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Friday, October 29, 2010:
 Kylie Brant was kind enough to offer up a copy of the 4th book in her Mindhunters series "Deadly Intent" as a prize. I'm doing things a little different this time around, so you must respond to the question Kylie asked in her previous post (comments turned off here). Contest will end noon CST on Monday, November 1st. Good luck! Labels: blog contests, Kylie Brant posted by Stacy~ at 10/29/2010 07:23:00 AM
Thursday, October 28, 2010:
 I'd like to welcome back to the blog author Kylie Brant, whose 4th book in the Mindhunters series is out November 2nd. Kylie was here just about a year ago talking about the release of the first 3 books in the series, and now she's back to bring us the next installment in this riveting series. I'm really excited about having her back at the blog, as she's one smart cookie with a taste for blood. Okay, not really, but that sounded deliciously creepy. And speaking of which, Kylie is here to talk about......REDRUM. Everything I Know about Murder I Learned from Writing Oh, that sounds ever so much more ominous than it is :) Because despite my research, I'd be the worst homicidal maniac in the world. Too lazy, for one thing. Can't you hire that sort of work out? I don't even clean my own house, LOL. Plus, despite years of weight strengthening I'm the weakest person in the world. I can barely lift my (fairly stocky) two-year-old grandson. I'm definitely not up to wrestling an unsuspecting victim to the ground to enact murder. I've got a bad back. And neck. Not to mention the carpal tunnel that would make wielding a knife troublesome. My deadliest trait might be my innate ability to drive people crazy, but in my defense, for some it's an exceedingly short trip :) But it's amazing the tidbits a writer runs across in the course of research. Need a body defleshed and don't happen to have a vat of acid handy? Get yourself a body sized plexiglass case and fill it with dermestid beetles before putting the corpse inside. (Although if you have the time, isolated space and a large amount of lime, you could always dig a shallow grave and top it with lime.) Wondering how long a severed thumb will keep? Three days, give or take in a cold environment. I'm told one can keep it in a baggy on ice. And in case you've ever entertained the burning question of when the best time is to commit murder, you might be interested to know that a body will bleed out quickest first thing in the morning, upon rising because the body is still warm from the bed. And what sort of person finds these pieces of trivia fascinating? Well, um...me. But purely from a writing standpoint, I assure you! Given that I come from a fairly ordinary background, I need to do a great deal of research to write some of my plots. Luckily, with the Internet that sort of research is made easier. It especially simplifies finding the experts I need to answer my questions regarding specific plot elements. I've gotten assistance from hostage negotiators, police detectives, private investigators, state police directors, criminal lab managers, forensic anthropologists and a forensic linguist, to name a few. Although I think I have a vivid imagination, it's amazing some of the ideas I get from some of them :) To my knowledge, I've never actually spoken to anyone with first hand knowledge of committing murder My most recent bout of fascination is with the area of forensic linguistics. As a writer I'm intrigued by words and their nuances anyway. So an occupation that involves doing threat assessments (how likely is it that the author will carry through on the threats?) and author analysis of ransom notes currently tops of my list of If Only I'd Known These Jobs Existed.... All these random bits of knowledge come in handy when cooking up my plots and for entertaining (if unappetizing) dinner conversation. And who knows? Maybe some day I'll be offered a gig riding along with homicide cops, ala the TV show Castle! Whether writing suspense, contemporary or historical, authors often have intriguing bits of trivia in their books. No one knows the patterns and nuances of communication like forensic linguist Macy Reid. She is also an expert on kidnapping, having experienced firsthand the stark terror of being abducted when she was a child. So she is the perfect investigator to be called in when a Denver tycoon's eleven-year-old daughter is abducted—for the second time. The biggest stumbling block for Macy may be a member of her own team: Kellan Burke, the wisecracking, rule-breaking investigator who relishes getting under Macy's skin. Their styles couldn't be more different; the attraction between them more explosive. And when it becomes apparent that Macy can't solve the case without confronting the demons from her past, Kell is just the man to take her there—and back. Labels: guest blogger, Kylie Brant posted by Stacy~ at 10/28/2010 07:32:00 AM
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Wednesday, October 27, 2010:
 A lot of people have read and posted about that extremely rude, insensitive and cruel article Marie Claire had posted yesterday, and as a woman, I don't blame them. The romance community is a very passionate, empowered, vocal group, and they tend to speak out against injustice and unfair treatment. One of myriad reasons why I love it so. What really bothers me about crap like that being published is that it's just not about weight anymore. It becomes a bigger issue. A person's weight is just one of the most noticable things about a person, but then the critical eye starts zeroeing in on other "problem" areas: the blemishes, the wrinkles, the crooked teeth. And much like weight, not all of this flaws are so easy to fix. I have problem skin, and I've tried many different ways to "fix" it, but my skin chemistry changes, so what worked last month doesn't necessarily prove to be as effective today. If I had the money, there's lots of areas I would improve upon. But then where does it stop? I had written a post months back about Heidi Montag and plastic surgery, and this post is very similar. I bring it up because I look at some of the women in the media today - the Kardashians and Paris Hilton, for example. They don't really seem to have any talent other than they come from rich families and they've all been on reality tv shows. And some people may consider them beautiful, but I find them boring. [I just watched the episode of "Supernatural" where Paris makes an appearance, and she freaked me out because she's like a human Barbie doll, and that made me skeert. The devil's got nothing on her.] But the point is that they all look incredibly plastic, they worry about things that I can't relate to, they live a lifestyle I will never know, and yet this is who represents "real" women? I don't think so. But because of what the media forces feeds us, these are the examples we're given. Imagine being a 12-year-old girl or even a 19-year-old girl seeing this on television and in magazines, and what that does to their self esteem. We aspire to be 110 pounds with blinding white teeth, shiny hair, fake boobs, and the personality of lint. But why? This may not be the best example, considering some of her antics, but before Star Jones went crazy, I actually admired her because she was a smart, sassy woman with very definite opinions. I didn't always agree with her, but I liked what she represented. She took pride in how she looked, and I thought she was a wonderful example of a strong, successful, beautiful woman. She was rather heavy, and yes, I understood that for health reasons, she was trying to lose weight. Then she went and met some guy, starting losing weight (due to surgery), and basically went nuts. Soon after she ended up leaving "The View". And after losing all that weight, I don't think she was all that attractive. And mainly, it was her personality that suffered the most. Yes it's true that we are attracted - or not attracted - to a person's looks. I can't lie about that. You know how I stare at Jensen Ackles' lips while I watch "Supernatural", and that I think Gerard Butler is hot even though he's still a man ho. But in real life, the majority of the guys I've been attracted to and dated have not been gorgeous. And some of my friends have even questioned my taste on occasion. But it was their sarcastic humor or their ability to take a joke around that I fell for. The fact that they loved animals. Little things that mattered to me. Guys are nowhere as concerned with their own looks as much as we are. The bastards. So why can't women be a bit easier on themselves and not nitpic so much? Why are their magazines writing about fat people like they are the scourge of the earth? Why can't I appreciate my size 12 & 5'5" frame more, admire my green eyes, small wrists and hands instead of see the cankles, the blemishes, the crooked teeth? Why can't I be relieved that I am in my late 30's and I don't have to dye my hair? Why do I think I need to have a new nose and bigger boobs and a smaller butt to be happy? So yeah, thank you Marie Claire again for trying to make women feel ugly not for just being fat, but for every imperfection we possess and even those we imagine we have. But gues what - you are WRONG. The women that I know out in the romance community are amazing - funny, smart, spirited, fearless, strong, brave, independent, silly, weird, kind, unique, and beautiful. So don't be thinking you can take that away from them. You just made yourself look like an ass. #MarieClaireFAIL.
posted by Stacy~ at 10/27/2010 07:59:00 AM
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Monday, October 25, 2010:
 Maddie Moore's whole life needs a makeover. In one fell swoop, Maddie loses her boyfriend (her decision) and her job (so "not "her decision). But rather than drowning her sorrows in bags of potato chips, Maddie leaves L.A. to claim the inheritance left by her free-spirited mother-a ramshackle inn nestled in the little coastal town of Lucky Harbor, Washington. Starting over won't be easy. Yet Maddie sees the potential for a new home and a new career-if only she can convince her two half-sisters to join her in the adventure. But convincing Tara and Chloe will be difficult because the inn needs a big makeover too. The contractor Maddie hires is a tall, dark-haired hottie whose eyes-and mouth-are making it hard for her to remember that she's sworn off men. Even harder will be Maddie's struggles to overcome the past, though she's about to discover that there's no better place to call home than Lucky Harbor. I loved Jill's book so much (quite possibly my favorite JS book to date), I decided that some lucky reader who hasn't read it yet should get the opportunity to do so. Just answer my question no later than noon CST on Sunday, October 31st, and you are entered to win. It's just that simple! Open to anyone who can receive mail :) What are your favorite hero names? Good luck! Labels: contest, Jill Shalvis posted by Stacy~ at 10/25/2010 06:55:00 AM
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Friday, October 22, 2010:
 17. Julie Julie, please email me your snail mail addy or, if you prefer, I can send it to your email, but I have no way to contact you. You will have until Friday, October 29th to contact me or I will have to choose another winner. I can be reached at trelainastarblazer AT yahoo DOT com Thank you ALL for participating in my birthday bash. It was another fun year, and I loved all the responses and birthday wishes. You guys really made it special, and I appreciate it :) Have a great weekend!
