The Monthly Herd: December Recap!

Holy cow. I can't believe 2014 is over! And I survived!!! I didn't always think that would be the case. Whew! Thank you all for being part of the year in all of your different ways. For commenting, for hanging out on social media, for prayers for the herd when we were struggling earlier this year, for everything really. Yall are awesome and I'm so very glad to know each of you.

So. December! It was quite the month with Authors for the Holidays :) There were a TON of author visits. And a big giveaway too! That will be open until January 7th so yall hit up the authors you've not visited yet and enter the giveaways! They're all linked below.

Other than that it was a pretty quiet month here. I've been doing a lot of prep for 2015 and working on new graphics for some of the blog features. Figuring out what I want to do with the blog in a new year and whatnot. I can't wait! Oh! I do have one new thing! I'm hosting a reading challenge in 2015. New To You reads. It's VERY flexible. Basically anything new--genre, author, reading a debut book, a first in a series book, etc. Hope yall will join in! Anywho. On with the Dec recap...

Herding Cat's 2014 "You Need to Read This Damn Book (because it's fucking awesome)" List

Mmhm. That's right.

With the year coming to an end I thought a Read This Damn Book list was in order.

194 books were reviewed on Herding Cats in 2014.

These are the best of the whole damn lot.
Okay there are a lot of them. I just couldn't pick so I went with a bunch of my favorites :)

They're everything from mystery to full out erotica.

Links go to book review and buy links :)

#AFTH2014--Interview w/ Joanna Wylde--killer shot glasses, the best dirty words & Kylie Scott? + giveaway

Alright yall! Today we've got Joanna Wylde stopping by for a visit. If you've not read her...you must! She writes some seriously kick ass motorcycle club romances. Anywho. Check out our chat and leave Joanna some comment love!

Hey Joanna! Welcome to the...madness. The herd, well, they go a little insane over Christmas and they're still on a bit of a kitty-high over it all. ::snort:: Figured snacks and some shots would be good for a chat about your guys. *picks up a skull shot glass* aren't these just the damn cutest things?!

Alright *downs her skull shot* Reese and London. *whew!* I'd been dying for this man's book and Sweet Mary! So good! Can you tell us 3 fun/sexy/crazy/interesting behind the scenes facts about their book?

Um, I’ll try. London’s character is based on a friend of mine, Betty, who owns a cleaning service. Before I started writing the book she and I got together one day and shared a few beers while she told me some of the crazier stories of things she’s seen over the years. I couldn’t use most of them in the book, but it definitely gave me a feel for her life that I think translated into the book pretty well. 

SIGN UP--2015 Erotic Romance Reading Challenge

Making this one really easy!

All erotic romances over 80 pages count!

Erotic Romance--means the sexual side of the relationship is front and center in the storyline and a focal point of the relationship. 

SIGN UP--2015 Historical Romance Reading Challenge

Making this one really easy!

All historical romances over 80 pages count!

Anything prior to 1920 as far as year goes.

All you do is read then review (on goodreads, amazon or your blog) then link up your review :)

Untouched (Florence, Arizona #1) by Lauren Hawkeye

Alexa Kendrick has no recollection of the car accident that left her scarred and sent her life careening wildly off course. When the half-sister she thought she’d never meet shows up at her door with an invitation to a new life, Alexa finds herself in Florence, Arizona, a town notorious for being populated with more prison inmates than actual citizens…a town that has done its best to hide its own dark secret.

After Ellie is called out of town, she leaves her sister with the keys to her flower shop and Alexa finds herself swapping lives with her sibling: running Ellie’s business, living in the house left to them both by their absentee father…and forging a smoldering relationship with sexy-as-sin penitentiary officer, Nate Fury—a man with his own demons.

But arranging flowers by day and tangling with the only man who has ever seen her real self by night isn’t enough to silence the mysterious panic that fuels Alexa’s dark dreams. When Nate brings home a book written by an inmate, one describing an unspeakable crime, the shackles binding Alexa’s own lost memories begin to shatter. And as the devastating truth comes to light, she realizes that Nate holds the key to unlocking her past, as well as her heart.

Type: Contemporary Romance, Novella
Heat: 3 out of 5
Rating: 3 out of 5

Amazon | All Romance | Goodreads

Untouched was a curious little read as Alexa--who has been in a horrible car accident and lost her memory--discovers a sister she never knew existed and while on a trip to get to know her sister finds herself undeniably pulled towards a dreamy prison guard and discovering that there are secrets from her past that have been hidden from her by those she loves.

