Synopsis: When Janelle's friend offers to help with the housework, she doesn't think it will include any hocus pocus. Not convinced it will work Janelle recites the incantation and summons a domestic god. He cooks. He cleans. He even does the ironing. The trouble is Corvin isn't your typical wraith. In fact, he's not a wraith at all but a demi-god looking for love...
Synopsis: A fairy prince lost his true love due to his own selfish mistake. Now, they're cursed to live apart... him in the world of humans and her in the fae realm. He remembers everything. She remembers nothing. One day every year they both must relive the most painful day of their lives. He's doomed to break her heart.
Only this time around, he's determined to write a new ending... one that will free them both.
Ever wonder what makes an Alpha male so delicious? Is it his commanding attitude with the heroine? His luscious moves in bed? His overpowering attraction to his lady?
IMHO, it’s all of that and more – a lot more. I believe the most compelling Alpha heroes are ones whose tenderness shows through at the most unexpected times, enriching their masculinity.
For example, in my latest erotic romance Lush Velvet Nights, Nathan has been hurt badly by his failed marriage. He’s convinced himself he only wants pleasure. Then along comes Adriana. Although Nathan won’t admit it to himself, he’s drawn to her as he hasn’t been to any other woman. This isn’t just about sex and his actions prove it. In this scene, they’ve just arrived at his mountain estate for a three-day weekend of carnal pleasure. And yet, it’s not the only thing on his mind. Here’s a blurb and an excerpt to illustrate what I mean:
BLURB:
Lush Velvet Nights - When wanton desires and love demand all…
During the day, Adriana’s a lonely corporate heiress, helming a supermarket empire. At night, she hires escorts, scripting provocative fantasies of kidnapping, lust, submission and endless longing. It’s all she has to excite her until she meets Nathan Wynn. Tall, blond and muscular—like a modern-day Viking—Nathan’s a labor relations attorney representing Adriana’s union employees. His imposing presence intensifies her basest desires. When he protects her from an escort he believes is an attacker, she knows he’s wonderfully dominant and unrestrained. Fascinated by Adriana’s underlying sensuality, Nathan brings her to his secluded mountain estate, determined she submit fully to his hunger. At a gentleman’s club, he makes certain she denies him nothing. Engaging in a seductive sexual journey, Nathan’s caught off-guard by his stunning need for Adriana. An attraction he fears because of past events in his life. A growing emotional connection she will not let him deny.
EXCERPT:
All you have to do is exactly as I say, he’d stated in the building’s garage.
Adriana’s heart made a funny leap. Her eyes crept down his shirt’s smooth fabric hugging his trim, muscular torso. She recalled how he’d looked in her conference room prior to her leaving their meeting. Had it only been a few hours ago? It seemed far longer, another lifetime. “What are you doing?”
He unbuttoned his collar and smiled. “Getting comfortable.”
She noticed. It tantalized and concerned. “Down here?” In front of the windows?
He didn’t answer. His expression held a secret he wasn’t prepared to disclose.
She looked at the stairway.
“Adriana.”
Her gaze inched back to him.
“Come here,” he said, his tone easy.
And deceptive. She heard an unmistakable command beneath his nonchalance, one she sensed would brook no defiance. Her pulse raced out of control, reducing her voice to just above a whisper, enough for him to hear. “Aren’t we going to your bedroom?”
“Eventually.”
And until then? All you have to do is exactly as I say. Precisely as she’d fantasized with her other temporary lovers. Only with them she orchestrated the action, knowing what to expect.
With Nathan, anything could happen. The tormenting heaviness between her legs built to an intolerable degree, demanding relief. Her heels clicked against the hardwood floor, marking her approach, far slower than her heart’s thumping. Reaching him, she surrendered to his closeness, size and heat, pressing the length of her body to his, her face to his neck, capturing more of his scent.
His chest bumped hers with his sharp intake of breath.
Mouth on his throat, she licked his stubble, reveling in the short, stiff hairs, his skin’s slight saltiness.
As she suckled his flesh, his lungs emptied on a prolonged moan. She stopped just short of giving him a hickey and murmured, “Let’s go to your bedroom.” Prepared to lead him, she took his hand.
He followed her around the sofa only to change direction, bringing her past the furnishings and closer to the windowed wall. The night’s cold breath seeped through the glass. She glanced from the steadily falling snow to his free hand. He’d pulled something from his pant’s pocket and now offered it to her. “Here.”
Adriana stared. Whatever he held, he’d wrapped it in a paper napkin printed with the store’s logo where he’d bought their hot chocolate. “What is it?”
He released her hand. “Open it and see.”
She wondered if he’d given her condoms, although he shouldn’t. On the ride, she’d told him about being on the Pill. Didn’t he believe her? “Are those Trojans?”
His quick laugh rang through the room. “No. You said we didn’t need them, remember? Go on.” He shook his palm, urging her to obey.
Confused, she looked at him. “I don’t understand.”
“Obviously.” He murmured, “Happy birthday.”
Her hands went to her mouth, quieting her surprised gasp. Quick tears pricked her eyes.
“It’s not much,” he explained, clearly surprised at her reaction “but it’s not that bad.”
Adriana shook her head, unable to speak. He’d believed her earlier lie and bought her a gift. They barely knew each other and yet he’d gone out of his way to celebrate an event with little meaning to her parents. Their gifts often arrived days after her birthdays because they’d been too busy to remember their daughter.
Her fingers shook as she took the paper-wrapped square from him. Careful not to tear the napkin, she eased the ends back.
Nathan made an impatient sound. “Do you unwrap all your presents so slowly?”
Only the ones from him. She whispered, “Just wait until I unwrap you, then see how fast I—oh my god,” she interrupted herself, hand flying back to her mouth. Beneath her fingers, her lips quivered with emotion at his tender gift. He’d bought her a large refrigerator magnet with the restaurant’s logo and Welcome to Lake
Arrowhead printed over a crude drawing of the area.
“They didn’t have much to choose from.” Apologetically, he lifted his shoulders. “I’m not much of a shopper, but I didn’t think you’d want a pinecone key chain or a shot glass that said ‘bottoms up’.”
Laughing and crying, she threw her arms around his neck, burrowing her face into his shoulder. Tears rolled down her cheeks, dampening his clean-smelling shirt, dirtying it with her mascara. She told herself to move away and could not. His comfort became too precious. “It’s perfect. Exactly what I want. But you shouldn’t have done this, Nathan. I don’t deserve it.”
His breath ruffled the fine hair at her temple. His hands roamed her length, settling on her ass. A faint smile tugged Adriana’s mouth at his typical male response— completely sexual, totally unsentimental.
Proving it, he said, “It’s only a magnet.”
“It’s too much.” Shame continued to burn her cheeks. Worry twisted her stomach. She didn’t want to tell him the truth. His thoughtfulness gave her no other choice. Palm on his firm chest, she pushed away and tilted her face to his. “It’s not really my birthday.”
His brows lifted slightly.
Adriana blurted, “I only told you it was because I was embarrassed about hiring an —” She stopped, still unable to say the “e” word. “I didn’t want you to think I was some kind of weirdo. I’m not. And I am sorry.
You should keep this.” She offered him the magnet.
His fingers closed over hers, keeping the item in her palm. “It’ll be your birthday someday, right?”
