Review -- The Summer of You

The Summer of You
By Kate Noble
Publisher: Berkley Sensation
Release Date: April 6, 2010






Every once in a while, you come across a book that from the very moment you start reading it, you know you’re going to love it. The Summer of You by Kate Noble was just such a book for me. It’s no wonder Ms. Noble’s previous book, Revealed, is nominated for a RITA award—her writing is flawless and pure. I was reminded of the late, great Jane Austen and could certainly see this book adapted as a movie.

Lady Jane Cummings, only daughter of the Duke of Rayne, has been through a lot in the past year. Her mother passed away leaving her family completely bereft. Then her father’s mind started deteriorating and Jane’s brother Jason, Marquis of Vessey, abandoned her and the duke at Crow Castle, the remote ancestral estate, and took off to the Continent with his friends. After the proper mourning period, Jane and her father return to London with the hopes that the doctors there can help the duke with his sporadic memory mishaps. . . and so that Jane can enjoy herself a little bit. When her brother returns and locates Jane at a ball, he orders her back to the castle. Their father’s mind is getting worse and Jason is afraid the duke and the rest of the family will be disgraced because of it. Jane refuses to go back there, telling Jason that she’ll go crazy if she does. They eventually agree (thanks to a little blackmailing on Jane’s part) to set off for the Cottage, the family estate in the small town of Reston, where they used to spend their summers.

Upon their arrival at the Cottage, they are besieged with fellow neighbors paying a call and once again Jason takes off and leaves his sister alone to do all of the greeting by herself. He doesn’t return home until the next morning and Jane scolds him (which she knows is like talking to a brick wall) for leaving her and making her worry and finds out that he was aided by the nephew of the recently deceased widow Lowe—the same man that neighbors claim is a strange hermit and the mysterious highwayman that has been relieving travelers of their possessions as of late. Jane decides to take a walk and thank the man properly with a basket of goodies. She learns that he is none other than Byrne Worth, the brother of her friend’s husband, whom Jane had met in London a few months before.

As a former top-notch British spy, Byrne came to Reston after inheriting his aunt’s house seeking a quiet refuge to heal after a debilitating leg injury. All he wants is to be left alone. Then the beautiful Lady Jane Cummings comes to visit and he enjoys her clever, spirited companionship and realizes that he wants more of it. And he is pleased that the feeling is mutual. Jane believes him when he tells her he isn’t the highwayman and they agree to work together to uncover the true identity of the thief. In the process, they discover a deep, abiding friendship which ultimately leads to so much more.

Byrne and Jane are extraordinary characters that instantly captured my heart. Both are smart and witty and treated each other with intelligence and respect. Byrne is very perceptive and knows that there’s more to Jane than just being a duke’s daughter. He truly appreciates her honesty and willingness to help him. Jane is remarkably strong and bears so much on her shoulders, thanks to her irresponsible brother. She takes pleasure in knowing that when she’s with Byrne, she can be a new Jane—one that is happy and utterly content in his presence. Kudos to Ms. Noble for not allowing either character to do anything stupid or succumb to the usual clichés that appear in so many romance novels. This was incredibly refreshing! And the secondary characters weren’t just “story stuffers”—they were perfectly drawn and added exceptional depth to help move the story along.

The Summer of You is an absolutely beautiful love story and historical romance at its finest. Ms. Noble has penned a remarkable tale that I would not be surprised to see nominated for a RITA next year. You do not want to miss this one!

~Andrea

Guest Author -- Jessica Andersen

Jessica Andersen is the bestselling RITA and RT nominated author of more than twenty Harlequin Intrigues and the Nightkeeper Novels, a hot paranormal series that sexes up the 2012 doomsday. A native New Englander, she got a PhD in genetics and passed the Patent Bar exam before taking a left-hand turn into life as a romance writer. Please welcome Jessica to The Romance Dish as she dishes about....

Sexing up the 2012 doomsday!

Hey! Author Jessica Andersen here, thanking the Romance Dish for having me on today, and thanking you for joining me to dish about Demonkeepers! All comments will be entered to win a signed copy of the book!

First, a little bit about the Nightkeeper novels and Demonkeepers:

In the last few years before the 2012 doomsday, the magic-wielding Nightkeepers must find and win their destined mates in order to protect the barrier that forms humanity’s last line of defense against ancient Mayan demons.

Demonkeepers is the story of Lucius, an Indiana Jones wannabe who never quite measures up, until a twist of magic brings him powers beyond belief … and reunites him with Jade, the one-night stand he never forgot. As the two race to rescue the sun god himself from the underworld, they learn that kicking ass isn’t enough. They’ll need all their brains and skill—and the long-denied love that burns between them—to foil the dark lords’ plot.

