Bookworm Day 2: Vampire Hunks Spotted on the Island

Vampire Hunks Spotted on the Island

Happy Halloween everyone. For today I thought we could discuss a really great vampire novel/film:

Interview With the Vampire by Anne Rice

'Interview' takes place in New Orleans. Vampire Lestat turns young plantation owner Louis into a vampire. Louis feels guilt at having to feed off human blood, while Lestat kills humans every night. So Louis instead feeds off animals for some time, and hates Lestat for being so evil and so vengeful. As the story goes on Louis wants to be free of Lestat and find out where vampires come from so he can know what he truly is.

'My vampire nature for me has been the greatest adventure of my life; all that went before it was confused, clouded; I went through mortal life like a blind man groping from solid object to solid object. It was only when I became a vampire that I respected for the first time all of life. I never saw a living, pulsing human being until I was a vampire; I never knew what life was until it ran out in a red gush over my lips, my hands!'

I love this book, it is dark, beautiful and scary. Anne Rice writes it like poetry at times. The film version was very good as well, I think it's because Rice was largely involved with the production of the movie. Tom Cruise stars as the wicked and gorgeous Lestat, Brad Pitt plays the tortured, beautiful Louis.
Have you read 'Interview'? Seen the film? What are your thoughts on it?

Happy Haunting!

Bookworm Day 1: Matthew and Mai Tai's

Hi everyone, it's my turn to post for a few days here at the wonderful DIK blog!*yay* I'm Naida A.K.A. Bookworm. I enjoy reading, blogging, crocheting (its not just for grannies), and jogging when I get the time. I read a wide variety of genres, everything from romance, to paranormals, horror, young adult and the classics.
My fav authors include Jane Austen, Alice Hoffman, Anne Rice, Dean Koontz, Stephen King, Stephenie Meyer, Margaret Mitchell and J.K. Rowling just to name a few.
My fav TV shows are LOST, Survivor, Ugly Betty and Grey's Anatomy.

I've brought Matthew Fox and Mai Tai's along with me today. Hope you don't mind *wink*
I like Matthew most for his role of Jack Shephard, a brilliant yet troubled surgeon and castaway on the tv show LOST. He's the other guy, the one Sawyer tends to take the limelight away from.
He'll be helping me discuss my DIK picks.

Here's my original DIK book picks:

* Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

* Entangled by Kathleen Dante

* Bridget Jones's Diary by Helen Fielding

* Coraline by Neil Gaiman

* Odd Thomas by Deen Koontz

* Twilight by Stephenie Meyer

Now those are all good, but I've got a few alternates:

1. The Darkest Night by Gena Showalter: I recently read this book and OMG I am hooked. I will be reading the rest of these.In The Darkest Night, a group of immortal men live together in a remote castle in Budapest. These men have been cursed to house demons for eternity. Torin is Keeper of Disease, Maddox is the Keeper of Violence, Paris is the Keeper of Promiscuity, Reyes the Keeper of Pain and Aeron is the Keeper of Wrath. Each night at midnight, Maddox is cursed to die a painful death then spend the night in Hell with his demon, Violence.

'An immortal warrior cursed to die every night, only to awaken the next morning knowing he has to die again. A mortal woman with a power beyond imagining... '

This first book is mostly about Maddox and his love interest Ashlyn.And let me tell you, Maddox is HOT. He's so strong and tormented....and possessive, but not too possessive like a stalker...you know? sexy possessive. He and the other cursed brothers live in a fortress in Budapest.Read more about his series at http://www.lordsoftheunderworld.net/

2. Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell :

An epic novel. Set in the old South, there's love, betrayal and plenty of drama in this book. Scarlett is the Southern belle we love to hate. Rhett is tall, dark and handsome, and he's publicly shunned for scandalous behavior. But the man is rich and charming, so it's all good.
What would be better to read while relaxing on the beach while sipping a Mai Tai?

