Dec 30, 2010

Auld Lang Syne

We sing the first verse dubiously every New Year’s Eve and hrmmphh-laaa-laa over the bit about kindness that’s not very clear (in fact my Aussie pop used to sing to the 'old land sign'), but how many of us actually know what Auld Lang Syne is about?

The good news is it seems that the average New Year’s reveller is not alone in the lack of clarity around these lyrics and tune. Historians can barely agree themselves. The origin of the poem and music and then the subsequent annexing, alteration, suppression, and mal-attribution across five centuries is as indecipherable as the original Scots dialogue in which it is written.

Firstly, let’s be literal and focus on what we do know and work our way backwards. Auld Lang Syne translates from the old Scots dialect to Old Long Ago, to friendships past. To old acquaintance. To absent friends.

Late 18th century Scots poet Robert Burns is attributed with ‘collecting’ the old folk lyric into a poem enhancing it and subsequently bringing it international fame. Burns’ greatly modified lyrics were published in a volume of works of old Scots traditional songs in 1796, a few months after his death. Purists defend Burns’ right as an artist to take existing material and improve on it to keep it alive, though a subsequent, unexplained publisher decision to reorder Burns’ stanzas in 1799 has led to cries of bastardisation from those same defenders of artistic right.

Eighty-five years before Burns hauled it out and reworked it for publication, the phrase auld long syne previously surfaced in a 1711 volume, attributed to an anonymous poet, thought to be either Francis Semphill (whose manuscript of poetry contains the only original version of the words although the words are reportedly nothing like his reputed style) or, infinitely more romantically and more officially, credited to Sir Robert Ayton who was a courtier for flamboyant Scottish King James VII. Ayton’s other poems included ‘Inconstancy Upbraided’ and ‘To his forsaken mistress’ which all have rather the same tone as the 16th century ‘Old Long Syne’ which starts…

Should Old Acquaintance be forgot, and never thought upon;
The flames of Love extinguished, and fully past and gone:
Is thy sweet Heart now grown so cold, that loving Breast of thine;
That thou canst never once reflect on Old long syne.
CH: On Old long syne my Jo, in Old long syne,
That thou canst never once reflect, on Old long syne.

Ah! I should have known love lost would be at the root of such an enduring and poignant poem. Or love scorned.

Or…a Scot scorned. Interestingly, a century earlier the very first instance of the old acquaintance surfaces in an anonymous 15th century poem called ‘Auld kindnes foryett’ which translates literally as old acquaintance forgot. This version bleeds the misery of the author at finding himself in reduced circumstance and reflecting on the inconstancy of those who had once called themselves friend.

So if we were to track the evolution of this poem it appears to begin with a 16th century lamentation on the inconstancy of old friends, and then a 17th century betrayal of old love and, finally, the absent friends of the 18th century onwards.

This is the version most people know today (or hrmmphhalaaalaa their way through…)

Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And auld lang syne?
For auld lang syne, my dear,
For auld lang syne,
We'll tak a cup o' kindness yet,
For (the sake of) auld lang syne.

So come midnight on December 31st, raise your cup for a drop more kindness and reflect on absent friends, love lost, or friendship betrayed. Whatever be ye poison.

On behalf of the LoveCats, wishing you and those you love a safe and happy New Year.
See you back here in 2011!!

There is a fair bit of conflicting information on the internet on this topic, However, the most compelling and proper of the research is a paper by James Dick as ‘communicated’ by Alex Wood Inglis (F.S.A Scot). I recommend you read the source materials for yourself for the full picture (http://www.electricscotland.com/history/articles/langsyne.htm) and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auld_Lang_Syne where there are some fabulous comparative lyrics including (thank you Wiki!) a modern english translation.

Dec 27, 2010

Black Ops Sales Shopping

by Nikki Logan


I shop—really shop—about twice a year. Boxing Day sales and June stocktake sales. I have enough friends in retail to know that even on 50% off days, retailers are making a killing, and so the idea of buying anything at 100% just horrifies me.

In the past people have commented on threads of similarity between my romance heroines and me. But never about my heroes and me.

Until yesterday.

