Another Secret Revealed!

moar funny pictures

I'm guest blogging over at the DIK Ladies blog today talking about... well... DIKs! Oh, and Secret Coves. And there are hot menz involved.

Intrigued? Click here.

WOOT! I've Been Published! (sorta)

At Love's Command, Brothers in Arms book 4 by Samantha Kane

NOW IN PRINT.

Go Buy... er... Go ORDER, cuz it's already temporarily sold out at Amazon.


And while you're at it, go ahead and get books 1 through 3 (book 3 is available only as an Ellora's Cave ebook)

A quick glimpse at my index will show how much I ADORE this Crème Brûlée series. So why am I bringing it up again? Well, I have been honored and thrilled every time an author links to and/or quotes one of my reviews on their site. But Samantha Kane recently informed me...

"Btw, did you know my publisher used a quote from your review in the front of the print version of AT LOVE'S COMMAND? I've been meaning to tell you that. . ."

MY FIRST TIME IN PRINT!! What an HONOR this is!

Sam didn't say, so I'm assuming it's the same one she's now quoting on her site:

Samantha Kane is a shining example of the gems offered by ePubs at their very best...At Love’s Command deserves to be front and center on the mass market new releases display at every major bookstore...I can summarize this book, indeed this entire series, in one word… exquisite. The Good, the Bad, the Unread and Cubie's Confections

UPDATE: In the comments for this post, Sam left the actual quote used:

When I first read the previous books in this series, they immediately landed on my all time favorites list. [...]But as much as I loved those previous books, they almost pale in comparison to At Love's Command. [...]Samantha Kane is a shining example of the gems offered by ePubs at their very best. [...]I assert that At Love's Command deserves to be front and center on the mass market new releases display at every major bookstore. I can summarize this book, indeed this entire series, in one word...exquisite.

See my index for the full review and reviews of all the Brothers in Arms series.

What makes this even more of a thrill is that I know a lot of reviewers try to write in a way that makes it easier for authors and publishers to grab short quotes. I'd make myself crazy trying to do that--- I have enough trouble just trying to express my thoughts in a semi-coherent way, not to mention trying to keep my review shorter than the book itself! So the fact that both Sam and Ellora's Cave found something worthy in something I wrote makes me all kinds of happy.

BTW, check out the latest Ellora's Cave release by Samantha Kane-- Oh Yum!- A Lady in Waiting. Regency Cougar! RAWR! You go girl!
♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥


And a huge THANK YOU to Lisabea-- I won a copy of My Fair Captain by J.L. Langley (available at Samhain, Fictionwise, or in print at Amazon)

Audio Book Buzz on TGTBTU

I've got some audio book buzz posted over on The Good, the Bad, the Unread.

(and, yes, of COURSE, Phil G. is mentioned!)

At Love's Command by Samantha Kane

Samantha Kane - Brothers in Arms series
(Ellora's Cave)

Series Category: Crème Brûlée - My All-Time Moan-Out-Loud Favorites. (A+)
Flame Height: 9" out of 9"

1. The Courage to Love - Jason, Tony, Kate (see previous commentary)
2. Love Under Siege - Phillip, Jonathan, Maggie (see previous commentary)
3. Love's Strategy - Valentine, Kurt, Leah (see previous commentary)


4. At Love's Command - Ian, Derek, Sophie

Book Category: Crème Brûlée - My All-Time Moan-Out-Loud Favorites. (A+)
Flame Height: 9" out of 9"

To read my "official" The Good, the Bad, the Unread condensed review of At Love's Command, click here. (Just be warned that it was the innocent victim of TGTBTU's recent template and server changes, so it's a bit wonky and the comments have disappeared. Hopefully, everything at TGTBTU will be working smoothly soon.)

The Brothers in Arms series centers around a group of men who fought together in the Peninsular War. In pairs, they protected each other and saved each other many times over. They love each other but, for some of them, they never considered how much they needed to also physically love each other and could only fulfill that unspoken need by sharing one woman. Once they find a woman they can both love, it also frees them to explore their love for each other.

At Love’s Command is the story of two of the men, Ian and Derek, who have already discovered how much they need each other in every way. But Ian dreams of a “new start with someone not associated with the war and all that happened there… Finally they could put the past behind them and live fully in the present, planning for a future. Ian wanted a family. He wanted children. And he wanted to give those things to Derek, too.” Unfortunately, Derek neither needs nor wants any part of it. He is convinced that a wife will destroy his life with Ian.

“A child when they were betrothed, Sophia Middleton has been waiting twelve years for Ian Witherspoon to return and marry her. Preyed upon by her vicious father and older brother, Sophie longs for Ian to rescue her.”

