Kreative Blogger

Stacy over at Stacy's Place on Earth nominated me with the Kreativ Blogger Award! Thank you, Stacy, for thinking of me :). BTW, head over to Stacy's today and enter for a chance to win a copy of Taboo by Jess Michaels!

The Kreativ rules state that:
Once you receive this award you are to list seven of your favorite things and then nominate seven other blogs.

So here are my seven favorite things--

1. Gordon Ramsay - I love that man! His twisted personality in his kitchen is beyond entertaining. His word choices have me laughing so hard sometimes. He's not all stuffy and boring. Oh no, Mr. Ramsay isn't afraid to tell it like it is..."Taste this, it tastes like shit! Get out of my fucking kitchen!" I just love it. He's no holds barred. And that accent! I don't purposely turn the tv on to watch him, my husband does and it's one show I will stop what I'm doing to watch. He did inspire me to cook this fish dinner the other night. And it turned out delicious! My husband loved it! Now when I'm in the kitchen, my new thing to say is, "Piss off!" :P

2.Romance and Fantasy Books! - I know that's a pretty generic answer, considering we all blog because we love books. But it is one of my most favorite things.

3. Going for walks - As soon as the weather turns warm around here, I have to go for walks. Lately it's just been too humid and rainy, and I'm really starting to feel the affects of not being outside for my dose of fresh air and exercise. I usually go with my mom or Devin, but the other day I asked the hubby to go with me down by the canal. He complained that it was too long of a walk (less than a mile, mind you!), but he did get an ice cream reward!

4. Blogging - It's one of my favorite things to do everyday. I love visiting others blogs. Learning about new books, reading that some one else loved a book as much as I did. Anything really; the sharing of books, of life events and happenings, I just love knowing you all share the passion of romance! It's been an experience over the last year discovering so many of you and the interactions we have as readers and the interactions with the authors! A few years ago I would have never thought that this large community of awesome people would consume most of my days! You guys are wonderful and amazing. Thank you!

5. The Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter movies - I've said this before, I have this weird thing that one of those movies must be playing when I go to bed at night. I don't necessarily watch them, but I do look up from time to time while I'm reading. I don't know why the attachment. I've tried different movies, but when I'm done reading and I lay down, within minutes I have to change out the movie and put in a Harry Potter or LOTRs movie.

6. Eating out - I would eat out for nearly every meal if I could. I love that other people cook for me! I guess I don't get a lot of that at home. People doing things for me. So every opportunity I get, I suggest eating out. Any little thing that could use a little celebration, the celebrating is usually a trip to a restaurant :).

7. I can't think of anything else :(. I've been trying and trying. Reading is one of my favorite things, but that's a given! So is buying books...another given! But hey, they are favorites, so that's my final answer!

Now it's my turn to nominate some blogs. Let's see...
Anna @ Anna's Book Blog
Blodeuedd @ Book Girl of Mur-y-Castell
Cecile @ All I Want and More
Christine @ The Happily Ever After...
Donna @ Fantasy Dreamer's Ramblings
Dottie @ My Blog 2.0
Erotic Horizon @ Erotic Horizon
The_Book_Queen @ TBQ's Personal Book Palace

Cover Art - The Master and The Muses!!

The Master and The Muses!
by Amanda McIntyre
Starring the one and only...Thomas Rodin!

I'm not one to go on and on about heroes from books. It's just not who I am. BUT I have had this thing for Thomas Rodin since I read about him and his delectably steamy affair with Cozette in The Diary of Cozette! Maybe it's his unconventional ways? Or the seductive way that he paints? Or maybe its his passion for painting? His charismatic personality? Maybe it's all of those things. But what I do know is that I have been seduced by his charming person! Amanda McIntyre knocked my socks off with that book. I loved Thomas Rodin and was just beyond excited when she announced she was giving him more time between the pages of another book, The Master and The Muses! It's going to be another amazing book! And what a gorgeous cover to go with it!!

You've gotta click on it. The eyes are just amazing up close. So blue and vibrant. That is a piercing blue-eyed stare if I ever saw one!

Master of Craving by Karin Tabke (What type of sexual encounters do you like?)

Master of Craving

by Karin Tabke

Most of England has submitted to King William, but Wales refuses to yield. The King's trusted Blood Swords are unable to prevail, and while Stefan de Valrey is left unconscious on the battlefield, his sworn brothers are captured. Despite terribile injuries, Stefan vows to liberate them. Even rescuing a delicately beautiful -- and naked -- maiden from peril cannot deter him, for the silver-eyed Arianrhod is a Welsh princess, a hostage Stefan can exchange for his brothers...so long as Arian remains as pure as when he met her. But that is a constraint Stefan finds harder to honor with every passing day.

