Book Addiction

Twitterpated

2009-07-28T18:51:00.000-07:00

Well, I've succumbed to Twitter-mania finally. I've discovered that I just don't have enough interesting to say for a blog so it's micro-blogging for me now. 140 character is just about my speed. I hope you'll join me over at Twitter along with all of the other interesting peeps like Smart Bitches and just about every author I can think of. Cheers!

Here's my Twitter page: www.twitter/shannzu (Thanks Jessica for the reminder)

Kindle Covers

2009-07-10T18:48:00.000-07:00

Feeling crafty? Got a Kindle? Sew your own Kindle cover by following Junie Moon's tutor ial. It's lovely, practical, and way better than the dorky covers that Amazon sells.

Don't sew? Check out these great handmade Kindle covers from Etsy.

Red Kindle Kozy - $20

Padded Kindle Case - $39.99

The Original Kindle Bag - $25.00

Loose Teeth Vintage Inspired Sundress with Petticoat GUEST GIVEAWAY!!!!

2009-05-13T20:31:00.000-07:00

Loose Teeth Vintage Inspired Sundress with Petticoat GUEST GIVEAWAY!!!!

OMG, I love vintage style and this gifted seamstress has the most fantastic dress to give away. I seriously want to marry this woman just for the awesome clothes! Even, better she sells her stuff on my favorite site of all time, Etsy. Heather, I think I love you...

People at Amazon Have Lost Their Minds

2009-04-12T17:31:00.000-07:00

My favorite bloggers at Smart Bitches have created a new definition for Amazon Rank based on Amazon's ridiculous decision to apply some whacked out "adult" definition from all kinds of LGBT books in addition to romance novels. The hypocrisy is just too much for me. You can join the Smart Bitches and help Google bomb Amazon. Click on the link above for more info.

Amazon Rank
amazon rank
Function: verb
Inflected Form(s): amazon ranked

1. To censor and exclude on the basis of adult content in literature (except for Playboy, Penthouse, dogfighting and graphic novels depicting incest orgies).
2. To make changes based on inconsistent applications of standards, logic and common sense.

Etymology: from 12 April 2009 removal of sales rank figures from books on Amazon.com containing sexual, erotic, romantic, gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered or queer content, rendering them impossible to find through basic search functions at the top of Amazon.com’s website. Titles stripped of their sales rankings include “Bastard Out of Carolina,” “Lady Chatterly’s Lover,” several romance novels, GLBTQ fiction novels, YA books, and narratives about gay people.

Example of usage: “I tried to do a report on Lady Chatterly’s Lover for English Lit, but my teacher amazon ranked me and I got an F on grounds that it was obscene.”

Alternate usage: “My girlfriend wanted to preserve her virginity, and I was happy to respect that, then she amazon ranked and decided anal sex was okay.”

Sewing Books: A Rant

2009-03-22T18:08:00.000-07:00

An interesting new sewing book came out this past week called Weekend Sewing. It instantly piqued my interest and I browsed a copy at Barnes and Noble. I decided to check out some reviews prior to buying it and I can't seem to find more than one person who has reviewed it and actually tried to sew something from the book. Seriously people, how can you possible "review" a sewing book without having sewn anything in it???

I've read several reviews by bloggers who thought it was a great book and talked about wanting to try some of the projects. Huh?? The most important part of a sewing book is the projects! #1 - Are they interesting? Do you want to actually try it? #2 - Were the instructions clear? Were you able to actually construct the item? If you don't do that, then that's a seriously half-assed review. Who cares if the pictures are cute or the writing is clever if the projects suck or the directions are confusing? If anyone out there has actually tried to sew something from Weekend Sewing I would love to hear about it. In the meantime I'll wait and see if some real reviews come out and it's worth buying.

Ten Things Your Romance Novel Heroine Should Never Do

2009-02-28T10:13:00.000-08:00

Lynn Viehl, author of several successful series and a true maverick in the world of publishing, has written another funny and sarcastic post about the hypocrisy of the one of the biggest romance writer groups. I love her wry sense of humor. She's always true to herself and doesn't fall for the publishing industry b.s. that they try to cram down authors throats.

Click here to go to her blog and read: Ten Things Your Romance Novel Heroine Should Never Do (If You Want to Win a RITA)

A Gentle Rain by Deborah Smith

2009-02-08T20:59:00.000-08:00

I am so thankful that I got this book through the Library Thing Early Reviewers program as I'm pretty sure that I would never have picked it up otherwise. And boy, I really would have missed out on something special.

The characters in A Gentle Rain are so interesting and very well crafted. Kara Whittenbrook is an heiress to a fortune built by her environmentalist parents. She discovers after her parents are killed that she was really adopted. This realization sends her on a mission to find her birth parents who she learns are mentally retarded. They are living and working on the northern Florida ranch of Ben Thocco. Ben is an equally fascinating character. He is part Seminole, takes care of his younger brother who has Downs Syndrome, and is a former luchadore and telenovela start. He and Kara meet in the most amazing way and it's pretty much love at first sight (even though they both fight it). Ben brings Kara back to his ranch where she meets her parents along with the other differently-abled ranch hands. Kara struggles with the decision to reveal her identity to her birth parents while she stays at the ranch where she earns the love and admiration of this eclectic family. The plot is engaging and a variety of "villains" keeps the story moving along. The third major character in the novel is Florida. The author paints a nuanced and seductive picture of a little known part of Florida that is wild and beautiful, populated with the exotic and the mundane. This is the old kitschy Florida predating Disney World.

I really enjoy books where the author completely immerses the reader in a culture and a place and is so well done that you feel as if you've been there. Deborah Smith accomplishes all of that and more in A Gentle Rain. I highly recommend this book.

Interview with MaryJanice Davidson

2009-02-01T08:00:00.000-08:00

MaryJanice Davidson is one of my favorite authors. Her books never fail to crack me up. This month Romantic Times Magazine has an audio interview with her where she talks about how she became a best-selling author. Go here to listen.

Glitter Baby by Susan Elizabeth Phillips

2009-01-25T21:50:00.000-08:00

I discovered Susan Elizabeth Phillips this past summer and glommed a bunch of her backlist books. She writes great straight up contemporary romance for the most part. I grabbed this newest release, Glitter Baby, a few days after it came out and I didn't even read the cover blurb. It wasn't what I was expecting at all and it was completely fabulous.

Fleur Savagar is the most beautiful woman in the world . . . to everyone but herself. With her oversized hands and paddle-boat feet, her streaky blond hair and funny green eyes, she lives a life filled with secrets that began before she was born. That was when her bewitching mother left home to find James Dean and met Errol Flynn instead. Now Fleur has to grow up quickly, and life won't make that easy.

Jake Koranda is both New York's most brilliant playwright and Hollywood's hottest actor. Difficult, talented, and tormented, he has no patience for international glamour girls, not even ones with beautiful bodies and smart-aleck mouths. But there's more to the Glitter Baby than shine, and Fleur's tougher than Jake expects. Even with the odds stacked against her, she's fiercely determined to discover the woman she's destined to be.

An ugly duckling who can't believe she's turned into a swan . . . A tough-guy movie star with a haunted past . . . In a land of broken dreams, can two unlikely lovers trust their hearts?

This is such a great book. I thoroughly enjoyed it even though most of it took place in the 70's and 80's. The flashbacks to Fleur's mom's past are a fascinatingly seedy glimpse at Hollywood of the 1950's. SEP also borrows from the great dramatic traditions of early 80's romance novels with it's ecstatic highs and tragic lows. Really good stuff!

If you want to enter a drawing for a free copy of Glitter Baby, Jayne Anne Krentz is giving one away here.

What to Read Next?

2009-01-13T19:25:00.000-08:00

I tend not to have a problem deciding what to read next because my TBR stack always seems to keep growing. If you need some ideas on what to read next or just want to try something new, check out WhichBook.net. It's pretty fun to use; you can choose up to four settings on a sliding scale according to the characteristics of what you want to read. It returns a list of books that are the best match to your settings with a quick synopsis and similar books.

Sewing Books: Sew What Skirts vs. Sew Everything Workshop

2009-01-09T18:48:00.001-08:00

I got a sewing machine for my birthday a few months ago and have had a lot of fun re-learning how to sew. My mom always sewed a lot and taught me how but I haven't sewed in about 15 years. It was cool to find how much I remembered. I picked up two books on sewing and thought I'd share my experience doing some of the projects.

The first project I tried was a simple a-line drawstring skirt from Sew What! Skirts by Francesa DenHartog. The premise of the book is that you don't need no stinkin' patterns, just draw on the fabric and make your own for a custom fit. Well, I followed the instructions exactly and ended up with a puzzlingly gigantic skirt. I was able to alter it along the way but the final result was unflattering and discouraging. I kept second guessing myself and ended up feeling like I wasted a lot of time.