***

I love these books—I write the stories I love to read—big and fat, with lots of action and romance. But I’m often asked: Who is the easiest character for you to write?

I guess that although that can differ from book to book, I would have to say that the two voices that have always come the most naturally to me are been Lucius and Rabbit.

Rabbit is a favorite of mine because he’s a walking example of Murphy’s law. Anything that can go wrong will go wrong if Rabbit is involved. Since that’s my M.O. most days, he’s got a special place in my heart. I also love that he’s got the guts to say things that I would think, but not say. He’s got a temper, a mouth, and a girlfriend I’m not sure I trust yet. And I can’t wait to see what he does next!

In contrast, Lucius doesn’t have much of a temper or a particularly foul mouth … but I relate to him because he never really fit in, and although he has mostly outgrown tripping over his own too-big feet, he always falls back on his inner geek when threatened.

Or at least he used to. In Demonkeepers, an ancient spell helps him become the warrior he’s always wanted to be … but that comes at a price that threatens not only Lucius and the woman he comes to love, but the ecological fabric of the earth itself.

Since I’m a foot-tripping-over geek myself, Lucius’s voice has always come naturally to me, making it particularly fun (and, depending on where I was in the book, heartbreaking, terrifying, and uplifting) to write this book.

So, to celebrate the release of Demonkeepers, I’m asking you to tell me who your favorite character is from the Nightkeepers’ series, ask me a question, or just say “Hey!” All comments are entered to win an autographed copy of Demonkeepers, which hit stores yesterday!

For more information on the Nightkeeper novels, along with excerpts, extras, and other fun stuff, please check out http://www.jessicaandersen.com/.

Make Your Reservations

Mark your calendars and make your reservations for these upcoming May releases!

Nothing But Trouble by Rachel Gibson

Trouble . . .

Chelsea Ross's acting career has been a total bust. The closest she ever came to stardom was her brilliant performance as "Pretty Dead Girl #1." But leaving Hollywood to become the personal assistant to a famous hockey player could be her stupidest career move ever.

More trouble . . .

Injured superstar Mark Bressler's glory days are over. The bad-boy ex-jock could at least be civil to the pint-sized, pink-haired bombshell who the Seattle Chinooks hired to be his P.A. If Chelsea didn't need the money, she'd be running from the world's biggest jerk as fast as her feet could carry her.

Big trouble!

Chelsea can deal with Mark's rotten attitude and dark moods. The problem is those biceps and that red-hot bod! And when the bad boy starts to put the moves on her, Chelsea knows it's time she banished him to the penalty box . . . if only she could resist the kind of trouble he has in mind!

*******

Sweetest Little Sin by Christine Wells

A Marquis’ Betrayal

Lady Louisa Brooke has many suitors, but the only man for her is the wild and ruthless Marquis of Jardine. When Jardine suddenly abandons her after a long-standing liaison, he leaves her with nothing except the secret they share. Her future in ruins, Louisa recklessly accepts a mission from the head of the secret service and becomes embroiled in a perilous operation in which nothing is as it seems...

A Lady’s Revenge

The Marquis of Jardine is determined to destroy the criminal mastermind who’s sworn vengeance against all he holds dear. But when he hears that Louisa is to wed a dangerous enemy, Jardine is tortured by jealousy and fear for her safety. He tracks her down, only to discover that her mission collides with his.

A Love that Won’t Be Denied

Together, Louisa and Jardine must now foil a plan to betray the secret service and escape a diabolical revenge. But can they put the past behind them, and take the greatest risk of all—on love?

*******

Line of Fire by Jo Davis

To his fellow firemen, Tommy Skyler has it all. But the golden boy of Station Five hides a private pain. He was once a star quarterback until tragedy derailed his dream. Since then, he's struggled with his choices-including his decision to become a firefighter. His one ray of light shines in beautiful nurse Shea Ford. When a dangerous rescue lands Tommy in the ER, what better opportunity to win her over? But when a conspiracy culminates in deadly arson, Tommy realizes that a ruthless enemy is closing in, threatening to destroy the couple's love--and their lives.




*******

A Lady's Guide to Improper Behavior by Suzanne Enoch

The Rules:

A lady should always make polite conversation . . .

Theresa Weller understands the rules of decorum, and is appalled when Colonel Bartholomew James disrupts a perfectly civilized dinner. This rude, insensitive man is the complete opposite of everything a gentleman should be—but with one searing kiss, Tess can think of no one else.

