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Tuesday, February 27, 2007:
Hey all, just popping in for a quick moment-o to observe: - Being sick is not fun. Shocker isn't it? I went home early yesterday - I NEVER go home sick. Guess I'm human after all. Bummer *g*
- Having an unrequited crush sucks. Nothing more to say - it just does. And even in your 30's, you can still get 'em. Disgusting.
- I'm going to go see Nickelback on Friday!!!! Woo hoo baby! Along with Breaking Benjamin and Three Days Grace. Haven't been to a concert in ages. CANNOT WAIT.
- Bath & Body Work's night-blooming jasmine body lotion rocks. I LOVE it. Can't get enough.
- Hershey's Cacao Reserve milk chocolate is like heaven. Smooth, creamy chocolate. I bet the dark chocolate is pretty dang good, too.
That's about it. Enjoy the rest of your week :) Labels: crushes, drive-by, Nickelback
posted by Stacy~ at 2/27/2007 11:11:00 PM
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Monday, February 26, 2007:
Special guest blogger: MaryKate, resident book pimp
Today I thought I'd do something I've never done before: invite a special guest to blog about whatever they heck they wanted to say. I asked MaryKate because having known her for about the last year, I love her enthusiasm for the books she reads, and how eloquently she describes some of her favorite stories. This is the first, but hopefully not the last, of her posts as a guest. Take it away, MK! ***************
Confessions of a Book Pimp
Did you ever finish a book, heave that really satisfied sigh, and turn to your significant other, roommate, family member or friend, and realize that while they love you, they just don’t give a damn about the terrific story you just finished? Or, if they really love you, they show polite, if distant, interest in what you’re saying. Yeah. Me too.
That’s why I was thrilled to find blogs like Romance by the Blog and Stacy’s Spot. Here I found smart, interesting women, who shared my passion for romance. As I got more comfortable, I began to realize that it was OK for me to offer opinions about the books I read. Then, as I really hunkered down and got situated, I started to gush. As the discussions continued, I realized that being someone who is never short an opinion, the women I was hanging out with knew a whole lot about romance; had differing or similar opinions, and read a lot like I did. What a thrill! It was during this time that I met Stacy, and she dubbed me "the book pimp." See, I’m a gusher by nature. I gush over babies, I gush over puppies, and I really gush over a romance that’s moved me. When Stacy asked me to blog about book pimping, I was thrilled. As I said, I’m never short an opinion. So here, I present to you a few of the books that I’m most looking forward to in the next few months. First and foremost is "Lover Revealed" by J.R. Ward. This is by far the best paranormal series (with the possible exception of the In Death series by J.D. Robb) that I’ve ever read. The books are set in Caldwell, New York, where a group of vampires, the Black Dagger Brotherhood, are tasked with protecting local civilian vampires from the Lessening Society, basically an soulless group of vampire slayers. In this series, Ward has created an intricate and fascinating mythology. It is incredibly well drawn, and no detail is too small to be overlooked. But more than that, from her mind has sprung some of the most vivid and compelling heroes that I’ve read in recent memory. They are big, brawny and extremely alpha. "Lover Revealed" tells the story of Butch, the only human ever allowed to infiltrate the Brotherhood. If you haven’t read the series, I can’t recommend it strongly enough. "Lover Revealed" is the fourth of the Black Dagger Brotherhood, and to fully appreciate it, you need to read the books in order. They are "Dark Lover", "Lover Eternal", "Lover Awakened" and "Lover Revealed".  