Freebie Friday

Well, the first freebie I want to tell you about it my own! All Fall Down is free for a limited time.

Here's the back copy:

Ring around the rosy, a pocket full of posies, ashes, ashes we all fall down . . .

That simple rhyme turns negotiator Claire Michaels’ current hostage situation into an international incident. Claire just wants to help get everyone out safely, but as the crisis escalates she realizes she’s dealing with an al-Qaeda operative who has the means to become another bin Laden---with the potential to attack America. Claire has her own personal reasons for wanting to stop al-Qaeda, but time is slipping away as negotiations break down. Can she overcome her scars of the past in order to get the hostage out alive and possibly stop an assault on U.S. national security?

Navy SEAL Rafe Kelly is on leave to recover from a knee injury he suffered during his tour in Afghanistan and he doesn’t expect to be fighting terrorists on his home turf. But when he is taken hostage and his brother is kidnapped, Rafe teams up with a hostage negotiator in order to stay alive and get his brother back. The terrorist is always one step ahead of them, however, and the situation quickly turns from desperate to deadly. Will Rafe be able to save himself and his country without anyone he loves getting caught in the crossfire?

You can download your free Kindle copy here

The second book I want to tell you about today is a Christmas boxed set of six novellas called Christmas in Snow Valley on sale for only .99 cents! It's six different authors with six connected stories that were really well done. If you missed this one during the holiday season, now's your chance to pick it up! You can click here to download!

Here's the back copy:

Christmas in Snow Valley is packed with six wonderful Christmas novellas sure to bring romance into your holiday season.

Snow Valley, Montana, is a small community with the tradition of doing Christmas big. Festivities begin with tree lighting in the town square the day after Thanksgiving and continue until the culminating romantic Christmas Ball. From the Polar Express to a Winter Carnival, there's something for every wonder-filled child--and every couple who's in love--or about to be.

An Unexpected Kiss by Amazon Top Seller Cindy Roland Anderson

Lucy Phillips doesn't want to spend her Christmas vacation dodging her ex-boyfriend, so when he turns up at the airport to give her a ride home, Lucy panics and asks a complete stranger to kiss her. Although the kiss is incredible, Lucy never expects to see the guy again. Is it bad luck or destiny when Lucy comes down with a sore throat and the new doctor in Snow Valley is none other than the guy she kissed at the airport?

Feels Like Love by Jeanette Lewis

Christmas in Snow Valley is the perfect way for April Winston to introduce her city slicker fiancé, Scott Mecham, to life on a farm. If only Wade Hadley, hometown boy and high school sweetheart, will cooperate! But Wade has no intention of letting April go without a fight. This Christmas, Wade is determined to overcome their painful past and show April that she already has what she's been seeking all along.

Full Court Devotion by Amazon Top Seller Cami Checketts

Kazlyn is too busy with her schooling and future plans to enjoy life, let alone fall in love with a man who has heartbreak written all over him. Tyrese Hamilton, a college basketball star and major heartthrob, is intrigued when Kazlyn doesn't pursue him or even seem interested. Ty's career is in jeopardy, and he needs a miracle and Kazlyn to save him.

The Christmas Eve Kiss by Taylor Hart

Molly O'Hare gets the utterly ridiculous prediction that she will kiss her true love on Christmas Eve. But when she returns to Snow Valley and comes face to face with Kevin Snow, suddenly the kiss thing seems...a lot less ridiculous. Too bad the reason she left still has the power to make her deny her real feelings. Now Molly is left with a choice--forget the home town and the boy that she never quit loving or let Christmas work out a miracle all on its own.

Risking it all for Love by Award-Winning author, Kimberley Montpetit

Succumbing to family pressure, Jessica Mason reluctantly comes home for Christmas. Ever since her high school boyfriend's death from a car accident three years earlier, Jessica and religion have not been compatible. So, when she visits Michael's grave, she's surprised to meet the handsome James Douglas, Pastor John's nephew, who's studying for the ministry. James can not only dish back Jessica's finely-tuned sarcasm but understands grief all too well, turning Jessica's world upside down. Is she ready to take another risk on love?

Blue Christmas by Lucy McConnell

As head of Snow Valley hospital's fundraising effort, Paisley Hackett barely has time to organize the craft show, cookie decorating party, and the annual Christmas Ball. What she doesn't have time for is falling in love with Clay Jett, the incredibly handsome bass player who sweeps into town. She's been burned by a tourist romance before and, with everything going on, Paisley will have to work overtime to protect her heart from Clay and his swoon-worthy ballads.

Bestseller Lists For All Fall Down

So, my book All Fall Down was listed for free over the Memorial Day weekend. (Did you miss that? If so, you can get your free copy here)

Anyway, as soon as it was listed for free, things started to go crazy! Over 5000 copies were downloaded and I started to move up on the Amazon Bestseller list for action/adventure romance AND action/adventure war and military.