Yesterday I went to Garden City in a suburb nearby and I conducted myself with such military precision I reminded myself of my Special Services operative, Clint McLeish, in my January release The Soldier’s Untamed Heart. I channelled my inner Clint—an expert in small team covert extractions—and chose a secluded carbay out of view, both for the shade that it would offer on a 40 celcius day and for its proximity to a secret entrance to the centre that most people don’t know about.

Reconnaisance is everything in Black Ops shopping.

So, I slipped over the edge of my inflatable black Zodiac (cunningly disguised as a Honda Jazz) and then dodged and weaved between the clusters of civilians—armed with only two survival tools, my Glock nine millimetre wallet and my photo IDs of targets to extract, until I emerged disguised as a regular shopper deep in the heart of enemy territory seething with those who might try to get my extraction before me.


I’d been properly briefed before heading out; I knew my targets and I knew their habits:
A good pair of walking shoes for a trip to New York next year, King-sized fitted sheets and Wii ‘You Sing’ (Glee, preferably, but Robbie Williams would suffice)

I hit Myer the moment it opened and hit the escalators backwards, surveiling my sixty for any signs of insurgents out to come between me and my target. There was a terrified family somewhere waiting anxiously for news of their beloved King Sized sheets and it was my job to bring it home. But I hadn’t expected to walk into a blood bath. None of our intel had indicated how many units—some of them other governments, most of them privately funded enterprises—would be set to extract the same target. King-sized sheets clearly hold a lot of sway politically and everyone wanted this liberation for their own reasons.

Myer play hardball and surrounded this prime target with layer after layer of civilians, jostling and elbowing amongst themselves, counting on the fact we wouldn’t go in hard when so many lives were at stake. But there was something about the scene that didn’t ring true… I glanced at my ID documents. Similar, but not the same. Dear God, these were decoy fitted sheets. Not the 50% off ones. My eyes immediately tracked left where an unassuming man was loading up a trolley at a dock-door. I notified HQ and changed coordinates, strolling casually toward the hapless restocker. Right logo, right colour. Now as long as there was a prominent ‘K’ on the packet I knew I had my target. I stepped in front of him as he started to move off and he froze, he didn’t even try to prevent me sweeping a set into my arms and sprinting for the nearest cash point. But I had my advantage and a good clear lead and no-one tried to follow me.


I didn’t spare a thought for that re-stocker who was swallowed by shoppers alerted by my slick manouver. Collatoral damage. In war you can’t think about the casualties. That will come later.

I didn’t waste any time celebrating the liberation of my first target. I hit the mezzanine floor running and weaved my way directly to the next store. Wii Glee was a big ask. Sold out across Australia last time I checked. But you just never know. Shopping War is a funny thing.

I commando rolled into JB Hifi under the security sensors and crab-walked my way down a back wall past the PCs and mobile phones and tucked myself securely away in a relatively empty corner to get my bearings. The wii logo flashed seductively at me from two aisles away. The trick in military extraction is not to get cocky, that’s when mistakes get made. I casually browsed my way up and down adjacent aisles, getting closer, eyes flicking left and right like a crack lord, all the time tracking the wii shelves for my target.

No Glee.
Oh, the humanity...

But I knew my orders. Glee was most likely never coming home, but I could save Robbie. I changed focus and started searching for that smug smile on the cover. My pulse kicked up and I had a mini surge of adrenaline. There he was. In a two microphone pack. It was a miracle.


Moments later I was in a queue, my arms locked rigidly around the man I’d come to rescue, and my game face well and truly on. Moments more and I was walking casually toward the security guards at the entrance to the store. They were stopping everyone leaving and checking IDs. If anything happened it was going to happen now.


My breath stopped. My heart raced. I struggled to look normal.


The man at the checkpoint looked serious. Some kind of middle eastern origin (mind you this was JB HiFi, they all looked swarthy), important uniform, impressed with his own importance. If I didn’t play it cool this was all going to go south very quickly. His suspicious eyes glanced at my receipt, then at the way I clutched Robbie Williams to my chest, then at me.

My years of shopping training paid off and he was fooled by my casual expression. He waved me thorugh the checkpoint and I was off!

