Count Down to Love Blog Tour

I'm happy to help celebrate the one-year anniversary of Count Down to Love by being a stop on its 2012 Blog Tour (visit The Book Bug for the rest of the tour stops). Today we have a couple of treats: an author interview AND a giveaway!

Interview with Julie N. Ford

Count Down to Love has quite a few similarities to the TV show The Bachelor. Are you a big fan of the show? If so, do you prefer The Bachelor or The Bachelorette, and do you have a favorite season?

Though I watch sporadically, I’ve never been a huge fan of reality shows. Then while doing my research for CDto L, I learned how producers cut and paste conversations and facial expressions to manipulate “reality” in order to make the show more compelling. Now I find myself second-guessing everything I see. That’s why I chose to focus the story more on Kelly’s journey than on the show. Originally, I had a chapter in the book that showed Kelly watching some of the episodes and comparing what was televised with what had really happened. Unfortunately, my publisher has word count limitations and this scene, along with a few others, were cut. Mostly, I prefer the Bachelorette to the Bachelor. As far as a favorite season, I liked Allie’s the best because she seemed more like a regular girl (no plastic surgery/didn’t appear to have an eating disorder) than most of the other bachelorettes.

Have you ever had a desire to be a contestant on a reality TV show? If so, which one, and what type of contestant do you think you'd be?

Oh good gracious, no. I can make a fool of myself just fine in privacy of my own community; I don’t see the benefit of extending the depth of my idiosyncrasies to national viewers as well. But I have thought it might be interesting to have a reality show where writers are all locked in a house, competing to write a short story or novella. They would have to endure critique groups, one-on-one’s with editors, etc. One contestant gets sent home every episode if their writing is not up to par. Writers often take their work so incredibly, emotionally personal that there would be no need for producers to create any drama. With fellow authors and editors ripping each contestant writer’s work to pieces, there would plenty of drama to go around. Winner gets a national publishing contract.
 
What do you like best about writing and having your books published?

I love it when the plot and/or words just seem to flow effortlessly as if being sent from a special place I have yet to discover. It truly feels like my own little miracle. I enjoy working with an editor and then how neat and clean the text looks when the process is done. It’s fun to see my book on the shelf at the store. But the best part is when a novel is complete, and off to press, because then it’s time for me to sink into another one ☺

Who is your favorite character in Count Down to Love, and why?

Dillon. His character sprung from my secret affinity for cowboys. Then the fact that reality dating shows often choose handsome and wealthy men, someone they think women will swoon over like money and physical appearance are all we ladies care about—as if—made me want to add another dimension. So, I made him a self-made millionaire with a mysterious past that would also give him some depth and an upbringing similar to Kelly’s.

What do you hope that readers will take from your books?

With Count Down to Love I hope my readers will be entertained and maybe even laugh a little. And by taking Kelly’s journey with her, every woman will see that she too can find her true self.

How do you pick the locations for your books?

I usually choose to take readers to places I’ve been, and enjoyed, like the skydiving scene. Except when I jumped, I did it alone, without being attached to an instructor. Very exciting! Or places I’ve always dreamed of going, or living as the case may be, like Dillon’s ranch in Wyoming.

What is your favorite book?

Just about everything written by Kristin Hannah. She is my favorite author. In fact, if I could die and come back as any author, it would be her. I tried to emulate her while writing my first two novels but in the end, both books just sounded like me. I guess that’s okay too.

Do you have any unusual habits while you write?

Hmmm, not really. I usually listen to music while I’m writing. Right now I’m listening to Thriving Ivory, Angels on the Moon. Tapping my foot seems to help me maintain a good writing rhythm. When I get stuck on a difficult scene, or plot-snag, and need to think, I’ll either go for a walk, do some yoga or head out my office door where I have a hammock.

Thank you Julie!

Count Down to Love was a 2011 Whitney Award Finalist in the Romance category. You can read my review here.

GIVEAWAY

One lucky Literary Time Out follower will win an eBook copy of Count Down to Love. To enter, just make sure you are publicly following Literary Time Out (via Google Friend Connect). Then, comment below answering this question by September 5th:

If you had to be on a reality TV show (or TV gameshow), which one would it be and why?

You can earn extra entries by sharing the giveaway on Facebook, Twitter, and/or your blog. Leave a comment for each extra entry with the link(s) to your post(s).

The winner will be posted on September 6th.

You can up your chances of winning Count Down to Love by entering the Grand Prize Giveaway too!

Grand Prize Giveaway

As part of the tour, Julie is generously offering a grand prize giveaway of a hard copy of Count Down to Love, a CD of the band Due West, and a copy of the single, “Who I Am”, which Julie and Due West wrote and recorded specifically for the book. All you have to do to enter is leave a comment on this post or any of the other stops on the tour. (Visit the tour page for the full tour schedule.) The more stops you comment on, the more entries you have into the contest!

