Lara Crane has 15 Minutes...and it's 99 cents this weekend!

To get ready for the release of Detached, the finale in my time travel series, I'm putting 15 Minutes on sale for 99 cents this weekend. If you haven't picked it up yet and watch the shows that I enjoy like The Flash, Orphan Black, and Continuum, you should consider it! I write these novels to appeal to fans of genre fans like myself.

Why? Because it's my favorite and I like to entertain myself as I write!

In 15 Minutes, Lara Crane goes back in time to save her mother's life. When she wakes up in a new time line she knows nothing about, she finds her very life in danger. And her family much different than she thought it would be. It has heart break, love, laughter and focuses on that mother-daughter relationship that can be so important. Yet so strained.

In Plugged, Lara has to try to escape the tricky situation she's left herself in at the end of 15 Minutes. She must fight a fantasy so perfect that it feels more real than life itself. And real life? It's hell.

Follow it up with Detached, available for pre-order and officially released June 2nd. Life was easier in the cage for Lara Crane as she must fight against a government that thinks they know what's best for her and the country. Meanwhile the past and the future collide in a dangerous way.

Worth of Souls Cover Reveal Plus *Pre-Order*

We are so excited to share the covers for this amazing series - Worth of Souls. The first book will be released July 6, book 2 July 8, and book 3 July 10 but you can pre-order NOW so they come to your eReader the day of release!

Cost of Survival, Book #1

Anger isn’t an emotion anymore, it’s more of a survival mode I can’t afford to let go. My dad predicted World War III would happen in his life, but he died two years before… with my brother… …before Mom and I walked in search of refuge from the bombing. Strengthened by her faith, Mom never feels alone. But me? I don’t know what to believe or where to turn. Someone once said keep your friends close and your enemies closer, but I disagree. Friends scare me the most. They know me and my mom. Nothing about them is safe. The ones in charge… Control everything… Crud, I’ve started crying because I’m scared I won’t survive World War III. But a bigger part of me is scared I will. My mom is bleeding in my arms and she’s making me promise to follow her three rules. Pray. Don’t trust anyone. Stay alive. How long do I need to break all three? Amazon iBooks Nook Kobo Exchange Rate, Book #2 I’m pregnant and I couldn’t be more excited. But the community Bodey, his dad, and I live in has rules. Rules that make Mom’s rules seem like safety nets. Only 200 people are allowed at a time. My baby will make it 201. The leader is making me choose someone from our house to die so there will be room for my child. Either I make the decision or they take… my… Even in the craziness that the world has become, I refuse to believe only 200 can live in it at once. The “community” is safe-ish, comfortable. We have food, warmth, and there isn’t immediate danger of being robbed while we sleep. Doesn’t it make sense we’d have to exchange something for all that? I’ve survived this long. Maybe that’s enough. Maybe I should die so my family can live. Or maybe I can get through the lines and find a people worth sacrificing for. Amazon iBooks Nook Kobo Worth of Souls, Book #3 Running for my life and six months pregnant, I’m terrified but confident in my decisions.With my love and family behind me, captured by the same man who chases me, I have only a small window to find help. The baby needs to come out eventually.Nobody said the end of the world would define people so much. Everywhere I turn I have to prove my worth.Mom was gone before I learned my value lay in my eyes. Not others. But how would that save Bodey? How could my worth change how the world me spins?If I can’t figure it out, everyone I love will die, trapped in a place where even following the rules won’t protect us. Amazon iBooks Nook Kobo   Bonnie R. Paulson mixes her science and medical background with reality and possibilities to make even myths seem likely and give every romance the genetic strength to survive. Bonnie has discovered a dark and twisty turn in her writing that she hopes you enjoy as much as she has enjoyed uncovering it. Dirt biking with her family in the Northwest keeps her sane. Follow on: Facebook / Blog / Twitter / Goodreads / Newsletter / Literary Addicts / Amazon

Saying Goodbye or just See You Later?

Lara must escape from captivity

Lara Crane's journey is coming to a close.

Not yet, but soon enough. I'm 50,000 words into her final book. Detached. A story about moving on when everyone around you can't. When you're pursed by the government and those that are afraid of you. How can you live any sort of a life when everyone you know fears you?

I've written it in 12 days so you could say it's going well, but how do you say good-bye to an old friend?

Lara's been feisty and a handful. She never does what even I expect she'll do and she's my creation, but she's been through a lot and it's time for that final page to close. I love her like she's real, almost like she's my kid. I cheer for her. Sometimes I tear up for her (just a little!)

