Where's the Party?

FALL FESTIVUS

If there is one thing I hate it's missing a party. Maybe it's my inner Nosy Nora, or maybe it's FOMO (fear of missing out). Mostly I think it's just loathing the idea I'm going to miss a good time with friends.

Naturally I was incensed when I realized I was going to be traveling today and miss out on all of the shenanigans and happenings at Nose in a Book (lisabea). A big wang-doodle of a Fall Festivus is going on in celebration of L.B. Gregg's new book COVER ME being released today at Aspen Mountain Press.

Do I sound bitter?

Go Leece! Go L.B.!

Better?

Not one to take missing out lightly, I decided to have my own wannabe Fall Festivus with all the stuff I wanted to contribute to the real celebration, party, Fall Festivus. *throws leaves*

Of course I'm Italian so I think instead of apple cider, I'll have this.

I'll sip. I'll savor.

I might even watch this

because reading about Finn's production in COVER ME put me in the mood for Miss Adelaide and Nathan Detroit. By the time the movie is over I imagine I'll be ready to eat. Spaghetti and Italian sausage. Mmmmmm... One of my favorites.

Maybe, if I'm not too uh... "stuffed" I'll have some of these...

AND these.

I don't plan to be alone. Oooooh noooooo! GG gave me carte blanche for my make believe personal Fall Festivus. So, what the heck, I'm bringing these nice Italian boys...

because I want them to meet those other two nice boys Max and Finn from COVER ME.

Deciding what to wear is always a trial. Knowing I could go with a costume helped. I mean I had it narrowed down to my wedding dress, or some moth eaten black crepe with dried up green make up and a witches hat. I finally went with this...

I'm younger. I'm thinner. There's lots of bling. What's not to like? Although my tan's a little uneven.

I really considered wearing this...

Particularly in light of the fact that LB is responsible for my Wonder Woman wonderfulness. At the end of the day though, a girls gotta do what a girls gotta do. I went for the bling-bling and the almost-a-tiara-even-if-it-doesn't-light-up-like-SL Wendy's. Tomorrow? Who knows. I could be drinking green tea, eating salad and saving the world with my wonder rope.

Hey, maybe I could rope me some of those hunky Italian guys. Although the ballerina is a little young for them. Good thing I have more than one costume to choose from. Heh.

You can read my review of the fabulous COVER ME here or you can go buy it at Aspen Mountain Press.

Whew! That was quite some party even if I only ate the food I brought.

Some food... some wine... a good book... and some fine men. Why that's a recipe for a blissful life right there. *throws leaves*

HAPPY

FALL FESTIVUS!

COVER ME by LB Gregg

Cover Me by L.B. Gregg

Nothing makes me happier than a trip back to Smithfield. This is the third installment in The Men of Smithfield series and like it's predecessors GOBSMACKED and HAPPY ENDINGS, this story made me want to move to a small town in New England. So much so that I convinced GG to read GOBSMACKED. Yeah, I'm still reeling too. He found the book...amusing.

This time out we have Michael Finnegan a teacher at a prep school and security specialist Max Douglas. I like Max's character so much I could recommend you read it for that reason alone. A bit more alpha than LB's previous characters, Max is stoic, tough and no nonsense. Probably not the perfect match for the wise cracking Finn.

All that is moot however when Max must move into one of the dorms in order to protect one of the students who is the son of a famous musician. A famous musician who has been receiving threats from an obsessed fan. Coincidentally this also happens to be the dorm that Finn resides in as the student advisor.

I liked these character so much I kept thinking about how much fun it would be to be able to call them up and go to dinner. Max and Finn circle and snipe at each other in one of the most traditional of mating rituals. All the while the reader feels their strong pull of attraction in a setting inappropriate for them to act on it. Can I say delicious?

While Finn is trying to pull off his production of GUYS AND DOLLS, Max is doing his level best to be unobtrusive while he protects his charge. Of course Hemmi, short for Hemingway, like any self-respecting high school student chafes at having a body guard, but accepts Max's presence with equanimity.

LB deftly steers clear of the easy stereotypes with all her characters. She cleverly makes use of the emails to drop clues, introduce characters and heighten the conflict. There are some gems between Finn and Max. Did I mention that I'd love to go to dinner with these guys?

Who's stalking who at Dalton prep and why? Max has a full plate fighting his attraction to Finn and trying to keep everyone safe. Take a trip to Smithfield. You won't be sorry. This M/M gem is set to be released tomorrow at Aspen Mountain Press.

My Grade = B+

Gobsmacked by LB Gregg

Gobsmacked by L.B. Gregg

When you have a friend write a book you are naturally excited and supportive of their new adventure. I know I was. By the time I met Lisabea last year at RWA, I sort of knew from her blog that she was writing, but I didn't really know. Ya know?

Anyway, shortly after meeting her she clues me in that she's writing M/M and getting ready to submit. A big part of the reason she went to RWA was to network and pitch her book. How cool was that? Very. I was equal parts fascinated and excited while watching her navigate new and scary waters in an endeavor to get her book published.

It wasn't long after coming home from the conference that I got word from Lb that her first book, GOBSMACKED, was going to be published. Now, a good friend would have been worried about lots of things that had to do with their friend's new challenges. Sadly, I have to admit that most of my worry early on was all about, uh...me.

The little hamster on the wheel of my brain kept thinking things like, what if I don't like it? Most everyone knows I adore Lb, but what if I didn't like her book? Could I tell her? Would she be angry if I didn't like it? Would I have the nerve to tell her I didn't like it? If I told her, would our fledgling friendship be over? Sounds like a soap opera, doesn't it?

Fortunately, all that angst was for naught.

You've never seen such a relieved and happy person as I was reading the last page of GOBSMACKED. Grinning I was. I immediately called Lb to tell her how relieved I was the book was good. Yep. That's what I said. "Lb! I'm so relieved your book is good!" What a friend huh?

GOBSMACKED takes place in the small New England town of Smithfield. I love Smithfield. I want to live in Smithfield. Lb somehow makes it seem nice even during the cold and blustery winter when the story takes place. It seems like an idyllic place to live. Sure, people know your business, but they also care about you. *cue music*

"You wanna go where people know,
people are all the same,
You wanna go where everybody knows
your name."

This story is character driven, which is something I've mentioned many times as one of my favorite things about a book. These are real people with messy lives. They aren't perfect. They make mistakes. This story follows Mark who is breaking up with Jamie, and Tony the local resident cop or 'Trooper', as Lb refers to him. Interesting men, good looking, messed up and so very, very human.

I've read this novella twice now. I've found different things that delight me each time. It's a quick easy read and once you start it, you don't want to put it down. I know I didn't.

Yes, we all know I love Lb, but I'm absolutely delighted to tell you, this is a good book. You should read it. You won't be sorry you did.

My grade = B+