Thursday, December 3, 2015

12 Days of Review Requests 2015 - Day 1

Happy Thursday, and welcome to the 12 Days of Review Requests fun here on the Jo Michaels blog! We're gonna kick off this event in style. If you missed the opening post from yesterday, be SURE and check it out here. It has the Rafflecopter entry form for the iPad Mini. Each day, I'll post links to all the books pitched the previous day and a short recap of what I'm looking for you to put in the comments. Then, I'll have the Rafflecopter winner from the previous day, and the entry form for the current one along with the prizes. Let's get going!



BOOKS PITCHED WILL GO HERE.

For your comment (in the comments below NOT in the rafflecopter), pitch your book. Tell me why you think I'll like it, why I should check it out, and a little about the story. DO NOT give me a synopsis. I can get that from Amazon. Make it personal or make it funny. I care not. I'll be grabbing a sample of every book pitched and go from there.

I strongly encourage you to check out the works of your fellow Indie authors. Chat in the comments, talk each other up, make friends!

Book reviewers! You're welcome to play along, too! Meet and greet authors. Get new books to read and review. It only works if we all work together.

**Kindly remember, there's no guarantee your book will be reviewed by me. You will get a purchase if your sample interests me, and I'll try my best to read it. But if I find I can't give it more than 2 stars, I won't write the review. I've had a few I couldn't finish and it led to me not giving a review.**

RAFFLECOPTER FROM PREVIOUS DAY WILL APPEAR HERE WITH WINNERS

Today's prizes are provided by Karen Hooper and Christina Benjamin. Be sure and shoot them a tweet to say thanks!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Well, that's all for today, folks! I look forward to reading all the samples and seeing your best pitches!

Jo

50 comments:

  1. Hi, Jo! Thanks so much for inviting me to your event on Goodreads. Today I'll pitch my chick-lit novel The Amicable Divorce, just because I wrote it over ten years ago and it's still one of my personal favorites. Plus, it opens on Thanksgiving (with the heroine's husband asking for a divorce) and I'm still working on finishing off the leftovers from that holiday. Now I'm off to eat more pie!

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    1. Welcome to the party, Marla!! I do looooove me some chick-lit! I can't wait to check out the sample. Sounds awesome. :) Enjoy your pie, sweets! :)

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    2. The pie was great, thanks! I'm going to miss it when it's finally all gone.

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  2. Hi Jo, first thank you for taking the time to do this and help out indie authors. It is really appreciated.

    My pitch is about my book entitled Tiny Tragedies - The Sundry Files (An Alt World Book) This book will draw the reader right in from the first page. The concept is unique and the Alt World is very different from other paranormal world. Our main character, Sundry, is like a newborn just becoming familiar to this world even though she's nineteen. This one has action, sex, mystery and suspense. We journey with Sundry as she tries to unravel what she's experienced, and as she struggles to find herself. She's a strong, damaged girl trying to find her place in the world. She'll meet faeries, elves, a neutralizer, a white were-tiger, and a sinfully hot vampire along the way.

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    1. HI, LAILA!! Welcome to the madness that's the pitch fest :) I love helping others. It makes my year complete. OMG I adore faeries and elves. ARGHHHH!! Can't wait to sink my teeth into this sample! Thank you for the pitch, and I hope you enjoy the fun times over the next two weeks :)

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  3. Good Morning Jo, Thank you so much for doing this for us indie authors. We really appreciate it.

    My book is The Secret of Excalibur. I am ghostwriting my late husband's stories, and this was one of my favorites. Have you ever wanted to go on an adult adventure? Well, that's what this story is. You'll go from a hijacking at an airport, all the way to solving the secret of The Lady of the Lake and Excalibur. And in the intern, prevent WW III. It's a romping good time with some unexpected plot twists. It's a either love it or hate it book. Most people love either Arthur or Ruth. Thank you for considering my book.

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    1. Good Morning, Sahara! So good to have you in the insanity :) Are you kidding me with the England stuff?! I'm a HUGE lover of all things Arthurian. *does happy dance* I'm so excited to check it out. :) I'm sorry for your loss and so full of admiration for what you're doing. Welcome to the blog, and I hope you have an awesome time!

