Nina Pierce and I release at Liquid Silver Books on the same day, May 19th. I’m THRILLED to be on the same page with her. Check it out.

by: Nina Pierce

ISBN: 978-1-59578-451-3

Blurb

Three sisters. Three hot love stories. One family crisis.

Love’s Bounty is the second book in the Tilling Passions series.

DEA agent, AYDEN SCOTT, is determined to bring down the drug cartel smuggling heroin into central Maine. Undercover as Austin Shaeffer, Ayden is working as lead investigator for the first time since the debacle in Miami that killed his younger brother. He will use any means necessary to extract information, including seducing the feisty red head, DEIRDRE TILLING, who is employed by the suspected drug baron. But can he become embroiled in a sexual liaison while keeping his men safe and his identity secret?

Landscaping in the rural Maine town of Delmont hasn’t always been DEIRDRE TILLING’S only passion. Up until two months ago, it included her lover, Brianna. A bisexual, Deirdre has cultivated romances with both sexes, only to find hurt and disappointment her only bounty. Now, she’d like to give up on love. But with everyone in her family in a committed relationship, will Deirdre be able to find satisfaction in the sexual release offered in one-night stands or will she continue to seek out the emotional stability only a monogamous relationship can offer?

Love’s Bounty unravels the mystery of the torrid relationship between a cop bent on proving himself and a woman struggling with her sexuality and the subsequent discovery of drug running up the Maine coast.

Resisting Command

by: Jennifer Leeland

ISBN: 978-1-59578-464-3

Blurb

Welcome back to Asberek where a fledgling colony struggles in the isolated reaches of space. Danger stalks the colony and two people, thrown together by circumstances, may hold the key to survival on this distant planet.

Dr. Jenia Carstairs’ job is to study the chemical that permeates the atmosphere on Asberek. But Sythentic Endorphins Xstasy (or S.E.X.) is a problem. It creates increased sexual desire in humans, driving them wild with tantalizing erotic fantasies that beg to be explored. Dr. Carstairs is not immune to its effects and suddenly finds herself consumed in lust for an enigmatic stranger

Tribunal soldier Paul Lestrano hunts a Rogue Tribunal who escaped to Asberek after an attempt to destroy the colony. His pursuit leads him directly into the path of a woman who holds both the future of the colony and Paul’s needs in her hands. As the chemical drives them to greater heights of sexual fantasies, Jenia and Paul explore each other’s most intimate sexual desires and find the taboo secrets locked in themselves. Their journey brings them to the brink of destruction, but self-discovery and ultimate desire are often found wrapped in the haze of S.E.X.

On the evening of May 19th, the sequel to “Taking Command” will go live. I’m SO excited. Oh, and I’ll be over at the “Morning After Blog” for Liquid Silver on May 20th! I’m kind of hoping Nina and I can collaborate on a theme.

……Thursday Thirteen has been postponed until next Thursday. Edits are taking their toll. On the plus side, Mrs. Giggles likes my cover. Thanks to April Martinez for an awesome cover that’s garnered attention.
Stay tuned for more insanity later this week.

The only way you’ll ever get me to read Vampires is to get my favorite authors to write them. So, when Tawny Taylor released “Dark Master”, I decided to try this one. I love Tawny’s voice. It’s unique. It’s sassy. It’s funny. Yet, she knows how to reach for the emotion that makes her stories so imminently readable.
In this book, Shadow Sorenson has to marry to secure his throne as king of the vampires. What I love about this story is that Shadow is this angsty dark guy who has to court smart ass heroine Regan but doesn’t have a clue. Regan Roslund is having a very bad week and now some creepy guy is trying to make her a queen. Oh, he’s gorgeous and even a little sweet, but she’s no pushover. Well, not too much.
I love the way Shadow stumbles around the difficult waters of dating and emotion with Regan. And I laughed my ass off at Regan’s “next new idea” to get herself out of trouble. The two characters are the reason this book works for me. And nobody writes hot, erotic, heart-pounding sex like Tawny Taylor. In the bedroom, Shadow doesn’t fumble at all. He drives Regan to the brink of insanity with his touch and, as the reader, I go right along with her.
In the end, the Vampire aspect of this story was less important to me than the two characters who became like two friends you want to see make it. As usual, Tawny convinces me that her characters can do anything and that love conquers all.
If you love vampires, don’t miss this one. If you love smart, sassy heroines you’ll love all of Tawny’s books. And hot sex is an added bonus.
*raises shot glass*
Nice job, Tawny. You did it again.

