The Saucy Wenches Book Club

My phone pinged. It was a text from Cookie.    "I'm not that good at cocking guns." Really? Did she not know me at all? I texted her back.    "You can do this. Learn the cock, Cookie.     Know the cock.     Be the cock." ~ Darynda Jones, Fifth Grave Past The Light

I drank some too-hot coffee and scowled at him, annoyed although I couldn't remember why. The light from the lounge was leaking in, highlighting his spiky blond hair. I decided that must be it. "You really hate my hair, don't you?" He asked, a smile flickering over his lips so fast I must have imagined it. "Yeah" "Why?" I reached out to touch it, and was surprised as always to find it mostly soft. Just a little stiff from whatever product he used on it. It felt weird, imagining Pritkin having anything in his hair but sweat. But he must have; nobody's did that all on his own. "It's like... angry hair," I said, trying to pat it down and failing miserably. He caught my wrist. "Most people would say that suits me." "I'm not most people." "I know." ~ Karen Chance, Hunt the Moon

Source Lots of Wenches are vacationing this week, but some of us have found the time to get some reading done, and to share what we’re reading. Click through to find out what’s keeping us from paying attention to our real lives this week.

"So we literally made the earth move?" A slight pause, before Kaleb said, "I suggest we don't engage in sex in populated areas." ~ Nalini Singh, Heart of Obsidian * Submitted remotely by Wench Vale, who is off adventuring...

It’s that time of year where the Northern Hemisphere Wenches are on vacation. We call it on holiday, in the Southern Hemisphere. New Zealanders are trying to escape to Fiji or the Cook Islands for a mid-winter’s break from rain or snow. I’m the only Southern Hemisphere Wench, and my recent trip to Queensland, Australia, was a welcome break from the cold and the rain. Although those Australians were rugged up warm, while my son and I enjoyed the swimming pool.... That’s how you can tell a Kiwi tourist in Australia. So let’s check after the jump to see which books the Wenches are packing in their suitcases or storing on their reading devices.

The first week of August hangs at the very top of summer, the top of the live-long year, like the highest seat of a Ferris wheel when it pauses in its turning. The weeks that come before are only a climb from balmy spring, and those that follow a drop to the chill of autumn, but the first week of August is motionless, and hot. It is curiously silent, too, with blank white dawns and glaring noons, and sunsets smeared with too much color.  ― Natalie Babbitt, Tuck Everlasting Source: Tuck Everlasting , © Walt Disney Studios, 2002

“Don’t lose yourself in anger, Mac. It’s gasoline. You can burn it as fuel, or you can use it to torch everything you care about and end up standing on a scorched battlefield, with everybody dead, even you — only your body doesn’t have the good grace to quit breathing.” Deep inside, his words resonated. I was straddling a fine line and I knew it. But there was a part of me that wanted to go over the edge. Wanted to scorch the battlefield. Just to watch the damned thing burn.

...over the course of the last year, we'd joined forces. We fought together against factions that sought to tear apart the House. And even in this tiny, cold, and sparse room, I was home, because he was with me. ~ Chloe Neill, Biting Bad

Fangirl Fridays – Ethan Sullivan Another  week of Fangirl Fridays and another opportunity to share our love for a beloved character with you!  Those of you who are familiar with us know we are impatiently anticipating Biting Bad (release date Aug 9th), since not all of us got our hands on the Advance Release Copy like Barb did! We adore SO many characters in that series, it's hard not to get carried away while talking about them! So why not take it one at a time!  This week, Barb and I are going to tell you why we absolutely adore Ethan Sullivan! (Yeah, because it's such a secret. We've NEVER mentioned it before!) **Warning--we simply cannot do Master Sullivan justice without discussing what has happened in the books. So if you haven't read through House Rules , be warned, there will be spoilers ahead!

