Splash Into Summer Giveaway Hop: Win a copy of Call of the Sea #PNR #CalloftheSea
Welcome to my little corner of the world wide web. Let me start by thanking you for deciding to give my link a click. I’m happy to have you here and just as happy summer is almost here!! Memorial Day Weekend is right around the corner — one of my favorites of the year. Picnics, BBQs, camping, the un-official start to summer. Love it all!
As a way to kick off the summer season and celebrate the impending release of my debut novel (on June 21, 2012) I decided for my part in the giveaway hop, I’m would offer up an eBook copy (your choice of .epub .mobi or pdf) of my debut novel, CALL OF THE SEA. Win it before you can buy it, as they say. 
Back of the Book:
There is no denying the call of the sea.
Elysandra Winters has always yearned for a life of adventure on the rolling seas and is willing to do whatever it takes to fulfill her dream. When her Privateer father continually refuses to allow his only daughter to sail, Ellie defies him, disguises herself as a boy, and goes in search of a captain who will give her a chance to prove her worth.
Thanks to the cursed selkie blood coursing through his veins, Daniel O’Rourke needs the sea to survive. After giving up on his humanity and spending three years in seal form, he decides to give his human side another chance. Daniel goes in search of a job and a sense of normalcy, earning himself a position aboard Captain Winter’s ship, The Siren’s Call. However, his new captain’s first assignment has nothing at all to do with sailing, and everything to do with his headstrong young daughter.
Years later, when the leader of a band of bloodthirsty pirates murders Captain Winters, Daniel and Elysandra’s lives come crashing back together with the force of a hurricane. Both experts in deception, they must find a way to trust each other in order to quell the raging storm between them or have any hope of hunting down the captain’s killer.
So, about now you are probably wondering what you need to do to qualify to win this fantastic prize. I’m an easy going gal, so I have made things super simple.
All you need to do to qualify to win is:
1. Like my Facebook page. You can like it by clicking the LIKE button on the Facebook widget found in the sidebar or you can visit the page at http://facebook.com/rebeccahartwriting
2. Comment below and tell me what your “calling” is. Maybe you’ve been called to teach, or you’re the mother to three great kids. Or perhaps you’re more like me, and think you were meant to write. Whatever it may be, share it with me below. Please also provide a valid email address so I can get in touch with you and send you the prize should you win.
The winner will be selected at random from all qualified entries made before Midnite EST on May 31, 2012.
Make sure you Click the banner at the top of this post or here: Linky list to visit with the other participating sites offering giveaways today. I’ll probably see you there
My thanks to I am a Reader Not a Writer and Page Turner for hosting this Blog Hop.
Happy Summer!!
Rebecca
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Cover Reveal: Make Believe (Various Authors) #CoverReveal #eBook #Anthology
Make Believe
by J.A. Belfield, Jennifer M. Eaton, J. Keller Ford, Terri Rochenski, Kelly Said, Lynda R. Young
Release Date: December 3, 2012
Target Reader: Adult
Keywords: Fantasy, Paranormal Romance, Romance
Back of the Book
Sacrificial Oath by Terri Rochenski
An impetuous act unwittingly makes Alesuela the fulfillment of the Sovereign’s Blood Oath to their Goddess. In five days, she’ll be forced to make the greatest choice of her life: become the virginal sacrifice already promised, or force the man she loves most to die in her place.
Familiar Ties Release Day Party and #Giveaway #FamiliarTies @nayanikki
Title: Familiar Ties
Author: Naya Nikki
Genre: Adult Contemporary Romance
Publisher: InkSpell Publishing
Format: eBook, Kindle, Paperback
Purchase: Publisher | Amazon | B&N
Book Synopsis: Max West is a widower raising Phoebe, his four-year-old daughter. Phoebe has to live with the fact that the day she was born is also the day of her mother’s death. As her fifth year without her mother approaches, Phoebe finds solace in her godmother, Amy Riley, and her daughter, Grace Crawford, another single parent family.
Book Review: Crux by Julie Reece (@JulieReece) #YA #urbanfantasy #Crux
Crux by Julie Reece
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I absolutely loved this book.
