Tease Me Tuesday:
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.
Making It Through Monday
see more Lolcats and funny pictures
Something about the Lolcat photo above hit me as hilariously similar to how I've been feeling about some of the projects I've tackled lately. Love the look on his face!
Here area some great links to help make it though Monday a little easier!
Books on Board is now offering 20% off the monthly romance recommendations from Dear Author. Check out this month's top picks!
If you haven't heard, Borders launched a fantastic new romance blog called True Romance, that features great videos and blogs by your fav authors and bloggers.
Author Loucinda McGary is launching her Treasure of Venice blog tour and will be giving away a copy of her new release at most of her blog stops. Check out her tour schedule here.
On Sept. 9th, Cheeky Reads will be hosting author Sharon Lathan to celebrate the release of her latest book in The Darcy Saga, Loving Mr. Darcy. Be sure to join us and enter to win a copy!
Book Review: The Grand Sophy By Georgette Heyer
The Grand Sophy has arrived...
And when Sir Horace Stanton-Lacy is ordered to South America on Diplomatic Business he parks his only daughter, Sophy, with his sister in Berkeley Square. Sophy can immediately see that her cousins are in a sad tangle: Charles is engaged to a bluestocking, and Cecelia's in love with a poet of all things. It seems Sophy has gotten there just in time...
And the Hon. Charles Rivernhall's life will never be the same...
While Sophy is going to outrageous lengths to solve everyone else's problems, she finds that she herself might have some big surprises in store.
I was extremely excited for the chance to review Georgette Heyer's The Grand Sophy. Having heard so much about Mrs. Heyer and her books, I was sad to say I'd never read one before now. From the research I did, The Grand Sophy is beloved by readers. In fact, many deem it to be their favorite Heyer book. So, it was the perfect introduction into the world of Mrs. Heyer!
I was not disappointed! When an author and book are hyped so often, I sometimes worry that my expectations could never be met. This time though, they were exceeded and I had a very grand time reading this book.
Sophy was uterly charming character and managed to steal my heart as she does the family in the book. She was smart, sassy and meddlesome to perfection and unlike any other character I've read from writers of Mrs. Heyer's time period. It was a blast reading Sophy's exploits!
Heyer perfectly twisted a tale that includes a cast of characters you'll root for and some you'll root against, which makes it all the more fun. Through it all, you just know that Sophy will figure out how to set it all right and find her own happily ever after.
I can only wonder how I made it through advanced high school English classes and an English Major in college and not have been introduced to Mrs. Heyer. Mrs. Heyer should be required reading right alongside the likes of Austen and the Bronte sisters. Likewise, where are all the BBC adaptations of her books!
I'm very against spoilers, so I won't go into too much detail here except to say that if you haven't read The Grand Sophy you should do so immediately!Buy The Grand Sophy Here
Look for The Grand Sophy and other Heyer Classics to be reissued from Soucebooks Casablanca with gorgeous new covers! Speaking of those cover, Smart Bitches Trashy Books did a fantastic interview with the designer of the new covers and its definitely worth the read. Smart Bitches Interview Here.
What's Your Inspiration? Guest Blogger Debbie Mumford
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?
More Tease Me Tuesday: Chat with Jennifer St. Giles
Here are the details and the chat link directly from the Knight Agency Blog:
WHAT: Chat with Jennifer St. Giles
WHEN: Thursday, August 27th @ 9pm ET
WHERE: TKA Chat room
HOW TO CHAT: Visit TKA's chat room here: http://client1.sigmachat.com/sc.php?id=115545
Enter a username and password (any combination). Login
Here's an extra treat - Head over to the Knight Agency Blog today and enter to win 2 of Jennifer's books today!
Tease Me Tuesday: What's on Tap at Cheeky Reads
Cheeky Reads Awarded The Kreativ Blogger Award!
Guest Review: Plight of the Darcy Brothers by Marsha Altman
By Marsha Altman
2 Heart Review
With Jane and Elizabeth away, Darcy and Bingley take on the daunting task of managing their two-year- old children. Mary Bennet returns from the Continent pregnant by an Italian student promised to the church; Darcy and Elizabeth travel to find the father, and discover previously unknown—and shocking—Darcy relations. By the time Darcy discovers that there's more than one sibling of questionable birth in the family, the ever-dastardly Wickham arrives on the scene to try to seize the Darcy fortune once and for all.