Her eyes lowered in embarrassment at his continued kindness and lack of judgment. She mumbled, “In eight months.” Long after they’d parted and he’d forgotten her.
“In that case,” he said, “there’s no reason to return it. In eight months, the store will probably be sold out of this particular model. The damn thing will be gone forever, then what will you do?”
Her eyes jumped to his.
He let go of her hand and smiled. “You did say it’s exactly what you wanted.”
Holding the magnet to her heart, she murmured, “It’s exactly what I need.”
Something rushed across his eyes as though he didn’t believe her.
“It is,” she said, needing to convince. “Really.”
Smile fading, he regarded her, his expression evolving from gracious gift-giver to a male who required relief as badly as she. “No, it’s not,” he said at last. “This is.” His hand went to the side of her neck. He pulled her close.
Breathless, Adriana slumped into him.
He studied her for a long moment as though to penetrate her thoughts, her soul. And then he claimed her mouth. His tongue probed, it assaulted, punishing her not for lying, but for denying him too long.
Arms curled around his shoulders, she received his savage kiss gladly, adrift in his barely controlled desire and crushing embrace.
He prolonged his domination of her. Readily, she yielded, giving him her all, whimpering in disapproval as he pulled his mouth free.
Breathing heavily, he lifted his head. His low-pitched voice washed over her. “Get naked, Adriana.”
To me, Nathan’s tenderness makes the coming sex scene so much more fulfilling. I’m certain if Adriana could speak for herself, she’d agree.
I'm hosting a scavenger hunt. Four questions will be asked periodically throughout the day (answers found on my site). The first person to email me all four correct answers at tina@tinadonahue.com will win. Winner will be announced Saturday. The contest is open to everyone - however, if the winner is overseas, they can only be eligible for an ebook. I'll send one of the print books to anyone in the US.
I first saw this trailer over at Wendy, The Super Librarian's blog about a post on book trailers. I'm not a big fan of book trailers in general, but after seeing this adorable home made book trailer by historical romance author Tessa Dare, I had to share it.
This is to promote Tessa's upcoming Stud Club Trilogy from Ballantine that will be out, back-to-back in May, June and July. And Tessa proves that using a few children's dolls and toys, can be the best at promoting books. (A woman after my own heart!)
Keep your eye out for the purple horse and a shocking scene with two dolls on a piano!
The Earth of 2023 has been devastated by a series of tsunamis where the majority of the planet is underwater. Kathryn O' Malley, known only as Tsunami Blue, lives on the San Juan Islands near Washington State. She was once a celebrity, who at a very young age, was able to predicting when a killer wave is coming. She now uses her shortwave radio to try and give people fair warning. Blue is all alone with only her dog Max to keep her company since her parents and twin brother where kill by a tsunami nineteen years ago. Blue lives in fear, because pirates called Runners are looking for her. Whoever has the power over Blue, will rule the world.
The day after Christmas, Blue finds an unconscious, drop dead gorgeous man washed up on her beach. Instead of leaving him to die, she helps him recover. Blue is in for a shock when she sees a design of 666 on the handle of a knife he left on the shore. This is a sign of a runner and now Blue will kill him, regardless of her attraction to him. After a fight ensues between them, which she loses, she finds out that his name is Gabriel Black and he has been searching for her for years. Gabriel has been trying to keep Blue hidden from the runners. She now has no choice but to go with him because the runners have found her and are out for blood. Blue has to put her trust in a man who keeps things from her as well as the runners on their tail who will stop at nothing until Blue is theirs.
Gayle Ann Williams'Tsunami Blue is more than your average post apocalyptic story. This is one with a high scenes adventure, suspense and a romance that although has promise, doesn’t deliver all that much because of the overall lack of connection between Gabriel and Blue. Gabriel's reasons for the way he feels for Blue are not all that solid and a bit weak. His survival techniques are also far fetched. He had his moments where I really enjoyed the way he handled Blue and the dangerous situations they find themselves in, but the majority of the time I found the writing to be unfocused. I also couldn't connect with Blue, who comes across as too confrontational and has a habit of repeating herself way too often. She also calls Gabriel, "tough guy" way too much, which grated on my nerves. Their love scenes were rushed and seemed out of place, especially because Blue doesn't trust Gabriel as for as she can throw him. But that still doesn't stop her from enjoying the practicing she and Gabriel do in his bed when there are no bad guys storming his boat.
The scenes where Blue and Gabriel fight to the death do bring forth some thrills and on the edge of your seat action readers can come to expect. The main villain is more cartoonish if anything and the tension and drama came across a bit weak and not all that shocking. More of a shock-light if anything. Tsunami Blue does have a high concept that with a little more depth, could have worked in so many ways. (Love Spell)
One such author who gives in my addictive need for Victorian historical romances is Meredith Duran. Every single book Meredith has published in the past two years have been winners in my eyes. With Wicked Becomes You, Meredith cements my belief that she is one of the most skillful authors of historical romance being published today.
Not many opening lines can pull me into a book like this one:
"England was a wicked bitch who wished him ill."
This is from the view point of Alexander Ramsey, world traveler. He is not a fan of England but has come back to attend the funeral of his best friend, Richard Maudsley, who was killed in Italy. Alex made a promise to watch over Richard's sister Gwen, who is the darling of English society. Alex is more of an outcast due to his sins that are "numerous and novel" but also "heavily fictionalized." Gwen is the complete opposite of him, and because of that, he becomes fixated on her. Alex finds Gwen to be an oddity because behind her smiles and easy going nature, he can sense she's hiding her true nature. He is very curious to learn her secrets and bringing out the "real" Gwen. But in order to do that, he would have to stick around and build a more personal relationship with her. Because Alex isn't comfortable with the relationships he has already, and doesn't want to form new ones, he leaves before he can fall for Gwen's charms even further.
Two years later, Gwen is about to be married to Viscount Thomas Pennington. Gwen has had a bad string of luck with men, since her first fiancé jilted her. Now she thinks she will have the perfect life, being married to a high ranking man who she cares for, and who seems to care for her in return. But Gwen is left literally at the altar after Thomas runs out of the church. Gwen is not only humiliated once again, but Thomas has her father's ring, which was handed down to her brother Richard. After going through the motions where she cries and rages, she comes to the conclusion that she is no longer going to be Miss Mary Sunshine and will follow Thomas across the continent to get back her ring and hopefully do a few outrageous and shocking things while she's at it.
Alex arrives in England after his twin sisters sent him telegrams begging him to come back. Alex's older brother Gerard, the Earl of Weston, has gotten himself into a bind. Gerard sold the family's Cornwall estate called Heverley End to a somewhat unscrupulous gentleman, a Rollo Barrington. Alex has no real love for Heverley End, but since his twin sisters are in a tizzy over it being sold, he will try and get it back from Barrington, who is in Paris. And because Gwen's former fiancé is also rumored to be in Paris, she will follow him there. Alex is not amused, and because he feels he must protect Gwen, he orders to stay put and find a new man to marry. Too bad Alex has no idea that Gwen has a new outlook on life and will do what she wants.
