Romance Novel Sluts

In case, you missed them… the 2010 RITA WINNERS!!!!

2010 RITA Winner for Best Young Adult Romance

Perfect Chemistry
by Simone Elkeles
Bloomsbury, Walker Books for Young Readers

2010 RITA Winner for Best Inspirational Romance

The Inheritance
by Tamera Alexander
Thomas Nelson, Inc., Women of Faith Fiction

2010 RITA Winner for Best Novel With Strong Romantic Elements

The Lost Recipe for Happiness
by Barbara O’Neal
Bantam Dell Publishing Group, Discovery

2010 RITA Winner for Best Romance Novella

“The Christmas Eve Promise”
In The Night Before Christmas
by Molly O’Keefe
Harlequin Enterprises, Silhouette Special Releases

2010 RITA Winner for Best Contemporary Series Romance

A Not-So-Perfect Past
by Beth Andrews
Harlequin Enterprises, Harlequin Superromance

2010 RITA Winner for Best Contemporary Series Romance Suspense/Adventure

The Soldier’s Secret Daughter
by Cindy Dees
Harlequin Enterprises, Silhouette Romantic Suspense

2010 RITA Winner for Best Historical Romance

Not Quite A Husband
by Sherry Thomas
Bantam Dell Publishing Group

2010 RITA Winner for Best Regency Historical Romance

What Happens In London
by Julia Quinn
HarperCollins Publishers, Avon Books

2010 RITA Winner for Best Paranormal Romance

Kiss of a Demon King
by Kresley Cole
Simon & Schuster, Pocket Books

2010 RITA Winner for Best Romantic Suspense

Whisper of Warning
by Laura Griffin
Simon & Schuster, Pocket Star

2010 RITA Winner for Best First Book

One Scream Away
by Kate Brady
Grand Central Publishing, Forever

2010 RITA Winner for Best Contemporary Single Title Romance

Too Good To Be True
by Kristan Higgins
Harlequin Enterprises, HQN

Good morning!

Well, the countdown to the National Conference for the Romance Writers of America is in full swing for me. I love going to the conference for a lot of reasons. Catching up with friends I haven’t seen in a while is always a high point for me. I also get to spend time with my wonderful agent and editors, something I look forward to every year.

But this year is especially exciting for me. For the first time one of my books is a finalist in the RITA competition. For those of you who might not be familiar with the RITAs, it’s the most prestigious award a book in the romance genre can receive. I can’t tell you how honored I am to have my name and book, DARKNESS UNKNOWN, included in the list of finalists.

DARKNESS UNKNOWN is the fifth book in my Paladin series. The hero, Jarvis Donahue, first appeared in the second book in the series, DARK DEFENDER. He was supposed to be one of those characters who briefly appears for a specific purpose and then fades into the background. Jarvis had other ideas on the subject. He planted his feet in the middle of story and refused to disappear. I knew then that he wouldn’t be happy until he had his own book.

That didn’t mean I’d make it easy for him. The heroine meets him when she finds him mostly dead in the creek in the woods at the back edge of her farm. She recognizes his ability to heal quickly because her younger brother has the same talent. Jarvis ends up caught between his attraction to Gwen and his duty to introduce her younger brother to the world of the Paladins. Gwen has her own problems. She realizes on that there is far more to Jarvis than the handsome, charming man he appears to be on the surface. She isn’t sure that she can handle the warrior he truly is.

He questions everything.

No one thought Chief Talion Greyhill Danby would report to work so soon after wrapping up his affairs in London. Then again, he didn’t expect to find a beautiful spy with a major attitude in his new office. Clearly the Kyth’s Grand Dame doesn’t trust him to do his duty—to protect her.

She fears the truth.

Piper Ryan isn’t keen on the arrangement either. Matching wits with an ancient warrior isn’t in her administrative job description. But sharing space with the red-hot head of security could have unexpectedly tempting benefits . . . if he doesn’t dig into her secret past.

Opposites always attract.

When a mysterious e-mails result in danger, the fiery sparks between Piper and Grey grow scorching hot. They must defend the throne from a deadly invisible attacker, but will their raging desire keep them together . . . or will their burning suspicions tear them apart?

