WTFckery Or Not? You Decide

Cover your eyes... run for the hills... because this week's WTFckery is up!

This week has to be the most in WTFckery books covers. Get ready to gag because these are atrocious:

1. I love Anne Bishop, but this German cover for Daughter of the Blood reminds me of one of those deranged puppets from the horror movie Puppet Master. Thanks to Bree of Moira Rogers for this one.

2. Jessewave has set me up with cover WTFckery for weeks! Take a peep at some of these wonderful vomit worthy covers if you dare:

3. Lady Gaga sure has some balls...or rather something else all together. I can't help but love this woman. And where did this rumor start that Gaga maybe a man? From The Huffington Post:

"Lady Gaga's revealing stage costume at the Grammys proved that she doesn't have a penis after all, but she's got a big one snaking down the leg of her pants on the cover of the new Q, a British music magazine. "We all know that one of the biggest talking points of the year was that I have a dick, so why not give them what they want?" she told the magazine."

4. If you come across this thing, no use in running because you are A Sca-rewed!

5. Don't we all wish we could have a raccoon tail outfit such as this one? I'm not going to even go there. This picture speaks for itself. Thanks to Chris at Stumbling Across Chaos for this one.

6. The real inside story of Kermit the Frog:

7. Just when you thought it was safe to go to a baseball game. Beware a baseball team's mascot throwing hotdogs! From TMZ.com:

"Sluggerrr the Lion -- the mascot for the Kansas City Royals -- is accused of poking a fan's eye out with a steaming hot wiener during a Major League Baseball game last year ... and now the team is being sued over it. John oomer claims Slugger eventually put the air gun down -- and started firing off the wieners by hand ... when, according to the suit, things went horribly wrong.In the docs, Coomer claims "Slugger lost control of his throw or was reckless with his throw, and threw the hotdog directly into the Plaintiff." Coomer claims the dog hit him right in his left eye -- leaving him with a detached retina and the development of cataracts."

8. This show must come to Broadway! My Little Pony the Musical!



9. From ABC News:
An anti-smoking campaign that some claimed likened the consumption of tobacco with sexual submission is causing an uproar in France. The three ads show teenagers on their knees with cigarettes between their lips, their faces at a man's waist, looking submissively into his eyes. The advertising slogan says, "Smoking means being a slave to tobacco."

You'd think they would have them smoking cigars rather then cigarettes to make it more life like, if you know what I mean?

10. And your Regretsy WTFckery this week is too cute and talented for words. Where else can your find a French Painting Penis?

Description:
This is a fun little painting a match to the Vagina obsession painting. Again it is all to do with the humor I see in so many people being transfixed by their own parts. It is not meant to insult any one just poke a little humor at the crotch pondering. It is a 5x7 inch painting of a Penis painting is own self portrait. I hope this gives you a little smile.

Oh yes, wee little painting wee-wee, you have made me smile.

Enjoy this week's best in WTFckery...

The Countdown Begins! Two Months until Lover Mine & Team Qhuay

A big thanks to Sparklybearsy of Ramblings of a Book Bitch for the Team Qhuay button

Originally I planned to have a countdown widget in honor of the 4/27 release of J.R. Ward's Lover Mine and the possibility of a Blaylock and Qhuinn teaming up, but the countdown widget gods wanted to be cruel. So intead I had this handy daddy button made in honor of release of Lover Mine in two months.

Lover Mine is the Eighth book in the very addicting Black Dagger Brotherhood by J.R. Ward aka The Warden aka The Crack:

If you are a BDB fan, you understand why this very popular series is thought of as crack. There have also been rumors of a possible love story between two secondary characters that have made quite an impression on the readers. These two are friends of John Matthew, a mute vampire, who is the hero of Lover Mine. Blaylock is a redheaded (YAY) vampire who happens to be gay and is in love with the bi-sexual Qhuinn, John Matthew bodyguard. Things between Blaylock and Qhuinn became intense when Blaylock admitted his feelings for Qhuinn. Unfortunately for Blaylock, Qhuinn ldoes oves Blaylock and has said he only enjoys being intimate with him while they engaged in a some fun with another lady. Qhuinn really wants to find a female mate and build a family. Poor, poor Blaylock...

Well, it seems things have changed and Ward has decided that Blaylock and Qhuinn are better as more than just friends, but as each other's mate. Some have decided to label this love match as Team Qhuay.

Qhuinn + Blaylock +Qhuay

I do hope that Ward will write another one of her wonderful, hot and steamy trademake love stories with Blaylock and Qhuinn. And this means no subtle, closed door love scenes. I want full frontal, in my face MM love making between these two characters. And for those who may not be too keen about this, keep in mind that Ward wrote a few, very open incentuous sex scenes between a half-brother (hero or book #7) and his half-sister that has occured in the past two books. If incest was accepted, you better believe that a loving gay romance between two men who love each other desperately better be in these pages, if not in this book, then in a future one.

So let's give out a cheer my fellow Ward BDB fans! Only 2 more months to go until you can feed your crack addiction.

 

Until then, I recommend you check out Smexy Books Mandi very informative J.R. Ward Information page that has some tasty tidbits.

What do you think will happen in Lover Mine? Do you think there will be some nice Team Qhuay loving going on? What do you hope for the future of this series?

Love Advice From Love Doctor Mho Fho *Kidnapped By Sex Starved Alien*

Welcome to the latest Saturday Edition of Love Letters to Mho! The Love Doctor is in!

Dear Mho,

I just had the most horrible few days imaginable. Not only did I lose my job, but I’ve been kidnapped by a sex fiend with better hair than I do, who has come from another universe and thinks I’m the answer to saving his world. At first I thought this was all types of awesome, because I’m a science fiction geek and this is my chance to meet a real life alien!

I was so wrong! Now my sexy kidnapper has claimed me as his mate, calls me zira, which he won’t tell me what it means, and looks like he was to eat me for breakfast, lunch, dinner, desert and two healthy snacks in between the day. I can barely walk because all the sex we have is mind blowing, I’m talking out of this world, mushy, lusty throbbing wet… well you get the point. A girl like me can’t take all this loving, especially when he starts to sparkle and I see all these lights and the way he thrusts… ahem.

