Make Your Reservations!

It's time again to mark your calendars and Make Your Reservations for January! Here are some of the books we're looking forward to next month. Are any of these upcoming books on your list? If so, which ones?




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The Lady Most Likely...
by Julia Quinn, Eloisa James, & Connie Brockway

Hugh Dunne, the Earl of Briarly, needs a wife, so his sister hands him a list of delectable damsels and promises to invite them— and a few other gentlemen—to her country house for what is sure to be the event of the season.

Hugh will have time to woo whichever lady he most desires . . . Unless someone else snatches her first.

The invitation list includes:

~ The horse-mad but irresistibly handsome Earl of Briarly
~ The always outspoken Miss Katherine Peyton
~ The dashing war hero Captain Neill Oakes
~ The impossibly beautiful (and painfully shy) Miss Gwendolyn Passmore
~ The terribly eligible new Earl of Charters
~ The widowed Lady Georgina Sorrell (who has no plans to marry, ever)

And your hostess, Lady Carolyn Finchley, an irrepressible matchmaker who plans to find the lady most likely . . . to capture her brother’s untamed heart.

(Avon)


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Wedding of the Season
by Laura Lee Guhrke

Abandoned at the altar . . .

Lady Beatrix Danbury had always known she would marry William Mallory. She'd loved him forever and she'd never doubted he loved her, too. But when she made him choose between their life together or his lifelong dream, Will chose the latter . . . and left two weeks before their wedding.

Return of the duke . . .

Will has no illusions that Beatrix would welcome him back with open arms, but six years did not dim his love or desire for her. The only problem is, she's about to marry someone else. Someone safe and predictable . . . the complete opposite of Will. But can he stop the wedding of the season and win Beatrix back, or is it just too late?

(Avon)


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Call Me Irresistible
by Susan Elizabeth Phillips

Lucy Jorik is the daughter of a former president of the United States.

Meg Koranda is the offspring of legends.

One of them is about to marry Mr. Irresistible—Ted Beaudine—the favorite son of Wynette, Texas. The other is not happy about it and is determined to save her friend from a mess of heartache.

But even though Meg knows that breaking up her best friend's wedding is the right thing to do, no one else seems to agree. Faster than Lucy can say "I don't," Meg becomes the most hated woman in town—a town she's stuck in with a dead car, an empty wallet, and a very angry bridegroom. Broke, stranded, and without her famous parents at her back, Meg is sure she can survive on her own wits. What's the worst that can happen? Lose her heart to the one and only Mr. Irresistible? Not likely. Not likely at all.

(William Morrow)


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Immortal Champion
by Lisa Hendrix

He faces a future of cold uncertainty, until her warm embrace...

Part of a Viking crew of warriors cursed by an evil sorceress, Gunnar the Red must toil through eternity as half-man, half-beast, living out his days as a great bull, while his nights are spent in human form. And though he keeps mostly to the wilds, his heart yearns for the simple comforts of man—and the chance to redeem a tragic past...

Seeking refuge from a bitter winter in the welcoming hall of Richmond Castle, Gunnar rescues two maidens when a blaze erupts—and his destiny is forever altered. For one of the young women is Lady Eleanor de Neville, who is immediately entranced by her rescuer. Her kiss of gratitude—the brief touch of her lips against his cheek—awakens a longing in her soul. And even when she is betrothed to another, Eleanor never forgets her courageous knight.

When Gunnar rides back into Eleanor’s life, she is consumed by undeniable passion. And though his body surrenders to her every touch, Gunnar’s heart remains imprisoned by the curse—and only the magic of the truest love can save him...

(Berkley)


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Promise Canyon
by Robyn Carr

After years spent on ranches around Los Angeles, Clay Tahoma is delighted to be Virgin River’s new veterinary assistant. The secluded community’s wild beauty tugs at his Navajo roots, and he’s been welcomed with open arms by everyone in town—everyone excerpt Lilly Yazhi.

Lilly has encountered her share of strong, silent, traditional men within her own aboriginal community, and she’s not interested in coming back for more. In her eyes, Clay’s earthy, sexy appeal is just an act used to charm wealthy women like his ex-wife. She can’t deny his gift for gentling horses, but she’s not about to let him control her. There’s just one small problem—she can’t control her attraction to Clay.

But in Virgin River, faith in new beginnings and the power of love has doors opening everywhere...

(MIRA)


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Chasing the Sun
by Kaki Warner

Daisy Etheridge always yearned to sing. But along the way she fell in love, had her heart broken, and bore a child to a man who loved another. Now she has a second chance to realize her dreams.

Jack Wilkins left his family's ranch three years ago with his childhood love, only to lose her. Now, he's back to try and win her one last time. Then a woman from his past appears...with a baby that has eyes like his own.

Now, Jack and Daisy must choose what they want out of their lives-and out of each other.

(Berkley)


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Whisper Falls
by Toni Blake

Tessa Sheridan came crawling back to her quaint hometown of Destiny after her big-city interior design career crumbled. Now not only must she struggle to make ends meet, but she has to contend with a biker next door and the roar of Harleys shattering the serenity of her cabin in the woods by Whisper Falls.

