The Saucy Wenches Book Club

"Chains," Rhage repeated, while standing in the middle of the Pit's living room. V looked over the top of his computer screen. "Like what kind?" "The ones you'd tow a car with." Butch came in from the kitchen, Bud in hand, sandwich in the other. "Hey, big man. S'up?" "I want the two of you to chain me to my bed." "Kinky." "So do we have something we can use, V?" Vishous repositioned his Sox hat. "The garage. I think there are some in the garage. But Rhage, man, what are you thinking?" ~ J.R. Ward, Lover Eternal

~ Karen Marie Moning, deleted scene from Shadowfever

March Book Releases How will we choose??? March is a busy month for the Wenches. There are books being released in three much-beloved series. And, in a horrible variation of Sophie's Choice , two of these highly anticipated books are being released on THE SAME DAY! Speaking of which, Wench Veronica has some strategies for getting through all of these releases, if you are feeling a little overwhelmed. But, I'm here today to give you a little recap of the previous book in each series and discuss what some of the other Wenches and I are looking forward to with the newest additions. Which books are these, you ask? First is Frost Burned , by Patricia Briggs, releasing on March 7th. This is the seventh book in the lovely Mercy Thompson series. Then, on March 26th, comes our cruel twist of fate: The second in the Night Prince trilogy by Jeaniene Frost, Twice Tempted , and the long-awaited addition to the Black Dagger Brotherhood series, Lover at Last , by J. R. Ward ...

"It is the obvious which is so difficult to see most of the time. People say: 'It's as plain as the nose on your face.' But how much of the nose on your face can you see, unless someone holds a mirror up to you?" *** Isaac Asimov, I,Robot

Source We have quite a bit of variety among Wench book choices this week. Vampires, shifters, dragons, demons, reapers, Highlanders, and saucy 19th-Century socialites are keeping us busy. We are also gearing up for March book releases like Black Dagger Brotherhood , and tv premiers like Game of Thrones . Click through to check out what we're reading. Then don't forget to share what you're reading in the comments below!

~ Picture by sonny123 (deviantART)

WHERE "SLASH" DOESN'T MEAN THE ROCK STAR Hello. My name is Veronica and I read fan fiction. ("Hi, Veronica," reply all the other readers of fan fiction.) Fan fiction, if you don't know, refers to stories created by fans of movies, television shows, books, comics, plays, etc. and usually consists of short stories, novellas, or serialized works. Art work and video also have their places within fan fiction (or fanfic ). Source In all fairness, I've read some pretty horrible fanfic. I've read some mediocre fanfic. But I've been fortunate to find quite a lot of beautifully written fic by some very talented writers. Now, this leads me down a rabbit hole of some thought-provoking questions. Consumers of fanfic, at least those who want to read good fanfic, have to devote some time to building community with other readers of fanfic. As for the writers of fanfic . . . Writing is a long and painful process; this isn't something they d...

Source “The past doesn’t change no matter how much time you spend thinking about it. Good and bad all add up to the whole. Take away one piece, no matter how small, and the whole changes. Whether it’s optimism, pessimism or fatalism, I don’t spend my time wishing for the past to be different so the present would be different, too. I control my future with what I choose now.” ― Megan Hart, Tempted

His lips curved the faintest bit, so subtle she doubted anyone else would be able to see it. "Aye? You certain? Maybe you ain't recognize it, is all, needs you a reminder." Damn, it was so hard pretending she didn't really care about him, pretending she didn't feel as if someone had poured her out of a jug to puddle all over everything, so turned on she could hardly breathe. Part of her was absolutely sure it didn't matter, anyway. Even the drunkest Downside alley rat would see the smile fighting to spread across her face, the way her skin flushed. "Why we ain't go on home," he went on. He still didn't look at her, but heat radiated of his body to caress her skin; she imagined if she touched him he'd jump.  She knew she'd jump if he touched her. "Thinkin maybe there's more to chatter on that one." Her nod felt too jerky, too eager, but she couldn't help it. Her muscles didn't seem to be entirely unde...

