Just a quick note: Escorted by Claire Kent is free for Kindle today.

I read Lora Leigh’s latest book the other day, and although I keep threatening to quit her, I still end up buying her books, hoping against hope that that will be the book where she breaks the habit of a career, and gives me a different plot device. I’m still waiting.

Are there any other authors that you’ve come across who write decent books, but it’s basically the same book over and over and over?

I finally got round to setting a guideline for sensuality ratings on here.

And without further I do, I give you the KKB Sensuality Ratings:

BLISTERING: Graphic, explicit sex scenes and lots of it. Probably best not to be read whilst on public transport. Just saying.

TORRID: Sex is explicit, but it doesn’t take over the whole damn book. There may be some kinky stuff too, but not much.

STEAMY: There is some vanilla sex, including the odd nipple tweaking and vag baiting, but not much of it. Definitely no kink.

CANDY FLOSS: That bedroom door is firmly shut, you’ll be lucky if you get an extended lip-lock with tongues.

Every review from here on in will now come with one of the above ratings. Hopefully this will make your book-buying decisions a bit easier. Or not, as the case may be…

PS: I did consider using red penises to indicate level of sexual activity, e.g. 1 penis = mild, 2 penis = hot etc, etc, but I thought better of it:)

I just wanted to say thanks to Dee Tenorio for doing such a great job on the blog redesign. She was beyond accommodating and was ever so easy to work with.

So a massive thank you Dee!!!

You can see some of her other designs over at her Laideebug Digital website here.

You may have noticed that the blog is looking slightly out of sync, well no worries, in case you couldn’t tell, the blog is currently under construction. Normal service will be resumed shortly. In the mean time, if there’s anything glaringly funky, can you let us know in the comments section?

Thanks muchly!

We’re in the midst of currently re-designing the blog, (yeah I know most of you are thinking, about time too!) What changes would you guys like to see? You can choose from any of the following, but obviously, all comments and suggestions are welcomed:

More reviews?
Less reviews?
Sensuality ratings?
More opinion pieces?
Less opinion pieces?
Better functionality? (if so, anything in particular?)
Plugin suggestions?
Other navigation buttons?

Also, where do you personally buy your books from? I know that I currently only list Amazon, but if there’s a need for other links for sites such as B&N etc, we can look at including those too.

The colour scheme is going to be red and white, what do you think? I love those colours, but I was thinking the other day that it might make it harder for you guys to read at work.

Don’t be shy, let me know what you really think.

Got this email earlier. Seriously, do people actually fall for this crap?

From: “Mogoli Angelberg”
Date: 27 March 2012 21:20:02 GMT+01:00
To: hairylemony
Subject: loved your book

Just checked out your book on Smashwords, Chris and you’re so so talented. Do you have any suggestions for a budding writer like me?

What has worked and what hasn’t? Tried FB, Twitter, even book marks. I just don’t want to waste my time on things that don’t work.

I just read a couple EXCELLENT books on it. One was recommended by my friend called “Effortless Marketing”: http://amzn.to/EFFORTLESS I got it cause Mark Coker the Smashwords guy endorsed it and cause it’s free for the next 24 hours anyway. And it was surprisingly really, really good.

Do you have any other books you’d recommend?

If I’d written a book, I might have believed it a tiny little bit. If I was called Chris, I’d believe it even more.

Bloody spammers!

I’m annoyed today. I’ve just read about yet another child that was killed by one of her parents.

For me, yet more proof that that bloke in the Sky couldn’t give a rat’s arse.

I’d be a great mother, why can’t I get pregnant and stay pregnant?

Yes, I’m annoyed today.

Rant over.

I want it NOW! I wanted an iPad in the US, but I still wasn’t prepared to shell out $499 for the pleasure of owning one. Now the Kindle Fire at $199 is way better!

No doubt here in good old England we’ll be the last to get it. Bummer.

TTG and I are off to Miami next week, and although I’ve made a list of things to do, none of them seem that exciting. Is there any place that you guys can recommend? Any fun parks etc?

I’ll see you guys after the World Cup is over. You’ll be able to catch me on Twitter now and then, in the mean time…..

COME ON ENGLAND!!!!!!

I’m currently in the middle of reading Laura Kinsale’s Lessons in French, and I have to say, I’m struggling with it. Big time.

As per most of the books that I intend to read, I didn’t bother looking at any reviews prior, so I don’t know what the general consensus has been up to this point, but boy it’s so far proving to be a real drag.

The heroine, Callie, is proving to be as dull as dishwater. The most exciting thing about her thus far is that she has a bull called Hubert, that she’s ever so fond of.

She seems to have neither the wit nor the mental agility of Kinsale’s other heroines. She’s a good soul of course, oh my but she’s good. So much so that she’s getting right on my tits.

As for the hero, Trev, well quite frankly the most interesting thing about him seems to be the scar from a whip, that lines his face. Other than that, he seems to be a faux bad-boy, who appears to have a shady history. To be honest though, I’ve seen this plot device executed far more effectively by other historical romance authors, and by Kinsale herself, in the past.

This was a book that I was really looking forward to, after reading Lisa Kleypas’ Smooth Talking Stranger, and thoroughly enjoying it.

Anyway, I find myself in a quandary – the question being should I persevere or not? I tried to force Ward’s Lover Avenged, but I just couldn’t finish it, and I fancy that Lessons In French will go exactly the same way. Bummer eh?