Your Cute Kitten Moment of Zen

Another cute kitten video has sunk it's claws in to my heart. All together now... AWWWW... can't beat the cuteness ratio for kittens falling asleep.

KB's Hawaiian Adventure Part 1

Lovely Hawaiian sunset from my hotel room

This past week I was away in Maui, Hawaii for my cousin's wedding. I never thought in a million years I would be able to go to one of the Hawaiian islands and was overjoyed that I could go. So on Friday afternoon, I hopped a plane for the official start my Hawaiian adventure. I took a lot of pictures to tell the tale of KB's Adventures in Maui!

To get to Maui, there are various ways to get there. One way is a 10 hour direct flight into Honolulu, where you take a 30 minute small plane ride into Maui. Or you can deal with layovers. I was in the layover category. The first part of my trip was 5 hours out of Newark, NJ and into LAX (Los Angeles, CA) airport where I had an hour layover and then grabbed a flight for the final leg of my journey- another 5 hours plane ride straight into Maui. I was very proud of myself that I didn't go stir crazy. Sitting on a plane for many hours is not a fun thing. And I was on a place where I could plug in my laptop and do some writing.

I arrive in Maui under the cover of darkness late on Friday night around 9pm. Since there is a 6 hour time difference, and I was still on East Coast time, you can imagine how tired I was. My hotel, the Hotel Wailea in Wailea, Maui, HI was about a 30 minute ride away from the airport.

Picture from Hotel Wailea website

Because the Hotel Wailea is one of the more affordable hotels in the area, let's just say my family and I were less the pleased with the accommodations. You really notice a difference when you are down the street from The Four Seasons, only one of two five star hotels in all of Hawaii (The rooms there can cost up to $800 a night as well as renting out your own condo bungaloo for $2000 a night). The Hotel Wailea is a very nice property and the rooms were nice, but the hotel charges you $20 a day for such amenities as parking, shuttle service and internet. We were given all these things BUT the spa was out of order, no fitness center, no bar service at the pool, no snack bar or drinks, meaning no vending machines. So if you were hungry or thirsty, you had to get in a car and drive to a convenience store on the main road. Also there was a promise of a private beach for the Hotel Wailea beach in conjunction with the Grand Wailea resort. But this was a fib. We were allowed on the Grand Wailea Resort's beaches but were not allowed to use their towels, chairs or umbrellas as we first were led to believe. We had to make due with white towels that could barely wrap around your waist, old wooden chairs that looked like that were 80 years old and these old moldy looking orange-white umbrellas.

But even with these issues, the hotel has very nice look to it and you feel as if you are in your own little world:

Front of hotel/ Hotel Pool

Koi fish in the hotel pond

My hotel room is the second story right hand corner

Living Room in hotel /Bedroom (The couch is a pull out couch that I slept on. The hotel only has one bedroom with a king size bed where my parents slept)

The bathroom had a very strange setup. There are no doors to the bathroom and no shower door or cover, as well as a long mirror across from you as you shower! You can watch yourself in the buff as you shower. This is the strangest shower experience I ever had while staying at a hotel. At least the toilet was in another room with a door you can close.

View from hotel balcony. Isn't it beautiful with the Pacific Ocean in the background?

The beaches in Maui are unbelievably gorgeous! On Saturday I hung out on the beach. It has been awhile since I've gone to the beach or sat under the sun. And that day just happened to be the one day of the year where the sun is directly overhead. So you can imagine how a pasty whiter than white redheaded girl with  did in the sun even though she drenched herself in SPF 30. The outcome looks a little like this:

If you look very closely at my chest, you can see the sunburn. My back is ten times redder. So my first day in Maui is where I was burnt to a crisp and splotchy in certain areas on my body that are best left covered.

Can you pronounce that large word above? How about closing your eyes and try to spell it? Can you ever guess what that word means? Here's a hint: it swims in the ocean.

Beware the Maui Tiki gods! They see all and known all!

