We Have A Winner!

A big thank you to everyone who stopped by during author Lila DiPasqua's visit last week.  

The randomly selected winner of a signed copy of A MIDNIGHT DANCE by Lila DiPasqua and 
a signed copy of Delilah Marvelle’s ONCE UPON A SCANDAL is:

Lisa

(who posted her comment on Apr 25, 2012 07:52 AM)

Congrats to you Lisa!

Please email your full name and address to 

theromancedish AT gmail DOT com

~ Buffie

Winners!!

Thanks to everyone who stopped by and answered the Quick Six Questions

during my interview with Shana Galen.

What a fun way to get to know each other!!!

The winners (chosed by random.org) of a copy of Shana Galen's upcoming release,

THE ROGUE PIRATE'S BRIDE, are:

NEWAN

(comment posted 2/1/12 @ 8:50 a.m.)

KATIE

(comment posted 2/1/12 @ 8:22 p.m.)

Congrats to you both!!!

Please send your full name and mailing address to theromancedish AT gmail DOT com with "Shana Galen Winner" as your subject.

~ Buffie

Today's Special -- Joan Swan

Everyone know that The Romance Dish loves, loves, LOVES debut authors. There something special about being with an author from her very first published book. And we Dishes love to support, encourage and promote debut authors. Today we welcome debut author Joan Swan. Joan's debut book, FEVER, will be out on February 28, 2012. Joan tells us a little bit about the journey of a debut author and also interviews New York Times bestselling author Brenda Novak. Please give a warm welcome to Joan Swan.


Building an author network is one of my favorite topics on the tour for so many reasons, but it all boils down to this: without them, I wouldn’t be here.

We all have support networks in our lives. If you’re not an author, but a reader, all these concepts still apply, and we’re giving away 2 copies of the first book in Brenda Novak’s newest series The Bulletproof Trilogy, Inside! Simply leave a comment to enter. Open international.

Anyone who has traveled this road, attempted to travel this road, watched anyone travel this road or listened to enough of us bitch about traveling this road knows it’s got a few divots. Times a few divots by a few years and those of us who’ve been on it long enough are missing a few vertebrae. Authors help authors fill in those rough spots so they don’t jar our teeth loose. I’ve been on this road for a decade now. If it weren’t for the wonderful friends I’ve developed in this business I’d either be wearing premature dentures, or I’d have jumped on the freeway years back.

If I’d have known from the beginning how powerful friends could be in this business – both personally and professionally – I would have started building friendships from day one. Luckily, I figured it out a couple of years before I sold. And between then and now, each and every author I’ve met has either aided me or taught me something.

Here is my best advice to writers related to building their network:

Start Early - The earlier, the better. Even if you’re just starting out, it’s not too soon to meet people and make connections. That said, let me stress this: don’t force relationships. Tense or uncomfortable relationships will only drain you when you need energy the most. Stay open, keep the idea in mind and friendships with occur naturally. Writers are friendly people who gravitate toward others who understand their unique need to create.

Remember, cream floats to the top. Solid, trusted relationships are not built overnight. Traveling this road with someone builds a bond that will see you through the rough times, be there to celebrate your achievements and aid you when you need it most.

Branch out - Keep an open mind when developing relationships. Screenwriters, teachers, attorneys, physicians…you’d be surprised how many people have always wanted to write, and who may be writing in private on the side. If they’re not writing, they would probably be thrilled to help an author, because living vicariously is the next best thing.

• Genre
  
  Socialize outside your genre. You’d be surprised how many people may tell you they read romance, but love to pick up the latest YA when their kid goes to bed. And something I learned a very long time ago that still holds true—good writing crosses all genre; writing craft can be shared equally throughout fiction and is one element that brings all fiction writers together. Craft is a fabulous way to meet and build friendships outside your main writing genre.
  


• Media
  
  Today’s writers have amazing social tools at their fingertips. There is absolutely no reason every writer can’t be out there meeting both writers and readers. With so many options, there are several alternative for every personality types, from the shyest introvert to the boldest extrovert. You don’t have to do them all, in fact, I don’t recommend it. I suggest trying a few out, finding what suits your personality and build from there. The information available through these channels is limitless. The support amazing. I would be lost without my blog buddies and my Twitterverse. I’m still on the fence about Facebook – but it’s a must for others. Everyone is different – find what works for you.

Give - This may lean toward personality or personal preference. I will readily admit that giving is part of my genetic makeup and I would give regardless of what I received in return. It’s not always a good thing. I can and often do hinder myself when I can’t balance this characteristic. But what I gain on the flip side is beyond expectations. In a practical sense, if you help someone and that person helps you in return, you are leveraging resources and getting ahead simultaneously. In a theoretical sense, like attracts like, so by giving you create a spirit of generosity toward yourself and the universe gives back.

Giving can be generosity in any form: information, aid, financial support, emotional support, camaraderie, friendship, promotional help…the list goes on. And giving can benefit more than one person at a time – it’s called a win-win, and the more you look for those winning opportunities, the more they appear.

Here are just a few ways my network of author friends have benefited me over the years:

My author friends have brought me:

The blurbs for my debut novel. A heartfelt thank you to Larissa Ione, Stephanie Tyler, Elisabeth Naughton and Bonnie Hearn Hill.

• This fabulous Tour: Journey of a Debut Author. Deep appreciation to the wonderful Lauren Dane, Kat Martin, Pamela Palmer, Suzanne Brockmann, Carly Phillips, Brenda Novak, Sharon Sala, Cindy Gerard, Christina Dodd, Marjorie Liu, Anne Stuart and Lara Adrian and my blog tour coordinator Ashley March!



