Cover Reveal: Resplendent Rush

Hi All,

 I'm thrilled to share a very special cover reveal today! Liquid Silver's own Bella J is releasing the second novel in her Resplendence series, and you should most definitely check it out below. There is nothing like falling into new reads during the holiday season, especially ones with a touch of romance. Enjoy!

XO,

Sammie

Blurb

Lexi is a vivacious, quirky, and fiercely independent woman with enough attitude and wit to intimidate even the most confident of men. Levi is a sexy-as-hell, cocksure, smoldering hot marine blessed with smooth swagger and cool confidence to charm his way into any woman’s bed. The one thing they have in common, though, is their disinterest in finding love. She’s determined to not let love interfere and dictate her life. And with his career, he doesn’t need the emotional ties and baggage of love, and dreams of white picket fences.

But a few chance encounters have these two tangled up in one wild, passionate, explosive ride which neither of them expected, and which leaves them completely and utterly addicted to each other. Already in too deep, Lexi stubbornly fights her growing feelings for him and refuses to become vulnerable against the power that love seems to yield. She has witnessed firsthand how loving someone can destroy a person, leaving him defenseless against a life of emotional turmoil. She refuses to let it happen to her. Levi knows that Lexi is holding back. He knows that she is keeping a part of her heart guarded. He’s determined to burn down the walls she so desperately clings to, and make her surrender her all to him. But with his long-lost brother’s unexpected return comes an inexorable danger that he will do just about anything to protect her from—even if it means losing her, and in the end, breaking her heart.

Goodreads link for Resplendent Rush (Resplendence Book 2)

Presenting the smoking hot cover of Bella J’s new Contemporary Romance - Book 2 of the Resplendence Series

RESPLENDENT RUSH

Excerpt:

Lexi indicated for the bartender to bring them a round of shots. Just as she was about to toss the tequila back, someone rammed into her from behind, and her little shot glass of heaven went bye-bye all over the counter and down the front of her dress.

Tales of the Traveling Totes

Hi All,

I'm going to be very honest. I had the best of intentions to have a Denver-related Tales of the Traveling Totes to post about today...but that won't happen.

Why, you ask?

Because when I went to Denver, there was not much to take a picture of. You see, I didn't go for fun, but for the American Speech and Hearing Association Convention, where I presented a poster on the way movement affects stuttering (basically, whether walking, throwing a ball, playing Jenga or simply sitting will have an affect on fluency).

I also couldn't take my tote! I traveled with a group, and none of them checked bags, so there was no way I could fit my wonderfully large Christabel into my too-packed carry-on.

In case you haven't seen, this is Christabel. 

But my tote was there in spirit, and to be honest, I wish I'd had the guts to make my group wait the 20 extra minutes to go to baggage claim so I could have brought her.

There's a lesson here: don't travel without your tote, ladies!

Here are some pictures from the trip:

I'm in the pink. See the posters? 

This is the poster we presented! And yes, I did blur out my name. :P

I can't say I would recommend sushi in Denver...

This bear was one of my favorite parts of the convention center!

I also bought a stuffed buffalo. When in Colorado?

I know, this is a bit of a bust, but to be honest I rarely travel from the Southeast, and the ASHA convention was a new experience for me. So for next year's convention in Philly, I'll know:

1) Bring Christabel, but don't bring her into the convention center. If you noticed, I had a huge Super Duper tote they gave me in there... which ended up being filled with so many things from so many booths, I was glad I hadn't put them all in my traveling tote. It's harder to mess up a less nice tote, especially one made from canvas!

2) Drink water! So many of my friends were dehydrated, and it really hurt energy levels throughout the day.

3) Always, always buy the stuffed buffalo. (Duh!)

4) Food outside the Southeast is... well, not the same. But the beer in Denver was great! :)

Until next time... when I will have pictures with Christabel...

