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Wednesday, December 03, 2008:
Just Julie... chatting up author Julie James
I first heard about Julie James when the awesome Rowena @ BookBinge raved about her book, "Just the Sexiest Man Alive". Wena was so enthusiastic and endearing in her review that I just knew I had to read it myself, especially since we share a lot of the same tastes. (Sidenote: Julie appreciates Rowena from BookBinge and Buffie from RomanceNovel.tv for all the support they've given to her and would like to say "thank you"). So I read it last month (review here) and when I went to her website to see what else she had coming out, I discovered she lived in Chicago and was having a booksigning on November 19th. Since one of my fairly new favorite things to do is to meet authors, I trekked into the city and stopped in at The Book Cellar to meet this debut author. She's a total sweetheart, and we got to chat a bit before she read to the group and did a Q & A. It's great meeting new authors, and I have to admit, it's very cool to support someone who lives in your city, especially when you like their book so much and you want others to read it too. And since she's so nice, she agreed to do a blog interview for me. Since a lot of you probably hang out over @ BookBinge, I tried not to ask the same questions, and if you haven't already done so, you can pop over and read their interview. 
me & Julie ********************
S ~ Congrats on the release of your first book. Do you read romances yourself? If so, who are some of your favorite authors?
Thanks! I do read romances—although admittedly, I got into the genre fairly recently. Probably about the time I realized I wrote one myself. : ) So now I’m having a blast discovering all these authors who are new to me. In terms of favorites: okay, I know this isn’t exactly original, but I love Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum series. Also Jennifer Crusie’s Bet Me. And I read my first J.D. Robb book, Naked in Death, and now I think I have a serious crush on Roarke. (S ~ Just wait, he gets even better.)
Awesome series
S ~ You mention that you drew on your love of the old black and white romantic comedies for inspiration. What are some of your favorites?
Pretty much anything with Cary Grant or Clark Gable. Particularly His Girl Friday, The Philadelphia Story, and It Happened One Night. A lot of the older films have such great dialogue exchanges between the hero and heroine.
I love this movie
S ~ I just loved Taylor. I found her to be spunky, smart and really confident. Did you have anyone in mind when you created her? What was your favorite thing about her?
Taylor practices the exact type of law that I practiced (employment discrimination defense), and her work experiences were loosely drawn from my own experiences in that field. I certainly aimed to have a heroine who was smart and confident and quick with a one-liner, but I think my favorite thing about her is that despite all that, deep down she has fears and vulnerabilities just like everyone else.
S ~ Would you say that the courtroom scenes in the book are close to what you might see in real life, or do you have to embellish that quite a bit?
I think the legal scenes, for the most part, are pretty realistic. In fact, the courtroom scenes are very similar to arguments/cross-examinations I’ve actually made. When you litigate sexual harassment cases, things can certainly get pretty interesting!
S ~ Jason was just the sexiest hero, yet because of how he's lived for the past 2 decades, he comes across as kind of a jerk in the beginning. Did you have an experience with actors/movie stars when writing his character, or did you just draw on what you've seen in the media?
Ahh... Jason. Yes, he is kind of a jerk in the beginning—but humorously so. There were times when I’d be writing his dialogue and I’d think—I can’t believe he just said that! But I wanted to be realistic about his character and how someone in his position would actually think and act. Because of my screenwriting background, I’ve experienced some of the Hollywood element and I think that helped me in capturing that aspect of the book.
S ~ Living in Chicago is a huge difference than living in L.A., and as far as people's mindsets go, what with Chicago having the reputation of a more down-to-earth sensibility and L.A. appearing to have more interest in money and physical beauty. Have you ever lived in L.A. and how were you able to mesh both worlds so seamlessly? Would you move to California to pursue your writing?
I’ve never actually lived in L.A. but I have spent some time there and you are right—it is a very different city from Chicago. I like Los Angeles, but Chicago is where I’m from and I definitely consider myself a Midwest kind of girl. If for some reason I had to move to California, and it worked for my family, I guess I’d probably go. But I don’t think I see that being a necessity—especially writing novels, which you can pretty much do anywhere.
S ~ One of the things I liked about the male characters in your book is that you nailed "guy speak". Was it difficult to convey the "guy" persona in your characters?
Honestly, for whatever reason both Jason and Jeremy’s voices came pretty easily to me. In fact, I think it probably was easier for me to write Jason than Taylor. With Taylor I sometimes worried about whether she was sounding too sarcastic, too confident, etc., but with Jason, honestly, whatever that guy said in my head I just pretty much put down on the page. For better or worse. : )
S ~ What do you think is the most challenging thing about writing? Do you have a routine that you follow to keep on track?
My biggest challenge is probably the same one a lot of working moms face—how to find enough time to write, be with my family, and do the million other things that seemingly need to be done in any given day! As for staying on track, I set weekly writing goals and I do everything I can to keep them.
S ~ A lot of what "Just the Sexiest Man Alive" represents is about looks and charisma. What do you think makes a guy sexy? Who would you consider to be on your top 5 list of the sexiest men?
I can accept a lot of flaws in a hero (arrogance, over-confidence, etc.) as long as he’s pretty much just smitten with the heroine—whether he admits or not. To me, nothing is sexier than a man in love. As for who would be on my list of the sexiest men (aside from my husband, of course), I generally think of sexy in terms of a character or role, instead of the actor himself. Maybe that’s why I have this strange thing for Colin Firth, even though I don’t think of him as traditionally sexy—I loved him as Mr. Darcy in Pride and Prejudice and haven’t gotten over him since. : )
Yum
S ~ Who are some of your favorite strong female characters, whether in t.v., books or movies?
Buffy the Vampire Slayer. (The television show, not the movie.) Princess Leia from Star Wars. Ripley (Sigourney Weaver) in Aliens. And of course, Elizabeth Bennet from Pride and Prejudice.
I wanna be Buffy when I grow up
S ~ I'm really looking forward to "Practice Makes Perfect" which comes out in March. And I understand it's not connected to "Just the Sexiest Man Alive" other than it features two attorneys butting heads. What was the inspiration for this story?
The story is about two lawyers, a man and a woman, who work at the same firm and are fighting it out for the one available partnership position. It’s very, very loosely based on my own experience at the firm—there was one other attorney in my group who was the same class as me and I always wondered what would happen if he and I came up for partner together, whether the firm would choose us both or have to choose one of us over the other. As it happened, both of us left the firm to pursue other careers before that became an issue.
S ~ I understand you attended RWA this past July/August. What was your take on the experience and do you plan on attending any future events?
I loved going to the RWA conference this year! True, I pretty much knew nobody and my book wasn’t out at that point so I didn’t get to attend a lot of the author events, but I had a blast there. And everyone was so friendly and welcoming, which was great. I’m definitely hoping to attend next year’s conference as well.
S ~ How has reader feedback been since the release of your book? Have you had much opportunity to connect with your fans? How does it feel to have people reacting to your books?
The feedback I’ve gotten from readers has been wonderful! It really makes my day when someone writes to tell me how much they enjoyed the book. And I love that people like Taylor and Jason so much—if someone reading the book is cheering for them to get together, then I feel that I’ve done my job.
S ~ Do you ever see yourself going back to practicing law?
