Abbreviations: i.e versus e.g.

Most of us misuse i.e. and e.g. regularly.

 i.e is the abbreviation in Latin for 'id est" meaning "that is". It is used to explain things more thoroughly. 

 e.g. is the abbreviation of "exempli gratia" in Latin which means "for example'.


Examples of the proper usage of these abbreviation:

Please pick three days in which to come in and complete your project i.e. Monday, Wednesday, Friday.

The shirt comes in many sizes e.g. small, medium and large.

Did this help anyone? 

What I'm Reading...Hopeless by Colleen Hoover

Hopeless by Colleen Hoover is a very well written YA novel about a teenaged girl named Sky who has been home schooled her entire life.  She convinces her Mom to let her go to school with her best friend Six for junior/senior years of high school.

Sky starts school alone as Six takes the opportunity to study abroad. Sky must navigate these new social situations without her best friend or the use of technology. No cell phones, no computers, no tvs. Sky befriends a boy named Breckin who is funny, caring, and charismatic. However a chance encounter at the grocery store where she meets the school bad boy Dean Holder.

Holder has his secrets and the school has come up with lies about him and where he has been the last year.  Holder has a secret that could destroy Sky and life as she knows it forever.

This was a great story! I was really into it and the twists that came up took me by surprise. Sky and Holder's relationship develops nicely and they both find strength in each other to face their own secrets and demons.  Sky's entire life is not what she thinks while Holder's self blame for that past is more rampant then ever. Can these two work it out? Read on my friends read on.

This book has a second book follow up Losing Hope and a novella Finding Cinderella. I read Finding Cinderella but have not read Losing Hope as it was almost $8 for an e-book format! Uggh guess I will have to wait.

Books, Books, and More Books!

I have been on a reading frenzy to say the least. I've been reading so much I'm having trouble keeping track of what I read. Sometimes good books and sometimes bad. I'll slowly post reviews of some of these books. These reviews will be ones that are on the book only. This means it's not a featured author/book package but just some books I've read on my own and what I thought. Sounds good to me!

Book Hangover

This is how I've been feeling. ::sigh:: the disappointment that the journey is over. I get so engulfed in the story and characters it's like I know them.

Sometimes this is harder to deal with then others, it just depends on what else is going on in my life at the moment. Sometimes I go back for more or start a different book to rid myself of the current book hangover. It's a vicious cycle :-)

What do you do when this happens? Does it happen often to you?

STOP! Grammar Time

We all make some grammar mistakes. I am sure I have in posts as well as in other places. Simple mess ups can turn sentences in to strange things.




For example:

I like to eat my family and run like its the only thing I need.

Seems a bit cannibal like to me. The wonderful use of commas and apostrophes could fix this sentence.

I like to eat, my family and run like it's the only thing I need.



disclaimer: I am not a big runner :-)

Cover Reveal for From Summer and Fall by Alora Kate

Check out this awesome cover reveal for From Summer and Fall by Alora Kate. It looks fantastic! It was also a great read ;-)

About the book:
Summer and Hannah are best friends.

Fall and Tristan are best friends.

Fall is Summer's older brother.

Summer crushes on Tristan while Hannah loves Fall.

Tristan loves football.

Fall also loves football, but loves sex just a little bit more.....with as many girls willing to throw themselves into his bed.

What happens when Hannah becomes one of Fall's many? And when Tristan notices the one girl who's always been there on the sidelines, how will Summer cope?

From Summer to Fall ~ Book 1 of 4 ~ The Four Seasons Series
New Adult Romance.
Recommended for 18+ due to language and sexy scenes.

** Cliffhanger **(less)

Featured Fiction: The Protector Series Book 1 Talk to Me by Stephanie Reid

Today you will learn about book #1 in the Protector series by Stephanie Reid. This book was a pleasant surprise for me. Learn more below :-) Happy reading!

Book synopsis:

Emily Simon is a good listener. Maybe a little too good. As a professional counselor who's been unintentionally clocking hours after work with her advice-seeking friends, Emily decides it's time to hang up the counselor hat when she's out of the office and make something happen in her own life. She has just two rules: No men with emotional baggage and no risk takers.

