Joy was one of our favorite people long before The Smutketeers were created. The person we looked for at every conference, scanning the crowd for her signature bunny ears, easy smile and beautiful personality. As a Smutkedette, she has offered advice to young reviewers and kept us laughing with her dirty commentary and unusual graphics.

For those Smutkedettes  and readers who don’t know, this member in the spotlight is the Joy behind Joyfully Reviewed. One of the most successful and widely recognized online reviewers/forums around. To get a Joyfully Recommended is every romance author’s dream…but it is the lady behind the empire and the ninja bunnies with bloody knives that we’re most interested in today.

RG: Joy, can you tell everyone how Joyfully Reviewed came to be?

Joy: My online friend and fellow rabid romance reader, Melissa, who is the quiet partner of Joyfully Reviewed (giggle), wanted to create a romance review site that focused on what we as readers were looking for, when determining whether to buy a romance novel. We wanted to provide a romance site that a reader could go to whereby the focus was a professionally written review stating what worked and what didn’t work, (if applicable) for the reviewer. We didn’t want to use a rating system per say. Be it good or bad, as long as a review is providing a well written and honest opinion of what the person reading the book felt when they finished said book, is ultimately what a reader wants in my opinion. No need for bashing, etc. should enter into the equation as far as I am concerned. Also, at the time, (Joyfully Reviewed opened its doors 6 ½ years ago), reviews sites weren’t posting their reviews to Amazon. We felt that posting our reviews there would not only would be providing a service to the romance reader by having it readily available at their disposal when shopping, but we would also be helping romance authors to get the word out about their work via our reviews to a larger audience.

RG: No wonder you are one of the most beloved review sites around. (we’re all for less bashing…some authors are a teensy bit insecure. Not me, but, you know, other people *g*) On to the next question. We adore them, but we’re curious. Why Bunny Ears?

Joy: I used to answer my e-mails with AOL bunny icons. I didn’t have a lot of time to be online back in the day (lol), as I was working 12-16 hour days at the time. The bunnies fit exactly with what I was trying to say/convey in an instant. I decided to wear bunny ears when I attended my first Romantic Times Convention thereby allowing me to meet as many people as I could since I was “known” for the bunnies online and it has been a symbol of Joyfully Reviewed ever since.

Karen: How long have you been a romance reader?

Joy: I have been a romance reader since the age of 13, that was about ten years ago, rotflmao. My first romance book was Judy Blume, then onto Barbara Cartland (don’t give me side eye people!), Harlequin books came after that and then I read The Flame and The Flower and was hooked for life to the genre.

Crystal: Rumor has it you send bloody knives to people when annoyed, what’s up with that?

Joy: Gasp! I am shocked, I thought that was a secret. HAAAAA. In continuing my theme of allowing icons to convey my feelings,I thought a bloody knife would tell how I felt when displeased. Words sometimes can be misconstrued; a bloody knife pretty much speaks for itself : )

 RG: hahahaha! I kind of love the bloody knife ;)

Karen: Who is your absolute all time favorite author of all time? (and we’ll forgive you if it isn’t a Smutketeer – we’ll just send you a demented bunny as punishment)

Joy: That is pure evilness right there!!! A question like that to a long time romance reader like me is just the ultimate torture. How can one answer such a question? But I shall, teehee. That would be the great Kathleen E. Woodiwiss, whose epic romance novel, The Flame and The Flower changed my life in ways that neither she nor I knew were to come.

Crystal: Who’s your favorite hero in a romance novel? (it better be a Smutketeer book, just sayin’) * RG Note * She’s kidding…I think.

Joy: Gulp, there are so freaking many but if I may narrow it down to three:

John Huntington: Midnight Man by Lisa Marie Rice

Jake Farrell: Waiting For It by Rhyannon Byrd

Mason “Mace” Llewellyn: A Christmas Pride In Brooklyn by Shelly Laurenston

RG: OOH Rhyannon Byrd! I miss reading lol. But enough about me. What would we be surprised to know about you?

Joy: That I used to be very shy and introverted. YES I WAS!

RG: And I used to blush when my sister said the word VAGINA in public (also totally true, so I believe you)

Karen: Do you read other genres beside romance?

