Category: Just For Fun

Sexy PNR Romance–Perfect For Halloween

Published on by Madeline IvaLeave a comment

Hello Shadow Children,

October is the most glorious time of the year!  Are you looking for a little gloomy Halloween gothic joy? Like this Halloween Romance Facebook Page.   We are watching movies and TV shows while cracking wise on fb, discussing our obsession with Crimson Peak and other sexy Halloween & romance related topics. Perhaps you’re looking for a sexy PNR romance to read this season.  Look no further…

Did you know my Gothic Lair newsletter comes with a shiver-licious novella called SEXSOMNIA?  It’s the perfect Halloween sexy romance cause it’s just a wee bit creepy around the edges.  Sign up for the newsletter and you not only get an ebook copy of Sexsomnia for free, but also an entertaining email from me once a month.

Fall is a time to remind ourselves that death can be gorgeous.  Remember to take long walks through the mist and scarlet leaves.  This morning I’ve poured myself a giant cup of nettle tea and started pounding the keys.  Next week I’m blogging about the horrible families in movies you’ll relish. 🙂

New Cover!

SEXSOMNIA: Jenny needs to figure out what she’s been doing at night—and who she’s been doing it with.

She’s suffering from a rare sleeping disorder, but when cravings and curiosity overwhelm common sense, Jenny sets out to explore what she does while her mind is asleep and her body is awake.  

What starts as a sexy fantasy soon grows into a creepy nightmare.  With the help of a hot biologist named Turner, Jenny is ready to start fighting her real enemy–the paranormal demon inside her.  

 

Help Me Out Peeps–And Maybe Win Some Pretty-Pretties

Published on by Madeline Iva2 Comments

Hi darling readers!

As an author my life is so unstructured.  So I get a little over-excited about things that I can count.  One thing I can count is my Book Bub followers– 271. I’m only 29 follows away from reaching 300 Book Bub followers.  (I know, I know–but I’m so *excited* about topping 300.)

Would you like to help me get there?  Sign up for this contest by clicking on the link below.  I get another book bub follower when you enter the contest and you might win some pretty prizes.  It’s fun! 🙂 Here’s the link:

https://iwantromancegiveaway.blogspot.com/p/enter-giveaway.html

Promise of Fire Giveaway…

Published on by Madeline IvaLeave a comment

wickedbouchet_giveawayIf you haven’t read Amanda Bouchet’s first book PROMISE OF FIRE you’re in luck! To celebrate the release of her second book BREATH OF FIRE this week, I’m offering a giveaway of her first book (in print) along with a copy of my first book, WICKED APPRENTICE (also in print.)

All you have to do to enter is to like my fb author page at this link.  Good luck!

Ways to Be Wicked — Lady Smut

Published on by Madeline IvaLeave a comment

by Kiersten Hallie Krum It’s theme week here at Lady Smut as we celebrate the release of Lady Smut blogger and all-around guru, Madeline Iva’s, new novel Wicked Apprentice, a high-fantasy romance filled with betrayals and power juggling and chained up lovers and all sorts of sexy, magical hi-jinks just in time for Halloween! In Wicked […]

via Ways to Be Wicked — Lady Smut

Summer Fun: Stylish Vampire Movies

Published on by Madeline IvaLeave a comment

 

imagesIt’s summer and it’s hot! I’ve been reading Travis Leudke’s The Nightlife San Antonio—

(it’s free on Amazon right now, btw.  We’re talking fast paced erotica. The main character is an ex-soldier/possible sociopath who saves petite vampira with all the Mexican Drug Cartels after her. Think of it as lite dark erotica, if that makes sense.)

–which was making me think of True Blood.  That started me thinking about all my favorite vampire movies–and how some are set in the heat (True Blood and Interview With A Vampire take place close to New Orleans) and some are dipped in cool.

Since it’s hot outside, this is a list of stylish vampire films dipped in cool.  They are all as pleasing to look at as they are to experience.

