Showers 2 Flowers Book Hop

Thanks for stopping by for the Showers 2 Flowers Book Hop.  The hop starts on April 29th at 12:01am and ends on May 1st at 11:59pm.  There are only a few blogs participating but there are still some awesome prizes to be won.  Once you enter my giveaway, just click on each blog in the link below to find out what the other blogs are giving away.

Showers 2 Flowers Book Hop Update

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Sign Ups are still open for the Showers 2 Flowers Book Hop.   The hop will start on April 29 at 12:01am (central time) and will end on May 1 at 11:59pm (central time). The hop is being hosted by Diva's Bookcase and Notorious Spinks.  Submission to the link will close on Saturday April 30.

Review: Lover Unleashed by J R Ward

Genre:   Paranormal Romance

Release Date:  March 2011

Series:  Black Dagger Brotherhood, Book #9

Publisher:  NAL

Author Website:  http://www.jrward.com

Format Read:  Ebook

Pages:  512

Source:  Borrowed but feel I must buy for my collection

Reading Challenge:  Kick Ass Heroine

Rating:  4 flowers of love-really liked it and would recommend it

Read an excerpt

Book Blurb

Payne, twin sister of Vishous, is cut from the same dark, seductive cloth as her brother. Imprisoned for eons by their mother, the Scribe Virgin, she finally frees herself-only to face a devastating injury. Manuel Manello, M.D., is drafted by the Brotherhood to save her as only he can-but when the human surgeon and the vampire warrior meet, their two worlds collide in the face of their undeniable passion. With so much working against them, can love prove stronger than the birthright and the biology that separates them?

My Thoughts

I have really been on the fence about reading this one, so I waited before getting my hands on a copy.  I have had a love/hate relationship with this series because some books are better than others.  But just when I feel that the Brotherhood has lost its appeal, I get sucked back in and have to get caught up on the latest drama.

Lover Unleashed picks up right where Lover Mine left off.  I’ve read a lot of reviews where readers were not happy about the story focusing more on V and Jane rather than on Payne and Manny.  I didn’t feel that way because to me all of the BDB books have about four or five different stories happening simultaneously.  And that’s what I love about them.  There’s so much going on it keeps me glued to the pages trying to guess what’s going to happen next.

To Be Read Tuesday

It's been awhile since I've done a TBR post.  Now that I'm back, here is what I will be reading this week.

Queen Takes King by Gigi Levangie Grazer
Jackson Power. A name like the man himself: aggressive, ambitious, bullish. The prodigal son, heir to millions, built his own Manhattan real estate empire and revels in seeing his moniker — Power! — on glittering skyscrapers around the city that never sleeps. Beneath his desk in the towering Power headquarters, Jacks has a stack of newspapers and photographs of himself, shaking hands with the most famous men and women of his generation. Here's a man who's always loved to see his name in ink. Until now. 

Cynthia Hunsaker Power. She is the epitome of elegance and society. The perfect foil for a man of Jacks's stature — his first and only wife, he'd proudly tell any of his Master of the Universe (read: Gargoyle) friends. The former prima ballerina arrived in New York at eighteen, off the bus from Missouri, brimming with talent, beauty, and drive. She met a struggling painter, fell in love, and only later learned she'd won the Power lottery. Now she sits on the New York Ballet Theater board, effortlessly outdoing herself with one gala after another. But the press coverage of the Power silver anniversary party at the Waldorf takes the cake.


Jacks Power appears twice in the New York Post the next morning — once gallantly dancing with his wife of twenty-five years, Cynthia; and once hand in hand with Lara Sizemore, morning television star, exiting her Upper West Side apartment building that very same night. 

To Jackson Power, Lara is everything his wife Cynthia is not — wild, voluptuous, mysterious, and selfsustaining. A new passion has swept Jacks off his well-shod feet — and she is Lara Sizemore. He is ready for the divorce, ready to marry his mistress, America's Sweetheart. But Cynthia isn't ready to be swept out of the picture quite so easily.

Diva Mail: In My Mailbox

 
Good morning bookish peeps.  It's time for In My Mailbox, a meme hosted by Kristi @ The Story Siren.  I haven't gotten any review books in the mail for quite a while, but I've done some book shopping.  I hit up my local Barnes and Noble and and found a few good reads on sale.  I also stopped at Book Traders, my new fav used book store and picked another book.  For some reason I was on a chick lit high because those seemed to be the only titles that attracted me.  So here's what I got.  What did you get in your mailbox this week?