She's deeply personal to me because every part of her rebellious, spirited nature comes from me. All me. Even though 98% of the time I don't act on it. Lara does because she has nothing to lose.

And that too, that deep longing to connect with her mom. Her parents. Protect it all, on a base level comes from me. Only she's able to go after it in ways I can't.

So it'll be a sad good-bye. How do you say good-bye to your favorite characters you've read about? Is it enough to close the book? Or do you have to start over at the beginning again to help you process that grief?

Celebration in YA plus WIN a Lit-Cube!

Author Jill Cooper just released her second novel in the Rewind Agency Series, Plugged and is currently writing the third novel, Detached. 

To celebrate her awesome YA series she decided to giveaway a fantastic Lit-Cube that is YA themed! If you haven't heard of Lit-Cube its a very fun company that feeds a hopeless book geek who needs a monthly fix! As the owner says: because book geeks deserve awesome subscription boxes too!

Lara Crane is stuck in her mind, in an indefinite stream of timelines where her life is perfect, just the way she wants it to be. But it's not real. It's all made up to give those who want to use time travel for their own personal ambitions. To give time to finish their experiments and turn Lara into a deadly time travel assassin.

If Lara wants to survive and to stop them, she needs to risk her own mind and soul to get out of a prison so perfect it completes the one dream Lara has always had.

Family.

Order on Amazon for $2.99! Read book 1 - 15 Minutes

Order the Dream Slayer Series on Amazon, Book 1 is Free!

About the Author:

I could write this in the third person. I could tell you what I like, where I was born, and what my favorite things are.

But instead, I'll say I don't want to write like everyone else. I don't want to craft stories you've read a thousand times before. I want my novels to be a cinematic experience, blending themes, genres, and situations unlike any you've ever read.

I want to break the rules. I want you to break out in a cold sweat as you read my books out of fear, love, and excitement. I want my books to be an experience. When you finish, I want you to feel something. Good or bad.

If you do, then I'll have succeeded. If not, I'll keep trying. Website | Twitter | Facebook | Newsletter | Literary Addicts | Goodreads | Tsu   Giveaway ends 4/28/15 at 11:59 EST. Continental US only please, 18+ to enter. a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Flash and the FEELS!

For those that don't know, I write a YA Time Travel thriller and wow, I love it way more than I ever thought I would.

It's just so much fun. Anything can happen and in fact the more crazy something happens, the more excited I get. The more I squeal with joy! I've always loved Time Travel, like Back to the Future (HELLO!) Or just something like an episode of Supernatural (yes, I said it, I love Supernatural).

He's Fast!!

Why couldn't Buffy have had a time travel episode? Now that would have been fun.

Which just brings me to my latest obsession. The CW's The Flash. I love comic book movies and television shows, but I've never read the comics. I don't know how true to the source material the Flash's plot twists are, but O.M.G. people.

(Caution. I am about to spoil everything right here!)

Better keep on going doooown....

Poor Barry Allen's mother was killed because The Flash and Reverse Flash fought in the future--and then the past because Reversie wanted to kill the Flash as a little boy.

This is me, trying to keep all the plot points straight.

But he didn't! More like he couldn't. And got stuck in the past hundreds of years from where he was. And now he needs Barry Allen to develop enough speed so he can get his power back and go POOF straight into the future.

Yeah, it's a poor summary. And now Reversie (as I like to call him) is altering the time line. Speeding stuff up, making sure Barry gets his powers early and poor poor Dr. Wells (hot Dr. Wells. I have a thing for scientists and aging watchers) You almost need to keep notes to keep all this stuff straight.

Through all of this, we learn things Barry hasn't pieced together and it leads me to screaming at the television, much to my husband's dismay.

But I love the complexity of this season one of the Flash. I can't believe it's only been on for ONE season. I wish I could travel forward in time and see what is happening in season 7! Oh yes, I went there.

Back to the complexities. I love the plot twists, the time travel twists about repercussions on changing the future. You change what happens, and then what? The universe sets out to get you? In one of the changed time lines, Cisco had a very violent encounter and now it didn't happen, but he's dreaming about it.

Dreaming about a now altered time line.

Oh the feels! I love this sort of thing. It speaks to me on a creative level and I'm wondering how do you feel about it? Could you leave time travel in the dust? Or would you hop in that DeLorean and go on the adventure of your life?

The Flash: All Star Team Up

I love Genre fiction so expect to see reviews, thoughts, ramblings of my favorite shows. The Arrow, The Flash, Supernatural, iZombie (maybe). And expect them all to be filled with one million and a half spoilers.

Seriously.

