I’ve been on a hiatus, this is true, but hopefully the hardcore readers are still around and now we can have some good fun and get down and dirty.

I’ve got some good news and some bad news for you.

I’ve become bored with romance novels. I told a friend this and she said that I should begin writing. But I can barely maintain a blog, let alone plot a decent story, and while some are happy with submitting, editing and publishing lukewarm to crappy shit, I prefer not to pollute the earth with my wanna-be dreams. So, alas, dear readers, I will not become a writer. But never fear, I will begin maintaining my blog on a more regular basis with more reviews.

So there you go, some good news and bad some news. You can decipher which is which. Ok, let’s go…

Solaine

I’ve been away for a couple of days and will be away until Saturday, June 17. I will check email and will reply as I can, which may be before but certainly will be after June 17. Mommy is in town and I am showing her around. We’ll be going away for a couple of days, specifically to the Northern Province to a game park to see the “Big 5.” I’ll post some pics when I return. Now that finals are over and winter break is in sight, I’ve been taking some time away from the G4 (Powerbook that is). But you want some reviews, you say?

Books reviews I will post upon my return (in no particular order):

Hell Kat by Vivi Anna

All U Can Eat by Emma Holly

Wolf Tales by Kate Douglas

101 Degrees Fahrenheit by Eva Gale

Leaving Mama by Bobbie Cole

Wishes by Stella and Audra Price

And some random quickies that I’ll get into while away for a couple of days.

Don’t forget that June is “Read a Quickie” month and to entice you to do so, I’ll have an impromptu fun contest. Send me a review of an erotic romance ebook quickie and I will choose among them and post a couple when I return. If I pick your review to post, then I’ll send you something fun in the mail from my vacationing (no matter where in the world you are). I won’t be editing your review, so please check it over, I’ll only post those which are ready to go and have something good to say so be honest and use spell check. Have fun!

Regards, Solaine

My TBR pile (click for larger image)

Solaine likes print books, too!

Dear Ann,

The measure of a good writer is one who is able to take a reader into another world, especially a world that the reader is not particularly interested in, and keep them engaged until the last page. I’ve never been a huge fan of science fiction in romance because it just made my head hurt having to figure things out — I’d always wanted a simple plot, nice characters and good sexual tension. I think I keep coming back to your work because my reaction to it keeps surprising me: from contemporary to erotic horror, science fiction, and futuristic, your story telling is what draws me in. Your latest, Wolf Dance, continued the trend for me, and I hope you expand on this world because I’d love to read more about it.

I have to admit, I found myself a bit jealous of Yuki. Yuki is a Nu Seato orphan. Both rescued and damned by scientific experimentation, he now works as a popular exotic dancer in a nightclub. One night while dancing, Yuki is shocked to make a connection with Oram, a dark, dangerous looking stranger in the club with a powerful aura. Oram is beyond hot. While Yuki is the pretty one, Oram’s alpha personality and possessiveness is seductive and the way that he effects Yuki sent tingles down my spine. Oram seeks Yuki out after the show, inviting him to a private party where he’d be the guest of honor. Yuki, overwhelmed by his attraction to Oram, attends the party despite his reservations and while there, learns that his attraction to Oram runs deeper than he could ever imagine.

Wolf Dance focuses more on Yuki’s realization and resolution of past confusions, yet I felt like Oram was the one ultimately saved. On a superficial level, there seemed to be more character development of Yuki than Oram, ie. information about Yuki’s past as an orphan and later as a guinea pig, his brush with death and the wolf that saves him, and his restoration back to living a normal life. However I liked learning about Oram through his candid actions. The tender way Oram treated Yuki spoke more about Oram’s personality than filler text would have.

I agree with you, the ending was a bit corny, but it worked! The character’s histories made is so that the story felt longer than it was, and the ending appropriate, although this could’ve worked just as nicely as a full novel with drama occuring between Yuki and Oram’s camp as their relationship developed. I enjoyed this latest read from you and I was pleased that you kept the same intensity and vibrancy with your m/m love stories. I’ll be looking for more Yaoi stories (hint, hint).