Joy: I love true crime novels. The real story, written from a behind the scenes view, really fascinates me.

Karen: Favorite vacation spot and why.

Joy: Anywhere tropical, I must be near warm water, sun, a hammock and a nice breeze wafting from the ocean. That is my idea of heaven.

Crystal: Be honest, who do you think is the smuttiest Smutketeer?

Joy: I think that all of the Smutketeers are smutty in their own right BUT I truly believe deep down in her deepest recesses of her genes that it is…..mwhahahahaa…..R.G. Alexander. Late bloomers have deep, deep secrets that they keep hidden for fear of being judged. But when they bloom, baby watch out! R.G. has let the tiger out of the bag

RG: I’m sure I have no idea what you’re talking about. :) (I love you) Ahem. Changing the subject now. Joy, as a successful, sexy, self-made woman, what is the best advice you can give to readers out there with dreams of being like you someday?

Joy: Why thank you! Be true to yourself, do things in your own time and have a great support system surrounding you. I was terrified to put my thoughts out “there”, friends, online and off, encouraged me to write about the books I felt so passionately about and that is how I became a Romance Reviewer. Hitting send was the first step to what eventually led me to where I am today. Someone who is doing what makes her happy and meeting people who love this genre with every fiber of their being just as much as me.

The Fast and Dirty Questions

-Tight Jeans or Full on, totally, completely naked?

Tight jeans, I want to see what I will be working with, I need to know if it will be worth my very valuable time.

-Hunky survivalist’s island or Sexy artist’s loft?

Sexy artist loft for sure. I like to do some very naughty things and use props, so they must be handy at all times

-Chocolate martini or Tequila shots?

Tequila shots, preferably Patron please, as it is the only was to get the party started and by that I mean the party in my pants

-Boxers, briefs, or Full on, totally, completely naked?

Yummy briefs every time. I love so see that sexy vee that leads into a mans nether regions

-Sexy chef’s wife, Sexy chef…Or both? Hehe

Why both of course, three are better than two sometimes and in this case, three are better ALL the time

-Vampire or Shifter?

Vampire! Le mewl, those teeth, the intensity, the knowledge, shiver

-Lover, Fighter or Full on, totally completely naked?

I choose all three, a lover who will fight for me, while completely nekkid is the one for me. That is confidence of the highest magnitude, haaa

RG: Wonderful interview! We love us some sexy ninja bunny! To thank her for taking time out of her busy schedule, the Smutketeers will be donating to Joy’s local food bank.

Winner~ Elf (Post #3)
Congratulations! Email me and let me know which books from The Smutketeers and whether or not you want a gift card from Amazon or Barnes & Noble

To everyone else…get ready for an amazing 2012!

ALL FOR SMUT AND SMUT FOR ALL!

But this year is different. Far more unique than partying like its 1999 (no offense to one of my favorite purple-loving musicians-or partying-which you know the Smutketeers love)

This year its going to be 2012. Sure we don’t have any colonies on other planets, computers with paranoia or emotions like HAL or flying cars *grumble* but its one of those years that has been so etched into our consciousness for such a long time that it is bound to be…well…noteworthy.

What will it be? What’s coming? Zombie Apocalypse? Asteroid? Good Aliens? Bad Aliens? Or maybe the kind of solar activity that helped to create the world in The Smutketeers Wasteland series. (if so, we need to find that library fast lol)

Who knows? The end of the Mayan calendar could be the beginning of something amazing. Or just another crazy year that we don’t have holodecks or visits from Vulcans.

The only thing we know for sure is that we live in interesting times. So instead of pondering the possibilities or popping on one of my fashionable tinfoil hats–

I think we should really celebrate. All year long, we should do our best to make 2012 the best year we’ve ever had. Do something we’ve never dared, try something we’ve always wanted to, but put off for later.

This year we will try and top all the other years that came before it, have more book releases, more interviews and contests–more fun than ever before.

So if by Dec 21st of 2012 we discover time travel or Atlantis or the cure to all diseases, that will be the icing on an already yummy cake

…And if the zombies come? We’ll have no regrets *grin*

*THE SMUTKETEERS COUNTDOWN CONTEST*

~Join The Smutketeers Yahoo Group, if you aren’t already a member

~Post here and tell us what you’d most like to do-who you’d most like to kiss-what mountain you’d most like to climb etc-to make 2012 special.

