5 travel books that make me want to DO ALL THE THINGS and SEE ALL THE WORLD

I'm going to keep this short: I like to travel. I want to travel more. I haven't done nearly enough. As a child I knew I would take trips, but I didn't for years and years. It wasn't until I was 33 that I realised I was waiting for SOMETHING. I don't know what. But when I realised it, I fixed it, and I booked my first ever overseas trip to New Orleans and Memphis. I haven't looked back since. This year I have a couple of small trips planned to Brisbane and Sydney (and possibly Perth but I haven't fully decided). Next year is Cape Town. The year after is back to New Orleans twice because, hey, it'll be my 40th and I'm absolutely going to do Jazz Fest and Mardi Gras. After that, who knows. I mean...I can go anywhere. Right? For today's list, I rounded up unusual/quirky/funny looking travel books that I found by happy accident in the catalogue. Now these? Are my kinda trips! Happy weekend, people.

PS: The pic above is one I took of my sibling our first night in New Orleans, standing in the middle of Bourbon Street. This was my second trip back. It was roughly 12am or 1am, and we'd spent forever on planes. Got to the Banana Courtyard (if you ever stay there say HI to Miss Mary and Mister Hugh - they tell the BEST stories), dumped our bags and headed out to see the city immediately. And this shot took place. We ended our night at Cafe du Monde at about 2am eating beignets and drinking hot chocolate. I can't wait to do it again.

5 new erotic romances (some with covers and plots that make me giggle)

I'm not about to tell you that erotic romances are dirtybadwrong. I think anything that gets people reading - yes, even Fifty Shades - is always a good thing. (Seriously, people, stop talking about that book, though. It makes me want to cry for those who consider it 'good erotica.' It's not. I can recommend you some. I am your dealer for books with the funsexytimes that are written way more better-er. I promise). SO! As I was saying: BOOKS GOOD. I read romance novels of all kinds for one reason: the Happy Ever After. No matter what bad crap goes down between the hero/heroine (hero/hero, heroine/heroine, etc.), they're going to end up together. In the story, she is going to think he's Prince Douchetastic, and he's going to think she suffers from Sleeping Beauty Syndrome and needs True Love's Kiss to wake her hormones up, and they're going to fight, and generally treat each other hilariously (and probably badly), and someone might get murdered (because what's a little romance without a little murder, am I right?) BUT it will end happily. They are going to leave me with that feelgood feeling that I get when the Happy Ever After (yes, with capitals) takes place. That is what I need from a romance novel. Basically, I need this from an erotic romance novel, too. Just, you know, with a little more emphasis on the funsexytimes. (And fewer partners than a lot of the books below seem to have BUT I JUDGE YOU NOT, PEOPLE). I was stalking the new books lists for Top 5 ideas and spotted the Best Lesbian Erotica 2013 (which I've requested), and I realised that I don't do a lot about our erotic romance collection. I promote them in our Romance eNewsletter, but that's about it. And I felt sad because erotic romance books need love, too, right? (Although technically perhaps they have a little too much love already because, HULLO, content). And today's list is in recognition of that. Also, it allows me to share some of the plots/covers that make me facepalm, giggle and, generally, laugh out loud. Because I am forever juvenile. And now I have to wait for them to come in because, obviously, I've requested them all!