Monday Musings May 31, 2010 and We Have Surpassed the 500 Follower Mark

Since it's still a holiday weekend for me I will make this short since my hands are still dirty from digging in my garden (finally). It won't be as big as it usually it but that's ok I'll still have the basics- tomatoes, green peppers, zucchini, other assorted squash and pumpkins.

Plus I have my berries and grapes and my flowers. It's still a lot even if I'm only putting in about half the number of plants that I normally do- I just don't have the time for a huge garden this year.

I have some deadlines that I hope to keep.

Plus my first born graduates this Thursday, woo hoo. We signed him up for college this past Friday and he's so excited. I'm excited. Yet it's all kinda surreal. My boy is done with high school- where did the time go? (sniffles, wipes away a tear)

Anyway I'm off to sniffle and cry into my garden, maybe the tears will add that something special to the dirt for fabulous veggies this year.

BTW we have surpassed the 500 Follower Mark so I will be picking a winner as soon as I get the chance, probably tomorrow sometime.

The winner will be announced Wednesday with all the other contest winners.

Cross your fingers everyone. Good luck to all my loyal followers who have been here for ages and to the new ones who have joined us. I hope you enjoy reading the reviews, author interviews and author guest blogs along with all the book giveaways and of course my random ramblings and musings.

A Review of Strange Neighbors by Ashlyn Chase

.5

Book Teaser from AshlynChase.com:

When all-star pitcher and shapeshifter Jason Falco buys a small apartment building, he sees it not only as an investment, but as a place to escape the demands of major league baseball.

That is, until he meets his tenants! A vigilante vampire: a wereraven with a morbid sense of humor; a werewolf thief who poses as a security expert; and two witches who work as phone sex actresses and own an owl familiar. Not to mention a beautiful, all too human nurse who gets Jason's blood pumping overtime.

With all the hooting, howling and hollering going on, how can an All-American guy get some peace and sweep a girl off her feet?

Review:

Witty and funny with laugh out loud parts- this is a book you won't want to put down.

The characters are hilarious (I read on Ashlyn's site that the book has been compared to the tv show Friends- of course this would be the paranormal version), the plot is wild and unique with all kinds of surprising twists and turns with plenty of sizzle between the main characters. It even has a ghost story and a murder mystery wrapped up with the romance and other paranormal twists. Combine all of that and you get a must read book different than anything else is the paranormal genre right now.

Merry is a nurse, finally getting out from under daddy's wing and living on her own. She moves into an apartment building owned by baseball player (and secret shifter) Jason, who also happens to be her neighbor. They have instant chemistry- but everything else tends to get in the way sometimes like Jason's nosey and very eccentric aunt, his patient uncle, two phone sex witches, a vampire, a morgue attendant, and of course the ghost. These are definitely some Strange Neighbors. And you thought your neighbors were crazy.

What a great read! At first I thought there would be too much going on with all the strange characters and different stuff but each element gets their own moment without horning in on the main characters.

The intricate weaving of the plots and subplots seamlessly mesh together in this fabulous book. If you are looking for something a little different but not too dark and sprinkled liberally with bits of humor- this is the book for you.

Review of Tall, Dark and Wolfish by Lydia Dare

.75
Four and 3/4 fangs for Tall, Dark and Wolfish

Blurb:

In Lydia Dare's debut trilogy, Regency England has gone to the wolves!

He's lost the most important part of himself...

Lord Benjamin Westfield is a powerful werewolf-until one full moon when he doesn't change. His life now shattered, he rushes off to Scotland in search of the healer who can restore his inner beast, only to find she's not at all what he expected...

She would make him whole, if she could...

Young, beautiful witch Elspeth Campbell will do anything to help anyone who calls upon her healing arts. Then Lord Benjamin shows up, and she suddenly discovers she may need him even more than he needs her...

Review:

Tall, Dark and Wolfish, the second book in Lydia Dare's historical werewolf series is a howlingly good read.

It has everything a lover of paranormal romance could want- a sizzling hot werewolf, a wickedly bespelling witch, and enough steamy romance to keep you turning the page. Historical romance lovers will enjoy it too since it is set in Regency England.

Dare has managed to take two great romance genres (historical and paranormal) and combine them for a very worthwhile read that you won't want to put down.

Benjamin is the second of the wolfy Westfield brothers, he's the one that likes to be in control and he more than willingly embraces his inner wolf until one full moon comes along...and he doesn't transform. Not wanting to be ridiculed by his brothers he seeks outside help- which leads him to a wild red haired Scottish witch named Elspeth.

Things heat up between them and sparks fly...literally...well almost, that is if you consider fireballs to be anything close to sparks.

This scorching read is full of mischief, star crossed lovers, sizzling sex scenes and even humor. It has everything you could want in a book if you love wild roguish men who happen to be werewolves, sexy red haired witches, and a wild romps through the countryside with a lot of magic tossed in.

I have to say I'm glad I already have book 3 on hand because I can't wait to sink my teeth into it.

Check Out Sherrilyn Kenyon's New YA Series

**Note to Dark-Hunter fans. The Chronicles of Nick *is* Nick's real and true past.

At fourteen, Nick Gautier thinks he knows everything about the world around him.
Streetwise, tough and savvy, his quick sarcasm is the stuff of legends. . .until the night when his best friends try to kill him.


The New York Times-bestselling with over 19 million books in print, Sherrilyn Kenyon is renowned the world over as "the reigning queen of the paranormal genre that she pioneered long before the world had heard of Twilight."

DOWNLOAD SONG:
http://www.officialsanctuary.com/infinity-video-and-song/?utm_source=pointroll&utm_medium=banner&utm_campaign=infinity


READ CHAPTER EXCERPTS AND INTERVIEW:
http://www.officialsanctuary.com/chronicles-of-nick/infinity/

Writing YA with Stacey Thompson-Geer, Win a Copy of The 13th Witch

Creating Fiction That Works For Young Adults

First, I really would like to thank Roxanne for having me here at Fangtastic Books. I’m excited about actually being a part of this wonderful blog. Vampires and paranormal books have been my reading of choice for as long as I can remember.

When I started writing “The 13th Witch”, I really didn’t think I was going to write a young adult story. It didn’t start that way at all. The characters were all in their 20’s and the story seemed to be great for a college aged reader. But then someone said, hey this would work so much better as a young adult story.

The Characters

I had to look at my characters to understand how they would act if they were in a younger age bracket. What was important to them and how would they get it? I also took into consideration who was going to read the stories, so they could relate to the characters.

