Personal Note & Spreading the Word

I usually don't blog about anything outside the writing or reading sphere, but I'm a resident of the Gulf Coast and I wanted to dedicate today's post to what's happening here. It is amazing to me that one mistake can lead to so much destruction. Since moving to the coast 15 years ago, oil rigs have always been a part of the horizon (as seen below). If at any time in these 15 years someone would have told me something could wreak such devastation, I would have pegged it on the weather. Hurricanes are a part of life and I've seen firsthand what happens when a storm like Ivan or Katrina hits a gulf town. But this disaster is man-made and not only is the economy and so many people that I know's very livelihood in grave peril, the marine wildlife that is so much a part of the Gulf might not ever be the same. It's been a scary week, but I know the coming one will bring extreme levels of sadness and anger. Most sobering of all to me is that my children may not know the natural beauty of their home like I did because of circumstances that could have and should have been prevented. *Note: the picture of this rig was taken by my sister from the Gulf Coast shoreline, less than twenty miles from my home.

If you are a southern or Gulf Coast resident, the call has already gone out. Please think about or at least spread the word on the clean-up effort. Here are further details from the Mobile Press-Register:

MOBILE, Ala -- Calling all volunteers.

The Mobile Bay National Estuary Program, Mobile BayKeeper and the Alabama Coastal Foundation are collecting contact information from individuals who are interested in assisting with cleanup efforts along the Alabama coast should oil from the Deepwater Horizon spill reach the state's shores.

"Right now volunteers are not being deployed but we want to be prepared and ready to assist when asked to help by Unified Command," said Roberta Swann of the Mobile Bay National Estuary Program.

People interested in adding their names to a list of volunteers should contact one of the organizations listed below to assist in coordinated cleanup activities. Contact information should include: name, street address, phone, email address and a list of any available resources such as boats, plastic bags or gloves.

Alabama Coastal Foundation 251-990-6002 Info@joinacf.org

Mobile Bay NEP 251-431-6409 mbnep@mobilebaynep.com

Mobile Baykeeper 251-433-4229 callaway@mobilebaykeeper.org

In closing, here's a link to my favorite part of the Gulf Coast - Gulf Shores and Orange Beach, Alabama. Check out the beach photo gallery and keep the residents and wildlife of Lousisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida in your thoughts this coming week. Thank you!

Special Guest: Kelly A. Harmon

Today Cozy hosts special guest author Kelly A. Harmon on her virtual book tour for fantasy novel Blood Soup:

A tale of murder, betrayal and comeuppance.

King Theodicar of Borgund needed an heir. When his wife, Queen Piacenza, became pregnant, he’d hoped for a boy. His wife, along with her nurse, Salvagia, knew it wouldn’t be so: with each cast of the runes, Salvagia’s trusted divination tools yielded the same message: “A girl child must rule or the kingdom will fall to ruin.” The women were convinced that the child would be a girl.

When the queen finally gives birth, the nurse and the king are equally surprised. The king is faced with a terrible choice, and his decision will determine the fate of his kingdom. Will he choose wisely, or will he doom Borgund to ruin?

Hi Kelly! How would you define Blood Soup in terms of genre?

My non-fantasy-reading friends have called it a "suspense." But I like to think of it as a dark fantasy or medieval fantasy.

I guess it all depends on your perspective.

What inspired you to tell this story?

Blood Soup was conceived of craziness, not inspiration.

I'd been asked to participate in the 3-Day Novel contest with a friend and I needed a story idea quick. I've always got ideas to choose from, but my style tends to run long, novel-length. I needed to write something shorter than that because the thrust behind the 3DNC is that you need to finish your novel in three days.

So, I brain-stormed. I decided I wanted to write something medieval, I wanted a prophecy, and I wanted a witch. I threw those elements together and came up with the idea. I created a few characters, offered them motivation, and determined how I wanted to end the story.

Most of the dark elements, and the blood theme, came around as I wrote.

Do any of this book's themes mirror contemporary issues?

I suppose you could make a case for addition, but I didn't plan the story that way.

Who would you say is the main protagonist? Why?

There are a few key players in this story, so it's hard for me to choose one initially. By the end of Blood Soup, however, Prince Amalric is definitely the lead.

