blogging – Page 12 – Sincerely Karen Jo

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Hello my wonderful and amazing bookish friends!!! I hope you’re all doing just fine and having a really fantastic day! So insanely happy it’s Friday and the weekend again aren’t you?!?

Mannn, it has been such A LONG TIME since I’ve done a First Lines Fridays post. Life has been ridiculously busy for me and I feel like I’m always trying to catch up… I’ve been really tired lately too that I just let my One Year Blog Anniversary (May 26) pass by. It’s not that I’m not motivated to keep blogging, but I literally have no time and would rather relax and read. Also, my long blog post to do list is quite intimidating and I don’t even know where to start anymore… For right now, it seems like the only thing I have time for is premade book promotions, reading and reviewing. That being said and while it may be LATE, I am still planning on doing a giveaway for my One Year Blog Anniversary. Maybe not next week or even this month, but definitely really soon. I have some fun ARCs, books and swag, so it should be really amazing!

Anyway, that went on longer than I had in mind so thanks for reading my little life update…now let’s get to my First Lines Friday pick for today!

FIRST LINES FRIDAYS IS A WEEKLY FEATURE FOR BOOK LOVERS HOSTED BY WANDERING WORDS. WHAT IF INSTEAD OF JUDGING A BOOK BY ITS COVER, ITS AUTHOR OR ITS PRESTIGE, WE JUDGED IT BY ITS OPENING LINES?

PICK A BOOK OFF YOUR SHELF (IT COULD BE YOUR CURRENT READ OR ON YOUR TBR) AND OPEN TO THE FIRST PAGE
COPY THE FIRST FEW LINES, BUT DON’T GIVE ANYTHING ELSE ABOUT THE BOOK AWAY JUST YET – YOU NEED TO HOOK THE READER FIRST
FINALLY… REVEAL THE BOOK!

COPY AND PASTE THE TEXT AND BANNER (OR MAKE YOUR OWN!) ABOVE FOR YOUR OWN FIRST LINES FRIDAYS POSTS. MAKE SURE TO COMMENT YOUR FIRST LINES BELOW SO THAT OTHER PEOPLE CAN CHECK THEM OUT!

I sleep with all my bedroom windows open as habit, so I’m roused from my sleep by the repetitive shrieking of a great blue heron that must be nesting near the man-made lake in the center of the apartment complex. Where are my soft-spoken finches and friendly bluebirds? I wonder with a dreamy smile. Not in Tallahasee apparently.

The heron is loud and insistent, refusing to be ignored. I need to get out of bed, anyway, — a long, busy day awaits. I picture Jake’s face — that bemused close-lipped smile, those gently blue eyes — and memories of last summer flood my mind and my heart. I throw back my covers in a burts of anticipation. A long, busy, fabolous day awaits.

Now scroll down…

Not quite yet, so keep going…

Almost there….

Just a little more…

aboutthebook2

PUBLISHED BY SWOON READS MAY 16, 2017

GENRE(S): YOUNG ADULT, CONTEMPORARY, ROMANCE

HARDCOVER, 320 PAGES

Chin up, Princess, or the crown will slip.

A theme park princess must put her life back together after her happily ever after falls apart in this contemporary YA romance from Karole Cozzo, author of How to Keep Rolling After a Fall and How to Say I Love You Out Loud.

Everything was supposed to be perfect. Alyssa has a job she loves, working as Cinderella at her favorite theme park; a fantastic group of friends; and a boyfriend who will no longer be long distance. But as the summer progresses, her prince becomes less charming and more distant, and Alyssa’s perfect summer falls apart.

Forced to acknowledge that life is not always a fairy tale, Alyssa starts working to pull her herself back together. Fortunately, she doesn’t have to do it alone. With her friend Miller’s support, she’s determined to prove that she’s more than just a pretty princess. And with his help, maybe she’s finally ready for something better than dreams. Maybe she’s ready for something real

Karole Cozzo is such a sweetheart for sending me a paperback copy. She had messaged me on twitter and told me she was a huge Disney fan too and thought that I would enjoy this book. Well, I think she’s absolutely right! The premise sounds really fun and adorable and totally perfect for Disney lovers! Cannot wait to get into this!!!

