It's tomorrow.......so soon?????

I remember back when Kate and I started planning on going to San Francisco many months ago, it seemed so far into the future. Now we leave tomorrow!!! We are going early to do some sightseeing first and then the conference starts on Wednesday.
Katie's nervous. I haven't told her yet - so don't say anything to her, but so am I!! Even though I went last year and had THE BEST TIME EVER, I'm nervous all over again.
I'm nervous about getting to the airport in time. The way things are planned, the shuttle bus leaves at 6:00 am and it's about a 2 hour drive to Detroit and my plane doesn't take off until 12:15. But what if something happens?
I'm worried about the actual flight. I'm not a big flyer. Last year when I went to Dallas was the first time I flew in 29 years. I know this because before the last time I flew was when Ron and I went to the Bahamas when Brent was 6 months old. He turned 30 last Tuesday. I don't like the take offs or the landings. I was telling Kate I'm taking a couple of books to reread - favourites I've read before because I know I'll be too nervous to be able to concentrate on something new.
I'm worried that Kate won't like me. We've be on-line buds and partners for months now and got along famously well, but what if it's different in person. I even had a dream she didn't like me.
I'm worried Rosie, another roomie won't like me. Wendy keeps telling her everyone loves me - but maybe she won't.
I'm NOT worried about Wendy 'cause we already shared a room and it was loads and loads of fun - even if she doesn't believe in soul mates and still hasn't read Ride The Fire (see I keep track of the oddest bits of minutia.)
I worry about making a fool out of myself in front of authors whose books I've adored. I came darn close last year when I shared an elevator with Elizabeth Hoyt and almost followed her back to her room. But I think we are allowed one silly fan girl moment. At least that's what I tell myself.
And I keep thinking up new things to be nervous about. If I keep it up, I'm going to be a wreck tomorrow!!
But the thing is - I think we are all nervous to one extent or another. It's normal to be nervous. We wouldn't be real if we weren't. So I'm going to acknowledge I'm scared as hell and then get past it.
At least I'll try.
Gulp

The Potted Plant: My Nemesis

The picture of the potted plant above is my nemesis. It is a symbol of fear, of being silent and unsure. I had joked a few months ago that I would be the conference attendee who would find a big plant in the lobby of the San Francisco Marriott and hide behind it, peeking in between the leaves, watching everything going on around me. I had thought I left that part of me behind many years ago, but this past week all my fears have come to the surface.

A perfect example is the fact that when I am nervous, I don’t eat. When some are stressed out, they tend to eat everything in sight. As for myself, I stop eating. I have had horrible stomach craps all week because reality has come crashing down. (As for this coming week, who knows what my appetite will be like?) I am attending the 2008 Romance Writers’ Association conference in San Francisco, California and the question I keep acting myself is, do I really belong at a venue such as this? I have two little imps on each side of my shoulder. One is the self assured, head held high, Katie who will go up to anyone and everyone and hold out her hand and introduce herself. But then I have that bad little imp, the former Katie who would make sure her head was down, never make eye contact with anyone and would sit in the corner and make herself as small as she could.

I have tried my best to distance myself away from that person who stands in corners and observes everything that is going on around her, but won’t make her presence known. I am still very much an observer but I made a promise to myself that I would speak up and be heard. I am my own living example of my success. Wherever I go, whether it be the gym, a store or even a gas station, I speak to anyone. I try to go out of my way to be friendly and engage as many people as I can in conversation. Yesterday as I went to the mall to break my checkbook for clothes for this coming week, I found myself in Borders. Yup, I was weak and couldn’t stay away. Some invisible force just seems to push me in there. As I was purchasing a nice frozen coffee drink, I began chatting with the café worker who waited on me. A half-hour later we were still chatting. I really didn’t have to go out of my way to talk, but I wanted to, because it is something I need to do. In the past I would have stuttered my order and kept my head down. Now I find myself looking everyone in the eye and speaking coherently.

Another big fear I am about to share, and only a few know of this, is finally meeting some authors that I have emailed back and forth with and have a wonderful relationship on-line (or so I think in my mind). I have this vision that I go up to one of them and introduce myself and they simply stare, smile, say, “Hello, nice to meet you”, and walk away. That is my biggest fear out of all about attending this conference. (worse than actually starting to pack. My luggage taunts me at this very moment)

There are bound to be many others with this fear that I speak of who are attending. I for one will try my hardest to keep these silly fears at bay. As I walk the floor, go to workshops and visit publisher signings, etc… you better believe I will be holding my head held high, look someone straight in the eye, hold out my hand and say:

“Hi, my name is Kate Garrabrant and it is a pleasure to finally meet you.”

**I am also bringing Scootaloo, the My Little Pony that Christine gave to me. She will be my mascot on this adventure. So, if you are attending RWA and see a tall redhead with a colorful plastic pony sticking out of her bag, that’s me! It could be a great conversation starter ;D**

Katiebabs (KB)

Scandalous by Night (Regency Romance Review Number 3)

**This will be my final review before I leave for RWA**

What is in a name? Lately I have been picking up books with interesting character names. When I saw the blurb for Barbara Pierce’s Scandalous by Night and that the hero’s name was Everod (insert joke here) I just knew I had to give this read a try. The last few books I have read by Barbara Pierce have been very enjoyable, and Scandalous by Night is no exception. Even though this is set during the regency era, this is not a subtle and tender love story. Pierce has written a borderline erotic tale between an angry and wild hero and the young woman he wants revenge against for something she had done to him when she was just a child. The great thing is, Barbara does not make her heroine cower in fear even if she is a virgin and the big bad man wants his way with her. She stands up to him and welcomes him to do his worst. She is willing to take her sexual downfall with open arms.

Lord Townsend Elliot Lidsaw, Viscount Everod (quite the long name) also has the nickname of Everhard because of all the good loving he gives the widows and courtesans of the London. Everod is a bit amoral and quite the playboy. He reminds me so much of the Vicomte Sebastian de Valmont that was played by John Malkovich in the 1988 movie, Dangerous Liaisons. From my initial introduction of Everod, I was bound to not like him at all. He is that type of hero that would make the heroine suffer, and then by the last few pages of the story, get down on his knees and grovel for her forgiveness and love. Sorry, I know most like a good groveling hero, but if he is an ass throughout the whole book, those few pages of groveling doesn’t do anything for me.

The reason for Everod’s disdain at life is, because at the age of fifteen he was almost killed by his father who came close to slashing his throat. He even has the scars to prove it. Everod was tattled on by his new stepmother's ten year old niece who found Everod and her aunt getting busy in the gardens. Everod, being only fifteen at the time, couldn’t stop his new stepmother, the Countess Georgette Worthington from seducing him. He succumbed, or rather his skanky step mommy forced herself on him. Her niece, Maura, found them and went to Everod’s father. Everod was banished, and promised revenge on his skanky stepmother and her horrid little niece.