--------------------------------------------------------------------

All Star Team Up. Seriously. We needed basketball team jerseys for this mashup. 

I loved this episode! Loved! Not surprised because I love all the episodes. Some make me quiver a bit more than previous ones and this one had a few problems that urked me, but overall it was enjoyable.

The biggest one that I can't really get over is the Cross Over. Now, I love when Arrow cast members show up on The Flash, especially Felicity, but the timing of this one just didn't sit right. Previously on Arrow, Oliver Queen was arrested and Roy Harper threw himself down on the sacrifical arrow (wink) and let himself be arrested so Oliver can go free.

I know you were arrested, but I totally need the day off.

And that's seems like it would be a good time for Felicity and Ray to take a day/weekend trip to Starling City?!

Say Whaaat!? Okay, bygones.

Then they're in the next episode of the Arrow like they never left. Except Felicity referenced Barry Allen in a way that suggests it actually did happen in chronical order.

Sigh.

My other main problem with this episode (read this show) Iris. Do not get me started on Iris! She is very much the Lois Lane character which is fine. Really. It's fine. 

Except her and Barry grew up together in the same house with her dad Barry's step dad since he was like 8 years old. They went to elementary, high school, and supported each other all through college and when Barry expresses his love for her, no one ever goes EEEW, even a little bit? How does THAT work!

He's my foster brother. Smexy.

I'm pretty sure there are tons of SMEXY Step-Brother erotica romances out there (that's another post) that make most people squirm. But Barry and Iris are one day going to take that leap. Maybe they could start a My Foster Brother Genre jump.

Anyway, I degress, I've gone on too long to get to what I really want to talk about which is the Iris and dreamy blond detective guy breakup. Oh right, he has a name. I forgot what it was because I was staring into his baby blue eyes.

In this picture. HELLO!

Iris is upset because he's keeping a secret. A police detective. Keeping a secret. Wow. Stop the presses people. You mean he might have confidential information he can't talk about.

Wow. Just wow.

And then NO ONE uses this as a fesible excuse? I know they are trying to go for a tie in Iris/Eddie secrets vs Barry do I tell everyone about Dr. Wells or keep them in the dark drama? 

Sigh. Plot device and a really weak one. Eddie should have left said he can't talk about ongoing investigations. It's not a total lie.

Pet Peeve of the Week: Eddie asking Joe how he can lie to the people he loves in his life. MEANWHILE Eddie and Iris kept their relationship secret from EVERYONE for months. 

Karma people. Karma.

15 Minutes with Author Bonnie Paulson

Bonnie P!

If you don't know Bonnie Paulson, you should! She writes twisted dark thrillers--from zombie romance, crazy multiple personality murderers, and meanwhile she balances it with sweet and clean Western Romances.

Basically she's off the hook, yo!

She's so much fun and just a little (okay, alot) cray cray. Stay tuned through the interview to read an Excerpt from one of her latest projects!

We only have 15 Minutes so let's get this party started!

Bonnie P! You write some crazy stuff all over the spectrum! Where do you get your ideas and is it hard to be that crazy? 

Crazy is exactly the word I use to describe my work, too. The source of my ideas scares me. It's the little things in everyday life. I remember a quote from a classic author (can't remember the man's name) and he said that people pass by a thousand story ideas a day and a writer will find two or three. That's where my ideas come from. It's crazy and it's fun. While it can be exhausting (because who REALLY likes killing people in creative ways?) it can be rewarding as well. 

You've written some sweet book boyfriends. You won't be surprised Slate is my favorite! Was he inspired by anyone or a specific event? 

I love that Slate is your favorite. He's one of mine too! Actually, he's based on Tom Selleck. I love that man. He always brings a piece of himself to every role. Especially Quigley. Sigh. 

Tom Selleck, I never would have guessed. But now I can totally see it! Is there something you're craving to write you haven't got to do yet? 

Hahaha. Yes, always. Yes. I have a series I get to start next spring - same flavor as my Date to Die for serial. So excited for that one. 

If you were going to give any of your characters advice who would it be and what would you say? 

I'd have to tell them all the same thing. "Stay Alive!" Too bad they don't all heed it. 

What's coming next for you and when can we expect to sink our teeth into it?

I'm working on a series that will release this summer The Worth of Souls series has some terrific themes and even more dangerous plot twists. I'm excited to see what the characters do and what everyone things of the upper YA apocalypse thriller. I'm finding it to be lots of fun!

Thank you so much, Jill, for having me. I appreciate your hospitality. 

Stay Alive!

