I just finished my review of A Christmas Ball for Night Owl Romance and thought I would share it here. I hope you enjoy... :)

You are cordially invited to Lord and Lady Hartwell’s festive “Christmas Ball” by Best selling author Jennifer Ashley, Emily Bryan, and Alissa Johnson. This ball is sure to be the toast of the Ton as all of the main characters (some of whom are not who they seem and didn’t have an invite) are sure to excite and titillate with their unique and sensuous escapades! And believe me when I tell you that you will be most glad that they did!

The book starts off with Emily Bryan’s “My Lady Below Stairs”. It’s the story of Jane Tate the bastard daughter of Lord Somerville but as such she has not had the charmed life of his other daughter Lady Sybil, but has lived the life of a lowly scullery maid. But fate has come to right many wrongs this Christmas as Jane finds herself pulled into the role of imitating her Lady sister (Jane and Sybil have always looked very similar and with the right clothing and manners she’s a dead ringer) when Sybil unceremoniously runs off with a painter on the eve of her betrothal to Lord Eddleton. But Jane’s real love interest the stable hand Ian Michael MacGregor will not stand idly by and watch Jane be horns- waggled into the elaborate plot that might very well take her from his arms forever. Will Jane finally find herself living in the role of Lady Somerville or will she be found out for the serving maid she truly is. And who will she end up with Ian or Lord Eddleton believe me you won’t want to miss the answer!

Jennifer Ashley’s “The Longest Night” is a continuation of her Nvengaria series. And for those of you have enjoyed the others books you don’t want to miss this wonderful addition! You will see some of the characters returning from Highlander Ever After this is Mary and Valentin’s story. Mary Cameron has not forgotten the handsome Shapeshifter who stole her heart as she nursed him back to health at her brother’s Castle when Valentin (who was acting as the body guard for her brother’s wife) was shot and left for dead. But with so many miles separating them and no letter from him after his return home she wondered if any of the feelings that were stirred in her heart were really true or just a distraction for an injured man far from home. Now Valentin has returned to England on a mission from Grand Duke Alexander(The Mad, Bad Duke) and he is determined not only to accomplish that mission but also to seek out and win back Mary! Will Mary and Valenin find their happily ever after or will they find the deck to stacked against them in this game of the heart?

Alissa Johnson’s “Traditions” Finds an Earl who has a plan! William Renwick the Earl of Casselbury has always been known as levelheaded and organized to a fault. Therefore when he sets his mind to doing his duty and getting down to finding a wife to produce an heir for his title he knows exactly whom he wants and he means to get her! He wants a woman who is gentle, soft of speech and with an open and big heart. He is sure that that woman is none other but Miss Caroline Meldrin. Little did he know that his soul match might just be not Caroline but her very severe and proper friend Patience Byerly. But surely he couldn’t be that far off in his calculations where Caroline is all light and airy, where Patience with her dark hair pulled back into a severe bun and her spectacles perched on her prim little nose seems to opposite of what he’s looking for. But as events begin to unfold Patience and William both start to understand that when love comes calling sometimes appearances can be more than deceiving and what one isn’t looking for is exactly what one needs.

I thoroughly enjoyed each of these wonderful Regency romances stories. Each author has penned a wonderful romantic tale that you will find wishing were longer, as each could have very well satisfied as its own book. Which means that each of these fine authors have more than done their job in this fantastic anthology. So why not make it Christmas early this year and get this great read!

Here are a few of the upcoming things to look forward to here on SRR...

Vampires, Werewolves, and Ghosts oh my... and romance novels verses bodice rippers which is it?

Today we have with us up and coming author Keta Diablo!

OK I know that most of us probably do this (I know I do all the time. ) When you sit down and start reading a book and the characters are described do you get very clear images of what they look like playing in your head? Do they feature your favorite celebrities suddenly jump off the movie screen, TV, or models from the Internet and magazines, and into your head as the stars of the book? Now sometimes that's not necessary because the cover art is so gorgeous but if it's one that doesn't have a real pic of a very gorgeous guy our minds have to improvise.

I for one do this all the time so I was wondering if many of you do this as well. I find that a lot of the times it's the same favorites making multiple appearances as the stars of the story in my head. Some of my repeat offenders are Gerard Butler, Mel Gibson, Brad Pitt, Hugh Jackman, Josh Holloway, Models - Stefan Andreas Schwarze, Julian Gil, and two that are gone but never forgotten... the great Rob Ashton, & Jon Erik Hexum, Raoul Bova, and many more.