Sex and Language

I went round and round on this thought. There was no way I wanted to let readers think it was OK to have sex before they were an adult, but at the same time, it can’t be ignored that a lot of teens are having sex. I finally decided to make Lucy, the main character in “The 13th Witch”, 18 so it was not such an issue. I do include very mild sex in this series, but readers don’t get to sit in the bedroom with them. I think it works better that way for young adults.

Language was something else I debated with. This is another thing that most teens really do and some of the curse words in the story are important to understanding the characters. Most of my adult stories do have heavy language so tuning it down was a sacrifice I made to make the story work for a younger audience.

Over all, it’s going to be up to the author on what kind of story they want to write. Young adults are a wonderful age range to write for and they are full of imagination that helps those readers really see the world the author is creating. I’m glad that I took the plunge and created this series and encourage anyone that has thought of writing for the young adult market to give it a whirl.

Blurb for The 13th Witch

Lucy was normal once. She had a life with all the normal things that teens want, but then something changed.

When she had her 18th birthday, she found out who she really was, a witch. Now she must face a past she didn’t know she had and try to understand who she really is all at the same time.

Can Lucy save the world while falling in love or is she truly as evil as they say she is?

“The 13th Witch” is available now from Mystic Moon Publishing at http://www.mysticmoon.co.cc/ and Amazon.com.

Look for the next story in the series, “Dark Moon Rising” in September 2010.

Readers can also learn more about the author at http://www.staceythompsongeer.com/.

Enter to Win an e-copy of The 13th Witch by leaving a comment on this post with your email contact info

One winner will be chosen

Free Book Friday 500 Follower Giveaway

Here's everything in the prize pack except the Vampireology book, I forgot to put it in the picture then when I tried it wouldn't fit

So we're in the home stretch now for the 500 Follower Giveaway.

At the time I am typing up this post we're up to 480 followers-

that means only 20 more to go so...

this is the last set of books that I will be adding to the prize pack

Here's what I've just added:

My Zombie Valentine, an ARC of Desire for Me by Robyn DeHart, an ARC of Barely a Lady by Eileen Dreyer, and Tainted by Brooke Morgan

Here's what was already in the 500 Follower Prize Pack

A brand new copy of Vampireology, a slightly used copy of Death's Daughter by Amber Bensen

and a slightly used copy of

A Flash of Hex by Jes

A Fang-tastic Books tote bag and t-shirt, signed copies of my books Eternal Desire and Insatiable, Blood Ties Season 2 DVD set, Blood Price by Tanya Huff, Sins of the Flesh by Caridad Pineiro, Mr Darcy, Vampyre by Amanda Grange and Marked by Passion by Kate Perry.

I also have a stack of author swag including: postcards, bookmarks, trading cards, stickers and buttons (some of this stuff is signed). I have stuff from Lara Adrian, Vicki Lewis Thompson, Michele Hauf and several other authors.

To enter this giveaway you have to be a follower of Fang-tastic Books through google friend connect and to earn extra entries visit this orginal post and leave a comment

http://fang-tasticbooks.blogspot.com/2010/02/500-follower-giveaway.html

You can also earn +2 entries by leaving a comment on this post telling me what you think of the prize pack-

Is it a good selection of books and vamp swag?

I tried to throw in a bit of everything- lots to read, a DVD set to watch, a tote to carry your stuff in, even a t-shirt to wear, the only thing I didn't include was something to eat or drink and if you're a vamp...well you can grab a nibble anywhere :-)

Thanks to all of you who are loyal followers, be sure to spread the word - let me know if you post links to the contest anywhere and you'll get an extra entry for each link.

Remember-one lucky follower will win everything shown above!

Good luck to all who enter!

Guest Blog and Giveaway with Ashlyn Chase

Reinventing myself

In some of my bios, I mention the idea of the writer’s theme. It’s not the theme of a book; it’s the theme of all that author’s books. Whether or not we writers realize it, an all-over pervasive theme usually emerges in every book by a particular author. I’ve come to realize my theme has to do with characters who reinvent themselves.

I’m well qualified to write it too. I’ve reinvented myself many times—both as a writer and a person. I worked as a registered nurse for twenty years. Before that, I attended Massachusetts College of Art, hoping to become a famous artist and travel the world showing in premier galleries. Then I got real.

Nursing doesn’t allow for a lot of creativity. In fact, it’s actively discouraged. You follow doctor’s orders, period. And if they get “too creative” it’s your job to reel them in. But as you might have guessed, I’m a creative person and that trait doesn’t stay buried easily. Most artists will tell you they become very uncomfortable—physically, emotionally or both—if they can’t create. I’m no different. To satisfy my creative urges, I took a course in screenwriting. It wasn’t as messy as painting and I had since married a neat-nick.

Breaking into Hollywood from New Hampshire isn’t the easiest thing to do, but I did manage to get a Hollywood agent to peddle one of my romantic comedies to the Indies. Unfortunately, there were no takers, so I tried authoring a book. I monitored my reading choices for a while and found I liked reading the ‘hot stuff.’ As soon as I made that admission and stopped blushing, I thought I might try writing it. After reading many hot novels, I had an idea. I’d turn one of my screenplays into a steam bath of a novel!

I was fortunate. The romance genre is 55 percent of the paperback market and women really want authors to turn up the heat these days. Three electronic publishers wanted my first completed novel—an erotic romantic suspense. And by the way, erotic romance is different from ‘pure erotica.’ Pardon the oxymoron. You’d never find these books in the stores with blacked-out windows. Erotic romance isn’t porn. Women demand higher standards. Plot, characterization and relationships must be as important as sexual content.

So—reinvention number one: From nurse to writer. I tried a couple of other things along the way. I trained as a hypnotherapist and an interior designer, but for some reason my clients eventually began smoking or gaining weight again, and it was discouraging. I never earned a dime with my Interior Design training. There were just too many pitfalls, so I used my knowledge to design my own home and offer opinions to friends—if asked. But it was writing that stuck.

Reinvention number two: From hot suspense to hot comedy. I was a published author. I had a few devoted followers and some great reviews, but something was missing. My joy and spontaneity. I wasn’t having as much fun as I would have liked. Writing these books had turned into work.

Then I had an experience that changed me again. I wrote my first erotic comedy. I let myself go buck wild, and it just poured out of me. What resulted was an off-the-wall novella that every reader and reviewer loved. It was nominated for a CAPA and an Eppie award. And I loved it too, plus I loved the experience of writing it.

Fast forward a few years and several erotic comedies later…my paychecks, which had been terrific, were suddenly drying up. A number of different factors beyond my control were responsible, but nevertheless, I had to do something about it!