The winners for the RITA competition will be announced the evening of July 31st on the final night of the conference. Picture the Oscars, and you’ll have a pretty good idea of what the night is like. Lots of glitz and pizzazz, it’s the highlight of the conference. And whether I win or not, I’m just thrilled to get to be part of the celebration.

Alexis Morgan grew up near St. Louis and received a B.A. in English from the University of Missouri-St. Louis. She and her husband have made the Pacific Northwest their home for more than thirty years, where she launched her career as a writer. She is published in contemporary romance, American West historicals, and currently writes paranormal romances for Pocket Star and Silhouette Nocturne. Her book, Darkness Unknown, is a finalist in the RITA’s, the top award in the romance genre.  Her next book, Dark Warrior Untamed, will be out next week!

Hi everyone… Wish we were doing this in person.  It’s so much fun for a writer to talk to other writers or readers.  Funny thing about being a writer.  The laptop doesn’t talk back which makes it a very solitary occupation.  Thus my love of talking when I get the chance.

So here’s the scoop on me.  I think I’ve loved romance from the start and just didn’t know it.  My first favorite author ever was Zane Grey.  OMG.  Picture an eight year old girl reading about heroes larger than life who are willing to die for the brand and for their girl.  I was hooked from the start.  I went from those to all of the Edgar Rice Burroughs stories (Tarzan).  I know, I know… but he was a nearly nude male who could swing from the trees and save people.  What’s not to love about that?

I went from those to the stories of Emilie Loring and Grace Livingstone Hill.  Those were all romances of the sweetest kind.  The most hot stuff going on in those books was a kiss at the end, but I had yet to reach twelve and was happy with that.  In later years, I became a huge Louis L’amour fan.  Read all of his stories.  I think my all-time favorite was actually one of the few he wrote that wasn’t a historical western.  It was called LAST OF THE BREED, about a Native American fighter pilot who crash lands on the coast of Russia, just across the water from the Alaskan shore.  It was about how he called on his knowledge of his warrior past to survive in the cold and snow and how he hid from the Russians until he could be saved.  I bought it for my son for a stocking stuffer one Christmas, (he was a huge LL fan, too) and then I sat up and read the whole thing before I could put it in his stocking and go to bed.  Call me obsessive, but I got my hero fix big-time with that one.

I mention all this because, if you know my work and the men I write about in my stories, you might recognize the same type.  I still love the men who are tough and strong, but not afraid to cry.  I love the men who honor their women, but never expect them to walk that step behind.  Instead, their women walk beside them, with their heads high, knowing they are cherished.  GREAT BIG SIGH.

So I have a trilogy out right now with heroes like this.  The first book in the Storm Front trilogy is called BLOWN AWAY.  It came out in June.  The second book is TORN APART.  It’s just out – a July release.  The last will be out in August.  It’s called SWEPT ASIDE.  It’s about what happens to three different families/people when a hurricane-spawned tornado hits their sleepy little Louisiana town.

The first “real” romance I read that made me want to write them was Danielle Steele’s PALOMINO.  I still love that story.
I don’t know about you, but I’m a big fan of the J.D ROBB books, as well.  Eve Dallas is my kind of woman.

There are so many wonderful writers and like everyone I know, I have a huge TBR pile, as well.  It sort of comforting to me…like my security blanket…to know that when all else fails, I still have those to fall back on.

The novel I’m working on now is called BLOOD STAINS.  It will be the first book in a trilogy I’m doing that will be out next year.  I’m actually about finished with it.  Just doing a little editing/cleaning up on it.  July 3rd is my birthday.  I’m planning on writing THE END on that novel on the 3rd as my birthday present to myself.

Hope you all have a safe and happy summer.

Happy reading and always…always…remember the romance.

