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Thursday, December 31, 2009:
Happy New Year's Eve! I like to wait til the end of the year to do my reading list. I'm not really going to do "best of", but I'll highlight the ones that stood out, both good and bad. I'm sad I only read 123 books this year. I'm really hoping to do a lot better next year. Some favorites (new): Smooth Talking Stranger by Lisa Kleypas. Always a winner. Practice Makes Perfect by Julie James. My new favorite contemporary author. Angel's Blood by Nalini Singh. She's amazing. Really. Fade To Black by Leslie Parrish. Loved the suspense. A real treat. Some Girls Bite by Chloe Neill. Another vamp series? Yes, it's worth it. Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles. Wonderful YA romance. Sigh. On the Edge by Ilona Andrews. Magical and romantic. Skin Game by Ava Gray. Gritty, dark, yet incredibly romantic. Hard to Hold by Stephanie Tyler. Intense. Unforgiving. Unforgettable.
Other favorites include older series: Magic series by Ilona Andrews - adore both Kate & Curran. Night Huntress series by Jeaniene Frost. Bones won me over. Fever series by Karen Marie Moning. Barrons!
Worst book of the year: Stepping outside my comfort zone book: Now there are so many new books to look forward to in 2010, including some I already have and need to read. I hope to continue to challenge myself in my reading. I haven't signed up for any specific challenges, because that's too much like homework. But I was thrilled to see I read more paranormal this year and absolutely loved it. What were some of your reading surprises in 2009? ************** My 2009 reading list: January
1. Tempt the Devil by Anna Campbell (2008)
2. Nobody's Baby But Mine by Susan Elizabeth Phillips (1997)3. Glitter Baby by Susan Elizabeth Phillips (1987) 4. To Sin With a Stranger by Kathryn Caskie (2008) 5. Born In Sin by Kinley MacGregor (2003) 6. Dream a Little Dream by Susan Elizabeth Phillips (1998) 7. This Heart of Mine by Susan Elizabeth Phillips (2001) 8. Can You Keep a Secret? by Sophie Kinsella (2004) 9. Match Me If You Can by Susan Elizabeth Phillips (2005) 10. The Kiss by Sophia Nash (2008)
11. Fragile by Shiloh Walker (2009)
12. Dark of Night by Suzanne Brockmann (2009) 13. Natural Born Charmer by Susan Elizabeth Phillips (2007) February 14. Tempted by His Kiss by Tracy Anne Warren (2009) 15. Scandal by Carolyn Jewel (2009)
16. Lean, Mean Thirteen by Janet Evanovich (2007) 17. Again the Magic by Lisa Kleypas (2004) re-read
18. Redneck Cinderella by LuAnn McLane (2009) 19. Lord of the Fading Lands by C.L.Wilson (2008) re-read March 20. Falling In Love by Pauline Trent (2009) 21. Bikini Diaries by Lacey Alexander (2009) 22. The Kissing Game by Suzanne Brockmann (1996) re-read 23. Whispers in the Dark by Kira Sinclair (2008) 24. Smooth Talking Stranger by Lisa Kleypas (2009) 25. Whiskey Sour by JA Konrath (2004) 26. Dark Thirst by Sara Reinke (2007) 27. To Pleasure a Lady by Nicole Jordan (2008) 28. To Bed a Beauty by Nicole Jordan (3008) 29. What a Scoundrel Wants by Carrie Lofty (2008) 30. Hard & Fast by Erin McCarthy (2009) 31. The Rake by Suzanne Enoch (2002) April 32. Practice Makes Perfect by Julie James (2009) 33. London's Perfect Scoundrel by Suzanne Enoch (2003) 34. Pledge Slave by Evangeline Anderson (2007 ebook) 35. Helping Hand by Shayla Kersten (2008 ebook) 36. Indecent Proposition by Emma Wildes (2009) 37. Heating Up the Holidays by Jill Shalvis/Jacque D'Alessandro, Jamie Sobrato (Blaze) 38. England's Perfect Hero by Suzanne Enoch (2004) 39. Daring Time by Beth Kery (2009) 40. As Shadows Fade by Colleen Gleason (2009) 41. Broken Boundaries by Evangeline Anderson (2009) ebook 42. Stress Relief by Diana Hunter (2009) ebook
43. One Reckless Summer by Toni Blake (2009) 44. Where Dreams Begin by Lisa Kleypas (2000) re-read May 45. Under Fire by Jo Davis (2009) 46. Bloody Mary by J.A. Konrath (2005)?