Twelve years have gone by and the rage festers deeply inside Everod. He finds outs that Maura is visiting London and will seduce her and steal her virginity. She will be ruined and her downfall will be an embarrassment to Georgette and his father. This may sound a bit immature especially after a decade, but Everod was used horribly and almost killed, and for that he cannot forgive or forget.

Maura may be a virgin after all, but she is not one of those annoying over the top innocent ones. Maura is very careful how she acts, especially around her aunt Georgette who is truly a nasty piece of work. Maura has continual guilt for what happened to Everod, but she is torn because her aunt has done such wonderful things for her such as giving her a loving home and being very supportive. But Maura knows there is a very different side to Georgette and she must tread carefully.

Everod becomes reacquainted with Maura and starts a very interesting courtship. Even though Maura has a good idea why Everod has gone out of his way to be with her, there is something about Everod that he keeps hidden from everyone. Maura is able to break down Everod’s defenses and shows him she is not in any way like her aunt. And you know Everod has it bad when he wants Maura to use his given name of Townsend.

I find it so unbelievably sexy when the hero longs for his woman to speak his name that he allows no other to use. The turning point in their relationship is when he begs Maura to call him his first name. From that point on, these adversaries not only become lovers but they are also slowly falling in love. Everod’s revenge he had planned for Maura is now a distant memory.

Scandalous by Night is a bit on the naughty side mainly because of the characteristics of Everod and the hot and sexy love making he gives to Maura. Some of these intimate scenes are some I wouldn’t mind giving a try. Ever wish to make love outside in the rain? Pierce gives you your fantasy here which also includes some nice bondage love between the two.

I found Georgette to be a well rounded villain and a woman I wouldn’t want to mess with. She almost got away with the damage she was responsible for, but as most characters of her like, she gets what’s coming to her. Some may be a bit disappointed in the ending because it did seem a bit rushed, but by that point I loved how Everod and Maura were together. I wanted their happiness.

Some historical authors have a tendency to write wallpaper romances and I can promise you that Barbara Pierce is not one of them. Her stories are very enjoyable and luscious with heroes that tend to be a bit underhanded and loose when it comes to sex. But as always, by the end, the heroine has helped paved the way for her man to be reformed and that is one journey I recommend you give a try with Scandalous by Night. (August release by St. Martin's Press)

3.5 stars out of 5 stars

Katiebabs (KB)

His Shadowed Heart (Regency Romance Review Number 2)

Sometimes I find myself in the mood for the lighter side of romance and keeping in tune with Georgette Heyer, I would recommend author, Hazel Statham who writes for Wings ePress books. Her latest novel, His Shadowed Heart is another regency about a marriage of convenience, but this one has a hero who is a bit tortured, and the woman he ends up marrying is much younger than himself. Their marriage is mainly to benefit his young daughter. Why have a governess when you can have a lovely lady as your wife instead?

Richard Moreton, Earl of Waverly can hardly stand his meddling sister, Victoria. She wants him to remarry for his three year old daughter, Julia, so she can have a mother in her life. And since Richard is thirty-four, he is not getting any younger. Richard rather do without marriage since he already has a mistress to keep him happy. Also, Richard’s first marriage was not all that fulfilling.

Victoria has a friend named Diana who has a lovely cousin of nineteen staying with her named Caroline. Caroline is sent back and forth to relatives since she has no money or a place to live since her father killed himself because his gambling losses. Richard meets Caroline but since he comes across a bit too stiff and cold for her tastes, she doesn’t give him another thought. But for some reason, Caroline has made an impression on Richard and the next time they meet, he goes out of his way to dance with her and make pleasant conversation. These two start a tentative friendship and out of the blue Richard proposes to Caroline. This would solve the problem of his sister and London society trying to get him married off, as well as Caroline finally belonging somewhere. And really, why would a girl like Caroline refuse? She has no other options and for a dashing older man like Richard to ask her to be his wife is a dream come true.

There may be no love between these two in the beginning, but there is respect and friendship. Caroline doesn’t even mind becoming a mother to Julia and hopes Richard can find some affection in his heart for her. Caroline thinks Richard still loves his dead wife Elizabeth. Actually, Richard’s feelings for his dead wife are not the ones Caroline believes he has. These two try to become comfortable around each other and Richard soon finds himself falling in love with Caroline. But he was hurt once before and doesn’t want to go through the pain again. Plus, his spurned mistress, Christina, is in the background wanting to make him pay and will drop little seeds of doubt and mistrust into Caroline’s mind.

His Shadowed Heart is a charming historical that begins with a marriage between two strangers who end up falling in love with each other, and deeply. Even though Richard has a fifteen year age difference with a girl who is barely out of her teens, that didn’t stop myself from enjoying this romance. Richard may seem a bit gruff and stiff when we are first introduced to him, but Caroline quickly breaks down his defenses. Caroline is a wonderful character full of life and sunshine. There are some subtle love scenes between the two and even with the fade to black love making between this husband and wife, it very much set the sensuality tone of the novel.

If you are a regency romance fan looking for more reads such as this one, definitely check out Hazel Statham and His Shadowed Heart.

3 stars of out of 5 stars

Katiebabs (KB)

**My third and final regency romance review will be the soon to be released Scandalous by Night by Barbara Pierce. Hopefully I will have it posted later tonight and it will be my final review before I go on my merry way to RWA!**

FYI: Some Stephanie Laurens Goodness!

Spotted at Barnes and Noble for $4.99:

You get both Devil's Bride and A Rake's Vow together!! 2 for the price of 1!!

How can you beat that?

Friday's Child Review

A few months ago I finally picked up my first Georgette Heyer novel, and for the life of me I can’t think of any reason why I waited this long since Heyer is one of the most well known authors of regency romance. Friday’s Child is the perfect introduction to anyone who wants to give Heyer a try. Can a book just be too cute for words? Friday’s Child is definitely a “cute” read with lovely characters and a story that had me laughing from beginning to end. There are no undercover spies or evil villains popping up to do the hero and heroine in. There isn't even any kissing between the hero and heroine till the very end. This is simply a story about a man who marries a childhood friend for convenience. The fun in reading is seeing him come to his senses as he falls in love with his precious wife.

Lord Anthony Sheringham has decided it is time for him to marry and he believes he has found the right woman. Her name is Bella Milbourne and she has been nicknamed the Incomparable by the Ton. Sheringham, or Sherry, as his close friends call him, has known Bella since they were children. He loves her, or so he tricks himself into believing. If Bella marries him, he will come into his inheritance and out from under the thumb of his uncle who he can’t stand. Bella holds Sherry in great affection but turns him down because she longs for another. Sherry’s pride is hurt and promises to marry the first woman he sees, which happens to be a very young, penniless orphan, Hero Wantage.

