10. It’s August! School starts this month. Not until the 30th but hey, who’s counting? ME. It’s hot, humid and I’ve eaten one too many of my mother’s salted caramel cupcakes (which are OMG amazing and I need to get the recipe from her and share it with you).
9. Okay folks, take a deep breath. Let’s all hold hands and gather around. The news: Ilona Andrews announced on their blog yesterday that there will not be another Kate Daniels book until 2013. Let’s have a collective SNIFFLE. Kate Daniels is only my favorite heroine. But I’m going to be a big girl about this. And we are getting books from them in 2012. Here is their schedule I’m copying from their blog:
10/04/2011 Angels of Darkness anthology (Alpha Menz story)
11/29/2011 – FATE’S EDGE
05/31/2012 -ANDREA’S BOOK
11/29/2012 (tentative, might be earlier) – EDGE 4
02/2013 – KATE 6’
Their Edge series is really, really good. If you haven’t tried it yet, go read On The Edge, and Bayou Moon. These books each have a HEA, but I also suggest reading them in order because the world builds upon itself. And it is a crazy, unique world that is so awesome.
Plus, we get introduced to their new Alpha Menz world this October. So we are going to make it until 2013, right? If we feel too distraught, we can go to the zoo and stare at some lions. I’ll bring a big sword.
8. Cover Alert! When Sparks Fly by Jessica Clare AKA Jill Myles. She has a new series coming out with Berkley Heat next spring (more info on her blog). I really enjoyed Jill’s Succubi series and excited she is going to contemporaries. She is also going to be writing under the name, Jessica Sims, and has a new paranormal series coming out this October:
Go to Goodreads for more info.
7. I love, love, love Jennifer Estep’s Elemental Assassin series. I actually have my husband reading it right now and we get to talk about Gin every night. But before this series was released, Jennifer Step wrote the “Bigtime Superhero” series and she now has them reissued as e-books priced at $2.99. I know May really loves this book. This series includes Karma Girl, Hot Mama, and Jinx.
6. Random House is bringing back the Loveswept imprint! Set to release on August 8th. In their words:
Bantam’s Loveswept imprint was one of the most popular romance imprints in the 1980s and 1990s and now Random House is reviving Loveswept as an e-book only line that will release its first titles in August. The new imprint will be a collaboration between Random U.S. and Random House Group’s Transworld Publishers division which will let the company release e-books simultaneously in North America, the U.K., and the British Commonwealth.
In the U.S., each title will include bonus content, and previously released titles will be reintroduced with new packaging. Random is promising an “aggressive marketing campaign” the will feature the original Loveswept tagline: “Love stories you’ll never forget by authors you’ll always remember.” Random will support the program with retailer promotions at major e-book accounts, national print advertising, digital and social network advertising, and online marketing. Prices will range from $2.99 to $4.99.
For more information, visit the Loveswept Site.
5. One more cover Alert and it’s gorgeous! Angel’s Flight by Nalini Singh. A Guild Hunter’s Anthology coming out March 2012. From Nalini’s blog:
In Angel’s Wolf a vampire becomes fascinated with the seductive angel who rules Louisiana. But all is not what it appears to be in her court.
In Angels’ Judgment a hunter must track one of her own gone bad, while surviving the deadly tests placed in her way by the archangels themselves. Unexpected backup comes from a stranger who might just be the most lethal threat of all…
Plus FIRST TIME IN PRINT
In Angels’ Pawn a vampire hunter faces off against two rival factions and the angel manipulating them both, and a vampire whose help is not entirely selfless…
And NEVER BEFORE PUBLISHED
In Angels’ Dance an angel trapped in the mountain stronghold of the Refuge finds herself under siege by a warrior angel from a martial court.
Nalini also mentions we get a Psy/Changeling anthology in 2013.
4. I’m completely obsessed with the show, Breaking Bad (on AMC). My father and brother have been watching it for some time (I think it first came out in 2008) so hubs and I are finally catching up. We just started Season Two last night. It’s about this extremely smart high school chemistry teacher (who is totally overqualified for his job) who at the age of 50 finds out he has inoperable lung cancer. With a pregnant wife and a teenage son who has cerebral palsy he is just down on life and feels desperate to leave his family financially secure. He goes on a ride along with his brother inlaw (who is a drug agent) to bust a meth clinic, and it is here that he sees a former student jump out a window and escape. And he also realizes these guys make a TON of money just by selling meth. So he finds this former student, and with his expertise as a chemist and the student’s drug connections, they start making/selling meth.
