Today's Special - - Heather Snow

PJ here!  I'm so excited to welcome Heather Snow back to The Romance Dish today!  Heather's debut book, Sweet Enemy is fresh, original and one of my favorite books released in the first half of 2012.  When I finished it I immediately started counting down the days until  Derick Aveline's story, Sweet Deception.  I'm reading it now and loving every minute of Emma and Derick's adventure!  

Heather is a historical romance author with a degree in Chemistry who discovered she much preferred creating chemistry on the page, rather than in the lab.  She lives in the Midwest with her husband, two rambunctious boys and one very put upon cat.  Find out more or connect with Heather at:

www.HeatherSnowBooks.com

Facebook www.facebook.com/AuthorHeatherSnow

Twitter www.twitter.com/HeatherSnowRW

When Characters Surprise Us…

Lady criminologist, Miss Emma Wallingford, unknowingly finds herself tangled in the dangerous final mission of Lord Derick Aveline, a spy who also happens to be her long lost first love. But when deception, however sweet, is the name of the game, no one can be trusted. And every love—and every life—is at risk.

Hello! Heather Snow here and I am thrilled to be continuing my blog tour for Sweet Deception here at The Romance Dish. Thank you for having me back again! What I am doing for this tour is pulling back the curtain of Sweet Deception a bit, sharing a few of my favorite passages from the book each day while letting you in on the thoughts behind them. You can keep up with the stops (or go back and read ones you missed) either on my website (www.HeatherSnowBooks.com) or my Facebook page (www.facebook.com/AuthorHeatherSnow).

As I mentioned in earlier posts in the blog tour, Derick was very much an enigma to me when I started writing. You see, he was a spy working for the War Department in Sweet Enemy. He had a very specific mission to accomplish in that book and could be whoever I needed him to be.  But when he stepped onto the page of his own story? He surprised me throughout…

Derick released a long breath, but it did little to relieve the arousal humming through him. How long had it been since a woman, any woman, affected him so? Maybe such a reaction was to be expected, given this was the closest he’d come to touching a woman in two years. But this was Pygmy, for God’s sake. Pygmy! Where had his control gone?

It was that damnable scent, he decided. Lavender mingled with something more . . . earthy. He always had preferred earthy. Or perhaps it was that even her shapeless overcoat couldn’t hide the curve of her hips or her surprisingly rounded bosom. Or maybe it was the way she moved with him, the backs of her thighs rolling with the motion of the horse, flexing and relaxing against him much as they would if she were—

Derick swallowed, hard. He’d never had a woman across his lap on horseback before, hadn’t known how alluring it could be. That must be it. Not the woman herself.

He had to find a way of distracting himself from his inconvenient awareness of her softness nestled so close to his . . . hardness.

What was that, Derick? You’ve been celibate by choice for two years? I had no idea until I wrote that line. You see, I’d envisioned him as sort of the Regency James Bond, wooing his way through Europe, devil-may-care. I had intended to write that light-hearted character I thought he was. And yet Derick had other ideas…as he started whispering in my ear, I realized he was a much darker character than I’d thought. Yes, he was devil-may-care on the surface, full of flashing grins and witty repartee, but underneath churned shame and guilt and a soul in search of redemption that he didn’t even think was possible—much less in the arms of Emma, his childhood nemesis, who as it turns out, was the only woman who would be able to reach the man he used to be and help him find his way back into the light.

Luckily, as characters sometimes do, he knew better than me and became a much richer hero because of it. I hope you enjoy reading Derick and Emma’s story as much as I enjoyed writing it.

Please look out for SWEET DECEPTION, available now, wherever books are sold.

I’ll be happy to give away a copy of my debut, SWEET ENEMY, the first book in this series. To enter, simply leave me a comment and answer the question: Did you have a childhood nemesis? And are you still friends today?

  

SWEET DECEPTION Available NOW:

Rainy Day Books (my local indie)
Amazon (Kindle Edition)
Amazon (Mass Market Paperback)
Barnes and Noble
The Book Depository (free shipping worldwide)

Books-A-Million
IndieBound
I-Books
Walmart

Today's Special -- Maria Geraci

Every once in awhile, you read a book that surprises you with how much you like it. Such was the case with Maria Geraci's Bunco Babes Gone Wild. I loved it! (You can check out my review here.) I have since read her other books, Bunco Babes Tell All and The Boyfriend of the Month Club, and enjoyed both. I'm currently reading her latest release, A Girl Like You, and it is an absolute delight! Her books are fun and always put a smile on my face. Please help me welcome Maria as she dishes about what she writes!



 

Thank you, Andrea and PJ for inviting me to guest blog today on The Romance Dish!

Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about what I write and how others perceive it.

If you ask any of my friends or relatives how they would categorize my novels, they would say “it’s a romance.” If you ask my agent or my editor, they would say I write “women’s fiction.” If you asked most reviewers they would tell you “chick lit” and if you asked me, I would say “fun, romantic women’s fiction.” But regardless of how you label my novels, there is no question that in each and every one of them the story centers around a female protagonist searching for love and her place in life. There is always a hero (sometimes more than one) and a happily-ever-after that includes my heroine finding her perfect man. If that isn’t romance, then I don’t know what is.

In my latest novel A GIRL LIKE YOU my main character Emma has four potential love interests (yes, four!). When I began writing the book, I was certain which character Emma would end up with. However, halfway through my first draft I realized the character I thought was right for Emma, wasn’t. I’ll admit, I got a bit panicked, but by the time I was three fourths through that draft I realized who Emma’s perfect guy was and the story all fell into place. I loved writing this story and I loved being surprised by Emma’s final choice. But mostly, I love writing the kind of romance that allows me the freedom to have fun with my characters and give them the happily ever after they all deserve!

What’s your favorite element of a romance? The falling in love? The happily-ever-after? The meet cute?

Andrea here: Maria has graciously offered to send one commenter living within the U.S. a copy of A GIRL LIKE YOU! 

  

What if you found out you were the ugly friend?

Emma Frazier is smart, hardworking, and loves her job as a journalist for a Florida lifestyle magazine. Emma knows she’s no great beauty, but she’s pretty certain she has a shot with her handsome new boss, Ben Gallagher—until Emma overhears a mutual acquaintance refer to her as the “ugly friend.” In an effort to reclaim her battered self-esteem, Emma decides to impress Ben at work by promising an exclusive interview with NASCAR legend, Trip Monroe.

Emma and Trip went to high school together and although it’s been fourteen years since they’ve spoken, Emma is certain she can score an interview with the elusive super star. But connecting with Trip turns out to be harder than Emma imagined. Her quest for the interview leads her back to her tiny hometown of Catfish Cove, where old secrets and a new romantic interest shake up Emma’s views on life and teach her that maybe the key to finding true love is as simple as accepting yourself for the person you were always meant to be.

Lisa's winner!

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

erin

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

Make Your Reservations!

It's time again to mark your calendars and Make Your Reservations for September! There are a lot of great books coming out. Here are a few of the ones 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?

The Ugly Duchess
By Eloisa James

How can she dare to imagine he loves her...when all London calls her The Ugly Duchess?

Theodora Saxby is the last woman anyone expects the gorgeous James Ryburn, heir to the Duchy of Ashbrook, to marry. But after a romantic proposal before the prince himself, even practical Theo finds herself convinced of her soon-to-be duke's passion.

Still, the tabloids give the marriage six months.

Theo would have given it a lifetime...until she discovers that James desired not her heart, and certainly not her countenance, but her dowry.

Society was shocked by their wedding...and is scandalized by their separation.
Now James faces the battle of his life, convincing Theo that he loves the duckling who blossomed into the swan.

And Theo will quickly find that, for a man with the soul of a pirate, All's Fair in Love—and War.

(Avon)


*******

The Last Renegade
By Jo Goodman

SHE HIRED HIM TO PROTECT HER TOWN

As the owner of the Pennyroyal Saloon and Hotel, Lorraine Berry is privy to almost everything that goes on in Bitter Springs, Wyoming—including the bloodshed plaguing its citizens. With all of the good men dying at the hands of a local rancher and his three sons, Raine hires a shootist to be the town’s protector. But her handsome new employee is more than a hired hand; he’s a man who keeps his guns close and his secrets closer.

BUT NOTHING COULD PROTECT HER HEART

After a chance encounter on a train, Kellen Coltrane travels to the Pennyroyal to carry out a dying man’s last wish. But once he meets the hotel’s fiery-haired proprietor, Coltrane finds himself assuming the role of the shootist’s accomplice and agrees to protect Bitter Springs. And as he learns more about Raine’s own tragedy, Coltrane can’t deny his growing desire for the courageous widow, or the urge to protect her from the threat that draws near…

(Berkley)

 *******

Nightingale Way

By Emily March

Dark, brooding Jack Davenport hides his secrets well, never telling his wife about the dangers of his job, never sharing his thoughts or worries...never sharing himself. After tragedy strikes, their marriage shatters. Now a threat to Catherine Blackburn's life brings her back into his--and gives them a second chance.

A reporter whose most recent investigation has ignited a national controversy and put her in harm's way, Cat thinks she can handle herself. So when Jack grabs her off the street and sweeps her to his home above Eternity Springs, she's furious.