-Sharon Sala

Sharon Sala is a long-time member of RWA, as well as a member of OKRWA. She has 80 plus books in print, written as Sharon Sala and Dinah McCall. First published in 1991, she’s a seven-time RITA finalist, winner of the Janet Dailey Award, four-time Career Achievement winner from RT Magazine, National Reader’s Choice Award, and Colorado Romance Writer’s Award of Excellence winners five times each. Her books are New York Times , USA Today, Publisher’s Weekly, WaldenBooks mass market best-sellers. Writing changed her life, her world, and her fate.

So, obviously I like to read romance. Well, I like to read everything. But since right now I’m writing romance, it’s only fair to wonder what my favorite romance books have been, or at least the ones that put me on my path.

First of all, I should make a confession. I never read The Flame and the Flower. In fact, I’ve never read Kathleen Woodiwiss at all. It wasn’t a matter of distaste or prejudice. I was just a mystery reader back then. In fact, it wasn’t until 1981 that I read my first modern romance. My friend Katie Wilson, who worked with me in the ER, kept trying to get me to read romance. Finally, just to shut her up, I accepted a grocery bag full and said I’d try it. And that bag changed my life.

Still no Woodiwiss. Not even Rosemary Rogers or Karen Robards. Instead the bag held books by Nora Roberts, Jayne Krentz, Rebecca Brandywine, Jude Devereaux, Lisa Gregory. A wide range of stories and writing styles, but all the books had one thing in common: the heroines were all strong women. The endings were happy. Hey, I thought. I could get into this.

Obviously I did. But which was my favorite? Oh, good heavens. I have no idea. I’ve read way too many. In fact, and I’m not boasting, I think I’ve read every sweet Regency romance ever written(it had been a bad year). There are so many brilliant romance authors, that it’s too hard for me to single out one author or one book as my definitive favorite. I can say that there are some that stand out. Laura Leone’s Fever Dreams, Loretta Chase’s Lord of Scoundrels, Mary Jo Putney’s One Perfect Rose. Morning Glory by Lavryle Spencer and….you see what I mean? I can’t limit them.
Or maybe I can. Well, I can at least point to the author who probably did more than anybody else to get me where I am now.

It’s all my friend Sally Hawkes’s fault. Sally is the one who really guided my feet through Regency England. And she knew that I loved nothing more than a cracking adventure. So she said, “Have you read Patricia Veryan?”
Now Patricia isn’t for everyone. Her language is what I call High Regency. Patrick O’Brien’s characters speak much the same way. Not only that, she has a habit in her books of utilizing a quaint plot device I like to call Gypsy Ex Machina. But I’m telling you here and now, nobody does what I call historical adventure better. You think Scarlet Pimpernel was great (actually, the book was awful. The heroine spent the whole book sitting in a cottage waiting while the hero had adventures)? Well, it had nothing on the Patricia Veryan books.

She had three series, The Golden Chronicles and the Tales of the Jeweled Men, which were set right after Culloden and followed the purported Jacobite treasure, and then, later, in 1815, the Sanguinet Series. I’ll tell you how good those books are. I read them in order. Golden, Jeweled and then Sanguinet. But when I opened the first book of the Sanguinet series, I realized that strangers were living in the home of one of my favorite characters from the earlier series, Muffin. Suddenly I realized that the Sanguinet series began sixty years after the end of the Jeweled Man series. Which meant…..which meant…..Muffin was dead!! Not only that, everybody in the first two series was dead! This may sound stupid, but I had to put that book down for a good couple of weeks so I could grieve for characters who never existed. Only then could I read about their fictional descendents.

I admit I also love a good wounded hero. Well, Sally and I nicknamed Veryan’s books “The Gimp of the Month Club”. There was LOTS of action. And then, to cap it off, Veryan wrote one of the great romance books ever, A Dedicated Villain. The hero, Roland Otton, has been the quasi-villain of the first four books, taking advantage of the political turmoil in England after Culloden to feather his own nest. As one of the other characters says about him, “the nice thing about this particular friend was that there’s no doubting his reprehensible qualities. He makes no bones of the fact that he’s a rascal, which simplified matters.”

And even though you see him do fairly despicable things, you can’t help but like him. In fact, by the time you read Dedicated Villain, in which he is the hero, you want to see him redeemed.

