Because of Him is now free on Itunes

Because of Him is now free to download from the Itunes store. Don't forget to grab up a copy if you haven't already :)

Blair Ackerman is a girl with crazy hair and a bad attitude. She's a girl who doesn't care what anyone thinks of her. She's a girl with only a duffel bag and a car named Nancy to her name, and that's okay by her. She's tough because she has to be. Nobody gets inside her head, nobody gets inside her heart.

Silver is everything she's never wanted. He's a good guy, a smart guy, a guy who's never met a girl like her before. He's the kind of guy who loves history, who laughs at his own jokes, who kisses like a sinful dream. He's the kind of guy who might just break down her walls and get inside her heart and make her feel.

Too bad he's forbidden.

Because when Blair's mom dies and she's sent to live with the father she's never met and a family that doesn't want her, Blair and Silver cross paths in ways they never could have imagined, and they discover that even though they know they should, they can't quite bring themselves to stay apart.

Opposites really do attract.


Get it for free on Itunes here - 

https://itunes.apple.com/gb/book/because-of-him/id1185349934?mt=11

Nothing Like Him is now available!

It's been a long time coming, but Nothing Like Him is finally available to download! Super excited to finally have this one finished.

Ophelia Quinlain has her life together. She is smart, she is sensible, she is nothing like the wild, uncontrollable girl she once was. Because that girl was trouble, and trouble only ever led to heartbreak. Ophelia left home at seventeen without ever looking back, but when her mom gets ill it’s finally time for her to face those demons she abandoned nine years ago. 
Nathan Alders was the love of her life. He was beautiful and adoring and their love was a whirlwind of passion and madness. Until he broke her heart into pieces and left her to scrape them back together again. . .alone. Ophelia hasn’t seen him since she left town, and she doesn’t plan to see him now she’s back.

If only it were that easy. 

Because things were never that simple, not when it came to Nathan and Phee. They were never able to stay apart, no matter how hard they tried. 

Secrets destroyed them once. A fiance will keep them apart now. Nathan will show Ophelia that the girl she once was isn’t as lost as she thought she was.

And nothing will ever be the same.



Get a copy from Amazon here - 

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MTXSZXU

And from most other online retailers. Don't forget to let me know what you think - I always love to hear from you!

This is my childhood right here...

Nothing Like Him update

I've finally finished writing Nathan's story at long last! It took me far, far longer than I'd originally anticipated but it's finally done. It needs a little more editing, but keep your eyes open because it will be ready soon!

Love all of you guys for hanging on with me for this one! It means the world

Pretty much describes me every single night. . .

Resting Bitch Face

The curse. . .

F.A.Q

So here are a couple of questions I've been asked. I thought I'd put the answers down here as well for anyone who might want to know them :) If anyone has any more feel free to ask.

Will there be any more in the Fortunate series, and will they feature Nathan and Zac?

The answer to that is yes and yes. I actually have a possible 9 books planned for the series, though that could change at any point. But one thing for sure is that Nathan and Zac will definitely be getting their stories. I've actually just finished Nathan's story and am in the arduous process of editing, so it won't be long until this one is out. Finally.

What are the recommended reading age for my books?

It depends on the book to be honest. For the Guardians series I'd say 15+ due to use of language and violent situations. Because of Him is the only book in the Fortunate series I'd rate 15+ for mildly sexual situations. Whereas I class that one young adult, the rest of the books in the Fortunate series are new adult and I'd recommend an 17+ rating due to language and sex. Lots and lots of sex.

What am I working on now?

As of right now I've just finished Nothing Like Him, the 5th in the Fortunate series. This time Nathan gets a chance to have a story. I'm currently in the editing process, but keep your eyes open because it shouldn't be long now.

What's the best thing about being a writer?

So many things. It's a job I get to do from home, anytime of the day, in my pj's if I want to (and I often do want to). It's something that I'm highly passionate about, and so I count myself as lucky that I get to do it. But the ultimate best thing about being a writer are the people who read my books. I have some seriously wonderful readers who encourage me and make me want to work harder for them, just by being generally awesome.

