Book World: Behind the Scenes {5}

Hey readers! Ethan here introducing to you a brand new blog series!

Getting a book from a word document and onto the shelves at your local bookstore takes a lot of work and, often, a small army to do it. Many believe that the authors are the only rockstars in the business. After over a year of blogging, I've learned that this simply isn't true. There is an entire community of 'unsung heroes' doing the hard work behind the scenes to get the book ready for our hands!

In this series, I'm honoring those awesome unsung heroes.

Book World: Behind the Scenes will be a weekly post, each Thursday, that will spotlight one awesome individual from the book world. I will not only be spotlighting that person, but also conducting a one-on-one interview with them covering an array of topics such as the current state of the book world, trends they are seeing, and some information about their background in the field.

I think this is an incredible opportunity to show readers and the rest of the bookish community just how much work goes into making a book successful! Let's give those unsung heroes a moment in the spotlight!

Week Four: Meet Cynthia Shepp

Way back when, and I'm talking like a year ago here folks, I started working with the incredible team at Clean Teen Publishing and I kept hearing one name thrown around: 'Cynthia'. Cynthia-this or Cynthia-that. I couldn't for the life of me understand who this Cynthia woman was or why everyone was up in arms about her. Then I learned. Cynthia is the girl to go to with your editing woes. SEVERAL of her clients have been animate that I feature her right here on this blog, so I couldn't resist reaching out. Over the past year I have seen firsthand the incredible impact the awesome lady has on my corner of the book world. I am so excited to introduce her to you all here!

Cynthia Shepp

I’ve always had a passion for reading. Since I first opened the pages at a very young age, I was enthralled with everything about books. As I got a little older, I realized that I wanted to be the person who helped shaped them, before they were published. I followed that dream, graduating with honors from Grand Canyon University, receiving a BA in English/Literature. I have a special fondness for independent authors, as I applaud the gumption to realize your dreams on your own. If I had to pick a favorite genre of books, it would be dystopian, but I love them all. The worlds that authors create help me escape, if only for a little while.

I live in Alabama with my husband and three rambunctious children, ranging in ages from three to nine. My dream allows me to stay at home with my children, do the job I love, and be the mom I want to be at the same time. I enjoy spending time with my family, iced coffee, sappy TV shows, camping, and pretending to love Auburn Tiger football with my husband.

Facebook | Twitter | Website

*****

Interview with Cynthia Shepp

Name: Cynthia Shepp
Location: Alabama
Book World Occupation: Editor
Years in the Business: Freelance Editor, Editor-in-Chief at Clean Teen and Crimson Tree Publishing

Currently Reading/Last Book You Read: This is actually a hard one. I am currently listening to Unleashed by Sophie Jordan. I am also working on The Innocent by Michelle Pickett, Nora and Kettle by Lauren Taylor, and a few others as well. By the time this interview is released, those books will be out and I’ll be on to the dozens of others on my schedule.

1. We’ve read your bio, but tell us a little more about yourself and your work within the business. What exactly is your role in helping a book get from a word document and into the reader’s hands?

In a sense, I am the handler of the book from the moment the author hands it over until it goes to the formatter. I obviously fix grammar and spelling, but I also look for correct word usage, including slang and idiom. If I am copy editing, not just proofreading, I look for inconsistencies within the story; i.e., a character's age given as twenty-three in one spot and twenty-eight in another, while offering suggestions for things such as underdeveloped characters, clunky exposition, and stilted dialogue. This includes anything that might improve the story, but isn't a major plot or character change. I also make sure sentences flow, correcting where necessary.

2. What kind of training do you have? What prepares you for this type of work?

From the moment I understood what a book was, I was enthralled with reading. In school, English and Literature were my favorite subjects. I belonged to poetry clubs, have written and published poetry, and I used to write all the time. For years, I edited for free on Wattpad before I became serious about doing it full time. 

However, once I did decide to make it my career, I went to college and got a Bachelor’s Degree in English Literature. Regardless of that piece of paper, editing is something you have to have a knack for. It isn’t just grammar. It is the feel of a book, the way the words flow, and how the story unfolds. If you can’t see past the words, you shouldn’t be an editor.

3. As an editor, you have one of the most important jobs when it comes to the publishing industry. It’s also one of the most misunderstood roles in the book world. Tell us a bit about what an editor is and why having (a good) one is important for both the author and their readers.

An editor is the person who shapes the book after the author writes it. Authors create worlds… editors make sure those worlds work. Authors design characters… editors make sure those characters stay true to their intended personalities. Authors put words to paper… editors make sure those words are correct and flow. 

