Oops they did it AGAIN

Okay I'm not going to get political in this blog and choose sides or anything like that. I'm also not going to pretend people who aren't in politics don't do the same exact thing it just isn't under the microscope so we don't all read about it on practically a daily basis. That said I do want to talk about Senator John Edwards becoming yet another person in power who thinks they're above getting caught so they decide to cheat on their spouse. This is getting really, really old for me. We find yet another politician who lies and tries to make themselves look like they are the pinnacle of a what people should be, honest, loyal, caring but really they're deceiving one of the people who should be able to depend on them the most. If they don't have enough honestly and loyalty in them to be true to their spouse or children where does that leave us? If you lie to your kids and the person you pledged your love to how am I, one of a million people in the world who you don't know from Adam, supposed to trust a thing you say?

I'll tell you what I think it is: power and control. People can't seem to handle it. I KNOW not all people are this way but it seems more and more often you give someone a position of power or control and it immediately inflates their heads making them believe they're somehow invincible and that the standards held to the rest of us don't apply to them. I mean, do they think they're so much better that they're not going to get caught? They're going to run for president, or whatever office they want and no one is going to dig and dig into their lives until they discover any and everything they've done wrong? Or are they just so damn good that they think it doesn't matter? That they can do anything because of who they are? Its getting really old. I'm not saying these people have to be perfect angels but come on, have not only a little self respect but respect for your loved ones and for the rest of us out here who may have believed in you, or voted for you or whatever the situation may be.

How can we trust anyone? This really upset me today. I liked him, respected him and now my heart breaks for his wife. I know it was two years ago and she's obviously forgiven him but she deserved better. Everyone deserves better than we're getting today with people who are supposed to be out there to make this world a better place. If they can hurt people they love this much then there's no hope for the rest of us.

Adventures in Book Buying

Now ya'll know I love my e-book reader. It's the closest thing to my heart and I adore it but my daughter is another story altogether. She and I, like many of you have been waiting for Acheron to come out and, though I understand it's available in e-book format, she wanted a copy "to hold in her hand". We live in Texas and got some rain from Hurricane/Tropical storm Eduardo. Yay on THAT bit of good luck because this is a dry, dusty place. Anyway, we headed out in the rain the other day to get our copy of Acheron.

Let me say this about the town where I live...it's verrrrry conservative. Lots of churches and the three colleges here are all private and church affiliated. It's a cliquey little town that features extremes. We have extreme "cowboys". Yep. The real deal, lots of petroleum industry (oil field) workers and lots of very religious college students and professors. It's a weird mix. One of the largest bookstores in town features row upon row of religion based books and two tiny rows of romance. It's a scary situation, let me assure you. Now, I have nothing against religion but I want my ROMANCE. Let me mention too, that this is also a town that features stories about the witchery and sorcery of Harry Potter and should the books be banned from our schools. You get the drift.

Despite all that, I figured this store would carry Acheron so we went inside and couldn't find it anywhere. Finally, I went for help and an elderly fellow at the "search and find" counter offered to help but the minute I said the name of the book, his eyes went BIG. He laughed and said he'd look it up but he didn't have to. Said the entire order sold out in about 30 minutes. What kind of book IS this? He asked. Daughter and I laughed and said it was a paranormal romance. He seemed shocked about that and then he said, we're getting a shipment next week but they've all been sold already.

We left the store completely shocked. Daughter looks at me wide-eyed and said....MOM, there are DARK HUNTER fans here. In ABILENE!!!! I can't believe it. I had to laugh but shake my head at the same time. Figured there would be a few fans of the popular series but nothing like this. Wow, does Sherrilyn Kenyon really compete with Harry Potter here in this little burg? Looks like. The man at the bookstore said there had been a line and this was crazy too. Daughter and I started to talk about how cool it would've been to stand in line with "closet" paranormal readers. You know, chat it up, talk about the characters. That kind of stuff.

