Summer Reads & Writes

Hey, Blog Buds, school's out!  I've been spending almost all my computer time on Sweet Bytes, the next full length novel in the Ophelia Dawson Chronicles.  Now that school's out, I can do more.
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Writing must always come first now.  I was hoping to have Sweet Bytes read to send to Decadent by the first week of May.  Um...okay, so then I set my goal for the last week in May.  Well...then in my story analysis I came up TWELVE chapters short of my wordcount.  Yeah, I spewed coffee on my computer screen.  Good thing I have Save the Cat! by Blake Snyder or that would have taken me months to figure out and then months more to figure out what to do about it.  As it is, it took just a few minutes.  But, it will take a solid week to make up those chapters.
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Anyway...I reckon my editors would rather receive a story that's as complete and good as I can make it all by myself. 
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Once that's done, I'm going to be spending time on blogosphere-wide events, like Decadent's YA Blog Tour in July.  I'll be guest blogging all over the place and such.  Stay tuned to this station for more details.
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Besides that and a massive amount of end-of-the-homeschool-housecleaning, I also plan to READ!  Yes, read!  Haven't had time to do that in such a long time.  I really do miss being a book reviewer.  With the last Harry Potter movie coming out, I want to read the whole series again.  My children and I are planning to read Harry Potter and the Sorceror's Stone out loud together.
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I also want to reread Nefertiti by Michelle Moran again.  It's one of those books I like to read once a year.  I want to read Lottery by Patricia Wood, but I gave my copy to my mother and made her swear to take excellent care of it.  Signed by the author, you know!  I'll check out a copy from the library.  Other rereads will be Down Home Zombie Blues by Linnea Sinclair and Apocalypse Blues by Walter Greatshell. 
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For first time reads, I want to squeeze in some Steampunk, like Boneshaker by Cherie Priest and a few swoony Historical Romances set in World War II and the Old West.  Any recommendations?
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Ahhh, summer!  I can't wait to go camping! 
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You know what I can't figure out about camping these days?  Why in tarnation do people even go if they have to take all their modern junk with them?  When I go camping, goshdarnit, I wanna get dirty!

What I Got For Christmas

Books:

MAIL-ORDER GROOM by Lisa Plumley  Dang, why didn't I think of that?

MONTANA CREEDS: DYLAN by Linda Lael Miller  He's BLOND!  And he's on the cover!  Even though it's a Harliquin!

SASHA'S DAD by Geri Krotow  They hated this one over at Dear Author, so I knew I'd love it and picked it out myself.  Book reviewers are so subjective, you know. 
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SELF-SUFFICIENCY by Abigail R. Gehring

Movies:
JUMPER, starring Hayden Christianson.  Okay, I confess, I bought this one for my husband for Christmas.  But, but, it's a blond!

ROBIN HOOD MEN IN TIGHTS, starring Cary Elwes  And another blond!  This one's in tights!

Yes, my husband's a blond.  He says these guys are all just glorifications of him.  Happy New Year!

What Kimber An Wants

A RENDEZVOUS TO REMEMBER by Geri Krotow
http://enduringromance.blogspot.com/2008/07/rendezvous-to-remember-by-geri-krotow.html
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I'm looking down the aisles and seeing an Endless Parade of Sameness.  I suppose it's inevitable when you read or read about a ton of books.  But, I'm a girl who likes a buffet.
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Can anyone refer me to an excellent World War II Historical Romance novel in the New or Upcoming Releases?  Anyone at all?  (Kimber An listens to crickets chirping.)  (((sigh)))  C'mon, I understand the appeal of Regencies, although I don't share a fondness for it.  But, seriously, there's THOUSANDS of years of human history out there during which human beings fell in love with each other!  It didn't all happen in the Regency Era in England or there'd be none of us right now.  'Kay?

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Extra points for finding me a novel with a blond hero.

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Gimme some Steampunk while you're at it.  Steampunk's the one kind of story I'm not overly familiar with. 

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BONESHAKER by Cherie Priest.  Haven't got it.  Yet.
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And Science Fiction Romance?  I don't even want to talk about it.  (Kimber An checks her calendar to see how many more months until SUREBLOOD by Susan Grant comes out, even though she hates the cover.)  If I see one more SFR with another....nevermind.  Let's just say I"ll puke Tribbles and it won't be pretty.