I never say never, but not right now. As much as I loved practicing law, I love writing even more, so I’m happy to go with this ride as long as I can.
S ~ When you're not writing, what do you like to do in your free time?
I’m a big movie buff and also a fairly avid reader. I like going out for drinks or coffee with friends, or just going out to dinner with my husband—a big treat for us now that we have a toddler. : )
S ~ Now I'll ask a series of "just for fun" questions:
- favorite beverage?
A great glass of Cabernet. Currently, my favorite is the Zulu Cabernet from South Africa.
- favorite indulgence or way to relax?
A bubble bath with a glass of red wine and a great book.
- favorite movie?
I can’t choose! And I love pretty much all genres.
- favorite book?
This one’s easier to answer—Pride and Prejudice.
- favorite place to visit?
The best trip I’ve ever taken was when my husband and I went on safari in South Africa. Absolutely incredible.
- favorite music?
Like movies, I tend to like a bit of everything. I pick music that seems to go with the theme of whatever I’m writing, and for whatever reason, oddly with this book it’s been Rihanna and Billie Holiday. Go figure.
- last good movie you've seen?
It’s not new, but my husband and I just re-watched the Lord of the Rings trilogy. Ahh... Legolas. (dreamy sigh).
 I adored Aragorn myself, but Legolas is a cutie
- the one book you'd recommend others to read?
The book I always recommend to other women is A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini. There were parts that were so tough to read, yet I literally couldn’t put the book down because I was so invested in the characters and had to see what happened.
-favorite thing about Chicago?
Lots of things! The lake, the shopping, the food, and the fact that for two months in the fall, Chicago actually has the perfect weather. (It’s how we survive the remaining ten months.) : ) Thank you so much Julie for spending time with me and for sharing some insight into your first novel. It was so great meeting you, and I wish you the best of luck with your writing. I'll definitely be picking up your next release :)
Stay tuned for a contest to win a signed copy of Julie James' "Just the Sexiest Man Alive".
***** Labels: author interviews, Julie James
posted by Stacy~ at 12/03/2008 04:06:00 AM
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Thursday, November 20, 2008:
"Just the Sexiest Man Alive" by Julie James - (2008) review
Paperback: 320 pages
Publisher: Berkley (October 7, 2008)
ISBN-10: 0425224201
ISBN-13: 978-0425224205
COOL. CALM. COLLECTED.
Nothing fazes Taylor Donovan. In the courtroom she never lets the opposition see her sweat. In her personal life, she never lets any man rattle her–not even her cheating ex-fiancé. So when she’s assigned to coach People’s “Sexiest Man Alive” for his role in his next big legal thriller, she refuses to fall for the Hollywood heartthrob’s charms. Even if he is the Jason Andrews.
CONFIDENT. FAMOUS. IRRESISTIBLE.
Jason Andrews is used to having women fall at his feet. When Taylor Donovan gives him the cold shoulder, he’s thrown for a loop. She’s unlike any other woman he’s ever met: uninterested in the limelight, seemingly immune to his advances, and shockingly capable of saying no to him. She’s the perfect challenge. And the more she rejects him, the more he begins to realize that she may just be his perfect match. . .
Taylor Donovan is having a pretty damn good day as far as she's concerned. Working on a big sexual harassment case in sunny L.A., this Chicago attorney knows her business inside and out, and she's not about to let the opposing side bring her down. In fact things are looking so good for Taylor that her boss asks her for a special request: it turns out that THE biggest name in Hollywood - the drop-dead gorgeous Jason Andrews - is working on his next movie, a legal thriller, and he wants it to be as believable as possible, and head partner figures she's just the right person for this "special" case. Not exactly pleased that she is expected to tutor a movie star on top of her already full plate, Taylor nevertheless takes on the assignment, knowing full well she doesn't have much choice if she wants to make partner in the firm.
Only Jason doesn't make a good first impression on Taylor. Nor a second. Taylor is steaming mad that he's blown her off twice after all she had to do to clear her schedule to be free to work with him, and upon meeting him, she's not about to let him off the hook, no matter how gorgeous he truly is in person. In fact Taylor gives him a taste of what it's like to be given the brush-off, which Jason definitely doesn't expect. He's been too used to people falling all over themselves to please him, yet this maddening, beautiful woman has gotten the best of him, and it's definitely made him sit up and take notice. Taylor is quite pleased with herself for putting Mr. Superstar in his place, but instead of things ending there once and for all, which is exactly what she had anticipated, Jason decides it's Taylor or no one, and in less she wants to jeopardize her future partnership, she must learn to bite her tongue and play nice. It almost kills her, but Taylor is a professional after all, and she's smart enough not to let her feelings get in the way of their arrangement. She agrees to work with him for his upcoming role, and is surprised to see the discipline and attention he pays to learning the ropes. Not only that, but he also manages to make her laugh. Still, he leads a life she wants no part of, and Jason just cannot fathom this. Everyone else he's ever known, except maybe his best friend, want something from him. Everyone. So why should Taylor be any different? Only she is, and he realizes this more and more as he spends time with her and learns exactly what it is that drives her. And he likes it. He likes her. He's drawn to her confidence, her intelligence, that challenging sparkle that let's him know she's going to do something he doesn't expect, and he looks forward to it. Anticipates it even. Taylor is a woman who fascinates him possibly more than she frustrates him, and he's completely intrigued. As for Taylor, well she's surprised to discover that despite her initial reaction to him, Jason is actually a really likeable person, and that they share a similar sense of humor. She finds out a little on what it's like to be him on a regular basis, with all the attention and paparazzi and demands, the women who throw themselves at him and the pressure it takes to stay on top. It makes sense why he expects things to happen a certain way: because that's how it's always been since he's become a star. He responds to what he knows to be true, and after awhile he takes it for granted that no matter what he actually does, the outcome will always be the same and people will continue to gush and kiss his ass if it means they can get their fifteen minutes of fame. Taylor and Jason eventually spend more time together, even after Taylor's helped him for her latest film, and it's pretty obvious they're crushing on each other. Jason can't stop thinking about Taylor when she's not around, wondering what she's up to, and these things totally confuse him because he's never gone through anything like this before and he doesn't know how to handle it. Taylor on the other hand is not sure she can handle his lifestyle, or what it would be like for her if she was truly with him. And the bigger issue in the back of her mind is that one day soon in the not so distant future, the case she's working on will come to and end and then she's heading back to Chicago, so a relationship is out of the question. And even if she did stick around, could she ever trust a guy who only has to snap his fingers and scads of women will come running, ripping their clothes off along the way? Or is she ready to throw caution to the wind and take a chance on something truly special? My thoughts: I first heard about this book from Rowena's review over at Book Binge, and I enjoyed her take on the story so much that I knew I just had to get this book. Then I read Buffie's review, and knew it even more. When I did, it took me a little while before I finally read it, but still on a "high" from reading Erin McCarthy's "Flat-Out Sexy", I knew this would be the perfect follow-up, and boy was I ever right about that. It was just so enjoyable to read. Julie James wrote a very engaging story about two people from different lifestyles that meet, clash again and again, and eventually end up falling in love. Like the old black 'n white movies she loves so much, "Just the Sexiest Man