The Tudors

Lover. Warrior. Rebel. King. Jonathan Rhys Meyers is Henry VIII as never seen before. The Tudors is the epic new Showtime Original Series that reveals the scandalous life of the stunning young monarch, who ruled his kingdom with ruthless abandon.

With a lust for power and an appetite for love, Henry's affair with Anne Boleyn – and obsession with producing a male heir – changed the institution of marriage, and the world, forever. The Tudors is the untold story of Henry VIII, the beloved tyrant whose reign was marked by treachery, betrayal and intrigue.


Someone PLEASE tell me why I've never watched this show until now? I love it. I'd heard of it, of course, but never took the time to watch until the other night and now I'm HOOKED. Going to check my on demand for the older seasons and if they aren't there, I'll be renting them. I NEVER do that.

Any show that are must watches for you? Find a gem you didn't know about?

Ripped OFF and Pissed OFF

I seriously dislike thieves.

Over the years I've taken a pass on books or movies about handsome/hunky/beautiful jewel thieves and bank robbers, etc. I don't care what kind of fairy dust is sprinkled on these people but they just aren't appealing to me. Most of us have a certain little something we don't like. I once had a friend who wouldn't read a story about doctors. Just didn't like them and wouldn't read about them. Go figure. We all have our little things and mine is thieves.

The other day my daughter got her bank statement and we learned that someone has been ripping her off for the past couple of months. So from the beginning of April till the end of May a thief has stolen a little over a thousand dollars from her account. So the day before yesterday she and I spent a little over an hour at the bank closing her account and cancelling her debit card and getting her signed up will all new stuff. What a pain! Apparently a "key logger" discerned what letters and numbers she typed while doing on line banking and figured out all her vital information including name, password, etc.

After finishing at the bank, calls to the fraud department began. That was another hour or so being shuffled from one person to the next. Umm....nothing is more frustrating than all the automated questions, prompts, and such. After dealing with the bank fraud people (who were very nice and helpful by the way) we had to call Pay Pal and cancel the fake account the thief had set up in order to rip her off.Looks like she's going to get her money back but I believe she'll think twice about on-line banking in the future.

Over the past few days, I've visited some loops and learned that many of the authors who attended the Romantic Times Convention were also ripped off. Someone, who knows who, stole credit card numbers and went wild. The bills, of course, are just coming in from the April event.

It just never ends does it?

NOTE: YAY Barb Ledbetter!!!! You won Anne's contest from yesterday!!! Please contact her at anne@annerainey.com to collect your booty!

Contest Time!

I feel like a contest today. Sound like a good idea?? :)

The winner will recieve an ARC of Taking Chloe, 3rd in my Vaughn series, which releases June 2nd through Samhain Publishing!

Answer this question: In my recent release Turbulent Passions, what does Adam lose in the woods?

Send me an email at: anne@annerainey.com with your answer. Tomorrow I'll pick ONE name from those who EMAIL me and announce it right here at Three Wicked Writers.

_______________________



“Turbulent Passions” by Anne Rainey
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Red Hots!

ISBN: 978-1-60504-490-3
Length: Novella
Price: 3.50
Publication Date: April 7, 2009
Cover art by Scott Carpenter

Love. Is it blind luck? Or just a lump on the head?

Sapphire Demas and her twin brother have a secret. Since the awful day their parents were killed, they’ve been in hiding, fearful the same fate will befall them. Now she’s grown tired of living a half-life, tired of lying. She wants something just for herself. When she stumbles across an unconscious man while hiking through the woods and brings him home to heal, she knows she’s found it. Even if he’s a dangerous outsider.

Investigative journalist Adam Richton trusts only one thing—his nose for news. He’s never failed to get a story and doesn’t intend to start now. Until a beautiful and mysterious woman rescues him. In an instant, he forgets all about his career. Now all he wants is Sapphire, any way he can get her.

Then he witnesses something extraordinary that puts his reporter instincts back on full alert. Something that exposes Sapphire’s secrets, challenges him to believe the unbelievable…and to trust in something way out of his comfort zone: love.

Warning: This title contains hot, steamy, explicit sex. Oral sex. Sex in public places. And sex using scarves and other naughty things.

Read An Excerpt Online
Buy from MBaM!

Trying something new

First let me apologize for being so late today. There are way too many things on my mind today and I didn't realize what day it was. Plus, spent half the morning figuring out stuff with the banks investigation department because someone stole our debit card number and with it, our money! So, exhale breath, Kelley. In...Out. I'm okay now.