Checkout an excerpt from Romancing Redemption

Lisa’s lips parted, the small pink tip of her tongue darted out to dance across her bottom lip. Ryan’s stomach tightened. His voice grew husky and he went for it. “I meant what I said Saturday. I only went because I might see you.” 

Her smile faded. “But you see me every week. Why haven’t you said anything before now?” Her gaze shot down and then back at his face, doubt shadowing her features.  

He shrugged, but didn’t retreat. “I don’t know. Maybe… I don’t know. I’m sick of playing games. Tired of being alone, you know? I thought…” Ryan fell silent, his pride already tattered around him. He longed to go for a ride, crack the whip a few times to relieve some stress. Why did he always have to make a fool of himself over women who obviously didn’t have the same interest in him? 

“What did you think, Ryan?” Her breathy question gave him pause, doubt overcome by guts.  

“I’m sorry, for the comment I made. I didn’t mean to put you on the spot.” He closed his eyes, face heating up.  

“Don’t apologize, I liked it and I looked for you, too. But, we can’t go that route, right? We need to be friends.” 

She smiled but like she was trying to break it to a rodeo competitor that he hadn’t even placed.  

He scoffed at himself. “Honestly? I thought you might have some feelings for me, too. But… you know, it’s not the first time I’ve been wrong.” But he couldn’t look away. Yet, why would she be interested? He had a son and more baggage than an old school horse-and-carriage.  

“I’m so sorry. That’s not what I meant.” Sadness lowered her lashes. She covered his hand with hers, the contact warm and comforting. “I am interested, but you’re a client. That’s not really ethical, you know? I’m seeing real progress with Jesse and I’m not sure you want to bring in someone new just to see if we’d be compatible on a few dates. Right?” She twisted her lips in a parody of a smile. “Jesse has so much potential. I can’t let him or you down. Okay?”  

Ryan nodded, turning his hand over and capturing her fingers in his palm. “For now. But for the record, I’m not the patient or client – Jesse is.” He winked.  

“For now.” Heat turned her eyes from a sky blue to a darker violet. She ignored the technicality. “Want to tell me what to expect with Wanda?”  

Goose bumps spread up his arms. Wanda. For a scant second, he’d forgotten about Wanda’s visit. He needed Lisa. 

She could make him forget things that never left his mind. For now would have to be the shortest time frame on earth. “Yeah, Wanda. Well, some background for you – she left two days after giving birth to Jesse. He was born with his defect, like you know, and her friend was there for the delivery, and talked the whole time about how terrible having a handicapped child would be to raise.” He swallowed bile at having to repeat those words after so long. “It didn’t take much for Wanda to be persuaded to leave. She just… left. Didn’t tell me or the hospital or anyone. Just disappeared. Like we’d never been together. Like we didn’t have a baby together.”

Romancing Redemption

Kindle: http://authl.it/B00NC1WXEK

Nook: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/romancing-redemption-bonnie-r-paulson/1120321012?ean=2940046326147

iBooks: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/romancing-redemption/id916307574?mt=11&uo=4

Kobo: http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/romancing-redemption

Our 15 Minutes are up! Thanks for stopping by!

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Buffy abuses Spike?!

It's a hard truth to accept.

I've read alot of articles about Buffy (which is my #1 favorite show in the entire planet, thanks!) and her relationships, how empowering she is, which of course I agree with. I have my favorite Buffy moments and my least favorite moments.

I am even a big Spike and Buffy fan, but in Season 6 we see a lot of how bad, confused Buffy feels as she tries to find her way from Heaven to hell on Earth. To growing up and getting her feet on the ground.

But I've never heard (or read an article) about how Buffy treats Spike.

It started in season 5, but by season 6 it was far worse. Spike manipulates Buffy to some extent. Pulls her away from her friends and into the dark (which she wants to be, which is up for debate, of course)

But Buffy, well, she punches Spike in the face. Alot. She berates and demeans him, all the while sneaking off to have sex with him. She has super power and he, well can't even touch her because of that blasted chip in his head.

When Spike tries to rape Buffy (which is a nasty we need to get Spike from plot point A to B, as far as I'm concerned) just about everyone was upset. But no one ever gets upset that Buffy, a heroine and powerful one at that, a role model for young girl's everywhere, is downward spiraling to being abusive to her....um...sex partner.

Does Buffy get a pass because she's a girl? If she does, how does that effect her empowering message? Or is she just someone who lost her way and then deserves forgiveness even if she never asks for it?

Plugged Paperback Giveaway

Enter to win! Lara Crane is stuck in a stream of infinite virtual realities were nothing is real. Not her family and not her happiness. Everything designed to give the Rewind Agency what they need--a deadly time travel assassin. And to escape this curse, Lara will have to embrace the cold harsh reality of life...if she's strong enough to care.

