• 807 and counting …

    Finished A Study in Scandal by Robyn DeHart.

    Amelia Watersfield loves Sherlock Holmes and the thrilling stories he appears in — so much so that she and her three friends form the Ladies’ Amateur Sleuth Society to discuss crimes that occur in and around London.

    But when her father’s prize statue is stolen, Amelia finds herself face-to-face with a real inspector — Colin Brindley. In Amelia’s mind, Colin is Sherlock come to life, and she finds herself falling in love with him — and plotting how she can get him to engage in an affair with her.

    The mystery of the missing statue is fairly easy to figure out and takes a backseat to the romance. But if you’re looking for a light, fun read, this book should satisfy.

    And mystery fans, take note. DeHart gives readers a little something extra by starting off each chapter with a real quote from Holmes.

    So, thumbs up.

    BTW, doesn’t the DeHart have the best name ever for an Avon author? 😀

    I’m slowly whittling down my TBR pile. Next up: After Midnight by Teresa Medeiros. What are you reading right now? Inquiring minds want to know …

  • The Demon Moon LURVE Train …

    Meljean Brook has a new book coming out June 5. It’s called Demon Moon and is about Colin, the most beautiful vampire in the world. In fact, he’s so beautiful that MJ is petitioning People magazine to put him on its annual list of gorgeous people. Below, MJ states her case for Colin, or you can get all the juicy details on her blog, including how to win some free books and Amazon gift certificates:

    Dear People Magazine,

    Every November, you come out with your “Sexiest Man Alive” issue; every spring, you print your list of the “World’s Most Beautiful People.”

    But in 2007 — and for the last two hundred years — the sexiest man and the most beautiful person has been … a vampire.

    George? Pffft. Brad? Come on! Jude? …no.

    Why isn’t it that Colin Ames-Beaumont hasn’t graced your cover? Is it simply because his picture cannot be taken? (He’s so beautiful a blank cover with just his name on it would make your readers drool.) Because he usually only comes out at night? (How is that different than Johnny Depp?) Because you think he hasn’t bared his assets for a Hollywood camera?

    Are you afraid of his tainted blood? You shouldn’t be: one look will not send you to the Chaos realm, surrounded by flying dragons and the screams of the damned. Only Colin sees that realm when he looks into a mirror — it will not trouble you. Is it the woman he’s falling in love with? Geeks need love, too, People Magazine — a fact you have long overlooked (but that is another campaign to be won.)

    Is it the fear that if you met him in a dark alley, the words “Oh my God you’re so beautiful!” would hardly be past your lips before he had you up against the wall for some hot sexing that you wouldn’t remember the next day?

    No; none of those things are true impediments to being called “the sexiest” or “the most beautiful”. I think the problem is that you’ve been stuck on one pesky little word in the “Sexiest Man” title: Alive.

    But there are those of us — readers and authors, geeks and norms — who know that Undead can be just as sexy as Living. And we’ve got hundreds of paranormal romances to prove it.

    So I’m beginning my campaign to get a vampire on the cover of your magazine. To no longer be forced to stare longingly at men who can’t read my mind. Men who can’t use a sword. Men who can’t wear satin-lined capes and look good doing it. I’m calling for all readers, living and undead, to fight for vampire equality.

    And I’m nominating Colin Ames-Beaumont to the be first representative of the “Sexiest Man Alive (and Undead)” for 2007. What separates him from other vampire romance heroes, you wonder? He’s strong, as they are. He sucks blood, as they do. He’s got out-of-control sexual appeal, as they do. But there is one thing, People Magazine, that makes Colin stand out from the rest of the vampire heroes.

    Colin … is blond.

    But do not take my word for it; judge for yourself. And because he is cursed, unable to see his reflection or to have any pictures taken, the only proof I can offer is in Demon Moon. The book cover cannot do him justice — you must look inside. Want a peek? The first four chapters are in a PDF here. Or you can buy it at Amazon (it is available June 5 in stores everywhere).

    Sincerely,
    Meljean Brook

    Living and Undead Readers for Vampire Equality

    Join the L.U.R.V.E. Train – Because vampires are beautiful people, too.

    Wow. I think that’s all I need to say. 😎

  • Yet another Persephone photo …

    miss-thing-2.jpgMy significant other not-so-gently suggested that I post yet another photo of his latest kitty, Persephone. So, here you go.

    The things I do for that man … BTW, the kitty has totally reuined his rep as a bad-add. Can you say marshmallow? Because that’s what he’s turned into …

  • Check me out …

    Leena Hyat of My Tote Bag was nice enough to interview me about Karma Girl, writing, and various other topics. Go check out the interview. Also, Leena has several signed, autographed copies of Karma Girl to give away.

    Enjoy! 😎

  • 806 and counting …

    Finished Charming Jo by Laura Drewry.

    It’s about Jo McCaine, a Kansas woman who needs some help to run her ranch and string up a new fence her neighbors aren’t too happy about. But since nobody wants to work for a woman, Jo is forced to hire Levi Travers, a cowboy drifter who has his own problems. Naturally, sparks fly between the two.

    One thing I really liked about this book is that the characters talked about doing things properly (i.e. getting married before they had sex), and then they actually followed through with those promises, instead of tossing them aside like characters usually do in the heat of the moment.

    And this is the only romance I think I’ve ever read where the characters don’t have sex until the very last chapter. Seriously. Last chapter. There some kissing and some touching throughout the book, but Jo and Levi don’t seal the deal until the very end. It was a refreshing change.

    So, thumbs up.

    On a side note, the book was a historical Western. I love Westerns. Give me cowboys and bank robbers and men strung up at dawn. Give me tough women and prospectors and evil sheriffs. There aren’t enough Western romances out there these days. It’s all regency England (which I enjoy, but I really love Westerns).

    To all you historical writers out there, I say get cracking! Give the world some more Westerns to enjoy. 😎

    What about you? What sort of historical romance do you like? Westerns? The regency period? Exotic locales? Inquiring minds want to know …