Comment for Charity!

Had to mention...comment before midnight of December 31st at NYT-bestselling author Yasmine Galenorn's Life on the Fringe and she will donate $1 to the Northwest Harvest and Meow Cat Rescue! Her goal is 250 commenters - $500 to charity! It's so easy, just hop on over to her blog and tell her about your holiday experience to support two great causes!

Happy New Year!

My 2010 Horoscope

Taurus Year 2010 Overview



Taurus always gets tagged with things like "pleasure-seeking" and "materialistic." That's probably unfair, in most cases. You're just as good at dishing out the pleasure as you are at seeking it, and who doesn't like a few nice things around? Sadly, there's been just too much struggle in your life the last couple of years when it comes to those two very important parts of your life. Thankfully, 2010 marks the end of that long uphill struggle. Your pleasurable pursuits have been a little more restricted than you'd like over the course of the last two years or so. That's over with now, so ... game on!

The big events this year will not so much be a matter of major happenings as they will be things that have been in the works and are slowly revealing themselves. In the last two years, you've put a lot of work into what makes you happy, while Saturn transited your solar Fifth House. Now that those pressures are finally being relieved, you'll find you are finally gaining traction. Certainly, your love life and your career will feel the difference, but beyond that you'll notice things going a lot better in other departments of your life. You may have already noticed some of these changes starting to kick in; the real results start happening around your birthday in 2010.

I love reading my horoscope, especially now that I have begun in-depth research on the zodiac for an upcoming paranormal series. And...hm...I don't think I'm all that pleasure-seeking or materialistic. Though, true to Taurus characteristics, I am resistant to change. And I am told I grow horns when having a tantrum. Oh, and I thought the Reasons You're A Taurus (seen above) was fitting, too. I don't know who came up with this...and I'm not admit to any of the following. Haha.



10. One Word - Stubborn

9. Your motto: Better to fight than switch.

8. You love practical shoes. ALW: Will be wearing my cowgirl boots all January. I think those count.
7. We always know what you'll do.
6. You work too hard.
5. You've never won the "tactful" award.
4. You'll eat anything.
3. Giving up is a foreign concept. ALW: I like this one.
2. You're oh so romantic. ALW: And this one.
1. You were born under the sign of the bull!
To view your 2010 Horoscope before the new year, visit Yahoo Shine!



And don't forget to check back in on New Years Day for an exciting giveaway and post from Alison Kent to kickoff Cowboy Lovin'!

And good news on the coming soon front: the third book in my western romance trilogy, Bet It On My Heart, now has a gorgeous cover (thanks to TWRP artist Tamra Westberry) and galleys have been sent off to production. My editor tells me I should expect a release date soon. Looks like it will be a late February/early March launch so readers of Bluest Heart won't have to wait long for the complete Ridge family saga! Yay!!!

January's Cowboy Lovin'

New Years is almost here and those of you here at The Cozy Page know what that means: 30 Days of Cowboy Lovin'. It begins on New Years Day with the first in an awesome western author line-up - Alison Kent! It continues with cowboy excerpts, eye candy, Tuesday round robins, and tons of great western giveaways!

And while we're on the subject, on January 6th be here for the launch of Bluest Heart, the anticipated sequel to 1st Place More Than Magic Novella Blackest Heart. Also be the first to get a glimspe of the final story in the Ridge cowboy trilogy, Bet It On My Heart!

I'll also be making the web rounds for my Bluest Heart book tour, which means even more giveaways. Check back in for appearances!

Hope to see everyone on January 1st with Alison Kent and Cowboy Lovin'!

Happy New Year!!!

2009 Favorites...

Since I'm continuing my Christmas countdown, instead of looking forward today I'm going to look back over all the great romances I read this year. I'm behind on my TBR pile (er..make that mountain) so many of the books I read were published in previous years. Several favorites stuck out. Here they are:





GENRE FAVORITES...



Contemporary - Lucky Charm by Carly Phillips



Historical - The Conqueror by Kris Kennedy



Paranormal - Lover Avenged by J.R. Ward



Suspense - Awaken to Danger by Catherine Mann



Sci-Fi/Futuristic - Grimspace by Ann Aguirre *This book is categorized as science fiction but it does have strong romantic elements*








FAVORITE MOMENTS...



Hero - Shade (from Larissa Ione's Desire Unchained)



Heroine - Sirantha Jax (from Ann Aguirre's Grimspace)



First Words - Fantasy Lover by Sherrilyn Kenyon



Banter - Dragon Actually by G.A. Aiken



First Kiss - Vision in White by Nora Roberts



Love Scene - Lover Avenged by J.R. Ward



HEA - Passion Unleashed by Larissa Ione



Plot Climax - Nightkeepers by Jessica Anderson

GENERAL FAVORITES...