One of Alex's nosy sisters sends him a telegram about Gwen off and running away to Paris with a less than aware chaperone. Alex has no choice but to take Gwen under his wing while he searches for the elusive Barrington. Gwen isn't too happy with Alex being her shadow, but since he is much like a brick wall when it comes to her welfare, and she won't allow Alex to walk all over her, they come to an agreement. Alex will show Gwen more risqué types of fun that a gentlewoman like herself has been missing out on. Gone are the trips to the museum and opera, now it's all about attending the Moulin Rouge and giving people fake names. And when Gwen meets Barrington, Alex figures out a way to get back Heverley End. Gwen is all too willing to help Alex. The rush of it all is a dream come true for her, where not only does she see Alex in a new light, but he finally sees the woman Gwen truly is and one he's certain he can't walk away from when their adventures ends.
Meredith Duran is what I call the anti-wallpaper author. Her stories are so very delightful and thrilling to read. I can't help but compare Wicked Becomes You to the television reality game show, The Amazing Race. Gwen and Alex are not only on a race to find and take back a something that may have been stolen from Alex, but they are racing away from everything that has been instilled in them from birth. Alex is running away from his responsibility and the devotion expected of him from his siblings. Gwen is forced to conform to society's rules and is expected to only find joy in marrying and having a family. She is much like a bird in a gilded cage who wants to break free. And when she does, there is no turning back for her. And there is only one person who really understands her needs, because he has them also.
Gwen and Alex make a great team, a partnership and unit we have seen many times before in Meredith's past novels. Her heroes and heroines are very much on equal footing, and they treat one another as such. At first glance they are adversaries, who grow into a comfortable friendship of sorts that becomes deeper and more intense and eventually leads to the bedroom. Gwen and Alex's love making is so very heated and all consuming. Alex whispers tender words of love into Gwen's ears as they make love that have hidden meanings. When Gwen expressed her concerns where she may not be able to please Alex, he simply says, "Everything about you is right."
Alex has a secret from Gwen that comes out of nowhere and unnecessarily adds a last minute conflict at the end between these two that I felt could have been left out. Other than that small issue on my end, everything about Wicked Becomes You is close to perfect and one excellent, not-to-be missed book. (Pocket)
When I tell people I’ve recently published a vampire romance, they usually want to read it (or at least they’re polite enough to pretend that they do). They ask where they can buy a copy, only to look deflated when they learn that, at present, it’s in ebook form only. These are people who will while away whole weekends on Facebook, in chatrooms, or trolling eBay for bargains. Yet when it comes to ebooks, they won’t even spend five minutes activating a free download of Microsoft Reader (or learning that you can use it without officially activating it).
What’s odd about all this is that I keep hearing that ebooks are taking off everywhere, that ebooks sales have risen something like 175% since last year, and so on. I tend to believe that, since every bookstore now has its own reading device prominently showcased in the middle of the floor, and the number of ebook presses and titles keeps growing on the Web. So why are some otherwise adventurous bookworms reluctant to burrow into this new format?
One issue is the perception that ebooks aren’t “real” books. One friend told me that she read a paranormal romance that seemed not to have been edited or proofread at all. She also mentioned the short length of some titles, feeling that a good storyline should have been developed more (even though other people I asked complained that ebooks were “too long” to read on the screen.) Some people seem to think that there is no acceptance process, and that anyone can upload an ebook, or that authors pay the presses to produce their books. Having gone through the process, I can assure everyone that there are definitely rejections that the books are vigorously edited, and the authors do not pay their publishers (which is the way it should always be). Content-wise, I would say the ebooks can hold their own against the romances to be found in stores. The variety alone gives them an edge, in my opinion.
It also seems that some readers are afraid that they need a special, expensive handheld reader in order to enjoy ebooks. While those devices are appealing, I don’t have one of those special machines, and I have never had a problem opening an ebook file. Netbooks, handheld computers, and even some cell phones with large screens are all popular devices that can handle ebooks. They’re fun to use, too, and can be carried around almost as easily as a paperback book.
I suppose the main obstacle keeping ebooks from full acceptance among romance fans is the lack of a physical product. I’m one of those people who loves sorting through the sale bins at used bookstores, carting home a bunch of books to read, and possibly reselling them at a tag sale or on eBay, using the proceeds to buy new batches. Ebooks have no resale value, which is a concern in these tight economic times. Just this morning, though, I saw a bumper sticker that said it all: “We could have saved the Earth, but we were too damned cheap.” Ebooks are inexpensive, and require no trees to be cut down or trash dumps to hold the ones no one wants. For that reason alone, I hope that more people will give them a try. They don’t necessarily have to start with mine—though I certainly won’t discourage them!
Synopsis: Sebastian and Ruby Morgan arrived in the small seaside town of Darkisle, claiming to be the grandchildren of the reclusive Edgar Morgan, who recently died at the age of 108.
From the beginning, Briana Dempsey has her doubts the Morgans are who and what they claim to be. She is, however, certain of one thing. Sebastian Morgan unnerves her in ways she's never experienced before. His skin is cold, his eyes are hypnotic, and he seems to have no heartbeat. Yet all she can feel when she's with him is an all-consuming fire that fills her with desire.
When a local woman is murdered and Briana is implicated because of her involvement with the Morgans, she must confront the truth about the mysterious man she has fallen in love with. Is he the lover of her dreams, or the architect of her nightmares?
Cassandra Pierce has been a fan of Gothic literature for most of her life, even studying the origins of the genre in college and graduate school. Before long, she got the urge to create paranormal romances of her own and is now hard at work on the second Darkisle novel. When she is not writing, she teaches English at a small New England college and is active in a charity that rescues and rehomes abandoned pets.
The strange, radiant looking Percy Parker and her gang of ghost busters (think of a Victorian Scooby Doo) are back in The Darkly Luminous Fight for PersephoneParker, the sequel to The Strangely Beautiful Tale of Miss Percy Parker by Leanna Renee Hieber. Darkly Luminous takes place a few days after Percy and a group of six, known as The Guard, was able to stop the evil forces responsible for Jack the Ripper stalking London. They must also keep watch over all those nasty type of ghouls and goblins that have escaped the Whisper-world and enjoy causing havoc in London.
The shy and sometimes timid Percy has now found her calling as the seventh member of the Guard that was prophesized decades before. Percy has also found her one true love and soul mate with the leader of the guard, the older, dashing, brooding, "I look mighty sexy and fine wearing my blood red cravat", Professor Alexi Rychman, who also coincidentally teaches at Athens, the school Percy was a student at. This meeting, and eventual relationship between the two, was most likely fate since Percy is the reincarnation of a goddess Alexi was supposed to fall in love with. After Percy has recovered from her injuries in battle, she and Alexi have a, "blink and you miss it" engagement, are married within days, and go off on their honeymoon to enjoy the delights of marital congress with one another. While Percy and Alexi are enjoying this sensual waltz together, the Guard enjoys some down time to reflect on what the future may hold in store for them.
It seems that all is not well within the Whisper-world and on the moral plane. The former head of the Guard, the spirit Beatrice Tipton, appears to the present Guard to warn them that the ruler of the Darkness (ruler of the Whisper-world), wants revenge. Since Percy is the only one who can communicate with ghosts, and they with her, she is called to action. The Guard must prepare for a major battle with The Darkness, who wants to rise up and destroy the land of living, especially Percy who holds the key, or rather is the key to stopping this grave travesty. The Guard is in turmoil because everything they thought they knew, or were told, may have been wrong. There is also some internal stress as well with Rebecca, the Headmistress of Athens, who has always longed for Alexi, but now knows that can never be together, and with the Frenchwoman Josephine and her lover Elijah, who refuses to give her the one thing she wants above all else from him.
