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This would make a great Christmas card if I believed in such things (and wasn't completely lazy).
Just in case you didn’t know, Christmas is on Saturday. Yay! Some people like other holidays better, but Christmas has always been my favorite. I remember being a kid flipping through store catalogs picking out every toy in them. I remember watching Santa Claus: The Movie for the first time. I was enthralled with how the North Pole and Santa’s workshop were portrayed. They were straight out of a kid's dream.

As an adult, I love Christmas just as much as I did when I was younger. “Why?” you ask. Well, let me tell you.

Nostalgic commercials – Every year, I look forward to the Folgers’ “Peter” commercial. Last year, they updated it. I’m still trying not to be resentful. And the Hershey Kisses’ commercial makes me jolly. 
 
Christmas lights and decorations – They’re so pretty. All that green and red and gold and bright and shiny. What’s not to love?
 
Walt Disney World at Christmas – I took the above picture two years ago. Disney is my favorite place in the world. And when you combine with my favorite holiday? WIN! The decorations all over the property are so pretty. I attended the Candlelight Processional, where Rita Moreno read the Christmas Story. i can't forget the awe-inspiring Osborne Lights at Hollywood Studios. And while it’s not true every year, the week I was there, the weather was amazing. Perfect temperature. I wore jeans and a light jacket that I took off at mid-day. So wonderful. 
 
I love Christmas music, in general, but there are two albums that have a special place in my heart.
 
Mariah Carey’s Merry Christmas – How many times have I listened to this CD over the years? Way too many to count. Everyone knows “All I Want for Christmas,” but the entire CD is excellent and puts me in the Christmas spirit.
 
*NSYNC’s Home for Christmas – That’s right I said it. In 1998, the group hit it big and their record label saw dollar signs and had them record a Christmas CD. I’m so happy they did. Their version of “O Holy Night” always puts a smile on my face. 
 
Presents – I admit it. I’m shallow. I love getting gifts. Stuff I love that I don’t have to buy. Woo hoo! But I also love giving gifts. I pride myself on being a great gift giver. I love the feeling I get when the recipient’s face lights up with joy. Score! I haven’t even mentioned the sales that make my thrifty heart go pitter-patter. 
 
Love – What would Christmas be without spending it with my wonderful, often dysfunctional family?
 
Do you love Christmas or does some other holiday come first in your heart?

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Earlier this week, there was a dustup on Twitter because Publishers Weekly posted a review of Courtney Milan’s Unveiled accusing the author of relying on a historically inaccurate premise to make her story work.

The problem with that is that that Ms. Milan’s premise is not historically inaccurate. She posted an insightful, thoughtful response on her blog explaining how and why she came up with her story. After reading it, it’s hard to deny that she has her facts straight.

Yesterday, I ran across a thread on a message board in which an author was upset that a blogger had accused her of ripping off a successful series. The problem with that is the author has never read a book in that series and her book is in a different romance subgenre.

But what really inspired this post is something I stumbled across last night on Amazon. Maureen Smith’s book, Whatever You Like, which I discussed last week, is in the top 20 romances on Amazon. Yay for her! For some reason, I decided to click on her reviews to see what other readers thought. I generally avoid reviews because I don’t like to be influenced before I have a chance to make up my own mind. After I read a book though, occasionally I’ll check out reviews to see if my thoughts lined up with other people’s.

The good news is that the majority of her reviews are positive. The bad news is that someone pissed me off. According to one reviewer, the people on the cover are white. Except they aren’t. They’re black. If the reviewer had said, “Because of their light skin tones, I assumed they were white,” I’d be less angry. But she didn’t. She expressly says the cover shows two white people.

Granted, the reviewer did buy the book for her Kindle. I am aware that computer screens often distort color, but her review has me angry for one reason. She’s essentially accusing the publisher and author of deceiving the public because books about black people don’t sell. How insulting to readers, the author and to the publisher, Kimani Press, which, by the way, only publishes romances starring African-American characters (with the rare exception of a non-black hero).

If the reviewer had gone and found a larger image of the cover on Amazon or the author’s website before posting the review, she would see that she was wrong. But she didn’t before she ran and posted her review.

