A Lot Like Love

A Lot Like Love is the latest book by Julie James. From the author’s website.~

The FBI wants her cooperation.

As the daughter of a billionaire and the owner of the city’s top wine store, Jordan Rhodes is invited to the most exclusive parties in Chicago. But there’s only one party the FBI wants to crash: the charity fundraiser of a famous restaurateur, who also happens to launder money for the mob. In exchange for her brother’s release from prison, Jordan is going to be there—with a date supplied by the Bureau.

Agent McCall just wants her.

As the top undercover agent in Chicago, Nick McCall has one rule: never get personal. This “date” with Jordan Rhodes is merely an assignment—one they’re both determined to pull off even if they can’t be together for five minutes before the sarcasm and sparks begin to fly. But when Nick’s investigation is compromised, he and Jordan have no choice but to pretend they’re a couple, and what starts out as a simple assignment begins to feel a lot like something more. . .

I’m so glad my friend Stacy suggested Julie’s books to me when her first book, Just the Sexiest Man Alive was released. I’ve been a huge fan every since. Julie gives her readers another winner with A Lot Like Love.

Jordan and Nick butt heads from their first meeting, but you could feel the sexual tension from the beginning. Jordan agrees to work with the FBI to help her twin brother get out of prison early. What should have been a one night job turns into an open-ended job. As Jordan and Nick spend more time together, it becomes harder and harder for them to fight their attraction to one another. It is super hot when Jordan and Nick finally get together. I loved Nick from the beginning, but Jordan is my favorite character from this book. She is such a strong woman and is willing to do anything to help her family.

We also get to meet Jordan’s twin brother Kyle, who everyone in prison calls Sawyer because he looks so much like Sawyer from LOST. I loved Kyle from his very first appearance and am so excited he is getting his own book, About That Night, which will be Julie’s 5^th book and is scheduled for release April 2012.

5K Training Begins Soon

So, I start my newest 5K training program on Tuesday evening. I've done the No Boundaries training before and it really helped me to stick to my goal. Since I've managed to gain back most of the weight I lost last year, I need something to kick my butt into gear. I've decided running, in combination with eating right will get me back on track.

Since I have done the training before, I'm hoping I'll be able to run more than walk/run through most of the training. The training is to prepare me to run a 5K on July 4th. My goal is to run as much of this race as possible and be in good enough shape by the end of October to run an entire 5K without walking.

I also plan on updating my blog each week. I currently have 4 book review to post as well as an update for the end of the week on how my first week of training goes. I've gotten behind on my blogging in the last few weeks, but it really is something I want to improve on this year.

Easter Blog Hop Winner

I had so much fun hosting my first ever giveaway! Thanks for all those who stopped by and all my new followers. My plan is to do a giveaway a month from this point forward.

I picked the winner using random.org. The winner is #33 librarypat! I'll send you an email out this morning. Silver shipped out some goodies to go with your new books, so I'll ship everything out once I receive those in the mail.

Easter Blog Hop featuring Silver James

I’m so happy to be part of the Easter Hoppin’ Blog Hop. As soon as I was asked to join, I knew which author and giveaway I wanted to feature. I’ve only been blogging for about 5 years. The very first blog I ever visited was The Plotmonkeys blog (www.plotmonkeys.com). I’ve made lots of friends while hanging out in the jungle. I count each of the Plotmonkeys as my friends as well as all of the jungle dwellers. One of the jungle dwellers, Silver James (www.silverjames.com), announced one day in the jungle that she had started a blog and asked everyone to swing by her blog. Since I’d been talking with Silver for a while at that point, I made sure I stopped by her blog. Silver told me I was the very first visitor to ever post a comment on her blog, and her blog is a daily stop for me. I’ve celebrated with Silver on-line when her first book was published and even was lucky enough to meet her in person and hang out with her at the 2010 RWA conference in Orlando.

I pulled Silver’s bio from her website and then asked her to answer a few questions so everyone could learn more about her.

From the author’s website.~
I’m Silver James and I write romance novels filled with magic and mystery! I’m a proud member of the Oklahoma Outlaws – the wonderful ladies of Oklahoma Romance Writers Association, RWA, and ESPAN, the digital chapter of RWA. I’ve been married to my best friend, who also happens to be an attorney, for twenty-seven years. Our wonderful daughter is a museum studies honors graduate pursuing her Masters in history, as love she came by honestly from her dad and me both. Over the course of my lifetime, I’ve been a military officer’s wife, state appellate court marshall, airport rescue firefighter and forensic fire photographer, crime analyst, and technical crime scene investigator. I’ve since retired from the “real world” and live in Oklahoma. I spend my days at the computer with my two Newfoundland dogs, the “lolcat” who rules us all, and myriad characters all clamoring for attention. Eventually, I’ll get around to telling each of their stories.