And in the film Rhett says things like: I'm not asking you to forgive me. I'll never understand or forgive myself. And if a bullet gets me, so help me, I'll laugh at myself for being an idiot. There's one thing I do know... and that is that I love you, Scarlett. In spite of you and me and the whole silly world going to pieces around us, I love you. Because we're alike. Bad lots, both of us. Selfish and shrewd. But able to look things in the eyes as we call them by their right names.
*sigh*

3. The Shining by Stephen King:

Recovering alcoholic Jack Torrence, takes the job of caretaker of the 'Overlook Hotel' for a few months in the winter. The family will be in complete isolation in the hotel with no quick way to leave and barely any contact with the outside world. Once the snow falls they will be stranded. This hotel is located in Colorado and is famous for housing some famous people. It's also known for a triple murder/suicide that occured there from the previous caretaker who suffered from 'cabin fever'. The family is alone in the hotel for about 3 weeks before odd things start to happen....
'Now, kneeling in the sun and watching his son playing in the shadow of the hotel, he knew it was all true. The hotel wanted Danny, maybe all of them, but Danny for sure. The hedges had really walked. There was a dead woman in 217...'

This book is good for, ya know, scaring the heck out of ourselves. It may give you nightmares, but you can cuddle up to your DIK men in the huts at night and be ok.

4. Your Scandalous Ways by Loretta Chase :

James Cordier is a British spy. Francesca is a highly sought after courtesan in Venice. Theres someone trying to kill Francesca and James comes to save the day. Sound good? It is.

'He couldn't be real.Greek and Roman statues looked like that, not living men. Mythical gods and demigods looked like that, not mortal men.But he was breathing. Hard. She watched his big chest rise and fall under his sopping shirt. The sodden linen was merely a veil clinging to his skin, hiding nothing. She could discern every taut line of muscle in his powerful shoulders and arms and torso.'

James Cordier is a hottie. He's not only a spy, but he's a master of disguises and speaks several languages. What more could you want from a hero?

Okay, well thats it for now. I have to go, Matthew wants to go for a walk on the beach. Be back soon!

Not posting today

I know it's my day to post, but I don't feel it's appropriate in light of recent events (see below). I totally condemn this terrible tragedy and will work tirelessly to help ensure the perpetrators are brought to justice.

Yours,
Carolyn Jean
The Thrillionth Page

Breaking News: Three suspects sought in island outrage

DIK ISLAND - In a turn of events that shocked residents of this sleepy island, three individuals landed on the shore in what appeared to be an eighteenth century style schooner and left with a number of items and several male inhabitants.

Three suspects are wanted for questioning include “Crazy Little CJ,” who appears to be a young girl but has reputedly been trapped in a painting for several decades, notorious novelist L. B. Gregg, and actress turned fashion designer Jaclyn Smith of Charlie’s Angels fame.

Items reported missing include an ice machine, several of the female inhabitants' chocolate and liquor supplies, and an inflatable zodiac raft.

It was unclear if the male residents left willingly or unwillingly, but law enforcement officials will not rule out foul play.

Listed among the missing are Ethan McCabe, Richard Armitage, Bowen MacRieve, Royce Westmoreland, Conrad Wroth, Logan a.k.a. Wolverine, Fox Mulder and King Leonidas. An individual known as Zsadist is also presumed missing, but that has not been verified.

The authenticity of a statement signed by MacRieve, Westmoreland, Wroth, Wolverine, Mulder and Leonidas stating that they are "heartbroken" due to rejection from by a woman they called Ana has not be confirmed by authorities.

Likewise, the authenticity of a statement signed by McCabe and Armitage claiming to be on a worldwide search for one ‘Carolyn Jean’ has not been verified.

The individual referred to as ‘Zsadist’ may also be among the missing, however, tearful sources claim that they can’t be sure he’s gone until nightfall, which led to extensive speculation among bystanders as to why a man would hide during the day.


Island inhabitants seemed dazed and were reluctant to give full names. They were also reluctant to provide information about about the day-to-day activities of the island, which outside observers consider mysterious. Male inhabitants appear to hold jobs, many of them in law enforcement, cattle wrangling and as international business tycoons, yet there is no evidence of commerce or ranching, and no law enforcement agency in operation there at this time.

Female inhabitants appear studious and even bookish, but reports from passing boats have led to speculation about unsavory highjinks. Casual observers point to the size of many of the men as evidence that steroid use is rampant there. A number of large dogs were observed from circling helicopters.