To buy “Dark Master” by Tawny Taylor

There isn’t much going on here. Just the usual stuff.

To 1800flowers
If you were going to screw up one of the two orders I gave you, did it have to be MY mother’s flowers? After all, the flower industry (in cahoots with Hallmark) created this stupid “Mother’s Day” holiday. The least you could do is make sure the flowers get delivered. Lucky for you that your customer service department was very nice…..when I finally got a person to listen. After setting us up, don’t screw us over by pissing moms off. My mother already thinks I can’t do anything right. Did you have to add more fodder to that lovely opinion?
Just Sayin’

To The Redneck
Yeah, you making dinner was great. Yeah, I appreciate the nap I got to take yesterday. But really, couldn’t you do the dishes? (I’m kidding)
Just Sayin’

To Demolition Boy
The shells are beautiful. What six year old boy will sit with his mama and point out each one in a mason jar? It almost makes up for the broken toys.

To Train Boy
I loved my Playdoh teacup. But some things are temporary and that’s okay. That’s what pictures are for.

To “America’s Next Top Model”
Great. How the hell did you get me hooked? Somehow, between hour after hour of cycle 8, I discovered I wanted to see who won. “Top Chef”? Same thing. I’m concerned that I became emotionally attached to the personal growth of Jenah and thought Bianca needed to go for being a big fat cheater and Salysia was too damn perky. It’s a good thing I don’t have time to sit in front of the TV. I’d never leave. It’s amazing how rationale adults watch the craziest shit. Like when the Redneck admitted to watching “The Next Coyote Ugly”. *Shakes head*. It’s a sad thing.
Just Sayin’

Happy Mother’s Day!
Here’s a video for all of you celebrating this day the way Hallmark intended.

I love that song and I am VERY grateful for the dirt-faced okie boys and the Redneck.
This was on Romance Divas yesterday and I thought I’d share.
YOU KNOW YOU’RE A MOM WHEN….
o You count the number of sprinkles on each kid’s cupcake to make sure they are equal.
o You want to take out a contract on the kid who broke your child’s favorite toy and made him/her cry.
o You have time to shave only one leg at a time.
o You hide in the bathroom to be alone.
o Your child throws up and you catch it.
o Someone else’s kid throws up at a party and you keep eating.
o You consider finger paint to be a controlled substance.
o You mastered the art of placing food on a plate without anything touching.
o Your child insists that you read “Once upon a Potty” out loud in the lobby of the doctor’s office and you do it.
o You hire a baby sitter because you haven’t been out with your husband in ages, then you spend half the night talking about and checking on the kids.
o You hope ketchup is a vegetable because it’s the only one your child eats.
o You find yourself cutting your husband’s sandwiches into unusual shapes.
o You fast-forward through the scene when the hunter shoots Bambi’s mother.
o You obsess when your child clings to you upon parting during his first month at school, then you obsess when he skips in without looking back.
o You can’t bear to give away baby clothes–it’s so final.
o You hear your mother’s voice coming out of your mouth when you say, “Not in your good clothes.”
o You stop criticizing the way your mother raised you.
o You read that the average-five-year old asks 437 questions a day and feel proud that your kid is “above average.”

Having said all that, if you love Mother’s Day, STOP HERE.

Now, if you’re like me, and kind of thinking this Mother’s Day thing is a bunch of hooey, here’s one for you.
I find this day to be a bit difficult for me. First, my mother is…well, my mother. I love her. I’m just more likely to think of the second video not the first when she’s the topic of conversation. As childhood’s go, mine wasn’t all that bad but my adult relationship with my mother has been fraught with land mines.
Second, I’m no Martha Stewart. Motherhood is a difficult profession and, like neurosurgery, isn’t for everyone. Unfortunately, it’s not a job you can quit. And once I discovered I wasn’t the “best person for the job”, I was the mother of two boys. Oh, I’m not horrible or anything, but I can’t help wondering, at time, if I’m really joking that I’m not saving money for their college tuition but their therapy.
So, today I take stock. Though I don’t think my children will (as I do) feel it necessary to smile brightly and say “Everything’s fine” when everything isn’t, I do think they’ll shake their head and say “You know how Mom is”. Hopefully, they’ll be able to tell me stuff without getting the Mother Lectures or the “What you need to do is…..” Motherhood is NOT for the faint of heart. There are those who seem to be born to the job–kind, thoughtful, patient. And then there’s Moms like me who wonder how in the hell her kids are going to turn out when I’m screwing them up so badly.
(Kind of wishing you’d stopped now, eh?)
Here’s what I know about being a mom. I admit when I’m wrong, stand firm when even it’s painful and hold on loosely. And just because I know those things doesn’t mean I do them well. I just do my best.
That’s all any mother can do.