In the end, we found our copy at Wal Mart where we were headed anyway. The book section there isn't all that hot so it was a nice surprise. Groceries and a bestseller all in one fell swoop. Did anyone else pick up a copy and find lines? We were wondering about that and if the rush to buy was just here. How many times have you stood in line and what kind of book would compell you to do it? I'll confess, I've stood with my kids in a couple of Harry Potter midnight release deals and it was kind of fun. As a writer and a reader, my heart melts at the knowledge my kids love reading as much as I do.

So what author/book would you stand in line for?

Piercings?

Do you have them?


I'm sort of an oddball, I don't have any piercings. I tried to get pierced ears once, years ago, never worked out. After that it just didn't seem like a big deal to me and my husband gets to save a lot by not having to buy me earrings for birthdays. LOL Saving money makes him a happy camper. ;-) But piercings seem very popular these days. I've never had to face the decision of my daughters wanting any piercings other than the usual ear piercings. Truthfully, I'm not sure how I'd react. I think I'd be okay, within reason. After all, once the piercings are there, then they’ll be asking for fifty different holes to be filled, right? I don't make that kind of money! LOL


Also, how are you with piercings on the opposite sex? Again, I never faced this as my husband doesn't have any piercings. I used to think it was sexy to see a guy with a pierced ear, but now there's all sorts of body piercings. For some reason the only male with piercings I can think of is Z from Ward's BDB series. LOL Yeah, I sort of did a turn around when I read his book. Suddenly I saw body piercings in a whole new light. But then Z makes everything sexy. LOL Nipple piercings on guys...hmm, it's sort of hot, right?


What about books? Have you read a lot of books where the men are pierced? What was your take on it? Hot or Not? Oh, and give me some titles, I'm looking for more big strong heroes with nipple piercings! LOL


And while I’m at it here, if any of your fine ladies have a hunky picture handy that you want to share—specifically a hunk with piercings—be my guest! I tried to find one, but came up short. Bummer, right?

hugs,
Anne

a quick note!

My first ever vampire romance is now out!

BUY HERE
hugs,
Anne

I can't put it down!

I had a plan going into Tuesday. As everyone knows I've been on edge waiting for Acheron. My day went just as planned. Woke up, threw dinner in the crock pot so dinner would cook itself, dressed the kiddos, and headed to Wal Mart for my book. Once I picked it up we went straight to the park so my kiddos could have some fresh air. Can anyone guess what I did??? Read! Besides taking breaks to play with my kids, do snacks, lunch, read a few books to my four year old (she's so cute because she loves books to. She'll copy me and lay on the opposite couch with her book and tell stories to herself. LOVE it) and other mommy stuff all I did was read! No laundry, no vacuuming, no writing. My day was full of Acheron and my kids. The amazing this is even though I've spent hours reading and I'm halfway done I still have to force myself to put it down. My eyes are tired but I don't care. I'm enthralled with Ash and his story. Its sad, but its so important to see where he comes from.

Anyway, the point of my blog today, even though I'm having a heck of a time getting to it, isn't so much Ash but those books that you CAN'T put down. You know what I mean, those books that you get and read in one sitting, unable to pry the thing from your hands. Love the feeling of a book connecting with me so much.

So, what books have you read recently that you just couldn't put down?

Tattoos and Taboos

Well, I don't actually have a damn thing against tattoos but I thought this guy was yummy, so here we go! LOL. I actually once thought tattoos were kinda gross. Just shows how much times have changed and yes, we usually change with them.

My ideas of male and female beauty have changed too and I believe that's a good thing. Don't know if I'm just getting older or folk are just more accepting in our society these days. We're more color-blind (thank GOD) and look at differences in people as a good thing not something to be avoided. Okay...down off my soapbox now but this actually ties into my little theory.