Poor Amalric, whose blood lust is thrust upon him by a determined father, must come to realize that he’s not the rightful heir to Borgund. Everything he's done, planned for, experienced, lived is all a lie. Watching him realize that, and decide what he's going to do about it, makes for interesting reading, I think.

Why the title Blood Soup ?

I'm an avid genealogist. At the time I was writing Blood Soup, I was researching the Polish side of my family and putting together a family-recipe cookbook. One of the recipes was for a special-occasion (usually a holiday) soup called "Czarnina" (char-NEE-nah). In English, it’s referred to as Blood Soup. I knew I wanted the soup to play a pivotal role in the book.
But if I could have a do-over, I'd change the title. Coupled with the cover art, which is quite sinister–and definitely not what I would have chosen (although it's very good!)–it seems to imply horror. There are some horrific elements to the book (it is about murder and betrayal, after all) but not as much as the combination seems to imply.

This story won the July 2008 Fantasy Gazetteer s Novella Contest. Why do you think it has been so well-received?

I think people find the story intriguing. There's a bit of a mystery at the beginning due to the prophecy: a girl child must rule, or the kingdom will fall. So you have to wonder: will the queen have a son or a daughter? The king is certain it will be a boy, the queen and her nursemaid are certain it will be a girl. Each of them is surprised when the queen finally gives birth.

Then, there's the blood aspect of the story. Prince Amalric craves the taste of blood so much, that it's like an addition (though not in a vampire-like manner)...he almost can't control the way he acts sometimes when he doesn't get his "fix" of blood. It's interesting to watch this "addiction" unfold. It doesn't help that Amalric's life is a train-wreck you can't help watching.

As a writer of both, which format do you prefer: novel or novella?

Novel wins hands down. I like to tell grand, sweeping stories with lots of room for subplots.

Blood Soup was written under a deadline, and I deliberately pared down the story, excising several subplots before they were written, to be able to finish it on time.

You were a reporter for some time. What compelled you to switch to fiction?

I never intended to make a career out of reporting, it just seemed the most pragmatic choice for someone who only ever wanted to write. I knew if I couldn't sell my fiction right away, I could at least be doing something I liked. While I worked, I could still write in the evening.

It turns out I liked reporting lot...but I didn't like the hours or the pay.

So, I went back to school for a Systems Analysis and Design/Computer Science degree. Now I work full-time in tech, and I still write fiction in the evening. The great thing about this situation is that I can afford all the little techy gadgets which make my life easier.

Can you share an excerpt with my readers here at The Cozy Page today?

I'd love to, thanks!

Here's an early scene in the book:

Theodicar looked down at the mewling infant in his arms, and felt the anger rise up. Even in death his wife defied him, the nurse ensuring her success. Women did not rule. He would not allow it. They had created a male child, and that child would take the throne upon his death.

“You can save the boy,” he said to Salvagia.

She slitted her eyes at him, her stare mutinous. Her words were loud and hard in the wake of Pia’s death. “I have the power to save one at the expense of the other, Sire. The girl is stronger. And eldest. She was born to rule.”

Theodicar watched the girl curl up in his arms, her birth fluids staining a brown patch on the dyed-yellow wool of his tunic. She burrowed into the crook of his elbow, trying to achieve the comfort of the womb.

“I will not hear those words again,” he said. “That absurd idea died with my wife. My son will rule.” He reached for the boy, thrusting the girl child back into the nurse’s hands. “There’s no need for a daughter. And no need for anyone to know of her.”

“So be it,” Salvagia said, wrapping the weary girl in a square of wool, covering her face. She reached for her basket.

“Kill her now,” said Theodicar.

Salvagia looked stricken.

“Sire, if we kill her now, she will be of no use to her brother. Once dead, the blood won’t flow, and we need her blood to strengthen his.

“Then drain her now,” he snapped. “I will not have her crying out when we call the witnesses back to cut the boy’s cord.”

Here's a late scene in the book:

Amalric didn’t know what he had expected to see—what he expected to feel—once he pushed aside the curtain. But it certainly wasn’t the empty void he experienced. Surely, these two women should mean something to me, he thought. He should feel sad for their passing. Or relief at his own existence. Or anger at his sister’s senseless murder.

But he’d never met them, and they meant nothing.

“Mother,” he whispered, trying to feel the relationship. He touched her loose brown hair, satiny in death, as if it had been oiled. Mummified flesh clung to her skull, her mouth hung slack with decay. But he could make out her features, even in abstract.