Hero is very starry eyed around Sherry, ever since they were children, and she thinks he is so very perfect. Sherry puffs up whenever he is around Hero because she praises his various virtues. Hero is a good sort, even though Sherry thinks her name is, “a nonsensical name for a girl!”

When Hero tells Sherry she is about to be cast out from her aunt’s house and must either become a governess or marry the horrid local curate, Sherry decides to save Hero and marry her himself! Sherry has always gotten along very well with Hero and will take care of her as long as she doesn’t cling to him to him too much and allows him the same freedom he had when he was a bachelor. Sherry gives Hero a new nickname, and calls her Kitten since she reminds him of one, “… I think it’s your silly little nose… That, or the trick you have of staring at a fellow with your eyes wide open…”

Soon Sherry marries Hero. Sherry doesn’t keep Hero hidden away, and even introduces her to his various other bachelor friends. Sherry’s friends are a very friendly sort and they welcome Hero into their group with open arms. Things couldn’t be better, until, Sherry bring Hero to London where she feels so out of place. And because of that, she makes some mistakes in society’s eyes and tends to embarrass Sherry. (It doesn’t help that she points out a past mistress of Sherry’s to everyone) Plus, when Sherry’s friend George, Lord Wrotham seems a bit too close for comfort with Hero, Sherry becomes jealous. He is not sure what to do with his Kitten who keeps finding herself in certain scrapes. Hero just wants to help George, who is in love with Bella, but Bella, who I thought was a bit of a B-I-T-C-H, plays with his emotions. Soon there are rumors running all over the place about George and Hero, and Sherry is ready to duel his friend over Hero’s affections.

Friday’s Child is a wonderful tale of regency England by master storyteller, Georgette Heyer. I could not stop laughing at the antics of Sherry and Hero as they try to come to terms as a new married couple. I found myself laughing too many times to count and I wanted to smack Sherry over the head because it took him forever to finally realize he loves Hero as a woman and not just his friend. Friday’s Child is a lovely book with some slapstick comedy that would be wonderful to see on the big screen. If every book by Heyer is like Friday’s Child, I will make sure to pick up the rest of her back list. If you are in a mood for great comedy and endearing characters, Friday’s Child is the book for you!

4 stars out of 5 stars!

Katiebabs (KB) Question- does anyone know what the title means?

I can barely stand it Now!!

So – it’s official. I am now bona fide bouncy! I’m blogging from work – a real big no no for me but I’m so not in the mood to work. I’m too excited and I do not feel like working. At. All. Thankfully we have a summer student in to help us and she is picking up all my slack.

I decided that I would go full out for this trip and get a manicure/pedicure/ eyebrow wax. I’ve had one manicure in my life but never had a pedicure. Let’s just say although I think I will go again, this first one wasn’t the most pleasant of experiences. You combine LOTS dead foot skin, especially around the toes, a client who yelps at the slightest amount of pain, pain that removing LOTS of dead foot skin, especially around the toes and it’s not that good a combination. Add to that I had to hold my legs in positions I don’t normally hold them and people who told me what a relaxing thing a pedicure was, lied. On top of that I felt I was in that episode of Seinfeld where Elaine thought they were all laughing at her because she didn’t speak their language. The name of the salon I went to was Lotus something so you can take by that it was a very similar situation. I’m overly protective of my toes and legs – odd I know – but true and I was sure they were making fun of them – what will dead foot skin and all. But it was well worth it as I catch glimpses of my beautiful dead skin free, very nicely coloured toe nails. The manicure went much better though. I have beautifully matched toe and finger nails. The only problem with the manicure was I was so paranoid that I moved my hands v e r y s l o w l y and didn’t dare put on a seat belt in fear of them all chipped. And I prayed all the way home that I didn’t get pulled over by the cops for not wearing my seat belt. I would have been annoyed as hell paying the fine, but even worse would be explaining that I was wearing my seat belt because my nails were wet.
As for the eyebrow wax, well just as she was finishing up my nails a bunch of people who had appointments came in and I think she forgot. Since I was already convinced they were all laughing at me, I didn’t mention that part and when I got home, I ripped quite a few of the offending eyebrow hairs out myself. Not as good as a professional job and probably more painful but they still pass muster.
But if I’m this excited today – tomorrow is going to be a killer!!

One more thing that different than last time. Last year I told everyone I was going to a writers conference. This year I'm telling them I'm going to a Romance Writers Conference!

Ann Aguirre Meet and Greet

What was originally just two people getting together, grew to over fifteen! Last night Ann Aquirre (I felt up her pink Juicy purse) met with her fans, authors, and various bloggers from the tri-state NYC area. We got together for BBQ, margaritas, laughs and of course to talk about books! To help document the night, I had my digital camera to take some picture (until my battery died). But, there were others with cameras! Morgan Doremus, who writes articles for the Romance Times and will be attending RWA next week as part of the press crowd, made sure her camera was ready to go and passed some of these along! What a wonderful night to be surrounded by a wonderful group of lovely ladies! :D

Marisa from Romancenovel.tv/ Ann/ SB Sarah

Liz Maverick and Megan Frampton

SB Sarah/ Christine & Amy/ Marisa O'Neil, Morgan Doremus & Maria Lokken/

Leanna Hieber & NY RWA Chapter President Elizabeth Mahon

Katie(babs) who really looks much better than this! *at least my boobs look big in my t-shirt*

A Week From Today...

IS THE START OF RWA!!

The butterflies in my stomach are in full flutter mode now.

Why are we so excited?? Here is a recap:

Romance Writers of America’s 28 th Annual National Conference in San Francisco

Every year, writers and industry professionals come from all over the world to attend Romance Writers of America’s Annual National Conference. The Annual Conference is a four-day event filled with educational workshops, career enhancement, and community involvement.

At the Conference, career-focused romance writers can anticipate:

• Education and information,
• Networking with fellow writers,
• Interaction with editors, agents, publishers, booksellers, and other romance publishing industry professionals.

More importantly, flip-flips or penny loafers? Jeans or skirts?
How many workshops can I fit in?

And right now it is a sunny 54 degrees by the bay! :D

Katiebabs(KB)

Georgette Heyer Winner!

We have a winner in the wonderful Georgette Heyer book giveaway!

DEV!!!

Congrats on winning these lovely books! Just sent me your snail mail where you would like to receive your winnings to me at:
KatiebabsgATgmail.com

Hopefully I will have my own review of Friday's Child up sometime this week...

What a Beautiful Thing!

Have you seen the video about the 2 guys that kept a baby lion as their pet? They had to release him into the wild because he became too big. This is what happens when the lion and his two keepers are reunited again. Don't be surprised if you get a little weepy!

