The Raving Readers

FEATURE and GIVEAWAY: My Irresistible Earl by Gaelen Foley

2011-04-28T00:10:00.000-04:00

Q: What is your favorite line of exchange or scene in the book?

Well, I have lots of favorites, but one highlight is in Chapter One when Mara and Jordan see each other again for the first time in twelve years…not exactly a happy reunion…!

Here's a short scene:

"Mara." He condescended to a dutiful nod when she was right in front of him, the crowd jostling her closer to him than she had any desire ever to go again.

The sound of her name on his tongue made her flinch. How dare you speak to me?

"Lord Falconridge," she replied in a frosty tone. She meant to keep going without so much as slowing down, but he spoke again, flicking a rudely approving glance over her figure. "You're looking well."

Gracious, this bold appraisal from Lord Holier-Than-Thou quite astonished her! He had always been--or pretended to be--the model of knightly virtue when they were young.

Perhaps he'd changed. Perhaps he'd given up the act of chivalry at last. Good. The world did not need any more hypocrites.

"Thank you," she clipped out. Again, she meant to walk away, and again he stopped her with another comment--seemingly in spite of himself.

"I did not know you collected art."

There's a lot you don't know about me, you prick. "I don't, my lord. Good day."

"Mara--"

Gaelen is offering a signed copy of MY IRRESISTIBLE EARL for giveaway!

Mechanics:

Simply write a comment or ask a question [click here] to be entered into the giveaway!

Contest ends April 30.

Winners will be announced in May.

Check out other Featured Book Interviews:

A Dead Man's Debt by Grace Elliot
Breathe Me In by Lex Valentine
To Kill A Vampire by Julianna Sage
Always Remember by Rita Hestand
The Wind and the Sea by Marsha Canham
Tender Mercies by Mary Manners
Taking Back His Widow by Kerri Williams
Wicked Wager Among Friends by Cassandre Dayne
The Pleasure Garden by Amanda McIntyre, Kristi Astor and Charlotte Featherstone

FEATURE and GIVEAWAY: To Kill A Vampire by Julianna Sage

2011-04-27T02:39:00.000-04:00

NOMINEE: BEST PARANORMAL ROMANCE IN 2010

Q: In TO KILL A VAMPIRE, we are introduced to a completely different kind of vampire. What inspired you to come up with your own take on vampires? What makes them unique from the other vampires in the genre?

My vampires are humans who "share" their bodies with demons, and it is the demon who craves the blood. It is very much a symbiotic. The demon allows the human control, but they share their thoughts and physical sensations. I liked the idea that vampires were redeemable, that a possibility existed that they could return to their human forms.

Q: How has Erik's (the hero) past and experiences shaped him to be the man/vampire that he is?

He's very smart and very passionate about everything in his life. Once he decided to defy the order to kill Angelica, he threw himself into saving her with the same intelligence and commitment that he faced everything in his life...

Read more.

Julianna Sage is giving away a digital copy of TO KILL A VAMPIRE!

Mechanics:

Simply write a comment or ask a question [click here] to be entered into the giveaway!

Contest ends April 30.

Winners will be announced in May.

Check out other Featured Book Interviews:

A Dead Man's Debt by Grace Elliot
Breathe Me In by Lex Valentine
Always Remember by Rita Hestand
The Wind and the Sea by Marsha Canham
Tender Mercies by Mary Manners
My Irresistible Earl by Gaelen Foley
Taking Back His Widow by Kerri Williams
Wicked Wager Among Friends by Cassandre Dayne
The Pleasure Garden by Amanda McIntyre, Kristi Astor and Charlotte Featherstone

FEATURE and GIVEAWAY: The Pleasure Garden by Amanda McIntyre, Charlotte Featherstone and Kristi Astor

2011-04-26T02:34:00.000-04:00

Q: Please share a favorite line of exchange or scene in the story.

Amanda: This is the opening of the story which I feel tells a great deal about where things are going to go from here. ;) Here's the scene:

Forbidden. The reality that Edmund and his friend, Gregory could be held in high treason of the English king was the last thing on Edmund's mind as he stared at the lovely creature walking through the crowd toward them. Fair-skinned, with luxurious red hair, she sauntered with ease, greeting vendors, charming all with whom she came in contact, offering them a smile from lips that Edmund found himself wanting to taste...

Amanda and Kristi are each offering a copy of THE PLEASURE GARDEN for giveaway! Two copies for giveaway!

Mechanics:

Simply write a comment or ask a question here to be entered into the giveaway!

Contest ends April 30.

Winners will be announced in May.

Check out other Featured Book Interviews:

A Dead Man's Debt by Grace Elliot
Breathe Me In by Lex Valentine
To Kill A Vampire by Julianna Sage
Always Remember by Rita Hestand
The Wind and the Sea by Marsha Canham
Tender Mercies by Mary Manners
My Irresistible Earl by Gaelen Foley
Taking Back His Widow by Kerri Williams
Wicked Wager Among Friends by Cassandre Dayne

FEATURE and GIVEAWAY: Breathe Me In by Lex Valentine

2011-04-21T00:25:00.000-04:00

Q: I just love it when inspiration struck. Wilson North, former lover of Seth and Corey (from book 6), finally meets his match in Garrick Forrester. Why is Garrick perfect for him, when things didn't work out with his former lovers?

Garrick is a Dom but he has a lot of fears about who he really is. He's gay but he's not really out of the closet. He pays for sex or gets it at his BDSM club. He has family – a brother, parents – but he's very much a loner, isolated, and driven.

Will is his exact opposite. He's a sexual submissive (not trained though) and even though he has no family, he longs for one, longs to not be alone. He's got a great career but he's just drifting along in it with no real purpose. Garrick inspires Will to be more than he is and Will pushes Garrick to come out of the closet and be who he truly is. No partner had ever done that for either of these two heroes. They were meant to be together...

Lex Valentine is giving away a copy of Breathe Me In or any book in backlist (winner's choice of digital or signed print)!

Mechanics:

Simply write a comment or ask a question [click here] to be entered into the giveaway!

Contest ends April 30.

Winners will be announced in May.

Check out other Featured Book Interviews:

A Dead Man's Debt by Grace Elliot
To Kill A Vampire by Julianna Sage
Always Remember by Rita Hestand
The Wind and the Sea by Marsha Canham
Tender Mercies by Mary Manners
My Irresistible Earl by Gaelen Foley
Taking Back His Widow by Kerri Williams
Wicked Wager Among Friends by Cassandre Dayne
The Pleasure Garden by Amanda McIntyre, Kristi Astor and Charlotte Featherstone

Who is MARY MANNERS?

2011-04-20T00:19:00.000-04:00

I was born in Chicago, Illinois, the second of five children. I knew I wanted to write from a very early age. Most of my earliest childhood memories are centered around writing (or 'pretending' to write). I attended the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana and received a teaching degree in Special Education. I moved to East Tennessee following my college graduation and have taught middle-school students for the past 25 years. (What fertile ground for story ideas)!

I continued to write and enter contests (and my sweet daughter offered to kiss the envelope of each submission for good luck J). Just a few weeks before I got 'the email', my daughter said—out of the blue as we were driving home from school one afternoon—"Mama, I know you're gonna get published soon." Wow, that just warmed my heart and made my whole week!

I am married to Tim, the most supportive and patient man on the face of the earth. I have one daughter, Danni, and two sons named Tyler and Brad, who are both serving in the air force.

I began writing at birthJ. No, really, my earliest memories are of writing (or 'scribbling' as it was in the beginning). It has always been a passion of mine—like breathing. I was one of those kids who squealed with excitement over pads of paper and pencils in the Christmas stocking! I used to 'write' stories in my head as a teenager, while I delivered newspapers in the pre-dawn hours along the streets of Chicago. Even now, I love to get up super-early when the rest of the world is sleeping. My best writing is done then, and by eight o'clock when everyone is just beginning to wake, I feel like I still have a full day ahead of me—and I do. My favorite day is when I can wake up in the dark and write through the entire day until dark that evening without any distractions. It rarely happens, but when it does, it's so sweet.

Tender Mercies is the second-chance love story of Lexi Taylor and Cooper Jackson. Cooper was a star quarterback for the University of Tennessee before he went on to a lucrative NFL career with the Jacksonville Jaguars. He and Lexi were childhood friends and dated through college. They planned to marry…until the lure of the NFL swept Cooper away. Lexi runs a youth center called Thursday's child, and she hosts an online dating auction to raise funds for the program. When she's matched with Cooper, who's returned home following a career-threatening injury, the door is open to their reconciliation. But what Cooper doesn't know is that Lexi's been carrying a terrible secret since the day he left.

I won't tell you the secret…you'll have to read the book to find out J

I wrote the book mainly because my husband absolutely loves football, and Tennessee tradition runs deep here in the Knoxville area. I wanted to combine football and a love story and see what happened. I really like the result and I hope you do, too!

I can be found at www.MaryMannersRomance.com or on the author page at www.WhiteRosePublishing.com I love to hear from my readers, and will be glad to mail information on upcoming releases to anyone who signs up on my contact page. Also, autographed print copies of my books can be ordered through my website.

GIVEAWAY!

Mary currently has an interview on TENDER MERCIES [click here to check it out] and she's giving away a copy of this book (winner's choice of digital or print)!

Here's a sneak peek into the interview:

Q: Using an online auction to bring the two characters together is ingenious! Where did the idea for that come from?

We have several charitable organizations in the Knoxville area, and one evening while my husband and I were discussing this, he mentioned that while living in Jacksonville, Florida before we were married, he participated in a Most Eligible Bachelor auction to raise money for a children's charity. The light bulb flared and I thought, wow, that's a great premise for a book!...Read more.

To enter the drawing, just make a comment or ask Mary a question. Click here to read the rest of the interview and comment.

Contest ends 30 April. Winners will be announced in May.

MARSHA CANHAM on Writing

2011-04-14T00:29:00.001-04:00

I must confess I never had a burning desire to become a writer when I was growing up. I always thought it was one of those lofty professions that anyone but me could aspire to (as demonstrated by that great bit of grammatical excellence). I actually started writing purely by accident. I had quit my day job when my son was born, and wanted to be at home with him at least until he started school.

We lived in a very close-knit townhouse neighbourhood populated by a lot of mothers who stayed home--some of whom read a lot of romance novels and passed them around. One neighbour in particular used to read Harlequins by the handful. With her encouragement, I tried my hand at a writing one, thinking that was the best place to start, but when I sent away for their guidelines, I thought they were a little boring--this was 30 years ago when a kiss came at the very end of the book-- and ignored them (story of my life). I finished the first attempt--all of 113 pages crammed with murder, mayhem, drug lords, and a tall dark hero I thought was pretty worthy of the next Movie for TV. Of course, it had clunky dialogue and the characters walked on, walked off, walked on, walked off--but I sent it away and sat back to wait for my million dollar cheque and the neon marquee.

A very nice editor at Harlequin called me and explained that perhaps I was not writing for the right publisher. She could not, she said, recall when a Harlequin romance had a murder in it, or when there were drugs involved in the plot line, and goodness gracious, I had the hero and heroine DOING IT in the middle of the book! However, the reason why she phoned and did not just give me a standard rejection, was because when I had the heroine trapped in the lighthouse and the villain was chasing her, shooting at her, she could actually "see" what was happening. Those ten pages, she said, were worth the phone call, and by the way, had I ever considered historicals? "Something" about my style suggested to her that I would be more comfortable in a genre that could let me have all the murder and mayhem I wanted, the lusty hero and heroine DOING IT in the beginning, middle, and end ...

So that was what I did. I wrote a historical romance, considerably longer at around 600 pages, and while the dozens of rejections were coming in, I wrote another, then another. Four years later I had four manuscripts under my belt, with a rejection file as thick as the first Harlequin I attempted. I was pretty well resigned to the fact that I might have to look for another creative outlet, but, just to be absolutely sure, I gave myself one more shot. I wrote China Rose, sent it to an editor who had been somewhat encouraging in the last rejection, and told myself that was it. If it was rejected, I would give up on the idea of ever becoming a writer.

Two weeks later the editor (Maggie McLaren, who is no longer an editor but who has remained one of my best friends), and Malle Vallik, who moved from Avon to Harlequin, where she is now in charge of the digital imprints, sent me a letter of acceptance. I was in the hospital at the time having knee surgery, so I couldn't exactly jump up and down, but that was the beginning of what has turned into a wonderful odyssey through the forests of medieval England, the Scottish Highlands, sailing tall ships on the high seas, riding across moonlit moors in a mask and cape.

I have written 16 historicals and one contemporary, and for the past 6 years have been on a bit of a hiatus. It occurred to me that my grandchildren were growing up before my eyes and I was missing it, but now that they are in the pre-teen years, my muse is stirring again and visions of Errol Flynn swinging through the rigging are coming back more and more often *s*. Years ago, with my third book, THE WIND AND THE SEA, I earned my first award along with the title "Queen of Swashbuckling Romances" from Romantic Times. Since then I have written ACROSS A MOONLIT SEA, which began the Pirate Wolf series with Simon Dante at the helm. The sequel, THE IRON ROSE, featured his daughter, Juliet Dante, and was voted one of the six best massmarket fiction books of the year by Publisher's Weekly. I am currently working on another Dante book, THE FOLLOWING SEA to give Simon's two sons, Gabrielle and Jonas, their turn at the helm.

I was told 6 years ago that "pirate books were no longer popular" but what the editor didn't take into account at the time was that I write what I enjoy reading, I don't take orders well *s*, and it's difficult to silence Errol Flynn when he's looking over your shoulder.

Visit my website: http://www.marshacanhamebooks.com/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/marsha.canham
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/marshacanham
Blog: http://marshacanham.wordpress.com/
Email me at: marshacanham@yahoo.com

GIVEAWAY!

Marsha currently has an interview on THE WIND AND THE SEA [click here to check it out] and she's giving away 3 copies of this book!

Here's a sneak peek into the interview:

Q: What makes [Courtney] perfect for Adrian Ballantine, the man who's convinced her father is a murderer?

I think she was his perfect match because he had never encountered anyone like her. He was from Virginia, where the women were soft and soft-spoken, where they obeyed without question, married not by choice but by command. He knew his fiancée loved another man, yet both he and she were trapped in a commitment forced by their families, who were accustomed through the generations of using their wealth and stature when deciding who should marry whom.

Courtney's freedom, her passion, her lack of reservation in calling him an ass to his face was some...Read more.

To enter the drawing, just make a comment or ask Marsha a question. Click here to read the rest of the interview and comment.

Contest ends 30 April. Winners will be announced in May.

*** Reposted from The Romance Reviews

FEATURES and GIVEAWAYS

2011-04-10T00:20:00.002-04:00

We have a lot of awesome feature interviews and giveaways at the site for the month. Check them out!

A Dead Man's Debt by Grace Elliot

Breathe Me In by Lex Valentine

To Kill A Vampire by Julianna Sage

Always Remember by Rita Hestand

The Wind and the Sea by Marsha Canham

Tender Mercies by Mary Manners

My Irresistible Earl by Gaelen Foley

Taking Back His Widow by Kerri Williams

Wicked Wager Among Friends by Cassandre Dayne

The Pleasure Garden by Amanda McIntyre, Kristi Astor and Charlotte Featherstone

GIVEAWAY: The Heart of War

2011-04-03T00:21:00.002-04:00

Meet Ares God of War, the greatest Warrior the world has ever known. He's moody, grumpy, dominant, ravenously sexual, and above all, built like a Greek God.

Suspected of killing his Daughter in-Law, Psyche, and long in exile from Olympus, the solitude of Ares' secluded Greek Isle is interrupted when Magdalena MacLeod a plucky little Fey washes up on his shore after believing she's been shipwrecked. It's not mere fate that has brought the unlikely couple together yet it may be what tears them apart.

Branded with a golden chastity belt bearing the mark of Cernunnos, Celtic God of the Forest and Death, Alena has been on the run from her husband the Great Horned God for 200 years.

When the Olympians discover her presence on Ares' island, they send Apollo to the island while Ares is away with orders to bring her to Olympus. With nowhere to run and strikes a bargain with the God of War--her virginity for his protection.

Ares sees a sweeter deal; her in his bed and himself back in his rightful place on Olympus among the Gods. If it means turning Alena over to Zeus afterward, well that's of no consequence to him...is it?

After Alena proves herself to the God of War in battle and in his bed, the Ares must choose between his Divinely Dysfunctional Family, his pride, and Alena.

Get lost in this sweeping dark saga of lust, rage, revenge, and redemption. Battle Ancient Gods while falling in love with Ares God of War and Alena MacLeod. They share a love that will rock the world from the heights of Olympus to the Celtic moors.

Contest ends April 10. Click here to enter.