Piacenza’s arms crossed her chest, holding onto the baby she’d died birthing. The child lay on her stomach, her face turned out to the corridor. Smooth in death, the babe’s skin was stretched taut across her skull, her tiny mouth open as if searching for a breast. He couldn’t picture this small babe as his twin.

“Sister,” he said, failing to convince himself of an emotional connection to the babe. He smoothed a thumb across her forehead, touched a finger to her puckered lips.

A scowl wrinkled his forehead, and he felt a tightness behind his eyes.

Now that he knew about them, how long would he continue to feel the emptiness that knowing them should have filled?

Had his father confirmed his sister’s existence in order to wring sympathy from his heart? Didn’t he realize that a man who had never known the loving touch of his mother nor felt the bond of his long-deceased sister would find nothing but apathy amid these moldering bones?

Amalric gazed at the wispy hair, the withered skin, and suddenly, he made a fist and drove it into his mother’s side. He felt her ribcage shatter beneath his knuckles, and saw his sister’s small frame sink as the bones of his mother failed to support her. A puff of dust rose above his sister’s head like a small halo in the torchlight.

He laughed, finding sudden humor in the situation. He should be rejoicing, he thought. Perhaps he should feel some harmony with his sire—the man who removed all obstacles from his path to the throne.

How pathetic of him, thought Amalric, if he felt any pride at all for getting rid of these women. Women! Who should be seen and not heard, who should do the bidding of their husbands without fail, who are required to take the brunt of a man’s anger and return it threefold with a submissive demeanor. Women, he thought, who are frail beyond measure and easily subdued. How pitiable that Father should take pride in such an achievement. And worse, how contemptible that he might think my seeing the mortal remains of these women would create in me a sudden change of heart.

Thank you so much for sharing with us today, Kelly! Readers, learn more about Kelly at her website. If you would like to read Blood Soup, it is available now from Eternal Press in PDF and hard copy. Follow Kelly's virtual blog tour and comment here today to be entered to win a $25 Amazon or Barnes & Noble Gift Card. To view tour locations, visit Goddess Fish Promotions.

Readers, sound off: What's your favorite fantasy novel?

Wednesday Watch: National Treasure

Usually the Wednesday Watch process is about highlighting romance in movies, but today I'm going to focus on what writers can learn from movie-watching. I learned this technique during the 2008 Silken Sands Conference edition of Dianna Love & Mary Buckham's Break Into Fiction workshop. (If you're unfamiliar with Break Into Fiction, there's a website, tour, even a how-to book, and basically what these awesome ladies do is use templates to plot novels. During the workshop, they used movie examples: Pretty Woman, Finding Nemo, Bourne Identity. It's eye opening and recommended by NYT author maven Sherrilyn Kenyon; check it out!)


One of my favorite action-y movies is National Treasure. It combines my love of American history with suspense, a fast time-clock, treasure-hunting, a pinch of romance, and loveable characters. Even the villain, Ian, is loveable. Not just because he's played by the lovely Sean Bean. The character of Ian proves that a villain doesn't always have to be pure evil as long as he's motivated and believable. Ian wants the treasure, but - unlike our hero, Ben Gates - when comes down to getting their hands on the Declaration of Indepedence, as a man of "questional legality" he doesn't have a problem stealing it and even has the resources to do it. And even when he's chasing Nike Cage and his gang through the streets of D.C. and Philedelphia and wielding a gun, we still get a feeling that he could still be redeemable, which always makes a villain all the more interesting. I know some authors who love taking redeemable anti-heroes like Ian and giving them their own book or at least a heroic sub-plot in another's.


Next thing a writer can learn from watching National Treasure. Another must-have of mine: witty banter. I watch this movie a lot and I still laugh out loud. The dialogue is very well-written and continues with the same tone in the sequel, Book of Secrets. "There's my tax dollars at work coming to arrest me." Which brings me to...