47. Hunger Like No Other by Kresley Cole (2006) 48. Distracting the Duchess by Emily Bryan (2008) 49. Beyond the Highland Mist by Karen Marie Moning (1999) 50. Lover Avenged by J.R. Ward (2009) 51. A Hint of Wicked by Jennifer Haymore (2009) 52. Taboo by Jess Michaels (2009) 53. The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie by Jennifer Ashley (2009) June 54. Beyond Heaving Bosoms by Sarah Wendell & Candy Tan (2009) 55. Pleasure Unbound by Larissa Ione (2008) re-read 56. Slave to Sensation by Nalini Singh (2006) re-read 57. Hard Rain by Barry Eisler (2004) 58. Seduce Me by Anne Rainey (2009) 59. Angels' Blood by Nalini Singh (2009) 60. Mating Game by Janice Maynard (2009) July
61. Fade to Black by Leslie Parrish (2009) 62. What Happens in London by Julia Quinn (2009) 63. Blue Diablo by Ann Aguirre (2009) 64. Eve of Darkness by S.J. Day (2009) 65. Eve of Destruction by S.J. Day (2009) 66. Eve of Chaos by S.J. Day (2009) 67. Taking Care of Business by Megan Hart & Lauren Dane (2008) 68. Pitch Black by Leslie Parrish (2009) 69. Highland Obsession by Dawn Halliday (2009) 70. Sweet Restraint by Beth Kery (2009) August 71. Double Play by Jill Shalvis (2009) 72. When Alex Was Bad by Jo Davis (2009) 73. Hot Pursuit by Suzanne Brockmann (2009) 74. Goddess of the Hunt by Tessa Dare (2009) 75. Renegade by Sarah Parr (2009) 76. Storm Watch by Jill Shalvis (2009) 77. Black At Heart by Leslie Parrish (2009) 78. The Strangely Beautiful Tale of Miss Percy Parker by Leanna Renee Hieber (2009) 79. Darkfever by Karen Marie Moning (2006) 80. Bloodfever by Karen Marie Moning (2007) September
81. Visions of Heat by Nalini Singh (2007)
82. Caressed by Ice by Nalini Singh (2007) 83. Not Quite A Husband by Sherry Thomas (2009) 84. Some Girls Bite by Chloe Neill (2009) 85. Stranger by Megan Hart (2009) 86. Fearless Fourteen by Janet Evanovich (2008) 87. Waking Nightmare by Kylie Brant (2009)
88. The Billionaire's Bride of Vengeance by Miranda Lee (2009) 89. The Billionaire's Bride of Convenience by Miranda Lee (2009)
October 90. Kill Me Twice by Roxanne St. Claire (2005) 91. Thrill Me To Death by Roxanne St. Claire (2006) 92. Secret Ties by Opal Carew (2009) 93. Mine to Possess by Nalini Singh (2008) 94. Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles (2008) 95. Magic Bites by Ilona Andrews (2007) 96. Magic Burns by Ilona Andrews (2008) 97. Magic Strikes by Ilona Andrews (2009) 98. Secret Desires of a Gentleman by Laura Lee Guhrke (2008) November
99. On the Edge by Ilona Andrews (2009) 100. Hunter's Edge by Shiloh Walker (2009) 101. Somebody's Lover by Jasmine Haynes (2006) 102. In The Flesh by Livia Dare (2009) 103. Skin Game by Ava Gray (2009) 104. Yours For The Night by Jasmine Haynes (2009) 105. Don't Tempt Me by Sylvia Day (2008) 106. Covet by JR Ward (2009) 107. Hunter's Need by Shiloh Walker (2009) 108. Paradise Rules by Beth Kery (2009) 109. Talk Me Down by Victoria Dahl (2009) 110. Start Me Up by Victoria Dahl (2009) 111. What She Needs by Lacey Alexander (2009) 112. Fantasy Lover by Sherrilyn Kenyon (2002) re-read 113. Night Pleasures by Sherrilyn Kenyon (2002) re-read 114. Halfway to the Grave by Jeaniene Frost (2007) 115. Sweet Surrender by Maya Banks (2008) December
116. One Foot in the Grave by Jeaniene Frost (2008) 117. Because You're Mine by Lisa Kleypas (1997) re-read 118. Magic To The Bone by Devon Monk (2008)
119. Seducing The Heiress by Olivia Drake (2009) 120. Hard to Hold by Stephanie Tyler (2009) - review to come 121. Tempt Me At Twilight by Lisa Kleypas (2009) 122. Delicious by Sherry Thomas (2008) 123. Hostage to Pleasure by Nalini Singh (2008)
Labels: 2009, books
posted by Stacy~ at 12/31/2009 07:10:00 AM
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Wednesday, December 30, 2009:
1,000 posts later....[psssst, there's a contest!]
 The inspiration for "Trelaina", a character from the 70's/80's anime show, Starblazers. On January 1, 2010, I will have had my blog up and running for 4 years. Back in those days, I had even less to say than I do now, so it was a lot of pictures and quotes and silly things. Nowadays I hope I'm a tad bit more interesting LOL. After all this time, I still enjoy it, even if I don't do it every single day. I like having the freedom to blog when I want to, if and when I want to. And it's all about me, which I like the best *g* This picture below is not my original blog header, but it was one I first had some input on. Yeah, a bit of an eyesore, but I loved these colors back then. Just probably not a good idea to put them together. Still, I have rather fond memories of my old layout, and the excitement I felt when I had it customized.  And not only have I been blogging for 4 years, this is actually my 1,000th published post. Now 4 years of blogging should come closer to 1460 posts, but well, I guess I didn't always blog all that often. Sometimes it's not easy to think of things to talk about, believe it or not. (At least for me). Unless it's all about Nickelback or Josh Bernstein or Suzanne Brockmann's books. Then I could go on for days....  Josh (smart and sexy)
Now I know you're just here for the contest, so let's get started. First up, prizes. I thought long and hard, and then said forget it. Let's make it simple, stupid. 4 prizes, 4 winners. So, here are the goodies:
1. $50 Amazon gift card
2. $25 Barnes & Noble/Borders/BAM giftcard (winner selects which bookstore)
3. $25 restaurant gift card (Maggiano's, Cheesecake Factory, Outback, etc)
4. book of choice, up to $10 value
My Nathan....
For awhile there, I had a bit of an obsession, er, crush, on Mr. Kamp. Just a tiny one that lasted through several book covers (okay, yes, I have bought books just because he was on the cover!)  Me from the 2nd annual Lori Foster event
As you can see I'm not very photogenic or camera-friendly, but here's one that is halfway decent I thought I'd share. I'm holding the basket I made for the raffle drawing. It's so much fun to put these together. One of my favorite things about the event. Next up, questions. You know I love my questions, and so I'll only ask four of them. And instead of asking about myself, which is rather predictable, I'll ask them about you, so that way it's not just a copy and paste post. 1. What movie that you've seen in the last year would you recommend?
