HAPPY NEW YEAR. I love the New Year, and in New Zealand Kiwi families traditionally spend New Year’s day at the beach. It’s the middle of summer, so we all slap on sunglasses and sunscreen, roll out our towels and watch the waves roll in. It’s all about kicking back, relaxing, and building sand castles with the kids. My goal this year is to figure out how to make the perfect moat for my sand castle–I figure there’s got to be a way to do it, that’s without the incoming waves caving the channel in and taking the sand castle down with it. I haven’t been successful yet, but I’m sure going to try this year.
I’d love to hear what you and your family or friends do once the New Year arrives. Do you have any traditions? Go somewhere special? Make a New Year’s wish? If you leave a comment WITH YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS you can go into the draw for a chance to win an ebook copy of PROTECTOR. The winner will be announced on 7th January 2013, so be sure to check back.
But that’s not all… Your comment also drops you into the grand prize draw of the hop (prizes are featured below–and they are amazzzing), so make sure you don’t miss out. It just takes one comment on this post WITH YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS to get you into BOTH DRAWS. 🙂
PROTECTOR
To love and protect…across worlds.
Eighteen-year-old Faith Stryker is prepared to leap out into the unknown world beyond her home shores of New Zealand to experience life. Only she never expected to encounter Magio, a planet with two warring countries, where its people reach adulthood at eighteen by coming into their strength and prophetic abilities. Only after Faith discovers she’s a Halfling–thanks to her warrior father she’s never met–does her own skill of forethought develop.
Peacio’s Prince Davio Loveria is sent to the young Faith Stryker by his grandfather, but not all goes as planned. Davio discovers Faith isn’t just a Halfling, she’s also his soul-bound mate–an intense relationship he cannot, nor will not, give up.
With two wars now waging…one of land and the other of the heart…can the young lovers find their place in the world?
YAY!! PROTECTOR HAS JUST RELEASED TODAY!!
BUY THE BOOK: Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Lyrical Press / iTunes / Kobo
NOW WHAT ARE THOSE PRIZES?
We have THREE grand prizes. Over 200 authors are sharing New Year themed blogs, and you as a reader can go to EACH blog and comment with your email address and be entered to win. Yep, you can enter over 200 times!
1st Grand Prize: A Kindle Fire or Nook Tablet (International)
2nd Grand Prize: A $300 Amazon or B&N Gift Card (International)
3rd Grand Prize: A Swag Pack that contains paperbacks, ebooks, 50+ bookmarks, cover flats, magnets, pens, coffee cozies, and more! (US Only)
Keep hopping–You can find the complete list of participating authors right HERE.
Also, and only if you wish to, please consider “liking” my Facebook author page. For your convenience the link is just over on the right-hand sidebar as well. 🙂
If you’d like to add Protector to your TBR list, here’s the link for Goodreads.
And for those keen on checking out Protector’s trailer on YouTube, it’s–> here.
Thank you so much for dropping by, and I wish you and yours a wonderful 2013.
Happy New Year! My wish for u is more good books from you to us, your friends!
angelheart618@gmail.com
That’s the coolest wish, Tammy. You’re in both draws. 🙂
Happy New Year!!! We’ve snow here in Canada. Lots and lots. New Year’s Day means we’ll hunker down in the basement, eat lots of carbs, watch movies and snuggle (with my husband and my little boys). Sure sure, a diet has begun. But with a twist this year: I realized I would always start a diet once my self-loathing hit its peak. Now I’m starting realizing I actually should diet because I love myself and my family enough NOT to drop dead of a heart attack. Maybe that will help. Surprise babies at 45 make for difficult weight loss post-partum.
I’ve been very blessed this year with new online friends like you. Would love to read a copy of your book. And keep following your dewdrops of wisdom.
Best to you. Enjoy the beach. Sigh.
Soph
sophie.sansregret@gmail.com
Happy New Year to you, your husband and little boys, Sophie. I see your comment after this one, but now you’re in the big draw too. That’s a huge one. I’d love that $300 Amazon voucher. That’d be cool. I can buy all the books I want for all of 2013 with that.
PS I’m such a banana, I forgot in this wee hour that I already have your book! How embarrassing. It’s just too early for me. The moment I clicked “Post comment” I woke up! I have two more books ahead of yours so by Jan 14 I’ll be free to read your most excellent offering. Emailing you in a moment.
