Wednesday, December 24, 2008

Happy Holidays!!

What do you call people who are afraid of Santa Claus? Claustrophobic.
~Anonymous

The Supreme Court has ruled that they cannot have a nativity scene in Washington, D.C. This wasn't for any religious reasons. They couldn't find three wise men and a virgin.
~Jay Leno
Why is Christmas just like a day at the office? You do all the work and the fat guy with the suit gets all the credit.
~Anonymous

I once bought my kids a set of batteries for Christmas with a note on it saying, toys not included. ~Bernard Manning

Anyone who believes that men are the equal of women has never seen a man trying to wrap a Christmas present.
~Anonymous

Come to me. I want to plow you like a Calgary driveway at Christmas.
~John Cleese, "Monty Python"

There's nothing sadder in this world than to awake Christmas morning and not be a child.
~Erma Bombeck




Monday, December 22, 2008

My Favorite Books of 2008 - Part 2

Shayla Black is known for her hot, steamy novels such as Wicked Ties, Decadent and Dangerous Boys and Their Toy (get it, toy? Not toys, toy? Oh yeah). Well now she has a paranormal out called Tempt Me With Darkness. Marrok has been screwed over bad - and I mean BAD - by Morganna, an ancient witch. When he meets the heroine, Olivia, he thinks she's Morganna. Oh shit, right? Would you want a male who was once the mightiest warrior in King Arthur's court to detest the very air you breathe?? The next book in the series is Seduce Me In Shadow. Here's a cool tidbit that no one will care about but me ~ I was with Shayla (Shelley) and her friends when she came up with that title. How awesome, right? It was cool! Oh shut up.


Funny story. I was at Nationals in 2007 (everything seems to happen there), standing in line for Sherrilyn Kenyon to sign a book. Nikki Duncan (fellow writer friend) and I caught sight of this book titled "'Scuse Me While I Kill This Guy.' How could we not slink over to the author and check out her book? The title was hilarious, and the book was laugh-out-loud funny. Well, this is Leslie's second book in the series. There is a scene in this book that had me acting a FOOL at the airport one day. All I have to say is "CHANGE BABY!!!" If you like a funny, quirky, contemporary read, this is your cup of tea. I DARE you not to laugh your ass off when you read this book. It's impossible.




This book is far from a light and fluffy read. It's the third in a series that stunned me, shocked me and entertained me right to the last page. Brenda Novak knows how to write a disturbing storyline and still keep the romance aspect of the story alive and sensual. The plot is chilling, and it pulls you right into a place you believe actually exists. The characters have been through hell, and this is the book that solves the mystery once and for all. Suspense novels aren't my fav thing, but I couldn't put this book down until I'd read the last page. If you enjoy reading suspense, check out the first two books in the Stillwater trilogy - Dead Silence and Dead Giveaway. These books will not disappoint.


I love me some Sherrilyn Kenyon. Her characters are BAD ASS. Zarek? Kyrian? And now Sin. Come on, you have to love that name. It ranks right up there with Zsadist and Ice (keep reading Shayla's books and you'll know who I'm talking about. He's not quite out yet, but I'm already waiting for him. I'll give you his stats here in a sec ~ Ice is going to be AWESOME). Besides Sin's rockin' name, he's an ancient Sumerian God. Who wouldn't want him in their bed? Kat, who has one hot-ass father, certainly doesn't kick him out of her bed. Only there's one problem (isn't there always?). He hates Kat's mother to the point he actually plans her death. Gives a whole new meaning to hating your in-laws, eh? Read this book! If you haven't yet read a Dark Hunter novel...well, shame on you. If you've never heard about the Dark Hunter novels, then go out and buy them. Her books aren't something a paranormal fan should pass up. It's just...wrong.


Okay...on to Ice. I have to say, I might have to beg Shayla for a sneak peek at this one. Here's a snippet I lifted off of her website for your viewing pleasure. :o)

Isdernus (Ice)
Age: 246—Seasoned enough to carry the scars of war on his body and in his heart.
Height: 6’3”
Weight: 220
Build: Muscled hulk of wizard
Hair: Brutally short black
Eyes: Green
Other: Scarred by poverty, tragedy and self-hatred, he’s a magical warrior determined to avenge the murder of the only person who ever meant anything to him. To do that, he has to cozy up to magickind’s princess—a woman so far out of his league. But one taste…and he’s lost forever.