Okay, I should preface what is to come with the disclaimer that I read this as a BETA before it was submitted for publication and loved it then, so I took little risk in reading the final version. I already knew it was a kick-ass read. My opinion has not changed.
Crux is an YA Urban Fantasy (romance) featuring a down, but not out homeless girl, Rebecca Orin–who everyone calls Birdie. She’s got spunk, sarcasm, and street sense. The kind of female lead I just love to get behind. After a very strange day that finds Birdie coming into some cash, and more attention than she could ever want, she learns there may just be something special about her and her bloodline.
I’m not one to put spoilers in a review, so I wont go into the plot line any more than that, but I can say the mission she ends up embarking on is full of history, mystery, monks and Vikings — what a combination!
I mentioned above there was some romance in the tale as well, and the male lead Grey Matthews is just the kind of guy any teenage girl would swoon over. Sexy, rich, and completely head over heels for Birdie. Suffice to say, my 17yr old daughter — who also read Crux (and LOVED IT) is keeping her eyes open for her own “Grey”.
Ms. Reece’s gift for vibrant description and emotionally rich characters makes this story a real winner in my book. A must read for the YA Urban Fantasy fans out there, or anyone looking for a sweet romantic adventure.
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Take What You Need - Join the Spread of Good Will
Photo of original flyer courtesy of Mark Teasdale. Flyer by me. (Not for printing. For printable copy, see below)
Since my post a few days ago, a growing number of people have shown interest in the Take What You Needproject and flyers. I love the idea that by offering such things, it helps you tune to these wavelengths in yourself.
Want blog tour schedule
WHOA. Today starts the month-long blog tour for my upper YA novel, Want, which drops June 7! Below are the stops:
May 7th: Tour Starter Day Party @ I Heart Reading
May 8th: Guest Post @ Words Like Silver
May 9th: Review and Giveaway @ The Awesome Magic Attic
May 10th: Review @ Catch The Lune
May 11th: Guest Post @ …
Book Review: Eternal by J.A. Belfield (@jabelfield) #PNR #novella #hollowaypack
Eternal by J.A. Belfield
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I read Darkness and Light, the first novel in the Holloway Pack series, so I was really interested to see what this prequel novella had in store for me. I was not the least bit disappointed.
In this short, we meet the original Sean and Jem (circa 1800′s). If you read Darkness and Light, you understand what that means. I really enjoyed getting a look at the beginning of the Sean/Jem saga, and seeing how that first pair managed to “make it”.
I love the Sean in this one and how adorably gruff he is. I particularly liked the way he was so afraid of Jem’s mom when he was trying to muster the courage to ask for her hand in marriage. Ms. Belfield did a great job sinking the reader into the historical 1800s setting and dealt with the moral codes (they are together and not married in the 1800′s — oh the scandal!!) and attitudes in the time period with an accuracy that rang true to me. The author throws in a stranger interested in the unique Jem (female werewolves are rare and coveted) to keep up wondering how it will all come out in the end. The suitor tries being nice and seducing Jem away from Sean, and when that doesn’t work… well that’s when things get complicated.
I’m not one to post spoilers in my reviews, so I will leave it at that. If you want to know more, pick up the novella and give it a read.
I was able to devour this is a few short sittings, which is perfect for my hectic schedule. I thoroughly enjoyed this love story and would recommend this novella to anyone who enjoys historical romance or anyone who has read any of the other books in the Holloway Pack series by J.A. Belfield.
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Z is for Zany: Which describes what this #atozchallenge has been like. #blogging #writing
What a ZANY month April has been. Between the unusual weather throughout the country to this amazing adventure called the A to Z Blogging Challenge. When I agreed to participate, I really had no illusions about ever completing the challenge. While I do like to talk, having something new to say every day for a month? That is a whole ‘nother kettle of fish.
Yet, here were are on the lat day of the challenge and I actually managed to complete it successfully. HOORAY FOR ME!
I want to take a quick minute to thank and welcome all the new blog followers my participation has earned me, and I hope I continue to entertain and interest you with my blogging going forward. I have also started following a whole new set of great blogs and look forward to growing and learning alongside all of you as the year moves forward.