Worse still, her sexy, bad boy neighbor makes her feel breathless and weak—and shy, petite Tessa knows what a major mistake it would be to get involved with someone so . . . dangerous.

They say that former teen rebel Lucky Romo has a dark, secret past—that he’s trouble with a capital "T." Still, Tessa feels all tingly when she sees how well he fills out a pair of tight jeans. And when Lucky invites her into his world, she knows the intense heat sparking between them could lead her somewhere wild and wonderful . . . and, yes, dangerous!

(Avon)


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Prelude to a Scandal
by Delilah Marvelle

THE BATTLE BETWEEN LADY AND RAKE IS ABOUT TO BEGIN...

Lady Justine is willing to trade her good name, her reputation and her place in London’s gossip-hungry ton, to secure her father’s release from prison. But when the notorious Duke of Bradford counters her offer with a proposal of marriage, the stakes grow higher still. For while the smoldering lord is famous for his conquests, the man is oblivious to both her devotion and her charms. And Justine is soon afraid she has wagered all for naught...

(HQN)


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Then He Kissed Me
by Christie Ridgway

The three Baci sisters are on a mission to save the family winery by transforming it into a wedding destination. When Stevie Baci playfully names her own side business Napa Princess Limousine, she never dreams she'll be driving a real prince around Napa Valley.

Jacques Parini, aka "Jack", is looking to expand his family's wine interests. But after kissing Stevie, he finds this California girl in a black chauffeur's hat does more than drive him crazy.

(Berkley)


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A Taste of Desire
by Beverley Kendall

She Challenged His Pride

Lady Amelia Bertram may have a reputation as the most brazen beauty of the ton, but she shocks even herself when she accidently—and loudly—derides one of society’s most eligible bachelors in the middle of a crowded ballroom. The timing of her faux pas couldn’t be worse, for her father is seeking someone to take her off his hands that very night...


He Challenged Her Willpower

But when Thomas Armstrong overhears the so-called “Lady” Amelia slandering his sexual prowess in public, he cannot help but accept the dare implicit in her words. To her father’s great delight, he offers to take her to his secluded country estate—properly chaperoned, of course—to teach the girl a lesson in ladylike behavior...

(Zebra)


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A Werewolf in Manhattan
by Vicki Lewis Thompson

Emma Gavin writes bestselling novels about werewolves, but that doesn't mean she believes in them -- and she certainly doesn't think she'll meet one. But that's exactly what happens when her books catch the attention of a rich and powerful pack of Manhattan Weres, who have kept their existence hidden for centuries. Alarmed by the accuracy of her novels, they're determined to find out if a renegade is acting as her informant.

Aidan Wallace, the pack leader's son and heir, knows he's the wolf for the job, but when he gets close to Emma, they are both surprised by an attraction too strong to deny. To surrender to it, Aidan will have to risk everything--- including the security of the pack he's sworn to protect...

(Signet)

Kathryn Caskie Winner

Thanks to everyone who stopped by the blog to chat with Kathryn Caskie on December 2nd.  All the comments were great and we just couldn't choose so we let the randomizer pick our winners.

Librarypat

Gigi

Laurie

Congratulations, ladies!  Please send your full name and mailing address, along with "Caskie Winner" in the subject line to theromancedishATgmailDOTcom.

Today's Special - - Kathryn Johnson

We are happy to have Kathryn Johnson as our special guest today. Kathryn is the author of more than 40 novels for young and adult readers, written under several noms de plume. She is also the founder of Write By You, a professional mentoring service for fiction writers. Kathryn has taught creative writing at Johns Hopkins University, Howard University, and the Long Ridge Writers Group. Her latest novel, The Gentleman Poet, has been receiving rave reviews, including this one from our very own Janga! Please give a warm Romance Dish welcome to Kathryn.

The Gentleman Poet: A Novel of Love, Romance, and Shakespeare’s “The Tempest,” by Kathryn Johnson

Like many authors, I’m often asked where the ideas for my books come from. The answer? Everywhere!

It doesn’t matter how exciting or quiet your life is—there is raw material for a rich and satisfying story within you. For instance, everyone has hobbies. Some of us quilt, others collect cookbooks or enjoy playing a musical instrument. One activity I enjoy is sailing with my husband. Our relaxing days on the Chesapeake Bay went a long way toward inspiring The Gentleman Poet, my latest novel. Right now, the crisp late fall weather is a reminder that we’re nearing the end of our sailing season. It’s truly romantic skimming across the Chesapeake Bay in our vintage sailboat Purr during the spring, all summer, and early fall before it gets too cold to be enjoyable. But as cooler days arrive, and the water turns steel-gray, choppy and chill, our fascination with being out on the water wanes, and I often wonder what it must have been like for women and their families sailing on creaky wooden sailing ships across vast and terrifyingly rough oceans capable of swallowing them whole in one huge wave.

I suppose it was partly my sympathy for these brave souls of just a few hundred years ago that prompted me to write a novel involving a shipwreck in the 17^th-century, and for creating my heroine survivor Elizabeth Persons. Because this isn’t really a story about William Shakespeare, although you may catch glimpses of someone very like him in the story. It’s not even so much about a single play that he wrote, as much as it is about the courage of a young woman who—like so many women today—yearns for love and a better life for herself. Despite the hardships Elizabeth faces, she tests herself, discovers her talents and learns about the world around her—all of which give her the strength to rise above tragedy and reach out for happiness.

