'

Sunday 30 September 2007

DRIVEN


Raina Bowen knows she can handle herself just fine against anything the harsh Northern Waste throws at her. Until it throws her an enigmatic stranger called Wizard. First, she has to haul him out of a brawl he can't hope to win. And next, her libido is shooting into overdrive at the feel of his hard body pressed against hers on the back of her snowscooter. But there's something not quite right about this guy. Before she can strip bare Wizard's secrets, they're lured into a race for their lives, battling rival truckers, ice pirates...and a merciless maniac with a very personal vendetta.



Oh yeah, I'm definitely a Shomi fan. Wow, this book was awesome! Honestly, it was fantastic... especially since I love post-Apocalyptic stuff!




There's a lot of action and a very interesting storyline. The characters were so cool too. I particularly liked Wizard. Oh yeah, he was all that. Lol. ;)




The connection and attraction between Raina and Wizard was great, and I loved how everything tied up in the end.

Man, if you haven't started reading the Shomi line, you've just gotta. Check out their website HERE, so you can see the three titles currently available. I've still got MOONGAZER on my TBR pile. And I can't wait until Michelle Maddox's novel is released...

Friday 28 September 2007

Uh... it's already Friday?

Well, yesterday was a bit of a bust. Though I did get a bunch of emailing and some blogging done.

I had a specialist appointment yesterday. Yeah, that whole nose thing that I've been struggling with for about a year now. The good news is that there is no more inflammation. It's all good internally, but I need to keep taking my medicine (in the form of a nasal spray) until at least next March. The dose is down to three times a week now, so that's cool.

Considering I've only had one sleepless, shitty night since the last time I went to see the specialist, I think it's good. This is just something that I'll have to live with for the rest of my life. As long as I've got some handy sprays nearby, I should be okay. So that was good news.

I planned to get some reading done on the train, but I took my daughter's MP3 player with this album, and this one, as well as this one... and just couldn't switch off. ;) Some awesome tunes, that's for sure.

Anyway, I got the Horror/X-mas story finished on Wednesday afternoon. I added a scene and fixed up a lot of the writing. The story is pretty much the same as it was, I just cleaned it up a lot. Now I think I'll just read it one last time and sub it away. Yay. I'll probably do that sometime next week.

As for today... I plan to get the final draft of that little Tryst finished. It's just over 10k, so it's definitely a short story. Still, I think it's got a lot of emotion and detail, sadness and happiness, and of course a little lovin'. Other than that, don't think I'll get a chance to do much else.

It's my daughter's last day of Term 3 today. :/ Oh gosh. I hope it doesn't bring the writing to a stand-still. There are plenty of things I want to accomplish within October.

Oh, and on another note, I thought this article was interesting. I don't think there's enough going on as far as outer space is concerned.

Have a good one!

Don't forget, I'll be the featured author over at Mandy M Roth's blog this Friday.

Wednesday 26 September 2007

Mid-week already!

Looks like it's going to be another nice day today. That's cool because it's really starting to feel like Spring now, and also because I can catch up on the laundry. Man, it's taking forever to do so...

Anyway, although I was productive yesterday, it didn't feel as if I was. Does that make any sense? You know those kind of days when you do a lot, but there's not much finished output to show for it. Yeah, well, that was Tuesday for me.

I got stuck into the X-mas story rewrite but stopped about mid-morning. I got 17 pages in, took a deep breath and realised that it would need more work than I'd originally thought. So I put it away and picked up that little Tryst I wrote (I think a few weeks ago) and completed the second draft of that. The story flows well, but it isn't very long. Still, I don't think length matters in this story as much as the emotional and physical contact between the characters. And I think that gets across fine. I'll do one more draft of that one, and sub it.

As for the X-mas/Horror tale, I sat down again in the afternoon and went right back to the beginning. I know, one step forward, three steps back. :/ Still, as I got further into it, I found myself getting into the groove and knew exactly where to delete, move or add things. I have to be cruel with this one. Rip out a bunch and layer the appropriate tension, emotion, or whatever. So far, much better. Got some more done this morning. Am now 25/81 pages done. Not bad.

I think this is what I'll tackle today.

Thanks for the Anniversary well wishes. The hubby did get home nice and early, and we went to have dinner at the HRC. It didn't disappoint. And speaking of not disappointing, this album never disappoints! ;)

Have a cool day, everyone!


