Wednesday: Beth and I got up early, but not too early, and headed to the food court for breakfast, where we once again ran into BadBarb and her posse. I learned that I could become addicted to raspberry-mango smoothies, and that I can only walk so far before I have to sit down for 1/2 hour. Beth and I went back to Underground Atlanta, where she got a really cool hat that said "LadyB", so of course I had to get one, too, because I am such a blatant copycat, but I waited at least an hour while we had lunch at Johnny Rocket's, which is a really fun diner where you feel like a celebrity when you walk through the door. Then we went back to get my hat. I was planning on having it say "Stacy ~" with that annoying little tail I use as my sig line, but alas, that symbol meant something at MonogramExpressions (?) and I settled on a pretty star instead.

We then walked around awhile. One thing I noticed about Atlanta was that it was very easy to find a police officer - they seemed to be everywhere. Case in point: Beth and I were sitting down talking on a park bench in front of an office building, and a man, who obviously worked there because he had an I.D. badge, came up to us and asked if he could tell us some jokes. We said "sure", though I think Beth is much friendlier than I am (I immediately think wacko, whether it's warranted or not). So Mr. Comedian proceeded to share with us his idea of a joke. The only thing I can remember is that he was really loud. Well, anyway, he must have pulled this stunt before because after a few moments one of the police officers comes over and said comedian immediately tells the cop that he had asked our permission first. All I can say is "thank you, officer".

It was rather a lazy afternoon, but we were saving our energy for the Literacy signing, which started at 5:30pm. We got in line probably around 5-ish, and the line was already quite long. The loud buzz of excitement was in the air, and I was anxious to experience the phenomenon of the Literacy signing. Once the doors were open, it was a free-for-all. Where to go first? I can't even remember, but I did have 5 books I brought to be signed, so that was my first mission. I must admit though, I wandered around in a daze for about the first 20 minutes before I finally followed my game plan. I mean, come on, how could I not be a total dork and just gawk for at least a few minutes? Impossible....

One of the first people I had to meet was Vivi Anna, who is so extremely cool and sweet. She signed my copy of "Hell Kat", which I will cherish forever *g* I then asked her if she had seen Queen Bella Michelle Buonfiglio, and at the time she hadn't. We were both convinced there was no way to miss her, being carried around by many naked and hot Italian men, because how else would a queen get from point A to point B? I then stopped by Monica Burns to have her sign my copy of "Forbidden Pleasures". I don't think she knew I was a fellow Bella, but that's okay - the lady was in demand and I was not about to stand in her way LOL. She was very nice and I enjoyed chatting with her for a few moments. Trying to keep in alphabetical order, I next traipsed over to Jennifer LaBrecque's area to have her sign 3 copies of "Highland Fling". I loved her blonde and red hair, and she was really fun to talk to. I told her how much I adored "Daring In the Dark", and we oohed and aahed over that cover, which is just gorgeous. If you haven't read about sexy Simon, you must. He is to-die-for. Whew! All five books signed: mission accomplished! (Okay, sorry folks, but I'm not doing any more links - it takes forever!)

Next up was visiting Julie Elizabeth Leto, Plotmonkey and fabulous Blaze author. She gave me a big hug (yeah she loves me) and we chatted for a few moments before I gave up the spotlight to someone else. I then had to stop and say "hi" to Jill Shalvis so she could pass that along to Lucy Monroe. Jill is so funny, yet kinda quiet, and I liked her immediately, until she had to go and take my picture. The woman can eat more cookies and still look great - I think I could hate her LOL. By this time I started to just go around in random order, stopping by the gorgeous and glowing Janelle Denison's table - another sweet lady - and gushed to Kimberly Cates over her book "Gather the Stars" - one for the keeper shelves. She was next to Dianne Castell, a dear, dear lady. And of course I couldn't miss this chance to meet Karen Kelly, who wrote the fabulous "Hell on Wheels". And I can't forget to mention Sylvia Day, who wrote "Bad Boys Ahoy" and just had "Ask For It" released, but it wasn't at the signing (I managed to nab the last copy at the B. Dalton in Peachtree Court, just missing her - she stopped by to sign their stock).

Gosh, there were so many other lovely authors: Eve Silver, Michelle Rowen, Suzanne Enoch, Sasha White, my buddies LuAnn McLane, Janice Maynard and OMG, Erin McCarthy! I hope I didn't miss anyone - there were so many amazing writers there. So what if I sound like a total fangirl!

Oh, what a glorious night! I heard RWA raised $62,000 for Literacy that night - amazing. Readers and authors are such generous souls. After sitting in the outside area after buying our books, a group of us chatted and cooed over our purchases, and some immediately started reading their treasures (LadyB couldn't put "On The Way To the Wedding" down). Then we headed back to our hotel and ordered pizza - nothing was to interrupt some much needed reading time: Beth with "OTWTTW" and me with Erin's "High Stakes", which is soooo good, btw. A great way to end the evening :)

Title: "Into Danger"

Author: Gennita Low

Year published: April 2003

Why did you get this book? I heard a lot of praise for her books from friends of mine, but I ended up reading the 2nd book "Facing Fear" first and really enjoyed it, plus I'm rather anal and have to read all the books in the series.

Do you like the cover? Yes - simple, mysterious, bold - it lets the reader imagine how the characters look, and I really like that.

Did you enjoy the book? Very much. I loved the heroine, Marlena, for being so strong, so kick-ass, and also because she can be those things and still be vulnerable enough to falling in love with a man worthy of her heart. And I loved "Stash" for loving her even when he wasn't completely sure he could trust her, and for going on a much-dreaded shopping mission with her. Right from the start, Stash challenges her, and she finds herself breaking her own rules to meet that challenge. And you just have to love a heroine who outsmarts the boys who think they are too smart for a woman. She does it with ease.

Was the author new to you and would you read something by this author again? Not completely new, and yes, I would definitely read other books by her.

Are you keeping it or passing it on? Keeping it, but I would definitely recommend it.

Anything else? I thought I would be tired of reading yet another military-based romantic suspense novel, and wasn't looking for anyone to replace Suzanne Brockmann or Catherine Mann in my affection for this type of books, but Gennita definitely has her own style that sets her apart, and it drew me right in. I have 2 other books of hers from this series in my TBR pile.

Ah, it was such a blast! The week flew by, and there was lots to see and do, but I only will hit on the highlights. I'm going to say right now that all pictures taken are on someone else's camera since I didn't even bring mine. But once I get the links I will post the best ones.

