Z is for... Rebecca Zanetti

ounds!  It's the last day of the A to Z challenge!  Is it just me, or did this month pass by really quickly?

This challenge has been so much fun, and I want to take a moment to thank everyone for reading, and an extra-big thank you to those of you who took the time to comment.  I love, love, LOVE comments, and I always enjoying reading your thoughts.  Please, keep it up!

Image credit

For my last post, I want to spotlight Rebecca Zanetti.  I read and enjoyed her book, Under the Covers, which is a steamy romantic suspense.  She also writes a paranormal vampire series, and she has quite a few books in her backlist, which is always a treat!

Image credit

I hope you've enjoyed my theme for this year's challenge, and I hope you've discovered some new-to-you authors.  Please come back and let me know if you wind up reading any of the authors I featured--I'd love to know what you think!

Now if you'll excuse me, I'm off to get some sleep! :)

Y is for... Yasmine Galenorn

es, we're almost to the end!  One more day--you can do it!








Today's author is Yasmine Galenorn.  She has an ongoing paranormal series called The Otherworld, and it's about 3 sisters--one witch, one vampire, and one shape-shifter.  It's an interesting world, and what's cool about the series is that each book is told from the POV of a different sister.  After three books, you return to the POV of the first sister, then move on to the second, then the third.  It's a good way to keep a series fresh!

Book 1 in the series

Yasmine has several series out right now, but I've only read The Otherworld books.  Have any of you read her work?  What are your thoughts?

X is for... X-rated romance

-rated.  For most people, this rating denotes graphic sexual content in a film.  Romance doesn't have a ratings system like movies, but anyone looking for steamier fare knows to check out erotica or erotic romance (they are different!  Erotica has a lot of graphic sex scenes, but the emphasis is not on the relationship between the characters, and there may or may not be a happily ever after ending.  Erotic romance focuses on the relationship between the characters with lots of graphic sex scenes, and because it is a romance, we get a happily ever after.)

For this letter, I thought I'd spotlight a few erotic romance authors.  I don't normally read much in this sub-genre, but there are a few people I really like, and who write this type of story very well indeed.

First up is Cara McKenna.  Her book, Willing Victim, should be required reading for anyone trying out this genre.  It does a nice job of showing the journey of Laurel, and how her life turns around after meeting Flynn.  For his part, Flynn has a lot of emotional growth once he gets involved with Laurel.  A good read all around!

Next is Megan Hart.  I picked up her book, Switch, because the back cover blurb was intriguing.  A woman mistakenly receives notes meant for the apartment upstairs.  They contain instructions--some innocent, some not--and she starts to follow them, just to see what it would be like.  The story really gets interesting when she meets the intended recipient of the notes, and finds herself very attracted to him.

Finally, I want to mention T.L. Watson.  Her first book, Hands-On Therapy, is out now, and it's really good.  I hope she writes faster, because I really want to read her next book!

That's all from me for today.  Do you read erotica or erotic romance?  Did I leave out your favorite author?  Tell me about it in the comments!

W is for... J.R. Ward

ell, better late than never, right?  Apologies for posting late--my Mom called me last night, and the family cat, Belle, was having trouble walking.  We took her to the emergency vet, and I didn't get home until almost midnight.  Belle had to stay the night, which made her even grumpier than usual.  She's home now, sprawled out on the bed and resting up after her overnight adventure.  I wish I could say she's fine, but she's an 18 year old kitty who is having some age-related problems.  I just hope that whatever time she has left with us is happy.

Moving on, today's author is one that tends to be rather polarizing.  Not because of her subject matter, but because of her writing style.  Readers either love her or they hate her--I haven't really found anyone who is indifferent or middle-of-the-road when it comes to their impressions.

J.R. Ward writes the wildly popular Black Dagger Brotherhood series (BDB, for those 'in the know') and more recently, the Fallen Angels series.  Both are paranormal, and both are quite steamy.  I've enjoyed both, but as for the BDB series, I prefer the earlier books to the more recent ones.

J.R. didn't always write paranormal romance.  A few of her earlier titles have been re-released, when she was writing as Jessica Bird.  I've read one of the contemporary romances, and enjoyed it.  The style was nothing like her vampire books, so if you're one of those readers who doesn't enjoy the Brothers, perhaps try one of the Jessica Bird books?

What about you?  Have you read any of her novels? What did you think?

V is for... Rachel Vincent

ery close to the end--can you feel it?









Today's author is Rachel Vincent.  Rachel writes both YA and urban fantasy series, so if you're in the mood for a paranormal setting that's lighter on the romance, give her a try!











Do you like urban fantasy, or do you prefer more of an emphasis on the romance?

U is for... Amanda Usen

h-oh was my first thought when I got to this letter.  I quickly scanned my bookshelves, and my fears were confirmed--I don't have any 'U' authors in my collection!  So I visited the RWA website, and lo and behold, there is one 'U' author.  I haven't read her yet, but now I feel like I have to, since she's so special!


Amanda Usen writes steamy romances, and she has two series right now: Sexy Chefs and Hot Nights.  I'm a fan of cooking/food themed romances, so I'll probably start with her debut, Scrumptious.

Has anyone read Amanda?  What did you think?

T is for... Jodi Thomas

oday, I'm happy to spotlight an author I've had the pleasure of meeting several times. Jodi Thomas spoke at a conference I attended a few years ago, and I found her to be quite inspiring.  She's since spoken at my local RWA chapter's meetings, and she was one of our conference speakers.  She's a genuinely nice person, who goes out of her way to encourage other writers.

Jodi writes both contemporary small-town romances, and Western historicals.  She also has an extensive back-list, so you're sure to find something you'll enjoy!