Mind Spill: Judge a Book by the Cover

We have been discussing the change in cover trend for quite some time amongst ourselves and have decided to ask you how you feel about it.  After the huge success of Fifty Shades of Grey we are seeing more and more erotic books trying to fit that Fifty "cover" mold.  What do you think about it?  Like it, hate it, tired of it?  Do you find it just a sales strategy or does it make you more comfortable to pick up an erotic book and read it in public or leave it sitting around the family room?  Leave us your comments!!

Here's what is running through our minds lately...

Tiffany Reisz’s Original Sinners series has recently had a cover overhaul. The third book in the series, THE PRINCE, set to release in November now features piano keys and a cane playing right into the Fifty Shades of Grey phenomena. The original cover featured a blindfolded, sexy and strong-jawed man who is supposed to be a young Kingsley if you’ve read the books. Nom Nom! 

Now we don’t get the sexy Kingsley! I miss the old cover so much because I don’t think the new cover captures the sensuality of the series. I hate how it’s become so subdued, almost as if we need to keep the contents of these erotic books hush-hush. If you’ve read Reisz’s books, you know just how hard-hitting and shocking her sex scenes are. For me, the new cover doesn’t capture that. And it doesn’t match the other covers in the series! That drives me nuts! But nevertheless, I am dying to read this book! Regardless of what the cover looks like, THE PRINCE is my most anticipated book of this year.

Fiftyish covers seem to be dominating the new and re-releases of erotic books lately. In some instances I don't mind the change, like with Sylvia Day's BARED TO YOU.  I loved the original indie cover, but I also love the new cover.  However, I do find it fitting because Gideon Cross is a very classy guy and the new cover screams refined, sleek and sexy at the same time.

Ms. Day is also re-releasing her historical romance SEVEN YEARS TO SIN, which was her original inspiration for BARED TO YOU.  Would you even consider this new cover a historical romance?  Big fail for me.

Other covers like THE DARK GARDEN by Eden Bradley I believe should've kept the original artwork.  The story in this book is about a pretty intense couple where both hero and heroine have a lot of issues to work through.  A flower just doesn't cut it for me.

Of course then there are new series that have completely embraced the Fifty cover theme, like in the serial by Beth Kery BECAUSE YOU ARE MINE.  Yes they are pretty, and in the same idea as Sylvia Day's the hero is mega rich and it's all about his own private planes and having dinner in Paris.  But it's getting to the point that as pretty as they may seem, the theme is now overused.

And lets not leave out a great marketing tactic... The Sleeping Beauty trilogy by Anne Rice is being re-released with very Fifty covers, and actually a quote on the outside that if you loved Fifty Shades you'll love this series.  Having read only book one of this series and maybe being scarred for life because my virgin eyes couldn't handle this trilogy, I find this a bit false advertisement.  It is a completely different series, with a much different feel to it.  Very intense, extreme and not for the faint of heart.

But I think I draw the line at seeing a romantic suspense book being re-released with this type of cover.  I just saw this morning the new cover for WILD CARD by Lora Leigh.  I loved the book and I would actually love to buy one of those dog tags but you cannot take the hot half naked men out of romantic suspense covers.  It is just not done!

What happened to the pretty covers with beautiful artwork, sensual pictures of a couple (or more) and a lot of hot guys?  I want them back!!  As my boyfriend usually puts it, "if it doesn't have a half naked man on the cover you probably wouldn't be reading it..."

If it wasn't bad enough that Fifty now dominates all book conversation, it now has to dominate all book covers as well? It isn't even the fact that it is Fifty, which I admit I don't like, it is the fact that people are copying and following this massive fad in an effort to trick buyers in to purchasing their book, is it too much to ask for an original idea? It is not as if the Fifty books have such brilliant covers that it MUST be copied and quite frankly I miss my hot pictures of man boobies, please bring them back! 

Now your turn... what do you think?

Mind Spill: Fifty Shades Better

Fifty Shades Better

Am I the only one completely fed up with the hype surrounding the Fifty Shades of Grey trilogy? Suddenly I am regularly getting pulled aside and with a scandalised whisper asked the inevitable question..."Have you read THAT book?" Like Fifty is some kind of naughty secret, even though half the world knows about it and Marks & Spencer's are rapidly running out of grey silk ties.