Here's where I was Friday night. #661 overall and #5 in romance and #7 in war and military. Still pretty awesome!

By Saturday morning, this is where I was at--#391 overall and #2 in romance. Yeah, I was excited!

Saturday afternoon got really exciting. I was #82 overall and #1 in both action/adventure romance AND action/adventure military. I was so happy!

Doesn't it look pretty in that #1 spot? 

Anyway, I just wanted to share my happiness and hope that as people read the book I'll gain some new fans and more reviews! (If you've read All Fall Down and enjoyed it, by the way, would you consider reviewing it on Amazon and Goodreads? Word of mouth is the best advertising. And if you haven't read the book, now is the time to grab it! It is only free for a limited time.)

So, yeah, there are times when being a writer is fun.  I know I'm enjoying the ride right now! (But ask me again in a week when I'm wrestling with my work in progress, haha.)

Writer Goal Wednesday

Most of this week has been spent getting ready for my son to come home from his two year LDS mission in Texas. We painted and cleaned and moved furniture and decluttered and in between all of that, I was listening to my audio books! I'm so excited for all of you to hear them. But, yeah, I didn't get a lot of my writing goals accomplished beyond that.

But this picture says it all for me.  Best. Day. Ever.

Book Review--Lethal Engagement

Teyla Branton has been doing novellas for her Unbounded series and Lethal Engagement is Mari's story. It was a fairly long novella actually, and full of action with a little romance on the side.

When we first met Mari, she was in a bad relationship with a man who wanted to kill her. Now, as an Unbounded, she is enjoying her newfound confidence and abilities--and a heady attraction for her partner. She's unsure of exactly where she stands with him, however, until they're both sent on an important mission for the Renegades.

They're tasked to help protect the man who is now the new face of the Unbounded, but the people out to kill him are relentless. Mari is forced to use every skill she has and push herself to the very limits of her abilities in order to keep them both alive.

The action was so fast-paced, I was turning pages as quickly as I could to keep up and see what happened! I really enjoyed this story and the entire Unbounded series so far.

You can buy your copy here for $3.49

Here's the back copy:

Guard, Protect, and Above All, Stay Alive

Two months after the announcement that rocked the entire world, Mari Jorgenson is going undercover to protect the man who has become the face of the Unbounded. What’s not to like? Expensive clothes, a great disguise, a chance to play with knives—and all with a Renegade partner she might just be falling for.

Mari can’t think of a better assignment for practicing her shifting ability. But when everything goes horribly wrong on the first day, it will take everything she has—and more—if she and her friends are to keep humanity’s best hope for peace alive long enough to unite the world. Along the way, Mari glimpses within herself a darkness that threatens to turn her into the very evil she is fighting.

Join Mari, Keene, Jace, Cort, and other Renegades from the main Unbounded series as Mari shifts through an adventure that will ultimately set the stage for the greatest and final battle with the Emporium.

Please note that Lethal Engagement is a novella, but it is 50% longer than the other two Unbounded novellas, the same size as many short novels. While it is separate from the main Unbounded series, the events take place in the Unbounded timeline after The Reckoning (Unbounded Book 4). As some of the events in book 4 are referenced, readers will better appreciate Lethal Engagement after reading The Reckoning.

Memorial Day

Memorial Day Tribute 2015--Arlington--Trace Adkins

I hope you are having a peaceful Memorial Day with loved ones.  As someone who writes fictional military characters and has interviewed several amazing military men and women for research, my heart is especially tender on days like today. This video and song by Trace Adkins has TAPS at the end that was beautifully done, so have a tissue handy.

Thank you to those who have sacrificed. We will never forget.

Nearly Freebie Friday

Today's Nearly Freebie Friday is a romantic comedy, Jane and Austen, by Stephanie Fowers. I love Stephanie's books and am always thoroughly entertained. I'm so excited that this one is on sale for only .99 cents! I snapped it up and you should, too.

Here's the back copy:

Meet Jane and Austen. First there's Jane—an impractical, starry-eyed wedding planner; if love can’t match what she’s read in a book, she doesn’t want it. And then there’s Austen—a pragmatic, logical-to-a-fault financial consultant; even if he were interested in someone, he wouldn’t know.
The two have one thing in common: they can’t leave each other alone. Jane believes that if Austen could just experience a fairy tale romance, he would secretly love it. And Austen’s pretty sure that if one of Jane’s beloved heroes escaped from the pages of her dog-eared novels, she’d run and hide.

Both are about to be proven right.

When the rivals are called on to help a friend plan the biggest wedding of the year, an entire resort full of colorful wedding guests descends upon them—many sharing uncanny similarities to characters in a Jane Austen novel. It doesn’t take long before Jane gets everything she thinks she wants. After all, too much of a good thing can’t be all that bad, right?

But when Jane’s life turns upside down, the only one she can turn to is Austen; though he’s got his own troubles of the heart…and she's afraid that he's enjoying them more than he should.