~Finally-let us know if you’re planning on going to the RT or AAD conferences this year. Several Smutketeers are coming, and we’d really like to have a chance to celebrate with you!

The winner-chosen on January 2nd-will receive a free ebook from each of us and/or a $25 Gift card to Amazon or Barnes & Noble

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CRYSTAL!

Our brilliant scholar, the queen of the erotic shifters, the baroness of banter, duchess of smut…and everybody’s favorite sexy librarian.

She’s sassy

A little dangerous

Tons of fun to be around

Check out her books at www.crystaljordan.com

Or wish her a happy birthday on her twitter: @crystaljordan

Her Author page on FB: https://www.facebook.com/CrystalJordanFanPage

Or the Smutketeers yahoo group: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Smutketeers/

All we want for Christmas…is you :)

Winter Solstice by Eden Bradley

 
A Very Sexy Christmas by Karen Erickson

Her Christmas Pleasure by Karen Erickson

Under the Covers with Crystal Jordan

Four For Christmas by RG Alexander

Happy Holidays to all!!

And now the winners, (extra entries were given for those who reviewed in multiple places as well as sharing):

$100 Gift Card winner is Dot post 81

$50 Gift Card winner is Jessie post 84

$20 Gift Card winner is Dana post 73

$10 Gift Card winner is Dawn post 101

Congratulations!!!

Send me an email at r.g.alexander@hotmail.com and tell me whether you’d like an Amazon or a Barnes & Noble gift card.

***I know tomorrow is Christmas Eve EVE, but Shayla Black will be on with a few of her friends, giving away some books to warm you up this season.

Would love to see you-but if we don’t-please enjoy your holidays. xoxo

Hope you aren’t too hungover from Xmas :)

Remember this book? Three for Me? was the 2009 story about a group of lifelong friends who, after watching one of their oldest buddies marry the two girls of his dreams on a wedding cruise, begin to think about each other in an entirely different way. With a little help from a kinky shore excursion in Cozumel.

I’ll admit, I’ve received a lot of email over the years about the threesome who wed at the beginning of the story. How did Connie, Lee and Lori Ann get together anyway?

While my holiday offering doesn’t answer that question…it does revisit them through Georgia Virgina Bale, the heroine in Four for Christmas. Connie’s been her friend for ten years, long before she met her two significant others. All she wants for Christmas is to give Georgia some good holiday memories with a family that, while it might not be traditional, is still warm and loving.

Things never go quite the way you plan. But sometimes, that’s a good thing.

Dreaming of a White Christmas led her straight into their arms…

In this holiday spin off of the bestselling novella Three For Me? Saving a man in a snowstorm leads Georgia Bale to an isolated cabin, where three men have an important promise to keep. A promise Georgia soon becomes caught up in herself.

She just wanted to survive Christmas, and her bad holiday karma. She had no idea that accepting a friend’s invitation to Colorado would lead her to her perfect man. Times three.

What does an eccentric writer do when a compassionate doctor, a dominant police officer, and a handsome adrenaline junkie only have eyes for her?

Use her imagination.

But when the storm clears, she’ll have to decide which path to take. The way back home, or the road less traveled.

Warning: A bit of heart tugging, excessive use of imagination, role playing (the dirty kind), foursomes, holiday magic, a guardian angel or two… and the kinky use of holiday themed beverages.

**AVAILABLE NOW AT

AMAZON and Barnes & Noble

and SMASHWORDS

Flynn, Chris, and James–or as Georgia likes to call them, Snowmobile, Doc and Officer Jimmy (it could be Officer Neanderthal, depending on her mood) made up a few new traditions for the season. Flynn even created a drink in her honor, The Peppermint Snowstorm. It was a little sweet…of course-they might have thought it tasted better on her skin than directly from the glass *g*

Peppermint Snowstorm

**CONTEST**

4 holiday lovebirds equals a contest with 4 winners. Share this post about my new release on twitter, facebook and/or your blog, and tell me about it in the comments below to be 1 of 4 winners that I’ll pick on Thursday the 22nd.

