Romance Novel Sluts

Archive for the ‘random books’ Category

Okay… so I came across this… Which my first thought was… Hello Captain Tight Buns.

FREEDOM : The Rake and the Recluse : Part One (a time travel romance) (The Rake And The Recluse : A serial novel) by Jenn Leblanc.  Hey…its Free on Amazon. (.99 on BN.com)

So, it looked interesting.  And it was a Serial Novel.  And I’m cheap (money goes to Day School and diapers after all)… so I started poking around.

1. This is a six part serial novel.

2.  the rest of the parts cost 99 cents or $1.99 (yes, Amazon has a couple at 99 cents, and the rest from BN are $1.99)

3.  This is a rewritten/expanded previously released book.

Now, yes… It has been getting some decide reviews… which, you know me, all about the good read (at a good price.)

So… this is what I suggest.

1.  Get the Free Part One.  (see link above)  Yes, Nookers, get the Free one from Amazon.  Download the Free Kindle App to your computer, and get an Amazon account.

2.  If you decide you like Part One.  Get the whole sha-bang… The Rake and the Recluse REDUX (containing all six parts)
For Kindlers from Amazon for $5.99
For Nookers from Barnes and Noble for $5.99

A little bit more…

A woman out of time.
A man stifled by propriety.
A nemesis determined to take her away.
A brother to the rescue.

How will a powerful Duke deal with a woman who doesn’t know her place? How will a woman used to the 21st century survive in time where she is considered property?

Francine Larrabee woke up on the wrong side of the century. She was fairly certain she went to sleep in her own comfy bed, but she doesn’t quite seem to be there now. Only adding to her problems is that she has no voice, is constantly being glowered at by a large, stunning man who is obsessed with propriety, and she is apparently betrothed to another horrid little man, determined to ruin her, and any other girls that get in his way.

How does she find herself in the past, when she couldn’t even find herself in her present? How does a self sufficient businesswoman survive in a time when women were still considered property for the whole of their lives and what is she going to do with this man who draws her to him so fiercely.

We all have wish lists… right?  Books you wish would come out?

For years, a sequel to The Eight by Katherine Neville was on my wish list.  Suffice it to say, The Fire wasn’t what I hoped it would be.  Mostly, I believe, in a change of reader expectations of books.

Also, I had the truth behind Michael Durant’s survival from My Fair Temptress by Christina Dodd.  She made us wait 4 1/2 years before letting us know what happened to him with In Bed with a Duke.  She pulled the same thing with Gabriel Prescott from the Lost Texas Hearts series, making us wait for four years when she rounded out the Fortune Hunters series with Danger in a Red Dress.  She has made us wait, again, with Aleksandr Wilder’s story.  Am I as I was with the others?  No.  Mostly cause Aleksandr needed to grow up in my head, and well, when she started the Chosen One series – I knew it was coming, even if it was delayed for a year.

If you are a reader of Susan Wiggs’ The Lakeshore Chronicles… Then you might have been one of the ones dying for Daisy’s story – Marrying Daisy Bellamy, which came out last year.  Now, I just want the next one (due out in the fall – Sonnet’s story).

So, what is on my list now?

My biggest “I want it now” is the next installment of Eileen Dreyer’s Drake’s Rakes series.  I’m a fan of Barbara Schroeder, the spymaster and her collection domestic (as in servants) spies.  Eileen left Babs story hanging a little in Always a Temptress.  The ONLY thing keeping me from being more annoying about it – A web short out this summer and the promise (ie she has been contracted) for the next Drake’s Rakes trilogy.

I have a “o happy day” with the announcement late last month that Julie Kenner is going to dive into self-publishing to continue her recently orphaned Kate Conner, Demon Hunting Soccor Mom series.  Pax Demonica will be out later this spring.  The last book – Demon Ex Machina – came out in 2009, long enough ago that I feel like I need to read it again to remember where it left off.

I do read a little YA… so Tera Lynn Childs is on my list.  Namely a certain character named Nicole from her Oh. My. Gods. series.  Happily to her fans, Tera announced a Nicole short to be out next week, and a novella to come later.  Cause well, Nicole has been a mystery that many fans want the answers to! Of course I’m also happily waiting on Tera’s next Mermaid (Just for Fins) book and Medusa Sisters (Sweet Shadows) book, which are due out this year.

With e-publishing/self-publishing become more accessible, it might mean that orphaned stories might find there ways to readers.  If the authors have the time and know how, maybe readers can see a return to characters they have been clamoring for.  Think about Connie Brockway breaking from her old publisher, teaming with Amazon, and now writing the stories and settings she wants to write. This brings hope to those authors that have a book that has no home.

Do you have a wish list?

 

 

I still haven’t read Jane Austen!   (Maybe I need to make my reading resolutions for the year…) But if you like the idea of spin-off novels from her classics… here are a few to look at.

