Archive for May, 2014
SEE YOU IN JUNE!
Posted by The Literary Melting Pot in Uncategorized on May 23, 2014
The Lit Pot is taking a week off!
A quick, personal story:
On a warm August afternoon, we lost our oldest son for three minutes. A lifetime, as the world ceased to exist around us. Anaphylaxis, or a life-threatening allergic reaction, was the culprit. Although he was barely a month old, he fought with a determination that saved his life. I’ve never seen a screaming child bring such relief to a room. We laughed, we cried, we held our son.
In the years that followed, we discovered that although it was minimal, our son had suffered from a developmental delay. This was due to the lack of oxygen during his departure from this world.
I cannot convey how heartbreaking, yet inspiring this young man’s life has been. He’s been bullied, ignored, and labeled by his peers, but never lost hope. He worked diligently and progressed from Special Needs Class to minimal Resource, which is one, forty-five minute class a day. I’m saddened to say that my husband and I had to battle principals, teachers, and the most asinine psychologists imaginable.
Despite all of this, our son found his way. He’s graduating high school next week. We are so proud of him.
For the past month I’ve been selecting songs and pictures for his congratulatory video, and IT HAS BEEN EXHAUSTING! As a flood of memories engulfs me each time I pick something up, I can’t help but cry with relief. My baby is going to be alright. He’s a fighter with a kind heart and an extraordinary mind. The world is a better place because he’s in it.
So, forgive me for the lack of posts, responses, or shares during this next week, for I’ll be spending time with an extremely wonderful young man who inspires me beyond compare. I’m going to laugh, I’m going to cry, and I’m going to hold my son.
Thanks for all of your love & support! See you in June!
CeeCee
FREE! THE NIGHT BEFORE by LUANNE RICE
Posted by The Literary Melting Pot in Book News on May 22, 2014
Free Short Story:
The Night Before
by Luanne Rice
Synposis
A new short story by Luanne Rice
On the eve of a wedding by the edge of the sea, a once-in-a-lifetime storm sweeps through a family Christmas tree farm on the Connecticut Shoreline and sets in motion the events of The Night Before. New York Times bestselling author Luanne Rice tells the powerful story of the young couple about to get married, a mother and daughter three thousand miles apart, and best friends who could never forget each other.
Lydia Madison, an artist with a carefully guarded secret, opens her home and her heart to Danny Byrne (last seen in Silver Bells) and Sara Castillo. When the storm hits memories are cracked open, Lydia’s inspiration as an artist is revealed, and love and heartbreak intertwine.
This brand new short story returns to the setting of Rice’s beloved Black Hall and Hubbard’s Point series of novels, and poignantly reveals that when there is love this deep there’s no such thing as time or distance. A rare treat from an acclaimed and treasured author.
Purchase Links:
Amazon | Barnes and Noble | iTunes | Kobo | Smashwords
About Luanne Rice
Luanne Rice is the author of thirty-one novels including many New York Times bestsellers. Five of her books have been made into movies and mini-series, and her work has been featured at Hartford Stage in Hartford, Connecticut, the Geffen Playhouse in Los Angeles, California, and in several off-Broadway theatre productions. She divides her time between New York City and the Connecticut shoreline.
REVIEW: WOLF HUNGER(Book 3 of the Dragon Heat Series)BY ELLA J. PHOENIX
Posted by The Literary Melting Pot in Book News, Reviews on May 21, 2014
Blurb:
When the last box of deadly bullets is stolen, the hunt is on and the Vampire King’s band of fighters is set for the challenge of recovering it. But Yara, the shifter-witch, has other problems to face. She must help her leader to overcome the strange illness that has befallen her before it’s too late. For that, she must go back to the only place she swore never to return – her home land.
Rafe is a typical lone wolf who spends his nights earning his bucks in the fighting ring. When he was offered a pardon for his debts in exchange for the Vampire King’s head, he didn’t even blink, thinking it would be a hard mission but not impossible. He just wasn’t expecting the saucy shifter-witch to cross his path and ruin his plans. Now, he can’t get her out of his mind and the clock is ticking for him to make good on his word.