In my opinion, having a good editor is THE most important relationship an author will ever cultivate. There is a level of trust that must be felt between an author and editor for the relationship to work. Authors put their sweat, blood, and tears into the editor’s hands, and they have to trust they will take care of it. Also, edited books sell better, receive better reviews, are recommended more, and are more likely to be read over unedited books.

Professional editing is the best thing an author can do for their book. No matter how many times an author, or their family and friends, read over it, they will not be able to look at it through the eyes of a professional. Readers want books that are easy to read, feel complete, and are professionally put together. They want well-edited books. It doesn’t always have to cost an arm and a leg either. There are a few editors out there who are very good who know the costs an indie author has and prices their services affordably.

4. I’ll be honest, the editing world is one that I know very little about except for how much my author friends fear it. Can you walk us through your editing process a bit?

I’m not exactly sure I have a process. I have a repeating client list, with occasional new ones. Every client and manuscript is different. The first thing I always do, however, is make sure it is easily editable. That means changing it to Times New Roman, size 12, double spaced. After that, I do some basic find and replaces for things such as double spaces, ellipses, commonly confused phrases (such as could care less, should be couldn’t care less). From there, I just read line by line. Often reading one page three or four times, or flipping back and forth between chapter or pages, doing searches for character traits or descriptions, finding and replacing words I notice are consistently wrong, leaving comments pertaining to grammar changes, story changes, etc.

After I finish round one, I usually start all over again except on the FINAL NO MARKUP side. This way, I don’t have a million changes glaring at me, and I can go over it for readability and flow. However, the process changes with every person. It depends on their level of skill and writing style.

5. As someone in such an important part of the business, I’m sure you see some great and some… not so great, work. What are some of your pet peeves when it comes to editing? What are some of the easiest to fix or most common mistakes that you see?

My number-one pet peeve is OFF OF. I don’t know why it bothers me so much. It is never supposed to be off of. It is only supposed to be off.

Wrong: Get your feet off of the couch.
Right: Get your feet off the couch.

It is probably one of the most common mistakes that I see. It’s also an easy fix, a simple find and replace. Most mistakes are easy to fix if they are simply grammatical. However, I love the authors who take my grammar lessons to heart, and I can actually see their writing improve with every manuscript. It makes my insides all warm and gushy. :)

6. Grammar, editing, and punctuation rules are ever-changing. I know I’ve had to learn numerous rules multiple times during my time as a student, how do you keep on top of this ever-changing realm? 

I study—constantly. I’m forever looking stuff up, consulting the ever-changing Chicago Manual of Style, surfing the web, looking in the dictionary, asking opinions… Learning never stops. Grammar is not the most sensible subject. It is confusing, frustrating, and sometimes, it makes absolutely no sense. However, that is exactly why I love it. 

7. What advice would you have for an author who is looking for an editor? What criteria do you think is most important when searching? With so many to choose from, how is an author to decide who best to help perfect their manuscript?

My advice is RESEARCH, RESEARCH, RESEARCH! Please do not go with someone who calls themselves an editor just because their prices are cheap. Check credentials, make sure they went to school and have a degree that in some way or form could help, check their references, look at books they have edited, and make sure they have a professional presence. If their website is full of mistakes, it is a sign not to choose them.

Make sure the editor you choose is someone you can get along with and will feel comfortable bugging with all sorts of questions. Also, make sure the editor likes the genre you wrote in.

I am available for my clients pretty much 24-7 through email and Facebook chat. This includes my freelance clients and any authors through the publishing companies I work for, which are Clean Teen and Crimson Tree Publishing. This is an important part of the editor/author relationship. The better your editor knows you, the better she or he can take care of your books. Your editor should be the most important relationship you have as an author. Make sure it is with someone you enjoy working with and who understands your vision.

8. What words of wisdom do you have for the aspiring authors out there who may be scared of their abilities? I’ve heard multiple authors say that their editors are superheroes who have saved their works from the brink of destruction. How ‘edit’ savvy does an aspiring author need to be? 

I’m not sure I have any words of wisdom. Most authors write because they have to. They feel it deep inside, and the words have to be released. I’m one who doesn’t believe that grammar matters when you are first putting the words on paper. However, you should edit, re-edit, edit again, and then edit again afterward until the words are as clear as you can make them. After that, I recommend sending it to an alpha reader, who can offer first feedback. Then you should edit again if you feel their feedback warrants it. 