"I did not," he said. "What d‘ye take me for, Sassenach?" "A Scot," I said. "Sex fiends, the lot of you. Or so one would think, listening to all the talk around here." I gave Farquard Campbell a hard look, but he had turned his back, engrossed in conversation. Jamie regarded me thoughtfully, scratching the corner of his jaw. "Sex fiends?" "You know what I mean." "Oh, aye, I do. I‘m only wondering – is that an insult, would ye say, or a compliment?" I opened my mouth, then paused. I gave him back the thoughtful look. "If the shoe fits," I said, "wear it." ~ Diana Gabaldon, The Fiery Cross

So I still get that odd thrill when I'm attracted to a book by its cover. You can't tell me that the covers of this book series don't catch your eye! The amazing artwork designed by Peter Cotton and illustrated by Calvin Chu captured my attention immediately and intrigued me enough to want to pick up this series. The series is called The Night Angel Trilogy by Brent Weeks. The books in order are The Way of the Shadows , Shadow's Edge , and Beyond the Shadows . I love trilogies because you get a beginning book, a midway book, and a conclusion book. When a trilogy is done well, it is truly a rewarding experience for the reader. Luckily, these books had already been released when I discovered them, so I was able to read them one after other without pausing. And it was a nice change to not have to worry about when the next book in the series would be out. I could concentrate simply on how much I enjoyed them. The Night Angel Trilogy is one of the best new fantasie...

Please do not glamour my mother , I silently requested. I have no need to glamour, Sentinel. I'm naturally this charming. ~ Chloe Neill, Biting Bad

Elizabeth Ca dy Stanton & Susan B. Anthony Summer in the Northern Hemisphere is keeping some of the Wenches from reading...or from checking in on their progress. I hope we hear from them soon, and that they have in fact done some interesting reading. Meanwhile, several Wenches are enjoying the latest Charley Davidson book, as well as old favorites, and a couple of new finds.  Click through to see what's captured our attention this week, and don't forget to share what you're reading, in the comments below!

If we shadows have offended, Think but this, and all is mended, That you have but slumber'd here While these visions did appear. And this weak and idle theme, No more yielding but a dream, Gentles, do not reprehend: if you pardon, we will mend: And, as I am an honest Puck, If we have unearned luck Now to 'scape the serpent's tongue, We will make amends ere long; Else the Puck a liar call; So, good night unto you all. Give me your hands, if we be friends, And Robin shall restore amends.    ― William Shakespeare, A Midsummer Night's Dream   Source

Fifth Grave Past the Light , the highly anticipated (by me and some of the other Wenches) fifth book in Darynda Jones’s wickedly funny, dark, action-packed, and very sexy Charley Davidson urban fantasy series is finally here!! I am always a bit reluctant to start a new book in any series that I love. I know it’s the beginning of the end―before I know it, I’ll be sorry that the book has ended, and I’ll have a long wait on my hands... AGAIN. Fifth Grave Past the Light was all I had hoped it would be and more! It was a deliciously delightful experience and, though yes, I am sad to be waiting again for the next book, after the jump I’ll tell you a little about why I loved this book.

“Old stories are like old friends. You have to visit them from time to time.” ~ George R.R. Martin,  A Storm of Swords

"...Who murdered Jon Arryn?" Cersei yanked her hand back. "How should I know?" "The grieving widow in the Eyrie seems to think it was me. Where did she come by that notion, I wonder?" "I'm sure I don't know. That fool Eddard Stark accused me of the same thing. He hinted that Lord Arryn suspected or...well, believed..." "That you were fucking our sweet Jaime?" She slapped him. "Did you think I was as blind as Father?" Tyrion rubbed his cheek. "Who you lie with is no matter to me...although it doesn't seem quite just that you should open your legs for one brother and not the other." She slapped him. "Be gentle, Cersei, I'm only jesting with you. If truth be told, I'd sooner have a nice whore. I never understood what Jaime saw in you, apart from his own reflection." She slapped him. His cheeks were red and burning, yet he smiled. "If you keep doing that, I may get angry." ~ ...

