And then there are the good reviews:

Thank you, Missy!!!

You have made me so, so happy. Five Angels and a RECOMMENDED READ.

Is there anything left to say?

Here is a snippet of Missy’s review:

“I wanted to review this book because I thought that it was a hot book, and it was, but it was also so much more. Because Lexi is a Social Worker, it really struck me that Adam needed the psychological help that she could give him to help recover from the incident all of those years ago. It is one of the hottest books that I’ve ever read, but it had so much more to it than just heat, so I had to give it a Recommended Read. The sexual tension between Adam and Lexi is so thick from the second that they make their first connection that you can feel it. The characters are very well developed and some of their discussions are so intense that you can feel the pain coming from Adam. Great job Ms. Dee, I’ll be looking for more of your books!”

Jess

When is a bad review not so bad?

So yesterday I found a message from a reviewer in my inbox. She politely thanked me for allowing her to review Ask Adam, and asked me to consider her review site for further books. I raced to click on her link, and read with eager anticipation to find out what she thought about the book.

And that’s when my heart sank. Obviously she didn’t think much of it. Two Kisses. Out of a possible five. Two Lips Reviews define books with that rating as: “Okay. It had some good parts and some bad but they didn’t strike an even balance.”

I was gutted. Absolutely. Someone had read the book and not liked it. It wasn’t possible. Everyone HAS to like Ask Adam. They just have to. It’s the rule. How can they not?

Well, Lettetia didn’t. So I did what anyone in my situation would do. I read the whole review with morbid fascination – at least fifteen times. And you know what? I found I didn’t mind. Yes, someone had read the book, and no, she hadn’t liked it. But that was okay. It doesn’t mean that it’s a terrible book, or that my writing is not readable. It just means Lettetia didn’t like Adam. He’s too alpha for her. She states: “If you like an alpha hero who is hard-nosed to the end, you will love Ask Adam, but if you like your heroes to display a little more empathy at certain moments, perhaps you should try something else.”

Now lets be honest. It’s impossible to love everybody. Hell, I don’t, that’s for sure. Now Adam is definitely an alpha male. No doubt about. And loads of us don’t like alpha males. (Usually I don’t, but of course, I made an exception for Adam.) Mrs Giggles didn’t like Adam either. This is what she said: “Ask Adam is best appreciated by fans of those Neanderthal heroes such as those brainless walking erections in those older Linda Howard books.”

I really tried to be offended by this, but hello? In a round about way, Mrs Giggles just compared my hero to Linda Howard’s. How on earth can I be anything but utterly flattered? Besides, it’s okay if she didn’t like Adam. The important part is that Lexi does. After all, the book isn’t about me, or kisses, or giggles. It’s about Lexi and Adam.

And as Lettitia said: if you like an alpha hero who is hard-nosed to the end – you will love Ask Adam.

Jess

Thursday Thirteen

Thirteen ways I procrastinate:

I am the world’s biggest procrastinator. If I can put something off I do. See, I’m putting off writing this list. Okay, 13 ways I avoid working on my current MS the morning…

1) Make myself a cup of tea. (Can’t even switch on the computer without it.)

2) Have to check emails from the night before.

3) Must respond to all those emails from the night before. Even the ones that don’t warrant a response.

4) Quickly browse the internet. (Well, what if there’s a new review for Ask Adam, and I’ve missed it?)

5) Open the file I’m working on and and read from the beginning. (Just to recap what I did the day before.)

6) Remember I haven’t unpacked the dishwasher, so race to kitchen to do that.

7) Come back and check new emails.

8) Respond to new emails.

9) Darn. Dirty washing. Have to put a load in the machine.

10) Which reminds me, I have to fold the load in the drier from yesterday.

11) All the work has made me hungry. Time for breakfast/peanut butter sandwich.

12) Can’t have breaky without another cup of tea. Hmm, no wait…coffee

13) Oops, better check if any emails arrived while I was out the office.

Takes me a long time to finally started…

Jess

Writing, not writing and best seller lists.

Well, I had to brag when Ask Adam hit number one at MBM, and so I guess I have to say farewell as Ask Adam makes its way off the best seller list.

I am still gobsmacked that it got on in the list in the first place, never mind the fact it spent a month there, and hit the number one spot for a while. Can’t say I have been disappointed in the least (although it is with a sense of melancholy I watch it disappear.) But the good news is, at least now I can settle back into some serious writing. I’ve really neglected my current WIP, and I think Steve and Pen (uh, the hero and heroine) are starting to get miffed.

So, I’ve made a decision. After talking to fellow authors Caitlyn Nicholas and Sami Lee, who are writing like wildfire, and producing manuscripts at an alarming rate, I’m going to spend less time on the loops. I’m going back on to digest for all the loops, and so when I wake up in the morning, and sit down at my computer, it’ll be to stare at a word. doc and not my email.

*Rubbing hands together*

Yes. Finally going to write again. Watch out Carry. (That’s my editor.) I intend to finish this manuscript by Christmas! (Oops, now I’ve said it, I have to do it. INCENTIVE.)

Okay, waffling when I should be showering and getting my little one to Kindy. As promised, here is the list. (Please note, Lorelei James released her book yesterday. It’s now no 1! WOW.)

01.	Rode Hard, Put Up Wet by Lorelei James
02.	The Strength of Three by Annmarie McKenna
03.	Reading Between The Lines by Lauren Dane
04.	For the Love of Jazz by Shiloh Walker
05.	Brazen by Maya Banks
06.	Anticipation by Patrice Michelle
07.	Unbreakable by Sydney Somers
08.	Unconditional Surrender by Denise A. Agnew
09.	Ready or Not by Anara Bella
10.	Ask Adam by Jess dee

Jess

Guest Blogging

Hi ya

I’m happy to tell you I’m guest blogging over at Rose Marie Wolf’s blog.

