Hey all, today I get to share with you an interview I did with Tracy Lorraine! I reviewed her book Falling For Ryan on Tuesday and I'm so excited to now share this with you.
Thank you so much to Tracy for taking the time to answer my questions and for being so sweet.
Enjoy!!
1. How long have you been writing?
I started writing December 2014. I was going through a rough time and I was reading more and more to escape. I had this crazy idea one day that I'd like to have a go at writing my own story. I never intended for anyone to read it, but I confessed what I was doing to a friend and allowed her to read it. A year and a half later I published it. It was totally unexpected but incredible at the same time. I haven't looked back since.
2. If you weren't a writer what would your dream career be?
Honestly, I have no idea. My background has always been design so as long as I'm being creative, I'm happy.
3. What is the nicest thing a reader has said about one of your books?
I love it every time someone tells me that I kept them awake because they couldn't put one of my books down. But I equally adore it when readers tell me how much I made them cry #sorrynotsorry. It blows me away that readers are so invested in my characters that they cry along with them and feel their pain.
4. I feel like a lot of people hide behind a screen and don't care about others feelings. How do you deal with people who spread negativity on social media or leave bad reviews?
Sadly, it's part of the territory. I try my hardest to walk away from any negativity. I know that not everyone will love my books, just like I don't love every other book out there. It's important to remember why I'm doing what I'm doing and why I love it. Also surrounding myself with supportive readers, bloggers and authors works wonders. There are some really incredible people out there and I've met some incredible friends through it.
5. How did you come up with the concept for this series?
As I mentioned above, I had this idea to write my own book. That was all well and good but I had no clue what my story would be. Then I woke up one morning after having the most vivid dream. That morning I found a notebook and Molly, Ryan and the gang were born.
6. I've always wondered when authors write New Adult/Romance/Erotica if they let their friends and family read their books or if they make them steer clear. How do you feel about it?
I wrote in secret for quite a long time. I was a teacher and I was terrified some of my kids would find out and start reading my steamier scenes. That was not something I wanted to discuss in my classroom. Back then it was only my husband, my mother in law and a book obsessed friend who knew. Once I had my daughter and decided against going back to school, I embarked on writing full time I started to "come out". Now, if my friends and family want to read my books they are more than welcome to, apart from my nan. I've banned her! I can't cope with the idea of my nan reading my sex scenes. Even still, she's my biggest supporter.
7. If Molly and Ryan's story was turned into a television show or a movie, who would you want to portray them?
None of my characters have ever been based on real life people and I really struggle finding people who I'd want to portray them because the details just aren't quite right. So sorry, but I"m going to have to pass that question!
8. Originally the name of the book was Falling For Molly, what made you change the name and update the cover?
I first published Falling For Molly in February 2016 and as time's gone on and I've studied the market more, seen what's popular and I've evolved my books. I was toying with the idea of swapping the names for a while but when I decided to change the covers I didn't feel the female names matched the darker design so I went for it.
9. Falling For Ryan is only the beginning of the Falling series - who was your favorite couple to write about?
I have loved each and every one, but Nicole and Declan are the closest to my heart. Nichole is very much me, from the story with her mum to her sleepwalking antics. I'd planned their story before I even published the first book in the series and I had to wait until book nice to be able to get the story out. It was emotional to write because I have first hand experience at some of the more painful bits but I love it so hard.
10. If Falling For Ryan had a them song what would it be?
Songs have been a big part of my writing. I planned a lot of them while driving back and forward to work, listening to the radio. My song for Falling For Ryan is the one mentioned in the last chapter of the duet Ed Sheeren's "Thinking Out Loud". Every time I heard it, it just made me think of Molly and Ryan.
If you'd like to follow Tracy Lorraine on Social Media take a peek below :)
Website
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
Pinterest
"What do you want to be?" "Happy," she says with a smile. - Colleen Hoover
Thursday, January 24, 2019
Tuesday, January 22, 2019
Falling For Ryan Part 1 by Tracy Lorraine
Good afternoon fellow book lovers!
I'm so excited to tell you all my thoughts on Falling For Ryan Part 1 but before I start I have to give you some back story.
I was wandering around on Facebook and an ad for this book came up. I clicked on it and it took me to Amazon and Kindle Unlimited. It was offering a free trial for a month and I figured it was worth a shot to just try it out. You can rent 10 books at a time and then when you want more you just return the ones you've finished or no longer want. It's basically a library but for your kindle which is awesome. It's $9.99 a month after your free trial and I think I'm going to start doing it. I can rent unlimited books for less than $10?! I mean, come on, that's awesome!
