Orgie Porgie Puddin' and Pie

Do you hear that?

It's the sound...the sound...the sound of silence!

YEE HAW!

For the first time in 6 days, the kids and the hubby are back to school and work and I finally have a moment of peace and quiet to myself.

*Penny slurps coffee and enjoys peace and quiet*

Here are some updates!

1.) Every once in a while, Julia Rachel Barrett will make a comment about her "menage" book and giggle. That's right. She's actually incapable of discussing this book without laughing. I kept hearing about the "menage" book, and I incorrectly concluded it was a "menage a trois" which, for those of you not familiar with the French language, is a "threesome." So, I decided to read this giggly threesome, One Four All. The heroine is Lira, a totally kick-ass royal from another planet. And her "good buddies" (French for "good buddies") are Cer, Redda, and Kepp. Wait a minute. Cer, Redda and Kepp. That's three good buddies. Let's do the math...

3 good buddies + 1 heroine = 4! 

OH MY GOD! This isn't a menage a trois! This is a foursome! Julia wrote an orgy book! (The title One Four All should have been a dead give-away, but I guess I'm a bit dense.)

I tormented Julia for several days with the fact that she did indeed write an orgy book. However, I wasn't giggling while I read it. I was sweating! This book is hot! It is also extremely well-written, has a cool sci fi storyline, a very believable 4-some going on--dealing with feelings of possessiveness, lust and love--and a satisfying ending. It's one of the best written multi-partner (a.k.a., orgy) books I've read. Nevertheless, I shall continue to torment Julia. Coz it's fun!

2.) Just in case you like quirky, outside-of-the-box stuff (like moi), Carolyn Crane, one of my all-time favorite authors, has some new books out. Mr. Real is a mish-mash paranormal/spy book/romance. And her alter-ego Annika Martin has #2 of the Bank Robbers series out...it's The Wrong Turn. Not to be confused with the movie Wrong Turn, which is super gory and disgusting, and yes I've watched it about 20 times. So sue me.

3.) I'm thrilled the Goodreads group Kindle Smut has chosen LUMBERJACK IN LOVE for one of its November book selections. Hopefully they'll be in the mood for a beardy love-fest! Feedback about my latest release ranges from good ("great book!" "short and sweet" "pure fun read") to meh ("meh" "corny" "didn't like the cover"). As always, I appreciate the wide array of feedback, good and bad. C'est la vie (French for "the reader is always right").

4.) I am getting ready for another conference this weekend. So far my preparation has included polishing my nails with Big Money Sally Hansen nail polish.

5.) The photo above is our jack-o-lantern. My adorable hubby did this custom doxie pumpkin for us. So cool!

6.) As many of you know, this month is NaNoWriMo. Since I am resuming work on my children's book, LUCY THE WONDER WEENIE, my month will henceforth be known as WeeWeeMoMo (French for "livre de teckels").

7.) After discovering some interesting things in my search engine history (*cough, cough*), I decided it was time to have THE TALK with my daughter who is nine years old. So, I got the American Girl book The Care and Keeping of You. We chatted for about 10 minutes. I think I used the word "egg" "embryo" and "uterus" although I'm not exactly sure because I seem to have blocked out the entire experience. All I remember is my daughter rolling her eyes and saying "I know that, Mom!" with complete exasperation. (Just in case you were wondering, "les oiseaux et les abeilles" is "the birds and the bees" in French).

So, those are the updates for the week! I hope everyone had a festive Halloween.

All my best,

Penelope

In The Mood

So you're in the mood for...


...the romantic conclusion to the Soul Series by Julia Rachel Barrett? You're in luck! Stay is out, and it's a wonderful finale to the series. Romantic, sexy, with a fascinating portrait of life on a ranch, and an absolutely delicious cowboy hero I want to lasso up and take home with me. I really like how Barrett incorporates paranormal elements into a reality-based contemporary story, and it flows seamlessly and believably. Grade: A (I cried at the end...hee hee!) Purchase here.

...a story about a billionaire's pregnant mistress? How about trying the aptly named The Billionaire's Pregnant Mistress by Lucy Monroe. Of course the billionaire is Greek. Of course the pregnant mistress is hiding a BIG SECRET. Of course...well, it's a Harly. You get what you get, and you don't get upset. Grade: B/B- Purchase here.

