Limecello’s review of The Tycoon’s Pregnant Mistress by Maya Banks
Contemporary romance released by Silhouette Desire on 13 Jan 09

I really like books in the Silhouette Desire Line. I also have a positive association with Maya Banks (even before I read her books, really). Thus it seemed natural that I like this book. And I did. I was very excited about this story because I know so many readers enjoy Ms. Banks’s writing, and I’m pleased with the result. The Tycoon’s Pregnant Mistress is Ms. Bank’s first harlequin romance, and she’s off to a great start.

One thing I’d like to get out of the way is… the title, and even more so the book blurb and premise, made me think it was a Harlequin Presents in disguise. (Yes, I like harlequin books and feel comfortable enough with certain lines that I feel I “know” them.) However, there was a part near the end that was much more in line with the SD books, and that helped a lot. The Tycoon’s Pregnant Mistress uses a lot of common harlequin plot devices - the mistress who doesn’t think of herself as one, the secret baby, the evil Jezebel personal assistant, and hero/heroine with amnesia, but Ms. Banks manages to put a fresh spin on it, and delivers an enjoyable story.

Marley Jameson while likable, is something of a typical romance heroine. She’s put her life on hold for the man in her life, and has those rose colored glasses taped to her face. Even so, she’s likable. She’s sweet, normal, and simply a bit stupid from being hit by the love stick. (Thus the reader knows her compliance and general door-mat behavior with the hero is abnormal.) I liked how Marley became a bit more spunky when she was “herself” - albeit with amnesia. In fact, I felt that Marley was well developed because Ms. Banks was able to highlight so many aspects of her personality due to her situation. I felt that Marley really came into her own near the end of the book, and the way she acted was entirely reasonable and believable.

Chrysander Anetakis honestly is your Harlequin Presents hero - but with a twist. Frankly, he’s a jerk. He denies his emotions because you know, real businessmen don’t fall in love. And being an asshole is the way to set things straight. However, in his defense, he does change throughout the course of the book. And he really does have a number of good qualities, he’s simply (really) not in touch with his emotions. It’s cute watching him realize how much he loves Marley. That, and I love his comeuppance when he finds out what really happened (no I won’t give away the plot). All in all, while many people might hate him, I liked Chrysander. I just wanted to smack him at times. But he really, truly does redeem himself.

One thing that did bother me was how Marley reacted to Chrysander after they got back together. She had some TSTL/door mat moments. The assistant, Roselyn was also too obvious. However, all the other characters were well developed - even amongst their less than stellar moments - and I am looking forward to the stories of the other Anetakis brothers. I recommend this book for Maya Banks fans, as well as Silhouette Desire, and in fact Harlequin Presents books. And for people who love to see the hero suffer just a bit. I’ve got a tiny sadistic streak, and Chrysander definitely goes through the wringer. The story is emotional, and there’s a endearing quality to all of it - especially the end.

Grade: B

Summary:

He had an heir!

Greek hotel magnate Chrysander Anetakis’s former mistress was pregnant? And had amnesia? That meant Marley Jameson didn’t remember betraying him by selling company secrets. Or that he’d thrown her out of his life. So he told her a little white lie: they were engaged. Then he swept her away to his Greek island to await the birth of his baby and enjoy her sudden devotion…before tossing her out.

But he didn’t count on Marley regaining her memory so soon.

Read an excerpt.

Limecello’s review of Heart of Stone by Diana Palmer
Contemporary romance published by Silhouette on 1 Sep 08

The newest installment in the seemingly endless Long, Tall, Texan series, Heart of Stone doesn’t really stand out from the rest. If you’ve never read one of Diana Palmer’s books before, I’d encourage reading one of her other books first.

Keely Walsh is a nineteen-year-old veterinarian technician, but she’s very old for her age. Too nice for her own good, she lets everyone walk all over her. Still, she has some good friends, and Keely enjoys her relatively simply life. Keely has had a very difficult past, and a bad current home life. While her personality is a stronger than one might expect, her actions take what ground that would have given her away.

Boone Sinclair is a thirty two year old businessman cum rancher. He intimidates everyone, but is well respected in the community. Boone isn’t particularly close to anyone but his siblings, and his old German shepherd Bailey. He’s something of a jerk throughout the book, especially when he’s interacting with Keely. Portrayed as overbearing, the reader understands that it is concern that makes him meddle in people’s lives.

I understand the sentiment where a lot of people say “if you’ve read one Diana Palmer book, you’ve read them all.” I’ve always felt that each book has subtle differences and nuances, until I read this book. Yes, a few characteristics were different, but I feel anything in this book was that distinctive. The heroine has been in love with the hero for years. She’s had an extremely traumatic childhood, and is stuck in a terrible home situation. The hero has always been in love with the heroine, but feels that she is too young, and takes out his frustration and repressed love/lust out on her. Tragedy strikes, forcing the characters to admit their feelings and depend on each other.

I found myself thinking “when will Ms. Palmer write characters with normal lives?” Or at least, without an overabundance of dreadful life experiences. I understand the “trial by fire” making characters stronger and more interesting, but hers have become ashes they’ve been burnt so many times. I also didn’t think the excuse given for Boone trotting his girlfriend/ex-fiancée in front of Keely’s face all that plausible either.

