Top 10 List: TV Couples

Zara tagged me with this one -check out her list here. I agree with several on her list (including Malcolm & Inara, and Buffy & Angel), but I decided to use the "little gray cells" as Poirot would say and come up with ten new couples for us to discuss.

Oooh, just as I was about working on this, Orannia tagged me, too. Her list is here.

Onto my list - in completely random order.

1. Booth & Temperance

They're smart, they're funny, and they've got that zing between them. I like that they're friends first - everything else comes after. Though if you want to study sexual tension, Bones is the show to watch.
2. Gambit & Rogue (or where Nalini proves her geek credentials)

I used to wake up ridiculously early on Saturday mornings to watch X-Men. Gambit was my favorite. I loved the whole "he can't kiss or touch her or she'll suck out his lifeforce" thing - talk about conflict!

3. Laura Holt & Remington Steele


I loved this show. I would watch reruns if the powers that be decided to put them on. Hmm, I see a similarity to Temperance and Booth - Laura and Remington are also a smart & funny couple. But they had they own unique chemistry going on.

4. Allison & Joe

They're so normal and real, and yet the love between them is not something you ever question. One of my favorite episodes is when Joe thinks something has happened to Allison, and when they find her, he literally falls on his knees and just holds her.

5. Spike and Buffy
Okay, I know I said I liked Angel and Buffy, but I also kind of have a soft spot for Spike, too.

6. Wash & Zoe

I liked that these two were in love and so settled about it (ignore the other two guys in the picture *grin*). There were no huge scenes, but you knew they'd do anything for each other. (p.s. you that that thing that happens in Serenity? I've wiped it from my memory).

7. JD & Turk

A million reasons, including - The World's Most Giant Doctor and Hide the Saltine. I miss Scrubs.

8. Charlie & Amita Two really smart people, with a great relationship! I like how at the start, Charlie is the more shy of the pair.

9. Elizabeth & Darcy

You didn't think I was going to miss Lizzie and Darcy out? In NZ, they played the original tv series one episode every Sunday. I sat through six torturous weeks to see these two get their happy ending!

10. Mulder & SkullyChemistry among creepiness!

I think a lot of people have already been tagged with this, so I'm throwing it open to anyone who wants to play. Who are your favorites?

Twitter

I couldn't help it. I want to know what everyone's talking about. I am now on Twitter.

Writing

I've started work on the next Guild Hunter book, currently titled Angel's Kiss. I was happily surprised to open the file and realize I already had over 50 pages. Woohoo!

What're you all up this week?

OOTB Tour: The Warlord's Daughter - Susan Grant

Check out the first OOTB tour of the year :-)

THE WARLORD’S DAUGHTER by Susan Grant
HQN Books, FEB 1, 2009

The war is finally over. But Wren's life is in tatters. The only living offspring of the notorious Drakken Warlord, her genes could very well start a new dynasty of terror. And the Coalition can't have that.

She alone holds the key to finding a legendary treasure. Having seen enough bloodshed, shy, petite Wren vows to destroy it before anyone, Drakken, Coalition or Earth, can get their hands on it - but she'll need help.

The Drakken's ruthless evil turned Aral toward the Coalition years ago. War is all he knows, until he finds passion and love in the most unlikely of women - the Warlord's Daughter. But will trusting each other with their secrets risk not only their hearts, but their lives?

Excerpt: http://www.susangrant.com/books/warlord.htm#excerpt
Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9tDCKOZX-KY

ABOUT SUSAN GRANT

RITA award winner and NY Times best-selling author Susan Grant loves writing about what she knows: flying, adventure, and the often unpredictable interaction between men and women! When she’s not writing science fiction-romances, Susan pilots 747 jumbo jets to China, Australia, Europe, and many other exotic overseas destinations where she finds plenty of material for her novels.

REVIEWS

"It was SO good. It was wonderful to watch Wren's growth from an uncertain scared young lady into a determined heroine strong enough to be a battlelord hero's woman."-- Kathy's Review Corner

"Grant’s forte is her superbly-drawn and well-developed characters. Her heroes are just the most gorgeously-drawn and sensitive men." --JaceScribbles

Website: http://www.susangrant.com
http://www.the-borderlands.com

Deep and meaningful poll

Sunday Linkage

In case you haven't seen this yet, Harlequin is offering free downloads of 16 books as part of it's 60th anniversary celebrations. They've got a whole range of books from Desire, to Suspense, to Steeple Hill, so make sure to check it out.

Ilona Andrews is running a contest to give away an ARC of Magic Strikes (which I might possibly already have *evil grin*) - all you have to do is spread the word that the writing team of Ilona Andrews (Ilona and Gordon), will be at Opusfest, March 13th to 15th. Click on the link for more info.

Meljean Brook is giving away a copy of Carolyn Jewel's Scandal. You have till Sunday night to enter.

p.s. If anyone asks, I was not on the interwebs today.

Saturday Morning Smile

Thanks to the person who sent me this image! So - Roman or Julian?

The Time Is Short - Nerina Hilliard

I got this cover image from Fantastic Fiction, but my copy pretty much looks the same. It's bedraggled with love. :-)

The Time Is Short was first published in 1958. The copy I have is the Mills & Boon Classics edition, which was published in 1975. I'm fairly certain this book is very difficult to get hold of, but if you ever do see a copy, grab it and run.

Why do I love this book? It's hard to say - I don't even remember how it got into my hands, but I just know that I've never forgotten the story, and I've never even considered giving it away. It's an absolute and utter keeper.

Here's the backcover blurb:

"Love comes swiftly, at the first meeting....There is an attraction that grows undeniably stronger until it is a fire inside. You do not believe in love like that?"

