The first theme restaurant? A passport to Hell --

Writer Martha Wells found this crazy Paris nightclub, which went up in the late 19th century and was operating until the mid-20th century. Take a look at the details! This is very strange and wondrous -- and clearly belongs in a fantasy novel. Check out Martha's work to see Ile-Rien, a place this nightclub might feel right at home.

http://www.evilsunday.com/pariss-hells-caf-19thcentury/

A shape-shifting gerbil and a cross-dressing human....

It could be worse! It could be fantasy! The June 15, 2011 post was drawn for us!

http://www.webcomicsnation.com/shaenongarrity/skinhorse/series.php?view=current

We found Alfreda! (Missing since the cover of Kindred Rites)

Writer/Songwriter Maya Kaathryn Bohnhoff's blog post over at Book View Cafe today is the first in a series about cover art. As it happens, the girl who showed up on one of her covers looks like she could be Allie, except her hair should be longer. (Allie actually does get to wear dresses like these, in book three.)

http://blog.bookviewcafe.com/2011/06/15/there%e2%80%99s-a-bimbo-on-the-cover-of-my-book-verse-1/

But where is Maya's heroine -- and whose pseudo-Indian princess is on the cover of Kindred Rites?

Yay! A new Regency writer for me! Shannon Donnelly joins BVC!

Many of you know that my choice, when I want a romance, is usually a Regency. Georgette Heyer's death was a great loss, and I would put up a shrine to Jane Austen if I had room in this place. Today I found out about Shannon Donnelly's work, and even better, she's joined Book View Cafe!

Reviewers praise her work as "simply superb," "wonderfully uplifting," and "beautifully written." She has a slew of awards and nominations for her writing, so for summer reading, you'll be in good hands. Shannon debuts with two novels for us, her RWA Golden Heart winner for Best Regency Romance, A Compromising Situation, and a Christmas heartwarmer called Under the Kissing Bough. (Kissing Bough was a finalist for the RITA, Best Regency Romance, the Beacon and the Golden Quill, and won the Laurel Wreath!)

(I actually listen to instrumental holiday music during the summer -- it makes me think it's cooler than it is. So I may not wait on that second book until the holidays!)

To read about Shannon, check out this link.

I'll report back on these after I read them, but as my reviewing is slower than my occasional reading, you might want to check them out before you hear back from me. They are an absolute steal at $2.99 each. As always, Book View Cafe books are DRM-Free. A Compromising Situation is available in your choice of EPUB (Sony, Kobo, Nook) and .mobi (Kindle) formats. Sample the book here.

Under the Kissing Bough is also DRM-free and also in EPUB and .mobi. I'll post a sample link as soon as I have a good one.