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Friday, January 29, 2010:
Embrace the Night Eternal by Joss Ware (2010)
 Everything they knew is gone.
From the raging fires, five men emerge with extraordinary new powers. They must learn how to survive this dark, ravaged world . . . but they cannot do it alone.
Simon Japp will never forget his violent past. But when civilization is all but destroyed, he sees his chance for redemption. Blessed with a strange "gift," he's determined to help the resistance against the Strangers, the mysterious force that stalks them at every turn. He can't afford to get distracted, even by the stunning, soft-spoken woman fighting by his side . . . Sage Corrigan has learned to be careful where she places her trust. But she sees something good in Simon, even if he can't see it in himself. Posing as lovers to infiltrate a group key to their fight, they find that their staged affection soon develops into a desire that will leave them fighting for their lives in the night eternal . . .
This is book #2 in Joss Ware's Awakening Heroes series, and so far it's my favorite story. But I'll get into that in a bit. Let me give you some background.
Simon Japp is one of five men who were buried in a cave in Sedona, Arizona in 2010, only to reemerge 50 years later looking exactly the same. Only now some of them seem to have extraordinary abilities. The world that exists now is nothing like it was in the early 21st century. The luxuries and conveniences are all gone, and essentially people have had to start over from scratch. These five men, as well as several others, including two brothers who also survived the Change, believe it was the act of the Strangers that destroyed the world they remembered, and they are in search of the one man who may hold the key to what happened.
From the beginning, Simon has been drawn to smart and lovely Sage, a young woman with a gift for research and finding out information on their current version of the world wide web. But he's not the only one. Besides, considering his bloody and violent past, he knows he's not worthy of such a good woman, so he steers clear of her as best he can. However fate has other ideas when the man they are all looking for may be found in a nearby colony called Falling Creek. Sage is from FC, and because of the way the townspeople lives their lives, the best way to "settle" into FC is for Sage to return as a married woman. And of course the best man for the job is Simon.
Posing as a married couple proves to be more difficult than either originally thought, as they are constantly thrown into intimate situations. However because of Simon's unique gift, they are able to do some investigating of the compound and still manage to appear as if they are settling in to their new life in Falling Creek. But things get really complicated - and dangerous - when someone from Simon's past appears and decides they don't want to let Simon go....
My thoughts:
As I mentioned already, this is my favorite book in the series so far. I think there was a lot of world-building that needed to get done in the first book, so I wasn't quite as engaged by it, but this one seems to have found its footing, and I enjoyed it very much.
I like how we see more of the group interacting with each other this time, and make decisions together. Gives us a chance to visit with some of the other characters a bit. I loved how Simon saw past Sage's quiet nature to the brave, intelligent woman that she was, and didn't try to coddle her or treat her like a child. That didn't mean he didn't look for for her, because he did, but he also held himself back from overprotecting her. He found her completely beautiful in a natural, pure way, and yeah, I'm a sucker for a bad boy who falls for the brainy, sweet girl. Simon just didn't realize that she was feeling the exact same way, which makes the revelation that much more satisfying.
If I have any complaint, it's that because of the urgency to discover the truth and the day to day dangers they were facing, there wasn't a whole lot of Simon/Sage time. I did like that they had to pose as a married couple because the situation ensured they'd have to spend their nights (or afternoons) together. And sure, the sexual tension between them was kept as a constant enticing simmer, just waiting to boil over, but at the same time, I wanted more of just the two of them getting to know each other, preferrably nekkid but not required. Rather impossible in this kind of story, I'm afraid. But then again, I always want more of the hero and heroine together.
The landscape continues to capture my attention, considering the mass destruction and the "artifacts" that managed to survive after more than 50 years. There are still a lot of unanswered questions, which is part of what keeps me coming back for more. Just how are the Strangers living so long and what exactly happened to the five men in that cave? Why, what, where????
I'm most anxiously awaiting the 3rd book in the series, Abandon the Night, and hoping beyond all hope that there will be more stories to tell, because the more I get, the more I want. And Quent and Zoe have been really, REALLY hot together so far. I'm seriously hooked now, and am not ready to leave this world quite yet. Come on Joss, tell us there will be more books to enjoy!
Rating: ***** out of *****
Labels: Joss Ware
posted by Stacy~ at 1/29/2010 06:58:00 AM
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Thursday, January 28, 2010:
Cover alert: Veil of Shadows by Shiloh Walker
 Late 2010 release
Woo hoo! Labels: bookcovers, Shiloh Walker
posted by Stacy~ at 1/28/2010 07:36:00 AM
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What I'm watching (movie): Something the Lord Made (2004)
 Editorial Reviews (from Amazon)
Amazon.com
Something the Lord Made recounts the relationship between Dr. Alfred Blalock (Alan Rickman) and Vivian Thomas (Mos Def). It begins in 1930s Nashville when imperious cardiac surgeon Blalock hires Thomas, an African American carpenter, as his janitor. When the latter reveals a passion for medicine and facility with surgical instruments, Blalock promotes him to lab tech. Thomas isn't given a raise, works side jobs to make ends meet, and is expected to be grateful. Along the way, he follows Blalock from Vanderbilt to Johns Hopkins, where they save thousands of lives through their pioneering work, but will Thomas ever get any credit?
The film provides a satisfying answer to that question. Joseph Sargent (A Lesson Before Dying) directs with subtlety and intelligence, while Rickman and Mos Def are in top form, often underplaying where most actors would do otherwise. Something the Lord Made won the 2004 Emmy for outstanding made-for-TV movie. --Kathleen C. Fennessy
Product Description
(Drama) Something the Lord Made tells the emotional true story of two men who defied the rules of their time to launch a medical revolution, set against the backdrop of the Jim Crow south. Working in 1940s Baltimore on an unprecedented technique for performing heart surgery on "blue babies," Dr. Alfred Blalock (Alan Rickman) and lab technician Vivien Thomas (Mos Def) form an impressive team. As Blalock and Thomas invent a new field of medicine, saving thousands of lives in the process, social pressures threaten to undermine their collaboration and tear their friendship apart.
I cannot recall how this movie ended up in my Netflix queue, but not that I'm complaining that it did. In fact I enjoyed it very much. I am a fan of Alan Rickman and this movie did nothing to change that. There's just some...quality about him that makes it hard to look away from the screen when he's performing, even when he's portraying an evil character.
The premise of the movie is pretty self-explanatory, so I won't go into that. But I will say that I was impressed by by Alan Rickman and Mos Def in this film. As Dr. Blalock, Rickman was appropriately arrogant yet sympathetic at the same time. He had to have balls to believe in his abilities, but at the same time he truly cared about people, and was determined not to let any more babies die, not if he could do something to prevent it. Together with Vivien Thomas, wonderfully played by Mos Def, they do extensive research and tests to perfect their technique. Being the animal lover that I am, it's hard to consider that the two were using animals to do most of their tests. From a logical standpoint, especially considering the times and limitations back then, I can understand the necessity of it, but at the same time, it wasn't something that I could let myself think about too closely.
As you can imagine, it's difficult to watch a movie where African Americans are treated worse than second-class citizens. I cannot fathom how it must feel for someone to watch that and see how their parents or grandparents were treated for no other reason than the color of their skin. Vivien Thomas, as portrayed by Mos Def, was an intelligent, calm, determined man who loved working in medicine, and made some amazing discoveries during his time that he was not recognized for until much later in life, even though Dr. Blalock was commended for the research and procedures he perfected right along with Vivien by his side. It was many decades before he was acknowledged as one of the pioneers in bypass surgery. A bittersweet victory, some might say.