 Other Woman by Diana Diamond

Queen Takes King by Gigi Levangie Grazer

Sex And The City by Candace Bushnell

Lipstick Jungle by Candace Bushnell

For Better Or For Worse by Diann Hunt

Book Spotlight: April Romance Releases From Simon And Schuster

Read an excerpt

Hush

Cherry Adair

On sale: 4/26/11

New York Times bestselling author Cherry Adair introduces an edgy, sexy new suspense series with this exhilarating international tale of hide and seek.

A reckless adventure in a deadly paradise.

Thrill seekers Zakary and Gideon Stark travel the globe in search of extreme adventure, but a trip to Venezuela to jump off the world's highest falls catapults them into a perilous game of life or death—where they don't know the rules.

A one-night stand that will change his life forever.

Kidnapped with a woman Zak knows nothing about, the brothers are held prisoner deep in the jungle. A risky, deathdefying escape separates them and nearly claims Zak's life . . . until his recovery reveals a baffling new sixth sense.

An unexpected diversion with lethal consequences.

Now, to find his missing brother, Zak and the mysterious Acadia Gray will have to out-smart, out-gun, and out-maneuver not just the brutal kidnappers but also a new player who joins the adrenaline game: a ruthless opponent who wants the Stark brothers dead—at any cost.

To know more about Cherry Adair and your favorite romance authors check out

http://pocketafterdark.com/

Read an excerpt

That Perfect Someone

Johanna Lindsey

On Sale: 4/19/11

Returning to the "wickedly witty, lusciously sensual" (Booklist) world of her beloved Malory family, #1 New York Times bestselling author Johanna Lindsey sweeps readers away on a seductive adventure in which a detested marriage contract turns childhood enemies into passionate lovers.

Nine years ago, Richard Allen fled England and his controlling father. Determined to live his own life, he took to the sea and settled in the Caribbean, joining a band of treasure-hunting pirates and adopting the persona of a carefree, seductive Frenchman named Jean Paul to guard the secrets of his past. When he slips back into England to carry out an urgent task, Richard becomes infatuated with a married woman, Georgina Malory. But his reckless attempt to woo Georgina at a masked ball turns out to be the worst mistake of his life because it brings him face to face with another beautiful woman.

Thrilled that her solicitors have finally come up with a way to free her from her betrothal contract to the Earl of Manford's son who abandoned her years ago, heiress Julia Miller is ready for the marriage mart and hopes to find that perfect someone at her friend Georgina's ball. Charmed by a masked Frenchman who gives her her first kiss, she can't help but pursue this mysterious man—until she makes a shocking discovery. Now, to avoid falling into a ruthless nobleman's trap, Julia must enter a risky, intimate charade with a man she never believed she could love.

"There's no better way to spend your time than with the Malorys—it's like sailing off to heaven," raves Romantic Times. With a little help from the lucky-in-love Malory family, will Richard and Julia discover in each other that perfect someone?

To know more about Johanna Lindsey and your favorite romance authors check out

http://pocketafterdark.com/

Read an excerpt

 Defiant

Kris Kennedy

4/26/11

A rogue knight and an enchanting renegade join forces to right old wrongs in award-winning author Kris Kennedy's sizzling new medieval romance.

A warrior with questionable intentions . . .

Jamie Lost is the king's most renowned commander, a fearless lieutenant ordered to kidnap an exiled priest before rebel forces close in. The mission is simple—until he meets a mysterious thief who will steal his quarry and then his heart.

A lady of remarkable courage . . .

Beautiful Eva is also seeking Father Peter, but she intends to protect him from a secret that could cost him his life. She senses that she, too, should fear Jamie—not just for his wickedly sharp sword and dangerously muscular body, but for the powerful longing he ignites within her.

A secret that could overthrow the king.

When a band of mercenaries abducts the priest, Jamie and Eva must form a volatile alliance. As civil war unfolds around them, they embark on an epic journey that betrays the truth about their hidden identities, their unexpected loyalties, and the simmering attraction that could seal their fates forever.

To know more about Kris Kennedy and your favorite romance authors check out

http://pocketafterdark.com/

Read an excerpt

Bound by Darkness

Alexis Morgan

On sale: 04/26/11

Caught between two worlds, a powerful warrior must choose between impossible destinies when he meets a woman whose love will either make or break him. . . .
 