• Joint Reader Meet & Greet Conference Ops: Thanks to uber-authors for including me: Cynthia Eden, Caridad Peñiero, Lisa Renee Jones, Donna Grant and Elisabeth Naughton.



• Conference Workshop Panel Ops



• Multiple joint promotional ops



• Book review swap ops



• Cross promotional ops



• Group blog tour ops



• Shared print ad ops



• Emotional support, professional advice, friendship of more fantabulous authors than I could name.

Here are some of the locations I found best for connecting with other writers:

• Craft courses


• Conferences


• Book Signings


• Critique Groups


• Writing Organizations


• Online (as noted above)

This topic feels very appropriate for my guest today, Brenda Novak. Brenda is well known for her longtime generous effort to the search for a cure for Diabetes. She is, of course, also a New York Times Bestseller, with more than 35 books written and over 3 million copies sold. She is also a two-time RITA nominee. You can find Brenda at her website, Twitter and Facebook.

Her most recent series, The Bulletproof Trilogy, Inside 6/11, In Seconds 8/11, and In Close 10/11 are all available now and we’ll be giving away 2 copies of Inside today! Serendipitously, her own debut novel, Of Nobel Birth, is currently one sale in e-format.


Now, Brenda will give us her take on developing an author network.

Brenda, did you have an author network of friends before your publication?

Brenda: No. None. Those friends I did have looked down on romance and considered me a "sell out." I remember my "best friend" coming to my first book signing. Not only did she not buy the book--she wouldn't even touch it.

How did you develop your author support network? Where did you find them?

Brenda: I joined RWA, which I didn't know existed until after I'd finished my first book and was ready to start marketing it. Then someone who worked for a non-fiction publishing house in Sacramento mentioned the organization and suggested I attend the annual conference. I owe that person a lot because I credit RWA with providing all the tools I needed in order to get published.

How did you and your author network support each other early in your careers?

Brenda: At first, we critiqued for each other, shared hotel rooms at conferences, celebrated our successes as a group. Sharing information is key in this business, so there was that, too.

How has your support network changes as your career has grown?

Brenda: I've been lucky enough to have a lot of the writing community support my efforts to raise money for diabetes research and consider them all family. I think joining forces in this way has really enhanced my life (more than just my career). I'm not sure the network has changed significantly in other ways. It's sort of like writers join with their own "graduating" class. I'm still friends with those who were trying to break in when I was and we still give support and share information.

How has your friendship with other authors benefited your career?

Brenda: This is huge. It makes what I do so much more fun. I would never want to be an island. I enjoy going to speak at conferences because it puts me in touch with a whole new group of like-minded people, people who love to talk books and writing as much as I do.

What would you suggest new authors do to develop their own network?

Brenda: I think it's imperative to join a writing organization and to get and stay active in it. I think a new writer should also get a web page and start gathering a mailing list.

Have you found social media or conferences more advantageous to developing a supportive author network?

Brenda: Conferences have been a lot more effective for me. There's just no way to replace that one-on-one contact and face time.

If you’re a writer, share one of your favorite ways to build your network of friends.
If you're a reader, tell us about one of the helpful networks in your life and how you keep it going.

All comments enter you to win 1 of 2 copies of the first book in Brenda Novak’s newest series The Bulletproof Trilogy, Inside! Open Internationally.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Joan Swan is a triple RWA® Golden Heart finalist, and a double Kiss of Death Daphne Du Maurier finalist. She writes sexy romantic suspense with a paranormal twist, and her first novel with Kensington Brava debuts April, 2012. Currently, she works as a sonographer at a one of the top ten medical facilities in the nation, and lives in magnificent wine country on the central coast of California with her husband and two daughters. You can find Joan on her website, Twitter and Facebook.

Today's Special -- Joanna Bourne

We are delighted to have 2009 RITA award winning author, Joanna Bourne join us once again. Her newest release, The Black Hawk, (Check out my review here), is the latest in the series that started with the RITA-nominated, The Spymaster's Lady, and RITA-winning, My Lord and Spymaster. Joanna writes historicals that are so vivid and rich, they capture the imagination and stay with the reader long after they reach the end. As I said in my review, "Reading a Joanna Bourne novel is a feast for the senses: the decadence of a rich chocolate torte, the crisp, bubbly effervescence of a glass of champagne. Light and dark, sweet and spicy. Everything you could ever want and more." Please welcome the incredibly talented, and equally wonderful, Joanna Bourne to The Romance Dish.




The Girl Has Stones


I've been thinking about female characters and gems.
You thought I meant something else, didn't you?

What it is . . . gems and precious stones have stories woven about them. Topaz and turquoise and tourmaline aren't just pretty. They're the stuff of myth. As far back as we know, rare stones were thought to heal, protect, awaken magic.

Now I'm going to presume these fabled talents and proclivities of rocks are not, y'know, actually valid. But they're the center of universal and ancient beliefs. Without setting my characters to reading fortunes in crystals or dueling with magical sapphires, I can still call on The Power of Stones.

When we write, we reveal our characters by every means possible. We hand visual clues to the reader, telling her what kind of people we're writing about. And we like to be efficient about it, since we're busy and want to settle down to telling story. So we write some of our description in symbols and shortcuts and, if we're not careful, cliches. When our gal picks up a candle and heads down the mysterious staircase, if she's wearing a virginal white gown, we can be pretty sure something scary is going to jump at her out of the darkness. If she's sashaying down in a slinky black silk number, we expect somebody quite different to be waiting. We might assign our heroine long flowing locks, or sassy, bouncy curls or straight hair, hacked off ragged and short. Shortcuts and symbols.