The movie is very powerful and moving, and really enjoyed the actor's performances and how they both stayed true to form. Dr. Blalock and Mr. Thomas were not best friends who hung out together outside of work. Instead they kept their interaction limited strictly to the laboratory and operating room. It was evident there was much respect between these two men who were dedicated to medicine, but also an awareness of their social differences. Dr. Blalock was not one to fight for human rights outside of the need for exemplary medical care. He was not concerned with Vivien's struggles, as long as they didn't affect the work, he was completely fine with ignoring the reality of Vivien's circumstances. Yet what they accomplished was quite amazing when you consider just how far medicine and science has come in the last 70+ years. Techniques and procedures that are common and frequent were not even around back in those days. Rather mind-boggling to think about, really. Something else to think about: when this film began, it was right around the start of the Great Depression, where opportunity was scarce if not non-existent for many people.
I would definitely recommend this movie if you're in the mood for a moving story based on true events and real people who changed the world. It's not a particularly light-hearted film, but it is uplifting and inspiring to watch. I am glad it ended up in my Netflix queue. Powerful stuff. Labels: movies
posted by Stacy~ at 1/28/2010 07:09:00 AM
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Wednesday, January 27, 2010:
Nice Girls Don't Have Fangs by Molly Harper (2009)
 Maybe it was the Shenanigans gift certificate that put her over the edge. When children's librarian and self-professed nice girl Jane Jameson is fired by her beastly boss and handed twenty-five dollars in potato skins instead of a severance check, she goes on a bender that's sure to become Half Moon Hollow legend. On her way home, she's mistaken for a deer, shot, and left for dead. And thanks to the mysterious stranger she met while chugging neon-colored cocktails, she wakes up with a decidedly unladylike thirst for blood.
Jane is now the latest recipient of a gift basket from the Newly Undead Welcoming Committee, and her life-after-lifestyle is taking some getting used to. Her recently deceased favorite aunt is now her ghostly roommate. She has to fake breathing and endure daytime hours to avoid coming out of the coffin to her family. She's forced to forgo her favorite down-home Southern cooking for bags of O negative. Her relationship with her sexy, mercurial vampire sire keeps running hot and cold. And if all that wasn't enough, it looks like someone in Half Moon Hollow is trying to frame her for a series of vampire murders. What's a nice undead girl to do?
Here is yet another of the books that Mandi of Smexy Books was talking about, and since I pretty much enjoy her recommendations, I went ahead and bought it, no questions asked. Since I love vampire books in pretty much all their various incarnations, I was all for reading about a former librarian who accidentally ends up dead, then is "saved" by a sexy mystery man named Gabriel.
Author Molly Harper has written an engaging first book in her Nice Girls series. Jane has issues with just about everything. First off, she loses a job she loves to someone completely incompetent. Then her mother wonders why she's not married yet and her perfect sister covets the house she inherited. Her best friend Zeb is a lovable dork who nevertheless tries to stab her when he discovers she's now a vampire. Her house is haunted by her beloved Aunt Jettie. She can't eat real food. And oh yeah, someone's trying to ruin her life.
My thoughts:
I initially started out really enthusiastic about this book. It was fun, and I could imagine Jane getting into all kinds of crazy scrapes because of her unfamiliarity with vampirism. She was attracted to her sire, Gabriel, but then there was this weird kinda sexual vibe she had going on with his nemesis Dick, a perverted vampire if there ever was one. Her family drove her crazy, but that was nothing new. However the added complication of her newly changed status set her up for some wonderfully amusing situations. I was really enjoying the ride.
Somewhere after the first half of the book though, I found my attention wandering. It's like things were happening, but I was waiting for something more...significant. Something interesting. I think what it was is that too much was going on for me to focus. Jane is feeling her way around the vampire protocol while dodging her family and trying to look for a job. She's attracted to her sire but there's just not enough sexual tension between them to get me excited. I'm much more intrigued, and yes repulsed (though in a good way), by Dick, but he comes across as a major man-ho. Zeb is distracted by a girl and is not there as much for his best friend. Jane needs to find a job. Now a vampire has died and Jane's been accused of his death, and other vampires are shunning Jane because of it. Lots of drama.
So bottom line is, I didn't hate this book, I just felt it needed more direction. Too many things happening that it took me a week to finally concentrate enough to finish it. And yes, as it was eluded to on Twitter, Gabriel does something that can be considered rather unforgivable. He may be a vampire, but he crossed a line of morality that is going to be extremely difficult to come back from, and Jane's almost immediate reaction baffled and disappointed me. It was actually rather disturbing.
That being said, I'm still intrigued enough by some of the characters and story possibilities to want to continue reading the other 2 books, which I already have in my tbr pile. So while I would recommend the book, I would like to advise that there's a lot going on, and your head might be spinning trying to keep up with everything. Of course, that very well could just be me.
Rating: ***1/2 out of ***** Labels: Molly Harper, reviews
posted by Stacy~ at 1/27/2010 07:24:00 AM
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Tuesday, January 26, 2010:
January 26th eBook release alert: No Prince Charming by Shiloh Walker
 Her Happy-Ever-After has been a long time coming…
Elle spent years trying to get over her so-called Prince Charming, and she’s finally getting the hang of it. A Grimm—a guardian angel with unique gifts—she spends her nights trolling for demons and kicking ass, and lately, her days have been spent with her on-and-off-again lover, Ren, a fellow Grimm. But fate has other plans in store for Elle, plans that include Michael, the prince from her youth who broke her heart.
“What do you choose…live for her? Or would you rather die?” That was the choice Michael was given all those years ago. Although he knew she’d never forgive him, when Michael was given the chance to become a Grimm, he took it. Still, he isn’t so sure Elle needs him in her life. With a lover at her side and a mission before her, Elle looks like she’s doing just fine without him.
But the not-so-charming prince isn’t going to back off that easily…not if there’s a chance she might need him again. He’d do anything to save her. Kill for her, live for her, die for her…
Warning: This dark, twisted version of Cinderella involves demons, deceit, desire, and debauchery between a princess and two sexy guardian angels, both determined to win the fair Cinderella.
You can buy it here:
All these years, he had been waiting for a second chance. All these years, he had waited for her.
Waited—because he’d been told that she would need him. He’d held onto that, because he loved her, because he wanted to believe she would one day forgive him, one day love him again, one day need him.
And now, here she was…so lovely, so beautiful and strong. So out of reach.
He’d been a delusional fool.
She leaned against her lover and smiled at him. A golden brow arched and she said, “What’s the matter, prince? Cat got your tongue?”
He skimmed his gaze over her once more, wishing he could move in and touch. Wishing he could take and taste. Instead, he tucked his hands into his pockets and inclined his head. “Just trying to understand your choice of clothing.”
“Oh, well, now. I can help there.” Elle gave him a devilish smile and leaned in, her voice a low, silken purr. “It’s a sex club. I’m trying to blend.”
Michael didn’t think Elle could ever blend. No matter what she did.
She was close…so close. Closing his eyes, he took a slow, careful breath, flooding his senses with her scent, reveling in the warmth he felt radiating from her.
But then she pulled back. Gone. Her eyes stared at his and she had a blank, bored expression on her face. “So now that you know why I’m pretending to be S&M Barbie, why don’t you get out of here?”
“I can’t.” Inclining his head, he said, “I was sent here. Told to find you, help you.”
“Help me?” She shrugged. “Sorry, Michael, I’ve already got help.” She inclined her head towards her companion and asked, “Ren, have you met Michael?”
“No.” A cold smile curled Ren’s lips and he stroked his jaw. “I don’t believe I’ve had the pleasure. Although I’ve heard of you. Quite a bit, actually. But, as you can see, help is already taken care of. Run along now…go crawl back under a rock or something.”
Michael bared his teeth in a grim smile. “I’ll go on along when I’m damn good and ready…what was the name again…Ren?”