This is the third novel of the Dragon Heat series – a paranormal lover’s delight with vampires, shifters, dragons, witches, bathed in magic.
***Warning: this novel contains hot, steamy, descriptive sexual scenes. Enjoy.***
Review:
As a fellow reader, I highly recommend reading the previous novels in this series.
This series is my form of crack! Ella J. Phoenix has repeatedly hijacked my attention, emotions, and imagination with her spellbinding creativity.
I was elated to receive Yara’s story and this author delivered with a stellar cast and exemplary story line!
Yara’s backstory is my favorite of the unusual paranormal family involved here. I admit that I’m partial to witches, but her beauty, toughness, demeanor, and loyalty scream super-heroine. Following her quest to save Zoricah was a heartbreaking adventure, but very exhilarating. I simply love her interaction with Rafe! He’s very similar to Yara as far as attributes go, but he’s less willing to believe in fate. Entertainment ensues as the carnal beings realize they’ve met their match.
There are several wonderful elements that make this novel whole. Phoenix has delivered a paranormal hierarchy that mirrors medieval times, has skillfully made her own version of “The Fates” from Greek mythology, and has balanced every emotion strategically.
True to form, she’s left us with a cliffhanger so I’ll be impatiently awaiting my next fix!
About This Literary Chef:
I discovered I was addicted to the paranormal when I was quite young – I blame it on the super heroes. Damn you, Wonder Woman! That passion led me to a number of amateur theatre productions in my home town, then ultimately to a bachelor’s degree in Performing Arts.
It wasn’t very cool to spend five years working my ass off for no money. But, I have to say, it was then that I made my first attempts into the literary world. The first ones were writing children’s plays for my family’s language school. After a couple of blunders, I decided to translate Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream into a dancing and kicking play. It was so much fun that after that, let’s just say that I caught the bug.
Social Links:
Facebook page link – www.facebook.com/ellaj.phoenix
Twitter – twitter.com/ellajphoenix
Blog Tour! STORIES AND SCRIPTS AN ANTHOLOGY by ZACK LOVE
Posted by The Literary Melting Pot in Book News, Reviews, Romancebookworm.com Goodies on May 19, 2014
This novelette is a story of New York doormen, tormented love, empty office life, and the theological questions that arise in response to the horrors of evil.
2) CENTRAL PARK SONG – A SCREENPLAY (ROMANCE)
Can love really conquer all? Rodney is a passionate black man with brilliant talents but a mental illness that leaves him homeless. Melinda is a white Manhattan law partner with an artistic soul, trapped by the pressures of corporate law, her wealthy father, and her three-year boyfriend. A charming, chance encounter leads to a magical courtship and life-changing choices that make an unlikely New York romance possible.
3) THE GRAND UNIFIED STORY – A SHORT STORY
What happens when a man and a woman meet in a way that magically involves the entire universe? When both are so keenly aware of their place in the cosmos that their connection seems to transcend their union and capture the very essence of life. This story shows how each person is a world to be discovered and how sometimes, when two worlds collide, the universe seems that much smaller.
4) CITY SOLIPSISM – A SHORT STORY
Have you ever been on a train, bus, metro/subway – or any other shared space with strangers – and started to wonder what that person right next to you is thinking? This story takes you on a journey into the mind of a man in a suit and tie on a New York City subway car, as he thinks about the woman standing awkwardly close to him. They are total strangers but their proximity is almost intimate as their hands share the same metal subway pole.
5) WAITING FOR 2000 – AN ABSURDIST COMEDY OF BILLIONAIRE PROPORTIONS
Inspired by and reminiscent of Samuel Beckett’s absurdist stage play “Waiting for Godot,” this Y2K theater comedy satirizes the frivolous extravagance of the mega-rich.