The second sewing book I tried was Sew Everything Workshop by Diana Rupp. This book starts out with the basics and contains a bunch of clever home and clothing projects along with 10 paper patterns. I made the "Breezy Easy Wrap Skirt" which was in fact easy but took a bit of time. I only got lost once but plunged ahead anyway. If I had read further in the instructions I would have been able to get my question answered so I blame myself. The skirt turned out adorable and very professional looking. The only complaint I have is that with equal length ties it doesn't really function as a side-tie wrap skirt. It looks best either tied front center or back center and can be worn either way which is a plus. Overall I think this is a better book and I'll definitely be making this skirt again and trying the other projects. Right now I think I have more confidence in paper patterns.

More Awesome Free Books from Harlequin

2009-01-05T15:38:00.000-08:00

...And the giving never stops! Harlequin is celebrating their 60 year anniversary and starting January 29th they are giving away 16 ebooks to download, read and share.

Can't remember to go download stuff on January 29? Click here to fill out this form and Harlequin will send you an email reminder.

Harlequin Free E-Book: Day 9

2009-01-01T10:17:00.001-08:00

Happy New Year! Today's free book from Harlequin is Once Upon a Christmas by Holly Jacobs. Download it here. And now, the book blurb....

"Are three people about to get their Christmas wish?

When her nephew announces he's going to find his father, Michelle Hamilton never dreams the man's actually going to show up at her door! Only a paternity test will determine whether Daniel McLean has a legitimate claim. But that doesn't stop the much-too-appealing potential dad from throwing Michelle's well-ordered world into upheaval.

Daniel is thrilled to discover he might have a son. Now the boy's aunt and legal guardian is making him want even more. And the longer he spends with Michelle, the more Daniel feels he's finally found a place to belong.

With the town gearing up for the annual Christmas fair, what better gift could three people give--and receive--than the chance to be a real family?"

Harlequin Free E-Book: Day 8

2008-12-31T09:39:00.000-08:00

The free book of the day is Christmas Delivery by Patricia Rossmoor. Go here to download. This one is romantic suspense. Here's the blurb:

"Of all the eerie events in her hometown of Jenkins Cove, Lexie Thornton found none more pulse-pounding than the return of her lover, thought murdered long ago in the misty bogs on Christmas Eve. But the man who stepped out of the shadows was very much alive--and hell-bent on revenge.

Simon Shea had changed. The lanky teen had grown into a hardened man, one she barely recognized--but still desired. Lexie had a secret too--the daughter they'd made the night he disappeared. Lexie longed to resurrect their love, but someone wanted to make sure Simon never revealed his secret past."

RT Interview with Susan Elizabeth Phillips

2008-12-30T15:22:00.000-08:00

Author Susan Elizabeth Phillips on Writing Memorable Endings from Romantic Times BOOKreviews on Vimeo.

I have really enjoyed SEP's Natural Born Charmer, Match Me If You Can and Ain't She Sweet. She writes really good straight up contemporary romance. You can visit her author store on Amazon for a complete listing of her books.

Harlequin Free E-Book Day 7: The Mistletoe Wager

2008-12-30T14:31:00.000-08:00

The free book of the day is The Mistletoe Wager by Christine Merrill. Download it here. Happy reading!

Update:
Finished this book last night. Now I remember why I don't care for historical novels. This one dragged big time and I skimmed over quite a bit of the boring sections. The ending was good but there wasn't quite enough to keep me interested or to recommend this book. I would pass on this one.

Harlequin Free E-Book: Day 6

2008-12-29T08:50:00.000-08:00

Today's free ebook from Harlequin is The Italian's Bride: Bedded and Wedded for Revenge. Gotta love the cheesiness of the Harlequin Presents line. This book is by Melanie Milburne and is only free for today so go get it here.

Harlequin Free E-Book: Days 2-5

2008-12-24T08:50:00.000-08:00

The weather seems to be bad pretty much all over the country so it's a perfect day to stay snuggled up inside and read a book. Today's free ebook to get you in the Christmas mood from Harlequin is Mistletoe and Miracles by Marie Ferrarella. Click here to download the book. See the post below if you have difficulties downloading. This book is the free book through December 28th.

Hmm, I wonder if they have any Hanukkah themed books...

Christmas Gifts from Harlequin: Free Ebooks!

2008-12-23T12:00:00.000-08:00

Last year those awesome people over at Harlequin gave out free ebooks for Christmas and they're doing it again this year! From December 23 to January 2 they will be giving away a different ebook each day. All you have to do is go to eHarlequin.com and download the free book of the day. You will need to create an account to get the free download.

Free ebook for December 23rd - Come Toy with Me by Cara Summers

Just a side note: the books come in your choice of three formats. The one I chose was Adobe eReader. If you choose this format be sure to download Adobe Digital Editions FIRST in addition to Adobe Reader (if you don't already have it). I had a really hard time downloading the file and finally figured it out that the only program that can open the ebx.etd file that you get is Adobe Digital Editions. Good luck!

Last Minute Christmas Gift Ideas

2008-12-20T20:53:00.000-08:00

Need some help finishing that Christmas shopping list? Check out the Gift Guide from Etsy. All of the shops featured offer expedited shipping so that you can get your gifts on time and stay away from the malls. Happy Holidays!

Expedited Shipping Gift Guide

Free E-Book: Emissaries from the Dead

2008-12-19T19:19:00.000-08:00

In celebration of Eos's 10 year anniversary they're offering a free e-book called Emissaries from the Dead by Adam-Troy Castro. Here's the book blurb:

Two murders have occurred on One One One, an artificial ecosystem created by the universe's dominant AIs to house several engineered species, including a violent, sentient race of sloth-like creatures. Under order from the Diplomatic Corps, Counselor Andrea Cort has come to this cylinder world where an indentured human community hangs suspended high above a poisoned, acid atmosphere. Her assignment is to choose a suitable homicide suspect from among those who have sold their futures to escape existences even worse than this one. And no matter where the trail leads her she must do nothing to implicate the hosts, who hold the power to obliterate humankind in an instant.

But Andrea Cort is not about to hold back in her hunt for a killer. For she has nothing to lose and harbors no love for her masters or fellow indentures. And she herself has felt the terrible exhilaration of taking life...

Go here to download the book but hurry, it will only be available until December 31, 2008.

The Men of Romance part Deux

2008-12-07T09:13:00.000-08:00

This morning I was reading my blog feeds and found a lovely post on Romancing the Blog called "Real Men Have Feelings Too". As I was reading it I thought it was really well written and it was exactly what I wanted to discuss when I did the giveaway for Jeff Rivera's book. Then I got to the end and discovered that Jeff was the author of the article. He had a lot of things to say that bring insight to what it's like being a guy that we don't really hear about. I think there is such societal pressure for men to be "manly" that it might be a bit of a challenge to be a male romance writer. In fact, one author I can think of uses a pseudonym (Jennifer Wilde) and another has a fairly gender neutral name (Leigh Greenwood).

Of course, men have feelings and I wish more of them wrote romance. I think it would add depth to a genre that at times can seem a little formulaic. It would be an interesting aspect for publisher's marketing plan as well. Something that would make one book stand out over another (and just think of what book signings would be like). So guys, don't let the woman hold you down. Write that romance novel, and who knows? You could be the next Nora Roberts, or should I say J.D. Robb.

Pushing Daisies Cancelled!

2008-11-25T16:48:00.001-08:00

Okay, totally off topic, but I'm officially devastated that Pushing Daisies has been canceled. I hate that TV has become so formulaic that quirky interesting shows don't have a chance. It's all either crime shows, medical shows or crappy reality shows. RIP Pushing Daisies, I will miss you and Chuck's gorgeous dresses. Some of my favorites below:

Forever My Lady by Jeff Rivera

2008-11-23T17:39:00.000-08:00

Forever My Lady is not your traditional romance. I would actually call it more of a love story. Dio is a gang member, a child of the streets with an alcoholic mother and an absent father. His childhood sweetheart, Jennifer has had a life just as rough as his. After a violent incident, Dio finds himself in a work camp for juvenile offenders. As you would imagine, he's not happy to be there but finds himself growing and changing both physically and intellectually. Dio's journey from his gang past to trying to be a responsible adult is a slow journey filled with setbacks.

The relationship with Jennifer is revealed in a series of letters between the two. It becomes evident fairly early on that the desire is one-sided. Not surprising, considering the circumstances of their parting. Dio's path to maturity and forgiveness is challenging and heartbreaking at times. I think the happy ending is more of a personal accomplishment rather than the happily ever after delivered in your typical romance. I don't want to spoil the story too much but if you're looking for something that breaks the mold of the romance and features characters in a more urban setting, you might consider Forever My Lady.

Christmas Craft Show

2008-11-13T15:37:00.001-08:00

If you happen to live in Southern California, come see me at the La Habra High School Christmas Craft Show December 13, 2008 from 8am to 3pm. I'll be there with tons of other vendors selling my Hide-a-Book covers and I would love to meet you. Support independent crafters and buy some unique gifts made with love for people on your holiday shopping list. There will be lots of other Etsy sellers there so you'll be sure to find some great stuff. Admission is free and there will be food, drink, raffles and most important...shopping!

