It’s Here! New Year’s Blog Hop!

Everyone makes New Year’s resolutions.  It’s a new start.  A new year.  A new beginning.

This year, I’m doing something different.  Instead of resolutions, I’m going to set goals.  Expectations.  For myself.

Here’s a few: the next installment of my Lost Souls series will be out.  Another medieval novel.

Those are general goals.  Then there will be more time specific goals.  What will my goals be for the week?  For tomorrow?  I’ll probably have to keep a log.  I find when I do this, I budget my time too tightly.  Too exactly.  Planning what to do every hour.  Inevitably, I miss something.  There will be another goal.  Not to be harsh on myself when I miss something.  I’m only human.

I fully expect 2013 to be a spectacular year with my writing.  I will have new stories for you and hope you will let me know what you expect from me this year!

As a gift for my readers, I have a short story.  Please check out my medieval romance, The Bride and The Brute.  It’s Free!!!!

For this New Year’s Blog Hop, I will be giving away a $10 Amazon Gift Card!  All you have to do to be entered is subscribe to my blog on the bottom left side of the side bar and leave a comment.  Don’t forget to leave your email in the comment!

Below is an excerpt from Angel’s Assassin, my newest medieval romance.  Enjoy!

“I loved this book. Angel’s Assassin is how Historical Romance is supposed to be. There were equal parts romance and plot and O’Donnell weaves them together masterfully.”  Overflowing Bookshelves Review

“This is the quintessential historical romance–practically perfect in every way.”  My Devotional Thoughts Review

Angel’s Assassin

Angel's Assassin by Laurel O'DonnellDamien moved up beside Aurora as she stood looking out over the dark waters.  He had accompanied her as she retreated from the grisly sight of her slain friend to the comfortable confines of the tower.

She stared out at the ocean.  Tendrils of her golden hair whipped about her face like a cape.  When lightning speared the sky, it threw a turbulence of light and dark shadows across her face.  He saw the vulnerability in her eyes, saw the rippling of unshed tears.  And then the streak of lightning disappeared, plunging her features again into blackness.  Thunder rumbled above them.

“Why did you kiss me?” she wondered.

The abrupt question seemed out of place, but he knew she was trying to force her mind away from the gruesome scene she had just witnessed.

Lightning flashed in the distance, growing closer every second.  The wind picked up around her, snapping her hair behind her.  Damien watched the strands fly about her face, the face that sent his dark intentions soaring toward a bright light, toward a radiance that offered a shimmering ray of hope.  She had a face that was simply mesmerizing to look at.  The delicate, yet strong and regal, line of her jaw.  The cheekbones of a Greek goddess.  The lips that created the most sensual mouth any man could ever imagine.  A mouth that created a voice that would humble any Siren.

“Was it to punish me?  Was it to teach me something?” she asked

“To tempt you.”

“Tempt me?” she echoed, confused.

“I wanted you to be like me,” he answered truthfully.  She deserved to know the truth in her last moments.  “I wanted you to be flawed, weak.  I wanted you to be like everyone else.”

She faced him and Damien was shocked to find vulnerability in her large eyes, a deep sadness.  “You are my weakness.”

Shock speared through Damien.  Me? he silently questioned.  Why on earth would I be her weakness?  But her words rang true.  He remembered the look of concern in her eyes when she realized the arrow had poisoned him.  He recalled the way she lifted her lips to his when he tempted her.  Could it be?  Could she truly mean what she said?  Damien lifted his hand to brush one of those golden tendrils from her cheek.  It encircled his hand.  No.  It couldn’t be.  It was her grief talking.  She needed someone, anyone to distract her from her pain.  “You don’t know what you’re saying.”  He wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her closer to him.

For a moment, she stiffened, but then she relaxed against his body.  The tight expression on her face melted into one of anguish.

Damien’s heart twisted at her pain.  He wanted to relieve her agony, to reassure her.  He bent his head to her lips.

