Bittersweet Junction by Ivy Sinclair: Promo + 2 eBooks Giveaway!

Bittersweet Junction by Ivy Sinclair
Publication date: 2013
Genre: NA Contemporary Romance

Synopsis:

Best friends once, lovers never, yet an attraction that can’t be ignored.

Five years ago, Julia Bell walked away from her life the moment her high school diploma was in her hand. She left her family and friends behind to start over and escape the chokehold of small town life in Benton Hill. But an urgent call from her little sister brings Julia back to her hometown wholly unprepared for what awaits her.

Ben Miller was always the nice guy. Just before high school graduation, he stepped out of that role hoping to capture the heart of the woman he loved. Instead, in quick succession he lost the girl, and the future he worked so hard to achieve.

Even though Julia and Ben are drawn to each other, echoes of the past block them at every turn. Secrets are exposed, and reality needs to be dealt with if they can ever hope to move past the bittersweet junction that ripped them apart.

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Ivy Sinclair cut her romance teeth on classics like Gone With the Wind, Casablanca, An Affair to Remember, and Sabrina. She is a firm believer in true love, a happily ever after ending, and the medicinal use of chocolate to cure any ailment of the heart. Ivy’s guilty pleasures include sushi, endless Starbucks lattes, and wine. Readers of Ivy’s stories can expect smoldering sweet stories of romance that tug at the heartstrings.

Author Links:

Website / Goodreads

About the book:

Describe Bittersweet Junction in one sentence.

Fate gives two former best friends a second chance at romance, if they overcome old misunderstandings and deceit.

Give a quick blurb about the book and why readers would enjoy it.

Bittersweet Junction picks up with the main characters, Julia Belle and Ben Miller, five years after high school graduation. Julia left the small town of Benton Hill right after graduation because she was faced with some grown-up kind of decisions that she couldn’t make. Ben, one of Julia’s childhood best friends, was left confused and hurt after her departure. Julia’s sister Clary lures Julia back to Benton Hill under false pretenses, and that’s when Julia realizes it’s impossible to outrun the past.

I think what readers will enjoy most about this story is the way that Julia and Ben eventually overcome the obstacles in their path to have a shot at their happy ending. I found it very satisfying to write, and I believe that will resonate with readers.

How did you come up with the idea for Bittersweet Junction?

I’ve had several ideas for stories that revolve around the idea of a five year high school reunion. The idea for Bittersweet Junction started there, although in the end, there is no actual high school reunion in the book. That wouldn’t have been a good enough reason to drag Julia back to Benton Hill.

If Bittersweet Junction were made into a movie, who would you want to play the main characters?

I’ve thought a lot about this. I could see Emma Roberts playing Julia and Chris Pine, with his gorgeous blue eyes, would make the perfect Ben. Emily Browning would play Julia’s little sister Clary, and Max Thieriot would round out the casting as Mike.

About you as writer:

When did you begin writing?

I started writing the summer between sixth and seventh grade. I kept all of my teenage angst in a journal and experimented with poetry as well. I think that helped me start finding my writing voice.

When did you first think, wow I have made it as a writer?

My senior year of high school I won a state newspaper award for a piece of hard hitting journalism in the school paper. It was an article on how a teacher in a local junior high had gotten in trouble for showing an R-rated movie in the classroom. The day I received my award, I knew that writing was part of my life’s journey.

Do you have any special rituals you do when you sit down to write? 

I usually have an idea of how many words or chapters that I want to get written that particular writing session. It helps to have a goal because I am easily distracted.

What advice would you give to aspiring writers out there?

Take an active interest in reading about what’s going on in the publishing industry today so that you can make informed decisions about your writing destiny. The landscape of publishing is changing faster than anyone could have imagined, and it affects all of us.

Silly questions:

Favorite color? I am digging orange right now. I have an orange purse, loads of orange tops, and even my toenails are orange at the moment.

Salty or Sweet? I am 50/50 on that. My favorite snack right now is a handful almonds mixed with a handful of dark chocolate chips.

Favorite author?  Stephen King. I can’t think of another author out there who has influenced me and my writing as much as he has, and I have enjoyed almost every single book he’s written.

Favorite book? I still remember discovering Intensity by Dean Koontz. It seriously blew my mind and scared me to death (which I love in a good book btw.)

