Laurie's Laudanum

Pease help me welcome Denyse Bridger!

2009-12-15T04:00:00.002-05:00

Welcome, Denyse Bridger! Denyse is here to chat about her latest book, ROYAL CONSORT, answer questions, talk about the upcoming holidays, or pretty much anything else you want to talk about! Denyse will be giving away a copy of ROYAL CONSORT to one lucky reader - and what reader doesn't like a chance for a free book? Denyse is undoubtedly one of the busiest women in the romance community, so get your questions ready - ask about her latest release, current and upcoming projects, or her many interests.
In the meantime, you can read a great excerpt for ROYAL CONSORT here, together with info on how to purchase a copy of your own!
About ROYAL CONSORT:
On the fantasy world of Foress, the daughter of the world’s last remaining god is challenged to locate one of the ancient swords that were forged as the Triad of Power among the once-powerful gods. Sherindal is a skilled warrior, but a woman with many conflicts in her heart. She has spent her life in the service of her father, the god M’Har, yet it is not she who will wield the most powerful of the swords. Diviner is to be her brother’s destiny, even though she is certain the legacy should be hers. Sherindal carries another of the three ancient weapons, Huntor. The final part of the triad is to be held by the hands of men, and her lover, the Prince of Ember City, is the guardian of Predator.

Denysé is all over - you can find her here:
Website: http://www.blogger.com/
Blog: http://fantasy-pages.blogspot.com/
Sensual Treats Magazine: http://www.sensualtreats.webs.com/

Thanks for stopping by - and special thanks to Denyse for being here today!
Laurie

Denyse Bridger guest blogging here tomorrow!

2009-12-14T12:32:00.006-05:00

Denyse Bridger will be my guest blogger tomorrow, all the way from beautiful Nova Scotia! Come back and join us for fun, chatter about her latest book, ROYAL CONSORT, and of course, a fab prize! Who knows what we'll be talking about!
Laurie

I'm at Romancing the Blog today!

2009-12-11T04:30:00.000-05:00

I'm today's columnist at Romancing the Blog! I hope you'll stop by! I'll admit that my article undoubtedly shows signs of desperation - I hit a total blank and couldn't think of a thing to write about.
I'm shopping today with my best friend in the whole world. We've been buddies since we held hands in fear in the back of Mr. Starling's driver's ed car when we were 16. One of our classmates had never been behind the wheel of a car before and we were scared to death every single time she got behind the wheel. Said classmate still lives here in town and I see her walking everywhere she goes, so I'm not certain she ever did get her license.
I hope everyone has a great weekend! Tim is celebrating his birthday tomorrow - 51 big ones! I'm making him a pan of baklava. He's impossible to buy for and with Christmas right around the corner, it's doubly difficult.
I'm trying to get organized and get some reviews and contests posted, but the days are just buzzing right by me these days. I apologize for the suckingly sparce posts! Thanks for hanging in there with me!
Laurie

SUPPORTING THE TROOPS

2009-11-29T22:04:00.016-05:00

Many of you know that in conjunction with my good friend Lori Foster, I have been supporting the troops for about five years. This summer I mailed a total of nine boxes and tomorrow the above nine boxes will be mailed. I won't know the exact weight of the boxes until I go to the post office tomorrow, but so far I have shipped over 900 pounds of supplies and Lori has sent several shipments of her own. I just heard on the news last night that December 4 is the cutoff for mailing packages in time for delivery to Iraq and Afghanistan. If you're so inclined, please consider stopping by anysoldier.com and select a serviceman or woman to send a holiday package to. Be prepared to spend some time there though, because the site is highly addictive! Below is a portion of an earlier blog post of mine about our troop efforts (I'm hopeful it might inspire some of you to send a package of your own!). I would also note that the cookbook referred to is still available for purchase and yep, the proceeds that are still trickling in continue to benefit our troop project:

Have you ever been away from home and all alone for a holiday or a special event in your life? Maybe you’re not truly alone, just not with your friends or loved ones. I remember the week of my 15th birthday, I was at a Methodist church camp, and while there were a hundred or so other girls there, I felt so very alone on my birthday. We were putting on a big choral program that evening and I wanted desperately for my parents to be there. I phoned my mom, two hours away, and asked wasn’t there some way that she and my dad could come up to visit that evening so I could see them on my birthday? She said she was very sorry, but no, she just didn’t think they could come. I’m certain that I made everyone else miserable, wallowing around and feeling sorry for myself all day. My parents came, of course; they had intended to surprise me all along. This meant that by the time they arrived back home that night, my dad had very little sleep before getting up for work the next day. I will never forget that surprise and how much it meant to me – running and jumping into my dad’s arms and crying all over my mother while she bobbled a birthday cake for me and the girls in my cottage. I was only two hours away from home in a beautiful little town on Lake Erie, being well cared for and safe in this little gated camp community, yet I remember the lonely desperation I felt.
Remembering that desolation, however piddly it may seem, is just one of the reasons I enjoy working with Lori Foster to bring a little joy to some of the men and women serving our wonderful country. I know that my “misery” comes nowhere close to theirs and I wouldn’t insult them by comparing our situations. I know that I’ve never experienced loneliness and fear to the degree that they have and in some cases absolute terror, not only being away from home, but being in constant danger, maybe seeing friends and comrades wounded or even killed right next to you. I think of my family, safe and sound here at home, and how we owe our every freedom and privilege to the military men and women who have served our country for several decades. These men and women “belong” to someone – they are sons and daughters, brothers and sisters, mothers and fathers, and they are away from their friends and loved ones for long stretches of time that include some of the most important holidays to us as Americans. Just think of all that they miss - births and deaths, first steps, that first visit by the tooth fairy, school sports and programs, birthdays, anniversaries and graduations. They can’t jump in the car to visit someone, or make a late-night run for a candy bar or their favorite fast food, or make a scraped knee feel better with a kiss and a cartoon character bandage – all of the little things we take for granted. They deserve to know that someone at home, even a total stranger, loves and cares for them and wants them to feel appreciated. They deserve “surprises” from home too, goodies and snacks to sweeten their day, lotions to soothe desert and sun-ravaged skin, or a pretty candle to soften harsh surroundings.

What can you do to help? Lori Foster started to talk with a handful of us early last spring about a cookbook. The plan was for a small booklet, the kind that is folded and stapled, with recipe contributions from authors and readers. This cookbook, when all was said and done, ended up being professionally (and beautifully) published by Samhain Publishing, titled THE WRITE INGREDIENTS, and it is positively gorgeous! The ongoing troop project benefits from the proceeds of each and every cookbook sold. This cookbook makes an excellent gift for friends and is perfect for stocking stuffers, or hostess gifts for your holiday parties! There’s still time to get yours! Please click yourself over to Amazon and get a copy for yourself and all of your friends!! And be sure to tell them who benefits from your purchase – you should be proud to be helping such a worthwhile cause.