The other man opened his mouth to respond and Michael looked away, dismissing him. “He sent me, Elle. You’re stuck with me.”
Elle’s lashes lowered, shielding her blue eyes from him.
But he didn’t need to see her eyes to feel her anger, feel her confusion.
She hid it behind a cool smile just a few seconds later. “I suspected as much. Damn, apparently I went and pissed somebody off but bad, if I got stuck with you.”
Michael managed to hide his wince, but just barely. “I’ll be sure to let him know you didn’t appreciate my presence.”
She didn’t need to ask which him he was talking about—it could only be Will. He was the only one who ever sent them anyway. All orders came through him. For the most part, those who served under Will’s lead didn’t have to follow orders—they knew their responsibilities and they did their jobs.
But every once in a while there came a special case.
Michael didn’t know what was special about this particular job, but if there was a chance in hell that Elle might actually need him, then he’d walk through fire to help her.
And if that meant he’d have to stand by at the side while another man pawed her, so fucking be it. He’d be insane when the job was done, but if she might need him, he didn’t give a damn.
If he was honest, he’d have to admit he’d walk through fire just to see her smile. Burns healed. Doing something that would actually put a real smile on her face? It would be worth a little pain.
Now go forth and buy! Labels: Shiloh Walker
posted by Stacy~ at 1/26/2010 06:50:00 AM
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Monday, January 25, 2010:
Booksigning: Chloe Neill in Wisconsin
 In case you haven't been around my blog here in the last week or so, I had finally decided to attend the Chloe Neill signing in Wisconsin this past weekend. Once I figured out where it was, it was only about a 45-minute drive from home, so despite the icky weather, I was determined to go.
In fact, I ended up attending both signings, and met some really cool people there too. That's one of the fun things about attending these events.
The first signing, at the Barnes & Noble in Racine, was already in progress by the time I got there. Yes, I had gotten there about an hour early, but I went to go eat and got to the store right at 1pm.
Chloe spent some time talking, then took questions. I love this part, and even felt comfortable enough to ask a question of my own: what type of music did she listen to while writing the Chicago vampires (Nine Inch Nails, and she also watched a lot of Bones & NCIS). She then signed books and chatted with us. Very informal, and we learned that she has not been invited to Chicago by any of the bookstores. Gasp! Well that is something I plan on working on. Another fan, who lives not to far from me, is intending to contact our local Barnes & Noble to set up a signing here. I think that should be mandatory!  Originally I hadn't intended to go to the 2nd booksigning in Greenfield, but then I found out from the store that it was only about 20 miles away and very easy to get to, so of course I decided it would be worth it. I headed over to the mall, and since I had time, grabbed something to eat and scoped out the nearby Borders. Then I headed over to the B&N, where the setting was a little more intimate, and it was even more fun because we got to sit down and chat and just enjoy spending time as a group. Krista, the one who lives not to far away, is another fan, and she gave me some great recs.
We also learned more about Chloe and the series that I didn't know about, such as: * Chloe Neill is a pen name. * Ethan was inspired by David Beckham. Catcher by Paul Walker (yum). And Chloe had Zoey Deschanel in mind for Merit, as well as Jill Flint from the USA Network show "Royal Pains" * She listened to "Alone" off the Glee soundtrack, like, A LOT, as well as the song "Possiblity" from the New Moon soundtrack and the band Muse. She mentioned Imogen Heap as well. * She's read and enjoyed the books of Sherrilyn Kenyon, J.R. Ward and Kim Harrison * Chloe also reads a lot of travel logs and nonfiction by A. J. Jacobs * She raves about writer Neil Gaiman * Chloe chose Chicago for her vampire series because New York, L.A. and New Orleans have been done before, and Chicago has a rich and dark history * She has 3 books under contract so far for her Dark Elite series (and we hope for more) * Never say never, but chances are she might not write a stand-alone book. She really likes the character development of a series. * ...and last but not least, we did not get ANY good gossip on Merit or Ethan! Bummer!  But hey I'm not complaining (much) because I got the chance to meet a favorite new author, and I got my books signed. I also bought the first 2 in the Chicagoland Vampire series that I also had signed and need to figure out what kind of contest I'm going to have. Hmmm.... Now for those of you who would love to meet Chloe and want her to come to your hometown, one thing that might be helpful is to contact your local bookstore(s) and request that they invite her in for a signing. I know she's very receptive to the idea, so give it a try. Let them know you'd love to have a favorite author come to their store. Really, it's so easy, and it's a win/win situation: the reader gets to meet a fun and interesting person, the writer gets their name out there and sells some books, and the booksellers are making a profit without really having to spend much money to promote said author. And if the booksellers are savvy, they've figured out that readers, especially romance readers, buy in bulk. It's very unlikely that we stop at one (see previous post about my 16-book shopping spree!  Some exciting news: Chloe Neill night be coming back to the area in July, when the 3rd Chicagoland Vampire book is released! I've already marked it down on my calendar to attend. And just maybe she'll have a signing in the Windy City! So far Chloe doesn't have any plans to attend the conferences throughout the year, but I'm hoping she'll consider attending the Lori Foster/Dianne Castell gathering in June. Definitely an inexpensive and fun way to interact with readers and other authors. We'll see just how persuasive I can be *g* I apologize for the poor quality of the pictures. I used my phone, which doesn't take the best pictures but it's quick and easy and fun to play with and allowed me to take notes and Google some of what Chloe was talking about. I've bookmarked some new tunes and websites to check out, based on some of her comments. A huge "thank you" to Chloe for doing the signing so close to where I live, and it was a pleasure to listen to her talk about books and answer our questions. It makes me even more impatient for the next book! Any booksignings in your future? Labels: booksignings, Chloe Neill
posted by Stacy~ at 1/25/2010 07:25:00 AM
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Saturday, January 23, 2010:
Thanx for the recs & a Chloe Neill booksigning
First off, thank YOU for all the amazing recs for the hot 'n sexy m/m romance stories I was looking for. For those who don't know, "The Assignment" by Evangeline Anderson was my first m/m romance, and it set the tone for the type of stories that appealed to me the most, specifically the heterosexual angle. It's not that I don't appreciate or want to read about two gay men falling in love, because I have read some wonderful stories along those lines and enjoyed them very much, it's just that at this particular time, I wanted the more forbidden aspect. Yes you've discovered one of my dirty girl secrets *g* 
In about an hour or so, I'll be heading up north - Racine, Wisconsin to be specific - for the Chloe Neill booksigning. I'm soooo excited! I don't know if anyone else is going, but I'd love to meet you if you are :) A HUGE shout-out to Mandi from Smexy Books for having talked up Chloe's books and having her as a guest at the Smexy blog. Mandi is among one of my most favorite book pimps, and I appreciate how she brings us the latest and greatest. I may not love the Killers like she does (I'm more a Nickelback kinda girl) but that doesn't mean she doesn't have fabulous taste in books *g*
I'll do my best to take and perhaps tweet pictures, and if I learn any good dirt, I'll post it here. Enjoy your day, lovelies :)
What's on your agenda today? Labels: booksignings, Chloe Neill
posted by Stacy~ at 1/23/2010 08:57:00 AM
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Thursday, January 21, 2010:
Give me some m/m love (recs)
 Who doesn't love a good romance? The majority of what I read consists of that simple formula, which was formerly known as boy meets girl, boy and girl have issues, boy and girl work on issues and fall in love. Now, it's not so much boy meets girl. It could very well be boy meets boy.
