The Peanut Butter in My Chocolate

I'm probably dating myself by the above title, but if you grew up in the US in the 70s, you will remember the Reese's Peanut Butter Cup commercial where person A, who was eating peanut butter would bump into person B, who was eating a chocolate bar. The inevitable, "You've got peanut butter in my chocolate!" would of course be followed by, "You've got chocolate in my peanut butter!" And, of course, a match made in junk food heaven was born.

Well, earlier today I was making Scottish shortbread cookies for my guy's presents to his staff. Elbow deep in cookie dough, I was thinking hard about what the heck I was going to write about for this post. And then, as I pondered and baked, baked and pondered it came to me . . . Scottish cookies!

So, enjoy these celebrity cookies, Scottish style:

Ewan McGregor

There is just something about a man with the confidence to wear a kilt . . .

Gerard Butler

And, the sophistication to make it look like high fashion . . .

Nathan Fillion

Yet, not afraid to have fun and be a little funky with it . . .

John Barrowman

Though, a formal look is always so very good . . .

Mike Myers

OK, now the song "One of these things is not like the other" is going through my head . . .

Come on back tomorrow when I explore a little about some of my favorite types of heroes! Also, be sure to visit me at my place, Renee's Book Addiction.

Reading Resolutions For 2010?

This morning a couple of my menz and I are talking about resolutions for the New Year. We all concurred that making a resolution when the new year arrives isn't for everyone, however, this isn't just a New Year, it is a new decade! Many folks like to center their resolution(s) around exercise, weight loss, paying down debt, and so on and so on. Then there are those of us who are avid readers, and no matter what the genre blog about it. Our resolution(s) therefore tend to be book based and I think this is confirmed by the number of "challenges" we are seeing popping up on blogs all over the web.

I've been blogging for over a year now and in chatting with numerous online friends the one thing that we certainly have in common is a TBR that isn't just large, it is EPIC, as in MOUNTAINOUS. And, the thing is, we seem to keep adding to the "alps" as I call them. Last year I didn't commit to any challenges or make a resolution with respect to my reading because I tend to be a somewhat eccentric, flighty person who has trouble keeping such commitments. However, I've decided something has to be done about the TBR and have enlisted in one reading challenge and made a resolution to at least read 1 book a week. (yikes)

Which brings me to blogging. Before I started the blog I read probably 2 to 3 books a week without difficulty, along with the work and family commitments etc. Since my online time increased ten fold, the reading time went out the window. Now, I'm not saying this is a bad thing because it isn't, at all, I've made some wonderful friends online and have even met a couple of them. However, how does one manage everything? I think, and maybe I'm wrong, it's all about life balance. Cut back on the online presence but still try and say hi from time to time, review a book or two which I enjoy doing and READ... lol

So, what about all of you? Any reading resolutions for the New Year (decade)? Are you joining in on any of the blogger reading challenges? What about book blogging, any special plans for the New Year? I'd love to know.

Okay, so one of my heroes has just handed me a nice beverage and I'm stretched out here, lying on my stomach on the DIK beach with my book open (I need to get an early start on this resolution thing). Ooooh, I've just been offered a back rub. Man, I love it here at DIK. *waggles brows*  lol

Happy holidays everyone!!

Pondering The HEA...

The menz, Tori and I are lined up in a row along the beach watching Mitch surf this morning and I got to pondering about the HEA's in the romances I've been reading lately. Many of them have been quite non-traditional but that has been a good thing because the ending has suited the context of the story. I asked my heroes if they felt the HEA in a romance novel had to be traditional versus a more open ended type of conclusion to the story (I mean, they are after all, heroes) and I got a number of very weird looks.

"You know, the 'Happily Ever After', for the heroine and hero in a romance that comes at the end after plenty of sexual tension, conflict and hopefully interesting plot," I clarified.

"Oh, you mean bonding." Eidolon responds.

"No, she's talking about marriage." Nicholai pipes up rolling his eyes.

And, herein lies the crux of the question. What, in this modern reading world, is a "traditional HEA"? I mean, we have humans, aliens, demons, vampires, shapeshifters including werewolves, and any number of other shifter folk, sorcerers, witches, etc. etc. Then of course there are the various sub-genres of romance that all these species, human or non fit into, contemporary, erotic, paranormal, suspense, military suspense, fantasy, m/m, historical and so on and so on.