Labels: winner posted by Stacy~ at 10/22/2010 07:09:00 AM
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Thursday, October 21, 2010:
 Angie is yet another friend I've "met" on Twitter, and she's a fun, crazy person that's fun to tweet with. So of course I had to invite her to be a guest! Feel free to tell us about yourself: name, background, etc. Are you a reader/blogger/writer? jaymzangel aka Angie avid reader, lazy blogger =D Do you have a blog? What is the name/link and how would you describe your blog? A bitch, a blog & a bookshelf. sadly I'm a lazy blogger, I can't do it religiously so I pretty much do it when I feel like it. which is typical of me =P What book(s) are you currently reading? Would you recommend it? I'm currently reading To Taste Temptation by Elizabeth Hoyt, bought her other series because I loved Wicked Intentions so much. Previously, I read Personal Research by Cari Quinn & rereading Bound to Please, Mark St Crow = YUMMY What is your most anticipated soon to be released book? Shadowfever by Karen Marie Moning, hands down. I am both incredibly excited & sadder than hell that the series will be ending. I'm looking forward to the spinoff books though. hoping for Dani/Ryodan. *fingers crossed*  What's playing nonstop on your iPod rotation right now? Christina Aguilera's Bionic CD, Misery by Maroon 5, Why Wait by Rascal Flatts, Bleed by Hot Chelle Rae & I Love the Way You Lie by Eminem & Rhianna I'm a Twitter & tumblr junkie, also Goodreads & Amazon What are some of your favorite things: beverage? food? t.v. show? fave beverage ~ Jack & Coke, non-alcoholic beverage ~ milk, fave food ~ Maryland crab cakes, TV show ~ True Blood  Which hottie out there is to die for? oh goodness, there are SO many I'd jump on but my #1 is Alexander Skarsgård. I heart him crazy. Favorite restaurant? I love Carrabbas, their food is fabulous & their pomegranate martinis are to die for. What would people be surprised to learn about you? I never sing where other people can hear me because I sound so bad doing it =P Thank you Angie, for being my guest today, and sharing a little bit about yourself. I think Shadowfever has to be my most anticipated book as well. And dayum, I want a personal library like this - my idea of heaven :) Labels: online friends, spotlight posted by Stacy~ at 10/21/2010 07:23:00 AM
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 13. Stephanie D. Congrats Stephanie! I will email you since you selected 2 different charities that you are involved in so you can pick which one I should make the donation to. Let me tell you, this post really left me feeling pretty good. It's nice to do a little something for a cause in need of help. Thank you all for commenting and naming a charity near and dear to your heart. Love you guys and your generous hearts :) 21. Modokker Labels: winner posted by Stacy~ at 10/21/2010 06:55:00 AM
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Wednesday, October 20, 2010:
 "Sold." With one word, Lady Elena Ravenscliffe's destiny changes forever. Forced into Constantinople's slave market to pay off her late husband's debts and save her son, Elena reinvents herself as Jinan--a harem girl adored by the rich lords who bid on her favors. But one man instantly sees through her facade. Griffin Summerfield, Marquess of Rothburn, let Elena slip through his fingers years ago. When he recognizes her on the auction block, he pays an outrageous sum to possess her even if it is for a short period of time. But when his deadline looms, Griffin will risk all in a desperate bid to make her his--and his alone... I was fortunate enough on Twitter to win a copy of this book, the debut historical by author Tiffany Clare, and I was very excited by that because I had read a really fabulous review of this book at The Romance Dish, and I wanted it experience it for myself. The story sounded bold, exciting, romantic. I was prepared for some difficult scenes, and knew I might find myself a little bit uncomfortable about the events that take place in this book, but I wasn't daunted. In fact, I was fully prepared to step outside my beloved comfort zone and be blown away. Right from the first page, we experience Lady Elena's gut-wrenching fear and desperation. She's just found out that her good-for-nothing husband has sold her to some unscrupulous people, and she cannot fathom exactly what that means, only that there's a huge weight in the pit of her stomach, and she has a baby to take worry about. Elena is forced into the slave market, a filthy humiliating place where humanity is not worth the a damn. Rudely poked and prodded like a piece of livestock, Elena soon discovers that being a slave is lower than being an animal. The horrors she encounters are unfathomable, yet this has become her existence. Fortunately - depending upon how you look at it - she is almost immediately purchased by a man who transports her, blindfolded, to a Turkish harem on the island of Corfu. Fearful for the whereabouts of her baby son, Elena is relieved to soon be reunited with her young child, who has also been brought to the harem as the perfect means to control Elena. At this point, she knows without a doubt