Kinda sorta back, anyway. I’m home from our vacation, the longest and best trip to Europe, we’ve ever taken, but I have edits to do on Wicked Enchantment so I’m still not blogging and Twittering up to my usual strength.
We spent a little over a week in Bordeaux, France with my father-in-law’s family. He rented a big house where we all swam, played ping-pong, relaxed, and ate way too much of very good food (and drank a lot of very good wine).
After that my husband, daughter and I went up to Belgium where we spent a little over a week visiting my mother-in-law. My husband is Belgian, so we try to go over there at least once a year to see the family. Good thing our three-year-old seems to be a natural traveler. This was her second time crossing the North Atlantic. I’ll try and find a couple pictures to post in the next few days (edits willing).
Until then, have a contest.
Lauren Dane’s LAID BARE released this week. Want a shot at winning a copy? Sure you do!
Unexpected Desire…
It’s been ten years since clean-cut, sexy-as-hell police officer Todd Keenan had a white-hot fling with Erin Brown, the provocative, wild rocker chick next door. Their power exchange in the bedroom got under his skin. But love wasn’t in the cards just yet…
Now, life has thrown the pair back together. But picking up where they left off is tough, in light of a painful event from Erin’s past. As Todd struggles to earn her trust, their relationship takes an unexpected and exciting turn when Todd’s best friend, Ben, ends up in their bed–and all three are quite satisfied in this relationship without a name. As the passion they share transforms Erin, will it be enough to help her face the evil she thought she had left behind?
Leave a comment for a chance to win. You have until Monday to enter. That’s when I’ll pick a winner. Tell me what you’ve been doing during the last three weeks I’ve been gone. What have you been reading? Looking forward to the kids going back to school? What’s up with you these days? Let’s get reacquainted.
Family crises during the last three weeks, but I think things have settled down for now.
Recently finished an awesome novel – Julie Bertagna’s Exodus. I adore futuristic YA, and this book is simply amazing.
Wild winds outside my window right now, and it’s almost 1AM, so I should be getting to sleep š
by Tez Miller August 6th, 2009 at 7:51 amwelcome back. sounds wonderful.
All I’ve done this summer is work and more work.
by Crystal August 6th, 2009 at 8:19 amHi Anya,
The last three weeks I’ve been knee deep in a renovation on my condo and still don’t have a kitchen quite yet again. Dealt with family issues and tried to keep sane. We also had a heat wave that crippled our area in the PNW. We just aren’t ready to handle 90’s and 100’s for days on end here.
I normally read 2-3 books a week, but with everything going on, I have only re-read a couple of old favorites the last three weeks – both JD Robb’s. But since I go on vacation next week, I plan on getting to all the newer books that I haven’t gotten to yet.
Sounds like your last three weeks were an adventure too. Welcome back.
by Jo August 6th, 2009 at 10:04 amI’m glad you had such a great vacation. Welcome back.
The past three weeks have been pretty quiet fo us. Hanging out with friends, work, getting A’s school supplies together.
by Carol August 6th, 2009 at 10:10 amI’ve been doing the usual reading and hanging out with friends. Glad to hear you had a great vacation.
by Teresa W. August 6th, 2009 at 10:53 amWelcome back Anya.
In the last three weeks I have read too may books to talk about (about 1 a day on average). Other than that I have been relearning to cook for more than two people as my three youngest children (adults now) came home from Uni for the holidays.
Oh and I’ve been back and forth to the hospital with the dh and his heart problems.
by Ilona August 6th, 2009 at 11:33 amHi Anya. Glad you’re back from vacation. We all need time to rejuvenate our creative juices and just plain relax. Well, as much as you can with little people (kids) clammering for attention.
I’ve been social director/chaperone/chauffer for the kids. We just got back from Sea World San Antonio and we’re fried to a crisp.
I am so looking forward to school starting, getting my house back in shape, and catching up on some creative blog time. And of course, devouring more of my books I’ve bought this summer. š š
by Armenia August 6th, 2009 at 12:35 pmWelcome back Anya!! š Good to see you!!
Last three weeks have been kinda boring…Reading Lorelei James which has been fun and I took a mini-trip to Illinois.
So happy to have you back!!
by RachieG August 6th, 2009 at 12:46 pmWelcome back! Sounds like you had a marvelous time.
by Estella August 6th, 2009 at 1:13 pmI have been working in my yard and garden. The zucchini are eating the world!
