Nalini Singh's Hostage to Pleasure

OK - three in one day - with maybe more.

In my blog hopping I noticed Nalini Singh is holding a contest. How fortuitous since I just picked up Hostage to Pleasure earlier today when I picked up a SECOND copy of Cry Wolf.

Here's how it works:

What do you have to do to enter?

(a) Do a post on your blog, livejournal, myspace, facebook or website etc, where you answer at least one of the questions below. You can do all three questions if you like!

* Which fictional hero (from books, tv, movies...) would you most like to hold hostage?

* Which fictional hero would you most like to be held hostage by?

* Which fictional world would you most like to be held hostage in?

(b) link back to this post & mention the contest
(c) post the cover of Hostage to Pleasure if possible; and
(d) leave a comment here with a link to where you've posted your entry

I think my answers will be pretty much a given since she's allowing us to use fictional characters from TV, Movies - and I have been accused of being a bit - well - obsessed.

* Which fictional hero (from books, tv, movies...) would you most like to hold hostage?
John Thornton of North and South. Then again maybe it might be Guy of Gisborne so I could have my wicked way with him.

* Which fictional hero would you most like to be held hostage by?
John Thornton of North and South. Then again maybe it might be Guy of Gisborne so he could have my wicked way with me.
Tough decisions both of them.

* Which fictional world would you most like to be held hostage in?
OK - this one takes a bit more thought. I think the answer might be the Starship Enterprise so I could explore strange new worlds, seek out new life and new civilizations, to boldly go where no one has gone before.”
Of course if I were being held hostage I might not get a chance to do those exciting things.


PS - Did I mention that I got a chance to meet her again this year in San Francisco?? Sadly I didn't get much of a chance to talk to her this time round - but I did meet her - AND she remembered me!

What I did on week 3 of my summer vacation

Nothing - or pretty much nothing.

And I had a fabulous time too, doing nothing. As I may have mentioned, I went with a couple of women I work with. Tanya was with us until Wednesday. She is a fellow romance fan I work with who, when she came over and got a gander at my 'library', simply had to call her husband on the spot and gush over it. T’was quite a hoot when she did that. But now that she’s seen it, I can really become her supplier – except she’s read many of them herself.

I mentioned that this past week was one of reading and not much else besides. Tanya being a reader was also looking forward to this. She’s a huge fan of Diana Gabaldon and all things Scottish Romance related. I’d told her I probably had a few she hadn’t read and she doubted that.

HA!! A Challenge! I like challenges.

I did manage to find 3 or 4 and I brought them with me that she hadn’t read so she was a happy cottager!

Alison was the third one of our happy little group. She’s the one who found the cottage for us. I did take pictures and once I figure out how to download them, I’ll post them, but in the meantime, these are taken from their website and since it looks exactly like the pictures – well – you get the picture (hah hah). The cottage was just as adorable on the inside. It was small – only two bedrooms but with three women sharing, we managed just fine.

It was about a five hour drive north - up in lake country. Since Tanya wasn't staying the whole time, we loaded both cars down with all kinds of stuff - only to discover that much of what we brought was already supplied. Oh well.

The week was one of total relaxation. You can see from the picture here that we had a GREAT view of the lake. It was so relaxing just sitting there.

We did go into town the one day – a quaint little touristy town. We went into quite a few of the little stores but my prize buy of the day was a Will Turner Pez Dispenser that I got to go along with the Captain Jack one I already had. Well, that and some fudge. Oh – and I also bought batteries for a certain item I picked up in San Francisco.

Other than that we sat around, talked a blue streak, drank, did other things and watched some TV, fed ducks, ran from maybe bears – we didn’t stick around long enough to see if they were really there or not.

Alison already knew but now Tanya also knows I’m a freak for North and South and well – Richard Armitage. I took some DVD’s and made them watch The Vicar of Dibley. We tried watching North and South but got too busy talking so Tanya kind of lost the thread of it somewhere around the middle half of the first one. I think she thinks I’m rather obsessed now. Could be that I am – but in a good way.

I got four books read. It would have been one more, but I lost a book. I took the first book I was reading, Cry Wolf by Patricia Briggs into the bedroom with me and somehow it disappeared overnight. I looked everywhere for it but alas, could not find it anywhere. Since I was already half way finished it, once I got back today I had to go and get another copy. I have to find out what happens!! I’ll write up what I thought of the others as the days go by.

The weather was purty much perfect. It was gray and overcast yesterday but other than that it was great. I now have a better tan then I’ve had in the past few years!

It was rather sad for Alison and me packing up this morning though and getting ready to head home. Although it was quite warm, the trees were starting to turn and it would have been nice to have another few days to get some pictures of the trees. That would be incredible - seeing them all glorious over the lake.
But - I have to work tomorrow so it wasn't to be.
I did come home though to over 600 spam emails. I knew I'd have a lot.
Now I have to go make supper and settle into finishing Cry Wolf.

'til later

I'm baaaacccckkkk

And until I let all know about my week in more detail - I leave you with this.

(I always did really like this song! It works real good if you turn up the volume and just watch the video *wink*)

My Inspirational Week

"If you can imagine it, you can achieve it; if you can dream it, you can become it." - William Arthur Ward

The statement above is my favorite quote of all time. It has become my mantra in life, mainly in my profession and what I need to accomplish in the next coming years. This week I was given the greatest compliment a person can give another person. My supervisor called me an inspiration. I was floored to hear this. He said this just because I came into do my job that I am paid for, even though I was still sick.

The past week was a tough one. Over this past weekend I was deathly ill to the point my temperature was close to 103 degrees. I was so sick that on Sunday afternoon, my parents almost took me to the ER. It didn’t come down to that and instead I went to the immedicenter where my fever broke and I was diagnosed with a respiratory infection. I was given some heavy-duty antibiotics and sent home. Of course I called in sick on Monday but was well enough to return to work on Tuesday.