Lately, I've learned a valuable lesson and that is to say...never say never. I NEVER in a million-gazillion years thought I'd write erotic romance. Now, my stuff has always been hot but never the kind of stuff that'll have you breaking out in a sweat or steam rolling from you ears like I write these days. Back before I started on this journey, I had some rules and looking back, I have to shake my head and roll my eyes. Yeeeaaaah. What was I smokin'? The more erotic romance I wrote (and read) the raunchier I got and that's a fact.

If you read romance and yes, I KNOW you do, what are no-no's in your book? These days the absolute guarantee of a rejection is pretty much standard with most respected pubs. They don't do rape or other violence against women, bestiality, and other ICKY things. That's the norm. Lately, male/male romances have gained in popularity. I have a gay male friend who writes gay romances and he's an exception writer but I've never actually read a totally m/m story. Many of the m/m titles today are written by heterosexual women. Have nothing against that and I'm not a homophobe by any stretch but I wouldn't feel comfortable writing such a story. Why? Because I know zilch about it. Nada. I'm a firm believer in anyone's freedom to read and write what they choose but I'm a moron about gay sex. I know tab A goes into Slot B and that's pretty much it. I can't begin to know what prejudices and troubles follow a gay couple and how they deal with the social issues/injustices of the day.

Well, I'm back to that never say never thing again but I just don't see me ever writing m/m romance unless there's a whooooole lotta research in my future.

A real turn off to me is heavy duty bdsm. I'm talking the chains and whips and other things that make me think.....OOOWWWWWW. I'm not a big fan of pain and stuff that involves blood and masochism bothers me. Aside from that I'm fairly open to interesting sexual scenes and I'm certainly not adverse to my hero whipping a couple of ties out of a drawer and doing a little bit of tie me up, tie me down but, to me, that's not the same thing as this Master/Slave stuff. I know it's supposed to be a game but it just sees a little much to me.

What turns you totally off in current fiction and what really lights you up like a Christmas Tree? Hmmm. Don't have to stick with the sexual aspect of things here. See? I'm broad minded and like to hear all views. Hate books about Doctors? Dislike stories about tornados in Kansas and little dogs named TOTO? We all have our little things? I've told you mine so now tell me yours.
What is taboo in your book?

I want to be swept away!

That's what I want when I read a book or see a movie. I want to be swept away. I don't care how unrealistic the plot, if you can suck me into your world, then I'm your slave for life.

I saw the movie "Journey to the Center of the Earth" recently and I loved it. The 3-D effects made it even more fun to watch. I love action adventure movies. Indiana Jones, The Mummy, Pirates of the Caribbean...those are the types of movies I don't mind spending my money on. The dark theater, a big ol’ bucket of popcorn and that huge screen and surround sound. I get completely swept up every single time and it's great.

Same with books. I love it when an author can take me into her world and make me forget everything. No matter where I'm at, no matter what's troubling me, I can pick up that book and sink myself into the pages and become a part of it. Like in Christine Feehan's Ghostwalker series or Shannon McKenna's McCloud series, I totally leave my cares behind and suddenly I become the heroine, dodging bullets and kissing dangerous men.

I've been a loner most of my life. I grew up with brothers, which means I may as well have been an only child. I spent a lot of time alone. Add a shy personality to that scenario and you have a dreamer. Someone who uses books or movies as a means of escape. My friends were the characters on the screen and between the covers of books. Is it any wonder that I became a writer?

What author sucks you into his/her world each time you pick up another of their books? Do you find yourself almost sad when you finish it, knowing you'll have to wait 6 months, maybe a year before you can become a kickass heroine with a psychopath on her tail?

Sassy Sunday and HOT COWBOYS

Well, aren't we just being laid back as heck around here on this Sunday morning!?!?! That's the way it SHOULD be in my opinion.

Anne was on vacation with her family this week and I'm happy to report she had a great time. It's always good to get away with hubby and kids where there are no interruptions, phones, surprise visits. You know how that is. Never a moment just to "connect". Hmm. We might need to do some of that good stuff too, come to think of it.

