My Fictional BFF, Kate Sheffield

Six months ago, I blogged about my favorite bad boy hero, Saint (from London's Perfect Scoundrel by Suzanne Enoch). Now I'd like to tell you about my my favorite heroine, or as I like to call her, my fictional BFF, Kate Sheffield. This blog was first published over at Romance Novel TV, but now I would like to share it with our Romance Dish readers. WARNING: This blog contains possible spoilers for those who haven't read The Viscount Who Loved Me by Julia Quinn...though, I'm pretty sure most of you have. *g*

My Fictional BFF, Kate Sheffield

 

There comes a time in every reader’s life when you read a book that just clicks on all levels – a flawless, much loved storyline, a dashing, sexy hero, a darling heroine you’d want as a best friend and the endearing secondary characters who become like family.  Such was the case for me with Julia Quinn’s The Viscount Who Loved Me.  The first time I read it I was completely blown away and it’s one of the few books that I’ve read multiple times.  It’s my “go to” book . . . my comfort read . . . and yes, my very favorite book.  It features one of the most popular and beloved heroes of all time, Anthony Bridgerton, the head of the well-known Bridgerton family.  But what would Anthony be without his leading lady, Kate?  Nothing, I tell you.  This blog is all about my girl, Kate. 

We first meet Katharine Grace Sheffield when she and her sister, Edwina, are embarking on their first London season together.  At twenty-one, Kate may seem a bit old to be having her debut, but her family only had enough funds for one trip to London, so they decided it best to do so when Edwina turned seventeen.  They are there with Kate’s stepmother and Edwina’s mother, Mary.  Right away, we learn three important things about Kate: she is fiercely loyal to her family, she is sensible, and she is completely selfless.  Despite the fact that her sister is this season’s “incomparable” and is beauty and grace personified, Kate doesn’t pout about it nor feels any jealously towards Edwina.  She accepts it as fact and is happy for and utterly devoted to her sister.  Who wouldn’t want a sister like that?  In fact, Edwina and Kate are so close, that Edwina pronounces that she will not marry anyone her sister does not deem worthy.  When Kate observes Edwina dancing with Viscount Bridgerton, the “reprehensible rogue”, her defenses are instantly raised.  There is no way that that rake is going to marry her sister.  Later, the viscount tells Kate that she is as lovely as her sister.  Big mistake, but Kate handles it very well.  “And you, Lord Bridgerton,” she replied in a tone that could have frozen champagne, “are almost as handsome as your brother.”  Heh.  Kate gives as good as she gets. 

Competitive only begins to describe how Kate is around Anthony at first.  In fact, it is their conflict and verbal sparring that absolutely drive this story.  Not to mention it creates some of the most memorable scenes in any historical romance, such as the Serpentine debacle and the infamous Bridgerton Pall Mall game.  Who doesn’t love that Kate, having picked the black “mallet of death”, deliberately sinks Anthony’s pink ball in the lake?  I could read that scene over and over and never tire of it. 

But it isn’t always combative between the two.  While it’s obvious they enjoy vexing each other, it’s even more obvious that there is a spark there.  The more they’re around each other, the more they want to be.  And Kate’s heart really softens towards Anthony when he does the one thing she doesn’t expect – he rescues her friend Penelope from the young lady hurling nasty insults at her by giving her the cut direct. 

. . . and in that moment Kate had the oddest feeling that she understood this man completely. 

But even stranger – suddenly she wasn’t so certain that he was the soulless, reprehensible rake she’d taken such comfort in believing him. 

“Did you see that?” 

Kate, who, along with the rest of the assembled company, had been staring openmouthed as Bridgerton led Penelope from the room, his head bent to hers as if she were the most fascinating woman ever to walk the earth, turned to see Edwina standing next to her. 

“I saw the whole thing,” Kate said in a dazed voice.  “I heard the whole thing.” 

“What happened?” 

“He was . . . he was . . .” Kate stumbled over her words, unsure of how to describe what exactly he’d done.  And then she said something she’d never thought possible: “He was a hero.” 

This is how I picture Kate. How fitting!
(Photo courtesy of biography.com)

At this point, poor Kate is torn.  She now knows the true Anthony Bridgerton and knows that he would indeed make a fine husband for Edwina.  Except that now she wants him for herself.  And then the unthinkable happens as they are forced to wed thanks to a pesky bee and the biggest gossip in London.  Yes, Kate wanted him, but not like this.  She may not be happy with the circumstances, but my girl is no idiot.  She knows the ramifications if they do not wed.  She accepts and suddenly Anthony has a revelation about his betrothed. 

With great reluctance, he slowly tore himself away from her, letting his hands rest on her slim shoulders and straightening his arms to keep himself far enough away so that he wouldn’t be tempted to continue where he’d left off. 

And the temptation was there.  He made the mistake of looking at her face, and in that moment he would have sworn that Kate Sheffield was every bit as beautiful as her sister. 

Hers was a different sort of attraction.  Her lips were fuller, less in fashion but infinitely more kissable.  Her lashes – how had he not noticed before how long they were?  When she blinked they seemed to rest on her cheeks like a carpet.  And when her skin was tinged with the pinks of desire, she glowed.  Anthony knew he was being fanciful, but when he gazed upon her face, he could not help thinking of the new dawn, of that exact moment when the sun was creeping over the horizon, painting the sky with its subtle palette of peaches and pinks. 

Wow.  What girl wouldn’t want to have someone feel that way about her?  But (there’s always a but, isn’t there?), despite what Anthony thinks of her, he tells Kate not to expect love from him.  They will always have a mutual friendship and respect, but never love.  Kate tells him that that is okay with her, but deep down inside, it’s not.  And Kate starts to become a little selfish.  Good for her! 

All her life, she’d been the one who’d received the second glance, the second greeting, the second kiss on the hand.  As the elder daughter, it should have been her due to be addressed before her younger sister, but Edwina’s beauty was so stunning, the pure and perfect blue of her eyes so startling, that people simply forgot themselves in her presence. 

Introductions to Kate were usually met with an embarrassed, “Of course,” and a polite murmured greeting while their eyes slid back to Edwina’s pure and shining face. 

Kate had never minded it much.  If Edwina had been spoiled or bad-tempered it might have been difficult, and in all truth, most of the men she’d met were shallow and silly, and she hadn’t much cared if they only took the time to acknowledge her after her sister. 

Until now. 

She wanted Anthony’s eyes to light up when she entered the room.  She wanted him to scan a crowd until he saw her face.  She didn’t need him to love her – or at least that’s what she was telling herself – but she desperately wanted to be first in his affections, first in his desires. 

And she had an awful, terrible feeling that all this meant she was falling in love. 

Falling in love with one’s husband – who would have thought it could be such a disaster? 

