Hackaroo's Reviews: Giveaway

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Thursday, March 20, 2014

{Review, Guest Post, Interview & Giveaway} Poughkeepsie Enhanced Collector's Edition App by Debra Anastasia

{Blog Tour: Interview & Giveaway} Poughkeepsie Enhanced Collector's Edition App by Debra Anastasia

What is the Enhanced App???

Check it out:

Summary:

Immerse yourself in the world of Debra Anastasia’s Poughkeepsie.Experience this bestselling novel for the first time…again as you break all the rules about books with Omnific Publishing and Debra Anastasia. In this enhanced version of the novel, you’ll enjoy insights from the author, music by Ron Pope and other artists to set the mood, and images and video that bring the scenes to life as you read. You’ll delve deeper into the world of Poughkeepsie through nearly 50,000 words of added scenes (more love, more drama, more romance!) and informative insights into how this marvelous story and its characters came to be. Self-contained in this app (no wifi needed after downloading):•complete novel Poughkeepsie by Debra Anastasia•author/director’s pop-up commentary•music by Ron Pope, Rustic Overtones, Monoxide G, Violet Winter, Bo Heart, and Jeff Epstein and the City Line Singers•more than 100 images to enhance the story•videos of your favorite characters in action•special animation•sound effects•interviews with the characters, author, and more•interactive games•trailers for the Poughkeepsie Brotherhood series•how-to knitting instructions•how-to instructions for making a paper rose•recipe for the dinner Livia makes for Blake

My Review:
I've said time and again how much I absolutely love Poughkeepsie. I've read the book so many times and each time I find something new that I fall in love with. So, I was so very excited when Debra mentioned an app with all these goodies included. I've been very lucky and feel very honored that I am a part of Debra's badass street team for Poughkeepsie and got an exclusive look at this amazing app. What can I say about it? Seriously, if every book had an app like this, I'd be in freaking heaven. All the music, pictures, interviews.....my mind is blown. I am so happy for Debra to be launching this app and that I was included in helping her announce the release. If you haven't read the book, I encourage you to not only read the book but get this extraordinary app and get the experience of a lifetime.

Short interview with the lovely Debra Anastasia:

1. I have to say that Poughkeepsie is so unusual and so very extraordinary. Where did the idea of this book start?

I was really inspired to write a romance that had a lead hero with nothing more than his love to offer the girl of his dreams. I wanted to highlight the every day kind of love that I think is the most special.

2. Have any of the characters in the series been based on any personal friends or someone you know personally? They are each so unique and have had such random backgrounds. I was always curious ;-)

You are so sweet! There are parts of everyone I love in each of these characters. Blake reminds me of my husband and Beckett came from a steady diet of stories form my father and uncle growing up. They were both dead set on doing the right thing, every time no matter what!

3. How did the idea of this enhanced app come about?

Omnific approached my almost two years ago and I jumped on the chance. Anyway to give my readers more content to Poughkeepsie, I was going to take.

4. It seems like a lot of blood, sweat and tears went into this app. Knowing how much of a hard long process this would take, what made you decide to go through with it?

I had no idea it would take what it did. I knew I set the bar really high and I was supported in that goal by my publishier, so even in the darkest moments, I had to get it done. They believed in me and I wanted it to be everything it could for my readers.

5. Are you planning on having any more of the series made into an enhanced app? Because I seriously will snatch them up. ;-)

Thank you! No plans as of right now. I actually worked on a brief handbook for other authors on how to create an Enhanced version, but right now my focus is writing Saving Poughkeepsie (Poughkeepsie Brotherhood Series #3)

About Debra:

Debra Anastasia is busy, just like every other mom. There’s dinner, the dogs, the two kids, and her violent IBS–which is under control thanks to medication except for occasional multi-tonal farts. Her first love and crowning achievement is her thriving career as the weirdest mom on the block.