Cool. Thanks, Sophie. I hadn’t forgotten I’d sent it to you. Chat to you soon.
Happy New Year and all the best for the New Year.
Ciao,
Patricia
Thanks, Pat. Happy New Year to you. 🙂
Happy New Year!
anasmithblue@gmail.com
Thank you for the chance!
Kassandra
sionedkla@gmail.com
thanks happy new year to u and urs
mrsbrinius at comcast dot net
Happy New Year!
t.abule (a) yahoo (dot) com
I live in Florida, so I make a lot of southern foods and have my family over for dinner.
gatormaryd(at)yahoo(dot)com
Hi Mary. Happy New Year to you in Florida. Yum, I love the sound of Southern foods.
I woud have loved to spend New Year’s on the beach – but it was far too cold here(I don’t think it rose above freezing!). In my family, you must wear brand new underwear on New Year’s Day or your are doomed to wear old clothes the rest of the year.
jochibi AT yahoo DOT com
LOL. Brand new underwear sounds cool. Love that.
We’re at home. I just finished edits for a March release, so I’m feeling like it’s Miller time. LOL
lcahoon7@gmail.com
Hey Lynn. That’s fabulous. Congrats on finishing edits. March is so close.
Happy New Year!
chellesy.clay at gmail dot com
Thanks for the great hop.
magic5905 at embarqmail dot com
Its tradition to watch the ball drop in NY
Thanks for the great hop.Happy New Year!
parisfan_ca@yahoo.com
Beach on New Year’s sounds awesome! Congrats on your upcoming release of Protector! Can’t wait to get my hands on it!
Thanks Jessi. Congrats on your book’s release too.
No traditions.. but 2012 was kind of a bummer.. but I know 2013 will be better 🙂 Finish school, get a job, have fun with guest reviewing. are just a few of the items on my to do list for 2013.. 🙂 Thanks for participating in the hop!
readsalot81(@)hotmail(dot)com
Well, I definitely wish you a wonderful 2013. Thanks for dropping by and entering the draws.
Hi Jo I just tried to click to support your book cover etc on the here button but it took me to other book covers etc but not your book cover for me to vote for. What am I doing wrong?? Regards Judi
Oh yeah. I saw that too. I’m waiting for Sizzling Books to fix their links and get the poll up. I’ve told them it’s not operating yet. Thanks for trying. I’ll let you know once it’s up.
This is an awesome hop. Your book looks good. Happy new year
p.winmill@hotmail.com
Thanks so much for dropping by.
Love your book cover!
No New Year’s Resolutions for me, only realistic goals this year.
Thanks for the fun and Happy 2013!
zenfoxflowerATyahooDOTcom
I wish I was somewhere warm myself. Rather cold here in New England. Last yr we started a new tradition with the girls. We buy finger type foods and have a little party with the girls age 5, 3 and 3.
Happy New Yr
christina
cgricci@yahoo.com
Ooo, that’s sounds great, and two three-year olds? Twins? You must be a busy mother with three so young. Thanks for dropping by.
Thanks so much for a great beginning to a New Year. For this year I need to find a job since graduating college this Spring, so yup.
kp_kazamei(at)yahoo(dot)com
I wish you heaps of luck in finding a job. Happy New Year.
super kewl giveaway, thanks for participating! My resolution is to read more!
jennirv4967 at gmail dot com
Me too. To read more and write more. Ahh, you can tell we love reading.
For me 2013 is a time to begin anew and just improve myself. My top 3 goals are:
1. Laugh more.
2. Love more.
3. Read more.
Happy New Year.
Mel
bournmelissa at hotmail dot com
I love your top 3 goals. They are the best, Mel.
Well, I’m completely jealous that you get to go to the beach while I’m waiting for snow to melt, LOL. Still, I love New Year’s Day. It’s a time to relax and unwind with my husband after a late New Year’s Eve (1:30 a.m.).
Congrats on your upcoming release. I’m looking forward to PROTECTOR.
maeclair (at) maeclair (dot) com
Hey Mae. Happy New Year to you and your husband.
It sounds like great weather I live in Wisconsin so very cold right now!
Thank you very much for the great giveaway and fun blog hop!
I wish you a very Happy New Year!
Latisha D
tishajean@ charter.net
Happy New Year to you in Wisconsin, Latisha. Stay warm.