A lady should never lose her temper . . .

Aggravated beyond bearing by a man who speaks his mind, Tess wishes there was a guide to men like Bartholomew. Surely, with such an assortment of handsome, polite suitors to choose from, Tess should not ache for him.

And a lady should never pursue a gentleman.

She invites him on carriage rides and dares him to dance, and almost makes him want to return to Society. Bartholomew knows Tess wants to be seen as a proper miss, but deep down, he knows she is precisely the sort to spark his desire . . . A most improper lady.

*******

Savor the Moment by Nora Roberts

Wedding baker Laurel McBane is surrounded by romance working at Vows wedding planning company with her best friends Parker, Emma, and Mac. But she's too low-key to appreciate all the luxuries that their clients seem to long for. What she does appreciate is a strong, intelligent man, a man just like Parker's older brother Delaney, on whom she's had a mega-crush since childhood.

But some infatuations last longer than others, and Laurel is convinced that the Ivy League lawyer is still out of her reach. Plus, Del is too protective of Laurel to ever cross the line with her-or so she thinks. When Laurel's quicksilver moods get the better of her-leading to an angry, hot, all-together mind-blowing kiss with Del-she'll have to quiet the doubts in her mind to turn a moment of passion into forever...

Guest Author - Karen Hawkins

New York Times bestselling author Karen Hawkins  is best known for her many historicals but is making a name for herself in the contemporary world with her humorous and heartwarming new series set in the small fictional town of Glory, NC. When not busy writing books or blogging, Karen can be often be found adding to her extensive shoe collection, diligently researching hotties for FROS Sundays at The Goddess Blogs, spending time with her Hot Cop husband and sharing stories about her very funny granny. Please give Karen a warm Romance Dish welcome.




WARNING: CHARACTER UNDER CONSTRUCTION

My latest release, LOIS LANE TELLS ALL, came out last Tuesday. This week, I'll get several hundred emails and letters from various readers, as well as requests to dish more info on various characters.

Here are some of the questions I've been asked:

Will you write a book about Connie? She needs her own book!

I loved your poker game scene and Rene really intrigues me. Who is the hot blond he once had a fling with back in New Orleans? Will we ever get to meet her?

Who will be with Ethan? I wish he was my next door neighbor. Can he install tile?

Do Nick and Roxie from TALK OF THE TOWN ever have children? I imagine them having two or three children, perhaps more.

Characters, characters, characters! I love it when my characters speak to my readers and draw them beyond the book and into the future where the next book is hiding. When the characters start talking to your audience beyond the book, then you know your series is taking on a life of its own.

Personally, I can't imagine NOT wondering what happens after I turn the last page, although I've heard that some people don't.

When you close a book, do you wonder what happens next? How the characters deal with this or that issue that might not be addressed in the book? Where they might go or do? If they have kids or not? Or, when you close a book, do you let the story go and move on to another?

Karen has graciously offered signed copies of TALK OF THE TOWN to two randomly selected commenters from today's blog.  Thank you, Karen!



--
Coming March 30th from New York Times bestselling author, KAREN HAWKINS --

LOIS LANE TELLS ALL, a Glory, NC book. When a small town newspaper editor who'd really like to be Lois Lane, finds herself the object of a series of potentially deadly pranks, who can she call for help other than the newspaper's seemingly mild-mannered Chief Financial Officer? Only, when faced with danger, it turns out this Clark Kent is definitely a SUPER man!

Also on the shelves, the final MacLean Curse book, a New York Times bestseller, THE LAIRD WHO LOVED ME!

www.karenhawkins.com
www.thegoddessblogs.com

Guest Review - - The Secret Duke

The Secret Duke
By Jo Beverley
Publisher: Signet
Release Date: April 6, 2010




Dover, 1760

     Laughter can take many forms, from the pure delight of a happy child to the gibber of madness. The laughter that slithered out into the dark and misty Dover night was the sound of cruel men with a victim in their clutches.
     It caused the man in the street to pause.

This opening to Jo Beverley’s 36th book (not counting novellas) caused me not to pause but to read on eagerly.

Youthful folly led Bella Barstowe into a danger from which she resourcefully escapes, only to find herself in another situation that threatens consequences almost as dire as those she averted. Captain Rose reluctantly recues Bella, who again proves herself an enterprising heroine. She steals her rescuer’s horse and returns home, leaving a baffled and concerned Captain Rose to return to his life, a world away from the low tavern where he had encountered a troublesome chit.