Laurie

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

2009-11-25T20:28:00.005-05:00

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! I hope you all have plans to celebrate with family and/or friends. How many of you start the day by watching the Macy's parade? I have the most wonderful memories of watching as a little girl, cuddled up on the sofa in my jammies. I still enjoy the parade. This photo is from the 1950 Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade, pretty neat, huh?

I especially like seeing the high school bands marching and appreciating how much time and hard work they've put in their performance, how they've worked hard to make money for new uniforms, transportation, etc., and I get all teary thinking of how very proud all of their mothers are! I'd bawl my eyes out if I saw my child marching in NYC! Heck, I get teary just seeing the local high school bands in our little parades here in town, as my friend April can attest! I still remember the very first band concert April's son and my daughter were in in the fifth grade. I started getting all weepy and April whispered to me that I shouldn't cry, they would eventually get better. I had to laugh through the tears. Yes, they were bad, but I'm just an emotional mess when it comes to that stuff. And don't even think about playing God Bless America when I'm around, I cry every time I hear it. Such a weenie.

My very favorite thing in the whole, wide world has been being mother to my girls, and I'm most thankful for Tim and our girls. I couldn't be more proud of them, but it was been very difficult for me having them grow up.

I'm also thankful for my mother and all of my family, all of my wonderful friends, be they long-time or long-distance! What are you especially thankful for?

Do you have a long weekend off work? Our office always closes the Friday after Thanksgiving and we love having that extra day for an extra-long weekend. I'm also off on Monday, for a five-day weekend - woohoo! Kelsey and I have appointments at the Bloodmobile on Friday afternoon, and then we have some shopping planned for Saturday, and will be hitting the highway to take Kelsey back to school Sunday afternoon. I know the weekend is going to go by far too quickly.

Have a great holiday!

Laurie

WEEKEND PLANS? - and other miscellany!

2009-11-20T20:26:00.022-05:00

Do any of you have exciting plans this weekend? I really don't, and that's just fine with me. I've come to appreciate those quiet, relaxing weekends. They pass so quickly when we're busy, busy, busy!
Did any of you happen to hear me on the Today Show with Dr. Nancy Snyderman on Thursday morning? I had posted a question about the swine flu vaccine/diabetes via a question link on MSNBC Health several weeks ago and when I didn't get an email back, I forgot about it. I was shocked to receive a phone call on Wednesday from a Today Show staffer indicating that they liked my question and wanted to invite me to pose it to Dr. Nancy in a segment on diabetes on Thursday's show. It was a very interesting experience and everyone was incredibly nice. Here's a link to the segment. The sound gets very "echo-y" at the end of my question - that's on their end, not mine!
You all know how much I love/adore/worship Alison Kent, right? I recently posted a review for her upcoming (11/24) release, WITH EXTREME PLEASURE. I imagine you're all familiar with Amazon's Kindle for PC - a free, downloadable program for your computer - you can get it here. Amazon has an amazing offer for Kindle for PC readers right now - you can get WITH EXTREME PLEASURE for FREE! After you've downloaded your KFPC, go here for Ms. Kent's little sugar plum! Once you've read and loved it, go get your hands on her back list, you won't regret it! There are several other books available for the Kindle for PC, including several classics, and while admittedly, reading an entire book on the computer isn't ideal, these days free is free and I'm willing to read in small doses.
A good deal of Ohio residents will be glued to their televisions tomorrow afternoon to watch the OSU/Michigan football game - traditionally the last game of the year for OSU and a long-standing rivalry. The week preceding this game is known as "Michigan Week" around here. At my office today we had our "Beat Michigan" potluck and most of us wore our scarlet and gray. I love potlucks in the office - for the most part. I'm sure there have been a couple where I was aggravated by someone. No names.
One year ago yesterday we lost our basset Fred. We still miss him, but the pain of his loss has been replaced by fond memories that make us smile in remembrance. And no, we have no intentions of getting another dog - Freddie was irreplaceable. We have four felines in residence here right now, meaning no room at the Damron inn.
Tim and I are planning a little road trip to the Hocking Hills area of southern Ohio on Sunday afternoon. Just a little drive with a stop at an antique mall or two!
Lots of reviews upcoming - for books by Dianne Castell (with a fun contest!), Karen Kelley, Shannon K. Butcher, Karen Rose Smith, and Jill Shalvis.
I hope everyone has a terrific weekend!
Laurie

Lacey Alexander, undisputed Queen of Sizzle

2009-11-11T05:42:00.000-05:00

Lacey Alexander (aka Toni Blake) can pack more sizzle into a book than any other erotic author I've read. I'll be honest, I don't read that many erotic authors. Now before you start thinking I've got my granny panties in a twist, I'll admit that some erotic romance is just too "out there" for me. Ahem, no, I don't seriously wear granny panties. That said, I admit that Lacey's work often contains scenes that I buzz past. She knows this because I've told her - while we only see each other a couple of times a year, I consider her a friend and feel comfortable being honest with her. I think she has enough readers who read Lacey's books for the sexy scenes alone that my sometimes reading with my eyes closed really isn't a big deal. That said, I'm a romance reader who loves, loves, loves every little romantic gesture and frankly, I feel that there are few authors who can write romance elements the way Toni Blake/Lacey Alexander can.
I recently read Lacey's ADRIANNA'S UNDIES on behalf of Romance Junkies - a quick read that is plenty heated, but is completely wrapped up in romance, even if it takes the characters a while to realize that's what they're experiencing.