November Book Giveaway

2008-11-11T16:27:00.000-08:00

Jeff Rivera has kindly offered up a copy of his new book Forever My Lady as a reader giveaway. To enter the giveaway, what I would like to know from you is how you feel about men writing romance. Simply leave a comment below by November 18th, 2008 and be sure to include your email address in the form (it won't show when posted). A review of Forever My Lady will follow soon. Good Luck!

Magic to the Bone by Devon Monk

2008-11-03T12:27:00.000-08:00

Attractive young woman? - check, low rise jeans with back exposed? - check, tattoos? - check, city background? - check. Even though Magic to the Bonelooks like your cliched urban fantasy, this book deserves a deeper look. I typically don't pay much attention to cover quotes since they're usually BS. But this one has a quote by Patricia Briggs (who I really like) so I decided to give it a chance.

Allison (Allie) Beckstrom is the daughter of a prominent and ruthless business man. Her father has made a fortune harnessing the magic that flows like electricity through Portland. He's also pissed off quite a few people along the way (like his daughter). Allie has successfully managed to keep her controlling father out of her life completely. That is until one of her poorer clients calls her for help. A young boy has been the victim of a magical offload, the price that must be paid when magic is used. The magic has her father's signature on it forcing Allie back into his sphere of influence.

Allie is compelled to find out the truth even if it means bringing down her powerful dad. She has some unexpected help from a mysterious former employee of her father, Zayvion Jones. Zayvion is there when she needs someone the most but can she trust this mysterious man? Their feelings for each other combined with his secrets have the power to blow up in her face.

I liked this book more than most urban fantasies because Monk creates a new world without relying on the short hand of the paranormal that most fiction writers use. She starts from scratch with a world that has discovered magic as an element in a completely natural and scientific manner. I also liked that the relationship between Allie and Zayvion was not the primary focus of the story. The plot was well written and completely unpredictable. I will definitely be looking for Monk's next book. According to her website this book begins the series. If you're looking for a fresh, new urban fantasy you might try Magic to the Bone.

Release Date: November 4, 2008
ISBN: 9780451462404

The Men of Romance: Jeff Rivera

2008-10-28T17:01:00.000-07:00

There aren't a lot of men out there writing romance, so it's pretty cool to see authors like Jeff Rivera getting into the genre. In this female dominated industry, I think it's great that there are guys with a different perspective to offer. Lord knows that some of the traditional romance tropes can get a bit tired.

Jeff Rivera is an author whose novel, Forever My Lady is being released by WarnerBooks/Grand Central at the end of the month. He took the time to answer some questions about his new book.

What does it feel like to see your book in bookstores after years of struggling?
I don't want to just say it's a dream come true because it's much more than that. To me it's a symbol that all those crazy books you read about visualizing and "The Secret" really do work. If you're willing to put in the effort, I believe anything is possible, corny as it may sound.

What was your writing process like in writing Forever My Lady?
Well, I was working a job I hated in the morning then I'd force myself to sit down and crank out as much as I could. There were times when I was wondering if I was doing it right, quite frankly. I wanted to give up half way through the book but something kept me going. (Probably the thought of being stuck in that God awful job for the rest of my life)

One thing about your characters is that when you first meet them you don't necessarily like them, then you get to know them. Why did you do this?
I think that's the way real life is. Do you have any friends that you didn't like when you first met them? Then you get to know them. It was also a message to people misjudged my little brother when the first met him and didn't give him a chance, not a chance to really get to know him.

Why did you create a character like Grossaint who was a racist in a love story?
I think he represented to me people who have so much hatred and fear in their hearts and yet when you get to know them they are really not that different from you or me. I tried to make sure Grossaint had more to him than just a flat stereotypical racist character.

Forever My Lady is available on your website?
Yes, www.JeffRivera.com, Amazon.com and wherever books are sold!

I Got to Meet David Sedaris!

2008-10-27T11:50:00.000-07:00

Friday night my lovely sister came into town and took me to see David Sedaris in Long Beach. We got really lucky arriving early to the theater and discovered that he was signing his books. So we immediately bought a few and jumped into line. I told him that coming to see him was my birthday present and so he said "Wait, I've got something for you", then rummaged around in a plastic bag and handed me small bottle of lotion from his hotel. He later said that he likes to have a bag of hotel toiletries, packets of aspirin, and condoms to give out during signings. Very odd but funny.

Of course, David was just as funny and engaging in person and he read stories for a solid hour and a half. I would love to go see him again next time he's in town. He said his next book will be a collection of animal stories. Should be interesting...

Above is a picture I snuck while standing in line.

Some of his books:

Apart From the Crowd by Anna McPartlin

2008-10-20T17:59:00.000-07:00

I have to admit that I do judge a book by it's cover. While browsing at Barnes & Noble I spotted Apart from the Crowd by Anna McPartlin. I guess because I don't have a dog and want one, I'm a sucker for books with adorable dogs on the cover. Also how cute is her shirt? So I picked it up and the book is set in the little Irish town of Kenmare. Sold! I'm totally buying it.

Apart from the Crowd definitely didn't disappoint. I love Irish melancholia; the whole "life is tough but we make do, have a pint" attitude. It's so different from American writing in a way that I find endearing. Here's the back cover blurb:

In a little Irish town like Kenmare, there's no need to worry whether people will discover your secrets. They already have. For Mary, that means being remembered for her tragic losses, even if she'd rather get on with her life. For her cousin Ivan, as close as a brother, the gossip is all about how his wife took the kids and ran off with her new lover. For Mary's friend Penny, it's an old romance that didn't work out quite right, and a current affair with a bottle of vodka.

Then Sam Sullivan rents the cottage next door to Mary, and within hours the whole town is talking about the film-star-handsome American. When Sam hurts his back while helping his new neighbor and spends the next week confined to a mattress on her floor, gossip runs rampant. But neither Kenmare nor Mary know about the secrets Sam is so successfully hiding....

For Mary's circle of friends, Sam's arrival marks more than one change. And Mary -- whose unlucky history has kept her apart from the crowd much of her life -- has finally found a man with whom she feels she might truly connect. But so long as both are captive to memories they dare not reveal, the past is a barrier that will keep them forever alone.

In this powerful novel, Anna McPartlin perfectly captures the drama, the emotion, and the laughter of a small Irish community, for those who fit in -- and those who don't. Apart from the Crowd mixes wit and insight to create an engrossing tale that will keep you reading to the very last page.

I loved this book so much. If you enjoy authors like Maeve Binchy and Marian Keyes you will really be into this one.

Save the Contemporary

2008-10-20T07:44:00.001-07:00

Handmade in California

2008-10-19T16:16:00.000-07:00

I don't know about you, but I'm looking to scale back some on my spending and with the holidays coming up I want to choose unique gifts for my friends and family. The holiday gift guide from Handmade in California is a great source for interesting gifts and your purchase will help to support independent crafters and the economy. Also, if you sign up for the quarterly update, you will receive a coupon for $5 off a $20 purchase. Gotta love coupons! The gift guide is sponsored by the California Crafters Club of Etsy.

Handmade Gifts for Book Lovers Under $10

2008-10-11T17:43:00.000-07:00

Red Thread Books sells lovely bound books of poetry that make great gifts. Perfect for October is Edgar Allen Poe's classic, The Raven. This book is printed on heavy paper, pamphlet-bound, cased in midnight-black Japanese silk and blue patterned Italian art paper. At only $8 this handmade book is a bargain. Click here to buy.

These gorgeous handmade bookplates by Nouveau Designs add style and sophistication to any library. They are lovely vintage advertisements for Hanes women's stockings. Each bookplate is printed on an adhesive sticker with rounded corners. There are 3 different images - you get 6 of each. A great deal: 18 bookplates for $6. Click here to buy.

This beautiful metal bookmark from Giftswell was handcrafted by an artisan in the north Thailand style of Chiang Mai Province. The bookmark is less than $10 even after shipping from Thailand. Click here to buy.

The Chosen Sin Missing Pages

2008-10-04T08:51:00.000-07:00

So, I got a new vampire book for review called The Chosen Sin by Anya Bast. Nice cover huh? I started to read it and was really getting into the story when BAM, 50 pages are missing. I was completely bummed because I wanted to find out what happened next and it would just be too confusing to skip over the missing part. I went on over to Anya's website to see if she had anything posted about it. I was a little worried for her since the book's release date is in a few days (10/7/08) but there was nothing. I didn't want to freak her out so I emailed the publisher, Berkley, instead. Thankfully a nice PR person replied and said they would be sending out corrected books. It kind of made me wonder if all the bookstores had books with missing pages in them and how that whole process works. Anyway, if anyone else happens to get stuck with the messed up version be sure to return it to the bookstore where you bought it and see if they have corrected books. If not, contact Berkley.

Bunnies & Books

2008-09-22T19:52:00.000-07:00

Okay, I know bunnies don't have crap to do with books but I'm so pleased with myself right now that I had to share. One of my book covers has a super adorable bunny print on gorgeous Japanese paper. I managed to grab a Treasury (sort of a mini gallery) on Etsy to display my love of bunnies along with the great bunny stuff from other sellers. They're so hard to get as many people are vying for the few spots available. Check it out!