Tomorrow, my best friend of thirteen years is moving to Nevada. And I’m going to miss her. A lot.

1. She was the only person who took care of me when I was sick
Other than my mom when I was little. Even if Michelle was really busy she took care of me.

2. She listened. A lot. Everyday.
One of the few people who didn’t tell me to “get over it”.

3. She always took my side
It’s an estrogen thing.

4. She’s hilarious.
Though I’ll still get to talk with her, it’ll be different.

5. She’s my drinkin’ partner
Though I will occasionally drink, she and I WENT OUT to drink. She got me all dressed up and out in the big, bad world.

6. Our Girl Days
Every other Saturday we’d go and get our nails done. Or our hair. And sometimes, we’d go to Good Relations.

7. Our Lunches
Every once and a while, we’d meet up while she was working and have lunch.

8. ROAD TRIPS
Monterey, Brooks and Dunn, Gretchen Wilson, Sugarland, Brad Paisley, Sacramento…..We did a lot of FUN road trips.

9. She gets me
Those people are hard to find. I have people who “get” me but they live in Canada, Utah, Texas, Alabama and now, Nevada.

10. She has my back
I know she still will, even in Nevada, but it was so nice to know she had it HERE. Right here. You know, for when the cops pull me over, or I’m sick and have no Seven Up or….Yeah, I’m REALLY going to miss her.

11. Her eye for Fashion
She was the one person I trusted to never let me (knowingly) walk out of the house looking awful. She always goes clothes shopping with me.

12. Our Private Jokes
Though we’ll still have all the ones we’ve got already, it’s hard to make new ones.

13. She’s my Rock
She’s kept my kids unbeaten, my husband alive and my mother still in my life. If it wasn’t for her, I never would have taken a chance on dating the Redneck, or lost any weight or faced my own shit. She’s been a mirror, a sounding board and a solid stand by me friend. I don’t know what I’m going to do without her.

My phone bill is going to suck.

Maybe it’s because I’m not a man. Maybe it’s because I was a Brownie and a Girl Scout. All I know is that I don’t get it.
Welcome to my Whiskey Wednesday rant about Rain Gutter Regatta.
Picture if you will, fifteen boys all smiling, restless, waiting to race their beautiful pine wood, water based painted, water based glued ships of doom. Business is conducted and the boys are insane with impatience.
Finally, the races begin.
Straws are distributed (to blow air into the paper sails) and Dens are called to compete.
But all is not well.
The first boy who loses begins a wailing that rivals the fire station down the street. Tears fall and don’t stop for twenty minutes when he hides under the piano. Both of mine had three melt downs in which the words “I suck” are sobbed and big crocodile tears pour down their little faces. I’m heartbroken for them.
Why the hell are we doing this?
The Redneck’s response is to teach our kids to lose graciously. But damn it, don’t they learn enough of that everywhere else? I’m sorry. I don’t see the point. It’s one thing when they’re playing soccer or baseball and the kids learn teamwork.
But the idea that forty year old men will sand and paint some boat (bitching the WHOLE time) to have their kid blow into a sail (with WAY too much spit) and call that a learning lesson?
Bullshit.
Now, don’t get me wrong. I LOVE the Cub Scouts. For example, we’re going to help a local program that feeds and clothes homeless kids in our community. The kids will earn a badge for Community Impact and some much needed supplies will be given to some needy kids right here. Awesome.
Maybe next time, instead of spending all that money and time on some stupid ass boats, we could buy a few more pairs of socks for kids who don’t have dads to do ANY project with them.
Rant over.
Here’s a song that’s been in my head and won’t go away. Probably because I keep thinking of those kids living on the streets right here in my home town.

Paige Tyler got me this time. Another meme to surf the internet.

The rules:

Tell seven random and/or interesting things about myself. Get five blog buddies to play, too and link to their blogs. Don’t forget to post the rules!

1. I can sit and watch politics for hours
CNN made “The Ballot Bowl” for dorks like me who love, love, love it.

2. I like to do stuff like this:

I started with book trailers and discovered I could do it with my favorite “B” side songs. (Kim Richey so far) I REALLY want to learn how to incorporate video so I can do one for my favorite shows.

