Make Your Reservations!

It's time again to mark your calendars and Make Your Reservations for June!  Yay for summer reading! Here are some of the great books we are looking forward to next month. Are any of these upcoming books on your list? If so, which ones? If not, which books are on your list?

A Night Like This
By Julia Quinn

Anne Wynter might not be who she says she is...

But she's managing quite well as a governess to three highborn young ladies. Her job can be a challenge—in a single week she finds herself hiding in a closet full of tubas, playing an evil queen in a play that might be a tragedy (or might be a comedy—no one is sure), and tending to the wounds of the oh-so-dashing Earl of Winstead. After years of dodging unwanted advances, he's the first man who has truly tempted her, and it's getting harder and harder to remind herself that a governess has no business flirting with a nobleman.

Daniel Smythe-Smith Might be in mortal danger...

But that's not going to stop the young earl from falling in love. And when he spies a mysterious woman at his family's annual musicale, he vows to pursue her, even if that means spending his days with a ten-year-old who thinks she's a unicorn. But Daniel has an enemy, one who has vowed to see him dead. And when Anne is thrown into peril, he will stop at nothing to ensure their happy ending...

(Avon)


*******

Rescue Me
By Rachel Gibson

She's 33, unmarried, and stuffed into a Bubble Yum pink bridesmaid dress. And the whole town wants to fix her up with anyone with a dental plan...

Who's going to rescue Sadie Hollowell now?

Everyone in Lovett, Texas, knows Sadie has always been a "notional" kind of gal. She got a notion to leave town ASAP and never visit her daddy (bless his heart) again. Now she's back and got the notion to invite a good-looking, hard-muscled, total stranger to her cousin's wedding. Better a stranger than some of the losers she's dated.

Vince Haven got his muscles the hard way—as a Navy SEAL in Afghanistan. He's staying in Lovett to visit his crazy aunt—the proprietor of the local Gas and Go. Before he can get the heck back out of the small town, his aunt makes him an offer he can't refuse. Maybe he'll stick around Lovett for a while. Maybe he'll make a "go" of the Gas and Go. Maybe he'll rescue Sadie out of that pink dress!

(Avon)


*******

Bedding Lord Ned
By Sally Mackenzie

Determined to find a husband, Miss Eleanor “Nell” Bowman attends a ball put on by the Duchess of Greycliffe, fondly referred to as the Duchess of Love. But she roundly dismisses the suitors the matchmaking hostess has invited on her behalf. For it’s the duchess’s dashing son Ned, Lord Edward, who long ago captured Nell’s heart—and roused her desire. All it takes is a pair of conveniently misplaced silky red bloomers to set the handsome widower’s gaze on this unusual girl who is clearly more than meets the eye…

After more than a year of mourning, Ned longs to finally start anew. At first glance, the birthday ball his mother has thrown in his honor is decidedly lacking in suitable mistresses. But he senses something unexpectedly alluring beneath the veil of Nell’s plain exterior—something she’s anxious to reveal, and the lonely Lord is incapable of denying…

(Zebra)


*******

Lucky in Love
By Jill Shalvis

Mallory Quinn has had enough of playing it safe. As a nurse and devoted daughter, she takes care of everyone but herself. And as the local good girl, she's expected to date Mr. Right. But for once, she'd like to take a risk on Mr. Wrong. And who could be more wrong than Ty Garrison? The mysterious new guy in town has made it clear that he's only passing through, which suits Mallory just fine. Besides, his lean, hard body and sexy smile will give her plenty to remember once he's gone...

For the first time in his life, Ty can't bear to leave. Helping this sexy seductress-in-training walk on the wild side is making him desire things he shouldn't--including leaving the military for good. As their just-for-fun fling becomes something more, Mallory and Ty wonder if they could really be this lucky in love. After all...anything can happen in a town called Lucky Harbor.

(Forever)


*******

Bride of the High Country
By Kaki Warner

Margaret Hamilton escaped the Irish slums of Five Points as the ward of a wealthy Manhattan widow, but only marriage can make her future secure. Railroad mogul Doyle Kerrigan needs a well-connected wife. It seems a perfect match...until a shocking revelation sends her fleeing from the wedding reception.

Desperate to make a fresh start, Margaret takes on a new identity and heads West, finally stopping in Heartbreak Creek, Colorado, a dying mining town of little interest to anyone. Here, she finds new purpose, beloved friends to replace the family she’s lost, and a home at last.

But two men from Margaret’s past are on her trail. One is seeking vengeance, the other truth. When they both arrive in Heartbreak Creek, she must choose between the town she has come to love, and the man who might finally capture her heart…

(Berkley)


*******

Sea Change
By Karen White

For Ava Whalen, a new marriage and a move to St. Simons Island means a new beginning. But what she doesn’t realize is that her marriage will take her on an unexpected journey into the deep recesses of her past that will transform her forever…

For as long as she can remember, Ava Whalen has struggled with a sense of not belonging, and now, at thirty-five, she still feels stymied by her family. Then she meets child psychologist Matthew Frazier, and thinks her days of loneliness are behind her. After a whirlwind romance, they impulsively elope, and Ava moves to Matthew’s ancestral home on St. Simons Island off the coast of Georgia.