Bryan “Mac” McAvoy is tormented by the death of a teenage boy, shot during a robbery gone wrong, and fellow police officer, Sean Simon, is convinced his sister Emily is just the person to help Mac get back his edge.

With his dangerous vocation and giant suitcase full of guilt, Emily vows to steer clear and guard her heart. But when she receives a death threat from a deranged client, she finds that Mac may be the only man who can guard her life.

My thoughts: 

I loved this book! It was well written, paced nicely, and had just enough heat and mystery to keep me interested. It was a great read.

I really love Emily and Mac. They were great characters that I felt were relateable and believable. Emily's brother and some of the other secondary characters are great. They add to the story with out over powering it.

Emily is a counselor who has closed herself off from the world after her parents are tragically killed in an accident. Mac is a workaholic who does not do relationships as a result of his rough childhood when his father was still in his life. Together there is heat, substance and a great connection.

Their emotions were easily felt as a reader and I felt for Emily during her rougher times. I liked that she was able to see reason when situations were not to her liking or safe for her.

Mac is a wonderful male lead. He is gruff but approachable, sensitive and humorous as well as described very handsomely. He's a great alpha type with out overdoing it. It made his behavior more realistic.

I look forward to book 2 and am glad that it focuses on other characters from this story. I am excited to see what is going on with them and how they all interconnect.


About the Author

Stephanie Reid writes contemporary romances with heart, humor, and a happily ever after. She holds a master’s degree in Human Development Counseling and enjoys using counseling theories on her fictional characters (and from time to time her husband).

A Chicago Suburbanite by birth, Stephanie now resides with her husband and three children in Central Illinois.

Find Stephanie at: 
Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/stephaniereidbooks
Twitter- https://twitter.com/StephReidsBooks
Good Reads- https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8319194.Stephanie_Reid
Google+- https://plus.google.com/105860652330566944305/about

Book Series Out of Sight Out of Mind

I have been very lucky that with ARC reading and beta reading that I am able to read books through their entire series.

Something that really bothers me is when I read a book series and the next book is not due out for 8 plus months or longer. One book series I've been waiting over 2 years for the next one and another 1 year. What happens with me is that I start to forget the series exists and then never go back and finish.
With popular main stream series I have waited for the release of all the books before even starting them.

I am sure that things come up like other series that may take priority, editing, and life in general. It's all good. As authors I wonder if it effects them in the long run does the readership drop as well as sales? I'm not really sure.

I like to support the non main stream authors and appreciate that the ones I have read either have a complete series or at least only several months and not years in between. I don't want to forget about characters and stories that are meant to be told. I don't want to forget! It's easier to not forget when it's a new or indie author. My drive to support them over rules.

Does anyone have a way they use to track upcoming releases in a series that helps them to not forget about them? I really don't want to abandon anything because of out of sight out of mind.

Featured Fiction: The Austin Series by C.J. Fallowfield

 

Today's featured fiction is from C.J. Fallowfield with The Austin Series.  Please note this series is written in British English and will have variation of spelling, phrases, and slang you may not be used to but still great all the same :-) I personally prefer British English :-) Enjoy!

Series synopsis: 

(from the author's page) Combining erotica with romance and humour, The Austin Series is designed to be read in sequence.

Set in the fictitious city of Westhampton, in the United Kingdom, it focuses on the lives of three main characters, all starting their first year of University together, Mia Page, Lexi Clarke and Gabe Austin.

Mia Page’s father left before she was born and they now have minimal contact, with him sending a guilt cheque every time he misses a visit. Afraid of attachment, Mia has therefore had a succession of short term non sexual relationships, keeping the guys at arm’s length to protect her heart, running from them when they became too attached to her. She finds herself starting University still a virgin, scared of taking that next step for fear of where it may lead her.