In review, we have three reviews with incorrect information. From a professional reviewer, a blogger, and a reader. All reviews had unpardonable sins, as far as I’m concerned. They presented things as facts that weren’t true. It is one thing to post your opinion on a book. To say, “I liked this, this, this, but this didn’t work for me because…” is perfectly expected and okay.

What isn’t expected or okay is accusing authors of things when you have little, if anything, to base that accusation on. I’ve found in life, in general, that people have trouble distinguishing between fact and opinion. If they don’t like something or someone, then it must be true that the object or person they dislike is horrible, no doubt about it.

Except that’s not always the case. To present your opinion as fact means that it is inarguable. In the three instances I sited, this is not the case. Two plus two equals four is a fact. To say Author A ripped off Author B when you know absolutely nothing about Author A is not a fact.

It is up to reviewers to recognize when they are crossing the line between opinion and fact. They must make sure they’ve done the proper research to back up the information they are presenting as fact. If they can’t, they should rethink what they are writing or, at the very least, how they phrase it.

I don’t think that is an unfair expectation.

Do you agree?

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By day, Lena Morrison is an ambitious grant writer. By night, she's an escort to some of Chicago's most successful men. Sex isn't on the menu—Lena's job is to provide her elite clients with companionship and sparkling conversation. She enjoys the extra income, but even more, Lena loves the empowering feeling of being admired for her beauty and her brains.

When tycoon Roderick Brand hires Lena as his date for a private party, their electric attraction leads to the most erotic night of her life. As incredible as the experience is, she vows not to mix work and pleasure again. But Roderick is relentless. His irresistible proposal: three weeks fulfilling all his fantasies, in exchange for a million-dollar grant that will guarantee Lena a major promotion.

Lena can play that game. She'll give Roderick the hottest, wildest sex he's ever had, then she'll walk away, leaving him aching for more. But when it comes to desire, rules—and hearts—are easily broken. And the best-laid plans have a way of working out in ways neither could expect….

I blogged about Ms. Smith’s Recipe for Temptation awhile back. I loved that book, so when I saw Whatever You Like in Target, I snatched it up despite my reservations. The heroine is an escort. Even though she doesn’t sleep with her clients, just the thought of escorts kind of grosses me out.

But anyway, do you want to know how much I adored this book? I started reading it Saturday morning and finished it that afternoon. I couldn’t put it down. That hasn’t happened for me in a long time.

The book was very steamy. The byplay between Lena and Roderick, in and out of bed, kept me entertained. I still wouldn’t classify it as erotic, but it was inching that way.

There is one choice Ms. Smith made that I'm still thinking about. She decided to tell the entire story from the point of view of the heroine. We never go inside the hero’s head. There were a few times I wish we had, like when Lena reveals something he doesn’t like. Roderick gets mad and leaves. She’s wondering what he’s thinking and so was I.

I’m assuming Ms. Smith made the choice because the novel was supposed to be about the heroine’s journey and not the hero’s, but who knows?

It didn’t drastically affect my enjoyment of the book. I did read it in one day, after all, and highly recommend it.

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I haven’t updated the blog in a few weeks, mostly because I’ve been lazy. I apologize. One of these days I will get on the ball. I have read though. Here is one of the books.


In England, Harlequin/Mills & Boon publishes a line of books called Modern Heat. In the U.S., these books are packaged as Harlequin Presents (Extra). This is significant because Modern Heats have a different sensibility than your typical Presents. As a reader, you just have to “know” or be able to figure out which books are Modern Heats and which ones are regular Presents.  I like to think of Modern Heats as cousins to Harlequin Blazes.  

I became aware of Ms. Hunter earlier this year. I bought her March Presents, Misbehaving with the Magnate, the first in a duet, and stuck it in my “to be read” pile. One day while looking at the RITA nominees, I discovered that the second book in the duet, Revealed: A Prince and a Pregnancy, was nominated. I instantly became more curious about the book I’d just bought. She had to be a great writer if she was nominated for a RITA, right? Needless to say, I loved it! I actually liked Misbehaving with the Magnate better than the RITA nominee. Isn’t it funny how subjective these things are?