The next series I would recommend is the Psy/Changling series by Nalini Singh. A newcomer to the paranormal genre, Singh writes contemporary series romance for Silhouette as well. The first in the series is "Slave to Sensation", and it’s a doozy. The book tells the story of Sascha Duncan and Lucas Hunter. Sascha, a Psy, is a member of a society who have programmed themselves to function without emotion. She meets Lucas Hunter, a panther changling, who is the alpha of a local Leopard clan, when the Psy and the leopards agree to work together on a real estate venture. Sascha is sure that she’s going insane, all of her life she has hidden that she feels emotion, which is forbidden in her society and could get her institutionalized for the rest of her life, if she were to be found out. The changlings suspect that a member of Psy society has been kidnapping and murdering their women, and Lucas is intent upon using his professional relationship with Sascha to access the secrets of her world. But he doesn't count on his reaction to her. Although the Psy/Changling world is complicated, at no time does Singh, the author, sacrifice the story for exposition. Both Lucas and Sascha are fully drawn, complicated, noble characters with great loyalty to their people. The sexual chemistry between them is incindiary and the love scenes are both beautifully written and very hot. Singh's second book in the series, "Visions of Heat", will be released on March 6th, and features another Psy female and one of Lucas' sentinels, Vaughn. If you're a paranormal fan, and aren't reading this series, you are seriously missing out!  The last book I'll recommend is by a romance newcomer. She is Shannon K. Butcher, and is married to Jim Butcher, who writes the acclaimed Sci-Fi series, " The Dresden Files." Shannon's first book, "No Regrets", is a fast-paced, exciting romantic suspense. It is the story of Noelle Blanche, a cryptologist who has been offered a grant by the government to decrypt a code. This grant brings Noelle to the attention of The Swarm, a terrorist group interested in the decrypted code as well. David Wolfe is a retired special forces expert who left the military after the Swarm captured, tortured and murdered his wife. David dedicated his remaining time in the military to wiping out the Swarm, and he thought he was successful until they resurface, showing interest in Noelle. David agrees to protect Noelle from the Swarm, and there begins a fantastic road trip story. Noelle is one of my favorite types of heroines, socially awkward and brilliant. The nice thing is that she doesn't exhibit any of the mindless twit behavior that a lot of these heroines do. She gratefully accepts David's help and does what he tells her to. David is my favorite type of hero. He's tough, tortured and broody. He's also a "man's man." The author deftly weaves the two personalities together, allowing the reader to discover more about the characters as they learn about each other. This is a fantastic debut novel, and one I'd wholeheartedly recommend.  So, that's it. I hope that you'll try one of the books I've suggested, especially if you've never read any of these authors. I think you'll like them, and find them worth your hard earned romance dollars. Good luck, and happy reading! ************** Thanx MK! With any luck, the book pimping will become a regular feature. I look forward to more of MaryKate's recs :) What book are you anxiously awaiting? Labels: book pimp, guest blogger, MaryKate
posted by Stacy~ at 2/26/2007 06:15:00 AM
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Sunday, February 25, 2007:
And the March '07 RT magazine goes to....
Maria, Lover of all things Romance! Congratulations! Labels: contests, winner
posted by Stacy~ at 2/25/2007 09:33:00 AM
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Thursday, February 22, 2007:
Blog wars: why your lawn ornaments may not be safe...
...and the selfless mission of one lobster, called....Lobby...to save a gnome called...Gnomey. The 'net can be such an unsafe place, as seen here in the dangerous world of gnome-napping. But never fear, gentle bloggees, there is always hope. Our faithful and very red hero Lobby will stop at nothing to find his dear friend G to the N-O-M-E-Y. Love really is blind when it comes to the kindred spirits caught up in (friend?) love gone bad. Witness his heroic adventures as he braves bus stops and Mickey Mouse to triumph over evil.....feel free to join in his fight and support his efforts. You can never do too much for a good cause. Labels: Gnomey, hope, Lobby
posted by Stacy~ at 2/22/2007 06:40:00 PM
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Wednesday, February 21, 2007:
March issue of RT up for grabs
My impatience won out again and I bought RT before I got mine in the mail, so you guessed it: extra copy. To enter, just tell me your favorite name for a guy and favorite name for a girl. Nope, not pregnant, but I love names, am rather fascinated by them, and I'm curious to know what appeals to you. Contest ends Saturday, February 24th at noon CST. Have fun :) Labels: contests, RT
