Romance Reviews Today Blog

Wednesday night Chat at Romance Reviews Today with Shirlee Busbee!

2009-12-01T23:00:00.000-08:00

Author Shirlee Busbee joins us to discuss her book, Surrender Becomes Her. Door Prize: One lucky winner will receive a signed copy of Surrender Becomes Her! Moderated by KatBos.

When? This Wed at 9:00PM Eastern time

Where? http://client0.addonchat.com/sc.php?id=102122

or go to http://www.romrevtoday.com/ and click on RRT Chat. Once the login screen loads jes type your name and choose Mo's room from the chat room menu ;) Make sure your java software has been updated ;)

Hope to see you there!

Mo
Mo's Book Buzz

A Perfect 10: Wedding at King's Convenience by Maureen Child

2009-11-30T23:56:00.000-08:00

WEDDING AT KING’S CONVENIENCE – Maureen Child

Kings of California, Book 6
A Perfect 10
Silhouette Desire #1978
ISBN: 978-0-373-76978-0
November 2009
Short Series Romance

Ireland – Present Day

While negotiating with Irish sheep farmer Maura Donohue over rights to use her farm for a movie location, movie mogul Jefferson King sealed the deal by bedding her. He left the next day, their fling just that, never to see each other again. But Jefferson is called to Ireland four months later when problems on the movie set arise. The formerly friendly townspeople are downright hostile to him, with comments about his not doing the “right thing.” Then, he learns to his surprise when he shows up on Maura’s doorstep to confront her, that they are referring to the fact she’s pregnant—with his child.

Maura fell for Jefferson the night they made love. After she learned of her pregnancy, she tried to contact him, but could never get past his receptionist. Angry at what she sees as his brushing her off, when he arrives back in Ireland, she is not in a forgiving mood. Plus, when he orders her to marry him for the baby’s sake, well, she doesn’t have an Irish temper for nothing. No one, not even the rich and powerful Jefferson King, is going to tell her what to do. What ensues next is a battle of wills, as Jefferson tries to figure out the best way to win over the mother of his child. Too bad he doesn’t figure out love has a big advantage…

I absolutely loved WEDDING AT KING’S CONVENIENCE. It’s not just because the setting is in Ireland on a sheep farm, but because two entertaining and charismatic characters are the stars of this tale. Maura is strong and independent, yet she melts in the arms of Jefferson. At the same time, Jefferson King, who has avoided getting involved with a woman because he’s afraid of loving someone, shows his vulnerable and masculine sides at the same time. Their chemistry sizzles right from the start in WEDDING AT KING’S CONVENIENCE and continues even as they argue and she informs him she won’t marry him. Their love is a dance of romance that readers will adore. Jefferson won’t admit that Maura meant more to him than a casual fling, while each is stubborn in holding onto their ground. I could wax poetic on WEDDING AT KING’S CONVENIENCE all day and it would never be enough. It richly deserves Romance Reviews Today’s designation of A Perfect 10. Please, pick up this book, as I guarantee you won’t be sorry.

Maureen Child has skillfully filled the pages with descriptive scenery of Ireland and its people. It makes one want to hop a plane and visit this lovely country. If we can find someone like Maura, Jefferson and the rest of the people of the village near the sheep farm, then the visit would be perfect.

With a beautiful country for a background and an equally engaging couple as the main characters, readers are in for a special treat in WEDDING AT KING’S CONVENIENCE.

Patti Fischer

New Reviews posted at Romance Reviews Today!

2009-11-30T06:55:00.000-08:00

Romance Reviews Today,

Issue 75, Volume 2, November 27, 2009

Contest:

News/Information:

Romance Reviews Today is seeking enthusiastic readers to review. Must be willing to read / review from electronic ARC’s. Contact Terrie Figueroa

REVIEWS:

We have 39 new reviews for your reading pleasure:

Contemporary Fiction

WHISTLIN’ DIXIE IN A NOR’EASTER – Lisa Patton

Contemporary Romance

DOING THE RIGHT THING – Barbara Elsborg – Jennifer

THE YEAR OF LIVING SHAMELESSLY – Susanna Carr – Patti

Historical Romance

A CREED COUNTRY CHRISTMAS – Linda Lael Miller – The Montana Creeds, Book 4 – Diana ALL HE DESIRES – Anthea Lawson – Kate

LADY BLUE – Helen A. Rosburg – Robin

MIDNIGHT PLEASURE WITH A SCOUNDREL – Lorraine Heath – Jane

SIREN SONG – Roberta Gellis – Royal Dynasty, Book 1 – Robin

TAMING THE BEAST – Heather Grotheus – Marilyn

TEMPT ME AT TWILIGHT – Lisa Kleypas – Hathaways, Book 3 – Deborah

TEMPTATION AND SURRENDER – Stephanie Laurens – The Cynsters, Book 15 – Lori

THE BARGAIN BRIDE – Barbara Metzger – Jane

THE CARE AND TAMING OF ROGUE – Suzanne Enoch – Carolyn

THE LEGACY – Diane Amos – Marilyn

THE WINTER QUEEN – Amanda McCabe – Robin
TO LOVE A WICKED LORD – Edith Layton – Jane