The classy LadyB, aka fellow stalker

Tuesday: woke up early to catch a 9:12am flight. Since I still had to pack, I got up around 5:30. Caught the bus to the airport, and was there early enough to eat, which was a very good thing, and then ended up having to go to another gate. Got on the plane. Waited. A rather distracted lady ends up sitting next to me, but she's preoccupied with her belongings and getting settled so I kept reading my magazine. The plane was delayed at it was being fueled, and passengers were getting restless. Me, I just settled in with my fluff mag and felt relaxed. Finally we got underway. Not being the best flyer, I can feel my heart picking up speed, but it was a smooth take-off. About 3/4 of the way into the flight I finished my magazine and pulled out a Linda Howard paperback, which said lady notices. "Oh, do you read romance?" she asks, to which I mumbled something since I usually get such weird reactions to that question. She gets up to go to the restroom and the curiosity was killing me so I asked if she was going to RWA. She was, then she asked if I was a writer - I'm not. Was she a writer? "I'm Jill Monroe", to which I reply "Oh, you're Gena Showalter's friend!" Yep, that's what I said. Fortunately Jill just laughed, and told me she was also on the plane. Then she showed me her shirt that said "I am Jill Monroe" and said Gena was wearing one that said "I am Jill Monroe's friend". When we landed, she introduced me to Gena, who sure enough was wearing that t-shirt. Both ladies were very sweet and gorgeous (hate them! LOL), so there I was, walking through the airport with 2 romance authors in search of the baggage claim area. Let's just say the Atlanta airport needs a few more signs! We found the carousel, and as we waited for our bags, my friend and fellow BookJunky Beth (aka LadyB) found me, then my bag showed up, so I waved good-bye to my new friends, and we were off!

me, BADBarb, Patti, Heather

Beth and I checked into our hotel, and then decided to go check out the action. We ran into some people we knew at the food court - BadBarb, Mary F., Heather - and chatted with them for a bit. I had Chick-A-Fil-A for the first time - it was good (proof as to why I'm not a writer - no imagination). Then we all headed out to Underground Atlanta and the Coca-Cola Museum. You see, our friend Barb is a Pepsi addict, and it was our mission, as her friend, to show her the errors of her ways. Despite some resistance, we managed to drag her, um, convince her that she needed the intervention. She did quite well, didn't melt or anything, and it was a shining moment. I loved learning the history of Coke, and though some significant information is left out, such as the whole cocaine thing, it was still interesting. And it was fun to try the different flavors from around the world. Who knew there were so many? I also learned that the word "enjoy" is "nauti" in Finnish. I like it.

me, BadBarb (resisting her intervention) , AnneMarie, Jan, Mitch, Heather, MaryF

Afterwards we walked around Underground Atlanta and did some shopping. I'm not a big souvenir shopper, plus I wanted to save room for the books I would buy at the Literacy signing. We headed back to the hotel with the hopes of running into more authors. I saw Marjorie M. Liu and Maggie Shayne, and we ran into our friend Erin McCarthy, who is always so much fun and just laughs when we scream "OMG, it's Erin McCarthy!" whenever we see her. Then we walked down the street to have dinner at Gibney's Pub, which was really loud and smoky and the food was good but took forever...well, mine did, and I was soooo hungry I was tempted to steal the food off of everyone else's plate. Beth and I were fading out around 11pm, so we decided to go back to the hotel and get some sleep. This just proved to me that I am a lazy, out-of-shape bum. More later....

I made it back, safe and sound. It was quite a week, and I promise I'm working on my blog post about RWA. Maybe it'll be up later today.

But the real reason for my post is to announce the winner of "Squeeze Play": Michelle B ! Michelle, please send me your snail mail addy and I will ship it off sometime this week. You can catch me @ trelainastarblazer@yahoo.com

Thanx for playing! I got a bunch of books from RWA, some duplicates, so I will be having more contests in the near future :)

I'm leaving for Atlanta in the morning, but I'm leaving you with a contest to win this book by Kate Angell, the first in a series. (Check out a quick excerpt here). It's a fun, light read that just happens to be about a bunch of sexy baseball players. Nothing like a guy who keeps himself in shape ;)

So in order to qualify to win, I just ask that you post about your favorite sport, or, if you're not a sports fan, your favorite event: the opera, horseracing (is this a sport?), wine-tasting...whatever. Maybe share a detail about a specific favorite: seeing "Carmen" for the first time, watching your favorite horse win, discovering a new must-have wine.

ALL entries are welcome regardless where you live, one per person please, and the contest will end Saturday, July 29th, at midnight central time. Have fun, and as always, thanx for playing :)

I have a bunch of stuff I wanted to blog about, but just decided to cheat and throw it all together.

First, I was tagged! For the first time ever, by Sybil, so I guess I'll play:

1). When did you start blogging and why?

2). What don't you talk about?

3). Are you and your blogging persona the same person?

4). How do you use blogging to build friendships?

5). How would you describe your writing style?

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NEW RELEASES...

Erin McCarthy's "High Stakes"

Lisa Kleypas' "Scandal In Spring"

Sylvia Day's "Ask for It"

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Lucy Monroe is having a Blog Party! Visit her blog from Monday, July 24th - July 29th for your chance to win lots of prizes and have lots of fun!

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Just because....*g*

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Geez, I just can't get that Justin Timberlake song "Sexy Back" out of my head...and I don't even like Justin Timberlake. Much. Okay, this song rocks. And he sings it. So maybe he's not so bad after all. And there's that part about shackles. He's my slave. Okay, not MY slave. But no one makes him feel that way. (Okay, now I'm sounding like Mailyn LOL. I have to stop saying "okay").

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*CONTEST ALERT*CONTEST ALERT*CONTEST ALERT*

Before I head off to Atlanta on Tuesday, I'll have another book giveaway contest. Think baseball. Think heavenly beings. Think I'll save it for tomorrow ;)

'Nite, 'nite.

Published by Signet Eclipse

ISBN#0-451-21695-4

Publication Date: September, 2005

Book One

In the shadows of the night in Caldwell, New York, there's a deadly turf war going on between vampires and their slayers. There also exists a secret band of brothers like no other - six vampire warriors, defenders of their race. Among them, none relishes killing their enemies more than Wrath, the leader of the Black Dagger Brotherhood...