What Would Jane Austen Do? by Laurie Brown

Kindle Price: $4.96
Nook: $4.96

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…

From the author of Hundreds of Years to Reform a Rake, a new time travel romance featuring a modern day career woman swept back in time to Regency England, where she thwarts a Napoleonic spy, chats with Jane Austen, and falls in love with a notorious rake.

Emma and the Vampires by Wayne Josephson

Kindle Price: $3.51
Nook: $10.19

What better place than pale England to hide a secret society of gentlemen vampires?

In this hilarious retelling of Jane Austen’s Emma, screenwriter Wayne Josephson casts Mr. Knightley as one of the most handsome and noble of the gentlemen village vampires. Blithely unaware of their presence, Emma, who imagines she has a special gift for matchmaking, attempts to arrange the affairs of her social circle with delightfully disastrous results. But when her dear friend Harriet Smith declares her love for Mr. Knightley, Emma realizes she’s the one who wants to stay up all night with him. Fortunately, Mr. Knightley has been hiding a secret deep within his unbeating heart-his (literal) undying love for her… A brilliant mash-up of Jane Austen and the undead.

Pemberley Ranch by Jack Caldwell

Kindle Price: $1.99
Nook: $9.89

When the smoke has cleared from the battlefields and the civil war has finally ended, fervent Union supporter Beth Bennet reluctantly moves with her family from their home in Meryton, Ohio, to the windswept plains of Rosings, Texas. Handsome, haughty Will Darcy, a Confederate officer back from the war, owns half the land around Rosings, and his even haughtier cousin, Cate Burroughs, owns the other half.

In a town as small as Rosings, Beth and Will inevitably cross paths. But as Will becomes enchanted with the fiery Yankee, Beth won’t allow herself to warm to the man who represents the one thing she hates most: the army that killed her only brother.

But when carpetbagger George Whitehead arrives in Rosings, all that Beth thought to be true is turned on its head, and the only man who can save her home is the one she swore she’d never trust…

Fitzwilliam Darcy, Rock Star by Heather Lynn Rigaud

Kindle Price: $1.99
Nook: $9.89

Darcy’s as hot as he is talented…

Fast music, powerful beats, and wild reputations-on and off stage-have made virtuoso guitarist Fitzwilliam Darcy’s band into rock’s newest bad boys. But they’ve lost their latest opening act, and their red-hot summer tour is on the fast track to disaster. Now Darcy and bandmates Charles Bingley and Richard Fitzwilliam are about to meet their match…

But she’s about to rock his world…

Enter Elizabeth Bennet, fiercely independent star of girl-band Long Borne Suffering. Elizabeth, her sister Jane, and friend Charlotte Lucas have talent to spare and jump at the opening band slot. Elizabeth is sure she’s seen the worst the music industry has to offer. But as the days and nights heat up, it becomes clear that everyone is in for a summer to remember.

For me, some reason, the new year just isn’t a fresh start!

The same pile of stuff to do is still there from December, and not just my to be read pile.   Coming into work this morning, I ticked off the things that I needed to get done today in my head.  The same list of things I needed to get done the day before my holiday vacation a week and a half ago.

I did get a couple… and I mean TWO books read over my short holiday.   I wish I had read more!

Eileen Dreyer’s Always a Temptress – which I was overjoyed in finally getting around to reading it.

Eileen is a seasoned vet in romance – but this is only her third venture into Historical.   She thoroughly shows her talent and versatility with  the Drake’s Rakes series, and Always a Temptress was wonderful.

I am so happy to hear that there will be at least two more trilogies for Drake’s Rakes (Always a Temptress rounded out the Three Graces Trilogy).  Rumor has it there will be a short story in the spring as well.  Meanwhile, I’m trying to find out when the next book is coming.  I feel like a little kid on a sugar high wanting more!

 His greatest battle is just beginning . . .

Captain Harry Lidge has done his duty. After losing too many good men on the battlefield, he’s ready to put his responsibilities behind him and live a life free of care. But first he has one last mission: find out what the most outrageous woman in London, the same woman who betrayed him nearly a decade earlier, is concealing, before her secrets take down the crown.

Her heart is the only thing she won’t risk . . .

Surrounded by ardent admirers and a few loyal friends, Lady Kate Seaton glides through the ton on a confection of couture gowns and bon mots. No one suspects that beneath her lighthearted façade Kate hides a sorrow so scandalous she’ll do anything to keep it hidden. But only when she trusts Harry with the truth and only when he trusts her with his heart can they stop the villains all too willing to kill Kate to attain their ultimate goal: destroy England

Get from Amazon.com 

Get from Barnes and Noble

The other book I read was Because of You by new comer Jessica Scott.

I don’t normally read military romance – although… I guess I do – just not contemporary ones.  But can you deny that cover?

I did enjoy it.  A great addition to the Loveswept reboot/restart/comeback.  I really enjoyed the secondary characters, and I’m waiting to see what happens in the next book coming in May – Back to You.

From the war-torn streets of Baghdad to the bittersweet comforts of the home front, two wounded hearts navigate the battlefield of coming home from war in this explosive eBook original from newcomer Jessica Scott.