In the warm sanctuary of the Eternity Springs community, Jack and Cat face the heartache that drove them apart. But can they find the courage to pick up the pieces of a shattered love?

(Ballantine)

*******

A Lady by Midnight

By Tessa Dare

A temporary engagement, a lifetime in the making...

After years of fending for herself, Kate Taylor found friendship and acceptance in Spindle Cove—but she never stopped yearning for love. The very last place she'd look for it is in the arms of Corporal Thorne. The militia commander is as stone cold as he is brutally handsome. But when mysterious strangers come searching for Kate, Thorne steps forward as her fiancé. He claims to have only Kate's safety in mind. So why is there smoldering passion in his kiss?

Long ago, Samuel Thorne devoted his life to guarding Kate's happiness. He wants what's best for her, and he knows it's not marriage to a man like him. To outlast their temporary engagement, he must keep his hands off her tempting body and lock her warm smiles out of his withered heart. It's the toughest battle of this hardened warrior's life...and the first he seems destined to lose.

(Avon)



*******

Courting Carolina
By Janet Chapman

While building a wilderness trail for a new five-star resort in Spellbound Falls, underachieving playboy Alec MacKeage rescues a beautiful woman who is being chased by kidnappers and agrees to let her hide out with him for a few days. But when those days stretch past a week, Alec finds himself fighting his attraction to the mysterious Jane Smith—despite knowing the woman isn’t who she claims to be. Then again, neither is he…

On the run from her own life, Jane is really Carolina Oceanus—and she’ll do anything to avoid the six ancient-minded men her father has brought to Maine to vie for her hand in marriage. But as the maddening competition heats up, Carolina realizes that she’ll have to come clean to Alec, the seductive loner who’s managed to capture her heart…

(Jove)



*******

Loving Lady Marcia
By Kieran Kramer

Marcia gets schooled…
Of the three Brady sisters, Lady Marcia has always seemed the girl most likely to lead a perfectly charmed life. But after a handsome cad breaks her heart, she swears off love and devotes her life to teaching girls at a private school. In spite of her family’s wish for a London debut, Marcia is happy where she is—until terrible news sends her back to the Brady clan…and into the arms of an unexpected suitor.

on the subject of love.
A dark and dashing earl who knows Marcia’s past, Duncan Lattimore is surprised by what a fascinating and independent woman she’s become. Marcia, too, is surprised—by the fiery attraction she feels for Duncan. But why—why—must he be the brother of the scoundrel who broke her heart? Why must Marcia’s rival at school forbid her from seeing him? How can this lady possibly resist this fellow—when they know that it’s much more than a hunch…?

(St. Martin's Press)



*******

Playing to Win
By Jaci Burton

Someone’s going to have to let down their guard…

Football star Cole Riley is notorious for doing as he pleases—on the field and off. He parties hard and fights harder, but if he doesn’t clean up his act, his career is over—so Cole reluctantly agrees to work with image makeover consultant Savannah Brooks. He’s not used to being told what to do, especially by some (admittedly hot) Southern belle. As for Savannah, she’s not convinced she can transform this cocky (and aggressively sexy) force of nature. But she’s determined to give it her best shot.

When the sparks start to fly, Savannah lays down the ground rules: no personal complications. If she can turn off the tingle she feels every time Cole gives her a hot stare with his gorgeous baby blues, he can turn off his desire as well. But for two people determined to have it all, a hands-off policy can only last so long before one of them yields.

(Berkley)

*******

Silver Mine

By Vivian Arend

Life in isolation is the safest place for Chase Johnson, a crossbreed who doesn’t know which form he’ll assume next—cougar or wolf. Once a year, his unelected position as spokesman for the Yukon outcasts forces him to visit civilization. This time he runs across someone unexpected. She’s not his mate, but she pushes all the right buttons.

It’s taken years for Shelley Bradley to gather the courage to return to her home pack. In spite of being the lowest of the low—a shifter who can’t shift—she’s determined to make a place for herself as the Whitehorse locals’ new vet-slash-doctor.

There’s definite electricity between her and Chase, but sex with fellow shifters and the inherent mind games got old a long time ago. Ignoring him seems best. When he shows up at her office with a wound that won’t heal, she’s stuck—yet drawn to solve this medical mystery.

As they journey deep into outcast territory in search of answers, their powerful sexual attraction crumbles her resistance. But time is of the essence. If a cure can’t be found before his human and cougar succumb to his injury, he—and others like him—will die.

