It's all about Lani

and McB, and RSS, and Samantha, and Misty, and Patricia, and Elaine, and... me! (of course)

Oh my oh my. I had the greatest Saturday in a very long time. I got to do one of my favorite things - go to a booksigning, with some of my favorite people - CherryBombs. And it was so much more than I could have ever imagined! I won't go into minute-by-minute detail, but I do want to give you the highlights. Be prepared to turn green.

RSS picked me up and drove me to McBs house. McB climbed in the car and we all headed off to Turn The Page, the bookstore of Nora Roberts in Boonsboro, MD. Nora was hosting a booksigning, and there were two authors that I wanted to see. This is where I tell you that I wouldn't recognize Nora Roberts if she came up and introduced herself to me. I haven't read anything by her since she was writing for Silhouette, oh so many years ago. It's not that I don't like her. It's that I'm really scared to read her books. See, if I like an author, then I really must read everything they've ever written. I mean EVERYTHING. This has caused me to pay way too much money for very old books on e-bay. It has caused me to lose endless sleep finishing up backlists. It has caused angst when I couldn't find that one book (which shall not be named!) for close to a year. And let me tell you something - Nora has a HUGE backlist. And I just can't afford it. Yes, I know I could go to the library, but I just don't do that, ok? Because once I bring a book into my home, I have a hard time letting it leave. So Nora? Yeah, I'm positive she's wonderful. I've read her older stuff and loved it. But I'm just not sure I have the time (or the money!) to read her now. Not that I have a choice, because I have friends that love me. But that's another part of the story. I was talking about her guests.

Elaine Fox was one of the first writers that I ever "reviewed", and I had to meet her. I got lucky and also met her mom, sister and daughter. I think it must be genetic, because all of them are just beautiful. I got books signed, and they will be used as a prize next week over on the review blog.

But the main reason I was there was Lani. Lani Diane Rich is my FAB Pick over on the review blog this month. She's written a book that will be released on Tuesday. The book is called The Fortune Quilt, and I'm going to share the BCC with you here:

Carly McKay's life is going just fine until she produces a television piece on psychic quilt maker Brandywine Seaver and receives a quilt with an enigmatic reading telling her that everything is about to change. Carly blows off the reading until it comes true. Her boss runs off with all the station's assets, leaving her jobless; her best friend, Christopher, proclaims his (unrequited) love for her, leaving her friendless; and her mother, who deserted he family seventeen years ago, returns, sending Carly into a serious tilt.

Convinced it's the quilt's fault, Carly races down to the small artists' community of Bilby, Arizona, to confront its maker, and ends up with an unexpected friend in Brandy - and in Will, the laid-back painter who rents the cabin next door. With quirky new buddies and no more deadlines, Carly starts to enjoy her reimagined life, until her old one comes calling. Now Carly has to decide what parts of each world she wants to patchwork in.. and how much she's willing to leave to fate.

Doesn't that sound lovely? Well, I got to read the book last month, and I can assure you that the book is really great. And so is Lani.

She let us CherryBombs hang out with her after the signing. We actually got to have lunch with her and her friend, the charming Samantha Graves. Plus, Misty Simon was also there. If you don't know about Misty yet, check out her site. She's hysterical. And Samantha? Oh my, she's just lovely. She's got a new book coming out next month, and I know I'll be reviewing it.

As usual though, I was overwhelmed with how kind and generous book people are. The very talented and totally classy Patricia Gaffney was kind enough to let me drag her outside to meet the other CBs. She even let us take pics with her. Patricia also has a new book coming out, in August. I can't wait for that release!

I won't tell you all that we discussed while eating some of the best deli sandwiches in Maryland. But I will tell you that there was much laughter. Many smiles. Lots of snorts. Nods of agreement. And one totally priceless look of astonishment that I will remember for the rest of my days.

All in all, it was one of the best afternoons I can recall ever having. The only thing that could have made it better is if my friend Kim had been able to join us. I hear she's saving up all of her free time for New Jersey though, so I won't complain.

Be sure to check out the review blog for your chance to win some of Lani's books this week.

Thanks Lani, Misty, Samantha, Patricia, and Elaine, for showing us the very best that the romance genre has to offer.

And of course- thanks to McB and RSS for yet another wonderful day. You guys are the greatest!!