have these fantastic stories up in their heads & they're able to GET IT ALL OUT on paper.  Or, computer, whatevs.  *laugh*  

And in February - I can't even believe it's not been a year yet.  In February I discovered Kristen Ashley.  

I can't even begin to describe how hard I fell for her writing.  Her stories pull me in deep & don't want to let go.  They are long, they are passionate, they make me want to know her characters for reals.  : )  And because I read ARR first, KA reminds me of her.  I fell so hard for the cadence of ARR's writing, when I read KA's Law Man & felt the same type of story-telling... I was sold.  I was IN.  I was hooked.  

I can't wait to see what stories 2015 will bring.  I'm excited to be devouring these stories.  I'm excited to meet more authors & tell them THANK YOU!  I'm excited to read the words.  And to see what new authors I can add to my long list of favorites.  : )  

Do you have some authors or books you've discovered this year?  Share share share!  The best way to show authors you love that you love them and their writing is to be vocal about it!  One of the best feelings is when someone comes to me & says, "hey, thank you for that recommendation - I LOVE xyz!"  :  ) 

TTFN!  

Pre-Ordering is Fun!

So, how does everyone feel about pre-orders?  Love them?  Hate them?  Take or leave them?

I have a love-hate relationship w/ pre-orders.  

On the one hand, I love when they're available!  When it's a book I know I want (like, say, part of a series I adore or an auto-buy author), it's a brilliant option because then I don't have to worry about "missing" it.

However... when there are several books releasing on the same day & I don't quite realize it as I'm just one-click-pre-ordering away... 

Well, then, something like THIS happens:

Carrie's List of Books That Popped Up On Her Kindle Today

Wild About Weston by Katy Regnery 

Slammed by Skyla Madi

Forever With Me by Kristen Proby

(I also ordered a signed PB of this from Kristen's website!)

Brown County: The Complete Series by Amber Nation

Ready or Not by J.L. Berg

Zip, Zero, Zilch by Tammy Falkner

Yeah, that's six books that just *poof* appeared!  

Super cool, but I'm glad I had the money to cover them, because normally I try to spread my pre-orders out so they don't all hit at once.

ON TOP OF THAT!

I had a package waiting for me when I got home, containing:

Dark Bites by Sherrilyn Kenyon

Outside the Box by Rochelle Paige 

So, whew!  Lots of great reading to get to!

Currently reading A Reason To Breathe by CP Smith & really enjoying it!

What've you pre-ordered lately?

ttfn!