Sapphire Romance Realm

It's a New Year! Is it time for a new look?

2012-01-12T22:00:00.000-06:00

It's a brand new year! I know I'm very late in getting this posted but I have been very busy since the Holiday's working on several new websites and book covers! I did want to take a break and take this opportunity to wish you all a very Happy, Blessed, and Prosperous New Year!

It's also the perfect time for a fresh new look for your blog or website! Have you been wanting a new look for a while but just haven't taken the plunge yet? Well what better time to go for that brand new look than the start of the new year? I would love to help you with your new design! Please contact me today with your ideas I will be happy to give you a free quote and help you get the design that you have been dreaming of! :)

Here are a just few of my most recent projects! Let me know what you think! :)

Redesign for Author Bonnie Vanak's site... http://www.bonnievanak.com/

New Book Covers

Book Trailers

And there are more...You can see all the book trailers I have been working on by subscribing to my Youtube Channel here... http://www.youtube.com/user/jennj31

Big Hugs,

Win a Kindle Fire in the 25 Days of Christmas Giveaways!!!!!!!!!!!

2011-12-15T06:32:00.001-06:00

25 Days of Christmas Giveaways

December 1-25, 2011

This Christmas, great things come in fours at Imajin Books! So we have four ways for booklovers to celebrate the Christmas season: an eBook Sale, eBook Giveaways, Basket o' Books Draw, and a Grand Prize Draw for the all-new Kindle Fire ereader.

1. eBook Sale - all our ebooks will be priced between $0.99 and $2.99.
The sale is on from December 1st to January 7th. To purchase ebooks from Smashwords (multiple file formats including ePub, PDF & more), visit our Winter Events page to view the special coupon codes to buy ebooks at our sale prices. Or buy from Amazon.com where the list prices have been changed to sale prices.

2. eBook Giveaways - 4 ebooks (winners' choice from our titles) will be given away daily.

Rules: To enter, leave a comment and your email address on our Winter Events post in our Contests & Events section. Comments without email addresses will not qualify. You can enter every day; 1 ebook per winner per day. You may format your email address like: myemailaddress (at) emailprovider.com (or similar) if you'd like to; as long as we can read it, you'll be entered. No exchanges, no cash value. Ebook prizes will be awarded daily.

3. Basket o' Books Draw - paperback collection of winner's choice of 4 books

Rules: To enter, leave a comment and your email address on our Winter Events post in our Contests & Events section. Comments without email addresses will not qualify. You may format your email address like: myemailaddress (at) emailprovider.com (or similar) if you'd like to; as long as we can read it, you'll be entered. No exchanges, no cash value. 1 entry per person. This draw will take place between December 25 and December 31. Winner will be announced on our website.

4. Grand Prize Draw for a Kindle Fire ereader - 1 winner

Rules: You will get one entry for any of the following:

1. Review any of our books from December 1-December 24th, 2011 on Amazon.com or Smashwords.com and email us a link to your review. 1 entry per book title reviewed.

2. Tweet any of the following messages (1 entry per post per day; max. 3 entries/day):

Check out @imajinbooks 25 Days of Christmas Giveaways for prizes & win a #Kindle Fire http://www.imajinbooks.com/

eBooks $2.99 or less - @imajinbooks 25 Days of Christmas Giveaways - prizes & win a Kindle Fire http://www.imajinbooks.com/

25 Days of Christmas Giveaways @imajinbooks - eBook SALE, prizes & win a Kindle Fire http://www.imajinbooks.com/

3. Post an announcement on your Facebook page to help us spread the news and email us with the link to your FB page (1 entry per post per day; max. 3 entries per day):

Want to win a Kindle Fire ereader? Check out the 25 Days of Christmas Giveaways at http://www.imajinbooks.com/

4. Buy any of our ebooks or paperbacks between December 1-25th and forward us your receipt by email; receive 10 entries per title purchased.

When emailing us during this contest, please put "25 DAYS" in the subject line. Include your name and pertinent contest info.

Entries must be received by December 25th, midnight MT. Open to anyone 18+, anywhere. Void where prohibited. No cash value, no substitutions, no exchanges.

Basket o' Books and Kindle prize will be awarded by January 7, 2012. All prizes must be claimed by January 30, 2012 or they will be void.

Please help us promote this event. Feel free to use the badge or banner and link to http://www.imajinbooks.com/contests-events

*Just a side note but I created pretty much all the covers for the books for Imajin Books so far! :) I hope you all like them and enjoy some good reads as well Good luck in the contest!!! *

Win A KINDLE AND FREE BOOKS Scavenger Hunt!!!!!!!!!

2011-08-04T00:25:00.002-05:00

Just a reminder that the Scavenger Hunt from Imajin Books is now underway!!! Read about it in my previous post and enter for your chance to win a Kindle or some great free books!!!!!!!! You can get three extra entries just from my three sites in the hunt so don't miss out on this great chance to win!

I hope everyone has a great rest of the week! :)

WIN A KINDLE & FREE BOOKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2011-07-26T18:28:00.001-05:00

Hi everyone here is a great chance for you to win a KINDLE or some great free books from Imajin Publishing take a look!!! ALSO I'm offering you THREE extra chances to win! That's right just read through the post to find out how!!! :)

Summer Sizzles with Imajin Books' this

August: Scavenger Hunt

This summer, celebrate the opening of the innovative Canadian publishing company, IMAJIN BOOKS. Our huge summer event began on July 1, 2011 and we rewarded readers and book reviewers, our way to say "Thank you" for reading our books.

This August, the fun continues with an exciting Summer Sizzler Scavenger Hunt.

This event runs Aug 1 - August 31. Participants have a chance to win some fabulous prizes, including a Kindle ereader with wi-fi.

To enter:

1. Check out our Scavenger host list and click on each blog link.

2. Scavenge through these blogs until you find our Scavenger Hunt badge/graphic. You'll find the graphic at our website, so you'll know what to look for.

3. Email us at imajinbooks@shaw.ca with "Scavenger Hunt" in subject line and the website link to the page with the badge you found, your name, mailing address and phone number, plus the title of the ebook you would like to receive if your name is drawn.

4. Each correct entry counts as an extra entry into our prize draws, so the more you find the badge and send us those links, the more chances you have of winning the Kindle and other prizes.

Prizes:

• 31 winners will receive one ebook of their choice from our published titles.

• 4 winners will received a signed novel (trade paperback) by authors Alison Bruce, Melodie Campbell, Cherish D'Angelo and Cheryl Kaye Tardif.

• Grand Prize: Kindle with Wi-Fi ($140 value): One grand prize winner (Kindle) to be selected from all eligible entries. Additional prizes may be added later.

This contest runs Aug 1 to Aug 31. Winners will be notified by email by September 3rd.

*Entrant must be 18 to enter and be a Canadian or USA citizen for paperback and Kindle prizes, but can be international for ebook prizes. No purchase necessary. No substitution, no refunds, no cash value. The grand prize is not redeemable in cash and must be accepted as awarded. Void where prohibited by law.*

Imajin Books authors, their families and any subcontracted associates of Imajin Books are excluded from this contest.

Imajin Books is an innovative, unique Canadian publisher with an eye on exciting, ever-changing trends and opportunities in publishing that opened its 'doors' to authors worldwide in late February 2011. They promise great reads by wonderful authors, with ebooks priced under $5 and trade paperbacks under $18.

From ImajinBooks.com: The future of reading is ebooks, and the future is NOW!

http://www.imajinbooks.com/

Now isn't that a great contest! And I am very happy to be offering everyone THREE extra entries! You already have one here just by reading this post! Because I'll give you a hint the graphic is very easy to spot here on SRR on my sidebar somewhere! ;) To claim your other two entries just visit my other two sites here ...

Sapphire Designs http://designs.sapphiredreams.org/

& Sapphire Blog Designs http://sapphireblogdesign.blogspot.com/

and find the graphic and follow the rules listed in the post here! That's all there is too it! Good luck to everyone! :)

L.A. Banks Auction Very Worthy Cause!!!!!!!!

2011-06-21T11:04:00.000-05:00

I was very saddened to hear recently about the serious illness of author L.A. Banks. I am happy to pass on the information about the auction (and website where you can donate also) to help with L.A.'s mounting medical bills...

Several authors, editors and agents have banned together in recent days to put together a spectacular auction for our beloved friend and peer, L. A. Banks. We have recieved sad news that L.A. has become gravely ill and to help defray rising medical costs this very special auction is taking place for TEN DAYS ONLY on EBAY.

Here are the details and the official website for all support for Leslie Banks. Please help in any way you can.

The SHARE YOUR HEART auction for LA Banks begins today on Tuesday, June 21st at 9PM EST and runs for ten days ending on Friday, July 1st at 9PM EST due to eBay rules.

Please feel free to share news of the event: http://www.labanksauction.org/ .

The official list of items is there and there is a link to the eBay site, which will go active at 9PM.

You may also donate to the fund...there are several different ways to do so and all information can be found on the website!

Please feel free to repost this on your own blogs as well and post to facebook etc...

To tweet, please use the hash mark: #labanksauction (You start it yourself by typing the number sign # followed by whatever you want to say (no spaces) from your twitter page and then add your news...).

Thank you for helping us spread the word!

Please keep L.A. and her family in your prayers.

Guest Blogger: Alison Bruce

2011-06-15T23:55:00.003-05:00

Hi everyone today I have a very special guest author Alison Bruce is here to tell us about her new novel Under A Texas Star! (I had the very big honor of actually designing the cover for her on this one with Imajin Publishing!) I had no idea when I was working on the cover that it would actually inspire an addition to the book! So without further ado here is Alison to tell us more about her fabulous western romance take it away Alison! :)

A Picture’s Worth

by Alison Bruce

“A picture is worth a thousand words.” In my case a picture inspired a thousand words. (Probably closer to five hundred, but why quibble?)

When I saw the art for my cover, my first reaction was “WOW!” followed by the kind of giggling you can expect from an author who is realizing that their book is about to become a reality. I found that seeing the cover of Under A Texas Star was even more exciting than getting my advance - and that was pretty exciting.

Once I settled down I had my first critical moment. I loved the rich colours, the composition, the hot guy (Jimmy Thomas). Jenn did an amazing job, right down to matching Marly’s hair colour for me. But Marly never wore a dress on the trail. She was disguised as a boy. On the other hand, under the dust and denim there was a young woman in there that might want an off the shoulder gown - an item of clothing that her strict Aunt Adele would never allowed her to own. This led to an extra scene in the book.

Not a thousand words, but the picture not only inspired the new scene, it coloured how I looked at Marly. Her first romance led to heartache and humiliation. She didn’t think she’d trust anyone that way again - even a handsome Texas Ranger. But if I can dream myself into a cowboy’s arms, Marly sure as heck can dream herself into that dress.

About Alison Bruce

Alison Bruce has an honours degree in history and philosophy, which has nothing to do with any regular job she's held since. A liberal arts education did prepare her to be a writer, however. She penned her first novel during lectures while pretending to take notes.

http://www.alisonbruce.ca/

http://www.alisonebruce.blogspot.com/

www.facebook.com/alisonbruce.books

About Under A Texas Star

Disguised as a boy, Marly joins a handsome Texas Ranger in the hunt for a con man and they must bring the fugitive to justice before giving up the masquerade and giving in to their passion.

When Marly Landers is fooled by con man Charlie Meese, she's determined to bring him to justice--even if it means dressing up as a boy and setting off across the plains to find him.

Texas Ranger Jase Strachan is also after Meese, for crimes committed in Texas. He joins forces with the young boy in a journey that takes them to Fortuna, where a murder interrupts their mission. Jase is duty bound to find the killer, no matter the cost.

Marly carries out her own investigation and comes to the aid of Amabelle Egan, the sister of one of the suspects. But appearances are deceiving, and Marly is mistaken for Amabelle’s suitor, making her a target for the killer. Not to mention, Charlie Meese is still out there.

Under the Texas stars, Marly and Jase are drawn together by circumstances beyond their control, yet fate plots to tear them apart. Will Marly finally get her man?

(Get your copy today click here!)

Thank you Alison so much for your kind words on the cover! I can't tell you how very happy I am that you liked the design so much, and to know that it actually inspired your adding on to your novel that is just amazing and very humbling to me. God bless you! I truly don't know what to say accept thank you because I don't know of a bigger compliment than that for a cover designer. And thank you for being my guest here today it was a pleasure having you here!

I hope that you all will go and pick up your copy of Under A Texas Star today and enjoy the mystery and the romance of this great western romance!

Update and Recent Projects

2011-04-01T10:55:00.000-05:00

Hi everyone sorry it has been such a long time in between updates. I have been really busy lately and I've been having some health issues as well (that some of you know about from reading here on my blog) that have had me down for a while. So I haven't been able to read and review like I was and want to for quite a while now. God bless you all for your prayers and well wishes and emails etc. I appreciate them more than I can say. I am still struggling but I am hanging in there and I pray that I will be back to my old self and even better very soon. I have still been hard at work and I wanted to share a few of my recent projects with you.

I have been very fortunate to be able to work as the main cover artist for Imajin Publishing that recently opened its doors! Check them out! And here are just a few of the covers that I have been working on for them! :)

They are also taking submissions now so if you have a manuscript that you have been working on be sure to give them a try! :)

Here is also the latest book trailer that I have been working on it's for Pamela Clare's upcoming release Breaking Point that is set for release on May 3rd! You don't want to miss this one it is a romantic thrill ride that you won't be able to put down!

I have also been hard at work on several different blogs lately giving them facelifts and making new buttons and awards etc.! Here are just a few of them!
  http://shamelessromancereviews.blogspot.com/
http://asthepagesturn.blogspot.com/

http://seekerofthewinterheart.blogspot.com/
Well that's all for now! God bless you all and please be sure to contact me about your blog if you are wanting a fresh look for Spring! There is no job to big or small contact me today for a free quote! :)

Bookcases full of wonderful books

2011-02-11T12:31:00.000-06:00

Ok let's all admit it we are all book addicts or we wouldn't be here blogging and reading blogs about the romance books that we love so much. So I had a thought while I was looking at some of my own vast collection of books... in this age of modern furniture just how many bookcases do most avid readers have in their homes?

There are all kinds - you have the standard old bookcases that are pretty much just boxed in shelves and then there are the newer nifty corner bookcases, and even ones that are kind of like functioning pieces of art that just happen to hold a few of your favorite books too. So time to fess up how many bookcases do you have filled up in your home? Right now I have 7. Some of them are the small ones and no they aren't all totally full (I did clear out some of my books last year to make more room for newer ones), but they are all well on the way again to being full lol. :)

BIG HUGS until next time,

Review: Must Love Kilts by Allie MacKay

2011-02-05T13:53:00.001-06:00

Must love Kilts is the latest in Allie MacKay’s fabulous series of Scottish Ghosts and the time traveling women who fall in love with them! This is the story of Margo Menlove (she is the sister of Mindy the heroine from Some Like it Kilted for those of you who are fans of the series you will remember her I’m sure) Margo was born a Scotophile - she lives breathes and eats anything to do with Scotland! And it has been her lifelong dream to finally be able to go to that enchanted, beautiful, and rugged land that seems to be part of her very soul. When Margo comes across a book about myths and legends from Scotland she of course can’t resist looking through it and that is when she first sees Magnus MacBride. Magnus is a braw and handsome Scottish Warrior known as the Viking Slayer from the 13th Century. And from the second that she sees him he fires her imagination and her dreams even more because they seem to connect even from the pages of the book. From then on Margo starts to have what seems to be very real dreams or visions about the sexy Highlander. But surely a man as magnificent and sexy as Magnus could only exist in dreams…

Margo finally gets her greatest wish when she wins a raffle for a trip and tour package to Scotland from Wee Hughie MacSporran and Heritage Tours. What she didn’t plan on was that Heritage Tours break neck itinerary and tour schedule would not allow her to experience the beauty and majesty of the land that she has so dreamed of all her life in the way that she had longed for. So one night Margo sneaks away from the rest of her tour group to go to the beach and have some time to herself to enjoy the land that she loves the way that she wanted to all along. When she picks up a strange looking stone on the beach she suddenly finds herself on the same beach but in broad daylight standing in the middle of an all out battle between very real Highland Warriors and Vikings! To top it all off she’s stark naked and standing before her staring back at her is none other than Magnus MacBride in all his raging battle stained glory!

Magnus has been having visions of Margo as well because of the curse put on him by a witch after he killed her brother for his part in the murder of Magnus’ fiancé. The witch cursed Magnus that he would forever burn for a woman that he would never be able to have. But he never thought that the woman in his heated visions was actually real, just a vision of perfection to torture him. Then suddenly here they are face to face and they are both very real indeed. But she is from the modern world and he from the distant past how can they have a future together even if they can somehow overcome the evil magic and dangers that are all around them?

Can Margo and Magnus find true love despite all the obstacles against them? Or will the curse be strong enough to keep them apart forever?

Allie MacKay (who many of you already know is Sue Ellen Welfonder’s pen name) is a woman who truly loves Scotland in real life with all of her heart and it shines through in each and every one of her books. You almost feel that you have actually visited Scotland yourself after reading her books because of her vivid descriptions and the realistic scenes that she paints with her words. I have loved Allie Mackay’s books from the first time I picked up book one. And if you love a good time travel/ paranormal romance full of passion, love that transcends time and space, and sexy Highlanders then you will love Allie MacKay’s books too and you owe it to yourself to go and get them today! :)

Time to WIN some great prizes and read some outstanding books!

2011-01-29T10:01:00.002-06:00

Hey everyone I just had to pop in and tell you all about a great reading challenge that will not only get you to reading a fabulous series of books that no true romance lover should miss! BUT it will also put you in the running for some great prizes as well now you can't beat that can you! Take a look!