"I am the happiest creature in the world. Perhaps other people have said so before, but not one with such justice. I am happier even than Jane; she only smiles, I laugh." ~ Jane Austen, Pride & Prejudice

Fangirl Fridays – David Gandy I am not one to follow models. Even gorgeous, ripped, male models. I've always been more attracted to talent, intelligence, and character than to chiseled faces and bodies that can only be earned through hours and hours in the gym. Even as a teenager, my celebrity crushes were the result of personality, not simple beauty. But my journey through the PNR/UF world has changed much about myself, my tastes, and how I see the world. I'm still not one to follow models, but David Gandy is an exception. Definitely more than just a pretty face. Come with me as I show you exactly why I, and more than one fellow Wench, can't help but fangirl about the world's first male supermodel. A word of caution, there might be a little man candy along the way.

Source Before coming he had read facts in the almanac and he knew that there were 60,000 people here who were seeing him for the first time. He wanted to stop and shake hands with each of them and say his name was Francis M. Tarwater and that he was here only for the day to accompany his uncle on business at a lawyer's. His head jerked backwards after each passing figure until they began to pass too thickly and he observed that their eyes didn't grab at you like the eyes of country people. Several of them bumped into him and this contact that should have made an acquaintance for life made nothing because the hulks shoved on with ducked heads and muttered apologies that he would have accepted if they had waited. At the lawyer's window, he had knelt down and let his face hang out upside-down over the floating speckled street moving like a river of tin below and had watched the glints on it from the sun which drifted pale in a pale sky. You have to do something particular ...

I strode toward Mr. Coffee with lust in my eyes. We'd had a thing for quite some time now, Mr. Coffee and I, and there was just enough of him left for one more cup. No need to make a fresh pot, to get him all hot and bothered. I popped the cup into the microwave, set it to nuke anything unfortunate enough to be caught within its grasp for thirty seconds, then raided my fridge for sustenance. ~ Darynda Jones, Third Grave Dead Ahead Charley and a few of the Wenches have a real thing for their caffeinated companion!

Looking for something to do this fall? You weren't busy anyway, were you? Didn't already have a TBR (To-Be-Read) list a mile long? No, I didn't think so. July in my part of the world means days filled with a sun bearing down with unforgiving heat. For me, that means I try get my outdoor activities done in the early or late hours of the day, and generally I spend a lot of time reading. Source I do love the sunshine, and I never take it for granted, despite the heat. However, in a few weeks I'll start daydreaming of autumn: When the leaves start to change colors, when the sun is still out all day but the temperatures drop enough to require a light jacket. When I can start to smell the burning of the farmers' fields, or simply stop smelling the tar rising from the asphalt. When the area festivals start up again and everyone starts to venture outside after a long, hot summer. That's when I'll start planning: Which fall decor will I put out this year...

I would like to believe this is a story I’m telling. I need to believe it. I must believe it. Those who can believe that such stories are only stories have a better chance. If it’s a story I’m telling, then I have control over the ending. Then there will be an ending, to the story, and real life will come after it. I can pick up where I left off. ~ Margaret Atwood, The Handmaid’s Tale

  You’ll notice that the Wenches are light on reading selections this week. Seems our summer activities are keeping us from reading...or from sharing our reading with others. As these are two of our favorite pastimes, we hope that we can all get back on a regular reading schedule soon. In the meantime, we’re in no rush to stop enjoying our summer fun, of course. For now, check out the new and old favorites a few of us are finding time for this week. And, as always, tell us what you are reading, in the comments below!

“All the world used her ill, said this young misanthropist, and we may be pretty certain that persons whom all the world treats ill, deserve entirely the treatment they get. The world is a looking-glass, and gives back to every man the reflection of his own face. Frown at it, and it will in turn look sourly upon you; laugh at it and with it, and it is a jolly kind companion; and so let all young persons take their choice.” ~ William Makepeace Thackeray, Vanity Fair

Why M/M is Losing My Interest As some of you might have noticed, I enjoy reading M/M books. That's right, Male/Male action. I found this genre after getting sucked into the world of Qhuay (Qhuinn and Blay), which transpired over several installments in the J.R. Ward Black Dagger Brotherhood series. Many of my friends enjoy this genre as well, but I've started to feel like the love affair is over. The heady days of reading nothing but M/M have passed me by, and I'm feeling a bit disillusioned with the genre. The end of a love affair. You might ask why I feel this way, after all I've been through together with Ty and Zane and so many other exciting male couples. I'll explain my reasons for this sad turn of events after the jump.

