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A Fun New Reading Experience!

Storyteller Alley’s Author Discovery Box   A special reader package designed specifically for Saving Toby!   Limited Time Special Discount: 20% OFF with Discount Code HAPPYHOLIDAYS The Saving Toby Author Discovery Box includes: Signed copy of Saving Toby by Suzanne McKenna Link Something to make the room smell just like the Long Island shore from  A to Z Candles Something to help you get your date night snack on from Allspice Emporium Something to make the world a prettier place from Plantables & Paper Something handmade to inspire a little daydreaming from The Rugged Heart Find out more at  Storyteller Alley Perfect for the  Book Lover  on your gift-giving List! 

Paperback Giveaway!

Goodreads Book Giveaway Add caption Keeping Claudia   by Suzanne McKenna     Link Giveaway ends October 17, 2017. See the giveaway details at Goodreads. Enter Giveaway

#HS Readathon Wrap Up

Time to wrap up another Seasons of Reading readathon, and it's no surprise to me that I didn't manage to get even half way through my TBR. In fact, I deviated from it—a book I'd put on hold at the library came in. Here's what I did read: Her Best Laid Plans by Cara McKenna and the defection, God-Shaped Hole by Tiffanie DeBartolo. Her Best Laid Plans  was a novella, a quick bit of satisfying romance with a heavy dollop of steam. I hadn't expected the story to be so sexual, though I should've, especially knowing McKenna's previous work—but the prior stuff I've read by this author were longer novels where sexual scenes felt more in balance with other themes in the story. In this case, because the story was so short, I wasn't mentally prepared for the depth of the steam that the story contained. Despite that, Cara McKenna knows her way around storytelling. Jamie is a cool, independent American young woman off on holiday and seeking adventure in I

Kindle Countdown Sale

For the next few days, get the sequel to Saving Toby, the series finale — the book you’ve been wanting to get your hands on —  Keeping Claudia at a reduced price.    http://amzn.to/2uJh83L *A Kindle Countdown Deal is a limited-time discount for Kindle-exclusive books. A "Countdown Clock" on its product detail page indicates how much time is left to purchase the title at the promotional price. As time passes, the price rises; the promotion ends once the book is back to full price.

Deviation from my TBR

Deviated from my #HS readathon TBR with God-Shaped Hole by Tiffanie DeBartolo. I'm not sure that's even allowed, but it can't be helped. This is a witty, campy, provocative and well-written book. I'm hooked!

High Summer Read A Thon

#HSreadathon Time for another readathon, and with its long hot days, summer is the perfect time for one! Michelle over at Seasons of Reading is hosting once again.  This one is 2 weeks long, July 17 - 30, and sure to give us plenty of time to knock a few books off our TBRs. I'm a slow reader, but I remain hopeful! The line up of suspects for this readathon are: Her Best Laid Plans by Cara McKenna Leaving Time by Jodi Picoult Shanghai Girls by Lisa See  Unlike past readathons, these are all authors I've read before, so I know I'll be able to jump right in. Check out Season of Readings here , and who knows, maybe you'll consider joining in on the fun!  Oh, and P.S.: There are prizes to be had!

#READ

Dream Reading Nook

Some furnishing images from Arhaus Furniture Had some fun making a board of cozy elements I'd incorporate if I were to create my dream reading space. I love soothing grays, soft blues and natural stone colors. I mostly like to sit when I read, and this recliner looks uber comfortable. I can just picture myself in it, book in hand, with my feet curled under me or reclined, feet up. But you know, sometimes a gal likes to lay down and read. This long, wide chaise lounge looks inviting, especially with the window behind it. Great reading light! Lighting is important, so I'd want both an overhead lighting fixture and a table lamp. A plush throw for my legs is a must. Coffee and bon bons are a necessity, too!

Keeping Claudia now available!

How do you love someone whose past goes against everything you’ve ever known or trust in a future you’ve yet to believe in? Back home in a town she once fled, headstrong Claudia Chiametti returns to the arms of the only guy ever to awaken her heart. Everything about Toby contradicts her family’s traditions and values, but she’s ready to take a chance on love. Toby Faye is a new man, and the girl he’s long dreamed of is finally within his reach. With Claudia’s help, he’s put the past behind him. But one last secret hides in the dark corner of his past. The one that could undermine it all. Can Claudia love him unconditionally …or will the truth cost Toby what he wants most? Keeping Claudia is the emotional finale to the love story that began in Saving Toby, an unforgettable journey of a couple who discover the only way to love someone is with an open heart. Falling in love is easy. Staying in love is hard. Full length, Contemporary Love Story. Recommended R

Keeping Claudia Countdown - 1 day!

