Bookish Rants and Raves: Getting Shelved

I absolutely abhor getting shelved as a reader, and it’s funny, because the people that do it, aren’t authors or publishers, but other readers.

A fellow reader and I were talking the other day and she said to me: “I know you just read vampire books…”

Then she continued on with her sentence.

Excuse me, but I do not “just read vampire books” the last four books I read weren’t vampire books! The last three weren’t even paranormal in nature!

It infuriates me to know that just because a large selection of my reading material is mainly paranormal, other readers think it’s okay to shelve me as “one of those people that read just vampire books”.

This makes me so mad!

They think that they are on a higher grounding than me because this person in particular only reads mysteries and non-fiction, this person doesn’t …

Review: What a Goddess Wants by Stephanie Julian

Format Read: ARC provided by the publisherNumber of pages: 384 pagesRelease Date: 1 July 2011Formats available: Paperback, eBookPublisher: Sourcebook CasablancaPurchasing Info: Goodreads, Amazon, Book Depository (US), Book Depository (UK), Author’s website

Book Blurb:

Book One in the Forgotten Goddess series

IN HIS ARMS, HER MAGIC POWERS ARE ON THE RISE…Tessa, Etruscan Goddess of the Dawn, is losing her powers and now there’s an Underworld god determined to run her down. She needs a hero and fast, because only sexual energy can give her power. So she seeks out Caligo, whose sexual prowess is legendary…

AND SHE’S THE ONLY ONE WHO CAN BRING HIM INTO THE LIGHT…

Caligo is a fabled Cimmerian warrior determined to stay away from spoiled goddesses who trample hearts after they’ve had their fun. But there’s something irresistibly hot and inviting about Tessa and he knows he’s her …

Romance and Me: Sex or No Sex? – That is the Question

Hey Everyone!

I have to confess in the past week or so I haven’t been reading any romance novels (I know it’s shocking and I can hear several gasps from you, but I think you’ll understand and forgive me when I tell you that a very exciting urban fantasy kept me busy), so when it came to today’s post and deciding what issue we should discuss today I drew a blank. And the fact that I was in my post-lunch-siesta-lump didn’t help at all… :-/ So I launched an SOS and Susi was dear enough to come to my rescue and rant some:Susi:So Stella asked for my opinion and I’m sure I will totally embarrass myself but here it goes:I’m actually annoyed about this topic very often. Yes we have a distinction between romantic and erotic in Romanceland and even the various eroticas mostly have an additional heat rating to see how hot they are but …

Review: Pride and Prejudice: Hidden Lusts by Mitzi Szereto

Format Read: ARC provided by the publisherNumber of pages:  224 pagesRelease Date: 1 July 2011Formats available: PaperbackPublisher: Cleis PressPurchasing Info: Goodreads, Amazon, Book Depository, Author’s website, Cleis PressBook Blurb:

Imagine that Jane Austen had written the opening line of her satirical novel Pride and Prejudice this way: “It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a good romp and a good wife — although not necessarily from the same person or from the opposite sex.” In Pride and Prejudice: Hidden Lusts Mr. Darcy has never been more devilish and the seemingly chaste Elizabeth never more turned on.

The entire cast of characters from Austen’s classic is here in this rewrite that goes all the way. This time Mr. Bingley and his sister both have designs on Mr. …

Review: "Falling, Freestyle", by Vivian Arend

Format Read: e-Book purchased by reviewer
Length: 190 Pages
Series: Xtreme Adventures Book I
Genre: Contemporary Erotic Romance, Ménage & More
Release Date: November 30, 2010
Publisher: Samhain Publishing
Formats Available: eBook, Kindle, Nook
Purchasing Info: Publisher, Author’s Website, Goodreads, Kindle, Nook, Sony

Book Blurb:

Never venture out of bounds without a buddy—preferably two…

Dara’s past four incredible years have been lived to the fullest. Along with her best friends, Kane and Jack, she’s left no local wilderness unexplored, no ski slope unchallenged. Yet lately she wonders why they’ve never seen her as more than a buddy with breasts. When—or if—either man will cross that unspoken line.

