Where The Wicked Read.... My Spot To Talk About, Review, Share My Love Of Books, and Anything Else That Comes To Mind..

Friday, April 30, 2010

Friday's Author Spotlight & Giveaway Featuring: Susan Hanniford Crowley

Today's featured author is Susan Hanniford Crowley.
Susan is the author of The Vampires In Manhattan series, I am so excited she took the time to be here with us today. So.. Without further ado....

Fangs: Can't Live Without Them! (Contest included.)



Imagine you're rushing to catch the bus and the rain is pouring down. A tall handsome man holds his umbrella over you. You look up. He smiles and you notice fangs. Are you horrified? Or as you look into his wonderful eyes, is it love at first sight?


Imagine a neighborhood stray is knocking over your garbage cans. You rush out with a broom to chase him off. The huge drooling dog snarls at you. You back up. He advances. Suddenly something whooshes past you knocking down the dog. You run but can't help turning when the dog races away yelping. A huge gray wolf with golden eyes is staring at you in your driveway. Then a large handsome man is standing there instead. The same golden eyes. You can't breathe. Is it because you're scared? Or is it because your heart's racing betrays the excitement rushing through you?


Okay, I think you get what's happening here. It's that initial connection between the heroine and hero. In the first scene, it's his manners and old world charm. Fewer and fewer men display manners anymore, so those that do are particularly noticeable. In the second, it's the rescue and those eyes. Women can forgive a lot of faults including fangs, if he's good looking, well mannered, brave and courageous, a man that thinks of others above himself. Ooh, it gives me the shivers. With vampires, you have the promise of immortality, be young and beautiful forever. With werewolves, you have that sheer animal heat, the loyalty and he loves to be rubbed. LOL (I had to add that in.)


That's why we love them and see beyond the fangs.

Thursday, April 29, 2010

It's Thursday.... What are you reading?

Wow.. This week is flying by, it feels like it was just the weekend. My week went really well.. I bought some new books, their was some great releases, and I got goodies in the mail. Now, wouldn't you call that a good week?
Soo... I'm reading Pride Mates by. Jennifer Ashley Pride Mates (Shifters Unbound) It's the first book in her Shifters Unbound series.

From the back of the book...

CALL OF THE WILD
To most, they are animals-- even when in human form. They are to be collard and kept on the fringes of society, scorned because they are feared, hated for their extraordinary powers. And DA Kim Fraser has to go right into the heart of their lair.

It's her job to defend those in need. But there's absolutely nothing defenseless about Liam Morrissey. His soft Irish lilt and feline grace can't disguise his sheer strength. Nor can the silver chain at his throat, designed to control the aggression of his kind, completely reassure her that this man has been tamed.

Yet when a feral shifter begins to stalk them both, Liam is the only one she trusts with her life. She'll let him claim her -- for her protection, for her pride, and for a passion that knows no bound.

Now doesn't that sound like a good read? I will let y'all know how good it is when I finish reading it. I am currently on page 36. OK, so now that you know what I'm reading... What are you Reading??

Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Review: Atlantis Rising (Warriors of Poseidon, Book 1) by. Alyssa Day

Atlantis Rising (Warriors of Poseidon, Book 1)                                                                 











Eleven thousand years ago, before the seas swallowed the Atlanteans, Poseidon assigned a few chosen warriors to act as sentinels for humans in the new world. There was only one rule-desiring them was forbidden. But rules were made to be broken...


Description

When she calls...

Riley Dawson is more than a dedicated Virginia Beach social worker. She's blessed with a mind link that only Atlanteans have been able to access for thousands of years. Being an "empath" may explain her wistful connection to the roiling waves of the ocean, the sanctuary it provides, and the sexual urges that seem to emanate from fathoms below...


He will come.

 Conlan, the High Prince of Atlantis, has surfaced on a mission to retrieve Poseidon's stolen trident. Yet something else has possessed Conlan: the intimate emotions-and desires-of a human. Irresistibly drawn to the uncanny beauty, Conlan

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Tuesdays featured Poem is.... Life.. By: Charlotte Bronte`

Life...

Life, believe, is not a dream,

So dark as sages say;
Oft a little morning rain
Foretells a pleasant day:
Sometimes there are clouds of gloom,
But these are transient all;
If the shower will make the roses bloom,
Oh, why lament its fall?
Rapidly, merrily,
Life's sunny hours flit by,
Gratefully, cheerily,
Enjoy them as they fly.


What though death at times steps in,
And calls our Best away?
What though Sorrow seems to win,
O'er hope a heavy sway?
Yet Hope again elastic springs,
Unconquered, though she fell,
Still buoyant are her golden wings,
Still strong to bear us well.
Manfuly, fearlessly,
The day of trial bear,
For gloriously, victoriously,
Can courage quell dispair!


Charlotte Brontë


Here is a little something for all you mothers out there :))

Telltale Signs of Being a Mother

* Your feet stick to grape jelly on the kitchen floor--and you don't care.
* You can't find your cordless phone, so you ask a friend to call you, and you run around the house madly, following the sound until you locate the phone downstairs in the laundry basket.
* Popsicle's become a food staple.
* Your favorite television show is a cartoon.
* You're so desperate for adult conversation that you spill your guts to the telemarketer that calls and HE  hangs up on YOU!
* You buy cereal with marshmallows in it.
* You count the sprinkles on each kid's cupcake to make sure they're equal.
* You have time to shave only one leg at a time.
* You hide in the bathroom to be alone.
* Your kid throws up and you catch it.
* You get up at 5:30 AM and you have no time to eat, sleep, drink or go to the bathroom, and yet... you still managed to gain 10 pounds.

