Cassandra Willows has taken adversity and turned it into wild success. Not only is she one of the Empire’s most sought after seamstresses, servicing the very wealthy ladies of the ton, but in secret she creates erotic toys for high class courtesans and randy gentleman. Cassandra has but one regret: The Earl of Blackhearth, Nathan Manning, who once wished to marry her and will never forgive her for not showing up when they were to elope.

Labels: contest, Jess Michaels

Hello all my little lovelies, thank you so much for stopping by. Today I have with us a guest, the multi-talented and very busy Jenna Petersen, or in some circles, Jess Michaels. I have been a fan since I read her JM story "Ancient Pleasures" in a Secrets volume a few years ago, and now I am seriously hooked on her erotic romances. But she also writes some great stories as JP. I have been fortunate to meet up with Jenna twice now, and she's a total sweetheart. I love knowing she's not that far away from where I live - within the same state! - so it would be awesome to catch her at another booksigning in the near future.

But it wasn't until I read "Taboo" that I decided to find out if I was lucky enough to get her on my blog. Guess what? I am! This is one of the Jess Michaels' books, very sexy but also one that strongly concentrates on the relationship of these two characters. I enjoyed it immensely . So much so that I decided to have a contest to win a copy, but I'll save that for tomorrow. Today however Jenna might have a minute or two to stop by, so anyone that posts today and tomorrow, leaving a comment and/or a question (maximum of 2 entries), will be entered in the contest to win their very own copy of "Taboo". It's pretty much a stand-alone book, briefly mentions a couple from a previous Jess Michaels' story, but you certainly don't need to read those first. If you'd like to find out more about the book, here is my review of Taboo.

S~ Jenna, thank you so much for spending some time here at my place. I'm really excited to have you here to talk about your books. But that's not all you do. Jenna, you are one busy lady. In addition to writing as both Jenna Petersen and Jess Michaels, you are also the webmistress over at Passionate Pen. How do you find time to juggle all these writing responsibilities?

Jenna: Very carefully. LOL Actually, I’ve cut back a bit. The Passionate Pen is now being updated once a month rather than every Monday (though I think I’ll go up to twice a month after August and settle there). And I’m really focusing on writing and writing a bit slower lately. Burn out is an easy thing for any writer and I was getting close to being there in the last year or so.

S~ Tell us a little about Passionate Pen, which is as the website states, a resource for romance writers who are pursuing their dream. How did you get started and where do you see the site going over the next few years?

Jenna: I started Passionate Pen 10 years ago when I finished my first book but couldn’t find an online resource that listed all the romance publishers and their submission guidelines. I figured if I wanted that, someone else might, so I created it. Over the years I’ve added a lot, including an agent list, articles for writers and of course the diary of my own journey toward and beyond publication. This year I’ve been slightly overwhelmed, so I cut back to updating every month from every week, but starting in August, I’ll be going back up to updating twice a month (so every other week). The site is ever changing and I’m always adding new information there.

S~ You combine your two pen names, Jenna and Jess, on one blog. Other than the fact that your Jess Michaels' books are described as more sexually explicit yet still romance, what other differences exist between the two personas?

Jenna: I don’t actually have a blog, but the two pen names are on one website. Actually JessMichaels.com still exists, it just forwards back to the Jess Michaels page on http://www.jennapetersen.com/ Updating two sites with basically much of the same info (appearances, news, releases) seemed redundant since I don’t keep my two names secret. Really, the basic difference between Jess and Jenna is that my erotic romances almost always have a conflict based in something sexual. The plot is driven as much by the love scenes as anything else. This makes them germane to the plot at all times.

S~ Out of all your books, do you have a book or series that was the most fun to write? One that involved the most interesting research?

Jenna: It’s hard to pick a “favorite” book because I’ve loved writing everything I’ve done. Usually my greatest love is whatever I’m writing at the time and whatever I’ve just had out. So at the moment that I’m writing this, my favorite book that is out is HER NOTORIOUS VISCOUNT and my favorite book I’ve written is my August 2010 release, AN UNWANTED DUCHESS. But in a few months it will change because the first book in the Billingham Bastards series, WHAT THE DUKE DESIRES (November 2009) will be out and I’ll be starting to write the third book in the series, which features Caleb and Marah from LESSONS FROM A COURTESAN.