Morgana had never been in love like that, and, hearing Felipe's words, she knew that now she never could be, that even if such a love did come her way, she must somehow find the strength to withstand it. For, knowing that the future could not give her the same things as it did to others, she now found herself in the very situation he wished to avoid.

Since the backcover blurb doesn't tell you the reason Morgana can't let herself fall in love, I will. Don't worry, it's not a spoiler - you find out in the first few pages. She has an area of pressure in her brain (as a result of an accident) that is inoperable. She's been given 3 months to live.

Through a mix of circumstance and choice, she ends up nursing an older lady on the island of Jumasa. Portugal has sovereignity over the island, but Jumasa's undisputed master is the Marquez Felipe Manuel Ruiz de Aliviro Rialta, for whom Morgana immediately develops an irrational dislike. Sparks fly from day one.

The characters are all very well fleshed out, and I particularly like how we get to see Felipe through his actions, such as what he does for the people of the island. I also like that Morgana, while a wonderful, sympathetic character who is determined to live her last months to the full, isn't perfect, that she does give in to bitterness at times because of what fate has stolen from her.

In some ways, it's a very traditional M&B, with a wealthy, exotic hero, and a heroine who is a fish out of water. But in other ways, it's very different. The first thing I noticed when I recently reread it is how many more secondary characters there were, which reflects the longer length. The book is 188 pages of dense text - I'd say around 75k words at least.

But more than that, there is an indefinable "something" about The Time Is Short that sets it apart.

It's a fairytale - in a beautiful place. It's full of emotion (and even a villain you'll love to hate), and an ending that makes my heart sigh each time I read it. In the end, I think I love this book because it's pure, unashamed romance.

Cover: An Enchanted Season & Angels' Pawn Release Date

I've got a confirmed release date for ANGELS' PAWN, the Guild Hunter e-special. It'll be releasing February 24th, so put that down in your diaries! It'll be available at all the usual ebook stores, plus in Kindle format.

~

This cover, for the mass market edition of An Enchanted Season, really needs no words, but I have to give them to you - I am in love with it. Serious, mad love. Not only is that an orchid on the cover (so important in Beat of Temptation), it's an orchid that only blooms in December. I *heart* the Art Department.

The mass market edition releases November.

Comfort Reads

I was going to do a post on a book I really love, but I must finish some work first. So I thought I'd throw the floor open - what are some of your favorite comfort reads? Any particular reason you love that book(s)?

Weekly Catchup

What's everyone been up to this week? Plans for the weekend? What're you reading? Watching?

I watched America's Next Top Supermodel last night (I think we're watching the season that screened in the U.S. last year). I admit it. I'm addicted.

Fan Forum

How exciting! Katherine, a fan of the Psy/Changeling series, has just set up a forum where you can discuss my books with other readers.

Here's the link: http://nalini.forumotion.com/index.htm

Thanks, Katherine! :-)

ANGELS' BLOOD Advanced Copy Winners

As promised, here is a full list of winners. This is only for your information - the official notifications were by email. :-)

Lisa T.
Lynnette
Una
Marilyne
Hilcia
Chris (egret17)
Andri
Mal D.
Xochil
Patricia F.
Regina
Ruthia
Erin N.
Janet
Goodnight Elizabeth
Jaclyn
Noel
Tija
Brie
Jackie
Jeanie
Missy
Cindy W.
Tez
Julia W.
Brijin
Michelle D.
Annette B.
Carolyn
Zara
Darcy
Lindsay
Mippy
Christine
Juleigh

Contest Update: Emails Sent!

I just finished sending out the emails to the winners of the ANGELS' BLOOD Advanced Copy Contest. I'll have a list of names here tomorrow, but if anyone would like to out themselves as a winner, go on ahead!

Thank you to everyone who entered - there were a huge number of entries. I wish I had more to give away! I truly appreciate your support for this new series. :-)

Auctions & Contest Update

First up, there are two auctions going live today.

* For Katy - to give a hand to a young teen reader
* For Sharon Cullars - to help out a fellow romance author

Follow the links to read more about the stories behind the auctions. I've contributed some signed copies of books, including a copy each of my first two books, which are very hard to get hold of now. There's lots of other goodies, so swing on over and see if anything takes your fancy.

Also, I should be able to announce the winners of the ANGELS' BLOOD Advanced Copy Contest either tomorrow or Thursday. I'll put up a note on the blog once the emails have gone out. :-)

Editing 101

What is wrong with this sentence?

She slid her hands into the coats of her pocket.

I swear I must've read it ten times before I clicked. oO

Nibbling

We're talking reading habits on the Desirabelles blog today. Are you a nibbler, or do you prefer to gulp? Swing over and join in the discussion :-)

Procrastination

...thy name is Facebook.

Postcard from the Cave

It's kind of hot in here - I think I need to open a window. Oh wait, caves don't have windows.

What're you all up to?

p.s. I have chocolate cake, so all is well with the world.
p.p.s. You have a few hours left to enter the ANGELS' BLOOD advanced copy contest if you haven't already.

Branded By Fire Copy Edits

I keep finding conversations that make me grin. Here's one.

“I’ll take that under advisement, Mélisande.”
Mercy barely stopped herself from slamming on the brakes. “Who told you that?” She needed to know who to dismember.
He snorted. “I ran the background check on you.”
“What?”
“Did you think SnowDancer was sitting on its ass while you cats set up your territory here?”
Given that she’d done some spying of her own, she couldn’t exactly argue with that. But—“That name is off-limits. On pain of death.”
“I’m quaking in my boots, pussycat.”
She screamed. “Why do you live to aggravate me? Why?”

Point to Riley methinks *grin*