Alive" is filled with snappy banter and sexual sparks. It's a flirtatous contemporary that focuses on the amazing chemistry and quick comebacks of two people who are both damn awesome at what they do and shows what happens when circumstances throw them together and they inevitably collide. I absolutely adored Taylor and how smart and absolutely confident she was, especially when it came to her career. I loved that she didn't need to rely on anyone else; this is one woman who knows how to take care of herself. Plus she had a wonderful and wicked sense of humor that was just so much fun and suited her personality so well. I was cheering her on when she put Jason in his place time and again. While she wasn't completely immune to his charms, she hid it well, and that kept him unsure of her feelings, and made him realize that she was not so easily won. And Jason, well, there's just not enough words to describe this luscious hero of many women's fantasies: the quintessential movie star with looks, personality and money to back it all up. Okay, the movie star. Now Jason needed to work his charm on me a little bit before I could get past his arrogance, but underneath that ego was a guy who could be pretty sensitive and caring, it's just not all that obvious. But he remembers things about Taylor that her ex-fiance' never did, and I found that to be completely sweet and endearing. I laughed out loud numerous times at his shock when he just couldn't believe Taylor would reject him. Him, Jason freakin' Andrews. Ha. I liked that he had these moments of uncertainty, that his normal confidence would falter in Taylor's presence, yet he was never brought so low that he came across as lame or "girly". And sometimes he still did stupid things. And I liked how he had the same best friend since college, one that put him in his place from time to time but had Jason's back when he needed it. Together, Taylor and Jason were a pretty dynamic pair, and I thoroughly got a kick out of their bickering and teasing, especially when Taylor got the best of him. Which was most of the time. What I also found surprisingly refreshing is that they didn't immediately fall into bed, despite their strong attraction for one another. I thought that made their interactions all the more potent. I would have definitely liked to have had the bedroom door thrown wide open so we could get an eye-witness view of their hot lovin' because they were such a gorgeous and exciting couple, yet it wasn't a total disappointment that most of it was left to our imagination, because sometimes that can be hotter than anything we read. However if Julie wants to write some steamy love scenes for her next book, well I say bring 'em on! Rating: ****1/2 out of ***** ***** Stay tuned for your chance to win a copy of "Just the Sexiest Man Alive" ****** And coming in 2009.... Paperback: 304 pages
Publisher: Berkley (March 3, 2009)
ISBN-10: 0425226743
ISBN-13: 978-0425226742 WHEN IT COMES TO THE LAWS OF ATTRACTION . . .
Payton Kendall and J.D. Jameson are lawyers who know the meaning of objection. A feminist to the bone, Payton has fought hard to succeed in a profession dominated by men. Born wealthy, privileged, and cocky, J.D. has fought hard to ignore her. Face to face, they’re perfectly civil. They have to be. For eight years they’ve kept a safe distance and tolerated each other as co-workers for one reason only: to make partner at the firm.
. . . THERE ARE NO RULES.
But all bets are off when they’re asked to join forces on a major case. At first apprehensive, they begin to appreciate each other’s dedication to the law—and the sparks between them quickly turn into attraction. But the increasingly hot connection doesn’t last long when they discover that only one of them will be named partner. Now it’s an all out war. And the battle between the sexes is bound to make these lawyers hot under the collar . . . Labels: Julie James
posted by Stacy~ at 11/20/2008 04:41:00 AM
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Tuesday, June 12, 2007:
Meljean Brooks' LURVE train....hop aboard :)
Meljean Brook not only writes cool stories, she has cool contests - lookee! Dear People Magazine,
Every November, you come out with your “Sexiest Man Alive” issue; every spring, you print your list of the “World’s Most Beautiful People.”
But in 2007 — and for the last two hundred years — the sexiest man and the most beautiful person has been … a vampire.
George? Pffft. Brad? Come on! Jude? …no.
Why isn’t it that Colin Ames-Beaumont hasn’t graced your cover? Is it simply because his picture cannot be taken? (He’s so beautiful a blank cover with just his name on it would make your readers drool.) Because he usually only comes out at night? (How is that different than Johnny Depp?) Because you think he hasn’t bared his assets for a Hollywood camera?
Are you afraid of his tainted blood? You shouldn’t be: one look will not send you to the Chaos realm, surrounded by flying dragons and the screams of the damned. Only Colin sees that realm when he looks into a mirror — it will not trouble you. Is it the woman he’s falling in love with? Geeks need love, too, People Magazine — a fact you have long overlooked (but that is another campaign to be won.)
Is it the fear that if you met him in a dark alley, the words “Oh my God you’re so beautiful!” would hardly be past your lips before he had you up against the wall for some hot sexing that you wouldn’t remember the next day?
No; none of those things are true impediments to being called “the sexiest” or “the most beautiful”. I think the problem is that you’ve been stuck on one pesky little word in the “Sexiest Man” title: Alive.
But there are those of us — readers and authors, geeks and norms — who know that Undead can be just as sexy as Living. And we’ve got hundreds of paranormal romances to prove it.
So I’m beginning my campaign to get a vampire on the cover of your magazine. To no longer be forced to stare longingly at men who can’t read my mind. Men who can’t use a sword. Men who can’t wear satin-lined capes and look good doing it. I’m calling for all readers, living and undead, to fight for vampire equality.
And I’m nominating Colin Ames-Beaumont to the be first representative of the “Sexiest Man Alive (and Undead)” for 2007. What separates him from other vampire romance heroes, you wonder? He’s strong, as they are. He sucks blood, as they do. He’s got out-of-control sexual appeal, as they do. But there is one thing, People Magazine, that makes Colin stand out from the rest of the vampire heroes.
Colin … is blond.
But do not take my word for it; judge for yourself. And because he is cursed, unable to see his reflection or to have any pictures taken, the only proof I can offer is in Demon Moon. The book cover cannot do him justice — you must look inside. Want a peek? The first four chapters are in a PDF here. Or you can buy it at Amazon (it is available June 5 in stores everywhere).
Sincerely,Meljean Brook
Living and Undead Readers for Vampire Equality
Join the L.U.R.V.E. Train - Because vampires are beautiful people, too.
(Want to join the L.U.R.V.E. Train? Nominate your own vampire, win books and Amazon gift certificates? Climb aboard here.)Labels: contests, Meljean Brook
posted by Stacy~ at 6/12/2007 05:00:00 AM
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Friday, December 05, 2008:
Contest for"Just the Sexiest Man Alive"
I have a signed copy of Julie James' "Just the Sexiest Man Alive" to give away today. The contest will run through Sunday, December 7th @ 5pm CST. All you need to do is respond to the following question: What is your favorite black & white movie? It can be romantic comedy, suspense, Abbott & Costello, anything. Just list your top choice and you'll be entered in the drawing. Good luck! *** Don't you just love this cover? *** Labels: contest, Julie James
posted by Stacy~ at 12/05/2008 05:10:00 AM
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Thursday, January 01, 2009:
Stacy's favorite book things of 2008
As seen on RNTV:
Top Pick for Historical Romance: "Seduce Me At Sunrise" by Lisa Kleypas (Honorable mentions to "Duke of Shadows" by Meredith Duran, "Broken Wing" by Judith James & "Like No Other Lover" by Julie Anne Long) - I chose SMAS because it was such an emotionally-charged story that stayed with me long after I read it. Kev loved Win so much, and it was a feeling that scared him beyond anything else because he truly believed he didn't deserve her. Instead of accepting Kev's decision, Win chose to fight for him, and prove that they belonged together instead of apart. It was just such a beautiful love story.