Angel’s Assassin at Amazon

Angel’s Assassin at Barnes and Noble

Angel’s Assassin at Smashwords

 

For the rest of the list of fabulous authors on the blog, please visit – http://carrieannbloghops.blogspot.com/2013/01/new-years-blog-hop.html

 

73 Responses to “It’s Here! New Year’s Blog Hop!

  • Thanks for taking part in the blog hop and Happy New Year. I liked the excerpt.

    [email protected]

  • Thanks for the giveaway! And Happy New Year!
    by.evie at yahoo dot com dot br

  • Happy New Year.

    Kit3247(at)aol(dot)com

  • Happy New Year.
    susanmplatt AT hotmail DOT com

  • Thank you for the chance!

    Kassandra
    [email protected]

  • thanks. I will be doing a post about your book on my blog soon
    [email protected]
    http://www.dealsharingaunt.blogspot.com

  • Happy New Year!
    t.abule (a) yahoo (dot) com

  • Happy New Year! Thanks for participating in the blog hop!

    [email protected]

  • Happy New Year and thanks for the giveaway 🙂

    aircdrewood(at)gmail(dot)com

  • Happy New Year – and thanks for being in the hop!

    jochibi AT yahoo DOT com

  • Thanks for the chance to win a gift card. Happy 2013!

    Melissa~ [email protected]

  • Thanks for the great hop.
    magic5905 at embarqmail dot com

  • Thanks for the great hop.Happy New Year!

    [email protected]

  • No New Year’s Resolutions for me, only realistic goals this year.
    Thanks for the fun and Happy 2013!
    zenfoxflowerATyahooDOTcom

  • Thanks so much for a great beginning to a New Year.

    kp_kazamei(at)yahoo(dot)com

  • I’m hoping to see more kick-ass heroines in 2013, from everybody. I love strong heroines in fiction. tchevrestt(at)yahoo.com

  • As I sit here, my husband is working on what we want to do this year…take a real family vacation. We have been married for 15 years and haven’t taken the kids anywhere. Many reasons why, but this year, we are changing that. Looking for a pet friendly cabin for a week’s vacation. We will do it.
    Best of luck in your goals and Happy New Year.
    Mel
    bournmelissa at hotmail dot com

  • Happy New year! New sub- vampiremistress2010(at)gmail(dot)com

    vampiremistress2010(at)gmail(dot)com

  • I absolutely love your books. My favorite is Midnight Shadow. my plans in 2013 are to spend more time with my kids. They are getting older and have their own lives now and I feel like we are slowly drifting away, so I would like to take the time to do more with them cause I love them!

    [email protected]

  • Awesome! Thanks for sharing and for the chance to win.

    have a great new year!

  • Thanks for the hop. danelle. [email protected]

  • 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

  • “Goals” sounds more positive and “achievable” (is that even a word?) than “resolutions”. Hope you have a great year!

    bedsidelight
    ATgmailDOTcom

  • Thanks for being part of the hop and hope you have great 2013

    [email protected]

  • Thank you for The Bride and The Brute! I now have it on my e-reader! (And I’ve subscribed to your blog!)

    And, thank you, for the great giveaway!

    Happy 2013!

    – Tin (khriscc at yahoo dot com)

  • Aloha!

    Thank you for participating in the hop! This is fun. I hope you have a fabulous 2013!

    Michel_Lee_King(at)yahoo(dot)com

  • Happy New Year!

    I went and got your book! Thanks for sharing it!

    ~*Drea*~
    dreabecraft(@)aol.com

  • happy new year 🙂
    gamistress66 (at) aol (dot) com

  • I make goals & try to keep to them 😀
    1. Quit smoking (a promise to my 3 girls)
    2. Spend more quality time with friends & family
    3. Finish my first novel, which I’ve been working on for almost a year. (single mom with no free time…lol)
    Hope all your New Year’s Resolutions come true 😀
    Happy New Year & Big Hugs
    Missie Jones
    missie25524 (at) netzero (dot) com

  • Just picked up The Bride and the Brute! Happy New Year!