Regular or decaf? Regular, fully loaded. Coffee is my friend. :)

Swimming in the ocean or a pool? I’m not a swimmer at all, but I do enjoy splashing in the ocean.

Candles or spray air fresheners? I always have a candle burning in my office when I write.

Do you have a green thumb for plants? No. The only success I’ve had with plants are ones that can grow and thrive despite the fact that I forget they’re there and don’t water them for two weeks.

Do you like feather pillow or foam? I have a foam pillow right now. Pillows are tricky- a bad one has such an impact on getting a good night’s sleep.

What do you collect?  Trinkets? Books? Gadgets? I am a gadget girl. I am definitely an early adopter when it comes to technology.

Coke or Pepsi? I can go either way on the regular stuff, but I definitely prefer diet Coke over diet Pepsi.

Tell us about the first story you ever wrote and how old you were.  I was twelve the first time I remember trying my hand at fiction. The story was about two sisters who were trapped in their house as it was shifting in time between the present, and a disturbing event in the past. Of course, some ghosts came to visit as well.

Do you prefer to live in a big city or in the country? I live in a suburb of Minneapolis. I feel like that’s a nice balance. I have access to all the city has to offer, but live in a neighborhood with wetlands and lots of greenery.

Who is your favorite actor? Robert Downey Jr. or Ryan Reynolds. I can’t choose between them.

What is your favorite movie? We own more than 500 movies- we’re big movie buffs so it’s hard to pick just one. Gone with the Wind has inspired a lot of trends in my writing though.
Do you play an instrument? If so what? I’ve played the flute and the French horn in my time. I wasn’t very good at either one.

Besides writing what other artistic talents, do you have? I’m a singer from way back. In school I was in choir, show choir, and always participated in the school musicals. Now I settle for karaoke nights at one of our local dive bars.

What was your first job? I started delivering newspapers when I was fourteen. I did some babysitting as well.

Have you ever gone to work wearing house shoes? Only when I’m working from home. :)

I lived in a small town until I was twelve years old. My sixth grade class had thirteen students, twelve girls and one boy. Needless to say, my odds were practically non-existent for young love. Not only did I spend those formidable years in a small town attending a small school, but my family lived five miles outside of town “in the country”. Standing in my front yard, I saw nothing but open fields and gravels roads.

With nothing else to do, I escaped to new places through books. I had a few friends, but the friends that I really cared about existed within the pages of my favorite stories. It didn’t seem that strange to me at the time. It was just my life.

I didn’t realize how small my small town life was until I moved to another state into an actual city between sixth and seventh grade. To say I experienced a tremendous culture shock would be an understatement. It forced me out of my shell.  Although still a voracious reader, I made a larger circle of friends, and started doing things with people outside of my head. Eventually I grew to love living in a city.

I only went back to that small town a few times throughout junior high and high school to visit family. By the time I was in my early 20s, the shift in my perception between small town and city was noticeably evident. When I would go back for a visit, even though I had been gone for a decade, I still ran into a lot of people who acted like they knew me even though I had no idea who they were. “Oh- you’re Jerry and Nancy’s daughter. How have you been?”

It was odd to me how interested these strangers were in the specific details of my life. What was even more uncomfortable was hearing stories about my parents’ adventures when they lived in town, which occurred more than twenty years ago. People had long memories, and not all of those stories were especially flattering, but there were sweet and funny stories too.

Those are the experiences that I drew on when I wrote about Julia, the main character of Bittersweet Junction, coming back to her hometown of Benton Hill. She’s been gone for five years, but when she returns, people expect her that she’s the same person, even though she’s not.

Benton Hill itself is one of the main characters throughout the book, and I believe that anyone who has lived in a small town will be able to related to that. Ben, who used to be Julia’s best friend and is now her love interest, never left Benton Hill. He finds the scrutiny of living under the microscope of small town eyes frustrating and heavy with expectations. This causes several complications for Julia and Ben.

I’ve reached a stage in my life where I can appreciate the benefits of living in a small town. The pace of life is slower, and friendships can easily span a lifetime. Yet I find that I am now a city girl at heart. Between my childhood in a small town, and adult life in the city, I think I’ve had the best of both words.

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Epiphany by Christina Jean Michaels: Interview, Playlist, + $25 Amazon Gift Card and eBook Giveaway!