I turned back toward the way I’d come in. Another early lesson of effective Boxing Day shopping, never get caught up in the vicious browsing cycle. Get in, get the job done, get out.


Shoes…shoes…


I checked seven shoe stores before finding what I was looking for. Birkenstocks. Going for an unashamed premium. Right size, right colour. Wrong price but in the field you have to think on your feet. I had a giftvoucher, so really it was only going to cost me half what they were asking in ransom. HQ would approve.

Five minutes later I was hitting the little-used stairs between public toilets and bursting out my secret access-way back into the 40 degree heat and pelting it for the Zodiac, knowing how many operatives lost their lives just when they thought they were safe, in the home stretch.

I threw my targets into the back of the Zodiac (I could apologise to them later) and myself into the front and navigated the heck out of there as fast as I could. It was only when I was safe in the anonymous throng on the freeway that I let the adrenaline play out and I laughed and I cried and I exhaulted in my survival and my achievement.


I spared a thought for the innocent restocking guy in Myer—the one who’d gone down in helping me achieve my goals—and I hoped he’d be okay. Though I knew he probably wouldn’t.


Shopping is a hard game. We train for years to become the best. Special Shopping Operatives. Undercover. Secret. Even our families don’t know exactly what it is that we do.

Now I go back to civilian life until June. The Stocktake sales. And whatever my country decides needs liberating next. And I thank my sexy, special services hero, Clint,  for teaching me everything I need to know to survive shopping warfare.


The Soldier's Untamed Heart onshelf in US and Australia/NZ in January. Available in ebook now. 

Dec 25, 2010

Merry Christmas!


From all the Lovecats, we wish you a fabulous day and a safe and a happy holiday period!

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From Natalie, Sharon, Rachel, Zana, Michelle, Robyn, Anna, Soraya, Nikki, Sue, Emily, Tracie & Mel.

Dec 23, 2010

Books for Family

Reading: Nailed by Annie Stuart
Watching: Being Human (again)
Making me Smile: My new EC cover!

I love giving books to family as presents, Miss Twelve (going on 21) is especially a fan! Right now she's reading The Host - has practically read the entire book in one day.

Does anyone else remember those days - when you could pick up a door stopper book and have the whole day to devour it? The days before housework, being mum/auntie/grandma 'stuff' became more important! Of course, those things *are* more important, but sometimes I'd love just a few more hours to sink into an author's world =)
Speaking of Miss Twelve, I bought her "I Am Number Four" - a recommendation from our own lovecat Tracie. Can't wait to see this in movie form too.
Miss Twenty isn't a reader *gasp* but has decided suddenly she wants to read some of my more erotic novels. Ah, no. LOL!!!
Miss Three loves books, demands (nicely) that I read her one every night - followed by our own bedtime story of what we've done for the day, followed by 'round and round the garden' LOL!
I bought her three old favourites for Christmas, books I loved when I was her age =)
A Fish Out of Water, The Digging-est Dog & The Best Nest. Hope she'll love them just as much I did!
Any recommendations you'd like to share of what books you bought your loved ones?

Merry Christmas everyone!




Dec 22, 2010

Catwalk Wednesday



Name
Avalon, AKA - Ava. (right)

Abode
Top of the couch is my fave!

Human Slave
Vicki, and Danny. I like Danny the best.
He pretends he doesn't like me, but it's plainly obvious, he does. Who wouldn't?


Likes
Chasing flies and my sister's tail.

Dislikes
Miri always trying to steal my plate of food. She has her own identical portion, but she would still always rather have mine!
Also, the vaccum, and dogs. Meow.


Ambition
To go exploring. I'm independant and the second I have my needles and get a glimpse of the backyard.. I'm off adventuring.

Sociable or Aloof
I'm pretty and I know it. But cuddles aren't my thing. I'd rather be exploring!
Although, picking fights with Miri comes a close second.

Night Owl or Early Bird
early bird...mum and dad hate it but there's so much fun stuff to do...this morning i woke them up playing with wrapping paper...ooops

Favourite Pastime
Stalking Miri...or climbing the couches and tryin to get out into the garden...i bet there's lots of fun stuff out there!!

