I've got two giveaways that I'm going to put up on my own. These will go till the end of the year, so please feel free to enter, and there will be some ways you can enter once a day, comments and tweets. One giveaway is geared to my readers who like adult romances. The second giveaway is geared more to my YA readers. You can enter both! Unfortunately these have to be US only, unless you are able to get Kindle books, as one of the prizes is for a set of Kindle books by a favorite author of mine.
Romance Reader Giveaway Prizes:
There will be five winners.
1. Kindle copy of all three books out in the Ad Agency Series by Nicole Archer
2. Amy Daws Harris Brothers Series T-shirt.
3. Cool set with autographed copy of Forks, Knives, and Spoons by Leah DeCesare along with a set of earrings and a charm bracelet that goes with the book.
4. A copy of I Love You Subject to the Following Terms and Conditions by Erin Lyon
5. Package of mystery swag - no picture, just will be bookmarks, postcards, etc. that I picked up at different book conventions over the past year.
1. Choose 2 books from whatever books are in my extra pile and I'll throw in 2 surprise books. Here is a picture of what it looks like at the moment. Books could be added between now and the end of the month, and some books may get traded and not be available anymore.
2. Package of mystery YA Swag picked up from other trades and conventions I've been to.
Today we have the blog tour for Field-Tripped by Nicole Archer. Check it out and buy your copy today!
Book info:
Title: Field-Tripped
Author: Nicole Archer
Series: Ad Agency #3
Genre: Romantic Comedy
Release Day:October 30, 2017
Source: E-galley from author for honest review
Synopsis:
I was done with games. But playing with her is so much fun.
Ten years ago, I was all set to compete in the winter Olympics. Then I lost everything—my career, my best friend, and my girlfriend.
After that, I stopped playing games for good. I swore never to go back to Colorado. Too many bad memories. Plus, she’s still there.
Now I live a simple life as a creative director at Shimura Advertising in New York. All is good, until my boss cons me and my coworkers into spending two weeks in Colorado at Proton Sports’ sleep-away camp for adults, pitching their business. Turns out Proton’s idea of a pitch is making the agencies battle each other in a bunch of ridiculous winter games.
Guess who owns the rival company? Her. And she’s out to get me. I might just let her win.
*Field-Tripped is Book 3 in the in the Ad Agency Series and can be read as a standalone.
Archer's third book in the hilarious Ad Agency series is what I would call a "wham, bam, thank you ma'am" whirl of fun and sexiness. While the first book in the series, Road-Tripped, was also very hilarious and sexy, it kept you hanging on the edge of your seat with the sexual tension, in a good way, and brought out a lot of emotions. Book 2, Head-Tripped, brought the emotions front and center, mixed in with the sexiness, and a sprinkle of hilariousness. As with the first two, we get the story from both of our main characters, which is something I love! You get to see both of their point of views, both of their thoughts and feelings, which makes those moments when you normally would be wondering why the heck someone was being so stupid or crazy in their decision, become more understandable, because you get just what they were thinking when they do that ridiculous behavior.
These two characters are in a second-chance romance, and it seems as if the fates have conspired to bring them back together. Both of them are stubborn and are feeling as if things that happened in the past were either their fault, or even if they believe that, they still believe the other one is the cause of why things went wrong. The drama between the two is so back and forth, hilariously so, exactly as this author is so great as doing. It's totally an "I hate you! Kiss me!" It totally reminds me of this scene in Spaceballs:
So many things about the book that I just adored! The names of Charlie's dogs, Julius Seizure, for one! There is almost always at least one persnickety character in the stories, in this case it was Burt, one of Charlie's godfathers I believe? His nicknames for Eli had me cracking up, Beaver Beard, so hilarious, I can't name them all. Not to mention little Austin, who was kind of the reason for Callie ending up on the trip in book one with Walker (who is still my favorite of all the guys). I wonder how much of his character was based on the antics of the author's own son, who we get to share in the hilarity of on Facebook. One of my all time favorite parts of book one was the Chinese menu typo, go read book one if you haven't yet, and in this one we had the comment about the Japanese flag! Not to mention the line that I was saying out loud with the other characters in the book every time that character spoke, "Shut it, Jerry!" I could go on and on about all the amusing things in this book, but that would mean you might not need to read it, because it is pretty much all laugh out loud funny.
Probably my only negative on this one? That one of the dogs wasn't a dachshund. :-) JK
Nicole Archer’s lengthy career as an advertising copywriter not only polished her writing skills—it provided a lifetime of book material. As a single, full-time working mom of a beautiful, brilliant, and horrifically energetic son, she has little time to do much else besides work, write, read, drink wine, and breathe. She’s originally from Colorado, but lives in Dallas now. This is her third book.
