Welcome Guest Maria Geraci – Author of the New Release Bunco Babes Gone Wild!

You have no idea how excited I am to introduce our guest author today. Maria Geraci’s first book, Bunco Babes Tell All was my absolute favorite Summer 2009 read! So good, I actually read it twice in one month. Seriously. It’s the kind of book I hope for every time I crack open a new book.

Maria is not only an insanely talented writer, but a very nice lady and that’s why it’s such a pleasure to have her at Cheeky Reads today. In fact, she’s so nice she’s giving away a copy of of Bunco Babes Gone Wild to a lucky reader! Just make sure to leave a comment and you’re entered to win!

Now, please welcome Maria to Cheeky Reads!

Hi Maria,

Bunco Babes Tell All was your first book -- check out the 5 Heart Review from Cheeky Reads here. Please tell our readers a little about that book and it's characters and set-up your newest release, Bunco Babes Gone Wild.

First, let me thank you for allowing me to be a guest today on your blog! I love talking about my books, so this was a lot of fun for me.

Bunco Babes Tell All is the story of Kitty Burke and her tightly knit group, the Bunco Babes. Every Thursday night, they drink margaritas, roll dice, and gossip about the people in their small north Florida town. Kitty is the only Babe who’s not married. It’s been tough for her to find a guy- but all that changes on the eve before her 35^th birthday when a mysterious stranger crashes her Bunco party to unclog her toilet. Luckily for Kitty, it’s not the only thing he “unclogs.” Basically, it’s a fun, quirky, sexy women’s fiction novel (how’s that for adjectives?)

The follow up book, Bunco Babes Gone Wild, picks up a few months after BBTA ends. All the main characters from the first book are present, but there’s a new heroine- Georgia Meyer. She’s what I like to call the “anti-Babe”. Unlike Kitty, the heroine from the first novel, Georgia isn’t a girl’s kind of girl. She’s a workaholic accountant who’s never really made time for the simple pleasures of life. She comes to visit her sister in Whispering Bay, Florida, and immediately becomes embroiled in the Babes’ antics. Plus, there’s this hunky guy who makes her rethink her current love life…

You have your own Bunco group that helped inspire you to create these stories. Are your characters modeled after your friends? If so, how do they take seeing their personality traits played out in your books?

My own Bunco group, the Bunco Broads of Tallahassee, helped inspire the friendship angle of the books. But the characters aren’t based on anyone in particular. It’s funny, my friends will point to a character and say, “Is that me?” I always answer, no! 

Like most readers I'm all about connecting with the hero and heroine in a book. So, I always ask authors to describe their hero in three words.

For Steve I’d have to say: cautious, reliable, mysterious.

For Dave (the hero in BBGW): funny, loyal, easy-going (uh, oh, is that four words?)

What about your heroine? What three words would best describe her?

Kitty is loyal, self-conscious, vulnerable.

Georgia is smart, driven, but clueless. 

What was it about their story that you drew you to them or made it fun to create their HEA? I loved them so I have to ask!

Kitty is an “every woman” kind of character. In my book, Steve refers to her as “the nice one.” I think that there are a lot of “Kittys” out there. Women who are pretty, smart, nice, but maybe a little (or a lot) self-conscious about their looks, their jobs, their own sense of self-worth. Initially, I wasn’t sure what sort of ending I was going to give her. Since this is women’s fiction, I knew I’d give her a HEA, but not necessarily because she’d found a man. After I wrote the shower scene between her and Steve, I knew I wanted to give her a HEA plus a man! And you know, Steve wasn’t a pushover. Any guy who’s been married and divorced 3 times is going to come into a relationship with a lot of baggage, so I had to make her work for it. 

What has been your favorite Bunco Babes scene to write so far and why?

The Black Tie Bunco party scene in Bunco Babes Gone Wild has so far been my favorite to write. Partly because there’s a lot going on. There’s action, romance, a little drama, and hopefully a lot of laughs. But also because once I wrote that scene the rest of the book seemed to just fly for me. 

Does Bunco Babes Gone Wild give us an update of Kitty and Steve from Bunco Babes Tell all? 

Kitty and Steve are secondary characters in BBGW and while I loved writing them, I had to be careful not to give them too much to do in the story, otherwise I was afraid they’d take it over!  I’ll be honest, I’m not really through with Kitty and Steve. I would love to write a direct sequel to their story, but so far, that’s not in the works. Maybe I’ll write it up as a short story and put it on my website as a free read. Mmmm… now that’s an idea.

Everyone I've spoken to about Bunco Babes Gone Wild loved it! How does it feel as a new author, to have that kind of excitement over your work? Any fun reader/fan stories you can share with us?

Having someone write to me or tell me they enjoy my stories is like being a kid and waking up Christmas morning! It’s like the best feeling in the world.

I had a reader write to me whose husband was in the military and they went through long separations. She told me reading my book has rekindled her feelings of love (and lust!) for her husband. I felt so touched that she’d take the time out of her busy life to write me. 

Read any good books lately that you would recommend to our readers? Authors always seem to have the inside track on great new authors!

I’m an avid reader of all things, but of course, I love romance! Can’t Stand the Heat by Louisa Edwards is a fantastic read. For a fun, campy, spooky YA try: Bite Me! by Melissa Francis. Now, in all fairness, both Mel and Louisa are my critique partners, but I wouldn’t be critiquing their work if I didn’t love what they write. I recently finished According to Jane by Marilyn Brant and I can’t recommend that highly enough. I also love historical romance. Anything by Madeline Hunter is on my immediate buy list. She has a new series coming out in January and I’m practically drooling just thinking about it. She writes the best heroes. Ever.

Where can readers find you next and is there anything else you'd like to share with us?