Reinvention number three: From short to long: I had heard that what readers and publishers wanted was not one, but several related books in a series. So I tried to come up with an idea for a hot humorous series. Let’s see…write what you know…use your voice…and try to make it a long story that can go on and on and on…At first I’d thought of a series of ghost comedies that I’d call Naughty New England. I may still write that someday, but in the meantime, Strange Neighbors was conceived.

And now it’s about to be born! I’m so excited I can barely sleep. Oh, right. This blog was supposed to be about the journey from erotic romance to mainstream romance. Well, I hate to be anticlimactic, but that part wasn’t hard—I mean difficult. (Forgive me, I love double entendres.) My erotic romances tended to be on the mild side anyway. The kinkiest I got was a manage-a-trois and a little bondage. Yawn. I never did any gay or lesbian stuff and wouldn’t know how. So, transitioning from my usual to mainstream consisted of refraining from using one word…and it was a word I really didn’t like anyway.

I think I’m where I belong now. I’m still writing plenty hot, but I don’t have to force myself past my comfort level. I don’t have to write Alpha heroes all the time, I can actually make my hero a nice guy. When I read my publisher’s criteria, I knew I’d be happy. She wanted four things. A hero the reader can fall in love with, a heroine we can relate to, a compelling story, and an interesting world. Did I mention my publisher is female? Do I have to? She obviously knows what women like, and I’m happy to give it to them. Please check out my website http://www.ashlynchase.com/ and Strange Neighbors.

I’m in love with this new series. It’s about an apartment building full of paranormal misfits in Boston’s Back Bay. As you might expect, it’s another one of my romantic paranormal comedies. The building is a typical nineteenth century brownstone mansion, converted to six apartments, plus a top floor penthouse.

The series includes some really fun characters. A were-raven with a morbid sense of humor, an Alpha werewolf who was kicked out of his pack for being too nice and now drums up business for his security-system business by moonlighting as a thief, two witches with an owl familiar who work as phone-sex actresses, a sarcastic ghost, and an “unofficial” resident in the basement—a vampire who fancies himself the neighborhood watchdog and vigilante crime fighter. The new landlord, occupying the penthouse, is a professional baseball pitcher with a secret of his own. But being only half-shapeshifter, he doesn’t have the greatest control over his shifts. He hired his busybody aunt and unemployed uncle to manage and maintain the building.

As they say, birds of a feather flock together, and with the exception of the latest tenant, a very human nurse on her own for the first time, all the hooting, howling, and hollering that goes on drives the busybody building manager a little nuts.

Book one is about the romance between the nurse and the landlord. As soon as she moves out of Apt 1B, her best friend, a lawyer, moves in. The human lawyer hooks up with the werewolf thief in book two. Book three involves a witch-war over the vampire. The witches are cousins from opposite sides of the Mason-Dixon Line, and for a while it’s a bit like the civil war all over again.

Where do I get my wild ideas? As with all my stories, I blame it on Thalia, the muse of comedy. She puts these ideas in my head, and I have to write or she bugs me until I do.

STRANGENEIGHBORS BY ASHLYN CHASE—IN STORES JUNE 2010

He’s looking for peace, quiet, and a little romance…

There’s never a dull moment when hunky all-star pitcher and shapeshifter Jason Falco invests in an old Boston brownstone apartment building full of supernatural creatures. But when Merry MacKenzie moves into the ground floor apartment, the playboy pitcher decides he might just be done playing the field…

A girl just wants to have fun…

Sexy Jason seems like the perfect fling, but newly independent nurse Merry’s not sure she’s ready to trust him with her heart…especially when the tabloids start trumpeting his playboy lifestyle.

Then pandemonium breaks loose and Merry and Jason will never get it together without a little help from the vampire who lives in the basement and the werewolf from upstairs…

About the Author

A multi-published, award-winning author, Ashlyn Chase specializes in characters who reinvent themselves, having reinvented herself numerous times. Among her many day jobs, she has worked as a psychiatric nurse, run blood drives for the Red Cross, and now uses her degree in behavioral sciences to avoid writing exhaustive character sketches. She lives with her true-life hero husband in beautiful New Hampshire.

For more information, please visit http://ashlynchase.com/.

I have 2 Copies of Strange Neighbors to give away

Who wants one?

If you'd like a chance to win leave a comment on this post with email contact info

Open to US and Canadian Shipping Only

Contest Ends 12:01 AM Tuesday June 1

Winner Announced Wednesday June 2

+5 entries for being a Fang-tastic Books Follower

+5 entries for blogging about this contest

+5 entries for including a link to this contest on your blog, twitter,or Facebook

+5 for being a @RoxanneRhoads twitter follower

Join Author Alaya Johnson On Her Moonshine Book Tour

Bad Boys and Anti-heroes

I have to apologize for something upfront:

My romantic lead is not a vampire.

He's also not a werewolf. I could tell you what he is, but I think that would ruin some of the fun of my book, Moonshine. But I can tell you who he is, and something interesting I've noticed about modern paranormal romance.

Like plenty of women, I love (reading about) bad boys. I preferred Spike to Angel, Damian to Stefan, and (if you want to go really far back) Mr. Rochester to St. John. Bad boys are a venerable romantic tradition, particularly when they are set up against "good" romantic foils. Vampire fiction is filled with bad boys--after all, most of the time being a vampire puts you on the wrong side of all kinds of taboos.

But perhaps as a reaction against the vampire bad boy trope, or perhaps for some other reason, I've noticed that a lot of popular paranormal romances these days star men who are essentially good. Now, they probably have a dark past and a lot of personal angst, but they're still noble, honorable to a fault and fighting on the side of justice. Edward in Twilight, Bill in the Sookie Stackhouse books and Vayl in the Jaz Parks series (by Jennifer Rardin) are all examples of this more recent trend in noble heroes.

Here's another confession: my romantic lead is not a very good person.

He could be, but he has grown up with a lot of power and privilege, and he's never had much use for empathy. He makes up for it (I hope) with wit, humor and a willingness to admit fault, but he gets his hands pretty dirty in the process. Given how many readers seem to love noble heroes, I started wondering why I like mine to be a little more frayed at the edges.

Ever since I read Wuthering Heights and developed a treacherous love for Heathcliff ("He kills puppies!" my sister always says when I bring this up), I've liked a little anti- with my hero. Probably my favorite series of all time (unfortunately not paranormal, though it is historical fiction) is the Lymond Chronicles by Dorothy Dunnett. Lymond is a dark character who does many, many questionable things. Sometimes for a twisted, ultimate good and sometimes just because he can. I spent six books in love with this man, so I suppose it's unavoidable that I would write darker traits into my own romantic leads.