We just eat Pork and Sauerkraut and just chill for the rest of the day, nothing special.
Dawna N.
vampiremistress2010(at)gmail(dot)com
Thanks for dropping by.
Thanks for participating in this awesome hop and Happy New Year to all!!
I’ve made a few New Years resolutions. Only one that is book related. Since my TBR/wish list is longer than “The Song That Never Ends”. More and more great new releases keep coming along and pushing the older titles further back on my list. My 2013 list is already over 60 titles and growing, I have resolved to this year read at least 40 books from my TBRs that were written prior to 2010
kaladata2(at)gmail(dot)com
Wow, that is one huge TBR list. I love the idea of reading 40 books in a year. Thanks for dropping by. Nice meeting you.
HAPPY NEW YEAR! I normally pet sit 2 dogs but one of the owners is very sick and I’m home this year. I watched the ball drop on TV and then picked up a good book.
Judy
strawberryrose@earthlink.net
I watched the ball drop too, but all the way from New Zealand. It was on our news. 🙂
Happy new year Jo. Its so exciting that your book is available to purchase now after all your hard work. keep up the good work. lots of love xoxo
jasonwadsworth(at)ihug(dot)co.nz
Thanks, Jason. Hugs back at ya.
Hi, Joanne. Happy New Year! And congratulations. Look forward to reading your book.
Jodenton445@gmail.com
Thanks Jo. I always smile when I see you’ve dropped by. Good luck for both the draws.
thanks for Blog Hop.. Happy New years to all
ms74lt@verizon.net
Congratulations, Joanne. I am purchasing Protector as soon as Apple figures out what is wrong with my iPad.
Thank you for an amazing edit. Cheers to you and yours in 2013.
mkozo@hotmail.com
Hi Kozo. I loved doing your edit. Congratulations to you for winning it last month. 🙂 Thanks for saying you’ll buy Protector–that puts a huge smile on my face. Catch ya later.
I made a goal to be kinder to myself this year. I often do things for other people to the detriment of myself.
planterofhope at aol dot com
First love that cover!! Going on my TBR list!!
The only real tradition we have is corned beef and cabbage on New Year’s DAy. We’re Irish!
grapeapril75(AT)gmail(DOT)com
Thanks for putting Protector on your TBR list. That’s awesome. Go the Irish!
We normally go out to a party or something but this year we were sick… I do always have little smokies in bbq in the crockpot with cheese and crackers plus wine… That was something my mom did but us kids had grapejuice so i always do it too.
j.m.platt83@gmail.com
Oh, I do the sparkling grapejuice thing too. I didn’t even realise I’d made that a tradition. It’s got to be on the table for the kids (and me.) Sorry you were sick this year. Get better soon.
My New Year’s wish this year is happiness for everyone. 🙂
Shana7426@aol.com
Shannon, I’d say you’re a giver. Thanks for the wish for happiness for everyone. Love that.
Love these blogs!!!
diane dot sadler at gmail dot com
LOL I know how it is to spend New years in the warmth of the hot sun – hee hee. I live in south Texas (Austin TX) and our average temperature for this time of the year is 70 so most of the time we are wearing shorts. Every once in a while mother nature throws us a curve ball and it gets down to 50. Now if you go up past Waco TX close to Dallas then the temp dose drop, it even snowed up there. So as far as tradition goes, it was cooler so we stayed in and watched movies and then had our new year kiss to celebrate. Here is wishing you a Happy New Year
mrsqueentutt@gmail.com
Hey Ronda. Happy New Year to you in Austin. I love watching movies on New Year’s too. They always have the best soppy ones on in New Zealand. This year we watched Titanic with Leo and Kate as midnight rolled in to end 2012.
I cant imagine the warm sand & surf … playing in the sand. At least not this time of year. I live in West Virginia in the US and from Oct – March its Cold, and its either wet & cold or Snow & cold. But our Summers are quite nice 😀
Hope u have a wonderful New Years
Big Hugs
Missie Jones
missie25524 (at) netzero (dot) com
Thanks for dropping by, Missie. I’ve seen the news showing the US snow. Brrr–talk about cold. Stay warm and safe.
Aloha!
