Author Nicole Ciacchella
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Nicole Recommends

4/13/2018

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As a lifelong geek/nerd, I have a healthy appreciation for pop culture that not only embraces but celebrates the nerdy/geeky things I love: literature, video games, superhero movies, science fiction, etc. I also absolutely love romantic comedies and cannot get enough of the good ones. One of the reasons I started writing rom-coms and romances is because there was a dearth of the kind of romances I enjoy reading about, so imagine how utterly, over-the-moon thrilled I was to stumble on Susannah Nix's romantic comedy series, Chemistry Lessons.

I picked the first one up on a whim and before I'd even finished it, I hurried to purchase books two and three. These books hit *all* my buttons. The heroines are smart, career-focused women with a healthy appreciation for various types of pop culture. They're not perfect, and the prickly Esther in particular, the main character in Intermediate Thermodynamics, is downright exasperating at times. But these characters feel so real, and they are the kind of nuanced, smart female characters I long for every time I pick up a book, turn on the TV, go to the movies, or fire up a video game.

As someone who's struggled with weight and body image issues, I can't even begin to express how much I appreciate Penny, the main character in Advanced Physical Chemistry. I wanted to cry when I read Nix's description of how Penny eats well and exercises, and is naturally a size 16. I could write an entire essay about how much I relate to that.

Not only are these ladies marvelous, their male love interests are *exactly* the kinds of male characters calibrated to make me swoon. Jeremy, the love interest in Remedial Rocket Science, has some alpha male characteristics--at least at first glance. But then he grows and develops throughout the book. Every male love interest in these books not only lusts after the female main characters, they admire and are fascinated by them, and they are *kind*. One of the things that really turns me off about so many romances and rom-coms is when the female characters are saddled with either jerky manboys who need their women to make them grow up or when the alpha male needs to assert his dominance over his woman, treating her in downright abusive ways as their "love" story develops. Those tropes are blissfully 100% absent from these books. And, trust me, these very nice, sweet, and caring men are SUPER sexy.

I do wish the books were available wide for my non-Kindle readers, but the upside is that they're free to Kindle Unlimited subscribers. Please, please read them so you can come back here and gush with me about how fantastic they are.
Get Remedial Rocket Science on Amazon
Get Intermediate Thermodynamics on Amazon
Get Advanced Physical Chemistry on Amazon
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What's on my playlist?

11/29/2017

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Those of you who have kids have hopefully experienced this great side benefits of being a parent: when your kid gets something you also like, you get to enjoy that gift as well. Boom!

Well, I'm experiencing that right now because my teenager daughter's gift of a subscription to Amazon music is a gift to the rest of the family as well. I always play music when I write, and though I had a pretty hefty collection of digital music, I now have access to ALL THE SONGS! I've especially enjoyed streaming Amazon's Top Alternative station and discovering new music to add to my collection of current favorites. Just for fun, here's are ten songs from my playlist.

Sometimes 40-something mothers *do* like the same music as their teenagers:

Play That Song by Train (I'm a big Train fan in general.)

A song to listen to when you're feeling annoyed by the patriarchy (which probably happens a lot these days, considering the endless stream of sexual harassment allegations coming to light):

Castle by Halsey (My husband and I got to see her open for Imagine Dragons a couple of years ago and she's absolutely stellar live. I used the audio link because I like the album version better, but there's also this version, from the soundtrack for The Huntsman: Winter's War.)

The feels when you're in a relationship with someone who's maybe still hung up on someone else:

Paranoia by Liza Anne (One of my favorite discoveries from listening to the aforementioned alternative station on Amazon.)

Some days, you just need some screaming in your music:

Car Radio by twenty one pilots

We can all use a good pop anthem every now and then:

Fight Song by Rachel Platten (No surprise, but I identify with the struggle between the need to create and the frustration when it doesn't quite go the way you want it to.)

Don't you just love songs you can't help but bop along to?

Feels Like Summer by Weezer

That voice is ah-may-zing!

River by Bishop Briggs

This beat is awesome and you can't deny it:

Feel It Still by Portugal. The Man

The song you're surprised you like because you don't typically like songs like it:

Something Just Like This by The Chainsmokers and Coldplay

That song you sing when you want to stick it to your ex:

Hell No by Ingrid Michaelson (So, so cool to watch the song be signed.)

What else should I add to my playlist? I'm always on the lookout for good new music!
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Looking for deals on weekend reads?

10/13/2017

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It's Friday! You've made it through the week, and now you're looking to unwind with a good SFF book, aren't you?

*Of course* you are.

Well, lucky you. I have a whole slew of giveaways and promotions to tell you about, including some huge instaFreebie giveaways. You'll find enough sci-fi and fantasy books to please any discerning fan, from a variety of voices. Happy reading!
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Click here for a wealth of sci-fi novels featuring diverse characters.
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Love fantasy fiction? Looking for fantasy featuring diverse characters? Click here for a great selection.
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Want even more sci-fi and fantasy reads? Well, look no further! Click here for the SFF Book Bonanza instaFreebie giveaway, featuring 100+ SFF books.
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And last but not least, if you love the SFF Book Bonanza instaFreebie selection, why not click here for a sister promotion for 99c books? Many are the second books in the new series you fell in love with, thanks to the instaFreebie giveaway.
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