Now didn't that make you smile?  :))

Monday, April 26, 2010

Guest Reviewer Heidi Charamie's Weekly Review... This week Heidi reviews Harlan Coben's thriller Caught.

Heidi Cheramie

Caught Review


Author-Harlan Coben


Publisher-Dutton/Penguin Group


Caught




CAUGHT BY HARLAN COBEN REVIEW


Wendy Tynes is the reporter of a sting show called Caught In The Act that identifies and shames sexual predators.


Dan Mercer is a social worker who works with troubled teens that becomes Wendy’s next target.


Haley McWard is a seventeen year old good girl. The pride of her New Jersey family, captain of her high school lacrosse team and excellent student. Her mother goes to her room to wake her one morning and Haley’s bed has not been slept in. Haley has vanished.


Harlan Coben’s newest thriller, Caught is skillfully plotted. The many twists and turns keeps the reader riveted and often shocked. You won’t figure this one out until the very end.


But it is the wonderful characters-real, everyday normal people that deal with horrifying events that make this book special. We, the readers could be these people. Realistically we could find ourselves in situations that could turn our life from normal to torturous in a split second.


Harlon Coben writes a fast paced, dialogue driven story that wrenches your gut. One moment you believe in a character, the next moment you doubt him or her.


A special treat for hard core Coben fans are the several brief appearances of the super cool Winn. Winn is Harlan’s favorite detective, Myron Bolitar’s enigmatic, billionaire best friend. For me Winn provided a few moments of fun, light energy in an otherwise dark thriller.


This book’s main theme is forgiveness. Should we or shouldn’t we forgive terrible wrongs?? Read Caught and you decide? I give this book a strong 4 1/2. Enjoy and Happy Reading!


Thanks for that fantastic review, Heidi!

Don't forget to enter my Saturdays Matters Days Giveaway. Just click on the link at the top on my left sidebar.

Sunday, April 25, 2010

Last Chance to Register - Writing Erotic Romance with NYT Bestselling author Angela Knight!

I thought this was something y'all might be interested in...


\\***** Permission to Forward Granted and Encouraged *****//


The Passionate Ink Chapter of RWA Presents

A special workshop to fund the Passionate Ink Perseverance Fund*

Master of Fire (Berkley Sensation)

WRITING EROTIC ROMANCE with Angela Knight

May 3, 2010 – May 31, 2010

Cost: $25



In this class, New York Times bestselling author Angela Knight will discuss the techniques of writing erotic romance she used to make the leap to New York publication. She’ll cover creating heroes, heroines and villains for erotic romance, as well as how to structure a plot that combines sexuality, sensuality and conflict to create a story readers can’t put down. She will discuss creating intense internal, external and romantic plots for erotic romance, as well as how to write multiple love scenes in such a way that each one is different and advances the plot.


About the presenter : Angela Knight is the New York Times bestselling author of books for Berkley, Red Sage, Changeling Press, and Loose Id. Her first book was written in pencil and illustrated in crayon; she was nine years old at the time. A few years later, she read The Wolf and the Dove and fell in love with romance.

Besides her fiction work, Angela’s publishing career includes a stint as a comic book writer and ten years as a newspaper reporter. Several of her stories won South Carolina Press Association awards under her real name.


In 1996, she discovered the small press publisher Red Sage, and realized her dream of romance publication in the company’s Secrets 2 anthology. She went on to publish several more novellas in Secrets before editor Cindy Hwang discovered her work there and asked her if she’d be interested in writing for Berkley. Not being an idiot, Angela said yes. Whatever success she has enjoyed, she attributes to the marvelous editors she’s had over the years. David Anthony Kraft and Dwight Zimmerman at Comics Interview taught her the nuts and bolts of fiction writing. Alexandria Kendall of Red Sage discovered her talent for romance writing and encouraged her to believe in herself. And she will be forever grateful to Berkley editor Cindy Hwang, who has been unfailingly supportive.

Angela lives in South Carolina with her husband, Michael, a polygraph examiner and hostage negotiator for the county’s Sheriff’s Office. The couple have a grown son, Anthony. You can find out more about Angela at her website – http://www.angelasknights.com/

For more information: workshopchair @ passionateink.org


To Pay Online : Using PayPal (PayPal), send payment to perseverance@passionateink.org with “WORKSHOP – Perseverance” as the subject. In the “message” section, include Your Name and Email Address.


Cost: $25

To pay by check, print this page and send with a check to:

Passionate Ink Workshops – Perseverance

c/o Robin L. Rotham

P.O. Box 2412 Norfolk, NE 68701


*100% of all tuition fees from this workshop will go to fund the Passionate Ink Perseverance Fund. The purpose of the fund is to assist those RWA members who may be facing difficulties paying their Passionate Ink chapter dues. Payments from the fund will be governed by the chapter’s bylaws, and policies and procedures manual. All funding will come from directed donations.*

********************

savvyauthors.com - Writers Helping Writers



http://www.savvyauthors.com/workshops.cfm

Saturday, April 24, 2010

Saturdays Matters Days & Giveaway.... My favorite Anime series... Bleach

I wasn't certain what I wanted today's post to be about, All I knew was... I wanted to share something more about myself with all of you. So this is what I came up with... Oh yeah, and since I'm always down with converting my friends into Bleach junkies like me. I decided to giveaway a dvd of the first Bleach Movie Memories of Nobody! Now...  how cool is that?  Details involving the giveaway will be posted at the end of the review. :)


I bet you guys didn't know I was a HUGE Anime fan? Well I am... I love quite a few different anime series, but my all time favorite is a little show called Bleach. The reason why this show stands out so much for me , above the rest of the Anime shows I watch is.. The hero of the series, his name is Ichigo Kurosaki  and he is awesome!! Ichigo is a substitute Soul Reaper. What is a Soul Reaper? A Soul Reaper is a spirit that leads the dead to the Soul Society, annd they fight evil spirits known as Hollows. What  is this Soul Society? The Soul Society is where you go when you die. Here is a description of season one...


