Today's Special - - Marilyn Baron

I'm delighted to welcome Marilyn Baron to the Romance Dish today. Marilyn's star has been shining for many years.  A native of Miami, Florida and graduate of the University of Florida, Marilyn wrote her first book while still in grade school and wrote and directed her first play at the age of 13.  Today, she lives in the Atlanta, Georgia area with her husband and children and stays busy writing award-winning humorous women's fiction, romantic suspense thrillers and paranormal romance.  

Marilyn joins us today to celebrate the print release of her newest book, Under the Moon Gate.  Please give her a warm welcome.







Thank you PJ and Andrea for hosting me today on The Romance Dish.

I’m excited because today is the official release date of my new novel, Under the Moon Gate. Although the book has been out on Amazon Kindle in digital format, it is now officially available in print on Amazon, on my publisher’s (The Wild Rose Press) Web site and other outlets. The prequel, Destiny: A Bermuda Love Story, is currently out in a digital-only format on Amazon with an official release date of September 11.  

My family has vacationed in Bermuda many times and it’s one of my favorite places to visit, which is why I decided to set my books there. My new Web site also features a Bermuda theme and the beautiful island colors so I hope you’ll visit my site. I’m a big WW II buff so I combined both loves in writing these stories. Spy novels are a particular favorite and my husband won’t read anything but spy novels set in WW II so if I wanted him to read my book, I knew I would have to write a WW II spy novel.

I think the artist did a great job with the cover of Under the Moon Gate. It’s my favorite color green and incorporates the beautiful moon gates of Bermuda, which feature prominently in my story. Moon Gates, a very special tradition of Bermuda, are arches made of Bermuda stone, often used as an entrance to a garden. Legend has it that people who step through a Moon Gate, especially young lovers and honeymooners, are blessed with good luck.

These stories have been percolating for about ten years so I’m thrilled that they are finally coming to light. They were originally part of one larger manuscript called The Bermuda Triangle: A Love Story and included three love stories from three generations. The first takes place in the early 17^th century. Then there’s a contemporary romance and a World War II romance. All three romances are still contained in the two books that have just been released. I did a lot of library and Internet research on Bermuda during the WW II and earlier time periods. There’s plenty of suspense, intrigue and romance, and of course, humor, a trademark of all of my books.

Following are blurbs about my latest releases.   

Now out in e-book from The Wild Rose Press, DESTINY: A BERMUDA LOVE STORY, is the prequel to UNDER THE MOON GATE

The relationship of star-crossed lovers Elizabeth Sutton and Edward Morgan founders off the coast of Bermuda with the shipwreck of the Sea Venture in the seventeenth century.  Edward is seduced by the captain’s daughter and trapped into an unhappy marriage, but he and his new wife continue the voyage to Virginia to rescue the starving Jamestown Colony.

Elizabeth, still in England and pregnant with Edward’s child, receives Edward’s letters telling of the shipwreck but knows nothing of his marriage.  When her child is old enough, Elizabeth follows Edward as far as Bermuda.  Will he return and will the lovers be reunited, or will their eternally entwined souls search forever to fulfill their destiny?

BUY DESTINY: A BERMUDA LOVE STORY
AMAZON

Elizabeth and Edward are the ancestors of the hero and heroine of Under the Moon Gate, so readers will get their happy ending in the sequel.

Now out in e-book and print from The Wild Rose Press, Under the Moon Gate, is a historical romantic thriller set in contemporary and WW II Bermuda.

Dashing sea captain Nathaniel Morgan sails into the life of prim and proper Bermuda heiress Patience Whitestone and threatens to expose her family secrets—ruinous secrets she wasn’t aware of. The two are immediately at odds when Nathaniel moors his vessel in front of her estate and refuses to leave until he finds the cache of Swiss gold he’s convinced was buried somewhere on the property during World War II. Can Patience save herself and her family’s reputation when she finds herself reluctantly drawn to this determined “pirate”? Or will someone from the past make good on his threat to destroy them both? Their fate is inextricably linked to Nazi plots and to the beautiful moon gates of Bermuda in this compelling tale of love and intrigue. Under the Moon Gate also features a love story between the grandparents of Patience, which takes place during World War II.

Here’s one of the 5-star reviews for Under the Moon Gate. You can check out the others on Amazon.