The Dark Knight Movie Review

The one movie I wanted to see above all else this summer was The Dark Knight. When I first saw the trailer for The Dark Knight back in November of last year, I was stunned and floored all at the same time. The reason? Mainly because of Heath Ledger’s portrayal of the Joker in a spot that ran less than sixty seconds. Come hell or high water I was going to see this movie its opening weekend. And then on January 22, 2008 I knew without a doubt The Dark Knight would be the most anticipated movie of the year because of the passing of Heath Ledger.

I will be honest, when I saw Batman Begins two years ago; I thought it was an okay movie but nothing to write home about. I think my bias comes from being such a huge fan of Tim Burton’s Batman. Even though Christian Bale gave a pretty good performance as Bruce Wayne, I still felt that Michael Keaton’s performance was the best.

After seeing The Dark Knight last night, my views have radically changed. I left the theater, literally shaking because what I had just witnessed was movie making at its very best. This is how movies should be made. There is enough action, twists and turns that your head just spins. The acting alone should make you sit up and take notice because the actors are no longer just players on a stage, but rather they are the embodiment of the characters they have become.

I now finally understand about the three separate movie posters that each show Batman, the Joker and Harvey Dent with half their faces being covered as they hold up something against one side of their face, while the other side has nothing to hide. These are three men with totally separate goals. One is goodness and everything righteous; the other tries to work for good but is caught between two different worlds; the third has no morals or reason for his madness, he just does what he does because he enjoys it. He is like a dog that chases after a car, knowing he will never catch it just because it is fun to do, or so The Joker tries to explain to Harvey his reasons for the chaos and anarchy he causes.

The Dark Knight begins where the last movie has left off. If you haven’t seen Batman Begins, no worries, because the director, Chris Nolan, has done a wonderful job of catching the audience up to speed. The first 45 minutes or so are a casual build up, and I admit I was a bit antsy during this time because I was expecting mind numbing action and explosions right away. They come later, and when they do, your heart will be beating a mile a minute.

Gotham’s criminals have pretty much been inactive mainly because of Batman. There are still some petty crime and the Mob are in control to extent, but things are pretty ho-hum in the villain department. But then a man with a maniacal laugh and a face painted haphazardly with clown makeup makes his entrance. Gotham will never be the same.

There is a new District Attorney in town and he is Harvey Dent who is a good guy, deep down to his core. Bruce Wayne is not sure about Harvey, in part, because Harvey has stolen away his old love, Rachel Dawes. Harvey is everything Bruce wishes he could be but can’t. In order for Bruce to fight crime as Batman, he must do some things that are not very lawful. Bruce has major issues because of his conscience. How far can he go and should go to keep peace and order? Batman is going to have quite the wake up call because The Joker will shake up the order of things in ways you will not see coming.

Whereas Harvey is the face of law and order and is willing to go as far as he can to a point, Batman is given an out because he is a vigilante. Others will turn and look the other way if he has to kill or cause his own chaos to save Gotham. But because Batman has a conscience, unlike The Joker, he will not step over that line even if it means saving the most important people in his life that he cares about. The Joker knows Batman’s weaknesses and will do his best to cause total and utter meltdown in Gotham, mainly to get Batman to admit that he has a very dark place inside, that he may have to reach down into, thus becoming The Dark Knight.

The Dark Knight is a very, very dark picture. There is so much death and destruction, and the funny thing is, The Joker is responsible for the set up, but he places the decisions in everyone else’s hands, and not his own. He may be the cause, but he is not the effect. Batman and The Joker are very much like the pieces on a chessboard. Because they are each other’s nemesis and essentially equal, they are always at a checkmate. Wherever The Joker goes, Batman will follow and visa versa. The odd man out is Harvey and again The Joker uses one of Harvey’s weaknesses to get him to do what he wants. The Joker is that little demon on your shoulder that tells you want you want to hear even though it may be so very wrong.

The Dark Knight is not your childhood Batman. Many issues arise where a person’s moral being comes into play. Bruce Wayne and Harvey Dent are very moral people, but when a man like The Joker comes along, who has no rhyme or reason for the destruction he causes, how can these two men not sink down to his level? That is the main question asked and with the end of The Dark Knight, and future installments of this Batman series, this moral dilemma will be the main focus and a foreshadowing of things to come.

Visually, The Dark Knight is perfect, but the most important reason to go see a movie such as this, even if you are not a fan of superheroes or comic book action, is the acting. Forget about Michael Keaton; Christian Bale has really succeeded in this role where Michael hasn’t. I had hoped the direction of what Batman has to become would be a darker and more unstable individual, and Christian has tapped into Batman’s psyche wonderfully. Aaron Eckhart almost took over this movie with his portrayal of Harvey Dent. He even outshined Christian in a few scenes.

Last but not least, and I purposely saved the best for last is Heath Ledger. What an incredible way to leave this Earth and on such a high note. I never really appreciated Heath’s acting until Brokeback Mountain. I thought he was just another pretty boy actor. I was very much mistaken. If you put all of Heath’s scenes together as the Joker, his total on screen running time is about thirty minutes. But those thirty minutes show a true master at work. So many actresses and actors don’t have the skill or the inclination to stretch their abilities to the maximum in their work. There are a very select few who vanish as that individual we come to know outside of their professional capacity. They become their character to the point that they disappear in that role. Heath has done so with The Joker. Take the homicidal tendencies of Alex from A Clockwork Orange, with a smidgen of Dr. Hannibal Lector’s intuitiveness from Silence of the Lambs, and the face of Gwynplaine from The Man Who Laughs, and you have Ledger’s Joker.

I could go on with the praise about Heath Ledger’s acting mainly because of the tragedy of his death, but quite honestly, The Dark Knight is a group effort with the three men of, Christian Bale, Aaron Eckhart and Heath Ledger. I have only touched upon a small part of why The Dark Knight is such a wonderful viewing experience. Some may this movie success lies because of the skills of director and his players. Perhaps it is the hardcore fans, or it may possibly be the death of an actor who died so young.

I say this is a damn fine movie by people who know what they are doing. It is refreshing to know that there are still professionals in the movie industry that want to give the public quality entertainment, and The Dark Knight is such a movie.

4 1/2 stars out of 5. Why not 5 stars? I wanted more of the Joker!

Katiebabs (KB)

A week from today, about this time.......

I will be on the shuttle bus on my way to Detroit airport.

Squueeeeeaaallll

It's hard to believe how fast time goes. When I first decided to go again this year, it seemed like a Very Long Way Away - now it's only a week to go. All I have left to do is get a pedicure and manicure and pack. And of course the biggest decision - which books to take with me. It seems silly to take a lot of books because I will be getting a lot of books, but to travel without them just isn't right.
And I will be sure to stop by and meet lots of authors - even if I have all their back lists *g*

And in other news, it's my day at Access Readers Gab.

Guess What I Will be Seeing Today!