Favourite Toy
the white peice of string i think mum was a bit put out cuz it was part of the packaging of our new toy but i play with the string more, i can't help....ohh string...

Best Friend
Miri

What do you like to sharpen your claws on
I love the back of the recliner. Mum tells me off repeatedly for this, since I have two perfectly good scratch posts, but I don't care. The back of the recliner feels much better.

Most embarrassing moment
When Mum and Auntie picked me up for the first time, I wouldn't let go of the edge of the box for the whole hour's drive. I got tired though, and fell asleep eventually, still holding on, before slipping backwards into the box. It was mortifying.

Name: MIRI (left)
I was the runt of the litter, so Mum calls me her little Miracle. You can call me Miri, though.

Abode

Under the sofa.

Human Slave

Vicki, and Danny. I'm Mum's favourite... Or maybe that's just because I'm the only one who won't wriggle like mad when she wants cuddles.

Likes

Chasing flies, cuddles and dinnertime. When Mum puts food down, I don't run, I SKID. :D

Dislikes

Ava pushing me around...I may be littler, but I can still keep her in line

Mum introduced us to the vacuum the other week. That wasn't a good day. Why can't you humans use your own two hands to clean?

Sociable or Aloof

Fairly social. Pick me up for a cuddle and I won't scratch you to death like Ava would...
People think I'm shy and easily spooked, though, I won't admit this aloud...

Favourite Pastime

Annoying Ava. Our string toy could keep me entertained for hours...

Favourite Toy

i like plastic bags and pretty much anything Ava is playing with

Best Friend

Ava... We have a love/hate relationship...

What do you like to sharpen your claws on

The same as Ava. The back of the recliner. Mum doesn't understand this, but I do, clearly.

Most embarrassing moment

I once got my claws stuck in the TV surround sound speakers... I couldn't pull free.
Mum and dad actually had to pry me loose. It was a little humiliating.


Dec 20, 2010

Christmas Planning!

Reading: (actually rereading) The Passionate Pen by Rachel McAlpine
Watching: MasterChef (I'm such a foodie and my hips show it)
Making me smile: the birdsong I can hear as the sun goes down

Yeehaa, Christmas is less than a week away. I am so looking forward to my step daughter and her partner coming home for four days. Not so sure about the three dogs they're bringing with them. We haven't yet told Boss that he might be sharing his kennel.

We've also been phoning around friends organising a New Year's Eve party. It's all very traditional stuff but I love it. The same friends come to stay with us every year too. There's something to be said for traditions. New Zealand doesn't have many but we do love to celebrate, and luckily most are in summer when we can get outdoors to swim, enjoy berries and get a suntan. And I'm sure there's a lot of romance going on too.

What is everyone else doing for the holiday break?
Have a great Christmas everyone.
Sue

Dec 19, 2010

Caturday Fun

Some LoveCat Christmas cheer, courtesy of Lolcats. Hope your holiday season is happy!

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Dec 15, 2010

John Lennon

What I'm Reading: "Bachelor Dad on her Doorstep" by Michelle Douglas :)
What I'm Watching: Lillie - old TV series
What I'm Listening to: anything that's not "I Saw Santa Kissing Mommy"
Making Me Smile: Mince pies and Christmas cheer





I cannot believe John Lennon has been dead for thirty years. My earliest memory is eating mangoes with my older sister and her friends then drawing Beatle faces on the pips in tribute to their hairy phase. I came to New Zealand on my first visit soon after he’d been assassinated. It seemed every shop I went into over those three months was playing “Woman.” When I hear the song now, I can still smell the sea on the Cook Strait crossing.

It’s amazing to see my children discover John and his songs. Amazing to hear my international students unite to sing “Imagine” – a song that seems to have travelled to every country. I particularly like the Glee sign language version on Youtube

Some of my favourite Lennon lyrics are not necessarily his most famous. The line that often pops into my head is "Life is just what happens to you, while you're busy making other plans."It reminds me to live in the moment.