By late afternoon, we headed back to our room to get ready for the night where we had plans to meet up with my cousin and his fiance, including seeing many familiar faces, as well as new faces, that ranged from family to close friends. We ended up at the Tiki Lounge for some fruity drinks and bar munchies:

Nice refreshing margarita! (This drink cost $8 in comparison to the regular prices drinks in Maui that average anywhere between $12-$15. Alcohol as well as food in Maui is very, very expensive. So if you want to eat well, expect to spend over $30 on a single entree. The Tiki Lounge food was pretty on par with the price I usually pay at home)

KB with the lucky couple- Brian and Michael. Don't we look like the natives with our festive outfits?

My first day in Maui ended with a great day at the beach, a nice burn that I hope will fade into a tan and a get together with wonderful family and friends.

Nothing can compare to seeing a view like the Hawaiian sunset below.

This ends day one of my adventure in Maui. The next post will be about the 12 hour car ride fun around the island known as The Road to Hana, or as some fondly call it, Highway to Hell. And the pictures I took during this trip of the flowers and scenery will blow your mind away.

More to follow...

Support Net Neutrality and Save the Internet

Bloggers take heed...

Can you only imagine if your internet provider or even your government had the right to tell you what websites you can go on? What if they had the power to limit your internet usage and the speed for you to upload a video or a website? There's a good possibility this could happen.

Thanks to Kmont, I found out about the Save the Internet coalition that has two million everyday people who have banded together with thousands of non-profit organizations, businesses and bloggers to protect Internet freedom.

Let's hear it for Net Neutrality! Net Neutrality is the guiding principle that preserves the free and open Internet.

Net Neutrality means that Internet service providers may not discriminate between different kinds of content and applications online. It guarantees a level playing field for all Web sites and Internet technologies.

Net Neutrality is the reason the Internet has driven economic innovation, democratic participation and free speech online. It protects the consumer's right to use any equipment, content, application or service without interference from the network provider. With Net Neutrality, the network's only job is to move data -- not to choose which data to privilege with higher quality service.

This video gives you a better idea of what Net Neutrality is all about. There are some recognizable faces on the video such YA author Maureen Johnson and actor Wil Weaton. (Wil is so adorable, and every time I see him, I think back to my Star Trek: The Next Generation watching days)



Join the almost 2 million people and sign the petition! Let's hear it for the power of the internet and the freedom to watch as many cute kitten videos as you want, including those favorite naughty videos of yours. It's your right and the freedom to have your own blog and visit other sites that bring you joy and a way to share ideas and opinions without censure.

Eternal Kiss of Darkness Book Review *Jeaniene Frost*

When I first heard Jeaniene Frost was going to give the Master Vampire Mencheres a starring role in his own book, I have to admit I was a bit turned off. In my mind, I saw Mencheres as an old, wrinkly vampire who walked around with long robes giving everyone the evil eye. I even raised my concerns to Jeaniene because I really thought of Mencheres as a grandfatherly type who would turn someone into a pile of ash with one thought. When Jeaniene told me Mencheres looks like this:

The delicious Oded Fehr

And could make someone do anything he wanted with his mind, meaning using the old mind mojo in ways a woman couldn't walk, but would have a big smile on her face after some Mencheres mind loving, I then asked, so when in his book coming out?

Jeaniene's vampire character Bones is one of my all time favorite paranormal romance heroes. I really didn't think Mencheres could be as worthy and sexy as Bones is. Oh how wrong I was! Mencheres is not your typical powerful immortal who walks around giving advice and lending a hand when the need arises. He's the type of person, who after surviving for over 4,500 years old, still lives by his own set of morals and even has self-esteem issues. Dare I say that Mencheres is more well rounded and dimensional than Bones? Mencheres may be able to kill someone with a blink of an eye, but this is man hurts and suffers for it. The one woman he loved (his greedy Egyptian Princess wife Patra) betrayed him and tried to destroy all that was good inside of him. Mencheres does live his life on his own terms, but instead of embracing that darkness and ruling over all the weaker undead with an iron fist, he surrounds himself with those who care for him and has made his own close knit family. Now Mencheres has a new outlook on life all due to one plucky woman who was in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Kira Graceling has a crappy job working as a private investigator in Chicago. She basically keeps an eye out on cheating husbands. As she's walking home late one night from her latest job, she comes across a man being attacked. She tries to save him and is almost killed in the process. The man is Mencheres, who was in the middle of battling a few nasty ghouls due to his old enemy, Radje, who hides behind his role as a Vampire Law Guardian. Mencheres would love nothing more than to get rid of Radje, but if he does, he'll be marked for death and not even his own god defying powers can save him.

