Tuesday, December 20, 2016

Midwinter's Eve Giveaway Hop


Welcome to the Midwinter's Eve Giveaway Hop! I'm celebrating the upcoming January 9 release of my new YA romance Gold Rush and giving away a $10 Amazon gift card. Here's a little more about the book!


Liza Petrov's entire life has been about skating and winning her sport's top prize - Olympic gold. She's stayed sheltered inside her bubble, not daring to stray from her destined path.

Until she meets Braden Patrick.

He makes her heart flutter with possibility, and for the first time she gets a taste of a normal teenage life. She longs to have both the boy and the gold, but stepping outside her bubble comes with a price. As Liza begins to question both her future and her past, can she stay focused on the present and realize her ultimate dream?

****
The ebook can be pre-ordered now for only 99 cents at all online retailers!

Enter to win the Amazon gift card below and then hop around to the other participating blogs. Happy Holidays!







Monday, December 12, 2016

Shall We Dance on Ice


I've been wanting to attend Shall We Dance on Ice since the show was first created a few years ago, and it was finally held in an easily accessible city! I traveled to Las Vegas this past weekend to see the skating and dance show at the Mandalay Bay Events Center. Both the skating and the dancing were divine, and the Goo Goo Dolls exceeded my expectations as the live band. The ice dance cast was comprised of Meryl Davis and Charlie White, Naomi Lang and Todd Gilles (Peter Tchernyshev's mother passed away two weeks ago, so he wasn't able to make it), Sinead Kerr-Marshall and John Kerr, Isabella Tobias and Ilia Tkachenko, Alexandra Paul and Mitch Islam, Laurence Fournier Beaudry and Nikolaj Sorensen, Kim Navarro and Brent Bommentre, Beata Handra and Joel Dear.

The theme of the show was music and dancing through the decades, and it started with the 50's and 60's. Chelsie Hightower (from So You Think You Can Dance and Dancing With the Stars) and Tony Dovolani (DWTS pro) did a beautiful foxtrot on the stage, and then the skaters took to the ice for their own foxtrots.


The disco era of the 70's was next, and Meryl Davis and Charlie White were the featured performers. I love their playfulness with the choreography, and it reminded me of the videos I saw of them from Art on Ice last winter. All of the skaters did a great job expressing the funky style of the Hustle.

The 80's was such a fun section, and the highlight for me was the Kerrs skating to "Take on Me" by A-Ha. There was a group number to "Addicted to Love" by Robert Plant, and Naomi and Todd skated to "True" by Spandau Ballet. Chelsie and Tony took to the stage during this section for a jive to "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go" by Wham, which was a lot of fun.


The Goo Goo Dolls ushered in the 90's with their hit "Slide" as a group of the skaters took to the ice. After this number, Anna Trebunskaya and Dmitry Chaplin danced to the first verse of "Iris," and then Meryl and Charlie took over on the ice for the remainder of the song. This was my favorite performance of the night with the incredible guitar work from the band combined with Meryl and Charlie's emotional power on the ice.


The 2000's began with a sexy cha cha from Chelsie and Tony to Lady Gaga's "Let's Dance" followed by a strong Paso Doble from Anna and Dmitry to "Firework" by Katy Perry. Most of the ice dance cast also participated in these numbers. The Goo Goo Dolls came back for the finale, which included the entire cast of skaters and dancers. I know I've omitted a few performances in here, but my memory is failing me at the moment! The show will be televised on Feb. 11 on ABC, and you don't want to miss it!

Here are all my photos from the show and the Meet and Greet! => PHOTOS

Tuesday, December 6, 2016

GOLD RUSH 99 Cents Pre-Order


The ebook edition of GOLD RUSH is now available for pre-order at all online retailers for the special price of 99 cents. It will be delivered to your reading device on January 9!


Sunday, November 20, 2016

Signed Paperbacks

Signed paperbacks of GOLD RUSH are now available! They are $15 for shipping within the U.S. If you live outside the U.S. please email me at jcomeaux4@gmail.com to discuss shipping options. Please fill out the form linked here if you'd like to purchase a copy.