In this series, Samantha Kane shows us another reality within the Regency era ton… woman had no rights and were at the mercy and whim of the men in their lives. They either accepted their lot in life or held out hope that yet another man would change their circumstances. From the vantage point of our modern times, it is hard to comprehend that women had so little personal power. And as romance readers, we are accustomed to seeing women of the ton treated as pampered, protected pets or, at worst, neglected and ignored by indifferent parents/guardians.

In At Love's Command, it is truly horrifying to learn what Sophia has endured at the hands of her father and brother, made more so by the fact that she really had no choice but to survive it or take her own life… until Ian sends for her. It was heart wrenching to watch her fear of Ian’s rejection and her willing debasement of herself as she grasped at the only hope she would ever have in her life. From her POV, the fact that Ian already had Derek in his life (I assume her brother told her about them) meant that he would make few demands on her sexually and she would feel some measure of freedom and control for the first time.

When I first read the previous books in this series, they immediately landed on my all time favorites list. It still amazes me that, even with this fourth book, Kane’s mastery of erotic scenes somehow allows us to perceive each erotic act to be unique to that set of participants. But as much as I loved those previous books, they almost pale in comparison to At Love’s Command.

Kane’s writing has matured exponentially with this rich, exquisite, multi-dimensional story. Each of the men reminisces about their history together which makes their bond all the more believable and allows us to see their current situation from both viewpoints. And watching Sophie bloom and discover her true personality and sexuality is a delightful journey. Kane weaves Ian’s dreams of a loving triad, Sophie’s dreams of freedom from men’s cruelty, and Derek’s cynicism together and gradually a pattern of mutual respect and caring starts to appear.

I think At Love’s Command could probably be read as a standalone, but I recommend you read them all just for the enjoyment. Most of the characters from the previous books appear but I don’t think it would be difficult to catch the gist of their stories in relation to Ian, Derek, and Sophie’s story. In fact, Kate, her friend Kitty, and her niece Very (all of whom we meet in book 1, The Courage to Love) play important roles in At Love’s Command, but just enough of their back story is mentioned that their presence would make sense to those who haven't read the previous books. FYI: the Majors Richards and Randall who appear in Derek’s and Ian’s Peninsular War reminiscences are the Tony and Jason from The Courage to Love who also appear here in At Love’s Command.

Kane wisely brings an end to a continuing subplot from the previous books that had run its course, although I feel it was a bit out of place and unnecessary here—Sophie’s family member provided more than enough villainy without the need for the additional villain. Thankfully this subplot makes a relatively brief appearance. And I have to admit to a bit of selfish disappointment that this story ends before the ball. I hope the next story opens there.

A note regarding Kate’s niece Very... Very (Veronica) is extremely likeable and a welcome contrast to the other women in the series who have suffered at the mercy of various men. Considering the circumstances in which we meet her and Kate in The Courage to Love, I will concede that Very might be more worldly than the average teen girl within the ton. But in At Love’s Command, I think her precocious adult insight and sexual knowledge strained credulity.

On a more personal note, her erotic scene with Michael and Wolf had me metaphorically cringing behind my hands and peeking out between my fingers to zip through it (FYI: heavy petting, no intercourse). Yes, I realize that it would not be unheard of for a teenager of that era to be married, but since the adults in the story relate to Very as a child, that is how I relate to her too. So the scene had my squick-o-meter alarms clanging and I fervently hope that Kane allows a few years to pass in Very’s life before the triad consummates their relationship.

You know, one of the joys of having a voice in Romancelandia is that I have a platform which allows me to champion authors and books that I consider “MY” squee-worthy discoveries (I bet you have some you feel the same way about). Samantha Kane is a shining example of the gems offered by ePubs at their very best. As it stands now, NY would never touch her bisexual storylines, yet I assert that At Love’s Command deserves to be front and center on the mass market new releases display at every major bookstore.

I can summarize this book, indeed this entire series, in one word… exquisite.

Read an excerpt.

Piquant Opines: Ecataromance, RJ, Teddy Pig, Euro-Reviews,

Happy Thanksgiving

I'm back. It's been a rough week and my way of dealing with things is to withdraw and escape. I didn't want to talk about any books, but I wanted- NEEDED- to get lost in them. So I've spent the last week lost in Stephanie Lauren's Cynster series. I think, actually I KNOW, it was my way of avoiding the real world and recapturing some sense of happily-ever-after. Doesn't make anything easier, but that's the coping mechanism that works for me.