When I came into work, my co-workers were both shocked and pleased to see that I had come in. Another sticky situation had arisen and if I hadn’t come in on Tuesday there would have been some major problems. I am not sure if many know, but I work in the scheduling department at NBC in New York City. I am one the few responsible for the making sure the programming that airs from Prime Time and Sports airs correctly. One of my biggest responsibilities for the next few weeks was to make sure the Democratic and Republican Conventions air with no problems. On Tuesday, the woman I work with was also sick and one of the more seasoned employees I can fall back on was on vacation. A major change came down for Tuesday night and had to be fixed. There was only me who had barely enough knowledge to get this done. It was either sink or swim. I was able to swim.

In both these situations I was able to overcome in ways I never though possible. Is it okay for me to say that I was an inspiration for myself? Another different situation, one of a more personal nature arose this week and I had to decide on a certain course of action that was a hard decision on my part. The way I would react would change the way I do things, which included my morals I have set for myself. Luckily, there were those I could turn to, to give me the right advice so I didn’t make any grievous mistakes. They know who they are. They are also among the others who wished me to get better. And for everyone who made sure I was still alive and kicking, THANK YOU!

This week was all about my well being. I also realize that sometimes it should always be about you. Is this selfish? Why should it be? The most important person in your life is yourself and the only opinion that matters is your own. People tend to criticize your successes because they find their own lacking. Just because they are unhappy why should I be the same? We are all working towards one goal and that is happiness and fulfillment. When I get down or feel I am worthless in the eyes of others or even myself, instead of lashing out or continue to be depressed, I turn to poetry, songs or certain quotes that will uplift me. The majority of the time I am posting song lyrics and poems on my My Space journal along with my other unknown journal, because it is an outlet to allow my emotions to reign free. If you see something new I post there, you know something has affected me deeply. It is my way to cope.

I have said before words can be so very important. They can make a person laugh, smile, cry and rage. I use words to uplift me. And so as I leave to go on a long three-day weekend with some fun with friends, I leave you these important words by those who lived their lives with outstanding insight and reflection. Hopefully their words will give you the inspiration to do what you want without fear, and to turn your back on the fear of those who want your success as their own and may try to make your life miserable to accomplish it. Remember, their opinion doesn't matter, it never has. The only one that does is the face staring back at you in the mirror.

"Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you, too, can become great." - Mark Twain

"The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life. Attitude to me is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, than education, than money, than circumstances, than failures, than success, than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearance, gift, or skill. It will make or break a company...a church...a home. The remarkable thing is we have a choice every day regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. We cannot change our past...we cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the string we have, and that is our attitude. I am convinced that life is 10 percent what happens to me and 90 percent how I react to it. And so it is with you... we are in charge of our attitudes." - Charles Swindoll

Katiebabs (KB) *because sometimes it should be all about you*

Does an Author’s Hype Ever Get Out of Hand?

The past few weeks there has been a lot of hype with some authors and their books that readers have been anxiously awaiting for. Both authors that suddenly come to mind are Stephenie Meyer and Sherrilyn Kenyon. These two authors had very anticipated reads released within days of each other. The hype for Breaking Dawn and Acheron grew to the point where people were foaming at the mouth to get either one of these novels.

Okay, so I am be a little too dramatic, but I for one was so excited about getting my hands on Breaking Dawn, that it was all I could talk about for almost a year. I have witnesses to my obsession and I assume most wanted to bop me over the head with my relentless chatter over one book THAT I JUST HAD TO HAVE BEFORE EVERYONE ELSE!

Now it is weeks later and both these books have been released and the hype has come and gone. But at what price? The build up to Stephenie Meyer’s Breaking Dawn was almost comparable to Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, the final book in J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series. Unfortunately, the fans of Stephenie Meyer were not as pleased as the Rowling fans were. In less than 24 hours from the time Breaking Dawn hit the shelves, there was such a backlash I have never seen. I assumed some readers wouldn’t be happy with the final book, but was a bit shocked to hear that some wanted to burn Breaking Dawn in some form of effigy because they were so upset by what Meyer had written. WTF???

Some readers did the more mature approach and decided to return their copies of Breaking Dawn, which makes sense. If you are not happy with the product you bought, you have more than a right to return it to the store. Meyer’s publisher, Little, Brown and Company even issued a statement in regards to the overall disappointment of the novel:

“With a book that has been as eagerly anticipated as Breaking Dawn, it would simply be impossible to meet every reader’s expectations.”

In other words, Little Brown is saying take it or leave it!

I have to say I am responsible for starting my own personal hype for an author’s next release. I use to be this way with Laurel K. Hamilton’s Anita Blake series. The idea that I would have to wait over a year for the next book drove me insane! Each day I would troll the various websites and message boards for any information I could find on her soon to be released book. The countdown I would start in my head from the months to the weeks to the final few days before the release were the worst And when I finally had that book in my hands, I would seriously stand in the book store shaking with my heart beating a mile a minute because I finally had what I have wanted so long for! I felt like I had survived some type of battle within myself and was able to breath again in relief. Well, that is until I had to wait for the next book in the series. I am not sure if anyone else does this, but I am guilty, as I begin reading the book I wanted above all else, that I become anxious for the next one after it. You would think I would be happy with what I have in my hands. I wish I could say that was true, but it is not.

I believe there are different levels of author hype. One that I just mentioned is a reader’s own personal hype and the feelings they alone go through as they wait anxiously for their favorite author’s books release. The next is the hype a small group of people start through on-line blogs or message boards. This has been seen with the fans of JR Ward. Talk about some dedicated fans!

The final type of hype is the mass audience such as we have seen with Meyer, Rowling and Kenyon. Of course these three authors are very different with the types of fans they have. Rowling and Meyer have a much younger crowd who are prone to fits of excitement more so that the more adult fans Kenyon may have.

In other ways, I am glad for some authors to have such hype. Some have worked so hard and gone through hell to get to the point where they are in their career. Why not have a bit of excitement that leads up to their next work of art?

The hype I had for LKH was when I was a bit younger is very different from the way I act now because I am older have calmed down. I still do get very excited to hear about future releases that are a few months or years down the line. I compare this hype just like Christmas. The joy of the holiday is waiting to see family and friends and to exchange gifts. You wait for months to see if you are getting that one gift you have longed for and when you have it in your hands and open that package, wrapping and all, the excitement is over till next year. The buildup tends to be the most important thing and when it is all over you can only hope the build up was as exciting as the actual gift you wanted.