Bleach Uncut Season 1 Box Set (Standard Edition)


For as long as he can remember, Ichigo Kurosaki has been able to see ghosts. But when he meets Rukia, a Soul Reaper who battles evil spirits known as Hollows, he finds his life is changed forever. Now, with a new found wealth of spiritual energy, Ichigo discovers his true calling: to protect the living and the dead from evil. And when he vows to defend Rukia from the ruthless justice of the Soul Society, he and his friends must cross over and do battle in the spirit world...



Okay.. Review time..

Since I am totally bias when it comes to Bleach, I had it reviewed by a non bias source. I credit this review to my good friend E. A Solinas "ea_solinas" . He is a top 10 reviewer on Amazon.com, and you can view his profile Here.


Ichigo Kurosaki is just your average teenage boy... except that he can see spirits.




So it's not exactly surprising that he gets involved in wild, dangerous adventures, in the first season of the hilarious, action-packed "Bleach." It starts off a bit slow, but rapidly winds into a thrilling, expansive adventure story, with lots of big swords, roaring monsters, and TV psychics.


One night a strange girl appears in Ichigo's bedroom, and is shocked when he can see her. She explains that she's a Soul Reaper, who helps the dead pass on to the Soul Society, and destroys evil spirits called Hollows.


But when Rukia is injured in a fight with a Hollow, all her powers are transferred to Ichigo -- and with them, the responsibility of killing Hollows. Ichigo soon finds out that it isn't easy juggling his new responsibilities with his normal, everyday life -- especially since the powerless Rukia is now attending his school, and living in his closet.


Even more distressing, his new powers are attracting all sorts of trouble: the Hollow who murdered his mother, the now-monstrous brother of his ditzy friend Orihime, an outspoken "mod-soul," and classmate Uryu-- the last of the Quincys, sworn enemies of Soul Reapers. Moreover, Orihime and the gentle giant Chad start developing spiritual powers of their own.


But then two powerful Soul Reapers show up to arrest Rukia. Ichigo is left mortally wounded and robbed of his powers, while Rukia is taken back to the Soul Society to be executed. To rescue Rukia, Ichigo agrees to undergo a terribly training regimen that could leave him worse than dead... and the journey into the Soul Society may be even worse...


Most long-running series run out their welcome pretty quickly, or start following a formula. But "Bleach" has that magical mix of complex plot, kinetic action, likable characters and kooky comedy. Not only does it click, but the results are sort of a mad hybrid of "Yu Yu Hakusho" and "Inuyasha." Its biggest problem? The first season ends with a cliffhanger the size of the Grand Canyon.


To keep us entertained, there's lots of action, monsters, blood, giant magical swords, spirit arrows and even a skyscraper-sized Hollow. But the writers keep an eye on the characters, and the first arc is used to establish them -- we get to see their pasts, their motivations, and why they want to fight Hollows. Even if it's simply a desire to do what's right and protect others.


And just as important  -- comedy. Every episode of "Bleach" has some comedy, whether it's crazy friends and/or relatives, TV appearances, or the wacky dialogue ("OH NO! I'M FRIENDS WITH A NERD! Maybe you need some thick nerd glasses..."). Even Ichigo produces some hilarious moments, such as his bloodcurdling scream when he wakes in Urahara's house.


Ichigo himself is the pivot of the whole series -- like many a good anime hero, he is rough, brash, sensitive and fights for those he loves. And though he's incredibly powerful, he still has a lot of training, fighting and learning to do, though he tends to jump in without thinking about it.


And he's backed by a colourful squad of characters: the prickly Uryu, quiet Chad, ditzy love interest Orihime, and the mysterious "Mr. Hat and Clogs" who trains Ichigo to be a full-fledged Soul Reaper. Not to mention Kon, a living lion doll who provides plenty of comic relief, whether he's getting bounced around the room or dressed as Marie Antoinette.


"Bleach's" first season introduces viewers to a brilliant series, full of hilarity, tears, blood and big, bad monsters. Definitely a must-see, for anyone who likes any of the above.


Soo... If you read that review, then you can understand why I love this series, and If you can't understand it...
All I'm going to say is...  WATCH the first season and you will be hooked too..

Check out his clip!!


So now you know my guilty secret, and yes I'm just a little obsessed. It's ok tho... No intervention needed.. I'm A-OK with my obsession !

Giveaway Details!

All you have to do is leave a comment  (with your email address) telling me why you would like to win the dvd. That's it.. Easy, right? The giveaway ends on Friday April 30, 2010 at 11:59 pm, and  is open to US & Canadian residents only.


Friday, April 23, 2010

It's Friday! What are you reading?

Happy Friday all!

I hope all of you have had a good week. My week was great, I got new books in the mail all most everyday. I also got hired to cater a big wedding reception, 150 guest! That's the largest number of guest I have catered for to date. I'm very excited, and a little nervous... My clients and I have never met, they heard about me from someone else I had catered for. That just goes to show how POWERFUL the word of mouth is. The best part of all of this is, the clients put everything in my hands. They just outlined what they wanted for a main course, and left all the appetizers, desserts, and entree's up to me. Can you say YAY! That is a caterer's dreams... So, I am totally looking forward to making this happen for them.. Now that I have shared my good news with y'all, it's time to move on. This is supposed to be a "What are you reading post, right?"