Keeping his men alive is all that matters to Sergeant First Class Shane Garrison. But meeting Jen St. James the night before his latest deployment makes Shane wonder if there’s more to life than war. He leaves for Iraq remembering a single kiss with a woman he’ll never see again- until a near fatal attack lands him back at home and in her care. Jen has survived her own brush with death and endured its scars. And yet there’s a fire in Shane that makes Jen forget all about her past. He may be her patient, but when this warrior looks her in the eyes, she feels – for the first time in a long time – like a woman. Shane is too proud to ask for help, but for Jen, caring for him is more than a duty -it’s a need. And as Jen guides Shane through the fires of healing, she finds something she never expected – her deepest desire. 

Get it from Amazon.com 

Get it from Barnes and Noble

Seriously… 8 books at .99 cents each, and the other three at 2.99. If you haven’t read her, can you beat it?
Miriam Minger’s Amazon Page with her Fab e-book prices!

In the Widget below I put the ones to get for maximum savings!  (Ie – the bundles which include multiple books and the three $2.99 ones.)

To max your savings…

Stolen Splendor – 99 cents
A Hint of Rapture – 99 cents
Defiant Impostor – 99 cents
Ripped Apart – 99 cents (a Romantic Suspense)

This comes to $3.96.

Now add the bundles…

Twin Passions/Captive Rose/The Pagan’s Prize Boxed Set – $4.50
Secrets of Midnight/My Runaway Heart Boxed Set – $3.50
Wild Angel/Wild Roses Boxed Set – $3.50

That’s $11.50

Total of $15.46 for 11 books!

I had mentioned yesterday that Sherry Thomas’ e-book editions were $3.99.

His at Night
Not Quite a Husband
Delicious
Private Arrangements

Also – from Friday’s Hanukkah post… I found the Burning Bright Anthology which has a Festival of Lights story in it.

Burning Bright: Return of the Light\Star Light, Star Bright\One for Each Night – for $1.49

Now just some random books for cheap

Home in Time for Christmas for $2.67
Yours Until Dawn for $1.99
Silent Night, Haunted Night for $1.99
Home for the Holidays for $1.99

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

Raven on the Wing by Kay Hooper

New York Times bestselling author Kay Hooper brings together romance and suspense in this classic love story of a woman who must lie to keep a safe distance from the man she loves—because telling him the truth is too dangerous for them both.

From the moment Raven Anderson literally knocks Josh Long off his feet, he’s determined to keep this elusive beauty in his tight embrace. While Raven denies their electrifying attraction and fends off his advances, Josh uses the resources of his business empire to crack the mystery surrounding Raven’s true identity. But Josh can’t bring himself to believe what the background check confirms—that Raven is an international criminal wanted for her connections to worldwide terrorism.

Raven has discouraged Josh’s help and his love, but she’s going to need both. For she is playing a part in a deadly game against an adversary who never loses, who takes no prisoners, and who threatens her very life.

Married by Morning by Lisa Kleypas

For two years, Catherine Marks has been a paid companion to the Hathaway sisters—a pleasant position, with one caveat. Her charges’ older brother, Leo Hathaway, is thoroughly exasperating. Cat can hardly believe that their constant arguing could mask a mutual attraction. But when one quarrel ends in a sudden kiss, Cat is shocked at her powerful response—and even more so when Leo proposes a dangerous liaison.

Leo must marry and produce an heir within a year to save his family home. Catherine’s respectable demeanor hides a secret that would utterly destroy her. But to Leo, Cat is intriguing and infernally tempting, even to a man resolved never to love again. The danger Cat tried to outrun is about to separate them forever—unless two wary lovers can find a way to banish the shadows and give in to their desires…

She Got Lucky by Susan Donovan

She Has Nothing Left to Lose.

Her marriage is over. Her newspaper career went belly up. And it won’t be long before her two teenage sons are off to college…and then what? Sometimes it seems like the only thing Ginger Garrison can count on is her beloved Bichon Frisé and the loyal women in her dog-walking group. But her luck is about to take a wild turn. . .

Will She Dar Let Loose?

A diplomatic snafu has sidelined the globe-trotting nature photographer Lucio “Lucky” Montevez, a man known as much for his wild personal life as his wildlife images. Now stuck in the States and forced to shoot pet portraits for a living, his prospects look downright tame…until Ginger enters his world (along with her boys, her spoiled pooch, and her egomaniacal ex-husband). Lucky’s always been a love-her-and-leave-her kind of guy, but something about the spirited, sensual Ginger makes him want to stick around. But will Lucky’s playboy past end up costing him the only woman he’s ever really loved?

A Gentleman Always Remembers by Candace Camp

New York Times bestselling author Candace Camp’s delectable Willowmere series continues with the story of the accomplished and pretty widow who takes on the American Bascombe sisters for their London debut—only to discover that, when it comes to love, she is the one who is unprepared.