Well, it didn’t end up being a disaster, but it sure was a bit of an uphill battle for Anthony and Kate.  Anthony helps Kate conquer her biggest fear and she knows that what she feels for him in indeed love, though she doesn’t understand why Anthony can’t feel the same.  (Readers know that he believes he’ll die before he turns thirty-nine, as his father did.) Drinking himself into a stupor along with some shrewd advice from his brothers confirms to Anthony that he does love Kate and that it shouldn’t matter if he dies in five, eight, ten or fifty years from now.  What matters most is loving that one person with all your heart while you can. 

“I was so sure that it was the one thing that could make this . . . this . . . I don’t really know what to call it – this knowledge of my own mortality . . .” He raked his hands through his hair, fighting for words.  “Love was the only thing that was truly going to make that unbearable.  How could I love someone, truly and deeply, knowing that it was doomed?” 

“But it’s not doomed,” Kate said, squeezing his hand. 

“I know.  I fell in love with you, and then I knew.  Even if I am right, even if I’m fated to live only as long as my father did before me, I’m not doomed.”  He leaned forward and brushed a feather-light kiss on her lips.  “I have you,” he whispered, “and I’m not going to waste a single moment we have together.” 

Kate’s lips spread into a smile.  “What does that mean?” 

“It means that love isn’t about being afraid that it will all be snatched away.  Love’s about finding the one person who makes your heart complete, who makes you a better person than you ever dreamed you could be.  It’s about looking into the eyes of your wife and knowing, all the way to your bones, that she’s simply the best person you’ve ever known.”

 

Yes, all ends well for Kate and she absolutely deserves it.  We learn through her journey in finding her “happily ever after” that she is loyal, sensible, selfless (and a little selfish when the moment occurs), intelligent, witty, compassionate, honorable, vulnerable, strong in her convictions, stubborn when she needs to be and patient when she needs to be, as well.  Julia Quinn does a masterful job of not just telling us these things about Kate, but showing us.  We know that Kate is each of these and more, and I couldn’t ask for better qualities in a BFF, fictional or otherwise.

So, dear readers, as you can tell, I love this book and I absolutely adore its heroine, Kate Sheffield. Who are some of your most unforgettable heroines? What qualities do they have that make you feel that way? Please share!

What (and Where) are You Reading?

A few weeks ago, I awoke to one of those days when I just want to crawl back under the covers.  You know the kind.  Low gray clouds, rain dripping from leafless trees and a chill in the air that you feel deep in your bones.  The perfect kind of day to surround yourself with a cozy blanket and escape into the pages of a great book.  I chose A Week to Be Wicked, a new historical by Tessa Dare that I'd been looking forward to for months. (Read my Top Dish review here.)

A few days later, the sun began a lively game of peek-a-boo with the clouds, temperatures climbed into the 70s and a gentle breeze lured me out of my cozy cocoon.  It was a perfect day to relax in the hammock with Paris in Love, a charming memoir by Eloisa James that we'll be reviewing next week.

This past weekend, temperatures soared into the 80s, dogwoods and azaleas burst into color and the sun returned in all its glory.  Time to slather on the sunscreen. haul out the lounge chairs and take my winter white body to the deck with a huge glass of iced tea and a fun, flirty contemporary.  I chose Animal Magnetism by Jill Shalvis.









Where are your favorite places to read?  Do your choices change according to the weather?  The season?  Your mood?  What are you reading these days?  Any recommendations?

Because I loved it so much, I'm giving away a copy of Tessa Dare's A Week to Be Wicked to one randomly chosen person leaving a comment today.  Good luck, everyone!


~PJ

Andrea's Perfect Scoundrel

Today is my wedding anniversary, so I figured it was a perfect time to tell you about my favorite fictional bad boy hero: Saint. This blog was first published over at Romance Novel TV, but I wanted to share it with all of our Romance Dish readers...especially Deb as I know she loves Saint as much as I do. *g* WARNING: this blog contains spoilers if you haven't read London's Perfect Scoundrel by Suzanne Enoch. And if you haven't, what are you waiting for?!?!

Andrea’s Perfect Scoundrel

London’s Perfect Scoundrel. I couldn’t think of a more aptly named title for this extraordinary book by Suzanne Enoch. Not that the hero, Saint, is perfect. But he is perfectly sinful, perfectly wicked, perfectly delicious, and thus, a perfect scoundrel...and my all-time favorite bad boy hero. Suzanne Enoch’s story shows how one completely immoral man slowly transforms into a gentleman because of the determination and love of one incredible woman. Here’s a small (okay, maybe a little bit more than small) taste of why I have such strong love for this book and its hero.

“My dear, Saint doesn’t have to be good because he is so very...very bad.” – Lady Gladstone

“It amazes me, Saint, that you can own so few redeemable qualities and still be so likable.” – Prince George

“Why does everyone call him Saint?” – Evelyn Ruddick
“Besides the obvious? I imagine he finds it...amusing, since he’s about the furthest thing from a saint there is without taking hell into account.” – Viscount Dare

“I wonder that anyone tolerates him at all.” – Mrs. Ruddick
“Probably because he doesn’t pretend to be anything other than what he is.” – Evelyn Ruddick

“I believe it’s just that the expectations for me are so low, I can’t help but amaze.” – Lord St. Aubyn

Michael Halboro, Marquis of St. Aubyn, or Saint as he’s called, is anything but a saint. Ironic, that. He’s tall, devilishly handsome and extremely wealthy. Everything a girl could hope for, right? Yes, except that he also engages in scandalous affairs (he takes his lovers’ marriage vows as seriously as they do), says shocking things (which often offends the recipient and anyone else within earshot) and wants to raze the orphanage that he’s the chairman of, thus releasing him from the obligation stated in his mother’s will.

It is because of said orphanage, the Heart of Hope, that Saint meets his heroine, Evelyn Marie Ruddick. Evelyn is there to meet with the board of directors in the hopes that she will be allowed to volunteer. She wants to do something useful and worthwhile since her brother, Victor, and her mother think her nothing but an empty-headed girl that they use to help further Victor’s political ambitions. During their first encounter, Saint shows just how depraved he is by mocking, insulting, and not taking Evelyn’s request seriously, as shown in this scene when she was asked to leave.

“Why don’t you want me to volunteer here?” she asked over her shoulder, hearing his boot steps close behind her. “It won’t cost you anything.”

“Until you grow tired of providing puddings and sweets—or until the orphanage has to begin paying for the removal of the children’s rotten teeth.”

“The offer of sweets was only so they would talk to me. I imagine they have little reason to trust adults.”

“My heart weeps at your compassion.”

She faced him, stopping so suddenly on the stairs that he nearly ran into her. St. Aubyn towered over her, but she refused to look away from the scoundrel’s arrogant, cynical expression. “I didn’t think you had a heart, my lord.”

He nodded. “I don’t. It was a figure of speech. Go home, Miss Ruddick.”