Her writing started a decent handful of years ago when–along with the animals and humans in her house–the voices of characters started whispering stories in Debra’s ear. Insomnia was the gateway to plots that wouldn’t give up, wouldn’t let go. Now they stalk her everywhere. Halfway through making lunches, a twist takes hold and–fingers full of peanut butter–she finds somewhere, anywhere to write it down.

She’s eternally grateful to Omnific Publishing, which has now published four of her books: two in the Seraphim Series and two in the Poughkeepsie Brotherhood Series, as well as her novella, Late Night with Andres. That one is special because 100% of the proceeds go to breast cancer research. (So go get it right now, please!) She also very much appreciates her open-minded readers, who embrace everything
she has to offer, with a focus on anti-heroes and bathroom humor.

Debra lives in Maryland with her family. You can find her at DebraAnastasia.com and on Twitter @Debra_Anastasia. But be prepared.

Website * Facebook * Twitter * Amazon * Goodreads

a Rafflecopter giveaway And this blog is giving away eCopies of Poughkeepsie and Return to Poughkeepsie to celebrate!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

A quick note from Debra:

When I started my Street Team, I knew it would be an amazing group. My readers are my favorite people. I know for a fact that we would all have a great time together. They are smart, adorable and deal with my crazy ass.

These ladies were on my mind while constructing the Poughkeepsie Enhanced Collector’s Edition app. I wondered what I could add to the novel that they had already read that would help it feel like they were reading it for the first time…again.

So I decided on commentary, and I imagined us all at a table and picked out the stories I would share. My developer made them into little pop up bubbles on text. That was the first layer of this huge project. Then came the building blocks or the music, the extra scenes, sounds, moving gifs, videos and so much more. The end result is literally my dream come true. It’s like the most deluxe reading experience I’ve ever seen.

In my head I wanted to make my Street Team proud, and I really hope they like this new version of Poughkeepsie. Of course, they are awesome helpers with the app release your. We will be getting together to have a huge Twitter flash mob on March 19^th at 7pm EST. It will be our second one. The first was such a blast, I can not wait to do it again.

Jessica from Hackaroo’s Reviews here is on my Street team and I cherish her! Thank you so much for letting me on your blog today. XOX

Monday, December 30, 2013

{Blog Tour & Giveaway} Return to Poughkeepsie by Debra Anastasia

{Blog Tour} Return To Poughkeepsie by Debra Anastasia

Goodreads Description:

Beckett Taylor is a murderer. His calling, his craft are destruction and intimidation—whether he wants it that way now or not. He left Poughkeepsie to keep his brothers safe, to keep Eve safe. Set up with happy lives to live, they’re better off without him, right?
But all his willpower crumbles when he hears his brother Blake’s frantic voice on the phone. An unknown enemy has moved in on his old territory, and Livia’s been taken. In an instant, Beckett knows it will take an attack only he and Eve can execute to bring her back. All his self-imposed embargoes are torn to shreds, perhaps along with the new man he’s struggled to become.
“Brother, call Eve. I’ll be there soon.”
In this emotional and action-packed sequel to Poughkeepsie, Debra Anastasia conjures a tale of love at its most raw and ragged. With Beckett and Eve, how could we expect anything less? But even when it’s messy, not magical, true love perseveres. Real love finds a way—for better or for worse until death does part.

My Review:

Where do I even start with this? I will try my damnedest to be spoiler free. Poughkeepsie is one of my all time favorite books. It was my top for 2012 and it will remain my top forever more. I wrote my review for that on my old blog a while ago. If you want to look at it you can click here. Since I loved Poughkeepsie so very much, you can probably guess at my enthusiasm to read the second book. I loved Beckett and couldn't wait to see his side of things. Not only that, but Eve gives me a lady boner. She is my favorite character in this series. I could probably sum up my reaction to Return To Poughkeepsie in a few short words: Wow. Rocked. My. Entire. Universe. Debra Anastasia has the insane ability to be a true storyteller. Okay....So now with the story....(without spoilers I promise) If you've read Poughkeepsie, you know that Beckett Taylor is a complete badass with some crazy on the side. But it's the good kind of badass and the hot kind of crazy right?! At least. that's how I justify it. Haha. I do have to say it was really awesome to see most of this from his point of view and his reactions. It was wonderful to see this man's side of things. I loved being inside of his head. His love for his brothers and their wives is overwhelming and completely endearing. I knew he had a heart. It shows a lot more in this book. Eve. Oh, my dear deadly Eve. Man I wish I could have her as a bestie!! Holy crap what a woman. Like I've mentioned above, she gives me a lady boner and I don't know who really wouldn't for this chick. She's had a rough go of it and keeps it together....mostly. I just love how Debra showcased her complete badassery in this book. Also, her compassionate and softer side. I could go into Blake, Livia, Kyle & Cole but really.....this book is about Beckett and Eve. Yes, all the other main characters from the first book are in here....but they aren't the main focus. I still love them all but Beckett and Eve's story is the forefront and I want to keep that in main focus. I will say that there are some moments in this book that Debra had me in tears for these 4. So don't count them out. The whole story is crazy action packed. Full of twists and turns that you don't really see coming. This book has the ENTIRE package of what a book is supposed to be. Romance, action, debauchery, crazy ( I should highlight the crazy), sex, passion, compassion, adventure....I swear the list goes on and on. From the very beginning, Debra Anastasia bitch slaps you and catches your attention. She keeps it the entire time. She has such a way with it. She can bitch slap me anytime and I'd enjoy the hell out of it. I truly do not think she could ever write a book that I wouldn't enjoy to the fullest. I know I've said it before tons of times....but seriously...I have to say it again. Debra Anastasia has become one of my all time favorite authors and will forever remain one. I consider her a friend and one of the most outrageously funny women I know. If you've ever read her facebook statuses you know what I'm talking about. Personal stuff aside, she truly has a way with words and her approach to storytelling is unlike anything I've ever seen. Her words can have you busting up one second and touching your heart the next. All of the stories intertwine and I love it. I cannot recommend this book and this series enough. There are not enough words for me to describe just how much Poughkeepsie moved me when I read it the first time. It still moves me every time I read it. Return To Poughkeepsie is just as enchanting.

"Sometimes you can save someone's whole world just by smiling at them. Kindness is one of those things that has immense value to the person experiencing it."

Return To Poughkeepsie is LIVE!!! Snatch it up!!! http://www.amazon.com/Return-Poughkeepsie-Debra-Anastasia-ebook/dp/B00HL50PIO/ref=sr_1_4?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1388364635&sr=1-4&keywords=return+to+Poughkeepsie

About Debra:

Debra Anastasia is busy, just like every other mom. There's dinner, the dogs, the two kids, the two kids, and her ongoing battle with...ahem... digestive issues, which combined with her adolescent boy sense of humor makes for colorful and sometimes cringe-worthy social media updates. Her first love and crowning achievement is her thriving career as the weirdest mom on the block.

Her writing started a decent handful of years ago when--along with the animals and humans in her house--the voices of characters started whispering stories in Debra's ear. Insomnia was the gateway to plots that wouldn't give up, wouldn't let go. Now they stalk her everywhere. Halfway through making lunches, a twist takes hold and--fingers full of peanut butter--she finds somewhere, anywhere to write it down.

She's eternally grateful to Omnific Publishing, which has now published four of her books: two in the Seraphim Series and two in the Poughkeepsie Brotherhood Series, as well as her novella, Late Night with Andres. That one is special because 100% of the proceeds go to breast cancer research. (So go get it right now, please!) She also very much appreciates her open-minded readers, who embrace everything she has to offer, with a focus on anti-heroes and bathroom humor.

Debra lives in Maryland with her family. You can find her at DebraAnastasia.com and on Twitter @Debra_Anastasia. But be prepared.

