I'm The Vampire That's Why by FAB Pick Michele Bardsley

Today I am re-posting my dish of I'm The Vampire That's Why by my July FAB pick, Michele Bardsley. I originally dished this on the old site, moved it to the new, and now I'm re-posting so those of you that may have not had the chance to read the book yet can get a taste of why I am so in FGSF mode over Michele. Tomorrow, I will introduce the contest and then on Wednesday I will post my dish on Michele's latest Don't Talk Back To Your Vampire! Stay tuned, dishers, this is gonna be a FUN week!

I'm The Vampire, That's Why by Michele Bardsley
(BCC)

Does drinking blood make me a bad mother?

Broken Heart is the city with the highest rate of divorce and highest percentage of single parents in Oklahoma. And I, Jessica Matthews, have been a member of that club ever since my husband dumped me for his twentysomething secretary and then had the gall to die in a car accident.

Now I'm not just a single mother trying to make ends meet in this crazy world...I'm also a vampire. One minute I was taking out the garbage; the next I awoke sucking on the thigh of superhot vampire Patrick O'Halloran.

But though my stretch marks have disappeared and my vision has improved, I can't rest until the thing that did this to me is caught. My kids' future is at stake...as is my sex life. Once a vampire does the dirty deed, it hitches her to the object of her affection for at least on hundred years. I just don't know if I'm ready for that kind of commitment...

How would I rate this BCC? Not too bad. It isn't perfect, but then again, this isn't a YA novel, I didn't expect it to be. It's pretty darn close to hitting the nail on the head though. AND, although there are a few points I could argue with, they are all minor, and didn't distract me enough in the actual reading of the book to take offense on. So all in all, I give this BCC passing grades. It does the job of conveying the story within closely, and it also conveys the tone of the book fairly well. Blech, I really want to rip apart a BCC!

Like the BCC suggests, Jessica Matthews is a newly single mother of two. She lives in the small town of Broken Heart, Oklahoma where she spends her days the way most mothers do, cooking, cleaning and taking care of her kids. Jessica is my kind of mother, too. Just enough sass in her to keep me laughing, and all the love in the world for her kids.

When her son forgets (again) to do his only chore of taking out the garbage, Jessica gathers it up to take to the curb. The next thing she knows, she is being attacked by a stinky, hairy stranger and she can literally feel the life leaving her body. It is only the thought of leaving her children parentless that keeps Jessica from giving in completely. None the less, she stills finds herself meeting her end... "For those that know me, meeting my end among muttered curses and spilled refuse was not a great shock. But, shock or not, it was still a crappy way to go."

However, instead of floating away and standing at the Pearly Gates, the next thing Jessica knows, her mouth is latched onto the incredibly muscled thigh of the incredibly good looking (and naked) Patrick. Jessica then finds out that she is now a vampire and the supposed soul mate of Patrick.

But Jessica is not the only victim of Hungry and Hairy, ten other townspeople had been attacked and then saved by being turned into vampires, including the young tart that had had an affair with her husband. And if that isn't enough to deal with, Hungry and Hairy? Yeah, that would be Patrick's twin brother Lorcan.

At a meeting in the school gym, the newly turned town finds out that there is a group of older vampires and other paranormal creatures that make up the Consortium, and they have secretly been buying out the property in Broken Heart, so that they could turn the town into a safe haven for the paranormal. They also find out that there is a group of vampires known as Wraiths, that do not share their views and would like nothing more than to see them destroyed.

There is also a terrible disease called the Taint that is plaguing the vampires, and the Consortium has found a cure and the Wraiths want it. So on top of learning to be a vampire, getting their kids acclimated to a new lifestyle, and finding Lorcan, the new Vampires of Broken Heart have a lot to deal with.

Add to all of the above a jealous vampire Nara, who wants Patrick, to Jessica's troubles and you have an amazingly fast, fun, and touching read. One of my favorite quotes of the book is when Nara starts to get in Jessica's face and Jessica says, "I have faced down bitchy PTA presidents, power-hungry principal's, and Girl Scout leaders with cookie-sale complexes. Nara had no idea who she was dealing with." I'm telling you, Jessica is my kind of girl!

There were moments in this book that had me laughing out loud. There were moments in this book that had me sitting on the edge of my chair. And then there were moments in this book that just made sense - "Life's road often forked at unexpected moments." "...life is about choices. Sometimes you fight, sometimes you flee, but you never surrender." "Life is change. So what if you don't know what's going to happen next week or next century? You only have to live now, right now..." Are those quotes just not absolutely fabulous?