Adrianna Kline has the world at her feet. As the CEO of a major lingerie corporation bearing her name, and a long history as a sexually independent woman, she runs her life on her own terms. Until, that is, Tristan Locke shows up in her office. Adrianna's first and only love, Tristan is now in the business of corporate takeovers and he has his eye on Adrianna, Inc. But he's prepared to negotiate. How can Adrianna save her company? By becoming Tristan's willing sex slave for a night, submitting to his every whim.
Tristan knows that asking Adrianna to be sexually subservient is like asking her to stop breathing. Her need to control everything in her life, including the sex, contributed to their original break up. But even fifteen years later, taming Adrianna is still on his mind. Can commanding and formidable Tristan bend Adrianna to his will once and for all? Or will this night of erotic exploration turn into the ultimate struggle for power?
My Romance Junkies (4 Blue Ribbon) review:
Former lovers, both intelligent, successful and strong-willed. One shared desire, blatant and unashamed. Will sparks catch to embrace them in the warmth of renewed love or will one of them get burned?
Adrianna Kline is a woman very much in tune with her own sexuality. She’s also a driven businesswoman and enjoys the satisfaction of owning and operating a successful lingerie company. When former lover Tristan Locke threatens to take her business away and has the means to carry out that threat, she’s forced to spend one night with him, completely submitting to him in exchange for releasing her company from a corporate takeover. Used to being the one in charge, Adrianna reluctantly acknowledges how difficult it will be to give Tristan full control. What she doesn’t anticipate are feelings for Tristan that are just as powerful as they were years before.
Tristan Locke knows it will be a battle of wills to get Adrianna to relinquish control to him in the bedroom, even to save her cherished company. He never forgot Adrianna and his feelings for her remain strong. Tristan doesn’t want to admit it, but his proposal is more of an effort to rekindle the flame that seemingly never died. He has to prove to himself as much as to her that he’s strong enough to make her submit.
Adrianna and Tristan are both such strong characters that under anyone else’s pen they could easily have been irritating. Lacey Alexander has a way of making her heroines strong and capable while maintaining ultra femininity. At the same time, her heroes are rogues of the best sort, knowingly able to satisfy a woman, but doing so without humiliating or coming across as overly arrogant. Love scenes go far beyond being simply heated and are a match for even the most vivid of imaginations. I feel confident in giving ADRIANNA’S UNDIES a high recommendation for readers who enjoy erotic romance.
Click here to get your own copy of ADRIANNA'S UNDIES!

The latest book from Lacey Alexander, WHAT SHE NEEDS, is available now - woohoo! Haven't gotten my copy yet, but I hope to soon!

Mild-mannered Jenna Banks has never considered sex a recreational sport, preferring instead to share herself one-on-one with a man she respects and loves. Then a friend secretly enters her in a contest—and to Jenna’s dismay she wins. It’s a two-week stay at the notorious Hotel Erotique, where every sexual fantasy comes true—in room after room, with stranger after stranger.
Even more unnerving for Jenna is Brent Powers, her wildly sensual personal guide, who can’t wait to put his degree in sexual psychology to work—by tapping into Jenna’s unspoken fantasies, and by allowing her to surrender her inhibitions and discover her true sense of freedom. But with the slow and steady seduction of Jenna come feelings that neither of them expected. And now where the final fantasy takes them depends on how far Jenna and Brent are really willing to go.
You can go here to order a copy of WHAT SHE NEEDS!

Thanks so much for taking a look!
Laurie

WITH EXTREME PLEASURE, coming soon from Alison Kent

2009-11-09T21:21:00.003-05:00

WITH EXTREME PLEASURE, the latest from Alison Kent will be releasing shortly, around Thanksgiving. This book tells the story of Kingdom Trahan who was introduced in NO LIMITS. King hails from the bayou and just as I suspected it would be, his story is heated and sultry. King was a strong character in NO LIMITS with an easy, laid back style, and Alison has yet again done a beautiful job of storytelling in sharing his story! WITH EXTREME PLEASURE IS available (at this writing, anyway) for pre-order at Amazon for just $9.45 - that's a steal for a trade.

ONLY SOMETHING THIS DANGEROUS…
After three weeks in Manhattan, Kingdom Trahan is ready to get back to bayous, crawfish boils, and afternoons fishing on the Gulf. But before he can pull out of the parking garage, he meets a curvy detour. King noticed Cady Kowalski on the photo shoot he just endured—sexy and confident, with a waifish look that belies the way she corralled him into submission using only a can of hairspray. Yet Cady isn’t confident now. She’s bruised, edgy, and desperate to get out of town…
COULD FEEL THIS GOOD…
For years, Cady has been looking over her shoulder, wondering when the gang of drug-running criminals who killed her brother would make their move on her. She’s grown used to having no one to turn to, no one to trust. But King isn’t walking away—not even when their lives are threatened, again and again. Drawing Cady’s pursuers out of hiding is the only way to end this, and it’s also the most reckless thing they can do…short of diving into a red-hot affair from which there’s no turning back…
For a bigger nibble, there's a great excerpt here
My review:
Kingdom Trahan could not have imagined in his wildest dreams that his cousin Simon's marriage would affect his own life so dramatically. After giving in to Micky Ferrer-Baptiste's coaxing and agreeing to do a commercial photo shoot for Ferrer Fragrances, he's thrown together with Cady Kowalski, the only make up artist on the shoot who will put up with his bad attitude. Relieved when the shoot wraps up, King is happy to jump in his truck and head back to the Louisiana bayou. When Cady jumps in too he's determined to get rid of her, going so far as to physically remove her and her belongings. As soon as he gets a good look at her battered face and realizes that she's in serious need of protection, he gathers her and her bags back into the truck and they hit the road. When Cady's pursuers and then the feds attach themselves to the couple, Cady's more than just a little thankful for King's resourcefulness and his determination to keep her safe. It's been a long, lonely time since anyone has shown genuine concern for her.
Their relationship quickly heats up making it even more difficult for King when he realizes there's little chance of catching the bad guys unless Cady is used as bait. King isn't shy when it comes to seduction and pleasure, but the unfamiliar emotions that have reared up since he's been with Cady are making him more than just a little uncomfortable. At the same time, Cady's feeling guilty about King taking so many risks on her behalf. Her increasing affection for him has her questioning whether she should take off on her own. She hasn't trusted anyone for so long that his kindness and attention are confusing and have her inherently on guard.

Once again Alison Kent has crafted a story that is uniquely original and possesses qualities that readers have come to expect from her. The action gathers momentum from the very beginning and the suspense escalates as the story continues. King and Cady are not your typical hero or heroine - while he is extremely protective of her, his passion for her is almost fierce; gritty and raw. Cady may appear delicate and fragile with her near-broken body and jagged emotions, but she gives as good as she gets from King, making his seduction, and his heart, her very own. I highly recommend WITH EXTREME PLEASURE to all readers who enjoy heated, satisfying romance wrapped in action and adventure.
Thanks for checking it out!
Laurie

HOLIDAY READING - lots of choices!

2009-11-07T21:57:00.027-05:00

Do you like holiday reads? I do, but only before the holidays. Some readers enjoy them year-round, but not me. My mom loves Christmas movies and watches them over and over, all year long. Same thing - I only want them before Christmas. I haven't read any holiday romance yet this year, but have a short list of books I'm anxious to get my hands on. I'm going to list them here, with a little blurb for each.

Here goes (in no particular order):

TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT (mass market re-release - I've read this one, but it's too good to go without mention!)