"I sucked out the last bit of blood, and dropped the bag. Bill hooked a finger into the neck of my T-shirt and pulled me close for a kiss. His tongue was hot, and tasted more like whiskey than blood. The feel of him prying open my mouth made me sag into the mattress, like there was something beyond conscious thought going on whenever he touched me, something that made the urge to surrender myself wash over me so suddenly, it was like I'd just dove into a deep, deep pool." ~ Jordan Castillo Price, Snare ,      Channeling Morpheus series

Good Omens: A Review Source Are you in the mood for something funny, yet different? A wickedly humorous twist on a classic tale? Well then, lucky for you, two virtuosos of the fantasy genre, English authors Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett, joined forces more than two decades ago to write this amazing comedy, Good Omens: The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch . The book deals with the end of the world, and two of the most unlikely allies you will see on page trying to put a stop to it. We follow several different stories that are seemingly unconnected, but riveting nonetheless. If you are a fan of original storytelling and thought-provoking whimsy, see a few of the reasons why I think you should read this hilarious book after the jump.

"Why is it," he said, one time, at the subway entrance, "I feel I've known you so many years?" "Because I like you," she said, "and I don't want anything from you." - Ray Bradbury, Fahrenheit 451

Ethan caressed my cheek. “You are a remarkable woman, Caroline Evelyn Merit.” “I try. But it’s exhausting.” “I am your Master and your servant. Just tell me how to please you.” ~ Chloe Neill, House Rules

When Did Erotica Become Unsexy? Saucy Readers, this is a rant. If you’re having a good day and don’t want to ruin your mood, maybe you should stop here. If you enjoy the recent trends in romances and erotica — regardless of the barely-there plot — you might not want to read this either. You’ve been warned! I’m one of those women who enjoys reading romances every once in a while. After every intense series, chilling mystery, and hair-raising horror story, I like taking a break with a romance. For the past few years, I’ve found that erotica is a fun break in between book series, even when the series themselves are full of romance and sex. It just helps knowing that at the end of around 2-3 hundred pages there will be a happily ever after. I won’t lie — the sexual tension, chemistry, and the sex in these books is a major reason I enjoy them. I like the whole “girl meets boy, boy tries to get girl, girl holds off, sparks fly, they clash, they melt, they surrender” formula. Yes, i...

“Actually, Justina, I didn’t just ring you to chat about what an undead murderer I was...right, degenerate whore as well. Did I ever tell you my mum was one? Oh, blimey, I come from a long line of whores, in fact...” ~ Jeaniene Frost, At Grave’s End      Night Huntress series

Source It has been an interesting week for the Wenches, though not necessarily due to our reading. Some were traveling, entertaining guests, or meeting other Wenches face-to-face for the very first time!!! Others just had a lot of Real Life going on. As a result, there's more variety in our reading, as we're taking a break from our big series. See what we've been reading this week after the jump, and please let us know if you're reading something we need to add to our lists! We wouldn't want to run out of books...

“How do you pick up the threads of an old life? How do you go on, when in your heart, you begin to understand, there is no going back? There are some things that time cannot mend. Some hurts that go too deep...that have taken hold.” ― J.R.R. Tolkien,  The Return of the King Source

I have it bad for Jaime Lannister. There isn't any other way to describe it. I fear I might be a little twisted, as he isn't really the kind of man that most women would want as a book boyfriend. However, I would challenge you by saying, well you don't really know him yet. Two seasons of the television series, Game of Thrones is over, but this is just where Jaime's story starts to get interesting, and I reckon, by the end of season 3, many may have changed their tune. Although, I hope you don't, because that will mean less Jaime for me. I am a dedicated book fan of  A Song of Ice and Fire by George R.R. Martin, and it is always a long time between drinks and being able to indulge in my Jaime love. At least the tv series helps to keep him fresh in my mind. I loathed Jaime with a passion until Book 3 of the series,  A Storm of Swords . Then, that wickedly clever Martin changed my viewpoint and, miraculously, loathing turned to love. Is it possible to do an about...

