Guest Blogger - Jillian

Hi. It would seem that introductions might be in order, considering I don't really know you all. My name is Jillian and I'm an actor on a Sci-Fi series filmed in Vancouver, B.C. I used to do daytime drama in Los Angeles, but they killed off my character (after giving me a love interest and everything) to increase ratings. I have to admit that the new gig is pretty nice. So, I'm not complaining at all.

I've also found a lot of kindred spirits, or women who want to be, around my new home. When I started the "Sexual Suffragettes" I had no idea the group would grow so quickly. We've got three of them meeting in and around the city now. But I guess I shouldn't be surprised. Women want the freedom to be sexual beings without seeing themselves as defective and others seeing them as having loose morals.

You all get that right? It's kind of like the difference between erotica and erotic romance. I hear a lot of people have a hard time defining it, or comprehending the distinction. I'm not one of them. It's the difference between sex for the sake of sex and sex as a natural progression of emotion. You know? Living as a sexual being means that sometimes you are going to have both, but being a woman means that the emotional component makes sex more satisfying.

That's true for men too, by the way. Locker room humor aside, studies have shown that men in a committed sexual relationship tend to be more content and even productive.

That doesn't mean that most men and women, for that matter, have no hang-ups when it comes to the commitment part. Giving yourself to another person, promising a lifetime - that's not an easy thing to do. Trust me, I know. In fact, it's not something I *ever* planned to do.

So, how did I end up starring in a romance novel? Well, that's Lucy's story to tell and she does it well, if I do say so myself, in DEAL WITH THIS. Hope you read it!

Book BIN Tuesday -- Deal With This!

I've gotta tell you, I've been waiting for this book to be released for MONTHS. See, I had the chance to read it a while back and absolutely loved it. Loved. It. It's trademark Lucy -- alpha hero, strong heroine, emotional story... just an all around terrific read.

So I'm just thrilled this book is now available for everyone to read!

Here's the blurb: Alan Hyatt could do his job in his sleep, and when the Goddard Project sends him to investigate a case of high-tech espionage in the Vancouver film industry, he finds a perfect reason to work in bed. But sizzling actress Jillian Carlyle also happens to be his landlady, and she's got a hard-and-fast (so to speak) rule that keeps her from dating her renters. While Alan’s cover as a reporter gets him close to all the suspects on the set of Jillian's sci-fi show, playing a background actor at her suggestion to get his story? Well, that's something else—but he's not about to turn down a red-hot redhead, even if she keeps throwing him curves...

Jillian just can't understand it. Sure, Alan is six-feet-something of chiseled ruggedness with gray eyes and an irresistible growl in his voice. But hello? She doesn't do relationships—even of the casual kind—with men who impact more than her senses. No one is getting a chance at her heart. Especially not one of her renters. Still, there's nothing wrong with enjoying Alan from afar—but not too far, or she wouldn't be able to fully appreciate his rock-hard abs when he's working out in the home gym. If only he didn't make her feel safe and oh so right when they touched...

Seriously. Get this book now. You won't be sorry. Still not convinced? How about a peek at the video?

Deal With This. Available today at bookstores everywhere. So run on out and Buy It Now!

***Special Note*** Stop by on Thursday when Lucy Monroe will be guest blogging!

Thanksgiving

Yes, I know it's Thursday, but I'll be gone most of the day for Thanksgiving. So instead of an official Thursday Thirteen, since I won't be around to blog-hop, I thought I'd list some of the things I'm thankful for this year.

1. My family.
2. My health.
3. Being a working writer. It may not be my only job, but I'm so thankful I get this opportunity to share my writing beyond my best friend and my husband.
4. Having such a close relationship with my parents. They're the best.
5. Having fabulous in-laws.
6. Basic necessities.
7. Being able to read, and having so many wonderful books to choose from.
8. Having great, supportive friends.
9. Chocolate.
10. Travel.
11. My fuzzy yellow bathrobe.
12. Once a month Date Night.
13. YOU!

If you're a fellow American, I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving. If you're from outside the US, have a great weekend and I'll be back blogging soon!

Book BIN Tuesday -- Pretend You Love Me

Last week, you may recall, I featured Lauren Dane on Book BIN Tuesday. This week, I'm focusing on the other book I picked up at our mutual booksigning -- Stacia Wolf's Pretend You Love Me.

This was another book I'd missed on its original release. I'm kicking myself now, because it's such a great book! Fun, sexy, fast-paced -- I loved it! It's got one of my favorite storylines, friends to lovers, and it's a delight watching Cassie and Mike work their way past the barriers keeping them from admitting how they feel about each other.

Add this to the wonderful holiday story Stacia has in THE PERFECT GIFT, and she's definitely an author to watch. Take my advice -- head over to MBaM and Buy It Now. You won't regret it.

My Newest Musical Crush....

Damn you, Lynne Connolly, for mentioning Seth Lakeman on the Samhain Cafe the other night. She said, and I quote: "Now go watch Seth Lakeman before I take him away from you. And don't watch him doing Kitty Jay. That way lies obsession."

Never one to back down from a challenge like that, I looked him up on YouTube.

She's right, dammit. He's amazing.

See for yourself:


Enjoy!

Thursday Thirteen #34 -- Booksigning Edition

Okay, it's been well over a week since the Samhain booksigning. But I (1) need a topic for TT, and (2) finally got the pictures downloaded. So here are thirteen things I learned at the Samhain booksigning November 3:

1. Lauren Dane and Stacia Wolf are both fabulous women! I had a great time chatting with them and getting to know them.

2. A good bookseller makes a huge difference. Our contact at Waldenbooks ordered in a ton of books, asked us to sign the remaining stock, and promised to face the books out over the holiday season. How cool is that?