The New Year at Enduring Romance and Need a New Reviewer

Good morning, Blog Buds!
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Now that my baby's out of the newborn stage and we're past the holiday season, I mean to blog on schedule, any genre on the second Thursday of each month and Young Adult on the fourth Tuesday of each month.  My ARC stack is at maximum capacity.  If your book is already there or on the way, you're good for go.  If not, please know it might be a while before your book gets reviewed if you send it.  Please remember unsolicited ARCs go to the bottom of my stack, unless they're from established favorite authors.  Established favorite authors have their own catagory in the sidebar directory.
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Meanwhile, my fellow reviewers here, Mfitz, Robin, and K continue to review.  Please, send them ARCs.  K *prefers* eBooks.  I can't remember the preferences of the others.  Click on 'Meet the Reviewers' on the sidebar.
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Now a call for a new reviewer.  We have room for another reviewer, or two or three even.  I like to space reviews out by a couple of days so each new review stays on the top of the page where busy bloggers are unlikely to miss it surfing through.  So, that makes Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays the days for posting reviews.  Once a week, twice a month, it's open as long as there's room and you're consistant.  If you already have a review blog, you could always post your review on both blogs.  I don't mind.  We need more Fantasy reviews, I think, Paranormal Romance, and reviews of books featuring *non-white* protagonists, like Latino Romance or African American Romance.  A reviewer of Inspirational Romance would be great too. 
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I like a buffet, you know. 
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I think one of the advantages of having a book reviewed at Enduring Romance is that the author can reach readers who don't usually read his or her genre.
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If you want to review here, just bear in mind we review all genres, except Erotica and Horror.  Please be sure your definitions of Heat Level and Violence are compatible.  See those definitions on the sidebar.  Also, we only post positive reviews here, which means you need to like or love the book before you review it.  It's okay to say if something doesn't work for you, but you must say it politely.
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My reviewing style is to help readers find the books they'll love.  If that's your style too, email me.
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The other thing to remember is Showcase Sunday, which is the third Sunday of each month.  On that day, reviewers may post book news, opinions, and whatever they want all day long.
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Other than that, I'm hoping to do more author interviews.  I haven't figured out how to work that in yet.  I'll let you know.
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Thanks for popping in and Happy New Year!

Kimber An at Maximum Capacity

Good morning, Authors and Associates.  My ARC stack is at maximum capacity.  This means if you want to send something, it probably won't get reviewed for a while.  If you don't mind that, do email and ask. 
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If we've already emailed about your book, then it's included in my stack whether it's here with me or not.
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As always, favorite authors are excluded.  They can send what they want when they want and odds are they'll jump the line.   They have their own tags in the directory. 
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Nevertheless, I have no YOUNG ADULT at this time and I try to review one each month.  I checked out a couple from the library.  Tossed one because it was an obvious Twilight knock-off.  Nothing against that blockbuster book and movie.  It's the knock-offs I don't want.  Currently trying to decide if the second YA novel I found will stick with me.  It's by an author I've been keeping an eye on for a while.  Writes great stuff, but nothing of particular interest to me before. 
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Please be aware, *Science Fiction* flavored Young Adult novels receive special treatment here.  They don't have to be officially labeled YA either.  They just need to appeal to my younger friends.

A Deplorable Lack of Historical Romance

My ARC stack is a healthy size, but I just used up my last Historical, CLEOPATRA'S DAUGHTER by Michelle Moran.  Scroll down for that review.  I wants Historical Romance.  I wants it, my preciousssss!  email me  kimberannebulaATyahooDOTcom 

Kimber An Wants It

Here's a couple more I want, but I'm not sure I'll ask for. The author probably doesn't need my help, so I might not be able to snag one anyway. Plus, my ARC stack is already ridiculously high. I sense a Read-And-Review Blitz coming on!