How do you deal with writer's block?

We all have our different ways of coping with it. For me, I find the best thing I can do is just to keep writing, to keep ploughing through it. It may not always be great work, but there's usually something I can salvage until I get back on form again.

Where did you get the inspiration for the character, Gable?

Originally it started off with a very simple, very stray thought as I watched an action movie. I don't remember which one now, but maybe something like James Bond. I was just sitting there watching all the action going down, watching as the hero tore through the bad guys, and then I thought, what about all these minions he's just shooting without a second thought? They probably had families. They definitely had parents, at least at some point. Someone who would miss them and notice they were gone. And so I started thinking more and more about the minions, and what it would be like if one of them got to tell their story. So that's where it started really. Of course the idea grew and changed - Gable wasn't just a minion and The Guardians wasn't just here story. But that's the origins

Who are my favorite authors?

I have so, so many. A full list of my favorite authors and titles can be found here - http://jessicaroeblog.blogspot.co.uk/p/recommended-reads.html

October is here!!! . . . Almost

Autumn is here!

Autumn is officially here! Which means the leaves are changing color, the air is getting cooler, shops are all stacked up for Halloween and even Christmas in some super eager places. I love this time of year. I love that I can get snugged up under my blanket and not sweat my ass off. I love that it's time to get our coats on, and hats and scarves and gloves. I love that it's time for hearty hot dinners and hot chocolates. I love that there are piles of crunchy leaves on the pavements for me and my wee sprog to jump into. I'm just a big autumn fan.

So happy autumn you guys!

When you just gotta stand and stare. . .

So I was doing a quick shop at Morrisons the other day, getting a few bits. Parked up the car with my mum and wee sprog, made our way towards the entrance. My mum gives me a funny look and it's then that I overhear the heated argument going on in the disabled parking area. There's an old man and a large woman stood there, both parked next to one another in disabled spots, just going AT it right there on the road. The guy was super pissed at the woman because she wasn't displaying a disabled badge and he thought that it was super wrong of her to be parked there if she wasn't disabled. So the woman yells back that just because he couldn't see her disability, doesn't mean she doesn't have one and who was he to judge her. Both making valid points so far. So then the guy looks her up and down and says, "If being fat is a disability, then that doesn't count!"

It was at that point that I had to stop literally standing there and watching, because you can only get away with that shit for so long and my evil laughter wasn't helping. Sometimes I am not a very nice person.

Don't know who won the little skirmish, but both cars were gone by the time I got back out.

Ma little smush face

Here's ma lil smushy chops, being all cute and smushy

The pros and cons of being an author

Though I've been writing for most of my life, I've only been publishing my work now for a couple of years. Honestly it's been the best, yet most difficult, couple years of my life. I'm not huge, and my books don't sell by the mill, but the readers that I do have are the best. And I get to do something I absolutely love, every day.

So what are some of the cons?

Well for starters like any job, it's hard. You have to put the hours in, and finding those at home isn't always easy. There are always distractions - kids, chores, animals, general day to day life. But if you love what you do, like I do, you find the time. You put the hours in. You find a few minutes here and there in between tidying the house and making dinner and lunches and getting the school things ready for the next day. You forgo the long, leisurely bath in the evening when the kids are in bed and you use that time instead to write. You just find the time.

And then there's the instability of it. You never know whether a story is going to be popular or not, so relying on the income to pay the bills isn't always an option. Sometimes a book is a hit, but the next one isn't so popular. And sometimes the books that are popular don't stay that way for long.

Of course there's writer's block. That comes and goes. Everyone's experience with writer's block is different, but the one thing we can all agree on is that it's no frigging fun.

But I have to tell you, the positives outweigh the negative a million times over.

First off, I'm doing this amazing thing that I love and I get to share it with the world. I get to hear feedback, positive and negative. And through the negatives I learn so much, which I'm always thankful for.

There is nothing more amazing than having these ideas in your head and being able to get them all out in a way that makes sense. For all the times I was ever disappointed how a book ended, now I have complete control (or as much control as the characters allow me, at least).