...a stunningly wonderful mystery series than transcends the genre? Louise Penny's Inspector Gamache Series is full of surprises. Unexpected dialogue, unique characters, a mesmerizing protagonist, and layers and layers of lovely prose, startling revelations, and immersion into the most seductive small town I've ever read. I just finished #4 in the series, and I'm about to read #5, The Brutal Telling. I have a feeling when I'm done with this series, I will sob like a little baby. It's brilliant. Grade: A+++ Here's a list of the full series.

...a tycoon-y book (yeah, I just made up the word tycoony, so what?) with a pompous gorgeous rich Greek guy, an adorable secret baby, a pull-yourself-up-by-your-bootstraps sort of gal, and lots of misunderstandings, including illnesses, gay friends, etc etc., then you might want to give Pregnant by the Greek Tycoon by Kim Lawrence a shot. It's surprisingly entertaining. Grade: B Purchase here.


Happy Reading!
Penelope

Beauty and the Feast Revisited

Happy Birthday, Julia!

This is a very nice birthday gift for Julia Rachel Barrett....her book Beauty and the Feast has been reissued with a new cover and a new publisher (herself)! It's been almost two years since I read this delicious story and "met" Julia on-line. Our "relationship" started with an email -- I sent her a note letting her know how much I enjoyed this book and introducing myself. Since then, we have become kindred spirits and I bug the crap out of her each day. And she puts up with me! So, I'm going to post my original review from 2 years ago...I haven't read the new, updated version yet, but I will. If you're looking for a sensual romance, I highly recommend this one!

Here is my original review from Sunday, May 2, 2010......

Review for Beauty and the Feast

I'm obviously someone who recognizes the sensuality of food...I made the hero and heroine of my first novel (Sweet Inspiration) pastry chefs. When I saw Mandi's review for Beauty and the Feast, I knew I had to read it. The heroine is a caterer and the hero falls in lust with her before they've ever met, just by tasting the incredible meal she has prepared for him. Holy Mother...the food descriptions in this book are to die for! Check out the first course...chilled melon soup: "...pureed honey melon, a tiny bit of sea salt, a few splashes of a light German Riesling, a squeeze of lime, half a seeded Serrano chili, cilantro and a bit of palm sugar..." Starving yet? You will be if you read this baby. Make sure you have a gourmet snack and a nice bottle of wine on hand. I am not kidding. 

I love the fact that Barrett has these characters becoming interested in each other without them even meeting. Just the sound of their voices over the phone peaks their interest. Then, Gabe smells Eva's scent on his pillow and knows she's laid down on his bed. He starts falling for her after eating the sensual meal she has created for him. This is a great way to start the romantic tension in a book....using other senses to create an attraction between two characters.

Here's a quote that sums it up best...."His interest in Eva Raines had once again grown in direct proportion to the size of his erection, the erection induced by the images tasting her food brought to mind."

I really loved this sexy book...I loved the characters, the setting, the food descriptions (of course). It was adorable, right down to the recipes at the end. Bravo, Julia Barrett!

Grade: A-

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Beauty and the Feast is available on Kindle right now for FREE! So treat yourself to a delicious story and celebrate Julia's birthday. If you want to stop by her blog and wish her a happy day, here's the link to Julia Barrett's World.

Happy Birthday, Julia!

Now I want a cupcake,
Penelope

The Martini Club: Julia Rachel Barrett's Lemon Drop

I'm obsessed with lemon. I love lemon desserts. Lemon-scented soaps. The color yellow. I grow lemon basil, lemon verbena, lemon balm, lemon mint, lemon scented geranium, and any other type of lemony herb I can get my hands on. Lemon is fresh. It's light. It's the perfect flavor, in my totally-lacking-humility opinion. 

I am pleased as a peacock to welcome Julia Rachel Barrett to The Martini Club. Julia and I enjoyed a wide array of tasty beverages when I visited her in Napa...including incredible wine and delicious cocktails. She is sharing her favorite cocktail recipe with us today--The Lemon Drop. This one is right up my lemony alley!

