Pre-order up already

I have the best writing friends. They notice things even before I think to look!

The Virginity Mission has the pre-order up already on Amazon and iTunes - and it's not even May!

So if you're into pre-ordering, you can do that now (but don't do my trick and double up!)

I think this is an excuse for the cover again... isn't it? Lily Malone would say yes, so here it is, in large size :)

Sunday Story

I've been in a reading binge and read some cracker books, so I thought I'd share them.



Rough Diamond is funny - but it might require a quirky selective Aussie humour judging by some Goodreads reviews :) It's a kind of crime novel with a goofy heroine who gets caught up in something way above her head, and capabilities. I laughed lots but it's also poignant and serious is places too. I thoroughly enjoyed it.




Allegiance Sworn is the 3rd novel for Kylie Griffin's Light Blade series and I think each book is stronger. This story is more action-packed than the last two, and the characters take a lot of effort to trust one another. The secondary characters are fabulous but the hero and heroine stole my heart.

Rachel Bailey's No Stranger To Scandal has become my favourite Rachel Bailey book but I'm not sure why (don't you hate that?!). I think it's because they should never have gotten together (another forbidden love) but the attraction was too strong to fight - but it wasn't just attraction, Lucy and Hayden matched on so many levels.

Bronwyn Stuart's Regency stories are not about the Ton but the "fallen" side of the Regency society (like the bastards, girls who've had a rough life behind closed doors) and I love them. Behind The Courtesan is brilliant. It's gritty and harsh. The main characters, Blake and Sophie, have been through so much, it's going to take a hell of a lot to bring them together - and it does! I couldn't put this down. It's fantastic.

I saw that this story had some horrid reviews... but I don't think they're justified. If you're looking for a pretty Regency story, this isn't it. If you like meaty books, try it.



Another historical is Isolde Martyn's Mistress to the Crown. This is beautiful. My hubby read and enjoyed it too when he was book-less on holidays - and I think it's the first historical he's ever read.




And yet another historical, Sophia James' The Dissolute Duke is the end of a series for her and my favourite of the series. This is Lucy Wellingham's story. Lucy is the youngest child with 3 older brothers. She's wild for a Regency society daughter, and this story is so perfect for wild Lucy - it doesn't tame her but curbs her perfectly with the wildest man she could end up with!





And that's my read-a-thon over. Now I better get back to writing!

Phallic Friday - penis envy

A fun post for today - well I hope you find it fun!

This past week I've had the pleasure of the company of my family - my dad, a sister and her 2 kids - Mr 5 and Ms 1.5. I was Mr 5's chosen bath helper and the other night we were in the bathroom and I was trying to get him out of the bath and dry - not an easy feat some nights. Somehow we had a conversation that went something like this -

Mr 5 - I have a penis.
Me - Yes, I know. You're a boy.
Mr 5 - I have a sac too with my testicles.
Me - Yes. Boys have that too.
Mr 5 - You don't have them.
Me - No, I don't.
Mr 5 - They're not much fun to have.
Me - Well, I think they'd be great. You get to pee wherever and whenever you want to.

Conversation got distracted and I can't remember what happened - which seemed the theme for the week.

Next day, Mr 5, Dad and I go out fishing in Dad's tinny (small boat). After a time Mr 5 has to pee. So Dad holds the bucket for Mr 5 to aim at (a cut off milk container, no huge bucket here - the bait was sacrificed for the peeing). I couldn't help myself but point out that for 40 years I had been hanging on to my pee in the fishing boat, while all the boys who fished with us, could just pee into a container while I had to avert my eyes and grinding my teeth with jealousy. Dad laughed. He could hardly remember such occasions but I could rattle them off the top off my head.

Mr 5 realised that having a penis wasn't so bad.

Aunty Cate realised she still had penis envy!

ANZAC Day

I'm not a morning person but one day of the year I get up without too much grumbling and head on to the Dawn Service for ANZAC Day. I've been doing this since I was about 12 or so. As I kid I took my dog with me (for protection) and I'd stand quietly in the shadows and pay my respects. It was something I felt very strongly about. My grandfather served in WWII in the Army and his brother served in the Air Force. My Great Uncle had no children and I have inherited his war service medals, which I consider a great honour. I tuck the small band of ribbon into my pocket and think of them both during the service.

And my first book has an Army sergeant as the hero. I wonder if there's something in that?

It's a nice excuse for another look at the cover
:)

Happy ANZAC Day.