Ashley March Winner

Thanks to everyone who stopped by and commented on Ashley March's blog regarding infidelity in romance. Random.org has selected the winner of Ashley March's debut novel, SEDUCING THE DUCHESS, and that person is...

LISA!

Congratulations, Lisa! To claim your book, please send your full name and mailing address to us at theromancedish@gmail.com with "Ashley March Winner" in the subject line.

Roxanne St. Claire Winner

Many thanks to Roxanne St. Claire for dropping by The Romance Dish yesterday and generously offering a copy of her new book, EDGE OF SIGHT, to a randomly selected person who commented on my review.  Random.org has selected our winner and that person is...

AMBER

Congratulations, Amber!  To claim your book, please send your full name and mailing address to us at theromancedish@gmail.com with "St. Claire Winner" in the subject line.

Jodi Thomas Winner

Congratulations to the winners of Somewhere Along the Way by Jodi Thomas!

deerdoe69

and

Trisha M

To claim your book, please send your full name and mailing address to theromancedish@gmail.com with "Jodi Thomas Winner" in the subject line.

Juliana Stone Winner

The set of signed books from Juliana Stone goes to

Karyn Gerrard

Congratulations, Karyn!  To claim your prize, please send your full name and mailing address to

theromancedish@gmail.com

with "Juliana Stone Winner" in the subject line.

Lori Brighton Winner

One of our Lori Brighton winners notified us that she had already bought Lori's book so we're choosing another winner.  Congratulations to

mom2ajava

You've won an electronic copy of Lori's new book, The Ghost Hunter!

To claim your prize, please send your name, address and email address to theromancedish@gmail.com with "lori brighton winner" in the subject line.

Review - - Edge of Sight

Edge of Sight
Guardian Angelinos- Book 1
By Roxanne St. Claire
Published by: Forever / Grand Central 
Release Date:  October 26, 2010

The killer she can’t escape…
The heartbreak she can’t forget…
The one man who can stop them both.

When I’m in the mood for top-notch romantic suspense with simmering sensuality and non-stop action, the books I most often reach for are those written by Roxanne St. Claire. I adored her Bullet Catchers series and have been anticipating Edge of Sight, the first book in her new Guardian Angelinos series. I’m happy to say it did not disappoint!


Several life-changing events have occurred in Samantha (Sam) Fairchild’s life over the past three years. She fell in love with Army Ranger, Zach Angelino, the twin brother of her friend, Vivi, spent three glorious weeks with him before he returned to active duty in the Middle East and looked forward to the day he would return home to her arms. But Sam never heard from Zach again and the heartbreak of realizing she was nothing more to him than a fling eventually fractured her friendship with Vivi, who was caught in the middle. Then Sam discovered that the man she had, as a teenager, identified, testified against and sent to jail for murder was, in fact, innocent. Her work to free him led to the firings of officers from the Boston P.D., which gained her no friends in that department, but led to her decision to leave her advertising job and apply to law school. Now a waitress at a trendy restaurant and about to start Harvard Law School, Sam is once again in the wrong place at the wrong time. She witnesses the assassination of a well-known Boston columnist in the restaurant’s wine cellar and Sam’s face is caught on the video camera mounted on the wine cellar wall. The same camera the gunman tears off the wall and takes with him! Once again, Sam is the only witness to a crime, the people who ordered the hit refuse to pay the shooter until that witness is eliminated and the police have no interest in keeping her safe. So Sam, terrified and desperate, turns to former friend, Vivi, an investigative reporter with her finger on the pulse of the city, but when she arrives at Vivi’s apartment, it’s not Vivi who meets her but the man who broke her heart and disappeared from her life three years earlier.

Zach knew from the moment he first saw Samantha that she would rock his world. He just never anticipated that she would steal his heart. But knowing the chances of returning from his dangerous mission were slim, he never told her how he felt and, thinking a clean break would be easier on her, never contacted her after he left. Now he’s back, recovering from devastating injuries that have left him scarred both inside and out.  He’s not the same man he was and believes he has nothing to offer Sam but, once he sees her again, he can’t make himself stay away, especially when he realizes the danger she’s in. He joins forces with Vivi and their cousins to protect Sam and stop the murderers before it’s too late. But this case is much more complicated than it first appears and, before it’s over, not only the growing love and trust between Sam and Zach will be at risk; so too will their lives and those of the people they love.

I enjoyed getting to know Zach and Sam.  I liked Sam from the beginning.  She's terrified but she's no wuss.  She's willing to fight for herself and those for whom she cares.  Zach is a warrior; bold, strong and protective, but, emotionally, he's much more complex.  Orphaned as a child, he and Vivi are brought from their native Italy to live with distant family in Boston; people they've never met.  Angry, grieving, not even speaking the language, the young Zach never felt as if he belonged and carries those feelings to this day.  He formed his own family within the Army Rangers but now, because of his injury, he's been retired from service. He's a tortured soul and, in the beginning of the book, not very likeable.  He's a real jerk to Sam, determined to hold her at arm's length, but glimpses of vulnerability and remorse kept me rooting for him.  He has a lot to learn about love, trust, acceptance and family but St. Claire develops him skillfully and, by the end of the book, he not only earns a place in my heart, he's ready to be Sam's lifelong hero.

In Edge of Sight, we're also introduced to the other members of Zach and Vivi's family who we'll be seeing more of in the rest of the Guardian Angelinos books.  I already feel as if I'm a part of their boisterous, loving, sometimes squabbling, Italian-American family and I can't wait to get to know all of them better. 

Roxanne St. Claire has written a superb story with nail-biting suspense, sizzling sexual tension, non-stop action, a cold-blooded villain, and enough twists and turns to keep me flipping pages long past the time I should have been in bed asleep. This is a wild ride that, once on, you won't want to escape until you reach the finish line. I highly recommend the first book in the Guardian Angelinos series, Edge of Sight.