I have read Beth Kery’s Sweet Restraint, Lora Leigh’s Sarah’s Seduction, Rebecca York’s Eternal Moon, Robin Schone’s Gabriel’s Woman, and Shiloh Walker’s Chains.
It’s good to have you back! I’m glad you had a good time.
by Susan August 6th, 2009 at 2:11 pmI just started reading Bound to Please by Lilli Feisty. It has been raining here most of the last month. š
Welcome back. I didn’t do anything exciting but I read some great books like Christy Reece’s “Rescue Me” and Heather Graham’s Flynn Brothers trilogy.
by Jane August 6th, 2009 at 2:28 pmWELCOME BACK ANYA!
Last three weeks have been filled with books..and my mom has been sick! BUT next week, hopefully, I’m outta here for a mini-vacation!
by Lyoness2009 August 6th, 2009 at 3:04 pmHi Anya,
Welcome back. The trip sounds amazing! I’ve always wanted to go to Belgium. And you are so lucky that your 3 yr old travels well. I have a soon to be 3 yr old neice who just go back from visiting her grandparents in Denmark…and we’ll just say my sister is more than reconsidering going back for Christmas. Her husband even offered her $1000 to make the trip back by herself it was so bad. Poor little girl…she’s just spirited š
What have I been doing while you’ve been gone. Not a whole lot. Read a few books, but other than that nothing else, just same ol same ol. Winning Laid Bare would definitely break up the monotony!
by Booklover1335 August 6th, 2009 at 5:09 pmBuried in a work project. Blech.
by Chris August 6th, 2009 at 5:22 pmWelcome back, Im so glad that Hiatis is over for this blog. Kids go back to school next week, im so glad. Otherwise havent been doing awhole lot this summer.
by sara hurt August 6th, 2009 at 5:42 pmWelcome back and hope you had a great trip.
by Diane Sadler August 6th, 2009 at 6:19 pmToo many books but here are a few
Linda Howard, Burn
Nora Roberts, Black Hills
Cynthia Eden, Midnight’s master
Etc.
A week’s vacation where I stayed home and relaxed but it’s been raining so much no gardening
That’s about it for me
Glad you’re back
Glad you had a nice vacation and I’ve been working with the exception of this week which we spent in myrtle beach and then saturday is my birthday so i’ll just be laying around and working on my scrapbooks.
by Pamk August 6th, 2009 at 7:18 pmI’m ready to get back into school and get into routine again, and also to get the kids back into school. I am very much a creature of habit and not having that drives me nuts. I have been reading What Happens in Vegas After Dark, and the Twilight series. I have also been listening to Freonomics, and First Family.
Not much else.
I can’t wait to see pictures from your trip! Hurry!
Tami
by Tami August 6th, 2009 at 9:33 pmHi Anya~
Glad you are back!
Pretty much just the same old thing for me. We have had some family things going on, and expecting a visit from the mother-in-law in the next week. Getting the kids all ready to go back to school which is starting so soon.
I would love to be entered…I love Lauren Dane.
by Lori T August 6th, 2009 at 10:20 pmHiya Anya!
It’s been said before but welcome back!
Last three weeks I’ve been in university ;p During semester that’s the extent of my life LOL Been reading ‘Tough Talk and Tender Kisses’ by Deborah Camp, one of the bargain reads I got from ebay š
Weather ain’t been so awesome in Melbourne, it’s winter so cold and rain most of the time! Going to France is still on my to-do list, so jealous >_<
Cheers,
by Camille August 7th, 2009 at 4:40 amCamille
Welcome back!
Its been rainging here, all the time,so I’ve just been relaxing and got some reading done.I’m now on JR Wards new BDB book,so far so good. I also got the summer flu that’s going around.
It was back to work on Monday.But next week I’m off again š
Hopefully the sun will visit and I can get some gardening done.
have a great weekend
by Elaine G August 7th, 2009 at 5:43 amIt is ninth circle of hell hot here in Texas and everything is brown so I went to the jungles of Mexico for a respite. Who knew it was just as hot there just with less air coniditioning oppportunities. At least I got a tan out of it!
by Shannon Martinez August 7th, 2009 at 8:16 amWelcome back!! Haven’t been doing much except reading and reviewing. Hope you have a great weekend.
by Roberta Harwell August 7th, 2009 at 10:01 amI’m so ready for the kids to be back in school and to get back to my routine.
