Jade Lee's Blog, page 15

Words of Wisdom

My blog tour continues at Words of Wisdom from the Scarf Princess on Saturday, Dec. 12. See what I have to say and share your own thoughts with me here. Looking forward to hearing from you!

It’s out now: ONE ROGUE AT A TIME, my latest historical romance. Fill your holidays with love and intrigue. Read it now!

 

 

 

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An Unexpected Christmas Surprise

Hello everyone and welcome to December, the month of huge lines in stores, kitchen disasters, and family drama. Now before you start thinking I hate busy stores, badly cooked food, and drama, let me remind you that many creative types thrive on chaos. In fact, we probably create that very chaos ourselves and secretly relish the drama that unfolds around it. Yes, we’re sick that way. If that is not you, then I salute you! For me…well, I do enjoy peace and quiet, but definitely embrace the excitement that is December.

So…because I’m creative, you get to guess the really exciting things that are happening for me this month. (You’ll have to read down to get to my unexpected surprise!)

1. I discovered a chocolate that melts away fat. No kidding. By New Year, I’m going to be thirty pounds lighter!

2. My father got married and has moved to a new home with his new wife. Therefore, instead of going to the family mansion for Christmas, everyone’s piling into my house. I’m going to have ten people here plus a cat and dog. Anybody got bunk beds for sale?

3. I don’t cook. Seriously. I’m terrible at it. During the rest of the year, my husband and I supplement our pizza diet with hot dogs, microwaveable burgers, and salad out of a bag, none of which is cooking. But with family here I am forced to order in real food. Can’t make my nieces and nephews eat the crap I do, right? Therefore we get real restaurant food often. Woo hoo!

4. Starbucks holiday drinks. Specifically the Caramel Brulee. YUM!!!!!

Answer: 2 – (And believe me, how I wish it were 1—discovering fat melting chocolate). Yes, my father got married last month to a lovely woman and they are now happily ensconced in a little house by a lake. No room for everyone. Which means they’re coming to me. November was the month of cleaning out the downstairs and finding cheap guest bedding. I have ZERO idea what we’re going to do about the dog. We haven’t got a fenced yard and my cat will completely freak. Yippee—holiday drama if only between the four-footed family.

And yes, it’s true. I don’t cook. But my sister (sadly) said that her kids love hotdogs, microwaveable burgers, and pizza. They’re not that big on salad out of a bag, but then who is? So that means, our sad diet will continue. Though, yes, I do love the Starbucks holiday drinks, but there isn’t a store near me. But there is one at the mall, so I’m sure I’ll be enjoying them soon!

Now we get to my exciting surprise. I’ll give you a hint ahead of time. It’s not about the new book releases, but I had to put them in because they’re really exciting. They’re just not a surprise. So guess what the surprise is!

1. Book release 1 – One Rogue at a Time by Jade Lee. Isn’t the cover beautiful? An RT Top Pick and Reviewer’s Choice Finalist, this regency romance is a fun take on a makeover book. The heroine goes from the wilds of northern England to high society with the help of a rogue hero who tries to teach her all the wrong things only to have it turn out completely right!

2. Book release 2 – Seducing the Skeptic by Kathy Lyons. I wrote this book as a fun escape from reality. The heroine lands in a wacky fantasy world and has grand adventures with the prince. Truthfully, it’s a wild ride that gave me an excuse to make Star Wars, Star Trek, and Firefly jokes—plus create that happily ever after that I’d always planned for me and Luke/Spock/Capt. Tightpants!

3. My cat Cinnamon has decided to be a sweet lap kitty and never ever bring in mice in an effort to expand our limited diet.

4. I met a woman at RWA doing the Ideal Relationship Project  She asked me about the ideal relationship, I answered, and gave her a picture of me and my husband of 31 years. Then I completely forgot about it. Then I got this in the mail today. OMG, do I love my husband. Check out her site. It’s amazing. You probably can’t read the text. It says: “The ideal relationship is one where each person listens and is always striving to do better.”(Kathy) “Ours.” (Dave)

Answer 4 – I do so many things that I simply do and forget. The Ideal Relationship project was one I supported then completely forgot about. To see this come in was a total surprise. That she contacted my husband and got his response was adorable. (Or maybe I gave it to her. I don’t remember!) Anyway, isn’t this adorable? It’s now my desktop background!

I already told you the books weren’t the answer and as for my cat? Well, she has yet to learn that we don’t enjoy chasing half dead critters around the house. The only reason I like snow is because it makes it hard for her to catch rodents and bring them home as a gift.

So there you go! That was my December surprise. And for you all, I’m going to surprise you with not one, but TWO giveaways! Yup, one lucky commenter will get an e-copy of One Rogue at a Time. Another will get an e-copy of Seducing the Skeptic. But to be entered in the contest, you have to tell me what surprised you recently. Hopefully it wasn’t a half dead critter from your cat!

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NEW December Jade Lee and Kathy Lyons Giveaways!