Do you see why I can't wait for this book to come out? I say she should call it Ravage Me At Midnight and name the heroine Dawn. Right? Ice and Dawn. It has a certain ring to it. Kind of like Zsadist and Dawn. What?? A girl has to dream.
Okay, so that's my list for 2008. These were my top picks, though I have read many good books this year. God I love romance books.

My Favorite Books of 2008 - Part 1

Nationals 2007, Dallas, Texas. I had no idea who J.R. Ward was until a friend of mine mentioned that she was sitting right behind us at the Rita and Golden Heart Awards Ceremony. I met her briefly after the ceremony and she was funny and nice, so when I got home I decided to check out her books. Thank you God! Zsadist is the ulitmate hero, but I read his book in 2007, so I can't count that as one of my favorite books of 2008 (though it is one of my favorite books of all time). Lover Enshrined is J.R. Ward's latest release in her Black Dagger Brotherhood series, and though I wanted to see more of the hero and heroine, you just can't find writing like Ward's anywhere else. She's a master storyteller. Her books are food for the soul ~ seriously. In Lover Enshrined I found myself fascinated with how far Ward went with Quinn and, as some reader's call it, the 'gay' scene. Now, I'm not much into m/m novels, and this scene I'm writing about didn't have anything beyond that of a kiss, but it was so moving and tender that I almost wished she had gone a little farther. Yes, I wanted it to go farther and I wondered where that wish came from. It was her writing and the depth of emotion she portrayed through her characters. Waiting for her books to come out is painful.


Joey W. Hill is a writer who doesn't give a damn about 'the rules.' Her female vamp will do what she wants, who she wants, how she wants, and then for shits and giggles she'll piss in your Cheerios. Love it!! Underneath that shell she does what's right, and loves without holding back. To hell with the hero, I was in love with the heroine! The writing is exciting and fresh, with none of the terrible cliches we find so often (admit it, cliches abound in romance novels...hell, I might have more than one cliche in my own books). Joey W. Hill will surprise you every time. The Mark of the Vampire Queen is a must if you like paranormals. It's hot...super hot! And when you read these sex scenes it won't remind you of a thousand others you have read. Again I'll use the word fresh. I'm pretty sure Joey colored outside of the lines when she was a kid, and I thank her for it.




Haha, suckas!!! Here is where I get to brag a little. This book won't be coming out until April 2009!! How did I get an advanced copy you ask? Never you mind...oh alright. Sylvia was giving out a few at Nationals in San Fran this year. This urban fantasy will kick you mother-livin ass! The tag line - you're going to love this...


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


This book is hot, unpredictable, and the series is going to rock the shelves this summer. I'm thinking I'm going to have to wait for the other two books, Eve of of Destruction and Eve of Chaos, because Sylvia hasn't been offering any more of her goodies to me. *sniff* Wait...that didn't sound right. Oh, whatever. On to the next book...



I've been loving the Sookie series for years now, and unless you've been living under a rock, then you know the series is now on HBO. It's called True Blood. It's up for two Golden Globe nominations! In Definitely Dead the reader is let on to a little bitty secret that shatters poor Sookie (toward the end of the book so I can't give it away). In all honesty I think some of the new aspects to the books - Godmothers and Fairies - take it a little too far (just how many paranormal beings can one book have?), yet I still eat these books up like candy. Harris is one of my auto-buys, and I can't miss any True Blood episodes! Unfortunately the season is over, and I have to wait until this summer to see more True Blood (I think Sylvia and HBO are trying to drive me nuts). Just a little tempter to watch the show...here's the actor who plays vampire Bill...