Ah yes, boys. Who knew reading about two hot, sexy, masculine men getting all nekkid and being dirty together could be so much fun? Not me, at least not for a long time. I definitely believe in love, and what that means between two people, regardless of the combination, and a significant part of the enjoyment is the hot lovin' between them, and I've always been drawn to very earthy, alpha guys in my romances. So to read about TWO alpha men is even better ;) There's just something so thrilling about the raw, agressive nature of two guys acting out their sexual fantasies together. Whew, turn on the a/c! Even in the middle of frigid winter, a scorching m/m romance can send you up in flames. My absolute favorite kind of m/m romance is the kind where it's two heterosexual men who fall in lust, then eventually love. There's just something so wickedly sexy about the forbidden feelings for each other, the longing and the need to be with someone so strongly yet not really knowing if they feel the same way. And that moment when one or both lose control...whoa. Now that is what I'm talking about! *g* I haven't read a lot of m/m romance, mostly because the majority of it is in ebook format, but I've read 5-10 books in the last year. Today I'm looking for suggestions, especially for those stories with my favorite theme, again, that would be two heterosexual men who can't resist each other. Just for clarification, I have read "My Fair Captain", and thanx to several Twitter pals, have added "Faith & Fidelity" to my list, as well as "Grey's Awakening". Give me some man love recommendations: Which m/m romances float your boat? Labels: alpha males, m/m, romances
posted by Stacy~ at 1/21/2010 07:05:00 AM
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Wednesday, January 20, 2010:
Sinful Surrender by Beverley Kendall (2010)
 Millicent “Missy” Armstrong is entering her fourth London Season, but not for lack of suitors. Since her debut three years ago, Missy has received twenty marriage proposals. But she is interested in only one man—her brother’s best friend, James Rutherford. As a child, Missy looked up to James. As a grown up, her admiration has blossomed into the longings of a beautiful, sensuous woman—and she won’t rest until James admits his love—and desire—for her… James Rutherford rues the day he let his physical weaknesses get the better of him by kissing Missy. His best friend has made it clear that Missy is off limits, and though he’s avoided her for three years, he hasn’t forgotten the feel of her soft lips pressed against his—and it seems neither has she. For no matter how much James tries to discourage Missy, he keeps winding up in her arms, sharing heated caresses that promise the most delirious pleasure...
I first heard about Beverley Kendall from awesome blogger and passionate romance advocate Barbara of Happily Forever After, and when I read the premise, I just knew I had to get this book. So without reading any reviews, I bought it. "Sinful Surrender" is a book that really got me riled up as I read it. Don't get me wrong when I say that, because I did like the book, but the author definitely pushed my buttons with this one. First off, Missy is head over heels in love with James, has been for years, and makes no secret of it. And no matter how he treats her, she continues to love him, convinced despite her despair that deep down he loves her too. Then you have James, who, truth be told, could be an utter bastard to Missy. He's reluctantly attracted to her, but knows that he won't marry her, so instead of being civil and dealing with his attraction, he's abrasive and rude, and when he cannot manage to avoid her in public, he makes sure to escort a clingy, experienced young widow to whichever event both he and Missy attend, announcing without words that this is the type of woman he prefers to spend time with. Part of the reason he behaves this way is that he's the best friend of Missy's brother Thomas, and Thomas has made it perfectly clear that James is not good enough for his sister. He won't have her miserably married to a man who will scorn her love by keeping an endless parade of mistresses. So while he considers James to be like a brother, he knows him too well to ever consider him as a suitable match for Missy. And James cannot argue with Thomas' logic. He doesn't wish to marry, nor does he believe in love, and Missy is not the type of young woman to engage in a scandalous affair with, so he treats her shabbily. But despite all this, Missy and James manage to end up in a situation where they can't keep their hands off each other. Missy is young and inexperienced, and drowning in her love for James, while he is overcome with the most insane lust he's ever experienced, and eventually they reach the point of no return. But just when it seems like Missy may get her wish and end up with the man she loves, fate throws them a nasty curveball that James just didn't see coming... I'm not going to elaborate on that because I don't wish to spoil the plot, and I really despise it when other reviewers do that, but there are moments when I wanted to smack not only James, but one of the secondary characters who is responsible for that previously mentioned curveball. The thing is, despite the fact that there were several moments when I questioned Missy's judgment in continuing to pine for James, I sincerely liked her. I wanted her to have her HEA as much as she did, and when it appeared that fate had other ideas (even though yeah this is a romance and their ending was pretty much a given), I sympathized with her. She deserved better. However I had to give her credit for making James squirm. She'd reached her breaking point and wasn't going to let James win her so easily in the end. That only made me like her more, because she was not only realizing that she was worthy of better, she wanted James to know she knew it too. She valued herself more now, and had been hurt enough, and she wasn't going to let James take her for granted. Maybe if he hurt just a little, he'd know what he had been putting her through for years. There are probably several reasons I should hate this book, but I didn't. I ran the gamut of emotions as I turned the pages, and there were times my blood boiled, but in the end, it was well worth it. I can honestly say this is a story that's not easily forgotten, and that even now, I'm writing this about a week after I'd finished reading it, and I'm still going back to parts of the story, reliving them. I cared for these characters, even when at times I didn't like them very much, and to be, that is the sign of a successful reading experience. Good news is that Thomas' & ....his love's story is all set for January 2011. I for one cannot wait for Thomas to get his, just as James did. Ain't love grand???? Rating: ****1/2 out of *****
Labels: Beverley Kendall, reviews
posted by Stacy~ at 1/20/2010 06:54:00 AM
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Tuesday, January 19, 2010:
Quickie Reviews: Love You To Death (2009) & Stand-In Groom (1997)
 Delicate, expressive hands...long, graceful legs...One man is looking for his perfect woman--and he'll stop at nothing until he finds her.
LOVE YOU TO DEATH
It's been days since reporter Elise McBride has heard from her sister, Ashley. She's convinced Ashley has met with some kind of foul play, especially when she learns that bodies of other missing women have surfaced in and around Chicago--all victims of a brutal serial killer. Convinced her sister is still alive, Elise vows to risk everything to save her... The last thing ex-cop Trent Brady needs is more blood on his hands. Yet when he catches Elise breaking into her sister's house, full of reckless determination and fear, he knows she needs his help. But just as desire ignites between them, a twisted madman sets his sights on Elise. Hell-bent on possessing her for himself, this psychopath won't rest until he has his perfect woman.
A friend of mine had sent me this book some time ago, partially because it was set in Chicago, and probably also because it was a romantic suspense novel. This is my first book by Shannon K. Butcher, and I enjoyed it well enough to want to read more by this author.
This book was sufficiently creepy, as the villain is obsessed with creating the perfect woman, in the most gruesome of ways. I won't give away any of the details, but ewww. I liked Elise a lot, though she becomes what many would consider to be TSTL, however, when you put yourself in her place, as a woman who loves her sister and wants to protect her, I had to admit that were I her, I could see myself doing some of the same things. So that's what I did. Everytime Elise did something that made me want to smack her, I thought of what she must be going through, and it made sense.
Trent is suffering through his own nightmares as a man who made one mistake that ruined his career forever. Or so he thinks. The only person blaming him is Trent, and he cannot get past his guilt. But working with Elise to help her find her sister slowly brings him back to life, and he ends up falling in love with this gutsy, passionate, frustrating woman. Elise never believed in love until she met Trent, and he became someone she could depend on, for real. He put his own life on the line to protect her. Together they try to beat the odds and find Ashley before it's too late.
Rating: **** out of *****
 With a rare blend of humor, erotic tension, and dead-on emotional truth, "New York Times" bestselling author Suzanne Brockmann weaves this delightful romance of a man and woman brought together by chance, bound by choice, and in trouble deeper than they realize. Like a knight in a fairy tale, he appeared from out of nowhere and rescued her at the last moment. Now, sizing up the man who'd saved her purse and driven off her attackers, aspiring Boston entrepreneur Chelsea Spencer considered that this good-looking stranger could fit another role--not to mention a tuxedo--equally well. By the end of the week, Chelsea was scheduled to get married as a condition for earning the inheritance necessary to save her fledgling business. There was only one problem: She was short a groom. Johnny Anziano would have been satisfied with a date, but the woman he'd dashed in to save during a street mugging had proposed much more than that. For two weeks' "work," he'd earn $75,000 and a luxurious tropical island vacation. By saying a simple, meaningless "I do," he could save Chelsea one more time. But this time they were facing something a lot more dangerous than a gang of street thugs--their attraction for each other.
