Laurie's Laudanum

Alison Kent's IN DANGER - there's a contest!

2008-07-22T07:38:00.007-05:00

Alison Kent has a new release, a re-release actually, IN DANGER - available now at your local WalMart. IN DANGER is a combination of THE SHAUGHNESSY ACCORD and THE SAMMS AGENDA, the second and third releases in the SMITHSON GROUP 5 series. Below are reviews I wrote as a reviewer for Sensual Romance Reviews when these two first released. Check them out and then read below for contest info.

The Shaughnessey Accord is Book 2 in Alison Kent's latest series about the spies extraordinaire of the Smithson Group.
Tripp Shaughnessey and the other SG-5 team members were secretly monitoring Glory Brighton's Spuds & Subs Sandwich Shop in an attempt to take down the Spectra agent who was, unbeknownst to Glory, running an illegal stone operation with Marian Diamonds, out of her shop. Glory was taking inventory in her storeroom, thinking how she would like nothing more than to have a little taste of Tripp, when he comes into the storeroom and acts on his own desires for Glory. Just as Tripp finds that his desires are matched by those of Glory, Spectra thugs come into her shop and take her customers hostage. Glory sees Tripp's true identity as he and his fellow SG team members, identities concealed, quickly and easily take down the bad guys and then just as quickly and easily disappear. After they had time to further explore their feelings, Tripp and Glory both knew that these feelings could not be ignored and they could not imagine being without one another.
This book has characters typical of Alison Kent. Tripp Shaughnessey is witty and charming, intelligent and daring, and humble enough to admit that he is a better man with Glory in his life. Glory is a real bright spot. She is kind and gentle, but has plenty of moxie when necessary. Together they are combustible. Each book in this series can stand alone, but I recommend reading in order for the fullest enjoyment. This book has my very highest recommendation.

"More action, intrigue, and love from the adventuresome Smithson Group."
Katrina Flurry was a beautiful woman, no denying it. That beauty attracted the attentions of Spectra's Peter Deacon who enjoyed having Katrina on his arm, a place she enjoyed being as it gave her the high society chatter she needed for her column, Cosmopolitan Arm Candy.
Since Deacon is sitting in prison after being taken down by Smithson Group's Christian Bane, keen interest in Katrina had been picked up by a Spectra hitman. Enter Julian Samms, also of Smithson Group, to keep Katrina alive. The two of them flee to a safe house to await word that the assassin is no longer a threat. Between the emotional rush of fleeing a ruthless killer and their mutual attraction to each other, it was inevitable that sex between these two would happen quickly and that it would be explosive. Katrina turns out to be much more than just a pretty piece of fluff as Julian had first thought. The killer eventually catches up with them, kidnapping Katrina, and Julian is forced to face emotions that he had long felt he was unworthy of because of a tragic incident in his past.
Alison Kent has quite a run going with the action and intrigue of the men from Smithson Group and, of course, the women who love them. The Samms Agenda is no exception. These adventuresome spies are a pleasure to read about, each and every one; I am sure the only disappointment will be that their stories aren't longer.

Ok, who's interested in a copy of IN DANGER? I see lots of hands going up! I'm going to run this one for a week - I'll draw a name on Tuesday, July 29 from everyone who posts here (US/Canada addresses only, please). I have to admit that I haven't been able to get my hands on a copy of IN DANGER yet. I've checked my local WalMart three times in the past week and have even gone to a neighboring county . . . in search of . . . and have come up empty handed. One way or another I will get a copy, hopefully by next Tuesday.

Have you read Alison Kent before? Do you have a favorite book? Maybe you're super excited about her future releases? Please tell us! Or if you prefer, just say you're interested in this one - either way, I'll enter your name in the draw!

Have a great day!

Laurie

The controversy virus

2008-07-21T11:42:00.001-05:00

I'm sick. Sick of politics, politicians, campaigns, you name it. I hate political talk, always have, always will. I appreciate and respect our right to vote and have a say in who our leaders will be and I don't begrudge anyone else the right to discuss politics, but I won't do it - except maybe to bitch about the bombardment of advertising spots on television and the money that is being wasted to make that advertising happen.
The money that is spent on elections breaks my heart. I think of how many hungry children could be fed with those millions of dollars, needy families assisted, or how many elderly could fill their prescriptions with just a drop of it.
My biggest complaint about politics lies in the arguments, accusations, and the insults - I just hate it. Talking someone else down in an effort to make yourself look better doesn't work for me. I still believe in "If you can't say anything nice . . ." - Well, at least for the most part - I say my fair share of not nice things as Judy and Stacy can attest - they both know I'm going straight to hell, but strangely neither seems to have a problem with it. I think they both feel that I'll be in good company. lol
The least bit of controversy makes me very uncomfortable. The late Tim Russert was a political genius and I admired his incredible knowledge of the process and the players, but I couldn't watch his show - or any other program where discussions might become heated.
I will continue to research both candidates on my own and will make what I feel is an informed decision come November, but in the meantime I'll be watching much less CNN or FOX news. I know what you're thinking, that I should just get my balls out, put them on and get over it. I guess I feel that my political and religious beliefs are personal to me and I don't want to share my opinions on them.
What about you? Do you like the political process? Are you closely following the campaign? I'm not asking for personal opinions about candidates or issues, I'd rather not go there - I'm just curious as to how many of you enjoy politics and political discussions. I have a boss who lives and breathes politics - from our local government all the way to the top. He loves to research it, talk it, argue it - needless to say, I avoid him as much as possible!
Look for reviews and some great contests coming soon!
As always, thanks for stopping!
Laurie

Romancing the Blog - you're invited!

2008-07-18T07:33:00.002-05:00

I'm the columnist today at Romancing the Blog - http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/ - if you have an opportunity, please stop by - I'd love to know your thoughts!

Have a great weekend! Keep an eye out for upcoming reviews for Nicole Jordan and Sasha White's upcoming My Prerogative!

Laurie

Happy Birthday to me!