Part of my love for this trope must be because it lends itself to a redemption arc. I would never have enjoyed Spike half as much as I did without the huge progression of his character between seasons two and six. On the other hand, I think getting a soul ruined him, so there's a dangerous line between anti-heroes striving for good and, well, achieving it.

Also, I confess that I find unremitting goodness kind of boring. Even if I can't exactly admire an anti-hero, I tend to be won over by his charisma and charm and willingness to break the rules--even, sometimes, good ones.

In my case, I enjoyed writing my anti-hero even more because my heroine is precisely his opposite: a crusader for progressive causes, she hasn't met a social injustice she won't fight against. She struggles not to see the world in shades of gray, which makes her interactions with my bad boy fraught, to say the least.

So if you're like me and don't always like your heroes filled with goodness and light, check out Moonshine (you can read the first chapter here) and tell me what you think!


Moonshine description:

Imagining vampires at the heart of the social struggles of 1920s, Moonshine blends a tempestuous romance with dramatic historical fiction, populated by a lively mythology inhabiting the gritty New York City streets Zephyr Hollis is an underfed, overzealous social activist who teaches night school to the underprivileged of the Lower East Side. Strapped for cash, Zephyr agrees to help a student, the mysterious Amir, who proposes she use her charity worker cover to bring down a notorious vampire mob boss. What he doesn’t tell her is why. Soon enough she’s tutoring a child criminal with an angelic voice, dodging vampires high on a new blood-based street drug, and trying to determine the real reason behind Amir’s request—not to mention attempting to resist his dark, inhuman charm.

About the Author

ALAYA JOHNSON is a recent Columbia graduate, and denizen of New York City.

http://www.alayadawnjohnson.com/

Moonshine Tour Stops

Monday, May 24 Books And... Chat

Tuesday, May 25 Parajunkee

Wednesday, May 26 Fang-tastic Books

Thursday, May 27 BrownGirl BookSpeak

Friday, May 28 Not Really Southern Vamp Chick

Winner Wednesday

Riv Re won a book of choice from Crystal Kauffman's

Guardians of the Realm series

Estella won a copy of The Dream House Visions and Nightmares

By Victoria Roder

Andrea I won Honeymoon of the Dead by Tate Hallaway

skyla11377 won 2 books from Yvonne Navarro

and

joder won the remaining Yvonne Navarro book

Congrats winners!

Tracy Madison Discusses A Breath of Magic & You Can Win a Copy of A Taste of Magic

Welcome Tracy. Thank you for joining us today.

Q: Let’s start out by getting the name of your newest release and what genre/category it falls into

A: My newest release is A BREATH OF MAGIC, and it is a light paranormal romance.

Q: Can you sum up your book in 2 sentences or less

A: A young New Age store owner in the Midwest discovers she's related to a line of Gypsies...and that her family's magic will help her locate her true soul mate.

Q: List three adjectives that can best describe this book

A: Funny. Emotional. Sexy.

Q: Can you describe your heroine or hero in 3 words?

A: Heroine (Chloe): Quirky. Sentimental. Romantic. Hero (Ben): Serious. Sizzling. Tormented.

Q: Name one unique trait about your heroine or hero

A: My heroine can change the feelings and actions of other people just by strength of will.

Q: If an actor or actress was to play your heroine or hero, who would it be?

A: Hm. I'm not sure. I describe Chloe as a mix between Thumbelina and Lucille Ball.

Q: Name the sexiest trait of the main man in your newest book

A: He knows how to love.

Q: What’s the heat level of your newest release: arctic winter, flirtatious, romantic, sizzling, or scorched panties hot?

A: I'd say sizzling.

Q: What is the strangest source of inspiration you’ve had? Maybe something weird that ended up in one of your books or short stories.

A: Strangest? Hm, that's a tough question. Okay, this isn't strange, but an important secondary character throughout this entire series is the elderly Grandma Verda. She's quirky, funny, and loves her family with a passion that pushes her to "help" them out in various ways. While there are many differences, the original inspiration for Grandma Verda came from my great-grandmother, also named Verda.

Q: Name one thing your main character would never leave home without

A: Her pendulum.

Q What about you, what's one thing you never want to leave home without?

A: My car keys!

Q: Let's talk makeup- if you could only choose one or two cosmetics to wear which ones are your must haves?

A: Eyeliner and lip gloss.

Q- Just for fun Lightning Round

Light or dark? Light.

Red or pink? Pink--as long as it isn't too pale.

Coke or Pepsi? Coke.

Coffee or tea? Coffee.

Abs or buns? Abs.

Vampires or Angels? Depends on my mood. :-)


Q: If you could offer one tidbit of information for new writers, what would it be?

A: Keep writing. The best way to grow is to write.

Q: Do you have a “day job” or do you write full time?

A: I write full time, but part of my day is dedicated to freelance writing.

Q: Name one thing readers would be surprised to learn about you.

A: I hate to sit with my back to a room in a public place. I will always sit with my back to the wall whenever I can manage.

Q: Do you have a favorite book and/or a favorite author?

A: No. I have many, many favorite books and authors. My list actually keeps growing, and so does my to-be-read pile.

Q: Could you tell us about your current work in progress?

A: The next book in the magic series, By Magic Alone, is a December 2010 release. This is the fourth in the series, and is Scot's story.

Q:What are some of your hobbies besides writing?

A: Reading (naturally), cooking & baking, TV & movies, and hanging out with my kids. Most of my day is consumed with writing of one sort or another.

Q: Finish the following sentence:

A: The best thing about being an author is_working in my pajamas!

Q: In closing, tell us a bit about your latest release. Feel free to share a blurb or an excerpt.

A: Here's the excerpt for A Breath of Magic:

Waiting to exhale

Chloe Nichols is holding her breath. All her life, finding true happiness with a family has seemed as easy as...well, snagging a bubble off the wind—a bubble that her current boyfriend seems dead set on bursting. Yes, every time Chloe mentions her one true desire, Kyle shoots down her hopes. But he hasn’t reckoned with the awesome power of Gypsy magic, or with loyal kith and kin. One way or another, Chloe’s going to get her happily-ever-after. One could sometimes be found after you’d convinced a man he loves you, right? All Fate needs is a little puff in the right direction...

If you'd like to try this series I have a copy of the first book, A Taste of Magic, to give away to one lucky winner.

US shipping only.

Just leave a comment on this post- be sure to include your email address.

Thank you so much for having me here today!

The Price of Power with Guest Author Lisabet Sarai

Warning: R and Softcore X Rated Excerpts Ahead, Some Feature M/M Situations

I think it's safe to say that all paranormal stories revolve around at least one character with extra-human powers. Vampires are immortal and preternaturally strong. Shape shifters exhibit the powers of their beast sides: fleetness, ferocity, heightened perception. Psychics can read thoughts, mentally control inanimate objects, or see the future. Fairies, witches, demons and similar fey folk have access to a wide variety of magical capabilities. Even ghosts have the power to appear and disappear and to walk through walls.