If you are a first-time author, I highly recommend a developmental editor, who can help you with your book structure and content. They aren’t focused on grammar, but rather on plot. After alpha and/or developmental, you would send to someone like me, for copy editing and then proofreading. Following that, I would recommend beta readers, to catch any stray errors.

I will not even take manuscripts that I believe are too messy or haven’t been given any attention. If I can tell the words have just been slapped down and no care has been given, I will pass over to the next author in line. The way you present your book to an editor is important. You may think it is a long, drawn-out process, but it is the most important one. This is your baby—your hard work—why not give it everything it needs to be successful?

 

9. As an editor, I know that you read constantly for work. When you do get a chance to read for pleasure, what are some of your all-time favorite reads?

Pleasure reading… that’s so funny. It is so hard to actually read anymore. All I end up doing is picking the story apart in my head, editing as I go. It is just like work. Lately, I listen to audio books. That way, I don’t see the words, so I don’t work while I read. I actually thought I would hate the audio format, and that I wouldn’t be able to concentrate, but I absolutely adore listening to books. It makes chores and driving so much better. However, narrators will turn me off in a second. If I don’t like their voices, I won’t be able to listen.

My all-time favorite series is Harry Potter. I am a die-hard Potter Head. I so wish I could obliviate those books from my brain, just so I could have the pleasure of reading them over again.

My favorite genre is dystopian, and I am a huge fan of end-of-the-world books. I also love YA. When it comes to adult books, I loved The Hollows series by Kim Harrison and the Black Dagger Brotherhood series by JR Ward. I also love old favorites such as The Secret Garden, Dicey’s Song, Little Men… Okay, I’ll admit it. I just love all books. I’m addicted. :)

10. Where can we learn more about Mrs. Cynthia Shepp

You can find out more about my services at http://cynthiashepp.wix.com/cynthiashepp, www.cynthiashepp.com, or www.facebook.com/cynthiashepp. You can find me on Twitter at @CynthiaShepp, though I’m not the best twitterer? Tweeter? in the world, so I’m not there often. You can also email me at cynthiashepp@yahoo.com with any questions you may have.

I want to thank you, Ethan, for featuring me on your blog. I was nervous about this interview, so I hope I did okay. Thank you, too, to everyone who takes the time to read this. I appreciate it!

It's an honor to have ya Mrs. Cynthia! :)

*****

So as you can see, Mrs. Cynthia is a busy lady, but I haven't even begun to scratch the surface. On top of her editing job, she also compiles anthologies featuring some incredible authors! Head over and grab your copy NOW!

                 

It's been such an honor to host Cynthia here today, I hope you've all learned a bit about this amazing woman and will keep her in mind if you're looking for an editor! She's great! Huge thanks to Cynthia for agreeing to be a part of this!

*****

Alright everyone, that's all I have for you on Cynthia Shepp week's Book World: Behind the Scenes! I hope you've enjoyed learning a little bit more about some of the BTS work that goes into making our favorite reads awesome! Be sure to join us next week when we meet another amazing industry professional! 

Thanks so much for stopping by. Until next time, Happy Reading!

-Ethan

*****

Are you an author? Do you work with an incredible someone who holds a career in one of the above fields? Are you a blogger who has worked with one? I want to honor those awesome people!

I already have a handful of interested parties lined up, but I'd like to add more. If you would like to nominate someone for a spotlight, please don't hesitate to let me know.

Interested parties are encouraged to fill out the Google Doc by clicking here or to contact me (Ethan) directly by shooting an email to OneGuysGuidetoGoodReads@gmail.com.

Google Doc:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1YGWFHnUYU2FZ3CnqKU70pmuKk4JaNxKB8CugxHZTn_4/viewform?usp=send_form

I think this is an incredible opportunity to show readers and the rest of the bookish community just how much work goes into making a book successful! Let's give those unsung heroes a moment in the spotlight!

*****

Crushed (The Witch Game Novels Book One) by Kasi Blake Blog Tour

Hey readers, Ethan here with a fun blog tour for you guys. Today I am honored to share a guest post from the amazing Kasi Blake! Kasi joins us today from the incredible team at Clean Teen Publishing. Today post will feature some great promo, a guest post, and a giveaway! Don't miss out!

 

AMAZON / iBOOKS / BARNES and NOBLE / MORE

The Noah girls have beauty, powers, and brains.

They use all three to play their games.

They blow the dust,

the boys are crushed,

and no one is ever the same.