Author - Larissa Ione

Author to Watch - Erin Quinn, Sasha White & Diane Gaston

Story Concept - J.R. Ward's Covet

Anthology - Diamonds of Welbourne Manor by Diane Gaston, Deb Marlowe & Amanda McCabe

Re-Read - Hotter After Midnight by Cynthia Eden

Series - J.R. Ward's Black Dagger Brotherhood & J.D. Robb's In Death *second year running for BDB and third year running for ID*

Slapping Myself Because I Should Have Read - Gena Showalter & Elizabeth Hoyt

All right, readers - it's your turn! What are your 2009 favorites? What books and/or moments stuck out to you in romance genre this year?

Tuesday Show & Tell

The next holiday-themed post will go up Thursday morning. Until then, I wanted to do a little round of show and tell. This past weekend, I went to my RWA chapter's Christmas party at author Cynthia Eden's house. I had an absolute blast and the hub found out not all my friends are imaginary. While we were enjoying the festivities, I got a pleasant surprise when President Amanda Collins presented a beautiful "First Book Award" to me. I had to share! The beautiful wooden case opens like a book to reveal an engraving complete with pen name, book title, and date of publication on the left and a clock on the right. I just wanted to give a shout-out to GCC and say thank you once again from the bottom of my heart! My coffee table looks a step up with this on top!


The Roses of Prose holiday tote giveaway is halfway over. Readers, be sure to comment at TRoP everyday to be entered to win. If you comment more than once, there's more chances to win. This week we're discussing the alpha hero! I brought some eye candy to Monday's post and listed my three all-time favorites. This weekend we're having another exciting guest spotlight with Lois Winston who will be giving away a copy of her award-winning novel, Talk Gertie to Me! Be there for the fun on Saturday!


And speaking of the TRoP holiday giveaway, I've mentioned that I'm giving away an autographed copy of The Way Back Home anthology featuring 1st Place More Than Magic Novella Blackest Heart as well as a beautiful crystal rose with the tote. This week, I got to hold it in my hands! I did get to see this title in paperback once before - at the October Romance Readers Luncheon in Baton Rouge where I signed copies of it and Forever Amore - but I didn't have time to admire it as I wanted to. When it arrived in the mail, I was mighty tempted to stick it in a drawer for myself. It will still be a prize in the holiday giveaway, but I'm entitled to some snuggle time first ;) Here's a looksie:


I'm gearing up for January's Cowboy Lovin' event to celebrate Bluest Heart's release. Eighteen authors have signed up so far to bring their love of cowboys, eye candy, and prizes here to The Cozy Page! More details coming soon, of course. Until then, my fabulous western editor, Spencer Glenn (who will also be making an appearance here at Cozy in January) and I have been working on edits for the last book in my western romance trilogy, Bet It On My Heart. After one round, I received the first galleys today. Last night, cover artist Tamra Westberry also sent me the gorgeous cover. As much as I want to reveal it, too, I'm going to wait until January to do that! Stay tuned!

Holiday Reads I Can't Wait To Nibble

When the holidays roll around, though I know Santa's probably bringing me a sacks of long-awaited titles, my nose tends to jerk me in the direction of my local bookstore. Why this is? Well, I blame it on holidays releases. Following is a list of the romances I can't wait to nibble this holiday season!

1. Winter Kiss by Deborah Cooke

A novel in Cooke's Dragonfire series. "One kiss can melt the coldest heart." I'm cold so give me some lip gloss and a winter's kiss from the crazy dude walking around in the blizzard with his shirt open. We could both use the extra heat...

2. Mistletoe Rules by Stacey Joy Netzel
What!? You missed Dragonfly Dreams? Shame on you. Well, this year Stacey delivers the Christmas goods again with three mistletoe-themed stories in one. As far as contemporary reads go, this one's first on my list this Christmas...

3. A Christmas Ball by Jennifer Ashley, Emily Bryan, & Alissa Johnson

PB & J. Elizabeth & Darcy. Turner & Hooch. Christmas & Recency Romance. All things that go oh-so well together. For my Regency fix this season, I'm going with this baby from Dorchester. The last great Regency anthology I read was The Diamonds of Welbourne Manor from Harlequin. I think this one will put a smile on my face, too...

4. It Happened One Night by Lisa Dale

A heart-warming fix to go with my hot cocoa and chestnuts. This author's new for me. She hooked me with the book trailer, which made it an instant add to my Shelfari wish list. Something tells me I'm going to have to break out the tissue for this puppy...

5. A Highlander Christmas by Dawn Halliday, Cindy Miles, & Sophie Renwick

Ho ho...hubba! The holidays would not be complete without my plaid and the quintessential alpha, now would it? Therefore, I'm spending Christmas with my family, dogs, and my friend Mr. Mullet here. How much would I have to pay to get my hubby to wear a getup like that? I think the sword would cheer him up...

6. A Cowboy Christmas by Janette Kenny

Now what kind of western romance author would I be if I didn't celebrate the joy of the season with another open-shirted friend - the one in the Stetson. Snowy ranch. Fire blazing. How did those shirt buttons get on the floor? Hmmm. (I'm noticing a trend. Have we moved on from cropping hero's faces? Now every hero must be posing open-shirted in a blizzard. Me likey...)