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  4. Morning Jo! First off, this is awesome! Thanks so much for this opportunity! I had to enter as my actual me, Amy O'Connor because Facebook (enough said) but I write under Andi. Shhh! Don't tell anyone! ;)

    My pitch today is about my first book The Lost Heir which is a high fantasy about a young man from Earth who's taken to another planet called Dragonath. He finds out his distant ancestors are actually from there and he can wield their magic and must master it to save both worlds from destruction. This world actually has two magic systems, and they're both different from those commonly seen in fantasy. One is a combo of magic, paranormal, and an herbalist! The characters are all complex and my 'villain' isn't just evil for the sake of being evil like in a lot of Fantasy/Sci-fi. She grows a lot through the book and my readers come to understand the 'why' behind her actions, which is pretty cool if I do say so myself ;)

    Thanks again for this opportunity, and I encourage everyone to check out all these great authors!

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    1. Good morning, Andi! Welcome to the party :) Don't worry, I won't tell. ;) Magic? Yes, please! I'm looking forward to starting the sample!!!!!! This book sounds craaaaazy good! :) Thank you for the pitch, and I hope you have fun over the next couple of weeks.

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    2. Geez, I love a three-dimensional villain. <3 Definitely adding this one to my list. And it has such a pretty cover!!

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    3. This makes my heart smile :) And I agree! GREAT cover!

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    4. Just added it to my wish list!

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  5. Good morning, Jo. Thank you for this opportunity to share my love of writing.

    My novel is Rest, My Love: Triple R Series #2 (standalone, so no worries if you haven't read #1 ;-)). This is my favorite from the series because it made my editor cry like a baby and then inspired the creation of her first child. (Okay, that last part may have happened because she loves her fiancé, but it's an awesome coincidence!) Now, I'm not saying it will reduce you to a pile of weeping XX chromosomes, or you'll have the impulse to create life, but it's happened once before...just sayin'. ;-) Would love to hear what it "does" to you. Have a great day! And thanks!

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    1. Holy crow, this is an awesome pitch. Good morning to you, too, Jules! Welcome to the party, and THANK YOU for introducing me to your book. I can't create life anymore, but I love to be reduced to a pile of weeping slush. :) Can't WAIT to hit the sample up. Hope you have some fun these few weeks, and I hope you make many new author buds :)

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    2. I one-clicked this baby as soon as I read the pitch and synopsis! Can't wait to read it.

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  6. Good Alaska Morning, Jo! Thanks so much for putting this together--I already found a few new authors and a book I have GOT to check out now.

    My novel-baby is Eerie, due out 15 Dec. It's one part paranormal, one part romance, and one part strange-as-hell college in a town called The Middle of Nowhere, Alaska. Hailey is an 18-year-old Irish dancer who travels to the world's premier ParaScience University to find help in escaping her fate: death at the hands of a half-rotted, omnipotent gentleman. She falls in love with the only creature that can help her, but unfortunately, he might just kill her himself.

    If you like a story with a body bag and an awkward kiss, you might like Eerie. I'd love to hear what you think of it, and I hope you have a great rest of the week! :-)

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    1. Well, good morning to you, too, CM! Now I'm feeling cold! Brrrrrr Alaska :) It's amazing you've already found books you want to sample (and possibly buy)! How fun is this? First of all, welcome to the blog! I hope you have an awesome time over the next few weeks.

      Body bags and awkward kisses? Yeah, that's right up my alley. Woo hoo! I can't wait to dig in and get lost with your lady in the cold-far-yonder. :) Thanks for the pitch!

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    2. Oooh, this sounds interesting! Adding it to my list.

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  7. Hi, Jo. I enjoyed talking with you during our interview. Thanks for letting me hang with you and your listeners. I'm pitching the first book in my Harper Falls series, If I Loved You. This one is special to me because it is my first book and it is set in a small town similar to the one I grew up in. Rose O'Brian is a woman shaped by the events of her childhood. She had a rough time. She might not be here at all if it wasn't for the two most important people in her life, her best friends. That is the core of my Harper Falls books. The strength on the women and the unbreakable bond that they formed as young girls. It is a love story. Love between friends, family and the men that they fall for. I hope you enjoy If I Loved You.

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    1. HI, Mary!! Welcome to the crazy :) You were so much fun to interview! I can't wait to check this one out. Thank you SO MUCH for stopping by to pitch. I adore the premise of your books. Strong women ROCK! :) Hope you have some fun around here the next few weeks!!

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  8. Hello Jo,

    So glad to be here! I enjoy seeing all the other entries and selecting some great reads for my book reviews as well! Every good author should read.

    My entry is Angel's Dance, the second book in the Clear Angel Chronicles (Can be read as a stand alone.) Clear is a psychic who has a love/hate working relationship with Detective Grant Anderson. Their relationship takes on a new awkward level when Grant desperately needs her help in finding his daughter who went missing in Chicago. There are a few problems: 1. Clear lives the rural life because her psychic abilities overwhelm her in large places. 2. Clear hates being with Grant because he is hostile about her abilities, and makes her feel like a freak. 3. How could Clear not help find this poor missing girl, despite the pain it may cause?