Top Pick for Contemporary Romance: "Blue-Eyed Devil" by Lisa Kleypas. This story gets my pick for best contemporary because Ms. Kleypas took a horrible situation that the heroine was going through and made her a strong character, one that was brave enough to save herself, and find love again. It was painful, yes, but poignantly so, and the end result was immensely satisfying. It just proves that Ms. Kleypas is considerably talented writing in any genre.
Top Pick for Paranormal Romance: "When Twilight Burns" by Colleen Gleason (is this paranormal romance? Well it gets my vote). Here's where we get a sense of what Victoria truly wants, and it's both exhilerating and heartbreaking to see her choose between two amazing men. Also, I feel Victoria is one of the strongest heroines, yet she's ultimately human, and tends to make mistakes as we all do. She's not invincible, and I believe this is what makes it easier to relate to her as a woman.
Top Pick for Urban Fantasy: "Cry Wolf" by Patricia Briggs. I'm not a huge reader of urban fantasy, but I loved the mythology behind the Alpha/Omega existence. Anna is a woman who has no clue as to her strength, what she's truly capable of as an Omega, and Charles is just the man to bring it to her attention and worship her in the way she deserves. He doesn't coddle her, though he does protect her, but sees her as being his equal and takes pride in her abilities instead of being intimidated by them.
Top Pick for Romantic Suspense: "Death Angel" by Linda Howard. A different kind of a love story, but one very potent and unforgettable. The hero and heroine don't start out very likeable, but as we get to explore their pasts and the paths they've chosen, we begin to understand them, and I think sometimes the best love stories are the ones that leave you feeling a little uncomfortable because they are not black and white, but full of shades of gray.
Top Pick for Erotic Romance/Erotica: "Wicked Burn" by Beth Kery (Honorable mention: "Flat-Out Sexy" by Erin McCarthy). I love erotic romance, and read a lot of it, but it's been a long time since I've read such a sexy book that was so incredibly emotional at the same time. The characters initially communicate physically, both feeling a strong sexual connection between them that neither can walk away from. This connection becomes stronger as they let their bodies do the talking, and it totally worked within the context of this particular story. Bold and evocative, "Wicked Burn" brings two lost souls together in the most basic, primitive way, one that leads them to a powerful and empowering love.
Top Pick for Debut Novel: "Just the Sexiest Man Alive" by Julie James. Snappy, sexy, fun and interesting, I was amazed that this was the author's first novel. I kept flipping the pages, wanting more and more. I loved how strong and smart the heroine was, how she put the arrogant hero in his place. I loved seeing the change in them both, and how they genuinely liked each other and got to know each other before falling in love. It made it all the sweeter when it finally did happen. Ms. James is an author to watch.
Favorite Hero: Kev Merripen from "Seduce Me @ Sunrise" - Kev was unforgettable. Truly a tortured hero, one who would give his life again and again for the woman he loves, and lives only for her happiness, even if he can never have her himself. Another thing I liked about him was that he was also smart, and creative, and could manage an estate and became the person everyone else turned to when they needed someone in charge. Kev proved to be a rare and wonderful hero, and nothing pleased me more than when he let himself be loved.
Favorite Heroine: Win Hathaway from "Seduce Me @ Sunrise" - no silly, insipid heroine could have captured Kev the way Win did. She may have appeared fragile, but underneath was a strength and a determination to build a life with the one man she can not forget. And with the courage of a woman in love, she fights to win him. I love a heroine who is not what she seems, and Win proves she's way more than a delicate lady. She is a brave, formiddable woman who sets out to do the impossible, and succeeds.
Book of the Year: "Seduce Me @ Sunrise" by LK & "Trial By Fire" by Jo Davis. This is a tie because I believe both of these books are grand in their own right. SMAS because of the incredible love story between two people who were destined to be together, even if one of them couldn't see it that way.
TbF because of, well, Howard. Here was a gorgeous, capable hero who couldn't see why he was so special, and the heroine who made him realize that despite all he'd suffered, he could be happy, that he deserved it, and she wanted to be the woman who convinced him of that. Howard was also amazing because he loved Kat just as she was, and didn't want her to change. Kat was not the perfect, thin, biddable woman, and she was completely comfortable in her own skin. She was a very empowering heroine, and one I would like to see more of in the books I read. ************* Favorite Series 0f 2008: Normally I would answer the "In Death" books, but I'm only up to book #20 and I haven't been keeping up with them - my goal for 2009. So I am going to go with Colleen Gleason's Gardella series, which I started, and devoured, in 2008. Being a huge fan of BtVS, I felt these books pay tribute to the beloved series but offer a fresh approach to being a vampire slayer, and I would love it if Colleen wrote a present-day Gardella story. I truly believe it can be done. Favorite author of 2008: Hmm, tough one, since I met so many, and really enjoyed talking with them. But I'm giving my vote to Lisa Kleypas, who I haven't met, but who elicited such an emotional response from me with at least two of her books this year - "Blue-Eyed Devil" and "Seduce Me at Sunrise". She is an icon, and I hope one day I do get the chance to meet her. Favorite 2008 re-read: Anne Bishop's Black Jewels Trilogy. I believe I first read this series about 10 years ago, and I don't remember what prompted me to get them, but am I ever so glad I did. Ms. Bishop has created a fascinating world filled with unforgettable characters, incredible power, and a love that transcends time. These stories have never been far from my mind, and I was glad to see several of my friends picking them up for the first time and falling in love with them, just like I did many years ago. Favorite Review site of 2008: RomanceNovel.TV And not just because I became a reviewer there in '08. Why did I choose this site? Because out of any other website, I got more wonderful book recommendations in 2008 from RNTV than any other, hands-down. I had heard of RNTV since the beginning, but it wasn't until this past year that I really started looking into what they had to offer, and it turned out that it was the perfect kind of website for someone like me. I love how Marisa & Maria have made it such a friendly community, where everyone feels like a part of the process, and the recommendations are numerous and varied. Favorited Reader Review site of 2008: BookBinge! Aw I love these guys - they're smart, funny, outspoken, and they are very passionate about books. They have great author reviews, awesome contests, and offer honest opinions on the books they loved, or didn't. BB has evolved over the years, gotten better, and I think they strive to bring us the best blog possible, never willing to settle for mediocre. Favorite blog: Na uh, ain't going there. It's too hard to narrow it down to one, but I would like to give a shout out to some of the blogs I've visited in 2008, whether for the first time, or for the 100th, so in no particular order: Adventures in Katidom, Ramblings on Romance, B(u)y the Book, Plotmonkeys, Deadline Hellions, Babbling About Books, Ahhhh Romance, Happily Ever After, Kelly Nyrae's Blog, Laurie's Laudanum, RomanceBookWyrm, the Book Smugglers, Sula's Space, DIK blog, What Women Read, Ann Aguirre's Blog, Colleen Gleason's blog, Good Reads, LeeAnn 101, Fresh Fiction, AccessRomance, Alison Kent's blog, HelenKay Dimon's blog, Sylvia Day's blog, Romantic Times, Kate Davies' blog, Lucy Monroe's blog, Vamps & Scamps...and a whole boatload of others which I am ashamed to have not mentioned here, damn bad memory. Here's to a even better reading year in 2009! Labels: 2008, favorites
posted by Stacy~ at 1/01/2009 04:24:00 PM
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Wednesday, March 11, 2009:
Chicago spotlight: Julie James & Beth Kery a.k.a. my new best friends
Okay I have to tell you that I really love where I live. (Well, except during our miserable winters). Chicago is an incredible city, blending midwestern sensibilities with a more sophisticated urban flavor. But being a total suburbanite, I don't take advantage of all there is to offer as much as I'd like to. However this week, I was uncommonly brave and for one of the few times ever, drove into the big, bad city. 
