I’m over at Romancing the Blog talking about Plot Types? Come over and let me know what yours favourite type is.

Last weekend I read Sugar Daddy by Lisa Kleypas.

I received this book when I was at Nationals in San Francisco last year and had the delight to chat with Lisa very briefly and she’s just a sweetie. My Nationals roommate told me what an awesome book it was, but, still, for some reason I put off reading the book. Part of that was because I was on a huge romantic suspense kick and/or chick lit/rom com. I didn’t want a straight contemporary. I could handle it in category length maybe but, for whatever reason, I didn’t want it in Single Title.

I also worried I wouldn’t like it. I didn’t really find the blurb compelling for some reason. So, I pulled book after book off my TBR pile and avoided this beautiful cover:

Time after time, I picked it up and set it back down. I finally picked it up and started to read.

All I have to say is… “I’m so sorry, Lisa!”

Truly, this book is lush and gritty and wonderful. Sigh. How I couldn’t have read this before I don’t know. I write contemporary romance. What the heck was wrong with me?

Well, I’ve read it now and… seriously? I bow to Lisa Kleypas’ awesomeness. So good. If you love contemporary romance, that is layered and real and, just–so good–go buy Sugar Daddy
. And don’t think she asked me to say that. Other than a brief two minute conversation at Nationals, which I’m sure she doesn’t remember, I’ve never even spoken to her. However, I’m now off to put more of Ms. Kleypas’ books on my To be Bought list.

Do you think it would scare her if I stalked her? Just a little?

I was lucky enough to receive an Advance Bound Copy of this book awhile back. I follow Alison’s blog regularly and we both write for Romancing the Blog. I can’t remember what made me start following Alison’s career, but I think it was during the Brava contest in 2007, or maybe even prior to that. I actually think I read her husband’s blog (before I even realised he was her dh) and then jumped over to hers. Who knows now, but I really enjoy her. I love her blog posts and reading about both her writing and her family.

Maximum Exposure comes out one week from today and is quite the hot read. I read it all in one sitting. Here is the official blurb:

Finn McLain is no stranger to unusual assignments. But the gorgeous stranger who just asked him to photograph her for an erotic art exhibit—that’s definitely a first. Finn came to Miami to dig into the personal life of boutique manager Roland Green for a lovesick gallery owner, and hadn’t planned on sticking around. But the boutique’s owner, Olivia Hammond, has just made him a proposal that’s as hard to ignore as Olivia herself. She’s got caramel-kissed skin, a body that makes grown men tremble, and a wild sideline as an exhibitionist. Ooookay. Yet despite her willingness to “let people look,” Finn’s convinced there’s a hell of a lot Olivia’s not revealing. And that’s the most intriguing prospect of all…

Olivia has never been shy about using her sexuality to get what she wants. But then, she’s never wanted a man quite the way she wants Finn. What he thinks about her shouldn’t matter, yet it does. Through every candid photograph and every heated encounter, Finn is getting closer, intent on getting beneath her shell—and for once, Olivia is tempted to let him. But first they have to contend with the fact that Finn’s simple investigation into Roland Green is getting dangerously complicated…and Olivia isn’t the only person in town who’s not what she claims to be.

In a city throbbing with sex appeal, two wary lovers are about to play the ultimate game of show and tell, where temptation is raw, wild, and hot enough to make you sizzle…

So, here’s the thing – the storyline between Olivia and Finn is fantastic and I loved it, BUT, for me, the storyline between Roman and Jodi made the book. Seriously, there’s a pool scene that… go Maximum Exposure (SG-5 Series)
the book and read it yourself, this blog is rated PG . Ooh, there’s also a warehouse scene (this time Finn and Olivia, very hot) and a… Really, you have to go buy the book, if only to read these scenes.

But it’s not all fun and games (although there’s enough of that, if you like that sort of thing ), there is danger and suspense too. My favourite things! To read about, that is. LOL

All in all, if you’re looking for a spicy contemporary with added suspense then Maximum Exposure is the book for you.

And for all you Brava fans, see if you can spot a familiar name(s) in some of Jodi’s friends at her apartment complex.

Once again, Maximum Exposure by Alison Kent is out on November 25. Why not beat the rush and go buy your copy now!

What a great idea this is – and not only because I mostly write contemporary romance (other than the one foray into vampires this past August).

Buy contemporary – show the publishers we aren’t a dying genre.

A long time ago (not really, but it feels like it), there was a story called Surviving Demon Island by an author then unknown to me. Who is this Jaci Burton? Why would I want to read a book about demons? *Sigh* But then, but then… I read it. And I loved it. And I proceeded to stalk er follow, Jaci (I pronounce it Jay-C, I think I am right, but ya never know) around and beg her for more books. I also went to the bookstore and turned all her books cover out and convinced people I’d never met before to put down the book in their hands and pick up SDI, because I “knew” the author. Yeah, I was a little nuts. But, yeah, I really did think it was a great story.

Anyway, fast forward, to now and I’ve read a lot of Jaci’s books and I hardly ever stalk, bother her any more. Well, maybe for her demon books. I like her riding series too, but I’ve got both myself and a very good friend hooked on the demon series so I desperately await each one. Then I was lucky enough to win an ARC of The Darkest Touch and it was all I could do not to gloat (especially to my friend who was annoyed that she had to wait til the end of October for her copy). I even made myself wait to read it (because I’m nice like that! OK, really I just knew that if I read it I’d have to rub it in my friend’s face and that’s not nice so I really did try to wait).

Finally, I decided I was going to read it. And I did. All in one sitting. I think I even forgot to put it on my Now Reading and I did it after the fact and just stuck in whatever dates. I loved, loved, loved this book. Ryder is hot (I mean way hot), Angelique and her family intriguing, there is a ton of kick-butt action AND I am now way beyond interested in knowing what happens with Dalton and Isabelle. I don’t think I like Isabelle (I think Jaci wrote her that way and that’s what I like so much about this series, how it is so easy to walk the line between good and bad, and it’s all about our choices), but Dalton? I have to know. And now I think I have to wait til next Spring and/or Summer to read the next one (note to Jaci – I am NOT happy about that, , just sayin’.

Are you still reading this? Go The Darkest Touch
. It comes out on October 28, 2008, but you can pre-order it now and beat the rush.