New book blog over at Wall to Wall Books

A friend of mine is a voracious reader and, like most of us, she likes to talk about the books she's read.  Stop by over at Wall To Wall books and say hi.  She's got some great contests going too!

Not much to say of late

My blogging has been decidedly flat of late, but that's because my life has been decidedly stretched. I've still found the time to read some great books written by friends of mine. It's always a pleasure to support a local author, so why don't I shout out about them now?

In the order I read them:

FIRELORD'S LOVER, by Kathryne Kennedy. I actually read this one some time back and it was just fabulous. Seriously, if you haven't read Kathryne Kennedy, you're missing out. She is so talented and imaginative that you'll be swept away completely!

TOUCHED BY AN ALIEN, by Gini Koch. In real life this author is a lot of fun. In fiction, she's even funner. :) Gini writes an action packed, zany adventure with great characters. If you're not a sci-fi fan and are turned off by the cover, don't be. There's some depth in this story that is unique and interesting and lots of laughs.

PLAY FLING, by Amber Scott. Ms. Scott has penned and emotional tale with a lot of hot spice and meddling fun. This romance between an older woman and a younger man goes deeper than the parts and shows all the insecurities and passions that a new relationship--ANY relationship has, but especially one where there are obstacles to surmount. This is the first in a series and a fun read.

A WOMAN OF CHOICE, by Kris Tualla. Kris will actually be stopping by the blog in a couple of weeks to talk about her books. In this one, she takes a slice of American history and gives it a new spin by putting her Norwegian hero in Missouri. She weaves a great tale with romance, deceit, mystery and passion in her debut novel and she does it with a rich historical voice.

SHADOW FALL, by Erin Kellison. Erin's debut novel grabs you from the first chapter and takes you through a harrowing story of a world invaded by soul sucking demons. With a wonderful voice and moving characters, Erin delivers a great tale that continues in a series that certainly going to please. An intriguing and fresh premise makes this all the better.

SEDUCING THE SUCCUBUS, by Cassie Ryan. You want hot? Cassie delivers. In this great action packed novel, you get it all. Angels and Demons--and told in a fresh and innovative way. Succubi and incubi, humans, and Djin, Oh My! Cassie mixes them all up and gives you a passionate tale about the power of love and the wonders of good hot lovin'. This is a first book in a series that promises to be a lot of fun!

Hope you've been reading some good books to.  I'm always open to suggestions so tell me what you've been enjoying lately!

Tell me what you're reading....

Hi there.  I love to talk about books.  If you read this blog, you probably already know that.  I don't mean I just like to talk about MY books, but all books.  There's not a genre I haven't read (although political memoirs, business strategies and financial outlooks tend to leave me...well, asleep).  I also go through binges where I am addicted to a certain genre.  Last year I couldn't get enough Regency romance, the year before I was loving straight paranormal (as opposed to crooked paranormal, ha ha).  This year I'm hooked on Urban Fantasy.  I've devoured a few series since I started, but I'm still Jonesin' for more.  Recommendations are always welcome.

What are you reading?  What are you over?  What can't you wait to get your hands on?

On the road again....

I'm on a plane to Oregon tomorrow for an all day meeting. Departing at 6am, coming home at 8pm. There's something wrong with that, especially since I've been feel quite ughy lately.

Anyway, currently reading Donna Grant's Dangerous Highlander.  So far I'm really enjoying it but my reading time is too limited with the dreaded deadline looming and the day job trying to suck the life out of me.

Looking forward to getting back to it.  Tell me, what are you reading?  I'm looking for a new series and I know there are many out there I haven't even started.  So tell me, tell me please.....

Can't wait for list....

What's on your can't wait for list?  I have a few coming out this month--Book 4 in the Magic/Kate Daniels series.  LOVE them and after the way book 3 ended, I simply can't wait to get to that dinner.  Book 8(?) in the BDB series.).  I'm excited about the next Psy-Changeling book from Nalini Singh--one of my fav authors) and Shana Abe has a new one coming out too in her drákon series.  Shana's writing is so lush that I always get lost in her world.  Really excited about it. 

Tell me what your excited to read and I'll enter you in my April blog comment contest for an autographed book. :)

Goals!

Okay, so still not keeping up with my book talk Wednesdays but I'm at #5 on the Harry Potter books--no wait, I'm on #6.  Really, although I'm whining abit about having to read them, it's no torture.  Rowling is such a genius!  Even though I've seen the movies, I'm still engrossed, finally understanding those things that didn't make sense in the movies.  But I am looking forward to "recreational" reading when I'm done.  Several of my favorite authors have new releases that I'm dying to dive into.

How's it going with my latest book, HAUNTING DESIRE?  Well I'm happy to report it's going swimmingly (and not in the help, I'm drowning way.)  I always have aha moments when I'm writing.  With HAUNTING BEAUTY it was when I realized that Sean was....uh, well if you read it you know.  See, I didn't realize that particular twist until I was about 1/3 way into writing.  And with HAUNTING WARRIOR, it was when I realized that--oops, can't tell that one either and since no one has read it, I really better not go there.  Anyway, I had that moment with HAUNTING DESIRE and I got that shivery, shrink-wrap feeling that pulled everything together and made me think I actually might pull off another book.  :)

Be sure to stop by on Friday.  I'll be featuring debut author Gini Koch and talking about her new release TOUCHED BY AN ALIEN.  I tell you, if her book is half as much fun as Gini herself, it's going to be a big winner!  I'm sure there will be a giveaway in there too, so don't be a stranger!

As for goals....I am right on track with mine.  How about you?  Any outrageous goals you've made that you're surprising yourself by hitting?