FEATURE and GIVEAWAY: What I Did For a Duke by Julie Anne Long

2011-03-29T00:38:00.000-04:00

Hi Julie, thanks for taking the time for this interview. WHAT I DID FOR A DUKE is so awesome that we wanted to know more!

Q: Where did you get the inspiration for the Pennyroyal Green series?

Well, I wanted to create a kind of panoramic premise—Regency playground for me as an author if you will ;), a world that readers would want to visit time and again—and one that would allow me enough delicious latitude to do what I hope I do best, write unique characters who will inevitably fall in love in memorably passionate ways. I wanted it to theoretically yield countless stories—like, oh, a long-running television series. And I loved the notion of two powerful, feuding aristocratic families at the center of it bound by ancient secrets and one juicy alleged curse: that an Eversea and a Redmond are destined to fall in love once per generation with disastrous results.

Colin Eversea's story (in The Perils of Pleasure) helped me launch the series, because I pictured him going to the gallows, and the two families waiting for him to hang—each with entirely different feelings about the whole thing, and lots of undercurrents, thanks to Lyon Redmond's disappearance, all allegedly because Olivia Eversea broke his heart. It all unfurled from there!

Q: Will we ever see the main characters in the previous books taking a meatier role in future books? For example, we'd love to see more of our favorite couples, Violet and Asher, and of course, Genevieve and Alex, in more substantial roles in future installments!

I'd love to do that! In fact, Even as I focus on central story and romance for a particular hero and heroine, I can feel the town and the characters that bind it together, their back stories, their future stories, on the periphery of my awareness. I know all about Samuel Heron...

Read more.

Check out Julie's website!

Julie's giving away a signed print copy of THE PERILS OF PLEASURE, the first book in the Pennyroyal Green series.

Mechanics of the contest:

You can do either or both of the following to enter the drawing:

1. Write a comment or question in the comment box (3 chances to win) from now to March 31; [Click here to comment]

AND/OR

2. Check out our contest page from March 28 to 30 to enter your email address (1 chance to win). [Click here to enter]

Check out other Featured Book Interviews:

Toil and Trouble
Wuthering Heights: Wild and Wanton Version
The Haircut
Pride and Prejudice: Wild and Wanton Version
Make Me, Sir
First and Last
Frostfire

GIVEAWAYS: Passing Time and Honeytrapped

2011-03-27T08:27:00.000-04:00

When world-weary Louis Duncan returns to the English town where he grew up, the last thing on his mind is finding love. He's come home to be at his estranged mother's side as she lies comatose in a hospital bed.

The always-sunny barman Jake Harvey yearns to offer Louis much more than a willing ear. After an evening of too much wine, too much Indian take-out, and too much of Jake's soft lips, Louis succumbs to the young man's charms. Jake proves to be a passionate lover as well as a loyal friend.

When his mother's condition deteriorates, Louis leans on Jake to help him through the difficulty of another loss. The love of his life died two years before, but to Louis he remains every bit alive as Jake. He and Carter continue to chat, smoke together, even argue over whether Louis is living or merely existing. They do everything as they always did, except have sex. Now, despite Carter urging him to take the risk, can Louis give up his first real love and take his chances with the living?

Contest ends on March 27. Click here to enter.

It's her job to snare him, but this trap might be more complicated than she thought.

When Tilly went into business as a private detective, she thought it would be all brilliant deductive reasoning and car chases. She was not prepared for the deluge of calls from suspicious lovers hiring her to entrap their love rat partners, but when times are hard, you take what's on offer - which is how, despite two left feet, she came to find herself learning the Argentine tango.

But is the tango teaching lothario all he seems to be? And when he makes his hot Latin moves on her, will she really be able to stay professional and resist them?

Tilly finds herself tangled up in the tango, hot on the tail of a mystery. She even manages to fit in a car chase, though the brilliant deductive reasoning doesn't work out so well. But where her brain might miss out, her body certainly doesn't. They don't call sex the horizontal tango for nothing, it seems.

Contest ends March 29. Click here to enter.

FEATURE and GIVEAWAY: First and Last by Stacey Kennedy

2011-03-25T00:31:00.001-04:00

Hi Stacey, thanks for taking the time for this interview.

Q: FIRST AND LAST being the last book, we are sorry to come to the end of this series. For those of us who are new to your works, please give us an overall view of The Magical Sword series.

The novels in The Magical Sword series follow the life of Nexi Jones―a young woman who has never felt like she belonged. The reasons for this are because she's not human. She is a supernatural and was meant to belong in Otherworld. From the moment Nexi awakens there, her life is about to filled with passion, danger and the journey of her discovering just who she is and the gifts she holds as part Witch/part Guardian.

Q: Please share with us a little about what FIRST AND LAST is about?

Meet Nexi Jones—Witch, Guardian and now, Lady of the Underworld. Embracing her new role, Nexi begins the task of changing a world led by darkness. But not everyone is happy to see her rise to power. Before long, a resistance within the Underworld is forming.

As the darkness begins to close in around her, Nexi's magical abilities flourish in response—forcing Nexi to dig down deeper into her past to discover this source and why she was gifted with such incredible strength...

Check out Stacey's website!

Stacey is offering the set of the 4 books in The Magical Sword series to one lucky winner (ebook)!

Mechanics of the contest:

Write a comment or question in the comment box (3 chances to win) from now to March 31. [Click here to comment]

Check out other Featured Book Interviews:

Toil and Trouble
Wuthering Heights: Wild and Wanton Version
The Haircut
Pride and Prejudice: Wild and Wanton Version
Make Me, Sir
What I Did For a Duke
Frostfire

FEATURE and GIVEAWAYS: Make Me, Sir by Cherise Sinclair

2011-03-24T00:26:00.003-04:00

Cherise, thank you so much for taking the time to sit down with the four of us and give us the inside scoop on your new SHADOWLANDS book, MAKE ME, SIR. You have quite the fan club over here at TRR.

Thank you for having me. I'll try hard to be a polite and proper guest. *kicks flogger farther back under chair*

Q: (Michelle) Gosh, I think I want to start off with this amazing series as a whole. What inspired you to write the Shadowlands series?

You know, I'm still amazed that it's a series. The first book, CLUB SHADOWLANDS, actually started off as a self-indulgent story I created just for myself when I was sick and feeling ugly and unfeminine. Writing about a woman who mistakenly wanders into a BDSM club somehow made me feel all better.

Once it was finished, I hated the thought of throwing it away. A crit partner, Amber Green, suggested sending to her publisher, and to my shock, Loose Id bought it and asked for more.

Q: (Rebecca) What type of research did you need to do to prepare for writing the Shadowlands series?

Well, I have a smidgen of experience ;-) but since I try to introduce new kinks with each book, I keep accumulating fun sources of information: books, websites, Fetlife groups, friends and readers in the lifestyle.

Of course, real life research is totally fun. For example, to figure out how to auction off submissives in LEAN ON ME, I dragged a friend to the San Francisco Citadel for Maestro Stephanos's Master's Den auction. (Poor Belinda)

And my husband never hesitates to volunteer...

Read more.

Check out Cherise's website!

Cherise is giving away a copy of any book from her backlist to one lucky winner!

Mechanics of the contest:

You can do either or both of the following to enter the drawing:

1. Write a comment or question in the comment box (3 chances to win) from now to March 31; [Click here to comment]

AND/OR

2. Check out our contest page from March 23 to 25 to enter your email address (1 chance to win). [Click here to enter]

Check out other Featured Book Interviews:

Toil and Trouble

Wuthering Heights: Wild and Wanton Version
The Haircut
Pride and Prejudice: Wild and Wanton Version
First and Last
What I Did For a Duke
Frostfire

FEATURE and GIVEAWAY: Frostfire by Lynn Viehl

2011-03-22T00:50:00.005-04:00

Hi Lynn, thanks a lot for this interview!

Q: Having read all the three books in your Kyndred series, I find that the paranormal element in each book is unique. How do you decide which paranormal element to use in each book?

Every decision I've made about the paranormal elements in each novel revolves around the backstory of the Kyndred, and also links back in some way to paranormal elements from the Darkyn series. For the protagonists in Frostfire, I was working with one character that had already been established in other books, so I worked off what I'd already created. I also wanted to play with my world-building a bit and explore an idea I had about the consequences of a different type of bioengineering; the kind that might happen in Nature.

Q: Where do you see this series going? Will there be a final book where all is revealed and the Takyn are safe from GenHance?

I've discussed this with my editor, and my publisher has decided that Nightshine, book four, will be the final book in the Kyndred series. I don't want to give out any spoilers, but I hope to wrap up things to everyone's satisfaction...

Read more.

Check out Lynn's blog!

Lynn's giving away an awesome prize for giveaway: a signed set of the three Kyndred novels in a tote bag! Check out the awesome pic below:

Mechanics of the contest:

You can do either or both of the following to enter the drawing:

1. Write a comment or question below in the comment box (3 chances to win) from now to March 31; [Click here to comment]

AND/OR

2. Check out our contest page from March 21 to 30 to enter your email address (1 chance to win). [Click here to enter]

Check out other Featured Book Interviews:

Toil and Trouble

Wuthering Heights: Wild and Wanton Version
The Haircut
Pride and Prejudice: Wild and Wanton Version
Make Me, Sir
First and Last
What I Did For a Duke
Frostfire

FEATURE and GIVEAWAY: Pride and Prejudice (W&W Version) by Michelle Pillow

2011-03-21T00:02:00.003-04:00

Hi Michelle, thanks for taking the time to answer our questions!

Thank you for having me!

Q: As much as I secretly wanted to know the more private aspects of Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy's world, it never occurred to me that this could even be done. What prompted this project?

I was approached through an agent by the publisher (Adams Media) to work on the book for a brand new line they were starting called The Wild and Wanton Editions. They liked my writing style and wanted me on the project. Before this I had published and won awards for original historical romances, as well as other fiction genres. I never even dreamed of doing something like this before I was asked, but having said that, I love to try new things and took the job.

The W&W books are editions of the original, not a complete rewrite. Roughly, it is 70% Jane Austen, 30% New.

Q: That's very interesting. Who are you? What do you do?

I'm multi-published author Michelle M. Pillow. I write historical, contemporary, futuristic, paranormal, fantasy, dark paranormal romances. I have a photography degree. I am a journalist for Paranormal Underground Magazine. I co-own The Raven Books with author Mandy M. Roth. I guess you could say I do a lot. I love research and trying new things, and I'm always open to new opportunities. Currently, I am working toward my degree in History...

Check out Michelle's website!

Michelle is giving away a copy of her book Mists of Midnight to one lucky winner!

Mechanics of the contest:

Write a comment or question in the comment box (3 chances to win) from now to March 31. [Click here to comment]

Check out other Featured Book Interviews:

Toil and Trouble
Wuthering Heights: Wild and Wanton Version
The Haircut
Make Me, Sir
First and Last
What I Did For a Duke
Frostfire

FEATURE and GIVEAWAY: The Haircut by Donna Callea

2011-03-19T00:58:00.002-04:00

Hi Donna, THE HAIRCUT sounds like an interesting book, with such a unique concept.

Q: What gave you the idea to write a book about hair, specifically a haircut?

I've always been fascinated by the role hair plays in our society, and particularly, its sensual aspects. Hair has always been such a vivid symbol of femininity. It's supposedly a woman's crowning glory. And most men, it's assumed, prefer women to have long flowing tresses. For a woman, losing her hair, or just getting a bad haircut, can be very traumatic. I began to wonder if love could blossom in the wake of a truly horrible haircut.

Q: The story is set in 1948 in a city that could be New York. Why did you choose that particular time in history?

I know that not many historical romances are set in the 1940s, but it was the perfect time period for my story. World War II had taken its toll on both Tasha and Mike. Her tiny Eastern European homeland was decimated during the war. He suffered a great loss while serving in the Navy. But the post-war era also a very hopeful and exciting time, especially in a city like New York-- a bustling melting pot where people have always come to make new lives and break free from the sorrows of the past...

Check out Donna's website!

Donna is giving away 4 Kindle copies of THE HAIRCUT!

Mechanics of the contest:

You can do either or both of the following to enter the drawing:

1. Write a comment or question below in the comment box (3 chances to win) from now to March 31; [Click here to comment]

AND/OR

2. Check out our contest page from March 14 to 25 to enter your email address (1 chance to win). [Click here to enter contest]

Check out other Featured Book Interviews:

Toil and Trouble

Wuthering Heights: Wild and Wanton Version
The Haircut
Pride and Prejudice: Wild and Wanton Version
Make Me, Sir
First and Last
What I Did For a Duke
Frostfire

GIVEAWAYS: The Initiation of Ms Holly and The Heart of War

2011-03-18T00:01:00.000-04:00

Sex with a mysterious stranger aboard a train leads Rita Holly to an initiation into the exclusive and secretive Mount club. Sophisticated and deviant rituals await Rita, as do the endless intrigues and power struggles deep within the heart of the organization.

Contest ends March 18. Click here to enter.

FEATURE and GIVEAWAY: Wuthering Heights (W&W Version) by Beth Williamson

2011-03-17T00:53:00.001-04:00

Hi Beth, thanks for taking the time to give us more insights into this book!

Q: Please tell us a little about Wuthering Heights, both the original story and the Wild and Wanton edition.

As a young girl, I first saw the Wuthering Heights film and was completely captured by the scene with Heathcliff as he holds a dying Catherine. I had to know this story, had to read it! I hadn't read it since high school before this project came into my lap. I reread it several times and realized just how dark the story was. I couldn't change the inherent darkness of the characters and the story, but I could bring the passion out that so desperately needed to be released (no pun intended ;).

Q: What was your favorite addition to the story?

Page 131. LOL. The scene where Heathcliff has run out into the night and Catherine follows, the scene with sex in a thunderstorm was seriously intense. Loved writing that...

Read more.

Check out Beth's website!

Beth is giving away a copy of WUTHERING HEIGHTS: THE WILD AND WANTON EDITION (print) to one lucky winner!

Mechanics of the contest:

Write a comment or question in the comment box (3 chances to win) from now to March 31. [Click here to comment]

Check out other Featured Book Interviews:

Toil and Trouble
Wuthering Heights: Wild and Wanton Version
The Haircut
Pride and Prejudice: Wild and Wanton Version
Make Me, Sir
First and Last
What I Did For a Duke
Frostfire

FEATURE and GIVEAWAY: Toil and Trouble by HP Mallory

2011-03-16T00:01:00.002-04:00

Hi HP, thanks for taking the time for this interview!

Q: What can readers expect from Jolie in TOIL AND TROUBLE? Can you share a little bit about the storyline?

Sure, Toil and Trouble picks up right where Fire Burn leaves off. And readers will learn more about Rand and the reason he can't stand Sinjin!

Q: You have an incredible love triangle between Rand, Jolie and Sinjin. What inspired you to include it into the storyline?

I just think 2 is more fun than 1! LOL Seriously though, I love reading love triangles. They just add a heightened level of drama to the story...

Q: How would you describe your characters to new readers - what makes Jolie, Rand and Sinjin so special?

Rand is the quintessential good guy. Jolie is a woman discovering herself. Sinjin...

Read more.

Check out HP Mallory's website for more of her books!

HP is giving away a copy of the ebook of either FIRE BURN AND CAULDRON BUBBLE or TOIL AND TROUBLE, winner's choice.

Mechanics of the contest:

Write a comment or question in the comment box (3 chances to win) from now to March 31.

Check out the other interviews!

Wuthering Heights: Wild and Wanton Version
The Haircut
Pride and Prejudice: Wild and Wanton Version
Make Me, Sir
First and Last
What I Did For a Duke
Frostfire

GIVEAWAY; Her Sinful Long Legs by Cassandre Dayne

2011-03-13T06:12:00.000-04:00

What could you give a man for his birthday that had everything? That was Brittany Cox's daunting task. David Miller, her secret lover, had every expensive toy money could buy. On one snowy winter night after a wicked round of sex, he admitted that he wanted his friends to watch their passion. Unfettered, an idea was brewing. When he presented her to her neighbor, forcing her to have sex in the hot lights of her picture window, she developed a naughty plan of her own. Unfortunately on the night of his birthday, she had to work. As the stretch limo took David and three of his close friends to their secret destination, he was shocked.

The strip club was not his idea of the best place to be without her. As the guest of honor, he was given front row seats to the show. The masked vixen hired began her dance of seduction. When she attempted her version of a lap dance, he broke the rules and touched. Shoved into a darkened room, he was undressed and tied to a chair. The dance not yet over, the mysterious woman teased and tasted, enlisting help from his shocked friends in an audience full of hungry voyeurs. Horrified, David refused to enjoy the stunning woman and he knew that Brittany could never forgive him for such betrayal. What David could not know what that there was another beguiling secret yet to be revealed.