Click here to download your copy for .99 cents!

Cover Reveal and a $25 Giveaway!

I'm so excited to be participating in Rachelle Christensen's cover reveal for her new novel "Veils and Vengeance." I really enjoyed Diamonds Rings Are Deadly Things and am excited to read this one.  (And scroll all the way down to enter the giveaway!)  

Here it is!

*drum roll*

Isn't it great?

Here's the back copy:

When wedding planner, Adrielle Pyper, goes to Hawaii to orchestrate a destination wedding, she isn't prepared for what she finds. After the trauma of her previous event, the beautiful isle of Kauai is the perfect place for Adri to unwind and do what she does best – plan. She even lets herself indulge in the attention of the groom’s handsome brother. But just when everything seems to be perfect, an afternoon snorkeling trip turns to murder when Adri discovers the body of a young woman. Shaken, but unable to let it go, Adri’s sleuthing leads her into more danger than she could imagine. When a number of “accidents” threaten her own life, it soon becomes apparent that someone will do anything to keep Adri from interfering with their vengeance.

Author Rachelle J. Christensen Rachelle J. Christensen is a mother of five who writes mystery/suspense and solves the case of the missing shoe on a daily basis. She graduated cum laude from Utah State University with a degree in psychology and a minor in music. She enjoys singing and songwriting, playing the piano, running, motivational speaking, and, of course, reading. Rachelle is the award-winning author of six books, including Wrong Number, Diamond Rings Are Deadly Things, and What Every 6th Grader Needs to Know. Her novella, Silver Cascade Secrets, was included in the RONE Award-winning Timeless Romance Anthology, Fall Collection.

Website * Facebook * Twitter

$25 Cover Reveal Giveaway $25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Ends 6/15/15 Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

  a Rafflecopter giveaway

Writer Goal Wednesday

photo credit: plnaugle via photopin cc 

Wow, this has been a crazy busy week for me. I have gotten a lot done, though! (Not many of the goals I'd set, however, LOL)

Here's what I did get done:

I put together a boxed set of my Canadian Spy series! You can click here to buy all three ebooks in one convenient set for $9.99

I had the interiors for Time Will Tell and Pocket Full of Posies redone and they look marvelous! I'm so happy with them.

I was approved for a Bookbub ad! YAY! There will be more information coming about that in the next couple of weeks.

I finished my revision of On the Edge! Double YAY! I can finally cross that one off.

I've been working with the narrator for Through Love's Trials in making corrections. Hopefully that process will all be done by this weekend and it will be available for sale soon!

I got a narrator for Falling Slowly! That novella should be coming to you in audio in the next six weeks!

So, lots of exclamation points for me this week and progress towards my goals.  It's nice to look back and see how far I've come by just taking babysteps every week.

My goals for next week are:

Approve the audio book for Through Love's Trials.
Work on my new novella.

Short and sweet.

How did you do on your goals this week? What do you want to set for next week?

What I've Been Doing With No Castle

I was sort of sad that there wasn't a new episode of Castle. That's my go-to Monday night guilty pleasure.  But I was not idle. Oh no. I was helping my husband repaint all the rooms on our main floor.

Although, I must admit, it hasn't been smooth sailing.  I broke a lamp my husband was using for light and accidentally stepped in his paint tray. Then I laughed uncontrollably while he tried to wipe the paint off my foot. It tickled so bad! Who knew I had such sensitive feet?

After that, he gave me the roller to paint with, I think because he thought I wouldn't make very many mistakes with a roller. But then the roller head fell off while I was standing on a chair and got paint on me and the floor. And then I accidentally touched the window screen with the roller and made a beautiful imprint. Yeah, painting isn't as easy as it looks.

I do have to say my husband was a really good sport about things.  And he's still letting me "help" today so I can't have been all bad, right?  But painting is definitely not my talent. That has become very clear to me in the last few days.

You know what else has become clear? How much fun my husband and I can still have together staying up late, listening to terrible Pandora stations while we paint, and laughing at silly things. But I won't be sad when we're all done painting. It's all going to look great! (Except for the screen. I don't think there's any coming back from that. Oops.)

What have you been doing instead of watching Castle?

The Cokeville Miracle Movie Review

I was invited to a screening of The Cokeville Miracle and I wasn't really sure what to expect. The movie description sounded pretty intense so I was intrigued.

"From T.C. Christensen comes The Cokeville Miracle, the remarkable true story of a town facing a terrible tragedy, and the Sheriff’s investigator who struggles with his faith as he gathers evidence that defies easy explanation. ... Cokeville Wyoming, a town of just over 500 people that sits near the Utah-Idaho border, is not known for much beyond it’s strong family values, but in 1986 Cokeville made national headlines when a madman and his wife entered the elementary school with guns and bomb. They gathered over 100 children and teachers into a small room, and made a demand: $200 million dollars for the lives of the children—but then the bomb went off…"

Here is the movie trailer so you really get the feel for what I  mean:

The first half of the movie was incredibly suspenseful.  I was on the edge of my seat the entire time, hoping the teachers would sense something was wrong, that someone would stop what was happening.  I didn't cry, though, until the phone calls started going out to the parents about what was happening to their children at the school since that would be my worst nightmare as a mother.