Another thing that I really enjoyed about this book was how Bardsley explained the creation of vampires. In so many paranormal books that involve vampires, you get very little explination of the origins of vamps, and it is rare, when you get an explanation that is really creative. Bardsley managed to make the creation of vampirekind (yes, that is a word. My word.) something interesting and imaginative, but also a tie in to one of the central themes of the book - What would you do to protect your child and keep them with you? I think the answer to that question is without a doubt - Anything in my power.

I think I could go on and on about this book and never do it justice. It really did have it all. A bit of suspense, laughs, insight, oh and HOT, HOT, HOT moments between Jessica and Patrick. I'm telling you right now, make sure you have a fan handy when you read this.

I'm also glad to say, that this is only the first book of the Broken Heart Vampire's. In July of 2007, the next installment will be out, and from the little excerpt at the end of this book, it promises to be every bit as good. So, what are you waiting for, GO GET THIS BOOK!

Take Care

FAB is BACK!

And I'm so excited! dee and I have both been extremely busy this summer (what's new for mom's, huh?) and as a result, the book blog has been rather sporadic. We both apologize, and do so hope you will forgive us.

This month has been extremely tough on my family. Our small town flooded and to make matters worse, the local refinery spilled 71k+ gallons of crude into the flood waters. So to say things have been a bit dreary in my neck of the woods would be akin to saying fire is hot.

Fortunately, I had the good fortune to read DON'T TALK BACK TO YOUR VAMPIRE by Michele Bardsley last week, and suddenly things seemed just a tiny bit better. So, I immediately sent the wonderfully FAB Michele an e-mail asking if she would be willing to spend a week with us here at dee & Dee and she said sure!

So, stay tuned this week for the dish on some FAB books, an interview with Michele and, since no FAB week is complete without a contest, we'll have one of those as well!

Take Care

P.S. Scroll down to see RITA and GH winners and a note from dee about her time in Dallas at RWA Nats!

RITA and Golden Heart Awards Announced

Oh wow! What a FABulous night! If you've checked my site already, you know that the book I was cheering for is a WINNER! Well, there were other winners as well. Here's your list:

GOLDEN HEART WINNERS

Novel with Strong Romantic Elements - According to Jane by Marilyn Weigel

Best Contemporary Single Title - Romeo, Romeo by Robin Kawczynski

Best Inspirational Romance - The Heart Beckons by Carla Hughes

Best Short Historical - The Lost Jewel by Debra Bess

Best Long Historical Romance - Sager’s Passion by Elaine Levine

Best Paranormal Romance - Black Jack by Jennifer Stark

Best Romantic Suspense - Falling Into Darkness by Bronwyn Clarke

RITA winners

Best Traditional Romance
Claiming His Family by Barbara Hannay, Kimberley Young, editor

Best Short Contemporary Romance
From The First by Jessica Bird, Stacy Boyd, editor

Best Long Contemporary Romance
The Mommy Quest by Lori Handeland, Johanna Raisanen, editor

Best Inspirational Romance
Revealed by Tamera Alexander, Karen Schurrer, editor

Best Romantic Novella
“‘Tis the Silly Season” in A NASCAR Holiday by Roxanne St.Claire, Abby Zidle, editor

Best Paranormal Romance
A Hunger Like No Other by Kresley Cole, Lauren McKenna, editor

Best First Book
The Husband Trap by Tracy Anne Warren, Charlotte Herscher, editor

Best Short Historical Romance
The Book of True Desires by Betina Krahn, Berkley, Christine Zika, editor

Best Long Historical Romance
On the Way to the Wedding by Julia Quinn, Lyssa Keusch, editor

Novel with Strong Romantic Elements
A Lady Raised High: A Novel of Anne Boleyn by Jennifer Ashley writing as Laurien Gardner, Ginjer Buchanon, editor

Best Romantic Suspense
Blackout by Annie Solomon, Melanie Murray, editor

Best Contemporary Single Title Romance
Adios to My Old Life by Caridad Ferrer, Lauren McKenna, editor

Congrats to all of the winners. We'll be having a discussion around here (the blog), as soon as I get back to my house (in VA) about some of these winners. And of course, we're going to be dishing about all of the RITA winners within the next few weeks. We're gonna split 'em up - but I'm wondering if maybe Charity should take the historicals and I should take the paranormal? That might be interesting, eh? And maybe get a guest blogger (like my TOTALLY ECSTATIC daughter) in here to dish the Best Contemporary Single Title? (Why yes, we HAVE already dished that book. MONTHS ago, thank you. But we'll be glad to do it again!)

Thanks for stopping by my personal blog and keeping up with me during Nats. Most of you know it was supposed to be a joint endeavor, but Charity was unable to make it. That's why I blogged it on my blog instead of this one. Next year, when we are BOTH in SanFran, we'll blog it together. You know how that goes...

