5 Reasons Why Love is Better in Books

Lovely blog readers, welcome Lauren Grimley. She's gonna talk about why love is better in books than real life.

Oddly enough when I set out to write my first novel, Unforeseen, I didn’t intend for it to be a romance, paranormal or any other sort. I wanted to tell the tale of an unlikely heroine tossed into a world where she was seemingly the smallest and weakest member, and then show how she scratched, fought, and crawled her way to the top. Her falling in love with a handsome and charming vampire just sort of happened along the way.

At first I was a little thrown by the idea my novel was categorized under paranormal romance. Single and still a bit tomboyish, I’m not exactly the poster child for romance authors (I’ll leave that to J. R. Ward). That’s not to say, though, that I don’t love a good torrid tale. Actually, the more I thought about what I’ve enjoyed reading over the last few years, the more I accepted the fact that maybe I was in fact a romance reader and writer. I’m okay with that now, because as every single woman (and most married women) knows—boys in books are just better!

*I apologize in advance to the guys for my blatant use of gender stereotypes in an attempt at a little humor for the ladies!

5 Reasons Why Love is Better in Books

1. Dating doesn’t exist. When was the last time you read a book where the woman had to suffer through those awkward first dates or the “when can I change my Facebook status” dilemma? Love in romance novels, particularly paranormal romance novels, happens fast. Often the main characters have their clothes off before we’ve even learned their full names.

2. The guys are always jaw-droppingly hot. Apparently blemishes, bald spots, and beer guts (all of which we grow to love on our real-life beaus) don’t exist in the land of fiction. It’s all six-packs, all the time. Of course, this could have something to do with the fact that our imaginations are at least partly creating the images of these Adonises, so they are always just to our individual liking.

3. Danger is steamy when a happy ending is almost always guaranteed. In real life if a tall dark stranger popped out of an alley and came at me, I’d wet my pants and hope to hell my years of karate kicked in. There would be no forgiving, never mind falling for the guy. In romance novels, however, this scenario, with some variation, occurs all the time and usually ends in a love scene that leaves the reader begging to by mugged.

4. Narrators can tell us what real men won’t—what they’re thinking and, more importantly, feeling. Boys and books can be just as hard for their female partners to read as those in reality. That’s where a bit of narration can be a beautiful thing. A quick scene from the guy’s point of view, full of raw emotion and compassion, turns us on even more than his perfect fictional physique.

5. It’s fiction. If someone’s heart is broken, it’s not yours. If there’s an infuriating fight, you’re not the one who has to give or accept an apology. The best part of romance in books is that it isn’t real. We can vicariously enjoy the best parts and be very glad it’s only fictional characters enduring the worst.

Keep that in mind when the heat factor of your favorite fictional love scene makes your real love life seem pathetic!

Lauren Grimley lives in central Massachusetts where she grew up, but her heart is on the beaches of Cape Cod where she spends as much of her time as possible. After graduating from Boston University she became a middle school English teacher. She now balances writing, reading, and correcting, all with a cat on her lap and a glass of red wine close by.

Unforeseen, the first novel in the Alex Crocker Seer series, was Lauren’s debut novel, and she’s thrilled to be continuing the series with Unveiled. To learn more about her or her writing or to connect with her online visit her website at www.laurengrimley.com

Blog: http://blog.laurengrimley.com

Twitter @legrimley: https://twitter.com/legrimley

Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/AuthorLaurenGrimley

Google+: http://plus.google.com/u/0/105156245095191358255/posts//p/pub

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5825387.Lauren_Grimley

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/authorlegrimley/

Unforeseen (Alex Crocker series, book 1)

Trailer link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k4jIAt-U1iQ

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13624479-unforeseen

Teaser:

Alex was quite sure gifted was a term delusional parents applied to their strictly average children, vampires were gorgeous dead guys in her eighth-grade girls' novels, and Seers was a middle schooler's misspelling of a department store known for power tools.  Teachers, however, don't know everything–it’s Alex’s turn to be educated. 

Running alone the night before school ends, Alex is violently attacked.  Regaining consciousness, she finds herself in the home of the Rectinatti Regan, the leader of one of two covens of vampires battling nightly on the streets of her city.  If that discovery wasn't enough to make her think she'd gone insane, she realizes she's sensing the emotions of another of the vampires as strongly as she feels her own.  Discovering these creatures have the answers to what she is and why she was attacked, she decides she wants to stay, despite knowing it is a dangerous, possibly deadly desire.

Purchase links for Unforeseen, book 1:

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Unforeseen-Lauren-Grimley/dp/1623750210/ref=tmm_pap_title_0

Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/unforeseen-lauren-grimley/1110436184?ean=2940014543286

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WEATHER WITCH by Shannon Delany - Her Favorite Quotes

GUEST POST FROM SHANNON - FAVORITE QUOTES

One of the things I enjoyed about this novel was grabbing quotes that somehow connected to the story (and frequently weather) to help give the book an older and more textured feel. Quotes were also a fun way to vaguely foreshadow events and emotions in WEATHER WITCH. Here are a few of the quotes I used with chapter headings.