Irony is my life

It's so true.  I started this little feature on my blog to talk about books on Wednesday and then I started a class where I have to read all the Harry Potter books and do a critical analysis on them at the same time.  It was okay during the first few books because they were relatively short, but now I'm into the meaty ones and so that's all I'm reading.  Don't get me wrong, they are great!  But you all have been giving me some awesome recommendations and now I can't wait to do ME reading.  Sigh.

So, tease me with your reading lists.  What have you been reading?

As promised...

So I finished HIS CAPTIVE LADY by Anne Gracie last night and I loved it.  The story had such a wonderful theme and Harry Morant is a fabulous hero.  Gracie's Devil Riders Series is definitley one I'll be following.  I love when I learn something from a book (while I'm being entertained and falling in love, of course) and I did with this one.  Anne makes note at the end of the Foundling Museum in London and how it moved her.  That emotion is definitely present in her book.  If you're a fan of Regency, this was a great one.

Next up?  I started Renee Bernard's REVENGE WEARS RUBIES last night and wow.  I love Renee's voice and the way she hooks a reader from page one.  I really didn't want to stop reading, but alas, the day job has its demands and one of them is getting my sleepy butt out of bed in the morning.  sigh.

Books?

Well, I missed my books to talk about this week because my deadline is looming and the only book I've been talking about is the one I'm writing.  But, I did manage to finish the second Harry Potter and I'm 3/4 through the third and I'm reading a lovely romance by fellow Berkley author Anne Gracie.  I've read her THE STOLEN PRINCESS and thought it delightful, but somehow missed the next book in the Devil Riders series, HIS CAPTIVE LADY, until now.  I'm sure it will keep me up past bedtime tonight and I'll post about it tomorrow or Saturday, depending on how heavy my eyelids are.  :-) 

What are you reading?  I always love to hear about new books?

Books I'm talking about this week....

This week I read HARRY POTTER AND THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS, finished THEORY INTO PRACTICE (not the exciting read one might think, ha ha) and managed to fit in there ARCHANGEL'S KISS by Nalini Singh.

I am a HUGE Nalini fan.  I devoured her Changeling-Psy books (and am anxiously awaiting her new one) and so of course I followed her over to her Guild Hunter Series.  One thing I've noticed about authors who have a successful, long running series and then start up a new one, is that I go into the new one wanting more of the same but something different and I never feel like I quite get it in the right dose.  Not so with Nalini's series.  She delivers a fabulous story, great characters and enough of that alpha hero to make my heart go pitty-pat without making her Archangel too much like her Changeling heroes.

Raphael is a hero to die for (and Elena nearly does, several times :-) and Elena is the kind of heroine that a man wants to take a bullet for (and Raphael nearly does, several times--well not bullet, but you know).  The emotion these two feel for one another is fanta-nabulous.  I love how she gives us a deeper look into Elena's past and how Raphael comes across both fearless and vulnerable.  All in all, a great read.  Keep 'm coming, Nalini.

Other books I'm looking forward to?  Well, the list is long, but I'm especially excited about the next Black Dagger Brotherhood book, LOVER MINE.  Also can't wait for the next Ilona Andrews Magic book (MAGIC BLEEDS) the other three were soooo good.  Jennifer Ashley has book 2 in her MacKenzie Series LADY ISABELLA'S SCANDALOUS MARRIAGE and PRIDE MATES just came out and is in my TBR pile.  Also looking forward to Kathryne Kennedy's new series which I was lucky enough to preview.  Book 1, THE FIRE LORD'S LOVER releases in July.  

I'd love to hear about the books you can't wait to read.  What's on your list?


  

Wednesday Book Talk

So new this year at Quinn's Essentials--Erin's Book Talk.  I love talking about books and when I read one that is really special, I always want to spread the word.  Right now I'm in a critical reading class at ASU and we are reading, of all things, HARRY POTTER.  All of them.  That's pretty much taken up all my reading time and since those wonderful books have all been talked about countless times, I'm going to skip them here.  However, in the mix I did read another book that I thought was amazing.

I came by this book by chance and loved it.  I'm a huge Jane Austen fan and indulge in a few of the Austen Revival books, but none of them have given me that... that.... ahhhhh feeling.  Well, Elizabeth Rolls doesn't revive Jane Austen's characters--she creates exciting ones of her own and she did give me that ahhhhh feeling in Lord Braybrook's Penniless Bride.  I'm not a huge  reader of any one category of books--my tastes are all over the place from Regency to Historical to Paranormal to Urban Fantasy to an occasional Stephen King to thrillers and back to my one true love, Romance.  If you, like me, enjoy Jane Austin and are looking for a book that manages to capture the customs and manners of the Regency era, I highly recommend, Lord Braybrook's Penniless Bride.  I really thought it was wonderful.

I'm not going to write a typical review--there are others who do that and probably better than I ever would.  Suffice to say, it's a great book with a spunky, appropriate for her age/era, intelligent heroine.  You won't catch Miss Christiana Daventry cutting off her nose to spite her face, and yet you won't catch her bending over backwards to please a man, no matter how sexy he is.  Having been raised in the time period of her story, Christiana doesn't drop her drawers and have illicit sex at her first ball, but Rolls manages to put all the fabulous sexual tension that makes romance the great genre it is in her story.  There are complex issues and serious conflict in this story--all handled with an artists hand.

I understand this book features characters from other Roll's books and I will be looking for them (as soon as I finish all 7 of those Harry Potter books :-) 

So I'm always on the hunt for book recommendations.  Tell me what you're reading now?  Anything you'd like to recommend?