So who else is responsible for adding to an author’s hype? Do you start you own internal one or do you tend to go along with the crowd and the excitement that builds up?

Katiebabs (KB)

And speaking of some hype, Meljean Brook is having another fun contest for those who have never read any of her books but would like to. Meljean is giving away 25 copies of her anthology, First Blood to those who have never read any of her books. So, if you have wondered what all the hype about Meljean is and always wanted to read her, go enter the contest. And while you're at it, go out and buy every other book of Meljean's because you will not be disappointed in the least!

Katiebabs (KB)

Razor Girl Winner and Birthdays!

We have a winner for Razor Girl!

CHRISTINE!!!!

You know my email. Send me one so you can get your prize. :D

Also, it is an extra special day because two truly wonderful people are celebrating birthdays!!

GIVE A CHEER because Ann Aguirre and Sula's birthdays are today.

I had the absolute pleasure of meeting these two at San Francisco. Ann and I have met once before my grand RWA adventure and she is such a humble, witty and gracious human being. Sula, who is one of the North and South original crusaders, clicked with me so well for the few short days we hung out together. Her intelligence and humor about life astounds me.

I am a better person for know these two beautiful and a vivacious women.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY from your dearest Kate!

Happenings Around the Blog World

For your enjoyment, all the news that is of interest (well at least for me! :D)

Some Wonderful Upcoming Covers by These Awesome Authors:

Keep an eye out for February 2, 2009 because Connie Brockway is finally coming out with a new historical called So Enchanting. What an enchanting cover!

Colleen Gleason comes out with As Shadows Fade in March 2009, her final book in her Gardella Chronicles. This is my favorite cover of all her books. But the question remains, is that Max or Sebastian on the cover?

Jeaniene Frost just posted her new cover and stepback for At Grave's End, her next installment in her Night Huntress series. This ones comes out in time for the holidays this December. This cover is smoking hot!

Watch Out For These Contests:

The lovely ladies at the Book Binge are having a major contest in honor of their Shomi Spotlight that they have been posting about for weeks. Want to win some major Shomi book haul? Go to their site to see how you can seven titles from the Shomi Line!

Ace author, Ann Aguirre is giving away $200 worth in books! All you have to do is buy her new release, Wanderlust and send her your receipt number or on-line confirmation number. I could do some major damage with those winnings!!

Berkley author, Meljean Brook is having giving away two ARC's of her November release, Demon Bound. Just post the creepiest superpower you can think of. I posted and my super power is truly disgusting. Yup, I am one sick puppy. :P

Another Berkley author, Nalini Singh is having a contest in honor of her newest release, Hostage to Pleasure where you can win a $75 gift certificate to the on-line book store of your choice. Tempting isn't it?

Why Not Join In On This Fun?

My Friend Amy has put together Book Blogger Appreciation Week from Sept 15-19. It's the perfect way for bloggers to share the love for one another! Check out her blog for all the details.

Katiebabs (KB)

Razor Girl: Powerpuff Book Review *POW*

It is another Powerpuff Monday review with Bubbles (Ana from Book Smugglers) and a very sick Blossum (Kate). Kate's 100 + degree temperature has been broken and she has a respiratory infection, but she is feeling a bit better. :D

Marianne Mancusi takes an end of the world apocalypse scenario crossed with flesh eating zombies in Razor Girl, her latest from Dorchester Publishing. Razor Girl takes place during two different times period with flashbacks to a futuristic Earth in 2030 and then six years later where humanity is barely surviving.

The Year 2030
In 2030, the AIDS virus has been cured, VR simulation games are the norm and the decade of the 1980’s are considered to be the ultimate era in music and movie classics. Fifteen year old Molly Anderson is a typical teenager of this time who pals around with her best fiend Erin and lives in middle class suburbia with a mother who still bakes cookies and a father, a scientist who is a bit “out there.” Mr. Anderson feels the end of days is upon them and wants Molly to be ready. He will train her in self defense along with placing robotic implants in her body. Anderson used to work as a medical researcher who invented cybernetic implants to turn human soldiers into stronger, faster killing machines. (Can we say Terminator, anybody?) Anderson wants Molly to have these implants such as razors that shoot out of her fingers ala Wolverine from X-Men. Of course Molly thinks her dad is off his rocker and humors him. That is until people start failing ill.

Chris Griffin has a bad crush on Molly much like Ducky had for Andie in the 1986 movie, Pretty in Pink. Molly can’t stand Chris because she thinks he is a dork and a straight out nerd. When Molly notices her elderly neighbor is very sick, and Chris comes to help out, they are in for a shock. Being the good neighbors that they are, they call 911. Out of the blue, two men in uniforms with respirators covering their faces grab the sick old lady and push her into a van. Chris and Molly are able to get away before they are also taken away. From that point on they become friends and begin to investigate why everyone is getting sick.

People are deteriorating and fast. Suddenly the dead are rising, becoming bloodthirsty zombies. Chris and Molly have no choice but to save themselves. Chris and Molly will go up to the mountains with Chris’s brother Trey till things die down. Unfortunately Molly’s dad has other plans for her that don’t involve Chris.

The year 2036
After six years, Molly and her mother now can leave the fall out shelter they were placed in by her father that was filled with supplies and a timer that would unlock the shelter after six years. Molly never met Chris at the meeting point and allowed her father to go through the procedure to make her into Razor Girl, a true superhero. Now after six years, Molly must make the dangerous journey to Florida to find her father. Anderson inserted a special code into Molly’s brain that is the key to rebuilding the world. In order to get it out, she needs to find her father. If she doesn’t she will slowly get weak and perhaps die. Molly has no clue what is up above but will take the chance. But, Molly will not be going alone because the first person she sees is Chris now nicknamed, Chase.