I am also selling signed copies of the Ice Series. The cost is $15 for Crossing the Ice, $10 for Losing the Ice, $10 for Taking the Ice or $25 for the entire series. Please fill out the form here if you'd like to purchase.

I will be taking orders only until Dec. 1 so that I can be sure to have the books shipped to you before Christmas. Email me at jcomeaux4@gmail.com if you have any questions!

Monday, November 7, 2016

GOLD RUSH Cover Reveal


I'm so excited that it's finally cover reveal day for GOLD RUSH! I've been waiting so long to show you the beautiful cover that Sarah Schoonmaker designed. It perfectly captures the spirit of the book! I have to thank Alex Ronzio and Jimmy Morgan for being my cover models again and Marni Gallagher for doing an amazing job photographing them.

The book will be released on January 9, and you can add it on Goodreads now! The paperbacks will be available before Christmas, so look out for information soon on how to order. I'm doing a giveaway to celebrate the cover reveal, so be sure and enter below!

Tuesday, November 1, 2016

2016 Skate Canada Adventure


I've always wanted to do the Grand Prix North American double dip and attend both Skate America and Skate Canada. This year presented the perfect setup with my favorite dance team Madison Chock/Evan Bates assigned to Skate Canada and the location of the event being in an easily accessible city. After a fun four days in Hoffman Estates for Skate America, I flew home for two days of work and catching up on my DVR, and then it was back to the airport for a quick two-hour flight to Toronto!

I couldn't help but compare many aspects of the two events, and SA definitely won the venue category. The Hershey Centre in Mississauga was a lot older than I expected. My friend and I were very fortunate to have a rental car so we could jet in and out for food between events because the options at the arena were minimal. Shout out to the nearby Heartland Town Centre for its many eateries! Also loved the burger I had at South St. Burger. YUM.

One other area where SC could've used some improvement was the entertainment between events. I never thought I would long for Rusty, the USFSA arena host, but he is a huge step up from the girl who was screaming (and I mean SCREAMING) into the microphone at SC as Elvis Stojko launched T-shirts into the crowd. SC did do a great job with the music during all the events. They kept it current and upbeat with the pop tunes and had an even bigger library than DJ Romeo :)

On to the skating! The ladies were pretty meh. Satoko was the highlight for me, but as usual her scores did not reflect the excellent quality of her skating. I just don't understand what the judges' problems are with her. She is graceful and thoughtful in her movements, and she consistently delivers clean, technically challenging programs. Isn't that what they want? I watch her and then I watch Medvedeva and I continue to scratch my head on the gap between them. Medvedeva can do the jumps, but the arm over the head is not aesthetically pleasing the way she does it (bent arm), and it's done TOO MUCH. I also still feel some immaturity in the way she moves between elements. The PCS she is getting are pretty ridiculous in my opinion.


The men's event was a letdown after the spectacular final group of men at SA. We had the big names of Chan and Hanyu at SC, but they didn't deliver the goods like Shoma, Adam, and Jason did at SA. Misha Ge gave the most memorable performance for me with an inspired clean program complete with a quad (has he landed one in competition before?) I really wanted to see Hanyu's Prince short program skated well to see if he could pull off the character of the music. With the mistakes, it lost all of its steam.

The pairs event was another event with some questionable scoring. I didn't think Lubov and Dylan were three points better on PCS than Haven and Brandon in the free skate. I was so happy to see Haven and Brandon have another solid skate since they had to compete in back-to-back events. Their connection and unison are really standing out to me. Their side-by-spins are so on point now, and they just need to get the timing and execution of the jumps back. I have no doubt it will all come together with their determination!


I was really impressed with the new Chinese team of Yu/Zhang. Yu is a rockstar, and I'm still sad she was forced to split from her former partner because they had such a nice lyrical quality together, but she appears to be gelling well with Zhang. They were quite lovely in the free skate. I wasn't a fan of Meagan and Eric's short program music (amazing throw triple Axel though!), but I really liked their free skate music. I appreciate their grit and their fight on all the elements, but I wish Meagan's landings on the throws and jumps didn't show the fight and grit every time. It never looks like she's in control because she lands so low to the ice.

