Mona Lisa Craving

From the time she was an orphan child, Mona Lisa knew she was different—but she never knew how different. As daughter of the Mixed-Blood of the Monère, she has arrived to rule a new domain in the Louisiana Bayou. Now, under the full moon, she's feeling a new and uncontrollable surge—and an instinctive new craving...
Dante, the warrior son of a healer, was cursed by the high priestess to endure a never-ending cycle of life and death, born and reborn into an ever-diminishing bloodline. Someone shares one of his past lives. Her name was Mona Lyria. Back then, on the moon in another world, she was his victim. Today, she is Mona Lisa. This time, she is his savior. Dante's wish is to die by her hands to end his cursed existence. But she feels fate has given them both a second chance. For even stronger than her craving for blood is her craving for what every Monère female desires, and needs...to bear life. Now she has found her mate. But with this blessing could come a new curse under the shadow of a new moon.

The Flame

Eight brothers, born in four sets of twins, two years apart to the day—they fulfill the Curse of Eight Prophecy. Though no longer trapped in exile, their growing family faces new problems. Now that it's his turn to look for a bride, the seventh-born brother burns with curiosity and anticipation...
Koranen of Nightfall is tired of the Curse—in his case, a destructive flame that courses beneath his flesh. His brothers have wives and lovers, but all Koranen has are blistering reminders of a touch that burns...unless he can find a woman able to endure the literal heat of his passion. Then the Aquamancers arrive, at last affording Koranen the chance to find his Destined Bride.
Ostracized for being too good at her job, Danau is resigned to her punishment: never knowing love. But fire and water always create steam, and things do get steamy as Danau and Koranen gradually realize they were meant for each other—even as Nightfall's future becomes flooded with more trouble than either of them could have imagined.

Captive Dreams

Writers Celeste and Corinne Carson have each created an ultra-alpha hero who stars in each sister's highly successful series of novels. Celeste writes of the future and her hero Jarred. Corinne writes of the barbarian Mykhayl. Both heroes are adventurers in their respective times, hot sexy lovers, and, as it turns out... quite real and very angry about everything their creators have forced them to do.
Jarred and Mykhayl are about to exact hot, sweet revenge upon their respective creators; a little payback for the angst and the peril these women have placed them in time after time. Kidnapped and taken to the worlds they write of, Jarred and Mykhayl begin Celeste's and Corinne's punishment...

Rocking On? Not So Much

First it was an off-Broadway musical. Then plans were announced for a movie. Then rumors of a transfer to Broadway. And now? Rock of Ages is closing January 4, according to producers.
The juke-box musical features more than 30 songs from the power-ballad, big-hair '80s, from such bands as Journey, Styx, and 27 more. The songs are woven through a story about evil developers and the Los Angeles strip and protestors and . . . you get the idea. What it is is a lot of fun with a bunch of nifty performances.
In any event, the last fake Bic lighter (a little flashlight in actuality) will wave January 4.

Theater News and Notes: Liza Extends, 'Wondrettes' Offers Kids-Free Deal

Liza Minnelli’s Broadway show, Liza's at the Palace . . ., is extending its run to January 4. The show was originally set to close December 28. Liza’s at the Palace . . . features the well-known performer singing her standard works, such as "Maybe This Time" and "New York, New York," plus a song-and-dance tribute to the Golden Age of the New York night club scene.
Off-Broadway’s The Marvelous Wonderettes is offering a “kids-free” special for shows from December 22 to January 4, Playbill reports. During the promotion, adults buying a ticket (use code MAKIDS01) can get a free ticket for children 16 and younger. Wondrettes is playing at the Westside Theatre.
Universal Robots, Mac Rogers’ inventive re-invention of a classic Czech play that gave us the word "robot," will have its world premiere February 12 at Manhattan Theater Source. The show will run through March 7, and Rosemary Andress will direct.
Maggie Gyllenhaal and Peter Sarsgaard have signed on for the Classic Stage Company production of Chekhov's Uncle Vanya, joining Tony-winner Denis O'Hare, who is in the title role. Previews begin January 17, and the show will run through March 1. It will be all Chekov all the time for Sarsgaard who is currently starring in The Seagull on Broadway.
This year’s Henry Hewes Design Awards are going to:
Scenic Design: Mark Wendland for Next to Normal, Second Stage; Richard III, Classic Stage Company; and Unconditional, Labyrinth Theater Company
Costume Design: Katrina Lindsay for Les Liaisons Dangereuses, Roundabout Theatre Company
Lighting Design: Donald Holder for Cyrano de Bergerac, Les Liaisons Dangereuses; Roundabout, and South Pacific, Lincoln Center Theater
Notable Effects (Projection Design): Jim Findlay and Jeff Sugg for The Slug Bearers of Kayrol Island, Vineyard Theatre