UNDER A VAMPIRE MOON & VACATION IDEAS ANYONE?

I fell in love with Lynsay Sands' Argeneau Vampire series because these vampires, despite obscene wealth are down to earth.  AND, Lynsay gives the absolute best explanation for vampirism ever, ever, ever (nanotechnology!).

Here is a note from her March newsletter on her next book: UNDER A VAMPIRE MOON out in April:

The next book scheduled to be released in late April is the sixteenth installment in the Argeneau series called Under A Vampire Moon. It's Marguerite's son, Christian Notte's turn. I had a lot of fun writing his story as we got to meet more of the Notte family and see Christian work his magic on the violin and Caro.

Gros Piton, St. Lucia, seen from the Ladera Hotel restaurant Image via Wikipedia

I vacationed in St. Lucia, where Under A Vampire Moon takes place, with my sisters a few years ago. The people were amazingly nice and the waitstaff and drivers were all very sweet. We had a great time. And if you read this book then I will say this... I wasn't exaggerating about the steepness of those hills to the villas. I was always pleasantly relieved every time our van successfully dropped us off without rolling backwards or toppling over in a particularly steep area. I swear if you slipped and started to roll end over end down those inclines there would be nothing to slow you down except perhaps a tourist or two... and possibly a van. The one pro to the hills was if you made it all the way up to your villa on your own two feet without having a heat stroke or rolling back down again , you would have worked off any calories you ingested that day. If you have the opportunity to go away on vacation this year and you want to visit someplace warm and friendly then I'd recommend it.
www.lynsaysands.net/newsletters

Thanks for the travel tip.  My husband and I are looking for a super romantic place to spend our thirtieth anniversary. 

Anyone out there other than Lynsay been to St. Lucia?   Anyone other ideas for romantic anniversary vacations?

Saint Lucia Le Sport resort Author: Jim G via Wikipedia

And from her website the synopsis and a note.

Christian Notte's story, the sixteenth book in the Argeneau series is set on an island paradise called St. Lucia. After a bad relationship and an even worse divorce, Carolyn decides to go on a long overdue and much needed vacation with the 'girls'. Only the rest of the vacationers didn't get the memo. Around every corner there seems to be another couple celebrating their honeymoon or anniversary and the few single men she does see are far too young to even consider, including an irresistibly attractive rock violinist she meets. It's really too bad he's so young but in the end it doesn't matter because according to his cousin, Giacinta, women in general aren't Christian's type.

But there's a catch, Christian needs Carolyn's help. He needs her to be his beard (to play the part of his fake girlfriend) for the week to appease his 'machismo' family. Carolyn just can't seem to say No and decides to help Gia's cousin. The only problem is that being around Christian and acting like they are a loving couple is wreaking havoc on her emotions. Carolyn's thoughts keep drifting back to places they shouldn't, like kissing his full lips or feeling his broad shoulders under her fingertips... good lord, she's in trouble.

AUTHOR'S NOTE
All I can say is that this is my favourite Argeneau story to date. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it.
LynsaySands.net

Related articles

• St. Lucia Vacation Ideas (answers.com)

Creole Choir of Cuba Got Portland Dancing

Southern Maine, USA

Creole Choir of Cuba

Last night my husband and I enjoyed experiencing the exciting Creeole Choir of Cuba performing at Portland, Maine's Merrill Audutorium.

The Creole Choir of Cuba celebrates roots, resistance and the irresistible rhythms of life on their first major US tour promoting their first album Tande-La on Peter Gabriel's Real World label. The album and the choir are garnering accolades.  They performed at The Edinburgh Festival in 2009 after which they were signed on the record label. They have been touring internationally ever since.

Image by flykr via FlickrAs I told the gentleman next to me with his son, "That's the most Portlanders I have ever seen dancing." He laughed in agreement. Seniors and youngsters were all shaking it on the stage in response to the Choir's call to come up towards the end of their Homage to Haiti. The audience was very enthusiastic.

Having won these tickets at a charity auction I had no idea what I was going to see. According to Mother Jones:

The Creole Choir of Cuba is indeed Cuban, but its 10 singers are all descendants of the Haitian diaspora who have set out to rediscover their musical heritage from a new cultural home base in Camagüey, Cuba's third-largest city. 

The Choir has ten members who came together out  of the devastating poverty that resulted from the end of the Soviet era. All descendants of Haitian immigrant sugar cane workers, the singers formed a group to celebrate the protest music of their ancestors. Their music brings hope an inspiration with its harmonies and infectious rhythms. Through their performances they promote the music of their roots  especially the tradition of the Cancionisitca; a tradition including music from other Creole speaking Caribbean countries. The accompaniment is percussion.

All of the members of the choir hail from Cuba's third largest city, Camaguay and have been a group since 1996 starting with musical traditions passed down through their own families and adding more modern Haitian sounds over the past decade and a half.

I found the music haunting and beautiful but wish I had understood more about it. There was only a short blurb about the troubles in Haiti.  I didn't understand the cultural connection.  I thought several songs were sung in Haitian Creole, some  had more of a French intonation and some sounded more like Spanish.  One song put me in mind of Edith Piaf.  Along with the music, came distinct vocalizations, facial expressions, expressive gestures and choreography. Several times the group asked for audience participation by clapping, Call and response and even through pulling audience members up to  dance on stage. The group also performed for a couple of area schools  giving students insight into the rich cultural diversity of the African, Creole and Carib cultures of the Caribbean.

Wherever you are, I highly recommend seeing the chior if they are playing nearby. 

Below, three vidoes from YouTube












Creole Choir of Cuba on Amazon

Related articles

• The Creole Choir of Cuba: Tande-La (Review) (popmatters.com)

 General information: http://www.prweb.com/releases/prwebmusic-healing/san-francisco/prweb8851619.htm