Read "A Season For the Dead" for Free

2008-09-17T10:38:00.000-07:00

It seems that more and more publishers are offering free ebooks as part of their marketing strategy. It certainly works on me as I've gotten free ebooks from Harlequin and subsequently purchased others. This week's freebie is A Season For the Dead by David Hewson. Bantam-Dell is offering a free pdf dowload of the book on Scribd through October 15th, 2008.

A Season For the Dead introduces Detective Nic Costa. In the heat of a Roman summer, Nic Costa, a young, optimistic detective is faced with a crime that reaches deep into the heart of the Vatican.

Click here to view the book or download the PDF:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/5617778/A-Season-for-the-Dead-by-David-Hewson

Fat is the New Black or I Love You Jen Lancaster

2008-09-16T08:34:00.001-07:00

My sister sent me a book recommendation recently for Jen Lancaster's Bright Lights Big Ass. I'm paraphrasing slightly but the jist of her email was "this bitch is hilarious, you have to read her". I was immediately suckered in by her awesome book titles which have to be the longest on earth:

Bright Lights, Big Ass: A Self-Indulgent, Surly, Ex-Sorority Girl's Guide to Why it Often Sucks in the City, or Who are These Idiots and Why Do They All Live Next Door to Me?

Bitter is the New Black : Confessions of a Condescending, Egomaniacal, Self-Centered Smartass,Or, Why You Should Never Carry A Prada Bag to the Unemployment Office

Such a Pretty Fat: One Narcissist's Quest To Discover if Her Life Makes Her Ass LookBig, Or Why Pie is Not The Answer

I just finished Such a Pretty Fat and it's the first book in a long time that I've laughed out loud frequently and annoyed my husband with "you gotta hear this...". Jen is an overweight writer who *loves* herself the way she is. While trying to write her third book she decides to make it another memoir and write about her quest to lose weight and become healthy. Her life in Chicago with her husband Fletch and their pack of dogs and cats is funny and entertaining. Jen's charm comes from laying everything out there on the line; nothing seems to embarrass her which is something I could really learn from. If you want a laugh out loud funny read check out one of these books. I'm off to Amazon to get the other two!

If you want a little taste of Jen's humor check out her blog Jennsylvania.

Gifts For Booklovers, or Just Yourself!

2008-09-12T21:42:00.000-07:00

Here's my latest awesome finds from Etsy. Perfect for your book lover friends or a little treat for yourself.

Copper Book Pendant - $45

Book Ring, you choose the cover - $4

Dictionary Necklace - $10

Book Vampire Bookmark - $6.50

Free E-Books from Harlequin

2008-09-03T08:53:00.000-07:00

I'm so happy with my new iPhone as an e-book reader and even more so after downloading Fictionwise's eReader. It's an free application you can download for the iPhone that allows you to read e-books and to download them easily from Fictionwise. To celebrate their version 1.2 release of the software, Harlequin is offering three free e-books through the eReader.com site. You need to create an account or already have a credit card on file to get the free download. The offer expires 9/12/08. The three free books are: Risque Business by Tawny Weber, The Tycoon's Very Personal Assistant by Heidi Rice and His Expectant Ex by Catherine Mann.

Free Online Books from Avon

2008-08-26T12:39:00.000-07:00

Avon started something really cool this month called Love Gives Back. They are giving sneak previews of new books up to two weeks prior to their release date. In addition featured authors will be selecting books that will available entirely free online. Right now there are 10 books that I'll definitely be checking out. The best part is that Avon will be donating books to charity based on the number of pages you read online. For every 100,000 pages browsed Avon is going to donate 100 books to ProLiteracy Worldwide. Each month, now through December 23rd, they will donate up to 1,000 books. Click here to get started reading now!

Book Covers

2008-08-23T09:36:00.000-07:00

I have some pretty new designs for my Hide-a-Book covers. For a limited time I'm also offering free shipping on all US and Canada orders. If you mention this blog when you make a purchase in the "memo to seller" section I'll send you a free gift. Check out some of the designs below and visit my online shop for many more choices.

Etsy
Buy Handmade
HideABook

Free Kindle E-Book from Samhain

2008-08-19T11:15:00.000-07:00

Samhain Publishing announced that they are giving away an Amazon Kindle e-book. The title is Unbreakable from Sydney Somers. The free download period begins on Monday, August 18th through Sunday, August 24th. This title is the first in the Shadow Destroyers series from Somers.

They will be doing another Kindle giveaway in September of The Dragon’s Demon from Marie Harte. So stay tuned Kindlers...

Book Shopping

2008-08-09T19:22:00.000-07:00

On Friday I went shopping for books at a mall near work and I stumbled across this large kiosk ad for Gena Showalter's latest release, The Darkest Pleasure. I think this has to be the biggest ad I've seen for a romance novel. Does this mean romance advertising is becoming more mainstream? I'd like to think so since romance is the biggest selling segment of the fiction paperback market. Notice the strategic beam of sunlight across the cover?

Back to shopping, I picked up Sherrilyn Kenyon's Acheron. It's quite possible thicker than any other book I've purchase before topping out at 728 pages. Once I'm finished (this could take a while) I'll be posting a review over at Vampire Genre.

I Hate You Anne Rivers Siddons

2008-08-03T19:22:00.000-07:00

Years ago I read a book by Anne Rivers Siddons called Low Country that I really enjoyed. Somehow that lulled me into thinking that I might enjoy other books by Ms. Siddons. Boy was I wrong. I just finished Off Season and I feel like I just got bashed over the head. Off Season now ties with Dream When You're Feeling Blue by Elizabeth Berg as the most depressing book that I have ever read. Here's your spoiler warning. Stop reading now if you don't want to know what happens because all these spoilers are central to why I hated this book.

The main character Lilly loses her first childhood love, Jon at the age of 12. He drowns as the result of cruel words uttered by a hideous girl child called Peaches.
Lilly tragically loses her mother to breast cancer and to cope with these two deaths walls herself off from the world and becomes a hermit with her grief stricken father who is unable to cope.
Many years later, Lilly loses her husband Cam, a man she loved deeply, to a brain aneurysm.
When she goes to Maine to scatter his ashes she discovers that Cam cheated on her with PEACHES and has a son with her!!!!
At the end of the book Lilly dies. Seriously???

Need I say more? Thanks a lot Anne.

2008 RITA Award Winners

2008-08-02T22:58:00.001-07:00

Best Contemporary Romance: Catch Of The Day by Kristan Higgins - loved this one
Best First Book: Dead Girls Are Easy by Terri Garey
Best Romantic Suspense: Ice Blue by Anne Stuart
Best Paranormal Romance: Lover Revealed by JR Ward - loved this one too
Best Regency Historical Romance: The Secret Diaries of Miss Miranda Cheever by Julia Quinn
Best Historical Romance: Lessons of Desire by Madeline Hunter
Best Young Adult Romance: Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr

For the full list of winners and nominees in each category, visit DearAuthor. Congratulations to all the authors who were recognized.

Just One of the Guys by Kristan Higgins

2008-08-02T17:13:00.000-07:00

I'm a big sucker for books with adorable dogs on the cover and Kristan Higgin's latest book Just One Of The Guys is no exception. Kristan made it to my auto-buy list with her previous books; Catch Of The Day and Fools Rush In (click on the titles to see the gorgeous puppies). I pre-ordered this from Amazon but forgot all about it. When I got the shipping notice I couldn't remember what I ordered and had to go find out what the book was again. Here's the cover blurb:

Being one of the guys isn’t all it’s cracked up to be…

So when journalist Chastity O’Neill returns to her hometown, she decides it’s time to start working on some of those feminine wiles. Two tiny problems: #1 — she’s five-foot-eleven of rock-solid girl power, and #2 — she’s cursed with four alpha male older brothers.

While doing a story on local heroes, she meets a hunky doctor, and things start to look up. Now there’s only one problem: Trevor Meade, her first love and the one man she’s never quite gotten over — although he seems to have gotten over her just fine.

Yet the more time she spends with Dr. Perfect, the better Trevor looks.But even with the in-your-face competition, the irresistible Trevor just can’t seem to see Chastity as anything more than just one of the guys…

Just One Of The Guys wasn't as good for me as Kristan's previous books. The main reason was that Chastity and Trevor don't get together until (swear to God) the last page of the book! Okay, not counting the epilogue. Seriously? I also didn't think there was quite enough quality interaction between the two to make their love believable. For the first time I was actually wishing for the book to have been written in third person so I could find out what the hell was going on in Trevor's mind. I still don't understand his motivations. But at $4.99 this book was definitely not a waste of time or money. Charity is such a cool character and it's nice to have a tomboy once in a while who isn't ashamed to be strong and athletic. But if you want to start somewhere else I highly recommend Catch Of The Day and Fools Rush In.

UPDATE: Catch of the Day just won the RITA award for Best Contemporary Romance tonight at the 2008 RWA Conference. Now you have no excuse not to buy it. Thanks to on the spot bloggers at Smart Bitches and Dear Author for the live results.