The heroine's tend to be my favorite actresses Nicole Kidman, Eliza Dushku, Kate Beckinsale, Evangeline Lilly, Rachel Weisz etc.

So I thought I would share a few of my favorite hero hunkies with you. Hope you enjoy the eyecandy!

The sexy Josh Holloway and equally hunky Gabriel Garko

And here is one of my wallpapers that I painted up of my idea of Jamie Fraser from the Outlander Series the drop dead Gerard Butler (dreamy sigh he's always been my Jamie)

You can click here to get the full sized image if you like.

I will be posting more eyecandy periodically so check back for more hotties. After all they are romance hey inspire us! :)

This is the first author interview here on SRR and I am extremely pleased to have the very talented and Bestselling author Madeline Baker / a.k.a Amanda Ashley here with us today.

Madeline has been writing romance for well over a decade and has received multiple awards under both names. She started writing Historical Romance and later was bitten by the paranormal, and started writing about vampires as well. Thus the pen name of Amanda Ashley was born.

JJ: Hello Madeline! It’s so good to have you join us! It is a personal honor for me as I am a big fan of your books and have been for years under both of your personas. Please start by tell us a little about yourself. Anything you would like to share with us?

MB/AA: Hmmm, there’s not much to tell. Other than writing, I love movies and reading. I’m a big collector of all things Star Wars. I also collect Beauty and the Beast stuff and Phantom of the Opera. I like to walk my dog in the morning. Love spending time with my family.

JJ: Please tell us about your latest release?

MB/AA:That would be NIGHT’S PLEASURE, which is the 4th book in my Night series and probably my favorite. Rane is a vampire who masquerades as a magician. Due to something in his past for which he’s ashamed, he has cut himself off from his family.

Savanah is a reporter who is certain Rane is hiding something. When her father is killed, Rane takes her under his wing and they make startling discoveries about each other.

JJ: What is your all time favorite book?

MB/AA:Phantom, by Susan Kay. It’s a remarkable read and tell the story of the Phantom of the Opera from his birth onward.


JJ: And what would be that special book that you have written yourself? Do you have a personal favorite?

MB/AA:My favorite book is usually the one I’m writing at the moment But I suppose I’d have to say Embrace the Night.


JJ: Oh cool that's m personal favorite book as well! Embrace the Night is an amazing read!


JJ: What was your first published work and when was it published?

MB/AA:My first published work was a historical, Reckless Heart, published back in 1985. My first paranormal was a short story titled Masquerade for an anthology titled Secrets of the Heart, which is out of print. It was reprinted in 2001 an anthology titled After Twilight.

JJ: Who are some of your biggest influences as an author?

MB/AA:I don’t know. I have a lot of favorite authors and I think, in a way, they have all influenced me in one way or another, especially Anne Rice’s early vampire books.

JJ: What do you do on a typical writing day?

MB/AA:Get up, take my dog for a walk, feed the bird, feed the turtle, feed my husband, run whatever errands have to be run, read and answer my email. I don’t usually get started writing until mid-to-late afternoon and then I pretty much write on and off until after midnight.

JJ: What kind of research do you do for your books? Do you enjoy the research process?

MB/AA:The typical stuff….there are a lot of books out there on vampires and the paranormal. I used to go to the library, but now I do some of it on line. Over the years, I’ve collected a number of books on vampires, werewolves, and witches. I love the research!

JJ: If you could be one of your characters – Who would you be? And why?

MB/AA: Oh, gosh, I don’t know. I never thought about it. I think maybe
I’d like to be Megan from the book I just finished because I really love
my hero, Rhys.

JJ: Is there a genre of book (and or setting or both lol) you would like to write but haven't yet?

MB/AA:I’d like to write a historical with an Indian vampire and if I can ever come up with a good plot, I will!

JJ: Who is your perfect hero? And why?

MB/AA:Other than my own heroes, the first one that comes to mind is Jacob from Twilight (sorry, ladies). He’s tall, dark and handsome and he loves Bella enough to let her do what she wants to (unlike Edward, who is constantly over-riding her wishes). Jacob is always there for her, and when the time comes, he’s willing to let her go.


JJ: What would be the best way for readers contact you? And find out more about you and your wonderful books?

