Good Reads, and my latest good read

I joined Good Reads a while back and I love it, it's a great resource as well as functioning as a social network for readers and for authors. Things have been so busy here that I never finished building my page and I'm trying to get to grips with that at the mo.

I decided to cross reference my reading recs here as well, so here's my latest good read recommendation, THE CUREWIFE by Claire-Marie Watson.

The Curewife is a 1st person narrative literary novel that is written as a diary. A fascinating tale, especially if you have an interest in Scottish history and life in Dundee and Tayside in the 17th Century. This book won the Dundee book prize in 2002.

The story tells the life of a curewife, a Scottish woman who was ultimately condemned for witchcraft. The author has woven her story around what little is known of Grissel Jaffray, a real woman who was actually condemned, but whose life is a mystery. The book is meticulously researched and rich in historic detail. Highly recommended for lovers of great historical fiction.

Trivia: I noticed on the Amazon blurb the book is described as having a parallel narrative, the story of a modern day New England character, a descendent. This is on both the UK and USA Amazon sites, but my version of the book only had the historical tale. I don’t know if there are different versions (it doesn't look that way…) or if this is something the publisher had hoped for. I believe the book I read was the version that won the Dundee Book Prize, not sure if the other one will appear or is perhaps a related follow up, or just didn’t happen. (Add it to the list of great mysteries of the publishing world!) Either way, I’m longing for more from this author. Claire-Marie Watson, please write more!

More trivia: I noticed you can purchase a dedicated copy direct from the author. http://www.ancrum.force9.co.uk/

Reading round up

I've read some terrific books recently so I thought I'd post some comments. Not reviews as such, and I only post about books I enjoy so be prepared for lots of gushing, I loved these. :)

DARK NEEDS AT NIGHT’S EDGE, Kresley Cole. I think I got this book in my RWA goodie bag, I came back from SF with it, at any rate. I’d been wondering why publishers give these books away, and why they select the ones they do. After having read this one I know – it’s so that you have to go out and buy the rest of the series! This is a superb paranormal romance and I loved every moment of it. Powerful, movie-like, and deftly handled in every way, I was in awe of Ms Cole.

This is the story of a ballerina ghost from the early 1900s, and a vampire warrior who is close to madness.He is locked up in her haunted house for his own safety. Conflict and sparring abound! I’ll definitely be buying the rest of this series, a good move on behalf of the publisher there, ay.

UNDERCOVER, Lauren Dane. I was lucky to receive an ARC for this one and I can confirm that if you are a fan of erotic romance ménage stories you simply have to rush out and get this book. (on shelves this week!) Lauren Dane writes about passionate adults who are strong, believable characters – characters who come with baggage, (just like people in real life, imagine that! :) and that’s incredibly hard to do well, but it makes for powerful reading when Lauren does it.

This story is set in a future world -- although I have to say it’s very accessible on that front, so definitely give this one a try even if you don’t usually read futuristics. Our heroine is thrown together on an undercover mission with her ex, and his fellow commanding officer. She has to play concubine to one or both of these gorgeous men. Oh my, the conflict! We start out with the heroine flooring her ex, so you know you are going to get heaps of erotic tension and oodles of conflict here! This is a powerful, convincing BDSM ménage romance, not to be missed.

WILDWOOD, by Janine Ashbless. I’ve been meaning to read Janine Ashbless for quite a while. A Black lace author who writes erotic fantasy, it seemed like I was bound to enjoy it, and I did. What nudged me again was a negative review for this book from an online review site. I’d often wondered if anyone bought books because they’d read a negative review and I proved it to myself because I did! Something about the review told me that I would love this book even though the reviewer hated it. Kind of enlightening, huh. And I was right.

This story had all the best ingredients for me and at the end I was saying “no, no, I want to know what happens next!” An ending that truly was a beginning, I hope there is a sequel!! As a diehard Storm Constantine fan I know I loved Wildwood because it had elements that I might find in a Constantine fantasy, but it was written in such a way as to be closer to the real world, and much more eroticised. Very accessible British erotic fantasy, and I loved it.

The story is about a landscape gardener who comes into contact with two men who are battling over a beautiful and magical woodland, and the secret at its heart. Filled with exceptional magic and mythology, and wonderfully written, I would call this one an adult fairytale. There are definitely some questionable pervy goings-on, and some nigh on horror elements, but in the adult fairytale/fantasy context it worked for me. A much enjoyed read and I think I will have to “glom” Janine Ashbless (got to use a word I never used before, yay!)


CHANCE OF A LIFETIME, Portia Da Costa. Everybody knows I love Portia’s work. As soon as I begin reading one of her stories I’m as good as addicted through to the end. It’s always fun, passionate, and intense romantic erotica. What gets ahold of me above all is the down-to-earth and humorous nature of her characters, no matter what the setting.