Like the good magpie I am, I stole a couple of bright, shiny things from Veryan, like the idea that historicals can have action and adventure and suspense along with emotion and sex(well, okay, I added the sex. Veryan was a bit too proper). And one more thing. In a completely different series of books, I made the villain of the first two books the heroine of the third. I did that in my Daughters of Mabh series I did for Nocturne as Kathleen Korbel. And I have to tell you: it’s particularly satisfying.

So while I refuse to name my favorite book among the hundreds I’ve read, I will tell you who impacted me the most. I think it’s Patricia Veryan.

What book or author impacted you the most? Not necessarily the most popular, or the one you reread the most? The one that changed the direction of either your reading or writing. The one that opened your eyes to a completely new genre or time period or character?

Eileen Dreyer is a multiple Rita award winning author who has been previously published in series romance, paranormal romance, and mystery, who just entered the historical romance genre with the first book in the Drake’s Rakes series, Barely a Lady – out now!

This is what I get for slacking off for a week.  Really.  My blog feeds are out of control (1000+ to read).  I haven’t told you about how much I enjoyed Gaelen Foley’s My Dangerous Duke.  I haven’t begun to read Barely A Lady by Eileen Dreyer – which yes, I went and picked up on release day (something I really rarely do).  I didn’t do the Road to the Ritas this week.

It is two days into the second half of the year – and I’m so behind.  The rain in the forecast I’m sure will just make it worse.  The will become a mini jungle before it dries out enough to be mowed.

I am caught up on Burn Notice. Of course, I’m caught up on that.  I’ve been drooling over Jeffery Donovan since The Pretender – (he wasn’t The Pretender, he was his brother).  I’m pretty sure that if my husband were ever to be a spy… he would be like Michael.

So, I think I’m going to have to make a list of five things for the blog I want to accomplish this weekend.  That maybe the only way anything will get done, and I can slowly inch toward not so behindness…

1.  Review My Dangerous Duke.  I really enjoyed it!  I need to go find My Wicked Marquess – which comes before it  -which I couldn’t tell.  Really.  For a mini-review here – she did a great job so that I didn’t feel like I was missing out on something by not reading the first one.

2.  Prep the next two Road to the Ritas – put them out Monday and Wednesday of next week – so I don’t get more behind.

3.  Read Barely a Lady.  Ya know, I’m terrible.  Eileen might strike me down.  I have never read a romance by her.  Seriously.  Not one of her Kathleen Korbel’s have graced my TBR lists.  I have read a couple of her mysteries (which you will find under Eileen Dreyer) – that might be my only saving grace.  Grace… heh…

4.  Email next week’s guest authors, and contact some potential ones.  I’ve been such a slacker in this area.  I think I’ve been lacking a lot of drive since loosing Dad in May.

5.  Bring back Random Books of the week… I’ve kinda missed this.  It is time consuming though.

6.  THE CONTESTS!  Yes, I have some outstanding contests on the site that need winners… best draw those.

Okay, that was actually six things.  I’m crossing my fingers that I get them done.  I don’t have a three day weekend – as some might have. 

Anyone else have a list of things they need to do?  Anyone grumbling that I have been slacking?

Thanks for having me today! Sarah asked me to talk about some of my favorite romances, and then I want to hear about some of yours. Mine include anything and everything by Lisa Kleypas. I absolutely adore her books, especially her Hathaway series.  Lisa is one of the few authors I run out to buy on launch day. If you haven’t read her Hathaway series, I highly recommend it. I bought the final book in the series, Love in the Afternoon, on Tuesday and I’ve been annoyed that I haven’t been able to devour it this week. Don’t you hate when life gets in the way of your reading plans? In addition to Lisa’s historicals, I also love her contemporary series that began with Sugar Baby. Lisa could write the phonebook and I’d read it.