Donna Kauffman - UNLEASHED
When Emma Lafferty is hired by a billionaire CEO to watch his pets over the holidays, she expects to enjoy a quiet Christmas in opulent surroundings. What she doesn’t expect is to spend the week trapped in the mansion with the CEO’s sexy great-nephew—and heir—whose motives are as shady as his desire is crystal clear….
Jill Shalvis - FINDING MR. RIGHT
Brilliant chemist Maggie Bell has a knack for choosing Mr. Wrong, and with yet another lonely Christmas looming, she decides it’s time to alter the equation—and seek out someone who seems totally wrong for her. Enter Jacob Wahler, the rough and rippling contractor who’s about as far from Maggie type as he could get. But suddenly what’s wrong for Maggie seems oh-so-right….
HelenKay Dimon - CAN YOU HAND ME THE TAPE?
Natalie Pritchard is desperate. It’s a week before Christmas and she’s lost the naughty tape she made for her now-ex-boyfriend. She’s so desperate, in fact, that she’ll turn to her nemesis Spencer Donovan for help. The sexy criminal defense attorney would be only too happy to assist—but can Emma afford his price?

KISSING SANTA CLAUS
Donna Kauffman LOCK, STOCK AND JINGLE BELLS
Holly hates the yuletide season more than ever since she inherited her mother’s Christmas novelty store, but her childhood pal Sean’s determined to warm her up—to Christmas and to him. When they uncover a diary concealing secrets involving both their families, this could be the Christmas that changes their lives forever…

Jill Shalvis BAH HANDSOME!
Behind on her bills, B&B owner Hope receives an unlikely guest—stranded solicitor Danny, who’s been threatening to put her out of business. Hope’s staff sees more fire than fight in the sparks that fly as they try and bring Hope and Danny together, but only a Christmas miracle can help these unlikely lovers see the light…

HelenKay Dimon IT'S HOTTER AT CHRISTMAS
Hawaii’s no paradise for Marissa, who, thanks to a series of unfortunate events, can’t seem to get away from the sand to enjoy her Christmas East Coast style—with plenty of snow and slush. But tall, dark, and serious police officer Ted’s about to give this bad Santa in heels a Mele Kalikimaka she’ll never forget…

SANTA BABY, a Blaze by Lisa Renee Jones (don't you love the cover?)

When bookstore owner Caron Avery dresses up as Marilyn Monroe for a charity ball, she decides that for once in her life she’ll let her inhibitions go. Before she knows it Caron is living a night of fantasy with sexy millionaire Baxter Remington in hot pursuit.
And what a night it is. Sizzling, red-hot and sensual, Baxter can’t believe he’s fallen under the adorable blonde’s…er…brunette’s spell. But with the scandal going on in his life, he knows he should let her go before she gets caught up in it, too. Then again—maybe one more night (or eight!) of mind-blowing passion will help them both forget!

It’s that time of year when nights are longer, passions run hotter, and for three sisters, naughty wishes come true…

WRAPPED IN SEDUCTION - anthology with stories by Cathryn Fox, Lisa Renee Jones and Jodi Copeland (again, gorgeous cover)
Three sisters. Three wishes. And one hot Christmas in this sizzling collection of novellas from today’s most popular erotic authors…
Holly’s come home for the holidays, ready to enjoy a few cozy weeks of small-town life. But a fling with a local stranger heats up the nights. When she discovers the stranger’s secret ties to her own family, he ends up “Wrapped in Holly”.
The one man Rachel wants is strictly off limits, so she agrees to keep her distance—until he dresses up as old St. Nick and stirs a playful fantasy in Rachel. Maybe it’s the black leather boots. Or the soft fur and red velvet. Whatever it is, she’s “Hot for Santa”.
A broken engagement has left Tori feeling the Christmas blues when she returns to her welcoming family for the holiday. There’s no better way to chase those blues away than with an old flame who sparks a new passion and leaves Tori feeling “Mistletoe Bliss”.

I hope you'll share your thoughts on holiday reading - especially your recommended reads!

Looking forward to your suggestions!

Laurie

MAKE HER PAY winner is . . .

2009-11-06T22:55:00.003-05:00

Mariee! Please contact me at ljodamron@gmail.com by Tuesday, Nov. 10 with your mailing info.
Thanks to everyone who commented! If you weren't the winner, I hope you'll get a copy of MAKE HER PAY - you won't regret it, I promise!
Review coming this weekend for Lacey Alexander's ADRIANNA'S UNDIES!
Until then, enjoy the weekend!
Laurie

More DEEP BREATH by Alison Kent!

2009-11-03T11:31:00.000-05:00

Alison Kent has a new release on bookstore shelves. Actually, it's a re-release, but it's good news either way! DEEP BREATH has released in mass market format! Thankfully, they've kept the same great cover. This has long been one of my favorite Alison Kent covers. Here's a review I did many moons ago for the first release of DEEP BREATH, followed by ordering info:
After Georgia McLain's father dies in prison, she practically dedicates her life to proving his innocence; she is determined to get her hands on the dossier of Gen. Arthur Duggin, certain that it will contain evidence necessary to clear her father's name. Her search for crucial information has taken her many places, most recently a jail cell. After her brother Finn bails her out of her most recent bind, they stop at a diner where their day goes from bad to worst when they find themselves in a middle of a deliberate hostage situation. The hostage taker, one Charlie Casto, is demanding that Georgia attend an auction of Gen Duggin's mementos and steal the dossier. Georgia must return to the diner with the dossier within three days in order for her brother and the other hostages to stay alive. The Smithson Group's Harry van Zandt happens to be in the diner and is ordered to go with Georgia to retrieve the dossier. What Casto and Georgia do not know is that Harry is after the elusive dossier as well.
Georgia is an independent woman who is not pleased at having Harry forced upon her, even if he is the most gorgeous man she has ever laid eyes on. Harry, on the other hand, is quietly accepting of his role in attending the auction with Georgia, seeming almost eager to help her out. He soon realizes that Georgia is a very intelligent woman, with a biting wit and his interest in her quickly goes beyond the retrieval of the General's file. Georgia is thankful for Harry's help and over the course of their three days together, finds herself falling hard for this man who is unlike any other man she knows. The chemistry between Georgia and Harry is intensely passionate from the start, and their simply being together is enough to spark fiery emotion. Their intricate plan to get the General's file as well as the players involved are excellently and cleverly written.
Alison Kent is quickly becoming the master at writing action-filled romance, or is that romance-filled action? Either way, she knows how to wrap suspense, action, and scorching romance into a tidy package, complete with characters that are always intelligent, loyal, and wonderfully capable of making you wish for more when you turn that last page.
Now I know you're wanting to get a copy, right? Are the fallen leaves too deep for you to get out to the bookstore? If so, you can buzz on over to Amazon and have a copy delivered right to your door!
Thanks for checking it out - there's never a disappointment when it comes to an Alison Kent book!
Laurie

A fun blog discussion happening today

2009-11-02T09:50:00.004-05:00

Interesting topic and discussion today at the Karen Knows Best blog - take a sec and check it out! The chatter is about books centered around marriages in trouble - do you love/hate them? I think for me it depends on the storytelling. Constant bickering and name calling makes me extremely uncomfortable, but when well written, it can make for heartfelt, very satisfying reading. I mentioned LINE OF SCRIMMAGE, written by recent guest blogger Marie Force as an excellent example of how a marriage in trouble can be successfully (and beautifully) written.
I hope everyone's week is off to a great start!

Deja Vu? Roxanne St. Claire's MAKE HER PAY w/giveaway!

2009-10-31T23:11:00.000-05:00

You might remember that I did a review a while ago for MAKE HER PAY by Roxanne St. Claire. When it showed up on the review list for Romance Junkies last week, I offered to do it since I'd already read it and could have the review ready quickly. My earlier review has been tweaked just a tad for the RJ website. There's a great excerpt on Ms. St. Claire's website and I hope you'll have a peek at it! Go here to grab your own copy of MAKE HER PAY!
Blurb:
Bullet Catcher and former Navy SEAL Constantine Xenakis has infiltrated a dive ship to discover who's plundering priceless gems from a legendary sunken Spanish galleon. When he catches Lizzie Dare red-handed in the locked treasure room, her story of a stolen ancestral legacy convinces him to work with the sexy thief instead of turning her in -- and not just because he wants to find the real culprit. Lizzie is willing to risk everything to save the Bombay Blue Diamonds from her sworn enemy, even if that means giving in to an irresistible desire to get closer to her accomplice. But when passion hits them like a rogue wave and danger surrounds them like a school of hungry sharks, their adventure on the high seas turns treacherous...and deadly.

My (5 Blue Ribbon) Romance Junkies review;
Intrigue, danger and heated passion on the high seas. Readers will experience these –and more – in Roxanne St. Claire’s MAKE HER PAY. When Constantine Xenakis and Lizzie Dare join forces, the bad guys don’t stand a chance. Much to their surprise, neither do their hearts.
Sent to work on a dive ship in an effort to find the person or persons responsible for priceless artifacts, Constantine Xenakis is surprised when he's only on the ship for a couple of hours when he discovers fellow diver Lizzie Dare sneaking into the lab where the artifacts are held. After an initial confrontation, it appears that the two have similar objectives when it comes to the artifacts. Seeing how Con's reaction to Lizzie is instantaneous and heated, cozying up to her in order to keep her under watch is not a hardship. But Con is hoping for a long-awaited, permanent return to the Bullet Catchers and soon finds himself torn between doing what's right and doing the job he's been probationally hired to do. Uncharacteristically attracted to Lizzie, Con soon realizes that his future, the job, basically everything, hinges on whether or not he's willing use her, break her heart even, to do the job he’s been assigned.
Lizzie's motives are much more personal than Con's. Her father’s death and the accompanying broken heart fuel her determination to return the artifacts where they rightfully belong. Constantine Xenakis is an unexpected force to be reckoned with. As if. There is very little reckoning with Con. Lizzie has never come across a more intimidating, capable, or frustrating male. She knows that staying on her toes – yes, the very ones that he repeatedly makes curl, is the only way she'll be able to keep her wits and take possession of the sunken treasures. It soon becomes crystal clear to Con and Lizzie that they're surrounded by evil, on ship and on shore, and their fight soon goes beyond keeping the artifacts safe to keeping themselves alive.
MAKE HER PAY is the latest, and for now the last, in the Bullet Catcher series. I have gotten my hands on every one of the Bullet Catcher books as soon as they were released, earlier if I was lucky enough to get them for review, and I truly think that I enjoyed the storytelling in this particular book more than any other in the series. Con is unashamedly a thief and Lizzie is a gentle, kind-hearted soul who has seemingly reached right in and grabbed hold of his heart, making it her own. Together they positively sizzle. I give MAKE HER PAY my highest recommendation!

To once again celebrate the release of MAKE HER PAY and all things Roxanne St. Claire, I'm going to be giving away a copy of MAKE HER PAY. It will probably be next weekend before I get to the bookstore to get a copy, so I'll let the contest run until the end of this coming week. To be entered, simply leave a comment. Chatter about Roxanne St. Claire and her work is encouraged! I'll draw a winner on Friday the 6th.
Laurie

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

2009-10-31T19:38:00.011-05:00

Looks like Halloween at the Damron house!

We started out with a pretty large pan of candy, and ended up with quite a bit too. We've had as many as 300 tricks or treaters before, but those numbers have dwindled to less than 30 in recent years. By the end of the designated tricks or treats time, we were giving handfuls of candy and we still have a good amount left.

I'm thinking it's probably because there are so many more subdivisions in our city than there used to be

I thought I'd share pics of the pumpkins we carved this year. The Superman and Elvis are an annual tradition and we've been doing them for more than ten years. We use templates that we've gotten from various places, pumpkin carving kits, from friends and online.

Lindsay did the crow.

Kelsey did the tree.

Kelsey's boyfriend, David, did the cat.

Lindsay also did the Elvis.

I did the Superman "S" but it didn't turn out as well as when Lindsay does it.

How do all of you celebrate Halloween? We handed out candy and Kelsey and David went to a friend's party after. It's pretty quiet around here now, except I have some more laundry to do. Kelsey brought her dorm bedclothes home with her, so we've had more than a typical weekend's visit to do.

I hope you've all had a fun day!

Laurie

FREE HALLOWEEN TALES!

2009-10-30T07:10:00.001-05:00

You like free stories? What about free Halloween stories? If so, you'll want to check out Romantic Moments - click on "Stories" (on the left) once you're there and you'll be given the opportunity to download a fab Halloween anthology. This ought to put you in the mood for the upcoming Halloween holiday!

Contributing authors are:

Brigit Aine

Colleen Love

R.L. Stuemke

Vicki Gaia

Antonia Tiranth

Donna Hatch

Denysé Bridger
These are some incredibly talented authors offering up their writing talents for our enjoyment! So please check it out and be sure to let them know how much your appreciate their generosity and how much you enjoyed their work!
Do you have any exciting plans for Halloween? Parties, anyone? We decorate a little bit, carve pumpkins and hand out candy to the tricks or treaters. The little beggars will be out in full force here on Saturday evening. Used to have Halloween parties for the girls and their friends and loved that - another thing that I miss now that they're all grown up.
Have a great weekend!
Laurie