The second half of the movie was so emotional and touching.  This movie has a message that everyone should see and hear.  At my screening there were three survivors in attendance and it definitely brought a whole new dimension to my thoughts on what happened in Cokeville when I saw and heard what they personally had survived.

The Cokeville Miracle will be released nationwide on June 5th and it should be on your must-see movie list.  It's one you'll think about long after you've left the theater.

Click here for the official Cokeville Miracle webpage with more links and information on the movie.

Freebie Friday and a Cover Reveal!

Today's Freebie Friday is my novella Falling Slowly. It's a companion novella to my award-winning novel All Fall Down and so far the reviews have been great! So, I'm offering an ecopy of it to you for free, and all you have to do is sign up for my newsletter here! Easy peasy!

Here's the back copy:

Rafe Kelly never thought he’d fall in love with Claire Michaels, the hostage negotiator sent to get him out of a life or death situation. Though it was easy to see from the beginning that Claire was good at her profession, Rafe quickly realized she was even better for him personally―and that they might have a future together.

When they get back from their mission in Afghanistan, however, Claire goes back to the Hostage Negotiation Team and Rafe is left to deal with the huge hole in his life after leaving the SEALs. Trying to balance an uncertain future with a new relationship is made even more complicated when a family crisis strikes. Will Rafe and Claire be able to turn to each other for strength or are they over before they’ve really begun?

(Takes place directly following All Fall Down Hostage Negotiation Team #1)

And today I am so excited to be part of the cover reveal for J. Scott Savage's new book Mysteries of Cove. Our family has loved all of Savage's books and he is a must-read for us. We're so excited he has a new series coming out this fall!

Here's the cover. Doesn't it look awesome?

Here's the back copy:

STEAMPUNK! Plus Dragons!

Trenton Colman is a creative thirteen-year-old boy with a knack for all things mechanical. But his talents are viewed with suspicion in Cove, a steam-powered city built inside a mountain. In Cove, creativity is a crime and "invention" is a curse word. Kallista Babbage is a repair technician and daughter of the notorious Leo Babbage, whose father died in an explosion-an event the leaders of Cove point to as an example of the danger of creativity.



Working together, Trenton and Kallista learn that Leo Babbage was developing a secret project before he perished. Following clues he left behind, they begin to assemble a strange machine that is unlikely anything they've ever seen before. They soon discover that what they are building may threaten every truth their city is founded on-and quite possibly their very lives.

Is it fall yet? I can hardly wait!

Here's what J. Scott Savage had to say about how this book came to be:

Like many of my books, the inspiration for my new series Fires of Invention came from the collision of two ideas. The first time the story occurred to me was while I was watching the musical Wicked with my wife. The moment I walked into the theater and saw the huge mechanical dragon above the stage, I thought, Wow! I have to write a story about that! A few weeks later, I was talking with my nephew, who is probably the most creative kid I know, but whose inventiveness often gets him into trouble, and I thought, What if a kid who had the talents of my nephew lived in a world where creativity was against the law? What if the kids were building . . . a steam-powered dragon? Bam! I had my story.

Powered by great feedback from my agent, Michael Bourret, my good friend and author James Dashner, my publisher, Chris Schoebinger, and the song “Warriors” by Imagine Dragons, I wrote the entire first draft of the first volume in the series, Mysteries of Cove in four weeks. This book is unlike anything I have ever written. There are elements of City of Ember, Dragon Riders, and Hugo in it all mashed up together in a world I fell in love with from the moment I started writing.

I think what’s most exciting to me about this book is that it’s about giving yourself the freedom to imagine. To take chances. Too often we limit ourselves by only trying things we’re confident we can succeed at when what we need to do is give ourselves permission to fail. Often it is when we attempt things with no idea of how we can possibly pull them off that we achieve our greatest successes.

If you want all the latest updates (like me!) you can follow J. Scott Savage here:

FACEBOOK or  TWITTER 

on INSTAGRAM as jscottsavage

and on his official author WEBSITE 

J. Scott Savage is the author of the Farworld middle grade fantasy series and the Case File 13 middle grade monster series. He has been writing and publishing books for over ten years. He has visited over 400 elementary schools, dozens of writers conferences, and taught many writing classes. He has four children and lives with his wife Jennifer and their Border Collie, Pepper, in a windy valley of the Rocky Mountains.

Book Review Free Fallin'

Since we missed our book review on Monday, I thought I'd give you one today! I read Free Fallin' by Shannon Guymon.  It's a sweet romance of a reformed bad boy (in a way) named Pule. He meets Posey Tyler who is pretty much forgettable in Pule's life.  Until she almost kills him.  (There was a hospital scene with them that had me laughing out loud. So funny.)