Four years pass, and help from an unexpected source once more allows Bella to escape, this time from a home as joyless and cold as a prison. Since her ruined reputation has destroyed the life she might have had, she disguises her attractions and adopts a persona that will allow her to create a free, if limited, life. The disguise as the plain Bellona Flint with radical sympathies leads to other disguises. One of these indirectly leads to the truth behind the danger that almost destroyed her four years earlier. Determined on revenge, she seeks out the infamous Captain Rose, the only man she knows who may be able to help her.

Bella is unaware that the man she knows as Captain Rose is really the Duke of Ithorne, whom she has met at a masquerade when both wore disguises. Thorn, as he is known to his intimates, assumes the role of Captain Rose (who is really an alternate identity of the Duke’s bastard half-brother, who bears a marked resemblance to the Duke) when he is weary of his ducal responsibilities and hungry for adventure and the freedom of the sea. Bella asks the real Captain Rose for help. He delays and lets Thorn know that the horse thief has returned. Thorn as Captain Rose agrees Bella deserves vengeance, and the two become allies. Then they fall in love.

The Secret Duke is the third book in Jo Beverley Rakish trilogy, a series set in the Georgian world of the Mallorens. Thorn is the character who links the three books. He is the cousin of the irrepressible Robin Fitzvitry, the Earl of Huntersdown (A Lady’s Secret) and the foster brother of Christian, Major Lord Grandiston (The Secret Wedding). As the titles indicate, the keeping and the uncovering of secrets is the overarching theme of this trilogy. All three books are also road books, at least in part. Both predispose me to like this book, plus it’s a Jo Beverley book. I’ve been reading and delighting in her books since her first, Lord Wraybourne’s Betrothed, in 1988.  It’s not necessary to have read the earlier books to understand this one, but appreciation of the world and of secondary characters will be considerably heightened for readers familiar with the other books set in this world, particularly the other Rake books.

Beverley has always been known for her attention to historical detail, and The Secret Duke is true to Beverley form. Even the most careless reader of European historicals knows the importance of an unmarried woman’s reputation among the upper class. Bella Barstowe’s story reveals what could credibly happen to a young woman who loses her reputation and her family’s support and refuses a marriage that repulses her. The Duke of Ithorne’s story shows an aristocrat born to be an adventurer but bred to accept the estate and political responsibilities of his rank. Bella and Thorn are humanly flawed. They don’t always choose wisely, but their mistakes are believable—and forgivable—because they are logical given these characters and their realities. Neither does Beverley gloss over the fact that however much Bella and Thorne love each other, a marriage between them will be a misalliance with potential consequences affecting future generations.

Despite clear strengths, The Secret Duke was not a five-star read for me. All the layers of disguises become a maze in which a reader can easily become lost. Some coincidences seem too contrived, and Bella, who is 21 for most of the book, sometimes seems far younger. But these are minor faults in a book that gives me endearing characters, historical accuracy, and thematic sophistication. Then there are the glimpses of familiar characters from other books and a final chapter that I read and sighed over three times. The Secret Duke may not be my favorite Jo Beverley book, but I never met a Jo Beverley book I didn’t like. This one was no exception.

~Janga
Just Janga

Review - Lois Lane Tells All

Lois Lane Tells All
By Karen Hawkins
Publisher: Pocket Star
Release Date: March 30, 2010








Susan Collins, spunky reporter and editor-in-chief of The Glory Examiner, wishes she could be a big time reporter like Lois Lane. Unfortunately, there's not much breaking news to report in a small town like Glory, North Carolina. Her biggest problem is her anal-retentive, number-crunching boss who insists on micromanaging her every move. It would be easier to stay mad at him if he didn't remind her of a very sexy Clark Kent.

Mark Tremayne has come back to Glory to become CFO of The Glory Examiner, at the request of his sister, Roxie (from Talk of the Town). He's a no nonsense accountant trying his best to get the newspaper out of the red, but all he seems to do is make his beautiful editor see red. Mark is all about the numbers, and Susan's all about the news. These two opposites definitely attract and when they get together....well, let's just say they heat things up in a big way. Lois Lane and Superman have nothing on these two!

Susan discovers what she thinks will be big news: missing funds from last year's Baptist Church Bake Off and the ensuing cover-up. But when she writes an editorial about it, she becomes the target of some accidents; someone cuts her brake lines and drills a hole in the bottom of her boat. Of course she has help discovering the culprit from the Murder Mystery Club from the Pine Hills Assisted Living Center. Who said life in a small town is dull?