Check out the NEW December Jade Lee and Kathy Lyons giveaways good until December 31st!

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Unexpected Thanks

I know that by the time this blog goes live, everyone will be deep into holiday shopping (or avoiding holiday shopping) and Thanksgiving will be a lost memory except for when our clothes feel tight. But for the moment, I’d like to slip there and revisit gratitude. We all know the three Fs — family, friends, and food. Add in the the basics of life like clothing and shelter, and we’ve got a list that will satisfy any social gathering.

Except, I’m going to be grateful for the weird things. And you get to guess what they are. As always, the answer could be all, none, or some combination of my multiple choice.

I’m grateful for…

My cat when she brings us presents. Yes, Cinnamon adores hunting and bringing home her toys. My husband and I then spend a great deal of time chasing partially chewed mice about the house and cursing the feline. Except without such antics, what would I have to tweet about?
Impulse buys. We all have impulse purchased something and regretted it within minutes. But what is life without a few stupid purchases that make everyone else point and laugh at you? Like this, my most recent impulse buy. Isn’t this a great sweater? 
Cleaning house. No one likes to clean and organize, but because I’m hosting family this holiday I have to seriously clean up. The result? I found lost things. I also put together this pile of shipping of my foreign editions. They’re off to libraries across the country that have collections in languages like Thai and Portuguese. 
Needing to go to the bathroom. A lot. In part because I drink gallons of water, but also because I have a bladder the size of a walnut. Why am I grateful for this? Because it’s an automatic bonding discussion with any middle aged female I meet. 
I know, I know, lots of people love cooking, but it’s one of those joys that make me smile.

Answer: Everything but 5.  Sorry. I HATE cooking. I even try to eat raw not because it’s healthier to eat living food but because I despise making things. I even resent having to boil water for tea.

As for the rest, they’re absolutely true. My cat is a pain at times, but I love talking about her. And petting her. And chasing her even when I’m cursing her. I’ve cleaned and shipped those books and yes, I’ve had great conversations with women in bathrooms across the world. It’s something we all share. And impulse buys are one of my true joys in life.

And while we’re at it, let me mention that I’m also grateful for one more thing. ONE ROGUE AT A TIME releases Dec 1. It’s a delightful romp with a gallery of rogues who will steal your heart. Reserve your copy today!

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Guess What I’m Doing!

So I’m hard at work on a new project. Guess what.

Making a Christmas tree out of painted cardboard boxes and red Starbucks cups. It’s a b**** to clean those out, btw, after I’ve sucked every last dreg of caffeine out of them.
Cleaning out my guest room because the relatives are descending this Christmas. I can stuff the adults in that room. The kids will sleep on the floor on air mattresses. But wtf do I do with the dog? Attic? Basement? My poor cat will end up spending the holidays under my bed.
Candlemaking for the nose blind. Yup. I’m melting wax and putting a wick in it, then adding random scents as I find them. Dirty socks? Got that. Lavender and garlic? Why not?
I’m writing about Grizzly Bear Shifters! First title will come out fall of 2016 as TOUCHED BY THE BEAST by Kathy Lyons.

Answer: 1 – Yup. I’m writing a new series for Grand Central about grizzly bear shifters in Michigan. I was asked and so now I’m doing it. And it’s a TON OF FUN!  As for the other choices, Starbucks is struggling to keep the red cups stocked because of the social media kerfluffle about them. And yes, I do have to clean out my guest bedroom, but I haven’t even started that. Candlemaking is a craft I’ve never attempted. Probably a good thing as I’m a bit of a pyro and might set the house on fire. So yup…Grizzly Shifters. Go ahead and comment if you’re interested in them or not. Hopefully someone will like them. I certainly do!

That’s all I’ve got for today. I’m busy trying to figure out exactly how bears shift into a man. I’ve got the sequence for the shift into grizzly, but not the shrink down bit. Head to toe? Extremities down toward the center? Suggestions are welcome!

And in the meantime, don’t forget I’ve got TWO books releasing December 1st:  One Rogue at a Time by Jade Lee and Seducing the Skeptic by Kathy Lyons.

Also, many congrats to Cassandra S for winning $200 in my new website contest!

Happy Thanksgiving everybody!

 

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50 WAYS TO RUIN A RAKE WINS!

Last weekend’s Fresh Fiction’s Billionaires and Buccaneers charity ball was amazing.

At Fresh Fictions Readers n’ Ritas convention, I was innocently blinged up for the Billionaires and Buccaneers ball…and 50 WAYS TO RUIN A RAKE won STEAMIEST READ! Woo hoo! The glass in my hand is the award!!

Here’s some other fun pix from the event:

Chatting with fans in the Author’s Lounge

With Damon Suede. Aren’t we great buccaneers?

I love my fans!

 

 

At the Pajama Party (aka Naughty Night). Guests making dioramas with Squidges.

Squidge acting out a scene from Damon Suede’s HORN GATE.

Squidge’s Naughty Twister diorama by Bad Idea Productions

Damon Suede shows off his new novel, PENT UP!