that her options are severely limited, and she has no choice but to accept the uncertain fate that has been presented to her if she wishes to survive. Gently but firmly, Elena is initiated into the ways of the harem, determined to make a secure home for her child. No longer a lady, she is now the seductress Jinan, and embarks on her new life with bravery and conviction. She is a woman who will not let shame break her. Jinan is a woman in charge of her own destiny, and embraces it boldly. Years later, a man from Elena's past comes to the harem, and is immediately drawn in by her sensuous, familiar laughter. Griffin Summerfield at one time cared very deeply for the young woman he remembers, and seeing her again after all this time brings back those tender feelings, as well as the more base feelings of lust and possession. He never understood what caused her to marry another man, but now he has an opportunity to be with her again, and he's not willing to let her go this time. But can he convince the woman of his dreams that together they can start fresh and build a new life together with her son? Griffin must fight for everything he believes in if he wishe sto claim the woman he loves.... My thoughts: The first impression I had when I started reading this book was how vivid Ms. Clare's descriptions were. As I stated earlier, the premise was bold, evocative, extremely compelling. I felt drawn in right from the first words on the page. I could practically smell and taste Elena's bitter fear, hear the painful pounding of her heartbeat beating in my own ears when she realized there was no way out of the situation but was still desperately trying to come up with an escape just the same in order to protect her son. I felt her hot shame at being treated with such a lack of respect and decency. No one should have to be made to feel like less than a person, yet this is the awful treatment Elena had to endure because of the selfish addictions of her own husband. Ms. Clare lets us see how ugly this is for Elena, a defenseless woman with an innocent child she will protect at all costs. When Elena finally arrives in Corfu and ultimately discovers what her future will hold, I was somewhat disappointed to see that this is when the door closed in our faces. We don't see her completely metamorphose into Jinan; instead we just get a hint of what is in store for her. Yet at the same time, I understood her transformation wasn't something we needed to experience in full detail. It was enough to know she'd accepted her fate with dignity and determination rather than revulsion and feelings of degradation. She was in control of her destiny. So by the time we next see her, she's already existed in her new life as Jinan for quite some time, and has gained a new confidence from it, which has her very sought out by the rich men who desire to purchase her favors. Now, enter Griffin. This, sadly, is when everything headed downhill for me. I disliked Griffin almost right from the start, feeling he was a slave to his previous addictions - brought on it seems due to losing Elena so long ago and an echo of her own husband's weaknesses - and also spoiled because of his own place in high society. He had a strong sense of entitlement which often tended to rub me the wrong way. My negative feelings only intensified the longer Griffin was in the picture. During the allotted time he had purchased Jinan for, he was absent for the majority of it on business, therefore not convincing me that there was enough of a connection established beyond the physical to sustain an everlasting relationship, despite their history together. But what really sealed Griffin's fate and ruined the book for me completely was his abduction of Jinan/Elena. Both his actions and his words smacked sharply of those of a stalker, or that of a jealous boyfriend who would rather kill his own girlfriend than let another man have her. Griffin explained his behavior away believing it was "his right' to have Elena, that he "deserved" to be happy, regardless of her wishes and fears. He made me so angry at how he justified his rash and cruel treatment of a woman he claimed to love, forcibly locking her up and keeping her away from her own child because he was too possessive and selfish to care. He truly had himself convinced that Jinan would soon see that he was right. His behavior was abhorrent to me. Another thing I think changed for me too was that in the beginning, we believe Jinan has become this proud, independent woman who is coveted by many men, a fact she doesn't let shame her, yet once Griffin appears on the scene, all of her experiences as a harem girl now seem tainted. She no longer seems the intrepid, bold seductress, but rather gives us the point of view of a meek woman who loathes herself everytime she's up on the auction block. I felt Griffin colored her outlook and made her feel unworthy of love and affection because of the circumstances she was forced to endure. He made her doubt herself, or at least this is the woman she now appears to be once he's made an appearance back in her life. And I resented Elena for believing she loved him back. I truly didn't understand why. What