UNDERWORLD 1 & 4 –Kate Beckinsale is sleek and chic in her portrayal of cold, pissed off Celine, who shamefully falls for a lycan in this action adventure film. (Why only two out of four? Because 2 was a less good version of 1 and 3 went back into the past and wasn’t Urban Fantasy. 4 is not as good as 1 but it’s not bad, plus it has Theo James in it.) imgres

THE HUNGER –Catherine Deneuve, Susan Sarandon, and David Bowie star in this 80’s minimalist classic of rich NYC vampires, bittersweet betrayal, and how the more things change, the more they stay the same.images-1

NOSFORATU THE VAMPYRE — A German film, by a famous German director, with famous German actors. (Note the references to the paintings of the Pre-Raphealites!) A romantic, suspenseful film.  This is the film that Coppola tried to imitate with Keanu (what was he thinking???) images-3

SHADOW OF THE VAMPIRE  — If you’ve seen Nosforatu, then this movie takes on even more layers–but it’s not necessary. This film is two parts edgy, one part satire, one part daffy, one part scary.  You really don’t know just exactly what’s going to happen next.images-2

LET THE RIGHT ONE IN — Vampires, Swedish style.  images-4

ONLY LOVERS LEFT ALIVE — Cool vampires looking back while avoiding death in a toxic world.  I could look at Tilda Swinton and her hair all day.  Meanwhile, Tom Huddleston sends me.images

 

Off to Wis Con! Feminist S/F Conference

Published on by Madeline IvaLeave a comment
imgres
If you haven’t seen it yet, Maleficent is a realllllllly interesting movie, and not what I thought it would be like at ALL.

So my friend talked me into going off to Madison, Wisconsin for a week.  So excited to go to Madison, which I hear is hella cool.  Have no idea what I’m getting myself into, really, I’m just up for the adventure.

There’s a hair braiding party.  There’s a Mulan Slumber Party, and there’s a panel I really, really, really want to go to that’s about how Disney is sorta doing the fan-fic thing lately, taking fairy tale characters and putting them in alternative universes.  Not sure how that’s going to go, but if they’re talking about Maleficent, I’m listening.  You know?  I wrote a post about it HERE back before I’d seen the movie — but really, the movie is Sleeping Beauty turned on it’s head.

I’d like to go to more conferences in the future–this one happened to be super cheap.  No idea if any romance readers will be there, but my quest is to talk to fantasy people about elves, and wicked apprentices (wink wink, nudge nudge).

wiscon_28I’m back on June first when I’ll be talking to more with my editor about revisions to Wicked Apprentice, and maybe I’ll even find out if I have a release date for the book.  Yay!

Hope you all embrace your inner nerd and follow your bliss while I’m away.  Ciao!

Sunday, Bloody, Sunday: Our Paranormal Tea Party

Published on by Madeline IvaLeave a comment

bloodthirsty teaOur LadySmut Paranormal Tea Party on FB last Sunday was fuuuuuuuuuuun!

Joey W. Hill and Kate Douglas were our special guests. It was a part of #Romance15, the online romance festival put out by our publisher, Harper Collins UK.  I know what you’re thinking — yes, we enjoyed our frivolous little online gathering, but what exactly did we learn from the experience?

Welp.  Joey Hill is awesomely nice – and I learned that she has a LOT of other paranormal out there that’s not just vampires. (Witches and mermaids—oh my!) I am going to read up and report back to you on that.

I learned that there is no fan like fans of werewolves/shifters.  In honor of Kate Douglas I asked fans to post their fav wolf references and kicked things off with Duran, Duran’s HUNGRY LIKE THE WOLF.

If that doesn’t bring back the mid-80’s to you, nothing will!

Fan responded back with Florence and the Machine’s HOWL:

Love that wolf thang!

The Paranormal tea party was also a opportunity to post photos of bloody tea cups and women wearing adorable little tea cup hats. (Thank you Liz Everly!)

#Romance15 -- online festival held by those wacky brits at HarperCollins UK
#Romance15 — online festival held by those wacky brits at HarperCollins UK

Speaking of Joey Hill – if you don’t know about her (and how could you not? But maybe you’ve been living on mars–I dunno) We got to chat with her about her dominant vampire queen who gets together with a submissive hero.  How did she get away with it?  I mean, let’s face it, most authors couldn’t, because most romance readers like their men very dominant.  But this is a no less intense romance series.  Joey indicated that what does it for readers is the point where her human servants are bound to their vampire mistresses/masters for good.  And they want that.  They’re ‘all in’.   It’s a kind of “I promise to live for nothing and no one but you” perverse romantic ideal.  A romance hero who’s ‘all in’ definitely sends out alpha vibes.

