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Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Downton Abby

Season 2 is coming out on DVD in America soon and I feel the need to watch it. Since I haven't watched season 1 of Downton Abby, I need to catch up. It's set 100 years after the time I usually write in, but it's still a scandalously epic show.


Has anyone watched it? Thoughts?

Monday, January 30, 2012

Weekly Goal #5

I may complain about this weekly goal thing, but it's really helped in keeping things moving. Between this nasty cold that won't go away and life in general it's been a month.

Last week I wanted to post 2 reviews on Goodreads for books I've read while on the couch with the worst of this cold. I managed one. This week I want to do 2. Don't want to push myself (I know myself all too well) but definitely 2 reviews posted this week.

I'm also going to finish Covet: A Regency Ménage Tale. I'm so close I can taste it! But I want to make it good, I want to make it worthy of its title. I don't want to cheat either my readers or characters.

Friday, January 27, 2012

Friday Recipe: Crispy Garlic-Sage Potatoes

This is from the Food Network's winter veggie site. I'm a sucker for all things potatoe and this is a delicious side. The garlic does help!

Directions
Put a baking sheet on the bottom oven rack and preheat to 375 degrees F. Peel 4 pounds Yukon gold potatoes and cut into wedges. Toss with 1/2 cup olive oil, 6 chopped sage leaves, 2 sprigs sage, 2 teaspoons kosher salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Spread on the hot baking sheet and roast 30 minutes. Stir, then add 8 smashed garlic cloves; continue roasting until golden, about 30 minutes. Increase the temperature to 400 degrees F and cook until crisp, 15 more minutes. Season with salt.

Thursday, January 26, 2012

Thursday Thoughts

What if. I love that game. Not just the what if I won a million dollars, but more, like imagining what the world would be like if...playing it with history is always fun.

Today's what if:



  • What if Russia landed on the moon first...would it now be colonized? Would we be visiting the moon on a regular basis like we fly to England? What would our technology be like?

It's an interesting premise and I love playing around with ideas like that. Because who knows what could've happen or what might happen? It's the great thing about fiction.

Tell me, what are some of your what ifs?

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Wednesday Sexy Regency: Excerpt

The Masque: A Hellfire Club Erotique:


Warning: explicit m/m scene.



Sebastian, le Comte de Courville, pounded into his lover. Anger unabated at the news of Louise’s death, he tried to block out the last time he saw her, mere weeks ago when she told him of her foolhardy plan. Sebastian moved faster, pounding into Julien, hands digging into the other man’s lean hips as he took his sorrow and rage out on his lover.

Julien shuddered beneath him, hips thrusting back to meet Sebastian’s punishing pace, and he knew the younger man was close to losing his prized control. Sebastian moved faster, harder, determined to break Julien’s control, to hear his lover’s groans of release, to feel him break beneath him. He growled, unable to restrain the sound that escaped him.

Shaking the hair from his face, he felt his own need wind tighter and tighter. Something from the doorway of his private rooms caught his attention and he looked in that direction.

What made him do so, Sebastian couldn’t have said. Through the haze of passion he saw Olivia standing there. She watched them with wide eyes; a flush stained her cheeks and Sebastian could see her chest heaving with every breath.

She watched Julien with rapt attention, brown eyes widening as she stared at his body. Sebastian continued to move within Julien, his own orgasm coiling tighter as Olivia watched him thrust in and out of his lover. Then her gaze moved, and he saw the reluctance with which it did so.

Olivia met his gaze, her hand raised to her décolletage and rested lightly on the swell of her breasts.

He wanted her.

Seeing her there, riveted to he and Julien enjoying each other, Sebastian wanted her. Desire for her slammed through him. Her eyes continued to hold his and Sebastian saw a myriad of emotions.

Sebastian faltered his movements, though his body screamed for release. Olivia stood there, beautiful, naïve in the ways of sex, and utterly enchanting because of it. He wanted to beckon her in, invite, entice, her to join them.

Her look wasn’t the normal lust-filled gaze of so many in the Club and he hadn’t expected it to be. Olivia’s gaze held a surprised curiosity, an innocence he couldn’t seem to resist.

Beneath him, Julien shifted and Sebastian glanced down to see his lover also looking at Olivia. She met his gaze, then Julien’s. Without a word, turned and fled the room. Sebastian had the strangest need to follow her.