I started out with the intention of only re-reading book 1, Devil's Bride, but even that close-to-perfect book wasn't enough and I ended up re-reading the first 6 books, all the Bar Cynsters, before I came up for air. I don't know what I'll read next. NOTHING I have is capturing my attention AT ALL! I think Sybil has given up on me and has decided not to be my BFF anymore. *sniffle*.

But I wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving tomorrow. I've gotta say that Thanksgiving has always been my LEAST favorite holiday. All the overcrowded grocery stores, then cooking all day, just to see the meal end 20 minutes later. GAK! I refused to do the big family holiday meal years ago, which helped enormously. I always hated how the women busted their asses all day, we ate , then we busted our asses cleaning up while the men all watched football and did NOT watch the kids. Fuck that shit, I want to go sit down after I eat, too! At least, when it's just me, my DH, and our kids, THEY help with a bit of the prep, and THEY clean up. I refuse to, although I do help box up the leftovers.

But wherever you are for Thanksgiving, whether you celebrate it or not, stay safe and take a minute to count your blessings.

Things you can only say on Thanksgiving (I totally ripped this off from another site)

1. Talk about a huge breast!

2. Tying the legs together keeps the inside moist.

3. It's Cool Whip time!

4. If I don't undo my pants, I'll burst!

5. That's one terrific spread!

6. I'm in the mood for a little dark meat.

7. Are you ready for seconds yet?

8. Its a little dry, do you still want to eat it?

9. Just wait your turn, you'll get some!

10. Don't play with your meat.

11. Just spread the legs open and stuff it in.

12. Do you think you'll be able to handle all these people at once?

13. I didn't expect everyone to come at once!

14. You still have a little bit on your chin.

15. How long will it take after you stick it in?

16. You'll know it's ready when it pops up.

17. Wow, I didn't think I could handle all of that!

18. That's the biggest one I've ever seen!

QB's Quickies

"So, read any good books lately?"
"What did you think of...?"

Here's the Quickie answers to those questions. Click on the Links for more info.


Colleen Gleason - The Gardella Vampire Chronicles
1. The Rest Falls Away (see previous commentary)
2. Rises the Night

Category: Peanut M&Ms - mmmm...devour... sigh... then reach for the next one. My daily dose of Insanity-B-Gone. Most books fall in this category. (A-,B+,B)
Flame Height: 5” out of 9”

I have to say first off that I did not find Rises the Night quite as enjoyable as The Rest Falls Away. For me, the juxtaposition between Victoria’s traditional role as a member of the veddy proper Ton and her kick-ass role as a Venator is what gave the first book it’s unique appeal. This second book focuses almost exclusively on vampire slaying and the Venators. That’s not to say that I didn’t enjoy this one, on the contrary, Colleen delivers some jaw-dropping twists, turns, and Holy Shit shocks. Oh, and those sparks that flew between Victoria and bad boy Sebastian from book 1? They get fanned into full flame in this one.
Piquant Opines: Bam, RT, RJ, AAR,

Angela Knight - Mageverse
1. Seductions Gift- Hot Blooded anthology- Lancelot and Grace
2. Master of the Night - Reece and Erin
3. Galahad- Bite anthology- Galahad and Caroline
4. Master of the Moon- Llyr and Diana
5. Master of Wolves- Jim and Faith
6. Master of Swords- Gawain and Lark
7. Moon Dance- Over the Moon anthology- Lucas and Elena
8. Master of Dragons - Kel and Nineva

Series Category: Peanut M&Ms - mmmm...devour... sigh... then reach for the next one. My daily dose of Insanity-B-Gone. Most books fall in this category. (A-,B+,B)
Flame Height: 7” out of 9”

Is this the last book in the Mageverse? I don’t want it to be, but this book was so damn good, I don’t know where else Angela could possibly take this series! We revisit old friends, we see the defeat of old enemies. We get a buttload of satisfying and wondrous HEAs. What magic can Angela possibly pull out of her pen to top all that?! Has there ever been a more original paranormal series? My only problem? That unfortunate Sandra-Hill-like cover pic on this newest one. GAK! Kel deserved better.
Piquant Opines: RT, RJ, AAR,

Jacquelyn Frank - The Nightwalkers
1. Jacob - Jacob and Isabella; Kane And Corinne
2. Gideon - Gideon and Magdelegna

Category: M&Ms - a bit lighter and/or not quite as satisfying as Peanut M&Ms, but still Oh-So-Enjoyable! (B,B-,C+,C)
Flame Height: 6" out of 9”

Honestly, I really enjoyed the first book, Jacob, and appreciated what an intelligent, unique heroine Isabella was. The first part of Gideon, however, was tedious to read through. I actually had to force myself to continue reading. It got a bit better as the story unfolded but it just wasn’t the enjoyable read that Jacob was. Gideon was introduced as a character in Jacob and I found him very intriguing and was looking forward to his story with Legna, but he seemed to have lost some of his appeal to me in this one. I think the main problem with this book, for me, was that there was very little dialogue or action relative to the endless third person descriptions of what Gideon and/or Legna were thinking or feeling. If one of them asked a question or made a statement, it was followed by pages of internal angst so that by the time a response was given, I had forgotten what the conversation was about. And, frankly, Legna was just a confusing character to me.