#AFTH2014 w/ Roni Loren--she's memejacking Quote-tastic! + giveaway

Hey guys! Today one of my favorite new-to-me authors is doing a meme-jack! Yup she's hijacking Quote-tastic. Heh. Roni writes some of the best erotic romances I've laid my readery hands on. They're steamy and hilarious and gah just the best characters ever. And they will totally make you pant they're so hot. Anywho. She's got a hunk of a quote for yall today but oh the last little bit...yeah. I love it. It was such a great read. Check it out and leave Roni some love! She's giving away a print copy to someone too :D ~Anna

#AFTH w/ Cari Silverwood--Yeah...she totally wrote you guys a story. *nods* + giveaway

Woots! We've got Miss Cari Silverwood joining us from way over on the other side of the world *waves madly* Cari writes all kinds of fab goodness. Way dark and twisty, scorching hot and erotic, and some cheeky spoofty kinda stuff too which is so fun. There may be...tentacles. Bwahaha. I love it! Yall check out her post and leave her some naughty comment love :D She wrote a short story just for yall ;) Pretty fucking cool.

This one is a total gigglesnorter. A little Christmas. A little spoof and a crazy herd babe. Happy reading yall ;) ~Anna

Undefeated (Bomb Squad #2) by Melissa Cutler (@BerkleyRomance)

Yoga instructor Marlena Brodie is always up for a challenge, and her new job of snapping Bomb Squad out of their rut is definitely that, even though it means being in close contact with Liam McAllister, her high school crush gone bad. She can feel the damage pouring off of him—but also a wild and sexy strength that calls to her.

The Army turned Liam McAllister into a man, but as a combat medic, he saw far too much to ever be whole again. He’s not interested in the civilian world beyond his job as a carpenter, but he never stopped wondering what might have been with Marlena—and it isn’t long before she’s crashed through his carefully constructed walls. He longs for a new beginning with her, but to be the man she deserves, he’ll have to step out of his defensive zone and score the most important play of his life…

Type: Contemporary Romance
Heat: 3 out of 5
Rating: 4 out of 5

Amazon | All Romance | Goodreads

So. Sometimes you start out a book and all you can think is Run, hero, run!! Your heroine is crazy tunes!! But! Then things settle in and it turns out she's got a lot of awesome behind her as well. That was totally the case with Undefeated for me as Liam and Marlena--who have known each other since they were kids--realize that maybe...just maybe...that the person they need to help heal themselves from past traumas is each other despite a hard past together weighing on them and their two very different lifestyles.

#AFTH2014--Interview w/ Elizabeth Hoyt-- tea, cake, puppies and...poisoning wells?! + giveaway

And today we've got Elizabeth Hoyt! Yall she's amazing. Writes just stunning historical romances with a dark edge to them. It's so easy to get lost in her books. It's crazy. We're chatting about her latest Darling Beast (Beauty and the Beast storyline) and whew yeah I was feeling this book all over the place. The review is up HERE if you'd like to check it out. Yall give our visit a look-see then be sure to leave Elizabeth some comment love!  ~Anna

Good morning Elizabeth! Lovely to see you. Come on in. I've set up tea and cakes to have while we visit and dish about Darling Beast. I just loved these two.*settles down and pours a cup of steaming tea* Alright, now, for those who haven't met these two yet what would you tell them about Apollo and Lily to get them good and intrigued?

Thank you for the tea and cakes, Anna! I do like a nice cuppa. ;-) 

Let’s see…Apollo is an aristocrat, a viscount, but he’s in hiding at Harte’s Folly, a ruined pleasure garden, since escaping the horrors of Bedlam. Apollo was in Bedlam because everyone thought he’d committed an atrocious murder. Before he escaped he was beaten and as a result is now mute.

Lily is a down on her luck actress who has moved temporarily into the ruined theater at Harte’s Folly. When her son, Indio, tells her that there’s a monster in the garden she doesn’t believe him…until she finds the big, mute man herself. 