I’m going to be doing some local book signings in both Florida and south Georgia to promote the new book, and I’m really looking forward to that. In between and afterward, you can find me glued to my computer! I have a late January deadline for my next book so I’ll be hard at work getting that finished. Right now, that book is tentatively titled The Boyfriend of the Month Club. It’s a not a Bunco Babes book, but I think it’s just as fun and sexy and quirky. At least I hope my readers think so!

Maria, thank you so much for the great interview and for being with us today!

So, Cheeky Readers what questions do you have for Maria? Have you ever played Bunco? What’s book have you read recently that you would recommend? Let us know and you’ll be entered to win a copy of Bunco Babes Gone Wild!

Special Bonus: Tweet or blog about this giveaway and you’ll get an extra entry! Just mention it in the comments with a link.

Sorry, this contest is open to US residents only. Winner will be announced on Thursday Nov. 5th. Good Luck and Happy Reading!

Cheeky Reads Reader Challenge: Reader Bella – Do You Accept This Challenge?

Last week I threw out the first ever Cheeky Reads Reader Challenge. I asked for a volunteer to read and review So Into You by Sandra Hill for a 2nd Chance Review.

You see, I LOVED the hero/heroine, but was really distracted by the Cajun dialogue, the HUGE cast of side characters that didn’t add anything to the story and that I wanted to see the h/h have more time with each other to grow.

Well, all you awesome Cheeky Readers responded, and I’ve selected our very first Reader Challenge Reviewer – Cheeky Girl Bella!

Bella will receive a copy of So Into You directly from me and will have two week to read and write a review for us. Bella will get to keep the copy of the book, but I ask for total honestly, even if she thinks my review was total crap and loved the whole book! That’s why I think 2nd Chance Reviews matter – every reader has their own opinion and it’s a book I was torn over the review and rating I gave it.

So, Bella please email me at cheekyreads @ gmail.com (without the spaces) so I can get your mailing address.

Congrats Bella and we look forward to your review!

Welcome Guest author Jamie Rush & Enter To Win!

Welcome Guest Author Jaime Rush!
OUT OF THE DARKNESS, Avon Books
http://www.jaimerush.com/

What, are you psychic or something?

I grew up on stories about ghosts and my mom's psychic experiences, so I never questioned that psychic stuff was real. Yeah, there are a lot of people who fake their abilities for money, but I'm not talking about them. I'm talking about people who truly have a gift…or a curse, depending on how they see it.

My earlier books (written as Tina Wainscott) played with themes such as body switching, near death experiences, twin connections, cellular memory, and psychic connections. I love that it could be real. It's on the edge, accessible to all of us. Who hasn't had a whoo-whoo experience? A knowing? If you haven't, someone you know has, I'll bet. Just recently a man I met, upon hearing what I write about, recounted an out of body experience he'd had. People who see a relative's spirit in the night and discover they passed over. I have had knowings.

When I was 19 and doing temp work, every time I saw a Toyota Supra, a sports car way out of my current financial picture, I knew I would have one. It baffled me, frankly. (Hello, between jobs, 19 years old) When I heard on the local rock station that they were hosting a hand-a-thon and the winner would get a brand new Toyota Supra, I didn't hesitate to enter. Without that knowing, I probably would have, considering it was a competition where twenty-eight people put their hand on the car and whoever was the last person standing won it. I had to enter, and I kept that knowing with me hour after hour, hallucinating, people dropping off in fugue states and sleeping right there, even when it came down to me and one other guy, and he tried giving me the evil eye. Seventy-four hours later, I won that car. It was the same with getting published, knowing I would meet a great guy, and recently, lingering when the light turned green instead of gunning it (I still have a Supra). The car in the right turn lane came into my lane and would have hit me if I'd been in my usual spot.

I believe we all have the ability to expand past our five senses. What could be more fascinating, more mysterious, than the human brain? Our soul? We are amazing creatures. If we don't get in our own way, think of the things we can accomplish.

It was interesting to find how tested psychic abilities are. There have been some interesting and compelling data, though you can't just produce results on command. Our own government even created a program that used gifted people to remote-view (psychically spy) on our enemy, which was primarily the USSR at that time. Several agencies had custody of this program, best known as Stargate, over twenty-four years starting in 1971. The Soviets were also pursuing paranormal means for spying and warfare.

It was this program, in fact, that inspired my Offspring series. The government had also given one of their own people LSD without his knowledge to see if it would make him more susceptible to interrogation. It only made him hurl himself out a hotel window to his death. My mind started playing the writer's What If? Game. What if the government created a program that employed people with different, and potentially dangerous, psychic abilities? What if these people were given a substance that enhanced those abilities, but ultimately made them crazy and so they had to be terminated to protect the program? What would happen to their Offspring, who might have inherited both the ability and possibly the insanity as well? What if the man behind the original program began searching for the Offspring, to either use them for a new program or terminate them? And thus, my group of Offspring began forming, joining together to find the truth about who they are and who killed their parents. Different people, outcasts, fierce, loyal, banding together to survive.

OUT OF THE DARKNESS is book two of the series, and I've tried hard to make sure new readers are caught right up to the action without an information overload. In a flash, Zoe Stoker goes from tattoo artist to target of an assassin. All her life she's felt like a freak, and now the Offspring, people who also have remarkable psychic abilities, are her only hope. The enemy grows more dangerous…and so do her feelings for one sexy loner as she gains command of her powers and loses control of her heart.

I have another way to honor you, reader, writer, bookseller…everyone. I'm giving you the opportunity to be in a book. Yes, you can have your name in a nationally-published book! All you have to do is fill in your name and email address in the form at my site. There is no contest, no "lucky" winner. You're all winners to me. Tell your friends! Post it on your blog! Names will be included in my third book of my Offspring series, TOUCHING DARKNESS, scheduled for summer 2010. See http://www.jaimerush.com/ for details.

I also host my Kick Butt First Line contest for readers and writers. Shocking, suspenseful…make us want more! Cash prizes! Contest runs from September 15 through November 1, 2009.