But let me start at the beginning.  In the past Pule has been more about parties than being responsible, but has straightened up his life and is now a cop.  I love how dedicated he is to his family and how badly he wants people to see that he's changed.  Of course, one thing doesn't change and that's his love for Matafeo cupcakes.  When he goes to the bakery to get one, he meets Posey Tyler, the new bakery girl.  She seems completely star struck by him and gives him the wrong cupcake, but Pule doesn't think too much about it.  He has no idea his life is about to change forever.

Posey has never believed in love at first sight until she sees Pule.  And even when everyone says she's not Pule's type, that doesn't deter her from wanting to get to know him.  But some pretty big emotional obstacles get thrown in their way, and then, to top it all off, a tragedy strikes.  Will it be too much for them to overcome? Will Posey have her love returned?  You'll be turning the pages to find out.

This was a multi-layered book with a romance going on during a crisis and tragedy. So many emotions and relationships are pushed to the limit.  The author does a great job of pulling the reader into the maelstrom to experience everything the characters do.  And you're definitely taken from one emotional extreme to the other with both laughing and crying.  It was a great read! Click hereto get your Kindle copy for $4.99

Here's the back copy:

In the past, Pule Matafeo hasn't had the best reputation but now he’s stepping up when others need to count on him. He's doing his best to be a responsible man, so when Posey Tyler shows up and throws his whole life into commotion, he's not sure whether to run or embrace the wildness. And when tragedy strikes, Pule is the one people turn to to hold the family together, bringing everyone closer than ever before. Will he choose a life without risk, or will he give Posey a chance to hold his heart? But if he gambles on love, will everything he’s worked hard to rebuild, be destroyed?

Writer Goal Wednesday

photo credit: plnaugle via photopin cc 

Well, I did something awesome this week that I can't wait to share with you! But first, thanks again to everyone who participated in the blogaversary party last week. That was a lot of fun!

As for my goals, I did some more work on the novella, (I am loving this story!) and I did not work on the revision for On the Edge. I know, I know, it's my perpetual goal, but I know I'll get it done. One of these days. For now, I'm going to leave it on my goal list because I want to see it there and maybe motivate myself a little more.

I worked on the final approval for my audio book of Through Love's Trials. Hopefully I'll be finished today or tomorrow and it will be available for purchase soon after! Yay!

But here's the awesome thing I did this week.  I figured out how to offer one of my books for free! Soooo . . .

*drum roll*

If you sign up for my newsletter, you get an ecopy of my novella Falling Slowly for free! I'm so proud of myself for figuring out how to do that!  Now, if you haven't signed up already, you have an awesome reason to go do it right now.

Goals for next week:

Finish approval for audio of Through Love's Trials
Work on revision of On the Edge
Work on novella

What are your goals going to be this week?

  

Castle's Season Finale

I loved last night's finale! The final five minutes were so crazy awesome. The case itself, however, was scary! LOL

A woman with a bleeding face escapes her killer and runs to a highway, where she's hit by a truck. Yikes.

Cut to the loft where Castle is trying to decide between a large picture of him brooding and serious or smiley.  It is such a cute scene and stuff that authors really obsess over.  He's won an award and one of the pictures will be his backdrop. Personally, I liked the smiling one.  Kate gets called to the murder scene, which is out of their jurisdiction, but the local police think the victim was from the city and are hoping our team can help.  Castle bends over the body and sees the crosses that were carved on her face and flashes back to something similar that he saw as a child.

Caskett heads to the hospital to interview the truck driver that hit the woman and when he starts describing a dark figure wearing a mask that he glimpsed coming out of the woods, Castle describes exactly what the guy saw. Because he saw that, too, when he was eleven years old.  (And it was super creepy, porcelain mask with black tears coming down it. *shiver*)

Castle tells Kate about a weekend when he was visiting friends in New Hampshire while his mother was away. It was near Hollander's Woods, and he'd been told not to go in them alone. But he did, of course, and saw a dark figure leaning over something. He watched the guy, then went to see what he'd been looking at and finds the body of a dead woman with crosses carved into her face. He reaches down to touch her and the dark figure slams him back into a tree trunk and says if he tells, he'll find Castle and kill him.

Castle does phone it in from a pay phone, but nothing ever came of it and the woman was never found or reported missing. Castle had begun to wonder if it had really happened at all.

But back to the case at hand. They find the victim's father, her apartment, and figure out that she was investigating her friend's disappearance. It becomes apparent that the killer picks people who won't be missed.  The victim had tracked her friend to getting into a white car that had a license plate with a Y and Z in it. The team gets a hit on the same sort of car and goes to investigate and the owner is in her house, her decayed remains sitting in an armchair in front of a TV. Ick. When Beckett calls to talk to her only son, the phone rings in a wardrobe and when Beckett opens it, the team is shot at. They chase the guy down and he gets away. They find him, though, and bring him in for questioning, but he's not all there. They go to talk to his therapist and Castle recognizes the voice. It's him! The therapist is the killer!