Now, after months of the Fifty circus going on, it is about time that Ana Steele and Christian Grey are firmly shelved and we all look for some romance and erotica that will really knock your knickers off!

So I have compiled some books that have been split into what I feel are the key elements of the Fifty books, only they are FIFTY SHADES BETTER.

THE CO DEPENDENT RELATIONSHIP

This is what struck me the most about these books, more then the BDSM or the similarity to Twilight, it is the unhealthy relationship between Ana and Christian. But, hey, we all love to read a co-dependent relationship in romance once in a while, but here are few which I think sticks out from the crowd:

Review here!



Review here!

KINKY FUCKERY

The one good point about Fifty: the phrase kinky fuckery, I love it! The most obvious kink in the Fifty trilogy is the BDSM and judging by the books popularity it seems we live in a world where our no not-so-secret fantasy is to be tied up and fucked nine ways till Sunday. So here are a few BDSM recommendations that are guranteed to get you dusting off the handcuffs:

Review here!

Review Here!

BIG BAD FUCKED UP ALPHA MALE
We all heard (repeatedly) how Christian was fifty shades of fucked up and we gals do seem to love a broody, damaged alpha male to sink our teeth into. We long for our love to be the one thing that will mend their broken hearts and minds, and here are some of our top angsty heroes, that get our body and heart melting:

Review Here!

Review Here!

Those are our recommendations, what do you think?

Mind Spill: Fifty Shades of BDSM

The buzz surrounding E.L James’ Fifty Shades trilogy has blown up to epic proportions. Romance readers are raving over this erotic series calling Fifty a sex icon.

More attention has been paid to the series after the Today’s Show segment on the Fifty Shades of Grey book and the series in general. Readers who both enjoyed the books and even those who didn’t were quick to point out the major flaws in Dr. Drew’s reasoning. For someone who hasn’t read the book, he certainly has a lot of opinions on what is suitable and not suitable for women to read and take part in. He forgets that this series is FICTION and that there will be, without a doubt, women out there who enjoy reading and participating in relationships of a certain kind.

Nevertheless, I know that some bloggers were intrigued by the discussion and were interested enough to check out the books themselves. In the end, James got some major promotion out of it and potentially, a lot more readers.

Unfortunately, I may be the only person on the face of the earth who doesn’t enjoy these books. Even amongst my UTC girls who share the same taste in books as me, I’m an oddity. Angela read all three books and loved them. Francesca and Suzanne have read them and enjoyed them marginally more than I did. In fact, after the very first chapter, I flailed the white flag and did not finish it.

But despite the good and bad surrounding this series, it doesn’t undermine the fact that people are reading and that’s good enough for me.

All this Fifty Shades talk has got me thinking about other BDSM-related books. So if you’re like me, looking for some Fifty alternatives or a fan who is simply looking for more, list some of your favorite BDSM-related books in the comments below. I would love to discover something new to read. Who knows, maybe we’ll discover the next new Fifty and maybe one-up him.

Before I list my recs, I want to mention that these books are more hardcore than the vanilla sex you read in the Fifty Shades trilogy. Fair warning.

My recommendations:
The first Dom I ever fell in love with was Jack Cole from Shayla Black’s WICKED TIES. Jack wasn’t my first BDSM read, but his book was the first one that made me feel something for the characters. I’ve read quite a bit of erotica before this, but those characters were easily forgotten. This particular book changed that for me. I loved him so much that I backed him up in UTC’s The Dom’s Dungeon event last July. You can see that post here.

I must mention Shayla Black’s latest release in the Wicked Lovers series, BELONG TO ME. This book was my second favorite book of 2011. Logan was the perfect Dom – firm and demanding, yet fair and loving.

Another one of my personal favorites is SWEET PERSUASION by Maya Banks. This is Damon Roche’s book (Cue swoons). This book explores a BDSM slave relationship. Serena wants to be fully owned, inside and outside of the bedroom. Her fantasy isn’t for everyone. Some may feel uncomfortable with this intense level of ownership, but like I said earlier, some people differ in their preference and desire a certain kind of relationship. Also, this book helped me get over my phobia of reading about butt plugs.