Chase is no longer the dorky yet lovable geek Molly once knew. Chase is not too happy with the way Molly left him but lets bygone be bygones and soon Chase brings her into the fold where his older brother, some friends and outcast children are. Molly is ready to move on but Chase doesn’t want to her to go, since he only just found her again. But Molly is on a mission and it is a dangerous one. Chase has to decide if he is willing to put the lives of the innocent children in his protection to venture into a vast wasteland where humanity has been erased and there may be no hope for the future.

Marianne Mancusi has written a riveting story with Razor Girl. Her vision of the world in 2030 seems very believable especially with the technology that is used. I especially liked how Mancusi showed a future where there are still loving families and homes that have teens who deal with everyday problems just like the teens of our present. But then things get really interesting with an out of this world end of days scenario from a super flu that ends up killing off the majority of the human race, and in turn, some of these unlucky souls become undead zombies looking for their next victims.

Razor Girl has a comic book feel along with a lot of pop culture references. There are about five movies alone I can reference as I was reading from Dawn of the Dead to Mad Max. And even though this should be a dark depressing book, it wasn’t. What happens is truly a horrendous thing, but I like how Marianne shows how young people under the age of twenty-one can survive. They are not inane or too childish or afraid to take action to protect themselves. When a horrible situation arises, it is time to grow up and that is what she does with Chase and Molly.

Even though Razor Girl is considered a romance, I felt that was very secondary to everything that was happening. And if Marianne had decided to leave out one such scene where Chase and Molly express their love for each other, this would have been a great young adult novel, which Marianne is also known for writing.

I think most readers will enjoy the action and overall plot found in Razor Girl. I know Ana had some issues with the overall dialogue and how a six year period is too short of a time period for the breakdown of society. I actually didn’t mind because that is one scary thought to think that it could take less than a decade for the majority of humanity to become rabid amoral creatures.

3 stars out of 5 stars

**Blossum has decided to give away a copy of Razor Girl. In order to have your chance to win, all you have to do is leave a comment here by Wednesday**

I am the Poster Child for Being Sick

This has been a weekend from hell for me. Ever since Friday I have felt like a truck hit me. I have the shakes, I have no appetite, my head feels like it is going to fall off, I have vertigo, I can't sleep because my legs hurt like I had a very intense workout and my body feels like a furnace. I wonder if I cracked an egg and placed it on say my back, would it cook?

And I want my mommy. :(

Hopefully by the time I take some antibiotics I will be able to post an all new Monday triple threat review with my fellow Power Puff Girls (Ana and Thea from Book Smugglers) We have planned to review Razor Girl by Marianne Mancusi and I even have a copy to give away. So tune in tomorrow, same bat time same bat channel...

Katiebabs (KB) who hates being sick!!

Vacation - Part 3

I leave early tomorrow for Part 3 of my summer vacation. Part 1 was when Nance came up to visit from Massachusetts. I always want to say down but considering she lives south of us, it doesn't make sense to say down. Then Lisa and I went back with her for a couple of days to help celebrate a milestone birthday. I won't say which one - but it wasn't her 30th. And it wasn't her 40th.
Then Part 2 of my summer vacation was the RWA conference in San Francisco. In less than two months I flew more times then I did the previous 29 years!! I had a fabulous time but it was a go go go kind of vacation.
Part 3 of my summer vacation will be totally different. Three of us from work, all readers, are going up to a cottage about 4 hours away that's right on a lake. We will be gone from Saturday to Saturday. And we are doing nothing but relaxing. Drink some brewskies at night, have some coffee with Bailey's in the morning and maybe OJ and vodka for lunch. And READ. We will get in lots of reading!! And Tanya, one of the girls who's going hasn't seen North and South yet and the cottage has a DVD player, so I that little oversight will be taken care of. Alison has seen it and unless she lied to make me feel better she really liked it and won't mind watching again - I hope. I'm hoping that she falls for him as much as I have so she will want to watch Robin Hood series I and II and Vicar of Dibley as I'm planning on bringing them along - just in case don't you know. I'm also taking some other DVD's in case our eyes droop from reading. The one thing I won't be doing is blog hopping - no internet access. That's going to kill me. I'll have to compensate with reading and thinking up reviews.

Which brings me to a bit of a dilema. How many books should I take? I think that's one all us romance addicts face when we head out for our vacation. And since this one is a READING vacation, it's critical I bring enough and a nice selection!!

Let's see, I have:
Jo Goodman's latest Price of Desire
Marianne Stillings latest - Killer Charms
Patricia Briggs Cry Wolf (and I already read the one in the anthology)
Linnea Sinclair's Shades of Dark - but I'll also have to bring Gabriel's Ghost 'cause she told me I need to read the last few chapters again to refresh myself
Twisted Creek by Jodi Thomas
Sweet Talk by Susan Mallery
Flashback by Jill Shalvis
The Rebel and the Lady by Kathryn Albright
Lucky's Lady by Tami Hoag (I read this one years ago and from what I remember it was a good one!)
Kiss of Fire by Deborah Cooke
King of Sword and Sky by CL Wilson (I started this one but didn't get far. And everyone who's read it seems to love it so I'm going to give it another try.
How to Loose and Extraterrestrial in 10 Days by Susan Grant
Trial by Fire - Jo Davis
Bound to Please by Hope Tarr

So let's see Western (check), Sci Fi Fantasy (check), Paranormal (check) Romantic Suspense (check) Contemporary (check) Series (check) Medieval (check)
That's 12 books - but it still doesn't seem nearly enough. I'm going to have to find about 8 more me thinks. Oops - wait - I counted wrong - it's 13!

And I'm a great procrastinator I tell you - real good. We are leaving around nine tomorrow morning and it's 10:25 now and I'm still not packed. I figure I'll get up early.

So try not to miss me too much while I'm gone. The Wing Commander will be in charge.

Guess That Book (This is going to be a good one!)

Fans of Christine Feehan are going to want to play this game. As a prize, I have Christine Feehan's September release, Dark Cure in HARDCOVER! (Can you believe this is book #17 in her Carpathian series?!)

The lucky person to be the first to post the title and author wins!

