Monday, December 14, 2009

Loot & Links




I have noticed that a few other bloggers do a segment called Mailbox Monday. Some do a segment called Library Loot. I also noticed that others do a link round-up of posts around the blogosphere that they think are worthy of notice. I have decided to combine those ideas to create a new type of post that will (hopefully) become a recurrent event.

Loot & Links will be the title. Since there is no day of the week that starts with the letter 'L', I'll just post it whenever the mood strikes me! It could be on a Monday, or possibly a Saturday. Who knows. I might just mix it up because I am CRAZY like that!

On with the show, you say? Alrighty then.

Sarah of Monkey Bear Reviews had a wonderful guest blogger during the month of November. Magdalan had a series of posts entitled Four Smart Authors - part 1, part 2, part 3 and part 4 in which she introduced me to four authors I have never read. Her reviews were very enthralling and I found myself over at paperbackswap trying to find these books, many of which are sadly, out of print. I was lucky enough to receive two in the mail this week.




I received two books for review from publicists. I am super excited about Daughtridge's latest, which will be in stores in March. I love her SEALed series! I have never read Joan Johnston but I seem to be a sucker for any romantic suspense. Shattered is part of her Bitter Creek series and I hope I don't feel too lost just jumping with this one.




I picked up two books from the library today, as well. What Happens in London I never planned on reading, but then word around the web was so positive I just couldn't resist. Katiebabs pimped it, so did The Book Smugglers, as did Tracy and many others. Heart Mate and this whole series in general, has been pimped extensively by Holly from Book Binge. Also, Ames did a joint review with Holly at Breezing through. Since Robin D. Owens will be at RT 2010, I had to give this series a try.




One more thing I want to share with you and that is the alternative cover for Heart Mate. My library book did not have the above cover with the nice bicep and tattoo as the focus. Instead, my library had quite a different cover - an older version that had I seen first I am pretty sure I would never have picked this book up. I know it's completely superficial of me, but what can I say?

Take a look at this baby. This picture doesn't really do it justice. You really have to see it in person to get the true essence of just how bad this cover really is. First, take a look at the hero's stance. Could he be any cheesier with his "He-Man" stance, pirate shirt and HUGE gold heart necklace. All I could keep thinking about was Jerry Seinfeld saying, "But, I don't want to be a pirate!"

Then what is with the cat? I could see if it was a big cat, like a tiger or lion. Seriously, it's a house cat. It's a shame it didn't turn out quite as noticeable on the Internet but those cat's eyes are a possessed and glowing emerald green. Then, as if that isn't enough, in the top right hand corner there is a label that says "Magical Love". Because we don't want to read about realistic love. No. We readers want "Maaaaagical Love".



Just saying. This was a really bad cover.

11 comments:

KT Grant said...

wow that cover is just too omg. LOL. Ah Heart Mate! You will love it. Those talking cats get me every time.

Puffy shirt... good times.

Anonymous said...

I love your idea...and Katie just cracks me up, lol! ;)

Anonymous said...

BTW...A Gentleman's Wager...I see it in your TBR below. It's really different, but I really liked it. I can't wait to see what you think of it.

Anonymous said...

LOL! I think they replaced the woman with "heaving bosoms" clinging to his side with the cat. I like the cat. :D Happy reading!

Mandi said...

Wow, just wow...LOL.

Wendy said...

Oh yeah. I had forgotten about the original cover of Heart Mate. That was back in the days when readers had to offer up various vital organs for the black market to get any sort of "paranormal-y" romance. So when one was actually published? Fans tended to buy them despite the horrible covers. And there were some doozeys back in the day.

I read the Leslie LaFoy novel back when it was first published and I was still reviewing for TRR. I really liked it quite a bit. In fact, I'm pretty sure I have a few more of her books languishing in the TBR....

nath said...

Wow, talk about a cover LOL :) Wonder when this book was first published... and can you believe that some new books have similar covers to that! I don't know what they are thinking, seriously.

Great post, I'm happy that this will become a recurring type of post :) It's fun to just do round-ups :)

Jill D. said...

Katie! So there are talking cats 0.o oh nos!! This could be bad. I promise to try and read it without any preconceived notions (emphasis on try)!

Barbara - Katie totally cracks me up too!

I think I read a review for A Gentleman's Wager over at TGTBTU. They were also talking about Phantasmagoria which is the sequel. Hopefully, I'll get to it in the next week or so.

Wendy - You are always the voice of reason. I suppose if I was desperate I would have looked passed the cover, lol.

I don't know how I missed Leslie LaFoy. I am looking forward to discovering her!

Nath - Original copyright was 2001, so not that terribly long ago. I guess we have come a long way, baby!

Maija said...

Oh, I like this new segment. It's always nice to know what people have bought, loaned etc. I have borrowed Heart Mate from a friend, but haven't started it yet. I hope it will be great series!

SarahT said...

Great new feature, Jill! And thanks for linking to Magdalen's posts. She did a wonderful job. She's also started a new romance blog and has some interesting posts: http://www.promantica.com/

That Robin D. Owens cover...scary stuff!

Pearl said...

Love your new feature!
That cover is just....a big NO
Don't have more words for it.