When the scowling knight slings her across his saddle, Arian knows she should fix all her thoughts on escape. But Arian has never before experienced the deep, soul-changing desire that Stefan arouses with merely a glance. Breaking their vows could set two kingdoms ablaze -- can they control the sweet, terrible burning between them? Read an excerpt.

I really love this series by Karin Tabke. I wasn't sure if I was going to like this book. I love her writing, but the kidnapping of the heroine, well, I wasn't so sure. But it turned out to be a fabulous read in the end. She did things I'd never seen before! And she made it work. Both the hero and heroine have a stubborn streak, which complimented the other nicely, except when she slapped his face right over a nasty sword slash. Not necessary! There is much sexual tension between them, and a few scenes that I just loved! And no hands or touching was involved. So good!

There was a scene like that in one of Kresely Cole's books that I loved, very senusal. The one book where the heroine is a ghost and they can't touch each other. So instead they say what they would do to each other if they could! Oh, that was an uforgettable scene. Another book had a similar scene. It was in The Reawakened by Jeri Smith-Ready. Dravik and Sura are forbidden to have a releationship. One day while Drakik is training Sura to use her gifts they describe to each other what they would do if they could. They are laying together side by side staring up at the sky. It was just such a great scene. I love those kinds of scenes. There is just something so terribly erotic about being verbal!

Is there a particular type of scene that you really like? Like maybe being tied up? Or spanking? Or Voyuerism(that's another I love reading!)? Or the verbal kind like I mentioned above? Tell me, what strikes a chord within you?

Whatever Wednesday

Instead of doing a Waiting on Wednesday post today, I've changed it to Whatever Wednesday along with a Waiting on Wednesday. Just a few things I thought I'd share, so I compiled it all in one post!

Tuesday, I called my mom up, cuz I was bored, and asked if she wanted to drive to this one bookstore that's in Brockport. I'd never been there, only heard of it because I'm signed up with booktours.com and there are local area authors there all the time. I don't know who the authors are. They don't write anything I'd read! This store is just outside of Rochester, which was an hour drive for us. We were both excited about checking out this new place, you know?

Well, we were both a tad bit disappointed to say the least. The store itself was so cluttered with different little trinkets, you could have almost forgot you were in a bookstore. Then it had kind of a used bookstore feel. But the biggest disappointmend that I had was the fact that they didn't have a romance section! What romances they did have were dispersed amongst the fiction books. That just tells me that this particular store does not acknowledge romances as a worthy genre. I mean, there was a section for mystery and sci/fi! But no romance! So yeah, that was a tad frustrating. But it was a super nice day for a drive! And I'd never been to Brockport, which is one of those cute little ity bity towns. Or at least where we were that's the way it seemed. It could have been bigger, but we were on the main street, where it's all old and has that quaint feel to it with the plants hanging from the street sign posts and lamp posts.
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I discovered this other really cool place thanks to author Leanna Renee Hieber for bringing it to my attention. I plan on putting together a box for the cause. And I'll be doing it periodically throughout the years. It's a wonderful thing, enabling us to share the love of romance with women not so fortunate.

Share The Love of books!


Donate yours today!
(click the link for more info and mailing addresses.)
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One other thing, my dear friend is having her second annual giveaway! Christmas in July! Christine has several books to chose from. Head on over and enter today @ the Happily Ever After. Contest runs until August 1st!

Another blogging friend has a contest she just posted this morning. Ms. Cecile @ All I Want and More is celebrating her 101st post and has some nice books up for prizes as well as a special guest author! Head on over there and check it out!
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Now for Waiting on Wednesday!

You know, I passed Leanna I don't know how many times at the Lori Foster's event, but had no idea who she was! If I had known that her upcoming release was this book, I would have made it a point to talk with her. But with so many authors there, I didn't know :(. But I know now! And I am very much looking forward to reading this book! And she has generously offered me an ARC!

The Strangely Beautiful Tale of Percy Parker
by Leanna Renee Hieber

The ghostly, Gothic Victorian fantasy begins! First in the Strangely Beautiful quartet of novels...

Publication Date: 8/25/09 from Leisure Books / Dorchester Publishing

The Strangely Beautiful series continues 2/24/2010!