Mystery/Suspense/Thriller

FINDING THE LOST – Sharon K. Butcher – The Sentinel Wars – Deborah – Paranormal Suspense

PLUM PUDDING MURDER – Joanne Fluke – A Hannah Swenson Mystery, Book 12 – Diana

THE LEOPARD’S PREY – Suzanne Arruda – A Jade Del Cameron Mystery, Book 4- Marilyn

THE TREASURE OF THE GOLDEN CHEETAH –Suzanne Arruda – A Jade del Cameron Mystery, Book 5 – Diana

Paranormal Fiction

HUNTING VAMPIRES – Barb Hendee – A Vampire Memories Novel, Book 2 – Kate

Paranormal Romance

BORN OF NIGHT – Sherrilyn Kenyon – The League, Book 1 - Amy
CHOSEN BY DESIRE – Kate Perry – Guardians of Destiny, Book 2 – Lori

OUT OF THE DARKNESS – Jaime Rush – Offspring, Book 2 – Lori

SEDUCED BY SHADOWS – Jessa Slade – Marked Souls, Book 1 – Lori

SILENT NIGHT, HAUNTED NIGHT – Terri Garey – Marilyn

UNFOLDING THE SHADOWS – Katie O’Sullivan – Marilyn

Romantic Suspense/Mystery/Thriller

HAUNTING JORDAN – P.J. Alderman – The Port Chatham series, Book 1 – Diana – Paranormal

HOT AS SIN – Bella Andre – Men of Fire, Book 2 – Patti

ICE – Linda Howard – A Perfect 10 – Jane

URGENT CARE – C.J. Lyons – Angels of Mercy series, Book 3 – Carolyn

WAKING THE DEAD – Kylie Brant – Deborah

Series
CHRISTMAS WITH THE PRINCE – Michelle Celmer – Royal Seductions, Book 6 – Patti – SD #1979

HIS HIGH-STAKES HOLIDAY SEDUCTION – Emilie Rose – The Hightower Affairs, Book 3 – Jennifer – SD #1980

IN THE ARMS OF THE RANCHER – Joan Hohl – Diana – SD#1976

MORE BLAZING BEDTIME STORIES – Julie Leto and Leslie Kelly – Patti – HB#501

THE MAVERICK’S VIRGIN MISTRESS – Jennifer Lewis – Texas Cattleman’s Club, Book 5 – Patti - SD #1977

WEDDING AT KING’S CONVENIENCE – Maureen Child – Kings of California, Book 6 – A Perfect 10 - Patti – SD #1978 –
WESTMORELAND’S WAY – Brenda Jackson – Westmoreland series – Sinclair – SD #1975

Time Travel Romance

THE BEST GIFT – Wendy Markham - Deborah

Terrie Figueroa
Romance Reviews Today
www.romrevtoday.com

RRTErotic

www.rrterotic.com

__._,_.___

New Reviews posted at RRTerotic!

2009-11-29T18:54:00.000-08:00

Note from Patti: Sorry this is late, but due to the holiday and other things going on at the blog....

New Reviews at RRTErotic! Happy Reading and Happy Thanksgiving!

A MATE’S RISK – Cara Carnes – Angela – Paranormal

BUSINESS AND PLEASURE – Lynn LaFleur – Lavender Lace, Book 1 – Jennifer – Contemporary

CALDER – Allyson James – Tales of the Shareem, Book 5 – Lori – Futuristic Romance

CATNIP Shelly Munro – Middlemarch series, Book 8 – Jennifer – Paranormal Romance

FASCINATED – Bertrice Small, Susan Johnson, Thea Divine , Robin Schone – Anthology – Historical Romance

FRANNIE ‘N’ THE PRIVATE DICK – Delilah Devlin – Jennifer – Paranormal Short

GYPSY NIGHTS – Mandy M. Roth – Ariel – Paranormal Romance - Short

HEAT SEEKER - Lora Leigh – Elite Ops, Book 4 – Courtney – Romantic Suspense

HOT FOR THE HOLIDAYS – Lora Leigh, Angela Knight, Anya Bast, Allyson James – Jennifer – Anthology – Paranormal

LOVE AND LOYALTY – Tere Michaels – sequel to FAITH AND FIDELITY – Angela – Gay Contemporary Romance

MASION DOMINE – Skylar Kade – Binding Ties series – Jennifer – Contemporary Romance Short

MEN ON FIRE – Susan Lyons, Rachelle Chase, Jodi Lynn Copeland – Holly – Anthology – Contemporary