Each year the Noah girls play a secret game― Crushed. The rules are simple.

1. Use wisdom to pick your target. The boy can't be too weak or too strong-willed. 

2. Blow the enchanted dust into your target's face to enchant (Crush) him. 

3. Give verbal commands and assign them tasks to perform throughout the year. The more tasks completed, the stronger the witch's power grows. 

4. At the end of the year, the witch with the most power wins cold, hard cash. 

As if being a witch in high school isn't complicated enough, Kristen picks the wrong boy to Crush. Zach is tall, handsome, and a little scary. Her Crush spell isn't working on him like it has with the others. In fact, he is behaving the opposite of every other boy she's Crushed, hating her instead of adoring her. Something is definitely wrong. After someone attempts to kill her, Kristen realizes there is more at risk than a few hundred dollars. She may be betting with her life.

WATCH THE TRAILER: 

GET CRUSHED TODAY! 

AMAZON / iBOOKS / BARNES and NOBLE / MORE

About Kasi Blake

When Kasi Blake was in the third grade, she found out that a good story could get her out of trouble. Okay, some people call it a lie, but she didn't see anything wrong with using every skill available to her to avoid being grounded. Over the years, that didn't change. Her stories just grew more elaborate. When she was 12, she began to write them down, starting with a six-page tale about a boy from the wrong side of the tracks and the good girl that secretly wanted him. Kasi went on to write for Harlequin for a few years. Then, she published a vampire series on her own, and now she is publishing with Clean Teen. 

Get ready for an exciting series on witches using their powers to play dangerous games at school. The first is Crushed. You can find her on Twitter @kasiblake, on FB, and she has a website under her name. 

Kasi lives on a farm in the Midwest with tons of animals including cows, ducks, chickens, a dog, and cats.

Amazon | Goodreads | Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Smashwords

*****

Guest Post

Story Behind Crushed

I had just finished writing my vampire series, and my agent couldn’t find a publisher for it even though she worked for one of the top agencies in New York City. We kept hearing the same thing over and over: the market is saturated with vampires.

So, my agent suggested I move onto a new series and put the vampires behind me. We talked about paranormal creatures. In essence, what haven’t we seen again and again?

Witches was just one thing on a long list, but when I got to it and really started to think about it, the possibilities seemed infinite. Since I knew my characters would be in high school, I asked myself a question. What would I have done back then if I had magical powers?

I made another list. There were a lot of things to choose from. I might use the power to make myself popular, get better grades, or make my parents disappear. Just kidding. The idea I found most intriguing was that I would put a love spell on the boy of my dreams.

This made me think about the movie The Craft, and I didn’t want to go in that direction. I also didn’t want it to be like Sabrina, The Teenage Witch with lots of laughs and silly stuff. I wanted something in the middle, so I decided to have three sisters playing a game at school that they call Crushed. The name comes from the fact that you can’t (even in movies) make someone love you. It always goes horribly wrong. But, maybe, you can give the person a little crush.

There are so many ways this spell could go wrong, and I enjoyed exploring them. But, I didn’t want to be too obvious, so I threw in a mystery. What happens if someone else, an enemy, somehow uses the Crushed spell against them? Hmm.

*****

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Hosted and Organized by:

What do you think, does Crushed sound like the read for you? Be sure to add this incredible read to your TBR and be on the lookout for my review soon. Until next time, Happy Reading!

-Ethan

The Forlorned by Angela J. Townsend Blog Tour (Guest Post + Giveaway)

Hey guys, Ethan here with another exciting blog tour for you guys. This time we're raving about a new horror novel from Crimson Tree Publishing, stick around for the giveaway and check out the awesome guest post from our author:

Title:  The Forlorned

Author:   Angela J. Townsend

Published: July 21st, 2015

Publisher:  Crimson Tree Publishing

Genre:  Horror

Content Warning:  Violence

Recommended Age:  13+

Synopsis:  When Tom Doherty first laid eyes on the lighthouse he knew it was damned.

An advertisement lured him to the island, offering a job renovating the old lighthouse and ramshackle buildings. What he didn’t know was that he was the only applicant. None of the locals wanted the job – no one dared.

Isolated and alone, Tom soon discovers why. Messages from disembodied voices; ghostly visitations and escalating horrors draw Tom deeper into the island’s evil past—a darkness that forces Tom to unbury the truth and bring demons of his own into the light.

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | GoodReads

The Forlorned upcoming movie release information can be found on IMDb at: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt4294968/?