Encountering individuals who can defy everyday laws and logic is one of the joys of reading paranormal romance. We all like to imagine what it might be like to fly, crush our enemies to a pulp, or psychically meld with our lovers. One of the fascinating things about power, though, is that it almost always has its price. In return for their powers, the characters lose something. Vampires pay in guilt for their blood-sucking ways, and often in loneliness. Werewolves live at the mercy of the moon. Psychics suffer social isolation; it's difficult to have a normal relationship when you know what everyone else is thinking.

The dark side of power, the payment it exacts from the one who wields it , often plays a central role in paranormal plots. Sometimes it is the primary source of conflict, particularly when it divides the powerful character from his or her beloved.

I've been fascinated by the dual nature of power ever since I started writing paranormal romance. In Serpent's Kiss, Jorge is the shape-shifting reincarnation of an ancient god. The fate of the world lies in his hands. Though he recognizes Elena as his soul-mate, his destiny requires him to leave her behind.

****

Jorge pulled her into his arms. Her worries seemed to evaporate in the heat of his body. “Ah, querida! It’s true that you are hot-blooded. But you should not blame yourself for desiring the devil. If evil were always ugly, it would not succeed in gaining so many converts.

He leaned back, fixing her with a stern gaze. “This just shows, though, why you must stay here. If you are there with me, he might succeed in swaying you.”

“No! Never! I’m prepared now. I know his treacherous ways. I love you, Jorge. I’d never betray you.”

He fought briefly before surrendering to her hungry mouth. As they kissed, she could clearly sense his conflict, his desire for her warring with his concern about the trial that awaited him.

“You know that I love you as well, Elena. I believe that our love was born ages ago, and will be reborn in the future. But our personal feelings must take second place. Everything depends on me. I must become a warrior, with a heart of stone, in order to defeat Tezcatlipoca.” He held out his hand. “Give me the feather.”

Reluctantly, she removed the cord from around her neck and handed him the talisman. He hung it against his own chest. It blazed even more brightly against his dusky skin. He stood tall, his hair streaming over his shoulders. His voice grew deeper and more resonant.

“You will stay here and wait for me. As your lord and your master, I command you.”

Her lord and master. Normally, independent, self-sufficient Elena would have bristled at his imperious tone. Now, though, it thrilled her. And it seemed natural, correct. She crouched at his feet, subdued by his authority, surrendering to his power.

“Will I see you again, Lord?”

He reached for her hand and raised her to her feet. “If the gods are kind. And if not in this life, then in the next.”

“Then let me ask you for one last favour. “ Elena pulled the huipil over her head. She unfastened the multicoloured sash and let her skirt slip to the floor. Spreading her arms wide, she offered him her nakedness. “Make love to me now, one last time, before you go to battle. Be with me once more as a man, before you take on your form as a god.”

Jorge gazed at her for an eternal moment, his ebony eyes glittering with unshed tears. Then he took her hand and led her to the pallet at the back of the cave.


****

In Necessary Madness, Kyle can see the future, but his terrible visions drive him to the edge of sanity. He is on the street, trying to drink himself into a stupor in order to escape from his power, when Sergeant Rob Murphy rescues him. Rob knows all too well about the price of power; his telepathic sister lived as a recluse to isolate herself from cacaphony of other people's thoughts before being murdered by someone jealous of her abilities. He fights his attraction the psychic Kyle, but the two men connect in a way that neither has ever experienced. Finally Rob is forced to admit he loves Kyle and accept the consequences of Kyle's power.

****


Kyle and Rob sat across from one another in the booth at Eduardo’s Cantina. Empty plates smeared with refried beans and salsa littered the rough wooden table. With one blunt-fingered hand, Rob crushed fragments of left-over tortilla chips to yellow crumbs. He wouldn’t meet Kyle’s eyes. Kyle reached for his nervous hand and brought it to his lips. He licked the greasy, salty valleys between Rob’s fingers. Rob’s cheeks flushed red. Kyle’s balls tightened inside his jeans.

“Tell me,” he ordered. “You can trust me, Rob.”

Rob’s eyes were deep wells of pain. “My little sister Mary,” he began. “She was like you.”

Kyle listened to the story of Mary’s trials and her murder. He felt a physical ache as the other man finally shared his anger and grief. No wonder Rob had panicked. Such a sad, tortured life the woman had endured, and such a horrible death. Kyle had believed in Rob’s public face, the strong, self-confident, uncomplicated cop. Now, he saw how vulnerable his lover really was.

“Maybe I can help,” Kyle offered as Rob concluded his tale. “Maybe I can see something that will give you a clue.”

“But you only see the future, not the past.” Rob extricated his hand from Kyle’s grasp and brushed his hair back from his forehead with a sigh. “How can you help?”

“Perhaps whoever killed her will try to kill again.” Kyle remembered the blond man from his last prescient attack and shuddered. Could there be a link? There had been some talk of cutting out his heart, though Kyle had been so bemused by lust he’d hardly noticed.

“I really don’t want anything more to do with psychic powers,” Rob muttered.

“But you want me, don’t you?” Kyle reached under the table and stroked Rob’s thigh. The man across from him started, then grinned.

“Yeah, I do. Heaven help me, I want you more than I’ve ever wanted anyone.”

“Well, then take me. And let me help ease your pain.” Kyle couldn’t reach Rob’s cock, but he could feel the heat coming from the man’s erection. His own trousers became tighter by the minute. “Or at least help you forget it for a while.”


****

I have a new paranormal book called Fire in the Blood, coming from Total-E-Bound in October. It's a somewhat non-traditional vampire ménage. The vampire hero, Etienne, has sworn to abstain from drinking human blood. His power makes him irresistible to humans, however. He inspires lust in both men and women, without any active intent on his part. And when Madeleine offers him her body and her blood, he is not strong enough to refuse.

****

Madeleine couldn’t stand it any more. She laid her palm on the kinky nap covering his head. He raised his eyes. In their depths she saw wisdom and pain. “I’m Madeleine,” she said. “What’s your name?”

“Etienne.” He settled back on the stool. “Etienne de Rémorcy.”

“I want to thank you, Etienne. For all your help.” Casually, with one hand, she loosened the sash holding the robe closed. She leaned forward, so that the silk gapped open and revealed her gleaming white breasts.

“I could hardly do otherwise. My mistress taught me how to be a gentleman. You obviously needed my assistance.” His rich voice sounded strained.