I’ve just been working ….. a lot ….! LOL
and I need a break from the kids. Talk about high maintenance.
Deidre
by Deidre August 7th, 2009 at 10:05 amWelcome back Anya.
This summer has been interesting. I got to spend 5 weeks with my 17 yr old daughter that has not lived with me since she was about 10 or 11. It has been fun, and trying. I am both looking forward to and regretting having to send her home to her father and step-mother next week.
It is fair season for me, so that means long hours working. I put in 13 hour days during the summer…6 to 7 days a week. I will be extremely happy for September to get here, when I am done working and can look for a regular job with normal type hours…LMAO
As for reading…I am, as usual, reading everything I can get my hands on. I am almost caught up on my book reviews so soon I will be able to read for fun again.
Dianna
by Dianna F August 7th, 2009 at 1:56 pmHey welcome back!!! Sounds like you guys had a great time. I’ve been on the road traveling for the job these past few weeks but blissfully back home. Now if the temp would just fall below 100 degrees for a day or two everything would be perfect….
by Cybercliper August 7th, 2009 at 5:12 pmHi š
by RKCharron August 7th, 2009 at 10:46 pmWelcome back Anya.
Love and best wishes,
twitter.com/RKCharron
xxoo
Welcome back Anya.
I have been busy at work, and now I have had a weeks vacation. And best weather all summer, I was lucky š Next week I am heading back to school for a year, nervous.
I have been reading some good YA. The Hunger games by Collins and now Pretties by Westerfeld.
Other than those genres I a loved Meant to Be by Donna Marie Rogers.
by blodeuedd August 8th, 2009 at 11:05 amThis book seem really fantastic. I can’t wait to read it in the near future.
by kristina August 8th, 2009 at 6:05 pmHi Anya,
by Colette Walker August 8th, 2009 at 8:57 pmIn the last three weeks I read Witch Blood, Witch Fire and Witch Heat! Awesome! I’ve been off work the last week but worked the two weeks before. I work with kids in After School Programs and we had a 4 week summer program. I scheduled over 100 field trips for the students all for free to them and actually go to go on one the last day of the program. So I had a great time but glad that I still have a few days off so I can go get Witch Fury. I’m so excited to read it.
Thanks for helping me get lost into your worlds.
Colette
Whoops I meant Witch Heart not heat!
by Colette Walker August 8th, 2009 at 8:58 pmHi Anya. Welcome back!! In the last 3 weeks I have read, Janet Evanovich- “Finger Lickin’ Fifteen”, Jill Shalvis- “Instant Attraction “and “Instant Gratifaction”, Alison Kent-“No Limits “and Susan Kay Law- “Just Sex”. I have watched on DVD- The series “Oz” and I have been looking for a house in Tennessee. Oh and I spent hours on Facebook chatting, Quizzing and playing Vampire Wars!
by TAMARA HOLBERT August 9th, 2009 at 2:10 amHi Anya,
by chey August 9th, 2009 at 6:02 amIn the last 3 weeks we’ve have had much more rain than usual. Measuring it in inches, not mm!
Have spent much more time than usual indoors. Have read Carla Neggers’ the Angel, Kathleen Long’s Positive ID and more.
Last week was crazy–in the best possible way. š My (five months pregnant) cousin, her new husband, and two children from a previous marriage, made the seven-hour drive from Las Vegas to (somewhere in) California for a visit. Since we only had a couple of weeks’ notice to prep, I spent a lot of that time napping. LOL Still got to visit with everyone, but I think they’ll soon be sending brochures entitled “The 10 Warning Signs of Narcolepsy.”
by catie james August 9th, 2009 at 9:40 amThe last three weeks, I been reading the Duchess series by Eloisa James.
by Marjana Kaly August 9th, 2009 at 9:49 amWelcome back! The only exciting thing that has happened in the last three weeks to me were the releases of Sherrilyn Kenyon’s Bad Moon Rising and Lora Leigh’s Bengal’s Heart!
by Jeanette Juan August 9th, 2009 at 10:27 amHi Anya, welcome home. Still have a houseful of men, so escaping a lot into a great story. Just finished Bengal’s Heart, the new Lora Leigh, and rereading Joey Hill’s Vampire series, so I am good to go when her upcoming release, Beloved Vampire comes out later this month.
by Cathy M August 9th, 2009 at 10:56 amWELCOME BACK! CHEER!!!
