Just for a Laugh

Hey, I happen to write erotic romance too... so I felt it appropriate to share this on my blog.

Just for a laugh. :)

And what makes this even funnier, this butternut squash was left on my front step in a bag...whilst my husband was away on a camping trip. *snicker*

As my friend, Staci, jokingly asked, "Did they know you were along this weekend?"

Concluding the Master Koda Virtual Blog Tour: What I Learned

I learned so much from the Master Koda Virtual Blog Tour. Wow. Where to start? First of all, it requires teamwork. If you don't like talking to people—even online—it's probably not for you. It requires swapping ideas, posts, trusting someone else to display your work properly. And it also provides the opportunity for growth and education.

When I had to post assignment two, about a song, I didn't want to just post a link to YouTube and send people away from my blog. That defeats the purpose. Thanks to the group, I was able to figure out how to put the video IN my post. I never would have been inspired to learn this if I hadn't been assigned this particular lady's post to host. LOL

Then the lovely and patient Tasha Turner taught me how to add those one click buttons at the bottom. This not only made it easier for people to repost/tweet/share all the Master Koda stuff, but also my other stuff. And I made some great friends. At first, I was like, "But I don't know these people!! I don't want to add them to my friend feed!" Well, some really became friends. I now talk story lines with them, discuss potential blog, promo stuff. One guy helped me with a Microsoft Word problem.

Overall, it was a learning experience and it got me more comfortable with talking to strangers on Facebook and just promoting, period. I also loved the topics I was forced to write and think about.

Oh, and I learned to PITCH my links. It helps to provide a tidbit of what I'm saying, gets people interested. :)

And that's what I learned from the Virtual Blog Tour. I encourage all you authors to try it for yourselves. :)

Jennifer Johnson is Sick of Being Married by Heather McElhatton

This was so funny. It was the perfect read for me as I was in a bit of a funk. I laughed and laughed. I sat outside and read in my yard, and I know the neighbors heard me and thought I was crazy. I sat in the house and read, and the dogs gave me funny looks. I shared funny parts on Facebook. It was just that funny.

I didn't read the first book, Jennifer Johnson is Sick of Being Single, but I wasn't lost. The story starts with her honeymoon. There's diarrhea, a three-legged dog, a Christian resort, a runaway husband. Then they go to their new home...only it's not really their home. Bring in the MIL from HELL. Holy smokes!
I would have left right then and there, but JJ is much braver than me. She sticks it out, swallows her retorts, and does the only thing she can: spends her husband's money. LOL

There are adventures on the golf course, the country club, church camp, the spa, the dog pound. There's a crazy fridge with a talking geisha, pubic hairs in potluck dinners. It's all very preposterous, but I loved it.

But she's sick of being married, and who can blame her? But just how far can they push her before she cracks, because not only is there a prenup, but "I need his family. They pay for everything; they house me; they employ my brother-in-law, who supports my sister..." Kind of a moral there: don't depend on others, only depend on yourself.

I especially loved the lists...the lists were unbelievably funny. There's a list about Mormons, about going to church, about porn star names, reasons spouses fight... Priceless.

This is a book I'll be keeping a long time to read when I need a good laugh. Even the present tense didn't throw me off.

The ending...was fitting. :)

Five bikes. I received this from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Stealing the Sheriff's Heart by L.B. Shire

This is an exciting western novella. The beginning literally had me on the edge of my seat and a smile plastered to my face as the heroine robs a stagecoach and "shoulders squared, pistol cocked and ready at her hip," Amelia is ready to take on the world and the sexy sheriff to save her brother.

Corban is shocked to find the bandit--not a man!--is his sweetheart, Amelia. But perhaps this shocking turn of events is what the two need to make their lukewarm romance sizzling hot! Sometimes a couple just needs a good shove.

There's horses, shooting, wounds, and just plain orneriness from the spunky heroine as together, they try to save her brother and get to the bottom of just who wanted him abducted and why.

The writing and editing both are superb. Yes, I pay attention to that stuff. The scenes are well-set. The story moves at a great pace. My only quibble is the heroine in the end didn't match the heroine in the beginning. It was almost as if now that she had a man helping her, she didn't need to be so spunky.

I thought the ending, however, was super cute and sexy. I won't reveal what it is though. :)

Four bikes. I was given a copy of this by the author in exchange for an honest review.

It's a Dog's Life by Dale Mayer

This is one of the most delightful and funny books I've read in a long time. There were so many funny and sarcastic comments from Mosey, the basset hound...I almost highlight them all, but then realized I'd be sharing a quarter of the book with you. LOL

The story follows a timid heroine who is afraid she hears voices...dog's voices. Well, one particular dog's voice: Mosey's. When her new boss wants her to housesit and take care of his 6 dogs (plus Mosey) and two kittens for a weekend, she can't say no...not only because she seriously is trying to get over her discomfort with animals--she works in a vet's office now--but because the veterinarian, her boss, is HOT.

Sparks fly, sexy phone conversations happen, and Mosey drives Ninna nuts by chattering at her mentally all the time. To add to her anxiety, she's got a stalker and someone has been burglaring her neighborhood. Can the dogs--namely, can Mosey--keep her safe?

I really appreciate the realism of the heroine. She isn't perfect. She has anxiety, fears, has been on meds, needs to call her shrink, but in the end, she had the required gumption. I also LOVED the ending. It left me sitting there with my mouth hanging open in surprise.

Now, that is hard to do nowadays.

Five bikes. I received this book from Sizzling PR in exchange for an honest review.

