The Twelve Days of Christmas Blog Hop: Day 1

Nearly a year ago, we decided to open a small publishing company. We'd already started a company previously called Prose by Design, but because we'd gone into it without a clear and concise vision, the time eventually came when we realized what our original intent was had been lost somewhere along the way. Rather than restructure, we decided to give our authors their rights back and just start fresh, Thus the birth of Creative Prose Publishing.



"We" consists of Sherry Gammon, a successful YA author who has a book currently being developed into a movie (Unloveable) and Cindy C Bennett, a YA author whose latest title was acquired by Skyscape Books, an Amazon publishing company. We're both passionate about the success of our authors and doing everything we can to help them in their career. Even if they choose to publish themselves or with another company, we still consider them our "baby chicks" and, like mother hens, we're fiercely protective of them.



In the past year we have published 5 books, had one contest which resulted in a published anthology, published another anthology of fantasy Christmas stories, and republished 2 anthologies from Prose by Design. We've signed another 3 books which will be released over the next 3 months. Best of all, we've managed to sign an amazing group of authors who are not only talented, but are also so supportive of one another they've become like family.



We're very excited about all of our authors and the diversity of stories we've published. Below you can read each of the titles we have available and a small bit about the author, as well as read about the three books we have coming up!



We celebrate the ONE YEAR of success we've had, and hope to have many more with more authors like the ones we have now. Visit our blog to read about us and get further detail about our authors and their books.



OUR AUTHORS AND THEIR BOOKS (listed in order of publication with CPP)

BUY THIS BOOK Jamie will be here on December 19th with a humorous post about eight awesome Christmas gifts.

BUY THIS BOOK Debra will be here on December 15th to talk about Christmas as Big Pine Lodge.

BUY THIS BOOK Tifani will be here on December 16th to talk about five golden Christmas tales.

BUY THIS BOOK Rachel will be here on December 17th to talk about love, cats, and wrecked trees.

BUY THIS BOOK M.M. will be here December 14th to sprinkle us with Christmas magic.

PRE-PURCHASE HAVEN WAITING As mentioned above Tifani will be here December 16th.

PRE-PURCHASE HONORABLE DISGRACE Stephanie will be here December 23rd to talk about ways to keep a Christ centered Christmas.

PRE PURCHASE THE GIFT OF LIES Norma will be here on December 20th to give us the history of the ninth reindeer - Rudolph (of course).

BUY THIS BOOK 

Laurie will be here on December 21st to let us in on her top 10 favorite Christmas movies.

Candace will be here on December 22nd with a post about eleven elves.

As mentioned above, Jamie will be here December 19th and M.M. will be here December 14th.

BUY LOVING MARIGOLD Sherry will be here on December 18th to share with us things she's grateful for.

BUY HALFLING Cindy will be here December 13th to talk about all the good things that come in pairs.

Thank you for stopping by,

Creative Prose Publishing

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And the Swoony goes to . . .

Both Falling to Pieces AND Angel have been nominated!!!!

What Are the Swoony Awards?

The Swoony Awards were created to recognize excellence in clean fiction. There are so many
books published every day and it can be hard to find the ones worth
reading. We want to help recognize authors who write entertaining books
that are wholesome. It’s our hope that each year we will help provide
everyone with a great list of books to read and maybe introduce them to
new authors.



What Are the Eligibility Requirements?

-Publication Year: Only books published during the current contest year may be
nominated. To be fair to all books, contest dates will run from December
1, 2013 – November 31, 2014.

-Clean romance: No sex or closed door, low/mild innuendo. Only M/F romances.

-Language: None/mild, anything over a handful of profanity (especially the more offensive words) would not be considered clean.

-Violence: None/mild

-Other: Nothing overly dark, depressing or heavy subject matter



Novels, novellas and short stories are all eligible for nomination, no limits
on page number. Any (clean) genre is eligible (i.e. contemporary,
fantasy, mystery, historical, etc.).



Each voter is able to choose up to 100 books to vote on or nominate each contest year. There is no
cap on the overall number of books nominated.



How Are Winners Selected?

We will be accepting entries throughout the year and the winners announced
the first week in January. There are fifteen award categories (i.e.
Best Novel of the Year, Best Historical, Best Contemporary, etc.).
Winner’s will be announced via our blogs (Bookworm Nation, KJ’s Book
Nook and Katie’s Clean Book Reviews) and through Goodreads Swoony Awards
Group.



Since this is a reader’s choice award the winners are
determined by a combination of the number of votes received and how high
the voter rated the book and what rank the voter gave each book they
voted for.



Who Are We?