Tomorrow is release day! Find it on Amazon: Keeping Claudia

Keeping Claudia Countdown

Preorder on Amazon: Keeping Claudia Haven't read Saving Toby yet? Receive a FREE e-copy when you visit SuzanneMcKennaLink.com and sign up to receive my newsletter. Save Save

Spring into Horror Read-a-thon Wrap Up

Wrapping up Seasons of Reading's #SpringHorror reading challenge.  I got through two of the three books on my TBR for this challenge. I read Desperation Road  by Michael Farris Smith first. It's an interesting book about two people down on their luck crossing paths, but definitely not a horror story. I'm not sure it even classifies as a thriller. I saw it on someone else's #SpringHorror post and took it for myself. Despite it,  I enjoyed its slow ambling language . Second up was The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman. I love Gaiman's speeches and have numerous quotes of his around my writing space, all which inspire me in my journey as a writer, but a few chapters in, I'm sorry to say, I just wasn't feeling it. It wasn't the writing. Gaiman's writing is lean, crisp and articulate. Perhaps that it was because the book is Young Adult and I had my mind on a more mature genre and a book that would unsettle me a bit. After bailing on Gaiman,

Keeping Claudia Cover Reveal

Excited to share the cover of my newest book Keeping Claudia .

Spring into Horror Read-a-thon

Here we go again! This time Michelle over at Seasons of Reading is hosting a horror readathon — for  2 whole weeks ! I do like thrillers and mildly scary movies, but I'm the kind of woman who'll find myself thinking of horror scenes while I'm home alone at night, so I try not to feed my imagination that way. But I'm excited about reading a different genre than I usually gravitate towards. These are the victims I will try to kill, I mean read in the next 2 weeks: The Graveyard Book  by Neil Gaiman Bird Box  by Josh Malarian Desperation Road  by Michael Farris Smith Join us, check out the #SpringHorror challenge and join along:  Spring into Horror Read-a-thon

What Writing Rules Should You Ignore?

A few years back, as a newbie to novel writing and publishing, I garnered wheelbarrows full of advice, both advice I sought and some well-meaning advice freely imparted without my appeal for it. It's come from many sources, from the best of the best, and even those who don't actually have any notable writing credits. As a novice, I took it all in, and took it to heart. Countless times I was told: Put your butt in chair and write!  When it comes to show vs. tell, show, show, show. Telling is lazy writing.  The use of adverbs is a sign of weak writing. To be taken seriously, you must write everyday! (Someone on Twitter went so far as to tell me to write 'until your fingers bleed.' Hey, I do love to write, but come on!) Many other wisdoms have been conveyed to me, too many to go into, but it was with a huge sigh of validation when today I came across Author Catherine Egan's post on Writer's Digest: "7 Writing Rules You Can Ignore." This post

A #WintersRespite #Readathon - Wrap Up

Best laid plans and all that… I had 4 books on my TBR for the #WintersRespite readathon, but got through 3… well, considering I gave up on Grey early on, only 2. However, I did an editing read-through of my own book Keeping Claudia —131,000 words. (Happy to report, that little beauty is safely in the hands of my new editor.) But I loved, loved  The Hunger Games ! I've already picked up the second in the series,  Catching Fire  and plan to start it ASAP!! Poor And the Mountains Echoed has once again been pushed aside...  (Note to self: Read that book before the summer!) Check out other Wrap Up comments at Seasons of Reading

Keeping Claudia Update

Get your tissues ready I found myself crying as I finished re-reading my edit copy of Keeping Claudia. These characters have come to mean so much to me, they're like family. It looks like release will be… (fingers crossed) sometime in April. I really hope you guys will love this story as much as I do. Your Song  sung by Lee Mead (originally by Elton John) was a strong inspiration during the writing. A little fun with Wordle.com

Winter's Respite Readathon: The Picks

Readathon Picks Here's my list of possible suspects for the next 2-weeks: 1st Up  was War of the Heart  (A Snow Globe Christmas) by Jenna Victoria. Finished it and reviewed in earlier post. Visit post here . 2nd Up is Grey by E.L. James. The subject and genre is a complete departure from the last book I read, War of the Heart , but it does have a Christian in it! I've been curious about this one for some time and decided it was time to see if the story could hold up to the success of the previous ones. So far, I'm not impressed… 3rd Up is The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. I know what you're thinking: What's taken you so long to get around to this one, Suzanne? Everyone has read this already, eons ago! And that is exactly why it's on my list, thank you very much. 4th Up is And the Mountains Echoed by Khaled Hosseini. This one's been sitting around my house gathering dust, watching other books come and go. While I thoroughly

A Winter's Respite Readathon 2017

Winter is the perfect time for readathon! If you're like me, you probably have a huge TBR that needs taming. Michelle over at Seasons of Reading is hosting this readathon, Jan. 16-29.  It's 2 weeks long, but don't stress, you can read as much or as little as you like. You don't even have to participate the whole 14 days!  Best of all, it's free and you can win prizes ! Care to join me? To check it out and sign up, head on over to Seasons of Reading:  http://seasonsreading.blogspot.com/2017/01/a-winters-respite-readathon-time-to.html You can also check out #WintersRespite on Facebook . Guidelines are here:  http://seasonsreading.blogspot.com/p/guidelines.html UPDATE 1/17 I guess I should make a reading list, because everyone knows to be successful at anything, one really needs to set goals (or at the very least, have a plan!) Last night, I finished my first book, "War of the Heart" by new author Jenna Victoria. The