MORTAL SEDUCTIONS – Allyson James – Mortal, Book 2 – Lori – Paranormal Romance

PARADISE RULES – Beth Kery – Kate – Contemporary Romance

PINK BUTTERCREAM FROSTING – Lissa Matthews – Jennifer – Contemporary Romance – Short

SCOTT’S SATIN SHEETS – Lacey Alexander – City Heat, Book 4 – Jennifer – Contemporary Romance

SEXY BEAST VII – Kate Douglas, A.L. McLeod, S. Stevens – Sinclair – Anthology – Paranormal

SINJIN – Julia Templeton – The Rakehells of Rochester, Book 1 – La Grande Mort – Ariel – Historical Romance

WISHFUL THINKING – Elisa Adams – Jennifer – Contemporary Romance – Short

WOLF TALES VIII – Chanku Series – Kate Douglas – Sinclair – Paranormal Romance

YELLOWSTONE WILD – India Masters – Jennifer – Contemporary Romance

NIBBLES

Ellora’s Cave
BROWN PAPER PACKAGES – Christine McKay – Jennifer – Contemporary Romance

CHECKING OUT AUDREY – Lyla Sinclair – Holly – Contemporary Romance
ICE CREAM. YOU SCREAM – Kat Alexis – Jennifer – Contemporary Romance

Pink Petal Books
SOUTHERN ROSE – Mary Winter – Ariel – Historical Romance

Samhain Publishing

IF YOU BELIEVE – Crystal Jordan – Unbelievable, Book 1 – Jennifer – Contemporary Romance

Terrie Figueroa
Romance Reviews Today
www.romrevtoday.com

RRTErotic

www.rrterotic.com

Book Giveaway.....MORE BLAZING BEDTIME STORIES by Julie Leto and Leslie Kelly

2009-11-28T19:16:00.000-08:00

Win a signed copy (by one of the authors, Leslie Kelly) of MORE BLAZING BEDTIME STORIES by Juile Leto and Leslie Kelly....

Now available in bookstores near you or online.
You can read the review at Romance Reviews Today by clicking here.

The two tales are based on children's bedtime stories, with sexiness and imagination mixed in that results in some terrific reading.

Want this book? Then tell us about your favorite childhood bedtime story. I'll announce the winner Tuesday night.

The winner of Ring of Fire by Ryshia Kennie is...

2009-11-28T19:04:00.000-08:00

Congrats to CHELSEA B who wins the copy of Ring of Fire by Ryhsia Kennie! Please email me at mailto:pattifischer@yahoo.com.com and I'll forward your email addy to the author.

Thank you to Ryshia and to everyone who participated.

Q&A with Ryshia Kennie!!!! (with giveaway)

2009-11-25T23:59:00.000-08:00

1. Tell us about your newest release.

Picture 1072 England in a place called Hafne. Everything is dreary and

dry. But it is a land that echos with the sighs of all things magical.

Long ago a Norman’s hand destroyed Hafne’s peace and laid the way

for the Ancients’ curse that has left the land barren and taken the gift of immortality.

Now the Normans have returned. Vala is drawn to one man, a Norman, and torn between two worlds human and Ancient. With one chance to break the curse and immortality hanging in the balance, will Vala choose the love of a mortal man over the gift of immortality?

2. When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

There wasn't an actual moment. As a child I was always penning short

stories. By the time I entered my teenage years I knew I wanted to be

a writer – I just didn’t know how to accomplish that. I do

remember when I was twelve that my English teacher praised my opening line where the character dies. Yes, even then I had a fascination with the macabre. Maybe that’s why now, except for my first book, I can’t promise that despite the fact that it’s a romance, that every character will live until the end.

3. Where do you get your information or ideas for your stories?

My ideas for my stories come out of my own interests and travels. My first book was written because of the depression era stories that seem to haunt the prairies. My second came out of a love of history and all

things medieval. And the stories that follow dabble in modern day in other countries and cultures and another love, travel.

4. What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?

I can’t write a book without a title. The title always has to come first – it breathes life into the first lines of the story and gives me a rough compass. I didn’t know that myself until my latest story that was fumbling it’s way through the opening chapters. It wasn’t until I took another look at the title that I realized why – the title was just – wrong!

And there’s the collection of good luck charms I keep by my desk.

I’m not superstitious but I’m not taking any chances either…

5. What was one of the most surprising things you learned in creating your books?

I learned that a love of words, a good idea and the muse does not make a book, that there’s an apprenticeship like any other trade, where skills must be learned to create an enduring story.

6. What authors or friends influenced you in helping you become a writer?

The authors I read as a teenager influenced me the most as I think the teen years are a time when you look up to people for inspiration and guidance. That said I have to say my first influence, well before my teenage years was - Lucy M. Montgomery and Jack London and then as a teenager; Stephen King, Agatha Christie, Margaret Mitchell. Those authors solidified my intent to be a writer as their stories stuck long after the last page. There's been many authors in the years since - I wish I could list them all.