Maybe this story provides a message for all of us today during these challenging and stressful times. History shows us, again and again, the awesome emotional and physical strength of women at moments of crisis. Their journals, memoirs, and letters remind us that we as a sex have incredible resilience, and the power within us to be just as strong as our sisters who came before us, when we are tested. I saw the need to write about this strength in my romantic historical novel. I needed also to write about how Elizabeth finds love, despite life throwing incredible barricades in her path.

This is a book dedicated to women everywhere, throughout time, who have grown stronger through adversity and found ways to bring joy and love into their own and others’ lives. I hope you’ll enjoy Elizabeth’s journey even as you create your own life adventure in the 21^st century.

Warmly, Kathryn Johnson

You can reach Kathryn at her website where she offers tips for new writers and support from her mentoring service: www.writebyyou.com.

New Releases winner!

The random winner of a book I picked up from RWA is:

Sheree

Congratulations, Sheree! Please send your full name and address to theromancedishATgmailDOTcom with "New Releases winner" as the subject and I'll get your book in the mail.

Thanks to everyone who stopped by to comment!

Today's Special -- Maria Geraci

We are so happy to welcome back fun, contemporary author Maria Geraci to The Romance Dish! I say fun because her books are so much fun to read! She is the author of the popular Bunco Babes Tell All and Bunco Babes Gone Wild. Read Andrea's review of the latter here. Her newest, The Boyfriend of the Month Club, releases today! Read Andrea's review below. Needless to say, she enjoyed it! Welcome, Maria!



Holiday Traditions
by Maria Geraci


Thank you to the wonderful ladies of The Romance Dish for having me here today! I’m excited to be talking about my new release, The Boyfriend of the Month Club and holiday traditions.

The Boyfriend of the Month Club is a romantic comedy about a woman who turns her dysfunctional book club into a boyfriend club, where members come together to discuss the men they’ve dated, comparing them to classic literary heroes and villains. Here’s the back cover blurb:

At thirty, Grace O’Bryan has dated every loser that Daytona Beach has to offer. After the ultimate date from hell, Grace decides to take matters in her own hands and turns her dwindling book club into a boyfriend of the month club, where women can come together to discuss the eligible men in their community. Where are the real live twenty-first century versions of literary heroes such as Heathcliff and Mr. Darcy?

Could it be successful and handsome Brandon Farrell, who is willing to overlook his disastrous first date with Grace and offers financial help for her parents’ failing Florida gift shop? Or maybe sexy dentist Joe Rosenblum, who’s great with a smile but not so great with commitment? Unfortunately, just like books, men cannot always be judged by their covers...

This book was a lot of fun for me to write, especially because my main character, Grace, is half-Cuban. I’m Cuban-American myself, and I gave Grace a really quirky family, including her Cuban grandmother, Abuela. Abuela is a font of wisdom. After Grace “messes” up with Joe, her dentist, she goes to Abuela for some sage advice.


Abuela managed to keep one eye on the screen and gaze at Grace at the same time. “What’s the problem, mi amor?”

“I need to apologize to someone. I was thinking maybe a nice card or—”

“Man or woman?”

Grace hesitated. “Man.”

“Flan,” Abuela blurted. “The way to a man’s heart is through his stomach. When your abuelo Pedro was courting me, my mother used to make him flan. He couldn’t resist it. Make him a flan and he’ll throw himself at your feet.”

Grace didn’t want Joe at her feet, but maybe Abuela was onto something...


The chapter in which Abuela teaches Grace to make flan was especially near and dear to me. I used my own mother’s traditional flan recipe in the book. If you’re not familiar with flan, it’s a custard like desert. My mom’s recipe uses cream cheese, so this particular flan has a cheesecake like taste to it. It’s delicious and really easy to make, and a holiday tradition around my house.


FLAN DE QUESO
•1 -8 ounce cream cheese
•1 tsp vanilla
•1 can 12 ounces evaporated milk
•1 can 14 ounces sweetened condensed milk
•½ cup sugar + 2 cups of sugar for the syrup
•5 eggs
•Pinch of salt

Combine all the ingredients (except the 2 cups of sugar) in a blender and set aside.

In a large skillet melt the 2 cups of sugar over medium/high heat until the sugar completely melts into a syrup. Pour the syrup into a baking pan with a circle in the center (like a Bundt pan) making sure to cover as much of the pan’s surface with the syrup as possible. Let it set for a few minutes. Carefully pour the liquid egg mixture in the pan over the set syrup. Place the pan inside a larger pan filled with an inch of hot water (a baño de Maria ) and place the whole thing in a 350 degree oven. Cook for 35-45 minutes until set. Let cool to room temperature and chill well. Before serving, let the chilled flan sit out on the counter for about 20 minutes (so the syrup warms up a bit), then turn onto a plate letting all the syrup drip over the custard. Serve and chill any leftovers.