Keep Turning Those Pages!

Blogging Nationals

dee is in the BIG D (hahahaha I am so funny sometimes) and has been updating her blog a couple (or more) times a day. Check it out here.

Also, big thanks for all the prayers sent for our small town during this disaster. We have a long way to go, but things are moving right along. Please continue to think of all the families that have lost everything (my sister included).

Take Care




FROM dee

Check out the list of books that I've gotten, then leave your comments on THIS POST to tell me which ones I should review here first.

PLUS - I will be giving away a small bag of books from Nationals. Enter here by telling me in the comments of THIS POST which author you'd do the FanGirlSquee for, if you happened to pass her in the hall.

Keep Turning Those Pages!

Winners... and other stuff

First things first - please take a moment of prayer or silence or whatever it is you do in your own world, and think of Charity and her family today. They live in Kansas, in one of the small towns that have been affected by the flooding. Stuck in the town, with no way out, and a dwindling water supply, and she's still trying to post reviews. Just keep them in your thoughts, that their house stays dry, and the family remains safe, and nobody else that she loves loses anything else of value.

I have some winners to announce for a few different contests. If you can get your name to me by Sunday, I can have your stuff in the mail by Monday. If you contact me after Sunday, I won't be able to mail your stuff until after the 16th- I'll be on vacation. Maybe in Dallas.

For a free copy of The Unfortunate Miss Fortunes, I need the following people to contact me:

kimw
cheryl
chantal

For the free downloaded copy of Right In Front of You, I need the following people to contact me:
Marcia in OK
cbpen

Please send your actual mailing address to :
deeanddeedish@sbcglobal.net

Do not forget to include your NAME, and which CONTEST you won. Also, please put "I'M A CONTEST WINNER" in the subject line of your e-mail.

I have a few things that I might talk about this weekend, before I leave on my trip. We'll have to see how my time goes though. I'm working a brand-new full time job, so my computer time has been very limited recently. I may have to move my review times to once during the week and more on the weekends. The next few weeks will be my testing time. Any prefrences from you guys as to when reviews go up? Also, any books out there that you want us to take a look at over the next few weeks?

Keep Turning Those Pages!

THE UNFORTUNATE MISS FORTUNES, A Novel by Crusie, Dreyer & Stuart

And...

A CONTEST --- FREE BOOKS!

Hoo. Can I just say, "It's FINALLY on the shelves!"? Yes. After very looooong months of waiting, The Unfortunate Miss Fortunes is really and truly available for purchase. And purchase it I did. FOUR copies. One for me, and one each for three of YOU. Plus, I got an extra in the mail, so we're running a little contest so you can get a few of these. Check out the comments for more info.

Oh, you wanna hear about the book? Well, yeah, I can do that. And I know that Charity has it as well, so I'm fully expecting that she's going to chime in here soon, so look for her comments in another color.

The Unfortunate Miss Fortunes is the collaboration between three of the best writers around. I am speaking, of course, of the incomparable Jennifer Crusie, the amazing Eileen Dreyer, and the incredible Anne Stuart. This is a NOVEL, written by three very talented, very distinctive authors. I stress NOVEL, because it is not three novellas strung together, it is a full length novel that is a seamless and beautiful work of art. Let me 'splain. No, that would take too long. Let me sum up:

You're invited to spend the weekend with three extraordinary sisters...
When she was sixteen, Dee Fortune kidnapped her two younger sisters and ran from danger. Now twenty-nine, she's still trying to control her shape-shifting power - no easy task when Danny James shows up one Friday morning with his deadly smile and dangerous questions about the past.

Lizzie is determined to save her family from financial ruin by turning straw into gold; now,m if she could only stop turning forks into bunnies. Then Elric, a sorcerer, appears one Friday - annoyed with the chaos Lizzie is creating in the universe and in his heart...

The youngest Miss Fortune, Mare, towers above her sisters but her telekinetic power is dwarfed by their gifts. She spends her days at Value Video!! and her nights contemplating the futility of her existence. But then a gorgeous Value Video!! VP and Mare's long-lost love turn up... and they all turn up the heat on a weekend that no Fortune will soon forget.


So, as BCCs go, this one is about as perfect as you can get. It tells who each of the sisters are, lets you in on their "gifts", introduces you to their men, explains why they are on their own, and promises a weekend full of fun, excitement, and heat. No complaints here about any part of the BCC, except that it doesn't quite get across how funny this book is, or how much you will enjoy reading it.

