3 Awesome Things with Author Brooklyn Skye

Hi, y'all! Today I have a special guest for you, author Brooklyn Skye. : )

I'm trying out a new interview format for when I have guests on the blog because I'm slightly obsessed with hearing what other people are reading, watching, and loving right now. So let me know what you think of the 3 Awesome Things Interview and if you'd like to see more of that from future guests!

So read on to see what Brooklyn is recommending to us and then scroll down for an excerpt from her new book, A Moment of Madness!

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The Three Awesome Things Interview with Brooklyn Skye

1. The book you think everyone should read and why

This is an easy one! My all-time favorite book is Ugly Love by Colleen Hoover and for one teeny-tiny reason… The sexual tension is off the charts! Colleen has always been one of my favorite authors, but by far Ugly Love is her best book written to date.

2. The movie or TV show you think everyone should watch and why

While it was out like ten years ago, I never watched the Friday Night Lights series (on Netflix) until recently, and can I just say “Tim Riggins”? I don’t know what it was about him (okay…yes, I do LOL), but aside from his good looks, Taylor Kitsch played such a multi-layered character on that show. Definitely worth the hours of binge watching! 

3. What you can’t live without right now

Have any of you tried barre? It’s a type of exercise (offered at many gyms, I’m now finding out) that involves isometric contractions (seriously though…I had to look that up because when I think of how to describe barre I sound like a ten-year-old: You hold onto this bar and move your legs up and down, haha!) It’s insanely hard, despite my elementary description, and a great way to get rid of my stresses from the day. If you belong to a gym that offers a barre class, I highly suggest trying it out.

About the book:

Sailor Carlson comes back to Boston to make amends with her dad, only to find he passed away, and his bar, the Alibi, now belongs to a bearded, grumpy hottie. Mr. Hottie liked her enough for a night of nameless sex on the kitchen counter, but he wants nothing to do with her now he knows who she is.

Ryan Edwards has been running the Alibi for seven years. Being in a bar night after night means he’s no stranger to one-night stands. But when the quirky, beautiful blonde he spent a hot night with shows up at his bar claiming it used to belong to her father, his guard goes right up.

Ryan’s desperate for a waitress, and Sailor wants a chance to work in the place that meant so much to her dad. If only the tenuous trust they establish were as strong as the pesky attraction simmering between them.

Buy the book: Amazon | B&N

Find Brooklyn: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Website

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Excerpt:

The door chimed, and a small fuzzy dog entered, followed by a slender frame encased entirely in black. Ryan’s cock jumped to attention—damn the way her body had felt beneath him, surrounding him…all over him.

He leaned into the bar, using the pressure to erase the memory, and pointed to what was at Sailor’s feet. “What the fuck is that?”

Sailor squinted at her feet and then back up. “This is Drexel. My dog.” A tight laugh tittered out of her. “I mean, obviously he’s my dog.”

“Why the hell is he here? In my bar? When you’re supposed to be working?”

“Yeah, about that. I had a slight problem at home with a mouse and my favorite fruit bowl and Drex. Glass was everywhere, and my cousin’s kennel is full, so I had to bring him.”

“That makes absolutely no sense.”

“I know.” She stopped inside the door, lifting a forcedlooking smile. “It’s kind of a long story.”

The dog sprinted forward and choked when the leash lost slack. Then he spun with a growl and chomped down on the leash, swinging his head back and forth.

Ryan stared blankly. “What do you plan on doing with him?”

“Well, he’s really good, so—”

Ryan lifted a brow. Hadn’t she said her dog was bad the other night?

“Okay, so maybe really good is pushing it.” She tugged the leash and whispered to the dog, “Drex, you’re not really helping your case here.” Glancing back to Ryan, she inhaled a breath and blew it out. “But he’s just a puppy, and he doesn’t mean any harm. I’ll keep him tied up behind the bar, and I promise I won’t let him get in the way of business. You won’t even know he’s here.” Just as her last word reached his ears, the dog lifted his leg and a stream of yellow shot out to the base of a table.

Sailor shrieked. Ryan shook his head. What the hell had he gotten himself into?

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Thanks for stopping by, Brooklyn! 

My Favorite Bookish Podcasts (AKA My Happy Listening Place)

Reading has always been my go-to stress reliever. When I want to escape from the noise and stress of the world, I can curl up and lose myself in a great book. Stories are magical that way, and that will always be my first respite when I need some quiet space.