But after the initial excitement, Ava is surprised to discover that true happiness continues to elude her. There is much she doesn’t know about Matthew, including the mysterious circumstances surrounding his first wife’s death. And her new home seems to hold as many mysteries and secrets as her new husband. Feeling adrift, Ava throws herself into uncovering Matthew’s family history and that of the island, not realizing that she has a connection of her own to this place—or that her obsession with the past could very well destroy her future.

 

(NAL)

 

 

*******

 

 

Along Came a Duke

By Elizabeth Boyle

 

“A young lady with a fortune is subject to all sorts of untoward attentions by the worst sort of vagrants.” Aunt Allegra

A lesson Tabitha Timmons, a penniless spinster, has never needed to heed. That is, until she is left a vast fortune payable only upon her marriage to the very respectable Mr. Barkworth—a match that offers little chance of discovering exactly what her aunt means by "untoward attentions."

But the same can't be said when the Duke of Preston happens along Tabitha's path. He spies a rebellious streak in her that matches his own and he makes it his mission to save her from such a passionless match, interfering in her life at every turn. All too soon, Preston—whose very name spells ruin—has Tabitha caught between the good fortune that guarantees her security, and his kiss, which promises an entirely different kind of happily-ever-after.

(Avon)


*******

Jacked Up
By Erin McCarthy

She’s holding tight. He’s hanging loose.

Eve Monroe is a stock-car PR pro who puts her career first—until an on-track wardrobe malfunction reveals more than the sexy smile of jackman Nolan Ford. The video’s become an internet sensation, and it’s Eve’s job to calm the sponsors and put a spin on the unexpected exposure.

And they both have the same drive.

It may be a public relations job, but now that Eve’s seen what’s under Nolan’s crew suit, it’s gotten personal. After a few dates she has Nolan pretty revved up. If only she’d learn to relax and enjoy it. Nolan’s sure that the spontaneous birthday bash he’s throwing for Eve in Las Vegas should loosen her up. Somewhere between cocktails and a smoking-hot motel-room derby, it does more than that. Now Eve’s wrestling with feelings she never expected, as everything about her personal jackman gets harder than she ever imagined.

(Berkley)

Amanda Quick Winners

The winners of a copy of CRYSTAL GARDENS by Amanda Quick are

crabbylove

and

fsbuchler

Please send your full name and address with "Amanda Quick Winner" in the subject line to us at 

theromancedish (at) gmail (dot) com.  As stated in the interview, this giveaway is restricted to United States addresses only.

The Teen Menu

Welcome to the May edition of The Teen Menu.

YA News

Though this isn't really YA news, Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling has launched a new website in anticipation of the release of her first novel for adults, The Casual Vacancy, this September.

The long wait is over. The Pottermore site for all things Harry Potter has launched. Check it out for all sorts of magical fun and info. It's been reported that more than $4.8 million worth of Harry Potter e-books have been sold in the first month via Pottermore, and more than 5 million new members have been added to the site since it opened April 14. And yes, I'm one of them.

The makers of the movie version of Ender's Game have started a Tumblr feed with shots from the production of the movie.

Director Francis Lawrence (I Am Legend, Water for Elephants) has been announced as the director for Catching Fire, the sequel to the wildly successful The Hunger Games.

Three new photos of the main characters of Breaking Dawn Part II brooding were recently released.

Author Stephenie Meyer will be optioning the rights to Lois Duncan's 1974 YA novel, Down a Dark Hall, along with Fickle Fish Films. But first she has to wrap up her producer duties on the movie version of Shannon Hale's Austenland.

YA Reviews

Back in March, Romance Writers of America announced the finalists for its annual RITA Awards. I always try to read as many of the finalists in the Young Adult category as I can. So over the next few months, I'll be bringing you reviews of these finalists as I finish reading them. Here are the finalists:

Enclave by Ann Aguirre
Flawless by Lara Chapman
Hourglass by Myra McEntire
I'm Not Her by Janet Gurtler
Warped by Maurissa Guibord
Touch of Frost by Jennifer Estep

The winner will be announced at the RWA conference in July.

First up is Janet Gurtler's I'm Not Her. While I love paranormal/dystopian YA, it was nice and refreshing to read a contemporary story about an everyday girl who is thrust into not a fight to save the world but an everyday fight to get through tough times. Tess, the younger of two teenage sisters, is the heroine of this book. She's the smart sister while her older sister, Kristina, is the popular, sporty one. And this isn't a typical tale where there is boatloads of sibling rivalry with the bookish sister desperately wanting to be like her older, popular sister. Tess is fine with who she is, until she is thrust into midst of the high school popular crowd when Kristina is diagnosed with cancer and all her popular friends are constantly asking Tess how she is.

I'm Not Her explores how Tess deals with not only concern about whether Kristina will get better, but also her new visible status at school, interest from boys, and Kristina's sudden desire not to see any of her friends. Tess suddenly not only has to make excuses for Kristina, but also has to step into the role of being the responsible one in the family when her parents don't do the best job of dealing with Kristina's illness. The story feels very real and doesn't fall into some of the cliches we often see in "cancer stories." It's well worth the read.