7. What does your family think about your career as a published author?

With each new book they’re excited and many have dived in and rolled up their sleeves to deliver the news as far as they can.

8. Can you tell us about what’s coming up next for you writing wise?

My next books are set in Asia where romance tangles with the undercurrents of crime. The stories travel everywhere from the Borneo jungle to Beijing and the shadow of China’s lost girls - through Burma with the scrutiny of an unforgiving military junta to Cambodia and an illicit drug trade.

******

Learn more about RyshiaKennie by visiting http://www.ryshiakennie.com/ Ring of Fire is available from Black Lyon Publishing.

Ryshia is giving away a copy of Ring of Fire to one lucky winner. Got a question? Ask away!

Falcon's Prey winner is....

2009-11-25T19:52:00.001-08:00

...Karen H from NC wins the copy of Falcon's Prey by Penny Jordan! Congrats and please email me at pattifischer@yahoo.com with your snail mail address. :)

Chat with Robin Owens Wed 11/25/09!

2009-11-25T04:20:00.000-08:00

Robin D Owens chats at Romance Reviews Today!!!!

Date: Wednesday November 25, 2009

Time: 9:00 pm - 10:00 pm (eastern time)

Location: http://client0.addonchat.com/sc.php?id=102122
Notes: Author Robin D. Owens joins us to discuss her book, HEART CHANGE. Door prize: Two lucky winners will win their Choice of Book (including HEART CHANGE) and one lucky winner will receive a full set of the Summoning books! Moderated by CrazyMo.

Learn more about Robin at her website http://www.robinowens.com/

Guest Blogger: Disappearing Act by Laura Griffin

2009-11-23T23:29:00.000-08:00

(UNTRACEABLE is available from Pocket Star, Nov. 24, 2009 and will be in most bookstores)

Have you ever wanted to disappear? If your home is filled with visiting relatives this holiday, maybe you can understand this impulse. But I’m not talking about just taking a few hours off, I’m talking about really disappearing--vanishing from your life and starting over somewhere.

The heroine of my latest romantic suspense novel, UNTRACEABLE, makes people disappear. Her name is Alex Lovell, and she’s made a niche business for herself helping women whose lives are in danger drop off the radar. When one of her clients goes missing for real, Alex turns to sexy, cynical homicide cop Nathan Devereaux to help uncover the truth. When he finally agrees to launch a murder investigation, their adventure--and their romance--takes a dangerous turn.

Writing UNTRACEABLE was fun--almost as fun researching Alex’s unique profession. Who knew helping people get lost would be so difficult? Turns out, it is. We leave digital tracks everywhere, so disappearing from your life and starting over someplace isn’t just about changing your appearance, but dramatically changing your lifestyle, too.

UNTRACEABLE hits bookshelves this week, and I’m celebrating by giving away autographed books and gift cards just in time for the holidays! For a chance to win a signed copy of UNTRACEABLE and a $20 gift card to Starbucks, just drop me a line at laura@lauragriffin.com. Put “Romance Reviews Today” in the subject line, and I’ll enter you in the drawing.

Happy holidays and happy reading!
Laura Griffin

Book Giveaway: Falcon's Prey by Penny Jordan

2009-11-23T02:42:00.000-08:00

FALCON'S PREY - Penny Jordan
Part of Harlequin's Famous Firsts
This is a reissue, originally published in 1981

Blurb:

Englishwoman Felicia Gordon should be floating on air. After all, she's engaged to a man who is kind, charming, considerate…. But he doesn't inspire the least amount of passion in her blood.

It isn't until Felicia flies to Kuwait to meet her fiancé's family that she finds the electricity she's been missing—in her fiancé's uncle, Sheikh Raschid al Hamid al Sabah! Raschid is hardly the "uncle" she imagined—tall, powerful, unnervingly masculine and shockingly arrogant. But beneath Raschid's contempt lies a passion that burns hotter than the desert sun, a fire Felicia never knew she craved…until now.

Question for readers (and a chance to enter to win a copy of this book)...

Do you remember the first romance novel you read? What was the title, or if you can't recall, then what was the plot?

I'll pick a winner on Wednesday night! Good luck.

NAUGHTY BITS winner is.....

2009-11-22T18:41:00.000-08:00

Congrats to CHERIE J who wins the copy of NAUGHTY BITS! Please email me at pattifischer@yahoo.com with your snail mail. Stay tuned for another contest on Monday!!!

