Friday, June 5, 2015

Celebrate: The Hard Part & T.B.Markinson's June Giveaway


We have a lot of wonderful people on the Celebrate the Small Things hop! Each week, I love visiting everyone’s blogs and hearing about their accomplishments and what they’re grateful for!

Naturally, some people don’t always have time to post every week.  That’s okay. It’s a blog hop for fun, and I try to keep it that way. 

April and May are especially busy because so many participate in the A-Z Challenge daily posts, and you have to be a super-blogger to try to keep another blog hop going during the A-Z.  And by May, some people are collapsed on their couches or have unplugged their computer or are hiding in their closets mumbling to themselves.  Many need a blogging break.

I like to give bloggers the benefit of the doubt and don’t take anyone’s name off the list until they’ve missed an entire two months of posts.

I began culling the list this week and will continue next week. If a name disappears, it’s just in the interest of efficiency, so people don’t have to click around to blogs that haven't been active in a while and who can’t return comments. 

Anyone can get back on the list at anytime—just write to me and ask. :)

Do you think this is fair? Should I wait longer than 2 months? 

My kind and wonderful co-hosts of Celebrate the Small Things are:
L.G. Keltner @ Writing Off The Edge
Katie @ TheCyborgMom

Celebrate The Small Things Linky:



Grab the Linky html-code here:



 Celebrate the Small ThingsTo be part of this blog hop, all you have to do is visit the Celebrate page on Lexa's Blog for the rules, and then post every Friday about something you're grateful  for that week.  It can be about writing or family or school or general life.  This is the funnest and easiest blog hop ever! (Originated by VikLit)



Foxy's Friday Freebies!

Foxy has been nosing around the net
When she finds great FREE STUFF, she'll feature it on Fridays Freebies posts -
  • Free short stories, novellas, and novels
  • Giveaways for books and swag
  • Free services for authors


This week's Freebies are a special giveaway for the month of June.  Here are the details from T.B. Markinson:


Each month, I plan to giveaway awesome books by wonderful authors and a $5 Amazon Gift Card. It’s my way of saying thank you to all my followers and fans. Some may wonder why I’m giving books away that aren’t mine. The answer is simple: I love to read and I love to help fellow authors promote their books.

The giveaway is easy to enter. Just click on this link to enter: Rafflecopter giveaway.  At the end of the month, one winner will be selected randomly and will receive an ebook copy of all the books below. Good luck!

Here are the incredible books for June’s Giveaway.


30 SECONDS by Chrys Fey
Blurb:
        When Officer Blake Herro agreed to go undercover in the Mob, he thought he understood the risks. But he's made mistakes and now an innocent woman has become their target. He's determined to protect her at all costs.
        The Mob's death threat turns Dr. Dani Hart's life upside down, but there is one danger she doesn’t anticipate. As she's dodging bullets, she's falling in love with Blake. With danger all around them, will she and Blake survive and have a happy ending, or will the Mob make good on their threat?


Ebook Formats Available: Mobi and PDF
Book Links: Amazon US /Amazon UK / NOOK / KOBO / Goodreads
Where to find Chrys Fey: Facebook / Blog / Website / Goodreads

SOUL CUTTER by Lexa Cain
Blurb:
        The Soul Cutter is hunting again.
        Seventeen-year-old Élan spends her free time videoing psychic scams and outing them online. Skepticism makes life safe—all the ghosts Élan encounters are fakes. When her estranged mother disappears from a film shoot in Egypt, Élan puts her medium-busting activities on hold and joins the search.
        In Egypt, the superstitious film crew sucks at finding her mom. When a hotel guest is killed, whispers start—the locals think their legendary Soul Cutter has come back from the dead. Élan's only ally is Ramsey, a film-crew intern, but he’s arrogant, stubborn—and hiding dangerous secrets.
        When Élan discovers the Soul Cutter is no scam, she finds herself locked in a deadly battle against a supernatural killer with more than her mother’s life at stake. Élan is fighting for her very soul.

Ebook Formats Available: Epub, Mobi, PDF
Book Links: AMAZON / AMAZON UK / KOBO / SMASHWORDS / BARNES&NOBLE / BOOKSTRAND / OMNILIT
Where to find Lexa Cain: Lexa's Blog / Facebook Author / GR-Author / GR-Book

POP TRAVEL by Tara Tyler
Blurb:
POP TRAVEL is the way to go! (at your own risk) In 2080, technology has gone too far for J.L. Cooper. He is happily hidden in his simple, secluded life as a private detective in a small town, far from any pop travel laser teleportation stations. Until he takes on a client who insists pop travel made his fiancé disappear. When Cooper investigates, he finds evidence of pop travel's deadly flaw, sparking a series of murders, attempts on his life, and threats to his brother. He'd like to pass off the evidence but knows he's being watched and can't trust anyone. And who would believe him? The only way he can save his brother is to fool his observers while looking for a way to expose the problem. He decides to go to the source and confront the Creator of pop travel. On his way, Cooper meets Southern siren, Geri Harper (an undercover FBI agent) who tags along despite his protests. When they reach the Creator, he has plans of his own and leads them on a wild detour.
Ebook Formats Available: Kindle, Nook, Kobo
Book Links: Amazon / B&N
Where to find Tara Tyler: Blog / Facebook / Goodreads