"Get Out of My TBR, Get Into My Bed"

I-Team Reading Challenge

For those of you that have the outstanding I-Team Series from Pamela Clare in your TBR piles but have yet to read them now is the perfect time to dig them out and move them to the top! OR if you are like me and have read this series once or twice already it's a great time to revisit your favorite reporters and their sexy men! (I love this series it has a permanent place on my keeper shelves proudly displayed in my living room for all to see. Ok sorry I just had to share that lol) AND as if the chance to read some unforgettable books weren't enough incentive you also get a change to win some great prizes ta boot!

This contest has two tiers.

Tier One is for I-Team virgins: If you’ve never read the I-Team or you’ve got Reece, Julian, Marc, and Gabe sitting somewhere in your dusty TBR pile and need to dig them out, this is your chance to catch up — and be rewarded with a free, signed copy of Breaking Point, Zach’s book. Hey, you know you need to lose your virginity at some point, right? Who better to lose it to than Reece, Julian, Marc and Gabe? Egads, just thinking about it that way made my heart skip a beat...

Tier Two is for I-Team veterans: You’ve read the books and fallen in love with the heroes. Maybe you’ve got a favorite hero. Maybe you helped cast the I-Team books or participated in our last round of I-Team Trivia (which was tons of fun, by the way). This is your chance to re-read the series and win your own signed ARC (advance review copy) of Breaking Point.

Here’s how you participate:

1. Sign up for the challenge by visiting Pamela's blog here..... http://pamelaclare.blogspot.com/2011/01/i-team-reading-challenge.html and telling her which tier you’re in — virgins or vets.

2. Read or re-read the series (in order: Extreme Exposure, Hard Evidence, Unlawful Contact, Naked Edge).

3. Keep her posted on your progress. When you’re done, your name goes into the pot for a signed copy of Breaking Point.

4. Drawings for both the virgins and the vets will be held on April 15, giving you lots of time to read the book before the Spoiler Chat event, where readers and Pamela get together in a chat room to discuss the book in detail.

AND that's not all there is also going to be an I-Team Trivia Challenge coming up soon too so those who participate in the challenge are more likely to win at I-Team Trivia! You’ll have an advantage over everyone else. Plus, you’ll have all things I-Team fresh in your mind when it comes time to read Breaking Point! Which is coming May 3, 2011!

Plus grab this graphic here and display it on your sidebars of your blogs to show you are in the challenge and to help get the word out to others so they can participate in the fun too!

Well what are you waiting for go sign up now!!!!!!!!! :)

http://pamelaclare.blogspot.com/2011/01/i-team-reading-challenge.html

BIG HUGS

Still alive and fighting

2011-01-22T03:01:00.001-06:00

Hey everyone I'm sorry that I have been missing in action for so long. I have had to take a break from my blog and several other things for the last few months. I have been battling a very bad bout of depression and anxiety. I have had issues with both pretty much all my life off and on but while I was on an antidepressant for the last few years I had been doing pretty good even through some of the very hardest times in my life like the death of my mother several years ago. But several months ago without asking me anything about it the pharmacy switched the Paxil CR that I was taking out with the new generic form of it Paxil ER. Now I did ask about this at the time but I was assured that it was the exact same active ingredients and that it should be fine. Well I thought everything was fine at first I didn't really feel any different and it was a lot cheaper 10 dollars verses 60 for the brand name with my insurance so I decided to keep taking it. Well I was fine until back in late Oct. when I found a lump in my breast. That worried me greatly as breast cancer runs in my family really badly. So I went to the doctor and they scheduled me to have an ultrasound and mammogram. But the waiting for it was very stressful for me and I started feeling very anxious and nervous all the time however I thought it was just because of the lump and it was normal and that it would go away if everything turned out fine.

Well after the mammogram they said they didn't think it was anything to worry about and I was so relieved about that! And I thought I would get to feeling back to normal in a few days! I was happy about it being nothing to worry about in my breast so I didn't understand why in a few days I was feeling much worse instead of better. I was still depressed and the anxiety was still there and worse than it was before. I got to thinking maybe it was the generic Paxil ER wasn't working like it should. So I called the pharmacy after talking to the pharmacist and asking several questions he said that it could be the difference in the inactive ingredients in the generic and the way that the medicine was pressed together when they were making it that might cause it not to release the same way in the system as the brand name. But he also said that they couldn't even get the brand name Paxil CR anymore from their distributor. After calling another pharmacy and hearing the same thing from them I got discouraged and gave up thinking that if two of the biggest and most popular pharmacies in town couldn't get it then none of them would be able to. And I know you are probably thinking ok why didn't you go to the doctor. Well I would have accept my doctor is actually out on maternity leave since November and I didn't want to go to see someone else who knew nothing about my history etc. and to try to see if I could tough it out and if it would get better on it's own just taking the generic a while longer. But it didn't and I continued to get worse despite everything that I tired. So about three weeks ago I decided to give it one more try because I was still suffering very badly with depression and so nervous I couldn't stand myself hardly so I called Walmart pharmacy and they said they could get the brand name Paxil CR for me, they would just have to order it! So I asked them to please order it and they called my insurance and told them that the generic wasn't working for me and that I needed the brand name and were (thank the good Lord) able to get it for me. So I've been taking the Paxil CR for about three weeks now and I'm still having problems big time and side effects like I just started taking a new medication almost, but I know that antidepressants have to build up in your system before they start working and it says that you should see results within 4-8 weeks after starting the medicine. So I'm praying fervently that in the next week or so that I will start to feel much, much better. If the generic wasn't working for me at all I guess it is like I was actually not taking anything hardly for months and I didn't even know it. So maybe it is like I am just starting to take Paxil CR again to my system anyway.

It has been a very difficult time for me and my family. But God has gotten us through so much already and I know that he will bring us safely through this as well soon! I can not thank my husband Scott and Stephen and all my friends enough for all of the support that they have given me during this trying time. I will get better because I have so many good things to live and fight for! I would like to ask that you please keep me in your prayers if you would that I will get well and over this soon.

I just wanted everyone to know what happened to me and why I just suddenly dropped off the map like I did. I debated about posting anything about this at all, but then I thought that there is a possibility that others might be helped by knowing what happened to me and avoid the generic antidepressants that are control released because they do not work the same as the brand name ones and you don't want to have a relapse like I did. If I can help one person by posting about this then it will be worth it. And at the risk of sounding like a commercial I am going to say that Depression is not just being blue and feeling down it is a very debilitating and horrible illness and should never be taken lightly. It can be accompanied by severe anxiety and other symptoms that you wouldn't think of as being depression maybe at first. So if you or someone you know has depression or you think they might - do go (or have them go) see your doctor and get help. There is light at the end of the tunnel and life is too short to waste it feeling bad. :)

I will try to post more very soon. God willing this medicine will kick in and I will be back to normal soon and then I can get back to reviewing and blogging about books and the romance and the authors that we all love so dearly! God bless you all and Big Hugs!

Merry Christmas Everyone!

2010-12-25T05:06:00.000-06:00

I want to wish everyone a Very Merry Christmas! May it be full of family, friends, good food, fun and happiness for you all! God bless you all my friends!

A Chance to win some great books!

2010-12-13T06:26:00.001-06:00

Hey everyone I hope this finds you all doing well and keeping warm! I had to share this great contest that a friend sent to me! Check out Unusual Historicals Blog! They are on the final day of their big Anniversary Bash and there are a bunch of great books up for grabs that you won't want to miss! So hurry on over and be sure to get your name in the hat!!!

http://unusualhistoricals.blogspot.com/2010/12/anniversary-bash-finale.html

Thank God and CSN stores!

2010-12-01T06:15:00.000-06:00

Hey everyone I hope everyone is having a great week and staying warm wherever you are. We are trying to here but it has been very unusally cold for TN so far this year. We have actually seen temps in the 20's several times already at night and early morning and they are calling for them to be that way pretty much for the next week if not longer. BRRRRRR I thought last year's winter was bad eeek looks like this one if it keeps this up (and I sincerely hope that it does not) will out do it by a long shot. We usually don't see these temps for just a few days maybe in Jan. and Feb. most of the time so to have had them in Nov. is wayyyyyy weird.

Now you maybe wondering about the title of this post and why I started off with the weather report well it is the reason that I am so so thankful to God and CSN Stores! Our main heating unit went out the week before last just when the really cold snap started and we were without heat in the whole front part of the house which is the main living areas for us when we are up - the living room, kitchen and bathroom. Well God seen that this was about to happen and he took care of us big time because I got an email from Sean at CSN stores asking if I would like to review another product for them. And seeing as how I was looking for a heater and desperately needing one it was perfect timing! I found the Lifesmart 1000W Quartz Infrared Heater that we wanted and with the gift certificate from CSN it saved us almost half off this heater!

Now I know what you are thinking but you ordered it when you needed it then. But we would have had to order one no matter where we got it because we had already looked at all the local places and they had little space heaters but we already had one of those but it wasn't enough to do the job and we needed something bigger than any of them carried without special order. So since we were going to have to order one regardless that would heat the area of space we needed this was a true God send to us. Because we didn't have very much money at all to play around with either. So GOD BLESS CSN stores they sure have come through for us yet again! The heater got here in less than a week and we are toasty and warm here in the living room now! We LOVE this little heater so far it heats up super fast and does the job! Plus it doesn't get hot to the touch and that is important with my son and the cats running around all the time, I didn't want something that I had to worry about them getting hurt on or starting a fire because they knocked it over. CSN stores made this necessary purchase super easy and they met and exceeded my expectations once again! I will never forget this and I will definitely be going back to them when shopping! I highly recommend their great service and they are fast and very nice to deal with as well. You just can't beat that! :)

So hopefully during some of this extremely cold snap I will finally get a little time to get some reading done! I am sooooooo behind on all my reading it's not even funny. Things despite being extremely cold have also been extremely busy. Hence my being MIA so much here lately. I hope things will even out again soon but we will see how RL goes. Big hugs and thanks to all of you for staying with me and not unfollowing me even though I haven't been updating nearly as often lately. Hope to have another post and review up very soon! Until then I wish you all the very best!

Happy Thanksgiving!!!!!!!!

2010-11-24T20:47:00.000-06:00

I wanted to wish everyone a very Happy Thanksgiving! May you and yours be blessed with all the bountiful gifts of God today and always. Also remember that we should be thankful not just on one day out of the year for our blessings, but we are to be thankful each and everyday for all that we have been given. For there are many in the world who are not so lucky as we are. Also for those of you who will be traveling I wish you a safe journey.

Big hugs to you all my friends!

Where would you like to go?

2010-11-18T02:27:00.003-06:00

I was wondering if you could go anywhere in the world traveling for a dream vacation and cost was no object... where would you choose? If you could grab your suitcase and be whisked off to anywhere where that your little heart desired today where would that wondrous place be?

For me that fairytale place would be Scotland! I have long dreamed of getting to go and set foot on that gorgeous land of castles and lore! With all of the history and mystery nestled in it's majestic mountains and valleys. It is my dream vacation spot for sure. But isn't it wonderful that even though my bank account won't let me go there as yet. That I can pick up a good book and be whisked there immediately! That is one reason that books are such a great thing for us because they let us escape from our sometimes boring and stress filled lives and be transported to another time and place where we can forget about our problems for a few hours!

And let's face it in today's world we all need that! Heaven knows I do. So I think I'm going to have to take a trip there very soon if nothing else in the pages of a great book! I have several to choose from in my TBR pile the only question now is which one to choose! ;)

So come on sound off and tell me where would you like to visit and why? And do you like to read about this place in the novels you read as well?

Review: The Exile by Diana Gabaldon

2010-11-16T08:12:00.000-06:00

The Exile is a graphic novel based on Diana Gabaldon’s best selling Outlander series. I feel the first thing that I should state about this is novel is that it is not the entire story of Outlander by any means, in fact this graphic novel only covers approximately the first third of the Outlander novel. And even then it is a very, very condensed version of those chapters due to time and the format of this book – (remember this is indeed a graphic novel and is done in drawings and panels just like comic book). So for anyone that is wanting to get this with thoughts of getting a condensed and visual version of the entire Outlander novel that is not what this is and it isn’t going to happen. However that is not saying that this graphic novel isn’t worth the read it is! It is very well written and though I didn’t care for the styles completely of the artist - I thought he had some very good renderings of Claire and the other characters at times. And overall I enjoyed it very much, actually much more than I thought I would when I got it and first flipped through it.

It is told mainly from the viewpoint of Jamie’s godfather Murtagh and it is a great addition to the story. As Diana states in the forward she shows us some things in Exile that she didn’t put in the original novel itself so you get more of the back story and see more of what happens to Jamie and Claire that she didn’t tell us before. So if you are like me and are a die hard Outlander fan this book is a must buy and read for you to add to your collection for that alone! Now with all that being said here is a small condensed version of what Outlander is about…

Claire Randall was a combat nurse during World War II and at the end of the war she and her husband Frank Randall decide to take a second honeymoon to Scotland. Claire thought that it would be a wonderful and sleepy little vacation away with her husband in which they could reconnect after being apart so long during the war. Little did she know that her vacation would take her much farther than she ever dreamed was possible. When Claire pays a visit to the ancient stone circle of Craig na Dun she inadvertently slips through one of the stones and is thrust back through time itself and awakens to find herself in a very different Scotland – the Highlands of Scotland in the year of our Lord 1743 to be exact! In this much different - dangerous and savage landscape she meets a band of Highlanders that takes her for all intents and purposes prisoner. One of the band is a young man who is severely injured and Claire’s nurses training kicks in as she quickly jumps in and administers to the young warriors wounds. This young man is Jamie Fraser and Claire soon finds herself drawn to the handsome young man as he takes on the role of her protector. Through many twists and turns it comes about that Claire is forced into marrying Jamie to protect herself from the clutches of a very evil British Dragoon Captain Jack Randall. And though the marriage was one of necessity and not love Claire soon finds herself being drawn closer and closer to her new husband. They endure many hardships and trials together and Claire does fall in love with Jamie. (And once you read the book you will see how it would be almost impossible for any red blooded woman not to fall in love with Jamie!) But with them being from such different worlds could there be any hope for them at all even if they can survive the dangers and schemes of several villains along the way? Can she stay in this distant and so very dangerous past or is it even possible to make it back to her time and life in the present? When all is said and done will Claire decide to stay in the past with Jamie? Or will she risk everything to try to make it back to the stone circle and try to find a way back to her real home and back to her husband Frank? And how can a woman decide between two loves and times that both hold her heart?

As you can see Outlander is a very complex read and although it is a time travel it is very well written and not corny at all. It seems like you could literally go and fall through the stones yourself and wake up in 1743 Scotland. Diana Gabaldon is a master story teller and her attention to detail makes you feel like you have visited the Scotland of yesteryear yourself. It is one that will have you glued to the pages and laughing and crying right along with the characters. So I do encourage you to give Outlander a try and get Exile as well as a great companion book to the series! And for you Outlander fans that have read all of the books you will want to get this one to complete your Outlander collection! You will be glad you did!

*I did recieve this copy from Night Owl Romance for review. However I purchased a copy as well because I enjoyed it for a friend who also loves Outlander to add to her collection as well.* :)

The Prodigal Returns Again

2010-11-10T05:38:00.000-06:00

Have mercy where did the last few weeks go??? I totally fell off the face of the earth or at least the blogverse again. My apologizes but RL (real life in all it's hectic glory) reared it's ugly head again and totally had me wrapped up. Many things have been going on mostly just the normal day to day stuff plus we are getting a new roof put on the house because of some storm damage. So getting that set up and all as well took some doing. They are suppose to be here in a few hours to start it and I will be sooooooo glad when it's over. I plan to try to bury my head in one of my books while it's going on as much as possible. WHEW

Plus this last week I was waylaid with some serious side effects due to some medicine that had to be changed due to our health insurance changing. So this new insurance wouldn't pay a dime at all on the regular brand medicine that I was taking (and have been taking for over 3 years btw) without me trying something cheaper for them first. NOT right and I was sick as a dog for a week to my stomach and dizzy etc. because of it. I did lose weight which I needed to granted... but that is not the way it should happen! It sure made last week miserable. In my humble opinion if something is working for a person and their doctor prescribed it for them and says they need it and you are paying the insurance weekly by the way (which isn't cheap to begin with either in fact it's pretty expensive to start with more than the medicine they wouldn't pay on grrr) an insurance company or anyone else shouldn't have the right to come in and say you can't take that until you try something cheaper to save us money. THEY aren't the ones that have to pay the price for it with the side effects of some new medicine etc. And to top it all off the stupid new medicine that I had to try for them first didn't work either for what I was taking it for. All it did was make me very sick. Grrrrr but anyway I will stop spewing on that and spare you the other details lol. A big thank you to those of you that checked in on me and that prayed for me I appreciate it more than I can ever tell you my friends. God Bless you!

With all the chaos here I have gotten almost zero reading done in weeks! WEEKS can you all see my eye twitching lol.

I hope everyone of you is doing well out there! Give me a shout out and leave me a comment telling me what you have been up to what are you reading etc. I missed you all!

I got 2 reviews coming up very soon one for Paula Quinn's Seduced by a Highlander and one for Exile: An Outlander Graphic Novel by Diana Gabaldon.

And I got these two goodies in the mail just yesterday check it out!

Must Love Kilts by Allie Mackay and Blood of the Rose by Kate Pearce

That's it for now off to bury my head in a book before they start the hammering. I hope you all have a great day! BIG HUGS

Winner of Renee Rearden Contest

2010-10-29T21:30:00.000-05:00

It's time to announce the lucky winner of the copy of Moonlight Bleu by Renee Rearden .

The lucky winner was chosen at random by the Randomizer at Random.org

And the winner of the ebook is....

Librarypat

Congratulations Librarypat!!! I will be sending your ebook to you at the email that you left for the contest. I hope you enjoy it! :)

Take heart ladies if you didn't win this time there are more great chances to win more great reads coming up very soon here on SRR! I hope everyone has a wonderful and safe weekend!

OOO two of my favorite authors have new names!