Mencheres saves Kira from death with a little vampire TLC, meaning giving Kira his blood to drink. Mencheres brings Kira home to recover, and when she awakens she's told that she can't leave. It seems Kira is immune to Mencheres' power. Kira is angry and refuses to be kept in some golden palace with the very handsome Mencheres. He's all out of sorts because most people cower before him, but not Kira. Mencheres and Kira come to an agreement, where she'll stay with him until she is susceptible to his mind powers. Kira is more than worried because she has a very sick sister to take care of and a drug addicted loser of a brother who only comes around for money. As Mencheres gets to know Kira better, he decides he can't keep her with him, even though he feels at peace with her around. His next decision regarding Kira starts a change of unfortunate events for her. Radje has forced his hand and Kira is the collateral damage.

Eternal Kiss of Darkness (Night Huntress World, Book #2) is perfect for fans of smoldering, angsty vampire heroes and the dangerous world they inhabit. Mencheres does dance the angsty mambo from time to time, but Jeaniene makes sure he's not going to walk into the sunlight just because he is all guilt stricken. Mencheres enjoys the lifestyle he has grown accustomed to, and is much like a vampire dictator, but a very merciful one. This is one vampire who is very respectful and doesn't cross lines, especially when it comes to Kira. Kira comes from the life of hard knocks and even though she and Mencheres are two totally different people, they mesh together perfectly. Kira can be a bit too vocal at times, where I wanted to tune her off, and she tends to go off without any concern for her safety. But when her life is turned upside down because of Mencheres, she handles it in a realistic manner.

The chemistry and sexual tension between Mencheres and Kira is hot. Mencheres takes cradle rocking to a whole new level. After reading Eternal Kiss of Darkness, you'll come to think of Disneyland in an entirely different way. Jeaniene brings the vampire sex kink to the happiest place on earth with wonderful results. Mencheres is not only skilled with some fun against a wall, but he also puts the ceiling above to good use.

Reading a Jeaniene Frost novel is like coming home to old friends. Mencheres' tender and loving nature, as well as his way of taking control of a situation, both in battle and in the bedroom (or in the underground caverns of Disney) makes for fun reading. Eternal Kiss of Darkness is a solid read all around and I look forward to more adventures between Mencheres and Kira. (Avon)

Final Grade: B

And if you are still on the fence whether to pick up this latest from Jeaniene, I must highlight one of the best quotes I've read this year, and all the Chapter 32 fanatics will love. Jeaniene really does come up with the best one-liners:

"Kira knew that his tongue felt like a vibrator set to the speed of Oh Hell Yeah."

A few other Eternal Kiss of Darkness reviews:
Smexy Books
Smokin'Hot Books
Wicked Book Addict

The Lord of the White Hell Advanced Book Review *Ginn Hale*

*Review originally posted at the DIK blog*

There aren't many books I consider to be epic masterpieces. When an author writes a book that will be labeled as such, and knowing that have achieved a deep emotional response from a reader, that is where they deserve a major pat on the back. This is where a reader will finish reading the last page and finally release a deep breath they have been holding inside because they have been on the edge of their seat the entire time. And, they will most likely go back and re-read it all over again.

An author who has written such a book has truly accomplished something incredible.

That book is Lord of the White Hell: Book One by Ginn Hale.

Ginn has written a story of wonderment that has amazing world building and not to be forgotten characters. Lord of the White Hell will astound you. This is an adult read with a gay romance, but also has a feel of a fantasy young adult book. The main protagonist is seventeen-year-old Kiram, who is given the chance of the lifetime in attending the very affluent Cadeleonian Academy. Kiram is not a Cadeleonian, but is Haldim. Because Kiram is from a different race, he's looked down upon and is a victim of bigotry. Kiram is a very skilled as a machinist and his father is a well known candy maker. Kiram knows he won't fit in, but will try his best to excel, seeing as no full-blooded Haldim has ever been accepted into the school.