Michigan Avenue (click on pictures to make them bigger) Anyone who knows anything about me is very aware that I have a horrible sense of direction and can get lost in the grocery store, but putting my fate in Mapquest's hands actually turned out to be a good thing. Go figure. I managed to find my way, no problem, and only had to circle around once to find a decent place to park. My day was off to a good start. And it only got better. I had left the scary yet familiar surroundings of the suburbs to meet some very cool people for coffee: Chicago authors Beth Kery and Julie James. Yet another reason to love where I live. And where else could we meet but at one of the places that has been the recipient of thousands of my hard-earned dollars - the bookstore. 
Location, location, location This is the wondefull 3-story Borders on Michigan Avenue where we met. Though I was very sad when Julie told me that this store would be shutting down, quite possibly later this year. How awful! One of the worst things in the world for a reader to hear. My heart aches at the thought. 
Beth & Julie, looking ultra classy These ladies are both just as friendly as they look. Though with those pearls and sweet disposition, you really wouldn't think Beth would write something as erotically steamy as "Wicked Burn", but she did, and am I ever so grateful for that *g* And maybe she's on to something because pearls certainly play a significant role in one very sexy scene. Obviously inspired ;) I have definitely added Beth to my auto-buy list. I just really love her style and how she digs deep to tell a genuinely moving story. She had me at Vic. Now I certainly can't forget about Julie, who wrote another of my favorite books of 2008. She writes such snappy, smart dialogue, which sadly, you just don't see a lot of these days. One of my favorite things about her characters is how much they actually converse, matching wits and challenging each other every step of the way. She has some intriguing ideas for future stories and I really hope she's given free rein to tell them. If you take her experiences as a lawyer, and blend those with her exotic travels, I think they would be interesting and different and really fun and engaging to read about. So editor/publisher/agent/manager/husband of Julie, please let Julie write what she wants, because her fans want to read it! Happy news: both Julie & Beth are going to be attending Lori Foster's & Dianne Castell's June get-together! Yeah baby! Naturally we spent the afternoon discussing lots of books and authors, past and present. I was, obviously, the voice of knowledge and experience, what with my 25 years of reading experience (Okay, I just like to talk about me *g*). At one point Julie brought up Nalini Singh's newest, "Angel's Blood", which prompted some talk about angels and vampires, demons and "Buffy the Vampire Slayer", that is until a quiet young woman came up to our table, having overheard part of what we were saying and somehow she thought we were talking about real-life demonic attacks. Huh. I think we truly burst her bubble when we just stared at her in disbelief and told her we were talking about books. Maybe she was just as horrified at the thought of romance readers as we were of demon possession. Easy mistake. Once we got our voices back, Beth admitted....okay, never mind. I wasn't supposed to say anything. We went from devil talk to blogging, mentioning some of the blogs we frequently visit, and I was asked about Twitter, which I admit is a guilty pleasure but I continue to question the value, at least for myself. Others may utilize to its fullest potential. We touched on Facebook versus MySpace. Julie doesn't like....nope, I can't tell you THAT. She'd kill me.
Julie with her two releases, "Just the Sexiest Man Alive" and "Practice Makes Perfect" Before I knew it, my adventure was over. And before anyone asks, yes I really was there and not just imagining all this. I'm not quite creative enough to make this stuff up. Beth has a picture of me somewhere, and Julie mentioned me in a blog post. It was a fun day in the city. I want to thank both Beth and Julie for such an enjoyable afternoon. Alas,no scandal or juicy gossip or even a cat fight. But sometimes drama is not all it's cracked up to be. Labels: Beth Kery, Julie James
posted by Stacy~ at 3/11/2009 06:13:00 AM
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Wednesday, February 24, 2010:
There's Something About Julie James....
 ...that makes her an incredibly engaging writer. Right from her first book, Just the Sexiest Man Alive, it was obvious she had "it", that unique quality to draw the reader in and totally capture their attention with her snappy dialogue, smart and savvy characters, and attractive settings. She's definitely got a fan for life with me (so that means she better keep writing *g*). Julie James is an autobuy for me, no question. That's pretty amazing considering it happened right from her first book.
Her latest release, Something About You, is no exception. I fell completely in love with Jack, and wanted so badly to be Cameron. After reading it, I was curious to know how things were going with Julie's writing, so I figured what the heck, I'm nosy, so I'll just ask her. Here is what Ms. James had to say:
S~ In the 3 books you've had published, each of the heroines is an attorney or has practiced law in some capacity. Do you see yourself writing about a different profession, or do you find that you have more stories to share with readers about this profession?
JJ: Funny you should ask. . . shockingly, the heroine in my fourth book is not a lawyer. She owns a wine shop in Chicago. That being said, I think there are a lot more stories I could write that involve the legal profession--I'm definitely not done with that!
S~ I like how you've incorporated some part of your personality or interests into your heroines. For example, we know you like wine and that you're a vegetarian (both of which have been traits shared by one or more of your heroines). Do you find yourself including little pieces of yourself into your characters or is it more that it just feel right with the story you're telling?
JJ: It's certainly easier to write a character's personality traits and interests if they are ones I personally identify with. But my knowledge of, or interest in, a subject is really just a spring board for what I use in the book. For example, before beginning to write my fourth book, in which the heroine owns a wine shop, I only knew the basics about wine. My heroine obviously needed to be more familiar with the subject, so I took a wine education class, read some books, and have gotten to know the owner of my local wine store, who was nice enough to let me shadow her for a day. So I guess the real question is, do my heroines take on my interests and personality traits, or do I adopt theirs? Hmm...
S~ Something About You is definitely your sexiest story so far, and we get to see a lot more intimacy between Jack and Cameron. Is it difficult to throw the bedroom door wide open and write those sexy love scenes between your characters? Or do you think it's something that feels comfortable within the scope of a romance?
JJ: I felt comfortable writing "hotter" scenes in this book because they fit with the overall story. With the suspense subplot, this book has more of an edge than my previous two, and I felt that more intimate love scenes worked better with the tone. Plus, there's a LOT of sexual tension between Cameron and Jack, and I thought people might kill me if I didn't show the scenes where that tension finally boils over. ;-) (You got that right, sister! *g*)
S~ Do you listen to any type of music to inspire your stories?
JJ: I don't listen to music while I'm actually writing, but I do play music during breaks that I feel fits with the book I'm working on. For Something About You, I listened to a mix of Rihanna, Billie Holiday, and the Black Eyed Peas. Weird combo, I know.