2010-10-27T00:09:00.004-05:00

Hi everyone I hope you all are having a great week so far. I'm battling a sinus infection fun, fun and the antibiotics and antihistamines are making me a bit fuzzy headed so if there are typos that will be why, (just warning you in advance). When the seasons change this is what happens, but oh well if it's not one thing it's another right. I'm still loving this fall weather so far. It is soooooo much better than the summer heat! I hope you all are enjoying it as well.

I just recently found out that two of my favorite authors have new pen names that they are going to be writing under, and wanted to share the news with you incase you like them as well and hadn't heard about it yet.

Cindy Miles who writes great ghost romances is now going to be writing vampire romance under the pen name Elle Jasper! You can read all about it here on her blog http://cindymiles.blogspot.com/2010/10/silence-broken-secret-is-out.html . The new books are going to be called The Dark Ink Chronicles and the first book in the series AFTERLIGHT is set for release Nov. 2, 2010! I so can not wait to get my hands on this one. You all know how much I love vampire romance, and to have one of my fave authors to start in that genre has me very excited and a big vampy grin on my face! ;) Also if you haven't tried her ghost books yet she is a great author I really enjoyed them as well!

Also Emily Bryan has officially made the switch as well and is now going to be writing under the pen name of Mia Marlow! You can read more about her change here on Mia's website and by visiting her blog. I love her writing both as Emily Bryan and her previous pen name Diana Groe as well. Another great author to give a try if you haven't yet. She has some really great books. :)

Do any of you have favorite authors that go by several different pen names? I always love finding more books by authors I like!

Also there are still a couple of more days to enter to win a copy of Moonlight Bleu by Renee Rearden! I will be drawing for the winner on Thursday the 28th and announcing the winner here on the 29th. So be sure to check out Renee's Guest post here and enter for your chance to win before then! Have a great one everybody! :)

Guest: Renee Rearden on Vampires, Werewolves and Psychics & A Giveaway!

2010-10-21T06:08:00.000-05:00

Today I have a special guest blogger Author Renee Rearden! She has a new book avalible titled Moonlight Bleu. She is going to be talking about Vampires, Werewolves, and Psychics…Oh, My! A very fitting subject for this time of year as Halloween is right around the corner (and it's a subject that us paranormal fans love to see anytime of the year!) Take it away Renee! :)

Thanks for having me, Jenn!

I just love autumn, don’t you?

Green leaves turn burnt orange and fiery red, before they finally drop to the ground as the first gusts of fall rattle trees’ branches. Fluffy sweaters ward off the chill, while bowls of homemade soup and mugs of hot chocolate offer comforting warmth.

But even those things aren’t the best part of the changing season.

The extra reading time winter gifts me with is.

When it’s too cold to play outside, being confined inside doesn’t bother me in the least. I love to find a quiet corner to myself, wrap up in my favorite blanket, and immerse myself in an unknown paranormal world snatched from my bookshelf.

Whether it’s blood-sucking vampires, shape-shifting werewolves, or mind-reading psychics, I’m always enthralled by such other-worldly beings. Who wouldn’t be? Sexy heroes and heroines that battle the scary evils of their world, with abilities we mere mortals only dream of having.

When I hear something go bump in the night, I reach for the aluminum baseball bat under my side of the bed…a practical human response, driven by a primal instinct toward survival.

But what if I had other abilities to rely on?

If I was a vampire, I’d be able to protect me and mine while still keeping my soul. If I was a shifter, I’d have supernatural strength and speed no intruder could overpower. If I was psychic, I’d have mystical abilities that bordered on magic.

These thoughts fueled my imagination as I created the Tueri world in Moonlight Bleu.

A world with a kickin’ heroine that possesses the ability to heal the human spirit, an adopted vampire sibling that watches her back, and two hot, larger than life men that each have their own reason for wanting a happily ever after—with her.

So welcome in the breath of fall by curling up in your own favorite corner and immersing yourself in Moonlight Bleu, a new paranormal world filled with vampires, werewolves, and psychics—oh, my!

EXCERPT

Saari floated, in a sea of blackness, carried by a steady current that pushed wave after wave of nothingness out into forever. A burst of disparate energy streaked through the undertow, suddenly sending her in a different direction. The new force in the ocean rocked her peaceful drift, and her blissful comfort changed. Waves rolled furiously, hurtling her forward.

Her eyes flew open at the exact moment her mind crashed into reality, and she gasped in pain. Though immortal, her body still experienced physical death each time she was fatally injured.

“Oh, God,” she moaned. “Consciousness is overrated.”

She remembered the 8-inch blade of a psychotically strong, seriously tweaking vampire had caused today’s inflicted pain. Having a knife slam through her heart topped her “personally-experienced list” of Most Painful Ways To Die. Her chest ached as if it had been wrapped in gasoline-soaked elastic and set on fire.

Blinking away grit, she forced her eyes to focus. Painted stars on the ceiling winked at her through the mosquito netting draped over the rod-iron railing of her pine, four-post bed. A careful sigh of relief escaped. Her adopted sibling had found her and brought her home.

If she was in her bedroom, her secret of immortality was safe.

The world couldn’t know of her eternal existence. A new search for the “elixir of life” would lead to her front door. She’d end up as a pin cushion for some ego maniacal entrepreneur if anyone got a hold of the security tapes at the hospital.

After not showing up or calling, did she still have a job at the hospital?

A very masculine and wonderfully familiar chuckle drifted from her right. “I can see from your frown you’ve jumped right to worrying. Quit. After I found a broken camera in the parking garage, I called the hospital and let them know you’re home sick. They didn’t mention anything about the attack, so I doubt they have any viable footage.”

Feather-soft linen brushed her cheek as she rotated her head across her pillow with measured caution. She needed to see her brother, but she didn’t want to set off a new battalion of pain marching in a different direction somewhere else in her body.

Her gaze moved up his face until their eyes met. “Mag.” Her voice cracked with gratitude. He would keep her safe until she could care for herself.

His lips turned up in a smile, showing perfectly straight teeth. Even his pearly points seemed whiter against his mahogany skin. She wondered for the umpteenth time how he could form a comforting yet cynical smile, all at the same time.

Mag leaned in toward her, the chair creaking in complaint. “Thank God you woke up,” he whispered against her ear. He lifted a curl of hair off her shoulder, twining the strands around his shaking fingertip. “I swear you gave me a heart attack, stepping in front of that blood-crazed vampire.”

“You’d have done the same.”

“I just knew you were gonna die.”

“I did,” she groaned.

“Not funny.”

He pulled back from her enough to lean his forehead atop hers. The solid pressure behind his touch anchored her awareness. Chocolate eyes shot through with amber bored into hers as he rolled his brow across hers.

His deep sigh brushed her cheek.

“You know, Saari, our friendship has a lot of perks, but dying vicariously through you is not one of them,” he murmured fiercely.

A bark of laughter burst from her mouth, only to be cut short by a moan of pain. Her chest burned in retaliation. “Don’t make me laugh,” she begged. “It hurts.”

His head shot up. “I’m sorry, Nefer Ka.”

He looked so noble.

Coffee-colored skin and sharp angled features spoke of an Egyptian heritage that lent credibility to his calm and regal demeanor. But hearing him use his pet name for her waved a mental red flag. Nefer Ka meant “beautiful soul” in his native language. They’d been friends, each other’s family so long, he only slipped into such personal vernacular under highly charged emotions—good or bad.

Today, worry lines marked the grim set of his jaw.

He shifted away from her, careful not to jostle her and accidentally cause more pain. The weight of his left hand settled around her smaller-fisted right hand. She stared intently at their clasped hands before looking up again.

He followed the direction of her glance, looked back up and shrugged. His eyebrows lifted. “Made me feel better, holding your hand.”

The memory Jordan had shown her flashed behind her eyes: Mag, unwilling to hurt anyone, intent on killing himself. I came so close to losing him and didn’t even know it.

She raised their joined hands to her lips and pressed a kiss to the back of his hand before rubbing her cheek gently over his skin. “Now let go of my hand so I can feel better.”

His fingers loosened, allowing her to shift in measured increments on the bed. Her lungs filled with a calming breath, preparation against the coming pain. She rested her fist directly over her heart, fingers clutched tight together. The air in the room crackled. A teakettle’s hiss burst from her lips, teeth grinding against the pain.

Healing energy burst from her palm, heat scorching the sensitive skin.

The energy output flared past the barriers that defined her personal space, pulling strength from every available outside source, augmenting her minimal reserves. She couldn’t sustain this level of flowing power for long. This injury was severe and needed more than the use of her usual ability.

She required time and sleep to heal.

Exhaustion forced her to shift her hand off center on her chest. The crackling in the air subsided to a low hum. Heat radiated in a tolerable wave across her skin. Psychic walls she’d thrown up in an attempt to contain the energy pouring out of her dropped.

Awareness expanded beyond her body, encompassing the familiarity of her bedroom: the quilt she lay under, scented candles on the dresser, and framed pictures on the wall. Each calmed her in a way nothing else could. This was her home. Saari’s energy meandered around the room, pulling comfort and strength from the known around her in a metaphysical blanket of security.

Her auric senses circled to the chair—and encountered a man with an unknown source of power. Saari’s body bounced on the bed from the psychic contact. Up to this moment, she hadn’t sensed anyone other than Mag in her bedroom. Such a lack of perception could be deadly. Her stomach knotted, the chink in her extrasensory armor a testament to how gravely she’d been wounded.

Something had gone drastically wrong.

Why was this stranger in her room?

Her gaze shot sideways. A man sat up straight in his chair, literally on the edge of the seat. Hands, palms down, gripped his knees. His knuckles showed white against the black of his pants, suggesting his own nervousness. The intensity of his emotion pounded her intuitive shields, and his body language struck her as downright disturbing.

From the other side of the bed, Dhelis watched the interaction between the vampire called Mag and the striking woman in the bed. Joy and tenderness radiated from their every touch, making him feel like a voyeur. He presumed they were lovers, his presence an intrusion on a private reunion.

Doctor Conzatti had to have been mistaken about her healing abilities. Dhelis hadn’t sensed anything from her.

He considered leaving.

Until the woman rested her fisted hand over her heart.

He felt the air in the room shift, every molecule of oxygen sizzling with therapeutic energy. She hissed in pain, the sound escaping through her gritted teeth. When her hand relaxed on her chest, the currents of power flowing toward her changed direction and disbursed throughout the room, passing through him.

His gut churned with certainty that this woman was the source of a power shift so intense the hairs still stood up on his arms. Could she be clutching a healing stone? His heart raced with anticipation and excitement. That kind of energy displacement meant she held something gripped in her hand. The heel of his boot tapped the floor, his leg bouncing with nervous energy. His hands ached from the tight grip on his knees.

He willed the woman to look at him.

One look at her eyes, and he would know if she was Tueri.

Her head turned sharply. For an instant, he wondered if he’d spoken his thoughts aloud. The woman boldly met his gaze. Her eyes rounded with surprise.

Shock rippled through him.

No matter what he had thought he expected, he was in no way prepared when her full attention settled on him. Her tri-colored eyes were striking; the most incredibly beautiful color he’d ever seen. More so, he thought, than even his own. His people all had crystalline-like eyes, amethyst and silver combined with a third shade based on talent and purity of bloodline.

The color of this woman’s eyes reflected pure Tueri descent. But she was an Unknown, and for the life of him, he couldn’t fathom how this could be. The fact they shared the same eye color went beyond incredible. Only Stone Riders had his color of eyes—and only men were Stone Riders.

Except a Predecessor.

Predecessors were always women.

There had been no female Predecessors for centuries—at least none that he knew of in the last five hundred years of Tueri history.

That this woman was a Predecessor defied all logic.

“Who are you?” His whispered words smashed through the moment of hushed silence.

Dhelis dropped to one knee and, without asking, took hold of the woman’s hand, enveloping it within his own larger hands. The instant they touched, energy arced like a burning flame from a welder’s torch. Like coronal waves from an exploding sun, light and heat blasted the room.

The force of the psychic connection slammed into him, punching the breath from his lungs on an outward surge of rolling energy. A returning wave refilled them with super-charged oxygen.

Disbelief shone in the Predecessor’s eyes. Her mouth opened and closed several times, trying to speak. “You aren’t healing me,” she finally gasped. “So why is your energy reacting with mine?”

“I don’t know.” He shook his head back and forth, perplexed.

Every nerve ending tingled, his entire body aware of the woman in front of him. He knew he’d never met her. He hadn’t even laid eyes on her before tonight. So why did his energy connect with and respond to this woman?

Realization dawned like a clapping thunderbolt.

Only a true Tueri soul match generated this kind of energy connection.

He’d found his mate!

The vampire placed both arms on the bed and levered himself out of his chair. “Enough,” he roared.

With surprising strength, the woman jerked her hand from his grasp and turned toward the vampire.

An audible sigh of relief sounded from across the room at their broken connection. The blinding light winked out of existence, their separation triggering the flip of a psychic switch. The searing heat lessened, dissipating in noticeable amounts.

His gaze was drawn to the woman. She stared at him in wide-eyed astonishment, her chest rising and falling with each rapid breath. He yearned to touch her again, to bathe in their joined energy, but he held himself in check. Her injuries were severe, and he didn’t want to risk her health.

“What the hell was that?” demanded Mag.

Visit Renee at her website http://www.reneerearden.com/ to learn more about Renee and her sexy vamps, shifters, and more!

Thanks so much for being with us today Renee!

Renee has also graciously offered up a free ebook copy of Moonlight Bleu to one lucky winner. So what do you have to do to win? Just be a follower of the blog here and leave a comment or question with your email address so that I can get in touch with you if you win! That's it! Pretty painless huh. :) Have a great day everyone!

Review: CSN Products for lil ol me :)

2010-10-19T22:12:00.000-05:00

Hi everyone I hope this finds you all having a great week so far! It’s time for me to review the wonderful products that I received from the great people at Diningroomsdirect.com / CSN stores. Sean from CSN sent me a gift certificate to spend on whatever I wanted from their vast selection of stores for review. And let me tell you they have just about anything you can imagine. There are so many great products it was a little hard for me to choose but I finally settled on two items that I thought would be useful to not only me but my family as well.

I chose the Hamilton Beach True Air Allergen Reducer Air Purifier.

I have pretty bad allergies in the spring and summer and sometimes early fall (so does hubby and my son though he doesn’t like to admit it lol) as well as chronic sinus and I am hoping this will help with those issues for us. I just got it and haven’t been using it long but I really love it so far! It’s super quiet and I can tell that the air seems to be fresher and circulating better when it’s running. It’s really light and easy to move from room to room which I like as well. Plus it really helps with household scents for example when you accidentally burn popcorn "ahem, cough" it helps to get rid of that a lot faster than without it. And one of the best things about the unit is it has a lifetime Hepa filter - all you have to do is clean the filter or vaccum it off and that's it. There is no constantly buying expensive replacement filters! So it’s a win, win with this little baby so far!

And since I had a little credit left over on the gift certificate I decided to put just a little more money with it and get this as well! The Instride Cycle XL.

I thought this is something that could help me get a little more exercise into my day while I’m reading or watching tv etc. I really like it so far it’s great exercise - yes I can feel the burn. It’s adjustable to different tensions so you can get just the right workout for you. And my 11 year old son LOVES it! Honestly he uses it more than I do. He loves to cycle on it and see how fast he can petal it.

I want to thank Sean and CSN for this terrific opportunity to review some of their great products. I highly recommend their stores they are extremely fast to ship your items and they have so much great items it makes it hard to choose from but they definitely will have just about anything you would need! Great service and great products it really doesn’t get any better than that!

I got the results! SO Thankful!!!!

2010-10-15T19:57:00.000-05:00

I am sorry to have disappeared totally for a week but this last week was one stressful one for me. As many of you probably remember I found a lump on my right breast and had to go in yesterday for an ultrasound to check on it. Well they ended up doing a mammogram as well and I got the call from the doctor today saying that everything came back normal! I can't tell you how very relieved I am and how very thankful to God that all is well.

One reason I was so nervous about this was that my mother had to have both breast removed, and her baby sister died a couple of years ago at 48 from breast cancer. It truly affects so many women these days of all ages. The girl that did the ultrasound said she sees so many women even younger than me (I'm 34) that come in with breast cancer. So I can't say this enough please do remember to check your breast monthly and get tested if you feel something different. It's so important and it can truly save your life. They told me yesterday early detection is the key!

I want to thank you all again for your wonderful prayers and thoughts and emails and everything. I appreciate them so very much! BIG HUGS to you all. God is so good! Trust in him and he will get you through anything. :)

I hope to be back more to my normal blogging this next week. I was so scatterbrained and nervous I wasan't online much and didn't get much reading done either so now I have to catch up on all the things I got backed up on lol. And hoping to have a nice relaxing weekend! God bless you all my friends!

Adult Blogger Tag along! Come join in the fun!

2010-10-09T22:50:00.000-05:00

Yes I realize this is a day late but oh well better late than never right and it's a great way to find more blogs that are not just for YA reading etc. Check it out it's hosted by Laurie at Bitten By Paranormal Romance. Come join in the fun.....

Calling all 18 and over book bloggers, are you looking for more bloggers like yourself? Well please join in so we can tag along with each other. This is for a specific group and your blog needs to primarily have book reviews and post adult book content. In other words, if you read books like erotic and adult romance and have adult pic., then you can play tag along. Sorry YA readers, but if you read both (I know some of you do) you can tag along also. Just make sure you have both YA and adult romance on your blog.

It doesn't matter what you read if its paranormal, suspense, historical, contemporary or mystery, along with erotic with any genre. As long as it is adult then your in.

You don't have to have blog to join in on the fun. If you like adult content books, please click on a link and if you like the blog then follow that blog. You can comment on there post that you found them from the tag along.

Rules:

1.Make a post for your blog to direct people to this post, you will find a code for the pic on my left sidebar. That way we get more bloggers involved.