Watch for my review of another RITA nominee in next month's Teen Menu.

Today's Special - - Amanda Quick

Fangirl moment here!  I am so excited to welcome New York Times bestselling author Amanda Quick (a/k/a Jayne Ann Krentz) to TRD today.  I've been a huge fan of her writing since discovering Seduction in 1990.  At that time I had no idea that she also wrote under other names but as soon as I found out, I was off to discover her extensive back list too.  The creator of over 100 published books, she currently writes under three pen names:  Jayne Ann Krentz, Amanda Quick and Jayne Castle.  I'm a fan of all three! ~PJ 

Find Jayne/Amanda online at her website and on Facebook.  

Welcome to The Romance Dish and congratulations on your new book!  CRYSTAL GARDENS kicks off your new Ladies of Lantern Street series.  Please tell our readers what they can expect from this book.

This is the first book in a new series featuring lady psychic investigators who go undercover as paid companions. They investigate crimes in the otherwise closed world of the wealthy and powerful.  In Victorian society the career of paid companion was one of the few paths open to respectable women of the upper classes who found themselves impoverished and alone in the world.  It also turns out to be an absolutely perfect cover for a private investigator. 

What a fascinating premise!  I've just started reading CRYSTAL GARDENS and am already hooked.  What’s the one thing you want readers to understand about the hero of this story?  Your heroine? 

 My heroes and heroines never whine. 

LOL!  Yes, I can already tell that Lucas and Evangeline are take charge types.  And I have to say that nothing turns me off faster than a whiner.  

Most books I read have a scene that stays with me long after I’ve turned the final page.  What’s the one scene in CRYSTAL GARDENS that you would never cut?

Hmm.  Probably the scenes in the ruins of the ancient Roman baths in the middle of Crystal Gardens.  Very sexy setting, I think.

Sure sounds sexy!  

Many of your books have a paranormal/psychic thread in them.  What impels you to explore this world?

I don’t do the supernatural thing – no vampires or werewolves or magic.  I can enjoy reading those stories but I can’t write them.  On the other hand, I love writing with a psychic twist, not only because it adds another layer of bonding between the hero and heroine but also because it is just one step beyond intuition and dreams.

You have written under seven names, settling on three separate writing personas (Amanda Quick, Jayne Ann Krentz and Jayne Castle) for your historical, contemporary and futuristic stories so that readers would know what they were getting when they bought one of your books.  Is it difficult to create stories in three different sub-genres under three separate names?  How do you keep everything organized? 

I never set out to wind up with three careers, believe me.  But that’s pretty much what happened.  A case of “be careful what you wish for” I guess.  As it happens, though, it serves me very well because it allows me great variety in my plots and settings.  I find it wonderfully refreshing to move from one fictional landscape to the next.  I can’t write the stories simultaneously, though.  I can only focus on one book at a time.  I’m not great at multi-tasking.

You have enjoyed a long and successful career.  If you could write a letter to yourself on the eve of your debut book, what’s the one piece of advice that you would offer?

Always keep an eye on what is going on in the various sub-genres of romance so that when the bottom falls out of one -- which it will, sooner or later -- you’ll know where to move your core story.

Good advice!  


Many of your books are on my keeper shelves.  What would we find if we scanned the keeper shelves in your house? 

I’ve enjoyed a gazillion books over the years but I don’t keep them on a shelf because I rarely, if ever, re-read a story.  I can list a few of the authors who are auto-buys for me, though:  Elizabeth Lowell, Susan Elizabeth Phillips, Stella Cameron and Christina Dodd are among those on my list.

Great list!  All four are on my favorite authors list too.  

What are you working on now?  Will you be releasing any more books this year?

Next up is my Jayne Castle title, THE LOST NIGHT (Sept. 4).  It’s one of my new Rainshadow Island novels set on Harmony.  There will be dust bunnies.

Yay!  I adore your dust bunnies!


Thank you for answering my questions today.  It's been a pleasure to host you here at TRD.

Thank you so much for the chance to visit here at The Romance Dish.  I wish everyone a great deal of happy reading!

Readers, what is your favorite sub-genre of romance?  Do you stick to one sub-genre or read many?  Do you have a favorite Amanda Quick/Jayne Ann Krentz/Jayne Castle novel?  

Jayne and Penguin have graciously offered a copy of CRYSTAL GARDENS to two randomly selected readers (US addresses only) who leave a comment today.  

CRYSTAL GARDENS (Amanda Quick)
A Ladies of Lantern Street Novel #1
Hardcover - 352 pages (May 2012)
Putnam; ISBN-10: 0399159088
ISBN-13: 978-0399159084


Evangeline Ames has rented a country cottage far from the London streets where she was recently attacked. Fascinated by the paranormal energy of nearby Crystal Gardens, she finds pleasure in sneaking past the wall to explore the grounds. And when her life is threatened again, she instinctively goes to the gardens for safety.