I just want to get home to Earth and be boring and plain with horrible red hair that my interstellar lover just can’t get enough of.

Any advice in this matter would be greatly appreciated.

Yours,

D.J.

PS: Would you know any woman willing to take on a sex crazed man who can change into a cat called a Familiar?





Dear D.J.,

Lately I'm getting fed up of women like you who come from Loserville and can’t handle a great adventure on another realm, with men who would get down on their knees and worship the ground you walk on. Seriously, why are you complaining? I know of these men you speak of, especially your sexy kidnapper, who I’ve heard is a great warrior knight type dude.

As long as he doesn't look like this:

And looks like this:

You have no reason to complain and even write me an advice love letter!

Forget your old boring life on Earth and stick with your man hunk with the skilled manhood who gives your former unskilled virgin-esc hoo haa the time of its life. I promise you your future will be a much better one now. Those days of attended all those geeky sci-fi conventions you probably went to are over.

As for the nickname, better not ask. Also Familiars are cuddly, seductive and bound to get into a heap of trouble. I have no doubt the Familiar you speak of will find another woman to molest… love, in ways that puts your intergalactic sex god to shame.

Quit whining and get down on your own knees and thank whatever sent this man into your life.

Yours,
Mho Fho

Need a hint on who is asking for advice? Click Here

White Washing Cover Update: Magic Under Glass and The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms

Remember back in January with the white washing controversy with Bloomsbury USA cover Jaclyn Dolamore’s Magic Under Glass?

Just like the issue with Justine Larbalestier’s cover for Liar, Bloomsbury USA has now created a much better cover for Magic Under Glass:

But another possible white-washing cover issue has come up in regards to N.K. Jemisin's The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms. Could this be another case of cover white washing? N.K Jemisin doesn't think so from what I'm reading on her blog. But hey, I maybe mistaken.

This is the US cover of The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms:

Now this is the German cover of The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms:

Hm, I see a blonde haired caucasion woman. But apparantly this is okay because Jemisin states:

" ...the image is not meant to depict Yeine or anyone in the story. It’s just a random woman. I have been advised by other pro authors that this sort of thing — art that’s got nothing to do with the book — is common among foreign publishers, who go in more for “symbolic” rather than “representative”/”realistic” like us USians prefer. But in the context of the wider debate on whitewashing… it’s impossible not to wonder about this. If this is indeed a symbol, not meant to directly represent the protagonist, then it’s not whitewashing. Technically.

I have more thoughts, but I think I’ve said all I can safely say.

Anyway, I have decided, for my own emotional comfort, that this image represents Yeine’s mother — who doesn’t show up in the novel, but who does in fact cast a long shadow over its events. She’s described as something like this image, although her hair should be curly."

So instead of Jemisin saying, "This white girl with the blonde hair is a very wrong depicition of what my character is, I'm going to say the woman on the cover is the mother, or just some random woman because I don''t want to stir up anymore controversary for my own reasons."

A white woman with blonde hair, especially internationally, is the "symoblic" portrayal acceptable to be shown on book covers? This is new to me.

I guess whatever helps you sleep at night.

I also must mention an amazing post from The Book Smugglers that really deserves an award on their end for the amount of research and hard work that have done. Ana and Thea have decided to do a monthly feature called "Covers Matter"

"Cover Matters is a new monthly feature in which we examine the medium that is first contact between a reader and a book: the cover. This feature will dedicate more separate space to a topic that has always intrigued, irked, and befuddled us. We will be talking about issues such as whitewashing practices, covers in poor taste, misleading or completely inaccurate covers, clichéd covers and, of course, covers that manage to get it right. We plan on having guests (bloggers, authors, cover artists, and publishers if possible) join us for these monthly pieces, with the following question in mind: Do covers matter?"

Whether you are a reader, author or book blogger, I'm giving you a call to action to read this post which explains perfectly why white washing is a major fail on a publisher's fault. The time to stop cover white washing is now!

Why not join the Readers Against White Washing revolution on Facebook?

The Love Story of Dick Skorupski and Shirley Edwards

The photo above was just found by my uncle, my mother’s brother, of their parents. The picture is over sixty years old. These two people, if they were still alive, would be celebrating their 60th wedding anniversary this month.

February is a very important month in my family.

The marriage of Dick Skorupski and Shirley Edwards was a second marriage for both. They were married on February 18th 1950. Dick, my grandfather, would have been 99 years old this past February 1st and my grandmother, Shirley would have been 88 years old on February 14th, Valentine’s day. This month is also the 13th anniversary of my grandmother Shirley’s death.

I never had the pleasure of meeting my grandfather because he died three years before I was born. His first marriage was a happy one to a woman, who I’ve heard, was very sweet and nice. Unfortunately, they never had any children between them. She ended up having six miscarriages and then died of cancer. My grandfather Dick loved children and assumed he would die a lonely bachelor with no children to carry on his family name. But then one night while he was working behind the bar at his cousin’s bar, he met my grandmother.

My grandmother Shirley Edwards married soon after high school. She had three boys with her first husband, who was run over by a trolley car and was killed. This woman had to take care of three boys, all under the age of three, on her own The night she decided to go out for a bit of fun, she went to the bar my grandfather, her future husband worked at. Shirley didn’t think much of Dick because he was older than her by eleven years, but they become friends. Sometimes when Shirley would go out with her girlfriends, he would come over and babysit her three boys. Soon that friendship turned to love and they married.

From Dick and Shirley’s union, they had two children, a girl and a boy. The girl was my mother. Dick loved little girls and my mother was a true daddy’s girl. When I was born, three years after my grandfather’s death, my grandmother and mother felt I was a present from my grandfather because he was a redhead and I was the first redhead ever to be born from a Skorupski.