Turning to the ice dance competition, as I mentioned the main reason I went to SC this year was to see Madi and Evan, so I was beyond thrilled with how well they skated both programs. They had the awful draw of skating first in the short dance, but they came out and killed it. Their unison in the no-touching step sequence was awesome, and they skated it with so much energy. I also loved Kaitlin and Jean-Luc's hip-hop section. Piper and Paul's disco short dance was another one of my favorites. I really appreciate that they go all in with it, never leaving the character. I thought Tessa and Scott's Prince program would flow better with less jarring music cuts.


In the free dance, I give the win to Kaitlin and Jean-Luc over Alex and Mitch in the battle of the Liebestraums. The Danes, Laurence and Nikolaj, continue to improve and impress, and I thought their Edith Piaf free dance suited them so well. Tessa and Scott have always had such an easy way of moving together on the ice, but there was some shakiness in their free dance, perhaps due to nerves. The program didn't really stand out to me as there are already so many lyrical programs out there lately. I'm surprised they didn't take a bigger risk since they have nothing to lose. They have the sport's top prize already, so why not go completely outside the box? I'm so happy that Madi and Evan went in a different direction this season, and I think they've found a winning style in the modern, edgy look of both their SD and FD. They will stand out at nationals with the other top competitors doing soft and quiet free dances.


A couple of final thoughts on my Canadian adventure... there is something very exciting about driving on the highways in Canada and seeing "100" as the speed limit haha. I was also very excited about the exchange rate. If you're contemplating a trip to Canada from the U.S., now is the time to go! Everyone there was super friendly, especially the lady who let me squeeze in next to her at the dance medal ceremony when we were getting crushed by Hanyu fangirls LOL. I'm very much looking forward to the Grand Prix Final in Vancouver in 2018!

You can view all my photos from the event here:

Thursday Dance Practice
Friday Events
Saturday Events

And for some book news, the cover of my next book, GOLD RUSH, will be revealed on Monday, November 7! I'll be doing a giveaway to celebrate, so come back on Monday for all the fun!

Thursday, October 27, 2016

LIFE ON THE EDGE 99c Sale


LIFE ON THE EDGE is on sale for 99 cents for one week only! You can pick it up on Amazon here. And more book news - the cover reveal for GOLD RUSH will be on November 7! Look for a giveaway to be part of the celebration :)

Tuesday, October 25, 2016

2016 Skate America-Saturday & Sunday Events


Saturday and Sunday were packed with activity, so I didn't have time then to catch my breath and gather my thoughts. Just a few musings from the events:

- Shoma Uno proves that a skater who is small in stature can command an entire arena and skate with the power of someone twice his size. He has such strength in his posture. It gives him a regal presence on the ice.
- Mariah Bell put her name solidly in the conversation for the upper echelon of the ladies' podium at nationals.
- Someone please rescue Gracie.
- I think a less bedazzled costume would be more fitting for Ashley's Muse long program. I thought her dress was more suited for a flashy piece of music.
- You will never convince me that Jason didn't land the quad.
- Who wins the award for looking happiest after a coaching change? Mariah or Nam?
- Haven's facial expression while skating is so calm and lovely - one of the most natural out there. I've missed her bright energy this past year. She and Brandon have such a wonderful connection, too.
- Marissa and Mervin landed the throw Lutz!
- After seeing more hip hop short dances, Min/Gamelin's K-Pop/hip hop section was my favorite of the event.
- Chris Reed looks like a totally different skater with his new partner Kana Muramoto. He's really come alive with personality, and Kana is a star.

Here are the rest of the photos from Saturday and Sunday!