So I'm thinking about gemstones and what they say about a character and how we might use them in telegraphing information to the reader.

Right this moment I'm working on Pax's story. In Chapter One, our heroine opens a letter and a child's ring falls out, a ring with 'a single, rather fine pearl'. Having written that, and thinking about it, I see that pearl saying, 'innocent, vulnerable, and pure'. There's really no other stone I could pick that would convey the same association. I lay down a picture of that ring and brush the reader's mind with two thousand years of legend and art about the pearl. Handy work for a single sentence in Chapter One.

Now, I generally can't load my heroines down with actual sapphires and opals. They're busy and often in hazardous circumstances and can't go running about decked out in gemstones. They are, you might say, always up to the elbows in the dishwater of danger and if they have rings they've put them carefully up on the window sill before they plunge in.
But, in the back of my mind, I assign my folks precious stones that characterize them.

Jessamyn, in My Lord and Spymaster, owns lots of jewelry, being amazingly and unnecessarily rich. For instance, she owns one of the great pearl necklaces of the world.

In a black velvet nest, dozens of pale moons glowed, not white, but the most fragile golden pink. Here were pearls the color of dawn. Mushajjar pearls, from the Gulf of Persia. The largest was the size of his thumbnail. He cupped them in the palm of his hand and they weighed no more than dreams and sea foam. You had to know a lot about pearls to realize just how astonishing this necklace was. It should have been locked in a vault.

Can I compare this string of remarkable pearls to the huge diamond Eve Dallas wears under her cop clothes? The pearls, like that diamond, are a gift and prized because of the giver. The pearls and that diamond are wealth that never succeeds in owning the wearer.

If I were picking a gem that characterizes Jess herself, it's amber. Amber is the gem of outpouring love, warm and golden. Its element is fire, but not uncontrolled fire -- the fire of home and hearth. Legend says amber comes from the tears of the daughters of Phoebus, the sun god. It's suited to her looks. Sebastian calls her a 'passionate Viking'.

Moving along to my Annique from The Spymaster's Lady. Her jewel is the ruby, blood red, intense, and focused. Ruby is the fire gem, the stone of the wounded sun. Rubies were supposed to warn of danger by turning dark, which I supposed Annique would have found useful if she'd been wearing one.

At the end of Spymaster's Lady we have the passage --

Deep, unconditional love swept across her. Thus Grey paid for her freedom with that great secret from his store of secrets. He was like a rajah laying down the legendary ruby of his kingdom to ransom his woman.

For Marguerite in Forbidden Rose, the gem is a pearl. This is even there in her name. Marguerite means daisy, yes. But the deeper origin of the name is pearl. I see Maggie as a baroque pearl combining the sense of vulnerability with lush beauty. The baroque pearl is the most complex and mysterious of jewels. Shift it ever so slightly and you see new images in the dark and light.

And that brings me to Justine in Black Hawk. I see Justine as diamond. The root of the word is Latin, adamas, which means unconquerable or invincible. Clear, bright, hard enough to scratch any other stone, enduring, with an inner integrity that resists coercion, this is the gem you'd choose as a weapon. The center shines with its own light. We say the diamond is clear. But it holds a hundred colors.

Hawker says,
"Owl, at work, was bright as the edge of a diamond, hot as fire sparks."





**I'll be giving away a copy of Black Hawk to some lucky commenter (U.S. and International)**


*Please stop by and check out my blog here. Lots of interesting things over there you won't want to miss.*





So tell me, when you look at your favorite heroines -- what gemstone do you see for them?

Review -- Home to Harbor Town Series, Books 1 & 2

I really love a good series, and the Home to Harbor Town series by Beth Kery fits the bill perfectly. Rekindled love, family drama, new love, tragedy, and the healing power of faith and love. These two books are the first two in the series, and I'm looking forward to more---there should be more stories involving the Kavanaugh, Itani, and Reyes families. I certainly hope so, because I would love to return to the charming town of Harbor Town.





The Hometown Hero Returns Home to Harbor Town, Book 1 Publisher: Harlequin Special Edition Release Date: March 22, 2011



He'd followed her for three blocks, undecided whether he would call out or just fade back into the shadows of their mutual memories. The weight of the past had frozen his vocal cords, but the sight of her graceful figure drew him like a magnet.


This opening paragraph captured my attention immediately, and I just knew that I would enjoy this book. I was right.

Marc Kavanaugh hasn't seen Marianna Itani in more than fifteen years, just after the car crash that killed her parents and his father, the man who caused the whole thing. Marc and Mari were on the brink of adulthood and very much in love, but the tragedy ripped them apart; Mari and her brother moved away from Harbor Town to live with their aunt, while Marc stayed behind with his family and a life that would never be the same. But fate is in their favor when Marc and Mari run into one another in Chicago. The spark is still there and it doesn't take much for it to reignite their passion. Their one night together changes their lives completely when Mari discovers she's pregnant.

Several weeks later, Mari returns to Harbor Town to make plans to open a facility for victims of substance abuse. Since her parents were killed by a drunk driver (Marc's father), Mari wants to help others who have been in her shoes, but she's afraid that the Kavanaughs may not share her views. Will the love she and Marc share be enough to heal the scars of the past and how will he feel about the baby she carries?

Reunited lovers is a favorite romance trope of mine. Marc and Mari have never truly gotten over each other even though they have lived full lives, had other relationships. The Hometown Hero Returns shows how love can heal the wounds that are inflicted by an unspeakable tragedy. I was definitely rooting for Marc and Mari to find their happily-ever-after.






