Thursday, July 11, 2013

Make Your Reservations!



I know it's hard to believe, but it's time again to mark your calendars and Make Your Reservations for August! Here are a few of the romances we are looking forward to next month. Are any of these upcoming books on your list? If so, which ones? If not, which books are on your list?




How to Lose a Bride in One Night
By Sophie Jordan

He saved her life… When Annalise Hadley is tossed over the side of her honeymoon barge, the newly minted duchess knows she’s been left for dead—for her husband’s only interest is in her vast dowry, not her muddied lineage. However, she didn’t count on a savior. Especially not an honorable, sinfully intriguing earl who will tempt her to risk everything—again. Now he will seduce her heart and soul.

A man with his own demons, Owen Crawford, the reclusive Earl of McDowell, is enchanted by the mysterious, courageous woman he rescued. He will help her heal, teach her to protect herself, and then send her away—so that she’ll never see he’s far from the hero she believes him to be. But days and nights alone prove that some secrets are meant to be discovered…some desires are too powerful to resist…and some wounds can be healed only by love.

(Avon)


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Perfect Fling
By Carly Phillips

Assistant D.A. Erin Marsden is Serendipity’s quintessential good girl. The daughter of the ex–police chief, she’s never made a misstep, content with her quiet, predictable life...or so she thinks. Until Cole Sanders shows up with heated interest in his eyes and shadows in his past.

After seven years of deep undercover work in New York, Cole returns to town to help his aging father and find his moral compass again. Not to get involved with wholesome Erin Marsden. Even as a rebellious teen, he knew a girl like Erin was off limits. But neither can resist their off-the-charts chemistry, and a one-night stand brings complications neither expected.

Then a case puts Erin in a killer’s crosshairs, and Erin succumbs to Cole’s take-charge attitude. As a bodyguard, he’s the best. As a lover, he’s even better. But there’s more than Erin’s safety at stake. And Cole must forgive the sins of his past and prove to himself—and to Erin—that he’s capable of the love and the forever she so desperately needs.


(Jove)


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Love and Other Scandals
By Caroline Linden

True Love . . .

Joan Bennet has endured four Seasons without a single suitor or serious flirtation, let alone a marriage proposal. She's had just about enough of being a respectable wallflower and is giving serious thought to embarking on a life of sin, or at least lascivious adventure like the ones described in a popular scandalous book. When she meets her brother's favorite drinking mate, Viscount Burke, it seems her hopes of adventure might be answered . . .

Is Worth a Little Scandal . . .

Tristan Burke doesn't want a wife, and one can't trifle with a friend's sister without risking marriage. Even more, Joan's the last sort of woman he would ever choose: droll, sharp-witted, and always unfashionably dressed. If only he could stop thinking about her mouth. Or what she might look like without those horrid clothes. Or the way he can only win an argument with her by kissing her senseless . . . even though that just makes him want her more. But more could lead to a betrothal, which he fears—or does he?

(Avon)


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Why Dukes Say I Do
By Manda Collins

Even in London society—where everyone knows what you did last season—you never know who’s next in line to walk down the aisle…

TRUE LOVE IS OFTEN FOUND

With her whirlwind social life in London, Lady Isabella Wharton has little interest in the customs of the country. But when her godmother asks her to pay a visit to her bachelor grandson in Yorkshire, Isabella can’t refuse. It behooves her to please the old dowager, since she harbors one of Isabella’s most scandalous secrets. So off she goes to see the newly-titled—and notoriously rustic—Duke of Ormond…

WHERE YOU LEAST EXPECT IT

Trevor Carey doesn’t care about what goes on behind ballroom doors. He is content with the simple life—and isn’t ashamed to admit it to a society flirt like Lady Isabella. But the country air brings out a different side of Isabella—one full of longing and passion. Can her sophistication be hiding a desire for love? When a blackmailer from the city arrives to threaten Isabella, Trevor will shield her from harm—even travel to London. Can the duke tackle the ton on Isabella’s behalf …and manage to keep her all to himself?