My favorite character: sarcastic geek sidekick, Riley Poole. Gotta love Justin Bartha. If you're crafting a series, note how the characters progress from first installement to second installment. In the first National Treasure, Riley's character is kind of shaggy. In Book of Secrets, he's written a book and owns a Ferrari so he's cleaned up a bit. A closer haircut, preppy clothes but still he maintains all that we loved about the character in the first movie, complete with sarcastic quips and the computer-geek/hacker bent. Also noteable about the character of Riley is that though we enjoy watching him, he's completely secondary. Ever found a secondary character taking over a story? The thing about Riley is that all we really know about him is that Ben found him working in a "windowless cubicle," meaning he was an office drone before he volunteered to hunt the Templar Treasure with Ben and Ian & Co. That's it. That's all we, as the viewer really need to know...until he gets his own movie/book (which I totally would have written by now!).


Now let's talk heros. I'm not the biggest fan of Nicolas Cage (Con Air makes me cringe), but I have a hard time picturing anybody else in the role of Benjamin Gates. Before filming National Treasure, Cage sat down with director and producer and helped further shape Ben's motivation. He didn't think the monetary reward of the Templar Treasure separated Ben's character all that much from the villain's. Nor was the thrill of the hunt. He thought that Ben's respect for history should be the driving force of his character, making him more a hero in the purest of terms. This is my favorite element of Ben's character, which resonates through both movies. It's also a large connection between him and his love interest, museum director Abigail Chase. In their first meeting, the viewer can practically hear Ben's delighted musing, "Now here's a woman who might know as much about history as I do. I can get on board with that!"


Unlike the character of Riley, Ben's our hero and this is his story more than any other's. It starts in backstory when, as a boy, he's first told about the Templar Treasure. From the point where we find Ben searching for the treasure present-day, it's a race to the finish and though we find out everything there is to know about Ben within the first hour of the movie, backstory is implied through dialogue and only in need-to-know snatches. For example, in the first scene Ben and Abigail aren't arguing, their changing into more inconspicuous clothes in a retail store in Philedelphia. When Abigail prods him about a comment from his father, Patrick, from the night before, Ben replies, "My father thinks I've been a little too cavalier in love life." He then asks her if she's ever told someone, not a relative, that she loves them. She replies yes to which he asks, "More than someone?" She says yes. And he replies, "Then my father would think you've been a little too cavalier in your love life, too." In less than ten lines of dialogue, we learn a lot about not just Ben's emotional character Abigail's too - and a little about Ben's father Patrick's as well.


The plot of both National Treasure movies is full of intrigue. It never lets you go. Even while we, as the audience, are being peppered with historical facts left and right, there's still that ticking time-clock, that race to the finish and against Ian and his cronies plus the FBI. In a way, I wish all novel plots could work as fast and escalate the way this movie's does.


Writers, am I right? There's a wealth to be learned from watching National Treasure and its sequel, Book of Secrets, from a creative standpoint. Now...anybody up for National Treasure 3? *raises hand*

(Tomorrow author Kelly A. Harmon visits Cozy as a special guest author! Stay tuned...)

Inspiration ~ National Garden Month

That's right - it's National Garden Month, this week's topic at The Roses of Prose! Am I the only one who finds writing inspiration in the garden? That and a tribute to my great-grandmother posted at TRoP...

New Resources & Update

Hi Cozies! It’s been a heck of a month. In March, my trusty laptop – Keats – passed away. Since the brave little Toshiba lasted longer in my care than any other computer before it, we erected a tower in its honor in the backyard. Okay, not really. But he deserves it. Thanks to a computer tech a town over, I was able to recover the hard drive and a year’s worth of writing files. Close call. Though I have two back-up hard drives I transfer all files to on the 1st and 15th of every month, I had been using the “paste shortcut” option instead of an actual “paste.” I’ve learned my lesson. Writers, please remember not only to back-up regularly but to do it carefully!

I completed my third paranormal manuscript in early April. The book came out to be roughly 106,000 words, my longest since 2005. When I’ve let it sit for a month or two, I’ll go back a cut it down to 95-100k. Not looking forward to the painful revision process. Before I can begin the fourth book in the series, I will have to do research on the American mafia. Netflix is bringing The Godfather and The Sopranos to my door. I look forward to writing my vampire’s story, but I wanted to get back to my ALW pen name when I’d completed over half the series. So for the past couple of weeks, I’ve been working on a Regency WIP. I’ve also been reading (and watching) a lot of Austen and various other Regency romances – particularly those by Christine Wells. I enjoyed Wicked Little Game and am now reviewing Sweetest Little Sin for The Season (which has a fun new look!). At this time, I have no idea how long this manuscript will turn out to be – novel or novella? – or who I will be targeting once it is finished. I am enjoying my escape into the times. I didn’t think I would write another historical for some time. After Forever Amore was nominated by Long & Short Reviews for Best Book of 2009, however, I decided to take another plunge.