Married young to a charming but improvident army officer, Eve Hawthorne was widowed with little left except for a few extravagant trifles. Desperate to avoid her domineering stepmother, she accepts employment as chaperone to the Earl of Stewkesbury’s American cousins. Who better than a levelheaded widow to remind these young girls that they no longer live on a frontier? But when she flirts with a handsome stranger who turns out to be the earl’s brother Fitz, Eve worries she’s given the wrong impression. Trying to prove herself responsible—with Fitz challenging her at every turn—is hard enough, but a blackmailer with an interest in Eve’s prior marriage proves far more troubling. With the earl away, Eve can turn only to Fitz for help. But dare she confide in him, when getting too close to this confirmed bachelor might risk her heart to his alluring ways?

His At Night by Sherry Thomas

Love is hottest in the darkness before dawn.

Elissande Edgerton is a desperate woman, a virtual prisoner in the home of her tyrannical uncle. Only through marriage can she claim the freedom she craves. But how to catch the perfect man?

Lord Vere is used to baiting irresistible traps. As a secret agent for the government, he’s tracked down some of the most devious criminals in London, all the while maintaining his cover as one of Society’s most harmless—and idiotic—bachelors. But nothing can prepare him for the scandal of being ensnared by Elissande.

Forced into a marriage of convenience, Elissande and Vere are each about to discover that they’re not the only one with a hidden agenda. With seduction their only weapon—and a dark secret from the past endangering both their lives—can they learn to trust each other even as they surrender to a passion that won’t be denied?

My Recklass Surrender by Anna Campbell

Headlong into sin . . .

A well-practiced rake, weary of easy conquests and empty pleasures, Tarquin Vale, Earl of Ashcroft, knows women—and his every instinct warns him to beware of this one. Diana Carrick’s brazen overtures have thrown the haunted, sinfully handsome lord completely off his guard. Why, the exquisite temptress stated outright that she wishes to be his lover. But it is neither Diana’s boldness nor her beauty that intrigues him so—it is the innocence he senses behind her worldly mask.

Intent upon the seduction that will finally free her, Diana has set her sights on the notorious Ashcroft—never dreaming that there is much more to the enigmatic rogue than sin and deviltry. His kiss is bewitching, his caress intoxicating—and even the dangerous secret Diana must protect cannot shield her from Ashcroft’s dark allure.

Unwittingly yet most willingly, they are playing with fire. Now the fuse has been lit and there is no escape . . . except surrender.

Ten Things I Love About You by Julia Quinn

Ten Things You Should Know About This Book

1. Sebastian Grey is a devilishly handsome rogue with a secret.

2. Annabel Winslow’s family voted her The Winslow Most Likely to Speak Her Mind and The Winslow Most Likely to Fall Asleep in Church.

3. Sebastian’s uncle is the Earl of Newbury, and if he dies without siring an heir, Sebastian inherits everything.

4. Lord Newbury detests Sebastian and will stop at nothing to prevent this from happening.

5. Lord Newbury has decided that Annabel is the answer to all of his problems.

6. Annabel does not want to marry Lord Newbury, especially when she finds out he once romanced her grandmother.

7 is shocking, 8 is delicious, and 9 is downright wicked, all of which lead the way to

10. Happily. Ever. After.

No Werewolves Allowed by Cheyenne McCray

Here’s this weeks random books…

The Notorious Scandal by Alexandra Benedict

Like an irresistible siren, the veiled dancer with the bewitching green eyes lures dukes and earls down into London’s underworld to see her dance—and succumb to her spell. Some say she’s a princess, but only one man knows her darkest secret.

She is Amy Peel, an orphan from the city’s rookeries, and she believes the bold rogue who unmasks her to be nothing but a scoundrel—albeit a dangerously handsome one. He may have rescued her from an attempted kidnapping, but she will not give in to his sensual seduction or to the wicked desire she begins to feel . . .

He is Edmund Hawkins, swashbuckling pirate turned reluctant gentleman, and he will not let the lovely Amy slip through his grasp, especially when he learns she’s in greater peril than she could possibly know. He will do everything in his power to protect her—for this notorious scoundrel has truly, unbelievably, lost his heart . . .

The Mammoth Book of Special Ops Romance

Adventurous stories of romance all feature the heroes of the Navy SEALs, Delta Force, Air Force Para-Rescue, Green Berets, Army Rangers, and other special forces. This collection includes the work of bestselling romance writers such as Laura Griffin, Marliss Melton, Cheyenne MacCray, Shannon K. Butcher, Stephanie Tyler, and Larissa Ione (writing as Sydney Croft).

Three Times a Bride by Catherine Anderson,
Loretta Chase and Samantha James

Three times a lady.

Three times a beauty.

Three Times a Bride

Three brides, three beginnings, three stories of incomparable romance from USA Today bestselling authors Catherine Anderson, Loretta Chase, and Samantha James.

Celebrate the glorious, magical moment when man and woman become husband and wife with these three couples, joined by a passionate promise of forever—and inspired by true love. Wedded bliss has never been this wicked . .