I was done with games. But playing with her is so much fun.
Ten years ago, I was all set to compete in the winter Olympics. Then I lost everything—my career, my best friend, and my girlfriend.
After that, I stopped playing games for good. I swore never to go back to Colorado. Too many bad memories. Plus, she’s still there.
Now I live a simple life as a creative director at Shimura Advertising in New York. All is good, until my boss cons me and my coworkers into spending two weeks in Colorado at Proton Sports’ sleep-away camp for adults, pitching their business. Turns out Proton’s idea of a pitch is making the agencies battle each other in a bunch of ridiculous winter games.
Guess who owns the rival company? Her. And she’s out to get me. I might just let her win.
Dining With the Authors:
Every year at Book Expo, children and adult authors are featured during
breakfast. Who would you dream of enjoying a meal with? Would it be
breakfast, lunch, dinner, or simply coffee? What would your meal be?
What would you discuss? I can't remember which year it was, but one of the years that I attended BEA I went to the children's author breakfast. I paid the extra for the ticket that you got to sit at a table and get some extra books/stuff, etc. I guess I'd hoped by paying the extra I'd actually get to sit at a table WITH one of the authors, which I did not. It was totally worth it anyway though. I think. The cool authors I got to hear speak were Chris Colfer and Lois Lowry. I got a chance to meet, for a second, Chris Colfer, later on at the publisher's booth with a ticket. Unfortunately I was unable to make it to Lois Lowry's signing.
But now, let's think about what author I really want to enjoy a meal with. I'd like to think that I'd have a blast sitting and talking with Jennifer L. Armentrout. We could discuss Supernatural and all her awesome books.
After meeting Anna Todd, I think I'd also love to sit and just talk with her, fangirl about all kinds of things like Harry Potter, and boy bands, and writing, etc.
Nicole Archer is a newer author that I've loved her books Road-Tripped and Head-Tripped. I think it would be a blast to hang out with her as well.
Samantha Young would also be so much fun I think.
I've met Jay Crownover and she was so much fun in just the short amount of time I got to talk to her, that I think she would be so much fun as well!
And then, Kylie Scott, I want to talk to her about writing and her rocker book boyfriends that I love so much!
Okay, what meal would I pick? Hmm, not sure. I'm not really much of a breakfast person. Maybe it would be fun to just sit and have drinks and snacks with them? Maybe play a round of Cards Against Humanity?
I'd love to discuss all the things we love, like Supernatural with JLA. Harry Potter with probably all of them! Twilight with some of them. And then I'd like to talk about writing with them as well, as I begin to dabble in possible novel writing myself. And for those that aren't continuing certain stories, I'd like to know where they see the characters going maybe.
So, if you could have a meal with any authors, who would you choose?
Title: Head-Tripped Author: Nicole Archer Series: Ad Agency series #2 Genre: Erotic romantic comedy Published: April 10th, 2017 Source: E-galley from author for honest review My rating: 5 stars
Synopsis:
Violinist Effie Murphy moves to New York to pick up the pieces of her life. After six months though, she's still broken, not to mention flat broke. But everything changes one weird night, when she meets Elias Lovaro, a.k.a. El Love, lead singer of one of the hottest bands in the world. Except she doesn’t know that. She also doesn’t know he’s leaving the country that week.
Elias hates life in the celebrity spotlight. So when he meets Effie at a random party, he masquerades as an unemployed deadbeat musician. Why not? He’ll never see her again. Except he can’t stop thinking about the wild woman who helped him write new songs that night.
Next thing you know, they’re touring Europe together, along with a needling Anime character, a weepy Hulk Hogan lookalike, a closeted bassist, the evil Queen of Hearts, Ralph Macchio, Bob Ross, a couple of Spanish gypsies, a turtle, and a banana-hammock wearing French Discobus driver named LeStrange. The trip turns out to be a crazy dream-come-true for both of them.
But once their conflicting pasts surface, will the music fade out at end of the summer?
My review: Ever since I somehow signed up for a review copy of the book Road-Tripped, the first book in this series, I have become a huge fan of this author. You can read my review of that by clicking on the title. While this book was really so much different from the first book, I was not disappointed in any way. It was still a raunchy, laugh out loud romance, just like the first one. The fact that it had such a different feeling from the first one only proves to me what a talented author Nicole Archer is. She writes characters that you can't help but fall in love with and feel for, and she puts them in some of the best situations, some so very realistic, even in all their wackiness. And of course there are others that are extremely out there and so very impossible, but you have to have them too. The two main characters are Effie and Elias. We first met Effie in book 1, as she was the main character Callie's twin sister. Effie and Elias are having a ton of fun together, and while at first it seems like it can only be a quick fling, there is something between them that neither of them can deny. Both of them have secrets and issues of course, Effie's maybe more detrimental to their relationship in the end. These two don't have the whole love/hate thing going on that Callie and Walker did, they are just perfect for each other right away. But it's not a fake way, it's not insta-love, more like insta-lust (very real), and a connection that they don't know where it will go, but both are very interested in seeing where it goes.