Thanks Jaime! She's been nice enough to offer a copy of Out of the Darkness to one lucky reader! So tell us, have you or has anyone you know, had a whoo-whoo or psychic moment? Leave your comment below and I'll choose a random winner on Friday Oct. 9th. Good luck and Happy Reading!

Enchanted Realms - Welcome Guest Author Sue-Ellen Welfonder & Enter To Win!

I bet you’re thinking this is about Celtic legend and myth? After all, I’m here because of my latest Scottish medieval romance, A Highlander’s Temptation (GCP, Oct. 2009. Anyone familiar with my books knows that I enjoy weaving enchantment into them. There’s even a meddlesome crone, Devorgilla, who is a recurring character and always has a spell or charm at the ready. She even has a little red fox named Somerled who assists her in all things magical.

Scotland, too, can be called enchanting. I’ll not argue that.

With its Hebridean setting, A Highlander’s Temptation (GCP, Oct. 2009) has one of the most spectacular backdrops I’ve ever written. The hero’s windswept home, MacConacher’s Isle, is definitely an enchanted place.

So you aren’t far from the truth if you guessed that a guest blog titled “Enchanted Realms” would be about something mystical.

It is, actually.

Although, the enchanted realm I mean is a writer’s office. But that, too, isn’t quite the right description because not all of us write in a real, stone-and-mortar work environment. I do. And I love my office dearly. But some of us create in a corner of some other room, space constraints and personal circumstances depending. Some write on laptops while sitting on the sofa. Or in a garden or – gads! – ensconced in a crowded café. I even have a friend who used to slip away to her car on her lunch breaks, working there.

With so many books on the shelves – and more appearing every month – you can be guaranteed that there are writers writing somewhere, every day.

Here’s a look at my office.

And here’s a look at why I write all my books perched on the edge of my chair. Needless to say, my little dog shares my chair always. Sometimes, when he falls asleep, he nudges me until I really am sitting on only about an inch and half of space.



No matter. Dog lovers will understand why I don’t have the heart to disturb him. What counts is that this is my writing place. It’s impossible to work without one.

And wherever that somewhere might be, I think it’s a safe bet to say that to the individual writer, that somewhere is an enchanted place. It has to be. Because if it isn’t the writer won’t be able to slip away from the real world and disappear into the story.

Every writer needs an enchanted realm.

Wherever we craft our stories, we have to be able to walk through a magical door and immerse ourselves in the world of our work-in-progress. So I want to talk about how we get that door to glide open and then fall quietly shut behind us, locking us inside our special writing zone.

I do it with rituals.

One or two little things that help me banish everything but The Book from my mind. These signals alert my subconscious that I’ve stepped through the magical door and am now in my enchanted realm, ready to work.

Candles and scented oils (I love reed diffusers) are high on my list of writing rituals. As I do my best work after midnight, the candle glow adds much-appreciated atmosphere. The reed diffusers give off a subtle fragrance that makes my work area seem extra-special.

I also enjoy listening to music (no lyrics, please) to help set the mood. Classical music is my favorite choice, with Mendelssohn’s incredible overture, The Hebrides, having accompanied me through the writing of so many books. Celtic music (again, without words) is also inspiring. And I also love the evocative, transporting melodies of many New Age-y instrumentals.

The rest of the world needs to be absolutely quiet and still. I would call myself a mild-mannered person, but if the local landscape crews dare waltz by anywhere near my office windows when I’m trying to work, I have moments when I can easily imagine someone exploding into a mindless, red murderous haze of fury.

These leaf-blowing brigades can transform me into a fire-breathing she-dragon in quick time. Even my best, most soothing writerly rituals can’t compete with a leaf blower.

So when these fiends appear – which so often happens to be just then when I am busiest and really, really, really need to concentrate – I abandon my office and either take my dog for a walk or ride my bicycle.

Here’s a favorite bit of my dog-walking-and-cycle route.


Getting out and about banishes my leaf-blower-induced temper and also clears my mind. Some of my best writing ideas come to me when I am walking my dog or cycling. The physical exercise does me good, too. But that – writers and fitness - is a topic for a different blog.This one is about writers and the rituals we use to find our way into the writing zone.

One other thing I often do to jumpstart a work session is consult a sweet little tome called Juwelen der Weisheit. That’s german for “Jewels of Wisdom.” It’s a tiny book that fits easily into the palm of my hand. The book is filled with inspirational quotes and was a gift from a very dear friend who lives in Munich. I keep the book on my desk. Sometimes I’ll just hold it, close my eyes, and then open the book and read the saying that my ‘heart’ has chosen. It’s amazing how often the quote will be exactly what I needed to hear.

A while ago, I was feeling discouraged and opened the book to this quote: “If we think of failure, it will come to us. If we’re undecided, we’ll not move forward. We must simply choose our path and follow it.” That’s a rough translation from the German, but you can see how well the saying applied to a time when I was stumbling.

I don’t know if my German girlfriend cast a spell over this little tome or if the magic comes from the book or maybe even someplace deep inside myself. Whatever it is, I often find the exact motivation I need in the book’s pages.

If I don’t feel like working, I grab the book. Without fail, I open it to a saying that gets me going.

If something blindsides me and I pick up that book – lo! – I only have to peek inside to find just the words I needed to feel better again.

To me, this little book is magic. It’s definitely become one of my writing rituals.
You’ll see my characters using rituals of their own in A Highlander’s Temptation . I don’t like to give spoilers, so I won’t mention them specifically. But you can bet that you’ll see Arabella MacKenzie, the heroine, trying out a special ritual or two. And you’ll definitely catch her hero, Darroc MacConacher, busy at a very poignant daily habit of his own.