While sipping your tart treat, you might want some excellent reading material. May I recommend for your reading pleasure....

❧ Captured -- a fabulous sci fi erotica

❧ My Everything -- a super intense romantic suspense

❧ Incorporeal and In the Flesh -- 2 related ghostly love tales

❧ Pushing Her Boundaries -- a great contemporary based on Julia's harrowing real-life canoe trip

(I also loved Beauty and the Feast, which will be available in May.)

So, let's get to it! Cocktail time......Here's Julia!

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I’m not much of a cocktail drinker, but when I’m celebrating something special, my go-to drink is either a Trifecta Lemon Drop from Cole’s Chop House here in Napa, or a down and dirty gin martini with five – count ‘em – five olives.

The Trifecta Lemon Drop -- Ketel One Citroen, Lemoncello, Fresh Meyer Lemon Juice, Sugared Rim

Since the above recipe is a guarded secret, here’s one for the usual, and excellent, Lemon Drop:

1 ½ ounces vodka

½ ounce triple sec

1 teaspoon superfine sugar

¾ ounce fresh lemon juice

4 -5 ice cubes

superfine sugar, for the martini glass rim

lemon twist

Directions:

Chill martini glasses in freezer for at least 10 minutes prior to serving.

Place Vodka, Triple Sec, lemon juice and sugar into a cocktail shaker with 4-5 ice cubes and shake vigorously for 30 seconds.

Run the lemon twist around the edge of the chilled martini glass and dunk in a small amount of sugar for a coated rim.

Pour the strained martini into the chilled glasses and serve.


--Julia

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Thanks so much, Julia! That cocktail looks fab. (Also, I totally support the 5-olive minimum). I was so inspired by this recipe that I put together an Etsy collection called I'm So Tart. I even found an adorable lemon drop pendant made by JeanMarie Talvo Jewelry Design. Love it!

Huge thanks to Julia for visiting today.

Happy Sloshy Sunday!

Penelope

ETA: For Casey.....a lemony wedding cake! Look at that bride, c. 1990!

I'm Back!

Natty made me a Welcome Home sign...hee hee! And got me a really cool terrarium, too.

Napa is so charming! Julia and I walked here on my last night, on our way to dinner at.....

.....Morimoto's Restaurant, where I had the best meal of my life. (And cocktail, made with vanilla vodka, lime juice and pomegranate juice). This dish is called bagna cauda. It had a hot olive oil dipping sauce made with anchovies, surrounded by beautiful vegetables. Heaven!

Super quickie reading update......

**Read Mystic Ink, the debut novel by Casey Wyatt, and I loved it! It's a mish-mash of mythology, romance and suspense. Extremely well-written, with a super-sexy and adorable hero. Can't wait to read the next one.

**Read Heart of Steel by Meljean Brook. This steampunk was okay. Not nearly as good as the first one in the series (The Iron Duke), but it kept me entertained on my airplane ride home.

**Started The Unlikely Wife by Debra Ulrick. I am loving this sweet, inspirational story.

**Did a quickie re-read of Christine Feehan's Predatory Game on the flight home. This is one of my favorite Ghostwalker books, with a handicapped hero in a wheelchair.

**Read Sweet Dreams by Kristen Ashley on the flight over to California. This book is crazy and all over the place. I couldn't decide if it was written by a teenage girl (pages of clothes and make-up descriptions, cussing out the wazoo, and poor writing, especially at the beginning), by a murderous biker dude (over the top serial killer storyline), or a romance-lover (exceptional hero....with an exceptional beard!). But after all was said and done, I freakin' loved it (coz I love wacky stuff, as you know).

Happy Friday! Huge thanks (again) to Julia Barrett for an amazing trip. Thanks, hon!

Penelope

ETA: Check out my interview at Curves Are Fabulous!

My Dinner With Julia (Rachel Barrett)

Spontaneity.

Some folks have it. Some don't.

Many of us had it in our younger days. And then lost it with the arrival of 2.5 kids.

Some of us had it in college. For others, it may make an appearance after a few drinks.