However, there are times and places where reading isn't convenient, like when I'm driving or doing dishes or walking to pick up my son. Yes, I could listen to audiobooks, but I've never gotten into listening to a book. It's just not something my brain processes well. Maybe that will change one day, but for now, audiobooks aren't my jam. However, over the last year, I've discovered the perfect alternative for me for those times and places I can't read: podcasts ABOUT reading. :)

I blogged a while back about how I'd recently discovered the joy of podcasts and listed some of my favorites. But at the time of that post, I hadn't yet discovered the full world of podcasts about books. Now I'm totally and completely hooked.

Somehow, listening to people talk about and recommend books is wildly soothing--even when they may be talking about a book I'm not interested in reading. And in many cases, books I would've never thought about picking up suddenly become my next must have. (So fair warning: book podcasts can be a hit to your wallet because you're going to want to buy ALL THE BOOKS. But it's so worth it.)

Now, there are many different types of podcasts about books. Ones that discuss a book at length. Others that focus on author interviews. But my particular favorites are ones that recommend books to specific readers because a) I love hearing what readers are seeking in their reading life and b) I love the idea of tailored book recommendations. It's like going into a great local bookstore and having someone in the know personally shop with you for the books that fit exactly what you're seeking. How great is that?

And because the focus is totally on books, you can kind of escape from everything else while you're listening. There are no news breaks to distract you, no arguing, no stress. It's just this happy little place where you can listen to people describe books and get excited about them. It's the best. And did I mention podcasts are free? Bonus. :)

So, I thought I'd pass along my very favorites if you think you could use your own happy nerdy listening place.

My Top 3 Bookish Podcasts

 

What Should I Read Next with Anne Bogel of Modern Mrs. Darcy 

This one is my absolute favorite of all. I've listened to every episode in the backlist and look forward to new episodes every Tuesday. For each episode, Anne hosts a reader guest and has them list three books they loved and one book they hated and then asks the guest what they're looking to change in their reading life. Based on all that, Anne then recommends three books for them. 

I love this one so much because it just feels cozy and warm to listen to. Anne is a welcoming host with a soothing voice and her love of books comes through. I can also listen to this one with my kiddo in the room without worry, so that's nice. And though this podcast focuses on mainstream fiction, literary fiction, and non-fiction for the most part (in other words, no romance recommendations), I have gotten SO many great recommendations from this podcast. In fact, I found my favorite read of the year so far, One True Loves, from one of the episodes. And inevitably, you'll also find yourself thinking about how you'd answer the "three books you love and one book you hate" question if you were a guest. Highly recommended.

Get Booked by Book Riot

Get Booked is hosted by Amanda and Jenn over at Book Riot and has a really energetic, fun vibe to it. This is also a show where the hosts recommend books to specific reader requests, but instead of having the reader on the show, readers write in and their questions are read on air. And though this seems similar in style to What Should I Read Next in concept, it's completely different and pairs nicely with the podcast above because they recommend books in a much wider variety of genres. So you'll get your romance, YA, sci-fi, graphic novels, non-fiction along with some mainstream and lit fic. I often hear recs on this show of books I've never, ever heard of, which is a plus. Plus, the titles of their episodes (Intergalactic Trailer Park, Sunburn Up Your Nose, It Sucks to Be a Princess) are the BEST.

Smart Podcast, Trashy Books with Sarah Wendell

This show is more of an interview style show with authors, readers, and bloggers. However, it is all about the romance genre, so you know it has a special place in my heart. Romance novels are often left out of book discussions and I love that this podcast (and the website from which is came: Smart Bitches, Trashy Books) gives romance a place in the bookish spotlight. Smart ladies talking about sexy books is always a win.

So, those are my top three favorites. If you give them a try, let me know what you think!

New to podcasts?

If you're new to podcasting, do not fret, your next addiction is easy to access. :) 

If you have an iPhone, you have the Podcasts app already. Just search for these podcasts from within the app and subscribe. You'll be able to access old episodes and it will alert you when new episodes are available. Then just hit play and listen. (You can also download episodes to listen to when you're offline, which I took advantage of on the flights I took this week.)

There are also many apps you can use. I prefer the Overcast app because it has a few more features than the native Apple one, but there are many to choose from. For a detailed guide on how to listen to podcasts from all different kinds of devices and some of the apps available, check out this post at Digital Trends.

That's all I've got for your today. Do you listen to any bookish podcasts?

Friday Reads: I'm Not You Manic Pixie Dream Girl by Gretchen McNeil

So I didn't think I was going to have a Friday Reads today because I haven't had much reading time this week. However, this book arrived on my doorstep yesterday at 3pm and by 10pm last night, I'd finished it. It's been a LONG time since I've finished a book in one evening. (It's 350 pages so not exactly short.) So yay, a Friday Read!