Today I wanted to talk about stepping out of our comfort zones and trying something new. Before I was published in romance, I'd always planned on writing young adult books. I'd tried multiple times to put something on paper but it never worked. I never finished a book. Hell, I never finished half a book. LOL. I I ended up losing my confidence. I though maybe I was wrong and writing wasn't for me. Fast forward a few years and I discovered my love of romance novels. I'd decided to try my hand at writing again and to my surprise it worked! I loved what I did and the stories and ideas flowed from me. It wasn't easy for me. I took a writing class, studied the genre and studied writing, something I hadn't done years before when I tried to write my young adult. I think that's what I was missing before. I was too impatient. I thought I could just decide to write a book and viola, it would be a success (stop laughing at me. LOL). Though I still LOVE writing romance, and always will, my love for YA has started to resurface again as well. You know what I asked myself? Why can't I have it all? Why can't I write all the stories I love? I had no reply but to tall myself that I CAN. So, a couple days ago I plotted my first YA book. I'm loving the concept and loving writing it. It's exciting not to put limits on myself or on the characters that speak to me.

Have you started something new that you'd never thought you might right? Ever considered writing in a different genre than you currently write?

Movie Weekend

I woke up this morning thinking it was Monday. My Bad! I do this with holidays when we suddenly find ourselves with a short week. So yeah, I'm a little discombobulated. It's Tuesday when it feels like Monday but we'll adjust and survive just like we always do.

Did anyone do anything fun over the Memorial Day weekend? We were really laid back but sometimes laid back is best. We smoked ribs on Sunday and Saturday evening we went to dinner and a movie. It's been ages since we've been to one and if you'll recall I wrote about the summer flicks coming out this summer not long ago. So, we went to see Terminator. I was outvoted. I was pushing for Wolverine but it was showing at an inconvenient time. Anyway, I'm a good sport and I figured watching Christian Bale for a couple of hours wouldn't be such a trial. Truthfully, I wasn't all that impressed with the movie. Christian is billed as the star but he's honestly not in the movie very long. The main star was a very great looking Aussie actor. I've forgotten his name but he stole the show and there were way more scenes of him than anyone else. So if you go to this thinking you'll see a LOT of CB, then you'll be disappointed.

Actually the best part of going to the movies this weekend was seeing the coming attractions featuring the new Transformers movie. Now THAT looks like a fun flick. I believe it comes out sometime in June.

What did you guys do over the long weekend? Anything fun?

I almost forgot about this. Not enough coffee yet, I guess. Fran Lee, a writer friend, made me a trailer for Lone Star Lycan (Ellora's Cave, July 10). She says these are really easy to make. I'm planning to get a new computer next month so I'm going to dive into learning how to do this. Tell me what you think of this one!

Archie's Gettin' Married!

Did you hear the news? Archie, our favorite comic book red-headed dude, is getting married! That's right, after all these years he's going to decide between his two loves Betty and Veronica. Don't know how old you guys are but the Archie comics have been around a loooooong time. The high school student who couldn't manage to graduate from high school in about 30 years is gettin' hitched and the big question is WHO is the lucky lady?

When I was a little girl, I bought these comics religiously and I'll say straight out, I couldn't stand Veronica. The sultry brunette was rich, beautiful and conniving and, without fail, she gave sweet Betty a hard time. I've always liked an underdog and the chips certainly seemed stacked against Betty. The funny little blonde wasn't rich. She was average and the girl-next-door type who adored Archie but always seemed to come in second place to the nasty Veronica.

I don't know about you but I'm rooting for Betty who could hang out with the guys and even fix a car if she had to. Yeah, she was also a little bit of a tomboy. A guy could really appreciate a girl like Betty. Does Archie? I wonder. The lamebrain has taken all these years to decide between these two so that doesn't say much for his intelligence, does it?

What do guys want? Do they want to tear up the sheets with the sultry vixen then take the "good girl" home to meet the folks? I wonder.


I know everyone is rivetted to Archie's wedding plans but I'd also like to show off my brand new cover. Lone Star Lycan is the first book of my Texas shifters and I just got the yummier than yummy cover a few days ago. Since these lycans live on the desolate west Texas plains, I thought the desert-y background was appropriate. You see it don't you? HA. Yep. That's the desert right behind my hunky Lycan!

This one releases July 10 at Ellora's Cave. Book one, Highland Beast, is available now.

Lone Star Lycan

She came to dusty west Texas to bury the dead. But one look from Joe’s smoldering eyes made Quinn Harlow grow wet and needy. The cowboy was too big, too sexy, too everything and more man than she’d ever had before. Though she’s just a visitor her heart begs her to stay and find her destiny with him on these desolate plains.

Joe McKinnon, alpha of the Wolf Creek pack, takes one look at his destined mate and knows he’ll have his hands full dealing with the sassy female. A single glance has his cock going hard. One touch has him willing to move mountains to claim her. He knows it won’t be easy to tame the woman who holds his future in her hands.

Note: Includes an M/F/M ménage scene.

the sweet smell of hunk in the morning!

I'm in a hunk mood...then again, when am I not? LOL


Love those athletic types!


Yeah, like I could resist posting Shemar...SO hot!

And one more of the delicious Shemar

This cutie is built...seriously built.

Yeah, I know, too many clothes, but what can you do? lol

Just love those dark eyes!

He looks like he could seriously take care of his woman, eh?