Click here to enter contest. Contest ends March 14.

More prizes to be won at TRR's Grand Opening! So, head on over!

THE ROMANCE REVIEWS GRAND OPENING

2011-02-24T21:58:00.001-05:00

You're invited!

From March 1 – 31, 2011

at http://www.theromancereviews.com/

THE ROMANCE REVIEWS' GRAND OPENING!

Play the games. Explore new books.

Chat with authors. Vote for Best Books of 2010.

Rack up your points!

CAN YOU UNLOCK THE PUZZLE?

Tip: Visit everyday to increase your chances to win awesome prizes!

Over 200 prizes waiting for you!

PRIZES

Weekly Prizes

$10 Gift Cards – 32 winners!

(8 winners each week)

Over 150 Book Giveaways in total

(paperback, hardback, ebook)

Major Prizes

Grand Prize: $100 Gift Card

2nd Prize: $70 Gift Card

3rd Prize: $50 Gift Card

For Authors

(based on results of book votes)

Grand Prize: $200 TRR Advertising Package

2nd Prize: $100 TRR Advertising Package

3rd Prize: $50 TRR Advertising Package

*** For Bloggers only:

Want to be entered for a chance to win $20 Gift Card? Help The Romance Reviews promote this event from now until March 31, 2011!

1. Post about The Romance Reviews' Grand Opening and link to http://www.theromancereviews.com/ (You may post a portion or the entirety of this post on your blog.)

2. Place the poster (with link to http://www.theromancereviews.com/ ) on your sidebar in a prominent place.

3. Give The Romance Reviews your link in the comments on the following post: http://theromancereviews.blogspot.com/2011/02/romance-reviews-grand-opening.html!

For additional chances, every tweet or Facebook post gets 1 chance each. Post your links in the comments on http://theromancereviews.blogspot.com/2011/02/romance-reviews-grand-opening.html!

FEATURE and GIVEAWAY: Pleasure Bound by Opal Carew

2011-02-24T00:01:00.001-05:00

Book Interview on February 2011

Hi, Opal, thanks for this chance to get an in-depth look at PLEASURE BOUND.

Q: What was your inspiration behind writing PLEASURE BOUND?

My inspiration for writing PLEASURE BOUND was the idea of a man (Ty) who gives up his "bad boy" ways, then falls for the girl next door (Marie), who turns out to want exactly the type of guy he used to be. Everything went from there. Of course, I needed another man to be the bad boy Marie falls for, to make Ty rethink what he really is, and that's when I came up with Zeke, the motorcycle riding, tattooed, pierced, sexy badass, who has a heart of gold.

Q: You are known for your deeply erotic work, and this book is no exception. But you also have such intense emotion and vulnerability tied into the story. How do you find the balance for the emotional and sexual aspects of your stories?

Thank you! Usually I start with a story idea that hints at the growth the characters must go through in order to find happiness.

In PLEASURE BOUND, from the most basic idea, it was clear to me that Ty is denying who he is inside. Not just the bad boy persona, but the deeper issues of what he wants from life and who and how he loves.

Falling for his neighbour Marie, at first seems straightforward, and almost safe, to him. She is his idea of the kind of woman a bad boy would not fall in love with: a sweet, home-loving, girl-next-door type. When he finds out what she wants in a man is exactly what he has given up being, however, it puts him in conflict with wanting to leave his bad boy tendencies in the past and his desire to win Marie.

To push Ty even more (and ramp up the emotion and excitement...

Opal is giving away a copy of PLEASURE BOUND!

Mechanics of the contest: You can do either or both of the following to enter the drawing:

1. Write a comment or question to Opal in the comment box on the review site (3 chances to win) from now to February 28; [Click here to comment]

AND/OR

2. Check out our contest page from February 23 to 25 to enter your email address (1 chance to win). [Click here to enter]

The winner will be announced in the comment box and on this blog in March.

Other Featured Book Interviews in February:

Legend of Goddess
Pleasures of a Notorious Gentleman
Enchanted No More
First Grave on the Right
Darkness Dawns
Lust
Caressa's Knees

GIVEAWAY: Kismet's Kiss by Cate Rowan

2011-02-20T00:01:00.000-05:00

* * KISMET'S KISS is a two-time RWA Golden Heart? Finalist and a winner of the Duel on the Delta, Molly, and Put Your Heart in a Book contests. * *

In the desert realm of Kad, a deadly epidemic strikes the palace of Sultan Kuramos. Only a magical healer from an enemy land has the skill to save his royal household, but Kuramos never imagined the healer would be a woman.

Healer Varene finds her own surprises in Kad. She expects the sultan's arrogance, but not his courage or his selfless care of the ill?or the possibility that the epidemic is the curse of a vengeful goddess.

Kuramos's culture condemns Varene's mystical talents. Her presence triggers an insurrection, yet as he and the healer toil for a cure, he loses his heart to her. She falls for him as well, but how can she relinquish her homeland and her principles?especially when he already has a harem and his family may be cursed?

Contest ends February 28. Click here to enter.

Check out our other contests.

GIVEAWAY: Absolution by Kaylea Cross

2011-02-18T03:00:00.000-05:00

A lifetime of regret?

After legendary CIA contractor Luke Hutchinson unknowingly trained the man who would become the world's most dangerous terrorist, he has no choice but to hunt him across the globe. Driven to complete that final mission, he fears his enemy has targeted the only woman Luke has ever loved. Unfortunately for him she's his ex-wife, and already facing another deadly threat he can't protect her from.

A lifetime of pain?

Emily always hoped Luke would find his way back to her, but she's finally given up on that impossible dream. Now that she's fighting her own life and death battle, the last thing she wants is to get entangled with the man who ripped out her heart and left her to raise their son on her own.

One final chance at absolution?

Undeniable sparks fly when they're forced to share a roof, but unless Luke can get Emily to trust him, they won't get the second chance they've waited over two decades for. And time is running out. The monster Luke created is on the move again, bent on destroying him and anyone who gets in the way.

Contest ends February 20, 2011. Click here to enter.

GIVEAWAY: Talk Dirty to Me by Tory Richards

2011-02-17T00:01:00.002-05:00

Lilly has been in love with her brother's best friend Blake for years. She lost her virginity to the oil driller on her eighteenth birthday, only to wake the next morning to find him gone. After he pulled that stunt twice more, she swore never to see or talk to him again. But now he's back for her brother's wedding, and he's as irresistible as she remembers.

Blake thinks Lilly's even sexier than ever. Unable to resist one another, they don't make it out of the airport parking lot before taking up where they left off. As the two rediscover their passion for each other, nothing and nowhere is off-limits!

Contest ends February 19. Click to enter here.

Check out our other contests.

Yippee! My First Interview

2011-02-16T20:57:00.002-05:00

Hey, check me out at Belinda's Passion Palooza, where I spilled the deets on The Romance Reviews.

FEATURE and GIVEAWAY: Caressa's Knees by Annabel Joseph

2011-02-16T00:01:00.000-05:00

Book Interview on February 2011

Michelle: *raises eyebrow to give Kyle the evil eye* Well, from what I hear it wasn't quite that pretty. I can understand you want to keep the down and dirty private, but admission is the first step, my dear.

Kyle: Oh, you mean?oh. Yeah. You're talking about the alcohol, cocaine, and loose women. Okay, yeah, that part of it was pretty ugly. I was fighting a lot of demons during that time. Unsuccessfully. I was working through the trauma of watching Nell and Jeremy ride off into the sunset, and then the guilt about shooting Nell's assailant, and guilt about a lot of other stuff I did as his assistant. It was a lot to deal with at once.

Michelle: *puts hand over his and pats in comfort* Hun, why didn't you fight for Nell? Why did you just sit back and watch her be swept away?

Kyle: You know, I think even then I knew there was no point in it. It was obvious from the start that she was lovesick for Jeremy, and Jeremy--well, I knew him better than anyone, and I knew how much he loved her even before he did. He would have fought me tooth and nail for her, and he would have won. They belonged together. A lot of the arguing and sniping I did with Nell was just my frustration about that fact...

Read more.

Annabel is giving away a copy of CARESSA'S KNEES, winner's choice of print or ebook!

Mechanics of the contest:

You can do either or both of the following to enter the drawing:

1. Write a comment or question to Annabel in the comment box on the review site (3 chances to win) from now to February 28; [Click here to comment]

AND/OR

2. Check out our contest page from February 16 to 18 to enter your email address (1 chance to win). [Click here to enter]

The winner will be announced in the comment box and on this blog in March.

Other Featured Book Interviews in February:

Legend of Goddess

Pleasures of a Notorious Gentleman
Enchanted No More
First Grave on the Right
Darkness Dawns
Lust
Pleasure Bound

GIVEAWAY: Half Hearts by Sherri Desbois

2011-02-15T16:00:00.000-05:00

A promise broken

Losing her family at a young age, and then broken promises from the man she'd loved all her life, Charlie McCarty rarely allows anyone to get close to her. Resolved to live her life without love and determined to become a top-notch Veterinarian, she begins her residency in Redfield. Fate, however, has a way of stepping in to change even the most obstinate set plans and forces Charlie to face her past, push the boundaries of her control and her heart to the brink of destruction.

A passion fueled desire

It started out as a celebration, a chance for Charlie to let her hair down and just let go of her firm control for just one evening, but meeting a sexy as hell cowboy--and his familiar best friend--ambush everything. With relentless determination, both cowboys set out to show her that she is everything they want to complete their lives. Charlie begins to dream, once again, for the future she thought lost to her years ago.

A Journey of the Heart

When a terrifying figure from the past steps into their fragile romance, is their love enough to overcome the horror about to be unleashed or will it leave them with hearts broken in half?

Contest ends February 16. Click here to enter.

Check out our other contests.

FEATURE and GIVEAWAY: Darkness Dawns by Dianne Duvall

2011-02-15T00:01:00.000-05:00

Book Interview on February 2011

DARKNESS DAWNS is an awesome story! Thanks so much! I'm so glad you enjoyed it. And thank you for having me here at The Romance Reviews!

Q: What aspect of your book most excited you - well, aside from seeing it in print? What's the most awesome thing you want to brag about?

Many of those who have read DARKNESS DAWNS have commented on the fresh approach it takes to the vampire romance genre. Since this was one of my goals, I'm thrilled that readers are enjoying it. I'm also very excited about the great reviews DARKNESS DAWNS has been getting, beginning with The Romance Reviews giving it five stars and deeming it a Top Pick!

Q: Vampirism being caused by a virus - ie. a scientific reason as opposed to a strictly paranormal source - is a new spin. What led you to that premise?

I wanted to do something that would make DARKNESS DAWNS and the Immortal Guardians series stand out in the genre. I also didn't want my immortals and vampires to be undead. I knew historians believed some of the myths and folklore surrounding vampires arose from misunderstandings regarding illnesses like porphyria and thought that would be a good place to start. There are quite a few illnesses and diseases that produce symptoms characteristic of vampirism (extreme photosensitivity...

Dianne is offering an awesome giveaway -- a print copy of DARKNESS DAWNS!

Mechanics of the contest: You can do either or both of the following to enter the drawing:

1. Write a comment or question to Dianne in the comment box on the review site (3 chances to win) from now to February 28; [Click here to comment]

AND/OR

2. Check out our contest page from February 13 to 15 to enter your email address (1 chance to win). [Click here to enter]

The winner will be announced in the comment box and on this blog in March.

Other Featured Book Interviews in February:

Legend of Goddess

Pleasures of a Notorious Gentleman
Enchanted No More
First Grave on the Right
Lust
Caressa's Knees
Pleasure Bound

FEATURE and GIVEAWAY: First Grave on the Right by Darynda Jones

2011-02-14T15:00:00.000-05:00

Book Interview on February 2011

Congratulations on your debut, Darynda! You must have been over the moon getting such high praise from authors like J.R. Ward, Gena Showalter, and Kresley Cole on your very first published work. It was a great read!

Q: Please tell us about FIRST GRAVE ON THE RIGHT, your debut book, in your own words.

Wow, thank you so much! I'm so glad you liked it. I was definitely thrilled to get such a positive response from some of my favorite authors on the planet. It was quite the fan-girl moment. Surreal doesn't begin to describe it.

FIRST GRAVE ON THE RIGHT is about Charley Davidson, a female private investigator who was born the grim reaper. Since she was small, she has been helping the departed solve the mysteries of their deaths so they can cross. In FIRST GRAVE, three lawyers from the same law firm are murdered, and they come to Charley to find their killer. At the same time, she's dealing with a being she calls the Big Bad. He's more powerful, and definitely sexier, than any specter she's ever come across. With the help of some living and some not-so-living friends, Charley sets out to solve the highest profile case of the year and discovers that dodging bullets isn't nearly as dangerous as falling in love.

Q: The story is told in the first person point of view from Charley Davidson. Why did you name her Charley Davidson? Let's face it, that's a pretty unusual name for a girl.

Okay, confession time. She was originally named Harley Davidson. Yeah, it was worth a shot. While I thought it was ultra cool, my editor thought it was, well, cheesy. Haha. So, Harley became Charley. I wanted a name that would reflect her not-so-girlish attitude toward life. While she likes designer shoes as much as the next girl, she definitely has tomboy side to her...

Read more.

Darynda is giving away a signed hardback copy of FIRST GRAVE ON THE RIGHT!

Mechanics of the contest:

You can do either or both of the following to enter the drawing:

1. Write a comment or question to Darynda in the comment box on the review site (3 chances to win) from now to February 28; [Click here to comment]

AND/OR

2. Check out our contest page from February 13 to 15 to enter your email address (1 chance to win). [Click here to enter]

The winner will be announced in the comment box and on this blog in March.

Other Featured Book Interviews in February:

Legend of Goddess

Pleasures of a Notorious Gentleman
Enchanted No More
Darkness Dawns
Lust
Caressa's Knees
Pleasure Bound

TRR Grand Opening!!!

2011-02-13T20:25:00.002-05:00

Get ready for loads of fun activities!

Meet new and favorite authors!

Chat with fellow book lovers!

Vote for the Best Book of 2010!

Over 90 participating authors!

Over 100 winners with

Over $1,500 worth of cool prizes to be won!

PRIZES

Weekly Prizes

$10 Gift Cards – 32 winners!

(8 winners each week)

Hundreds of Book Giveaways

Major Prizes

Grand Prize: $100 Amazon Gift Card

2nd Prize: $70 Amazon Gift Card

3rd Prize: $50 Amazon Gift Card

For Authors

(based on results of book votes)

Grand Prize: $200 TRR Advertising Package

2nd Prize: $100 TRR Advertising Package

3rd Prize: $50 TRR Advertising Package

Join us at THE ROMANCE REVIEWS from March 1 to 31, 2011
(http://www.theromancereviews.com/ )

Help us spread the word!

You may use the poster above, or any of the two below.
Link back to http://www.theromancereviews.com/

FEATURE and GIVEAWAY: Lust by Charlotte Featherstone

2011-02-11T00:01:00.000-05:00

Book Interview on February 2011

Hi Charlotte, thanks a lot for taking time for this interview!

Q: Sins and Virtues -- what a unique idea! How did you come up with the idea for this wonderful series?

Well, thanks! :) I knew I wanted to write a series based on the Fey, and I wanted it to have a bit of a fairytale feel. The easiest way to begin, I thought, was to start out with a curse--so common in fairytales! I knew I wanted the series to be primarily about the Unseelie Fey because they were always the fairies that interested me most.

My family is Scottish and my gran used to tell us stories of the fey all the time, and threaten us with them when we didn't want to stay in bed! Lol! I was always intrigued by the darkness of the 'bad' faeries, so I decided to go with them.

I can't quite remember how the sins and virtues came along. It just filtered into my mind while I was brainstorming, and voila, I didn't look back!

Q: What goes into deciding the order of the books? What made you ultimately decide to do LUST first?

I suppose it didn't really matter who I started with, because I could have tailored future events to suit the remaining Sins, but Lust, he was always there, and I had this great visual of him turning into mist, and weaving his way into that perfume bottle! :) Ultimately, I knew that he would be fun to start off with, and his virtue, Chastity would be a good framework to introduce the virtues.

Their story is not very angsty, which I'm mostly known for in my books, and because it's a first book in a series, and the world building needed to be there, I opted for Lust because I knew their conflict was a tad lighter than the later sins who have much more baggage to carry around...

Read more.

Charlotte is offering an awesome giveaway – a print copy of LUST!

Mechanics of the contest:

You can do either or both of the following to enter the drawing:

1. Write a comment or question to Dianne in the comment box on the review site (3 chances to win) from now to February 28; [Click here to comment]

AND/OR

2. Check out our contest page from February 9 to 11 to enter your email address (1 chance to win).

The winner will be announced in the comment box on the review site and here on the blog in March.