In honor of our "chilled out" day, I'm going to gab a bit about my upcoming release. In November, The Wild Rose Press will release the PRINT anthology Wild Wayback Nights. This will include hot cowboy stories by Cindy Spencer Pape, Sylvie Kaye, Judith Rochelle and myself (Rita Thedford). What do you think of the cover? We just got it a little while ago and um...yeah, I drooled all over the damn keyboard. Pretty smoking hot, I think. Anyway, I'll give ya'll a date when I know for sure about it.

My story Hot Night at the Blue Bug Saloon was the first of the Wayback Texas stories and several have released since then and I can't tell you how much fun it was to first of all, write the story of Nash Logan and Gina Ballew, but to be involved in the building of the town.

Here's an excerpt of Hot Night at the Blue Bug Saloon.


“Well? Have you picked one out, Gina?” Patti-Pie Murphy licked a clump of salt from the rim of her margarita glass and grinned. “Good crop tonight.”
A response wasn’t needed because Lyssa Callahan spoke up as she signaled the waitress for another round. “Leave the woman alone. She’s sworn off men, and hell, I don’t blame her.”
Patti-Pie shook her blonde head. “You can’t swear off men forever, sugar. You have to forget about what happened last year. There are more fish in the sea than Cole Thomas.”
Patti was an optimistic, blue-eyed blonde, always sunshine bright. Gina loved her dearly, but right now Patti was just plain irritating.
“Don’t mention Cole to me. It’s over and done with.” Gina ran the side of her thumb down a gouge in the worn oak table and tried not to scowl. “You sound like Mama. He made his choice and it wasn’t me. I’m just happy I found out he was a horn-dog before the wedding. Bastard! I’m only here for the dancing and to keep you two out of trouble.”
Her best friends since high school laughed and she knew the reason why. Of the three of them, she was the one most likely to have trouble tattooed on her butt. It followed her like a bad habit and her brief engagement had proven to be just another notch on her bad-decisions-belt. She wasn’t doing that again. Nope. She was a changed woman.
“Ooh, look at that one, girls.” Patti nodded toward a long, rangy cowboy in a pristine white Stetson. “He’s yummy.”
“Wannabe, Patti. You always pick the wannabe cowboys,” Lyssa said, shaking her head. Lyssa was a curvy, brunette who had a no-nonsense outlook that Gina admired, but Lyssa gave the ever-optimistic Patti fits.
“Ah, what’s wrong with him? He’s cute. Kinda.”
The wannabe cowboy all starched up in his brand new jeans had tourist stamped all over him. He looked their way and Patti gasped in delight. But he wasn’t looking at Patti. He was looking straight at Gina.
Uh-uh. No way.
“That’s not fair,” Patti moaned. “They always pick you, Gina.”
“Hey! That’s not true. They do not.”
Lyssa shook her head and leaned back as the waitress set down fresh drinks. “Yeah, honey, they do. That’s why I hang out with you. Don’t really like you all that much but the attention is nice. You’re a man-magnet. Face it. Get over it.”
“Ha. Ha.” Gina snorted, took a sip of her beer, and leaned forward in her chair to prop her elbows on the littered table. “I’ve sworn ‘em off. Every last one of them. I wouldn’t be here tonight if you guys hadn’t forced me.”