The Tycoon Takes A Wife by Catherine Mann

I Now Pronounce You… Still Married!

It had been a mistake…at least for Jonah Landis’s new bride. She’d left him the morning after their whirlwind wedding. And he’d never forgiven her. As quickly as they had once exchanged rings, Jonah filed for an annulment and vowed to put memories of Eloisa behind him.

But a year later, due to a technicality, it seemed the millionaire was still a married man. Eloisa had lied about many things, and now he finally had the ammunition to unravel it all. If his “wife” wanted out of this marriage, she was going to give him the answers he still needed… and the honeymoon he still craved….

Hitched by BJ Daniels

Following a trail of secrets back to his family ranch, Jack Winchester needed a cover to solve a decades-old mystery. And Josey Smith offered him the perfect one—if she would agree to pose as his wife for a week. The gorgeous redhead was up to her neck in trouble, and Jack protected what was his, pretend marriage or not.

On the run from a killer, Josey had no choice but to accept Jack’s proposal. She no longer trusted herself to tell the good guys from the bad, but the handsome, blue-eyed cowboy made her feel safe. Yet it soon became apparent that the sparks that flew between them were anything but fake, and the danger they faced was all too real….

Fatal Secrets by Barbara Phinney

“For my baby’s safety, I must give her up…”

An old letter is all Kristin Perry has of her birth mother. When the Witness Protection Program couldn’t keep mother or daughter safe, the woman fled “underground.” With the help of private investigator Zane Black, Kristin tries to track her down. Instead, though, she finds herself the target of a series of deadly “accidents.” Zane’s still searching for her missing mother—but now Kristin’s starting to wonder if her family reunion will be the death of them all….

The Baby Twins by Laura Marie Altom

A pilot’s widow, Stephanie Olmstead isn’t afraid of flying…until the plane takes off, triggering a panic attack! Suddenly, the single mother of twins has a new man in her life. Brady McGuire, the pilot who saved her from a major meltdown, now sees himself as her protector. And friend.

Between flying and moving across the country to be closer to his daughter, Brady’s life is hectic enough. But ever since he played hero, he can’t stay away from the gorgeous single mom and her infant girls. That’s when things start happening really fast. But is Stephanie ready to move on? Brady has his doubts. One thing’s for sure, it’s going to be a bumpy ride!

#2 Love Potion by Margot Early

They’re making their own magic!

The love potion Cameron McAllister just drank was supposed to help her get over someone—not make her fall for her best friend! Now she’s pregnant, and Paul Cureux is proposing… marriage. Cameron should be jumping for joy. After all, he’s the one she’s wanted all along.

But this is Paul. Her commitment-wary, live-for-the-moment buddy. Except he’s acting as though he really means all this family togetherness stuff. Maybe he’s also under the influence. Or could it be something else? Something that has nothing to do with spells and potions…and everything to do with love?

Do You Take This Cop? by Beth Andrews

Without the badge, he’d be perfect!

The last thing Faith Lewis needs is a cop poking his nose in her business. Okay, yes, Nick Coletti is gorgeous. And charming. And great with her son. But dating the town’s most popular boy in blue is hardly going to help her keep a low profile. This guy could blow their world apart if he discovers her secret.

Funny thing is, he may also be her only hope. If she had someone like Nick on her side, maybe she could finally be free, and give her son the life he deserves. But trusting Nick means telling the whole truth about her past. He might protect them. Or he just might turn her in….

A Wedding at Leopard Tree Lodge by Liz Fielding

Events planner Josie Fowler has scooped the wildest celebrity wedding of the year in a luxury lodge hotel in Botswana! She’s surrounded by prowling leopards and crocodile-filled rivers, but more dangerous to her sanity is the resort owner—enigmatic entrepreneur Gideon McGrath.

As Josie wrestles with taffeta and table plans, Gideon’s take-charge approach is getting in her way—and his sexy smile is getting under her skin….

Virgin on Her Wedding Night by Lynn Graham

Already haunted by a youth of illegitimacy and poverty, Valente Lorenzatto never forgave Caroline Hales’s abandonment of him at the altar.

But now he’s made millions and claimed his aristocratic Venetian birthright—and he’s poised to get his revenge. He’ll ruin Caroline’s family by buying out their company and throwing them out of their mansion…unless she agrees to give him the wedding night she denied him five years ago….

The Maverick By Jan Hudson

Cassidy Outlaw left her high-powered legal job—and the unscrupulous lawyer fiancé who broke her heart— to return to Texas. Here, life is simpler and the people more authentic. Managing her family’s Chili Witches Café and protecting the charm of old Austin’s landmarks keeps her too busy to care about spending time with Griff Mitchell, the new hottie in town with the Paul Newman blue eyes.

When Cass literally stumbles over him on the jogging trail, Griff falls for her in turn—hard. Too bad she’s got a problem with big New York City lawyers…because he’s here to convince her family to sell their historic property. No one told him Cass was the kind of woman who could stand up to any man—a maverick who could break his heart. Will she forgive him when she discovers his secret?