2008-07-17T04:00:00.001-05:00

It's official, I'm older than dirt. My birthdayometer rolls over to 49 today. Pretty incredible as I definitely don't feel that old and I don't think I act that old. Most days, that is. Some days I feel older than my mother. Tim has to work tonight, but the girls and my mom and I are going to Chipotle for dinner and then to the ice cream shop after for a treat.
I plan to have more contests going up very soon, so please stop back for those. My next review will be for the third book (Seducing a Bride) in Nicole Jordan's latest series. In the meantime, I thought I'd share some birthday wisdom from the incredible Maya Angelo.
Maya Angelou was interviewed by Oprah on her 70+ birthday. Oprah asked her what she thought of growing older. And, there on television, she said it was "exciting." Regarding body changes, she said there were many, occurring every day...like her breasts. They seem to be in a race to see which will reach her waist, first. The audience laughed so hard they cried. She is such a simple and honest woman, with so much wisdom in her words!
Maya Angelou said:
"I've learned that no matter what happens, or how bad it seems today, life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow."
"I've learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way he/she handles these three things: a rainy day, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights."
"I've learned that regardless of your relationship with your parents, you'll miss them when they're gone from your life."
"I've learned that making a "living" is not the same thing as "making a life."
"I've learned that life sometimes gives you a second chance."
"I've learned that you shouldn't! go through life with a catcher's mitt on both hands; you need to be able to throw some things back."
"I've learned that whenever I decide something with an open heart, I usually make the right decision."
"I've learned that even when I have pains, I don't have to be one."
"I've learned that every day you should reach out and touch someone. People love a warm hug, or just a friendly pat on the back."
"I've learned that I still have a lot to learn."
"I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel."

Have a great day!
Laurie

RESCUE ME Winner

2008-07-11T21:47:00.002-05:00

The winner of RESCUE ME is Cheryl S. Yay, Cheryl! Please email me at ljodamron@gmail.com with your mailing info by Tuesday. If I don't hear from Cheryl by Tuesday evening, I'll draw another name.
Thanks to all who entered!
What is everyone doing this weekend? We're going to a much-anticipated exhibit at The Ohio Historical Society in Columbus tomorrrow - Capture the Moment: Pulitzer Prize Photographs. We've looked forward to this for weeks and were excited to learn that they have another exhibit also showing now titled It Happened in Ohio: The Kent State Shootings. With Kelsey heading off to Kent State next month (sniff), this should be especially interesting.
Have a great weekend!
Laurie

THE DOCTOR'S DECEPTION by Kathleen Grieve

2008-07-08T17:06:00.003-05:00

Kathleen Grieve has a new release, her very first, available now from The Wild Rose Press. THE DOCTOR'S DECEPTION is a medical romance and who better to write a medical romance than an R.N.? I hope you'll check out the blurb, excerpt and review below - this isn't the last we'll be seeing of Kathleen Grieve!!

Heart Surgeon Stone Lassiter has successfully transplanted beating hearts. It's his own that is causing him the most agony. With a death bed promise to his fiancée, he's driven to open a transplant center in her hometown, and arrives at Deerborne County General Hospital. Single minded in his focus, he inadvertently alienates the nursing staff he needs to make his dream a success. He sets his stethoscope on intensive care nurse, Faith Daniels, to improve his image.
Nurse of the Year, Faith Daniels has passed every nursing exam, but when faced with the task of the MCAT, she has severe test anxiety. Burned by her ex-husband, who used her while she put him through law school, she has become focused on passing that darn exam, and achieving her own dream to become a doctor in her own right.
Will the white lie Stone tells Faith jeopardize the love they find?

Check out an excerpt here - you'll be tempted, I promise!

My Romance Junkies review:

When you put together a strikingly beautiful nurse with trust issues thanks to a cheating, no-good ex-husband, and a gorgeous doctor with a guilt-ridden past and a single-minded goal for the future, how could there not be an abundance of emotion? Readers get this (and more!) in Kathleen Grieve’s THE DOCTOR’S DECEPTION.

Faith Daniels has bounced back from an ugly, insulting divorce, keeping busy as a much-loved nurse; even earning the distinction of Nurse of the Year at Deerborne General Hospital. When she repeatedly draws the short straw amongst the nurses, forcing her to work with the impossibly difficult heart surgeon, Dr. Stone Lassiter, she thinks she’s simply unlucky. Stone is known as being cold, angry and downright nasty and working alongside him is just plain torture, regardless of how gorgeously masculine he is. Faith’s biggest dream is to someday be a doctor herself, but she’s been unable to pass the MCAT, freezing up every time she’s made the attempt. Stone offers to help Faith overcome her anxiety issues in exchange for her attending a hospital charity ball as his date; she decides to take him up on his offer. The last thing in the world that she would have expected is an undeniable, unstoppable attraction between her and Stone. When a misunderstanding makes it appear that Stone has deceived her, just as her ex-husband had, her pain is crushing.
Dr. Stone Lassiter doesn’t realize how much the nurses in his department dread working with him. When a colleague tells him that the transplant center that’s been Stone’s dream since losing his fiancée to heart disease years before is in jeopardy because of repeated complaints about him, he knows he has to do some serious damage control. He’s certain that being seen with Faith will go far in patching up his tattered reputation. What Stone doesn’t expect is to fall completely for the sweetly wonderful Faith. Just when he begins to put the pain and heartache of the past behind him and he’s happily thinking of a future with Faith, a misunderstanding with devastating consequences rips his plans to shreds.
I personally feel that Kathleen Grieve has a real winner with her first release. This book has everything a romance reader could possibly want with realistic characters who aren’t syrupy sweet or too good to be true, and emotions that in one way or another have been experienced by each and every one of us at some point in our lives. Faith is a strong heroine, despite past heartaches inflicted by her ex-husband. She’s beautiful, motivated and bright, and driven to succeed. Stone is well-respected for his abilities as a heart surgeon, but past promises have made him oblivious to everything but overwhelming guilt over the death of his fiancée years before. THE DOCTOR’S DECEPTION definitely does not read like a first book and I look forward to many future releases from Ms. Grieve. If you enjoy great romance with a medical setting, steamy passion, and a tortured hero that you’ll find yourself rooting for, I highly recommend THE DOCTOR’S DECEPTION.

Click here to go to The Wild Rose Press for purchasing information.

Kathleen will be guest blogging here in the near future - watch for details coming soon!
Thank you, Kathleen, for the opportunity to read and review THE DOCTOR'S DECEPTION for Romance Junkies - and thanks, everyone, for stopping by to check it out!
Laurie

RESCUE ME - An anthology of steamy romantic suspense

2008-07-07T20:20:00.003-05:00

I read a great book over the weekend - RESCUE ME - a three author anthology from Cherry Adair, Lora Leigh and Cindy Gerard. I'm not taking time to put up snazzy links with their websites, but have provided them below - I suggest checking them out, although I'm not finding Cherry Adair's to be very current. I hope that means that she's hard at work on another book!

http://www.t-flac.com/

http://www.loraleigh.com/

http://www.cindygerard.com/index_home.php

My favorite romance genre of all is suspense, and these three authors are some of the very best at writing romantic suspense. While Lora Leigh's story is (IMO) the most sensual of the three, I found it very similar to one of her previous releases, Hidden Agendas.

I highly enjoyed this anthology and give it a very strong recommendation.