St. Claire has posted a free prequel to Edge of Sight on her website.  It tells what happened when Zach and Sam first met three years earlier.  I think I would have understood, and liked, Zach better at the beginning of Edge of Sight if I had read the prequel first.   You can access the prequel, titled "Taken to the Edge" by going to St. Claire's website, clicking on "free reads" then clicking on "Taken to the Edge."

~PJ

Today's Special -- Jodi Thomas

We are thrilled to welcome back New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Jodi Thomas to The Romance Dish! As a fifth generation Texan, Jodi chooses to set the majority of her books in her home state. Perhaps this is why she has enjoyed such a long and prolific writing career and is a fan favorite! Her books have won many awards, including the coveted RITA, and grace many readers' keeper shelves. Jodi's latest, Somewhere Along the Way, releases November 2nd and is her thirtieth novel and the second in her popular Harmony series. Check out Janga's review here. Please give Jodi a warm welcome!


Thanks for asking me to drop by and tell everyone about my thirtieth novel and what I think is the best one I’ve ever written. These characters came alive for me and I hope they will for you. So, let’s step into the second book about a small town in Texas, Harmony called SOMEWHERE ALONG THE WAY.

In this book I had a great time writing about love at different ages and how we all fall in love different ways. Sometime it comes softly after growing up with someone and until you realize there was never a time you didn’t love them and sometimes it slams into you all at once with a kiss.

Liz and Gabe’s story from SOMEWHERE ALONG THE WAY:

“I’ll take it in the living room,” she said. Liz walked across the hall, picked up the phone, and waited for the click from the kitchen before speaking.

“Elizabeth Matheson,” she said in her most professional voice.

“I need your help.”

He hadn’t said his name; he hadn’t needed to. She’d know Gabriel’s voice anywhere.

“Where are you?”

“County sheriff’s office,” he said. “They’re about to take me up to a holding cell. Ask for Gabe Leary, Elizabeth, not Smith, and get here as fast as you can.”

She’s already figured out that Smith probably wasn’t his real name. “What did you do?”

“Nothing,” he answered. “But they think I may have killed someone.”

Liz told herself she was a lawyer. Whether he did or didn’t commit the crime, he had a right to counsel. Only she wasn’t sure she could go through with it if he had. She wasn’t sure which bothered her most: that he might be lying, or that if he was, she’d kissed a murderer.

She gripped the phone for a minute, trying to think.

“Elizabeth,” he whispered again. “Are you still there? I’m no good around people. I seem to be causing more trouble for myself than helping.” He was quiet as if listening to her breathe, and then he added, “I need you.”

She straightened. “I’ll be right there.”

She hung up and walked back into the dining room, where everyone was having dessert. “I have to go. I’m needed over at the jail.”

“A client,” Claire said. “Oh, how exciting. Little sister has a real client.”

Liz grabbed her coat and purse. As she walked out the door, she yelled back, “No. A date.”

In SOMEWHERE ALONG THE WAY you’ll follow the people of Harmony as they go about their lives helping one another. When crisis comes they stand together. I think you’ll laugh as you get to know my people and care all the way to your heart about them when they are in trouble.

Come along with me on this journey back to Harmony.

~Jodi


*******


Jodi was gracious enough to answer a few questions from Janga and Andrea:


Janga: You said in another interview that you are "a storyteller, not a wordsmith." Do you see writers as one or the other?

Jodi: Not always. I love when I book pulls me in with the story and I end up rereading lines because the words flow so beautifully. But, for me when I write I’m usually trying to get the story down as fast as possible. Then after I’ve told the story, I go back and add color. I think if you tell a good story readers will forgive much, but no matter how beautifully the words flow, if they don’t tell a story readers will not finish the book.

Janga: You've written more than 30 books now. Do you ever feel burned out? What do you do to keep the creative well full?

Jodi: I’ve never had burn out. Sometimes I get tired and take a few days off. To ‘refill the well’ I like to travel----not to exciting places where there are tons of people, but to different places. I may drive through the country or stop at towns I’ve never been to, find a B&B or a lake house and spend some time. I’ll go to movies, or plays or rodeos. I’ll walk in the cemetery or visit museums. When we first started doing this my husband always wanted to take video of the places, but I never looked at it. I wanted to set it up in my memory and let it shift and change when a character visited the location, not remember every detail as it really was.

Andrea: A lot of your books grace the keeper shelves of many readers. Which authors' books grace your keeper shelves?

Jodi: I looked over in my study and saw hundreds of books running the wall. I keep favorites and books of friends and books I’ve helped beginning writers work on, but I rarely reread a book. Why? Because like a kid at Christmas, I can’t wait to open the next treasure. Writers are readers too. I love finding that story that takes me away for a few hours. Maybe that’s why I teach writing. People always ask me which of my books is my favorite---which is the best---I always answer, ‘the next one’.

Andrea: Do you plan your books out in advance or do you write by the seat of your pants?

Jodi: I plan my characters, learn them, see them in my mind right down to the stains of their clothes and in their hearts. Then, I sit down and let them tell me their story.

Janga: When can we look for the next Harmony book? Will it be the story of Tyler and Kate? Will Reagan have her own book, or is she slated to have pieces of her story revealed in each book?

Jodi: I will begin book 3 with Tyler and Kate. There will be new characters and characters you know well in the next one. Reagan’s story will run through every book.



Thanks so much, Jodi! So, dear readers, do you like small town stories? Why or why not? Comment for a chance to win one of two copies of Jodi's Somewhere Along the Way!

For more information about Jodi, please visit her website at http://www.jodithomas.com/.

Guest Review - - Somewhere Along the Way

Somewhere Along the Way
By Jodi Thomas
Publisher: Berkley
Release Date: November 2, 2010

Somewhere Along the Way is the second book in Jodi Thomas’s Harmony, Texas series. Reagan Truman, the teen runaway who found a home in the small town in Welcome to Harmony, is now eighteen and finding life growing more complicated as the number of people she connects with grows larger. When an accident threatens her life, she discovers an unlikely guardian angel in the mysterious Gabe Leary.