Spotlight Review: POSSESS ME AT MIDNIGHT by Shayla Black

2009-11-19T23:41:00.000-08:00

POSSESS ME AT MIDNIGHT - Shayla Black The Doomsday Brethren, Book 3
Pocket Books
ISBN: 978-1-416-57846-8
November 2009
Paranormal Romance

Great Britain - Present Day

While magickind does not actually have royalty, if it did, Sabelle Rion would be its princess. A powerful witch who is also the granddaughter of Merlin and a member of the Privileged class, Sabelle is also a kind, giving person who draws the admiration of many, including Isdernus (Ice) Rykard. Ice has wanted the sexy witch since the first moment he met her, but he knows that a union between them is impossible. First, because he is Deprived, the lower class of the magical Social Order, and mixing the two classes does not happen. Second, the enmity between Ice and Bram Rion, Sabelle’s brother, would be enough to prevent any relationship, even without the fact that Bram plans a mating for his sister that will strengthen his political position. That doesn’t stop Ice from wanting Sabelle, or sway him from his growing conviction that Sabelle is his mate.

With her brother laid low by a mysterious spell and Sabelle taking over his Council duties, Sabelle knows that it’s more important than ever to do her duty to both her brother and her bloodline. She’s aware that Bram would like her to mate with one of the two men who will inherit a Council seat in the future and had always planned to follow his wishes. But meeting Ice has changed things for her. She’s intrigued by the supposedly mad wizard and is more attracted to him than she has been to any other man she’s met in her eighty-five years. When the evil wizard Matthias sends his Anarki troops to her home, Ice is the one to help her and her comatose brother escape. As the magical war escalates around them, Sabelle also has to fight the attraction she feels towards the very desirable, but inappropriate Ice.

The Doomsday Brethren face a new challenge in POSSESS ME AT MIDNIGHT, as Matthias comes up with another devious plan. In the months since Ice joined Bram’s army, he has struggled with his hopeless desire for Sabelle, but when they are stranded virtually alone together, the temptation to Call to her becomes impossible to resist. In spite of the fact that she is an adult witch, Sabelle’s loyalty to her brother --- the only family who matters to her --- urges her to wait until he is well enough to resume his duties before making any decisions, especially one she knows he won’t like. The romance between Sabelle and Ice, and the complications due to the conflict between Ice and Bram, overshadow the fight between the Doomsday Brethren and Matthias for much of the book, but there is still plenty of action.

As the battle between good and evil is a continuing thread throughout the series, and there are a lot of things that carry through from one tale to the next, it’s helpful to read the stories in order. The latest novel in The Doomsday Brethren is as captivating as its predecessors, and the intriguing characters, caught in an impossible relationship, make POSSESS ME AT MIDNIGHT a book you won’t want to miss.

Jennifer Bishop

Book Giveaway: NAUGHTY BITS - a Spice anthology

2009-11-19T07:19:00.000-08:00

Naughty Bits is the first-ever compilation of breath-hitching, leg-crossing, pulse-quickening short erotic fiction from the editors of SPICE Briefs. Penned by some of the genre's best authors, including Megan Hart, Delilah Devlin, Jodi Lynn Copeland, Kimberly Kaye Terry and Sarah McCarty, these fifteen provocative, flirty, haunting—but always arousing—erotic encounters may be brief, but each one is guaranteed to be the naughtiest part of your day!

***

Want this book? Then tell me what is going on your Thanksgiving table ie. FOOD. This is open to US and Canadian residents only, so I know you already had yours in Canada, so tell us what was on plate last month?

***Winner will be announced Sunday night***

Winner is............

2009-11-18T19:19:00.000-08:00

The winner of A DUKE OF HER OWN is Cheryl C!!!!

Congrats and email me at pattifischer@yahoo.com with your snail mail.

Stay tuned on Thursday for another fabulous giveaway!!!!!!!!!

Spotlight Review: HOT ON HER HEELS by Susan Mallery

2009-11-16T23:27:00.000-08:00

HOT ON HER HEELS – Susan Mallery
Lone Star Sisters Series, Book 4
HQN
ISBN-13: 978-0-373-77384-8
November 2009
Contemporary Romance

Dallas, Texas – Present Day

Deputy Dana Birch has finally done what she set out to do, found evidence to bring Garth Duncan in for questioning for messing with her three friends, Lexie, Izzy, and Skye Titan. Dana is determined to get Garth for blowing up the oilrig Izzy was working on and almost leaving her blind, but then the sisters spoil her plan and come up with a different scheme. They are determined to save Garth from himself and love him into their family; after all, he is their half-brother. While all this sibling love is starting to work its magic, Dana makes it her full time job to follow Garth and make sure nothing else happens to her friends. If only he didn’t challenge her at every step and make her want to believe in his innocence.

