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Want to try my writing for free? The first book in the Hawaiian Heartbreak trilogy is currently free through all major retailers.No strings, just a romance book currently rated 4/5 stars on Amazon.

Check it out:

Amazon

iBooks

Nook

Kobo

 

Want to get advance review copies? I’ve still got a couple of spots open for fast readers who like sharing their honest opinion. Email me on libbycole007@gmail.com, and let’s talk.

I’m Not Addicted To Books, I’m Just Focused On My HEALTH

 

It doesn’t really need explaining that all of us here love reading! Finding a quiet nook of the house, curling up where nobody will disturb you, and diving into a book. Looking up after a few pages, realising several hours have gone by… and not regretting a thing.

Well next time someone calls you a bookworm, you can now tell them it’s for your health! According to this article, scientists have found a bunch of benefits, mostly for our brains.

The list includes stress relief, boosting intelligence and memory, and better brain function in old age. I think my favourite factoid was on stress relief – six minutes of reading can reduce stress by 68%! It’s also better than listening to music or making yourself a cup of tea. Sign this stress bunny up.

But really, as if we needed proof that us readers are a smart bunch 😉 Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to go buy a bunch more books. For my health, you understand.

(Psst, want a sneak peek at my books before they hit the shelves? New releases for 99c? Join my mailing list to get the VIP treatment. eepurl.com/bwTdtD)

 

I have a book review!!!! Open Home, Closed Heart by Libby Cole

Four out of four cupcakes – who could ask for a higher rating?

I’m hungry now…

What the f* do I know?

As you might have noticed I have not been doing any real reading lately, but when Ms. Libby Cole’s new book came out, Open Home, Closed Heart, I had to read it. I previously read Ms Cole’s three other books int the Hawaiian Heartbreak Book Series. Those reviews can be found here.

But onto my review of Open Home, Closed Heart by Libby Cole.

This is book four of the Hawaiian Series but it can really be read as a stand alone. This story involves Tess, a successful real estate agent, and her relationship with new co-worker, Damien.

 Needless to say, Tess and Damien’s work relationship doesn’t start off  very well as Damien is determined to be top dog at the real estate agency and he’s not letting ANYONE get in his way.

Tess is forced by her boss to help Damien acclimate into the real estate agency and needless to…

View original post 121 more words

Review: Stuck-Up Suit

 

From the New York Times Bestselling authors of Cocky Bastard, comes a sexy new standalone novel.

It started out like any other morning on the train.
Until I became mesmerized by the guy sitting across the aisle.
He was barking at someone on his phone like he ruled the world.
Who did the stuck-up suit think he was…God?
Actually, he looked like a God. That was about it.
When his stop came, he got up suddenly and left. So suddenly, he dropped his phone on the way out.
I might have picked it up.
I might have gone through all of his photos and called some of the numbers.
I might have held onto the mystery man’s phone for days―until I finally conjured up the courage to return it.
When I traipsed my ass across town to his fancy company, he refused to see me.
So, I left the phone on the empty desk outside the arrogant jerk’s office.
I might have also left behind a dirty picture on it first though.
I didn’t expect him to text back.
I didn’t expect our exchanges to be hot as hell.
I didn’t expect to fall for him―all before we even met.
The two of us couldn’t have been any more different.
Yet, you know what they say about opposites.
When we finally came face to face, we found out opposites sometimes do more than attract―we consumed each other.
Nothing could have prepared me for the ride he took me on. And I certainly wasn’t prepared for where I’d wind up when the ride was over.
All good things must come to an end, right?
Except our ending was one I didn’t see coming.

 

*****

I was struggling a little with writer’s block last week, so took a break to read instead. This book hit it out of the park. I wanted to read something fun and sexy, and it was exactly that.

Soraya is one of my favourite heroines in a long time. She gets her tongue pierced on a whim, dyes her hair to match her mood, and doesn’t put up with a rude jerk in a suit, even if he’s super hot.

Graham is a rude workaholic, but of course, he has his reasons. He’s fascinated by the spitfire who told him off for being his asshole self, and only becomes more fascinated when their feisty texts take a turn for the smutty.

Together: fireworks!

There is a twist, which I won’t mention because spoilers, but I loved it. It felt so real to me. Not real as in boring, but real as in “I can see this happening and it would hurt like hell”.

Pure perfection, so five stars!

(Psst, want a sneak peek at my books before they hit the shelves? New releases for 99c? Join my mailing list to get the VIP treatment. eepurl.com/bwTdtD)

Cheesy Positivity

There are two equal and opposite sides to my personality – a cheesy hippie who wants only love and light, and a sarcastic cynic, who thinks the hippie is super lame.

But even though the cynic wants the hippie to be quiet, and stop being so uncool, the hippie does have a little something to say.

There’s a lot of negativity right now. Politics the world over. People are upset, many have good reason to be.

It’s one of the reasons I walked away from being a journalist. The overwhelming pressure of writing about negative things, being present for what would be someone’s worst day of their life. Letting the worst days for other people, become every day for me.

It’s easy to let this negativity infect every part of your life. I know people who have.

I’m not saying don’t push for change on the things that matter. And I’m certainly not going to suggest a solution to the political problems around at the moment – those are for other people to suggest these days, and I prefer it like that.

But I hope, amongst all of this, you can take a moment today. Each day. To remember what you’re thankful for. What was a success today. To remind someone close to you that you love them.

Right, my cynic is sufficiently embarrassed. The hippie is back in her cage.