Lexi Clarke, Mia’s rebellious but loyal best friend, has abandonment issues, due to her father disappearing when she was eleven. Her mother’s an alcoholic who shows no interest in anything that’s not shaped like a bottle. The only bonds Lexi’s ever formed in her life are with Mia and Mrs Page, who’s virtually adopted Lexi as her own. Lexi copes with her pain by having copious one night stands, trying to feel something, while still avoiding getting close to anyone.

On starting University they both decide that they need to turn over a new leaf and deal with their emotional issues and change their lives. Mia will attempt to have hot no strings attached sex, the first step on her journey to healing herself. Lexi will stop sleeping around and try to have, and sustain, a relationship.

What Mia didn’t count on was the instant sexual chemistry she would feel when she met Gabe Austin. He’s seriously hot, confident and charismatic, but Gabe has plenty of issues of his own. After suffering from his own childhood trauma, he’s left a long string of girls in his wake, trying to remain emotionally detached, but always holding onto the hope that he would find that perfect girl to heal his heart. It’s love at first sight when he spies Mia and decides that she’s the one for him, only he wants so much more than Mia is prepared to offer.

Despite their sizzling sex life, Gabe’s domineering and controlling personality really pushes Mia’s buttons, while she infuriates him with her stubborn and defensive nature.

Their two personalities combined can create fireworks, but Gabe’s determined to possess not just Mia’s body, but her heart and soul.

The entire series of six books, plus a prequel, follows the complex and emotional lives and relationships of Mia, Lexi and Gabe through their three years at University.

The books are designed to be read in the following sequence:

Destined (The Austin Series Prequel)
New Leaves, No Strings
Baggage & Buttons
Forever & an Engine
The Honeymoon Period
Love & Loss
Infinite Love



My thoughts:
I have read each book. For me it started out frustrating as the series follows them from aged 18 and up. It took me several self reminders that they were young and the decisions and behavior reflect that. Stick with it! It's worth it. These books don't shy away from real life tough issues.  The way they're written is accurate for the age and maturity of the characters during each time period.  They truly deal with complex issues and C.J. does this in a wonderful way. Some times Mia makes very childish choices out of spite. However she herself is not childish. This is reflective of her age as well as how she was feeling a little bit controlled in the relationship as well as some of her past interfering with the present. Gabe is steady and goal oriented. He may go about it differently but his intentions hold their best interests. 

As time goes on they grow and mature. Their relationship has major ups and downs. Deeper into the series the topics become more serious and heart wrenching. I cringed and cried during book 6 repeatedly.  I was proud of them and their friends at the end of the series and glad I stuck with them. You really connect with the characters and get sucked in to their lives as if you are there with them.

Another piece to the series that I found great was the secondary characters. They added to the storyline with out being over powering. They have their own demons to slay and yet still stay true to their friends.  I thought they added a great deal to the main characters lives. The love and support the secondary characters contribute is beautiful. I loved seeing how those relationships developed and changed through out while mixing with Mia and Gabe.

These books were well written and appropriate for the ages and stages of the characters. The plot twists and turns keep you on your toes and several I did not see coming. Give this series a shot it's worth it. I enjoyed my time with Mia and Gabe and felt like everything came full circle beautifully by the end of the series. Be prepared to have tissues and an emotional roller coaster ride.

About the Author:


C.J. Fallowfield

I write contemporary erotic romance with humour novels, which are emotional and full of drama! Writing aids include chocolate, Ben & Jerry’s and copious amounts of coffee, wine or cider. Find out more about me here:

http://www.cjfallowfield.co.uk

My website has my profile, details about my current works, playlists from my series, details of my next upcoming novel and my blog.

You can also visit me at:

Facebook.com/cjfallowfield and Twitter @cjfallowfield.

Purchase at Amazon: 
http://www.amazon.com/C.J.-Fallowfield/e/B00I9DG7PW/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1

Writing Prompts

I think it would be fun to do some writing prompts :-)  No pressure, fun, creative writing.

The first prompt is:  If I could have one super power what would it be and why?



My response:  I would have teleportation powers. I do not like traveling by plane and this would make it easy to visit many places I have never been with out the hassle of airports.  It would be even cooler if I some one could hold my hand and teleport with me along with all of my suitcases. :-)