We can’t wait to watch Sam Heughan portray Jamie Fraser in the Starz Outlander tv series next year! “Murtagh was right about women. Sassenach, I risked my life for ye, committing theft, arson, assault, and murder into the bargain. In return for which ye call me names, insult my manhood, kick me in the ballocks and claw my face. Then I beat you half to death and tell ye all the most humiliating things have ever happened to me, and ye say ye love me.” He laid his head on his knees and laughed some more. Finally he rose and held out a hand to me, wiping his eyes with the other. “You’re no verra sensible, Sassenach, but I like ye fine. Let’s go.” ~ Diana Gabaldon, Outlander

"I don't want to touch you, either." The words hit me like a slap, but before I could respond, he went on. "No one feels like you do, so every brush of your skin is a cruel reminder of what I've lost. I can barely stand the sight of you because you're more beautiful than I've allowed myself to remember, and when I cut that wire off Maximus and smelled you all over him, I wanted to kill him more than I've wanted to kill anyone in my life, yet I couldn't because of my promise to you." His voice thickened. "Now sit down and take my hand Leila. The pilots are waiting for my command to leave." Slow tears continued to trickle down my cheeks, but for a different reason this time. "You care."   ~ Jeannine Frost,   Twice Tempted

“When you have eliminated all which is impossible, then whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth.”  Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, The Case Book Of Sherlock Holmes * pic from wikipedia.org

Fangirl Fridays – Zachary Quinto I struggled a little when it came to figuring out which amazing person I want to fangirl about this time around. I think a lot of people are awesome for a lot of reasons, but I needed someone who was worth the time.  Talented, smart, compassionate, funny. All those things and more. Who could that be? And then it came to me.... Who else?! Yes. Him!

I grabbed a loaf of Sophia Deveraux's homemade sourdough bread I'd swiped from the Pork Pit, several bananas, and the peanut butter and sourwood honey out of the cabinets, along with some canned pumpkin. First, I mixed the peanut butter and the pumpkin together, producing a rich, creamy spread, which I slathered onto the bread. I topped the mixture with sliced bananas and drizzled honey over the fruit. As a finishing touch, I sprinkled some cinnamon on top of the whole thing, then topped it with another slice of bread. I tore off a paper towel and handed it and the sandwich to Finn, who sank his teeth into the thick bread with obvious enthusiasm. Donovan Caine didn't move from the couch. I stared at him, wondering who'd be the first to end this Mexican standoff. Caine looked at Finn's disappearing sandwich. "That looks good. Would you fix me one of those? Please?" "Sure." I made him a sandwich, the one for me, and a couple more for who...

"And then I want to go home," he whispered, ignoring the question. His forehead was pressed against mine, and his eyes very blue. "I want to take ye to bed – in my bed. And I mean to spend the rest of the day thinking what to do to ye once I‘ve got ye there. So wee Archie can just go and play at marbles with his ballocks, aye?" ~ Diana Gabaldon, The Fiery Cross

Man Candy: The Villains Edition One of the marks of a great story is an unforgettable villain. Someone who gave you chills and scared you silly, yet impressed you with his cold intelligence. Someone who made you question the infallibility of the hero. Or confused you about the stark lines you had previously drawn between right and wrong. Not all of them start out as the "bad guy", and not all of them end up as one either. But they do become the villains we love to hate. Or hate to love! Or maybe a little bit of both. When we are introduced to them, they're rubbing their hands in glee while plotting the end of the world or identifying the next person they're going to kill, manipulate, or torture. Creepy, scary, misunderstood, dangerous, murderous, unhinged, confused, self righteous--they can be all that and more. There are those who are almost dangerously attractive to us. We know we shouldn't, but we can't help it! It's always fun seeing who is cas...