Kiram ends up being roommates with Javier Tornesal, duke of Rauma, who will be his mentor of sorts. Javier is well respected, admired and equally feared not only because of his station in life but because he has a deadly curse living inside of him. This curse is known as the white hell and through punishment by the hands of the school priest and deep physical and mental spiritual mediation, Javier can keep it under control.

Kiram doesn't believe all this hell nonsense because his religious beliefs are very different from the Caledonians. His is intrigued by Javier, more than he would like to admit. Javier is very handsome and gives off this vibe of entitlement and power. When the two men are first introduced, Javier does his best to seduce Kiram. Even though some of the students do have affairs at the school, it isn't acknowledged, but kept as a dirty secret. Kiram comes from a culture where men can be together out in the open, so this is a culture shock. He refuses to be one of Javier's playthings and used in such a demoralizing way.

Javier keeps his distance, but is always watching Kiram as they both maneuver around the school. Kiram is the subject of some scorn from his students and a few teachers, but he finds acceptance with Javier's simple cousin Fedeles and Nestor, who is very friendly and looks up to him. Kiram and Javier eventually become close, where Javier takes on the role as Kiram's protector and guide. And because Kiram's feelings for Javier have grown, he welcomes any interaction and attention Javier throws his way.

Soon Kiram joins Javier's cliché, known as the Hellions, who pal around together and end up at the local brothels. Kiram doesn't like this side of the Hellions and of Javier, who always goes along with them. He is very confused because Javier looks upon him with great desire and seems to be very jealous, especially when Kiram mentions an old lover back at home. No one else seems to be aware of the attraction these two have for each other and they can barely keep it in check.

Then Kiram's uncle comes for a visit during an annual tournament and brings warnings. He wants Kiram to leave the school and come back home for his protection. Kiram refuses because he wants to remain with Javier. After some investigation, they figure out that Javier's curse is not what it seems and perhaps someone wants to kill Javier and gain a great reward.

It's so hard to explain why Lord of the White Hell is a remarkable book. Compelling, well written, romantic and thrilling are just a few words to describe this latest by Ginn Hale. There is great balance in regards to the world Ginn has created, mainly with the relationship between Kiram and Javier. Their romance is written in such a way that those who may not be comfortable with a male/male attraction will not mind in the least. Ginn has a wonderful way of building up a connection between these two and you can't help but want them to be together.

The magical side of things is a downplayed and I really was expecting Javier's release of the white hell everyone keeps mentioning. I assume this will come more into play in the sequel (Book 2) that will be out in September. The ending will have you anxious for the next book, which is played very well on Ginn's part.

There is so much more to recommend about Lord of the White Hell. Magical and remarkable is what Ginn Hale has accomplished here. And unless another book comes along and blows my mind away, I can say with utmost certainty that Lord of the White Hell will most likely end up being my favorite book for 2010. (Available from Blind Eyed Books on August 15th)

Final Grade: A+

A few other Lord of the White Hell reviews:
Rain of the Roof
Reviews by Jessewave
Tracy's Place

Lord of the White Hell: Book 2 will be released on September 15th.

Guest Post: Smexy Mandi's Adoration for Indiana Jones

While Katie is off on the luxurious beaches of Hawaii (I’m not jealous, really) I thought I would pop on over here and have a little chat. Katie suggested I talk about some of my favorite heroes in books and who would play them in real life. But as I thought about it, first – real life is no fun. Second, I have a character that is so versatile, I feel like he could conquer many roles and many men in my beloved books. This man – Indiana Jones.

And no, I don’t mean Harrison Ford. Indy and I have had a long-term love affair. It all started when my parents purchased Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom on Pay Per View when I was a young teenager. We had the movie for 24 hours and I think I may have watched it the entire time. By the next day I was able to sit with a notebook and write out the entire script, word for word for about the first hour of the movie. Indiana Jones soon became my favorite hero, and I still enjoy him very much today.

So let’s break Indy down. First, he is a scholar. He cleans up very well. This is beneficial when playing more of the historical roles. Dare I see him as a hero in a Tessa Dare book? Or even as Mac in Lady Isabella’s Scandalous Marriage? Drape him in a kilt, throw in that Scottish accent, and oh yes, Indy is suddenly a Mackenzie.