Think I am a bit too excited?! YOU BETTER BELIEVE IT!!

The Joke by The Joker:
"See, there were these two guys in a lunatic asylum... and one night... one night they decide they don't like living in an asylum any more. They decide they’re going to escape! So like they get up on to the roof, and there, just across the narrow gap, they see the rooftops of the town, stretching away in moon light... stretching away to freedom. Now the first guy he jumps right across with no problem. But his friend, his friend daren't make the leap. Y'see he's afraid of falling... So then the first guy has an idea. He says "Hey! I have my flash light with me. I will shine it across the gap between the buildings. You can walk across the beam and join me." But the second guy just shakes his head. He says... he says "What do you think I am, crazy? You would turn it off when I was half way across."

...review to come...

Katiebabs(KB)

I Sit Here With Tears Rolling Down My Face

As I write this post, I can hardly see anything because I am crying to the point of sobbing.

A year ago, a little girl drowned. Her name was Hannah Davis. She was her parents' pride and joy. I found about about this blog, Life With Hannah and Lily from Mark Kate. Hannah's parents, Rach and Brien started a wonderful blog back in 2006 about their life with their two beautiful daughters, Hannah and Lily. Their posts are beautiful to read with such lovely pictures. You will laugh, you will cry.

I can't stop crying.

Hannah was not even six years old and I am hurting alongside Rach, Brien and their family as they suffer this terrible lost.

I am at a loss for words. There is nothing I can say to make things better. Usually my words are enough to express my feelings, to give some hope and joy. All I have are my words, and I can't find the right ones to express my loss over this beautiful little girl.

Tomorrow when I go to church for Sunday mass, I will light a candle in honor of little Hannah, knowing she is now in a beautiful place that I can only hope to find myself when my time on Earth is done.


Katiebabs (KB)

Our Newest Crusader

Syd, who posted the delightful interview, has now joined the ranks.
She's posted her thoughts on North and South - and even has videos to prove the wonderfullness - some I've never even seen and I thought I'd seen them all!

Pleasure Unbound Review

When I begin reading a book, one thought goes through me mind: “Please don’t let this be a DNF!”
A DNF (Do Not Finish) is the kiss of death for authors, even worse than receiving an F Grade. Pleasure Unbound by Larissa Ione came very close to being a DNF for me in the first 80 pages or so. But since I have been reading rave reviews about Pleasure Unbound, I decided to stick with it. If things did not look up by page one-hundred, this would be placed in the DNF pile.

Larissa really turned things around for me. This almost DNF does a complete 180, where I was glued to the story. That, in itself, is quite an accomplishment. I can admit I was so very wrong, and can really see great things for Larissa and her new Demonica Series. Not only is Pleasure Unbound perfect for any paranormal fan, but the sex oozes off the pages. This is one sex filled book where, if the characters are not having sex, they are thinking about sex. Everyone gets down and dirty, or at the very least they do so in their minds. The path to love for our demons is very much a dirty and physical one, where pain and pleasure are blurred together. Also, the outcome of some important characters are not certain. Those you think will be alive and well towards the end, are not, and the HEA (happily ever after) we are so used to is somewhat unknown. This isn’t a fairy tale where everything comes up smelling like roses and that white picket fence with 2.5 kids is a sure thing. There is death, pain and suffering. Actually, there is a whole lot of suffering.

Take Tayla, our demon slayer heroine for example. Tayla is that typical hard nosed, “I don’t need anybody to love” character. She has the crap beaten out of her more than any other character in this book, and will still stand up and take another hit if need be. Tayla is first introduced as an unconscious patient brought to a hospital that caters to all types of non-humans. Tayla isn't a welcomed sight because she kills demons. She works for The Aegis, a group of humans who have vowed to exterminate any demons, vampires, werewolves, or any other nasty creature. Tayla has a particular dislike for demons in particular because her drug-addicted mother was tortured and finally killed by one.

The demon doctor who comes to take care of her is Eidolon. Ediolon is a sex on a stick demon surgeon who patches up his fellow demons and other creatures. Eidolon is having some issues himself because he is going through his s’genesis. He is having a really hard time, very much so in the literal sense. Eidolon is hard all the time due to the s’genesis, which is a rite of passage for his kind. He has reached the age where his lust is about to overpower him and he will feel the constant need to rape and impregnate any female he comes in contact with. So far Eidolon has been successful at keeping those urges bay, but when Tayla is brought to the Underworld General Hospital, also known as UGH (ha ha funny), Ediolon can barely hold back. Of course he is disgusted over his lust for this demon slayer. And things become even more complicated when he finds out that Tayla is half demon.

Not only does Eidolon have to hold back ravishing Tayla every chance he can get, but he has to figure out which one of the Aegis are killing demons and stealing their internal organs. And since Tayla is not too keen on Eidolon, he has his work cut out for him. See, Tayla has a really bad sexual hang up because she witnessed something so horrible as a teenager; and it deals with her mother. She can’t get this memory out of her head and because of it, Tayla cannot enjoy sex the way a woman should be able to.

When Eidolon is not trying to get down Tayla’s pants, or trying not to turn into a raging demon of unbridled lust, he has to keep tabs on his two brothers. His brother Wraith, who is half vampire, is addicted to drinking the blood of drug addicts to get his high. Wraith also has the power to manipulate people with his mind. Whenever Wraith messes up, Eidolon is there to pick up the pieces and take the consequences. There is also Shade, who is the more easy going of the brothers and will sleep with any woman, human or otherwise. Shade has the gift to cure anyone with a simple touch. There are some other interesting secondary characters, both human and demon that are bound to have their own future stories in this on-going series that I wouldn’t want to miss. (Shade’s book, Shadow Lover comes out in March 2009)

Pleasure Unbound reads like a paranormal soap opera, much like the Dynasty or Dallas of the eighties. This was such a guilty pleasure read with the amount of sex, violence and secret siblings popping up. There are also many others who stradde both sides of the fence between good and evil. Trying to figure out which side they are on is part of the fun. I felt the beginning dragged a bit, mainly because Larissa needed to set up the story and the action. But as soon as things were set into motion, Pleasure Unbound didn’t let up for a moment.

And for those who weren’t aware, Larissa Ione also writes under the pseudonym, Sydney Croft (along with author Stephanie Tyler) who pens erotic paranormal action/ adventure romance. If you are a fan of her Croft books, I have no doubt you will enjoy Larissa Ione and her new Demonica Series with Pleasure Unbound. (Published by Grand Central Publishing)

3 out of 5 stars

Katiebabs(KB)

Doing Homework

Well - it's not long now - less than two weeks before I leave on a jet plane. The list of authors at the literacy singing has been posted now and I have a bit of a dilema *g*. I looked through it - a number of times - and I already own the back list of all the authors I most want to meet! Linnea Sinclair - own all her books. Susan Grant - yep - I have every single one of her books too. I've read and loved both of Joanna Bourne's books. Same thing with Elizabeth Hoyt's books too! Gena Showalter - have all hers! I've been buying Toni Blakes books and have most of them. I just hope they have the one or two I don' t have there.

