Book Giveaway

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.