posted by Stacy~ at 2/21/2007 05:55:00 AM
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Aha! I knew I'd done this before, or something similar. Now I don't have to agonize over this any longer LOL. Both Monica Burns & Kelley Vitollo tagged me, and being the cool ladies that they are, I just couldn't say no. So check out this post, or not, to find out more about me: Labels: Stacy, tagged
posted by Stacy~ at 2/21/2007 05:14:00 AM
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Tuesday, February 20, 2007:
wI give you Jason Momoa, just because..... Labels: hottie, Jason Momoa
posted by Stacy~ at 2/20/2007 08:09:00 AM
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Monday, February 19, 2007:
Re-reads: a favorite pastime
I'm sure I've mentioned before that I am a huge re-reader. I love delving into a book that I know I love and getting caught up in that world again and again. It doesn't matter that I already know what happens because if I loved the book, I can get caught up in it just as easily as I did the first time. There is a magic to some books that allows the reader to enjoy them over and over again. I know some people don't get this, even some authors, yet I would think that would be what every author strives for: a book that readers want to go back to and experience more than once. It's not an easy thing to accomplish, and finding books I want to re-read is getting harder and harder. So far I stick with some all-time favorites, like Judith McNaught and Suzanne Brockmann. I've added Julia Quinn and Linda Howard, Lori Foster's Bad Boys, some of the really hot and sexy Ellora's Cave books, and there's a smattering of random books thrown in as well. Right now I'm on a Lisa Kleypas marathon. I've decided to re-read the Wallflower series (except for book 2). I just finished "Scandal In Spring" and loved it all over again.  Now I know many readers didn't care for this one, but I am a sucker for the whole "still waters that run deep" hero. Strictly speaking of my books, I melt at the idea of a hero pining for the heroine, believing, with very good reason, that he is not good enough for her or that they can never be together. Why I like this is because it gives the heroine a chance to change his mind, and I like the idea of the heroine being proactive enough, and confident enough, to go after what she wants. Daisy Bowman is just such a heroine, and Matthew Swift certainly deserved her. He may have appeared practical and reserved, but with Daisy, he had no control over his feelings. She made him long for happiness, and he adored her just as she was. I also liked the fact that although Matthew believed they couldn't be together, he wasn't a martyr about it, but rather just trying to be practical about the whole situation. That was, until jealousy took over. Then Matthew couldn't help but follow his heart...and his hormones. Atta boy. I think I am too much of an old-fashioned reader sometimes, and I'm bothered by some of the inevitable changes that have occurred in most of today's romances, whether they are contemps or historicals. Nowadays it seems that everything is laid out on the table: misunderstandings are easily solved, sex is immediate, and a declaration of love may or may not happen, but damn, let's have sex for the 452nd time. Sexual tension and emotional intensity seem to be a thing of the past. This is one reader who is a bit nostalgic for the good old days. It almost makes me miss the secret baby plots. Almost. Now don't misunderstand: I love the hot stuff. A LOT. I don't have a problem admitting that I am all for the down and dirty sex scenes, as long as they are attached to a romance. In fact, I've discovered that there are certain books that I am hooked on that I never thought I'd go for. But a constant diet of non-stop sex in every chapter bores me to tears. Hence, I am happy enscounced in re-reader heaven with some books I know will pull me out of the de-sensitized rut I've been trapped in. Long live Lisa Kleypas! Do you re-read? Who's your favorite author(s) to re-read? Do you think there's too much sex and not enough plot or not? Next up.... Isn't Sebastian just yummy? Labels: historicals, Lisa Kleypas, re-reads
posted by Stacy~ at 2/19/2007 02:33:00 PM
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Sunday, February 18, 2007:
Man, November's a loooong way off....