Liam's Perfect Woman
Home to Harbor Town, Book 2
Publisher: Harlequin Special Edition
Release Date: July 19, 2011




Natalie Reyes was the lone survivor of the car crash that killed her mother, the Itanis and Derry Kavanaugh sixteen years ago. She was a young adolescent girl who suffered injuries which caused her physical and emotional pain over the years. While other kids her age were having fun and experiencing young love, Natalie was enduring multiple surgeries to repair facial scarring. Now twenty-seven years old, she is shy and wary of being with a lot of people. Even though she feels everyone else whose lives were impacted by the crash has moved on, Natalie hasn't quite managed. She wants more answers; why would a successful business man and loving husband and father like Derry Kavanaugh get behind the wheel of his car with the equivalent of twenty drinks in his system? Natalie can think of only one man who may be capable of finding the answers: Liam Kavanaugh, former big-city cop turned Harbor Town chief of police...and son of Derry Kavanaugh.

Liam Kavanaugh is perplexed when he Natalie Reyes asks her to meet with him, but he is truly taken aback when she asks him to investigate the crash and his father's behavior that night. There's a part of Liam who has always known that there was something more to the way his father acted the night of the crash, so he accepts Natalie's offer. He is also attracted to Natalie and intrigued by this shy, beautiful woman. They are both surprised by the passion that overwhelms them, but it turns out to be a gift in a time of turmoil and uncertainty, as the investigation uncovers secrets long buried that have the potential to turn more than one person's life upside down.

Natalie is so fragile, but there is a core of strength deep inside her. Liam is a strong, yet sensitive man, the perfect person to bring Natalie out of her shell and show her just how beautiful she really is. They will touch your heart and make you believe that with love anything is possible. I highly recommend reading this series---a visit to Harbor Town is a perfect escape on a summer day.


**I have a signed copy of The Hometown Hero Returns and Liam's Perfect Woman which one lucky commenter will win.

~ Gannon

Today's Special -- Dianne Venetta

Today we are happy to have with us debut author Dianne Venetta. You know how much we love debut authors here at The Romance Dish! Dianne's debut release, JENNIFER'S GARDEN, is (in her own words) "a contemporary romantic women’s fiction that epitomizes the showdown between a career woman’s criteria for the perfect husband and what true love means". When Dianne is not typing away on her next romance novel, she can be found playing in the dirt in her garden. Please give a warm welcome to Dianne Venetta!

It's great to join you today, dishing up the romance and what better way than to talk handsome hunky heroes? And speaking of handsome and yummy, my debut novel Jennifer's Garden has got a heckuva hero for you!

First a quick summary:

In a race against time, Cardiologist Jennifer Hamilton is caught between her mother's dying wish and taking the risk of a lifetime with Jackson Montgomery. He's the man hired to complete the landscaping for her new home; the venue for her upcoming wedding. Jackson's everything she never wanted in a man, but as the job progresses, his lure pulls strong. It's an attraction she cannot deny.And one that puts her career on the line.

Jennifer has some decisions to make, choices that pull her in opposite directions. Her best friend Samantha Rawlings is pulling her toward new horizons yet her traditional mindset resists. And then there's Jackson.Personally, I'd follow him anywhere! Jax—as he's known to his friends—is laid back, easy on the eyes and quick to smile, the kind of man who listens from the heart. No over the top Alpha a*s or squishy soft Beta, he's the perfect combination of sweet and strong, sexy and spice. He knows how to please yet he knows how to tease. (I do love that in a man!)

So why doesn't Jennifer jump behind the hedges with him the minute she realizes what she has on her hands?

Ah, the plot thickens… She has a tiny itty-bitty problem with appearances. A successful cardiologist in her own right, she's having a hard time imagining herself with the landscaper. A pillar of the community, she saves lives. He works with dirt. She travels in sophisticated circles, enjoying the finer tastes of life. He's content to live on his sailboat. How would they ever reconcile such differences?

Really now… If she's so uncomfortable with their differences, then why does she keep returning to her backyard for another glimpse of him? Another "friendly" conversation, another compliment to his amazing talent with plants and flowers... Could it be that warm smile and sympathetic ear of his is drawing her out of her comfort zone? Perhaps it's the sheer strength she feels emanating from his person when he's near...

Hmmm. Seems to me someone can't control her own carnal desire! Can't say as I blame her—Jax is a tough one to resist. So why is she? Should she?

You tell me. Should a man's job description matter when choosing a partner? Should the relationship be based on friendship? And while we love reading about delectably handsome heroes, should this be reserved for fantasy? How important is physical attraction in the long run? Do share!

And those leaving a comment today will be entered for a chance to win a copy of my debut novel, Jennifer's Garden.

~ Buffie

Today's Special -- Lila DiPasqua

It's Buffie and I am so thrilled to have author Lila DiPasqua joining us today. I fell in love with Lila's writing after reading her debut, AWAKENED BY A KISS. My love for her writing grew with her second release, A PRINCESS IN HIS BED. Both of these books are anthologies with each novella based on a classic fairy tale. With Lila's fiery twist of storytelling, these new fiery tales are a must have for any historical romance reader. Her newest masterpiece, A MIDNIGHT DANCE, will be released tomorrow and it is just fabulous! Check out my review here. Lila DiPasqua is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors. And did I mention she is just the sweetest person too? Yep, she is!! Please give a very warm welcome to Lila DiPasqua.



Cinderella has NEVER been retold like this!

Dearest Readers,

I have a confession: The very first romance I ever read was — Cinderella.

I believe the reason I love historical romance novels (and write them) is because of fairy tales like Cinderella. Who doesn’t love an underdog story? Especially one that offers a handsome Prince. Dazzling footwear (albeit a tad breakable *smiles*) A spectacular ball. And the best part of all—a happily ever after.