Now, it's not just the great main characters, there are so many side characters that you love. My favorites in this one? Well, of course I loved seeing Effie's twin sister Callie and her man, Walker, from the first book. We even got one of my favorite Walker lines, "Sh..poo!" Go read the first one so you'll get that and laugh like I do every time I think of it. I love Elias's mother Annie, as well as Elias's band mates, and also their chauffeur/ bus driver while they're on tour in Europe. You have a definite villain in this one, whereas in book one, there wasn't necessarily anyone you truly hated like you do in this book.
This book totally fit in with the rock star romances I've been loving lately. But I like that it doesn't mean the whole series is going to be just about rock stars. (Not that there is anything wrong with that.) I know this one is not even officially out in the world yet, but as I finished it, I could only wonder what character the author would bring back for book 3. Not to mention how eager I am to read more of these characters. Just like with book 1, I look forward until I can buy a physical copy of this one to keep on the nightstand by my bed, so that I can pick up and enjoy the characters, as well as some of the steamy sex scenes, whenever I'm in the mood.
Now, I begged the author for an interview, knowing just how much fun her answers would probably be. (Okay, I may have just asked nicely, it may not have bee actual begging.) And even as crazy busy as she is right now, she fit in the time to answer my questions. So enjoy, but also beware, just like her books, the language can be a bit shocking at times. :-)
Author Interview:
1. What does your writing process look like? Do you know the whole story when you start? Or do you just start writing and go with it (seat of the pants writing)? If you plan it out, how do you do that? Outline, notecards, post-it-notes, etc.?
Because my books have been so research- and travel-heavy, I usually have to do that first. After I get the information, I mind map out the entire plot little bullet points first. I do the same thing with the characters. I find pictures, their clothing, their quirks, their sayings, their backgrounds—I make them so real that everyone can picture them. Then I plot everything on a character arc, and after that, I create an outline for every chapter that’s sort of a mini plot line. Once I start writing it’s a total free for all. I just let it flow. I know what I have to achieve, but I don’t know how I’m going to get there until after I write it. The daily process so far has been work, a big real life project that allows me to take off 2-4 months of time to write full time. I sit my ass down in the chair and write 8-12 hours a day and don’t move. No lie.
2. How do you come up with your ideas for your stories? Do you do research for parts of the story - places, language, etc.?
I know the general gist of all the books in the series, but sometimes shit just pops into my head. Like the whole Alice in Wonderland theme. That came to me on a dog walk.
3. How long have you been writing?
Since I was 5. I seriously have books and diaries full of writing. I blogged for years and years. I write for a living. But this past year is the first time I’ve written fiction.
4. What tips do you have for aspiring writers?
Don’t think you can just whip out a story. Study literature, writing books, reference books, writing blogs, everything. Just because romance has a HEA, doesn’t mean it has to be formulaic. And just because you may have erotic content doesn’t mean people don’t care about the story. At least I do anyway. Glom onto your strengths. For example, mine is dialogue, so I write a lot of it. Also, it’s hard work. It’s ass in chair, don’t move, hard work. You can’t think about it, you just have to do it.
5. Why did you decide to publish the way you did?
Originally, I thought I was going to crank out a smutty book empire, but then I kind of felt like I was selling out. So I actually put a lot of depth and time into the characters and story. I’m glad I did. I did gobs of market research beforehand, and honestly, publishers are just thieves. They take all the profits, force you to write their way, and take all the control. The only thing that’s good about it is the distribution and marketing and full time staff. But if I ever get more popular, I’ll hire help for that. Right now, it’s just poor little me doing everything.
6. What do you have coming up next?
I’m torn between two books. I’m fairly certain it’s Eli St. James’s story.
7. Some favorites:
I’m going to have to skip this one, because I have love too much. :)
Gotta love her. You can totally get where her characters come from when you follow her on Facebook.
About the Author:
Archer’s lengthy career as an advertising copywriter not only polished her writing skills, it provided a lifetime of book material. Many months her book purchases are as high as her mortgage. As a full-time, working single mom of a beautiful, brilliant, and horrifically energetic son, she has little time to do much else but work, write, read, drink wine, and breathe. In real life, she lives in Dallas, Texas, but she’d rather live in Switzerland. Maybe if the book takes off.