2. Place your blogs name in the first box of the Linky

3. Then add your post that you made place that ULR in the second box.

4. When you find a blog that you like to follow please leave comment on the post the blogger made, so they can tag along to your blog.

Go join up now- CLICK HERE TO GO AN TAG IN ON THE FUN!!!!

Hope everyone is having a great weekend and thank you ALL so much for the prayers and thoughts and well wishes. I promise to post something as soon as I know it myself. I appreciate each and everyone of you so much God bless you all! BIG HUGS!!!

Getting ahead on TBR pile and prayers please

2010-10-07T22:33:00.003-05:00

Ok I admit it my TBR (to be read ) pile has gotten way out of hand lately. So I'm going to try something out here to see if this will help me get going and trim it down some.

I have most of an entire bookshelf that is nothing but books that I'm waiting to read. Now I like that in a lot of ways because no matter what mood I'm in when I finish a book I can generally go over to the shelf and find something from the genre I'm in the mood for that day. It pretty much has it all in there Historical, Paranormals, Westerns, Scottish Historicals, Time travel, even a few carefully chosen Contemporaries. So here is what I'm going to do I'm going to post my next 5 books that I entined to read and stick to reading those 7 next! I'm gonna be strong and work my way through some that I have now and not just ones I'm getting in lol. So God willing in the next few months I will have trimmed that pile down some. Here are my first 7 from the TBR pile and in no particular order (I can't be that strict I'm just not that strong willed)

Eat, Prey, Love by Kerrelyn Sparks

The Exile -a graphic novel of Outlander by Diana Gabaldon

Eternal Kiss of Darkness by Jeaniene Frost

My Lord Jack - by Hope Tarr

Caine's Reckoning by Sarah McCarty

Dead in the Family by Charlaine Harris

Viking in Love by Sandra Hill

Anyone else want to play along? If I get enough wanting to join in I'll whip up a spiffy graphic to go along with this, and call it the TBR 7 challenge or something. Anyone got a better name I'm completely open to it lol!

On a side note I would appreciate any prayers and good vibes as I am to go in next Thursday for an ultrasound on a lump I found in my breast. I'm hoping it's just a cyst and nothing serious. It is sore and the doctor I went to yesterday said that is a good sign but just to be sure better do the ultrasound. Praying hard here. I have to admit it's made me pretty nervous and I'd be lying if I said it didn't. So ladies do remember to check those ta ta's monthly it's very important! And early detection is the key they say. Thanks and hugs to you all!

Review: Forbidden Pleasures by Amanda McIntyre

2010-10-05T21:08:00.000-05:00

For those of you who read Amanda’s amazing novel Tortured and wanted to know more on Torin now is your chance! Forbidden Pleasures is more on the back story of Torin and Alyson! I couldn’t wait to get this one when I heard it was coming out because Torin was such a great character I was eager to learn more about him, and I wasn’t disappointed!!!

Now this is a Spice Brief it’s only about 83 pages long so it’s not as in-depth at all as Tortured but its still a great little read and a great companion story to Dryston and Sierra’s story (you even get to see more of Dryston is this one ladies).

Torin is the up and coming Commander – formerly of the Roman Army -that is just beginning his fight for the Celtic people and returning Britannia to her people, and delivering them from the blood thirsty and ruthless Saxons. He and his brother Dryston travel to meet with General Ambrosius – a revered Roman Commander who is also sympathetic and wanting to see Britannia delivered back to her native people. There he sees Alyson for the first time. She is a fiery headed beauty who is a servant to General Ambrosius and she fires his passion and blood more than any other woman he has ever encountered. But they couldn’t be more different as he is a roman warrior and she a Celtic slave to the Romans and one who still believes in and practices the druid ways. Can their feelings for each other overcome their positions and differences? Or will the jealous, spoiled and vicious niece of General Ambrosius drive a wedge between them and claim Torin for herself?

I won’t say more than that but if you loved Tortured you will definitely have to get this one to learn more about Torin and Alyson! Or if you just want a great little read then give it a try as well and then I KNOW you will want to get Tortured to hear the rest of their story! ;)

Guest: Cherish D'Angelo New Novel and contest!

2010-09-30T03:12:00.000-05:00

Today we have a special guest - Author Cherish D'Angelo - who's new book Lancelot's Lady is hot off the press! Without further ado take it away Cherish!

A Day in the Life of Romance

Author Cherish D'Angelo - Part One

Thank you for hosting me during my Cherish the Romance Virtual Book Tour, which launches my contemporary romantic suspense, Lancelot's Lady. People are always curious about what a day in my life as a romance author looks like, so today I'm going to tell you that my life is the ultimate fantasy and I'm happy to share it with you.

My day usually starts with waking up. Doesn't yours? I awake in my plush king size bed to the sounds of birds tweeting outside my balcony, and I immediately remove my satin padded eye mask (I love a dark room) and check to see what time it is. What, only 10:45? Hmmm, it's early. My husband left for work hours ago and won't be back until supper time. I'll get dressed a half hour before he returns.

Sliding into a lush satin robe the color of lavender―a gift from my friend, actress Eva Mendes―I head downstairs where Juanita, my wonderful housekeeper, has made coffee and pastries. There's a fruit plate out on the patio, waiting for me, and some of that yoghurt dip I love. Juanita passes me my coffee in a huge mug, with a splash of vanilla and cream just the way I like it. Juanita's husband Juan is standing beyond the patio, trimming the rosebushes. I do hope he shapes the lilac trees soon; they're looking a bit wild.

I nibble on the fruit as I drink my coffee. Should I splurge and have a pastry? What a decision! But there's really no choice, so I grab a cheese croissant and slather it with fresh churned butter. As I think of the scenes I'll write today in my latest romance novel, I watch Julio―Juanita and Juan's son. He's about twenty-five and is in college. Since they live with us in the cottage out back, Julio does odd jobs around the house and is in charge of the pool. Today Julio is cleaning the pool, skimming the top of the surface with the net. That young man works out. I can see his muscles, all bronzed and gleaming, rippling with each movement.

I let out a sigh, wishing to be young again. Then I finish my coffee, while Juanita brings me my laptop. My assistant, Lisa, has already weeded through my emails and I only get the good stuff, like reviews, sales stats, fan mail. I check my emails and answer nine from fans, plus one from my agent. He's just signed a three book deal for me with a major publisher, and it comes with a hefty $1.2 million advance. Even better, he's sent me a royalty summary for the past quarter and sales of my last novel have quadrupled since last quarter.

My publisher's sales team have been hitting the marketing hard and heavy, allowing me all the time in the world to do what I love―write. My sales team checks my Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, etc and replies accordingly. They take care of everything else. They booked an online tour for me with 50 hosts. I have five television interviews and seven radio interviews booked for next week, not to mention New York Times wants to do a feature piece on me for next month's issue. Note to self: get hair and nails done the day before. Vidal will squeeze me in even though it's short notice...

You can read more about a day in the life of me, Cherish D'Angelo, by visiting Book Junkie on October 1st for Part Two.

~Cherish D'Angelo

Lancelot's Lady ~ A Bahamas holiday from dying billionaire JT Lance, a man with a dark secret, leads palliative nurse Rhianna McLeod to Jonathan, a man with his own troubled past, and Rhianna finds herself drawn to the handsome recluse, while unbeknownst to her, someone with a horrific plan is hunting her down.

Lancelot's Lady is available in ebook edition at KoboBooks, Amazon's Kindle Store, Smashwords and other ebook retailers. Help me celebrate by picking up a copy today and "Cherish the romance..."

You can learn more about Lancelot's Lady and Cherish D'Angelo (aka Cheryl Kaye Tardif) at http://www.cherishdangelo.com and http://www.cherylktardif.blogspot.com/. Follow Cherish from September 27 to October 10 on her Cherish the Romance Virtual Book Tour and win prizes.

CONTEST!!!!!

Readers: do you enjoy meeting authors in person? Authors: do you enjoy meeting readers? Why?

Leave a comment here, with email address, to be entered into the prize draws. You're guaranteed to receive at least 1 free ebook just for doing so. Plus you'll be entered to win a Kobo ereader. Winners will be announced after October 10th.

Cute, two movies, a funny and upcoming...

2010-09-27T01:23:00.000-05:00

Ok today a friend posted a video on facebook that made my AWWWW meter go tilt take a look at this and tell me is this not one of the sweetest and cutest things you have ever seen! Now be sure to watch till the end I promise you it's worth it!

We have had a pretty fun weekend here saw two movies! Robin Hood with Russell Crowe and Cate Blanchette and Killers with Katherine Heigl and Ashton Kutcher. So my take on these two movies well Robin Hood was ok I would give it a three star rating out of 5 why so little well it wasn't what I was expecting at all I was expecting more of the legend this is more or less a prequel building up to the legend that we all know and love. So if you are looking for the regular Robin who is in the dashing outlaw that steals from the rich to feed and help the poor well that's not what this is just be warned on that going in and maybe you will enjoy it more than I did lol. Russell and Cate did a fantastic job of acting I will say that I just would have prefered to see a little more of the Robin Hood that was of legend and a little less of what they thought lead up to that. Now Killers I personally liked this one I would give it a 4 out of 5 stars it definitely had some LOL moments and I did several times. Katherine was hiliarious and Ashton I don't think has ever looked better. Plus Tom Selleck he was awesome in this one as Heigl's dad. So for a fun little movie that you don't have to think about and can just sit back and have a laugh at its great. I enjoyed it more than the hubs did lol he called it a chick flick of course.

Now for the funny at least I thought it was hilarioius this is my son Stephen's cat Logan with my hubby right outside our door playing with him through the glass. Let's just say Logan was not amused by Scott making faces at him and pecking on the glass lol take a look we cracked up! :)

And finally the upcoming I will have the reviews for Amanda McIntyre's Forbidden Pleasures and Paula Quinn's Seduced by a Highlander in the next few days here. I also will have reviews for Exile the graphic novel of Outlander by Diana Gabaldon, Undead and Unwed by Mary Janice Davidson and Eternal Kiss of Darkness by Jeaninene Frost coming up soon as well. Plus say tuned for author Cherish D'Angelo who will be here on the 30th for a guest post and giveaway of some great prizes! :) Hope you all have a great day well it's Monday so as good a day as you can then... LOL. ;) HUGS!

WINNER for Keta Diablo Giveaway

2010-09-23T20:10:00.000-05:00

Time to announce the lucky winner of Where the Rain is Made by Keta Diablo!

And in honor of Meko here is a special hunk to announce the winner take it away Nathan!

The lucky winner was chosen at random by the Randomizer at Random.org

And the winner of Keta's wonderful novel is....

CECILE!

Congratulations Ms. Cecile we are sending your name to Keta and she will send you your copy of WTRIM.

Take heart ladies if you didn't win this time there are more great chances to win some more fabulous reads coming up very soon here on SRR!

Decisions, decisions, descisions

2010-09-23T16:27:00.000-05:00

I am hugely honored that Sean from CSN contacted me to do another review for one of their wonderful products! Whether it is bistro sets, bookcases to work out equipment and things for your kitchen CSN stores have it all! And at some really great prices! This time around I am having a bit more trouble deciding what I want to review the big problem is they have so many great things that I am having trouble making up my mind!

Here are the items I'm looking at look at the variety and the quality products and you see my dilemma lol.

Hamilton Beach True Air Allergen Reducer Air Purifier

Wondering if this might help my allergies and or sinus problems if it would this will definitely be my choice do any of you have anything similar or problems that these have helped?

Stamina 15-0120 InStride Cycle XL

This would be great for working out and I could sure use that since my stupid treadmill broke grrrr. I could even do this while reading hmmm. ;)

Could certainly use these my old cookware has seen better days so another possiblity.

Any suggestions my friends to help me decide?????

Stay tuned to see if I pick one of these wonderful things or if I find something else I just can't live without! :)

Interview & Giveaway with Keta Diablo!

2010-09-20T00:00:00.006-05:00

Today we have the wonderful Keta Diablo stopping in as a part of her blog tour for Where the Rain Is Made!

About Where The Rain Is Made:

A decadent savage has captured Francesca DuVall and her brother, Marsh. Now she must spend every waking moment planning an escape. However, she didn’t count on the powerful draw of desire interfering with her scheme in the camp of the brutal Cheyenne dog soldiers.

Although their worlds are decades apart Meko can’t resist the dark beauty he kidnapped during a raid. He has many battles to fight but none he wants to win more than the one that will capture Cesca’s heart forever. From the windswept plains of Colorado and the harsh life of a Dog Soldier to the placid life of a curator their love was fueled by passion and kindled by destiny.

See my review in the previous post here! :)

You can find out more about Where The Rain Is Made by visiting the publisher’s site, Decadent Publishing, http://tinyurl.com/37oepsy

You can also read Chapter One and part of Chapter Two here: http://tinyurl.com/2drur2y

Keta is very active on Twitter and would love to have you follow her: http://www.twitter.com/ketadiablo.

(Here is a photo of Meko that Keta sent to share....)

Keta welcome to the Realm so good to have you join us today!

Keta how did you start your writing career?

The first book I wrote was a sensual historical based on a real-life event in my family history. Not too long after that first book I began writing erotic romance and like I mentioned above added Gay fiction. Several years ago I wrote an erotic fantasy romance called Dust and Moonlight and I really enjoyed writing that genre too. I hope to do another fantasy/time travel one day.

More information about Dust and Moonlight (Amazon Kindle) here: http://tiny.cc/9kr6v

Tell us about your favorite character from your books.Who is your favorite author?

That’s like asking me to name my favorite child – lol. I really enjoyed writing Decadent Deceptions, a historical erotic romance with intrigue and suspense. And I loved both of the characters from this book, Olivia and Morgan. But I really think Where The Rain Is Made is my favorite story as far as plot and characters. It’s so much fun when you have one character from the present and one from the past. The contrasts or differences in how they live is always fun to explore.

When in the day/night do you write? How long per day?
My schedule is very odd. It depends on whether everything gels for me. You might find me writing at 4:00 in the afternoon or 4:00 in the morning. I don’t have a set time, but I do write every day just to keep myself fresh on the story.

What is the hardest part for you of writing ?

Always the beginning. It’s hard not to get into a lot of back story because we love to tell the readers about our characters, but this isn’t to exciting for them. I try to start out with excitement or at least an incident, yet place the setting and one of the main characters.

Where do you research for your books?

Internet, libraries and books. I have a large collection of books on writing and refer to them often. Once I just purchased and am really enjoying is Bastards, Bullies and Bitches. It’s given my new insight on how to write the perfect villains.

What does your significant other and family think of your writing career?

My family has always been very supportive, but I seldom take their word verbatim. Of course, my mother thinks all my books are fabulous, but she’s my mother after all. Trying to get an unbiased critique from her is difficult. My children don’t read my books – and that’s a good thing, but they are very respectful and accommodating about my writing schedule.

Who is your favorite author to read?

Again, this a hard question to answer. I wouldn’t choose a favorite, but some of the authors I read are Helen Kirkman and Joanna Bourne. I love Bourne’s The Spymaster’s Lady. I also love a few older novels, To Kill A Mockingbird and Windflower, which I read about once a year.

What are your favorite genres to read?

When time, I do read in a wide variety. Right now, I have about three books going, which isn’t unusual for me. One is a fantasy, one is a historical romance and the other is a book on writing.

How do you describe your writing style?

I think I’m a fairly simple writer. I try not to get too verbose, and I think I probably talk very similar to how I write. And I ask a lot of questions of my characters, as I do in life. My brothers said I should have been a lawyer.

Do you hear from your readers and what do they ask?

Thank goodness, yes. I love hearing from readers. Mostly they tell me how much they enjoyed the book. I haven’t had any write to me and complain, but I suppose they wouldn’t. Sometimes they say, “I have this great idea for a story. Can I send it to you?” And I must tell them that I have so many stories in my head now, I won’t live long enough to publish them all.

One last question before you go do you listen to music while you write?

I don’t listen to music while writing and never have. It has to very quiet when I write or I can’t concentrate. I know there are authors who wear headphones when they write, but that wouldn’t work for me.

We hope you enjoyed stopping by Sapphire Romance Realm. Tomorrow, you can have another chance to win Where The Rain Is Made by stopping by Happily Ever After Reviews & Talk About My Favorite Authors Blog

Now for the GIVEAWAY!!!!! Keta will be giving away one copy of Where The Rain Is Made in PDF. To be eligible, all you have to do is...

Follow my blog

Follow Keta’s Erotic Romance Blog, http://ketaskeep.blogspot.com/ and,

Leave a comment below with your e-mail address.

A winner will be selected at random from the qualifying comments in 3 days and announced here on the blog, so be sure and check back to see if you won. Keta will be notified by me and will send the book directly to you. Good luck to everyone, and again, thanks for dropping by!

Review: Where the Rain Is Made by Keta Diablo

2010-09-17T21:29:00.000-05:00

Where the Rain is Made is not your average paranormal it is a unique and romantic adventure that spans time itself. Ethan Gray is a curator at a national museum but there is so much more to Ethan that meets the eye. He is Meko the leader of the mighty Cheyenne and a powerful time traveler. Meko journeys back and forth through time to help his people - but he never imagined that along the way he would fall in love with a dark haired beauty from the past.

When Francesca Duvall doesn’t like the West she misses the life that she had back East before she lost her mother. Now she and her young brother and father are struggling to make a living in a mining camp near Denver Colorado. But things go from bad to worse for Cesca when Cheyenne Dog Soldiers raid the camp and take she and her young brother Marsh prisoner. Cesca hates the murdering savages who are her captors but when her brother is singled out and sought after by an especially savage member of the tribe - Cesa will stop at nothing to save him - even becoming the wife of Meko to keep Marsh safe from the other warrior. She never expected that she would find herself fighting her growing feelings for the strong and enigmatic warrior, could she really be falling in love with her enemy?

From the moment Meko set eyes on the fiery white woman something deep inside him stirred to life. When she becomes his wife he finds himself caring for this vivacious and courageous woman more than he ever believed he was capable of could this enchanting and fiery spirited woman be his future? And can they both survive the coming storm that threatens his people and all of their lives long enough to find out?

