The Romance Dish

Many thanks to my friend, Sharlene Moore of Graphics by Sharlene for the awesome birthday graphic to the left that she designed for our facebook page!

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Birthdays and presents. They go hand in hand, right? Well, maybe not always but in a perfect world, they should! Today is my birthday so, of course, my thoughts have turned to birthday gifts...but not in the way you might imagine. As the saying goes, it's better to give than receive. So for this year's special day, it won't be all about me. Today, it's going to be all about YOU!

A few of my author friends are here today to share some of their birthday gift memories. Some are good, others not so good and then there are those "what were they thinking?" gifts that we've probably all received at one time or another (which is why I became a huge fan of gift cards the moment the kids in my family each turned 13).

We're also giving away books today. Lots and lots of books so be sure to leave lots and lots of comments! Since we have multiple giveaways with some open to everyone while others are restricted to U.S. or U.S./Canada, we're asking you to please include additional information with your comments. To be eligible for the giveaways, please include your email address and location (U.S./Canada/International).

So, let's get this party started! Grab a drink, check out the goodies our waiters are serving (don't forget to check out the waiters too!), relax, have fun and please say hello to my Birthday Authors!

Sending out a big Romance Dish welcome to Julie Anne Long, Maggie Robinson, Vanessa Kelly, Anna Campbell, Vicki Lewis Thompson, Cathy Maxwell, Eloisa James, Christina Brooke, Sabrina Jeffries, Katharine Ashe, Terri Osburn and Juliana Stone!

Julie Anne Long

Happy Birthday to PJ! AND to me! Clearly all the very best people were born on September. 20th.

I've had so many wonderful birthday presents over the years—including surprise parties—and it's so hard to choose one favorite. One that stands out for its hilarity, however, was when a group of my friends surprised me with a visit—our very first visit as young adults—to a (very no-frills) spa in Calistoga, the very first spa experience for all of us. They'd chosen the most affordable one they could find. At first they were going to drive me all the way there (3 hours) blindfolded, and I balked. They told me to bring my bathing suit and I balked. I asked why, and they told me they were entering me in a pageant. (Ha. They're very witty, my friends.)

As it turned out, we didn't need the bathing suits—once we got there, we were told to strip completely, then handed these little white scraps of towels to cover ourselves while we sat in shivering traumatized silence on benches, cheek by cheek, with other nude strangers of all genders and awaited our turn to be dunked in vats of mud, hosed off, then steamed in a booth, then pummeled into pliancy by enormous, rectangular, German masseuses (mine was named Olga). We could see other naked people casually strolling about in the midst of their treatments as we waited. But by the end of the experience, we'd abandoned all modesty and were strolling casually and nudely about, too. I felt like I was finding mud in my various nooks and crannies for days afterwards. It was a blast. I'm getting a (considerably more genteel) spa treatment for my birthday this year, too.

Oh my gosh, what an experience! I've never been to a spa. Maybe I should give it a try. I think I'll go for the genteel one too. ;-)

Happy Birthday, Julie! I hope you have a fabulous day!

I'm giving away a signed copy of one of my favorite Pennyroyal Green books today, What I Did For a Duke. (U.S./Canada only) ~PJ

Learn more about Julie and her books at her website and connect with her online at Facebook and Twitter.

It Happened One Midnight
(Pennyroyal Green)
Avon
June 25, 2013

More than one beautiful woman's hopes have been dashed on the rocky shoals of Jonathan Redmond's heart. With his riveting good looks and Redmond wealth and power,the world is his oyster—until an ultimatum from his father and a chilling gypsy prophecy send him hurtling headlong toward a fate he'll do anything to avoid: matrimony.

Intoxicating, elusive Thomasina de Ballesteros has the bloods of London at her feet. But none of them knows the real Tommy—the one with a shocking pedigree, a few too many secrets,and a healthy scorn for rakes like Jonathan.