Other favorites include Mary Balogh’s Huxtable series, about another unforgettable family. Are you seeing a pattern here? Despite the fact that I write contemporary and romantic suspense, I love, love, love the historicals! I blame my friend Michele Anne Young for getting me hooked with her book last year, Lady Flees Her Lord, which is awesome by the way! That book left me wanting more historicals, and I’ve been totally insatiable ever since. Another of my auto buy series is Robyn Carr’s Virgin River books. I really love everything about those books, from the characters to the fictional town of Virgin River to the mountain setting. That series resides permanently on my keeper shelf.

The book that sparked my love of romance was The Thorn Birds, which I read when I was probably far too young for such a book, the summer between 8th and 9th grades. I’ve never forgotten the yearning love Meggie had for Fr. Ralph and tension between them as they tried to resist all they felt for each other. Other books I’ve loved recently are Nora Roberts’ Bride series (the first three books are out, the fourth is coming later this year), Anna Campbell’s My Reckless Surrender, Christy Reece’s Last Chance, and Julie James’s Something About You. All books worth checking out!

Enough about me. Tell me some of your favorites! I’ll give a copy of Fatal Affair to one respondent. Now, about the book:

On the morning of the most important vote of Senator John O’Connor’s career he is late—again. His best friend and chief of staff, Nick Cappuano sets off to O’Connor’s apartment expecting to roust him from bed and hoping he is alone. But what Nick finds is that O’Connor, the handsome, amiable Senator from Virginia, has been brutally murdered, and Nick’s world comes crashing down around him. Complicating the disaster, the detective assigned to the case is none other than Sam Holland, Nick’s one-night stand from six years earlier, the woman who broke his heart and haunts his dreams. With six years worth of unfinished business hanging between them and more than a few scores to settle personally and professionally, Nick and Sam set out to find the senator’s killer while trying—and failing—to resist the overwhelming attraction between them that seems to have only grown over the years.

It soon becomes clear that the senator’s past holds secrets that not only led to his death but now endanger Nick and Sam as well. Working together to find a killer and to rediscover the love they thought they lost long ago, they must put the past behind them and build a future that offers a world of new opportunities for both of them—including an offer from the Virginia Democrats for Nick to finish the last year of John’s term. Buy the book at http://ebooks.carinapress.com.

And about me:

Marie Force’s first romantic suspense, FATAL AFFAIR, was released June 21, 2010 from Carina Press. Book 2 in the Fatal Series, FATAL JUSTICE, is coming soon from Carina. She is also the author of LINE OF SCRIMMAGE and LOVE AT FIRST FLIGHT. Of LINE OF SCRIMMAGE, Booklist said, “With its humor and endearing characters, Force’s charming novel will appeal to a broad spectrum of readers, reaching far beyond sports fans.” Wild on Books said, “LOVE AT FIRST FLIGHT by Marie Force is most definitely a keeper. It is an astounding book. I loved every single word!” A third contemporary, EVERYBODY LOVES A HERO, is due out Feb. 1, 2011. Since 1996, Marie has been the communications director for a national organization similar to the Romance Writers of America. She is a member of RWA’s New England, From the Heart and Published Author Special Interest Chapters. While her husband was in the Navy, Marie lived in Spain, Maryland and Florida, and is now settled in her home state of Rhode Island. She is the mother of two children and a feisty dog named Brandy. Find her at www.mariesullivanforce.com, on her blog at http://mariesullivanforce.blogspot.com, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/pages/Marie-Force/248130827909 and on Twitter at twitter.com/MarieForce. Marie loves to hear from readers. Contact her at marie@marieforce.com.

The allure of the smart hero, for me, is undeniable. That’s not to say I don’t like equally intelligent women, or to imply that there are particularly dumb heroes out there. I guess what I should say is I have a fondness for intellectual heroes. Now for those of you who might have read my blog may have discovered that I’m married to a university professor (not one of mine, mind you) so perhaps this attraction to the smarty-pants type is not that surprising. But aside from real life, I dig the men of the mind in fiction as well.

A few examples to prove my point. Do any of you watch Fox’s show, Lie to Me? Now the actor, Tim Roth, isn’t particularly handsome, but his character is so smart and perceptive and physical that there on screen he becomes super sexy. It’s inexplicable, really, because sometimes he’s a bit of an ass on the show, yet that appeal is always there and it’s totally because of his mind.