In the third installment in the Fiery Tales series, A MIDNIGHT DANCE, I’ve taken this beloved fairy tale, and all those elements we love about it, and given it my very own fresh twist.

Our Cinder-girl, Sabine Laurent is definitely a damsel in distress, but she’s not waiting for anyone to rescue her. She’s taking matters into her own hands. Upon the recent death of her father, a once prominent playwright, she’s inherited a sizeable debt. She and her family face a debtor’s prison. Desperate, she’s decided that the object of her girlhood infatuation, Jules de Moutier, a man she’d once dubbed her “Dark Prince” (because he’s tall, dark and oh so handsome) is the very man she is going to dupe and steal from. Jules’s silver treasure would solve all of our impoverished beauty’s problems. All she has to do is pose as a courtesan named Elise and feed him the tainted wine. She plans to use her acting skills in this seduction, and has enlisted the help of her eclectic blended family—which includes the balance of her late father’s acting troupe, and a “fairy godmother” in the form of a loveable, yet highly opinionated apothecary. The only appeal about this mad scheme is—she’ll be stealing from Jules—whom she blames for her predicament in the first place.

Devastatingly handsome and rich, Jules de Moutier, firstborn son of the Marquis de Blainville, was an officer in the King’s Navy and the center of attention at any noble gathering. His life was good, his future enviable, until a terrible twist of fate robbed him of his father, his family’s fortune and honor. As a result of his father’s conviction and execution for treason, the Moutier family is no longer in favor with the King. Stripped of their nobility, tossed out of the Navy and disgraced before his peers, Jules has lost everything he’s ever identified with. He’ll stop at nothing to uncover the person who framed his father, reclaim what’s rightfully his and exact revenge. It’s taken him years, but he’s now finally in a position to walk away from the privateering he took up out of necessity—intent on using his newly captured silver treasure to help him reclaim his former life and clear his family’s name. All is going according to plan, until he crosses paths with a certain blond and beautiful desperate thief.

With a devilishly seductive “Prince Charming” like Jules, it’s not going to be easy for Sabine to snatch the silver. Add a healthy dose of intrigue, surprising twists, scandalous behavior, and a couple destined to be together, and you have A MIDNIGHT DANCE—a Cinderella story that is as steamy and exciting as it is romantic. Let the seduction begin!

Why do you think fairy tales like Cinderella continue to be popular hundreds of years after it was first written? One lucky winner will win a signed copy of A MIDNIGHT DANCE. GIVEAWAY OPEN WORLDWIDE.

~ Buffie

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A MIDNIGHT DANCE
A Fiery Tale
Lila DiPasqua
Berkley Sensation
HISTORICAL ROMANCE
August 2011
ISBN: 978-0425241981

Inspired by the tale of Cinderella, Lila DiPasqua weaves a steamy historical romance that offers a glass slipper, a dangerous deception, and an impoverished beauty determined to find her handsome prince…and make him pay.

Born into wealth, Sabine Laurent and her twin sister lived a life of luxury, their father’s prestigious theater frequented by royalty and aristocracy alike. And Sabine dreamed of her own prince charming—the devastatingly handsome Jules de Moutier.

That was before the loss of her sister and her family’s fall from grace—a disaster Sabine blames on the Moutier family. Now, with her father’s death, she’s inherited his sizable debt and the responsibility of caring for his spoiled long-time mistress and her two wastrel daughters. But with the help of Sabine’s eccentric friends—the balance of her father’s acting troupe—she plans to get very close to her old infatuation, seduce the rake—and make away with a fortune.

Resisting Jules’s skillful mouth and tantalizing touch is not as easy as Sabine supposed. And soon she must decide whether her desire for vengeance is greater than her desire for her one and only prince…

Amazon

Nook

Other

Read a steamy excerpt of A MIDNIGHT DANCE here.

About the Author:
Lila DiPasqua writes wicked & witty historical romance for Penguin/Berkley. She lives with her real-life hero husband and three children and is a firm believer in the happily-ever-after. She loves history and enjoys traveling. She has been to four continents so far. To learn more about Lila and her books, visit her website.

School's Out!

Like the old Alice Cooper song goes: No more pencils, no more books, no more teachers dirty look's .... school's out for summer!

It is hard to believe that another school year has ended.

Today is the last day of school for my boys. I have mixed emotions about it. I'm excited my children have done so well this year and have achieved many milestones. I'm so proud of them!! But the Mom in me realizes I'm another year closer to seeing my children out of the nest and that makes me a little sad. We have to make every moment count while the kids are at home. That is why the hubby and I have planned a lot of activities for the summer. Things we hope will give our children some great memories ... like a week at the beach, visits to amusement parks and the zoo, weekend getaways, picnics at the park, a family reunion, and anything else we can cram into the next two months.


So tell me, what do you have planned this summer? Any favorite summer childhood memories you would like to share?

Two random commenters will receive a book from my stash pile.


~ Buffie

Today's Special -- Vanessa Kelly

We are so happy to have Vanessa Kelly with us again today. Vanessa is not only a fantastic author, but a delightful person as well, as all the Dishes can attest to---one of the highlights of RWA is seeing our "old" friends and meeting new ones. Her third full length historical novel, My Favorite Countess was released on May 3rd. I'm reading it right now, and it is fantastic! Stay tuned for my review on May 9th. Please join me in welcoming Vanessa back to The Romance Dish. She's going to tell us all about her "bad girl" heroine, Bathsheba.