A closing note - I'm really bummed that I'll probably have to miss next year's Skate America after attending the event the last eleven years. Putting the event in Lake Placid during Thanksgiving is a decision that makes no sense to me. The town is over two hours from the nearest airport, so fans are forced to drive a long way in potentially hazardous weather in late November. Also, airlines jack up their prices during Thanksgiving, so airfare will be ridiculous. Not to mention that many people will not want to travel away from family during the holiday. Why would the ISU assign the United States' only GP event to a holiday weekend only celebrated in the U.S.? Did USFS volunteer for these dates? Someone please explain the rationale behind this.

See you soon from Skate Canada in Mississauga, Ontario!!!!

Saturday, October 22, 2016

2016 Skate America Friday Events


Just a couple of thoughts from the events on Friday:

- Mariah was the highlight for me. Haven't looked at the protocols, but I'm assuming there were some underrotations in there to explain the score.
- Mao's program was very sophisticated, but I prefer when she uses softer and lighter music to match her ethereal style.
- Mai was adorable.
- Loved Gabrielle's music (shout-out to the Kween, Michelle Kwan!)
- The pairs scoring was suspect. How did A/R score higher than Marissa and Mervin and Valentina/Ondrej? I thought their program and skating were sloppy all around.
- SO HAPPY for Haven and Brandon. Love their step sequence and the fact that they skate very close together through a lot of it. Haven looks positively radiant over being back in competition.
- Marissa and Mervin looked fierce and were really selling the program until the lift mishap. Their footwork was also a highlight for me.
- Tarasova/Morozov have great skills, but I wish they had more excitement to their skating.

You can view all the photos from Friday's dance practice, the ladies' short, and the pairs' short here!

Thursday, October 20, 2016

2016 Skate America Practice Day


Hello from Hoffman Estates, Illinois! Today was the chill practice day before the competition starts tomorrow night. The men were up first, and overall it was a messy affair with lots of falls and wonky jumps. Adam did a nice clean run-through of his short program (complete with sassy footwork), and Jason did a full run-through of his long program. He almost had the landing on the quad but looked like he caught his heel. Shoma didn't look to be at his best in his run-through of his short. 


The ice dancers brought the perk after the men departed the ice. With the two Russian teams, Bobrova/Soloviev and Ilinykh/Zhiganshin, both using "Sing, Sing, Sing," the perk was at level 200. We also had two "Pas de Deux" from The Nutcracker, which was unusual since that piece isn't used much in ice dance. I preferred Tobias/Tkhachenko's version since there were no jarring music cuts like there were in Guignard/Fabbri's program. Speaking of jarring music, I wasn't loving the Shibutanis' Jay Z/Sinatra mashup. It sounded like loud, incomprehensible noise with the hip hop lyrics over Sinatra's "That's Life." Maia's costume was on point, though! (Sorry I didn't get any photos. I was videotaping their run-through. View it here!). Regarding the new American team on the senior scene, I think Pogrebinsky/Benoit have a really bright future, and the future may be coming sooner than later with their beautiful long lines and striking presence on the ice.


I made it back from lunch in time for the second group of ladies. Gracie had a rough go of it in her free skate run-through and in just practicing her jumps. I didn't think she had her usual speed. Mariah also had a rough short program run-through. Both Raf and Rohene were at the boards with her. Ashley didn't attempt many jumps in her free skate run-through. Love the Muse song but not sure I like "angsty Ashley." Jeremy Abbott had such a memorable program to that music that I find myself thinking about that instead.

The pairs ended the day, and I thought Seguin/Bilodeau had added maturity in their Cinema Paradiso long program (I could've done without the lyrics in the last section). Tarasova/Morozov's music was a song I'd never heard before, but it was not easy on the ears. It sounded like bad 70's pop. Loved James/Cipres' song choice of "Sound of Silence." If they can skate the program clean and land the throw quad Salchow (they didn't land any today), it will have a great emotional impact on the audience.