Nonetheless, the included excerpt from the upcoming Elijah sounds like it’s going to be a good one. And I can’t wait to meet the woman that Noah loses his heart to!
Piquant Opines: RT, RJ, AAR,

Yasmine Galenorn - Sisters of the Moon
1. Witchling - Camille
2. Changeling - Delilah

Category: M&Ms - a bit lighter and/or not quite as satisfying as Peanut M&Ms, but still Oh-So-Enjoyable! (B,B-,C+,C)
Flame Height: 6” out of 9”

I’m not much of a witch story reader. It seems witches as heroines are portrayed as either omnipotent and able to pull powers out of their ass as the story needs them, or else they are portrayed as bumbling, yet earnest, airheads. This series combines both. On the surface, this story shouldn’t appeal to me at all- 3 sisters (a sultry witch, an flighty shifter, an angry vampire) who are Otherworld (elves, trolls, fae, etc.) agents assigned Earthside as a sort of punishment for their incompetence. Yet they come through and save the day. Sounds completely light and silly yet somehow it all works and even has depth, heart, and drama. I was surprised how much I enjoyed Witchling and have now found Changeling just as enjoyable.
Piquant Opines: RT, AAR,

The Brothers in Arms Series by Samantha Kane

Samantha Kane - Brothers in Arms

1. The Courage to Love - Jason, Tony, Kate

Category: Crème Brûlée - My All-Time Moan-Out-Loud Favorites. (A+)
Flame Height: 9" out of 9"
+2006 Passionate Plume Finalist+




~
2. Love Under Siege - Phillip, Jonathan, Maggie

Category: Crème Brûlée - My All-Time Moan-Out-Loud Favorites. (A+)
Flame Height: 9" out of 9"




Add Samantha Kane's name to the list of Masters (Mistresses?) of Romantica. Even though I’ve already got ridiculously long TBP/TBR queues, once I read The Courage to Love, I had to immediately go back to EC and buy the rest. These stories are quivering, pant-out-loud, can’t-read-them-in-public erotic!

The basic storyline of these historicals is about a group of men who fought together in the Peninsular War. In pairs, they protected each other and saved each other many times over. They love each other but, for most of them, they never considered how much they needed to also physically love each other and could only fulfill that unspoken need by sharing one woman. Once they find a woman they can both love, it also frees them to explore their love for each other.

Samantha describes the erotic scenes (and these are truly erotic scenes, not just sex) in excruciatingly exquisite, drawn out detail. Not just a description of each physical touch/act, but what each one FELT like physically and LOOKED like from each character’s POV. And, proving her mastery at writing erotic romance, she somehow makes each scene in each book completely different! Let’s face it, there’s only so many Tab A’s and Slot B’s on human bodies, but Samantha manages to make each scene feel completely unique to each triad.

The one flaw for me was that the period appropriate speech (or at least what we in Romancelandia accept as period appropriate) was peppered with contemporary phrases that I found quite jarring. Although, by the second book I was used to them and they no longer made me pause as much.


3. Love's Strategy - Valentine, Kurt, Leah

Category: Peanut M&Ms - mmmm...devour... sigh... then reach for the next one. My daily dose of Insanity-B-Gone. Most books fall in this category. (A-,B+,B)
Flame Height: 7" out of 9"

Now, I held off reading the third book, Love’s Strategy, for a few days because I think I was getting dehydrated. Seriously. The first two were that absorbing. (pun intended*g*)

In this third one, Kurt and Valentine are already lovers. Yet their desire for children and a home sends them on a search for a woman who will agree to be their wife. If I had not already read the first two books in the series, I would have probably enjoyed this book more than I did. It’s a solid, albeit very short, story. On it’s own, it was damn good. Unfortunately, it just doesn‘t contain the riveting erotic scenes that the first two books did.

According to her website, Samantha is currently writing a fourth book- Ian and Derek‘s story. But, in that one, Derek is NOT happy about bringing a woman into their relationship. I hope Freddy and Brett’s story is ready to be told after that. Freddy’s a freakin’ DUKE so that should be VERY interesting and I think Brett has an intriguing story too.