What fortune awaited sweet, timid Percy Parker at Athens Academy? Considering how few of Queen Victoria’s Londoners knew of it, the great Romanesque fortress was dreadfully imposing, and little could Percy guess what lay inside. She had never met the powerful and mysterious Professor Alexi Rychman, knew nothing of the growing shadow, the Ripper and other supernatural terrors against which his coterie stood guard. She knew simply that she was different, haunted, with her snow-white hair, pearlescent skin and uncanny gifts. But this arched stone doorway offered a portal to a new life, an education far from the convent—and an invitation to an intimate yet dangerous dance at the threshold of life and death….

(Read 3 Excerpts from The Strangely Beautiful Tale of Miss Percy Parker)

Oh yes, I really want to read this book!

Tortured by Amanda McIntyre

Tortured
by
Amanda McIntyre
August 2009
Harlequin Spice

www.AmandaMcIntyre.net
Buy Here at Amazon

The year is 500 C.E., and the land of Brittania is brutally being plundered and conquered by the vicious Saxons. The self-proclaimed king, Lord Aeglech knows no mercy when it comes to the native Britons. You either follow his rules, or you die.

Sierra is nothing more than a slave, but one the Saxon king values. She is Druid; a seer of the past and future. After her mother is ordered to be murdered for hiding her young son from Lord Aeglech, a betrayal punishable by death, Sierra is forced to apprentice the king's executioner, Balrogan. Nine years now, Sierra has wondered what the fate was of her young brother and clung to the last words of her mother, "Dunna fear." Those words gave her strength through the cruelty that has consumed her life, helped to shape her into the fearless woman she has become.

Now a Roman soldier, Dryston, has been captured, and when the torture that Balrogan unleashes on him proves fruitless for information regarding the rumors of a rebel army drawing near, he is turned over to Sierra. Lord Aeglach has assigned her a new form of torture...that of her body. Rather than punish him, they form a pact to help each other escape.

“She was his pleasure, he was her survival.” Pg. 101

Now freed from her man made prison, Dryston must free her from her self-imposed prison, because the more time he spends with the prickly Sierra, the more he feels a connection to her.

The title implies more than just the torture of the hero Dryston or that the heroine Sierra is the apprentice to the executioner, Balrogan. Dryston may be physically tortured but so too is Sierra mentally tortured everyday of her life. Numb to the pain and anguish of what her life has become since her mother’s death nine years earlier, Sierra begins to yearn for something each time she’s in the presence of the Roman prisoner. My heart went out to Sierra as she opened herself to the longing for love. No longer is carnal pleasure, her one form of escape, with Cearl, a young stable hand, able to quench her need. That yearning now rests in the hands of Dryston, and that yearning proves to be yet another form of torture.

With her broken spirit from the pain and terrible existence that was Sierra's life, she finds a sense of peace within the embrace of the Roman. Sex had always been used as a tool of escape, but with this man, it has become so much more. With Dryston, as she learns to trust, she senses she can be more than the empty, nameless, genderless being she has been for the last nine years. She can be the woman she now longs to become.

Amanda McIntyre's books never fail to move me. The harshness of the times, the cruelty, the survival seems so terribly absurd considering how we live today. I think we all need to thank our lucky stars that we live in the times we do. Tortured is driven with the need for hope during such tumultuous times as was that part of history. I felt as if i were whisked away to that time and that land. The vivid descriptions and steady rhythm of the story made for one disturbingly touching tale of hope, love and survival.

A recommended read for any Medieval lover. And one that is set in the beginning of the Middle Ages, that you don't see often at all!

I have been a fan of Amanda MacIntyre's since I read her first Harlequin Spice novel a few months ago, The Diary of Cozette. An amazing book of a young woman coming into her sexuallity set in 19th century England. You can read my review here.

Starting August 4th, you can join Amanda McIntyre on her

"25 blogs in 25 days...The Tortured tour!"
And I am super happy to note that I am part of her blog tour! On August 27th, Amanda will be stopping by here with a giveaway of Tortured!

