I Drool for Ull! #NACrushTourney2014

Last  year I blogged about my book boyfriend crush, Ull. You know, the Norse God of Winter from ST Bende's Elsker series. I thought I would reshare the post (with a few changes), since Ull is a candidate for #NACrushTourney2014!

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It's no surprise to my regular readers that I'm a sassy, sensual romance writer who LOVES men. Yes, I'm not ashamed to admit it. I often fall in love with those sexy heroes I read about and no better fantasy crush deserves an award more than ULL from my amazing writer friend, S.T. Bende's NA novel, Elsker. 

Here’s the blurb for Elsker:
Kristia Tostenson prefers Earl Grey to Grey Goose and book clubs to nightclubs, but when she transfers from her one-stoplight town to Cardiff University in Wales she falls in love with Ull Myhr. Her new boyfriend isn’t exactly what she was expecting. He’s an honest-to-goodness Norse God — an immortal assassin fated to die at Ragnarok, the battle destined to destroy Asgard and Earth. Kristia’s crazy visions are the only thing that can save their realms. Her orderly life just got very messy. 

In fact, Elsker is a whole series and you can download the prequel novella for FREE! What are you waiting for? Go get it... I'll wait! (PS It has another book boyfriend crush, Ull's best friend, Gunnar).

Ull is not just any boyfriend/hero -- he is a the Norse God of Winter and Thor's step-son. I could just stop right there. What's not to love about that? BUT, I will continue, because there's so much MORE to love! 

Here's my list of why I love Ull and why YOU should vote for Ull in the NA Tourney. (TOMORROW)

1. He knows what he wants and gets what he wants -- except for that small-town girl, Kristia, who somehow steps in over his head.
2. He's completely in love with Kristia -- even brings her flowers, prepares a picnic and dotes on her in any way he can. **sigh**
3. Not only that, but Ull is willing to change his life as he knows it for Kristia. Now that's love!
4. He's an Asgardian Assasin. Imagine all that training he must endure -- hot abs anyone?
5. He makes the most amazing waffles with Olaug's secret recipe.
6. He's more than intelligent, if you ask me, he's a genius. Having attended several universities and receiving degrees in several areas, he knows his stuff!
7. He's always a gentleman, opening the car door, giving Kristia his jacket and -- ahem -- waiting until they've tied the knot to consummate their love.
8. He protects his people. Remember that Asgardian Assasin thing? Well, being a killer for his people is pretty dang hot!
9. He's a faithful friend -- Gunnar and Inga could vouch for it.
10. He's absolutely gorgeous! Tall (6'5"), blond, blue eyed, well-dressed and muscular. Imagine a younger Alexander Skarsgard. Yep. (wiping off that drool as I think about him).

Now for a little fun. I gotta "HEY GIRL" Ull. He's totally worth it and totally up there with my Ry-Ry obsession. Ready? Here ya go!

And, not only that... Ull has fans. Many of them. So much so that we like to #DroolforUll all the time. Here's proof:

So, what can YOU do? First and foremost, you can vote for ULL on Thursday at the NA Crush Tourney at NA Alley! Remember it's THURSDAY, JUNE 26!

Also, for more Ull, you can follow Ull on Twitter at www.twitter.com/UllMyhr 

[Release Day] Tur and Elsker by ST Bende #Giveaway #Ull

Title: Tur

Series: The Elsker Saga #0.5

Author: S.T. Bende

Genre/Age Range: Paranormal, Romance, New Adult

Release Date: May 29, 2014

Goodreads Link: http://tinyurl.com/kmnttof

Inga Andersson is the envy of every girl in Asgard. On the surface she has it all -- great friends, a job as Odin’s personal fight choreographer, and a happy ever after with her realm’s hottest assassin. But when evil invades Asgard, her perfect world comes crashing down. Someone is planning to kill off the gods, and Inga’s best friend Ull is first on their list. With the Norse apocalypse a nanosecond away, Inga has to decide how she’ll spend her final moments of freedom. Because from the moment this battle begins, Inga’s happily ever after will be nothing more than a memory. 

Some things are worth fighting for.


Title: Elsker
Series: The Elsker Saga #1
Author: S.T. Bende
Genre/Age Range: Paranormal, Romance, New Adult
Release Date: May 29, 2014
Goodreads Link: http://tinyurl.com/lo4y6oz

You don’t win the heart of an immortal assassin without making a few enemies along the way. 

