Our holiday here in Canuckyland doesn’t happen on the fourth. It happens on the first. Of course, it’s a lot like the fourth – barbeques and fireworks and a plethora of flags. Of course, we’re all about the Red and White, no blue, but we show our pride the same ways: Tshirts, hats, shorts, socks…even shoes and underwear with the familiar red maple leaf symbol on a background of white. (don’t ask me how having maple leaves on your undies screams patriotism; I’m just saying.)

I have to say, we’re not all that manic about it. I mean, I live in a college town, but July is during summer break, so although there are still a few inebriated twenty-somethings who run around red-faced raising their beer and screaming “WOOT”…for the most part it’s a family-oriented holiday.

A small town nearby (er…larger than the one I actually live in, but smaller than the nearby town that shows up on the map)…has a festival. People selling things at little impromptu stalls, face painting, meat-on-a-stick…typical ‘fair’ type…fare. Despite the fact that it’s a small town…it gets really busy.

So…what did we do this year? Not much. One of the kids has been ordered to avoid sunlight for a week or two for an illness that’s left his skin sensitive to sun. That…hasn’t been much of a problem, though, since it’s pretty much been raining the entire month of June, and July isn’t showing any signs of letting up.

We did, however, spend it together as a family, and it was a really nice day, even if it wasn’t entirely filled with why we love the place we live, and how we’d probably choose to live here again, even if we could move anywhere in the world.

We’re chatting about Independence Day traditions this week, since it’s time to break out the sparklers this weekend. Guest starring today is Patti O’Shea to talk about her traditions and to give away a little midsummer holiday goody for you!

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Hi everyone!

Thanks for stopping in! I was asked to talk about my Fourth of July traditions, but aside from going to see fireworks when I was a kid, my family didn’t really have any. After thinking about it for a while, I decided to turn the blog over to Logan. He’s the hero of EDGE OF DAWN, my latest paranormal action/adventure romance, and his family does have Independence Day traditions.

To give you a little introduction, Logan is a troubleshooter for the Gineal–they’re a society of magic users who work covertly to protect humans from demons and other evil beings. He’s the second of five kids, although his brother is only a few minutes older, and he has three younger sisters. He grew up in a suburb of Chicago and now lives in Seattle, Washington.

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Independence Day for the Andrews clan means a trip to the cabin. When I was a kid and living at home, my parents packed us up in the minivan and we rode three hours plus from Naperville to Wisconsin.

Yeah, even though we can open a transit and walk through it from our house to the cabin, my folks still insisted on driving. Staying hidden means looking like everyone else. Everyone human. The plus part of the drive came because of my little sisters. We had to stop constantly for them.

The trek became more anticipated and less of a chore after I left home. Troubleshooter training starts at twelve and it was one of the few times of the year that I saw my family for more than a few hours at a time. Of course, it helped that I could open a transit from my mentor’s home to the cabin and didn’t have the endurance test known as the family car trip.

Let me tell you about the cabin. It’s located miles from this small town called Woodford–four buildings along a two-lane road and the tavern doubled as the general store. When I was young, the roads off the main drag were gravel and Dad would drive the van slowly. Real slowly. They’re paved now, but the entrance track to the cabin is still dirt and it’s steep and rutted.

Turning in, we’d always stop before going down to the house itself. From the top of the hill, we could see the lake with its island in the center, the cabin with its weathered cedar siding, and the rolling green surrounding the area. This was our property, including the man-made lake, and here we could use our magic when we played.

There are only two bedrooms. My folks take the bigger one, my three sisters get the other, and Kel and I get stuck with two fold-out beds in the great room. It isn’t too bad in the winter when the fire is going, but it’s not so terrific during the Fourth of July stay because there’s no sleeping in, not when the kitchen is only feet away.

Since the lake’s small, we couldn’t water ski, but we canoed, swam, and hiked around the perimeter. There were barbecues, and at night, we’d build bonfires in the pit and roast marshmallows. If my parents were feeling hokey, we’d sing. At least until we reached our teens.

And yeah, there were fireworks. We didn’t go to any formal display. My dad would buy a bunch and set them off on the dirt track out in front of the cabin. As kids, we all had to stay on the deck and watch from there, but when Kel and I were old enough, we were allowed to help.