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Speaking of xombies, I mean zombies, I found my copy of DOWN HOME ZOMBIE BLUES by Linnea Sinclair and, thank goodness, it's an autographed copy. No, I am not turning spooky on you. They're ALIENs, 'kay? Alien zombie dudes. Speaking of dead alien dudes, I've also got THOSE OF MY BLOOD by Jacqueline Lichtenberg on the way. This is a vampire one, an ALIEN vampire one. I don't go for the standard issue blood-sucking dead guys, you know. I bought this one.

http://www.waltergreatshell.com/books.php

Kimber An's To-Be-Reviewed Stack

*1/19/10*

Kimber An is temporarily not accepting ARCs.

Print Books:

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THE MOTION OF THE OCEAN by Janna Cawrse Esarey. This is the first Memoir ever for me, I think.

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SET THE DARK ON FIRE by Jill Sorenson. Another Romantic Suspense, I think. I hope Mystery Robin doesn't mind me snagging this one.
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SOLD AND SEDUCED by Michelle Styles
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eBooks:

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ART AND SOUL by Melody Knight

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THE MINUTION CHRONICLES: Volume 1- SAVING ZINITHERON 
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CHASING SHADOWS by Lauren Hope.  Romantic Suspense

Book Review Blog Mix-Up

Guess what? I just received an ARC today for THE VANISHING SCULPTOR by Donita K. Paul. It was addressed to The Fantasy Debut and sent to my snail-mail address. Well, I didn't request it, but there's no way I wanted to send it back! So, I emailed Tia, the real moderator of The Fantasy Debut http://fantasydebut.blogspot.com/ and she said she didn't request it either. Sometimes publishers and authors send books without asking if we want them and without our requesting them. This is cool with me, especially if it's from publishers and authors I've reviewed for before and they know what I like. This books from Random House and it's due out June 2nd. I'll try to get up a review of it by then because it looks really fun and adventurous.
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I am so sick of 'Dark & Sexy' I could just puke. And, please, no Kick-Butt Heroines unless they actually get knocked up from all that wild monkey love.

What Kimber An is Reading Now

Being on semi-bedrest, my posting of reviews is in spurts right now. However, I assure you, I am reading. The following should give you an idea of my wide range of reading interests. THE BRIDEGROOM by Linda Lael Miller. Although I adore Historicals, I rarely go for Westerns. However, Ms. Miller has a style impossible to resist and my writerly self is so insanely jealous.

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GIFTS by Ursula K. Le Guin

I bought this one new, full price, with my very own money because I just had to have it when I read the blurb. Remember, I can get just about any book free and sent direct to me, so buying new means I wanted it really bad NOW.
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WHAT KIMBER AN WISHES SHE WAS ALSO READING RIGHT NOW

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THE KING'S DAUGHTERS by Nathalie Mallet.

Ms. Mallet's first book, PRINCES OF THE GOLDEN CAGE, was my favorite book last year.

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WARLORD'S DAUGHTER by Susan Grant
Been trying to get this one done since it released! Drumming my fingers waiting for her next book, a lady space pirate mama one.

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CLEOPATRA'S DAUGHTER by Michelle Moran.
Ms. Moran's first book, NEFERTITI, was my favorite book of the previous year. Geez, lots of daughters this year. Not that I'm complaining.

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WHAT KIMBER AN WILL BE READING SOON

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I have a few more coming, but they're new-to-me authors. The ones coming from favorite authors include SIZZLING SEDUCTION by Gwyneth Bolton and
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FROM FRIENDS TO FOREVER by Karen Templeton. Sadly, no cover art yet. Sigh.

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Saw this one on Gwyneth's blog, ROAD TO SEDUCTION by Ann Christopher.

Haven't requested it yet, but I am so tempted. I swear, Kimani has the best cover art at Harlequin. Isn't this gorgeous?

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So, there you are. Remember, I can never find enough YA Science Fiction and I'll gobble up any book with a baby on the cover right now. If the baby's being held by a really gorgeous guy, all the better.

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***ePublished books happily accepted!*** Been meaning to ask for KEEPER OF THE LOCH by Candace Sams for a while now. http://www.jasminejade.com/p-4565-keeper-of-the-loch.aspx

What Kimber An Wants

Good morning, Blog Buddies!