Beckett and the boys don't believe him and Castle is visibly upset that Beckett doesn't. She goes to him while they're at home and apologizes and gives him the property records of an old barn the therapist owns. She can't go there, since she's a cop, but Castle can. Noooooo.  But yes, she drives him to it and he goes in. Alone. I have a bad feeling about this.

While inside the barn, Castle finds the mask and a souvenir photo book of all the victims. So horrible! The tension is ratcheted so high in this scene and then the door locks. The killer is inside! He attacks Castle with a knife to the throat and Beckett is outside trying to get in but she can't. Castle reaches his hand under the door and she hands him his gun just as the knife is pressing hard enough on his throat to draw blood, but Castle shoots him and saves his own life. And he shoots several times to make sure. So, so tense.

The B story is Beckett getting called into 1PP and attacked for some of her more edgy choices as a detective. She defends herself and says she doesn't cross the line, she puts herself on it. They tell her this was an audition and they want her to run for senator.  She's considering it. (And I love that her and Castle discuss it on the swings. Awww).

The awards ceremony speech at the end was the highlight of the show. Castle mentions everyone who has helped him, his mother, daughter, the boys who let him in, and Beckett.  They got this partner thing down. Always.  *sniffle*

They all toast and when the murder call comes in, they all head out together. So beautiful and fitting. But I am SO GLAD the series was renewed for Season 8.  It's going to be a long summer.

Did you watch? What did you think?

The Blogaversary Giveaway Winners!

Thank you SO MUCH to everyone who entered my giveaway!

Here are the winners:

$25 Amazon Gift Card--Samantha Bryant

Ecopy Boxed Set of my Hostage Negotiation Team series-- Joni Crane

Audio book of All Fall Down-- Chris Yorgason

Books 1 & 2 of Teyla Branton's Unbounded series--Heather Marsten

Ecopy of Spy Another Day Prequels boxed set--Emily Nielsen

California Dreamin' Collection--Lu Worley

Autographed copy of Relative Evil--Susan Brewer

Ecopy of Boardwalk Antiques--Petra Huffmire

Ecopy of Rough Around the Edges--bn100

Ecopy of The Last Waltz--Aimee Brown

Ecopy of Snowed Inn--Emily F.

Ecopy of The Lady and the Minstrel--Sydney Anderson

Ecopy of A Light in Dark Places--Rachelle Christensen

Print copy of A Haunting Love--Liza Jo

Ecopy of My One and Only--Lisa

Ecopy of Entertaining Angels--Lu Worley

Ecopy or Print of Watched--Julie Robertson

Any ebook by Amber Argyle--Crystal Job

Ecopy of Awakenings--Diana Taylor

Print copy of Rising--Sandra Sorenson

Ecopy of Miss Match--Barrie Mac

Copy of Trusted--Cathy Jeppsen

 Print copy of Time Rescue--Tamera Leigh

Ecopy of any Kimberley Griffiths Little book--Mary Preston

Copy of Counting Blessings--Amber Hancock

Ecopy Boxed Set of Middle School Magic--Jennifer Bunts

Congratulations to the winners!  You should all be contacted about your prizes shortly.  If a winner does not accept or acknowledge their prize within 72 hours, another winner will be chosen.

Thank you all for celebrating with me!

Last Day To Enter My Giveaway!

Today is the last day to enter my Blogaversary Giveaway! Don't miss out on some incredible prizes!
Click here to enter.

Here's a spotlight on the last six prizes. Be sure to go back through this past week to see them all!

1.  An ecopy of Miss Match by Lindzee Armstrong. This one looks cute! Here's the back copy:

Billionaire CEO Luke Ryder doesn’t want to hire his best friend, Brooke, as his matchmaker. Not when he’s been in love with her for eight years. Too bad she doesn’t see him as relationship material and is engaged to another man. If the matchmaking company she works for closes, Brooke is out of a job, and Luke is out a best friend. There will be nothing stopping her from moving to Italy with her fiancé. And Luke isn’t about to let that happen.

Brooke’s dream career may be crumbling, and she will do anything to keep Toujour in the black. Even recruit Luke, America’s favorite bachelor, as her next client. Surely his perfect smile and swollen bank account will send clients swarming to their doors. But when matching up Luke works a little too well, Brooke wonders if she’s with the right man. Maybe she should finally forget Luke’s playboy image and admit he’s changed. All Brooke has to decide is if she’s willing to risk her heart.

2.  Copy of Trusted by Krista Wayment.  What a fun cover! Here's the back copy:

Renick, the fifth son of a dragon breeder, crashes into an unexpected adventure that challenges everything he thought he knew about dragons, history, and himself.