But like I said – Indy is a versatile character. Rough him up a bit, let that hairy chest peek through, and he could star in many PNRs. Put him in scrubs and – hello! He could be Larissa Ione’s sex demon Eidolon. Throw him in a leather jacket and he could walk the streets was a dark hunter from Sherrilyn Kenyon’s series. Maybe Kyrian or Talon. Or he could put his stern face on and be Detective Donovan Caine in Jennifer Estep’s Elemental Assassin series. He has that quick wit and devastating smile that is sure to win the ladies over.

I could go on and on. I haven’t even got to the shifters yet. Nor have we discussed the many uses for his big whip.

Are you a fan of Indiana Jones? Do you have a fictional character that you insert into many roles?

You can Find Mandi and all things smexy over at her blog Smexy Books or on Twitter: @smexybooks

KB's Maui Hawaiian Adventure So Far...

Only a small taste of what I've enjoyed during my stay in Maui, Hawaii...

Sunset from my hotel room

One of the many Maui state park beaches:

The Hawaiian island of Maui may possibly be one of the most beautiful places I've ever been to.

Just wait until I post all my fun and the pictures I've taken. This Jersey girl doesn't want to leave!

Into the Crossfire Book Review *Lisa Marie Rice*

Lisa Marie Rice has a specific formula to most of her books. Her heroes are very alpha males who have had horrible pasts and are usually retired from the Navy or Army. They end up going undercover to take down very evil bad guys who would torture someone's grandmother to get what they wanted. The hero becomes fixated on the heroine so much so that he can't think of anything else and he's sexually frustrated 24/7. He keeps watch over the heroine, who he feels the need to protect and take care of. He always comes to her rescue, feeds her and then takes her back to his place in under a twenty-four hour period for some hot, messy sex that turns the heroine's muscles to mush where she still wants more even though she's now Gumby.

Into the Crossfire, the first book in Lisa's Protectors series, has this strange sense of déjà vu because of this LMR formula. Sam Reston is a former Navy Seal who works undercover, taking down sex traffickers, drug cartel thugs, you name it. Sam "made his living as a soldier leading hard men, and now as a civilian he made his living being tougher than most." Sam is hard and tough all over (another LMR trademark hero) and has no room for any softness in his life. But, that all changes when he spots Nicole Pearce, the most beautiful woman in the world and his "personal wet dream". Everything about Nicole screams class and elegance, the very opposite of what Sam is. Nicole has an office in the same building in downtown San Diego as Sam does, but she keeps her distance from him because she thinks he's shady.

An opportunity arises for Sam to meet Nicole and talk to her. He helps her out of a sticky situation and explains who he is, why he's dresses the way he does and that he's the owner of a security company. Nicole changes her opinion about Sam very quickly and because she's strangely attracted to him, she accepts his dinner invitation.

Nicole has given up so much to come back home and take care of her dying father. She once lived a life of privilege with loving parents who worked at the UN in Geneva. She's now trying to make her fledging translation business a success. She barely has the time or money to go out on dates, but since Sam makes her so aroused, she decides, why not have a nice meal and some romance?

Sam isn't necessarily the type to wine and dine a woman. He has very underused courting skills. But over dinner he and Nicole connect, and then she accepts another invitation. This one is to go back home with him for a night of hot loving. Nicole is overwhelmed by the way her body responds to Sam, so much so that she almost passes out from the intense pleasure of it all. Sam wants to beat his chest and scream his happiness to the sky because Nicole is the one. But first he has to convince her that they should be together forever as well as keep her safe from a group of dangerous terrorists who are headed to New York with radioactive bombs. Nicole is sent these plans by no choice of her own and is then marked for death. It's up to Sam and his two foster brothers to keep her and her father safe and to stop a massive terrorist attack.

Into the Crossfire occurs over a very short time; only a few days. In that time period there's a lot of sex and violence. Sam is a man any woman would wish by her side. He's the dark silent type who is always in control of every situation, no matter how dangerous it may be. But when a slip of a woman, he's so far gone over, enters the picture, his whole world is turned upside down. Nicole seems fragile at first but is very strong and intelligent. She is also loyal and caring, mainly in regards to her father.