Other Featured Book Interviews in February:

Legend of Goddess

Pleasures of a Notorious Gentleman
Enchanted No More
First Grave on the Right
Darkness Dawns
Caressa's Knees
Pleasure Bound

FEATURE and GIVEAWAY: Pleasures of a Notorious Gentleman by Lorraine Heath

2011-02-10T01:00:00.001-05:00

Book Interview on February 2011

Hi Lorraine, thanks for this in-depth view of Stephen and Mercy!

Q: How did the idea for this series--London's Greatest Lovers--came about?

As strange as it may seem, I first envisioned the duchess and her story. However, she was an older character and her story involved most of her life. I decided I wanted to tell it through the eyes of her sons. It didn't quite work out the way I'd planned as her sons were quite strong characters and they wanted their own stories told, but I did manage to weave hers throughout the series. Plus I love writing about brothers; these were a little different since two of them held titles. And while they all had the same mother, were raised in the same household, they still managed to be very different from each other, and that made them fun to work with.

Q: What can you tell us about Stephen and Mercy that would enable us to understand and sympathize with them?

Stephen begins as the playboy type who is all about fun...[while] Mercy has always been responsible, but also a bit of a dreamer...

I enjoyed working with these characters because Stephen is desperate to regain memories that Mercy longs to forget. So it sets up a different dynamic for them than anything I've ever written about before. Stephen has to be willing to give up his quest into the past in order to bring happiness to Mercy. He has to be put her needs above his. Yet she holds the key to unlocking many of his memories. She has to be willing to go through the pain of that for him. What price do you pay for...

Read more.

Lorraine is offering an awesome giveaway! Winner's choice of an autographed copy of both "Passions of a Wicked Earl" and "Pleasures of a Notorious Gentleman" or a $20 gift card to Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble or Borders!

Mechanics of the contest:

You can do either or both of the following to enter the drawing:

1. Write a comment or question to Lorraine below in the comment box on the review site (3 chances to win) from now to February 28; [Click here to comment]

AND/OR

2. Check out our contest page from February 6 to 11 to enter your email address (1 chance to win). [Click here to enter]

The winner will be announced in the comment box on the review site and on this blog in March.

GIVEAWAY: The Dimensional Shift by Frances Pauli

2011-02-09T03:00:00.000-05:00

Chloe came to the Three Lakes area for the peace and quiet. She happily abandoned the world of retail management, suits and promotions to work as a hotel maid catering to the local tourists. Until Andrew Paige showed up--a suit of the worst kind, the kind that makes her knees tremble.

When Andrew offers her a job at his hotel, Chloe is hell bent on resisting, but the Dimensional Shift is no ordinary hotel, and Chloe is immediately tossed into the world of inter-dimensional tourists, their odd accommodations, and a string of thefts that threaten to ruin her chances at romance.

While learning the ropes, dealing with the Shift's unusual guests, and trying to determine if the boss' interest in her is strictly professional, Chloe uncovers a plot to steal the hotel's dimensional keys. With the help of the town gossip, her alien abductee neighbor, and her new invisible best friend, Chloe confronts an inter-dimensional crime ring and a host of complications that make romancing the boss look like the least of her troubles.

Contest ends February 10. Click here to enter.

FEATURE and GIVEAWAY: Enchanted No More by Robin D. Owens

2011-02-08T03:00:00.000-05:00

Book Interview on February 2011

Hi Robin, welcome and thank you for this insight into ENCHANTED NO MORE.

Q: Fairies aren't really anything new in Urban Fantasy, but YOUR fairies aren't like any I've seen before. What made you think about linking your world so closely to the elements?

LOL. I'm not sure how to answer that question, except in magic and myths certain beings are considered elementals -- like fire salamanders, water mermaids, etc. So I used that. Also, I read a fair amount of Urban Fantasy, and it seems to me that there are a slew of magical beings out there and you don't really know what might pop up next in the same world -- a selkie, a dragon, etc.

So I decided that I would only have eight magical races, four major and four minor and all elementals. Dwarves/Brownies, Earth. Djinns/Firesprites, Fire. Merfolk/Naiads(ers), Water. Elves/Airsprites, Air. These magical beings would have lived a long time on Earth but not be native. Native magical beings are Treefolk, i.e. Dryads and their offspring.

There are mixtures, of course, but any human who has magic will have a touch of this heredity somewhere in their family line.

Q: What kind of research went into building your world?

Well, first of all, this was not the story I envisioned or sold. After editor input and much gnashing of my teeth, I realized the story that I wanted to tell simply wouldn't work. It wouldn't work because the magic I wanted Jenni to have was a "timeshifter", able to go back in time...

Read more.

Robin is offering an awesome giveaway! Winner's Choice: Choice of any backlist book, Heart Series or Luna, e-book or print, OR choice of an ARC of one of the "Heart" stories coming in December 2011 or Heart Search.

Mechanics of the contest:

You can do either or both of the following to enter the drawing:

1. Write a comment or question to Robin in the comment box on the review site (3 chances to win) from now to February 28; [Click here to comment]

AND/OR

2. Check out our contest page from February 7 to 9 to enter your email address (1 chance to win). [Click here to enter]

The winner will be announced in the comment box on the review site and this blog in March.

FEATURE and GIVEAWAY: Goddess of Legend by P.C. Cast

2011-02-06T03:00:00.000-05:00

Book Interview on February 2011

Hi PC, welcome and thanks for taking the time to answer our questions.

Q: When you decided to write another book in your Goddess series, what made you choose the legend of Arthur, Guinevere and Lancelot?

All of the Goddess Summoning books touch on retelling my favorite myths or legends. I've loved stories about Camelot since I was a little girl and saw the Lerner and Loewe musical, so it just seemed like a natural fit to return to King Arthur and his realm.

Q: Isabel was a great character to get to know and one of the things I love most about your series is that you choose your heroines to be somewhat older and more mature than what's generally shown in other books. Was there a particular reason why?

There are a couple of reasons I prefer to create romance heroines who are older:

1) It has been my life experience that women get more interesting and attractive as they get older.

2) I don't like the TSTL heroines (Too Stupid To Live), and those tend to be 20-somethings. In fiction and in real life, they're coming off as wise and experienced, but the opposite is often the truth. I mean, seriously, when I was 20-something, I made the stupidest decisions of my life, even though I thought I was being uber-smart and mature. Ugh, not hardly!

3) I believe it empowers all women when we respect and revere those who are older, instead of discounting them because of a few laugh lines and gray hair...

Read more.

There are 3 copies of GODDESS OF LEGEND to be won! Only residents of US/Canada are eligible to win.

Mechanics of the contest:

You can do either or both of the following to enter the drawing:

1. Write a comment or question to PC in the comment box on the review site (3 chances to win) from now to February 28; [Click here]

AND/OR

2. Check out our contest page from February 1 to 9 to enter your email address (1 chance to win). [Click here]

The winner will be announced in the comment box and on this blog in March.

GIVEAWAY: A Dead Man's Debt by Grace Elliot

2011-02-05T03:00:00.000-05:00

A Dead Man's Debt - a story of blackmail, duty and an unexpected love.

After publically humiliating a suitor, Miss Celeste Armitage is sent from the Ton in disgrace and resolves never to marry. But when she finds a sketch book of nude studies and discovers the artist is her hostess's eldest son, Lord Ranulf Charing, she finds herself dangerously attracted to exactly the sort of rogue she is sworn to avoid.

Nothing is as it seems. Lord Ranulf's life is a facade and he is being blackmailed over his late brother's debts. But just as the darkly restless Ranulf unexpectedly learns to love, the vengeful fury of his nemesis unleashed. In order to protect Celeste, Lord Ranulf faces a stark choice between duty and true love...

However Ranulf has underestimated Miss Armitage's stubborn resolve to clear his name, and in so doing places the woman he loves in mortal danger....

Contest ends February 7, 2011. Click here to enter.

GIVEAWAY: Relentless by Kaylea Cross

2011-02-04T03:00:00.000-05:00

Former Delta Force operator Rhys Sinclair defied the odds by recovering from a traumatic brain injury that should have killed him. Given the chance to repay the beautiful doctor who saved his life by guarding hers, he can't say no--even if it means facing an unknown threat from the cunning terrorist his CIA-sanctioned team had been hunting in Afghanistan. The catch is, she can't know about it without blowing their cover.

Trauma surgeon Neveah Adams is finally putting her life back together after her horrific experience in Afghanistan. Giving the keynote speech at a medical conference in Vancouver is her starting point. With Rhys there to watch over her she feels safe for the first time in months, and her biggest problem is trying to hide her intense feelings for him.

But Rhys knows something Neveah doesn't. The terrorist who targeted her in Kabul is coming after her again, and he's relentless enough to ensure all his past mistakes are erased with one final strike. Now that the nightmare from her past has resurfaced, Neveah has no choice but to put her trust in the one man who has the ability to break her heart, never knowing an assassin is closer than they realize.

Contest ends February 6, 2011. Click here to enter.

GIVEAWAY: Paramour by Margaret Ethridge

2011-02-02T03:00:00.000-05:00

Two men: one living, one dead, and both vying for her love.

Camellia Stafford has never been alone in her room. For twenty years, she's been engaged in a fierce power struggle with her bedroom's previous tenant, Frank DeLuca, the ghost trapped in the light fixture above her bed.

Caustic and cranky, Frank has one soft spot--Cam. Over the years, their feelings for one another have evolved from grudging friendship to an enduring love that burns white-hot until Frank puts his feelings for Cam on ice.

When she suffers the loss of her beloved father, Cam returns home to say good-bye, and confront her feelings for Frank. She finds an unexpected shoulder to lean on in neighbor, Bradley Mitchum. Cam falls hard and fast for the handsome ad man's charming smile and passion-ate nature, but Brad's easy-going exterior masks a steely backbone tempered by adversity.

Now Cam must choose? Is her heart strong enough to determine which dream could lead to a love that will last a lifetime?

Contest ends February 6. Click here to enter.

GIVEAWAY: New Canterbury Affair by Frances Pauli

2011-01-31T03:00:00.000-05:00

Lierra drags her barely tolerable fiance to New Canterbury, a planet where history is almost recreated for the nostalgic, human colonists. While preparing for their wedding, however, she encounters Forrest Ecks, her hero and one of the premier artists of the time.

Despite his fame, Forrest Ecks has little in the way of promise. Injured in the war, his painting career has withered along with his damaged hand. When the Lady Darvid shows him an E-sel full of amateurish, but promising sketches, Forrest takes on the task of teaching the woman. But Lierra herself proves far more interesting than her paintings.

Lierra's engagement hovers ever closer, but more than her art blooms during her lessons with Forrest. With the little time they have, can they teach each other that giving up is never the best option?

Contest ends February 2. Click here to enter.

For other ongoing contests, click here.

GIVEAWAY: When a Mullo Loves a Woman by JoAnne Kenrick

2011-01-28T03:00:00.000-05:00

She thought the mullo was just a myth--she was dead wrong.

Adam Flint's Gypsy visions always guide him to those who need his paranormal gifts. He gets more than he bargained for in Pearl Kizzy, a beautiful spitfire from Liverpool. Adam knows that to save Pearl, he must help her accept her own Gypsy heritage.

Although Adam and Pearl fight their burning attraction for one another, a night of passion sparks memories of their treacherous former lives. Unable to face the loss of Pearl in this century, Adam scrambles for distance from the love of his life. A rejected Pearl falls into the arms of a Mullo--a gypsy vampire--who lays claim to her heart--and her life.

To survive, Adam and Pearl must accept their tragic past, and find a way to kill the undead.

Contest ends January 31. Click here to enter.

For other ongoing contests, click here.

GIVEAWAY: The Dimensional Shift by Frances Pauli

2011-01-27T03:00:00.000-05:00

GIVEAWAY: Excuse Me, Miss by Phillip Duck Thomas

2011-01-26T03:05:00.000-05:00

"Fidelity anthropologist", sexy decoy to most, Victoria Frost will discover the answers you seek…

The night it all begins to change for Victoria Frost is no different than usual. She spends it seducing another woman's husband. Handsome, charming, intelligent, any woman would be attracted to Benjamin Kingston. Victoria eases up beside him and lingers there like too much perfume. And that quickly, for him, his wife is forgotten. The ensuing conversation is an erotically-charged game of cat and mouse. Where will it lead?

In EXCUSE ME, MISS hurtling events and richly drawn characters collide in a sexy story of betrayal, the desire for loyalty, and the consequences of unfaithfulness. One woman's determination to uncover the truth for badly broken wives instead unleashes a host of personal dilemmas, and in the end the truths she discovers are mostly about herself.

Contest ends January 27, 2011. Click here to enter.

GIVEAWAY: One Quick Kiss by Phillip Thomas Duck

2011-01-25T03:32:00.002-05:00

A collection of short stories about sex, love, and every emotion in between. From the light and whimsical, to the highly charged and erotic, this collection offers something for everyone who has ever been under the intoxicating spell of a relationship and desirous of…ONE QUICK KISS.

On the eve of her wedding anniversary the wife in COTTON COMES TO NINA has but one wish for a present. She wishes the calendar would simply skip the date. But how does she explain this to her eager husband?

Boxing is known as the Sweet Science. A brutal sport that requires the extreme sacrifice and commitment of its combatants. Rule number one: no sex before a big fight. For the two lovers at the heart of G.O.A.T., getting beyond rule number one might be as difficult as the coming fight itself.

The wife is the last to know. Discovering that her husband has been unfaithful is surely a terrible shock for the devoted wife and mother of IN THE DARK. But an even greater shock than that is still to come.

I am my brother's keeper. So many things come to mind with thoughts of brotherhood. Camaraderie,
fellowship, looking out for the wellbeing of another. The brother in FLIMSY AND RAGGEDY wonders if lusting after his brother's girlfriend can be added to the list.

This collection also includes an excerpt from the romantic suspense novella, EXCUSE ME MISS and its forthcoming follow-up, MODESTY.

Contest ends January 27, 2011. Click here to enter.

GIVEAWAY: Forbidden and Once Bitten by Hope Welsh

2011-01-23T06:13:00.000-05:00

FORBIDDEN

Sarah was disfigured by a fire while saving the life of a child, while the vampire, Devlin, watched helplessly. Through dreams, he has spent months coming to her, loving and making love to her. Finally, he comes to her in the night and tells her he can give her back her beauty--by making her a vampire--even though it's forbidden.

ONCE BITTEN

In "Once Bitten", Hailey has just broken up with "The Jerk" and is finding her way again as a newly single woman. While out with a friend in a bar, she wants to just go curl up with an episode of Stargate. Instead of the cab she'd thought to take home, she's offered a ride by a gorgeous man--and doesn't refuse when he tells her he's a cop with the local police department. What could be safer? Bennett has wanted her for years--since they were high school together. Now, ONCE BITTEN, he knows he wants her forever--but will the Vampire Hunters allow them their happiness, or will the danger drive them apart?

Contest ends January 31, 2011. Click here to enter.

GIVEAWAY: Half Hearts by Sherri Desbois

2011-01-21T10:36:00.000-05:00

A promise broken

Losing her family at a young age, and then broken promises from the man she'd loved all her life, Charlie McCarty rarely allows anyone to get close to her. Resolved to live her life without love and determined to become a top-notch Veterinarian, she begins her residency in Redfield. Fate, however, has a way of stepping in to change even the most obstinate set plans and forces Charlie to face her past, push the boundaries of her control and her heart to the brink of destruction.

A passion fueled desire

It started out as a celebration, a chance for Charlie to let her hair down and just let go of her firm control for just one evening, but meeting a sexy as hell cowboy—and his familiar best friend—ambush everything. With relentless determination, both cowboys set out to show her that she is everything they want to complete their lives. Charlie begins to dream, once again, for the future she thought lost to her years ago.

A Journey of the Heart

When a terrifying figure from the past steps into their fragile romance, is their love enough to overcome the horror about to be unleashed or will it leave them with hearts broken in half?

Contest ends January 21, 2011. Click here to enter.

GIVEAWAY: No Turning Back by Kaylea Cross

2011-01-21T03:15:00.000-05:00

CIA communications expert Samarra Wallace is on the run from a faceless enemy when she learns terrorists have kidnapped and threatened to execute her cousin. She will do whatever it takes to free her, including breaking cover to contact the former teammate she is dangerously attracted to. Now all she has to do is convince him she's not working for the bad guys.