Liz Matheson, younger sister of fire chief Hank Matheson, finds Gabe anything but angelic. Her struggles to prove to her family that she is an adult who can care for herself and establish a law practice in her hometown where she’s still the baby of the Matheson family are challenges enough for any woman, but Gabe Leary’s claim on her heart may be the challenge that matters most. I fell hard for Gabe. I’m not usually susceptible to loner heroes, but his reactions as his safe isolation is breached gradually by his protective feelings for Reagan, by the arrival of an old friend, by his overwhelming love for Liz, and eventually by the people of Harmony left me smiling and teary-eyed at the same time.

Liz and Gabe’s relationship is the central romance of this book, but Hank’s relationship with Sheriff Alex McAllen, the central romance in the first book, has yet to reach a conventional HEA. Alex is reluctant to name a wedding day. Meanwhile, Claire, the middle Matheson sibling who chews men up and spits them out onto canvasses, is winning attention in the art world for her bizarre paintings and unsettling attention from a stranger in Harmony. And lonely Tyler Wright is faithfully sending email messages to the elusive Major Katherine Cummings.

Small-town settings seem to be proliferating in romance and women’s fiction these days. Thomas’s Harmony is one of the standouts. It is a distinctive place with an unusual history and a cast of interesting characters, home grown and transplants, whose lives twist and tangle in myriad ways. However, Somewhere Along the Way was not as pitch perfect a read for me as was Welcome to Harmony. Claire is not a character whom I find sympathetic. I thought her sudden rapprochement with Denver incredible, and I remained unconvinced that she deserves that lovable charmer. I was also bothered by all the loose ends, even though I’m sure Thomas will weave them all satisfactorily into the overarching story in subsequent books. Denying the reader a conclusion to Jeremiah’s plight particularly smacked of the kind of soap opera cliff hanger ending I deplore.

Despite these concerns, Thomas’s storytelling continues to charm me, and I care about her characters, especially young Reagan, who I suspect has a romance triangle in her future. I’m definitely planning a return trip to Harmony when the next book is released sometime in fall 2011.

~Janga

Today's Special -- Ashley March

The ladies of The Romance Dish love debut novels and authors. It is always fun and exciting to read a new author and find someone with a great voice and a wonderful story to tell. Today's guest is exactly that. Ashley March's debut novel, Seducing the Duchess was released October 5, 2010. You can find my review of it here. Hard to believe, but it has been less than a year since Ashley received "the call" with a 3-book deal from NAL Penguin. Please give a warm welcome to debut author Ashley March as she discusses . . .


The Question of Infidelity

Once upon a time, the most-beloved historical romance trope was “rake meets wallflower,” in which the promiscuous hero is tamed by the virgin heroine. Because love eventually conquers all, readers allowed their bad boy his play before he fell in love with the heroine. The heroine, however, was expected to remain pure and pristine until she melted beneath the touch of her wild and roguish hero.

Then came the courtesan heroine. While romance readers still enjoyed the “rake meets wallflower” trope, we began to demand more variety. We wanted heroines who, like us, were sexually aware. Women who were not afraid of their sexuality, and indeed, used it to capture the attention of the hero. This meant that, prior to meeting the hero, the woman might also engage in sexual acts with other partners. Variety is good, we thought. We don’t want all of our romances to be the same.

However, in reconciliation stories, where the husband and wife have been separated after their wedding and then get back together, it appears the romance community is still divided on the topic of sexual awareness in the woman, especially regarding infidelity while she was separated from her husband. As is often the case in historical romances, the taking of a mistress by the hero is tolerated (since he has sexual urges that cannot be controlled), while the taking of a lover by the heroine can either incite disapproval or garner praise from the female romance reader.
When I first began writing my version of the reconciliation story (now my debut novel, SEDUCING THE DUCHESS), I was determined not to take what I thought to be the easy road out. My heroine, Charlotte, had spent the past three years acting scandalously in an attempt to force her husband, Philip, to petition to divorce her. As a result, all of the ton—and even Philip—believed Charlotte to be a harlot, having taken several lovers. If she was so angry and hurt by Philip as to desperately seek a divorce petition, I reasoned, why wouldn’t she take lovers? Philip had betrayed her by pretending he loved her; she also knew he’d taken a mistress. Why not allow her to seek comfort in other men’s arms? This, I thought, was how I would write Charlotte.

However, as I continued to write Philip and Charlotte’s story, it became clear that despite her many outrageous acts and tendency to provoke Philip, allowing her to be unfaithful to Philip wouldn’t be true to her character. Yes, he’d hurt her—terribly, in fact. And yes, she was still angry and resentful. But beneath it all, she still loved him. She might be tempted to escape her loneliness by being with other men, but inside she was still fragile and wounded, and she still wanted no one else but Philip.

I really could have written the story either way; Charlotte could just as easily have taken lovers, and in the end, Philip would have accepted it, because he had taken a mistress. Their HEA wouldn’t have been in jeopardy. But I think showing Charlotte’s love and faithfulness throughout their marriage, despite what Philip did to her, not only humbled Philip all the more, but also remained true to Charlotte’s character as I wrote the story.

This, in the end, is what I believe a writer must do. It’s not about what is or isn’t popular in the romance genre at the time, because trends will eventually fade. It’s about writing a love story between the hero and heroine which the reader can believe in, a love story that will truly stand the test of time. For the writer, it’s also about believing in your characters enough to sometimes allow them to take the lead as you write, even though you had other plans for them.

What about you? Where do you stand on the question of infidelity for either the hero or the heroine in reconciliation stories? Will an unfaithful character immediately pull you out of the book? What does it mean to you to have a story try to stay true to the characters, rather than bow to reader expectations?

One random commenter will win a copy of my debut novel, SEDUCING THE DUCHESS (open to both US and international residents).

Lori Brighton Winner

The winners of electronic copies of Lori Brighton's new book, The Ghost Hunter are

DAZ

and

MONICA M.