I've decided to give away my copy of RESCUE ME. Yes, it's been read, but it looks "almost" new. If you're interested, just leave a comment here - I'll let this one run a while - until Friday evening. As usual, US/Canada addresses only, please.

Another good book I finished this weekend is by new author Kathleen Grieve, titled THE DOCTOR'S DECEPTION, a medical romance from The Wild Rose Press. Kathleen is going to be a guest blogger here soon, so be on the look out for that.

Have a great week!

Laurie

LuAnn McLane's winner . . .

2008-07-06T19:46:00.003-05:00

is Flip! Congratulations, Flip! Thanks to everyone who entered! Flip, please email me at ljodamron@gmail.com with your mailing info - I'll forward it to LuAnn and your book will come directly from her. If I don't hear from Flip by Wednesday evening, I'll announce a new winner.

Thanks everyone for your great comments - I hope you'll all grab a copy of A LITTLE LESS TALK AND A LOT MORE ACTION - it is great fun. If you're one of the few who hasn't read LuAnn's work, do yourself a favor and get some of her books!

Most of all, thank you LuAnn, for generosly offering a prize to the readers here!

I hope everyone has a terrific week!

Laurie

NO ONE WANTS TO WIN? I'VE DRAWN NEW NAMES - AGAIN!

2008-07-05T17:48:00.002-05:00

I can't believe that I'm having such a difficult time giving books away here lately. Maybe I'm not making it clear that I do not track down those who win something here to get mailing information - it's up to the winner to check back and see if they're a winner. If I happen to already have the mailing info, I'll go ahead and send the prize. If not, the winner needs to contact me.

New winners:

Kay Stockham's autographed copy of HIS SON'S TEACHER - Tee!

Lisa Renee Jones' three-book prize pack - Arkiern!

I have a mailing address for Tee and will be sending her book out, but I need Arkiern to email me with her mailing info at ljodamron@gmail.com - by Tuesday, please.

Have a great weekend, everyone - and don't forget about LuAnn McLane's contest - scan down a bit for details!

Laurie

HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY!

2008-07-03T21:59:00.002-05:00

I'd like to wish all of my American friends a very happy Fourth of July! To my Canadian friends, a belated happy Canada Day! Does anyone have anything special planned? We're going to my cousin's house for a cookout Friday evening and then might go watch our city's fireworks. Most likely my cousin's husband will have some good fireworks since he travels the country for his business - they live in the country, so it won't disturb neighbors if we make some noise! I'll be baking a honey bun cake, always a huge hit. Our city is having its parade on Saturday afternoon because all surrounding communities are having theirs tomorrow and they want them to be able to participate as well. This parade is being touted as the biggest parade in our city's history, so it should be a good one. I love seeing the bands (this will be Kelsey's first year in a long time to be a spectator since she's not marching), the kids on their decorated bikes, the fire trucks, the veterans in convertibles and the baton twirling groups! When I was in elementary school I was a twirler - man did I ever feel special when we marched in parades!
Let us know what you're doing to celebrate. Do you have any fun traditions?
Have fun, but please be careful if you're out on the road.
Laurie
xo

LuAnn McLane's latest - A LITTLE LESS TALK AND A LOT MORE ACTION - and there's a prize!

2008-07-02T22:39:00.010-05:00

LuAnn McLane has a new release, A LITTLE LESS TALK AND A LOT MORE ACTION - with a title like that, how could it be anything but great fun? I love LuAnn's writing style and her first person writing, including A LITTLE LESS TALK, is second to none.

Here's a great excerpt to tease and tempt!

My review:
When Macy McCoy watches her best friend Jamie Lee get married, she feels as though life is passing her by. She's been in love with Jamie Lee's brother Luke for years, but he's a well-known former football player, definitely playing in a different league than Macy. Or so she thinks. When a hair emergency brings a famous country singer into the small salon where Macy and Jamie Lee are stylists, Macy's boring life does a complete turnaround and suddenly she's rubbing elbows with Nashville singers and songwriters. She even lands herself a spot on a reality cooking show. The only thing missing in Macy's life is the one thing that she wants the most - Luke.
Luke Carter has admired his sister's best friend for quite a while, especially after spending a significant amount of time with her while helping with his sister's wedding preparations. Having turned to coaching football after a career-ending injury, Luke decides to focus on coaching job prospects while giving Macy room to explore her newfound life changes. It's not easy to keep his hands off Macy and while she might think he prefers tall, thin model-types, he finds Macy's less-than-statuesque curves the hottest thing around.
LuAnn has another successful romantic comedy on her hands with A LITTLE LESS TALK AND A LOT MORE ACTION, that's for certain! I've found that sometimes in first person writing, the male POV gets lost. I can't imagine how difficult it must be to make first person writing work by successfully covering all of the bases, but LuAnn does it flawlessly. This book has fun at every turn - characters that are devoted to one another while not taking themselves too seriously, lighthearted fun, and enough country music references and information about Nashville hotspots to fill a travel brochure. While it does offer an abundance of laughs and charm, it doesn't skimp on the romance or passion, and secondary romances are a great bonus for readers. Don't miss this fun read - it's perfect for the pool, the beach, or wherever you might be spending time this summer!

I'll make it easy for you to get your hands on your own copy - here's a quick link to Amazon, so if you can't get to the bookstore, scoot right over and snag your own copy - remember how important those first week sales are to authors!
LuAnn, I can't thank you enough for allowing me to do this review for you! Luke and Macy are absolutely adorable and their story is fun and charming - the most fun I've had reading for a long time!
Thanks everyone for checking out LuAnn's book!
Now for the prize - LuAnn has put up for grabs a copy of TRICK MY TRUCK BUT DON'T MESS WITH MY HEART - woohoo! I'll draw a winner from everyone who posts here (US/Canada addresses only, please) on Sunday, July 6th - please remember that it's up to you to check back to see if you're a winner! Thanks, LuAnn!
Laurie

Kay's winner - and a new winner for Lisa's prize!

2008-06-30T23:32:00.003-05:00

The winner of Kay's HIS SON'S TEACHER is blythespirit - yay! Congratulations! Please email me at ljodamron@gmail.com by Thursday evening. If I don't hear from you by then I'll draw a new name.

Because I haven't heard from brenda, one of the winners of Lisa Renee Jones' prize package from last Friday, I've drawn a new name - cynthya! I'll give Cynthya until Thursday to contact me as well.

I hope everyone is having a great week! We're on vacation this week, but taking several "day" trips rather than a week-long vacation.

Laurie

LISA RENEE JONES' contest winners!

2008-06-27T20:35:00.004-05:00

Lisa F. and Brenda - Congratulations! I have Lisa's address, but will need your mailing information, Brenda - please email me at ljodamron@gmail.com

Thank you all for entering this contest - I loved reading your comments about Lisa's books. Special thanks to Lisa for providing these great prizes!