Her friends laughed knowing it hadn’t really taken all that much convincing. She loved Thursday nights at The Blue Bug and it wasn’t a huge secret. They had the best dance floor in town and live music for the last few hours of the evening.
Wannabe Cowboy strutted toward their table, slipping and sliding through the crowds at the perimeter of the dance floor. In the dim lighting, his pale complexion fairly announced that his profession kept him indoors most days. He wasn’t a real cowboy. Just pretending.
“Oh my God,” Patti gasped. “Here he comes. I’m gonna pee my pants!” Anticipation lit her face.
Gina rolled her eyes and shared a grin with Lyssa.
“Settle down, Mary Sunshine,” Lyssa said.
“Howdy, ladies.” The man was okay looking but not Gina’s type. He gave her a look and held out a hand to her. Patti looked crushed. “Care to dance?”
Gina shook her head. “Uh-uh. Sorry, I’m sitting this one out.”
Disappointment flashed in his eyes but it didn’t last long. He glanced down at Patti-Pie, who shivered like a puppy. “How about you? Wanna dance?”
“Yeah. That’d be good.”
The breathless response had him smiling so he took Patti’s hand and led her to the dance floor.
Lyssa took a sip of her rum and Diet Coke and gave her a considering look. “See what I mean? Man magnet. That’s why we keep you around.”
“Bitch.”
“I mean it, hon. You’ve got all those gobs of black hair, long legs, and big boobs. Man magnet.”
Gina moaned. “I feel so used.”
Lyssa laughed then went serious. “Really, Gina, you’ve gotta shake off this funk you’ve been in. Ever since you caught Cole plowing another woman’s field you’ve avoided men. You’re twenty-five years old and it’s just not normal to completely ignore your healthy libido.”
“My libido can go to hell. If I’m so hot, why am I sitting here and not dancing?”
Her friend gave a telling glance toward the dance floor and arched her brow as a smiling, animated Patti-Pie boot-scooted by with her “pretend” cowboy. “It’s your choice.”
When Lyssa leaned back and gave her best school teacher expression, she knew a lecture was coming. “I see it like this. You’re like a big old mean bull named Intimidator.
Gina groaned.
“Now every hot cowboy worth his salt wants to ride Intimidator into the bed sheets…um…dirt. But they all know this bull is a scary creature. They want to give old Intimidator a ride but they’re afraid of getting bucked to their asses in the dust. See? That’s you. Intimidator.”
Gina wanted to argue with Lyssa’s assessment but she couldn’t. Men had always been just a little terrified of her. It would take a truly confident man to approach her and she knew it.
Suddenly, she’d had enough. Damn it, she wanted to dance and out of all these hot guys, only one had approached her.
It was time to pull out all the stops and take what she wanted. Narrowing her eyes, she lounged back in her chair and sent her gaze skimming across the room. Man, there were some downright gorgeous guys here tonight.
Suddenly she stilled. Every nerve in her body started to twitch as lust dug through her belly like a pair of steel spurs. Leaning against the bar at the far side of the room was the sex god of every ride ‘em cowboy fantasy she’d ever had.
He was looking straight at her!