The only purebred vampire left on the planet, Wrath has a score to settle with the slayers who murdered his parents centuries ago. But when one of his most trusted fighters is killed- orphaning a half-breed daughter unaware of her heritage or her fate - Wrath must usher the beautiful female into the world of the undead…

Racked by a restlessness in her body that wasn't there before, Beth Randall is helpless against the dangerously sexy man who comes to her at night with shadows in his eyes. His tales of brotherhood and blood frighten her. But his touch ignites a dawning hunger that threatens to consume them both…

Published by Signet Eclipse

ISBN# 0451218043

Publication Date: March, 2006

Book Two

In the shadows of the night in Caldwell, New York, there’s a deadly war raging between vampires and their slayers. And there exists a secret band of brothers like no other - six vampire warriors, defenders of their race. Possessed by a deadly beast, Rhage is the most dangerous of the Black Dagger Brotherhood...

Within the brotherhood, Rhage is the vampire with the strongest appetites. He’s the best fighter, the quickest to act on his impulses, and the most voracious lover—for inside him burns a ferocious curse cast by the Scribe Virgin. Possessed by this dark side, Rhage fears the times when his inner dragon is unleashed, making him a danger to everyone around him.

Mary Luce, a survivor of many hardships, is unwittingly thrown into the vampire world and reliant on Rhage’s protection. With a life-threatening curse of her own, Mary is not looking for love. Her faith in miracles was lost years ago. But when Rhage’s intense animal attraction turns into something more emotional, he knows that he must make Mary his alone. And while their enemies close in, Mary fights desperately to gain life eternal with the one she loves…

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Here's a taste of the future.....

Book Three: Zsadist's Story

ISBN# 0-451-21936-8

Coming September 5, 2006

In the shadows of the night in Caldwell, New York, there’s a deadly war raging between vampires and their slayers. And there exists a secret band of brothers like no other - six vampire warriors, defenders of their race. Of these, Zsadist is the most terrifying member of the Black Dagger Brotherhood.

A former blood slave, the vampire Zsadist still bears the scars from a past filled with suffering and humiliation. Renowned for his unquenchable fury and sinister deeds, he is a savage feared by humans and vampires alike. Anger is his only companion, and terror is his only passion—until he rescues a beautiful aristocrat from the evil Lessening Society.

Bella is instantly entranced by the seething power Zsadist possesses. But even as their desire for one another begins to overtake them both, Zsadist’s thirst for vengeance against Bella’s tormentors drives him to the brink of madness. Now, Bella must help her lover overcome the wounds of his tortured past, and find a future with her…

Published by Signet Eclipse

Coming March, 2007

Book Four

In the shadows of the night in Caldwell, New York,there's a deadly war raging between vampires and theirslayers. And there exists a secret band of brotherslike no other - six vampire warriors, defenders of theirrace. Now, an ally of the Black Dagger Brotherhood will face the challenge of his life and the evil of the ages.

Butch O'Neal is a fighter by nature. A hard living, ex-homicide cop, he's the only human ever to be allowed in the inner circle of the Black Dagger Brotherhood. And he wants to go even deeper into the vampire world- to engage in the turf war with the lessers. He's got nothing to lose. His heart belongs to a female vampire, an aristocratic beauty who's way out of his league. If he can't have her, then at least he can fight side by side with the Brothers...

Fate curses him with the very thing he wants. When Butch sacrifices himself to save a civilian vampire from the slayers, he falls prey to the darkest force in the war. Left for dead, found by a miracle, the Brotherhood calls on Marissa to bring him back, though even her love may not be enough to save him...

I am not the most computer-savvy person out there, in fact, I figure I rank in the bottom half. So I am clueless when it comes to all this technology and the gadgets that go along with it, not to mention the programs and coding, but that's another world altogether. (Recently I've been asked to help someone do a project in Photoshop - I don't even have Photoshop on my laptop, and have no clue how to use it. Well, that'll teach me to say "yes" without finding out all the particulars *g*).

So my question is: what do you prefer to use, a laptop or the desktop, and why? What do you consider advantages to the system you use? I've had both, and for what I use it for, I didn't really see much of a difference, other than my laptop I can take with me...though I never do. Next year, I think I'll be in the market for a newer model, so I'm always curious to know what others recommend. Is it smart to have Photoshop on a laptop? Does it really make a difference?

People always say: it depends on what you're looking to do with it. Well, I use it mostly for internet access (email, blogging, Yahoo groups, etc) and now I'd like Photoshop, but do you think I need anything else? Oh, I've also been doing some proofreading for an author as well as one of my friend's papers who's taking a class, so I would like a program that offered me the ability to do tracking (?).

Any and all feedback is appreciated so I can start looking around and getting more of an idea of what I want to purchase. Maybe if you share what system you have and why you like it/don't like it, that will help me. Of course, there's always that risk of too much information, which will only confuse me, but I'll take that risk. For example, some people love Mac. I mean, they LOVE Mac. Why? I've never had one. What makes it better than a pc? Sorry, I'll stop asking questions, and let you respond (or not). Have a great day :)

I know for some, this is a boring topic, so I'll try to post something more fun later LOL.

I consider myself fairly open-minded, but there are certain topics that never interested me, ideas that I didn't really care to read about. However I surprised myself recently with one of the books I read. It was based on a review I read, and the review was so compelling, and so in favor of this story and how well-written it was that I decided to give it a chance. It was an ebook, which is not my preferred method of reading, but I will download stories from a select few. In this instance, I made an exception.

The book is called "The Assignment", and as you can see by the cover, there are two men on it. Yep, just two men. No women. At all. Anywhere. And so that's how the story progresses. It's a romance between two men. And that's the operative word: romance. That's exactly what it was. And it was one that drew me in right from the beginning of the story.

See, one of my favorite plotlines is best friends who fall in love. The idea of developing feelings for someone you know so well, someone you already care for, well, that's down-right irresistible. And in this particular scenario, it was no different. Nick Valenti is a rich boy who rejected becoming a doctor or a lawyer in favor of becoming a cop. Him and his partner Sean O'Brien have been best friends for years, and have been through everything together, including Nick's divorce and several dangerous situations in the line of duty, and spend their weekends relaxing by hooking up with the ladies. Now Nick realizes that he's fallen in love with Sean, and he doesn't know what he's going to do. How can Sean, the straightest guy he's ever known, even want to be friends with him if he found out?

This story was romantic, but not sappy. No hearts and flowers, but honest, intense emotion from two people who already care for each other. And the love scenes were hot. As in "turn up the a/c and have an ice-cold drink nearby" type of hot. As in "squirm in your seat" hot. As in "wow, these are two guys doing it and oh-my-god I'm digging it!" hot. Two men. Together. In bed. Wow. Who knew? Certainly not me.