Don't forget, I'll be the featured author over at Mandy M Roth's blog this Friday.

Tuesday 25 September 2007

Obsessed? Who me?

As you can tell, my obsession for this band continues... my gosh, I've even got the hubby and daughter hooked on 30 Seconds to Mars. Lol. We can't get the songs out of our heads, and can't get enough of listening to these awesome tunes. Man, this is one brilliant band!

I'm very, very impressed with Jared Leto's songwriting skills, as well as his musical talent, and the way he sounds when he sings live. Being in a band REALLY suits him too. ;) And I don't need to go into how cool the band sounds as a unit. I'll just say: AWESOME! :D

Anyway, enough fan-girl gushing for now, I think.

You know, it's our 8th Wedding Anniversary today. Yay! Wow. Very cool. We're hoping that the hubby gets out at a good time so we can go out for dinner somewhere nice. Knowing us, we'll probably end up at the HRC. Love that place. Good music, cool atmosphere, yummy food... and it's one of the first places the hubby took me to when we started dating.

Damn, the naughty and very cheeky kitty has just jumped in front of the computer screen. This is his new thing. If he wants to get my attention, he gets in front of the 'puter. Darn it, he's too clever. :/ Oh good, he moved. Heeeee. Heeeeee.

I really surprised myself yersterday, and got through the entire second draft revision of my Vampire Oracle novella. The word count is now below 20k - 19,999 words. Lol. I deleted some stuff, added some stuff and made a few notes on the side. There are just a few (minor) Savannah details that I need to double check before I get started on the third draft. I'm still very excited about this tale, and found it very easy to read and get engrossed in the story. I hope everyone else that reads it feels the same.

Today I got started on a X-mas/Horror with Romantic elements story I want to rewrite a little. It's a completed novella that I want to enhance so I can sub it. At the moment I only got 7 pages in because my daughter woke up really early. Yeah, if it's not the lappy, it's the kid... or the kitty. Gee!

So last night I picked up another book. I'm in a Shomi-kinda mood. You know, last week I cast the hero and heroine in my own Shomi idea. And since then, their story has been circling around inside my head. How cool. Anyway, I started this book and got 60 pages in before bedtime. Man, it's really, really cool so far. I wanna get back to it. Lol.

This Friday I will be the featured author over at Mandy M Roth's blog. Aphrodite's Apples is featured this week. So check it out from Mon-Fri so you can read some cool interviews with some very talented authors... and me. ;) Lol. Click on the graphic to get there. It'll be a cool week!

Speaking of AA, do you know that I've got two different eBooks being released over at Aphrodite's next month? Yay, I do! :) Very excited.

Okay, I better get going for now. Here's hoping that today turns out as productive as yesterday... can't wait to listen to 30STM again today!

Sunday 23 September 2007

MAGIC LOST, TROUBLE FOUND

Raine is a sorceress of moderate powers, from an extended family of smugglers and thieves. With a mix of street smarts and magic spells, she can usually take care of herself. But when her friend Quentin, a not-quite-reformed thief, steals an amulet from the home of a powerful necromancer, Raine finds herself wrapped up in more trouble than she cares for. She likes attention as much as the next girl, but having an army of militant goblins hunting her down is not her idea of a good time. The amulet they're after holds limitless power, derived from an ancient, soul-stealing stone. And when Raine takes possession of the item, it takes possession of her.

I just finished reading this book about five minutes ago. It's a fantasy tale with a very strong heroine who has quite an attitude on her, too. Raine Benares is an elf in a place filled with necromancers, sorcerers, goblins, and a whole bunch of other races.

When she accidentally gets her hands on an amulet, her whole life is turned upside down. She has no idea what it is, but the amulet doesn't want to let her go. As the story moves along, she finds out more than she bargains for about herself. As well as getting into some pretty bleak situations, and involving her friends along the way. It was quite a ride.

The world building is very extensive, as you have to be when creating a world from scratch. But I didn't mind, I enjoyed reading about it. It helped to get familiar with it because this is a series. Looks like we're headed somewhere else in the next book. Can't wait to see what happens then. :)

Monday 17 September 2007

CALL ME WICKED

Lauren Parish’s hottest fling was with Carson McCullen ... a mortal and a huge no-no in her witching world. His reappearance in her life has her imagining many new steamy encounters.

She is busy avoiding the witch hunters who want her dead and her only option is to go underground and join Carson. Soon however, she knows she should let Carson go, but how long can she go without this hot sex?