kept this book from being a DNF for me was that I just had to see it through to the bitter end. I felt rung out emotionally, overwhelmingly disgusted with Griffin as the man for Elena, and saddened that a plot with such promise failed to engage me in any positive way. Yet I do feel a sense of fulfillment that I read the book and didn't leave any doubt as to the outcome. Admittedly, it took me quite awhile to write this review. I set the book aside for weeks because I was unable to express myself rationally enough for my own comfort. I do want to stress that I believe Tiffany Clare does have a wonderful imagination and an amazing talent for evoking incredibly strong emotions, as I've evidently pointed out in this review, and I do believe that is sufficient enough reason for me to read her next story, hopefully with more positive results. But "Surrender of a Lady" was just not a satisfying read for me, and that is mainly because of the lack of a strong, heroic male lead I could respect and root for. I can only hope her next book provides me with a different scenario. Rating: *** out of *****Labels: review, Tiffany Clare posted by Stacy~ at 10/20/2010 07:23:00 AM
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 And the winner is......17. amyt865 Congrats Amy :) Please send me your snail mail addy to trelainastarblazer AT yahoo DOT com. Thank you all for playing. I got quite a few giggles out of some of the comments, and I'm super jealous of both Cheeky girl and Christine for having hotties for husbands. Where can I sign up for one of those????? Anyway, you guys are fantastic. Thank you for stopping by :) 1. Barbara 29. Danielle 4. Cheekygirl 37. Kris 38. Smash Attack 7. Kitt Katt 30. Loretta Canton 13. SpazP 31. van_pham 33. The Book Pimp Blogs 34. Scorpio M. 11. Christine 23. Dev 25. Jen 32. cores5 24. Natasha A. 3. Tori aka ggs_closet 21. Estella 16. Mandi 6. Kelly M. 8. Mollie 5. Crystal GB 14. Maureen 15. Andrea 2. Bells 19. DforDarla's Definite Reads 26. Tracy 35. tetewa 18. kim1989 36. Modokker 28. joder 12. jeanette8042 22. LSUReader 20. Penelope 10. Minna 27. Moonsanity 9. Diana Book of Secrets Labels: winner posted by Stacy~ at 10/20/2010 07:01:00 AM
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Tuesday, October 19, 2010:
 21. cories5 Congrats Cories! Please email me your snail mail addy along with your book of choice to trelainastarblazer AT yahoo DOT com. Thank you all for the great movie selections. Some of seen, but some I have not, so I have some movie watching (and re-watching!) to do :) 41. tetewa 9. Barbara E. 47. Ina 26. Bells 35. Booklover1335 42. Modokker 36. marian 44. Chelsea B. 30. Dev 4. jeanette8042 16. Liza 48. Kaetrin 22. host 29. DforDarla's Definite Reads 6. Crystal GB 27. Christine 10. Pamela Keener 40. Stella (Ex-Libris) 31. maered 12. LSUReader 43. Lynette 24. Kris 23. Danielle 25. Pixierump20 38. Maija 15. Barbara 34. van_phame 13. Julie 33. Moonsanity 28. Diana (book of secrets) 14. Maureen 2. Natasha A. 46. Smash Attack 1. Mandi 17. Scorpio M. 39. I Heart Book Gossip 45. JenM. 7. Mollie 5. Robin K. 8. donnas 20. Joder 32. Paranormal and Romantic Suspense Review 11. Blodeudd 18. Estella 37. The Book Pimp Blogs 19. Jane Labels: winner posted by Stacy~ at 10/19/2010 07:40:00 AM
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Monday, October 18, 2010:
Maddie Moore's whole life needs a makeover. In one fell swoop, Maddie loses her boyfriend (her decision) and her job (so "not "her decision). But rather than drowning her sorrows in bags of potato chips, Maddie leaves L.A. to claim the inheritance left by her free-spirited mother-a ramshackle inn nestled in the little coastal town of Lucky Harbor, Washington. Starting over won't be easy. Yet Maddie sees the potential for a new home and a new career-if only she can convince her two half-sisters to join her in the adventure. But convincing Tara and Chloe will be difficult because the inn needs a big makeover too. The contractor Maddie hires is a tall, dark-haired hottie whose eyes-and mouth-are making it hard for her to remember that she's sworn off men. Even harder will be Maddie's struggles to overcome the past, though she's about to discover that there's no better place to call home than Lucky Harbor. I know I've said this before, but Jill Shalvis is one of my top favorite contemporary romance authors. She effortlessly blends humor, sexual tension, and romance with her own unique sense of the adorable to create stories that most readers can easily relate to. And while I love me some urban fantasy and paranormal romance, sometimes you just need a dose of the simple and real to make you happy. Maddie Moore has come to Lucky Harbor with the hopes of starting fresh. She never really got to know her mother, a fact that deep-down makes her feel a bit resentful. But she's determined to make the most of what she's been left, even if it's going to take more than a little elbow grease and some tough negotiating with her sisters. Thing is, Maddie's always considered herself a mouse, so going up against her opinionated sisters is not as easy as it sounds, especially since it's been awhile since they've seen each other. But armed