Romance Novel Sluts

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!

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