If this were a book written by only one person, I'd be falling all over myself to tell you to go out and grab it - it's just that good. The writing is fast-paced, the dialogue is stunning, the love scenes are breathtaking, the humor is side-splitting. Really, you can't go wrong with this one. At least that's what I'd tell you if it were written by one author. But it wasn't penned by a single wonderful author, was it? So there's a little more to my story. Thank you for indulging me. :)

For the past year, at least, I've been drooling for this book. Yes, it was mainly because it was a Jenny Crusie project, and you all already know what a fan of The Cherry I happen to be. You can check out some of the reviews I've done of her stuff on this site, or you can hop over to my own blog and check out my blatant FanGirlSqueeFests that have been more than well documented. I also happen to be a fan of Ms. Dreyer, as I've been reading her Silhouette books for years. And of course, you already know that I love Anne Stuart (Sister Krissie!), and her "Ice" books, don't you? Well, liking the styles of all three authors, I was intrigued by the idea of a collaborative novel. They are very different writers, with very distinctive voices, and I wasn't all that sure how an actual novel would be. I was actually afraid that it would be choppy, that it wouldn't flow, that it would be apparent who wrote what and totally pull me out of the flow of the story. Yeah, pretty dumb, huh? I wasted a lot of time worrying over nothing.

Dee, written by Eileen Dreyer, is the oldest sister, and she's really good at it. As an oldest sister myself, I can say that Ms. Dreyer totally nails the hang-ups, the fears, and the frustrations that are practically written into the DNA of any first-born girl child. Dee basically steals her sisters from the house shortly after she finds her parents dead in the front hall of their home. For nearly thirteen years, she moves them across the country, supports them, hides them, nurtures them, and puts her own life on hold while making sure they are safe. For me, Dee's first solo scene perfectly sums up her role in her eyes. She's taken on the shape of an owl (her magical power enables her to shape-shift), and she's following a man around town. Here's what's going on in her head:
Her favorite times had been spent as a bird. She loved flight...adored the patterns and colors the earth revealed... but mostly, she liked being alone, responsible for nothing, failing no one...
That's it, exactly. She's holding on to her life by the tips of her fingers, so scared of letting down the two most important people in her world that she has put her own dreams and desires far to the back of her mind. Watching Dee slowly let go of the reins, ease out of the role of gate-keeper and keymaster, and grasp her own life was wonderful.

Lizzie, the middle sister that can change things physically, penned by Anne Stuart, seems to inhabit her own world. She is the peace keeper, the quiet one, the one everyone thinks is weak. She is the sister most attuned to the underlying feelings and emotions that run strong in the Fortune household. She feels Dee's frustration at being in a boring job, she understands Mare's need to always be moving. I see her as a very earthy person, with a soft smile and gentle hands. Her compassion flows out of her in waves. Seeing Lizzie develop her powers, strengthen her almost invisible backbone into solid steel, and step up to the plate during their final confrontation with evil was satisfying!

And then there is Jennifer Crusie's Mare. Oh, sweet little Mare... NOT! Well, she's not little, and sweet is really pushing it for this baby of the family who also happens to be the Queen of The Universe. Mare has created a place for herself in the town that has embraced the sisters, and she rules her small world with an iron fist. She runs the Value Video!! store with style and flair, she runs over people that get in her way, and she just runs for fun. Mare is so full of passion, so full of energy, so full of life, that I sometimes wonder how her skin actually stays attached to her body. Her growth from the sometimes spoiled, often times bratty baby, to a woman who takes responsibility for her actions and starts to look at the past through the eyes of that same woman, is nothing short of astounding. I mean, there's growth, and then there's Mare.

There is, of course, one other Fortune sister that is not mentioned on the BCC. I'm talking about Xantippe Fortune, dear old Aunt Xan. She's out to get the sisters, for reasons that are clearly her own. She devises a plan that relies on them falling in love in just a few days, and freely relinquishing their powers. She's ready to use spells and potions and evil minions, and anything else she can get her hands on, to get her way. What she isn't expecting is that she may just have met her match in the Fortune sisters.

And yes, there are men. And romance. And steamy scenes. My favorite line from one of those scenes? ...magic makes sense... like sex. It's too good to be true, but it works. Every. Single. Time. The men, Danny James for Dee, Elric (the Magnificent) for Lizzie, and (Jude and) Crash for Mare, and perfect. They each have their own agendas for being in Salem's Fork, and those agendas all include getting closer to one of the Fortune sisters. How they do that, why they do that, and what happens when they do that, make for some of the most captivating scenes I've read in any book in a very long time.