with her knitting needles and a recently discovered stubborn streak, she's determined to try. Enter one very hot 'n sexy fantasy of a man by the name of Jax, and Maddie's got her hands full with getting her life back on track without losing her heart in the process. But before she knows it, Maddie finds herself getting to know her sisters, gaining a confidence she thought she never possessed, and falling for a wonderful man who does she her value. Maybe, just maybe, it's time to have faith in her heart and just take that leap.... My thoughts: This time around, I really have to commend Jill for taking a stand in her books without getting preachy. She continues to write her really fun, sexy romances, but she's also exploring more serious topics, such as verbal and physical abuse. In Maddie's case, fortunately it didn't get really ugly, though any level of abuse is bad, and we see the afteraffects abuse can have on a person, how it can tear down their confidence and make them feel like they are the one at fault, and not the actual abuser. It takes Maddie awhile - and some time on her own - to finally feel like she can trust her instincts and let herself fall in love with a really great guy. And that is exactly what Jax is. Not perfect by any means, Jax has his own demons to contend with, but from their first encounter, Jax has seen something in Maddie that draws him, and it isn't long before he's falling in love. It both hurts and angers him that Maddie was in an abusive relationship, but rather than being impatient with her, he takes his time, gaining her trust and showing her what it means to be treasured. He doesn't treat her like a fragile piece of china, but rather as a woman with needs and a strong will of her own, so at times he pushes her to get her to push back. I think Jax ranks up there with one of my favorite heroes of all time. He's gorgeous, smart, and possesses a generous and caring heart that he can't help but share with those he cares deeply about. Having once lived a life devoid of meaning, Jax is grateful he got out before he crossed a line and completely lost his soul. It's also touching to see Maddie reconnect with her sisters again. Sharing the same free-spirit mother but different fathers, the three young women haven't really spent a lot of time around each other, and have pretty much gone on to live their own lives. Their mother's death forces them to get together and make decisions that will affect each of them, and finding out about themselves in the process. This opportunity gives them a chance to perhaps become friends as well as sisters, and though they go through a series of growing pains, it's pretty evident that all will work out in the end. I think "Simply Irresistible" is now my favorite Jill Shalvis book, and THAT is saying something. But it was just the perfect balm to make me smile and sigh, and maybe even believe in love a lil bit. It left me feeling exactly the way a wonderful romance story should, and I am absolutely dying to go back and visit Lucky Harbor again very soon! Rating: ***** out of ***** I'm also jonesing for more of Jill's Pacific Heat baseball series. So I hope many of you will buy a copy of "Simply Irresistible" so that we can get Gage's book! Let's tweet and tell @PenguinUSA how much we love Jill's books!!!!! Labels: Jill Shalvis, review posted by Stacy~ at 10/18/2010 08:14:00 AM
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 The winner of the 3 books in Stacia Kane's Downside Ghosts series is.... Kai @ Amaterasureads! Kai, please send your snail mail addy to trelainastarblazer AT yahoo DOT com and I will get those out soon! Congrats :) Thank you all for stopping by and wishing me a happy birthday. It was really very lovely, and I now have some fantastic song suggestions I need to check out. You guys are just really awesome :) 34. Andrea 30. Loretta Canton 20. donnas 18. Blodeuedd 6. Kiwi 46. Diana (book of Secrets) 35. Joder 28. Sue 51. I heart Book Gossip 24. Lillie (AliseOnLife) 17. BookObsessed 48. Dev 14. Teawench 16. Julie 44. host 39. Minna 40. Maureen 26. Lucy 42. Barbara E. 25. StephanieD. 5. Maija 23. Christine 27. elaing8 50. Stella (Ex-Libris) 4. Mollie 33. Estella 32. NikkiBrandyBerry 41. Liza 9. BethanyC. 49. van_pham 8. amyt865 47. DforDarla's Definite Reads 29. MamaKitty 3. Ryssa 31. hrd074 15. jackie b central texas 52. tetewa 53. Modokker 12. Katiebabs 43. Marg 11. Tynga 38. KellyM. 37. CrystalGB 19. shannon 1. Misha1989 45. Pixierump20 22. The Book Pimp Blogs 7. Eva/TXBookJunkie 10. RobinK. 21. LSUReader 36. throuthehaze 2. shadowflame1974 Labels: winner posted by Stacy~ at 10/18/2010 07:04:00 AM
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 I completely forgot about this contest! Sorry folks for running late as usual, and in this case, really, really late. The winner of Leslie's book is....Susi Sunshine! Susi, please email me your snail mail addy and I'll drop this in the mail sometime this week! 1. Susi Sunshine 4. Estella 5. Cories5 2. Dawn (heart) romance 3. Crystal GB Labels: winner posted by Stacy~ at 10/18/2010 06:31:00 AM
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Friday, October 15, 2010:
 Well today is my final celebration, and I hope you've all enjoyed it :) It's been a lot of fun sharing with y'all, (and prolonging my birthday of course LOL). Today I am offering a $25 giftcard to the bookstore or other merchant of choice. Could be Amazon, Best Buy, Bath & Body Works, whatever. It's your call. You just have to answer my question: What SmartPhone application or website can you just not live without? Contest ends at noon CST on Thursday, October 21st. Good luck! posted by Stacy~ at 10/15/2010 07:55:00 AM
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Thursday, October 14, 2010:
 Today I'm giving back. Instead of a prize to an individual, I'm going to donate $20 to your favorite charity. Please leave a comment, letting me know which charity is near and dear to your heart (ahem, and not your book fund charity either. Must be for children or animals or breast cancer or MS or...) and a randomly selected winner will get a $20 contribution made to their charity of choice. Contest ends noon CST on Wednesday, October 20th. Good luck! posted by Stacy~ at 10/14/2010 07:18:00 AM
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Wednesday, October 13, 2010:
 This is Ian Somerhalder. Isn't he pretty? I have had a crush on him since he was in a show called "Young Americans". He was a guy attracted to a girl he thought was a guy. Very hot stuff. Now pretty Ian is on "The Vampire Diaries", playing "maybe not so bad after all" Damon Salvatore. Now don't get too excited. I am not giving Ian away. (I'd keep him for myself anyway). No, today I'm feeding another addiction. I'm giving away a $20 Starbucks card. You just have to answer the question: Who is your favorite hottie? Contest ends at noon on Tuesday, October 19th. Entry must answer question in order to qualify. Good luck :) Labels: birthday, blog contests posted by Stacy~ at 10/13/2010 07:46:00 AM
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Tuesday, October 12, 2010:
 Wow this is fun! I forgot how much I loved doing this last year :) I am still deciding all of what I'm doing, but I like being spontaneous. Thank you all for the lovely birthday wishes I've gotten. It was actually yesterday, but I am one Libra who believes in extending the celebration. So here we go.... Up for grabs: 1 book of your choice up to $10. Question: What is the sexiest movie you've ever seen? Contest ends at noon CST on Monday, October 18th. All eligible entries must include an answer to the question. Good luck!!!!
posted by Stacy~ at 10/12/2010 07:01:00 AM
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Monday, October 11, 2010:
Hey! Happy birthday to me! I kinda was slacking this year with my birthday bash, but I am going to post a few contests this week. Fun, right? To kick it off, I'm going to offer up my absolute favorite series I read this year: Downside Ghosts by Stacia Kane.
posted by Stacy~ at 10/11/2010 08:20:00 AM
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Thursday, October 07, 2010:
 New authors. Gotta love 'em. It's exciting to think of someone just starting out, following their dreams. And with epublishing and even self publishing, there are so many ways now to get your book out there. But some new authors are a little over zealous about getting their stories read. I am not the first nor the last to be frustrated by a relatively new writer going about and aggressively trying to get people to read their books, and getting good reviews. A part of me cannot blame them because of course they want people to buy their books. However it's the way some of them go about doing it that is a turn-off. So I've come up with a list of do's and don'ts that I would follow if I were a writer and wanted to spread the word about my books. My own personal etiquette, if you will:
Now I am not an author, so take what I say with a grain if salt if you must. I just know what works for me and what doesn't. I've been a reader for over 30 years, and I've been on the internet for about 10 years. I've also gone to a lot of signing and events. And I love meeting new authors. Maybe one day I'll meet you too :) Readers: anything I need to add? Labels: authors posted by Stacy~ at 10/07/2010 07:29:00 AM
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Wednesday, October 06, 2010:
 Thomas Armstrong vows only the loss of his faculties could ever convince him to take Amelia Bertram under his care during her father’s absence from England. Sadly, that loss does occur… the moment Lady Amelia publicly states that rumors of his exalted sexual prowess are more fable than fact. Responding like any man with an ounce of pride would, he picks up the gauntlet she throws down on the ballroom floor.When Amelia’s last failed elopement attempt has her sharing a roof with the very man who took her place in her father’s affections, she is determined to escape her prison to marry a man of her choosing. But, what she discovers in the seclusion of the viscount’s country estate is the ton’s ‘golden Greek god’ is more than the sum of rumor and innuendo, and under their mutual acrimony rages a fire not even a deluge from the Thames can extinguish. But letting go of the past is difficult. Can Thomas and Amelia bury old jealousies and grievances for the promise of a love powerful enough to surmount his pride and crumble the walls surrounding her heart? I really enjoyed Beverley Kendall's debut novel, Sinful Surrender, and was excited to hear that two characters that appear in that book have their own story coming out in January 2011. Beverley writes very passionate stories, and I like that. Especially since she also blends it with that much required emotional element I can't live without. And this one sounds like it has both of those things in spades. Beverley, I CAN'T wait to read it! Labels: Beverley Kendall posted by Stacy~ at 10/06/2010 07:06:00 AM