Tropical Mystery/Suspense/Romance

“I really enjoyed all the spiciness of the German/British intrigue. Fairy tale kind of love, in a tropical Paradise, is a plus for any romance novel. Sexy Pirate bad boy meets Stunningly Beautiful, locked away virgin, good girl. Generations of suspense on both sides of the family tree...”

BUY UNDER THE MOON GATE

AMAZON (E-Book)    AMAZON (Paperback)   THE WILD ROSE PRESS (Paperback)

Marilyn, what are you working on now?

I’ve just finished approving the final edits for Sixth Sense, a romantic suspense, the first book in my psychic mystery series, which will be published by The Wild Rose Press. I have a cover but no release date yet. Sixth Sense won the Georgia Romance Writers 2012 Unpublished Maggie Award of Excellence in the Paranormal/Fantasy Romance category. The second book in the series is called Homecoming Homicides. The third, Murder on the Repositioning Cruise, hasn’t been written yet. I just got back from a Mediterranean cruise, where the action in the third book will take place, so I enjoyed the research phase of that project.  My editor and I have just finished preliminary edits on Significant Others, a humorous women’s fiction that is scheduled to be released this Christmas by The Wild Rose Press.

My sister and I, who co-wrote The Edger and Murder at the Outlet Mall, just completed a musical called Memory Lane that we’re trying to get produced.

Have you ever been to Bermuda?  Have you ever set a novel in a place you loved to visit?  Do you like to read novels about places you've visited? 

One commenter will get a copy (their choice of print or eBook) of Under the Moon Gate or Destiny: A Bermuda Love Story (eBook only) and a beautiful bookmark, designed by Kim Killion, featuring both books.

Thanks so much for visiting with us today, Marilyn.

Readers, you can find more information about Marilyn and her books at her Web site www.marilynbaron.com and connect with her on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/marilyn.baron.5 and Twitter at https://twitter.com/MarilynBaron and her blog Petit Fours and Hot Tamales at www.petitfoursandhottamales.com

Author Spotlight - - Jenny Colgan

The Meet Me at the Cupcake Cafe Sugary Sweet Spotlight!

It is no wonder that the flirty and frothy food-themed novel, Meet Me at the Cupcake Cafe by Jenny Colgan is an international success: with relatable characters and scrumptious recipes at the start of each chapter, Meet Me at the Cupcake Café is pure delight to women’s fiction readers everywhere. This summer, Colgan is bringing her hilarious and heartfelt stories—with a dash of deliciousness—to the United States! To celebrate, Sourcebooks is giving away copies of Meet Me at the Cupcake Cafe.  

Meet Me at the Cupcake Cafe by Jenny Colgan

July 2013

Baking is in Issy Randall’s blood. Growing up above her grandfather’s bakery taught Issy that a delicious pastry could make any day better. So when she’s laid off from her desk job—by the man she thought was her boyfriend, no less—Issy knows now is the time to start her own little café.

Armed with her grandfather’s tried and true recipes, as well as her own new dishes, Issy’s new dream job should be a piece-of-cake, right? But managing a café, delivering products on time and trying to have a new love life aren’t exactly going as Issy planned. And when her ex comes back into the picture, perhaps with his own motives, Issy’s search for the perfect pastry and a groundbreaking idea to save her café are much more than she bargained for… 

PJ here.  I'm a baked goods aficionado.  Love to bake them.  Love to eat them.  Love to read about them! From the time I was a little sprout, perched on a stool at my grandmother's side, I have been fascinated by the process of combining ordinary ingredients into extraordinary confections.  Cakes, pies, cookies, breads, muffins, cobblers...you name it, I'll do my best to bake it.  Much like Issy Randall in Meet Me at the Cupcake Cafe, baking is in my blood.  

Is baking in your blood?  Like me, does a flour dusted kitchen and the smell of vanilla fill you with joy?  Or do you prefer your goodies fully baked and waiting for you at the local bakery?  Do you enjoy recipe romances as much as I do?  What's your favorite baked indulgence; that one item that just won't allow you to say no?  

One randomly chosen person leaving a comment will receive a copy of Meet Me at the Cupcake Cafe.  (U.S. and Canadian addresses only - no P.O. Boxes)  Deadline for leaving comments will be Midnight (EST) August 10th.  