3. The Rainforest Cafe is like eating inside the Jungle Cruise at Disneyland. Except without the corny jokes.

4. There's a drink at the Rainforest Cafe that comes in a glass with flashing neon lights around the base of it. If I'd seen that before I ordered, I probably would have gotten it.

5. All customers coming into Waldenbooks after shopping at Radio Shack set off the security alarm.

6. Three authors and multiple books can squeeze to fit one small rectangular card table.

7. It's harder when said table is inside the posts of the security system at the entryway.

8. Friends and relatives who come to the mall on a Saturday night to support you at a booksigning are to be cherished.

9. It is impossible to participate in a booksigning without spending way more money on new books than you ever could have made in royalties for the night.

10. This is not a bad thing. :)

11. Dinner beforehand is a lovely thing. I highly recommend it.

12. Dessert afterward is even better.

13. I can't wait until the next booksigning!

Book BIN Tuesday -- Giving Chase

So I don't know how, exactly, I missed jumping on the Lauren Dane Chase Brothers bandwagon. I'd heard such great things about the books, and knew they sounded like they'd be right up my alley. But somehow, I never got around to reading any of them.

Until last week.

Regular readers of my blog know I participated in a signing a couple of weekends ago with Lauren Dane and Stacia Wolf. (And yes, I will be blogging about it. Eventually.) It was a perfect opportunity to pick up their books and get them signed, too! :) And since I'm a stickler for reading series in order, I got Giving Chase, the first Chase Brothers book.

So last week I sat down and read it. (Note to editor: I read it on the exercise bike at the club. No writing time was sacrificed for the reading of this book.)

I absolutely loved it. Loved the characters, loved the town, loved the interactions with all the secondary characters (what a great family!), loved the story. It was a great, exciting, emotional read. And I'm kicking myself for waiting so long to read it.

One thing I can say with certainty is that I won't be waiting this long to read the rest of them. The rest of the Chase Brothers books are gonna be in my shopping cart tonight. So why don't you join me over at MBaM and Buy (Them) Now?

My New Favorite Site...

I'm a vocabulary geek. I love words, love to play with them, love to collect obscure information about the English language.

I'm also a big fam of donating time and money to worthy causes.

So imagine my delight when a loop buddy sent a link to this site:

FreeRice

For every vocabulary word you get right, they donate ten grains of rice toward world hunger efforts through the United Nations.

So tonight I procrastinated on my WIP for ten minutes, helped donate over 1100 grains of rice, and discovered that a

Thursday Thirteen #33 -- Everybody in the Pool!

Thirteen things I like about swimming lessons

1. It's inside. No more freezing my behind off on the soccer field.
2. The pool viewing area is warm. See note above.
3. I like watching my kids enjoy being in the water.
4. Living in the Pacific Northwest, and owning a boat, swimming is a survival skill.
5. Two hours of no arguments over computer time and television, twice a week.
6. I can write on my Dana and still keep an eye on the kids.
7. My kids look forward to it.
8. Swimming plus shower equals no bath night!
9. It tires them out right before bed.
10. Getting our money's worth out of our health club membership.
11. Keeps them active in the months between soccer and fastpitch.
12. They're actually getting better with each session.
13. Makes me look forward to the summer, and vacation time.

Book BIN Tuesday -- Love and Lore

I admit it.

I'm a sucker for anything Celtic. Celtic design, Celtic jewelry, Celtic tradition, Celtic stories.

Especially Celtic stories.

That's why I was so excited to see that Samhain's second anniversary anthology, Love and Lore, is all about the Celts. :)

Here's the blurb:

Journey to the heart of Celtic legend.

Samhain is pleased to celebrate its second anniversary with three novellas that will lure you into the labyrinth of Celtic myth and legend.

In WILDISH THINGS, Carolan Ivey brings together an artist who is wounded in both body and spirit, and a sexy Irish bad boy on a Harley. Their whirlwind fling across Ireland takes a dangerous turn when their sexual chemistry awakens the deadly lust of an ancient goddess.

Gia Dawn’s offering of A FAIRY SPECIAL GIFT has it all: A woman who can see fairies and wishes she couldn’t, and a man who promises to help her with her “problem”-for the price of a kiss. Stir in the Celtic god Lugh who wants the woman for himself, rowdy flock of untamed pixies, and a pining Banshee in need of a makeover, and let’s just say there aren’t enough fairy traps in the world to control the chaos.

The HEART OF THE SEA beckons in Sela Carsen’s take on the Selkie legend. When a woman accidentally falls into the sea and turns into a seal, the man she loves believes her drowned. Seven years later, she rescues him from a shipwreck and for one blissful night, she returns to her human form. But only for a night. Can true love overcome the Selkie curse?

****
All three stories sound fabulous, don't they? You can buy them individually as e-books, or collected in the print anthology. Either way, I think you should go ahead and Buy (Them) Now!

Best. Meeting. Ever.

So Thursday I finally hauled myself off to my RWA chapter's monthly meeting. It's been a long time -- the summer break, then scheduling conflicts, conspired to keep me away. But I made it last night, and man I'm glad I did.

We had an experts panel, and let me tell you, it completely blew me away. In one room, we had:

A female patrol officer
A homicide detective
An EMT/firefighter
A former Ranger/Green Beret
and
A former pro bull rider/Marine sniper

I don't think I stopped taking notes all evening. My hand's still a little cramped up. It was AMAZING.

This is one of many, many reasons I love my RWA chapter.

And don't be surprised to find some heroes/heroines in these professions in my books sometime in the future. :)