I love Jill Shalvis - she's funny, real, talented, and her books are sexy and fabulous. Here is the 2nd book in her Sexy series, and it will be out November 2007. A long wait, that's for sure, but the first book, "Smart and Sexy", will be out in April, and that one is definitely on my list! And speaking of favorite blogs, if you haven't done so, you need to go check out Jill's blog. It's one of my daily addictions. It should be one of yours, too. ********** Starring the wildly seductive heroes Noah, Shayne, and Brody, Jill Shalvis’s exhilarating new series features a delectable concoction of sex appeal and adventure. Whether they’re up in the air or between the sheets, these hot, hardy pilots know exactly where the action is… BLOWING IT ALL SKY HIGH
In a family of serious over-achievers, Shayne Mahoney has always been the laid-back, easy-going rebel. But running Sky High Air—a charter airline catering to the rich and famous—is a dream come true, in-flight specials included. Like kissing his client’s beautiful, brainy daughter in a coat closet. But before Shayne can say “Fasten Your Seatbelts,” Dani claims to witness a murder, gets stalked in her own apartment, and as added bonus, gets them both shot at by a mystery sniper. Normally Shayne would be running from the obviously crazy woman, and yet he finds himself trying to help her, leaving him to doubt his own sanity…
There’s a reason Dani never attends her mother’s high society parties. The fake people, the shallow conversation—and the fact that she doesn’t fit in. She’s a zoologist, not a starlet, and happy about it, even if she wishes men like ruggedly handsome Shayne Mahoney would spare her a second glance. Of course, dodging bullets isn’t exactly what she’d call the perfect follow-up to their heated kiss, but Shayne makes it clear she can depend on him. All she has to do is hold on tight to his delicious hard body until the ride is over…
********** Sexy being the key word here - and I can't wait! Labels: Jill Shalvis, series, Strong and Sexy
posted by Stacy~ at 2/18/2007 10:29:00 AM
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Friday, February 16, 2007:
I was doing my blog-hopping this morning, and it got me wondering: what is your favorite blog or blogs? I plan on posting with more detail at a later time, giving you my preferred list, but I'm just curious what you guys like out in blogland, and why? Most of mine are on the right sidebar, and I try to visit them at least once a week if possible, but I don't always have the chance to do it. One thing is, I don't have access to blogs at work. Nope, I get a nasty "access denied" up on the screen telling me my internet useage is being monitored. So my time is rather limited for blogging. What is your favorite blog or blogs? Why do you visit? What keeps you coming back for more? Do you have your own blog? (Feel free to share the link) Labels: blogs, favorites
posted by Stacy~ at 2/16/2007 06:07:00 AM
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Thursday, February 15, 2007:
I want this and I want it NOW....
Oh yeah, I'm so ready for another fix. I can't believe it's 6 months away. Yes, I will be buying this in hc on the day of release. I will actually leave work at lunchtime to get it - only Suz could get me to do that. ************ 
FORCE OF NATURE Troubleshooters Book # 11 In hardcover from Ballantine Books ISBN-10: 0345480163
ISBN-13: 978-0345480163 Release in hardcover: August 14, 2007 From the jacket copy: Hard-driving suspense and intense passion are the hallmarks of bestselling author Suzanne Brockmann's pulse-pounding thrillers. In her tales of daring, danger, courage, and desire, men and women of action fight fiercely, love deeply, and time after time raise the bar for adventure to new heights. Brockmann's latest novel is no exception.
Florida private investigator and ex-cop Ric Alvarado's life is spiraling out of control. His beautiful new Girl Friday, Annie Dugan, is far more interested in fieldwork than filing, an despite Ric's best efforts to ignore the attraction, sparks are flying between them. Then one of Ric's clients turns femme fatale and tries to gun down an innocent man. Thanks to quick thinking and even quicker reflexes, Ric comes to the rescue, only to learn he's done a very good deed for some very bad people.
Suddenly Ric finds himself deep undercover with Annie, working for notorious crime boss Gordon Burns. One mistake from Ric's painfully inexperienced partner and they're both dead.
FBI Agent Jules Cassidy's life isn't in much better shape. For years the FBI has been trying to prove Gordon Burns's ties to terrorist activity. Now, thanks to Ric and Annie, Jules has found a way into the lion's den. But in the course of his investigation, he comes face to face with Robin Chadwick, the charismatic but self-destructive and closeted movie star for whom Jules feels a powerful attraction. Robin's in town promoting his latest film -- and Gordon Burns is a star-struck movie buff.
With Robin and Jules's help, Ric and Annie are soon entrenched in Burns's organization, surrounded by killers who may already have executed an FBI infiltrator. Before long the couple realizes that many more lives than their own will be at stake if they make a false move. As the heat between them reaches dangerous levels, so do the risks they're willing to take -- in the line of duty, for the sake of loyalty, and in the name of something that runs even deeper...
************* About dang time Jules gets his story...which will be after this one! Labels: Force of Nature, hell YES, Suz
posted by Stacy~ at 2/15/2007 05:18:00 AM
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Wednesday, February 14, 2007:
* Hugs and kisses to you all *
To all my blog friends who come to visit no matter what, I'm sending you all tons of hugs and kisses for visiting, commenting, making me laugh, making me think, and just plain being around when I need it. You guys are wonderful, and I hope today is extra special for you.
