10. My week – I survived enjoyed vacation last week with the family and in-laws. My kids would live IN the ocean if I let them. The only drama we had was not at the beach, but back in my house. My hamster escaped. The poor high school boy in charge of my pets went into melt down mode. So what did I do? Called my mom! Who called my sister in-law, Shay. I owe her big time. Shay crawled around on her hands and knees inside my house and she miraculously heard the damn hamster IN the vent in my son’s room. She coaxed it out with treats. This is super nice of her because last time she touched the hamster, it bit her so hard, she got light headed from blood loss. I owe her – big time:)
9. River Marked (Mercy Thompson #6) cover – not sure if it is the absolute final, but I like it – very much. Comes out January 25, 2011. You can see more Penguin fall/winter covers HERE.
8. So many, many months, years (it’s been awhile) Pearl told me I must read Lorelei James. So I bought Long Hard Ride and it sat on my Kindle..neglected, begging for me to read the luscious smut. Fast forward and Fiction Vixen discovers this author and tells me I must read this book and then I received an arc of Corralled, a book in her new series. I read Corralled (review next week) and HOLY LUBE OVERLOAD. It is smokin’. Then I read Long Hard Ride and my smutty heart exploded with m/f, m/f/m, m/m/m/f, m/m, m/saddle/f/m…do you get my point? Best of all, it is a FUN story, and the characters are great. I went out and bought the whole series. Cowboys…here I come. Giddy up. Y’all – get reading.
7. Here is my new idea – if any of my readers out there have a topic/book/series/subject – anything they would like to see talked about at Smexy, EMAIL me. Let me know your thoughts or idea. Then YOU will have a chance to co-write the blog post with myself and/or Tori! Or, if you are more comfortable just suggesting the topic and not writing, that is perfectly fine too! So send in your rec’s – and we will chat.
6. Big news people, BIG NEWS. I got tickets to see Brandon Flowers perform at the Highline Ballroom on August 26th in New York City. It is part of his “warm-up tour.” My friend Jessi is coming along and I am so freaking excited I can’t stand it!!!! The venue only holds 700 people…which means there is a 1 in 700 chance he will see me, stare into my eyes, and call security because he knows I am a massive stalker.
5. Blog to check out this week is A Buckeye Girl Reads. Run by Colette, she reviews many romance and urban fantasy books. One of my favorite things she does is at the end of each review she ranks the book by “meters.” For example, in her Unholy Magic review:
Crush Meter: High
Sigh Meter: High
Barrons Hero Hotness Meter: High..though Terrible isn’t your typical Barrons like hero!
Ethan/Merit Sizzle Meter: High
Action Meter: High
Sleep Meter: Low
I love that she compares each hero to Barrons and each hero/heroine pairing to Ethan and Merit – LOL! Go check her out.
4.Word on the street is that Tori is headed to the RWA Literacy signing night. I say word on the street because Tori is having major internet problems and can’t get online. Come back to me Tori!!!!
If you live in the Orlando area, I highly recommend going to this signing. It is free and you don’t have to participate in RWA to go to it. I went last year and had a blast!! If you are going, make sure you track down Tori and send me a picture!!! :)
3. Kresley Cole announced her tentative title for Regin’s book will be Dreams of a Dark Warrior. This is part of her Immortals After Dark series, which grows and grows on me with each book I read. Before Regin’s book, we have Demon From the Dark out August 24th, featuring Carrow and Malkom.
2. Lynette, from Lynette’s Two Cents talks about review sites taking down reviews because of pressure from the author. This recently happened to her and she is very upset, and rightly so. I think if a review is personally attacking an author or there is something said in it that is way out of line, the author might have a case. But just to complain because it is a negative review – and then to have the review site TAKE THE REVIEW DOWN – shocks me. Plus, the kicker is Lynette actually recommends the book! But even if she didn’t the review should have stayed up. Go HERE to read her post. (See, even Joaquin Phoenix agrees – thumbs down!)