Social Media Links:

YouTube Trailer

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tuesday, November 19, 2013

{Release Day Launch, Excerpt & Giveaway} Torn by Monica Murphy

Monica Murphy's sexy new Billionaire Bachelors Club Series book, TORN, is out today and we are excited to join in the release day launch for it. TORN is a steamy and amazing Contemporary Romance. Check out what we have for you today and then enter to win in the release day launch giveaway! There's also a fantastic excerpt for you to check out!

EXCERPT:

“Tell me your name.” A shiver runs down my spine at the commanding, deep voice that sounds in my ear. I keep myself still, trying my best not to react considering we’re surrounded by at least a hundred people, but oh, how I want to.If I could, I’d throw myself into the arms of the man who’s standing far too close to me. He’s demanding to know my name as if I owe him some sort of favor, which I can’t help but find hot.Irritating, but hot.“Tell me yours first,” I murmur in return, turning my head in the opposite direction, so it appears I’m not even talking to him. He stands behind me, tall and broad, imposing in his immaculate black suit and crisp white shirt—the silvery tie he wears perfectly knotted at his throat.I might not be looking at this very moment, but I’d memorized everything about him the moment I first saw him not an hour ago. He’d drawn plenty of attention without saying a word, striding into the room as if he owned it, casting that calculating gaze upon everyone in attendance. Looking very much like the mighty king observing his lowly subjects—until his eyes lit upon me.He watched me for long, agonizing minutes. Butterflies fluttered in my stomach as I felt his hungry eyes rake over my body, and for a terrifying moment I wondered if he could see right through me. I shifted the slightest bit, inwardly cursing myself for coming tonight, but I held firm. I refused to react.I still refuse to react.“You don’t know who I am?” He sounds amused at the notion, and I’m tempted to walk away without a word. My earlier nerves evaporate, replaced by a steely spine and an even steelier attitude. He’s so confident, so arrogant, I’m sure he believes he has me.He doesn’t know who he’s dealing with then, does he?We’re at a local wine- and brewery-tasting, and I’m here representing the bakery my family owns. The one I was recently allowed to take over and run since I’d graduated college. The business they all believe is going to fail. So why not give it to Marina? She can’t screw it up too badly.That’s what I overheard my father telling my uncle. The memory of his words still cuts straight to the bone.Finally I chance a glance at the man behind me, drinking in his thick brown hair tinged with gold, the way it tumbles across his forehead, his twinkling green eyes, the faint smile that curves his full lips. The combination gives him a boyish appearance. It’s a complete illusion because there is nothing boyish about this virile man before me.“Perhaps you can enlighten me.” I offer a carefree smile and turn to face him, the nerves returning tenfold when he takes a step toward me, invading my personal space. His scent hits me first: clean and subtle, a mixture of soap and just . . . him. No cologne that I can detect.Rather unusual. Most of the men I know slather themselves in expensive scents all with the purpose of drawing us silly women in. Instead, they end up choking us.With the exception of this man. I find the uniqueness refreshing.A slow smile appears, revealing perfectly straight white teeth. “Gage Emerson.” He thrusts his hand toward me. “And you are . . .?”He’s not very subtle. And he’s exactly who I suspected, not that I had any real doubt. The very man who recently bought up what feels like half of the Napa Valley, all in the hopes of turning it around and selling it to God knows who just to earn a hefty profit.Not caring in the least that he’s forever changing the landscape of the very place I’ve grown up in. And devastating my family in the process.“Marina Knight,” I say. God, I sound breathless, and I want to smack myself. I’m not here tonight because of him. I came for other reasons. To promote the family bakery, to mix and mingle with local business owners, many I consider friends. My life in the Napa Valley is all I know.And this gorgeous man standing in front of me is trying to take what I know away from me for good.

