December 29th, 2009
Book-of-the-Day: Relentless

*****THIS CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED******

Every day from today until January 4th, 2010, I’ll be giving away one of Lauren Dane’s fabulous novels. In turn, she will be giving one of mine away. Head on over to her blog to see which one.

By random drawing, the winner of yesterday’s book-of-the-day contest for WOLF UNBOUND is Rhonda B., who said, “The best gift I’ve ever received was meeting my husband, and the worst was an ironing board!”

Congratulations! You have a week from today to contact me and collect your prize. anyabast (at) gmail.com

relentless revised200x300

Federation Chronicles: RELENTLESS: In this erotic universe, passion knows no rank…


Since the first settlers came through the portals from Earth, fifteen Families have held the rule of the Federated Universes in their hands. There’s never been a better time than now to throw out the old and usher in a new order. Give voice to the unranked. Abbie Haws has spent her life battling the system. A fighter, she’s always been too busy and driven to pay much attention to finding love. But when she’s granted audience with Roman Lyons, the head of House Lyons, who stands for everything she hates, her instant attraction catches Abbie off-guard…

It’s common knowledge that the Known Universe revolves around Ravena—and that Ravena revolves around Roman Lyons, bred to lead since birth. Roman dreads his meeting with a defiant—if stunning—rabble-rouser. But, sometimes, headstrong personalities in the conference room make for hot-and-heavy, guilty trysts in private….

Now, Abbie will show Roman the parts of her world he wouldn’t otherwise get to see. And he’ll give her a glimpse of the Families’ age old tradition and unleash a sexuality he’d never given rein to before.

Want a shot at winning this book? Answer the following question in the comments:

It’s almost New Year’s Eve. My grandfather used eat pork on New Year’s because, “pigs move forward and chicken scratch back.” Do you or anyone in your family have any interesting New Year traditions?

72 comments to “Book-of-the-Day: Relentless”

  1. My grandmother always wrapped a quarter up in some tinfoil and buried it outside, usually in the snow, lol, on New Year’s morning because she said that it would bring lots of money into our house that year.
    I don’t know about lots of money, but she did have really good luck winning on lotto scratch tickets 😀


  2. My mother-in-law always cooks a big pot of blackeyed peas for us to all eat. Supposedly it brings luck.


  3. My New Years day traditions are blackeyed peas and hog jowl for luck and cabbage for money.


  4. I was a late-in-life baby for my mom and dad, so our family had kinda old-fashioned views. Every year for New Years, my grandfather would insist on Mustard or Collard greens, black-eyed peas and ham. Its an old southern thing, something to do w/getting more money in the next yr from eating the “greens” for money and black-eyed peas for pennies. Can’t remember about the ham.


  5. Here in Scotland we celebrate Hogmanay (New Year) and it is a tradition that you have a first foot, which is the first person to enter your house after the bells.

    The first footer is usually tall dark & handsome & carrying a piece of bun (cake), a bottle & a piece of coal. Nowadays though it is anyone who you can fling outside before midnight with a bottle & make wait there until the bells finish chiming but we still do it which means it is some what of a tradition LOL

    Thanks for running this giveaway

    Good Luck Everyone xx


  6. Here in New Orleans it’s black-eyed peas and cabbage for money and luck (I think). I hate them both but always take a tiny bite just in case!


  7. We never really had any new years traditions. I just remember us all being together and having fun!


  8. No New Years traditions here. I just get together with my sister and her family for dinner.


  9. Sadly, I don’t really have any fun New Year’s traditions, though we might start one this year. There is a quirky little town near to where we live that has a fishy celebration at the new year. We might just go this year.


  10. We usually have black-eyed peas and sometimes cabbage too.


  11. We always open a bottle of champagne and drink up!


  12. My family watches the Twilight Zone marathon just about from start to finish. 😀


  13. we make lasanga and and garlic bread such my moms family did the black eyed peas ham and greens tho for luck and such

    but im note xactly sure on why really


  14. We have no traditions either. The only thing I can think of is that we leave the Christmas Tree up until after New Years because if you take it down prior it’s supposed to be bad luck.