The attraction Sam and Nicole have for one another is intense, fast and semi-erotic. I've said this before, but Lisa writes some of the hottest missionary sex I've ever read, although this time she takes it one step further with the way Sam enjoys giving pleasure to Nicole with his mouth. Also, I must note that not once do these two wear any protection. Nicole mentions in passing how she's on the pill, and even though she has just met Sam, who she did think was a thug, she doesn't mind wrapping her legs around his waist and ride him for all he's worth as he tears off her panties in a fit of lust.

The bad guys and so very eviillll… (insert Dr. Evil from Austin Powers here) and I was more concerned with the dynamics of how Nicole and Sam would work things out between them versus the whole, let's destroy the world plot.

Some of the actions and description are borderline silly including the way Sam constantly wants Nicole too the point of near madness. But yet, I wanted more. I can't get enough of Lisa Marie Rice. Her books are like a big gooey chocolate bar that makes you moan as you eat it. Into the Crossfire fed my need for brooding heroes who worship their angel like heroines with respect and hot, sweaty sex. Lisa Marie Rice is my guilty pleasure reading that always has me wanting more. (Avon A)

Final Grade: B

Jane Austen's Rumble!

Regency Fight Club Ya'll! Edward Norton and Brad Pitt have nothing on these ladies!

Debut Author Highlight Interiew: Kelly Yeakle

Next week is the launch of the new epublisher, Decadent Publishing, with whom I have a release coming out. I wanted to show off, Kelly Yeakle, one of the debut authors of Decadent. I first met Kelly last year when I took part of a few writing contests on Textnovel.com. Because of that experience, I met Kelly and since then we have been communicating through emails and Facebook.

I was so very happy for Kelly when she submitted, The Legacy Keeper's Treasure to Decadent Publishing and she was accepted. The Legacy Keeper's Treasure will be available to purchase on August 1st.

KB: Tell us a bit about yourself.

Kelly: I was born and raised in the Hagerstown, MD. I'm the oldest of three girls, imagine living in that house, haha. I'm a mother of three, Dakota 6, and the twins Jocelyn and Talen will be 4 next month. I've been married almost 8 years. I love having fun, being goofy, and spending time with my family. Fall is my favorite season, and I'm an Aquarius.

KB: You have some big news to announce in regards to you writing. Mind sharing what it is?

Kelly: I just received my first publishing contract with Decadent Publishing company for my novel The Legacy Keeper's Treasure. I'm still floating up in the clouds somewhere from my excitement! :)

KB: What's The Legacy Keeper's Treasure about?

Kelly: The Legacy Keeper's Treasure is a paranormal romance. Alexa goes to Ireland, hired to find treasure that no one else has been able to for centuries. She meets Liam, who she thinks is the hired help around Castle O'Shea, but later learns he is actually the heir to the fortune she's hunting. Being lied to is not something that makes her happy and his omission about who he is pisses her off. Then she gets a visit from her best friend, who just so happens to be a guy, and Liam thinks she is the one who has been lying all along. A little turmoil in the romance department to keep the story flowing! I can't tell you how it ends though. You'll have to go to Decadent Publishing's website on August 1st to find out!

KB: What made you decide to get involved in Textnovel.com. Do you feel it's a great way to promote yourself and improve your writing?

Kelly: I met a friend through Vampire Wars on Facebook and after talking back and forth discovered we were both writers. She shared the Textnovel site with me and I gave it a try. I love that I can write about anything and post it on there to share with the world. I love getting feedback on my writing, good or bad, to help me grow.

KB: Do you feel that on-line social medias such as Facebook and Twitter can help you gain reader and promote yourself?

Kelly: I'm a Facebookaholic, and manic Twitterer! I think social networking sites are great ways to make new friends, promote yourself, and get attention.

KB: What are you working on now?

Kelly: I'm currently working on two novels. One, currently titled Dreams Don't Lie was the first full length novel I ever wrote. I'm going back now and editing, trying to beef it up to get it ready for publishers hopefully within the next six months. The second, something new I'm trying out, is an erotic novel about vampires. I'm excited because this one is flowing really well for me so far!

KB: What's your writing schedule like?

