WORD to Brooklyn

Last night was soooooo much fun! I also had myself quite an adventure because me going into NYC usually means something crazy is going to happen. So let's start at the begining shall we...

I must have been on the slowest moving train EVER. Now, normally it takes about 45-50 minutes if I leave from my hometown but this train took me over an hour. I didn't mind too much because I had my iPod and was rocking out to TSwift. Then I met my friend Lisa at the Borders that is right outside Penn Station and after some coffee we headed to Brooklyn.

This is where the adventure starts... we get on the subway... going to wrong way... TWICE! Now mind you, we have gone to WORD before and didn't get lost. Also, for the first time in my life I saw a rat in the subway. I almost died.

Finally! We made it to WORD. I just want to give a shout out to the ladies who work there! You gals are aweosme and so nice! I love going to WORD because I know that I'll be treated like a friend there. There was also champagne and scones there for us to munch on. Then the real fun started!

Maya Rodale, Sarah MacLean and Kieran Kramer sat down and answered questions. All three of them write books set in the Regency and they talked about the restrictions and rules of the time period. Also, they talked about how no one ever mentions that during the Regency the woman didn't shave... or bath that much but Sarah said that she made sure her heroine bathed before ant illict activity.

Here are some other tidbits:

Did you know that Kieran used to work for the CIA? She even went to The Farm (I thought of the movie The Recruit when she said that) She also told us that what Scottish men really wear under their kilts... Not a thing! Trip to Scotland anyone? She also talked about her characters and how they are a little kooky and how maybe we may see her writing something else in the future but she's busy right now with the historicals.

Sarah told us how her title 9 Rules was meant to get her manuscript attention and the title just stuck. Her next series, the Fallen Angles is not a paranormal (though she does admit that JR Ward books are like crack and I agree) and I can't wait to read them! She is also writing another YA book.

Maya talked about how she writes to her title. And she has a great title for her next book... but I can't remember what it is, but it was really good. I really need to take better notes but I was in like serious fan girl mode. She talked about her Writing Girls series and how she likes that her heroines break the norm and have jobs. She talked about her writing process and how she loves to use spreadsheets to plot her books. PS...she was wearing a fabulous jacket!

After the interview sessions the ladies signed some books and seriously they were sooooo nice! Sarah was talking about Rob Lowe and that hot cover of his so we talked about that and since Maya hadn't seen it and I just happened to have a picture of it on my phone I showed her. Kieran and I were tweeting back and forth yesterday and I was so excited to meet her. Then she asked me how my ears were! How cute is that? She knew that I was sick and had some really bad ear infections. I love her! Well, I love them all really!

If you ever get a chance to go to a book signing or something like that where your favorite author is going to be there GO! It was seriously so much fun! I tried to not act like such a fan girl but I think I failed. I forgot to take good notes because I was so caught up in the moment and hanging onto every word. But again, even though I was probably grinning like a fool they were so nice and I felt like I was talking to friends instead of strangers. You Ladies rock!

But that was my night! One I won't forget for a very long time!

(I'm having issues loading the pics I took but I'm putting them on Twitter and will try to load them here later)

Spring Cleaning

I don't know about you ladies but here in Jersey it's getting hot! I guess spring is here so that means Spring Cleaning. Well, not for my house. I hate cleaning. But I'm talking about cleaning here at For the Love of Romance.

Since my baby here is only a couple of weeks old I'm still working on learning the ropes and getting the kinks out. I've been coming up with ideas while I was sidelined by a double ear infection (yes, I know I've been MIA) but now that I'm better I'm ready to get back to work! So in the up coming months I'm going to do some revamping here and Kati has offered her assistance (PS have you seen Romancing Rakes new design? It's pretty!)

So what can you expect? Well, for one thing I'm going to be putting up my reviews from The Season for Romance. In case you didn't know, I got my start as a reviewer over at The Season and of course I still review for Bev because she, along with all the other girls, is fabulous. So once I get a review system for here I'll post my reviews. In the meantime, while I was sick I read some great books: Bastian by Elizabeth Amber and The Perlious Prophecy of Guard and Goddess by Leanna Renee Hieber.

Click on the cover for my review for The Perlious Prophecy of Guard and Goddess over at The Season.

What else am I working on? Well I'm making a list of my favorite heros aka my fictional boyfriends. I'm also coming up with a list of my favorite books and books I would recommend to friends.

Anyway, tonight I'm headed over to WORD in Brooklyn for a book release party. Well, it's for three books actually. Oh, what books? Kieran Kramer's Cloudy with a Chance of Marriage, Sarah MacLean's 11 Scandals to Start toWin a Duke's Heart and Maya Rodale's A Tale of Two Lovers. I can't tell you how excited I am!! I went to WORD for the release of When Beauty Tamed the Beast by Eloisa James and had a complete fan girl moment when she signed my book (she even took a picture with me!). Needless to say WORD is one of my favorite places now and I can't wait to tell you all about the party!!

So, is there anything you want to see on For the Love of Romance? Any suggestions for me?

My First... Romance Novel

There's a first time for everything and I can remember my first romance novel like it was yesterday. I'm going to let you in on a little secret... I hate to read. Ok, well I use to hate to read. Now I don't think you'll find me without a book, Kindle or iPhone within my reach. So what changed my mind? Graduating college and finally having some free time just for me. Of course I've read books before but nothing that interested me. That is until I found Lisa Kleypas in a box.

I had graduated in May '07 from a little college in PA called Elizabethtown College. During my studies I got to study abroad in England for 6 months. It was the greatest time in my life and where my love of England started. As a present my parents bought me a plane ticket to go back and two of my friends came with. Now, this was my big break from school. I had ideas of relaxing in the beer garden just reading a book so I had to find a book. Enter my Nanny (grandmother) and her box of books.