Another example of the unattractive, though sexy, man is Jeff Goldblum, in just about anything he’s been in, but in particular Independence Day. I’m telling you when he’s walking across the dessert at the end in that fly suit and his crazy long legs are so apparent, whoa, he’s smoking. But again, it’s his intelligence (not to mention his unconditional love of his wife) that gives him that umph!

And, of course, there’s Indy, as in Indiana Jones. Now I know what you’re thinking, it’s Harrison Ford, of course he’s sexy and you’re totally right. He’d be hot with a paper sack on his head. He the character is so damn clever, just smart in all the right ways. Couple that with his knack for getting into danger and then finding ways out of it and you’ve got the perfect hero and ultimately the inspiration for my Legend Hunters series.

Early this month the 2^nd book in the trilogy hit stores. DESIRE ME is set in Victorian England and is all about the quest for the truth about the lost continent of Atlantis. And Max is just that yummy kind of hero that’s smart, but also strong and capable to get himself and his heroine, Sabine, out of trouble. And believe me they get in a ton of trouble. You see they’re on a quest to find a secret weapon that will enable them to unravel an ancient prophecy. And along the way sparks are flying between them and dangers lurk around every corner. It was great fun to write and I hope you’ll enjoy it too!

“A wildly inventive and original plot, a captivating cast of secondary characters, and an unforgettable hero and heroine (whose sexual chemistry is strong enough to generate actual sparks) add up to a scintillating addition to DeHart’s Victorian-set Legend Hunters series.”— Booklist

And here’s a short excerpt to whet your appetite.

His left eyebrow slowly rose. Max watched her face for several moments saying nothing. Then he opened his mouth to finally speak, but he paused as if considering something before he began. “I believe I’ll reserve my question until after you’ve examined my map.” When she made no move to look, he swept his arms open. “Please, look as long as you’d like.”

Excitement battered her insides as she made haste to the map. She stood as close as she could without pressing her nose to it. The prophecy was here somewhere. She only had to locate it. There were no words along the border of the map, nor in any of the corners. Perhaps it was on the backside, but she couldn’t very well take the thing off the wall and out of the frame. At least not yet.

She didn’t know how long she stood there searching every inch. It was hard to focus on her search because she was so distracted by the details within the map:  Poseidon’s palace, military barracks, farms and cottages, and the three guardian temples. She forced herself to count each ring, her eyes moving along the circles searching for any words. But she found none. Then a symbol in one of the trees caught her attention. She looked closer.

“The seven rings of Atlantis will fall by fire and steel, opening the path for the army of one.” Max’s voice came from behind her, but she stood utterly still, afraid if she moved, he’d stop. “Empires will crumble and crowns will melt. The three will lose their blood unless the dove can bring salvation.“

The words flowed over her like an ancient incantation, as if her very soul recognized them. She braced her arms on the cabinet below only to realize it was a large glass case enclosing a long spear. It was blackened and charred. She was just turning around to face Max when his arms splayed on either side of her anchoring her in front of the map.

“Find what you were looking for?” he purred.

She looked up and met his gaze. His blue eyes were so clear, so beautiful, she nearly winced. Those were the kind of eyes that could pierce a soul, find hidden secrets and unveil them with little effort. For her, that meant nothing but danger.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she said stiffly, “I was merely admiring the map. It’s really quite stunning. So unique.”

He leaned closer to her, his eyes scanned her face. “Yes, beautiful,” he said softly.

Tell me about your favorite kind of hero, what kind of guy always piques your interest? Make a comment and you just might win an autographed copy of DESIRE ME. I’ve got 2 copies to give away.

-Robyn DeHart

SEDUCE ME (RomCon Readers’ Crown finalist, RT Reviewers Choice Award Winner, Best Historical Romantic Adventure)
DESIRE ME, GCP, June 2010
TREASURE ME, GCP, March 2011

www.RobynDeHart.com
www.JauntyQuills.com

Sorry that I was rather quiet last week… and there really wasn’t much going on here…  But I guess I needed a little break.  The last two months have been a little crazy, and I’ve got a lot going on.  Since our only author last week had to postpone to this week – Robyn Dehart – I just totally slacked off.

