A New Start

Wow. It's been a long time since I published anything on this blog. To tell you the truth, I thought about deleting this blog numerous times over the past couple months. I just didn't find a lot (or any) time to dedicate to it, and I didn't think it was fair to keep it up under the pretense of it being an active blog. Which it clearly has not been for a little while.


Now is the point where, I hope, all that changes. I'm going to make a big effort to breath new life into the blog. It did not fall into disrepair from lack of anything to say, but rather I had other priorities I felt were more pressing. And no...none of those priorities have changed. But I missed the blogging community. I miss visiting other's blogs and chatting with them about whatever I've posted or whatever they've posted. I'm really going to try and post at least once a week and to reacquaint myself with the blogs I followed. I know once a week is not a lot, but it's a good starting goal again.


So, what's been going on in my life since the last post? A whole lot! Here are the highlights:


The Wolf Within has gotten a lot of great reviews, and I'm thrilled that others are enjoying the story that holds such a close place in my heart!


Worth Fighting For, the fourth book in the Alpine Woods Shifters series, is coming out in just a couple weeks and I could not be more excited! Misty and Cody were some of my favorite characters to write and I hope everyone else thinks they're as special as I do. Already it's gotten a few really great reviews, which I'm thrilled about and which I'll post in a separate post in a bit.


I also contracted the fifth book in the series, Covert Desires, with Lyrical Press. More news on that to come!


And on a personal note, I've been getting ready for my brother's wedding which is coming next week! I've got my dress, shoes, and jewelry all picked out, and I can't wait until I get on a plane to head out there (the wedding is taking place in her home town, New Orleans). I've never been so any sight seeing suggestions are most welcome!


So that's the highlights of my life in the past couple months, what have all you been up to?

Six Sunday with a Shiny New Cover

This week, I received my cover for Worth Fighting For, book four in my Alpine Woods Shifters. The book isn't due out until May 7th, but I'm absolutely in love with the cover Renee Rocco at Lyrical made for me, so I thought I'd share a little sneak peek of the book for today's Six Sentence Sunday. 

 

From one moment to the next, the kiss changed. No longer was Misty the aggressor. Instead, she was hit by the full force of Cody's dominance. Without thought, she gave up control, closing her eyes and melting into his embrace. Releasing the material in her fists, Misty ran her hands up his chest, feeling the muscles ripple through his clothes wherever she caressed. 

  
For More information about me or my books, check out my website at www.sondraebennett.com.


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Character Interview

Well, I'm happy to announce my holiday filled night wrapping gifts and watching Christmas movies has brought me out of my funk. My family is coming in on Friday and I can't wait to see them!

Today, I'm at Reading Between the Wines Book club. I interviewed Julie, the heroine from my latest release, The Wolf Within. Brendan, the Hero, makes an appearance as well. It's a fun post so I hope you'll stop by and check it out.

 http://readingbetweenthewinesbookclub.blogspot.com/2011/12/wolf-within-by-sondrae-bennett.html

They also have a lovely review of the book on their blog HERE. "Sondrae Bennett story telling is consistent and precise which makes her Alpine Woods Shifters series just that much more enjoyable!"

Where is the snow?

The Christmas excitement hasn't hit me, yet. I'm still having a hard time believing it is only a week away! My shopping is almost done. I have one more gift to buy and I know exactly what I'm getting, just haven't picked it up yet. But even shopping was less exciting than in years past. Picking out gifts for my loved ones is usually my favorite part of the holiday season. As I peruse through stores, I can picture everyone's face as they open their present. But this year, most of my gifts are suggestions from the person or from someone else.

I think part of my funk lies with my recent move. This is the first time in my life I'm living somewhere warmer for the winter. Having grown up in Michigan, attending college in Syracuse, New York (now that is winter), and living in NYC, snow has been a staple in my winter/Christmas experience. But now, there's no snow. No knit hats with reindeer on them, no snow angels, or snowmen. And worst of all, very few houses with decorations and lights.

One of my favorite things to do at Christmas time is drive around the neighborhood and see all the different lights reflecting off the white snow. Colored lights, and white lights, and those decorated all in blue. I just love it.

Tonight, in an effort to get out of my Christmas funk, I'm going to brew up a steamy cup of hot chocolate, put on a Christmas movie (I'm banking on one being on tv since I don't have any with me, lol), and wrapping gifts to put under our tree.

What would you recommend I do to get in the Christmas spirit?

Six Sunday #5

Last week, I wasn't able to participate in Six Sentence Sunday, but I'm back again this week! If you don't know what that is, basically, it's exactly what it sounds like. Every Sunday, authors all around the Internet post six sentence snippets from anything they've written. It can be a published work, or a work in progress. Today, I've chosen to revisit the first book in my Alpine Woods Shifters series, Arctic Winds.

"Okay, I'll pick you up at eight thirty for dinner."
"Dinner?"
"Yeah, dinner. You know, like a date."
"A date?"
"I thought you said you were a fox shifter, not parrot," he teased with a glint of laughter in his eyes.

Arctic Winds is available at Lyrical Press, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and digital bookstores everywhere! For More information about me or my books, check out my website at www.sondraebennett.com.


See all participating authors at:

November Reads

I feel like I've read more than this in November, but I go by my Goodreads since I'm pretty good about keeping that current (and since I have a terrible memory). So here goes:

Snowballs in Hell by Eve Langlais - 3 stars - I really liked the first book in the series, but had a hard time getting into this one. Not sure why.

Stoneface by Tymber Dalton - 3.5 stars - I love Tymber Dalton, but was a bit disappointed by this book. It was missing some of the passion and some of the emotion she writes so well in her other books. Still, if you're a fan of hers, I would recommend the book. 

Artistic Vision, The Gray Court book 3, by Dana Marie Bell - 5 stars- Wow! I'm a huge fan of DMB and this book is a perfect representation of why. Amazing characters, interesting plot, and a perfect execution. Really a fantastic read for anyone who enjoys paranormal romance. 

Jealous and Freakn' by Eve Langlais - 4.5 stars - Another very enjoyable read by Ms. Langlais. Highly recommended. 







Some great reads this month, especially toward the end (and even more in the beginning of December!). Although Jealous and Freakn' was amazing, I have to give best read of the month to Artistic Vision by Dana Marie Bell. 

What book was your favorite November read?

Best Friends

I don't think any of us ever forget our best friends from middle school and/or high school. The bonds we form while discussing boys, eating pizza, and giggling like crazy during sleep overs remain strong throughout our lives. I still remember dancing to the Spice Girls, or singing Girl's Just Want to Have Fun at karaoke with my girlfriends from middle school, many of who I still keep touch with today. In fact, with Facebook, I'm able to keep in touch with just about all of them in one way or another.

But my very best friend and I have done more than kept in touch. To this day, we are still best friends, even when we live on opposite ends of the country as we do now. We get together a couple times a year, I travel to her beach house for a summer trip, or she heads to wherever I happen to be living (as I've stated in early blogs, I'm a wanderer, and up til now, I haven't stayed in one place too long). Tonight, is one of these times. My best friend since the first day of middle school is heading to San Diego to spend the week with me!

I've taken the week off work and have been planning a bunch of fun activities to do together. With our shared history, it's nice to get together, remembering the good times and the bad. Because even though we've both changed, grown, as people, our friendship has changed as well, and we are still as close as ever.