Gena Showalter: Heart of the Dragon

I love romance authors who love to make fun of themselves. Gena Showalter is one of these. Her characters often joke about their favorite romance novel stories, and how their fantasies could play out 'in real life.'

I started and finished Heart of the Dragon in the same day... Hey, I am on vacation! It was a good read. Funny, endearing, not too unbelievable (and by that I don't mean I think it could actually happen, but that I was able to sink into the story without the thread being broken by randomness that didn't fit.)

This story takes place in dual worlds - Modern
day Manhattan, and a mystical underworld beneath the sea... Atlantis. But - instead of this great city of super-advanced, intelligent beings that sunk because of a cataclysmic event, Atlantis is instead the hiding place of mythological beings
like the dragons, vampires, and minotaurs. They were placed there by the Gods in an attempt to hide the mistake of their creation. And so they live, guarding their existence from humans.

Of course, our heroine just happens to be marching through the Amazon jungle trying to find her brother who has become entangled in a plot to steal riches and magic from Atlantis (he is completely innocent to be sure). She slips through the portal, and the being responsible for the protection of the realm falls for her... hard(double entandre implied), and cannot kill her as is his duty. They go back and forth, and like any good
romance novel traipse between his world and hers, until they reunite and save the day.

It's a fun read, and the first in a whole series based in a world where Atlantiens exist. To any paranormal romance novel enthusiast, I recommend.

Twilight's Dawn to be Published March 1st, 2011

Yesssss!!!

Read an excerpt on Bishop's official website.

Mark Twain: Letters from the Earth

I may read a lot of fluff, but I promise I am a semi-intelligent being, capable of reading and ingesting 'more serious and academic' novels. Take this week's bathroom read: Mark Twain's Letters from the Earth.

Let me give you a little back story on this. I went out to have drinks with a few friends at the Flying Saucer. The group of us were trying various beers and not-quite-beers, and getting pretty happy. As nerdy as we are, the discussion turned to books. I admit, I am embarrassed when discussing books with snotty intellectual types (not that these guys were snotty), because I read for relaxation and pleasure. I don't want to have to analyze a book if I don't have too. And I like being able to pick it up and put it down with ease. It is the story I am after.

Anyhoo - I was explaining this, and my rapid decent into pop-books going from the ilk of Bronte Classics, to Anne Rice, to Douglas Adams, to Laurel K Hamilton, to eventually - yes.. cheesy romance novels of time traveling Highlanders.

We started talking Neil Giamon, and I mentioned Good Omens. One of the more well read at the table (he is an English teacher) then recommended Letters from the Earth. He thought it would suit me. He also recommended CS Lewis' Screwtape letters to follow it up.

Being the nerds that we are, after our round of drinking, we thought the most fun thing to do next was --- go to Half Price Bookstore -- and try to find some of the books we had recommended to each other. I found Letters from the Earth, and started it that night, and let me tell you - the book had me smiling. It kinda felt like talking to an old friend.

Without getting into a discussion on religion, Lucifer's letters and reasoning to his archangel friends sounded strikingly familiar to my own musings when I was younger. Of course, Twain speaks them much more elegantly, and with great humor.

The book is a collection of letters written by Satan when he was still the Archangel Lucifer under God's company. He and the other angels get into a discussion about God's experiment - Earth. Lucifer goes to Earth and sees the ludicrous expectations and adoration of the humans where God is concerned. He writes home telling tales, and analyzing humanity's follies on faith and religion.

I am still reading pieces of the book, but thus far it has completely surpassed my expectations. The only Mark Twain I had exposed myself to before this was Huck Finn and the other novels I was forced to read in my youth.

Great Read. :)

PC Cast: Goddess of Legend

I went to Hastings today, specifically to get this book... release day... There were no copies on the shelf next to Cast's other works. So I figured it must be on a display or end aisle somewhere. No luck. Finally I spied an associate, and asked. Low and behold... they didn't order any copies, and weren't planning to!

I was a bit dismayed.

I had them check other locations - alas, nope. No Hastings in the near vicinity had any in stock. The only other book stores around here are at the outlet mall or are second hand shops... so no luck there. I broke down and ordered a copy. Guess I'll have to update this when it comes in.

*frustrated sigh*