"I was born with a chronic anxiety about the weather." ~John Burroughs

"There life is supremely easy for me.

No snow is there, nor ever heavy winter storm, nor rain." ~Homer

"For there is no friend like a sister

In calm or stormy weather..." ~Christina Georgina Rosetti

BLURB:

In a vastly different and darker Philadelphia of 1844, steam power has been repressed, war threatens from deep, dark waters, and one young lady of high social standing is expecting a surprise at her seventeenth birthday party–but certainly not the one she gets!

Jordan Astraea, who has lived out all of her life in Philadelphia’s most exclusive neighborhood, is preparing to celebrate her birthday with friends, family and all the extravagance they might muster. The young man who is most often her dashing companion, Rowen Burchette, has told her a surprise awaits her and her best friend, Catrina Hollindale, wouldn’t miss this night for all the world!

But storm clouds are gathering and threatening to do far more than dampen her party plans because someone in the Astraea household has committed the greatest of social sins by Harboring a Weather Witch.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Shannon Delany has always been surrounded by books! Her aunt was a head librarian and her father was always trying some new creative endeavor. She grew up with a fierce love of history and studied social studies education and foreign language and culture in college. After substitute teaching in every grade level and subject area in Pennsylvania and Maryland she taught for five years in Florida and then moved back north to be around family. With the birth of her son she decided to become serious about writing and worked freelance jobs until she landed a contract with St. Martin's Press for the 13 TO LIFE series--all because of a contest one critique partner warned her against!

GIVEAWAY TIME!

To enter to win 

• a signed mini poster
• a signed postcard and more story-related goodies

All yo have to do i leave your email address and tell us your favorite book quote. Can be from any story. Good luck!

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This is WAR blog tour - Casting Sloane

Welcome, dear readers, Lisa and Laura Roecker who have cast Sloane from their awesome novel This is WAR.

Jamie Chung from The Real World San Diego. But a younger version. Sorry Jamie. Sloane is exquisite and delicate and ultra-feminine. She has so much fight on the inside, but rarely lets anyone close enough to see it. She doesn’t give herself nearly as much credit as she deserves.

This is W.A.R. begins with a victim who can no longer speak for herself, and whose murder blossoms into a call-to-arms. Enter four very different girls, four very different motives to avenge Willa Ames-Rowan, and only one rule to start: Destroy James Gregory and his family at any cost. Willa's initials spell the secret rallying cry that spurs the foursome to pool their considerable resources and deliver their particular brand of vigilante justice. Innocence is lost, battles are won—and the pursuit of the truth ultimately threatens to destroy them all.

Always Do What Scares You - Bloghop and Giveaway

To celebrate the release of her New Adult novel, Mila Ferrera is doing a blogfest today. In SPIRAL, Nessa confronts her fears about getting close to Aron by reminding herself of her father's motto: "Always do the thing that scares you." It's probably a saying all of us could use from time to time, so for this blogfest, post about a time that you decided to do something even though it scared you, either to get over that fear or because you knew it would be good for you." 

The fear I overcame is a little lame. During high school, I wasn't allowed to date. I thought it was so lame when my sixteenth birthday came and went with my first kiss. LOL Eighteenth birthday came and went with no kiss either.

Once I got to college, I wanted to have a boyfriend. I developed a crush on a guy and over winter break, he asked me out (over AIM, how romantic!) Of course I said yes. But I was terrified. I had never dated before. What if I clammed up and said nothing? What if he farted? Or I did? LOL I wasn't too worried about the farting, but it did cross my mind. I didn't know what to expect - the whole fear of the unknown.

Our first actual date was to see a movie (The Two Towers). Wasn't to bad. Kept dating the guy for a few years. Ended up marrying him.

So I never really entered the dating game for that long. Only dated one guy. Only ever kissed on guy.

How about you? Do you face a fear during college?

Nessa Cavanaugh, psychology student, knows how to stay on an even keel. Despite the urging of her mother and her academic advisor to get a life and have some fun, “all work and no play” sums up her plan to survive her grueling internship year at a children's hospital. She doesn't want to end up like her father, whose constant ups and downs broke her family, and avoiding unnecessary emotional entanglements is a must.

Then she (literally) runs into Dr. Aron Lindstrom in the middle of her disastrous first day on the job. The attraction is instant—and terrifying. Nessa knows she should stay away—especially when she finds out he has a reputation for being a player—but Aron is brilliant, intense, and as sexy as they come. When he challenges her to take a chance on him, her plans to stay focused on work start to crumble.