What holiday deserts do you make every year? Leave a comment, and I’ll randomly select two people to win an autographed copy of The Boyfriend of the Month Club and a special Boyfriend of the Month Club desk top calendar for 2011!


Maria Geraci writes fun, romantic women’s fiction. She lives in north Florida with her husband and children and two dogs and two cats. You can visit her website at http://www.mariageraci.com/ and her facebook fan page at http://www.facebook.com/MariaGeraciBooks

Review -- The Boyfriend of the Month Club

The Boyfriend of the Month Club
By Maria Geraci
Publisher: Berkley Trade
Release Date: December 7, 2010





If it wasn’t for bad luck, she’d have no luck at all. This is the saying that ran through my head with regards to Grace as I read Maria Geraci’s latest amusing contemporary, The Boyfriend of the Month Club.

At thirty years old, half Cuban, half Irish Grace O’Bryan has had her fill of dating the wrong men. She runs the family business, a tourist trap called Florida Charlie’s, which was founded fifty years ago by her grandfather. While Grace enjoys her job, she doesn’t love it. But since her brother wanted to be an attorney instead, it sort of fell to Grace to do her familial duty and run it. When she finally gets asked out by Daytona Beach’s most eligible bachelor, Grace is ecstatic. But since her luck isn’t so good (see quote above), the date turns out bad. Very, very bad. (But actually quite hilarious.) So, Grace vents about it to her book club pals. They talk it out and decide to turn their monthly book club into a boyfriend club, where they’ll rate and review the local men they’ve dated in order to enlighten other women. One of the other gals even creates a program where she can plug in four words describing the men and it will compare him to a past literary hero or villain. Little does Grace know that while on that very, very bad date, she just may have met the man of her dreams.

This book was a really fun read! I was smiling and laughing from beginning to end. Not only did I enjoy the interactions between Grace and the men in her life and Grace and her girlfriends, but I also love the relationship she has with her family. They are a tight-knit bunch, much like my own. They’re always there for each other and aren’t afraid to tell it to you like it is . . . especially Grace’s abuela. She is an absolute hoot! I didn’t envy Grace as she had to choose between two very sexy men—Brandon Farrell, the rich said eligible bachelor, and Joe Rosenblum, her gorgeous new dentist.

The fact that this story is set on the east coast of Florida was a big plus for me as I was born and lived there for many years. It brought back a lot of great memories from my childhood. And Ms. Geraci gets bonus points for mentioning and including a short scene set in my favorite grocery store, Publix! Reading The Boyfriend of the Month Club is a great way to spend a cool winter’s day or a day at the beach. Or if you’re in Florida, both!

~Andrea

Review -- One Night In Scotland

One Night In Scotland
Hurst Amulet Series, Book 1
By Karen Hawkins
Publisher: Pocket Star
Release Date: November 23, 2010






Mary Hurst leaves her family home to search for a priceless artifact at the urging of her brother Michael. He is being held for ransom in Egypt, and the sufi who is holding him wants the artifact before he will let Michael go free. Mary must find the man who has the artifact, Angus Hay, the Earl of Erroll, if she is to save her beloved brother. Cold, wet and miserable, Mary and her maid Abigail arrive at an inn in Aberdeenshire in the hopes that might find someone who will escort them to New Slains Castle, the home of the Earl of Erroll. None of the patrons are willing to make the trip, except the tall, dark, and mysterious man who has been watching Mary since she entered the inn. Mary has also been inexplicably drawn to the enigmatic man with the piercing green eyes. She agrees to accept the stranger's escort, hoping to gain the Earl of Erroll's assistance before her brother is harmed.

Angus Hay is a man who has been quite literally scarred by his past. Burned in a fire seven years ago that claimed the life of his wife, Angus rarely ventures out, preferring his research of antiquities to the stares and questions of society. But his fate takes a dramatic turn when he agrees to escort Mary Hurst to his castle. He does not reveal his true identity at first, because he believes she is an impostor who is trying to steal the box that Michael sent to him. Angus holds Mary "prisoner" (in a lovely room with everything she could want) until he can confirm her identity. What ensues is a gargantuan battle of wills between two strong, passionate people who are both convinced they are in the right. Will their tempers prevail or will love and passion win emerge the victor?


The earl devoured her, kissing her with ruthless intent, with power and domination blended with pure lust. And Mary was lost before it all.

Angus, for his part, had never been so stirred. This woman fit him like no other, her lavender scent stirring his senses until he could barely think. In some ways she seemed an innocent, so it had been a shock when he'd felt her hands clutching his lapels and her mouth had opened so eagerly under his. With the ferocity of a storm, she demanded an embrace and deepened it, then turned it into something else. Something hotter. Something more passionate. More everything.

Suddenly he was awash in her clean fragrance, in the silken feel of her hair as it brushed his hands, the softness of her curves as they melded to his. Passion roared to life, and just like that, Angus was no longer in control.


Mary is a delightful heroine: witty, resourceful and curvaceous. It's a treat to relate to a not-your-usual-frail-waif-like-girl. She's a woman with curves and she knows how to use them. *g* Annoyed at being kept as a prisoner, Mary devises several hilarious "methods" to get Angus's attention. In spite of the fact she's peeved with him, Mary cannot stop the attraction she feels for Angus, passion that turns to love.