Thanks again to everyone who visited during April and I hope to still see and hear from you all come May.
Happy Monday!
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Y is for Youth… Man, I miss having that… #atozchallenge #blogging #writing
Ahh, to be young again… to not feel the aches and pains of age, or notice the little gray hairs starting to come in at my temples. To be able to look at the world with all the excitement and vigor of a child… what a neat thing that would be, eh?
Now, if I were truly pressed, and had to choose to go back and live my childhood again or stay where I am now, Im not sure I would really go back. I mean, heck, there were a lot of hard life lessons between then and now, some of which I have absolutely no desire to see again. But, there are some moments in my youth, if given the choice, I would decide to live in forever and ever. I would agree to never grow up if I could just experience what I did on a particular day, or feel what I felt at a particular moment.
Then I take a look at my children. My oldest is grown and on his own now, starting a life with his girlfriend and my job where he is concerned is done. My two daughters are still home with me, but the oldest, Casey is 17 and a senior in HS — off to college in the fall and on to adulthood. My youngest daughter, Shelby is 11 (12 June 1st) going on 35, and while she is the one I will get to experience childhood with for just a little longer, soon she will find Mom as boring as the other two did when they got a bit older. But, each time I look at what they have each grown to become, I smile — I am so proud of them, and of me for all the things we overcame and did together.
Being a single parent isn’t easy, and some days I feel a hell of a lot older than my mere 42 years, but when things get hard and I start to feel old, I just look at my kids, spend a bit a time with them, and that youth each of the oozes seems to rub off on me just a little bit, and once more I feel like a little kid, excited by a new sunrise and the prospects of a play date after school.
Thank God enthusiasm and feeling young is contagious! I may never grow up at this rate
For fun, I thought I would share some before and after pics with you — an illustration of youth, as it were.
This is my very special gang
STEVEN:
CASEY:
SHELBY:
WHERE THEY ARE NOW — TIME FLIES!!!
Me and My Little Gang of Youthful Exuberance!!
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X is for Xebec: Courtesy of 17th Century Shipping #atozchallenge #blogging #writing
Like the rest of the participants on the A to Z Blogging Challenge, it was tough to come up with an X word that would not be used by every other participating blog. Good thing I write fiction with historical elements or this would have been a really boring Xylophone post 
You may be wondering at this point, “What ‘s a Xebec?” and “Did she make that word up?”
The short answers are a ship, and no, I didn’t.
Let me elaborate a bit
From Wikipedia: A xebec (
/ˈziːbɛk/ or /zɨˈbɛk/), also spelled zebec, was a Mediterranean sailing ship that was used mostly for trading. It would have a long overhanging bowsprit and protruding mizzen mast. It also can refer to a small, fast vessel of the sixteenth to nineteenth centuries, used almost exclusively in the Mediterranean Sea.
Xebecs were similar to galleys used by Algerian Berber corsairs and Barbary pirates having both lateen sails and oars for propulsion. Early xebecs had two masts; later ones three. Xebecs featured a distinctive hull with pronounced overhanging bow and stern, and rarely displaced more than 200 tons, making them slightly smaller and with slightly fewer guns than frigates of the period.
The protagonist in Call of the Sea, Jashir, the notorious pirate, captains a Xebec.
From CALL OF THE SEA:
“Sails to the stern, Captain!”
The call from the crow’s nest jerked Daniel’s attention toward the topmast and the crewman pointing behind them.
Captain Winters lifted the spyglass, peered through it. “Lateen sails, no colors. Looks like a xebec.” Lowering the glass, his gaze swept to Daniel. “All hands at the ready.”
“All hands at the ready!” Daniel shouted across the deck of the brigantine. “Step handsomely, men!”
The Captain rested a hand on Daniel’s sleeve. “Take the helm, Daniel. I want you at the wheel if there’s to be a fight.”
Daniel nodded, looking to the man he’d grown to admire. “Aye, Captain.”
I bet you feel supremely educated now, don’t you? Okay, maybe not, but at least I managed to come up with a somewhat informative X day posting. Only two more letters to go (is that the finish line I see ahead?)
See you tomorrow