As the daughter of a Regent, Sasha has long known about the secret underworld of the Paladins and their work protecting her kind from the dark forces on the other side of the energy barrier. So when she is sent on her first solo investigation, on the path to becoming the first female Regent, she is determined to get the Seattle Paladins in line. Offering sanctuary to their Kalith enemies is simply unacceptable! But when she meets Larem, she is inexorably drawn to a dark and valiant warrior who is not at all what he appears to be. As the power struggle between Regents and Paladins rages on, someone starts making attacks on her life. Sasha must choose between loyalty to her own kind and the warrior she loves . . . with the very fate of humanity hanging in the balance.

To know more about Alexis Morgan and your favorite romance authors check out http://pocketafterdark.com/

Winner: Easter Hoppin' Blog Hop

Thanks so much to everyone that stopped by the blog and entered the giveaway.  The winner is...

June M.

Congrats on your win join.  Please email me with your mailing addy to thedivasbookcase@gmail.com to claim your prize.  If I don't hear from you by Monday, April  25th, another winner will be chosen to receive your prize. 

I still have one giveaway going on on the blog, click here for details.  For another blog hop giveaway on the blog, click here for details.   

Book Spotlight and Giveaway: The Pastor's Wife by Reshonda Tate Billingsley

The Pastor’s Wife

Reshonda Tate Billingsley

On Sale April 26, 2011 (Mass Paperback Edition)

Ambition, desperation, and redemption abound in nationally bestselling author Allison Hobbs's unforgettable novel about a woman forced to sink to the darkest depths of morality . . . and her quest to fight her way back.

Victoria Carlton invested everything into her dream of becoming a singer—her hopes, her time, her life savings—only to fall victim to the harsh realities of the recording industry.

Devastated, broke, and faced with the choice between committing herself and her young son to a world of homeless shelters or entering the seedy world of prostitution, she applies for a job at Pandora's Box, a downtown Philadelphia brothel that bills itself as a "massage salon." Her lifestyle quickly improves, and the gratification of instant cash replaces her willingness to find a low-paying, legitimate occupation. One day, an unlikely customer appears at Pandora's Box. Young, handsome, and well dressed, he is immediately drawn to Victoria. The two begin a love affair fraught with complications, leaving Victoria plagued by guilt and insecurities until a botched robbery and the murder of a coworker compel her to look beyond the fast money and reclaim her morals—and her life.

Click on the link below for an Exclusive Author Interview! If Reshonda could acquire any talent, it would be this surprising ability!

http://www.simonandschuster.com/multimedia?video=27791442001

For more information on Reshonda and her books, visit her website at http://reshondatatebillingsley.com

To check out your favorite romance authors visit pocketafterdark.com

Thanks to Simon and Schuster, two followers of the blog can win a copy of this new release.  Giveaway will end on May 1st and is only open to US residents.  No P. O. Boxes please.    Winner will be randomly chosen and announced on the blog.  Winners will have 72 hours to contact me with their mailing address before another winner will be chosen.  To enter simply

• Read the blog Giveaway Rules
• Be a follower of this blog through Goggle Friend Connect
• Make a comment to this post

Author Spotlight: Q and A with Stefanie Sloane

Today I welcome romance author Stefanie Sloane. Ms. Sloane has a new historical romance, Devil In Disguise, which will release on May 24. You can read my review here.

A native Northwesterner with the pale skin to prove it, Stefanie credits her parents’ eclectic reading habits—not to mention their decision to live in the middle of nowhere—for her love of books. A childhood spent lost in the pages of countless novels led Stefanie to college where she majored in English. No one was more surprised than Stefanie when she actually put her degree to use and landed a job in Amazon.com’s Books editorial department. She spent over five years reading for a living before retiring to concentrate on her own stories. Stefanie currently resides with her family in Seattle.

Diva: Describe yourself in five words.

Stefanie: Funny, sensitive, curious, shy, loyal.

Diva: What are three things that your readers would be surprised to learn about you?

Stefanie: Well, first, I never really planned on being a romance writer. In high school I thought that I would become a journalist and write for Rolling Stone magazine. Only, I don’t smoke, drink, or like to stay up until the wee hours, and I’m shy, which kind of put a crimp in the plan.

Second, I was the 30th employee at a little internet company called Amazon.com. My office was in a garage and I knew nothing about the web—and had no idea what a ride my nearly six years there would be like.