This is another of Suzanne Brockmann's older romances I hadn't read, and ended up picking this one up in the grocery store one day. Not quite as intense as "Kiss and Tell", it's still an engaging, sweet and sexy romance that develops between two strangers.
Johnny is one of those guys I would personally love to know in real life: gorgeous, a genuinely nice guy who knows how to cook. He falls hard for Chelsea, but she's not having it, mostly because she doesn't believe in relationships. Chelsea is likable but not big on compromise, at least not initially. Her only examples of marriage have been in her affluent family, and each time it's the woman who has to give something up in the relationship. Chelsea does not want to live her life dependent upon a man, no matter how sexy and wonderful he is. She just needs Johnny around long enough so she can claim her inheritance and get her business off the ground. Only he has other ideas....
Rating: **** out of ***** Labels: Brockmann, quickie reviews, Shannon K. Butcher
posted by Stacy~ at 1/19/2010 07:37:00 AM
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Saturday, January 16, 2010:
Ready for the weekend....
 Well, I know you guys are going to miss me while I'm away, LOL, so hence the weekend blog post. As you read this, I'll be in Arizona with about 70 of my coworkers taking part in a team-building experience. Yes, that's how I like to spend my 3-day weekends. But hey, it's Arizona in January, so really, it's not the worst thing in the world.
Lets' see, what's a-happenin'? Well (hanging head in shame) I still haven't sent out the prizes for my anniversary contest. I'm so awful, and can offer no legitimate excuses. But I can promise it will be done before the end of the month. Just a lot going on right now and my energy level in winter is near nil.
Reading: nothing. No slump for me, just haven't selected my next book yet. This weekend there will be little or no reading time, and I am already stressing out from early withdrawal.
Listening to: Orianthi's "According to You". Yes I'm totally mainstream, and this is a catchy little ditty, but not in an annoying way. Earworm: Tick Tock. Hate it so much I love it.
Watching: covered that already. Brothers & Sisters, and have 2 more episodes of Season 4 of Supernatural. Heard rumors about Sam/Dean (Jared/Jensen) as in togethertogether. Hmmm, what a M/M romance that would make.....
Contemplating: driving up to Wisconsin next weekend to see Chloe Neill in Wisconsin. It's not far, but I got stuff going on, so I might not be able to swing it. However she might not make it any closer to Chicago, and I'll be sincerely bummed if I miss out.
Dying for: Nickelback tickets! They are back in town this May, and I HAVE to go, I just have to!
Drinking: Starbucks coffee...and it's growing on me. Not a fan of the diesel fuel, but the regular coffee maker at work is broken and all that's left is Starbucks, so I gave in and indulged. After two weeks, I think it's finally working its magic. Now if I had a choice I'd still rather drink regular, cheap coffee, but the Starbucks isn't bad. Just too damn expensive.
Praying for: those in Haiti, as well as their families across the world. Such devastation, it just breaks my heart. Those images are just horrifying, and I cannot imagine going through that. So grateful for my blessings. But what does make me feel good is my employer is matching donations up to $25,000!
Enjoy your weekend, and I'll be seeing you again real soon..... :)
Labels: ramblings
posted by Stacy~ at 1/16/2010 09:28:00 AM
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Friday, January 15, 2010:
What I'm watching: Brothers & Sisters
 ABC's drama BROTHERS & SISTERS is centered on the lives of the Walkers, a Californian family who seemingly lead idyllic lives--until the death of patriarch William Walker (Tom Skerritt) unearths some unpleasant truths. The aftermath of William's death resonates throughout the first season, as his wife, Nora (Sally Field), comes to terms with the revelation of her husband's infidelity.
Their five children, gay lawyer Kevin (Matthew Rhys), Justin (Dave Annable), Sarah (Rachel Griffiths), Kitty (Calista Flockhart), and businessman Tommy (Balthazar Getty) also struggle with increasingly strained relationships and the running of the family business, Ojai Foods.
This is another show that was recommended to me in 2009, and my Netflix queue has finally gotten to season 1. I'd seen brief snippets on t.v. over the years, but never sat down and watched it for long. Now I'm starting from scratch. It's part family show, part mystery. The show focuses around the Walker family, as well as the financial struggles their family business, Ojai Foods, is going through. The family is trying to figure out why the company is in trouble, and it's lead them in some pretty painful directions. What I like: (there may be spoilers)
the tight bond of the Walker family. No matter what's going on, they are always there for each other, through losing William, to Paige's diabetes, through Tommy's inability to have children, they support each other and drop everything to be there for their family.
Kevin & Scotty. I understand from Kati that Kevin can be a real bitch, and I'm waiting for that, but for now, I'm enjoying the sweet relationship he's developing with Scotty. It's rather romantic, watching these two, and yes, they even kiss.
The sparring between Kitty & Warren. Not a huge Calista Flockhart fan, but I do like watching her argue with Josh Hopkins. I know he's not sticking around (i.e. Rob Lowe comes on the scene) but for now it's fun. Much more interesting than watching her and Johnathan together, though the phone sex scene was pretty funny.
Justin's difficult adjustment to life after being at war. It's hard to watch at times, especially when they showed the 9/11 coverage, but it's also something I know a lot of soldiers are continuing to deal with everyday. I think it was a smart move to show Justin trying to deal with being home, holding down a job, having nightmares and turning to drugs and alcohol to make him forget. It's heartbreaking, but very important. I can't wait to see what happens with him over the next few seasons.
The cast of women. Wow, how refreshing to see women with curves, and wrinkles, who don't always look perfect, but who can attract some hot men. I love that they are not all blonde, skinny, 22-year-old's flitting around in skintight outfits.
What I don't like:
Nora Walker so far gets on my nerves. I guess that's a testament to Sally Fields' acting becuase I do like her, just not her character.
Tommy. Okay, I admit, this is more because Balthazar Getty cheated on his wife in real life with that skanky what's-her-name, so everytime I see him, that's what I'm imagining instead of paying attention to Tommy. His character is really not horrible, though the way he treats Justin at times is maddening.
Other than that, I have no other complaints, but then again so far I've only watched 8 episodes of the show so far. And I'm liking it. I know a little about what's ahead so I'm curious to know how we get there, and to find out what happens to Ojai Foods.
Do you watch B & S?
If so, favorite character? Labels: television
posted by Stacy~ at 1/15/2010 07:06:00 AM
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Thursday, January 14, 2010:
Lessons From a Scarlet Lady by Emma Wildes (2010)
 No real lady should take lessons from a scarlet woman...or should she?The Duke of Rolthven's new wife, Brianna Northfield, is well-bred, demure, polite - everything a young bride should be. So what would society say if they saw her with a copy of "Lady Rothburg's Advice"--a courtesan's lessons for the boudoir? her very proper husband certainly wouln't approve, but he is far too busy with his ducal duties to pay her much attention. Though if Brianna has her way, that's about to change...
When his beautiful, innocent young wife suddenly becomes a vixen in the bedroom, Colton Northfield is taken by surprise. He wants her now - at the opera, in his carriage, and even during tea at their country estate - but he can't help being alarmed by her seductive powers. Where the devil did she learn such tricks?
