Jennier is hosting a Zebra debut party at her blog and is giving away lots of books. I’m the featured author today, with an interview tomorrow and blog ending on Friday. So drop by and say hi.

This has been a miserably long cold winter. And it’s not over. Yes, I’ve whined about this before. But geewhiz, will it ever stop? Even the sun has been more of a stranger this winter, or at least it seems to have been more gloomy.

I’m tired of cold feet and hands, tired of slogging through snow and skating precariously on ice. I’m tired of putting on have the clothes I own every morning to stay warm.

I need the beach!!!

This is the last week for the 2008 Reader Poll, and One Real Cowboy is still listed in the Best American Historical category. Woot!!! Medieval historical author Michelle Willingham’s Her Irish Warrior is also still hanging in there. WTG, Michelle!!!

So if you’re inclined to vote, or just want to check out the other great books and authors listed, head on over to AAR soon.

And thanks much to everyone who voted for me.

I recently read a romance novel where the hero and heroine were always basking in the “sweet essence of their love in the air” after a bout of lovemaking. Note, it wasn’t worded just like that, but of varying similarities as it was noted often.

Admittedly, I’ve had characters remark or acknowledge the lingering after-odor of having sex. I’ve read about it countless times in novels and really thought nothing of it.

But this time when I saw it, it came off as overkill. Unrealistic, too, for the love marathon lasted two days, and the “sweet essence” stayed sweet despite the fact nobody partook of soap and water.

This element took me right out of the story, and back to when I was in cosmetology school. Because the beauty school charged absurdly low prices on services, we got a lot of clients who were barely managing on a low-income wage.

We also got a lot of prostitutes, and strippers who did a bit of work on the side (or back or pole or whatever.) Talk about the sweet essence of love in the air…

Gag me.

After all these years, I can still remember the stink that rolled off those “working girls'” hair when the hot water first hit it. It was a god-awful combination of sweat, sex, smoke, hairspray and perfume. Often there were other odors mingled in, and it was all I could do not to hurl in their hair.

Maybe it’s just me, but because of that experience, I’ll never buy that a lover is just as alluring after going at it a couple of days without bothering to clean up the best they could. Just my two bits. Your thoughts?

The second third interim of nominations are up now at All About Romance. Historical author (and nominee for Best Medieval Historical) Michelle Willingham let me know I’d made the list, and hey, we’re both still in the running!

Week one, I was nominated for Best Debut Author, and I made the cut into week two. This week, One Real Cowboy was nominated as Best American Historical. 🙂

Week three–hanging in there, thanks to your votes!

So pop over to AAR to read the lists, and vote if you’re so inclined.