CLOAKED IN FUR by T.F. Walsh
Blurb:
        Cloaked in Fur sees rebellious Daciana cast into a life-threatening adventure against her will to uncover who is killing her friends before the predator sets its sights on her.
        She'll do whatever it takes to stop the creature responsible. The police and her boyfriend, Inspector Connell Lonescu, are starting to question her involvement in the murders, which endangers her pack's secret existence. But when her alpha kidnaps Connell, revealing the awful truth about the creature and its connection to the pack, Daciana must choose between saving the man she loves and saving her pack family from certain death.
Ebook Formats Available: Mobi, Epub
Book Links: Amazon / Amazon UK / Barnes and Noble / iTunes / Romance Books
Where to find T.F.Walsh: Website / Twitter / Facebook / Goodreads / Amazon

OF BLOOD AND SORROW by Christine Rains
Blurb:
        Erin Driscol works the perfect job consoling fellow demons by feeding off their grief at Putzkammer & Sons Funeral Home.
        When fledgling vampire Nicolas Reese comes to Erin for help, she learns the truth behind the legends and hides him from his sire and the vampire hunters who seek him. But when the Putzkammers begin to die one by one, Erin is caught between her act of kindness and the need to save her adopted family. Only by facing her own personal demons can she stop the slaughter and still rescue Nicolas from his dark fate.
Ebook Formats Available: Mobi, Epub
Book Links: Amazon / B&N / Kobo / Smashwords
Where to find Christine Rains: Website / Blog / Facebook


For Foxy's other Freebies, go to the Freebie page.

If anyone has a FREE short story (for download or online at a free ezine), novella, novel, special giveaway, or author service, please let Foxy know so she can plug you here!  Write to: laura.6eg(at)gmail.com

43 comments:

Suzanne Furness said...

Hi Lexa, that seems very fair to me. At the time of writing this I must admit I haven't posted today as I have been busy. Also it was IWSG so I think that has made me busier on line this week with other things. I'm sure I'll be back next week. Thanks for being a great host.

cheerfuloptimistic said...

Two months sounds sufficient. Some weeks we forget or just don't feel up to it, but if someone isn't posting for the blog hop at all, there's no point in keeping them on the list.

Blogoratti said...

Seems fair enough. Thanks for sharing and have a fun weekend!

Heather R. Holden said...

Two months sound fair to me. And hey, like you said, they can always ask to be included in the list again, so it's not like it's a permanent thing!

Kate Larkindale said...

Seems fair to me. Two months is a lot of posts to miss! I feel bad when I miss even one week….

Cathy Kennedy said...

Lexa, I think weeding through the list is a good idea. I know whenever I come upon a blog that isn't participating in a given meme unless something immediately catches my eye (and I do give it a fair try) then I'll click the site off. Yes, 2-months is plenty long enough...well, except for the summer months. I know things are going to slow to a snail pass now that it's June. So...you may find many bloggers including myself are either stepping back or away from Blogosphere this summer. Oh well, thanks for hosting the fun. I think I'll pin your linky party(now) to my post. It's Friday! That's good enough of reason to celebrate alone, but you're welcome to hop over to see what else I'm celebrating in today's post!

Unknown said...

Lexa,

Seems fair to me. We're all busy, so missing a month may be normal. But you're moderating and keeping things running, so do what you think is best.

Tonja Drecker said...

Sounds more than fair to me. There are weeks, life simply gets in the way (or I forget). Plus, as you said, it's easy to sign right back up. Have a great weekend!

Mere Joyce said...

Yep, 2 months sounds fair! I, too, skip weeks sometimes, but if I were to ever miss two whole months, I wouldn't expect to still be on the linky!

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Two months is beyond fair. Since it's a weekly thing, I would only go a month. I cull the IWSG list of those who have missed two or more in a row.

Cathrina Constantine said...

I believe you're being generous by waiting 2 months! Lot's of good book on your post today. I've read a couple of them. Great Reads!!!

Unknown said...

2 months sounds more than fair to me! Awesome books btw, I read most of these and know most of them! <3

Tyrean Martinson said...

That seems very fair! Thanks for doing such an awesome job running this weekly hop! You rock!
And those giveaways are sweet!

Anonymous said...

An occasional list culling seems prudent :) I keep trying to post every week, because I find it helps ME to have to think of small celebrations :) Though, I am starting to feel some burnout -- but trying to push through!

Cathy said...

Two months sounds perfect and I'm glad to hear you weed the list. I'd been wondering if that ever happened. Thank you for all you do, not only to enable this blog hop to happen, but for making it such a lovely one. Have a good weekend.

Jolie du Pre said...

Yes, it's fair. And besides, this is your hop. You make the rules. When I run a blog hop, it's not a democracy. LOL! I'm in charge.

Precious Monsters

Sign up for the Paranormal Romance Blog Hop for July 14, 2015

Laura Clipson said...

I think two months is more than fair, I feel bad if I miss just one week!