**Update: If you read the book in the next few days and you like it, you can give it a review on Amazon and/or Barnes & Noble, tell me about it, and be entered to win AGAIN (or for the first time if you don’t have FB or Twitter)

#1 Winner will receive a $100 Amazon or B&N Gift Card

#2 Winner will receive a $50 Amazon or B&N Gift Card

#3 Winner will receive a $20 Amazon or B&N Gift Card

#4 Winner will receive a $10 Amazon or B&N Gift Card

Happy holiday reading!

OH and check out the previous Smutketeer post to discover the winners for Day 12 of Smutketeer Xmas and the Grand Prize winner as well!!

RG the Smutty Xmas Elf: Its hard to say goodbye to Xmas. We have had so much fun hanging out with our fellow authors and the wonderful readers who joined us. We loved the recipes, we drooled over the sexy book covers, and we had a blast handing out prizes.

I, personally, had fun writing the poems and wearing the Xmas hat and pointy shoes…okay, not the pointy shoes, they pinched a little. But now that its time to take them off? I know I’ll be waiting all year to put them on again.

The Smutketeers and I want you to know that we have a lot planned for 2012 and, barring a killer asteroid or a zombie apocalypse, we think you will be pleased. More releases, more big contests, and more visits from the authors you love.

Until then-please join me in looking back with fondness over the last 11 days. Feel free to hum a melancholy song and imagine a Christmas/Sports movie montage as we go.

The authors we had:

The Righteous Perverts-Kris Cook, Melissa Schroeder, Heather Rainier, Corinne Davis, Chloe Lang, Shayla Black, Sophie Oak/ Vivienne Westlake, Vivian Arend, Vivi Andrews/ Donna Grant, Lisa Renee Jones/ Robin L. Rotham, Kate Pearce, Lauren Dane/ Robert Brown of The Brown Literary Agency, Jax Cassidy, Dakota Cassidy/ Louisa Edwards, Roxanne St. Clair, Kristen Painter/ International Heat-Jayne Rylon, Lila Dubois, Rhian Cahill, Mari Carr, Lexxie Cooper, Bianca D’Arc, Jess Dee, Jambrea Jo Jones, JR Patrick, Anne Rainey/ Michelle M. Pillow, Mandy M. Roth, TJ Michaels/ Naughty Nine Novelists-Kelly Jamieson, Juniper Bell, Skylar Kade, PG Forte, Kinsey Holley, Erin Nicholas, Kate Davies, Sydney Somers, Meg Benjamin/ Laurie London, Bella Andre/ Shiloh Walker, Sasha White, Maya Banks/ The Smutketeers (you know us)

The winners of the past 11 days:

June M./ Wendy K./Lisa B./Ann G./Fedora/Eva P/Christy M./Jackie U./Leagh/Darcy/Desiree/AnaOvi/ReneeS/Shadow/PamelaGiles/Cecile/Julie Comins/Ursula A./Carla C./Trin R. /Jeanette Juan/Angela/Dee B/Ivelisse/Sandie /Amanda Cantu/Alana Caldwell/Jen B./Julie Barrett/Nancy S/Emily Tardy/Christiana/Dawn/Jess S./Gigi/Crystal GB/Tracey D/Brandy S/Kristina Parmenter/Katherine/ Suzi/Zina/ Donna

Did you see the montage? :) I did. Sigh. Good times. I’m driving you crazy right? You want to know the winners. I won’t keep you in suspense anymore

Winners of Day 12

Eden Bradley/Eve Berlin Giveaway ~Tami (post #39)

Karen Erickson Giveaway ~ Terri (post #74)

Crystal Jordan Giveaway ~Dana (post #5)

RG Alexander/Rachel Grace/RG the Smutty Xmas Elf Gift Card Giveaway ~Joy (post #113)

The Smutketeers Giveaway of $25 gc to Samhain Publishing~Beth Wharton (post #31)

Congratulations!!

****Grand Prize Winner****

The winner of their choice of Kindle Fire or Nook Tablet, the randomly picked person who took the time to post on each day of the 12 Days of Xmas (and there were a lot of you) is

CATHY M!!!!