http://www.lustintime.blogspot.com -- August 4
http://www.theromancebookclub.com -- August 5
http://www.cheekyreads.blogspot.com -- August 6
http://www.novethoughts.wordpress.com -- August 7
http://www.mechelearmstrong.blogspot.com -- August 8-9 http://www.CoffeetimeRomance.com/CoffeeThoughts -- August 10
http://www.lustintime.blogspot.com -- August 11
http://www.blogtalkradio.com -- August 11 7:30 PM
http://www.NightOwlRomance.blogspot.com -- August 12
http://www.RTBookreviews.com/2009 -- August 13
http://www.theromancestudio.com -- August 14
http://www.faerycourt.com/faeryblog -- August 15-16
http://www.myspace.com/amandamcintyre -- August 17
http://www.freshfiction.com/blog -- August 18
http://www.Caridad.com/blog -- August 19
http://loveisanexplodingcigar.com -- August 20
http://www.GenelladeGrey.wordpress.com -- August 21
http://www.mcintyreshouseofmuse.blogspot.com -- August 22-23
http://www.myspace.com/SpiceBriefs -- August 24
http://www.bethciotta.blogspot.com -- August 25
http://www.emilybryan.blogspot.com -- August 26
http://www.RomanceBookWyrm.blogspot.com -- August 27
http://thechatelianes.blogspot.com -- August 28

Mailbox Monday

Happy Monday! I only received one book in the mail last week. I have no idea when I'll get around to reading it, but I got it!

In the Garden of Iden
by Kage Baker
Book One in the Company series

From Publishers Weekly-

Looking for a lost plant, an immortal, nearly 1000-year-old botanist returns to the 16th century from the 24th in this lively debut. On her first trip back through time, Mendoza lands in the England of 1554, just after the accession of Mary Tudor, aka Bloody Mary. Her mission: to prevent the extinction of a strain of holly that can be used in the 24th century as a cancer cure. In the past, Mendoza encounters religious persecution, flaws in her disguise and, most dangerous of all, affection for a 16th-century mortal male. She escapes these perils in a way that strongly suggests this book may be the first in a series. Which is indeed good news, since Baker's characterizations are robust and detailed, as is her development of the historical setting. Her pacing is too breezy, however, and the book's premise unusually far-fetched. Dedicated aficionados of time-travel stories will certainly find this an agreeable read, while others will recognize in Baker a fantasist of considerable promise. (Feb.)

Read a review by Renee here.
Visit Website here.
Read an Excerpt here.

What about you, did you get anything new?

Weekly meme hosted by Marcia at The Printed Page

Why, why, why???

**This is a very touchy subject for me, no thanks to the past I wish I could obliterate with some sort of super-human powers. But alas I don't possess any such thing. The events that unfolded last night had my emotions in a whirlwind and I needed to vent. So read if you want. If not, I totally understand! But first I'd like to say that I love my husband for being who he is, but in accordance with this post, I love him for being what he's not.**

Last night I experienced something that blew my freakin mind. I say all the time that I'm a homebody, a loner. I don't get out much but to go shopping and the bookstore and outings with my mom and son. Every once in a while I'll tag along with my husband to one of his friends house. Last night it was his friend he knew since high school. Another of his best friends from school was there too. Brian. I've known them for 15 years. If I see them in the store or something, I'll talk to them, but I'm not very social, so I don't know them that well on a personal social level. Well, yeah, I suppose I do and that's probably why we don't hang out all that often. But I hear things. And you know what, that's the way it will stay. Anytime we have done get togethers everyone has to consume so much liquor, it's disgusting. I thought that becasue we were all older now, they weren't like that. But oh no, it's much worse, because now instead of it being some friends together for the weekend to have a few drinks, now they are fucking alcoholics. Brian comes over to my house all the time...During the day...so I've only seen him drunk a few times over the years. I just don't like to hang out like that. Thank goodness neither does my husband. I'm an adult, I have my son with me for fucks sake! I don't need to get all stupid drunk! That's shit for when your young.

Well, had it not been for wanting to stick around for the wife of the guy's house we were at, I would have insisted we leave within a half an hour of arriving. I take that back, had my son seen what I saw, we would have left immediately, and had the guy not left we would have left. This guy...OMG it was so fucking disgusting. He fuckin threw up all over his food. We got there right when they started eating. Luckily for Debbie, it was outside. But the guy was so freakin drunk at 8 pm, he couldn't even eat. And do you want to know what the most horrific thing about that was...HIS FUCKING KIDS WATCHED HIM DO IT! and the little girl, maybe 7 or 8 says to him that that was kinda cool, Daddy! My eyes were about to pop out of my fucking head as I stared at my husband.