I don’t have any traditions, but it was cold here so I curled up by a fire and edited. My characters enjoyed the attention. LOL
Michel_Lee_King(at)yahoo(dot)com
Aloha, Michel. You must be in Hawaii. Happy New Year to you.
Happy New Year!
We have no family traditions. Unless you count trying to stay up for the ball drop a tradition lol. One that my hubby and kids lost this year.
~*Drea*~
dreabecraft(@)aol.com
My family believes that what you do at the end of the year when the ball drops dictates the next year of your life.I take pride in spending new year’s with my children with 2 bottles of Sparklin Welches Grape Juice in champagne glasses. We turn off our phones so no one ruins us bringing in the year together and I wouldnt change it for the world :O)
I love the idea of turning off your phone. That can be annoying when it rings right at the wrong time.
Happy New Years,I really don’t have anything planed.Thanks for the giveaway.
dragonkeep62(at)gmail(dot)com
no traditions
Happy new year!
bn100candg(at)hotmail(dot)com
Thanks so much for the chance to win. It’s a great way to start the year. No major resolutions beyond reading a lot (let’s go 50 books!) and staying active (jog, jog!), but I hope you have a great year 🙂
We don’t do anything special though. We like to relax at home. I love it!
Thanks again!
hisboywonder(at)gmail(dot)com
Hey Sandra. I’m with you on the 50 books and jogging. LOL. I’m going to do both those things.
Happy New Year! I plan to get my house more organized and hopefully keep it that way!
nikki.t.23@gmail.com
Happy New Year!
Kit3247(at)aol(dot)com
I normally just watch Dick Clark’s New Year’s show 🙂
Thanks for the awesome giveaway!
cassandrahicks1989@yahoo.com
Dick Clark’s show is cool. This year we watched Titantic see in the New Year. Goodness Kate and Leo looked young. 🙂 Thanks for dropping by Cassandra.
Happy New Year!
aprilnu2003(at)yahoo(dot)com
Happy New Year to you, too, Shar.,
Happy New Year!
My resolution is to publish my first novel! 🙂
movie1997 at live dot it
I love that one. I wish you all the best.
We really have no traditions except to visit family and eat lots of food…LOL
Happy New Year
koonie2888 at yahoo dot com
Michelle Bledsoe
There’s nothing quite like time with family and great food. Happy New Year to you.
We usually have a nice dinner at home.
Happy New Year!
mce1011 AT aol DOT com
Well, I take the kids to the beach and watch the fireworks (I live in Rio, so it’s summer time and kids long vacation from school).
Happy 2013!
morebooksthanlivros@gmail.com
Now Rio is one place I’d love to visit. I can totally understand it being summer and the kids long vacation. It’s the same here in NZ. The kids finished school mid Dec and start back the first week of Feb. Thanks for dropping by.
Nothing exciting anymore. I’m usually asleep way before the ball drops in New York City. Wish I could go to the beach, though! Happy New Year!
susanaellisauthor@gmail.com
Happy New Year! My New Years traditions are easy, I spend time with my family and friends. I can’t think of a better way to ring in the new year. My resolutions this year is as always to loose a few pounds and spend a little more time with my family.
Ifightforlove36@gmail.com
Yep, I’m so with you on spending time with family and friends. I love that. Thanks for dropping by.
Just me and my Mother & cat Frodo over here in the UK. 🙂
HAPPY NEW YEAR, JOANNE! :DDD Your posts have been helpful to me this past year. Many thanks. :)xxx
Hey Rosie. Happy New Year to you. Thanks so much for saying my posts have been helpful–love that. Here’s to 2013. *waves from New Zealand*
Just me and my Mother & cat Frodo over here in the UK. 🙂
HAPPY NEW YEAR, JOANNE! :DDD Your posts have been helpful to me this past year. Many thanks. 🙂
New Year’s day is just relaxing at home.
bituin76 at hotmail dot com
No real traditions around here. Just go with the flow and see where the tide takes me!
j.lennidorner@facebook.com
Happy New Year from What-Are-They.com ! I hope you have a great one. Thanks for taking part in the hop.
Hi Joanne,
As we don’t know a lot of people, my husband and I usually stay home, buy some really great snacks and watch movies – just enjoying time with each other. I love a cold Christmas but I’ve always wished for a summer night for NY’s Eve. Maybe someday we’ll make it out your way some December.