“No. I want to help.”

“First of all, I doubt you know the first thing about what the brats and this building might need.”

“How could—”

“And in the second place,” he continued in a quieter voice, moving one step down so that her face was level with his crotch, “I can think of a place where you’d be much more useful.”

Heat rose in Evie’s face, but she refused to back away. “And where might that be?”

“In my bed, Miss Ruddick.”

This is how I picture Saint...

Despite his insults, Saint is attracted to Evelyn and agrees to let her help out...but not without stipulations. He will oversee all that she does and ultimately approve or disapprove of specific changes. He is certain that he can wear her down and eventually bring her to the point where she will beg for his caress, though the question is why he would want to. He admits to himself that any of his former lovers would laugh if they knew he was hard for a virginal chit. So, he uses his proviso to his advantage and continues to try to shock her, including constantly calling her Evelyn Marie (which I loved!).

“Why are you cleaning out the storage rooms?”

“To make classrooms.” Her fine brows furrowed. “Did you listen at all to my proposal?”

“No.”

“No? But—”

“Evelyn Marie,” he said in a low voice, wishing the flock of chickens [women] was elsewhere so he could taste her honeyed mouth again, “you’re not here because of your proposal.”

Her scowl deepened. “Then why—”

“You’re here because of my proposition.”

“I told you that you wouldn’t frighten me away, my lord.”

“Saint,” he corrected. “Have you ever seen a man naked and aroused with wanting you?”

A deep blush stole up her cheeks. “N...no”

“You will.” Unable to stop himself, he reached out to touch her cheek. “The things I will teach you, Evelyn, aren’t lectured about in classrooms. And you’ll beg me to teach you more.”

Her mouth opened and closed again. “Go away,” she finally commanded in a quavering voice. “I will not be seduced by you.”

“Not today.”

Evie doesn’t give in to Saint as easily as he thinks she will. She gives as good as she takes and gradually starts to throw him off balance by asking him personal questions such as what his Christian name is, about his mother, and his life now. He tries to change the subject by artfully relieving her pearl pendant necklace right from her neck. When she questions how, he replies, “You should see me unfasten a gown.” He then tells her she must ask for it back at that evening’s soirée (which he found himself attending more since making the acquaintance of Evelyn) in front of others. By this point, Evie is getting flustered, but she manages to do it, with style.

Best to get it over with then. “Lord Dare mentioned that you’d found a necklace at the Hanson soiree. I think it may be mine. May I see it?”

His lips twitched. “Yes, I discovered it in the punch bowl,” he said smoothly, and reached into his pocket. “Would this be it?”

Evie felt faint with relief. “Oh, thank you so much, my lord,” she gushed, before he could even produce the thing for her inspection. “It’s my favorite piece, and I thought I’d never find it.” She held out her hand.

Saint stepped behind her. “Allow me.”

Before she could do more than gulp and flush bright red, the marquis slid the cool chain around her throat and fastened it. His fingers brushed the hairs at the back of her neck as he leaned closer. “Well done, Evelyn Marie,” he murmured into her hair. “Now smile and say ‘thank you, Saint,’ or I’ll kiss your ear.”

If her heart beat any faster, it would burst from her chest. She gave a friendly smile to the air. “Thank you again, Saint. That was quite thoughtful of you.”

“You arouse me,” he whispered, “and you’ll pay for that.”

...or maybe like this. *g*

I absolutely love that Saint says exactly what is on his mind, and the more scandalous, the better! I also loved that at the end of that scene, Evie finds out that Saint replaced her pearl pendant with a diamond. And we see that his armor is starting to crack a bit. Even he is amazed. Him, lusting after an angel. No doubt both God and the devil were laughing at him. And then all hell breaks loose when Evie finds out about Saint’s plans to demolish the orphanage. She confronts him and he tells her to leave. While saying good-bye to the children, they come up with a madcap idea . . . that just might work. Evie manages (quite seductively) to get Saint to follow her to the “cellar” so they can have some privacy. But when they get close, Saint gets hit from behind and wakes up chained to the wall in the dungeon (the orphanage used to be military barracks). Now Evie has the upper hand and gives Saint some food for thought.

“You’re just like all of the other men in my life, you know.”

Whatever she meant by that, it sounded insulting. “No, I’m not.”

“Yes, you are. Victor sends me to talk to disgusting old men because they think I’m charming. He doesn’t care if I have to lie to them about how interesting I find them, or whether the stupid political teas he makes me are useless and worthless and make me very . . . nervous. And you—you’re worse.”

“Do tell.”

“You only let me into the orphanage because you thought it would give you the chance to lift my skirts. You’re handsome, and exciting, and . . . enticing, but I do have a mind, you know. You don’t know me, and you don’t know these children who depend on you for their lives. All you care is that it’s inconvenient.”

His angel certainly had a mouth on her. He would never have expected it, but at the moment he didn’t much appreciate it. “Are you finished?” he snapped.

“Not yet. As of this moment, nothing is inconvenient for you. You now have all the time in the world. And someone else gets to judge whether you should be let loose into Society again or not.” She stood. “And ponder this, Lord St. Aubyn. If you never reappear, will anyone even miss you?”

During his week (yes, a whole week!) spent in the dungeon, Saint does a lot of soul searching and comes to some harsh realizations about himself, one of which is the fact that he really has absolutely no one to call “friend”. He manages to escape, but not before he finally succeeds in seducing the tempting Evelyn, which only brings up more realizations, such as the fact that Evelyn Marie Ruddick is unlike anyone he’s ever met and the only woman that has wanted him, not something from him. Along with appreciation comes admiration and respect. So when Evelyn’s family wants her to marry Mr. Clarence Alvington because of his family’s political connections, Saint will do anything in his power to make sure Evelyn has a choice. And if he wants any chance to spend time with Evelyn, Saint knows that he needs to behave like a gentleman. It was quite endearing because he tries so hard and starts worrying about saying the right things.

“You’ve...picked a lovely day for our outing,” she said.

“Are we talking about the weather now?” Saint set the bottle in the grass and took one of the glasses from her, making sure that he brushed her fingers as he did so. It seemed imperative that he touch her every few moments.

“The weather is always a safe topic.”

He took a sip of wine, gazing at her over the rim of the glass. “A ‘safe’ topic. Fascinating.”

Her eyes lowered. “No. It’s dull.”

Evidently he’d said the wrong thing. Being proper was even more difficult than he’d imagined. “No, really. This is new territory for me. Usually by now on a picnic I’m unclothed. Are there other ‘safe’ topics?”

She looked up at him again, suspicion in her clear gaze. “The weather is the safest, being that everyone knows something about it. Fashion is controversial, unless one laments the new decadence of style, and—”

“Decadence. I like decadence.”