Bob’s Billionaire Boat boasts the world’s 2,000 richest people on it, and will enable them to celebrate the arrival of the year 2000 twice in a row by crossing the International Dateline on New Year’s Eve 1999. The co-captains of the boat — two regular guys — keep themselves amused with endlessly silly banter while occasionally debating whether the whole thing is just a fictional stage play.
Meanwhile, two Wall Street traders who are bitter about missing the wealth cutoff for the billionaire cruise are determined to blow up the boat and thereby become the two richest people on earth.
In this satire, the zaniest billionaires ever to gather on a single vessel prove that there’s still plenty to complain about at the top.
6) MY BEST VALENTINE’S DAY. EVER. – A SHORT STORY
Sammy Laffowitz is legendary for his dating disasters and sex mishaps. This time, misfortune strikes on Valentine’s Day – but with a fun twist that makes Sammy seem studly for a change.
7) MY WORST VALENTINE’S DAY. EVER. – A SHORT STORY
Yi Wang is a NY bad boy who plans to make history on Valentine’s Day with his female exploits. The handsome, alpha-male, Chinese-American is a corporate lawyer who usually gets his way with women, but this time he makes one stupid mistake that leaves everyone but him laughing hysterically at his epic fail.
Oh yeah? Well, I want to get a website called “Fill In The Blank dot com.”
BC
It’s already taken.
AL
How about “It’s Already Taken dot com?”
BC
It’s already taken.
AL
How about “Everything’s Already Been Taken dot com?”
BC
That one’s already been taken too.
AL
How about “That One’s Already Been Taken three dot com?”
BC
That one’s still free.
AL
How are you such an expert on the availability of domain names?
BC
I think that one’s still free too.
AL
That wasn’t a website. That was a question.
–Web site: http://SexInTheTitleBook.com
–Zack Love Author Page on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ZackLoveAuthor
–“Sex in the Title” Facebook Page: http://tinyurl.com/FBSITT
–Twitter: https://twitter.com/zackloveauthor
–Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00GG9GI2S
–Goodreads: http://tinyurl.com/epicGRreview
RELEASE BLITZ & GIVEAWAY: OVERWHELMED by MARITA A. HANSEN
Posted by The Literary Melting Pot in Book News on May 19, 2014
Synopsis
Purchase Links
Excerpt
standing over me, wearing only a towel, his body glistening from not being
dried properly. A line of water ran down the curving Maori tattoo on his right
arm, dripping onto the carpet. He had the type of body made from a construction
site—powerfully built and tanned,his muscular biceps and
six-pack not from a gym. He pushed a
hand through his wet brown hair, the stubble from last night gone. He was
delicious, but all I wanted was for him to get dressed and go to work, so I
could get back to the countless messages I had to answer. There were too many
to deal with, all to do with my writing. My thoughts made me feel guilty, even
more so since Tom was staring down at me with need in his eyes, the proof
pushing at his towel. But, I was overwhelmed with work, overwhelmed with
stress, and I really didn’t need him adding to it.
Dream Cast
About the Author
NATIONALITY AND CULTURAL CONNECTIONS: I’m a true blue Aucklander, born and bred in New Zealand. I tend to write about cultures I have connections to, such as Croatian and Maori. I would love to visit Croatia again as I have family there. However, in My Masters’ Nightmare, I have started writing about Italians . My husband is part Italian and I also have a degree in Italian.SPORTS: As a teen my favorite sports were karate, badminton, and running. I also did unarmed combat and played in a touch rugby team (my gym teacher made me do the last one!) Now, I stick to coaching soccer and running. I have completed two marathons, numerous half-marathons and one 30K run.
CAREER PATH: I started off as a Graphic Designer, then went to Auckland University, where I got a BA degree in Art History and Italian Studies and a post-graduate Honors degree in Art History. I worked in the Art History field, then became a full-time artist, doing commissions. I eventually lost all of my senses and gave it up to be a poor, starving writer, smh.
FAVORITE FOODS: I’m vegetarian. I love pasta based foods, tofu, chocolate mousse and golden queen peaches.