RWA in San Francisco

2008-08-01T19:39:00.000-07:00

Romance Writers of America is having their annual conference this week in San Francisco. The Today Show had a segment this morning about the popularity of romance featuring Nora Roberts and there's also an appearance by Sarah Wendell from one of my favorite web sites, Smart Bitches who Love Trashy Books. Check out the video here.

Jezebel: Why Chick-Lit Covers Are Pink

2008-07-31T16:27:00.000-07:00

A blog I regularly read called Jezebel has a great article about the publishing trend of slapping a pink cover on books written by women, or even written by a man with a female protagonist.

It has been suggested that females prefer pink because of an evolutionary preference for reddish things like ripe fruits and healthy faces. We also prefer pink books. Or at least the publishing industry is so convinced of this that to cover their asses they're wantonly packaging any book written by a woman with a chick-litish cover in the desperate hopes that we'll buy it. Having cottoned on to the fact that chick lit books sell like cupcakes, publishers are now adding chick lit-style covers to any book written by a woman whether it fits the genre definition or not.

Speaking of, covers that don't reflect what's inside irritate me. I picked up The Wedding Officer thinking it was a light frothy romance but instead was a very gritty realistic view of the tragedies of WWII in Italy which included starvation, prostitution, rape, VD, and murder. Not that I didn't think it was a good book, but it's something I definitely have to be in the right frame of mind for. In the article Sadie Stein said publishers may experience a backlash over this treatment:

They are, however, likely to be disappointed when they get to the beach and find that instead of some heartwarming bit of froth they've ended up with Serious Fiction full of incest and substance abuse.

Right on sister. Read the full article here.

Reading is Sexy

2008-07-26T17:45:00.000-07:00

Declare your love of books with this hot tee from Sarah Utter that says "Reading is Sexy". Buy at BuyOlympia.com. Comes in pink, blue, green and yellow.

Free Stuff from Katie MacAlister

2008-07-14T17:40:00.000-07:00

What: win yourself an advanced reader's copy of Up In Smoke, the second silver dragon novel.
When: contest runs from July 2nd to August 2nd, 2008.
How: Send an e-mail to katie@katiemacalister.com with something in the subject line indicating it's a contest entry (to keep the e-mail from going into the dreaded reader mail queue), and the following information:

Your name
Your e-mail address
A statement of which hero (mortal or immortal) from one of my books is your favorite, and why you should have exclusive dibs on him over all the other readers who probably wouldn't kick him out of their respective beds. Your statement can be as short or long as you desire, will not be judged on either grammar or spelling, but the more inventive your reasoning is, the more likely you'll make Katie giggle. And giggling is good.

Submit all that no later than midnight August 2nd. Ten entries will be picked by August 5th to receive ARCs.

New 3G iPhone

2008-07-12T08:03:00.001-07:00

I'm so excited, I finally got an iPhone! I've been waiting for the 3G version for ages it seems like. So, yesterday I was one of those crazy fools waiting in line at the Apple store for.....6 1/2 hours! That was a pretty insane amount of time to wait but after about 2 hours you're pretty much invested in staying. The wait wasn't supposed to be so long but Apple & AT&T apparently had significant delays with the idiotic in-store activation process.

At least the Apple store employees tried to make it a little better for us. They kept our energy up with bottled water, donuts, popsicles & ice cream sandwiches. Other retailers were working the endless line too and we got free t-shirts from Jirbo.com, chicken sandwiches from Chik-fil-A and tons of other coupons for free crap. I don't think I would do that again but I have to say it was worth it because the new iPhone is frickin' awesome! I'm definitely going to be trying out the e-book readers for iPhone and giving you the scoop on them.

Cool Book Stuff on Etsy

2008-07-08T14:50:00.000-07:00

As I've mentioned before, I'm a big fan of Etsy. It's a website where people can buy and sell things handmade or that are vintage. I sell my Hide-a-Book covers on Etsy and I've had the good fortune to stumble across many talented people who sell a really cool variety of stuff. Here are some items I found that you might like too...

I'm bit obsessed with birds right now and this lovely set of bird bookplates will keep your friends from forgetting to give your book back.

This super sexy romance cover might be embarrassing to be seen reading but I can guarantee you'll get admiring glances with this purse.

You can keep this bodice-ripper bookmark tucked away between the pages of your latest book for your eyes only. I won't tell...

Gotta love that 70's hair with this journal made from a recycled Harlequin novel.

Giveaways From HarperCollins

2008-07-07T20:11:00.000-07:00

Free books and a vacation? Just what I need. Courtesy of HarperCollins.

E-Book Reader With Flexible Screen

2008-07-06T13:37:00.000-07:00

Holy Moses it's an electronic scroll! Readius by Polymer Vision is about the size of a standard cell phone. It has a flexible screen that can be pulled out to read ebooks, magazines, newspapers, etc. Sounds way better than the Kindle but will probably be more expensive. Readius will be available in the US early 2009.
-Via New York Times

The Sugar Queen by Sarah Addison Allen

2008-06-30T15:07:00.000-07:00

Sarah Addison Allen is my new favorite author. She is an amazing storyteller and the magical realism in her books adds a charming element to her stories. I loved Garden Spells so I was excited to see that she had a new book out. I just finished The Sugar Queen and I have to say that I was not disappointed. How could you not love a book about a girl who has a secret stash of candy and romance novels in her closet? But beware, you may have an attack of sugar cravings while reading this book. Seriously, if you buy only one book this summer, make it Garden Spells or The Sugar Queen. You won't regret it. Here's the book cover blurb:

Josey, at 27, doesn't go out except to do chores for her mother, she doesn't wear clothes that her mother says don't suit her, and she eats, secretly, as a substitute for the life she's not living. One morning, when she goes to her closet to raid her secret stash of sweets, she finds a woman sitting there. Della Lee, on the run from something in her own life, has decided to take up residence in Josey's closet. Thus begins Josey's quest to get this madwoman out of her closet, and along the way she discovers a world where the color red has astonishing power, passion can make eggs fry in their cartons, and romance can blossom any time -- even for her.

Update: You can read an interview that Sara gave in 2007 to Bookreporter.com here.

Free E-Book From Sherrilyn Kenyon

2008-06-29T20:40:00.000-07:00

In celebration of the upcoming publication of ACHERON, St. Martin's Press if offering one of the first novels in the Dark-Hunter series, SEIZE THE NIGHT as a free e-Book download. To recieve your free e-Book go here.

You will receive a link to download a PDF, HTML or Mobi version of this FREE e-Book via e-mail. Hurry, promotion ends July 3, 2008, 11:59 p.m. ET

The Wedding Officer by Anthony Capella

2008-06-20T19:34:00.000-07:00

I picked up The Wedding Officer from a table of "summer reading" at Barnes and Noble. From the cover you would think this is a lighthearted romance set during WWII. I was also intrigued because it was written by a man. The story was actually much darker than I expected. It's 1944 and Captain James Gould is stationed in Naples Italy. He is the wedding officer, tasked with investigating young Italian women engaged to G.I.s and discouraging marriages between them. James is bitten by the love bug himself when he falls for a beautiful widow, Livia Pertini. Livia is the cook for the Allied officers and her culinary skills seduce the inexperienced soldier.

Many tragic occurrences conspire to separate the two lovers. The reality of war is brought home in graphic detail. Capella does a great job of making you believe that Livia and James can make it even with all the brutality they've experienced. It's not all hearts and flowers but he will definitely make you believe in the enduring power of love.

The Wedding Officerincludes a sneak peek at Anthony Capella's next book, The Various Flavors of Coffee (fall 2008). Beautiful cover, eh?

Free Books!

2008-06-19T10:04:00.000-07:00

Emma Holly is giving away two signed copies of THE DEMON'S DAUGHTER, PRINCE OF ICE, and BEYOND THE DARK (also featuring Angela Knight, Lora Leigh, and Diane Whiteside). You'll have until the end of June to enter, which you can do at: www.emmaholly.com/CONTESTS.htm

ALSO....

In anticipation of the release of ACHERON, St. Martin's Press is doing a giveaway of all 12 of the Dark Hunter books by Sherrilyn Kenyon. Enter to win at Yearof Acheron.com.

The Iron Hunt by Marjorie M. Liu

2008-06-17T09:53:00.000-07:00

First of all, how gorgeous is this cover? I love the cover trend in urban fantasy to feature a beautiful woman who looks like she could kick your ass. Marjorie M. Liu, best-selling author of the Dirk & Steele paranormal series, is back with a brand new series about a demon hunter called The Iron Hunt. Here's the back cover blurb:

"By day, her tattoos are her armor. By night, they unwind from her body to take on forms of their own--demons of the flesh, turned into flesh. This is the only family demon hunter Maxine Kiss has ever known. It's the only way to live, and the very way she'll die. For one day her demons will abandon her for her daughter to assure their own survival--leaving Maxine helpless against her enemies. But such is the way of Earth's last protector--the only one standing between humanity and the demons breaking out from behind the prison veil. It is a life lacking in love, reveling in death, until one moment--and one man--changes everything..."