When the Heavens Fall: A Winslow Breed Novel by Gilbert Morris

THE SECOND NOVEL IN THE WINSLOW BREED SERIES—THE PREQUEL TO THE FAMED HOUSE OF WINSLOW BREED SERIES!

Brandon Winslow would rather gamble and frequent taverns than attend church. So how does he find himself at the forefront of the resistance to Bloody Mary’s attempt to eliminate—at sword’s point, if need be—the Protestant faith?

During the reign of Mary I of England—”Bloody Mary”—young Brandon Winslow (son of Stuart, protagonist of Honor in the Dust, the first book in the Winslow Breed series) finds himself in dire straits. After being flogged and then drummed out of the military for seducing the wife of his commanding officer, he sinks into a life of gambling and petty fraud along with Lupa, the fair gypsy woman who nursed him back to health.

After Mary weds Prince Philip of Spain, she begins to work in earnest to establish Catholicism as the only faith in England—and to execute Protestants. When Brandon sees several people burned at the stake in London for their faith, the experience changes him: Even though he has been only a nominal member of the Church of England, he finds himself compelled to stop those responsible for these outrages—and to do so before his uncle Quentin, a pastor, is himself burned at the stake. Unfortunately, the only way to save Quentin and so many others is to make Princess Elizabeth (who is herself in danger of dying at Mary’s hand) queen. And that, of course, would be treason. Punishable by death.

But then, Brandon has always been a gambler . . .

Being early in the month, A LOT of books came out… so here are more than a few.

Sex and the Single Earl by Vanessa Kelly

Their marriage was convenient. . .

Simon St. James, fifth Earl of Trask, knows he could do worse in the marriage of convenience department. Sophie Stanton may be a bit of a social liability, with her ungovernable ways and flighty nature, but Simon has responsibilities as an earl that far outweigh happiness in the household. And as for happiness in the bedroom. . .he has to admit he sees Sophie’s potential in that arena. . .

Their passion was not!

But Sophie isn’t some bargaining chip to be traded, and she’s not about to let Simon St. James tell her how to live her life–even though she has nurtured a crush on the handsome young earl for as long as she can remember. If his idea of courtship is telling her what to do, then she is not interested, or at least she is trying not to be. But when his scolding words turn to scorching kisses, suddenly Sophie starts paying attention. . .

Shade by Jeri Smith-Ready

Love ties them together. Death can’t tear them apart.

Best. Birthday. Ever. At least, it was supposed to be. With Logan’s band playing a critical gig and Aura’s plans for an intimate after-party, Aura knows it will be the most memorable night of her boyfriend’s life. She never thought it would be his last.

Logan’s sudden death leaves Aura devastated. He’s gone.

Well, sort of.

Like everyone born after the Shift, Aura can see and hear ghosts. This mysterious ability has always been annoying, and Aura had wanted nothing more than to figure out why the Shift happened so she can undo it. But not with Logan’s violet-hued spirit still hanging around. Because dead Logan is almost as real as ever. Almost.

It doesn’t help that Aura’s new friend Zachary is so understanding–and so very alive. His support means more to Aura than she cares to admit.

As Aura’s relationships with the dead and the living grow ever complicated, so do her feelings for Logan and Zachary. Each holds a piece of Aura’s heart…and clues to the secret of the Shift.

Running Scared by Shannon K. Butcher

Lexi Johns has one purpose: to free her best friend from the hands of the Sentinels. And Zach, the Sentinel she has been running from for months, has one goal: to convince her that their destinies are entwined. For the magic that Zach has absorbed could destroy him if he doesn’t find the woman who can channel it for him. And he knows Lexi is the one.

From an early age, Lexi has been taught to fear the Sentinels. And now she is an agent of a group out to destroy them. So when Zach finds her, it is Lexi’s chance to strike at the heart of the Sentinels. But, as Lexi sees Zach’s courage, selflessness, and honor, she begins to doubt her beliefs — and is faced with an unbearable choice.

This is apart of the Sentinel War series, including Finding the Lost and Burning Alive.

Tall, Dark and Wolfish by Lydia Dare

In Lydia Dare’s debut trilogy, Regency England has gone to the wolves!

He’s lost the most important part of himself…

Lord Benjamin Westfield is a powerful werewolf-until one full moon when he doesn’t change. His life now shattered, he rushes off to Scotland in search of the healer who can restore his inner beast, only to find she’s not at all what he expected…

She would make him whole, if she could…

Young, beautiful witch Elspeth Campbell will do anything to help anyone who calls upon her healing arts. Then Lord Benjamin shows up, and she suddenly discovers she may need him even more than he needs her…

Nothing But Trouble by Rachel Gibson

Trouble . . .

Chelsea Ross’s acting career has been a total bust. The closest she ever came to stardom was her brilliant performance as “Pretty Dead Girl #1.” But leaving Hollywood to become the personal assistant to a famous hockey player could be her stupidest career move ever.