 

Kathy (Bookworm Nation)

I've been hosting a book review blog, Bookworm Nation, for over five
years. I love to read and review books. And of course, I love to discuss
books! A few years ago I started the Goodreads group, Happily Ever
After Book Club. It's through Goodreads that I met Katie, Kathy Jo and
Heidi and while discussing our love of books one day we thought it'd be
fun to host our own Reader's Choice award. We're excited to introduce
the Swoony's this year, it's going really well and we look forward to
hosting it for years to come. 

Contact Info for Kathy:

Email: bookwormnation@hotmail.com

Twitter: @bookwormnation

Blog: www.bookwormnation.blogspot.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Bookworm-Nation/204548468640

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/happilyeverafterbookclub

 

 

Kathy Jo (KJ's Book Nook)

This may come as a shocker but I have NOT always been a little bookworm.
In fact growing up I was not the kid you saw jumping at the chance to
read. I was the one that just did it to make my teachers happy. That
silent reading time during school?! Yeah.. I was the kid napping! ;)
About 12 years ago someone loaned me a book and said I just HAD to read
it. I took it just to get them off my back and much to my surprise I
could NOT put it down! And from then on I would read... but only that
one author. I refused to read anything else! It
wasn't until 2009 when 2 of my favorite people introduced me to the
Twilight Series that I actually started branching out. And ever since
then I haven't been able to STOP reading! ;) About 5 months ago I
decided to start a book blog and I have been loving it! I get to be
another voice for all the amazing authors that I love! How cool is
that?! And of course through my
adventures in reading I have been able to meet some amazing women who
love books just as much as, if not more than, me! I love chatting with
them about all the books we read! We have become such great friends that
at times I forget that I've never really met them in person! Books just
have a way of bringing people together! My reading choices vary... I
love a lot of different genres.With that said... I am not ashamed to
admit that I am a romantic and I love fluff! As long as it's clean and
has a HEA, I'll definitely give it a try! Any book that gives me a break
from reality and puts a smile on my face is definitely a book for me!
  


Contact Info for Kathy Jo:

Email: kjsbooknook@gmail.com

Blog: kjsbooknook.blogspot.com 

Twitter: @kjincali



 

Katie (Katie's Clean Book Collection)

I started blogging about a year and a half ago. I've always loved to read and talk about books--it's my obsession. The first book I learned to read on my own was Dr. Seuss's Green Eggs and Ham. I love a lot of different genres, but my favorite is clean romance, which is perfect for the Swoony's! I've had a blast meeting new friends who enjoy the same types of books that I do.



Contact Info for Katie:

Email: lilacqueen75@gmail.com

Twitter: @lilacqueen75

Blog: www.katiescleanbookcollection.blogspot.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/katiescleanbookcollection



 

Heidi 

I'm a mother of four amazing kids and married to my own Prince Charming.
I love to read, kiss my handsome Prince, bake, run (because I love to
bake), ride horses, play sports, and spend time with my little family. I
first fell in love with reading at a very young age because of my sweet
grandmother who always took the time to read me my favorite books over
and over again. She could never tell me no. My wonderful mother is also
entirely addicted to reading and we love to "talk books" late into the
night....and plot how we are going to buy more. :) I adore clean,
happily ever after books, and I've loved getting to know so many other
women who do as well. Who knew books would be the reason I would meet
some of the dearest people in the world?! 

Contact Info for Heidi:

Email: curlyhide9@hotmail.com



Note to Authors:

If you’ve written a book that matches the above criteria fill free to
nominate it for a Swoony! Don’t be afraid to promote the award or to let
your fans know your book is up and that it needs votes. We are doing
some promoting, but sometimes a Facebook, Twitter or blog post directly
from the author is the best way to let your fan base know your book has
been nominated. Only books with a minimum of THREE votes will be added
to the official nomination list found on the Goodreads Swoony Awards group page. Winners will be announced January 2015.

To stay up to date on voting and nominations, please join our Goodreads Swoony Awards group page!

Note to Readers:

If you’ve read a book this year that you think is awesome…VOTE! This is a
great way to let authors know you appreciate all that hard work. You can
vote for up to 100 books on the list. We’ve also learned that the order
you rank the books you vote on does affect the overall score of the
book. So take a minute and make sure you have your books in the order
you want them. Invite your friends to vote! Voting ends December 31,
2014.

The 2014 Swoony Awards is now accepting nominations and votes for your favorite books of the year. Polls will be open until December 31, 2014. 

Join us on Facebook and Twitter.