Now get this: from what I've read in blogland (and even expressed an opinion on), this is a sexual fantasy many women have. I just never thought I was one of them, until I read this story. Of course it helped that I imagined these guys as looking really hot, and not to have any stereotypical homosexual tendencies. They were alpha males with strong, muscular bodies, a sexy swagger and probably an air of arrogance. I imagined them shooting hoops, lifting weights, drinking beer. The image worked for me, and I ended up really enjoying the story, and breathing a happy sigh at the HEA, just like I would for any well-written traditional romance.

Did my reaction surprise me? Totally. But I can deal. I mean, it's not like I had any religious objections to it because I believe in letting people live their lives and I don't believe for a second that love between consenting adults is wrong. God is just not that way, at least not the God I believe in - He/She is about love, not hate. No, my surprise was based on my own orientation and experiences. But as I've learned, not all fantasies are ones that you act on, or even really want to. Some things are better left to the imagination anyway.

So I don't know if I will actively seek this kind of story out the next time I am looking for something new to read, but at least now I know I wouldn't immediately turn away from it. I found it to be a very sexy story, and one that tugged at my heartstrings. Any story worth a reader's time would be able to do that. Those are the best kinds of stories, imo. I also think it worked so well because Ms. Anderson concentrated more on the emotion and made the reader care for the characters as their story progressed. Without that connection, it would have just been gratuitous sex, and I probably would have hated the story if that was all there was to offer. Fortunately, it wasn't. Ms. Anderson wrote a wonderfully romantic story that just happened to be between two men.

Has this ever happened to you: you've read something you never thought you'd ever read and you ended up really enjoying the subject. Or maybe you enjoyed the way it was written. Whatever. Bottom line - it was a revelation. Please feel free to share and offer up recommendations if you feel that strongly about it. I'm looking forward to your response(s).

Jennifer Paige's song, the one currently playing on my blog, inspired this post today. It's about those crazy crushes that you can't exactly explain, but you have them just the same. Today I'm going to talk about celebrity crushes, only not your ordinary Johnny Depp-inspired crush. I'm going all-out bad boy.

Maybe it's because I'm the shy wallflower type. Sure, I can talk a good game while on-line, but in real life, unless you know me pretty well, I'm quiet. And for whatever reason, I've always been attracted to bad boys. Not so unusual; most of us are. But my bad boys are not just the ones that ride on motorcyles and wear tight jeans. I like 'em wild, kinda crazy, and maybe even a little scary. Unpredictable. I don't really understand it, but there is just something about certain guys that draws my attention like the proverbial moth to a flame.

James Spader. (Not the current version). Ever since seeing him in "Pretty In Pink", trying to force Molly Ringwald to accept his attention instead of Andrew "Blaine" McCarthy, you knew he was nothing but trouble. He was the spoiled, rich kid, the one who was used to getting whatever he wanted, and nothing irritated him more than being rejected by someone he thought was beneath him, class-wise. But admit it. (Okay, okay, I will). He intrigued you. Hell, he definitely intrigued me. He might have been the the unremorseful bad guy, but oh, he was yummy. I would have traded Blaine in for a spin with him any day of the week. Like I said, totally crazy.

Another one, only more of the violent variety with that temper of his. (Again, my choices are not based on any valid or acceptable reasoning. I just liked 'em). He is one of the leading bad boys of our generation, no doubt. From his fights with the media to the roles he chooses, Sean Penn is not about the warm fuzzies. But I gotta give the guy credit for sticking to his guns and selecting roles that challenge him, and for his involvement in many controversial causes. If he supports something, he gives it 150%. True, some of it may be self-serving, what with cameras following him around to view the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, but I didn't see Tom Cruise down there...did you?

Okay, and probably the craziest of them all: Rob Zombie, former lead singer of White Zombie and current horror film director (plans on directing "Halloween"). This is actually one of his more normal looks, sans dreadlocks and combat boots. He loves those really awful "b" movies, those parodies of horror. Whatever, he doesn't seem to take himself too seriously, but there is something rather wicked about him. Do I understand the attraction? Not really. I can't even say that I'd get on the back of his motorcycle, but when he's on t.v. or the radio, I pay attention. And I'm not even embarrassed (too much) to admit I have him (?) as one of my friends at myspace, LOL.

Okay, not exactly the type of guy you'd bring home to mom. (Well, actually my mom would probably love each of these guys. She always had a soft spot for the rebel, since she is one herself). And for someone who's never really gotten into trouble, much, they all have their unique appeal. It might not make any sense, but these are some of the craziest celebrity crushes I've had over the years. Do you have any to add to the list? (Hey, if I'm willing to embarrass myself, so can you. Could they really be any worse than mine??? *g* )

For anthologies, nothing beats Brava's Bad Boys. Every story I've read, and believe me, I've read quite a few, is top-notch storytelling. In my opinion, being selected as one of the chosen few who has appeared in a Brava is a compliment indeed. HelenKay Dimon has started out her writing career with the Bravas. She's been linked with some of the biggest names in the business, and once you read her work, you'll see she fits right in.

"Jackpot": Accountant Laine Monroe is on a mission to help a client, which puts her in the path of sexy and smooth operator Jack MacAllister. Getting him to invite her to his room is like taking candy from a baby, but keeping him distracted long enough to search for clues proves to be a bit of a challenge when he's more interested in getting her out of her clothes. Laine proves to be rather inept at being a detective, which leads to some laugh-out-loud moments, but the chemistry between her and Jack is undeniable, and when the power goes out, locking them in the hotel room, clients and money are forgotten as they act on their strong attraction. But when the truth comes out, will they be able to forgive the other for the deception that brought them together? Well, of course they do, and that's always the fun part....

"Player's Club": Zach Jacobs is always cooking, whether he's in or out of the kitchen, and this drives consultant Jenna Barrister crazy, not that she's willing to show it. Her job is to get Zach to keep it in his pants for the sake of the Berkley hotel's image, even if it means following him around day and night. But the thing is, she gets why he's so popular with the ladies because he has the exact same effect on her. If he ever found out, well, she'd lose the upper hand..... Zach is aware of his player rep, and though he is responsible for creating the legend, he really can't take credit for the embellished rumors that follow him around, but he'll be damned to let uptight, sexy Jenna know that. She's already rejected his amorous advances, much to his frustration, and he's not about to let her lead him around by his...nose. Then the power goes out. Denied passion gives in to temptation as the dark lets them lose their inhibitions, and their hearts. This one sparks right from the get-go, and keeps fanning the flames of attraction until Zach and Jenna give into it. I love stories where the characters can't stand each other but who also can't keep their hands off each other, and this one delivers. Very sexy. My favorite of the three.