“Some loves come unbidden like winds from the sea, and others grow from the seeds of friendship.”  ~ Raymond E. Feist, Magician

I was lucky. Somehow, maybe because of all the messed-up shit the Universe had thrown my way, I'd gotten him. He was mine, completely mine. He loved me.   I kept making barriers between us and then heroically knocking them down. Whether it was because of fear or mistrust, or for whatever other reason, I had to stop doing it. ~ Ilona Andrews, Magic Slays ,     Kate Daniels series

Here’s a list of terrible things, Source The jaws of sharks, a vulture’s wings, The rabid bite of the dogs of war, The voice of one who went before, But most of all the mirror’s gaze, Which counts us out our numbered days. ~ Clive Barker, Days of Magic, Nights of War      Arabat series

Chloe Neill paid her first visit to the soggy northwestern U.S. over the weekend with book-signing events for House Rules , the newest installment in her Chicagoland Vampires series. And I’m so glad she decided to visit Oregon, so I could meet her! Not only were we not suffering the snowstorm of epic proportions that was pummeling the northeast at that very moment, but we actually saw intermittent sunshine on the afternoon she arrived — the highest honor one can get in this part of the country!! She spent an informal hour conversing with her audience, handing out swag (!), answering questions, and signing books. Some fans brought the entire series from home for her to sign, and she graciously obliged. I tried to take a few notes while she spoke so I could share her banter here, but I kept getting distracted by her funny stories, so I know I missed a few things. After the jump, you can see what she had to say, and I hope I got all the details right. Warning: Mild spoilers ...

Love, he realized, was like the daggers he made in his forge: When you first got one, it was shiny and new and the blade glinted bright in the light. Holding it against your palm, you were full of optimism for what it would be like in the field, and you couldn't wait to try it out. Except those first couple of nights out were usually awkward as you got used to it and it got used to you. Over time, the steel lost its brand-new gleam, and the hilt became stained, and maybe you nicked the shit out of the thing a couple of times. What you got in return, however, saved your life. Once the pair of you were well acquainted it became such a part of you that it was an extension of your own arm. It protected you and gave you a means to protect your brothers; it provided you with the confidence and the power to face whatever came out of the night; and wherever you went, it stayed with you, right over your heart, always there when you needed it. You had to keep the blade up, however. And r...

Scenes That Make Us Sigh Ah, the day to celebrate love. I figured, what better way to celebrate love than to share some of our favorite, swoon-worthy quotes from some of our favorite books. From the classics, to UF/PNR, these books have always had the power to make us sigh and our hearts melt a little. (And make us a little green with envy.) So, without further adieu, a look at some of our favorite romantic quotes! 

Happy Valentine's Day Saucy readers! What better way to celebrate Valentine's Day than to enjoy some of the Wenches' favourite eye candy? I asked the Wenches to nominate one of their crushes. I'm a little evil in that I love making people pick just one, however I note Zee the Terrible sneakily snuck in two candidates.  Check after the jump for some of our favourite men.

A review of the Abby Sinclair series by Allison Pang I can't even remember how I ended up reading this series. My TBR list is various and what-looks-like endless, but Abby Sinclair flew under my radar nonetheless. None of my friends read it, neither did Goodreads recommend it for that matter. But I think it was Chelsea's Top 10 Books of 2012 over at the Vampire Book Club that made me pick up Allison Pang's books. One of the best on-the-spot decisions I've made in a while. Why? Please bear with me, and I'll explain everything. One of the things I loved in this series is that the author dropped me in the middle of the story and started introducing characters, ideas, and the world Pang created per se, without explicitly defining them. The books are told from Abby's POV, so I learned things when she did — and some of the concepts... not even then. I remember checking a time or two whether I was indeed reading the first book in this series, because nobody cle...

“So long as my body lives, and yours — we are one flesh,” he whispered. His fingers touched me, hair and chin and neck and breast, and I breathed his breath and felt him solid under my hand. Then I lay with my head on his shoulder, the strength of him supporting me, the words deep and soft in his chest. “And when my body shall cease, my soul will still be yours. Claire — I swear by my hope of heaven, I will not be parted from you.” ~ Diana Gabaldon, Drums of Autumn     Outlander series

Source This week, nearly every Wench who is reading, is reading the Kate Daniels , Chicagoland Vampires , A Song of Ice and Fire , or Outlander series. Amazing! You'll find a few other books, though, we're piling on our night tables, lugging around in our e-readers, or listening to in our cars, so click through and find out what else is captivating us this week!