S~ What appeals to you most about the type of stories you write?

Jenna: I’ve always tended to lean toward sensual, dark stories, so it’s been very naturally for me to write that way. I like the unfolding of the story and the little character surprises I tend to stumble upon with every book. And I like in the end feeling like I’ve told a story where the couple could really make it. They’ve grown together as people.

S~ Like Lori Foster, you're a big fan of UFC. Any plans to incorporate this passion into your writing, or it more of an outside interest?

Jenna: Actually, I already have. My April 2009 release, HER NOTORIOUS VISCOUNT features a hero who fought in London’s Underground. Fighting is a big deal in that book (literally and figuratively). Since I write historical, it would be difficult to go beyond what I’ve done, but I do love the sport.

S~ In October, you're coming out with the first book in a new Jenna Petersen series. Can you tell us a little bit about the series and what the common thread is in these books?

Jenna: The series is called “The Billingham Bastards” and the first book is WHAT THE DUKE DESIRES (October 27 – technically it’s actually a November release). In it my hero, the Duke of Billingham, discovers his father is not all he seems and sets out to find out more. The heroine is a woman bent on revenge who comes to destroy the good family name. The second and third books are about bastard sons that my hero finds his father sired.

S~ And in February, book 3 of Jess Michaels' Albright Sisters will be released. What can we expect to find with the third sister, and how many more books do you have planned in this series?

Jenna: The third book is NOTHING DENIED and is the last book in the Albright Sisters series that began with EVERYTHING FORBIDDEN and SOMETHING RECKLESS (and is lightly tied to TABOO, my recent May 2009 release). My heroine, Beatrice is the spoilt younger sister of my first two heroines and she definitely needs a hero to tame her, which is exactly what I gave her. This is the final book in the series, but readers who are interested in what happens to youngest sister Winifred, you will get resolution for her, as well.

S~ What is a typical writing day like for you? With your busy schedule, how do you keep yourself from getting burned out?

Jenna: It’s a constant struggle for me to balance my life-life with my writing life because I do tend to do so much. But I’ve just had to cut back. I’m writing fewer pages a day, I’m updating Passionate Pen less and I’m picking and choosing which promotional efforts to pursue more carefully. I write full time and write from home, so I’m pretty much always at work. I just have to focus on leaving the “office” in my mind more often.

S~ How do you feel about promo: do you think authors should spend a significant amount of time promoting their books, visiting blogs, creating social networking opportunities like Facebook and myspace, or do you believe the work should speak for itself?

Jenna: I suppose in a perfect world that would work, but unfortunately for a writer starting out you have to get people to buy your book before the writing CAN speak for itself. So places like Facebook, MySpace, a personal website and other promotional efforts hopefully widen your net of people who are looking for your book and buying it, thereby creating a larger core fanbase. Obviously the writing has to be the most important thing, but having no promotional effort at all may not be a good idea in the current climate.

S~ Other than to keep writing, what has been the most valuable advice you've gotten about writing?

Jenna: Jennifer Crusie presented to a library in Washington state when I still lived there and she said to write with your head down. In other words, you write without having other people in your head, without correcting yourself while you do it. I’ve written that way ever since.

S~ How do you like to unwind? It's evident by your website you like movies and music, so what else do you like to do on your "down" time? What are some of your guilty pleasures?

Jenna: Like I said earlier, I tend to be in the office in my head a lot, so down time is a bit relative. I do like video games along with movies. I read when I can. My husband and I have also really gotten into travel. We went to China in March 2008 and it was wonderful. I get to pick our destination next, so I’m thinking Europe, though I don’t know where. There’s a wonderful train tour of the Alps that looks remarkable and I’m leaning that way.

S~ If you had a whole afternoon to yourself and one book you could read, whether a re-read or one you've been dying to get your hands on, what would it be?

Jenna: Really at this point, any book. When I’m writing, I don’t read much and I tend to find other things to do because my brain is done with stories and reading text. But on the way to RWA National I had a couple of books to read, so I’m excited to have a few hours to myself to do that.