Okay, the pic I've posted is the proper, actual cover. The one released in the US. But I read the Australian release, so it actually looked like this. Yeah, they stick two books together and choose only one of the covers. I prefer this one, don't know why they went with the other...

Anyway, I read the first chapter of this book on Saturday night just before the footy. And I enjoyed it a lot. I loved that we were thrown right into the action and the problem. So, I decided to pick it up yesterday with the intention of getting a little more read by the end of the day. Well, I actually read the whole thing.

It was a great book! I mean, Blaze novels are a little shorter anyway, so it wasn't too hard to fit in just below 250 pages worth of reading into one day. But I didn't care about that as much as how engrossed I became in the story and the characters. I love this world of witches that Jamie Sobrato has created, and really hope that we get to revisit someday.

If you want to read a nice, steamy book with a lot of interesting story and conflict... yeah, check this out! ;)

Saturday 15 September 2007

RISING MOON

Denizens of The Big Easy know its steamy nights can hide any number of sins and secrets. Private-eye Anne Lockhart is counting on it. Her life has been in a holding pattern ever since her sister Katie disappeared without a trace…but when a clue leads Anne to a jazz club in the French Quarter, everything changes. Rising Moon's proprietor, John Rodolfo, is mysterious in his own right, a gifted musician who reaches deep into Anne's soul and whose mere presence taps into desires she can't afford to indulge...

By going undercover at the Rising Moon, Anne can get close to people who know what goes on after dark--people like John, whose nocturnal disappearances are more than a little suspicious. But unlocking John's secrets is harder than Anne had anticipated. What's far too easy is surrendering to him. And now someone--or something--is stalking the innocent and the guilty, and waiting for Anne's next move...

Man, I love this series! Honestly, the Nightcreature series is so cool! And of course, Lori's writing style is so comfy and descriptive. I also love that every single heroine in this series feels so real, and so different. They're just ordinary gals thrown into extraordinary situations with some lovely heros. Yikes! You've just gotta check out these guys.

The mystery in this novel kept me glued to every page, until I found out how it all came together. The tension was fantastic, and I was suspecting everyone of everything. Lol. I loved the attraction between Anne and John, and of course the way New Orleans was painted. Lori made me see every detail as if I was there, and I've never been anywhere near it. She really is awesome!

I've got the next one on my bookshelf already, so I can't wait to read it. We're heading into Gypsy stuff in the next one. Super cool!

Friday 14 September 2007

Looks like rain today...

I love finding moon and planet pics, and since two of the stories I revised this week used the power of the moon within them...

Well, I finally got the third draft of my Sci-Fi novella finished.

I'm much happier with it now. I added a few extra bits to the overall story, and I'm very excited about the way they fit in. Of course the word count went up. It's now sitting at 32,417 words. Cool.

Not sure what to work on today. :/

Well, I'm still reading this book. My gosh, it's awesome! I've got 100 pages to go and cannot wait to see how this one ends. Lori Handeland is one awesome writer! I love her stuff. If you're looking for an awesome series with great characters and fantastic writing, this is it. Or if you want to sample something smaller first, check out her novella - Dead Man Dating - in this anthology. It totally blew me away! She's also got some online reads available here. I haven't read these yet, but I should. ;)

Anyway... I think it's time for me to go. I've got a few things I need to do this morning. Starting with looking up some character names for my Tryst story.

Have a fab weekend everyone!!!

Sunday 9 September 2007

HELL KAT

Smart, sexy, and kick-ass brave, Kat has the fighting skills of a warrior and a sexual appetite few men can match--although most would happliy die trying. But Kat has bigger problems than choosing her latest bedmate/plaything. She's caught in a post-apocolyptic world where only the rich live well - and Kat is determined to be one of them. To make her dream come ture, the fearless treasure hunger has to get her hands on a lot of money, and that's going to take every bit of talent she's got, and then some. With her devoted partner and lover Damian at her side, Kat sets out to make one big score. The stakes are high and they get even higher when she discovers her rival, Hades, is after the same thing. Big, mean, and sexy as hell, he's just the sort of man Kat loves to take to bed...and will...if he can help her in her quest.

Now, two people whose fiery attraction grows more explosive by the hour are joining forces in a dangerous game, and a delicious discover of treasure awaits them in the dark.

