Cozy Guest Friday: Jennifer Jakes + Giveaway

Welcome to our last Cozy Guest Friday of the year! Today we’re rolling out the guest carpet for author Jennifer Jakes whose latest romance, Twice in the Lifetime, is now available now for just $0.99…

Be Careful What You Wish For. . .

No-nonsense stuntwoman Isabella Douglas will do anything to stop an unwanted divorce and reclaim the happy life she had, even allow her old friend to concoct a magical spell to turn back time. But when the spell goes awry, Izzy finds herself trapped aboard a 1768 Caribbean pirate ship with a captain who’s a dead ringer for her sexy as sin husband, Ian. Convinced he’s playing a cruel joke, she’s furious – until she realizes he doesn’t know her or believe they’re married.

Captain Ian Douglas does not have time to deal with an insane woman who claims to be his wife; he has to save his kidnapped sister. But as Izzy haunts his dreams and fills him with erotic memories he can’t explain, he’s forced to admit he feels more than lust.

Trapped in a vicious cycle of past mirroring present, Izzy knows they only have days to find Ian’s sister and prevent disaster from striking a second time. If she doesn’t, their marriage will be destroyed again – along with the man she loves.

Stay tuned for a sneak peak from Twice in the Lifetime. Now we go to our Cozy correspondent Tink who is currently aboard the Black Pearl with Captain Jack Sparrow and a few of her other swashbuckling friends somewhere in the Carribean. Take it away, Tink….

*A Chorus of "A Pirate's Life for Me"*

Tink: Hello, Cozies! The people of WannaLuvaPir’ate Beach decided that a hostile takeover was in order so Jack and I are now sailing the high seas. And may I just say that it’s very warm here ;)

The Black Pearl now boasts a wet bar, thanks to some canoodling with the captain from yours truly. You're welcome! Jennifer, if you were a mixed drink what would you be and why?

Jennifer: Oooh, I would  be my new favorite drink, a Pomegranate Margarita. It’s pretty sweet, a little sour, kind of fruity and really yummy. Why? Well, I’m sweet, can be sour, have been known to act fruity and my hubby thinks I’m yummy :)

Tink: If you were stranded on a desert island and could bring only one of each of the following…what would they be? Person? Song? Book?

Jennifer: Person: Gotta say Alex O’Loughlin – not only is he gorgeous, but he has a sexy Aussie accent!

Song: I can’t pick one song!!! The reason I can’t is because I listen to so many different types of music – all depending on what I’m in the mood for.

Book: Hmmmm. I’d take One Night With A Prince by Sabrina Jeffries.

Tink: What would be the name of your pet gourd?

Jennifer: Bond. James Bond.

Tink: Now for a bit about your book. If you wrote to music, what would be this book’s theme song?

Jennifer: The song I used when I was writing Twice in a Lifetime was Crazy Girl by The Eli Young Band. If you hear it and have read the book, it’s just the perfect theme.

Tink: What are the first words your hero speaks to your heroine (or vice versa)?

Jennifer: Izzy to Ian: “What in the hell are you doing?”

Tink: Would you define your hero as an alpha or a beta? Why?

Jennifer: Oh, Alpha. I always write Alphas – or as I like to call them, Balphas. Because I love really strong men, but they have to have a soft, snuggly side….even tho’ they hide it most of the time.

Tink: Does your hero prefer to wear boxers, briefs, a kilt? Or commando? ;)

Jennifer: Oooooh. Commando.

Tink: What is your heroine’s idea of the perfect date?

Jennifer:  She and the hero, Ian, snuggled on a chaise lounge on their deck, watching the stars and drinking a glass of wine.

Tink: What is your favorite thing about each character?

Jennifer: Izzy: Her stubbornness.

Ian: His loyalty and the depth of love he has for Izzy.

Tink: More seriously, what was your biggest challenge crafting this story or these characters?

