Tuesday, July 17, 2012

Opinions are like...

Well, I don't need to finish that sentence. You know where I was headed. I make this point because as the release of Frozen Heart approaches, the issue of reviews becomes...complicated. I'm not talking about the book bloggers and general reviews from strangers on Goodreads and Amazon. Some of them will like it, some of them will be unenthused, and some of them will wish they could beat me with a sock full of pennies for every single word. That's how this whole thing works and I'm totally prepared for it.


The tricky part is friends and family. All of my wonderful friends who have supported me through the ups and downs of this roller coaster want to read it. Aunts, uncles, cousins, and parents want to read it. And while I want them to read it, I don't. Because there is absolutely NO WAY they can be objective. And even if they think it's so bad that they can't help but hate it, they will be compelled to tell me they loved it. It's a terrible situation.

Then there is the very heated debate about whether or not you should "allow" your friends and family to review your books in public arenas (ie:Amazon, Goodreads, B&N.com, et al). I'm torn. On the one hand, *I* want to do nice things for my friends and *I* would want to leave a positive review for any friend of mine. Yet, this is often seen as "padding" the reviews. But what if my friend really does like my book and wants to leave a review saying as much? Do I ask her not to because in the eyes of half the literary world she's not an impartial judge and has no right to review my book? Or do I thank her and bask in the glow of her 5 star review?

It's quite the conundrum.

So, I'm taking this moment to say, officially, to all of my friends and family:

I TRUST YOUR JUDGEMENT.

There, I said it. You're all adults (well, most of you, anyway) and you can, and will, do what you feel is best. You don't need me to chase you down and tell you that a host of people who think they're better writers than everyone else and will nitpick every review under my book so please, please, pretty please don't make it obvious you're my friend if you review my book. You know what? If I didn't have any friends that wanted to review my book, there'd be a good chance I was a recluse living in my mom's basement. So, THANK YOU for reading my book at all, no matter what you decide to do in the end.

One caveat: if you hate my book, please don't give me that awkward smile and say "it was nice".  Just tell me you hated it and why so I can write something better next time. That is, unless you hate books with sex in them, then you're SOL because my books will always have sex in them *nods*.

Frozen Heart comes out exactly 3 weeks from today...

Sunday, July 8, 2012

Magic Mike Mania

One question I've been asked repeatedly is when am I going to see Magic Mike. Not if, when. I know, everyone assumes since I am heavily entrenched in the erotic romance genre that I am a friend of the mostly-naked-male. And while I do love a mostly-naked-male, I'm not a big fan of male strippers. Or female strippers, for that matter, but that's a subject for another time.



I'll allow you a few minutes to retrieve your jaw from the floor.

It's true. I don't get down with the whole "flail around like a fool with a dollar bill in my hand to get the attention of a dude gyrating in a sequined banana hammock" thing. I might, and I stress MIGHT, consider visiting a strip club with a select few of my girlfriends who I could count on to compose themselves in the same aloof manner men feign when partaking of the pay-per-booty-shake. Maybe, but not likely.

I won't bore you with my very long diatribe about gender inequalities in regards to sexual behavior, practice, and overall societal expectations. Instead, I'll sum it up like this:

It's not hard to find a man who will get naked for you...FOR FREE.

No, really. There are an ungodly amount of men who will happily show you the goods with nary a moments notice. See a half way decent looking guy at your friend's birthday party? Wonder if he's packin' heat or pinky-hung? Crook your finger at him, lead him to a quiet room and straight up ask him, "Can I see your cock-a-doodle-doo?" 2 to 1 he drops trou before you finish your sentence.

"But these guys are built and hot," you cry. Built, sure. Hot, that's debatable. Time for shocked #2: I'm not jazzed up by any of those actors. I'm not saying you shouldn't be, as we all have our own preferences, but they don't float my boat.

So, in summary, I won't be seeing Magic Mike any time soon. But, if you're looking for some hot guys and are a fan of M/M erotica, I suggest the Holsum College series by Daisy Harris. Each novella is fantastic, and in contrast to the way Magic Mike hides the main attraction of man-bits, the Holsum College guys leave nothing to the imagination.

Happy Reading!


Saturday, July 7, 2012

The Carny by Brooke Moss Release Day Celebration!

Hey friends! Things are busy as always around here, but I couldn't let this slip by without sharing it with you all.

I know you're always looking for something new, something out of the ordinary, something that will knock your socks off. I am so excited to introduce you to this awesome new book The Carny by Brooke Moss.


Two people from opposite worlds, one unforgettable kiss.
You can't judge a carny by its cover.
At a town fair on the coast of Oregon, handsome Native American carny, Vincent Youngblood, bestows an unforgettable kiss on shy, awkward teenager, Charlotte Davenport. Then disappears without another word, leaving her baffled and enamored.
                  Ten years later, Charlotte is still living in the small fishing town of Astoria, while being trained to--reluctantly--take over for her philandering hotelier father when he retires. After all, who else will do it? Her two perfect sisters are busy being married to their flawless husbands and having cookie cutter children, while Charlotte remains single, childless, and every bit as mousy as she was a decade ago.
                  As Charlotte struggles to climb out from underneath her judgmental parents thumb, the carnival rolls back into town, and Charlotte finds herself face to face with Vin again. He's back to run his father's carnival, walking away from a promising career in medicine he started in Chicago. Will her biased and judgmental family accept her relationship with a man who is not only a Native American, but works as a carny for a living? And what unsavory secrets bind the well-educated and seemingly superlative Vin to that ramshackle carnival? After all, you can’t judge a carny by its cover.

Here's the cover. Isn't it mysterious and lovely? *sigh* I've even got a special teaser quote for you! I know, how lucky are we?



"“If you think for a second that this man, this Vin—what kind of a name is that, anyway—is really in it because he loves you, you’re headed for another heartache.” She reached over and ran a hand across my bedspread. “This bed set is getting awfully worn out. We should buy a new one.” My mouth hung open. “That was the worst segue-way I’ve ever heard. You just insulted my boyfriend and suggested we redecorate my bedroom all in one sentence.”"


The reviews for The Carny have been spectacular. 



"Sweet, subtle, heart-warming romance." --USA Today Bestselling Author, Nicola Marsh
"Brooke Moss is a gifted storyteller. With a compelling plot and characters who will steal your heart, The Carny is a winner." -- Cate Lord, author of Lucky Girl.


The best part is right now, at Inkspell Publishing  you can get a special EXCLUSIVE 30% discount! (Offer valid until 14th July) 


If you want to learn even more about Charlotte, you can get the awesome short story  “Charlotte’s Wedding” for free! Only till 10th July!

If for some reason you miss the chance to get this fantastic new book at the discounted price, you can get a copy at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and The Book Depository .

Happy Reading!