Congratulations!  To claim your prize, please send your full name, mailing address and 

email address to 

theromancedish@gmail.com with "Lori Brighton Winner" in the subject line.

Today's Special - - Juliana Stone

Gannon and I fell in love with Juliana Stone's writing when we selected her first book, His Darkest Hunger, to review for our former Girlfriends column at Romance: B(u)y the Book.  Since then, we've been counting the days until the release of book two, His Darkest Embrace and, let me tell you, it was well worth the wait!  Check out PJ's review below.  Since we're all about sharing our love of romance novels here at The Romance Dish, we invited Juliana to visit with us today.  She very graciously agreed to answer a few of our questions and will be joining us throughout the day to answer yours.  Please give Juliana a very warm welcome to The Romance Dish! 

PJ: Welcome, Juliana! Congratulations on the upcoming release of His Darkest Embrace! Will you tell us a bit about the book?

Hey PJ, thanks for having me! His Darkest Embrace is the second book in my jaguar warriors series. It continues where His Darkest Hunger left off, though it takes place about 3 months later. I think the back cover explains it really well!

A solitary hunter with no regard for the human world, Jagger Castille is a shifter living on the edge. It will take the woman who calls him enemy to give him a reason to live.

Jagger is a creature of the night—Skye Knightly soars in the sun. Natural adversaries, they have been joined by destiny in a mission entrusted to Skye’s family centuries ago: Nothing less than the salvation of the Earth. 

Wounded and bitter, Jagger sought escape in the solitude of the jungle, driven by a need to disappear forever… until a mysterious shifter who calls to his soul and feeds a yearning long forgotten, pulls him from his dark path. A courageous warrior, Skye’s passion is equal to Jagger’s own—but can she trust a man on the edge? A man whose secrets are as devastating as her own? 

Each is the other’s sole hope for survival. But a dark and twisted truth is leading them toward the ultimate sacrifice for a love they may never live to claim.

I have to say, I sure do love that cover!   Skye and Jagger were terrific characters and Jagger wasn't the only one living on the edge during this book.  Their story kept me on the edge of my seat way late into the night!

Gannon: Of all the shifters, what made you choose jaguars?

When I decided in late 2007 to take a stab at writing I decided if I wanted a shot at being published I’d need to write something different than the vampire books that I loved. I chose black jaguars as my shifters because they’re deadly predators and beautiful visually stunning animals. After doing some research I stumbled across references to jaguar warriors and went from there.

PJ: Juliana, you really bring the jungles of Belize to life in this book. Have you ever been there? What kind of research did you do for this series?

I’ve been lucky enough to vacation in Belize and fell in love with the jungle. While doing research on jaguars I realized they were heavily influential in the Mayan and Aztec cultures so it was wonderful to be able to have some of the stories take place in an exotic location that I’d been to. There’s actually a jaguar reserve in Belize and I make mention of it in the book. Of course I implemented my own spin on things but I mainly did research online.

Gannon: How many books will be in this series?

As of now I’ve written all three brothers. Julian’s book, His Darkest Salvation comes out next summer, July 2011. It pretty much ties up all the loose ends and finishes the story arc that was started in Jaxon’s book, His Darkest Hunger. I’ve written Declan’s book, it’s tentatively entitled, Wicked Road to Hell. He is in all the books and I’ve gotten so many emails about when his story will be told! He’s not a shifter, but a sorcerer and was part of Jaxon’s anti-terrorist unit. We shall see what comes next! I’ve got a lot of characters to choose from, some are shifters, and there are demons, sorcerers and vampires!

PJ: Will you continue to publish two books a year or will they be more spread out?

I’m hoping we can keep with the two books a year schedule! Actually I’d love to write three a year!

I have no problem with that!  

Gannon: What’s a typical writing day like for you?

Gannon, I’m lucky in that I can write fairly quickly. I wrote both Julian’s and Declan’s book in 6 months, March to August of this year. When on deadline I aim for 2k words a day. I can usually get them done in the morning. If need be I’ll write in the evening but prefer the am!

PJ: In addition to being a terrific writer, Juliana, you also sing with a band. Do you find that performing music helps refill your creative writing well? Do you play music when you write? If so, what are some of the songs that inspired you while creating Jagger and Skye’s story?

LOL, well music has always been a huge influence in my life. I love performing. My husband is the guitarist in the band and now our son plays as well. For me, I can’t write with music on. It’s too distracting as I start to sing along. Sometimes I’ll listen to certain songs to get me in the mood for a sad scene or an explosive action filled scene. In Declan’s book I listened to the soundtrack of BlackHawk Down just before writing an intense fight scene—very heavy, aggressive music.

That would certainly be a good soundtrack to get you into the mood.  I have the feeling Declan's book is going to be *very* intense! 

Gannon: What fact about you do you think would most surprise your readers?

I think most people would be surprised at how shy I can be. I mean I sing on stage and all but at heart, I am a very shy person.

PJ: What types of books do you like to read? Who are your favorite authors?

I like to read all kinds of books. I love Patricia Cornwell, Christine Feehan, Keri Arthur, Cassandra Clare’s YA series, and have rediscovered my love of historicals. Tiffany Clare’s debut, The Seduction of a Lady is a wonderful read and I also enjoyed Sarah Maclean’s debut as well.

10) Gannon: What actors would you cast for Jaxon and Jagger?

Damn, I have pictures up on my website but don’t remember the actors names. Definitely dark, sexy men though.

Visit page 3 of the blog at Juliana's website for drool-worthy photos of her inspiration! 

PJ: What’s next from Juliana Stone?

Right now I’m writing the next book after Declan’s and I’ve got an urban fantasy that is crying out to be written. I’ve sent the proposal to my agent and will cross my fingers she likes it!

Time for Quick Six!

Mountains or beach? Mountains
Heels or flats? Heels, in a big way!
Comedy or drama? drama
Early bird or night owl? Both actually
Winter or summer? Summer
Champagne or beer? Beer, cold corona with lime

Juliana, thank you so much for visiting with us today and patiently answering all of our questions. Is there a question you would like to ask our readers?