Just because his father, Jed Titan, turned his back on his bastard son when Garth's mother Kathy had brain cancer years ago, Garth has made it is goal in life to put Jed, his business empire, and his entire family under his shoes and grind them down while making their lives miserable. But Garth knows if Dana had real evidence on him he’d be arrested, so he treats her threats like a pesky ant and concentrates on Dana’s prickly personality and obvious devotion to his half-sisters. Jed will pay for refusing to give money for his mother’s operation, leaving her living in her own world like a child. Kathy needs live-in help and enjoys the pet shop Garth bought her and considers him a very nice man, but after she finally had the operation she lost the part of her that made her Mom. Garth scraped and saved and built a company that affords him the money and contacts to do whatever his mind can think up to crush Jed in every area of his financial life.

Dana and Garth give us an interesting and enjoyable story that shows us the results of fathers who don’t take care of their own and have a sort of psychotic personality that prevents them from having love for anyone. Garth is still making plans to buy enough stock in his father’s company to start a panic in the stockholders, and is helping Dana find out who tried to blow up Izzy and get himself out from under suspicion. Dana and Garth are astounded that the sparks fly between them, and each one is trying to be careful so it doesn’t get too serious. They are both lone wolves, guarding their hearts against anyone. But can love break down the barriers?

Once again, Susan Mallery has written a gem of a story featuring her expertise in writing a series about families and highlighting the Titan sisters here. Dana isn’t a Titan, but they have accepted her into their fold. A child whose mother died early and whose father regularly beat her for no reason, the Titan house and family was her refuge. To keep herself from falling in love or giving up control of her life, Dana usually chooses men who are weaker than she is, and she hardly misses them when they break up. Lovingly created, Dana is a proud, fiercely loyal, no-nonsense woman who enjoys being able to rely on herself and doesn’t use her feminine wiles, if she even has them----she’s not sure she does. Written from her point of view and Garth’s, we come to learn Dana’s personality very well. Garth is not so simple to read; he’s had a hard and yet a sad life. But the main thing that spurs him on every day is keeping his mother Kathy happy.

Who else can we expect to shine in this story but the three irrepressible Titan sisters, their men, and Jed Titan, the father from hell? I said before that I can conceive of no worse father figure, and he does not redeem himself here. What lengths he will go to in relation to his family will astound everyone.

HOT ON HER HEELS brings the Lone Star Sisters series to a fulfilling and action packed end. Following UNDER HER SKIN (May 2009), LIP SERVICE (June 2009), and STRAIGHT FROM THE HIP (July 2009), you need not to have read the others to thoroughly enjoy HOT ON HER HEELS, but Susan Mallery’s series book are her specialty, and not to be missed. Do yourself a favor and grab up HOT ON HER HEELS and appreciate the strength and love the Titan sisters and Dana give to those they care about.

Carolyn Crisher

Book Giveaway: A DUKE OF HER OWN by Eloisa James

2009-11-15T23:36:00.000-08:00

A DUKE OF HER OWN by Eloisa James
Out now!

Blurb:

A Duke of Her Own

Leopold Dautry, the notorious Duke of Villiers, must wed quickly and nobly—and his choices, alas, are few. The Duke of Montague’s daughter, Eleanor, is exquisitely beautiful and fiercely intelligent. Villiers betroths himself to her without further ado.

After all, no other woman really qualifies.

Lisette, the outspoken daughter of the Duke of Gilner, cares nothing for clothing or decorum. She’s engaged to another man, and doesn’t give a fig for status or title. Half the ton believes Lisette mad—and Villiers is inclined to agree.

Torn between logic and passion, between intelligence and the imagination, Villiers finds himself drawn to the very edge of impropriety. But it is not until he’s in a duel to the death, fighting for the reputation of the woman he loves, that Villiers finally realizes that the greatest risk may not be in the dueling field…

But in the bedroom. And the heart.

To enter this contest, just post away and I'll announce a winner later in the week.

The Sunny winner is....

2009-11-15T17:44:00.000-08:00

Congrats to CATHY M who wins a copy of LUCINDA, DANGEROUSLY by Sunny

Cathy, please email be at pattifischer@yahoo.com with your snail mail.

Stay tuned for more contests and more book information!

Book Giveaway: LUCINDA, DANGEROUSLY by Sunny

2009-11-12T08:08:00.000-08:00

Lucinda, Dangerously is out now and available at most bookstores.

Check out more information on this book by clicking here for blurb, reviews and excerpts.

Question for readers:

Wednesday November 11th was Veteran's Day. Did you do something to honor a Vet, or have you done something recently? (come on, be honest. No one is judging you)

Contest is only open to US and Canada readers

Post away and a winner will be drawn/announced Sunday night (November 15th)

The Heart of Christmas winner....

2009-11-11T20:01:00.000-08:00

The winner of THE HEART OF CHRISTMAS is..... Estella!!! Congrats and please email me by 11/23/09. Thank you!