Lucas Sebastian has never been one to ignore a lady in danger, even if she is trespassing on his property. Quickly disposing of her would-be assassin, he insists they keep the matter private. There are rumors enough already, about treasure buried under his garden, and occult botanical experiments performed by his uncle — who died of mysterious causes.

With Evangeline’s skill for detection, and Lucas’s sense of the criminal mind, they soon discover that they have a common enemy. And as the energy emanating from Crystal Gardens intensifies, they realize that to survive they must unearth what has been buried for too long...

Cathy Maxwell Winner

The winner of a copy of WHEN DREAMS COME TRUE by Cathy Maxwell is

Cheryl C

Congratulations!  Please send your full name and mailing address with "Cathy Maxwell Winner" in the subject line to theromancedish (at) gmail (dot) com.

Guest Review - - Overseas

Overseas

By Beatriz Williams

Publisher: Putnam Adult

Release Date: May 10, 2012

Kate Wilson is a nice girl from Wisconsin whose intelligence and ambition land her a job as an investment banker with Sterling Bates, a Wall Street firm. But Kate is too nice for the knife-in-the-back, eat-’em-alive operating policy of some of her colleagues. She’s not at all the sort of woman anyone, including Kate, expects to attract the attention of hedge fund genius Julian Laurence, who is not only wealthy beyond belief but also charming, handsome, and honorable. It’s not surprising that Kate should be flattered by Laurence’s interest and find the British billionaire appealing, but there’s something mysterious about the connection between them, a connection that has her thinking of a lifetime with the “beautiful, brilliant, leonine Julian.”

When Kate is the victim of a setup that results in her being fired from Sterling Bates, Julian offers her sanctuary at his secluded country home. In the idyllic intimacy of that setting, she falls more deeply in love with the mysterious Julian. Questions nag her, but nothing could have prepared her for the disclosure that Julian Laurence is Captain the Honorable Julian Laurence Spencer Ashford, a famous poet and viscount’s heir, who died in France during a night patrol in March 1916. The whys and hows of Julian’s second life and his connection to Kate are revealed as the story and its characters move between Amiens, France, during World War I and Manhattan in 2007-2008. Regardless of the mystery and the danger that threaten their happiness, both Kate and Julian know that they are meant to be together. As Kate concludes, “What had been enigma resolved into clarity, into the keen marrow-deep certainty that I existed to give Julian Ashford’s uprooted soul a home in this modern world. That his happiness had been placed between my palms, a divine mysterious charge. That he was mine. That I was his.”

Beatriz Williams’s debut novel is romantic in the sense that the love shared between Kate and Julian is its focus and in the sense that the story requires a willing suspension of disbelief to accept its imaginatively constructed world. The reader who can suspend disbelief will find herself caught up in a world where love conquers all obstacles including time and space. Kate is a sympathetic character, caught up in a situation she can’t fully understand, fathoms deep in love, and fighting to hold on to her own identity. The last quality lends a note of realism to the fantastical and creates conflict between Kate and Julian. He is from a different world, and it isn’t easy for him to understand Kate’s need to be more than his beloved. One of my favorite moments occurs when Kate explains herself to Julian: “I never wanted to be Cinderella. Never wanted to be that girl, the one looking for a rich guy to drape her with diamonds. I always wanted to make it on my own, and it scares me that . . . from the moment I met you, I felt this . . . this connection.”

Julian is a hero who not only possesses wealth, looks, intelligence, honor, courage, and so on endlessly but who also wrote a love poem about which students, including Kate, write essays. His need to protect Kate and to make decisions without consulting her keep him from being too perfect to believe. Williams says in her acknowledgements that Julian is a composite character with a “dollop” of Rupert Brooke. But it was Brooke that I thought of throughout the book. Just a week or so before I read Overseas, I commented to a friend that the idealistic Brooke, whom poet W. B. Yeats reputedly described as “the handsomest young man in England,” would make a wonderful model for a romance hero. I felt as if Julian were a gift in response. I loved him. I loved the book. If you are a romantic who believes that love can be eternal, I predict you’ll love it too. My only complaint is that I really wanted to read the full poem that gives the book its title. A few lines just weren’t enough for this romantic. I don’t think I’ve ever before recommended a time travel romance (not even Gabaldon, whose books I couldn’t read—sacrilege, I know), but I definitely recommend this one.

~Janga

We Have A Winner!

A big thank you to everyone who stopped by during author Lila DiPasqua's visit last week.  

The randomly selected winner of a signed copy of A MIDNIGHT DANCE by Lila DiPasqua and 
a signed copy of Delilah Marvelle’s ONCE UPON A SCANDAL is:

Lisa

(who posted her comment on Apr 25, 2012 07:52 AM)

Congrats to you Lisa!

Please email your full name and address to 

theromancedish AT gmail DOT com

~ Buffie

New Releases winner!

The random winner of a book from my prize stash is:

Lisa (comment left at 09:27 AM)

Congratulations, Lisa! Please send your full name and address to theromancedishATgmailDOTcom with "Andrea's winner" as the subject and I'll get your book in the mail. Many thanks to everyone who stopped by!

Donna Fletcher winner!