Amazon
All Romance eBooks
Barnes and Noble
Bookstrand

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

5 Star Review

Just Erotic Romance Reviews gave my new story, The Masque: A Hellfire Club Erotique, 5 stars!

You can read the whole review here, but this is my favorite:


The gorgeous storyline of The Masque combined incredibly erotic encounters between the three with an ongoing element of danger that had me on the edge of my seat....If you like historical romance novels but are tired of reading about the ton, don't miss out on this awesomely unique book by a very talented author!

Monday, January 23, 2012

Weekly Goal #4

Am now over the hump of hating this weekly goal thing. It was a small bump in my road. Course so was this cold. (It's not bronchitis!) I can barely concentrate on typing in my password in, let alone word count.

1. Finish act of Covet: A Regency Menage Tale. I separate all my stories into 5 acts, no matter the length, and am nearing the end of Act 3. I so wanted to have this story finished and out by now, but I've been sick and it's not so easy to write when you can't breathe.

2. Review stories I've read while sick. I understand the value of reader reviews and would like to offer reviews for the books I've read. I'm not so good at this, but my goal this week is to write reviews for at least 2 of the stories I've read and post them on GoodReads.

Friday, January 20, 2012

Friday Recipe: Slow Cooker Beef Pot Roast

Always a good winter recipe, the crockpot pot roast is so tender and juicy it's hard not to go back for seconds. Geez, I sound like a commerical! Well, yes. I suppose I am, but I've made variations of this recipe for a while now and it never disappoints.

Prep Time: 15 Min
Cook Time: 8 Hrs
Ready In: 8 Hrs 15 Min

Ingredients
1 onion, sliced
1/4 cup all-purpose flour (I use unbleached King Arthur cause it's made in America and I don't need to worry about extranious poison in it)
1 (2 1/2 pound) boneless beef chuck roast
1 pinch salt and ground black pepper to taste
1 (1.2 ounce) package dry beef gravy mix
1 (1 ounce) package ranch dressing mix
1 (.7 ounce) package dry Italian-style salad dressing mix
1/2 cup water, or as needed
5 whole peeled carrots (optional but what's a good roast without veggies?)


Directions
Spray the inside of a slow cooker with cooking spray. Spread the onion slices out into the bottom of the cooker.
Spread the flour out onto a work surface. Sprinkle the chuck roast with salt and black pepper, and roll the roast in the flour to coat all sides. Using the edge of a small, sturdy plate, pound the flour into the meat. Place the floured roast into the cooker on top of the onions. Whisk together beef gravy mix, ranch dressing mix, and Italian dressing mix in a bowl, and whisk the mixes with water until smooth. Pour over the chuck roast. Distribute carrots around the meat.
Cover the cooker, set to Low, and cook until the roast is tender and the gravy has thickened, about 8 hours.

Nutritional Information
Amount Per Serving Calories: 385 Total Fat: 22g Cholesterol: 87mg

Thursday, January 19, 2012

Thursday Thoughts: SOPA and Wiki

So now that everyone survived a day without Wikipedia, what do you think? Can it be done? Curious minds want to know. Because remember...the library has information for free, too!


That and your take on SOPA.


Mine? Great in theory, will never be executed well. Who's to say what's censorship? One person's interest is another's nightmare. That's why we have the First Amendment.




Photo from groomforsuccess.com

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Wednesday Sexy Regency: Men

What different kinds of men in the Regency era were there? Loads, but just the obligatory rogue/rake. Those are fun, don't get me wrong, but there are plenty of others out there.




The Buck: The man's man, spirited and sexual. Think Errol Flynn, the handsome debonair man who men wanted to be and women just wanted.



The Beau: Didn't have to be handsome, but did have to be fashionable. Which meant more then than it does now. He needed a certain something-something...think Brad Pitt, a certain swagger and desire for attention.



The Corinthian: Fashionably sporty. Because every man needed fashion, let's face it. Think Iron Man competitors or Johnny Weismuller (of Tarzan fame). Athletic and dashing.



The Dandy: Leader of fashion who spoke of it ad nausea. Yeah, like Beau Brummell. In fact, he was the Dandy's king. Clean clothes, exquisite tailoring, and leaders of fashion, not followers.



The Nonsuch: The epitome of the well-rounded man. Fashion, sports, a leader among men. People defer to him in all things. George Clooney. Nuff Said.



Pinks and Tulips: I do not make these up. They did! Honest. A Pink showed the height of fashion and a Tulip dressed exceptionally well. Georgio Armani.