Although there was one time our help wasn’t appreciated. You know the kind of fireworks they sell in the stores are a far cry from the really great stuff the pros shoot at the major shows. Well, Kel and I decided that a little magic would fix that. Hey, we were around thirteen–it seemed like a good idea at the time.

Dad shot off this bottle rocket and Kel and I directed our powers to it to make it explode in an enormous burst of colors. It was even bigger and more vibrant than what they shoot off at Navy Pier. We were out in what seemed like the middle of nowhere to a couple of suburban kids, but while the cabin and lake are private and safe, the neighbors were close enough to see what we shot into the sky. Yeah. Dad had a discussion with us. It wasn’t the first talk about our misuse of magic. Or the last.

Now, as adults, the time we spend together at the cabin is shorter, more rushed. Kel, Tris, and I all work as troubleshooters and we’re on call to handle problems even on the Fourth of July. It’s funny, though, how those miserable car trips with the arguing and the crying have become memories we laugh over now. It helps a lot not to be stuck in the minivan with my sisters for hours on end.

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To celebrate the June 30th release of Logan’s story, EDGE OF DAWN, I’m giving away a copy of IN THE MIDNIGHT HOUR. Just comment on the post and tell me your favorite family vacation memory or your worst. I remember car trips in the station wagon where my brother and I were roasting in the back, but my mom had a blanket over her legs in the front seat because she was freezing. Do I have to tell you that we didn’t get the air turned up any higher? So what tortures did you go through in the name of family fun?

I remember the first Erotic Romance I read (”Stolen Goddess” by Tawny Taylor) and it whetted my appetite for more. Who knew? I thought I was a nice little girl.
Apparently not.
I never thought I’d like a fem domme book. But Joey W. Hill’s book “Natural Law” changed my mind. So, what “turns me on” still surprises me. What shocked me the most was when I read Sherrilyn Kenyon’s book “Dream Warrior” and it wasn’t hot enough. Who knew?
My biggest turn off is a wussy heroine. I like my heroine’s to kick ass. Oh, they can cry, submit and be dead wrong, but NOT wussy. Strong heroes need strong heroines and I can’t abide a heroine who let’s everyone walk all over her. That doesn’t mean I don’t like it when a heroine submits to the hero, but it’s Oh So Much More satisfying when she submits after a good fight.
And wussy heroes get the same treatment. I read a Harlequin Bombshell “Devil’s Due” by Rachel Caine and the heroine was KICK ASS!!! Unfortunately, the hero was a complete wussy boy. *shudders* Hated that. I like my heroines strong and my heroes stronger.
What about you?

Well, who can follow Crystal on this lol? Anyone who’s read anything of mine knows I like to write my alpha males as over the top as possible. Assholes? Sometimes, but not without a heroine who can’t dish it out also. I really can’t stand wimpy heroines. Those are guaranteed wall bangers for me! Actually, now I think about it wimpy characters are my biggest turn off. Biggest turn on? Strong characters who know when to give in. There’s nothing like bringing an alpha male to his knees.

Hi, my name is Crystal, and my turn ons include long walks on the beach, candlelit dinners, and hot, sexy alpha males. An author can win my heart with a studly alien, wicked warlock, dashing vampire, or an awesome cop or firemen.

Turn offs include asshole, douchebag males, wimpy heroines, and full-on forced seduction, which goes back to the douchebag males. No means no! Also, violating your own worldbuilding or dicking with my favorite secondary characters will make me very, very unhappy.

…without having to critique or review. Just for the sheer pleasure of reading.
After writing a lot in May and the first two weeks of June, I hit a place where I needed to rest the muse a little. I felt uninspired, so I turned to some of my favorite authors for some fun reading. Here’s a few titles I’ve picked up lately.

Almost everyone knows my love for Joey W. Hill. She inspires me like no other. I finally finished ALL of the “Natural Law” series books she has at Ellora’s Cave by purchasing “Holding The Cards” and “Rough Canvas”. Awesome as always. I paid full price for my electronic copy of “A Vampire’s Claim” and it was worth every single penny.