My grandmother and mother would tell me the most wonderful stories about my grandfather Dick, where I swore he was watching over me from above. In turn, my grandmother was my protector and so very proud of everything I did. By the time my grandmother turned 75, she was a very weak and fragile woman who could barely walk, lost all bladder capability and lost her appetite. Her will to live was close to gone.

But then something amazing happened one night. My grandmother’s 75th birthday on February 14, 1997 was when I was a junior in college. I was upset because my mother and my sister planned to take my grandmother out for her birthday. At this time my spring break started a week after her birthday. I was upset because I wouldn’t be able to celebrate with her. The Friday I came home to start my spring break is where I saw my grandmother sitting in my mother’s car. She waited for me to come home so she would celebrate her 75th birthday with me, my sister and my mother. That night is still so very dear to me. Not only did my grandmother eat like she hadn’t in years, she had a great burst of energy and was so full of life and joy.

The day before I left to go back to school, I called her to tell her how much I had fun with her that night and told her how much I loved her. My grandmother was not a very vocal person when it came to telling someone she loved them, but the last thing she said before we got off the phone, was that she loved me.

Less than a week later my grandmother Shirley had died. I truly believe that my grandmother waited for me to come home to celebrate her final birthday together before she decided it was her time to go on to a better place.

The month of February has brought forth life, love, marriage and death for Dick, Shirley and me. From this circle of life, these two found each other and made a family. And because of that, they created me.

I honor these two wonderful people who brought so much into this world the short time they were alive.

Three DNF Historical Romances Reviews

Sometimes it just happens, but some books are DNF’s (Do Not Finish). This DNF post is about three historical romances that didn’t work. Two are from more established authors, while one is a debut.

First is Provocative in Pearls by Madeline Hunter. The blurb on the cover of this book from Publishers Weekly states that “Hunter’s books are so addicting they should come with a surgeon general warning.” This blurb is the farthest from the truth in regards to Provocative in Pearls. I gave this read until page two-hundred and had to put it down because it was incredibly slow moving and boring, in the sense there was no real action to further along the plot. What we have here is Grayson, the Earl of Hawkeswell who has barely a penny to rub together. He thought his money problems would be a thing of the past when he married Verity Thompson two years ago. Their marriage was arranged by her nasty social climbing cousin Bertram, who blackmailed her into marriage. To escape this farce of a marriage, Verity pretended to drown in the Thames, where she has been hiding out at a house run by a woman who helps underprivileged and other women in need, much like Verity. Now that Verity is twenty-one, she can come out of hiding, annul her marriage and claim her fortune. Verity will even make sure Grayson is paid for his woes.

Grayson feels he was played a fool and for some reason, doesn’t want their marriage to end. Since he’s her husband and “owns” Verity, he wants them to give their marriage a chance. He will ease her into the pleasures of the marriage bed and all he expects in the beginning are three kiss a day from Verity. Soon these two are sharing more than just three kisses a day, where they become husband and wife in truth. Verity loves the pleasure she receives from Grayson, but doesn’t want to be married because she enjoys her independence and isn’t too keen on the overall high handedness Grayson uses when it comes to her. Verity will continue to try and run away and hide from Grayson until he loses interest. But Verity is in for a surprise because after he has tasted her wonderful kisses, he will never let her go.

Provocative in Pearls is a pretty ho hum read that if I were to have continued reading, it would have been for the sex scenes, Madeline Hunter excels at that, but otherwise this romance didn’t have enough substance to move the story along. And, I almost lost it when Grayson remembers giving up all his orgies and debaucheries he used to enjoy as a young man of nineteen, and certainly engage in with his wife. And Verity has no shame in asking about his past and all these fun time orgies he went to. Perhaps if these two went to a few then maybe this would have been a more interesting read.

After this mention about Grayson’s past sex fun, that was where I closed Provocative in Pearls and didn’t care either way if Grayson and Verity’s all-consuming passion led to them working on their marriage. (Jove)

Renee Bernard’s Revenge Wears Rubies has the blurb- “This luscious tale will enthrall you” from author Sabrina Jeffries. This tale of revenge didn’t enthrall me in any form, even though it did have great promise.

Galen Hawke wants revenge against a woman who was so cruel and cold, who dared to become engaged to another man so quickly after the death of her beloved killed in Bengal, India. Galen and eight other English gentlemen from all walks of life, known as The Jaded, suffered horribly at the hands of a raja. But only seven came back alive. The man who died went on and on about the lovely Miss Haley Moreland before his death. Galen will make this witch pay for not spending enough time in mourning. He’ll seduce her, thus leaving her ruined. And then his revenge will be complete!

But Galen doesn’t know the real story about Haley and why she’s engaged to a bore of a man who will give her stability, but not the passion and love she longs for. That’s where Galen comes in. Even though Galen rubs Haley the wrong way, she finds herself attracted to him and throws all caution to the wind. This caution, that is bound to get her in trouble, is having Galen sticking his hand up under her ball gown. Because Haley feels an inferno of “white-hot coil inside her that unravels in an ecstatic explosion”, she ends up sneaking out late one night and goes to Galen’s house unaccompanied and asks him to finish what he started when he tickled her under her petticoat. Not only does Haley not really like Galen, but as a proper virginal miss, engaged to be married, has no problem losing her innocence to Galen because he is so skilled at love making. This reason makes perfect sense for Haley since she has to deal with her drunk of a father and is so fed up where she finally wants to “be ruled by passion and risk ruin.”