Kelly: I don't have a set writing schedule, but I do tend to find myself planted in the computer chair from about 8:30-11:30 most nights while the kids are tucked in bed and my hubby is working. I get my best ideas in the shower though...think someone needs to invent a waterproof laptop!

KB: What are some of your favorite books or authors to read?

Kelly: I love reading, and it's hard to choose my favorites, but some authors I find myself picking up more than others are Nora Roberts, Rachel Caine, and Charlaine Harris.

KB: What does the future hold for Kelly Yeakle?

Kelly: I hope the future continues to hold good things for me. I don't plan to stop writing anytime soon! I plan on continuing to meet other authors, I'm saving up to attend the Romantic Times Convention in LA in 2011, and I'm hoping the two novels I'm working on get picked up by a publisher within the next year.

Little teaser from Chapter 1 from The Legacy Keeper's Treasure....

The wind whipped fiercely against the windows, rattling the glass. Quinn sat waiting for the perfect moment to slip from his bed chamber. Timing was everything when you didn’t want to be caught doing something you shouldn’t be doing.

Quinn crept quietly into the hall, his night robes flowing behind him. His bare feet feeling every crevice in the cool stone beneath them as he descended the huge spiral staircase that would take him to the main level of the castle. If not for his mother’s irritating rules, he wouldn’t need to sneak around.

Katherine stood waiting at the bottom of the stairs, her long black hair hanging in wild curls from the humidity of the storm that was brewing outside the castle walls. Her emerald eyes lit up at the sight of him. Her milky skin glowed from the soft touches of candlelight coming from the torches strategically placed around the main corridor to ward off intruders.

The sight of her was always breathtaking. Quinn quickened his pace down the few remaining stairs until he was standing in front of her, his lovely Katherine Rose. He laid his hand upon her cheek and pulled her against his breast.

She smelled of lavender, so sweet. It felt good to be with her alone, away from the prying eyes of the castle staff. She was his own personal potion, a calming drug in the world of chaos in which he lived on a daily basis.

Quinn lifted her chin so their eyes met. He planted a gentle kiss on her lips. When he pulled back he could see the love for him radiating off her, transparent in the crimson color that now decorated her cheeks.

“Quinn,” she began her heart racing, “take me someplace safe.”

The look in her eyes told him she was his for the taking. After months of secret rendezvous, he would taste more than her lips. A slow burn began in his groin.

Before she could have the chance to change her mind, he led her to the library. It was the furthest room back the long corridor on the main floor, away from the servants quarters. No one else would come there at night.

The library was the largest room on the lower level with the exception of the massive kitchen. Its shelves were stocked with books from the floor to the ceiling providing a perfect hiding place for lovers. If Katherine’s wish was to be safe, he couldn’t think of any other place in the castle more safe than the library.

Katherine always imagined her first time with a man to be on her wedding night, after vows were exchanged. The castle library did not scream out romance, but with Quinn it didn’t matter where they were. He was what she wanted, what she craved and she was madly in love with him despite the difference in their social status.

Quinn pulled her against him again, ravishing her mouth with his. When his hand slipped beneath her night gown to cup her breast she let out a soft moan, her body clay beneath his roaming fingers.

“Are you sure you want this,” he said his breath hot against her neck.

“Yes, you are all I’ll ever want.”

“Katherine, I love you,” his voice was like velvet when he said her name.

“I love you too.”

You can find Kelly at her blog, Kelly's Writer's Block, on Facebook and at Twitter: @KYeakle27

WTFckery Or Not? You Decide

Even though I'm away there's always time for a few WTFckery to "tickle" your fancy...

1. No description needed. And yes, it's available for purchase at Amazon. Thanks to Yummy Men and Kick Ass Chicks

Sexy and inspiring... honest and provocative... candid and exciting, TICKLE HIS PICKLE informs, entertains and reveals the penis secrets women long to know.Perfect to rekindle passion, reawaken romance and revive red-hot sex, this unique penis-lovin’ guide is bursting with: - Over 50 sizzling techniques to master oral lovemaking

2. A donkey who enjoys beer? From NT news:

Jens Waldenmayer and 'Donkey', who has a taste for the amber fluid. 

