I’ve been inside of the burned out place I used to call home. It’s pretty bad, smell-wise, and everything is ruined. My books have been ruined. My Michelle Sagara, Patricia Briggs, Nalini Singh, Lilith Saintcrow, Christine Feehan, Ilona Andrews, Caitlyn Kittredge, Phaedra Weldon, Karen Chance, Debra Cooke, etc…all gone. Every book I’ve reviewed on this site, gone. It’s sickening. I want to cry. Very few books were saved.

My Sookie series was being borrowed so its fine. It’s going to be a while until I have a nice library and I miss it already.

Well, enough of my whining. I’ve moved into a new place with plans to stay for six months. Long enough to get my shit together and find a house for my girls and I. I’ve got to contact publishing houses about my change of address and hope they’ll understand why I need to change it twice in a year. (Once to where I am now, and again when I find a perm. home.)

Any suggestions? comments?

because I’ve gotten custody of my oldest child’s two sisters, ages 7 and 6. As most of you know, I have a 9- and 6-year-old. The girls came to live with me a week ago Sunday. Everything was going well until I blew up the stove trying to fumigate on Friday.

Yep, I blew the stove top off and the house caught on fire. So now I’m living in a hotel with four little girls as I figure out how to start over. People have been awesome. They’ve offered to donate and have donated many things.

Problem? I have no where to put anything yet. It’s really humbling to know that I might have to stay with a friend (with my four kids and her four kids) until I get the money together to move.

If it only could have happened at tax time. Unfortunately it didn’t. Everything is going to be alright.

In the meanwhile, don’t be surprised if I post sporadically as I try to figure out what to do.

See ya soon!

Favorite Lines: “His body was carted off while I was still passed out, buried in an unmarked grave somewhere in the Northern Illinois woods.” (p. 48)

Meet Mel: Business owner. Dedicated mom. Natural-born Amazon.

It’s been ten years since Melanippe Saka left the Amazon tribe in order to create a normal life for her daughter, Harmony. True, running a tattoo parlor in Madison, Wisconsin while living with your Amazon warrior mother and priestess grandmother is not everyone’s idea of normal, but Mel thinks she’s succeeded at blending in as human.

Turns out she’s wrong. Someone knows all about her, someone who’s targeting young Amazon girls, and no way is Mel is going to let Harmony become tangled in this deadly web. With her mother love in overdrive, Ms. Melanippe Saka is quite a force . . . even when she’s facing a barrage of distractions—including a persistent detective whose interest in Mel goes beyond professional, a sexy tattoo artist with secrets of his own, and a seriously angry Amazon queen who views her as a prime suspect. To find answers, Mel will have to do the one thing she swore she’d never do: embrace her powers and admit that you can take the girl out of the tribe . . . but you can’t take the tribe out of the girl.

Check out my review of Amazon  Ink at Scooper Speaks. Then while you’re reading Lori Devoti’s Amazon Ink, have some pie. There’s nothing like eating a traditional pie while reading a story that is all about fighting tradition to make a better world. Do something different. Make a pie. Get the recipe from Delia Online.

Favorite Line: “Blessed sweet Jesus. Look at his ballocks.” Mereck whispered so low Damrn leaned closer to hear. “Do ye no’ see how huge they be? Oh, me puir son,” he groaned. “the lad will ne’er be able to walk with sech a burden betwixt his legs.” (p.380)

The Heart Of A Warrior

Mereck of Blackthorn has vowed never to love-for he is cursed with baresark blood and it runs hot. But he must take a wife. When he meets Netta of Caer Caldwell, he is willing to spirit her away from her father’s violence, even if he refuses to give her his heart.

The Soul Of A Lover

With her father determined to be rid of her, spirited Netta cannot escape marriage to the heathen Mereck. But she soon learns that he is not the barbarian he believes himself to be-and his kisses fire her blood with a passion she longs to claim.

Out of the different food served in Midnight’s Bride-rabbit stew, bannocks, dried beef, etc.-I picked scones to go along with the story. At one point Netta is in the kitchen eating hot scones with honey and my mouth watered at the thought. Click on the photo to find the recipe.

Visit Scooper Speaks to read my review of Midnight’s Bride by Sophia Johnson.

If you read Midnight’s Daughter by Karen Chance, you prob. are looking forward to the second book in the series, death’s Mistress. Here’s a blurb about the book.

Dorina Basarab is a dhampir—half-human, half-vampire. Subject to uncontrollable rages, most dhampirs live very short, very violent lives. So far, Dory has managed to maintain her sanity by unleashing her anger on those demons and vampires who deserve killing.

Back home in Brooklyn after the demise of her insane uncle Dracula, Dory’s hoping her life is about to calm down. But then she gets some visitors. A friend wants Dory’s help in finding a magical Fey relic, and the gorgeous vampire, Louis-Cesare, is desperate to find his former mistress Christine.

Dory and Louis-Cesare quickly discover that the same master vampire Christine is bound to is also rumored to be in possession of the relic. But when the master vampire turns up dead, they realize that there’s more at stake than a missing mistress. Someone is killing vampire Senate members, and if Dory and Louis-Cesare can’t stop the murderer, they may be next…

Death’s Mistress comes out Jan. 5, 2010!

Favorite Lines: “I want a man who will chose me above all else.” (p. 257)

In Possessed by the Highlander by Terri Brisbin we meet the Robertson Harlot who has been condemned by her family and the world. When her scheming brother places her in a promiscuous situation with the peacemaker, Duncan, she has no choice but to become hand fasted to him to ensure the treaty between their clans. However, she is keeping a dangerous secret that will force Duncan to chose between Marian or his honor.

You can read my review at Scooper Speaks or an excerpt at the author’s site, but while you’re at it take a bite of American porridge (oatmeal).

Favorite Lines: “You asked my price. That is it: a pound of silver…and you. I’ll take you wherever you wish, so long as I can take you whenever I wish.” (p. 24)

Immortal Outlaw is a paranormal, historical romance about Steinarr and Marian, a take on the old Robin Hood story. Steinarr was cursed to become a lion shifter at night and Marian is the daughter of a nobleman. The two are trying to follow the clues so that Marian’s ‘cousin’ can take his rightful position as the lord of Huntington and their journey leads them all around Nottinghamshire.

On their journey cheese and bread is eaten a lot, so I figured it would be the perfect meal to go along with the story.  While you eat, read the book or start with my review of Immortal Outlaw at Scooper Speaks. Check the author’s site for an except of the story. Immortal Outlaw will be released in June 2009.

I love the Chronicles of Elantra series written by Michelle Sagara. Next up in it is book 5, Cast in Silence, set to be released in August.

A member of the elite Hawk force that protects the City of Elantra, Kaylin Neya has sacrificed much to earn the respect of the winged Aerians and immortal Barrani she works alongside. But the mean streets she escaped as a child aren’t the ones she’s vowed to give her life guarding. Those were much darker…

Kaylin’s moved on with her life–and is keeping silent about the shameful things she’s done to stay alive. But when the city’s oracles warn of brewing unrest in the outer fiefdoms, a mysterious visitor from Kaylin’s past casts her under a cloud of suspicion. Thankfully, if she’s anything, she’s a survivor….

Favorite Line: “She was aware only of how badly she hurt and of Nicholas–the reassuring sound of his voice, the strength of him behind her, the mercies he showed her as he held her hand, pressed cool cloths on her cheeks or gave her sips of water.” (p. 63)

The review for Ride the Fire is posted at Scooper Speaks. Check it out. And after you pick up the book try eating  some Irish stew in honor of the heroine and the role stew played in American history. (Click the picture to find the recipe.)