BAD HABITS: I’m a major procrastinator that can’t seem to earn money to save myself!
STATUS: Married to my high school sweetheart (which he hates me calling him). We have two kids.
ROMANCEBOOKWORM.COM GOODY..BLOG TOUR STOP! A MASTERPIECE OF OUR LOVE BY NIKKI LYNN BARRETT (@TastyBookTours)
Posted by The Literary Melting Pot in Romancebookworm.com Goodies on May 13, 2014
CLICK LINK TO SEE MORE AT ROMANCEBOOKWORM’S REVIEWS
BLOG TOUR STOP! A MASTERPIECE OF OUR LOVE BY NIKKI LYNN BARRETT (@TastyBookTours).
ROMANCEBOOKWORM.COM GOODY..REVIEW BY CEECEE! MINE TO SPELL BY JANEAL FALOR
Posted by The Literary Melting Pot in Uncategorized on May 13, 2014
BLOG TOUR! LOTUS BLOSSOM LANE (Saving Angels 3) by Annie Rose Welch
Posted by The Literary Melting Pot in Reviews on May 13, 2014
Life after Yuma was blissful for Layla and Michael. After the old Red Dirt Road, their journey seemed to be moving them in the right direction, leading them to Ireland. As the road to happy ever after leads them down Lotus Blossom Lane, years of entombed history starts to reemerge. What has been exhumed will not only shock them, but change the course of their lives forever. And who is waiting for them at the end of the Lotus Blossom Lane, one of the biggest and brightest stars in the world, will bring them to the next road in the Saving Angels Series.
This series should be read in order, as they are each connected, and you will miss intricate details that bring everything together.
This is an author to watch! I love her writing style, creativity, and uncanny ability to capture the reader indefinitely. I have spent hours trying to tie my thoughts into one review, but I’m so blown away, I find it impossible. I will say, however, that I felt every emotion, could see and hear everything as if I were there, and her depiction of Ireland makes me miss my kin! I laughed and cried throughout this intelligently written, hard to put down, wonderfully unique novel.
A definite must read!
Born and raised in New Orleans, Annie has a habit of shortening her words and telling long stories. She speaks with a southern flair and cooks with it too. At the tender age of twenty- one, she hitched up her wagons (took her first plane ride) and moved out west to the big shake (California). Her writing career began one sleepless night when she imagined a gorgeous woman and a man with maniacal hair floating above her like lightening bugs falling from the sky. Curious about them, their story, and why they were floating around in her head, she sat down and penned (typed) her first novel, Marigny Street. A dream come true for her, she hasn’t stopped writing since. She loves a damn good love story, always has, no matter what the genre. She is particularly moved by imperfect love that in its own unique way is perfect, the notion of love at first sight, soul mates, and things that are generally out of the norm.
When she’s not writing she enjoys dabbling in photography and finding new, inspirational music to add to her collection. She currently (still) resides in the big shake (although her southern roots are calling her home) with her husband, daughter, and their two peculiar dogs, Boudreaux and Tabasco (who, call her crazy, bark with an accent).
For lagniappe (a little extra), a virtual cup of café au lait and beignets, please visit Annie’s website:
http://www.annierosewelch.com
She can also be found on Facebook & Twitter.
May 12
Cruising Susan Book Reviews | Not Everyone’s Momma
May 13
Deal Sharing Aunt | Books Are Love | The Literary Melting Pot
May 14
Anny Books | Romance Schmomance | Devoured Words
May 15
She Reads New Adult | Book Worms | vs. The Writer
May 16
The Book Enthusiast | Sweet Books
COVER REVEAL! FEVER by MELISSA PEARL
Posted by The Literary Melting Pot in Book News on May 9, 2014
Cover Reveal!
Fever ( A Songbird Novel )
Designer: Mae I Design
Ella Simmons does not want to move across the country. But she is, because her boyfriend has persuaded her to join him at UChicago to finish out her college education. Never able to tell him no, she hops on a plane and makes the trek from LA expecting to adjust to life like she’s often forced to, but things are not that simple when she hears a luscious voice singing over her shower wall. His deep, sexy tenor makes her weak in the knees, spreading fire through her limbs and making her question everything about her life and relationship.