    It is a great read, with a 4.6 rating on Amazon and a 4.4 rating on Goodreads.
    As one reviewer said "The mixture of potential romance and the paranormal works very well and the action is almost non-stop. I haven’t read the first book in the series but Angel’s Dance allowed me to easily understand that it was a continuation of the characters but all it did was make me want to read the first book. In no way did it take anything away from Angel’s Dance. I couldn’t put it down."

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    1. Heya, chick! Welcome back! Sooo good to see you again. Ooooooooooh! This sounds similar to a series I LOVED not too long ago! I can't wait to dive in! I can tell already this year is going to be HARD picking just a few of my favorites! :) Off to update my Kindle. Hope you have some amazing fun around here the next few weeks :)

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  9. Hi there again, Jo. Thanks for answering my questions yesterday. <3

    I'd like to enter my medieval romance, An Irresistible Shadow. It's the first book in the Shadow Guardian Series, but it is a stand alone. (The second book features the secondary characters from the first. :) )

    I don't write your typical, everyday historical romances. An Irresistible Shadow is my debut novel, but it embodies the core of why I write what I do. I wanted to write a book that I would want to read. I adore historical romances, but often feel overwhelmed by the historical details. My novel takes enough historical detail to bring the setting to life, but focuses more on the characters and their adventure/relationship.

    My hero, Gabriel, is a Shadow Guardian. A protector ordered to keep peace on the border between England and Scotland in 1329 (during the reign of Robert the Bruce in Scotland.) Part of his mission is to protect the headstrong, fierce Lady Evelyn from harm. She gets into a lot of trouble because she refuses to conform to what is expected of her.

    I don't want to give away too much, since there are twists and surprises in the book. But trust me when I say, it's an adventure you won't forget.

    Also...all my stories have heat with a bit of sweet. So expect some steamy tension to build up the suspense. :)

    Thanks for the great opportunity.

    <3 Kirsten

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    1. No problem! I know this event can get confusing :) It was a total PITA to manage the first year LOL! Thanks for coming back and pitching, and welcome to the madness. I'm a crazed reader of historical novels. I love not being bogged down with too many details, too! YEAH! I'm eager to sink my teeth in and get all jiggy with it. :) I hope you have some fun and pick up some new author buds around here over the next few weeks :)

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    2. Just added to my ever growing list.

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  10. Good morning, Jo! Hope you're having a lovely day. Thanks for hosting such an awesome event! You rock.

    Okay. So I might be the odd one here, but I love anti-heroes. The bad boys who border on villains. Which is why I wrote Prince of Whispers.

    Prince Crispin Saville was inspired by Tom Hiddleston's Loki and his portrayal of Henry V. I basically mashed them together to get a sadistic, yet charming prince. The spark of inspiration came from a Tumblr page I found called Loki's Dirty Whispers, where you basically submit what you want Loki to whisper to you and they make a meme featuring your quote. I thought, "I can totally write some of these." So, I did...and through that, Crispin was born. He hasn't stopped whispering since.

    This isn't your Momma's historical romance, Jo. It's hot and complicated. When Crispin started whispering, I knew it wasn't contemporary. It's medieval, dark and twisted.

    This is the first book in a trilogy, although I hate cliffhangers, so I made sure the ending was a natural pause in the story itself. Funny little tidbit, this was supposed to be a simple erotic novella that grew into a trilogy. Characters and their funny ways. I expect no less from my Prince of Whispers though, he'd charm the panties off a nun.

    I hope my prince seduces you as he has me. Thanks again and enjoy his whispers. *wink*

    I aim to tease.

    Jen

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    1. Ooh. This looks so good!! I just one-clicked, haha. <3 I love me some Loki, so I have a feeling I'm going to devour this book.

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    2. Gooooood morning (afternoon here now--that's what I get for hosting a party for an hour), Jen!! Babe, I love me a good villain, so you've got me there :) What a great name for a bad guy: Crispin. Heck yeah! SQUEEP! I love your one liners! Panties off a NUN! hahaha! Thank you for pitching your novel, and welcome to the blog! I hope you love it here :)

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  11. Hi Jo! This is such an awesome thing you're doing. I may or may not have been stalking your blog for a while after seeing this a while back, haha! ;)

    I'm pitching you my debut book, Free to Fly. It's a Contemporary Romance and book one in the Never Ever After series, which are all interconnected stand alones. I'll admit, I cried writing this book. A few times. And so did my editor. I've been informed that I broke people's hearts, but it was okay because I mended them so well, haha! It explores the idea that sometimes love isn't enough to mend a fractured soul, and going into a relationship when you're damaged isn't the best idea. It's a book about discovering your strengths and learning that life is about more than just existing. I wrote this book to highlight some hard truths about what life can be life for those suffering from non-combat PTSD, and how love and relationships can suffer when accosted with it.