The Fop: Almost exactly like the Dandy, but loved to talk and talk and talk, and had ostentatious adornments like Elton John and Liberace.



The Fribble: Not the milkshake, but more like an effeminate fop.



Bartholomew Baby: Tawdry or gaudy clothes. Maybe Steven Tyler from Aerosmith? Possibly yes.



Coxcomb: Foolish and concerted. Or foolishly conceded fop. Take your pick of any politician or ego-centric actor.


All information came from Georgette Heyer's Regency World by Jennifer Kloester

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

Guest: Lucy Felthouse

A wedding, an evil plan, a love story and a sacrifice are the order of the day in this modern retelling of Snow White and the Huntsman.

Susie White and her stepmother-to-be have never seen eye to eye, despite all of Susie’s best efforts to be friendly. Eager not to spoil her father’s happiness, Susie still agrees to be bridesmaid at their wedding. When the big day comes, she meets Louise’s right hand man, Scott. Susie had never believed in love at first sight until that moment. The pair hit it off, sharing a mutual dislike of Louise and her wicked ways. Their camaraderie quickly develops into something more, and they date in secret until it’s time for Susie to leave for University – and freedom. Unfortunately, Scott has an earth-shattering revelation, which means the two of them of them must work together to unravel Louise’s evil plan, before it’s too late.

More info and buy links


Excerpt:
I should have known my stepmother was up to something when she offered to help me move all my stuff to my University digs. It wasn’t like her to be civil, much less helpful, but I figured that she was happy I was moving hundreds of miles away, and therefore would do anything to make sure it happened as quickly as possible.

As my father’s only child, I’m the sole heir to White’s Bites, a massively profitable confectionary company based in Wiltshire, England. My stepmother had made no secret of the fact she resented that she wouldn’t get a stake in the business, should anything happen to my father. Of course, the reason for this was that my father knew the first thing the witch would do was put the business on the market to get her greedy little hands on the cash. I, on the other hand, loved White’s Bites and would continue to run it to the best of my ability.

We’d never seen eye to eye, my stepmother and I. However, it wasn’t the usual ‘child resents someone trying to replace their parent’ syndrome, it was her that resented me.

My mom had died of cancer when I was fifteen. My father and I were devastated, as you’d expect, but I’d always urged him to get on with his life. After all, it’s what mom would have wanted, and I certainly didn’t want my dad to be lonely when I got married and left home.

So, a couple of years later, when dad met Louise and they started dating, I was thrilled. He was happy, therefore so was I. Soon it became more serious and dad wanted me to meet her. I was excited, but nervous.

When the time came and Louise had walked into our house, I’d been in awe. Don’t get me wrong, my mom had been beautiful, but in a natural way, as if she didn’t realise, or care. But Louise clearly did. Her gorgeous hair was perfectly quaffed, and her attractive features were enhanced by expertly applied makeup. Her outfit looked like something from a fashion magazine. I managed to pull myself together before she saw me standing there, all slack-jawed and stupid-looking. Walking towards her, I’d held out a hand.

“Louise!” I’d said, beaming, “I’m so pleased to finally meet you. Dad’s told me so much about you.”
She’d smiled thinly and without any real emotion. “Charmed, I’m sure, Susan.” She’d shaken my hand gingerly, as though she was afraid she’d catch something. I’d half expected her to wipe her hand on her clothes afterwards.

“Oh please, call me Susie.” I’d said, ignoring her odd behaviour. I’d been eager to get on with the woman, knowing it would please my father. “Everyone does.”

Another tight-lipped smile. I’d tried hard to make conversation with her and make her feel comfortable in our home. But I never felt like I was succeeding. At first, I put it down to her being nervous or shy, but as weeks and months passed, I still never felt as though Louise warmed to me. I never bothered my father with my concerns. After all, as long as she liked him, what did it matter?
While Louise and my father were just dating, things weren’t too bad. They went to restaurants, the theatre, the cinema, and so on. I didn’t see her very often, and therefore didn’t have to put up with her frosty behaviour towards me.

Naturally, everything changed when dad told me he was going to ask Louise to marry him. He’d sat me down to break the news – fortunately – and I’d done my best to act delighted. Luckily, dad hadn’t noticed anything was amiss, and as he’d chatted about ceremonies, honeymoons and Louise moving in, a cold shiver had run up my back. This could not end well.