Book Description

Abandoned at the altar, Kelly Grace Pickens finds herself left holding not only the bouquet but also the exorbitant bill for an A-list wedding. Homeless, a once promising singing career floundering, and her life bearing an uncanny resemblance to one of her country music ballads, she reluctantly accepts a last minute offer to appear on a reality TV show akin to the bachelor. Pitted against silicon-enhanced supermodels in four-inch heels, Kelly feels confident that she will be among the first would-be fiancés to be excused. Only, when the mysterious bachelor from New York City, Dillon Black, invites her to stay, Kelly finds herself thrust into the vortex of a game she doesn’t have the first idea how to play. Nursing her hopelessly broken heart while avoiding the foils of her fellow contestants, Kelly is oblivious to Dillon’s affections as she wades through hurt and betrayal to discover, in the end, that she has landed firmly on both feet.
 
Leaving behind Nashville’s Music Row for the majestic Grand Teton mountains, Count Down To Love takes readers on a journey from duplicity to sincerity as Kelly discovers that being true to oneself is the first step in finding happiness and everlasting love.

Author Bio
Julie has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and a minor in English Literature from San Diego State University. In addition, she earned a Masters in Social Work from the University of Alabama. She has worked in teaching, childbirth education and family therapy. Besides writing, she spends many hours working along side her husband at their UPS Store franchise, but hopes to re-enter the Social Work field someday.

She is the author of three women’s fiction novels, The Woman He Married (March 2011) and No Holly for Christmas (November 2011), published by Whiskey Creek Press. The third, Count Down to Love (July 2011), published by Bonneville Books.

Currently, she lives in Nashville, TN with her husband, two daughters and one very feisty fish.

You can follow Julie on her website, her blog, Facebook, and Twitter.

Purchase the Book

Amazon | Barnes & Noble

At the Water's Edge

Annela grew up in Helsinki feeling alone and unwanted. Now she has decided to begin a new spiritual life. In her heart, she knows that this new path will lead her to the happiness and peace she desires. But shadows from her past keep reappearing, stalling her progress and making her ultimate goal seem unreachable. First her boyfriend, Tommi, pledges his love, all the while acting in ways that destroy her faith in him. Then her mother, Helena, keeps a dark secret from her that could change Annela's life forever. Then Kenneth appears in her life, but during his brief stay in Finland, will he help her find the love and happiness she’s looking for, or will he prove to be one more complication?

I recently won a copy of this eBook (YAY for free books!). Although At the Water's Edge is not as polished as Lyon's more recent novels, it is a good story with lots of depth.

I was pulled in as I followed Annela on her journey breaking away from the life she was familiar with to a new life that held much more purpose. She had constant battles, but was able to push forward.

I haven't read many books that include abusive relationships. That aspect of this story was eye opening. Especially the look that Lyon gives readers at why the women weren't running away.

The 13: Fall

When former black ops specialist turned CIA operative Jonathan Keene is summoned to the White House, he’s not sure what to expect. And neither is FBI agent Megan Taylor. Together, they learn they’ll be working with former military chaplain Boz Hamilton to track down a man claiming to bear a message from God about the imminent downfall of the United States. But Keene isn’t buying the hype surrounding the so-called Prophet and would prefer to track down the terrorist alone.

As the three of them traverse the country and the globe in search of the Prophet, they’re led deeper down a path of deception and dead ends. Then news of the sudden disappearance of law enforcement officers along the US–Mexico border surfaces and casts a disturbing light on recent events. Suddenly they’re called to join a battle against an enemy no one saw coming.

As the US is pushed into a situation it hasn’t seen since its inception, a conflict awaits that will test the foundations of the country. . .and force Keene to face a past and faith he’d rather leave buried.

The story was pretty intense, and the interaction between the team members was great. There is a lot of action, especially near the end (which isn't the end of the story-this is the first book in a series). At times the details about the military equipment was a bit much, but overall I enjoyed the story. The idea that as a country we've lost focus on what is truly important was quite thought provoking. The references to previous presidencies and what they'd done to the country was also interesting.

Thanks to NetGalley and Barbour Books for the opportunity to read this ARC.

Sharing Time

It has been a crazy, busy week with school starting. We went from a very laid back summer schedule (oh, let's be honest, no schedule) to a packed schedule that requires everyone up and moving much earlier than our bodies are used to. But, it has been a good week. Just not one conducive to book blogging. :)

Here are a few things I wanted to share:

First, Misty Moncur has posted book six in her Daughter of Helaman Series on Wattpad. It is called Brothers in Arms and it's wonderful (as per usual with her writing). I highly recommend this series.