Redeeming The Bad Girl

Hi everybody! It’s great to be back with the gals who dish and I want to thank all of you for having me on. I’m so excited to be here because my latest Regency-set historical romance, My Favorite Countess, hit the shelves on Tuesday. And I’ll be honest with you—I lurve this book. It was so much fun to write, partly because the hero was so dreamy but also because the heroine presented me with a real challenge.

Bathsheba, my heroine, is a bad girl. Sometimes she can be a very bad girl, and that makes life interesting for the romance writer. We’re used to bad boy heroes. The reformed rake, the former delinquent who ends up as either a cop or a soldier, the vampire who falls in love and regains his soul, that’s something we’re all familiar with. And we love it, because a man like that is a four-square hero but he also brings a dark and dangerous vibe that usually works out pretty well for the heroine—especially in bed!

Nothing is more satisfying to a reader than to see a man who formerly walked on the wild side transform through the love of a good woman.

But reforming a bad girl? It’s not done very often, at least not in historical romance.

I didn’t deliberately set out to create a redemption story for the heroine of this book. It was Bathsheba herself who drove the narrative. For those of you who read my previous book, Sex and The Single Earl, you’ll remember that Bathsheba was the villainess of the piece. She was very nasty to the heroine, even going so far as to attempt to destroy Sophie’s reputation. That book needed a villainess and Bathsheba filled the role very well.

So how crazy was it that I decided to make Bathsheba the heroine of my next book? Real crazy, but even as far back as Sex And The Single Earl I could envision her backstory and the motivations that drove her to act like such a vixen. Those motivations had to be rock solid if I had any chance of redeeming Bathsheba, because who the heck wants to read about a beautiful but viper-tongued countess who leaves a trail of destruction in her wake?

Um, actually, I did! So I set myself the task of redeeming her. I gave her a compelling reason why she had to be so ruthless, and I made it one that would be sure to engender sympathy in the reader. Bathsheba has a great deal of courage in her own right, and she’s been forced into choices she never wanted to make. She also takes responsibility for her bad behaviour and doesn’t make excuses. I really like that about her. She does what she does because she believes it’s the right thing to do, and she’ll suffer the consequences if she has to.

And I do make her suffer the consequences. Bathsheba must tread a pretty steep path to redemption, but it’s the only way a reader could ever accept and forgive her past behaviour. Of course, I also made sure to give her a hero who could prod her to make that journey—Dr. John Blackmore, crusading slum doctor and all around good guy. He’s the exact opposite of everything Bathsheba though she ever wanted in a man, and he’ll force her to see that sometimes you have to make the truly right and good choice, even if it hurts.

Redemption is a classic and much-loved theme in romance novels, and I’d love to see more bad girls take that path. After all, why should guys have all the fun?

What about you, readers? Can you think of any other novels where the heroine must be redeemed from a path of wickedness, or at least naughtiness? Do you like that kind of story, or do you prefer your heroines to be as pure as the driven snow? One commenter will win a copy of My Favorite Countess.

Vanessa Kelly writes Regency-set historical romance for Kensington Zebra, and was named by Booklist as one of the new stars of historical romance. She also writes contemporary romance with her husband under the pen name of VK Sykes. You can visit her on the web at: http://www.vanessakellyauthor.com

Blonds Have More Fun!

We're delighted to welcome today's special guest, and our dear friend, Anna Campbell back to The Romance Dish. Anna's newest book, Midnight's Wild Passion, was released two days ago and is gathering rave reviews across the romance community, including 5 Stars from Janga here at The Romance Dish. (Click here to read Janga's review.) When Anna enters a room, smiles and laughter are always her companions so sit back, relax and prepare to enjoy yourself as Anna joins us to celebrate Midnight's Wild Passion!



North American Cover



Hiya Dishes! I can't tell you how thrilled I am to be here, not with my reviewer hat on (although that's always fun!) but in my romance author persona! Thank you so much for inviting me here to talk about my new release from Avon (26th April North America, 1st May Australia and New Zealand) MIDNIGHT'S WILD PASSION.



Australia/New Zealand Cover





You can read an excerpt of MIDNIGHT'S WILD PASSION here:
http://www.annacampbell.info/wildpassion.html

Anyway, enough of the idle chatter, I thought I'd get into the really profound issues today and talk about...

Hero hair color!!!

Yep, we cover all the deep philosophical questions here on the Dishes. The meaning of life. Global warming. How to grow African violets. Just when billionaires replaced mere millionaires in Harlequin Presents!

Up until now, my heroes have all been the classic tall, dark and handsome. But when the hero of MIDNIGHT'S WILD PASSION prowled onto the page, he was (shock! horror!) blond. I told him he had to be dark and he just arched one rakish golden eyebrow at me and went on his merry way, fair in coloring if not in behavior, at least until he undergoes his redemption arc, anyway!

Nicholas Challoner, Marquess of Ranelaw, was very vivid to me both physically and emotionally as I wrote him. He was a man with those fallen angel looks that kinda make your heart beat faster! I had a couple of vague models for him. One was the sexy angel from Barbarella which I hadn't seen for years. But I remembered John Philip Law's olive skin and his golden hair - and a rather spectacular bod! Even closer to my concept of Ranelaw was a rather obscure British actor called Marcus Gilbert who played the hero in a couple of Barbara Cartland telemovies back in the 80s. Look at that bone structure! Doesn't he look like the perfect blond Regency rake? You can just see him casting a roguish eye upon our heroine and setting out to work his wiles to get her into the nearest bedroom.