I was fortunate enough to get a chance to read SWEET ADDICTION by Maya Banks. This book doesn’t come out until April, however, it has become one of my early favorites of 2012. Banks incorporates a surprisingly large amount of emotional depth in this book. It’s surprising because there are three main leads – Ren, the heroine and Lucas and Cole, two dominant heroes. I wondered how she was going to make this work and make me feel the love between three people instead of the usual two, but for some reason, it worked. It worked so well that I found it difficult to pick between the two men. This book was great! Two Doms = two times the fun!

But perhaps my favorite BDSM-related series is Cherise Sinclair’s MASTERS OF THE SHADOWLANDS series. I haven’t encountered a series that surpasses this one yet. This series really has it all – emotional depth, steaming hot sex scenes and some of the best Doms you will ever find in erotic fiction. Sinclair has a knack for building sexual tension and incorporating a suspense subplot that pushes the plot forward. Her latest releases in this series have been tearjerkers, so if you’re looking for something that is dark, but touching then I highly suggest you check this series out. You will not be disappointed.

That’s it! That’s my list. For now, anyway. I’m always looking for some new recommendations, so let me know some of your BDSM favourites! And if you’re not into BDSM, then that’s OK. Share your erotica favorites anyway!

Other BDSM books worthy of mention:
Comfort Food by Kitty Thomas
Slave by Sherri Hayes
Nobody's Hero by Kallypso Masters 

Mind Spill: Leap Year, Women Take Control!

Leap Year: Women take Control!

Every four years we have to slow ourselves down and add an extra day to our calendar so we can get ourselves back in line with Mother Nature.The 29th of February, our leap day though is more then just an extra day in our diaries, it has been a tradition for hundreds of years for women in the British Isles to take control and reverse the usual roles, get down on bended knee to propose marriage to her man. If the man dare refuses her a fine can be levied from a kiss to a new silk dress.

We think this is a fabulous tradition (especially the silk dress part) and has us thinking of all those spunky heroines that have gone out and chased what they wanted rather then waiting for her hero to come rescue her. Be it grabbing a first kiss like Cally from Nine Rules to Break when Romancing a Rake to Evie from The Devil in Winter who has a proposition for one of our favourite rakes Sebastian St. Vincent. As much as we love our heroes to come on their white horses, sexy motorbikes and black escalades, sometimes a heroine has got to get some seducing done herself!

Other books that we have loved where the heroine goes and gets her man:

What books have you loved where the heroine takes control? 

Mind Spill: Dear Santa...

Dear Santa,

How's it going up there at the North Pole? So far, it's one of the few places I haven't destroyed in my new series. It hasn't been easy, because Pestilence (the evil Horseman,) would love to send his demonic minions your way (demons love reindeer jerky!)

So anyway, if it's not too much to ask, I'd really love some snow for Christmas. It's December in Wisconsin, and NO SNOW! What's up with that? I'd also like a lifetime supply of mulled wine to go with the snow. Mmm...mulled wine...

If I could get even just the snow, I'll really do my best to keep the apocalypse away from the North Pole. No matter what, you're safe from zombies. They have a tendency to turn into immobile zombiecicles in freezing temperatures. Yay, you!

Thanks for listening, Santa! Merry Christmas!

Love and nibbles,

Larissa Ione 

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Dear Santa,

It's been a great year for my fam bam, health, friends, work, etc.  It has also been a great book reading, friend gaining and author meeting year for me. I wish for all these things to continue for the next year, please.

Errrr, is that a lot of work? Ok. Ok. For Christmas, I would like a new LV bag or the new Nook Tab, Pretty please. #wishful thinking.