Jennifer: Making the time travel – and reason for the time travel – logical. I’m big on logic.  LOL

Tink: Now for a more in-depth look at the author… I will now ask you a round of nosy and nonsensical questions developed by Bernard Peevo and used by James Lipton on Inside the Actor’s Studio…. Brace yourself… What sound or noise do you love? Hate?

Jennifer: Love a gurgling stream or lapping waves. Hate high pitched noise.

Tink: What’s your favorite curse word?  

Jennifer: Ummm. I’m afraid I drop the F*bomb.

Tink: What profession other than yours would you like to attempt?

Jennifer: Oh, well, if you’ve read my Bio, I’ve tried several that I wanted to. I have a kind-of career bucket list. But I still want to be a Room Stager (someone who stages houses or rooms before a real estate open house)

Tink: What profession would you not like to participate in?

Jennifer: Roofer or high-rise window cleaner. I’m terrified of heights/ladders.

Tink: Now for a sneak peak from Twice in a Lifetime….

Her fingers threaded in his thick hair as she traced his mouth with the tip of her tongue. “Kiss me.” 

He hesitated, then groaned and covered her lips in a breath stealing kiss. Hot, wet, silky. Her nipples hardened, ached for his touch, the tug of his fingers, the pull of his mouth.

“Touch me.” She pressed a kiss to his throat, then licked his collarbone. “I need your hands on me.”

He grunted and slid his hands down her back. Rough palms gripped her cheeks, grinding her against his erection. His gaze burned through her as he moved his thigh between her legs.

“Yes. Please.” She tilted her hips, rubbing, needing release more than air. “Oh, God, yes.” Desire roared through her, the ache building. Building. The orgasm so . . .damned. . .close.

A sharp knock sounded at the door. “Captain? The men are ready to go ashore.”

Ian pulled back and swallowed hard, his expression hungry, his heart thumping against her breast.

“Captain?”

“Yes. Yes, I’ll be right there.” His heavy lidded gaze skimmed her body. Possessive. Aroused. Regretful as he set her aside.

Her mind crawled to process what was happening while her body was doused with disappointment. “You’re still going?”

He raked through his hair, then nodded. “We need provisions before sailing for Jamaica. I’ll only be a few hours.” He stepped to the door, but turned and pinned her with a hard stare. “But when I return . . .”

“Yes?” Her heart thumped in anticipation of some explicit description of what he would do to her. Oh, but his tongue was naughty in all the right ways.

“. . . I expect an explanation.”

Izzy drooped against the door, her thoughts racing even though her legs collapsed. This was going to be the shortest second chance in history.

Tink: And the questions Jack and his merry band of buccaneers have been waiting all day to ask…. If you could choose anyone (real or fictional) to be the captain of your, er, ship…who would it be? 

Jennifer: Capt. Jack Sparrow

Tink: Excellent answer! Which savvy piece of the Caribbean would you most like to take home?   

Jennifer: You know that gorgeous island Capt. Jack is marooned on ….the one with all the rum? I don’t need to take it home, I could just move there. With Jack for company, of course. :)

Tink: Would you rather take your chances with a zombie, a mermaid, or Blackbeard?

Jennifer: Zombie

Tink: And most importantly – Captain Jack Sparrow, Will Turner, or Commodore Norrington?  

Jennifer: Ohhh, Capt. Jack all the way!

Tink: Jennifer, our captain would like me to invite you to share his quarters while you are aboard the Pearl as his guest of honor. He would also like to reserve the right to call you his "love." I'm more than a little jealous :) Now back to you, Cozies. This is Tink and Jack and all the rest in the Caribbean signing off….

After trying several careers—everything from a beautician to a dump truck driver—Jennifer finally returned to her first love, writing. Maybe it was all those Clint Eastwood movies she watched growing up, but in her opinion there is no better read than a steamy western historical.

Married to her very own hero, she lives on fifteen acres along with two beautiful daughters, three spoiled cats, three hyper dogs and one fat rabbit. During the summer she does Civil War re-enacting and has found it a great research tool, not to mention she has continued appreciation for her microwave and hot water heater. Visit Jennifer Jakes at www.jenniferjakes.com....