So, clearly I have a 'type'...hair the shade of espresso, a powerful build, dark brooding eyes... Wait, where was I? Oh, right I was talking about my fixation with a certain type.

Do you have a type? Or will just any hottie do? LOL

Perfection? Highly Overrated

Really late one night, I was flipping channels and just about to give up and crawl in bed when I saw this show called Little Miss Perfect. Has anyone seen it? Each episode follows two sets of mothers and daughters as they get ready to "compete" for the title of Little Miss Perfect.

I swear this show is like watching a train wreck and it becomes readily apparent that winning the crown is more important to the mothers than it is to the child. The little girls are just really normal looking little girls who lose their front teeth, want to play with friends and pretty much be NORMAL. But these moms are totally obsessed. They spend thousands of dollars on the frilly pageant dresses, cuter than cute bathing suits and drill their little charges on their dance routines until the children are stressed to the max.

I've now caught a few episodes very late at night and just shake my head over them. The moms argue this teaches their little girls poise and confidence and how to perform in public but I get the feeling the whole thing is more about "mom" who sits in the audience during each competition, hanging on the edge of her seat, biting nails, and basically looking utterly stressed. Now the interesting thing is there is almost zero audience. These things are held in hotel/motel conference rooms that are filled with folding chairs that remain largely empty except for a handful of moms and other friends and family. The moms grin hugely at their children on the stage and POINT at their smiles as reminders that smiles are always expected.

Also expected are the mounds and mounds of hair pieces, fake tans, and "flippers". Flippers are fake teeth that are placed in the child's mouth to cover the gaps, spaces, and flaws that are normal in a small child's mouth. I honestly don't think I'm the only one who believes a child doesn't need all this fake shit to be considered beautiful. Nothing makes me smile more than seeing the little school pictures that feature those happy, gap-toothed smiles.

Over the past few days, several of my friends and fellow Ellora's Cave authors have been discussing 'meeting' for the first time at Romanticon which will be held in October. We've been on line friends forever but many of us have never met in person. The idea of meeting evolved into a 'show of faces' as we proceeded to show that average women are goddesses too. Many of us have participated in this and we've posted pics of us without make up, fancy clothes, etc. Yes, average women doing our thing. Are we trying to make a point? Oh hell yes. I think so.

Want to catch a picture of me as I really am? Please check out my Regina Blog. Loud, proud and yes, very average. Average is okay with me.

Eh, it was just okay for me, man...

So, I'm late with my blog today, but I just finished reading Lover Avenged. I feel so many things with this book that I'm not sure where to begin.

First, I'm glad Rehv got his happy ending. I love him and Ehlena together. They were beautiful! Truly beautiful. I also enjoyed seeing so much of Wrath and Beth. They may still be my favorite. The love between them shines through and I just so enjoyed seeing more of their relationship.

The things I wasn't so crazy about. I won't go into too much detail, because I know some of you haven't read the book yet. Don't want to ruin it for you all! The bit between Tohr and John. It felt more like it was there to ramp up the ratings or something. It all left me feeling like John is being put through a lot of crap just to keep things interesting in the book. Which makes me a little sad.

The jumping back and forth, all the different points of view, wasn't so bad. I didn't mind it and it did make the story read faster somehow. Although, I just ended up skipping certain sections because it was just boring so maybe that's why it read faster. LOL

The romance was there, but in such short bursts that it made feel sort of slighted. I wanted to see so much more of Rehv and Ehlena. But, I'm not the author and as we authors know, we have to write it the way our heart tells us to write it. I respect Ward for doing what she feels is right by the story and her characters.

There is one thing that sort of made me ill though. The whole sex in the bathroom at ZeroSum. Some of that whole paying for sex, and doing it in a stall just seemed too Sopranos or something. There were other things that made feel sort of gross, too, but I'll shut up for now. Again, don't want to give away any spoilers!

All said and done, it was a fast read with lots of action, and some seriously sexy alphas to keep us ladies panting.

Buying another in hardback though. Hmm, methinks I'll wait for paperback. Because as Randy on AI says, "it was just okay for me, man"

Now your turn! What'd you all think of it? Yay or Nay? Curious minds wanna know!

Kenzie Michaels!

The winner of a copy of Highland Beast is Kenzie Michaels! YAY!

Contact me at reginacarlysle@yahoo.com to claim the booty!

Thanks to everyone who 'played' yesterday!

Hugs...Regina

Hmm.... It has a NAME?

It's the strangest thing. I didn't know until just now there was a word for 'fear of failure'. Yep, it's ATHEHIPHOBIA. Okay, I can't pronounce it but at least I can recognize it now when I see it. Oddly enough, I recognize the symptoms of 'fear of failure' in myself just about every day.

There was a time, back when publishing anything at all, seemed a distant dream. I was pretty fearless in hammering out story after story and submitting them knowing the odds of anything good happening were pretty much slim to none. The twinge of fear was there but I wasn't expecting much so that sharp edge wasn't there like it is now.