So, it's a bit of a dilema - do I got up to them anyway and say I'm not going to buy your books because I already have them?

I was blog hopping this morning and stopped at Book Binge. They have a review of Master of Surrender and it sounds very intriguing. I love a good Medieval. I immediately checked out Chapters and they have copies available so I thought I'd stop on the way home. But then I thought - 'wait a minute! Your pledge (which you already broke) - so I checked and Karin Tabke will be there. So there's one book I can get - YES!
When I looked at the list there were a lot of authors I hadn't heard of. So in order to get 'organized' and do homework, I'm going to go down the list of authors who will be there and check out their books before hand to see if they appeal to me.

So question - if you are an author, would it bother you if someone didn't buy your books but stopped by anyway?
And is anyone else going to check things out before hand?

Guess What I Got?? (A shout is heard through the land...)

HAPPY HAPPY, JOY JOY!!

Katiebabs (KB) *still wants Breaking Dawn!!*

Georgette Heyer Contest (and some others to tickle your fancy)

The wonderful people at Sourcebooks have a wonderful contest going on to honor Georgette Heyer, the master of Regency romance.
Nationally known Librarian, Nancy Pearl of the NPR, has picked Heyer's An Infamous Army as one of her top 2008 Summer reading picks.
Never read a Heyer novel? Well, here's your chance! We are giving away An Infamous Army along with three other Heyer novels. All you have to do is post here by Monday. Tell me why you want to win and which Heyer novels you would love to read. I personally recommend Friday's Child, which was my first Heyer book. *G*

Want to know about some other great book contests to tickle your fancy? (As always, I aim to please!)
This is truly an amazing contest! All About Romance is giving away an ARC of Seduce Me At Sunrise by Lisa Kleypas that doesn't come out till October! You have till tonight by midnight to enter. **I received an ARC of this book and let me tell you, if you enjoyed Mine Till Midnight, Seduce Me At Sunrise is just as good! Pen and Win's love story is sexy and sweet. Plus we see how Cam and Ameilia are doing as a newly married couple**
Also at All About Romance, you have your chance to win a copy of Magic Burns by Ilona Andrews. You have till midnight tonight to enter. And while you're there, read the wonderful interview that was posted by me! **yup, shameless plug**

If anyone knows of any other contests around, give a shot out here and we will post them :D

Katiebabs (KB)

Miscellaneous

I always find these interesting. I found this first one at Jaces's blog:

Your STAR WARS Identity created with QuizFarm.com

You scored as Luke Skywalker YOU ARE LUKE SKYWALKER! You are a courageous person who often gets into trouble by protecting others. You want to be the peacekeeper and help to dissolve arguments between your friends. Luke Skywalker 80% Chewbacca 70% Princess Leia 60% Jabba the Hutt 50% Boba Fett 40% R2-D2 30% Han Solo 30% Yoda 20% C-3PO 20% Darth Vader 10%

And I found this one at Lisabea's.

A strong-willed herald of causes against injustice, you passionately strive to right the wrongs around you.

Somebody has to save our skins

And finally - I thought I'd post an email I sent recently. It's pretty self-explanatory but a brief unsolicited plug for VistaPrint.

Hello X Xxxxxxx:
Too seldom I think, do we offer praise for a job well done. We are quick to complain but not quick enough to praise.
My partner and I are going to a conference soon and we decided to make up some business cards. As it's just us and we aren't really a business, just a couple of friends who have a website we want to promote, we didn't want to spend a lot of money. Your site was recommended to us by someone else who has used VistaPrint.
First off I would like to say I love that you can either get a choice of backgrounds or design your own for a very reasonable price. I decided to design our own with our website banner.
Unfortunately I didn't proof read enough and didn't notice until several days after ordering them that I had made a mistake in the website address.
I contacted the 1-800 number to see if there was any way I could correct the mistake I'd made. I was speaking to your representative Conroy and he was of immense help - going beyond what I would have expected. Not only did he make the correction, he double checked and caught another small error I had made.
I wish to commend you on your helpful staff and also on your company in general. You can be sure I will tell everyone I know who is looking for business products to check out VistaPrint!

Thank you!

TBR Challenge - July

Time’s Captive – Kate Lyon
Published: 2004
Publisher: Dorchester

OK – Here goes. Cassie Edwards (and yes, I heard she had a stroke and I truly do hope she makes a full recovery) and a few authors like her who write Indian Romance have almost made this genre a joke. I know that. But I’ve been reading them for a long time and there are some good ones out there. Kathleen Eagle has written some truly wonderful ones. Keishon, who I admire for her taste in books loves this author. Rosanne Bittner is another author who has written in this genre that I think demands respect. But I almost feel defensive reading them now. So it was with a bit of apprehension I thought about how I should do this review. But – the book deserves it so here goes.

I read my first Kate Lyons book after I read Wendy’s most excellent review for Hope’s Captive. I loved it too – it was the kind of book that is published far too rarely these days. So after I read it in 2006, I wanted to read another book by Kate Lyon’s and promptly ordered Time’s Captive – and there it languished in the TBR pile.
While I would like to return the favour to Wendy for Hopes’ Captive with Time’s Captive – I don’t think it will work for her. You see this is a story of soul mates and I know that’s not Wendy’s cup of tea. But this kind of story really works for me.
Kris Baldwin is a young woman of two cultures. Her mother side is Cheyenne and her father’s side is white. Her mother died years ago and she only recently discovered her grandmother. While out swimming one day something very strange happens to her. She has a vision of a young Cheyenne warrior and then she is pulled into a pulled into a deep pool. When she surfaces, she is confronted by her vision.
Black Eagle is a Cheyenne War Chief who has gone on a vision quest looking for help for his people. The buffalo are being slaughtered and The People are slowly being herded onto reservations and he wants to stop this – he wants thing back the way they were.
When he sees Kris he takes this as the answer to his quest – that she can help his people. They are strongly attracted to each other but neither is prepared to act on it; Kris because she wants to get back to her own time and Black Eagle because he sees her as his people’s salvation and doesn’t want to ruin that by acting on his attraction. During this time, with the help of magical stones – Kris’s handed down from generation to generation and Black Eagles formed when he first sees Kris, they each catch brief glimpses in their dreams of each other in another time and another place, dreams that haunt them and end sadly.
I don’t how good a summary this is of someone who might be interested in this book – I hope it’s clear enough without giving too much away.
So what did I think of it?
I loved it!! This is the kind of book that makes this an interesting genre. It doesn’t have any of the silly and even offensive kind of stuff that some writes publish – no names needed.
Both Kris and Black Eagle came across as real people with real strengths and weaknesses. This was a brutal time and Kris is appalled at some of the things Black Eagle does and has done. But as he tries to tell Kris – this was a time of war and while his people committed atrocities, so did the white man. While living in the present, being of two heritages doesn’t cause a lot of conflict for Kris, but in the past it was very different and she had difficult choices and a different way of seeing things.
This was an emotional read and I took a bit of a break while reading. It’s the kind of book that makes you sad for the history of Native Americans. It’s NOTHING like a Cassie Edwards book with the silliness and inaccuracy.
I don’t know what happened to Kate Lyon after Hope’s Captive, but I hope we see her again sometime. I’ve really enjoyed both books I’ve read.
In the end I give this one a 4.5 out of 5