(St. Martin's)


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Just in Time
By Addison Fox

After a rejuvenating trip to Ireland, Avery Marks can’t help her frustration with the pace of her life in Alaska. Back in the small town of Indigo—where everyone knows everyone else’s business—Avery dreams of a bigger life. But with her ex-boyfriend back in town, it’s hard to get the past out of her head.

Drafted by the NHL right out of high school, Roman Forsyth left behind the love of his life to follow his pro career. With an injury sidelining him, Roman isn’t sure how much longer he’ll be at the top of his game.  He is sure that he wants Avery just as much as he ever did.

While Roman wants a chance to make things right, Avery isn’t sure she can just forgive and forget. But when their long-buried passion sizzles back to life, they need to escape the watchful eyes of the rest of the town long enough to figure out if it’s any harder to stay together than it’s been to stay apart …

(Signet Eclipse)



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The Devil of Clan Sinclair
By Karen Ranney

To Dance with the Devil . . .

For Virginia Traylor, Countess of Barrett, marriage was merely the vehicle to buy her father a title. Widowhood, however, brings a host of problems. For her husband deliberately spent the money intended for Virginia and her in-laws, leaving them penniless— unless she produces an heir. Desperate and confused, Virginia embarks on a fateful journey that brings her to the doorstep of the only man she's ever loved . . .

He's known as the Devil, but Macrath Sinclair doesn't care. He moved to a tiny Scottish village in hopes of continuing his work as an inventor and starting a family of his own. He bought the house; he chose the woman. Unfortunately, Virginia didn't choose him. Macrath knows he should turn her away now, but she needs him, and he wants her more than ever. Whatever game Virginia's playing, Macrath intends to win— one wickedly seductive deed at a time . . .

(Avon)


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Behind His Blue Eyes
By Kaki Warner

Hoping to escape his past, Ethan Hardesty left a career as an architect and went to work for the railroad. Only two things impede his desire to transform Heartbreak Creek into a thriving town once again—a vandal bent on stopping the railroad, and the beautiful but hardheaded woman who won’t sign over the final right-of-way through the canyon.

Audra Pearsall has good reason for not allowing a train to pass within yards of her home, no matter how persuasive the handsome Mr. Hardesty can be. But when vandalism escalates to murder and fear stalks the canyon, Audra doesn’t know who to turn to—until the man she thought was her friend proves to be an enemy, and the man she wouldn’t allow herself to trust becomes her reluctant hero…

(Berkley)


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Sanctuary Island
By Lily Everett

When Ella’s sister decides to reunite with their estranged mother, Ella goes along for the ride—it’s always been the two Preston girls against the world. But Sanctuary Island, a tiny refuge for wild horses tucked off the Atlantic coast, is more inviting than she ever imagined. And it holds more than one last opportunity to repair their broken family—if Ella can open her carefully guarded heart, there is also the chance for new beginnings.

Grady Wilkes is a handyman who can fix anything…except the scars of his own past. When he accepts the task of showing Ella the simple beauties of the island that healed him, he discovers a deep sense of comfort he thought he’d lost. But now he must convince the woman who never intended to stay that on Sanctuary Island, anything is possible—forgiving past mistakes, rediscovering the simple joys of life, and maybe even falling in love.

(St. Martin's)


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Lady Anne's Lover
By Maggie Robinson

Lady Imaculata Anne Egremont has appeared in the scandalous pages of the London List often enough. The reading public is so bored with her nonsense, she couldn't make news now unless she took a vow of chastity. But behind her naughty hijinks is a terrible fear. It's time the List helped her. With a quick scan through its job postings and a few whacks at her ridiculous name, she's off to keep house for a bachelor veteran as plain Anne Mont.

Major Gareth Ripton-Jones is dangerously young and handsome on the face of it, but after losing his love and his arm in short order, he is also too deep in his cups to notice that his suspiciously young housekeeper is suspiciously terrible at keeping house. Until, that is, her sharp tongue and her burnt coffee penetrate even his misery—and the charm underneath surprises them both. Trust the worst cook in Wales to propose a most unexpected solution to his troubles...