“He had heard about talking to plants in the early seventies, on Radio Four, and thought it was an excellent idea. Although talking is perhaps the wrong word for what Crowley did. What he did was put the fear of God into them. More precisely, the fear of Crowley. In addition to which, every couple of months Crowley would pick out a plant that was growing too slowly, or succumbing to leaf-wilt or browning, or just didn't look quite as good as the others, and he would carry it around to all the other plants. "Say goodbye to your friend," he'd say to them. "He just couldn't cut it. . . " Then he would leave the flat with the offending plant, and return an hour or so later with a large, empty flower pot, which he would leave somewhere conspicuously around the flat. The plants were the most luxurious, verdant, and beautiful in London. Also the most terrified.”  ~ Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett, Good Omens

House Rules by Chloe Neill: A VERY Spoilery Review by Zee the Terrible and Barbara Bones We are not shy about our love for Chloe Neill’s Chicagoland Vampires series. We have gushed about how much we love the characters, how perfect the story has been so far, how much we can’t wait to discover the answers to questions that have been building over several books. We loved Biting Cold , and told you all about it here . While House Rules did not have an epic return to bask in, we were still incredibly excited for it because, well, because it’s a Chicagoland Vampires book! So we’re going to tell you all about it, in detail, and what we thought of it. But first, we want to take a moment to talk about the creator, Chloe Neill. Specifically how amazing a writer she is. Chloe Neill is a reader’s writer. She truly understands what readers enjoy, what makes for a satisfying story, and she delivers. Every single time. Were we devastated by Hard Bitten ? Of course we were. But sh...

“There was no time for kissing but she wanted him to know that in the future there would be. A kiss in so much loneliness was like a hand pulling you up out of the water, scooping you up from a place of drowning and into the reckless abundance of air. A kiss, another kiss.” “There was such an incredible logic to kissing, such a metal-to-magnet pull between two people that it was a wonder that they found the strength to prevent themselves from succumbing every second. Rightfully, the world should be a whirlpool of kissing into which we sank and never found the strength to rise up again.” — Ann Patchett, Bel Canto

He kissed her under that wide expansive sky and she kissed him back, and it reminded her that she did have a place in the world, she did have a home, and that home was being built right where she stood. With him. ~ Stacia Kane, Chasing Magic    Downside Ghosts series

"Goody" Nix muttered. “The dendrophiles.” “The dendro what?” Neomi said. “Tree lovers — the tree nymphs.” Their obvious leader said, “Well, if it isn't Nucking Futs Nix and her hex hack.” “Well, if it isn't the hookers,” Nix replied blandly. “Oh, I'm sorry, nymphets, this isn't the orgy — that's down the road.” Nix opened her mouth, then closed it, dragging Néomi and Mari away. “Well, you can't argue with reason, can you?” ~ Kresley Cole, Dark Needs At Night's Edge    Immortals After Dark series

A little tease for Touch & Geaux by Abigail Roux After reading book 6, Stars & Stripes , I was feeling a bit blah about the Cut & Run series by Abigail Roux. I seriously considered the question: Did I want to carry on? The problem for me: There wasn't enough action and there wasn't enough angst. I'm a sucker for angst in any shape or form in a novel. Yes, I'm that girl whose interest usually dies once the Happily Ever After (HEA) happens, or you need to do something extremely crazy or unexpected to keep me interested. This is one of the reasons I still read the Southern Vampire Mysteries by Charlaine Harris. I have to know that Sookie will definitely end up with Eric. I know it is like 99.99999% a sure thing, but still, I need it in writing. I might even frame it and have a party for one at the time. Luckily my online friends will be in similar position, so we can drink in celebration or misery together. I will keep Sam to myself, as he will need con...

This is for my BFF, my sister Jennifer, who just celebrated her birthday a couple of days ago. A good sister is one who won't be embarrassed when you burst into tears in public. A better one will hand you tissues until you stop. The best is the one who will go get you another latte to go with the ginormous chocolate orgy she's already laid in front of you. ― Megan Hart, Broken

Against all odds—and every bit of relationship advice handed down by mothers and girlfriends through the centuries—he honestly seemed to be changing. He’d moved from taking advantage of the chemistry between us to wooing me with words, with trust, with respect. That wasn’t something I’d expected, but that made it all the more meaningful . . . and frightening. As a girl with good sense, how was I supposed to react to a boy who’d done the unthinkable and actually grown up? — Chloe Neill, Hard Bitten