So, I haven't really done a giveaway in a while, so I think I want to do one with this review. You have to be able to read a Kindle book, as I think that is all that will be available. I'm going to give away an e-book of both books to one lucky winner. But don't worry, if you already have the first one, but only want an e-book of the second one, when your name is picked, you can tell me that you want me to either send the first book to someone else you know, or I will offer it to another person who has entered the giveaway. Just fill out the Rafflecopter below for your chance to enjoy this hilarious book. But remember, it is definitely an over 18 read between the language and the sex scenes, so if you're not a fan of those two things, you may want to wait until my next giveaway.
Book info: Title: Road-Tripped Author: Nicole Archer Series: Ad Agency #1 Genre: Contemporary Romance Published: August 1st, 2016 Source: E-book gifted from author for fair review My rating: 5 stars
I am so grateful to this author for sending me a copy of her book to read. When I picked this one to start reading I had no idea just how funny it was going to be. The humor in it reminds me a lot of the books in the Hudson Valley series by Alice Clayton. Both books have things that happen that are just so realistic! Things that are real and very embarrassing. However, Road-Tripped takes the embarrassing moments and pushes them one step further, not in an unrealistic way, but in a way that you know someone out there has had a similar experience, and it is almost so horrible that it is unbelievable. And while I have never had these specific mortifying experiences, I have had some that have been pretty comparable when I think about the empathy created for the characters as I read about what was happening to them.
The characters themselves were also very believable. And the misunderstandings and preconceptions each of them had about each other that led to many of the humorous moments I hinted at above were again very realistic. They're the kinds of things I know that I have probably thought about people from what I've heard or seen of them before I ever get a chance to meet them and get to know them. Okay, let me give you a little run-down of the story itself, then I'll gush over it a little more.
There are two main characters and we get the story from both of their viewpoints. Callie is working a new job for a friend, who helped her out when her life kind of went down the toilet. Only she isn't really as grateful for it as you'd think. She can't stand most of the people she works with, especially given the way the office is run. And from people like my sister who actually work in a place where they do things like game tables and parties, I know that the environment is realistic. Callie is grumpy, likes to swear, and cannot stand the guy that she thinks is nothing but the office manwhore, the guy that all the women want so sleep with, including the woman who is kind of her worst enemy in the office.
The other main character is Walker, said "manwhore" according to Callie. Sure, he's friendly, and very attractive, and all that, but he's also very unhappy in his job as art director. He loves photography, and really wants to do something more like that. He has been assigned to drive across country in an RV that is one of their current client's product. At first he is going to get to go with a friend of his in the office. But she drops out at the last minute, and their boss chooses Callie, the one woman who seems to be completely immune to his charms, as well as seems to hate him, to be the replacement.
As you can guess, the road trip is full of many fun experiences. They stop at a lot of famous landmarks, as well as dropping in on family and friends along the way. The end up camping at a nudist colony by accident. They get caught in a hurricane. And Callie might get a little high with Walker's grandmother, when they stop by for a visit. Both of them will learn that the other is not quite who they think they are from their first impressions. Both of them will have to work on the attraction between them, they may even give into it, and of course that will create its own issues for the trip. As well as many, many hilarious moments and some very sexy ones as well!
This was one of those books that I had to be careful about reading in public, because it literally made me laugh out loud. Not just a quiet chuckle, or a giggle, but gut-busting, can't hold it in guffaws at times! And you know what was bad? I was reading it on my laptop, at work sometimes, and oh my gosh was it so hard to hold that in! So hard that I couldn't. I got some strange looks the days I read it at work, I work in a high school library, so yeah.
The cussing, while quite prevalent throughout the whole book, was also part of the hilariousness of the book. It was so over the top at times, but that just made it all the more hilarious. Have I used the word hilarious enough in this review? Walker wasn't much of a cusser, and so several times he would almost say shit, but he'd stop himself, and change it to poo, so it was like he said sh..poo. And Callie called him on it every time, asking him if he said shampoo. She got a kick out of it, and so did I as I read it.
And I have to pull out the one thing that was so funny, although I'm sure is probably considered kind of offensive, but it is funny because it's true, because I've actually seen something exactly like it at a Chinese restaurant. On the menu, for drinks, it said: "Classic Cock, Cock Zero, Diet Cock, Cherry Cock." I've seen that before. And it makes me laugh like a middle schooler every single time!
If you aren't offended by a lot of swear words, or sexy scenes, or hilarious naked embarrassing scenes, then this is the next book you need to read. You can get the e-book on Amazon for only $2.99 HERE. If I could order the paperback through the Barnes and Noble store where I work, I would own a physical copy of the book. Instead I will just stick with my Kindle copy, which as I went back to try to find some of the exact things I wanted to talk about, I found myself re-reading so many parts that I loved.