"Two of a Kind": Caroline Rogers is at the Berkley hotel on business. As a travel reviewer, it's her job to evaluate the places she visits under a cloak of darkness, which means she may have to be a little sneaky when it comes to getting the goods. Yet she's been caught by assistant manager Alex Mitchell, who lives and breathes for the Berkley, and who sees more of her than she intended, much to her embarrassment. Now she has to come up with a story he'll believe or risk getting thrown out of the hotel. But the blackout locks them in the spa area, and with the temperatures rising, they have no choice but to get more comfortable, and get Alex out of his clothes. A situation he's all for, especially if it means seeing more of the lovely Caroline. Their attraction is hot and instantaneous, and things sure are heating up in the steam room. Will they be able to stand the heat when Alex discovers who Caroline really is?

It was fun to read about some of the inter-workings of the hotel, and I give a lot of credit to HelenKay for not changing her characters so much that they were willing to drop everything to follow their lover around on a leash. I dislike it when a character, usually the heroine, quits her job to move hundreds of miles to live with the hero after only knowing each other a few days or even a few hours. Instead, their careers are taken into consideration, and the HEA for each story were much more realistic because of it, but no less effective.

After reading this anthology, I imagine HelenKay will go far with her writing. She brings an honesty to her stories that I really enjoy, and her style works so well with the Brava line. From different posts and comments I've read by her, she's not afraid to voice her opinion but she does it in an intelligent way, and I respect that. Her blog is a great source of information on everything from publishing to some interesting reading gems that I've never heard of before, and I love discovering stuff like that.

I also like that she reviews books herself. I know there's a lot of differing opinions about this one, but I don't think a writer should have to stop reviewing once he/she becomes published. Writers are first and foremost readers, and have every right to share their own opinions. And as long as the reviews are honest, constructive, and avoid flaming or name-calling, I don't have a problem with them. (I think it's rather funny that reviews are getting reviews *g*).

So bring a Vegas Bad Boy home....you won't be sorry ;)

It is HOT outside! Here in the Chicago area, we've been pretty lucky, but this weekend is going to be an absolute scorcher. Short shorts, flip flops, tank tops, sunscreen, sunglasses, an icy drink (or three). And music. The sounds of summer. Gotta love the music that goes along with the season - sexy, steamy, and fun.

So, tell me, what do you think of as the ultimate song of summer? Here's my choice....

THE RASPBERRIES

I never knew how complete love could be

Til she kissed me and said, baby

CHORUS

Please, go all the way

It feels so right

Being with you here, tonight

Please, go all the way

Just hold me close

Don't ever let me go

I coudn't say what I wanted to say

'Til she whispered I love you, so

REPEAT CHORUS

Before her alone, I was cruel and mean

There was a hole in the place where my heart should have been

But now I'm changed, and I feel so strange

I come alive when she says all those things to me

And she says

(come on)Come on (come on)(come on)

Come on (come on)

I need you (come on)

love you (come on)

I need you (come on)(come on)

REPEAT CHORUS

I don't know what it is about this song, but I love it! Listen here for a taste of what I'm talking about...and tell me, what is your song of summer?

I have to thank Mailyn for the inspiration behind today's post. She made a comment about not liking Jane Austen's work. I found that rather interesting, though not shocking, because I am not a fan of certain literary classics, so it stands to reason that we're not the only ones that have either a strong dislike or a lack of understanding about a certain book or movie the general public adores. I will admit to not being the most intellectual person I know, and my interests are based on more superficial factors. Here are just a few of my selections:

There are a few that come to mind, but most notably is the book "Wuthering Heights" by Emily Bronte. One reason I dislike it so is that I read it for a book report in the 10th grade, and I hate reading for an assignment; I only like to read for pleasure. But still, years later I went back to the book and it's one of the few books that I would call a wall-banger. I disliked every single character. I wanted to smack Heathcliff for being so obsessively in love with a selfish woman who only loved herself. (Now this strikes me as being rather funny because all that passion and obsession is exactly what I was all about at the age of 16, yet the story was depressing, morbid, and unsympathetic). I disliked Cathy most of all for being so vain and shallow, and I was mad at her for dying because it seemed like the easy way out, whereas I figured Heathcliff should have died when he was a much younger man because really, what did he have to live for? Not that I wanted him to commit suicide, but maybe a quick, painless death would have been kinder. And while I disliked the book, I do have a rather strange fascination for a few of the movie adaptations of "Wuthering Heights", most notably the 1991 version with Ralph Fiennes and Juliette Binoche ("Chocolat"), and also the 1939 version with Laurence Olivier and Merle Oberon. I think I enjoyed each movie more for the attractiveness of the actors/actresses than for any actual enjoyment of either production. What? Me, superficial?

Another one? How about "Moulin Rouge". Hated it. The only redeeming quality about it was that I did enjoy listening to Nicole Kidman and Ewan MacGregor sing - they were not the problem. I found it loud, garish, boring, and just plain unenjoyable. I went with 4 other friends, and none of them liked it either. It was the closest I ever came to walking out of the theatre. Maybe I don't have much cultural taste, but I like what I like...or in this case, don't like what I don't like.

And lastly, I'm going to pick a t.v. show, or maybe a certain genre of television: reality t.v. "Survivor" to me was the biggest waste of airtime I can remember in a long time. One of my friends mentioned that the reason she enjoyed it so much was because it was a great study of human nature. I laughed at her because every moment was set up to be more than what it actually was. The participants didn't have to really worry about starving or survival of the fittest because they were, obviously, on television and I don't think the plan was to have any of them die (no matter how much the audience may have wished otherwise). Plus, circumstances were manipulated to ensure a more dramatic outcome. What's so realistic about that? It certainly wasn't compelling television. I think I would much rather watch golf on television than waste an hour of my life watching "reality t.v.". So not realistic.

So there are some examples of what I just don't get. I would love to hear what you have to add, including your reasons why you feel the way you do. Who knows, I just might have to agree with you *g* And I'm really not looking for just negative reactions - maybe you just don't understand why something is as popular as it is. (I never understood Tom Cruise's appeal, and now it seems like the rest of the world has caught on LOL).

