The Good, The Bad and The Unread

Is it just the cough meds.... the other day I had a book pop up on my Amazon recommended list that I had to look at because I just didn't remember Lora Leigh writing a book with that title. As it turns out, my mistake was in the author name: Lori Leigh (writing for a small, small press publisher) wrote the book. What was interesting? Amazon customers who bought that book? Bought five other titles by LORA Leigh. I'm thinking of taking on the pseudonym of Nola Roberts (or Nori Roberts)...or hey, Lola Leigh! and writing a few books. Might make bank, eh? Oh my god. That excerpt had me rolling. I do live in California, but I assure you - I do not smoke crack. I will admit to occasionally drinking too much wine, but I try to avoid blogging during these slightly inebriated moments.

The worst part about this Other Deborah Smith - I just bought up most of the Real Deborah Smith's backlist via Amazon and now I'm getting the ODS recommended to me constantly. Blah.

And still undecided on The Crossroads Cafe? Jayne over at Dear Author gave it an A-. There was a hysterical post on the Jenny Crusie listserv about an introduction that an aspiring author gave for Nora Roberts about having his pen name be Norma Roberts or something like that. Oh, dear.

My favorite part (and no, you're not wrong, that is just awful) is where she just happens to discover, after sleeping with him, that her minister is married, and says, "I just couldn't trust him anymore."

Uh...

First, wouldn't you know if your minister was married or not? Don't most minister's wives come to church?

And "I just couldn't trust him anymore"? Like, you know it's unreasonable, but after discovering he was cheating on the wife you didn't know about, you just couldn't help but feel like he maybe wasn't trustwsorthy?

I'd have a fit if that was me. That does really suck, though admittedly, Sex Secrets of Pistol-Whipped Ministers is kind of catchy. :)

I've had problems before in running into authors with the same name on Amazon, but this is the craziest pairing I've seen yet. Poor Real Deborah Smith (tm). How I miss the days when only Hester Prynne was sleeping with ministers. Now everyone's doing it. so if i become j.r Rowling and call my book haryy porter and the toilet of doom that is perfectly OK?

and i think i wouldn't mind reading Sex Secrets of Pistol-Whipped Ministers. sounds thought provoking!LOLOL We are, we are, the youth of a nation January: Jennifer Lynn Barnes's Tattoo
February: Alma Alexander's Gift of the Unmage
March: Laurie Halse Anderson's Twisted
May: Holly Black's Ironside (trilogy starts with Tithe)
June: Melissa Marr's Wicked Lovely
August: Heather Brewer's Eighth Grade Bites

Names to look out for that I don't have release dates for:
Richelle Mead
Pete Hautman
Sarah Dessen
Janni Lee Simner
Justine Musk

Sybil, thank you for giving me another opportunity to procrastinate. :D Oh and don't put me in the drawing! :) I wrote two young adults. Loved it. Would like to do more sometime. Beta Blogger didn't use to hate me. Now it it hates me.

Let's try this again.

The only YA series I keep up with is Meg Cabot's Princess Diaries. She has both a novella (Valentine Princess) and a book (Princess on the Brink) due out this month.

Other than that? I'm way out of the loop. Adult fiction keeps me too busy. The YA novels I'm addicted to are:

Stephanie Meyer - "Twilight" and "New Moon" (a sweet YA romance between a vampire and a human)

Libba Bray - "A Great and Terrible Beauty" and "Rebel Angels" (a great historical YA novel)

Eloise Jarvis McGraw - "Mara, Daughter of the Nile" (great YA novel about an egyptian girl)

All these books are already in print but the Stephanie Meyer series has book 3 "Eclipse" being published in late 2007.

Ashley Danielle Ann Brashares? Brashears? The woman who wrote the Travelling Pants series. The fourth book of the series will be out in January.

Already out now: The Thief, The Queen of Attolia and The King of Attolia, by Megan Whalen Turner.

I just picked up a recent release called The Black Tattoo, a YA fantasy in which a "live" tattoo, animated by a demon sudden appears on a teen. And Kate Bryan has some fluffy but not too shallow YA books out.

Cara Lockwood (chick lit author) has also released a book called Wuthering High under the MTV imprint, which read like the beginning of a series. I like the mtv imprint books but I thought Oh My Goth was a waste of time. I love YA books (enough to delurk). Do they have to be books that are being released next year?

I'd recommend anything by Robin McKinley (though Sunshine and Deerskin are probably not suitable for a 13 year old because they're more disturbing than her other books). I think I read Beauty around that age, but it wasn't until a few years later that it occurred to me that she might have written more books and to look for them.

Diana Wynne Jones is another writer I'd recommend pretty much without reservation. She has quite a few more books out than McKinley. I'd probably start with the Chrestromanci series or something like Howl's Moving Castle.

I also liked Stephenie Meyer's books, Ann Brashares' series and Mara, Daughter of the Nile, from above. I'd also include The Witch of Blackbird Pond, The Perilous Gard, Madeleine L'Engle and Norma Johnston (The Keeping Days series in particular, if you can find it, as they're out of print).