About the Author: Angela Townsend was born in the beautiful Rocky Mountains of Missoula, Montana. As a child, Angela grew up listening to stories told by her grandparents, ancient tales and legends of faraway places. Influenced by her Irish and Scottish heritage, Angela became an avid research historian, specializing in Celtic mythology. Her gift for storytelling finally led her to a full time career in historical research and writing. A writer in local community circulations, Angela is also a published genealogical and historical resource writer who has taught numerous research seminars. Currently, Angela divides her time between writing, playing Celtic music on her fiddle, and Irish dancing.

Angela resides on a ranch, in rural Northwestern Montana, with her two children Levi and Grant.

Amazon Author Page | Facebook | Twitter | GoodReads | Blog

Guest Post

The Perils of Writing Horror

Writing horror is something that comes natural to me because I enjoy the genre so much. From the time I was old enough to tell stories my main characters seemed to be ghost, witches, wizards and all things fantasy and supernatural. Although I enjoy writing horror I do not like gore at all. I think gore is brainless. I want a good old fashioned ghost story that usually involves a spooky old house or some other historic structure to hold my attention. Because I’m a very descriptive writer--my book translated very well into a movie. I think in order to have a good horror story you must have a good setting and description is a big part of it. There also has to be a mood set from the very start. Each chapter must make the reader what to continue on to the next. Mystery is a big part of writing horror. My advice is simple. Don’t tell the reader everything all at once, show the reader the setting, be original in your ideas, and don’t drown your audience in gore. You can read more about the movie and book at www.theforlorned.com

Crimson Tree Publishing Links:

(An adult division of Clean Teen)

Website | Facebook | Twitter

Giveaway Details:

There is a tour wide giveaway. Prizes include the following:

• A bookmark swag pack and winner’s choice of any Clean Teen Publishing eBook.

Giveaway is International.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Special thanks to the author and the team at Juniper Grove Book Solutions for allowing me to participate. Thanks for stopping by. Until next time, Happy Reading!

-Ethan

Crushed by Kasi Blake Release Day Launch

CRUSHED by Kasi Blake

Clean Teen Publishing has a new release. CRUSHED by Kasi Blake is the first book in a young adult paranormal romance series called— The Witch Games. We currently have a release day deal on CRUSHED by Kasi Blake. Readers can save $1 on the digital version of CRUSHED.

NOW AVAILABLE!

 

AMAZON / iBOOKS / BARNES & NOBLE / MORE

The Noah girls have beauty, powers, and brains. They use all three to play their games. They blow the dust, the boys are crushed, and no one is ever the same. Each year the Noah girls play a secret game— Crushed. The rules are simple. 1. Use wisdom to pick your target. The boy can't be too weak or too strong-willed. 2. Blow the enchanted dust into your target's face to enchant (Crush) him. 3. Give verbal commands and assign them tasks to perform throughout the year. The more tasks completed, the stronger the witch's power grows. 4. At the end of the year, the witch with the most power wins cold, hard cash. As if being a witch in high school isn't complicated enough, Kristen picks the wrong boy to Crush. Zach is tall, handsome, and a little scary. Her Crush spell isn't working on him like it has with the others. In fact, he is behaving the opposite of every other boy she's Crushed, hating her instead of adoring her. Something is definitely wrong. After someone attempts to kill her, Kristen realizes there is more at risk than a few hundred dollars. She may be betting with her
life.

WATCH THE TRAILER:

GET CRUSHED TODAY! AMAZON / iBOOKS / BARNES & NOBLE / MORE

Before & After by Nazarea Andrews Blog Tour (Review + Giveaway)

Hey readers! Ethan here with an exciting post for you guys. A few weeks ago, I had the great pleasure of devouring my dear friend Nazarea Andrew's latest read, Before & After. I've never read any of her NA Contemporary works before so I was really excited to take the plunge. I'm so excited to share my thoughts with you all. Before we get to that, here's a but about Nazarea and the novel:

Rike and Peyton fell in love in college.

A boy from the wrong side of the tracks, covered in ink and crooning in a bar is the last person a straight laced girl with a art major should fall for, but his rough edges made her jagged, alive, shaving away the coddled southern princess and revealing a soul wild and brilliant.

They fell in love, despite her family and his past and all the reasons why it wouldn't work--and with their best friends, they made a life. Everyone was supposed to live happily ever after.

They, more than anyone, knows that life doesn't go according to plan.