(Samhain)



*******

A Study in Seduction
By Nina Rowan

A HEART DIVIDED

The lovely Lydia Kellaway can solve the most complex puzzles. The one challenge she can't top? Managing the most infuriating man she's ever encountered.

Alexander Hall, Viscount Northwood, has purchased a one-of-a-kind locket from a pawnshop, unaware of the priceless sentiment it holds for Lydia. The gentlemanly thing to do would be to simply return it. But Alexander is curious to see just how bold this brilliant beauty will be...

A LOVE UNEQUALED

What begins as a playful wager quickly escalates. As their sizzling attraction grows, even Lydia can't account for the feelings Alexander arouses with his smile, or the fire he ignites with his touch. But when a dark family secret is suddenly thrown into the equation, it just might divide them forever...

(Forever)

Today's Special - - Kat Martin

It's our pleasure to welcome Kat Martin back to the Romance Dish!  Kat's here today to blog about some of her favorite cities and to share some info about DEEP BLUE, a re-issue of her original 2005 book that's coming out in September.  I don't know about you, but that cover sure has me wanting to know more about this book! 

I LOVE New York!

by, Kat Martin

I’m missing my annual trip to New York City this year.  Which means I’m missing my city fix.  When you live twenty five miles away from the nearest town, you start to get a people-itch and nothing but being in a big, crowded, fast-moving city will cure it. 

New York is my favorite.  Broadway, Times Square, great restaurants on every block.  I love to stay at the Waldorf Astoria, a hotel that oozes tradition.  It’s glamorous and charming and the rooms are all very special, with a sort of art deco flare that was popular when the hotel was built in the 30’s. 

I’ve never lived in a city, except for a brief stint in Houston, which is more like an overgrown town.  It was interesting, though, and wound up being the place I set a number of my AGAINST books.  AGAINST THE ODDS, book #7, out in December is set in Houston, as well as AGAINST THE EDGE, the book to follow.

In the meantime, Kensington is re-issuing DEEP BLUE the first of September.  Conner Reese owns a salvage boat and he’s searching for Spanish sunken treasure in the Caribbean.  The last thing he needs is Hope Sinclair, a woman reporter, aboard his ship.

In a couple of days, I’ll be heading to Los Angeles.  Sort of a sprawling city, but parts of it are terrific.  I’m a big fan of Beverly Hills.  I love to people-watch there.  Walking down Rodeo Drive (forget shopping--who can afford it?) never fails to entertain.  They have cars parked on the street that cost more than most people’s houses!

So what is your favorite city and why do you like it?  I'm giving away a copy of DEEP BLUE to one randomly selected person leaving a comment on today's blog.  (US only)

Love to hear from you.  And I hope you’ll watch for DEEP BLUE with its sexy new hunky male cover.  

Have a great summer and happy reading, 

Kat   

Back Cover Blurb:

For reporter Hope Sinclair, writing about the recovery of a sunken Spanish treasure off Pleasure Island should be her big break. Yet Hope can't help feeling she's been hand—picked for this job for all the wrong reasons. Someone wants Hope out of New York-and off a story that could blow a corruption case wide open. But if they think sending her to paradise will shut her up, they've got another thing coming ...

Treasure hunter and former Navy SEAL Conner Reese isn't happy to have Hope along for the ride. He doesn't need the publicity, nor does he want a gorgeous redhead driving his crew—and himself—to distraction. But there's something else. Conner can sense extreme danger, and danger is following Hope Sinclair very, very closely ...

 

Barnes & Noble:  

Amazon:  

Indiebound:  

 

 

 DEEP BLUE, by Kat Martin

Excerpt

Hope felt the deck sway beneath her feet.  The Conquest was eighty-feet long and looked to be very well equipped.  She glanced around and spotted a fiftyish, silver-haired man walking toward her while a taller, dark-haired man followed a few feet behind. 

She smiled at the first man.  "Hello, I'm Hope Sinclair.  It's very nice to meet you.  You must be Conner Reese."

He gave her a warm, inviting smile.  "Actually, I'm Bob Gibson, captain of the Conquest."  He turned to the man behind him.  "This is Conner Reese."

She tried not to stare.  If she'd had more time, she would have known everything there was to know about the partners of Treasure Limited.  As it was, she knew Brad Talbot, the money man, and she had met Eddie Markham, the owner of Pleasure Island.  This man, the head of the search operation, Conner Reese, was nothing at all what she had expected.

She extended a hand.  "It's a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Reese.  I'm Hope Sinclair.  I assume you've been expecting me."

"Expecting you to what?"