Don't forget the Kay Stockham contest - it will run until Monday evening (6/30).

Have a terrific weekend!
Laurie

BY APPOINTMENT ONLY, Janice Maynard's latest

2008-06-26T14:38:00.006-05:00

Janice Maynard (check out her updated website!) has a new book, BY APPOINTMENT ONLY, releasing in a couple of days - readers are going to love it! Hannah and Morgan are brilliantly written and Janice pulls you into their story from page one.
A blurb:
A good marriage is based on love, commitment, and enough hot sex to last a lifetime…Hannah loves Morgan enough to become his fiancée, but that doesn’t mean she wants to get married. In her experience, everything goes downhill after you say “I do”—and it all starts in the bedroom. For Morgan, marriage isn’t the end, it’s the beginning, and he’s aching to get started.They find the perfect compromise with a new form of counseling—premarital sex therapy. Each private session brings them closer together, revealing the quirky, kinky sides of their deepest desires. As the role-playing sessions heat up, Hannah discovers that marriage might be the sexiest game of all.

Check out an excerpt here - warning: it's a great teaser!

My review:
At the beginning of this book, Morgan Webber spies Hannah Quarles making a hasty exit from a church to her car and then back into the church; he's undeniably curious. When he sees how stunning she is, he's helpless against the urge to follow her back into the church. Imagine his relief when he finds that she's not the bride in the ceremony taking place, but rather standing up with an elderly couple who is getting married. After the ceremony the church empties and Morgan and Hannah share a heated kiss before she abuptly leaves the chuch again, leaving Morgan desperate to discover her identity.
The story then picks up with Morgan and Hannah in a romantic relationship, and although Morgan has proposed marriage and given her a breathtaking engagement ring, Hannah hesitates to set a wedding date. Morgan is a patient man, but he loves Hannah and wants her to be his wife so badly that he can't help but press just a little. When he presents her with a copy of Bride magazine and she stumbles upon an interesting article about pre-marital sex counseling and wants to investigate the possibilities, he's not in a position to refuse. Hannah comes by her fear of commitment quite honestly, having a father who abandoned her and her mother shortly after Hannah's birth, and a mother who was seriously neglectful. Morgan is quick to use his own parents as an example of a successful marriage, as they've been happily married for thirty-eight years.
Hannah and Morgan take their counseling sessions very seriously and find the sex counseling especially interesting, being nudged into scenarios that they would never have considered on their own. When Hannah still cannot bring herself to set a date, Morgan is frustrated, but after Hannah's parents make their way back into her life, Morgan begins to understand the reasons behind her hesitation.
Just when Hannah decides to give herself, body and soul, to Morgan, fully trusting in his love for her and his promise to love her forever, he has a revelation of his own and doubts begin to take shape in his mind. Needless to say, Hannah is bombarded with emotions ranging from total despair to white-hot anger and she begins to wonder what it will take to bring Morgan back to her. Neither could have anticipated the turn of events about to take place, or the impact not only on them, but on those who love them most.
Janice Maynard has done it again. She's written a love story that goes above and beyond but doesn't quite fit the norm. She has written her heroine as the one with emotional baggage that won't allow her to proceed along the expected course of engagement, something you would normally associate with the male character. I would clarify that Hannah's "issues" aren't silly or frivolous excuses - anyone would have doubtful hesitations if they shared her painful past. Morgan is the stuff of every woman's romantic dreams. He's romantic, tender, and most definitely was present and attentive the day they gave lessons as to the way around a woman's pleasure. The secondary characters and their romantic ups, downs and heartaches are an integral part of Hannah and Morgan's tale and serve as a wonderful filler for their story to wrap around. I give this book the highest of recommendations - from the gorgeous cover to the very last page, it is excellent.

Okay, you've had a blurb, an excerpt and a review - the only thing left is to order a copy! Here's a link to Amazon to help you out!
Thanks so much, Janice, for allowing me to review BY APPOINTMENT ONLY for you - I seriously loved it and can only hope that others will take my advice and get their hands on it!
Next up will be a review for LuAnn McLane's latest, A LITTLE LESS TALK AND A LOT MORE ACTION - I just know it's going to be fun!
Laurie
xo

THE POWER OF LOVE - a new winner

2008-06-25T20:09:00.002-05:00

Ok, I didn't hear from Robin S. - my new winner is Barb V.! Congrats, Barb! I have your mailing info, so I'll get this in the mail to you tomorrow!

Thanks again everyone who entered. Look for a review for Janice Maynard's BY APPOINTMENT ONLY later tonight or tomorrow. After that I'm chatting about LuAnn McLane's A LITTLE LESS TALK AND A LOT MORE ACTION!

HIS SON'S TEACHER by Kay Stockham - and there's a contest!

2008-06-25T06:00:00.011-05:00

Kay Stockham's upcoming (July 8) release, HIS SON’S TEACHER, tells the sweet story of Jennifer Rose, a teacher whose self-confidence has taken a serious blow after an unexpected divorce, and Nick Tulane, a single father whose self-made success has not guaranteed him a carefree existence.
Here's a little blurb:
Nick Tulane ordinarily won't admit weakness—in himself or in those he loves. But when he learns his son is about to fail in school, the single father is desperate to find a tutor. And Jennifer Rose is perfect.
In fact, Jen might be too perfect. Nick's starting to fall for the attractive teacher, and he can't let that happen. Because opening up to Jen means sharing the secret that has always made him feel like an outsider in his own family. Still, with his son showing signs of following in his footsteps, Nick can't keep the truth hidden. But once she knows, will Jen accept him…weakness and all?
My review:
Jennifer has suffered the ultimate betrayal at the hands of her self-centered, cheating ex-husband. Having gained weight after her divorce, she now lets her weight define who she is and despite being an incredibly intelligent, kind-hearted young woman, her self-esteem has hit rock bottom. When her best friend tells her about local gym owner Nick Tulane, who needs a summer tutor for his failing son Matt, she decides to approach him with a business proposition – she’ll tutor his son in exchange for time with a personal training at his gym in a desperate attempt to get herself back in shape. Jen’s friend failed to mention that Nick is absolutely gorgeous and she finds herself embarrassed and intimidated just being with him, especially when it becomes clear that he intends to be her personal trainer. Jen soon finds herself falling for Nick and Matt, but as she delves deeper into Matt’s learning issues, she finds that the problem runs much deeper than she originally thought and it appears that Nick considers the true heart of the matter to be strictly off limits.
Nick accepts Jen’s offer without hesitation and is relieved to know that Matt will soon be back on track with his studies. He finds Jen to be a caring, compassionate young woman and while she does have a few pounds to lose, she’s nowhere near as overweight as she thinks she is. He has his work cut out for him in convincing her that she’s worthy and deserves nothing less than complete happiness. What Jen doesn’t know is that Nick has a secret. A secret that he has allowed to drive a wedge between him and his family for several years. When Jen discovers the truth and a serious misunderstanding follows, Nick feels betrayed and any considerations for a future together appear to be completely destroyed.
Kay Stockham always includes real life lessons in her books. HIS SON’S TEACHER delves into weight loss/fitness issues and realistically addresses the painful emotions and insecurities that often go hand in hand with being overweight. Without giving away too much, I’ll add that reading/learning disabilities are also an important part of the storyline and readers will find themselves interestingly informed about a subject they’ve likely not given much thought to. Relationships between friends and within families, complete with imperfections, always play a crucial role in Kay’s books and HIS SON’S TEACHER is no exception. I highly recommend this book to all romance readers who enjoy a sweet story with plenty of sizzling passion, and characters that are far from flawless.
Kay has kindly given me an autographed copy of HIS SON’S TEACHER for a giveaway here! Thanks so much, Kay! I’ll draw one name from those who post here in, let’s say five days, or Monday, June 30, in the evening.