Rike and Peyton fell in love in college. A boy with a guitar, and a poet's heart, and a girl with freckles dusted over her nose, a perfect fucking fairy tale.

But what happens when the fairy tale doesn't fall apart--but is forgotten?

          

Nazarea Andrews

Nazarea Andrews is an avid reader and tends to write the stories she wants to read. She loves chocolate and coffee almost as much as she loves books, but not quite as much as she loves her kids. She lives in south Georgia with her husband, daughters, and overgrown dog. She is the author of Girl Lost, Edge of the Falls, and The University of Branton Series. 

Find Nazarea Andrews

Website ** Twitter ** Facebook ** Goodreads *

*****

My Thoughts:

Anyone who follows my ravings on the regular knows that I am one of Nazarea Andrews' self-proclaimed biggest fans. Let's pause and take a moment to think about our author. She's written more books than I can even count right now and she's seamlessly writes throughout genres. Contemporary Romance, Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Horror, Dystopian. You need diversity? Let me introduce you to Nazarea Andrews. The best part, every one is amazing. Each of her novels has been acclaimed in some way, shape, or form. She's got fans on every side of the coin imaginable. But where do I come into this? I've never read a contemporary romance novel by Nazarea Andrews.

*gasp*

Yes, you read that right. No Branton, no romance, nothing. How can I call myself a fan, right?

When Nazarea and the team approached me about this one, I wasn't sure what to think. Sure, I love N, but how will I feel about her NA Romances? No zombies? No aliens? No fantastical worlds? It's not a Nazarea I was familiar with, but I knew in her hands, I wouldn't be disappointed. What I didn't expect was to have my mind absolutely blown. Before & After has been my favorite NA Contemporary novel of the summer!

Let's break this down.

The plot for Before & After wasn't something I am entirely unfamiliar with. I've read several novels on the topic of memory life, but none fo them had the unique twist that Andrews has added. Each chapter alternated between BEFORE the accident and AFTER the accident that claimed Peyton's memories (thus the title). In each chapter we learn a bit more about Rike and Peyton as each alternating chapter is also told from a different POV. It was remarkable to see how each of their lives changed so drastically as a result of the accident. The entire tone of the novel switches with each passing chapter. It was a remarkable literary device and a true testament to the talent of Nazarea Andrews.

The characters were great. I won't lie, I couldn't relate to them as much as I would have liked as they live... entirely different lives than myself. That's not a bad thing by any means, but it was definitely a form of culture shock for me to read some of the things that these characters do. The novel really centers around four close friends: Rike, Peyton, Scott, and Lindsay. While Rike and Peyton play the biggest roles, the characters of Scott and Lindsay play extremely important side characters. In fact, in some ways they guided the plot more so than Rike and Peyton. A lot of people are up in arms and really want a sequel or special story devoted to them. I'm a little different as I see their story in completion here with Before & After. The accident changed many lives, I believe Nazarea Andrews does a fantastic job of wrapping up this world in one singular story. It's a perfect standalone.

It's a quick read and Nazarea's great talent for flow ensures that it's a read that you'll breeze through, only pausing to catch the feels every now and then.

If you're looking for steam, this novel is full of it. I'm not used to 'love' scenes from Nazarea as all of the sex scenes I've read from her have been more... out of necessity than love. So this was a big change of pace, one that I ultimately enjoyed. Each scene furthers the plot and digs deep into the emotional psyche of her characters, rounding out the story in an even more perfect light.

As I mentioned before, this is an emotional read which may be a trigger for some people. Consider yourself warned, Andrews with twist your heart and grip your soul until the closing words of this story.

Like other novels I have read recently, Andrews makes use of poems, lyrics, and song to tell the story as well. As a musician, Rike helps aid the story with his writings. All I can say is that if Andrews ever decided to take a break from writing, I think she may have a job waiting for her in the music industry.

A beautiful written, unique, and well-crafted story, Andrews delivers a powerful emotional punch with Before & After. It's the perfect blend of delicate and gritty, sure to leave all readers reflecting on their own 'Before & After's.

This being said, it should come as no surprise that I am granting Before & After by Nazarea Andrews a well-earned 5-star review. I'll be holding this one close to my bookish heart and anxiously awaiting more like it from Andrews. I can only imagine what genre she'll blow me away with next. Historic? Westerns? Who knows! Here's to you Nazarea Andrews, a true literary mastermind of our time!