I will be going back to college in 2 weeks. Excited? Yes, but sad that summer is ending. I have been reading The Fire King by Marjorie Liu. I have been waiting decades for this book to come out.
Please count me in.
by I Heart Book Gossip August 9th, 2009 at 11:25 amWelcome home. It sounds like you had a fab trip abroad. Now back to the real world – LOL. I just finished Dangerous Passion by Lisa Marie Rice, and thoroughly enjoyed it. Thanks for the giveaway!
by Tracy August 9th, 2009 at 12:14 pmWelcome back š the last three weeks we have been playing and relaxing and getting ready for school to start. My two favorite reads in the last couple weeks have been Hot Pursuit by Suzanne Brockmann and Kill for Me by Karen Rose.
by Kris August 9th, 2009 at 3:06 pmWelcome back. Pretty much been working. Got yo see the Harry Potter movie. Just finished reading The Perfect Poison by Amanda Quick. Now just starting reading Dark Lover by Brenda Joyce. Got so many other great books to read. There are so many good books it hard to choose just one. Kids are grown so no need to worry about school.
by sue brandes August 9th, 2009 at 3:50 pmWelcome Back! I have been playing The Sims 3 and reading. My kids start back to school this week so I’m excited cause that means I’ll have the house to myself again on Fridays.
by Lisa F. August 9th, 2009 at 5:20 pmI’m jealous of your travels! I lived in Germany for 7 years and I miss it. Belgium, France and the Netherlands were right next door. Sounds like you had a good time. š
For the past 3 weeks I’ve been working, (on-call 24/7 for work-ouch) so I need a break! LOL
Thanks for the chance to win.
by ~ames~ August 9th, 2009 at 6:37 pmWelcome back! :o) Ive been reading basically anything I can get my pretty little hands on…I read my first ever Erotica (I know…whats been taking me so long) and I think Im gonna HAVE to read another…broaden my horizons! ;o) Thanks for the chance to win! Hope you had fun on your trip!
by Monroe Dawson August 9th, 2009 at 6:42 pmWent to Texas for 8 days~~that was SO much fun, but didn’t get alot of reading time in, so I’m playing catch up. Read Nina Bruhn’s new ST release, Shoot To Thrill~~loved it!!~~and Lisa Marie Rice’s newest, reading Sherrilyn Kenyon’s Bad Moon Rising right now, and have a whole pile to catch up on!!
by Melissa August 10th, 2009 at 8:19 amWow, your vacation sounds awesome~~how cool your daughter is an international traveler at such a young age!!
Hi Anya, welcome back! Your trip sounds delightful! And having a 3 y.o. expert traveler bodes well for future adventures š
I just started my vacation Friday. Well, Saturday, because the airline cancelled my flight and I had to rent a car (grrr!), but it is GREAT! Joined the fam who were already in Maine — where it is a perfect day! And as soon as I finish a little work (and blogging š I wil be unplugging!) Woo hoo!
Oh – reading — Kelley Armstrong, Charlaine Harris, Jane Rylon, Viv Arend and Vivi Andrews. š All fab!
Thanks for hosting Lauren and for the giveaway! This book looks scrumptious! š
~bella
by bella August 10th, 2009 at 8:36 amWelcome back!!! I have not really done anything new… trying to save my garden from the heat, watching my nephew, reading alot! š
by Colleen August 10th, 2009 at 10:18 amGlad you had a great vacation, I’m jealous. We had speech therapy here for my 2 yr old, and just hanging out. I just got done reading the trilogy by Cassandra Clare, City of bones, city of Ashes, and City of Glass. Oh and rereading your witch series…
by Kimberly August 10th, 2009 at 3:57 pmAloha!!!
These past several weeks have been exciting and new.
I just started another part time job. Send my oldest daughter off to Kindergarten *tearing*. and of course I have been reading like crazy.
Right now I am reading Once Bitten, Twice Shy by Jennifer Rardin. I am also reading Sense and Sensibility… a Jane Austen classic!!!
Most important, I learned that speaking my mind may not always be the best…. LOL…. but sometimes there is no stopping it. Let’s just say the week was exciting indeed.
I hope all is well with you!!!
by Chas August 10th, 2009 at 7:39 pmTake care!