Stranded in the massive Helath forest, Renick meets two other passengers: Thane, a noble training to be a dragon knight, and Lainey, the orphaned niece of a healer. Together they survive an attack by vicious wolves, rescue a baby dragon with a broken wing, and escape from a band of dragon hunters as they make a perilous climb into the mountains. What they discover there will change everything.

3.  Print copy of Time Rescue by Donna Garrison. This one has an intriguing premise! Here's the back copy:

Time Rescue: Time Travel University Book One

Peter Archer knew there had to be rules about being a Time Traveler.
1. No new concepts; that made sense.
2. No personal gain; he understood that.
3. But . . . do not fall in love? That might be kind of hard considering he was already in love with his partner before he ever met her.

Saving Virginia Dare, influencing Samuel Morris, or learning about Catherine Beacher may all be in a day’s work; but when students of the Time Travel University start dying on every mission, it doesn't take long to realize something is wrong.

Changing the course of history is easy if you know what you’re looking for; but when reality keeps changing every time you return, things start to get complicated.

• Of course they are only freshman; it’s not like the fate of the whole world hangs on their shoulders . . . does it?

Students of the Time Travel University must discover who they are before they can take their place in history.
• Overcoming personal obstacles: death, rape, guilt, handicaps and other fears is the first step.

It’s not an accident they were chosen to come to this school. It was not an accident that Peter and Faith were teamed together. Training to fulfill your own destiny is a gift that should not be taken lightly. You are here for a reason . . . and so are they. If you want to see what it takes to overcome some of life’s most difficult challenges, you NEED to follow Peter and Faith in this journey of discovery. 

4.  Ecopy of any Kimberley Griffiths Little book!  She has some awesome choices out there!

5.Copy of Counting Blessings by Kerry Blair.  This would make the perfect gift for the woman in your life.  I wish I could win this one because Kerry is such a talented author!  Here's the back copy:

Spiritual refreshment is only pages away in this down-to-earth collection of inspiring stories and essays. Like a wise and witty friend, Kerry Blair leads you through the rough spots of life by poking gentle fun at herself in such a vivacious way that you'll be smiling at your own foibles. You'll laugh out loud-and occasionally be moved to tears-as you discover some of life's greatest truths hidden within these simple pages. Reclaim your sanity and enrich your soul with this humorous and poignant anthology that celebrates the joy of being alive and shows how greatly each of us is blessed.

6.  Ecopy of the boxed set of Middle School Magic by Braden Bell.  This set looks perfect for my boys!  Here's the back copy:

Book 1--All thirteen-year-old Connor Dell wants to do is pass pre-algebra, play lacrosse, and possibly kiss Melanie Stephens, but when a run-in with the school bully ignites strange powers inside him, Connor's normal teenage life goes up in flames. Now he'll need his new powers to defeat the Darkness that's coming for him. Fast-paced and original, this book's guaranteed to keep you guessing!

Book 2--Conner, Lexa, and Melanie are back! Just when they think life is normal again, a dangerous shadow creature begins to hunt them. The trio must develop their powers in order to conquer this new peril and protect their school. Filled with action and even more magic, this book continues the exciting adventure in the Middle School Magic series.

Book 3--When Lady Nightwing kidnapped Dr. Timberi, everyone assumed their teacher had been killed. So when Lexa discovers that he isn’t dead, Conner can’t believe his ears! Desperate to rescue Dr. Timberi, Conner, Lexa, and Melanie turn to the last person they want to talk to, the person who started all of this chaos—the Stalker. As the Trio confront their worst fears, they realize their Magi powers may not be enough to keep everyone alive. 

Your favorite characters return in this satisfying conclusion of the Middle School Magic series! Filled with plenty of twists, humor, and adventure, Luminescence will keep you guessing until the thrilling end."

Such a wide range of prizes---something for everyone! Make sure you enter today because tomorrow will be too late!

And thanks for partying with me this week. It was a lot of fun! Here's to many more years of blogging with you.  

Freebie Friday & More Fab Prizes!

So, I came across this cute little YA novella and saw that it's free today! It's going in my TBR pile for sure.  It's Meet Your Match by Lindzee Armstrong. Here's the back copy:

Sixteen-year-old Brooke Pierce doesn’t need her mom to tell her all boys are trouble. After watching her dad break up the family for a woman half his age, dating is the last thing on her mind.

On the first day at a new high school Brooke meets Luke, the school flirt with a reputation for heartbreak. He’s interested. She’s not. That only makes him chase her more. After a shocking revelation from her dad, Brooke and Luke form an unexpected bond, complete with crazy rules to keep them safely in the friend zone. Problem is, that’s the worst place to be when you’re falling in love.

Click  here to download your free Kindle copy!

And I thought I'd tell you a bit more about the fabulous prizes you can win! (Tomorrow is the last day to enter, don't forget!) You can click here if you haven't entered already.