When did you start writing?
I think I’ve written all my life—or maybe it just seems that way. I scribbled out stories when I was in grade school and I actually wrote a “novel” when I was in junior high—staring my best friend, me, and the two rock stars we had crushes on.

Who is your biggest supporter of you writing?
My husband, aka Lawyer Guy. He’s been my biggest cheerleader for thirty years now. But a close second would have to be my friends and fans, of which you are a main one! (No, I’m not sucking up to you. Really. ;-P)

How did you celebrate your first published book?
Lawyer Guy brought me a dozen roses, a framed print of my cover, and a leather journal that had the Celtic heart symbol embossed on the cover. All together now, “Awwwwww!” He really is a romantic at heart and I’m lucky he puts up with all those sexy men in my imagination.

Who is your favorite author/writer?
Wow. This is a tough one. My “chicken soup” author is JD Robb. I can read her IN DEATH series over and over and those are the books I reach for when I need a boost. There are others on my automatic buy list, like Jennifer Lyon, Roxanne St. Claire, Leslie Kelly/Leslie Parrish, and now Larissa Ione, as I’ve just succumbed to her Demonica series.

Name 5 of your favorite books.
1. NAKED IN DEATH (the first Eve Dallas book – JD Robb)
2. NIGHT MAGIC (Jennifer Lyon’s Wing Slayer series)
3. THE MOONSPINNERS (Mary Stewart – and nothing like the Disney movie starring Hayley Mills)
4. THE SPY WHO LOVED ME (Ian Fleming – and again, NOTHING like the James Bond movie of the same title.)
5. TRINITY (Leon Uris – my introduction to Irish politics in fictionalized form)

Describe your typical day.
Ah, the joy of being a writer! I get up between six and eight. That’s A.M.! The exact time depends on LG and the dogs. Once everyone is cared for, I grab my first cup of coffee and head to my office, switch on the computer and proceed to waste an hour or so on blogs, twitter, and email. Then I get my third cup of coffee, open my current WIP and work for an hour or so. If I need to run errands, I get dressed and head out. If not, I remain in my jammies and keep writing. In the afternoon, I deal with planning dinner, dogs, the lolcat who rules us all, write, and visit on-line with friends. About five, I break to fix dinner, visit with LG when he gets home, we eat, I clean up, and then I either head back to the computer to finish up the scene I’ve been working on or to conduct more research. (Finding menu items for Saturday Brunch is hard work but somebody has to do it! Ah, the sacrifices I make for my friends. ;-) ) Sometimes, I get to view more TV than what LG and I watch during dinner, or I’ll head to bed to curl in with a good book. I never have enough time to read!

When will your next book be published?
My second novella in the Class of ’85 Reunion series comes out April 27th. It’s in digital only. Sadly, I don’t have contracts on any of the current crop of novels. Secret Agent Lady has three different manuscripts and I’m working on more! Hopefully, I’ll have good news to report sooner than later.

What stories are you currently working on (Faerie Fool, hint, hint, hint)?
Ha! Just for you, I opened the MS for FOOL this week and added some new words to it! Are you happy now? Rory and Delaney were not cooperating and I’ve had a running feud with Abhean over the story. That pesky fae will be the death of Iffy yet! (Iffy is my Muse, FYI.) We’ve called a truce though, and I now have a better idea where the story is supposed to go. I’m also working on a steampunk romance with a vampire and zombies and a werewolf anthology about some very…gifted soldiers. Good thing Iffy runs with scissors, right?

I’m a huge fan of Silver’s work. I’ve read everything she has written that has been published, and most of her stories before they were published. I especially love her Tir Nan Óg series. As part of the Easter Hoppin’ Blog Hop, I’m giving away the first two books in the series, Faerie Fate and Faerie Fire, as well as some goodies Silver has agreed to throw in. Due to shipping cost, this giveaway is limited to US/Canada. Please include your email address in your comment if not listed in your profile. I'll post the winner on my blog at the end of the Blog Hop, as well as email the winner. Winner must respond within 7 days or a new winner will be drawn.