I’d love to know what they’d like to see next in the paranormal genre? Is there something different that’s not been done? 

Okay readers, tell us what you'd like to see in paranormal stories.  One randomly chosen commenter will receive a signed set of Juliana's jaguar warrior books, His Darkest Hunger and His Darkest Embrace! 

For more information about Juliana, visit her website, her facebook page and follow her at twitter. 

And don't miss Juliana live, On-Air, tomorrow night (Tuesday, Oct. 19th) at 8:30pm (EST) on Blog Talk Radio! 

~PJ and Gannon


 

Review - - His Darkest Embrace

His Darkest Embrace
Jaguar Warriors - Book #2
By Juliana Stone
Publisher: Avon
Release Date: October 26, 2010








In His Darkest Embrace, second in Juliana Stone’s Jaguar Warriors series, Stone plunges the reader back into the jungles of Belize for another intense, action packed, edge-of-your-seat battle between good and evil and a love story that defies all odds.

Wounded during a battle with the evil DaCosta jaguar shifters, Iraqi veteran and jaguar shapeshifter, Jagger Castille disappears into the Belize jungle. Weary of post-war stress and the human race in general, Jagger stays in jaguar form, living in the jungle and avoiding all human contact, including the family and friends who search for him. It’s only when he encounters a woman being attacked by DaCosta jaguars that he reverts to human form to rescue her and, once rescued, Jagger discovers he doesn’t want to let her go. He’s already lost one young woman who he had vowed to protect. He’s not about to lose another.

Elite eagle warrior, Skye Knightly, is on a mission. For centuries, eagle warriors have been the keepers of the portal between the human and demon worlds. Now the portal is at risk and it falls to Skye to find the portal and seal it forever to prevent the horror and destruction that will ensue if the demon world is unleashed upon mankind. The last thing she needs is a jaguar shifter shadowing her every step, intent upon protecting her just because he saved her life.

With Skye and Jagger, Stone has created the ultimate “opposites attract” story. As an eagle shifter, Skye has been taught from birth to fear and distrust the jaguar, her natural enemy. Yet now, she finds herself inexplicably drawn to a jaguar who shares her ever-deepening attraction. But she won’t give in easily. Skye and Jagger are both strong, independent warriors, used to calling the shots and not depending on another for protection. As you can imagine, this is a volatile and fiery combination. I loved it!

The love scenes between the two warriors sizzle, the intensity of the race through the jungle had me holding my breath and the hopelessness of their love broke my heart. For only one thing will save the world from the demon invasion: an eagle warrior sacrifice. When Skye seals the portal she will be sucked into the horrors of the demon underworld…forever.

Once again, Juliana Stone has written an intense, emotional and sizzling hot story with non-stop action, chilling villains (I hope never to meet one of her demons!) and plenty of story twists and surprises along the way. His Darkest Embrace kept me reading long into the night and left me counting the days until the release of the next book in the series. I can’t wait!

While His Darkest Embrace stands on its own, for a more complete understanding of the story, I highly recommend reading the previous book in the series, His Darkest Hunger, first.

Thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins/Avon for providing an advanced copy of His Darkest Embrace for review.

~PJ

Today's Special - - Lori Brighton

Today, we're happy to welcome Lori Brighton to The Romance Dish!  Lori is the author of the historical romance, Wild Heart (Kensington - Nov. 2009).  She's here today to tell us about her new paranormal contemporary, The Ghost Hunter, a Kindle e-book she has self-published through Amazon and she's generously  giving e-copies of The Ghost Hunter to two random commenters on today's blog.  Thanks, Lori! 

Learn more about Lori at her website.  









The New Self Publishing

A few years ago the idea of self publishing brought with it all kinds of negativity. The common agreement was that self published authors would be forced to spend money printing their books only to be left with hundreds of copies and a hole the size of Texas in their wallet. With the popularity of E-readers, companies like Amazon and Smashwords have changed the self publishing world. What makes this new form of self publishing different? Self publishing an E-book on a place like Amazon costs the author no money.

Even New York published authors have seen the benefit of self publishing their backlists and making a little extra cash. Check out designer and Kensington author Kimberly Killion’s site:

http://www.hotdamndesigns.com/bookcovers.asp

Notice anyone familiar? Kim has designed book covers for quite a few E-authors, some of which are self publishing their backlists and she’s getting orders from even more authors.

A friend of mine and self published author, Edie Ramer, was the first to tell me about the new self publishing world. When she introduced me to Zoe Winters, I realized just how well a self published author could do. Zoe has found great popularity with her three romance novellas. Amanda Hocking is another author who has actually been able to make a living off of her self published young adult books. And when my friend H.P. Mallory self published her two paranormal books and immediately started making good money, I finally decided to give it a try.

My debut historical romance, Wild Heart, had been published by Kensington. But I had a contemporary paranormal romance, The Ghost Hunter, which was just sitting on my computer. I figured why not self publish it? And so a month ago, I became not only an Ebook author, but a self published author.

Self publishing isn’t for everyone and of course not everyone will have success. Both Amazon and Smashwords have guidelines on how to format your books for their sites. Still, if you’re computer illiterate like me, the formatting can be difficult. You’ll have to edit your own book and spend hours promoting.

As a reader, what should you look for if you want to buy a self published book? The same thing you look for when you buy a printed book; recommendations. Read the blurbs and excerpts, read the reviews, and ask for opinions. As self publishing is becoming more popular, don’t be surprised if one of your favorite authors ends up self publishing her next novel.

To celebrate the release of my self published book, I’m giving away two E-copies of The Ghost Hunter. Interested in a blurb? Here it is!