About the Author:


Lucy is a graduate of the University of Derby, where she studied Creative Writing. During her first year, she was dared to write an erotic story - so she did. It went down a storm and she's never looked back. Lucy has had stories published by Cleis Press, Constable and Robinson, House of Erotica, Noble Romance, Ravenous Romance, Summerhouse Publishing, Sweetmeats Press and Xcite Books. She is also the editor of Uniform Behaviour and Seducing the Myth. Find out more at http://www.lucyfelthouse.co.uk. You can also find her on Facebook and Twitter. You can also subscribe to her newsletter at: http://eepurl.com/gMQb9

Monday, January 16, 2012

Weekly Goals #3

I know exactly why I never make resolutions and why something like 80% of resolution makers never follow through with them.

Good God, this goal thing is HARD! It's bad enough keeping up with it but what more do I need to say? I write I work I don't get enough sleep. I wake in the morning and do the whole thing again. Family, friends, keeping in touch.

But I'm going to try, after all this is only week THREE. I'm not even out of January yet!

I did manage to watch cute baby animal videos because they're all over the web. What? It's a good way to de-stress after aggravation at work. And I have almost 15,000 words in Covet, a story I absolutely adore.

Weekly goals:
1. Covet. I need to get this story finished. I'm finally in the heads of my characters and I'm so close to where I want to be.
2. The Escape...polish it and send it off to the editor.
3. Get out of this rut I'm in. Winter Blues? Not really but early darkness doesn't help.

Friday, January 13, 2012

Friday Recipe: Chicken and Ginger Soup

I read this recipe in the January 2012 Bon Appétit magazine. It was in a section on how to cleanse and restore yourself after the overindulgance of the holidays. (Their photo, not mine.) I altered this recipe because I don't like ginger and when you eat it as is it's hot.

Ingredients:
1 onion, sliced
2 celery stalks, chopped
8 ounces unpeeled scrubbed ginger, cut into 1/2"-thick slices (I recommend less. Far, far less unless you absolutely adore ginger and don't mind the overpowering flavor of it!)
2 garlic cloves, crushed
10 whole black peppercorns
1 3-pound whole organic chicken, cut into 7 pieces (2 breasts, 2 legs with thighs attached, 2 wings, 1 back) (I used Perdue. Were they organic? Nope. But they were delicious!)
Kosher salt
Cilantro leaves (optional--which I didn't add)


Preparation:

Combine the first 5 ingredients in a large heavy pot. Add chicken, placing breasts on top. Add 6 quarts water (preferably filtered or spring water--my water isn't so bad that boiling it won't kill whatever I need to); bring to a boil over medium-high heat.

Cover with lid slightly ajar. Reduce heat to low; simmer until chicken breasts are just cooked through, about 30 minutes. Transfer chicken breasts to a plate; let cool, then cover and chill. Continue to simmer soup, uncovered, until broth is fully flavored, about 2 1/2 hours longer. Return breasts to soup to rewarm, about 5 minutes.

Remove chicken from broth. When cool enough to handle, coarsely shred meat; discard skin and bones. Place a fine-mesh sieve over another large pot; strain broth, discarding solids in strainer (you should have about 8 cups broth). Season with salt.

Rewarm soup. Divide chicken among bowls. Pour hot broth over, dividing equally. Garnish soup with cilantro leaves, if desired.

Thursday, January 12, 2012

Thursday Thoughts

So this week has been all screwy for me. I posted my Wednesday Sexy Regency on Tuesday and I'm fairly certain I deleted the post I had for Tuesday. It's been hellacious at work! Like running around non-stop crazy.

Every have days like that? Yeah, all the time, huh. Rather than dwell, because we all have them and they can happen on a regular basis, I'm going to put it behind me. Today's funnies are brought to you by Week #2 of 2012 (it's gonna get better!) and Funny Pictures 24.


Wait, this is my last sip



My Lost Love




Eating hot dog

Tuesday, January 10, 2012

Wednesday Sexy Regency

Gentleman's Club




Mostly found on St. James Street, a street where women were not allowed on unescorted. Very racy street. The original Red Light District.



Why go there? Gambling, drinking, sex.



What kind of sex? The discreet kind. Sure, meeting a prostitute or having an affair is fine, but homosexual sex as well. Discretion was the key to these clubs, but even homosexual sex needed to be kept quiet.