I should start out by saying that although I am a serious fan of Jane Austen’s novels, I’m not exactly a Jane Austen purist. If anyone who has a talent for entertaining and compelling writing wants to continue Ms. Austen’s stories about love and life, then that’s fine with me. In the case of The Plight of the Darcy Brothers, however, I have to contend that the story isn’t compelling and is light on entertainment.
Marsha Altman’s talent lies in understanding Jane Austen’s characters well enough to keep their personalities intact – even affording Mr. Bennett and Mr. Darcy a few great lines. Seeing the young family life of the Darcys and the Bingleys provides a few funny moments but from then on its one clumsy reveal after another of predictable scandals and family secrets. Too much time is spent on a sub-plot featuring Caroline Bingley and her doctor husband, while not enough time is given to the ongoing Darcy-Wickham rivalry in spite of a “game-changing” revelation.
By the end of the novel, I felt like I’d just sat through a long episode of one of those campy British sitcoms – complete with a Monk, a Madame, a Prince and a long-running joke about ink-stained children. Not to mention an overly-violent duel that isn’t in keeping with the rest of the novel’s tone.
The Plight of the Darcy Brothers is certainly a light and easy read, but I wouldn’t recommend putting it on your “must-read” list.
(It should be noted that this is the second sequel that Marsha Altman has written. I haven’t read the first, but the second is not written in such away that you’d be lost if you don’t read them in order.)
So, leave a comment telling us if you've read any Jane Austin sequels or are you a purist who likes to stick to the original- and all it's many movie adaptations? What's your favorite Jane Austin movie and do you like the new modern contemporaries like the Jane Austin Book Club?
Welcome Rita Herron on her Dark Hunger Blog Tour & Enter To Win A Copy!
The following Cheeky Readers have won a copy of Dark Hunger. Email me at cheekyreads(@)gmail.com with your mailing address so I can send your prize.
Brenda
Dottie
Catslady
2nd Chance
Hellion
Congrats to the winners and look for more giveaways soon!
Buy Dark Hunger Today!
Follow Rita's Blog Tour as she stops at:
Books and Needlepoint - Aug. 19
All About {n} - Aug. 20
This Book For Free - Aug. 20
Park Avenue Princess - Aug. 21
Morbid Romantic - Aug. 21
Falling off the Shelf - Aug. 22
My Book Views - Aug. 22
Found not Lost - Aug. 22
Tuesday Tease - Trailer for Dark Hunter by Rita Herron
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!
Haven't Read Sookie Stackhouse? Here's Your Chance!
Crazy with Waiting: Dreamfever will be here August 18th!
It all started with a trip to the library where I picked up an unknown (to me) author's book because I was in the mood for a historical that involved kilts - if you get my drift! That's when I first got hooked on Moning's Highlander series.
I read them all and then found out she had a brand new book out called Darkfever that was different from the Highlander Series, but that some of the myth and world building would be similar. I was all about that so I checked out the LARGE PRINT version - the only version of Darkfever my library had - and boy was I instantly addicted! It gave me FEVER! Ok, that was corny. Sorry!
BTW - If you haven't read any of the Fever Series yet I have great news...the first book in the series is available for FREE as an ebook! So, you can check it out for free to see if you get addicted too! Click here to go get that FREE book!
So, skip ahead to Bloodfever and Faefever, books 2 and 3 in the series, and I'm in a full blown, fever and sweats addiction that kills me in the time between books!
Faefever was the last book, and the very first book I literally threw across the room after reading. I had gotten on my treadmill thinking I would walk and read and seriously stayed on over 2 hours because I got lost in the story! Karen does a cliffhanger like no other, and Faefever has one hell of a crazy one! After reading the last page I look up and promptly threw my book across the room - leaving a small dent in my wall!
It's been about a year and I'm on the countdown to August 18th - when Dreamfever releases and I can get my Mac on! (Mac being the title character who was left in a precarious situation at the end of book 3!)
This is a five book series so I know there will be another humdinger awaiting me at the end of Dreamfever and still I can't wait to get my hands on it! Even with knowing I'm cruising for a bruising with withdrawals again, I can't help it...I'M ADDICTED!
What book series are you addicted to? What series makes you preorder or rush to the bookstore on release day? Tell me your addictions!
What's New Wednesday
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!
Book Drive To Benefit Louisville Library
I’m putting together a book drive in an effort to help.
How you can help:
Everybody:
Donations of new books, all genres.
Information about monetary donations can be found at WFPL.
Authors & Publishers:
Donations of both signed and unsigned books. All genres, from children’s books to romance to non-fiction, etc, etc.