I don't know, had this been anyone else's house, regardless I would have left. But even though I am not a huge social person, these people I have known nearly as long as my husband. So my empathy for Debbie just skyrocketed. That was her brother in law. And Frank, her husband, my husband's friend, didn't even know, because he was so fuckin shit-faced. And Brian's reaction was, "Oh, he's a good guy. Just has some issues." WTF?? Issues?? Issues my ass! He had his kids right there with him! I have issues too. But that doesn't give me the fucking right to expose my child to that kind of behavior. He's out of his god damn mind. I'm just thankful Devin went out in the woods with the other kids and was clueless to all this. I mean, poor Debbie was trying to clean it all up and it was making her nearly vomit. It was totally fucked up. And man do I know fucked up. One of the last warm fuzzy memories I have of my father was my grandmother telling me and my sister that we need to go in there and comfort him and tell him we love him. HE WAS FUCKING HIGH ON GOD KNOWS WHAT! But she made us go to him and tell him that we love him and want him to be okay. I was 9! I hated her for that. I don't understand what adults think sometimes. I'm an adult. I know what's right and what's wrong. Why doesn't everyone else??

Well, that guy left shortly after. And another thankgoodness--he didn't drive. He only lives a block away or so. I got to talk with Debbie a bit. I've never really talked with her before. I don't know why. I tend to find myself glued to where ever my husband is when we're out like that. I had no idea what she put up with every single day living with her husband. I couldn't do it. I always felt a little intimidated by her. She's outspoken, and from an outsiders point of view, kinda rude. But I had her pegged so wrong! And I am so sorry for that. Because if I had to live with a drunk like that, I'd be one pissed off bitch too. My husband buys a can of beer maybe twice a month for after he mows the grass! A can! Not a case or a six pack. Just a can! And that is why Brian and Frank seldom come to our house. We don't drink, or Shawn doesn't drink.

When you don't drink and you are around people that are beyond drunk, it's really disgusting. I had no idea that these two guys were heading down the road they are on. They're gonna end up killing themselves. They have their excuses. And they will never own up to their addiction until something tragic happens. And that is so fucking sad! One of the biggest things that gets me about a drunk person is they argue their ability to drive. "Oh, I'm fine! I can walk in a straight line. No cops going to pull me over." That last one boggles my mind and Brian said it last night when he decided not to let Shawn drive him home when we left, all becasue he didn't want to leave the party of two yet. There was more liquor to be consumed (Debbie reassured me that he would be staying the night) But it's that a drunk person only worries about themselves and getting a DWI. Hello!! Fucking assholes, what about me? What about my mom? Or my neighbor? Or your neighbor? Or all the other innocent people that just might be on the road when your intoxicated mind veers off into the other lane or doesn't notice the traffic signals and YOU KILL SOMEONE??? WHy is that never a concern for them? They are so self-absorbed that they don't even think about anyone else. That is just beyond me! I lost ALL respect for those two guys last night. Brian has done some stupid things in the past, but watching them two last night...No way. Absolutely disgusting.

I don't understand peoples need to drink. Just a few weeks ago we were at a guy's house my husband used to work with. Now they are not heavy drinkers. But they are social drinkers. I got so pissed. Niether the husband or the wife would accept that I did not want an acoholic drink. Both of them were listing off different things. I kept saying no thank you and they kept rattling off. I snapped at the wife. I don't get snappy with people, except my husband. But dammit she wouldn't quit! No means fuckin no, right? Finally, we settled on water!

Not what I expected when Shawn asked me the other day if I wanted to go to Frank's and Debbie's Saturday.

Anyway, if you're still with me after all that, I did do something nice for myself yesterday afternoon. A week or so ago MsMoonlight did a post called "Five on Friday" about five stupid things about her :). One of them was that she hated unpainted toenails. I thought, Oh man, I haven't painted my toenails in years!! I don't even have any polish it's been so long. What I did have I tossed! So what I did yesterday (thank you, MsMoonlight) was I painted my toenails. I went to the beauty supply store, picked out a few colors and made my toes pretty :). And I splurged and bought a new pair of sandals to go with my pretty new toes. See blogging can be very good for your mental well-being. That one little act of painting my toenails made me feel really good about myself.

I hope you all had a good weekend.

Don't Judge a Book By Its Cover--New Blood by Gail Dayton

I have learned my lesson--Don't Judge a Book By Its Cover! I wanted to buy this book when it first released, but the cover just hit me the wrong way. Me and blood, well, we don't get along. And it's splattered across the cover. So many times my mom and I would be at the bookstore and the book never failed to catch my eye. I'd show it to her and say, "Why couldn't it have a different cover?" I have bought books solely based on the cover and been utterly disappointed. Beautiful covers DO NOT mean fantastic books. So why in the world would I think that unappealing covers to me would have a disappointing story? I do find the cover very interesting and unique, it's just the blood! I know, very superficial of me.