Yes, this is a depressing show – but it has so many laugh out loud moments and is very suspenseful. They get mixed up with some crazy drug people. Zomg. Bryan Cranston’s acting blows my mind. And I would like to note that this show MUST be good, because there is no one in it I really lust after. But I still watch it! *giggles*
3. There are soooo many crazy animal videos online. Usually when I get emailed “look at this cute animal video” I don’t pay much attention. But when Katiebabs sent me this, I just died LOL’ing. A Mariachi band serenading a whale. Does it get any better? I am amused.
2. This coming week I am off to Author’s After Dark! I’m driving up Wednesday evening to Philadelphia and I’m so excited to meet everyone!! I’m not sure if I’ll be blogging from the conference, but I will definitely be talking about it the following week. I’m ready to talk books and share an adult beverage with my fellow bloggers! ;)
1. This weekend I’m going to finish In Bed with a Highlander by Maya Banks. Really enjoying this one! Then diving into Deadly Obsession by Katie Reus. Happy Friday!
Are you ready to be insanely jealous? I’ve gotten the chance to read both of the upcoming Jill Myles reads (as Jessica Clare and Jessica Sims) and they are FABULOUS! Everyone will definitely need to go out and get a copy!!
LOVE LOVE the new Nalini cover. It is sooo beautiful!
*flops around in jealousy*
I can’t wait!!
I am so jealous of all of you who will be at AAD in Philly. I wish I could be there. But I’m all set for 2012 in NOLA!
I’m bummed to hear the Kate news but I am looking forward to Andrea’s book. I was so disappointed that there was no Andrea/Raphael love in Magic Slays… so hopefully, we’ll finally see them get their act together.
I hope to make it to NOLA too.
Looking forward to Andrea’s book – things are somewhat unresolved with her :)
somewhat? SOMEWHAT?? Thanks are OMG NOT RESOLVED with Andrea.
Did you see what Gordon said in the comments, that he doesn’t like Raphael and wants Andrea to end up with Ramon?!?! O_O
Did I miss a short story, who is Ramon?
Bf loves Breaking Bad ;)
What 2013! :/ Well that sure makes me sad, but I do have book 4 and 5 to read still so i will try so space them out
Oooh..read them really slow and savor them!
I should have gone to the Lion Safari while I was in Florida… :'(
I love Nalini’s cover and thank you for sharing the video, it was very cute, and beluga whales are one of my favorite animals.
I can’t wait to hear everything about AAD. I hope you’ll have lots of fun.
I’m coming next year to the one in NOLA, Yay!
LOL..we will all need a lion safari by 2013!
I hope to go to NOLA too…can’t pass up that city :)
OK, while I AM bummed about the delay in getting a Kate and Curran book next year, I am still happy that we are getting an Andrea book! I LOOOOOOOOVE her. I need to go to their site and find out more info on that, I mean is it a standalone?? Not part of the Kate series?
Anyway, SEE YOU NEXT WEEK!!! EEEE!!!!!
It is part of their world…I know we see some of Kate and Curran and they said this book HAS to happen before the next Kate book can come out. Intrigued!!
SEE YOU NEXT WEEK!
you have to be dead if you didn’t laugh or awwww yourself stupid from the whale video. Watching something like that makes me so much happier!
Mho and I will see you on Thursday. *squee*
I’ll bring one-leg shaving ken to keep Mho company
oh the things one legged Shavin’ Ken and Mho can do together….
I got a copy of Beauty Dates the Beast and had no idea Jessica Sims = Jill Myles.
It slipped my mind when I saw the book too…I decided to read it based on the blurb and then remembered it was Myles. OH! LOL
Hurrah for AAD!! :D See you there!
Lovelovelovelove Jill Myles. Can’t wait to read her new stuff! Thanks for posting the covers, I hadn’t seen them elsewhere and totally spaced on her multiple pen names.
<3,
-J
Can’t wait to meet you next week!!
Will follow up on your suggestions. Love the cover art for Angel’s Flight. Glad to find your blog.
Isn’t it purty? :)
First time I’m posting here, although I’ve been following your posts almost daily. This is the first time that a post made me sad!! No Kate Daniels until 2013?! But I love those books so much! That’s too long to wait for a book. This sucks! I’ve read the Edge books but don’t like them as much as Kate Daniels!
Hi Didi!!
I know..it does suck. I like their edge books, and I like Andrea. But really – nothing compares to Kate! SIGH. It is going to be a looooooong wait.