Okay, back to the review.
I'm obsessed.
Molly and Ryan are so wonderful I can't take it.
Here's the scoop, Molly's boyfriend cheated on her. Bastard. Worse part is she totally catches him in the act. Bastard squared. She runs to her best friend Ryan's house and he offers to let her move in with him. He's recently bought this big house and has more than enough room for her. They're best friends so what could go wrong? Well the fact that they have scorchin' hot chemistry for starters.
Throughout the book the two try and fight their attraction but it gets the best of them some times. The term "slow burn" is more accurate than ever when describing their relationship. I'm going to be honest, I don't usually like that. I hate reading a whole book waiting for the couple to finally get together the last 80% then something happens, they break up, and then they get back together at the end. I literally hate that. However Falling For Ryan didn't do that to me and I actually enjoyed the suspense of waiting for them to admit their feelings. It was kinda hot. Shhh.
There are two parts to this book and I'm thinking I'll review part 2 at a later date but I can tell you that it was also delicious.
Now here's the part that I never like doing but I am always honest with you all. A drunk driver has changed their life - I'm not going to go into further detail because I don't want to spoil anything - and for people who had to deal with that they sure drink a lot. It bugged me. I've lost a friend and my uncle both to drunk drivers so it's a sensitive issue for me. They are responsible in the book and never drink and drive and I feel like the author really calls attention to that fact but still, they drank way too much for my liking. The other thing that kinda got to be a bit much was the crying. I'm an emotional loon. I cry a lot. Over stupid things. Like really dumb things. But even I sighed a couple times when Molly cried because it was so often. Sometimes I totally understood why she would but eventually it got to be a bit much.
All in all though I absolutely adored this book and the characters! There are more in the series based on couples your meet in part one and two of Falling for Ryan which is one of my favorite things. I also have to point out that it was in dual POV which you all know is my fav.
If you haven't checked Falling For Ryan out yet I definitely recommend you go do that now!!
Buy Falling For Ryan Part 1 Here:
Amazon
Listen to my playlist for Falling For Ryan on Spotify by clicking HERE
I'm so excited to tell you all my thoughts on Falling For Ryan Part 1 but before I start I have to give you some back story.
I was wandering around on Facebook and an ad for this book came up. I clicked on it and it took me to Amazon and Kindle Unlimited. It was offering a free trial for a month and I figured it was worth a shot to just try it out. You can rent 10 books at a time and then when you want more you just return the ones you've finished or no longer want. It's basically a library but for your kindle which is awesome. It's $9.99 a month after your free trial and I think I'm going to start doing it. I can rent unlimited books for less than $10?! I mean, come on, that's awesome!
Okay, back to the review.
I'm obsessed.
Molly and Ryan are so wonderful I can't take it.
Here's the scoop, Molly's boyfriend cheated on her. Bastard. Worse part is she totally catches him in the act. Bastard squared. She runs to her best friend Ryan's house and he offers to let her move in with him. He's recently bought this big house and has more than enough room for her. They're best friends so what could go wrong? Well the fact that they have scorchin' hot chemistry for starters.
Throughout the book the two try and fight their attraction but it gets the best of them some times. The term "slow burn" is more accurate than ever when describing their relationship. I'm going to be honest, I don't usually like that. I hate reading a whole book waiting for the couple to finally get together the last 80% then something happens, they break up, and then they get back together at the end. I literally hate that. However Falling For Ryan didn't do that to me and I actually enjoyed the suspense of waiting for them to admit their feelings. It was kinda hot. Shhh.
There are two parts to this book and I'm thinking I'll review part 2 at a later date but I can tell you that it was also delicious.
Now here's the part that I never like doing but I am always honest with you all. A drunk driver has changed their life - I'm not going to go into further detail because I don't want to spoil anything - and for people who had to deal with that they sure drink a lot. It bugged me. I've lost a friend and my uncle both to drunk drivers so it's a sensitive issue for me. They are responsible in the book and never drink and drive and I feel like the author really calls attention to that fact but still, they drank way too much for my liking. The other thing that kinda got to be a bit much was the crying. I'm an emotional loon. I cry a lot. Over stupid things. Like really dumb things. But even I sighed a couple times when Molly cried because it was so often. Sometimes I totally understood why she would but eventually it got to be a bit much.
All in all though I absolutely adored this book and the characters! There are more in the series based on couples your meet in part one and two of Falling for Ryan which is one of my favorite things. I also have to point out that it was in dual POV which you all know is my fav.
If you haven't checked Falling For Ryan out yet I definitely recommend you go do that now!!