Amazon Barnes and Noble

ABOUT TORN (Book 2 in the Billionaire Bachelors Club Series):

New York Times bestselling author Monica Murphy mixes business with pleasure in the second book of her sexy Billionaire Bachelors Club series …
Marina Knight came to this party for one thing only: to slap Gage Emerson in the face. Poised to snatch up her family's real estate empire, the sexy tycoon is on the verge of making an enemy for life—even if he can make her melt with a single kiss …
When Gage discovers that the alluring woman before him is the key to his latest acquisition, claiming her as his suddenly doesn't seem quite so cut-and-dried. To get what he wants, he must get to know the fierce woman willing to face him down—as she steadily steals his heart.
Gage's persistence and intense passion war with Marina's determination to protect her family. As they delve deeper into an affair they didn't see coming, Marina's torn: Will she lose her heart to Gage—or everything she holds dear?

About Monica Murphy:

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Monica Murphy is a native Californian who lives in the foothills below Yosemite. A wife and mother of three, she writes New Adult and contemporary romance for Bantam and Avon. She is the author of One Week Girlfriend and Second Chance Boyfriend.

Links:

Website: http://www.monicamurphyauthor.com/#

Blog: http://missmonicamurphy.blogspot.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/MsMonicaMurphy

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/MonicaMurphyauthor

Author Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5934418.Monica_Murphy

Amazon author page: http://www.amazon.com/Monica-Murphy/e/B00AVPYIGG

TORN Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17905596-torn?ac=1

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Friday, November 15, 2013

{Blog Tour & Excerpt} A Risk Worth Taking by Heather Hildenbrand

BOOK SUMMARY:

When 22-year-old Summer Stafford’s parents split halfway through her senior year at college, Summer’s world is rocked. Everything she thought she knew—heck, everything she thought she wanted for her own life—feels like a lie. The truth is love is a risk. And the true kind, the kind that lasts, might even be a fairy tale.
Reeling from the divorce, Summer derails her own future by breaking up with her parent-approved boyfriend and giving up her lifelong plans for a big-city career. She moves back home, business degree in hand. Dad needs her to fill the gaps her mother left behind; Summer needs to find who she is outside of the cookie-cutter life that failed so miserably for her parents.
Ford O’Neal’s future involves one person: himself. He doesn’t have a permanent address and he definitely doesn’t commit. To a place or a person. Raised by hippies, he plans just far enough ahead to secure his next stop, this one landing him at a work-study program at Heritage Plantation where he can grow his own herbal and medicinal creations.
Summer is gorgeous and smart and fun to be with, the perfect way to pass five months. It won’t be love—Ford’s got too many things to accomplish, too many places to go, before he settles down. Yet Summer pulls him in, challenging him to rethink his own philosophy.
When Ford’s five months are up, each of them must decide if love is really worth the risk.

Buy Links:

Amazon/B&N

Excerpt:

“’Scuse me, am I interrupting?” Ford looked back and forth between us uncertainly, his body already half turned toward the exit. His boots scuffed the floor as he turned to go without waiting for an answer. How much had he heard?“No, it’s fine. Come in,” I said, before my dad could say otherwise.“Are you sure? I can come back.”“Dad was just on his way out,” I said.
My dad gave me a stern look before rising, his hat in one hand, his coffee in the other. “I’ll see you at dinner,” he said to me, his tone ominous and heavy with meaning. We weren’t done with this conversation. Fine. I’d just keep finding ways to interrupt it.
As distractions went, Ford wasn’t bad. He had on jeans snug enough around the hips that it got the imagination going. His brown work boots had seen better days; the sole was loose around the edges and stained where his frayed jeans met the laces. He still hadn’t shaved. For a fleeting moment, I wondered what the stubble would feel like against my skin.I forced my eyes down, not wanting to be caught staring—again—and saw that his shirt was blue today. It matched his eyes. I tried not to compare the two shades, willing myself to stop thinking about his eyes at all. Or any other part of him. Damn those jeans…
After a friendly exchange of hellos between the two men, Ford shuffled into the empty seat Dad left behind.“What can I do for you?” I asked, abandoning the computer for my cooling mug and trying to appear like I wasn’t picturing him naked. Well, he could keep the boots on if he wanted.
“Dean said to stop by once you got settled so I could fill out some new employee paperwork.”“Right. The internship is paid, isn’t it?”“So they tell me.”“Forms, forms,” I muttered to myself, using my free hand to explore the contents of the desk drawers on either side of me. Neither yielded the forms I needed.
I eyed the filing cabinet across the room. I’d yet to touch it or even venture that way. The entire cabinet was covered with old artwork I’d brought home as a child. My mother had secured them with magnets we’d picked up on family vacations and mother/daughter outings. I didn’t want to touch that thing. Not yet. God, the entire office still smelled like her.
“You okay?” Ford asked.
I found him studying me with a mixture of curiosity and concern. I knew my expression must’ve conveyed some of what I’d been thinking but I wasn’t about to unload all my baggage on this stranger, hot as he might be.
“Fantastic. You?”
“I’m always great,” he said, hands folded and shoulders relaxed as he lounged in the chair.My eyes narrowed, searching for the sarcasm behind his words, but his tone was genuine and I realized he meant it. Most people answered with a snappy “fine” or “okay” and kept it moving. His upbeat answer caught me off guard.
“So … employment forms?” he prompted.
“Forms, right.” I rose and walked to the filing cabinet, opening drawers and perusing their contents while trying to ignore the pang in my gut it caused to be touching all of the old artwork, things that were so absolutely hers yet she hadn’t bothered to take a single one. She could take the knickknacks from the mantel but not the kangaroo I’d painted in elementary school, writing her name in glitter across the top.
I found the forms I needed and slid the drawer closed. It stuck, and I had to shove it hard to get it to click. Maybe I could convince Dad to spring for a new one. A clean one. And this could go out for garbage, artwork and all. I whirled, antsy to escape this corner of memory lane, and my nose bumped Ford’s chest. Not a bad way to be injured, but still.
“Sorry,” I said, jumping back. My hip bumped the drawer handle behind me and I winced. Ford looked torn between amusement and sympathy. “Employment forms,” I said, shoving them at his chest before he could say a word.
“Thank you.”“You can fill them out and bring them back later.”“Can I stay and fill them out now?”
I grimaced. He still hadn’t moved, and his closeness only heightened my discomfort. Not so much from the pain of the metal against my thigh, but from the way I could feel his presence without a single part of our bodies touching. Like when you rub a balloon for so long, you can feel it pricking at you from an inch away. I’d never felt that from another person before, let alone a man. I hadn’t known such a feeling existed. It was exciting and thrilling and terrifying.“Sure,” I answered, my voice hoarse.
When he still didn’t move, I looked up and met his eyes. He was studying me with an intensity in those blue-grays that made it hard to breathe. “Is there something else?” I managed to say through a suddenly parched throat.“Yes.” He leaned down and for a split second, I thought he was going to kiss me. I blanched and the sheet of static between us evaporated instantly. His expression smoothed so quickly I wondered if I’d imagined the entire thing. But no, there was definitely a level of tension in him too.
He cleared his throat at the same time I wiped my sweaty palms on my jeans.
“A pen?” he asked.

About Heather:

Heather Hildenbrand was born and raised in a small town in northern Virginia where she was homeschooled through high school. She now lives in coastal VA, a few miles from the Atlantic Ocean, with her two adorable children. She works from home, part time, as a property manager and when she's not furiously pounding at the keyboard, or staring off into space whilst plotting a new story, she's lying on the beach, soaking in those delicious, pre-cancerous rays.

Heather loves Mexican food, hates socks with sandals, and if her house was on fire, the one thing she'd grab is her DVR player.

Heather is a co-founder of Accendo Press, a publishing group she operates with fellow authors: Angeline Kace and Jennifer Sommersby. Accendo (a-CH-endo), A Latin word, means “to kindle, illuminate, inflame, or set fire.” This is something Accendo strives to do inside a reader’s imagination with every title released. For a complete list of titles and author bios, visit www.accendopress.com.

Links:

Website/Facebook/FacebookFan Page/Twitter/Goodreads/Newsletter