Last night I went over to a girlfriend's house - we were supposed to go out but she couldn't get a babysitter for one of her kids - and we went and rented a few movies instead. I got one I've been wanting to see for awhile but hadn't been in the mood for earlier - "Pride & Prejudice", the 2005 version with Keira Knightley.

I really liked her in the 2 "Pirates of the Caribbean" movies and one of my other favorite movies, "King Arthur". This movie was no exception. She is very engaging, and her beauty is not classic but more quirky and awkward, which endeared her to me right away. She is a bit thin, though in this movie it's not as evident since she is dressed in clothing from an earlier era, plus she's naturally that way, so I have to admit it suits her (it's the real life pictures on the red carpet that are rather alarming). It actually gives her an elegant quality when she is dancing with Mr. Darcy at the ball.

Speaking of which, the role of the rather arrogant but ultimately appealing Mr. Darcy is played by Matthew Macfadyen, a new-to-me actor, and at first glance he doesn't seem like he'd be very convincing, but as the movie progressed, he brought his own charm to the role, and had me wishing I was Elizabeth Bennet (instead of the lucky Keira). He has an elusive quality that he brought to Mr. Darcy, maybe it's a feeling of being utterly alone without Elizabeth, or a sadness in his heart that calls out to her. A quietness that makes you want to know what he's thinking. But he also gives a masculine strength to the character. He is no English fop. But he is a man in love.

Some of the scenes in this updated version were embellished, or made up, which doesn't really bother me but had many purists up-in-arms. I don't believe the story has to be 100% faithful to the book or even to a previous movie version. In fact, I think it's one of the reasons to do an adaptation in the first place - to bring out elements that haven't been uncovered or created before. It gave it a bit more modern feel, a bit more of an earthy quality. I enjoyed the changes made to the story.

Is it my favorite version? No.

That distinction goes to the 1995/96 version with Colin Firth. It's unfair, really, because the '95 version is considerably longer, which sadly made the '05 version feel rushed. In the A&E production, there were more lingering glances, and both characters were older, lending a more mature feel to the romance. The secondary characters were fleshed out, and the ending was more rewarding. One of my biggest regrets with the newer version is the rushed speech Mr. Darcy makes to Elizabeth when he first confesses his feelings. Granted, he was nervous, and felt awkward and overwhelmed by the emotion Elizabeth stirred in him, but I wanted to take the remote and have him repeat himself in slow-mo. I wanted to linger over his proposal - even though he didn't deserve it at the time - and savor the revelation both he and Lizzie reach as they truly do fall in love, once their true characters come to light.

Now the Colin Firth version, as it is known by many, is truly delightful. No one could pull off the initial snub of Lizzie like Firth's Mr. Darcy, but then again, no one fell harder as he did for the lovely Jennifer Ehle's Elizabeth (I believe the two were romantically linked at the time). The gazes filled with longing, the gradual change from distain to admiration, the gorgeous scene after Colin takes a swim in the pond! All very delightful. It calls out to the romantic sap that is buried under a thin layer or cynicism surrounding my heart.

Now lately I've seen several books inspired by the original story, written from various perspectives or after Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy marry. I'm not interested in reading any of them. One author is actually planning a story involving a romantic connection between Darcy and his friend Bingley. I guess I don't remember reading about that in the book, but then again, I'm not the most observant person on the planet. Whether there's any basis for such a story, I still won't be reading any book that is a take-off from another author's work. To me, that seems like cheating. Not that I am saying these authors are plagarizing, but come on, "Gone with the Wind" ended with Scarlett announcing "tomorrow is still another day". No one but Margaret Mitchell had any right to take it further. Same with Jane Austen. It's a classic, and it's her story, no one else's. Leave it be.

So....have you seen either version I've mentioned here today? If not, do you want to? I know for myself, I was resistent to seeing any movie that I had to read about in school. Fortunately I've gotten past that feeling, because otherwise I would have missed out on these two lovely gems. But do you feel a film adaptation should be true to the book, or can you live with dramatic license? Any movies you'd recommend along a similar vein? Please, feel free to share. I like to have something to watch when I'm in one of my sappy moods *g*

I like astrology, and one of the things that fascinates me most is learning about the Zodiac signs for people I know, and whether or not the person agrees with the description of their sign. I find this stuff rather fascinating, but I definitely don't take it to heart. I think human nature is too complex to take it too seriously.

zodiac
n 1: a belt-shaped region in the heavens on either side to the ecliptic; divided into 12 constellations or signs for astrological purposes 2: (astrology) a circular diagram representing the 12 zodiacal constellations and showing their signs

LIBRA - (September 23 - October 22) The Sing of the Justice: People that born under the sign of Libra are the most well brought up from all . They are the sensitive persons who appreciate good manners, harmless wit, love to accept and to entertain the visitors. Libra is usually a very tactful person who understands intuitively good art and all perfect in the word. There are much brightness and unusual charm in their relationships .

There's the good....Diplomatic and urbane, romantic and charming, easygoing and sociable, idealistic and peaceable. And the not so good...indecisive and changeable, gullible and easily influenced, flirtatious and self-indulgent.

There's interesting facts....Libra is the only inanimate sign of the zodiac, all the others representing either humans or animals. Many modern astrologers regard it as the most desirable of zodiacal types because it represents the zenith of the year, the high point of the seasons, when the harvest of all the hard work of the spring is reaped. There is a mellowness and sense of relaxation in the air as mankind enjoys the last of the summer sun and the fruits of his toil. Librans too are among the most civilized of the twelve zodiacal characters and are often good looking. They have elegance, charm and good taste, are naturally kind, very gentle, and lovers of beauty, harmony (both in music and social living) and the pleasures that these bring.

Feel free to share your sign and whether or not you can relate to it. And don't hesitate to share your actual birthday day - mine is October 11th *g*

I had a few blog ideas for today but the internet is giving me grief - and a headache - so I'll do something simple and (hopefully) fun. I love stuff like this: meaning of names. So that is the question of the day: what does your name mean?

Stacy, or Stacey. Gender: Unisex. Comes from the name Anastasia. The origin of the name is Greek, and it means "resurrection".

Lynnette. Gender: Female. While doing recent research, this name came up as being Welsh (from Arthurian Legend) and while it doesn't give a definition, it mentions Lynette accompanied Sir Gareth on a knightly quest. I've also seen it described as the French word linnet, which means "small bird".

this one is a bonus. I'm not going to give you my last name, but I will tell you it's Swedish and means "alder branch".