The citizens of Glory are back and zanier than ever. Ms. Hawkins first introduced her readers to the charming town of Glory, North Carolina in Talk of the Town, and she continues the fun in Lois Lane Tells All. Filled with Ms. Hawkins' trademark humor, this heart-warming book will have you laughing out loud and sighing with delight. It will make you wish you could take a road trip to Glory and grab a seat at Micki and Maud's diner to catch up on all the gossip. There's always something going on in Glory, so don't miss it. See y'all there!

~ Gannon

New Releases winner!

Thanks to random.org, the winner of an April release book is:

LisaK!

Congratulations, LisaK! Please send your full name and address to theromancedishATgmailDOTcom with "New Releases winner" as the subject, and we'll get a book shipped to you! Thanks!

Review - - Something Scandalous

SOMETHING SCANDALOUS
By Christie Kelley
Published by: Zebra
Release Date: April 6, 2010

As the daughter of the Duke of Kendal, Lady Elizabeth has always been confident of her place in her family and in society. But, with the late Duke’s stunning deathbed confession, Elizabeth’s world is turned upside down. Suddenly, she is faced with the fact that everything she believed about her parentage is a lie and unless she can find her mother’s diary before the new Duke of Kendal takes possession of her home, Elizabeth may never know who her real father is.

Having lived in America for the past twenty years, William Atherton knows exactly who he is and it’s not some bloody English peer. Arriving in London with his seven younger siblings, the new Duke of Kendal has one goal: to sell off the ducal assets as quickly as possible and return to Virginia to claim the woman he plans to marry before her wealthy father marries her off to someone else. Unfortunately, as Elizabeth not so delicately informs him, carrying out that plan won’t be quite as easy as William assumes.

In Something Scandalous, Kelley has matched a man who is an American patriot through and through with a woman who devoutly believes in the sanctity of the English peerage. As you can imagine, there are many obstacles to overcome on the road to their happily ever after, not the least of which is the woman from America who, after finding reasons to delay accepting William’s marriage proposals for years, suddenly arrives in London ready to become his duchess.

While there is plenty of humor in this book and wonderful banter between the characters, especially in the first half as William and his siblings adjust to life in England and Elizabeth adjusts to having them overrun her household, there is also a great depth of emotion. When the foundations of your life have been shaken, as happens to both Elizabeth and William, your actions are sometimes sent careening out of control. Kelley deftly handles delicate situations without glossing over some harsh realities while also showing us that it takes a special person, a deep and abiding love and a willingness to accept someone for who they are, not who you want them to be, to emerge from the fire stronger, happier and united.

Lead characters from the two previous books in this series, Every Night I’m Yours and Every Time We Kiss, make appearances in this book. I always enjoy catching up with couples from other stories and Kelley gives us glimpses into their current lives without allowing them to infringe on William and Elizabeth’s story. We also see more of Lord Somerton (Can’t wait to read his story!), learn a few secrets, and are left with an epilogue that has me salivating for the next book in the series.

Kelley continues to delight readers with each book she writes. I can’t wait to see what she has in store for us next.  In the meantime, I'll be re-reading the very enjoyable Something Scandalous. 

~PJ

New Releases for April!

I am so glad April is finally here! I love April for so many reasons: Easter is this Sunday, my kids’ Spring Break is next week, it is Autism Awareness Month, my grandfather celebrates his 90th birthday (and we’re giving him a surprise party!), and most of all, my darling daughter’s birthday is this month. Of course, along with all that, it’s another month of wonderful new releases!! Which April releases have you read? Of those, which ones do you recommend? Which ones are you most looking forward to? Tell us and one lucky poster will win a random April release!

Until May, happy reading!



Historical

Desires of a Perfect Lady -- Victoria Alexander
Seneca Surrender -- Gen Bailey
A Most Sinful Proposal -- Sara Bennett
The Secret Duke -- Jo Beverley
Rogue in My Arms -- Celeste Bradley
Claude and Camille: A Novel of Monet -- Stephanie Cowell (Historical Fiction)
Whiter Than Snow -- Sandra Dallas (Historical Fiction)
All the Queen’s Players -- Jane Feather (Historical Fiction)
When Love Comes -- Leigh Greenwood
Highland Surrender -- Dawn Halliday
A Touch of Scandal -- Jennifer Haymore
Promise of Pleasure -- Cheryl Holt
Destined to Last -- Alissa Johnson
In Scandal They Wed -- Sophie Jordan
Something Scandalous -- Christie Kelley
Descent into Dust -- Jacqueline Lepore (Paranormal)
Starlight & Promises -- Cat Linder
Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake -- Sarah MacLean
Lord of the Isles -- Debbie Mazzuka (Time Travel)
To Catch a Rogue -- Amanda McCabe
The Chief -- Monica McCarty
Lady Arabella’s Scandalous Marriage -- Carole Mortimer
The Summer of You -- Kate Noble
Mistress of Rome -- Kate Quinn (Historical Fiction)
Watermark -- Vanitha Sankaran (Historical Fiction)
Patience -- Lisa Valdez
The Heretic’s Wife -- Brenda Rickman Vantrease (Historical Fiction)
His Californian Countess -- Kate Welsh
Too Hot for a Rake -- Pearl Wolf
Pleasurably Undone -- Christine Merrill, Michelle Willingham, Louise Allen, Terri Brisbin, Diane Gaston