Thanks for checking this one out! Be sure to stop by Kay's site for an excerpt and purchasing information - and don't forget that series romance have a short shelf life, so act quickly.

Laurie

THE POWER OF LOVE WINNER

2008-06-23T20:26:00.003-05:00

I had Kelsey draw a winning name for me - that name was Robin S.! Congratulations, Robin! I'll give Robin until Wednesday evening to contact me at ljodamron@gmail.com with her mailing info. If I don't hear from her by 9 or so I'll draw a new name. Thank you all for playing! I hope you'll check out THE POWER OF LOVE for yourself - it's a great book and 100% of the proceeds go for a good cause.

Laurie, the winner of AT RISK by Alison Kent, please contact me with your mailing information, ok? I know you've won here once some time ago but I no longer have your info. Thanks!

BEAST OF DARKNESS, the latest from Lisa Renee Jones - and an exciting contest!!

2008-06-23T18:35:00.002-05:00

Lisa Renee Jones has a new release, the next in her Knights of White series - BEAST OF DARKNESS - available now and it's a wonderful continuation in excellent series.

Here's a blurb:
Evil comes out of Nowhere…
Sarah is a mortal who hears the voices of spirits. Driven by tragedy, she chases sightings, investigating the supernatural. Called to Nowhere, Texas, she finds not ghosts, but terrible danger…and demons.
A soldier in the war between Good and Evil, Max is one of the oldest demons, stained by centuries of darkness, fighting to keep others safe without hope for himself.
Betrayal and loss haunt both of them, keeping them from finding peace. And yet, to save an entire town, Max and Sarah must do the impossible: let go of the past, and find a future with each other.
Love is their only weapon. Nowhere is the battleground.
This is their last chance.

My review:
Sarah Meyers, successful investigator of paranormal events, has been called to Nowhere, Texas by the Sheriff to investigate frighteningly bizarre paranormal activities. Sarah and her team arrive in Nowhere and the activities continue, escalating in severity with each occurrence. Sarah's parents were killed by a friend who had been possessed by a demon and she's been on a mission against demons since. When she meets Max for the first time, she doesn't understand why she feels an immediate and trusting attraction to Max, but given the circumstances they're faced with, it's a relief to have him by her side. Just when things go from bad to worse in this quiet little town, Sarah puts her complete trust in Max, only to find he isn't who she thinks he is.

Max is one of the Knights of White, an elite group of soldiers who fearlessly battle the Darkland Beasts, while fighting to quiet the beasts that are a part of each and every one of them. When Max kills a human in the course of saving the life of the mate of a fellow Knight, he knows that punishment will quickly be meted out and that it would be severe. Imagine his surprise when he finds himself in the middle of Nowhere, Texas to fight a demon the likes of which he's never seen. Punishment takes on an entirely new meaning when Max has to keep his hands off of Sarah, the beautiful woman that he has been teamed up with, especially after he comes to the conclusion that she just might be his mate. When Max and Sarah finally give in to the irresistible heat between them, she glimpses the true beast within him. Max is left with no choice but to share the story behind his very being, but knowing how reluctant Sarah is to trust, he fears it may be too much for her to handle.

Max is without a doubt one of the most damaged characters I've ever read. Of course, Sarah doesn't come into this story with a clean slate either, she has wounds of her own that need a patiently gentle touch. When the two come together, rather than being overwhelmed with issues, each serves as a balm to the other's tortured soul, healing while bringing unexpected emotions to the surface. Lisa Renee Jones has been blessed with a never ending imagination; her creativity in writing this series is outstanding. The two previous books in this series, THE BEAST WITHIN and THE BEAST OF DESIRE are equally wonderful and serve well to set up the story. While I think readers could read BEAST OF DARKNESS without having read the prior works, my personal opinion is that they would be better served to read them in order.

Please check out BEAST OF DARKNESS - I'm confident that you won't regret it! But don't wait too long as series romances have a limited shelf life.
Now, for the contest. Lisa (being one of the most generous authors I've ever known -seriously) has provided me with several books and other goodies for give away here. I'm putting them together as two prizes: Each prize will contain one copy of HARD AND FAST, one copy of BEAST OF DESIRE and a copy of BEAST OF DARKNESS, together with some other author goodies. I typically run very simple contests but you'll have to do a little bit of work this time. Just a tidge, I promise. Each entry has to provide the titles of four of Lisa's books, previous or upcoming releases, it doesn't matter (but not the three I've named here, please) - post here to enter. Feel free to chat about any of Lisa's books that you've read or look forward to reading. I'll lend a hand - go to Lisa's website and take a look around. I'll draw the names of two winners (US/Canada addresses only, please) on Friday evening (6/27).

Thank you Lisa for asking me to review BEAST OF DARKNESS - and for your incredible generosity to the readers here.

Laurie

THE WINNER

2008-06-22T21:39:00.001-05:00

of a copy of AT RISK by Alison Kent is Laurie! Congratulations! Email me at ljodamron@gmail.com with your mailing information. If I don't hear from Laurie by Wednesday evening (6/25) I'll draw a new name.
For all who didn't win - you can buy this book at WalMart for under $5 - so what are you waiting for? Go buy a copy! I plan to do giveaways for the remaining WalMart re-releases in this series, so keep an eye out for those in the future.
Be sure to check out Alison's website - she has lots going on in 2008 and you won't want to miss any of it!
Thanks to everyone who entered the contest!
Laurie

AT RISK - (Sort of) new from Alison Kent! I have a copy to give away!