Soon, Brianna's scandalous campaign is taking off in ways she never could have imagined...Following a courtesan's advice is bound to lead to trouble-but will it lead to her ultimate desire: winning her husband's love? Though not as erotic as first believed, I really enjoyed Emma Wildes' An Indecent Proposition. So when I heard she had a second book come out in December, I was eager to scoop it right up. Besides, the premise of the story sounded perfectly naughty, and when am I ever not in the mood for something naughty? Hardly ever. My thoughts: This book started out well, with Brianna determined to seduce her reserved husband by wearing some suggestive clothing at the opera. It works, as he's barely able to keep his hands off of her and they end up getting busy in the carriage. Colton is befuddled by his bold wife, and the erotic things she does to him. I thought she gradually eased into her role as brazen temptress, and it was fun to watch Colton lose his ever present control. It was fun for awhile, and then I got a little bored with their story. Everything seemed to be going well, yetere was no conflict. But that was okay because there was a secondary storyline with Brianna's dear friend Rebecca and the man she's in love with, so I was highly entertained by their romantic dance. Then Brianna gets pregnant and because of all the naughty things his wife has been doing to him when they're alone, he suddenly becomes suspicious, and perhaps rightfully so. He had no idea where she was learning some of these erotic bedroom tricks, and his first and foremost idea is that she has another lover. Now that suspicion has set in, it changes the dynamic of their marriage, yet because Colton is so reserved and tends to keep to himself, she has no idea what he's thinking. I apologize for the brief review, because I really did like this book, I just can't think of much to say about it. It's an enjoyable historical, albeit predictable. But I find that there's nothing wrong with that, because I know exactly what I'm getting, and sometimes that's all I need in a book; the comfort of knowing what you're getting and sitting back and enjoying the experience. I would say that some of the love scenes are more erotic than you see in some romances (i.e. Brianna ties Colton to the bed) but nothing shocking. I thought the scenes made sense with the lessons in the book, and weren't out of context. After all, Brianna was determined to keep her husband from straying, so she was a little inventive in her methods. So this book gave me luke-warm feelings, yet as I mentioned, there's nothing wrong with that. It's like having a bit of a crush on a cute guy, but not that overwhelming infatuation. So it's good, and sweet and makes me happy, but doesn't consume my every waking thought. An enjoyable historical for a chilly weekend. I would definitely read her next book :) Rating: **** out of *****
Labels: Emma Wildes, reviews
posted by Stacy~ at 1/14/2010 06:43:00 AM
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Wednesday, January 13, 2010:
 I didn't want to have a negative cloud over the blog today, so I decided to share this cutie with ya ;) Wish I could see more of him in this picture. If anyone has any other pictures, please feel free to share. I would love to add to my collection. He fits the description of many of my favorite romance heroes: good-looking without being too pretty, dark hair and eyes, sexy mouth, a bit scruffy.
Who do you picture when you read your books? A movie star? Rock star? Husband or boyfriend? Someone made up in your head? Labels: hottie
posted by Stacy~ at 1/13/2010 11:52:00 AM
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Recommendations? Yes! Pressure? NO!
 When I play online, there are several forums I tend to participate in. I have a sadly neglected MySpace page, a Facebook page that is nearly as abandoned at times, Twitter, GoodReads, blogs, and a variety of other networking places. Some I visit on a regular basis, while others get periodic attention. Half the time I delete Facebook or GoodReads recommendations without much thought unless it's from someone I know or from a source I keep an eye out for. I do try to give new authors a chance as well as support long-time favorites. But lately however I've started to get really irritated because I noticed that some of the recommendations are from repeat offenders. As in constant, persistent recommendations.
Now I know that new writers are out there trying to capture an audience for their books. I cannot blame them for that. Not only are they following their dream, but the majority of them most likely depend on this income to support themselves and perhaps a family. I respect that. However few things aggravate me more than people trying to shove something down your throat (not a word outta you, Katiebabs! *g* ) ; be it politics, musical taste, or purchasing a book. What some people need to realize is that they are not making friends or fans. Instead they run the risk of repelling people, instead of attracting them. Now I know some of my Facebook "friends" are there strictly for the networking, and I accept that. But please, please, PLEASE stop recommending your book to me every 5 minutes! If I ignore your recommendations more than once, it's because chances are, I'm not going to read it. If you keep sending me recommendations, I'm DEFINITELY not going to read it. And I might be tempted to unfriend you. Kinda defeats the purpose and the result is a lot of wasted effort, now isn't it?
This may sound harsh, but in light of some of the things we've been seeing online in recent months, not so much. I've been just as drawn to some of these trainwrecks as the next person, where an author verbally attacks someone from giving negative reviews, and my first and last reaction: back away from the author and stay far, far away from their books. People can say that an author's behavior shouldn't have anything to do with it, but let's face it, it does. I'm more apt to read the book of someone I like and respect than those of someone I don't. And I know I'm not the only one. Sure there are exceptions, but not many. I'm not always able to separate my emotions so easily, so I can't promise that I can objectively read a book by an author who's been an asshat. So if I don't like someone, or don't respect someone, there book will be end up in my hands.
But back to the topic at hand. Overzealous authors. I've also been hearing talk of these new authors dissing fan favorites and trying to draw readers to their books instead, even going as far as to pretend to be a fan of said author. Oh hell no, you totally lost me right there. Masquerading as a "fan" of yourself is not only silly and immature, but chances are, you will be found out. It's pretty difficult to remain anonymous anymore. And the fall-out is so not worth it. I don't see the notoriety being your path to fame and fortune, and certainly not to build a fan base.
So please, if you're a new author out there, take it from a reader who's been around awhile and who tries not to cause drama: think about how you'd like to build your audience. Show, don't tell. Let word of mouth speak for itself. One suggestion might be to ask if someone would mind reading your book instead of saying "here you go, you are going to LOVE this more than any book you've ever read!" Because that last thing? Well, that never happens. Cool people don't have to tell you're they're cool, they just are. That's what makes them cool.
Stepping off the soapbox now..... Just curious: do you read books recommended to you by authors on Facebook & Goodreads? Why or why not? Labels: reading
posted by Stacy~ at 1/13/2010 07:16:00 AM
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Tuesday, January 12, 2010:
Her Secret Fling by Sarah Mayberry (2010)
 Jake Stevens--star reporter and celebrated literary genius--is a snake. How else to explain the way he turns Poppy Birmingham's hero worship into loathing with a single conversation? So what if she's got a lot to learn about journalism? Aren't they coworkers now? On the same team? Jake can take his attitude and...
Then during a job-related road trip, their relationship goes from antagonistic to hedonistic in no time flat. And suddenly Poppy can't think of anything more delicious than having a secret fling with Jake. But with all this intensity, can she really keep it no-strings-attached?
So, this was not my first Sarah Mayberry book. But it had been so long since I'd read a Blaze, and when recent Twitter talk turned to Ms. Mayberry's books, I was curious. And when I saw it at the store, it immediately went into my cart. Well let's just say that my fellow readers know of what they speak. Poppy Birmingham is now starting a new career as a sports journalist after an injury forces her to retire from swimming. On her first day at the newspaper, Poppy is nervous but also excited to be meeting Jake Stevens, the writer of one of her favorite books. But the experience is considerably less than stellar when Jake sneers and basically lets it be known he's not too impressed that a former sports star is now one of his writing colleagues. After all, not having attended journalism school nor has any experience, what makes her qualified to work for the paper? Soon Poppy's hero worship turns to disgust. Obviously Jake is a misogynistic jerk with an oversized ego. Who needs him? When the two attend a sporting event for the paper, they are reluctantly thrown together to make their way back home. As they spend time together, they both discover a similar sense of humor...and a blazing attraction between them that initially neither wishes to act on. But after a bit too much wine and a sensual challenge is issued, it soon becomes impossible NOT to give in. Jake gives Poppy a night she'll never forget, and one that rather surprises him, much to his chagrin. But it's just a one-night stand, nothing to get all worked up over. Right?