Anyway, I’d been on the lookout for more of her books. And this was published in November.

I know there’s a difference between regular Presents and Modern Heats, but Untameable Rogue still threw me for a loop. The heroine, Madeline, has more money than the hero, Luke. He struggles with this, even more so with the fact that she doesn’t apologize for her history. She married an old guy for the stability and money he brought (she didn’t have a good childhood). In a regular Presents, the hero is a billionaire and the heroine needs his help for something. Madeline doesn’t need Luke's help for anything. She’s running her very successful business and living her life. Their mutual goal is to have a fling and go their separate ways. Like I said, very Blaze-like.

It was an adjustment for me. I enjoyed the book, but I kept thinking how different it was, which distracted me sometimes. It was nothing Ms. Hunter did. I can’t wait to read her next book.

I'd planned on writing about the other book I read, but this post was a little longer than I thought it would be, so I'll save it for tomorrow.

How's that for a tease?

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A few weeks ago, through the power of Twitter, I ran across a thread at the Absolute Write Forum in which writers were lamenting the fact that Young Adult Fiction is increasingly becoming Young Adult Romance.  According to some of them, they are above the formulaic world of romance. I was amused (and a little angry) at these responses.

I understand that not everybody likes romance. I wish people would read (more than one) romance before they decide they know everything about the genre, but that’s a pipe dream. Some people prefer to read thrillers in which the protagonist is on a quest to save the world or literary fiction in which the heroine goes on a journey of self-discovery. Granted, I could recommend some damn good romances that incorporate these elements, but that’s neither here nor there. People like what they like and that’s great.

However, I do get pissed when the “above it all” attitude comes from romance writers. I read a lot of blogs, forums, and e-mail loops. I’ve seen more than one author lament the fact that they’re not getting published because they don’t write “cookie cutter” romance. And yes, that hacks me off.

I probably shouldn’t, but I take it as a personal insult. I’ll be the first to admit that I don’t seek to reinvent the wheel with my stories. A contest judge described my story as “sweet and cute.” I’m going to assume that was a compliment. I prefer “light and fluffy,” but whatever.

As of right now, I write category length, contemporary stories. That’s what I like to read and the stories I like to tell. I like to surprise my characters and by extension, readers, but I don’t do it because I think no one else would ever think of it. I do it because it’s funny, and I like to see how my characters react.

Furthermore, there’s nothing wrong with being conscientious about the market. When I wrote Seducing Ms. Right, I knew I wanted to send it to Kimani Press. I checked their guidelines to make sure it fit, but I assure you my story was fully formed in my head before I did. I changed nothing to make it suitable for the line.

I can’t speak for other writers, but I know I toil away as much as writers who write outside of the box to make sure my light and fluffy story is perfect in my eyes – that I use the right words, that my characters go on a satisfactory, full journey. I don’t write to some mythical formula beyond making sure the hero and heroine end up together at the end of the manuscript.

I understand these writers are frustrated, but why they must put other people down in the process, I will never know. There are just as many people writing so-called “cookie cutter” romances who find the road to publication littered with potholes as those creating and mixing subgenres.

We should be cheering each other on, not looking our noses down at others’ work.

I applaud authors who forge their own path. I wish my brain worked that way, but it doesn't. I just hope they support me.

What do you think? Am I being too sensitive or do I have a point?
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Saturday, I ended up at Walmart. I’d originally gone to Target to get the new Mariah Carey Christmas CD, but Target wanted $11.99 for it. Not gonna happen because I knew Best Buy had it for $9.99. Why not just go to Best Buy? Best Buy is farther away, and I was feeling lazy. Walmart is down the street from Target, so I figured what the hey?

I don’t go to Walmart a lot because it tends to be a stressful, hectic situation. There are so many people in there crammed in the aisles.

But I’ll give Wally World this. This store, at least, has been remodeled. They’ve widened the aisles, so I don’t feel like a canned sardine. Anyway, when I arrive, I make my way to the entertainment section only to get completely sidetracked by the books aisle. Something else Walmart has going for it – they have a large book section and a sizeable African American author section, which isn’t always the case at other retailers.