While trailing my muse into Regency waters, I realized how little I know about period customs. There were so many society rules and titles. Plus, I knew little of Regency fashion or history. Thanks to a fellow TWRP author, however, I found an absolute gem in Nancy Mayer’s Regency Researcher site. It has everything a writer needs to know about the Regency period. And if you have questions about the material, you can contact her by email for answers. Since beginning what is tentatively titled “Desperate Measures,” I’ve visited the site once a week just to make sure I have all my period ducks in a row! Plus, the site will be featured in my web spotlight column for May’s RWU “Write Right” newsletter.

Another valuable web resource I have discovered through The Roses of Prose is the Social Oomph networking service. I love networking! Guest blogging, finding fans and friends and other writing professionals and readers on Facebook and Twitter, but sometimes it can be a little overwhelming. Social Oomph gives me a little breathing room on days that I need to be focused on writing, editing, revising or family. For example, Monday mornings are tough because my level of productivity on that day will set the tone for the entire week. At the same time, I blog every Monday at The Roses of Prose. What Social Oomph does is allow me to preschedule reminder tweets for my followers, letting them know where I am online. The same works for guest-bloggers both here at Cozy and TRoP. A part of being a guest is getting that extra attention, and it’s only fair that every guest get the same level of attention, as much as Cozy or TRoP can possibly offer. I’m sometimes forgetful so as soon as I preschedule the guest post to publish the day of the guest blog, I immediately schedule three reminder tweets to go out the same day. Other services offered by Social Oomph are tracking keywords, sending automatic DMs to new followers, URL shortening that allows you to track your clicks, automatically follow those who follow you if you wish to do so, etc. It also offers Facebook features and blog editors, and even gives you the added benefit of spam control. All the options I take advantage of are free, but you can order more.

If you need a little extra oomph in your word count, consider doing Joely Sue Burkhart’s MayNoWriMo – the May version of National Novel Writing Month. I’ll be guesting at Joely Sue’s blog on my birthday, May 12th and sharing my latest writing inspirations. Stay tuned for that as well as my birthday week extravaganza. Seven of my favorite writing peeps will be guesting here at Cozy from May 9-15. Check back in for some good fun! And on April 29, Kelly A. Harmon is bringing her virtual book tour here to The Cozy Page. Don’t miss a chance to win some great prizes!

Finally, I have to pass along the Breast Cancer Research Twibbon. If someone you or you love has ever been affected by breast cancer, add this pink ribbon to your Twitter or Facebook profile picture and pass the word along.

And I’m thrilled to announce that I have reached over 250 followers on Twitter! Thank you to all followers – old and new! The Roses of Prose are tweeting, too! Get the latest in contests and guest interviews plus be the first to know when guest spots are available by following TRoP !

Character Interview Alert!

I conducted an interview with Keefe from Bet It On My Heart and ended up having a barrel of laughs with the whole Ridge family! Stop by to see what the characters of the Wayback Ridge trilogy have been up to - what Keefe finds most sexy about his heroine, Calli; what makes him a hero; and, with some coaxing, which of the saga's heroes is my favorite! Read it at The Roses of Prose!

Special Guest: Genella DeGrey

Today The Cozy Page welcomes Genella DeGrey, author of erotic historical romance Love Divine:

In the Highlands of Britannia, 420 A.D., Aslyn, was raised a Druid by her late mother. Now Rome has returned, but in place of a legion of solders, a single man peddles a new Roman god.

Ryus Jorian was sent on a mission for the new religion. But instead of a cave of barbaric souls in need of saving, he finds an intelligent, beautiful, hedonistic distraction whom his Bishop finds equally delectable.

Ryus must choose between the salvation of his soul and the woman he loves. Aslyn must escape before she becomes the Bishop’s newest sacrificial lamb.

Love Divine has some very religious themes, many of which conflict. What inspired you to tell a story rooted in religion?

I didn't really set out to do a religious story, so to speak. It was the thought of how difficult it would be to have someone come in and disrupt what you and your kinsmen have practiced for so long—the worship of mother earth, the moon, the goddess, et cetera.