For more recent releases, Jennifer Donnelly's A Northern Light (aka A Gathering Light) is also wonderful. I think the main character is 16 or thereabouts. Younger readers probably wouldn't have too much of a problem with it. I don't know if she's coming out with another (YA) book soon.

I also don't know if Sarah Dessen is coming out with a book next year. Wasn't her latest just published? I haven't seen any news on her website or blog about a new book, except that it takes her a while to write.

I recently read Peeps by Scott Westerfeld, and thought it was great, but also quite gross, with all the parasite descriptions (it's part of the book). Might be for older teens.

O.R. Melling, an Irish-Canadian author, is I think having her books re-issued. I've been seeing The Hunter's Moon and The Summer King on bookstore shelves again. Most of them have something to do with Irish mythology/fantasy.

Carol Plum-Ucci is another author I like, but I don't know if she has anything coming out next year. She writes more mystery, with slight fantasy elements. Sometimes there's a romance element, but it's not usually the main focus.

Jennifer Echol's Major Crush has more of a romance theme to it. It was a great book, and I'm looking forward to her next book, The Boys Next Door, which I think is supposed to be released next spring. Don't enter me in the contest, Sybil, but here are a few I've seen recently:

A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray (I think this looks like a book you might enjoy--it's historical even!) And there's a sequel, Rebel Angels. I actually just got the first one from Paperback Swap and might be coerced into sharing.

Mari Mancusi's Boys that Bite and Stake That! look interesting. Saw ya over on the TR index forum. I write YA romance, just signed with an agent and he's subbing one of my peices. It's total romance. Part of a series. I saw far too many girls ( mine included ) reading women's and thought they might want their own version minus graphic sex but with a load of sexual tension.
Jennifer Laurens is the name I write YA Romance under. If you want a sneak preview copy of one, contact me at: info@grovecreekpublishing.com Here is the blog for a few of those authors if this helps.
http://yaparanormal.blogspot.com/

My 16 year old sis and i trade books alot. So I understand the interest too.
I love Stephanie Meyer's Twilight and New Moon books. I loved Oh My Goth as well. My sis really likes Sarah Dessen and is currently reading the Uglies trilogy by Scott Westerfeld.
I also really enjoyed The Silver Kiss, and Blood and Chocolate by Annette Curtis-Klause. I still don't get it Oooohhhhh- I likey that second one!! He's one fine model me thinks!! The new one is the mass market release for February, the one pulled was the trade release. hmmmm

Well the first book was trade but even if they wanted a MM release vs trade would it make sense to leave the trade out there vs pulling it?

LOL kristie, it remains me of My Wicked Pirate's cover.

Not that it really matters, I have the book so all is well with the world *eg* I'm not loving either of these, but they're both better than the original trade cover. That one was hideous. Like you, I figured the original trade got pulled because of the quote but someone (can't remember who) said the problem was the cover art not the quote. Since the quote is on this version as well, I'm guessing the cover really was the issue. Maybe the publisher didn't have the right to the original art...? Well, the first cover that was pulled looks a lot like Kevin Federline-- yuck. Maybe he objected? I agree about the original cover. Actually, it was a cover that I sent to my editor of what I really, really hoped my cover would not be like.

Same as HelenKay, the only thing I've heard is that there was some problem with the rights to the artwork. Shamelessly Reckless Sad news about Robards book. I've been reading her historicals for ages and was looking forward to the latest. I haven't read any of Robards books, so can't comment on that. I am saddened at the news of Dodd taken up paranormal. I haven't read any of her historicals yet, but I'm fixing to start the Lost Heiress series. Something new from Dorchester cream, sugar or milk... Let me just state for the record that I don't know if Passion's breastfeeding scene would bother me. I haven't read past the first two chapters because I didn't find it interesting. But I know that there was a lot of commentary about this. I'm guessing the women who are so disturbed by the idea of having sex while breastfeeding never nursed and co-slept with their babies? Or perhaps just didn't have sexually demanding husbands?

I nursed my youngest for 18 months. We co-slept. If I wasn't having sex while nursing, I basically wasn't having sex (or I was running off to the bedroom for ten minutes while the kids watched TV, then racing back out before they realized we were gone. Not very romantic.)

You simply pretend the baby isn't there. It was a little odd at first, but it's not like they know what's going on.

I'm not trying to give TMI or ick anybody, but really--this isn't that big a deal. I don't think I would put it in one of my books, but it's not as yucky as it sounds, it really isn't. Count me in as another who just didn't get what the big deal was. December brings up a lot of reasons why. Plus the scene in question was A) in the epilogue and, B) not 'detailed' (at least not in the way that the other sex/love scenes have be parodied as being).