Clue #1:
Amusement Park

Clue#2:
The hero's daughter gets stung by a bee



CONTEST IS CLOSED!! Cathy had the correct answer which is Seduction by Design by Sandra Brown. This is one of my all time favorite category romances! :D
Cathy, email me your mailing address at KatiebabsgATgmailDOTcom

Wanderlust **KB Exclusive Review**

Jax is back! I have been waiting for months to say those three words and I am beyond excited that Ann Aguirre has written a sequel to her very popular book, Grimspace that came out the beginning of this year. With Wanderlust, Ann proves she is no one-hit wonder author. Remember how I said if you are not reading Nalini Singh, you are lacking in your reading material, well the same goes for Ann Aguirre. And I still stand by my original statement back when I reviewed Grimspace and said that Sirantha Jax is my favorite heroine of 2008. She still very much is.

Wanderlust is no walk in the park type of read. This is one emotionally draining book. Ann is a sly (wench) writer. The way she ends Wanderlust wants to make you scream because there is no neat and tidy ending. Things are left very open and as soon as I finished, Blossum, my inner voice was screaming, “ME WANT NEXT BOOK NOW!” Should I feel embarrassed when such a book like this makes me feel such emotion? *blush*

You would think Sirantha, otherwise known as Jax would have it easy since she saved the universe. Think again. Jax’s former employer, the Farwan Coporation has been eliminated thanks to Jax and her rag tag crew, which also includes her new lover, March. Grimspace is where we were introduced to Jax, a jumper that can make spaceships travel through time and space at the speed of light, a.k.a grimspace. In Wanderlust, Jax is given a new job as an ambassador for the centuries old Conglomerate, which is a coalition of planetary representatives that try to keep peace and order in the universe. The Conglomerate wants Jax to travel to those known planets that still are not a part of the coalition and recruit them into their group. Since Jax is out of a job, she has no choice but to accept. Jax is not happy with these turns of events. She lives and breathes to jump, it is in her blood. But something is very wrong with Jax. She is weak and sick because of all her jumping through grimspace. A few more jumps could kill her. March is scared for Jax and doesn’t want her to jump anymore. But grimspace is like a drug to Jax and she can’t stop, even if it means her death.

Things are not that great between Jax and March. Jax has always assumed she wouldn’t have much longer to live and even tells March so. March feels that Jax holds back a part of herself from him even though he has opened his heart and soul to her. He begins to questions if her love for him is real. They are both hurting, and because of that, their relationship is breaking down before it can even truly begin. Before they can even work things out, they are on another dangerous adventure. Jax’s ambassadorship is not smooth sailing, especially when Jax’s mother, Ramona, who she hasn’t seen in sixteen years, comes to Jax for help. Romona is in a bind and may end up dead by a secret group called the Syndicate unless Jax sabotages her mission. And even though mom lays the guilt on thick, Jax doesn’t fall for it. This may sound a bit cold hearted on Jax’s end, but her mother is a shady bitch.

Jax and March round up their crew, which includes some familiar faces such as Dina, the ship’s mechanic and Vel, an alien bounty hunter. Their intergalactic journey is even more treacherous than before. Not only do they have to keep an eye out for space raiders, killer aliens out for their blood, and the nasty Syndicate, but Jax’s body is slowly weakening to the point that she may indeed be dying. Jax is very scared and constantly thinking morbid thoughts, which make March so angry to the point, he can’t bear to be around Jax. And because of this, he makes a life alternating decision that may destroy their very fragile love along with his soul in the process.

Wanderlust is a rip-roaring adventure tale that sci-fi enthusiasts will embrace. Even if you are not a sci-fi fan, don’t be surprised if Wanderlust ends up being one of your favorite books this year. The way Ann writes Jax and her point of view is so very real and scary. Jax is at her wits end and close to the breaking point. She is somewhat responsible for March’s suffering and the path he has decided to take. Jax knows this and there is nothing she can do, because in order to save March, she has to give up a part of herself that makes her what she is, and that price is just too high for her to pay. Along with Jax and March’s emotional heartbreak there are some intense scenes of destruction and death taken right out of some of my favorite space adventure movies. One such scene, where Jax boards an empty space station, had me freaked out because it was so reminiscent of the 1979 sci-fi horror movie, Alien.

Wanderlust had my hooked from beginning to end, but there are some things that Ann does that made me so angry because she sure does like to make her characters suffer. There is a lot of suffering going in within these pages and my heart broke for both Jax and March because they are not in a good place right now. But even though Jax is going through some intense situations, the thing with Jax that I adore, is her tenacity and determination to overcome roadblocks, whether it be personal or life threatening. Jax may talk about her own death and mortality, but she does have a will to survive. If only Jax can see in herself what others see.

If you were a fan of Grimspace, you will most definitely enjoy Wanderlust, perhaps even more than Grimspace, which I did. This is a fast and furious read that will have you panting for the next book, Doubleblind, which cannot come fast enough.

4 ½ stars out of 5 stars

Katiebabs (KB)

TBR Challenge - August

The Sins of His Past by Roxanne St. Claire

Published: January, 2006

For one reason or another I was a bit late getting started on this months TBR book. I was real late as a matter of fact. It was Monday night and I still hadn’t pulled one from the TBR pile. I’ve read some older ones lately but they were rereads and not new to me reads. But I saw this one and the motivating factor was it was small. Then I saw the author was Roxanne St. Claire and I’ve read some of her books that I’ve liked. Then I saw the hero was a former baseball player and I knew I had my book for August.

For one incredible night, Kendra Locke gave Deuce Monroe everything she had. The he walked away without a backward glance to chase his big-league dreams as far as they would take him.

Years later, after one daredevil stunt too many, Deuce was back in his hometown, ready to pick up where he left off.

Kendra had no intention of letting him. The consequences of that one night had shattered her dreams. Now what Deuce wanted threatened her future…especially when he tempted her with the sensual promise of more time in his bed. Could she be the one to walk away?

This one is a Harlequin Desire book and the problem with many of them is they are too short to have much character development. Such was the case with this one I think.

Kendra had been in love with Deuce, her brother’s best friend for years, so they had a relationship already in place when the book opened. Deuce had come back to town for the first time in ten years, expecting everything to be the same as when he left. I didn’t really think we got a chance to know Deuce that much. He’d had little contact with his widowed father in all that time and it wasn’t really explained why. He didn’t have a bad relationship with his father and the excuse he gave was kind of lame.