Whereas Percy is more than willing to take up arms so to speak, the others are not as willing to make the sacrifice, or allow Percy to do so. Alexi, who adores and loves Percy, even more than his own life, refuses to let her walk into the fires of hell, so to speak. He has just found her, and after his twenty years of waiting and fighting a good fight, he is ready to put aside his responsibilities and enjoy his newly married status. Whereas Alexi only had to watch out for himself and his fellow Guards, who are quiet skilled at not being killed, now there is Percy, who is still thought to be fragile as she tries to adjust to her new life. Percy feels she must do whatever she can to make all the wrongs of the world right. She places herself in danger, and may do more damage then good, including that of her marriage.
Leanna Renee Hieber's writing is so very beautiful; perhaps even more so than her debut with Percy Parker. Leanna has such a skill at writing wonderfully descriptive actions and dialogue. Darkly Luminous is a story you must take your time and read, savor and ingest, because there maybe some passages that may confuse you. The prologue is a bit disjointed, and the downtime from where Percy and Alexi are off on the honeymoon to those scenes with the Guard, as well as what is occurring in the Whisper-world may turn away some readers. But this is needed because it is all about the buildup to the final battle that brings forth some big fireworks.
Whereas The Strangely Beautiful Tale of Miss Percy Parker was more focused on the character of Percy, in Darkly Luminous, we are given more insight on the Guard as individuals and their motivations. Leanna excels at writing this connection these men and women have for one another. My favorite scenes are their interactions and why they all care deeply for one another.
But the main reason for reading Darkly Luminous is the relationship between Percy and Alexi. Talk about one humdinger of a romance! If you weren't certain if Leanna could pull of the older teacher who romances his student angle, you will be astounded by how well it works here. Leanna delivers this and more. Alexi is everything I adore in a hero. He is still very much a brooding stickler, but with Percy, he loosens up a bit, and his tender and protective side comes out. Percy, who was well known as a swooner in the first book, has grown into a more mature woman. She knows how to handle her husband and is sensitive to his nature. And, when these two come together in the intimate sense, meaning their lovemaking, it feels as if you are reading about the communion of souls. The love scenes are tasteful and will make you sigh. Leanna also has a sneaky way of penning The Rychman's love that can be on the naughty side, but still expressed in a very lovely way. A perfect example is an explosion of passion between Percy and Alexi that happens in the school chapel.
Darkly Luminous has a great combination of supernatural, mysticism, and spiritualism. The religious aspect can be heavy at times, but again it does fit the overall tone of the story. One character who grated on my nerves was Beatrice. I couldn't figure if she wanted to help the Guard or hinder them in such a way to suit her own needs. But then as I found myself annoyed, I quickly changed my mind the moment Alexi and Percy appeared. This couple is incredibly engaging, where you can't help but want to know what happens next in their journey.
Leanna Renee Hieber is one author who has a very unique voice that is shown very well in Darkly Luminous. Not only does she have an intricate way with her world building, but her characters are so welcoming, not to mention seductive, mainly in the case of Alexi Rychman, who with one heated glance at his beloved Percy, makes a lover of romance literature like myself swoon in total glee. (Dorchester)
Mho Fho is so very excited to welcome 2009 Prism Award Winner and Barnes & Noble Bestseller, Leanna Renee Hieber. Not only does Mho have a mad crush on Lennna (she did give him an almost exact replica of Alexi's cravat), but we are very happy to be the first stop on Leanna's Darkly Luminous tour to promote, The Darkly Luminous Fight for Persephone Parker, which will be out tomorrow.
Thanks Katie (and Mho) for starting us off! It’s always so great to be here in the company of fellow cravat lovers. Just like last year’s Strangely Beautiful Haunted London Blog tour, we’re continuing with more real ghost stories I use in the Strangely Beautiful series, this time in celebration of the release of the sequel; THE DARKLY LUMINOUS FIGHT FOR PERSEPHONE PARKER! (Releases tomorrow!!)
About the Book: “Death-pale Percy Parker was a beacon for Fate. True love had found her, in the tempestuous form of Professor Alexi Rychman. But her mythic destiny was not complete. Foretold by ghosts with which she alone could converse; a war was coming. Victorian London would be overrun by a spectral host. Yet, within mighty Athens Academy, alongside The Guard who shielded mortals from the agents of the Underworld, she counted herself among friends. Wreathed in hallowed fire, they would stand together, no matter what dreams or nightmares—may come.”
About the Tour: I’ve had a life-long love for the 19th century, England and ghosts. London is alive with history, thriving not only with the pulsing energy of the living, but the restless energy of the dead. When my hero Professor Alexi Rychman and his Guard of spectral police make their rounds, it is to any number of real, documented, familiar London phantasms. Since the sprits are familiar to The Guard, I don’t get the opportunity to tell the complete ghost story. But these tales are too good not to tell in full, spooky splendor. (Special thanks to London ghost and Ripper expert Richard Jones, http://haunted-london.com whose books and tours are my go-to resource).
Day 1 – Highgate Cemetery
We’re back to Highgate again in Darkly Luminous, a vast and beautiful graveyard in the “Garden Style” which is located between the Highwayman-Haunted Hampstead Heath and the forbiddingly attractive grounds of the grand Rychman Estate.
Highgate was founded in 1839 and quickly became the most ‘fashionable’ place for eternal rest. It is indeed the City of the Dead and by the beginning of the 1900s thousands upon thousands found their eternal rest within its 20 hillside acres, and many spirits through the years have been loathe to leave it behind. This time, rather than merely referencing Highgate as I did last book, I decided the place needed some ‘ghostbusting’…
From The Darkly Luminous Fight for Persephone Parker:
“What’s Highgate?” asked Percy.
“The great graveyard, where London’s most fashionable dead are interred. Quite a place to see,” Josephine replied.
The carriages set off, and soon tips of obelisks and angels in the distance heralded Highgate’s approach.
Alexi’s hand was pressed firmly over Percy’s, and he stared ahead with fastidious concentration. A congregation of ghosts glowed just inside the fast-approaching gate.
Alexi helped her down once their carriage pulled to a halt. Visiting hours had long since passed, but Michael held out his hand and the enormous locked gate swung wide. A ring of dead children coiled at the centre, but there was an additional flank of unrest. Adult spirits lined the tall iron gates of Highgate, waiting. Swaying. And speaking. For Percy, there was no bugle call to arms, there was only a torrent of whispers. Percy felt her stomach roil, and she wondered if the head of a cavalry charge felt the same.
“You hear something, don’t you?” Alexi asked, watching her, knowing she was picking up on what he and his group could not.
“They’re all speaking, Alexi, the children, in some sickening rhyme, and the others…Well, the others think you have brought me as an offering. As one of them. But I don’t know what they want.”
“My attention. I’ve been away. These spectral delinquents require the firm hand of a master.” And with that he gestured to The Guard, who darted forward among the grand monuments.
Surrounded by graceful angels, carved mausoleums and fine crosses, a bright, full moon illuminating the scene, Percy couldn’t help but be taken with the eerie light particular to a graveyard; the luminosity of an eternal crossroads.