Spotlight Review: THE GIFT by Deb Stover

2009-11-11T09:52:00.000-08:00

THE GIFT - Deb Stover
Love Spell
ISBN: 978-0-505-52606-9
November 2009
Paranormal Romantic Suspense

Present Day Brubaker, Tennessee

Is it a gift or a curse? Whatever you call it, it allowed empathic Chicago Homicide Detective Elizabeth Dearborn to solve every case she handled. But reliving every victim's violent death drove Beth to drink or go mad. She quit the force, dried out, and went to work for Memphis-based Avery Mutual Insurance as a fraud investigator. On the way to determine if the company must pay out a hefty sum to the husband of a missing wife, or if the woman is alive somewhere, Beth's old car has a flat tire. A tall, hunky rural type, who tops Beth's own nearly six foot height, stops to give her a hand.

Town gossip and some slight evidence might suggest that Lorilee Brubaker-Malone ran off to Europe with a lover seven years ago, but her husband Ty is convinced she is dead. Lorilee would never, ever leave her babies. However, no body has ever been found. The time has come to find out the truth, so Ty asks to have her declared dead.

When Beth arrives at the Malone farmhouse, she gets two surprises. One is realizing the libido-stirring man who changed her tire is the husband of the missing woman. The other is the terrifying feeling of being attacked and beaten as she enters the house's foyer. The house is old and has had many inhabitants; Beth has no way of knowing whose death she's reliving before she passes out.

Driven by both characters and plot, THE GIFT is a real treat. Beth is stronger than she knows. She's alone in the world except for a cousin who inherited his own "gift." Ty is a man of the earth, a loving father, and wholly attractive. I hadn't read Deb Stover in a while before being assigned this review. I must say that her writing has matured. The mutual attraction of this hero and heroine is enriched by being equally as strong in its mental as in its physical aspects.

Minor characters are vivid as well. Beth's cousin Sam should have his own book. The people who make up Ty's household, from the house's Pearl and farm's Cecil to Ty's three children, are likable and lifelike. The rest of the cast you'll need to meet yourself.

For a novel of suspense, warmth and sensuality, and with an intriguing premise leading to a poignant conclusion, I highly recommend THE GIFT.

Jane Bowers

Chat with Deborah Cooke on Wednesday at RRT!!!!

2009-11-10T14:54:00.000-08:00

Come chat with Deborah Cooke!

Date: Wednesday November 11, 2009

Time: 9:00 pm - 10:00 pm EST

Location: http://client0.addonchat.com/sc.php?id=102122
Notes: Paranormal author Deborah Cooke joins us to discuss her book, WINTER KISS. Door prize: One lucky winner will receive a signed copy of WINTER KISS! Moderated by CrazyMo.

Learn more about Deborah Cooke and WINTER KISS by visiting her website at http://www.deborahcooke.com/

Spotlight Review: Bed of Roses by Nora Roberts

2009-11-09T12:58:00.000-08:00

BED OF ROSES - Nora Roberts
Bride Quartet, Book 2
Berkley Trade Paperback
ISBN: 978-0-425-23007-7
November 2009
Contemporary Romance

Greenwich, Connecticut - Present Day

With Spring struggling to the surface and the wedding season in full swing, Emmaline Grant couldn’t be happier. Sure, her workdays are longer and Vows, the company that she and her three best friends own, often has back-to-back bookings making free time almost non-existent, but there’s nothing more joyful than weddings. The lack of time for a social life isn’t much of a concern to Emma, as she’s yet to meet a man who hits a ten on her “spark-o-meter” and, having been successful in redirecting her latest date’s attention elsewhere, Emma is content. Then, the strangest thing happens: she has a moment with Jack Cooke. She and Jack have been friends ever since her best friend Parker’s brother introduced them, but she’s never come close to kissing him before.

Jack’s dreamed of Emma for a few years now, but figures if he ever made a move on her she’d laugh in his face. Shortly after the almost-kiss though, he decides to take the plunge and kisses her during one of the wedding receptions. Their chemistry is hotter than he’d imagined and, since she doesn’t laugh in his face, Jack can’t wait to take things further than a kiss. Can their friendship survive the heat?

Four best friends are building a successful wedding-planning company and finding happiness for themselves along the way in the Bride Quartet. If you were to label each of the friends, Emma, the heroine of BED OF ROSES, would be the romantic one. The fairy-tale story of her parents falling in love and marrying has set the bar high for her, and she’ll settle for nothing less than the same. Jack, on the other hand, was devastated when his parents suddenly divorced, and he enjoys casual, short-term affairs. The long-standing friendship, not just between Jack and Emma, but also Parker, Del, Laurel, Mac and now including Mac’s fiancé Carter, may complicate things, but it also makes some things easier. Emma and Jack are comfortable with one another and, despite having known each other for so long, still find occasional surprises. Of course, having three best friends that know you so well means that they all have opinions and curiosity that knows no bounds.

A charmingly sweet romance, BED OF ROSES is a treat.