After all is said and done, the time I spent with Dee, Lizzie and Mare in Salem's Fork was just pure magic. And I mean that in the very best of ways. I didn't get the feeling that this was some rip-off of a cheesy tv witch show (gads, please don't let my daughter read that I called that show "cheesy"!). It didn't feel stilted, or rushed. And even though I am really not a fan of the "hi, my name is blah, and i'm going to fall in love with you in less than 48 hours" style that this story embodies, all I can say is that for this one - it just works. These women live safe, but fall in love fast. While I usually really detest that in a story, I can't imagine this one any other way.

Crusie, Dreyer and Stuart have managed to write a seamless novel of love, where the magic is strong, the passion is hot, and the bond between sisters is stronger than anything you can imagine. While the story may show how each of these women find love with their own perfect men, at the core, the love story actually revolves around three women that have given so much of themselves to create a world where each of them is accepted, and treasured, for the unique gifts that she brings to the others. This book will be on my "keeper" shelf for a very long time!

For your chance to win one of my three "extra" copies, check out the comments!

Keep Turning Those Pages!

Nimaur's Loss by Camille Gabor

Guess what I got? Go ahead, guess! I just picked up THE UNFORTUNATE MISS FORTUNES by Jennifer Crusie, Eileen Dreyer, and Anne Stuart! That's what! I'm stoked. I plan to read it today, and I'm pretty sure dee has it as well, so I think we will be able to work out a joint dish on that one!! Today is the third day in a row that we've had rain, sucky for the kids, good for my posting. So without further ado...


Nimaur's Loss by Camille Gabor*
(BCC)


daughters of magic


Ninianee and Erianthee, the noble daughters of Vildecaz, possess quite different talents. Pretty, charming, Eri can craft entertainments out of thin air; captivating and energetic Nini can communicate with animals. But Nini's true talent must be kept secret: during the full moon, she is transformed into an animal - and never knows if she'll be predator or prey.


Both sisters must play their parts in protecting Vildecaz from political machinations - and their father from his rival, the perfidious magician Yulko Bihn. As noble heiresses, Eri and Nini can never be sure any man's attentions are genuine. But when intrigue and a mysterious disappearance imperils all, they must decide who to trust - and who to love.


*Author has no website. Clicking name will take you to her Juno Books author page that has a short bio of the author.


This is not going to be an easy dish to do, but I'm gonna try. Why, you ask, is this going to be difficult? Well, first off the actual story takes up only 181 pages of the 239 page book. This is followed by a 24 page excerpt of the next book. Then, there is a 22 page Glossary topping it all off. Also, this book, IMO, isn't really a novel. It's more of an introduction (a very long one) to a novel. There is no clear goal, no clear motive behind their worries, and there is most definitely not a conclusion. In fact, it ends with an ill disguised cliff hanger, that belongs on the screen, but not in books. With books I want resolution! I think all readers want a resolution of some sort, and this one disappoints in that area greatly.

When I first began reading Nimaur's, I'll admit, I was lost as could be. I couldn't pronounce names, I had no idea what time frame we were supposedly in, I didn't know what or where any of the places they were speaking of were, I had no idea what the titles meant, and I had no clue about some of the clothing and food they were wearing/consuming.

Truth be told, not being able to pronounce names was OK, because I got to use my imagination. But everything else made reading slow as my mind tried to make sense of the goings on. It was clear that this was not a book set in the near past, and it was clear that in the world this author had created that magic was the norm for many people. And as I continued reading and became more familiar with my own pronunciation key, I actually started to enjoy the book.

And then... I noticed that it didn't appear to be going anywhere. This is when I checked to see how much longer the book was going to last and discovered the glossary and excerpt. As the BCC suggests, Eri's talent is producing "Shadowshows" and this is where she uses the spirits to tell a story. The spirits appear to be there, I was imagining it to be something like a holographic play. Nini's talent is to talk to animals, and then every full moon she turns into one herself. There is no rhyme or reason to the animal she will become, so indeed, she never does know if she will be a predator or a docile prey.

While I enjoyed Eri's talent, and could see how it was used in this book, Nini's talent confused me. She called upon the animals to come to her aid once and that was useful, but the shape-shifting was confusing. Why does she need to keep it a secret? Why, besides the fact that it puts her family in a bind, does she shift in this particular book?

Nimuar is the girls' father, and after much reading I was able to realize that their unexpected guest, Yulko Bihn had cheated somehow in a magical dual with him, and he lost most of his magic and mind. He's searching for something called Agnith's Treasure, but I'm still unsure of what it is or why he (and everyone else) seems to want it so badly.