7. Hot for the Holidays by Lora Leigh, Angela Knight, Anya Bast, & Allyson James

For those in the romance world, you'd have to be deaf, blind, and dumb not to have heard of Lora Leigh's new anthology. The candy cane in question made this an inpulse buy for droves of readers - including moi. I didn't even read the blurb. I just bought the darn thing. Something tells me Hot for the Holidays is as...well, yum as what Berkley Jove's art department unleashed on our pocketbooks...

8. Deep Kiss of Winter by Kresley Cole & Gena Showalter

Speaking of buzz, here's yet another anthology that set the hive buzzin this season. An how often is it that we see hardcover anthologies? This book will make a nice addition to my keeper shelf since. Seeing as it is in the NYT Bestsellers' Top 20, you don't have to be a Cole or Showalter groupie to appreciate it...

9. The Lost by J.D. Robb, Patricia Gaffney, Mary Blayney, & Ruth Ryan Langan

Haha - you knew I was going to go there! I have be spending Christmas with highlanders, cowboys, and assorted other sculpted paranormal beings. But New Years is for one hero and one hero alone: Roarke. Yeah, that's all I have to say...

As you can see, there no #10. This is where you come in. Readers, sound off: what other holiday read should romance readers be sure to check out this season?

I should mention that I'm giving away a paperback with The Roses of Prose holiday contest. Win a free tote full of goodies like The Way Back Home. Yep, that's three cowboys in one, folks - a very Merry Christmas indeed! Visit TRoP to see how to enter...

Freebie!

Howdy readers! I'm giving away a copy of Blackest Heart today at Terry's Place. Contest ends Thursday. Comment between now and then to win!

I'm also busy arranging January's festivities! Don't forget that Casey's story, Bluest Heart, launches on January 6 and plenty of friends and guest authors have decided celebrate with me with the Cowboy Lovin' event. Don't miss it! Alison Kent kicks it off on New Years Day!

*Ooh - fun side note: my editor and I have finished edits on the third book in the Ridge trilogy. It is now going to the formatting department then I will be getting a release date! Squeee! Soon, too, I should have a cover. I can't wait to introduce everyone to that naughty cowboy Keefe's story! Stay tuned...

Get Ready, Gulf Coast...

...because the Silken Sands Conference on the Beach is now booking! Hosted by the Gulf Coast Chapter of Romance Writers of America, the convention will take place at a Gulf-front hotel in Pensacola Beach, Florida. The kickoff speaker is New York Times bestselling author of romantic suspense and paranormal romance, RITA Award-winner Dianna Love while the keynote speaker will be New York Times bestselling author of romantic suspense and RITA Award-winner Karen Rose. Love co-writes the BAD series with international bestseller Sherrilyn Kenyon.



The Silken Sands Conference on the Beach gives southern writers the chance to network with industry insiders like Barbara Vey, the woman behind Publisher's Weekly's Behind Her Book in the relaxing beach environment. Writers can also sign up for a limited time to pitch their stories to industry professionals like agents Laura Bradford (Bradford Literary Agncy), Elaine Spencer (The Knight Agency), and Joyce Holland (D4EO Literary Agency) and editors Megan Records (Kensington Publishing), Patience Smith (Silhouette Books), and Lindsey Faber (Samhain Publishing).

I will be attending the multi-author booksigning on March 20 as well as presenting my first workshop about group blogging called "Grogging: How Five Newbie Authors Bumbled Into A Successful Group Blog":

Amber, Laura, and Lisa, three of the five Roses of Prose, have been blogging together since the spring of 2009, and enjoying the flexibility and support of blogging as a group. In this workshop, they will share their grog-creation process, including researching successful group blogs, choosing a theme, assigning duties and titles (BlogMommie, TreasuryGal, GuestBloggerMistress, etc.,) setting schedules, and creating weekly topics. A small-group exercise will guide you through the basics of creating your own grog. Each participant will receive a goodie bag, and will be entered in a drawing for a grand-prize of books, promo items, and chocolate! We hope to see you there!

You can register for the conference and learn much more online at the GCC website. Up-to-the-minute conference news is available on Facebook! See our ad in the December Romance Writers Report.

Fun Holiday Mentionables

Woot! Nobody knows how to spread holiday cheer more than romance writers, it seems.

Through December 26th at The Roses of Prose, comment to win a free tote full of goodies, including The Way Back Home anthology in paperback! Also our guest authors are joining in the holiday spirit by giving away prizes on guest Saturdays so be sure to drop back by throughout December. Visit TRoP for rules and a list of prizes!

Elisabeth Naughton is celebrating the release of Stolen Seduction with a contest at her blog. Congrats, Elisabeth!




Congrats also go out to Donna Grant who is celebrating her own December launch:



This week I'm kicking off my countdown Christmas with my holiday wish list. Check back - I'll be asking for reader recommendations!