2. Current favorite song. Not artist. I want a SONG. Please be specific*
3. What was one of your favorite books of 2009? Who wrote it? (*same as #2)
4. What's one of your favorite addictions? Twitter, iPhone, etc. I'd love to know *g* Contest rules: Contest will end @ noon CST on Sunday, January 3, 2010 and will be announced within 24 hours. All questions must be answered to qualify. Contest is open to all, as long as they can receive mail (or the equivalent gift - not sure about purchasing international giftcards but I'll figure something out). Please do not leave your email address in your post. Winners are responsible for contacting me. So happy anniversary to me! Thank you ALL for being a part of my little place on earth. I've met so many new people over these past 4 years. Some have moved on (I miss Mailyn!), others are still around. Each one has been a blessing :) And I especially want to thank the amazing bookpimps out there (you know who you are!) for being me some of the best book suggestions I could ask for. Love you guys, srsly. Hope to know you for at least another 4 years. Good luck & Happy New Year!!!! Labels: happy anniversary
posted by Stacy~ at 12/30/2009 06:19:00 AM
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Tuesday, December 29, 2009:
Bella - (2007) a movie review
 From Yahoo Movies: Nina, a young, unmarried waitress at a Mexican restaurant, finds herself pregnant and without work after coming in late several days because of morning sickness. Jose, the restaurant's chef, is taken by Nina's plight and becomes her sole confidant. Jose helps her walk through her decision on what to do with her pregnancy. In the process, he bears secrets from his own mysterious past, which reveal his tenderness and passion for her and the child she is carrying. I can't remember why I chose this movie to watch. It might have even been recommended to me by someone, but I cannot recall. I got the movie several weeks ago from Netflix, but though I wanted to watch it, I just wasn't "ready". I know that sounds weird, but sometimes you just have to be in a certain frame of mind to watch something. That was the case with this movie. The movie is pretty much what it says in the synopsis: girl gets fired, boy feels bad for girl and goes after her. But it's so much more than that while still being simple and sweet and ordinary. That is what makes it so special. Jose works as a chef for his brother Manny, who operates his Mexican restaurant much like a drill sergeant. When Nina is late yet again, Manny decides to fire her, not really caring what her reasons are. Jose, seeing the desperation on her face, goes after her, which upsets his brother. But Jose doesn't care. He just knows he cannot at least try to do something for Nina. Jose discovers the reason she's been late and out sick is because she's pregnant. With no job and no one to turn to, Nina's not sure what she's going to do. This stirs up feelings inside him from his past, and he attempts to be there or Nina at least in some small way. They talk, and he brings her to his family's house. While there, Nina soaks up the togetherness they all share, and wishes things were different for her. Jose opens up about his life, and she realizes why he's hiding in the kitchen of his brother's restaurant. My thoughts:
This movie is a very small but significant passage of time between two people who don't really know each other but whose lives come together briefly and will never be the same. What I liked about it was that is was an ordinary moment, but one that had an amazing outcome. I loved the dinner at Jose's parents' house, where we see the love and passion and vivaciousness of a close, Mexican family, and how Nina soaks it all in, never having experienced anything like it herself. I also liked how this movie was about healing, but that there were no miracle cures, or that the relationship between Jose and Nina didn't become more than what it ended up being. The beauty of the film is that it is genuine, something real and possible and not neatly wrapped up as the credits are rolling. Parents still worry for their children. Siblings still fight and disagree. People move on. But it doesn't have to be a bad thing. It's just about something bigger, and how sometimes really good things can happen. I cannot really explain it without giving away too much of the film, but suffice it to say this movie has heart, and is subtle in the way it sneaks into your own heart. It starts off in New York City, and it's rather unforgiving at times. But that also is why it's so moving. How amazing things can happen just by living. How the kindness of others can make all the difference in the world, no matter how insignificant it may seem. I think that's what got to me most. Just during your day, while you're riding the train or dealing with clients or grabbing a bite to eat, wonderful things can happen. And this movie made me smile to think of all these things. It just...was. And okay, yeah, I have to mention that even with long hair and an ugly beard, Eduardo Verastegui has a certain charm and handsomeness that you can't help but notice. You can see his feelings in his eyes. I just thought I had to say that. Rating: ***** out of ***** Labels: movies, reviews
posted by Stacy~ at 12/29/2009 06:45:00 AM
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Monday, December 28, 2009:
 Morning all! Hope you survived the holidays :) My Christmas was fun but really low-key; spent it with friends, so it was quiet, but enjoyable. My kinda holidays.
How'd you make out with the gifts this year? I got a lot of giftcards (B&N, AMC movies, etc), and last night I found out I won a Maggiano's $20 giftcard on Twitter, so I made out quite well. My big gift to myself this year was my iPhone, which I got almost 2 months ago, but still consider it a Christmas present. I wanted to get a GPS but maybe next year....
 Then I had to get Supernatural on DVD, so I got seasons 1-3, still waiting on season 4. Just can't get enough of those Winchester boys, especially Dean. I love how the series mixes it up with some funny and weird episodes alongside the more serious ones. I also like how they go back in Sam's & Dean's history, not just always going forward. I'm currently watching season 4 from Netflix while I wait (im)patiently for my boys to arrive at my doorstep. Got a lot read this past weekend, at least a lot for me. Read 3 books - Lisa Kleypas' "Tempt Me At Twilight" (LOVED it); Sherry Thomas' "Delicious" (it was okay, not as sensual and erotic as I'd hoped); and Stephanie Tyler's "Hard To Hold" (loved it), a difficult read but one I couldn't put down. I'm so looking forward to her other books. Movie-wise, other than Season 4 of Supernatural, I watched a sweet gem called "Bella", which I think I'll be posting the review for tomorrow. It was rather fitting for the spirit of the season. Last but not least, I know I've mentioned a big contest coming up in just a few short days, and I have really no idea how it's going to go down. I'll think of something, I hope. It's my blog anniversary and I've almost reached 1,000 posts. I'm really excited that I stuck it out so long LOL. And so far, no plans to close up shop any time soon. I'm having too much fun! Thanx for hanging with me :) So, how were your holidays?
Best gift? Labels: Christmas, gifts
posted by Stacy~ at 12/28/2009 06:57:00 AM
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Sunday, December 27, 2009:
We have a winner! Chuck is going home with...
Michelle B.!
Michelle please send me your snail mail addy (trelainastarblazer AT yahoo dot com) by January 3rd, and you'll be getting season 1 of Chuck on DVD.
1. 15. Michelle B.
2. 7. elaing8
3. 14. skyla11377
4. 2. Buckeye Girl
5. 19. Smokinhotbooks
6. 3. Maureen
7. 26. Laurann Dohner
8. 12. Jane
9. 9. I Heart Book Gossip
10. 18. DrkCherry
11. 22. karin
12. 16. Scott Romanski
13. 5. blodeuedd
14. 23. Cynthia
15. 1. Bells
16. 17. flchen1
17. 21. Lori T.