Ex-Army Ranger Ben Sinclair isn't sure he can trust Sam, but he can't turn her away. Lives are at stake and she may be the only way to capture the terrorist mastermind his team is hunting. Despite his reservations, he finds himself falling for her. But when Sam's innocence is questioned again during a botched operation in the remote mountains of Afghanistan, the team pays a terrible price for trusting her. In the wake of that staggering betrayal Ben must decide if she's the innocent woman he fell in love with, or if she's a traitor who'd set them up to die.

Contest ends January 23, 2011. Click here to enter.

FEATURE and GIVEAWAY: Meant for Each Other by DH Starr

2011-01-20T03:29:00.000-05:00

Book Interview on January 2011

DH, thanks a lot for taking the time out to answer our questions on MEANT FOR EACH OTHER!

Q: Please tell us what inspired you to write MEANT FOR EACH OTHER?

Hmm. You know. I'm not really sure. I grew up in Newton, Massachusetts and have lived in NYC for a quarter of my life. I've been openly gay for over half my life and have been in a few relationships, some of which ended like Jeremy and Andrew and others which ended like Craig and Robert. While writing WRESTLING WITH DESIRE, restricted in the sex scenes I could write since it is a young adult novel, I began playing out different stories in my mind that I could write for an adult audience in the erotic romance genre. Craig and Jeremy kept surfacing in my mind. The idea of kids figuring out they loved each other, then separating and reconnecting years later was appealing to me. So when I began writing MEANT FOR EACH OTHER, I had already been thinking about what their lives were like and what issues they would face.

Q: What insight can you share about Craig and Jeremy so that we could understand them better and sympathize with them?

Craig and Jeremy are both artistic and humane. That's what makes each of them tick. Craig's work is to design images that represent the visions of his clients. It's not about making money for him. He loves the work and his reward comes from the satisfaction of his clients. He's about love and connection, and the further Robert drifts from the man he first met...

Read on.

DH is giving away 3 copies each of MEANT FOR EACH OTHER and WRESTLING WITH DESIRE!

Mechanics of the contest:

You can do either or both of the following to enter the drawing:

1. Write a comment or question to DH in the comment box on the review site (3 chances to win) from now to January 31;

AND/OR

2. Check out our contest page for the contest of the above books from January 14 onwards to enter your email address (1 chance to win).

The winner will be announced in the comment box on February 3.

FEATURE and GIVEAWAY: Bucked by Cat Johnson

2011-01-18T03:00:00.011-05:00

Book Interview on January 2011

Cat, thank you so much for taking time out of your hectic schedule to answer these questions about your book. We're really excited to have the opportunity to do this. "Let's Buck", Y'all!

Thanks! It's my pleasure to tell you more about my series.

Q: Why did you decide to write a series about bull-riders? How did the idea come about?

It kind of came about by accident--or perhaps it's more poetic to call it serendipity? Or maybe desperation? LOL Anyway, here is the story. My editor at my former publisher (Linden Bay Romance, which was acquired by Samhain Publishing a few years ago) asked me for a menage book. I told her I'd think about it, but until I had a compelling idea for one, I wasn't going to try.

I had been concentrating on writing military romance and was in constant contact with a deployed soldier for those. One day, my military guy says, "Hey, my Bravo team leader used to be a rodeo cowboy before he joined the Army. Can you use that idea for a book?" I said, "Uh, yeah!! And why didn't you tell me this before?!"

From that one kernel of an idea, the story of Rough Stock (my first cowboy menage) emerged--2 cowboys, both in love with the farmer's daughter. One becomes a rodeo champion, the other joins the Army. However, I had my cowboys be saddle bronc riders because I own horses and, silly author that I am, I thought, how hard could it be to write and research rodeo? Right?

Wrong!! I found I could only find so much info online. I knew I'd get killed by readers who knew the sport if I wasn't accurate in the book so, as an act of desperation, I did a People Search on Myspace for "rodeo cowboys" and I found one. He was a student at Oklahoma State University, had been on the rodeo team at his junior college (NEO) and was willing to answer my questions. He got me through writing Rough Stock, though he was a bull rider and that's what he knew most about. So it was a no brainer that the next book, another cowboy menage, should be about bull riders!

That was also about the time that the PBR (Professional Bull Riders) was really coming into its own as a televised sport, so I found I could watch hours of bull riding on television, and take notes while listening to the announcers. It really helped with the writing.

Q: How did you end up with the idea to have Mustang go into porn?

Ha! Well that I have to attribute to...

Read more.

To celebrate the fact that BUCKED (Book 2) is finally in print and that RIDE (Book 3) is now out in eBook, Cat is happy to offer a prize of one free download of the eBook that started the Studs in Spurs series, UNRIDDEN, to one lucky winner.

Mechanics of the contest:
Write a comment or question to Cat in the comment box on the review site (3 chances to win) from now to January 31.

The winner will be announced in the comment box on February 3.

Check out other Featured Titles (with giveaways):

Devoured by Darkness
The Countess
Fortune
Bucked
Meant for Each Other

GIVEAWAY: Linked by Hope Welsh

2011-01-17T06:11:00.000-05:00

Evil is watching and time is running out. Tara Summers wants an ordinary life--and nothing to do with anything paranormal. She shuns her own paranormal abilities. When her home is broken into, Cole Williams comes to the rescue--and he's much more than he seems. Will they be able to stop the evil or is their joining going to be the cause of the ultimate destruction of humanity?

Contest ends January 31, 2011. Click here to enter.

FEATURE and GIVEAWAY: FORTUNE by Annabel Joseph

2011-01-16T03:00:00.002-05:00

Book Interview on January 2011

Thanks for visiting with us today, Annabel. Congratulations on another amazing book! We're so excited to get to ask you more about FORTUNE.

Q: First off, FORTUNE's hero is Doctor Ryan whom we met in DEEP IN THE WOODS. What prompted you to do a spin off book centered around him?

Well, when I first wrote Ryan in DEEP IN THE WOODS, he was just a convenience character. I wanted Dave to have a friend to vent to about Sophie (and someone to share her with) and since Sophie was in medical school, I thought it would be great to have his friend be someone in the medical field. But as I started writing him, I got more and more turned on by him. I really hated when it was time for him to go! Fast forward to a couple months later. A girlfriend of mine got involved with a guy who was really into both shibari and origami. It piqued my interest and I started trying to come up with a story for a male character who was into shibari, and really good with his hands. And then it hit me -- a surgeon would be really good with his hands! This story is going to be about Ryan!

Q: That's interesting! Were there times while you were writing FORTUNE when you wished you had done things differently or described him differently in DEEP IN THE WOODS or did he just evolve easily from where we left him?

Well, I was pretty lucky because DEEP IN THE WOODS was still in edits when FORTUNE started taking shape in my mind. I was able to add the scene where Ryan gives Sophie the crane to tie the two books together. Otherwise his character was already pretty suited to the man I envisioned in FORTUNE. It was really serendipitous that way.

Q: At the beginning of the story, we meet Kat who is going out and picking up a different guy every night, six nights a week. That screams independence to me, so why does such an independent girl still live at home with her extremely large family and why does she submit to such a controlling man?

To me, her behavior was more about low self-esteem and self-numbing than independence. A lot of people have asked me, "So what was wrong with Kat? Why was she that way when she had that big loving family?" And the simple answer is...

Read more.

Annabel is offering a copy of FORTUNE to one lucky winner!

Mechanics of the contest:

Write a comment or question to Annabel in the comment box on the review site (3 chances to win) from now to January 31.

The winner will be announced in the comment box on February 3.

GIVEAWAY: Cover of Darkness by Kaylea Cross

2011-01-15T03:00:00.000-05:00

Targeted by a terrorist cell, Bryn McAllister survives a bombing at the U.S. Embassy in Beirut only to be left to die in a desert cellar. When she is rescued by Navy SEAL Lieutenant Declan McCabe and his team, Bryn must rely on the handsome officer to get her to safety. But just when she thinks the nightmare is over, family friend and legendary CIA operative Luke Hutchinson recruits her and McCabe to help track down the terrorist mastermind responsible for the attack.

With Bryn determined to see the terrorist brought to justice, Dec joins up to protect her, prepared to do whatever it takes to keep her safe during their dangerous mission. Battling the explosive attraction between them, Dec fights to keep his distance from her so he can do his job and keep her alive. But when plans falls apart and Bryn is captured, he must make the agonizing choice between his duty as a SEAL and the life of the woman he loves.

Contest ends January 17, 2011. Click here to enter.

FEATURE and GIVEAWAY: The Countess by Lynsay Sands

2011-01-14T02:28:00.001-05:00

Book Interview on January 2011

Thanks for taking time out to answer a few questions, Lynsay. We really enjoyed reading THE COUNTESS and appreciate your helping us gain deeper insights into the book.

Q: THE COUNTESS is the first book from your new historical romance series, The Madison Sisters. What can you tell us about THE COUNTESS that would give readers a quick glimpse of what to expect?

THE COUNTESS is about the oldest sister, Christiana Madison. Christiana is married to Dick (Richard) Fairgrave. Dick isn't the Prince Charming he presented himself to be to woo Christiana into marriage and has set a whole host of troubles on the Madisons. It's almost a relief when he turns up dead only he doesn't stay dead. 'Dead Dicky' reappears in robust form and he also doesn't seem like himself? He actually seems almost nice. But as the saying goes, 'Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.' So as Christiana tries to figure out what's up Richard's sleeve, Richard tries to figure out if his wife has her sight set on his early demise.

Q: You have THE COUNTESS set in a different time period from your other books. What kind of research did you have to do to write the story?

Actually, I've written several regency period stories in the past, and have done so much research for them that normally I don't have to do too much these days. But for THE COUNTESS, I had to do some research on Renaissance era kitchens and cooking utensils as there's a scene where multiple cooking utensils were acquired by multiple parties as makeshift weapons.

Q: I loved the idea of the twin brothers, Richard and George, and the betrayal of stealing identities for wealth and power. How did you come up with the storyline for THE COUNTESS? Was there anything in specific that interested or inspired you?

A couple of close friends of mine went through some pretty nasty breakups and I think they were fodder for this book...

Read more.

Lynsay is giving away a signed copy of THE CHASE!

Mechanics of the contest:

Write a comment or question to Lynsay in the comment box on the review site (3 chances to win) from now to January 31.

The winner will be announced in the comment box on February 3.

Check out other Featured Titles (with giveaways):

Devoured by Darkness
The Countess
Fortune
Bucked
Meant for Each Other

GIVEAWAY : The Relic by Maggie Nash

2011-01-13T03:00:00.000-05:00

Finding herself in the wilds of a Penang rainforest wasn't something Magda was exactly happy about. Being there on a mission to recover an ancient relic that threatened world peace certainly had its appeal, but the heat, the bugs and wild animals quickly cancelled out any of the excitement of the chase. Adding to her misery was the arrival on the scene of the last person she ever wanted to cross paths with. Vincent Stone, her rival in the search for the relic, and her ex-lover. The man who'd ripped out her heart and trampled on it had no business being in the same country as her, let alone the same town.

Contest ends January 18, 2011. Click here to enter.

GIVEAWAY: Darkfever by Karen Marie Moning

2011-01-12T03:00:00.000-05:00

MacKayla Lane's life is good. She has great friends, a decent job, and a car that breaks down only every other week or so. In other words, she's your perfectly ordinary twenty-first-century woman. Or so she thinks...until something extraordinary happens.

When her sister is murdered, leaving a single clue to her death-a cryptic message on Mac's cell phone-Mac journeys to Ireland in search of answers. The quest to find her sister's killer draws her into a shadowy realm where nothing is as it seems, where good and evil wear the same treacherously seductive mask. She is soon faced with an even greater challenge: staying alive long enough to learn how to handle a power she had no idea she possessed-a gift that allows her to see beyond the world of man, into the dangerous realm of the Fae....

As Mac delves deeper into the mystery of her sister's death, her every move is shadowed by the dark, mysterious Jericho, a man with no past and only mockery for a future. As she begins to close in on the truth, the ruthless Vlane-an alpha Fae who makes sex an addiction for human women-closes in on her. And as the boundary between worlds begins to crumble, Mac's true mission becomes clear: find the elusive Sinsar Dubh before someone else claims the all-powerful Dark Book-because whoever gets to it first holds nothing less than complete control of the very fabric of both worlds in their hands...

Contest ends January 14, 2011. Click here to enter.

FEATURE and GIVEAWAY: Devoured by Darkness by Alexandra Ivy

2011-01-11T04:42:00.001-05:00

Book Interview on January 2011

Hi Alexandra, thanks for taking the time out to answer a few of our questions regarding your latest release, DEVOURED BY DARKNESS. We do admit we can't ever get enough of your Guardians!

Q: How would you describe DEVOURED BY DARKNESS? What would you share with new readers as a way to entice them to your series?

DEVOURED BY DARKNESS continues the saga of the Guardians of Eternity, strong, skilled, seductive vampires chosen to protect--and to destroy. These Guardians will risk anything to fulfil their duty, and satisfy their desires?

Q: How did you come up with the idea behind the storyline in DEVOURED BY DARKNESS?

The story began in the previous book, Beyond the Darkness, where Tane was introduced as a Charon (vampire assassin). I knew I wanted his story to be next and when Laylah disappeared from the tunnels, I had to send him in pursuit. I also wanted to up the ante on the storyline running through the Guardian novels, so I have an ongoing thread of a looming battle with the Dark Lord that I hope adds tension for the readers who have been with the stories from the beginning and yet allows people to pick up the book and enjoy it alone. It's always a fine balance!!

Q: One of the things I found interesting about Laylah and Tane was that they both understood what it felt like to be feared and alone, never feeling accepted or trusted. When deciding which of your characters you wanted to pair up together as a couple, did Laylah and Tane seem like a natural choice to you or did you originally have them paired with someone else?

They were a very natural choice!! I knew from the moment that I created Tane he would have to have a strong mate who could understand his vulnerabilities and help him learn to trust again! I also wanted Laylah to have her own weaknesses that she had to overcome. :) Giving her a baby to protect...

Read more.

Alexandra is giving away a copy of any book in her Guardian of Eternity series, winner's choice!

Mechanics of the contest:

Write a comment or question to Alex in the comment box on the review site (3 chances to win) from now to January 31.

The winner will be announced in the comment box on February 3.

Check out other Featured Titles (with giveaways):

Devoured by Darkness
The Countess
Fortune
Bucked
Meant for Each Other

FEATURE and GIVEAWAY: Living Nightmare by Shannon K. Butcher

2010-12-19T03:00:00.000-05:00

Book Interview with Shannon K. Butcher on December 2010

Q: For those new to The Sentinel Wars series, how would you describe your books and the importance of each Sentinel finding the woman who can save his soul?

I usually describe the books as being filled with hot, tattooed, sword-wielding warriors and the women who make their lives interesting. Basically, the concept for the Theronai?one of the three Sentinel races?is that the men house huge reserves of power that grow over time because they can't access it?they can only store it. After a few centuries, that power grows to the point that it begins to kill them. If they don't find a woman who can wield the magic inside of them and funnel some of that energy away, they are destined to either take their own lives or become like the monsters they fight.

Q: Where did you find the inspiration behind the series?

I'm a big ol' nerd, so years of tabletop role-playing games and bad sci-fi movies have given me tons of inspiration. I also find that music with a heavy emotional component does a lot to fuel my creativity.

Q: Please tell us about LIVING NIGHTMARE.

LIVING NIGHTMARE is a story I've been waiting a long time to tell. Rough, foul-mouthed Madoc has been trying to protect Nika from himself since the moment he met her. He wants her, but knows that she's too fragile and innocent, and the two of them can never be together. Nika believes differently...

To read more, click here.

LIVING NIGHTMARE is available at Amazon (print, Kindle).

Shannon Butcher is giving away a print copy of the following books (signed and personalized!):

1. The first three books in the series (Burning Alive, Finding the Lost and Running Scared) as a set
2. Love You to Death
3. No Escape

All prizes include a handmade glass bookmark that Shannon personally made in her glass kiln!

Mechanics of the contest:

You can do either or both of the following to enter the drawing:

1. Post a comment or question to Shannon in the comment box on the review site (link) (2 chances to win) from now to December 31, 2010; AND/OR
2. Check out our contest page for the following books to enter your email address (1 chance each to win)

BURNING ALIVE – from December 6 to 8, 2010
NO ESCAPE – from December 13 to 15, 2010
LOVE YOU TO DEATH – from December 21 to 23, 2010

The winners will be announced in the comment box on the review site on January 2.

FEATURE and GIVEAWAY: Sex on the Slopes by Susan Lyons

2010-12-18T03:00:00.000-05:00

Book Interview with Susan Lyons in December 2010

Q: The first book, SEX ON THE BEACH, was set in Belize, and this one, SEX ON THE SLOPES, is set in Whistler, British Columbia. How did you come up with the settings? What made you choose these places?