Now it's different. Each time I write a new story or try a new thing I worry that my readers won't like it or won't accept this "different" thing that I've done. Just an eensy weensy ego thing maybe? Or maybe it's just that with each book I write, I try like hell to make it better than the last one I wrote. The other day, I talked with a friend about this and I've been thinking about it a lot since then. Recently I thought about how much we want to give the reader something wonderful, unique, full of emotion, wit, action...you name it. As writers we want to provide. Today Highland Beast releases at Ellora's Cave. This is the first book in a shifter series. Book two is contracted and book three is finished but sitting on my editor's desk awaiting the verdict.

It's seriously nerve-racking to venture into something new. The High Plains shifters have their own world smack dab in the middle of desolate west Texas. The cowboy/shifters are hot and their women are cool in a crisis. I absolutely loved writing these stories but I found as I moved from one story to the next, that I slowed down. A LOT. I now believe that in the back of my mind I wanted each book to be better than the last. I wanted my readers to love these tragic heroes as much as I did. Over and over I applied pressure to myself and realized that in the end my biggest problem was a fear of failure.

I firmly believe it plagues us all. We struggle to do a good job and make each effort the best it can be. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't but in the end, there's a certain satisfaction in knowing we've done our best.

Right?

I like to think so.

In honor of the release of Highland Beast, Book One in my Texas shifters series, I'm hosting a contest. Please leave a comment here and then head over to my Regina Blog and leave me a little something there too. Mention Highland Beast on both blogs and I'll enter you in a drawing for an ebook copy of my new book! How's that sound?

Buy Highland Beast HERE!

Blurb:

From the moment she looked through the antique mirror and saw him change from beast to man, Martha wanted him. The brawny Highlander, sexy and dark, made her body burn for his possession. But when he reached through the glass to yank her straight into the past, her fantasy became reality.

Trapped by an evil curse, Silas MacAdam, the lycan king, yearned for the modern woman who stared so innocently at him through the mirror. The need to take, to claim, to possess her on the furs in his ancient castle, burned him. Only she can help him return to his rightful place among his people. Upon their arrival in modern-day Texas, it becomes his mission to convince the lady that she belongs to him—as his mate.

Excerpt: (Adult)

An Excerpt From: HIGHLAND BEAST
Copyright © REGINA CARLYSLE, 2009
All Rights Reserved, Ellora's Cave Publishing, Inc.

Martha struggled to her feet and stared in amazement. Finally she shook her head. If this was a bizarre dream, she wasn’t going to participate. No way. His grin widened as he stepped closer, still separated from her by the mirror. “Come to me,” he said again. The deep baritone voice was laced with impatience and a touch of humor that she found oddly appealing. When he moved closer, she sent her eyes down his heavily muscled torso and gasped at the size of his erect cock. It rose against his belly, thick and heavily veined and topped with a dark, thick head. Between his thighs, his balls were hard and drawn up high against his body.
Arousal hit her like a punch.
She wasn’t the kind of woman who succumbed to men who oozed testosterone, but this man was something different, something more. More than man. He was also a beast. His gaze swept her body and his expression went hard with lust.
Lust?
Impossible. There was nothing remotely enticing about the simple white nightgown covering her more-than-generous curves, but he loved what he saw. His feelings whipped through her mind and suddenly she saw herself as he did, tall and full-figured with high, generous breasts and a mop of curly dark hair that brushed her shoulders. His nostrils flared as if he were breathing her in and Martha’s body reacted. Her thighs quivered, her pulsed sped.
The man, who moments ago had been a huge black wolf, reached down and fisted his hand around the base of his erection. Martha watched, mesmerized, as he dragged it up the thick length and slowly down again. “Come to me, wench.”
Courage to refuse him abandoned her and she licked her lips as he pleasured himself. She swallowed and flicked her gaze up to find him watching with a strange intensity. “Who are you?”
“The MacAdam.”
“The MacAdam? Who is named The MacAdam?”
“I am. It is my name. Say it again. I like the sound of it on your tongue.”
Martha licked suddenly dry lips. “MacAdam,” she whispered.
Loneliness swept her and she knew it was his. Lust too. His and hers. He stepped to the mirror’s surface and lifted his palm, settling it on the other side of the mirror. His lips were beautiful, full and sculpted, the lower slightly larger than the top. His smile was soft. His eyes at half-mast. “Give me your hand.”
Without thinking, she lifted her palm and settled it against his, expecting to feel the cool glass of the mirror, but felt warm skin instead. Martha gasped. Sparks sizzled from where their flesh touched and then suddenly his big hand snaked around her wrist and he gave her a yank. As if she were in the midst of a stranger-than-hell dream, she fell like Alice down the rabbit hole through the mirror and straight into his arms.
He caught her up against him, wrapped her in his brawny arms and then looked into her eyes. His mouth took hers with savage intensity. His tongue swept inside her mouth to taste her deeply. It ghosted the insides of her cheeks and thrust in a lusty parody of hotter-than-hell sex before he pulled back and gave her a wicked grin.
Dizzy and disoriented, Martha had just started to breathe again when he tightened his hold and settled his mouth against her ear. “I have you now,” he whispered. “Thank the gods the curse is broken and you are mine.”

when conflict turns depressing

When does conflict in a story get to be too much? I will fully admit that this is something that will have me putting a book down really fast. If the conflict takes over the story, it makes me want to yawn. Get me back to the romance already!