Third, writing romance runs in my family! My mom is Lois Faye Dyer, the amazing Silhouette Special Edition author of nearly 30 books. She writes incredibly moving contemporary stories that most often feature complex and completely yummy cowboys.

Diva: What were you doing before you became a writer? And what would you have done if your writing hadn't taken off?

Stefanie: Well, I was and still am a mom to two amazing and challenging young girls. As any parent knows, this is a full-time job—rewarding, but demanding! And Justin Bieber fever has recently hit our household, so the challenge-o-meter just ratcheted up. I’ve also done quite a bit of editorial consulting work for various companies and nonprofits, which I truly enjoy. If I wasn’t writing historical romance, I would probably be concentrating on my nonprofit work. In this economy, nonprofits need our help more than ever.

Diva: What authors have had the most influence on your writing or your desire to become a writer?

Stefanie: First and foremost, my mom. She started writing when I was quite young and she was working a full-time job—so that’s, what, three full-time jobs all at one time between raising children, working in the legal system, and writing? She taught me what discipline and belief in yourself and your dreams can do for a person.


Julia Quinn has also had a major influence on me as an author. We’re the best of friends, and she’s always been there for me both personally and professionally. Her strength has carried me through some of the more bumpy patches of life’s roadway.

Diva: How long did it take from the time you finished your first book, to get your work published?

Stefanie: Well, the first book that I ever wrote was a contemporary chick lit back in 2003. I finished it and signed with an agent less than a week before giving birth to my second child! Unfortunately, that book didn’t sell, and learning to care for two kids took over all of my time until 2007 when I started what would become The Devil in Disguise. That summer, at the national RWA conference, I was introduced to agent Jennifer Schober, who encouraged me to send a partial her way. I finally did mail off the first 150 pages to Jenn in early 2008. She offered representation shortly thereafter and we set to work on polishing the partial. It went out to editors in the fall of 2008 and I had my offer from Ballantine by Thanksgiving. I think that I ate an entire pie in celebration!

Diva: What's the best piece of advice you were given while you were trying to get your work published?

Stefanie: “A watched pot never boils.” Honestly, I’m one of the most impatient people on the planet. So when a fellow author heard me lamenting the fact that I wasn’t progressing as quickly as I should, she said those words to me. And was she ever right! And it’s excellent advice for every part of the author process—and really, life in general. Have patience with yourself, with those around you, and with your work. You’ll be surprised by what it does for your outlook.

Diva: What book(s) are you dying to get your hands on?

Stefanie: There are so many! Amanda Quick’s Quicksilver releases tomorrow. In late May there is Julia Quinn’s Just Like Heaven. And Jennifer Ashley’s The Many Sins of Lord Cameron is due out in August.

Diva: Do you have any tidbits that you can share about what's next on your agenda?

Stefanie: Oooh, yes! I recently signed a contract for the next three books in my Regency Rogues series. Here’s a sneak peek at the fourth book, tentatively titled The Saint Who Stole My Heart:

Lord Dashiell Matthews, the Viscount of Hardwicke, remembers little of Lady Elena Barnes beyond her slight build, mousy character, and bookish ways. Her unavoidable presence at Hardwicke House would be inconvenient, true, but a woman could hardly prove enough of a distraction to interfere with what was the most important case of Dash’s life—ferreting out the monster who’d murdered a dear friend’s mother many years before.

Dash would, of course, live to regret such an assumption.

As for Elena, a trip to London to retrieve a priceless book is troublesome, though not nearly as much as the feelings the viscount inspires in her. His touch elicits feelings from Elena that she’d only ever read about. Her skin tingles. Lord Hardwicke is as handsome as she remembered—actually, more so as he’d grown into his frame in a rather attractive manner—and as dim as a ha’penny tallow. Or is he? The more time Elena spends with the man, the greater her suspicions grow regarding his intellect and just what he might be up to as they’re thrown together in the search for an individual known only as the Rook.

Can true love save the day? Find out in the exciting and enthralling fourth installment of the Regency Rogues.