I'm on record as loving PASSION and looking forward to PATIENCE, but regardless of my bias, honest to goodness, LV just can't catch a break here. Every time her name/book is mentioned it turns into a 5-day circus/production across cyberspace. Not even JR and her Brotherhood books, gets this type of widespread, ongoing, diversive, attention.

Lisa sure hit a nerve (or struck a chord) with her debut. As long as she's able to grow a thicker skin in terms of dealing with those who don't care for her/her work (and, yes, there seems to be many who can't make the distinction while claiming otherwise--present company excluded) she's sure to have a very interesting career, if nothing else. :-P wwwwwweeeeeeellllll the person I am thinking of who was way squicked out by the idea was/or had just stopped (I forget) breastfeeding at the time of the discussion.

I have never breastfeed a baby and ::knock on wood:: never plan to so really it wasn't a huge deal to me. But while reading it I went eh?

I even went back and reread it thinking I missed something because it just wasn't anything I had ever thought of happening. But I thought it would piss tons of people off.

I thought tons of the book would piss off people because (as shocking as I find it) romance readers tend to be a very conservate. (not but lots, look at the romantic times board)

AND I bought this at Walmart. *I* thought that was SUPER cool. But those people that grab and go expecting a nice avonish romance were prolly shocked. le sigh... That should be not ALL but lots I was breastfeeding at the time the book came out and the eventually breastfed for 2 years. Conceptually, it was not a scene that I found appealing. Of course, you may blame everything on Ned's sex drive, if you like. Talk about ad hominem attacks. I just can't stop laughing at the title of this post.

I was breastfeeding at the time, too (did for two years, too, and it was so nice to get my boobs back) and it didn't squick me out. But I can definitely see where it might -- even if not *squick* -- not seem at all sexy.

And I can easily imagine why some might be squicked out, even if I was not. Sex within proximity to children, even if the child isn't aware, is a huge hot button for some people. Thank you, coming from someone as twisted as I am that means so much!

I was thinking Got Milk? But I was pretty sure I had used that before. And then was going to go with Do you want milk with that? But then changed my mind.

Yes I put far, far too much thought into things. Okay, 'squicked' I can understand. :-P (Although that wasn’t my reaction (obviously). I thought the author was showing how the 'passion' the h/h shared had not dissipated, while putting her own unique twist of the clichéd HEA with new born epilogue. *g* )

Just seems like a lot of peeps who didn't like the book, REALLY didn't like it, rather than having a 'meh' reaction (like Jane's), so I thought you were referring to peeps who were really, extremely *offended* by the depravity (tongue in cheek, folks. lol) of this scene. ;-)

Honestly, aside from the set up of having sex in a public space, combined with the explicit language used, I really didn't see where the lovescenes were so extreme as to elicit the amazingly negative reactions PASSION has received. You'd think she cornered the market on, or invented, squicky/ridiculous lovescenes, based on some of the comments that have been posted (previously) over on AAR. lol. ;-)

Sybil, speaking of the cover art-- because I thought I saw somewhere else where some mention that the cover art gave readers certain expectations that were blown (heh) sky high. But the cover for PASSION was almost an exact replica of the type of image that was used to brand Cheryl Holt (the fan, the embracing couple), so for me, I expected a very hot read, since this seemed like an obvious gambit by the publisher to appeal to the type of readership who liked super-sensual historicals along the lines of Holt, Schone, Holly et al. I think Vicki Lewis Thompson had a sex scene where the hero takes her boob in his mouth whilst she was breast feeding. I can't remember it bothering me at the time, and after reading Elloras Cave books, it all seems pretty tame to me now.

Incidentally, I don't actually remember that scene in Passion.

Much ado about nothing, as far as I'm concerned, just like Anne Stuart's hero having slept with men. wwwwwweeeeeeellllll the person I am thinking of who was way squicked out by the idea was/or had just stopped (I forget) breastfeeding at the time of the discussion.

It's me you're talking about, Sybil, right? Because I was breastfeeding at the time you all tortured me in a chat with details of this.

I'm guessing the women who are so disturbed by the idea of having sex while breastfeeding never nursed and co-slept with their babies? Or perhaps just didn't have sexually demanding husbands?

December: Yes, it squicked me out and as it happens, I breastfed for almost two years, was breastfeeding at the time, co-slept with my baby until she "told" me (she was four months old, lol) that she didn't sleep well while co-sleeping, and have an incredibly active sex life (did then and do now). So your assumptions are wrrooooong (and rather absurd, actually). Of course, you may blame everything on Ned's sex drive, if you like. Talk about ad hominem attacks. Like Jane said.

Frankly, I can't imagine having sex while breastfeeding because it combines a purely non-sexual act (breastfeeding) with the act of sex which, as the name implies, is everything that's sexual and that seems weird to me. Pretending the baby wasn't there? Totally not an option. I can't think of a time where I breastfed where it wasn't about the baby and I connecting on some level. And she was sucking on my nipple, for pete's sake. During sex, the only person I want sucking on my nipples is my husband, because in the context of sex, my nipples are an erogenous zone. So having sex while breastfeeding...so not for me and the idea is totally alien.