Said one resident: “this island isn’t sleepy either. You just came during the day; that’s the problem.”

Citizens are urged to contact authorities with any information.

I brung heroes~!

Welcome to day 2 of my stay here at DIK - oh wait, am I trapped here? I never know the backstory on the island. I guess we can't get off, but we can make things and people appear in limited quantities. And authors!

Hey, here is the rundown on the heroes I chose during that fateful hero draft

Eric Northman (Sookie Stackhouse series, Charlaine Harris): Ex-Viking Vampire. Morally questionable. Make that pretty much evil, but with a core of sweetness as revealed in Dead to the World (see below). What is it about Eric? He doesn’t show up much in the series compared to every other character, yet his allure is tremendous. How is he in the new True Blood series? We don’t have cable. I’d really like some reports.

Joe Morelli & Ranger (Stephanie Plum, Janet Evanovich): I happen to enjoy love triangles, and these two make an excellent one. In real life, they would have killed each other by now! Morelli is a very guy-like New Jersey Italian cop—I love his guy like ways. And of course, he’s a cop! He is the perfect counterpart to mysterious, swarthy, slightly illegal bounty hunter Ranger. I remember this one scene where Morelli is in Stephanie’s apartment and Ranger calls and leaves a message on her machine, suggesting she do something dangerous to catch a guy, and Morelli just goes, “Bad idea.” That's the kind of Morelli/Ranger moment I love.

Michael (Guardian Series, Meljean Brook): Michael is the head angel in the Guardian series; he hasn’t gotten his own book yet, but you see him in other books as kind of an awesome figure, telling it like it is and making people do the hard things they have to do. He’s wonderful and mysterious, and in my mind, I see him as full of potential and possibly a kind of inward or outward fury. I’m hotly anticipating it. I chose Michael partly as a bargaining chip to make a trade that can never now happen, and used taunts regarding feather dusters. Let me say for the record that the taunts are only outrageous because Michael is anything but a feather duster.

Adrian (The Spymaster's Lady, Joanna Bourne): Ah, clever young, vulnerable, wise-beyond-his-years Adrian. What’s interesting is that it’s often scenes that sell me on a hero more than description. And often, in those scenes, the hero has only the most subtle of parts. The scene that clinched it for me for Adrian was the one where the French spy heroine is trapped at one point by the English spies, and he just gives her this wistful look, full of understanding.

Han Solo: What can I say? The sexy outlaw who will do the right thing in the end. The pirate with the heart of gold. Why does this type never get old?

Captain Kirk: I’m not entirely sure why I picked Kirk. On the series, when they have Kirk being all sort of sexy in some freaky, chest-baring space loungewear, I sort of don’t find him attractive, but when he in trouble, like the bad guys put a shock collar on him and make him fight Spock, or when he’s all beat up and sweaty in the clutches of some outer space villain, that’s the Kirk I like.

I brung books! by CJ

Hi everybody! Carolyn Jean here. Okay, I'm up on the hot spot, Day 1. I'm going to run through the books I've chosen for our island library. Exciting, huh? Well, to me it is! Because I love all of these.

I'm putting them in the order they were written.

The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton
To me, this is a classic of romance—a keen psychological portrait, and an example of a book where the internal and external obstacles to the h/h getting together are absolutely stunning for how they dovetail. The h/h meet within the strict norms of New York society in the late 19th century. They are both see themselves as free spirits—hero Newland is cynical about taste and rules, and Countess Olenska has a sort of wild European past, but they are also products of the culture against which they rebel, and that culture, that society tightens around their love like a boa constrictor, bringing Newland and his shallow fiancé inexorably together. The skill with which Wharton achieves this effect blows me away every time. Most readers of romance will find the ending disappointing, but in some ways, it ends as it must.