Kate Douglas, meanwhile, is kicking off a whole new series for St. Martin’s Press. This time her series is with werewolves as opposed to her wolf shifter romances.  So in her posts she was asking us how we like our werewolves. Bitten, cursed, or born that way?

We were all over the map.  One thing we agreed upon is that we love broody heroes – but don’t like them too angsty.  Tread carefully with that cursed thing, Kate.  One reader said “bitten – I love biting.” Yes, dear reader! Yes to biting. (Unless you’re in first grade and some horrid little boy is biting you.)

I'm more a vampire romance reader m'self.
I’m more a vampire romance reader m’self.

Of course, our tea party wouldn’t be complete without weighing in on the big question of the universe.  Why do some women like vampires while others only like werewolves?

The difference seems about controlled power vs. primal release.  Joey W. Hill is into the controlled power.  Although her vampire queen may be fragile and like a twisted china doll in some respects, she is still definitely in control.  Joey also goes to the BDSM side of life–this too is all about having control. Kate Douglas on the other hand likes the primal thing – a different kind of “all in”. Uninhibited, in the moment, raw.

Let me pause a moment to say that when you describe it that way, I clack my teeth with happy desire. I admit I lean more to the vampire side in general.  But I don’t know, I also like my people au natural and the wolfie side of romance seems to uphold a no fuss, no muss approach to life.

I hope the next time we party you join with us.  Meanwhile, I’m giving out a copy of our anthology to anyone who answers the eternal question in the comment section below: vampires or wolves?

Vampires or wolves? Either way...bite me.
Vampires or wolves? Either way…bite me.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pinterest Presents Under the Tree

Published on by Madeline IvaLeave a comment

de40f6e5faf4bb4db66ea1f451820818Hello Kittens,

Are your stockings hung on the chimney with care? Are you looking for a break from all the Xmas madness? I’ve got just the thing for you — some fun holiday themed Pinterest links. Happy Holidays! 🙂

peace n nutmeg,

Madeline

Hot Men in Xmas Sweaters.

Holiday–Scandanavian Style.

Here are some Xmas posts–Lady Smut Style.

792719222aa0e74844c520cd39b1117cIn a Nutcracker kind of mood? Here are dancers.

And in case you missed it–here is some Sexy Holiday Cheer from two years back–A page of blog links to keep you entertained for a while.

 

Swanky Xmas

Published on by Madeline IvaLeave a comment

tinselGod, I love an old fashioned Xmas tree.

My secret fantasy is being transported into The Thin Man, where I spend the holidays partying in swanky clothes. I’d be taking taxies from one gin joint to the next, dancing in the New Year.

While Nora’s character from The Thin Man is the perfect mix of fun– I think I wouldn’t mind being more the femme fatale type.

The women in the book are a more interesting than they are in the movie–esp. Mimi.  Think I’ll get the book down and start reading it again.

Meanwhile, have yourselves a merry little Christmas…see you in the New Year when I can hopefully finally…FINALLY….share my sooper sekrit news!

xo, Madeline

Dyson, Dyson, Dyson…Staying Satisfied Over the Holidays

Published on by Madeline IvaLeave a comment
If it's not Dyson on the screen...then why am I watching?
If it’s not Dyson on the screen…then why am I watching?

Ladies, these days staying sane means daydreaming about Dyson and the TV show LOST GIRL.  I mean, what are you going to do during that long span of time when there’s only football on TV and re-runs? Lost Girl is a great TV show to watch around the fall holidays.  Those fae folk are just naturally festive and there’s a ye olde harvest-solstice-spirit-y vibe that just emanates from the show.

I first saw a glimpse of LOST GIRL on Hulu.com–but they only had clips, not a full episode.  Then I was on holiday batting around the remote control and came across a scene where Dyson was “healing” Bo the succubus by having sex with her.  Yes, yes, and more yes! Yet it seemed that was just a kind of one time-y thing.  I frowned and moved on to other channels. Until Kiersten Hallie Krum joined Lady Smut, and she had this post about wolves.

Beach glass
Okay, maybe her eyes are really blue? I don’t know, but it’s a really cool look.

So I just had to take another look. I started watching the show and I was bitten–bitten hard.  Yes, there’s a lot about Lost Girl that people love in terms of world building.  And yes, Kenzie, the side kick is so fascinating and fun to watch with her eyes that look like green beach glass.  But really, the alpha and omega of that show for me is Dyson.

