Thursday 13 – Girl Crushes

Girl Crush. Urban Dictionary defines it in various ways. I’ll simplify by saying that it’s fondness and/or affection and/or attraction and/or admiration for another woman, whether sexual or not sexual. I’ve heard many a woman mention girl crushes of one kind or another so today, I’m sharing some of those (and they also include girl crushes on some fictional characters!).

I may not get to 13 on this, so please jump in and leave a comment with any girl crushes you can think of!

1. Eve Dallas from the IN DEATH Series
2. Kate Beckinsale
3. Evangeline Lilly
4. Jennifer Garner
5. Emma Watson
6. Natalie Portman
7. Selene from Underworld (And Yeah, there will be a #4 and Kate Beckinsale will be back!)
8. Buffy the Vampire Slayer
9. Sarah Michelle Gellar
10. Wonder Woman
11. Stephanie Plum
12. Anne Hathaway
13. Sandra Bullock

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Photo Credit: Copyright 20th Century Fox

On sadder note, Rest In Peace Steve Jobs. You embodied the American Spirit of hard work, determination and innovation. You will be missed.

In Death-Fest & Upcoming Blog Tours!

I have been on a major J.D. Robb-fest, trying to catch up on all the books I haven’t read so that I can get to my — SQUEEE — autographed copy of FROM NEW YORK TO DALLAS!! I’ve only got about 6 books to go and to be honest, I’m not sure I can wait that long. As it is, I’ve been reading them out of order due to time constraints and so I may just do the same with FROM NEW YORK TO DALLAS. Of course, I’m also tempted that once I do that, I’ll start reading the series all over again in order from book one which when reread rather recently was just as good as I remembered.

Anyway, that’s why today’s Thursday 13 is an In-Death Fest where I’m sharing the 13 characters and/or things that I love about the series in no particular order.

    1. Eve Dallas. Was there ever a more perfect heroine.
    2. Roarke. OMG. Can’t say much more. He melts my bones.
    3. Peabody. Love her as a sidekick. Just too awesome.
    4. McNab. His outfits are burned into my retinas.
    5. Feeney. Great father figure.
    6. Mira. As a substitute mom, she’s the best.
    7. The candy thief. I’m convinced it’s Roarke. There is a scene in CONSPIRACY IN DEATH where the candy bar disappears with only Roarke nearby and he chides her about eating better. In TREACHERY IN DEATH, Eve discovers her stash missing and Roarke admits just seconds later that he had broken into her office. Hmm. Too much coincidence for me.
    8. The love scenes. Soooo soooo hot and romantic.
    9. The murder cases. After an overload of crime-type stories on TV, it’s amazing that these are still interesting.
    10. The world of the NYPSD and Eve’s men and women. Little by little you’ve gotten to know each one and have seen them grow.
    11. NYC in the future with its glide carts and soy dogs. So can related to my favoritest city.
    12. Mavis. What an interesting and outrageous best friend.
    13. Eve’s fear of anything feminine. I can so relate.

Hope you enjoyed today’s Thursday 13. If you’re familiar with the IN DEATH series, please add your own favorite moments.

As for the blog tours, I’ve got two – count them two – coming up in October.

Join me at various sites (list will be up tomorrow!) for the ENTIRE month of October as we chat about THE LOST and share lots of fun things about the book and about me! Leave a comment on any of the blogs for a chance to win a $10 Gift card, a LOST T-shirt and a copy of STRONGER THAN SIN. The more comments you leave, the greater the likelihood of winning.


Starting October 17, all four authors in the anthology A VAMPIRE FOR CHRISTMAS are going on a mini blog tour! At each stop on the #VampXmas tour, Michele Hauf, Laurie London, Alexis Morgan and I will be answering questions about our novellas and giving away cool swag, including a signed copy of A VAMPIRE FOR CHRISTMAS, one of our other books and an ornament. Please join us.

Here’s the mini-blog tour schedule:

10/17 Vampire Book Club
10/19 The Qwillery
10/25 Tynga’s Reviews
11/4   All Things Urban Fantasy
11/12 Literal Addiction

Feel free to post either of these buttons on Facebook and/or your blog to help spread the word. It’s always more fun when there are a lot of people.

Thursday 13 – Kick Butt Heriones to Love

The women in today’s paranormal, suspense and urban fantasy books, movies and television shows are not the heroines of old. They are empowered, know how kick immortal ass and are capable of saving themselves. It’s why I love them and today, I’m sharing 13 of those top heroines from my favorite works (or at least I’m hoping to reach 13. If I can’t, I hope you’ll join in with your favorites).

    1. Buffy Summers. What can I say other than that this character turned female empowerment on its head by proving women were capable of saving the world while still being feminine.

    2. Eve Dallas. Tortured, strong, honorable and with a loving heart that grows with each IN DEATH story, J.D. Robb’s Eve is the ultimate powerful heroine.

    3. Selene from Underworld. Kate Beckinsale totally rocked this role. I could watch the movie and its sequel over and over and over again.

    4. Anita Blake. Some readers think Hamilton’s character went south with CERULEAN SINS, but early Anita is pure gold and not to be missed.

    5. Rachel Morgan. This uber-witch from Kim Harrison’s Witch series touches your heart with your vulnerability, but raises you up with her desire to protect those whom she loves.

    6. Paige Winterbourne. Kelley Armstrong’s heroine from the Magic series is a wonderful character trying to cope with being thrust into a role she hadn’t imagined for herself.

    7. Gracie Hart. What can I say about Bullock’s interpretation of an FBI Agent who is totally not in touch with all things feminine. The transformation of this character is a must-see.

    8. Anna Valerious. Kate Beckinsale makes the list again with this empowered female from the 2004 movie VAN HELSING. Tough and yet vulnerable, she has you rooting for a happily-ever-after with the always gorgeous Hugh Jackman in the role of Van Helsing.

    9. Hermione Granger. Yep, you read that right. This pint-sized heroine packs enough brain power and magic to keep the men in tow.

    10. Lara Croft. Wow, what can I say. Action, adventure and Angelina. Not to mention both Daniel Craig and Gerard Butler as potential love interests. Too yummy for words.

    11. Wonder Woman. Lynda Carter brought class, sass and beauty to this role on the small screen. Filling her shoes in a movie version will be a hard act to follow. Could explain why so far this movie franchise can’t seem to get off the ground.

    12. Supergirl. What can I say? I wish Superman’s little sister didn’t live in his shadow so much. Maybe she needed her own identity? Think of Robin becoming Night Wing. And why not Superwoman and not girl? But regardless, she ranks up there with the top kick ass heroines.

    13. Catwoman. LOL! You thought I was going to say Batgirl didn’t you? Nope, this is one time that a villainess ranks up there, especially since in my hopefully romantic heart I kept on hoping for her to be redeemed and end up with Batman.

Hope you enjoyed today’s Thursday Thirteen. I welcome you to add any of your favorite kick ass heroines in the comments sections.

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