The Iron Hunt is a fantastic book. The demons that live on Maxine's skin are fascinatingly child-like. This story is nothing like I've ever read before but my husband tells me it's similar to a comic called The Darkness. Ms. Liu weaves language in a way that is evocative and dreamlike. The juxtaposition of strength with fragility makes Maxine Kiss a very compelling character. I definitely want to read more about her. The release date is June 24, 2008.

David Sedaris

2008-06-14T07:49:00.000-07:00

David Sedaris is one of the funniest non-fiction writers around. He is the best-selling author of great books like Me Talk Pretty One Day, Naked, and Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim. Sedaris has a new book out called When You Are Engulfed in Flames which I'm dying to read. Time Magazine posted an interview online with David that is part of their Ten Questions for... series. Check it out.

Rain Boots are the New Shoes for Chick-Lit

2008-06-09T16:45:00.000-07:00

Publisher's Weekly reports that publishers have run out of every variation of shoes and handbags for chick-lit covers. The new trend may be rain boots. I have to say I was confused by two of the books below and thought they were the same book on two separate occasions. I've definitely been noticing the surplus of rain boots on covers.

Book Covers

2008-06-07T23:27:00.000-07:00

Ever been embarrassed of a book cover or just wished you could have something pretty to dress up your books? Well, the wait is over! These are my new Hide-a-Book book covers. The decorative vinyl slip-on book covers are water resistant and can be reused again and again – the perfect stylish book-covering solution! Great for protecting paperback books and your privacy. The cover easily adjusts to fit paperback books of nearly any width. A built in ribbon bookmark ensures you won't lose your place. Click on a cover for more information and how to buy.

Etsy
Buy Handmade
HideABook

Book in a Bag Giveaway

2008-06-04T12:21:00.000-07:00

Bag some truly stylish fiction! Now, when you sign up for the "From the Heart" newsletter, you're entered for a chance to win new books from HarperCollins Publishers and a bag from The Sak! During the next 4 weeks, they’re giving away 15 colorful Silverlake Canvas Convertible Satchels to 15 randomly selected entrants. Click here to enter.

Book Giveaway

2008-05-27T13:24:00.000-07:00

If you like vampire books check out my other website, Vampire Genre. I'm giving away a copy of Rachel Caine's book, Feast of Fools. It's the fourth book in her Morganville Vampire series. The contest ends May 29th 2008.

Late Rapture by Jane Arbor

2008-05-26T10:33:00.000-07:00

I scored some vintage Harlequins at a library sale recently and I finally had the chance to read one. My first pick was Late Rapture by Jane Arbor written in 1978 (as if you couldn't tell from the hair-dos on the cover). At 187 pages it was a quick read but packed with great information about 1978. Here's what I learned:

1. Apparently men just inform you that you're going to get married, they don't ask and you're supposed to be delighted.

2. Threatening to "make love" to a woman "against her will" is okay and not something that will land your ass in jail.

3. When the little woman gets hysterical just give her a good smack. That will settle her right down.

4. You shouldn't admit to being an uncommunicative a-hole until after your wife is almost killed in a car accident.

Wow, if this is what it was like to date in the 70's I'm sure glad I wasn't old enough to experience the "rapture".

The House by Danielle Steel

2008-05-24T09:27:00.000-07:00

Okay, so I know I said I never read Danielle Steel anymore but I couldn't resist reading The House (it was free after all). The story itself was excellent and Danielle is still the master of making readers cry. The woman could teach classes on it. One big drawback was that she tells *a lot* instead of showing. Too much of that and it reads like a synopsis of the book and you don't really feel part of the story.

Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen

2008-05-14T18:55:00.000-07:00

The beautiful cover of this book first caught my eye but the story inside was charming and imaginative. Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen is a lovely story about family ties and the magic of everyday life. This book is a perfect example of the magical realism genre. My first experience with this type of story telling was Laura Esquivel's Like Water for Chocolate (which I totally loved). If you like quirky stories with a touch of fantasy, you will definitely like Garden Spells.

Annual Cover Contest 2007

2008-05-08T11:15:00.000-07:00

Vote for the best and worst romance novel covers from 2007. There are seven categories, sadly only one of those is for worst cover. Seems like there were a lot of craptastic covers last year and most of them perpetrated by Kensington. Go vote at the Cover Cafe. Voting ends midnight May 25, 2008.

Natural Born Charmer by Susan Elizabeth Phillips

2008-05-04T20:07:00.000-07:00

I picked up Natural Born Charmer by Susan Elizabeth Phillips on a whim Friday. I get emails from Writerspace about new releases and this story just sounded really intriguing. A gorgeous football player, a lonely Colorado highway, and a woman dressed in a beaver suit. Who could resist? Dean Robillard is a bored, rich, pro-football player on his way to his farm in Tennessee. When he comes across Blue Bailey trudging down the highway in a beaver suit he can't help but stop. The pissed off petite woman is just the distraction he was looking for.

Dean's life is about to get a whole lot more interesting. Throw in an estranged mother who's a former groupie, an absent rock star father, a runaway sister, and you've got a recipe for family drama. Natural Born Charmer is funny and touching drama about love, family and learning to let go.

Playing With Fire by Katie MacAlister

2008-05-04T19:44:00.000-07:00

Playing with Fire by Katie MacAlister is the first book in her new Silver Dragons series. It's basically a continuation of her series featuring Aisling Grey. Aisling still appears but the story is focused on a new heroine, May Northcott. I wish I would have paid attention to the whole new series thing. If I had, I wouldn't have been so surprised at the ending. It's a total cliff hanger and the next book won't be out until October 2008.

May is a doppelganger, she has the ability to walk in shadows which makes her a great thief. Unfortunately, she has to steal for her "employer" the demon lord Magoth. While on a job, May meets Gabriel Tauhou, the leader of the silver dragons. They quickly discover that May is his mate, but happily ever after won't be so easy for these two. Don't expect that happy ending right away though, Aisling and Drake's story lasted *four* books. If you're a fan of that series not to worry, Drake, Aisling and her demon dog Jim play a big part in this one. Playing with Fire is creative and fun, it's nice to see a break from the traditional romance mold in more ways than one.

Vintage Harlequin Novels

2008-05-03T11:21:00.000-07:00

Want to relive old times? Flash back to the 60's, 70's and 80's with vintage Harlequin novels from Lughnassadh Books (I know that's a mouthful huh?). They've got a huge selection of those old romance novels you read in junior high (oh wait, that was me). Can't remember the title of that book you really loved? The reader forums just might help you track it down.

RT Book Reviews 2007 Award Winners

2008-04-27T09:52:00.000-07:00

The Romantic Times Book Lovers Convention just concluded this past week in Pittsburgh, PA. At the convention they announced the 2007 award winners. Here are some of the highlights of books I thought were fabulous. It's nice to see these author's talent recognized.

Best Contemporary Romance: All About Evie by Beth Ciotta

Best Vampire Romance: Lover Unbound by J.R. Ward

Best Paranormal Romance: Touch of Madness by C.T. Adams and Cathy Clamp

Best Romantic Intrigue: No Regrets by Shannon K. Butcher

Best Urban Fantasy: Halfway to the Grave by Jeaniene Frost

Best Urban Fantasy Protagonist: Rachel Morgan from For a Few Demons More by Kim Harrison

If you're looking for a new book to read you can't miss with one of these.

This American Life

2008-04-26T19:54:00.001-07:00

My sister got me listening to this very cool radio show on NPR called This American Life. It's the most quirky, different and interesting show on the radio. You can hear the most random stories about life in America that are entertaining and thought provoking. Also, I have to confess that Ira Glass, the host of the show is my geek crush. The show has gained so much in popularity that it's now on Showtime. You can get the podcast (like I do) of the show on iTunes if you can't be bothered to find out the schedule on NPR. Check it out, it's pretty great.

If you want a little taste of Ira's sense of humor and bit of what the show is about, you can see him on a recent episode of Letterman:

From Dead to Worse by Charlaine Harris

2008-04-21T18:30:00.000-07:00

I was so happy when my review copy of From Dead to Worse showed up at my door. I've been a fan of the Sookie Stackhouse series from the first book and I've come to really like all of Charlaine Harris's books. She has a few other series that she writes that are all a little bit different but have her signature sense of humor.

In this 8th book of the series, Sookie finds out she's not as alone as she thought she was. Two people enter her life that have the potential to change just about everything. One of them (I think) explains why vampires like Sookie so much. The other person (I predict) will be someone that she can really identify with and will have a very big impact on her life in a positive way. Sookie seems to have crap luck with men yet again when Quinn goes MIA after they survive the bombing of the vampire summit in Rhodes. In addition, her dumb ass brother makes her pay for his own foolish mistake. If that's not enough, former boyfriend and werewolf, Alicide Herveaux draws Sookie into a violent power struggle in his pack.

I feel like there's so many things I can't give details on otherwise it will spoil the book for you. The bottom line is that it's a great story. Charlaine deftly manages to avoid the pitfalls that other authors have experienced when their series goes hardcover. She keeps things fresh and interesting but at the same time bringing you back to a familiar world. Definitely A+.