Well, I went to the bookstore yesterday and I could barely waddle in and out. Due to an old back injury, I tend to become immobile earlier than most women. Next time I go grocery shopping, I'm going to be in one of those power-chair carts. One thing's for certain, I do believe this has helped me develop empathy for the disabled. At any rate, I'm longing for certain kinds of books right now and I'm less able to go out and get them. Soon, I'll be on bedrest and I won't be able to go get them at all. So, I'm countin' on you authors and/or author associates who send out ARCs and such for my book-fix.

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Remember, I now accept electronic ARCs and eBooks. My Heroic Husband bought me a mini-laptop to balance on my tummy while I'm beached on the sofa. All stories must have a Happily Ever After ending and the Nookie can't be above a Sensual rating. I've been knocked up a few times - I know how to get that way! I don't need it described in graphic detail. I'm more into romantic tension right now. Also, no children or small, fluffy animals can be harmed in the making of the story. (Caution: Weepy Pregnant Woman.) At any rate, here's what I want-

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Science Fiction Romance, but only if the Heroine is, will be, or wants to be a MOMMY. Susan Grant's next book can't come out fast enough. I hope to have a review of WARLORD'S DAUGHTER up for you all soon.

Historical Romance, but only if the Heroine is not so contemporary I'm jerked out of the story and she should love Babies too. I've had a terrible time finding a Historical Romance lately because of this. If you got a regular Historical to send, fine, but it's got to be romantic and have an HEA.

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A Contemporary Romance with Baby or Babies Involved. Karen Templeton is my favorite author in this category, but she doesn't have a new one coming out that I know of.

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YA Science Fiction. Do you have any idea how hard it is to find YA SciFi? And I have a whole blog devoted to it! http://youngadultsciencefiction.blogspot.com/ Sure, I've found some great Middle Grade SF, but the good YA SciFi often gets mislabeled, making it harder to find. And the ones which are known to be YA SciFi are lame. If you've got YA SF or SF which will work for the YA crowd, send it along. Just make sure it has an Happily Ever After ending.

That's it for now. I'm almost finished with THE TROUBLE WITH DEMONS by Lisa Shearin.

Thanks!

Showcase Sunday: Books I Would Read...

...and Review if I had the time.

Actually, a couple of these may still make it into my stack. My goal as I finish up my current stack is to focus on the greats, although I have a few authors who can send me anything anytime they want and it will get read and reviewed. Still, I only review once a month nowadays. Here's some books I've wanted to read-

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SHADOWS IN THE MIST by Brian Moreland. I'd have to break my own rule for this blog to review this bad boy. It falls into the Horror genre! However, it's cover art and blurb is so intriguing I think I may be lured into its clutches yet.

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A WILDERNESS COURTSHIP by Valerie Hansen. Hey, I live in the wilderness and a girl needs a nice little romance after reading something like the SHADOWS!

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REAP THE WILD WIND by Julie E. Czerneda. This one smacks of the Science Ficiton greats, Anne McGaffrey and Catherine Asaro. She's also been around quite a while and has an extensive backlist. It's definitely on my radar.

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EULALIA by Brian Jacques. Can't remember what intrigued me about this one, but must have been the cover art and blurb.

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KEEPING THE LOVE YOU FIND by Harville Hendrix, Ph.D. Okay, I did read this one a long, long time ago right before I started dating my husband. It works! I just thought I'd throw it in for my single friends to help you figure out how to get your own 'Happily Ever After.'

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CHEAP. FAST. GOOD. by Beverly Mills and Alicia Ross. This is a cookbook. I hate to cook. My husband's the one who goes out to earn the money, so I have to cook. This cookbook is all I need it to be.

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SARAH PALIN by Kaylene Johnson. Don't freak out! The fact is I'm an Alaskan. These days, we sit around sharing the silliest things people are saying about our governor who was just nominated to be the first woman vice president and we laugh. Regardless of party affiliation, we Alaskans haven't had this much fun since the last Polar Bear Swim. That's when we strip off all our clothes and jump into a lake in the middle of the winter. Okay, I've never actually done that, but it's fun to watch.

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That's it! Happy reading.