Kristia Tostenson prefers Earl Grey to Grey Goose and book clubs to nightclubs, but when she transfers from her one-stoplight town to Cardiff University in Wales she falls in love with Ull Myhr. Her new boyfriend isn’t exactly what she was expecting. He’s an honest to goodness Norse God - an immortal assassin fated to die at Ragnarok, the battle destined to destroy Asgard and Earth. Kristia’s crazy visions are the only thing that can save their realms. Her orderly life just got very messy. 

Links: Website + Facebook + Twitter + Goodreads

Before finding domestic bliss in suburbia, ST Bende lived in Manhattan Beach (became overly fond of Peet’s Coffee) and Europe… where she became overly fond of the musical Cats. Her love of Scandinavian culture and a very patient Norwegian teacher inspired the ELSKER series. She hopes her characters make you smile and that one day pastries will be considered a health food.

You can follow ST Bende on Twitter @stbende, or send an e-mail to stbende@gmail.com.

WHAT REVIEWERS ARE SAYING: 

The Amazon bestselling New Adult Paranormal Romance series inspired by Norse mythology and featured in USA Today.

"The characters will leave an imprint on your heart and mind for a long time to come." -Lisa (Bound by Books)

"Bende takes classic bits of Norse mythology and throws in original elements to create her own tasty Nordic blend... I'll definitely be checking out the sequel!" -Bookalicious Reviews

"One of my favorite books of the year." -White Zin Bookends

"Action packed with a heart pounding romance!" -Curse of the Bibliophile

"This book was nearly impossible to put down and I'm dying for the sequel!" -Brittany and Bianca Blab Books (now BiblioBelles)

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[Cover Reveal] Tur and Elsker by ST Bende #giveaway

It is my pleasure and PURE DELIGHT to host my friend, ST BENDE with her revamped covers of the Elsker Saga. You DO NOT want to miss reading about these Norse gods!

TUR
The Elsker Saga #0.5 
by ST Bende

Inga Andersson is the envy of every girl in Asgard. On the surface she has it all -- great friends, a job as Odin’s personal fight choreographer, and a happy ever after with her realm’s hottest assassin. But when evil invades Asgard, her perfect world comes crashing down. Someone is planning to kill off the gods, and Inga’s best friend Ull is first on their list. With the Norse apocalypse a nanosecond away, Inga has to decide how she’ll spend her final moments of freedom. Because from the moment this battle begins, Inga’s happily ever after will be nothing more than a memory. 

Some things are worth fighting for.

ELSKER
The Elsker Saga #1
by ST Bende

You don’t win the heart of an immortal assassin without making a few enemies along the way.

Kristia Tostenson prefers Earl Grey to Grey Goose and book clubs to nightclubs, but when she transfers from her one-stoplight town to Cardiff University in Wales she falls in love with Ull Myhr.  Her new boyfriend isn’t exactly what she was expecting.  He’s an honest to goodness Norse God - an immortal assassin fated to die at Ragnarok, the battle destined to destroy Asgard and Earth.  Kristia’s crazy visions are the only thing that can save their realms.  Her orderly life just got very messy. 



Author Info:

Before finding domestic bliss in suburbia, ST Bende lived in Manhattan Beach (became overly fond of Peet’s Coffee) and Europe… where she became overly fond of the musical Cats. Her love of Scandinavian culture and a very patient Norwegian teacher inspired the ELSKER series. She hopes her characters make you smile and that one day pastries will be considered a health food.

You can follow ST Bende on Twitter @stbende, or send an e-mail tostbende@gmail.com .

Links:

http://stbende.blogspot.com/
https://www.facebook.com/pages/ST-Bende/102116099988944
https://twitter.com/stbende
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6868809.S_T_Bende


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Our Favorite Heroes -- Ull, Jake, Colin are back Like Never Before!

We're at it again!!!

ST Bende, author of Elsker and Endre, and I love to have fun! Today we're featuring our favorite heroes -- those from our books. 

First, we have to see them shake and wiggle. Starring Ull (from Elsker), Jake (from Time Changes Everything), Colin (from Breaking the Rules) and a sneak peek at two new characters you will meet later this year, Ty (from Trouble with Gold) and Grant (from Time Out, Valentine)

Ull (Alexander Skarsgard), Jake (Matt Bomer), Colin (Chris O'Donnel), Ty (from Trouble with Gold) and Grant (from Time Out, Valentine)

It's no lie that ST has actually met her hero, Alexander Skarsgard. Yep! For reals. Here's a photo to prove it. And check out this blog post for more details & photos: The Day I Met Ull

So, it's only fair that I "pretend" that I met my heroes too (thanks to Faceinthehole.com).

Here I am with Jake (aka Matt Bomer) from Time Changes Everything. Jake's a bigshot lawyer in new York City. You can read Jake's story today ... available at all ebook retailers! 

Now, I'm happy to introduce my latest hero, Dr. Colin Calaway (aka Chris O'Donnel). Colin is a successful doctor, but also a dad busy raising his son alone. When he meets Hope Robinson, his son's principal, he tempts her to break the rules. Breaking the Rules was released on July 8 from Crimson Romance. Check it out!

Now that you've briefly met our heroes, it's time to go buy those books so you can really get to know them. Thanks for stopping by today!

Time Changes Everything by Melinda Dozier

Breaking the Rules by Melinda Dozier

Elsker by ST Bende

NA & YA Authors Share How They Break the Rules

In honor of release week for Breaking the Rules, we're back with more authors sharing how they BREAK THE RULES. Today I'm sharing my fave YA & NA authors.

STBende, Author of Elsker

How do I break the rules? I don't. I'm a notorious rule follower. Occasionally I add more than the recommended amount of Mexican Vanilla to my baking, but that's the extent of it. I'm the girl who cried when I got a parking ticket because I was "in trouble". So lame, right?

How has your character broken the rules? Elsker's Kristia inherited that trait from me. She's read Emily Post cover to cover and she follows rules to the letter... until the day she falls in love with the Norse God of Winter. Because while god-mortal relationships are strictly forbidden, there's no denying the force between Asgard's most lethal assassin and the small town girl who captures his heart. After all, sometimes finding your destiny means doing the exact opposite of what The Fates have in store. 

http://stbende.blogspot.com 

Kara Leigh Miller, Author of The Georgia Corbins

How do you / did you break the rules?

I've never really been much of a rule breaker. All through high school and even now, I've always followed the rules because I was afraid of getting into trouble--not so much with my parents because they rarely punished me, but with the high school principal or teachers....the law! lol. When I used to go to my friend's houses, we'd sneak out and go meet boys. They were usually older boys; boys with cars we knew our parents wouldn't let us see. I think that was the only time I ever really broke the rules.

How has your character broken the rules? 

Ali Philips from The Georgia Corbins is always breaking the rules. When her parents leave her home alone (which happens a lot), she has specific instructions: No boys in the house. Yeah, she doesn't listen. Levi and Tucker are always coming over--sometimes they'll even sneak into her room when her parents are home. She skips classes, gets into fights, sneaks out of her window to go hang out with the Corbin boys; she stole her daddy's pick-up truck once. Oh, and she did the typical teenager, "I'm going to my friend's house to spend the night" when in reality she went camping with a group of people and slept in a tent with a boy!  

http://www.entrancedpublishing.com/imprints/blush/the-georgia-corbins/

Georgann Swiger, Author of Adorned

How have you broken the rules?

I’m usually not a rule breaker. I tried to play by the rules when I was looking to publisher my YA manuscript ADORNED. The first thing I did was query agents. That’s what you’re supposed to do, right? After sending query after query and getting nowhere, I decided to go directly to a publisher by taking a shot at a twitter pitch contest with Entranced Publishing. In one tweet, I had to sell my manuscript to an editor. Somehow, that single sentence did what a query letter couldn’t; it caught someone’s attention. When I got an offer from the publisher at Entranced, I couldn’t believe it.  And I did it without the help of an agent or the query letter I spent months writing. Today, I’m glad I broke the rules that say you need to write a query, get an agent, and then find a publisher. If I hadn’t, I might still be dreaming of having my book published instead of making plans for its November release.

How have your characters broken the rules?

Micah, the love interest of my main character Anya in ADORNED, is an angel who always tries to do what’s right, but ends up teetering on the edge of breaking the rules. The first rule he breaks is when he performs a miracle. Even though that mistake’s forgiven, he’s blindsided by romantic feelings for Anya. While struggling to stay committed to his duty to Heaven, the temptation of forbidden love is overwhelming. But who expects to fall in love? Like Anya says, “You don’t choose these feelings, these feelings choose you.” And one kiss is all it will take for him to break the one rule that can land him in Hell.

ADORNED is scheduled for release in November. Between Heaven and Hell is forbidden love.

http://www.georgeannswiger.com/

Louise D. Gornall, Author of In Stone

How have you broken the rules? 

Okay, so when I was a teen I broke the cardinal rule of dating and hooked up with my best friend. He was so cute & sweet & we got on so well. Obviously we were destined to have the greatest relationship since time began. Suffice it to say that turned sour quicker than milk left under a heat lamp...

How has your character broken the rules? 

Gargoyle Jack breaks every rule. He's like the love child of James Bond & Skatey McSkater Boy. He's cocky & confident and his need to protect the humans overshadows the voice of authority, every-single-time. 

One of My Fantasy Crushes - #TeamUll #Elsker #NATourney

It's no surprise to my regular readers that I'm a sassy, sensual romance writer who LOVES men. Yes, I'm not ashamed to admit it. I often fall in love with those sexy heroes I read about and no better fantasy crush deserves an award more than ULL from my amazing writer friend, S.T. Bende's NA novel, Elsker. 

Here’s the blurb for Elsker:
You don’t win the heart of an immortal assassin without making a few enemies along the way.
Kristia Tostenson prefers Earl Grey to Grey Goose and book clubs to nightclubs, but when she transfers from her one-stoplight town to Cardiff University in Wales she falls in love with Ull Myhr. Her new boyfriend isn’t exactly what she was expecting. He’s an honest to goodness Norse God – an immortal assassin fated to die at Ragnarok, the battle destined to destroy Asgard and Earth. Kristia’s crazy visions are the only thing that can save their realms. Her orderly life just got very messy.

Ull is not just any boyfriend/hero -- he is a the Norse God of Winter and Thor's step-son. I could just stop right there. What's not to love about that? BUT, I will continue, because there's so much MORE to love! Here's my list of why I love Ull and why YOU should vote for Ull in the NA Tourney.

1. He knows what he wants and gets what he wants -- except for that small-town girl, Kristia, who somehow steps in over his head.
2. He's completely in love with Kristia -- even brings her flowers, prepares a picnic and dotes on her in any way he can. **sigh**
3. Not only that, but Ull is willing to change his life as he knows it for Kristia. Now that's love!
4. He's an Asgardian Assasin. Imagine all that training he must endure -- hot abs anyone?
5. He makes the most amazing waffles with Olaug's secret recipe.
6. He's more than intelligent, if you ask me, he's a genius. Having attended several universities and receiving degrees in several areas, he knows his stuff!
7. He's always a gentleman, opening the car door, giving Kristia his jacket and -- ahem -- waiting until they've tied the knot to consummate their love.
8. He protects his people. Remember that Asgardian Assasin thing? Well, being a killer for his people is pretty dang hot!
9. He's a faithful friend -- Gunter and Inga could vouch for it.
10. He's absolutely gorgeous! Tall (6'5"), blond, blue eyed, well-dressed and muscular. Imagine a younger Alexander Skarsgard. Yep. (wiping off that drool as I think about him).

Now for a little fun. I gotta "HEY GIRL" Ull. He's totally worth it and totally up there with my Ry-Ry obsession. Ready? Here ya go!

And if you didn't catch ST Bende and I's Hey Girl showdown in the past, check these links out:

Round 1: (Steamy Showdown) at Melinda Dozier website: http://melindadozier.blogspot.com/2013/05/ull-vs-jake-showdown-elsker-by-st-bende.html

Round 2: ST Bende website: http://stbende.blogspot.com/2013/05/release-day-time-changes-everything-by.html

AND... that's not all!  Ull's fantastic fans have created limericks in support of Ull as the NA crush. Check these out.

So, what can YOU do? First and foremost, you can vote for ULL on Tuesday at the NA Crush Tourney at NA Alley! Remember it's TUESDAY, JULY 2!

Also, for more Ull, you can follow Ull on Twitter at www.twitter.com/UllMyhr . 

[Cover Reveal] Endre by S.T. Bende

It's a pleasure to have my bestie, ST Bende's newest cover reveal of Endre at my blog today. Take a look at this! September can't come soon enough!

Endre

by ST Bende

Book II of The Elsker Saga

Title: Endre (Book II in the Elsker Saga)

Author: ST Bende

Release Date: September 23, 2013

Publisher: Entranced Publishing

Genre: New Adult paranormal romance
Blurb:

Sometimes, finding your destiny means doing the exact opposite of what The Fates have planned.

Winning the heart of an immortal assassin was a dream come true for Kristia Tostenson. Now she's knee deep in wedding plans, goddess lessons, and stolen kisses. But her decision to become immortal could end in heartbreak -- not only for Kristia, but for the god who loves her. Because while Ull would do anything to protect his bride, even the God of Winter is powerless against the Norse apocalypse. Ragnarok is coming. And the gods aren't even close to ready.