I like writing about places I've been. Belize was actually one of the inspirations for this book, because when I visited there a few years ago, I saw how popular destination weddings had become. So, when I had the idea of writing SEX ON THE BEACH, it was natural to set it in Belize. That was my first contracted book with Berkley, and then it was option proposal time. I brainstormed with my editor about several possibilities and we both agreed it would be fun to do another book set around a destination wedding. This time, I thought the opposite setting would be fun: winter and snow rather than sunny beaches. The snow country I know best is just up the road from me, in Whistler, and at the time Whistler was gearing up for the Olympics so I figured the setting would appeal to readers as well as to me.

Q: Noticed that there's going to be a third book and it's going to be set in the Greek Islands. Where did the idea for this series come about? What is the unifying theme for all three books?

Yes, HEAT WAVES (July 2011) is set on a Greek island cruise (Santorini, Mykonos, Crete etc.). Greece is one of my favorite places in the world, and I've always wanted to write about it.

I didn't actually start with the idea of a series, just with the concept for the first book. It intrigued me that so many brides and grooms were picking holiday destinations for their weddings (not just their honeymoons), and inviting their families and close friends along for the celebration. A destination weddings is romantic and sexy...

To read more, click here.

SEX ON THE SLOPES is available at Amazon (print, Kindle).

Susan Lyons is giving away a copy of SEX ON THE SLOPES!

Mechanics of the contest:

You can do either or both of the following to enter the drawing:

1. Write a comment or question to Susan in the comment box at the review site (link) (2 chances to win) from now to December 31;

AND/OR

2. Check out our contest page from December 20 to 22, 2010 to enter your email address (1 chance to win).

The winner will be announced in the comment box on the review site on January 2.

FEATURE and GIVEAWAY: Vampires Not Invited by Cheyenne McCray

2010-12-17T03:00:00.000-05:00

Book Interview with Cheyenne McCray on December 2010

Q: Nyx is such a unique character. How did you come up with the idea for her?

I wanted a strong heroine who had it all together. Someone who was loyal, strong, capable, beautiful, independent, and sexy. As the series developed, her character evolved. I wanted to bring out other qualities that anyone would feel? Fear, emotions, doubt, vulnerabilities and introspection that some of her ideas about the world and people might not be correct.

I thought readers would connect with her better. She had these qualities we all have, but she had the resolve to overcome them and not give in. I thought these were qualities readers would relate to in some area and also respect.

Q: How do you come up with such great secondary characters like Ice (a fellow Night Tracker) and Nadia the Siren?

I try and develop characters that would be complementary to the story and interesting to readers. Complementary does not mean the characters get along. Often times it is the personality conflicts which draw interest to them. If you look at what I write, it is in some respect similar to a real work situation. If it is a team of investigators in real life, you would expect to have the "class clown", the cocky, the serious, the sarcastic personalities. I just try and bring a mix to the story that will create interest and add to it.

Q: Do you know their personalities from the beginning or do they develop as you are writing?

Mostly from my imagination from the beginning. They come to me almost fully formed. I find most of the characters stay true to form in many ways, but some of them often develop depth and complexity. I actually come to like certain characters a great deal . . .

To read more, click here.

VAMPIRES NOT INVITED is available at Amazon (print, Kindle).

Cheyenne McCray is giving away 3 print copies of NO WEREWOLVES ALLOWED (Book 2 of the Night Tracker series)!

Mechanics of the contest:

You can do either or both of the following to enter the drawing:

1. Post a comment or question to Chey in the comment box on the review site (link) (2 chances to win) from now to December 31, 2010; AND/OR
2. Check out our contest page for the book NO WEREWOLVES ALLOWED from December 13 to 21, 2010 to enter your email address (1 chance each to win).

The winners will be announced in the comment box on the review site on January 2.

FEATURE and GIVEAWAY: Inside Out by Lauren Dane

2010-12-16T03:00:00.000-05:00

Book Interview with Lauren Dane in December 2010

Q: What prompted the idea for the Brown Siblings' series?

Originally I'd planned to write a book with three interconnected novellas, one for each sibling. But when I started writing Erin's novella (Book 1 in the series, LAID BARE), I knew her story would be too big to do justice to in 30K words.

I'd always planned to give each sibling a story, I wanted that Seattle connection. I love it here, love the art and music scene and I wanted to try to capture that flavor in this series. And then Ella just needed her HEA and who better to give it to her than Cope?

Q: In INSIDE OUT, I noticed that once again the heroine is a survivor. And this time, it's someone fans of the Brown Sibling series will recognize--Ella. What drew you to using females who had survived different forms of harm at the hands of men?

First and foremost, each woman in the series is a survivor. They've been through some rough times, rougher than many can imagine, but they all came back from it and refused to let life beat them. For Elise (heroine of Book 2, COMING UNDONE), it was her child and her need to give Rennie a better life. Rennie was her reason for getting up every day until she could make it about herself. For Erin, it was her family, and for Ella, it was her way of thumbing her nose at her ex.

I love the strength of each woman in the series and that's really the core of their character. I didn't write them to have issues, it's just that everyone has issues in one way or another and these ladies have been dealt a far bigger challenge than most. All kinds of people deserve a HEA!

Q: Cope, the hero, has been the background playboy up until now. What prompted his change?

Without a doubt, it's Ella. She sees him straight to the bone. He can't NOT be Andrew with her because she wouldn't allow anything else. He loves that, appreciates that...

To read more, click here.

INSIDE OUT is available at Amazon (print, Kindle).

Lauren Dane is giving away a copy of any book in her backlist, including INSIDE OUT!

Mechanics of the contest:

You can do either or both of the following to enter the drawing:

1.Post a comment or question to Lauren in the comment box on the review site (click on this link) (2 chances to win) from now to December 31, 2010;

AND/OR

2. Check out our contest page for INSIDE OUT from December 15 to 17, 2010 to enter your email address (1 chance to win).

The winner will be announced in the comment box on the review site on January 2.

FEATURE and GIVAWAY: In the Company of Vampires by Katie MacAlister

2010-12-15T03:00:00.000-05:00

Book Interview with Katie MacAlister on December 2010

Q: Who are the Dark Ones and why is it important for them to find that woman who is their Beloved?

Dark Ones are my take on vampires: dark, tormented men who can be redeemed only by one woman. They came about after I was possessed with a need to write my own version of vampires?I picked some of the aspects of typical vampire lore that I liked, such as the need to drink blood to survive, an aversion to the sun, and a dark nature, and then twisted it around and added a few other elements, such as the ability for a woman to redeem the vampire's soul and make him whole again. They also all have a pretty good sense of humor, something I found lacking in a lot of darker vamp books.

Q: What was your inspiration behind the series?

When I was a brand new baby author at Dorchester, one of the ladies who took me under her wing was Christine Feehan. I adore Christine, and loved her vampire books, and one day, I told her I wanted to write my own version of vamps, and duly tottered off to do just that. There are lots of subtle Christine references in the books, in gratitude for not only her friendship, but her Carpathian stories that got me writing my own paranormal books.

Q: What is IN THE COMPANY OF VAMPIRES about?

ITCV is a bit of a reunion book in that it brings into the adult world characters from two Young Adult Dark Ones books that were published five years ago...

To read more, click here.

IN THE COMPANY OF VAMPIRES is available at Amazon (print, Kindle).

Katie MacAlister is giving away 3 copies of LOVE IN THE TIME OF DRAGONS!

Mechanics of the contest:

You can do either or both of the following to enter the drawing:

1. Post a comment or question to Katie in the comment box in the review site (link) (2 chances to win) from now to December 31, 2010; AND/OR
2. Check out the contest page for the book LOVE IN THE TIME OF DRAGONS from December 6 to 14, 2010 to enter your email address (1 chance to win). Click on this link.

The winner will be announced in the comment box on January 2.

FEATURE and GIVEAWAY: Jeweled by Anya Bast

2010-12-14T03:00:00.001-05:00

Book Interview with Anya Bast in December 2010

Q: How did the idea for this book come about?

I have always been intrigued by the French and Russian revolutions and wanted to write a world flavored with elements of both. That's where the seed for Jeweled came from. Then, like all my books, little by little, the seed sprouted and grew, fed first by Evangeline. Then came Anatol and Gregorio. After I had their conflicts worked out, the plot started to take shape, all set in the world I wanted to write.

Q: Your worldbuilding is fabulous! What kind of research went into creating the world (customs, political system, magic system, etc) of Rylisk?

Thank you! I did some research on the French and Russian Revolutions. Gregorio is, of course, the charismatic and intellectual figure who inspires the poor and downtrodden to rise up and throw off the yoke of their oppressors. Evangeline represents the privileged who are taken down a notch (or a million). Really, though, most of the worldbuilding came from my own imagination.

Q: What interesting thing have you unearthed in your research that you've incorporated in the world of Jeweled?

You're going to be sorry you asked that...

To read more, click here.

JEWELED is available at Amazon (print, Kindle).

Anya Bast is giving away an autographed copy of JEWELED!

Mechanics of the contest:

You can do either or both of the following to enter the drawing:

1. Post a comment or question to Anya in the comment box on the review site (click on this link) (2 chances to win) from now to December 31, 2010;

AND/OR

2. Check out our contest page for the book JEWELED from December 8 to 10, 2010 to enter your email address (1 chance each to win).

The winner will be announced in the comment box on the review site on January 2.

FEATURE and GIVEAWAY: Pleasure's Edge by Eve Berlin

2010-12-13T03:00:00.004-05:00

Book Interview with Eve Berlin in December 2010

Q: I can't help but note that Dylan, the heroine, is an erotica author. How much of you did you infuse into her?

I think there's part of me in all of my heroines, but I definitely drew on some aspects of my own personality in creating Dylan. Yes, I'm a bit of a control freak-LOL! And a creative person. And her friends, Mischa, CJ and Jade, are based on some of my closest real life writer friends, although CJ and Jade didn't make as much of an appearance as originally planned. There are some little details that are purely me: a lot of her clothes are things I would wear—the simple lines and solid-color fabrics, that she likes to drink tea, her tattoo and its meaning relate to one of my tattoos, the black and white photography that decorates her walls (I'm a huge art geek, and I especially love photography). And Dylan's apartment is my dream home, her car my dream car!

Q: Dylan admits to having control issues. How has this shaped her life thus far?

Well, I think when you have control issues (not that I'd know anything about that…*G*), it translates into how you handle every aspect of your life. That need to be in charge is very difficult to overcome, and it's never more obvious than in your intimate relationships, because that's where we have to get vulnerable. And getting vulnerable requires letting go, which is something Dylan hasn't really ever been able to do. That's why the BDSM plays such a powerful part in Dylan's personal growth, as well as her relationship with Alec. Those more extreme sexual practices require an enormous amount of trust, the ability to truly give yourself over to another person.

Q: I felt Alec, the hero, very clearly. It was so easy to slip into his skin. How do you go about writing a Dominant male character when clearly you've never been in his shoes? What kind of research went into writing Alec's character?

Some of what goes into writing male point of view is always a combination of what I know from my own experiences with men, from talking to my brothers, male friends, and my boyfriend about how a man thinks. I also think that I was a psychology major has helped a lot. And I'm very open about the fact that I've had some personal experience in the BDSM lifestyle...

To read more, click here.

PLEASURE'S EDGE is available at Amazon (print, Kindle).

Eve Berlin is giving away a set of ebooks: WINTER SOLSTICE and SUMMER SOLSTICE!

Mechanics of the contest:

You can do either or both of the following to enter the drawing:

1. Post a comment or question to Eve in the comment box on the review site (click on this link) (2 chances to win) from now to December 31, 2010;

AND/OR

2. Check out our contest page for the book WINTER SOLSTICE from December 14 to 16, 2010 to enter your email address (1 chance each to win).

The winners will be announced in the comment box on the review site on January 2.

REVIEW: Ruthless by Anne Stuart

2010-11-01T22:00:00.000-04:00

Rating: 4 stars

Reviewed by Ashia

Dark and sexy, provocative and riveting, Ruthless holds you in its grip from the first page to the last....[Francis Rohan's] character was so strong and beautifully depcited that by the end of the book, I find myself with contradictory feelings about him...But then, such is the brilliance of Anne Stuart's characterization...

A thread of mystery and suspense is woven into the fabric of the story, as well as a secondary romance, but they didn't take the focus away from Rohan and Elinor. Instead, they added depth to the story, and the unravelling of the mystery did prompt Rohan into action. All in all, if you like dark, sexy romance with a moody hero who is utterly bad, then this is the book for you.

Read more.

REVIEW: The Wanderer by Jan Irving

2010-11-01T18:00:00.002-04:00

Rating: 5 stars

Reviewed by Celine

The Wanderer has something that other books only pretend to offer. It has a perfect balance--between characters that feel like real people, action and suspense, romance and last but not least, sex. It is one of the best books in this genre I have ever read...I definitely recommend this book if you are looking for an erotic romance with a well thought-out story. It's fast-paced, very nicely written with clear descriptions, and is just a great book overall. Its bitter-sweet ending was absolutely perfect. You will not be disappointed.

Read more.

REVIEW: Only in the City by Eric Del Carlo, Elizabeth Coldwell, Shanna Germain, Renatto Garcia, Elizabeth Hyder and Kaysee Renee Robichaud

2010-11-01T14:00:00.000-04:00

Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Kenjii

These stories are fairly short and so I only give an impression of each. I did enjoy this collection enough to want to add the authors to my must buy list. Also looking up more titles from Circlet Press. Finally the overall appeal of the collection will be for all tastes. Each story is very different from the next, a satisfying blend.

Read more.

REVIEW: The Spurned Viscountess by Shelley Munro

2010-11-01T10:00:00.000-04:00

Rating: 4 stars

Reviewed by CarolAnn

Take one gloomy cliff top castle, mix in several mysterious happenings, a band of smugglers and an unsolved murder. Then add a generous helping of romance, top it off with the special gift of "sight" and voila! - Shelley Munroe has created the perfect recipe for an enthralling read...

Read more.

REVIEW: Butterfly Swords by Jeannie Lin

2010-11-01T06:00:00.001-04:00

Rating: 4 stars

Reviewed by Leslie

This is a wonderful story of family and how they come together; it is about learning to trust yourself as well as those around you. Jeannie Lin brings the time and place together in such an amazing way, almost as though you were watching it through the words...

Read more.

Sexy Sunday

2010-07-25T08:36:00.000-04:00

Here's a hot pic for you to enjoy!

Photo courtesy of Sam3nm from Photobucket

REVIEW: Summers at Castle Auburn by Sharon Shinn

2010-07-09T05:00:00.000-04:00

ISBN 0-441-00928-X

Genre: Fantasy

Sharon Shinn's website

Rating: 2 stars

Buy Link: Book Depository

"Good story but with flaws"

Corie is the illegitimate child of a dead nobleman with the daughter of a village witch/wise woman. When she was six, her uncle Jaxon came at the behest of her dead father and bargained with her grandmother for her to live her summers at Castle Auburn with her half-sister Elisandra. Corie lives for her summers at Castle Auburn, but as she grows older, she realizes deeper and darker things are afoot at the castle.

Sharon Shinn writes a wonderful story that both entrances you and makes you stop and think at the same time. In this book, she touches on the subjects of slavery and abuse, but more than that, it's about growing up and seeing the world through different eyes, learning that the world isn't quite the way you thought it was. It's about coming into your own principles and beliefs and acting according to what you know is right, even if it is against the way of the world. It's about Corie and her growth from a young girl into a woman.

I have said before that Sharon Shinn is very good at characterization and character development, and it is true again here, especially in the person of Corie, whom I like very much as a heroine. At 14, she was charming and engaging, despite being forthright and liable to say anything she thinks. She could wrap Bryan (or any man) around her finger if she so wants.

She was infatuated with Bryan (as did many girls), blinded by his handsome features. Still, she possessed a fierce loyalty to her sister, to whom Bryan was betrothed, in that even as she enjoyed Bryan's attention, she was aware he was her sister's and didn't think of fighting with her over him, and later on, her intense need to save Elisandra.

As Corie grew older and the veil of innocence was taken away, she became aware of Bryan's true nature--that he was handsome, yes, but he was cruel and selfish and may not make the realm a good king nor her sister a good husband. Her moral compass was also being challenged with regard to the aliora, fairy-like creatures who became the humans' slaves when captured.

Possible spoilers below, so be warned.

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I've always liked a Sharon Shinn story and this is no exception. However, I have some complaints:

1. Maybe because I'm a romance reader, I wish there were more romantic moments (more development of the romance) between Corie and her future husband (not telling who, so as not to spoil your reading pleasure). Corie's thoughts regarding her feelings for him also came across as...not strong enough. (Actually, I'm tempted to write, "What feelings?", but there were hints, like not wanting to read news about him dancing with another girl, etc.)