But I couldn't take it anymore. I finally bought the book. I have gone to Gail's website I don't know how many times looking into this new series of hers and it just sounds so good! And now there is a second one scheduled to release in December or February (Two different places have different release dates) And the second book's cover is very neat!

In 1636, the last blood sorceress was burned at the stake. More than two hundred years later, her blood servant Jax has found her successor. Amanusa at first turns down the opportunity to learn what she perceives as an evil art, but she craves justice.

When Amanusa looses magic on those who've harmed her, she must flee for her life across a devastated Europe with Jax, who is inescapably bound to her by blood and magic. Their journey takes them through zones where everything--including magic--has died. Zones populated with strange creatures cobbled together from things left behind by the dead.

Needing each other for their very survival, Amanusa and Jax grow ever closer on their journey to discover answers--about magic, blood sorcery, the dead zones, and even love.

I enjoyed New Blood immensely. I must say, however, that if you are a die hard romance reader, then you will likely not enjoy it for the romance aspect of it. The romance is there but subtle, but it does become the main focus more than halfway through the book. And it was mightily satisfying. Not in the hot and steamy sort of way, but in the fulfilling heart-warming sort of way. The romance was kinda weaved into the overall plot and I thought it was great. The creativity of the world was strongly focused on, and I found it to be quite unique and very fresh.

There are four different types of magic users--Conjurers, Wizards, Alchemists and the very rare Blood Sorceresses. Actually, the non-existent blood sorceresses since the last one Yvaine was burned at the stake over two hundred years ago. But before she died, she poured all her knowledge into her blood servant, Jax, and sent him out to find her successor. The task taking him two hundred years to finally complete.

There is one aspect of this alternate reality that held true--women are less than men. So when it came to practicing magic, women were shunned. But what the politicians within the magical community, as well as the latent people, were not aware of, was that all four magical groups were needed in order to keep a safe balance amongst the land. Over the years magicians attempted to become blood sorcerers but could not figure out why that magical talent could only be performed by women. That I found to be the most fascinating aspect of this world. Only women can use this powerful magic.

Gail Dayton takes you on a fantastical journey through an alternate world where magic is inherent within the land and there are folks that have the ability to siphon and use that magic. The foundation of this alternate world was one that lured me in slowly but then fought halfway through to put the book down. I didn't want to. New Blood was an extraordinary tale of magic and the power of women. I've not read anything quite like this one. No doubt, it's a world I look forward to journeying into once more in Heart's Blood.

I hope there is more regarding the odd contraptions that were found in the Dead Zones. It wasn't explained in New Blood what the purpose of those things were. I hope it's not a loose end that will never be further expanded on and explained. I was intrigued but left hanging! But I found the book to be amazing and a well satisfying read nonetheless. 4.5/5

Heart's Blood
coming February 2010 from Tor Books.
Book 2 in the steampunk blood magic universe.
(Amazon shows a release date of December 29, 2009)

Visit Gail's website here to learn more about her other fantasy trilogy, The One Rose Trilogy. I have those three books. I read the first one a few years ago, and enjoyed it. Not sure why I never stayed with it as the other two books released. But I plan to rectify that soon.

Waiting On Wednesday

I was browsing Samhain's Coming Soon pages and found a few that look really good. Here are two that release on the 28th. Both are fantasy also :). I love that first cover.

“At Earth's Edge” by Christine McKay

Read An Excerpt Online
Genre: Fantasy Romance, Paranormal Romance

ISBN: 978-1-60504-631-0
Length: Short Story
Price: 2.50
Publication Date: July 28, 2009
Cover art by Tuesday Dube

True love transcends all boundaries—even the ones we erect for ourselves.

Man is an upstart species that was once welcomed by Aderyn’s kind—the Others. Like a weed, humans left much in ruin. And the Others retreated behind an enchanted wall guarded by Keepers. Aderyn is one such Keeper. And Man’s battles have reached her tower.

Owen, the nearly dead ex-soldier she once found at her gates, is a different sort of man. He didn’t want anything—except to give her flowers and make her laugh. As he drank in her healing magic like life-giving water, she drowned in his eyes. She was taught to defend against Man’s violence; she was helpless in the face of his kindness.

Now that she has had a taste of it, she would kill to keep it.

Her visions tell her it’s only a matter of time before more soldiers attack her boundary. With no intention of failing her people—or losing the man she loves—she uses her magic to unleash an apparition with the power to decimate armies.