S~ How have you seen your characters evolve since you started writing? Have you had to make considerable personality changes to suit current times, or do you like to be bold and dare to color outside the lines of current trends?

Jenna: I guess I don’t think I’ve ever written characters to “trend”. They come more from a natural progression during my pre-writing process. The evolution I’ve seen more is just improvement in my writing, which comes from writing more books and having good editorial input from my editor. But I’ve never thought it was smart to chase trend. You can never catch it and the books lose their heart.

S~ What type of hero and heroine appeals to you, and have you ever written a character that you just didn't like? If so, how did you make it work?

Jenna: I really love broken bad boys and I’ve written a few like Dominic from SCANDALOUS, Grant from SEDUCTION IS FOREVER, Justin from LESSONS FROM A COURTESAN and Nicholas from HER NOTORIOUS VISCOUNT. But I also tend to write some very decent men thrown into situations they must face. Tristan from FROM LONDON WITH LOVE is a good example, also the hero in my upcoming book, Simon in WHAT THE DUKE DESIRES. Now Lucas in DESIRE NEVER DIES doesn’t really fit either. He’s not that… broken but he is a bad boy. He’s sort of more your Hugh Jackman type rather than your Russell Crowe if that makes sense.

For my heroines, I like women with values. A lot of my women are taking charge in ways that break the mold. All my Ladies Spies ladies, for example. Also Jane in HER NOTORIOUS VISCOUNT, Victoria in LESSONS FROM A COURTESAN and Lillian, the heroine in WHAT THE DUKE DESIRES.

I’ve only written one character who I haven’t liked and that is Beatrice in the upcoming NOTHING DENIED. In the previous Albright Sisters books, she was such a pill. Just not very nice and very spoiled. Redeeming her in her story was a challenge, but I found that the more I wrote her, the more I understood her and I hope readers will come to like her and understand her, as well.

S~ Do you have a book of the heart, or do each of them affect you as strongly, just perhaps in different ways?

Jenna: I actually don’t believe in the whole concept of “Book of the Heart”. In fact, I wrote an article on that subject at Passionate Pen: http://www.passionatepen.com/book_of_my_what_article.htm I have never written a book that I wasn’t head over heels in love with. It’s just too much work, blood, sweat and tears to do anything else.

S~ Do you remember the first adult romance you ever read? How old were you, and did you know from that point on that you wanted to write?

Jenna: I came very late in life to romance. In fact, I’d already decided to write it (because it’s “easy”, you know HA!!) before I read much of it. I think my first romance was MINX by Julia Quinn. And I thought, uh-oh. This is both awesome and proof that it’s going to be HARD.

S~ What is Jenna and Jess working on next? What can we expect to see in the next 6-9 months?

Jenna: Right now NOTHING DENIED is the next Jess book, which comes out in February 2010. I’m really focused on my Jenna work presently. In November 2009 the first Billingham Bastards book hits shelves, WHAT THE DUKE DESIRES. And I’m nearly done with the first draft of the second book, AN UNWANTED DUCHESS, which will hit shelves in August 2010. And then I’ll be starting the third book before the year ends. So lots coming down the pike from Jenna.

S~ Any last words, anything you'd like to add?

Jenna: Thanks so much for having me today! Readers can read excerpts of all my books at http://www.jennapetersen.com and look for my *Day-By-Day diary of my adventures at RWA in Washington, DC at www.passionatepen.com in the next couple of weeks. (*Jenna actually got this back to me before RWA, but I wasn't ready to post it - my bad. Still check it out and see what she was up to while in D.C. for RWA!)

Labels: author interviews, Jenna Petersen, Jess Michaels

So, are you a Joe or a Ranger girl?

What's the appeal?