18. 8. Emmanuelle
19. 11. joder
20. 10. Renee
21. 24. Danielle
22. 25. Carolyn
23. 4. throuthehaze
24. 6. Barbara
25. 20. donnas
26. 13. limecello
LOVED the answers I got to this contest's question! You guys came up with some I hadn't thought of, as well as ones I've not heard of but have me very curious :) CONTEST ALERT: coming up soon (as in this week!) I will be celebrating my 4 year blog anniversary as well as my 1,000th post. I think I should have a contest, don't you? Stick around to find out more.....you just never know what I might do ;)
Labels: winner
posted by Stacy~ at 12/27/2009 08:33:00 PM
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Friday, December 25, 2009:
Happy holidays everyone! I hope this year brings you together with your loved ones, and that you experience all the magic this time of year has to offer. I am fortunate to have "met" so many amazing online people who are smart, sassy, and have incredibly good taste (i.e. liking the same things I do LOL). Whether you've been naughty or nice, I hope Santa brings you exactly what you've been asking for ;) What's your favorite gift you've received this Christmas? Labels: 2009, happy holidays
posted by Stacy~ at 12/25/2009 06:42:00 AM
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Thursday, December 24, 2009:
Seducing the Heiress by Olivia Drake (2009) - quickie reviews
 Her wealth and beauty have made Miss Portia Crompton the catch of the season. Secretly determined to wed the maharajah's son she left behind in India, Portia ignores the money-hungry bucks who ply her with bouquets and bonbons. But one suitor will not be deterred: Colin Byrd, Viscount Ratcliffe. He is persistent and presumptuous--and wickedly tempting. Colin has no delusions about romance. He's a rogue, a womanizer, and a murderer, and seduction comes as easily to him as breathing. Portia's fortune is an irresistible lure until Colin's mercenary scheme hits a snag. Winning her dowry is no longer enough--he wants her heart and her passion. The more adamant she is in her refusal, the more determined he is to seduce her... I recently saw this being discussed at RomanceBuytheBook and because it's been awhile since I read a historical romance, I was immediately interested in this one. I stopped by the bookstore a few days later so the book ended up in my hands. I've not found much on Olivia Drake. She doesn't appear to have her own website, however on the copyright page, it lists Barbara Dawson Smith's name. Bingo. I've never read any of her books, but I did head over to her site to see if I could find out more. However it doesn't appear that the author is very good at updating her website. So I have to conclude that they are one in the same and leave it at that. Colin Byrd is in desperate need of a rich wife. It just happens to be a wonderful coincidence that an untitled, wealthy family is out in society and they have a beautiful daughter of marriage age. He knows that he must find a way to set himself apart from all the dandies and rakes determined to claim her hand. One evening while dining at the lovely home of the Duke of Albright, Portia finds herself having said the wrong thing yet again. Her comments set off the wagging tongues of the disapproving matriarchs, and Portia must listen to their thinly veiled insults in silence. But whilst this is going on, a bit of drama occurs when one of the matriarchs is "attacked" by a rogue strawberry, and panic ensues. She looks up to find her champion is none other than the exceptionally handsome man standing not far away, dining on a strawberry himself. Portia is immediately fascinated, and though society dictates she shan't converse with a gentleman to whom she hadn't been introduced, she decides that under the circumstances, exceptions can be made. The two banter back and forth for several minutes, but before too much time can pass, rescue in the form her her mother and the Duke of Albright enlighten Portia to the identity of her champion: he is Viscount of Ratcliffe, and he is responsible for his father's death. From then on, Portia is determined to avoid Ratcliffe, and uses the Duke as a means to keep him at bay. Portia has promised herself to another, and using the Duke as a buffer will keep other gentleman from offering for her hand. All, that is, but the most persistent Ratcliffe. Ratcliffe isn't ready to give up so easily. He's rather taken with the bold baggage who snubs him at every turn. He's convinced his powers of seduction will prove to be her undoing. But he's rather flummoxed to discover that despite her attraction to him, Portia manages to hold strong and resist giving into his charms. How can he convince her that there's more between them than her dowry?My thoughts:
No question, this book is rather charming. I immediately liked both characters, and enjoyed watching them spar with each other. Neither were what their outward appearances would seem; Portia has her heart set on marrying her childhood sweetheart, despite their differences in backgrounds and society's disapproval. And Colin is obviously protecting someone weaker than himself. I thought these two characters were amazing together, and it was most enjoyable watching them set sparks off each other.
What I didn't care for was the predictable drama. We soon learn Ratcliffe and the Duke of Albright are sworn enemies, and it appears the Duke courts Portia as a form of revenge. Of course Portia's parents want her to marry the Duke. The Duke has done some really unforgivable things; he truly is a villain; yet her parents are blind to everything but his social status. Colin is forced into taking drastic measures, which result in a duel. It all seems really silly in the end.
However the relationship and strong feelings between Portia and Colin were enough to keep me interested in their story. Neither realize they are falling in love, yet they cannot keep away from each other. Portia sees proof that Colin is not the man society paints him to be, and Colin realizes that Portia is no spineless young woman. As I said, it was charming.
Rating: **** out of *****
Labels: Olivia Drake, quickie reviews
posted by Stacy~ at 12/24/2009 07:08:00 AM
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Wednesday, December 23, 2009:
Holiday Giveaway #4: DVD set of Chuck, Season 1
 Okay lovelies, this is my 4th and final holiday contest in giving away some of my favorite things. This was one of my favorite new t.v. shows, and I'd love to share it with you.
Everyone, in case you haven't figured it out by now, this is Chuck (isn't he cute?) I adore this show, having just finished season 1, and that is what this week's prize is: a DVD set of Chuck: Season 1.
For those of you unfamiliar with the storyline, Chuck is a spy, though not necessarily by choice. He's also an endearing guy: a great brother, a true friend and the kinda guy you could fall in love with; one of the good ones. So this week's contest question is:
Who is your favorite spy?