Angus is, of course, my favorite kind of hero: dark, handsome, brooding and scarred. He's the beast who is just waiting for the right beauty to heal his wounds and remind him what it is to love and be loved. The road to love may not be smooth, but the destination is worth the many potholes and detours.

Filled with intrigue, humor, and plenty of passion, One Night In Scotland launches Karen Hawkins's Hurst Amulet series. As with any book by Ms. Hawkins, this story had me grinning throughout. I'm looking forward to uncovering more of the mystery in the Scandal In Scotland in May 2011. This is William Hurst's (Mary's brother) story, and it promises to be another entertaining read from an author who never disappoints.


~ Gannon

Review -- Ten Ways To Be Adored When Landing A Lord

Ten Ways To Be Adored When Landing A Lord
By Sarah MacLean
Publisher: Avon
Release Date: October 26, 2010

“It cannot be denied that there is a veritable epidemic spreading among the young ladies of London – a tragic reality that ends in nothing but the very worst possible scenario.

We refer, of course, to spinsterhood.

With so many unmarried ladies in our fair city so unfortunately shaded from the brilliant sunshine of wedded bliss, ‘tis nothing short of criminal that these promising young buds might never have the opportunity to blossom!

And so, Dear Reader, it is in the interest of public service that we have compiled a list of time-test solutions, oft proven to simplify the most daunting of tasks – that of securing a husband.

We humbly present, Lessons in Landing a Lord.”


Lord Nicholas St. John, younger twin brother to the Marquess of Ralston, is usually known for his vast expertise of antiquities, but most recently he has been gifted with the title of “London’s Lord to Land.” One title Nick is not ready to assume. Anxious to leave the city before some unwed girl (or her mother!) gets the better of him, Nick quickly agrees to discreetly search England for the missing sister of the Duke of Leighton. Accompanying Nick on the search is his long time Turkish friend Rock, who seems to always find humor in any situation. Following a trail north of London, Nick and Rock find themselves in the English countryside, more specifically Yorkshire, in the small village of Dunscroft. While in the small village, Nick saves an unassuming young woman from being trampled by a horse-drawn carriage. Unbeknownst to Nick, his matrimonially downfall is about to happen in a tiny village far from the dozens of marriage minded girls (and mothers) of London.

Lady Isabel Townsend’s father is best described as a wastrel. The man cared more about his pleasure than the well being of his family and his servants. After he deserted them (physically and financially) for the pleasures of London, Isabel quickly took over the management of the estate. After the death of her mother, Isabel slowly began opening the estate to women in need – those running away from abusive homes, those pregnant without hopes of marriage and even those who just needed a fresh start in a new area where no one knew them. Townsend Park was renamed Minerva House and soon became a sanctuary for trouble women. The only man in residence is Isabel’s younger brother James, the new Earl. All of the women work together to keep the estate running, sharing in the chores and necessary repairs. When the newest woman arrives on the step, Isabel readily accepts Georgiana in the home and offering her the assignment of governess to young James in exchange for safety and secrecy. Isabel has no idea how this one young girl will bring her the dream she has always been afraid to dream – her very own hero.

“For years, she had dreamed of what her first kiss would be like. She had considered it in countless places, with any number of faceless, nameless men, each one a hero in his own right, as part of professions of love, proposals of marriage, and other fantasies that plagued young, innocent girls.

And all the while, she’d known there was no point in dreams. Because heroes did not exist. And there was no truth to the idea that love completed women. Indeed, in her experience, love only lessened women—made them pained and desolate and weak.

She did not want that.

And yet, in Lord Nicholas’s arms, she had glimpsed that ephemeral promise—that temptation—that came with being the focus of all his attention. And in that moment, she’d been a girl again, dreaming of her first kiss.

She had never imagined, however, that her first kiss would be with a virtual stranger, in the musty attic of her ancestral home, after nearly toppling off a roof.

To be fair, she also hadn’t imagined her first kiss would be quite so very wonderful.”

Ten Ways To Be Adored When Landing A Lord is the follow-up to Sarah MacLean’s New York Times Best Seller Nine Rules To Break When Romancing A Rake. Sometimes when the first book is so darn good, the second one always seems to fall flat, but this is NOT the case here. Sarah has hit another home run!! The journey to happily ever after for Isabel and Nick is chocked full of humor and emotion. While reading this book, there were several occasions where my mouth quirked into a silly grin and my eyes twinkled with glee at the scene. Love and adoration, respect and passion are all in full bloom with this novel. Treat yourself to this fantastic book!!

~ Buffie

Review - - Sweet Surrender, Baby Surprise

Sweet Surrender, Baby Surprise
By Kate Carlisle
Publisher: Harlequin Desire
Release Date: December 7, 2010

Returning home from a business trip, Cameron Duke enters his suite at the Duke resort that he oversees to discover…red high heels and baby bottles?