  15. My parents always go out for New Year’s, but me… I love curling up and reading a book… I love the peace and quiet! 😀


  16. We don’t have any except that my husband always falling asleep at 11:45


  17. My husband and I get together with the kids and his family and watch the Rose Parade 😀


  18. No fun traditions. We just do whatever strikes our fancy. :mrgreen:


  19. My mom makes cherry/raisin cake for Christmas, its a traditional recipe.


  20. um mine is very common we usually just watch the fireworks or go down to the party on main street and of course we always eat out blackeyed peas! i luv eating them…


  21. I think this is a southern thing?? We have black eyed peas for health and cabbage for money. We still have this every year. Cabbage is a favorite of mine, but you should see some of our family trying to push it off to the side 🙂


  22. No fancy traditions just watching fireworks.
    Gabrielle
    meingee@yahoo.com


  23. My parents always made black eyed peas and cabbage on New Years day.


  24. I don’t have any traditions for New Year’s sadly, nor does anyone in my family. Besides, you know, celebrate.


  25. My dad and I would watch Dick Clark, we would cheer the new year, and then go to bed. The next day my mother would make fresh ham.


  26. We always have black-eyed-peas. I’m the only one in the house who likes them, but I make everyone eat at least a spoonful.


  27. Fireworks and the Rose Parade! 🙂


  28. No special New Years traditions ,just a glass of champagne and lots of fireworks.


  29. We have no special tradition for New Year, it isn’t as important as Christmas for us… I’ve dinner with my family and then we watch the fire works 🙂
    btw, I really love the cover for Relentless…
    greetings, Ina


  30. As Christmas is a time to spend with family, New Years is a time to spend with friends. This year we have rented a beautiful hotel suite for our friends to gather and usher in the New Year.


  31. I don’t know if this counts, but at midnight, 12 seconds before it stars a new year, we eat a grape every second (12 grapes/12 seconds).


  32. Our main New Year’s Eve tradition is to stay off the roads and away from drunk drivers. Lately we have been having shrimp as a treat. (no real reason, we just like them)


  33. Watching Dick Clark ring in the New Year!


  34. We never had any interesting traditions like that, only watching fireworks and relaxing with friends and family.


  35. We don’t really have any particular tradition that for New Year’s except to pop a good bottle of wine and watch an action movie.


  36. My family makes black eyed peas with a penny in them. The one who gets the penny in their dish is supposed to be prosperous in the New Year.


  37. Being Scottish I tend to make my Husband go out the house through the back door at 2 min to midnight he rings the bell at the front door at midnight he gives me a slice of bread/shortbread( we will never go hungry) a bottle of Scotch ( drive away the thirst ) or ailment a lump of coal ( black stone) we will never be cold a kiss and a hug we will always have love in our home only then can he enter the home……
    I tried having my neighbor first foot us but they moved so it’s back to my DH.
    Have a good one Ann


  38. Just cabbage and black eyed peas for money. Everyone else will have ham, but the few of us who don’t like it will have trukey. Then at night we will play board game and the wii. Most likey we will be asleep before midnight.


  39. Turnips or Collard greens, black-eyed peas and ham. Its an old southern thing, something to do w/getting more money in the next yr from eating the “greens” for money and black-eyed peas for pennies. Not sure why the ham, and of course fruit salad but I don’t remember the reason either.
    Of course gotta have rice to put the b/eyed peas on with tomatoes & okra on top..LOL I try to eat alot of black eyed peas and turnips so i’ll have plenty of money in my future. LOL


  40. My family always eats cabbage. Not a clue why. Dad says it is tradition.


  41. We will have ham and cornbread and hoppin john (black eyed peas) on NY day. My DH family always had black eyed peas along with supper for NY day and my family normally had ham and cabbage and potatoes. I think the roots of that was winter comfort foods and hope for luck and prosperity (and spring!).