Hugs…
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I start perusing the books when another woman joins me. Let’s call her Reba Reader. She starts talking to me. She loves to read and asks me if I’ve read such and such books and authors. She loves Mary B. Morrison and Carl Weber. She shows me the books she’s recently read. According to Reba Reader, books are like movies and a lot of times better, because there’s so much action, but you just keep turning the pages. I love her and her enthusiasm. As a fellow lover of books and an aspiring author, it did my heart proud. I’m so introverted. I wish I could be an extrovert like her. Later, I thought I should have gotten her name and number, so she can do my PR if/when my books comes out. Except that would have been creepy, but you understand what I’m saying.

Anyway, I pick out the books I want (because I am a weak individual with no willpower). No, I didn’t get the Mariah CD because it was $11.88 and I’m cheap like that. I head to the checkout counter also known as the worst place to be at Walmart. For whatever reason, people think they have to buy the entire store at that one time. To avoid the typically mammoth lines, I look for a self-checkout lane, but Walmart has taken those out apparently.

However, I do see an express lane, 10 items or less, so I get in that lane. There are three people in front of me, but it’s the express lane. How long can they possibly take? Oh, let me tell you.

Bugs…
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When I step in the lane, I notice a guy ahead of me. Let’s call him Cowboy Roy. Cowboy Roy looks like he just stepped off a ranch. He has the hat, the plaid shirt, belt buckle, jeans, and boots working for him. Now I live in Texas. I won’t say it’s uncommon to see cowboys, but it’s not something I see every day, especially in this part of town. But frankly, I don’t care that he’s a cowboy. What I do care about is how many items are in his cart.

He starts unloading the cart. Um, he has more than 10 items, probably close to 20. I look up to make sure that I am, indeed, standing in the express lane. Yep, it says right there – 10 items or less. I want the cashier to call him out and tell him to go wait in the regular line, but she doesn’t. Strike 1 for Cowboy Roy.

And THEN…

 He asks the cashier to fetch him some cigarettes. Are you kidding me? Strike 2 for Cowboy Roy.

And THEN…

He pays for his items and the cashier hands him his receipt. You know what that means, right? Transaction over. Except Cowboy Roy wants to stand in his exact same spot and study the receipt. Um, hello there’s someone behind you who needs to get to the credit card machine to pay for her stuff. Also, even if there is a problem, you’re going to have to go to the customer service desk anyway. MOVE. Strike 3 for Cowboy Roy. You’re out.

I was done with him. D-U-N done.

So that was my Walmart adventure. How do you feel about Wally World?


P.S. I did get the Mariah CD…from Best Buy. I ordered it online and picked it up yesterday.

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This week’s entry is Huddle with Me Tonight by Farrah Rochon.

All Paige Turner wants is to be taken seriously as a journalist. The entertainment columnist and blogger extraordinaire gets more notoriety than she planned when her scathing review of NFL superstar Torrian Smallwood's memoir sparks an online confrontation. But that's nothing compared to the sensual heat that tackles her when she meets the heart-stoppingly sexy athlete face-to-face….

Torrian can't let Paige derail his dream of a new career as a restaurateur. Even if the sassy, sultry writer is making America's favorite wide receiver yearn to be on the receiving end of her desire. And with a reality TV cook-off propelling them into the spotlight, Torrian can no longer hide his passionate secret goal—to build a future with the woman who's making an end run around his heart….

If you’ve ever met me or read this here blog or my tweets, it probably took you five minutes to realize I’m a sports fanatic. Okay, maybe like three minutes.

I’m as passionate about sports as I am romance novels. And when the two are combined, this is me.
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*Clears throat*

I met Ms. Rochon at the Harlequin Pajama Party at the RWA Conference this summer. She writes for Kimani Press, the same line I’m targeting.  Turns out she’s also a sports nut. When she told me her book about a football player would be released in September, I knew I’d be buying it.

And I happily did. I could tell you what I thought about it, but who cares whether or not it was any good? Have you seen the cover? I mean, seriously. 

After I drooled over the cover, I forced myself to open the book and actually read. I loved it.