Contemporary

Deliciously Dangerous -- Karen Anders
Writing Jane Austen -- Elizabeth Aston (Women’s Fiction)
All About Eva -- Deidre Berry (Women’s Fiction)
An Unfinished Score -- Elise Blackwell (Women’s Fiction)
Crossing the Line -- Jean Brashear
Man of the West -- Sadie Callahan
Out of Eden -- Beth Ciotta
The House on Sugar Plum Lane -- Judy Duarte (Women’s Fiction)
Oak Bluffs -- Joan Early
Raising the Stakes -- Wendy Etherington
How Clarissa Burden Learned to Fly -- Connie May Fowler (Women’s Fiction)
Love, Unexpectedly -- Susan Fox
On Shadow Beach -- Barbara Freethy
Lois Lane Tells All -- Karen Hawkins
The Drifter -- Kate Hoffmann
Sensual Confessions -- Brenda Jackson
Second Time Around -- Beth Kendrick (Women’s Fiction)
Just Fooling Around -- Julie Kenner & Kathleen O’Reilly
How High the Moon -- Sandra Kring (Women’s Fiction)
Under His Spell -- Kathy Lyons
The Real Thing -- J.J. Murray
The Long Way Home -- Robin Pilcher (Women’s Fiction)
The Two Lives of Miss Charlotte Merryweather -- Alexandra Potter (Women’s Fiction)
The Cheating Curve -- Paula Renfroe (Women’s Fiction)
Small Change -- Sheila Roberts (Women’s Fiction)
The Captive -- Joanne Rock
The Icing on the Cupcake -- Jennifer Ross (Women’s Fiction)
Heated Rivalry -- Patricia Sargeant
Instant Temptation -- Jill Shalvis
While She Was Sleeping... -- Isabel Sharpe
Robin and Ruby -- K.M. Soehnlein (Women’s Fiction)
Coming Home -- Mariah Stewart
Not Quite What it Seems -- Mari Walker
The True Love Knitting Club -- Lori Wilde
Home in Carolina -- Sherryl Woods
Love in Mid Air -- Kim Wright (Women’s Fiction)

YA/Teen

The Reckoning -- Kelley Armstrong (Paranormal)
The Six Rules of Maybe -- Deb Caletti
For Keeps -- Natasha Friend
Will Grayson, Will Grayson -- John Green & David Levithan
Guardian of the Dead -- Karen Healey (Paranormal)
The Snowball Effect -- Holly Nicole Hoxter
The Unwritten Rule -- Elizabeth Scott

Romantic Suspense

A Kiss to Kill -- Nina Bruhns
Enigma -- Carla Cassidy
Gun-Shy Bride -- B.J. Daniels
Dark Deceptions -- Dee Davis
The Killing Edge -- Heather Graham
Secretive Stranger -- Jennifer Greene
Come to Me -- Linda Winstead Jones
Silent Truth -- Sherrilyn Kenyon & Dianna Love
Crossing the Line -- Bernice Layton
Takedown -- Julie Miller
Unmasking the Mercenary -- Jennifer Morey
Strong, Sleek and Sinful -- Lorie O’Clare
Rocky Mountain Fugitive -- Ann Voss Peterson
Second Chance -- Christy Reece
Shattered -- Karen Robards
Saving Grace -- Patricia Rosemoor
Bulletproof Bodyguard -- Kay Thomas
Her Baby’s Bodyguard -- Ingrid Weaver