She didn't like his tone, or the unfriendly look in his eyes.  But she had to admit they were gorgeous, the same incredible blue as the sea.  And he was handsome.  Remarkably so.  He was wearing red swim trunks and canvas deck shoes, his chest bare and nicely sculpted with muscle.  He had a set of very impressive biceps, a lean, flat, six-pack stomach, and a pair of shoulders that would stretch the limits of a size seventeen shirt.  And he was tall, at least six-foot-two, with a very dark tan. 

Still, it was obvious he wasn't pleased to see her and that jabbed her temper.  She didn't want to be there in the first place.  The least he could do was be pleasant.

She pasted on a smile.  "Since you weren't told I was coming, I suppose I had better explain.  I'm a writer for Adventure magazine.  I'm here to do an article on your search for the Spanish galleon, Nuestra Senora de Rosa.  I assumed someone from the magazine would have called you."

"Yeah, well they didn't.  Adventure might like to do a story, but unfortunately we're not interested.  It's a shame you came all this way for nothing but that's the way it is.  The last thing we need is a bunch of people finding out we're down here looking for sunken treasure."

She worked to keep her friendly smile in place, all the while cursing Conner Reese.  "I'm afraid you don't understand.  I've been assigned to do this story and that's what I intend to do."  She glanced around at the ultra-modern equipment on the deck, most of it new.  "You probably have a satellite phone out here.  Why don't you call Brad Talbot?  He can explain what's going on."

"Talbot?  This was Talbot's idea?"

A noise behind them interrupted her answer.  She turned to see one of the crewman coming down from the wheelhouse holding a cell phone, a huge black man in baggy knee-length shorts and a blue-flowered shirt.  He had a chest the size of a wine cask and arms that would rival Mike Tyson's. 

"It's for you, boss."

Reese took the phone, flicked a glance at Hope, then turned and walked a couple of feet away.  He was angry and getting madder by the minute, speaking louder and louder until she could hear every word.

"Are you insane?  We let her write a bunch of articles about this operation and we're going to have every amateur treasure hunter within two thousand miles breathing down our necks.  This isn't the States, Talbot, it's a private island.  The only laws here are the ones they make up.  We won't have a damn bit of protection--legal or otherwise--if we start to have trespassing problems."

Talbot said something lengthy on the other end of the line. 

"This is crazy," Reese said.  Then, "Fine--have it your way.  But don't say I didn't warn you."  Reese ended the call and took a deep breath.  He handed the phone back to the big black man.  "Thanks, King."

"No problem, boss."

Reese turned to face her, a scowl on his handsome face.  "I guess you're staying, since Talbot holds the purse strings."  He gave her a perusal that went from her breasts to her toes and sent her hackles up another notch.  "But then you probably knew that already."

Hope clamped down on a nasty retort and the captain stepped into the fray. 

"Why don't I take the lady down to her cabin?" he suggested, trying to prevent what was fast becoming a mutual dislike.

Reese gave Hope a cold, hard smile.  "I'll take care of it.  I want to make sure our guest gets properly settled in."

Ignoring his grim expression, Hope reached for her carry-on.  Surprisingly, Reese picked it up before she had the chance.  At least he knew how to behave like a gentleman, though she figured he usually chose not to.

She sighed as she followed his broad, muscular back along the deck to the ladder.  It was going to be a helluva long three weeks.

 

Review - - How to Romance a Rake

How to Romance a Rake
The Ugly Ducklings - Book 2
By Manda Collins
Publisher:  St. Martin's Press
Release Date:  July 31, 2012

When I finished reading Manda Collins' debut novel, How To Dance With a Duke, I was left with the same feeling I experienced upon reading The Duke and I by Julia Quinn and Tessa Dare's debut, The Goddess of the Hunt:  This is an author for whom great things await.  Reading Collins' second book, How to Romance a Rake has cemented that opinion.  It can only be a matter of time before the awards and accolades begin rolling in.

Miss Juliet Shelby lives on the fringes of the ton, a wallflower who does her best to go unnoticed.  She wasn't always that way.  As a young girl, she was the most animated of the three cousins who have been dubbed the Ugly Ducklings by a spiteful young woman of the ton.  But, as a young teen, while living in Vienna with her parents, Juliet was critically injured in an accident, resulting in amputation of her left foot - an injury that left her self-absorbed mother horrified and embarrassed by her now "crippled" daughter.  Juliet returned to London two years later a changed person; quieter, more subdued, telling no one of the severity of her injury,  not even Maddie and Cecily, her cousins and two best friends.