Torrian and Paige have amazing chemistry even though they’re not too thrilled with the other at the beginning. Excuse me while I take us back to the 1950s for a moment. Torrian is a dreamboat. He’s as nice and down to earth as he is hot. Paige is no pushover. She’s ambitious. I’ve always been ambitious, and I connect with others who are the same way whether they’re people or fictional characters. Paige and Torrian fit together. They made my heart sigh.

But those aren’t the main reasons I loved Huddle with Me Tonight.

I was reading the book last night while at work (Don’t worry. I have the type of job where this is okay). I was sitting next to my student worker and I start cracking up. She looks at me like crazy. I apologize and continue reading, only to crack up again a few minutes later. It was the scene in which Torrian and Paige are having a meeting with TV executives. I’d type it out, but I dumbly forgot the book at home this morning. Trust me, it was funny.

I heart books that can make me laugh out loud. If an author can do that, I am hers forevermore.

And I did I mention, she writes about football? J

So whatcha reading? Are you enjoying it?

xoxo,
Jamie

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My goal with Whatcha Reading Wednesday is not to do reviews. It’s more of an experiment to determine what books I’m attracted to and why. You won’t find any stars or thumbs here. I’d feel bad writing a negative review. Also, it can be hard for me to pinpoint exactly why a book works for me or not. I do think about it because I have this blog to write, but it doesn’t come naturally to me at all. Especially if it’s a book I love. My inclination is to squee, hold the book to my chest, and just proclaim to the world how much I loved the book.

Which is the case with Shannon McKenna’s Fade to Midnight. As I mentioned here, even acquiring the book took some soul searching on my part. While I’m still not too keen on the book being published in hardcover, the novel itself is wonderful, and I’m so happy I bit the bullet and bought it.

I’ve been waiting for this book for years. Ms. McKenna had written books about all the other McCloud brothers and some of their friends. She finally, FINALLY got to Kev’s story. It didn’t disappoint. Fade to Midnight is almost 500 pages, and honestly I wouldn’t have had a problem with it being longer. The action never stopped, and I kept flipping the pages. One night I stayed up till 5:30 a.m. because I couldn’t put it down.

Ms. McKenna’s heroes are all alpha to the nth degree trained in combat techniques that I can only dream of. They think nothing of saving the day even if their lives are put in mortal danger. As more than one of them has noted, they don’t possess many (or any) of the social niceties people expect. They’re blunt to a fault. My favorite word to describe them is intense. They’re always ramped up ready to do whatever needs to be done. But as intense as they are, they’re ten times more intense about the special women in their lives. For instance…

He lay there afterwards, shaking. Every time they made love, he felt more naked. More out of control. Carrying on like a crazed barbarian warlord, waving his dick around like a club. But it was all bullshit. The power dynamic between them was brutally clear.

He was on his knees to her. She owned his ass.

Squee! I love that last line so much.

My only minor quibble is the interaction between Kevin and his brothers. I would have liked to have read more about that. However, I think I understand why Ms. McKenna didn’t go there – besides the book being ridiculously long. It’s not in the McClouds’ nature to gush and emote. These men are stoic. They have deep emotions, no doubt, but talking about them isn’t really their way. Their actions definitely showcased their love, but I’m a girl and I would have loved to have seen it expressed in words anyway.

But the book is great. It made me want to reread all of the books in this series.

So whatcha reading? Are you enjoying it?

xoxo,
Jamie

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This week's entry is His Virgin Acquisition by Maisey Yates.

I have a confession to make. I have an addiction to Harlequin Presents. I read them in droves.

Why, you ask? They’re short, which means it doesn’t take long to read them and get to the happily ever after I love. The books are usually set in Europe or Australia, which means I can go to Sydney or Paris or London just by cracking open a book. Everybody's rich, too! The books just have a different vibe than I’m used to as an American.

A lot of romance readers don’t like them because of the alpha heroes found inside. Strangely enough, they’ve never bothered me. Whenever I find an indignant hero certain he knows everything, I just laugh and say, “Looks like we got another angry one.” These heroes amuse, not anger, me.

