Hey Everyone, sorry about the extended absence. I hit the ground running after our trip to New York and haven’t slowed down since. (We had an absolute blast during our time in NYC!) It’s been extremely busy over at Book Lovers Inc. because one of the ladies has been off ill and help was needed.

Anyway, Tori & I are over at Desert Island Keepers for the next 3 days and today I’m talking about the books in my TBR that are screaming to be read! LOL Do you have any of those?? Stop by the Island if you would like to join in on the conversation. Also, tomorrow I’m going to be hosting a surprise Giveaway at DIK so if you would like to join in on the fun be sure and stop by!

I’m dividing my time today and am also over at Book Lovers Inc. talking to Stephanie Tyler about her new book In The Air Tonight! It is one of my favorite reads of the year, absolutely stellar and there will be a review posted later today. There is also a Giveaway so if you want to join in on the fun stop by!!

I took lots of pictures in New York at the Literacy Autographing and hope to get them sorted out and talk about the experience soon here at closetreader.

I hope everyone is doing well. It’s hotter than hell here in Toronto, as in icky, awful, mug!! Yes, I’m whining.

B & I fly out tomorrow morning at 8 am and will return late on Friday July 1st. Tori is going to stay with my mother while I’m gone. The rest of my fur family is staying with the guys which will be fine! B doesn’t arrive home until late tonight – I sure hope he has some clean clothing! LOL He was at the Montreal Jazz Festival all weekend with friends.

Just as a heads-up, I’m over at BLI today with author Anne Rainey chatting about her upcoming release So Sensitive and there is a Giveaway so stop by if you would like to throw your wig in the ring.

Okay:

• Nails done. – check
• Hair done. – check
• Passports ready – check
• Online airline check in – check
• Packed – not so much
• Pack Up Tori – not at all
• Bathe Tori – nope
• Laundry – better get busy
• Need more coffee – absolutely!
• Money? – There is never enough of it – but what the hell!! LOL
• Time to go crazy? – YES!!

I hope everyone has an awesome week!!

Dear Larissa:

In 2008, when I first ventured into the realm of online discussion about books I chatted with a fellow romance reader through the Amazon.com loop. We shared a commonality in that we both enjoyed paranormal romance and she led me to a book called Pleasure Unbound. I read Eidolon and Tayla’s story non-stop and have to admit to being gobsmacked. We all have sub genres in romance that resonate more to our individual reading tastes than others. One of mine is dark erotic paranormal romance that doesn’t spare the graphic gritty details in a fast paced, action packed narrative. You not only set bar in the genre for me, but have maintained and surpassed it with each novel as you continue to develop and expand your Demonica world. The passionate and conflicted romances that you plot for heroes and heroines who have often lead long, tortured lives always leave me breathless. Many readers talk about a series that is their crack when discussing connected stories penned by favorite authors. My crack is the Demonica novels penned by Larissa Ione. Each time I finish one of your novels I’m left panting for the next story, we now have the Lords of Deliverance, and I can’t wait to see where you take the horsemen next!

You have always made a point of engaging your readers who post reviews and share comments about your work online. After reading Pleasure Unbound and “chatting” with you at the Amazon forum I found your website and linked with a Yahoo Readers Group you frequent. It was through this venue that I discovered blogging and created closetreader. Blogging has been an enriching experience that allowed me to connect with some amazing and intelligent people from all over the world. So you see Larissa, your novels have not only enriched my reading life you were instrumental in introducing me to a worldwide community of people who share a passion for romance novels, no matter what the genre. Further, through you I learned of the work of authors Jaci Burton, Beth Kery, Stephanie Tyler, Lara Adrian and most recently Virna De Paul. Their books all share special places on my keeper shelf.

Lastly, thank you for your friendship over the past 3 years and I am so looking forward to meeting you in New York next week! I am and will remain your devoted fan.