End of the Affair by Graham Greene
I love this book and I think of it all the time as just the most fabulous love story, a highly psychological character portrait, and an example of some of the best first person writing in all of literature. It doesn’t end well, but OH, what a story! Back when the Germans were bombing London, Bendrix is having an affair with Sarah, a married woman, and they are in love, though it’s not exactly an exemplary relationship. Then a bomb falls on the building and he’s buried under rubble. Sarah thinks he’s dead and prays to God that if he is healed, she’ll stop the affair and be a good wife. He turns out to be okay and Sarah keeps her promise. Bendrix doesn’t get why she’s left him—he thinks she’s found a new lover.

The book opens as he runs into the unwitting husband one rainy day after the war is over, and slowly insinuates himself into the couple’s life again…oh, it’s so good. It’s also a movie with the wonderful Ralph Fiennes as Bendrix and Julianne Moore as Sarah. OMG.


The Killing Dance by Laurell K. Hamilton
I’m choosing a few books here that were seminal texts for me as a paranormal romance reader. I was reading this when I first got into paranormals and wow, I couldn’t goddamn believe it. I remember it was winter, and my husband and I were making lots of fires in the fireplace, and when I’d finish my copywriting work I’d pull out one of these and nothing was more delicious. Oh, right, because they were too exciting to read right before bed.

This one is my favorite of all the Anita Blake series. No, you can’t start with it. You have to read the first four—the development of this tale is highly enjoyable, and here you get the watershed moment. I think my comrades who have read this series know of the scene I am picturing. There are big fireworks with other storylines, too. It’s the book in the series where the chickens come home to roost. Really, LKH gets bashed a lot, but the control she exerts over character, scenes and settings alone is downright masterful as far as I’m concerned. I think all writers should read her for sense of place alone. There are a lot of ways in which LKH makes other writers look a bit sloppy in terms of sense of place and character description.

Kushiel's Dart by Jacqueline Carey
Who would ever think of having her heroine be clever spy as well as a masochistic courtesan who gets off on pain? Carey, that’s who. Thanks to her proclivities, along with extensive scholarship (overseen by mentor Delauney) Phedre, the heroine here, becomes a keen observer of human nature, as well as the details of rooms and conversations. I think when you are victimized, even willingly, it heightens your powers of observation. In this way the book a highly psychological one. People get into power plays with her or they divulge secrets or let her see and hear things she shouldn't, and generally reveal their inner natures in a variety of interesting ways.

That said, such scenes really are a minor part of the book. It's way more sword fights and court politics and obscure learnings and romantic intrigue and barbarian hordes, and then every once in a while you have Phedre at the mercy of some nobleman or woman--everybody here has wildly colorful sexual proclivities, and they don't keep them secret--and, oh, Phedre is gasping in pain and pleasure, and things swim before her eyes and she outsmarts all these people. Tons of fun, this book and the following two. I haven’t gotten to the rest yet.

Dead to the World by Charlaine Harris
This is the fourth book in this series and my favorite, partly because lameass Bill is in Peru for most of it. And ERIC features heavily. A witch makes powerful, evil Eric lose his memory, and it creates a kind of sweet vulnerability in him, or perhaps brings it out, and he and Sookie have an enchanted time together as she hides him away from various dangers while he pulls himself together. In a way, this is the heyday of Eric and Sookie. But as with LKH above, don’t start with this one. It’s way more satisfying if you get the buildup of the first 3, and those aren’t chopped liver.

Demon Night by Meljean Brook
Okay, I think this might be my favorite Meljean Brook book and one of my best reads of 2008. I’m a sucker for psychological character portraits in novels and I think Brook is one of the best in the genre at pulling this off. Demon Night is so exciting and thrilling and intense on every level, and shit! I shore did love that Ethan McCabe and his old Wild West ways and his old Wild West talk. Ethan is a hell of a hero—sexy and delightful all at once. And Charlie the heroine is honestly so well drawn, I felt like I really knew her. This isn’t a very good job of telling the plot, is it? It’s vampires, a wonderful demon villain, and meaty internal and external obstacles to h/h happiness.

Tomorrow: My heroes. Wednesday: Little Ceejay's turn. Maybe. My normal blog: The Thrillionth page.

Rain on the roof and a top 13 ish @ midnight.

Why hallo thar! It is my last day on DIK and I thought I could share my mens, but I'd rather share books instead. So many mens, I has a tired. So here I am at 11.26pm, it is cold tonight and there is rain on the roof, literarily! Portentous?