2008-06-18T12:31:00.002-05:00

Alison Kent's SG-5 series is being reissued, available only at WalMart retail stores. The first, AT RISK, is a re-release of THE BANE AFFAIR. To celebrate what is, in my opinion, one of the best series ever, I'm offering a copy of AT RISK for giveaway. Read on!
Bad boys. Good spies. Unforgettable lovers.
One of the Smithson Group’s elite force, Christian Bane is also the walking wounded, haunted by his past. Something about being betrayed by a woman then left to die in a Thai prison by the notorious crime syndicate Spectra IT gives a guy demons. But Christian has his orders: Pose as Spectra boss Peter Deacon. Going deep undercover as the slick womanizer will be tough for Christian. Getting cozy with a beautiful suspect, Natasha Gaudet, to get information won’t be. But the closer he gets to Natasha, the harder it gets to deceive her. Now, with Spectra closing in, Christian's best chance for survival is to confront his demons and trust the only one he can . . . Natasha.

My (Sensual Romance Reviews) review of The Bane Affair from September '04:

"Romantic suspense with intense, intelligent characters."
Christian Bane, an agent with the Smithson Group, impersonates Peter Deacon in order to infiltrate the inner workings of Dr. Wickham Bow's computer laboratory and to free kidnapped computer science guru Woodrow Jinks. Included under this investigation is Natasha Gaudet, Dr. Bow's goddaughter who acts as his personal assistant. The facts become increasingly unclear once Christian discovers that Dr. Jinks is the invited guest of Dr. Bow and that his residency at Dr. Bow's home is completely voluntary. Christian begins to doubt Natasha's involvement with her godfather's operation almost immediately.
Natasha is drawn to Peter Deacon and his undeniable maleness from their first meeting. She tries to resist his charming persuasiveness although he seems determined to possess her completely. Christian was emotionally and physically damaged, having survived an unimaginable betrayal at the hands of the very syndicate that the Smithson Group had set out to take apart -- The same group that Dr. Bow was now connected with. Christian finds it increasingly difficult to deceive Natasha about his identity. His desire for her is real enough without pretending to be the self-centered, womanizing Peter Deacon.
When Natasha discovers the betrayal of the man closest to her and the lies of another whom she was falling in love with, she discovers unknown strength to overcome the crushing pain. Ms. Kent makes the reader question whether Natasha will find it within herself to forgive Christian and whether Christian can put past cruelties behind him and allow himself to experience a loving relationship. Can they both survive the crazed intentions of the monster of a man who is determined to destroy them?
I cannot give this book a high enough recommendation for both old and new Alison Kent fans. The attention to detail is outstanding and the manner in which Alison Kent describes sights, sounds, tastes and smells draws you right into the story. She always evokes a full range of emotions; her love scenes are no holds barred with a straightforward sensuousness that is always a pleasure to read. If you enjoy a book that is rich with intense, intelligent characters, intrigue and up to the minute technology, then this book is just the ticket. I greatly anticipate the upcoming four books in this series. Undoubtedly, this is Alison Kent at her very best.

Wow - you know what? I still feel as strongly about Alison Kent's work now as I did then! The contest? I have one copy of AT RISK - I'll draw a name from all who post here and indicate that they are interested in winning (US/Canada addresses only, please). Feel free to add some chatter about Alison's books - your fave, most anticipated, etc. I'll draw a winner sometime in the evening on Sunday (6/22). The only bad thing about this copy is that the employee responsible for the book aisle at "my" WalMart chose to place the price tag directly over the face of the guy on the cover - I'll let the winner remove/not remove the tag as they choose - I don't want to be responsible for damaging that face!

As always, thanks for stopping by - and good luck, all!

Laurie

THE POWER OF LOVE - a contest

2008-06-16T18:45:00.002-05:00

THE POWER OF LOVE is a collection of love stories written without compensation, all proceeds going to charity.
Thirteen authors donated a great deal of time, effort and talent in the making of this book. They are: Lori Foster, Erin McCarthy, Toni Blake, Dianne Castell, Karen Kelley, Rosemary Laurey, Janice Maynard, LuAnn McLane, Lucy Monroe, Patricia Sargeant, Kay Stockham and J.C. Wilder - maybe you'll take a minute to check out their other work.
When I was at the Lori Foster/Dianne Castell get together in Cincinnati the weekend before last, I bought a copy of THE POWER OF LOVE and had it signed by all of the authors who were at the event - it's autographed by all but three of the contributing authors. If you're interested in this book, leave a comment here. Send a friend and if they mention your name they'll be entered and you'll get another entry for each friend who mentions you. I'll draw a winning name in one week - next Monday evening. The winner will have three days to contact me at ljodamron@gmail.com, after which time I'll draw another name. U.S./Canada addresses only, please.
As always, thanks for stopping!
Laurie

MASTER OF SURRENDER - coming soon from Karin Tabke

2008-06-15T21:25:00.000-05:00

Karin Tabke has a new release available! She was kind enough to send me an ARC of MASTER OF SURRENDER for review. As hard as it is to believe, this is Karin's first historical. Known for her steamy law enforcement contemporaries, she's going to take the historical romance community by storm with this one.

The year is 1066. William, bastard Duke of Normandy, has claimed the English throne by right of conquest. To quell the Saxon unrest, William sends out his most trusted knights to secure the land. One of those knights is his cousin, Sir Rohan de Luc, known far and wide for his bloody deeds as The Black Sword. . .
Bold and courageous, Saxon maiden Isabel of Alethorpe is the only one left to protect the people of the manor and its lands. When Rohan de Luc seizes Alethorpe, he offers to spare the life of Isabel's young squire in exchange for her willing gift of the charms of her body. Betrothed to another, she vows to that while he may take her maidenhead, her heart will remain her own. But even as her lips say no, Isabel's traitorous body is awakened to desire by the seductive attentions of this potent invader. Can she remain true to her own people, or will Sir Rohan's skilled touch capture her unwilling heart as surely as his prowess with his sword captured her father's lands?
Click here for an excerpt that will tempt and tease.
My review:
In 1066, Rohan de Luc is given the Saxon-owned keep, Alethorpe, by William the Conquerer. When Rohan arrives to take control, his strongest foe is the beautiful Lady Isabel, daughter of the previous owner who along with his son were murdered during a brutal battle. Isabel stands up for her people fearlessly, despite the incredible size and number of the powerful Normans. Isabel tries her hardest to be strong against Rohan's determined attempts at seduction. No easy task when she finds herself undeniably attracted to him. Rohan remains firm in his desire to conquer Isabel, while repeatedly finding himself deeply admiring her fortitude. When the two finally begin to see eye to eye and become increasingly intimate, they're met with another evil in the form of Rohan's heartless brother, who is set on Rohan's total destruction. Isabel's people are surprised at Rohan's fair treatment of them and his intention to provide for and protect them. Eventually Isabel can no longer fight her love for Rohan, only to learn that he is the one who killed her father. Suddenly overwhelmed by the heartache of the past few weeks, Isabel practically loses the will to live.
This book, while downright gruesome at times, is an excellently written historical (medieval) and I give it the highest of recommendations. Rohan and Isabel butt heads constantly, but their disagreements never come across as juvenile or immature. and don't grate on the nerves. Their passion for one another, despite their differences, is strong and true. Rohan's respect for Isabel's innocence and her desire to maintain it is realistic and not the least bit ridiculous or silly.
Can't resist? Click here to order your own copy.
I would point out that Karin has a new contemporary, JADED, and I hope you'll take a minute to take a look. It is available for purchase now.
Thank you, Karin, for requesting that I review MASTER OF SURRENDER - I truly appreciate the opportunity.
Thanks, everyone, for checking this excellent book out!
Laurie