Labels: Valentine's Day
posted by Stacy~ at 2/14/2007 05:00:00 AM
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Tuesday, February 13, 2007:
Just in time for V-Day....
There are some fun new places to visit on the web, and the kick-off is today, Valentine's Day. The first I found out about at SquawkRadio. It's a place to get tips on writing, on-camera book reviews, romantic short films, author interviews, supposedly 2 to 3 a day. Very cool and fun. You can check it out at romancenoveltv. Next, at Sybil's blog, I came across this little tidbit: a blog featuring some pretty big names in romance, including Rachel Gibson, Nicole Jordan, and Sabrina Jeffries. It's called the Goddess Blogs, and it sounds like a cool place to visit. Just what I need, another blog *g* Labels: author interviews, new blog
posted by Stacy~ at 2/13/2007 11:37:00 PM
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Monday, February 12, 2007:
It's the Jill & Gena show!
Two great friends - Two February books!
This is the first time Gena Showalter and Jill Monroe
have books out at the same time!
For your paranormal taste, we have Valerian. Females young and old, beautiful and plain crave Valerian's touch. None can resist his blatant sensuality and potent allure…until he steals Shaye Holling from a Florida beach and holds her prisoner in his underwater kingdom.
And when you're ready to read something contemporary, there is Hitting The Mark. Danni's a woman with a little revenge on her mind. Romantic Times says Hitting The Mark is, "impossible to put down." Just for the record, I love both of these authors, and have most of their backlists. I actually had a fangirl moment when I ended up sitting next to Jill Monroe on the plane to Atlanta last year on our way to RWA. They are both absolute dolls. And for those of who don't know, Jill & Gena are soulmates *g* - just check out Gena Showalter's dedication to Jill in her latest, "The Nymph King". Go on, buy the books....you know you want to ;) Gena’s video URL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ikx8MMDj3UI Jill’s video URL: http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=1562469479 Labels: Gena Showalter, great books, Jill Monroe
posted by Stacy~ at 2/12/2007 07:46:00 PM
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Sunday, February 11, 2007:
I am pleased to announce that the winner of my "show some love" contest, chosen by random drawing, is... KRIS! Congrats! Kris, send me your snail mail addy and I will send you the gift certificate if you live in the U.S, or "Something Wonderful" if you live outside the U.S. And please indicate whether you want Borders or a Barnes & Noble gift card. You can email me @: Everyone else: stay tuned for more chances to win ;) Labels: contest Valentine's Day, winner
posted by Stacy~ at 2/11/2007 06:30:00 PM
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Thursday, February 08, 2007:
...and at the blogs. It's that time of year when red and pink pretty much take over and (some) people get that soft, glazed look in their eyes...though that could be the effects of their cold medicine, seeing as how February is freakin' cold and some of us (me) are running around with no gloves or hat to ward off the (brrr!) chill. Anyhow, I digress, and want to show some love to those of you who visit my blog cuz I've been neglecting my little place on earth lately. It wasn't entirely my fault, but the point is, Stacy's been M.I.A. and it shows. It's time to get with the blogging program. So, the first order of business will be a "Show Me the Love" contest in which I will give the random winner a $10 gift certificate to Borders or Barnes & Noble bookstore. Or if you live outside the U.S. and you win, I will send you a copy of one of my favorite romances: " Something Wonderful" by Judith McNaught, one of my all-time favorite authors. All you have to do is tell me what your definition of "romantic" is: a love letter penned by your honey; a dozen red roses; a warm car in the morning; breakfast in bed, whatever. Or it could be defined in more general terms instead of specific examples. I'm just curious as to what you think is romantic. And feel free to share what your favorite romantic movie is - I love to watch a good romance and am always looking for good suggestions. ***Contest ends Sunday, February 11th @ noon CST. Good luck!*** Labels: contests, romantic, Valentine's Day
posted by Stacy~ at 2/08/2007 07:05:00 PM
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Sunday, February 04, 2007:
"Causing Havoc" by Lori Foster (2007)
Paperback: 352 pages
Publisher: Berkley (February 6, 2007) ISBN-10: 0425214230
ISBN-13: 978-0425214237 Sexy, sculpted extreme fighter Dean "Havoc" Connor has knee-melting good looks-and thick skin. But not from his brutal sport's enclosed rings. Orphaned and torn from his sisters as a boy, he has no family. That is, until he gets a letter revealing how much the once-little girls want him back in Harmony, Kentucky .