Angela (UTC)

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Dear Santa:

What do you get for the assassin who has everything? If we’re talking flashy throwing knives or daggers, she’s got plenty. Expensive leather holsters for said weaponry? She’s got those too. There’s no use in asking for a fancy new wardrobe, she doesn’t really wear anything that isn’t black, utilitarian, and stretchy (gotta be able to move comfortably in a combat situation). And as for sparkling jewels or precious metals…she doesn’t have any use for those sorts of baubles. In fact, the only jewelry she wears was a gift from me: an ancient ring. And just between you and me, Santa—that’s all she needs.

I don’t need anything for myself this year. I’m too impatient to wait for Christmas to get the things that I want, and I’m not used to asking anyone for anything. But since this letter isn’t for me, I’m going to make an exception. Before I get down to the asking, I better throw a few things out on the table: I doubt that Darian has been on your “Nice” list for a very long time. Now, I know that being an assassin might make you leery of giving her anything at all this year. But as Darian’s employer, let me tell you that she has high moral standards considering her profession. She only takes out the bad guy, and hey, that’s got to count for something, doesn’t it? Aside from her job, she might have earned a spot on your “Naughty” list since she’s pretty good at coming across as emotionless and hard, and she’s fooled the few people who know her into believing that she has the personality of a wet cat. But that’s just an act, Santa. A way to keep people from getting too close. She made herself believe that the only way to survive was to shut her emotions off completely. And it’s worked so far. The first time I laid eyes on her, though, I could see through that cool, detached façade.

She wants to belong. To be loved. To be accepted for who and what she is. She doesn’t want to live in fear of the unknown or to be a slave to her past. She wants to forgive and forget, but no matter how hard she tries, she can’t free herself from the shackles of her past. She wants someone to protect her for a change, to swoop in, save the day, and not have ulterior motives for doing so. I’ve got the protection thing covered. In fact, I’d give my life for hers and whether she wants to admit it yet or not, she needs me. If you can mend a broken heart, Santa, if you can undo all of the wrongs done to her and erase the memories of betrayal that have hardened her heart, could you do me a solid and give that to her? I’m trying my best here, to do it on my own, but she’s a tough nut to crack. I can use all the help I can get.

Sincerely,
Tyler 
(Shaedes of Gray by Amanda Bonilla)

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Dear Santa,

I’ve been a good girl for (most of) the year. The small instances in where I have been less than nice is all because of these girls *jerks thumbs at Angela, Francesca and Suzanne*. In their presence, the Naughty Annie comes out!

Never once have I started collecting book boyfriends until I met them. I have never stored photos of half-naked men on my computer before taking up the hard and sometimes tedious work of posting Hottie of the Week. I also would have never started reading naughty books if it weren’t for these girls.
So, Santa if you could please ignore those times when I was a bad, bad girl, I’d really appreciate it if you sent me something cool for Christmas. It’s not much but.... I’d like a hunky Highlander. In a plaid kilt. With long hair and war braids. He must be at least 6 feet tall. Built like a mountain and hung like a ...*cough*

Thanks, Santa! You’re awesomesauce!

P.S. Don’t forget the Scottish brogue, that’s very important too.

Sincerely,
Annie (UTC)

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Dear Santa,

I've been extra nice this year, regardless of what my hockey record shows. For starters, I taught a lady friend how to fight vampires. It wasn't easy, well, especially for her. But I sure enjoyed showing her different moves. Secondly, I helped my werewolf friend, Ryan, with a serious problem. One nasty werewolf who raped and murdered women is no longer a threat to others. Surely those two deeds alone account for a little extra special gift this year. Don't you think?

For Christmas this year, I want Jessie Garrett, half-demon soul-catcher, dressed in a red see through lace dress. If you can tie her to my bed, that would be nice too, but if she's too much trouble for you to handle, I can manage that task for myself. Be careful of her boyfriend, Drake. The vampire is quick and can be a real pain. No need to worry about how she'll get back home. I will see to it she is returned safely. What I'm asking for might seem out of the norm, but I think you will agree I've earned this gift. Thank you, Santa.

P.S. Don't tell her you're taking her for me. She might resist. You should probably just use your magic to get her to me. If you do this, I'll make sure you and your elf friends continue to live peacefully at the North Pole.

Sincerely,
Jeremy Ward 
(Claiming the Evil Dead by Mary Abshire)

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Dear Santa,

I have been a really, really good girl this year and all I want for Christmas is to wake up and find this under my tree!