Each girl has an old flame show back up and they don't seem to be able to make up their minds whether this is good or bad. The relationships are not clear as to why these men were no longer in the girls' lives. I could tell that Nini's man had said he was leaving and then did not. So the Romance aspect of this is pretty much nil. Lots of telling not showing.

I kept going from annoyed to enjoyment in the book, but ultimately annoyed would have to be my finally assessment. Mainly for the no real clear plot or resolution aspect. The premise of the book is imaginative, and other than a rather annoying habit of info dump and unnecessary scenes, the author has a rather unique voice.

I can't really recommend you buy this book, but I won't dissuade you either, as if the next book end up in your TBR pile, you are going to have to read this one to understand anything. Plus, there were a few parts where I actually did enjoy the reading.

Take Care

Page 161

Note: Stolen from Chantal who got it from Ames.

1. Grab the book closest to you

2. Open it to page 161

3. Find the fifth full sentence

4. Post the text of the sentence to your blog

5. Don't search around for the coolest book you have, use the one that is really next to you

6. Tag five people to do this meme.

Maybe Michael Dempsey could have turned her into a crook.
From Faking It by Jennifer Crusie (My millionth re-read. Needed to feel good.)

I don't tag people, either, so feel free to re-post if you'd like. Just let me know so I can take a look!

Take Care

Love, Lies and a Double Shot of Deception by Lois Winston

I'd like to start today by doing two things. 1 - I want to extend my deepest sympathies to all the Triskelion authors that were gobsmacked by the announcement. Especially Jen Talty who dee spotlighted just last week. I have complete faith that all of you will rebound and come out stronger than ever! Good Luck! 2 - I want to say sorry for being so quiet lately. Things are nuts here. Things are probably nuts everywhere, it is summer after all. I have not had time to type up any dish, but I have done some reading while sitting on park benches or poolside, so I'll try and get them posted in short order. And now, without further ado...

Love, Lies and a Double Shot of Deception by Lois Winston
(BCC)

A WHOLE LATTE LOVIN'

Logan Crawford is gorgeous, charming, and his kisses make Emma feel like she's the only woman in the world. Oh, plus he's a billionaire. Not that Emma needs the money. As Philadelphia's most beloved heiress, she has it all: the grand estate, flashy sports car, high-society connections. But the haunted widow also has dark secrets, and some one out there doesn't want Emma to forget her past quite so easily. Trouble is brewing darker than a double espresso for Emma and her new found love. Now if only she can keep from getting burned...

This is the second book by Winston and her first book, Talk Gertie To Me, was dished by dee. I'll be honest and tell you that I never did read Gertie, but the dish made it sound good, so when I saw the latest book on the shelves at WallyWorld, I picked it up (plus, it has that cup of coffee on the front, who could ignore a book that has coffee on the front?).

Emma Brockton Wadsworth, known in Philadelphia as The Princess on the Hill, has a family that dates back to the Founding Fathers. As a child she lost her parents in a tragic accident when they were hit by a drunk driver, and later married Phillip Wadsworth, had two sons, and suffered sixteen years of a very unhappy, and unhealthy marriage with a man who turned a great public face.

Logan Crawford, real-estate mogul that give The Donald a run for his money, has a reputation of a man who is tough in the boardroom, but even tougher on women's hearts, many women's hearts. When Logan ventures to Philadelphia to consider locating his business HQ there, he has a one night stand with his city guide, only to meet Emma the next day. Bumping into her (literally) at a bookstore/cafe, Logan buys Emma a replacement coffee and the sparks fly.

But Emma has many secrets, and the string of broken hearts Logan has left behind have a couple of women out for revenge. Logan's latest broken heart, Leslee, has a personal vendetta against Emma, as she had been Phillip's mistress and had planned (with Phillip) to have Emma out of the picture now and seeing Logan ga-ga over Emma has Leslee plotting revenge. Enlisting the help of a paparazzi and a DA with political aspirations as well, as his own reasons for revenge against Emma, Leslee starts the ball rolling to ruin Emma and Logan.

Deception is one of those books that I guess I enjoyed, just didn't really realize it until it was over and all the pieces were in place. For one thing, Emma seems to always have one more secret. And then once one secret is discovered, another one is there, the really bad one, that is until that one is discovered and yet another secret is holding Emma captive. It isn't until quite a bit into the book that the secrets finally start getting revealed and that began to try my patience just a bit. I'm all for a bit of suspense, but when the secret is integral to the main character, a character I feel I should know fairly quickly, well, it tends to grate. By the time we get to the third big secret I felt like throwing the book down.

Also, this is a book about very wealthy people. And while I've made it clear that I'm not in the know when it comes to the speak of the wealthy, there were a few instances of dialogue that just didn't ring true. Perhaps if they were in England or something, but not here, and not the way it comes out of nowhere. Some just didn't ring true to the characters.