Denise Agnew's UNDER HIS PROTECTION

2009-10-30T06:00:00.000-05:00

Denise Agnew has long been on the list of some of my "best liked" authors. Some of my favorites of her books have been the Heart of Justice series - WITHIN HIS SIGHT, IN HER DEFENSE, and UNDER HIS PROTECTION. A couple more of her recent releases are MELTDOWN and COMBUSTION. You'll find her entire book list complete with excerpts and ordering info here.
I've reviewed UNDER HIS PROTECTION on behalf of Romance Junkies (4 Blue Ribbons):
In Denise A. Agnew’s latest romantic suspense, UNDER HIS PROTECTION, a beautiful, mild-mannered British woman is rescued from a madman’s attack by a SWAT officer. It isn’t long before she’s at risk again because now that he’s saved her, he’s likely to break her heart.
Olivia Scott is in the U.S. on a librarian exchange program. She’s finding the experience exciting and fulfilling, and the escape from her over-protective parents back in England gives her some much-needed room to breathe. A routine day at work turns dangerous when a madman begins to harass and eventually attacks her. Fortunately, SWAT officer Trey MacGilvary is in the library and comes to her rescue. She never expects to need his continued protection and she certainly never dreams she would fall in love with him. Eventually realizing her feelings will never be returned, she decides to return to England.
Trey MacGilvary loves women, all women, but rarely for more than one night. When he sees Olivia Scott under attack in the library, the natural instinct to protect kicks in and he quickly has the crazed man subdued. Unlike with every case in the past, that instinct doesn’t turn off at the end of the day. Determined to keep her safe, Trey does what he’s never done with another woman and willingly gets involved. He stubbornly refuses to give in to the temptation of making a serious commitment though, and when danger continues to follow and threats escalate to deadly levels, he realizes that he’s waited too long and he’s going to lose Olivia.
Denise A. Agnew’s storytelling in UNDER HIS PROTECTION is a wonderfully satisfying example of romantic suspense. Trey and Olivia are a charming couple and their differences, while significant, work to keep them together. Olivia is sweet and gentle in contrast to Trey’s fearlessness and strength. He is tortured and damaged and Olivia’s affection is confusing to him, just as his determination to keep her from getting too close is frustrating to her. Secondary characters from previous books are a reader bonus, but their familiarity isn’t off-putting; this book capably stands on its own. I highly recommend UNDER HIS PROTECTION to all readers who enjoy action and adventure with their romance.

Thanks for taking a look - I hope you'll check out Denise's website and book list!
Laurie

Please help me welcome Marie Force - she wants to know "Do You Sweat the Small Stuff?"

2009-10-28T04:59:00.002-05:00

Marie Force is guest blogging today - let's give her a warm welcome and see if you can top her messy room horror story below! There's a prize for two readers who comment! Personally, I think I could give her some serious competition with my daughter Kelsey's room, but I'm not sure I can even talk about it without getting teary! (sniff) Welcome, Marie!

Do You Sweat the Small Stuff?
I have a 14-year-old daughter who started high school this fall, was quickly elected class president, and has been caught up in all things high school ever since. We just survived our first spirit week and homecoming weekend, complete with the dance “pre-party” at our house. The open invite went out to the freshmen class, and we ended up with about 60 kids, who were beautifully dressed and even more beautifully behaved—at least while they were with us! My daughter is a great kid with one notable character flaw (other than the teenager attitude, which I’m told will pass—years from now...). Her room is a disaster area. I’m not talking messy. No, I’m talking central landfill.
Now, we run a pretty tight ship around here. My husband is retired from the Navy, and is neat to a fault. In other words, he cleans up after me, which is highly irritating! We’re on her about the room all the time. In the interest of full disclosure, I have to confess that my teenage bedroom was just like hers. (Shhh, don’t tell her.) My mother used to say that when I cut tags off new clothes, I dropped them on the floor. Guilty as charged. Let’s just say my apple didn’t fall far from the tree in that regard. My mother used to muck out our rooms when we were at school and told us much later that we never once asked for anything she chucked. She was very proud of that track record. Toward the end of her life, she made this startling pronouncement: “I wish I’d spent less time haggling my kids about their rooms. They both grew up to have lovely homes.” Stop the presses!
This past summer, my cousin heard me griping about my kids’ rooms and reminded me of my mother’s famous words. I sent her a “shut up now please” glare, which only egged her on. “Emily, Jake, come here,” she said, a glint of the devil in her eye. “I have something very important to tell you—something your grandmother would want you to know.” Fink. I revoked her maid-of-honor for life status after this incident. (In truth, that’s about the fifth time her status has been revoked for bad behavior.)
My mother died five years ago at 67 after a brief battle with pancreatic cancer. I think her message was clear: life is short, don’t sweat the small stuff. I agree with her for the most part, but when the landfill bedroom begins to creep into the hallway, am I not supposed to react? If I live by my mother’s credo, the answer is no. What about if rodents take up residence in there? Ignore it? (Update: Emily spent eight hours cleaning the landfill on Sunday—we suspect this was a thank-you for hosting the party the night before, but we can’t be certain because we didn’t dare ask what brought this on. All we know is we can see the floor again. Sing halleluiah! We’re enjoying it while it lasts. . .)
I make a concerted effort not to sweat the small stuff in the rest of my life, but in my books, I’m all about the tiny moments that send shock waves rippling through ordinary lives. A single look, a snippet of conversation, a brief encounter, and life is never again the same. In “Line of Scrimmage,” I featured a flashback to the moment a decade earlier when Ryan first spotted Susannah at a campus hangout. The University of Florida’s star quarterback was forever changed by that brief meeting with a woman who had no idea who he was—and didn’t much care when she found out he was a “stah,” as we say in New England. A conversation in an airport while awaiting a delayed flight changes the lives of Michael and Juliana in “Love at First Flight.” Life plans fly out the window, and everything they know for certain is upended. A series of small moments becomes a tsunami that takes them on a ride they could never have imagined, ending in a happily ever after they fight hard to achieve. It doesn’t take a “big dramatic event” to change a life. I wrote a book recently about a guy who accidentally knocks a woman off her bike and then insists on caring for her until she’s recovered. He steps off a curb and finds true love. Could it be any simpler?
Do you sweat the small stuff in your life? How do you feel about small moments vs. big moments in romance novels? Are your kids’ rooms a mess? (Tell me the truth!) One final kid room story. . . Years ago, when we lived in Florida, the kids had vanity sinks with drawers on either side. I opened the drawers in Emily’s room one day to find Pop Tarts stashed on both sides. Now, if you can top that, you might win a copy of one of my books. I’ll be giving away a signed copy of each book, so in honor of Halloween week, let me hear your horror stories!

Marie Force is my guest blogger tomorrow - there will be fun and prizes!