She's everything Jonathan never wanted.But on one fateful midnight, he's drawn into Tommy's world of risk, danger . . . and a desire he'd never dreamed possible. And suddenly he's re-thinking everything . . . including the possibility that succumbing to prophecy might just mean surrendering to love.

PJ & Maggie

Maggie Robinson

nps.gov

Happy Birthday, PJ! I hope this turns into one of your favorite birthdays! Mine was when I turned ten. My birthday request was, I acknowledge, pretty weird for a ten-year-old (but pretty spot-on for a future historical romance writer). I wanted to go to Teddy Roosevelt's house, Sagamore Hill, in Oyster Bay, New York, not too far from where I grew up. This was Roosevelt's "Summer White House", and he lived there with his family from 1885 to his death in 1919. The period rooms were wonderful and loaded with antiques, and I could imagine myself living there in elegance--all except for the numerous animal trophies on the wall which skeeved me out.

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After the house tour, we went to White Castle, where I ate FOUR hamburgers, a harbinger of dietary issues to come. So turning ten was pretty pivotal in terms of my interest in historic homes and "gourmet" food, LOL.

Okay, I can see where the dead animals may have put a bit of a damper on the festivities but I wholeheartedly applaud your decision to hit up White Castle. Love them! ~PJ

Maggie is giving away an early copy of October's In the Heart of the Highlander and a copy of July's In the Arms of the Heiress (both Edwardian-set romances of which Teddy would approve) in honor of my birthday!

Learn more about Maggie and her books at her website and connect with her online at Facebook and Twitter.

In the Heart of the Highlander
Berkley
October 1, 2013

She has exactly what he needs—and desires…

Ever since Mary Evensong’s elderly aunt Mim got sick, Mary’s masqueraded as the owner of the Evensong Agency, finding housemaids and husbands, and solving pesky problems, for the peerage. Someday she’d like to shake off her silvery wig and spectacles and be the young woman she truly is, but desperate clients are waiting for “Mrs. Evensong” at the office.

Like a scandalous Scottish baron. Honor forbids Lord Alec Raeburn from explaining the suspicious circumstances surrounding his wife’s death, but he knows who’s responsible. He just needs to hire an actress to lure the scoundrel into a trap.

After listening to Raeburn’s story—and seeing him in his kilt—Mary knows the perfect person for the role. Letting her red hair down, she heads off to the Scottish Highlands to pose as a seductress, but soon finds herself with more than her virtue at stake in a tug-of-war between two powerful men. She could wind up in danger—or in the heart of the highlander.

Vanessa & PJ

Vanessa Kelly / V.K. Sykes

My all-time favorite gift was for a birthday milestones a few years ago (no, I’m not going to tell you which one!). I had just taken my first timid steps toward becoming a romance author, doing most of my writing by hand in lined notebooks. For this particular birthday, my family got together and did two things to celebrate with me. The first was to come from all over the country

for a big party, which would have been an awesome gift in itself. But they also bought me an AlphaSmart, a portable, lightweight keyboard processer. It was a such a great sign of support for my dreams, and I had to choke back tears when I took it out of the box. I’ve subsequently written every one of my books on it, to the point where I’ve worn the symbols off the keyboard. But it still works like a charm, and I hope has many more books left in it!

Aren't those surprises wonderful, Vanessa? My family did the same for my last zero birthday and surprised me with a Nook Color, something I'd been wanting but I didn't think any of them knew it and, honestly, traveling from three different states to spend my birthday with me was gift enough. I didn't expect anything else! Special people, special gift, special memories. ♥ ~PJ

Vanessa is giving away digital copies of Lethal Confessions and Curveball (open internationally) and a print copy of His Mistletoe Bride (North America only).

Learn more about Vanessa Kelly at her website and connect with her online at Facebook and Twitter. Connect with V.K. Sykes at Facebook and Twitter and learn more about their books at their website.

Lethal Confessions
Indie
September 6, 2013

The brutal murder of her twin sister drove Amy Robitaille into a career as a homicide detective for Palm Beach County. When a serial killer targets the wives of local baseball players, Amy has more than just a professional interest at stake—her only surviving sister fits the profile of the other victims. Amy’s hell-bent on catching the killer, not only to protect her sister but to destroy the demons haunting her since the death of her twin.

Baseball star and former soldier Luke Beckett has just retired from the game and is looking to move on with his life. When he’s asked to consult on the serial killer case for the local police, he finds the challenge he needs—despite the objections of lead detective Amy Robitaille. But Luke has no intention of backing away from the job and every intention of getting to know the intriguing detective.

Amy has no time to babysit a celebrity consultant while trying to catch a serial killer. But Luke is not the man she assumed him to be and he threatens to become a powerful distraction. That’s the last thing she needs, especially when the killer starts closing in on her family. But without Luke’s help, Amy stands to lose everything.

PJ & Anna

Anna Campbell

Happy birthday, PJ! I really think they should make your birthday a public holiday. They celebrate lots of other great people. Why not you??!! Birthday presents? I’ve received too many great ones to list here, but right now I’m loving the i-Pod shuffle that wonderful historical romance author Christina Brooke gave me last year. PJ, hope you have a magnificent day. You’re an adornment to the world. I’ll be raising a glass in your honor!

Gosh, thanks, Anna! *blushing* To thank Anna for that lovely toast I'm giving away signed copies of To Tempt the Devil and Claiming the Courtesan. (U.S./Canada only) ~ PJ

Learn more about Anna and her books at her website and connect with her online at Facebook and Twitter.

A Rake's Midnight Kiss
(Sons of Sin)
Forever
August 27, 2013

IT TAKES A LADY

Brilliant scholar Genevieve Barrett's secret identity as the author of her father's articles is her greatest deception-until her father's handsome new student arrives on their doorstep. Genevieve recognizes him as the masked intruder who earlier tried to steal a priceless gem from their home. Keeping the seductive stranger's identity hidden is a risk, but she's got secrets of her own to keep.

TO CATCH A THIEF

Sir Richard Harmsworth fakes a rakish facade to show society that he doesn't care about his bastard status. Yet haunted by his unknown father's identity, Richard believes the Harmsworth Jewel will prove he's the rightful heir. Intent on seducing the stone away from its owner, Richard finds himself face-to-face with a beauty more breathtaking than any jewel. But even as she steals Richard's heart, Genevieve will be in greater danger than her coveted treasure . .

Audrey & Vicki

Vicki Lewis Thompson

Happy Birthday, PJ! My most spectacular B-Day gift ever was when my daughter Audrey and I went on a Greek cruise in 2011! We started in Venice, and on my actual birthday, October 11, we stopped at Dubrovnik. This is a picture of us leaving the ship that morning, and as you can see, I have a Chesire-cat grin going on!

My funniest birthday gift came from my bestie and plotting partner Rhonda Nelson. His name's Tiki-mon, and he's our muse. We ferry him around the country to our various plotting sessions, so he's a well-traveled little dude.

LOL @ Tiki-Mon! He's so ugly, he's kind of cute!

Readers, I'm giving away a signed copy of Vicki's Werewolf in Alaska today. (U.S./Canada only) ~PJ

Learn more about Vicki at her website and connect with her online at Facebook and Twitter.

Werewolf in Alaska
(Wild About You)
Signet
July 2, 2013

He’s a lone wolf—for now.

In Polecat, Alaska, Rachel Miller and Jake Hunter have a mutual admiration for each other—from across a lake. There’s nothing Rachel likes more than spying on the very fit wilderness guide when he skinny-dips each night. And Jake has always been curious about his reclusive artist neighbor. He even bought Rachel’s first wood carving: a wolf who looks suspiciously like him....

Jake is a werewolf, but not just any werewolf. He’s the founder of WARM (Werewolves Against Random Mating). And that means a human like Rachel is off-limits, no matter how attractive he finds her.

But when Rachel is threatened by a bear, and Jake shifts to save her, their lives collide with an intense passion, one that could change everything they’ve ever felt about themselves—and each other....

PJ & Cathy

Cathy Maxwell

I grew up receiving breakfast in bed for my birthdays—but I married a man who rarely celebrated them. If anything, Max lived every day as if it was special and, after a few years of adjustment (giving up breakfast in bed is tough!), I came around to his way of thinking. Why settle for one special day when I can have three hundred and sixty-five of them?

Happy birthday, PJ! Thanks for letting us all celebrate with you.

Thanks, Cathy! I like the way your hubby thought. My late husband was of a similar mindset and, like you, I came to realize that 365 days of "special" were a lot better than just one! ~PJ

Cathy is giving away an assortment of her books today. (U.S. addresses only)

Find more information about Cathy at her website and connect with her online at Facebook and Twitter.

The Devil's Heart
(Chattan Curse)
Avon
April 30, 2013

They call her the Unattainable. Lady Margaret Chattan spurned every suitor for her hand, vowing never to marry.The only way to break the curse plaguing her family for two centuries is this ultimate sacrifice. But now her brothers' lives are in danger. Determined to save them, she risks her very soul by traveling into the heart of the Highlands to battle a force that has transcended time.

Heath Macnachtan is not superstitious. Laird of the most independent, nonconforming, madly infuriating clan ever to grace Scotland, he believes he has his hands full. And then a woman lauded as one of the most beautiful in England arrives on his doorstep with wild accusations and a mystical quest . . . one that just might help him discover who murdered his own brother.

But the real danger for Heath and Margaret is not a supernatural foe, but a very real love that could destroy them both.

PJ & Eloisa

Eloisa James

In the first years of our marriage, I used to steal my husband's t-shirts all the time to sleep in. Then one year I ripped open my present to find two black t-shirts, XL, men's style, from TJ Maxx. My face must have revealed my feelings about this present, because Alessandro said, very quickly, "I thought this would be just what you'd want!" He does much better these days!

Just the thought of the panic-stricken expression that must have been on Alessandro's face had laughing out loud. Glad he's doing better these days! ~PJ

Eloisa is giving away three signed copies of As You Wish! (open internationally)

PJ here. I'm also giving away a signed copy of Once Upon a Tower. (U.S./Canada only)

Find more information about Eloisa at her website and connect with her at Facebook and Twitter.

Once Upon a Tower
Avon
May 28, 2013

Once upon a time...

A duke fell in love

Gowan Stoughton of Craigievar, Duke of Kinross, values order and self-control above all else. So when he meets a lady as serene as she is beautiful, he promptly asks for her hand in marriage.

Edie--whose passionate temperament is the opposite of serene--had such a high fever at her own debut ball that she didn't notice anyone, not even the notoriously elusive Duke of Kinross. When her father accepts his offer... she panics. And when their marriage night isn't all it could be, she pretends.

But Edie's inability to hide her feelings makes pretending impossible, and when their marriage implodes, she retreats to a tower--locking Gowan out. Now Gowan faces his greatest challenge. Neither commands nor reason work with his spirited young bride. How can he convince her to give him the keys to the tower...

When she already has the keys to his heart?

Christina & PJ

Christina Brooke

Happy birthday, PJ! Much love and many hugs to you on your special day. As for birthday gifts, the ones I love most have been gifts that show the person knows me well--Fowler's Modern English Usage is one of the best gifts I've received because I'm such a word nerd. I have some gorgeous jewelry that I really treasure, like the sapphire and diamond ring my husband gave me. As for weird, for my 18th birthday I received what looked like a wooden replica of male genitalia. I was scared to ask what it was but someone later told me it was supposed to be for giving yourself a back massage :) I don't think there are any bad presents, but I do tend to lean towards my mother's rule of "nothing that implies housework"!

Laughing uproariously over the back massager! I don't think I'd have been brave enough to ask either. Oh, and I totally agree with your mom's rule!

Because I enjoyed this story so much, I'm giving away a print copy of Christina's most recent book, London's Last True Scoundrel. Open internationally to any country to which Book Depository delivers. ~PJ

Connect with Christina online at Facebook and Twitter and find more information about her books at her website.

London's Last True Scoundrel
St. Martin's
July 2, 2013

LONDON’S ULTIMATE BAD BOY…

Physically reckless, irrepressibly roguish, and poised on the brink of ruin, Jonathon Westruther, Earl of Davenport, returns from the dead only to throw himself into dissipation. Until he meets his worst nightmare: a straitlaced former schoolteacher he can’t get out of his head. He resolves to seduce the delightful Miss Hilary deVere by fair means or foul. But when his past returns to endanger Hilary, he must protect her at all costs…

MEETS ENGLAND’S MOST PROPER MISS

Dismissed from her post at a ladies’ academy because of prejudice against her uncouth family, Hilary will do anything to avoid going back to live with her loutish brothers. She longs for a London season to show the world a deVere can behave with utmost decorum and to find a respectable husband. Everything about Lord Davenport appalls her but desperation makes strange bedfellows. To get to London, Hilary strikes a bargain with the devilish Davenport, confident that she’s immune to his charm. But as she discovers surprising depths beneath his rakish surface, this infamous scoundrel becomes more temptation than even the most proper lady can withstand…in London's Last True Scoundrel by Christina Brooke.

Sabrina & PJ

Sabrina Jeffries

My weirdest birthday present was also one of my best. My husband gave me a big chunk of green glass one birthday, and when I looked at him as if he were crazy, he explained that it was a deck prism from a ship, used to disperse light below decks. I'd never seen one, and I thought it was seriously cool! He gave it to me because The Pirate Lord had just come out. I still have it prominently displayed in my office, a symbol of his thoughtfulness.

What a lovely gift! Shows a lot of thoughtfulness and creativity on your hubby's part. And it's beautiful too! ~PJ

Sabrina is giving away a signed hardback copy of 'Twas the Night After Christmas."

(PJ here. This was one of my favorite 2012 books and will be issued in paperback on October 29th, just in time for Christmas 2013!)

Find more information about Sabrina's books at her website and connect with her online at Facebook and Twitter.

'Twas the Night After Christmas
Pocket
October 29, 2013

Pierce Waverly, the Earl of Devonmont, has never forgiven his parents for inexplicably abandoning him to distant relatives as a child. Nevertheless, when he receives word that the stranger he calls “Mother” is gravely ill, the unabashed rogue makes a rare return to Montcliff, his country estate. There he finds that the woman is perfectly healthy—and that he has fallen for a cunning ruse crafted by her lady’s companion, Mrs. Camilla Stuart. The lively vicar’s widow, too bright and beautiful not to arouse the scoundrel in Pierce, is determined to reconcile the Earl and Lady Devonmont. None of them can predict the secrets, both heartening and shocking, divulged between a mother and son, and between two lovers, each haunted by their pasts, that will make Christmas night at Montcliff one to remember—and the glorious night after, one to treasure for a lifetime.

Katharine Ashe

As a little girl, I adored the Pink Panther. He was smart, funny, clever, astonishingly resilient and of course pink. It tickled me to pieces that a powerful, intelligent creature could have a silly side. When my parents surprised me with a child-sized stuffed Pink Panther for my birthday, I leaped out of my Keds.

Nearly my height and filled with sawdust and fluff, Pink would look at me with that oh-so-smooth and sanguine regard that just begged me to invent adventures. The best was on Halloween. Pink couldn’t walk the neighborhood candy route on his own, of course. So I found an old prom gown in the dress-up box and a Chinese jacket that looked vaguely medieval to me, and I dressed Pink as a princess and myself as the prince. I carried my damsel around all night and had the happiest Halloween ever. I suppose there was something in me even then that loved experiencing adventures from the hero’s perspective too!

Oh, Katharine, those pictures are just too adorable and, wow, I'm really impressed with your creativity at such a young age! Thanks so much for sharing the story and photos with us today!

I'm giving away a copy of I Married the Duke (any country to which bookdepository.com ships) to a randomly chosen person leaving a comment. ~PJ

Find more information about Katharine at her website and connect with her online at Facebook and Twitter.

I Married the Duke:
The Prince Catchers
Avon
August 27, 2013

Three very different sisters beguile society with their beauty and charm, but only one of them must fulfill a prophecy: marry a prince. Who is the mystery Prince Charming, and which sister will be his bride?

On the way to marry a prince in a castle, a lady should never:

Bribe an infuriatingly arrogant and undeniably irresistible ship captain,
Let him kiss her senseless on a beach,
Battle thieves at his side,
and
Exchange wedding vows with him, even under the direst circumstances.

But daring, determined Arabella Caulfield isn’t just any lady. And Luc Westfall is no typical ship captain. He’s the new Duke of Lycombe, and to defeat a plot that could destroy his family he must have an heir. Now he knows just the woman for the job . . . and he’s not above seduction to turn this would-be princess into a duchess.

Terri Osburn

Growing up in small-town Ohio, my early life didn't include much in the way of culture. We never traveled, and outside the occasional rock concert (think hair bands) or Pirates game (NOW they're winning), my childhood could best be described as bland. But I longed for more, and for my 18th birthday, my older sister came through. It was just after Christmas 1989 (my birthday is New Year's Eve) and my sister gave me two tickets to see Les Mis live at the Benedum Center in downtown Pittsburgh. I still laugh every time I see the picture of my reaction. She took me completely by surprise and I'm not sure I believed the tickets were real at first. My best friend and I sat in the very last row, making the actors appear the size of gummy bears, but the music swirled around us and we were part of the révolution! I've seen countless stage productions since, but you never forget your first. And oh, what a first.

Oh, Terri, what a wonderful surprise. Les Miserables is my all-time favorite stage production. It would be hard to top that gift!

I fell in love with Terri's small-town contemporary romance debut, Meant to Be and am excitedly counting down the days until the release of her second book, Up to the Challenge on October 22nd. Today, I'm giving away one Kindle e-copy of Meant to Be. ~PJ

Terri is giving away a copy of her October 22nd release, Up to the Challenge. Here's your chance to read it a full month before it goes on sale! (U.S./Canada only)

Find more information about Terri at her website and connect with her online at Facebook and Twitter.

Up to the Challenge
(An Anchor Island Novel)
Montlake Romance
October 22, 2013

Opposites attract in a sexy tale of unexpected love

When the Dempsey patriarch suffers a heart attack, Lucas Dempsey steps up to keep the doors of the family restaurant open. The proverbial prodigal son returns home to Anchor Island—putting family first and his quest to make partner at his high-powered law firm on hold. Sporting a bruised ego after losing his fiancée to his older brother, Lucas would rather walk on glass than spend six weeks within spitting distance of the happy couple. But family duty calls. And that duty includes working side-by-side with a tantalizing spitfire intent on driving him mad.

Tough-as-nails boat mechanic Sid Navarro is happy to trade her tools for an apron to help the Dempseys in their time of need. That is, until she realizes she’ll be working alongside Lucas, the man she’s loved from afar since she first laid eyes on him in high school. Lucas could charm the paint off a schooner, but Sid knows she doesn’t fit his girl-next-door type. To show her true feelings would mean certain heartbreak, but the temptation of Lucas in her bed might be more than she can resist.

After a rocky start punctuated by verbal barbs and exasperating arguments, things heat up between them—big-time—but their steamy affair turns more than casual in a matter of weeks. Sid’s life has become the dream she’s always wanted, and Lucas has fallen hard for the last woman he ever expected to love.

But this affair has an end-date, as Lucas must return to his life and career in the big city, a place where Sid would never fit in. When the end comes earlier than expected, walking away turns out to be a challenge neither of them wants to win.

Up to the Challenge is a sexy, fast-paced, romantic story of family, island life, and finding love in unexpected places.

PJ & Juliana

Juliana Stone

There are several things I look forward to every year. Fall—cuz I like pumpkins, hot apple cider and sweaters. (I’m not a fan of Halloween however, go figure) I also look forward to Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter—family times equal good times. Around my parts May 24 weekend is a great time to open pools, go to the cottage and have a party.

The one thing I don’t really look forward to is my birthday. Not because I’m one of those women who are freaked out by ‘the number’. I’m not. It’s just a number. I know many people who are a lot older than I who seem younger than some half their age. No, it’s more that I don’t like receiving presents, or rather, being the focus of opening said present when everyone is watching. Because of that I tend to not make my birthday a big deal which is kind of hard when you have a husband who is Mr. Social Butterfly.

A few years ago, on my birthday, he planned a big party. It was the year after I turned 40 and I believe on that particular birthday we were at a hockey tournament so we didn’t do much. Which I was fine with. But on this day I’d gone to watch my son play at an outdoor event (he’s a guitarist in a rock band) It was a Saturday, my hair was in a clip, I was wearing yoga pants and a T-shirt. I remember my friend convinced me to go shopping even though I looked like crap.

I remember finally coming home and still looking like crap. I remember seeing cars down the street. Lots of them. At that point I knew two things. Hubs had planned a party and invited everyone we knew.

And I still looked crap.

All I’m gonna say is that it took me a bit to warm up to the idea and when I finally relaxed (which was easy ‘cuz I was in yoga pants) I had a great time…so I’m glad I didn’t go with my first instinct and drive the heck away!

LOL! That's always been a fear of mine; big party, everyone I know and me with no make-up and dirty hair. Glad to say it's never happened but if it did, I'm afraid my first instinct would have identical to your's. Glad you were able to relax and have a great time!

Juliana is giving away a copy of The Summer He Came Home, the first book in her wonderful small-town contemporary Bad Boys of Crystal Lake series (and one of my favorite books of 2013) in the winner's choice of e-book or print (if U.S./Canada) or a print copy from bookdepository.com if international.

The second book in the series, The Christmas He Loved Her releases on September 24th. I've read an early copy and it's a keeper!

Find more information about Juliana's books at her website and connect with her online at Facebook and Twitter.

The Christmas He Loved Her

(Bad Boys of Crystal Lake)

Sourcebooks Casablanca

September 24, 2013

All he wants this Christmas is her...

In the small town of Crystal Lake, Christmas is a time for sledding, hot chocolate, and cozying up to the fire with those you love. For Jake Edwards, it's also time to come home and face the music. He thought there would never be anything harder than losing his brother. Turns out there is: falling in love with his brother's widow, Raine.

Ever since they were little, Jesse was the Edwards brother who was always there for her, and Jake was the one who knew just how to push her buttons. Raine can't imagine a life without them, which is why it was doubly decimating when Jake left town after his brother's sudden death. Now he's back and she doesn't know whether to be mad or thrilled. Maybe both. Or maybe it will be the perfect chance for both of them to finally find happiness again.

Okay, Readers. Now it's your turn. Tell me about your birthday memories. Or share what you'd like to do or what gift you'd like to receive for your next birthday. Or talk about your favorite books. Or your favorite birthday treat.

Bring on the comments and don't forget to include your location and email address to be eligible for the giveaways!

Let's get this party started!

~PJ

Saturday, September 21, 2013

Tawny Weber Winner

Jennifer McQuiston Winner

V.K. Sykes Winners

Karen Hawkins Winner

Friday, September 20, 2013

PJ's Birthday Bash

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