One author I truly admire does have some depressing story lines. Sharon Sala. She's an excellent author of romantic suspense. I only wish I had her talent. But she can get a little too depressing at times. A few of her stories have turned me off completely actually because they were just too much to handle. Too disturbingly real, I guess. When I read I want to be swept away on a journey, but I don't want to feel like I just waded through a murky swamp. A few tears is good, but when you're cringing and crying through most of the book, that's not romance. LOL

I've gotten to the point where I'd rather have some action, like in Lora Leigh's SEAL series. Lots of hot sex and great conflict. But it's not overly depressing. I'm not throwing the book across the room.

I don't even mind a book that has very little conflict. A little tug and pull between the hero and heroine is sexy. Sometimes it's okay to leave it at that. If I read an erotic romance I want lots of erotic and lots of romance, I don't need lots of sadness in there.

I read for pleasure. I want to be sucked into another world, but that doesn't mean I want to be hit over the head with pages and pages of depressing issues. I want the characters to be somewhat stable for crying out loud! LOL

So, in your opinion when does the conflict become annoying?

Bring on the books!

I love summer reading. Here in Southern California the weather is warm and I want nothing more than to sit on the beach with a good book. Here are a few books that I'm really looking forward to.



The perfect daughter. The perfect prom queen. The perfect wife. Jenny Tolliver’s been the good girl all her life, and it’s gotten her nowhere. Now that her marriage has been busted up by her cheating ex, she’s decided it’s time to regroup and rediscover herself. This summer she’s headed back to her hometown of Destiny, Ohio, to the very lakeshore cottage where she grew up, to figure out what life holds in store for her next.

She never dreamed the answer would be Mick Brody, Destiny’s #1 hellraiser. He comes from the wrong side of the tracks (or in his case, the lake), and he’s landed in hot water more times than he can count. He’s exactly the kind of guy Jenny’s always kept her distance from … but soon the good girl and the bad boy are caught in a raw heat that’s out of control. Too bad Mick’s got a secret that threatens to tear them apart and ruin Jenny’s perfectly, passionately reckless summer …

Toni Blake is my favorite author and an auto buy for me. I can't wait to get my hands on the first book in her Destiny series. I know I'll be in for a treat.



Zack fights fires and saves lives, yet his own thirst for life has run dry—until he comes to the rescue of hardheaded, sharp-tongued exotic dancer Corrine Shannon, who sparks a carnal appetite that has the normally shy hero burning out of control.

But just as they are consumed by the flames of passion, they find themselves under fire from two relentless enemies with fifty million reasons to succeed. Dangerous men who will stop at nothing to get what they want, even if it means putting a permanent end to Zack and Cori’s love—or their lives. Can Zack and Cori withstand the heat??, or will their newfound romance be extinguished as fast as it began?

I read the first book in this series and loved it. The book was HOT and I have no doubt Zack will burn just as brightly.




An experiment in romance…

New to Charlotte, stock car racing country, graduate student Imogen Wilson meets Ty McCordle, a driver who inexplicably has her pulse racing. After an encounter at the track with a woman whose main goal in life is to marry a driver, Imogen realizes she’s hit on the perfect thesis for her Sociology degree. If she follows The Rules on how to get a man, can she steer her way to into the hearts of the drivers and establish their dating—and mating—patterns?

That’s testing the limits of passion.

Although sexy and reckless Ty is the ideal test subject, she knows she can’t pursue him for the sake of science. Yet he’s the one who’s chasing after her, and Imogen realizes that she actually wants to be caught. A southern gentleman like Ty won’t fail to disappoint, will satisfy all her curiosity—and make all the risks worthwhile…

Erin is another auto buy for me. I know when I pick up one of her books, I'm in for some hot lovin' and tons of laughs.




Fang Kattalakis isn't just a wolf. He is the brother of two of the most powerful members of the Omegrion: the ruling council that enforces the laws of the Were-Hunters. And when war erupts among the lycanthropes, sides must be chosen. Enemies are forced into shaky alliances. And when the woman Fang loves is accused of betraying her people, her only hope is that Fang believes in her. Yet in order to save her, Fang must break the law of his people and the faith of his brothers. That breech could very well spell the end of both their races and change their world forever.



The war is on and time is running out...

Dark Hunters...were hunters...need I say more? LOL.

What books are you looking forward to reading? Any recommendations for me?