#AFTH2014 w/ Jeanette Murray-- a Christmasy Top Ten + giveaway

 So! Jeanette Murray! Have yall read her? Total make a girl swoon and gigglesnort kinda read. Gah but I do adore Murray's sports romances. She's just a hoot! Yall check out her post --she's talking her top 10 Christmasy bits--and leave her some comment love down below! ~Anna

This cat herder...is spilling it ALL. Yup. Yall are interviewing me. Bwahaha

Merry Christmas!!!! Woots! Can you believe it's already the 25th?!! I hope you've all gotten fabulous presents and eaten gobs of delicious food already. I'm snuggled up in front of the fire with the herd babes enjoying some hot cocoa and reading. Bliss! Anywho. I thought we'd give the authors a day off so today yall are just getting...me. I put out a "what would you like to know about me?" post a bit back and today I'm answering all of those questions. And oh...my god. Some of yall! Are so naughty and pervy! And so my kinda peoples!

This one's a little long since I wanted to answer everyone's questions. I put in headers so yall can pop around or just read on through. You'll probably learn WAY more than you ever wanted to know about me but...there ya go :D And if you happen to have more questions just pop them in the comments. I'll be by to chat with yall throughout the day <3 ~Anna

#AFTH2014 w/ Jennifer Ashley-- it's all about Christmas... + giveaway

Ooo yall there's a lot of awesome on the blog today. Jennifer Ashley is here with some warm fuzzies for Christmas to get yall ready for tomorrow. If yall haven't read her...gah. *shakes head* It is a must. She writes one of the best shifter series--Shifters Unbound--with wolves, bears, kittehs. And she does some stellar historical romances that I've just started reading this year and that are just delightful. Total insta buy author for me. Anywho. I'm gonna hand things over to Jennifer. Yall check it out and leave her some comment love!  ~Anna

#AFTH2014 w/ Laura Wright--oh...my word. The cowboys. Yall. The cowboys! + giveaway

*waves* Morning! Today...cowboys *squeals* Laura Wright's cowboys to be specific. Yums! These guys are HOT and sexy and just make-a-girl-sigh delicious. She writes some freaking stellar heroines as well which is so why I adore her. Anywho. Check out some of the sexy from her guys and leave her some comment love!  ~Anna

Happy Holidays Friends!

Can you believe it's almost the big day?!? I'm just barely done with my shopping. UGH. And haven't even started wrapping. OY! But do you know why? Do you know who's to blame?

The Cavanaugh Brothers. That's who.

Wickedly Wonderful (Baba Yaga #2) by Deborah Blake (@BerkleyRomance)

Though she looks like a typical California surfer girl, Beka Yancy is in fact a powerful yet inexperienced witch who’s struggling with her duties as a Baba Yaga. Luckily she has her faithful dragon-turned-dog for moral support, especially when faced with her biggest job yet…

A mysterious toxin is driving the Selkie and Mer from their homes deep in the trenches of Monterey Bay. To investigate, Beka buys her way onto the boat of Marcus Dermott, a battle-scarred former U.S. Marine, and his ailing fisherman father.

While diving for clues, Beka drives Marcus crazy with her flaky New Age ideas and dazzling blue eyes. She thinks he’s rigid and cranky (and way too attractive). Meanwhile, a charming Selkie prince has plans that include Beka. Only by trusting her powers can Beka save the underwater races, pick the right man, and choose the path she’ll follow for the rest of her life…

Type: Paranormal Romance--Baba Yagas, Selkies, Merfolk (and humans)
Heat: 2.5 out of 5
Rating: 4 out of 5

Amazon | All Romance | Book Depository | BAM | Goodreads

First off...I'm gonna need a dragon-dog. *nods* Deborah Blake...ladies at Penguin. Really. I am. I'm gonna need a dragon-dog. And some Riders. Would be a fabulous Christmas prezzie. There's still a couple days left... #JustSayin

Now for the rest of yall. lol Ahhhh....Wickedly Wonderful was just that. Heh. It really was a wonderful read as Beka--one of the US Baba Yagas (and a newbie at the job) gets roped into her first solo gig--finding out what's poisoning the area Selkies and Merfolks and finding the traitor in their ranks. And all with the help of a dragon-dog (see him up on the cover...yeah...dragon lol), some sexy and mysterious riders, 2 grumpy fishermen and their smitten crew. It's...quite the challenge for this rookie Baba. And utterly enchanting.