 

(Book status: 3,200 words into first draft)

Must-Watch Doco For All Romance Geeks

I love reading romance books, I love writing about them – and now I can also watch a documentary about them!

It’s a crazy ride trying to get each and every book to take form, and it looks like this doco dives right into that. Established authors, those just getting started, and those about to hit their stride. So if you’ve ever wondered why authors seem to be in a constant state of mild panic… This one’s for you.

It also touches on why people seem to dismiss romance books. It’s always struck me as funny, the way that people look down on the most popular genre. In the words of Taylor Swift – haters gonna hate hate hate.

Here’s the trailer if you’re interested – I’m going to watch this ASAP. It released on iTune and Amazon on July 12th.

Review: Too Soon Old, Too Late Smart

After service in Vietnam, as a surgeon for the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment in 1968-69, at the height of the war, Dr. Gordon Livingston returned to the U.S. and began work as a psychiatrist. In that capacity, he has listened to people talk about their lives-what works, what doesn’t, and the limitless ways (many of them self-inflicted) that people find to be unhappy.

***

In my continual quest to amass the biggest possible collection of secondhand books, this one was given to me. I fancied a palate cleanser between writing, so figured now was a good time to read it.

I’m not usually into non-fiction, or anything self-help, so I think it says a lot that I enjoyed it. It’s a collection of essays, and there’s genuine wisdom in each one. Every now and then it verges on platitudes, but I guess that’s a risk of the genre.

Four stars!

Open Home, Closed Heart is LIVE

The book baby is out in the world! Reviews are rolling in, all four and five stars, people are downloading – it’s fair to say I’m thrilled with the response.

That means it’s also time to put it back up to full price – so if you want it at the $0.99 special, move quick! You’ve only got a couple of hours.

Amazon

iBooks

Kobo

Nook

 

 

“He’s infuriating. A backstabber wrapped up in pretty packaging. And I know better than to unwrap that present.”

From the moment Tess sees the new guy at work, she feels the pull towards him. But then he opens his mouth. And reveals himself as an arrogant jerk, intent on making her work life hell.

Avoiding Damian is the safest bet, but Tess has never been one to walk away from a fight. If he wants a war, he can have one. And he should be prepared to lose.

Because Tess built her real estate career to protect what’s left of her family. And no arrogant jerk is going to take it from her. No matter how good he looks in a suit.

Open Home, Closed Heart is a full-length standalone sequel to the Hawaiian Heartbreak trilogy. Intended for readers over 18 due to explicit sexual content.

Open Home, Closed Heart by Libby Cole Review!

The reviews are rolling in for Open Home, Closed Heart, and I’m thrilled with the reception! I’m sitting pretty with a 4.7/5 rating on Goodreads so far, and that’s before it even releases.

But this review has to be one of my favourites. To have a reviewer say it was written flawlessly, that it grabbed her attention and wouldn’t let go – that’s about as good as it gets for us authors!

Don’t forget, it’s $0.99, only until it releases on Monday.

Tomayto, Tomahto

Back when I was much younger, I remember enthusiastically talking to an established author. I LOVED reading as a kid, so getting the chance to talk to a Real Life Author was exciting. I babbled to him that one day I’d love to be a writer, too.

His response was… less enthusiastic.

“DON’T,” he answered. “You live in New Zealand. Your cultural references are all wrong for a global audience. Even your experience of the seasons is backwards. You’ll confuse a global audience, and never make any money. Don’t waste your time.”

Which put me off writing for a long time. Until the indie publishing revolution came about, and I thought, “screw it. What do I have to lose? Let’s just see what this global audience thinks.”

Fair to say, the response has been far better than that author led me to believe! But I’ve also been quite careful to avoid New Zealand-isms, and make sure all readers can understand what I mean.

But every now and then, the occasional one still slips through. When I was editing the latest book, Open Home Closed Heart, I made a reference to Tess only drinking long blacks.

And then I thought: have I ever heard someone call it a long black when I’ve been overseas? A quick google told me, nope, that’s a name only used in New Zealand and Australia. (My editor is Australian, which further explains how it slipped through.)

Right, got it, Tess drinks black coffee now.

And then I was on Twitter the today, and I was unexpectedly caught out again!

(Don’t judge me, chocolate porridge is delicious. Or should I say chocolate oatmeal?)

The cross-cultural differences just sneak in there, damn it. You’ve gotta be eagle eyed.

Any differences that have caught you out before? If you’re a writer, do you watch out for them? And if you’re a reader, do they bother you?

 

P.S. Open Home, Closed Heart is available on pre-order now, for a special reduced price of $0.99. So far all the advanced reviews have been five stars, so grab your copy quick!

Amazon: http://ow.ly/9vOU3012bpJ

iBooks: http://ow.ly/iEIx3012bs2

Nook: http://ow.ly/QjfV3012bF3

Kobo: http://ow.ly/Igho3014cN0

Favourite Places and Hidey Spots

I think every bookworm has a favourite reading spot. But what about a therapeutic reading spot? Just as important, and I’ll bet most bookworms also have one of those.

Old faithful, for me, is reading in bed. BORING, I know, but it works. Before going to sleep, I’ll snuggle under the duvet, flick on the bedside lamp, and read for a little bit. No better way to wind down from a long day.

But when I want to properly escape, a little something extra is needed.

Today was one of those days. A little head-clearing was in order. So I took off on a walking trail near my house, parked up on my favourite bench-with-a-view, and read in blissful peace and quiet.

Did the trick, I have to say. My Zen has returned.

How about you? What’s your favourite reading spot, and what about a therapeutic one?