S~ We know that you've used real actors as inspiration for some of your heroes. What about your heroines? Do you have a specific person in mind when you create them or are they all based on you? (LOL)
JJ: Cameron Lynde from Something About You is the first heroine for whom I had a specific actress in mind: Eva Green's character in Casino Royale, Vesper Lynd. I even borrowed the last name. I love how tough yet feminine her character is, and I wanted to create the same impression with my heroine. So this is what I picture Cameron looking like:
 S~ Has writing novels gotten easier since you first started? Where do you see your stories going? Are you happy writing contemporaries, or do you see your exploring other genres? JJ: I wouldn't say it's gotten easier, no. Actually, my first two books were easier to write than Something About You. Adding a suspense subplot definitely makes things trickier, especially when other parts of the book are light and humorous. Balancing those two was a challenge at times. As for where I see my books going. . . I'm happy writing contemporaries, and I plan to continue with that for now. With my fourth book, I've again added some mild suspense, but like in SAY, it's just a subplot.
S~ How extensive does your research get? JJ: I'll be honest--I did pretty much no research for my first two books. Particularly Practice Makes Perfect--I mean, I lived that life, I KNEW it. For Something About You, however, I had to do a fair amount. Since the hero is an FBI agent, and there's a suspense element, I researched guns and tiny spy cameras, how criminal investigations are conducted, those kinds of things. And I also had to do research for my heroine--even though I was a civil trial lawyer myself and obviously know what lawyers do in general, I wanted to know more about the day-to-day life of a criminal prosecutor. Luckily, I have a friend who is an Assistant U.S. Attorney, like Cameron, and I would send him emails with odd questions like: "How many other people do you share your secretary with?" or "When you meet with FBI agents to discuss an investigation, do you meet at their office or yours?" I had the big picture of the job, but I needed to know the little stuff.
S~ How has the transition from practicing law to writing full-time been? JJ: I do sometimes miss being in a courtroom, taking depositions, things of that nature. But I enjoy writing full-time even more, so it's been worth it. And it's nice to have a job you can do in sweatpants. ;-)
S~ Since writing romance, have your reading preferences changed, or do you still continue to read in the same genre as before? JJ: I definitely read more romance now that I write romance--before my first book came out, I was pretty unfamiliar with the genre. Now I read a mixture of both romantic fiction and literary fiction. Within romance, I try to read a mixture of all the subgenres.
S~. Since it was just Valentine's Day, what do you think, without getting too specific of course, is the most romantic thing your (brilliant :D) husband has done for you? JJ: Oh boy, Mr. James just eats these compliments up. ;-) Probably one of the most romantic things he's done for me was on my 30th birthday--I went to New York with some girlfriends and left on my actual birthday. He gave me a card before my flight and said I couldn't open it until I got to New York. Once we checked into our hotel, I opened the card and inside was a scavenger hunt-type message directing me to go to a store located at Fifth Avenue and 57th Street, and that I'd find my gift there. My girlfriends and I walked there from our hotel, and since none of us were that familiar with New York, we had a lot of fun on the way guessing what store it would be. And since you said not to be too specific, I'll end the story there. ;-) (WHAT?! That is just so wrong! LOL)
S~ Where can we expect to see you this year, either at signings or conferences? JJ: I'm doing a signing in Chicago on March 13th with Beth Kery, Shiloh Walker and Joss Ware/Colleen Gleason. If people are in the Chicago area, we'd love to see you! (I love all these authors! And I'll definitely be there). Details on that, and my other upcoming appearances, can be found at: I'll also be signing books at the Chicago-North RWA Spring Fling on April 24th, and then I'll be attending the RT Convention in Columbus. As for the July conferences, I plan to attend RWA and may attend Rom Con as well, if I can make it work.
S~ What's next for Julie James? Readers like me are DYING to know!
JJ: I'm finishing up my fourth book, about a wealthy wine store owner who agrees to pose as the girlfriend of an undercover FBI agent (as part of a sting operation) in exchange for her twin brother's release from prison. And people who like Something About You will be happy to know that a couple of the characters make appearances in supporting roles. I liked Jack so much, I had to bring him back. ;-) It's the first time I've linked two books together, which was fun for me. Then it'll be on to my next book, the hero of which I think is going to be a character from the book I'm finishing now. But I won't know that for sure until I get into the story and start drafting a synopsis. S~ Well consider me a happy little camper! I cannot wait for that one to be in my possession. Sounds fabulous! Thanx Julie, for spending your precious writing time answering my questions. I really appreciate it. Now, as for the rest of you, I can't just leave it at that. Now I'm not sure if Julie will be stopping by today (Wednesday) but regardless, I will be having a random drawing for a copy of Something About You, which will be released on March 2nd. So here's the deal: Contest is open to anyone who can receive mail, and will end on Sunday, February 28th, at 3pm CST. All you have to do is answer the question(s). One entry per person, and please do not leave your email address. Winner is responsible for contacting me no later than one week from the time announced, otherwise a new winner will be randomly selected. Since Something About You is about two people who, due to a terrible situation, cannot stand each other, yet due to unexpected circumstances, are thrown together for an indefinite period of time. What I want to now: What book and/or movie portrays your favorite love/hate relationship, where the characters can't stand each other but are also very attracted to each other?
Feel free to give additional examples if you'd like. This is one of my favorite tropes, and I'm always looking for good recommendations. Now go forth and enter. Good luck!
Labels: contest, interview, Julie James
posted by Stacy~ at 2/24/2010 07:06:00 AM
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Tuesday, September 01, 2009:
Spotlight: J - Julie James
This week's spotlight is truly a treat, as it is about one of my favorite new authors. I first heard about Julie James when I saw a wonderful review from Rowena at Book Binge for "Just the Sexiest Man Alive". The review was so engaging that I was immediately hooked, so much so that I hadn't even read the book yet when I decided to go meet her last November when she was having a booksigning in Chicago.
I always get a bit nervous meeting people for the first time, but Julie is one of those people who immediately puts you at ease (much like another fave, Suz Brockmann). The signing was at a local bookstore called The Book Cellar, an independent bookstore that caters to the wine drinker crowd, which was perfectly fine by me. In addition to signing her books, there was also a the part of the event where she read a portion of her work, and had a Q&A session. Now, those in the crowd did not come across as your typical romance readers, yet I think even they were tempted to pick up a copy of such a fun, snappy book. And if you've read either JTSMA or PMP, then you know exactly what I mean by that. It's easy to see the Julie must have been a very successful attorney, because she grabbed the crowd's attention and left us wanting more.
Since that night, I've read both of her releases and LOVED them immensely, and have met her at other events. I'll admit to being more of a historical romance reader, but Julie's contemporaries are at the top of my auto-buy list. Anyone looking for sexy, dynamic heroes and intelligent, confident, sassy heroines are definitely in for a treat with Julie's books. I'm usually all about the hero, but Julie writes about heroines that we can all appreciate and respect (just ask Kati who wrote a lovely tribute to Payton Kendall recently at RNTV); women who hold their own against any man and never stoop to being petty, silly or whiny. It was such a revelation to read not one, but two wonderful contemporary romances that showcased strong, capable, funny, compassionate, likeable women that aren't bitter or self-pitying harpies. Now to be fair, not all contemporary heroines are painted with that brush, but it's rather common to come across a heroine who has some irritating quirk that renders them almost unsympathetic. But you won't find one of those in a Julie James' novel.