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Jenny Colgan was a fussy eater as a child and didn’t even begin to learn to cook until she was 21, when her then boyfriend tried to teach her a few basics purely out of exasperation. While she is now able to make a variety of good, wholesome food for her family, she still can’t make scones. A former columnist for The Guardian, Jenny contributes regularly to national BBC radio and is the bestselling author of more than eleven novels, including The Loveliest Chocolate Shop in Paris (coming out in the US in early 2014). She is married with three children and lives in London and France. For more information, please visit http://www.jennycolgan.com/ and follow her on Twitter, @JennyColgan.

Check out the August Bonus Blog Stops for a chance to win a copy of this highly-anticipated and deliciously delightful new novel!

7/1         Book Girl of Mur-y-Castell

7/2         Celtic Lady’s Reviews

7/3         Books-N-Kisses

7/3         Chick Lit Central INTERVIEW

7/4         A Bookworm's World

7/5         Delighted Reader

Weekend           

7/8         Beth Fish Reads

7/9         Booking Mama

7/9         The Bookish Dame INTERVIEW

7/10       The Book Binge

7/11       Simply Ali

7/12       Debbie's Book Bag

Weekend           

7/15       The Bookish Babe

7/16       The Reading Café

7/17       Book Hounds

7/17       Cocktails and Books INTERVIEW

7/18       Peeking Between the Pages

7/18       Fresh Fiction GUEST BLOG

7/19       Jenny Loves to Read

7/19       Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers

Weekend           

7/22       Anna's Book Blog

7/23       Ramblings from This Chick

7/24       Books and Quilts

7/24       A Bookish Affair

7/25       Broken TeePee

7/26       Thoughts in Progress

Weekend           

7/29       Books and Needlepoint

7/30       The Reading Reviewer

7/31       Reading Between the Wines

BONUS GIVEAWAYS IN AUGUST!!!

8/1         Book of Secrets

8/2         Luxury Reading

Weekend           

8/5         Radiant Light

8/6         Ruby’s Reads

8/7         Caffeinated Book Review

8/8         The Romance Dish

8/9         My Book Addiction and More

Make Your Reservations!

It's time again to mark your calendars and Make Your Reservations for September!  I know, where has the year gone??? Here are a few of the romances 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 Rake's Midnight Kiss
By Anna Campbell

IT TAKES A LADY

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

TO CATCH A THIEF

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

(Forever)


*******

The Hero
By Robyn Carr

In a moment of desperation, Devon McAllister took her daughter and fled a place where they should have been safe and secure. She has no idea what is around the next bend, but she is pretty certain it can’t be worse than what they’ve left behind. Her plan is to escape to somewhere she can be invisible. Instead, an unexpected offer of assistance leads her to Thunder Point, a tiny Oregon town with a willingness to help someone in need.

As the widowed father of a vulnerable young boy, Spencer Lawson knows something about needing friendship. But he’s not looking for anything else. Instead, he’s thrown his energy into his new role as Thunder Point’s high school football coach. Tough and demanding to his team, off the field he’s gentle and kind...just the kind of man who could heal Devon’s wounded heart. Devon thought she wanted to hide from the world. But in THUNDER POINT, you find bravery where you least expect it...and sometimes, you find a hero.

(Mira)


*******

True Spies
By Shana Galen

He's Getting Tired of Deception...

Baron Winslow Keating is honor-bound to finish one last mission as an elite spy for the Barbican group even though he just wants to go home and be with his family. But after years of secrecy and absence, his daughters hardly know him and his wife has given up on him...

She Wants to Try a Little Intrigue...

Lady Elinor has had enough of domestic boredom. She contemplates an affair with a rakish spy, only to discover a world of intrigue and treachery that she never knew existed. Even more shocking, her neglectful husband is suddenly very attentive—quite the jealous type—and apparently there is much more to him than she ever knew...

(Sourcebooks)


*******

The Ruin of a Rogue
By Miranda Neville

Charm, wit, and nerves of steel have helped Marcus Lithgow gamble his way across the Continent. But when his heart is at stake, all bets are off for this most perfect rogue . . .

Anne Brotherton is sick and tired of being an heiress. She cannot bring herself to marry a fortune hunter. Why can't men like her for her sharp mind and kind heart rather than her impressive dowry? Just when she is about to bow to her fate as a confirmed spinster, she meets the handsome and charming Marcus Lithgow.

It's been years since Marcus set foot in England—why toy with the ton when he can fleece wealthy fools in Paris and Rome? Yet everything changes when he inherits a ramshackle estate. Marcus's first and only chance at a respectable life needs funding . . . the kind Anne Brotherton can provide. Such a wallflower should be ripe for the picking. So why does Marcus feel like he's the one hanging by a thread?

She nearly falls for Marcus's smooth seduction. But when Anne realizes she's being strung along, a lust for payback empowers her like never before. Two can play the game of deception. The game of love, however, has its own rules . . .

(Avon)


*******

Homecoming Ranch
By Julia London

On his death bed, Grant Tyler—adventurer, entrepreneur, lady’s man and investor—knows he was never Father of the Year, but figures he ought to do right by his three daughters as his last act.  His three grown daughters all fathered with different women.  Two of whom do not know one exists.  Three women he scarcely knows at all.  These are facts Grant brushes aside in his final days.  He decides he will leave them Homecoming Ranch, a sprawling, once prosperous ranch in the in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains.  But as his newly hired manager points out, the ranch is on the skids due to inattention, and what the fifth wife doesn’t get from his estate will go to pay his debts.  It seems that all Grant will have left is that ranch.  And his Porsche, which hopes to be buried in.

It’s going to take a lot of work and compromising between Madeline, Emma, and Libby  to turn the ranch around and earn their so-called inheritance.  Eventually, they come to terms with each other, love, life and a legacy their father unwittingly leaves them in a new contemporary series, Homecoming Ranch.

(Montlake)


*******

I Married the Duke
By Katharine Ashe

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

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

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

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

(Avon)


*******
Note:  Publication of Hope Flames has been pushed back to January 2014.  Thanks to Jane and Ada for the heads-up on this one! 

Hope Flames
By Jaci Burton

Thirty-two and finally setting up her veterinary practice in the town she once called home, Emma Burnett is on her own and loving it. Independent and driven, she’s not letting any man get in the way of her dreams. Not again.

That’s fine with Luke McCormack. Divorced and hardly lacking in female company when he needs it, he’s devoted to the only faithful companion in his life—his police dog. Still, there’s something about Emma he can’t shake.

When a series of local break-ins leaves Emma vulnerable, she seeks help from the first man to spark her desire in years. And now they’re giving each other something they thought they’d lost forever…hope.
(Berkley Sensation)


*******

It Takes Two to Tangle
By Theresa Romain

WOOING THE WRONG WOMAN…

Henry Middlebrook is back from fighting Napoleon, ready to re-enter London society where he left it. Wounded and battle weary, he decides that the right wife is all he needs. Selecting the most desirable lady in the ton, Henry turns to her best friend and companion to help him with his suit…

IS A TERRIBLE MISTAKE…

Young and beautiful, war widow Frances Whittier is no stranger to social intrigue. She finds Henry Middlebrook courageous and manly, unlike the foppish aristocrats she is used to, and is inspired to exercise her considerable wit on his behalf. But she may be too clever for her own good, and Frances discovers that she has set in motion a complicated train of events that’s only going to break her own heart…

(Sourcebooks)


Andrea here! This one by Theresa Romain is next up for me to read and I can't wait!!

What Did You Wear?

What the Bride Wore by Jade Lee, a Publisher's Weekly Top Ten Romance Pick for Fall 2013 is out today.  In honor of her new book, Jade wants to know...WHAT DID YOU WEAR?  

Sourcebooks - and Jade - are hosting a party on Twitter and all brides are welcome - no matter how long you've been married!  All you have to do is tweet a picture of your wedding dress using the hash tag #WhatTheBrideWore.  All dresses are welcome..."the good, the bad, and the questionable..." ;-)

Sourcebooks will be picking winners every hour and giving away prizes all day so come on, all you married ladies.  Let's see what you wore as a bride!

When All is Lost

All Grant Benton, Earl of Crowle, can think of is restoring his family's fortune so he can go back to being a gentleman of leisure. But when he meets beautiful, purposeful Lady Irene Knopp, he begins to question whether there might not be a better way to live life after all...

What's Left is Desire

Lady Irene will never give up her fulfilling work dressing the most beautiful brides in England. She'd rather risk losing love forever than sacrifice her own life's purpose. Yet she has never met a more magnetic, attractive man than Grant. Trapped between the fleeting chance at love and passion for her work, is it possible she can have it all?

Guest Review - - The Courting Campaign

The Courting Campaign

By Regina Scott

Publisher: Harlequin

(Love Inspired Historical)

Release Date: August 6, 2013

Emma Pyrmont has recently been hired as nanny to four-year-old Alice, the only child of Sir Nicholas Rotherford. Emma, an orphan adopted by a scientist who treated his adopted children inhumanely, has drawn her ideas of what a family should be from books that presented a kind father and loving mother devoted to one another and to their children. She believes Alice deserves better than an emotionally distant father, and she is determined to do all within her power to see that Sir Nicholas and his daughter spend more time together.

Sir Nicholas Rotherford retreated to the Grange, his home in Derbyshire, after an experimental safety lamp for miners on which he collaborated led to several deaths. Charged with a gross miscalculation and with plagiarizing the work of one of his collaborators, he is disgraced and expelled from the Royal Society. Although Sir Nicholas knows he is innocent of the charges, he is more interested in pursuing his work than with clearing his name. In Derbyshire, he works alone in his own laboratory, using all his knowledge to devise a way to provide miners the light they need without placing their lives in jeopardy when the source of the light comes into contact with deadly gases. He feels a particular burden because much of his personal fortune comes from coal mines he owns. He loves his daughter, but he doesn’t know her very well. She was only a year old when her mother died, and, although he has provided bountifully for her material needs, he has left the nurturing to staff and to Charlotte Dunworthy, his wife’s older sister who has run his household since her sister’s death.

Emma’s campaign to bring father and daughter closer together means that she and Sir Nicholas spend more time in one another’s company as well. She is adamant that she will do nothing to encourage the ideas of Mrs. Jennings, the matchmaking cook who has a sincere affection for her employer whom she has known since he was Alice’s age. Mrs. Jennings believes that Emma is just the one to see that Sir Nicholas spends less time at his dangerous work and more time enjoying the blessings he has been given, but Emma is aware of their differences. Still, the more time she spends in his company, the more her heart is drawn to this lonely man who has a fondness for sugar cinnamon biscuits and who knows how to include Lady Chamomile, his daughter’s most cherished doll, in nursery conversations.

Sir Nicholas is finding Emma irresistible too. He appreciates her love for his daughter, her intelligence, and her subdued beauty. He finds that his work goes better after a walk with her and Alice or after talking with her has given him a fresh view. But there can be no happy ending for these two until threats from their pasts are confronted and defeated.

The Courting Campaign is the first book in Regina Scott’s Master Matchmakers series. It is an Inspirational, and so it should be no surprise that it is a strictly sweet romance. Although faith is an integral part of the book, it is not preachy in any way, nor are faith elements ever intrusive or distracting from the story. However, readers considering the book should know that Emma believes in a God who has a plan for her life and prayer is a conversation she finds essential.

Scott has created a cast of characters who capture the reader’s affection and interest. Emma and Sir Nicholas are likeable characters for whom the reader develops a ready sympathy. They are both people who have been wounded by life but who have not been defeated by their tragedies. Alice is adorable, and Mrs. Jennings is a warm-hearted woman whose schemes are well-intentioned and amusing. Even the villains are plausible characters with motivations that the reader can understand. I also found Sir Nicholas’s work on the safety lamp fascinating. Readers who like Regency-set stories that take place beyond London ballrooms will find the story particularly appealing.

This was my first book by Regina Scott, but it won’t be my last. I’ve already checked out the release date for the next book in the Master Matchmakers series. I’ve pre-ordered a copy of The Wife Campaign, which will be delivered to my Kindle on December 1. The print edition will be available on December 3.  I recommend this book for readers who like a good romance with rich contexts and no heat.

~Janga
http://justjanga.blogspot.com

Heather Ashby Winner

The randomly chosen winner of a copy of Forgive & Forget by Heather Ashby is:

Mary Behre

Congratulations, Mary!  Please send your full name and mailing address to us at

theromancedish (at) gmail (dot) com

(U.S. addresses only)

Remember, Heather will send a second copy of her book to a service member.  

Please send the name and mailing address of the person you would like to receive the book or let us know if you don't know anyone in the military.  

In that case, Heather will send the book to someone for you.

Guest Review - - Some Like it Hot

Some Like It Hot

By Susan Andersen

Publisher: Avon

Release Date: July 30, 2013

Harper Summerville may be a rolling stone, but she has settled with surprising contentment into her new job as summer activities director at the Brothers Inn in Razor Bay, Washington. She likes her job, she likes her boss, Jenny Salazar, and she really likes the spectacular scenery in Razor Bay. This liking encompasses both the spectacular views of the Olympic Mountains and the fjord that is Hood Canal and the sightings of Razor Bay’s sigh-worthy deputy sheriff, Max Bradshaw. But there is more to Harper Summerville than the citizens of Razor Bay realize. She is not in Razor Bay for the job, the scenery, or the deputy; she is there to covertly check out Cedar Village, a home for at-risk boys, to see if it deserves a grant from her family’s charitable foundation.

Max Bradshaw is a big, taciturn guy whose tough exterior hides a heart larger and more vulnerable that anyone suspects. He is enjoying his newly established brotherly relationship with Jake, the half-brother he hated when they were kids. He is invested in seeing that the troubled boys at Cedar Village get the kind of support that helped him turn his life around. He keeps telling himself that Harper Summerville is not for him, but the chemistry that sizzles between them every time they are together is hard to ignore. And those times seem to happen often between Jake and his fiancée Jenny’s throwing parties and Harper’s volunteering to help out at Cedar Village. But Max’s roots in Razor Bay run deep, and Harper is there temporarily. Then there’s the matter of the secret she’s keeping. The road to an HEA never did run smoothly.

An author known for her ability to evoke place in her books, Andersen vividly and visually presents Razor Bay, and her affection for the Pacific Northwest comes through clearly. Max lives up to the promise of a rough-edged hero in need of a healing touch that won readers’ interest in Jake and Jenny’s story (That Thing Called Love). He’s my favorite kind of wounded hero: he has some heavy emotional baggage, but he’s trying to move past it, nor drown in it. I had a more difficult time understanding Harper. Her gotta-keep-movin’ obsession struck me as over the top. I was also disappointed that the Cedar Village youths never come to life in the way that Austin and his friends did in That Thing Called Love. I was surprised too since Andersen usually does great kid characters.

Susan Andersen was writing smart, sexy contemporary romance that evoked a smile, tugged a heartstring or three, and sent the sensuality meter into the red zone when that kind of truly contemporary story was much rarer than it is today. Some Like It Hot is not her best book, but it is one that Andersen fans will likely enjoy. If you are new to Andersen, this one is not her best. I recommend you start with That Thing Called Love or download a copy of Head Over Heels, the first book in her Marine series, or add her Baby series to your ereader, or grab a copy of All Shook Up when it is reissued in November. As for me, I like Razor Bay, and there’s that mysterious connection between Jenny’s best friend Tasha and the third Bradshaw brother, Luc. Count me in for their story.

~Janga
http://justjanga.blogspot.com

New Releases for August

Hello, all! A new month is upon us, and if you can believe it, my kids start school next week. Crazy, I know! It seems like summer vacation just started. I always have mixed feelings about them going back to school. On one hand, I’m glad to get back into a regular routine; on the other hand, I will miss the lazy days of summer. Being back in a routine will give me more time to read, that’s for sure!  

I haven’t had the chance to read any August releases. Right now I’m reading a May release, True to the Law by Jo Goodman. It has helped me cope with some personal issues that have occupied my mind as of late. Jo Goodman never disappoints! If you haven’t read her books, you should! 

So, which August 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 September, happy reading! 

 

 

Historical 

Smoke River Bride – Lynna Banning

Seduction in Silk – Jo Beverley

And Then Comes Marriage – Celeste Bradley

Summerset Abbey: Spring Awakening – T.J. Brown (Historical Fiction)

Once Upon a Tartan – Grace Burrowes

The Ghost Bride – Yangsze Choo (Historical Fiction)

Why Dukes Say I Do – Manda Collins

The Lady and the Laird – Nicola Cornick

Love on a Midsummer Night – Christy English

My Notorious Gentleman – Gaelen Foley

Queen’s Gambit – Elizabeth Fremantle (Historical Fiction)

Under a Texas Sky – Dorothy Garlock

The White Princess – Philippa Gregory (Historical Fiction)

How to Lose a Bride in One Night – Sophie Jordan

The Double Cross – Carla Kelly

What the Bride Wore – Jade Lee

A Wanted Man – Rebecca Hagan Lee

Love and Other Scandals – Caroline Linden

Hearts Unbound – Sara Luck

The Highlander’s Desire – Margo Maguire

Not Just a Governess – Carole Mortimer

Changes – Pamela Nowak

The Serpent and the Pearl – Kate Quinn (Historical Fiction)

The Devil of Clan Sinclair – Karen Ranney

Lady Anne’s Lover – Maggie Robinson

A Lady Dares – Bronwyn Scott

Behind His Blue Eyes – Kaki Warner

The Passion of the Purple Plumeria – Lauren Willig (Historical Fiction)

To Sin with a Viking – Michelle Willingham 

 

Contemporary 

Some Like it Hot – Susan Andersen

Can’t Help Falling in Love – Bella Andre

Wedding Belles – Beth Albright

Surrender to Sultry – Macy Beckett

A Family Affair – ReShonda Tate Billingsley (Women’s Fiction)

Cowboy Seeks Bride – Carolyn Brown

Fiancé by Friday – Catherine Bybee

Three Months in Florence – Mary Carter (Women’s Fiction)

Sea Creatures – Susanna Daniel (Women’s Fiction)

Pitch Perfect – Sierra Dean (e-book)

Happy Any Day Now – Toby Devens (Women’s Fiction)

Shorecliff – Ursula DeYoung (Women’s Fiction)

Sanctuary Island – Lily Everett

Just in Time – Addison Fox

Home on the Range – Susan Fox

The Chocolate Touch – Laura Florand

The Other Side of Divine – Vanessa Davis Griggs (Women’s Fiction)

Lake Como – Anita Hughes (Women’s Fiction)

Bending Over Backwards – Samantha Hunter (e-book)

The Sweetest Hallelujah – Elaine Hussey (Women’s Fiction)

Paging Dr. Hot – Sophia Knightly

If You Could See What I See – Cathy Lamb (Women’s Fiction)

Flirting with Texas – Katie Lane

Rose Harbor in Bloom – Debbie Macomber (Women’s Fiction)

Three Little Words – Susan Mallery

The Bookstore – Deborah Meyler (Women’s Fiction)

I’d Rather Be with You – Mary B. Morrison (Women’s Fiction)

Extreme Love – Abby Niles (e-book)

Home to Whiskey Creek – Brenda Novak

Playing with Fire – Kayla Perrin (Women’s Fiction)

Perfect Fling – Carly Phillips

The Marriage Merger – Jennifer Probst

Undone – Shannon Richard (e-book)

Castaway Cove – JoAnn Ross

With All My Love – Patricia Scanlan (Women’s Fiction)

The Life List – Lori Nelson Spielman (Women’s Fiction)

Shake Down the Stars – Renee Swindle (Women’s Fiction)

Trust in Me – Dee Tenorio (e-book)

Island Love Songs – Kayla Perrin, Carmen Green, Felicia Mason 

 

YA/Teen 

The Deepest Night – Shana Abé (Paranormal)

A Darkness Strange and Lovely – Susan Dennard (Historical, Paranormal)

Midnight Frost – Jennifer Estep (Paranormal)

While it Lasts – Abbi Glines (New Adult)

Endless – Amanda Gray (Fantasy)

This Girl – Colleen Hoover (New Adult)

Charmed Vengeance – Suzanne Lazear (Steampunk)

Star Power – Kelli London

Crown of Midnight – Sarah J. Maas (Fantasy)

Earthbound – Aprilynn Pike (Fantasy)

The Bone Season – Samantha Shannon (Fantasy)

The Coincidence of Callie & Kayden – Jill Sorensen (New Adult)

Prep School Confidential – Kara Taylor 

 

Romantic Suspense 

Guilty as Sin – Jami Alden

Hotshot – Julie Garwood

Hot Ride – Kelly Jamieson

Midnight Games – Elle Kennedy

Pressure Head – J.L. Merrow

The Last Kiss Goodbye – Karen Robards

Matchpoint – Elise Sax

Revenge – Debra Webb 

 

Paranormal 

Stone of Ascension – Lynda Aicher

Night’s Mistress – Amanda Ashley

Guardian Demon – Meljean Brook

Macrieve – Kresley Cole

Breath of Iron – Kate Cross

Forgiven – Leanna Ellis

The Thing about Weres – Leigh Evans

The Night Is Alive – Heather Graham

Tall, Dark, and Vampire – Sara Humphreys

Bitter Disenchantment – Shawntelle Madison

Guardian – Nancy Northcott

Heart Fortune – Robin D. Owens

Blood Warrior – Lindsey Piper

Deceiving the Witch Next Door – Melissa Bourbon Ramirez

The Darkest Craving – Gena Showalter

Heart of Obsidian – Nalini Singh

Jaguar Fever – Terry Spear

Rise of the Gryphon – Sherrilyn Kenyon & Dianna Love 

 

Urban Fantasy  

Magic Rises – Ilona Andrews

Omens – Kelley Armstrong

Box Office Poison – Phillipa Bornikova

Terminated – Rachel Caine

Pile of Bones – Bailey Cunningham

Undead and Unsure – MaryJanice Davidson

Quick Fix – Linda Grimes

Under a Spell – Hannah Jayne

Elysian Fields – Suzanne Johnson

Biting Bad – Chloe Neill

Last Blood – Kristen Painter

Possession – Kat Richardson

Kitty in the Underworld – Carrie Vaughn 

 

Erotica/Erotic Romance 

Burn – Maya Banks

Shadow of the Wolf – Dana Marie Bell

Wallbanger – Alice Clayton

Wicked Beat – Olivia Cunning

Turn and Burn – Lorelei James

Unforgettable – Alison Kent

The Dominant – Tara Sue Me

The Mistress – Tiffany Reisz

Slow Surrender – Cecilia Tan

In a Cowboy’s Bed – Cat Johnson, Vonna Harper, Lynn LaFleur

Guest Review - - Any Duchess Will Do

Any Duchess Will Do
Spindle Cove Series
By Tessa Dare
Publisher:  Avon
Release Date:  May 28, 2013

I have one requirement for my Top Romance reading fare: that I have a physical response while reading it (and no, not that kind of physical response).    What I want is for my heart to feel as though the author has it in a painful, but also very pleasurable vice grip.    I want the emotions I experience to manifest somewhere in the general vicinity of my chest and throat.  I want to feel sympathy so strong I think I may need Nitroglycerin, sexual tension so taut my eyes can’t read the sentences fast enough, and characters so likable—even the tortured ones—I cheer for them even when I know they might be making idiot mistakes.       

Tessa Dare is a master at this and ANY DUCHESS WILL DO is your manual to feel it all.

Pauline Simms is an overworked barmaid with a dream:  to open a bookshop so that she and her sister with special needs will not have to rely upon their abusive father ever again.  But after an incident in Brights’ All Things shop in which her sister mistakenly ruins both the sugar and alum bins, Pauline’s dream seems to be slipping farther away as she must now pay for the damage.   That is until Lord Haleford makes her an offer she can’t refuse. 

Griffin York, the Duke of Haleford, has been abducted by his marriage-obsessed mother to Spindle Cove.  Or rather “Spinster Cove.”  There she offers him a deal: pick any one of the ladies residing there and she will turn her into a duchess befitting her son.  But Griff doesn’t want to marry--not now, not ever--so he decides to teach his meddling mother a lesson and picks the most unlikely of candidates: the serving girl at the Bull and Blossom.   Pauline.   In private he offers Pauline a vast amount of money, enough for her to realize her bookselling dreams, but only if she can accomplish one thing:  abject failure at every lesson his mother teaches her.   But total failure is difficult when the student is so quick-witted, brave and attractive.   And the more time he spends in her company, Griffin is finding that Pauline’s “failures” are successfully ensuring her space within his tortured heart.  

As the reasons behind Pauline and Griffin’s reticence become clearer, I found myself reading with a very sizable lump in my throat.   And I’m a jaded reader.   Truly.  But I really cared about these characters, who are so very charming, messed up, funny.  And quite simply lovely.  These are the sort of people you do want to go to bed with--for a night or two--and wake up with the next morning feeling satisfied the world is right because they’re healed.     My only criticism of Dare’s book was that I felt it was sewn up too quickly.  I would have liked another 50 pages or so.   But perhaps that’s just greed on my part.

~J. Perry Stone


J Perry Stone is an aspiring Historical Romance writer who is a giant proponent of books and of love... romance being the place where the two live happily ever after.  She lives in Charlotte, NC with her husband and two children.