Her husband lifted a hand toward the children, who suddenly seemed as curious as the adults to see Percy. Tendrils of blue flame snaked forth like ivy from his palm, and he became the great conductor. The transparent adult phantoms squealed and giggled or wailed like banshees, one by one realizing Percy was indeed living flesh. Before they could comment further, Alexi wrapped glowing cords of light around wrists, waists and necks, attaching them in fiery shackles.
The Guard’s power rose; the blue fire crackling forth from their circular conduit, reaching upward in tall flames that tickled the feet of the bobbing young spirits, who sobered, their small eyes angry. “Beware the wrath!” one little girl in a white nightgown called, wagging a finger at Alexi. “He’ll lock you away, he will!”
The other children picked up the taunt. “He’ll lock you all away!”
“Children, I demand that you go to bed this instant!” Rebecca cried, using her best headmistress tone. Alexi followed the admonishment with a renewed swat of blue fire. The spirits screwed up their faces and descended, sinking again into the earth beneath the small gravestones marked with lambs and flowers, floating onward to where Percy did not know. The sight saddened her, but at least it was quiet.
Returning to their carriages, Rebecca addressed only Alexi. “Athens?”
Alexi raised an eyebrow. “Now?”
“I don’t mean to alarm you, Alexi, but what’s happening on the grounds is so…strange. Oughtn’t you come? There are matters—”
“Rebecca, dear, it’s near midnight. Fresh phantasms can await the dawn.”
“Indeed,” said the headmistress, her mouth thinning. She straightened her shoulders and marched off.
Percy watched her retreat. A few paces behind her was Michael, attempting to be noticed. Rebecca deigned to allow him to ride back in the same carriage, and they vanished into its interior. A thought occurred. “You would have gone, wouldn’t you? Before?” she asked Alexi.
“What do you mean?”
“Before our marriage. You would have gone to Athens. Rebecca seemed surprised. Disappointed. I’m all right, Alexi. If you should go, please don’t hold back on my account.”
“I’m taking you home, and that’s final,” he said. The scorching look in his eyes made Percy’s body flood with heat. “We must dole out your supernatural excitement in pieces. I’ll not subject you to more, no matter what may lie in wait at Athens.”
(End of Excerpt)
--
Doesn't Mho look so dashing in his sexy cravat?
Want to win your own signed copy of The Darkly Luminous Fight for Persephone Parker, second in the Strangely Beautiful series? Leave a comment her for Leanna by Thursday 4/29 and you can be one of the lucky ones to wrestle the copy away from Mho. Sorry, only for US residents.
And the saga continues with “A Christmas Carroll”(Strangely Beautiful #2.5) novella in Dorchester’s A Midwinter Fantasy anthology this October! The Darkly Luminous Haunted London Blog Tour continues daily until May 4th! Click here to view the other stops on the tour.
Penguin reprints book, peppered with an error, wants it taken with grain of salt
"The publishing company was forced to pulp and reprint 7000 copies of Pasta Bible last week after a recipe called for "salt and freshly ground black people" – instead of pepper – to be added to the spelt tagliatelle with sardines and prosciutto. The exercise will cost Penguin $20,000, the head of publishing, Bob Sessions, said. At $3300 a letter, it's a pricey typo."
2. You were getting paid $200K for part-time work and still felt that wasn't enough money? What is more a WTF? Getting paid that much or stealing from Danielle Steel? From Mercury News:
"Danielle Steel's former assistant has been sentenced to nearly three years in prison for embezzling more than $760,000 from the romance novelist. Kristy Watts worked for 15 years and earned an annual salary of $200,000 for part-time work that included handling Steel's payroll and accounting.
The 48-year-old pleaded guilty last year to depositing numerous checks made out to "cash" in her own bank account, using the author's credit card rewards points and paying herself more than her salary.
U.S. District Court Judge Vaughn Walker on Tuesday sentenced Watts to two years and nine months in prison.
She has paid the author $969,752 to settle a lawsuit by selling her San Rafael house and its furnishings. Watts is married to a San Francisco Police Department officer and has a 6-year-old daughter."
"As locusts swarm across Australia, folks are finding a way to get back at the insects that devour crops – eat ‘em!
One café in Mildura, northern Victoria state, is offering locusts as a crunchy topping for pizza, CNN affiliate ABC news reports.
The idea for the dish came from the mayor of the town of 60,000, Glen Milne, according to ABC. The politician rounded up locusts in a garbage bag in the town’s center.
The Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations reports that dried locusts are about 62 percent protein and can be prepared in stir fry, roasted or boiled. It even offers a few recipes, pizza not among them.
Man loses license after drink-driving in toy Barbie car. A man who was caught drink-driving in a toy car with a top speed of 4mph has been banned from driving.
Paul Hutton was given a mandatory three-year ban because he had received another drink-drive ban within the past ten years. He was pulled over by police as he drove an electric Barbie car, which moves slower than a mobility scooter, near his home in Essex.
Chairman of the bench Neil Munson said: "This is most unusual."I have never seen the like of it in 15 years on the bench. "The vehicle is not even capable of doing the speed of a mobility scooter and could be outrun by a pedestrian. "Taking this into account, we feel we can impose a sentence of a conditional discharge for a period of 12 months."
The car was confiscated by police until the hearing but Mr Hutton now hopes to get it back.
6. Coming to a DVD near you on May 25th. I give you Death Kappa! Beware the water goblins that look like rejects from a Gozilla movie. From Horror-Movies ca
Synopsis: The kappa, in Japanese folklore, are water goblins that are closely associated with a certain town in the country. Unfortunately, the area is also home to a militant splinter group of researchers dedicated to developing amphibious super soldiers based on the kappa of legends. When their experiments result in murders by some escapees, the appearance of an actual kappa, and the triggering of an atomic bomb, the consequences are of epic proportions. A monster arrives in the midst of the nuclear fallout, and Japan's defenses are helpless against it.
Who is KT Grant? Why that's my pseudonym! And this is my debut novel. Lovestruck is a May/ December Contemporary Lesbian Romance set in New York City.
Synopsis: Jenny Caffey never realized her day from hell would lead to her failing in love with the one woman she shouldn’t- her boss. CEO hotel mogul Barbara Jennings has three months to decide whether to close the hotel or cut costs by firing some of her employees. She meets her much younger employee, Jennifer Caffey and is instantly smitten. Now Barbara has another mission, and that is to seduce the innocent Jenny. Jenny is also attracted to the powerful and beautiful Barbara, but has never really had a steamy love affair with another woman. Jenny unwittingly allows herself to be swept away by her passion for this older woman who may ruin her life....
There were three things I really wanted on my cover.
1. Urban setting
2. Two woman looking seductive or holding one another in a sexy way. (Black push-up bra with boobies!)
3. One must be blonde, the other dark haired to give the readers a good idea what my two main characters look like.
I'm holding off on announcing the official release date for now, but will let the whole world know as soon as I find out.
It is still a work-in-progress. I have posted a few free short stories there if you feel the need to read something different..
I leave you with an (unedited) excerpt to tickle your fancy...
Barbara held Jenny's face in a tight grip and moaned. She wanted to feel Jenny's tongue against her own. "Jenny," she gave her a peck against her mouth. "Please, let me in. Let me make you feel good."
Jenny gripped both her hands as they lay in her lap and opened her mouth. "Yes please." She said ever so politely and touched her tongue against Barbara's.