One of the things I liked best about John was that he wore his flaws upon his sleeve. When I read Nick Hornby’s Juliet Naked, I wondered if his world-weary rock star finding redemption as caregiver to his small son, was based in some part on John.

I don't usually have heroes in real life but I confess I do have a very soft spot for John.

Any memories associated with Beatle or John songs that you’d like to share?

Catwalk Wednesday


Name: Algae KittyCat

Human Slave: All of mankind!

Likes: Meowing loudly, attacking the dog and excited gallops around the house ( particularly after using the litter tray.)

Dislikes: Being ignored.

Most memorable moment: After observing the elderly canine stealing his biscuits, Algae paused, considered his revenge, then slowly walked upto then slumbering dog and bit his leg.

Ambition: To open every door in the house, any unlocked door is fair game!

Favourite pastime: Swiping anyone's feet who walk near the bed, and playing with his toy mouse.

Dec 12, 2010

Making a List and Checking it Twice

Reading: Stranger by Zoe Archer
Watching: Relocation, Relocation Marathon
Listening to: Lullaby by Jewel
Making me smile: My Christmas tree

Christmas is just around the corner (not quite sure how that happened! I swear it was August just yesterday). That means it’s time for Christmas shopping, planning parties and putting up decorations.

The tree is up.
The Christmas Eve party is (sort of) planned.
And I’ve finished my shopping and there are lots of brightly wrapped gifts under the tree.

It’s also the time I drop very unsubtle hints about what I want for Christmas (-:

Image: Ciprian Florin Dumitrescu | Dreamstime.com

I’m very happy (and very grateful) that I’m getting a new laptop for my pressie! Perfect for my writing (and I’m hoping it'll help get me back into my writing routine, as I’ve been a little slack of late). Isn’t it pretty?

It’s small, lightweight and I can’t wait to sit down with it and finish writing my next Nocturne Bites (featuring a very sexy wolf hero and a very fiery pilot heroine).

From Michelle’s last blog post, we all know what she wants for Christmas. How about you? What are you asking Santa for this year?

Image: Madartists | Dreamstime.com

Dec 11, 2010

Caturday Fun

Firstly, congratulations to the winners of prizes this week:

Eleni - a copy of Christmas at Candlebark Farm by Michelle Douglas, and a set of cute gifttags.

Jo Gillespie and Kim Colby - both receive a copy of the Summer Blockbuster which includes the book The Unmasking of a Lady by Emily Gee.

And for everyone else, I thought it was time to do another wrap up of where you can get some free books. =)

Firstly, you probably already know about this one, but make sure you check out Everyone's Reading for some great free books to download from Mills and Boon, including paranormal, historical, Blaze and other lines. But the one we're excited about is Nikki Logan's Their Newborn Gift. Free!

Robyn Grady has the eHarlequin free read, Medici's Pregnant Mistress, where you can read a 9 chapter short story from Desire.

Mel Teshco has a short erotica, Discovering Sophia, free at Ellora's Cave.

Tracey O'Hara (a friend of our own Tracie Sommers!) has a short story on her website, set in the same universe as her Dark Brethren books, titled Dante Rising.

And finally, a bit of fun! This is Singing The Puppies To Sleep. Gorgeous!

Dec 8, 2010

'Tis the Season...


by Michelle Douglas


Reading: Realism by Damien Grant

Watching: QI

Listening to: The Beatles (The Singles)

Making me smile: the box of Lindt Balls in the fridge


Okay, we all know Christmas is about the food, but the other secondary, minor thing Christmas is about is... PRESENTS!

And books are my present of choice.

[Question asked by almost any member of my family] "What would you like for Christmas, Michelle?"

[Which they then promptly answer for themselves] "Don't tell me... A book, right?"

You bet. Any book. Books I've heard off by my favourite authors, books I've never heard of, non-fiction books, fiction books, category romances, literary fiction, poetry, textbooks, whatever. Quite frankly, just bring it on. This of course means I love to select books as gifts for the people in my life too.

[As an aside here, I think it would be wonderful to work in a bookshop in the lead up to Christmas. I have an uncanny ability to hone in on grandmotherly types hovering about the children's section. They'll tell me they're looking for a book for 10-year-old little Johnny or 13-year-old little Sadie and I will promptly give them a recommendation. Then I walk out of said bookshop with shoulders pushed back and chest puffed out. Okay, yes a sad case, I know.]