The random winner of a $10 Amazon gift card courtesy of the wonderful Donna Fletcher is:

StacieD

Congratulations, Stacie! Please email me at theromancedishATgmailDOTcom with "Donna's winner" as the subject and I'll forward your email and email address to Donna so she can send you your gift card. Thanks to everyone who stopped by and made Donna's day!

New Releases for May

It’s May and I can’t believe the end of the school year is already upon us. My kids get out three weeks from today. Crazy! I’m looking forward to some lazy summer days reading a good book. Here are some of the May releases to help you get a jumpstart on your summer reading! Thus far, I’ve only read one May release, The Last Boyfriend by Nora Roberts. It’s a great addition to her Inn BoonsBoro trilogy and has me pumped up for the last book coming in November. J On my wish list are Heart of Brass by Kate Cross, Be My Prince by Julianne McLean and Somebody to Love by Kristan Higgins.

 Which May 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 random book from my prize stash!

Until June, happy reading!

Historical

Scandal’s Mistress – C.J. Archer

A Secret Life – C.J. Archer

Demon’s Bride – Zoë Archer (Paranormal)

The Proposal – Mary Balogh

The Sumerton Women – D.L. Bogdan (Historical Fiction)

Lady Maggie’s Secret Scandal – Grace Burrowes

True Sisters – Sandra Dallas (Historical Fiction)

Too Tempting to Resist – Cara Elliott

Invitation to Scandal – Bronwen Evans

A Warrior’s Promise – Donna Fletcher

Sound of the Heart – Genevieve Graham (Historical Fiction)

A Gentleman Says “I Do” – Amelia Grey

Angel’s End – Cindy Holby

Four Sisters, All Queens – Sherry Jones (Historical Fiction)

Rake with a Frozen Heart – Marguerite Kaye

The Courtesan’s Lover – Gabrielle Kimm (Historical Fiction)

Claiming the Heart – Sara Luck

Be My Prince – Julianne MacLean

My Lady Rival – Ashley March

Lyon’s Bride – Cathy Maxwell

The Taming of the Rogue – Amanda McCabe

Lady Priscilla’s Shameful Secret – Christine Merrill

The Borgia Mistress – Sara Poole (Historical Fiction)

No Longer a Gentleman – Mary Jo Putney

Crystal Gardens – Amanda Quick (Paranormal)

The Saint Who Stole My Heart – Stefanie Sloane

Beguiling the Beauty – Sherry Thomas

A Texan’s Honor – Kate Welsh

 Contemporary 

Sweet Spot – Kate Angell

The Cottage at Glass Beach – Heather Barbieri (Women’s Fiction)

The Fireman Who Loved Me – Jennifer Bernard

Ties That Bind – Marie Bostwick (Women’s Fiction)

Sunrise Point – Robyn Carr

A Land More Kind Than Home – Wiley Cash (Women’s Fiction)

The Good Father – Diane Chamberlain (Women’s Fiction)

Sizzle in the City – Wendy Etherington

Coming Up for Air – Karen Foley

Larkspur Road – Jill Gregory

Somebody to Love – Kristan Higgins

Not Just Friends – Kate Hoffmann

The Uninvited Guests – Sadie Jones (Historical, Women’s Fiction)

Bringing Home a Bachelor – Karen Kendall

The Lucky Dog Matchmaking Service – Beth Kendrick (Women’s Fiction)

Northern Fires – Jennifer LaBrecque

Arranged – Catherine McKenzie (Women’s Fiction)

I Couldn’t Love You More – Jillian Medoff (Women’s Fiction)

Deadline – Fern Michaels (Women’s Fiction)

Karma – Carly Phillips

The Devil Has Dimples – Pepper Phillips

Melt Into You – Lisa Plumley

The Last Boyfriend – Nora Roberts

The Reverend’s Wife – Kimberla Lawson Roby (Women’s Fiction)

Her Man Advantage – Joanne Rock

Barefoot in the Sand – Roxanne St. Claire

The Shoemaker’s Wife – Adriana Trigiani (Historical, Women’s Fiction)

Overseas – Beatriz Williams (Women’s Fiction)

Kiss the Bride – Deirdre Martin, Christie Ridgway, & Laura Florand

Reckless – Cydney Rax, Niobia Bryant, & Grace Octavia 

YA/Teen 

The Selection – Kiera Cass (Futuristic)

Gilt – Katharine Longshore (Historical)

Thumped – Megan McCafferty (Futuristic)

Fated – Alyson Noël (Paranormal)

Unraveling – Elizabeth Norris (Sci-Fi)

Hemlock – Kathleen Peacock (Paranormal)

Destined – Aprilynne Pike (Paranormal)

Until I Die – Amy Plum (Paranormal)

Creeping with the Enemy – Kimberly Reid

Insurgent – Veronica Roth (Futuristic)

The Secret Tree – Natalie Standiford

The Temptation – Alisa Valdes (Paranormal) 