Sincerely, Solaine

Bam reviews Bonnie Dee’s Bone Deep. Makes me wanna pick it up.

Solaine and Amiga review Jan Springer’s Colter’s Revenge via AIM:

Solaine (S), Amiga (A)

S: whats up? did you read this story? umm, colter’s revenge by jan springer
this woman gets infected with the X-Virus which makes her submissive to men *rolls eyes*

A: i hated that story

S: that story is so stupid

A: i know i hated it

S: Shit makes me think my niece could write a novel
what kinda line is this: “Another command. The submissive feeling washed over her again. This time she didn’t bother to fight it. She needed all her strength to do what he’d just told her to do.“
the submissive feeeling washed over her?
like passed over her, she was annointed with the feeling
because of the virus

A: i know
it was horrible
i can’t say it enough

S: ugh
how does this person get a contract?

A: the thing is, i’ve never liked the books in this series
never
the first one made you think it was going to be a threesome
but they run away to live on a boat

S: hahaha
this is a series?

A: yes
it’s horrible

S: ok, he is now inserting ginger root into her canals for sexual pleasure
*sucks teeth*
I am done, going to bed

A: k, night

Kensington Publishing has finally taken the plunge into eBook publishing. Each month we are selecting titles from amongst our offerings of romance, mysteries, thrillers, gay fiction, erotica and general non-fiction. As we see the usage expand, we will continue to offer an even greater selection every month. Initially we started with making books available only in Adobe pdf formats; we are now expanding into Mobipocket and MS Reader as well.

Unlike many publishers we are pricing our eBooks several dollars less than the traditional book due to the savings in not having to physically print books. All of our files will be encrypted so that you are only able to download one copy of the book for yourself. This protects the author’s copyright of their book and insures that they receive their proper royalties on this emerging format of publishing.

We hope you’ll give eBooks a try. (via Kensington’s website)

Oh my word! I’m a fan of the ebook publishers, but it’s about time the print publishers begin tapping into the international ebook community. A greater reach of readership + less printing costs + lower prices = more readers purchasing your books. Kensington is starting out with a couple of titles a month, probably to test it out and see how popular this option is. As the success grows, they’ll offer more titles in ebook format. So go support ebook love and pick up a story today (or, like me, whenever you finally have money…).

All ebooks in Adobe PDF formats.

Browse the Aphrodisia line.

update: One of my astute author friends has informed me that ebooks have been available for a while now at Kensington and that around January, you could not purchase the ebooks outside of the US and Canada because Kensington didn’t negotiate worldwide electronic rights. I don’t see a notice up on Kensington’s site limiting the books to certain regions anymore, so hopefully they’ve resolved this issue. If not, you can always download the book off Amazon.com.

Well this colorful reviewer is excited to see the opening of Cobblestone Press mainly because the covers look great and the owners, Deanna Lee and Sable Grey are authors/artists with experience. However they need to work a bit on the website. I’m sure all the kinks will ironed soon, but I’ll be keeping my eye on this new epublisher. If anyone picks up any of these titles soon, let me know how it turned out.
Regards, Solaine

When I read comments like these by print authors it makes me even more diligent to get out the word about ebooks and erotic romance.

I have a little note I hope reaches every close minded, uppity, old school “traditional” romance writer who feels the need to bash erotic romance: Get the fuck over it. Erotic romance is here to stay, and has been around for a while. Ebooks have definitely accelerated the spread of erotic romance by introducing readers to different types of stories, but here’s a newsflash: many of those readers were looking for something spicier. I came upon ebooks through a PRINT author’s site. Yep, Emma Holly links to Angela Knight at EC in her recommended reads, and I’ll forever be thankful for that awakening in my young life. Before Emma Holly I gobbled up Susan Johnson and Robin Schone like candy. I gravitated toward the alpha males in Diana Palmer’s stories, and was pleasantly excited by Linda Howard’s more explicit scenes in Dream Man and the MacKenzie series. When my favorite authors lost their minds ventured into suspense and mystery, EC saved romance for me.