Juliet isn't the only one who has grown up with a less than perfect parent.  Lord Alec Deveril has spent the past several years trying to undo the damage done to his family name by his reprobate of a father in order to insure a good future for his younger sisters.  A gorgeous man, he is a leader of the ton's young fashionable set but, as of late, as grown weary of it and knows it's time to find a wife and settle down.  His criteria is simple: find someone likable but for whom he feels not one iota of passion.  His late parents offered him a front row seat to the devastating consequences of a passion filled marriage.  He briefly considers Maddie as a potential candidate but it's the quiet, self-possessed Juliet who continues to draw his eye.

When Mrs. Turner,  Juliet's beloved music teacher, a woman who, over the years, has been more a mother to her than her own mother goes missing, it's Alec who offers his help in the search.  As Juliet and Alec spend more time together, they forge a friendship and gradually a fondness for one another that then blooms into desire and, finally, love.  But there are many obstacles to a happy ending for these two.  Juliet's mother is determined to marry her off to a slimy older man Juliet has good reason to fear,  her mother has done her best to convince Juliet that no man will ever find her desirable once he knows of her amputation and Alec fears the reprehensible actions of both his father and his uncle will make it impossible for him to love a woman passionately and bring her happiness.  Then there's the mystery of Mrs. Turner's disappearance with twists and turns aplenty and a lurking danger that could put both Juliet and Alec in harm's way.

I loved this story so much.  I've read it three times and have no doubt I will read it many more times in the future.  I applaud Manda Collins for creating Juliet, a physically imperfect heroine who is absolutely perfect for her hero.  Collins knows the subject well and brings to her character the realistic physical and emotional challenges as well as the quiet strength and determination that make Juliet one of my favorite heroines ever.  Watching her grow throughout her journey and finally come into her own was wonderful.  I cheered for her, hurt for her, feared for her and wanted to do unspeakable things to her witch of a mother for her but not once did I ever pity her.

I usually prefer my heroes dark but Alec just may have won me over to the blond side.  He's a wonderful man with a kind heart who champions Juliet, protects her, desires her and, ultimately, loves her with every breath of his being.  The scene when they first make love is so exquisitely beautiful it brought tears to my eyes and the declaration he makes about Juliet after the villain is vanquished shows how much he respects and understands her and made me want to stand and cheer.

The passion sizzles in this book and while Collins delves into deeply emotional issues she also infuses her stories with plenty of humor along with a terrific secondary cast.  One of my favorite scenes is between Alec and Maddie while they wait for Juliet to be fitted for new gowns at the dressmaker's.  I won't give away any spoilers other than to say it gives the reader a peek into the inner workings of Maddie's mind, something that has Alec pondering how useful she would have been to Wellington during the war, and has me anticipating her book even more.  I have the feeling she's going to lead Monteith a very merry chase!

If you haven't read Manda Collins yet, now's the perfect time to start.  How to Romance a Rake is going straight to my keeper shelf.  I highly recommend it!

~PJ

Calling All Winners!

Calling all winners!  We haven't heard from you yet!

Please send your full name and mailing address to us at theromancedish (at) gmail (dot) com to claim your books!

Maudemaxine@gmail.co

Nancee

Mary D

Kris Kennedy Winner

The winner of a book from Kris Kennedy is

Leah Weller

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

theromancedish (at) gmail (dot) com

and let us know if you want a copy of DEFIANT or DECEPTION.

The Happiest Place on Earth

Lisa and Tessa Dare

To many people, the happiest place on earth is Disney World or Disneyland. However, if you pose that quesion to romance authors, readers, publishers, and more, that place also includes RWA's annual conference. This year, both places were together! Sadly, PJ and I were unable to attend the conference in Anaheim...or so we thought. While we weren't physically there, we were able to enjoy the experience vicariously through one of our regular visitors, the lovely Lisa. This was Lisa's first RWA conference and she was sweet enough to share it with us through a series of animated texts. Boy, did we enjoy it! Please welcome her as she nows shares her experience with all of us! Welcome to the spotlight, Lisa!



 

My first time at RWA was such an amazing experience! I met so many lovely kind talented women, saw/met some of my favorite authors in person, bought/picked up way too many books, and learned so much from the workshops.

I flew to LAX Tuesday and arrived there early afternoon local time. I have to say, even though it was only a three hour time difference, it really threw me for a loop. But I managed to arrive at the Marriott safe and sound, check in, and meet my roommate Isobel Carr. As I was so tired and loopy, the rest of the day was a bit of a blur, but I do remember going out to dinner, and just sitting in the hotel lobby meeting and talking with folks, including Miranda Neville, Sarah MacLean, Heather Snow, Erin Knightley, and many others. And yes, Nalini Singh walked by me at one point and I nearly had a meltdown and I believe SEP was about 10 feet away from me at one point too. Lol

Waiting to get into the Literacy signing

The next day I slept in late to recovery from the jetlag and ended up meeting some friends to go out for lunch. We had a great time hanging out and having fun before we got to the Anaheim Convention Center to wait in line to attend the Literacy Signing. I had already told myself since it all went to charity, I didn’t have to feel guilty about splurging on books. ;) My friends and I definitely had fun waiting in line and spotting authors as they came walking into the signing. One of our favorites, Tessa Dare, saw us and came over to chat and give us some swag before she went in. Last year at the signings, there were some technical issues and there was a long line and wait to actually get into the ballroom where the signing took place. This year, we got in in a matter of minutes, which was great.