When it came time to talk about covers, my editor and I had a bit of back and forth about Ranelaw's coloring. She definitely prefers them dark. You'd think a mere fact like changing hair color wouldn't matter much - but again, Ranelaw basically flipped me the finger. He was blond and he was staying blond. You'll notice that the gorgeous guy in the stepback is dark-haired! Not that the girl in the picture seems to be complaining.

I must say generally my preference too runs to dark hair in romances although I'm not averse to a great blond. Francis Crawford from Dorothy Dunnett's Lymond Series is blond (mind you, he's another guy whose interior is as dark as his exterior is bright). The gorgeous Esmond in Loretta Chase's classic CAPTIVES OF THE NIGHT is blond and he's one of the most charismatic heroes I've ever read.

So do you have a preference? Do you think blonds have more fun? Do you have any favorite blond heroes? And most important of all, have you ever had any luck with African violets? Every time I've tried to grow them, they disintegrate into an 'orrible slimy mess. I've got a signed copy of MIDNIGHT'S WILD PASSION for one lucky commenter today! Good luck!

Anna, thank you for visiting with us today! Readers, to learn more about this award-winning author, visit her website and "like" her on facebook. Don't forget to also visit her at the multi-author blog, and one of our favorite sites, Romance Bandits!

Ellora's Cave Showcase

Boy, have we got a treat for you today!!

As you should know by all the candy, cards and flowers in every store, Valentine’s Day is just around the corner. While Valentine’s Day is known to be sweet and filled with sugar, this year the Dishes wanted to give you a little spice. Well, actually, a whole lotta spice! Thanks to our friend, author Kimberly Killion, today we are showcasing several of authors with Ellora’s Cave Publishing. These authors are known for the spice and sizzle in their books.

Come on, don’t be shy! Check out these sizzling authors and their latest releases. Click on the author's name to go to her website. Click on the book title to buy the book.

And if you are ready to add a little heat to your Valentine’s Day, then just answer this question for a chance to win one of 15 books these wonderful authors are giving away today:


If you were a book, what would your blurb be?



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Kimberly Killion

Latest Releases:

EDUCATING APHRODITE

TAMING A HIGHLAND DEVIL


If you were a book, what would your blurb be?

Kimberly Killion, award-winning author, seeks adventure and romance. But what happens when she finds what she's looking for in the seductive arms of a hawt Highland rogue?Laird Braw Scot is looking for a woman with an imaginative mind and a taste for scandal. He finds her tucked behind her computer, hiding her passion for life inside her motherboard. Does he have the skills to seduce her away from the keyboard? Will she give up her dreams of hitting the NY Times list and seek passion in the treacherous wilds of Scotland? Or will she resign to live comfortably in the secluded privacy of her Midwest home and never know the meaning of love?

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Juniper Bell

Latest Release: GO WILD

If you were a book, what would be your blurb?

Juniper Bell spent years looking for love in all the wrong places until she ditched her high-stress TV career, moved to Alaska and found a new passion—erotic romance. Three months after her arrival, she met her future husband. One year later she published her first book. Now with one wedding and five books under her belt, she plans to continue writing red-hot romance about moments of sensual and emotional transformation. Her most recent book is GO WILD from Ellora’s Cave.

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Shoshanna Evers

Latest Release: GINGER SNAP


If you were a book, what would your blurb be?

After her 100th coffee date, Shoshanna Evers is pretty sure she's met and disliked every eligible man in Los Angeles. Meeting guys on the internet obviously isn't working for her...too bad she still has one last blind date to go on before she can take down her online profile and call it quits.
Jeff's the complete opposite of every slick LA type she's met - and the whirlwind of lust and excitement surrounding them leads Jeff to propose after only six weeks of dating. Shoshanna says yes, but suddenly she realizes she's engaged to a complete stranger, and she may have just made the biggest mistake of her life. Can she get to know - and love - her fiance before the wedding?


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Kendall Grace

Latest Release: SOUTHERN EXPOSURE


If you were a book, what would your blurb be?

Kendall Grace fancies herself a full-time romance writer, living in a hazy dream state full of hawt Southern men more than willing to do anything, and everything, she wants to create the perfect story. In reality, she works the nine-to-five, concealing her true passions, for if her coworkers knew, they’d never look at her the same way again. But honestly, the clandestine nature makes it that much more exciting.

Raised in the deep South, Kendall grew up with these intriguing creatures known as Southern gentlemen. And although not all of them can be classified as gentle, most can be called hot. In only the way a Southern man can be. So, hunkered down in her cubicle, Kendall for all appearances is doing her day job. But in actuality she is doing her latest hero. Uh… Her character is doing her latest hero. Yes, that’s what she meant.



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Vonna Harper

Latest Release: COWBOY PICKUP


If you were a book, what would your blurb be?

Freedom! The opportunity to race barefoot through the tulips. Ah, that's what erotica writer Vonna Harper wants. Unfortunately, there's a rub. She doesn't want to hurt the tulips and watching her run isn't a pretty sight.

Fortunately, Vonna has another, much more attainable dream, and this one too can be done barefoot. Sunglasses on and the wind in her hair, she sits beside the latest macho hunk as he expertly maneuvers his sleek black Jeep over a remote logging road. Her hand strays to his thigh.

Their destination is unimportant. It’s the ride--both in and outside the Jeep--that stirs Vonna's blood.


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Kaily Hart

Latest Release: PAY UP


If you were a book, what would your blurb be?

Kaily Hart, a seemingly straight-laced mother of four left corporate America and a high-powered, lucrative career to be a stay at home mom. Ha! That lasted about four weeks, during which time she realized she had a deeply repressed dream - to write. And romance at that! By day, Kaily plays conservative wife and soccer mom, but at night crafts hot and steamy tales of romance and love with gorgeous heroes who wouldn’t dream of leaving the toilet set up. Ever. She’s smart and sassy, at least in her own mind, and is trying her best to bring the alpha male solidly back to contemporary romance, one hot story at a time. Two years ago she never would have thought she’d be doing this, but now that she is? Well, you couldn’t pay her enough to do anything else.