Barbara let out another moan and caressed her tongue with Jenny's. Jenny inhaled and sighed. She turned her head to the side and Barbara kissed her harder. Both moaned in unison and Jenny reached out and gripped Barbara around her waist.
Barbara released her seat belt and Jenny's. She should have given a quick look out the windows, but didn't care. She was on a mission to make Jenny come, and hoped she would also.
Jenny allowed Barbara to take control of everything. She moaned as Barbara rubbed her cheeks with her thumbs, and her fingers caressed each side of her mouth.
Jenny opened her mouth and latched on to Barbara's.
"Oh Jenny. You undo me." Barbara whispered against Jenny's mouth and moved her face down to suck on Jenny's neck. A jolt of lust went straight down to Jenny's crotch. Jenny placed her hand against herself and grinded against her fingers.
Barbara glanced down to see where Jenny's hand went. She chucked against Jenny's throat and gave her a nip. Jenny flinched.
"That's my job." Barbara whispered and placed her hand on top of Jenny's.
"It hurts so bad. I need. . . I need. . . " Jenny didn't know what she needed.
"I know what you need kiddo." Barbara looked Jenny straight in the eye and gave her another deep kiss.
Do you believe in magic? Chloe Nichols does. As the owner of the New Age store, the Mystic Corner, Chloe has always walked in a world where anything can happen. But she has no idea how potent the Gypsy magic flowing through her veins is, and she is unprepared for the winds of change that Fate is blowing her way. Now, Chloe is waiting for the perfect millisecond to exhale so she can set things straight. Hopefully, all Fate needs is a puff in the right direction…
AWESOME CONTEST ALERT:
Dorechester author, Tracy Madison is celebrating the Month of May in her own special way:
Starting Monday, April 26th and for the next 5 weeks:
Enter to win by commenting on Tracy's daily blog posts – it’s that simple! Only one comment per post per person will be entered to win the weekly giveaways (a total of five entries per person, per week). Each week, Tracy will give away:
One $10 Borders Gift Card (can be used online)
One $5 Caribou Coffee Gift Card (can be used online)
One signed copy of A TASTE OF MAGIC
One signed copy of A STROKE OF MAGIC
One A Breath of Magic mini-gift pack that includes: a tote bag, sticky notes, key chain, bookmark(s), and a signed cover flat.
Winners will be announced each Monday beginning May 3rd and ending on May 31st.
Also...
WEEKLY MAGIC SERIES CONTEST
Beginning Monday, April 26th: Tracy will post one question related to my magic series (encompassing all three books) right here on my blog each day (Monday through Friday only) between April 26 and May 21, 2010. E-mail the correct answer to tracy@tracymadison.com to enter. Up to five entries per week, per person. Only correct answers will be included in this weekly drawing. What’s up for grabs?
* A Breath of Magic (ONE per week, FOUR in total) customized tote bag filled with spiritual/metaphysical items – just like Chloe carries in her store – such as candles, jewelry, tarot decks, pendulums, books, and signed books and/or items from that week’s guest authors (if applicable – guests begin in May), and more! Contents in each week’s bag may vary, so check on my blog each Monday for the exact contents of that week’s bag.
Winners will be announced each Monday beginning May 3rd and ending on May 24th. This contest runs for FOUR weeks.**
MONTH OF MYSTICISM GRAND PRIZE!
Have you ever wanted to write a magic spell? Now is your chance! Whether you decide to bewitch a would-be-lover, hex your arch nemesis, alter the flow of time, create a healing spell, or any other magical charm, spell, or curse you can think of, create a magical enchantment and e-mail to tracy@tracymadison.com with the subject: MAGIC SPELL.
Entries MUST BE RECEIVED between April 26 and May 28, 2010 to be entered to win the grand prize. I will choose my favorite and that person will win a whole bunch of fantastic stuff, including:
* A Breath of Magic customized tote bag filled with spiritual/metaphysical items – just like Chloe carries in her store – such as candles, jewelry, tarot decks, pendulums, books, and signed books and/or items from that week’s guest authors.
* A signed copy of A Taste of Magic, A Stroke of Magic, and A Breath of Magic.
* A name of their choosing, subject to approval from Dorchester editorial, given to a secondary character in my December release, By Magic Alone.
* AND a FREE 30-Minute Reading from Clairvoyant Medium Dakota Lawrence!
Clairvoyant Medium Dakota Lawrence knew at a young age that he was different from other children. With a psychic bloodline that exists on both sides of his family, no one was surprised when he gave his first psychic reading at the age of twelve, or when he entered the professional arena at the age of fifteen. Raised in Louisiana by his mother and grandmother, Dakota learned firsthand how his innate gift can help others.
Now, with more than a decade of experience and more than 8,000 readings to call upon, Dakota Lawrence is a known Paranormal Investigator and lectures all across the United States on topics relating to Psychic Investigation, Paranormal Investigation, Spirit Guide Communication, Spirit Guide Meditation, and Psychic Development. His passion is sharing his knowledge and insight in the hope that he can assist people in understanding their true (soul) purpose in life.
The Grand Prize Winner’s name will be announced on Tracy's blog on Monday, May 31, 2010.
I so want to win the reading with a Clairvoyant Medium!
When Marla contacted me about doing a guest post on my blog, she said three specific things that stood out for me. Marla is an eccentric reader, writer and a Gemini (Just like me!). Plus, she's a professional matchmaker! How cool is that?
Marla's writing credits are amazing. She writes for such online publications as Cougar Candy Store (www.cougarcandystore.com), Commitment (www.commitmentnow.com), Absolutely Fabulous Women (www.abfabwomen.com) and Examiner (www.examiner.com). She was named the “Over 40 Female of the Week” in February, 2010, for Over40Females.com.
The bestselling author of two books, Excuse Me, Your Soul Mate Is Waiting (Hampton Roads Publishing, 2008) and Good Date, Bad Date (Hampton Roads Publishing, 2009), her latest, Diary of a Beverly Hills Matchmaker (Bettie Youngs Books), is now available at bookstores and on Amazon.com.
Ever since I became a professional matchmaker eight years ago people have asked me how I got into the business. I have a unique job for sure. I actually fell into it by chance. My husband had a friend who was taking over the management at a video dating service. She hired me and that job led me to an upscale Beverly Hills Matchmaking service where I became the VP of Matchmaking. A lifelong bookworm and writer at heart, I took the opportunity of everything I learned about dating, men and women’s preferences, and what works on a date etc. and started taking notes with the idea of writing a dating advice book. Meanwhile I met a woman who joined the matchmaking service who was an author of 35 books. I told her about my book idea and she introduced me to her literary agent. He loved the idea and that is how my first book Excuse Me, Your Soul Mate Is Waiting came to be. A year later, my publisher asked me to do a second book so I wrote another dating advice book called Good Date, Bad Date.
I decided that I loved writing so much that I wanted to make it my career, but I was all tapped out with dating advice. A huge fan of chick lit, I decided to try my hand at it. Following in the footsteps of Jen Lancaster and Laurie Notaro, two of my favorite authors, I decided to write a memoir about my life as a Beverly Hills Matchmaker. And voila, my latest book, Diary of a Beverly Hills Matchmaker was just published in March. I am now hard at work on the sequel, which will be out in the spring of 2011.