Can one voice really have that much of an impact?
Cole Reynolds is on his way out. In his final year at UChicao, the only this he wants to do is finish school and get on with this life. But the sweet voice that interrupts his morning shower turns his world upside down. Compelled to find his shower songbird, he begins a search across campus. The only thing to distract him from this goal is his roommate’s gorgeous girlfriend who’s just arrived from LA – Ella Simmons.
Relationships are put to the ultimate test as future dreams are questioned and friendships are thrown on the line for love.
Excerpt
My voice grew stronger as I sang through the first verse of Cheek to Cheek. Louis Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald sang my favorite version of the song. I was so in love with those two. Probably because my mother was a jazz/swing freak. Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole, Louis Armstrong…they were always filling our house with music. But Ella, she was my mom’s favorite and she’d quickly became mine. The woman had a voice like an angel…the supreme songbird. That’s what Mom used to say.
I ended the verse strong on the high note and was about to dip low for the last line when a deep, masculine voice joined me from the other side of the wall.
My breath hitched, my heart rate tripling. Man, that was a sexy voice. My insides flooded with heat and it wasn’t because of the shower. I bit my lip, wondering how to respond. My mind was flashing with images of a naked man beneath his own shower head. What did he look like? If the person matched the voice, he must be built like a greek god. My insides coiled tight as I touched the tiles in front of me.
I’d never had such a physical reaction to someone’s voice before. I mean, yeah David was sexy in his own way, but whoever was on the other side of this wall was making my knees weak.
The man chuckled, a low gruff sound from his throat…at least I think that’s what it was. It was kind of hard to hear through the wall, but then he started singing again and it was crystal clear.
He finished the next line.
He paused.
Waiting.
For me.
Pressing my lips together, I blinked a couple of times and then grinned.
About the Author
Website / Facebook / Twitter / Goodreads / Author Blog / Book Blog / Pinterest
Sign up for Melissa’s Newsletter
Melissa Pearl was born in Auckland, New Zealand, but has spent much of her life abroad, living in countries such as Jordan, Cyprus and Pakistan… not to mention a nine month road trip around North America with her husband. “Best. Year. Ever!!” She now lives in China with her husband and two sons. She is a trained elementary teacher, but writing is her passion. Since becoming a full time mother she has had the opportunity to pursue this dream and her debut novel hit the internet in November 2011. Since then she has continued to produce a steady stream of books. Recently she signed with Evatopia Press and her first Evatopia book is coming out in February 2014 – True Colors, The Masks Series #1. She is very excited to be trying out new things this year while continuing to publish under her own name as well. She has six books planned for 2014 and is excited about writing each and every one of them.
“I am passionate about writing. It stirs a fire in my soul that I never knew I had. I want to be the best writer I can possibly be and transport my readers into another world where they can laugh, cry and fall in love.”
BROUGHT TO YOU BY
REVIEW & GIVEAWAY! THAT’S A LIE (PROMISES, PROMISES BOOK 2) by VICTORIA KLAHR
Posted by The Literary Melting Pot in Reviews on May 9, 2014
![Pageflex Persona [document: PRS0000035_00030]](https://ceeceelaws.files.wordpress.com/2014/04/thats-a-lie.jpg)
That’s A Lie
Author: Victoria Klahr
Release Date: March 25, 2014
Genre: New Adult Contemporary Romance
Add It: Goodreads
Seth is back.
When he walked back into my life, it almost felt like the pieces of my broken heart could be fixed. I thought we could go back to being best friends, but then I started to feel what I had been blocking out for years. I tried. Boy, did I try! But once I started to let him in, I wanted nothing more than to cross that line from friendship into something more…
Just when I think I can move on and let myself be happy, an ugly reminder from my past comes storming in and threatens to destroy the sliver of hope that’s been growing since Seth came back.