My thoughts:
Well, I get it. I get why readers love her books and then tweet about it. For a category romance, it's really very, very good stuff. Ms. Mayberry writes an emotional story, and you know how I just can't resist that in my books. She also writes an incredibly hot love scene. Whoa! Nothing shocking or over-the-top, just a very basic, sexy, blunt scenario that makes some of the erotic romances I've read seem boring by comparison. Poppy was one lucky woman. Speaking of Poppy, I was relieved beyond belief that she wasn't a whiny, weepy doormat of a heroine. Instead of slinking into a corner when Jake made jeering comments to her, she let him have it and showed him she wasn't intimidated by his status as a star reporter. She stood up to him and even if it didn't change his opinion of her, at least she could hold her head up high and not let him get away with treating her so badly. I really liked that about her. As for Jake, yes he definitely came across as a jerk, though in his defense, I could understand where he was coming from, even if I didn't agree with his methods. But once he got the taste of Poppy's rebuttals, he soon began to gain some respect for her. And wow, is he ever up for the blatant challenge Poppy issues to him one evening at dinner. Let's just say I bet being proven wrong by a man was never more satisfying. While on the road, Poppy experiences a tragedy and Jake does his best to be there without giving Poppy the wrong impression. He's not looking for a relationship so he knows that if he gets too close, he runs the risk of giving her the wrong idea. Poppy on the other hand is determined to keep things casual between them, especially considering they have to work together. Their actions were completely believable, and it took awhle for both Poppy and Jake to come to terms with their growing feelings. It didn't just jump from casual to committed in a matter of hours. They both had issues they needed to work through before they were able to move forward. The conclusion was very satisfying, and the book made me realize how much I've enjoyed category romance in the past. Sometimes even these quick reads can really hit the spot and satisfy a reading craving. This book does exactly that. I think I'll be looking out for Ms. Mayberry's backlist. Rating: ****1/2 out of *****
Labels: reviews, Sarah Mayberry
posted by Stacy~ at 1/12/2010 06:40:00 AM
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Monday, January 11, 2010:
Laid Bare by Lauren Dane (2009)
 Unexpected Desire…
It’s been ten years since clean-cut, sexy-as-hell police officer Todd Keenan had a white-hot fling with Erin Brown, the provocative, wild rocker chick next door. Their power exchange in the bedroom got under his skin. But love wasn’t in the cards just yet…
Now, life has thrown the pair back together. But picking up where they left off is tough, in light of a painful event from Erin’s past. As Todd struggles to earn her trust, their relationship takes an unexpected and exciting turn when Todd’s best friend, Ben, ends up in their bed—and all three are quite satisfied in this relationship without a name. As the passion they share transforms Erin, will it be enough to help her face the evil she thought she had left behind?
Despite being a huge fan of erotic romance, and other than reading "Taking Care of Business" (with Megan Hart), I had not read anything by Lauren Dane before. What a travesty, I know. But recently I've heard a gazillion amazing things about her book Laid Bare, so during my recent Borders shopping spree, I made sure to pick it up (along with Coming Undone). And it won my "which book should I read" question from a few days ago, so that's what I read. Oh man, ever so glad I did. My thoughts:
I'm just going to jump in straight to my review and state that I really loved this book on so many levels. Not only did I admire Erin right from the start for being unapologetic about who she was and what she deserved, I also respected her for surviving a horrific tragedy that could have emotionally crippled her. Erin was an amazingly brave, loving, gifted woman who'd lost so much, but refused to let it damage her beyond repair. Rarely do you come across such a strong woman in books, women who don't always defer to their men to make them happy. She wasn't a selfish or unforgiving woman, just one who accepted herself and her sexuality and expected to be cherished by those she loves. I thought it was an interesting choice to have Todd leave her in the beginning, because despite how he believed he was raised, he came from a very loving, supportive family. However it was a journey he had to take, and finally realize that what he thought he wanted wasn't what he needed, or what made him happy. It took a broken marriage and a serious accident to finally make him realize what he'd been denying all along. Once he came to terms with that, he felt free to pursue what was missing from his life. His decision brought him home to Seattle and to the woman he knew he loved, even back then. I want to give Ms. Dane major props for writing a story about the kind of Dom/sub relationship I can finally understand and accept. It's made clear that both Erin and Todd are not into humiliation or to have Erin being treated as a "thing" instead of a person. Their's is a very cherishing relationship, extremely loving and sexy and special. The things Erin allowed Todd to do to her were all things she enjoyed, and craved, just as Todd desired to give them to her. There wasn't a moment during their bedroom exchanges that I ever felt uncomfortable or creeped out by what was going on. It was about pleasure, sometimes a little pain but nothing that made me squirm in a disgusted way. I also liked that there wasn't withholding of pleasure for Erin either. There wasn't any "you must walk outside naked except for this collar and get the paper in plain view of the neighborhood pervert then maybe when you come back I'll give you an orgasm" type of scene, which always irritates me. I totally loved that about Erin and Todd together. It broke my heart at times too, this story. Erin was still dealing with the aftermath of a gut-wrenchingly, painful event in her life, and there was a part of her that would always be in pain, would always be broken. Just because some time had passed didn't mean Erin had gotten past it. She was still suffering, but she was a survivor, determined to live and fight. She had an incredible support system in her two brothers, which I adored seeing. A lot of times you read about broken families, but while Erin and her brothers had lost their parents when they were young, they still had each other, and her brothers Adrian and Brody were a strong support system for her. It was sweet how close they were to each other, and how they didn't shy away from expressing their love to one another. Laid Bare is one of those stories that will stay with you for a long time because it engages your emotions so completely that it's hard to let go. But it's a beautiful story, one with real, flawed, sometimes scared characters who are just trying to find that connection with someone who "gets" them, accepts and loves them regardless. There's not much I can think of that bothered me about this book, except for the incredibly small details that don't make a bit of difference. Such as the smoking. Completely silly, I know, but that always puts me off, no matter why the reason. I've been around enough smokers, including my mother, to know that it's never attractive or sexy. I don't mean to offend or make anyone feel bad, it's just one of my huge pet peeves. And I know you're probably rolling your eyes at me for something so trite. I don't blame you. But obviously this little occurrence does not detract from the rest of the story. I'm so glad I already have Coming Undone so I can re-visit these characters again, though I may hold off for a little while and just let myself absorb and savor the experience of Laid Bare. My favorite book of 2010. Rating: ***** out of ***** Labels: Lauren Dane, reviews
posted by Stacy~ at 1/11/2010 07:08:00 AM
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Sunday, January 10, 2010:
Contest update & some upcoming reader/writer events
The 2010 Reader and Author Get Together
June 4th – 6th, 2010
Cincinnati Marriott North at Union Centre, West Chester Ohio
Registration will open on Lori’s site in January 2010 – so check back then! I hope to see you there this year. I'm so looking forward to another fun event. I already know a few people won't be attending (Kati! *sob*) but I hope many of you will be able to. June sounds pretty good right about now. ***** Just to clarify about my blog anniversary contest: there were only 4 winners: PJ, Maureen, Liza and maered. Someone thought because their name was on the list that they were a winner, but what I did was include all the names that posted who wanted to be entered in the contest. I hope that clears up any confusion, and I apologize if anyone else thought the same. Oh, and just in case anyone was wondering, I do make my contests available to anyone who can receive mail, and out of these 4 winners, 1 of them was actually from another country, so yes, I practice what I preach LOL. To the winners: prizes have not gone out yet, but I hope to work on that this week. I have a business trip coming up so I've been a bit busy. But I promise you will not be forgotten. ****
My pal Dani told me about this event, and I'm really looking forward to attending! If anyone else is in the Chicagoland area and plan to attend, I'll love to meet you!