Any way, Robyn will be in tomorrow and Marie Force will be here on Thursday.  I can’t believe we are already knocking on July’s door.  The year is almost half over – where has it all gone?

A couple of weeks ago – I mentioned that I strayed from my comfort zone and read an Inspirational Romance.  I’ve done it again, except with an author.  In many ways, I’m a tough sell.  I have my comfort authors that I have been reading for years.  And since I don’t read very fast – I tend to stick with those authors.  It is also why I fear starting a new author with an extensive back list – it just seems daunting.

But I did it again… I strayed… and I’m loving it.  I can’t give a full review as of yet – perhaps Wednesday.  So what am I reading?  Gaelen Foley’s My Dangerous Duke.  Even though it is the second in a series, I can’t tell – ie – she does a good job of letting me know what I need to know for the story.  As soon as I can tell you more – I’ll do that.  If you rush out today, you might not find it, it doesn’t officially hit the shelves until tomorrow.  (A friend gave me an early copy.)

Speaking of tomorrow… am I the only one dying to read Barely A Lady by Eileen Dreyer?  Eileen is an five time Rita award winning author who is making her debut as a Historical Romance author with this book.  I read the beginning on her website recently, and I just can’t wait to get my copy tomorrow.

Meanwhile… Holly is acting all sneaky again… I have to wonder if her animal world contacts have gotten her another ARC.  She has also been seen reading Forgive My Fins by Tera Lynn Childs – muttering that she likes it but there was just too much water.

On March 25th, Romance Writers of America released the finalists in the Rita awards. Ninety-three novels and novellas in twelve categories are in the list. Between now and the end of July, when the winners are announced, we will be featuring a collection of books each week that are in the finalist list. Here is the link to the Finalist List.

This week, we have entries in Romance Novella, Contemporary Series Romance, Historical Romance, Novel with Strong Romantic Elements, Romantic Suspense, Best First Book and Paranormal Romance.

“The Christmas Eve Promise” by Molly O’Keefe
in The Night Before Christmas

Romance Novella Finalist

Reluctantly returned home after a disastrous breakup, a young woman is thrown together with the man she once pushed away–but never forgot.

A touching story of secrets revealed and love reclaimed, by beloved Harlequin author Molly O’Keefe.

Duty, Desire, and the Desert King by Jane Porter

Contemporary Series Romance Finalist

Playboy sheikh, unwilling wife- As the black sheep of the Fehrs, a powerful desert family, middle son Zayed has sworn off love and marriage. This playboy prince is happiest when cruising the casinos of Monte Carlo. But then family tragedy leaves him as heir to his kingdom-s throne. Custom dictates that a wife must be seated beside him, and he-s got just the bride in mind- Rou Tournell is a feisty, independent woman – and if she won-t marry Zayed for duty, maybe desire will help persuade her.

With Seduction in Mind by Laura Lee Guhrke

Historical Romance Finalist

Her proposition . . .

London Society is harsh for a young woman with no family connections who has to work for a living. But when Daisy Merrick is sacked from yet another job, the feisty and outspoken miss comes up with a plan that could give her a future beyond her wildest dreams. There’s only one problem. Her success depends on a man, the most infuriating, impossible, immovable man she’s ever met. His resolution . . .

Sebastian Grant, Earl of Avermore, is England’s most infamous author. Known for his notorious reputation, he is more interested in play than work, and has no intention of cooperating when Daisy shows up on his doorstep with a mad plan. The provoking, fire-haired beauty stirs his senses beyond belief, and Sebastian knows he has only one way to stop her. Seduction.

The Better Part of Darkness by Kelly Gay

Novel with Strong Romantic Elements Finalist

Atlanta: it’s the promised city for the off-worlders, foreigners from the alternate dimensions of heaven-like Elysia and hell-like Charbydon. Some bring good works and miracles. And some bring unimaginable evil….