2009-10-27T07:02:00.004-05:00

Marie Force is guest blogger tomorrow! Please check out this talented woman's books, her website and her blog, then come back tomorrow for some fun. Have questions for her? Bring them here tomorrow when she'll be chatting and answering questions - and two lucky readers will win autographed copies of LINE OF SCRIMMAGE and LOVE AT FIRST FLIGHT! I have read both of her books and loved them! My favorite is LINE OF SCRIMMAGE. If you've followed my articles at Romancing the Blog, you know that I've mentioned this book on two occasions, first when discussing sports figures in romance and second when talking about books where the hero's "I Love You" comes before the very last pages of the book. My friend Judy told me about LOS and when I hadn't read it, hesitating because I wasn't familiar with Ms. Force, she loaned me her copy. I loved it so much that I returned her copy and bought my own, knowing I would want to reread it. And reread it I have - more than once! LOVE AT FIRST FLIGHT isn't your typical romance either. Each character is in a relationship, albeit shaky for both, when they meet. The events that follow, intrigue and suspense wrapped up in a wonderfully timed romance, is extremely satisfying. Here's a little tease about both of Marie Force's excellent books:

In the Hail Mary play of a lifetime, a sexy NFL quarterback has just ten days to convince his wife to give him a second chance before their divorce is final—and he has to act fast because she’s already engaged to her high school boyfriend. Line of Scrimmage is a story of reunion, redemption, rejuvenation, and renewal. Readers will laugh and cry and hope—that at the end of the day, these two lovers, who clearly belong together, will somehow find their way back to one another.
You'll find a fun excerpt here - and here's a link to Amazon so you can grab a copy for yourself!

A Baltimore prosecutor set to begin the murder trial of his career and a hair stylist with a dysfunctional family meet in the airport on their way to visit their significant others in Florida. After they each endure a disastrous weekend, they meet up again on the flight home, striking up an unlikely friendship that leads to love.
There's an excellent excerpt at Ms. Force's website, and again, you can click yourself over to Amazon to toss a copy of LOVE AT FIRST FLIGHT in your cart!

Thanks for stopping - be sure to stop back tomorrow to chat with Marie Force!
Laurie

Busy, Busy, Busy!

2009-10-26T11:32:00.006-05:00

Sorry to have been such a stranger lately. For typically not doing much, I've been incredibly busy. Lots of fun stuff coming up here though, so stay with me, ok?
This Wednesday, author Marie Force is guest blogging (details tomorrow) and I'm certain a good time will be had by all! Yes, she will be doing a giveaway!
Upcoming reviews include Denise Agnew's UNDER HIS PROTECTION, on behalf of Romance Junkies, Dianne Castell's HOT AND IRRESISTIBLE (with giveaways), and a tweaked version of my earlier review of Roxanne St. Claire's MAKE HER PAY, on behalf of Romance Junkies (with a giveaway).
Because Breast Cancer Awareness month is wrapping up, I'll be doing a giveaway of some sort that will benefit Susan G. Komen for the Cure. If you're at all able, please consider making a donation to them. I don't know anyone who hasn't been touched by breast cancer in some way - wouldn't it be nice to see a cure in our lifetime? My giveaway item will be purchased yet this month so it can go toward the Komen's dollar totals, but the giveaway will likely be sometime in early November. Where did October go? I think someone took all of the odd numbered days off the calendar or something . . .
Don't forget to stop back Wednesday for the wonderfully talented Marie Force!
Laurie

HUNT HER DOWN Winner!

2009-10-12T21:36:00.004-05:00

I've been trying for almost 40 minutes to get online but our internet connection has been spotty. The winner of the autographed copy of Roxanne St. Claire's HUNT HER DOWN is Deidre! Congratulations, Deidre! Please contact me with your mailing info at ljodamron@gmail.com by Friday.

Thanks to everyone who took time to comment - I hope you'll rush out and grab all of the Bullet Catcher books you haven't read! No disappointments, I promise!

I'm at Romancing the Blog today!

2009-10-08T07:00:00.000-05:00

I'm today's columnist at Romancing the Blog! I hope you'll stop by!

Roxanne St. Claire's MAKE HER PAY - celebrating with a giveaway!

2009-10-07T12:31:00.000-05:00

Roxanne St. Claire has a new release, MAKE HER PAY, available now. Remember a couple of months ago I posted a review for HUNT HER DOWN, and said that I was looking forward to meeting Roxanne at the COFW conference book signing? That book signing took place about three weeks ago and I did have the pleasure of meeting Roxanne. She is an absolute doll -gorgeous, funny and charming; I wish I'd had more time to visit with her. Just as exciting was getting an early, autographed copy of MAKE HER PAY! Continuing the Bullet Catcher series, MAKE HER PAY is the story of Constantine "Con" Xenakis. Constantine made appearances in at least two Bullet Catcher books and I was extremely excited for his story, especially after his role in HUNT HER DOWN. Take a closer look at MAKE HER PAY with this great excerpt!

Blurb:
Bullet Catcher and former Navy SEAL Constantine Xenakis has infiltrated a dive ship to discover who's plundering priceless gems from a legendary sunken Spanish galleon. When he catches Lizzie Dare red-handed in the locked treasure room, her story of a stolen ancestral legacy convinces him to work with the sexy thief instead of turning her in -- and not just because he wants to find the real culprit. Lizzie is willing to risk everything to save the Bombay Blue Diamonds from her sworn enemy, even if that means giving in to an irresistible desire to get closer to her accomplice. But when passion hits them like a rogue wave and danger surrounds them like a school of hungry sharks, their adventure on the high seas turns treacherous...and deadly.

My review:
Constantine Xenakis is working undercover on a dive ship in an effort to find the person or persons responsible for recovered priceless artifacts. Imagine his surprise when he's only on the ship for a couple of hours and discovers fellow diver Lizzie Dare sneaking into the lab where the artifacts are held. After an initial confrontation, it appears that the two have similar objectives when it comes to the artifacts. Con's reaction to Lizzie is instantaneous and heated, which makes cozying up to her to keep her under watch no hardship whatsoever. But Con is hoping for a long-awaited, permanent return to the Bullet Catchers and soon finds himself torn between doing what's right and doing the job he's been probationally hired to do. Given his attraction to Lizzie, Con soon realizes that the job, his future, everything, hinges on whether or not he's willing to break her heart.
Lizzie's motives are much more personal than Con's and the emotion blanketing a heart that's heavy after her father's death is fueling her determination to return the artifacts where they rightfully belong. Constantine Xenakis is an unexpected force to be reckoned with. As if. There is very little reckoning with Con. He's the most intimidating, capable, frustrating male that Lizzie has ever encountered and she knows that staying on her toes, the very ones that he repeatedly makes curl, is the only way she'll be able to keep her wits and take possession of the sunken treasures. It isn't long before Con and Lizzie realize that they're surrounded by evil, on ship and on shore, and their fight soon goes beyond keeping the artifacts safe to keeping themselves alive.