This is the very first contest I’ve entered on a blog hop. I am mainly here to show my support to you and your book, so I’ll enter the draw for Protector 🙂 But could I please NOT be entered in the main draw? Until I truly begin my own writing and begin following certain blogs regularly, I do not feel right entering most contests. So, just Protector please 🙂
Have a wonderful hop!
No problem, Cadence. I’ll make sure that happens. 🙂 Thank you so much for the support.
I watched Titanic this December 31st to bring in the New Year. Leo and Kate looked so incredibly young. Happy New Year to you and your husband and kitties.
We spend time together, drink champagne and watch fireworks. Sometimes after that we go to theme parties/masquerade balls together!
Thanks!
dita(dot)skarste(at)gmail(dot)com
Ooo, I like the idea of a theme party/masquerade ball. I’d love to go to one of those on New Year’s eve.
We take down our tree on New Years Day.
wildnmild4u at yahoo dot com
We do too. The tree has to come down on the 1st.
Happy New Year!
Sue
sue_holston@hotmail.com
wow new years at the beach..,that really would feel like something new was happeneing. Would also be great for goals of losing weight..in colder places we can be in denial longer buried under the layers of warm clothes. hope your new year is full of warm memories, laughter and wisdom
peach_hugs@yahoo.com
I have to admit, being the middle of summer, it’s easier to watch one’s weight. There’s so much summer fruit around and outdoor activities. Very helpful. Happy New Year to you, Toni.
Thank you for participating in the New Year Blog Hop!
Best Wishes in 2013
uilani25 (at) hotmail (dot) com
Happy New Year!!
bacchus76 at myself dot com
New Year’s for me has always been a time to stay indoors, keep warm, celebrate with family, and hope I don’t freeze my toes or break something falling on the ice if I have to run out for anything. What a difference!
Happy New Year!
tp DOT quixotic AT gmail DOT com
Wow, that Is a huge difference. Happy New Year.
I want to start eating healthier.
Thanks for the chance and Happy New Year!
sqwalker2@hotmail.com
Happy New Year to you!
verusbognar (at) gmail (dot) com
thanks for the hop
myboo63@hotmail.com
Thanks for being part of this hop. Happy New Year!!
rmwyer at shaw dot ca
happy new year! we don’t have any real traditions but we do enjoy spending the evening with friends. this year we went over to a friend’s home, played board games and shot off fireworks when 2013 hit followed by drinking sparkling bubbly!
bashashhazbaz(at)yahoo(dot)com
I love the idea of fireworks. Happy New Year.
Hi! Happy New Years! Thanks for the awesome hop and all the giveaways! This is so fun! I love these hops! I always meet new authors, reconnect with old ones and my TBR list grows by leaps and bounds! Thank you!! Have a great day! Best wishes and many blessings to you!
shadowluvs2read(at)gmail(dot)com
Lovely meeting you too. This hop’s been a blast, and I’ve loved participating in it.
Thanks for the chance to win!
Happy New Year!
natasha_donohoo_8 at hotmail dot com
Happy New Year to all.
jkgf27@verizon.net
we usually stay at home my cousin and her kids came over this year
kaholgate at ymail dot com
We eat seafood and cheese fondue and watch the ball drop!
Ann
Kyreadinggirl@yahoo.com
We usually just have a family get together and play games and eat and enjoy being together. Thanks for the giveaway.
thompsonem3 at aol dot com
Well since my post is after New Years, I’ll say that I didn’t get the great start to my New Year like I wanted to. Although, I had a great time eating seafood and playing games with my family on New Years Eve.
So my New Years resolution is to get out of these two casts so I can walk down the aisle on my wedding day without the aid of a wheelchair. I fell on the ice on Wed Jan 9th and broke both of my ankles.
Thanks for participating! And your book the Protector looks really good!! You right just what I like to read!
Ash
ashwayvpa@aim.com
Hi Ash. I’m so sorry about your accident. Both ankles? That’s horrible. You poor thing.
Thanks for dropping by. I truly appreciate the time you took to do so.
Thanks for the giveaway. No particular new years traditions for me.
amnell(dot)khalan(at)gmail(dot)com
Happy new year
r.d1@myfairpoint.net
Have a great Happy New Year!
red_tigergirl2(at)hotmail(dot)com
sounds like my kind of read. Have a great new year.
scrtsbpal at yahoo dot com
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