Haley’s actions didn’t ring true to me at all and Galen is this poor, woes is me hero who really has no pleasing personality or any thing else to recommend. He sneaks around from scene to scene, lurking in the shadows, trying to catch Haley so he can have his wicked way with her and destroy her just because she dared not mourn the allotted year for a man who loved her, but who she may have had no clue about. Revenge is not worn well in this lacking historical romance from Renee Bernard. (Berkley, March 2nd)

A few other Revenge Wears Rubies reviews:
Book Binge
Fresh Fiction
Night Owl Reviews

My final review is from debut author, Erica Ridley who tries to bring back the atmospheric gothic romance with Too Wicked To Kiss. The blurb on this books states, “A skillful blend of Gothic mystery and steamy romance” from Karen Rose. This is a mystery with a romance, but not so steamy and skilled as I was expecting. My main issue that caused me not to finish this book is that Erica laid it on a bit too think with the whole atmosphere of what a gothic romance is. There’s a castle that makes a perfect dark setting, a hero in seclusion who may or may have no killed his parents, and a heroine on the run from her degenerate step-father who abused her no deceased mother. The hapless heroine also has a secret power at her fingertips that would have probably gotten her burned at the stake as a witch if this was set in Salem, 1692.

Evangeline Pemberton is forced to go to a house party by a truly wretched woman and her annoying twit of a daughter. Mommy Wretch wants Annoying Daughter to snag the alleged parent killer, Gavin Lioncroft. The stage is set much like out of the movie Clue where  many outlandish characters come out of the woodwork. Not only does Gavin brood and snarl, but his Countess sister, who is married to a faithless abuser, who actually smacks her so hard, that she has a very noticeable mark on her cheek. Everyone remarks about this abuse as if it is an everyday occurrence. At a dinner party, where the one-dimensional suspects are on display, there is an unneeded extended scene about this horrible display of spousal abuse that really doesn’t set the mood or add tension to the overall story. It just shows how a barely restrained Gavin is close to beating his brother-in-law into pulp. Gavin does eventually get his revenge by strangling his brother-in-law, but not killing him. This seemed odd to me since Gavin has such disdain and disgust for his sister and her family.

But then Gavin’s sister’s fink of a husband is found murdered in his bed and because of the bruising around his throat from Gavin's hands, the guests all assume Gavin must have killed him. From that moment on there is lurking around dark halls, Gavin cornering Evangeline where he tries to kiss her even though she is a sacred rabbit around him. And because she is so scared of him, he takes his anger out on her and acts like a wounded bear. Poor Evangeline, who I really wanted a much better written story for, is doomed from her evil step father who’s on his way to take her back, the staff who crosses their fingers whenever they walk by her because they know all about her special powers and the Lady Wretch and her Annoying Daughter who walk around making snide comments.

I’m not sure if Erica meant to poke fun at the Gothics of the past with her own story, but the characters’ actions and plot failed to excite and had me rolling my eyes as I turned each page. Unfortunately because of this, I didn’t care to know who the killer was and if Gavin would carry Evangeline of the magic hands away to his tower to protect her as well as ravish her in all his angsty, brooding glory. (Zebra, March 2nd)

A few other Too Wicked To Kiss reviews:
Enduring Romance
Gossamer Obsessions
The Book Girl

Don't They Ever Learn? Author Who Bash Reviewers: Bradd Quinn

Michele Lee, who writes dark horror fiction stories and also posts reviews on Goodreads, made me aware of an author who was less than pleased with her review of his book. The author became very nasty and did some thing very low. In so many words, the author made fun of her body type, or rather her weight.

The author in question is self-published Lulu.com author Bradd Quinn of the book Under.

The synopsis of the book: We've all wonder what exists in those places we can't see...what's underneath, in the darkness. We've all wanted to look, if even for a moment. Jacob Drake looked...and the darkness looked back. A gruesome series of murders decimates a small town in one night, leaving a watching nation in terror. Only miles away, another small town lives in its shadow, left to wonder if they could be next. While most try to ignore the possible warning signs, one man cannot. Not when it's right under his home. It's now up to him to warn a town of non-believers that they will be next, and that the danger comes from something few have seen, and even fewer have survived. But is it real? That's a question he must answer himself and do so quickly. Time is running out...

Michele's Good reads review: *this is an excerpt straight from from the book* "...She needed a man. Hell, maybe if she bothered to drop down below 220 lbs she might find one. That, and she'd have to not talk. Basically she'd have to become an anorexic mute and then she could possibly attract the attention of a blind man with no sense of smell."

Want another excerpt?

"Oh, and this book is self published, so there will be typos. Oh yes, there will be typos. Think of them as easter eggs. Happy hunting!"

Horror is no longer and excuse for sexism, racism and homophobia and self publishing isn't an excuse for typos and a complete lack of consideration for the money readers might spend on a book. Take your chances on this one, if you wish, but be forewarned it doesn't have much to offer.

Bradd had a very immature and petty WTF response to Michele's review, which you can find his full response on her blog, word for word, since he went back and deleted it from Goodreads. But let me point out a specific excerpt from Bradd's ranting that should be noted to prove how much of an unprofessional ass he is:

I can’t help but wonder if you’re pissed because the character “Janice” in my book…the one you posted an excerpt about:

“…She needed a man. Hell, maybe if she bothered to drop down below 220 lbs she might find one. That, and she’d have to not talk. Basically she’d have to become an anorexic mute and then she could possibly attract the attention of a blind man with no sense of smell.”

…Hits a little too close to home. Don’t take that out on me.

So, Bradd believes that Michelle doesn't like his book is because of her issue with a overweight character, where he just had to take that very unneeded step and compare Michele to, basically making fun of her body and weight.

Isn't it bad enough with authors becoming more vocal and nasty against reviewers who give them bad reviews? Seriously, read the review, learn from it and move on. Where is the professionalism and visa-versa? Has it truly come down to an author making fun of a reviewer's looks or weight just because this one person doesn't like a book? The word "tact" comes to mind on both ends.

Bradd Quinn, you have no tact, professionalism and a major fail in the PR department. Why not put all your energy into writing a quality book with well written and well rounded characters with NO TYPOS, rather than put down a person's looks who calls you on it and your lack of writing skills?

Just another example of author WTFckery at play.

Interview with Angela Morrison, author of Sing Me To Sleep

Back in November, I posted about a book that was such a profound reading experience, where I was brought ot tears. That book was Sing Me To Sleep by Angela Morrison. Sing Me To Sleep will be released from Razborbill on Thursday, March 4th, and I hope people will read this book and have the same experience I did.