How do you balance the religious elements with the erotic aspect of the story?

Bono once said, "We are both spirit and flesh. How can we be just one or the other?" This quote has always stuck with me for years because of it's depth of truth.

The Pagan's didn't have restrictions on regular (or celebratory for that matter) sexual practices as later religions. The celebration of Beltane (May Day) for instance originated as the Germanic paganism celebration of Spring's renewal. And let's face it, the May pole is a very phallic symbol. ;) I know that's a mere generalization of this very old holiday, but I don't want to bore everyone with everything I dug up in my research. :)

Love Divine takes place in the Highlands of Britannia. What about both this time period and this setting compelled you to write about them?

420 was just about the time the Church of Rome would have started sending missionaries out into the wide world beyond their realm. When the idea of Aslyn, my Druid heroine, came to me, it just made sense to set the book in this time period.

The hero, Ryus, is a described as a "rogue-turned-missionary." In Love Divine, do these conflicting sides of his character cause unrest?

Oh, yes. On one hand, he really does want to change his old ways. You see, before we meet Ryus, he lived as a care-free bachelor, drinking and whoring as if tomorrow would never come. Then his view changed when someone from the Church tells him there is a tomorrow. But once he sees Aslyn, he is terribly conflicted. His conscious wars with his flesh and he knows it will be this way until he can speak with his Bishop regarding Aslyn in hopes of some sort of encouragement one way or the other.

Would you describe Ryus as an alpha or a beta hero? Why?

Ryus is a repressed alpha whose flesh seems overwhelmingly stronger than his spirit after he meets Aslyn. Now, is this because he's new to the faith and the idea of celibacy, or is it because he truly falls in love with Aslyn? ;)

The heroine, Aslyn, is a woman caught between two worlds - that of the Druids and that of a new Roman god. How would you say this impacts her character most?

Honestly, I don't think the difference between the Roman God and the goddess impacts Aslyn as much as it piques her ire that someone thinks they can tell other people whom and how to worship. The way she was raised allowed her to follow her heart when it came to her personal faith, so she feels that what and how other people wish to worship really is their own business.

What will readers identify with most about Aslyn's character?

Aslyn's mother was the high priestess of her village. She was a healer, among other things, as well as the person everyone came to for advice. When Aslyn's mother passed on, everyone expected her to take her mother's place. I don't think there is a single person who will read this story who doesn't have a parent, teacher or other relative who pushes them to be something or someone they don't feel they're called to be. From the beginning, Aslyn's main concern is that the people will be disappointed in her abilities or lack thereof. Nearly two-thousand years later, most of us experience this fear, as well.

According to your website, you have a passion for historical romance. Which authors of the genre have inspired you most?

My first historical romance reading consisted of Jude Deveraux, Judith McNaught, Julie Garwood, Johanna Lindsay and Heather Graham. It was Jude Deveraux's book, Remembrance, that really acted as the catalyst for my desire for a writing career.

You also have a fascination for spiritual places - "the older, the better." What are some of your favorite spiritual/haunted destinations?

As you know I'm crazy about history. And what's not historical about Tombstone, AZ and New Orleans, LA? :)

I've been to Tombstone many times, and I tend to believe it is because of the countless violent murders that the place is just crawling with spirits. Now did all these murders cause a rift in the veil between this earthly plane and the afterlife? Who could say? And I don't know if these spirits are stuck or staying because the want to – all I know is that in many buildings about town, I can feel a presence whether it's curious, angry, negative or whatever. It's so fascinating to me.

What more do readers have to look forward to from Genella deGrey in 2010?

I have another historical erotic romance coming out on June 8th from Resplendencepublishing.com which takes place during Carnival in Venice, Italy in 1795. I'm very excited about this story as it features two heroes and two heroines. Two HEA's – what more can you ask for? :)

Would you mind sharing a short excerpt from Love Divine?

Reaching up to entwine her arms around his neck, Aslyn’s heart raced when his mouth softly coaxed her lips part. She nearly toppled over when he groaned as her tongue touched his. The wood post which bordered the stable separated their bodies, and Aslyn longed to be rid of the thing.

Suddenly remembering that anyone who had a view of the stable could see them, she broke out of the kiss.

“We shouldn’t be—”

“I know, I’m sorry.”