The last time he’d been in town, he’d had one night of loving with Kendra and then left, never calling him. Considering the consequences of that night, I thought she let him off the hook rather too easily and I didn’t really understand her falling in love with him all over again. He did come back and planned to screw up her plans. His explanation for never contacting her after that one night wouldn't have been enough for me.

In addition, there was only one real love scene and it happened near the end of the book. I would have liked to have seen more. I think if this book had been longer and we could have got more insight into the characters I would have enjoyed it more. I did like it well enough – but I was left wanting more.

I don’t often read the Harlequin Desire line and while this book was OK, I'm not sure I’ll read any more of this line. It’s nothing against the author and I am interested in trying her Bullet Catcher books, but this book was like finishing a meal and still being hungry.

Grade: 3.5 out of 5

Also, I know this has absolutely nothing to do with the author so it won’t count as a strike against her, but this has to be one of the blandest covers I’ve ever seen. The title is OK – but the brown cover – bleck!

Guess That Book

Hope this helps jive - Clue Five

This is a Harlequin Historical book published in 1999. Although it's an older book, it appears on many lists of good westerns. It's in my top 25. The author continues to write poignant stories set in the old west that are reminiscent of Lorraine Heath.

~~~~~~UPDATE~~~~~~~

The book has been guessed!!

Joe's Wife by Cheryl St. John. This one is truly a heartwarming book!! I INSIST when next you visit a UBS you look for this one and get it!! And if they have more copies, get them too and send them to other readers. This one is in the top 25 (#18) of my all time favourite books. I have two copies myself in case I can't find one. I've read it a number of times now and every time I do, it still gives a powerful punch!!!!

Joe Telford was the perfect son and the perfect husband. But Joe didn't come back from the war. Meg, Joe's widow, will hang on to his ranch...even if she has to marry the last available man in town. Tye Hatcher has a reputation for drinking, gambling and consorting with loose women. Tye Hatcher is the last available man in town.

Hostage To Pleasure Review and Nancy Drew Week

I am just going to get this out of the way right now and say that Nalini Singh continues to astound me with her storytelling skills. Her Psy/Changeling books are one of the best fictional series, romance or otherwise being published. Earlier this year, Mine to Possess blew me away and now with Hostage to Pleasure, Nalini has done it again. If you are not reading Nalini Singh, you are seriously lacking in your reading material. Hostage to Pleasure is a near perfect book and is going down in my top 10 must read books for 2008.

Hostage to Pleasure is all about one of Nalini's most beloved characters, Dorian Christensen. He is DarkRiver’s best sniper, a changeling leopard who has one fault, he can’t shift into his leopard form. Even though he can’t change like his pack members can, Dorian is strong enough, more so than some of those who can shift at a moment’s notice. Dorian has some inner turmoil, mainly because his sister, Kylie was visciously murdered by a Psy serial killer. Dorian did get his revenge by gutting the Psy and watching him die. But it wasn’t enough, and Dorian blames himself over his sister’s death. He is entering into a dark place that he may not come back from and everyone who cares for him is worried. For the moment, Dorian wants to do the right thing and that is because of a four year old Psy child called Keenan. Dorian rescues Keenan because his mother, Ashaya Aleine was able to save some children who were being used in experiments by Psy scientists (this is all explained in Mine to Possess). Ashaya aided in the fight alongside the changelings and because of that she called in her IOU in order for them to save her son. Now that Keenan is free and able to break through his bonds of Silence. Ashaya will break free also, which in her mind means death.

Ashaya is a very interesting Psy because she does feel emotion and pretends to embrace the Silence that is forced upon the Psy when they become teenagers. Ashaya must keep all emotions at bay, not because of what she is, but because of her twin sister, Amara who becomes more enraged and twisted whenever Ashaya feels deep emotion. Amara has no moral compass. She doesn’t know the difference between right and wrong, she is an empty soul and it is up to Ashaya to keep her under control. If that isn’t enough responsibility, Ashaya has the final answer for bringing the Psy Silence to the rest of humanity.

Dorian’s inner leopard wants Ashaya badly. So much so, he wants to bite her and claim her as his mate. But Dorian is at odds with his beast because his human side can’t stand the fact that Ashaya is a Psy, the same type of being that killed his precious sister. Dorian saves Ashaya and as they come to terms with one another, Dorian comes to the conclusion that there is more than meets the eye with this cold scientist. She doesn’t hold back her emotions because of what she was made into, but rather it is to protect the ones she loves, which is her son, her amoral, unfeeling sister and eventually Dorian. Dorian wants Ashaya to let go and finally feel because she deserves it and owes it to Keenan. But again, Ashaya is all about sacrificing herself and she does this so everyone can be safe from the one person she connects with, and that is Amara. Amara is a ticking time bomb and if Ashaya can’t control her sister, the outbreak of the Silence will be the least of their problems.

Hostage to Pleasure is a major turning point in this series. The Psy culture we were first introduced in Slave to Sensation is breaking down. They are no longer the all powerful beings of the world. There was one such speech Amara gives Dorian that caught me eye:

“It’s the great irony of our race. Psy cling so hard to Silence because at the bottom of it all, they’re terrified, afraid that if they let go, the monsters inside their heads will start crawling out, reducing them to the level of you animals once again.”

And because of this fear and the eventual breakdown of the Psy, there will be an even more powerful enemy on the horizon where both Psy and Changeling may have to work together to stop them before they go too far. Former enemies will have to stand side by side together in the oncoming war that may change the world much like the Psy did when they founded Silence.

Dorian and Ashaya’s relationship is on equal footing with the other couples in Nalini’s past novels. These are two characters who suffer through their own personal hells. Dorian is on the cusp of becoming a renegade, a killer, because he can’t get over his sister’s death. Ashaya is a martyr because of her love for her family and of Dorian who wants to be a part of that. Their love is steamy and emotional; everything you would expect.