Buy Falling For Ryan Part 1 Here:
Amazon
Listen to my playlist for Falling For Ryan on Spotify by clicking HERE
Thursday, January 10, 2019
Top 10 Books I Read In 2018
I read about 34 books last year and all in all I really enjoyed every single one of them - sigh of relief.
However this is a Top 10 not Top 30 so I have carefully gone through my Goodreads to make up my list.
Before I do the list however I have to tell you guys that I reread the Twilight Saga in November and refell in love with all of them. I didn't include them in the list because I've read them so many times before and it wouldn't be fair to the other contenders of course.
Enjoy!! :)
10. Baby Daddy by Kendall Ryan
Review: Here
9. The Perfect Christmas by Debbie Macomber
Review: Here
8. Lie To Me by Natasha Preston
Review: Here
Interview: Here
7. The Rules for Disappearing by Ashley Elston
Review: Here
Interview: Here
6. All Your Perfects by Colleen Hoover
Review: Here
5. Recovered by Jay Crownover
Review: Here
4. Shelter by Jay Crownover
Review: Here
3. Escape by Jay Crownover
Review: Here
2. Beautiful Burn by Jamie McGuire
Apparently I didn't review this which is shocking to me because I absolutely ADORED it!! Maybe in the near future you'll see one from me :)
1. The Hardest Fall by Ella Maise
Review: Here
However this is a Top 10 not Top 30 so I have carefully gone through my Goodreads to make up my list.
Before I do the list however I have to tell you guys that I reread the Twilight Saga in November and refell in love with all of them. I didn't include them in the list because I've read them so many times before and it wouldn't be fair to the other contenders of course.
Enjoy!! :)
10. Baby Daddy by Kendall Ryan
Review: Here
9. The Perfect Christmas by Debbie Macomber
Review: Here
8. Lie To Me by Natasha Preston
Review: Here
Interview: Here
7. The Rules for Disappearing by Ashley Elston
Review: Here
Interview: Here
6. All Your Perfects by Colleen Hoover
Review: Here
5. Recovered by Jay Crownover
Review: Here
4. Shelter by Jay Crownover
Review: Here
3. Escape by Jay Crownover
Review: Here
2. Beautiful Burn by Jamie McGuire
Apparently I didn't review this which is shocking to me because I absolutely ADORED it!! Maybe in the near future you'll see one from me :)
1. The Hardest Fall by Ella Maise
Review: Here
Tuesday, January 8, 2019
Happy New Year!!
Happy New Year fellow book lovers! I hope you all had a great holiday season :)
I have to tell you I'm very happy to put 2018 behind me. To say it was a rough year would be a major understatement.
I have to tell you I'm very happy to put 2018 behind me. To say it was a rough year would be a major understatement.
I know I have updated you guys with certain things that I'm dealing with but others I've kept to myself. I also want to thank you for the support you've given me through comments and emails, it means the whole universe to me.
Last year I lost my passion for A Book Lovers Playlist. I didn't read as much as I normally do and I wasn't happy.
Every year I do a post on here about my reading goals and another wrapping up the previous year but I'm not going to do all of that this year. With that said, I do plan on doing a Top 10 of 2018 and I did participate in the Goodreads Reading Challenge, as I do every year, and gave myself the goal of 25 books. I'm done pressuring myself because this is all supposed to be fun and I think I've forgotten that.
I've already completed 2 books this year and have set up interviews with 2 new to me authors which I'm very excited about.
Let's make this the year we make ourselves happy. Cheers!
Friday, December 21, 2018
The Perfect Christmas by Debbie Macomber
Do you guys like Hallmark Christmas movies? You know the ones that are half funny, half sweet, and a whole lotta cheese? But like the best cheese ever?
Yeah. Me too.
Reading The Perfect Christmas was like watching one of those movies.
I flew through this book because it was so stinkin cute!
Cassie is in her 30s and she's still single. She wants a husband and children to go along with a job she has and loves.
Problem is she can't seem to meet a man.
One day her friend/coworker tells her to try this matchmaker that she'd actually seen once.
While Cassie is hesitant she decides that right now a matchmaker is her best shot at finding love.
$30,000 later she's meeting Simon Dodson matchmaker extraordinaire.
And he's a dick.
Like a really big one.
He doesn't smile, he's critical, he's...abrupt to say the least.
Even with his oh so charming personality Cassie enjoys talking with him.
Before he will set her up with the man of her dreams he gives her three challenges.