Aslyn glanced over her shoulder and back up to Ryus. No one was about, but that could change at any moment. Her breath came out in a huff that may have been part laughter. “Let me finish. We shouldn’t be doing this here.”

She saw his eyes light up like flames. “Then where?”

“Come to me after sundown,” she whispered, unable to believe the words actually came out of her mouth. Oh, she was thinking them, but once they passed over her lips, the bones were cast. He would be leaving soon, and it would be good for her to take a few more memories with her to her grave.

Without another word, Aslyn pushed away from the stable fence and headed straight for her lodging.

She paced in her room and wrung her hands, the same way in she did just before she met Ryus in the ancient grove of Ardwinna.

Aslyn almost yelped when he came bursting through her front door.

“You have more faith in me than I do if you think I can wait until sundown.”

Thank you so much for having me — Namaste!

During Genella's virtual book tour, she will be giving away a digital edition of Love Divine to one lucky commenter! Readers, sound off with questions for our special guest today for a chance to win!

Recommended Reads

The first quarter of 2010 is over. Can you believe it? Due to computer problems and health issues, I’ve had a lot of downtime to spend with my TBR pile. Here are some of the reads I found particularly noteworthy:

First off, I read my first Laura Kinsale romance, Lessons in French, for The Season. To read my review, visit The Season blog!

Grimspace by Ann Aguirre (My Review: LOVE) - I actually read this book late last year, but I don’t think I ever really gushed over how much I heart this story. Before Grimspace, I’d never tried sci-fi. Which is pretty odd considering my obsession with Han Solo. If you’re like me and you want to give the genre a try, Grimspace is the place to start. It isn’t a mainstream romance. It’s shelves in the sci-fi/fantasy section, but it does have romantic elements. I haven’t been this excited about a heroine since Eve Dallas. I’m a big fan of flawed protagonists and Sirantha Jax is the picture of incredible inner strength with a streak of vulnerability. (You might say she’s the Eve Dallas of futuristic space travel…beyond 2060, that is.) Her relationship with March is beautifully portrayed. I loved the political aspects of futuristic space travel and other worlds. Not to mention Sirantha’s “J gene,” which allows her to “jump” spaceships through “grimspace.” I can’t wait to read the next book in this series, Wanderlust, which is supposed to be fantastic!

Ecstasy Unveiled by Larissa Ione (My Review: 5/5) - I’m a fan of the Demonica books so I was first in line for this baby, the 4th installment in Larissa Ione’s series, in January. Finally in March I finished my 3rd paranormal manuscript and as a reward I picked up Ecstasy. Ahhhh. There’s just something about a Larissa Ione book. From the first chapter, her voice and character just take charge of your imagination and the story doesn’t let you go until the big, satisfying finish. I loved the hero, Lore, a relatively new face in the series. In this book, readers will also get acquainted with Sin who, other than Shade, might be my favorite character. With many romance series, the sequels show glimpses of former hero/heroines lives, continuing their HEA’s with children and picket fences and whatnot. Very fluffy stuff that oftentimes isn’t necessary. What Ione does—very similar to my favorite paranormal author, J.R. Ward—is keep building those secondary characters. They still have problems to solve which fuels the central storyline instead of taking over it. As a writer, it isn’t an easy thing to do, but Ione does this beautifully. More than anything, I loved revisiting Eidolon, Shade, and – in particular – Wraith. She also set up the final installment in the series, Sin's book, which I will pre-order from Amazon. If you’re a fan of dark paranormal romance or are WARDen fan, I highly recommend the Demonica series, starting with Eidolon and Tayla in Pleasure Unbound.

Three in Death by J.D. Robb (My Review: 4/5) - Nora Roberts’ J.D. Robb books are a comfort like no other. While I was feeling unwell in March, I also picked up this collection of In Death novellas, Three in Death – featuring Interlude in Death, Midnight in Death, and Haunted In Death. There’s nothing like journeying forward into the familiar world of 2060 NYC. I had already read Midnight but enjoyed the re-read all these years later. *g* Haunted put Eve up against the supernatural, which was interesting. And, of course, there's the almighty Roarke. *sigh* Perfection. *Side Note: Early this year, Roberts’ publisher split the hardback Remember When which featured a story in Roberts’ contemporary style and another in her grittier J.D. Robb voice featuring Eve and Roarke, linked by the same mystery only in different time periods. The titles are now available in mass market paperback. Did it bother anybody else that the title of the J.D. Robb half wasn’t an “In Death” like all other Robb novels and novellas, but called Big Jack instead. Maybe it’s the nitpicky author in me, but you’d think to save fans confusion, they’d give it a consistent title.