Thanks so much to Stefanie for taking time to answer my questions. To learn more about her and her books, find her at:

Website: http://www.stefaniesloane.com
Twitter: @StefanieSloane
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Stefanie-Sloane-Historical-Romance-Author/191673530858361

ARC Review: Devil In Disguise by Stefanie Sloane

Genre:  Historical Romance    

      

Release Date:  May 24, 2011

Series:  Regency Rogues, Book #1

Publisher: Ballantine Books

Author Website: http://www.stefaniesloane.com

Format Read:  ARC Print Copy

Pages:  320

Source:  Author

Rating:  Three flowers of love

Read an excerpt

Book Blurb

Lord William Randall, the Duke of Clairemont, is a wicked rake with little regard for society—a most unlikely suitor for the prim and proper Lady Lucinda Gray. But his latest assignment for the Young Corinthians, an elite spy organization, involves protecting her from a kidnapping plot and to do this, the notorious “Iron Will” must get close to Lucinda, and convince her that he’s a man worthy of her attention. It is a simple enough task to use his devilish charm to seduce her, but William never would have guessed that he’d become enthralled by the lovely Lady Grey—or that he’d lose his own heart in the bargain.

Beautiful and fiercely intelligent, Lucinda has managed to gracefully sidestep even the most persistent suitors. Until the Duke of Clairemont, that is. His rugged features, sinfully sensuous mouth, and piercing eyes are as alluring as the champion thoroughbred he tantalizingly offers in exchange for the honor of courting her, and she finds it hard to resist either temptation. The feelings he stirs in her both excite and arouse, urging her on despite the very real danger he represents. But when the truth is revealed, will Lucinda risk her heart and her life for a chance at everlasting love?

My Thoughts

This book was a good start to a romance series that I will continue to read.  I thought the two main characters, Lucinda and Will were fun to read about.   I liked Lucinda because she had spunk and ambition. While other ladies were busy chasing husband prospects, she was busy following her dreams.   Her dream, along with her aunts, was to breed and race horses, something that proper ladies did not do.  It wasn’t for the money, just the enjoyment because she loved horses.  Although she had many admirers, her first passion was horses.  No man stood a chance until Will captured her heart without even meaning to.

 Like all historical heroes, Will was the complete rake.  I love my rakes, but I also like them with a bit of mystery and adventure.  Will was that and then some.  His status as a secret agent made the story more interesting. At first his job was to protect Lucinda so making it seem like they were dating fit his plan perfectly.   He spared no expense in wooing her and even baited her with the one thing he knew she wouldn’t be able to resist-his prized horse.

Although he didn’t appreciate her blunt words nor was he fond of her independence, he still ended up falling in love with her. 

The one thing I didn’t like about the story was the gossiping aunts.  It was clear that they loved her, but they seemed to cared more about getting the horse and building their business.  They saw no fault in using Lucinda as a means to get what they wanted.  But despite that little drawback, I did enjoy the book and recommend it to anyone that loves historical romances.

Other Books In This Series:

The Angel In My Arms, Book #2 (June 28, 2011)

The Sinner Who Seduced Me, Book #3 (July 26, 2011)

Other Reviews Of This Book:

Goodreads

Shelfari

Review and Giveway: Shades Of Atlantis by Carol Oates

Genre:   YA, Paranormal, Romance

Release Date:  November 2010

Publisher: Omnific Publishing

Author Website:  http://www.caroloates.com/

Format Read:  Paperback Print Copy

Pages:  307

Source:  Publisher

Rating:  Three flowers of love

Book Blurb

Since the death of their parents, Triona Pryor and her brother, Ben, have lived with their aunt and uncle in Camden, Maine. Now in her senior year of high school, Triona loves her family and friends, but she has always felt that she didn't quite fit in...in Camden, or anywhere else.

Enter Caleb Wallace, the devilishly handsome man who has recently moved to Triona's small town. While their attraction to each other is instantaneous, it also proves to be dangerous...and deadly.

When tragedy strikes, Triona flees to London for solace and to start her life anew. It's there she discovers from an unlikely source that her family has been keeping secrets from her - secrets about not only her birthright, but her ultimate destiny as well. Armed with this knowledge, Triona finds herself thrown into a whole new world and into a battle to save the lives of everyone she loves.

My Thoughts

First of all, let me say this.  This review may be one big ramble because it was so hard for me get this review out.  There were parts of the book that I loved and parts that I didn’t particularly care for, and after rewriting and rewriting, I just decided to let it flow...