I'll be part of a couple of blog tours and a spotlight coming up in the next few weeks. This includes giveaways! Be sure to visit my Blog Tours / Launches page for more details.

Don't forget about the contest author Josi S. Kilpack and her publisher are doing in conjunction with the release of her latest culinary mystery, Tres Leches Cupcakes. To enter, you just have to leave a comment on my post, and you can enter on any of the participating blogs (by September 16th). Easy, easy entry for an awesome prize pack for a great series!

Through the end of the month Bethany House Publishers is offering some free ebooks. This is one of the "safe" publishers I've found (free from profanity and sex). Head on over to see if any of their August Specials interest you.

Have a great week!

Refuge

I found the Refuge ARC on Netgalley, and the blurb caught my attention.

Laney Lowell moved across the country to escape her past, not to fall in love. But when she becomes friends with Gabe, a handsome artist plagued by a mysterious disease, she'll have to decide between facing his dark truth or walking away from him forever. This thrilling romance is full of twists that will keep you guessing to the last page.

While I enjoyed aspects of this story, it definitely didn't keep me "guessing until the last page." The mysterious disease was pretty obvious early on, but it took Laney most of the book to figure it out. There was a lot of buildup followed by a very rushed ending.

At one point Laney is thinking about her appearance, and says she wouldn't have stood out in Salt Lake with her multiple piercings, pink streaked hair, and tattoo. I'm pretty sure she'd stand out anywhere looking like that, but especially in Salt Lake City, Utah. That issue aside, Laney's explanation about her appearance was eye opening. I wonder how many people out there have sentimental reasons for their seemingly rebellious attire?

The best part of the book was the relationship between Laney and her aunt and uncle. It developed at a realistic pace, and it was moving to learn about their pasts and see them overcome some of their obstacles.

My Lucky Stars

After reading (and loving) Captive Heart, I was excited to read another novel by Michele Paige Holmes.

My Lucky Stars is very different from Captive Heart. The writing is still very good, but this is contemporary and directed at an LDS audience.

High-powered, highly pampered Tara Mollagen couldn't imagine a worse start to the holidays than boarding a crowded plane. A stolen wallet and lost suitcase later, she finds herself stranded in unfamiliar territory,Salt Lake City, after being rerouted to avoid a Colorado blizzard. With her temper running as wild as her red curls, Tara realizes her only option out of town is with Benjamin Whitmore, her reluctant knight in shining armor, er, overalls. For being a nice guy, Ben is rewarded with one aggravating situation after another with sassy, spoiled Tara. While doing his best to bring her pride down a notch, he begins to see another side to her, and a side of himself he's not overly fond of. When tension between them reaches a crescendo, he takes matters into his own hands and Tara into his arms. Unable to forget her experience with Ben, Tara returns to Seattle and long-time friend Jane, who offers possibilities Tara had never even considered. But change is difficult, and she's not so sure she has what it takes to make that leap of faith, or if she has the courage to leave her old life behind.

Tara's character is very entertaining. Her airplane experience at the beginning drew me in, and I enjoyed following her on her journey.

Ben was sort of complicated, but his presence made the story for me. Tara and her transformation take up the bulk of the story, and when Ben wasn't around I felt a bit antsy.

After starting My Lucky Stars I learned that this is the third book in a series. Although it sounds like the books stand alone pretty well, I think I might have enjoyed the middle of the book a bit more if I'd been more familiar with some of the minor characters.

Yesterday's Stardust

Journalist Dani Gallagher finds a tattered diary written in the Roaring Twenties—and clues to a lost treasure. Chef Nicky Fiorini helps unravel the clues, and attraction ignites, but Dani is hiding her own secret. In hopes of a great story, she’s using questionable means to gather information on a local teen gang. Just as she and Nicky are on the verge of solving the mystery, internal fighting breaks out in the gang. Dani is caught the middle, and Nicky is furious. Then the diary leads to a hidden room and a shocking discovery, but have they missed the real treasure?

Yesterday's Stardust moves between present day and the 1920s, and in the present we get both Dani and Nicky's perspectives. At times the jumping around was a bit much, but overall I really liked the story.

Dani was brave, bordering on foolish at times, but I liked that the risks she took were much more for helping the girls that were sucked into gangs than for her career.

The romance was a bit complicated, but the realistic pace was somewhat refreshing.

I'm not sure how accurate the gang life was, but it was eye opening.

I'm definitely interested in reading more of Becky Melby's books.

Thanks to NetGalley and Barbour Publishing for giving me the chance to read the ARC.