    I hope that was a decent pitch! I wrote this book and I have issues describing it, haha. I get emotional every time, and it defies my attempts to put it in words. <3

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    1. OMG, Morgan!! I know people with this exact condition. How amazing is this? That was an AWESOME pitch! Thank you so much for bringing it to my attention. :) I love that you're a stalker of the blog. I try to do so much for other authors. I hope I've helped you in some way :) You rock! I like to cry when reading, but it takes a lot to get me there. My fingers are crossed this one hits the mark. Have fun, and welcome to the insanity!

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    2. I actually have it, so I tried to temper the reactions with a sense of realism without upsetting anyone who suffers from it. It made for an interesting write. :) And your blog has been AMAZING. I'm taking it all in and running through everything in my head. I'm so glad I came across you. I hope I hit the mark, too. I'm one of those awful writers that enjoys making people cry. ;)

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    3. My heart goes out to you. From what I understand, it's hard to live with on the best of days. Hey, I like to make people cry, too, so you're in great company :) Thrilled you're finding the information you need here. If there's something missing that you'd like help with, feel free to message me or leave me a comment!

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  12. Hello, Mrs. Jo! Pitching you Reap, because all of a woman's lady bits are sacred and should not be messed with. Reap is a YA dystopian (free on e-book platforms) that tells the story of a country divided by genetic predispositions as well as social class. It's one village's fight to protect themselves against ownership and to regain freedom after more than only their apples are harvested.

    Thanks so much for the chance!

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    1. Hello, Casey! Welcome to the insanity :) I saw Ethan's review of this series. You gotta love it when you make a grown man have all the feels :) #MadLove! Thank you soooo much for the pitch!!

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  13. Hi, Jo! Thank you so much for putting this together. I'm pitching my newest New Adult novel Wonderwall. It's a contemporary romance story about the wonders of first love, the devastation of loss, and the power of second chances. It's a story with heart and soul where family and friends play a huge role in the main characters lives. You can find humor, heart melting and sizzling moments, and a good dose of angst (it wouldn't be romance if it didn't have some ;) )

    Michelle (M. H. Soars)

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    1. Hiya, Michelle! Thank YOU so much for joining up and pitching :) I'm a sucker for an underdog with second chances, and I love angst! I'm looking forward to diving in to your novel and seeing what I find there. Welcome to the crazy that's my blog party :)

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  14. Hi Jo! Can I just say this is so fun and awesome? Seriously?

    Okay, here goes. I'm pitching my series "The Bed Wife Chronicles" which was just released as a collector's edition with exclusive content like maps and history on the Kingdoms. It is set in a Lord of the Rings style fantasy land where young Luana is forced into the hands of Prince Baylin who falls in love with her (though she's not too fond of him in the beginning). There relationship isn't the only struggle they undergo. They undergo many obstacles along the way including war, betrayal and a plot to have them murdered. Along the way, Luana discovers a secret about her past that rocks the very core of what she thought she knew. This story is filled with romance, action, fantasy creatures and more.

    Thanks for the opportunity! :)

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    1. SUZANNA! Thank you for joining in the fun and for the awesome pitch. :) You're killing me with the LOTR reference! Now you KNOW I'm gonna dive into the sample with gusto. LOL I'm alllll about fantasy. I've helped with a few of your cover reveals, and I'm hoping for the best with the sample. Have some fun, mingle with some authors, and meet some readers :)

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  15. Hi Jo! Happy 12 Days of Review! (fab day to kick things off - my bday) ;-)

    I'm pitching my YA fantasy, The Geneva Project - Truth. Picture Katniss Everdeen as a blonde with Harry Potter's magic skills and Percy Jackson's Greek soap opera family drama and you're almost to the level of Magic, Myths and Mayhem as The Geneva Project. It's a wild ride, with twists, kisses, and angsty will-they-won't they survival moments that will have you turning pages and yelling at characters! Check it out. Happy Reading.

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    1. Welcome, Christina!!! YEAH! Holy wow. For really? Happy birthday, woman! Katniss, Harry, AND Percy? Man, you know how to get my blood pumping, huh? I seriously can't wait to dig in and get my read on :) Thank you SO much for taking time out of your special day to pop over and pitch your book! I hope you have a ton of fun over the next couple of weeks and meet some great new author buds and readers!!