I haven't had a lot of spontaneous moments in the last year and half. Having a heart attack makes you hold on tight to familiarity....the structure of each day makes you feel safe and secure.

But I realized at the beginning of this new year, I needed to shake things up. I needed something fun and different and spontaneous and maybe a little bit ballsy to look forward to.

How about....

....hopping on a plane, flying across the country, and meeting someone you have never actually seen in real life?

Someone you have developed a friendship with, initially based on mutual love of books, good food and wine. Shared experiences. Someone you respect. Someone who is a kindred spirit in many ways. Someone who is kind, intelligent, thoughtful, and funny. Someone who is supportive and understanding.

Julia Rachel Barrett issued an open invitation to visit her in Napa, and one day I emailed her and said...."I'm coming to see you." I'm not sure if she was shocked or surprised. But she said "Great!"

And so, in eleven days, I am flying across the country to meet a "stranger" who really isn't a stranger. We're going to taste wine, and olive oil, and visit the farmer's market in San Francisco, and hike, and eat at some fun restaurants, and walk her adorable dog, and get to know each other in person.

I can't wait.

Of all the things that have happened to me since I discovered romantic fiction, started writing and reviewing, the very best part has been "meeting" cool people. Other authors and reviewers and readers who have unique perspectives on life, who have gone through trials and tribulations just as I have, who offer support and kindness as life throws a few curveballs our way.

And so, I'm looking forward to my dinner with Julia. Good food, good wine, good company. It's a grand adventure, and a wonderful way to start the new year.

A wonderful source of inspiration. Visiting a new place. Meeting a new friend. Taking a journey by myself, without my family.

I like the fact that my first introduction to Julia was by reading her book Beauty and the Feast. I knew right away that I liked her. I liked the way she saw the sensuality of food, the simplicity of a good meal, the beauty in the world around her. These things came out clearly in this book, and after enjoying it immensely, we started corresponding and became friends.

Another Julia would heartily approve, I'm sure....

"Remember, 'No one's more important than people!' In other words, friendship is the most important thing--not career or housework, or one's fatigue--and it needs to be tended and nurtured." Julia Child, My Life in France


"The only real stumbling block is fear of failure. In cooking you've got to have a what-the-hell attitude." Julia Child

"One of the secrets, and pleasures, of cooking is to learn to correct something if it goes awry; and one of the lessons is to grin and bear it if it cannot be fixed." Julia Child, My Life in France


"The only time to eat diet food is while you're waiting for the steak to cook." Julia Child

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Review of Incorporeal by J R Barrett

I am popping up from my self-imposed exile, where I have been searching diligently for the meaning of life, to post a review. I decided to attempt reading again. Believe it or not, I am checking out a non-romance--Cleopatra by Stacy Schiff--and a new romance by Julia Barrett, who is also publishing under the name JR Barrett.

As for the meaning of life, the only significant discovery I've made in the last week is that Francis Ford Coppola makes a really kick-ass Merlot.

As for the new reading materials, Cleopatra seems promising and fascinating. And Incorporeal was a wonderful surprise.

Barrett has managed to combine true romance, eerie paranormality, a bit of history, and an interesting commentary about the state of publishing in this tale. The story starts in a weird place, not at the beginning of the two main characters' journey together. I'm not sure I would have chosen to start the story here. We jump right into the midst of this incorporeal love affair, between ghost-man and aspiring romance writer. So we miss their introduction and beginning of their dream-induced sexual affair. Barrett gets us up to speed pretty quickly with the state of their relationship. Sara is a sympathetic character, with dreams to be a writer, and saddled with an unwelcome affinity for ghosts. Natan is a very sexy and protective hero....with a troubled past, and an unclear place in this paranormal world. Normally I hate dealing with the learning curve of confused heroines thrown into a paranormal setting (in particular, Katie MacAlister often creates TSTL heroines dealing with unknown paranormal forces, and the lack of clear direction drives me up the freakin' wall). But Sara's gradual understanding of her circumstances unfolds in a logical way, and is shadowed by the growing emotional pull between herself and her ghostly lover.