In honor of Sing Me To Sleep's release, I asked Angela for an interview about how she came up with the story, why she writes young adult books and her love of scuba diving.

KB: Can you tell us your publishing journey? How long did it take you to become published?

Angela: It seemed like it took forever! I have an inch thick file of rejection letters. I wrote TAKEN BY STORM as my creative thesis for my MFA in writing for children and young adults at Vermont College of Fine Arts. I revised and marketed it for three and half years after I graduated before I landed a contract. I kept getting read--one editor looked at four different versions of the manuscript before crushing my hopes with a final rejection. A that point, the novel was broken. I'd changed it for her in a lot of wrong ways. I asked myself how I wanted to tell the story. That's when I started changing it into the collage format. I met my editor at a gorgeous abbey north of Paris. The SCBWI group in Paris put on a wonderful retreat. I conferenced with her about STORM, and she was enthusiastic. I went home and rewrote the first chapter so she'd fall in love with Michael. And it worked. About a month later I had a two book contract with Penguin.

KB: Have you always wanted to write Young Adult books? Is there any other genre you would like to write?

Angela: I wanted to write middle grade novels. Those are my favorites to read. And I love historical novels, too. But when I went back to school, Michael and Leesie's romance pushed my middle grade time-slip adventure out of the way. And I've been a YA novelist ever since.

KB: How did you come up with the idea for Sing Me To Sleep?

Angela: SING ME TO SLEEP was born of desperation. Razorbill decided they wanted a stand alone novel for my second novel instead of the sequel I'd planned for TAKEN BY STORM. I went through my idea files and brainstormed. My daughter sang with the Junior Amabile Singers when we lived in London, Ontario, and I always wanted to write a book in that world, but I didn't have a story. But a tragedy happened in their boys choir that inspired me to put together a plot outline and pitch it to Lexa. We kicked the outline back and forth. She insisted Beth needed a boy back home, wanted lyrics woven through the story, and convinced her boss that the novel would work. And I started writing. Of course, as Beth, Derek, and Scott emerged as characters the storyline changed a lot. It always does. That's the part I love the most about writing--the discovery.

KB: Sing Me To Sleep is very romantic and brings up the topic of love and sex between a teenage girl and boy. There is also a lot of kissing and intimacies shared between Beth and Derek. How important was it for you to show how these two care for one another but not too far with keeping in mind the teenage audience who’s reading?

Angela: It's very important to me. I won't talk down to my readers--it's got to be authentic--but at the same time I won't write explicit material. I care about my readers. I want them to feel safe when they read my novels. So if you see my name on the cover, you know you're going to get a frank discussion of teen sexuality, honest emotions, lots of great kissing scenes (I love writing slow, romantic kissing scenes), but nothing explicit. SING and STORM are both rated 12 and up. Not 14 and up. In the industry, 14 and up means there will be rough language and/or explicit scenes. I'm working hard to perfect the art of steamy, but clean. I would write that way for anyone--teens or adults.

KB: You’re a certified scuba diver. Any interesting stories you can share scuba diving? What is it like diving?

Angela: Diving is like weightlessly floating through another world. Water filters out yellows and reds as you get deeper, so underwater it looks like Mars--everything blue, green and purple. My favorite place to dive is Grand Cayman. I love the spotted eagle rays. They literally fly by. And the water is clear and deep there. The whole island is coral, and we dive sheer walls that plunge a thousand feet down. When you float away from the wall over the abyss, it feels like you're flying along with the rays. And then you can look up and see the sun filtering down from the surface a hundred feet up.

KB: Is there any advice you can give to aspiring authors trying to get published?

Angela: Qualify yourself. You wouldn't try to be a professional football player without any training, right? Or a concert pianist. Or brain surgeon. If you want to do this professionally, you need to be trained by professionals. SCBWI is a great place to start. They have conferences all over the country. Vermont College's program changed my life. If you are serious, check it out.

KB: Who are your favorite authors to read? If someone who’s not a big reader asked for books to read, what books would you recommend?

Angela: I love Jane Austen, Tolstoy, and so many others. I'm a huge fantasy fan--Ursula LeGuin is my favorite. But when I want to relax, I grab a beat up copy of one of Mary Stewart's romantic suspense novels. I love those. My favorite children's author is Katherine Paterson. And I love THE BOOK THEIF by Markus Zusak.

I've had some readers write to me and tell me they weren't readers before they read my books. I love hearing that.

I'd guide non-book lovers to take a look at some of the great verse novels that are out. SHARK GIRL, by Kelly Bingham and RUBBER HOUSES by Ellen Yeomans. Ron Koertge and Norma Fox Mazer's classic YA novels are fantastic and not difficult to read. And I think they'd like SHATTERED by Kathi Baron and SHIFTY by Lynn Hazen. And everyone should read Kathi Appelt's Newberry honor book, THE UNDERNEITH. It's a kid's book, but it's to die for gorgeous and everyone will love the story.

KB: What does the future hold for you? Any future projects you can tell us about?

Angela: This fall I wrote the sequel to TAKEN BY STORM--UNBROKEN CONNECTION. Penguin is considering it. I hope to have good news one of these days, but there is no guarantees in this business. Next, I'll work on the third Leesie/Michael novel, CAYMAN SUMMER.

I also have an historical heartbreaking romance, MY ONLY LOVE, that I'm still revising. And I'm thinking about replacing my obnoxious tween boy hero in that time slip novel I told you about earlier with a Bronte-esque Victorian heroine. Think Jane Eyre meets the Terminator--but this guy ain't no robot. He's way too hot for a middle grade adventure. See, everything I write turns into YA. I love the coming of age journey and how love plays a part in it.

KB: If you had a chance to make either of your books into movies, what directors or actors would you like to be involved?

Angela: Oh, wow. I have no idea. I don't let myself daydream about movie deals. Way too tempting. We are working on a video trailer for SING, though. I found the perfect red choir dress for Beth! And the Amabile Young Men's Ensemble with a soloist from the Amabile Youth Singers (the girls choir) are going to record "Beth's Song" for the trailer. That's as close as I'll get to a movie for now. Who knows though? SING would make a great film.