Nalini also gives us a small hint of things to come such as Hawke’s possible mate. Something also caught my eye about Kaleb. Maybe because I am a big fan of the mysterious Psy, Kaleb, I may be looking too much into one small scene in this book, but it did make me happy because I believe Kaleb has someone out there for him. (wouldn’t it be great if her name is Kate? :D)

What more can I say about Hostage to Pleasure that hasn’t already been said before? The proof is in the writing along with the wonderful characters that you find yourself talking about months, even years after you finish reading. Hostage to Pleasure has met all my expectations and Nalini has a fan and supporter of her books for life.

4 ½ stars out of 5 stars

Carolyn Jean from The Trillionth Page has something very exciting planned for this week. If you are a fan of Nancy Drew, make sure to stop by CJ's blog and check out NANCY DREW WEEK! There will be contests, giveaways, some surprise interviews and wonderful posts such as this one! *wink wink*

Katiebabs (KB)

Guess That Book - One More - Clue Four

He is made the guardian of a little girl when her mother, a prostitute dies only to later find out he is her father

Recent Read

Tribute by Nora Roberts

Why this one: I adore her JD Robb books and I really like her single book titles. I picked this one up in SF and I had a grand time taking it to work and showing everyone where she signed it. I think just about everyone there has heard of Nora Roberts and many have read her books. So it was kind of fun to do some boasting.

Plus, being sick and all, I wanted a nice comfort read and few do comfort reads better for me than Ms. Roberts

Steam Level: It was warm, not boiling like some of her Eve and Roarke books, but quite nice. Beside with this author it’s not so much about the sex as the characters.

Website Blurb: Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley is a long way from Hollywood. And that is exactly how Cilla McGowan wants it. Cilla, a former child star who has found more satisfying work as a restorer of old houses, has come to her grandmother as farmhouse, tools at her side, to rescue it from ruin. Sadly, no one was able to save her grandmother, the legendary Janet Hardy. An actress with a tumultuous life, Janet entertained glamorous guests and engaged in decadent affairs but died of an overdose in this very house more than thirty years earlier. To this day, Janet haunts Cillas dreams. And during waking hours, Cilla is haunted by her melodramatic, five-times-married mother, who carried on in the public spotlight and never gave her a chance at a normal childhood. By coming east, rolling up her sleeves, and rehabbing this wreck of a house, Cilla intends to find some kind of normalcy for herself.
Plunging into the project with gusto, she’s almost too busy to notice her neighbour, graphic novelist Ford Sawyer but his lanky form, green eyes, and easy, unflappable humor (not to mention his delightfully ugly dog, Spock) are hard to ignore. Determined not to perpetuate the family tradition of ill-fated romances, Cilla steels herself against Ford’s quirky charm, but she can’t help indulging in a little fantasy.
But love and a peaceful life may not be in the cards for Cilla. In the attic, she has found a cache of unsigned letters suggesting that Janet Hardy was pregnant when she died and that the father was a local married man. Cilla can’t help but wonder what really happened all those years ago. The mystery only deepens with a series of intimidating acts and a frightening, violent assault. And if Cilla and Ford are unable to sort out who is targeting her and why, she may like her world-famous grandmother, be cut down in the prime of her life.

My thoughts: I enjoyed this book. And as choice for a comfort book to read while not being in the peak of good health, it was a good one. I liked both Cilla and Ford – ‘specially Ford. He really was good at accepting Cilla and all her neurosis. He was a lot more laid back then many of her heroes. And all things considered, Cilla was fairly down to earth. I thought she obsessed a bit too much about her grandmother, but I guess given the fact that she was a larger than life figure through out her life, it was acceptable. I really enjoyed the renovation parts of it and the fact that she flipped houses for a living. A good blogger friend and her husband do this kind of as a hobby and my sister is married to someone who builds custom houses for a living and she has showed us some of the houses he has built so I found the renovation bits interesting. And considering I just recently had my kitchen redone, I found them even more so. I’ve read in a review or two that some readers found Ford to be almost stalker like – but I didn’t find that. He was open and upfront to Cilla about what he was doing. Overall, this made a great read for someone not in the mood to try something adventurous.

Grade: 4 out of 5

And in other news – Lisa was right and I was wrong. I couldn’t hold out until September to visit Chapters. *sigh* It’s an addiction – what can I say. And *gulp* I bought in a big way too. My purchases included:

Wild and Hexy by Vicki Lewis Thompson

What can I say - those Author Talk interviews really work!

One Real Man by Janette Kenny

A Western and the price was right.

Sea Fever by Virginia Kantra

I have the first one - unread of course

Lost in You by Alix Rickloff

New Author - Good Price - what more could I ask?

Cutting Loose by Susan Anderson

She's an author who has never disappointed and I missed getting it in SF

Delicious by Sherry Thomas

I missed meeting her and getting this one in SF too :-(
So even though I didn't get to meet her, at least I have the book

On the Prowl - Anthology

Janine gave Alpha and Omega and Cry Wolf such a good review at DA that I just had to read them. Jill gave me a copy of Cry Wolf to read in SF so before I start reading that one, I just had to read Alpha and Omega in this anthology - right?

Guess That Book - From Me - Clue Three

She asks him to marry her to help save her ranch.

Acheron Book Signing with Sherrilyn Kenyon

This past Friday, I accompanied Christine to the Sherrilyn Kenyon signing at Borders at Columbus Circle in NYC. The spooky thing was, there was an actual tornado warning in Manhattan! But by the time 6:30pm rolled around, the warning was over and we only had to put up with some annoying rain.

Originally the signing was supposed to start at 7pm, but was moved to 6pm, so Christine and I missed Sherrilyn's talk. :( There were over 200 people waiting for their Acheron and other Kenyon books to be signed, along with some cool raffles for giveaways. Sherrilyn would not leave till every one's book was signed, even as the store was closing! Christine and I headed out a little after 10pm and Sherrilyn was still signing book, going on 5 hours! I am in awe of Sherrilyn's dedication to her fans and the love she has for her readers is amazing.

There were also some other people there you may recognize. The Rebels of Romance and Dorchester authors, Liz Maverick (her new book, Irreversible comes out in October) and Marianne Mancusi (her new book, Razor Girl comes out in September) were there to lend their support. Also, Sara Lindsey, who will have her first historical romance for Signet Eclipse published next fall was there along with 2007 bookseller of the year, Stacey Agdern.


