10. This is my “fun read” this week, St. Nacho’s by ZA Maxfield. I think the only other story I’ve read by her is her short in a Carina Press holiday anthology (which I liked). I met her at AAD last year she is a lot of fun. I’m excited to finally be starting this book. Any other ZA Maxfield recs?
9.Cute picture for a shirt, yes? This and many other book related products can be found at a site called, Gone Reading. In their words:
Gone Reading International LLC, a philanthropic enterprise founded in 2011, markets a line of products for readers and book lovers under the GoneReading brand name. The company donates 100% of after-tax profits to provide new funding for libraries around the world.
Our current product offering includes bookish t-shirts for women and men, book lights for printed books and eReaders, book club gifts, library-themed gifts and more. Our product line is expanding quickly, so check back often!
And as a special present to the Smexy Books readers, if you enter this code at checkout SMEXYBOOKS25, you get 25% off your purchase (except for bookends). This code is good for the next month, so get shopping! Check out all of their items, HERE.
8. New covers and book news! The cover above, Gunmetal Magic is for Andrea’s book in the Kate Daniels series by Ilona Andrews. Woo and Hoo! I’m excited for this one, comes out this July.
7. Also, one of my favorite authors, Kate Noble just announced her e-book only novella, The Dress of the Season will be out April 3rd! The same day her next novel, If I Fall will be released. Excited. I love her books.
6. Not sure if you know this, but I’m not a huge fan of Fifty Shades of Grey. As in,I DNF’d it about halfway in. We won’t get into why. LOL. The reason I bring this up is because Jessica from Read React Review has a great post asking for strong erotic romances that have similar themes as the Fifty series. If you browse through the comments I think you will find some fab recs. I’m always on the lookout for a well done erotic.
5. So I love Real Housewives of any county. True story. I’m a Bravo TV Hussy. I admit it. Recently, Saturday Night Live did a Real Housewives of Disney skit. Go HERE to see the full version. SO funny. Cinderella kills me. omg. LOL
Speaking of Real Housewives, I was up in New York City last weekend, and guess who was sitting at the table next to me at dinner? The cast of Real Housewives of New Jersey (minus Teresa and Joe). So I waited until their husbands left to go do whatever, and asked for a pic. They were very nice to pose with me.
*giggles* Oh, and Chace Crawford from Gossip Girl was in the bar, but I had to go to the bathroom, and when I came back he was gone. I failed. I know! Had the best time in NYC though. I need to go back soon.
4. This is my dream picnic table. Remove the center slat, screw in a gutter (<— Omg a gutter), and YES! An ice bucket picnic table. Filled with wine and beer. I’m so doing this. LOL. See, I can go from classy NYC restaurant to redneck ice bucket picnic table with a snap of my fingers. (source)
2. And if those abs were not enough, Lenny Kravitz wants to cook for you. I bet he can sizzle an omelet on his abs. And after breakfast, he can pretend to be Cinna, and do your hair. It’s a win-win.
1. This weekend I’m reading If I Fall by Kate Noble and finishing up St. Nacho’s. We are also going to Elementary School Bingo night on Saturday. I shall then come home and drink one of the above. It looks delicious. Happy Friday!
Arghh, the thing I hate the most. This clip is no available in your country
boo!
I too loved the SNL skit of the Real Housewives of Disney..Loved the Belle and love the pics of abs –totally win win :)
This is a very ab-y top ten. FV approves. :)
ABS-solutely fantastic post Mandi! Have a great weekend! The SNL skit was fab too!
My favorite ZA Maxfield books are Crossing Borders (ignore the HIDEOUS cover that makes one guy look 15 and the other look 40- they are really 19 and 26) and Drawn Together. Crossing Borders was my very first M/M book, and it will always hold a special place in my heart, but it’s just plain good, too. Sweet and funny and hot. If you like Vampires, Notturno is pretty good.
Thank you! They are going on the list :)
Ah, Lenny Kravitz. The “Again” video is one of my all time favorites. Mama likes.
LOLOL
My daughter and I are hitting NYC next month, do you have any recs. It has been almost 20yrs since I have been and any recs you have would be much appreciated. Love the abs going to have to pin that one..
Yes!
We had a wonderful Mexican meal at Mole (at their west village location). They don’t take reservations but we got in pretty quick. Loved.
We also had dinner at Abe and Arthur’s. Steak and fish kind of place. Very good food.
We went to this place called “Eataly” – a play off of Italy. It is this big inside Italian marker – there is a cheese shop, butcher, wine shop, bakery etc… And it is all very open. You can sit and have drinks and a light lunch or just walk around and browse. Super fun.
Oooh – they have a Pride and Prejudice trivia game at Gone Reading. Order placed. It’s mine! Or it will be when it arrives is 3-5 days. Thanks for the 25% off :)
Yay…their stuff looks cute :)
Love the new cover for Ilona Andrews’ book. I have never read a Kate Noble book though.
Mmm love that Parade of Abs! Can I touch?
of course;)
I enjoyed St. Nachos and I have a few other ZA Maxfield’s on my TBR as well. I’m a Kate Noble fan too, although I haven’t managed to read Follow My Lead yet – it is on my TBR though. Thx for the heads up about the especial novella! And the abs? :). I’m so drooling over that Ilona Andrews cover.
Fifty Shades was a DNF for me too. What a mess. I couldn’t stand the characters or the story. My reading time is too precious to waste on a story I’m not feeling. I definitely feel in the minority about this series…and I love BDSM novels. I will however go check out the list. Maybe a different author could handle the subject better and create characters that don’t grate against the nerves like fingernails to a chalkboard.
Yeah – I couldn’t connect with the characters.
I think Joey Hill, Kele Moon and Melissa Schroeder write bdsm well. And I just read Sweet Addiction by Maya Banks which is really good.
I have Kate Noble envy…!:) I love her books and I’m eager to read your early review.
I’m also not caught up in Fifty frenzy, but I have to say that Jessica did one of the best reviews about it. I completely agree with you, one of the best thing in its popularity is that people are asking what else can they read and it leads them and me to some awesome new books.
Yes – I love that people who don’t normally read romance are trying it. I hope they continue in the genre
Love all the abs in your top ten *grin*
I am hanging out for Gunmetal Magic – I love Andrea & Raphael!
Oh, and I really enjoyed the first St. Nacho’s book – St. Nacho’s :) The second I didn’t enjoy so much, but I’m not a huge fan of insta love and it felt rather instant to me. My friend accidentally started the third book first and she loved that, so I hoping to read that soon :)
All I can say is Thank you for the Parade O’Abs!