Devorgilla, the recurring crone mentioned above, is always good for a ritual. As a spell-caster extraordinaire, she’s a real master at such things. She has her hands full in A Highlander’s Temptation (GCP, Oct. 2009), but she’s indomitable and never tires of working her special magic. You might even catch Arabella’s mother, Linnet, going about her own unique daily rituals when you accompany her into her beloved herbarium and see her at work there. That scene, which includes Arabella’s father, Duncan MacKenzie, hero of my first book, Devil In A Kilt (GCP, July 2001), was lots of fun to write and is also an example of how a few very simple things can help us start our days in a good way.

I don’t know about you, but I love anything that helps me keep life positive.

It’s so important for writers to protect our work.

I mean, of course, keeping our heads clear and untroubled and being able to find our way into the writing zone again and again and again until the deadline is met and the book is finished and on its way to our editors.

Writing rituals help us do that. I know my own work for me.

So what about you? Do you have any special tricks that help you ready yourself for your work day? If you do, I’d love to hear them.

If anyone knows of a ‘ritual’ powerful enough to block the noise of leaf blowers, you’re my hero. But somehow, I doubt even old Devorgilla could win against the noise caused by landscaping crews.

So forget that and just tell me: how do you get to your enchanted realm?

Meet the real Somerled (Devorgilla’s little red fox), read an excerpt, and see setting photos of A Highlander’s Temptation (GCP, Oct. 2009) at my website: http://www.welfonder.com/

Leave a comment and you'll be entered to win 1 of 5 copies of a Highlander's Temptation! I'll pick 5 winners randomly and announce them on Thursday Oct. 8th. This giveaway is open to residents of the U.S. only.

You Put a Spell on Me - I'm Guest Blogging Today @ The Daily Dose

Come on over to The Daily Dose today for my guest post on why I love the modern witch story in Film, TV and in books. I'd love for you to visit me there and chat about your favorite witch stories and what you love about them!

Hop to see you there!

Wednesday Round-Up: Random Romance News You Can Use

There are lots of exciting things going on in romance land lately so I thought I would do a round-up post today.

First off, I'm excited to be counting down the days to the release of Heir of the Dog by Judi McCoy on October 6th! I reviewed the first book in Judi's Dog Walker Mysteries series, Hounding the Pavement, and loved it so much I gave it a 5 Heart Review. Judi herself says that the second book is even better, to which all I can say is hurry up Oct. 6th! You can read my review of Hounding the Pavement here.

If you are on twitter there is a great new hash tag you need to know and follow - #romrev. Started by Sue Grimshaw, the romance buyer for Borders, it will be used to help tag review links posted in twitter. What a great idea!

A while back I wrote a post about the new Lifetime show Drop Dead Diva - if you aren't watching it you are missing out! It's getting better every show and the lead actress is amazing! Today I found this super cute video about Guardian Angel Fred's Romance Rules.

I've added a new feature to the blog - check out the upper right hand side bar and you'll see a list of upcoming guest authors and dates for when I'll be guest blogging at some fantastic sites. I'll be updating this all the time so keep an eye on it. HINT - I'll even be teasing upcoming contests!

For those of you who love a good giveaway - and who doesn't - the fabulous blogger at Book Binge is hosting daily giveaways all month. These are fantastic giveaways with cool bags and great selections of books. Check out today's giveaway and see for yourself!

Whew - enough updates for now. Be back with some reviews soon! Happy Reading!

Book Blogger Appreciation Week: 10 Questions with Blogger Swapna from S. Krishna's Books

Book Blogger Appreciation Week is in full swing and one of the wonderful events this year is a book blogger interview swap. Today, I'm hosting an interview with Swapna from S. Krishna's Books and she is featuring an interview with yours truly.

Swapna was up for two BBAW awards - Best Cultural Review Blog and Best Reviews! Welcome Swapna!

1) If you had to pick just one favorite book, what would it be and why?

The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon. I got out of the habit of reading while I was in college, but my last year I happened to pick up The Shadow of the Wind and went ahead and read it. It's the book that got me back into reading, and I still think it's an amazing read.

2) What character do you most identify with?

Emily in The Opposite of Love by Julie Buxbaum. I understood her fears and absolutely loved the novel as a whole.

3) If someone wrote a biography of you, what would the title be?

A Life Lived in Books

4) Book covers: illustrated or photo?

Photo, definitely. While I don't mind illustrated covers, I find that the ones that attract me most are photo covers.

5) If you were a book, what genre would you be?

Gothic mystery, with a dash of romance thrown in! I'd love to think that I'd be like a book from Deanna Raybourn's Lady Julia Grey series - mysterious and fun!

6) Hardcover, trade paperback or mass market paperback?

Trade paperback.

7) A book you recommend to anyone and everyone, and they always love it?

The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova. That's one that I literally force on people. Not every single person has liked it, but the vast majority that I recommend it to do!

8) If you could have dinner with one living author, which author would it be? Why?

Neil deGrasse Tyson - I have a bit of a nerd crush on him.

9) Why did you decide to start your blog?

I read so much that I found I was forgetting what I had read previously. I'd pick up a book at the bookstore or the library, get it home and start reading it and discover that it was very familiar - because I had read it before! I was already reading and loving book blogs at that point, so I decided I'd start my own in order to keep track of the books I read.

10) What book did you read as a kid that stayed with you or made you really love reading?

The Dark Is Rising series by Susan Cooper. I absolutely love these books, I still re-read them now. Even as an adult, every time I read them, I discover something new. Though they are a bit dated, they really are timeless - I can't recommend these highly enough. The mix of fantasy and King Arthur mythology is excellent.

Be sure to visit Swapna's blog!

A Vocabulary Lesson with Guest Author Sharon Lathan

Today I'm pleased to introduce our guest blogger Sharon Lathan, author of Loving Mr. Darcy. Recently released, Loving Mr. Darcy is the second in her trilogy of Pride and Prejudice sequels called The Darcy Saga.