1) She has to be a charity bell ringer
2) Be an elf for Santa at the mall
3) Make a Christmas dinner for her and her less than pleasant neighbors
Cassie obviously agrees to everything in her desperation for a husband, however things don't go as simple as she had planned. Through a whole series of comical mishaps Cassie finds herself getting closer to Simon and less interested in meeting the mystery man he's going to set her up with.
I absolutely adored this book. It was everything that I was looking for and more and I would without a doubt recommend it to you all.
Buy The Perfect Christmas Here:
Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Kobo
Yeah. Me too.
Reading The Perfect Christmas was like watching one of those movies.
I flew through this book because it was so stinkin cute!
Cassie is in her 30s and she's still single. She wants a husband and children to go along with a job she has and loves.
Problem is she can't seem to meet a man.
One day her friend/coworker tells her to try this matchmaker that she'd actually seen once.
While Cassie is hesitant she decides that right now a matchmaker is her best shot at finding love.
$30,000 later she's meeting Simon Dodson matchmaker extraordinaire.
And he's a dick.
Like a really big one.
He doesn't smile, he's critical, he's...abrupt to say the least.
Even with his oh so charming personality Cassie enjoys talking with him.
Before he will set her up with the man of her dreams he gives her three challenges.
1) She has to be a charity bell ringer
2) Be an elf for Santa at the mall
3) Make a Christmas dinner for her and her less than pleasant neighbors
Cassie obviously agrees to everything in her desperation for a husband, however things don't go as simple as she had planned. Through a whole series of comical mishaps Cassie finds herself getting closer to Simon and less interested in meeting the mystery man he's going to set her up with.
I absolutely adored this book. It was everything that I was looking for and more and I would without a doubt recommend it to you all.
Buy The Perfect Christmas Here:
Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Kobo
Thursday, December 20, 2018
1225 Christmas Tree Lane by Debbie Macomber
Last year I pretty much only read Debbie Macomber books the month of December and I loved all of them. Needless to say I was very excited about 1225 Christmas Tree Lane.
Beth is divorced and now lives on a Christmas Tree Farm and living her best life...almost. She loves her farm, she loves her animals, and she loves the people surrounding her. Even with everything she has gained she still finds herself missing her ex husband Kent.
This year for Christmas her two daughters tell her that Kent wants to come to Beth's for the holidays along with his daughters. Instantly Beth is confused.
Does he want to come for his daughters?
Is he coming just to be friendly?
Or, is it possible he still has feelings for her?
What the daughters don't tell her is that they lied.
Big time.
They told their father that their mother invited him.
The girls want their parents back together and they won't let anything get in their way.
However when daddy dearest shows up with a woman the plans get a little muddy.
I really enjoyed reading this story and found myself smiling a lot - which I can't seem to help whenever I read Debbie Macomber.
While this book followed Beth and her family it also follows other members around the town. I'm still kind of undecided about how I felt about that. Someone leaves a basket full of puppies on Beth's porch and she gives them to different people in the community. Once the puppy goes to a family there's a chapter focused more on them. So basically one chapter was Beth and the next was someone else. It got a little confusing because there were SO MANY NAMES. I had trouble remembering who was who and it almost made me put the book down. However once I was finished with the book I realized I didn't dislike it as much I had originally.
All in all I thought this book was really cute and Beth was fabulous. I definitely recommend if you're looking for a feel good Christmas book.
Buy 1225 Christmas Tree Lane Here:
Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Kobo
Beth is divorced and now lives on a Christmas Tree Farm and living her best life...almost. She loves her farm, she loves her animals, and she loves the people surrounding her. Even with everything she has gained she still finds herself missing her ex husband Kent.
This year for Christmas her two daughters tell her that Kent wants to come to Beth's for the holidays along with his daughters. Instantly Beth is confused.
Does he want to come for his daughters?
Is he coming just to be friendly?
Or, is it possible he still has feelings for her?
What the daughters don't tell her is that they lied.
Big time.
They told their father that their mother invited him.
The girls want their parents back together and they won't let anything get in their way.
However when daddy dearest shows up with a woman the plans get a little muddy.
I really enjoyed reading this story and found myself smiling a lot - which I can't seem to help whenever I read Debbie Macomber.
While this book followed Beth and her family it also follows other members around the town. I'm still kind of undecided about how I felt about that. Someone leaves a basket full of puppies on Beth's porch and she gives them to different people in the community. Once the puppy goes to a family there's a chapter focused more on them. So basically one chapter was Beth and the next was someone else. It got a little confusing because there were SO MANY NAMES. I had trouble remembering who was who and it almost made me put the book down. However once I was finished with the book I realized I didn't dislike it as much I had originally.
All in all I thought this book was really cute and Beth was fabulous. I definitely recommend if you're looking for a feel good Christmas book.