I really enjoyed Where the Rain is Made. Ms. Diablo is a wonder at pulling you into the pages of her books into the lives of her characters and you can’t help but fall in love with them and the world she has created. I am a huge lover of the paranormal genre as well as historicals and this one is a wonderful combination of the two. Although it is a time travel novel the time traveling is very well written and not corny or unbelievable at all. It is an exciting and deep tale about two very different people who are literally worlds and decades apart, as well as the fight of an entire people and culture to survive.

I love Native American history I have always found it fascinating and though I was already slightly familiar with the Cheyenne I really loved all the detail that Ms. Diablo put into this book about them. Not only did I get to enjoy a great story, but I learned some about this fascinating and strong people as well. A great and different (in a very good way) read that I think anyone that loves a good romance would enjoy immensely!

Also Keta will be visiting here on the 20th to talk more about Where the Rain is Made and to give away a copy as well! I hope everyone has a great weekend! :)

RL outsmarted me again

2010-09-15T22:39:00.001-05:00

When am I ever going to learn not to say I'm gonna have something tomorrow???

Everytime I do that it seems RL (Real Life) rears it's ugly head and whips me again. LOL And it did I fully intended to have the review for Keta Diablo's Where The Rain Is Made today, but I got slammed with work and other things that won't be mentioned - I will spare you the fun details which I am sure you are thankful for hehehe - and didn't get the review finished today.

God willing and no more unforseen things and I will do my best to have it finished and up for either later today or dare I say it tomorrow.... may have just jinxed myself there - but I hope not. In the meantime here is an excerpt to wet your appetite!

~EXCERPT ~
Cesca had never seen him so calm. Vapors rose from the water like a fine mist, sheathing his shoulders and head. Meko moved not an inch, and for a moment she wondered if he drew breath. He came toward her, the ripples circling, beckoning her. “It will never be over between us,” he whispered.

His words threw her mind into total disorder. She stiffened and thrust an arm out, hoping the action would be enough to hold him back. Yet still he advanced. He encircled her outstretched wrist with a gentle hand and pulled her to him. His warm breath fanned her wet skin. Drawing her head back, he bared her throat and delivered a series of lingering kisses to the throbbing pulse in her throat. His lips traveled along the damp flesh of her shoulder before he claimed her mouth.

A hot flame clawed through her belly when he slipped one hand beneath the water, pressed it against the small of her back and pulled her closer...closer until she felt the full length of his hard body against hers.

All desire to claw his face vanished. Any shred of resistance she intended to use disappeared as quickly as the space between them. His tongue probed the inside of her mouth. She clung to him with her legs wrapped around his hips. When he pulled back, her breaths came in short bursts. She heard a moan and prayed it wasn’t hers. Lucifer, she was such a fool for the man!

Meko cradled her in his arms and pushed through the water back to shore and laid her in the tall grass. A Cheyenne curse fell from his lips as he looked down at her. Events happened so fast, she couldn’t think. The soft beating of the drums, distant laughter, and the soothing sound of water trickling over rocks came to her through a fog.

And then she surrendered.

OMS I can't wait!!!!!!!!!!

2010-09-14T22:31:00.000-05:00

Oh my stars my eyes and monitor about melted on this one check this out hot off the email this is the cover for Pamela Clare's upcoming book Breaking Point! Can you stand the hotness? That is the very HOT Jed Hill there on the cover as Zach isn't he just thudly lol.

Wanna read an excerpt and learn more about it check out the post here on Pamela's Blog! Haven't tried Pamela's books yet you don't know what you are missing! I highly - ok let me stress that again - highly recommend her novels. You can't go wrong with her trust me, every single book is awesome. And I so can't wait to get my hands on this upcoming one squee!

Coming up tomorrow review of Keta Diablo's new release Where The Rain Is Made. (Keta will be here on the 20th and talking about the book and giving away some too!)

WINNERS of the Blogfest Giveaway

2010-09-13T11:42:00.006-05:00

What an amazing Blogfest!!!!! I got to visit and find so many new blogs that I would have never know about otherwise and had my followers jump from 157 to 238! I was so amazed and I want to thank each of you for joining, and for the very sweet birthday wishes too. I hope you stay now that the fest is over and enjoy the reviews, interviews, and contests coming up here on SRR. BUT without further ado it is time to pick the two lucky winners of the Blogfest giveaway - a header image designed by my design site Sapphire Blog Designs

Special Sale going on for the next two weeks only at Sapphire Blog Designs as well so if you didn't win be sure to check it out for some great deals!

Now here is the chosen eye candy of the day to help me announce the winners! ;)

The winners were chosen randomly via the List Randomizer at Random.org and they are....

Jessi E.

&

ABBY

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!

I am sending emails to you both and we can get started on your prize! :)

NOW don't despair if you didn't win as I mentioned above I am running a huge sale for the next two weeks at Sapphire Blog Design so if you have been dying to spruce up your blog or just need a new badge or signature etc now is the perfect time to get what you have been wanting and save money too! :)

I hope everyone has a great day and big hugs to you all.

WOW

2010-09-11T21:16:00.001-05:00

WOW Is all I can think to say ... well ok almost heheheh. I want to thank all of you for joining in and following my blog! I am truly amazed and thrilled by the turn out! A big thank you and I hope you will continue to enjoy the blog! Thanks also for all of the birthday wishes I had a great birthday and got some wonderful presents - clothes and some new reads -Pre-ordered Eat Prey Love by Kerrelyn Sparks, Exile- the graphic novel version of Diana Gabaldon's Outlander, Betsy bride of the Vampire by MaryJanice Davidson, and The Devil Wears Plaid by Teresa Medeiros as well as dinner out. My boys did spoil me for sure I told them I could get use to that lol. So needless to say between the great birthday and this wonderful blogfest I look kind of like the little guy pictured here... LOL.

I hope you all have a great rest of the Blogfest and don't forget it's still going on so you still have another day to enter the contest just check out the post below to find out more if you haven't already! I will have more contests coming up very soon with even more goodies, plus new author interviews, and many more reviews. So stay tuned! :)

Blogfest 2010 and contest!!!

2010-09-09T23:47:00.001-05:00

It's time to get out there and have some fun and find some new wonderful blogs!!! I'm participating in this year's Blogfest and there are a ton of great blogs to check out and many great prizes to be won as well! It's hosted by A Journey for Books and you can see a total list of the participants there.

For my part of the massive giveaway I'm giving 2 lucky winners a brand new header image (or if you don't need that then an image of your choice) from my blog design biz at Sapphire Blog Designs!

Now just a couple of rules - you must be a follower of this blog and if you become a follower of Sapphire Blog Designs as well you will receive an extra entry! :)

Today is my birthday so as a little extra bonus for everyone if you enter you automatically get an extra entry. :)

You must also leave a comment on this post and be sure to leave a contact email where I can reach you to let you know if you win! That's it! So good luck to everyone and I hope you enjoy the blog fest and your visit here as well!

Next blog in the blog hop...

The Neverending Shelf

Adult Blogger Tag Along Weekend!

2010-09-03T03:05:00.000-05:00

I am excited to join in this great way to find some great new blogs that love to read Adult Romance! It's hosted by Laurie at Bitten By Paranormal Romance and the rules are as follows...

"This is a tag along for a specific group. In order to do tag along you have to primarily have a book blog that reviews and post adult content. In other words, if you read books like erotic and adult romance and have adult pic., then you can play tag along. Sorry YA readers, but if you read both (I know some of you do) you can tag along also. Just make sure you have both YA and adult romance on your blog.

I wanted to do this not only for myself, but for others out there that are looking for more adult book blogs.

It doesn't matter what you read if its paranormal, suspense, historical, contemporary or mystery Along with erotic with any genre. As long as it is adult then your in.

Welcome to the special weekend tag along I want to make this easy for you to join in the fun, So if you would please follow the instructions and have fun!!!!

1.Make a post for your blog with this weekends picture on it. And be sure to link it back to Bitten By Paranormal Romance's Blog!
2.Post it to your blog

3. Then come here and add your blogs name and the ULR of that post (make sure its that ulr because your only going to enter this once this weekend) in the Mister Linky's Magical Widgets

4.Look for a blog your not a follower of, if you like the blog follow and leave a comment on that post where you see the weekend picture.

Now here is how its all going to work each day after you have entered check back in on my blog and see if there is any new blogs that has entered. If so check them out, if you like the blog follow and leave a comment on their weekend post, so they can follow you back.

This way if someone is too busy on Friday to enter they can on Sat. Sun. which everyday is easier on the blogger. But remember this is only for one weekend, I will go back to Friday only.

Review: A Season of Seduction by Jennifer Haymore

2010-09-01T02:24:00.003-05:00

Official Blurb: Although the widowed Lady Rebecca has sworn off marriage, men are another matter. London’s cold winter nights have her dreaming of warmer pursuits-like finding a lover to satisfy her hungry heart. Someone handsome, discreet, and most importantly as uninterested in marriage as she is. Someone like Jack Fulton

A known adventurer and playboy, Jack seems like the perfect choice. There’s just one problem: Jack isn’t interested in an affair. He needs the beautiful, mysterious Lady Rebecca to be his wife. And he doesn’t have much time to persuade her. A secret from Jack’s past is about to surface, and by Christmas Day he’ll be either married to Rebecca or dead.

_________________________________________

Jennifer Haymore’s A Season of Seduction is book three in her series surrounding the Duke of Calton and his very eclectic family. Now although this is the third book in the series I want to make sure that I say I had not read the other books before it…and I still had no trouble at all following the storyline. Nor did it detract from it at all - which is always a major plus. (It did however wet my appetite for the previous books I have to find out what happened in them! And now I must go and get the other books in this fabulous series! Want to know why read on…)

Lady Rebecca Fisk has been very unlucky in love indeed. She is lonely and longs to feel the passion again. But being a widow and her first husband being a scoundrel of epic proportions - she has decided that the best way for her to get on with her life is to take a lover secretly and remain safely single! But even the best laid plans can go hopelessly awry in life …

Enter the very handsome and adventurous Jack Fulton he seems the perfect choice for a liaison as he is everything that any woman could possibly want – well traveled, charming, gorgeous, and most importantly as uninterested in marriage as she is! Or so he seemed…

There is much more to Jack Fulton than what meets the eye. In fact Jack isn’t interested in just an affair with the beautiful Lady Rebecca, he wants her to be his wife! Jack has a dark secret that he is hiding and if he doesn’t convince Rebecca to marry him before Christmas that secret could very well cost him his life.

Jack liked Rebecca from the start but with each new encounter he finds himself falling more deeply in love with her. What started out to be a match because of necessity has now turned into much, much more. Rebecca is the very thing that he wants the most in the world, and he will fight all obstacles to make sure that she remains his. But Jack is walking a very precarious tight rope- he can not let Rebecca find out the truth behind his deception and his secret or he knows that everything will be over between them. And Jack is bound and determined that he will not let that happen.

Now I don’t want to risk giving anything away so I’m going to leave it there and if you want to find more out you will have to pick up a copy of this fantastic book. I completely enjoyed this one and as I said before it has made me rush out to buy the previous books in the series. Ms. Haymore has penned a fabulous story of seduction, romance, intrigue and betrayal and above all that – love. You don’t want to miss it! I’m now a big fan of this new author and she is going on my automatic to buy list! I love her writing style and the complex plots that she has weaved so beautifully together. Believe me some of them are very complex but thoroughly enjoyable. The characters are amazing and the story will tug at your heart strings believe me. So if you love a great read, do go and get this series you will be glad that you did!

NEW Jeaniene Frost cover take a look!!!!

2010-08-25T15:24:00.000-05:00

I can not wait for this!!!!!!!

Woohoo

Goodies I gots em! :)

2010-08-24T06:36:00.000-05:00

I got some wonderful goodies in the mail the last few days and I have to share! First off I finally have a brand new and non scratched office chair thanks to the lovely people at CSN / Dining rooms Direct.com

Now I had an office chair but alas it had been a casualty of my cats running around and climbing all over it chasing each other etc. So when I was contacted by CSN to review one of their products I jumped at the chance and that is what I needed the worst at the moment because I was ashamed of my chair! LOL So take a look at this wonderful beauty!

I have to say Diningrooms Direct was a pleasure to order from the order process was easy as pie and the chair was here in days not weeks! I can't say enough good things about their service. I sure will be ordering more from them in the future! Thank you to the wonderful folks at CSN for making my week a and living room a lot brigher! :) I have also warned previously mentioned kitties to keep their little selves off mama's new chair or else they will feel the wrath of the spray bottle! ;)

Also I got a lovely package in the mail from none other than Ms. Amanda McIntyre herself! Take a look at the goodies she sent me for playing in her wolfie game on her blog! LOVE the mousepad and the CD well shoot I love everything!!!!

I will treasure them always Ms. Amanda! BIG thanks and many hugs for the lovely gifts! :)

Upcoming Guest and what RU reading?

2010-08-18T22:06:00.000-05:00

Well I am behind on my blogging yet again I'm beginning to think it's a loosing battle. I hope everyone is having a good week so far. Personally I can't wait for it to be Friday already. So what is everyone reading this week. I have a review I need to get written up for Jennifer Haymore's A Season of Seduction (hope to have that done and up here in the next day or so) and I'm about to start on Paula Quinn's upcoming Seduced by a Highlander! Wooohooo I just can't get enough of those hunks in Kilts! Then it's on to Keta Diablo's upcoming Where The Rain Is Made! Keta will be here on Sept. 20th as part of her blog tour! Here is the blurb take a look it sounds awesome!

A decadent-looking savage has captured Francesca DuVall and her brother, Marsh. Now she must spend every waking moment planning an escape. She didn’t count on the powerful draw of desire interfering with her scheme in the camp of the brutal Cheyenne dog soldiers.

Ethan Gray is a curator at a national museum . . . most of the time, but when he travels through time to help his beloved People he becomes Meko, leader of the most revered and feared tribe of the plains. Although their worlds are decades apart Meko can’t resist the dark beauty he kidnapped during a raid. He has many battles to fight but none he wants to win more than the one that will capture Cesca’s heart forever.

From the windswept plains of Colorado and the harsh life of a Dog Soldier to the placid life of a curator their love was fueled by passion and kindled by destiny.

Goodness gracious greatballs O fire... and a great cause!

2010-08-13T17:17:00.003-05:00

That is what it feels like outside right now... can we say sweltering, icky, sticky, sickly hot out it's 102 at almost five in the afternoon! BLAH but since it's so hot out I thought I would post this red hot hottie that I happened upon last night to help up the heat for some of you all hehehehe! ;) His name if you all would like to know is Tommy Tucker, and don't worry I intend to show more of his hunky self right here on my blog very soon! ;)

Now let's see what else is going on oh sorry I got distracted starring at Tommy again LOL! I'm in the middle of reading Jennifer Haymore's A Season of Seduction and it is fabulous so far! She is an astoundingly talented and vibrant author and I love everything I have read from her so far (she also writes as Dawn Halliday). Some of you might be familiar with her and know of her recent and ongoing battle with Breast Cancer. You can read a little more about it on her webpage here... Jennifer Haymore.

God bless her and I hope and pray that she beats this horrible disease. Her publisher Forever Books held a fundraiser at the recent RWA to raise money for Breast Cancer Awareness in honor of Jennifer. However if you are like me and didn't get to make it to RWA there is still a way you can help donate to this very important and worthy cause! Danger: Women Writing - a very talented group of wonderful authors has a store where you can buy great items and help fight Breast Cancer! Check it out here.... Danger: Women Writing and buy some great items to help in this ongoing battle.

Breast Cancer is a disease that affects so many women today of all ages. In fact I just heard today of a dear friend of mine who just found out that she has breast cancer but it is still in the very early stages and Thank God they found it early. It is very important that all women make sure to do your regular breast exams and get your yearly exams and mammograms! This is a cause that is dear to my heart as my mother fought and won her battle against breast cancer many years ago and I still remember what it was like when she was going through it. And we lost my mother's baby sister to this horrible disease two years back so stay informed and stay on top of your health it is VITAL!

Please remember to pray for Jennifer Haymore in her fight against this disease! She is a great author and a true inspiration. I pray that she beats this and writes many more wonderful novels in the future!

Priceless vids you have to see these!

2010-08-11T22:38:00.000-05:00

k I got to looking on Youtube because of a link the hubs sent me - then I stumbled upon these two videos! You have to see these I was ROFL for real they are awesome. So I had to share these hope you enjoy them as much as I did! :)

And this guy is absolutely hilarious it looks just like it's really saying those things, LOVED IT!

Review: Primal Instincts by Susan Sizemore

2010-08-10T03:55:00.002-05:00

Tobias Strahan is the Prime in charge of the elite team of vampires known as the Dark Angels. They are charged with the task of protecting and keeping the peace in the paranormal community. But he may have just received his toughest mission yet and it has nothing to do with battling any rogue werewolves or vampires it will be a test of this warrior’s heart!

Francesca “Flare” Reynard knows her responsibilities and she fully intends to supply her people with the offspring to help keep their dwindling numbers stronger. But she wants it to be done on her terms which are a clinic and a sperm donor not mating with anyone… and therefore not bringing the heart into play in the process. But her heart and her world are about to be tipped on their axis when her mother who is a clan Matris gets involved and proposed that Tobias be the father of her grandchildren!

Tobias and Flare can’t deny that there are sparks a plenty flying between them but both of them have pasts and preconceived notions that tell them that they couldn’t possibly be compatible let alone Bondmates! The closer they get however the more the walls come tumbling down around their well guarded hearts. There is also danger a plenty as well that Tobias and the Dark Angels have to get to the bottom of however the main plot of this one is that of the relationship between Flare and Tobias.

