Rydin' The Storm Out by P.J. Fiala

I hope all of you are having a great week so far. It's been a bit insane around school for me. The Great Kindness Project, Science Fair, and the Imagination Machine assembly have all converged on our school at the same time, more or less. It all equates to hyped-up kids and stressed-out teachers. Despite it all, we're still having a pretty great time in my classroom reading Spy School and writing our SciFi stories.

But one of my favorite (and stress-free) tasks I get to do this week, is introduce you to another fabulously talented author I just happen to know . . . P.J. Fiala. Her contemporary romance novel, Rydin' the Storm Out, is the second book in the Rolling Thunder Series and has only been on the market for less than a month.

Romance Weekly: Great Beginnings

Love to read romance? Want to know more about how your favorite authors created all those sizzling love affairs you secretly devour? Each week, the authors of Romance Writers Weekly host a fun-filled blog hop, where they chat about everything under the sun. Best of all? You're all invited to join in on the fun. 

If you found me by way of Gemma Brocato http://www.gemmabrocato.com/blog, you're in the right place. Welcome! I hope you enjoy your stay. 

This week's challenge was issued by the ever lovely Sarah Hegger: 

Great Beginnings - A great opening line draws the reader in, makes them want to know more and compels them to read further. Share a great opening line, can be a classic or a more recent novel, tell us why you like it and then share the opening line to your newest WIP.

I am so excited about this week's challenge. Like, seriously, too excited to sit still kind of excitement. I love getting the chance to share my favorite stories with people. Especially people who are taller than 4'5 and older than 10. Sarah's totally crazy if she thinks I'll be able to restrain myself to sharing only one great opening!

I'm going to start off with sharing the opening line from my favorite classic novel.

VINDICATED by Jeana E. Mann

This week's Thursday Talent author is Jeana E. Mann. Jeana writes Contemporary Romance and is here with me today to announce the release of  book 2 in her Felony Romance Series, VINDICATED. She also just happens to be part of my very supportive, Romance Writers Weekly gang.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Life has never been easy for Karly Eriksson. Raised in a dysfunctional and abusive home, she struggles to break the chain of misfortune. She’s determined to finish college and rescue her little sister Emma from a similar fate at any cost, including her self-esteem.

The mistakes of her past complicate her future when she hooks up with Randy Mackenzie, the tattooed bouncer/bartender from the infamous Felony Bar. They shared one night together during the previous summer, and now he’s back in her life. He’s hot, intense, and tortured by emotions he’ll never reveal to anyone, especially her.

Despite Randy’s feelings for Karly, he can’t tell her what she needs to hear. She’s the only sunshine in his bleak existence, illuminating the dark and dusty corners of his life. The mother of his child left him because he couldn’t say those three little words, and it cost him the most precious thing in his life: his son. Will he lose Karly, too, or can he overcome his irrational fear of emotional intimacy?

Hands Full of Ashes by Kim Hotzon

I've got another great author to introduce you to today. Meet Kim Hotzon, a fellow Soul Mate author. Her debut novel, Hands Full of Ashes, hit Amazon yesterday and is already climbing up the ranks.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Olivia promises to fulfill her dying husband's wish - to scatter his ashes around the world. Wading through grief and depression, she journeys to a remote orphanage in Uganda. Living amongst the children in their threadbare surroundings, she vows to fight for the children's lives as she begins to fight for her own. While Olivia develops a passion for humanitarian work, the lonely director of the orphanage develops a simmering passion for her.

Just as time begins to heal the wounds of her heart, Olivia learns the truth of her husband's unimaginable betrayal. She flees to the tiny country of Rwanda where her soul is reawakened with a startling new love. Olivia realizes that love always comes with a price when she is faced with a decision she thought she would never have to make.

Surrounded by the rugged beauty of Africa, Olivia is determined to find true love while learning how to survive in a region left torn apart by civil war.

Romance Weekly: TBR Pile

It's that time of the week again! Time to blog hop your way around the internet with a few of your favorite romance authors. If you hopped on over here from Mishka Jenkins' website, https://awriterslifeformeblog.wordpress.com/ you're in the right place. Welcome and enjoy your stay.

This week, I asked the authors of Romance Weekly to dish on what's on their own to-be-read pile. And if their TBR pile is anything like mine is, you'll surely find a few new titles to pick up.

So what's on my own TBR list?

Baby Stepping My Way to Health & Happiness in 2015

Ready or not, 2015 is here.  Might as well make it the best year yet. 

Now, I'm not one to make grand - and sure-to-fail - resolutions, because I have absolutely no willpower. However, I love making lists and setting goals for myself. If I don't get to everything on my to-do list, I simply move it to tomorrow's list. Haven't met that goal, yet? No biggie. Change the deadline.

I know. I'm weak. Don't judge me. 

This year, I'm determined to eliminate the chaos from my life. *And I promised myself I would spend more time writing*