The jumps and throws were hit and miss for most of the teams in the final group. Tarah was having lots of trouble with the side-by-side triple Salchows, but she landed a nice throw Lutz in the long run-through. Marissa and Mervin landed SBS Salchows outside their Journey run-through (where they only did a few sections). They did a couple of successful throws, too. Haven and Brandon did a gorgeous throw triple loop (seriously, her landing was like +10 GOE. She held it forever AND smiled at the audience.) The lifts in their long program are showstoppers, and I hope they can put together the jumps at the beginning to set the tone.

Almost forgot to mention - Raf was working with both Marissa and Tarah at the boards during practice. Is he some kind of new jump specialist for pairs lol?


You can see the rest of my photos here!!



Monday, October 3, 2016

GOLD RUSH Teaser


Time for a new GOLD RUSH teaser! The cover reveal will be November 7, so if you're a blogger, be on the lookout for the sign-up soon! Don't forget you can add the book on Goodreads here.

Sunday, September 18, 2016

2016 U.S. International Classic


It feels like I was just in Boston watching Ashley Wagner bring the house down with her free skate at Worlds, but here we are starting a new skating season! This is the fifth edition of the U.S. International Classic in Salt Lake City, and I've been able to attend the event every year. This year's roster wasn't as strong as it has been in the past, but there were still some noteworthy performances. Here are a few thoughts on the competition:

  • I really enjoyed the short dance event. I wasn't sure about the rhythms before the season, but the entertainment value was high with the programs we saw in SLC. I think the mostly upbeat music will be a nice change from the snoozy themes we had last year. Karina Manta and Joe Johnson's program especially stood out for me.
  • I wasn't a fan of Adam's short program when I watched in on YouTube earlier in the summer, but I thought it was very dynamic in person. He really sold every step of the choreography.
  • I also wasn't a fan of Jason's short program music, but he made me love the program with his smooth interpretation. I thought his quad in SP looked fully rotated, but what do I know.
  • I can't remember a dance team using "Liebestraum" in the past 15 years, and now we have two teams using it this year? (Paul/Islam and Hawayek/Baker) Strange coincidence? Hmm. I thought Paul/Islam did a wonderful job with the piece. It's right in their lyrical wheelhouse but not as sappy as some of their past programs.
  • Soooo happy for Alex Shaughnessy and Jimmy Morgan winning bronze at their first international event. After sticking together for so many years and weathering major setbacks, this was such a sweet reward for them.
  • Min/Gamelin have my favorite hip hop section so far this season.
  • Satoko hasn't missed a beat from last year, and I hope her consistency and graceful movement are rewarded this year over other less aesthetically pleasing competitors (*coughs* Medvedeva)
  • I haven't looked at the protocols, but I'm still scratching my head over how Mura didn't win.
You can find all my photos from the event here!!


Thursday, September 1, 2016

GOLD RUSH Release Date


I'm so happy to finally announce the release date for GOLD RUSH. You'll be able to get your hands on it January 9! Here's more about the book in case you missed my earlier posts:

****
Liza Petrov’s entire life has been about skating and winning her sport’s top prize – Olympic gold. She’s stayed sheltered inside her bubble, not daring to stray from her destined path.

Until she meets Braden Patrick.

He makes her heart flutter with possibility, and for the first time she gets a taste of a normal teenage life. She longs to have both the boy and the gold, but stepping outside her bubble comes with a price. As Liza begins to question both her future and her past, can she stay focused on the present and realize her ultimate dream?

****

Join my mailing list to be alerted as soon as the book is released! Sign up HERE.

Monday, June 20, 2016

GOLD RUSH Teaser


You can add GOLD RUSH on Goodreads here! The book will be out early next year. Stay tuned for more teasers and cover news!

Friday, May 27, 2016

Splash Into Summer Giveaway Hop


Welcome to the Splash Into Summer Giveaway Hop! I thought I'd share some news about the YA contemporary romance I'm currently writing. GOLD RUSH will be released early next year, and here's what it's all about!

****
Liza Petrov’s entire life has been about skating and winning her sport’s top prize – Olympic gold. She’s stayed sheltered inside her bubble, not daring to stray from her destined path.

Until she meets Braden Patrick.