Buy 1225 Christmas Tree Lane Here:
Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Kobo
Wednesday, December 12, 2018
Christmas At Twilight by Lori Wilde
The other night after my son went to sleep I decided it was time to start reading my Christmas books for the month. Now I did have one sent to me - which I will review maybe next week - but I didn't want to start with that one, even though I'm crazy excited for it. I grabbed up the little collection I've acquired and decided that Christmas At Twilight sounded like the perfect book to kick things off.
I made it about 4 pages in and reconsidered. I thought now just wait, this is not cute and happy like the books I read last year. You know, the books that are like Hallmark Movies? The ones that are so darn cheesy that they're actually enjoyable?
This one starts off with Brian "Hutch" Hutchinson basically being booted from the military. He's missing a finger, took shrapnel to the throat - making him unable to speak, and is majorly suffering from PTSD. Switch on over to the other side and we have Meredith who has changed everything about herself including her hair length and color, weight, and her name. Now she goes by Jane the common girl with a cute little boy.
Meredith "Jane" moves into a house with a woman named Ashley and her little girl Kimmie when six weeks later Ashley meets a man and takes off, leaving Meredith to care for not only her son Ben, but also Kimmie.
Now here's where it takes on that aww Hallmark factor; Hutch returns home. Which is also the home Meredith is residing in. Yep, Ashley is his sister and he let her live at his home. So now we have hunky military man and beautiful and kind mother. I mean, we know where this is going right?
I have to tell you guys while the book did throw me off at first I am so happy that I kept reading. The more I read the more I wanted to know what was going to happen. We find out that Meredith is on the run from her psychotic ex husband who also happens to be a police detective. We also get to see Hutch move passed some pretty hard moments and watch their entire relationship evolve.
There were parts that reminded me a lot of Safe Haven by Nicholas Sparks and if you've read it or watched the movie then I'm sure you know why it would. It wasn't anything like the Christmas books I read last year but that's what makes reading fun.
I really enjoyed the sweet moments, loved watching Meredith and Hutch with the kids, got sucked into the action and gasped at the horror. All in all it was a very good read and I'm happy this is the book I started with.
My ONLY complaint is that Meredith is supposed to be around my age - if I remember correctly - and both her and Hutch sometimes talk as if they're in their 40s or even 50s. It doesn't make much sense some times and honestly kinda made me roll my eyes on occasion.
Now that I've finished being a brat I can go back to telling you all that I recommend Christmas At Twilight. :)
Buy Christmas At Twilight Here:
I made it about 4 pages in and reconsidered. I thought now just wait, this is not cute and happy like the books I read last year. You know, the books that are like Hallmark Movies? The ones that are so darn cheesy that they're actually enjoyable?
This one starts off with Brian "Hutch" Hutchinson basically being booted from the military. He's missing a finger, took shrapnel to the throat - making him unable to speak, and is majorly suffering from PTSD. Switch on over to the other side and we have Meredith who has changed everything about herself including her hair length and color, weight, and her name. Now she goes by Jane the common girl with a cute little boy.
Meredith "Jane" moves into a house with a woman named Ashley and her little girl Kimmie when six weeks later Ashley meets a man and takes off, leaving Meredith to care for not only her son Ben, but also Kimmie.
Now here's where it takes on that aww Hallmark factor; Hutch returns home. Which is also the home Meredith is residing in. Yep, Ashley is his sister and he let her live at his home. So now we have hunky military man and beautiful and kind mother. I mean, we know where this is going right?
I have to tell you guys while the book did throw me off at first I am so happy that I kept reading. The more I read the more I wanted to know what was going to happen. We find out that Meredith is on the run from her psychotic ex husband who also happens to be a police detective. We also get to see Hutch move passed some pretty hard moments and watch their entire relationship evolve.
There were parts that reminded me a lot of Safe Haven by Nicholas Sparks and if you've read it or watched the movie then I'm sure you know why it would. It wasn't anything like the Christmas books I read last year but that's what makes reading fun.
I really enjoyed the sweet moments, loved watching Meredith and Hutch with the kids, got sucked into the action and gasped at the horror. All in all it was a very good read and I'm happy this is the book I started with.
My ONLY complaint is that Meredith is supposed to be around my age - if I remember correctly - and both her and Hutch sometimes talk as if they're in their 40s or even 50s. It doesn't make much sense some times and honestly kinda made me roll my eyes on occasion.
Now that I've finished being a brat I can go back to telling you all that I recommend Christmas At Twilight. :)
Buy Christmas At Twilight Here:
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