Jungle Beats/Soothing Rhythm

Back some time ago I got an IPOD as a gift. I was really thrilled about it but I'll admit I'm not a huge, big time music person. I'm continually saying to my kids...ooooh, I love that one. What's it called and who's it by? They always look at me as if I should somehow KNOW that already but names of groups and songs fly in an out of my head at the speed of light. I know I like the Red Hot Chili Peppers and U-2 and lots of other bands but I just suck at individual song titles.

For Mother's Day, I got this cool docking thing for my IPOD. It has a clock radio built in as well and I already have a place in my office picked out for it. First things first though. I've gotta load the IPOD with music. I don't usually listen to music when I write because I'm easily distracted. Don't know if it's ADD or not but I tend to tell myself that I just have an inquisitive and brilliant mind that's simply incapable to settling on 'one thing' for any length of time. HA. Yeah, that works for me. The truth is, I have the attention span of a gnat.

If I do listen to music while writing, it's atmospheric stuff like rain and breezes, shifting leaves and waves on beaches. I AM wondering though, since I suck at action scenes, if maybe I should play some MUSE or Nickelback or Godsmack when writing them. Think it would help me get into the scene better?

What about you? Does music help or hinder?

Mother's Day

I had such a wonderful Mother's Day! I feel like it lasted the entire weekend. Saturday we spent the day as a family doing yardwork and landscaping. It was tiring, but fun because we went totally off the grid. No computers, no bothering with cell phones or any of it. Just family time.

Sunday, my fantastic husband fixed me breakfast (that man can really cook!), and my kids got me a $50 gift card to Starbucks (yum!). And I got a surprise phone call from my brother who has been out in Wyoming for the last three months filming his hunting show. It was so good to talk to him! After the kids and I vegged for a few hours, we got the house cleaned up and had my parents down, and one of my other brothers stopped by for a visit as well. We cooked steak and hot dogs on the grill and enjoyed the wonderful weather for a bit. Then Kati, my oldest, surprised me with a pedicure and a facial. My toes and my face feel so loved today!

I told my husband this was the best Mother's Day ever because we spent the entire weekend enjoying family time. No working on the computers for a change. I hadn't realized how badly we needed to reconnect, ya know? It's so easy to get caught up in the daily chores. The girls laughed with each other, instead of arguing. It was music to my ears to her them getting along so well.

I love Mother's Day. It reminds how lucky I truly am!

Moms, how'd you spend your special day? And what'd you all do for your own mother?

Time to Get Serious about Promo

For the past couple of weeks, I've been working with a neat web designer, Dee Shore, on what my brand spanking new website is gonna look like. Dee runs Vintage Mermaid Graphics and I have to tell you, she was a blast to work with. She did something fun and funky, just as I asked and bent over backwards to make sure I loved it. And YES!!!!! I DO!!!!

All day yesterday, the e-mails were flying so fast between us that I swear my head was spinning. But late yesterday afternoon, it was finally finished. So my heartfelt thanks, Dee. You are the coolest person in the world to work with. For the rest of you, please, please check out my brand new website HERE!

And if you're looking for something new, Dee is your gal! She does banners, websites and lots of other cooler than heck stuff. Check out her services http://vintagemermaidgraphics.com/
Dee also hooked me up with the makings for some neat promo items and we talked about it a little bit. She recommended Rack Cards. They are on nice paper and the perfect size for bookmarks at 4" X 8". So last night I jumped on Vista Print and got a great deal on one-hundred of them. Yep. 100. I'm heading to Romanticon (Ellora's Cave/Cerridwen Press convention) in Ohio come October. I've been thinking that getting a jump start on promo stuff won't break the bank if I do things a little at a time. I'll be signing my print titles at the booksigning but I'll also want to feature some of my e-books so I'm planning to do large postcards featuring covers on the front and a list of my titles on the back. I've done those before and they are just beautiful.

Visited with a friend about pens and she recommended National Pen Company. Pens are a tad pricier than most of the promo items out there but they hang around in purses for quite awhile. All in all, I don't think they are a poor investment.

In other news, my friend and fellow Ellora's Cave author Cindy Spencer Pape has a brand new book out today at Ellora's Cave. Stone and Fire is HOT. It's book three in her popular gargoyle series and let me tell you, her men of stone make their ladies just MELT. Here's a little blurb of the book and her super beautiful cover. So please add this one to your list!

Stone and Fire Buy
by Cindy Spencer Pape

Blurb:
Book 3 in the Heroes of Stone series.

When half-dragon Dana Logan meets gargoyle Beau Dumont at her friend’s wedding, something clicks between them. Halfway through the most passion-filled night of their lives, his phone rings and he rushes home to Montreal.

Several months later, they’re in England to catch a ring of antiques smugglers but the two can barely keep their hands off each other long enough to find the thieves. The sex between them is explosive and they’re falling in love as well. Between battling the bad guys and fighting their feelings for each other, the two may just set London on fire.

Strange Happenings

Seriously? How in the world did these people survive?! Amazing!