“Oh, I did.” Maddy shifted on the bed. The dressing gown slipped off one shoulder. “I still do.” The peacocks slithered away, exposing her pale thigh and her wound, crusted with dried blood.

Etienne’s eyes glittered. His blunt hands shot out and grabbed her wrists. “Do not play with me, girl.”

Lust gushed through Maddy’s body. Etienne’s nostrils twitched. He tightened his grip until she cried out. “Do not tempt me.”

“You’re hurting me,” she whimpered. “Please…” Dimly she understood that she was not begging to be released.

“Believe me, I will hurt you far more if we continue.” Etienne forced her down on the bed, her captured arms above her, and straddled her with his massive thighs. “Although I was taught to be a gentleman, in truth I am a savage beast.” The fragile silk tore away from her nakedness.

“Don’t you want me?” Maddy’s eyes swam with tears.

He brought his mouth close to her ear. “You could not possibly understand how much.” His breath was the icy exhalation of a glacier.

She shivered under his weight. His coolness only stoked the fire in her pussy. “Then take me.”

He freed her wrists and sat back on his heels, searching her face. She cupped her ripe breasts and offered them to him. Please, she prayed silently, let him see my need. She opened herself to him, letting those luminous eyes probe her deepest desires.

He licked his full lips, and his white teeth gleamed in the fire light. He reached for his belt. “Let it be as you will, then,” he growled. “I am no longer responsible.”


****

In the romance world, one can always expect a happy ending. There may be darkness, though, along the twisted road to that bright conclusion. Personally I prefer romances which recognize that power has its price. Otherwise, it's just a fairy tale, sunny and superficial.

~LISABET SARAI has published six erotic novels, two short story collections and dozens of individual tales. She also edits the single-author charity series "Coming Together Presents" and reviews erotica for Erotica Readers and Writers Association and Erotica Revealed. Visit Lisabet online at Lisabet's Fantasy Factory http://www.lisabetsarai.com/ and Beyond Romance http://lisabetsarai.blogspot.com/.

Lisabet has offered to give away an e-copy of Serpent's Kiss

to one lucky person who comments on this post

Want it to be you?

Leave a comment with email address to be entered

Winner will be announced on Wednesday June 2

Review of Goth Witch Costume and Wholesale Costume Club Membership Giveaway

Sure Halloween may be months from now but it's never to early to start planning your costume or your Halloween party.

With Halloween being my favorite holiday it's never far from my mind, so when I was offered a chance to review Halloween costumes I jumped on it.

The Wholesale Costume Club sent me this Goth Maiden Witch costume to review.

It's pretty nice, I picked it out for my daughter because she was coveting a similar one last Halloween. I call it the green witch because of it's wicked green accents. She absolutely loves it. It is slightly big on her but once I lace up the front and tie it in the back it looks great. She's going to make an awesomely wicked Witch this Halloween.

The Wholesale Costume Club has a huge selection of costumes for everyone in your family.

I am still sorting through all the Women's Costumes trying to decide which one I want. They have two or three vampire costumes that I really like so I am trying to narrow it down to just one. I seen a couple for the hubby too. I haven't had a chance to scroll through all the kids costumes yet to see of there are any for my little guy (who is now 4, my little monkey man turned four this past Friday, hmmm I wonder of they have any monkey costumes :-).

The prices for Halloween costumes are super reasonable at The Wholesale Costume club. See the deal is you pay for a membership and you can buy the costumes for a great low rate. The membership prices are at least $5 cheaper than the regular rate (so that covers your membership price) but the deal comes when you have more than 1 costume to buy. Like for me I have a family of 5 to buy Halloween costumes for so the membership price really makes a difference when shopping for more than one costume.

Even if you don't buy a membership the prices are still cheap because they are priced as Wholesale Halloween Costumes.

The Goth Maiden Witch Costume I received for my daughter retails for around $55, that's pretty close to the price I found it for last Halloween at the stores. The non-member price at Wholesale Costume Club is $37.98 the member price is $32.46. Wow, what a great price and way cheaper than at the Halloween stores that pop up all over the place in September.

I mean you can't really find a decent costume for under $30 anywhere. The witch costume I got my daughter is made with a crushed velvet-like fabric and satin. It doesn't look or feel like some of those cheap costumes you find at the stores. This one is a classic witch style with modern, fun accents.

And the hat is very cool, it's a sturdy classic pointy witch hat that you can wear with the tip pointing straight up or you can crush the hat a bit and have the tip sitting at a crooked and jaunty angle. The hat also has some feathers, a flower and some sheer fabric that give it that extra pizazz and an updated femininely witchy appeal. Now she justs needs a sparkly broom and she'll be the best dressed witch this Halloween.

Have you started planning your Halloween costume yet?

If not, I can help.

I have 2 memberships to the Wholesale Costume Club to give away to two very lucky winners

Want one?

Then leave a comment on this post telling me what you'd like to be for Halloween this year, be sure to include your email contact info

Must be a Follower of This Blog to Win

I will announce 2 winners on Wednesday June 2

Good Luck

Free Book Friday: 3 Signed Books by Yvonne Navarro

Three books to give away this week, all by Yvonne Navarro

Elektra

Elektra Natcios died, once. But the beautiful, dangerous heiress was resurrected and recruited by a mysterious group known as The Chaste, who trained Elektra in the art of combat, then cast her out when her anger and lust for vengence became more than they could bear. Now she works as a paid assassin, the very best that money can buy, one who is notorious for her lethal speed and precision. Elektra is careful to treat each assignment as just another job, providing a service she can perform better than anyone else. When Elektra is hired by an unknown client to eliminate an attractive, friendly widower and his young daughter, she finds that things aren't so simple any more. Soon Elektra is single-handedly engaged in an all-out war with the powerful criminal organization known as The Hand for the lives of the man and the child - but the ultimate struggle may be for Elektra's soul...

That's Not My Name

A woman abducted. A frantic husband. And no one can prove she exists....

One snowy night, in a suburban parking lot, a man finds the quarry he's been stalking for months. And Nola Elidad finds herself imprisoned by a strangely caring kidnapper--who insists she is his lost wife. Soon, he says--when she's no longer sick--she will remember who she is. But Nola knows she isn't the woman he claims...or is she? A nightmare journey is about to begin, propelling her into the shifting shadows of her own memory....

Across town, Nola's husband of three months must admit to Detective Lucas Conroy that he knows nothing of his bride's former life. Nor, it seems, does anyone else--not her boss, not her doctor--or they're not saying. Who is Nola Elidad? Somehow, Conroy must find the answer, even if his search for the missing woman leads him into a dark past haunted by cruelty, subterfuge, and murder.