However, I've never said I didn't think other people shouldn't do it, just that the idea made *me* shudder and I didn't find it either sexy OR something I wanted to read about in a book.

Some people feel the same way about anal sex ;)

I guess different things float peoples' boat. Breastfeeding during sex? Sinks my battleship! LOL - I fondly remember that "conversation" about having sex while breastfeeding. FWIW, it didn't bother me at all, that scene. And I was a breastfeeder many, many years ago. karen! The first draft I had of this had a mention of the cold as ice gay for pay thing but it got too long...

But I soooo agree! And it was such a think I was shocked to see the date on some of those other books. I mean that scene in the Beverly book was much much more graphic.

ANGIE! I was wondering when you would pop in ;). Yep I was talking about you!!!!!

good times that ;) I was going to ask Jane about the reference to 'ad hominem attack'. :-/

Guess that serves me right for skimming, I didn't pick up on the "sucky sex life" part of the post in question. :-P I was more agreeing to the sex while co-sleeping being not a big deal, and thought the rest of the post was along those lines....

I'll agree with Angie (after carefully reading this time. *g*), that when I was breast feeding it more about bonding with my son, than feeling turned on if my ex.

But considering I've heard of many couples who enjoy having the male 'nurse' from the lactating female while making love, and find that a huge turn on, (shrug), the whole baby-in-arms didn't make an impression on me either way.

Can you tell I engaging in avoidance behaviour? How many posts is this in this one thread? I had to go reread the last 2 pages of PASSION to see what the big deal is. Its a throw away scene which is why I didnt remember it and it does make you wonder why Mark & Passion cant be bother to put the baby down for penetration. In some ways, it reminded me of Sue Miller's novel, THE GOOD MOTHER (which was made into a movie with Diane Keaton & Liam Neeson). The similar scene is the crux of the Miller novel and if you have ever read it, the scene is one of the most beautifully written passages of Motherly Love vs. Sexual Love you will ever read. In fact the act is so beautifully written and described that you are shocked at what happens because of it (which is probably the author's intention).

From the list of breastfeeding sex books provided, I have read 6 of them but only remember three of them (SKYE OMALLEY, SHATTERED ROSE, TANGLED) well and all the breastfeeding sex scenes in these are more like the heroine is leaking during sex scenes. Probably the most beloved book that is not mentioned here that has the breasts-leaking-during-sex-scene is DREAMING OF YOU by Lisa Kleypas. Whoa, whoa, whoa. I certainly wasn't implying that anypone had a "sucky sex life" or anything remotely like it. All I meant was, not having sex while breastfeeding wasn't an option for me, because my husband gets very grumpy if he doesn't get sex at least three or four times a week. It's not worth the irritation of dealing with him telling me he "doesn't feel close to me", so I learned to improvise.

That's all I meant. It's no reflection on anyone's sex life at all, just that some husbands are more understanding than mine. I cosleep & breastfeed and would not/could not have sex WHILE breastfeeding. Logistically and emotionally, it just wouldn't work for me or hubby either one.

I have not read or do not recall ANY of the scenes in question, so I cannot vote as to whether the acts depicted therein are sexy or doable. Is there a special position in the Kama Sutra I missed that allows for the safe addition of a 22 lb ninnymonger who is squirming, suckling, pulling off and laughing, spitting up, squalling, chewing with her new tooth, and generally being a baby? *heh*

Ellie M. Sex and breastfeeding are so natural...what's the big deal? I don't get why people get so upset at this book and author. The book was amazing and it gave me the kick I needed. I remember reading a lot of duds and then happened to spot this beautiful cover at the book store...bought the book, loved it and am now anxiously and eagerly awaiting the second (which I hope and want to be as sexy as the first). I would like to know more... I've got the sugar and spice one TBR. Janine wrote a review of the Slightest Provocation (AAR has a review) that we'll put up next week. She liked it.

I am not buying the McCray one after her disaster of a book last time. Even my neighbor didn't like it and she likes all hot paranormals. What Jane said about McCray. I'm hoping to read Seducing the Spy either on the weekend or early next week...maybe! I own it, so that is a start!! I have Swept Away & Slightest Provocation - hoping to finish one of them this weekend. I reviewed EBYT a while back, too, but it was the hardcover original. I didn't even know until I read this just now that she added more to the paperback. I might have to pick it up, because one of things that kept me from loving the HB was the lack of story development. I read about half of McCray's book and put it down...it was dragging. I happened to have liked the first one.

