Meet Dawn Kirby!

Welcome Dawn Kirby!

Guess what! Dawn Kirby, author of Secrets, was kind enough to stop by and answer a few questions. Secrets is the first of a planned series focused on vampires, humans and werewolves, and, more importantly, families. 

Dawn describes herself as a "typical mom running around after her children, catering to her husband's needs, acting as a taxi driver, and gourmet chef. Then by night she falls into a world filled with shirtless werewolves, lethal vampires, and dangerous adventures." Way to go, Dawn!  

What books inspire you the most and why?

I guess I only have one answer for that question. They all do. I don’t really have a specific genre I prefer to read over another. They all have a little something to offer. Whether it be historical, educational, or make believe they can all take you to another time and place. It’s fascinating to me how easy it is to forget where you are and fall, head first into whatever world the author has created. Those worlds, their words and experiences is where I find inspiration.

Describe your writing ritual. After you spend your day catering to your family, how do you get yourself into the mindset to write?

It doesn’t take much really. After everybody is settled and fed, I sit in my little corner of the couch, Cold can of Coke beside me, turn on my laptop and try to let all the daytime stress go. It usually doesn’t take long to pick up where I left off the day before. In no time at all, I’m lost to the real world.

If you could win an Olympics gold medal for any event, winter or summer, which would you choose and why?

Oh goodness…I’m not sure. I guess if I had to pick it would be in archery. There’s just something about the skill required that has always appealed to me. (I think archery is kind of badass, Dawn, so I agree with you there. I might go for fencing, though, because a little sword play sounds kind of fun, doesn't it?)

What is a talent you wish you had?

Like Leah, I wish I could sense who people really are. Being able to surround myself with truly wonderful, genuine friends would save a lot of heartache in the long run.

What is your favorite junk food?

Hot Tamales, the little red candies. They are pure cinnamon heaven! Unfortunately I enjoy them so much, it’s really easy to lose track of how many I’ve actually had.

If you fell in love with a vampire, would you want him to change you into one?

I don’t think I would. Living forever is way too long. 

Now that you know more about Dawn Kirby, go support her by buying your very own copy of Secrets (available on Amazon.com). It's entertaining, and it isn't your typical vampires and werewolves tale. We love authors, and we love books, so GO!

Dirty Little Secret #53

Welcome to Dirty Little Secret, a weekly meme hosted by Under the Covers. Every Thursday we get to know other bloggers and our readers more intimately by asking them a question hoping to reveal their dirty little secrets. We hope that you will all join us!

To participate in the meme all you need to do is:

1. Be a follower of Under the Covers.

2. Create a post in your blog taking the meme image (code above) and copy instructions.

3. Answer the question we propose! This can be done in any way you like, post a video, write a post etc.

4. Then add your link below.

Non-bloggers: We want to hear from you as well!!! Let us know your answer in the comments!

We hope you join us and let us know your Dirty Little Secrets!

This week's question: 

What book would you recommend to to heat up your summer!

I've got this one. The book you need to read to heat up your summer is Bared to You, by Sylvia Day. This book is HOT, people. It's an erotic romance, and is the first of a planned trilogy. You will see some similarities to my boy Christian Grey, but I think Bared to You has hotter sex scenes.

Read it with the air conditioning cranked and a cold beverage nearby, because you will get HOT.

Sexy Snippets: Circle of Danger by Carla Swafford

Hey, kids! it's time for another meme from Reading Between the Wines. This time, your assignment - if you choose to accept it - is to turn to a random page in the book you currently are reading and post a sexy paragraph or two, so other participants can add the book to their TBR list if they like. Then add your post to the linky below so everyone can follow along. Have a sexy good time!
I'm reading Circle of Danger, by Carla Swafford, which evidently is a follow-up to Circle of Desire, a book I have not read. I don't feel like I need to read it to understand Circle of Danger, which, quite frankly, I can't figure out if I like or not. But it has some hotness, so without further ado:

"No! Again. Please!"

So he sank back into her warmth and pushed her knees toward her shoulders as he hammered into her. She screamed and climaxed again.

Hell! She felt so good. He had to let go. Please let it happen this time.