Soo... I received Larissa Ione's Demonica Series in the mail this week Larissa Ione Demonica Series : Pleasure Unbound, Desire Unchanged, Passion Unleashed (3 Paperbacks) Sin Undone (The Demonica Series)I started Pleasure Unbound yesterday, I had heard so many good things about this series and I'm excited to be reading it. I'm glad I waited and bought all the books in the series, because their is nothing I hate worse then having to wait to see what happens next.

I also received Jennifer Ashley's Pridemates Pride Mates (Shifters Unbound) I have read other books by jennifer Ashley, so I am looking forward to reading this one as well....

Last but not least I received some Katie MacAlister goods Playing with Fire (Silver Dragon 1)Me and My Shadow (Silver Dragons, Book 3)Love in the Time of Dragons: A Novel of the Light DragonsSteamed: A Steampunk Romance (Paranormal Romance (Signet))Up In Smoke (Silver Dragons 2)My Zombie Valentine I love her Dark Ones novels, so I thought I would take the plunge and try her Silver Dragons series.

So as you can see, I totally splurged on books this week, I couldn't help it... it was the evil Amazon.com fault. They should have never added that quick pay (Pay Phrase button) So you see TOTALLY NOT MY FAULT!   Soo... That's my run down... My question for you is.... What are you  reading?

Thursday, April 22, 2010

New Review... Tequila Makes Her Clothes Fall Off... By: Cara North

Tequila Makes Her Clothes Fall Off
Tequila Makes Her Clothes Fall Off..
Take a shot of tequila, add one sexy cowboy, and end up with more than one night of passion...

Bethany Dodson is running from her past and her fiance. She needs a new last name and to get lost fast!


Jack Johnson needs to marry a woman to get his inheritance so he can stop working on other ranches and rebuild the one he shares with his two older brothers and younger sister.

When he meets Bethany, his goal is basically to get some action then get on searching for a wife. But Bethany kills two birds with one stone and the next thing he knows he's the one being drug down the aisle!

What they discover is more then just surface need They take each other to new heights in and out of the bedroom, push boundaries, and even fall in love!


  Tequila Makes Her Clothes Fall Off
*Review*

Tequila Makes Her Clothes Fall Off is a fun contemporary erotic romace about two people needing each other for different reasons and finding out that together they are one insatiable force. 

This was a truly good read! Cara North proves she has a captivating writing style with Tequila Makes Her Clothes Fall Off, spinning a contemporary tale of love between two people who thought they'd never find it and have resigned themselves to a business relationship.

I had stated last week that it's not the normal kind of erotic romance I usually read, but I am glad I won it and had a chance to read it. I loved Bethany & Jack's characters, they worked well together being from two different worlds. You don't usually run into two people looking to get hitched for different reasons, and it works out. The chemistry between them is sizzling.. I mean they burn the pages up. There is this scene with Bethany and Jake in the hotel stairwell that had me fanning myself. That sene was soo hot, all I can say is WOW! Cara North has paved the way for future sequels should she choose to follow up Tequila Makes Her Clothes Fall Off. Jack has  two brothers, each of whom have their own romantic woes. Brothers Heath and Rafe are equally as hunky and strong as Jack, but their romantic troubles are vastly different. The author has allowed us peeks into Heath's and Rafe's relationships in this story, leaving the reader panting for more!  I finished this book in one day, because I had to know what happened in the end. I wasn't dissapointed , because they got the HEA. I will say however, that I wasn't thrilled with the ending I thought the author could have taken it a little further. If you want a steamy, sexual, and romantic read you should definitely check this book out..
4****
 
*Other Books By Cara North*
 
Tequila Makes Her Clothes Fall Off
She Thinks My Tractor's Sexy
Chasing Joshua
 
*Product Details* 
 
Paperback: 296 pages

Publisher: Tease Publishing LLC (September 19, 2007)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1934678031
ISBN-13: 978-1934678039
Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 4.9 x 0.6 inches




 

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Guest Reviewer Heidi Cheramie... Reviews Fantasy In Death By:J.D. Robb

Heidi Cheramie

Fantasy In Death
Fantasy in Death
J.D.Robb-author
G.P.Putnam and sons-publisher
(Hardcover - Feb 23, 2010)



FANTASY IN DEATH REVIEW


Bart Minnock, co-owner of U-Play, a hugely succesful gaming firm is brutally murdered in his private holo-room. Lieutenant Eve Dallas is assigned to the baffling case. How did Bart end up decapitated in a locked room that no one else entered? Furthermore, everyone loved Bart. His three best friends co own the company with him and are closer than family. His girlfriend adored him. Even Eve’s gorgeous husband the fantastic Rourke respected and liked Bart. Who would want him dead?


This is the thirtieth book in the J.D.Robb Death series and it is as good and riveting as the first book about Eve and Rourke. This book is about friendship. The friendships between Bart and his childhood friends who later became his partners. The friendship between Eve and Peabody, her partner. And Eve and Nadine, a TV reporter she has become friends with throughout the series. Also Rourke and Eve’s friendship. Their relationship never remains static. They are always growing and learning what it means to love each other. This time Eve is strong for Rourke who is very saddened by Bart’s death. This couple loves and fights better than any characters written today. No one is sexier than the ex- criminal, billionaire Rourke with his irish accent and incredible smarts. Eve is strong and heroic but also badly damaged by a very traumatic childhood. Rourke battles his own demons from his brutal past. How these two characters continue to change and evolve is fun to watch. Eve and Rourke make me happy. I look forward to each new book in the series.