"After a long day in the paddock Jens Waldenmayer's donkey likes nothing better than to kick back with a cold beer. Known simply as 'Donkey' Mr Waldenmayer's pet is famous among residents of Spencer Road at Darwin River for his partiality for a Light Ice. Donkey's beer drinking started about a year and a half ago after he wandered over to a neighbour's property to chew the grass with a couple horses.Neighbour Vance Wolff went to give Donkey a pat, but the cheeky creature went for his beer. Mr Wolff gave Donkey a few sips and the habit stuck. Now Mr Waldenmayer gives Donkey a beer every second day. "He drinks Light Ice or XXXX, he is not fussy," Mr Waldenmayer said.

3. This has to be a joke. Stripper poles for the retired? From Geekologie:

"There's the $115 Cushion-Grip Security Pole Mobility Aid. One reviewer says: "The user needs this device to assist in getting in and out of bed safely. It has a nice cushion grip, is attractive, and easy to install. It is not as sturdy as I would have hoped it would be. It wiggles a bit in the middle and that makes me a bit nervous."

4. Apparently Lady Gaga is quite the artist. From Vogue:

actual picture of Gaga's urinal art

"Lady Gaga made a surprise appearance at the SHOWstudio.com Shop late last month bringing with her, her own piece of art - a urinal. The unexpected delivery was presented at the private view of Inside/Out - the store's latest exhibition. The offering has been aptly named Armitage Shanks and is not for sale. It is thought to be a playful acknowledgement of Duchamp's enduring influence."

5. I bet these people are walking tall after surviving a 40 ton whale that got a little too close for comfort. If this happened eo me, you bet I would walk around and say, "I'm the king of the word. Why? Because I survived a 40 ton whale attack. From Bits and Pieces:

"A South African couple was out sailing near the country’s infamous Robben Island when a 40-ton whale breached and crash-landed on their yacht.

“We were watching the whale flipping its tail for about half an hour,” said Cape Town Sailing Academy Administrator Paloma Werner, who was enjoying a Sunday sail with her boyfriend and sailing instructor, Ralph Mothes. “It reached about 100 to 200 meters from us, then it disappeared under water and reappeared about 10 to 20 meters from the boat, but we didn’t think we were on a collision course,” she told MSNBC.

“All I heard him say was ‘Oh shit,’ and I saw the whale come out of the water and crash against the mast of the boat.

The whale crushed the mast and did a lot of damage to the yacht. The whale then swam away.

6. This cat cake looks like it was run over by a car. Poor thing is missing its neck. O.o. From Cakewrecks:

7. You know you want the Maywa Denki Otamatone Music Instrument. Isn't he just the cutest little thing?

Description: Most musical instruments don't have faces. It's a shame, really, as almost everything can be made better with a cute face. Well, fear not friends, as we've found one of the cutest musical instruments ever - and it has a face! It's straight from Japan, and it's called the Otamatone Electronic Instrument. We'll give you a little idea of how this adorable thing works, we'll show you a little video of it in action, and then we'll set you off on your merry way to sing your own songs. Ok, so in theory, playing the Otamatone Electronic Instrument is unbelievably easy. You place your finger on the stem to select the pitch. To get vibrato (or any sort of wah-wah effects), you just squeeze the note's rubber cheeks repeatedly. This will open and close the little dude's mouth. Now, we did say easy in theory. That's because the strip on the stem has no pitch labels or frets, so you really have to have a good ear. That said, you can easily just slide between notes, both for ease of playing and for even more musical effect. The Otamatone Electronic Instrument is wacky, adorable, distinctive, and can be a great instrument for some unique electronic performances.

And this short video proves how divine sounding the Otamatone is:

8. And your Regretsy WTFckery belongs to an adorable dog who is the victim of a very interesting $20 scarf.

Description: Initially this was a request, but I could not help but make more! Can be made for any breed of dog, large or small. You can also choose to have Cream OR Chocolate colored boobs, with Pink OR Tan nipples!

When you pay, please let me know the breed of your dog, and their measurement from the top of their head to the floor.

Made from super soft fleece, lightly stuffed with poly-fil to give shape, this will make your pooch warm and cozy with NO scratchies! I have stitched this right above the breasts so that the scarf will easily slip over their heads, and ensures it will stay on!

Enjoy this week's WTFckery...