I just finished The Stolen Bride by Brenda Joyce. I liked it. Vintage Joyce. Ties into the deWarrene family saga. We're reviewing SWEPT AWAY at PBR in about 2 weeks. I'm just starting it now. I talked Jazz into buying the new EBYT and reading it ASAP, then sending it to me *g*, so check our site in a few weeks. :) I finished reading Seducing the Spy today. Will have a post up in the next few days...although I am a bit behind in my reviews at the moment! Ok, I got the new EBYT and read it. Way better than the first. Haven't posted my review yet, but I'll get around to it eventually. LOL Yes, you must have missed it. Here's the link:

http://readingadventures.blogspot.com/2006/10/seducing-spy-by-celeste-bradley.html The only one on your list that appeals to me is the LaFoy book. I check online daily to see if it's in the stores but it still hasn't shown up yet. But the day it does, I'm there! The Sugar and Spice book is languishing. I have a bad feeling about it and as I have received a couple more Black Lace books, I figure if I am going to read erotica, I might as well read stuff from people who actually know what erotica is.

That and I am soooooo tired of anthologies. Oh Jane honey! What you said about Black Lace! That's how I feel too - I always go to that line when I want "real" erotica.

Haven't read it, and not interest in the Swann - but her story in the Parlor Games anthology was a train wreck IMHO.

As for the Bernard - no post anywhere, but an online bud of mine said it's "very hot" and compared it to Passion by Lisa Valdez. Dude anyone get the Black Lace I wanted... damn I forget the name. Had the chick on it with her hands tied behind her back?

I will have to look it up I know I blogged about it.

I will have to check and see if Bernard is at Borders. yet... cuz I haven't seen it at walmart. Bastards. Okay, I bought the Bernard book at Simon Says. :) Madame's Deception by Renee Bernard **Aug 2007** Interesting! I'm looking forward to reading this! Is the author's site back up? Never mind...I just noticed the other post. Dear Author goes 20/20 That's exactly what I am saying. I have read in all the above categories and there is a time and place for all of them. But when I go to pick up a book label erotic romance or one that is shelved in the romance section, I expect it to end with an HEA! I didn't realize that was a topic up for debate. I don't expect to find Memoirs of a Geisha or a Red Dress Ink or anything else but romance in the romance section. That's why bookstores have sections - so the prospective purchaser can easily identify the books they want to purchase.

Want to write a romance without an HEA? Great. Go for it. I may even read it (ie Time Traveller's Wife) but don't ask to be shelved in the romance section. Avon goes medievals again Open, open, open The Rules of Seduction by Madeline Hunter - NOW with excerpt! BETH! Hey babe, I have been way excited for this book since I heard the title. No idea why, just happy she has a new series me think. I own 2 of her books and they're in my TBR pile...hmmm...I guess I'll have to get this one, too, huh? When is it out??? I want! And I haven't bought a MH book in ages and ages. le gasp!

Did you get me one too? ::bats eyes::

hmph I am sooooo abused! Read it and tell me if it is any good ;) Lover Revealed by JR Ward *cover* Whoa. That's a beautiful looking cover. OMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMG!!!!!

Sexysexysexysexy

BOOM! *head explodes*

Today in a little town in Canada a woman died when faced with two fictional men, Derek Craven and Butch. Friends and family knew it would happen one day and tried to shelter her from the many alpha men she tried to gorge herself on daily. Her internet friends laughed - evil villians ;)

CindyS (I don't think I can't take any more excitement - do you see that wonderful lock of hair on Butch's forehead? *swoon*) Wow ~ has she scored in the cover department . . . love her fangs too!! *sob* Be still my heart. Nice. She gets some great covers. Love her titles too, but I always start wondering how many variations on "Lover [blank]" you can do. Y'know? What if she starts running out of good ideas? Bam-Phury is the virgin vampire. He's gonna go up in red smoke when he gets to touch some...I think V's book will be hawt hawt hawt cause he's into BDSM the whole 9 yards....yeah. oh yeah.

Sandie Phury is the virgin vampire. He's gonna go up in red smoke when he gets to touch some.

LOL! Girl, you crack me up!

I can't wait for Phury's book. I really like him. ;)

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12/18/2006

Is it just the cough meds....

Or is this just awful?

The funny thing is I hit on this page after looking into The Crossroads Cafe because the ever wonderful wendy said it rocked.

So after reading the first few pages of the excerpt... going back to wendy's review to see how I screwed up the authors name... googling Deborah Smith... going back to wendy's site to see if she had fessed up to whatever crack she has been smoking... I decided to blog about it cuz horrid writing should be shared.

THEN I noticed if I had just read the amazon reviews (who knew?!?) my answer would have been found in the first posted review from wendy's Deborah Smith:

If you're a confused reader trying to find one of my novels such as the NYT bestselling A Place To Call Home or Sweet Hush, you're probably wondering when I began writing pseudo-sexual "Christian" novels with lurid titles. Well, I didn't. I've been publishing award-winning mainstream novels for nearly twenty years under my name, Deborah Smith, and this new "Deborah Smith" is someone else. Someone whose work I would dearly love to NOT see included when my book lists pop up. Since so far I haven't been able to convince Amazon.com to post ANY distinction between us, I hope my readers will complain to Amazon when they order "Sex Secrets of Pistol-Whipped Ministers" or whatever this stuff is, by mistake.