KB: What words would you use to describe Taken by Storm and Sing Me To Sleep?


Angela: I'd call them both poignant. Romantic--of course. And meaningful.

If you would like to know more about Angela and her thoughts on Sing Me To Sleep, check out her Blog Tour. My review will be up next week.

Promoting Some New Must Visit Blogs

It’s been awhile since I’ve promoted some wonderful blogs I all recommend you go and visit. Please join me in welcoming these 10 new to me blogs that have brought me joy over the past few months.

1. I am so very happy to have found Kay’s Blog where- “Kay babbles about Historical Romanceland with an occasional digression into Paranormalville." Historical Romance author, Sara Lindsey was the one to introduce me to Kay because she loved Kay’s review of Promise Me Tonight. Kay’s blog has been around since 2007 and I wish I had known about it sooner. Her reviews are so wonderfully written and her recent review of Laura Kinsale’s Lessons in French had me in hysterics based on this:

“I have always been a big fan of Laura Kinsale. She is the Queen of Angst. You know, those heroes who had sex with their step-mother when they were twelve and their father beat them, then sent them to an asylum where they went blind and then they turned into a blind assassin and nobody likes them because they kill people, however, they are the designated hero. Now, that is angst!”

2. Allison Pang, who just sold her first urban fantasy series to Pocket, runs the Borrowing Heaven, Subletting Hell blog that has been around since last year. Allison has some very open and honest post and her personality really shines through. She reminds me a bit of Carolyn Crane and her Trillionth Page blog. Both these women are wonderful bloggers but have succeeded by into the publishing world. I admire them both deeply for giving me great advice and having fun while they do it.

3. I love Sayuri who runs the Damn Heart blog and has been doing so since 2008. Not only does she write great, insightful reviews but has this great post called Guess the Book where she posts an excerpt from a book and you try and guess the book. I actually got one correct. Damn Heart is a clean easy blog to navigate for a tons of fun. Yes, fun times at Sayuri’s place!

4. Angela, who runs Dark Faerie Tales since October 2009 has become my go to blog where she feeds my need for finding new book releases, called Taking Cover, as well as her Books to Watch post about book deals from Publisher’s Weekly. Angela’s blog has a great atmospheric feel to it and one very recommend blog that should be visited everyday.

5. Flight Into Fantasy, run by Shannon C, who proudly admits she has a need for minions is everything wonderful in the blogging world. Her reviews put mine to shame. I also look up to Shannon because she has a seeing disability that doesn’t control her or makes her feel less than she is. I love her outspoken opinions and she doesn’t think I am too strange since we both like to talk about the same books and topics in books such as our love hate relationship for V.C. Andrews and Cheryl Brook’s use of the term “snard”. Whenever I think of Shannon or visit her blog, I can’t help but leave with a smile.

6. Leontine who runs Leontine’s Book Realm has an eclectic amount of posts from promoting future releases to all types of books. She is proud to admit that she loves reading sex in romance and is also another great blog for those who need more erotic and M/M romance recommendations. You can spend hours at Leontine’s and not get bored.

7.Lovin’ Me Some Romance by VampFanGirl puts my book pimping skills to shame. The amount of future releases she finds and their covers has me scrambling to post on my own blog. Her reviews are short, to the point and everything you need to know without become confused. A must go to blog for fans of the romance genre.

8. What can I say about the wonderful Chris at Stumbling Over Chaos? She is my WTCkery patriot in arms as well as promoting the worst in book covers that make you cringe. Speaking of analyzing books covers, she has this great post called Misadventures in Stock Photography that will have you roaring with laughter. She shares the love with her linking other blog posts, is a proud cute cat owner like I am, and comes across as this happy go lucky person you can’t help but want to wrap in a big old hug.

9. The Queen B, who just started her That’s Queen Bitch To You, loves everything romance. And the smuttier it is, the more she loves it. She expresses herself so well and is quite the firecracker on Twitter also. Her personality and originality are exactly what we need in the blogsphere. It doesn’t hurt that we both have the same likes and if you are a fan of Smexy Mandi’s blog, you will love Queen B.

10. Wendy who runs the Such a Book Lush is so very outlandish, but adorable at the same time. I first met Wendy on twitter and since that first special meeting she has become one of my favorite people. Both she and Queen B make me laugh so hard that my stomach hurts. But even with the abundance of laughs, Wendy loves the written word, especially romance and really has a great voice in explaining what she has read and why it works and doesn’t work for her. I am so very glad to have found Wendy who with a simple thought makes me feel so much better.

And finally a spare blog recommendation (because I always have a spare): The Story Siren is the premiere blog for everything young adult. Kristi’s passion, professionalism and love of everything teen reads is something to bow down to. She has close to 1,500 followers and I can only just imagine how many more come to visit her blog in a given day. She is one of the reasons I found my love of reading Young Adult, and I can see Kristi taking her blog to great heights, perhaps in ways other book bloggers could never have imagined. The Story Siren may just break the ceiling from a book blog to perhaps as a major future industry review site.

These are only a few of my new favorite blogs. I am always open to new ones, so please comment a few of yours where I can add to my ever growing Google Reader.

Something About You Advanced Book Review *Julie James*

You know the Cover Girl catch phrase, "easy, breezy, and beautiful"? These three words come to mind when reading a Julie James’ book. And that is the case with Something About You, a fun mystery with mature minded characters and a romance where Julie raises the heat to very pleasing results.

The way Something About You begins will have you laughing, as well as feeling sympathy pains for Cameron Lynde, an Assistant U.S. Attorney for the city of Chicago. Cameron is spending the night at a hotel because she had her floors in her house refinished. This gives Cameron the perfect excuse for some relaxation after working on a very exhausting trial. She treats herself to a, “tranquil night of R&R”. But Cameron’s night is anything but tranquil because the couple in the room next to her are unbelievably vocal where they enjoy very loud monkey sex that seems to go on forever. Cameron can’t stand the bed banging, “wham wham, more, more Big Boy!” moans of sex at three in the morning.