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  16. Howdy, Jo! My friend Jules Dixon sent me your way and I have to say, reading through all the pitches, my TBR list is getting longer and longer and longer... (I'm gonna give poor Santa permanent back issues by asking him to haul all these books to me!)

    I want to pitch So Wills the Heart, which is book four in my Great Plains Romance series but is a standalone book (as they all are). This book is my absolute favorite of the series because it is based on a real-life experience: skinny dipping. Oh how I wish I could say that I was the one skinny dipping with the hunky man candy, but unfortunately I just happened to be out driving around the countryside and pulled in next to a small pond, interrupting the couple getting frisky in the water. I think I was probably more embarrassed than they were (I got quite the eyeful) and high-tailed it out of there...only to run into them again at the local gas station a bit later (at that point, they were blushing as much as I was). *Sigh* Such is the life in small towns... I have no clue who the couple was, but they inspired me to write, so I owe them. Meanwhile, I continue to explore the countryside, looking for more ponds (because who knows when I will run into my own bad boy hunk for skinny dipping!) ;)

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    1. Heck yeah! Welcome to the crazy house, Corrissa! Gotta love the pitches so far, eh? I just snagged your sample, and I'm getting ready to dig in :) Your books sounds so fun! I adore rom-com :) Good luck finding that hunk for skinny dipping! I hope you have so much fun playing along over the next few weeks that you don't ever wanna leave :) LOL

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  17. Hi Jo! Thank you so much for the invite and the opportunity. This is my first time joining the party and giving this a shot. I'm hoping to include exactly what's requested, forgive me if I leave anything out.
    It's really nice to get to know you, I've made sure to follow you on all platforms. I've even watched several YouTube videos of yours. :)

    Quick intro: I'm a newly published Romance Author of multiple sub-genres (Erotic, Contemporary, Comedy, Drama, and so on) I have two published titles at this time and several more in the works to be released soon. I've always had a passion for writing and finally decided this year, around July, to share my work with the world.

    The book I would like to pitch today is Book 1 of the Bed of Thornes Trilogy (Bed of Thornes) This story is an Erotic Romance with plot twists and an actual story line behind the steamy scenes. It was my first attempt at such a story and I really enjoyed writing it! The characters have development and they deal with many ups & downs on an emotional roller coaster throughout the Trilogy. This first book is just the beginning but I hope that you can enjoy it enough to crave the rest of the story, which will give an even deeper look into the lives (and addictions) of the characters.

    The book cover was created by J.N. Sheats and she hit it spot on with what I had in mind when I described to her what I desired for the look of it. I love her work and I believe you will too! I know that you can appreciate meaning behind a cover, something that describes the book in a way and connects to the actual story. I share your preferences on book covers, I'm not too keen on people use unless it's properly incorporated and not just a picture frame type of pic on the cover. lol.

    Thanks for the chance, I hope to speak with you soon... have a great evening!
    - Angel L. Woodz

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    1. Not sure why my comment is marked as unknown, I'm sure I'm signed in somehow. lol. Either way... I forgot to mention that the lead female character (which this book is told from her point of view) struggles with a sexual addiction and is a complete work freak, so everything in her world centers around those two things leaving no time to focus on much else. The lead male is younger than her and looks at life in a different light, he's unaware of her addiction and has a huge heart which leads to issues considering she is not looking for love.
      I wanted to include all of this in my pitch, but I have to be honest - I was so caught up in reading about other stories on this blog that I forgot to tell more about my own! Haha!
      Thanks again. ;)

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    2. Welcome to the blog, Angel! :) HOLY CRAP that's an amazing cover!!! Your pitch is great! I understand how one may be caught up in the fun that happens around here. No worries! :) Your book sounds interesting as all get out. I love that we jibe on book cover theory. It makes me happy! I can't wait to dig in and go crazy with your characters. Thank you so much for your pitch, and I hope you have a TON of fun over the next few weeks :)

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  18. Some really cool reads on this thread! Looks like I'll be adding on to my TBR list!

    I'm pitching my novella, "Sunbolt." Set in the fantastical Eleven Kingdoms, it follows the story of Hitomi, a street thief with a propensity for saving people, and her nemesis, a dark mage intent on taking over the Kingdoms. Oh yeah, also, there's monsters, magic and betrayal. Hope you enjoy the sample!

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    1. Welcome to the blog, Intisar! Lovely to have you here :) Thank you for pitching your novel. That's one hell of a great cover you have there. I'm loving the premise of your book. It's everything I ADORE in literature. :) Good luck, and I hope you have a lot of fun and meet great new friends over the next couple of weeks!!

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