Erotic romance is not just about using four letter words and “kinky” scenarios. Many print authors who may not label their stories “erotic” still manage to write very compelling erotic stories without even using four letter words: Elizabeth Lowell’s earlier historical and western romances come to mind. And let’s not forget Dara Joy, a veteran in the game of paranormal, erotic and innovative romance stories who without a doubt has influenced authors like Jaid Black and Lora Leigh.

Wanna call it chick porn? You can call it whatever the hell you want, I don’t care either way, labels don’t scare me from picking up a good story or trying a new author. And they sure don’t stop my mother, who recently found one of my print EC books and demanded to know where she could get more, my sister who is now a regular Wednesday shopper at EC and who encouraged me to review so she knows which ones to pick up, my cousin who is bringing ISBN numbers to Borders to get her favorite ebooks in stock, and my friends who thank me as I email them about a new story I’ve enjoyed.

Given the already close-minded bias against romance within literary circles, I’m disappointed that writers and readers are turning on other members within our community. Print authors need not forget: all erotic romance readers were once and probably still are “traditional” romance readers as well. Don’t alienate your readership out of pettiness, spitefulness and jealousy because your books aren’t selling like they used to. You don’t want to write hotter, then don’t, but lay off the people who do. I recommend you spend your time a bit more productively, go write a novel or something.

Tired of having to defend her reading choices, it’s 2006 not 1886,
Solaine

Dear Ms. Hayes,

Since many readers are taking the brave steps to out themselves as rabid fan girls (aka RFGs) of particular authors, I’m gonna go ahead and admit to being one of your down-low Stans. This may have colored my review of your story but as long as you keep writing the hits, I’ll keep reading them!

When it comes to erotic romances I tend to shy away from the “funny” tales, so I was surprised to find myself laughing out loud while reading Miss October. This a good story of an uber Alpha male jerk, and a strong, independent woman who find love when they least expect it.

Tavia is a romance writer who became widely successful after a few books. Now, she’s looking to settle down with a man who wants her for herself, and not her money. When she meets Bolt, an overbearing, borderline Neanderthal, she’s horrifically attracted to his maleness, and a bit perturbed to find out that a strong man is good to have around.

Bolt is not what I’d call every woman’s fantasy. His features are grim, his attitude stinks and he’s a bit of an asshole — and I fell in love with him just like Tavia did. Bolt wasn’t afraid to love Tavia enthusiastically, and by the middle of the story I found myself looking forward to his inappropriately witty comments and outrageous behavior. This is a light read with some great social implications about women and appearances. Whereas many authors tend to draw out and harp on big(ger) woman’s insecurities, Bolt’s straightforward attitude toward Tavia’s size was refreshing. Bolt put new life into the cliché that actions speak louder than words.

You did a great job with this next installment of your Calendar Girl series, and I can’t wait to see what you have in store next. Will you be writing Alex’s story (I feel bad for him)?

Regards, Solaine

Yes, I’m a little late on this one, but better late than never, right?

I wasn’t able to attend this year’s RT Convention, and given the astronomical amount it costs to go, I’m not sure if I’ll ever attend one, but I love to see the pictures and put faces to names. Of course, Joy of Joyfully Reviewed was on top of her picture game! She has tons of great photos. My favorite one is of Dakota Cassidy giving Joy the tongue .Go check them out:

RT Pics at Joyfully Reviewed Chatting

Oh, and apparently Cheryl Holt named herself the reigning queen of erotic romance. Hmm, I feel a little miseducated since I’ve never read any of her books, is she really that popular?

Later, Solaine