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The Holidays are Coming – as well as One Very Sexy Rogue!

I’ve got a book coming out December 1! Guess what it’s about.

A. Hot aliens land, abduct my cat, and I have adventures as I go off and rescue my sweet Cinnamon.

B. A hot, hot hero takes a hot, hot heroine to Antarctica where they get naked, cool off, and then discuss their pets as they return home to their real lives.

C. Grizzly bear shifters. Need I say more?

D. A woman intent on proving her legitimacy and the rogue she needs to help her achieve her goals.

Answer: C! Just kidding. There might be Grizzly bear shifters in my future, but that’s for another time. The answer is indeed D (though I’d love to read about A). One Rogue at a Time is releasing soon. Check it out here  including a first chapter excerpt and a deleted scene!

The reviews have been great. RT even gave it a TOP PICK!

“This lively, humorous romp – Lee’s ingenious take on My Fair Lady – may be her best book yet! It’s certainly hard to put down, and even more difficult not to laugh out loud as her delightful characters engage in a war of wills that dissolves into madness. Readers will enjoy ever enchanting moment. 4 ½ Stars, Top Pick!” – RT Book Reviews

What else is going on? I’m so glad you asked! My NEW WEBSITE is up! Complete with a contest to win $200. Click here to enter. There’s an Easter egg there too on the fan page, but I still haven’t found it. Oy!

And lastly, guess where you’ll find me Nov 13-15.

A. Antarctica. I’m that hot babe who needs to cool off!

B. In bed writing. Duh. Grizzly bear shifters don’t write themselves!

C. In my closet chasing the live mouse my cat brought in as a gift.

D. In Allen, TX (near Dallas) for Readers and ‘Ritas!

Answer: D. Of course I’ll be at Readers and Ritas! I’ve been to every one and they’re awesome. So come see me there. I’ll have goodies! 

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HAPPY HALLOWEEN! HAPPY NOVEMBER! HAPPY STUFF!

Guess what I did for Halloween?

Turned off all the lights in the house, didn’t answer the door, then ate all the candy myself.
Forgot all about it, went out to dinner, and came home to eggs splattered on my front door.
Forgot all about it and stared stupidly at the miniature Capt. America, witch, and ghost when they asked for candy. They got the new pair of socks I’d just bought and some catalogs.
Put together my Christmas List

Answer: None of the above.  I had planned to put together my Christmas List, but I was too busy eating the candy myself. Fortunately, there were lots of little kids who helped me out.

Guess what’s exciting that’s going on now!

New Website!  Yup – check out www.KathyLyons.com  and the $200 contest giveaway! Also look for the Easter egg which as of this moment, I still haven’t found.
New book release!  Seducing the Skeptic by Kathy Lyons will be up shortly. The exact date is still a mystery. But I’ve got an excerpt up on my new website plus a review on its way from Fresh Fiction.
RT TOP PICK!!!   One Rogue at a Time  got a Top Pick review from Romantic Times. I’m still stoked!
I still fit into the Thermal Leggings I bought last winter. PHEW!

Answer: All of the Above – And thank God I fit into those leggings. Given how much I enjoyed Italy, it’s a good thing that my thighs aren’t the size of the amount of pasta I ate. And yes, I’ve got two new books coming out which means I’m starting to happy dance when the reviews come in. So HAPPY DANCE!

And now it’s your turn. Tell me something awesome that’s going on in your life!

 

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NEW WEBSITE!

My new website launched last week. Guess what the most adored part of my website is.

Damon Suede
The rafflecopter contest for $200 at the e-retailer of your choice.
The graphics of my latest two books. Aren’t they pretty?
That it’s 1000 x better than my last website.

Answer: 1 – Yes, everyone loves the man who has nothing to do with my website except that he’s a good friend. As for the other ones, they are the reasons I love the website. 

There is something that didn’t work in the first few days of launch. Something that by the time this is published I really hope works. But I have a fix here for those of you reading. So…wanna guess what it is?

Damon Suede
The rafflecopter
The graphics
My old website keeps showing up instead of the new one.

Answer: 2 – The contest didn’t work at first. There was no way to enter. Oops. As of this writing, the only way to enter the contest is to tweet about it. Better, but not perfect. Hopefully by the time you read this, there will be a half dozen ways to enter. Fortunately, I have a fix here. If you make a comment on this blog, you’ll be added into that rafflecopter contest. I promise! So want to win $200?  Comment!

As for the rest – Damon hasn’t worked a day in his life because he loves what he does. Life is play for him, and so he never works and he likes it that way. The graphics—as far as I know—are wonderful. And my old website has gone into the website graveyard and it better not come back. I’ve got a stake and a cross ready to seal it into oblivion!

So now it’s your turn. Tell me what you like about my new website and win $200!  Also I can’t find the EASTER EGG on my website. Have no clue where it is. If found, please point to it in the comments!

 

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Damon Suede and My New Website!

I’m launching a new website!  Woo hoo!  You can see my […]

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