Real:
(source: AOL News)It took surgeons in Putian, China, 30 minutes to extract this 4-inch pair of nail scissors from a man's throat. He was using them as a toothpick when a friend's joke made him laugh -- and down went the scissors, according to London's Daily Mail.

(source: AOL News) A 6-inch pair of surgical scissors appears in the abdomen of Australian Pat Skinner in April 2004 -- 18 months after her initial operation.

So, your mother was right, never play with scissors! (and watch those surgeons! Yikes!)

Out of curiosity, have you ever been in a bizarre accident or has anything really strange ever happened to you?

_______________________________________

In other news...lol

I have a print book out with Samhain. My first Samhain print in fact! Check it out! :)

"Seduce Me PRINT" by Anne Rainey

Genre: Contemporary Romance, Red Hots!
ISBN: 978-1-60504-173-5

Length: 232 Pages

Price: 13.00

Publication Date: April 28, 2009

Cover art by Scott Carpenter

Melts in your mouth—not in your heart.

Anne Rainey takes indulging the senses to a whole new level with two stories that are melt-in-your-mouth sexy!

Touching Lace

Lacey Vaughn is convinced she needs help in the ways of seduction. Being the good best pal he is, Nick Stone offers to give her a few pointers in the ways of sexual pleasure. From his first touch, Lacey forgets all about lessons. All she wants is more of him. Having craved Lacy for months, Nick is ready to be seen as more than the dreaded good friend. He's ready to lay it all on the line to have the little spitfire all for himself—including his heart.

Tasting Candy

Blade Vaughn is hungry for sex and there's only one woman on his menu: Candice Warner. But when he witnesses the shy beauty go into a panic over a harmless encounter, it becomes about more than just sex. He's out to prove that sex with him is just the therapy she needs. Candice is used to being afraid of her own shadow. She's ready to get over her past trauma and start living again. But it's hard when panic threatens every time the one man she wants comes near.
Warning, this title contains the following: explicit sex using graphic terms. A naughty make-out session in a public place, and lots of steam.

Read An Excerpt Online

Buy from Amazon.com

Mean Girls

We've all known those mean girls. You know the ones I'm talking about who decide they're better than everyone else and make it their life goal to torture you in high school. But you know what I've learned? Mean girls are just for high school any more. It's starting much, much younger nowadays and honestly, its not just children. It's adults too. WOMEN who should know better but either don't or don't care.

Last week I brought my girls to the park. My oldest is five and we just stepped foot into the park when two little girls started in on her. Well, let me rephrase that. It was primarily one little girl but the other was her shadow. You could tell that the second little girl only wanted to make the first little girl happy and even though you could see the discomfort in being a bully, she did it anyway. My daughter runs to one of the play sets excited to see little girls, tells them hi and tries to climb the ladder. The first little girl stands in her way so she can't get up. She grabs the second little girl and pulls her over so she's helping block the way from my daughter and then she tells my kid, "You can't come up. This is ours and we don't want to play with you." By then I'm getting hot. I turn and see two mothers gabbing away on the other side of the park paying NO attention to what their daughters are doing. As a mother, I struggled at first with letting my daughter try to take care of it or not, because the fact is, I can't always be there for her. When it comes to my kids, I can't stand by the wayside. So I tell the little girls that that my daughter can climb up, that what they're doing isn't nice, and that they need to move. They do but continued their little talking and whispering and tried a few more times to keep my daughter off certain toys at the park. Soon they realized I wasn't letting my eye off them and stopped. During the whole thing I'm sitting there thinking THEY'RE FIVE! I don't get it. I never would have even thought to do that at five. I just wouldn't have. I watched the "alpha girl" lead the other little girl around and I had flashes of them ten years from now walking around high school making the lives of other little girls who just aren't cool enough in their book, miserable.

So after this the thoughts started floating around in my head and I realized that now, at twenty-nine years old I know women like this too. It honestly breaks my heart. Let's be honest for a minute. As women we have a lot to overcome anyway. Our lives aren't easy. Why do we make it harder on each other? Why is there this competition when what we could really do is support each other and help bring one another up? I just don't get it. Even though I did have female friends in high school I had ten times more male friends and those friendships were easier. I LOVE the girlfriends I have, and the friendships I've kept over the years with them but nine times out of ten, I spent time with the guys because there just wasn't that drama.

Anyway, I could go on all day about this because it really, really bothers me, but I'll stop now before I bore the heck out of everyone. LOL. Do you have any mean girl experiences, as an adult or child? How do you handle it as a parent when it's directed at your child? My daughter starts Kindergarten in August and I'm just scared to death!

Is it Time for Digital Textbooks?

Oh heck yeah!

As the mom of two college aged kids, I definitely believe it's time to get my college students to buy digital textbooks. On Sunday, I was surprised to read an article in my hometown newspaper about the Texas legislature passing the initial phase of making money available for our public schools to purchase ditigal textbooks. One Texas House member went as far as to say that kids look at paper textbooks much as we look at a horse and buggy.