All I have to say is that sucks. Poor Deborah Smith. Of course she should be happy because according to Amazon:

What do customers ultimately buy after viewing this item?
62% buy The Crossroads Cafe by Deborah Smith $12.03

You can too if you like here or here.

I am still a little up in the air about it. So do tell me if you have read it.

Labels: Book Info, Books to Watch, women's fic

12/14/2006

We are, we are, the youth of a nation

As I mention all the time, I have a lil sister. A very little sister, well not really but much younger than I am. As she tells me all the time (along with telling me how much taller than me she is, yes she is a brat). On January 22nd I will be 31 and on Febuary 9th she will be 13. This amuses her and she has taken to telling EVERYONE.

Back to my point, the lil sis is a reader and I try very hard to encourage her love of books. I want to find her fun books. Books that are well written AND make her want to read. And with so many romance authors trying their hand at Young Adult novels, I also figured I would put her to work. Child labor... and she works cheap.

So as I was making my list of books for 2007, I was trying to find one YA book for each month that the sis and I could review. And then I remembered I know jack about YA books. I have done what I do best, sent some emails and requested some catalogs.

And now I doing the other thing I do well... asking for help *g*. So tell me what YA books are you looking forward to in 2007? Or your kids are looking forward too? Or are you writing? Or are your friends writing? Tell me all about it. Come now... don't be shy.

Tell me a little about the book and/or the author. And I would love an age range for the book if you know it. We are in the process of redesigning my blog - yes I will most likely finally give in and move to wordwhateveritiscalled. Once the move is done I am thinking of clearing this and putting the YA reviews and rec's here.

That way I don't have to worry about kids googling books and ending up with an erotica rec. And well mostly so I don't have to listen to:

"mmmmmmmoooooommmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm sybil said a bad word"

It can be any author, any plot but I am really wondering how many of our oh so talented romance novel authors are trying or have tried their hands at young adult fiction. There is one by Susan Johnson... really! And no we won't be reading that one.

For your hard work of reccing and/or pimping, I have a reward! I have a couple of duplicate books, so on Sunday night I will take all the comments and randomly pick two name (put a note in the post if you don't want to be in the drawing. The winning name can choice between brand new (unsigned) copies of Autumn in Scotland by Karen Ranney, i see you by Holly Lisle, The Prince Kidnaps a Bride by Christina Dodd or Must Love Mistletoe by Christie Ridgway.

Labels: Book Info, Contest, New2007, YA

11/25/2006

I still don't get it

I looks like Wicked Pleasure by Nina Bangs now has a Feb 2007 release date. And there are two new covers that I can find on the net but all seem to have the same cover quotes as the one that was pulled in July.

Amazon has this one

Books a Million has this one

Personally I don't care for any of them but none seem worth the cost of pulling a book... anyone hear anything else about this?

Labels: Book Info, ponderings

11/12/2006

Shamelessly Reckless

Do you remember Shameless by Karen Robards?

If you don't it might be because it was first called Reckless... or at least that is how I recall reading about it in the Romantic Times. This is the long awaited finish to the Banning sisters trilogy. And it is... drum roll... historical! not romantic suspense. And it was set for release in April of 2006.

And yes it hasn't been released. Sadly as of right now it has no release date other than a vague sometime in 2007. Tanzey reports:

After last month's "Tanzey Talk" was posted and distributed, I got an e-mail from Karen Robards concerning her Regency romance, SHAMELESS, that I told you would be released the end of December 2006. Karen had this to say, "Unfortunately, SHAMELESS has been postponed until later in 2007 -- no exact date has been chosen yet. The fault is mine -- I haven't yet finished the book. I had to take a break to write OBSESSION, my latest romantic suspense, which will be out in hardcover in April 2007." As soon as Karen lets me know when it's on the schedule, I'll pass the word along to you.

Other news I think sucks... well it would suck if I read her but since I don't I just find it annoying... looks like Christina Dodd will be the newest historical writer to 'take a break from historicals' to write paranormals. Tanzey said:

After hearing that Christina Dodd was writing a paranormal series, in addition to her other books, I contacted her for the scoop. Here's what she told me, "I'm writing four books a year, which is ridiculous, but I wanted to write a paranormal series and the only way I could figure out to do it in a decent time was to take a break from the historicals and add an extra book. The first two books are scheduled for July and August 2007." She's just finished the first one, and claims she's having way too much fun writing them. "Mine are very hot, fun romances set in the modern world, except the heroes have a tendency to shapeshift. Because of a deal with the devil. And they, unfortunately, are the ones chosen to break it." It's a four-book series dubbed Darkness Chosen, and the first title is SCENT OF DARKNESS.

Maybe I am the only one who hadn't heard this already. Maybe it is something in the water over at SquawkRadio. EEK! We need to get Lisa Kleypas out of there if it is!

Labels: Author Info, Book Info, Lisa Kleypas

Something new from Dorchester

Sign up for our free Sexy Snippets newsletter, featuring sexy snippets from some of our hottest romances!