The mystery is intriquing and the gaming industry background is cool! This series does take place in the future and Robb makes the holo-rooms and virtual games believable and exciting. The mystery kept me guessing to the very end and the murderer is a surprise.


You can’t go wrong with a J.D. Robb book and I have loved all thirty books! Some more than others. This book gets 41/2 stars because I give 5 stars to the J.D. Robb books that focus a little more on Rourke and Eve’s complex relationship. If you haven’t read a J.D. Robb before please start with book one and read them in order. The first book is when Eve and Rourke meet and he is her suspect in a murder. This series has everything! Sex, love, friendships, mystery, futuristic NYC and two of the most exciting characters in fiction today. Happy reading!
















Great review, Heidi! Thanks for being here with us today, Please come back anytime and review for us again... Happy Reading... :)

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Tuesday's Featured Poem......A Golden Day...... By .Ella Wheeler Wilcox

A Golden Day....

The subtle beauty of this day

Hangs o'er me like a fairy spell,
And care and grief have flown away,
And every breeze sings, "all is well."
I ask, "Holds earth or sin, or woe?"
My heart replies, "I do not know."


Nay! all we know, or feel, my heart,
Today is joy undimmed, complete;
In tears or pain we have no part;
The act of breathing is so sweet,
We care no higher joy to name.
What reck we now of wealth or fame?


The past--what matters it to me?
The pain it gave has passed away.
The future--that I cannot see!
I care for nothing save today--
This is a respite from all care,
And trouble flies--I know not where.


Go on, oh noisy, restless life!
Pass by, oh, feet that seek for heights!
I have no part in aught of strife;
I do not want your vain delights.
The day wraps round me like a spell
And every breeze sings, "All is well."


Ella Wheeler Wilcox

Monday, April 19, 2010

AND THE WINNER IS......

I want to thank everyone who participated in Friday's Author Spotlight & Giveaway Featuring the Talented Brooke London. The winner of a copy of Pitch Dark & a $10 Amazon GC is.... Comment #5 Diana (Book Of Secrets) Thanks  for participating everyone!



          

Friday, April 16, 2010

Friday's Author Spotlight & Giveaway Featuring: Brooke London

Today's Featured Author is my good friend Brooke London.

Brooke is the author of Pitch Dark, her debut  Romantic Suspense Novel. You can read a review of Pitch Dark by me here, or visit Brooke's website http://www.brookelondon.com/

Pitch Dark


Welcome to Wicked Readings Brooke!
I am so happy you could take the time to answer a few questions for me and my readers. This is my first Author spotlight/ interview, soo....  I'm hoping we will still be friends at the end of this interview... LOL
Soo....  here I am jumping right on in...

WR: When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

BL: LOL! I think I must be strange. I think I realized I wanted to be a writer after I had finished the first draft of my book. Until that point, I was reserving judgement because I wasn't sure I could finish a full-length novel. And then I still held my breath when I sent it off to an editor I hired - if the editor had told me my book was trash, I probably would have said, "Okay, that's obviously not what I was meant to do." But the editor didn't. During the writing of Pitch Dark I discovered a certain freedom that came with writing - I could express whatever I wanted to say, I discovered a lot about myself and what made me tick. So there wasn't any one point that I said I want to be a writer. It was a thousand different moments that coalesced into "I want to be a writer."

WR: That's fascinating and inspiring.. So, what are your favorite and least favorite aspects of writing?

BL: Sometimes when I'm writing, things go...sideways on me. Characters start doing things I hadn't thought of, never intended, and they do a really good job of writing the scene. That's my favorite part - when the characters take over. Least favorite aspect? Probably the isolation factor. Writing isn't something you can really do with someone else, so I think as a writer, one tends to exist in a bubble of their own creation. I have to make an effort now to interact with other people, instead of just going to a job where other people are always around.

WR: From what I understand, a lot of writers feel that way. It's a good thing we have Twitter, fb, myspace, etc.. they make it a lot more easier to interact with people on a global scale. So, Why did you choose to write romantic suspense Vs other genre's?

BL: I've always loved suspense and mystery. I've always been intrigued by the dynamic of good guy vs bad guy vs grey guy. I enjoy reading a large cross-section of romance genres but Pitch Dark was the story I wanted to tell. I wanted to put everything into it that I enjoyed reading. I aimed high, at a well-respected, well-known romantic suspense author, and I think while I may not quite have reached my target, I think I came very close. Back when I was a teenager, I was fascinated with terrorism, both religiously motivated and state sponsored terrorism. And I wanted to write something that could possibly happen. And since I didn't see too many vampires or werewolves in my neighborhood, I borrowed from my real-world knowledge of technology, energy and terrorism. It seemed like a natural genre to write for me.

WR: Tell our readers about Pitch Dark?