1.  An ebook of My One and Only by Shannon Guymon. I'm currently reading a Shannon Guymon book (Pule's story) and I really enjoy her writing style!  Here's the back copy:

Meredith Jensen has seen her share of ups and downs. She’s found love twice already and lost it in spectacularly traumatic ways. Now? She just wants a peaceful life, free from love and drama. Meredith’s plans for the future center around planning other people’s weddings and her new online dating website. Just because she works to help other people find love doesn’t mean she wants any part of it though. Unfortunately for Meredith’s plans, Asher Murphy is determined to get her to give love another chance. But then again, so is Pule Matafeo. Meredith has never denied that she’s stubborn and feisty so it might take the combined forces of all their friends in Fircrest to get her heart back on track in time for Valentine’s Day.

2.  An ebook of Entertaining Angels by Monica Millard.  This author is new to me, but looks good! Here's the back copy:

As a senior in high school, Samantha Heman’s too busy trying to avoid getting stomped by a moose at the bus stop and keeping her grades up until graduation to put much thought into angels or demons.

That all changes on the day she is kidnapped by notorious serial killer, Christopher Hainsely. It’s a day she finds herself confronted by both evil and good, because her savior appears in the form of an avenging angel come to strike the monster down with a single stroke of his flaming sword.

Though she’s trying to get on with her life, she cannot get the angel out of her head. It isn’t the burning wings, fiery eyes or the flaming sword that keeps her searching the internet for proof one way or another of his existence, though.

The feeling of warmth she experienced when she witnessed that sad smile just before he vanished in a wash of golden light, haunts her nights almost as often as the nightmares.

If angels exist, then demons must too, and they’re about to wage a war for her soul.

3.  Your choice of print of ebook for Watched by Cindy Hogan (and if you choose ebook, she'll throw in the second book in the series.)  Here's the back copy:

Change.
She longs for it.
A murder.
She will never be the same.

It takes more than a school trip to Washington, D.C. to change Christy's life. It takes murder.
A witness to the brutal slaying of a senator's aide, Christy finds herself watched not only by the killers and the FBI, but also by two hot guys.
She discovers that if she can't help the FBI, who want to protect her, it will cost her and her new friends their lives.

Watched is the first book in The Watched Trilogy (Watched, Protected, Created). This young adult novel is set in cities all over Europe and the U.S. and is filled with intrigue, suspense, and lots of action and adventure. And, of course, kissing.

4.  Any ebook by Holly Kelly! Now that's going to be a tough decision. She has some great ones! Her book Winter Queen won the RONE award for Best Fantasy.

5.  Ebook of Awakening by Christy Dorrity. The cover is so awesome! Here is the back copy:

. . . because some Celtic stories won’t be contained in myth.
A little magic has always run in sixteen-year-old McKayla McCleery's family—at least that’s what she’s been told. McKayla’s eccentric Aunt Avril travels the world as a clairvoyant for the FBI, and her mother can make amazing delicacies out of the most basic of ingredients. But McKayla doesn't think for a second that the magic is real—it’s just good storytelling. Besides, McKayla doesn’t need magic. She recently moved to beautiful Star Valley, Wyoming, and already she has an amazing best friend, a solo in her upcoming ballet recital, and the gorgeous guy in her physics class keeps looking her way.

When an unexpected fascination with Irish dance leads McKayla to seek instruction from the mute, crippled, janitor at her high school, she learns that her family is not the only one with unexplained abilities.

After Aunt Avril comes to Star Valley in pursuit of a supernatural killer, people begin disappearing, and the lives of those McKayla holds most dear are threatened. When the janitor reveals that an ancient curse, known as a geis, has awakened powers that defy explanation, McKayla is forced to come to terms with what is real and what is fantasy.

A thrilling first novel, Awakening is a gripping contemporary fantasy, based in Celtic mythology that is rife with magic, romance, and mystery.

6.  Print copy of Rising by Holly Kelly. Another great cover!  Here's the back copy:

In a war between the humans and the inhabitants of the sea--humans will lose. Xanthus Dimitriou--the most lethal Dagonian to rise from the ocean--is on a mission to save mankind from annihilation. But first there's one small thing he needs to do... kill a beautiful young woman in a wheelchair.

Killing her doesn't start out as part of his plan. He entrenches himself deep in the human world. Aligning with his enemies, he prepares to send them to Triton to face their punishment. Then Sara Taylor rolls onto the scene. Xanthus knows at once she's a criminal. And her crime? Being born. She's a human/Dagonian half-breed, an abomination. Killing her should be an easy job. All he has to do is break into her apartment, slit her throat, and feed her body to the sharks. Simple, right? Wrong. If only she weren't so beautiful, so innocent, so sweet...

Saving the world may have to wait. It appears Xanthus has a woman to save. But protecting her may cost him his own life.

Don't they all sound great?! Don't forget to enter so you can take one of these prizes home! (or scroll down and see all the posts that highlight my amazing prizes!)