Please check out my fellow Travelers! :)

Debbie with Miss Aurora @ Mountain Breaths 

Linda with Miss Rosie @ More Fun Less Laundry

Patti with Miss Kenzie and Taylor @ Pandora's BoxRita with Miss Luna C @ Panoply 

Sarah with Miss Merri Mac @ Hyacinths for the Soul

Samantha with Christabel @ Samantha Stone

and our non-blogger friends:

 Colleen with Miss MacKenzie Joy

Tami with Miss MC la Mer

Also, there is a giveaway!!

Leave Patti @ Pandora’s Box a comment for a chance to win a MacKenzie-Childs Flower Market soap dish, Balsam scented soap from the Adirondacks and a mini soap from Cape Cod, all items purchased on her recent travels with her Traveling Tote!

A winner will be picked on Dec 27th!!

XO,

Sammie

Christmas MANIA

Hello All,

It's Christmastime.

I want a Harry Potter-themed Christmas so badly.

I know, it's been this time of year for a few weeks now... but my finals are finished, and grading final exams for my boss is finished, meaning I can now enjoy Christmas!

*Insert long, happy sigh here.*

I've gotten out my Philosophy gingerbread body wash and bought both almond nog and pumpkin spice soy egg nog. (Not a fan of the original stuff.) I'm also playing Christmas music 24/7, driving most of the people around me insane.

I just can't believe it's December! Here in Alabama it's in the high 60s or low 70s every day, so the weather is punking us all.
From the girls I've seen wearing Ugg boots with shorts... we all have no idea what to wear. Crop top tacky Christmas sweaters? Corduroys with tank tops?

Anyway, what do you do to celebrate this happy time of the year?

When I head to my parents' house to spend some time with them, I plan to bake. A lot.
I'll also be writing almost all day every day. I'll be writing the fourth book in the Crescent City Creatures series, and I'm too excited to start it! :)

I'll leave you with two songs: one that's Christmassy, for those so inclined, and one that isn't.
Because at this point, some of you just want to shut off the radio when those bells start a-jingling.

Yes, this is the Justin Beiber version. And yes, I do like him. No, I don't understand it either...

This song is a romance novel. Enough said. Marry me, Ed? 

Hope your season is going well!

Watch out for my Tales of the Traveling Totes post coming your way on the 15th!

XO,
Sammie

Musical, *Cyber* Monday!

Hi All,

Happy Cyber Monday, aka the first Monday of Christmas Season!

This is the first Monday I can openly listen to Christmas music without being it's-not-even-Thanksgiving-yet shamed (you know who you are), but I'm not sharing a Christmas song. Today, at least.

But before that, I have a few things to share:

1) I'm being featured on author Marianne Rice's gorgeous blog! I'm so excited that she's posted about my book, Punished!
Be sure to check out her romance series with Liquid Silver Books, the McKay-Tucker Men. 

2) Liquid Silver Books is doing a Cyber Monday Special on ALL of our romance titles-- 50% off!
I know I'm going to be stocking up...

Without further ado, here is my song pick for this week:

Thank God For Girls

In my opinion, men should sing this all day, every day.

Weezer is, and will always be, one of my all-time top band picks. Like Twenty One Pilots, they have a level of versatility that's truly impressive. And they've been at this, coming up with creative, kick-butt music for decades. 

I really can't sing their praises enough. I hope you enjoy the song, and prepare for a more seasonal tune next week!

XO,

Sammie 

Punished Release Day!

Hi All,

I hope you're having a happy Monday, because it's the release day for Punished and as such, a very happy day for me indeed! :)
I've been waiting for this day for a long time... and it's finally here!

You can buy it on Amazon here, Barnes and Noble here and KOBO here.

In case you haven't seen the cover yet, here it is:

If ever there was a cover true to its book... it's this one.

