You don't live to be almost 30 and not build up a little resentment.
OK, so 30 waved adieu a while ago, but I can remember being put out even then by the smug, sanctimonious folks whom most everyone agrees are some of the most annoying specimens of humanity in existence: people who have their holiday shopping done before Halloween.
Perhaps I overstate things, but you know who you are, and those of us who barely can get Christmas together by New Year's have just one question: Can it possibly be the case that you're wrapped in holiday spirit while buying Hanukkah gifts in August? Because the same question crosses my mind about reading holiday romances before, say, December. Do they really get you in the mood?
Well, I know at least one that certainly'll get you in the sort of mood that makes any time the most wonderful time of the year, if you know wh'am sayin'. It's the sizzling n' sassy new holiday "duology" from Kresley Cole and Gena Showalter, "Deep Kiss of Winter ."
If the title and cover aren't enough to make a girl want to cuddle up w/ a frothy mug of hot, this big 'ol handful of even hotter'll turn any romance fan not already a believer in the preternatural powers of Cole's and Showalter's paranormal romances into zealots for the homegirls' home team.
In Cole's "Untouchable," we meet Daniella the Ice Maiden, a gorgeous little Valkyrie warrior whose skin is so cold she experiences excruciating pain when touched by someone other than her own "icy" kind. That makes it kind of tricky for vampire Murdoch Wroth to claim Danii as his Bride, and especially stinks for a guy known back in his medieval day as a rake who "touched" just about everything in skirts.
Murdoch doesn't want to hurt Danii, but he's also running a little scared of the whole mated-for-afterlife thing. And Danii may have spent centuries dreaming of getting next to someone, but she's too modern a woman to be played by a confused "leech," even one who may share with her some of the most uniquely sensuous lovemaking seen on the pages of a romance novel.
Yet there's more exceptionally creative sensuality and entertainment to be had in Showalter's "Tempt Me Eternally." TME's Aleah Love can "shift" into any individual's image simply by touching his or her skin. In her latest bod, she's become an agent for an organization that investigates and removes aliens (AIR). Sent to capture deadly warriors, Aleah instead is taken prisoner by their leader, Breean Nu.
Breean's race of peace-loving people was decimated by a terrible virus, and he's brought the only men who survived to Earth to rebuild their lives. He may be able to help Aleah's team thwart the evil aliens for whom they've mistaken Breean's peeps. But first, Breean's got to get Aleah to trust him enough to help them parley with AIR. He's pretty sure he can use the innate erotic appeal he and his men are known for to capture her attention, but is driven to have her willing and eager affection. And Aleah's thinking it might not be so bad to let a guy touch her who seems unafraid to see her as she really is.
Just writing about "Deep Kiss of Winter" gets me in the holiday mood, 'cause both of these stories have lovely Christmas-y imagery, and are great fun, to boot. It almost makes a girl wanna' do some gift shopping. Not for anyone else, but, you know, anytime's a good time to add to one's To Be Read pile.
What do you love about Kresley Cole's and Gena Showalter's novels? When do you start your holiday shopping? How likely are you to buy yourself books when you head to purchase reads for someone else?
Aaaargh, Michelle, would you please stop talking about that book?!? I've got six or seven others lying here in front of me, but I won't start because I will read DKOW next (stubborn me, I know). Well, Amazon's been saying ever since I ordered it that they'll sent it to me on the 15th (meaning tomorrow), but when I look it up it says it will only be delivered in one to three weeks. Hach, that's really bad. Can't even go into the next bookstore and simply grab it. Crap.
Honestly, what I like most about KC and GS's books are the love scenes (c'mon, you know I'm a sucker for these, Michelle! 
), or, more generally talking, the sexual tension and interaction between the characters. And the worldbuilding in general. I LOVE mythical creatures/storylines, and those two have a bunch of them. Simply love 'em.
I could (if I had any idea whatsoever what I'll buy anyone) start buying Christams gifts now - we'd have the landscape for it since the day before yesterday it started snowing here (the Alps start where my village ends, so you can imagine that!). Not the cool Xmas-feeling you get in December, but it gives hope for white Christmas since folks are predicting it will be a long and harsh winter.
My all-time-fav Christmas-anthology is Snowy Night With A Stranger which came out last year. Won-dah-full stories, definitely recommandable. And the one I'm looking forward most at the moment is A Highlander Christmas - he Cover alone makes this book buy-worthy (you hafta check it out - sa-hexxy!). I've only read books by Cindy Miles before (and love 'em, too) but until now I've only read positive reviews, so I'm excited!
Thanks, AnnB! Oh, I meant those other sanctimonious early holiday shoppers! Actually, the real question I wanted to ask was: Will someone do my holiday shopping for me? You can be our Gena Showalter expert, because we're kind of Immortals After Dark crazed here. I haven't read a ton of Gena's, but I'm psyched for the AIR now. ARe there more of them? I've heard her YA stuff is great,too. And the covers of her Pandora's Box-themed books are gawjus, those tatted young men. Perty.
Principessa, Emma was the witchling, right?
Hey, Jessa! Saw your "Seduced by Shadows" featured on the index of the Romance store here at BN.com! Sweet. Yeah, the whole icy, winter theme of Cole's novella is just wild. I'm guessing you'd like your family to shop in the 'gift card' section of the book store?
Hi All! You ladies have me smiling from ear to ear!!!
Michelle, I have an aunt whose shopping is done by October, sometimes August. How disgusting is that (smile)! Me, I'm a last minute girl and no matter how I try, it always seems to go that way. I've gotta say that I somehow get it all done and it doesn't seem to bother me in the least that I'm rushing around like a crazy person. I seem to thrive on it!
I can't wait to read DKOW. Since, your description of the love scene being so unique to romance, I can't imagine what KC wrote, but I know it's darn good! She has some of the best love scenes I've ever read. I kept wondering how she was going to bring the h/heroine together intimately, since the heroine is so cold she can't be touched. Well, leave it to her to come up with a solution that sounds uniquely Kresley. Can't wait to read that. Thanks Michelle for whetting my appetite for this. Now I'm really going to be a blubbering mess in a good way until I read that story!
Princess, you go right ahead and be psyched about KC! I'll be there right along with you girl! Her books are not to be missed. Definitely can't put them down and destined for my keeper shelf! Love her brooding heroes and her sassy independent heroines. Your description of how they come together in love for one another is right on! Just started Gena's Darkest Night. Great so far. I've gotta agree about her covers. That cover art on those guys is absolutely beautiful! Those tats are hawt! Hey, like they aren't gorgeous enough! Ooo la la!
I haven't read any of those Christmas anthologies. I'll have to get them too! I don't have any kids, but a two great nieces and a great nephew to shop for. Love doing that! When I go to the toy section, I don't want to leave. How bad is that (laughing)!One of my teenage cousin's loves to read, so I'll be getting her something of the reading kind. I hadn't thought about a gift card, but that sounds great! As for me ... a book anytime of year just knocks my socks off!