Christine and Sherrilyn ( Aren't they cute together?)

Me and Christine modeling the actual leather coat worn by Acheron! Don't we look sexy?

This is Dianna Love who was Sherrilyn's MC for the night and co-wrote an awesome book with Sherrilyn called Phantom in the Night, that came out a few months ago. Dianna has an anthology coming out in December called Dead After Dark that includes, Sherrilyn Kenyon, Susan Squires and JR Ward! Dianna kept the crowd going and had incredible energy. By the time this picture was taken my energy levels were low. For some reason I think I look like a giraffe here.

In other news I am cat sitting my sister's two cats while she is away in Florida visiting Mickey. (HELP!) Sixx is about a year old and Nico is only a month old. They are driving my insane and I still have them for a week. Nico, the baby and is so very needy. He won't let me eat, sleep or read! But at least they have great taste in books, especially Sixx ;D. Any advice on how to handle two overstimulated and lovable cats?


Katiebabs (KB)

Guess That Book - Clue Two

He is despised by almost everyone in the town.

Guess That Book

Yep, it's that time again - it's time to

Guess! That! Book!

The book I'm giving away this time?

A SIGNED paperback copy of Sugar Daddy by one of my favourite people - Lisa Kleypas that she so wonderfully signed when I said I wanted to give one away on the blog!!
For anyone who hasn't read this book - it is wonderful!!!!



Let's start the fun - here's clue Number One

She lost her husband in the Civil War.

Etc. Time!

I’ve been in the depths of self pity lately - the very dregs of depths. I haven’t felt good since I got back from San Francisco and I’m not used to being sick for this long. I’ve always taken good health for granted and it’s not until one is sick for an extended length of time, one really appreciates when they feel good. So while I’ve tried to hold it in, self pity has raised it’s ugly head on more than one occasion in the past ten days or so.

But in spite of how rotten I’ve felt, there have been rays of sunshine making their way through the gloom.

The boys took me out for dinner on Sunday night as Brent would be working afternoons the day of my birthday. I found the dinner quite amusing as the restaurant we went to is famous for it’s gorgeous hostesses and waitresses. Don’t’ get me wrong, it’s a nice upscale restaurant and the staff are finely dressed – they are just beautiful. I laughed to myself as my heretofore self-confident sons jaws practically dropped when they saw our waitress. At one point Brent admitted that he wished she would stop coming by and asking how our dinner went because – and I quote “I can’t be held responsible for what I’ll do if she doesn’t stop it. I’m a lion and I’ll bring her down like a gazelle.”

What can I say – he’s a dawg (as well as a self-professed lion).

And Ryan – well Ryan cleaned his plate better than he ever did for his Mama’s cooking and beamed when the waitress commented on it. My rather cynical yet cool hipster, rugby playing accountant son beamed. 'Tis a moment I'll remember.

I can not tell you how tempting it was to pull the waitress aside and whisper that my sons had a severe case of the hawts for her, they had it real bad and I was finding it very funny – but that is the kind of thing they wouldn’t have forgiven their Mama for.

There was the previously mentioned 'good mail that I could open' package from the ‘boys.’ I’ve still yet to watch it though. I need to feel better to truly appreciate Richard in all his tormented Guyness.

Then there was the dinner that Lisa and I went out for on my birthday. I had the day off and didn’t do a whole lot of anything except sniffle, cough, sleep and drink cough medicine, sleep, cough, sniffle and feel miserable but I did roust myself long enough for dinner. We went to my favourite restaurant in the city and I had my favourite meal – Prime Rib – medium rare. And even though she thinks I'm totally whacked for my collection of books, she understands me enough to know that even though I had two boxes full of books sent back from SF as well as the ones that filled my suitcase, she knows I will be returning to Chapters again. So she gave me a gift certificate. I told her it wouldn't be until September, but she didn't believe me. Only time will tell who was right!

There have been down times too. On Tuesday night I was talked into going to the show, even though I was still feeling like crap. Now if the movie had been good, it might not have been so bad seeing as I took another turn for the worse later that night and missed work again the next day, but it was a bad movie. Real bad. My advice is to stay far, far away from The Mummy – Tomb of the Dragon Emperor.

But there were two stand out moment in the past 10 days of miserable sickness from hell that totally pulled me out for a while. The first one when I went to work Tuesday morning and there was a card and a present from a work friend sitting on my desk. This is the friend, Alison, that I will be deserting the blog for a week with. We’ve rented a cottage up North.

When I opened the card, something about it tickled my funny bone and I laughed and laughed and laughed so hard, people came up to me the rest of the day and said they had heard me laughing in the morning. I just have to share this card. I think I laughed a good 15 minutes over it. And then coughed ‘cause I was laughing so hard, and then laughed, and then coughed ‘cause I was laughing so hard.

I don't know if you can read what it says at the bottom - so here it is

Cindi felt that spelling her name in a unique way would help people to remember her.)

And not only did Alison give me a card that contributed to my already sore and tired stomach muscles, she also painted me a couple of flower pictures. And she thought I might not like them - HAH!

The other stand out moment came yesterday when I got home from work. There was a package from someone in a land far far away from me. It was from a reader of this blog who shares the love of North and South, a reader who also understands the lusting of Guy of Gisborne!! A reader who also scorns Robin as being nothing more than a boy. What had she sent me you ask??

Well, I will show you, ‘cause I scanned the front and the back. While I didn’t have Richard come and give me a soul deep Birthday Kiss that would turn me to total and complete mush, nor did he come and sooth my fevered brow (yes – a fever is what I’ve had to deal with too) I am now the Very Proud Owner of something almost as good!!!

A Guy of Gisborne Super Poseable Action Figure!! And not just that - it includes a sword and scabbard.

Even typing this is making me laugh, and cough because I’m laughing so hard, and laughing some more! It's going front and centre on my bookshelf where people will see it when the come into the living room, shake their heads and think 'she's an odd duck, that one'.