Inside the signing

I confess I did go nuts at the signing. For those of you who’ve never went to one before, the experience is quite intense and surreal. Imagine a huge ballroom full of hundreds of romance authors and readers in one place. It was definitely fun, but a bit overwhelming at the same time. Another wrinkle this year is that normally, besides the big name authors (Nora, Julia Quinn, JAK, SEP, Christina Dodd, etc), all of the other authors are seated alphabetically. This year, RWA decided to do something different, so it made it a bit more difficult to find the authors you wanted books from. They did provide a map but I promptly lost it, which is typical of me. ::Sigh::  .  I was lucky that for the most part, I was able to find and touch base with all the authors I wanted to see that night-Tessa, Julie James, Maya Rodale, Sarah MacLean, Courtney Milan, Miranda Neville, Stefanie Sloan, Jo Bourne, Jill Shalvis (thank you Andrea for getting me hooked on the Lucky Harbor series, lol), etc . I attempted to meet La Nora, but the line was ridiculously long, and I thought that since I’d have the opportunity to meet her and get a book from her at the Berkeley publisher’s signing, I could wait to meet her later and give the non-conference attendee readers a chance to get books from her. 

After the signing, Tessa was generous enough to invite us to go out to dinner, and Regency author Sara Lindsey joined us. It was a lovely evening and we all had a great time. And when they found out my birthday was the Sunday before, they all insisted on having cake, candles, the song, and the whole bit. It was an amazing birthday celebration and I couldn’t have asked for better people to share it with. But part of me is still in disbelief that Tessa Dare and Sara wished me a happy birthday!! GAH! Lol A conference highlight for sure.

Lauren Willig, Lisa, Sarah MacLean

Thursday was the first full-fledged day of Conference for me and I attended lots of great workshops including Romance 101, a basic nuts and bolts workshop on how the romance publishing industry works,  Sarah MacLean and Lauren Willig’s workshop on how to create memorable heroes and heroines, and the spoken and unspoken “rules” of romance publishing with Avon editors Lucia Macro, Esi Sogah and author Wendy Corsi Staub. (Hint to all writers-do NOT kill the puppy!)  Then it was off to the Keynote Luncheon, where Stephanie Laurens gave a very insightful speech about the publishing industry, all the changes that have been happening, and how it affects writers. I thought her message was very profound and inspiring-at the end of the day, despite all the changes and challenges that come with publishing, our job as writers is to write stories that connect and resonate with readers and we mustn’t lose sight of that. If we’ve done our job, the rest will fall into place, no matter what changes and challenges come our way.

After that I went to Julie James and Beth Kery’s workshop on writing contemporary romances, which was immensely helpful to me as that was what I’m currently writing.  I picked up lots of great advice and tips from their workshop.  What made it extra fun was that I got to spend some extra time with Maya Rodale who attended the workshop with me and was my seatmate at the luncheon. J

Lisa and Carey Baldwin

Thursday night/evening would turn into one of the top highlights of RWA for me as I had the incredible opportunity to go out and have dinner with Tessa Dare, Courtney Milan, and Carey Baldwin, all of whom are lovely talented and generous women. The chance to spend some one on one time with them was incredible and I’ll never forget it! After dinner, the ladies of The Ballroom Blog (Lauren Willig, Kate Noble, Miranda Neville, Sabrina Darby, Sarah MacLean, and Tessa) had a get together at the bar, and I had the chance to talk with some of the regular guests and the authoresses which was a real thrill. And Tessa was also kind and generous enough to sign her backlist for me so now my entire Tessa Dare collection is autographed. Yay! J  Thank you Tessa! She really is one of the nicest sweetest people you’ll ever me, and an amazing writer to boot.