When I first picked up this book, I wasn’t sure what to expect.  I liked the story and the characters, but it gave me such a déjà vu feeling that I couldn’t enjoy it as much as I wanted to.  True, in most YA novels, you get the same storyline:  Average girl meets super hot looking guy that’s totally into her and she can’t figure out why.  It’s always love at first site and there’s always some blown up conflict that tests that relationship, blah, blah,blah. With Shades Of Atlantis, there was a different overall twist to the same story, but it just wasn’t enough to make me not compare it to others of its kind. 

The beginning of the story was a little slow and I was worried about it holding my attention.  At first, I didn’t like Triona because she came across as awkward and whiny.  I loved Caleb of course.  Not even sure why but I just loved him as her hero.   He was handsome, mysterious and protective.  What’s not to love?

Although I did like their romance, I thought it happened too quickly.  Even though I’m a big romance fan, the sappier the better, for some reason I’m not into the love at first site storylines.  I just think I would have been more interested if their feelings had not been revealed so early in the book.  I appreciate the suspense of the romance being drawn out and revealed towards the end. 

Overall, Shades Of Atlantis was a good read. The immortality twist and the family secrets mystery keep me reading. 

Other Reviews Of This Book:

Goodreads

Shelfari

Want a chance to get a copy of Shades Of Atlantis and some cool swag?  Here’s what Carol Oates is offering four readers a chance to win

• Signed copy of Shades of Atlantis, a lined spiral notebook with SoA cover, bookmark, keyring, SoA 2011 calendar, and SoA mug.
• Signed copy of Shades of Atlantis, a lined spiral notebook with SoA cover, bookmark, keyring, SoA 2011 calendar
• eBook copy of SoA
• eBook copy of SoA 

To Enter:

You must leave a comment on ALL tour stop posts.  The blogs on the tour are listed below.  Then the names will be chosen by random.org and the name chosen will be checked on comments. All giveaways are open internationally. Participants do not need to be followers to be entered.  Giveaway ends April 22 and is being hosted by A Tale Of Many Reviews.

Here’s the tour schedule

• April 1: Mundi Moms
• April 2: Once Upon A Twilight 
• April 3: Good Choice Reading:
• April 4: Frenzy of Noise
• April 5: Girls Just Reading
• April 6: Books, Movies, Reviews. Oh my
• April 7: CSI:Librarian
• April 8: YA Bound
• April 9: YA Booklover Blog
• April 10: The Reading Fever
• April 11: Home Between Pages
• April 12: Books and Shtuff
• April 13: Bookworm Lisa
• April 14: Moonlight Book Reviews
• April 15: One Book Shy of a Full Shelf
• April 16: Diva's Bookcase
• April 17: Ticket To Anywhere
• April 18: The Crazy Bookworm
• April 19: A Trail of Books Left Behind  and A Tale of Many Reviews- video interview with author - Final Stop

Easter Hoppin Blog Hop

The Easter Hoppin Blog Hop is hosted by Jo Jo's Book Corner and Lush Book Reviews.  There are over 70 blogs hosting giveaways with this hop so once you enter my giveaway, use the linky below to hop around and see what other cool prizes are up for grabs.  Also don't forget to come back on April 29 for my Showers 2 Flowers Book Hop.  If you'd like to sign up, or know more about it, please go here

For my giveaway, I dipped into my Kresley Cole stash and have three of her Immortals After Dark books up for grab.  One winner will receive Pleasure Of A Dark Prince, Demon From The Dark, and Dreams Of A Dark Warrior. Giveaway will end on April 17th.

To enter the giveaway, please follow these two simple steps

• Must be a Goggle Friend Follower to win
• Must fill out the entry form

**Please only enter giveaway once.  All duplicate entries will be deleted!!!**

Winner will be randomly selected and announced on the blog.  Winner will have three days to email me their mailing address or another winner will be chosen.

Good luck and don't forget to visit the other blogs participating

In My Mailbox (28)

Good morning!  In My Mailbox is hosted by the super fab Kristi @ The Story Siren.

I only bought one book last week and that's Waiting To Exhale. I've had several copies of the book, loaned them to someone, can't remember who, but never volunteered to five them back so I just got a new one.  I really wanted a hardback, but couldn't find one so for now I've settled for the paperback which I will soon reread. I loved this book and movie back in the day.

I got Die For Me from Net Galley a while ago, but forgot to mention.  I requested it because I liked the book summary, but as I read the reviews I realized it was about zombies.  Eek!  Not a zombie fan, but judging from the reviews, I may become one...we'll see.