Chance of a lifetime is a Spice Brief (the first of five Spice Briefs from Portia!) and it's perfect for a lunchtime read or a special treat. It’s exceptionally naughty! Portia has combined a wonderfully quirky British Marquis and his crumbling manor with pervy goings-on, and she makes it delightful reading through her adorable characters. This one has been at the top of the Fictionwise erotica charts, and also shot up the charts at Eharlequin. A must read when you fancy some raunchy shenanigans in a creaky old British manor house!


BROKEN, Megan Hart. I confess I had to take a break from reading this one, about four chapters in. Not because it was bad – because it was too bloody good! Sexy and romantic, and yet filled with heart crushing pain and anguish, this wasn’t an easy read for me, but only in the way that I cried my eyes out over MILL ON THE FLOSS and loved it so much I had to read it over again immediately. Literary, heart-wrenching and memorable.

The protagonist has a disabled husband and I found that angle incredibly moving. Megan Hart is an exceptional writer, she turned a difficult subject into something believable that draws on our deepest emotions. Megan Hart has a huge career opening out in front of her, she's a superb writer.


So what’s next in my reading pile? I have THE NEW RAKES by Nikki Magennis. Nikki’s debut novel, CIRCUS EXCITE, was a terrific read, and I’ve been longing for her to write another. I’m also going to get hold of the audio book for Victoria Janssen’s THE DUCHESS, HER MAID, THE GROOM, AND THEIR LOVER. I tend to listen to audio books while I’m doing boring chores like washing up and tidying, and it’s great to see more erotic books coming out in audio format at affordable prices. I have enjoyed Victoria’s short stories, and I’ll be downloading her debut full-length novel next week for several rounds of sexy listening pleasure! (that might help with the housekeeping that needs done around here, ay? LOL!) Can’t wait!

Review plus book giveaway!

If you’re an erotic romance reader you'll have heard of Lauren Dane. Lauren is not only a prolific e-book author, but she’s recently had work signed by Harlequin Spice, Berkley Heat, AND Black Lace. That sort of acquisition list gives a girl a reputation, one that demands you take notice. When I had the chance to get my hands on an advance reader copy of Lauren's forthcoming novella, STRIPPED, I was delighted.

STRIPPED is part of a four-author anthology called WHAT HAPPENS IN VEGAS, published by Spice in May. Along with Lauren, there are stories by Jodi Lynn Copeland, Kit Tunstall, and Anya Bast.

Right from the start I was hooked. Anyone who knows me will know how important the setting of a story is for me, and I loved that this anthology is themed around a place. Mark has visited Las Vegas (and LA) but, alas, I haven’t. (I’ve visited San Francisco before, though, so we kind of have a set between us.) I also really liked the cover of this anthology, because it’s playful and fun, and it says so much about the place as well as the spicy contents of this book. I would also add that the book is different to what I’ve previously read on the Spice line. There's a lot of diversity on this erotic line, and the covers work really well to indicate the contents – this one is no exception.

STRIPPED is a kind of across-the-tracks love story about Dahlia Baker and Nash Emery. Dahlia is studying for her MBA and to make ends meet she’s working as a burlesque stripper. I really enjoyed Dahlia's character. She’s intelligent, sexy and strong, and yet soft and feminine at the same time. Her role made me reminiscent about an old movie favourite of mine, Gypsy, starring Natalie Wood as burlesque icon Gypsy Rose Lee. Dahlia's story is a different, modern-day take on that and if you enjoyed that movie, you’ll love this book. Dahlia is doing just fine when playboy Nash comes into her life. She tries to resist, but she can only do so for so long, and then a compelling combination of conflict and desire is unleashed between them.

Nash is just to die for. Yummy, sexy, strong, and increasingly smitten with Dahlia, he’s a hero who has a few lessons in store during his pursuit of this lady! :) In fact, they both do. I don’t want to give too much away about the plot, but I do want to say that when I finished reading this novella I had the satisfied feeling I usually only get after reading a full-length novel. The story also features great supporting characters who are cleverly portrayed, even if they are only onstage in the story for a brief time. That takes talent.

Lauren Dane is a really good writer. If she were a wine I’d describe her work as full-bodied, :) because of the richness of the story and the depth of the characters. STRIPPED is both hot and touching, it’s a true erotic romance, and I know that readers are going to love it.

To help Lauren and the other Las Vegas ladies celebrate the release of this anthology, I’m giving a copy away to one lucky reader. Just leave me a message here in the comments section. If you are a Lauren Dane reader, you can tell me which book of hers I should read next. Or you can tell you something about Las Vegas, if you have visited. Or you can just say hello, and I’ll add you to the draw. I’ll keep this contest open until the first of May, release day for the book. Please come back then to see if you’re lucky winner.