And of course I get to play with him for a while! ;)

PS: Make sure you get my girlies everything they asked for, I can vouch for their naughtiness angelic behavior.

xoxo
Francesca (UTC)

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Dear Santa,

This year has been difficult, yet one of the best in my entire existence. I met a wonderful woman, Jessie Garrett. She's half-demon, but she has a heart of gold. She has this unique ability to send evil souls to hell. It's amazing to watch her, and every minute I'm with her I'm in total heaven. Yes, I'm in love with her, Santa. Fortunately, she loves me too.

But there's one problem. His name is Jeremy Ward. He's a demon and likes to stir up trouble with Jessie. My request for Christmas is simple. I want you to sprinkle your magic on Jeremy to keep him away from Jessie. Or, find a female demon to keep him occupied so he doesn't bother my angel.

I know this request must seem…out of the ordinary, but I would greatly appreciate it if you can find it in your power to oblige me this one time. Jessie and I are quite happy together. In fact, we're planning to marry. We couldn't be happier. Well, take Jeremy out of the picture and everything will be perfect.

Thank you, Santa.
Warm Wishes,
Drake  
(Claiming the Evil Dead by Mary Abshire)

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Dear Santa

Although I have been led astray by Fran, Annie and Angela, before I met them I thought BDSM was a car insurance company, I have been a very good girl. So good, that I think that I deserve a couple of the men from my harem to come to life. I am thinking maybe Wrath and Curran, oh and maybe Lachlain MacRieve as well, I don't want to be too selfish. Speaking of my harem, I could also do with impenetrable  security system to stop certain ladies *glares at Fran, Annie and Angela* from stealing my men.

Seriously though, send hugs and kisses to the UTC girls and all my girlies on Goodreads, love them all!

Merry Christmas

Suz (UTC)

p.s. Maybe I can also have Simon Hunt too? I have serious needs Santa!

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Dear Santa,

This year has been very exciting. I sent more evil souls to hell than I ever have before. Sadly, I lost my dear friend and guardian, Sean. But I met a wonderful man, a vampire, and we're in love. Life couldn't be better.

I have one request for Christmas, and it's not for me. It's for my best friend, Dani. She's staying with me and she could really use a man in her life. I know of the perfect one, and his name is Alan Vandett. He's an Alpha werewolf, but I think she can handle him. If you could see it in your heart to bring these two together, I'd really appreciate it. Start them off with a date and a movie, or dancing. She's had a difficult year and could really use a boost. The two have met already and I've seen a curious spark in both of them. So I think they just need a little push to bring them closer together. Can you help them out, Santa? Please?

Thank you so much.

Jessie Garrett
Soul Catcher 

(Claiming the Evil Dead by Mary Abshire)

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Dear Santa,

I’ve been such a good girl this year! I have lied, stolen, maimed and murdered! I have caused misery and pain. I have torn lives apart. I have spent countless hours plotting to and torturing characters, twisting their little lives into unrecognizable uglies. Then, like the diligent romance author I am, I have treated the good guys to a spectacular HEA and incinerated the bad guys. It’s hard work, but someone’s got to do it, and I’m proud to say I’ve been unrelenting and successful. You should be so proud!

For Christmas I would like:
A new muse. Don’t tell her I said so, but mine is just not pulling her weight. I need a fast-thinker who can challenge me to shoot forward. The whole dragging the ass thing isn’t working for me. At all.
More hours in each day. Not a lot of hours, I don’t want to be greedy. Just a few would be great.
Need for less sleep. Let me clarify—this would be in addition to, not in lieu of, the item above.
Dream catcher. A real one that retains the ideas my subconscious delivers in my dreams instead of allows them to dissipate in the daylight.
A housekeeper. Please, please…pretty please?
An assistant. Please, please…pretty please with a sugar on top?
And last but not least…I’d be super, super happy if my new proposal with witches and demon spirits sold, cause I really, really want to write the dark, gritty, fun, sexy, sexy series.

You be careful tootling around those roofs this year. Don’t get stuck in any chimneys. And don’t you dare let me catch you peeping in any bedrooms again!