#AFTH2015 w/ Tonya Burrows--she's meme-jacking Quote-tastic! + giveaway

Eeps! One of my favoritest ladies is with us today! Tonya Burrows writes some damn fine romantic suspense reads. Both of her series are just to die for. I've not read her newest release (it's linked down below) but blast it I so plan on it. As soon as AFTH is over...that baby is mine! lol She also has the cutest wee herd. Yall check out her post and leave her some comment love!  ~Anna

#AFTH2014--Interview w/ Vivian Arend and Elle Kennedy--puppies, dirty talkers and...naughty cookies!

Soooo we have TWO ladies joining us today. Elle Kennedy and Vivian Arend. Woots! I've been reading on Kennedy's Rom-Sus series and LOVED them and am diving into Arend's now (starting with a series the two co-write and the one we're talking about today) and yay they are SO much fun! Check out our little visit and leave the ladies some comment love!  ~Anna

Mornin' ladies! Come in, come in. Since it's so blasted cold I got the fireplace going and figured hot toddies and some gingerbread would be nice while we chat about your men. *passes around the plate of gingerbread* Um, okay, so here's the thing. They're kind of naughty gingerbread men *looks around innocently* See...one thing led to another and, okay, they're sporting some ginger-wood. It could't be helped! *tries to mask a furious blush* Right, yes, the interview! So, say yall trying to get someone panting right good after your sexy DreamMakers what would you tell them about these guys?

#AFTH2014 w/ PA DePaul-- Delta Squad Original...The Final Test (yall she totally wrote a story for you!) + giveaway

Okay yall. Today's author--PA DePaul--did something really freaking awesome for yall. She actually wrote a short story for the event that tells a little of the back story of her series characters! How neat is that? Check it out and leave her some comment love! And omg look at that cover?! Sexy!  ~Anna

When Herding Cats & Burning Soup announced the Authors for the Holidays December event, I knew that Delta Squad, the Black Ops stars of my SBG series, had to be a part of it. New Year’s Eve is a time for looking back and making plans for the future. Bing! Lightbulb moment. What better way to accomplish my New Year’s goal than going back and discovering Delta Squad’s origins?

#AFTH2014 w/ Sara Jane Stone--favorite Christmas stories to curl up with... + giveaway

And morning yall! So today we have a new to me author...Sara Jane Stone. She's with Avon who I just adore and one I can't wait to check out :) Yall give her a nice warm welcome to the herd and leave her some comment love!  ~Anna

Deadly, Calm, and Cold (The Collectors #2) by Susannah Sandlin

How far will ordinary people go to protect their secrets? The Collectors’ games are as much about manipulating lives as finding lost treasure. Everyone is expendable as the ruthless C7 pushes people into gambling with their lives in order to find priceless objects lost to history.

Samantha Crowe’s secrets could ruin her career, while Brody Parker’s could get him killed. They become pawns for two Collectors seeking Bad King John’s crown jewels, which disappeared in rural England back when Robin Hood roamed Nottingham. This time, however, the Collectors—a ruthless dotcom billionaire and a desperate London detective—might not be playing for the same team, leaving Sam and Brody trapped in the middle.

One thing’s for sure: if either hopes to survive, Sam and Brody will have to find a way to overcome their distrust—and their growing attraction—in order to succeed on this winner-take-all treasure hunt.

Type: Light Romantic-Suspense
Heat: 2.5 out of 5
Rating: 3.5 out of 5

Amazon | Book Depository | BAM | Goodreads

Something about Deadly, Calm and Cold just screamed out "Anna you must read me!!!!". And so I did... and yay I'm glad I listen to random book demands :) It was one of those books that was just easy to get in to with likable characters, light suspense and light romance. Plus, you know, sexy artist, a backdrop of the English countryside and a little danger as Sam and Brody hunt for a centuries old treasure, deal with blackmailers and a clock counting down until their time is up and their lives ruined by said blackmailer. Yep it was a pretty good time.

#AFTH2014 w/ Larissa Ione--Getting on Santa's Naughty List...according to Revenant & Blaspheme + giveaway

Did you hear the girlie squee? lol Larissa Ione is with the herd today. Woots! Have yall read her yet? If not you must do. it. now! She's one of the very best in paranormal romance. I swear no matter what I've picked up of hers...it's been golden. As Ione or as Sydney Croft (writing with Stephanie Tyler). Those are seriously HOT if you want to check them out :D Anywho. She's here chatting about Revenant. The latest in the Lords of Deliverance series. Yall check it out and leave her some comment love!