Blossum does Through the Veil *The Triple Threat Review*

Blossum has decided to take over reviewing for the day since Kate is oh so busy whining about what to pack on her trip to San Francisco. *Blossum sticks her tongue out at Kate and rolls her eyes*. Bubbles and Buttercup, my two other partners in crime have taken over at The Book Smugglers while Thea and Ana get ready for the fabulous Batman weekend they have planned in honor of The Dark Knight that comes out on Friday. Thea has advance tickets to see Dark Knight and Blossum is trying to figure out a way to steal those suckers away from her. *Gives Thea the special Blossum stare that brings most villains to their knees!* It doesn’t work. *pout*

For our very first Powerpuff Girls’ Triple review, we settled on Shiloh Walker’s Through the Veil. I must say the cover is very eye-catching, and one of the best this year. Through the Veil is a cross between Lord of the Rings and the Terminator. Shiloh is a great and talented storyteller, but with Through the Veil, there were some things that were left to be desired. I had some problems concentrating on everything that was going on because of the combination of too many genres from sci-fi/fantasy/urban romance… need I go on?

Lee Ross has horrible nightmares where she wakes up bruised and beaten. She dreams of war, death and… him. “Him” happens to be Kalen, a warrior in another dimension where Lee really belongs. It seems when Lee was a little girl, she was able to break through the Veil, which is a barrier between the world she was born in and the world she lives in now, which is present day Earth. This other dimension is called Ishtan (I kept wanting to say Ishtar). For hundreds of years, the Warlords of Anqar, who are the enemy of the Ishtanians, have kidnapped their females to make them Warlord slaves and try to impregnate them. Kalen has been leading this resistance against the Warlords for fifteen years. The Warlords have all types of magic and really nasty creatures at their disposal to defeat Kalen and his ragtag army. Kalen is about to have a breakdown because he no longer knows what to do to keep the fight going. The only answer he may have to save his people is Lee.

For some reason, whenever Lee dreams, she is able to go through the Veil and fight along side Kalen. Kalen needs Lee to stay in Ishtan and have her join in the fight. Kalen and Lee have quite a history together because she has popped in and out of his life since she was a girl. Kalen feels she is the preverbal light at the end of the tunnel and also has major feelings for her. Lee is also at her wits end, but for another reason all together. She thinks she is hallucinating because she now sees things outside her dreams. She decides to open her mind and is taken back to Ishtan, like Dorothy who ends up in Oz. And can you guess who is waiting for her there? I expected Kalen to jump and down like a giddy little boy when her finally has Lee in front of him. Instead, he kisses the life out of her, which was a very sweet and hot moment. This gives you a good idea of what is to come between these two.

As Kalen shows Lee the destruction and mayhem the Warlords have placed on the poor people of Ishtan, Lee really wants to go home. Her main complaint is that they don’t have coffee and real bathrooms! Plus, Lee is expected to undergo a harsh training session so she will be able to reach inside herself. She has an extra special power that can possibly save everyone. Lee is not really down with this, after all she is a bit of a girly girl. But Kalen knows that there is just something about Lee because anytime he was in trouble, she would appear and help him. Plus, the lack of women tends to make a man like Kalen horny, so Lee is perfect in so many other ways. Even though these two have only interacted a hand full of times in the past, Lee wants to jum Kalen's bones. The same goes for Kalen. Hey, they both could be dead tomorrow so whenever they have a free moment, Kalen and Lee try to find some peace and tenderness in each other’s arms. As the war rages on, Lee comes to some conclusions and that means sacrificing her own life. See, Lee’s daddy wants her on his side and it is definitely not the side Kalen is on.

Shiloh has written a gritty, dark tale that is a cross between fantasy and science fiction. One minute I felt like I was reading a medieval fantasy where two countries are at a bloody war with each other, then the next I was thrown into a sci-fi urban fantasy. Along with the magic used by the Warlords and fantasy creatures, Kalen’s army uses high tech guns and ammunition that seems a bit out of place. It may just be me, but I would have preferred one over the other. You either pick the magic or stick with bombs and plasma ray guns.

Kalen is portrayed as a wonderful hero. He is strong, intelligent and so very sexy. This is a man who has a perfect tan even though the sun never shines as it is always cloudy and rainy. As for Lee, I found her to be a bit too one-dimensional. If I were Lee, I would have probably acted the same way she did, being thrown into a situation of constant pain and suffering. But after awhile I really couldn’t see how Lee was so very important to the cause. She may have magic that no one else has, but her moaning and groaning tended to grate on my nerves. I almost felt as if Kalen was trying to trick himself into believing that Lee is the savior he was looking for. He tries his hardest to make everyone feel the same way he does. But, the way he treats Lee, is very sweet and endearing as if he was without such loveliness for so long and only Lee can fill that place in his cold heart.

Through the Veil should appeal to fans of fantasy romance, along with that touch of an urban fantasy feel. Most will probably agree that Shiloh can grab a reader and doesn’t let up on the action till the very last page. Perhaps because of this non-stop action, there wasn’t enough time to invest an emotional response with Lee and Kalen. Yes, I found their sex scenes together to be excellent, but as for love and being each other’s soul mates, well that is a bit lacking. At least Kalen has a nice tan and six pack abs that Lee can really appreciate when all is said and done.

2 ½ stars out of 5

Blossum

Recent Read

Dangerous Secrets by Lisa Marie Rice

Why this one: I’ve just recently discovered this author and I’ve loved all her books so far. So when this one came out it was a given that I would read it.

Steam Level: Whoa Mama – this one is steaming

Amazon Blurb: Small-town librarian Charity Prewitt never dreamed she'd meet and fall in love with a man like Nicholas Ames. The handsome, rich, charming, sexy-as-hell millionaire blew into tiny Parker's Ridge, Vermont, and immediately rocked her world. Powerful, sensual, the perfect man, Nick knows all the right words—and all the right spots to touch, sending her soaring to dizzying new heights of ecstatic abandon. Never before has prim and proper Charity leapt into bed with a perfect stranger—and now that she's there with him, nothing is going to drag her away!