Love, Chicagoland Vampires Style As I told you in my piece about Fever Love , I love love. Not necessarily romance, not flowers and chocolates and poetry, but the obstacles that couples overcome together. The conscious decisions to be together, the experiences that build a life, the individual growth that allows two to become one. Chloe Neill is writing one of my favorite love stories in her Chicagoland Vampires series. It’s not an easy love, it’s not universally popular, it’s often not pretty. But it is beautiful, and these two characters have to work hard to finally come together. They make mistakes, they hurt each other, they give up, they forgive, they grow, and they accept each other for who they truly are, flaws and all. It’s sometimes painful to watch; I cried more than once, and their story is not yet over. It is a remarkable journey to witness, seeing two people overcome their fears and their prejudices, and make the decision that it is worth it. Worth the risk. ...

“You want me,” he said. “I don’t stop wanting you. Not since the moment I walked into this House all those months ago.” — Chloe Neill        House Rules

Source Nearly every Wench’s list includes at least one of three series: Chicagoland Vampires , A Song of Ice and Fire , and Outlander . But these aren’t the only books we’re reading! Click through to see what has struck our fancy this week. Oh, and Happy Release Day, Chloe Neill fans!

"By a majority vote of this House," Ethan said, "its vampires have determined to defect from the Greenwich Presidium." — Chloe Neill, Biting Cold Happy reading tomorrow, Wenches!

It's nearly release time for the next installment in Chloe Neill's Chicagoland Vampires series. So we're dusting off our unanswered questions — as if we ever stopped thinking about them — along with a few theories that may or may not pan out, and we can't wait to see what's ahead! Click through to see some discussion, and then share with us your unanswered questions and theories! Be careful before you click through! If you have not read all the books, some of our speculation might be spoilery. Click at your own risk!

“Jaime," Brienne whispered, so faintly he thought he was dreaming it. "Jaime, what are you doing?" "Dying," he whispered back. "No," she said, "no, you must live." He wanted to laugh. "Stop telling me what to do, wench. I'll die if it pleases me." "Are you so craven?" The words shocked him. He was Jaime Lannister, a knight of the Kingsguard, he was the Kingslayer. No man had ever called him craven. Other things they called him, yes; oathbreaker, liar, murderer. They said he was cruel, treacherous, reckless. But never craven. "What else can I do, but die?" "Live," she said, "live, and fight, and take revenge." Craven, Jaime thought.... Can it be?  ........ Was that all I was, a sword hand? Gods be good, is it true?The wench had the right of it. He could not die.” —  George R. R. Martin

So far Cutting Edge was turning out to be one of those pet businesses rich men gave to their wives to keep them busy. I wanted it to succeed, God damn it. I wanted to be profitable and stand on my own two feet. If things kept going this way, I would be forced to run up and down the street screaming, “We kill things for money”. Maybe someone would take pity and throw some change at me. The phone rang. I stared at it. You never know. It could be a trick. — Ilona Andrews, Magic Slays ,    Kate Daniels series

"Sometimes, you read a book and it fills you with this weird evangelical zeal, and you become convinced that the shattered world will never be put back together unless and until all living humans read the book. And then there are books ... which you can't tell people about, books so special and rare and yours that advertising your affection feels like a betrayal." — John Green, The Fault In Our Stars

  "You're in thrall of the books," Ethan said, chuckling. "Had I known you'd be so easy to assuage, I'd have brought you to the library weeks ago." — Friday Night Bites We Wenches are huge fans of the fabulous Chloe Neill's Chicagoland Vampire series. Merit, Ethan, Luc, Lindsey, Catcher, Jonah, Mallory — we love them all. We are also eagerly awaiting the release of the next installment, House Rules , due out February 5, to see what happens next for some of our favorite vampires. Part of our waiting includes in-depth discussions about celebrities we think look like our favorite characters. Since we don't have a TV or movie series to look forward to, this is purely fangirl speculation. But it sure is fun, so I've compiled my choices below! And let me tell you, there were some tough decisions that needed to be made! As a native Chicagoan, this series has a special place in my heart, so I wanted to be sure to do it justice. Keep readi...