One thing I have discovered about Barrett's writing is that regardless of the setting, she is able to create very intense emotional and sensual connections between her hero and heroine. And romantic. This seemingly tragic love affair reminded me of one of my favorite Karen Marie Moning books, Kiss of the Highlander. When Sara, pregnant with Natan's child, must convince his "reincarnation" that he is indeed her lover, you feel her frustration and Natan's confusion. The resolution of this conflict is wonderfully satisfying and romantic.

Barrett's portrait of the bitchy romance publisher is, unfortunately, a rather telling exasperation with the state of the romance industry today. I love this bit....

"To sell books, just like McDonald's, you have to make the same cheeseburger over and over again....that's how you win the game."

The completely self-absorbed diva of a publisher is balanced out by Sara's kind and supportive friends. Eventually, there is a HEA (happily ever after) for Sara's writing dreams, and indeed the story within a story (the heroine has written about her ghost lover in a book titled Incorporeal) is used to draw the hero and heroine back together at the end. After Natan reads the manuscript, he is able to reconcile his dreams, memories and past existence with this new reality. And so Sara's romance novel leads to her very own HEA, and a future with her delicious lover.

Me likey!

After a somewhat slow beginning, I got completely sucked into the book and couldn't put it down. The end is sweet and romantic and life-affirming. In Incorporeal, true love survives even death. Sounds pretty damned good to me.

Grade: A-

Available on Kindle
Available at Smashwords


Penelope....Slinking Back Into Exile (With a glass of merlot)......

Review of Pushing Her Boundaries by Julia Rachel Barrett

Pushing Her Boundaries by Julia Rachel Barrett

One of my favorite blog posts last year was Julia Barrett's harrowing account of her Canoe Trip From Hell. Although the trip was at times frightening and frustrating beyond belief, Julia's fabulous sense of humor kept rearing its head and made me laugh out loud while reading this bizarre tale.

When I heard Julia had penned an erotic story using this experience as inspiration, I couldn't wait to read it. I thoroughly enjoyed this story, but it surprised me. It was only loosely based on her experience, and the conflict and resolution between the hero and heroine were quite different from the experience she had with her husband. The truth is, I suspect, Julia realized the severity of this situation would be a perfect back-drop for two people just getting to know each other...just beginning to fall in love. Nothing will reveal your true nature quite like a near-death experience. The harsh and unforgiving circumstances of this canoe trip show what Mace and Maggie are made of.

The heroine is much like Julia....smart, resourceful, determined. In spite of her anger at the horribly incompetent guides, she pulls herself together to survive. And she learns to depend on Mace, who is a fabulous hero. Even though he isn't as aware of his surroundings as Maggie, his protective streak is huge. Mace earns Maggie's trust, and eventually her love. It's very romantic! (Even with the cougar and beavers and moose and ice storms and choppy waves threatening to capsize their canoe, etc etc--You get the idea! It's a wilderness adventure!).

Pushing Her Boundaries has likable, complex characters, sexy chemistry, and fascinating details about wildlife and camping. I'm a luxury hotel-gal myself, so I found the whole thing incredible....especially the fact that people actually choose to go on a trip like this when there are perfectly good cabins available in the woods, with running water, electricity, and take-out pizza joints nearby.

My only disappointment with the book was the ending. It needed more. The emotional resolution was too fast, and the wrap-up of the storyline was not as satisfying as the true-life story. In real life, Julia and her husband survived their ordeal, and in their own way, let Mr. and Mrs. Bob know how awful and incompetent they were. In the fictional account, we only hear about Mr. and Mrs. Bob from a third party...not nearly as satisfying. I really wanted Mace and Maggie to get a chance to let them have it! (I'm a blood-thirsty gal, evidently).

Overall, I thought this was a great read. Maggie and Mace's love developed very believably and was sexy and romantic. My two conclusions after reading this book....

1) Will be reading more stories by Julia Barrett....she's a great writer. And.....

2) Never, ever go camping. Ever. Never.

(Unfortunately, I also watched the movie Anaconda this weekend on the SyFy Channel. My interest in spending any overnight time in the woods/jungle/natural habitats has pretty much fallen to zero.)

Grade: A-/B+

So happy my husband doesn't like camping either,

Penelope