I love Sharon's topic today - a vocabulary lesson that will help you get even more out of the historicals you read, like Loving Mr. Darcy. Welcome Sharon!

A Vocabulary Lesson

Writing in an era some 200 years ago is a daunting task. Add to that the chore of tackling Jane Austen and it teeters on the brink of insanity! I haven’t decided yet whether I am crazy or brazen, but whatever the opinion, it is a very good thing that I am a lover of history and vocabulary. The research necessary to plausibly present a past world is tremendous. Writing in a style that is one’s own voice while also paying tribute to the original author is precarious. Using vocabulary that conveys a forgotten way of speaking while utilizing the language a modern reader will understand is rough.

Yet, as I said, I love history and I love vocabulary. I told a friend recently that I was a thesaurus addict! I absolutely love searching for new words to use and actually start to shake when I stumble across a new one. I have formed whole paragraphs around some really cool word, just because I have to use it! I try not to be overly obscure as I want my readers to enjoy the story and not falter when encountering a bizarre word. On the other hand, broadening ones vocabulary is a worthy endeavor and pausing to flip through the dusty dictionary is time well spent. Yes?

From time to time on my website I post an entry called “Vocabulary Rocks!” I share the origins and definitions of some of the cool words I unearth. I am going to share a few of my favs.

Décolletage – Often this word is used in such a way that one thinks it means the actual cleavage visible. In reality, décolletage is referring to the fabric neckline of the gown itself, but is only applied to a gown that is very low cut so that the shoulders and upper breasts are exposed.

Chatelaine -A set of useful items hung at the waist with a decorative chain. Commonly associated with the housekeeper who kept the keys to the Manor on her person at all times. A chatelaine was also worn by fashionable ladies and would secure a watch, sewing or writing implements, small coin purses, keys, scissors, etc.

Harridan - A bad-tempered, disreputable old woman. Probably from the French word haridelle meaning a worn-out horse. I used this word to describe Lady Catherine de Bourgh! Fits, don’t you think?

Inexpressibles – This one cracks me up! We would say ‘pants’ but that term was considered vulgar! So instead, this was the general, polite word for all the various types of male garments worn over the lower half of their bodies.

Accoutrements - The additional accessories, paraphernalia, and trimmings that are not a main part of the garment. For the Regency man and woman the accoutrements were as important as the suit or gown. Hats, gloves, walking sticks, pocket watches, jewelry, scarves, and so on.

Halcyon – It means calm, tranquil, happy, carefree, and prosperous. What is interesting is the origin: The fourteen days of calm weather at the winter solstice when a mythical bird, identified with the kingfisher, was said to breed in a nest floating on calm seas. Identified in mythology with Halcyone, daughter of Aeolus, the ruler of the winds, who when widowed upon her husband, Ceyx the king of Thessaly, drowning at sea, threw herself into the sea and became a kingfisher, flying to be with her husband. OK, you have to admit that is cool!

Braggadocio –Vain, swaggering, pretentious bragging attitude or person. After Braggadocchio, the boastful character in Edmund Spenser's The Faerie Queene (1590)

Insipid and Vapid – I love both of these words! They sound exactly like they mean, that is to be without any distinctive or interesting qualities, dull and bland, no liveliness of spirit or zest for life.

Urbane – I love this word because it perfectly describes Mr. Darcy to me. Having the polish, elegance, sophistication, and suave refinement that comes from wide social experience. Oh yeah, that’s my hero!

Well, I could go on indefinitely, but I shan’t! I hope you have enjoyed my mini-English lesson. I have an extensive glossary of Regency places and terms on my website if this essay piqued your interest for more. And I hope you will dash over to my website to read about my sequel to Pride & Prejudice: The Darcy Saga by Sharon Lathan at http://www.darcysaga.net/ The first two novels are already available to purchase! And I promise you will learn some new words to dazzle your friends. Share with us some of your favorite words, especially if they are unusual.

About the Author

Sharon Lathan is a native Californian currently residing amid corn, cotton, and cows in the sunny city of Hanford. She divides her time as homemaker nurturing a husband and two children, plus the cat, dog, and fish; while also working as a Registered Nurse in a Neonatal ICU. Somewhere in there she finds time to write! Sharon Lathan can be found on her website/blog at: http://www.darcysaga.net/, on Facebook as “Sharon Lathan, “ on Twitter as “@SharonLathan,” and on the Casablanca Authors’ blog at: http://casablancaauthors.blogspot.com/

We have a fantastic prize to giveaway to celebrate Sharon's latest release. One lucky reader will win one copy of the first two books in The Darcy Saga - Mr. & Mrs. Fitzwilliam Darcy and Loving Mr. Darcy! Just comment and tell us some of your favorite words of past or present and you're entered to win!

Sorry, this giveaway is open to U.S. and Canada residents only. Be sure to leave your email address so I can contact you if you win!

Happy Reading!

Tease Me Tuesday: Author Sharon Lathan Guest Blogging Tomorrow!

I hope you all had a great Labor Day weekend! I traveled to Rhode Island with my hubby to celebrate his grandparents 60th wedding anniversary. There was a slide show that was amazing to see all the things they had shared in their lives together. So fabulous!

Now, for our first tease of the day I'm reminding you that tomorrow author Sharon Lathan will be guest blogging here at Cheeky Reads and celebrating the release of her new book Loving Mr. Darcy.

To make it a real celebration, we'll be giving away of the first two books in her series Mr. & Mrs. Fitzwilliam Darcy and Loving Mr. Darcy. Be sure to stop by and enter to win!

Stolen Moments & Short Affairs: Welcome Guest Author Heather Long

Cheeky Reads welcomes Author Heather Long to the blog today! I met Heather on Twitter and then had the pleasure of reading her novella Remembering Ashby. I'll be reviewing it here soon, but the gist is that it's a beautifully told story and I highly recommend it!