“That guy,” Lindsey said, “Is a douche. Asterisk, I hate him. Footnote, he can suck it.” ~ Chloe Neill, House Rules

There’s a lot of holiday reading either going on right now or coming up soon for the Wenches. A few lucky Wenches are rereading one of our favorite series, Chicagoland Vampires , to prepare for meeting the amazing author herself! (The rest of us must be content to stay home and turn green with envy!) A few of us have a new release that we’ve been anticipating, namely the next Immortals After Dark installment; others are preparing for the new Charley Davidson book due out today!! (We’ll be sharing our thoughts on all the releases with you of course, Saucy Readers!) And some of us are resisting all this temptation and savoring old favorites. Click through to see what we’ve been up to!

Was this real human happiness? From a dumpling? Perhaps I should notify some national mental health organization: Kung Pao chicken works better than Zoloft. There might be a Nobel Prize waiting for me for this. Or at least a letter of thanks from China. ~ Jeff Lindsay , Double Dexter I hope you are all enjoying the final season of Dexter ! Source

Inspired by the popular TV show . It’s been a while since we did this and we’re ready for another round. Just like the last time, this is how it works: You might not have read all the books we’ll be quoting, but we’ll keep it plain and simple. You’ll get 5 random lines from 5 different books, and all you have to do is tell us who said what. Yup, plain and simple! We even make this easier for you by telling you which book the quote appears in. Are you ready to play Whose Line Is It Anyway , Wench style, again? Where everything is quoted and the points don’t matter! That’s right, the points don’t matter, just like the plot line in a bad book.

Most of us are not so strong. What is humor compared to a woman's love? What is duty against the feel of a newborn son in your arms? Or the memory of a brother's smile? Wind and words. We are only human, and the gods have fashioned us for love. That is our great glory and our great tragedy. ~ George R.R. Martin, A Game of Thrones

"A craven can be as brave as any man, when there is nothing to fear. And we all do our duty, when there is no cost to it. How easy it seems then, to walk the path of honor. Yet soon or late in every man's life comes a day when it is not easy, a day when he must choose." (Maester Aemon to Jon Snow) ~ George R.R. Martin, A Game of Thrones

The old woman took the umbrella, gratefully, and smiled her thanks. "You've got a good heart," she told him." Sometimes that's enough to see you safe wherever you go." Then she shook her head. "But mostly, it's not." ~ Neil Gaiman, Neverwhere

Kristin Bauer van Straten Hello my name is Natalie…and I’m a Fangirl! I've been a Fangirl of Kristin Bauer van Straten for several years now and the more I learn about her the stronger my love and respect for her gets. Sometimes we fall in love with a character an actor plays, but it never turns into anything more than just a general appreciation for that character. In some cases we learn a little more about the actor vs. the character, either by a news article or a chance encounter, and it takes us to a new stratosphere of fandom. Kristin entered my radar when I saw her playing snarky and beautiful Pam on the HBO series True Blood but it was not until 2011 when I got to meet Kristin at the Grand Slam Charity Jam in Milwaukee, WI, that I went into true full on Fangirl mode. Follow through the jump to see what makes Kristin worthy of the legions of Fangirls (and guys) that she has out there.  Artist Eric Waugh captures Kristin Bauer van Straten as her iconic role as V...

San Francisco City Hall, June 26, 2013 ( Source ) In the beginning of a change the patriot is a scarce man, and brave, and hated and scorned. When his cause succeeds, the timid join him, for then it costs nothing to be a patriot. - Mark Twain

"Does it ever stop? The wanting you?" His hand came around to caress my breast. "Even when I've just left ye, I want you so much my chest feels tight and my fingers ache with wanting to touch ye again." He cupped my face in the dark, thumbs stroking the arcs of my eyebrows. "When I hold ye between my two hands and feel you quiver like that, waitin' for me to take you...Lord, I want to pleasure you 'til ye cry out under me and open yourself to me. And when I take my own pleasure from you, I feel as though I've given ye my soul along with my cock." ~ Diana Gabaldon,  Outlander