Faerie Fate

If you could go back, do it over again, would you take a chance to find true love? What if you had no choice?
On her fiftieth birthday, the faerie send Rebecca Miller a thousand years into the past to find her happily ever after with Ciaran MacDermot, Chief of Clann MacDermot, the last Fenian warrior in his line. In the twenty-first century, Becca is old enough to be Ciaran’s mother. In the tenth, she’s young enough to be his bride.

The fae forgot to mention one slight stipulation. The lovers must be bound before the Festival of Light, or Becca will forever disappear into Tir Nan Óg , the faerie Land of the Ever Young. Will they discover the binding words before time runs out and they’re torn apart forever? Or will their eternal love defeat their Faerie Fate?

Faerie Fire

In the second book of the Tir Nan Óg, the feud between the two faeries, Manannan Mac Lir and Abhean the Harper, which has simmered throughout time, finally bubbles over. Continuing the theme of reincarnation and chances missed in the past affecting the present, Faerie Fire introduces new characters, descendants of the families first met in Faerie Fate.

Old grudges. Family secrets. Vows intended but never sworn. Memories of lives entwined then ripped apart…

When Moira O’Connor first touches SAS Captain Duncan Ross time turns topsy-turvy. She recalls memories of a former life, one in which Duncan was her lover—one in which he arrived too late to save Moira’s life as she was burned for a witch.

In their present life, while Duncan faces his own demons, he must save Moira from the Irish terrorist threatening her father, a US Senator. This time he’s determined to save the woman he loves, even if he must sacrifice his life for hers. Will Duncan and Moira survive to say the vows, binding their lives for all eternity?

On Midsummer’s Eve, when the veil between the realms thins, will faerie magic work miracles or will the lovers succumb to Faerie Fire? Without the words, history is doomed to repeat itself.

H

Treachery In Death

Treachery in Death is the latest release by J.D. Robb. From the inside cover flap.~

Eve Dallas and her partner, Peabody, are following up on a brutal, senseless crime-an elderly grocery owner killed by three stoned punks for nothing more than kicks and snacks. And for the first time, Peabody is primary detective on the case, which means she has to get used to a new level of authority and responsibility. Good thing she learned the ropes from a master like Eve.

But after rounding up the perps, Peabody stumbles upon a trickier situation. Determined to start working out as hard as she grills suspects, she chooses to do it at the old, rarely used gym at Central. After a grueling workout, she squeezes into one of the narrow shower stalls, happy to have the place to herself. Just after she shuts the water off, the gym door clatters open-and while she cringes inside the stall, trying not to make a sound, Peabody overhears two fellow officers, Garnet and Oberman, arguing. References are made to delivering product, and a house in the islands, and someone named Keener who’s supposed to look like an OD. It doesn’t take long for a naked and vulnerable Peabody to realize that both officers are crooked-guilty not just of corruption but of murder as well. Fortunately, the two clear out of the locker room without realizing there was a witness.

Eve Dallas may have trained Peabody well-but this is too dangerous for one person to take on alone. Now Peabody, Eve, and her husband, Roarke, must try to get the hard evidence they need to bring the dirty cops down-knowing all the while that the two have already killed to keep their secret, and are no doubt willing to do it again.

I believe Treachery in Death is the 32^nd installment in JD Robb’s popular In Death series. I’m a huge fan of the In Death series. So much so that I buy the books in hardback the day they are released and usually stay up almost all night reading. This time, I was in the middle of judging a contest, so I had to wait over a week after the release date to read it. I loved Treachery in Death! Fans get the usual kick-ass Eve Dallas moments with this book, but the added bonus to me was seeing how far Peabody has come since she became Eve’s partner. Peabody holds her own in this book, especially when she is hiding in the shower while Garnet and Oberman discuss their business. With the help of Roarke, Feeney, McNab, Dr. Mira, Webster, and even the Commander, Eve and Peabody work to bring down a group of dirty cops.

I personally thought Treachery in Death was more like the early books in the In Death series. I liked that we got to see a bit of Mavis, Louise, and Nadine in this book. I really miss when Eve’s friends don’t appear in each book. Of course, there is such an amazing group of characters in this series, it must be hard to fit everyone in for each book. I’m looking forward to the next book in the series, New York to Dallas, which is set to release on September 13, 2011. This will be the first time in the series that In Death will not appear in the title, and I’m hoping we will learn even more about Eve’s past in the next installment.