(Brava)

31 comments:

  1. I'm loving all of the books presented.

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  2. August is shaping up to be a fabulous month, especially for novels. I am looking forward to reading lots of them and am particularly delighted to see Karen Ranney’s new novel coming out. She is so very talented and her novels never fail to be a terrific read. Sophie Jordan, Caroline Linden, Manda Collins and Maggie Robinson are also favorite authors of mine. So, it looks like I will be very busy reading all of these terrific books.

    Happy Summer Reading to everyone!

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    1. We never have a shortage of good books to read, do we, Connie? ;)

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  3. The first 2 are on my list... I know there are a whole bunch coming out for August.. But I have not looked at my list to see what books are going to be in next months budget... I know Castaway Cove by JoAnn Ross and Cowboy Seeks a Bride by Carolyn Brown will be on the list of must haves...

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    1. Kathleen, I was excited to find out that Sophie Jordan will be signing copies of HTLABION at the RWA Literacy signing. That's two weeks early!

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  4. Manda Collins' book sounds good. Maggie Robinson's, too. Her writing is really good, but some of her love scenes are a little more "detailed" than I like.
    That is part of the reason I don't read contemps much any longer as well. I don't like the meet, fall in sex, then let's fall in love scenarios. Yep, still old-fashioned enough to just want a romance....

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    1. There is absolutely nothing wrong with being a bit old-fashioned, Deb. ;-)

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  5. I've read and enjoyed Carly Phillips, Karen Ranney, Caroline Linden and Sophie Jordan.

    I've heard great things about a couple of the other authors. I'm definitely going to have to check into all of these authors. It's really hard to keep up with all the talentec works of all of these authors. I don't know how you do it.

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    1. Laurie, it can be hard...which is why I keep a list. I wouldn't be able to keep up, otherwise!

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  6. Oh, Awesome August, Andrea! I can say that with authority since I have already read the books on your list by Manda Collins, Sophie Jordan, Caroline Linden, Karen Ranney, Maggie Robinson, and Lily Everette (aka Louisa Edwards)along with new releases from Susan Andersen, Nicola Cornick, Debbie Macomber, Susan Mallery, and Brenda Novak. Any month that has a new book from Kaki Warner is a good month. I can't wait to read that one. I'm also looking forward to new ones from Jade Lee, Julia London, and JoAnn Ross, and to Lauren Willig's next (last?) Pink Carnation book.

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    1. I hope to be able to read a Kaki Warner book one day, Janga!

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  7. I refuse to believe you lol. July just started!!! Oh, I always want to read each and every historical and some really great covers to tempt me further.

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  8. There is not one clunker in the bunch! Where will I find the time; I think I'm still backed up to last August!

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    1. I'm pretty backed up, too, Flora! And to think, we're going to be getting a lot more at RWA... ;-)

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  9. All I can say is that I'm way behind in my reading!!!

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  10. Good variety !Also, I got an advanced copy of Sophie Barnes' The Trouble With Being a Duke, which is coming out in Aug. It start a new series & very good!

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  11. Thank you SO MUCH for including Lady Anne's Lover! I hope readers like my wild child who grows up and grows wise. :)

    (and Deb, I'm a little less "detailed" in In the Arms of the Heiress, LOL. True confession: I mostly skip the love scenes when I'm reading!)

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  12. Just in Time and Sanctuary Island. I have an arc of the Phillips book. Love my contemps.

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    1. I hope you enjoy Carly's book, Pat! I love my contemps, too. :)

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  13. So many books - not enough time!
    But I'll certainly enjoy reading as many as I can.

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    1. You hit the nail on the head, Rachel! Enjoy your reading!

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  14. Almost every single book is on my TBR list but I'm most looking forward to Carly Phillip's Perfect Fling!

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  15. I have Carly Phillips' Perfect Fling at the top of my list for August, as well as Susan Mallery's Three Little Words. Love the Serendipity and Fool's Gold series!

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  16. The covers are so gorgeous. They make me want to read the books even more <3

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