But there’s a price to be paid—in blood. As the tide of it rises higher, everything she has fought for threatens to slip through her fingers. Including Owen…

Warning: Contains hot interspecies sex, a creepy boogey monster lurking in the shadows, a male gardener with not only a green thumb but shape-shifting body parts, and a horde of man-sized bloodthirsty bugs bent on world domination.

“Lover Enslaved” by Jodi Redford

Read An Excerpt Online
Genre: Fantasy Romance

ISBN: 978-1-60504-635-8
Length: Novel
Price: 5.50
Publication Date: July 28, 2009
Cover art by Natalie Winters

Sometimes love is the only prize worth stealing…

Thieves of Aurion, Book 1

Mara Sheppard has no love for the Fae, but to free her brother from prison, she’ll do whatever the treacherous Queen Nalia asks. Even kidnap Dashael Rhyder, a womanizing thief.

She should have known the deal would go sour.

It’s almost too easy to bait and trap Dashael. Resisting his potent Fae allure isn’t. Especially since Nalia’s unexpected demand for a missing magical rune means Mara will have to hold strong far longer than she’d planned.

Dashael’s best shot at escaping? Seduce her. If he can survive a few dozen of his closest enemies out for blood and the queen’s scheme to make him her personal stud…he might just make it.

Then his game of seduction trips over a snag named Mara, and he falls. Hard. For a commitment-phobic thief, love might as well be a prison sentence. Yet the idea of losing her makes him miserable.

Mara can’t deny that her enemy has stolen her heart. But their love is about to be tested by a lifetime of secrets. The risk may not be worth it. Especially if a life together means death for one of them.

Warning, contains one or more of the following: Hot, sexy thieves, pain-in-the-butt sprites, handcuffs, intriguing new uses for a silk bed curtain, and scorching, shake-the-ceiling-tiles sex.

Blurb and book information from samhainpublishing.com

Steampunk Obsession

In my search to further broaden my knowledge of the Steampunk genre, I stumbled across this most amazingly brilliant contraption.

AND I WANT ONE TOO!!!

A Steampunk inspired laptop!

Dude, tell me that that laptop is not the coolest freaking thing you have ever seen? I am in awe of the creator's talent.

"This may look like a Victorian music box, but inside this intricately hand-crafted wooden case lives a Hewlett-Packard ZT1000 laptop that runs both Windows XP and Ubuntu Linux. It features an elaborate display of clockworks under glass, engraved brass accents, claw feet, an antiqued copper keyboard and mouse, leather wrist pads, and customized wireless network card. The machine turns on with an antique clock-winding key by way of a custom-built ratcheting switch made from old clock parts."--Datamancer from Datamancer.net

All images taken from datamancer.net

I think that is the sweetest piece of technology I have ever seen. I can only imagine if the artist should ever decide to sell something like that what it would cost.

How neat would it be to have this motif decorating a room. I can so see my library room with clockworks, brass and wood decorated pieces. Some of the stuff I found was a little creepy but i guess there are different levels of tastes in any genre. I really do like the Victorian style Steampunk look, without the creepy goggles!

Here is a little info about Steampunk--

Steampunk is a sub-genre of fantasy and speculative fiction that came into prominence in the 1980s and early 1990s. The term denotes works set in an era or world where steam power is still widely used—usually the 19th century, and often Victorian era England—but with prominent elements of either science fiction or fantasy, such as fictional technological inventions like those found in the works of H. G. Wells and Jules Verne, or real technological developments like the computer occurring at an earlier date. Other examples of steampunk contain alternate history-style presentations of "the path not taken" of such technology as dirigibles, analog computers, or digital mechanical computers (such as Charles Babbage's Analytical Engine); these frequently are presented in an idealized light, or with a presumption of functionality.

Speculative fiction is a fiction genre speculating about worlds that are unlike the real world in various important ways. In these contexts, it generally overlaps one or more of the following: science fiction, fantasy fiction, horror fiction, supernatural fiction, superhero fiction, utopian and dystopian fiction, apocalyptic and post-apocalyptic fiction, and alternate history.

Now after reading through those two definitions taken from Wikipedia, I'd say what I've read so far is Speculative Fiction, rather than Steampunk. But then again, maybe not. You know what, how about I just call it all Steampunk, because I like the word :D.

Winner and Two New Releases!

Happy Tuesday!

I have a winner for the download of Vivian Arend's new release today! Tidal Wave. I used random.org and as I mentioned before, chose the 5th name down on the list. And that lucky person is...

Armenia!

Please send me an email to me so I can let Vivian know! himscute@yahoo.com
Thank you all so much for stopping by and and showing your support.