Labels: Janet Evanovich, spotlight

Labels: Gerard Butler, movies

Labels: Ryan Reynolds

It was actually when I saw him in "Less Than Zero" that I had that "wow" moment. In the movie, he was Julian...something or another, a wealthy drug addict who has such a serious habit that he owes his dealer a lot of money, and said dealer forces Julian to become a prostitute to pay for his habit. You got it. True hero material. But it cemented my thing for him, as totally inappropriate and unexplainable as it was. There was just some dangerous, heartbreaking quality that I was all melty for, maybe it was that sense that he was going along full speed ahead, about ready to crash and burn into a very hard and unforgiving brick wall, yet he was having the most incredible time while at it. RDJ loved the drugs. He was in a long-term relationship with Sarah Jessica Parker back then, but even that wasn't enough to get him to stop using. It took almost 2 decades.

Labels: Bad Boys, Robert Downey Jr

When you're learning to hunt demons, homework can be hell...

So this really wasn't a review, but an overall observation of a really great series that will not end after just three books, which I'm so glad to know. I really feel like I connect with Eve as a heroine, and despite her super powers, she's still very much human, and flawed, and likable. Now it's off to start reading book #3, and since the anticipation is building at a rapid pace, I'm going to sign off now and hope you pick up these books and enjoy them as much as I do.

Labels: S.J. Day

Labels: hottie

My eyes are burning from all this television I've been watching but it's Buffy the Vampire Slayer, so that's okay. It's one of the more emotional seasons, so there's also a bit of tears. Even knowing what happens doesn't make it much easier, but it's good drama, you've got to admit.

Here's a recap of the season....

1. When She Was Bad: Buffy's back in town after being gone all summer, and not adjusting well after having killed The Master. Gives Xander a dirty dance which he both loves and dreads, knowing that it's not really him she wants. And it hurts others she cares about, like Willow, and Angel, who tries to keep his distance despite his feelings.

2. Some Assembly Required: Oh I hate the episodes with body parts that are not exploding vampires. A former student who died is brought back to life, but doesn't want to spend his time alone, so his beloved brother decides to make him a girl. Can you say ewww?

3. School Hard: Spike! We meet this platinum bad boy for the first time, only we hate him along with his crazy girlfriend Drusilla. Well, we did the first time around. Knowing what we know now, he's really not so bad... We also learn that no one's going to hurt Joyce Summers' little girl, not even Spike.

4. INCA Mummy Girl: Oh it's tough being a teenager in these times, as an Inca girl, recently released from death, learns in this episode. Pretty but a bit rough around the edges. Xander falls in love and almost gets the kiss of death.

5. Repile Boy: fraternity. Xander in a bra. Peer pressure. Human sacrifice. You know, typical teenage hijinx. And sometimes you really do have to watch out for the nice ones.

6. Halloween: Buffy, Xander & Willow all take on the persona of their costumes. Quite amusing. And then there's Oz, who's rather taken with "that girl" but he doesn't even know her name. I love that he doesn't go for the obvious ones like Cordy. Oz is one cool dude, and it's great fun to see Xander and Willow in charge while Buffy cowers in dark corners.

7. Lie To Me: Buffy's grade school crush - Jason Behr before "Roswell". Hideous 90's gothwear. Angel reminisces about honing his brooding skills. Willow finally figures out what that Divinyls' song ("I Touch Myself") is all about. But the real core of the episode is how it feels to be lied to by the people you care about most. And that eternal life is not all it's cracked up to be.

8. The Dark Age: Giles' mysterious past. Finally we get to see more of the sexy but uptight Watcher. We learn he was a bit of a bad boy and rebelled against his destiny. Me like.

9. What's My Line Part 1: Career Day, and Buffy realizes she doesn't really get to choose her career. It's been chosen for her. Willow & Oz finally meet! Albeit briefly, but how cute are they? And then there's Kendra. Now isn't her appearance interesting? Though having watched the whole season in just a few days, I really thought she'd been around longer than she had.

10. What's My Line Part 2: Worms! Icky, icky worms. Ugh. But oh the passion! In the creepy basement. The tension between Xander & Cordy finally cracks and smoochies ensue. Angel without a shirt, worth the price of admission. And then there's Jonathan, who we see briefly, for what, the 3rd time? so far in the series. His story is just beginning....

11. Ted: With John Ritter as the man courting Buffy's mother. I've always liked John Ritter, and he does a wonderful job as a by-the-rules guy who does not like the rebellious Buffy one bit. And of course, he is not what he seems. Buffy doesn't like him either, and ends up killing him.