No matter how he positioned her, his need grew with no relief. He didn't care. Her satisfaction only mattered. Her hands pushed beneath his jeans and travelled over his hips, stroking scars he'd never thought were erogenous until now.

"More," she pleaded. 

Uh, yeah. She's under some kind of drug that makes her crave sexy times, and he's able to scratch her itch, but not to his own completion.

If you know what I mean.

Like I said ... so far, I feel like the premise is just ridiculously silly, but the thriller part - can they catch the bad guy - is keeping me going. The headboard rockin' isn't bad, but I'm hoping the hero can, you know, release.

18 & Over Blogger Follow #33: (Cat)Fight Club!

18 & Over Blogger Follow is a weekly feature that begins on Fridaysand runs through the weekend, hosted by Crystal fromReading Between the Wines. This is a Friday blog hop with theobjective to find and visit other book blogs that share the same interest as you, namely books geared towards the 18 & over crowd,and make some new friends!

How to join in:

-You should run a book blog that features and reviews mostly adult reads, some Y.A.’s are okay but 18 & over adult reads should be your majority.

-Make a separate post for the 18 & Over Book Blogger Follow on your blog.

-Copy the html for the button above and place it at the top of your post.

-List & answer the ‘Question of the Week.’

-Place your name and blog title in the linky below and the url for a direct link to your post

-Visit the other blogs on the list and say 'Hi!' Following each blog is not mandatory but I know it is always appreciated, and if someone comments saying they’re a new follower it’s polite to follow back. J It’s always nice to spread the 18 & Over Book Blogging love!

-Contact me (readingbetweenthewines10 at gmail dot com) with any questions!

This week's question:

Fight Club! Heroine v. Heroine. Pick your two favorite

kick-ass book heroines and pit them against each other.

Who would win?

In this corner, the unlikely kick-ass heroine Elizabeth Bennet, from Pride and Prejudice. Elizabeth may not literally kick your ass with her hands or feet, but her wit and intelligence will leave you so discombobulated that you won't realize that you've lost until it's too late. She put a beat down on Lady Catherine de Bourgh and on Miss Bingley, two formidable opponents. She also snared Mr. Darcy. <Insert heavy sigh here> Even more importantly, Mr. Darcy loved her for who she was, imperfections and all, and, unlike a lot of women, Elizabeth did not change to get the man. She changed when she wanted and how she wanted. 

And in this corner, Eponine, the kicking-assiest character EVER, from Les Misérables. I know some may think that Eponine is weak - she pines for a man who will never love her, and she helps him with his assignations with the woman he does love - but to me, Eponine is a total kick-ass. SHE determines how she will live. SHE determines how she will die. She loves Marius, and even though he does return her love, she chooses how she will deal with it. 

I realize these are not traditional kick-ass heroines in the Katniss Everdeen vein, but they both kick lots of ass. I don't know which one would win, but whichever one does, it will be on her terms. 

Who are your kick-ass heroines, and which one would win in a fight?

Dirty Little Secret

The fine folks at Under the Covers host a weekly meme all about the stuff we don't want you to know. 

To participate in the meme, all you need to do is:

1. Be a follower of Under the Covers
2. Create a post in your blog taking the image above and copying the instructions
3. Answer the question we propose! This can be done in any way you like - post a video, write a post, etc.
4. Then add your link below.

Non-bloggers: we want to hear from you as well! Let us know your answer in the comments.

We hope you join and let us know your Dirty Little Secrets!

This week's question: 

With the upcoming release of MAGIC MIKE where some of the hottest guys strip nekkid and shake their ummmm assets, we want to know YOUR fantasy cast! 


If you could choose six of the hottest stars to shake their moneymakers for you, which guys would it be? 

Six hot guys? Well, then. 

We shall begin with my Spiritual Fiancé, Bruce Springsteen. Minus that awful soul patch, which I do not like. Bruce, my darling, my pretend boyfriend since I was fourteen. Please shave that thing off your chin. Or better yet, let me do it. He is 62-years-old and can "perform" for nearly four hours. All that intense focus he normally puts on the guitar and the audience placed squarely on YOU and making YOU happy. Girls. Need I say more?

Next on the docket is Clive Owen, who looks all sweary and forceful - in a good way. And those eyes. Oh, Clive Owen. CLIVE OWEN. You are delicious.

Number three: Michael Fassbender. And I haven't even seen the movie where he reveals his naughty bits. I mean Michael Fassbender as Mr. Rochester. Like Clive Owen, he's another Brit who appears very sweary and forceful - as if he'd grab you by the hair, throw you on the bed, and make you scream for more.

Number four: Alex O'Loughlin. The Moonlight Alex O'Loughlin, with the shaggy hair, not the Hawaii 5-0 Alex O'Loughlin with the short hair. Longer hair, please. The sort you can grab onto, if you know what I mean.

Number five: Riggins. I mean, Taylor Kitsch. Again, Taylor with the longer, Riggins-esque hair. And slightly sweaty. And not wearing a shirt.

And last, but certainly not least, Brendan Shanahan. For those of you who follow hockey, Brendan played on the Detroit Red Wings - a team I do not love, by the way - and won a few Stanley Cups with them. He works for the NHL now and enforces discipline. Maybe I've read too much Fifty Shades stuff lately, but enforcing discipline? Please, Brendan Shanahan. PLEASE. 

So there you go. Six I'd love to see buck nekkid and ready to go. And by "ready," I think you all know what I'm talking about. If you don't, bless your heart.

18 & Over Blogger Follow #32

A little Friday hotness for you ...

Crystal, from Reading Between the Wines, asks us this 18 & Over question today:
If you could go anywhere in the world,where would you go for a "readication"?
For a "readication," all I need is a comfy bed with high thread count sheets and good pillows, and reliable room service. Since I plan on ever leaving the room, it doesn't matter where I am. In fact, the less stimulating a locale the better, because I don't want to be tempted to forego the reading portion of the festivities.
No beach for me - the sweating, the sand, all that gloomy sunshine. Just a big, luxuriant bed with prompt room service that delivers good food. And a mini fridge, because I'm not paying for the minibar.
What about you?

Armchair BEA: Beyond Your Blog

Day 4 of Armchair BEA! And today's question is yet another one for which I offer lame answers, so if you're looking for enlightenment or inspiration, well, you've come to the wrong place. At least for today.

Question du jour:

Has blogging opened up opportunities for you beyond getting free, advance copies of new books? Has it helped you get offers to write or review elsewhere (maybe even for pay)? Have you gotten invites to special events or places you might not have been to otherwise? 

I'm going to blame the facts that (a) I'm fairly new to the book blogging world and (b) I am a HORRIBLE networker for my not having any opportunities beyond free, advance copies of new books. But you know what? I LOVE free, advance copies of new books. I love books ... full stop. So for me, the benefit already exceeds my expectations, because thanks to NetGalley, I have read books I never would have known about. The Replacement Wife (yes, that book again - I will berate you about it until you read it), Gone Girl, Breaking Beautiful, and Afterwards. Oh, and Twisted Thread and Girl Unmoored. 

Maybe someday my little empire will expand beyond double digit followers (bless you all, you intrepid souls who follow this blog!), but until then, I am pretty darn happy getting to read books and give you fine people my brilliant thoughts about them. 

Armchair BEA: Day Three

Today's Armchair BEA question:  

Share your positive experiences of using your blog

to get involved in your community.

Uh ... <crickets>

Okay. I've got this. I'VE GOT THIS.

No one in my local community knows that I have this blog, because (a) I'm a teacher and (b) I review things like Fifty Shades of Grey and its butt plugs and all that stuff. So ... I haven't made a positive impact on my community, nor have I gotten involved in it, in relation to this blog.

However, I did start a parent-child book club at the school where I work, and thanks to the blog, I've gotten ideas about books for future discussion. That's good, right? 

Yeah, well. It's better than nothing, I guess.

Armchair BEA: Best of 2012

Today's Armchair BEA question:

Share some of your favorite books so far this year, and/or the the books being promoted at BEA that you hope will end up among your favorites for the year!

Well ...

I'll start with The Replacement Wife, whose praises I have sung until I am hoarse. Faithful readers, this book is that good. I promise you. Please, please read it.