So, what am I getting at? On more occasions than I can count I've noticed fellow romance readers responding in blog comments, on readers groups etc. that they've "gotta have their HEA". I'm not saying that is bad because it isn't at all, I mean I look forward to a happy ending incorporated into the climax of my current read too. However, are we talking a "traditional" happy ending here, as in white wedding dress and white picket fence? Or, as modern women/men reading a variety romance sub-genres are we more open minded with respect to the HEA, particularly when it is a riveting well-written story?

I would like to think and hope the latter is true. When you are talking about a bad boy hero or heroine who has major 'issues' that they work through over the course of the story, hopefully with the help of their partner, for example, wouldn't a more open ended type of HEA seem more appropriate? As in the hero and heroine decide to live together or make a commitment to be monogamous and see what happens. In the case of black ops or military heroes, who live a life of danger and intrigue and are likely to continue this life despite finding their love match, I find it more realistic if they have a non traditional commitment at the end of the story to be together and see how things work out.

Now, I'm not saying that a white wedding dress and picket fence isn't appropriate in this type of scenario, because it certainly depends on the characters and the plot of the story. However, I also think a more open ended, non traditional ending is perfectly acceptable too.

Which brings me to paranormal beings, and I'm going to use the example of Larissa Ione's seminus demons from her Demonica series. Now these guys don't just mate, they bond, for-ever. In fact the female takes on the same dermaglyph markings as the male when they exchange blood and are intimate during what is a physiological as well as emotional bonding ritual. In Lara Adrian's Midnight Breed Series, her alien male vampires mate for life with a unique human female breedmate who has the blood they require to sustain them.  These are just a couple of examples and there are certainly a litany of others in the thousands of romance novels on the shelves of HEA's in the paranormal sub-genre. There quite often isn't a traditional "wedding ceremony" or white picket fence when you are reading paranormal romance, and it likely wouldn't fit when you live in dark places because sun exposure will turn you to dust. Would it?

I do think historical and contemporary romance readers like to see a more traditional HEA in their reading. Certainly with respect to historical romance, the HEA has to be kept in context with the times and marriage was expected. However, in contemporary and erotic romance I've read a number of more open ended types of HEA's that have left me very satisfied. Particularly with polyamorous relationships or again when one of the partners is working through some traumatic life issues that don't resolve overnight. I guess, from my perspective anyway, I find it much more appropriate for there to be an "I love you and we will see where this takes us", at the end of the novel rather than a rush to the church for wedding bells in this type of a situation.

So, what are your thoughts with respect to the HEA in a romance? Does it have to be wedding bells and the white picket fence, or can you handle a more open ended relationship commitment depending on the story?

Tomorrow is my last day on the island until the New Year, and I'm looking forward to another holiday luau tonight to celebrate. Wow, 2010 is almost here, and tomorrow I'm chatting about New Year reading resolutions. :)

An Island Vacation At This Time Of Year Requires A Personal Shopper

I've always wanted to "get away from it all" to somewhere tropical for the holiday season and this year I've gotten my wish! Tori, myself and my menz are spending the next 3 days enjoying sand, surf, and fun here at DIK! I decided to leave my blowfish bikini top in my hut and in keeping with the season brought along my "Christmas pudding" bikini top. No, that is not me wearing said, um garment but hey one can dream right? I think the white stuff is custard, but who knows? Tori is wearing her usual island attire, she hates her Santa suit and looks positively miserable when I make her wear it.

Since it is the holiday season, and I am frightfully behind with everything this year, shopping, decorating, etc. etc. I decided the only way I could manage an island trip was if I hired a personal shopper. I enlisted my good blogger friend Ms. Moonlight's help in finding likely candidates to enter a personal shopper selection process, my only request was that said applicants be clothed which was a tough sell for Ms. M., because, well you know Ms.M., but she came through for me in the end! lol

So, I was wondering what your preference might be if you could hire a personal shopper to free up time in order to get away to a desert island for a few days? And here is the short list of likely candidates to choose from.