Cozies, you can purchase Twice in a Lifetime now from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Smashwords, and Are….

Jennifer was kind enough to offer a giveaway for today’s guests. By commenting to today’s post and answering the following question before midnight EST tomorrow, you will be entered to win an ebook edition of Twice in a Lifetime:

 

What is your favorite part or line from the Pirates of the Carribean?

I think Jack likes this giveaway already! The winner will be announced here at Cozy on Sunday. Please be sure to check back to see if you have won. (Chances of winning depend on the number of entries; you must be 18 years or older to enter.)

Cozy Guest Friday: Rachel Brimble + Giveaway

Welcome to this week’s edition of Cozy Guest Friday! Today’s victim…*ahem* special guest is Rachel Brimble, author of Paying the Piper, available now from Lyrical Press...

Nightclub manager Grace Butler is on a mission to buy the pub where her mother's ashes are scattered but the owner wants to sell to anyone but her. And that owner happens to be her father...who has a secret she will do anything to discover.

Social worker and all around good guy Jimmy Betts needs funds to buy a house for three special kids before their care home closes. Time is running out and he's desperate for cash. He agrees to to a one-time 'job' for bad-man Karl Butler. But in a sudden turn of events, Jimmy finds himself employed by Karl's beautiful, funny and incredibly sexy daughter, Grace.

Their lives couldn't be more different, yet one thread binds them: they're both trying to escape the bonds of their fathers. Maybe the only way they'll be free is by being together, instead of alone.

Stay tuned for a sneak peek into Paying the Piper! We go now again to our Cozy correspondent Tink, live from a lounge chair on her favorite tropical island of PutSomeRumin’it along with a few of her swashbuckling friends. Take it away, Tink…

*luau music*

Tink: Hello, Cozies! I’d like to take this time to point out that the island natives have appointed me their queen so I should herein be addressed as “Her Majesty.” J  

It’s a sunny day here on WanaLuvaPir’ate Beach. Jack believes that since I have named him my official consort he should no longer have to man the tiki bar....

Tink: Ah, no matter! Rachel, if you were a cocktail, what would you be and why?

Rachel: Rum and diet coke – Rum because I’d love to live somewhere hot and sultry with white sands and blue sea and diet coke because I’m a traditional kind of girl too. Does that make any sense at all, lol?!

Tink: Of course it makes sense – and most appropriate considering PutSomeRumin’it meets all your qualifications! Now for a game of Desert Island. Ready? If you were stuck on a desert island and could bring only one of the following…what would they be? Person? Song? Book?

Rachel: Person – This feels so unfair because I’ve got two kids who I’d love there too BUT for the sake of romance, I will say my husband. He’s still my best friend after 19 years together and know he’d always make me laugh.

Song – “She” by Elvis Costello (my favorite song EVER!)

Book – Because I’d want a hefty tome that I could read again and again, I’ll say Gone With The Wind. I have made a ceremony of reading the book every 10 years since my 15^th birthday. So far I have read it three times – the next due date is 2019!

Tink: Excellent choice! Rhett Butler was my second choice for official consort…but alas, Jackie charmed the title out of me. Now for a bit about your book. What are the first words your hero speaks to your heroine (or vice versa)?

Rachel: “What are you--” (my heroine)

“Doing rummaging around in your rubbish?” (my hero)

From Paying The Piper

Tink: Intriguing! Would you define your hero as an alpha or a beta? Why?

Rachel: Jimmy is most definitely beta – I can’t even write alpha heroes, I’m afraid. As I don’t find alpha men that attractive in the real world, I find them incredibly hard to write in the imaginary one. I love a hero who is the whole physical package on the outside but softer in the center. That’s makes a real man to me rather than a guy going around shouting the odds!

Tink: Does your hero prefer to wear boxers, briefs, a kilt? Or commando? ;)

Rachel: Boxers.

Tink: What is your heroine’s idea of the perfect date?

Rachel: Naked in bed with Jimmy – door shut, wine opened, old movie on the TV and her father and the business far, far away.