Paranormal

Demonkeepers -- Jessica Andersen
Touch of Seduction -- Rhyannon Byrd
Out of Mind -- Stella Cameron
Flirting with Forever -- Gwyn Cready
Her Vampire Husband -- Michele Hauf
Star Raiders -- Elysa Hendricks
Forbidden Passion -- Rita Herron
Beyond the Darkness -- Alexandra Ivy
The Jaguar Prince -- Karen Kelley
When Good Wishes Go Bad -- Mindy Klasky
Lion’s Heat -- Lora Leigh
The Hunted -- Anna Leonard
Can’t Teach an Old Demon New Tricks -- Cara Lockwood
Jared -- Sarah McCarty
Reunion -- Lindsay McKenna
Sunrise in a Garden of Love & Evil -- Barbara Monajem
In the Darkest Night -- Patti O’Shea
Rebels and Lovers -- Linnea Sinclair
His Darkest Hunger -- Juliana Stone
Tsunami Blue -- Gayle Ann Williams

Urban Fantasy

Hell Fire -- Ann Aguirre
Tales of the Otherworld -- Kelley Armstrong
Never Cry Werewolf -- L.A. Banks
Death Blows -- D.D. Barant
Master of None -- Sonya Bateman
Embers -- Laura Bickle
The Devil’s Playground -- Jenna Black
Silver Borne -- Patricia Briggs
Changes -- Jim Butcher
Mind Games -- Carolyn Crane
Succubus Shadows -- Richelle Mead
The Mage in Black -- Jaye Wells

Erotica/Erotic Romance

Sweet Temptation -- Maya Banks
Two + One = Ecstasy -- Sasha James
Bedtime Stories -- Jean Johnson (Fantasy)
Victor -- Julia Templeton (Historical)
Rampant -- Saskia Walker (Paranormal)
Masquerade -- Sheri Whitefeather
Tease Me -- Tracy Wolff
Sexy Beast VIII -- Kate Douglas, Kathleen Dante, Devyn Quinn

Christie Kelley winner!

Thanks to random.org, the winner of a copy of Something Scandalous by Christie Kelley is:

Jane!

Congratulations, Jane! Please send your full name and address to Christie at christieATchristiekelleyDOTcom with "The Romance Dish" winner as the subject. Thanks!

An Interview With Victoria Alexander

Dear Readers, we have a very special treat for you today! I was fortunate enough to interview #1 New York Times bestselling author Victoria Alexander! Victoria was an award winning television reporter until she discovered fiction was much more fun than real life. First published in 1995, she has since penned well over two dozen novels and novellas. Her latest, Desires of a Perfect Lady, is on shelves now and you can check out my review here. Please welcome Victoria to The Romance Dish!



Hi, Victoria! Thank you so much for joining us today at The Romance Dish! As a long time fan, I am especially thrilled for the opportunity to interview you. Please make yourself at home and let our Golden Waiter know if you need anything. *g*

You had a new release, Desires of a Perfect Lady, hit shelves this past Tuesday, March 30. Congratulations! Can you tell us a little bit about it?

Desires is about Olivia Rathbourne, who has had an awful marriage she was forced into. When her husband is murdered she thinks she's at last free only to discover he is still trying to control her from the grave. In order to claim her inheritance she has to complete three of his collections. The only way she can do that is to turn to the man who broke her heart a decade ago and failed her when she needed him—Sterling Harrington.

Sterling has always thought he was the injured party but finds out quickly he was wrong. But his biggest mistake was ignoring the three letters she sent him. The moment he sees her again he realizes his feelings have never changed. But he has a lot to make up for and working his way back into her heart is not going to be easy.

Together they travel from London to Cairo to Venice in their quest for her inheritance and her independence. And along the way find each other as well.

Sterling and Olivia were vibrant characters that really leapt off the page for me. Who were your inspirations for them?

Just my slightly warped, thankfully fertile imagination.

LOL! As a fan of adventure romance, I loved the first book in the series, The Virgin’s Secret, as well as this one. Your beautiful descriptions made me want to visit the places Sterling and Olivia journeyed to. Did you do any extensive research, such as traveling, for these books?

I've never been to Egypt, although I have always wanted to go, but I have been to Venice—which I love. I didn’t travel specifically for this book but for both Desires and Virgin's Secret I did a lot of research.

For Virgin's Secret I researched Victorian archeologists and lost cities. For Desires, I found 1880's guidebooks to Egypt and Venice as well as train and ship schedules so that I could set up the characters' travel. It was fun to realize very little has changed in Venice between 1885 and the last time I was there.

Also for Desires, I spent a lot of time researching the type of items Olivia needed to collect so that took me from ancient Egyptian artifacts to Renaissance paintings.