Tall and lean, the man was roughly handsome with those broad shoulders and slim hips. Yum-my! A battered black cowboy hat was worn low over his forehead but she caught a glimpse of chestnut hair spilling across his brow. The jeans he wore looked worn and touchable and his black western cut shirt settled against his muscular chest like a dream. Gina wanted to grip the front of that shirt. One swift yank would have those tiny pearl snaps giving way like a slow sexy song.
Lifting a long neck bottle of beer to full sculpted lips, he took a quick sip, while keeping eye contact and then lowered the bottle to dangle loosely from a big, bronzed hand.
Gina swallowed. Oh, yeah. A real rough and ready cowboy.
“Go get him, sex goddess!” Lyssa whispered. “He’s primed, ready and willing to tackle the Intimidator. Ask him. Hell, you’re a modern woman. Take what you want.”
“You are the devil whispering in my ear. Damn you to hell! Go home, Satan, get thee gone.”
Lyssa laughed as Gina knew she would. Her friend settled a hand on hers and leaned close. Her smiled turned wicked. “Dare you.”
Bolstering her courage, Gina stood and scowled down at Lyssa. “Done. You buy the next round!”
When she turned into the crowd, it was like a parting of the Red Sea. Was Lyssa right? Was she really the Intimidator? Every eye seemed to take her in from top to toe and she suddenly wondered if the little blue t-shirt she wore flashed too much skin between its hem and the low slung waist of her jeans. Women’s eyes narrowed. Male glances took her in with a look of awestruck wonder.
“Holy shit!”
“Hey there, honey. Wanna dance?”
“Lookee there.”
Gina wanted to cringe as she waded through the throng but she held her head high, zig-zagging through the clusters of partiers. The cowboy still watched her and she focused, zeroed in on him, as she moved forward. Men were thick at the bar and she could see their hazy reflections in the mirror hanging just behind the busy bartenders manning the place. No more than six paces away someone grabbed her butt.
Spinning around, she felt her long hair fly out then settle around her shoulders. “Hey!”
The drunken toad who actually looked like a toad grinned as his sidekicks hooted.
“Do it again, buddy, and you’ll lose that arm.”
A low, deep voice from behind her caused heat to shoot through her blood. She stiffened.
The butt-grabber’s eyes went wide as he looked over Gina’s shoulder. “Hey, now. I’m just funnin’.”
“Take it off to someone who’s interested,” he said. “You’re not in this lady’s league.”
“’Spose you’re in her league?” Toad backed away a little as he got mouthy.
“Maybe. Maybe not. That’s up to her. Now get your ass on outta here, fella. Scoot.”
Toad scooted and disappeared into the crowd.
Gina spun around to greet her rescuer.
Holy cow! He looked even better up close.
He had Jack Daniels eyes. Whiskey colored, hot, and aged to perfection. A man, not a boy. Dark lashes framed those penetrating eyes and Gina felt her breath catch in her throat. He had a tiny bump on the bridge of his great looking nose. Probably broke it when he was thrown from the back of a mean bull that might’ve been named Intimidator. She wanted to reach out and run her finger over that attractive bump. In an attempt to hide the quick flash of desire, she faked an air of bravado. “Good to see chivalry isn’t dead, cowboy.”
“Not where I come from.” He lifted a hand and one of the bartenders sidled up. “A drink for the lady.”
Gina placed her order and moved closer to the bar. “Thanks. So where you from?”
He shrugged as he paid the bartender for her drink. “South of here but I move around a lot.”
“Guess you’re in town for the rodeo. Are you entered?”
“Yep.”
“Man of few words, too.”
A smile twitched at those scrumptious lips. “Usually.” She noted the brackets around the sides of his mouth, the faint laugh lines at the corners of his eyes. He lived in the sun and he either scowled fiercely or smiled frequently. Hard to tell which.
Fierce, she decided. He was a fierce man but capable of laughter. The most appealing man she’d ever met.
Gina went silent as his scent stole her tongue. Man, he smelled good. Subtle with just a hint of something clean and citrusy. Tart enough to make her mouth water. She took a sip of her beer to hide her reaction.
One dance, she vowed. Only one. This temporary man was dangerous to her state of mind. Why had she listened to Lyssa and given in to temptation this way? She swallowed and forced herself to meet his penetrating gaze.
“This your first time here? Wayback’s pretty small. I’d remember you.”
“Yeah. Nash Logan.”
“Gina Ballew. Welcome to Wayback.”Mustering her courage, she tilted her chin and held out a hand to two hundred pounds of trouble.