BL: Pitch Dark was based on the question: what would happen if terrorists took out the Saudi Arabia oil production machine? The reason this question is important is that SA is this biggest single player on the world oil market. The have such a huge excess of production each day that they are able to step in at any time and stabilize the world oil market on the spot. The reason the oil market is so important is that the world economy is based on the oil market. If there were suddenly no oil, the world economy would crash and not recover in the foreseeable future. And I'm not talking there would be a recession or a depression. I'm talking about no jobs for anyone, any where. The only people who would make it would be the farmers, who can grow their own food. Cities would empty out, mass migrations across the world would happen - there would be total anarchy.
 So given that, SA is not the only place where oil is found. Canada has the second largest proven oil reserves in the world but much of it is locked up in the oil or tar sands, also known as bitumen. It's a very intensive process to separate the sand from the oil and it's very environmentally damaging. Everyone in the oil sands is working on methods to extract the oil from the sands without so much environmental impact. It costs the Saudis about $2USD/barrel to extract oil from the traditional oil reserves beneath their sands. It costs anywhere from $25-$35USD/barrel to extract oil from the oil sands. When the price of oil spiked a number of years ago now to $140USD/barrel, the oil sands became a viable proposition and the world's oil companies moved in.
So if someone came up with a way to cheaply, and in an environmentally-friendly manner, extract oil from the sands (which is also a premise in Pitch Dark), then the terrorists would have a huge incentive to shut down Alberta/Saskatchewan oil sands production.
So I had my basic premise and then had to imagine my characters and what kind of person would have the most difficult time trusting in a world of lies, spies and dangerous guys :) And Alyssa Tiernan was born. And her former spy love interest, Connor Donnelly.

WR: I loved Alysa's character, I thought she was a strong lead and her character was very believable.That said... Which character was the hardest to write, and which was the easiest?


BL: The character that was easiest to write was Connor. Connor has all those qualities that I want in a man and Connor just flowed - I knew what I wanted his reactions to be, I knew who I wanted him to be. I had the exact polar opposite in real life, so it was easy to know what I wanted him to be because I had thought about it a zillion times before I even considered writing. The hardest character to write was Alyssa. Until Pitch Dark, the only writing I had done was technology-related - specifications, technical writing, documentation. All very cut and dry writing - no emotions, nothing lurking under the facade. Writing Alyssa, I really had to stop and think about why she was doing what she was doing. The first few thousand words in, I found that I was describing actions while leaving out her reasoning and feelings. I think I was doing this for two reasons: one, that's how I wrote technical things and two, a number of her reactions were my reactions. I had to go deeper and explore her psyche and push those feelings and reasonings to the surface. And some of it was not pretty, not ladylike, not acceptable. Getting in touch with Alyssa's feelings forced me to get in touch with mine.

WR: Does the character Alyssa have any of you characteristics or traits?

BL: A few people have picked up on the similarities between myself and my first female character. We're both intelligent, both driven, both perfectionists, both planners and have both dealt with some difficult emotional events as children and adults. The difference is in degree. I had her go much further, go through much more, than I ever had to go emotionally. I threw that poor woman off the cliff sometimes. So in the basic things, we are similar but in a broader perspective, she is more out of control than I am, more emotional than I am, more impulsive than I am.

WR: LOL... Name three things you must have when you write?

BL: Music, a touch of misery and my Macbook. :) You're probably wondering about the 'touch of misery' part. When I'm writing suspense, especially the emotional or scary parts, I find I can't be in a happy, friendly place. it just doesn't mesh for me. So I use music as a mood-inducer to get me into the mind-space where I need to be and I starting pulling difficult emotions and fears out of my characters, which comes out of me. I also use music for love scenes, exciting scenes, happy scenes - whatever kind of scene I'm writing, I have music to match the tone of the scene.

WR: I can honestly say I know of your love of music and poetry from being friends with you on fb. You are always posting some beautiful poetry, or some type of music that have me smiling. Are you working on anything now?

BL: I am finishing a new novel now.
 
WR: I am so excited for you! Last but not least... What's coming up next for you?

BL: I am looking at a sideways step into another sub-genre after I finish the book I'm working on. It'll either be paranormal romantic suspense or urban fantasy - the story could go either way and I'm playing with the plot now.


WR: I can't wait to see what you come up with.

I would like to thank Brooke again, for being here with me today. I enjoyed her book Pitch Dark, and I hope you all get a chance to read it too..






*Giveaway*

One lucky commenter will receive a copy of Pitch Dark & A $10 Amazon GC!
Just leave a comment at the end of this interview with your email address, if you don't feel comfortable leaving it on here you can email it to me at..  tl.etheridge31(at)gmail.com with (BL contest) in the subject line.
A winner will be picked on Sunday April, 18, 2010. This contest is open to US and Canadian residents only.







Thursday, April 15, 2010

Thursday's... What are you reading?

I am reading....

Tequila Makes Her Clothes Fall Off
By: Cara North
Tequila Makes Her Clothes Fall Off

From The Back Cover...

Take a shot of tequila, add one sexy cowboy, and end up with more than one night of passion.

Tequila Makes Her Clothes Fall Off is a fun contemporary erotic romace about two people needing each other for different reasons and finding out that together they are one insatiable force.

Bethany Dodson is running from her past and her fiance. She needs a new last name and to get lost fast!
Jack Johnson needs to marry a woman to get his inheritance so he can stop working on other ranches and rebuild the one he shares with his two older brothers and younger sister.

When he meets Bethany, his goal is basically to get some action then get on searching for a wife. But Bethany kills two birds with one stone and the next thing he knows he's the one being drug down the aisle!

What they discover is more then just surface need....


*My thoughts*

I Won Tequila Makes Her Clothes Fall Off from a blog contest. It's not the usual contemporary erotic I pick up in the store or purchase online, I usually buy something on the fanged or furry side. This book is actually turning out to be a good read, the pages are on fire! I can't wait to finish it, so I can review it. I will however have to put up a content warning when I do publish my review, if I decide to do a in-depth review. I will  definitely be getting back to y'all on that.