Evelyn smiled. “I know. And bemoaning the waltz is safe with the older generation, for the same reason. Also, no one likes Bonaparte, and the Americans are very gauche.”

“So it’s safest to like nothing.”

She hesitated for a moment, taking far too long a swallow of her wine. “And to approve of nothing, and to do nothing.”

“My, my, Evelyn. I had no idea you were a cynic.” He tilted his head, trying to read her expression. “That’s not it, though, is it? That’s just what you say to your brother’s odd selection of political Bedlamites. Because you, my dear, are far more interesting than the dull creation you describe.”

To his surprise, her eyes filled with tears, though the apology for whatever he’d said wrong this time faded on his lips at the sight of her warm smile. Some very uncomfortable things began happening to his nether regions.

“That, Lord St. Aubyn, is a very nice thing you just said.”

He reached into the basket to cover his sudden discomfiture. “How very unusual of me,” he muttered, and produced a sandwich. “Pheasant?”

So he finds himself acting out of character, directly in opposition to his own self-interest, and experiencing emotions he never thought he’d feel. And he actually likes how those new sensations make him feel. He likes how being with Evelyn makes him feel and how doing things for Evelyn makes him feel. He even goes so far as to buy a new orphanage for her and the children when he can’t back out of the deal he made to demolish the old one. And finally, he executes the ultimate surrender by making a very public declaration of love to his heroine.

“I’ve finally realized why they called that damned place the Heart of Hope. Because somehow, someone guessed you and I would meet there, Evelyn Marie.” – Lord St. Aubyn

“I lied to you earlier. I told you that I didn’t have a heart. I do have one. I just didn’t know it until I met you. You are my light. My soul craves you, and I love you with every ounce of the heart you’ve awakened in me. I...I could live without you, but I wouldn’t want to. Will you marry me, Evelyn Marie?” – Michael Edward Halboro, Marquis of St. Aubyn to Evelyn Marie Ruddick in the middle of the Dorchester ball

Oh, how the mighty have fallen! Now, to say that Saint did a complete 180° would be a bit misleading. He is still very much a bad boy...but only for Evelyn. :wink:



London’s Perfect Scoundrel is one of the few books that I have read more than once. I hope I was able to convey some of the love I have for it in my blog. :) Since I featured a historical bad boy hero, I’d like to know who some of your favorite historical bad boy heroes are? Also, do you reread books? If so, which ones?

Books, Books, Everywhere I Look

I'm trying to sell my house so I can move into a smaller one.  I love my home but it's way more space than I need.  I've already gotten rid of a lot of tools.  I didn't know how to use them anyway.  Furniture went out the door without a single twinge.  With a couple exceptions (and they stayed), there was no sentiment connecting me to any of the pieces.  My books, now that's a different story.  I've been reading for a long, long, long time and I've saved a lot of books.  The last time I did a "book cleanse" was when we moved here sixteen years ago.  Do you have any idea how many books you can save in sixteen years?  Now add those to the ones that made the trip from our old house to this one.  I've transitioned from a keeper shelf to keeper shelves to keeper closet to...well, let's just say I could probably open a library with the contents of one of the bedrooms in the house. ;-)

As much as it pains me to do this, I'm going to have to part with some (okay, a lot) of my books.  There just won't be room for them in a smaller house.  Now comes the hard part.  How do I decide what stays and what goes?  A few are non-negotiable.  Julie Garwood's Saving Grace for example.  It's my favorite comfort read and has brought me comfort so many times over the past eighteen years that I've worn out two copies and am now working on my third.  That one stays.  Another favorite re-read is Trust Me by Jayne Ann Krentz.  I sobbed for a full hour after finishing Jude Deveraux's A Knight in Shining Armor.  How could I get rid of that?  Then there's Charming the Prince by Teresa Medeiros, What I Did For a Duke by Julie Ann Long, Julia Quinn's Bridgertons, Christina Dodd's Wilders, The Duke is Mine by Eloisa James, Robyn Carr's Virgin River series, Johanna Lindsey's Malorys and everything written by Tessa Dare, Kaki Warner, Lisa Kleypas, Jo Beverley and Joanna Bourne.  I could go on and on but you get the idea. 

How do I place these beloved friends in a box and dump them at Goodwill or, even worse, watch people toss them around at a yard sale with no care for covers or spines then argue over the 25 cent price?  No, I can't do it.  They've brought me too much joy to be treated in such a manner.  They were there for me during the dark times, when I needed them the most.  They deserve better homes!  That's where you come in, fellow book lovers.  Have I got a deal for you!

It was hard - very hard - but I've managed to make the tough decisions.  Okay, not all the tough decisions but I have made a start.  I have four boxes of books ready to go to new homes (quickly, before I change my mind!).  Some are old, others are new.  A few are signed.  I have single titles, categories and all sub-genres.  All you have to do is answer a few questions and I'll choose four random people to receive one box each.  So tell me...

What are the keeper books you could never part with?

Do they have their own shelf, closet or, like me, do they occupy their own room in your house?

Do you read one particular sub-genre of romance or do you cross over to different ones?  Which are your favorites?

Give me your best pitch for why my books should find a new home with you!

Due to the size and weight of the boxes I need to limit this giveaway to the United States.  Please indicate in your comments if you live in the U.S. and want to be included in the drawing.

~PJ

New Releases for October

PJ, Gannon, Buffie, and I had a wonderful time at the Moonlight & Magnolias conference in Atlanta last weekend! We got to see many of our favorite authors and reader friends and met some lovely ladies for the first time. There were a lot of great workshops and the booksigning was a huge success. We offer heartfelt congratulations to the Maggie winners and finalists! A good time was had by all and many thanks to the Georgia Romance Writers chapter for putting it on!

October is the start of the holiday season and it’s obvious from the number of Christmas-themed stories releasing this month. I haven’t read any of those (yet!), but I have read Animal Attraction by Jill Shalvis—which I loved!—and Flawless by Carrie Lofty—which is a terrific start to her new Christie Family series! I am currently reading In Total Surrender by Anne Mallory and it looks to be another keeper from Anne! I’m looking forward to Slow Ride by Erin McCarthy, A Beginner’s Guide to Rakes by Suzanne Enoch, and Bad Boys Do by Victoria Dahl.

Which October releases have you read? Of those, which ones do you recommend? Which ones are you most looking forward to reading? Also, do you like to read Christmas-themed stories? Tell us and one lucky commenter will win a random book from my prize stash!

Until November, happy reading!