3. I have three curses on me
I can’t keep a checking account in the positive, cops are drawn to me, and I don’t return movies on time. (I ALWAYS have late fees).

4. I Love To Blog
Apparently, this is unusual. I like it. Even when nobody reads it, I enjoyed it. It’s like having a visual record of my life. For me, it’s been a lot of fun.

5. I’ve Never Been To Canada
I’ve been to Mexico. I’ve been to Europe (on a school trip). Not Canada. I mean, there’s tons of places I haven’t been, but most of them aren’t two states and sixteen hours away.

And along that note, 6. I’ve Never Been East of Texas
I’ve never seen the South except for Texas (which most Southerners don’t consider the South) and I’ve never been to the Eastern Seaboard. The Romance Writer’s of America is going to be in Washington D.C. in 2009 and that will be my first time on the East Coast.

7. I’ve Got 120 College Credits….and No Degree
That’s some accomplishment. There aren’t many people who can manage to go to that much school and come out with nada. What can I say? I’m talented.

And I’m not tagging anyone. The abuse has to stop. I choose to stop the cycle of insanity by NOT passing it on. I’m kidding. If anyone wants to take it on, go right a head and link back to me. I’ll come visit.

To My Body
Heh Heh Heh, funny joke. Now that we’ve cleared up the whole “Forty and Pregnant” question, what’s with the hives? Oh, and you couldn’t give me anything interesting or uncommon. Just your garden variety hives with all of its fun symptoms. Nothing like picking something that has no cause and has no cure. And the whole itching thing is SO sexy, let me tell you. Do you want me to start *gasp* EXERCISING? I will, if you don’t knock it off.
Just Sayin’

To Barrack Obama
I spent a little time listening to your speeches and your statements on “Meet The Press”. The fire is gone, bud. Whatever you did to screw it up, I suggest you fix it. Less and less of Martin Luther King and more Mr. Political is not the answer. Funny how, when people start really paying attention to you, the magic isn’t so magical. Get it back. There are too many people who have begun to hope because of your message. Don’t start letting them down. At least wait until you’re elected.
Just Sayin’

To The Democratic Party
Only a year ago, there was talk that this was an “unloseable” election for the Democrats. Bush’s popularity numbers were in the toilet, the War appeared to be unpopular, the Republicans were turning on each other like rabid dogs (no wonder Karl Rove abandoned them for Fox news) and McCain and Romney were nipping at each other like Terriers. Now, I’m wondering if you’ve missed your chance. In seven months, the American people will go to the polls and it looks like this Democratic run off will go to the bitter end. Very bitter. Honestly, it isn’t looking good for you guys. That whole “unloseable” election thing is a myth. Like an unsinkable ship.
Just Sayin’

To The Cowboy
I’m still not speaking to you. Michelle leaves on Friday and frankly, I may try and send a dozen dead, smelly roses to you. Or put a horse head in your bed. Sleep with the fishes, jerkwad.
Just Sayin

Intermission: I’m a bit grumpy today. Does it show?

To Donny
If my mother is going to disown me, it’s going to be because of you. No other character has been as annoying, as dirty and as persistent as you have been. You still have to wait. I’m not writing your book until I finish the one I’m on. Stop pushing or it’s going to get ugly. Like strap-on, no lube ugly.
Just Sayin’

To The Dirt-Faced-Okie Boys
Stop the whining, boys. No, you can’t play in the attic. No, you can’t run naked outside. No, you can’t ride your bike at six in the morning. No, you can’t hang your toys from the exposed wires. No, you can’t play with the gas line where they’re going to put the heater. Yes, I’m mean. Yes, I know you think I’m not fair. As long as we’re clear.
Just Sayin

To Cub Scouts
Bad enough you made us try and “make” a wooden race car with absolutely NO instructions or guidance. Then, you create a “Regatta” which involves wooden BOATS and absolutely no instructions. Water proof paint, water based glue and paper sails don’t make for seaworthy vessels. And the worst part is that I have to show up and face all the other parents who have figured this shit out. The race car thing was a fiasco. There were Dads that had the whole “aerodynamic” package going on. It was like a NASCAR pit road as intense men and bored boys were peering at little parts and shavings. Frankly, it was a yawn fest for me. And now, we get to do the boats. Look, the Redneck can’t take this kind of pressure. He spent all weekend bitching about these damn boats and I had to listen to it. Can’t you guys do something less time intensive and competitive? Like Golf or something?
Just Sayin’