I picked this book up with the intention of reminding myself that it was still on my bookshelf. Lol. There are a bunch of books that have, for one reason or another, remained unread. Well, okay, I know why. Mostly it's because I'm so caught up with my own writing. And of course, real life.

Anyway, I got started and had read most of the book by the time we went to bed. I just didn't want to put it down. I was so caught up in everything. It's only 220 pages long, so I got through the rest of it this morning. Man, this was a very cool futuristic story with a good dose of heat. Yikes. It was scorching in some bits, but I didn't mind because the story was just so good I wanted to find out what was going to happen next.

The end didn't disappoint, either. Though the only problem I have now is that I'll most definitely have to pick up the next book. I love post-apocalytic stuff. And Kat's world is pretty screwed up. I love it!

I really liked the heroine, too. Kat's tough and doesn't take crap from anyone. She's a treasure hunter looking for a better way of life, I just hope she finds it someday. And the hero, Hades... what can I say about him? Nope. I'm not telling. You'll have to read it for yourself. ;)

Friday 7 September 2007

KILLER INSIGHT

When a childhood friend of Abby's from Denver, Colorado, finds herself short one bridesmaid, it doesn't take a professional psychic to see the opportunity for a much-needed getaway. But one bridesmaid after the next is mysteriously flying the coop, and Abby's intuition tells her their final destination isn't pretty. With the wedding party falling apart and her gift of sight never quite so foggy, Abby has to save the date-and herself from becoming the next taffeta-clad target.

This is the fourth book in the Abby Cooper, A Psychic Eye Mystery series. I just adore this series. Picking up one of these books is like catching up with a bunch of old friends. And I just love Abby. She's so darn cool! I've actually had this book on my bookshelf for almost a year, but because I put it with the other ones, it was in the back. :/ And it wasn't until I picked up the fifth book last weekend that I remembered I still hadn't read this one. Lol.

Anyway. I loved it! Pretty much read the bulk of it during two nights. I got started, just wanting to read the first chapter, but kept going and going. This morning I had about twenty pages to go - just got too tired to finish it last night - and just had to get through it before doing anything else.

I definitely wasn't disappointed! It was awesome. Who would've thought that Abby (who is a psychic, BTW) would have to solve a mystery while attending an old friend's wedding. Phew! But that's exactly what happens. She gets caught up in the middle of an awful mess that slowly unravels...

Excellent! I mean, with this week's BIAW being Mystery-themed, I just had to read one. I love reading mysteries. :D Especially if there's a touch of the paranormal to 'em.

If you're into mysteries, check this book out. If you like a series full of danger, intrigue and twists, check out Abby Cooper. And if you just enjoy reading a good book, go on what're you waiting for? Get into this series! ;)

Tuesday 4 September 2007

WITCH FIRE

Mira Hoskins doesn’t know she’s a natural born witch who possesses the rare--and powerful--element of air. She also never expected to find herself tied to a mahogany bed frame, captive to a man who aches to fulfill her every desire and let loose the magick that dwells inside her…

Heat emanates from elemental fire witch Jack McAllister. The Coven, a governing authority of witches, has sent him to protect Mira from a band of warlocks who drain witches of power… and life. Long ago, he saw Mira’s parents murdered by this same dark magick. He’d like to quell his guilt and offer her everything she deserves. But she’s the long-lost cousin of his boss--making seduction off-limits.

With Jack’s strong guidance, Mira is luring forth her inner magick. But his sense of duty is quickly swelling into insatiable hunger. They warned him about the natural attraction between air and fire. Now he risks being consumed by the woman he shouldn’t want--but can’t stay away from …

Yikes! The chemistry and heat between Mira and Jack was amazing, in this book!

I really, really enjoyed this! Not only was the romantic side of it awesome, but the story was intriguing too. Basically, Mira's a witch with the power of air, though she doesn't actually know. But now that someone needs an air witch, the bad guys go out of their way to grab her. Enter Jack. He's got the element of fire at his disposal and becomes intoxicated by Mira. So much that the heat in this book rises to a deliciously extreme level. I loved it!

There were secrets and insights, and a damn good story. This is a world I'd really love to return to. Anya Bast is a terrific writer that drags you into the tale from the first sentence. This is the first book I've read of hers, and I'll definitely be back for more! ;)

If you want to read an awesome book with sizzling chemistry between the characters, pick this up.

Check out her book trailer for it:

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