But what begins as passion takes on a dangerous edge, becoming an emotional roller coaster that’s frighteningly familiar. As things spiral out of control, Nessa must decide whether she should hold on for the ride or run … even if it means leaving her heart behind.

Excerpt from THE FIVE SANTAS by Jay Mims

Hello Gentle Readers,

I got a wild hair and decided to do an impromptu book blog tour called “Christmas in July”. Because why not? Nicole was kind enough to allow me to stop in her space.  

My name is Jay Mims, and I write lighthearted cozy mysteries centered around quirky detective Dan Landis, his partner Abbey, and the strange cast of characters.

In keeping with the Christmas theme, I thought I’d present an excerpt from the first book in the Dan Landis mystery series, The Five Santas, which has the erstwhile detective slumming it as a security officer for the local department store. Truly, it’s the most wonderful time of the year.

EXCERPT FROM THE FIVE SANTAS

Years of living by his wits had given Dan a sixth sense for trouble. It was the same instinct that kept cops and school teachers alive. Someone was watching him.

Dan glanced around. It didn’t take but a minute, she wasn’t hard to find. The floor should have been empty; the store had barely been open five minutes. She stood over by the unattended jewelry display, smiling. Her red hair shone like a beacon, splashing brightly against the

green of her sweater. It was a Christmas tree sweater, complete with ornaments and lights. The

lights even blinked synchronously, probably to O Tannenbaum. Her smile was

dazzling.

Dan had learned the hard way, never to trust a smiling face. Particularly a

smile attached to a gorgeous red head, one with the air of someone who knew

exactly how attractive she was. Her emerald eyes twinkled with laughter. She winked at him. And then she bolted, her giant matching green knitted purse flopping from side to side

as it bounced off her hip. That purse looked like it could hide a refrigerator. Or a whole lot of jewelry.

Of course, Dan thought, a supremely attractive shoplifter would choose first

thing in the morning to play cat and mouse. It was just his luck. He took off

after her. The lady could move. Dan had a lot of experience running, mostly from other people, but this cutie was booking it. Right for the Emergency Exit. He picked up speed,

ignoring the sheer agony of the blood pounding inside his bruised head. He desperately wished he had gotten some aspirin first.

The redhead hit the Emergency Exit a beat ahead of Dan and the heavy door was just closing when he flung it wide open. Part of him noted on a subconscious level that the fire alarm

hadn’t gone off.

That could be a problem. On the bright side, it wasn’t his problem.

A sexy thief was his problem. Thank God for small favors. The crisp morning air hit him like

a hammer; the sunrise was bright, almost blinding. Dan hated how blistering cold was always so bright and sunny. It was such a tease. With a shock he realized the alley was empty.

Dan listened. There were no running footsteps and the alley had a good yards of space in either direction. No one here except for Dan, some dumpsters, and a whole lot of nothing.

He sighed. She was probably in one of the dumpsters. Maybe behind one of them. On a whim he looked up. No green eyes were staring impishly down at him from the roof. Of course,

there was no ladder nearby, but Dan wouldn’t have been surprised if she could fly.

She’d had that magical, “I can do anything I want” look about her.

He glanced down seeing no manholes, open or otherwise, within sight. Resigned, he headed toward the nearest dumpster.

“How come I always end up in a dumpster?” He asked no one in particular. The dumpster didn’t answer, instead it just looked nasty, tetanus filled, and generally uninviting.

“These pants are dry clean only!” Dan yelled, lashing out with one foot. It wasn’t until his foot connected with the somehow surprisingly solid dumpster that he remembered he was wearing dress shoes, not work boots. As his foot thumped against the metal, pain shot up his leg. Dan hopped up and down, holding his foot.

“Funky butt loving...!” he howled. Then he saw the dead Santa Claus

stuffed behind the dumpster.

“Oh,” he said more calmly, still holding his foot. “That’s not good.”

Jay Mims knows the muffin man. He has inadvertently adopted his neighbor’s cat, who he calls Eartha Kitty, sometimes has a pet lizard named Bob, and shares an apartment with a passive-aggressive Dalek named Steve. He writes books and is far funnier on Facebook then in real life. He is terrible at Twitter. His next book "The Gray Ghost Inn" is due out October 15, 2013. Feel free to email him here.

LINKS:

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5179719.Jay_Mims
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/The-Five-Santas-Oncoming-Series/dp/098393410X/ref=tmm_pap_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1372865648&sr=1-1
http://www.amazon.com/The-Cult-Koo-Kway-Mims/dp/0983934142/ref=pd_sim_b_1
Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-five-santas-jay-mims/1104988019?ean=9780983934103
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-cult-of-koo-kway-jay-mims/1112781489?ean=9780983934141
Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/JayMims
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JayMimsey
Blog: http://themimsey.blogspot.com
Twitter: @JayMimsey
Email: JMimsey[at]gmail[dot]com

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