 

I just finished Code Name Verity, and loved that one, too. It's great for teens on up, and it isn't often you can find a book that both you and your hormonal teenagers can read together.

And oh, my goodness, Afterwards. Holy cannoli. READ IT. NOW. I am not kidding you. I will flog you with fly paper if you do not read it.

Lastly, we're going to go erotica. Yes, I read the Fifty Shades, all three of them. And, yes, they're hot. But they are so poorly written. Like I said, literary crack: you know they're bad, but you can't stop. An erotica book that I liked more was Bared to You. It's H-O-T, and while it won't win a Pulitzer, I daresay that it's hotter than any of the fifty shades.

What about you? What books have you liked so far this year?

Accidental BEA Tourist

I've still got students to test, cumulative folders to process, grades to finish, and graduation to survive, so BEA will have to progress without my sparkling wit and dazzling personality. But I'll be there in spirit, I guess.

And I'll still participate, thanks to the Armchair BEA:

Today's questions:

1. Please tell us a little bit about yourself: Who are you? How long have you been blogging? Why did you get into blogging? My nom de blog is cupcake, and I've been blogging for about six years, primarily through a blog about teaching. Earlier this year, I started cupcake's book cupboard, where I review books. I got into blogging to vent about teaching, and I'm staying because I love to read.
2. What are you currently reading, or what is your favorite book you have read so far in 2012?  I'm currently reading Code Name Verity, by Elizabeth Wein. My favorite book this year - wow. That's a Sophie's Choice kind of thing, isn't it? Right now, it's The Replacement Wife, by Eileen Goudge, which I loved beyond words.
3. Tell us one non-book-related thing that everyone reading your blog may not know about you. I once met Wayne Newton in his dressing room at the Las Vegas Hilton. He was wearing a velour robe, and his hair was very tall.
4. What is your favorite feature on your blog (i.e. author interviews, memes, something specific to your blog)? My blog is woefully generic, I am sad to say. My favorite things are probably the reviews of the Fifty Shades trifecta, because I can get really snarky with those. I love snark. 
5. Where do you see your blog in five years? Hopefully I will continue to write honest reviews. I tend to be very sarcastic and snarky (see Answer #4), and I'd like to incorporate more of that. But I respect writers, so I try to be kinder than I really am.
6. Which is your favorite post that you have written that you want everyone to read? The books I want everyone to read are Gone Girl, Girl Unmoored, Breaking Beautiful and The Replacement Wife. But the funniest posts are Fifty Shades Darker and Freed.
7. If you could eat dinner with any author or character, who would it be and why? Mr. Darcy, without a doubt, because he's MR. DARCY. 
8. What literary location would you most like to visit? Why? I yearn to go to Italy, so let's start with that. But Pemberley is a close second, because - come on! - MR. DARCY lives there.
9. What is your favorite part about the book blogging community? Is there anything that you would like to see change in the coming years? I love how supportive the book blogging community is, whether fellow bloggers, authors or publishing houses. We all have the same goal: get people to read. 
10. Have your reading tastes changed since you started blogging? How? I was too snobby before this gig. Now I'm deep into romance, erotica and YA. I still love Pride and Prejudice and Les Miserables, but I own all of Kristan Higgins' books.

18 & Over Blogger Follow # 31

18 & Over is a fun little Q&A run by Crystal at Reading Between the Wines. Each Friday, you are asked a question regarding adult literature. Come on in, dip a toe in the hot tub, and let's discuss Hot Romance Novels.
This week's question: Is there a super hawt and smexy bookthat you've read and loved but would die if youever caught your mom reading?

First of all, my mother does not read anything not written by Danielle Steele. She has no curiosity about books, which begs the question of how I turned out to be a book addict. (I'm adopted ... for real ... THANK GOD ... because if you knew that crazy broad, you would want to be adopted too.) 
But the book I read that would appall me if I caught her reading is not any of the Fifty Shades variety, but rather Bared to You by Sylvia Day. That one is more graphic than the Fifty Shades, for one thing, and for another, knowing my mother, she would have Questions. And I do not answer Questions from my mother.
So, tell me. Which book would embarrass you if you caught your mother reading it?