Courtney said...

Two months is very generous! I didn't sign up though because my blog is not as personal a blog as some of the others here, although maybe I'll change my mind, and YES, I took most of May off after doing A to Z Challenge and am still giving myself plenty of down time. Maui Jungalow

shelly said...

I love this blog hop idea. But as you know, I've been sitting out. My plate has been full.

kimlajevardi.com said...

I think two months is fair--even though I'm not a participant. I do plan to sign up, but after my busy June that is. Anyways, two months is the equivalent of eight posts, correct? Sounds reasonable to assume that if someone misses eight consecutive posts that they may have left or lost interest.

Beverly Stowe McClure said...

Two months sounds fair to me. The giveaway looks great.
Have a good weekend.

T.F. Walsh said...

Blog hops are a lot of work...and you've done an amazing job on your last one:) And yes, 2 months is plenty of notice for the Celebrate the Small Things blog hop:) Have a fantastic weekend.

Anonymous said...

Two months is very fair. That's an amazing package of book goodies. I've read 3 of the titles.

Deanie Humphrys-Dunne said...

Hi Lexa,
Yes, I think your plan is very fair. It's good that people can always rejoin when their schedules allow too. Hope everyone is enjoying the weekend.

DMS said...

Two months sounds very fair to me. Everyone needs a little time, but too much time would make it hard for people to hop around. :)

I love those chocolate hearts!
~Jess

Unknown said...

I think 2 months is a very generous grace period. Thanks so much for taking over this hop and managing it--you're doing a fantastic job!

Dianne K. Salerni said...

I have learned that April and May are completely wash-outs in the blogosphere, especially if you don't participate in A to Z. It was pretty tough on me when I had books coming out in May 2013 and April 2014. I was very happy not to be releasing anything this spring, so I could just not worry about blogging!

Anonymous said...

Hey Lexa! I think 2 months is more than fair! I know that I tend to miss a few postings (mostly when I have a health issue or am undergoing some therapies), but I don't think I've ever gone two whole months without posting.

I'm beyond thrilled that you've kept this blog hop going and I'm going to try participating more once ST is over (finished PT in April). By the way, when you have a moment, please stop by my blog and pick up your Encouraging Thunder Award. http://wp.me/p4xX1Z-dz

Nas said...

Great list of books.

Julia Thorley said...

I'm one of the guilty ones who didn't post on Friday: sorry. I think missing two months is about right. Some people (not me) have lengthy holidays or proper jobs (not me) that mean they can't always make it. Sometimes there's nothing to celebrate...

Jennifer Hawes said...

Burn out can happen so easily when blogging daily! I try to post once a week or, at least, for IWSG once a month. I think it's totally fair about culling your list.

Jay Noel said...

I blog once a week, and that's not a HUGE commitment. So I don't think you're asking too much.

~Sia McKye~ said...

I don't partiscipate but I think your solution is a fair one. A lot of things get in the way of good intentions. Even if you do miss a couple of months you can always sign up again.

I try to focus on the good things however small. Even when I've had a string of bad things I've always found there are those moments of quiet joy. You just have to look for them. Change your focus, if you will.

that's quite an interesting list of books. Couple I'd like to check out.

Sia McKye Over Coffee

TBM said...

I would have to agree that two months is fair. Thanks so much for mentioning the giveaway!

Anonymous said...

Two months definitely sounds more than fair as that is a lot of posts to miss. I know I myself have been guilty of not posting as much as I should, and I certainly feel guilty enough as it is if I go more than 2 weeks without posting. Thanks for keeping up the hop though and being so accommodating of everyone!

klahanie said...

Hey Lexa,

You can officially relax. Yay and gosh, I'm here!

I'm sure you realise that I wish all these blog hops would just go away. If somebody feels guilty, feels pressured, then something is wrong with the ideals of it all. Personally, I prefer to do my own thing and not feel obliged to get involved in some of the blog hops that border on a clique.

Rant over and you know I respect what you do because you are well meaning. A kind thing to have the book giveaway and I note your good self amongst those other fine writers.

Take care, dear Lexa.

Gary :)

Shannon Lawrence said...

Two months sounds fair. I think it's similar with IWSG. It's wonderful that you're giving away other people's books!

Unknown said...

Two months is definitely fair. And like you said, if someone hasn't participated in the hop for that long but wishes to rejoin, they can always ask you to get back onto the list. Quite fair to me!
I usually post on Mondays but if I decide to join this hop, how long is it going on for? And I can tell you one thing I am grateful for... you!
Glad to be back!

M Pax said...

Lots of great books in that giveaway.

Sounds fair to me. I left the hop because I don't post on Fridays anymore.

Kimberly said...

Two months seems very fair to me. :)

Those are some great books in the giveaway! It's so awesome of TB to do, I need to sign up for that.

Denise Covey said...

What a great list of books to giveaway. It's always hard to keep an up-to-date bloghop participant list. I only post once a week and there's always something...

Denise :-)

Unknown said...

That's a lovely list of books! And I like Soul Cutter, Lexa!

TheCyborgMom said...

Two months is very fair. And if anyone needs to take longer, they can always come back!

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