I also borrowed Lover Unleashed and Sweet Valley Confidential.  Yay!  I've been wanting to read both, but was trying to wait until my library got them. Both books have mixes reviews so really anxious to see what all the fuss is about.  Thankfully someone loaned me ebooks to read.  Now my Nook will be very happy that I will getting to spend more time with it instead of neglecting it for paperbacks.

Well, thanks all, so what did you get in your mailbox?

Lover Unleashed by Jr Ward

Die For Me by Amy Plum

Waiting To Exhale by Terry McMillan

Sweet Valley Confidential by Francine Pascal

Author Spotlight: Q and A with Beate Boeker

Today I welcome romance author Beate Boeker.  Ms. Boeker’s new book, A Little Bit Of Passion released on April 4. Read my review here.

Beate Boeker is a product manager by day and a writer by night. She’s also married and the mother of an energetic kid. If you mix Latin and German, Beate Boeker literally translates as “happy books,” and, with a name like that, what else could she do but write romances?

Diva:  Describe yourself in five words.

Beate Boeker:  Determined. Talkative. Curious. Curly. Organized.

Diva:   What are three things you must have while writing?

Beate Boeker:  One thick throw to keep me warm. No, make that two. A full pot of green tea with some flavor (usually lemon) - and the corresponding mug of course.

Diva:  When did you decide to write and who are some the authors that inspired your love of reading?

Beate Boeker:  Hmm. Difficult to say. It wasn't a conscious decision; it sort of happened all the time, first as a teenager, and then again in my mid-thirties. Basically whenever I started to get bored in my real life (I get bored very easily). Then I have to invent some challenge to keep me busy! Authors who have inspired my love of reading . . . I love Mary Stewart for the suspense, Georgette Heyer for her amazing characters, L.M. Montgomery for her love of beauty, Elisabeth Peters for her irony, Agatha Christie for the surprise, Dorothy Sayers for the intelligence . . . the list is long!

Diva:  How did your book A Little Bit Of Passion come about?  What was your inspiration for writing the story?

Beate Boeker:  I'm the sort of writer who starts with a scene, sits down and sees where the story takes her. A Little Bit of Passion was born from a deep love of skiing and a winter when I didn't have the money to go on a skiing holiday. I dreamed myself away. And then, things took on a life of their own . . . It's the only book I have ever written in first person, and I think that's why it became a story very close to my heart.

Diva:  What was your road to publication like and can you offer advice to aspiring authors?

Beate Boeker: My road to publication was a bit unusual as I'm German and live 

in Germany. English is not my mother language, and I only started learning it at the age of ten, at school, as was normal at the time (today, German kids start at eight). My very first teacher was a Scot, and the first thing she taught us was to put our tongue between our teeth when saying "the". I remember we all laughed ourselves silly because we thought we were lisping, but I can't be grateful enough to her. I wrote my first novel in German (it was pretty dreadful), and when I realized that (this shows you how dreadful it really was), I tried to find people to tell me how to make it better. I really looked around hard, but I didn't find anything. At the time, I had already finished my business studies and had a busy full-time job, so going back to university and studying the development of language since the first men started to grunt was not an option. I searched everywhere and finally realized that in the US, there's a complete system for beginning writers. And so I decided to write in English. The next unusual thing happened about a year later. I had finished my first novel and decided I needed professional help, so I found a book doctor in the Internet. Her name is Elisabeth Lyon. She told me how to work on every aspect of my manuscript, and I learned more than I ever thought I could learn about writing. She then told me that Avalon Books publishes just the kind of novel I write (contemporary romance), so I sent them my story (after having edited it, of course). It took another 18 months or so before it was accepted.

 

Advice to aspiring authors: Find a critique group or another author who works with you on your manuscript. It's not easy to find the right partner, because emotions run high when you give your first work out of your hands, but it's worth it. Via The Writer Magazine, I found Margaret Damele Elam, who took me through a strict school and encouraged me when I got a devastating report from a writer's contest on "A Little Bit of Passion". Thank God the editors at Avalon did not feel the same. So, my advice is: Never give up. Continue to dream your dreams.

Diva:  Are you working on any new projects that you can share?

Beate Boeker: Yes. I have always loved the combination of romance and mystery and am working on a series set in Florence, Italy. I have not yet found a publisher for this series, but I haven't yet given up hope!

Thanks so much to Beate for taking the time to answer my questions.  To learn more about Beate and her books, visit her website at http://www.happybooks.de/