Cameron finally falls to sleep after the marathon sex fiends take a breather, but an hour later she snaps awake after hearing another loud bang. She’s fed up and places a call down to Guest Services. Soon after her call, Cameron hears a door open and thinks the rowdy sex people are trying to make an escape. She looks through her peephole and sees a very dressed down guy wearing very dark clothes. Also the fact that he takes the staircase instead of the elevator strikes her as odd, but since the whole night has been a loopy one, she shrugs it off. Hotel security comes to the rescue, but what they find shocks them. A woman is found dead, suffocated by a pillow, and Cameron may have heard the crime being committed, as well as seeing the killer leave.

Because Cameron is now a witness, the police won’t let her leave her room, to her frustration. And Cameron is in for more unfortunate surprises when a man from her past is in charge of the case. FBI Special Agent Jack Pallas and Cameron worked together three years ago where he went undercover on a high-profile case. Because Cameron’s boss felt there wasn’t enough to prosecute, they didn’t bring the man, who tortured Jack for two days, to trial. Jack blames Cameron and was very vocal about it to a reporter. Because of his outburst, he’s transferred to Nebraska as punishment. Cameron and Jack are not happy to see each other again. Jack is still seething with rage and feels Cameron was responsible for his exile. Of course he doesn’t know the whole story and how she actually saved him from being fired. But Cameron is not in the mood for Jack’s surly attitude, even though she still finds him to be an Agent McHottie.

It seems the murdered woman was a call girl and the U.S. Senator for Illinois was using her services that night. And there’s also a sex tape involved. Talk about a whole lot of heartache for everyone. But Cameron major concern for the moment is going home and getting some much needed rest. Jack wants to wrap this case up and fast because he doesn’t want to be in Cameron’s life any more than he has to even though he can’t help but wonder if she’s married. Because Cameron is a special witness, she’ll have an FBI surveillance watching her every move. Soon Jack wants to be her main protector because he can’t get over this smoldering attraction he has for and that continues to build. And after Cameron is almost shot and killed by the possible killer, Jack will stick by her side 24/7. Cameron has no choice because she is now living fear. But the one positive thing that comes out of this is the mutual dislike Cameron and Jack once had for one another changes and they enjoy some heavy duty kissing against a few walls that almost leads to some of their own loud monkey sex wall banging.

Third time’s a charm for Julie James, but with some reservations on my end. Overall, I found Something About You to be an enjoyable read. Julie is seriously one of the best contemporary authors I can think of and really writes a nice balance, mainly with the relationship between Jack and Cameron. Julie is very skilled at writing warm and loving relationships, and that shows not only with the connection between Jack and Cameron, but with Cameron’s good friend from college, Collin, a gay sports write who brings a lot to the scenes he’s in as well as Jack’s partner Wilkins. I loved with the way Jack and Cameron are with one another and the way their relationship changes over the course of the story. Their three year long attraction for one another enables them to get know one another, and from this, these two not only became lovers, but very good friends.

Those who may have been disappointed with the lack of heat in Julie’s past few books will not be disappointed in any way. Julie can write some steamy, up against the wall, take me now sex. Jack and Cameron have incredible chemistry and there wasn’t one I preferred over the other. These two are both on equal footing.

All in all, Something About You was a well written, thought out romance with a touch of suspense. I didn’t have many laugh out loud moments and at certain points I found my eyes glazing over as the villain of the piece popped up and explained his actions and his own back story. But, this is more of a personal preference on my end and one most readers may not mind.

Something About You was a solid read that allows the reader an inside look at law enforcement and characters I enjoyed spending a few hours getting to know. (Berkley, March)

Final Grade: B

Jeri Smith-Ready Contest Winner and Other Fun Goodies

The winner of the Jeri Smith-Ready book giveaway of Wicked Game and Bad to the Bone is:

YAN!

please email me your mailing address at katiebabsg ATgmail DOT com so you can get your prize.

I also have another awesome contest to annouce. There is a new blogger in town. Her name is Tori and she runs the Book Faery Blog, a place for books reviews, contests and more.

Tori is giving away a set of Richelle Mead's Georgina Kincaid books to celebrate the release of Succubus Shadows on March 30th.

If you are a fan of this series by Richelle Mead, stop on over at Book Faery and enter to win. You can also welcome Tori to the fun and wacky world of blogging while you're at it.

And because it has been awhile since I posted a cute cat video, I just had to post this one that I saw over at Cute Overload. This 3 minute cat kneading video is too precious for words.

KB's Pimpin Cookie Book Covers *Future Releases*

Carina Press has posted their first book acquisition and the cover. Exclusively Yours by Shannon Stacey. Release date still unknown.

Synopsis: One random blog entry is all it takes to pull the safety net out from under Keri Daniels. One minute she’s shopping with her boss, and the next she’s holding a photo of an eighteen-year-old version of herself in the arms of her high school sweetheart, Joe Kowalski. Tina Deschanel—the editor-in-chief of Spotlight Magazine—has been trying to get an interview with the reclusive, bestselling author for years. And when Tina tracked down a blogger who claimed to go to school with the man, she discovered her best reporter had been withholding some very interesting backstory. Now she’s given Keri a choice—the interview or a new career. She’s worked too hard and is too close to achieving her promotion to say no.

Joe proposes an outrageous plan he’s positive will send Keri running in the other direction—for every day she survives with the Kowalski family on their annual campground vacation, she gets to ask him one question. But Keri’s worked too hard to walk away from her career and two weeks in the woods with her high school sweetheart is the lesser of two evils.

But not by much. The chemistry between Keri and Joe is still as potent as the bug spray, Joe’s sister Terry—Keri’s former childhood best friend—is out for revenge, and the cabin—the one she shares with Joe—has no running water. Being expected to take part in the ATV riding—something she hasn’t done since she was ten—is the icing on the pity party cake.