I'm not convinced she loved him because her reaction to him was rather bland. She even wanted him to marry her sister (to save her), even after he told her that he didn't love her sister that way. So, I'm a bit disappointed here. However, that said, I realize this is a fantasy novel and I'm content with what I can get. The consolation is that the guy is more forthcoming and we really see that he likes her through his actions (though how she couldn't see this is a mystery, and instead she was always attributing it to something else) and his declaration of love toward the end more than makes up for Corie's lackluster emotions.

(I want to quote some of his lines but they're very revealing as to who he is, so...sorry. Read the book if you want to know.)

2. I think Jaxon's "romance" with Rowena, the Queen of Alora, is more exciting. However, so much about them happened in the background. I wish we could've seen more about what had happened between them before that shocking entrance into Castle Auburn, proclaiming that they had married along the way. I'm very interested to know how their bargain was struck and if there were feelings on Rowena's side for him, or if she was doing it merely for her people.

3. Elisandra's actions at the end. This is the only point that truly disturbed me. I know why she did what she did, and I empathize with her situation and I really believe she only did it as a last resort to a very difficult situation. I now know why she is portrayed as so cool and calm all the time, because only a person of such..."cold-bloodedness", I should say, could have done what she did.

Despite the justification, I'm not sure I agree with her method. Granted, Bryan is an evil man and his eventually being king and her husband would spell doom for the realm and for her. He is very cruel, as shown in his callous disregard for his illegitimate child and the way he punished Andrew. Perhaps Elisandra is merely delivering her own brand of justice. Perhaps she agonized over her decision before finally being resigned to the fact that there's no other way. However, I just...don't...quite...agree with the method of his downfall. As I was reading, I thought this book could also be classified as YA, but when I came to this part, I think not. Or perhaps, it can be read but with parental guidance.

Perhaps this was balanced in Corie's and her future husband's "condemnation" of Elisandra's actions later on, but the fact that Elisandra got away with it, that she wasn't punished but moreover was "rewarded" with possession of Jaxon Halsing's estate plus the love of a good man, well, that may send the wrong impression to a young mind.

So, much as I love this story, I couldn't give it the rating I wanted. Since I believed that the third point is a very important one, I have to give the story a rating of 2.

Current Contests

2010-07-08T21:55:00.000-04:00

Hi folks, just to remind we've got two contests ongoing at the moment:

1. Madison Blake's Erotic Emerald anthology (print) - until July 12 only
2. Blog Celebration Contest - lots of prizes and giveaways! - until August 31

What are you waiting for? Head on over to The Romance Reviews now!

Random Thoughts: My Experience with the World Cup

2010-07-06T05:00:00.000-04:00

For the first time ever, I watched the World Cup quarter finals featuring Germany vs Argentina last weekend. I thought it would be boring, watching some guys kick a ball around a huge green field for 90 minutes with the scores almost always in the one digit.

Boy, was I wrong.

My friends and I went for dinner at this German restaurant and had deep fried pork knuckles and varied sausages. Yum, yum, yum! I also had a lager, which one of my girlfriends extolled, so I tried it. Tastes great, not bitter at all, which is just right for my palette.

Oh yes, back to the game. So, the restaurant has this big screen which featured the game and everyone was there rooting for his team. Most were rooting for Germany (kinda obvious, isn't it, since we were in a German restaurant), so the shouts and hollers when Germany scored was tremendous. I had as much fun watching the game as watching the people in their varied reactions.

Did I mention the eye candy, both on-screen and off? Drool. Okay, I think I lied. I had more fun watching the man candies than the game.

Oh, and I rooted for Germany, who won. *grin* Beginner's luck. *wink*

I also took away a little souvenir. It was important to mentioned I had beer, because two hours after I'd consumed it, I got rashes all over my back and down my right thigh! So itchy. Should've remembered my allergic reaction to alcohol. :( I'm getting better now, but I still itch. *sigh* When will I ever learn?

New Releases - July 2010

2010-06-30T05:00:00.001-04:00

More books that caught our eyes! Seriously, when are we going to have enough time to read them all?

But maybe you can help us! Stay tuned for contest details!

If You're Hooked...

2010-06-25T05:00:00.001-04:00

For lovers of the BDB series, I just learned that the 9th book will be titled Lover Unleashed, featuring Manny and V's twin sister Payne. And we'll be seeing more of V!!!! Yay!!!

REVIEW: Lover Unbound by J.R. Ward

2010-06-22T05:00:00.053-04:00

ISBN 9780451222350
Series: Black Dagger Brotherhood, Book 5
Genre: Paranormal Romance
(c) October 2007, Signet Book
J.R. Ward's website

Rating: 5 stars

"One of the best books, if not the best, in the BDB series!"

Vishous, the hard, cold-hearted brother, met his match in Dr. Jane Whitcomb, human surgeon, when he was brought into the hospital for a gunshot wound. His instincts just kept on screaming "mine" whenever he looked at Jane. However, his destiny could not include her, for he was destined to be the Primale of the Chosen, a worthy endeavor that would see him filling the ranks of the Brotherhood for the war against the lessers.

J.R. Ward pens a moving story of love and sacrifice. There isn't much about the lessers here (yay!), but a lot of romance between V and Jane. Though more would be great. :) As in previous books, some of the pages was also devoted to John Matthew's progress (he's got his transition here!) and laying the foundation for the next book, Phury's story in Lover Enshrined.

I have to admit that I didn't feel anything for V in the first three books and I didn't like him much in Lover Revealed. If you feel the same way, give him a chance! Here, we learned so much more about V--his horrendous childhood in his father's war camp, the negligence of his mother, his horrible background and past that shaped him to be the man that he is. And we see his vulnerability and insecurity where Jane was concerned, and that scene where he made her some hot chocolate at her apartment before leaving her ("he didn't know what to say, but he knew what to do") just about made me cry. In V, we saw how a bonded male cared for his female and it would make every female reader yearned. I know I did.

And Jane. Jane is just so precious with the way she accepted V and stood on his side. I like her doctor-take-charge attitude and the fact that she has purpose and ambition and how she was able to find a way to reconcile the two with V's life in the end. I like the matter-of-fact way she accepted V's proclivities (BDSM) and how she matched him in every aspect of his life. I did raise an eyebrow at how fast Jane wholeheartedly accepted BDSM, even though she's never experienced it. Considering also that her sex life consisted of two past lovers who were not satisfactory at all in the bedroom. Or elsewhere.

I'm glad Ms Ward put a closure on the possibilities between Butch and V, otherwise people will just keep on wondering, not to mention Butch and Marissa. Since this is fiction, I like my HEA's neat and tidy. :)

Regarding the ending, I have to admit to feeling a little out-of-sorts, because I thought V wasn't getting the real deal like the other Brothers. But on second thought, it's the best possible ending for V (a vamp who lived long years) and Jane (a human with limited life span), because at least, as my friend said, this way they're together forever. And I think V was okay with it because it meant he would have Jane with him for always, as opposed to not having Jane. And as he said, "it's the new reality" and they're learning to deal with it. It made me think how life doesn't always turn out the way you want it to. Compromises and sacrifices have to be made along the way. What you have to decide though is what are the things that are important to you, that you absolutely cannot live without? Once you have those, the rest are just a bonus. I think V and Jane have learned that.

Like Z and Bella (Lover Awakened), I didn't want to let go of V and Jane when the story ended. I hope (hope hope hope) there would be more stories of V and Jane in the succeeding books. And, as someone once said, when she found herself thinking of the characters long after she has closed the book, she knew it deserved the highest recommendation. I couldn't agree more with this book.

In the TBR Pile...

2010-06-21T05:00:00.014-04:00

We've got lots of goodies this week, both bought and borrowed from the library!

REVIEW: Flyboy by Karen Foley

2010-06-18T05:00:00.009-04:00

ISBN 9780373793570

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Karen Foley's website

Rating: 4 stars

Available at Book Depository (print).

"Hot and sexy! Love your hero in uniform? This is the book for you!"

Sedona Stewart was flabbergasted when she learned through a quirk of fate that sexual prowess is the basis of promotion at her company. For that, she has to join an exclusive men's sex club. No wonder she hadn't been promoted in the five years she's worked there, despite overtimes and being careful not to mix business with pleasure on out-of-town trips.

I have to admit. The back summary cover intrigued me enough to pick up this book and I wasn't disappointed. True, not much titillating club goings-on can be found here, but I was pleasantly surprised to find that the heroine was a highly principled individual who wouldn't think of being promoted through such sordid means. But lest I give you the impression that she's a starched and stiff goody-goody, let me assure you that she's not. Moreover, though she was rightfully scared, she was able to pluck up the guts to help the FBI bring down the club. I have to admire Sedona for going after the guy she's been hankering for all along--luscious hunk Lieutenant Commander Angel Torres, the pilot assigned to test fly the jets.

Okay, I don't quite like the name Angel for the hero, but that's a personal bias. From his first appearance, Angel left me in no doubt that he's a man (though I still don't like the name by the end of the story). I love his fits of jealousy (not the last one, though), and he does have issues of trust, due to not knowing the heroine as much as he should and being blinded by his own feelings of betrayal and hurt. But he's a pilot! The last points makes him very irresistible (what is it about men in uniforms?), not to mention I like my heroes with flaws and vulnerabilities. Oh and must care for the heroine and forsake all other women since meeting her, of course.

There's a suspense part that's interwoven into the storyline and I have to say it's nicely done without overshadowing the romance. Although the part where the villain's identity was revealed was awkward and not realistic at all. The way he acted in that last scene, insisting on talking to Sedona and all, jarred me out of a nice suspension of disbelief that I've been maintaining. It's almost as if he wants to be found out, which is kinda weird, because a villain's greatest thrill is to create the most havoc while achieving what he wants and getting away with it.

That said, these are merely minor flaws/irritants and didn't hamper my enjoyment of the story.

Available at Book Depository (print).

REVIEW: Lover Revealed by J.R. Ward

2010-06-17T05:00:00.038-04:00

ISBN 9780749938222

Series: Black Dagger Brotherhood, Book 4

Genre: Paranormal Romance

J.R. Ward's website

Rating: 4 stars

Available in Book Depository (print).

"Another daring and original installment in the Brotherhood series!"

Butch O'Neal was a human who'd fallen in with the Brotherhood, owing to a vision that Vishous had of him early on in the series. Though he ate and lived with the brothers, he stayed on the sidelines when the brothers were fighting, because he was human and fragile. This chafed at him. So, when he had the opportunity, he risked his life to save a civilian vampire. As a result, he was captured by the lessers and worked over by the Omega and something changed within him.

One good thing about it though is that the misunderstandings between him and Marissa over the previous books were cleared up, but love is only the beginning of their problems.

J.R. Ward continues to surprise me with her in-depth character portrayal and her courage to write stories that push the traditional boundaries. I like how the war between the Brotherhood and the Lessening Society is escalating, and how the events in the previous books contribute to the atmosphere in the next. She introduced a new romantic element that was hinted at, though never fully expressed, which is maybe a sign that she's testing the waters and also a foreshadowing of the kind of relationship she may want to tackle later on. That said, this book can stand alone, as the main characters' past is explained or a short background given.

In the last two books, Butch came across as a parasite, the way he lived off the Brothers, even to using branded stuff. I never did find out why Butch took to it like fish to water, after the not-exactly-poor-but-not-rich-either life that he had. Maybe because Marissa's clothes are all branded stuff? Anyway, it's heartening to see he also had this same realization in this book and that he wanted to work for his keep. I guess he wanted a sense of worth, as he looked how his life had been and ached for a fresh start. I came to like Butch in this story. He's such a romantic, something I wouldn't have expected. He goes all sappy over Marissa. LOL

Actually, I like his devotion to Marissa, his fierce possessiveness and protection over her, his courage, his willing to risk all for the chance to be with her for longer than a human lifetime. He is enough to make a woman melt. Most of all, I like his loyalty to the Brothers. Despite all the flaws that he sees in himself, he is, as Marissa said, "a male of worth".

Marissa is different from the previous heroine. She is beautiful and born to wealth and privilege, a part of vampire aristocracy, yet lonely and in a way, an outcast from her own people. Her experiences over the years with men had made her insecure about herself and her own sexuality. I find her reactions to Butch's lovemaking heartbreaking. I can also understand her fear that Butch would be hurt in a fight with the lessers and be taken from her, leaving her alone once again and without a mate, without someone who loves her for what she is. But the insecurities and the fear, when displayed over and over and over again became a touch irritating. I felt that she's clipping Butch's wings, making him less of a man and that she should grow up and be less selfish. That is not to say she doesn't have good qualities. She cares about her own people, especially the abused and those less fortunate than herself. Marissa is a flawed character that most of us can identify with (who among us don't suffer from occasional insecurities, especially where our bodies are concerned, and want our loved ones to be safe?) and she probably arouses negative feelings in us because we see parts of us in her. She did grow over the course of the book though, so we also have hope. :) She acquitted herself marvelously toward the end, especially the girl power she displayed in the council.

Another thing I like is Butch's and V's relationship--best friends, beloved brothers (though there seems to be something more on V's end). V really touched me, the way he yearned to have something like what Butch has with Marissa. And he's all agony over his loss of vision, too, and the way he glowed all over, not just his hand. He seems to have a terrible past, and I'm really looking forward to read Lover Unbound.

I also like the portrayal here that love isn't all sweet and chocolates and a bed of roses. No, in its real and truest form, love is messy, it hurts, it makes you do crazy, irrational things, yet it also brings warmth, it makes you strong and it also brings out the nobility of the human/vampire spirit (makes you want to protect the people you love even at great cost to yourself). In the end, when you look back at the ups and downs, the joys and the tears, you're gonna say, "It's all worth it."

One thing I wished the author would tackle is the relationship between the shellans. I mean, we see how the Brothers relate to each other, how they trust and depend on one another, but it would be nice to see the women, brought to live with the Brotherhood because of their hellrens, interact and be the support network to each other (just like the Brothers are for each other) while their men are out fighting. Or be involved in some project together that would benefit the race. Else, what do they do when their men are away keeping the race safe?

Available in Book Depository (print).

REVIEW: Love is in the Heir by Kathryn Caskie

2010-06-16T05:00:00.003-04:00

ISBN 9780446616102

Genre: Historical Romance

Kathryn Caskie's website

Rating: 4 stars

Available in Book Depository (print).

"Laugh-out-loud funny"

The Earl of Devonsfield is in need of an heir, and his nearest relations are twins Garnet and Griffin St. Albans. Because the order of birth wasn't determined, the earl didn't know which brother to name heir. He therefore came upon a brilliant plan, which is that the brother who was the first to marry a lady of quality would be named heir. However, they have to keep this a secret, else the earldom may be in danger of being reverted to the Crown and the earl didn't want this to happen.

What ensued was a comedy of errors as Garnet (the rakish brother) posed as Griffin some of the times to help the latter win the lady of his heart.

There were some laugh-out loud moments in this story, ensuing from the two brothers' different personalities. I daresay I've read only a few heroes like Griffin--someone who is gentle and kind and thoughtful and most importantly, isn't a rake. Any romance reader can tell you that historical romances, especially in the Regency era, abound with rakish heroes.

Interestingly, our heroine Hannah Chillton is one very sharp lady, as she is able to differentiate between the two brothers, though she didn't know it at the time. She has too much pride as well and didn't like being humiliated. (Well, who does?) But suffice it to say, she learned a very important lesson about pride and love.

The story took on expected twists and turns, but the execution and writing made the story a delight to read. Also, if you're the uber-romantic and like to have most of the secondary characters with their own love matches, this is the book for you. As for me, I can't abide it. I mean, what are the chances? The exact mechanics of the brothers' courtship were also not explained clearly at the start, which caused for confusion on my part as to the need for the ruse. For once, I'd also like to see a hero who does not end up a viscount or an earl or a duke, not because he gave up the position, but because, well, that's just how the die rolls.

Available in Book Depository (print).

REVIEW: The Initiation of Isabella by Jenna Ives

2010-06-15T05:00:00.000-04:00

ISBN 978-1-60504-761-4

Series: Binding Ties anthology

Genre: Erotic Romance, BDSM

Jenna Ives' website

Rating: 4 stars

Available in Samhain Publishing (ebook), Fictionwise (ebook).

"Delightful and sinfully erotic"

Jenna Ives weaves a delightful, sinfully erotic story of light bondage and sensuous punishment with enough romance to make you sigh in bliss and wishful thinking.