 

About the Author:

Before finding domestic bliss in suburbia, ST Bende lived in Manhattan Beach (became overly fond of Peet’s Coffee) and Europe… where she became overly fond of the musical Cats. Her love of Scandinavian culture and a very patient Norwegian teacher inspired the ELSKER series. She hopes her characters make you smile and that one day pastries will be considered a health food.

You can follow ST Bende on Twitter @stbende, or send an e-mail to stbende@gmail.com.

Author social media links

Blog: http://stbende.blogspot.com/

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/stbende

Twitter: https://twitter.com/stbende or @stbende

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/stbende/

And here's her amazing first book, Elsker, information. You do not want to miss this read starring hunky Norse god, Ull and girl-next-door, Kristia.

  

ELSKER

by ST Bende

Book I of The Elsker Saga

Release Date: April 22, 2013

Length: 61,000 words

Publisher: Entranced Publishing, Blush

Genre: New Adult Paranormal Romance

Blurb:

Kristia Tostenson prefers Earl Grey to Grey Goose and book clubs to nightclubs, but when she transfers from her one-stoplight town to Cardiff University in Wales she falls in love with Ull Myhr. Her new boyfriend isn’t exactly what she was expecting. He’s an honest-to-goodness Norse God — an immortal assassin fated to die at Ragnarok, the battle destined to destroy Asgard and Earth. Kristia’s crazy visions are the only thing that can save their realms.

Her orderly life just got very messy.

Book trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8MaJIgkk-CI

Buy Links:

Kobo: http://www.kobobooks.com/ebook/Elsker/book-h7Bk69_5n06_14jqUhk-Cg/page1.html?s=MDjO03uxek-K4vwciTWJxA&r=1

Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/Elsker-The-Saga-ebook/dp/B00CGL33S2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1366782935&sr=8-1&keywords=elsker

Barnes & Noble:

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/elsker-st-bende/1115161284?ean=2940016665375

Entranced: http://www.entrancedpublishing.com/imprints/blush/elsker/

Book Spotlight: Elsker by ST Bende

It's a pleasure to feature ST Bende and her debut novel, Elsker. ST is one of the nicest author friends I know, and her Elsker saga sounds fascinating. It's at the top of my TBR list in May! I advise you to add it to yours. 

TITLE: Elsker, Book One

AUTHOR: ST Bende

PUBLISHER: Entranced Publishing

GENRE: Contemporary Young Adult Paranormal Romance

RELEASE DATE: April 22, 2013

The Elsker Saga:

The Elsker Saga follows twenty-year-old Kristia Tostenson as she meets and falls in love with Norse God of Winter, Ull Myhr.  TUR, the ELSKER prequel, will be available as a FREE download in April of 2013, from Amazon and Barnes & Noble.  ELSKER, Book One, will be released in May of 2013.  ENDRE, Book Two, will follow in September of 2013.  The third book, TRO, is in progress.

ELSKER Book Blurb:

You don’t win the heart of an immortal assassin without making a few enemies along the way.

Kristia Tostenson prefers Earl Grey to Grey Goose and book clubs to nightclubs, but when she transfers from her one-stoplight town to Cardiff University in Wales she falls in love with Ull Myhr.  Her new boyfriend isn’t exactly what she was expecting.  He’s an honest to goodness Norse God - an immortal assassin fated to die at Ragnarok, the battle destined to destroy Asgard and Earth.  Kristia’s crazy visions are the only thing that can save their realms.  Her orderly life just got very messy.

With the fate of the cosmos in Kristia’s inexperienced hands, she’s submerged in a world she never knew existed.  Kristia has to learn to control an onslaught of prophetic premonitions, convince Ull’s thunderous stepdad Thor to make her a god, and stop Ull from giving up his immortality in a misguided attempt to save her.  In choosing Ull Kristia risks losing everything, including her love… and her life.

Check out this fabulous book trailer! 

Author Info:

Before finding domestic bliss in suburbia, ST Bende lived in Manhattan Beach (became overly fond of Peet’s Coffee) and Europe… where she became overly fond of the musical Cats.  Her love of Scandinavian culture and a very patient Norwegian teacher inspired the ELSKER series.  She hopes her characters make you smile and that one day pastries will be considered a health food.

You can follow ST Bende on Twitter @stbende, or send an e-mail to stbende@gmail.com. 

ST Bende's author introduction video.

Author Links:

Blog: http://stbende.blogspot.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/stbende 

ELSKER on Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17182417-elsker