Romantic Suspense 

Texas Manhunt – Linda Conrad

Her Hero after Dark – Cindy Dees

It Started That Night – Virna DePaul

When She Wasn’t Looking – HelenKay Dimon

Obsession – Carol Ericson

Secret Agenda – Paula Graves

Twisted – Laura Griffin

Private Security – Mallory Kane

Midnight Rescue – Elle Kennedy

Beautiful Sacrifice – Elizabeth Lowell

Under Fire – Catherine Mann

The Marine Next Door – Julie Miller

Run Wild – Lorie O’Clare

Colby Law – Debra Webb

The Perfect Outsider – Loreth Anne White 

Paranormal 

A Wolf’s Heart – Vivi Anna

Embrace of the Damned – Anya Bast

Heart of Brass – Kate Cross (Steampunk)

The Witch Thief – Lori Devoti

Warrior – Kristina Douglas

Warrior Enchanted – Addison Fox

Kiss of Pride – Sandra Hill

The Shifter – Jean Johnson

The Danger that is Damion – Lisa Renee Jones

Where there’s Smoke – Karen Kelley

Born of Silence – Sherrilyn Kenyon

All for You – Lynn Kurland

Sparks Fly – Katie MacAlister

Coveted – Shawntelle Madison

Into the Dreaming – Karen Marie Moning

The Claimed – Caridad Piñeiro

Obsidian Flame – Caris Roane

Under a Vampire Moon – Lynsay Sands

Wicked Road to Hell – Juliana Stone

On the Prowl – Christine Warren

Hunted – Rebecca Zanetti 

Urban Fantasy 

Lies & Omens – Lyn Benedict

Summoning the Night – Jenn Bennett

Deadly Descendant – Jenna Black

The Minority Council – Kate Griffin

Deadlocked – Charlaine Harris

Under Suspicion – Hannah Jayne

The Prophet – Amanda Stevens

Wishful Thinking – Gabi Stevens

Dark Magic – James Swain 

Erotica/Erotic Romance 

Sevin – Elizabeth Amber (Paranormal)

The Girl’s Guide to (Man)Hunting – Jessica Clare

Captivated – Lauren Dane

An Ordinary Girl – Barbara Elsborg

In Her Bed – Jan Springer

Lustfully Ever After – Multi-author anthology

Review - - Sound of the Heart

Sound of the Heart
By Genevieve Graham
Publisher:  Berkley Sensation
Release Date:  May 1, 2012



  

The Highlands of Scotland and Colonial America are two of my favorite settings for historical romance.  Genevieve Graham combines the two in a sweeping saga that takes the reader on a breathtaking, and often heartbreaking, journey from the battlefield of Culloden to the wilds of Colonial America. 

For a man like Dougal MacDonnell, the Battle of Culloden is a nightmare.   Faced with the loss of his family and friends at the hands of English soldiers, Dougal experiences the added pain of being able to “hear” the thoughts of the dying men around him, including his own father.   Dougal has been able to hear other men’s thoughts his entire life but never in such a heartbreaking way. 

When the fighting ends, Dougal is the only member of his family left to endure the brutal torture of English imprisonment.  Hope appears in the form of a fellow prisoner, a young lad who helps Dougal escape and, together, they make their way back to Scotland.  For two years, they live in an abandoned cottage and work the land, slowly returning to a somewhat normal life but always watching over their shoulders.  It is during this time that Dougal discovers Glenna, a young woman with a most unusual background who captures his heart deeply and completely.  Their happy ending is within sight but, unfortunately, the English are not quite finished with them.  (This was a time in history when England was determined to erase the people and traditions of Scotland from existence or at least from the British Isles.)  Captured, Dougal is once again imprisoned while Glenna is destined for a life of indentured servitude in America.  Only by agreeing to serve the hated English in a military regiment comprised of Highland warriors does Dougal have any hope of ever finding his beloved Glenna.  But America is a huge country and he has only the strength of his love to guide him.  Will he ever again hold her close and hear the sound of her heart?

I enjoyed this book very much.  It’s filled with fascinating bits of history, without making me feel like I’m in a history lecture, and the kind of sweeping, epic love story that keeps me reading into the wee hours of the morning.  Her vibrant voice, richly emotional story and fast paced story kept my attention from the first page to the final word.  Graham has created a hero and heroine that I liked and admired from start to finish and their actions throughout their joint, and separate, journeys only reinforced those feelings.  

This book is true to the times in which it is set and those were not easy times.  Therefore, there are some scenes that are hard to read, especially some that involve Glenna’s life after arriving in America.  Sure, the author could have glossed over the more unappealing aspects of the life servants and prisoners were forced to endure back then but I, for one, am glad she remained true to her characters and the conditions in which they were forced to live.  It may break my heart and make me uneasy at times but, by giving us the entire picture, she gives us the entire person.  Not a surface shot but the richly layered, complex individual; forged by both the good and  bad events in their lives.  

I'll look forward to reading more by this talented author!

~PJ

Genevieve Graham was gracious enough to answer a few questions for me about SOUND OF THE HEART.

  

Thanks for answering a few questions for me, Genevieve!  

I've long been a fan of romances set in Colonial America but they're hard to come by these days.  You send your characters on a journey from the Highlands of Scotland to the American Southeast - two of my favorite places.  What led you to set SOUND OF THE HEART in this time and place?