Julie's next release, "Something About You", is scheduled to be released in March 2010, and it's definitely on my TBB list. A loooong wait, but one that I know will be well worth it. And Julie's been recently seen teasing us on Twitter with little tidbits about the coveted Book #4. Gotta love the sound of that. I sure the heck do :) Have you met Julie and/or read any of her books? Do you have a favorite scene from JTSMA or PMP?
**** I'd also like to take this opportunity to give a little shout-out to a fellow fan, who also happens to be Julie's husband. That would be Mr. James, an incredibly brilliant individual with exemplary taste who, from what I've been told, has been known to swing by this place from time to time. Maybe one day we can find out what it's like to be the inspiration for all those heroes :D What say you, Mr. James???? **** Labels: Julie James, spotlight
posted by Stacy~ at 9/01/2009 06:50:00 AM
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Sunday, March 29, 2009:
Winner: Julie James' book goes to.....
CHRISTINE! Christine, congratulations :) Please email me your snail mail addy to: trelainastarblazer @ yahoo dot com I will try to mail out the book this week, with Tuesday being the soonest I can get to the post office. And since this one is not connected to "Just the Sexiest Man Alive", it's safe to say that you can read this one first :) How the winner was chosen: I went to Random.org and listed everyone's name (just once) in the order they appeared. Then, because 11 is my favorite number, I decided to before clicking "Randomize" that whoever fell in the #11 spot would win. This is more fair, I think, than going with whoever falls in the #1 spot because then that means whoever posted first most likely will not win. So I figured by going with #11, it would give everyone a more fair chance, and it's easier than writing everyone's name down on a piece of paper and drawing a name, and it's more environmentally friendly :) Thank you everyone who stopped by. Quite a lot of new names, which is always a pleasant and unexpected surprise. It's lovely knowing people stopped by my blog even if it is just to win a prize LOL. I do appreciate it, I really do. Though I don't really mind, it's nice to know I'm just not blogging for myself *g* More prizes to come, and remember, as of yet, I have not limited my contests just to those in the U.S. and Canada - everyone is eligible to enter. I've had winners in Finland, Malasyia, Ireland, as well as a few in Canada and several in the U.S. As long as postage is reasonably affordable, I see no reason to change this. So stay tuned for more giveaways. Labels: winner
posted by Stacy~ at 3/29/2009 05:46:00 PM
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Thursday, January 01, 2009:
Here it is, a list of all (okay, most) of the books I read or re-read in 2008. Not as many as I thought, and not quite as many as Tracy, one of my favorite bloggers, but hey that's okay. I'd rather enjoy my books than race through them. How many books did you read in '08? Any re-reads?
1. Spymaster's Lady by Joanna Bourne (2008) 2. One Night of Scandal by Teresa Medeiros (2003) 3. A Kingdom of Dreams by Judith McNaught (1989) * 4. Skin by Karin Tabke (2007) 5. Pleasures of the Night by Sylvia Day (2007) 6. Hot For It by Melissa MacNeal (2007) 7. Barenaked Jane by Deanna Lee (2007) 8. Show me by Celia May Hart (2006) 9. Sea Swept by Nora Roberts (1998) 10. Rising Tides by Nora Roberts (1998) 11. Inner Harbor by Nora Roberts (1999) 12. Chesapeake Blue by Nora Roberts (2002) 13. Simply Sexual by Kate Pearce (2008) 14. North & South by Elizabeth Gaskell (1855) 15. Sugar Daddy by Lisa Kleypas (2007) 16. The Hazards of Hunting a Duke by Julia London (2006) 17. The Perils of Pursuing a Prince by Julia London (2007) 18. The Dangers of Deceiving a Viscount by Julia London (2007)
19. Hard to Handle by Lori Foster (2008) 20. Touch Me With Fire by Nicole Jordan (1993) 21. Right Here Right Now by HelenKay Dimon (2008) 22. Riding Wild by Jaci Burton (2008) 23. Hot and Bothered by Dianne Castell (2008) 24. Tempted by Megan Hart (2008) 25. If His Kiss Is Wicked by Jo Goodman (2007) 26. Confessions at Midnight by Jacquie D'Alessandro (2008) 27. Riding the Storm by Sydney Croft (2007) 28. Unleashing the Storm by Sydney Croft (2008) 29. Every Night I'm Yours by Christie Kelley (2008) 30. Private Arrangements by Sherry Thomas (2008) 31. Blue-Eyed Devil by Lisa Kleypas (2008) 32. Passion for Him by Sylvia Day (2007) 33. Pregnant by the Millionaire by Carole Mortimer (2007) 34. The Education of Mrs. Brimley by Donna McMeans (2007) 35. A Dangerous Beauty by Sophia Nash (2007) 36. Black Silk by Sharon Page (2008) 37. Unwanted Wedding by Penny Jordan (1995) 38. Seven Nights of Sin by Lacey Alexander (2008) 39. Grimspace by Ann Aguirre (2008) 40. Duke of Shadows by Meredith Duran (2008) 41. The Sex Quotient by Jamie Sobrato (2006) 42. Fallen by Erin McCarthy (2008) 43. Virgin River by Robyn Carr (2007) 44. Innuendo by Crystal Green (2006) 45. To Die For by Linda Howard (2005) 46. Hot Water by Kathyrn Jordan (2006) 47. Freedom's Price by Suzanne Brockmann (1998) 48. My Fair Captain by JL Langley (2008) 49. Something Reckless by Jess Michaels (2008) 50. Hot In Here by Susan Lyons (2006) 51. BodyGuard by Beverly Havlir (2005) 52. Accidental Mistress by Susan Napier (2008) 53. The Greek's Bridal Purchase by Susan Stephens (2007) 54. Housekeeper to the Millionaire by Lucy Monroe (2008) 55. Rain Fall by Barry Eisler (2003) 56. The Raven Prince by Elizabeth Hoyt (2006) 57. The Leopard Prince by Elizabeth Hoyt (2007) 58. The Serpent Prince by Elizabeth Hoyt (2007) 59. What Happens in Vegas by Copeland, Dane, Tunstall and Bast (2008) 60. Superb & Sexy by Jill Shalvis (2008) 61. Atonement by Ian McEwan (2001) 62. Through the Veil by Shiloh Walker (2008)