I am often asked how one should go about getting a book deal. Everyone has a story and it would be a shame not to share it with the world. My best advice is to just go for it. Sit down today and start writing. If you have the idea that you’ll do it someday well, someday will never come. You might be thinking, “But Marla, I am so busy with a full time job, a husband and kids, I never get a moment to myself. "Well, if you can just get up fifteen minutes earlier or go to bed fifteen minutes later and use that time to write one page, in a year you will have more than enough material for a book."
There are two wonderful books that I highly recommend, the first one is, Putting your Passion Into Print by Arielle Eckstut and David Henry Sterry. It is a complete guide to becoming a successful published author; it covers everything from writing the book, getting it published to marketing it.
The second must have book is called, 1001 Ways to Market Your Books by John Kremer. It is 700 pages jam packed with great advice and ideas on innovative ways to market your book.
Diary of a Beverly Hills Matchmaker is available now from Bettie Young Books. *The girl on the cover kind of looks like me, don't you think? *grin**
The inside scoop from the Cupid of Beverly Hills, who has brought together countless couples who have gone on to live happily ever after. But for every success story there are ridiculously funny dating disasters with high-maintenance, out-of-touch, impossible to please, dim-witted clients!
In Diary of a Beverly Hills Matchmaker, Marla takes her readers for a hilarious romp through her days as an L.A. matchmaker and her daily struggles to keep her self-esteem from imploding in a town where looks are everything and money talks. From juggling the demands her out-of-touch clients to trying her best to meet the capricious demands of an insensitive boss to the ups and downs of her own marriage to a Latin husband who doesn't think that she is 'domestic' enough, Marla writes with charm and self-effacement about the universal struggles that all women face in their lives.
Readers will laugh, cringe, and cry as they journey with her through outrageous stories about the indignities of dating in Los Angeles, dealing with overblown egos, vicariously hobnobbing with celebrities, and navigating the wannabe-land of Beverly Hills. In a city where perfection is almost a prerequisite, even Marla can't help but run for the Botox every once in a while.
If you had a chance to work with a professional matchmaker, what three important things would say you are looking for in your ideal mate? Or, what would your perfect date be?
Welcome to the third and final day of the Black Dagger Brotherhood Traveling Skit Tour! Day 1 was over at Smexybooks about Butch and Vishous, Together at last. Day 2 was over at Fiction Vixen and her skit with Z and Bella, the Honeymoon is over. Now it's my turn!
These turn of events take place after the drama at Smexybooks and during Lover Mine (Don't worry, no major spoilers will be spilled)
I give you Rhage and Mary's TGIF One Year Mating Celebration and Other Brother Outtakes!
Mary: Now Rhagiekins, you can't beat up yourself over eating Marissa and Doc Jane. Since I've increased my therapy hours I see this all the time with vampire men, who have been cursed as man eating dragons because they were a whore, and can't change back because of the guilt of eating their friend's mates syndrome.
Mary: Yes Pookie Dragonbunny. After we celebrate out one year mating and enjoy TGIF's wonderful happy hour, I will chain you to our bed and have dirty dragon sex with you.
Rhage: Hurrah Rawr!
Mary: Here comes our waiter! I'm starving for some potato skins!
Phury: Welcome to TGIF's, I'll be your waiter this evening.
Mary: Phury?! You're working at TGIF's? And what's that strange looking man on your shoulder? Is he... smoking?
Phury: Shit! Listen, you have to keep this on the DL from the other guys. I need a part time job ever since I became the Primale to all those Chosen women. And with the stress and all, my Wizard, who makes me more lame than usual is back!
Mary: *Pulls out date book* This calls for a one-on-one therapy session with Doctor Mary!
Meanwhile, back at the mansion...
Qhuinn: Boo Hoo... Blaylock, you polite, sexy redheaded beast can never be mine! WHY?! *chug chug*.
Doc Jane: *Poof* Hey everyone, I'm back from Casperville! Where's my glow worm sex on a stick V? Qhuinn, what's up with this killer emotional grid all over your face?
Qhuinn: *chugs* I can't talk about it. Hang a louie and you'll find V and Butch chillin' in The Pit.
*sings* the thrill is gone, It's gone away from me, The thrill is gone baby, The thrill is gone away from me, Although I'll still live on, But so lonely I'll be. *I'm such a fidiot! Sob Blay*
Doc Jane: *Hangs a louie and into The Pit* Hey Glow V Daddy, I'm back! *Looks on in horror* Dear Phade of the Virgin Scribe Chosen something or other... What's the meaning of this?! And why are you more sparkly than usual?
Vishous: Hey baby. Um... Since you were outtie and enjoying the ghostly side, I was "comforting" Butch over the loss of Marissa. Rhage didn't kill her as we first thought. Because she was so out of it, from almost being ingested by a dragon and crap, she stumbled out in traffic and was hit by a bus.
Butch: *whispers in longing* Marissa! The only woman who truly loved the black goo that lies inside of me!
Vishous *Pat's Butch's head* There, there my lo- my man, place your face deep into my lap and give it a good wiggle, and tell me all about it.
Doc Jane: *ghost ears perk up" Is someone in our shower? *Floats over*
Doc Jane: *shocked* Blaylock?!
Blay: Hey Doc Jane. I would like you to meet me friend-
Mysterious Friend: Shush lover. No one can know who I am until Tuesday. We must keep your tender cherry popping lover affair a secret until then.
Blay: *snuggles close* Did I ever tell you how impeccably dressed you look, especially with that cravat of yours? I love that you are such "a slut, a very classy, very elegant slut".
Mysterious Cravat Wearing Classy Elegant Slut: Tell me more my red hot tamale! *smooches*
Doc Jane: Has everyone gone wacked in this place? Am I the only one not getting any TLC?
Beth: *Slides up to Doc Jane* I've been so lonely since Wrath has become obsessed with his new seeing eye dog Benji. Can you comfort me?
Vishous appears: Hold up! Can I watch?
... and in Wrath's office...
Wrath: Looks like it's just you and me Benji since everyone is getting their sex on. Damn, every time I materialize into a another room, I swear my Ray Ban sunglasses keep growing until they want to take over my head!
And there you have a day in the life of the Black Dagger Brotherhood. To celebrate the release of Lover Mine, I have a hard cover copy to give away to one lucky person. Leave a comment here why you want to win and if you had the chance to do BDB skit, what would you do? You have until Tuesday 4/27 to comment, and sorry, this is only open for USA residents.
Plagiarism:Stealing someone else's published ideas or information and presenting them as your own, without giving proper credit.
Writing a book review is a very personal experience for me. Whether I give a book an A+ grade or an unfortunate F grade, I try and take the time and write the best opinion piece I can create. Sometimes it will take me only an hour, in some cases a few hours, where I will sit there, spending my free time to write a piece of work that in some cases has come deep down inside my soul and can be very draining. *cue dramatic music*
I think a majority of book reviewers feel the same way, and this means the book blogging end to the reviewing websites, and even those well known print publications that hire reviewers and pay them for their reviews
Can you even imagine a person, who says they are a book reviewer, but comes along and reaps what you sow, laying claim to your words that you sat there and penned for hours, so they can reap these awards and the accolades? (their goal most likely is to try and get free books from the publisher and/or author and perhaps gain in popularity and blurbed in a book)
It happens ore often than you can think and it's called blogger plagiarism. And now more than ever it is becoming a big problem. And over the past few weeks, this stealing of people's reviews has been brought up on many other blogs.