Could be from a book, T.V. show or a movie. He or she might be an amazing spy, or quite possibly not so good at it. Doesn't matter, just has to be a favorite. I'm going to pick Chuck as my favorite spy. He's not always so good at it, but he tries really hard, and he's got a big heart.
Contest ends noon CST on Sunday, December 27th. Anyone who can receive mail is eligible to enter. Must answer the question to be eligible. Please DO NOT leave your email address. Winner is responsible for contacting me one week from the time announced, otherwise a new winner will be selected.
Good luck, and HAPPY HOLIDAYS! Labels: contests
posted by Stacy~ at 12/23/2009 07:11:00 AM
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Tuesday, December 22, 2009:
Spotlight: W - Shiloh Walker
(Isn't she cute????) It just goes without saying that anyone who's visited my blog over the last (almost!) 4 years that I am a huge fan of author Shiloh Walker. She has a way of writing that gets to me, no matter if it's a paranormal, one of her erotic romances, or a suspenseful contemporary.
Way before I ever met her, I enjoyed her books, most notably the Hunters series. But the first book of her's I'd ever read was "Touch of Gypsy Fire". It was a poignant story in some ways, and right then and there I knew I'd come across an author who had a limitless imagination and a compelling way of telling a story.
What I like so much about them is that no matter what they are about, Shiloh always includes a huge dose of emotion in each story, so that you can "feel" some of what the character is going through, even if it's about something you have no experience with yourself. She can make me sympathize with someone who does horrible things, because that's how much she puts of herself into her writing. She doesn't write about cookie-cutter characters that are predictable and perfect; she tells the story of flawed, interesting, regular people, the kind we might even know in our own lives if we took the time to pay attention.
And if that weren't enough, she writes some smokin' hot lovin'. It's always a good idea to keep a fan or something cool nearby, because chances are when you're reading one of Shi's books, you're gonna get burned, in the best possible way. Damn that woman can write scorching scenes! I love how sometimes she writes such seemingly weak heroines who find their strength and their confidence through their sexuality. It doesn't define them, but it does empower them, and makes them realize their potential in a way other methods do not. They become stronger because they can not only ask for what they want, but oftentimes just take it. Most specifically I'm thinking of Alison from "Her Wildest Dreams". She was unhappy, and let others take advantage of her. But once she stopped pining for someone she thought didn't want her, and finally demand that she be respected, not just by men but by everyone in her life, things changed so much for her. The pivotal moment came after her first sexual encounter with Alex. Yeah it's pretty obvious by now I have a bit of a reader crush on Shiloh, but I've managed to maintain a level head within her presence, and she hasn't had to worry about an unstable fangirl going all pyscho on her *g* I try to behave in public. Don't want to get uninvited from Lori Foster's June event (or miss my chance to get an ARC...) So there you have it, this week's author spotlight. Thanx for letting me "squee" just a little. Have you read any of Shiloh's books? Are you a fan of emotional stories?
Labels: Shiloh Walker, spotlight
posted by Stacy~ at 12/22/2009 06:44:00 AM
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Monday, December 21, 2009:
Magic to the Bone by Devon Monk (2008) - quickie review
 "Using magic meant it used you back. Forget the fairy tale hocus-pocus, wave a wand and bling-o sparkles and pixie dust crap.Magic, like booze, sex, and drugs, gave as good as it got."
Everything has a cost. And every act of magic exacts a price from its user--maybe a two-day migraine, or losing the memory of your first kiss. But some people want to use magic without paying, and they offload the cost onto an innocent. When that happens, it falls to a Hound to identify the spell's caster--and Allison Beckstrom's the best there is. Daughter of a prominent Portland businessman, Allie would rather moonlight as a Hound than accept the family fortune--and the many strings that come with it. But when she discovers a little boy dying from a magical offload that has her father's signature all over it, Allie is thrown back into the high-stakes world of corporate espionage and black magic. Now, Allie's out for the truth--and the forces she finds herself calling on will overturn everything she knows, change her in ways she could never imagine...and make her capable of things that powerful people will do anything to control. One of my Twitter pals, Susi Sunshine, had recommended these books to me via her comments via GoodReads.com, and I admit, being in my Urban Fantasy phase, I was quite intrigued. I admit I'd not heard much of Devon Monk before, and I'm not sure why, but it doesn't fail to surprise me very much, as I tend to live in a bubble from time to time. Thank God for readers who care *g* Allie Beckstrom hails from a rich and influential family, but she turned her back on that to practice magic her way. Allie is good at finding magic trails, hence the her ability as a Hound. On the day of her 25th birthday, all set to enjoy a cup of coffee and forget her money woes for a short while, Allie is called to the establishment of Mama, a woman he's helped in the past. All set to decline the offer, Allie cannot ignore the frantic pleas of the woman asking for her help. Sighing in defeat, she makes her way to the bad part of the city, and discovers what has Mama so upset: one of her boys, only a small child, is unconscious, the cause being an Offload of magic; someone had used this boy as a conduit to perform illegal magic, and because magic always takes its price, now his life is threatened because of the amount of magic used. Allie is furious that anyone would deliberately harm a child, and even moreso when it becomes evident that the person whose signature she tracks belongs to her own father. Though she hasn't seen him in years, Allie has no reluctance about confronting him. Coming along for the ride is Zayvion Jones, a mysterious man who may or may not be working for her father. Allie doesn't know much about Zayvion, other than he's a fine-looking man and fairly new to the area. She's not sure she can trust him, but she feels a bit better knowing she's not going alone, especially when she's low on cash and doesn't relish the idea of walking all the way across town.
Allie comes face to face with her father after several years, and attacks him for harming a child. Yet he willingly submits to a truth spell, which he passes, and this development frustrates Allie. She knows he's guilty; how else could his signature be on all over that boy? After several angry words, Allie storms out, never to see her father again....
My thoughts: As much as I enjoyed the concept of the story, it was slow going for me in the beginning. Ms. Monk has quite a background here, and to develop it by showing the reader versus telling us took some time. But once it started moving for me, I as hooked. I loved the whole idea of paying a price for magic. Like anything, you couldn't just use it at will; you had to sacrifice for it, sometimes the pain could be excruciating, dependent upon the spell. This story was really fresh, and kept me wondering what was going to happen next.