Virgin River Series Part 1

My friend Paula has been suggesting Robyn Carr’s Virgin River series almost from the minute we started talking on various blogs. Before we met at RWA last July, she had invited me to go to the Jack’s Bar luncheon with Robyn. I had started reading Robyn’s Grace Valley series, but hadn’t finished it yet, nor had I started the Virgin River books. Right before JR Ward’s Lover Unleashed came out in March, I decided I wanted to take a break from paranormal books until Lover Unleashed came out, so I decided to start on the Virgin River series. I have to say thank you again and again to Paula for introducing me not only to Robyn, but also to her books.

I’ve now read the first 5 books in the series and was hooked from the minute I started reading. I loved Jack from the moment he appeared in Virgin River. I love Jack and Melinda together and love getting to see how they are doing in each of the books in the series. Paula told me I would soon fall for Preacher when I read Shelter Mountain, and she was so right…once again. Preacher “John” and Paige are so sweet together and there is just something about watching a big bear of a man fall totally and completely in love. Next up was Mike and Brie in Whispering Rock. I almost felt sorry for Mike, since Brie is Jack’s baby sister. However, Brie had no problem letting all the men in her life know what she wanted. Brie had survived an assault and rape and with Mike’s love she came back stronger than ever before.

Next up was A Virgin River Christmas. We once again get to see all our favorites from the Virgin River series, and get to meet Marcie and Ian in this book. According to Robyn’s website, it is the 4^th book in the series, but I really think it is more of a stand-alone book.

The 5^th book in the series is Second Chance Pass. Paul had been in love with Vanni from the first moment he saw her. However, his best friend Matt asked her out first, so Paul stepped aside and hid his feelings for his best friend’s wife. After Matt dies in combat, Paul hangs around to help Vanni get through the birth of her son. Of course, Paul still feels guilty about his feelings and it takes Vanni going out with another man to get him moving. I absolutely love Paul and Vanni and can’t wait to see what the future brings for them throughout the series.

I love this series so much and am so glad I finally listened to my friend Paula. I have all the books in the Virgin River series in my TBR pile and am playing catch up. I’m at book 6 and there are currently 15 books in the series, so I’ll get to spend a good bit of time in Virgin River over the next month or so.

No Boundaries Training...Here I Come

This time last year, I signed up for the No Boundaries training through one of the local fitness stores. Fleet Feet offers a training program to help people prepare to walk, run, or walk/run a 5K. I did three 5ks last year following the training, as well as one 10K. I started training for the Nashville Half Marathon and ended up with a stress fracture in my right foot, and had to stop running for about 8 weeks. About the time my foot healed completely, I was diagnosed with bronchitis. It took me over 4 weeks to recover, and I really haven't run more than a few times since January.

The No Boundaries program helped to get me going last year, so I decided to do the training again this year. We have our first group run on April 26th, but they have suggested we start getting ready for the training by walking or working out at least 3-4 days a week for 30-45 minutes. I figure the training will not only help me to get back into shape, but will also help me with my weight loss. I've really gotten away from taking care of myself lately, and I know this is the first step to get me back on track.

Lover Unleashed Book Signing

Last night my cousins and I spent several hours with lots and lots of BDB fans. We all arrived at least 2 hours before the WARDen was scheduled to appear and had the best time talking about the brothers and what we all thought would happen next. She signed over 1,300 books for the virtual signing. She signed over 600 books at the book signing last night. My cousin Gina took lots of notes at the signing last night and I typed up everything.

The next BDB book will be Tohrment’s book. She is worried about messing it up, but feels it’s time.

We will get Qhuay’s book!!!! It will be a novella, but she didn’t tell us when it will be released. Still needs to write novellas for Rhage & Mary/Wrath & Beth and Tohr’s book. Qhuay’s book will be only about Qhuinn and Blaylock. No world building will happen in their book. Will be more about the romance like in early books. There will be lots of man loving going on and she will not hide anything behind closed doors. Putting in a novella so those who don’t want to read about man-love can opt out of the book without missing anything related to action in the series.

Does Lassiter get a book? Absolutely he gets a book. Not sure if it will be BDB or FA at this point.

Does Throe join the BDB? He’s a little busy right now working with Xcor in his “Band of Bastards”. Too much conflict (she really like Xcor).

Muhrder will be in books soon. Also, he and Xhex have more in common than Xhex knows.

Novellas for Rhage & Mary/Wrath & Beth – She has 40 pages to finish up Rhage & Mary and still needs to write Wrath & Beth’s story. Both novellas will be in one book.

Is Layla going to be with one of the brothers? “No comment” per her people.

Who does Tohr end up with? She wouldn’t answer, but from the last signing, everyone around me thought it is No’One.

Where does Lassiter come from? She is waiting about answering for now.