Without further ado, here's a short snippet from Punished:

       Soon Leila was dancing with a strange man, but Mary didn’t care. She kept dancing, kept enjoying the rare moment where worry didn’t weigh heavily on her heart and spirit. Now, she could be sexy, could finally feel good about herself and let others see—
        A hand grabbed the back of her shirt and pulled her back, causing her to stumble. Layers of dancers gyrated between her and Leila, whose eyes were on the redheaded man she swayed with.               Good. Mary didn’t want her to worry.
        She turned to face whoever had grabbed her.
        It was the dark man. She’d been right—his eyes were as black as the starless sky outside.
        Mary didn’t care that her head didn’t quite reach his shoulder, or how he was almost twice as wide as her. She shoved him back, hard. She was done being manhandled. No man would ever touch her again without her permission. He actually stumbled, and he smiled. It was a real smile, with dimples that could barely be seen from behind his stubble.
          “Don’t—”
          You won’t be able to hear me, he signed.
          He could sign?
          You and your sister need to leave.


*****

What do you think?
Seriously, I'd love to know you guys' opinion about the excerpt and the book itself. And please, if you do read it, please write an honest review!
If you'd like the entire first chapter, leave me a comment with your e-mail address and I'll send it to you.

What are you reading today?

XO,
Sammie Stone

Happy November!

Hi All,

 I have news.

Punished is up for preorder on Liquid Silver's website as well as Amazon. Squee!

Now for my traveling tote...

I haven't gone anywhere.

BUT, a  few weeks before Halloween I went to Kentuck Art Festival in Tuscaloosa. I had such a great time, and of course I had to bring Christabel!

Tea Town was there... in a horse trailer?!

I couldn't stop laughing when I saw this. Given, it was posted in front of a knife vendor...

Some of my favorite artwork that I saw at the festival...

They're a little creepy, no?

This one was my favorite. My beau bought it for me for my birthday, and it now hangs in my house! :)

Festival in the woods

Check out the poster on the side of that Teepee.

This was the beau's favorite. Grounded boat!

I dressed as a hippie for Halloween this year mainly because I was already wearing that dress and my friend threw the vest on me. Voila, costume!

Any guesses who my date was dressed up as?

Seriously, someone please guess! 

Please be sure to check out my fellow traveling tote-ers! Such lovely ladies with lovely blogs and absolutely gorgeous totes. :) 

Visit my other Tote friends:

Debbie with Miss Aurora @ Mountain Breaths 

Linda with Miss Rosie @ More Fun Less Laundry

Patti with Miss Kenzie and Taylor @ Pandora's BoxRita with Miss Luna C @ Panoply 

Sarah with Miss Merri Mac @ Hyacinths for the Soul

Samantha with Christabel @ Samantha Stone

and our non-blogger friends:

 Colleen with Miss MacKenzie Joy

Tami with Miss MC la Mer

Also, there is a giveaway, so be sure to enter!

All who leave a comment on this post will be entered into a draw for a $25 Starbucks gift card, Miss Merri Mac's treat as a Thank You for following along and joining us for Tales of the Traveling Totes. 

The winner will be announced November 11, 2015. 

Below is the song I chose as my main Halloween tune, but it's also perfect for November!

I just can't get over the piano bits. 

I hope everyone had a fantastic Halloween and November kickoff!

XO,

Sammie Stone 

A Taste of Silver

Hi All,

Happy fall!
I know, I haven't posted in weeks. Grad school's been tough, okay?

I'm working on finding my balance between blogging, school, work and writing. Of course I'm *not* slacking when it comes to writing... I plan to finish the third Crescent City Creatures novel by the end of November, and immediately begin the fourth.

Also, I have two pieces of good news.

First, I did well enough on my neurology exam that I've treated myself to a gnome purse! His name is François and he's making grad school a little bit better for me.

Although I'm fairly certain my professors think I'm insane. 

François is a fantastic dinner companion. 

Second, I received a contract from Liquid Silver Books, my publisher, for the sequel to Punished. 
I can't wait to reveal the title, the *gorgeous* cover, and most importantly the couple this book is about!

So here's what to come:
I'm going to make these cupcakes.
(Because I love candy corn.)

I'm going to keep talking about Punished, which will be released November 23. (Cue excitement!!)

I'm also going to talk about my upcoming birthday this Monday and some music I've been into lately.

Here's my current favorite song:

I think it's kind of sexy. Scratch that, very sexy. 

What are you guys into this October? 

What would you like to know about Punished?

XO,

Sammie