I also tend to be skeptical of books that have people falling in love after one day. Period. I understand that to move this plot forward, and have it make sense, Winston had to have Logan and Emma fall in love rapidly, but Emma isn't the type of woman to fall like that, and it had the air of unbelievability.

There were quite a few POV changes, every antagonist had at least one scene done in their POV, and that made for too many, especially since they are all working towards the same goal. And while I understood the need to show what the "bad" guys were doing, I would have much rather preferred to see some POV's of the people that actually supported Emma and Logan. Though, the antags POV did help in understanding certain points.

A lot of the book had me scratching my head going, "huh?" but as a whole, the book was a most enjoyable read. It won't be a re-read, but I can definitely recommend it as a lazy beach day read. Winston's voice is fresh, her writing is solid, and the ending does satisfy, even if the means to the end seem off somehow. I'll be looking forward to reading Winston's next release, whenever that may be.

As always, if you've read this one, we'd love to know what you thought.

Take Care

Spotlight - Interview with Jennifer Talty

I had this whole week planned out, with an intro, a special contest, a review, and an interview, to SPOTLIGHT the new e-book RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOU by my friend Jennifer Talty. I had all of these great intentions, and plans, and stuff I wanted to do. Then, two things happened. First, I had to work waaaay more than I was supposed to work, which meant I was not available to post as often as I had originally intended. Second, Jennifer had a minor setback in her publishing career.

If you've been following the recent news, you probably already know that Jen's publisher, Triskelion, is filing Chapter 7 Bankruptcy within the next few weeks. As a writer that hopes to some day be published, this news has just rocked me, on many different levels. It is sad for me to see a business, any business, close its doors. It's especially sad when that business deals with books, because I happen to LOVE books, in a major way. Beyond that though, I think of all of the writers that have dreamed those dreams of having their work out there, in the world, and how those dreams are now going to be put on hold. Notice, please, that I did not say those dreams have died, nor have they been crushed, only put on hold. Jennifer Talty is one of the authors affected by the closing of Triskelion. However, as you will see from this interview (conducted last week, before the news hit the street), Jennifer has such an amazing spirit that this news will not keep her down for long.

Her book, RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOU, climbed all the way to Number Two on the Triskelion site after its release. That, in and of itself, should garner her some attention when it comes time for her to find a new publisher. However, it's not just about writing. Jen is also a consummate professional. Her attitude during this entire ordeal has made many people proud, and even more people very certain that she is in this business to stay. Please continue reading the interview, and make sure to let Jen know of your support in the comments!

About your current books:
Describe your current release, RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOU, in five sentences or less.
Jared Blake has less than two weeks to figure out who is stalking his life long friend, Ryan O'Connor. And in less than two weeks he will loose his heart forever to what was standing right in front of him all along.

Besides the current title, what other books have you written? Are any of them published? Released?

I have an anthology titled HAUNT ME BABY ONE MORE TIME*. DARK WATER comes out in October of 2007*. I have three other books under review at various print houses.
(*Due to recent events, release dates for these titles is unknown at this time.)

About your writing style:
What is your writing style? Are you a plotter? How many drafts does each book go through before you feel it is 'ready'? Who is allowed to read it before it is published?

I am a plotter, big time. I have to know most of my book before I can start writing it. I use a storyboard program that allows me to move things around as I go and I also do a fair amount of pre-writing about my story and characters. This way I have a really good feel for everything before I start.

I have no idea how many drafts I do. As many as it takes until I think it's done. But I also edit as I go.

I have three critique partners who read everything I write. They are fabulous. They really help me plot, develop and then make sure it's all down on paper. We help each other and I'd be lost with out them. I do have a few close friends who are not writers that I will have read the near final draft just to get a reaction.

What kind of support do you have for your writing? Is your family supportive? Are your friends? Do you belong to any groups?

My husband and kids are very supportive, even when I drive right past the exit for the hockey rink because I was too busy talking with my "characters". Most of my friends think what I have done is pretty darn cool and love to introduce me as "this is my friend, the author." I think that is cool.

I belong to Romance Writers of America and my local chapter - Central NY. I also belong to Mystery Writers of America.

About your life:

What did you do before you decided to write? Are you currently still doing another job? What in the world made you decide to become a writer?

Basically for the last 16 years I have been a stay at home mom. I have worked part-time jobs between merchandising and teaching dance. I gave up the merchandising job, but I still teach dance and of course, I'm still a crazy hockey mom.

What's the deal with your fingernails? I hear that they actually glow in the dark. Is that true? Do you do this to be able to work outside late at night?

