Countdown to Smugglivus – Victoria Dahl

Day 16 (10 days to Smugglivus and counting)

Who: Victoria Dahl, writer of Historical and Contemporary romance novels. Victoria Dahl has an unique style and her characters, specially the female ones are not the usual run-of-the-mill heroines and they are all the better for that. She has written so far, two historical novels – To Tempt a Scotsman and A Rake’s Guide to Pleasure and one contemporary, Talk me Down.

Recent Work: A Rake’s Guide to Pleasure – released earlier this year . The book was a complete surprise and became one of Ana’s favourite reads of 2008. You can check our review here. To follow Victoria’s own style in her 2008 listing below: this is the best book you haven’t read yet – and she is giving away one copy for one lucky winner (details below) .

Victoria is releasing her first contemporary, Talk me Down, on January 1st and Ana cannot wait to read it. Especially after the very positive reviews that Dear Author and The Smart Bitches, published yesterday (they are also running a contest, giving away a few copies of the book. Follow the links above to find out more).

Ladies and gentlemen: Victoria Dahl and her 2008’s experiences:
__________

Victoria:

Let me open with a confession. I’ve been an awful, awful reader this year. It’s shameful, how few books I’ve read. I have three books and three novellas coming out in 2009, so that might give you a clue as to how I’ve been spending my time. There’s also been a lot of snacking. And non-leg-shaving days.

In fact, I’ve been so busy that I have only a vague recollection of the books I HAVE managed to read. I had to go back and review my old blog posts to jog my memory. So I can’t really give you a “best of 2008” book. There wasn’t much of a competition. But I couldn’t resist the chance to blog with The Book Smugglers, so I’ve come up with some ragged categories that may or may not have to do with romance novels. I hope you don’t mind! Here we go:

Best Book Packaging: Red by Jordan Summers. I’m still in the middle of reading it, so I can only tell you that it’s a great, fast-paced, bloody story so far, but the packaging is unbelievable! The cover art is gorgeous and compelling and one of the reasons I bought the book (in addition to the reviews I’ve read.) But what I didn’t realize when I bought it was that when you turn over the book, the edges of the pages are dyed… you guessed it… red! How cool is that? Somebody made a great decision in the marketing department.

Best Non-Romance Book by a Romance Writer: Grave Sight by Charlaine Harris. If you love the Sookie Stackhouse series, try the Harper Connelly series! Not as romantic, but just as good if you’re in the mood for a change.

Best Book You Haven’t Read Yet: Going Too Far by Jennifer Echols. Jennifer is my critique partner, so I got to read it a year ago. But I swear I’m not being partial when I tell you this book is fantastic. Emotional, funny and surprisingly sexy for a young adult romance (without crossing the line, imho.) It’s for high school age, and I don’t normally read YA, but I LOVED this book and devoured it in about twenty-four hours. It’ll be out in March with MTV books. Prepare yourself!

Best Erotic Romance: A Mermaid’s Kiss by Joey Hill. I want to acknowledge this book for being totally erotic and totally romantic at the same time. There is some intense sex that may be too squicky for some of you. (Check out online reviews for details.) But the book is also beautifully lush and wonderfully sweet, and it made me cry! Also, the hero calls the heroine “little one” a lot. Some people hate this kind of thing. Me? I’ve been 5’ 7” and curvy since junior high. I’d pay good money to hear that whispered in my ear, but it looks like my best bet is reading about it in a book.

Best Romantic Hero You’ve Never Heard Of: Jax on Sons of Anarchy (FX channel).. I shouldn’t even be calling him a hero, honestly. He’s a murderer. He sleeps around with skanky women. His hair needs a good washing. Oh, and he’s the second in command of a motorcycle gang. Despite all this, he is honestly adorable. Flirtatious and gentlemanly. Cute. Sexy. Tortured by the road he’s taken in life. Sympathetic to others’ feelings. This is amazing characterization, ladies, and I’m fascinated!

And my Biggest Disappointment That Has Absolutely Nothing to Do with Books: Burger King’s apple fries. When I saw a commercial about these I almost fell out of my chair. “Apple fries!” I sobbed to my husband. “Apple fries!!!” At Legoland they have these amazing fried apples that are only sold at one stand. Granny Smith apples are sliced into french fry shape and deep fried, then sprinkled with cinnamon sugar. They’re served with a sweet cream dipping sauce. *drool* So simple. So damn delicious! And now they were here! In my hometown!

As soon as it hit eleven a.m. I raced the twenty minutes across town to my nearest Burger King. I didn’t want fast food, but it was lunch time, so I ordered a meal and *drum roll* the miracle of apple fries. Before I even unwrapped the burger, I cracked open the box of apple fries… and stared in horror. You know what they are? Apples. Cut into the shape of fries. That’s it. No deep fry. No cinnamon sugar. No sweet cream dipping sauce. Raw apples. Unbelievable. I still yell at the TV every time I see the commercial. Wow, thanks for letting me get that off my chest.

I hope you’ve all had a wonderful 2008, and may your 2009 be even better!!!
____________

Thank you Victoria, and good luck with your new book!

TO WIN A COPY OF A RAKE’S GUIDE TO PLEASURE, ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS LEAVE A COMMENT ON THIS POST. CONTEST RUNS UNTIL SATURDAY MIDNIGHT (PACIFIC TIME) AND THE WINNER WILL BE RAMDOMLY PICKED ON SUNDAY.

Next on Smugglivus: Kim Lenox