How easy was it to write V in Lover Unleashed? It was surprisingly easy to write him this time.

Is V going to talk to the Scribe Virgin about Payne? The WARDen was a bit curious about what would happen to the SV. She took a very “I don’t know” about where the SV was going.

When asked about Rhev & Symphaths, imagines Symphaths will become a threat again. Should see more of them in the future.

Butch & Manny’s father – she imagines it will be revealed eventually.

Is Qhuinn’s brother still alive? Yes, but not too happy or healthy.

Why don’t you and V get along? Once again said she should never have revealed about not getting along. Will never tell full story.

Do JM and Mary still have a close relationship? Yes. There are just so many people in the world now, there is no way to show every interaction.

Asked about Qhuinn’s vision and would not tell anything because it would give everything away.

Does Manny “transition”? Told to keep reading

Any new young? The novellas about Rhage & Mary/Wrath & Beth will show more young.

Will there be more interviews? She wants to get a few book books written before doing another Insider’s Guide.

Will the early BDB books be released in hardback? Dark Lover is set to release in hardback and others will release in hardback if Dark Lover sells well. She also believes the covers will stay the same, but wasn’t absolutely sure.

Can Payne regenerate Wrath’s eyes? Unknown if she can or not. Depends on how his eyes were lost. If they were lost due to a degenerative eye disease, it’s possible. Cannot re-grow limbs or eyes.

Is the Old Language based on anything? Not really. She had a tattoo artist come up with the symbols for the language.

Once again asked about coffins and told us she knows why they are there and told us to keep reading. Her assistant would not let her tell us anything.

Are the characters based on anyone in real life? No! Just images that appear in her head and they are never quiet.

Does JM ever discover he is Darius? No, part of the deal with the SV was to not remember that part of his life. Xhex has her suspicions. There will be a lot of JM in Tohr’s book. J

Will there ever be a novella about Butch and V? No. Be happy with the book for Qhuay!

Will there be a Blay/Qhuinn/Layla thing? Keep reading!!!

How do unmated males and females feed? There tends to be non-sexual relationships. Always with witnesses.

How does V maintain the mist around the compound when he leaves? Much like a spell

Asked who she hears in her head when Z sings and she said he sounds like The Three Tenors’ Pavarotti, just a little less warbling.

Who is the leader of the Glymera? We will see in the next book. Things are very different right now.

Will Payne and Manny have a child? Yeah, probably.

Will Phury do his job? No, he is very happy with Cormia. (one word: Trez)

Will the Training Center reopen? Need to be more vamps in Caldwell, but females may be in BDB, Xcor’s group is very effective, so things may seriously change – whole basis of the war will change.

Will the SV face consequences for birthing twins? Keep reading

Is Veck a potential brother? No, he is the hero of Envy, the next Fallen Angel book.

Signing farther South than Ky? Doesn’t travel much because of writing and she is a horrible traveler(her mother and publisher totally agreed she is a horrible traveler). Not anytime soon. Is signing in August in NY and will be at RT2012 in Chicago.

Is Throe related to Rhage? She started plugging her ears as soon as she was asked who Throe was related to and wouldn’t answer.

Does she have any ink? “I’m really not cool enough to write these books.” Not really.

Will more vamps show up from other places? Keep reading

Who is the next shellan to go into her “needing”? She was not allowed to answer.

Who is Xcor’s father? We will learn more later. He has an amazing back story.

Will Michael(from Story of Son) show up? Unknown if they will cross

Will Wellsie ever come back? No. Wellsie is in the fade with their son and she won’t leave him, even for Tohr.

Shitkickers are steel-toed Harley Davidson boots

Who feeds Payne? Payne kinda self-sustains both herself and Manny.

Is the Band of Bastards The Bloodletter’s way to tell the BDB a big FU? Not really. Xcor was really the leader of the group, even when The Bloodletter was still alive. Bloodletter was very bitter about being kicked out of the BDB.

V & Payne each have a glow much like a yin-yang. V destroys and Payne heals.

Will Trez and iAm have books? Absolutely, but unsure when they will happen or how they fit in the series yet.

Will Throe’s history play into books? Probably, but unknown when.

How many more books will be in the series? Pretty much open ended depending on the readers, inspiration, and her health.

Qhuinn is trying to re-invent himself right now. Asked if he will ever put his hardware back in and the WARDen said the holes are still there. Everything is still below the equator, which is funny since he is now celibate.

Asked the name of the 3 cousins and she wouldn’t give their names. However, she does love Zypher.