MB/AA:They can email me at DarkWritr@aol.com.
My website is http://www.amandaashley.net/.
I also have a newsletter that I send out on occasion. They can sign up for it at http://www.madelinebaker.net/newsletter.htm

JJ: Do you ever use real life actors or actresses as how you see your characters when you write in your head? I know I personally see them as the main characters a lot in the books I read when I’m reading them so I was just wondering if authors do that as well when they are writing them?

MB/AA:Frank Langella (who played Dracula in a film of the same name) is my main role model. Of course, Johnny Depp would be a perfect vampire. I also liked Antonio Bandaras in Interview With a Vampire and used him in one of my books.

JJ: Is there anything else you would like to share with us today hon?

MB/AA:I have a new book, Immortal Sins, coming out from Zebra Books in October And next February Everlasting Kiss will be published. The character, Rhys, that I mentioned above, is one of the characters in this book. Hopefully, his story will be out in October of next year.

Writing as Madeline Baker, I have an ebook coming out from Cerridwen Press in August titled Shadows Through Time. It’s a time travel set in the old west. Cerridwen will be publishing it in paperback around the first of the year.

Leisure Books if reissuing one of my older time travel books,, Feather in the Wind, in January.

JJ: Thank you Madeline so so much for taking the time to be on the blog. It was a true honor and priviledge and I appreciate it more than I can say!

MB/AA: Thanks for asking!

We all have our special author that are on our automatic to buy lists. Here are a few of the releases that I am really looking forward too.

Never Love a Lawman - Jo Goodman ( Sept. 1 )

Highlander's Temptation - Sue-Ellen Welfonder ( Sept. 29 )

An Echo in the Bone - Diana Gabaldon ( Sept. 22 )

Darkness Unleashed - Alexandra Ivy ( Nov. 3 )

There Be Dragons - Heather Graham ( Sept. ) This is a gorgeously illustrated novel you won't want to miss with artwork from the handsome and talented Cherif Fortin, and Lynn Sanders !

Also from Heather Graham - Night of the Wolves (Nov. 24)

Tucker's Claim (Hells Eight book 3) - Sarah McCarty ( Oct. )

And see the post yesterday for more about Sherrilyn Kenyon's latest Dark Hunter Novel releasing August 4th!

Me my son Stephen and Sherrilyn at Booksigning.

I truly can't wait for this one! And if any of you are a lover of a terrific Vampire read and haven't already given Sherrilyn Kenyon's Dark Hunter's Series a try I highly recommend them! Sherrilyn also writes Historical Romance under the name Kinley MacGregor so give them both a try you will be very glad that you did!

Also for any of you Kenyon Minon's you can get free short stories, free videos, and a great new Bad Moon Rising Wallpaper at the The Sanctuary. Check it out!

Authors - Lori Foster , Sue Ellen Welfonder , Stella Cameron , Dianne Castell , Kate Angell , Sarah McCarty and more...

Tails of love is a wonderful collection of 10 heartwarming original stories about our beloved animal friends by bestselling and award-winning authors - Lori Foster, Stella Cameron, Kate Angell, Dianne Castell, Anne Christopher, Marcia James, Donna MacMeans, Sarah McCarty, Patricia Sargeant, & Sue Ellen Welfonder.

Not only will you get some great reads with this one, but all of the Author and Agent proceeds from sales of the book will benefit the AAF - Animal Adoption Foundation - a no-kill animal shelter in Hamilton, Ohio! So it is for a great cause as well.

Each author has penned a unique and touching portrait of just how much animals truly bring to our lives. They give not only un-conditional love but laughter, joy, and sometimes they
can even be the thing that saves our own lives. Animals have always held a very special place in my own heart (I’m the proud owner myself of three beautiful and feisty kitties) and I thoroughly enjoyed this book all the stories were good but a few even brought me to tears. The wonderful animals in these stories run the gambit from playful and loveable dogs and cats, to a monkey and a petting zoo with a very mischievous little goat! And every story is rich with love and romance as well so what more could you ask for?

If you are a pet owner or just an animal lover who also loves romances you definitely do not want to miss this wonderful book and again remember the proceeds go to a wonderful shelter that values every life that comes through its doors. I truly wish every shelter was a non kill shelter. Unfortunately that’s not the case and this book also brings awareness as to how each of us can make a difference in helping animals
in our own community and shelters. I highly recommend this great anthology.