The servants were key to this, and it was imperative to have ones that could keep their mouths shut!

More if you're interested:

Jane Austen's World
Everything of Interest to a Romance Writer
Historical Hussies

Monday, January 9, 2012

Weekly Goal #2

Las week's recap: I did write every day. WOOT! And I have the finished product of The Escape to prove it. Well, finished as in done, not finished as in edited...still. Done!

Week #2:
1. Continue work on Covet: A Regency Ménage Tale, which I started over the weekend.
2. Watch cute baby animal videos. What? I think they're adorable! Like this one of Siku a baby polar bear from a few weeks ago.

Covet: A Regency Ménage Tale
The truest torment is wanting something you know you can never have. Charlotte Tremaine knew this feeling all too well. She covets the freedom to do as she pleases, but has never let herself dream of being with the man she loves. The problem is, she loves two men.

For the last three years, Charlotte has survived her stifling home life by living through correspondence with two childhood friends now off at war. Once they return, will she be able to summon the courage to tell them of her feelings? Or will she let the convenience of mourning an aunt she despised keep her hidden and isolated?

Fear lurks in the shadows and threatens to keep her cloistered. When William Stanton and Grayson, Lord Warrington return from war, she teeters on the brink of having what she’s always wanted. Torn between William and Grayson, Charlotte must first learn to trust herself before she can trust her heart and body to them.

Friday, January 6, 2012

I'm at Raine Delight's today

Today I'm thrilled to be over at Raine Delight's today talking about, well, pretty much anything! She interviewed me with questions ranging from new years resolutions to my latest book. I hope you'll join me!

Thursday, January 5, 2012

Thursdays

Is there anything ever really happening on Thursdays? I remember in college the party started on Thursdays and went until you woke up (totally hung over) on Sundays and realized you have work to do. As well, that was a long time ago.

Now I look at Thursdays and wonder. It's not the start of the week, not even the hump day where you can do fun middle of the week things. It's Thursday. Or maybe I'm underappreciating the day.

What is there to do on Thursdays?


  • Thursday night football

  • Hockey (it's an any day of the week game)

  • Bowling (I add this because friends and I plan to do that tonight. First time any of us have been in, oh, a decade at least!)
When I searched "What to do on a Thursday" I got hits from sites like Yelp.com and Yahoo Answers on various things in different cities. Apparently I'm not the only one with the questions on What is there to do on a Thursday night?

Wednesday, January 4, 2012

Wednesday Sexy Regency: Passing the time

Think all Regency past times were cards, balls, carriage rides in Hyde Park, or picnics? Think again. Oh, those were definitely the highlights of the era, but there were also outdoor sports men and women enjoyed.

And no, I'm not just talking about a quickie in the woods! Mind+gutter people...Ok, I'm not just talking about that! I'm also talking about how simple pleasures such as the above mentioned can also be enjoyed much like today. Card gambling, secret looks between illicit lovers across a crowded ballroom. Secret rendezvous in Hyde Park, the to-be place to see and be seen.

The question is, how to take a seemingly innocent activity, such as a returning soldier and a ball to welcome his return home, and make it so very different from Georgette Heyer's idea of Regency?

Guilt.

Our dear soldier, Grayson, has returned from France and Napoleon's defeat at Waterloo. He's returned to his title, his estate, his childhood love, Charlotte. And carries with him the secret affair he had with his best male friend, William.

Tuesday, January 3, 2012

New year new you

I hear that all the time! But I like the me I already am. It's a crazy saying, and sure there are things I'd like to change about myself but I don't think I want to be a new me.

Actually that has nothing to do with what I'm talking about today.

Nope.

Today I'm talking about horoscopes. Do you read them or not? Sun sigh, moon sign, Chinese horoscope...why?

Just curious. It IS a new year!

Monday, January 2, 2012

2012? Weekly goals

Tis the season for resolutions, goals, and promises meant to be kept. FOR A WHOLE YEAR!

Really? I have no idea what I resolved to do last year, and I'm darn sure I didn't keep it much beyond January. If I wrote it down, it's gone. If I blogged about it, I'm not going back to look at it. It's over, it's done with, it's in the past. Must look to the future now!

Weekly goal #1:
1. Write every day. No really! This week I plan on writing every day. Whether it's a blog, 500 words in my latest ménage, or a plot. This week I shall write every day.
2. Promise to keep this up even by Friday when I don't want to. After all, it's week 1!