Historical

His Mistress by Christmas – Victoria Alexander
Innocent Courtesan to Adventurer’s Bride – Louise Allen *

Seduction of a Highland Lass – Maya Banks
Tis the Season to be Sinful – Adrienne Basso
Seduced by Grace – Jennifer Blake
Lady Sophie’s Christmas Wish – Grace Burrowes
Every Scandalous Secret – Gayle Callen
His Destiny – Diana Cosby
Song of the Nile – Stephanie Dray (Historical Fiction)
Always a Temptress – Eileen Dreyer
A Beginner’s Guide to Rakes – Suzanne Enoch
The Favored Queen – Carolly Erickson (Historical Fiction)
The Lady of the Rivers – Philippa Gregory (Historical Fiction)
The Norse King’s Daughter – Sandra Hill
A Bride Unveiled – Jillian Hunter
Knight Everlasting – Jackie Ivie
The Rose Garden – Susanna Kearsley (Historical Fiction)

What a Duke Wants – Lavinia Kent
In Pursuit of Eliza Cynster – Stephanie Laurens
The Dragon and the Pearl – Jeannie Lin *
Flawless – Carrie Lofty
Seduced by the Highlander – Julianne MacLean
In Total Surrender – Anne Mallory
The Captain’s Forbidden Miss – Margaret McPhee *
Unclaimed – Courtney Milan *
A Lawman’s Christmas – Linda Lael Miller
It Happened One Christmas – Kaitlin O’Riley
Lionheart – Sharon Kay Penman (Historical Fiction)
Season for Temptation – Theresa Romain
Highland Hero – Amanda Scott
Bond of Passion – Bertrice Small
The Accidental Courtesan – Cheryl Ann Smith
Snowflakes and Stetsons – Jillian Hart, Carol Finch, Cheryl St. John
A Texas Christmas – Jodi Thomas, Linda Broday, Phyliss Miranda, DeWanna Pace

Contemporary

Best Friends, Better Lovers – Celya Bowers
Darn Good Cowboy Christmas – Carolyn Brown

The Pub Across the Pond – Mary Carter (Women’s Fiction)
The Kingdom of Childhood – Rebecca Coleman (Women’s Fiction)
Bad Boys Do – Victoria Dahl
Falling Together – Marisa de los Santos (Women’s Fiction)
Royally Seduced – Marie Donovan
Christmas on Nutcracker Court – Judy Duarte (Women’s Fiction)
Devil in Dress Blues – Karen Foley
Breaking the Ties that Bind – Gwynne Forster (Women’s Fiction)
Garden of Secrets – Barbara Freethy *
No Ordinary Noel – Pat G’Orge-Walker (Women’s Fiction)
An Angel for Christmas – Heather Graham
Heartstrings and Diamond Rings – Jane Graves
Sage Creek – Jill Gregory
Wishes & Stitches – Rachael Herron
Legacy of Love – Donna Hill *
The Mighty Quinns: Riley – Kate Hoffman
Triangles – Ellen Hopkins (Women’s Fiction)
The Woman Who Heard Color – Kelly Jones (Women’s Fiction)
Northern Fascination – Jennifer Labrecque
Too Wicked to Keep – Julie Leto
The Lost Book of Mala R. – Rose MacDowell (Women’s Fiction)

1225 Christmas Lane – Debbie Macomber (Women’s Fiction)
Only His – Susan Mallery
Little Gale Gumbo – Erika Marks (Women’s Fiction)
Slow Ride – Erin McCarthy
The Popularity Rules – Abby McDonald (Women’s Fiction)
Christmas at Timberwoods – Fern Michaels (Women’s Fiction)
The World as We Know It – Joseph Monninger (Women’s Fiction)
All I Want is You – Kayla Perrin & Deborah Fletcher Mello
A Christmas Wish – Joseph Pittman (Women’s Fiction)
Home Sweet Home – Bella Riley
Riding the Storm – Joanne Rock
Animal Attraction – Jill Shalvis
Hometown Girl – Mariah Stewart
The Very Picture of You – Isabel Wolff (Women’s Fiction)
An O’Brien Family Christmas – Sherryl Woods (Women’s Fiction)
The Heart Knows – Renee Wynn
Mistletoe Wishes – Carole Mortimer, Jane Porter, Catherine George
Unwrapped – Erin McCarthy, Donna Kauffman, Kate Angell
Jane Austen Made Me Do It – Multi author anthology (Women’s Fiction)

YA/Teen

Eve – Anna Carey (Futuristic)

The Break-Up Diaries Vol. 2 – Nikki Carter & Kevin Elliot
The Mephisto Covenant – Trinity Faegan (Paranormal)
Bunheads – Sophie Flack
If I Tell – Janet Gurtler
The Faerie Ring – Kiki Hamilton (Paranormal)
Tris & Izzie – Mette Ivie Harrison (Paranormal)
Slayers – C.J. Hill (Fantasy)
The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer – Michelle Hodkin (Paranormal)
The Name of the Star – Maureen Johnson (Paranormal)
Pregnant Pause – Han Nolan *
Lola and the Boy Next Door – Stephanie Perkins
Maya’s Choice – Earl Sewell
The Scorpio Races – Maggie Stiefvater (Paranormal)
Daughter of Smoke & Bone – Laini Taylor (Paranormal)
Gossip Girl Psycho Killer – Cecily von Ziegesar
Enthralled: Paranormal Diversions – Multi author anthology (Paranormal)

Romantic Suspense

Lethal – Sandra Brown *

Rancher Under Cover – Cara Cassidy
Deadly Desires – Ann Christopher
Operation Baby Rescue – Beth Cornelison
Night After Night – Janelle Denison
The Doctor’s Guardian – Marie Ferrarella
Major Nanny – Paula Graves
No Child of Mine – Kelly Irvin
Engaged with the Boss – Elle James
Blood and Fire – Shannon McKenna
Stay Hungry – Lorie O’Clare
Sweet Revenge – Christy Reece
Blood Trails – Sharon Sala *
Westin Legacy – Alice Sharpe
Tempted by His Target – Jill Sorenson
Night Moves – Stephanie Tyler
Stranger, Seducer, Protector – Joanna Wayne
Classified – Debra Webb
Black Ops Bodyguard – Donna Young

Paranormal

Bound by Blood – Amanda Ashley
Must Love Vampires – Heidi Betts

Inferno’s Kiss – Monica Burns
The Vampire’s Seduction – Cynthia Cooke
Wolf at the Door – MaryJanice Davidson
A Touch of Crimson – Sylvia Day
Chosen by Fate – Virna DePaul
A Vampire Christmas Carol – Sarah Gray
Utterly Charming – Kristine Grayson
Serpent’s Kiss – Thea Harrison
Visions of Skyfire – Regan Hastings
Unleashed - Sarah Humphreys
Oceanborne – Katherine Irons
Much Ado About Vampires – Katie MacAlister
Lord of Rage – Jill Monroe
Haunting Embrace – Erin Quinn
Twilight Fulfilled – Maggie Shayne *
The Darkest Surrender – Gena Showalter
Sexiest Vampire Alive – Kerrelyn Sparks
Werewolf in the North Woods – Vicki Lewis Thompson
Blood Eternal – Marie Treanor
Angels of Darkness – Ilona Andrews, Nalini Singh, Meljean Brook, Sharon Shinn
The Unquiet – J.D. Robb, Mary Blaney, Patricia Gaffney, Ruth Ryan Langan, Mary Kay McComas