Eighteen months ago, Cameron and Julia Parrish had a brief, torrid affair then went their separate ways and, holding true to his self-imposed rule, Cameron never looked back. Of course, that doesn't mean he's forgotten about her. In fact, Julia is the one woman he’s never been able to completely banish from his thoughts but when the frequent emails and telephone messages asking him to call started a few months after their break-up, he knew he’d made the right decision in not looking back, believing she was another in a long line of women who were after his money. But now she’s attending a conference at his hotel, and staying in his personal suite (thanks to his mother), along with the reason for all those calls and emails: Cameron’s nine-month old son, Jake.

Julia Parrish knew when she and Cameron went their separate ways that she wouldn’t hear from him again. He’d been very clear on that. But she couldn’t help but feel bad that he was missing out on the joy of knowing his son. Still, she hadn’t planned to break the news to him while still wet from the shower…in his suite…the suite that his mother had told her he wouldn’t be using for the next two weeks! It soon becomes obvious that the passion that was always between them still burns brightly but the big surprise to Julia is how quickly Cameron adapts to being a father. For a man who states bluntly that he’ll never love, it’s clear his heart is quickly captured by little Jake. Does that mean that there might be room in that wounded heart for Julia too?

Carlisle brings us another terrific pairing with Julia and Cameron. Successful professionals, they excel at navigating the dangerous waters of the business world yet neither of them is completely at ease with the pathways of love. For Cameron, an abusive childhood has always had him believing both that love equals pain and that he’s unworthy of being loved. In Julia’s case, she exemplifies the stereotypical life of the poor little rich girl, orphaned at a young age and raised by impersonal household staff overseen by a legal team. Both have much to learn about the joy of giving your heart into the keeping another. But when one person learns that lesson and the other doesn’t, will they have their happy ending or will Cameron discover too late that, with the right person, love can equal joy, hope and a lifetime of happiness?


Sweet Surrender, Baby Surprise, the second book in Carlisle’s series about three men who were adopted as boys by Sally Duke – a loving mom turned determined matchmaker, is another sensual, romantic page-turner and, at 192 pages, is the perfect length for this busy holiday season. I've thoroughly enjoyed the first two books in this series and can't wait to see what she comes up with for the third unsuspecting Duke brother! 

Don’t miss the first book in the series, The Millionaire Meets His Match from Harlequin Desire (July 2010).

~PJ

New Releases for December

The cold weather is upon us here in the northern hemisphere . . . which means I’m ready for Spring. Okay, okay, I do enjoy curling up under a nice warm blanket while reading a good romance, but still. I am not a fan of freezing cold weather. Give me shorts, a tank top, and flip flops any day. But, December does feature my favorite holiday, Christmas. I just love Christmas! It fills me with such joy to watch my kids’ faces light up as they open their presents. It also is a day that my husband is always off and we spend the entire day with my family. I almost always receive books and/or bookstore gift cards, so I’m a happy camper. :) What are some of the best presents you’ve ever received?

And once again, it’s time for new releases! Which December releases have you read? Of those, which ones do you recommend? Which ones are you most looking forward to reading? Tell us and one lucky commenter will win a book I picked up from this year’s RWA conference!

Until January, happy reading!



Historical

The Officer and the Proper Lady – Louisa Allen
A Pirate’s Possession – Michelle Beattie
The Princess of Nowhere – Lorenzo Borghese (Historical Fiction)
The Heir – Grace Burrowes
A Countess by Christmas – Annie Burrows
A Most Scandalous Engagement – Gayle Callen
The Duke’s Night of Sin – Kathryn Caskie
Outrageously Yours – Allison Chase
Mistress by Midnight – Nicola Cornick
Secrets of the Tudor Court: By Royal Decree – Kate Emerson (Historical Fiction)
The Pursuit of Pleasure – Elizabeth Essex
Marry Me – Jo Goodman
Night of the Vampires – Heather Graham (Paranormal)
One Night in Scotland – Karen Hawkins
Pleasures of a Notorious Gentleman – Lorraine Heath
Dreams of Desire – Cheryl Holt
Highland Protector – Hannah Howell
Wicked Nights with a Lover – Sophie Jordan
The Winter Sea – Susanna Kearsley (Historical Fiction)
In a Cowboy’s Arms – Janette Kenny
Taken by Desire – Lavinia Kent
Queen Hereafter – Susan Fraser King (Historical Fiction)
Dukes to the Left of Me, Princes to the Right – Kieran Kramer
His Christmas Pleasure – Cathy Maxwell
Duchess of Sin – Laurel McKee
How to Wed a Baron – Kasey Michaels
Chosen for the Marriage Bed – Anne O’Brien
Mail-Order Groom – Lisa Plumley
The Lady’s Slipper – Deborah Swift (Historical Fiction)
Defiant – Jessica Trapp
Lords of Passion – Virginia Henley, Kate Pearce, Maggie Robinson

Contemporary

Private Parts – Tori Carrington
You Dropped a Blonde on Me – Dakota Cassidy
What My Best Friend Did – Lucy Dawson (Women’s Fiction)
Not that Kind of Girl – Susan Donovan
The Dream Seeker – Matthew S. Field
The Boyfriend of the Month Club – Maria Geraci
Burn – Crystal Hubbard
I’ll Be Yours for Christmas – Samantha Hunter
Northern Escape – Jennifer LaBrecque
A Man for All Seasons – Heather MacAllister
Goodnight Tweetheart – Teresa Medeiros
Still Waters – Crystal V. Rhodes
Under Wraps – Joanne Rock
Stay the Night – Chilufiya Safaa
Life in Miniature – Linda Schlossberg (Women’s Fiction)
Island Girl – Lynda Simmons (Women’s Fiction)
Right Before His Eyes – Liz Allison & Wendy Etherington, Jean Brashear
It Must Have Been the Mistletoe… – Kate Hoffman, Rhonda Nelson, Tawny Weber

