Avon Feature

What Makes an Addict?
Guess this is what it takes to nudge me out of a blogging slump.  I subscribe to the "From The Heart" newsletter from Avon Romance, and when they sent me this notice, I couldn't help but get a little excited at the idea of being and advance reader for them.  So I applied and thought I'd nudge things a bit by highlighting the Avon authors that I've written about.

Most recently, I read and enjoyed Lecia Cornwell's Secrets of a Proper Lady (NTS: the second one is out, what are you waiting for??).  I also had the pleasure of meeting the author at the Emerald City RWA conference bookfair.  I don't go to the conference, because I'm not a writer, but the bookfair is like a little slice of heaven for a romance reader.

Eloisa James and Julia Quinn are also on my radar, not only because they are a couple of the best historical romance writers working today, but in a more immediate way because of a couple of Book Perk events.  I went to a really neat "tea" with the two of them about a year ago in Seattle, and then recently to an Author Event in Bellevue -- Julia Quinn, Eloisa James, Christina Dodd, Lisa Kleypas, and Connie Brockway were all there, doing a fairly informal Q & A with a signing after.  It was a lot of fun.

I've written a number of posts either reviewing Quinn's books or just talking about her style in general.  She's local to me so I have met her at several events and she's just such a sweetheart in person.  My most recent review was  two years ago although I continue to read her new releases.  (I sometimes avoid reviewing the same author many times because I think I end up repeating myself.).  I covered Ms. James' dukes around the same time.  Oddly, I've never reviewed Lisa Kleypas but she has always been one of my auto-buy authors.  I love her work.

Other long-time bloggers might relate to this confession: I have a lot more posts in my head than I do actually written out  and published here on the site. I read Debra Mullins To Ruin The Duke  a couple years ago and was really impressed by the fresh and clever plotting.  But I never wrote that post. She's also local to me;  I originally found her at the Emerald City bookfair in '09, and ran into her again last fall.  Her latest, The Brides of Nevarton Chase, has been a great trilogy: I recommend.

Also in the category of great ideas that are still in the "incubation" stage, is my "Rewind" feature. I have to admit, I really, really love the "classic" romances from the 70s and 80s.  I reviewed a couple of "rewinds" last year and I actually got as far as finding a copy and re-reading Shanna by Kathleen Woodiwiss, and completely loved it... but I never wrote that post either.  But that story was every bit as good in 2011 as it was when I first read it back in the day.

My "relationship" with Anna Campbell is a direct result of the blogging world -- during the BBAW event a few years back, I ended up on a blog I'd never seen before and entering a contest for an ARC giveaway. I didn't get the ARC but I had checked out Campbell's site and the excerpt reeled me in. I've been a fan ever since.

Tracy Anne Warren is on the list, and she appeared a while back here on Alpha Heroes.  I ought to get caught up with her, because I really did enjoy the one title that I read.

AND! I am so pleased to tell you that I've been selected as an "Avon Addict!" That means some fun swag and advance reading copies for me, and some fresh blood in my reviews for you. This makes me feel like this: