Va-Va-Voom Venetia!

by Anna Campbell

As most of you know, we had a very WET Christmas and New Year here in Queensland where I live. By the way, if anyone would like to contribute to the flood appeal, here's the link:

http://www.qld.gov.au/floods/donate.html

A lot of people have had a very tragic start to 2011. My new year was in complete contrast. I had a lovely opportunity to curl up with the TBR pile and really make some inroads. What fun!

I'm gradually re-reading all the Georgette Heyers. In Australia (is it the same in North America?), if you're a woman of a certain age, reading Georgette is a rite of passage. It's highly likely your older sister or your mother passed the books on to you as a sacred trust when you were a girl. Georgette was also a staple of libraries, especially school libraries in girls' schools - yes, I'm speaking from experience here. Georgette helped brighten a few miserable days at boarding school!

My mother gave me my first Georgette Heyer when I was nine or ten. It was POWDER AND PATCH which is an odd choice - it's fun but I don't think it's her best work. But the next book was one I fell in love with - the classic THESE OLD SHADES featuring the enchanting Leonie (who actually deserves to be called a minx!) and the jaded, compelling, rather nasty Duke of Avon. After that, I was hooked and read everything I could get my hands on.

Fast forward to my late 20s when a friend had collected every GH and lent them to me for a reading binge. Lovely to rediscover how enchanting those books are! A few years after that, I got hold of all her mystery novels which are also fun. They feature the wit and elegance of her Regencies although without the frocks!

Anyway, I'm slowly starting to re-read the Georgette Heyers once more - I'm always shocked at how little detail I remember from the original stories. The blame for this current Heyer craze lies firmly with the Romance Dishes who asked me to review a new edition of DEVIL'S CUB a year ago. Here's the link to the review:

http://www.theromancedish.com/search/label/Devil%27s%20Cub

First up over the Christmas break, I read THE GRAND SOPHY, a sparkling romance that had me laughing out loud. Sophy is a really gutsy heroine who knows her own mind and is used to getting her own way. I think would appeal strongly to a reader who hadn't read GH before.

But the book I'm actually reviewing (if I ever get to the end of this long intro - hope you're still with me!) is the story I decided was my favorite back when my friend lent me her complete collection. Which made it extremely odd when I read it a week or so ago and realized just how much of the story I'd forgotten.

Something I hadn't mistaken, though, is that Venetia is definitely one of the most romantic of the Heyers. In THE GRAND SOPHY, much of the focus is on the comedy of manners surrounding the outrageous Sophy and her staider cousins. In VENETIA, while of course, you still get that delicious comedy, the attention is much more on the emotional lives of the central characters.

Beautiful Venetia Lanyon has led an isolated life in Yorkshire. Her father was a hermit and now she's left to run the estate in the absence of her elder brother who's off having a good time on the Continent. Her younger brother, bookish and self-centered (VENETIA is replete with self-centered males - the only male who pays attention to anyone's needs but his own is the notorious rake Damerel which is just one of many ironies in the story) and afflicted with a limp, is her only company apart from two unappealing suitors from neighboring estates.

Into this quiet, self-contained world bursts Lord Damerel who owns the estate next door. He's a man with an appalling reputation sparked when he eloped at the age of 22 with a married woman. His wild behavior in the 16 years since has become the scandal of the nation. Venetia, who is spirited and intelligent and bored, immediately falls head over heels for this glamorous wastrel. And of course, the glamorous wastrel falls head over heels for her. Nobody except Venetia is pleased with this state of affairs and the plot revolves around various well-meaning attempts to separate Venetia from the man to whom she's given her heart.

The characterization in this story is exquisite. Venetia is a darling. She may be unworldly but she's smart and brave and knows exactly what she's doing. Damerel is such a sexy hero! And it's wonderful watching this self-indulgent rake lose his heart to an innocent then try in his hamfisted way to protect her from himself. An effort hampered by the fact that the last thing Venetia wants is to be protected from the man she loves!

I was talking to my friend Christine Wells and she pointed out something that struck me as well. How this book is over 50 years old yet seems as fresh and modern as something written yesterday.

If you haven't read VENETIA, grab a copy. You'll love it - and you'll fall in love with the rakish Damerel, I bet! This book is a treat from beginning to end.

Oh, and speaking of treats, if you like to listen to audiobooks, VENETIA is available with the gorgeous Richard Armitage reading. Here's a link to the Amazon page:

http://www.amazon.com/Venetia/dp/B003MSCSFM/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1295222655&sr=8-7

Goodness, that's almost too much of a good thing! Be still, my beating heart!

So have you read VENETIA? Do you have a favorite Georgette Heyer? And why do rakes make the most delicious heroes?

Stock Up Saturday Winners

Random.org has chosen the winners from our Stock Up Saturday review blog and they are...

Pamela Keener

and

Sheree

Congratulations!  Pamela, you've won a copy of Toni Blake's Whisper Falls and Sheree, you've won an ARC of Animal Magnetism by Jill Shalvis!  Please send your full name and mailing address, with the name of the book you've won in the subject line, to theromancedishATgmailDOTcom.

Guest Review - - When Beauty Tamed the Beast

When Beauty Tamed the Beast
By Eloisa James
Publisher: Avon
Release Date: January 25, 2011

In When Beauty Tamed the Beast, her second fairytale-based romance novel, Eloisa James combines elements of the traditional story with subtle subversions of it to weave a tale rich with humor, high in sizzle factor, and substantive in its portrayal of love as a healing, transforming power.

Linnet Thrynne possesses the kind of beauty that bemuses and enchants men from commoners to princes, but even so great a beauty as Linnet’s cannot overcome the disgrace of a shattered reputation. Her desperate father arranges her betrothal to Piers Yelverton, Earl of Marchant, known in London as “the Beast” and sends her off to Wales where the Beast, supposedly sexually impotent, terrorizes most of those within and around his castle.

Within pages of meeting one another, Linnet and Piers agree they will not be marrying one another. Of course, the rest of the book is devoted to their discovering that what each most truly desires is to spend a lifetime together. Between first meeting and HEA, the reader will find the kind of banter possible only between two intelligent people with a keen sense of humor, the gradual revelation of the individuals beneath their cultivated surfaces, and a cast of wonderful secondary characters. I adore the butler. (Only Eloisa James would create a butler and name him Prufrock.)

Scholars have identified 179 Beauty and the Beast tales from different countries, and most romance readers can easily list several favorite treatments of the tale. James’s take on the story is unique among those I’ve read. Traditionally, the heroine is the youngest of three sisters, and her virtue equals her beauty. James begins her story with Linnet’s virtue being questioned, and Linnet’s beauty has a sensual quality that is a marked contrast to the more typical innocent beauty. Her aunt says to her, “That dimple, and something in your eyes and about your mouth. You look like a wanton.” While Beauty is often described as a booklover (Think Disney’s Belle), Linnet’s intelligence is as important as her beauty in WBTTB. It marks her as a misfit in London society. Her aunt cautions her, “I’ve told you time and time again, all that cleverness does you no good. People would like a lady to be beautiful, but they expect her to be ladylike, in short: sweet, compliant, and refined.” One of the ways the reader understands that Linnet belongs in Piers’s world is that the intelligence, tartness, assertiveness, and earthiness that had to be hidden in the polite world are the very qualities that make her a suitable match for the Beast.

Piers is no more a conventional Beast than Linnet is a conventional Beauty. I’m quite certain he’s the first Beast who is a practicing physician. The Beast most often is imaged as a lion-like creature, although some versions have portrayed him a looking like a bear, a warthog, and an elephant. Piers, on the other hand, looks rough and uncivilized, but Linnet is aware of his physical appeal and power almost immediately.

Her first impression of the rude man was that he was big—huge, in fact. The blond doctor was tall and lean, but this man was even taller, and much bigger. His shoulders seemed twice as wide as those of the other men. He was all muscle, with a kind of predatory force that looked out of place next to a sickbed. In fact, he looked as if he should be out leading hordes of Vikings . . . berserking, or whatever it was those men did for a living.

James reveals in her “Historical Note” that the cantankerous Piers with his crippled leg was inspired not by earlier Beasts but by TV’s Dr. Gregory House. House fans will recognize similarities to the acerbic doctor in the Beast’s difficult relationship with his father, his battle with chronic pain, his skills as a diagnostician, and his disregard for medical protocol as well as in his temperament and sharp wit.

James also does some interesting gender role reversal in her tale. It is Linnet, not Piers, who undergoes a physical transformation, and it is she who asks the question traditionally posed by the Beast: do you love me? In the most emotionally powerful scene in the book, it is Piers who finds Linnet and brings water to revive her. The most traditional part of WBTTB may well be the ending when once again love proves redemptive and a fruitful marriage provides the HEA.

As she did with A Kiss at Midnight, James has once again blended bits of an ancient story with historical details and the most cherished conventions of romance fiction to create a witty, allusive, emotional, sexy novel that bears her signature traits. Fans who have come to expect an outdoor love scene will be pleased, as will those who anticipate with pleasure the subplots that add complexity. If you’re an EJ fan already, run, do not walk, to your nearest book source. If you’ve never read Eloisa James, I highly recommend this book.

~Janga 

PJ here:  Thank you, Janga for that wonderful review!  Because I loved this book so much too, I'm giving away a copy to one randomly chosen person who leaves a comment today.  

Maggie Robinson Winner

Romance Girl

You've won a hardcover edition of Mistress By Midnight from Maggie Robinson!  

Please send your full name and mailing address (with Maggie Robinson Winner in the subject line) to

theromancedishATgmailDOTcom.

Stock Up Saturday Reviews

Baby, it's cold outside! Here in the U.S., we've been battling snow, ice and freezing temperatures. Perfect weather for curling up on the couch with a warm blanket and a good book. Here are a few that we recommend.

Animal Magnetism
By Jill Shalvis
Publisher: Berkley
Release Date: February 1, 2011


Brady Miller’s ideal Saturday was pretty simple---sleep in, be woken by a hot, naked woman for sex, followed by a breakfast that he didn’t have to cook.

With that first sentence---which made me chuckle---I was hooked. Brady Miller is prior military (Army Special Forces), a pilot-for-hire, and photographer. Oh, and he’s also tall, dark, and handsome. He returns to Sunshine, Idaho to visit his foster brothers, Adam and Dell. Brady doesn’t plan on staying long, which is how he likes to live his life. Free, simple, and no complications. But all that changes when he has a run in with the local kennel owner.

Lilah Young is the co-owner of the only kennel in the small, charming town of Sunshine. Perpetually broke, but dedicated to the animals she cares for, Lilah gives new meaning to the phrase “burning the candle at both ends.” And now she runs into the back of a truck parked at the local convenience store. Even worse, the owner of the truck sees it all happen in living color. But when Lilah meets Brady Miller, owner of said truck, she forgets all about how bad she feels, because he makes her feel something else entirely...all hot and bothered.

This is the start of a new contemporary series by Jill Shalvis, who writes some of the hottest, wittiest books out there. I told my husband how much I loved this book, and he said, “I could tell. You kept laughing out loud.” Very true. Brady and Lilah are such “real” characters that I couldn’t help but fall in love with both of them. Lilah is someone I could definitely picture being friends with. She’s loyal, loving, and independent, but she can’t help falling for Brady. I know how she feels. Big, tough, no-strings-attached Brady falls hard for Lilah and her menagerie of animals. How are you supposed to resist a man like that?

Pick up a copy of Animal Magnetism and treat yourself to a few hours of laughter, sizzling sex, and happily-ever-after romance.

~ Gannon

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

How to Marry a Duke
By Vicky Dreiling
Publisher: Forever
Release Date: January 4, 2011

After thirteen years of working hard to put the family’s coffers to rights, Tristan Gatewick, Duke of Shelbourne, realizes it is time that he marry and produce the required heir. At almost thirty-one, the dukedom has been at risk for too long. Yet he doesn’t want any of the giggling misses who constantly drop their handkerchiefs, fans, and gloves whenever he passes. He wants a woman of substance. One who is an angel in the ballroom and a temptress in private. And love is not necessary. So, he acquires the help of matchmaker, Tessa Mansfield. She has successfully paired several couples, including the most recent match of her dear friend and a marquess. When the duke approaches Tessa in regards to finding him a bride, she can’t refuse as this match would absolutely make her career. She assembles 24 eligible ladies for him to narrow down and settle on one. During the process, Tessa and Tristan spend a lot of time together . . . which leads to more than just an employer/employee relationship. Tristan is stuck between a rock and a hard place with keeping his promise (which, if broken would bring scandal to his family) and his growing feelings for Tessa. Tessa, on the other hand, is struggling with doing what is right for the duke, her own feelings for him, and a secret from her past that could destroy everything.

Touted as The Bachelor in Regency England, How to Marry a Duke is Vicky Dreiling’s debut and I found it to be quite entertaining. Tessa and Tristan were engaging and had me rooting for them and their relationship. The secondary characters (of which I’m sure the next book is about) were a great addition to the story. If you are a stickler for historical facts and accurateness, you may find fault with this story, but for me, this one was pure enjoyment.

~Andrea

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

Whisper Falls
Destiny Series - Book 3
By Toni Blake
Publisher: Avon
Release Date: December 28, 2010

When Tessa Sheridan's mysterious illness caused her to lose her dream job in the city she had no choice but to come home to Destiny and her mother's care. But she's beginning to learn to live with her now diagnosed Crohn's disease and is ready to stop being coddled by everyone and start living again. She moves into a house in the woods, starts her own interior design business (though no clients have shown up yet) and is contemplating taking a walk on the wild side by trying skydiving when the "wild side" moves in next door in the body of a long-haired, heavily muscled, tattooed and very sexy biker who has Tessa's internal engine ready to roar even while he scares the heck out of her, especially when she realizes who he is!

Lucky Romo has lived a rough life and done bad things since turning his back on Destiny almost twenty years ago - things that shame him, haunt him and almost certainly make him unfit to consider any kind of relationship with sweet, shy and oh-so-sexy Tessa Sheridan. But he can't seem to stop himself from flirting with her, and when she flirts back...let's just say the sparks are hot enough to set the forest on fire!

As they grow closer, Tessa begins to realize that there lies a good heart within the bad-boy biker. This is especially evident when we see his reaction when Tessa suffers an attack of her disease. (That's when he won my heart too.) Lucky's keeping secrets though: about why he's back in Destiny, what he did during all those years he was gone, why he hasn't spoken to his parents or brother (the hero of Sugar Creek) in all that time and why the past, if it catches up to him, could put Tessa and everyone else he cares about in danger. When all is finally revealed, will it be too much for a good girl to handle? Or will Tessa, his family and the people of Destiny be willing to give Lucky Romo a second chance?

Whisper Falls is a wonderful addition to Toni Blake's Destiny series. I have to admit, I was blown away by the first book in the series, One Reckless Summer and had serious doubts that Blake would be able to top that one but she's done it with Whisper Falls. I read it from cover to cover in one day. Could not put it down. Lucky and Tessa were so compelling, so complex; both emotionally wounded by the circumstances of their lives but survivors. I liked them, cheered for them, cried with them, yelled at them (hey, they deserved it!) and - finally - laughed, danced and sighed with delight over an absolutely perfect ending.

If you haven't read Toni Blake yet, now's the time to get started. I highly recommend this book and the previous two in the Destiny series: One Reckless Summer and Sugar Creek.

~PJ


What have you been reading lately? Any good books you'd recommend? We have an ARC of Animal Magnetism and a published copy of Whisper Falls to share today. Leave a comment on the blog and we'll use random.org to choose two winners!


Note: Please remember that ARCs (advanced reader copies) are not to be sold.

Today's Special -- Kimberly Killion

Reading, Writing, and Retreat!


Hello, ladies! Thanks for having me back on The Romance Dish. I’m visiting you from a B&B in Tim-buk-tu Missouri. I’m perched on the side of a bluff (not literally) overlooking the frozen Mississippi with a fresh dropping of 10 inches of snow on the ground. The birds are fat and the company I’ve surrounded myself with is brilliant! Stick around…

One of the best perks of being an author is having great friends to share your grins and groans with. Aside from passing emails back and forth between critique partners and hooking up at conference, the best perk is going away on a retreat. That’s where I’m at now and this one has been an adventure like no other. Of course, I’m sharing company with some of the greatest minds in the biz. Eileen Dreyer, who has NEVER A GENTLEMAN coming out in March is always entertaining. The brilliant mind of Elizabeth Grayson never ceases to amazing me. Then I’m fortunate enough to be sharing company with Carol Monk and the infamous Patricia Rice. And if they aren’t entertaining enough, Angie Fox is always good for a laugh.

We started out drawing straws to see who got to brainstorm first. I won! And I got some amazing feedback for my next story I started yesterday! Woo-hoo! I’m going to remain all mysterious about the story. Holla all you want, but that’s just how I roll. *vwg*

Next we moved on to Eileen’s next trilogy in the Drake’s Rake series…YES! There’s going to be more of those devilish stories. All I’ll tell you is that there’s a Drake and he’s a rake. I think you’ll all be excited to know that some of the great dames in Romance publishing, Elizabeth and Carol, and hard at work on new and exciting stories, and Patricia Rice is moving toward a contemporary psychic romance. Sounds cool, huh?!

And this afternoon, we brainstormed book two of Angie Fox’s next super series, THE MONSTER MASH! I’ll just say, for anyone who read the DEMON SLAYER series, this next series she is working on is going to blow you away!

Now, aside from brainstorming, we eat, and sleep, and write, and drink, and read, and eat, and write…well, you get the gist of it.

So, I know you all have questions. I've got the goods on these gals. What do you want to know...?

Don't miss all of Kimberly's newest releases:
Educating
Aphrodite







Taming a
Highland
Devil

His
Magick
Touch

Check out her website to learn more: http://www.kimberlykillion.com/

Today's Special -- Monica Burns

Does it feel like you're experiencing déjà vu? Don't worry, you're not. We are thrilled to welcome paranormal and historical author Monica Burns back to The Romance Dish again! This time she's dishing about her upcoming March release, Pleasure Me. This one is a sexy historical that has USA Today Bestselling author Julianne MacLean saying, "I loved every passionate, captivating word of Pleasure Me. I have never anticipated a love scene with such fervor before. This book will enchant you." Sounds delicious, doesn't it?! Read on to find out more....



Hi everyone! Wasn’t I just here a few days ago? Oh right! That was to tell everyone about my Pleasure Me With Romance Blog Party for those of you who love historical romance. I hope you’ve checked out the event, which started this past Monday. There are a lot of big names to come, including the spectacular Anna Campbell. I’m sure you’ll enjoy her post and all the others.

So today at the Romance Dish (thanks to the ladies here for having me back so quick), I’m here to talk up my upcoming March release Pleasure Me. It’s a little different from my recent books, and I thought I’d serve up my virgin hero in a unique way today.

Yep, a virgin hero. Now I’m not talking about him being roasted or fried and served up for dinner. I’m referring to a dish I concocted in honor of the ladies here. I’ve loved the recipes I’ve found here on the Dish, so I thought a “Book” recipe might be a little change of pace and fitting for this particular blog post.


Pleasure Me Cake

1 dark-haired younger virgin hero with a physical defect
1 well-experienced older heroine just dumped for younger woman
2 silk ribbons
1 hot seduction
3 villains who despise virgin hero
1 murder and a framed hero
1 sacrificed reputation
Several dozen well-cut diamonds
Dash of sweet orphans

Mix together younger virgin hero with older heroine to create sizzling sexual tension. Stir gently until it bubbles like melted chocolate. Add hot seduction with silk ribbons for a tie me up, blindfold me scene. Increase temperature and add villains, one murder victim, and a framed hero. Bring to steady boil then add sacrificed reputation to save recipe. Let cool and serve with diamonds and cute orphans.


So does this recipe sound like one you might like to try? What ingredient do you think will make this treat pleasure you the most?

*******

Pleasure Me
by Monica Burns

A courtesan afraid of true love…
And a gentleman ashamed of his true nature.

Youth and beauty are a courtesan’s greatest assets. At forty-one, Lady Ruth Attwood appears to have lost both, as her latest lover just abandoned her for a younger mistress. Struggling with the knowledge that she’s no longer considered desirable, she’s uncertain whether to be offended or flattered when a younger man makes her an unusual offer. In need of funds, she agrees. But then she does the unthinkable. She falls in love.

Despite his reputation as a man’s man, Baron Garrick Stratfield has never been with a woman. His physical impairment is such that he knows not even a whore will touch him, and he needs a mistress who’s willing to be kept without sharing his bed. But passion is just a delicious kiss away because his new mistress is wreaking havoc with his senses. Worse yet, someone is not only out to ruin his reputation, but frame him for murder.






And don't forget about Monica's Please Me With Romance Blog event going on NOW at her blog! Lots of great guest authors and lots of great prizes!

Review -- Sins of A Highland Devil

Sins of A Highland Devil
Highland Warriors, Book 1
By Sue-Ellen Welfonder
Publisher : Forever
Release Date: January 3, 2011

Three proud warriors locked in a struggle for victory...Three beguiling women united in their vow to restore peace...

In her compelling new trilogy, Sue-Ellen Welfonder transports readers to the Highlands of medieval Scotland where men are strong, brave, and honorable and their women stand beside them equally as brave and true, ready to defend all they hold dear.

Scotland's king has ordered the three clans---the Camerons, the MacDonalds, and the Mackintoshes---who reside in the Glen of Many Legends to fight in a battle to the death. The clan with the most men standing at the conclusion will reside in the glen while the others will be relocated. Of course, the king doesn't realize that even enemies will work together when they have a common goal, for no Highlander is willing to leave their home, the land that is as much a part of them as the beating of their heart and the breath that gives them life.


Something inside him cracked and split, flooding him with a white-hot determination such as he'd never known. Highlanders and their land were inseparable. His bond with these hills was deep, powerful, and impossible to sever. The Glen of Many Legends was more than just his home.

It was his soul.



James Cameron is the laird of his clan and is known by all as "The Devil", a man who shows no weakness, leading his men with duty, honor and courage. Surprisingly, he finds he has one weakness---a titian-haired lass more beautiful than any woman he has ever seen. James wants her with a passion he can't deny, except there's one problem; she is a MacDonald. But sometimes the desires of the heart are worth any price.


In the night, she'd taken his breath and his body. Here, in the open, and beneath the wild, roiling sky, she came near to capturing all of him. The morning breeze riffled her cloak, molding it to her curves. And her braids were beginning to loosen, the gleaming strands tumbling about her shoulders. It was a becoming dishevelment, more lovely than if she'd undone her plaits and arranged the glossy red curls with the sole intent of tempting him.

Almost, he believed she had.


Catriona MacDonald has secretly harbored feelings for James Cameron for many years, but how can she possibly love her sworn enemy? She protects her heart by verbally sparring with James every time they cross paths---and Catriona makes sure that happens often, brazen chit that she is---reminding him that they will never be more than enemies. Her brain may say that, but her heart and body tell a different story. Will logic or love emerge the victor? Seeing what's inside Catriona's and James' hearts makes it all very clear.


Torchlight fell across his raven hair but cast shadows over the proud lines of his face. The contrast suited him, making him look like he stood on the edge of light and darkness. He was a fallen angel come to tempt her. And she wanted to succumb. She drew a breath, sure she'd never seen a more beautiful man. Pure masculine power rolled off every inch of him, and his tall, broad-shouldered presence made her hot and shivery.

His magnificence overwhelmed her, sending desire racing through her.


While a clan battle was imminent and tension continued to build, it was Catriona's and James' battle of wills that swept me up and held me captive. Their verbal jousting made me laugh, and when they finally gave into their passion, it made me sigh. James is a quintessential Highland laird: proud, stubborn, honorable, and loyal to those he loves. Oh, and of course, he's verra sexy! Catriona is full of fire and sass, leading James a merry chase. She's independent and fiercely loyal to her clan, traits that frustrate James, but ones that he can't help but admire. The battle that James and Catriona are engaged in is one in which they both emerge the victor, stronger than before because they now have each other.

Sins of A Highland Devil is my first Sue-Ellen Welfonder book---how did that happen?---but it certainly won't be my last. I'm looking forward to the next two books in this trilogy. All of the secondary characters have been introduced, and I can't wait for them to have their moment in the spotlight: Alasdair MacDonald, Catriona's brother, ; Marjory Mackintosh and her brother Kendrew; and Isobel Cameron, James's sister. Two more Highland warriors and the two captivating women who will win their hearts. Oh, yes, I cannot wait!

~ Gannon

Today's Special - - Maggie Robinson

It's my pleasure today to welcome Maggie Robinson back to The Romance Dish.  According to the short bio at her website, Maggie is a former teacher, library clerk and mother of four who woke up in the middle of the night, absolutely compelled to create the perfect man and use as many adverbs as possible doing so. A transplanted New Yorker, she lives with her not-quite perfect husband in Maine, where the cold winters are ideal for staying inside and writing hot historical romances. We know her as the hard-working author of two sexy historical romance novels (with gorgeous covers!) and one novella (check out PJ's review here) as well as a regular blogger at Vauxhall Vixens and The Bradford  Bunch.  You can also find her on facebook and twitter.  Take it away, Maggie!


Dress for Success
By Maggie Robinson

Thanks so much for having me back at the delicious Romance Dish! I’m here today to talk about and give away a HARDCOVER edition of Mistress by Midnight, a rare and unusual commodity. Brava books are trade paperbacks, but Midnight was to be chosen as an alternate feature selection by the Rhapsody, Doubleday and Book of the Month clubs, and they’re published in hardcover. This sounds stupid, but I actually joined the book club so I could buy my own books, LOL. Lords of Passion, my anthology with Virginia Henley and Kate Pearce, also came out in hardcover from the clubs, and I had to buy it too.

As a former library clerk, holding a “real” book in my hand really made me feel like a “real” writer. I’m old enough to remember when paperbacks were dismissed with a sniff as not being worthy, which I totally disagree with—you’d have to tie me down and dose me with heavy-duty drugs to get me to read most literary fiction—but there is something to be said for the heft of a hardback book. Now I can squash spiders and prop open doors with ease. ;)

Mistress by Midnight, the second book in my Courtesan Court Trilogy, tells the tale of two teenaged lovers who are separated for over a decade. People often ask me where I get my inspiration. Most times, I have no answer, but in this case, working in a high school library during prom season sparked much of the early years of the book. The girls in the library came in to flip through the prom magazines I’d bought, looking for the “perfect dress.” My heroine Laurette looks for the perfect dress too—after her debut in it, she plans to get out of it and seduce the hero Con. She’s headstrong and foolhardy, feels invincible just like so many of the girls I saw every day. But the choices we make as young people often have results we don’t anticipate, and Con and Laurette’s journey to happily ever after is a long and bumpy one. For excerpts and more information about my books, please visit me at http://www.maggierobinson.net/ and my edgier alter ego, http://www.margaretrowe.net/.

Let’s talk about “magic” dresses to get us over life’s hurdles. What was your prom dress like, or what clothes do you have now that make you feel you can take on the world? My own prom dress was short and white with a pink lace overlay on the bodice. I wore dyed pink shoes and a pink bow in my hair (shudder). My spaghetti strap broke and I spent most of the night holding up the dress so my longline strapless bra wouldn’t show (this was before Madonna made that a non-issue). Now I’m most confident in skinny jeans, boots and long sweaters to cover what definitely isn’t skinny. ☺

Review - - How to Woo a Reluctant Lady

How to Woo a Reluctant Lady
Hellions of Halstead Hall – Book 3
By Sabrina Jeffries
Publisher: Pocket Books
Release Date: January 18, 2011

Nine-year-old Minerva Sharpe gave her heart to eighteen-year-old Giles Masters the day of her parents’ funeral when he held her hand throughout the entire service. On her nineteenth birthday, after being shaken by a kiss that Minerva blackmailed him into bestowing, Giles coldly walked away from her, unknowingly leaving her tender heart in pieces. That was the day that Minerva Sharpe declared war on Giles Masters.

Nine years later…

Opinionated, outspoken and firmly on the shelf, Minerva Sharpe is a walking, talking scandal. The successful author of gothic novels that she insists on publishing under her real name, Minerva is not about to cave to her grandmother’s scheme to marry off the Sharpe siblings and is full of ideas to thwart her. Her latest, however is about to backfire on her…big time. When Minerva advertises for a husband in The Ladies Magazine, she anticipates the resulting hoardes of men vying for the hand of an heiress will finally convince her grandmother to toss in the towel. What she never could have anticipated is the appearance of the man who broke her young heart, provided the inspiration for the villain of her books and, now, appears intent on marrying her!

As a young man, determined to bring to justice the man who engineered his father's financial ruin and suicide, Giles Masters stole documents from a member of the ton, only to be caught in the act by Minerva Sharpe.  That night was the beginning of a double life for Giles.  For the next nine years, he built a successful law practice by day while drinking, gambling and carousing his way through London by night, effectively demolishing his reputation while secretly gathering information for the Home Office and never giving another thought to the fact that Minerva could bring it all tumbling down.  He had sworn her to secrecy, after all.  But now, when his undercover work is drawing to a close and he's a strong candidate for appointment as a King's Counsel, he discovers that his dreams could all come to a screeching halt...at Minerva's hands...when it's pointed out to him how much he, and his actions, resemble the villain in her books.  If that early theft, or any of his subsequent actions, should become public knowledge, his future is over...but there's a way out.  He strikes a bargain with Minerva:  pretend to be her fiance to circumvent her grandmother's edict that she marry.  Minerva is certain that the older woman will never agree to a marriage with a scoundrel like him!  But there's more to Giles than meets the eye, as Minerva begins to discover the more time they spend together, including the fact that "pretend" is a word that only exists in Minerva's vocabulary and "scoundrel" doesn't apply to Giles at all.

This is the third book in the Hellions of Halstead Hall series and, while I've enjoyed all three books, this one is my favorite so far.  The hero and heroine are both smart, savvy and successful people in their own right and, while they both are just fine on their own, together they become so much more.  I find it refreshing that the reluctant partner in this couple is the woman and it's so much fun to watch Giles court Minerva and bring her around to the idea of marriage.  Believe me, she doesn't make it easy on him!  Also, both Minerva and Giles are multi-layered characters and I appreciated the care taken by Jeffries in slowly peeling away their layers and allowing us to come to know them fully as they gradually come to know one another.  The book is also infused with Jeffries' witty banter, humor, non-stop action and sizzling sensuality.   It's a continual delight, from beginning to end, and Giles and Minerva just may end up being one of my favorite couples of the year.   

The mystery surrounding the death of Minerva's parents continues to be an important part of each book with more clues uncovered by Minerva and Giles during their story.  Also, in this book, we catch up with the heroes and heroines of the first two books and gain more insight into the remaining two Sharpe siblings as well as clues to the identities of their potential mates. 

Many times, books within a series will stand on their own but, in this case, I strongly recommend that you read the books in this series in order:  The Truth About Lord Stoneville, A Hellion in Her Bed and How to Woo a Reluctant Lady.

Review -- Educating Aphrodite

Educating Aphrodite
by Kimberly Killion
Publisher: Ellora’s Cave
Release Date: January 5, 2011

The light-blue silk choker that matched her eyes seemed to tighten around an expanding knot of frustration. She swallowed it hard and raised her pale lashes to Delacroix. “Sebastian and I have not been…intimate since I conceived Edward.”

The angry lines between Delacroix’s dark brows disappeared. He scrubbed his tightly groomed black beard in obvious astonishment. “Your son is nearly a year old.”

Shame burned her face and stung her eyes. Alexandra bit back the tears and looked down the expanse of her fashionable gold gown trimmed with frills and flounces and lace. At twenty-three, she was fit and well-kept and upheld her role as Countess of Warwick with elegance and grace, but hidden beneath layers of perfumed petticoats was a woman that no longer appealed to her husband. “It has taken me months to accept the fact Sebastian no longer desires me.”


Alexandra Falkner, Countess of Warwick, has come to the realization her husband, the Earl of Warwick, does not desire her in any way. What else is a woman to think when there have been no acts of intimacy in the marriage bed since the conception of their first child almost 2 years ago? Determined to get her husband back into the marriage bed, Alexandra employs the help of her husband’s best friend, the sexy Vincent Delacroix. Known for his hypnosis techniques, Vincent reluctantly agrees to hypnotize Alexandra in an attempt to eliminate her inhibitions and to teach her the ways of a temptress.

Perhaps this was madness. Perhaps loneliness drove her toward lunacy, but she was desperate to rekindle the passion in her marriage. Unfortunately, she lacked the courage and experience to accomplish her task without Delacroix’s assistance.

As the hypnosis begins to work and the walls of propriety crumble, Alexandra becomes more comfortable, in fact more confident, in her skin. Every woman has the ability to be sexy and confident and it all starts with her brain. Soon, the lessons of seduction by Delacroix encompass Alexandra’s world, soliciting new emotions and experiences from her. Alexandra quickly finds herself questioning just how far she will go to get her husband back in bed. And I must say, Alexandra goes pretty far.

Kimberly Killion is an author I have enjoyed reading since her debut in 2008. Her writing is witty, sexy and quickly pulls you in to the story. And this novella is no different. But this is not your traditional romance story. There is a happily ever after, even though it is very unconventional. While I am more of a traditional romance reader, I still enjoyed this story. It is a fun read with a great twist at the end. If you are looking for a great quick read, one that is scorching hot and by no means conventional, then this novella is for you.

~ Buffie

Kaki Warner Winners

The two winners of CHASING THE SUN, the last book in Kaki Warner's Blood Rose Trilogy are

SCORPIO M

and

LIBRARYPAT

Congratulations!  Please email your full name and mailing address to us at theromancedishATgmailDOTcom with "Kaki Winner" in the subject line.

Thanks again to everyone who stopped by to visit with Kaki on January 11th and a huge thank you to Kaki for being such a terrific guest!

Hot Dish for January

Lately, I have been hearing a lot of buzz about a new show from the creators of Grey's Anatomy. This new show (called Off The Map) is also a medical drama, only it is set in a tiny village in a South American country. While the premise of the show (young doctors trying to save the world) does peak my interest, it really is the beautiful scenery in the previews that attracts and holds my attention. And honey, I don't mean the mountains or the beaches!!

Let me introduce you to one of the main characters of this new show -- Ben Keeton. This man pretty much has it all -- sexy eyes, hair that is begging for my hands to run through it and an accent that sends shivers down my spine. Oh yeah, he's a doctor too!

As I began researching Martin Henderson, the actor how plays Ben Keeton, I learned a couple interesting facts. He was born in Auckland, New Zealand -- thus the spine-shivery accent. He is a man who takes his craft seriously -- when he moved to the US to try acting, he enrolled in a 2-year program to hone his skills (this was after he was acknowledged as an accomplished actor in New Zealand). But as I gazed into those beautiful green eyes, I realized I have been lost in them before. Not in person, of course, though I wish that were true! Martin Henderson played a pivotal role in one of my favorite movies -- the Bollywood hit, Bride and Prejudice. Martin played the character Darcy.

*sigh* Don't those eyes just say "I'm waiting just for you" ?

~ Buffie

Our Top Picks of 2010

It's that time of year when everyone is making their "Best of" and "Top Picks" lists of 2010 of everything from books to movies to blogs and more. Here at The Romance Dish, we decided to make our own personal lists of our favorite romance books published in 2010. (Note: We linked to books we reviewed.) Are any of our picks on YOUR list? What are some of your favorite romance novels from 2010?


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PJ’s Top Twenty Books of 2010

2010 was another banner year for romance fiction. While that’s great in that it brought me new characters to meet, new worlds to explore and hours of reading enjoyment (though not enough hours to read all the books calling to me), it also made the requisite, annual “Top Ten” list that much more difficult to compile. So I didn’t! Instead, I narrowed my list down to twenty books and that’s where I left it. Here, in alphabetical order, are the twenty books published in 2010 that I most enjoyed reading. (Note: I didn’t include any of the books released in late December since the publishing industry considers them January releases.)


A Kiss at Midnight – Eloisa James

A Marine for Christmas – Beth Andrews

The Accidental Wedding – Anne Gracie

Chains of Fire – Christina Dodd

Deadly Little Secrets – Jeanne Adams

The Devil Wears Plaid – Teresa Medeiros

Edge of Sight – Roxanne St. Claire

The Forbidden Rose – Joanna Bourne

Homecoming Day – Holly Jacobs

I Kissed an Earl – Julie Anne Long

The Irish Warrior – Kris Kennedy

Last Night’s Scandal – Loretta Chase

Money, Honey – Susan Sey

Nothing But Trouble – Rachel Gibson

Open Country – Kaki Warner

Seduced By an Highlander – Paula Quinn

Something About You – Julie James

The Summer of You – Kate Noble

Three Nights with a Scoundrel – Tessa Dare

The Wicked Wyckerly – Patricia Rice


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Gannon’s Top 20 Books for 2010

Each year seems to bring more fantastic books than the last and 2010 was no exception. I read books by my auto-buy authors and was introduced to new authors who have since become favorites of mine, spending many an hour lost in some truly wonderful stories. Of course, there are so many books out there that I did not get to read---so many books, so little time---but that’s what these snowy days are for, right? The following are my top 20 books that I read this year, listed in alphabetical order.


Afterlight – Elle Jasper

Barely A Lady – Eileen Dreyer

Chains of Fire – Christina Dodd

Fantasy In Death – J.D. Robb

Firewalker – Allyson James

The Forbidden Rose – Joanna Bourne

A Kiss At Midnight – Eloisa James

Lady Isabella’s Scandalous Marriage – Jennifer Ashley

Love Mine – J.R. Ward

The Making of A Duchess – Shana Galen

Much Ado About Marriage – Karen Hawkins

Never Less Than A Lady – Mary Jo Putney

Nine Rules to Break When Romancing A Rake – Sarah MacLean

One Touch of Scandal – Liz Carlyle

Pleasures of A Notorious Gentleman – Lorraine Heath

Stormwalker – Allyson James

The Surrender of A Lady – Tiffany Clare

Ten Things I Love About You – Julia Quinn

Venom – Jennifer Estep

Warrior Ascended – Addison Fox


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Buffie’s Top Picks for 2010

2010 was a year chocked full of fabulous romance novels in every subgenre imaginable. While I was fortunate enough to read quite a few books during 2010, I have to say that life kept me too busy to read all that I wanted to read. There are still so many books from 2010 left in my TBR pile. Two authors blew me away with not only one book but two releases in 2010. They are Lila DiPasqua and Sarah MacLean, and both deserved spots on my list for BOTH of their books. Now, while my Top Picks for 2010 is a short list (at least compared to the other Dishes), it is full of hours of fabulous enjoyment.



Awakened by a Kiss by Lila DiPasqua

Bonds of Justice by Nalini Singh

Kismet by Monica Burns

Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake by Sarah MacLean

The Princess in His Bed by Lila DiPasqua

The Rogue Prince by Margo Maguire

Still the One by Robin Wells

Ten Ways to be Adored When Landing a Lord by Sarah MacLean


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Andrea’s Top Picks for 2010

2010 was an unforgettable year for those of us who adore romance fiction. So many good books in an array of sub-genres were released and met with thought-provoking reviews and lots of enthusiasm. I was lucky to be able to read many of my favorite authors’ works, discover several debut authors, and was introduced to several “new to me” authors, as well. It wasn’t easy, but I was able to narrow my ‘Top Picks’ list down to 12. The ones that made my list met three conditions: they all blew me away, every one went straight to my keeper shelves, and all are books that I can highly recommend without a doubt. So, without further ado, here are my Top Picks from 2010, as listed in alphabetical order:


Happy Ever After by Nora Roberts

Love in the Afternoon by Lisa Kleypas

Marry Me by Jo Goodman

Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake
by Sarah MacLean

Seven Secrets of Seduction by Anne Mallory

Simply Irresistible by Jill Shalvis

Something About You by Julie James

Ten Things I Love About You by Julia Quinn

Ten Ways to Be Adored While Landing a Lord
by Sarah MacLean

The Golden Season by Connie Brockway

The Summer of You by Kate Noble

Wicked Intentions by Elizabeth Hoyt