YA/Teen

Matched – Ally Condie
Invisible Things – Jenny Davidson (Fantasy)
When the Stars Go Blue – Caridad Ferrer
At the Crossroads – Travis Hunter
Rosebush – Michele Jaffe
Entice – Carrie Jones (Paranormal)
Last Sacrifice – Richelle Mead (Paranormal)

Romantic Suspense

Thieves Like Us – Starr Ambrose
No Place to Run – Maya Banks
Winchester Christmas Wedding – B.J. Daniels
Ride the Fire – Jo Davis
A SIlverhill Christmas – Carol Ericson
Wild Stallion – Delores Fossen
Irresistible Stranger – Jennifer Greene
Unforgivable – Laura Griffin
A Soldier’s Redemption – Rachel Lee
Deadly Identity – Lindsay McKenna
Man with the Muscle – Julie Miller
Murder in Plain Sight – Marta Perry
The 4th Victim – Tara Taylor Quinn
Promises in the Dark – Stephanie Tyler
Guarding the Socialite – Kimberly Van Meter
Genuine Cowboy – Joanna Wayne
Colby Core – Debra Webb
Colton’s Christmas Baby – Karen Whiddon

Paranormal

Stranger – Zoë Archer (Historical)
Real Vampires Have More to Love – Gerry Bartlett
Goddess of Legend – P.C. Cast
Eternal Flame – Cynthia Eden
Devoured by Darkness – Alexandra Ivy
Alaskan Wolf – Linda O. Johnston
The Wolven – Deborah LeBlanc
In the Dark of Dreams – Marjorie M. Liu
Tempted by Fate – Kate Perry
Hungry for You – Lynsay Sands
Biting the Bride – Clare Willis
Captive Spirit – Anna Windsor
Day of the Dragon – Rebecca York
The Other Side – J.D. Robb, Mary Blayney, Patricia Gaffney, Ruth Ryan Langan, Mary Kay McComas

Urban Fantasy

Right Hand Magic – Nancy A. Collins
Silver Zombie – Carole Nelson Douglas
Vicious Grace – M.L.N. Hanover
Black Wings – Christina Henry
Bone Gods – Caitlin Kittredge
Alien Tango – Gini Koch
Vampires Not Invited – Cheyenne McCray
Demon Underground – S.L. Wright

Erotica/Erotic Romance

Pleasure Bound – Opal Carew
In Deep – Chloe Harris
Insatiable – Morgan Hawke
Mine Until Morning – Jasmine Haynes
The Duke & the Pirate Queen – Victoria Janssen (Historical)
Explosive – Beth Kery
Sex on the Slopes – Susan Lyons

Today's Special - - Kathryn Caskie

We are so pleased to welcome the lovely and talented Kathryn Caskie to The Romance Dish today! Kathryn is no stranger to writing. She's written for television, radio, newspapers, magazines and is the published author of ten historical romance novels and one novella. Her love of history doesn't end with her books either. Kathryn and her family live in a 200 year-old Quaker home in the foothills of the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains. If that isn't enough, in the summer of 2009, Kathryn married her very own romance hero in a castle in Scotland! And he wore a kilt! ::Sigh::

For more information about Kathryn, visit her website and "like' her at facebook. Be sure to check out Gannon's review of Kathryn's new release, The Duke's Night of Sin here.

Please join us in giving a warm Romance Dish welcome to Kathryn Caskie!



Plotting vs. Pantsering During the Holidays
By Kathryn Caskie

I finished ALL of my holiday shopping before Thanksgiving. I actually planned to do it that way because my latest book, The Duke’s Night of Sin, was just released and I knew I would be crazy busy with a signings, events and blogs during December.

So, I made my plan, drew up my list and I stuck to it. Now, this mightn’t sound like some incredible feat to you, but for me, it was nothing less than a Herculean task (I have a huge family and that means lots of gifts to buy). And, I did it!

But as an author, it also made me wonder if maybe, just maybe, I could be a plotter after all. I had conquered holiday shopping after all—with a plan.

If you know me, you know I am a pantser through and through (though I prefer Jo Beverly’s term of ‘one who flies into the mist’). I’ve never been able to plot a book, though I have tried, boy have I tried, with every one of my ten published novels. I’ve taken classes, and have had a couple of promising starts, but then one of my characters bolts and I have to chase them down, wherever they might be headed. Then boom, Dorothy, we aren’t in Kansas anymore. So much for the plot. I’ve got a witch to deal with now and I didn’t see her coming.

But this holiday shopping thing has me thinking. I made a detailed plan and I stuck to it, and more importantly—I met my deadline. Hmm. Is it possible that something in my DNA has changed and now I could become a plotter?