1. That is it my friends. This weekend I’m starting my first Erin McCarthy book, Hot Finish. I hear she is a fun author. I hope everyone has a great weekend!
OMG, I love that hamster pic! LOVE! Glad your rogue hammy is under control again. :) And, I'm glad you got on board with the lube lovin' cowboys of the Rough Riders series. OMG. yes. Woo and hooo and the BFlow tics. That is so awesome. If I could I would send you a million bouquets of Brandon Flowers. hehe.
Sooo not a fan of the new Mercy cover. Sexed up Mercy? Do not want.
Lorelei James? LOVE her. I read one of her books and there was sexin' (drop the G, 'cause they're COWBOYS BAYBAA) with an orange Popsicle. All I could think was "yeast infection ahoy!" But I love her books with all the combinations and dirtiness. And the dropped "g's" every where. Know what I'm sayin' lil darlin'?
Shit! BAYBEE! Not BAYBAA, that's what sheep say.
I'm so glad that your hamster was found! These things only happen on vacation! Thank you for the shout out.
I love your top 10 posts. :)
I lost my hamster as a kid for the entire Summer. Then, a few days before school started again, we found the bugger in the middle of the kitchen, snacking on some crumbs, and he was the size of a small dog!
P.S. CONGRATS on the Brandon Tix! Can't wait to hear about that night!
Congrats on the BFlow tickets!!
I agree Katie, I don't love the new Mercy cover.
Great top 10 Mandi! I really like the Mercy cover…hmm. Hot Finish! *squee* Suzanne is a hoot! I'm sure you'll like her — well, I'm assuming she'll be like in the other two books in the series…and if she is, you'll like her. And Ryder is okay I suppose ;p
Sounds like I need me some cowboy loving. Rawr!
I will have my camera ready to go at RWA and take unsuspecting photos of EVERYONE and email them to you…mmmmbbbwwwaahhhhhhhhhhh!
One last thing, thanks to you and Bells, I'm making brownies this weekend and I'm going to eat the whole pan. With ice-cream.
Happy weekend!
I just finished Hot Finish today — LOVED it! Love this whole series, in fact. I hope you do too!!
And I'm so jealous of your ARC of Corralled. Can't wait to get that book in my hands, though I haven't read any of Ms. James' previous books.
Lol, that is one wicked cool hamster!
Patty Briggs and Lorelei James can do no wrong in my book.
Love the Mercy cover. I think it's my fave series EVER.
And. I am so incredibly hooked on James' books it's not even funny!
Squeee! You have tickets to see Brandon Flowers! You go girl! :)
And another squeee for jumpin on the Rough Riders bandwagon! Finally! ;) I love Lorelei James's writing and you have so much hotness ahead of you with the other eight RR books! Enjoy, hon! :D
FV – LOL..I love the hamster too. And thank you for pushing me to read this author. Lube FTW!
Kati – Really, you don't like Mercy cover – I figure, she is finally getting some action, so a little sexy cover action is all good ;) And the BAYBAA is killing me..for real!!! LOLOOLOL
Colette – Why do these things happen on vacay??
Smash – OMG – that is SOOO funny!!!! I can't believe it survived!! I will post pics of BFLOW from that night :)
Tiff – Thanks! Hmmm…I wonder what the consensus will be on the cover….
Julie – I can't wait to read this book!
Mar – You are going?? AWESOME!!! I want lots of pics! And you are so mean with your brownie talk!!! ;)
Mrs. Hanson – Oh good..so glad you liked it. I really enjoyed Corralled…looking forward to your thoughts.
Blodeuedd – LOL
Anilu – I adore Briggs and James is def becoming a favorite. So glad I finally read her!
ERR – I do …so excited!!! Can't wait to continue the series!
Mandi – BAYBAA is what King Mho says. :wink:
OH. EM. GEE!!! I am LOVING the new Patricia Briggs cover! I'm one book away from being caught up with the series and then will have to tap my fingers, waiting for January!
I haven't read the Ethan/Merit story – I take it I'm missing something awesome?