Tink: I could relate to Grace. What is your favorite thing about each character?

Rachel: Grace (my heroine) – her tenacity and her undying loyalty to her mother. I admire her in ways I never knew I would when I was creating her. She has a tough job but is able to look after her loved ones at the same time.

Jimmy (my hero) – his pride. Rather than being a sin in Jimmy, it’s his essence. He takes pride in his work, his kids (he’s a social worker in charge of several homeless children) and his decisions. He bows down to no one and I really like that in a man. He gets what he wants through hard work and consideration. Yes, I am in love with him… J

Tink: Now for a more in-depth look at the author… *puts on her smart glasses* I will now ask you a round of nosy and nonsensical questions developed by Bernard Peevo and used by James Lipton on Inside the Actor’s Studio…. Brace yourself J What’s your favorite word? Least favorite?

Rachel: Possibility  - Favorite

Prejudice - Least

Tink: What sound or noise do you love? Hate?

Rachel: Noise I love – my kids belly-laughing

 Noise I hate – my kids fighting!

Tink: What’s your favorite curse word?

Rachel: I honestly don’t curse a lot (I leave that for hubby!) – “Crap” is usually enough for me to vent my frustration, lol!

Tink: We have that in common, Rachel…though Jack mostly keeps his cursing to bugger. What profession other than yours would you like to attempt?

Rachel: Editing – I quite fancy the idea of getting to read all those stories first and helping writers craft it into a bigger and better story. That must be such a fantastic motivation for getting up every day J

Tink: There, that wasn’t so bad, was it? Now, just in time for our weekly luau, let’s share a sneak peak from Paying the Piper with the Cozies back home….

She sat bolt upright. “Where are you going?”

“To the soup kitchen. Four of my kids have been helping out down there today, so if you don’t need me ‘til seven--”

“Can I come?”

“What?”

“What?” Gerald echoed.

Jimmy stared at her. Was she serious? But knew he wouldn’t refuse her when her eyes were wide with that damn innocent doe-eyed look again and her cheeks flushed pink. He swallowed, clenched his hands into fists inside his pockets.

“You want to come to the soup kitchen?” he asked, hoping against hope he’d gotten the wrong end of the proverbial stick.

She winked, and it had as much the same effect as if she’d wrapped her hand around his penis. “Why not?”

He opened his mouth. Shut it. Opened it, took a breath, but still nothing came out. Her smile widened. “Cat got your tongue, Jimmy Boy?”

Just a few short days ago at her mother’s pub, he’d wanted to ravish her, possess her, let her know what she did to him. And now the same desire coursed through his veins again. She never stopped surprising him and it just added more fuel to the already burning fire.

“And why would you want to do that?” he asked.

“Beats going into the club early,” she said, brushing past him.

She wandered across the room. Her slender body sashaying around the furniture and then her piece de resistance was to snake all five feet nine inches of it across the oblong dining table to grab her bag--the sight of her perfect ass and even better legs sent Jimmy’s senses skyrocketing. His nostrils flared. Grace by name, Grace by nature. She was beautiful, sexy, funny, and he didn’t doubt for one minute she knew exactly what the sight of her did to him.

She turned around and hitched the bag onto her shoulder. “My life is sad. I’ve got nothing else planned for the afternoon. Come on, Jimmy, help me show my father I have a life away from him. Even if it is a complete lie, for now.”

He threw his hands in the air. “Fine.”

Tink: And the final questions Jack has been waiting all day to ask…. If you could choose anyone in the world to be the captain of your…er…ship…who would it be? J

Rachel: My husband – without sounding corny, he is the best man in the world. Seriously.

Tink: I sense a theme here with romance writers and their husbands ;) Which savvy piece of the Caribbean would you most like to take home – the Black Pearl, the Dead Man’s Chest, or the Fountain of Youth?

Rachel: Is this a good place to admit I’ve never watched any of the movies only trailers? Shall I tip-toe out of here now…

Tink: Not at all! I’m glad I could introduce you. *lowers voice* Though we won’t tell Jack. J Would you rather take your chances with a zombie, a mermaid, or Blackbeard?