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Tuesday, October 05, 2010:
 I recently read a category romance with 3 stories in it, and one of the novellas centered around two people who work in the same area who have all this animosity towards each other, or so they think. It isn't until a wedding of mutual friends brings them together that they get the opportunity to explore the chemistry that sparks between them, and realize that all that hate is actually disguising deeper feelings. I really enjoyed their story, and how they felt about each other. Jazz, our heroine, is spunky, and very forward. She has long since given up on love but not sex, so if nothing else, she figures now that her and Blake have admitted their attraction, they can act on it and screw like bunnies. Only Blake doesn't see Jazz as just another conquest. Although her rough behavior and antagonistic personality have always unsettled him a bit, he wants her for more than just a one-night stand. Enemies to Lovers. There's just something so incendiary about these types of stories. Right from the start there's that incredible attraction that each person will deny with every breath, yet the more they pretend it doesn't exist, the hotter it gets. Plus, in many cases, the cause behind the hatred between them is usually a misunderstanding. Sometimes the stupid kind, but in these instances I can usually forgive them their stubborn behavior because it really kicks the heat up by several degrees. And me, I like ;) Do you like enemies to lovers stories? What are some of your favorites? Leave a comment here and I will have a drawing to win a copy of this book by Leslie Kelly. Contest ends 3pm CST on Saturday, October 9th. You must answer the question(s) to qualify. Open to all. Labels: tropes posted by Stacy~ at 10/05/2010 07:15:00 AM
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Monday, October 04, 2010:
 Well this weekend I got to do something fun: meet a debut author from Chicago. Her name is Joelle Charbonneau, and she writes mysteries. Her first book, SKATING AROUND THE LAW, is set in a small town, and of course, around a roller rink. It sounds like a really fun series.  Joelle actually had this signing at a roller rink, which was a cool idea considering the setting of the book. It was fun for me since it was close by, and also because I saw many people I knew who attended the signing. 1 person bought 15 copies! Nothing like the support of family and friends to make an event successful. And before you ask, no, I did not get out on there on skates. I am uncoordinated on the best of days, but I wasn't feeling too good on Saturday. But many people were there, enjoying themselves. It looked like a lot of fun.
I'm really looking forward to sitting down one day soon with this book and enjoying a good mystery, which admittedly I don't read too often these days. Sounds like a refreshing change of pace. Joelle, is was so lovely meeting you :) Labels: booksignings, Joelle Charbonneau posted by Stacy~ at 10/04/2010 07:55:00 AM
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 Sorry I'm late (yet again!) I just remembered this morning, and according to Random.org, the winner of a banned book is.... 22. Maureen Maureen, please email me your snail mail addy. I can be contacted at trelainastarblazer AT yahoo DOT com You get either a copy of "Speak", or another book off the banned book list. Thank you all for stopping by. Let's keep these books off the banned books list! 2. Lucy 27. Andrea, aka the Barefoot Bard 18. Marg 13. Dev 28. sablelexi 3. Inspired Kathy 11. Estella 7. Marq 10. Kelley Vitollo 6. Lori 31. Stella 5. Blodeuedd 30. ikkinlala 24. orannia 1. J.A. Saare 14. Jeremy West 29. arceli 20. Karen 21. amandawk 25. Laurie 19. Mariska 16. Karen W. 26. nfmgirl 4. Bethany C. 15. A Buckeye Girl reads 8. Smash Attack 23. Joy 12. Tere Kirkland 9. SpazP 17. SiNn Labels: winner posted by Stacy~ at 10/04/2010 07:01:00 AM
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Sunday, October 03, 2010:
The always incredibly supportive and courageous Katiebabs has posted a pledge and a challenge to let people know that It Gets Better. She shares her personal story about being bullied and reaches her heart out to those who are currently experiencing pain and perhaps even considering suicide themselves. So let's support her pledge and help her reach her goal of $500: Kate, you rock. Labels: good causes, Stop the Violence posted by Stacy~ at 10/03/2010 01:25:00 PM
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