As part of her initiation into the Sigma Iomega Nu sorority, Isabella Tallin was to wait for someone to pick her up on the corner of Main and Elm streets at eight in the evening. As luck would have it, owner of Fantasies Fulfilled Logan Summers mistook her for his client, and though Isabella tried to clarify things, enough coincidences and misunderstandings abound that Isabella thought Logan was supposed to bring her to where her initiation rites was to be held while Logan thought she was his client. Needless to say, decadent activities ensued.

First off, I like Isabella. She's fun and adventurous and smart. Though she's attracted to Logan, she wasn't blinded by this and she tried to make sure (as far as she was able, even to dropping a name) that the man picking her up was part of her initiation. Only when she was sure did she drive off with him.

Although, I do have to stretch my suspension of disbelief a bit, because I have to say that in this day and age, one really cannot be too careful. What if Logan wasn't who he was? Well, he wasn't her initiation, that was for sure, but what if he was an evil man? I think, though initiation rites are shrouded in mystery and rely heavily on the "no questions" rule, the identity of the man or person who's going to bring you to the place should be made known. That said, his identity should be verified against his driver's license or something before she drives off with him. That is what I would do, paranoid person that I am. Of course, if Isabella did that, the story would've stopped right there, because the game would've been up. Logan would've known Isabella wasn't his client, and we wouldn't have this delicious story. (Or maybe we still would, if Logan looked her up later.)

The story mainly detailed the four fantasy scenarios that Logan's client had contracted his company for, and which he dished out to Isabella. For Isabella, who had a boring life, boring boyfriend and who didn't even know if she wanted to study law like her mother, she was at first horrified when she found out she'd blundered, then as Logan started to caress and arouse her (and she could do nothing to escape it because she was blindfolded and bound and gagged as per the client's request), she decided she wanted what he was giving her, aided by the fact that she was attracted to him. She wanted adventure and excitement, even if just for this night.

Logan is a true romantic. Though he owned the company, this is the first time he participated because he believed sex should be more than just two bodies coming together. Where else have you read of a hero who has that mindset? But because he was intrigued and wanted to know what kind of woman would request for four fantasies in one night, he decided to be the main man for this contract. (Apparently, the application was done online or whatever, because he didn't get to see the woman who contracted his services.) And as he performed each scenario, somehow, he was also bonding with her, not just physically, but emotionally.

The BDSM part is light and so, this story is suited to beginning readers in this genre. There is a bit of a menage at the end, but this story is mainly about Logan and Isabella.

Available in Samhain Publishing (ebook), Fictionwise (ebook).

DNF: Three Historicals

2010-06-14T05:00:00.021-04:00

My favorite genre, yet even I couldn't stand some of the books.

First of all, I love Mary Balogh. I devoured her Bedwyn series even the off-shoot "Simply" series. I've also read Irresistible, one of her older works where the hero fell in love with his friend's widow. I thought it was good. However, try as I might, I couldn't get into Dark Angel, another older work which was reprinted together with Lord Carew's Bride. I thought the story, especially the beginning, dragged, maybe due to overdescription of settings and the heroine, Jennifer Winwood, didn't catch my imagination at all.

Julia Quinn is a favorite of mine for her humor and ability to make me laugh out loud. Unfortunately, I don't know what happened with this book, which seems to be missing the trademark Julia Quinn humor that I greatly suspect it's not written by her at all! Gasp! Or maybe I was used to her ballroom-gracing heroines that I had a hard time accepting Grace Eversleigh, companion to the grandmother of the duke.

Jack, the hero, didn't endear himself to me at all. I admit to being more intrigued with Thomas (the displaced duke) and his romance with Amelia (the woman betrothed to the duke). And so, my complaint: Why does the hero always have to end up the duke (or marquis or earl)? Couldn't he have remained a mere mister, since that is what he and the heroine wanted anyway?

I also have this nasty habit of reading the ending, so I saw that after Jack became the duke, the dowager duchess was sent to live in a far corner of the estate, because of her formidable and unreasonable temper. Thomas, though he didn't have much affection for his grandmother, still went to visit her sometimes. (I sincerely think he should have been the duke.) Whereas Jack even told Grace she didn't have to visit the dowager duchess anymore, though she did once a month. I think it's safe to say that Jack didn't even visit his grandmother at all. Which led me to the question: Why? Why did he dislike her so? If not for her, he wouldn't have been the duke. Maybe that was the reason? Or maybe there's something that concerns his father? For as I had said, I didn't read the middle part of the book, so maybe that's where the juicy meat is hiding. But like the other books, didn't care to read to find out.

Kathryn Caskie is a new-to-me author. I liked Love Is In the Heir. I thought it has humor and an original hero. However, How to Engage an Earl didn't engage me at all. After reaching the part where Anne Royle got betrothed to the earl (fairly early in the book), I realized I didn't care enough about Anne or the hero to read further. Anne seemed to be one of the daughters from the secret union of the Prince Regent and a Catholic woman, and they were searching for some document to prove (or disprove) it, but I'm not so sure exactly what and I didn't care to find out.

It's really sad when a book makes me apathetic this way. Must be the weather or my lousy choice in books that I picked up three DNF's in a period of one week.

REVIEW: Crystal Genie by Opal Carew

2010-06-11T05:00:00.024-04:00

ISBN 978-1-60310-479-1
Genre: Erotic Romance
(c) June 2010, Red Sage Publishing
Opal Carew's website

Rating: 4 stars

Available in Red Sage Publishing (ebook)

"A lovely and original retelling of the story of the magic lamp!"

Celeste discovered a genie in the crystal quartz stone that she bought, but not just any genie, but a gorgeous hunk of a man. Zurvan, the genie, was trapped in the stone for 30 centuries by another djinn, a woman, who wanted Zurvan's love and when she couldn't get it, punished him by imprisoning him in the stone and forcing him to grant each master (the one who called him out of the stone) three wishes...

Sound familiar? Crystal Genie has its basis on Aladdin's story, but that's as far as it goes. Opal Carew wrote a highly original short story that would leave you hot and bothered and make you think about what love truly is.

And no, the extremely hot and wonderful sex wasn't part of the wishes. It was freely given by Zurvan who ached for Celeste, having gone without a woman for three thousand years. And in the process, they discovered something wonderful about each other, something that I couldn't say because it would be a spoiler. All I can say is that love makes everything worth it, whatever the outcome, and the end came with a twist that would make you smile, although it did raise up a question in my mind because it was a bit inconsistent with some of the other facts. (You can email me at silverwinters1(@)gmail(.)com if you want to know what it is or to discuss the story in detail, with spoilers. LOL)

Available in Red Sage Publishing (ebook)

Blogger Problem

2010-06-10T05:00:00.011-04:00

We're suddenly having problems with our original template, as in the titles don't show up. We checked using Google Chrome, Firefox and Internet Explorer, so it's not a browser problem. Since we're not techies, we really don't know where the problem is. In the end, we decided to just change the template, which is what you see right now.

REVIEW: Sex by the Numbers by Marie Donovan

2010-06-09T05:00:00.011-04:00

ISBN 9780373794072

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Marie Donovan's website

Rating: 5 stars

Available in Book Depository (print).

"Very romantic and a joy to read!"

I'm currently on a Harlequin Blaze craze, so here's my next one.

Former stripper turned accountant, Keeley Davis was hired to conduct a fraud examination at a friend's company, but in order not to sound the alarm to the culprit, who might know her, she sexed up her image in her position as the personal secretary to Dane Weiss, who was hired for the same purpose. From the start, when Dane first saw her in her frumpy attire, the two had the hots for each other and working closely as they did only made sure they could do nothing but give in to their attraction.

This book is a joy to read, being well-written, and Ms. Donovan's voice is engaging and fun and sexy, with humor appearing in several places in the book. The same can be described for her characters and their attitudes toward sex and life. No sexually repressed/falsely modest heroine here. Hey, it's a Blaze after all, and moreover, Keeley was a former stripper.

Oh, regarding that Blaze comment. It's been my impression that Blaze stories are hot, well, way hotter than a Presents or Superromance, for example. But I guess I've made the mistake of thinking the story's not so much romantic as sexy. Well, this book is both romantic and sexy.

Back to Keeley, she wormed her way into my heart and you can really feel her chemistry with Dane. Their relationship is how I imagined a true love relationship is like--lovers taking joy in each other's presence.

Dane is also one sweet and romantic hero. Many times during the story, I find myself wishing I was in Keeley's shoes! The things he said...wow, guaranteed to make a woman feel cherished and wanted. How could you not love a guy who said something like this to you: "You've haunted my dreams since we met, and I wake up to find reality even better."

I also love her cast of supporting characters, notably Lacey and Dane's mom. Lacey, Keeley's sister, is down-to-earth and sensible. I especially like the scene wherein she talked some sense into Keeley. However, I like Dane's mom even better. Though she only had two lines in the entire story and appeared only toward the ending, I love her warmth and ready acceptance of the girls. Wish I have a mother-in-law like that!

Harlequin category romances had always been a hit or miss with me. Blaze romances are more often than not, misses than hits. So I'm very happy to have discovered three Blaze authors whose romances--the characters, the plot, the sexiness, oh I should say the entire package--resonate with me. You all know about my Sarah Mayberry craze and now there's Marie Donovan. There's also Karen Foley, whose story, Flyboy, I also enjoyed a lot (review coming). I don't have auto-buy authors, but these three certainly made it to my "authors whose backlist I have to glom while waiting for new releases". LOL

Available in Book Depository (print).

REVIEW: My Lady's Pleasure by Alice Gaines

2010-06-08T05:00:00.021-04:00

ISBN 978-1-60310-469-2

Series: Three Kinds of Wicked anthology

Genre: Erotic Romance, Historical Romance, Menage a Trois

Available in Red Sage Publishing (ebook).

"Hot, sweet and very romantic. Perfect love story to curl up with on a rainy day."

When Viking invaders overran Castle Randmead, Lady Josalyn had no choice but to surrender, not if she wanted to save what remained of her people. She didn't want to be attracted to the Viking leader Ulric, but he affected her in ways she thought only her ideal English prince would. To secure the holdings and the people's approval, Ulric sought to marry Josalyn, but he knew from the moment he set eyes on her, he's also attracted to her and wanted her in his bed.

But Josalyn was shy, a virgin and from her actions, showed that she wasn't particularly predisposed toward Ulric. Hence, when a traveling bard Trey offered his services with potions that would help Ulric win his bride in exchange for the pleasure of joining their marriage bed, Ulric couldn't refuse...

This story is part of the Three Kinds of Wicked anthology, where Trey, as part of his punishment, had to travel through time uniting lovers before he could be reunited with his own love, Sage. Though we see things from Trey's point of view only at the end, that part was written so well that I really feel for him, the hope that must sustain him in order to have the energy to go on making love matches for other people while his own love languished elsewhere. And though he gets to particpate in menages with the couples in all the stories in the anthology, I feel he is not happy and that he'd rather be with his love. (Yay! I just received the conclusion of this anthology, which is Trey's story in my inbox! Thanks to Red Sage for the review copy, and of course, to Carole who forwarded it to me.)

Josalyn is a true lady of the castle and we can see this in her relationship with her people and the way they looked up to her. No wonder Ulric sought to win her, but being a straightforward Viking, he didn't know how to woo her with romance. Yet, I feel she's a good match for Ulric, because when Trey tried to court her with romantic gestures, her reactions were very pragmatic, very like Ulric. Though she may think she wants romance, what she really wants is Ulric himself.

For all his brash ways, Ulric is rather sweet, especially when he displays his uncertainty with regards to his wife. He's also the perfect husband in that he sought to give his wife whatever she wants, to make her happy. So, when he thought she wants romance, he gave her Trey and his courtly ways. Now, who wouldn't want a hero like that? Two men to give you all the attention you need. Yum. The climactic scene toward the end was rather heartwrenching at the start for him, but it left him in no doubt who his wife really wants.

Alice Gaines writes a hot yet sweet historical romance about two people who fell in love and were right for each other, but needed to take a detour that would open their eyes to what they really want.

Available in Red Sage Publishing (ebook).

Note: This review copy is provided courtesy of the publisher.

In the Blogosphere

2010-06-07T05:00:00.000-04:00

Don't know what to read for the summer? Here are some suggestions!

Now that even big publishers are going for ebooks, I'm thinking of acquiring a Kindle or maybe an iPad for ebook reading. Haven't quite made up my mind yet, but one question that I've been considering: What if I love an ebook so much I just need a print copy? Can I print from my Kindle or iPad? HP comes up with a printer that answers my needs!

Writers who want to improve their craft may want to check this out.

REVIEW: Below the Belt by Sarah Mayberry

2010-06-04T05:00:00.001-04:00

ISBN 9780373794089
Genre: Contemporary Romance

Sarah Mayberry's website

Rating: 4 stars

Buy Link: Book Depository

"Intense, heat-ratcheting romance with a dash of humor"

Jamie Sawyer wanted to erase the shame that her father had brought upon their family name, and to do that, she wanted to train under the best boxing trainer: Cooper Fitzgerald. However, Cooper wasn't in the market for women boxers and he wouldn't take her on. She had proved to him that she got talent and power. But most of all, he was drawn to her because of something else that sizzled between them...

Jamie is strong, determined and stubborn, and she needs a man like Cooper to handle her. Cooper knows his stuff and he also knows when to pick his battles, especially against a stubborn woman like Jamie. I love watching their interaction--it's fascinating and the chemistry fairly sizzled between them. Ms. Mayberry certainly knew how to write and depict the sexual tension between the characters and there were lots of it. Needless to say, their sex scenes, when they happened, were hot. Scorching. Needs ice.

I also love the characters' internal monologue, which was interspersed with humor. For example, when Cooper found himself inappropriately sporting a hard-on: Maybe if he got a really good muscle burn going (he was doing some tricep pushdowns), he could stop behaving like a life support system for a hard-on.

As boxing is a fairly unfamiliar sport to me, I also love reading about it. No info bashing, for which I'm very thankful. I still cannot understand why people would be fascinated by it (my brother is, for example), but I can appreciate that as boxers, the characters had the drive and the passion for it. You can tell that they really love the sport.

I like the way the stakes were upped for Jamie each step of the way. I like that she's smart and determined and she knows what she wants (I believe I've said that some paragraphs ago), however, there was one part where she behaves irrationally (for me) and which some readers might say is TSTL. In fact, I don't quite understand still why she did it, and the explanation offered by Cooper later on didn't quite cut it for me. Basically, Jamie took on a fight with someone who is way more experienced than she, the fight offer made by a publicist who was banking on her famous name (due to her father) to draw the crowds (and which made Cooper thought the fight would become a media circus). She also didn't want to listen to Cooper or her grandfather or her friend, who made reasonable suggestions. If it weren't for Cooper coming through for her at the end, she would've lost that fight. I don't just believe that, but I know that.

I realized why Ms. Mayberry had that publicist made the fight offer, which in my opinion is realistic. She had to move the story forward to its conclusion. I just don't quite agree with Jamie's decision. Yes, I know she's set her heart on being the title champion and redeeming their name, but I thought she's also more sensible than her actions made her seem.

Despite that, this is a good read, if you're looking for a category romance.

Buy Link (paper): Book Depository

REVIEW: Silent Blade by Ilona Andrews

2010-06-02T05:00:00.001-04:00

ISBN 978-1-60504-574-0
Genre: Romantic Science Fiction
(c) 2009, Samhain Publishing

Ilona Andrews' website

Rating: 5 stars

Buy Link (ebook): Samhain Publishing, Fictionwise

For many years, Meli Galdes serves as her family's "unofficial" assassin, and she is a very good one at that. Her family's last assignment for her was to do away with Celino Carvanna, the man who has hurt her in the past.

When Celino saw her, he didn't remember her from the awkward girl he knew from before. All he was aware of was being captivated by her, and he would do anything to possess her.

I picked up this book on the recommendation of a friend, and I'm glad I did.

Though Ilona Andrews introduced a new world in this short read, the setting wasn't hard to understand, perhaps because it was patterned after the Mafia of our world, but it's more than that. The author gave just the right amount of description in order to help the readers understand the Kinsmen world, and she did it without info dumping or sounding tedious.

I also like her characters, especially Meli who is the quintessential strong woman, and who rose from the ashes of her vulnerability and past pain without turning hard, enabling me to sympathize with her. I like that Meli didn't immediately fly into Celino's arms when he declared his feelings for her, as had happened in so many books I have read in the past. To the end, Meli was her own woman, forged in the fire of her experiences and the situations life—or people—has dealt her. I have long wanted to read a heroine who's strong like Meli and this story didn't disappoint. I was expecting a twist, but when it came, I was still caught by surprise. It was brilliant and oh-so-right for this story. Get this book, and you won't be sorry. Suffice it to say, I'm looking forward to more books in the Kinsmen world.

Buy Link (ebook): Samhain Publishing, Fictionwise