This is my book-present list so far for this Christmas, but if you have a recommendation that I should add to my list, or a book you think is more suitable than the one I've chosen, please let me know!

For my Husband: he loves humorous books. He also loves the television show QI. I've grabbed him copies of QI: The Second Book of General Ignorance, and The QI Annual 2011. He is going to seriously enjoying stretching out on the lounge with them come Christmas evening.

For my Sister: She loves her dog. I've grabbed her Kandy Shepherd's Home Is Where The Bark Is. She's gonna love it!

For my Niece: I bought her Anne of Green Gables for her birthday. We LOVE Anne with an E. Her special request is the next two books in the series - Anne of Avonlea and Anne of the Island. Tick.

For Grandma: My grandma has been reading Mills & Boon romances for as long as I can remember. Her absolute favourites are Medicals. Sue Mackay's debut Their Marriage Miracle will be making it's way into her stocking. (I'd add Sharon Archer's books, but she's already read them!).

For my Step-Mother: She's a big horror fan and when I saw Stephen King's Full Dark, No Stars, I couldn't resist.

For my Brother-In-Law: he's a big thriller reader. Loves Matthew Reilly. I've grabbed him the latest Clive Cussler - Lost Empire.

For my Dad: Dad doesn't read anything but the newspaper. He does, however, like to try out new recipes. Earlier in the year I was asked to supply a couple of recipes for a cookbook for the charity Snap4Kids. Guess what Dad is getting for Christmas?

Because it is Christmas - and it is the season to be jolly... and generous - I'm giving away a copy of my December release Christmas at Candlebark Farm along with a set of very cute gift tags from Oxfam, to one lucky commenter. Just tell me what book you are most hoping will make its way into your stocking this Christmas.




Dec 7, 2010

Regency Slang Quiz # 2 ANSWERS AND WINNERS

by Emily May


Thanks everyone who had a go at the Regency Slang Quiz -- I hope you had fun! The correct answers are:

A CACKLING FART is an egg

An ETERNITY BOX is a coffin

A FANCY MAN is a man kept by a lady for secret services

To be GLIMFLASHY is to be angry or in a passion

A STAR GAZER is a whore who plies her trade outdoors


I've decided to give away TWO copies of the Summer Blockbuster.

One to the person got them ALL correct -- K
IM COLBY!

The second winner was randomly drawn from all entries and is --
JO GILLESPIE!

Can Kim and Jo please email me at worldaroundthecorner(at)gmail(dot)com with their postal addresses?

Thanks everyone for taking part! Merry Christmas all!


(And on the theme of Historical Romances and Christmas Giveaways, the Harlequin Mills & Boon Historical authors are running an advent giveway, with daily prizes of books/book vouchers/chocolate, plus a Grand Prize of a Kindle 3G. Find out more on my website, at http://www.emily-may.com/advent.html.)

Dec 6, 2010

Regency Slang Quiz #2


by
Emily May



Reading: Cryoburn by Lois McMaster Bujold

Watching: Glee

Listening to: Salmonella Dub

Making me smile: The baby wax-eyes at my bird feeder



To celebrate the Australian/New Zealand release of my third Regency Romance this month, I'm giving away a copy! The Unmasking of a Lady is on the shelves now as part of the Mills & Boon Summer Blockbuster, a 4-volume book that contains a Desire, a Sweet, a Sexy, and a Regency!



To be in to win, simply have a go at the Regency Slang Quiz below (leave your answers in the comments). If you don't know the answers, just guess -- everyone who enters will go in the draw! (The words are taken from the 1811 Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue by Francis Grose.)






1. A CACKLING FART is:
a) an old lady with wind
b) a hen
c) an egg


An ETERNITY BOX is:
a) a jewellery box
b) a coffin
c) a safe

2. A FANCY MAN is a:
a) pickpocket
b) dandy
c) a man kept by a lady for secret services

3. To be GLIMFLASHY is to:
a) be angry or in a passion
b) be dressed gaudily
c) throw your money around

4. A STAR GAZER is:
a) an astronomer
b) a daydreamer
c) a whore who plies her trade outdoors

The winner will be drawn randomly on Tuesday 7th December and their name posted here. Good Luck!