Put it all together and I guess I'm a small bird that fell out of an alder tree to my death but came back to life...or I fell out of the tree (and hit my head) and now I believe I'm the reincarnated lady who accompanies a knight of the Round Table on some honorable mission. What do ya know.... it's my very own fairy tale.

Your turn....

The second movie in this very successful pirate trilogy was an enjoyable escape with a lot of campy action and humor. The trick is not to take this stuff too seriously, but just enjoy the amusing and swashbuckling antics of the characters. A lot of the action is a set-up for the 3rd movie, so you know upfront there are going to be some loose threads, mostly in the dynamic of the various relationships. When we begin our journey, it is with both Elizabeth (Keira Knightley) and Will Turner (Orlando Bloom) feeling a loyalty to Jack Sparrow (JOHNNY DEPP) that is severely tested throughout the movie. Jack is all about Jack, and he's gotten himself into a bind, what with swearing fealty to the one and only Davy Jones. Well it was only a matter of time before old Davy came to collect, and now Jack would do anything, including sacrificing his "friends" in order to save himself.

And there's all kinds of interesting chemistry going on. Elizabeth was all set to marry her true love Will when their plans were interrupted, but maybe it was just as well. In the age-old game of curiosity, Elizabeth discovers she has some unresolved tender feelings for the flamboyant and self-involved Jack, and even more surprising is he seems to have similar feelings towards her. Not that he'll let that stop him from carrying out his plans, yet it shows a more complex angle to Jack's nature than we are used to seeing. You don't see him getting all sentimental and romantic, and he certainly doesn't seem to have any guilt at the idea of betraying Will, who has shown more loyalty at keeping his promises than Jack ever will.

Another layer of complexity is that Will is not a milksop. He is an honorable man, one who has made his way in the world through hard work, is very sexy in his own right, and has earned the love of a good woman. Is Elizabeth that woman? We shall just have to wait til the sequel to find out, though who could blame her for being curious about Jack? Johnny Depp adds a touch of an effeminate yet intriguing air to Captain Sparrow, which leads you to believe he's seen and done things and has an even more uninhibited nature than you might associate with past portrayals of a pirate's lifestyle. There's definitely something rather seductive about a man who has all kinds of knowledge and experience that a woman may not normally find in her own life, and to think of being with such a man is pretty hot. At least I think it is *g*

In my opinion, the movie is mostly about enjoying the total hottie factor of Johnny Depp (okay, and yeah, Orlando Bloom). I admit to being a total JD fan; have been since his "21 Jump Street" days when he portrayed Tom Hanson, a more clean-cut character in that t.v. series. I think what makes Johnny Depp much more interesting than other good-looking actors is his willingness to get and be "ugly" or strange or even totally unlikeable. And he's so confident about it - he doesn't make excuses about what he does. He just does it. And that's very sexy. It's quintessential Johnny Depp. And I wouldn't want him any other way...well, except the whole smoking thing. That's not sexy, even if it's him. But I still love him. Just can't help myself.

So anyway, get ready to once again sail the high seas with Jack, Will, Elizabeth, and various other characters who will entertain and amuse you, and make you anxious for the 3rd installment. 2007 can't get here fast enough! I just might have to go see this one again....

Okay I've selected the winner randomly from all the entries, and the name I drew was....Jennifer Y! Jennifer, you can email me (trelainastarblazer@yahoo.com) with your snail mail addy, and I'll try and get "Dirty Little Secrets" out on Monday - how does that sound?

Thank you, everyone, for sharing your secrets. It was a lot of fun and everyone posted such great stuff. Enjoy your weekend, and hope you keep stopping by - it's nice to have company :)

I'll be honest: when I first read the premise of this book by Sasha White, I took a pass. I like reading stories with subjects that interest or attract me, and the whole "master and slave" thing never flipped my switch, so to speak. But then I read a couple of really hot reviews, and my interest was sparked, so I decided to give it a try. At first glance, I felt that the cover of the book was sexy without being too "over the top". And that's a good way of describing the story as well.

Katie Long is one of those "good girls", the one that always helps her neighbors and has dinner with her mom and helps her friends with their problems. She's sweet, dependable, and in need of a traditional romance. Or so everyone thinks. What really does it for Katie is having a man take the control away from her and make her submit to his will. She didn't think she'd ever find a man like that until Joe Carson enters her life. Joe is a security guard at the casino where Katie works, and he's about to give her exactly what she wants. She will be his; she will do exactly what he wants, and Katie wouldn't have it any other way.

So as you can imagine, Katie embarks on a sexual relationship with Joe, one that satisfies them both. Katie is planning on leaving her small Canadian town for the city of Vancouver, so her arrangement with Joe suits her perfectly. While she may be giving him her body, she's not giving him her heart, and that is exactly how she wants it....or is it?

While the story didn't change my mind about the subject matter - not that I really believed it would anyway - I do have to say it was very sexy and not prone to the more extreme type of submission/domination relationships, which I was relieved to discover. Katie truly enjoyed being submissive to Joe. It excited her to have him in control. For once, she didn't have to be the one making all the decisions, or doing all the work. And what started out as a totally physical relationship became something more evolved. Both Katie and Joe cared for each other. That is what made it work for me.

Is the subject matter shocking? Not really. It's rather tame compared to some other stories I've read (and didn't like). But that's what was great about it. Some aspects of the sub/dom relationship delve into humiliation and pain, and that's not a story I want to read. It's not the type of story I can relate to and it's not one I would enjoy. I could read "Bound" and not be turned off by the subject matter. And while it may not be one of my turn-ons, it opened my eyes a little and I have to admit I can understand the appeal it has for some people. I just don't happen to be one of them.

And that's just fine. What I really got out of this book was how awesome it is that there are people out there who do have these types of fantasies and with their consent, as well as their partner's, they are acting on them and leading very fulfilling lives. And that's probably the strongest message I got out of it: discovering that side of yourself and embracing it without shame, without guilt. As long as no one gets hurt and those involved can and do consent, then it's okay. I think this is an important message for women, one that goes along with my post about women's health issues. We need to be more accepting of ourselves and each other, and be supportive, and know that deep in our hearts, there's nothing wrong with us.

It's not easy, because sometimes even our friends can make us feel like there's something wrong with some of our thoughts and opinions. Not one of my friends that I hang out with is a reader of romances. More than once I've been teased about my love of romances, and have even gotten a few looks...you know, the ones where they roll their eyes. And the thing is, I love to talk about what I'm reading, but I don't have anyone to share it with, unless it's my on-line friends. Thank God for the internet! LOL. And yet every once in awhile I am embarrassed to tell friends what I'm reading.