    Thanks for the opportunity to win!


  42. I am sorry to say we have no established traditions. We try something different each year. It is fun that way.


  43. Yes, we have 2 traditions. One, is that the first meal of the new year must be black eyed peas. It supposed to prevent you from getting lice!

    Two – a male must be the first person to cross your threshhold in the new year. I think you’re supposed to have good luck for the year.

    Thanks!


  44. The only tradition we have is the family being together for dinner.


  45. How come all of the New Year’s foods are so yucky and bland? lol

    We don’t really have any traditions. We’re usually in bed before midnight even rolls around. Exciting, huh?

    Deidre


  46. We don’t really have any traditions. Mostly, we try to see the ball drop and that’s about it.


  47. We spend New Years at the Central Coast in California every year. My kids and husband do the “Polar Bear Dip” on New Years Day. They have to completely submerge themselves in the ocean. That water is cold! I stand on the shore.


  48. New Year’s Eve Day and Jan 1 – I do only things I enjoy – because they say that what you are doing on NYE and NY Day is what you do all year long…and I sure don’t want it to be housework!!!


  49. New Years tradition is the Rose Parade. Love that thing. NO special food, but might just try out the black eyed peas and cabbage. Need all the luck I can get. LOL


  50. Maybe not quite un-traditional or weird, but we stay home and play board games w/ the kiddies! It’s fun to see them struggle to stay awake long enough to cheer in the New Year with us! So far, they haven’t had any luck!


  51. We have steak and shrimp cocktail for dinner and then munch on hors d’oeuvres while watching Dick Clark. At midnight we say “rabbit” 12 times for luck and then pop the sparkling wine to ring in the New Year!


  52. No special traditions her. We used to stay up to watch Dick Clark for New years.


  53. No, no special traditions except for the blessing of the family by the eldest person attending the meal, a catholic tradition, wishing upon each person health, happiness and love.


  54. Not really. We’re quite boring people.


  55. The South is eat up w/ superstition so here’s what I do or don’t do on New Years….we eat greens and black eye peas, that’s your wealth. No mopping, laundry or anything like that, you’ll lose a loved one, all the mending has to be done so you don’t end up always behind in the New Year& lastly no sewing or crocheting etc…You’ll have no end of trouble if you do


  56. Always black-eyed-peas, and ham. Sometimes turnip greens (except I’m really the only one in my family that likes them) 🙂


  57. No New Year traditions for us. We’re more of a Christmas tradition family 🙂


  58. Our only tradition on New Years is football – hubby watching tv and me with a book making appropriate noises 🙂


  59. Just watching TV and seeing the new years celebrations from all over.


  60. No, I am sad to say we don’t! I will have to start one I guess. 🙂


  61. I can’t remember but family tradition dictates the a particular food be eaten. Since I can’t remember I guess that tradition dies with me.


  62. We don’t really have any rituals for new years eve. We tend to always go to a party and eat whatever.


  63. Every new years eve we like to make pork and saurkraut, nothing strange or exciting


  64. We always have pigs in a blanket…I don’t really know why, we just always do.


  65. We don’t have any New Year’s traditions. We don’t have a special meal.


  66. we don not have one but threre is a blue moon this thurs so that will be cool

    happy new year to all 😎


  67. we don not have one but threre is a blue moon this thurs so that will be cool

    happy new year to all 😎


  68. we don not have one but threre is a blue moon this thurs so that will be cool

    happy new year to all 😎


  69. Pork loin & cabbage, bratwurst & sauerkraut, potatoes, black eyed peas… New Years luck dinner. There have been some years we’ve missed, but try to do it every year.


  70. My inlaws do black-eyed peas and cabbage.


  71. Every year again my grandma is baking “apple wine” cookies for New Year’s Eve. Sounds weird but they are very tatsy…. Yummy 😉


  72. We eat noodles, which signify long life and “Osechi ryouri” which usually contains food with special meanings e.g. herring roe signifies a wish to be gifted with many children!




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