He makes her heart flutter with possibility, and for the first time she gets a taste of a normal teenage life. She longs to have both the boy and the gold, but stepping outside her bubble comes with a price. As Liza begins to question both her future and her past, can she stay focused on the present and realize her ultimate dream?

****

And now for the prizes! I'm giving away a $10 Amazon gift card and an ebook copy of my book LIFE ON THE EDGE. Enter in the Rafflecopter below and then click here to find the next site on the hop!



Thursday, May 19, 2016

GOLD RUSH Blurb

Are you ready for Liza's story? The blurb for GOLD RUSH is finally done! The book is a standalone YA romance and a spin-off from my two series. You don't need to read the series before this one, but if you haven't you should definitely pick them up ;)


Liza Petrov’s entire life has been about skating and winning her sport’s top prize – Olympic gold. She’s stayed sheltered inside her bubble, not daring to stray from her destined path.

Until she meets Braden Patrick.

He makes her heart flutter with possibility, and for the first time she gets a taste of a normal teenage life. She longs to have both the boy and the gold, but stepping outside her bubble comes with a price. As Liza begins to question both her future and her past, can she stay focused on the present and realize her ultimate dream?

Monday, May 16, 2016

RONE Award Voting


LOSING THE ICE has been nominated for a RONE Award in the Novella category! It would be such an honor to be named a finalist. If you could take a moment to vote, I would be so appreciative! You can vote here.

Thank you so much for your support!!!!

Tuesday, May 10, 2016

Stars on Ice 2016


This past weekend I travelled to Los Angeles to visit friends and attend the Stars on Ice show in Anaheim. It was a fabulous night of skating! I was a little worried when there were some uncharacteristic stumbles in the pre-show (apparently, the ice had just been painted which had left it in a less-than-ideal state), but everyone did a great job when the spotlights came on. Here are my thoughts on each program:

Opening Number – “Set It In Motion” – Meryl really stood out in this for me with her sassy dancing. She totally owned her solo at center ice and lived up to her status as one of the headliners. I also loved seeing Evan and Polina dancing together. Polina could have a second career as an ice dancer.


Polina – “Americano”/”Dance Again” – This was a fun number that highlighted Polina’s dance skills. The girl has rhythm, and I’d like to see her try a competitive program like this next year. Her twizzles remain the best by any non-ice dancer.

Madi/Evan – “Haunted”/”Ghost” – It was a treat to see their Beyonce program again even though I’d seen it three times this past season. They always bring so much intensity to the choreography, and I live for Evan’s lunges. There was a funny moment in the pre-show when Evan randomly fell during their run-through, and he started doing Madi’s part of the choreography down the ice.


Adam – Beatles Medley – This was another program I’d seen multiple times already but was happy to see again. Adam didn’t let up on the technical content even though it wasn’t a competitive performance. He did two triple Axels and his patented Rippon Lutz, among other jumps. The crowd ate up all of it.

Girls Number – “Sour Cherry” – This group number was a little disappointing. I felt Jeff Buttle could have done more with the choreography, considering he had the strong performance skills of Meryl, Madi, and Ashley at his disposal. Gracie didn’t look as engaged as the other three girls… more like going through the motions.

Ryan – “Love Runs Out” – Ryan appeared to be in pain from a leg issue during the pre-show, so mad props to him for gutting out the triple jumps and a backflip in this program. It reminded me of a lot of his past show programs, so it made me wish he’d mix it up a bit. I think his comedic programs are where he’s at his best.

Maia/Alex – “Clair de Lune” – This was a stunning program from Maia and Alex that showcased their soft knees and lyrical expertise. Something like this could be a good vehicle for a free dance.


Ashley – “Hip Hip Chin Chin” – Yet another program that never gets old! This was Ashley at her best, displaying her outgoing personality and innate understanding of the music. She hit all the jumps even without Marissa’s dress J

Jeremy – “Peanut Butter Jelly” – This program was so fun! Jeremy is such a natural dancer, and he hit every note of the music perfectly. He had a random fall in the beginning of the program and missed the next jump, but it didn’t take away from the performance at all. I wish there were more opportunities in the U.S. for Jeremy to be a professional skater because he brings so much to the table, and it’s much less nerve-wracking as a fan watching him in shows than watching him compete.