More trouble . . .

Injured superstar Mark Bressler’s glory days are over. The bad-boy ex-jock could at least be civil to the pint-sized, pink-haired bombshell who the Seattle Chinooks hired to be his P.A. If Chelsea didn’t need the money, she’d be running from the world’s biggest jerk as fast as her feet could carry her.

Big trouble!

Chelsea can deal with Mark’s rotten attitude and dark moods. The problem is those biceps and that red-hot bod! And when the bad boy starts to put the moves on her, Chelsea knows it’s time she banished him to the penalty box . . . if only she could resist the kind of trouble he has in mind!

Stormwalker by Allyson James

Half-Navajo Janet Begay comes to Magellan to investigate the mysterious disappearance of the police chief’s daughter. But the people of Magellan sense that Janet is not what she seems, and they’re right.

Janet possesses extraordinary power which is tied to the storms that waft across the desert. The only person who can control her when she’s caught in the storm’s evocative power is Mick, a dark-haired, blue-eyed biker Janet can’t seem to touch with her powers. He can wield fire and not get burned, and Janet’s never sure where he goes when they’re not together.

Together they investigate mysterious disappearances, which Janet fears are tied to her mother’s people, the mythical gods from below the earth. They are helped along the way by Coyote and Crow, but these shapeshifting gods have their own agendas.

The Slightest Provocation by Pam Rosenthal

Sensual historical romance from an award-winning author

Mary Penley and Kit Stansell were secret friends who became adolescent lovers and eloped. But the marriage didn’t survive. Now nine years later, Mary and Kit meet again, where intense desire leads them to rekindle their physical relationship. But Kit is devoted to maintaining social order, and once again finds himself at odds with Mary-a reformer who is appalled by the repressive government. When a political conspiracy forces them to work together, they have a second chance to reconcile their differences…and create a future together.

Pam won the Rita last year with The Edge of Impropriety.

Mistress By Mistake by Maggie Robinson

Scandal Is Only The Beginning. . .Charlotte Fallon let her guarded virtue fall once–and she’s paid dearly for it ever since. She swore she’d never succumb to men’s desires again. But even a village spinster’s life miles from temptation can’t save her from a sister with no shame whatsoever. Or a heart that longs for more, whatever the cost. . .

Sir Michael Bayard found more than he expected in his bed when he finally joined his new mistress. He’d fantasized about her dewy skin and luscious curves, assured her understanding that what passed between them was mere dalliance. But he didn’t expect the innocence and heat of her response in his arms. Nor her surprisingly sharp tongue once she was out of them. . .

A few days of abandon cannot undo the hard-learned lessons of a lifetime. Nor can an honest passion burn away the restraints of society’s judgments. Unless, of course, one believes in nonsense like true love. . .

Straight Up by Deirdre Martin

Ireland is a good place to get lucky…

Even a man on the run can enjoy the thrill of the chase…

After getting on the bad side of New York’s Irish mob, Liam O’Brien thought he could weather the storm back in Ireland. Working as a bartender in his parent’s old village of Ballycraig, he’s not looking for any trouble. But he could use a bit of fun.

Aislinn McCafferty has already been scorned by a man once at the wedding altar. Now, any man who tries to woo her is quickly and coldly dispatched. The unknowing Liam soon learns this the hard way–and is immediately intrigued.

Eagerly accepting a wager from the pub’s owner, Liam begins a determined pursuit of the stubborn and beautiful Aislinn, who in turn uses all of her wiles to rid herself of the charmingly determined Yank. But neither of them expects this donnybrook of the sexes to turn into an unlikely love…

This is the third book in the Wild Harts saga, including… Double the Pleasure and With a Twist.

Love in the Time of Dragons by Katie MacAlister

If you found out you were a famous fire-breather, you’d be freaked out too.

Tully Sullivan is just like any other suburban mom – unless you count the days every year that she zones out and turns base metals in to gold. Those are weird.

And now she’s woken up in a strange place surrounded by strange people who keep insisting they’re dragons – and that she’s one too. But not just any dragon. She’s Ysolde de Bouchier, a famed figure from dragon history.

Tully can’t shape-shift or breathe fire, and she’s definitely not happy being sentenced to death for the misdeeds of a dragon mate she can’t remember. All Tully knows is that she wants her son back. So she’ll have to find a way to solve the crimes of a past she has no memory of living…

This is part of the Light Dragons series.

Spontaneous by Brenda Jackson

Kimani Cannon knows she’s in trouble the second she lays eyes on 6’4″ of luscious male. The best kind of trouble, too…mm-mmm! Duan Jeffries turns out to be the perfect man—charming, considerate…and the best lover she’s ever had. Too bad Mr. Delicious is just a one-night stand….Until Kim needs a date to her mother’s (fifth) wedding! Duan’s willing to act the part of her fiancé… as long as it means full benefits. More amazing sex? No problem!