The following are in no particular order but are the current top ten (or 13) that are sticking in my head. I have also read the majority of them more than once, cause they're cool. And don't tell page 128 of your paperback version of My Fair Captain is not well thumbed like mine. I'll know you're telling fibs!

Shall we begin?

My Fair Captain by J.L. Langley. Could this book be any better? There are space ships, gentlemen, Kings and the beautiful, pierced Nate. This book is so good and the 2nd in the series is coming out in November. I cannot wait!

Caught Running by Abigail Roux and Madeleine Urban. This is such a lovely book and being a bit of a sport fan (basically I like to watch men play rugby in shorts) this story appealed. The story is of this ex high school star jock Jake, and the Brandon who is cute and geeky. sigh. The scene on the couch is hawt.

Snow Angel by Sharon Maria Bidwell. Yes, I know Dean is a bit of a shit but I just loved this book and have read it several times. Kinda liked that it was set in the UK. Maybe it's an NZ thing.

Had a break... ok, I got side tracked. Spent a minute or ten reading Pinky and the Brain quotes. God, so funny. Two lab mice trying to take over the world. As you do, when you're a lab mouse!
The Brain: Pinky, are you pondering what I'm pondering?
Pinky: I think so, Brain, but then it'd be Snow White and the Seven Samurai...

It is now 12.14. I have been banned from reading teh quotes because me sniggering in bed is keeping someone awake. So shhhh!

Dangerous Ground by Josh Lanyon. The power dynamic in the book is incredibly compelling. And there is water sex. Come on, what is not to like? Power and spa pool. Plus, Josh Lanyon writes beautifully!

The Back Passage by James Lear. This is such a dirty book, I bullshit you not. And I LOVED it. It was like a really pron Agatha Christie m/m. James Lear is a legend and kinda funny. hehe.

Purgatory by Jet Mykles. I'd read a cereal box if Jet wrote on it. I even bought her book One for the team and it has a girl in it. Heavens! Anywho, Luc and Reese are cool and the sex is merow. You have to read this!

Interstellar Service & Discipline 2: Fallen Star by Morgan Hawke. The guys both have two penises or should it be peni? Like mouse and mice? It's a great book and I like her style. I wonder if anyone knows what she has coming out in the near future? Oh, and LB and TP did a cool review on it that is worth a read. And bloody funny.

Long Horns by Victor J. Banis. Les is the trail boss of a ranch and hires a new hand called Buck. Much smexin ensues. But it is also a real wild west period piece and seriously great. I am President of Victor's NZ fan club and had this wicked conversation at the counter when I bought the book. Both the guy (cute and geeky) and girl serving had read it, so we had a huge yak. It was cool!

Strongman by Denise Rossetti. This was such a great book and Denise has wicked world building skills. I have my fingers crossed she writes another m/m book cause this one was wicked. I must remember to check out her menage in the same series. Have not done so as yet!

Crimson Spell 1 & 2 by Ayano Yamane. Total fantasy Yaoi and fabulous. The art is gorgeous and totally smexin. I have read it several times and it rocks! She also does the Finder series which is a bit more D/s and is out of print. I have read the odd bit and it is worth it if you can get your paws on it. Sew hot!

With Caution by JL Langley. I think this might be the book I have re read the most. It is Jake, he makes me feel... good. ;p But I also liked Remi and the secondary characters were engaging. The way Jake calls Remi

pup. sigh! That just plain old floats my boat.

Since it is now 12.49pm I am going to make it a top 13 by adding 2 more!

A Bit of Rough by Laura Baumbach. The scene outside the pub is a total boat floater. Screen licken good!

And finally, Death of a Pirate King. This book made me stay up to all hours. And I even emailed Josh to say that it was at 12.44am to be exact! I had just finished reading it and that final page was just incredible. Maybe I was a bit teary - I detest

bawling!

So, there you go. My current list of favs. I encourage you, if you have not already, to pick up any one of these authors and give them a go. They all are incredibly talented and they have all written very memorable books.

Have a great weekend! I am off to sleep. It is so late now, after 1am!