Heather has a new book releasing soon titled Prime Evil, but in the meantime she is offering a FREE download of a short story titled It Happens that's a great introduction to her heroine Chance Monroe. I had fun with this introduction to Chance and now I can't wait to read Prime Evil! If you love earth witch stories you will really want to check these out!

In addition to writing wonderful novellas and short stories, Heather has a fantastic blog called The Daily Dose, which talks daily about Fantasy and Romance. Heather's blog posts are always interesting and entertaining so you should be sure to stop by!

Without further ado, welcome Heather!

Stolen Moments and Short Affairs

I have a confession to make; I love to indulge in short affairs rather frequently. That doesn’t mean I am opposed to longer term relationships, but those short affairs, one night stands, afternoon quickies, those short, brief passionate moments stolen away from everyone and everything else. Yes, I have a problem and that problem is the short story.

Passion for Short Stories

My passion for short stories began as a child. My grandmother used to read to me from her Harlequin romance novels because she didn’t like to read children’s books. I loved the stories, particularly when they were funny or adventurous. When I was five, she gave me a book of Aesop’s Fables. I devoured it. You know Aesop’s Fables right? The Boy Who Cried Wolf? The Dog in the Manger? The Goose That Laid the Golden Eggs? The Tortoise and the Hare?

Of course those classics captured my imagination. Short, pithy stories filled with entertainment and a moral. Those were soon followed by books on Greek mythology and collections of tales from mythology with everything from Zeus becoming a Bull to the tales of Hercules. It wasn’t long before I was seeing Encyclopedia Brown and the Two Minute Mysteries.

Is it any wonder that I reached for Cats Fantastic? Horse Fantastic? Villains Victorious? And so many more that drew me in and I couldn’t help but read? I used to think the attraction was the swift read of short story books. I could satisfy my fiction needs in fast, furious bursts of goodness, but not get so sucked into a novel.

The Star

The best short story I ever read was called The Star by Arthur C. Clarke. In the story, deep space explorers are on their way home from a far away star system. During their journey, they found the archaeological remains of an advanced civilization that was ended when their star went super nova. The mission’s lead astrophysicist is deeply troubled by something from their journey. Throughout the story, we learn different things about the destroyed culture.

The planet and its people seemed very Earth-like in nature. The people knew well in advance that their star would explode. They didn’t have the interstellar capabilities to save themselves so they built a large time capsule on a planet with a distant orbit, where it would be safe from the supernova. They stored complete records of their culture, their society, achievements and everything they could to keep the memory of their exceptionally peaceful and advanced civilization alive in memory.

All of the explorers were deeply moved by the vault, especially the Jesuit priest. At the very end of the story, the Jesuit reveals what he has figured out. The exact Earth year that light from the supernova would have reached Earth equates with the year that Christ was born. That civilization was destroyed so that the wise men would know to journey to the Christ child. To this day, that story gives me total chills.

Writing, Reading, Loving Short Fiction

This love affair with short fiction continued into adulthood. While I was not necessarily a fan of the Buffy the Vampire Slayer book series, I adored the Tales of the Slayers, the short fiction collection books. I love short fiction because you get to meet lots of different writers. More recently, I’ve read short story collections like Mean Streets, Suite 606, Strange Brew and so many more than I can name.

As a writer myself, I appreciate the opportunities that short fiction provides to readers. Remembering Ashby is a novella, a short novel just under 30,000 words. I wrote two short stories, one that follows up RA called Forget to Remember and another called It Happens. The first is a follow-up to RA while the second introduces a new series that will be coming out this fall from Sapphire Blue Publishing.

Short stories can give you a window of opportunity into the body of an author’s work. I discovered Jim Butcher in a short story, I discovered Tom Sniegoski in a short story. I discovered Kelley Armstrong, Kim Harrison, J.D. Robb, Simon R, Green, Rachel Caine, Patricia Briggs, Christopher Golden and so many more.

The list of authors could go on and on and on. I’ve gotten letters recently from a handful of people who found my short story on All Romance eBooks and others who found the short story on my website. They wrote to let me know they enjoyed the short stories so much; they wanted to see what else I wrote.

So the circle is complete. I read short stories because I love those moments, the swift introductions and thoroughly passionate affairs that can leave you breathless and longing for more. I love those short stories the best, I can’t wait for the next.

What is your favorite short story?

Tease Me Tuesday:

Believe it or not, it's already September. Since Fall is my favorite time of year, I'm excited for the cooler months to finally blow through! Bring on the cute fall colors and snugly sweaters.

Coming up on Sept. 9th Cheeky Reads welcomes Sharon Lathan, author of Loving Mr. Darcy. Be sure to stop by for her special guest blog and the chance to win a copy for yourself!

Some exciting new releases in September that I'm looking forward to...

Debbie Macomber's 92 Pacific Boulevard (Cedar Cove) and Cedar Cove Cookbook

Christina Dodd's Storm of Shadows (Chosen Ones, Book 2)

Louisa Edwards'Can't Stand The Heat (A Recipe for Love)

Jana DeLeon's Mischief in Mudbug

A Lady of Persuasion by Tessa Dare

Barely Bewitched by Kimberly Frost

Make Her Pay (The Bullet Catchers) by Roxanne St. Claire

...more to come soon, including ebooks that are calling my name!

Be sure to visit on Thursday when we'll be giving away copies of The Italian's Inexperienced Mistress, a Harlequin Presents book by Lynne Graham.

What's Your Inspiration? Guest Blogger Debbie Mumford

Today Cheeky Reads welcomes author Debbie Mumford as our guest blogger! I met Debbie on the Romance Divas Forum and was delighted that she agreed to guest for us. Welcome Debbie and take it away...

Inspiration
by Debbie Mumford

As a published novelist, a question that pops up frequently in conversations is, "Where do you get your ideas?"