How fascinating! Venice sounds perfectly lovely. The prequel to this series, The Perfect Wife, hit #1 on the New York Times bestseller list. Congratulations on such a huge accomplishment! How did that feel and how did you celebrate?

It was an amazing experience. One of those fantasies you never really think is going to come true. We celebrated with friends and champagne and lots of copies of the New York Times.

*raises glass* Here's to it happening again soon! At The Romance Dish, we love series, so you know I have to ask this question. Since this is your last book with Avon, will readers get to read Quinton’s story one day? And Reggie’s?

I love Quinton and I hope to write his story at some point—especially since I have it pretty much plotted out. The only question is when and I don't have an answer for that. Yet.

And honestly, I've never had anything in mind for Reggie, although I do like her!

And because you know I can’t leave out one of my all-time favorite secondary characters, do you have any plans to someday write a story for Becky Shelton?

I do. I even have something of a story in mind for her, I just have no idea when I'll write it.

I'll keep my fingers crossed! Since we’re on the subject of series, your Effington Family series is one of my favorites and one of the most beloved series for so many romance readers. Any plans to revisit them in the future?

Not at the moment but I did leave a lot of characters without their own stories so I wouldn't rule it out. In fact, I would like to do more Effington stories in the future.

Did you originally plan to write so many books in that series?

I didn't originally plan to write a series at all. One story just grew from the one before it. And then I fell in love with the family and their friends.

We are so glad it turned into a series! Was it difficult for you to leave the Effingtons when you started your Last Man Standing series?

Not at all because the Last Man Standing series grew out of an Effington book—Let It Be Love.

At the end of each of the Last Man Standing books, you added a continuing bonus story, Ladies for Tea. It was a unique and fascinating concept that I loved! What prompted the idea?

We wanted to do something special and a little extra for readers and I came up with Ladies for Tea. Since I used to be a reporter, conducting interviews is fairly natural although I still find it weird to be on the other end. And, oh sure, interviewing people who don’t really exist is a little trickier.

Ladies for Tea was so much fun that I'm going to continue it for each book on my new website (http://www.victoriaalexanderbooks.com/). Ladies for Tea with some of the characters from Desires will be up hopefully in a couple of weeks.

Oh, that's wonderful news! I can't wait to take tea with you and your heroines again soon! *g*

What is your favorite part about being a writer?

Tough question. I think the best part is that as a writer I can go anywhere, be anyone, do anything. And I don’t have to leave my house to do it. :)

We know that writing is a huge part of your life, but what are some things you enjoy doing when you’re not writing?

I love to garden in the spring and collect odd things on ebay. Right now I'm collecting napkin rings with names engraved on them. I love to throw parties—especially dinner parties so that I can use my napkin rings. And I love to travel!

Can you share with us a little bit about what you are working on now? Upcoming releases? A new series, perhaps?

I'm very excited about the book I'm working on right now. The Perfect Mistress is about a widow who has inherited the scandalous memoirs of her great-grandmother and needs to sell them because she's nearly broke. Two men want to publish the memoirs and a very proper earl wants to stop that to prevent his family from being involved in scandal. And now it seems great-grandmother's spirit is back!

Sweet! We look forward to The Perfect Mistress!!


Quick Six time!

Plotter or Panster? A bit of both—more pantser really.

Chocolate or Vanilla? Chocolate!

Coffee or Tea? Coffee

Dogs or Cats? Dogs—have 2 bearded collies

Flats or Heels? Love heels—can't stand to wear them.

Summer or Winter? Spring & fall.


Thank you so much, Victoria! Since I’ve plundered you with so many questions, I’m going to let you have a turn. Is there anything you’d like to ask our readers?

Well, Andrea, you said you love adventure stories and this is a reunion story as well as a road story. I was wondering what kind of stories your readers like.

So, Dear Readers, Victoria wants to know: What kind of stories do YOU like to read?


Desires of a Perfect Lady by Victoria Alexander

A secret list of the desires of Lady Olivia Rathbourne:

~Disregard convention
~Follow my heart
~Bed the Earl of Wyldewood

A decade ago, Olivia had expected to marry the Earl of Wyldewood, only to have happiness stolen from her before his ring could be placed upon her finger. Now he stands before her, as proud and arrogant and handsome as ever, vowing to rescue her. Well, he's got some nerve urning up after all these years. Where was he when she needed him?

As for the earl, scandal has never touched him nor has impropriety ever besmirched his name. But his penchant for doing the expected does have his family calling him, well, dull. Isn't it time to flaunt society's conventions and do what he's always wanted? And first on his list: Olivia in his bed—with or without a wedding.