Please come check out the interview, say hello, and leave a comment.

On another subject, I am totally knackered. Spent the day over at the Samhain loop chatting with the other Aussie authors there. It was loads of fun, but I think I have permanent black circles under my eyes from getting up at 4am.

Going to get into bed and have a full night’s sleep now.

Jess

Thursday Thirteen

Thirteen things about Jess Dee:

1) Jess Dee is a pen name. (Surprise!) I chose the name based on two of my favorite people in the world.

2) Jess means God watches (Hebrew). Dee means Good luck (Irish).

3) Originally, my pen name was Jessica Dee. Jessica Dee is a porn star with HIV. (Understand why I changed the name?)

4)When not writing erotic romance, I’m a wife and mother, leading a regular life.

5) I adore food. Any food. Junk food, and anything with sugar in it top my list.

6) I make a yummy cheese cake.

7) Last year I did something I never in a million years dreamed I would – I went sky diving.

8) I grew up in South Africa.

9) Now I live in Sydney.

10) I am 38 years old. (But only just.)

11) I will not let anyone else pack my dish washer. If someone does – I will repack it. (Okay, go ahead, call me obsessive compulsive…)

12)My hubby and I have the same birthday (but he is three years older.)

13) My lucky number is 8.

Jess

Australian author chat at Samhain

Well, holding on to a tradition some of us began at Triskelion Publishing, The Samhellion Australian authors have banded together to hold a chat. I’m pretty excited about this one. It’ll be odd not to have the usual gang around (co-Boys Down Under authors, Maggie Nash, Angela Verdenius, Karen Mandeville and Sarah Dickson). But it’ll be fantastic getting to know all the talent at Samhain. I for one cannot wait.

(Don’t you love the pic. I found it at: www.rjgeib.com/about-me/)

Here is the scoop:

Samhain Australian Author Chat

Come and join the Samhain Australian authors for a day of chatting, fun and excerpts.

There’ll be lots of laughter, contests and prizes, as well as the dazzling company of our List Dad:

Nage Archer

And all the List Moms:

Caitlyn Nicholas
Sami Lee
Kelly Ethan
Alexis Fleming
Lexxie Couper
Jess Dee

When: Monday, 22cnd of October.
Time: Begins 8am, Eastern Standard Time
Where: At the Samhain Cafe

SEE YOU THERE!

Back to school and new releases

 

 

Well, school has begun again. Which means I have a few hours some mornings to get some writing done.

**Happy Dancing**

I didn’t get to write a sentence while the kids where on holiday. Problem is, now I’m out of the rhythm. (Does anyone else find that an impossible word to spell. I have to spell check it every time.) So, today, instead of writing, I reread my current WIP. The good news is, some of it is quite good. The bad news is, some of it is not. Sigh. I’m in for a ton of rewriting before I can move forward with the story.

But it’ s okay. At least I have the time to write now- at least until December, when holidays begin again…

While I’m here, Samhain have some new releases. Looking forward to Pam Champagne’s Enchanted Inn. I love time travel Romances.

 

“Judgment at John’s Hollow”
by Lionel LaVergne
Buy from MBaM

“Ready or Not”
by Anara Bella
Buy from MBaM

“The Enchanted Inn”
by Pam Champagne
Buy from MBaM

 

Jess

 

Thursday’s Thirteen

Ah, another first for me. I’ve never done the Thursday thirteen before.

Here we go:

Thirteen Australianisms I love:

1) No worries, y’awright and it’s all good

2) G’day mate

3) Ute (SUV)

4) Daggy tracky dacks (Ugly tracksuit pants). Didn’t have a clue what this meant when I first arrived here.

5) Barby (BBQ)

6) Chrissie (Christmas)

7) Duuhlin’ (Darling – can be used when refering to a woman or child, in place of mate.)

8) Macca’s (MacDonalds)

9) The affectionate “O” at the end of a name. (eg, garbos/garbage collectors; ambos/ambulance drivers or paramedics; Danno/Daniel)

10) Dacking (The term assigned to the act of pulling down someone’s pants.)

11) Marone (Spelled maroon, pronounced marone)

12) Arvo (afternoon)

13) Sickie (Sick day)

These are just a few. If I sat down and really thought about it, I could come up with hundreds more. Ah, you gotta love Australia!

Jess

Sore throats, fevers and new releases

Okay, so I’m new to blogging, and haven’t been particularly vigilant. But I have good reason – I promise:

Two small kids = lots of colds and sniffles.

This time round, it’s unidentified viruses causing high fevers for one child and tonsilitis/strep throat for the other. It’s been a real fun holiday. Trips to the zoo, parties, play dates and camps…nope. Haven’t done any of those. Mooched around the house, watched TV, played nintendo and generally felt sorry for ourselves…yup. Done lots of that.

But I figure its okay. The boys are still little. They’re busy with school and preschool, and afternoon activities all through the year. It’s okay to veg out, and just relax and get well during the hols. Isn’t it?

Jess

BTW: While I’m still here, the new e-releases are out at Samhain. Check ‘em out:

The Vampire…In My Dreams by Terry Lee Wilde	Unconditional Surrender by Denise A. Agnew	Mirage by Monica Burns
Callye’s Justice by Donica Covey	Unbreakable by Sydney Somers	For the Love of Jazz by Shiloh Walker