How, how did I miss this book?  Linda Howard’s Death Angel is available now, and I’ve totally got to get my hands on this book!

I am a huge fan of Linda Howard’s. The first time I read MACKENZIE’S MOUNTAIN, I was hooked. I don’t think I’ve missed a book since then.  (And me missing the release date by a few days does not count as me missing one!)

This book looks great–with a hero and heroine who aren’t really heroic.  Books-a-Million, I’ll see you later!  I’ll add this book to my 4th of July Reward Reading group–and that group includes Larissa Ione‘s Pleasure Unbound.  I’ve talked about Pleasure Unbound before, and when I went to Books-a-Million the other day (um, can you tell where I spend a lot of  my time?), they had it in stock! I have some work I have to finish up (page count goals, synopsis writing), but after that, I do plan to hit the Demonica world.

And then I’ll indulge in Death Angel.

Ah, three day weekends, I love you!

With the 4th of July coming, I thought I’d share a recipe with you.  My family LOVES to make homemade ice cream during the summer, and I decided I’d post our super-secret (not so anymore…) vanilla ice cream recipe. So check back in a few hours, I should have the recipe up.

Since my 4th tradition involves ice cream (um, good) and fireworks, I’m wondering…what are your plans?  Fireworks fun and barbecue?  (Sounds great!)

July–sweltering days and hot nights…and the perfect time for some prize fun!

The Christmas In July Contest is here!

My next single title release, MIDNIGHT SINS, is scheduled to be a December 08 release. Ahem, that would be where the “Christmas” part of this contest kicks in–and, since it’s July now, well, I think you can figure out where I’m heading with the contest title…

But, if you want to read MIDNIGHT SINS, you don’t have to wait all those long months–you can win an ARC of MIDNIGHT SINS when you enter my Christmas In July Contest.

The rules:

Well, there aren’t many rules. Simply watch the trailer for MIDNIGHT SINS:

Then answer this question:

According to the trailer, who could become Cara’s next victim?

Email your answer to info@cynthiaeden.com with the subject line of Christmas in July. Entries must be received by July 30, 2008.

Now, you’re probably wondering…what are the fabulous prizes? (Well, other than the ARC…)

First place prize: Advanced Reader’s Copy of MIDNIGHT SINS and $25 Amazon.com gift certificate

Second place prize: Advanced Reader’s Copy of MIDNIGHT SINS and $15 Amazon.com gift certificate

Third place prize: MIDNIGHT SINS T-Shirt (all the cool kids have ’em!) and any book from my backlist

Sounds easy, huh?

It is.

So, enter, tell all your friends to enter…and I’ll announce the winners on July 31st. Good luck!

Update: If, for any reason, you have trouble viewing the trailer, you can enter the contest by reading the excerpt from MIDNIGHT SINS and answering this question: Where does Todd want to take Cara? (Send your answers to the previously mentioned email address. Thanks!)

Tomorrow, I’ll launch my “Christmas in July” contest–so be sure to tune back in for chance to win some FABulous prizes.  🙂  Woo-hoo, prizes!

In other news, I’ve been reading THE LITTLE BOOK OF HEXES FOR WOMEN in my spare time.  It’s a cute little, tongue-in-cheek book about hexes you can put on folks who um, bug you.

Here are a few of the offered hexes:

Hex for someone who is cruel to animals

Spell for people who steal your parking spot

Spell to “fix” just downright mean people

Spell to curse a liar to tell the truth

Touch-feely hex to keep away space-invading people

Hex for people who talk during movies

A spell to muffle diet queens

Truly, almost anything you can think of–all of those annoyances that get you–this book has a spell or hex for ’em.  Oh, if only it really was that simple!

You got anyone in your life right now you’d like to hex?

(First, let me say…I’ve been a bad blogger.  Sorry!  Got caught up in copy-edits.  And Magnificent M, they are winging their way to you!)

Today, I’ve been thinking a bit about the dedications that authors place in books. Maybe it’s just me, but I always read dedications.  Sometimes they are funny, sometimes they are sweet, and sometimes they make me a little sniffly. (Sorry–I can be a sniffly gal!!)

Do you read the dedications in books?  Why or why not?  (I’m a curious one, as well as being sniffly.)

I’m guest blogging today over at Something Wicked–if you get a chance, do drop by!  My post is about psychic powers…and I’m giving away a prize, too!

Have a great Friday!