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Missy Jane

Latest Release: EDUCATING MACEY


If you were a book, what would your blurb be?

Chaos reigns in the life of Missy Jane. A bank teller by day and romance author by night, she struggles with a sense helplessness when faced with seven-foot high shelves and tight jar lids. Until the sun drops below the horizon and her Alpha male arrives from his daily tests of will in the machining world. He battles her troubles away. After nearly fifteen years of teaching him to cherish her and gifting him with four beautiful daughters, will their love continue to stand the test of time?



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Stephanie Julian

Latest Release: MOONLIGHT TEMPTATION


If you were a book, what would your blurb be?

Stephanie Julian is the author of the Magical Seduction, Lucani Lovers and The Fringe series from Ellora’s Cave and the upcoming Forgotten Goddess series from Sourcebooks Casablanca. A former reporter for a daily newspaper, she enjoys making up stories much more than writing about real life. She’s happily married to a Springsteen fanatic and is the mother of two sons who love her even when they don’t have any clean clothes and dinner is a bowl of cereal.



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Tara Nina

Latest Release: DOUBLE DILEMMA


If you were a book, what would your blurb be?

Tara Nina lives a hectic life with three dogs, two teens, a husband and a day job. Doesn't everybody have a 19 year old son who was accepted to the Navy SEALS program, a 17 year old daughter who decided she wants to be a tattoo artist and an accident prone but lovable husband? Driven by her everyday madness, she escapes into the world that calls to her soul, to write the stories the voices in her head tell her to. Need a little relief from the insanity in your world? Step into a Tara Nina Tale and slip into a hot romance for a temporary vacation from reality.


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Cindy Spencer Pape

Latest Release: VALENTINE’S HEART


If you were a book, what would your blurb be?

Short but sweet: a little bit funny and a whole lot of spice.




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Emma Petersen

Latest Release: REIGN OF PLEASURE


If you were a book, what would your blurb be?

Emma Petersen wrote her first romance in high school after falling in love with historical romances and has been writing ever since. She lives in sunny California with a cool cat named Toussaint and is working through an addiction to shoes and internet porn.


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Nina Pierce

Latest Release: MAID FOR MASTER


If you were a book, what would your blurb be?

Nina may be the older woman, but the term cougar never frightened her off. Searching for sexy younger men by day, it’s the thirty-something alpha hero that has her eye. She spends her hours at the computer seeking the right balance between love, lust and action. And her guys have it all.

Mr. Nina may not fall into the younger-man category, but he’s known the woman of his heart for a very long time. He has no doubt that he can sweet talk her away from those less-experienced men. A nice meal, a glass of wine and a little candlelight and Nina is putty in his hands.

There’s no doubt whose bed she’ll happily fall into tonight.



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Kelli Scott

Latest Release: STORMY WEDDING


If you were a book, what would your blurb be?

Kelli Scott is a woman who makes a living on her back, because she likes to write in bed. Her erotic tales take her places she's never been before, with mysterious men she's never met except in her wildest imagination. Her writing speaks of love and commitment she can only dream of, but never have because of a tragic love affair that haunts her day and night.

Guillermo Santiago toils as Kelli Scott's overworked and underpaid research assistant, hoping one day to be so much more than an employee to his neglectful boss. Guillermo knows what Kelli wants, where she wants it and when she wants it. He knows her better than she knows herself. He touches her places no man has ever touched. Everywhere but her heart.

Guillermo must break through her icy shell or leave her employ forever. Giving the orders instead of taking them, he shows Kelli another side of him she's never seen before. Will it fuse them together forever or rip them apart?



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Paige Tyler

Latest Release: DEAD SEXY


If you were a book, what would your blurb be?

Paige Tyler is a multi-published, award-winning author who loves writing about strong, sexy, alpha males and the feisty, independent women who fall for them. From verbal foreplay to sexual heat, her wickedly hot stories of romance, adventure, passion and true love will bring a blush to her readers' cheeks and leave them breathlessly panting for more!.

Sexy explosives expert Horatio Rancliff is looking for a woman to share his life with, but he hasn't had much luck finding a woman who can handle his dangerous profession. When he meets Paige, he falls fast and hard, but is she willing to take a chance with her own real-life hero?


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Lex Valentine

Latest Release: ROCK MY WORLD


If you were a book, what would your blurb be?

With her small daughter in tow, author and “dirty girl” Lex Valentine escapes the wagging tongues and narrow-mindedness of her small Northern California hometown for the beach cities of Southern California. Drawn there by tales of hot, long haired rockers, she discovers one almost too beautiful to be true. Austin’s blond haired, blue-eyed gorgeousness is capped by a sweet personality and laid-back attitude. Unfortunately, while there’s passion, it’s not exactly what Lex had hoped for.

Enter bad boy, former rocker “Rott.” He’s got a past and a record. He’s got more attitude than an angry rhino. He’s got vices, tattoos, and hip length honey colored hair. He’s everything Austin is not. But Lex takes one look into his green eyes and is lost. Rott ignites a passion in her that Austin never could and the desire between them cannot be denied. Choosing between a sweet, sure thing and the wildest ride of her life is a dilemma Lex never thought to face. Life with the volatile Rott promises everything her heart longs for and everything her common sense balks at. But when she takes a chance on him, she discovers that even the wildest heart can be tamed by love.



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