Contests at Harper Collins: Win a Camera, a Tropical Vacation or a Birkin Bag

2008-04-16T14:11:00.000-07:00

I'm going for the Birkin Bag myself. I may just have to check out the book Bringing Home the Birkin as well...

High Noon by Nora Roberts

2008-04-15T09:30:00.000-07:00

Dear Author and Smart Bitches recently held a March Madness style tournament for books. One of the books that made it to the finals is High Noon by Nora Roberts. I figured if it was that popular with readers I should check it out. This book reminded me a lot of Blue Smoke another book by Nora which scared the crap out of me. If you haven't read High Noon, in a nutshell it's about a woman who was held hostage as a child (along with her mother and brother) by the mother's deranged ex-boyfriend. The lead negotiator on the case became a father figure in her life and she eventually joined law enforcement herself and became a negotiator. Since it's romantic suspense there is a crazy bad guy who wants to kill her, as well as a handsome entrepreneur as the love interest. Drama, chaos, and romance ensue with the requisite happy ending. Add a dash of Savannah southern flavor and you have a best-seller.

I really did enjoy parts of this book but there were some pretty disturbing scenes as well. It started me thinking about romantic suspense in general and I think I've come up with the equation for this genre:

1 lovely young woman who can take care of herself!

1 gorgeous man who is not put off by above young woman's independent streak

1 psychotic a-hole who wants to PUNISH! and or KILL! the lovely young woman. He cannot be dissuaded from his goal because he is INSANE!

= Romantic Suspense a la' Linda Howard, Shannon McKenna, and Nora Roberts

I think the bottom line for me is that there has to be a really compelling story to make me forget the stress of waiting for the insane killer to strike. Shannon McKenna does a great job with this and as a result is a writer who has made my auto-buy list. I think I'll stick to Nora's romance for now.

Book Crafts

2008-04-11T09:30:00.000-07:00

I like to think of myself as a crafty person but I'm really not. I don't have enough patience to stick long term with hobbies or even enough to do a project for more than a few hours. I admire people who can make neat handmade stuff though, so I read the Craftzine blog. They have a project posted today where you can make a handbag out of a recycled book. For all you crafty peeps or crafty wannabees like me take a look at this project. There's even a video tutorial.

Linda Lael Miller Books & Scholarship

2008-04-06T19:23:00.000-07:00

Until a few weeks ago I had never read anything by Linda Lael Miller. Her books for the most part appeared to be historical westerns and that's not a category I like to read. A friend loaned me her book Deadly Gamble and I really enjoyed it. I think one of the reasons I liked it so much is that it's set in Cave Creek, Arizona. It's part of the Phoenix area which is where I lived for many years. There's a little extra draw for me reading books where I'm very familiar with the setting. The other bonus was that it was not a historical but set in present day.

I never would have picked up the book on my own since it looks like a western. That brings me to a pet peeve of mine; books whose covers in no way reflect the actual content. Just looking at the cover you'd think it's about a cowgirl who lives in an abandoned desert town. The story is actually about Mojo Sheepshanks (who does not wear chaps, by the way), a young woman with a mysterious past and a wacky alias that she chose for herself as a child. She has a few unique gifts including getting slot machines to pay out for her and talking to dead people. Mojo is the kind of heroine I like, nothing keeps her down for long. It's a great series that's more mystery than romance, I've already read the second book Deadly Deceptions and I'm looking forward to the next one. A cool tidbit about the author, she gives scholarships for women seeking to improve their lives through education. For more info you can visit her website www.lindalaelmiller.com.

RWA Fights Illegal Downloads of Romance Novels

2008-04-01T18:28:00.000-07:00

Romance Writers of America is listing the sites where you can illegally download romance novels in an effort to "fight" the growing problem. Umm, so why are they telling people where to go to get free stuff? Just sayin...

Read the full article at Publisher's Weekly.

Book Purse

2008-03-28T10:43:00.000-07:00

I like the idea of recycling old books. I found a great book of bird illustrations at a used book store. I cut out the illustrations I liked and framed them for my office. Here's a cool way to recycle pretty and/or unique book covers. You never know what you'll find on Etsy...

The Pretty Theory Etsy shop also has other books like Black Beauty, Harry Potter and Lady Chatterley's Lover.

2008 RITA Award Nominations

2008-03-26T16:00:00.000-07:00

The Romance Writers of America has released their list of nominees for the 2008 RITA Awards. There are a few good books on the list, but most of them I've never heard of. Some of the highlights (and lowlights) are:

Contemporary Single Title Romance Finalists:
Blame It On Cupid by Jennifer Greene (erm, I read this last weekend and I can't even remember what it was about)

Catch Of The Day by Kristan Higgins (great story, I'm such a sucker for books with dogs)

Tangled Up In You by Rachel Gibson (I've really enjoyed all her Idaho books)

Paranormal Romance Finalists:
Demon's Kiss by Maggie Shane (hated it from the first, has lame character names like Vixen and Reaper)

Lover Revealed by J.R. Ward (good book but hated the ending)

Romance Novella Finalists:
Christmas Cravings from Holiday With A Vampire by Maureen Child (I'm not big on short stories/novellas but this one was really good. Plus I got it as a free download from eHarlequin over Christmas)

Click here for the full list of nominees

The Best Selling Books of 2007

2008-03-25T14:19:00.000-07:00

I haven't decided if this is a good thing or a bad thing yet, but my reading choices over the past year seem to be fairly out-of-step with mainstream America. Publisher's Weekly put out their list yesterday of the top sellers of 2007. From the top 15 (in fiction) I've only read two and they're both Janet Evanovich. And what's up with James Patterson? I'm not convinced he's really writing all these books. I think his publisher is suffering from the Hollywood sequel syndrome; if one is a hit, pump out 10 more of the same damn thing and people will gobble it up.

Here's the list:

PW 2007 Bestsellers
1 A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini. Riverhead (5/07) 2,201,865
2 Playing For Pizza by John Grisham. Doubleday (9/07) #1,445,000
3 Double Cross by James Patterson. Little, Brown (11/07) 1,428,974
4 The Choice by Nicholas Sparks. Grand Central (9/07) 1,200,809
5 Lean Mean Thirteen by Janet Evanovich. St. Martin's (6/07) 1,116,828
6 Plum Lovin' by Janet Evanovich. St. Martin's (1/07) 1,080,686
7 Book of the Dead by Patricia Cornwell. Putnam (10/07) 1,027,000
8 The Quickie by James Patterson and Michael Ledwidge. Little, Brown (7/07) 795,736
9 The 6th Target by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro. Little, Brown (5/07) 769,460
10 The Darkest Evening of the Year by Dean Koontz. Bantam (11/07) #740,000
11 Step on a Crack by James Patterson and Michael Ledwidge. Little, Brown (2/07) 732,702
12 You've Been Warned by James Patterson and Howard Roughan. Little, Brown (9/07) 724,713
13 T is for Trespass by Sue Grafton. Putnam (12/07) 716,582
14 Stone Cold by David Baldacci. Grand Central (11/07) 670,590
15 Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult. Atria Books (3/07) 609,000

Click here to read the full Publisher's Weekly article.

Pulp Cover Laptop Bags

2008-03-20T08:55:00.000-07:00

I'm totally into pulp covers recently and these laptop bags from Maddie Powers are so cute. It's hard to find stylish (and girly) laptop bags in the sea of black nylon. I guarantee people will stop and ask where you got these...

Recyled Book Cuff Bracelets

2008-03-19T09:30:00.000-07:00

Craftzine.com has a great post today about an Etsy artist who creates cuff bracelets from old book spines. What a cool idea!

Books of the Week

2008-03-16T17:25:00.000-07:00

Okay, so I was traveling this week and I finished the one book I had brought with me to read. I still had the five hour flight home so I wanted to grab another book at the airport. Well, pickins were slim, let me tell you, so I grabbed Christine Feehan's Predatory Game. This is book six in her Ghostwalkers series. I read the first four but they all seemed the same to me so I stopped. Sadly book six was no different. It was 50% enjoyable, and 50% annoying. The hero keeps calling the heroine "baby" and "honey" in every damn sentence. And, this is way before they become involved. Roomates don't call each other baby. Look, she has a name okay? Learn it tough guy.

Another book I read this week was the long awaited Murder Melts in Your Mouth by Nancy Martin. It was just as good as the other Blackbird Sisters mysteries. I want Nora Blackbird's closet. She may be poor, but she has great clothes. The ending was also very satisfying. Worth the wait!

And, last but not least, Stealing Home, by Sheryl Woods. This is book one in her Sweet Magnolias Trilogy. I've really enjoyed books set in the south but this one just made me think, maybe it's not such a good idea to live in a small town. Apparently you can't even have sex without everyone knowing and maybe even getting fired. Geesh!

The Onion - Novelist Strike

2008-03-15T08:33:00.000-07:00

I've been away for a few days to the beautiful city of Washington, D.C. One of the things I usually do is pick up a copy of the satirical newspaper The Onion. The headlines and stories are just plain funny. Sometimes silly, sometimes neatly skewering politicians or current mainstream news drama. This week they have a funny article, Novelist Strike Fails To Affect Nation Whatsoever. My favorite part is a caption under a picture of a writer titled "Novelist T.R. Walsh was forced to put a manuscript on hold he has been writing for more than 15 years."