Signed books can be used in fundraiser purposes. Unsigned books can be used to help replenish the books that were lost due to the flood.
I have spoken with somebody with the library and at this time, they have no place to store books. However, I’m close and I will keep the books at my house until they are able to take them.
For those wishing to donate books, there are two ways you can send them. I can either receive them my post box address or a friend will receive them at her home.
If you wish to mail them via the USPS, send to:
Shiloh Walker
PO Box 976
Jeffersonville, IN47131
**Please note, I did speak with library personnel before I started this bookdrive. I realize they had no storage/no way to process books, which is why I’m holding them for the time being, and I did discuss that with library personnel as well. Several members of the library do have my contact info, should they have concerns, and none have contacted me.
Feel free to repost this information in its entirety.
Shiloh Walker
http://shilohwalker.com/
http://shilohwalker.wordpress.com
This post was submitted by Shiloh Walker.
Get TORTURED with Amanda McIntyre! Join Day Three of the TORTURED Tour and Win a Signed Copy!
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!
Smart Bitches Sony Rest Drive
Check out the hilarious first review from Billie over at Smart Bitches.
If you are even considering the pros and cons on an ereader, you should follow these reviews. We're a random group of reviewers giving you our honest ups and downs with the Sony. You're sure to find a reviewer who has your reading habits and opinions on print versus ebooks, and that should be helpful in deciding if an ereader is right for you.
Happy Reading!
Cheeky Book Review: Bunco Babes Tell All by Maria Geraci
Meet the Bunco Babes of Whispering Bay. Every Thursday night they roll dice, drink frozen margaritas, and catch up on all the gossip in their small north Florida town. Kitty Burke is the only Bunco Babe who is still single – which is okay – but she's thirty-five and may need to face the fact that her image of Mr. Right is all wrong.
Take Steve. Very sexy, but – with three failed marriages and a shady career – on paper he is not great husband material. And yes, his ringtone is “Free Bird.” Fellow Babes Shea and Pilar certainly vote thumbs-down. But maybe there's more to Steve than meets the eye? Is it time for Kitty to take a chance and hope that she can be as lucky in love as she is in Bunco?
This book gave me the same sense of longing for a group of strong female friends as Sex and the City had. These women are not only believable, but you'll want them as your closest pals. They'll be your support network and the ones making you laugh out loud. They come to life as you turn the page, and I felt deeply connected to them. It takes a great writer to pull the reader in so deeply and I can't wait to read the next books in Maria's Bunco Babes series.
The story of Kitty and Steve was delightful to read and I loved them as characters. Each is interesting in their own right which makes the payoff when they come together even better! From the first meeting that includes bathroom humor, mistaken identity AND a male stripper, to the obstacles they overcome, I was under their spell. This book's characters had me thinking about them days after having finished the book and I'll be happily following their relationship in the coming Bunco Babes books.
The Winner of Sexist Man Alive Is...
Romance Book Review: Lucky Streak by Carly Phillips
Long ago, a witch proclaimed an eternal curse that every Corwin male who married for love would be destined to lose his woman and his fortune...
When Mike Corwin awakens after some wild partying in Vegas $100,000 richer and married to Amber, the gorgeous woman he met the night before, he thinks he's hit the jackpot. The bad news is that Amber's a con who takes his money and runs. Seems the family curse has finally hit him. Hard.
But to Amber, Mike isn't business as usual. If only she didn't need the money to ensure her father's safety, she might actually have fallen for the intense lawman. Instead, she's forced to betray him.
Now Mike's hell-bent on divorce and Amber's on the run...but when a twist of fate reunites them, can they turn their run of bad fortune into a lucky streak?
The storyline is very believable and will probably hit close to the heart for many readers. Amber is a con only because she desperately needs to pay for her father’s nursing home and care. Mike is afraid of true love because his experience with it has only been through his messed up family (and of course the famous Corwin Curse). These are highly likeable characters and I really cheered for them to get together.
I enjoyed the story, but felt that there was so many characters and side stories that it took away from Mike and Amber. In particular, I felt that the scenes with Jason Corwin were forced into the book as a set-up for the next one. I do think his story sounds very interesting, but throwing in his scenes at the end of Lucky Streak just cluttered things up to me.
Lucky Streak was an enjoyable book, but it didn’t totally engross me. This might have been because of all the side stories and characters. I would have liked more focus on Mike and Amber. Although time passes in the book, very little of that time is spent with Mike and Amber together getting to know one another. This left me wanting more to their story. I wanted more Mike and Amber and less side characters. What I can say is that the story is fun to read and the writing made me laugh out loud!
Cheeky Reads Featured at The Daily Dose: Spotlight on Reviewers
I was honored to be interviewed and had a great time with Heather's questions. Head on over there to check it out and remember they'll have a new reviewer every day this week!
Serial Lovin': Keeping Series Straight - Win The Sexiest Man Alive!
Marissa's question was in reference to my review of Hard and Fast by Erin McCarthy since it’s the second book in Erin's Contemporary series about NASCAR drivers. So why did I read that book first? Well, in that instance, it was because I was in the mood for a contemporary, went to the bookshelf, and this book seemed to fit the bill. I completely spaced on this being part of a series, and I even have the first book on my shelf to read too! Both of these books, like most contemps, are stand alone books that share characters. So, even though they are linked, it's not 100% necessary to read them in order to enjoy them!
One thing I find very interesting – Why don't contemporaries do a better job of connecting books in a series? Yes, each book is a complete story in its own right, but very few of them bother to mention on the cover or back blurb that this isn't the first or only book with these characters involved.
Paranormals, Urban Fantasies and even mysteries, usually play up the connection between books on the cover. You'll often see “Book 5 of the xxx series” or “A xxx Mystery” right on the front cover. So why don't contemporaries do this more often? What is it about that particular genre?
In thinking about the other times I've read a series out of order I think it’s because I'm a reader just like you! I browse bookstores to find new authors, and that doesn’t always mean I know if a book is part of a series before I pick it up. Impulse shopping when you work across the parking lot from a bookstore can make you try out all kinds of new books!
I've been introduced to many of my favorite authors not through their first book, but through whatever book I first discovered of theirs. I read book three in Kim Harrison's Rachel Morgan series without any clue that it was part of a series. What happened? I said, “Whoa! I need more!” That's when I discovered the first two books – now I'm first in line for every new release! I'm constantly buying an author's backlist once I'm introduced to their awesomeness!
There are of course those books or series I've heard about online, so I will start with the first in the series, but I'm a reader like any other – drawn to an individual book like a moth to a flame! Catch my eye with a shiny cover or whet my appetite with a great blurb, and even if I haven't heard about the book or author I'll give it a try.
Have you ever bought a book only to discover that its part of a series, or do you always research books before buying? If you have read a later book in a series, did it inspire you to go back and read the previous books? What do you think about loosely linked Contemporaries that don't mention the series on their cover?
Leave a comment and you'll be entered to win a copy of Sexiest Man Alive by Diana Holquist! Winner will be announced Friday July 24th! A big thank you to Marissa for the great question – Send your mailing address to cheekyreads(@)gmail.com and I'll send you something special!
Way to Step Up your Game Lifetime!
I'm not an everyday Lifetime watcher, but I do check it see what they have on and have found myself watching more than usual lately. First up where the Killer Hair and Hostile Makeover movies on Lifetime Movie Network- I love the Crimes of Fashion books by Ellen Byerrum - the movies were high quality and the casting was great! Head to the website to watch the entire movie online along with extra videos from the cast!
During those movies, I caught the promos for the new show Drop Dead Diva. I couldn't decide if it would be cute, or if the premise of a skinny girl who dies and comes back as a larger size woman would be too preachy about weight and not light enough for laughs.
I shouldn't have worried - I caught the pilot on the other night and it was extremely cute! The shows premise on being more than what you look like on the outside is there - which is great! - but there was also so much more to like. The lead actress is fantastic and I hope Hollywood takes notice! She's what made this pilot really pop for me and I think as the show develops we'll see even greater things from her. Oh, and of course Margaret Cho is awesome as always.
Wanna watch the entire pilot episode online? Check it out! The regular season starts this Sunday at 9PM EST.
Romance Book Review: Hard And Fast By Erin McCarthy
By Erin McCarthy
Berkley Sensation
4 Heart Review
Book Excerpt
An experiment in romance...As someone who doesn't understand the draw of NASCAR, I was slightly hesitant about this book. I wasn't sure how much a love of the “sport” was needed to enjoy it, but I found the book to be very light on the NASCAR references and this was a definite plus for me.
New to Charlotte, North Carolina, stock car racing country, graduate student Imogen Wilson meets Ty McCordle, a driver who inexplicably has her pulse racing. After an encounter at the track with a woman whose main goal in life is to marry a driver, Imogen realizes she's hit on the perfect topic for her sociology thesis. If she follows the rules on how to get a man, can she steer her way into the hearts of the drivers and establish their
dating – and mating – patterns?