Tease Publishing LLC
Copyright 2007 Cara North
ISBN 978-934678-03-9
Cover Artist: Stella Price
Interior text design: Stacee Sierra
Editor: Heather Spence

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Tuesdays featured Poem is.... We Have Been Friends Together ... By. Caroline Norton

We have been friends together


In sunshine and in shade,

Since first beneath the chestnut trees,

In infancy we played.

But coldness dwells within thy heart,

A cloud is on thy brow;

We have been friends together,

Shall a light word part us now?


We have been gay together;

We have laughed at little jests;

For the fount of hope was gushing

Warm and joyous in our breasts,

But laughter now hath fled thy lip,

And sullen glooms thy brow;

We have been gay together,

Shall a light word part us now?


We have been sad together;

We have wept with bitter tears

O'er the grass-grown graves where slumbered

The hopes of early years.

The voices which are silent there

Would bid thee clear thy brow;

We have been sad together.

Oh, what shall part us now?


Caroline Norton

Thursday, April 8, 2010

Thursday's... What are you reading?

It's Thursday What are you reading?

Burning Alive: The Sentinel Wars I"m reading Burning Alive (The Sentinel Wars)By: Shannon K. Butcher 
I received this ARC from RomCon, It's the first book in a all new series. The MMPB release date is May 5, 2010. This is the Editorial Review from the Book.

From Publishers Weekly

Butcher's absorbing series opener successfully fuses an urban fantasy premise with characters designed to appeal to romance readers. Helen Day encounters a man in a diner and is dismayed to realize she recognizes him from nightmares where he watches her burn to death. Drake, an ancient member of a dying race devoted to protecting humanity, feels a powerful attraction to Helen, which she returns despite her fear that the nightmare will come true. After demons attack them, Drake's determination to keep Helen safe is at odds with her haunting vision, leaving her wondering which to believe. Butcher skillfully balances erotic, tender interactions with Helen's worries, and intriguing secondary characters further enhance the unusual premise. Fans of Butcher's romantic suspense novels (No Control, etc.) will enjoy her turn toward the paranormal. 
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

I will be reviewing this book when I'm finished reading it, but I must say it certainly seem promising so far..

So What Are You Reading?

Wednesday, April 7, 2010

Wednesday's Wicked Read.... Captive Dreams by. Angela Knight & Diane Whiteside

Captive Dreams (Berkley Sensation)Celeste and Corrine Carson are sisters that  have reached the pinnacle of success as authors. Corrine writes historical fantasy romances featuring Mykhayl Tibronson, the High King of Torhtremer, and his family, while Celeste is the author of a futuristic/sci-fi series starring Jarred Varrain, an enforcement officer. Mykhayl and Jarred have each gone on many dangerous adventures through the sisters' books. What Corrine and Celeste don't know is that somehow, some way, what they've written has become reality in two alternate universes. Worse yet, Jarred and Mykhayl know about them and plan to take their revenge. In a bold move, Jarred and Mykhayl penetrate our dimension and kidnap the sisters (while they're in the middle of trying out lingerie, no less). Now it's payback time for Corrine and Celeste as they each face a furious and handsome (not to mention well-endowed) warrior.

Captive Dreams (Berkley Sensation)In Diane Whiteside's BOUND BY THE DRAGON, Mykhayl Tibronson, the High King of Torhtremer, has brought back his tormentor for punishment. Thanks to Corrine, Mykhayl has been imprisoned and tortured numerous times by his enemies. Worst of all, she caused an ice serpent to bite him and render him sterile. An intolerable situation for a king. Mykhayl intends to make sure that this sorceress will no longer be able to make his life hell, even if he has to shackle her to his bed.

Bewildered, bemused and definitely aroused (after all, she's very familiar with every inch of that physique) Corrine finds herself accused of being a sorceress and being eyed as a tasty snack both my Mykhayl and the imperial dragon, Khyber! Wanting to make amends for all that she unknowingly put him through, Corrine is determined to cure his sterility and help him fight his enemies, even if it means being stuck in this universe forever.

Captive Dreams (Berkley Sensation)In Angela Knight's BOUND BY THE DREAM, Jarred Varrain finally has his chance to avenge himself on Celeste. Because of her he'd been betrayed by the woman he loved, tortured by alien reptiles and, worst of all, had watched her plot his best friend's death but was powerless to stop it. Yet for all she's put him through, Celeste has also been his obsession for years. To ensure she will wreak no more havoc in his world, Jarred plans to give Celeste to his friend De'Lar as a new sexsub. But first, Jarred is going to torture her slowly, exquisitely, on his specially made pleasure rack. He was going to rid himself of his fixation once and for all.

Once she realizes that everything she's written has truly come to pass, Celeste expects Jarred to kill her. Instead, she's tortured with pleasure and Celeste slowly realizes a truth she's hidden for a long time. She's never been able to have a real relationship because a part of her has always been in love with her hero, Jarred. Now he's real, but her days with him are numbered unless he can forgive her and she can convince him they belong together.

CAPTIVE DREAMS will have you asking yourself that eternal question "What if?" and the result is raunchy and a lot of fun. Corrine and Celeste are two unusually  fabulous heroines who, after learning to believe in the impossible, immerse themselves in their new worlds and find a way to adapt and relish their new roles. Mykhayl and Jarred evolve from men bent on vengeance to heroes worthy of their unusual heroines. Erotically charged, lushly romantic, and yes, slightly kinky, this delicious anthology was a wonderful read. It is now one of my "go to" books, when I want a funny, romantic, hot read.