 Epiphany by Christina Jean Michaels

Publication date: July, 2013
Genre: NA/17+ Romantic Suspense

Synopsis:

“I had my first psychic dream when I was nine. Psychic implied power, and powerful wasn’t a word I’d use to describe myself. I couldn’t foretell the future or conjure visions at will, but I couldn’t think of a more fitting word to describe what I sometimes saw in my dreams.”

For 23-year-old Mackenzie Hill, tossing her life down the garbage disposal is easy after a painful incident shatters her life. Her heart is bleeding, and moving to Watcher’s Point is a chance to start anew, only she isn’t prepared for the guy who walks out of her dreams and into the flesh. Literally . . . because she’s been dreaming about this sexy stranger for years.

Mackenzie is even less prepared to face the dark nature of her dreams. They’ve turned disturbingly gruesome, full of blood and murder, and when they begin to coincide with the media’s headlines, she and Aidan realize her visions might be the key to stopping a madman from killing again.

Only Aidan has painful secrets of his own, and perhaps the biggest danger of all is falling for him.

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Christina Jean Michaels was born in Paradise, California, but she has found the true home of her heart in Eugene, Oregon where she finds plenty of inspiration for storytelling.

When she was young, her mother said she hated words. Now she can't imagine not writing. She became an avid reader when she was thirteen and discovered the world of Sweet Valley High. About a year later she realized she could play God and write about her own characters. She has been writing in some form ever since.

She lives with her husband and their four children—three rambunctious UFC/wrestling-loving boys and one girl who steals everyone’s attention.

LINKS:

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter

A half hour later, after three rounds of drinks and a dozen lurid jokes, I extracted myself and was certain four pairs of lascivious eyes were glued to my ass.

Six grabbed my arm mid-stride and gestured toward Aidan. “Talk to him. It won’t kill you, I promise.”

I wasn’t so sure about that—I’d been trying to talk to him all week, but he’d been tight-lipped. The band went to break, and I kissed my excuse to duck and hide goodbye. Six gave me a final nudge in his direction.

“How’s it going?” I asked, gripping the counter for support. His eyes answered for him. Troubled and drawn, they indicated a sleepless night. Two full shot glasses sat between his hands; three empties had already been pushed aside.

This couldn’t be a good sign.

I said the first thing that came to mind. “No costume tonight?”

“I’m not really in a festive mood.” His eyes traveled the length of my body, and the corner of his mouth crept up in a lopsided smile. “Nice hat,” he said, swaying in his seat, “but Bonnie was blond.”

“I don’t play well with hair dye or wigs. It’s a character flaw.” What had gotten into me? Talking to the opposite sex had never come so easily, especially with a man as attractive as Aidan.

Sexy. Gorgeous. Hmm . . . wonder what’s underneath those clothes?

I swallowed hard. Now who had lascivious eyes? Time to pour cement into my mind’s gutter.

“You’re right. I can’t picture you blond.” He swayed on the barstool again, and I figured he must have hit the bottle before arriving. “Where’s Clyde hiding?”

“Bonnie’s an independent woman. She’s going solo.”

“Maybe you’ll get into less trouble that way.” He downed the remaining two shots without warning. The last hit the counter with a racket. “Can you believe today is my birthday?” The scorn in his tone confused me. Most people didn’t get so bent over a birthday.

I wasn’t sure how to reply. Somehow I guessed “happy birthday” wasn’t what he wanted to hear. I silently waited, hoping he’d shed some light. Even in my dreams—where I learned of things I had no way of explaining to others—he remained a mystery.

“I’ll take another round,” he said, gesturing toward the empties. “Make them doubles.”

I swallowed hard. “You sure? You’ve had a lot already.”

He flashed that crooked smile again, and I wondered if he realized how disarming it was. “You’re worried about me?”  he asked.

I hesitated. “Yeah, I am.” Way more than I wanted to admit. Tonight was Halloween, after all.

What inspired you to write Epiphany?

I'd been playing around with the idea of writing a novel for years. Actually, I'd written fan fiction for a long time, which was how I ended up hearing about National Novel Writing Month. I signed up for NaNoWriMo in 2008, never believing I'd actually write 50,000 words, and I used anything and everything for inspiration--from the people I saw on Halloween night to the crazy customers that would come into the convenience store where I worked. I plotted in my head during downtime and loaded up on 5-Hour energy shots after work in order to crank out those words. I don't think there's any one thing that inspired me to write the book, though NaNoWriMo definitely played a part in helping me to get it going.