Allie is a typical urban fantasy heroine: in good shape, tall and not too curvy, her looks more striking that beautiful. She didn't put a lot of stock in material things, tended to always be low on cash. She loved coffee and tended to fall into bed with guys on a whim. But of course the kicker is that she is "special". Otherwise, why would we want to read about her? Now please don't get me wrong, because I like Allie very much. She's real. She's loyal to her friends, and doesn't like to see those more vulnerable being hurt. She's proven she'd give her last dollar to help someone in need. She's flawed but someone you'd want as your friend. Magic has left Allie without a lot of her memories, and she's also lonely, and it explains some of her behavior. Being special isn't always a wonderful thing.
Zayvion Jones, the man Allie is so strongly drawn to, though she doesn't even know whose side he's on, is a bit of a mystery. He tends to be someone she can depend on, but to what end? What are his motives? As the novel progresses, it's evident he cares more for her than he's comfortable with, and when things go really bad, he doesn't handle it very well. But I have a feeling we've not seen the last of Mr. Jones.
So far there are two more books in the series, and I have both of them. I'm so glad I bought them all at once. Though reading "Magic To the Bone" was a bit exhausting, so I've moved onto something less intense. But I will be getting back to the series soon. I just can't wait to find out what happens next.
Rating: **** out of ***** Labels: Devon Monk, quickie reviews
posted by Stacy~ at 12/21/2009 06:52:00 AM
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Sunday, December 20, 2009:
Someone has Perfect Chemistry....
And that person is.....
throuthehaze! Random.org helped me select the winner:
17. throuthehaze
2. Beleth
1. Coistycat
10. Kati
5. Armenia
14. Liza
18. Orannia
6. Lea
4. Mandi
3. Emmanuelle
9. Calila1988
11. elaing8
15. joder
13. Estella
12. CrystalGB
7. Mollie
16. Lady Graeye
8. RKCharron
Throuthehaze, please send me your snail mail addy to: trelainastarblazer AT yahoo dot com and I will mail out your copy to you :) If I don't hear anything by Sunday, December 27th, another winner will be selected.
*As for the winners of my 2 previous holiday contests, I haven't forgotten about you! And I hope to get those mailed out this week*
I'll be having one last holiday contest of my favorite things. Thank you for stopping by, and happy holidays :) Labels: winner
posted by Stacy~ at 12/20/2009 03:44:00 PM
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Thursday, December 17, 2009:
One Foot in the Grave by Jeaniene Frost (2008) - review
 You can run from the grave, but you can't hide . . .
Half-vampire Cat Crawfield is now Special Agent Cat Crawfield, working for the government to rid the world of the rogue undead. She's still using everything Bones, her sexy and dangerous ex, taught her, but when Cat is targeted for assassination, the only man who can help her is the vampire she left behind.
Being around him awakens all her emotions, from the adrenaline kick of slaying vamps side by side to the reckless passion that consumed them. But a price on her head--wanted: dead or half-alive--means her survival depends on teaming up with Bones. And no matter how hard she tries to keep things professional between them, she'll find that desire lasts forever . . . and that Bones won't let her get away again.
This is the 2nd book in the outstanding Night Huntress series, and this installment is just as engaging and thrilling as the last (well if you count the infamous chapter 32, even moreso).
Cat has been away from Bones for four years now, adjusting to her new life and new identity. But as much as she would like to think so, she really hasn't moved on. Fighting the evil dead is something Cat is very, very good at, and she's hand-picked a tough group of fighters as her team, but at the end of the day, she goes home alone.
A recent murder, similar to a tragedy from her past, prompts Cat to return to Ohio, and once again she runs into her old lover, and in the most unexpected place. Old feelings and strong desire still burns strong between them, but the reasons she left in the first place still exist. She's not willing to sacrifice the man she loves just by staying with him again. Her new life and old one cannot blend smoothly, and it's just easier all the way around if she stays away from Bones, even if she's unhappy. It's a small price to pay for the safety of those she loves.
But Bones is persistent, and still very much in love with his willful Kitten. Now that he's found her, she's not going to get away so easily. It's up to him to show her they can stay together and work their the issues that were keeping them apart. And now that there is a price on his love's head, he's going to fight tooth and nail - and sire - to keep her with him forever.....
My thoughts:
Jeaniene Frost has done it again! Some of you might remember, if you read my review of the first Night Huntress book, that I didn't much care for Bones when we first met him. The whole fact that he was British and pompous and blond did absolutely nothing for me. Or so I thought. The cheeky devil won me over despite my initial protests. Now, in this installment of the series, I was concerned how I would react to the separation between Cat and Bones: after all, it's been 4 long years! That's an eternity, even to a vampire, to be apart from the person they love, and all kinds of shenanigans can happen during that time. But I shouldn't have worried. Ms. Frost brings us a bittersweet yet also funny reunion between these two stubborn but incredibly likable characters. I won't give it away, but suffice it to say that the where and how was quite fun, and right along with Cat, I knew I hadn't stopped loving Bones. He has a way about him that makes it very easy to overlook that he's a total pain in the ass on occasion. Worth putting up with for the rest of the time, especially chapter 32. Yes, you know I had to go there. One of the most delightful things about a paranormal romance is that there are barriers and boundaries that can be erased so much more easily than in a traditional romance. Here, in this infamous chapter, Bones gives Cat the night of passion she demands, and it is so incredibly hot that even now, a week later, I'm still shivering when I think about it. The man's got some seriously dangerous skills, and Cat was one lucky chica, no doubt about it. This is the stuff legends are made of. Whew! But there's a bunch of other stuff going on. For example, Cat's team has to come to terms with the fact that their leader is dating one of the undead. They're not so cool with that, and it causes tension in the ranks. In addition, they are dealing with the loss of one of their teammates from a fatal vampire attack, which makes Bones' presence even more unwanted. And if that weren't enough, someone has a serious jonesing to get rid of Cat permanently, and very nearly succeeds. As if Cat didn't have enough to deal with, there's just the teeny, tiny problem of her mom, who hates vampires with every fiber of her being, even though Cat is half vamp. Can you say dysfunctional? That pretty much covers Cat's relationship with her mother, yet Cat loves her, and is willing to put up with a lot to keep her mother safe. This book I think really sets the tone for the series. Cat is no longer than clumsy, naive, starving waif we meet in the first book. She's somebody now, and she's incredibly good at what she does. She grew up, developed some confidence (and a better wardrobe?) and we see her in charge of this unit of men that defer to her in all decisions. We also delve more into her family tree, which is quite interesting. We also deal with some of Bones' history as one of the undead, and the hierarchy within the vampire world, from his sire to other Master vampires, their laws so different from human ones. It's a fascinating culture, and it will be interesting to see how Cat, as part vampire, tries to blend these two sides of herself within both worlds. It should go without saying that I am ever so glad I have the 3rd book in the series, because while this one didn't quite end as a cliffhanger, there's still some loose threads that need to be addressed, and I'm thinking we're going to learn a lot in the next one. The more I learn, the more I want to know. And that's definitely a sign of an outstanding series.