Jennifer Bishop

A Perfect 10: Skin Game by Ava Gray

2009-11-09T08:14:00.000-08:00

SKIN GAME – Ava Gray
A Perfect 10
Berkley Sensation
ISBN: 978-0-425-23153-1
November 2009
Paranormal Romance

Multiple States across the Mid West United States - Present Day

Kyra Beckwith has screwed over a dangerous man, and she did it on purpose as payback. The man in question is casino owner and small time mobster Gerard Serrano who had Kyra’s father killed. She made him fall in love with her. He even wrote her poetry and was going to ask her to marry him. But Kyra got the last laugh and was able to steal a good chunk of his money right under his nose. Now Serrano is out for her blood and hires Reyes, a hit man, to retrieve his money and get rid of Kyra permanently.

Reyes may kill men for a profit, but he’s not comfortable killing a woman like Kyra, especially when he sees her in action hustling a pool game. Kyra is a hustler, a con artist who travels from dinky town to dinky town in her Mercury Marquis looking for the next score. Kyra lives for the action, much like her father did. But it got her father killed, and Kyra is not sure how much longer she can stay in the game. When Reyes comes to her aid, she decides to take him along for the ride. She thinks they will have one hot night together in a squeaky motel room bed and that will be it. What she doesn’t know is that Reyes is a hard man to outwit, and he won’t allow Kyra to skip out on him.

When Reyes tracks Kyra down again, she is wary, but there is something about him that makes her want to keep him. Not only can she touch him without draining her energy because of a secret, special ability she has that helps her with her cons, but she feels safe around him. She decides to make him her partner until she has had enough of the game and wants to drive off into the sunset. As Reyes gets to know the enigma Kyra is, he wouldn’t mind going off in the sunset with her also. He just has to figure out a way to keep her alive as well as find a way to tell her he was hired to snuff her out.

Talk about a book where you can feel the heat coming off the pavement! SKIN GAME is a thrilling read with a touch of paranormal, suspense and a steamy romance that will have you panting. The chemistry between Reyes and Kyra is hotter than hot. I knew things were going to be oh so good the moment Kyra asks Reyes what he wants with her and he thinks how great it would be to have her up against a wall.

Because Ava Gray has such a talent writing great character interaction, SKIN GAME excels in so many ways. The majority of the time the reader is witness to Kyra and Reyes on the road driving, playing their cons, or just eating. This may seem boring, but because Ms. Gray is able to expand on these actions, the reader can’t help but stay interested.

Even though Reyes and Kyra have made such an impression on me, there are other secondary characters to take note of. Serrano is a sad man so obsessed with power that it almost ruins him. He doesn’t realize that he is being played and played well by Addison Foster, the security chief for his casino. Foster is one of the biggest mysteries in SKIN GAME. He has deep-rooted secrets and may or may not have an ability much like Kyra has. His ambiguity will have readers wondering what his reasons are for the things that he does. Foster’s story, SKIN TIGHT will be out next summer, where he battles wits with Kyra’s dearest friend, Mia Sauter, who is also introduced in SKIN GAME and has some interesting interactions with Foster.

For those who don’t know, Ava Gray is also known as Ann Aguirre who writes outstanding science fiction as well as urban fantasy books. Her skills at writing a taut masterful tale have become well known, and as Ava Gray she has definitely done that here with SKIN GAME. SKIN GAME deserves RRT’S Perfect 10 for excellence.

Kate Garrabrant

Book Giveaway: THE HEART OF CHRISTMAS

2009-11-08T18:39:00.000-08:00

The Heart of Christmas - Mary Balogh, Nicola Cornick and Courtney Milan

HQN

Out now, at most book stores

Blurb:

A Handful of Gold

A love story from New York Times bestselling author Mary Balogh

Not only is Julian Dare dashing and wealthy, but he's the heir to an earldom. So what do you get a man who has everything? Innocent and comely Verity Ewing plans on giving Julian her heart—the most precious gift of all.

The Season for Suitors

An original romance from Nicola Cornick

After some close encounters with rakes in which she was nearly compromised, heiress Clara Davenport realizes that she needs some expert advice. And who better for the job than Sebastian Fleet, the most notorious rake in town? But the tutelage doesn't go quite as planned, as both Sebastian and Clara find it difficult to remain objective when it comes to lessons of the heart!

This Wicked Gift

An original romance from Courtney Milan

Lavinia Spencer has been saving her hard-earned pennies to provide her family with Christmas dinner. Days before the holiday, her brother is swindled, leaving them owing more than they can ever repay. Until a mysterious benefactor offers to settle the debt. Innocent Lavinia is stunned by what the dashing William White wants in return. Will she exchange a wicked gift for her family's fortune?

Want to win this? Just tell me what books you are looking forward to for December and your name will go into the 'pot' for a chance to win The Heart of Christmas.

Winner announed Wednesday night, November 11th. Good luck!