Please excuse the fact that I sound like a deranged teen. Could I have used the word cool any more? I am so TIRED!!! hehe. Sleep NOW!

Guest: Gennita Low

Gennita Low is clever, funny and makes me laugh! She roofs, she writes and she blogs! The woman is a dynamo! I have her books on my keeper shelf, of which my favorite is Facing Fear, - Rick *sigh*.

I also enjoy reading her blog, which is rather amusing... I think it's the sexy veggies!

Without further ado, welcome to the DIK Gennita!

All about me. I write and I roof, so I'm perfect for the deserted island. I can build shelter and entertain myself with stories ;-).

* Favourite books that would be in your handbag as you jumped overboard and swam to the deserted island?

I have a big handbag. I must have Linda Howard's Diamond Bay. JD Robb's Naked In Death. Helen Mittlemeyer's Princess of the Veil. Susan Johnson's Outlaw. One/any Helen Bianchin. Dinah McCall's Jackson Rule. You know I'm going to cheat and download a ton of books onto my super-laptop too, right? ;-P

* What men would be hanging in your cabana?

Heeheehee. You're going to be soooo jealous. Click on this:

See, these cabana boys come nekkid. Hooyah!

Gennita Low's Commandos

* Favorite Reading Position?

I like him on his back but that gets in the way of reading sometimes.

*Favorite Heroine?

Eve Dallas. One tough woman with the wealthiest man on earth waiting for her on HIS very own deserted island.

*If you could be in one book/series/world which would you pick?

The In Death world, as long as I get to be Eve Dallas. The sex, the autochef, the sex, the interplanetary travel, the sex, the skylight over the bed, the...sex....

*How old is your inside voice?

30

*Favorite love song?

A Groovy Kind Of Love

*If you could be a hero who would you be?

Michael from La Femme Nikita. But then I'd love myself so much, it'd be unbearable.

*What heroine is most like you?

Man, I'm one of a kind. No one can be as crazy as me!

*What heroine would you like to be?

I would like to be T from my books. What I wouldn't give to look different whenever I want. And then there is hot Alex chasing me all around the globe. Yeah, being T would be fun.

*Boxers, Briefs, boxer briefs?

Briefs, the kind that hug the buns.

*What hero would you like to be your significant other?

MICHAEL SAMUELLE from La Femme Nikita. Is there a theme here? Yes, there is, and it's all about French kissing Michael.

Please remember to add in my handy Jack Bauer Knapsack (TM) which will have all the tools we're going to need, such as hammers, screwdrivers, a couple of grenades....we're going to have such a blast! ;-)

*If you were stuck on a desert island what 3 things would you bring?

- Solar powered satellite connected laptop! (hey, I write techno-thrillers, I know all the latest toys)
- Solar powered ice-cream maker
- Gloves (roofing has taught me that gloves are essential protection from EVERYTHING icky)
- I'm going to sneak in lots of pens and paper too (I'm write about spies, so I don't play by the rules)
(Heck, I'll max out my credit card and pay for monthly plane drop-offs, which will bring lots of goodies like chocolate and Campbell's Chunky Soup)

*Favorite drink to bring to the DIK party?

Toasted Jenn Almond, a special mixer named after me.

----
Thank you so much for taking the time to do this Jenn, you are super sweet and have excellent taste in blokes. ;)


If you go here, you can check out Jenn's free ebook download over at her blog. This is a such a cool story and you must read it! Thanks Jenn, I do think you just rock. Mwah!

Here is the blurb that I ganked from her blog. Check it out in its entirety here.
- Out of the Darkness

Killian Nicholas Langley has spent most of his life as a member of a covert team, living in the shadows, working among people who accept danger as part of their lives. When an explosion nearly took his life, he thought he would follow S.O.P.--lay low for a while, figure out what happened, and contact someone he trusted. He thought he'd do well in construction, hiding among the transients, keeping a low profile. However, he hadn't expected a boss quite like Jaymee Barrows.