I think we all come into this world born plotters, at least when it comes to the holidays. Gift-getting is pretty serious stuff for kids. They aren’t going to chance getting underwear and socks, even though that’s what they need. Nope, not when with a little planning, and a neatly penned letter to Santa, or an email to loved-ones with a link to the neon blue Paper Jamz guitar they want, result in much cooler outcomes.

But then, something changes as we get older. Adults usually don’t make a wishlist and when asked what we’d like, we can never come up with anything. We are pantsers when it comes to the holidays. And what do we get? Socks. Flowery potholders. Candles. A sweater with a kitty on it.

Oh, sure, we can always exchange our gift to get what we really wanted. We can play detective and try to figure out if the gift really came from the store stamped on the box. We can crowd surf through the swarms of shoppers who decided not to re-gift but to return. Then there’s the fight that ultimately breaks out over of the last 60% off cashmere sweaters. And the looming question, will you leave the mall with anything at all, let alone the Tudors, Season 3 DVD.

Wouldn’t the process have been easier if we could have just handed our families and friends a short list?

This is how I think about plotting. I think plotting can get you to The End faster in a much more organized way.

But isn’t being a pantser a little more exciting?

Are you a plotter (Martha Stewart) or a pantser (Lucille Ball) during the holidays? The three most amusing comments (USA only, sorry) will win the first two books in the Seven Deadly Sins series, To Sin With a Stranger and The Most Wicked of Sins. Winners will be chosen by the Dishes.

Review -- Pleasures of A Notorious Gentleman

Pleasures of A Notorious Gentleman
London's Greatest Lovers, Book 2
By Lorraine Heath
Publisher: Avon
Release Date: November 30, 2010






Stephen Lyons, family black sheep and charming rake, has returned from the Crimean War with no memory of the past two years. He bears physical scars as well as emotional ones, Stephen is tormented by his memory loss, not knowing if he redeemed himself by showing honor and bravery as a soldier. He is recovering at his brother's--the Duke of Ainsley--home when a lovely woman shows up with a surprise....Stephen's son!

Mercy Dawson lost her heart to Stephen when she cared for him when he was wounded in the Crimea. She was one of Florence Nightingale's nurses, giving aid to soldiers in their most desperate hour of need. Stephen was handsome and charming, causing most of the nurses to fall for him. But one incredible night with Stephen changed Mercy's life forever. Nearly a year later, believing him dead, Mercy arrives in England to bring Stephen's son to his family. Still grieving for the loss of Stephen, Mercy is utterly stunned to discover that the man she fell in love with is very much alive. Thrilled and relieved that he is alive, Mercy also fears that if Stephen remembers their past, the secret she has kept may destroy any chance of happiness they may have together. Stephen, ever the gentleman in spite of being a rake, takes Mercy as his wife. Hoping that somehow Mercy will help unlock the memories that are buried deep inside him, Stephen finds himself falling in love with Mercy as they make new memories together. But can their new found love survive the hidden truths from the past?

I have a weakness for rakes, and Stephen Lyons is one with a capital 'R'. When he first appears on the pages of Passions of A Wicked Earl (book 1), he is most assuredly charming, but at times immature and more than a little selfish. But Stephen loves women....all women. And that makes him hard to resist.


Stephen Lyons loved women. Tall, short, plump, slender. Young and not so young. He loved them all.


But it's Stephen's vulnerability in this book that touched me the most. He is wounded body, mind and soul, and it is Mercy's gentle strength and loving heart that touches him and helps him heal.


She was perfection, she was radiance, she was his wife.

For the first time, he was convinced he'd not made a mistake in marrying her. There was so much about her he admired, that he enjoyed.

He'd been wrong. He'd tried to identify exactly what it was about her that drew him in...and it was everything. Everything.


Mercy is both vulnerable and strong. Never having truly felt loved and desired before, Stephen shows her how worthy she is of both. Her love for baby John and Stephen shine from her like the brightest sun. It is her deep love, respect, and unwavering faith in Stephen that helps them both heal and reach their happily-ever-after.


She adored this man, wanted to give him everything. Her heart, her body, her soul. He'd been the light in a dismal world. He'd been her knight. War could bring out the worst and the best in men. For the first time, she regretted that he didn't know, deep in his soul, that he had been the best.


Lorraine Heath has long been an auto buy author for me, and Pleasures of A Notorious Gentleman is a perfect example of why that is so. Heartrending, passionate and deeply touching, this story made me laugh, cry and sigh with happiness. From the horrors of war to the tenderness of two souls finding love, Ms. Heath has penned a tale that will have readers believing in the healing power of love. Stephen Lyons stole a piece of my heart, but never as much as when he bonds with his infant son. It's a scene that will have you smiling through tears. Is there anything sweeter than seeing a strong man and the tender love he has for his child? *sigh*

Brava, Ms. Heath! You've done it again. Don't miss the conclusion of the trilogy, Waking UpWith A Duke, which will be released July 2011. It's the Duke of Ainsley's story, and I can't wait to see if he will earn the title of London's Greatest Lover!

Thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins/Avon for providing an advance copy of Pleasures of A Notorious Gentleman for review.

~ Gannon