Love on Landing Tour ~ Guest Post, Review and Giveaway ~ Heather Thurmeier

Today we're welcoming author Heather Thurmeier to the blog on her tour with Goddess Fish Promotions for the contemporary romantic novel being released today by Silver Publishing.

To celebrate the release of her amazing new book, Heather will be giving away a $25 Amazon GC to one randomly drawn commenter during the tour. So comment today AND follow her tour (if you click on the banner above, it'll take you to a list of her tour stops), the more you read and comment, the better your odds of winning. See below for more information on the giveaway.

Ten things I Wish I’d Known About Being An Author

1. That it could take many, many rewrites to get the story just right. And some of those rewrites might be huge, gigantic beasts, but they will also make your book stronger.

2. That I had a lot to learn about...everything. Characters, settings, plot, conflict, emotion, editing, revisions, submitting, and—OMG!—rejection all come with a steep learning curve.

3. That writing isn’t the only job an author does. Oh, if only it were that simple! LOL. We also edit, network, book-keep and promote.

4. That even if you “tell” people that you have office hours (aka uninterrupted writing time) they won’t really believe you because your “office hours” take place on a couch or at the kitchen table. Don’t make me screen your call… You’ve been warned.

5. That yes, I’m working even though I haven’t gotten “paid” yet. Generally speaking you don’t sell the book until you’ve written it. But let me assure you, that click-y thing I do with my fingers on the laptop keyboard is still work.

6. That people would look at you a little different when you tell them you're a writer—of romance. (Yep, I write romance-y stuff while the kids are at school. Some times that includes a sexytime scene. Don’t fall over fainting. It’ll be okay.) I’m not sure if authors of other genres get The Look when you tell them what you write, but if you write romance, you get The Look.

7. That people would constantly ask me how my books are selling. Oh man! If only I knew. Most of us don’t know our numbers until months later when we see a royalty statement. Not to mention those sales numbers are in constant motion, never staying the same for long. Lots of sales or little sales, I’m just happy that people are picking up my book and taking this ride with me.

8. I wish I’d known just how much “information” is out there once you start looking. Seems like everyone has an opinion on publishing, writing, promo, social networking... The list goes on and on. It can be very daunting and overwhelming once you start wading through all that info. I wish I’d know that I didn’t have to try and listen to every piece of advice written. It’s impossible since most of it contradicts the rest anyways.

9. I wish I’d know just how important it was to connect with other writers right off the start. I was lucky and happened to find my critique partner fairly quickly. But even still I had already been writing my first novel for a few months. Once I started chatting with her and then joining RWA groups, a whole new world opened up to me!

10. I wish I’d known how fulfilling it would be to actually be an author. A real paid author. With books for sale and everything. LOL. Coming up with ideas, writing them down, manipulating the words until they feel just right, and then sending the book out to get contracted all felt amazing. But once I saw my first book for sale…well, I’m a writer and I still have no words for how truly awesome that felt.

“Gavin, can I get your help in here for a minute?”

She heard a loud groan and the chair in the waiting room squeaked as he stood. Her door clicked open and Gavin peeked his head inside the tiny room. His tired eyes instantly lit up at the sight of her reflection in the mirror. Exactly the kind of reaction she hoped an outfit like this would stir in someone. Especially someone as hot as Gavin.

“Can you lace up the back for me? It’s a bit tricky to reach.”

“Um—sure,” he said quietly, taking the edges of the material from her hands. His gaze shifted to her back and she was suddenly aware of the lack of clothing between her skin and his fingers.

Apparently he was aware of her naked flesh too.

His large fingers fumbled with the laces almost letting them slip. She quickly held the top tight against her stomach so it wouldn’t fall to the ground. Not that a situation like that would be completely unwelcome with a guy like Gavin, but she’d prefer not to have it happen in a changing room if possible. Her hotel room?

Well, that was different.

Why was she so attracted to him?

‘Cause he’s hot. And fights back. And hot.

I enjoyed this book, and I know you won't be disappointed either. The heroine, Tali was complex, on the outside she appeared to be a self centered spoiled brat, but on the inside, once you start peeling back the layers she is funny, kind and very insecure. She has always placed her families needs before her own. So much that she found herself in a relationship that was one side, he was with her so he could worm himself up the corporate ladder in her family's business. Tali, simply wanted to be loved for who she is, problem was she just forgot who that really was.

Enter Gavin, the sexy pilot who saw the real Tali, he knew there was something more than the outside layers, but could he chisel away to get her to see her inner beauty? She had all the traits to make him dislike her, she was a shopaholic, living off daddy's money and bitchy but he also saw a caring, funny, sexy woman. I loved the fact that Gavin didn't give up on her, he was pushing her to be the "real" Tali by constantly giving her pep talks. He kept telling her to stand up for herself, to take life in your own hands, "be who you really are for once and stop hiding and blaming others for her place in life." Sometimes it is hard to hear and accept the truth about oneself but hard love is what she needed to begin to love herself.

“You were right about me. I wasn’t being honest with myself or my family about what I really wanted in life. I tried to live a lie that would never make me truly happy. You—you showed me I can be who I really am and it’s okay. That’s why I’m going to tell my father he needs to find someone to replace me. I won’t be taking over the job of running the company.”

I just loved how they completed one another, it was a cute, romantic tale one that you don't want to miss out on. I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
My Rating
                

Heather Thurmeier was born and raised in the Canadian prairies, but now she lives in upstate New York with her own personal romance Hero (aka her husband) and their two little princesses. When she's not busy taking care of the kids and an adventurous puppy named Indy, Heather's hard at work on her next romance novel. She loves to hear from readers. Heart, humor, and a happily ever after.

Where you can find Heather:

 Website | Facebook | Twitter | Email 

Here's how you can enter to win a $25 Amazon GC:

• Leave a comment here today and then comment on each stop of the blog tour to earn additional entries for the $25 GC.  
• The more you comment (1 entry per blog, multiple comments on one blog doesn't give you an advantage) during the tour, the greater chance you have at the GC.

Rules and disclaimers:
The winner(s) for the $25 GC will be selected randomly from among all of the comments of the blog tour by either the author or by Goddess Fish Promotions who will also be responsible for contacting the winner(s).

Forever Book Lover is not responsible for prizes that are not honored, distributed in a timely manner, lost, stolen, or damaged during transit
All giveaways are subject to change/cancellation without prior written notice.