Do you...Tsu? It's a new thing. Yall come join me!

So. There's this new thing called Tsu. It's like FB but a little different.

The herd...has joined. It's not bad. I was really hesitant to join but wanted to reserve the blog name and I'm actually liking it. It definitely won't be replacing FB any time soon but it's a nice alternative and there are a lot of bloggers and authors over there already. 

#AFTH2015--Interview w/ Shayla Black-- spanking, opinionated herd babes & Mexican food!

Ooo we're going Wicked today! Shayla Black is joining us. She writes amazing (and naughty) erotic romances that are just reader girl sigh worthy. We're chatting her upcoming release so yall tuck in with a hot cup of tea and check it out. Don't forget to hop down and leave her some comment love too! ~Anna

Morning Shayla! Happy almost Christmas! I can't believe it's only 2 weeks away! Whew! I'm working on a cinnamon roll recipe so come on back and we can nosh while we have a little gossip about His to Take. Gah but I'm excited for this one.

Alright *dishes up a couple rolls* so say you only had 10 seconds to get someone seriously lusting over Joaquin and Bailey's story what would you tell them?

The best way to describe this book is nonstop action of ALL kinds.

#AFTH2014--Interview w/ Cara McKenna

Happy Tuesday yall! Today we've got Cara McKenna joining us. OMG yall. She writes the most panty melting heroes. A little rough and tumble, dirty talking guys you'd run into in every day life and would just make you stop in your tracks and go "dayum!". Check out our chat and leave her some comment love! ~Anna

W

aves madly* Mornin' Cara! Merry almost Christmas!! Welcome to the herd! How goes things over in your neck of the woods?

Merry near-Christmas! This is my first holiday season in the Pacific Northwest, after thirty-odd years in New England, so it’s sure to be both different and exciting. While I’ll miss seeing my folks this winter, one thing I’m looking forward to is not having to scrape an inch of ice off the car or shovel multiple feet of snow in the wee, dark hours.

Book Deals-- New Releases, 99cent sales, Freebies--12/16

Guys let me know if you're coming by to check these out. If no one's interested I'm okay skipping these posts. Takes a clip to put them together and if there's no interest I can work on other posts :) So chime in and let me know :)

Got some goodies for yall today!

To navigate the widget! On the right side are three categories

New Releases

99cent deals

and Freebies. 

Just click that then scroll through. 

There will be a couple of pages for each. You can click on the cover for book blurb then just hit the back button to get to the main list again.  

Let me know if you grab anything! It helps me for picking future 99cent and freebie deals!      ~Anna

What A Lady Needs For Christmas (MacGregors #4) by Grace Burrowes

To escape a scandal, Lady Joan Flynn flees her family's estate in the Scottish Highlands. She needs a husband by Christmas, or the holidays will ring in nothing but ruin.

Practical, ambitious mill owner Dante Hartwell offers to marry Joan, because a wellborn wife is his best chance of gaining access to aristocratic investors.

As Christmas—and trouble—draw nearer, Dante and Joan's marriage of convenience blossoms into unexpected intimacy, for true love often hides beneath the most unassuming holiday wrapping...

Type: Historical Romance
Heat: 2.5-3 out of 5
Rating: 3.5 out of 5

Amazon | All Romance | Book Depository | BAM | Goodreads

Christmas, Scotsmen and kilts. Be still my heart. I do love a kilted bit of brawny male. A whole herd of them...even better! What a Lady Needs for Christmas turned into quite the heart warming Christmas tale of honor, love and hope as Lady Joan flees scandal and lands under the protection of a Scot in need of a wife--for his children and the security for his business.

Quote-tastic/ AFTH 2014 w/ Laura Kaye--she's totally meme-jacking Quote-tastic with some...dirty talk + giveaway

Woots! We've got Laura Kaye with the herd today! She's one of my favorite authory ladies. Just an awesome person and a fantastic writer. She's going badass and meme-jacking us today. Check out her guy Derek and some favorite quotes of hers! And be sure to pop down to the bottom and give her some comment love!  ~Anna

I’m super excited to share some quotes from my new book, Hard to Come By which tells the story of Derek “Marz” DiMarzio, my super sexy amputee hero with a crazy filthy mouth! LOL His dirty talk is definitely quotable, so here are a few faves from the book (I couldn’t decide which I liked best LOL! – you all can pick)!