I’m surprised at how difficult it is to find colonial romance. It was such a romantic (though violent) time to live! Imagine starting a whole new civilization? All the challenges and adventures?

And the Highlands? Well, there are a couple of reasons for that. One is because I’d been reading Highlander adventures and getting caught up in the vast Scottish world. The other is that I’m Scottish—well, third generation Scottish. I’m Canadian now, but all my roots are still firmly entrenched in Scotland.

Since my first book ended up in South Carolina, I loved the idea of someday the brothers maybe finding each other. Then I started researching and discovered some facts that aren’t so well known … did you know hundreds of thousands of Europeans were shipped to the colonies as slaves? I’m not talking about “indentured servants”, though there were thousands of those as well. These were actual slaves! I won’t go into all of that here, but the facts really surprised me and left me quite annoyed that it’s something very few people know about. To me that’s huge! Anyway, writing this story allowed me to shed a little light on the issue while incorporating the characters’ adventures and romance.

Your books are rich with history and you don't shy away from the gritty

details that were part of the reality of life in those times, especially Dougal's 

experiences during and following Culloden and the life awaiting Glenna when 

she lands in America.  What type of research did you do for this story?

When I started researching for my debut, “Under the Same Sky”, I was a newbie. I knew nothing about history and had no idea where to start on research. I brought home books by the pound then fell asleep because they were too dry for me. I combed the internet but came across so many conflicting sites it was boggling. So I tried something different. I went to the sites of re-enactors, people who spend their weekends reliving the past down to the smallest detail. They are passionate about being true to history, so when I asked what I thought was a simple question, like about the length of a sword, I’d receive a two page response. It was wonderful! Like looking for a square of chocolate and discovering an entire bar! For “Sound of the Heart” I was back at it with the Highlander re-enactors, and was even able to speak with some of my local 78th Highlanders (I live near Halifax). I also got to speak with Lawrence Clark from Bushcraft Ventures in Scotland! Lawrence is a survival expert, so he helped Dougal make it out alive after one traumatic event!

Reading SOUND OF THE HEART brought to mind many of the sweeping  

historical sagas I've read over the years.  What authors do you read?  Are 

there any in particular who inspired you to begin writing?  

I’m a huge fan of Diana Gabaldon’s writing, and it was she who unwittingly inspired me to write. I read her series four times, then listened to the unabridged three more times. I read Sara Donati’s “Into the Wilderness” series, dove into the work of Penelope Williamson and Jennifer Roberson and Marsha Canham … then finally decided it was time to try and create my own adventures.

The end of SOUND OF THE HEART leaves open the possibility of future  

stories.  Will we be revisiting these characters again?  I sure hope so!

I hope so too. I tend to write “companion” novels rather than sequels, though. We’ll see. I’ve written a third book, which Penguin is considering at the moment, called OUT OF THE SHADOWS. If you’ve read the first book, you’ll know who Maggie is. Well, this third book is about her quiet, scared sister, Adelaide, and it has my first non-Scottish hero. Jesse is kind of like an early cowboy, and I adore him. Then again, I love all my heroes!

Hitting the Right Note

We all have them; that band that defines our generation musically.  The songs that take us straight back to a specific time and place in our youth.  You know what I'm taking about.  The songs you know all the words to and sing at full volume when they play on the car radio - to the everlasting embarrassment of your children?  Yes!  Those songs!

This morning, CBS Sunday Morning aired a segment on the Beach Boys and, with every tune they played, I was transported to my pre-teen and teen years.  They were happy years in my life; safe, secure, innocent and filled with the joy and excitement of a young girl coming of age to the music of an endless summer.  Beach movies were all the rage and my girlfriends and I all dreamed of being Annette (Funicello),  Shelley Fabares or Sandra Dee with our own surfer guy who adored us.

There was no cable television back then, no VCRs or movie rental businesses.   Beach movies were seen at the theater (indoor in the winter - drive in theater in the summer) but the memories of those golden days of sun and sand were kept alive through the records that we played year-round.  Growing up in a small town in the very cold state of Michigan, the Beach Boys were my musical escape.  All I had to do was play "Surfer Girl" or "Good Vibrations" or "I Get Around" or "Surfin' USA" and I was on a beach in Southern California, dancing around a bonfire with Annette and Frankie or catching a wave with Moondoggie.

"Surfer Girl" was one of the first records I ever bought with my own money and is one of my top three favorite Beach Boys tunes.  That 45 (for you youngins', that's a small vinyl disc that we played on something called a record player - grin) is still a treasured possession though these days I get my Beach Boys fix from CDs and tunes I've downloaded from itunes.  Every year when we emerge from the doldrums of a cold winter, it's the songs of the Beach Boys that welcome me to another summer.  I'm the crazy lady at the wheel of the car next to you, belting out the lyrics of "Fun, Fun, Fun", "Surfin' Safari", "Little Deuce Coupe"  or the iconic "California Girls" as I celebrate hot days, balmy nights and the memories of all the wonderful summers of my life.