MAKE HER PAY brings to a close the Bullet Catcher series that has brought readers so much pleasure over the years. I'm excited for the new series Roxanne St.Claire is working on, but at the same time, I'm extremely disappointed to see this series come to an end. I know that authors appreciate their readers and happily absorb the positive comments and feedback they get from them about their work, but wonder if they fully understand how deeply their talents touch (and stay with) readers? I have gotten my hands on every one of the Bullet Catcher books as soon as they were released, earlier if I was lucky enough to get them for review, and I truly think that I enjoyed the storytelling in this particular book more than any other in the series. Con is unashamedly a thief and Lizzie is a gentle, kind-hearted soul who has seemingly reached right in and grabbed hold of his heart, making it her own. Together they simply sizzle. I am trying to content myself with the knowledge that Roxanne St. Claire is hard at work on a new series, but in the meantime, I give MAKE HER PAY my highest recommendation!

Go here to order MAKE HER PAY!

To celebrate the release of MAKE HER PAY, I have an autographed copy of HUNT HER DOWN for giveaway. If you're interested, please leave a comment. I'm very interested in what your favorite book in the Bullet Catchers series is. Do you have a favorite character, locale, or couple? Haven't read any of the series? That's okay, and you can even say so in your comment, but then I'm going to ask "What rock have you been living under?" just to give you a hard time! Send a friend over who mentions you and you'll be entered an extra time for each friend. I'll draw the winning name on Tuesday, October 13. Good luck, everyone!
Can't wait to win a copy? I'll make it easy for you to get a copy of your own - go here to toss a copy of HUNT HER DOWN in your Amazon shopping cart alongside MAKE HER PAY!
Thanks for taking a look!
Laurie

HE'S NO PRINCE CHARMING - coming soon from LuAnn McLane

2009-09-29T12:18:00.001-05:00

LuAnn McLane has a new book releasing in about a week, October 6th to be exact, and I know I'm not the only one looking forward to it!
I don't have a review, but here's a little info to tempt you!

At sixteen, Dakota Dunn was America's Pop Princess. Now twenty-five, she's all grown up-and definitely washed up. She decides to head to her parents' lakefront retreat in Tennessee, fixing to write songs and transform her image from squeaky clean to kickin' country.
Turns out her folks have handed things over to sexy, if cranky, cowboy Trace Coleman-a former bull riding champion benched by injuries. He's none too happy about Dakota's arrival-and makes no secret of it. But though Trace is rough around the edges, Dakota feels a pull of attraction she can't quite shake. For all his brooding, Trace has an animal magnetism that may just lead Dakota to dig in her heels and hold on tight...

You can read the entire first chapter in this fun excerpt on LuAnn's website - go take a look!
I'm figuring by now you're excited and want a copy for yourself - so buzz on over to Amazon and toss a copy in your cart! I can't think of a better way to be entertained than to read for a few hours - and for less than $7.00, this book's a real bargain!
Thanks for checking it out!
Laurie

HOLDING OUT FOR A HERO by HelenKay Dimon - did I mention the giveaway?

2009-09-22T21:53:00.007-05:00

The winner of the autographed copy of HOLDING OUT FOR A HERO is LOIS! Congratulations, Lois! Thank you again, HelenKay, for the fun giveaway, and thank you all for playing. I loved your comments - especially about favorite characters. It's always interesting to see how different everyone's favorites are! Lois, please contact me at ljodamron@gmail.com with your mailing info by Wednesday. If I don't hear from Lois by Wednesday evening, I'll draw another name. Remember, I don't track down winners!
Have a great week, all!
Laurie

HelenKay Dimon has a new book about to release, HOLDING OUT FOR A HERO. Take a sec and check it out - there's a great excerpt on HelenKay's site!

Deana Armstrong needs a hero—not for herself, but for the nephew all her money and time can’t seem to get out of jail. Unfortunately, the best hero in all the Hawaiian Islands is set on turning in his badge and getting his excellent butt into another line of work. If that wasn’t enough, Josh Windsor also has a big-time grudge against Deana herself. But if there’s anything being rich, smart, and stubborn has taught Deana, it’s never to settle for second best…
Josh has had it with saving people. He’s had it with getting hauled into court. And boy, has he ever had it with Deana. Or well, he hasn’t had it. Yet. But the more she pops up sounding infuriating and looking good enough to eat, the more her hot bod and her cold case wriggle into his mind. And there’s only so much even a hero can resist…

My review:
When Deana Armstrong needs someone to help get her nephew out of prison, she immediately thinks of Josh Windsor. He’s knowledgeable and dedicated and she knows he’ll do a thorough job. Her biggest problem is convincing him to overlook how much he hates her family. One thing Deana refuses to listen to is the word “no.” Given her determined tenacity, and the abundance of time Josh has on his hands since he recently quit the DEA, he can’t refuse her. Deana has found that money can make almost anything happen and being certain of her nephew’s innocence, she’ll spend any amount necessary to see him free. What Deana is uncertain of are the emotions stirred by Josh’s near-constant presence. She finds herself opening up to Josh, easily telling him secrets from her past. These are deep, shameful secrets she has never told anyone, but in the telling a huge weight is lifted from her.
Josh has serious issues with Deana and the way she and her family have used wealth and privilege to get their way. He had a difficult, almost nonexistent childhood, and initially refuses Deana’s request for help. Determined to make quick work of confirming Deana’s nephew’s guilt, Josh is totally unprepared for feelings for her that go far beyond simple lust. By the time he realizes that there’s much more to Deana than just money, she’s gone and he’s guilty of pushing her away.
HelenKay Dimon fans eagerly anticipate her every release; HOLDING OUT FOR A HERO is no exception. HelenKay’s storylines are uniquely original, the dialogue snappy and characters bright and fresh. Individually, Josh and Deana are intelligent and extremely likable. Together, they are explosive. Readers will relish witnessing the sparks between them turn to embers that hold great promise. As with every other HelenKay Dimon book I’ve read, I highly recommend HOLDING OUT FOR A HERO.

Now for the giveaway! HelenKay has generously provided an autographed copy of HOLDING OUT FOR A HERO for one lucky reader here! Thanks, HelenKay! This one will be simple – leave a comment about your favorite HelenKay book, favorite character, what you like best about her website, you get the gist. Send a friend who mentions you in their comment, and you’ll be entered an extra time. I’ll draw a winner on Sunday the 27th.
Don’t wait to see if you’ve won, go ahead and pop over to Amazon and toss a copy in your cart - the last time I looked it was being offered for the bargain price of $10 - a steal!

Good luck, everyone! Thanks again to HelenKay for sharing this great book with my blog visitors!

Oooh, and don’t forget about the Christmas anthology, KISSING SANTA CLAUS, coming next month from HelenKay, Jill Shalvis and Donna Kauffman – romance simply doesn’t get better than these three!
Laurie

The winner is . . .

2009-09-18T21:39:00.003-05:00

Sarah! Please email me at ljodamron@gmail.com with your mailing info and I'll get SIMON SAYS MOMMY in the mail on Monday. If I don't hear from Sarah by Tuesday, I'll have Lindsay give me another number! Thanks for all of the great comments!
Laurie