I've just finished Hot Finish and I didn't think it was as good as the earlier two books – there didn't seem (to me) to be enough substance to the story – it kind of glossed over things IMO but the sexxoring is hot – plus (in reference to the orange popsicle mentioned above), Ryder is very considerate about things like yeast infections (see the chocolate scene…)
I'd certainly recommend the first 2 books in the series – Tammy and Elec (what's with that name though? – I never know how to say it!) – their story in particular is great.
Kati – Yes…LOL…we need to tell KB when she gets back :)
Amy – Silver Borne is a great read!!
Kaetrin – It is a really fun UF with lots of sexual tension :) LOTS!
I've heard a few other say similar things about Hot Finish. I'm going to have to go back and get some of the earlier books. We'll see how I like it.
And oh good…I started the book last night and was like, Elec? huh? ;p
I hope the hamster was not too put out with is dash for freedom…. and subsequent capture…
there's just no fun in running loose anymore!!
Thanks for all the links and just to let you know – I think BF will have the national guards on stand-by as after this post he KNOWS there will be his number one stakler in house…
Enjoy….
Glad you loved LJ books – she has a fun style and HOT…. SMUT.
:)
Welcome back Mandi! I'm glad you all had fun. Great Top 10 list. I am SHOCKED about what happened to Lynette!! I agree, thumbs down!
I'M BACK!!! YEA.
The Mercy cover is ok. Not great but not puke worthy.
There are so many FAB books coming out in 2011. But then, you knew that. lol ;)
I will be the crazy one at RWA. Can not wait. :)
That is terrible abt Lynette's post. It will not bode well for the author in the long run. When you do anything that the public reviews you take that chance.
AWESOME on your concert tickets.
Ah, what happened to 'This Week On Smexy Books' ?
EH – The hamster misses her freedom….and BFlow better watch out!!! ;)
Jen – I know..boo to what happened to Lynette. I am shocked too.
Tori – Your internet is back!! YAY!! Don't leave me again! ;)
Sade – I know…I schedule everything out…but…it is hard to plan exactly what days things will post. I guess I could do a general this week…maybe I will start it back up again :)
Color me jealous about the concert. ;-)
You'll have to post about what Flowers sounds like. I hope his solo stuff is as good as The Killers. I was listening to Hot Fuss in the car yesterday …
I hope you do indeed enjoy the entire McKay clan books by Lorelei James — have read the entire the series including some of the off-shoots and the latest — "Raising Kane" . . . she just keeps writing those wonderful stories with those strong Alpha males and women who are strong enough to balance their madness. Love your blog — so much to enjoy!
Jennifer – I will be sure to post about it! I hope we get to hear a lot of his new stuff!
Dr J – She can write a dominant male..hot damn. Can't wait to start #2. Thanks!
I am going to the RWA event as well. I have no idea how I am going to find Tori, but we have mentioned about meeting up there. Maryse is also going to be there…so whoot! I am thinking of taking pics and finally showing what I look like IRL on my blog. Who knows. We'll see.
Oh fun!!! I wish I could meet all of you!! Looking forward to hearing how it goes!! :)
I LOVE the new Mercy cover!!! And from the blurb, it sounds like we'll be meeting her freaking DAD. Crazy!
I LOVE a Buckeye Girl Reads!!! I enjoy sharing book reading experiences with Colette so much. She RAWKS :P
HELLO NEW KRESLEY COLE!!! I cannot flippin WAIT for Regin's book!!!! I never thought we would get a book for her~ now all that's left is Nucking Futs Nix, but I think we'd probably get her as the last book of the series? Anyway, Regin has some of my most favorite one-liners everrr.
And holy shit about Lynette's review getting taken down. I had noooo idea, that is terrible! Great pic of Joaquin, btw, LOL!!!
Hey what a great and fun post!I'm just starting Kresley Cole's Pleasure of a DP and loving it. LOL.
Okay, so funny about Long hard ride. Yeah, I read it, Yee HAH!