    [email protected]

  • Don’t know whether I left my email, since all the blogs are making me dizzy

    Happy New Year!

    [email protected]

  • I’m a subscriber 🙂
    Thanks for the awesome giveaway!
    [email protected]

  • I usually don’t set goals because I hardly ever meet them. I get distracted very easily.
    This year though, I am reading The Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings trilogy to my mom. I know I will meet this one or I will be in very big trouble…LOL
    Blog subscriber.
    Happy New Year
    koonie2888 at yahoo dot com

  • Happy New Yeaer!
    I subscribed
    mce1011 AT aol DOT com

  • Thanks for being part of the Hop!

    strive4bst(At) yahoo(Dot) com

  • Thank you for the freebie! My resolution is to exercise 5 times a week.
    only entering for the grand prize
    bituin76 at hotmail dot com

  • Thanks for the hop! I want to publish my novel this year, that’s my resolution!
    movie1997 at live dot it

  • Happy new year!
    bn100candg(at)hotmail(dot)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.

    [email protected]

  • Happy New Year! 🙂

    penumbrareads(at)gmail(dot)com

  • Entering only for the grind prize. Thanks!

    dita(dot)skarste(at)gmail(dot)com

  • Thanks for sharing and Happy New Year 🙂

    Stacey
    staceyprice(at)gmail(dot)com

  • My goal for 2013 is to be more active. I didn’t follow through on my 2012’s.

    wildnmild4u at yahoo dot com

  • Thanks for the giveaway! Happy New Year! 🙂
    laceyblossom1(at)gmail(dot)com

  • Thank you so much for the story….love ones from that time period. Your other book looks just as interesting Im glad I found you it is why I love these blog hops.Hope that your new year is full of warm memories, fun adventures and wisdom.
    [email protected]

  • Thanks for doing the Blog Hop and Happy New Year!
    gatormaryd(at)yahoo(dot)com

  • 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

  • Happy New Year, and thank you so much for participating in this hop. I love being introduced to authors I haven’t read before!
    tp DOT quixotic AT gmail DOT com

  • Thanks for the chance to win.Happy New Year.

    dragonkeep62(at)gmail(dot)com

  • Subscribed via email!
    Happy New Year to you!
    verusbognar (at) gmail (dot) com

  • Thanx and Happy New Year!
    bones_mcp(at)yahoo(dot)com

  • Thanks for being part of this hop. Happy New Year!!

    rmwyer at shaw dot ca

  • Email subscriber. Happy New Year!
    [email protected]

  • I want to start eating healthier this year.
    Thanks for the chance and Happy New Year!
    [email protected]

  • 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

  • Thanks for the chance to win!
    Happy New Year!
    natasha_donohoo_8 at hotmail dot com

  • Happy New Year to all and thanks for the hop.
    [email protected]

  • Happy New Year, and thanks for the free story!

    Ann
    [email protected]

  • Thanks for the great giveaway! I have read the Bride and the Brute and I enjoyed it a lot.

    thompsonem3 at aol dot com

  • Follow via email.
    Thanks so much for participating in the blog hop. Hope you have an awesome 2013!
    michelletucker at baconnation dot net

  • I subscribe to your blog..Thanks!! adgaliatymaildotcom

  • Those sound like great goals! Especially the not being too hard on yourself.
    Happy New Year!
    Kris
    [email protected]

  • 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

  • I resolve to meet the goal of finishing the polishing of my first book in the Existence series and to submit it to agents/publishers.

    [email protected]

    Happy New Year from What-Are-They.com ! I hope you have a great one. Thanks for taking part in the hop.

  • i like the piece of book, Happy new years. Thank you [email protected]

  • Subscribed. Happy New Year.

    Sue
    [email protected]

  • did email. happy new year.
    [email protected]

  • I just subscribed to your blog. Thanks for the giveaway. Happy New Year!

    bhometchko(at)hotmail(dot)com