So pick up "Bound", and if nothing else, you might learn something new ;) Just remember that having fantasies is normal, and many of us have the same ones. Not all fantasies are ones we will or even want to act on - while being a part of the mile high club may sound exciting, the reality of it just doesn't seem very sexy to me. Yet it still sounds really hot, so that one will be one for the imagination, not for making memories. Sometimes the fantasy is all you need - it's not necessary to act it out to make it work for you. Sharing your fantasies can be fun, and bring you even closer to your partner. Now who doesn't want that? So go, go forth and fantasize ;)

Isn't it amazing how one small gesture, good or bad, can set the tone for the rest of our day, or maybe even the week? I've been thinking about this quite a lot, because it's a topic we've been discussing at work lately, and it's something that's been affecting people I know, so I thought....hmmmm. Maybe I can control my destiny, just a tiny little bit, by passing on a small act of kindness. Nothing too time-consuming or expensive. It could be as simple as paying $0.40 for someone's toll, or buying someone a cup of coffee, or offering to help them with a project that they're working on. Now these are things we probably all do at one time or another without even thinking about it. But tomorrow I am consciously going to go into work with the plan to do as many nice things as I possibly can. Not so that I complimented, though that would be nice (LOL), but because it really can put a smile on your face to do something nice "just because". Just because I woke up this morning. Just because I felt like it. Just because you happened to be here. Just because.

I think what really motivated me was that at work, part of my developmental plan for the 2nd quarter of this year was to come up with a book for myself and my co-workers to read that pertained to what we did for the company (branch operations for a credit union - in other words: dealing with the public) and how to improve customer relations, both internal and external. Well, not everyone I know reads. Gasp! (I know, it shocked me, too). So I had to select a book that was going to be easy to read, and if it didn't have pictures, it had to have a lot of quick, concise points that would reduce the overall glazed-eye effect. I eventually found one called "The Fred Factor". Now the success of this project was already in peril just from the name alone. See, we have a colleague named Fred, and his name does not generate positive thoughts and certainly not happy ones. But once we got past the name, to my pleasant surprise, my co-workers really enjoyed the book and got a lot out of it. We had a breakfast meeting with our manager, where I lead the discussion, and it was really eye-opening to get such overwhelmingly positive feedback, and I felt really happy about the whole project. What's fun is to watch each other use the "Fred" factor everyday. To consciously be aware of others doing good deeds really does motivate a person to try to do the same. I guess you'd call that learning by example, something our parents (!) have been trying to each us for years.

Now what exactly is the "Fred" Factor? Well, if you didn't click on the link to read all about it, the Fred factor is named for an amazing mail carrier (named, um, Fred) that loved his job so much, he went above and beyond his normal carrier duties everyday just to take care of the people on his route. He noticed when people went on vacation so he would box up their mail and keep it safe so it wasn't taken while families were away from home. Or remembering people's names, asking about their children, their jobs, and even going as far as to show up in his neighborhood on his day off to lend a helping hand to someone in need. He's really an amazing person, and yes, Fred does really exist. He is the person we all wish we could be. And truly, we could. No matter what we do in life, if we do it with passion, we can become extraordinary, too.

So tomorrow, instead of cursing at the semi who cuts in front of me so I slam on my brakes and end up wearing my Starbuck's white chocolate mocha, I am going to take a deep breath, put the coffee down until I park my car, and just enjoy the 4-mile drive to work. Now if I can manage that much, then the rest is a peace of cake *g*

I just finished a book with a more serious theme than you normally find in a romance, and it got me thinking whether or not it affects the way I read, or what topics I do or don't enjoy reading about in my books. Here is what triggered this line of thought:

The book I finished is "The Scorsolini Marriage Bargain" by Lucy Monroe, and I absolutely loved it, for many reasons. I enjoy how Lucy can make me hate a character, in this case the hero, yet by the end of the book redeem him so much that I end up falling in love just like the heroine does. In TSMB, she discusses a topic that affects many women: endometriosis, a painful condition that can leave 30% to 40% of women infertile. I have a friend who suffers from this - if not for her, I would never have heard of this condition. She's been through many surgeries and has suffered with a lot of pain. There is no cure for endometriosis; the cause is unknown, but there are treatments that can make it more bearable. Reading about it in a romance really was an amazing discovery for me because it affects such a large part of a woman's life. In Therese's situation, so much so that she came to a life-altering decision because of it. It was a very emotional story, one that wouldn't have affected me as strongly if the subject matter had been less serious.

Another book she wrote, "Blackmailed Into Marriage", delves into the issue of vaginismus. Vaginismus can be defined as an involuntary contraction of the muscles surrounding the entrance to the vagina, making penetration painful and/or impossible. The predominant muscle group involved is called the pubococcygeus (PC) muscle group. It is a condition that is treatable, actually self-treatable. But also one that can be extremely embarrassing, and without understanding, can have a woman withdraw from her partner in shame. Lia believed that she couldn't be a true wife to her husband Damian, but with his compassion and understanding, they were both able to find fulfillment in the marriage bed, but also to find a love that would never have been possible without the care and consideration of both Lia and Damian. It was a beautiful story that still stays with me.

These are serious and valid conditions that affect millions of women, yet not a lot of them talk about it. I think talking about them is rather taboo, especially when it comes to any aspect of a woman's sexuality. It's recently become more acceptable to talk about women's fantasies, but people still aren't ready to hear about possible sexual problems or dysfunctions. These conditions can potentially lead a woman to feel inferior, or feel at fault, when that really isn't the case at all. I commend Lucy for bringing these issues to light, and my personal feeling is that I have had a stronger connection to the characters because of how they are handled: with care and sensitivity, but also an awareness that these conditions exist and do not miraculously disappear at the end of the book, because that's not always how it happens in real life. Fortunately there are support groups for each of these conditions that hopefully will provide answers and help women lead a more positive and fulfilling life.

My belief is that reading romances which discuss these topics do offer an important benefit to readers, and I, for one, do not have a problem if an author decides to delve into these serious and sensitive subjects, especially if they pertain to a woman's health. Some people feel that they want to escape when they read a romance, and I agree that I do that sometimes, too. But I also think romances are a wonderful format to bring these subject out into the open, where women may be suffering from these conditions and not even be aware of it. These specific books did not come across as preachy or condescending, but rather offer answers, and provide hope.

What are your thoughts? Have you ever read about a condition in a book that you've never heard of before but discover you know someone who has it? How has it affected your reading?