When Ashley Hunter inherits the Inn where her father mysteriously vanished years ago, she jumps at the chance to finally uncover the truth about his disappearance. But soon after taking ownership of the decrepit building, Ashley realizes she’s in for far more than she bargained. Not only has she inherited answers to many sought-after questions, she’s also inherited spirits, demons and even fallen angels! Then Cristian arrives, a gorgeous man who insists he merely needs a room to rent. She believes him, until one by one her ghosts start disappearing...

As a fallen angel destined for a life of servitude, Cristian Lucius is relegated to protecting earth from unwanted spirits. But he can’t accomplish this daunting task alone. He requires assistance from the very woman who frustrates him as much as she intrigues him. Cristian is determined to ignore his intense attraction for Ashley, and focus on his mission. If they don’t work together, they won’t have a chance in hell of defeating the demon threatening their lives. The problem is getting Ashley to trust him. No easy task, considering Cristian is the very man responsible for her father’s disappearance.

So feel free to leave a question about the self publishing world and I’ll try to answer. Or just leave a comment!

Thanks for blogging with us today, Lori and clearing up a few questions I'm sure we all had about self publishing.   I love the premise of your new book.  Good thing I have an Amazon gift card just waiting to be used! :)

Remember, two people who leave comments today will each win an e-copy of Lori's new paranormal contemporary,  The Ghost Hunter!

STOCK UP SATURDAY REVIEWS

It's Stock Up Saturday!  That means it's time to share some of the good books we've been reading lately.  As you can see from the photo, Rachel raided the TBR stash when PJ wasn't looking and apparently found some mouth-watering new stories to enjoy but since she hasn't quite mastered the keyboard yet, telling you about them is still the job of the two-legged Dishies around here. Here are this month's selections.

My Give A Damn’s Busted
Honky Tonk Series - Book 3
By Carolyn Brown
Publisher:  Sourcebooks Casablanca
Release Date:  October 1, 2010

Carolyn Brown takes us back to the tiny town of Mingus, Texas where the Honky Tonk beer joint revs up for more country fun, fireworks and, just maybe, another happy ending.

Larissa Morley doesn’t have time for a man in her life. The sassy, straight-talkin’ owner of the Honky Tonk is too busy trying to stop rich Dallas businessman, Hayes Radner from buying up her town and turning it into an amusement park. But Larissa starts to re-think her position when a sweet and sexy rancher moves to town. Yes, ma’am, Hank Wells just may be the cowboy to rope Larissa’s heart for good.

For as long as he can remember, Henry Hayes Radner Wells has spent one month every summer at his father’s ranch near Mingus, Texas but this year he’s there for one reason only: to find the weaknesses that will convince the property owners, especially Honky Tonk owner, Larissa Morley, to sell their property to his mother’s company. But the longer Hank spends with Larissa, the more he likes her and the worse he feels about deceiving her. When the truth comes out, who will he turn out to be? Hank, the charming rancher who touched her heart? Or Hayes, the ruthless and arrogant corporate shark intent on ruining her town? And will either of them have any chance of mending her broken heart and bringing another happy-ever-after to the Honky Tonk?

Pick up a copy of My Give A Damn's Busted for some red-hot lovin' and down home delight!

~PJ

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A Hellion in Her Bed
Hellions of Halstead Hall – Book 2
By Sabrina Jeffries
Publisher: Pocket Star
Release Date: September 21, 2010

Take one strong-willed woman determined to see her grandchildren happily married, equally determined grandchildren dead-set on avoiding marriage plus a slowly unraveling mystery surrounding the tragic and scandalous deaths of their parents nineteen years earlier and you have another fascinating series from one of my favorite historical authors, Sabrina Jeffries.

Lord Jarret Sharpe has a frozen soul. His passion had always been the family brewery that he thought would be his but after the death of his parents when he was thirteen, his grandmother, wanting better for him, shipped him off to school where he was lost, miserable and alone. So Jarret turned his life to cards and, later, to women, becoming indifferent to everything and everyone while his grandmother successfully ran the brewery for the past nineteen years. But now, with his grandmother’s illness, Jarret finds himself exactly where he has always dreamed of being, in charge, even if temporarily, of the family brewery and he’s not about to risk that position, and the family company, by agreeing to Annabell Lake’s crazy proposition.

Annabel Lake has no intention of ever marrying. Her brother may be the head of the family brewery but Annabel is the one in charge. She’s needed to keep the brewery running, to keep her brother’s drinking problem from becoming known and for more important reasons that will be always be a closely held secret. She’s developed an ale that will keep the family brewery from failing but she needs the help of a larger, more successful brewery for distribution which leads her to Jarret Sharpe and, when the man turns her down, to a scandalous wager: a game of cards with the stakes being one night in her bed against his help with her family’s brewery. Jarret has never been able to refuse a wager but will accepting this one be the biggest mistake of his life or will it lead him to more happiness than he could have imagined?

I thoroughly enjoyed Annabel and Jarret’s deeply emotional story and can’t wait for Minerva’s story next. I highly recommend the Hellions of Halstead Hall!

~PJ

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Indulgence In Death
By J.D. Robb
Publisher: Putnam
Release Date: November 2, 2010

Lieutenant Eve Dallas and her husband Roarke (yes, he only needs one name) have just returned from a long overdue vacation, but death never takes a holiday, as Eve well knows. She has barely had time to get back in the groove at work when she is called to investigate the death of a limousine driver, which in and of itself is not so unusual. But the fact that the victim has been killed with a crossbow makes this a not-so-run-of-the-mill murder. Other unique murders soon follow: a high-priced escort found in the House of Horrors at Coney Island, killed with a bayonet to the heart; a well-known and uber-exclusive chef killed by a harpoon; an elite event planner hanged with a bullwhip. Eve is now on the trail of a killer who murders strictly for the thrill, and one who appreciates and indulges in the luxurious things that life has to offer. Once again, Eve has to be one step ahead of the killer in order to stop the next murder, which may hit a little too close to home.