Warmest Regards
Lea

Yesterday’s Author Fan Letter was posted by Stacy at: http://www.trelainastarblazer.blogspot.com/

Tomorrow Kaetrin at: http://www.kaetrinsmusings.blogspot.com/ will be posting her letter!

My eldest son and I are going to New York City for 4 days next week and I will be attending the RWA Literacy Signing so I’m sure I’ll pick up some really awesome books and swag and we’ll have to see what arrives home. (Or I may end up posting it home). lol I’m really excited about this trip because it’s a chance for my eldest son and I to spend some quality time together, I’m going to attend my first ever book signing! Neither of us has been to NYC before.

Blogfest Rules:
The rules are quite simple.

1. Each blog must host a giveaway between 12:00 am EST on the 15th through 11:59 pm EST on the 17th. There are no stipulations as to the monetary value of this giveaway.
2. Each blog must post the links provided to them on the days of the event.
3. Your BlogFest post can remain as a single post over the multiple days, but make sure there is an easily visible link to it from the top of your blog. If people can’t find your giveaway, they certainly can’t enter it.
4. Giveaway rules are up to you.
5. A Journey of Books will have a webpage and database for visitors to use to help track their blog visits. While it is not mandatory that you direct your visitors there, it is a tool available to you.

*Please visit A Journey of Books for all the details!*

I hope everyone had a good Monday and enjoy the rest of the week!

When I have a little time and if anyone is interested I’m going to format a post about what I learned when switching from Blogger (GoDaddy) domain to WordPress hosted by Blue Host which has been excellent to deal with so far. It was at times a frustrating experience and I had to dig for information from several venues, mainly because GoDaddy doesn’t have any central resource to access information.

My turn is coming up to gush to one of my favorite author’s in the Author Fan Letter Blog Crawl and I’m pretty excited! I’ve got the post somewhat constructed and hope to get my letter started tonight. I’ve spent all of today cleaning and fiddling with the Blog. Chris once said to me when you open a blog it’s like a new toy – all shiny and new and then the shine wears off. LOL I feel like I have another shiny new toy to play with!!

Then there is getting back to doing a little blog hopping which I know is a must.

I hope everyone is having a wonderful weekend!!

Man, why did I start this? Another one of my hair brained ideas I guess.

Today I’m over at The Secret HEA Society rambling about HEA’s.

Man this template is going to drive me NUTS – I’ll probably end up calling in a pro.. Painful I tell you – Pain ful O.O

Hi Everyone!

Well I’m scraping the barnacles of Closetreader today to give a shout out about the Author Fan Letter Blog Crawl that the lovely Kassa has spearheaded again this year. I totally enjoyed the event last year and decided to join in on the fun. I’ve already decided which author I’m going to gush over this year but of course haven’t started my letter yet because in true Lea style it will likely be a last minute venture. *rolling eyes*

Tori & I are enjoying a lovely long weekend here in Toronto and I’m deep into reading a really good book. Tori hasn’t been too well lately but I’m nursing her along under veterinary supervision and hoping we can get everything sorted out soon. She has never been 100% after her surgery last year and the changing weather which has been extremely damp this year seems to particularly bother her. The vet and I both think it’s arthritis in her knee but we are soldiering along. She has also developed a chronic skin problem which I’m treating – I know. *sigh*

I’ve been posting book reviews and Author interviews over at BLI these days & continuing to contribute at DIK, but for the most part I’ve returned to reading which is what I love. It seemed for a while there I was spending too much time online and coupled with career and home life I was unable to fit in my books. Something had to go and I’ve had to make some tough choices with regard to time spent blog hopping and social networking. I’m actually much happier and would so like to reach my goal of reading 100 books this year (although am not stressing about it). However, I’m not ready to close Closetreader completely yet and hope to post here from time to time along with updating the sidebars etc.

Well, I’m rambling and I’m going to get back to my current read and enjoy the rest of the weekend. I hope you all have a great one too!