How did you come up with the title?

I have no idea, but I like the different contextual meanings. She's psychic, and there are a slew of secrets that come out in the story, so I thought it fit.

Are experiences based on someone you know, or events in your own life?

Some things in Epiphany are very loosely based on real life. They planted the seed, but ultimately Epiphany became its own story entirely. I can relate to Mac when she wakes from a nightmare because I've had night terrors since I was a child. Thankfully, I don't have the burden of psychic power to add to it!

What books have most influenced your life most?

I couldn't get my hands on enough Sweet Valley High books when I was a teenager. When I switched to adult fiction, I was introduced to Sandra Brown, and later Nora Roberts. I'm a romance junkie--always have been. I think Roberts is excellent at romance, and Brown has amazing talent for really twisted plots.

More recently, I've really enjoyed new adult and even dark erotica. Kitty Thomas is my favorite in the dark erotica genre.

What book are you reading now?

At the moment, I'm not reading anything as I've been too busy, but I finished reading Unbreak Me by Lexi Ryan a couple of weeks ago. That book was AMAZING! Phew! I can't even describe the level of twisted my insides became at reading it, and I'm talking twisted in a good way. ;)

What are your current projects?

Currently, I'm in a writing slump. I have a dark erotica project I started a few months ago that I plan to publish under my other pen name, and I also need to begin writing the next book in the Legacy of Payne series. Right now, I'm spinning ideas in my head, which is my equivalent of early outlining. What I really need to do is sit down and write, NaNoWriMo style.

If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in Epiphany?

There's always going to be something that I find imperfect, and I do wish I'd found a way to work in one more tiny clue, but overall, I'm really happy with the way Epiphany turned out.

Do you recall how your interest in writing originated?

I became an obsessed reader at age 13. My mom and I were homeless for a while, and I latched on to reading as a means of escape. About a year later I realized I could play God and write about my own characters.

Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?

My OCD need to constantly edit. It really gets in the way of writing rough draft copy. If I could overcome this, I know I could finish projects a lot sooner. Ridiculously sooner!

Who designed your book cover?

I designed it. Working with digital art is another passion of mine. When I need a break from writing, I'll switch over to making book covers and web graphics.

What was the hardest part of writing your book?

Finishing it. I had a mental block when it came to Epiphany. Looking back now, I can't believe it took me that long to write the ending.

Do you have any advice for other writers?

Take the time to learn from others. I work shopped Epiphany online, and as a result I feel my writing is better for it. Epiphany is a better story for it. I also made some wonderful friends. A good critique partner is invaluable--I can't stress that enough.

If you could be one of your characters, who would you chose?

This is a difficult question, as I like to torture my characters! I'd like to be in Mac's shoes for one night--or out of them because she'd be naked and between the sheets with Aidan on that night, lol.

Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?

Thanks for your interest in Epiphany! I hope you enjoy the story. I'd also like to extend a thank-you to the bloggers for hosting me!

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Counterpart by K.J. Hunter: Review + Author Interview!

For twenty year old Maya Simmons, being a succubus wasn't much of a worry. It was when she needed to fulfill the demon inside her that annoyed her. The lifestyle of drugs, alcohol and sex wasn't one she bragged about, especially to the one guy she knew she could never have, Tristan James.

Much of Maya's college life consisted of flirting with Tristan, seeing Tristan, watching Tristan, but never once did she ever attempt to taste the empowering energy that consisted inside him. She wouldn't dare. It almost helped that he had a girlfriend.

But when a threat of Tristan's life comes into play, and a rogue succubus is out to kill, Maya must play detective with her fellow succubus and incubus, Melinda and Daniel, before it's too late. Not only does she need to find out who's killing people, but Maya needs to make sure no one finds out, especially Tristan, and especially the SIA.

Sometimes, secrets become too much to handle. And the one thing Maya always wanted may be within more reach than she thought.

But it could be too late, because the clock's ticking and the heartbeat's slowing.

Title – Counterpart

Author – K.J. Hunter-Brown

Series – Succubi & Incubi Assn.

Published – May 21, 2013

Cover Design – Redbird Designs

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No one really knows what they're going to be until they actually experiment different things. I did that, and now I know what I want to be.