Note: several of the definitions can be found on my Facebook page



Dec 4, 2010

Blog Party Winners

Thanks to everyone who helped us welcome our three new LoveCats. It was a great party! And now it's time to draw the winners. The method employed: writing a list of everyone who left a comment and using a five year old to choose names from the list. She was disappointed at first that no one had her name (if they had, they may have ended up winning all three prizes!), but then she chose three names...


The First pack:
Every Girl’s Secret Fantasy, Robyn Grady Desire 
The Soldier’s Untamed Heart, Nikki Logan Sweet
Their Marriage Miracle, Sue Mackay Medical
The Unmasking of a Lady, Emily May Historical (in the Summer Blockbuster, which includes 3 other full length books by Kate Carlisle Desire, Helen Bianchin Sexy, and Barbara Wallace Sweet)

And the winner of the first pack is: Joanne Graves!


The Second pack:
Caught on Camera with the CEO plus Unbuttoned by her Maverick Boss, Natalie Anderson Sexy Sensation
A choice of one of Mel Teshco’s Ellora’s Cave titles Erotica
Bachelor Dad, Girl Next Door, Sharon Archer Medical
Christmas at Candlebark Farm, Michelle Douglas Sweet
At The Billionaire’s Beck And Call, Rachel Bailey Desire


And the winner of the second pack is: Nas Dean!

Third pack:
eARC of Death’s Sweet Embrace, Tracey O’Hara Paranormal
Beauty and the Scarred Hero, Emily May Historical
Tempting the Negotiator, Zana Bell Superromance (in a duet with Susan Crosby’s The Doctor’s Pregnant Bride? Special Edition)
At The Billionaire’s Beck And Call, Rachel Bailey Desire
Amnesiac Ex, Unforgettable Vows, Robyn Grady Desire

And the winner of the third pack is: Helen!

Joanne, Nas and Helen, email me your snail mail addresses: rachel at rachelbailey dot com and I'll organise the books to start arriving in your letterbox!

Thanks again to everyone who partied with us. =)

Dec 1, 2010

Blog Party with Prizes and Fun!

Natalie Anderson
The Lovecats are beside ourselves with excitement! We’re welcoming three new cats to the pack today – and *you* get the presents. Paws up in the air for Natalie Anderson, Soraya Lane and Robyn Grady!

Natalie Anderson is a USA Today bestselling author for Sexy Sensation / Riva.
Soraya Lane is a brand new author for Cherish / Sweet, whose first book will be out next year.
Robyn Grady writes bestsellers for *both* Sexy Sensation / Riva and Desire.

So, to get to know them a little better, I asked the probing questions:

Favourite animal?
Natalie: Tiger – I love my cats wild and big and incredibly beautiful! They’re such a majestic creature. Close second would be the elephant. Just as majestic but in a very different way.
Soraya: Dogs, followed very closely by horses! I have two dogs and four horses, so I love them all :)
Robyn: I'm not saying this to suck up, but.... CATS! I love cats, and always have. 8)


Favourite mythical animal?
Natalie: I think it has to be the phoenix. I love the idea of something rising out of nothing – when you think all hope is lost, something beautiful can emerge from the ashes...
Soraya: Unicorn!
Robyn: A teenager who does as she's told! No? Perhaps the Centaur. I was a big Narnia fan when I was little. Still am. Bring back Prince Caspian, I say!