Woohoo!!!!! *tosses confetti* Merry Xmas!! Happy Ho Ho!! Celebrate good times-Come on! Cathy-send one of us an email telling us which you would like-Kindle or Nook-and we’ll have it to you for Xmas!

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU to everyone who joined us. If you are one the few people who didn’t win a prize-we have contests all the time on our yahoo group, on this blog. Come back in January, Feb and March-the first three months are going to be WILD at the Smutketeers.

In fact-Today one of the Smutketeers is having another blog post and contest (thats me!) To celebrate her holiday release

You are all wonderful. Thanks again.

ALL FOR SMUT AND SMUT FOR ALL!

We now welcome….US! YAY!

Eden Bradley/Eve Berlin

I love the holidays! It’s an excellent excuse to shop, shop, shop! I even love the bad holiday music at the malls. I even love the crowds. But one of the things I love the most are Xmas decorations. Lights, garlands, and especially Xmas trees.

Every year I buy a few new ornaments, and I have tons! I love to pack the tree, just load it down with ornaments. My favorites are the gorgeous hand-blown glass bulbs, but I have some funny ones, too, including an entire collection of rubber ducks wearing Santa hats.

Last year was my boyfriend’s very first tree, which was pretty exciting-and we weren’t the only ones who were excited about it. Our three cats were enthralled! Luckily that didn’t include them hiking up the middle of three, knocking it over and breaking all the ornaments, which is what we’d anticipated. Instead, all they wanted to do was curl up under the tree, especially at night when the lights were twinkling in the dark. Well, that, and chew off all the ribbons, bows and pretty gift tags-especially our cat Xev.

This year we’ll be a little smarter about it-no bows for us! Or for Xev.

So-since I don’t have a holiday book or even a new release this winter-other than one I can’t talk about yet (yes, I’m keeping it secret for now, and no amount of candy canes, RG’s rum balls or spiked egg nog can get it out of me! Wait-what? You have a pair of Christian Louboutin sequined platform pumps? But no-my lips are sealed!) why don’t I give away one of my oldies but goodys-at least, I hope you’ll like it. Happy Holidays, everyone!

Giveaway: One ARC (advance reading copy) in PDF format of my kinky erotic romance novel, PLEASURE’S EDGE.

Karen Erickson

Ah, I love Christmas. Even though it’s usually stressful and I’m always ready to be done with it when December 26th rolls around, I do find myself caught up in the magic of it all.

We have a few traditions in my household we maintain every year. One of them is going to a particular street in our local area that does up the Christmas lights and decorations in a big way.

Christmas Tree Lane is so cool – we go every year. Two Saturdays ago my husband and I, all the kids plus my oldest son’s best friend, plus my mother-in-law, we piled up in our truck and went for a drive.

We put on the radio station that plays Christmas songs 24/7 and Wham’s “Last Christmas” comes on. And you know what happened? All of my kids started to sing the song. Who knew when I was fourteen and watching the video on MTV that it would become a classic? That my kids, right down to the seven year old, can sing along with the lyrics! My fourteen-year-old-self would’ve thought that was awesome.

My current self thinks it’s definitely awesome. *grins*

Happy Holidays everyone! Thanks for coming to our blog party and making it the event for the Christmas season! We love you all!

Giveaway: One digital copy of my holiday historical romance novella, Her Christmas Pleasure.

Crystal Jordan

This is my second Christmas with the Professor Moriarty, and we’re actually running over to Riverside tonight to the famed Mission Inn to check out the annual Festival of Lights. He loves it and took me to see it for the first time last year. It’s totally magical, the whole historic hotel is done in lights with tiny singing animatronic people, plus real reindeers outside. It’s frickin’ cool, y’all.

This Christmas is going waaay better than our first one, when we had to get up at 3am so I could drive him to the airport for a 6am flight to Europe. My memories of it are kinda groggy and grumpy. This year, however, we’re spending the holidays together and we’ll be in Hawaii. I’ve said this everywhere to anyone, because I am so frickin’ excited.

I hope all of you have a wonderful holiday, spent with the people you love most. That’s my plan anyway. Along with a beach and a cocktail with a little umbrella in it. Heh. Happy Holidays!