While this was an ok read I found that it was only that and not up to the standards of the past Prime novels that I have read before this one. I am not certain exactly how to best describe the difference or what it is that is missing from this one but it fell short of the stellar novels that Sizemore had penned before it. Flare was portrayed as the aristocratic ice queen and Tobias as the warrior who has to try to see past her outer icy persona to the real person within. While the book did have it’s moments it just didn’t leave me hanging to the pages like the others have. I can't put my finger on exactly the reason why, maybe it is that this is book 9 in the series - all I do know is that it seemed that some of the spark that has been in the other novels just was not present here. I am sure that fans of the Primes series will still want to read it and enjoy it as part of the series but it is definitely not the stand out book of the series.

It does have one sexy cover no one can deny that! ;)

TGIF and how!

2010-08-06T04:31:00.000-05:00

TGIF oh yes baby thank the good Lord!!!!!!!!!! For whatever reason this has felt like one of the longest weeks of my life. I've been super busy and it still seemed to drag by don't you hate weeks like that! Ok I'm way behind on my blogging again but I have a good reason...I have been working on 3 different sites and done a few more promo things for several other clients. So I'm afraid my reading took a hit as well but I got a lot done. I did get to one book and I'm going to be posting the review for in the next few days here - Primal Instincts by Susan Sizemore it is book nine in her Primes series. While it was an ok read I was disapponted in this one I'm afraid more on that with my review.

I'm afraid I have done very little blog hoping this week either due to work etc. so what have I missed my friends please leave a comment and tell me what you are reading! :)

And because it is friday and it's been a rough one here is some nice eyecandy that made me feel a bit better and I hope it will brighten your day as well. :)

Ways to save more... so that I can read more!

2010-08-03T01:38:00.002-05:00

This year has been a huge lesson in how to spend less and try to live on less per month. With the economy the way it is I know many have had to cut back. My husband's hours have been cut back as well so we have been trying to cut as many corners as possible here. Now that being said that has cut into my book purchasing big time as compared to years past. In looking at ways to save money I have thought up a few ways that I can cut down on some costs that can add up to more books in my near future! How did I do it?

First thing was shop around for what I needed to purchase and find the lowest price on items from the dining room, to the family room, and all the rest! Searching the Internet has found much lower prices on things that my family and I needed than I could find in the stores in my area many times.

Another biggy was when I wasn't using my heater or air conditioner I unplugged them the same with my entertainment unit and computer. You would not believe the difference that one small thing made in our electric bill!

Another great way to cut back on expenses and even be more healthy while doing it...

(photo courtesy of Diningroomsdirect.com)

Not only does this little grill help not heat my kitchen up (and believe me with this summer being sweltering all by itself that has been a big deal to me so far and it's only starting in August) but it helps drain the fat and many of the calories right off the food while it's cooking as well!

And a tip for those of you that love to read and wouldn't mind writing up a review you can review books at NetGalley and get them (many ARC's months before they release) for free. Now you will need an e-reader or a way to read PDF's of the books on your computer this way. But its a great way to get some stellar reads free all for your opinon on them after you are done! :)

So by saving up some money with these helpful hints I'm going to be doing some book shopping very soon! WOOHOOO! I have several that have been on my radar for several months now that I am hoping to get my hot little paws on ASAP.

One other thing I'm needing to replace as the chaos that is my son and my cats have recently trashed it is my poor pitiful office chair. My son broke the arm on it by sitting on it instead of the seat, and then the kitties decided that using it as a spring board and sticking their back claws in it by doing that - would be fun. The seat on it looks like someone was having fun poking pins in it like it was a voodoo doll or something. UGH! Got my eye on something like this...

http://www.diningroomsdirect.com/Boss-Office-Products-B8106-BOP1035.html

I also plan to enforce a no playing on mama's new chair when I get it as well. *shows water bottle to kitties* ;)

Review: Kiss of the Rose by Kate Pearce

2010-07-29T23:30:00.001-05:00

If you love the Tudor period and you love vampires this is a book you will have to have! It is a very unique new paranormal novel that combines the worlds of the Tudor court with vampires and the slayers that are bound to protect the throne at all costs!

The story starts with Henry’s father who is in a desperate battle with King Richard for the crown. Before the pivotal battle that will decide it all - Henry makes a pact with the ancient Druids to help him defeat Richard and assure the thrown is his, and also to protect his family’s hold on that thrown even after his death. But that pact also included his family's help with the struggle between the Druid’s and the Vampires that they are sworn to defeat. Henry agrees and his blood seals the pact…

Years later his son Henry the VIII sits on the thrown and there is a master vampire that is wanting to see him dead! Enter Rosalind Llewellyn of the Legendary Llewellyn family – they are a sect of Druids who have been sworn to protect the King and Queen from the vampires since the pact was first made between the Druids and the Tudors. Under the guise of one of the queens Ladies in waiting Rosalind has come to Court to find and dispatch the vampire before it can harm the King or the Queen in anyway. But she has never come across the likes of a vampire that is as old or as powerful as the one that she must face now…and if that weren’t a daunting enough task in and of itself one of the Ellis family – a group of Druid slayers that defend the vampire race in the war between the Druids and Vampires (and a long time enemy of the Llewellyn family as well) is also at court and claiming to be there to kill the vampire as well.

Christopher Ellis is out to kill the rogue vampire that has been causing major problems for the Vampire Council which he serves and protects. He didn’t expect to run into such a fetching and fascinating lady as the Lady Rosalind it’s to bad that she is an accursed Llewellyn and that their families are sworn enemies! But from the moment they meet he feels drawn to her and not just because of her beauty but in all that makes her into the enigmatic woman that she is. Could the growing feelings that he feels for her be real or is he being compelled or bewitched by some Druid magic by the Llewellyn?

As the vampire’s victims and games get more serious and closer to the royal family Christopher and Rosalind are thrown together more and more and they are unexpected urged by their feuding families to join forces to defeat the ancient threat before it can achieve it’s deadly plot for the King’s life. Can they work together to defeat their common enemy, and can these long time enemies fight their growing feelings for each other as well? You don’t want to miss this exciting adventure and if you want to know the answers you will have to get your copy and find out because my lips are sealed as to their fates…. ;)

I really enjoyed this book and I can’t wait to see what happens next in this exciting new series. It looks as if the books are going to be following King Henry’s life in six books - looks like one for each wife he had! Love him or hate him – (it’s kind of hard not to let's face it he was a jerk of epic proportions) he is always a very interesting character and his court is the ultimate lair for the vampires and the druids that are at war both with themselves and with the rogue vampires that have attacked them both. If you love a good paranormal and the Tudor’s you have to try this one you will be so glad you did! Ms. Pearce has constructed a fabulous world of courtly intrigue, romance and danger that you won’t be able to put down.

New Graphics ....

2010-07-27T23:19:00.000-05:00

New Graphics avalible at my design site...

Sapphire Blog Designs

Go take a look... :)

My new storage shelves!

2010-07-26T19:53:00.000-05:00

I was recently contacted by the very cool and generous people at CSN Stores to review one of their items of my choice. It was a very hard decision for me because they truly have it all! After much browsing and much drooling I finally settled on something that I need at my house very badly. A cute and very versatile storage unit! It can be used as a bookcase or storage shelves and it has 4 removable foldable cloth black boxes that can add extra storage or be used on their own as well. Take a look...

Now I have a great place to store all kinds of things and I have the option as using part of it as a bookshelf and you all know me and my books that's probably what I'll do ;) ... and then have the bottom with all kinds of stuff I can put in the baskets to be ready at a moments notice! I LOVE IT!!!

It was an all around great experience with CSN the order was easy and they got it here fast! It was really easy to put together my son and I did it together in just a few mins. This little unit is going to prove very helpful and useful to me and my family. (if I can just keep my son from using it for all his action figures now LOL!) Oh and did I mention that my cats love it to check out Selene here...

Two very big thumbs up for CSN from all of us here at Sapphire Romance Realm! :)

I is in a reading funk

2010-07-24T00:36:00.000-05:00

Ok maybe it's the heat maybe it's just been because it's been a busy week but I am officially in a reading funk. I haven't gotten hardly any reading done this past week at all. When I did finally get a few mins to where I could read at night before bed I zonked out. So nothing much to report on the reading front I'm afraid this week. I need to get my tuckus in gear because I have these great books that I will be reading and getting the reviews on here in the very near future....

I'm almost done with this one it's good so far! Has nothing to do with my funk I assure you lol.

And then I have these lovely's waiting for me as well...

And just got this one in the mail today squeeeeeeee!!!!!!!

So what is everyone else reading???

Where can I find the funny?

2010-07-20T22:02:00.002-05:00

Ok starting on the Humorous Paranormal Challenge over at Bitten By Paranormal Romance ... I thought I could do that pretty easily how wrong I was! I'm having a booger of a time finding good funny paranormals to read so can you all help recommend some to me? The ones I have that I have read and love are Kerrelyn Sparks series LOVE them (and for anyone that hasn't tried them you should they are awesome!) But I am stuck on where to find some good ones I have tried a few that I didn't like at all some that were just too corny or to silly but I know there has to be some good ones out there. And so I don't want to have to read more of those series that I didn't like to finish the challenge, therefore I am asking for suggestions so who are some of your favorite funny reads??? I thought I could maybe use the Sookie Series or the Jeaniene Frost ones as part of it but they aren't necessarily considered that funny I guess lol. So I needs some help people!!! LOL

Unholy Hot! nother giveaway and winners announced as well!!!!

2010-07-16T22:49:00.003-05:00

Well summer has been reeking an unholy hot heatwave over my area this week. The heat index was up too 108 earlier this week. UGHHHHHHHH I sure hope this isn't a pattern for the entire summer but it's also been an excellent excuse to stay inside under the air conditioner and read! I'm deep into Kiss of the Rose by Kate Pearce and loving it so far!!! Tudors and Vampires what's not to love right? ;) One gorgeous cover there too. Will have that review up very soon here.

And I just finished the design for the new look for Bitten by Paranormal Romance.... check it out and tell me what you think PLUS there is a chance there on her blog at another giveaway where you can win a free blog button or signature designed especially for you! So check it out and enter!

That announcement also reminded me that I totally forgot to announce the winner of my little contest at the end of the first week of my design blog launch for a free button or graphic of the winners choice so in light of my being a forgetful and badddd blog hostess. *smacks on hand vehemently* and I do apologize for that I'm going to award two lucky winners instead of just one with a graphic of their choice! And the Randomizer picked....

MS. CECILE & JACKIE B!!!!!!!!!!

Congratulations ladies an email is on it's way to you both and you will have your new graphics very soon!!!!! :)

Now if you didn't win this time no need to worry - remember you have another 2 chances to win over at Bitten By Paranormal Romance so go enter for another chance now! :)

I hope you all have a great weekend stay cool and happy reading!

Review: Conception by Sarah McCarty

2010-07-13T17:35:00.000-05:00

Conception is the story of two lovers destined to be together despite seemingly insurmountable odds.

Eden Lavery and her newborn daughter have been held a prisoner by her grandfather (who is the leader of a member of a fanatical group called the Coalition who are seeking to find the secret to immortality.) She has suffered through unspeakable experiments trying to find out more about the Chosen (a group of vampires) and how they are immortal. It seems like a lifetime ago when she fell in love with Duscan Knight the leader of the Chosen who has lived for over six centuries. She never thought when their relationship started that any of this was possible or even existed. Now she has to escape her prison like hell, and get her daughter to Duscan so that he can protect her and keep her out of the hands of her grandfather before he turns on her with his experiments next.

Duscan (Deuce) Knight believed his love and destined mate - Eden had been killed a year ago in the confrontation between the Chosen, the Others and the Coalition. He never would have left her behind had he known that she had survived. Now thank the Maker she has returned to him (and with another surprise their daughter that he knew nothing of) and he is determined that the Coalition or no one else will ever come near them again, vowing vengeance on those who have tortured and harmed his mate. He is also determined to make her see that their love is meant to be and they are eternal mates.

Eden never forgot what it was like in Deuces arms. Their passion is as hot as ever but many things stand in their way. Even though she knows that he thought her dead the disappointment she felt at being left behind and that he didn’t come for her still haunts her. And Eden is determined that no matter what happens to her that her grandfather and those that follow him will never get near her daughter ever again. But even as powerful as Duscan is can he truly protect them from the far reaching power of the Coalition? And can they overcome all that has come between them to make a new beginning?

I won’t tell you any more if you want to know the answers you will have to get the book to find them out! Sarah McCarty has created a very unique and different world of Vampires and shifters in this book. It is definitely not your regular vampire romance, though the Chosen have many of the traits of the vampires that most people identify with they have one Mate that is meant to share their lives… the other half of their soul and only that person can make them complete among other things that set them apart from other vamps.

I really loved many things about this it truly felt like the start of what would become a series and I would have liked to see it continue to learn more but this so far has been the only book in the Chosen storyline. It had a very good start and as with any Sarah McCarty book great writing and ultra hot love scenes galore. But while I did love the passion between Eden I felt that it fell a bit short of many of Sarah’s other books like the fabulous Promises series. It seemed way to focused on just the sex sometimes and the other parts of the story did lag behind some, if not for that I would have given this a much much higher rating because the her writing is excellent. (And yes I realize this was an erotic romance and therefore more sex is expected) I just wish more of the history of both the Chosen and their battle with the Coalition had been flushed out as well that would have made it an ever better read. All in all though another great book from this author in my quest to read all of her books!

Wanna Win Jeaniene Frost's Upcoming Novel?

2010-07-12T20:15:00.000-05:00

Wanna Chance to win Jeaniene Frost's upcoming novel Eternal Kiss of Darkness check out this awesome interview with Jeaniene and enter for your chance to win at Paranormal Haven here.....

Check it out

I'm very sorry for my being MIA the last few days my router died and AT&T finally got me one here today so I could be back online. 4 days without any internet was like four days of being on another planet! LOL

2 Reviews of Jeaniene Frost's Books

2010-07-03T20:54:00.003-05:00

Review: AT GRAVE’S END by Jeaniene Frost
Book three in the Night Huntress series

Cat and Bones are back for more undead angst! Cat seems to have everything going her way at the beginning of this one she is back with her undead love Bones at her side and they are slaying the rogue undead and keeping the human population safe. Things are going well with her team. Heck even her mother is doing better and staying out of her hair more! But things in life of course never go easily for very long do they? And they are about to go wrong in a big way for Cat and throw a major monkey wrench into everything…

Cat has fought the undead as the Red Reaper for years and has been successful in keeping her true identity safe via changes in appearance - dying her hair, wearing contacts, changing clothes and identities at the drop of a hat so that no one ever knew who the real Reaper was until it was too late. However now her cover is blown sky high and there are many undead who are out for vengeance! As if that weren’t enough to ruin her day there is also an undead Master Vampiress from Bones’ past who is out for vengeance (and who also welds some very deadly magic on top of her other undead powers) and she will stop at nothing to see him dead in the permanent sense once and for all. Its an all out Vampire War! Can Cat and Bones survive this onslaught of enemies or will their pasts both catch up with them and have them both headed for the grave once and for all?

I can’t say much more because I don’t want to give anything away, but let me just say that the danger meter for them both is on full force in this one. Never have they faced such major and very deadly odds. I went through this one like a hurricane I couldn’t put it down! I was riveted to the pages to see what would happen next. Full of all the action and adventure of the other books, and with the return of favorite supporting characters as well, I loved seeing more of the story of Cat and Bones unfolding.

Ms. Frost is a master at throwing surprises that you weren’t expecting at you time and time again. You just never know what to expect when you pick up one of the books and I love that! It’s truly refreshing in a genre that I love but that has gotten way to predictable in a lot of books lately. That is definitely not the case with Ms. Frost’s books. Fresh, heart pounding action and with the deep love story of Cat and Bones growing more all the time this one is another great must read for Frost fans and for vampire fans in general!

The only thing that did bother me and detracted from my enjoyment was some of the gore (zombies to be more specific they are just gross and have never been a favorite of mine in anyway because of the massive ick factor with them, but they are formidable new opponents for Cat and her team to battle!) I know that might put some readers off a bit but that is to be expected when fighting the undead right at least to a certain extent.

I couldn’t wait for the next one to see what she would throw at Cat and Bones next! (and so I didn’t and jumped right into it as soon as I finished this one! (see that review next!)

Review: Destined For An Early Grave by Jeaniene Frost

Book four in the Night Huntress series

Ok I have to start out on this one by saying fans of this series get ready for MAJOR OH MY STARS moments in this one galore!!! Cat and Bones have been through so much together they have fought side by side for over six years together against rogue vamps, zombies, ghouls, crazed magic welding master vamps, you name it - they seem to have had it thrown out them. So they are more than due for a vacation!

When Bones takes Cat sailing for some much needed R&R all is going splendidly and Cat thinks she has never been more content or happy. But her dream vacation is about to turn into a true nightmare when a centuries old Master Vampire named Gregor starts invading Cat’s dreams and stating that Bones isn’t her husband and that she and Gregor have a very long and intimate past that has been blocked from Cat’s memory and that he is determined to get her back! Cat is utterly confused and she learns that Gregor who is also known as the DreamSnatcher can actually kidnap people from their dreams the stakes just went up 100%. How can you fight an enemy that can snatch you right out of your sleep??? But is Gregor telling the truth? How could it be possible that they have such an intimate and long past as he claims that she can’t remember at all? And if so just how intimate was their past? Could the past she thought she remembered all be a lie? And how can she find out the truth without endangering herself and Bones even more than they already are? Gregor is much older and much more powerful than Bones… and that has Cat worried that he could kill Bones if they face off, and she can’t let that happen not because of her - not for any reason. Can Bones and Cat find a way to battle a foe that can attack anytime while you are awake or while you are asleep?