I could say something like, "I've been writing since I was some young age" but that would be a lie. I have been reading since I was able to understand the word 'the'. So, it really all started when I read book after book, and then soon enough I had read so much books that even I was starting to get sucked into the fictional life.

On a cloudy day, I decided to write my first novel (I didn't really have anything else to do). The thing here is that I'm known to have a weird imagination, and I guess the first time I got told that, was the day I actually realized that I did. Which led me to putting my weird imagination on paper, turning it into a novel, and loving the fact that I actually did it. And had fun with it.

I was born and raised in New Zealand. (Yes, it's that little country beside Australia. No, it's not a part of Australia.) I dream big, and have family and friends that support me with each step I take. I spend a majority of my time reading, writing, watching Sci-Fi movies (I'm a nerd and proud!), listening to music, and going on an adventure with my characters (that's my favorite one). I am also a part-time reviewer on Step Into Fiction (That site totally rocks by the way.)

I believe that if you really want it, you can have it. I'm not saying it's going to be easy because it probably won't be. As for me, I'm excited to go on this journey and introduce everyone to the imagination that is mine, and weird.

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What type of person should read your book?

I can’t really single out a certain type of person but anyone who really likes a quick, fun, and romantic stories. It really depends on people’s preferences. If they like the idea of protagonists that like to have fun and humor, then I’d suggest it to them.

How did the idea behind Counterpart develop?

Counterpart was actually an accidental idea that popped into my head half-way during my writing of another novel. As soon as the idea of it came, I paused the writing and proceeded to write Counterpart. After that, the story developed itself.

How did you prepare for this novel? 

I’m not the type of person to plan ahead when it comes to one book. I can’t stick to my own plan. I have scenes that play out in my head and I write them in my notebook. Usually, my memory serves me well during my writing process, so that’s usually how things go out. Other than that, I like my characters to tell the story. They end up telling it better than I do.

Which characters can we expect to see in the next book? 

We’ll definitely be seeing a lot of the crew from Counterpart: Maya, Tristan, Melinda, Daniel, and Ethan. But there will be more of Noah (Tristan’s best friend) and Jamie (Maya’s roommate). Plus, Maya will be coming face-to-face with her past.

Did any pop culture influence this story directly?

Not directly, but parts of the story were influenced by how society is today, well, how I see it.

If some unforeseen circumstances were destroying literature, which book would you save?

Does my book count? I don’t think there’s any other book that I love more than my own. Haha.

What are you reading?

At this very moment, I’m not reading anything. But I did just finish the Elemental series (the ones that are out) by Brigid Kemmerer, and I love them.

Tell us 3 things that we should know about you.

1. I am a sucker for chocolate, cheese, and gelato (not together).
2. I am not a sucker for chick-flicks or sappy romances. I tend to like a lot of… non-sappy moments. I’m more of an action/comedy girl.
3. If I’m not writing, I’m playing video games. It’s a reality that I’ve become accustomed too.

What are you currently working on?

I am currently working on another book that is paranormal/new adult and not a part of the SIA series, but I’m adding a lot more fantasy in this one. A lot of my imagination is going to into this.

 Finally! It's a book with a heavy romance scene with minimal overly-corny one liners. Okay, admitedly, there's a couple, but K.J. seems to mock herself over these, as well. 

This novel starts out pretty racy. Those of you that have conventional ideas about love will probably have trouble sticking with it, but ... I want to challenge you too. 

Once K.J. is able to set up the story plot, you're able to see a little more reasoning behind the racy beginning. If you have an open-mind, which is a very important attribute to current culture, then you might even come to an understanding of sorts.

Once the potentially shocking beginning is set up, you'll find yourself immersed in a fast-paced world filled with demons and romance. 

It's got some good action scenes, an interesting back-story, and the potential for an interesting continuation of the series.  

I found the characters were easy to like despite being a bit rough around the edges, but, hey, aren't we all. 

When it comes to Counterpart?

Burn It | Toss It | Borrow It | Read It | Buy It *

 Please Note: I received this novel free from the author in exchange for an honest review. Words and opinions are my own. 

* I have switched the arrangement of my review system. It still works the same, except now the scale climbs from worst to best instead of from best to worst. I thought it would make more sense. For exact explanations behind the rating system, please visit here.