All About Romance Reader Poll

2008-03-08T20:04:00.001-08:00

Every year, All About Romance does it's annual reader poll. The poll was limited to books released in 2007. The results are interesting and it's a good place to get ideas of new authors or books to try. I pretty much always surprised at the "best of" results. They trend toward historical romance which I am *so* not into. But here's a little tidbit of the poll.

Best Romance: If His Kiss is Wicked - Jo Goodman, tied with The Serpent Prince - Elisabeth Hoyt
Best New Author: Anna Campbell
Guiltiest Pleasure: Lover Revealed by J.R. Ward

Lover Unbound and JR Ward were all over the "worst of" categories. If His Kiss is Wicked won in several "best" categories. Click here to read the entire list.

Madhouse by Rob Thurman

2008-03-08T19:38:00.001-08:00

I just finished reading Madhouse by Rob Thurman. It's the third book in her series about Cal and Niko Leandros. Cal (short for Caliban) is part monster. His mom was human but his father was a terrifying creature called an auphe. Niko is full human and he basically raised Cal. The brothers have been running their entire life from the auphe but they've finally settled down in New York City. They're started a supernatural clean up service with the help of Niko's vampire girlfriend, Promise. Their latest job is to hunt down a serial killer called Sawney Beane.

This series is really intense dark urban fantasy. The city is alive with monsters like boggles (they live in Central Park and eat joggers), nymphs, werewolves and other assorted fairy tale creatures. Things can get gruesome at times but I think the reason why I like the series so much is that Cal isn't perfect. He's a young guy trying to deal with the horrors he's seen in his life and he's an interesting mix of contradictions. If you like fantasy you should give this series a try. The first book was Nightlife and the second book was Moonshine .

By the way, an interesting note, Rob Thurman is a woman. Short for Robyn I believe. It makes sense based on the quality of the writing. I'm a little biased I think women tend to be better writers than men.

Lynn Viehl Interview

2008-03-05T14:33:00.000-08:00

I have a bit of a girl crush on Lynn Viehl. I think she's a fabulous writer and she pens one of my favorite vampire series, the Darkyn. She did an interview at a blog called 101 Reasons to Stop Writing that is pretty hilarious. It's hard to take the piss out of someone who's trying to take the piss out of you, but she manages it brilliantly. One of the things I like about her is that she never takes herself too seriously. Read the interview here.

Cool Stuff on Etsy

2008-03-04T18:39:00.000-08:00

If for some reason, you have never heard of Etsy, boy are you missing out on some good stuff! Etsy is a marketplace where you can find unique handmade crafts, arts and other random lovely things you must buy. Here are my latest Etsy finds:

Pulp Romance Cover Art Earrings

Notebooks made with covers from old romance novels

50's style pulp romance card case or cigarette case

Vintage Naughty Girls Magnet Set

So Many Books, So Little Time

2008-03-02T21:15:00.000-08:00

I cannot wait to read Nancy Martin's newest Blackbird Sisters mystery Murder Melts in Your Mouth. I think that's a horrible title that conjures up all kinds of disgusting mental pictures, but I digress. I don't even remember how I stumbled onto these little gems but I was hooked at the first one and immediately bought the entire backlist. There's so much to love from to-die-for vintage couture clothes, crazy sisters, and the Philadelphia blue-blood society they were raised in. Most of all there is the hunky, so-bad-he's-good guy Mick. Born into a mafia family he's trying to escape his family roots. Of course Nora Blackbird can't stay away from him (and who would want to try).

It comes out this week and I'm itching to get my hands on it. Sadly, Nancy Martin has fallen victim to the publishing industry's idea of success. When a paperback series becomes a hit, they put it in hardcover. Aargh! Why do they do this to us? I was getting these fabulous little books for $5.99, now you want me to pay $22.95. Are you kidding me? Of course you can get it from Amazon for $15.61 but that's beside the point. Do publishers want successful author's sales to drop off? I can tell you that I'm not going to buy it, sorry Nancy. I'll wait to borrow my wonderfully generous friend, Teresa's copy. Read fast Teresa, read fast.

The Pajama Girls of Lambert Square by Rosina Lippi

2008-03-01T19:44:00.000-08:00

A few weeks ago I won a Valentine's Day giveaway by author Lynn Viehl. She was giving away copies of Rosina Lippi's new book, The Pajama Girls of Lambert Square. I was really excited to read the book based on the blurb:

"For John Dodge, moving to new places and reviving ailing businesses is a way of life. So when he sees an ad for Scriveners, a stationery shop in a small town in South Carolina, he decides to take the plunge.

As soon as he arrives in Lamb's Corner, Dodge falls happily into the whirl of gossip, gifts, and quintessential Southern hospitality. Link Kay, one of his employees, warms up to him after Dodge admires his expertise on pens. Bean Hurt-a feisty and outspoken ten-year-old-becomes a fast friend. And Maude Golden, the mayor, supplies him with indispensable information. But the one person who really catches Dodge's eye is Julia Darrow-the beautiful but aloof pajama-wearing owner of the Cocoon, a popular store specializing in luxury linens. Dodge tries to befriend her, but she remains elusive and mysterious. Everyone knows that she is a widow, but no one seems to know why she came to town or why she never leaves Lambert Square-or does she?

Like Dodge, Chicago-born Julia is fleeing a tumultuous past. But with the help of a hilarious and endearing cast of characters, Julia and Dodge learn that, sometimes, you don't need to go far to find home." - From Amazon.com

This is a really wonderful book. Ever since I read my first Anne Rivers Siddons book set in the Low Country of South Carolina I've had this fantasy of what it might be like to move to the south. This book plays right into that fantasy and I enjoyed every minute of it. I loved these quirky characters and Lippi's writing is so good that it sneaks up and grabs you when you're least expecting it. I'm definitely going to hunt down her backlist, including Tied to the Tracks so I can soak up all the southern goodness.

Thank you Lynn!

Kim Harrison Wants You to Win an iPhone

2008-02-28T20:38:00.000-08:00

Kim Harrison's new book, The Outlaw Demon Wails (Rachel Morgan, Book 6) came out on Tuesday. To celebrate the release, her publisher Eos Books is giving away an iPhone. To have a chance to win you must be on MySpace and place her book widget on your profile page. Click here to read the details. Good luck!

Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award

2008-02-27T20:56:00.000-08:00

Amazon.com is hosting a contest to find a "Breakthrough Novel", whatever that means. The top 100 semi-finalists have been announced and 10 finalists will be announced on March 3rd. Amazon customers will have a chance to vote and choose the winner. There are five categories: general literature, historical fiction, mystery/thriller/suspense, romance, and science fiction/fantasy. From now until March 2 you can download, read and review excerpts to "help decide" who will make it to the top ten. There are customer review prizes, so if you're interested get over to Amazon now and start reading.

Free Book Download

2008-02-27T10:35:00.000-08:00

Harlequin Giving Away a Sony Reader

2008-02-26T18:41:00.000-08:00

I think this Sony Reader has to be one of the coolest things out there for e-books. Sony has teamed up with Harlequin to create a special Valentines Day themed e-book reader. Harlequin has kicked in 14 e-books to the deal. They have long since sold out but Harlequin is giving one away on their blog. Enter here by February 29th for your chance to win.

Free Books from Samhain Publishing

2008-02-24T16:53:00.000-08:00

Samhain Publishing is giving away three print paperback books this month. They are also giving away a free e-book on February 26th (enter by February 25th). Click here to enter for the e-book and click here to enter for the print books.

Rare Bird Finds Cool Stuff for Bookworms

2008-02-24T11:10:00.000-08:00

One of my favorite shopping blogs is Rare Bird Finds. They always have unique indie stuff that is great for gifts. Today's post is cool stuff for bookworms. Check it out.

My favorite item from the post is the book birdhouse:

Danielle Steel Wanted to be a Nun??

2008-02-23T14:43:00.000-08:00

According to an interview with Reuters, Danielle Steel wanted to be a nun when she was young. She says that her Catholic religion has always been very important in her life and it helped her get through the suicide of her son, Nicholas Traina. Steele, who has written 88 novels, says that it takes her about two and a half years to write each book. That blows me away since it seems like she has 3-4 out each year. Personally, I stopped reading Danielle Steele's books in college. They were just too emotionally wrenching to be enjoyable (for me anyway). Also I could never tell what was new or old with those plain covers. I hated picking up a book and having to read about a guy with a mustache because it was written in the 80's. You can read the full interview here.

Vintage Paperback Book Covers

2008-02-21T19:03:00.000-08:00

Vintage paperback books have some of the best covers. Bookscans.com has a veritable treasure trove of some of the most gorgeous, lush paperback covers from the 40's all the way through the 60's. Check out the sexy digests section for what they refer to as "sleaze" covers. To me it looks more like romance and the stories were probably much less risque than what gets published today. The titles are pretty awesome too. Can you image Nora Robert's next book being titled Plaything of Passion or Abortive Hussy?