If I want to work in my jammies, I can do that. Hell, as long as I've got my laptop I don't even need to get out of bed. I want to write completely starkers? Yep, can do that to. I get to do what I love with all the comforts of home

And there's so much more. I'm incredibly thankful that I've managed to find something in the world that I truly love doing

Eerie stuffs

Absolutely love spooky stuff like this. Don't know if it's real, but it's eerie as hell. Would make a great story in one way or another

Sibling Truths

JOKE TAIIIMMME

Just asked my friend for his best joke, and this is what he came up with -

When I see lovers' names carved into a tree, I don't think it's sweet. I just think it's surprising how many people bring a knife on a date



I actually liked this one

Delamere Forest

There's something weirdly beautiful about this

Loves

This picture is everything about what a perfect friend is.

Smashwords Summer Sale

Don't forget to check out the Smashwords Summer Sale this July! Some of my books are free and some 50% off. Check which ones here -

https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/JessicaARoe

So true

This is one of the truest quotes I've seen. Sure, sometimes good things might fall into our laps for no reason, but for the most part we need to work for them. If we want good things to happen for ourselves, we need to go out and get that shit done

Ma best girl

My absolute best girl. She's been through more than any person should but she keeps on surviving. So much love

2016 Smashwords Summer Sale

Hey there, fellow humans

I wanted to let you guys know that I'll be taking part in this year's Smashwords Summer Sale. That means that for the entire month of July, United, Because of Him and Falling For Him will be 50% off and Something Real and Something True will be completely free on Smashwords, so long as you use the provided codes when purchasing. The codes are available on the book pages but I'll throw them on here as well 'cause I loves you

To get Something Real and Something True for free use the code SFREE.

And to get United, Because of Him and Falling For Him for 50% off, simply use the code SSW50.

As per, Undone is free on Smashwords and most online retailers, Amazon excluded.

Check out my Smashwords page here -

https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/JessicaARoe

And don't forget to have a look at all the promos from the other Smashwords authors - there are some real finds on there!

https://www.smashwords.com/books/category/1/newest/1

This friggin weather. . .

Well I feel this picture describes more accurately than words ever could how I feel about this frigging weather we got going on right now. . .

Antius Ascending series review

The Antius Ascending series by E.R. Arroyo - Book 1, Sovereign & Book 2, The Offering

I first discovered Sovereign as a freebie a couple of years ago. I liked the sound of it - I'm big on anything dytsopian themed - so I downloaded it and added it to my large pile of To Reads. It sat there for a while before I finally got around to it, and I went in with an open mind.

I was quickly hooked. I loved the world that had been created, and that there was so much unknown to it. I loved the main character, Cori. She was a tough lil cookie who was never afraid to stand up for herself or challenge the rules, but at her heart she was just a scared little girl and I found that endearing. She had her great qualities, but she also had her flaws and that made her so much more likable to me.

Dylan, obviously, is one of my favorites. I love a good looking guy who's also super smart, and I like that E.R Arroyo created him at the love interest, because it's different and I appreciate different. Usually our heros in these dytsopian reads are the tough guys who can fight, but Dylan is just a sexy computer nerd at heart.

There are some real heart wrenching moments in this book. There was one scene in particular that had me sobbing like a little bitch. I think it's always the sign of a really good writer when they can get you to really feel something.

I'm about halfway through book no. 2, The Offering right now, and this one is definitely living up to its predecessor. Actually, to be honest, I might like this one even more. Whereas the first story focused mostly on the escape, in this one we get to learn so much more about the world outside of Antius. I'm only halfway through, so I'm anticipating a lot more awesomeness to come

Flawed characters. . .

Something that has always been a running theme throughout any of the books I write, is that my characters aren't perfect. Every single one of them has flaws. They do good things for right reasons and bad things for good reasons. They can be stubborn, impulsive, selfish, downright idiotic. They make decisions based on fear and insecurities. They make mistakes.

I've noticed this especially with the characters I'm writing about at the moment, Nathan and Ophelia from the Fortunate world.