Today is also release day for two books over at Samhain. One of them is Tidal Wave, of course! And the other is one I have been waiting months for--The Chancellor's Bride!


Tidal Wave
By Vivian Arend
Buy Here!

From her first kiss to her first sight of dolphins dancing on the waves, Alexia Colten has always held a special place in her heart for Jaffrey’s Cove. Now that she’s back to help her grandmother settle into a home, she discovers this place has lost none of its remembered magic. In fact, it seems more magical than before—and more erotic.

After she’s gifted with a beautiful, dolphin-etched medallion, she finds herself surrounded by the golden boys of summers past. Her body is filled with longings she can’t explain and dreams of blue lights that turn into lovers.

Joshua Marley and his cousin Anthony are merfolk, a people capable of living beneath the waves as either dolphin or human. Alexia holds the medallion that marks her as the next in line to lead their people—if she can prove she can transform. Working in tandem, they’re sure they can arouse her passion and protect her from those who would use her simply to gain power.

But their strength alone may not be enough to help her face the challenge of her new position…

Warning: This title contains a conniving granny, naked men in the surf and shifters who take fun in the water to new depths. Snorkels not required.

Blurb information from Samhainpublishing.com

The Chancellor's Bride by

Kirsten Saell
Buy Here!

Her love for two men could save their future. Her secrets could destroy them all.

Recently re-elected Chancellor Collin sur-Gaerig is a rising star on the political scene, and everyone expects he’ll soon be rewarded with an estate and title. He also has a dirty little secret: he’s in love with his manservant, Harral. If anyone—especially the wife he’s expected to take—discovers their affair, all his aspirations will go up in smoke.

The mysterious woman he finds lying half-dead in the street is strong, beautiful, independent…and aroused when she catches him and Harral in a compromising position. As Aelis worms her way past their closely guarded defenses and into their bed, they realize she’s the perfect match for both of them.

But Aelis has a secret of her own, an ex-lover’s blackmail scheme that could get them all killed. To save the men she’s come to love, she’s willing to sacrifice her own happiness, maybe even her life.

Collin’s not about to let that happen. For the first time in his life, he’s willing to risk it all in order to have it all. Even if it means he could lose the man he’s loved for years—and the woman they both want to love forever.

Warning: This book contains explicit sex, including m/m and m/m/f; violence; bad language; financial irregularities; uneaten dessert; gratuitous invocation of various deities; and breakfast-table hijinks you’re not likely to witness at your neighborhood IHOP.

Blurb information from Samhainpublishing.com

Series Order:
Crossing Swords
Healer's Touch
Bound by Steel
The Chancellor's Bride

Mailbox Monday

Do you ever get this overwhelming urge to buy a particular book that you've pondered buying, so you can read it right away? Like you can't stop thinking about it until you have it in your hands? I did that the other day. I had looked into this particular book by Gail Dayton several times and passed based on the cover. But on Friday, I could not contain the curiosity any longer! I had to have the book and I had to have it now. I remembered seeing a copy at the one Borders I shop at the most and went there first. Whew, there was a copy there. And then of course, the urgency to have the books is over because it's in my hands, now the overwhelming sense of giddy relief has taken over! So I had this extra little bounce to my step as I approached the counter to check out...and the one super nice lady pops up and says, "Hi, Amy!"...Good grief she scared that happy bounce right out of me! But we discussed the book a bit and it put the happy bounce back in my step as I left the store :). You see, the book is labeled to be a steampunk romance and that I was not aware of. I've only read one book in that genre and I Loved it! Clockwork Heart by Dru Pagliassotti! This one, New Blood, is pretty good so far. I hope to post my thoughts about it in the coming week.

I did receive two books in the mail. One of them an ARC for review. It sounds like it could be an emotionally moving story--When You Went Away by Michael Baron.

"Michael Baron writes with deep sensitivity of the power to transform and heal in the face of overwhelming tragedy. A lovely read." -- #1 New York Times bestselling author, Susan Wiggs

The other a lovely copy of Sweet Restraint by Beth Kery! Thank you, Lea for your kindness :). I know I'm going to enjoy this one!

And I bought one e-book last week. I have been meaning to try something by Shelly Laurenston ever since I read and fell in love with her dragons under the name G.A. Aiken. I purchased Pack Challenge and read it that day. Oh it was so good. I'm partial to her dragons but I really did love this first one and will buy the next ones in the series. She writes such great aggressive scenes!

I'd say this weeks mailbox turned out quite nicely!

What about you, did y'all get anything this past week?

Weekly meme hosted by Marcia at The Printed Page