Gracie – “Maybe This Time” – I prefer Gracie’s more fun exhibitions like “Shake It Off,” but she did a good job with this, completing a couple of jumps (one was a big triple Lutz). I’m excited to see the new exhibition that Misha Ge is choreographing for her to Ariane Grande’s “Best Mistake” and “Bang Bang.”

Meryl/Charlie – “Dream” – I hadn’t seen this program before and I loved the emotion they put into it. Charlie was especially intense in this one. Every time I watch them skate I remember how much I love the raw abandonment in their skating.


Guys’ Number – “The Sound of Silence” – There was a haunting quality to this program that worked well. I thought it may have worked even better if it had just been Adam and Jeremy since their skating styles align more closely than Ryan’s does to either of theirs. The simultaneous double Axels by all three were really cool, though.

Ice Dance Trio – “Rise Up” – Love this song and it was lovely program by our three ice dance world medalists. I would’ve liked to have seen them switch partners throughout the dance and add a little more complexity to the choreography, but it was still beautiful to watch.


Polina – “Ave Maria” – A great follow-up to the ice dance trio, keeping the same soft and lyrical mood. Polina has such graceful arms that these balletic pieces really work for her. She hit a few wonderful spirals, including the Kerrigan. In her first program she popped the triple Salchow but came back and hit it in this program.

Madi/Evan – “Everybody’s Free (to Wear Sunscreen)” – LOVE LOVE LOVE this program! Madi and Evan are so versatile in that they can do dramatic, sultry, and quirky and can pull them all off. The lifts in this program are ridiculous, and I hope we see them employ some of this new style into future competitive programs.


Ryan – “Fire and the Flood” – This program felt very similar to his first program and made me wish again that he’d do something like the Mr. Cellophane number he did last year or his Mozart medley.

Gracie – “I Was Here” – I thought Gracie had better energy in this program. I'd like her to consider using a current song for a competitive program in the future.

Adam – “O” – Beautiful, quiet skating from Adam here. Totally different from his first number that played to the crowd. I would’ve preferred a different Coldplay song since the Shibs used this one last year (and there are so many great Coldplay songs to choose from), but Adam’s interpretation had a different feel.


Maia/Alex – “Fix You” – A modified version of their free dance complete with the best part – the twizzles right on the rise of the music. They really gave it their all, visibly showing even more emotion than they did at Worlds.

Ashley – “Dangerous Woman” – This was a program right in Ashley’s wheelhouse. She plays the vixen very well, and Jeremy’s choreography made wonderful use of the music. Loved her dress, too!

Meryl/Charlie – “Dog Days Are Over” – It was great to see Meryl and Charlie do a high-energy program since they’ve done a lot of slower numbers lately. I loved the straight-line footwork and the way Meryl’s skirt moved with the music.


Jeremy – “Bridge Over Troubled Water – This one of my favorites of the night. Jeremy hit all the jumps, including a triple Axel, and he just floated across the ice. It was reminiscent of his “Bring Him Home” program. He knows how to leave an emotional impact with just one simple glide over the ice.

Closing Number – “Wild Motion (Set It Free)” – I thought they should have let each skater/team have a spotlight moment during the closing, but other than that it was fun and the skaters pulled it off wonderfully. And they did the SOI patented high kicks at the end!

Here are all my photos from the pre-show, the show, and the Meet and Greet! => SOI PHOTOS

Wednesday, April 6, 2016

2016 Worlds-Saturday & Sunday Events


I still need to organize my thoughts from the amazing week, but I wanted to post my final sets of photos. Hope you enjoy them!!

Here are all my photos from the pairs FS and ladies FS => SATURDAY PHOTOS
And my photos from the Exhibition => GALA PHOTOS

Saturday, April 2, 2016

2016 Worlds-Wed-Thurs-Fri Events


I'll write some thoughts on the event once I get home next week, but here are my photos from some of the events so far! I never get great shots of the singles skaters, so I didn't take any photos at the ladies and men's short programs.