Do I even deserve to be loved?
“I’m not asking to fix your heart. I’m not asking to mend you. I love each and every shattered piece of you. I’m asking that you let me love you. Let me love each piece of your broken heart, and I swear to you I will make up for every heartache you have ever experienced.”
I came back for Josie.
I knew I’d have to fight for her, but with the loss of her dad and the truth about what happened with her and Blake, I quickly realized that making her mine was going to be a lot harder than I first thought. The problem is, I can’t pretend like she’s just my best friend. I can’t pretend I don’t want more.
I’m willing to do anything to get her to admit she has the same passionate feelings for me, because I know once she opens up and stops lying to herself, I can show her what it really means to be loved. It’s a battle of wills, but my love for her is stronger than her will to stop me.
So I fight for her. I fight because I know she deserves it.
“You lied to me,” he said gruffly, sitting on the barstool at my counter. His blonde hair flopped in front of his eyes, and my hands itched to push it back. To get to touch him again the way I want to would satisfy only a millimeter of the need I have, but it would relieve some of the pain. I turned around to hide my thoughts.
“Ugh… I need coffee,” I said vacantly, reaching for my coffee maker. I didn’t even hear Seth move, but his hand grabbed mine and he turned me around, placing his hands beside me on the countertop to trap me. My breath caught, and I was almost positive he could hear my heart pounding in my chest.
His blue green eyes were angry, but I didn’t even care about him being mad. All that mattered was the charge that thumped between us. I was very aware of him.
“You lied, Josie. You’re not supposed to lie to me.”
“Seth… come on,” I said, turning my face away, unable to look at the raw emotion in his expression. His hand dashed out and grabbed my chin.
“How long, Josie?” he asked. I closed my eyes, not wanting to admit anything. “Open your damn eyes, Jos. Stop fucking hiding.” His voice was hard, but it was also full of desperation. I opened my eyes and narrowed them at him.
He doesn’t understand that I need to keep him away from me. My life is tainted by darkness, and he doesn’t need that. “It doesn’t matter, Seth. I’m fine.”
“Like fucking hell it doesn’t matter. I haven’t heard you scream like that since after everything that happened.”
He was referring to when I would have nightmares after I was raped. He or one of my dads would come lay with me to help me fall asleep. Every day that Seth wasn’t in school, he was there with me, trying to make the nightmares go away.
“Since the engagement party,” I whispered, looking down. I don’t know why I admitted it, but I think there was a part of me that realized I couldn’t hold onto all this pain anymore.
That’s when my resolve started to break. How long can I go on fighting the feelings that I have for Seth? How long can I act like nothing hurts me?
“Fuck, Jos…,” he whispered back, placing his forehead against mine. I was able to smell the mixture of hay and apple pie on his skin, and I almost lost my footing from wanting him so badly. “You should have told me.”
“I didn’t want you to worry,” I admitted.
“I worry about you every second you’re not with me, Pussy Cat. Every second that you hide behind that wall you’ve built, I wonder when you’re going to crack.” His hand reached up to caress my face, and I started to lean into his touch. It was only a minute movement, but I still heard Seth’s breath hitch. My lapse in self-control made him bold. He brought his mouth to the side of mine, and kissed me. I couldn’t stop the whimper before it escaped my mouth.
“There you are,” he whispered hoarsely against my lips. I wanted to bask in the moment, but I had already opened up to him too much. I pushed through the barricade he had made, and ran back to my room.
Victoria Klahr (pronounced like “Claire”) lives in Elizabeth City, North Carolina with her husband and daughter, Stephen and Alexis. She loves her chug (Pug/Chihuahua), Bandit, and three year old to pieces. She loves to stay home and take care of them, even if they do drive her insane at times. She is a huge and proud book nerd who looks at her bookshelf in admiration daily. She has her Associate’s degree in Business Administration, but her passion has always been the stories that talk to her in her head. One day she decided to take a chance and let the voices write her story. She has never felt more certain or comfortable about who she is than when she writes.
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