 SPRING FLING
WRITERS' CONFERENCE April 23 - 24, 2010 Deerfield, IL Saturday, April 24, 2010 4:30 - 6:00 pm Open to the Public
Meet your favorite authors and get copies of their latest releases! Here's the current list of wonderful authors who'll be in attendance: CHERRY ADAIR LAURA MOORE
MARILYN BRANT ANNEMARIE ORTEGA
LAURIE BROWN JENNA PETERSEN
LYDIA DARE JULIA QUINN
BLYTHE GIFFORD ABIGAIL REYNOLDS
ELIZABETH HOYT ERICA RIDLEY
JULIE JAMES DEBRA ST. JOHN
MARGOT JUSTES JAN SCARBROUGH
BETH KERY JUNE SPROAT
JADE LEE ANGIE STANTON
LINDSAY LONGFORD JENNIFER STEVENSON
ANN MACELA KAY STOCKHAM
MYRNA MACKENZIE KIMBERLY SULLIVAN
KELLY MAHER MARGARET WATSON
MORGAN MANDEL
What's going on in your world? Labels: Chicago Spring Fling, get-together, ramblings
posted by Stacy~ at 1/10/2010 07:32:00 AM
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Friday, January 08, 2010:
Beyond the Night by Joss Ware (2010)
 A man with no future . . .
When Dr. Elliott Drake wakes from a mysterious fifty-year sleep, the world as he knew it is gone. Cities are now desolate, and civilization is controlled by deadly immortals. Stranger still is Elliott's extraordinary new "gift"--he has the power to heal, but it comes with fatal consequences.
A woman with a past . . .
Jade barely escaped the immortals and is now hell-bent on revenge. She trusts no one . . . until Elliott. His piercing gaze and tempting touch shatter her defenses, but the handsome doctor seems to have dangerous secrets of his own. Is it safe to trust him with her heart?
If they are to survive in this dark new world, Jade and Elliott must work together to fight the forces that take them beyond danger.
Beyond desire. I somehow managed to score an ARC of this book (it magically appeared in my mailbox) and I was jumping for joy. Thanx to Kati, I became a huge fan of Colleen Gleason's Gardella series, so when I heard (probably from Kati *g*) that she was going to be writing a new series under a new name, Joss Ware, I had to know more. This book is sufficiently grim and creepy in the sense that the world essentially "ended" 50 years ago and what's left is nothing but mass destruction and perhaps a few thousand people. There are no movie theatres, no iPhones (sob!), or Starbucks. The cities have crumbled, and what's left over are rundown hotels, rusted and useless vehicles, and the bare essentials. Most of the people living were not around at the time of "the Change", so they don't know what life was like back in 2010. But Lou Waxnicki knows, and so does Dr. Elliott Drake, who along with some of his buddies are the few remaining survivors. In the six months since they've woken from their Rip Van Winkle nap, these men have tried coming to terms with no longer having the modern conveniences and carefree lifestyles they once knew. Even Elliott, as a doctor, doesn't have access to the medical supplies and equipment that was such an integral part of his profession. Things are different now. One night the men come across a group of teenagers who are being attacked by gangas, or zombies. They are flesh-eating creatures who only come out at night, who moan incoherently and reek something awful. Though not very coordinated and unable to climb without the benefit of stairs, they are also massive creatures with glowing orange eyes and sharp teeth and claws, and they crave human flesh like nobody's business. The only way to kill a ganga is to destroy their brains. (Braaaaiiiinnnssss!) Just thinking about these smelly, vile creatures is enough to give me nightmares. Anyway, during the attack, Elliott and the men encounter Jade, a beautiful woman who comes riding in on a horse to save the day. After the attack, Elliott realizes she's been injured, and he attends to her wounds, only to discover his gift of healing has some serious side effects. Elliott and the other guys, along with the rescued teens, make their way back to Envy, where a community of humans now make their home in a broken-down Las Vegas hotel. Elliott learns about the Strangers, a group of immortals who seek to control the humans, and more about the mysterious gangas. The humans are secretly trying to find a way to defeat the Strangers, and use covert technology and the skills of two of the original survivors to carry out their plan. Working together with Jade and this misfit group of rebels, Elliott begins to realize that this is now his life, and it's incredibly overwhelming. He tries to deal with the reprecussions of his gift, and his growing feelings for a secretive woman who seems to have every man falling at her feet, and manage not to get killed in the process.... My thoughts: This book sorta reminded me of the movie 2012, when the world turns against itself and starts self-destructing. Only in this instance, the destruction was not the result of Mother Nature, but by a deadly group of immortals who have definite plans for the humans. Some modern conveniences still exist, and I found it amusing at all the references to the pop culture of 2010 or earlier. There are no new CD's from current rock bands anymore, no DVD's. It was rather depressing to think about that. But the people who survived and who were born after the Change didn't have any choice. This is what their world was now, and they had to come to terms with it, which I think they did admirably well, especially the guys who'd been "sleeping" for fifty years. It also reminded me of the Resident Evil movies too, because of the gangas. These creatures are controlled by the immortals, and they are many, monstrous, and constantly craving the flesh of humans. Their one weakness, other than dying by destroying their brains, seems to be bright light, so they only come out at night. I think zombies are the creepiest of creatures, and definitely not sexy at all, so this would definitely top the list as one of my nightmares. I don't watch "Lost", nor have I see "I Am Legend" but I'm sure the premise was inspired by the t.v. show & movie (yes, actually after visiting Joss' website I see that it is) but this series is different enough you don't feel like you're reading an exact take of either of those two storylines. I liked Elliott and Jade very much, and it was completely believable that these two people would fall in love with each other in only a matter of days. Life is different now, harder to hold onto, so everything is more intense, more focused. The little things that held people back don't exist anymore. The chances of surviving in this brave, new world are not as high, especially now that Elliott has used his gift several times and the danger becomes greater everytime. I felt sad at the loss of the "old" world. I cannot imagine living without the modern conveniences of today, and it must have been unbearable for Elliott and his buddies to wake up to such destruction and waste, their loved ones gone, their security vanished. I am dying to know more about how the other characters have dealt with these abrupt and jarring changes since they awoke, and I hope Ms. Ware will address it in future books, especially since there are more characters I want to find out about. I remember seeing a brief review about this series stating that they (the reviewer) weren't sure there was enough of a backstory to continue the series. However I don't see it that way at all. There are still so many unanswered questions I have; about Elliott's abilities, about Lou Waxnicki and his brother Theo, about all that happened 50 years ago and in between. So if you like stories set in a post-apocalyptic world and loved the Gardella series, then you definitely have to read these books! I was on the edge of my seat reading this book, because Ms. Ware doesn't not shrink away from those difficult decisions. This world is not cushy and safe, and sometimes innocent people get hurt. There's not always a knight in shining armor charging in just in time to save the day. The book is not overly violent, but it doesn't shy away from it, which is extremely believable within the frame of the story, and I can appreciate that. The one complaint that immediately comes to mind is that I wish there would have been more "on air" time with Preston, because he was a true villain and though we get an idea of what he's capable of, it would have been a little edgier to have him make more of an appearance. Other than that, this book kept me interested right from page one, and the more I discovered, the more I wanted to know. I'm completely hooked. And if that weren't reason enough to love it, Ms. Ware manages to throw in a few wildly sexy scenes to satisfy the romance lover in us all. And they totally fit in with what's happening in that story at that given time No sexxin' while the gangas are chasing after them. Smart characters, are Elliott and Jade. Gotta love that. Rating: ****1/2 out of *****
Labels: Joss Ware, reviews
posted by Stacy~ at 1/08/2010 07:26:00 AM
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