Here's a historical for you. You won't see many of these on my fav books of 2008, but His Woman was really awesome. As you can see from my very loooonnnngg post below, this book reminded me of the historicals I used to cherish. There's action, suspense, danger - everything you want in a historical romance. I had the chance to talk with Diana on the phone yesterday (she did give me her new number!! Bwaaahaahaa) and she has some new twists and turns in store for her readers. Hell no I'm not going to tell you what they are. (She didn't let me in on all the secrets, but I'll give you a hint: if you read His Woman and pay close attention, you might pick up on...yeah right. You have to read the book.) Thought I was gonna spill the beans, didn't you? As if.
And that's all for today. I'll have a few more of my fav's of 2008 tomorrow.
Happy reading!!

Sunday, December 21, 2008

His Woman by Diana Cosby

I have to admit, I don't read many historical romance novels anymore. I'm a paranormal girl. I've picked up a few historicals in the past year, though none of them really took me on a journey with the characters. Isn't that what you want in a historical romance novel? Danger, intrigue and passion. Honorable knights and wild Scottish warriors wearing their tartan with nothing underneath, their long, wild hair blowing in the wind, their toned, naked chests....I'm sorry, where was I? Oh yeah, taking a journey with the characters in historical romance novels. *fans self* Some great historical romance novelists include Jude Deveraux, Johanna Lindsay and Julie Garwood. In fact Julie Garwood wrote my favorite romance novel of all time - Ransom. The hero was named Brodick - if I remember correctly. (Brodick, I'm still waiting for you! I live in Michigan now! Call me!)

Anyway, these authors made you believe they had been thrust back in time (or sold their soul to you-know-who) to write such vivid details about a time long past. Their heroines were strong, independent lass's (lasses, lassies, whatever) or timid yet determined noble women. The heroes were larger-than-life men who used one sword to defeat his enemies, the other to tame their little ladies. (haha, did I just go there? I did, didn't I?) I say all of this in a tongue-in-cheek kind of way, but you get my point. The covers had a male standing with his legs braced slightly apart, looking for all the world as though he were going to save the world and devour the heroine at the same time. The heroine looked like she was on the verge of having an orgasm, her hair billowing in the wind, her dress half a centimeter from showing her pink, taut nipples while she kneeled in front of her warrior...ah, the good old covers. (I miss those covers by the way. Where art thou, my fair Fabio?)

Last night I finished a wonderfully crafted historical called His Woman. Now, the cover didn't have a half-naked heroine on it, and the hero had short hair that seemed quite unaffected by any wind. (WTF?) But as I was reading I felt that I had been thrust back in time - to a time when historical romance novelists ruled the world. Okay, fine - ruled the romance shelves at the bookstore. Is that better? Suffice to say I found a historical romance novelist that ranks right up there with Deveraux, Lindsay and Garwood. Her name is Diana Cosby. (And I can just call her Diana, cause yeah, I know her. *claps hands like a two-year-old* I even have her phone number in my cell...oh shit, wait, she moved. Damn!! Uh, now that I'm a stalker-fan you think she'll give me her new one???)

Duncan - the hero in His Woman - is the ultimate warrior with a soft, caring side to him. A few years back the love of his life, and promised bride, Isabel, left him to become an earl's mistress only weeks before they were to wed. (What a bitch!!) Wait! How long have you been reading romance? Come on, you know there's something more to this story than that. Jeez. So back to the whore...I mean story!! Story!! A cruel twist of fate (I've always wanted to say that) brings Duncan and Isabel back together. Duncan gives a promise to Isabel's dying brother, Symon (I'm still mourning your death *sob*), that he will find Isabel and save her from the earl's imprisonment. (Wait, why would the earl throw his own mistress in the dungeon? Quit asking questions I'm not at liberty to answer. I had a top secret clearance in the United States Navy, and I can hold a secret until my dying breath. Or 75 years per my disclosure agreement.) Duncan saves her, and yet still danger lingers. I can't say much more because Diana (there I go using her first name) was in the Navy as well, and I'm not sure what connections she still has. But fear not, my courageous romance novel readers! All the secrets can be found in the pages of His Woman.

4 Stars - HOT
"Former lovers find each other again in book two of Cosby's Scottish trilogy. She deftly combines historical accuracy, well-rounded characters and continuous action in this sweeping romance, which should keep readers engaged until the last page."- Romantic Times
Read an excerpt here
Order His Woman at:Amazon.com