Goodreads Book Giveaway

Plugged

by Jill Cooper

Giveaway ends May 01, 2015.
See the giveaway details at Goodreads.

Enter to Win

First World Problems....Vacations

Weekends...They're Great right?

But this weekend got me thinking. We went to the Great Wolf Lodge in Fitchburg, which is a great place. We played arcade games, went on water slides, ate great food, play more games, ate some more and my young daughter had the pedicure pamper treatment of the world.

She even got to wear a crown, bathe in vanilla fizzies, and wear a pink Princess sash.

But the thing about it, that got me thinking, was (beside the price) how confined we were. No matter what we did we didn't have to go outside and experience nature.

(Not even mini golf)

No nature. Nothing real. Everything manufactured.

We went from one activity to the next herded like cattle. And like that cattle we happily went with one food establishment to the next.

Burgers, Pizza, alcohol yes please, cupcakes, fudge, Mexican Buffet night, donuts, breakfast, ice cream....

To be honest, I kinda felt like a passenger of the ship on Wall-E (extra points for anyone who remembers the name of the ship!)

The sights the smells, we were surrounded by it all. And hundreds of people (1202 at max capacity) doing the exact same thing we were. Together but alone, there was nothing about the process that felt like...well, community. I felt isolated not from other people, who surrounded us, but the entire place was a #firstWorldProblem hashtag.

$45 pedicures
$18 dinner Buffets
$12 refillable soda bucket, the thing is huge.

While I know this place was fun, my daughter will remember it probably forever and it's definitely not something we do every day, I felt like we were cut off from what is really important. Dropping $700 in a weekend, well maybe we could do something better with our money on a weekly basis so when these events happen, I wouldn't feel so guilty.

And yes, we probably will be back next year because it WAS so much fun. But if I feel this guilty about the Great Wolf Lodge, how is DisneyWorld going to make me feel?

What do you think? Our First World vacations a problem, or is it okay because we work so hard the rest of the time?

Plugged Excerpt

Plugged

is the continuing stories of Lara Crane, as she struggles to free herself from captivity. Most of all, she's a prisoner of her own mind and she must search for strength to pull away from what she wants most; the perfect family.

She must turn away from what isn't real and face the painful truth. Really isn't that one of the hardest things we all have to do?

****

I step down from the stand and smile at my family, ignoring the penetrating glare from the defense’s table. I ignore the eyes that follow me. I only take Donovan’s hand and we step outside of the court room.

Taking a deep breath I lean against the wall, but a small, satisfied smile dances across my face. Donovan caresses my arms and kisses my forehead. “You did it. I’m so proud of you.”

“So am I. I just want to put everything behind us. You know? All of us.”

“We’ll get there,” he says softly and caresses my chin. Such a small movement and it makes my heart skip a beat. “How about I take you out of here now for some ice cream?”

“Yum.” I grin and take his hand. We start down the hall toward the elevator. Donovan pushes the down button and we wait. He plays with my hair and I rest my head against his shoulder.

The elevator dings.

We wait for the doors to swoosh open. A darkened figure wearing a ski mask is inside. His arm is held out straight and trains a gun on me.

“Lara!” Donovan screams and pushes me out of the way as the gun goes off.

I drop to the ground, my shoulder taking the bulk of the shock. With a grimace I sit up and the dark figure races down the hall away from us.

“Donovan!” I screech. My eyes fall to his crumpled body on the tile beside the elevator. His skin has already gone pasty and there is blood on his button shirt. I press my hand to his stomach and he cringes.

This isn’t how it’s supposed to go. This isn’t supposed to happen.

“Just a … flesh wound.” Donovan whispers with a grin, but his eyes are lidded and what color is left in his face fades fast.

My teeth grit. “You hold on. I’ll get an ambulance on the phone. You’re going to be fine, you hear me? Just hold on?”

People swarm into the hall, charging to see what’s going on. My hands tremble as I search for my phone, but I can’t find it. Then I remember I left it on my bedroom dresser that morning.

Damn it. Of all the days to forget my phone.

My jaw tenses. My skin burns with rage. “Rex!” I scream. The pounding in my head, the one I’ve spent so much time wishing would go away, returns.

And then the fantasy of my life, the fleeting happiness, disappears. It disintegrates around me one pixel at a time until there is nothing there but me.

In the darkness it all fades.

I blink my eyes and real life breathes and sways in front of me.

I’m in a cage.

Plugged: The Rewind Agency Book 2