Oh, and at some point I’d like to read the Rev. Stephen Matthews story. And when Kate’s niece, Very, gets older, I REALLY want to see her story since I doubt anyone is going to have to convince HER to be in a triad!
Piquant Opine: Jerr, RT, RT, TwoLips

UPDATE: Samantha is finished with the next book in the series, At Love's Command- Ian and Derek's story, and it's scheduled for a November 2007 release. I guess all shoe throwing should be aimed at Ellora's Cave for making us wait that long for it!
Next year, we'll get Freddy and Brett's story then Very, Michael and Wolf's story.

Stephanie Laurens, The Taste of Innocence: A Cynster Novel

The Taste of Innocence: A Cynster Novel by Stephanie Laurens

Category: M&Ms - M&Ms - a bit lighter and/or not quite as satisfying as Peanut M&Ms, but still Oh-So-Enjoyable! (B,B-,C+,C)

Flame Height: 5" out of 9"

I love Stephanie Laurens' Regencies, particularly the Cynster series. Nobody romanticizes the period better, yet at the same time builds the sexual tension higher than her. Other books in the series vary in Flame Height from 5" to 8" and most are Peanut M&Ms, a few are Lava Cakes, but her Crème Brûlée is the first one, Devil's Bride. I will always remember and enjoy Devil and Honoria. *sigh* If you've never read or never thought you would like a Regency, read Devil's Bride. Now THAT was a ROMANCE!

The newest one, The Taste of Innocence, again centers on a Cynster connection; in this case, Gabriel's brother-in-law and Alathea's brother, Charlie- Charles Morwellan, the 8th Earl of Meredith. Like others in the series, the hero decides he must marry and wants to choose someone who will be agreeable but who will not weaken him with love. He decides on one of his neighbor's daughters, Sarah Conningham.

From Amazon:
"When New York Times bestselling author Stephanie Laurens created the world of the Cynsters, she introduced readers to aristocratic British society, where arranged marriages are the norm and love is a dangerous indulgence. For no gentleman is this more true than Charles Morwellan, but, as Lord Meredith, he must marry, so he offers for his neighbor Sarah Conningham. She's intelligent enough to run his social life, beautiful enough to grace his arm, and old enough to know the value of his offer. But as a lady of independent means Sarah is unwilling to surrender unless it is for unbounded love.
But he convinces Sarah to give him two weeks to win her, after which, if he succeeds, they will marry immediately. And so begins an intense courtship. By day, Charles and Sarah are models of decorum. Each night they steal away and sensual embraces turn to searing kisses, which soon become much more.
After the wedding, despite nights of insatiable passion, Charles maintains an aloof distance. Sarah battles to prove that true love is a force that can't be contained, but it's only when she's engulfed in a web of increasingly dangerous incidents that Charles discovers how much he's willing to surrender to protect...the taste of innocence. "

I have to say that Charlie just flat out pissed me off. What a selfish bastard! He totally seduces Sarah into marrying him, showing her how much he cares about her, then after the wedding, he decides it isn't "manly" to care for one's wife and decides he needs to treat her like shit except when they are in bed. WTF? And later, after she confides the danger she's in to one of his friends (Barnaby reappears), he can't believe she didn't tell HIM about it- even though when she tried to, he told her it was none of his concern and didn't want her to bother him about it!! What a complete asshat!!

This wasn't my favorite Cynster book. Charlie just isn't all that likeable (even taking the time period into account), his attitude adjustments were a little too abrupt and extreme, and the climactic scene with the villian was... pretty much nonsense. I wish I could say what I REALLY want to say about that ending, but there's no way to do so without spoiling it.

Sarah was likeable enough, considering the time period, but she was either one of the boldest or one of the most knowledgeable sheltered virgins I've ever read. Sistah couldn't wait to grab a handfull of "swollen manhood" and sure wasn't wondering what that "rigid hardness" was!

I downloaded this from Audible.com. Some books are actually BETTER in audio format because the narrator brings them alive, such as with Charlaine Harris' Sookie Stackhouse series, MaryJanice Davidson's Betsy Taylor series, or Keri Arthur's Riley Jenson series. But this was my first Regency in audio format. Elizabeth Sastre did a wonderful narration with both the men's and women's voices, but I have to admit I kinda cringed during the love scenes because it just seemed weird to hear the minute details of nipple sucking in such an upper-class veddy British accent! But, once I got used to it, the rest of the book probably was more enjoyable because of her accent.

I think I'm just going to consider The Taste of Innocence the (not quite bad enough to be black) GREY sheep of the Cynster family and eagerly await the next one.