For the Steampunk fans out there- Full Steam Ahead by Nathalie Gray from Red Sage Presents coming March 1st. Thanks to Heather at The Galaxy Express for this one.

Synopsis comment: “…Captain Phineas "Finn" Hamilton is dark-haired, and even if I don't mention just how exultant his follicles are, they are there. Finn is a privateer, one of the best, running dangerous routes along the borders with the enemy (steampunk equivalent of bikers crossed with Vikings...the ugly ones), so he wouldn't have time to mess with his hair. On his head (which is long), or on his chest. Plus, he's a wounded hero, physically and mentally. He has an awful scar from his last run-in with the enemy (a battle that cost him much more than a nasty scar, too). So definitely no time for the wax jobs.”

So very excited for Jill Marie Landis' new book coming out. Looks like it's an inspiration. Heart of Stone (Irish Angels series, Book 1) coming from Zondervan in March.

Synopsis: She had the darkest of pasts. And he had everything to lose by loving her. Laura Foster, free from the bondage of an unspeakable childhood, has struggled to make a new life for herself. Now the owner of an elegant boardinghouse in Glory, Texas, she is known as a wealthy, respectable widow. But Laura never forgets that she is always just one step ahead of her past. When Reverend Brand McCormick comes calling, Laura does all she can to discourage him as a suitor. She knows that if her past were discovered, Brand’s reputation would be ruined. But it’s not only Laura’s past that threatens to bring Brand down—it’s also his own. When a stranger in town threatens to reveal too many secrets, Laura is faced with a heartbreaking choice: Should she leave Glory forever and save Brand’s future? Or is it worth risking his name—and her heart—by telling him the truth?

This book looks like a real tearjerker. The cover also is very eye-catching and classy. My Wife's Affair by Nancy Woofruff, coming from Putnum on April 15th.

Synopsis: Georgie and Peter, very much in love, move to London with their three children. Once there, Georgie's dormant acting career takes off and she wins the role of Dora Jordan in a one-woman show. Dora Jordan was the most famous comic actress of the eighteenth century (she had thirteen illegitimate children, including ten by the future king of England). As Georgie rehearses for her part, she becomes increasingly drawn to Dora Jordan, who she sees as a working mother with struggles exactly like her own. And when Georgie can no longer fight her attraction to the playwright, she begins an affair with tragic results.

Zombie fans will want to keep this on their radar. Flu by Wayne Simmons coming from Snowbooks on April 30th. Thanks to Sharon Loves Books and Cats.

Synopsis: There's a nasty flu going round. An epidemic, they call it. The posters say to cover your mouth when you sneeze, and throw away the tissue. But such simple measures won't stop this flu. Because when you catch the flu, armed police come and lock you in your house to die alone. When you catch this flu, it kills you in days. And when you catch this flu, two hours after it's killed you, your eyelids snap open again..."Flu" is a pacey, terrifying, frighteningly real zombie horror story

The cover is for the second book in Kathryn Smith's Victorian series! When Marrying a Scoundrel coming from Avon on May 26th. Very sexy even though the dress maybe a bit too bubble gum pink for my tastes.

Synopsis: Jack Friday went to Saint's Row to do a little business. Sadie Moon went to Saint's Row to provide a little entertainment. What they found was each other, and rekindled a passion even time couldn't destroy.

Assassin's Honor (Order of the Sicari Book One) by Monica Burns, coming in June from Berkley. Thanks to Lovin' Me Some Romance.

Synopsis: Archeologist Emma Zale sees the past when she touches ancient relics. It’s how she uncovered evidence of an ancient order of assassins—the Sicari. When a sinfully dark stranger shows up on her Chicago doorstep demanding an ancient artifact she doesn’t have, he drags her into a world where telekinesis and empaths are the norm. Now someone wants her dead, and her only hope of survival is an assassin who’s every bit as dangerous to her body as he is to her heart.

Ares DeLuca comes from an ancient Roman bloodline of telekinetic assassins. A Sicari, he’s honor bound to kill only in the name of justice. But when the woman he loved was murdered, Ares broke the Sicari code and used his sword for revenge. Love cost him dearly once before, and he’s not willing to pay the price again. At least not until hot, sweet, delectable Emma walked into his life. Not only does she hold the key to a valuable Sicari relic, she might just hold the key to his heart.

The next book in Nalini Singh's Psy/Changeling series. Bonds of Justice coming from Berkley on July 26th. This about Max.

Very excited about this one. Forget You by Jennifer Echols, coming from MTV Books on July 20th. Thanks to The Hiding Spot.

Synopsis: Zoey’s life in her Florida beach resort town is happy and organized. She’s the captain of her high school swim team, and she works for her dad at his popular water park. Then her dad has an affair with one of his employees, and her mother has a breakdown. But Zoey begins a committed relationship with a hot lifeguard, which makes her feel stable, even if things aren’t perfect at home. Everything is still under control.

Until she has a car accident that she can’t remember. She should have been with her boyfriend that night, but he doesn’t seem to know anything about the accident—and he doesn’t seem to care. The person who does care, and knows more than he’s telling, is Doug, Zoey’s darkly handsome arch-enemy who saved her from the wreckage. As Zoey begins to piece together what happened that night, she finds her sense of control over her life was only an illusion. And she inches closer to discovering the darkest secret of all: why Doug has fallen in love with her.

Kresley Cole's next book in her Immortal After Series is Demon From the Dark, coming from Pocket on August 31st. The very best in mantitty and lickable tattoos!

Synopsis: Malkom Slaine: tormented by his sordid past and racked by vampiric hungers, he’s pushed to the brink by the green-eyed beauty under his guard. Carrow Graie: hiding her own sorrows, she lives only for the next party or prank. Until she meets a tortured warrior worth saving. In order for Malkom and Carrow to survive, he must unleash both the demon and vampire inside him. When Malkom becomes the nightmare his own people feared, will he lose the woman he craves body and soul?

Enjoy these future books releases that will make you break open your wallet.