With this 31st novel in her In Death series, J.D. Robb continues to find new and unconventional murders for Eve to solve. This is, by far, my favorite ongoing series, for so many reasons: the futuristic setting (so many cool gadgets), the action and suspense, the always interesting cast of secondary characters, and the sizzling passion of Eve and Roarke. Quite simply, I lust after Roarke; he is the epitome of the perfect man. His and Eve’s marriage is not perfect; they argue and disagree like most couples, but it is their soul deep love for one another that touches my heart. This one passage---which had me weeping (on pg. 24 no less!)---defines that love to a tee.

“I can’t thank you enough. There isn’t enough thanks. I can’t say what this means to me, even to you. I don’t have the words for it.” He took her hands, brought them to his lips. “A ghra. You stagger me.”

“So it’s good.”

He framed her face now, touched his lips to her brow. Then looked in her eyes and spoke in Irish.


“Come again?”


When he smiled it lit her up. “I said, you’re the beat of my heart, the breath in my body, the light in my soul.”


Moved to melting, she took his wrists. “Even when I’m the pain in your ass?”

“Particularly then.” He turned to study the plaque. “It’s lovely. Simple and lovely.”

Sigh . Is it any wonder I’m crazy about Roarke?? If you’ve never read this series, you are missing out on one of the best there is.

~ Gannon

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The Year of Living Scandalously
Secrets of Hadley Green, Book 1
By Julia London
Publisher: Pocket
Release Date: October 19, 2010


In 1792, the village of Hadley Green executed a man for stealing the Countess of Ashwood’s historic jewels. Fifteen years later, questions still linger. Was it a crime of greed—or of passion?

Keira Hannigan has always longed for a life of adventure and excitement, and she doesn’t think she’ll find it at home in Ireland. When her cousin Lily inherits the Ashwood estate and becomes countess, she asks Keira to go to England in her place and take care of matters while Lily goes to Italy. Keira is more than willing to go, thinking that this is her chance to really live. When she arrives at Ashwood, everyone assumes she’s Lily, and before Keira can correct them, she finds herself playing the role of the Countess of Ashwood. But Keira’s grand adventure is suddenly not as fun as she thought, especially when she fears discovery.

Declan O’Connor, Earl of Donnelly arrives in Hadley Green to purchase a horse for his client, a Danish count. Declan is a renowned horse breeder in both his native Ireland and England, but due to a serious case of wanderlust, he never stays in one place long. Expecting to meet the Countess of Ashwood, Declan is stunned to find himself face to face with Keira Hannigan, the beautiful, impertinent creature he has known all her life. Furious with her impersonation of her cousin, Declan threatens to reveal Keira’s true identity. Keira begs him to keep her secret and help her discover where the missing Ashwood jewels are. The more she learns, Keira fears that the man who was hanged for the theft was, in fact, innocent. The mystery of the jewels is soon overshadowed by Keira’s new neighbor, Lord Eberlin, who knows her true identity and threatens to expose her lies.

Keira and Declan share a painful episode from their past which creates tension and discontent, but their undeniable attraction for one another overrides that. And when they give into passion…it is unbelievably hot and incredibly tender. Ms. London has penned a delightful read for this first installment of her new series. And she leaves readers hanging with a jaw-dropping cliffhanger that will have them waiting with bated breath for the next book. Here’s hoping we won’t have long to wait.

~ Gannon

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The Darkest Hour
by Maya Banks
Publisher: Berkley
Release Date: September 7, 2010


It has been a year since ex-Navy SEAL Ethan Kelly received the news of his wife’s untimely death in a South American plane crash. Ethan has spent the year grieving for his wife and regretting the last conversation they shared. Even the love of his close-knit family, which includes five brothers, hasn’t brought much comfort to Ethan. Hope surges in Ethan when he receives a mysterious package of pictures, including recent pictures of his wife Rachel being held hostage. Determined to rescue his wife, Ethan employs his brothers, who own and operate an elite secret operative group, to assist him. But rescuing Rachel is just the beginning. Addicted to drugs forced on her by the drug cartel, Rachel’s memory is but a blur. Ethan must not only protect Rachel from attempts on her life, but also show her why they are meant to be together. Forever.


This is one action-packed novel, filled with explosives, intrigue and terror. But Maya Banks balances all that testosterone with a healthy dose of love remembered and renewed.

~Buffie

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Dark Viking
by Sandra Hill
Publisher: Berkley
Release Date: October 5, 2010


Ex-stunt woman Rita Sawyer is kicking butt during basic training for WEALS (Navy SEALs for Women), but while on an ocean maneuver, Rita is knocked out cold when she hits her head on jutting rocks. When Rita finally comes through she finds herself transported back in time to the Norselands and surrounded by Viking warriors.


Steven of Norstead has been depressed since the lost of his brother, Thorfinn. In an attempt to lift his spirits, Steven and a good friend go plundering along the coast. During their journey they come upon Rita crumbled upon some rocks along the shore. But these Viking men don’t see a beautiful woman. Nope, they see Rita in her wet suit and fins and immediately assume she is some type of sea monster with webbed feet. And thus the comical interaction (and subsequent love story) between a feminist from 2010 and a Viking warlord begins. Needless to say, quite a few things were lost in translation between Rita and Steven. There are so many funny scenes, including a group of Viking women doing line dancing.


This book is full of humor that will have you laughing out loud and love that will have you sighing with every page you turn. Sandra Hill does a glorious job of showing the read that love has no bounds – including time travel!