*****

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Alright readers, that's all I have for you on the topic of Before & After by Nazarea Andrews. As you can see, I absolutely loved this latest release from her. Probably one of my absolute favorite novels she has ever released. Be sure to add this one to your TBR and be sure to enter the giveaway. Thanks so much for stopping by. Until next time, Happy Reading!

-Ethan

Him by Sarina Bowen and Elle Kennedy Review

Hey Readers, Ethan here on this Sunday afternoon with yet another review for you guys. I'm so pumped to share my thoughts on this novel with you all. On the chopping block this time? Him by Sarina Bowen and Elle Kennedy! Before we get to my thoughts, here's a bit about the novel and out authors:

They don’t play for the same team. Or do they?

Jamie Canning has never been able to figure out how he lost his closest friend. Four years ago, his tattooed, wise-cracking, rule-breaking roommate cut him off without an explanation. So what if things got a little weird on the last night of hockey camp the summer they were eighteen? It was just a little drunken foolishness. Nobody died.

Ryan Wesley’s biggest regret is coaxing his very straight friend into a bet that pushed the boundaries of their relationship. Now, with their college teams set to face off at the national championship, he’ll finally get a chance to apologize. But all it takes is one look at his longtime crush, and the ache is stronger than ever.

Jamie has waited a long time for answers, but walks away with only more questions—can one night of sex ruin a friendship? If not, how about six more weeks of it? When Wesley turns up to coach alongside Jamie for one more hot summer at camp, Jamie has a few things to discover about his old friend...and a big one to learn about himself.

Warning: contains sexual situations, skinnydipping, shenanigans in an SUV and proof that coming out to your family on social media is a dicey proposition.

          

Sarina Bowen

Sarina Bowen writes steamy, angsty contemporary romance from Vermont's Green Mountains. (Her ancestors began logging and farming Vermont during the 18th century. These were rugged, outdoor types without benefit of a laptop or a good latte. It boggles the mind.)

Sarina enjoys skiing, skating and good food. She lives in Windsor County, Vermont, with her family, eight chickens and too much ski gear and hockey equipment.

FACEBOOK * TWITTER * WEBSITE * GOODREADS

Elle Kennedy

A New York Times, USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author, Elle Kennedy grew up in the suburbs of Toronto, Ontario, and holds a B.A. in English from York University. From an early age, she knew she wanted to be a writer, and actively began pursuing that dream when she was a teenager.

Elle writes romantic suspense and erotic contemporary romance for various publishers. She loves strong heroines and sexy alpha heroes, and just enough heat and danger to keep things interesting!

Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Website


*****

My Thoughts:

If you guys come around these parts often, you know that I am a huge fan of Sarina Bowen. I only recently discovered her Ivy Years series, at the suggestion of a friend, and devoured them all. It quickly became my favorite New Adult contemporary series. I can't get enough. When I heart Sarina was teaming up with Elle Kennedy, I didn't know what to expect. Having never read from Kennedy, I wasn't familiar with her work or her style, but I knew that if Sarina was involved, it'd be a hit for me either way.

I can definitely say without hesitation that this collaboration did not disappoint!

The plot to Him was a little different than I am used to reading. In Him, we follow the stories of Jamie and Ryan, both renowned college hockey athletes with huge futures ahead of them with a past full of secrets. They grew up as summer best friends, until one night changed that forever. Flashing forward several years into the future, our MCs meet again. Much more matured and with a new outlook on life, their friendship continues right where they left off, but can Jamie and Ryan remain just friends? It was an interesting take to read another store of an openly gay character and then a character who wasn't sure what exactly he identified as. It was an interesting journey for me as a reader. As I've noted before, this generally isn't my genre of choice so I was intrigued. The story was gripping from the very beginning and kept me going until the very end.

The characters in Him were great. I've already said a bit about Jamie and Ryan (and I will more later), but the side characters in this story were just as well written. Everything from their parents, to coaches, to employers added to the depth of this remarkable story in the perfect way. No character was unnecessary and nobody bogged down the plot in a way I found to be uninteresting. This is something I have come to expect from Bowen, I am glad that Kennedy fashions her characters in this way as well.

I will go ahead and say that this was probably one of the steamiest m/m reads I have read. Some of the scenes were written a bit awkwardly. I'm not sure if it was on purpose, but either way I did a little skimming during these scenes as there were many. Many. While well written, after the third or fourth scene I found myself more excited about the resolution to the plot and not their love live, but I'll get to that in a bit. Just a fair warning though, if you aren't comfortable reading sex scenes, particularly of the m/m nature, this is not the story for you. Just a heads up.