...that's testing the limits of passion.
Although sexy and reckless Ty is the ideal test subject, Imogen knows she can't pursue him for the sake of science. Yet he's the one who's chasing after her, and Imogen realizes that she actually wants to be caught. A Southern gentleman like Ty won't disappoint – he will satisfy her curiosity and make all the risks worthwhile...
As the title suggests, the writing in this book is fast paced, but it definitely isn't hard to keep up with. This book was good enough to make me want to spout the cheesiest driving references I could think of...The story revved along and purred like the engine of an expensive car...Erin's writing took me for a ride...okay enough driving references!
What I liked about this book was that there was no huge mystery to be solved, no major revenge plot or a detailed historical setting. Instead, I found a straight up, sexy, contemporary with likable characters and great writing. Oh, and did I mention sexy? The sex scenes in this book were outstanding if you enjoy that kind of thing (cheeky smile appears on this reviewer's face).
I've recently purchased Erin's previous book, Flat-Out Sexy and will save it for when I need another great escape with some hot and steamy elements. I was very impressed with Erin's writing and the way she doesn't bog a story down in too many plot twists, minor characters or overly complex relationship hurdles. Hard and Fast was a perfect, uncomplicated story that I thoroughly enjoyed!
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Authors on Air - Live From RWA 09 - Four Dukes and a Devil
Those Smart Bitches Rule! Commencing Sony Reader Test Drive
The Reader arrived this weekend and I'm getting it all set up this morning. Is it okay that I squealed like a teenager reading Teen Beat when I opened the box? So far, I love how slim it is, and the case is magnetic so that it keeps the flaps closed to protect the Reader. So sleek it makes me feel all uptown girl-ish.
So, look for upcoming posts on my experience with the Sony Reader and ebook reviews!
Book Review: The Conqueror By Kris Kennedy
By Kris Kennedy
Kensington
4 Heart Review
Having not read many (hmm...maybe even ANY!) medieval romances before, I wasn't sure what to expect of this historical romance. I shouldn't have been worried since the story was very creative and it was a nice change not to have all the action taking place at a masquerade ball.England, 1152. The country is wracked by bloody civil war. Griffyn Sauvage is a valiant knight with a strict moral code of honor. But when his family's estate and vast treasures are seized, he becomes hardened by the betrayal. Now he will go to any lengths for vengence – even if it means forming a union with his most despised enemy by marrying his daughter, Lady Guinevere de l'Ami. Then, Griffyn lays eyes on Gwyn and is completely disarmed...
As war strikes, Gywn is left alone to fight her enemies who want control of her ancestral lands. When Griffyn comes to her rescue, she is grateful that the mysterious, brave knight has risked his life to protect hers. With each passing day, she finds herself drawn to him even as she senses he's hiding a dark secret from her. And when another dangerous adversary closes in on both of them, Griffyn and Gwyn's trust in each other will be put to the ultimate test...
First off let me say the $3.99 price tag alone makes this book a no-brainer to add to your to-buy list! You won't be disappointed in the story either. I liked the combination of war story, revenge plot, romanace and even a treasure hunt! They all came together to make an interesting storyline in a well-written book.
Kris did a good job of side-stepping some story traps she could easily have fallen into. Early on, it looked like the only thing that was going to keep Griffyn and Gwyn apart was a good sit-down discussion, but Kris quickly put my worries to rest with new conflicts and plot twists.
The build up for the treasure hunt also had me slightly concerned, as I thought it would be hard to come up with an ending the book deserved. Never fear though, Kris had it all figured out and the ending was inventive.
Check out Kris's website at http://www.kriskennedy.net/.
Romance Writers (and Readers) Are Smart Cookies
USA TODAY ARTICLE ON SMART ROMANCE WRITERS
SAVE THE SCHOOL OF GALLANTRY - Win Awesome Prizes
In addition to Delilah's contest below, I'm throwing in a prize as well - A BAG FULL OF BOOKS & FREEBIES! Just share a link to this blog post or to Delilah's blog on your site or link to us on twitter. Come back here and let us know where you posted it. It's that easy! The more links you post, the more chances to win! The contest will run until August 4th!
Welcome Delilah!