63. Daughter of the Blood by Anne Bishop (1998) * 64. Heir to the Shadows by Anne Bishop (1999) * 65. Queen of the Darkness by Anne Bishop (2000) * 66. Colters' Woman by Maya Banks (2006) 67. Lover Enshrined by JR Ward (2008) 68. Swing by Opal Carew (2008) 69. Handyman by Jodi Lynn Copeland (2008) 70. Heartbreakers by Lori Foster (2008) - Treat Her Right & Mr. November (2001) 71. Body Moves by Jodi Lynn Copeland (2007) 72. What a Woman Needs by Caroline Linden (2005) 73. Caine's Reckoning by Sarah McCarty (2007) 74. Flashpoint by Jill Shalvis (2008) 75. The Rest Falls Away by Colleen Gleason (2007) 76. By Appointment Only by Janice Maynard (2008) 77. Miss Wonderful by Loretta Chase (2004) 78. Satisfaction Guaranteed by Charlene Teglia (2008) 79. Mr. Impossible by Loretta Chase (2005) 80. The Billionaire Boss's Secretary Bride by Helen Brooks (2008) 81. Lord Perfect by Loretta Chase (2006) 82. Letters to a Secret Lover by Toni Blake (2008) 83. Still Life with Husband by Lauren Fox (2007) 84. Fortune Hunter by Jasmine Haynes (2007) 85. As You Desire by Connie Brockway (1997) 86. Into the Fire by Suzanne Brockmann (2008) 87. High Noon by Nora Roberts (2007) 88. Exotica by Eden Bradley (2008) 89. Rises the Night by Colleen Gleason (2007) 90. The Bleeding Dusk by Colleen Gleason (2008) 91. Body Language by Suzanne Brockmann (1998) * 92. The Greek Tycoon's Baby Bargain by Sharon Kendrick (2008) 93. Dark Desires by Eve Silver (2005) 94. Show & Tell by Jasmine Haynes (2008) 95. The Italian's Forced Bride by Kate Walker (2007) 96. When Twilight Burns by Colleen Gleason (2008) 97. Unmasqued by Colette Gale (2007) 98. Flashback by Jill Shalvis (2008) 99. The Veil of Night by Lydia Joyce (2005) 100. Trial by Fire by Jo Davis (2008) 101. Seduce Me at Sunrise by Lisa Kleypas (2008) 102. Desperate Duchess by Eloisa James (2007) 103. The Lost Duke of Wyndham by Julia Quinn (2008) 104. A Whole New Light by Sandra Brown (1989) 105. Reckless by Saskia Walker (2008) 106. Mr. Cavendish, I Presume by Julia Quinn (2008) 107. The Pirate Lord by Sabrina Jeffries (1998) 108. Death Angel by Linda Howard (2008) 109. His Lady's Captive by Anne Gracie (2008) 110. Shades of Twilight by Linda Howard (1996) 111. Pleasure Unbound by Larissa Ione (2008) 112. In Her Wildest Fantasies by Julianne MacLean (2008) 113. On the Prowl anthology (2007) 114. Risque' Business by Tawny Weber (2008) 115. The Wicked Ways of the Duke by Laura Lee Guhrke (2007) 116. Cry Wolf by Patricia Briggs (2008) 117. Secrets Volume 17 (2006) 118. Blush by Opal Carew (2008) 119. Driven By Desire by LuAnn McLane (2008) 120. The Mistress Diaries by Julianne MacLean (2008) 121. Trio by P.F. Kozak, Devyn Quinn & Jane Ledger (2008) 122. Crazy Hot by Tara Janzen (2005) 123. An Affair Before Christmas by Eloisa James (2007) 124. Duchess by Night by Eloisa James (2008) 125. The Perils of Pleasure by Julie Anne Long (2008) 126. Kiss and Tell by Suzanne Brockmann (1996) * 127. Like No Other Lover by Julie Anne Long (2008) 128. One Summer by Karen Robards (1993) * 129. Flat-Out Sexy by Erin McCarthy (2008) 130. Just the Sexiest Man Alive by Julie James (2008) 131. Broken Wing by Judith James (2008) 132. Twilight by Stephenie Meyer (2005) 133. Free Pass by Elizabeth Scott (2008) 134. To Taste Temptation by Elizabeth Hoyt (2008) 135. To Seduce A Sinner by Elizabeth Hoyt (2008) 136. It Had To Be You by Susan Elizabeth Phillips (1994) 137. Market for Love by Jamaica Layne (2008) 138. When the Duke Returns by Eloisa James (2008) 139. Wicked Burn by Beth Kery (2008) 140. Games of Command by Linnea Sinclair (2007) 141. Surrender by Pamela Clare (2006) 142. Hot Mail by Janice Maynard (2009) 143. Reaction Time by Alannah Lynne - ebook (2008) 144. Instant Attraction by Jill Shalvis (2009) 145. Hero Under Cover by Suzanne Brockmann (1994) 146. Heaven, Texas by Susan Elizabeth Phillips (195) 147. Grooms' Gift: Naughty Nuptials by Beth Kery - ebook (2007) 148. In My Wildest Dreams by Christina Dodd (2001) *
* re-reads
Labels: 2008, reading
posted by Stacy~ at 1/01/2009 10:43:00 AM
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Friday, April 10, 2009:
Josh: How do I love thee?
One of my favorite authors, Julie James, had a post the other day about the sexiest man alive?, and it got me thinking fondly of one of my favorite hotties of all time: Josh Bernstein. Those of you who've been visiting my blog for awhile know I got the chance to meet Josh a few years ago when he was in the Chicago area for a booksigning. Not only is he as good-looking in person, and rather tall, but he's also funny and amiable and extremely interesting. And there's just something about a smart guy that is so incredibly sexy. 
Then of course, there are those brown eyes. I'm a sucker for eyes like melted chocolate...
 Here he is, comfortable in any exotic setting... 
A man not afraid to wear pink...and looking really hot, I might add... 
Looking good from any angle....
Just because.... I believe he was/is on the Discovery Channel on a show called "Into the Unknown". I've not seen it, but I think I must get the DVD. You can never have enough Josh. The sad thing in all of this, well for me anyway, is that no matter how much time I spent surfing the internet, I did not find one shirtless Josh picture. For someone who is as into the earth and health as he is, I'm sure that would be like the 9th wonder of the world, one that I would want to visit time and again ;-) So this is my treat to you for this upcoming Easter weekend. Enjoy ;) Labels: hottie, Josh Bernstein
posted by Stacy~ at 4/10/2009 07:08:00 AM
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Monday, December 08, 2008:
Yes, I know, I'm always late announcing contest winners. Here we go...for a signed copy of Julie James' "Just the Sexiest Man Alive"....the winner is....
Minna!
Minna, please leave a comment here, letting me know you saw the post, and email me your home addy to trelainastarblazer @ yahoo dot com
Congrats!
And for those asking about the book (Kati), there is much banter between the couple, but I wouldn't say it's "ha ha" funny. It's amusing, and a lot of fun, but not silly in anyway. I think you just might enjoy it :) Labels: winner
posted by Stacy~ at 12/08/2008 01:11:00 PM
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Wednesday, December 17, 2008:
Just a quick not to let you know I'll be M.I.A. for a few days while I go out to D.C. for a business trip and probably won't get much chance to play - I'm not bringing my laptop and I don't have an iPhone or any of those other fancy gadgets, so you'll just have to miss me. LOL. If you even notice I'm gone *g* The cool news is I'm meeting up with Kati Wednesday night for dinner, and I really look forward to seeing her again. Stay warm! It's been a freakin' 4 degrees here in the mornings. At least D.C. appears to have relatively normal weather. See ya all soon. Oh, and to AmyC and Minna, I've mailed your signed copies of Julie James' "Just the Sexiest Man Alive", so hopefully you'll get your package before Christmas. Adios....
posted by Stacy~ at 12/17/2008 05:36:00 AM
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