Then Kim finds out that Duan’s got his own private agenda. Suddenly, she doesn’t know what to believe. Her head and heart are telling her to be careful. But the sensual thrumming in her blood is turning out to be much more persuasive….

Blazing Bedtime Stories, Volume V by Leslie Kelly and Jennifer Labrecque

A Prince of a Guy by Leslie Kelly

Hunky rock-and-roller Rafe is sure it’s a case of mistaken identity. After all, he doesn’t know Olivia, the gorgeous woman who accosts him outside his club. But he’d sure like to. So when she assumes he’s her runaway prince and tells him she intends to take him home with her, he’s more than game. Sure, he might not be a true prince. But a few nights in Olivia’s bed make him feel like a king!

Goldie and the Three Brothers by Jennifer LaBrecque

Goldie Dawkins works with three sexy brothers. And she’s willing to go the extra mile to convince them of her ideas for the business. Too bad that extra mile gets her stranded at their remote cabin, in a storm, all alone. So what’s a girl to do but check out the food, the recliners and the bedrooms to discover which one is just right? Only once bad-boy brother Jake Malone shows up, Goldie has no doubt which bed she intends to occupy….

Catch of the Day by Kristan Higgins

This catch of the day could be the dish of a lifetime!

First Date à la Maggie
Take one lovelorn diner owner (me)
A generous helping of nosy local gossips
A dollop of envy at married sister’s perfect life
A splash of divine intervention (my matchmaking priest)

Combine ingredients with one adorable puppy, add a strong but silent lobsterman with a hidden heart of gold . . . and watch the sparks fly.

Mail-Order Marriages by Jillian Hart, Carolyn Davidson, and Kate Bridges

Three brides for three rugged men.

Rocky Mountain Wedding by Jillian Hart

Melody Pennington fled to Montana for a new start as a mail-order bride. Gabe Brooks, handsome older brother to the man she was supposed to marry, helps her settle in. But what Melody doesn’t expect is to fall for the rugged, closed-off lawman who swears he doesn’t believe in love!

Married in Missouri by Carolyn Davidson

Lucas Harrison needs a mother for his sons. He’s not looking for love, but he expects his wife to act like one—in every sense of the word! Elizabeth has always felt tall and awkward, but Lucas towers over her. He’s strong as a bull, gentle as a lamb, and Elizabeth’s heart soon begins to melt….

Her Alaskan Groom by Kate Bridges

Newly trained midwife Sophie Grant had hoped marrying respectable John Colburne would be easy as pie. But he’s tough, stubborn and cynical—except in bed with her at night! How can Sophie turn her passionate nighttime lover into a daytime husband who isn’t afraid to show he loves his mail-order bride?

Make Your Move by Samantha Hunter

Jodie Patterson’s posh bakery is all about satisfying cravings. Her signature aphrodisiac cookies have been flying off the shelves…and giving Jodie some delicious ideas of her own.

Behind his owlish glasses, Jodie’s business partner, Dr. Dan Ellison, is the male equivalent of the Naughty Professor. Jodie is more than ready to indulge her fantasies with this wolf-in-geek’s-clothing as long as they set some ground rules: sex is sex, business is business and nothing will change. Yeah, right! After that first addictive kiss, it’s time to see if they can really satisfy each other’s appetites….

Sweetest Little Sin by Christine Wells

A Marquis’ Betrayal
Lady Louisa Brooke has many suitors, but the only man for her is the wild and ruthless Marquis of Jardine. When Jardine suddenly abandons her after a long-standing liaison, he leaves her with nothing except the secret they share. Her future in ruins, Louisa recklessly accepts a mission from the head of the secret service and becomes embroiled in a perilous operation in which nothing is as it seems…

A Lady’s Revenge
The Marquis of Jardine is determined to destroy the criminal mastermind who’s sworn vengeance against all he holds dear. But when he hears that Louisa is to wed a dangerous enemy, Jardine is tortured by jealousy and fear for her safety. He tracks her down, only to discover that her mission collides with his.

A Love that Won’t Be Denied
Together, Louisa and Jardine must now foil a plan to betray the secret service and escape a diabolical revenge. But can they put the past behind them, and take the greatest risk of all–on love?

Blackwolf’s Redemption by Sandra Marton

Jesse  Blackwolf—uncompromising, determined and an  undeniable success. He   has no desire to deal with the outspoken bundle of femininity he’s   found trespassing on his land!

When Sienna Cummings awakes to find herself pressed against a  muscled chest, she’s shocked and stunned! Where is she? Who is this  man who holds her so possessively with passion glinting in his eyes? It’s more than confusion that makes Sienna’s heart beat faster—she suspects his untamed wildness hides something that maybe only she can set free….

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Since there were so many books this week… I have to do a distracting cover… I nominate Sex and the Single Earl. Why? This cover has been distracting me on blogs for weeks now. Yes, Katie MacAlister and Shanon K. Butcher have sexy men covers, as does Brenda Jackson’s Blaze. I’m a sucker for historicals… and sharp-partially-dressed men.