As a thank you for making the Swoony Awards a success,

we'd like to offer an Amazon gift card! The winner will

have 48 hours to claim the prize. Only valid

where Amazon gift cards may be used. You must

be 13 or older to enter.

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Thank you for being part of the tour! <3 p="">

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COMING IN NOVEMBER!!!

Pieces of my Heart

(Pieces #2)

It's almost time! The cover and blurb will be coming soon. But, until then, here's a peek at what you can expected . . .

Tag line: 'Not all broken things can be fixed.'

Teasers:

Angel (Pieces #1.5) Available NOW!

ANGEL Release Day!!!

Jade's story began in:
Falling to Pieces

Suffering the bitter tongues of her alcoholic mother and cruel boyfriend, Jade struggles just to look at herself in the mirror. She hates her life, her insecurities, her ineptitudes, but most of all . . . Jade hates herself. She wants nothing more than to disappear, and everyone seems happy to let her. Until Kiernan Parks moves back into town. 

Jade’s been crushing on him ever since kindergarten, when his family moved away. But now he’s back, and looking better than ever. 
Hiding is a way of life for Jade, but Kiernan insists on uncovering the real girl he’s sees trapped inside her. On drawing her out of her shell, and showing her that she is someone worthy of love. 

Together, they fight back the darkness she’s living in. But when they finally step into the light, will the secret Kiernan’s been trying to keep buried destroy Jade, once and for all? 

For some people, happy endings are a fairytale.






Now, it's Caulder's turn in:
Angel

We all hide from the people around us. Strangers, acquaintances, friends, even family only see the parts of ourselves we want them to see. We conceal the cracks and flaws beneath the polished surface we put on display. Because we think we need to. Because we think people won't like us if they see who we really are. Because our egos demand it.

We hide because we're proud. We hide because we're insecure. 

But mostly . . . I hid because I was afraid.

**Warning: Contains Spoilers! Meant to be read AFTER Falling to Pieces.

Available Now on Amazon for ONLY 99 CENTS for a 

limited time.

Win a Kindle

Enter to win 1 of 2 great prizes. Winner’s choice of a Kindle Fire HDX or $229 Amazon Gift Card or $229 Paypal Cash!

The first prize is available via the rafflecopter below. The 2nd is available only to bloggers who post about this giveaway. You can find info on how to enter the 2nd giveaway in the rafflecopter.

Win a Kindle Fire HDX, Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash ($229 value)

All New Kindle Fire HDX 7" Giveaway

The winner will have the option of receiving a 7" Kindle Fire HDX (US Only - $229 Value)

Or $229 Amazon.com Gift Card (International)

Or $229 in Paypal Cash (International)

June Sponsors
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Aubrey Wynne: Historical Romance
Author Georgina Young-Ellis



Sign up to sponsor the next Kindle Giveaway here:

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Giveaway Details

1 winner will receive their choice of an all new Kindle Fire 7" HDX (US Only - $229 value), $229 Amazon Gift Card or $229 in Paypal Cash (International).

There is a second separate giveaway for bloggers who post this giveaway on their blog. See details in the rafflecopter on how to enter to win the 2nd Kindle Fire HDX 7", $229 Amazon Gift Card or $229 in Paypal Cash.

Ends 7/1/14

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the participating authors & bloggers. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

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Tempting Rowan Blog Tour

I’m drowning in the numbness. It’s pulling me under and I can’t see the surface. It’s easier to pretend I can’t feel. And the longer you pretend, the easier it is to believe. But he wants to save me. Only he can’t. I have to save myself…and I don’t know if I want to.

Rowan Sinclair’s life has been anything but easy. With an alcoholic mother and a sleazy stepfather, it’s been her responsibility to raise her younger siblings. At twenty-one she’s chained to a life she doesn't want, but sees no other alternative. After all, what would happen to her brother and sister if she were to leave?

Trenton Wentworth sees the pain behind Rowan’s eyes. He wants nothing more than to make it disappear. To hold her. To love her. Except Rowan keeps everyone at a safe distance. But if there’s anyone that can break down the walls she’s built around herself, it’s Trent. So she avoids him at all costs. But Trent isn’t one to be easily evaded. He’s stubborn and determined. He’ll save this girl even if it costs him everything.

Love, lies, and deception.
That’s the name of the game when you’re Tempting Rowan.