It’s a line Kane eyes harder every day. Since high school, he and Jack have shared everything. A condo, vacations—and their best girl. Kane’s ready to get serious about his wilderness school and outfitter business, and that includes …

New Releases: June 27 – July 3

What a Goddess Wants  by Stephanie Julian

Blurb:It’s OK no one remembers Etruscan Sun goddess Tessa. But when a demon threatens her life, she must turn to mythology’s darkest warrior for protection…

Caligo of the Cimmerians has never met a woman as warm, sunny and inviting as Tessa. Their sizzling mutual attraction quickly sweeps the two of them into a love story that’s worthy of the gods…

Deeper than Midnight – Lara Adrian
Burn the Night – Jocelynn Drake
Never Cry Wolf – Cynthia Eden

Crave the Moon – Lori Handeland
Black Heart Loa – Adrian Phoenix

Guestpost: Who Deserves a Happily Ever After? by Bettie Sharpe + Giveaway

Today we welcome to BLI an author whose stories aren’t magical just because of her enchanting writing style, but because she tells the story of princesses and talking cats and wizards and all things you can only encounter in a fairy tale. But wait a second, that is exactly what you’ll find in Bettie Sharpe’s Cat’s Tale: A Fairy Tale Retold, a modern retelling of the classic Puss in Boots tale with a surprising take on the old fable. (You can read Susi’s review here.) So give a warm welcome to Bettie Sharpe and let her tell you about what kind of happily ever after she likes to read about.

Fairy tales are very clear about what kind of heroine deserves a happily ever after. Sweet, patient young princesses who excel at domestic duties deserve …

Explore This! Budapest, Hungary

Today, I have to give a big thanks to Stella for recommending Budapest, Hungary as an awesome city to feature. Not only is it Stella’s home town but also the setting for novels by Gena Showalter, and has been featured by Kristan Higgins and Gabi Stevens. I am ashamed to admit that I really had no idea about Budapest, its history or its beauty.

Researching, I’ve discovered that the “first settlement on the territory of Budapest was built by Celts…before 1 AD”. This would mean there could be a very slim chance I’m related to Stella, though no doubt many people have moved around since then, lol.  Regardless, here are some lovely images of a city that is obviously rich …

Review: Cat’s Tale: A Fairy Tale Retold by Bettie Sharpe

Format Read: eBook provided by the authorNumber of pages: 108 pagesRelease Date: 27 June 2011Formats available: eBookPublisher: Carina PressPurchasing Info: Goodreads, Author’s Website, Amazon, Carina Press

Book Blurb:

Once upon a time there was a scheming, lying tart who cared for nothing but her own pleasures and her shoe collection.

Once the peerlessly beautiful Lady Catriona, consort to the king, Cat’s fortunes fall far when her aged husband dies. The king’s wizard turns her into a cat and tries to drown her in the mill pond. Fortunately Cat is a clever survivor and enlists the help of Julian, the miller’s youngest son, in her plan for revenge.She originally sees Julian as a mere pawn for her plans to break her curse, but as they work together Cat comes to know and care for him. Even if …

Interview With Author Anne Rainey + Giveaway!

It’s our great pleasure to welcome Award Winning, Samhain Bestselling Author Anne Rainey to BLI today! Anne is here to celebrate the release of her latest novel So Sensitive, which is published by Kensington Aphrodisia and hits the stands June 28, 2011. So Sensitive is a sizzling erotic romance with suspense elements involving Gracie Baron and hot alpha hero Wade Harrison. This is the first in Anne’s Hard To Get series of novels.

So Sensitive is an RT Book Reviews Top Pick for July, The reviewer said: “A touch of BDSM complements sizzling-hot sex in this suspenseful winner.”

Anne! Welcome to BLI, thank you so much for taking time out of your busy schedule to chat with us today. 🙂

Anne: Thanks for having me here!

Anne can you please tell us a bit about yourself?

Anne: How about the official bio? …