GRADUATION '08 - part two

2008-06-14T20:52:00.006-05:00

Daughter #1 + Graduation #2 = An incredibly proud, crying Mom!
Lindsay graduated from Ohio University this afternoon with a Bachelor's Degree from the College of Arts and Sciences. We couldn't be more proud. I was actually very proud of myself for keeping it together - until we saw Lindsay outside after commencement, and then I turned into a blubbering mess. There were 1,700 graduates at the afternoon commencement, close to that many at the morning ceremony, two ceremonies yesterday and at least two last weekend - that makes for a lot of kids looking for jobs, doesn't it? Lunch after at Miller's Chicken - a little hole in the wall restaurant in Athens that has some of the best fried chicken in the world - made for a perfect day. Lindsay will be home for the summer while deciding what's next.
I hope everyone has a great weekend and that Father's Day, for those of you with someone who celebrates it, is relaxing and special. We don't have any special plans for Father's Day, except that dinner will be Tim's request of spaghetti, salad, garlic bread and white cake with lemon frosting. His gift this year is a set of blown glass, glow in the dark mushrooms for the flower bed. He's the gardener at our house and we thought he would think they were fun. I've always joked that Lindsay can't leave our county without coming home with a new pair of shoes - Tim can't leave home without coming home with a plant or a flower. Hey, he could have worse habits, right? I'm not complaining.
Susan, the winner of Shiloh's book, has claimed her prize. I'll be making an announcement for the POWER OF LOVE contest soon, maybe even tomorrow. Also, my review of Karin Tabke's excellent historical should be posted tomorrow. Following that will be a review for BEAST OF DARKNESS by Lisa Renee Jones which will include a contest for multiple copies of BEAST OF DESIRE, the first book in this wonderful series.
Hugs,
Laurie

GUEST BLOGGER - SHILOH WALKER - AND A CONTEST!

2008-06-12T03:30:00.002-05:00

AND THE WINNER IS . . . SUSAN!! Congratulations! Please email me at ljodamron@gmail.com with your mailing information and I'll get your book out early next week. If I don't hear from Susan by Wednesday evening, I'll draw another name. Please check back because I'll have a review up in the next couple of days for Karin Tabke's MASTER OF SURRENDER (I'm still sighing over this one) and my next contest will be for a copy of THE POWER OF LOVE, autographed by all but three of the authors!

We're off to southern Ohio tomorrow for Lindsay's graduation from Ohio University - I'm certain I'll be a human sprinkler by 2:30.

Laurie

I'm pleased to have Shiloh Walker as a guest blogger today! Her latest release, THROUGH THE VEIL , is finally available! Keep reading and you'll find a fun interview with Lee/Lelia, Shi's heroine in THROUGH THE VEIL.
Shiloh and I will be popping in and out today, so free free to ask questions, chat about her books, or if you haven't read any of her work yet (and that's ok!), which books on her booklist do you find the most intriguing?
Let's read Shiloh's interview with Lee:
Shiloh: I’m running out of clever ideas. Well, for promo…different ways to talk about my book, Through the Veil http://shilohwalker.com/excerpt_TTV.htm.
But I did an interview with Kalen, so figured hey…we need to do one for Lee, too.
Lee Ross/Lelia Rass
Lee-A graphic designer with serious sleep issues. She dreams of wars, monsters, and a sexy silver-eyed solider. She often questions her sanity.
Lelia-Warrior. With. She dreams of peace for her world. She always questions her sanity.
One woman. Two lives. Sanity isn’t the issue.
*G* Confused? Don’t feel bad. Lee’s confused me from the get-go.
Lee: Gee, thanks.
Shiloh: (smiles.) You’re welcome!
Lee: So exactly what am I doing here again?
Shiloh: Just answering questions.
Lee: (smirking) Questions like…lemme guess, does Kalen wear boxers or briefs?
Shiloh: (laughs) Nah. I already know that answer. No, lets skip the boxers or briefs question. I think the readers want to know more about these dreams you’ve had all your life.
Lee: So would all the specialists I went to. I don’t know, they are still really hard to explain. I never had normal dreams. Or at least not that I can remember. Even now that I understand what’s going on, the dreams don’t always make sense—I can’t always tell what was real, what wasn’t.
Shiloh: Do you ever wish that none of them were real? That this was just a fantasy you concocted?
Lee: No. (smiles and shakes her head.) If this was just a fantasy, I wouldn’t have Kalen.
Shiloh: And he’s worth everything you went for?
Lee: (grins) Yes. Every last thing.
Shiloh: Even the losses?
Lee: Yes.
Shiloh: So I guess that means you wouldn’t go back home, even if you could?
Lee: What do you think?
Shiloh: I think I’m glad for that, because otherwise, there wouldn’t have been much point to telling your story.
Lee: (laughs and rolls her eyes) I’m glad I could help ya out with that, then.
Shiloh: What’s life like now? Do you think you’ll ever have anything close to your old life?
Lee: (manages a wry smile) I don’t know. And I’m okay with that. Coming to grips with all of this, figuring out what’s been going on even when I tried to hide from it…well, this is my life. It always has been. Sometimes it seems like my so-called old life was nothing but a sham.
Shiloh: Why is Kalen so special to you? I mean, what makes him worth everything you went through?
Lee: Because he’s mine. He was always meant to be—and I’m his.
Shiloh: I asked Kalen this and he wouldn’t answer me. Don’t suppose you’d tell us anything about Morne, would you?
Lee: (squirming, she looks away) Why do you got to go and ask about him? (She starts to speak…stops with a sigh. Pushes her hand through her hair and tries again) Morne is…well, he’s Morne. He’s not all that easy to explain or answer questions about. He’s scary as hell. He’s…
Shiloh: Morne?
Lee: Yeah. (She laughs and shakes her head) People want to know about him, they just to need to meet him and decide for themselves.
Shiloh: You had to face some hard truths over the past few weeks—has it gotten any easier to deal with?
Lee: (snorting) Is it supposed to?
Shiloh: You’ve had some time to adjust to the things you can do. Are you any more comfortable with it?
Lee: (she blinks and gives me a look like I’m an idiot) Comfortable? Hell…what do YOU think? Would you be comfortable if you knew…uh…wait, I really shouldn’t talk about that yet, huh? Some people wouldn’t understand it.
Shiloh: (grinning) Good point. Besides if we tell everybody what’s going on, they may not read the book. They don’t read the book, I might not write another and then you may not meet a couple of people I’ve been thinking about.
Lee: What are you talking about?
Shiloh: (smiling brightly as I change the subject) Okay, people. That’s all we’ve got for today—
Lee: Oh, no you don’t. Who in the hell are you talking about?
Shiloh: For those that pick up Through the Veil, I hope you let me know what you think…
Lee: Damn it, Shiloh! You can’t—