A few facts about the Beach Boys:  They signed with Capitol Records in 1962, had 36 Top 40 records, have sold over 100 million albums world-wide and were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1988.  This year, the Beach Boys are celebrating their 50th anniversary.  Does it pain me to admit that I've been listening to them for fifty years? Yeah, it does.  A bit.  But, on the other hand, that's a fifty year soundtrack of my life that I can't imagine not having.  So many snapshots of my life are accompanied by a Beach Boys song.  How could I possibly wish that away?


It's a beautiful day in my neighborhood as I write this.  It's not technically summer here yet but the sun is shining brightly, we're supposed to hit 89 F and the surf's up somewhere in the world.  So, with a nod to my creaky knees and sore back I'm going to queue up the Beach Boys Greatest Hits album, crank up the volume, slather on the sunscreen, retreat to the back deck and let the music of Brian Wilson, Carl Wilson, Dennis Wilson, Mike Love and Al Jardine fill my soul with joy.  And if the neighbors notice me dancing around the deck and singing at the top of my lungs?  Well, maybe they'll join in!

What band defines the music of your generation?  Are you a Beach Boys fan?  What's your favorite Beach Boys song?  Do you, like me, roll down the car windows and treat all the neighboring drivers to impromptu concerts? Let's talk music!


~PJ

Today's Special - - Cara Elliott

PJ here!  I'm delighted to welcome historical romance writer Cara Elliott back to The Romance Dish to talk about TOO TEMPTING TO RESIST, the second book in her terrific The Lords of Midnight series.  Are you reading this series?  If not, now's an excellent time to give it a try.  I highly recommend both this book and the first in the series, TOO WICKED TO WED!  

The Regency Rake - Gryff and Capability Brown 

The hero of my new release, TOO TEMPTING TO RESIST, is a RAKE. Okay, that’s not so much of a surprise—after all, a great many Regency heroes are rakes. But you see, I sort-of mean the other type of “rake” . . . you know, as in the garden variety. . .

No, Gryffin Owain Dwight, the Marquess of Haddan doesn’t have a lot of pointy metal tines protruding from his head. (He’s actually exceedingly handsome. And charming) It’s true that he loves the ladies, and has a knack for seduction. However, he also has another side to his persona, a secret passion that he feels compelled to keep hidden from all but his closest friends. He’s very interested in landscape design, and as casual dalliances are beginning to lose their bloom for him, he’s growing more serious about  . . . turning over a new leaf.

So, when by chance he encounters Lady Eliza Brentford, a lovely young widow who is also hiding a garden passion—she’s a brilliant botanical artist—an attraction immediately flowers between them. However there are complications . . . but I’ll leave you to discover the details in the book!

Instead, I thought I’d talk a little about the inspiration behind Gryff’s passion. Landscape design was actually a very “male” profession in Georgian and Regency England, and one name in particular comes to mind—Lancelot “Capability” Brown, who is often called “England’s greatest gardener.”

Brown—who earned the moniker “Capability” for often telling clients that their estates had great “capability” for landscape improvement—was born in Kirkharle, Northumberland in 1716. He started his career as a gardener’s boy at Kirkharle Hall, where he was assigned to work in the vegetable gardens. After learning the basics about plants and their growth, he then moved on to Stowe, one of the great English country estates, where he studied under the famous landscape designer, William Kent.

Brown soon made a name for himself by breaking with tradition and creating a new “natural” approach to designing gardens and grounds, as opposed to the formal layouts of the past. He called them “grammatical” landscapes—in explaining himself to Hannah More in an encounter at Hampton Court, he said, “I make a comma, and there . . . where a more decided turn is proper, I make a colon; at another part, where interruption is desirable to break the view, a parenthesis . . .” Now as a writer, I of course love this name for his style. And oh, can Brown punctuate!

His style is marked by long stretches of rolling grasslands, with bushes, trees and lakes—manmade if necessary— artfully placed to create visual texture and interest.  Many of the most famous estates in Britain feature his garden designs, including Croome Court, Blenheim Palace, Warwick Castle, and small traces at Kew Gardens

Now, in addition to designing gardens, my hero Gryff also speaks the language of flowers. (He is a VERY charming fellow, and clearly knows all the right things to say to win a lady’s heart.)  And so does Eliza (for reasons you will discover in the book!) It makes for some interesting conversation between them! You didn’t know that flowers talk? Oh, indeed they do! Now we all know that a red rose symbolizes true love, but did you also know that a pink rose means ‘perfect happiness’?

Here are just a few more examples from the secret language of flowers: a red poppy symbolizes ‘pleasure’; a white daisy means ‘innocence’; a rhododendron bloom means ‘beware’ or ‘danger’; and a hydrangea means ‘thank you for understanding.’ Interested in exploring the full bouquet of meanings? You can look here (link: http://tinyurl.com/blcpqn4)

So, what’s your favorite flower?


You can find Cara online at:


Website:  http://caraelliott.com/
Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/cara.elliott1
Twitter:  http://twitter.com/#!/CaraElliott_1
Word Wenches:  http://wordwenches.typepad.com/word_wenches/