First, let's talk briefly about the Manic Pixie Dream Girl trope in case you haven't heard of it. It was a term coined by movie critic Nathan Rabin (which he now regrets inventing) that describes a female character in movies that is "a fantasy figure who 'exists solely in the fevered imaginations of sensitive writer-directors to teach broodingly soulful young men to embrace life and its infinite mysteries and adventures.'" (see the whole article here.)

Basically this is the flighty, zany, kind of outrageous girl who convinces the broody hero to embrace life or whatever. The problem is that the character exists solely for the purpose of helping the male protagonist and doesn't have any goals of her own. So it's not a positive term. What comes to mind for me is Kate Hudson's character in Almost Famous. 

There's a list here if you want to see more movie examples. But this is the back story that brings us today's Friday Read: I'm Not Your Manic Pixie Dream Girl by Gretchen McNeil. I picked this up partly for the title, but also because I enjoyed TEN by this author, which was a horror based on And Then There Were None. McNeil writes the 80s-90s style teen horror that I adored growing up (think Christopher Pike, Lois Duncan) so this is a little bit of a departure from her normal genre, but I still enjoyed it a lot.

Here's the back cover summary:

Beatrice Maria Estrella Giovannini has life all figured out. She's starting senior year at the top of her class, she’s a shoo-in for a scholarship to M.I.T., and she’s got a new boyfriend she’s crazy about. The only problem: All through high school Bea and her best friends Spencer and Gabe have been the targets of horrific bullying.

So Bea uses her math skills to come up with The Formula, a 100% mathematically guaranteed path to social happiness in high school. Now Gabe is on his way to becoming Student Body President, and Spencer is finally getting his art noticed. But when her boyfriend Jesse dumps her for Toile, the quirky new girl at school, Bea realizes it's time to use The Formula for herself. She'll be reinvented as the eccentric and lovable Trixie—a quintessential manic pixie dream girl—in order to win Jesse back and beat new-girl Toile at her own game.

Unfortunately, being a manic pixie dream girl isn't all it's cracked up to be, and “Trixie” is causing unexpected consequences for her friends. As The Formula begins to break down, can Bea find a way to reclaim her true identity and fix everything she's messed up? Or will the casualties of her manic pixie experiment go far deeper than she could possibly imagine?

Buy the book: Amazon | B&N | Indiebound

So this book has a fun premise and absolutely reads like a movie. I felt like I'd watched a teen comedy when I was done (which isn't a bad thing.) Very light and funny. Nothing gets too dark. If you're thinking about it for your pre-teen or teen kids, there's no sex in it, just a few f-bombs. If you're thinking about it for yourself, it's an enjoyable ride and will make you want to go do your own research on the manic pixie dream girl trope. Also, it has a good female empowerment message, which is always welcome. :)

So, what's your Friday Read?

Reader Style: Does the First Line Matter to You?

All of us have out own reader style. How we choose books. How we consume books. What makes us stop reading (or if we allow ourselves to give up on a book at all). All these things form our unique reader personalities. And I always find it fun to hear how other people go about their reading. (Yes, that's probably a nerdy thing to find fascinating but I am comfortable with my nerdy status. :) )

So I thought I would tackle a few different reader styles/quirks in some posts to hear about your reading style and to share mine.

First up: First lines 

As a writer, I angst about first lines of books. I often can't start a book without knowing it. Some writers can put a placeholder line there and plan to change it later, but I need mine to set the tone in my head right from the start. I just went through this last week because I'm starting a new book and I couldn't land on a first line. Finally, one came to me when I woke up out of a dead sleep before my alarm one morning. It's like my brain had been working on it overnight, which is always a strange feeling. But I immediately knew that was the one.

But I think one reason why I obsess over my own first lines is because as a reader, I pay attention to first lines when I'm deciding if I want to read a book. I have other things that play into the decision of course--back cover copy, cover art, if it's been recommend to me, if I've read the author before etc. But I also see a fantastic first line as a harbinger that the writer is going to deliver a good story. The opposite doesn't necessarily hold true. A book can still be good without a fantastic first line, and I've written books where the first line isn't outstanding because I saw the opening scene a certain way in my head and a standout first line would've been wedged in instead of natural for that scene. But I've found that a great first line is often an added thing that gets me excited to read a book and can help tip me over in the to buy or not to buy decision if I'm wavering.

Here are some examples of books on my shelves:

One True Loves by Taylor Jenkins Reid

I am finishing up dinner with my family and my fiancé when my husband calls.

We already know from the back cover that her husband went missing in an accident years ago and was presumed dead, so this line vaults us right into the hook of the story.