Urban Fantasy

The Glass Man – Jocelyn Adams
Darkness Unbound – Keri Arthur
Conquer the Dark – L.A. Banks
Better Off Undead – D D Barant
In Blood We Trust – Christine Cody
The Vengeful Dead – J.N. Duncan
Spider’s Revenge – Jennifer Estep
Bloodstone – Nancy Holzner
Blood Rights – Kristen Painter
Sins of the Angels – Linda Poitevin
Down These Strange Streets – Multi author anthology

Erotica/Erotic Romance

Forbidden Embers – Tessa Adams (Paranormal)
Fallen Angel – Logan Belle
Belong to Me – Shayla Black
Rough Play – Christina Crooks
Enslaved by a Viking – Delilah Devlin (Futuristic)
Prowl the Night – Crystal Jordan (Paranormal)
Men Out of Uniform – Maya Banks, Karin Tabke, Sylvia Day (Suspense)
Silent Night, Sinful Night – Sharon Page, Melissa MacNeal, Chloe Harris (Historical)
Steamlust – Multi author anthology



* Released September 20th

New Releases for August

Even though we are in the middle of the proverbial “dog days of summer” (at least here in the U.S.), my kids start back to school on Monday. *sigh* I’m already a nervous wreck because my son starts middle school, so I’m hoping that escaping between the pages of a good book will take my troubles away. :)

And speaking of good books, August brings us a bunch! I’ve had the pleasure of reading Wicked in Your Arms by Sophie Jordan and it was a wonderful book! I am really looking forward to Jaci Burton’s Changing the Game. I absolutely adored the first book in her Play-by-Play series, The Perfect Play (and not just because of the cover *g*), and can’t wait to dive in to this one. I’m also looking forward to reading all about The Amorous Education of Celia Seaton by Miranda Neville. Should be another good one about the infamous Burgundy Club!

Which August releases have you read? Of those, which ones do you recommend? Which ones are you most looking forward to reading? Tell us and one lucky commenter will win a random book from my prize stash!

Until September, happy reading!



Historical

Practical Widow to Passionate Mistress – Louise Allen *

The Many Sins of Lord Cameron – Jennifer Ashley
By His Majesty’s Grace – Jennifer Blake
The Bride Wore Scarlet – Liz Carlyle
Notorious – Nicola Cornick *
It’s Always Been You – Victoria Dahl
The Greatest Love on Earth – Mary Ellen Dennis
In a Treacherous Court – Michelle Diener (Historical Fiction)
A Midnight Dance – Lila DiPasqua
The Gunfighter and the Mistress – Carol Finch *
The Angel of Blythe Hall – Darci Hannah (Historical Fiction)
Confessions of an Improper Bride – Jennifer Haymore
Wicked in Your Arms – Sophie Jordan
The Governess and the Sheikh – Marguerite Kaye *
Code of the Wolf – Susan Krinard (Paranormal) *

Leah and the Bounty Hunter – Elaine Levine
Redeeming the Rogue – Donna MacMeans
Secrets to Seducing a Scot – Michelle Marcos
The Taming of the Rake – Kasey Michaels
The Amorous Education of Celia Seaton – Miranda Neville
A Scoundrel’s Surrender – Jenna Petersen
The Sinner Who Seduced Me – Stefanie Sloane
Madame Bovary’s Daughter – Linda Urbach (Historical Fiction)
The Bed and the Bachelor – Tracy Anne Warren
Temptation of a Highland Scoundrel – Sue-Ellen Welfonder
Seduced by Her Highland Warrior – Michelle Willingham *
My Fair Highlander – Mary Wine
Improper Gentlemen – Diane Whiteside, Maggie Robinson, Mia Marlowe


Contemporary

Playing Dirty – Susan Andersen

Feels Like Home – Beth Andrews
The Full Moon Bride – Shobhan Bantwal (Women’s Fiction)
Stand-In Wife – Karina Bliss
You – Joanna Briscoe (Women’s Fiction)
The Hot Spot – Niobia Bryant
Undeniable Pleasures – Tori Carrington
Miracle Beach – Erin Celello (Women’s Fiction)
Wedding Magic – Patricia Coughlin
The McCloud Home for Wayward Girls – Wendy Delsol (Women’s Fiction)
Too Hot to Touch – Louisa Edwards
The Whole Package – Cynthia Ellingsen (Women’s Fiction)
Making Waves – Tawna Fenske
Sweet Kiss of Summer – Sophie Gunn
Pinch Me – Adena Halpern (Women’s Fiction) *

Always Something There to Remind Me – Beth Harbison (Women’s Fiction) *
The Sea of Aaron – Kymberly Hunt
After the Party – Lisa Jewell (Women’s Fiction)
The First Day of the Rest of My Life – Cathy Lamb (Women’s Fiction)
Hotshot – Jo Leigh
Too Hot to Touch – Julie Leto
Only Mine – Susan Mallery
A Catered Affair – Sue Margolis (Women’s Fiction)
One Good Reason – Sarah Mayberry
Love Lies Bleeding – Jess McConkey (Women’s Fiction)
The Eternal Engagement – Mary B. Morrison (Women’s Fiction)
Extra Innings – Debbi Rawlins
The Braddock Boys: Travis – Kimberly Raye
Remember Me – Cheryl Robinson (Women’s Fiction)
Burnt Mountain – Anne Rivers Siddons (Women’s Fiction) *
Before Ever After – Samantha Sotto (Women’s Fiction)
Cowboys Like Us – Vicki Lewis Thompson
The Finley Sisters’ Oath of Romance – Keith Thomas Walker (Women’s Fiction)
Back on Top – Angela Winters (Women’s Fiction)

YA/Teen

Mayhem – Artist Arthur (Paranormal) *
Populazzi – Elise Allen
Wolfsbane – Andrea Cremer (Paranormal)
Chain Reaction – Simone Elkeles
Touch of Frost – Jennifer Estep (Paranormal)
Stir It Up! – Ramin Ganeshram
Dark Parties – Sara Grant
The Girl is Murder – Kathryn Miller Haines (Historical) *
Want to Go Private? – Sarah Darer Littman

Romantic Suspense

Deadly Sins – Kylie Brant
Special Ops Bodyguard – Beth Cornelison
Trust – Janet Dailey