But Nick Ames is not who he claims to be. In truth, he is Nicholas Ireland—the one they call "Iceman." A former Delta Force operator, now a high-level undercover agent, he will do whatever his government asks of him—lie, seduce, betray . . . even kill, if necessary—for the sake of the mission. And this time his mission is Charity Prewitt.

Suddenly one woman has broken down his chilly restraint and ignited his passions completely. And before the erotic dream turns into a nightmare, will Charity be able to melt the Iceman's cold, cold heart?

My Thoughts: I think I could copy Katie’s review and paste it here ‘cause we are pretty much in agreement on this one. LMR writes alpha heroes like nobody’s business. Nick was an alpha to die for and so protective of Charity. His nickname of Iceman was blown to smithereens when he is assigned to infiltrate and get to ‘know’ Charity. Her very good friend who unbeknownst to her, was a real leader in the Russian Mafia. Now he was an interesting character. Mad as a hatter he was but when reading why he turned out to be the soulless villain he was, one couldn’t but help feeling bad for him. It didn’t make him any less evil, but it’s not often you find yourself almost sympathizing with the bad guy. But back to Nick and Charity. Nick is totally thrown off his game plan by Charity. He’s not known as the Iceman for nothing. She ‘gets’ to him like nobody ever has before. He’s used sex as a tool to get information before and it meant nothing or less than nothing to him, but with Charity he feels things. There is one scene that is quite amusing. He is following her home from her job as a librarian while talking to one of his very few friends on the phone. His friend, a financial wizard has just told him he’s worth a million dollars but all Nick can do is bitch about what he thinks is Charity’s lousy driving. I did feel that Nick could have felt a little worse for lying to Charity, though he does do everything to protect her.

Charity was alright as a heroine. She didn’t stand out that much for me, but she was good. She was a little on the naïve side and I found her caving into Nick a little too easily.

While I didn’t enjoy this one quite as much as Dangerous Lover and the Midnight series, still, overall I was quite a happy reader while reading this one.

Grade: 4 out of 5

~~~~~**********~~~~~

It will also stand out for another reason. It was while reading this book, I came fully out of my romance reading closet. I was sitting reading it at the picnic table at lunch one day when someone came and sat beside me and asked what I was reading. I had a split second to either hide it away or come out totally. So I quickly thought ‘in for a penny, in for a pound’. I don’t really understand that expression but that’s what ran through my brain anyway. So I held the book out to her. She asked if there was sex in it and I replied ‘Oh yaaaaa, there’s a lot of that in here’. It actually felt quite freeing! She replied she didn’t read romance or that kind of book, but she wasn’t snotty or anything about it – and she is one of the most cynical people I work with.

So, I also have to thank Lisa Marie Rice for making me finally taking a stand. I still haven’t stood up on tables and yelled out ‘My Name is Kristie J and I read Romance Novels’ but who knows – maybe I will do that sometime.

Magic Strikes Excerpt...

Ask and you shall receive...*coughEXCLUSIVEcough*

THANKS Ilona! :D

"I'm prepared to let Derek go and forget he was ever here," Saiman said. "Provided you accompany me to the Games tomorrow night."
Never ask that question.
"No," Derek said.
I studied the glittering crystal glass in my hand, playing for time. A large crest had been painstakingly cut into the glass, a flame encircled by a serpent. The light of the electric lamp set the cut design aglow, and the crystal scales of the serpent sparkled with fiery colors.
"Lovely, isn't?"
"It is."
"Riedel. Hand-cut. A very limited series, only two made."
"Why do you want my company?"
"My reasons are twofold: first, I require your professional opinion. I find myself in need of a fighter expert."
I arched my eyebrows.
"I would like you to evaluate one of the teams at the Games." Saiman permitted himself a small smile.
Okay. I could do that. "And second?"
Saiman studied the glass in his hand for a long moment and smashed it against the table. It shattered with a pure chime, showering the carpet with a spray of glittering crystal shards. In the cage Derek snarled.
I killed the desire to roll my eyes at all the drama and nodded at the stub of crystal. "If you're planning to cut me with that, you're out of luck. A bottle works much better for this kind of thing."
Delight sparkled in Saiman's eyes. "No, actually, I was planning on making a philosophical point. The glass you now hold in your fingers is the only glass of its kind in existence. It's the ultimate luxury – there is nothing else like it."
The flesh around his wrist swelled, flowing like molten wax. My stomach lurched and tried to crawl sideways. Here we go again. He stored magic like a battery, but I really thought with the technology as strong as it was right now, he wouldn't be able to metamorphose. Live and learn.
Saiman's shoulders widened. His neck, chest, and thighs thickened, straining his sweatshirt. Crisp muscle showed on his forearms. The bones under the skin of his face shivered and I nearly vomited my water.
A new face looked at me: handsome, strong, sensuous, with a square jaw, defined cheekbones, and hooded green eyes under reddish eyebrows. Thick blond hair spilled from his head to fall in a glossy wave onto his newly massive shoulders.
"For most people, I'm the ultimate luxury," he said.
The man collapsed, thinning, flowing, twisting, but the eyes never changed. I stared into those eyes, using them as an anchor. Even when their corners sank, their irises became dark, and a velvet fringe of dark eyelashes sheathed them, I could still tell it was Saiman.
"What I offer is much greater than sex," a Hispanic woman of startling beauty said. "I offer wish fulfillment. Anything you want. Anyone you want. I can give you your fantasy. And more, I can give you the forbidden."
His face shifted again. Derek. A very reasonable facsimile, good enough to fool me in a bad light. The body still remained female, however. He was getting tired. He must've chugged a gallon of nutrients in anticipation of my arrival to be able to pull this show off.
"I can give you a friend." Saiman-Derek grinned. "Guilt-free. Nobody would ever know. All the secret faces you picture when you pleasure yourself? I can give them to you in the flesh."
Derek just stared, speechless, an expression of utter disgust stamped on his face.
"Is there a point to this demonstration, besides upsetting my stomach?"
Saiman sighed. "You refuse everything I offer, Kate. It hurts my pride."
I crossed my arms. "I refuse because no matter what shape you wear, I know it's you. And you don't really want me for who I am. You want me because I said no."
He considered it. "Perhaps. But the fact remains: by refusing me, you are now my ultimate luxury. That one thing I can't have. You won't see me. You don't return my phone calls. All my attempts to apologize for my behavior during the flare have gone unanswered. It's very difficult to seduce a woman when she refuses to acknowledge your existence. I'm looking forward to having you to myself for an entire night."
"Fucking pervert." Derek finally found adequate words to express his take on the situation.
"I prefer the term 'sexual deviant' myself," Saiman said.

Look for Magic Strikes, Book 3, to come out in 2009!