This one had me flying through the pages yet again. I truly can’t remember the last time I couldn’t put a book down like I have been with this series. Once I got started I just couldn’t stop! Yes they are just that good! Jeaniene Frost has upped the ante in every single book and personally I think they just keep getting better and better! She knows exactly how to keep you glued to the pages and riveted to the edge of your seat throughout. There are surprises galore in store for our favorite characters in this one and you truly don’t want to miss them!!! Oh I so want to say more but I can’t without running the risk of giving some very major parts away!!! I will say that if you are a fan of this series you don’t want to miss this one and I think you will be very pleased to see some issues that have been in the other books (including some conditions) finally coming to the forefront in a major way! That’s it…that is as close as I will come my lips are sealed on the rest…… so if you want to find out what I’m talking about do yourself a favor and get this one and get to reading! This has been my favorite of the series so far and I am dying to get the next book in the series as soon as it’s available to see what happens next!

New Set of Graphics

2010-06-30T21:58:00.000-05:00

New set of Graphics for sale at my design blog have a look here....

http://sapphireblogdesign.blogspot.com/

just one example... :)

2 Reviews for the price of one!

2010-06-29T14:06:00.000-05:00

Well I have 2 reviews to post for you all today and 2 more coming that I will try my best to have written up by the weekend at least. Don't anyone pass out now LOL. I know I haven't been to up to date on my blog recently I apologize for that RL has been kicking my hinny yet again. In between work and other stuff I've had little time for my blog like I have wanted too. I shall endevour to do better tho I have learned never to promise things because that's a sure way of throwing a monkey wrench in any plans lol. So here we go 2 reviews coming right up.....

First up is One foot in the Grave by Jeaniene Frost

This is the second book in Jeaniene Frost’s Night Huntress series. Cat is back and deadlier than ever in this sequel to Halfway to the Grave. Now Cat is the commander over a covert top secret division of Homeland security that deals with the rogue undead. Her training with Bones has proven to be invaluable and she is slaying more than ever…

but a huge part of her is missing and that is Bones himself. She has been miserable since she left Bones and longs to feel him in her arms again even knowing in her heart that it could never work, Cat just can’t forget or stop the aching for him. Meanwhile there is a huge bounty on Cat’s head as her reputation as infamous half-breed “Red Reaper” grows.

So not only is she having to lead her very human team of vampire hunters in the dangerous path of rounding up and slaying the rogue vampires she’s having to always look over her shoulder for the undead head hunters that want her to be the one on the other end of the sword.

Bones hasn’t forgotten or stopped searching for Cat since the day she walked out on him, and he is determined that he will have her back at all costs. He also wants to find her to protect her from the many who seek her death. Some who didn’t know that he was her mentor have even contacted him to take the bounty on her head, and as strong and independent as she is he knows that she isn’t able to keep all of the Master Vampires that are after her at bay. Can he find her before someone else does? And once he does find her can he convince her that she never should have left him or his bed in the first place?

I really enjoyed this book as much as the first in fact I liked it even better than I did the first installment in the series. You really get to see more in-depth feelings that spur Cat as she tries to come into her own, and you see her strengths and weaknesses as she heads her team of vampire hunters. You get to meet more great characters in this one both undead and human that are very memorable, as well as getting to see more the returning supporting cast from the first novel- Spade, Cat’s mother and Rodney and many more…

Jeaniene Frost proves more and more that she is a force to be reckoned with in the paranormal romance genre. I can’t wait to see what she throws at Cat and Bones next. If you love a good book that will keep you on the edge of your seat and you truly never know what will happen next then you have got to try this series any true vamp lover is gonna love this series as much as a vamp loves fresh blood! ;)

_____________________________________________

Caleb by Sarah McCarty

This is the first book in Sarah McCarty’s The Shadow Wrangler’s series. Caleb Johnson is drop dead sexy and the figment of all of Allie Sander’s fantasies since the day he first strolled into her bakery shop. But try as she might she can’t seem to catch Mr. Tall dark and ruggedly sexy Caleb’s interest no matter what she does. But what Allie doesn’t know is that Caleb has kept his distance not because of disinterest, but he has been trying to keep her safe by keeping his distance. All of that comes to a head when Allie is attacked one night while walking home from work by a massive wolf. And her salvation comes in the form of none other than Caleb in the shape of a large black wolf. Allie has just found out the hard way that there is much more to Caleb Johnson than meets the eye. Caleb and his brothers are vampires that have walked the earth for over two centuries, and Allie’s life is about to change more than she ever dreamed possible…

Now I won’t give away any more for fear of giving way to much of the plot away if I do. This one seemed to have it all an absolutely gorgeous cover, cowboy vampires, and Sarah Mccarty at the helm what could be better I thought! Well honestly a lot could have been better with this one I’m afraid. Now let me hasten to say that I’m a HUGE Sarah McCarty fan I have loved every single book I have ever read by her so far, but this one was lacking so many things from the other novels I have read by her. Even though it has an interesting plot it falls far short of her normally vivid and gripping writing. Parts of the book seemed to drag for me… and even her normally scorching hot love scenes seemed more stilted and would get started only to stop suddenly and seemingly slamming the door in the readers face where that has never happened before in any other books that I have read by her. This was not her best novel by a long shot. It was an ok read but just that an OK read where all of her other books for me at least have been MUST reads that I couldn’t put down. I could have put this one down and I must say I was disappointed big time in this one as I was so looking forward to reading a vampire novel from Sarah.

I truly debated about posting this review because as I said I LOVEEEEEEE Sarah’s books but I would hate for someone who is just starting on her writing to pick this one up and think it’s like her other books and maybe not give the others a shot because of this one. I will give the other books in this one a shot but I do hope that they pick up and show more of Sarah’s normal magic than this one did.

More Contests and a winner!

2010-06-28T14:09:00.000-05:00

Hello all hope you are having as good a Monday as you can... I'm with Garfield Monday's are evil but to help brighten it up a bit take a look at this awesome Contest and interview from Laurie at Bitten By Paranormal Romance with my favorite bookstore here in town! Bettie's Books is one of my favorite haunts as well and when you see it and read their interview you will understand why! ;) Plus they have a stack of great books including one autographed copy from Gena Showalter so you don't want to miss this one!!!!!!

And it's time to announce the winner of the Claudia Dain drawing! The winner was chosen via the randomizer at Random.org. And the lucky lady is........

Carol L.

Congratulations Carol! :)

And don't forget to enter the drawing below for a new header or graphic of your choice from the new Sapphire Blog Designs Contest! :)

I have two reviews coming up tomorrow one for One Foot in the Grave by Jeaniene Frost and one for Caleb by Sarah McCarty... so until then have a great one my friends!

Contest Time wanna win?

2010-06-25T22:38:00.000-05:00

Ok to celebrate my new design blog I am offering up a contest!!! One lucky winner who becomes a follower of Sapphire Blog Designs will win a free header or image of their choice for their blog or if you don't have a blog I will make you up an image or special wallpaper of your choosing!

AND if you have a blog and help me spread the word about my new blog I will give you 2 extra entries in the contest. The winner will be randomly selected via the Randomizer at Random.org on July 2nd. Help me spread the word about the contest and the new blog and get 3 extra entries! :) Now to enter just vist the new blog and become a follower and leave a comment on the Grand Opening post and be sure to include your email so that I may contact you if you are the winner and if you have posted about the contest anywhere so that I can give you your extra entries! That's all there is to it!

I hope everyone has a great weekend and good luck in the contest!!!

Sapphire Blog Designs

Grand Opening take a look at my new blog!!!

2010-06-25T02:27:00.006-05:00

Hello my friends TGIF!!!! I have some exciting news I have finally got the Grand Opening of my brand new blog design blog up! I had been meaning to do this for a while now and finally bit the bullet and did it so .... here it is folks please take a look and if you would like to help spread the word about my new diggs I would truly appreciate it! :) Be sure to let me know what you think! :)

Sapphire Blog Designs

Been dying for a Kindle here is your chance!

2010-06-24T19:55:00.006-05:00

Have you been drooling for a Kindle but balked at the $259...$399 price tag? Well here is your chance!

Amazon Has dropped Its Price!!! Now get a Kindle for only $189.00!!!!! That is over 70 dollars off!!!!! Just click here to order yours today and get INSTANT books when you want them no more trips to the store or having to wait until they open order a book anytime day or night when you want it!!!

AND Don't forget your chance to get a FREE AUTOGRAPHED COPY of How To Dazzle a Duke from Claudia Dain. Only a few days left for the chance don't miss it!!!

Things that would make life easier

2010-06-23T23:14:00.006-05:00

Ok this post is going to be a bit different from the norm it's not about books it's about my kitchen and dining room. Now my space in my dining room is not that large so I have to utilize as much space as possible. And I've recently been thinking about getting a bakers rack to make my life a little easier and have a bit more space for my pans and baking implements, a space for my cookbooks where I could just go grab them would be awesome. And I was thinking about getting something like this sometime in the near future...

I really like that it has a place for my cast iron skillets and baking pans etc. so they would be within easy reach and all. The only thing I would have to do is try to restrain myself from turning it into another bookcase for my romance novels in the dining room ROFL! Hmmmmm ....

I love the little cross on the front of this one it appeals to my vampire style... ;)

Interview with Claudia Dain!

2010-06-22T00:00:00.001-05:00

I am very pleased to welcome the talented and beautiful Claudia Dain to SRR today! Now this one is going to read a little differently. I sent in the questions to Claudia and so that there would be no spoilers etc. she wrote all of her answers back in a blog post! So without further ado here is Claudia talking all about her upcoming release in the Courtesan series Daring a Duke! (Release date - July 6th)

Claudia Dain ~ I don’t know how many other romance authors have put together Mohawk Indians, American Revolutionaries, and the British aristocracy into one romance novel, but for me, the lure was irresistible.

We often forget (I know I did) that the British and the French were hugely invested in energy, money, and resources on the North American continent for hundreds of years. The North American Indians---and I use that term because that was the term in use at the time---were not only familiar with the British and French, but used their never-ending conflict to their own advantage. The Indian tribes played the Brits and French against each other, trying to get them to kill each other off so that, with any luck, the Indians would be free of them both once and for all.

We know how that story turned out, but it got me thinking…why not a heroine who is half English aristocracy and half Mohawk? Why not a heroine who is stuck in America during the Revolution? Why not a heroine who makes her way to England during this fraught time, who is rejected by her English relatives, who must then make her way in England alone? How would she do it? She’d sell the only thing she has: her body.

That is how Sophia Dalby, ex-courtesan and dowager countess was born.

Sophia has a rich, complicated back story and I’ve loved revealing it to readers over the course of the last four books, and so much is revealed in this fifth book of the series that I think it will answer a lot of questions for readers about why Sophia is the way she is and why she does what she does. She’s an amazingly resilient woman with a very long memory, to say the least.

Having said all that, Sophia is not the actual romantic heroine of Daring A Duke; that honor goes to Jane Elliot, an American come to Regency England to visit her British relatives and Sophia Dalby, an old family friend. That’s another thing we forget about history: family ties and old friendships didn’t necessarily die during the American Revolution; they were just put on hold for a decade or two. But of course, that doesn’t mean that Jane has any interest at all in marrying an Englishman, and a duke? May it never be. Jane is from a family of Patriots and a British duke is something to be tolerated, not desired.

Until she meets him, and he’s instantly smitten with her, and he is quite handsome, and all the English girls treat him like the catch of this Season or any other…and wouldn’t it be fun to show these snobby Brits how an American girl can tame an English duke?

That’s how Daring A Duke starts. How it ends…well, Jane has never met an English duke before. She is not at all aware that playing with handsome dukes is very much like playing with fire. As for Edenham, he’s not used to dealing with an American girl with a strong independent streak. Sparks fly, flames follow.

I had a really good time changing it up in this book; in the previous books in the Courtesan Chronicles, an English girl of the aristocracy asks Sophia for help in getting her man. In Daring A Duke, it’s the Duke who asks Sophia for help in getting Jane, and it’s American Jane who asks Sophia to make sure she doesn’t wind up with the duke!

Poor Jane.

Thanks so much Claudia for the inside scoop on the series and Daring a Duke! I loved it and here is praying that we see more of Sophia in the near future!!! And the fun isn't over yet! Claudia has graciously offered to give one lucky commentor an autographed copy of How to Dazzle a Duke so you can get ready for Daring a Duke on July 6th! So leave a comment and get your name in the hat! :)

Review Halfway to the Grave by Jeaniene Frost

2010-06-19T20:44:00.005-05:00

Halfway to the Grave is the first novel in Jeaniene Frost’s Night Huntress series. Catherine Crawfield has not had an easy life for starters she has always been different than other people she has know that most of her life. But she got a big shock when on her sixteenth birthday her mother told her that she was actually the result of her mother being raped by a vampire. Cat is shocked, horrified, and just plain ticked off! While it explains a lot about her special abilities and eccentricities it’s also not much fun to know that she is half vampire. From that moment on her mother begins a relentless torrent of how all vampires are evil and should be exterminated for the good of all mankind. So to avenge the wrongs that were done to her mother and to assuage some of the anger inside herself as well she declares war on the undead!

Cat goes on stake out after stake out both literally and figuratively luring vampires into what they think is going to be a free meal before she sends them to their grave for good! What she never counted on was that one very sexy vampire would turn the tables on her and give her much more than she ever bargained for by making her a deal she can’t refuse if she wants to live.

Bones is a vampire that has walked the earth for over 240 years and when he kidnaps Cat and starts to interrogate her about her vampire slaying activities his is stunned to find out that Cat is a half-breed which is almost unheard of. He offers an allegiance that would help Cat do the very thing she wants more than anything to kill as many of the undead as possible with conditions of course.

Can Cat trust Bones and what she considers at first to be an unholy bargain? And can she fight not only the undead and her growing feelings for her captor? Or is she herself destined for a quick meeting with the grave? I won’t give anymore away but I have to say I highly recommend this series for anyone that loves a good paranormal or any vamp lover! Jeaniene Frost knows how to keep your wrapped attention from the first page to the last. Once I started this one I could not put it down! She kept me on the edge of my seat waiting to see what she would throw at Cat next and believe me there was quite a bit! Her universe of the paranormal was fresh and fun and very different than the other books I have read which is good! There are way to many cookie cutter paranormals out there now and this is definitely not one of those! She also managed to surprised me several times as well which is kind of hard to do, as well as having me laugh out loud at some of the snarky humor and situations that Cat found herself in. Her first experience with a ghost is priceless! And Bones is nothing short of drool worthy although at times it was hard to decide whether I would have slugged him or kissed him lol. I immediate went out and got the rest of the series and have been engrossed in them since I finished this one! (Those reviews coming soon promise.)

So two big fangs up for this wonderful series! I can’t wait to see what Jeaniene comes up with for future books!

New Challenge Humorous Paranormal oh yeah!

2010-06-18T07:10:00.004-05:00

Well I entered a great new challenge that I found via Laurie at Bitten By Paranormal Romance if you all haven't visited her place you don't know what you are missing btw. ;)

This one is all about the funny with the humorous side of paranormal romance! And let's face it in today's world we can all use all the laughs we can get!

Check it out here... Humorous Paranormal Challenge

Allie Mackay's Upcoming novel ONE HOT COVER!!!!!!

2010-06-13T14:25:00.004-05:00

This is one I so can't wait for! Hot of the press ...take a look it's Allie Mackay's (A.k.a Sue Ellen Welfonder) next one due out in Jan. 2011. She was nice enough to let me go ahead and post it here........ and what a cover haveeeee mercy! :)

From dream to reality…

Margo Menlove loves everything Scottish. But when she wins a Highland vacation, she's disappointed by the whirlwind tourist trail she's taken on. She wants to experience the Scotland of warriors like the legendary Magnus MacBride. When she explores on her own, she picks up a beautiful stone on the shore--and awakes to the sight of MacBride himself in the heat of battle.

Magnus MacBride has seen many things while fighting the Viking hordes--but when the soaking wet, naked woman appears out of the surf, even he is taken aback. Even more stirring is a passion he hasn't allowed himself to feel in years, instead living only for vengeance. But giving in to his wild desire would place Margo in mortal danger--unless they stand together and fight for the love neither can endure without…

The Book Blogger Hop!

2010-06-12T00:09:00.003-05:00

Hosted by Crazy-For-Books
I found this great blog hop through Bitten by Paranormal Romance! Thank you hon! :)

ABOUT THE HOP:

In the spirit of the Twitter Friday Follow, the Book Blogger Hop is a place just for book bloggers and readers to connect and find new book-related blogs that we may be missing out on! This weekly BOOK PARTY is an awesome opportunity for book bloggers to connect with other book lovers, make new friends, support each other, and generally just share our love of books! It will also give blog readers a chance to find other book blogs that they may not know existed! So, grab the logo, post about the Hop on your blog, and start HOPPING through the list of blogs that are posted in the Linky list below!!

The Hop lasts Friday-Monday every week, so if you don't have time to Hop today, come back later and join the fun! This is a weekly event! And stop back throughout the weekend to see all the new blogs that are added! We get nearly 200 links every week!!

Your blog should have content related to books, including, but not limited to book reviews.

If you start following someone through the Hop, leave a comment on their blog to let them know! Stop back during the week to see other blogs that are added! And, most importantly, the idea is to HAVE FUN!!

This is a GREAT idea I love it and I can't wait to find some great new blogs! :)

Two hot new books from Alexandra Ivy

2010-06-09T18:39:00.003-05:00

Look what we can look forward too in the next few months! Squeee.....

Just updated her webpage for her last night with all the juice details on them check out her website here to read more about them!!!!! http://www.alexandraivy.com/

Your chance to ask the author!

2010-06-04T00:52:00.003-05:00

Claudia Dain will be here for a special interview on June the 22nd. If you would like to ask this wonderful author any questions about writing, her books, the Courtesan series, maybe even just what it's like being a published author and what her favorite movies are etc? Whatever you would like to know! Please email me (click here) with your questions, and I will be sure to pass them along to Claudia to answer! :)

Review: Daring a Duke by Claudia Dain

2010-06-01T23:09:00.015-05:00

Daring a Duke is the fifth book in Ms. Dain’s Courtesan series and what a series it is! Countess Sophia Dalby is the infamous Courtesan that has kept London on its ear and a buzz with titillating liaisons and gossip for years. Her match making skills have landed four very prominent ladies with four very well placed and rich bachelors and all within a season! There is no doubt to any that what Sophia sets her hand too reaps indelible rewards for all involved!