My Dearest Readers,
When I was in high school, I had a dream. I was going to be the next Stephen King. Heh. Yeah. Stay with me. Please. I knew my ideas were fabulous and I knew all it would take is for an editor to look at it and they would offer me up the moon and the stars and best of all, a contract. I had my girlfriends read everything I wrote. And they kept telling me, “This is fabulous! It's SO funny! Hilarious!” Seeing it really wasn't supposed to BE funny, I immediately changed course realizing I actually had a better handle on being funny than scary. I also figured adding a romance into it would even make it better since that is what I loved to read.
I then entered college as an English major. I was going to be teacher and write during the summers. Even then I was a smart girl who knew I wasn't going to make jack and that I needed a job to support the “creative” one. Throughout all of college I wrote historical romances. One right after another. And kept submitting. And submitting. And submitting. And kept getting rejected and rejected and rejected. In the meantime, I got married. I had two kids. I joined RWA. I got critique partners. I did honed and honed and honed the crap out of my writing. And kept writing and getting rejected. I eventually racked up over 200 rejections and had written over 40 books in those 11 years of trying to get published.
When I finally sold my first historical romance, MISTRESS OF PLEASURE, and my second book, LORD OF PLEASURE, I was beside myself. It didn't feel real. To FINALLY arrive at a destination I had been traveling toward for 11 long years seemed like a mirage. Which fortunately, I quickly snapped out of. Because after all, most of my friends are all published and unpublished writers and the stories they all have told me throughout the years made me realize I had to fight with fists up for myself every step of the way. I knew publishers did little to no promotion for their authors, so I spearheaded my own promo, ready to be more than just an author. And even though I was budgeting very well and spending countless hours networking and promoting on websites and blogs, doing tons for free, I still ended up spending $7,000 on my first book. Which was way more than my advance. But hey, every business starts in the red. Right?
Then the reviews started coming in about my series set in 1830 London England about a school that educates men on the topic of love and seduction. People loved it! Wow. It got nominated for awards. Wow. Readers are e-mailing me raving. Wow. Readers from France, Austria, Poland, South Africa and from all over the U.S and the world. Wow. It just kept getting better and better. I was beginning to feel as if every penny I spent was all worth it (even though my family and I weren't going on any vacations and were eating out of cans). Because all that mattered was that my publisher loved me and my readers loved my series.
Come contract time, I'm ready for whatever they wanna throw at me. Or so I thought. Mistress of Pleasure, though completely sold out and unavailable anywhere (unless it's a used copy, some going for a ridiculous amount of $40.00), hadn't done as well as my publisher had hoped. So without waiting for the second book to come out to see if the series was even worth saving, I get a rejection from my own editor citing lack of sales.
I have to say this rejection felt more personal than any of the other two hundred and some rejections I'd received. Because it was no longer “Your book isn't good enough” it became “Your sales aren't good enough.” Since when is an author supposed to be a market guru AND a fabulous writer? Eck.
I love this series. The men in it make me laugh and it broke my heart to think that my readers will never get a chance to read about Lord Brayton, my glorious male virgin. The only alpha virgin I ever plan to write about. Then I realized something, why I am letting a publisher decide what is worth holding on to? Shouldn't that be a reader's job?
Ah. Herein lies the purpose of my post. I am challenging everyone, be they readers or writers to help me do something that's never been done before. Save a series from a death sentence given by a publisher. Can it be done? Who knows. But I eat challenges for breakfast and I hope you do to. Please join me in saving my series. Come August 4th, tell everyone you know (yes, even you're 72 year old grandfather) to buy the book, Lord of Pleasure. In doing so, you'll have a chance to win one of three $50 Visa Gift Cards. How? Check out my website for details at http://www.delilahmarvelle.com/
That said, thank you for all the support and love everyone has already shown me. Feel free to post and repost this to everyone under the moon and the stars. To all you readers out there, thank you for supporting us writers. To all you writers out there, don't ever give up on your writing. The moment you do, you give up on yourself. Which is why I'm not giving up on my series.
Cheers and much love,
Delilah Marvelle
New Book Trailer for Tortured by Amanda McIntyre
I'm excited to announce that Amanda will be guest blogging on Cheeky Reads on August 6th as part of her Tourtured blog tour! She's fantastic so I can't wait!
Check out Amanda's website and blog for more details about her books.
Win Your Choice of 3 Books at Royal Reviews!
Just head over to their site, become a follower, and comment to win! It's a great romance book review site and there are three great books up for grabs...
Blood Promise by Richelle Mead
Dreamfever by Karen Marie Moning
The White Queen by Philippa Gregory
Good Luck!
Cheeky Girl Sabrina