The world around me is a constant source of inspiration, though I rarely stay in the here-and-now for more than a few pages of a story. I’ve published a few short contemporary romance pieces, but they were flash fiction (1,000 words or less). If they’d been any longer, I’m positive something "unusual" would’ve crept in. So far, my longer fiction has always been fantasy or paranormal in nature.

I have a duet of short stories titled Glass Magic available through Freya’s Bower. Those two stories began on a cold winter day when the glass in the front door at my office fogged up. You could actually read a sign that had been removed as much as a decade earlier. The phrase “ghost in the glass” popped into my mind and simmered until I was asked to write those stories for Freya’s Bower.

Another question I've been asked regards whether my stories begin as a vague idea or arrive fully formed, needing only to be transcribed and polished. In all honesty, my fiction usually starts from a seed—a phrase or a picture that intrigues me. The seed germinates in my subconscious until it’s ready to work its way out through my fingers and onto the screen. I rarely know what I’m going to write until I’m actually in the process of typing. That’s part of the fascination for me—discovering what happens next!

Several of my published short stories began as writing exercises: Take three unrelated words and write for fifteen minutes with the goal of using all three words. Opening Her Eyes began as dragon-rickshaw-bifocals, though you’d never know it to read the final version!


One of my current works-in-process was born during a drive with my husband to admire the fall foliage. A tree sprite popped into my head and asked what would happen if she married a human and they had a daughter? Because of that question I imagined Nimue—a feisty teenage girl who is stuck between worlds. She's definitely not human, but she's not quite Fae either. As if those teenage years aren't hard enough…

Finally, there’s my newest release, The Silver Casket, a story inspired by my own Scots heritage. What would happen if a lonely, contemporary American woman were transported back in time to 15th century Scotland? I’ll never tell—you’ll have to read the novella to find out, but it was a blast to write!

So...Where do you find your inspiration? If you're not a writer, what inspires you about life? As a reader, what kind of storylines call out to you?

Tease Me Tuesday: What's on Tap at Cheeky Reads

Wednesday we'll welcome guest blogger Debbie Mumford, author of The Silver Casket. She'll be blogging about what inspires her writing.

Samhain is featuring a FREE book download of Yorkshire by Lynne Connolly, get the Kindle version here, and other formats are available here at Books on Board.

Look for upcoming reviews on Loving Mr. Darcy, Dreamfever, Start Me Up, Mischief in Mudbug, The Grand Sophy and lots of ebook reviews.

I'll also be posting the first of my reviews of a Sony Reader as part of the Smart Bitches Trashy Books test drive program. Check out some of the hilarious reviews of other test drivers here. My personal favorite so far, has to be Randi's Comic Strip review. It's here.

Tuesday Tease - Trailer for Dark Hunter by Rita Herron

Tomorrow - Tuesday - Cheeky Reads will be featuring author Rita Herron as part of her Dark Hunger tour. Make sure you stop by for the chance to win a copy!

To tempt you to remember, here's the book trailer for Dark Hunter. Yeah, I'm a bit of a tease, but if you come back tomorrow I might fulfill your wish to get your very own copy!

What's New Wednesday

So we have some very cool things coming up here at Cheeky Reads and I thought I would give you a heads up!

First, I'm working on some changes and updates to the site that I think you'll enjoy and I'll be giving the site more structure so that you'll see more frequent posts. Look for themed days, more reviews, more guest authors and more giveaways! Basically more of everything!

I'll be posting details about some of these new changes soon.

I'm excited to announce Cheeky Reads will be hosting author Rita Herron on August 18th as part of her Dark Hunger Tour! It's the second in her DEMONBORN Series and the cover is quite striking (check it out above)! Make sure to stop by as we'll be giving away copies of Dark Hunger!

Lastly, if you haven't tried Twitter give it a go! I was very hesitant and well thought it sounded stupid, but I've been able to talk with some of my favorite authors and other book bloggers. And, not to blow my own horn too much, I try to tweet lots of deals on books sales, industry news and info on authors. If you don't do Twitter, you can check out my latest tweets in the left hand sidebar. Maybe it will entice you to follow me! LOL!

More news and changes coming soon!

Get TORTURED with Amanda McIntyre! Join Day Three of the TORTURED Tour and Win a Signed Copy!

"25 Blogs in 25 days...the TORTURED tour!"

August 6th - Day Three of The Tour

Leaving Chicago, we had an interesting trek through Gary, Indiana (where I paid silent homage to the late Michael Jackson) and Ohio –which I discovered is much like driving through Nebraska (only those in the Midwest will understand) we arrived in the state of New York. Who knew that New York State was such a lush green, forested place? The short jaunt from Fredonia to Niagara Falls was a pleasant one and our weather at around seventy with low humidity and brilliant sunshine could not have been more perfect. After a quick lunch at my fav spot, Hard Rock Café, we ventured to the “falls” where I stood in amazement and memory of the last time I’d seen that area almost …dare I say it, forty years before. Eeek! It was well worth every mile to see my kids snapping away, their eyes wide with respect and wonder of such a magnificent sight. Yes, we’d seen the IMAX movie on Niagara, but seeing something of such magnitude in real life is far more incredible!

Then came the challenge, trekking down to the base of the falls to the “Cave of the Winds.” I could remember my trip on the “Maid of the Mist”—the boating excursion that takes soaked passengers on the river beneath the falls—but for the life of me I couldn’t recall this “Cave of the Winds” being there. Still, you live only once and I am a secret adventuresome pirate at heart, so I donned the required foam-soled sandals and rain poncho and stood before the simulated falls mural with my three of my children to snap our picture for posterity. (Oh yes, dad opted to hold bags, wait on the surface and test out the homemade ice cream)

I later wondered as we stood in a “cattle line” waiting our turn, if the picture was taken in case of an unexpected accident. What can I say? I’m a writer. Finally, we made it to the front of the line, where a man stood repeating the litany I’m sure several times over during the course of his shift, “this elevator will take you 175 feet below the surface and then you walk through a tunnel…” at which point I began to wonder how he could look so casual when sending people into this watery abyss.