I once posted about this back in July, when a blog I visited found out that another blogger copied, or in other words plagiarized a blogger's post almost word for word. As I said then, and I say now:
"Get a clue! Bloggers are writers and every time some jackass blogger thinks it is okay to cope another’s words and call it their own and don’t recognize the source, it is plagiarizing, plain and simple. And to those blogger who plagiarize, don’t act like the victim and tell the one you have insulted that it isn’t a big deal, because it is! I have read about this issue on some blogs where they have had an experience where they their post has been plagiarized. They don’t always call out the blog by name that did it. Some don’t want to talk about it because it leads to drama. You better believe if some asshat blogger tried to plagiarize my words, I would come out with guns blazing. I will drag your name into the mud. One blogger has talked about her own situation with being plagiarized and even called out the blogger that did it. I applaud her for coming forth and posting about it."
A few young adult bloggers noticed some young adult bloggers were "violated", who were victims of having their reviews stolen by other bloggers and posted it on their blogs, where they claimed those words as their own. No names were mention, which if it were me I would have announced the thief and their blog names more times than you can count to "out" them, to show how low down, dirty and pathetic they are. What if publishers look forward to this lying blogger's reviews, where they send the lying blogger a ton of free books? What would a publisher do or say knowing a blogger they think writes great reviews they can use for blurbing purposes, is a plagiarizer? This may also have a ripple effect for book blogging as a whole. One person does something horrible, then the majority may suffer because of it.
But KB, what if these low, down stealing bloggers don’t understand what plagiarism is? They are too young! I'm calling BULLSHIT on that! If Melina, a ten year old blogger who runs Reading Vacation knows what plagiarism is, then a 15 year old… 23 year old… and even a person older than that better know full well about it also. Plagiarism is stealing, plain and simple. I can't even comprehend how someone can actually copy and past someone else's words, and not think there is anything wrong about it.
I was in utter and total shock to see that the review site, All About Romance (AAR) is the victim of plagiarism. And I have to hand it to them because they called the person out and named names. (Since I reviewed at AAR for almost a year, I went to check to see if any of my reviews there were pirated.)
It seems a 23 year old blogger called Queen of Romance, who runs the Ramblings on Romance Blog is this plagiarizer of a majority of AAR reviews. (Not to be confused with Kristi (J)'s Ramblings on Romancethat has been around since 2005. When I saw the Queen of Romance had the title for her blog as the same as Kristi's, a sour taste filled my mouth, because with a simple Google search, Queen would have seen that Ramblings was already taken and could, SHOULD, have come up with a new title for her blog)
Lynn AAR has contacted this blogger after she noticed "The author of this blog is a plagiarist. She claims to read and review romance novels, but many of her “reviews” are actually excerpts from reviews here at AAR – copied without our permission and without attribution to the authors or the site. This plagiarism was brought to our attention by an author who saw these reviews on the blog and recognized them as reviews she had read at AAR. When she notified me of this last week, I checked the blog against our reviews and found that almost every review on that blog was ours."
A perfect example of Queen of Romance stealing an AAR review is Gone too Far by Suzanne Brockman. "Sandy Coleman originally reviewed this book in 2003. The blog put up what the owner passes off as her own review on March 8, 2010. As one can tell from the way that review appears, paragraphs 1-5 match paragraphs 3-7 of the AAR review word for word."
AAR's Gone too Far paragraphs 3-6:
Anxious to find out why his soon-to-be ex-wife Mary Lou hasn't signed the divorce papers sent to her weeks earlier, Lieutenant Sam Starrett is stunned to discover that, instead of a cagey Mary Lou dodging his calls and jerking his chain, her Sarasota home is a murder scene. Though the woman in the house has obviously been dead for weeks, Sam is convinced that the body is that of Mary Lou and not that of the sister who lived with her. But the question tormenting Sam is an even more terrifying one: Where is his young daughter Haley?
A call to the FBI soon brings Special Agent Alyssa Locke onto the scene. Her complex feelings for Sam aside, Alyssa is certain that Sam didn't kill his wife, but convincing others at the Bureau (including Max) is a challenge for even the uber-competent Alyssa. When the body does turn out to be Mary Lou's sister, Sam and Alyssa hit the trail to try and find his missing wife and daughter.
But matters are far more complicated than even Sam realizes. On the other side of the country, Team Sixteen CO Tom Paoletti, relieved of his command following a presidential assassination attempt in which he saved lives but disobeyed Secret Service orders (Into The Night), has been hauled in for questioning by some distinctly creepy government types. The reason for the interrogation? Weapons traced back to an earlier Team Sixteen operation have surfaced in the hands of the terrorist shooters.
So, with Tom facing possible charges on treason and Sam a suspect in a murder, Alyssa finds herself in an unenviable situation. Torn between her duty to the FBI and her certain knowledge that Sam's time is better spent finding Mary Lou (who may be connected to the terrorist attack) than facing days of interrogation, Alyssa makes a critical decision that could put both her career and her heart in danger.
Queen of Romance's Gone too Far paragraphs 2-5:
Anxious to find out why his soon-to-be ex-wife Mary Lou hasn't signed the divorce papers sent to her weeks earlier, Lieutenant Sam Starrett is stunned to discover that, instead of a cagey Mary Lou dodging his calls and jerking his chain, her Sarasota home is a murder scene. Though the woman in the house has obviously been dead for weeks, Sam is convinced that the body is that of Mary Lou and not that of the sister who lived with her. But the question tormenting Sam is an even more terrifying one: Where is his young daughter Haley?
A call to the FBI soon brings Special Agent Alyssa Locke onto the scene. Her complex feelings for Sam aside, Alyssa is certain that Sam didn't kill his wife, but convincing others at the Bureau (including Max) is a challenge for even the uber-competent Alyssa. When the body does turn out to be Mary Lou's sister, Sam and Alyssa hit the trail to try and find his missing wife and daughter.
But matters are far more complicated than even Sam realizes. On the other side of the country, Team Sixteen CO Tom Paoletti, relieved of his command following a presidential assassination attempt in which he saved lives but disobeyed Secret Service orders (Into The Night), has been hauled in for questioning by some distinctly creepy government types. The reason for the interrogation? Weapons traced back to an earlier Team Sixteen operation have surfaced in the hands of the terrorist shooters.
So, with Tom facing possible charges on treason and Sam a suspect in a murder, Alyssa finds herself in an unenviable situation. Torn between her duty to the FBI and her certain knowledge that Sam's time is better spent finding Mary Lou (who may be connected to the terrorist attack) than facing days of interrogation, Alyssa makes a critical decision that could put both her career and her heart in danger.
It seems to me that Queen maybe specifically targeting and posting older AAR's reviews and rearranging the words (not that well to hide her stealing, IMO) because AAR's backlist is so extensive. A person who reads Queen reviews may not put two and two together because these books were released more than 5 years ago. Even Queen's rating guideline's are the exact replica of AAR's!
For Shame Queen of Romance who runs the Ramblings on Romance blog at http://romanceramblings23 blogspot.com/
Serious, what is the point of having a review blog, if you don't write the reviews yourself? Can we say lazy, sad, pathetic and honestly, morally and ethically wrong.