But I think it's a character with flaws that tells a better story, that becomes more relatable to us when we're reading. But who of us out there isn't flawed? Who doesn't make crappy choices or stupid mistakes?

I think what it is is that when I'm writing, I put a lot of myself into my characters. And I'll be the first to admit that I'm flawed as hell.

And that's. . .pretty much it. My little musings on why my characters can act like complete dicks sometimes

My lil shmoo

My wee lil shmoo getting her absolute slide on. This little thing is my whole world. The absolute love of my life

Well then. . .

So apparently, melting down gummy bears and putting the big gloppy mess into cookie cutters is NOT the way to make bigger gummy bear candy. Our bad. . .

Yes, I've had to throw the glass bowl away. Gummy bears turn into little bitches when you melt them

Boxing

Today I had my first ever boxing training session, and I gotta tell you guys, it's literally the most enjoyable way I've ever worked out. It's pretty much an all body exercise and the best part about it was that I was focusing so hard on my (terrible) technique that I didn't even realize how hard I was working. Until after. When I wanted to collapse and never ever get up again.

I trained with a friend of mine, who's super into his boxing, and that guy did NOT go easy on me. Which is exactly what you want, really. You want someone who's going to push you past your limits. And best of all, absolutely BEST OF ALL. . .are these beautiful babies. . .

They're pink and they're beautiful and I hearts them. 

But seriously guys, if you're looking for a fun way to get fit that's going to challenge the crap out of you but work pretty much every inch of your body, then I'd highly give boxing a recommend. I'm even thinking about getting my wee sprog her own little boxing set 

My Little Princess

My little princess getting her absolute cake on. So many loves

Writer's Block

I never used to understand what writer's block was. Didn't have a clue. I've always written, ever since I was old enough to hold a pen, but I'd never been stuck for words. Because that's what I thought it was - the inability to come up with words and put them down on a page. I had no idea it could come in so many forms and shapes and sizes.

And then I got it. It didn't come on quickly, didn't happen overnight. And it wasn't just to do with my writing. Because what some people don't understand is that us writers, we put our souls into every story we write. We have to, because a story without a soul isn't really a story at all. A story without a soul will never come to life. Every inch of us gets poured into every single page.

I'll be honest with you now - and this is difficult because it's not something I like to talk about. I got depression. That's the truth of it. It started off with a sad day here and there. Fits of tears for no reason. It was around about this time that I started a new story, a story that I just couldn't seem to get into, no matter how hard I tried. I kept at it, but the words I were writing just weren't clicking with me. The story had no soul. And this was a story that I'd been SO excited to write. The idea had been stuck in my head for months. I'd written notes, thought out the characters, had the scenery all planned out in my head. But no matter what I wrote, nothing about it made me happy.

And there was my first taste of writer's block.

I kept on at this story for a good few months before I finally admitted to myself that it was going nowhere, that I needed to put it away for a while and start on something new. By this time, my depression had gotten worse. I'd stopped eating, stopped sleeping, stopped doing pretty much anything at all. There were days where, if not for the fact that I needed to get up and take care of my daughter, I doubt I'd have gotten out of bed at all. I kind of lost the will to do anything at that point, even the things I loved - which included writing.

I won't drag the story out, but I beat back my depression. I never thought I would, but I did. But I got so out of sync with my writing and even when I was starting to feel like myself again, I still struggled to get my rhythm back. I'm still struggling, to be honest. But I'm getting there. Slowly but surely I'm getting there, and I'm getting it back.



I wanted to share this with my readers, wanted to explain why it's been over half a year without any new books. I owe you this, since you've all been so good to me and very patient. My next book is coming, I promise, and I'm getting back into the writing. It's a slow process, but it gets easier every day.

Another reason I wanted to share this was because I wanted to assure those out there battling with their own depression that it can be fought. It doesn't have to take your whole life away from you. People will tell you all the time that there will be a day when you don't feel so awful all the time and you might not believe them - I didn't - but that day will come. All you need is time.

Truth