To stop his sister from marrying a man as sleazy as he is wealthy, Dean finds himself teaming up with her pretty-but-smart-mouthed friend Eve-who's heard of "Havoc's" reputation and doesn't need some hunk trampling on her heart. Now all Dean has to do is protect his sisters, win Eve over, and expose a devious criminal.
And he thought winning the heavyweight cage fighting belt was hard.
Lori Foster's trademark style shines through in this story about a tough-as-nails fighter who thinks he doesn't need anyone in his life until a letter from his younger sister Camille finds its way into his hands, asking Dean to come home.
Dean "Havoc" Conor thought he'd left Harmony, Kentucky behind a long time ago when he went to go live with his uncle at the age of nine, but life has a way of taking you home, whether you want it or not. Since he's currently between fights and needs some down-time to recover, he decides to take some time to go see his sisters, wondering why they would want to see him now, after all this time. They had a privileged life, unlike the unconventional one he'd had with his uncle, so he can't imagine why they might want to see him.
On his first night back, Dean stops at a bar and meets Eve Lavon, a sexy woman to whom he is instanteously attracted and has no qualms about going after. The attraction is sizzling hot and mutual, however they end up going their separate ways, not realizing their paths will cross again very soon.
In fact, Dean discovers many unexpected surprises when he goes to see his sisters. For one, Eve is his sister Cam's best friend. For another, Cam and Jacki are not living the privileged life he'd been led to believe, nor are they the stuck-up brats he'd imagined. Instead they are both loving, loyal, hard-working young women trying to make ends meet as they try their best to deal with the aunt who raised them. Dean decides to stick around for awhile and get to know his sisters while also making time with the irresistible Eve.
Without even realizing it, Cam and Jacki sneak their way into Dean's heart, and soon he has the family he doesn't even realize he's always wanted. He feels instantly protective of Cam, the older, responsible, loving sister, and Jacki, the wild child who is fiercely loyal to her sister. But it doesn't stop there. Dean also finds himself falling in love for the first time, and thinks that maybe the small town of Harmony might be a piece of heaven on earth.
I'll admit that I'm not a big fan of the whole Ultimate Fighting league, but I am a fan of Lori's books and she manages to pull me into the story and has me falling in love with Dean and the other characters right from the start. Lori takes characteristics of a great fighter: honor, honesty, skill, discipline, and courage to build a strong hero who isn't afraid to go after what he wants, or to face his own mistakes head-on.
I love how confident Dean is, how sure of himself, and how he doesn't hold back, even if it makes him uncomfortable, especially dealing with a whole lot of female issues. While this is a romance, Lori has placed more attention on Dean's family life, which shows his transition into the hero any woman would want. He develops a true friendship with Eve, the woman who captures his heart, and delights in having an earthy, intensely sexual relationship with her. He respects her strength, and isn't afraid to share his thoughts with her. But Dean is still a guy, so he's not perfect, and he does stumble through as he tries to get to know his sisters and the woman he loves. But that's what makes him so endearing, and so sexy. Eve is no slouch either. She's a confident, intelligent woman, and because of that, she lets Dean see the side of her that isn't always a sex goddess, and know that if he's worth her time, he won't care - he'll still want her anyway. And he does. I love how she gets along great with her family, and how she loves her friends Cam and Jacki. Eve is not just another groupie in Dean's life; she wants more than just a roll in the hay, unlike a lot of women in his life. Eve teaches Dean about commitment, and about sticking it out no matter what. And that a woman can take care of herself, but sometimes it's nice to have someone there for back-up. "Causing Havoc" is out on Tuesday, February 6th. You can also order it here and here.
Labels: "Causing Havoc", Lori Foster, reviews
posted by Stacy~ at 2/04/2007 01:41:00 PM
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