The Sexy Snippets newsletter will be e-mailed to you once a month, and will contain at least three Snippets -- all rated by sensuality and designed to please. This is a totally free newsletter, and should you choose to sign up, your information will not be shared with any third parties.

What do you think? Good idea? Bad idea? I am signing up. Of course I am hoping there will be a western in there somewhere so... Click the picture to be taken to the site.

Labels: Book Info

cream, sugar or milk...

A small part of Jane's response in If You Can't Take the Heat, mentioned Passions Breastfeeding sex bit:

Further for Ms. V to write that she didn't expect this type of response also seems a bit ridiculous. Her book was filled with extreme and provocative sex scenes (sex while breastfeeding?). Of course, there was going to be negative responses. I suspect Jaid Black get hate mail constantly for corrupting the morals of the world.

off of that Lisa Valdez asked:

Okay, and will someone please tell me what the big deal is with sex while breastfeeding? Why is that so shocking? Sex made the baby, and it’s not as if the baby knows what’s going on. I think it’s weird that people think it’s weird. Sorry, that’s off topic. Forget I asked.

more, more, more **now updated with list and links**

Now this is a topic I find mucho amusing, more because of a chat than about the book itself.

The scene in question takes place at the very end of the book. And I will have to go find mine to be sure but I think it is all of a paragraph. But it totally squicks some people out.

Does it squick you? Did you make note of it while reading?

A few months back (I think) while searching for something on AAR I came across something talking about sex while breast feeding (is this one word or two?). It was Laurie's News and Views #77 from August 1, 1999 (I soooooo love the old Laurie's News and Views much more than I like the ATBF of today. Is that just me?).

I expected it to be about Passion (no I didn't note the date at the time *g*). But it wasn't... there were OTHER books where this happens. The old list that the AARList members put together had these titles:

* Broomstick Cowboy by Kathleen Eagle 11/93
* Drums of Autumn by Diana Gabaldon
* Heaven Above by Sara Jarrod 9/96
* Caroline & the Raider by Linda Lael Miller 3/92
* Skye O'Malley by Bertrice Small
* Sunset Embrace by Sandra Brown
* Hawk O'Toole's Hostage by Sandra Brown
* The Shattered Rose by Jo Beverley
* Silver Flame buy Susan Johnson
* Night in Eden by Candice Proctor
* Between Friends by Candace Spencer
* Tender Trap by Beverly Barton 1/97
* Tangled by Mary Balogh 3/94

I have never read Kathleen Eagle, Diana Gabaldon, Jo Beverley or Candace Spencer. The Sara Jarrod book I have read in its redone form as an EC novel (more on that later). The Sandra Brown book I think is the one I am scared to read. And I haven't read Hawk O'Toole's Hostage (although I think I dhave it). Silver Flame and Night in Eden I have read but breastfeeding sex doesn't ring a bell at all. Maybe I didn't even notice? And I have Tangled but don't think I have read it.

Any others that anyone can think of? Have you read any of these books? Did you find them squicky? Do you even remember there being breastfeeding sex?

Would this make you put the book down and walk away? Would you just skip over the scene? Or would you not even notice it?

Just a Little Patience
If You Can't Take the Heat

Labels: Book Info, Lisa Valdez, ponderings

11/08/2006

I would like to know more...

Anyone have a post up on these books:

NEW to list:
Lady's Pleasure by Renee Bernard

The Rogue's Bride by Leslie LaFoy

Seducing the Spy by Celeste Bradley
Marg I didn't see a review up yet... did I miss it?

~~Swept Away by Toni Blake~~ mine mine mine

Every Breath You Take by Judith McNaught *the MM with a 100 new pages... mostly wondering if people thought it was better for those pages or worse
Holly have you put up your review yet?

The Wicked One by Elizabeth Keys:
AAR review
I think I want this... another else read it yet?

~~The Slightest Provocation by Pam Rosenthal~~ soon to be mine

The Stolen Bride by Brenda Joyce

Sugar and Spice by Leda Swann
jane you review this yet?

Wolf's Temptation by Donna Birdsell

~~Seduced by Magic by Cheyenne McCray~~
off list until I read the first one

Anyone read them and have any thoughts about them to share? Even a yay great or blech stay away would be good ;). I haven't been able to blog hop as much as normal and was just wondering... If nothing else know of any review 'sites' that have reviewed them?

They are all books that have caught my eye for one reason or another, are out now, but I have not picked up or really seen much reader reaction to them.

Thanks!

Labels: Blogs, Book Info

10/06/2006

Madame's Deception by Renee Bernard **Aug 2007**

I mentioned this cover in this post.

Madame's Deception by Renee Bernard
Release Date: Aug 2007

When naïve bookworm and virgin Jocelyn Tolliver learns that her mother is the notorious madame of an elite London brothel she is stunned, but grants her mother’s dying wish and promises to take care of the brothel and its ladies. With the help of her mother’s loyal butler, she transforms herself, and becomes the beautiful but reclusive Madame DeBourcier.