Hard to Hold by Stephanie Tyler (My Review: LOVE) - Catherine Mann is the only military romance author on my auto-buy list. However, when I tackled the first title in Stephanie Tyler’s SEALs trilogy, I was blown away! It’s not just the chiseled, bad-ass alphas that make these books must-reads – it’s the whole package. The heroes are so real, especially Jake in Hard to Hold, which is my new favorite romantic suspense. (It even edged out Nora’s Honest Illusions and Public Secrets…which is saying something!) The heroine deals with the recent and heavy trauma of an Africa kidnapping and physical and sexual abuse. This always a tentative subject for romance novelists, but Stephanie Tyler handles it better than any other author dealing with the same subject I've come across. And did I mention, I LOVE Jake. Every book in this trilogy is wonderful. I can't wait to read more from Stephanie Tyler!

Meant To Be by Donna Marie Rogers (My Review: 5/5) - I didn't think she could top the prequel to this contemporary romance title, There's Only Been You. Donna Marie Rogers never fails to surprise me. In Meant To Be, readers return to the Jamison family, only this time for brother Garrett's story. I love Donna's blue-collar heroes. Garrett is one sexy alpha. Remember I mentioned that banter between the h/h goes a long way toward roping me into the story? Meant To Be has lovable banter in spades! A story where the h/h start out disliking each other is always entertaining. The romance is hot, and the ending is so fitting! The characters are wonderfully layered and Donna's voice makes for a delightful read! *Side Note: Fans of Lori Foster will love this book. She even gave the cover quote!

Lighthouse by Eugenia Price (My Review: 5/5) - I'm a southern history nut so I love a dash of non-fiction every so often. Eugenia Price's St. Simon's Island trilogy is based on real-life events but reads like a southern fiction novel. While rich with well-researched detail, it still entertains! If you love individual and deeply personal portrayals of the people who make up American history, I recommend Lighthouse and the rest the St. Simon's Island trilogy as well as other novels by Eugenia Price.

Redeeming Gabriel by Elizabeth White (My Review: 3.5/5) - White's work is always enriched in the deep south, particularly Mobile, Alabama, which is just across the bay! I love reading up on local history. This inspirational author never disappoints. Not only does she delve into the Civil War era of Mobile history, she digs into the nautical history of the military. I recommend this book for the hero, Gabriel, who is a Union spy posing as a minister, the colorful walk through Civil War Mobile and Baldwin County as well as the well-written conflict between the h/h.

New Spring by Robert Jordan (My Review: 5/5) - Just like sci-fi, I'm new to fantasy. Who better to start with than Robert Jordan? I'm a Tolkien groupie and Jordan builds a world as deeply layered with character and magic as Lord of the Rings without losing the world's originality. This book is the prequel to The Wheel of Time series. Thanks to my sister-in-law, I knew where to start. Now I can't wait to play catch up by diving into the next installment! I am now a Dragonmount follower!


So that's my recommended reads from the first quarter of 2010! If you'd like to see what else I have on my favorites shelf, check out my Shelfari profile! Here's a glimspe of my spring wish list:

Readers, what's on your wish list? Read anything you'd like to recommend? I'm currently opening a Goodreads profile. I love that you can rate novellas there like Blackest Heart not available at Shelfari. What's your virutal shelf preference between these two sites?

And stay tuned: author Genella DeGrey is bringing her book tour here to The Cozy Page on April 13th! There will be prizes! Save the date...

NOR Gives BET IT 4.5 Stars!

Night Owl Reviews has given Bet It On My Heart 4.5 stars!

Keefe and Calli are two people definitely so opposite from each yet the same in so many ways. They may see from different sides of the world but Wayback has a way of bringing to soul mates together. Amber Leigh did a beautiful job in bringing other characters to life like Stella and Keefe’s brothers. This was definitely a great story and can’t wait for more from this talented author.

To read the full review, visit Night Owl Reviews! To purchase Bet It On My Heart or to learn more about the Wayback Ridge trilogy, visit The Wild Rose Press!

This week, we talked Banned Books Week at The Roses of Prose!