Stampeded – B.J. Daniels
Locked and Loaded – Helenkay Dimon
Secrets of Bella Terra – Christina Dodd
Best Man for the Job – Meredith Fletcher
Pele’s Tears – Sharon K. Garner
The Ideal Man – Julie Garwood
With No Remorse – Cindy Gerard *
Fall from Pride – Karen Harper
Midnight Sins – Lora Leigh
Double Deception – Merline Lovelace
Sovereign Sheriff – Cassie Miles
Protecting the Pregnant Witness – Julie Miller
Merciless – Diana Palmer
Dakota Marshal – Jenna Ryan
Midnight Fear – Leslie Tentler
In the Air Tonight – Stephanie Tyler
Cold Case Reunion – Kimberly Van Meter
Delaney’s Shadow – Ingrid Weaver
Flashback – Gayle Wilson

Paranormal

Real Vampires Don’t Wear Size Six – Gerry Bartlett
Blood Hunt – Shannon K. Butcher

Rush of Pleasure – Rhyannon Byrd
The Vampire Next Door – Ashlyn Chase
Dead Alert – Bianca D’Arc
Plain Fear: Forsaken – Leanna Ellis
Seduce Me in Flames – Jacquelyn Frank
Bound by Moonlight – Nancy Gideon
Storm’s Heart – Thea Harrison
Ashes of Angels – Michelle Hauf
Blood Cursed – Erica Hayes
Guardian Wolf – Linda O. Johnston
The Lady of the Storm – Kathryne Kennedy
Retribution – Sherrilyn Kenyon
Master of Shadows – Angela Knight
The Brahms Deception – Louise Marley (Time Travel)
Heart Search – Robin D. Owens
The Lost – Caridad Piñeiro
Darkness Descending – Devyn Quinn
His Darkest Salvation – Juliana Stone
Primal Law – J.D. Tyler

Urban Fantasy

Spell Bound – Kelley Armstrong
Ghost Story – Jim Butcher
Working Stiff – Rachel Caine
Bloodlands – Christine Cody
Shadow Fall – Seressia Glass
Black Night – Christina Henry
Second Grave on the Left – Darynda Jones
Rebirth – Sophie Littlefield *
Another Kind of Dead – Kelly Meding
Eye of the Tempest – Nicole Peeler
Downpour – Kat Richardson
The Moonlight Brigade – Sarah Jane Stratford
Shadowflame – Dianne Sylvan
Kitty’s Greatest Hits – Carrie Vaughn
Home Improvement: Undead Edition – Multi-author anthology

Erotica/Erotic Romance

Changing the Game – Jaci Burton
Spirit of the Wolf – Vonna Harper (Paranormal)
Taken By Passion – Jaymie Holland (Paranormal)
Tell Me More – Janet Mullany *
Temptation Island – Lorie O’Clare
Guilty Pleasures – Bertrice Small
Demonic – Sheri Whitefeather (Paranormal)



* Released July 19th

New Releases for July

Summer is in full swing and many authors, aspiring authors, and readers are gathered together in the Big Apple right now for this year’s RWA conference, including our very own PJ. I know that she is having a ton of fun and I can’t wait to read all about her adventure and view her pictures, of which I’m sure there will be many. :) I had a blast at last year’s conference and am really looking forward to attending the 2013 conference that will be held in Atlanta. Needless to say, I’m already saving up for it. *g*

July brings us another month of hot, new releases! Believe it or not, I have not read a single July releases yet. I know! I’ve been busy with vacation and work and kids... Though, I am looking forward to Lorraine Heath’s Waking Up with the Duke and Christina Brooke’s debut, Heiress in Love, which I have heard so many good things about. Oh, and thanks to Gannon’s review, I want to read Black Ties and Lullabies by Jane Graves. It sounds cute!

Which July releases have you read? Of those, which ones do you recommend? Which ones are you most looking forward to reading? Tell us and one lucky commenter will win a random book from my prize stash!

Until August, happy reading!


Historical

The Secret Mistress – Mary Balogh
Mistress of the Storm – Terri Brisbin
Heiress in Love – Christina Brooke
Rapture Becomes Her – Shirlee Busbee
Silk is for Seduction – Loretta Chase
How to Seduce a Scoundrel – Vicky Dreiling
A Lady’s Lesson in Scandal – Meredith Duran
A Wedding Wager – Jane Feather *
Seduction & Scandal – Charlotte Featherstone *
Loved by a Warrior – Donna Fletcher
The American Heiress – Daisy Goodwin (Historical Fiction) *
A Gentleman Never Tells – Amelia Grey
Waking Up with the Duke – Lorraine Heath
Temptress in Training – Susan Gee Heino
Innocent in the Sheikh’s Harem – Marguerite Kaye *
Before Versailles: A Novel of Louis XIV – Karleen Koen (Historical Fiction)

Crusader Captive – Merline Lovelace *
Dangerous Lord, Innocent Governess – Christine Merrill *
Just One Season in London – Leigh Michaels
The Tudor Throne – Brandy Purdy (Historical Fiction)
Tamed by a Highlander – Paula Quinn
The Devilish Montague – Patricia Rice
Lord of Shadows – Alix Rickloff (Paranormal)
The Summer Garden – Paullina Simons (Historical Fiction) *
The Angel in My Arms – Stefanie Sloane
Her Wyoming Man – Cheryl St. John *
Shameless – Anne Stuart *
This Perfect Kiss – Melody Thomas
To Touch the Knight – Lindsay Townsend
Heartbreak Creek – Kaki Warner
Give Me a Texas Outlaw – Jodi Thomas, Linda Broday, Phyliss Miranda, DeWanna Pace

Contemporary

The End of Everything – Megan Abbott (Women’s Fiction)
The Other Side of the Mountain – Janice Angelique
Say Amen, Again – ReShonda Tate Billingsley (Women’s Fiction)
Baby, Come Home – Stephanie Bond *
Money Can’t Buy Love – Connie Briscoe (Women’s Fiction)
King’s Promise – Adrianne Byrd *
Cowboy Up – Tori Carrington
Burning Down the Spouse – Dakota Cassidy
Summer Friends – Holly Chamberlin (Women’s Fiction)
Off the Chain – Candice Dow (Women’s Fiction)
Black Ties and Lullabies – Jane Graves
Holding Her Breath – Nicole Green
The Orphan Sister – Gwendolen Gross (Women’s Fiction)
Homecoming – Cathy Kelly (Women’s Fiction)
Kept in the Dark – Heather MacAllister
Original Sin – Beth McMullen (Women’s Fiction)

The Creed Legacy – Linda Lael Miller
The Last Letter from Your Lover – JoJo Moyes (Women’s Fiction)
Pillow Talk – Freya North
Just Let Go… – Kathleen O’Reilly
Sunset Bridge – Emilie Richards (Women’s Fiction)
Can’t Hurry Love – Christie Ridgway
Things We Didn’t Say – Kristina Riggle (Women’s Fiction)
One Summer – JoAnn Ross
The Orchard – Jeffrey Stepakoff
Tassy Morgan’s Bluff – Jim Stinson
Tailspin – Cara Summers
French Lessons – Ellen Sussman (Women’s Fiction)
Dandelion Summer – Lisa Wingate (Women’s Fiction)
Heat Wave – Donna Hill, Nioba Bryant, Zuri Day
By Invitation Only – Lori Wilde, Wendy Etherington, Jillian Burns