Oh and I took it with me on a recent Disneyland Trip

authorbio2

Karole lives outside of Philadelphia, PA with her loving husband, exuberant little girl, and smiley little boy. She adores YA Romance, because it would be awesome if life in general had a requisite feel-good happy ending rule. Vices include obscene Haribo gummy consumption, addiction to Starbucks NF vanilla lattes, and tendency to hoard Bath and Body Works 3-wick candles. followtheauthor2 Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter

Have you read this book yet? What did you think? Let me know in the comments.

Have a fun-filled weekend everyone!!!

sincerelykarenjoendsign

aboutthebook2

Looking for Dei
David A. Willson
Publication date: March 23rd 2018
Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult

Fifteen-year-old Nara Dall has never liked secrets. Yet it seems that her life has been filled with them, from the ugly scar on her back to the strange powers she possesses. Her mysterious father refuses to say anything about her origins, and soon, she and her best friend must attend the announcement ceremony, in which youths are tested for a magical gift.

A gifted youth has not been announced in the poor village of Dimmitt for decades. When Nara uncovers the reason, she uses her own powers to make things right. The decision sets her on a path of danger, discovery, and a search for the divine. In the process, she learns the truth about herself and uncovers the biggest secret of all: the power of broken people.

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Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo / Smashwords

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Anne.

Weeks had passed since last hearing His voice.

They are coming.

She stood in the doorway a moment, rigid, gazing out at nothing. In her inner eye, she saw travelers in need of her guidance and protection. After a time, she recovered from the vision and closed the door. She shuffled back to the table and took a seat.

“So you finally sent them, did ya?” She spoke to an empty room.

You are ready.

“I am old! My strength is gone!”

Her shoulders slumped as she stared into the bowl of food. A hard time was coming.

“You should have sent them long ago.”

In my own time. Do as you’re told.

“Or what? You’ll let me die?” She stirred the food with her fork but didn’t take a bite. “I’ve been asking for years to rest, but you’ve left me to rot here.”

He didn’t respond. So be it. Such a long wait, but perhaps she could finish things now. It was a good thing He gave her to do, or so He had always said. She had prepared long ago with the expectation that the task would have been completed by now. She had never expected to wait so long, and resentment had long since replaced her enthusiasm. She often wondered if she had been forgotten, or if the delay had been intended as punishment for her past sins.

So, they are finally coming. She had yearned to hear those words ages ago. All the years, all her adventures, all her mistakes.

“You better help me with this. I mean it.”

Hunger pangs sprang up within. Not only would she need her own strength for what came next but all the strength He could send her as well. She hoped He would be true in this. She did not have what this task required, but of course, that had always been His way. They were coming to her in the twilight of her days, requiring her to depend all that much more on Him. It made for a scenario where He got all the credit, robbing her of any glory for the accomplishment.

She ate the bowl of stew, then served herself another. As she chewed her food, she carved an ornate design into the wood of the table with one of the tines of her fork. Light. Yes, that was it. She carved another. Earth. Harder, but still one of the easy ones. She carved a third. It was wrong, and she bit her lip in frustration. She tried again, much more slowly, deliberating with each stroke, and eventually revealed a design in the wood far more complex than the previous two. “That’s protection, isn’t it oh majestic procrastinator?” She looked up, but He didn’t respond to her irreverence.

She would remember. Then she would teach. But there would be pain.
authorbio2

David A. Willson has worked as a restauranteur, peace officer, and now, author. Taught by his mother to read at a young age, he spent his childhood exploring magic, spaceships, and other dimensions. In his writing, he strives to bring those worlds to his readers.

Much of his material is inspired by the “Great Land” of Alaska, which he has called home for over 30 years. He lives there with his wife, five children, and 2 dogs. He is passionate about technology, faith, and fiction—not necessarily in that order.

Looking for Dei is Willson’s debut novel, set in a land where many more adventures will take place. Stay up to date with his ongoing efforts through the Looking for Dei Facebook page or visiting the website at davidawillson.com.

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Website / Goodreads / Facebook

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