11/22/63 by Stephen King

I have never been what you'd call a crying man.

It's enough to intrigue you to keep reading. Why not? And is he saying that because it's about to change?

American Girls by Alison Umminger

My first Manson girl was Leslie Van Houten, the homecoming princess with the movie-star smile.

Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris

I'd been waiting for the vampire for years when he walked into the bar.

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Because I write erotic fiction, I tend to go with first lines that let you know you're going to get a sexy story. Here are a few of my first lines:

Loving You Easy

I know how to recognize dangerous men.

Caught Up In You

"You know, picturing someone naked this early in the morning isn't good for your health."

Call On Me

"Are you touching yourself?" The voice in Oakley's ear sounded labored and overeager--like a St. Bernard attempting phone sex. He was probably drooling too. Lovely.

Okay, so that a little more than first line, but this one tells you the box is going to be sexy and funny.

By the Hour (coming soon)

Maybe she was a masochist after all. God knows what else could’ve compelled her to attend someone else’s party on her birthday.

So hopefully with this line you already know a) the heroine is not in a happy place and b) something had to make her attend someone's party on her own birthday.

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Overall, what I'm trying to do with my writing and what I'm trying to get when I pick up someone else's book is a juicy hint of what I'm going to get in the book to come. I love when the first line invites me in and doesn't let me not read the next and the next. : )

All right, so I'd love to hear your thoughts on first lines? Do you have any that have stuck with you? Do you pay attention to them at all? 

Roni's Recs: One True Loves by Taylor Jenkins Reid

There are books I enjoy. There are books I like. There are books I tell you about. Then there are books that I devour in every free minute I have, tell everyone they NEED to read it, and then go buy the author's backlist. This is the latter. And it's been a while since I've had one of those.

I started reading One True Loves by Taylor Jenkins Reid on a plane last Friday on the way to the Daytona 500. Then I went to to two full days of auto racing. And I still finished this book on Monday before the plane ride home. I brought he book to the race, y'all, and read on the breaks during caution laps. That's the kind of book this was.

Yes, it was so good, I read it during caution laps at the Daytona 500. 

Now, this book wouldn't be shelved in the romance section because it's technically not a genre romance. But it IS romantic. And it IS a love story. And it does have an ending you'll be happy with. So I guess it's technically "women's fiction" but that term never feels right to me. What does that even mean? So let's just say, this could've been a movie with a 90s era Meg Ryan in it. 

And man the hook on this one. Here's the back cover:

From the author of Maybe in Another Life—named a People Magazine pick—comes a breathtaking new love story about a woman unexpectedly forced to choose between the husband she has long thought dead and the fiancé who has finally brought her back to life.

In her twenties, Emma Blair marries her high school sweetheart, Jesse. They build a life for themselves, far away from the expectations of their parents and the people of their hometown in Massachusetts. They travel the world together, living life to the fullest and seizing every opportunity for adventure.

On their first wedding anniversary, Jesse is on a helicopter over the Pacific when it goes missing. Just like that, Jesse is gone forever.

Emma quits her job and moves home in an effort to put her life back together. Years later, now in her thirties, Emma runs into an old friend, Sam, and finds herself falling in love again. When Emma and Sam get engaged, it feels like Emma’s second chance at happiness.

That is, until Jesse is found. He’s alive, and he’s been trying all these years to come home to her. With a husband and a fiancé, Emma has to now figure out who she is and what she wants, while trying to protect the ones she loves.

Who is her one true love? What does it mean to love truly?

Emma knows she has to listen to her heart. She’s just not sure what it’s saying.

Now, I'll warn you. There are sad parts. It is hard to witness Emma's grief, especially if you have a partner you love deeply. BUT you know from the start (the first chapter gives it away) that her husband survives. She just doesn't know that for years. So you might get teary, but you also know he's going to make it.

There are so many things I loved about this book. It was a very fast read and there were so many sweet, poignant moments. There's a bookstore and I love books about book people. There are two really great guys to root for and break your heart over. There are funny parts. Endearing parts. There's jumping around in time (a favorite writing technique of mine.) And this book makes you ask yourself questions: What would I do in this situation? How would I feel? Is there really such thing as one true love?

I can't convey how much I enjoyed this book and it's been a long time since I've raved about anything, so basically, just go buy it, read it, and thank me later. :)

Grab your copy: Amazon | B&N | Indiebound

Favorite quote:

"Good things don't wait until you're ready. Sometimes they come right before, when you're almost there. And I figured when that happens, you can let them pass by like a bus not meant for you. Or you can get ready. So I got ready."

What are you reading this weekend?