YA/Teen

Sometimes it Happens – Lauren Barnholdt
Sirensong – Jenna Black (Paranormal)
Doing My Own Thing – Nikki Carter
Texas Gothic – Rosemary Clement-Moore (Paranormal)
The Other Countess – Eve Edwards (Historical)
Dreams of Significant Girls – Christina Garcia
Torn – Erica O’Rourke (Paranormal)
Lost Voices – Sarah Porter (Paranormal)
Forever – Maggie Stiefvater (Paranormal)
Small Town Sinners – Melissa Walker
A Need So Beautiful – Suzanne Young (Paranormal) *

Romantic Suspense

Hush – Nancy Bush
By Order of the Prince – Carla Cassidy

Rustled – B.J. Daniels
Soldier’s Last Stand – Cindy Dees
Bayou Bodyguard – Jana DeLeon
Private Justice – Marie Ferrarella
Savor the Danger – Lori Foster
Sizzle and Burn – Alexis Grant
Skin Dive – Ava Gray
Her Stolen Son – Rita Herron
Darkness at Dawn – Elizabeth Jennings
Just a Cowboy – Rachel Lee
Cover Me – Catherine Mann
Deadly Silence – Lindsay McKenna *
Inside – Brenda Novak
Cold Touch – Leslie Parrish
Deal Breaker – Patricia Rosemoor
Sworn to Protect – Kimberly Van Meter
Cowboy Fever – Joanna Wayne

Paranormal

Deeper Than Midnight – Lara Adrian
Overbite – Meg Cabot

Dark Awakening – Kendra Leigh Castle
Mystical Warrior – Janet Chapman
Lure of the Wicked – Karina Cooper
In the Heat of the Bite – Lydia Dare (Historical)
Undead and Undermined – MaryJanice Davidson
Never Cry Wolf – Cynthia Eden
Heart of Evil – Heather Graham
Nightwalker – Connie Hall
Crave the Moon – Lori Handeland
Changeling Dream – Dani Harper
What a Goddess Wants – Stephanie Julian
Embraced by Blood – Laurie London *
Spirit of Seduction – Olivia Quincy
Touch if You Dare – Stephanie Rowe
Vacation with a Vampire…and Other Immortals – Maggie Shayne & Maureen Child

Urban Fantasy

Kindling the Moon – Jenn Bennett
Burn the Night – Jocelyn Drake
Night Veil – Yasmine Galenorn
Deceived by the Others – Jess Haines
Hammered – Kevin Hearne
Blood Secrets – Jeannie Holmes
Green-Eyed Envy – Kasey Mackenzie
Black Heart Loa – Adrian Phoenix
Honeyed Words – J.A. Pitts
Grave Dance – Kalayna Price
Viper Moon – Lee Roland
Bloodlust – Michelle Rowen
My Life as a White Trash Zombie – Diana Rowland
Kitty’s Big Trouble – Carrie Vaughn
Naked City – Multi-author anthology

Erotica/Erotic Romance

Taken by Fire – Sydney Croft (Paranormal)
The Surrender of Lady Jane – Marissa Day (Historical, Paranormal)
Wolf Tales 12 – Kate Douglas (Paranormal)
Collide – Megan Hart *
Vampire Instinct – Joey W. Hill (Paranormal)
Dangerous Pleasure – Lora Leigh
Heat Waves – Susan Lyons
So Sensitive – Anne Rainey (Suspense)


* Released June 21st

Battle Stations Ready!

In just a few weeks, Romance Writers of America (RWA) will be holding its national conference in New York City.  A highlight of the conference is the "Readers for Life" Literacy Autographing, a book signing featuring more than 500 authors which is free admission and open to the public.  Authors happily pose for photos and sign books that are provided by publishers and sold to readers at face value with proceeds from the evening's sales donated to literacy charities in the city in which that year's conference is being held.  It's a win-win for everyone!

Right about now, your brain is probably giddy with delight at the thought of 500 romance authors in the same room.  Enjoy the sensation...before it slides straight into terror at the thought of the chaos that most certainly will ensue when you envision several hundred excited readers descending upon 500 romance authors!  It's pretty crazy!  But, it can also be a lot of fun, especially if you come armed with a "Battle Plan."

PJ & Christina Dodd - 2006

There are many strategies that people employ to make sure they get all the books on their list.  One is to be in line outside the doors of the room where the book signing is held at least three hours before they open.  (some get there even earlier)  Another is to go straight to your "Top Five" authors and make sure you get their books.  (I got the photo but missed out on the book I wanted from Christina Dodd.  The penalty for not going there first!) Once that need is satisfied you can wander the rest of the room at your leisure.

Julia Quinn - 2009

RWA helps by positioning the authors in alphabetical order by last name, so you know approximately where everyone is within the room, and listing who will be signing before the conference on their website.  I copy the list and highlight the names of my "must buy" authors.  Within that list, I note the "big name" authors, the New York Times Bestselling authors and featured conference speakers who will be positioned around the perimeter of the room...and who usually have lines out the door.  If one of the "big name" authors is on your list, I strongly advise getting to them fast before they run out of books.

Eloisa James, PJ, Connie Brockway - 2006

At my first Literacy Autographing, I had no idea what to expect.  I was not attending the conference and had driven into Atlanta for the day to meet Eloisa James and others from her bulletin board and attend the signing.  I wandered down to get in line about an hour before the doors opened and found myself at least 800 people from the front!  When I finally got inside the room I was faced with a wall of people but when I glanced to the left - voila! - empty spaces!  I beat feet to the last table and found a bevy of smiling authors whose last names began with W and T.  Like a little salmon swimming upstream, I slowly worked my way back through the crowd, stopping to chat, take photos and have books signed along the way.  By the time I returned to the upper reaches of the alphabet the majority of the crowd was down where I had begun and, once again, I was left with tables of smiling authors and not many readers.  Score!

Many of you are probably thinking, "Gee, PJ.  That's all well and good but I'm not going to the conference so what does this have to do with me?"  Plenty!!  You see, RWA National is where we Dishes refill the wondrous prize closet from which we pull books to send to you, our wonderful readers, throughout the year.  So, now's your chance to have a say in what books you will have an opportunity to win here at The Romance Dish.

Who are the top five authors from whom you would most like to win a signed book?

What are the five current books (published in 2010-2011) of which you would most like to win a signed copy?

That's all you have to do!  And, to thank you for helping us I'll randomly select two people leaving comments (between now and midnight Tuesday) to win a book from our current prize supply!

Happy Reading!
~PJ