12. Bad Eggs: A school project gone terribly wrong. When the Scooby gang is given eggs to take home and cared for like babies, it turns out these eggs are not the everyday, garden variety that can be fried, scrambled or boiled.

13. Surprise: This is it, the episode where all that intense longing between Buffy & Angel is finally consummated in some hot, romantic lovin'. Have to figure those centuries of experience makes it good for Buffy, wouldn't you think? And Willow finds out about Cordy & Xander, which does not make her happy. Lots of smoochies going on in this episode.

14. Innocence: Turns out Buffy's & Angel's special night was not without consequences. Turns out when Angel experience even a moment of true happiness, he loses his soul again. Turns out his happiness is his night with Buffy. This one is a tearjerker.

15. Phases: There's a werewolf in town and it turns out to be one of the Scoobys. Revelations all around with Larry the school bully making a startling confession.

18. Killed by Death: Buffy gets sick and ends up in the hospital, where she's at Death's door, who turns out to be a visitor from her past. Xander feels protective of his friend, and his white knight routine bothers Cordy. This is what I think of as a "filler" episode. Not really all that interesting but manages to drive the story a bit forward.

19. I Only Have Eyes For You: I loved this episode. A murder-suicide of star-crossed lovers from 1955 is reenacted in present-day Sunnydale over and over because the killer wants forgiveness but never manages to achieve it before people die. It culminates in a touching scene with Buffy and Angel when the spirits of the lovers inhabit their bodies, which later freaks Angel out.

20. Go Fish: The swimming team is all the rage in this episode where it turns out steroids aren't the only suspicious thing going on. There's also a side story where a member of the swimming team used to many privileges, thinks Buffy is up for grabs. And look, a very young yet still very cute Wentworth Miller From "Prison Break" is a swimmer.

21. Becoming, Part 1: We see a lot of Angel's history, how and when he was changed, as well as the gypsy curse that gave him back his soul. We also see Buffy when she first gets the call as Slayer, and Angel seeing her for the first time, and how that moment changed his life.

22. Becoming, Part 2: Buffy shows up at the library only to have the police show up as she's standing over a dead body. Giles has been kidnapped by Angel, and Willow is in a coma. Xander is broken up about seeing his best friend so helpless. And Spike reaches full power and hottie potential becomes evident. The infamous sword fight between Buffy & Angel. Much tears. There is much sadness by the end of this season...

****

A lot of good stuff this season. Hard to believe so much happened, and how it went down, but I have to say I applaud those difficult choices. Joss Whedon didn't shy away from those "don't go there" moments. Watching it in succession like this is really intense, but that's actually a good thing. Makes it much more effective, I think. So I might take a little break before moving on to season 3. Then again, maybe not.

What do you remember most about season 2?

Labels: BtVS, Sarah Michelle Gellar

Labels: Linda Howard

Labels: spotlight, Sylvia Day

Like many Americans, and okay, millions of people around the world, I do have a bit of a thing for those Harry Potter movies. So far I've only read the first book, so I feel a little bit out of the loop. I've now gone to see HP6 twice, and understand it a little bit better, yet it's still prompted me to start the series, so that's what I'm doing. I haven't gotten very far, but it has me reminiscing about the flying car. Oh those were the days. This movie is pretty good, though sadness does ensue. For those of you who've either seen the movie or read the books, you know why. I think I was more sad the 2nd time around than the first. A pretty good installment, I must say. And I do think I want a vanishing cabinet.

I was kinda hoping to see a few previews of Harry, Ron and Hermione as kids, just to see how much they've changed, but maybe that'll happen in the last movie? Being the romance reader that I am, I wantd more Ron and Hermione, though in this last movie, I wanted to smack both of them. Hermione pining for Ron? I think it should be the other way around. And Ron as clueless as you can get? I'm really hoping for a grand gesture in the last movie(s), but please don't tell me. I'm going to agonize over the books now.

Labels: Harry Potter, Nora

Labels: Sarah Michelle Gellar, television

Cursed by God, hunted by demons, desired by Cain and Abel... All in a day's work.