Here are all my short dance photos => SD PHOTOS
Free dance photos => FD PHOTOS
Pairs short program and men's free skate photos => PAIRS SP & MEN'S FS

Tuesday, March 29, 2016

2016 Worlds-Tuesday Practices


Hello from Boston!!!! I'm soooo happy to be back in one of my favorite cities. Skating + Boston = perfection!

I started the morning off at pairs practice where I was very excited to see Sui/Han, who I adore and want to see atop the podium this year. They did a run-through of their intense Spanish-themed short program, highlighted by some HUGE elements. Sui looks so fierce and strong compared to the other dainty Chinese pair girls. She and Han of them have such a great dynamic together.

Kayne/O'Shea did a gorgeous run-through of their Music of the Night free skate, leaving out the jumps and throws but including all the emotion and artistry that they've become known for. Their facial expressions are so naturally joyful and passionate. There's nothing forced or over-the-top.


Savchenko/Massot were spot-on with their side-by-side jumps, but the throws were a little iffy and they had an aborted lift during their free skate run-through. I wish there music was more pleasing to the ear as they are a very striking couple on the ice.


Dance practice followed the pairs, and it was time for sparkles! The first group included Cappellini/Lanotte, and Anna was sporting quite the poofy new dress. It was a bit distracting to me. They skated very well, though. The second group included the Canadian teams. I love the young team Paradis/Ouellette. There's something about them I find so charming and beautiful. I hope they can continue to move up the crowded ladder in Canadian dance.


The U.S. teams were in the next group, and everyone skated full-out with lots of emotion. The Shibs and Hubbell/Donahue did their short dances while Chock/Bates ran through their free dance.


Here are all my photos from Tuesday! => TUESDAY PRACTICES



Friday, March 25, 2016

GOLD RUSH Update

Hi there! It's been a while since I've posted any GOLD RUSH news so I thought I'd give an update. First, in case you haven't heard, GOLD RUSH is a new standalone skating romance I'm working on. Liza from the Edge Series and the Ice Series is the main character, and the story follows her journey toward the 2014 Winter Olympics. It's a spin-off from the other series, but you won't be missing any vital information if you haven't read the other books (but you should definitely consider checking them out!)

Since I was in Courtney and Josh's world for so long, it's taken me a long time to get acquainted with the new characters and to figure out where Liza's story is going. I didn't want to rush the process because I adore Liza and want to give her the amazing story she deserves, so I've been taking my time in settling into this book. I finally feel like I have a really good grasp on Liza's mindset and also the mindset of Braden, the intriguing new boy in her life. I'm really excited about how things are developing between these two!

I don't have a definite release date yet, but I promise to provide more frequent updates about my progress going forward. How about a little teaser to get things started? :)


Thank you as always for being so patient and for being the most awesome readers ever!! I can't tell you how much it means to me to know there are people out there waiting for this book. It is truly a dream come true to know that my books bring people enjoyment! :)

Oh, and before I go, be sure to check back here next week for lots of photos from the 2016 World Figure Skating Championships in Boston! I'm so excited to go back to one of my favorite cities and soak up more writing inspiration!

Saturday, February 27, 2016

Leap Into Books Giveaway Hop


Welcome to the Leap Into Books Giveaway Hop! Enter in the Rafflecopter below to win an Amazon gift card and then hop around to the other blogs listed here!


Tuesday, February 9, 2016

Ice Series Box Set

Coming March 1! The Ice Series books will be available in a digital box set, and you can pre-order it now on Amazon!


Sunday, January 31, 2016

#AuthorLifeMonth Challenge


Author Dahlia Adler came up with a great Instagram challenge for authors for the month of February, and I'm jumping on board! Follow me at @jcomeaux4 on Instagram to get a daily look at my writing life starting February 1 and check out the tag #AuthorLifeMonth to discover other authors!