My favorite part about Him was the setting. I don't claim to know much about hockey. In fact, aside from Miracle and then Sarina Bowen's Ivy Years series, I don't know much at all. I had no idea Lake Placid, New York played such a major role in the hockey world. The way that Kennedy and Bowen set up the city was incredible and definitely somewhere I found myself Googling on more than one occasion. The 'small town' feel in such an important area really helped to set the tone for the story while giving Jamie and Ryan a 'safe space' of their own for the summer.

This story, as you can imagine, dealt with some pretty hard-hitting themes. I think another part of what makes Him special is that, while it is an m/m romance novel, it really deals with many more things on a deeper level. Acceptance, growing up, making mistakes, taking responsibility, finding yourself, family, education, etc. I could go on and on, but at the time of me finishing the story, my first thought wasn't 'romance and happy ending', it was more an uplifting story about finding your true place in the world and doing what makes you happy. As a recent college graduate myself, I really found myself relating to some of the perils of Jamie and Ryan.

While Him didn't quite hold the spark for me that Bowen's Understatement of the Year did, I still considered it to be a well-written novel worthy of praise. As someone who doesn't often read in this sub-genre, it was a change of pace and a unique spin on the genre. That being said, I am granting Him a well-deserved 4-star review. I am anxious to read any future collaborations from these two ladies and will be well on the lookout for more in this literary world.

Highly recommended for fans of New Adult romance and the m/m genres. Be sure to add this to your TBR today!

*****

Alright readers, that's all I have for you on the topic of Him by Sarina Bowen and Elle Kennedy. If this sounds like the novel for you, I highly recommend that you add it to your TBR! Read it already? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below. Until next time, Happy Reading!

-Ethan

The Abandoned Series by C.J. Hart Cover Reveals

THE ABANDONED SERIES by C.J. Hart

Fans of the first book by C.J. Hart— The Hunted— will be excited to see that not only are we revealing the new cover for the sequel to this young adult shifter series, but we are also unveiling a brand new cover for the first novel. Why did we change the cover? Sometimes when you have a sequel coming down the road, you don't always know where the story is headed. We found that when creating the cover for The Forsaken, it had a feel that was a little darker, and a tad more mysterious. We wanted to make sure that all of the covers in the series were cohesive. So a new cover for The Hunted was created. We feel like both of these covers fit great with this exciting teen shifter series published by Clean Teen Publishing. If you haven't started reading The Abandoned Series, check out The Hunted, which is available today. The Forsaken will release soon on November 2, 2015. More information for each title can be found below. Don't forget to leave us a comment with your opinion on which cover you like the best!

THE HUNTED

AMAZON / iBOOKS / NOOK / MORE

Just your average boy-meets-girl, boy-kills-people story.

The Native American Navajo tribe has stories of a monster so wicked, so blood-thirsty, that they are to be hunted down and slaughtered. But are they just legends? Or is something sinister lurking in the shadows? The Yee Naaldlooshi—skinwalkers—have the ability to transform themselves. And they can be anyone. Anything.

The Hunters—a group dedicated to tracking the creatures—are hot on their trail and they won’t stop until every last one is dead. But are they all as evil as foretold? Seb, alpha of the Taylor, Arizona reservation pack, begins to question the acts of their kind. But he’s broken a rule and must choose between killing the girl he loves or risking everything to save her. Cassie must fight for her survival. The pack is after her. And they’re no joke. Cass is about to find out how sadistic they can be.

THE FORSAKEN

NOVEMBER 2, 2015 - Add to your TBR List

Fear. Uncertainty. Wonder. Those three things are thrumming through me, pounding in my ears and coating my tongue with acid. All words that escape my mouth are wrong; I can't explain how it feels to not remember—for chunks of my memory and hours of my night to have been erased. Erased? No… forgotten.

How do you forget whether you killed a person or not the night before?

Cassie Spencer's human life is over, and the resulting consequences are flooding in. As she learns to adapt to her new life, pieces of her honorary family are unravelling. Every day is another spent worrying who Ash will take from her next. Though he's not the only danger she should be concerned about.

A man turns up dead. Eaten.

The Hunters suspect Ash is behind it—one of his sadistic games. But who is really at fault?

And then there's the mystery illness Cassie contracts, a disease unheard of by both her father and the elders. Can they find her a cure before her condition worsens?

Not every hero wears a cape. Some wear gray beanies.

WANT TO SEE THE ORIGINAL COVER?

We'd love to hear your feedback. Which cover do you like better, and why?