4****

Product Details


Mass Market Paperback: 320 pages
Publisher: Berkley; Reprint edition (December 2, 2008)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0425224929
ISBN-13: 978-0425224922
Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.2 x 1.1 inches




Tuesday, April 6, 2010

Tuesday's Featured Poem.... I was Again Beside Thee In A Dream: by. Mathilde Blind

I was again beside thee in a dream
Earth was so beautiful, the moon was shining;
The muffled voice of many a cataract stream
Came like a love-song, as, with arms entwining,
Our hearts were mixed in unison supreme.


The wind lay spell-bound in each pillared pine,
The tasselled larches had no sound or motion,
As my whole life was sinking into thine--
Sinking into a deep, unfathomed ocean
Of infinite love--uncircumscribed, divine.


Night held her breath, it seemed, with all her stars:
Eternal eyes that watched in mute compassion
Our little lives o'erleap their mortal bars,
Fused in the fulness of immortal passion,
A passion as immortal as the stars.


There was no longer any thee or me;
No sense of self, no wish or incompleteness
The moment, rounded to Eternity,
Annihilated time's destructive fleetness:
For all but love itself had ceased to be.

~Mathilde Blind~

* This poem is one of my favorites, I love Mathilde's words.... I often quote her, it's like I can hear her words whispering in my heart.... :)

Friday, April 2, 2010

Eternal Pleasure (Book #1 Gods of the Night) By: Nina Bangs

Eternal Pleasure (Gods of the Night, Book 1) (Leisure Paranormal Romance)ETERNAL PLEASURE by Nina Bangs introduces a new paranormal romance series based on a Mayan mythology spanning past and future. A slip in a carefully laid out plan draws a spunky heroine and an uber-alpha male into super-hero roles to fight battles to save humanity from forces invading everyday life. Breathtakingly intricate imagination, hot romance and humor make ETERNAL PLEASURE a top romance choice and downright reading fun!


The Mayan Calendar stops at December 21, 2012. What did the ancient Mayans know that we don't know today? An alliance of predators, the ultimate alpha fighting machines with their primal instincts and their deadly bodies as weapons have joined forces as The Eleven, in a battle to save humanity from the Nine and a force that seeks the destruction of humanity and the Earth. Fin has summoned together forces from 65 million years ago, forces now in human form. Now as the Gods of Night, they must hunt down the Nine and prevent the ultimate cataclysm, the dark force that wipes out dominant species. To make matters even worse, the Nine are not alone. They enlist the otherkin, vampires and werewolves as subordinates and subterfuge in this wicked plot to complicate the battle to kill off humans. The Eleven are an unlikely alliance --- ancient warriors, primal warriors with an instinct for the hunt, raw sex and killing. Although these men might be human now (Or maybe not? What amazing imagery Nina Bangs creates!), 65 million years of hunger for the thrill of the kill and mating is too long. Lock these alpha males together in one room, and what a mix! Primal testosterone in human bodies. Can they work together as humans to save humanity?

Kelly Maloy takes a job as a driver to pick up some extra money. The job offer and the pay were just too good, but when Ty Endeka climbs into her car, her whole world is about to change. Terror and desire mix together when Ty enters her life. Ty has never been a stay-by-your-woman kind of man. For him, it's all about sex, the pure pleasure of sex, at least, until he meets Kelly, that is. With Kelly, he finds himself feeling emotions and thinking things he never thought possible --- human things that go beyond his exterior right down to his soul. When Kelly becomes a pawn in this battle, can he protect her? When Fin tells them the cost of their love, does Ty choose to protect her or expose her to the darkness of his soul? His choice might seem difficult, but Kelly may have the most difficult choice to make.

Wow! This was a fun book! The world-building in ETERNAL PLEASURE is exquisite --- eclectic, mysterious and fun. Nina Bangs gives more and more intricate details, piece by piece, to create unique and breathtaking images while also leaving just enough up to the imagination to make readers very eager to see how she will develop this series. Nina Bangs integrates her world-building perfectly, never once detracting from the romance itself. Nina Bangs adds each detail in the perfect measure to heighten the romance and the mystery of the story.

ETERNAL PLEASURE will delight readers with its steamy romance, humor, and fresh intriguing cosmology. Nina Bangs creates a special flair with a wonderful self-awareness of the genre as well as movies and even comic books that will have readers laughing with her, moving from humor to suspenseful, intriguing encounters between the Eleven and the Nine and back again with a smooth, natural narrative flow. Nina Bangs's characterization of Fin becomes more and more intriguing with each new revelation. In ETERNAL PLEASURE, the first book of a new series, Nina Bangs has the perfect mix of introducing some of the other future primary characters here while also maintaining a satisfying focus on the dynamic romance between Kelly and TV. ETERNAL PLEASURE is a fast-paced fun read. What an ending! (No matter how much you might be tempted, don't jump ahead because a reader won't understand its significance without all the careful world-building that precedes the ending.) ETERNAL PLEASURE is truly a romance reading pleasure!
THE ELEVEN--an alliance of ultimate predators. Primal, lethal, irresistible.

THE PROPHECY--an ancient Mayan prediction that the world will end on 12-21-12.

THE PREY--where can you hide from pure evil?

Eleven Gods of the Night...

The only creatures more deadly are the ones they've been summoned to destroy.

4****



Product Details



Mass Market Paperback: 308 pages


Publisher: Leisure Books (July 2008)


Language: English


ISBN-10: 0843959533


ISBN-13: 978-0843959536


Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.1 x 0.7 inches


*Other Books In the series*

Eternal Craving (Leisure Paranormal Romance)Eternal Craving Book 2 Gods of the Night
 (Leisure Paranormal Romance)


Nina Bangs (Mass Market Paperback - Apr 28, 2009)