Soraya Lane
First category book you read?
Natalie: I have a great collection of classics from my Grandmother. Several by Rosalind Brett – and a couple of wonderful Anne Weale’s – The Sea Waif is an all-time fave.
Soraya: One called Changing Spaces, or something like that, and it was a SuperRomance set in Alaska. It made me fall in love with category, but I've since lost the book and cannot recall the author’s name!
Robyn: Can't remember the first one. But I do remember loving Lynsey Stevens: His Cousin's Wife His strong tanned body loomed over her, shutting out the shaft of moonlight that had been dancing between the rustling leaves above them, the light salty breeze playing along their naked bodies... Yes. I still have it =)


Last great category book you read?
Natalie: All the category books I read are good! That’s what’s great about category – they’re gorgeous treats. I just got copies of an anthology through the post and simply gobbled up the Nina Harrington and Robyn Grady stories in it!!!
Soraya: Donna Alward's Her Lone Cowboy.
Robyn: Maxine Sullivan's Taming her Billionaire Boss. Yum!


Something we wouldn’t know about you?
Natalie: Hmmm, I really don’t have that many secrets – pretty much what you see is what you get! No amazing unexpected skills like being an origami instructor or anything... ummm... I’m a vegetarian who flirts with being vegan now and then – just love my bok choi!!!
Robyn Grady
Soraya: I don't look much like a country girl, but in the weekends (and every moment we have spare after work hours) my husband and I are in the garden, digging and growing our own vegetables, or out with our horses. Most of my life outdoors is spent in gumboots/wellies, with dirt beneath my finger nails :) We live on a small farm in Christchurch, New Zealand.
Robyn: That 24 isn't my real age :flutters lashes:


Don’t they all sound awesome? We’re so excited they’ve joined us! And to pay the excitement forward, we’re giving away *three* prize packs, because three is our favourite number today. ;)

First pack:
Every Girl’s Secret Fantasy, Robyn Grady Desire
The Soldier’s Untamed Heart, Nikki Logan Sweet
Their Marriage Miracle, Sue Mackay Medical
The Unmasking of a Lady, Emily May Historical (in the Summer Blockbuster, which includes 3 other full length books by Kate Carlisle Desire, Helen Bianchin Sexy, and Barbara Wallace Sweet)

Second pack:
Caught on Camera with the CEO plus Unbuttoned by her Maverick Boss, Natalie Anderson Sexy Sensation
A choice of one of Mel Teshco’s Ellora’s Cave titles Erotica
Bachelor Dad, Girl Next Door, Sharon Archer Medical
Christmas at Candlebark Farm, Michelle Douglas Sweet
At The Billionaire’s Beck And Call, Rachel Bailey Desire

Third pack:
eARC of Death’s Sweet Embrace, Tracey O’Hara Paranormal
Beauty and the Scarred Hero, Emily May Historical
Tempting the Negotiator, Zana Bell Superromance (in a duet with Susan Crosby’s The Doctor’s Pregnant Bride? Special Edition)
At The Billionaire’s Beck And Call, Rachel Bailey Desire
Amnesiac Ex, Unforgettable Vows, Robyn Grady Desire


To go into the draw for one of the packs, simply leave a comment. And if you feel like it, maybe answer the last question we asked all the new cats – what’s something we may not know about you? Then pass the catnip punch and let your fur down. =)

Catwalk Wednesday

Name: Cats - Romi & Remi (sisters), Socks (bachelor)
Abode:
Our new deluxe apartment (cat pen) with indoor trees, catwalks, boxes, carpeting and a cat's eye view of birdies.

Human Slave:
Her That Will Obey (even if it is 5am - get up lazy woman!)

Likes: Pettings, food, pettings, birdies, pettings.
Dislikes:
The Water Spray when we fight over the Penthouse Perch.

Ambition:
Socks - The Penthouse Perch, Romi - jumping on
the slave's shoulder and leaving claw marks, Remi - eating. Sociable or Aloof: Overabundantly sociable (especially with people who don't like cats).
Night Owl or Early Bird:
Depends how big the bird is... are owls bigger?

Favourite Pastime: Sleeping and demanding food/pettings.
Favourite Toy:
Human slave, cat nip mice made by human slave (with fresh cat nip grown by human slave).

Best Friend:
Possibly human slave and occasionally the do
gs.
What do you like to sharpen your claws on:
Human slave, humans slave's small offspring, our indoor tree with the tufty rope bit.

Most embarrassing moment:
Falling off the Penthouse Perch.

Most memorable moment:
Nearly managing to throw up on human slave's favourite (and only) angora jumper.