Behind Door #1 we have Suit &, um, Tie Guy. I think he would do quite nicely. Nice chiseled features, ripped abs, and most of all, a very nicely tailored suit and matching tie that would add a certain sophistication to the representation. Further, he looks like he could read the list, and of course count the money when buying the gifts which are two absolute imperatives. I also think those nimble looking fingers would do a fine job of wrapping the newly purchased gifts.

Hell, I'm sure all this applicant would have to do is snap his fingers and any sweet young sales girl would be his beck and call girl. *waggles brows* lol

Behind Door #2 we have Beach Dude wearing bathing trunks & large black beads. I have to wonder how long he has been laying in the ocean. I'd be concerned about wrinkly skin and paper cuts when he tries to wrap the Christmas gifts, but hey it's not me applying for the job!

There is also the issue of the freezing cold weather here in the northern hemisphere so he might like to at least put a tee shirt on when venturing out to do the shopping. However I'm sure with those good looks, he could easily find a volunteer to do the shopping in exchange for spending a little quality time with his protégé.

Beach Dude may be the perfect candidate for those of you living in warmer climates so feel free to voice your opinion.

Behind Door #3 we have Rugged Cowboy Guy, who would certainly catch the lovely ladies behind the sales counters eye, dressed in those faded jeans, chaps, and of course the Stetson. I've always had a hankerin for the ruggedly handsome type, and the prospect of sending a cowboy to do my shopping is very apealing. I especially like the "unshaven look".

You gotta wonder though what he is looking at? hmmm  lol Nice physique eh?

And last but certainly not least we have Ms. M's choice and it happens to be a "herd of personal shoppers".

To quote my fellow DIK contributor, "why settle for just one cowboy when you can have a group?! (note: some don't use their hands to hold up their hats!) *grins*"

My only question Ms.M is would they be allowed in the mall dressed in nothing but a hat??? *grins back*

After considerable pondering (while laying here on my lounge with Tori in my lap surrounded by my menz, mai tai in hand of course), I decided my choice would have to be "Suit and Tie" guy behind Door #1. What can I say, I'm a sucker for a hot guy dressed in expensive threads.

*sigh* It's such a relief to know that the shopping issue at least will be taken care of by the time I return home later in the week. ;) lol

So ladies, who would be your choice?

A Christmas luau is taking place here tonight and everyone is invited and tomorrow I'm going to be talking about, "Pondering the HEA"......

Guest Author K Z Snow Competition: Day 3

Now for the moment you've all been waiting for... KZ does DIK! *umm* KZ gives readers' their head! *err* Book Sluts put out for KZ! *shit*

Here'zz KayZee!

Okay, the contest scoop. Castanet Feldman, the alter-ego I never wanted, thinks I’m collaborating with her on a story she's decided to call Eat Me Before I Spoil, which is meant to be about the "romantic and sexual misadventures of three wacky cougars spending their holidays in a South Seas island hut." But my heart’s just not in it. So, I'm hoping you can help me out by writing one of the following:

a.) a longer blurb
b.) an opening paragraph or two
c.) a cast of characters with brief descriptions

I'll even throw in free ebooks from one of my series (see below for further details about them) to the person whose work I can steal and pretend is my own inspires me the most.

Honestly, your offering can be as long or short, as involved or simple as you'd like. I'm not expecting a fully developed or edited story although that might shut Castanet up.

Just leave a comment with your piece here or email it to Kris (krisngoodbooksATgmailDOTcom) by Wednesday 16 December. The winner will be announced on 20 December right here at DIK.

Here are the series from which the winner can choose. Click on the links to go to the publishers’ pages, where you can read blurbs and excerpts to help you decide what bribe token of my gratitude interests you the most.

The Jackson Spey / Adin Swift relationship arc:

* Obsessed

* InDescent
* To Be Where You Are

All are contemporary m/m paranormal-urban fantasy hybrids.

The Utopia-X series:

* Book 1, Looking for Some Touch

* Book 2, Seeking Something Wicked
* Book 3, Exploring Savage Places

All are futuristic m/m urban fantasies.

The Galdehian fantasy cycle:

* Wing and Tongue

* Cauldron of Keridwen
* Prince of Glacier Glas

All are m/f otherworld fantasies, often with ménages.

Thank you, KZ, for playing with us here at DIK! Santa may not end up giving you a lump of coal after all. ;)