Into the Sunlight

Jaymee has spent the last eight years paying for a massive monetary mistake, all because of being too trusting. Giving up her college education, she'd had to take over her father's roofing business, working hard to get it back in the black. The tall, dark stranger with clean hands and a smart mouth looking for a job wasn't a roofer. She could tell he was going to be trouble...just like the big bad wolf. Best to stay far, far away from him.

But the more he got to know Jaymee, the more Killian was intrigued by his new boss. She had secrets he wanted to know about. Her light tempted the darkness in his life. And after tasting her, he wanted more....

Sarah's DIK books.

Hi! I am Sarah and I have a blog called Rain on the Roof. I started my blog back in April after spending loads of time lurking at Nose in a Book and The Naughty Bits. I really enjoy blogging. It is loads of fun and as a result I have read so many books and comics AND I've also got to peruse some seriously smokin art!

I've been lucky enough to do some very cool interviews with several incredible artists and writer Laura Baumbach. I think one of my favorites was Patrick Fillion (there be large male members in this post NWS) who writes and illustrates gay erotic comics. He owns his own company called Class Comics and he is gorgeous not to mention a very really lovely guy! He was so funny to yak to and has kept encouraging me to play Star Wars - Force Unleashed on the PS3, even though I suck at this game! I keep falling off a balcony into the middle of the Death Star. hehe. I also loved interviewing Mike, who does erotic art for publications like Men Magazine. His story was so very personal and heartfelt, he is super cool. In fact, they have all been cool and Laura is so eloquent, she rocks! I have more coming and one in particular I am very excited about! Stay tuned!

So, now that I have worked out what time it is over thar, (I am reliably informed we’re like 17 hours ahead) best I get on with it and share my novels I chose all those months ago!

1st up is Dream Man by Linda Howard. She is, IMHO, the 1st lady of romance! She has been on my keeper shelf for donkeys years. Dream Man is a paranormal about Marlie who has these waking dreams about violent deaths. She can see through the eyes of the criminal and has been used in the past by law enforcement to help solve cases. Her last case was terrifying and traumatic so when the story begins she has kinda retired. Then the visions come back. There are some rather gruesome murders and she has a bit of a job trying to convince the local cops she’s the real deal. One particular asshat is Dane, our hero. Despite being a real hardass and just a bit of a shit he is happily wound around Marlies wee finger. He is very butch and I liked it a lot!

Mr Perfect is a once a year re read, simply for the kitchen scene. In fact I can probably just skip a few chapter and flick straight to it. Sam, naked in the kitchen, with our resident voyeur Jaine watching him from her house. It is a cool book and Sam the cop was a total hottie and rather memorable.

The Tin Star by JL Langley is such a great read because is made me feel so much better after seeing Broke Back Mountain. I know it is a great story, tragic, beautiful but hello depressing, much! The Tin Star is the kind of cowboy story that totally appeals to me. Jamie is one of my favorite characters, he is such a hottie and he rides horses, fixes fences and drives a truck and stuff!! Manly, sweaty cowboy types. Merow! I liked this book so much I have a paperback copy. And, it is freaking hot! You should also try Longhorns by Victor J. Banis.

My next book, The Englor Affair by JL Langley, was a bit of a cheeky selection, as it has not even come out yet! But, I am so hanging out for November when it does! This is the 2nd book in the series, the 1st being My Fair Captain. These are awesome books and who would have thought a m/m, sci fi, regency romance would be so good? This excerpt for TEA is particularly delicious, from the Fiction with Friction blog.

My last book was Dream a little dream by Susan Elizabeth Philips. Gabe has that whole damaged hero thing happening, which floats my boat. I do like SEP and often re read her Chicago Stars series.

Finally, if my handbag was like the Tardis, I’d also take the Leashed seires by Jet Mykles, cause it is a seriously sexy paranormal menage and there is much loving going on between our 2 heroes (so hot) and heroine. Noice! I’d also stuff pretty much anything by Youka Nitta in there! Her Embracing Love series is sublime!

Have a goovy Thursday and tune in same time (I think??) tomorrow for my special guest star personage, the seriously cool Gennita Low.

PS. My replies to any comments might be a little belated. I am usually asleep when you lot are up, or at work. But, I'd love to know what you all think and if you've read any of the above. Smooches from NZ. x x x