Grab your copy today at:
Barnes & Noble
Amazon


REVIEW:
I had the pleasure of reading a copy of this book and I loved everything about it. Rowan is this girl in this crap situation, but she doesn't let it make her weak. In fact, she uses her circumstances to help build her strength and determination. Of course, everything she suffers through doesn't leave her undamaged. Rowan has mastered the art of shutting off her feelings, refusing to feel anything out of fear of feeling everything. She thinks she's incapable of love, but proves that wrong time and time again through her steadfast devotion to her little brother and sister. She loves them deeply and is determined to make their lives better than hers, and she is loved in return. I love a good romance more than pretty much anything, but the relationship between Rowan, Tristan, and Ivy stole the show for me in this book, warming my heart and bringing a smile to my face even in the worst moments.

Don't get me wrong, there's plenty of romance to go around, as well. Steamy romance. On the floor of the library type romance. Yeah, I'll let you go with that where you will, but trust me it can't be better than the way Micalea wrote it. Sweet and sexy all at once, Trent stole my heart from page one. I couldn't get enough of his cocky, self-assured attitude, but it was those moments where he allowed Rowan a glimpse of his vulnerable side that truly won me over. He never pretended to be something he wasn't. He never played games with he, or hid his feelings. Trent loved Rowan. He'd loved her since they were kids and he made no attempt to hide that fact. A fact that scared the ever-loving crap out of poor Rowan, who feared she was too damaged to ever truly return his affections.

Another thing Rowan rarely allowed herself to do was cry. That's okay though because I cried enough for the both of us. I literally couldn't sleep after finishing his book because my nose was all stuffed up from crying.

There are twists and turns to this story that are hunted at and keep the pages turning, but you never really see coming until they slap you in the face. It's a rare thing for a book to genuinely surprise me, but Micalea accomplished that more than once. I can genuinely say that I loved absolutely everything about this story.

Oh, and if your a fan of Trace . . . be prepared for some uber sweetness on his part, as well. *swoon*

Alright, I'll stop fan-girling now and let you take a look for yourself with an excerpt generously supplied by Micalea. Enjoy!

 EXCERPT

“So,” I started, nervously fiddling with the buttons on my jacket, “what are you doing here? This isn’t exactly the most glamorous place.” I swirled my finger in the air for emphasis.

“I needed some ferret food,” he shrugged, pushing the cart forward and reaching up to push the brim of the baseball cap out of his eyes.

“Ferret food?” I questioned in disbelief.

“Yeah,” he shrugged. “I have a ferret and he has to eat.”

“Do they even sell ferret food here? And there’s a Pet-Smart right down the road, why wouldn’t you go there?”

“So many questions, Row,” he sighed, grabbing a container of orange juice and heading for the eggs. “Yes, they have ferret food here. I don’t go to Pet-Smart because if I did that, then I’d want to bring home every furry creature I saw while I was there.”

“You seriously have a ferret?” I continued to drill him.

“Yes, I seriously have a ferret. His name is Bartholomew and he’s really cute. You should come over and play with him sometime. He needs friends,” Trent grinned at me. “How are these?” He held up a carton of eggs.

“Those are great,” I answered his question. “You know, I could see you with a snake or a lizard, but not a ferret.”

Trent shuddered. “Don’t tell anyone, because it’ll ruin my street cred, but I hate reptiles. I’m not saying I’m going to go out and kill a snake because I hate them, I’m all for saving any little creature, I just don’t want one living in my house.”

I cracked a smile at that. “You’re an interesting guy, Trenton.”

He gazed down at me, studying my features. I found myself squirming at the intrusive stare. “Why did you stop talking to me, Rowan?”

Shit.

I brushed past him and grabbed the handle of the shopping cart. I walked as fast as my legs could carry me, but Trent jogged after me.

“Whoa, whoa, whoa,” he reached out, bringing the cart to a halt. “You’re not getting away that easily. You don’t want to answer the question? Fine,” he shrugged like it was no big deal, “but I’m not going anywhere.”

“Of course you’re not,” I grumbled under my breath. Trent would stick around and fester under my skin. He’d find a way into my heart, and when he did I’d have to tell him all my secrets. And when he found out what I had done…he’d hate me, and I wouldn’t blame him.

“I’m a Wentworth,” he bumped me aside with his hip and took over with the shopping cart, “and we’re incredibly stubborn, so get used to it.”

“Believe me, I’m well acquainted with your stubbornness,” I grumbled under my breath.

Trent glanced at me over his shoulder, grinning like the cat that ate the canary. Uh-oh. What had I said? “I like that you’re admitting just how well you know me. This might not be as difficult as I thought.”

“What might not be difficult?” I ground my teeth together. I swear, only Trent seemed to know what buttons to push to piss me off.

“Getting you to see that we’re perfect for each other.”




Tempting Rowan is part of the Trace + Olivia series:
Finding Olivia
Chasing Olivia



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