Oooo, now tell me you're not itching to get your hands on this book after reading that - great interview, Shi!!
Now, for the contest - I bought a copy of THROUGH THE VEIL at the Lori Foster/Dianne Castell Reader/Author get together in Cincinnati this past weekend and had Shi autograph it for giveaway here. I'll pick a winner from the names of those who post here (U.S./Canada addresses only, please) on Friday evening 6/13.
Thanks for stopping!
Laurie

POST READER/AUTHOR GET TOGETHER REPORT

2008-06-09T20:41:00.003-05:00

Well, another get together is officially in the books. Talk about a great time! Despite the noise of close to 300 women in one room and hustle-bustle that was almost manic at times, it was relaxing and fun. I have to admit however, that there were a couple of times that I had to escape to my room for some "alone" time - not for very long, but I need to get away all by myself on occasion when I'm around such a large crowd. It was good to see friends that I only see at this event as well as those that I'm fortunate enough to see a handful of times throughout the year.
I *finally* got to meet Lucy Monroe, a long-time, all-time favorite author! Lucy is adorable and I could have hugged her all weekend but I didn't want her to think I was some kind of perv. I also met Susanna Carr, whose characters always make me smile, and Michelle Buonfiglio from Lifetime.com's Romance B(u)y the Book - Michelle and I had an interesting discussion about blog etiquette, romances we've enjoyed and those we would recommend. She's an absolute treasure and I enjoyed talking books with her. After waiting years to meet Megan Hart, getting to see her at the RT book signing and then again this past weekend was especially nice. Megan is a breath of fresh air, genuinely nice and without airs.
A mind-boggling $526. was raised for shopping and shipping for the troops - this might not sound like much but trust me, I can do some serious shopping with this much money and will have plenty left to ship what I buy as well as the trunk load of stuff I brought home. Romance readers never fail to show what's in their hearts when it comes to our servicemen and women. Speaking of servicemen, Kelsey's boyfriend David left this morning for 20 (or so) weeks of basic training in Missouri. They spent a good chunk of the day together yesterday, doing nothing but fun stuff, eating his favorite foods, followed by pizza with his family and a movie with his little sister. From what I understand, following this 20 weeks he'll be free to pursue his (paid for) college education while serving monthly Guard weekends and some summer duty. His actual "active" duty will come after college. I'm hopeful that will buy some time for us to get out of the current situations in Iraq and Afghanistan. Maybe you'll remember him in your prayers?
Part of Saturday's entertainment was the raffling of "the baskets" - baskets, boxes, bags, etc. of varying sizes, shapes and content were raffled off with proceeds going to the various charities.
I've said it before and I'll say it again - poor Pat Sajak, having to settle for Vanna all these years. Come to think of it though, LadyB/Beth, who runs the basket raffle, could easily be hostess on her own, leaving both Pat and Vanna in the unemployment line. I save my change year-round for this event, cashing it in for raffle money at my bank's change counter. I'm certain this is how die-hard gamblers must feel as they try to come up with every cent they can to play with. Those Bingo ladies have nothing on me - except maybe an ink dauber and a cigarette dangling from their bottom lip. I was the lucky winner of two baskets this year - one from author Lena Matthews with a purse-type basket filled with bath/body type stuff to keep me soft and smelling good for a year or more - it's very attractive. The second was Michelle Breaux's contribution - a wicker basket/box filled with her stunning photography on note cards, postcards, stickers, a calendar and a little digital photo keychain that I can't wait to play with!
On Saturday evening everyone was on their own. Some groups stayed in their rooms and played games, some went shopping and others went to the movie.
A group of us (Susanna Carr, Carolyn Dietsch, Michelle Buonfiglio, me, Lisa Freeman, Niny Negron, ???? (sorry, I forget her name, but she had on a sweet diamond ring that I'll not be forgetting for a long time), Jennifer Allison, Judy Flohr, Chris Slaughter, Stacy Ahlgren, Barb Smith and Michelle Breaux) went to Max & Erma's (my fav!) for dinner, to Barnes & Noble after that and then back to the hotel for a drink. One woman meandered back to the romance section at B&N (where we lined the aisles, pointing out authors and books we've read, covers we like and laughing at some ridiculous titles) - anyway, this woman mentions that she has a gift card and is interested in some romance but isn't familiar with romance authors. The poor thing, she didn't realize that those words were all it took for her to become prey. I don't know what she ended up buying, but have a feeling she most likely exceeded the limits of her gift card!
I had to leave before breakfast Sunday morning because following the two hour drive home, Tim and I hopped right back in the car for another hour and a half or so to go to his niece's high school graduation. I hated to miss another hour or two with all of these wonderfully special women, but family comes first.
I hope I've covered everything. I would encourage anyone who has entertained thoughts about attending this event to DO IT! It's inexpensive - at $35. and a cushy hotel room for $99./night, it's a steal. There were a few men there, mostly author hubbies I believe, maybe/mostly there for muscling boxes of books and promo goodies around. My hubby would rather be waxed than attend something like this. I can imagine the "WTF?" look I'd get if I even asked!
I have to thank Lisa and Judy for posting their pics online so I could borrow them - my camera was in my purse for the majority of the weekend.
Coming soon will be a review for Karin Tabke's MASTER OF SURRENDER - I'm still reading, but can say right now that it's stellar! If I didn't know the author, my guess would have been Julie Garwood. This certainly doesn't read like the very first historical (medieval) of an author whose previous releases have all been contemporary. It will come with an incredibly high recommendation.
Thanks for stopping!
Laurie