In this novel her next match is to be one of the young and very American niece of the Duke and Duchess of Hyde - Miss Jane Elliot. Jane has come to London to visit her aunt Molly in hopes of having a grand adventure! But with two very protective and sometimes very overbearing brothers always watching out to make sure that nothing sullies their little sister in anyway, adventure has thus far been completely out of Jane’s reach. In attendance at her cousin Iveston and Penelope’s wedding breakfast all that is about to change! With Sophia firmly in her corner Jane is certain that she will indeed get her adventure and get it she does! The very last form that she thought that adventure would take however was that of an English Duke!

From the first moment that the dashing Duke of Edenham sets eyes upon Jane he is determined that she will be his at all costs! Yet there are so many differences between them he is an English Duke and she a very stubborn Patriot. (the American Revolution has just taken place and Jane is from a very patriotic family that doesn’t look kindly on England and it’s aristocratic hierarchy it was with great reluctance and not a small bit of trouble that Jane was able to get her father to agree to let her go visit her maternal aunt in the first place) And so the stage is set for the very tumultuous dance that sees Jane and Edenham both at each other’s throats and in each others arms. But is it just a case of a young woman wanting to experience passion or is it the start of something much deeper?

For those of you that love a good regency or just a good story for that matter, you need to get this series! (I confess I have never been a big fan of regency romances but this series is amazing it is not your normal regency and has had me ensnared since the first page. No mean feat I assure you.) Sophia and her sexy and vivacious exploits will have you riveted and dying to see what she cooks up next! She is one of the most complex and layered heroines I have seen anywhere and that’s a very good thing! You never know what the sensual and enigmatic Countess will set into motion next.

This one was a great addition to the series I have been waiting to see who would be the very lucky woman to catch the handsome Duke of Edenham. We get to revisit many of the beloved characters in the previous books of the series, and new light is shead on several of the supporting characters that I was very happy to see flushed out more including the very sensual Lady Paignton, and Edenham’s sister Katherine – we get to see these two very different ladies both involved in an evolving romance that I do hope to see more of in the next book as well. All of the characters in this series have been both fascinating and charming and I can’t wait to see what adventures Ms. Dain will have for them all later in the series.

My favorite part of this book though I would have to say is when Lord Ruan sets about to uncover more in Sophia’s very shrouded past. We get to delve much deeper into just what made Sophia into the calculating and strong and yes very infamous Courtesan she is. What he finds was both shocking and very insightful as to how and who Sophia truly is. And the ending oh my stars it truly blew me away. I truly can not wait for the next installment to find out more! I can’t give it away you will simply have to pick up your copy and find out for yourself darlings! ;)

Also I am so happy to announce that Claudia will be here on SRR June the 22nd to discuss Sophia and the series! Do you have a question you would like to ask her? Just send them to me here and I will be sure to pass them along to Claudia to answer for you! :)

This title will be released on July 6, 2010.
Pre-order now!

Happy Memorial Day may we never forget!

2010-05-29T01:00:00.003-05:00

Let us never forget all the brave Men and Women who have served, and some given the ultimate sacrifice of their very lives so that we may enjoy freedom. God bless all the American armed forces and their families waiting patiently for them at home.

FREEDOM IS NOT FREE

I watched the flag pass by one day.
It fluttered in the breeze
A young Marine saluted it, and then
He stood at ease.

I looked at him in uniform
So young, so tall, so proud
With hair cut square and eyes alert
He'd stand out in any crowd.

I thought, how many men like him
Had fallen through the years?
How many died on foreign soil?
How many mothers' tears?

How many Pilots' planes shot down?
How many foxholes were soldiers' graves?
No, Freedom is not free.

I heard the sound of taps one night,
When everything was still.
I listened to the bugler play
And felt a sudden chill.

I wondered just how many times
That taps had meant "Amen"
When a flag had draped a coffin
of a brother or a friend.

I thought of all the children,
Of the mothers and the wives,
Of fathers, sons and husbands
With interrupted lives.

I thought about a graveyard
at the bottom of the sea
Of unmarked graves in Arlington.
No, Freedom isn't free!!

Copyright 1981 by Kelly Strong

Win a BOX of Books!!!!!

2010-05-26T03:38:00.005-05:00

Great contest from NIGHT OWL ROMANCE check it out...

Monthly Newsletter Giveaway : 1 winner per month - Win a BOX of Books!

Some Past Giveaway Titles: The Hidden by Tobias Hill, Sunflowers by Sheramy Bundrick, Dead Witch Walking by Kim Harrison, My Zombie Valentine - Katie MacAlister, Angie Fox, Marianne Mancusi and Lisa Cach, Dust by Elizabeth Bear, The Unfinished Angel by Creech, Wolfbreed by S.A. Swann, Good Luck by Whitney Gaskell, The Shack by Young, Twilight of A Queen by Susan Carroll, Red Handed by Gena Showalter, GMC: Goal, Motivation & Conflict by Dixon, Magic in the Bone & Magic in the Blood by Devon Monk, Branded by the Sheriff by Delores Fossen, First To Kill by Andrew Peterson, Hex Education by Gould & Jaffery, The Dangerous Book for Demon Slayers by Angie Fox, Unperfect Souls by Mark Del Franco, A Rather Charming Invitation, The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown, Love and Peaches by Anderson

CLICK HERE FOR YOUR CHANCE TO ENTER!!!!!!!!

Lost the end...

2010-05-24T08:50:00.005-05:00

Ok I will admit it I was a pretty faithful follower of Lost and as I'm sure everyone knows last night was the last show....ever SNIFF. Now some people loved it some didn't I'm sure. I won't give away anything major here but if you haven't watched it if you DVR'd it yet then might want to skip this post till later. :)

Now that I got that out of the way First I want to know if any of you liked Lost? And if you saw the final show already what did you think of it??? I will say that I personally did like the ending. I thought that even though they did not answer a LOT of the questions that were brought up through out the series I do think it had a great ending. I loved that the ending was pretty much a happy one for everyone. (Although being a huge Sawyer and Kate fan I did want to see them end up together! Are any of ya with me on that LOL?)

I do wish they had answered a few things they didn't touch on I thought it was pretty stupid they didn't even tell us Jacob's brother's name so he goes down forever as the man in black lol ahhhhhh ok.... don't understand why giving a name to him would have been such a problem! What the heck was so special about Walt? And my hubby kept screaming at the tv what about the stupid polar bear! rofl

It was a love the show but it makes me want to bang my head against a wall almost everytime I watch it show as well. This would describe Lost pretty much the entire 6 seasons they were on the air.

As I just mentioned my favorite characters of the series were Sawyer... (I mean this man is just too hot! What red blooded woman wouldn't love to be LOST on an island with him? See him to the right here --->) Desmond (who is nothing to sneeze at himself!) Kate (not in an icky way there) and Hurley.

While Jack was undoubtedly the very main character throughout the series I wasn't a huge fan of him. I liked him but not my favorite by a long shot and many times he was just a downright jerk who thought he knew everything. Cracked me up to no end when near the end Sawyer said "and I thought he had a God complex before..."

Ok I want to hear what you all thought sound of and don't be shy! :)

MY OH MY Vampires plus Tudors I'm so there!

2010-05-21T01:36:00.005-05:00

I came across this very interesting upcoming novel while I was doing a bit of net surfing and just had to share! The gorgeous cover caught my eye then when I read on and found out it featured vampires and the Tudors I was hooked! I can not wait for this it sounds so awesome! It's set for release this August!

BLURB

Desperate to defeat King Richard III and gain the English crown, Henry Tudor made a pact with the Druids that bound him and his heirs to the Druid’s deadly struggle against the Vampires. Ever since, the Llewellyns, an ancient Vampire slaying family, have been in the permanent employ of the monarchy.

Now Henry VIII is on the throne, and his father’s bargain has almost been forgotten. Until corpses drained of blood start turning up in the most inappropriate of places, including the king’s bedchamber. But are these people the victims of the Vampires-or of the Druids?

To save the king from a nameless assassin, Rosalind Llewellyn, Vampire hunter extraordinaire, must form an uneasy alliance with a known Druid slayer. Sir Christopher Ellis hails from a family that has protected the Vampires for centuries, yet Rosalind has no choice but to rely on his help. And with her life threatened and her loyalty tested, Rosalind may even have to acknowledge the unthinkable. This sworn enemy may be her soul mate.

Do any of you watch the Tudors? I have been watching it online as I don't have Showtime but oms Henry was such a JERK of epic proportions it's unbelievable at times. (Though I know that the show is fiction many aspects follow the history books very closely as well.) Anyway I can't wait to read this book! A new author to me too! wooohooo

Kerrelyn Sparks Cover Sneek Peek!!!!!!!!

2010-05-18T20:25:00.005-05:00

Hot off the presses get a look at Kerrelyn Spark's next cover!!!!!!!!!!! This is Carlos's book!!!! I can not wait and can we say PURRRRRRR! ;)

Want to find out all the latest on Kerrelyn's news join her yahoo group here and hear it first!!!!

What I'm reading excerpt...

2010-05-17T22:13:00.002-05:00

I hope everyone had a great weekend. I'm currently reading Claudia Dain's upcoming release Daring a Duke - it's part of her fabulous Courtesan's series. I wanted to share an excerpt to give you all a taste... ;)

DARING A DUKE
Berkley
ISBN: 0425235467
July 6, 2010

BLURB:

Jane Elliot of New York is in London for an adventure. Unfortunately, her two brothers are also in London and quite determined that Jane have no such thing, which does create a few problems, and really is so typical of brothers.

What Jane did not expect was the Duke of Edenham to be quite so dashing and quite definitely the most handsome man she'd ever seen. She also did not expect to capture his attention upon the first look.

It was flattering, to be sure, but did Edenham have to be quite so bold with her two brothers looking on? Most inconvenient. How was a girl to have any sort of adventure at all with brothers snarling at her and a duke commanding her attention?

How? Why with Sophia Dalby's help, that's how. If there's one thing Sophia believes it's that every proper woman should have at least one very improper adventure.

EXCERPT:

The Duke of Edenham walked into their circle of conversation as if he had every right to enter where and when he chose. Dukes were like that, according to every rumor of them. This duke was quite tall, quite handsome, and quite elegant looking, if one liked the type. Having never been exposed to his type before she was withholding judgment. He was very handsome. He also did not seem at all overawed by her brothers, which was refreshing. In New York, there were very few men who would risk anything at all with her for fear of her brothers’ comeuppance. Such a nuisance, really. Her brothers were always at sea. What sort a squeamish man lived in fear of what would happen six months in the future? Life in New York was far more dull than it should have been. She blamed her brothers entirely.

The second gentleman was the Marquis of Ruan, a most dangerous and rugged looking man, not nearly as elegantly arranged as the Duke of Edenham, but handsome nonetheless, though in a more ruthless fashion entirely.

It was perfectly obvious that Sophia was well-acquainted with both men. Jane would hardly have expected anything less.

The introductions having been made, the immediate result being that Jed had escaped from Sophia’s highly focused attention, Jed then gave every indication that he was going to leave this newly arranged circle of conversation and drag her with him. She was not ready to leave. Sophia hadn’t got her way yet, had she? Which meant that Jane hadn’t got her way. She was going to stay, and she wasn’t going to leave Sophia’s side until it was formally decided that she was to remain in London.

Jane put the most innocent look upon her face, for her brothers’ benefit, obviously, and ignored both the duke and the marquis. But the duke was staring at her with the most peculiar expression on his face. His odd behavior was not helping her at all.

She ignored him more pointedly.

He continued to stare.

Joel shifted his weight and rolled his shoulders a bit.

Oh, mercy.

Looking innocent and disinterested was not putting the duke off one bit. How very like a duke to behave as he pleased and attempt to ruin her plans in such thoughtless fashion. Could he not go off and bother some other poor girl? Some girl who did not have two brothers at her elbows?

“Edenham,” Sophia said, “I’m so delighted to see you here. And your enchanting sister, she is with you?”

“Yes,” the Duke of Edenham replied, turning his gaze from Jane just long enough to make eye contact with Sophia, cast a quick glance over Jed and Joel, and then looked into her eyes. He had lovely eyes, a warm shade of brown, and quite a nice brow. She averted her gaze after noting that, only the most obvious details of his appearance, which she would argue quite forcefully if Jed said one word about it, and then turned to stare with bland attention at Joel. Joel rolled his shoulders again and kept his gaze on Edenham. Edenham kept his gaze upon her. The stupidity of dukes was thus proved. “A cause for celebration. We wish Hyde nothing but joy.”

Sophia smiled and said, “With three sons married within a single Season, I can assure you that they feel nothing but joy. And with the happy addition of the Elliots to share in their joy, why, what can they do but smile away their days? Which brings me back round to you, darling,” Sophia said to Jed, laying her gloved hand upon his arm in a light caress. “Surely you must allow Miss Elliot to stay and partake of the general joy to be found within Hyde House. I assure you that she will be well cared for.”

It was perhaps not the ideal thing to say to sway Jed to release them all from their Father’s instructions. Only a little over a day in London, within the very walls of Hyde House, and the Elliots had heard word of how three of Hyde’s sons had come to be married in a single Season.

The word was ruin.

No one seemed especially bothered by it, certainly not the sons, yet neither were their wives, which was most strange, wasn’t it? Of all the things she had been told about the British, their odd habits and proclivities, a facility and easiness about being ruined was not among them.

“Not as well cared for as upon an Elliot ship,” Jed said, which was likely very true.

“Truly?” Sophia said brightly, her gaze almost resolutely removed from the Marquis of Ruan. Jane began to wonder if Sophia was not on the most cordial of terms with the man, which would not surprise her in the least as some of what her mother had told her about Sophia left no doubt that Sophia could and did make a very firm enemy and that her enemies were entirely deserving of the position. Jane gave Lord Ruan a cold look of bland curiosity at the thought. “No storms?” Sophia continued. “No violent waves? No enemy ships? No contrary currents? No pirates? What has quiet and serene Hyde House to offer by way of excitement that an Elliot ship can not merely match but overmatch?”

“Men?” Joel said. Jed gave him an approving look, annoyed but approving.

“British men, most assuredly,” Sophia said, casting a casual glance in the general direction of both Edenham and Ruan. Edenham blinked and continued to stare at her. Ruan’s mouth tightened, against a smile or a grimace Jane could not determine. “But what is that? Certainly they are not to be feared. Or do you think otherwise, Captain?”

Well, then, there was a pretty insult, and delivered so sweetly, too. Jed looked properly angered. Joel did not appear angry so much as bewildered by the sudden turn the conversation had taken. As to that, Jane felt much the same. Is this how Sophia got what she wanted? By insults? She had not heard that about her. Not at all.

“In the proper circumstances, it is wise to consider any man with due caution,” Jed said stiffly, eyeing both Edenham and Ruan. Edenham ignored him. Ruan returned the look and nodded sharply.

“And what of improper circumstances?” Sophia said. “I do confess to having more experience of men in improper circumstances.”

“If we are speaking of English men, then I must confess the same,” Jed said, smiling slightly.

“Captain Elliot, you shock me. I am intrigued,” Sophia said, smiling, and raising her fan to obscure her face, which naturally resulted in all the men, Edenham excluded, staring with increased intensity at her. Jane needed a better fan, if only to shield herself from Edenham’s obsessive gaze. It was becoming something of an embarrassment to her, and was not at all helpful with her brothers standing at her elbow and witnessing his complete break from polite behavior. Or what she assumed was polite behavior. The two countries could not be that different, could they? “Please, tell me all,” Sophia urged. “Is it improper circumstances to which you refer, or improper men? Or is it the extreme Englishness of both which results in the impropriety?”

“Lady Dalby, you have left me,” Jed said, his eyes twinkling. “I fear the conversation has twisted out of my hands. I am a simple man. I beg you to show me mercy.”

“Lady Dalby is not known for showing mercy,” Lord Ruan said abruptly, “though she may be partial to men who beg, Captain Elliot. You would do well to show her the same caution you practice when facing an unidentified ship.”

“But Lord Ruan, how absurd,” Sophia said, her voice soft and her gaze sharp. “I am flying my colors boldly, as is my practice. There is no mystery attached to me.”

“Lady Dalby, you are a woman,” Ruan responded, his green eyes searching Sophia’s face. “You are as mysterious as the sea. As turbulent. As unfathomable. As compelling. And as dangerous.”

Sophia said nothing for a moment, but there was something that passed between them, something sparkling and hot, something buried and smoldering. It was gone almost before it had begun. Jane was left with the shimmer of it before her gaze, and then it vanished.

“Which is why Jane will come home with me,” Jed said. “I would see her stay a calm pond of decorum and not become a turbulent sea of mystery.”

“Lovely,” Jane muttered. “I suppose that was intended as a compliment?”

“Of course,” Jed said, looking both annoyed and befuddled. Typical.

Sophia laughed. “But, darling, she is your sister and, like any brother, you do not see her clearly at all. Miss Elliot is already a sea of mystery to any man who is not related to her.”

And, naturally, both Jane and Sophia could not resist the impulse to glance at Edenham, who was still staring.

“The sea can be calm at times, usually the most inconvenient times, is that not so?” Edenham said, sparing a glance for Jed. “There is no cause to anticipate any trouble for Miss Elliot. I cannot think but that Hyde would care for her as a beloved daughter.”

“Now I am a calm, inconvenient sea?” Jane said. “Can not a new metaphor be framed? I grow weary of this one as it does nothing at all to flatter me.”

Sophia laughed, as did Jed and Joel, which was something of a relief. Edenham smiled. Ruan did not; he studied her, which she did not enjoy at all. Lord Ruan was capable of a very focused gaze. She was not certain that was destined to be flattering to her either.

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