Merry Christmas!

Joan Swan
P.S. I left an ARC of FEVER for you by the chocolate milk and macadamia, chocolate chip cookies I made from scratch, but don’t read and fly. And I put a to-go bag together for you, too…brownies, truffles, candies…you’ve got a long flight. (You may infer a bribe if you like.)

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Dear Santa —

I'm not going to ask for anything for myself this year. There really isn't any thing I need.

But the people who live in my head have some things on their wishlists...

Kara wants a vacation alone with her hunky husband.

Reece wants a gift membership to the local gun range.

Tessa wants a spa day to use after her son is born.

Julian can't think of anything he wants if you put him on the spot, but deep down I know he wants season tickets to the Colorado Rockies.

Sophie would secretly love it if her brother surprised her by coming to Denver for Christmas.

Marc wants a Colt M1911 Rail Gun in .45 ACP with the extended beaver tail, rosewood grips and stainless steel finish.

Kat wants a double stroller.

Gabe wants a set of the new Armada JJ skis so he can rip the pow days.

Natalie wants a new computer, a big dry erase board for plotting novels (she's taken up writing), and a trip to an island with palm trees and umbrella drinks.

Zach just wants to be with Natalie, so maybe the vacation could be for both of them.

Back in 1760, Iain, Morgan and Connor need a new blade for their plough, lumber for a new house — it's getting a mite crowded with all of them in the cabin — as well as a second milk cow and a bull to breed both of the their cows.

Annie would like sturdy cotton cloth to make clothes for Iain Cameron and Mara and soft wool to knit a sweater for Iain. But those are for others, so please surprise her a silk shift and some new pots and pans.

Amalie would like cloth to make clothing for her growing twins, too, as well as cloth to sew Morgan some new shirts. Please bring her those things, but surprise her with parchment and ink so that she can write to her one-time ward, Bourlemaque.

Sarah needs everything a woman needs to start a household of her own — pots, pans, spoons, knives, dishes, cups, linens for the beds. Pack your sleigh full, Santa.

And little Iain Cameron, Mara, Lachlan and Connor Joseph — bring them toys and clothes their mothers don't have to stitch.

Thanks, Santa, you're the best.

P.S. If you want to bring something to this house, I would never say no to lots of fresh inspiration or a trip onto the New York Times bestseller list.

Pamela Clare

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MAKE SURE YOU TRACK SANTA! CLICK HERE

Mind Spill: My Bookish Boyfriend

He is with you 24/7. He doesn’t complain when you buy too many books. He doesn’t even take up that much space either. Sound like the perfect boyfriend?

Oh, yeah right! Who am I kidding? This person doesn’t even exist!

But what’s almost as good as the perfect man is the perfect ereader.

That’s right, folks. Whether you have a Kindle, a Nook, a Sony ereader or whatever, the digital age is here! Ebook sales have skyrocketed and it’s no wonder! You don’t have to pay for shipping. You don’t have to wait. And the device doesn’t take up much space!

I don’t know about you, but I take my reader with me everywhere. He’s like my little boyfriend. Don’t laugh now because I love my ereader so much that I’ve named him. In fact, all of us are UTC have an ereader and have named them. So to spread our love for the little guys that bring a little slice of heaven in our hectic lives, we’ve decided to share our obsessions with you!

I’ll go first! I got my ereader last Christmas and have been using it every day since. I have a Sony Touch (6 inches, because really...size matters *winks*) and buy ebooks A LOT. My ereader goes by the name of BASTIAN. Ever read Kresley Cole’s No Rest for the Wicked? How about Lisa Kleypas’ Devil in Winter? If you have, then you’re familiar that both heroes are named Sebastian, which is how my reader got his name! My obsessions with both authors have caused such an impression on me that I couldn’t help by spread the love!

There’s also a little thing I like to do with my ereader and it’s PIMPING IT OUT! Jackets, skins, you name it! I love it! Here’s what Bastian looks like right now:

Alright, let’s move things along and check out Francesca’s Tablet.... 