Maiden Relaunch Party

This week I'm celebrating the re-release of Maiden Behind the Mask. Even though I quietly published it last month...just in case there were unforeseen problems with formatting or the rights reversal, I am just now celebrating and announcing it.

It has a new cover. Some of you may remember I actually let my readers choose. And this is the winner. Many commenters suggested removing the spotlight, so we did. You voted. You got it!

This book and another one was the first time I ever published on Smashwords and ARe so this was a mega huge deal for me and a learning experience.

Since its earlier publication, Maiden has received a few reviews.

Readin' and Dreamin' said: "I loved the setting, characters, and the blow-by-blow of the action scenes. A fantastic, quick, and creative read that will satisfy anyone looking for something different."

Her full review is on her site: Readin' and Dreamin'

K. Rosado on Amazon said: "The characters are easily likable, with my favorite being Le Reina because of her gassy problem, which interjected just enough humor to get me giggling and laughing (hey, who doesn't like bodily humor!?), with my close second being Catalina for her ability to be quiet and demur when needed, but a firecracker when it was necessary."

If you've read it already, I encourage you to write an honest review. If you aren't the review type, stop and give me a "like" on its Amazon page. 

For those of you who need epub or pdf or any other file, most everything can be found on Smashwords and also, epub and pdf are available on All Romance Ebooks.

I'll be sharing excerpts, spotlights, tidbits all week on my Facebook Page.

Thanks, everyone, for your support once again, and Happy Reading!

Blurb:
When Catalina Rodriguez is attacked by a would-be rapist and rescued by the dashing Ricardo Garcia, she not only becomes more aware of the handsome man, but also vows that she'll never be a damsel in distress again. Using the timeless method of blackmail, she convinces her uncle to teach her to fight and becomes a masked crusader in the night, saving other damsels from robbers and rough handling.

However, scandalous rumors and dwindling funds force Ricardo and Catalina to marry. Not immune to each other's charms, their marriage starts fiery, but when one of Catalina's nightly escapades results in dire consequences, she is forced to spurn her husband's amorous advances…or reveal a secret that could turn him away from her forever.

Ricardo’s not a man to be cuckolded or left in the dark. Is his wife having an affair with El Capitan, the masked savior? If so…they will both pay.

New Line Dedicated to Africa at Decadent Publishing

Decadent Publishing is starting a new line dedicated to Africa. Whether the African setting, culture, and/or concept, involving African and/or African-origin characters, or expats in Africa, this is the line that will bring the spotlight on this exotic, foreign world, in a twist with romance and sweep-you-off-your-feet storylines.

Headed by Zee Monodee (a long-time freelance editor and former senior editor of an e-publisher, as well as a native of Africa with a multicultural background), the line is set to launch in March 2013, and Decadent Publishing is looking for submissions to fill this lineup.
Here's the spec sheet for this submission call:

Africa... Land of the serengeti, of wide savannas, where exotic wild animals like giraffes stroll through your backyard— *sound of a screeching turn-disk*

If this is your idea of modern Africa, you’d be way off the mark! Come check out the stories from our Ubuntu line, and view contemporary Africa like you’ve never seen it before!

Ubuntu (“I am what Iam because of who we all are.”) embraces the notion of community, of roots, of spreading your arms open in welcome.

Our stories from the Ubuntu line reflect this philosophy, and take you to Africa to meet the people from that far-away, unknown-to-many land.

Take a peek at modern Africa. This is a world where, on the backdrop of the famine crisis in Darfur and Somalia, of political unrest in countries like the Democratic Republic of Congo and Egypt, millions step into the global village and embrace the fast-paced life offered by technology and the Internet. Multinational companies have offices in many African capitals, opening the way for a slew of expatriates to settle in those countries, where the world’s biggest brand names like Hugo Boss and Lacoste are opening outlets.

Don’t also forget that Africa is not only the black continent – a handful of islands make up the African territory, as well. From minerals-rich Madagascar (and the land of Black Magic, still practiced to this day!) to tourist hot-spots like Mauritius, the Seychelles, and the Maldives – islander culture opens up another world to exploit in your writing. And in the top, northern parts of Africa, meet the Arab world in the countries of the Maghreb (Tunisia, Morocco, Algeria, among others).

With its rich history, Africa has native African clans and tribes, colonist white populations – British, French, and Afrikaners –Indian-origin people who emigrated as traders and/or indentured labor, Chinese people who came in as traders.

We want to see your stories set in any of these locations. Whether your characters are expats, foreigners on a visit, native Africans (of black, white, Indian, Chinese, Arab, etc, descent!), show us the true face of Africa as people experience it every day. Think The Joy Luck Club meets Out Of Africa – the former a story of generational conflict between immigrant mothers and their daughters brought up in their adopted country’s culture; the latter a sweeping saga on the backdrop of the African landscape, setting, and context. Give us both; give us either or; but give us something in and/or from Africa.

We are mainly looking for romance (especially Interracial/Multicultural stories! But all sub-genres are welcome), and will consider any storyline with a theme and/or location pertaining to Africa.

Heat level – no Heat ceiling for these stories. From Sweet to Sensual to Erotic, let the romance run the gamut. For Erotica, we still wish to see a solid, Africa-based/themed plot.

Length – up to 55K

Standard Decadent Publishing submissions rules and guidelines apply. A submissions form must be sent in with every manuscript; you can request the form at submissions@decadentpublishing.com

When submitting, please mention “Ubuntu” in the subject line.

Any questions can be directed to Zee Monodee at the following address zeemonodee@gmail.com