Hot excerpt for a hot Saturday

Good morning! Today I'm sharing an ADULT excerpt of book two in the Friday's at Luciano's series, Unexpected Mr. Right. This one will be released January 2009. Hope you enjoy Nico....


Nico carried her to the bedroom. Setting her on her feet he didn’t waste any time undressing her. He didn’t want to give her the chance to change her mind. It would kill him. He pulled her robe completely off her shoulders and let it drop to the floor. Her nightgown followed seconds later. She stood in front of him in pink g-string panties and nothing else. “Damn woman, you’re going to be the death of me.”
He couldn’t stop staring at her, soaking her in from her cute, red painted toenails to her frazzled hair. Delicious. Her skin a smooth, milk chocolate that smelled of lavender, begged to be touched. Her rounded breasts were pert, with hard pebbled nipples. Damn he wanted to taste them. And he would. First he needed the dark curls he saw beneath her pink panties uncovered. And he needed her to do it.
That would be her final concession. He had to know this is what she really wanted. That she desired him and wanted to proceed to the next level as much as he did. “Take off your panties.” The urgent scratch in his voice didn’t surprise him.
“I-”
“Do it, Tabby. I want to watch you ease that sexy scrap of cloth down those long legs. I need to know this is really what you want. No regrets.” She looked apprehensive at first but the looked quickly turned into one of excitement, eagerness. Hooking her matching, red painted fingernails in the strap on the side of her panties she began to lower them.
Hell fucking yeah.
Her slender waist bent and she lowered the g-string down her legs. When she reached her feet she stepped out one foot at a time before straightening to stand beautifully naked in front of him. “Cosi Caldo, cosi bella. Li Voglio.” Nico eased her back on her plush bed. When her head rested on the pillows he started to kiss her. It was a short, demanding kiss before he moved down to her neck, kissing the hallow spot at the base of her throat.
“What…what does that mean?” she asked breathlessly, running her hands through his hair.
“So hot, so beautiful,” he lowered his hand to cup her mound. “I want you.”
“I want you too.” The verbal admission almost sent him over the edge. He teetered there the whole time, but that, hearing those words almost did him in.
Nico rested his body between her thighs. “I don’t know where to begin,” he admitted. “I want to taste every inch of you, Tabby. How do I decide?”
She sighed, a sexy sigh as her eyes drifted closed as if waiting for him to decide. Nico kissed her lips, “eeny,” her left breast, “meeny,” her right, “miney,” then he eased down her body until his mouth was inches from her core. He lowered his head and licked. “ Mo. ” Damn she tasted good, wet and sweet. This is where he needed to be. He had to start here.

C'mon! Make me LAUGH!

Years ago, after a really bad rough patch in my life, I promised myself I'd try to have at least one good laugh every day...for the rest of my life. Now you might think that's a pretty damn tall order but you'd be surprised.

Figured out something awhile back. There are negative and positive forces in the universe. Sometimes those negatives will bite you in the ass when least expected but, if you look hard enough you can find just as many positives lying around to counteract the bad junk. So...to fight of the boogie man, I hang with people would are full of positive energy and people who make me laugh. Honestly, what's more positive that laughter?

Yesterday Kelley talked about those "comfort reads" we all seem to have. The well-thumbed, practically-memorized book that just makes you sigh. But what about the stuff that brings us all what we truly need from time to time? Fun. Laughs.

Okay, I'll freely admit, I have a huge stash of favorite funny ladies, among them Susan Elizabeth Phillips, Jennie Cruisie, and the wonderful Sandra Hill. I'll say right off the bat that Sandra Hill has me falling-on-the-floor laughing with every new book. She makes me laugh until I cry, I holler, I stomp my feet. Everything about her humor appeals to me. If you aren't familiar with her work, she writes about time traveling Vikings, time traveling Viking SEALS...yeah SEALS and red-hot Cajuns. She also has some historicals that I've re-read so often they are falling apart. There was a scene in The Blue Viking that I'll never forget. This story was about a Viking who was so damn good looking that he was an ass most of the time. Well, he insulted a little witch who got so pissed, she turned him BLUE. (Anny Cook would love this one...lol). Years later, he comes back to find her so she can reverse the spell. Trouble is the heroine isn't really a very talented witch. Everything she does gets screwed up. In one particular scene (and I'll never forget it), there is a huge roasted pig on a trestle table and she brags to the group of rowdy Vikings that she is talented enough to make the PIG RISE. The men form a circle as she begins the chant. The pig doesn't rise but the MEN DO!!! Or at least a part of them does. Something about that scene had me hooting and my family thought I'd lost my mind.

So who writes the drop dead funniest stuff you've ever read? Does Janet's Stephanie Plum (or her Grandma) keep you in stitches? Do you like the quirky humor of Catherine Coulter? Or is the satisfyingly sweet and silly stuff of SEP more to your tastes?