Everyone here knows I'm a big advocate of reading green. Maybe it's because I write 'green' too but no, that's not the only reason. Ebooks are cheaper and protect the environment and wow, isn't it nice to be able to tote your library around in your purse? Color me a slave to convenience but e-books ROCK and so do the devices we read them on.

I digress though. I'm actually talking more about our kids at this point. Last November, Business Week magazine published an article about how digital textbooks are a viable option for college kids who are sick of paying almost $900 per year on textbooks. Since the 1980's, the cost of textebooks has tripled. Books that might run $100 each in a college bookstore are available in places on line such as Cingage Learning's iChapters for half the price. No special reading device, such as the Sony or Kindle is needed (although they could certainly be used). A laptop will do the trick and most college kids have one. What is super cool about these digital reads is that information is embedded into the book such as audio tracks, video clips and hyperlinks. Handy, huh?

True, these books can't be sold back to the campus bookstore. That is a real downside but, as a former college student, I can't tell you how many times I re-sold my books and felt I'd been hugely ripped off. And how many times did you sign up for a class thinking you'd buy 'used' only to learn a new, updated version was now required? That happened to me a gazillion times. Yeah. RIP-OFF.

I would love to talk my kids into digital versions of textbooks. I'm working on them.

But I must say, I thought it was very cool that states are looking into making digital textbooks available to our elementary through high school grades. I believe, in the long run, schools and taxpayers would save some money and our kids would love working with advanced technology.

Now for some shameless self promotion!
Today my regency historical Chasing Temptation is available at Resplendence Publishing. So if you are a fan of ultra hot regency please check it out HERE!


Chasing Temptation
Regina Carlysle

Blurb:

London’s Haute Ton calls her Miss Temptation. But Elizabeth Grayson can’t be bothered by society’s diversions while seeking justice for her murdered sister. She is a woman on a dangerous mission. Now is not the time for mindless social engagements or courtships from men she has no intention of marrying. However, Christian Delaford is no ordinary man. He stirs her like no one she has ever met before. His eyes speak of sin and tangled sheets. Of decadent nights spent in his arms. Far too diverting for her peace of mind.

Christian Delaford, the Duke of Haverton, must be married by midnight of his birthday or forfeit his heritage to a distant relation. After years of living a hedonistic life in the Orient, the thought of binding himself forever to an insipid English Miss fairly curls his toes. London’s current ‘diamond of the first water’, however, changes his mind. In Elizabeth, he finds a bold and daring woman who harbors a terrifying secret. He vows to chase Miss Temptation, to the ends of the earth if needs be, and save her from the forces that would tear them both apart.

Take Me Away!!

Soemtimes you just want to be taken away from all the STUFF! This weekend was nice, but it was busy. It's always rush, rush, rush. I have Nalini Singh's Psy-changeling series sitting on my coffee table just waiting for me to read them, but all I've gotten done is housework, running errands, the usual busy work.

This week doesn't look much better either. Today after I pick up the kids I'll have guitar lessons to take my daughter to. Tomorrow my other daughter has cheer practice. Wednesdays I usually reserve to get some extra writing time in. And sometime this week I need to go shopping for Mother's Day. Truthfully, all I want to do is curl up on the couch with a cup of coffee and read for about a day. Wouldn't that be heaven??

Well, while I whine about how I have zero time to read, has anyone gotten the new J. R. Ward book? Is that a sexy cover or what? I've ordered it (with luck I'll find time to actually read it! lol)and it's been shipped. I'm curious what everyone thinks of it being released in hardback. Does it bug you when a publisher starts releasing in hardback mid-series?

Break out the POPCORN

It's May 1 and officially the beginning of the summer movie season. YAY!!!! Every year I wonder what will be out there and this year everything looks sooooo damn gooood!

May I say HUGH JACKMAN???? Yeah, I know Wolverine has that funky, weird hair but damn. Only Hugh could pull that doo off and still manage to be sexy as hell. I can't wait for X-Men Origins: Wolverine. This movie also features Ryan Reynolds who is uber-yum! Gotta love a man who is not only hot but FUNNY! I love him to death. I was also surprised to learn that Will I Am, the multi-talented writer and musician of Black Eyed Peas fame will make his acting debut as a mutant transporter named Wraithe.

And what else awaits us at the theater this summer? The movie Star Trek, featuring a ton of new, young actors. I've been seeing the clips of this and it looks fun. We also have Christian Bale in the next Terminator movie and Shia LaBeouf in Transformers 2. I don't know about you but I adore Shia. To me, he has that 'everyman' quality that makes him so likeable.


Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince also comes out this summer. Every year the kids get older but I think better and it'll be fun to see what they do with this.

So yeah. I'm ready to hit a few matinees and see as many of these movies as possible. It will be interesting to see how well attended the theaters will be this summer considering the poor economy. So far, we've seen books continue to sell and I suspect movies will provide a perfect escape for lots of folks this summer.

What movies are on your 'can't miss' list?