Rating: ****1/2 out of *****
Labels: Jeaniene Frost, reviews
posted by Stacy~ at 12/17/2009 07:01:00 AM
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Wednesday, December 16, 2009:
Holiday contest #3: win a copy of "Perfect Chemistry" by Simone Elkeles
 A lot of readers are seriously into YA books these days, and after ages I finally picked this one up. As usual, I'm late to the party, but that's okay. Better late than never right?
So this book was a real treat. Jaded yet optimistic all at the same time, and the ending, well, that was worth it, let me tell ya. I did my review a few months back on it, and when I was thinking of holiday contests, and including some of my favorite things, well this book, Perfect Chemistry, was one of my favorite books of the year, not to mention a damn fine YA story. So this is my giveaway this week.
Per the Grinch (that would be me), same rules apply. Contest will run until noon CST on Friday, December 18th. All you have to do is answer the question. I ask that you don't include your email address. Once a winner is selected, it is their responsibility to contact me no later than a week from Friday, otherwise a new winner will be selected.
This week's contest question:
What clique, if any, did you fall into in high school:
Were you a jock, the homecoming queen, the class clown? Something else entirely?
Good luck :) Labels: contest
posted by Stacy~ at 12/16/2009 06:44:00 AM
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Tuesday, December 15, 2009:
Spotlight: T - Sherry Thomas
Like a lot of people, I'm pretty impressionable. So when word came out about this new author - Sherry Thomas - who wrote an amazing story with some rather unlikable characters, I admit I wanted to know more. That book was "Private Arrangements". I read it, and reviewed it. It was so different than a lot of books out there, and I was captivated right from the start. Some people did not like it, and gave very valid reasons why that was so, but for me, the story was a revelation. Here, the author took a gamble to write about characters we just might not enjoy reading about. But when you really think about it, that's what makes it so compelling. The truth is, in real life, most of us can be unlikable. We can be selfish and manipulative and rude and a whole bunch of other not so pure qualities. And while I like to keep my books, especially my romances, on a happy level, it's rather fun to read something that doesn't stick to the complete formula. Sure, we still have the HEA here, but it's for 2 people that might not make anyone else happy, but they sure do make each other happy. I then went on to read "Not Quite a Husband" quite some time later. It was a very good story, though I didn't like it quite as much as PA. However Ms. Thomas writes very absorbing dialogue and completely draws you in so completely that you feel you are standing right there, breathing in the same air as those you are reading about. I loved that Bryony is this amazing doctor, intelligent and poised, and Leo is the good-looking charismatic hero that falls incredibly in love with her, yet both their insecurities lead toward divorce. I find it fascinating how Sherry tells the "story behind the story". Now I want to see the movie that it was inspired by (careful - there are spoilers at Sherry's site). I have "Delicious" yet to read, and I know I need to find some quiet time where I can just recline and let myself be carried away by her words. It sounds so enticing, especially this time of year when it's natural to curl up with a good book after enjoying some mouth-watering holiday feasts. I must make time for this.... So what are your thoughts on the books of Sherry Thomas?
Labels: Sherry Thomas, spotlight
posted by Stacy~ at 12/15/2009 06:53:00 AM
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Monday, December 14, 2009:
 As some of you know, I just got back from a business trip to Tampa/St. Pete's. It was wonderful to get away from the midwest winter and just enjoy some decent weather in the middle of December.[This picture here is the view from my room. Not exactly on the beach, but very, very close]. One thing I've noticed as I've gotten older as I seem to be getting more claustrophobic. On the way down to Tampa it wasn't bad because I was sitting in an aisle seat, but coming back, I was in the window seat and I couldn't sit still. I wanted off the plane. I think I'm going to need to start taking something to put me to sleep so I don't have to worry about this in the future. I was traveling with coworkers so that made it much more fun than going by myself. Not being an especially social person, I find it hard to just strike up a conversation with the person sitting next to me. But going with people was awesome. We had a great time :)
 We tried to go out every night, though the first night we were wiped out. One evening we went to Patrick's Bayside Grill, where we all had incredible steaks. We sat outside and enjoyed the mild weather. The food was excellent, the service very attentive, but it took forever to get our food. That was the only drawback. Other than that, we relaxed and just felt glad to be somewhere warm for a change. I'm not a huge ice cream eater, but one stop we had to make was to this location, which I guess has been on the Food Network. Funny how we were the only ones there so early on a warm night. So that meant no waiting. I actually didn't have any ice cream, but the choices sounded pretty amazing. I almost regret it. Almost. But I knew that being so full from dinner I wouldn't have enjoyed it anyway. Another memorable place we went to, after we lounged in the hot tub for awhile, was a place called Mad Fish. The dinner was wonderful, but we really stopped to try the fried Twinkies and fried Snickers. Oh, yum! Definitely worth the experience. I loved fried foods (and it shows) so it was awesome that these questionable delicacies were just as outstanding as we'd hoped. For extra dessert, we had to have chocolate martinis, made especially by Linda at the Sirata Hotel. We thank her for the wonderful drinks and the company. It was a great trip all the way around. And yes, I actually did learn something while I was there, but the memorable moments were the conversation, food and drinks, not to mention that wonderful hot tub.