DeadTimes

One Woman...One Life...Nine Deaths... Born of an accursed union between a white trapper and a Hopi maiden, Mae Johnson nontheless loves her life. She loves life so much, in fact, that in the sunset of her life she bargains with infernal powers for more. But Mae should have known better than to think she'd get a straight deal from the Devil...

About the Author:

Yvonne Navarro is the author of more than thirty novels including several in the Buffy the Vampire Slayer series, for one of which -- The Willow Files 2 -- she won a Bram Stoker Award in 2002. A long-time native of Chicago she now lives in Arizona.

Her upcoming novel Highborn will be released in October through Pocket Books.

Answer this question to be entered

(in honor of all of Yvonne's Buffy books):

In the tv shows Buffy and Angel what was Angel's real name ?

(hint it is not the actor's name but Angel's human name on the show)

Answer this bonus question for an extra entry:

What was Spike's human name on Buffy and Angel?

2 winners will be chosen,

first winner gets to choose 2 books,

other winner will receive what is left

Open to US Shipping Only

Contest Closes Tuesday May 25 Midnight EST

Winners Announced on Wednesday May 26

+5 entries for being a Fang-tastic Books Follower

+5 entries for blogging about this contest

+5 entries for including a link to this contest on your blog, twitter,or Facebook

+5 for being a @RoxanneRhoads twitter follower

Ghost Hunting with Victoria Roder, Win a Copy of The Dream House Visions and Nightmares

Have you, or would you be brave enough to investigate a haunted location?

I will be giving away an e-book copy of The Dream House Visions and Nightmares to one lucky person that comments.

What can cause the hair on your arms to rise? Is it a sense of being watched? Seeing a shadow out of the corner of your eye? Perhaps, it’s a sound that shouldn’t be there but is. A residual haunt is a continual playback of a past event. The ghost will repeat an action over and over, but not interact with people. An intelligent haunt is a ghost that can attempt to communicate or interact with us. I live in a hundred-forty year old house farm house and if I thought every unusual sound was from the beyond, I would have moved out long ago.

Interest in spirits has been around since the beginning of time, but it has been brought to the forefront by the fascination of ghost hunting reality shows. With my own interest in the paranormal, I have recently joined Foothill Paranormal Investigations of California. http://www.meetup.com/Footfhill-Paranormal-Investagi/?a=wm1_gn

Although I can write spine tingling sequences of a ball bouncing down the street depositing blotches of blood, a decaying, maggot infested owl squishing under foot, and walking across decaying human bones─I’d probably be shaking in my boots and wanting to hold someone’s hand through a paranormal investigation.

My paranormal romance, The Dream House Visions and Nightmares received the highest rating of BEST BOOK on The Long and Short of it Reviews. It is a murder mystery wrapped in a paranormal ghost story. Recurring dreams of a house Hope Graham's family rented when she was a child, taunt her nights with images of a woman in a bloody nightgown pleading for help. Dream sequences of children metamorphosing into rats, blood spewing out of windows, and walking across decaying bones, foretell of sins of the past and forewarn of danger in the present. In an attempt to end the agony of her sleep deprivation, Hope travels to her hometown...only to discover that the truth can be more frightening than a nightmare.

Excerpt: The Dream House Visions and Nightmares, by Victoria Roder, Asylett Press 2009.

I looked up and down the dimly lit street. There was no evidence of life. Nor were there any sounds. No dogs barking. No horns honking. No children playing. Nothing. I focused on the house-on its paneless windows, weathered boards and dilapidated porch sinking into a sea of overgrown grass and weeds-and nausea overcame me as an overwhelming moldy odor permeated the air. The look of the house didn’t make my skin crawl; it was the essence of it.

I watched the dilapidated house-it moved closer. Perhaps it lured me to it. I began to shiver. I looked down at the white cotton nightgown that I wore. Silk embossed flowers decorated the bodice. I was still straining to hear a sound when I realized, blood had saturated my gown until it had become a second skin.

I felt a tug on my gown.

I looked down-Rae’s hair cascaded over her face as she clasped my hem through the fence. She pleaded, “Please, help me, please. Can’t you hear my children screaming?”

I struggled to get away…

Please visit me at http://www.victoriaroder.com/ to read an excerpt from my Champagne Books April 2010 Action Thriller release, Bolt Action.

The Dream House Visions and Nightmares is available at

http://www.asylettpress.com/

and Amazon http://www.amazon.com/Dream-House-Visions-Nightmares/dp/1934337641/ref=pd_rhf_p_t_2

Remember, leave a comment or question on this to be entered to win an e-copy of The Dream House Visions and Nightmares

Guest Blog and Giveaway with Tate Hallaway

HEA and Iron Man

Last weekend I went to go see “Iron Man 2” with a friend. I’m a long-time Marvel fan, having devoured much of my cousin’s collection (actually begun by his father in the 60s) since I was old enough to read. Comics are epic. Not just cool, which they most defiantly are, but also in the original meaning of the word: long, sprawling stories that span generations.

Extrapolating from Marvel’s well-publicized bankruptcy, I have to imagine it’s difficult to get readers to commit to a long-term relationship. As a long-time reader, I’m irritated by what I see as gimmicks to mix things up, re-booting and re-telling origin stories for favorite iconic characters.

But Americans seem to crave the shiny. We like even our detergents to be “new and improved.” Not one of us would probably pick up a can of beans labeled, “old and stable.” It should be no surprise, then, that we also like our romances to be first blush. Who doesn’t enjoy the heady rush of discovering someone new and falling head over heels in love? The entire chick flick/romantic comedy movie industry is built on the idea that Americans will pay a lot of money, over and over again, for the same kind of new.

I committed a cardinal sin against the shiny in my series. I married my heroine and my hero. Foolishly, I didn’t see that as “the end.” As someone who has been in a relationship (not just with my comic books, either!) for the last twenty-four years, I knew for a fact that the fun BEGINS after “I do.” But, to most readers since the time of Shakespeare, a wedding signals HEA, the happily ever after, that no one actually experiences – it just goes soft-focus and misty and then the credits roll.

I’d kind of hoped to try out a grand experiment, not unlike the one Marvel is attempting on the big screen. I wanted to see if readers would follow along *after*-HEA. Could I continue to tell a romance after the wedding? After the honeymoon was officially over?

I’ll never know.