I also went on a Josh Lanyon kick and read all of his Adrien English mysteries which were fantastic!!! I’d never read a m/m suspense series before and these were really good.

And you? What have you been reading?

Yes…there’s a stack of books in a basket next to my bed because there’s a lamp, an alarm clock, a picture of my kids, a bunch of girlie stuff, and the remote control on the night stand. There isn’t much room left for anything else. The basket is full of books…the overflowing TBR pile you might say. Before I tell you what I’m reading now…why don’t I share what I just finished reading.

Visions in Death by J.D. Robb. I love her In Death series. I find myself missing Eve and Roarke every once in a while so I usually grab 2 or 3 either from the public library or the bookstore and delve back into Nora’s futuristic world. I haven’t read them all so it’s fun to catch up and see what the old gang is doing and what new psycho is on a killing spree.

Whiskey Sour by J.A. Konrath. I found this one quite by accident in the public library. I was browsing the “new” mystery section and saw a title called Fuzzy Navel. Tripped me out. I used to love to drink that drink when I was in my early 20’s. So, I picked it up and read the blurb and liked it, but then realized that it wasn’t the first in the series. So, of course, I had to go find the first one and read it instead. I’m all about reading in order if I can. I picked up W.S. and loved it. It’s a mystery series about a homicide cop named….get ready for it….Jack Daniels. Her name is really Jacqueline Daniels…but everybody calls her Jack. She’s an older heroine, but I love her voice and she’s funny.

NOW….I’m reading Not Quite A Husband by Sherry Thomas. Found her by accident too during the Brenda Novak Diabetes Auction. Loving it!!! I’m also reading Portrait In Death by J.D. Robb.

NEXT…I’ll be reading Bloody Mary by J.A. Konrath, Imitation in Death by J.D. Robb, and Kissing Midnight by Emma Holly (thanks Crystal). Umm…they’re quite a few more in my basket…but these are up next.

Before I sold, before I started to spend all my free time writing, I never got the who has time argument. Hell, I worked 80 hours a week in the Army and was still blowing through books, right? All I can say is…it gets harder to fit it in. Partly that’s cuz I love para and I write and I’m reluctant to read it. (I don’t want anyone else’s stuff to influence me.) So these days I’ve got a very short list of auto-buys. None have anything new out. Since they don’t, I thought I’d post what my girls are reading.

Katie is read Wicked Lovely. She’s read it a couple times now. I should steal it and find out what is so cool lol. Emma is reading the second Spectre book. I gotta check out this series too lol.

I haven’t been reading that much lately. Between personal crises, my husband’s newfound internet stardom lol, and 2 very tight deadlines-there just hasn’t been time for much.

I will say I got to

-Read Enemy Overnight, Robin Rotham’s sequel to Alien Overnight, and it rocked so get ready when it comes out

-Read Eden Bradley’s vampire bi-menage coming out in October on the same day as the next book in my Goddess series (IT IS HAWT) and her current WIP that is, I have to say, already one of my favorites

-Read small bits and pieces of Crystal Jordan’s current work is amazing and everything we come to expect from our resident superstar

So, only the fact that I am friends with some of the hottest romance authors around has saved me from a reading void this month. After these deadlines I promised myself I would take four days off and do nothing but read all my favorite authors, finish all the series I’ve been dying to finish, and look for new and wonderful works.

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First up is Fairyville by Emma Holly. Why did I pick this one? It was recommended by several romance scholars at the Popular Culture Association National Conference. Plus, Emma is A Name in erotic romance, so I should read something by her and I haven’t. Also, it’s a paranormal erotic romance called freaking Fariyville. Heck, yeah, I wanna read it.

I’m going to have to wait until I’m between deadlines to start because I don’t read in the same genre I’m writing in, and, hello, I write paranormal erotic romance. This one gets pulled out after July 1, when my current deadline expires and I have my book in. Because I’m a good girl and can resist temptation like that.

Then I have Netherwood by Michele Lang. Why? Because she’s repped by my agent and you have to show some love to agently sisters. Also, as far as I can tell from the cover blurb, it’s a futuristic-ish retelling of Robin Hood with the heroine as the Sheriff of Nottingham. Come on, that’s cool! I can’t be the only one who loves Robin Hood!