As I dug through this box that was on her porch I found this book called Scandal in Spring. I glanced at the book cover and opened to the begininng of the story. It was set in England and that's where I was going so it was PERFECT! I found another book too: Out of the Mist by JoAnn Ross. So I packed my books and headed off to England.

Fast foward a few days later and I'm sitting in the back garden at my friend's house. The sun is out (surprisingly) and I'm relaxing in my chair with Ms. Kleypas enjoying the story when all of a sudden Daisy has locked herself in Matthew's room with him and threw the key down her dress. I was intrigued, I was enthralled and I was so into it. Oh the sexual tensions between was captivating, I couldn't wait to see where this would lead. Then I remembered... this came from my Nan!

I ran inside the house and found my friend Georgie and made her read it. Then I told her I couldn't believe that this is what my Nan was reading! Then she looked at me and said "I can. Everyone needs some romance in their life." I went back outside and finished my book. When I got home from my trip I went to the store and bought the rest of The Wallflower Series. I've been hooked ever since and I've never looked back.

So there you have it! The book that started it all! Unfortunately I never really got to thank my Nan for getting me hooked on romance. She had cancer and passed away in December that year but if it wasn't for her and her box of books I wouldn't be here talking about them or reading them. I wouldn't have meet so many friends who share my passion for them.

In the words of a very wise friend "Everyone needs some romance in their lives" and I agree! So what was your first book that made you fall in love with reading?

Just What The Doctor Ordered

So I was trying to come up with a great post but being sick has just taken it out of me. I know alot of friends are sick and trying to get to better so I thought I would share some very wise advice. Kati (Romancing Rakes) told me to take 1 or 2 seasons of the Tudors and go to bed. So for those who are feeling a bit under the weather I wanted to give you a treat. Here are some bloopers from The Tudors.




Now if that doesn't make you smile I don't know what will. Now, Kati also suggested that I take Richard Henry to bed with me... and for all those wondering, Richard Henry is my Kindle. He's named after Richard Armitage and Henry Cavill. And since I gave you some Henry already I think that it is only fair to give Richard some love.





Well, I'm going to take the wise Kati's advice and head spend some time with Richard Henry. I may even pop in the movie Sabrina, the one with Harrison Ford, cause it always makes me feel better.

What do you guys watch when you're not feeling well?

PS... thanks to Rita (Not Another Romance Blog) for helping me with the link for the videos!

Monday Man Candy

I've always hated Monday's. Monday meant that the weekend was over and that the alarm clock was going to wake me up early to get to class or to work. I still dislike Mondays but not asmuch as before because now, come Monday night I know there is going to be some hot man candy on my Twitter feed. So for all my ladies who have a case of the Monday's I have some hot men who want to help you get through your day!

Clive Owen

Jake Gyllenhaal

And someone who will be awaiting your return home and to bed:

Alexander Skarsgard

I don't know about you ladies, but I know I can't wait for True Blood to come back on. Hot Damn!

Don't forget to join us on Twitter for #ManCandyMonday 9PM EST. We will also be unveiling our Man Candy Monday blog. So grab a glass of wine (or ice water) and come enjoy the show!

Friday Reads

I love Friday. It means that come 5pm it's the weekend and I can really lose myself in a book. And since it's Friday I thought that we could talk about our plans for reading this weekend. What? You don't know what you're going to read? Don't worry! I'll help you find something good. As for me... What am I reading? I just recieved a bunch of books in the mail to review for The Season for Romance and first up is Bastian by Elizabeth Amber. And have you seen this cover...

Hello hotness!!

Well since you can't read Bastian just yet (release date April 26) I wanted to see what everyone plans on reading. What?!? You don't know?!? Well, let me help you.

In the next few weeks and months I want to do some posts on my favorite books and books that have brought me to another level emotionally when reading them. But that's for another post. So if you're looking for something to read you've found the right place. So here are my suggestions for a weekend of FUN reading:

You like historicals? Well have you read How to Marry a Duke by Vicky Dreiling? Think The Bachelor but during the Recency. I love finding new authors and let me just say that I had such a good time reading this book that I read it in 2 nights, staying up WAY past my bedtime.

Not into men in breeches? Prefer your men from this century, perhaps in a hockey uniform? While I suggest anything by Rachel Gibson one of my favorites is See Jane Score. I love when the bad boys fall in love.

A few days ago I told you that I had started reading Darkfever by Karen Marie Moning. Well I finished it and if you haven't read it then this weekend is a great time to start. Mac is a trip to read! So if you want that paranormal fix Darkfever is it.

So tell me... What do you plan on reading this weekend? Do you have any fun plans?

What I'm Reading

What am I reading? So kind of you to ask! I'm reading Darkfever by Karen Marie Moning.

(Click on Cover for more info)

I have a tendency of procrastinating. When someone suggests a book and tells me I HAVE to read it I will get said book, but then it sits on my desk for a few months until I pick it up. I don't know why I do this, I did the same thing with a certain other paranormal series *cough* Black Dagger Brotherhood *cough* that I am now addicted too. And even though I'm only 3/4 the way through I'm kicking myself for not reading it sooner. I predict the Fever Series will moving up my TBR pile.

So, here are my thoughts so far:

• I'm pretty sure Mac is my long lost sister
• Jericho Barrons is a very intriguing man and I want to know why
• I am loving Mac's relationship with Barrons and how he addresses her as "Ms. Lane"
• Dublin has moved down my "Places to See Before I Die" list (ok, not really)

Well, I'm going to go finish my book and see what other trouble Mac get's herself into. But tell me:

What are you reading? Is there something that I HAVE to read?

Happy Reading!