Giveaway: One advanced copy of my January erotic romance e-book, Demon’s Caress.

R.G. Alexander/Rachel Grace/RG The Smutty Xmas Elf

I’ve said this before-of course I believe in Santa. And not just because I’m the Elf, or my mother told us when we were teenagers that if we didn’t at least PRETEND he existed, she’d put coal in our stockings. I’ve always believed. As I grew up and the mainstream story became more difficult to stand by, I adapted. Yes, I knew he didn’t live at the North Pole…here. It was in an alternate dimension. Geesh. Everybody knows that, right?

But for a long time now, for me at least, he’s been the idea that we can all make magic happen. We just choose to do it during a certain time of year when roasting nuts isn’t slang for something vulgar, and snuggling can be excused as more of a necessity than a need to cling. :) Everyone gets at least one opportunity in their lives to get the Santa feeling. To secretly do something good for someone who needs it, or to give just exactly the right thing–not the most expensive thing–the right thing. The one that makes the recipient’s eyes light up just so. And sometimes its just about being a good friend. Don’t get me wrong though, I also love presents and have a compulsive desire to unwrap them *g*

Another reason this time of year is my favorite? Mandatory singing. Seriously, it cannot be avoided. And I really, really love that.

***Ooh, one more thing. You are the first to know. My self pubbed holiday novella, FOUR FOR CHRISTMAS, is coming out today!!! Any second now *looking around impatiently* (I’ll be updating this blog with Amazon and B&N links as they pop up, so check back!) I know, they cut it close, but I think these particular men are worth it. Its my first Christmas story, and it kind of broke my heart…and made me want to do some of those things on the NNN naughty list  (plus I got to introduce Roux the Smutketeer mascot to the world of a writer-where no one you know-not even your puppy-is safe from becoming a character)

In fact after we announce the grand prize winners tomorrow-I’ll be having another pretty cool giveaway of my own to celebrate. So excited!!!

Here’s the cover and blurb:

Dreaming of a White Christmas led her straight into their arms…

In this holiday spin off of the bestselling novella Three For Me? Saving a man in a snowstorm leads Georgia Bale to an isolated cabin, where three men have an important promise to keep. A promise Georgia soon becomes caught up in herself.

She just wanted to survive Christmas, and her bad holiday karma. She had no idea that accepting a friend’s invitation to Colorado would lead her to her perfect man. Times three.

What does an eccentric writer do when a compassionate doctor, a dominant police officer, and a handsome adrenaline junkie only have eyes for her?

Use her imagination.

But when the storm clears, she’ll have to decide which path to take. The way back home, or the road less traveled.

Warning: A bit of heart tugging, excessive use of imagination, role playing (the dirty kind), foursomes, holiday magic, a guardian angel or two… and the kinky use of holiday themed beverages.

AVAILABLE NOW AT: Smashwords  and Amazon and…

Giveaway: $25 GC to Amazon just for saying hi :)

A Message From The Smutketeers

We’d like to take the time now to thank each and every author and blog group who took the time to send a little Xmas joy our way. We’d also like to thank all the readers who not only make it possible for us to do what we do, but make it fun and joyful as well. Getting to spend Xmas with you is a gift and a pleasure. Whatever you celebrate when December and January knock on your door, may you be safe, may you be happy,  may it be fun…and if you’re lucky, may it also be a little smutty.

If you are interested in knowing more about the Smutketeers and our contests (wait until you get a load of our Valentine’s extravaganza)-please join our Smutketeer Yahoo Group

RG the Smutty Xmas Elf: Smutketeer Giveaway is a $25 GC to Samhain Publishing!

Reminder!!! You still have time to read and post in all 12 days to be entered to win the grand prize: a Kindle Fire or a Nook Tablet! The Carol, The Winners, and The Grand Reveal all happen tomorrow, along with another contest to celebrate the newest Smutketeer release FOUR FOR CHRISTMAS!

Shiloh Walker Giveaway ~Katherine (Post #27)

Maya Banks Giveaway ~Zina (Post #94)

Sasha White Giveaway ~Suzi (Post #70)

Smutketeers $25 Home Depot Card Giveaway ~donna (Post # 69)