Anyway…

I became aware of Ms. Yates late last year when she sold this, her first, book, and a party commenced at eharlequin.com for her. Over the past year, I’ve gotten to “know” her mostly through Twitter. When her book was released, I bought it eager to support a new author and did I mention the Presents addiction I have?

When Elaine gives her business presentation to Marco De Luca she thinks she can be cool, calm and collected. She's wrong! The fierce tycoon can see straight through her shapeless suits and scraped-back hair and get right under her skin….

She may have proposed marriage as the perfect business arrangement, but suddenly Elaine's not quite so confident. Marco's made it clear that he's no modern man—if he takes a wife, he wants a ravishing beauty by his side, obedient and willing day…and night!

This book didn’t disappoint. As an aspiring author, I read tons of blogs about how to become a better writer and how to hook the reader. Great opening lines and first pages are often touted as some of the best ways to do so. Ms. Yates did not disappoint. 

“I think the numbers speak for themselves. Marriage is definitely the most profitable course of action.”

It seemed Elaine Chapman had finally come to the end of her lengthy presentation. 

Marco De Luca scanned the expanse of his office, looking for hidden cameras or some other sign that she was here on assignment from a reality show. There was no way she could be serious.

I cracked up reading this. I loved it.

What made the book enjoyable as a whole for me was Elaine, the heroine. She has a goal and a purpose in life. Many times, HP heroines get on my nerves. Why must they be poor and/or destitute? Sometimes they just exist until the hero comes and sweeps them away. Yes, Elaine needs Marco’s help, but he is most definitely her last resort. And as is the case in romance novels, she saves him as much as he saves her. Very Pretty Woman.

 
*SPOILER ALERT* *SPOILER ALERT*
However, the one thing that made me sigh is the pregnancy that occurs. Not that I’m opposed to babies, but it seems like the contraception in Presentsland NEVER works. These are the richest people in the world. Are you really telling me NONE of them can find some decent condoms? It wasn’t the end of the world that Ms. Yates used this tried and true device, but it did make me sigh.

*SPOILER ALERT OVER*

All in all, I enjoyed the book and can’t wait to follow Ms. Yates’ career.

So whatcha reading? Are you enjoying it?

xoxo,
Jamie

 

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I had the pleasure of attending Game 4 of the 2010 World Series featuring the Texas Rangers and the San Francisco Giants Sunday, October 31. Here are the tweets I would’ve sent if I’d remembered to charge my phone and assuming I could’ve gotten reception in a ballpark full of 52,000 people and their cell phones.

5:41 p.m. Sign 1 things aren’t going right: My trusty out of the way parking place was full. WTF?

5:55 p.m. Look at the pretty World Series banners. This is way cool. I need to savor the moment.
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6:20 p.m. Saw guy I used to work with. What’s his name again? Oh, yeah. It’s Jamie. Seriously.

6:47 p.m. Sign 2 things aren’t going right: I dropped my hot dog. Mustard EVERY.WHERE. But I got a new hot dog at least.

7:03 p.m. There are a crapload of people here. Very, very cool. 
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7:15 p.m. Game 3: Kelly Clarkson sings nat’l anthem, Nolan Ryan throws out 1st pitch. Game 4: Lyle Lovett, the Bushes. Game 3 wins.

7:18 p.m. It's Mini Ron Washington. Happy Halloween!

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7:19 p.m. Sign 3 Let’s Go Giants chant. WTF? Sitting in Giants’ contingent sec. Shoot me. Can I shoot them? Please? I’ll never sit in sec 325 again.

8:02 p.m. As good as the Rangers’ offense is, it can go silent in a heartbeat. First 2 rounds, not a problem. Now it’s a HUGE problem.

9:19 p.m. Why can’t/won’t they score? They are sucking the life out of me.

10:56 p.m. Oh, Cowboys Stadium all lit up. Should I take a pic? No, I’m too depressed/lazy/tired.

11:03 p.m. Bright side to the nightmare: I finally got my Michael Young T-shirt I’ve been meaning to buy for years.

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And that was my first World Series experience. Now didn’t that just give you the warm and fuzzies?

I can’t wait to do it again next year! I was at the freaking World Series!

xoxo,
Jamie

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