I was a stranger to ebooks until about a year and a half ago, when I started reading them first from my Blackberry and then my HTC Android phone. They were great and I was happy, but... I'm spoiled, so my boyfriend gave me a Samsung Galaxy Tablet (I got the 7" version) this last Christmas and he hasn't seen me ever since! LOL Well, not exactly, but he does seem to think that I have my tablet AND my ipod (that's my other book boyfriend for audiobooks) attached to my hands and ears. I LOVE it! I actually don't like going back to reading actual books! And as Annie already said, we have named our ereaders, so let me introduce you to V. *snickers* The name comes from my sexy Vishous from JR Ward's BDB, and since books are also my drug of choice, the name also comes from the vampire blood in the show True Blood, better known as V.

V is currently looking badass in a worn-in leather jacket.

And as I said before, I do have an ipod bookish boyfriend, this is Angel. This is actually more of my husband, and this version 2 because the other got so much use it finally wouldn't work anymore. So this is now a 64GB ipod touch. I got it for myself at Christmas and I've gone through 4 sets of earphones since. Hmmmm

Angel actually goes around naked! LOL I hate ipod covers so the only thing covering my husband is a clear screen protector.

They both have provided me with endless pleasure ;)

Now you have to meet Suz's Kindle!

I actually discovered ebooks a while ago and was forever reading off my computer, which is a bloody nuisance but it wasn't until around March this year that I got a kindle so....

Meet Kendra, she is full of adventure, humour and more smut then you can shake a stick at. That's right Kendra is my Kindle. Unlike Annie and Fran mine is a girl, she is way too smart and useful to be a man and yes I am talking about her as if she is a real person, you may see a grey tablet when you look at her, but for some reason when I envision Kendra I see Queen Latifah

I have nooooo idea why, and I think I may have a screw lose some where along the line, but there we have it!

Kendra is a modern woman/kindle; she is practical I can fit a lot of books in a very small space and has anyone else found that ebooks are that bit cheaper most the time? And she is also stylish, today Kendra is sporting a rather stylish apple green leather jacket and if you open her up she has got a colourful bookcase skin on. She calls it Bohemian Gypsy, all she needs now is some golden hoops and she is all set

Join in the fun! Let us know why you love your reader and if you want, you can post pics/links in the comments below! We'd love to see them!

Mind Spill: What Kind of Heroine Are You?

What Kind of Heroine Are You?

Here comes a time in every girl’s life when she must ask herself the eternal question: What kind of heroine are you?

Would you be the dreaded Too Stupid To Live (TSTL) kind of gal? The type that rushes needlessly into danger when SHE KNOWS she shouldn’t! You know the sort; she runs up the stairs and traps herself in a horror film or rushes to face the bad vampires armed only with her cute new dress and her favourite shade of damsel-in-distress-pink lipstick. Will anyone admit to this if they are?

Or are you the Bad Ass Heroine, do you parade around with only your leather jacket and your wicked-sharp sarcastic wit as protection? Throw pithy come backs in the face of danger and generally just kick ass in you tight tight jeans?

There are others like the Plain Jane, she may possess decidedly average looks, but she is guaranteed to have healthy hair and teeth, an agile mind and fabulous sense of humour, with just a pinch of an inferiority complex thrown in for good measure.

However, before you can even put yourself into one of these and all other heroine categories you can think of, there are a couple of requirement that you must fulfil to be worthy of heroine status. The most important one is your skin, it doesn’t matter what you look like but you must have blindingly clear and soft skin, you can have a few freckles, or in romance-novel speak “golden flake sprinkled on her soft skin by mischievous pixies.” Next we come to smell. You have GOT to have naturally exude some kind off fruity or spicy scent, the saying “sugar and spice and all things nice,” has got to be taken very seriously, if you don’t naturally bear the scent of cinnamon and apples of vanilla and strawberries without the aid of Chanel then I am afraid you are going to get the boot.

Have you gotten past these hurdles? Is your skin as soft as a cashmere? Do you smell as enticing as warm apple pie? If you have then well done! You can now practice heaving your bosom, your witty repartee and chewing your lips sexily (I know, I don’t get it either! You just look like a cow munching grass!) and wait for your hero to come and more importantly make you come, over and over and over and over again!