Cutest video ever!
Happy Friday Mandi. Hope you have fun on your trip. Be safe. :)
Thanks Missie! Hope you had a nice weekend.
No Kate till 2013? I thought that was just a vicious rumor. :( I am so sad now. So, so sad.
*sigh*
At least I get some Alpha Menz.
Yea to Angel/guild hunters anth. Love this series.
*sniff* Have fun in Philly. I so wish I could go. At least I’ll get to see you in April and we shall be together in NOLA.
I’m so excited to see you in April!
Well I have just recently become a fan of the Kate Daniels series so I am a little disappointed about no new book until 2013, but I am very excited about Andrea getting a full book of her own. I really noticed the lack of Raphael in Magic Slay and I am hoping he will be very prominent in Andrea’s book.
Me too..Andrea has lots to resolve and I hope Raphael is a big part of that. But I also hear that Ramon (the dude with the stick) might play a part in Andrea’s life. We shall see!
That whale was so cute!!
I wonder how one discovers that a whale likes Mariachi music? It’s not like Mariachi bands and zoos usually go together. Can’t remember the last time I saw one of those bands at the zoo…. ;)
LOL…one does wonder how the Mariachi band ended up in front of the whale tank ;)
Thanks for the shoutout about the Bigtime books. I appreciate that. ;-) Hope your husband is enjoying the Gin books.
he just finished bk 1 last night :)
Great top ten again Mandi, and I wish I could go to the writers conference, meeting some of my favourite authors and of course, collecting tons of bookmarks.
I still need to read the Bigtime books by Jennifer Estep aswell, but they are on my shelves somewhere, and I hope to read them soon. Sounds fun, reading about a superhero. And I did catch the references to those books in Touch of Frost!
I just got Karma Girl – Looking forward to trying them!
*raises hand*
yes, yes, YES to big time, esp. Karma Girl. It is much lighter than Gin’s Elemental Assassin world, a bit more comedic/playful edge and each has HEA, but equally wonderful in J.E.’s way. Mandi, you’ll love the Karma Girl hero… alpha guy in superhero suit… just sayin’…
Yay – it looks cute!!
I just plain adore the Big Time books!
Very jealous of those getting to discover them now.
cool…good to hear!
I can’t wait to see you on Wednesday!! I am going to have to do a little blogging while there b/c I have reviews to post from my guest reviewers. Hope I haven’t had too many adult beverages!
I am disappointed about the Kate news, but I am looking forward to the Andrea book – it sounds like it will a good one and keeps us up to date on Kate’s world.
I love Nalini’s new cover, but I am a bit frustrated… I already own all of the other novellas and I hate that I have to buy all the same books just to get one novella that is new. *sigh* oh well.
Thanks! Jen
Oooh..I was thinking if we bought the Angels of Darkness Anthology, which has Ilona Andrews etc…we would get the new Singh story..but it looks like this one has a new one too. I’m not sure if I’ve read any of the short’s in this series….I need to go see what is up
Ilona Andrews announced on their blog yesterday that there will not be another Kate Daniels book until 2013.
NOOOOOO! Hold on…we get an Andrea book? *happy dancing* I adore Andrea and must confess to being rather disappointed that there was no resolution to her and Raphael’s relationship. So…YAH! And I’m guessing Kate can’t be absent in an Andrea book, yes?
Yes – she must be in it. Curran too, right? I’m looking forward to her book – she has a lot going on!
Way late and a dollar short, but I TOTALLY recommend the Bigtime series to all the female comic fans I know. Partially because, hello, ESTEP WROTE IT, but also because I love her take on the genre. There’s so much to it that’s fascinating. And if you read Touch of Frost, you’ll notice a reference to Bigtime and Assassins in the first half of the book. I literally bounced. Anyone who loves the snarky female superheroines would love the series. Hello, Lulu, anyone?
But what I really love? The women aren’t depowered. Like, love is all important, but the women are still strong within themselves, even in adversity. I read ’em in the past couple months and I have to say, I’d love, love a comic book series with the adventures since the publisher’s being all wonkyheaded.
Wow – what an awesome endorsement!! I’m even more excited now :)
It’s pretty much exactly what I wish the big publishers of comics would do: the well-rounded, independent women who aren’t weakened the moment a man shows up. Bigtime is such a fun ride. I think you’re gonna enjoy it so much. And I know Estep mentioned maybe putting stories out eventually, on her own. I’d pay for those, easily. Actually, I just recommended them earlier this week after the DC kapow went boom.