The fingernails only glow in the dark during the month of October when I wear special glow in the dark nail polish, but it does aide in the "write in the dark" mode I like. And yes, I do like to work outside in the summer by the lake, in the dark. It's horrible for the eyes, but for some reason it helps with the darkness of my voice. Might have something to do with that horrible big fish I think is out to get me or something.

Most people that write suspense have some sort of fear or phobia. What is yours? How do you handle it?

I have lots of fears and phobias. I have this horrible fear of sharks. It's so bad I can't even swim at night in a lake or pool without hearing that music, or thinking Jaws is going to come and eat me. I'm afraid of flying. I'm afraid of heights. I'm afraid of my own shadow sometimes, but I just don't let it stop me. Seriously. I get on a plane 3 times a year even though I'm near panic right before. Flying with me is very amusing. Ask anyone.

So, how do I deal with them? Humor! Gotta laugh at yourself every once in awhile. I acknowledge they exist, then make fun of them. It works for me.

What is your very favorite fiction book ever? Why? Who is your favorite fictional character? Why? Which author would you most like to meet? Why?

Oh God. That is so not a fair series of questions to ask.

Lets see - favorite book? I'd have to say TELL NO ONE by Harlan Coben, at least today. Tomorrow that could change. Why? Because it's a really good book. I think Harlan does characterization like no other and I really fell in love with the hero in this book.

Favorite fictional character? - Right now I'd have to say Hannah from BODY GUARD OF LIES by Robert Doherty (aka Bob Mayer). Why? I really related to her in a weird way. Here was this woman whose live was wrapped around her husband and then all of a sudden, he wasn't what seemed, her life wasn't what she thought it was. I think that is a stay at home mom's worst fear - her life is a lie? And I related to Hannah in a big way. Of course, she's a kick as heroine in the end. I like that.

Which author would I most like to meet? Hmmmmm, I'm going to Thrillerfest this July so I'm going to get to meet so many, so I'll just pick one that isn't going to be there - Ridley Pearson. Why? I think he's just amazing. I love his books.

About the future:
I know you're currently hard at work on a new book. Can you tell a little about that one? How difficult was it to decide to switch genres? Do you feel that this genre is a better fit for you?

My current WIP is tentatively titled DEATH BY BODY PART and it's a thriller. Kind of a modernday Frankenstein, but not really.

The switch from Romance to Thrillers was a gradual one. All of my books deal with suspense. RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOU has a stalker who happens to be a serial rapist. DARK WATER has an ex who is a murderer and will kill again if pushed. So, that side has always been present, it's just that before I focused on hero/heroine. But with this new idea, the romance aspect didn't really come to me. It wasn't what the book was about. I didn't accept that first and tried to make it a romance - didn't work. Then as I kept plugging away at it, I realized how much my voice fit this style book. How much I loved writing it and how many more ideas I had for books like it. It's where I as a writer belong. Scary to switch, but it's a better fit for me.

Where can we find you?
Do you have a website? Where can people find you online?
I'm everywhere! Googling my name is a scary thing. But you can find me at www.jennifertalty.com and my personal blog at http://jen-t.blogspot.com where I post often.

Also, at the following sites:

http://killerpassion.blogspot.com

http:/flygirls-takeone.blogspot.com

http://murdermayhemandmore.blogspot.com

Last words from Jen:
Is there anything else that you want to add? Any words of wisdom for aspiring writers? Anything for your fans? Anything?

Dreams do come true. I'm living proof and in more ways than one.

***

So, as you can see, Jennifer Talty is not only an amazing writer, she is also a wonderful person, with a determination to succeed that will see her through this current setback. She's got spirit and spunk and grit. She has an amazing storyteller's voice. I'm very lucky to know her as a writer, and even more lucky to call her a friend.

In light of the events of the past week's happenings with Triskelion, I am not adding links to her wonderful e-book, RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOU, with this post. True to her own strict professional standards, Jennifer did NOT ask me to tell anyone not to buy the book. I will not do that either. What I will do is mention that it is unlikely that she will see any payments that are due to her for her electronically published book.

Jennifer has, however, bought a few copies of her own book to give away as gifts in our contest. So, if you'd like to read her book, I highly encourage you to enter the contest, with a slight change in the rules. If you'd like to enter, please feel free to put up the cover and the blurb of RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOU on your site or blog, and link it back to here. However, if you'd rather, just blog about something that was right in front of you at one time or another in your life, and link to either this site or Jennifer's site.

Thanks so much for your continued support of our featured books and authors. It means the world to us, and I know it is very special to them as well!

Keep Turning Those Pages!