Many of my readers (“the numbers” to the bean-counting part of the publishing industry) didn’t even make it to the wedding, much less the honeymoon. Perhaps I didn’t tell the right story in the right way or at the right time, but, regardless, I’ll be watching Marvel with interest. Can Iron Man really launch the Avengers Initiative? Will the movie-going audience actually hang out for a longer story? Will we still be interested in Iron Man after we’ve seen him three or four times? After a while the suit is going to lose its ability to impress us with its steampunkish whirs and gears and we’ll be left with just plain, old Tony Stark, like that morning after when you realize that handsome knight on a white steed is just some schlub you agreed to be with for the rest of your life….

Or at least until you can trade him in for the new and improved version.

Would you like to win a copy of

Honeymoon of the Dead

by Tate Hallaway?

One commenter will win a copy of Honeymoon of the Dead

be sure to include email address

Open to US Shipping

Contest Closes Tuesday May 25 Midnight EST

Winners Announced on Wednesday May 26

+5 entries for being a Fang-tastic Books Follower

+5 entries for blogging about this contest

+5 entries for including a link to this contest on your blog, twitter,or Facebook

+5 for being a @RoxanneRhoads twitter follower

Winner Wednesday

And the winners are:

Da da da daaaaaa.....

julstew has won a pdf of the new anthology Like That Spark that contains my erotic paranormal story "A Last Goodbye"

KMichelleC87 has won Hunted by the Others by Jess Haines

Kelsey won a copy of All Hallows Blood from Raven Corrin Carluk

and

mbreakfield gets a Vampire for Christmas

In case there is any confusion (it has been brought to my attention that there might be), I close contests at midnight EST time on Tuesday.

Technically that's when the clock strikes midnight Monday night and becomes Tuesday not at midnight Tuesday night when it technically becomes Wednesday.

Maybe I should put 12:01 AM Tuesday.

Sorry if this has caused any questions or confusion for anyone.

I close contests at midnight so Tuesday during the day I can pick and contact winners and set up the Winner Wednesday post.

Hope that straightens everything out.

Win an ebook from The Guardian's Realm Series with Crystal Kauffman

Hello Fangtastic books and thank you for having me over today!

I’m here to talk about my vampire series, Guardian’s Realm. Any of you who have read The Combat, book I in the series, know that like people, not all vampires are nice. In fact, some of them want to bring about the enslavement of all mankind. But thankfully there are trustworthy vampires out there working on the side of good, and you’ll get to meet a few in The Collision, book II and The Clash, book III.

In The Combat, an evil vampire has enslaved Gabrielle’s sister, and wants Gabrielle, too. (I won’t tell you why because that would be a spoiler) She’s rescued by hunky Guardian Davin, whose sect wants to bring the evil vampire palace down. Gabrielle wants to help the Guardians, but she’ll sacrifice everything to get her sister out before she becomes collateral damage.

In book II The Collision, Balin, a Guardian warrior and Gladiolas, a slave girl from the palace, are cast through a magical portal to an enchanted prison with a vampire fugitive. Gladiolas would think it were heaven if she could only get them to stop fighting and start loving. But just when things are looking up, an evil enemy finds them in their remote Romanian prison to settle an old score.

Robert and Cvetelina first met in The Combat and did not part as friends. They come together again in the Clash, the third and final book in the Guardian trilogy. In order to save his son, Robert is forced to travel to Romania, Cvetelina’s home turf and the most vampire-infested country in the world, and eat a huge slice of crow pie by begging for her help.

Writing vampires was difficult for me at first. In my world, vampires are evil killers. (I was the child scared even by Abbot and Costello horror-spoofs) But vampire Fitch was kicking around in my head, telling me he was a good guy, and wouldn’t leave me alone until I wrote his character.

I had a blast writing this series, and I hope it’s just as much fun to read.

All three books in the series are available at Loose ID

Today, one lucky commenter will get their chance to read this series and can win the title of their choice. Just leave a comment on this post with your email contact info.

Happy Reading,

Crystal

Ever Feel A Bit Cougarish?

Watching all these movies and television shows like Twilight and The Vampire Diaries filled with pretty "teenage" or eternal teenage boys had me feeling a bit like a cougar.

But my husband and son both pointed out that I am not old enough to be a cougar since I am not over 40 yet.

Hmmm, okay that makes me what? Just a perv? :-)

Thankfully most of those young boys aren't so young after all. Scrolling through my Directv DVR buttons I found that some shows offer cast and crew info. This delightful tidbit of info gives their birth dates and places. Great info for true fans and useless bits of trivia for anyone else.

This handy little button has alerted me that there are quite a few actors from Michigan, other famous people too like Jerry Bruckheimer (who I share a birthday with, I also share a birthday with Stephen King-wish I was as rich and successful as either of them).

I find it interesting.

Anyway what I've also found is that many of my fave shows have actors that are right around or are my age. Hmmm. I suppose that's good, or it could be a way to say "Hey look at how successful these people are and they are the same age as you. Way to go LOSER." Or it could just be more useless bits of trivia I may use to win radio contests or trivial pursuit.

Sorry got off track there- back to the whole cougar thing or not cougar thing.

These handy little tidbits of info have also made me feel much better about the man candy I like to look at.

My number one crush is Tom Welling. Currently we are exactly the same age (33, he just turned 33 I'll be 34 later this year but right now we are the same age :-).

I stressed back in the day when he played a teenager on Smallville (he was actually in his late twenties when he started playing the teenage Clark Kent) so I googled it and learned he was only a year younger than me. Tom is my idea of male beauty personified- dark hair, blue eyes, that sexy chiseled face and he's a big guy- like 6'6'' or something and he's muscular and just...big. I like 'em big. :-) Anyway he gets a 10 in my book.

My other crush is Ian Somerhalder who plays Damon on The Vampire Diaries. I tried to hate him because he has that look that just screams "I'm a jerk" and he played it so well too. The first couple episodes I hated him, then hated him less, and less and now...I just flat out drool. Those eyes are what did me in- those beautiful, stunning blue eyes. The perfect bone structure had a play in it too. Granted he's a little short and thin for normal taste but damn he's just too pretty to resist. So he's a 9 after Tom's 10.

I was sure though that Ian was only maybe in his mid twenties- tops. Which is still pretty young for me but at least legal :-) I found out he was born in 1978 so he's only 2 years younger than me.

Oh thank goodness, I thought to myself. If they are over thirty-it's all good. I try not to drool too much on anyone younger cause that's just kinda gross.

Which leads me to the one that really makes me feel cougarlicious- Taylor Lautner.

I have to admit that yes I think Taylor Lautner in New Moon is freakin hot- though that's where it ends. Pure aesthetics. No drooling or thinking about touching- he's just way too young.

I'll stick to fantasizing about Tom and Ian-go figure all of my crushes play supernatural characters.

So who makes you feel like a Cougar (even if you're not old enough to be one)?

Who is your number one man candy crush?