When you travel do you like to hit the hot spots?
What are some of your most memorable moments - dining, etc?
Labels: travel
posted by Stacy~ at 12/14/2009 07:05:00 AM
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Sunday, December 13, 2009:
Well folks, I'm back. Believe it or not, I missed blogging terribly. And it's good to be home, despite the midwest winter weather. So I'm a little caught up, and ready to announce some winners. First off is for the DVD "The Ugly Truth", a movie I really enjoyed. I had a blast reading the answers for the contest question - it was a lot of fun to see how daring and fun people can be, something I am so not LOL. I'm jealous because I haven't even gotten a copy of this movie yet, but tis the season of giving, so the DVD goes to..... DonnaS! Congrats! Donna please email me your snail mail addy to trelainastarblazer @ yahoo dot com You have one week from today - until Sunday, December 20th, to contact me, otherwise a new winner will be selected. ---------- Nxt up is the first book in Jeaniene Frost's Night Huntress series, "Halfway To The Grave". Some cool ideas for supernatural creatures. It's hard to choose, isn't it? And I'm surprised so many people haven't read about Bones yet! I thought I was one of a very few. I hope the winner enjoys him (and the book) as much I as did. Of course if the winner is a guy, then I hope you love Cat *g* And...the copy of the book goes to.... Julie! WTG! Same rule applies; please provide your snail mail addy to the email address provided above no later than a week from today, otherwise a new winner will be selected. The holiday contests aren't over, so I hope you'll stop by and see what else is going on in December :) Labels: winner
posted by Stacy~ at 12/13/2009 12:41:00 PM
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Thursday, December 10, 2009:
Let's hear it for the nice guy
Zachary Levi from "Chuck", who happens to be a really nice guy
Nice guys are great, aren't they? Now I'm not talking about the ones that let you walk all over them. Sure they're nice, but there's such a thing as too nice. I'm talking about the ones that are genuinely decent guys, who like to goof around and hang out with you and just be a good friend. I know a lot of nice guys (sadly, the good ones really are taken) and as I've gotten older I'm really starting to appreciate them.
Like when they do hold the door open for you. I love this. I'm a very independent person and I don't get hung up on that whole feminist thing, because when someone does something nice for me like that, I'm going to appreciate it instead of looking at it as men trying to take my right to open my own door away from me. I have a friend like this. She looks at this as a bad thing. I think she's crazy, because she's missing the whole point, in my opinion. I think someone holding the door open for you is a considerate gesture, one of respect, not of someone trying to make me feel inferior. Sometimes women are plain crazy. But. I digress. We're talking nice guys here. The ones who love their kids and buy you coffee and appreciate a good joke. The ones who surprise their wives on their birthday with a special gift, the ones who unabashedly love their dog, the ones who blush a little when you give them a compliment. The ones that are protective, the ones that appreciate you're a woman without being pigs, and the ones who have lots of friends because they are such nice guys.
I'm celebrating the nice guy today because I am lucky enough to know several, and think they are some of the greatest people around. In some cases, I envy their wives and girlfriends LOL. In others, I'm just glad they're a part of my day. So let's hear it for the nice guys, and all the reasons we love them.
Do you know a nice guy or two? What's so great about them?
Would you or have you dated a nice guy? Labels: hottie
posted by Stacy~ at 12/10/2009 07:25:00 AM
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Wednesday, December 09, 2009:
Holiday contest #2: win a copy of the 1st Night Huntress book in 2 of my favorite new series!
 Thanx to the many awesome bloggers and Twitter pals out there, I've discovered another new author who writes the most incredible paranormal series: Jeaniene Frost. I am completely in love with these books, and can't thank these guys enough for pimping it out.
So I'm going to return the favor this holiday season and spread the love. This week's holiday prize is a copy of the first in the Night Huntress series (which I just reviewed) called "Halfway to the Grave". Contest runs from today until noon CST on Sunday, December 13th. All are welcome to enter as long as you can receive mail. As always, please DO NOT LEAVE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS IN YOUR ANSWER. Winner is responsible for contacting me and has one week from the time announced, otherwise another winner will be selected. Winner must also answer the selected question in order to qualify: If you could be any supernatural creature (vampire, werewolf, fairy, witch, etc.) which would it be and why?
Good luck to you all, and cannot wait to hear which one you choose :)
Labels: contest
posted by Stacy~ at 12/09/2009 07:00:00 AM
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Tuesday, December 08, 2009:
Spotlight: S - Nalini Singh
 Picture by Ashwini Singh
Isn't Nalini Singh just adorable? I think so. And who would think she writes not just one but two incredible paranormal series that have readers panting for more.
I'm slowly swimming in the dark and dangerous waters of the paranormal world, mostly because for the longest time, I wasn't interested in reading about any other creature besides a vampire, and look at how long it took me to find them appealing (as mentioned in my Night Pleasures post). I'd read stories with werewolves before, but they didn't appeal much to me. I figured I was a once-creature kinda girl.
So when everyone started raving about these books involving leopards and panthers and wolves, well I couldn't care less. However after awhile I couldn't ignore the discussion any longer, and I was feeling left out and jealous that there were books out there that several of my reader friends adored that I hadn't read. I finally got my hands on "Slave to Sensation", especially cuz my pal Kati made me most curious about this alpha named Lucas. And wow, I was blown away.
So now I've read several of Nalini's Psy-Changeling books, and loved each and every one of them. Before too long, word spread about another series, this one about Archangels. I figured there's no way she can strike gold twice, right? Well, I would be proven incredibly wrong on that one. "Angel's Blood" is a fantastic read, imaginative and fearsome, and I'm trying to figure out which series I like best. But really, it doesn't even matter. Because Nalini has some sensational writing skills that are apparent in whatever she writes. So I'm going to savor both series, and hope to God that she has it in that limitless scope of a brain to wow us yet again with her magic. Rock on, Nalini.
Do you have a favorite Psy/Changeling hero? And what do you think of Raphael? Labels: Nalini Singh, spotlight
posted by Stacy~ at 12/08/2009 06:50:00 AM
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