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P.S. I've started a new blog to help teens who love Science Fiction to find the books they'll love. http://youngadultsciencefiction.blogspot.com/

Books I Would Review

As previously stated, Advanced Reviewer's Copies take priority in my To-Be-Reviewed stack of books and Blog Buddy authors' books take priority over those. The authors are counting on me to put out a review in a timely manner because of release dates. This is great because I get all these free books. But, there are a bunch of books I would review for you if I could, but can't or can't yet for whatever reason. Here's an intriging one by Mercedes Lackey-

I'm having a huge Must-Read-a-Timothy-Zahn-Book-Fit. A month or so ago, my husband pointed out a book to me in the grocery store which we thought was his latest, but we were in a rush and didn't get it. Now, I can't find it anywhere and I'm not sure it's even his. It's making me crazy because I WANT it. Maybe I'll have to read STAR WARS ALLEGIANCE instead. I've already reviewed that one, but it's the kind which tastes better the second time around anyway. Speaking of Science Fiction, while I was searching for that book I stumbled on another really cool one, THE HOLY MACHINE by Chris Beckett. It was published in 2004 and the author appears quite popular, so I don't think I could get an ARC. I wanted you to know about it, because it certainly sounds like a worthy read.

I checked out THE FAERIE PATH and THE LOST QUEEN from the library. THE SORCEROR KING is supposed to be new in stores right now. These are hardbacks and the publisher had already sent out all the ARCs when I asked for the SORCEROR KING. I sped-read a little and they look really cool, especially for my younger gal-pals.

This is an anthology of novellas which includes two of my favorite authors, Tanith Lee and Mercedes Lackey. I've never read anything by C. E. Murphy. I checked this one out from the library too. No time to read it. Sigh.
This one is a Marion Zimmer Bradley novel recommended to me by Jacqueline Lichtenberg, the Great Lady of Science Fiction. I truly loved ENDLESS SPACE. MZB is awesome. Can't find this one anywhere in Alaska.So, there they are. If you happen on them in the bookstore or library, I definitely think they're worth it.

Sometimes I Don't Get the ARC

THE FAERIE PATH is the first in a Young Adult Fantasy trilogy by Frewin Jones about the long-lost daughter of Titania, Queen of the Faeries. I want them bad, but there weren't any ARCs left for me. (Kimber cries and stomps foot) Luckily, our local library has them. This is a case of an author whose books are so popular he doesn't need a puny little blogger like me posting reviews for him. Darnnit. I like faeries and mermaids and Celtic fairytales and Shakespear and such.

NOBODY'S PRINCESS is the first in a series about the childhood of Helen of Troy. It portrays a very different Helen than anyone else ever has. This Helen is out to kick some major ancient butkis. Unfortunately, there were no ARCs left for me on this one either. Boo-hiss. Worse yet, they're not in our local library. I think my younger gal pals would've loved it too!
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BUT, SOMETIMES I DO GET THE ARC!

THE RED QUEEN'S DAUGHTER by Jacqueline Kolosov was one I was sure was too popular for puny little me to get and, besides, I may have missed the ARC distribution deadline. However, my policy on requesting ARCs is 'It doesn't hurt to ask.' Well, I did ask and Ms. Kolosov emailed right back that she'd be happy to send one! This Fantasy/Historical tells the tale of the daughter of King Henry VIII's last wife, Katherine Parr. Her name is Mary and she was orphaned as a baby. She grows up to serve Queen Elizabeth I, determined not to make her mother's mistakes. Marriage subjugates a woman in that time period. But, can she resist the lure of romantic love? The fact that she's magical and so is her love interest adds to the intrigue.

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Oh, I must remind you that I'm reviewing the second novel of one of my Blog Buddies, Lisa Shearin. Pop in tomorrow for my take on ARMED & MAGICAL.

Also on the Blog Buddy front, I'm hoping Susan Grant's next release, MOONSTRUCK, will arrive soon. I need to receive an ARC and start reading by Friday in order to review it by the following Thursday. If it does arrive by Friday, I may just bump it to the top of the To-Be-Reviewed List because, well, I give preferential treatment to my Blog Buddies and it's my blog so I can if I want to, so there! Normally, I review ARCs in the order they are received. ARCs take precedence over other books too, which means I don't know when I'll get to review THE FAERIE PATH.


Also, don't forget about that contest for ASK AGAIN LATER by Jill A. Davis. Scroll down to the column entitled 'Buzz About a Book' for information