Of course these are all flagrantly generalized statement and stereotypes of heroines but we all recognize them in one form or another, and I have come to love each one of them. At times they may make me want to pull my hair out, or more satisfyingly their hair out, but what would any kind of romance be without them?

So tell us, what kind of heroine would you be?

Mind Spill: A Romantic Note

A Romantic Note

Here’s the scenario: I was standing in the romance section of my local Chapters/Indigo store, pinning over all the sexy titles I want to read when two ladies walked by asking if I “read that stuff?” Holding up my copy of Nalini Singh’s  Play of Passion I said, “Yes, I read this stuff.” My response was obviously not what they were expecting because they responded with a scoff and a roll of their eyes. To which I answered with an unladylike gesture behind their backs.

Yes, that was rude of me but it’s also not very sporting to mock someone else’s taste in books. I AM A ROMANCE READER AND I’M PROUD OF IT! I shouldn’t be ashamed of the type of books I read. And I will not allow others to make prejudice remarks about them when they haven’t read a single book from the genre. It’s an unfair judgement.

What they don’t know is that romance novels are really just a celebration of the one thing that every person seeks out: Love. It’s a natural predisposition in humans. We seek out touch. We explore that little spark of interest when meet someone new. It’s what most songs are written about. It’s why couples get married and start a family. It’s what makes our lives full. So why the hate?

I can’t speak for others, but I read romance novels because there is always a happily ever after. True love prevails and there’s always that sense of contentment when you flip that last page. Some books are more emotional than others, hitting you in the most vulnerable places and settling in your heart. Others are suspenseful, keeping you on the edge of your seat until you can’t take any more. And there are many that are downright sexy and passionate, mimicking real life relationships! Whatever book or series you choose, romance novels are addictive and I knew the moment I picked up my first romance novel, I would be in trouble.

I’m not saying that the romance genre is better than another. I’m not saying that I only read romance novels either. I’m just hoping that non-romance readers understand that a romance novel isn’t just a bunch of fluffy love words put together with a bare-chested man stamped over it. It’s so much more. It’s still literature.

Let’s be open to new and different genres, or at least appreciate the hard work that goes into one of these little bound books. Romance may not be part of your reading preference, but it is to a lot of others.

Now on a much more romantic note, tell us why you read romance?

Mind Spill: Battle of the Books

eReaders vs  Paperbacks

With all the new release of various eReaders such as Kindle, Nook, Sony eReader and others it seems there is a whole new generation of technology aimed at your reading pleasure.

But how do we feel about this invasion of technology into our reading time? Is it practical, books take up a lot of space, but with one relatively small device we can store 100s and 1000s of books. Is it cheaper? It is rare that book shops give away books for free (if you know some shops that do TELL ME!) but if you search there are plenty of free ebooks out there for the taking. Books can be more easily accessible as well, how often have you gone into a bookshop and it either doesn't stock or has run out of stock on your latest book craving? Buying ebooks and that problem vanishes. So it all looks as though eReaders are set to take over our reading practices, or maybe not...

Although I am a proud owner of a Kindle (Kendra as she is affectionately known!) I find that having a paperback in my hands is much more comforting.  The solid weight of the book in my hands, the smell of the pages, the sounds it makes as you turn the page, admiring a particularly fine cover (Kiss of a Demon King by Kresley Cole, you know I am talking about you!) for me these are all the very comforting sensations of the reading experience.  Something an eReader doesn't emulate.  And I must confess having the spectacle of a bookcase full of my precious books all placed in alphabetical order and everything grouped together does give an immense sense of satisfaction and pleasure (*sigh* sad, I know!) where as looking at poor Kendra doesn't evoke that reaction even though she holds 100s more books!

So I think this battle has reached an impasse, although I love my Kindle and it never leaves my side, I don't think I could ever give up on the paperback. When I pre-order the new J R Ward or Kresley Cole, I always order in paperback there is nothing more satisfying as holding the hot new release in your hands and diving into the sea of pages. The paperback has burrowed its way into my heart and it is here to stay!