After an unexpected feud breaks out between the Crimson Belle and a rival brothel, Jocelyn needs a titled lover to gain political clout to protect her housemates so she befriends the handsome and wealthy Lord Colwick, who of course, views this as an invitation to seduce her…

Labels: Book Info, Books to Watch, Historical, New2007

9/25/2006

Dear Author goes 20/20

From Dear Author:

The week of October 2nd through October 8th we will be featuring an interview and several reviews of an author that the Two Ja(y)nes and Janine love. Today marks the first of a three part series on Romance Publishers Promises to Romance Readers. Today’s articles addresses Advertising (the delivery of the promise), next week will feature an article on Branding (the promise), and finally we’ll end with What to Do When a Good Author Goes Bad (or when the promises are broken).

First up: Advertising (the delivery of the promise)

go forth and read...

I could be wrong, but I don't think this is about the never ending debate of 'What makes a Happy Every After'. Is it marriage and a baby makes three? Can a Happy for Now be a HEA? Can a couple end HEA without a ring? So forth and so on... I *think* we are going with:

Romance = HEA (YMMV on what that means )
Erotic Romance = HEA with steamy, throw the door wide open sex
Romantica = same as ER but trademarked to EC which some people 'get' and know and some choose to ignore
Erotica = Fiction story where the plot is driven by sex
Porn = sex, sex, sex, and sex no rhyme or reason, plot? what plot?

Personally I think all of the above are peachy and all have their fans. What I think the dear ja(y)ne's are addressing is, well, what they say they are addressing...

Advertising and the way publishers choose to market their books.

Jane please correct me if I am wrong.

Labels: Aphrodisia, Avon Red, Book Info, Dear Author, Erotic Romance, Erotica, ponderings

8/25/2006

Avon goes medievals again

Gayle Callen will be writing medievals again for Avon. Only not under Gayle Callen... her medieval name is Julia Latham.

Wonder why since 'Gayle Callen' has medievals already. I haven't really liked her last few books so I hope Julia Latham will be a return of what was grand in His Bride.

I have Callen's medievals tbr

Do I even ask if you are gonna read it kristie ;)

Labels: Avon, Book Info, Historical

8/23/2006

Open, open, open

Avon Fanlit is open for business.

Go Forth and vote for western settings! OKay fine... just anything other than regency settings or vampire novels. What, we have enough right now!?! Let your voice be heard people! Oh fine I don't even know if they have any other settings or if there are even historicals in the mix.

Guess I will have to go check it out. Hey I have registered!

You should too. (this means you kristie ;) )

sez I

I would like to point out it says on the press release -

Sign up for our Fan Fiction event!

Can I call it or what ;)

Labels: Avon, Book Info

7/27/2006

The Rules of Seduction by Madeline Hunter - NOW with excerpt!

Dangerous. Sensual. Handsome as sin. Meet Hayden Rothwell, the shamelessly erotic hero of The Rules of Seduction and author Madeline Hunter's most irresistible alpha male yet: a man of extraordinary passion and power, a man who can bring out the seductress in any woman.

He enters her home without warning or invitation-a stranger of shadowy motives and commanding sensuality. Within hours, Alexia Welbourne is penniless, without any hope of marriage. Until Hayden Rothwell takes her to bed. When one impulsive act of passion forces Alexia to marry the very man who has ruined her, Hayden's seduction of Alexia is nearly complete. What Alexia doesn't know is that her irresistible new husband is driven by a secret purpose-and a debt of honor he will risk everything to repay. Alexia is the wild card. Reluctant to give up their nightly pleasures, Hayden must find a way to keep Alexia by his side...only to be utterly, thoroughly seduced by a woman who is now playing by her own rules.

I squuee'ed I must admit. If for no other reason than I have been stalking sites looking for info on this book. Hey now it is on her site as well... excerpt is the same as what is in Lady of Sin.

Labels: Book Info, Books to Watch, Historical, New2006, Want List

7/07/2006

Lover Revealed by JR Ward *cover*

LOVE the fangs... hey look cindy tis butch *g*

summary

Butch O'Neal is a fighter by nature. A hard living, ex-homicide cop, he's the only human ever to be allowed in the inner circle of the Black Dagger Brotherhood. And he wants to go even deeper into the vampire world- to engage in the turf war with the lessers. He's got nothing to lose. His heart belongs to a female vampire, an aristocratic beauty who's way out of his league. If he can't have her, then at least he can fight side by side with the Brothers...

Fate curses him with the very thing he wants. When Butch sacrifices himself to save a civilian vampire from the slayers, he falls prey to the darkest force in the war. Left for dead, found by a miracle, the Brotherhood calls on Marissa to bring him back, though even her love may not be enough to save him...

Lover Revealed excerpt

Labels: Book Info, Books to Watch, JR Ward, New2007, Paranormal, Want List