Julia Quinn and Lisa

Friday morning started bright and early for me as I had breakfast with Golden Heart finalist Wendy LaCapra, who writes Regency historicals. Then it was off to the Avon/Harlequin publishers’ signings. (I know, I probably should have gone to the workshops but the allure of free books was too much, lol) and I was able to attend the spotlight on St. Martin’s Press. It was really valuable to hear directly from SMP editors what their process is like, what they look for in queries and submissions because they were all a little different. In the meantime I got to meet and have a chance to chat with Sophia Nash, Anna Randol, Delilah Marvelle, Victoria Dahl, Michelle Willingham I also got a chance to get a picture taken with Julia Quinn which was a total OMG moment. J  

I met up with Sara Lindsey for the Awards luncheon, where Robyn Carr gave a wonderful speech. She talked about her long publishing career and what it meant to be a “success” as she’s been writing for decades but only hit the best-seller lists a few years ago. She was so warm and funny and I loved the message of her speech too, to not get caught up in the rat race, what success truly means, and to never lose our joy and enjoyment of writing, which was why we all got into the business to begin with! The quote from her speech that has stayed with me is this “Success is not measured by fame or fortune or power. Success is measured in moments of satisfaction.” Powerful, right??  I also got a chance to meet YA author Marni Bates during the Awards Luncheon which was a wonderful treat. She, Sara, and I ended up lingering and chatting long after the luncheon was over! After that there were more signings and workshops. And yes, I attended one entitled “Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Writing Sex Scenes but Were Afraid to Ask.” It was interesting to say the least, lol.

Julie James and Lisa

After workshops were over, I was able to meet Julie James for a drink. I had screwed up my courage earlier to ask if she’d like to get together and she was nice enough to say yes! J She and I spent some time out by the patio and hotel pool. It was definitely another conference highlight for me. Julie is smart, kind, and extremely talented author. I felt very lucky to have gotten the chance to spend some one on one time with her!

Friday night I decided to take it easy and gave myself some r&r and downtime. I had been basically going non-stop since I arrived Tuesday afternoon and definitely needed some time to myself! I know I probably could have went downstairs to meet and network some more, but I felt I needed the rest.

La Nora and Lisa

Saturday morning started bright and early with the Berkeley signings where I got to finally meet LA NORA! I can’t tell you all how nerve-wracking it is to be up close and personal with a legend like Nora. I nearly hyperventilated, and I’m not ashamed to admit it. I did my best to eek out a few coherent sentences when I finally came up to her at the table, and as is her wont, Nora was absolutely gracious and thanked me. She signed my book and took a photo with me, and I was on my way. I then sped over to chat with Julie James again for a bit, and then it was time for me to go to the workshop The Ballroom Blog authoresses were presenting after a quick dash over to the Ballantine signing where I got a chance to spend a few minutes with Stefanie Sloane and Kate Noble. I had promised I’d attend and speak up so I did. The Ballroom authoresses did a great job of explaining how they put their blog together, how they make it work, and how they use it as a platform to reach out and interact with readers. And yes, they gave me a shout-out when I raised my hand to comment which was incredibly kind and generous of them. After that, I grabbed lunch with a friend over at the Hilton, and it was back to the Marriott for more signings and workshops.  The last workshop of the day I attended was Make It Work! Getting Your Novel Down the Runway with Miranda Neville, Heather Snow, Deb Marlowe, and Michelle Marcos. They had great career tips and dos on how to deal with reviews good and bad, book sales,  promoting, how not to compare yourself with others and that ultimately, it’s about doing your best, improving, and building and increasing your reader base. It was really informative and I got a lot out of it.

Lisa and Courtney Milan

Tessa with her RITA and Lisa

After that it was time to grab something to eat and get ready for the RITAs! I would also have to pack since the shuttle for the airport was leaving at 7:30 am the next day. I won’t bore you with the details of that, but I will say that everyone was gorgeous and looking their best when I made it to the ballroom. The RITA Ceremony was lots of fun, and emcee Victoria Alexander did a great job. I was so excited for all of the winners but none more so than when Tessa won for A Night to Surrender! I was so excited and thrilled for her! I was lucky enough to be able to find her after the ceremony and congratulate her in person. A Night to Surrender was a wonderful book and a well-deserved win for Tessa. I couldn’t imagine a better way to end RWA!

I did end waking up at the crack of dawn (not really but it sure felt like it, lol) the next day, checked out, got on the shuttle, and made my way to LAX and home.

My first RWA experience was so phenomenal and I want to thank everyone who helped make it so special, including Andrea and PJ who were there in spirit cheering me on and were there for me every step of the way. Thanks so much ladies! I can’t wait for next year’s conference in Atlanta!

Andrea here: I can't wait until next year, too, Lisa!! Dear Readers, Lisa got to meet a lot of great authors including THE Nora Roberts! Have you ever been to a book signing? If so, who did you meet? If not, who would you love to meet? Tell us and one lucky commenter will win a book and some swag from my prize stash!