Charlie Madigan is a divorced mother of one, and a kick-ass cop trained to take down the toughest human and off-world criminals. She’s recently returned from the dead after a brutal attack, an unexplained revival that has left her plagued by ruthless nightmares and random outbursts of strength that make doing her job for Atlanta P.D.’s Integration Task Force even harder. Since the Revelation, the criminal element in Underground Atlanta has grown, leaving Charlie and her partner Hank to keep the chaos to a dull roar. But now an insidious new danger is descending on her city with terrifying speed, threatening innocent lives: a deadly, off-world narcotic known as ash. Charlie is determined to uncover the source of ash before it targets another victim — but can she protect those she loves from a force more powerful than heaven and hell combined?

Kill for Me by Karen Rose

Romantic Suspense Finalist

Five teenage girls have been murdered. One survived, and only she can reveal the secrets of a disturbing ring of people who kidnap and sell teenage girls on the black market. But those responsible for the crimes will do whatever it takes to maintain her silence.

Susannah Vartanian and Luke Papadopoulos have both sworn to stop the murderers for their own reasons. Susannah, the sister of the hero in SCREAM FOR ME, suffers from a mysterious past that is connected to the sinister black market. Luke is an investigative agent and a computer expert who refuses to let another child predator get away.

Susannah and Luke are instantly attracted to each other, but their troubled pasts prevent them from immediately acting upon their feelings. The case will lead them to the shady realm of Internet chat rooms, where anyone can mask their identity. As Susannah and Luke draw closer to the criminals, they discover a chain of deception so intricate they don’t know who to trust. Susannah and Luke find comfort in one another’s arms, but the killers are ruthless and determined, and will take extreme measures to insure their anonymity and keep their business intact.

One Scream Away by Kate Brady

Best First Book Finalist

Killer Chevy Bankes is a master of disguise, and just paroled, he’s coming after the woman who sent him to jail, the beautiful antiques expert Beth Denison. A set of antique dolls brings Beth into his sight, and inspire Chevy’s disturbing crimes as he draws closer to Beth and her young daughter. Chevy sends the dolls to Beth one-by-one and she soon realizes that these antiques carry the same marks as his victims, signaling that the final piece in his collection will be for her.

Neil Sheridan gave up his FBI shield five years ago, but his best friend Rick, a cop, pulls him in as a consultant on a case involving a serial killer who is eerily similar to a murderer Neil encountered in the past. The investigation leads Neil to Beth’s doorstep, and he is certain she isn’t telling him the truth. Neil is the only one who can get through Beth’s defenses and, as they grow closer, discover the secrets that Beth is hiding about her fateful night with Chevy.

What Would Jane Austen Do? by Laurie Brown

Paranormal Romance Finalist

When a modern woman goes back to Jane Austen’s time, she needs to know…

Everything! Eleanor agrees to travel back in time to prevent a deadly duel, but she doesn’t know how to behave, what to say, and most importantly…

How to tell a villain from a rake

The captivating, infuriating, and mysterious Lord Shermont is a renowned rake and womanizer—but is he also a dangerous cutthroat and spy? Eleanor has to get up close and personal to find out…

Otherwise, she could fall into a most shocking scandal…

Thankfully, Miss Jane Austen herself arrives on the scene, with sage guidance and a twinkle in her eye, to help Eleanor navigate countryhouse society and the dangerous terrain of her own heart…

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Thanks!

Hi Everyone,
My name is Giselle Bill. I am currently undertaking a Psychology Honours research project at Macquarie University (Australia) and I am conducting a study examining reading preferences, romantic beliefs and relationships.

I am seeking individuals who enjoy reading, are over 18, female, and are currently in a relationship (heterosexual) to participate in an online survey that should take about 10- 15 minutes. I would greatly appreciate you taking the time to participate.

To find out more you can access the survey at:

http://macquariehs.qualtrics.com/SE?SID=SV_6JAyHcTLKZC3AHi

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If you have any questions or concerns please contact me at giselle.rees@students.mq.edu.au. Furthermore, if you would like to receive the results for the study please send me an email to the above address.

Thank you,
Giselle Bill