For Evangeline Hollis, a long-ago fling with a bad boy from the wrong side of the tracks just became a disaster of biblical proportions. One night with a leather-clad man of mystery has led to a divine punishment: the Mark of Cain.

Thrust into a world where sinners are drafted to kill demons, Eve knows her learning curve must be short. A longtime agnostic, she begrudgingly maneuvers through a celestial bureaucracy where she is a valuable but ill-treated pawn. She's also become the latest point of contention in the oldest case of sibling rivalry in history...
But she'll worry about all that later. Right now she's more concerned with learning to kill while staying alive. And saving the soul she'd never quite believed she had.

What can I say about this book that hasn't been said more eloquently by better people, other than I've been a long-time fan of Sylvia Day, and I'm even more impressed with the new S.J. Day series. Probably not a lot, but I still want to make my $0.02 known.

When we first meet Eve, she is in the middle of some rather intense on-the-job training, and she's having a little trouble adjusting to her new lifestyle as a Mark. Two very significant events in Eve's life lead her to be where she is today, and they involve those feuding brothers of the Bible: Cain and Abel. Agnostic by nature, Eve can no longer go through life blissfully ignorant of the very threatening presence of demons, or deny the fact that now she is supposed to be on the side of the good guys, headed up by The Big Guy. Yep, you guessed it. God.

You know, most times when I read a book, I'm in it mainly for the hero. I'm not ashamed to admit that. And here we have two delectable leading men who both desire Eve. Right now I've tentatively selected which camp I'm in, but from the brief glimpses I've read about Book #2, I might be defecting to the other side, though I kinda hope not. But I'll worry about that later. However as I was saying, normally I'm all hero, all the way, but this time, I am digging the heroine.

It's not the first time in recent memory I've been such a fan of the leading lady, but in this series, I'll get to see her for at least another 2 books, and I want to be sure to like her. So far I do. Very much. Eve is rather well-adjusted and likable, and very, very human. She comes into her gifts rather late in life, and most unwillingly. Yet after some griping about the circumstances, Eve gets down to the business of dealing with things. She's not fearless nor particularly adept, but she's good with facing the dangers and obstacles she needs to face in order to survive. She has the normal issues with her family that many people do, but she loves them, and she also has a strong affection for her elderly neighbor Mrs. Basso. She had a career she loved and worked hard at, yet all that changes when she is Marked. Now she has to rearrange her priorities. Instead of being mad at Alec and Reed, the two men she shared two separate, torrid encounters with that lead to her being Marked, she sticks with them so they can both show her the ropes and hopefully prevent her from being killed. Eve is just starting up her training and has A LOT to learn. I can't wait to watch her trying to master her various new responsibilities and figure out her new abilities. And if she gets to spend some time in bed with either Alec or Reed, well, all the better ;)

Speaking of the hotties, Cain and Abel are based on the very brothers in the Bible with the same names, and the rivalry continues now in modern times. Both are very sexy, intriguing men in their own way, and each is strongly attracted to Eve, and she is equally drawn to each of the brothers. Cain is a loner, more rough around the edges, yet he cares very deeply for Eve. Abel, curious about the woman who has won his brother's affections, is more polished, and definitely one to do things by the book, yet that doesn't make him any less of a bad boy. It will be interesting to see how each of these compelling men deal with their feelings for Eve, and just how far each will go to claim her for his own. I'm very much looking forward to finding out...

Rating: ****1/2 out of *****

Labels: S.J. Day

Labels: Anna Campbell, spotlight

Cute show! Okay it's a little hyper and caffeine-induced, but overall it's got a charming appeal. Both mom and daughter are very pretty and likable, and their house looks cozy and inviting. The townspeople are a little quirky but not in a "Northern Exposure" kind of a way. I always knew I liked Luke - he's so cranky and scruffy and serious, you just want to ruffle his feathers. I know more happens with him and Lorelai later in the series, but I'm pleading ignorant for right now. So far I've only seen 4 episodes out of....150+? I'm totally guessing here, knowing I have 42 DVDs to watch, and there's 7 seasons. And so far I'm really looking forward to each one.

Labels: books, movies, television

Labels: ramblings

Labels: me