Ava Gray’s release, A Quiz at Odd Shots, and Ilona Andrews

First, let’s start with the obvious. Have you read this yet?

No? Because I did and it was pretty darn awesome, let me tell you. If you’re a SF/UF reader, you might have heard of Ann Aguirre, but if you read only romance (like I seem to do lately) this might have slipped past your notice. I read it a few months ago (thanks Ann!) and it was really awesome. Very fast paced, with a hard-edged, tough heroine and a sexy, roguish hero. She’s a con man and he’s an assassin, and no one gets watered down throughout the story, which was pretty awesome, IMO. Seriously – if you like a different kind of story, and if you like romantic suspense type books with just a dash of paranormal, check this out. I really do think you’ll like it.

Speaking of awesome, have you seen Ilona Andrews’s post today? No? Go read it. She says some wonderful, brilliant things that hit very close to home for me. If you’ve read my journal for any length of time, you know that I’m a little sensitive/easily irritated when people romance bash, and they romance bash all the time. It’s saddest when it comes from other authors, because for the most part? Romance writers might be terribly critical of other romance writers, but as a whole no one really denigrates other genres simply for existing. Not the case with other genres and romance. Anyhoo, I love Ilona for posting this, and I’m happy she spoke up and said what I was thinking (though in a less cuss-filled, more polite sort of way).

Oh, and it’s my day at Odd Shots and I’ve added a quiz – are you Psy? Are you Changeling? And did you buy the newest Nalini Singh release? Hop to it!

This book comes out tomorrow

It’s been a while since I’ve raved about a book, but I truly, truly loved this one. I went into it with no expectations – I’ve been on a definite historical romance slump, and especially slumping in the areas of regency or Victorian (this is a Victorian). But I met Meredith at RWA last year and she was such a fun, sparkling personality that I wanted to read it, regardless of genre ennui.

I. Loved. This. Book. Words cannot describe how much I freaking loved this book. I started to read it and couldn’t put it down. After I finished it, everything else made me fussy because it was Not This Book. She ruined me for a good two weeks on other reads.

The hero and heroine were perfect. Perfect. If you liked Loretta Chase’s MR. IMPOSSIBLE, you simply must read this book. Jane at Dear Author gave it an A. The Book Smugglers gave it an 8 out of 10. It’s brilliant and clever and tender and I think Duran is going to be the next Loretta Chase.

You seriously want to read this book, guys.

Oh, the joy of release day.

Not my release day! Someone else’s. It’s that day you’ve been waiting for, the day that is led up to by scouring the local grocery stores in the hopes that a hapless Andersons (or whoever is the distributor now) employee put out the books early. And when that fails, it’s taking my lunch hour to make the trek – in the rain – to Barnes & Noble for that most prized of possessions.

THE NEW CATHERINE ANDERSON BOOK. BOOYAH.

I will be useless tonight in a reading marathon. Two words for you. Gun and slinger, baby. Gun and slinger.

Also

I have discovered Goodreads and spent half the evening tagging some of my favorite reads. I’m Jill Myles on there as well, if you’re on Goodreads too!

Stuff.

My buddy Katiebabs is on vacation in the UK,  and asked me to guest blog. I decided to embarrass myself and my good taste by admitting to all those shameful romances storylines that I’m not supposed to love…but do anyway.

Also! Cindy Pon (she of the terribly awesome) is running a contest to celebrate the release of her new book:

It’s YA fantasy in an Asian setting. How awesome is that? I can’t wait to read it. And she also happens to have just the most gorgeous book trailer ever:

Seriously, isn’t it evocative and lovely?

Cindy is also holding a contest on her blog for original brush art (I *want*. Her bunnies look so cute). You should check it out.

Is this thing on?

I’m still alive! I swear! Quit sending me emails saying “Where did you go??”

I’m just…not doing anything interesting, people. Really. I have nothing to blog about. Honest. Same ol’ same ol.

And because I’ve been tagged on Facebook a million billion times, here’s 25 things about me.

1. When I am nervous, I have a fear of pauses in conversation. Usually this results in me babbling incoherently a mile a minute, and saying anything that crosses my mind. This usually ends up frightening the other person.