Rachel: A mermaid – has to be better odds of survival, doesn’t it? Yes? No?

Tink: Mermaids can be avoided if, as Georgie pointed out last week, one stays out of the water – so very wise choice on your part.

And most importantly…Captain Jack Sparrow, Will Turner or Commodore Norrginton? ;)

Rachel: In any other role it would be my boy Johnny but as Sparrow, not so much. I’ll take Will, thank you very much J

Tink: Ah, Will – Amber will be pleased he made a cameo on WannaLuvaPir'ate this week….

Tink: And now we hula! From PutSomeRumin’it…this is Tink, Rachel, and Jack signing off….

Thank you to Tink (and Jack, of course) for another great interview. And to Rachel for answering Tink's nonsensical questions. She does love nosing around. And so glad I’ve found another lady who would choose Will Turner over Jack Sparrow…though I will admit it can be a difficult decision at times....

Rachel lives with her husband and two young daughters in a small town near Bath in the UK.  She started writing short stories about eight years ago but once her children were at school, she embarked on her first novel. It was published in 2007. Since then, she’s had several books published with The Wild Rose Press, Eternal Press and Lyrical Press.  She recently acquired a US agent with her second Victorian historical. A member of the Romantic Novelists Association and Romance Writers of America, Rachel hopes to have a further two novels, one contemporary and one Victorian published in 2012. When she isn’t writing, you’ll find Rachel with her head in a book or walking the beautiful English countryside with her family.  Her dream place to live is Bourton-on-the-Water in South West England. And in the evening? Well, a well-deserved glass of wine is never, ever refused… Find out more about Rachel at her website, blog, Twitter, and Facebook!

***Cozies, for this week's discussion - do you prefer your heroes alphas or betas?

****GIVEAWAY: For one lucky commenter today Rachel is generously offering a free download of the winner’s choice from her backlist, including her most recent release, Paying the Piper! Enter before midnight EST tomorrow evening for a chance to win and be sure to check back in Sunday morning to see if you have won….

(Must be 18 years or older to enter; chances of winning depend on the number of entries.)

Cozy Guest Friday: Georgie Lee

Welcome to this week’s edition of Cozy Guest Friday! Today’s victim…*ahem* special guest is Georgie Lee, author of A Little Legal Luck available now from The Wild Rose Press....

 On St. Patrick’s Day, the last thing paralegal Lisa Brennan needs is another lawyer in her life, but when handsome attorney Daniel Wilson shows he’s a sweetheart in an industry of sharks, she’s intrigued. Daniel is impressed by the pretty paralegal and her desire to succeed despite a bad job, but with the pressure of running his own firm, does he have time for a relationship? Thrown together in the jury pool, Lisa must overcome her prejudices about attorneys to trust Daniel and get lucky in love.

Stay tuned for a sneak peek into A Little Legal Luck! We go now to our Cozy correspondent Tink, live from her favorite tropical island of PutSomeRumin’it along with a few of her swashbuckling friends. Take it away, Tink….

*luau music*

Tink: Hello, Cozies! It’s a sunny day here on WanaLuvaPir’ate Beach. *rings bell* Jack will get you something to drink from the tiki bar…. Jack?

Tink: Oh, never mind. The rum’s probably gone anyway. Speaking of cocktails… Georgie, if you were a mixed drink what would you be and why?

Georgie: A pina colada, I’m a little bit serious, a little bit fruity and all in a curvy glass.

Tink: Excellent answer! We’ll have Jack bring us a round of those when he’s done playing tag with his friends. We’ll pass the time playing a round of Desert Island. Ready?.... If you were stuck on a desert island and could bring only one of the following…what would they be? Person? Song? Book?

Georgie: I suppose a survival guide would be the most practical thing but I think I would bring my husband.

Tink: Most importantly….what would you name your pet gourd? :)

Georgie: Gordy.