~Buffie

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Luck Be a Lady
By: Cathie Linz
Publisher: Berkley Sensation
Release Date: October 5, 2010

Chicago librarian Megan West is determined that her cousin (and best friend), Faith, will have the perfect wedding, especially after Faith’s last groom ditched her at the altar. The Las Vegas wedding goes off with only a small hitch—Logan Doyle, a Chicago police detective and grandson of the best man, interrupts thinking that his grandfather is the one getting married. The no-nonsense Megan takes the situation in hand and everything turns out well. Until she overhears something her uncle tells her father at the reception: “Trust me, you did the right thing letting Megan think her mother is dead.” This blows Megan’s mind, because she has always thought her mother died when she was two years old. Shaken, Megan runs off wanting to just get away when she bumps into Logan. He sees how upset she is and takes her to a restaurant to calm down. She explains the situation to him (despite her slight aversion to cops) and how she wants to find her mother and Logan immediately jumps into action, as he has always had a weakness for damsels in distress. This leads them on a madcap road trip through Nevada to a brothel (where they get a little information) and then stranded in a small town straight out of the Twilight Zone called Last Resort, population: not many. After a brief (and very weird) stint there, Megan and Logan find their way back to Vegas to catch their flights home. Now that they’re back in Chicago, can they work together to find Megan’s mother . . . and possibly more? Or will they fight their obvious mutual attraction and allow their pasts to hold them back?

Luck Be a Lady is a cute, fun, and fast-paced story featuring two characters that start off at odds, complete with tension-filled banter, and eventually discover that they are what the other needs. Throw in some colorful supporting characters and some devoted family members and you’ve got yourself one enjoyable book!

~Andrea

Hot Dish for October

Do you see it?

Here. Right here (pointing to my forehead).

(rolling eyes) No, it doesn't say "loser" this time -- that's a blog for another day.

Look again.

Yes (nodding), the word on my forehead clearing says "sucker". And this time I would have to agree.

Yep, I'm a sucker for an attractive man.

I think by now all of you know that I fall quickly for a good looking guy. It really doesn't take too much for me :-) So you really shouldn't be surprised when I tell you about the latest Hot Dish. See, I found him on television, starring in a new show. I looked up and there he was . . . in all his Hot Dishiness glory.

Boris Kodjoe stars as Steven Bloom in NBC's newest television spy series, Undercovers. The show follows married couple Steven and Samantha Bloom, former special operatives who have been pulled back into the spy game. Many have termed this the new Hart to Hart. But this show is not just another espionage show. Nope, it has a couple key elements that always draw me in -- humor and sexy appeal. In fact, the cast has termed a new word that best describes the espionage on this show -- sexpionage. It sure fits!!




Any way, here are a few interesting facts about Hot Dish Boris.

~ born in Vienna, Austria

~ attended college on a tennis scholarship

~ was named one of People's 50 Most Beautiful People in the World in 2002

~ was a former fashion model

~ best known as one of the regulars on Showtime's drama Soul Food.

If you haven't watched Undercovers yet, be sure to to check it out -- Wednesdays at 8 p.m. I think by the end of the show you will be falling for Boris too. Take my word!

~ Buffie

Review -- Seducing the Duchess

Seducing the Duchess
by Ashley March
Publisher: Signet
Release Date: October 5, 2010









“For a moment, he couldn’t move. For a moment, he forgot he was the ninth Duke of Rutherford, cold and disciplined and born to uphold the honor of his forefathers – a man trained since childhood to resist his baser instincts, to resist the call of temptation.”









Three years have passed since Charlotte, Duchess of Rutherford, was devastated and heartbroken by the man of her dreams the day after their wedding. Instead of hiding away and dwelling on the pain, Charlotte has spent the last three years providing scandalous entertainment by carousing, gambling and posing for nude portraits. While revenge is one reason for such behavior, Charlotte main goal in acting in a very un-Duchess like way is to convince her husband to obtain a petition for divorce.

Philip Burgess, Duke of Rutherford, has finally had enough. Enough of his lovely wife sharing her charms with every man in England (except him). Enough of being the laughing stock of the ton. Enough of being the stoic, unfeeling Duke. In order to take matters into his own hands, Philip does the unthinkable – he storms into a gambling den, trusses up his wife like a Christmas goose and kidnaps her. Hoping three months in the country will provide him the right opportunity; Philip puts his plan in motion – seducing his Duchess.

Determined to win back the favor of his wife and make amends for the mistakes of the past, Philip tries everything he can think of to seduce his Duchess. But when all his efforts are thwarted, Philip has only one idea left – grant Charlotte the divorce she has been requesting for the last three years in exchange for coaching him on the qualities of a good husband.

Both Philip and Charlotte have their masks and walls firmly in place as each have been hurt by the other repeatedly. It is so hard for either one of them to cut the binds that restrict them and to show their true, vulnerable selves to one another. But there is not much else to do in the country except interact with those around you. So, little by little, the walls start to crumble and the masks slowly drop as Philip and Charlotte begin to respond to each other in a genuine way. It takes strength and courage to own up to one’s mistakes and as Philip and Charlotte see glimpses of these qualities in each other, they gently reveal their special love.

Here’s a scene where Philip takes off his mask and finally voices his emotion.

“When I am with you I must pretend I am content to merely be in your presence. When, in fact, there is nothing I want more than to kiss you, to touch you. To believe, if for only one moment, that you are truly mine. Not because you are bound to me by the laws of marriage, but because you desire me as much as I desire you.” He made a feral sound—almost like an animal in pain. “Even now, I must hold on to this chair. A flimsy piece of furniture, but it reminds me to be civilized. Because if I were not—God knows, neither your hatred nor your disgust would keep me from you.”

And here’s a scene where Charlotte allows herself to see her husband as man and not a Duke.

“A roguish grin crossed his lips, and Charlotte sucked in a breath at the sight of it. It transformed his face – gone was the ducal veneer, the aristocratic posing and the duty-bound polish. In its place was a man who could melt a woman’s heart with one glance of his liquid silver eyes, who could have her quivering and helpless in his arms just because he said her name in that dark, velvet-edged voice of his”

This is an emotional story of second chance love that will have you cheering on both characters. Philip and Charlotte are characters that I liked from the beginning, even though each of them acted horribly to the other in the past. But through her wonderful writing, Ms. March shows the readers the true, emotional reasons behind the wrongs of the past and the genuine interest of both Philip and Charlotte to find and hold fast to their own happily ever after.

This debut novel is one that everyone should enjoy! So give yourself a few hours of pleasurable reading . . . go buy the book!


~ Buffie