Tori and I are happy to share with  you today that we have two new reviewers starting at Smexy Books! Helyce and May.

I’ve been thinking for awhile now about bringing on a new reviewer or two. To keep up with reviews, Tori and I have a very strict reading schedule. Which we are not complaining about, because if we didn’t read every day, we would go insane. We have to read. But at the same time, we get these great recommendations from others, and if the book is not on our review spreadsheet, it is hard for us to fit it in. By chance, I met Helyce and May online at pretty much the same time. Helyce emailed me out of the blue with some book rec’s and we hit it off right away. I think I met May on Twitter first, and then we started emailing book chatter. And I could just tell that these ladies would be a perfect fit at Smexy. They are so passionate about reading, so friendly and both make me laugh, which right there sealed the deal :) Lucky for us, they both were interested in reviewing and we couldn’t be happier. I’ve asked them to write a little about themselves.

Up first – Helyce:

Hi! My name is Helyce and I am beyond thrilled to be a part of Mandi’s team here at Smexybooks! In case you’re curious, and because it’s the most asked question of me, my name is pronounced “hell – leese”. My mom made it up for both my grandmothers-Helen and Alyce. I’m originally from Hawaii, but have lived in Northern California for over 20 years. I am married and have two children. I’ve been very lucky to be a SAHM since my son was born a little over 15 years ago. I’ll have to re-enter the work world one of these days, but until then, I busy myself with photography, scrap booking, jewelry making and of course, READING! Oh, and some mom/wife stuff here and there!

I love to read. I always have. My mom likes to remind me of a story from when I was 7 years old. Seems she got a call from my school because they couldn’t find me. Yes, they had lost me. Seems I didn’t come in from recess. Guess where they found me? I was in the library, sitting on the floor between the bookshelves, reading. I think it was a book about witches. Guess my love of science fiction and the paranormal started at a very early age. Throughout my teens I read historical romance exclusively, one after the other, whatever I could get my hand on, which is probably why I don’t read much of that genre today.

I’ll read almost anything, but I do love me a sexy hero, a strong heroine, a good story/plot and yes, the HEA! I love serial stories, especially ones where the author makes a point of including previous characters. My favorite genres today are paranormal, contemporary romance, romantic suspense, and my very new favorite m/m romance. I have many favorite authors: JR Ward, Larissa Ione, Sherrilyn Kenyon, Lorelei James, Megan Hart, Nalini Singh, Cheryl Brooks, Kendra Leigh Castle, Olivia Cunning, Robyn Carr, Lora Leigh, Christine Feehan, and Ava Gray. Some of my new favorites are Amy Lane, L.B. Gregg, Josh Lanyon, Marie Sexton and Ethan Stone-all m/m authors I’ve recently had the pleasure of reading!

I adore chatting about books with Mandi and I was like a kid at Christmas when she told me she was thinking about adding another reviewer to her blog and “was I interested?” I’m sure she could hear me *SQUEE* across the country. I’m really looking forward to being a part of Mandi’s review team and having a chance to check out books and authors that I may not have chosen on my own.

Find Helyce on Goodreads.

And May:

When I was in elementary school I read Beverly Cleary’s book Fifteen and it changed my whole world. I discovered what all romance readers know – that a love story in a novel can be a powerful, wonderful, funny, heartwarming, inspiring, and all around kick ass thing. I lost my love of reading in high school, but found it again just a few years later at an airport when I picked up an adorable novel based entirely on it’s cover (Confessions of a Shopaholic by Sophia Kinsella).

These days I love mystery and urban fantasy as well as general fiction and most romance genres. I could talk all day about my favorite authors and books and series. Some that come to mind include

Courtney Milan, Tessa Dare, Elizabeth Hoyt, Julia Quinn, and my all time #1 historical romance pick is Loretta Chase’s Lord of Scoundrels [heroine shoots the hero for being a jerk. ‘nuff said.]

If we’re into more contemporary stuff then Jen Crusie, some older Lori Foster titles, early Stephanie Plum (by Janet Evanovich) novels, Meg Cabot’s light romances, and into suspense Cindy Gerard (LOVE! I’m such a fan girl!), Cindy Dees, and Tara Janzen are favorites. Into the Urban/paranormal/magical/not quite the world as I know it stuff then Ilona Andrews, Patricia Briggs, Jennifer Estep, Jim Butcher, Thea Harrison, and Zoe Archer top my lists.

This list of authors? Tip of the iceberg. If I went into each genre, or went through my shelves, stacks, piles of books I could keep going all day. My real deal breakers are TSTL characters and time travel. I have a lot of little pet peeves – but of course the right book and story and I can forgive a lot.

Before I stop rambling I’ll share a bit about myself – I’m a California native raising two daughters, married to a firefighter, and I work from home. I blog, I teach crafting classes, I’ve even written some craft books, and more. You can find me on twitter at www.twitter.com/mayf – or if you’re a crafty + romance reading kind of gal (and I know there are a lot of us!) you can check my website at www.mayflaum.com. I like vintage things, wearing dresses because it takes less effort than matching a top to a bottom, lilacs in bloom and baking desserts.

Mostly? I’m excited to be here! I adore books, and I’m excited to be here sharing my thoughts and discussing things that Mandi sends me to read.

Welcome Helyce and May!