There is Bo’s character arc, (yawn) and the arc of what’s going on in Fae land (meh), and then there is Dyson’s feelings for/being there for Bo (!).

healingHe’s got a voice that’s like a black bear licking honey.  He’s got a body that does not stop, despite being forced to wear dorky fae vests.  He’s a long cool glass of water, and he makes me thirsty.  His character and how the actor embodies the character is like the relaxing sensations of a vibrating…foot massager.

Why doesn't Bo go for Kenzi? I don't get it. Why doesn't Dyson go for her either? Really don't get it.
Why doesn’t Bo go for Kenzi? I don’t get it. Why doesn’t Dyson go for her either? Really don’t get it.

However, if you haven’t watched the show yet, you should brace yourself.  At one point they pull the rug out from under you.  I’m squinting with one hand in front of me while looking ahead for Season Two.  Part of Lost Girl’s unique niche is that Bo is bi.  I’m thinking season number two is all about giving her a lot more girl time…which is okay…I guess…It’s just that for me the only reason I’m watching the show is Dyson, so I’m hoping that whatever he’s doing while kicking his heels as Bo gets it on in Lady Land is as good as the stuff in Season One.

HardMeanwhile, here’s something for your Xmas wish list.  I’ve been reading HARD AS IT GETS a romantic suspense book that’s coming out by Lauren Kaye.  Sounds like an erotic romance with that title–but it’s a little more trad romance.  Loving it — even if you’re not so into tattoos (and I’m not), Kaye will keep you zooming through the pages with her taut hero and his gritty world.  It’s available for pre-order here.

I’m also squealing over the fact that I just got ONYX by Jennifer Armentrout in the mail — this is the follow up to OBSIDIAN — the first book in her Lux series.  While the books are ostensibly Y.A.-ish, they are hawt.

OnyxThey really sit on that line between Y.A. and New Adult. I whiffled through Obsidian.  Now I am drooling over the amethyst cover and can’t wait until I can start reading it later tonight.  In the meanwhile, back to some new chapters for me!

So go over-indulge with a big glop of romance on top of your pecan pie next week. I’ll see ya around the time we start to deck the halls.

Just say no to Xmas creep! — and follow my blog, plz.

Sexy Holiday Cheer–

Published on by Madeline Iva1 Comment

pretty treeHello sexy-sex kitten! Enjoying the festive season? I bet you are. If you’re looking for a little holiday joy, here’s some quick fun from Lady Smut.com & the blog-o-sphere.  Enjoy!

Here are some great movie recommendations for the holidays. (I forgot to add White Christmas to the list.)  “What’s So Sexy About Christmas”? If you love holiday food and alcoholic holiday drinks try this perfect marriage of the two in this seasonal recipe for Bailey’s Irish Fudge.

Bing doesn't look happy. Rosemary Clooney is George Clooney's aunt.
Bing doesn’t look happy. Rosemary Clooney is George Clooney’s aunt.

Wear your favorite scarf and mittens to watch the December meteor shower with someone special.  Date and details are here. Holding hands is mandatory.

If you’d rather stay indoors in front of a toasty fire, I don’t blame you. Here are  ten fun blog posts from Lady Smut to keep you entertained:

By now you must know about my obsession with Terry McDermott.

#1 This obsession includes All Men Scottish.

#2 Meanwhile, sexy bald men thrill Liz Everly.

Oops! I broke one. Well, I'll just have to eat it.
Oops! I broke one. Well, I’ll just have to eat it.

#3 Elizabeth Shore concurs, but reminds us not to forget long haired hotties.

Elizabeth asked this year if horror can be erotic? I said hell yeah.  and wrote this campy post on         #4 really cute guys creeping into horror movies.

;>  Oh, you liked that, did you? Well then…

#5 Here’s some Steam-Punk sass.

#6 For some shivery fun, Pamela Palmer got interrogated about her dark n tormented creation: Vamp City.

ornamentsThe future — I predict it’s full of sex.

#7 Do you love Hunks O Steel?

#8 A World Without Men?

#9 Teledildonics? (Seriously–what are they doing over there in Second Life?)

Meanwhile, it’s Christmas.  Here’s something about #10 Sexy Elves.

Have a joyous holiday! May your stocking be full of delights and your time under the mistletoe slobber free.

Love n nutmeg,

xx Madeline