Tink: Now for a bit about your book. While we’re playing with the island jukebox, I might as well ask…if you wrote to music, what would be this book’s theme song?

Georgie: Irish Eyes Are Smiling. A Little Legal Luck takes place on St. Patrick’s Day and Irish imagery plays a big part in the story.

Tink: What are the first words your hero speaks to your heroine?

Georgie: “We aren’t going to get pinched today, are we?” These are Daniel’s first words to Lisa.

Tink: Would you define your hero as an alpha or a beta? Why?

Georgie: Alpha. He’s an attorney who put himself through law school and now runs his own firm. He takes chances and goes after what he wants.

Tink: Does your hero prefer to wear boxers, briefs, a kilt? Or does he go commando?

Georgie: Boxer-briefs. He likes the support but doesn’t want to be too snug.

Tink: What is your heroine’s idea of the perfect date?

Georgie: An evening at an Irish pub with a pint of Guinness and some greasy pub food.

Tink: What is your favorite thing about each character?

Georgie: I love Lisa’s determination and the way she keeps trying despite a number of setbacks. I love Daniel’s sweet side. He’s a lawyer but he isn’t the stereotypical sleezeball.

Tink: More seriously, what was your biggest challenge crafting this story or these characters?

Georgie: The biggest challenge was weaving in the Irish elements without being corny or disrupting the story. I wanted St. Patrick’s Day to play a part in the story but I didn’t want to hit people over the head with the Blarney Stone.

Tink: Now for a more in-depth look at the author… *puts on her smart glasses* I will now ask you a round of nosy and nonsensical questions developed by Bernard Peevo and used by James Lipton on Inside the Actor’s Studio…. Brace yourself J What’s your favorite word? Least favorite?

Georgie: Cloy is my least favorite word. When I took the GRE (the most pointless test in the universe, I might add), this word kept coming up in the study guide, and for some reason, I could never remember the definition. My favorite word is clearance. I hate paying full price for anything.

Tink: What’s your favorite curse word?

Georgie: A lady never cusses, dammit.

Tink: What profession other than yours would you like to attempt?

Georgie: I once considered becoming a pharmacist but alas, math and science are not my strong points.

Tink: What profession would you not like to participate in?

Georgie: Corporate motivational speaking. I just cannot shovel that much manure all while pretending to believe it.

Tink: There, that wasn’t so bad, was it? Now, just in time for the luau, let’s share a sneak peak from A Little Legal Luck with the Cozies back home….

“I’m hoping St. Patrick smiles on me today and I get picked for a trial.” Lisa laughed, finding the stranger’s upbeat mood infectious. “I’d kiss a lot of blarney stone to get out of work for a few days.”



He leaned forward, dropping his voice. “Then we must be the only two people here eager to do our patriotic duty.”


Glancing around the room at the bored women watching the morning show on the large overhead TVs and the college students absorbed in their i whatevers, she had the distinct feeling they were in the minority. “You want to serve?”


“I’m a lawyer, I know how important jurors are to the system.”


Her body tensed and the muscles in the back of her neck tightened.


Not all lawyers are like Lou, she reminded herself, taking a deep breath and forcing herself to relax.


Thankfully, he didn’t seem to notice her unconscious reaction as he held out his hand, and smiled, revealing perfect white teeth. “Daniel Wilson.” She grasped his hand, her skin tingling as his long fingers curled around hers.

Tink: And the final questions Jack has been dying to ask all day…. If you could choose anyone in the world to be the captain of your…er…ship…who would it be? J

Georgie: My husband, of course. Followed a close second by Mr. Darcy.

Tink: Which savvy piece of the Caribbean would you most like to take home – the Black Pearl, the Dead Man’s Chest, or the Fountain of Youth?

Georgie: I’ll take the Fountain of Youth please. Oil of Olay isn’t working like it used to.

Tink: Would you rather take your chances with a zombie, a mermaid, or Blackbeard?

Georgie: A mermaid. Like Jaws, if you stay out of the water, you aren’t in danger.