I cinched my glad bag style poncho tight and got on my game face as I prepared to squeeze into the cubicle that would plummet me to the base of the falls. I tried not to think of thousands of tons of water rushing over the rocks, centuries old, one of the true wonders of the world—and I was going to get to stand in its grandeur and get soaked. I started thinking then about my latest work, my deadline and it suddenly seemed less stressful.

We emerged from the tunnel into the sunshine and stood a moment overlooking the churning waterway below. I chided myself for being overly concerned, and yet I had a feeling this wasn’t all there was. People with various odd looking expressions, soaked to the skin were coming from around a bend. THAT “feeling” came to fruition a few moments later when I stood at the base of a set of wooden stairs that angled every which way—looking like something out of the movie ”Labyrinth”—to a platform high above, settled right into the midst of the falls.

So I began the maze of steps, taking note of the haphazard and yet I was certain carefully placed wood planks jabbed here and there, bracing the structure against the rock. I tired not to think of the constant roar in my ear, the hundreds of thousands of pounds of pressing pushing against the narrow wood steps and single person walkways that crisscrossed the falls ahead. I tried not to think of having to stop part way when I small child decided firmly they didn’t want to go any further. Later, my husband tried to reason that hundreds of people go on this daily and each year they tear it down and rebuild it. Which I suppose was meant to appease my concern, but I’m not sure that it did. Would I do it again? In a heartbeat ;)

In my erotic Medieval historical, TORTURED (Harlequin Spice-Books, Aug. ’09) Sierra must face her fears and the unknown in order to survive. What fear have you had to face that made you realize the strength you have inside you? Read a full excerpt from TORTURED on my website! http://www.amandamcintyre.net/

One lucky commenter will win a signed copy of TORTURED! Having read this book, I can personally tell you that you really want to win this one. I actually cheered out loud at the ending!

Next stop Novel Thoughts at RRH http://www.novethoughts.wordpress.com/ -- August 7

See you on the road!
Amanda McIntyre
DIARY OF COZETTE Harlequin Spice Oct. '08
TORTURED Harlequin Spice Aug. '09
"Winter Awakening" in WINTER'S DESIRE Nov.'09

Doing The Naughty: Welcome Guest Author Dee Tenorio

A huge welcome to today's guest blogger Dee Tenorio!

Dee is the author of numerous books from Samhain Publishing and her newest novella, Love Me Knots, releases today. Big congratulations to Dee and I'm so pleased to have her here at Cheeky Reads!

Check out Dee's guest blog below and enter for a chance to win a ecopy of Love Me Knots!

Dee's Website
Dee's Blog
Check out Love Me Knots at Samhain

Doing The Naughty

When I first started writing, I thought I was being oh so titillating by having my characters make out.

I was like, seven.

By the time I was ten and had discovered romance---particularly historicals! WOWSA!---I quickly learned the error of my thinking. Still, it was a long time before I got comfy enough to actually write a frisky love scene. I remember when I started writing "Test Me" as an erotic romance. I was sitting on my bed, my husband innocently working on his computer across the room and my face was absolutely on fire while I typed like mad. (Incidentally, I was in this same condition while doing research on Vetta's waterproof sex toy in that same book, for much the same reason. Believe me, gang, you do not want to get researching sex toys by hubby who is pretty sure he's taking care of business. Well...not without taking your vitamins first.)

Where was I?

Oh yeah, doing the naughty. So, anyway, at first, it was really difficult to allow myself to write erotic. I was so sure my mother was going to find out and I'd wake up in the night with her standing over my bed with that look on her face she'd get when I forgot to do the dishes. The "Girl, I'm gonna beat you so hard, you're going back in time and you done better do the dishes when you get there" Look. (Note: Mom never actually beat me, but she sure looked like she would.)

But after that first scene got written of Travis getting a hell of an eyeful of his nekkid heroine, Mom didn't show up. Mom didn't have a clue. So I kept going, and "Test Me!" got naughtier and naughtier. And you know what? It was fun! No holds barred, as descriptive as I wanted to be. I totally relaxed about the content I was writing. And with that freedom, I was able to write several more books with characters that had complete sexuality, which I think was part of making them more realistic. I didn't flinch when things got hot. I didn't blush and worry about Mom acting like the end of the movie "Carrie". And when a story idea came along about a couple that has great sex but bad communication... Well, who was I to say no? And there you have it, "Love Me Knots" was born.

I look at writing more explicitly as a different kind of honesty. I'm not going to get all preachy about how it's empowering to write the naughty. But the way a couple expresses themselves physically is as much a language as what they say. And if it means taking a few more vitamins, why not? :)

Of course, there are certain caveats are required for doing the naughty regularly on paper, particularly if you've never done it before.

1) After describing a man's appreciation for the feminine privates, keep in mind that your CPs just might wonder if YOU have an appreciation for feminine privates...

2) Mom's DO smack you in the back of the head when they find out you've been writing.

3) You really need to stock up on vitamins and Wheaties.

So, how about you? Have you ever worried about doing something, only to find out that it's the right thing for you? Share a comment and win a free ecopy of my new erotic novella, "Love Me Knots"!

Upcoming Guest Bloggers - Dee Tenorio & Amanda MacIntyre

I'm excited to announce that on August 4th, we'll be featuring as a guest blogger, author Dee Tenorio!

Dee has a brand new Samhain Novella coming out that day, and she's launching her book tour right here at Cheeky Reads!

Come back on August 4th to congratulate Dee on her release. One lucky reader will win an e-copy of her new release Love Me Knots! Here's a sneak peek at an excerpt.

On August 6th, the fantastic Amanda MacIntyre will be here to talk about her new release Tortured!