2. I also have a nervous smile. When I am nervous or uncomfortable, I smile a lot. This usually results in weirdos hitting on me (because they think I’m digging them) and getting into worse trouble when I mess up because I look like I’m smirking.

3. I still get carded for beer.

4. My favorite book from my childhood was WHERE THE RED FERN GROWS by Wilson Rawls. I have read it 100x and sobbed my heart out every time.

5. Shamefully, I am a Brangelina fangirl.

6. I favor one of my cats over the other, which is probably cruel.

7. I have a terrible fear of getting lost. Nothing can get me in a panic attack faster than missing an exit while driving and not knowing where I’m going.

8. I once won 2nd Place in a Magic:The Gathering tournament (NEEEEEEEEERRRRRRD)

9. I also cheated in the tournament (played one too many cards), but I didn’t realize it until after the fact. The opponent I beat was eight years old. Proud moment.

10. I really regret never finishing college, but to this day, I don’t know what I would have majored in.

11. I can hold a massive grudge. I can’t recall what I did last night or what I was talking about five minutes ago, but if there is perceived insult? I’ll remember forever.

12. I’m really easy to talk out of things, alas. For some reason I always trust other people’s judgment more than my own, and all it takes is a few good words about something to make me do a total flip of opinion.

13. I hate talking on the phone.

14. At 5 I was diagnosed with scoliosis (which does not set in until adolescence, usually) and I wore a Boston brace from age 5 until I had back surgery at the age of 15.

15. I can calculate the taxes on a paycheck down to a dime but I cannot balance my own checkbook.

16. My favorite song of the moment is the Veronicas “Untouched” and I listen to it on repeat over and over again. 30x yesterday.

17. I rub my lower lip while I’m driving. No idea why.

18. It’s really hard to come up with 25 things.

19. No kids. Don’t want any, don’t plan on having any.

20. I am terribly geeky in regards to the Eighteenth Dynasty in Ancient Egypt and can probably tell you entirely too much about any of the rulers or their families.

21. Writing-wise, I am obsessed with Norse mythology and valkyries. So far I’ve written two novels about Norse myth, and come up with a new concept/spin every week.

22. I recently came to the realization that I am a super-hard critique partner. I tend to tear something apart at the seams, and this is not necessarily the best approach.

23. I have multiple novels that no one has seen but me. One of them is my favorite book ever written. I should fix it someday.

24. I hate 90% of what I read, so I normally end up re-reading old favorites over and over again. I am just super picky.

25. I thought I’d never move from paper books to e-books but Jane talked me into trying the Sony Reader and OMG ILU SONY E-READER. MY PRECIOUSSSSSS….

Is there anything crueler than Lowfat Ranch dressing?

Because that is what they put on my salad today, rendering it virtually inedible. BLEH.

Seriously people, though, I got nothing. I haven’t updated in almost a week (maybe more than a week!) because I really do have nothing going on. There’s only so many times you can write “I did some boring stuff and then I went to bed.”

Still loving the new car. Even driving across town in traffic feels like a treat. On top of this, it has a RADIO so I am in heaven. My last car’s radio busted over a year ago and let me tell you, the most boring drive ever is the one in complete silence. In the past year all the songs on the radio seem to have changed, too, and I’m in heaven! I love the Taylor Swift “Love Story”, Pink’s “So What”, Katy Perry (I totally missed out on Katy Perry!), the Veronicas, Rihanna, and the All-American Rejects (who apparently have a new album coming out). Good stuff. My husband cringes when we get in the car but I’m loving it, and that’s all that’s important.

I’m also shifting gears momentarily in the writing. Since we’re waiting to submit and I’m between edits, I’m toying with a new project. It’s super-seekrit and I pretty much haven’t told anyone what it is about, in case it poops out on me. But so far I’m on the third chapter and I really like it! I’m not sure if the voice is exactly what I was aiming for, but it’s making me happy right now.

Oh, and have you congratulated Holly McDowell? Because she just signed with a fabulous agent and I am so excited for her! She writes very slippy, literary fantasy and I can’t wait for us to be on the “M” shelf together at the library.