Tink: And most importantly…Captain Jack Sparrow or Will Turner? ;)

Georgie: This will surprise you, but my answer is none of the above. Captain Norrington is the man for me. The uniform, the accent, the height all combined with a calm commanding presence in the face of trouble. Yummy.

Tink: Ah, Norrington. Not to be forgotten! Especially when he comes back all disheveled-like in POTC: Dead Man's Chest.

Tink: C'mon, who doesn't want to hug that? And now we hula! From PutSomeRumin’it…this is Tink, Georgie, and Jack signing off….

A dedicated history and film buff, Georgie Lee loves combining her passion for Hollywood, history and storytelling through romantic fiction. She began writing professionally at a small TV station in San Diego before moving to Los Angeles to work in the interesting but strange world of the entertainment industry. When not writing, she enjoys reading non-fiction history and watching any movie with a costume and an accent. Visit  www.georgie-lee.com to learn more about Georgie and her books! She can also be found on Facebook and Twitter....

Readers, Jack still seems to be drumming up some votes for himself. If you had to choose between our naughty pirate, Will Turner, or Norrington, who would it be?

All I want for Christmas...is an HEA!

I'm a big believer in Happy Endings. Well, duh. I'm a romance writer! Happy endings are a MUST in romance! While on writing break between the completion of my 2nd paranormal and November's NaNoWriMo, I'm catching up on my TBR pile as well as all those movies I didn't get to see over the spring and summer...as well as a few more that have slipped through the cracks over the years. And an alarming trend has started to fan my ire. With reading, this isn't a problem because I know my copy of J.R. Ward's Covet or Nora Roberts' Black Hills is absolutely, positively going to have a happy ending. But with movies? It's a real gamble. This is a major reason I rarely go to the movie theater anymore. Unless it's Harry Potter or the latest Jane Austen adaptation. I can't stand walking away from my $8 with nothing but a half-eaten bag of too-salty popcorn and major disappointment.


It all started with The Break Up. Yes, I KNOW it was called The Break Up. That's why there's a break up in the end. But I had some hope that Vince and Jenn would work things out in the end. If I'd written the frigging script, you can be darn sure they would've found some kind of compromise. Preferrably without the strippers and concert-ditching. Come on! It was supposed to be a romantic comedy. So why did I cry? And not in a good way.


Then there was Atonement. Oy vey. Keira Knightley was not only coming off Pirates with Johnny and Orlando but Pride & Prejudice with MacFayden, too, to be paired with Mr. Tumnus a.k.a. Mr. LeFroy a.k.a the dreamy Mr. McAvoy!!! All this boils down to Amber's supreme anticipation. I expected a sweeping, odds-defying, somewhat wrenching World War II romance. It's certainly possible - I WROTE ONE! Well, the most wrenching thing about this film was the fact that the story actually makes you believe for a time that they do in fact have a happy ending. Only - record scratching (literally) - nope! The narrator made it up to salve her own guilt. They didn't just not get their HEA. They both DIED. Horribly! I had to watch the entire Cap'n Jack collection and down half a bottle of wine just to feel better!!!


At the HeartLA Readers Luncheon this past weekend, author Cynthia Eden listed her reasons for reading romance. And yep, that guarenteed HEA came in first with much nodding and applauding of agreeance from everyone present. So I beseech moviemakers out there to take a leaf out of the billion-dollar romance industry. If you're going to make millions off your latest film, make your audience walk away feeling a bit better about the world. You can be dang sure that no happy ending equals no moolah out of my wallet for you. Who's with me? Whadaya say, readers? Seen any bad endings onscreen lately that made you want to take your $8 back? And this lady could definitely use a couple of guarenteed HEA's on her must-see list. Any recommendations?


*Since it's October, we're celebrating at The Roses of Prose this week with...National Popcorn Month! Didn't know about this one, did ya? No worries - I added a little Halloween-y treat: an exclusive excerpt from my paranormal Urban Secrets. To see how it fits into the whole Popcorn Month thing, read it here!