Much of the book was repetitive. For example, I got sick of hearing how sick the characters were of the Presidential race. I generally enjoy, and am vaguely amused by how the characters in Ms. Palmer’s characters act. They’re cheeky, like practical jokes, are generally repressed and somewhat awkward when it comes to sex and relationships. They’re also rather static, and don’t act how you’d expect normal humans, or characters to. However, in Heart of Stone the characters simply fell flat. The characters were gullible in the extreme, and not very sympathetic. I didn’t feel much empathy for any of their situations, and felt that each event and situation had already been used in a previous book.

I did like the cameo appearances from a number of characters - some who already have their own books. I’d love to read the stories of all the secondary characters, and do plan on reading more of Ms. Palmer’s books. This one, however, was something of a disappointment. I wouldn’t really recommend this book unless you’re a die-hard Ms. Palmer fan, or will suffer from burning curiosity until you do. I will, however, read any and all of Ms. Palmer’s forthcoming stories.

Grade: D+

Summary:

A businessman and a rancher, Boone Sinclair has it all - except for Keely Walsh. The lovely beauty has always beguiled him… yet he was too experienced for her innocent charm.

But when Keely’s life is endangered by forces beyond her control, he has to protect her. Once Keely is under his roof, Boone is the ultimate Long, Tall Texan - reticent, noble, loyal and blessed with a Texas-size stubbornness! It’s up to Keely to convince him that she’s no longer a girl; she’s a woman out to win his heart!

Read an excerpt here.

Limecello’s review of Billionaire’s Marriage Bargain by Leanne Banks
Contemporary romance published by Silhouette Desire on 12 Aug 08

I don’t know if I’ve mentioned it before, but Leanne Banks is one of my favorite Desire authors. She may be the one who first got me hooked on the line. I tend to enjoy both her category books as well as her novels. Billionaire’s Marriage Bargain is the second of her The Billionaire’s Club books. (I could have sworn I also reviewed the first, Bedded By the Billionaire, but I guess not. It was good, however.)

Mallory James is a fun heroine, who is smart, strong, and pragmatic. She’s had a crush on hero Alex Megalos, but got over it, and is very realistic as to where their relationship or lack thereof, is going (or not). Mallory has had to deal with overprotective parents, who love her, but stifle her. I didn’t quite like how easily she gave into Alex, but looking at it objectively, I understand her actions. I mean, he’s a rock star. (Not literally, but he’s one of the wealthiest, handsomest and most eligible bachelors in Vegas. That’s saying something.) Mallory has a great sense of humor, and personality. She’s bright, bubbly, fun, and really cares about people.

Alex Megalos is your typical Desire hero, but at the same time he’s so very likeable. He sees Mallory as someone different than his usual flavor of the month, and while he’s not so good at sharing his emotions, Alex definitely has them. I really enjoyed how Ms. Banks manages to tie in all aspects of her characters. Alex is Greek-American, and while he’s completely modern and lives all in today, there are certain cultural values that he’s carried over, such as being protective, and the provider of “his woman.” He can be old fashioned, and knows that about himself. It simply wasn’t something that interested him until now.

I enjoyed the story, though I felt the initial romance was a bit rushed. Additionally, the reason (excuse) that led to Mallory and Alex marrying was a bit weak. However, it could happen, and was enough to carry the story. I liked how Mallory reacted to the major conflict of the book - finding out or feeling that Alex had betrayed her. Being sadistic, I would have preferred her making him suffer a tiny bit more, but I suppose that’s not good for a healthy relationship. Having the perspective from both characters is another thing I really enjoyed about this book. It was nice to see how each aspect came together, and what each character was feeling. The explanation for how they acted and reacted forwarded the plot nicely.

The banter between Alex and Mallory is entertaining and engaging. Well written secondary characters also make the story that much more enjoyable. Although this book is the second in the series it’s definitely stand alone. Seeing the characters from previous books is just a nice little perk.

Another enjoyable book by Ms. Banks, I’m definitely looking forward to reading the third (and any subsequent) books in the Billionaire’s Club. My only wish is that she wrote write faster. I especially like her Desire books because they’re well written, offer a great story, but are also a fast and entertaining read. When you’re short on time but want something with substance, Ms. Banks is definitely an author to look into.

Grade: B

Beware of Billionaires

Marry Alex Megalos? Though tempted by the Greek billionaire, Mallory James knew his exploits were legendary. Involving herself with a man like Megalos could only lead to heartbreak. But she hadn’t counted on Alex’s determination to bed—and wed—the one woman he couldn’t have.

Forced to the altar by scandal, Mallory found herself almost believing that her new husband was committed to their vows. Until she discovered their marriage was the result of a bargain…with her as the ultimate prize.

Read an excerpt here.

Limecello’s review of Eye of the Tiger by Diana Palmer
Contemporary romance published by Silhouette on 1 Mar 86

Most of you know I like Diana Palmer’s books - and here, I’m going to try to explain. I will say, that this (along with Coltrain’s Proposal, yes) is one of my favorite books. I only have about 20 more of her books to read (out of ~140?) so that should mean something. While reading the book, I kept wondering what it is about Ms. Palmer’s books that I enjoy so much - and this book really highlights why I appreciate her writing.

First, I feel that this book is different from many of Ms. Palmer’s other ones. It’s set in Kentucky, but more importantly, the characters are distinct. Eleanor Whitman is a nurse, and she’s hung up on Keegan Taber. Of course they have a “sordid encounter,” and she effectively avoids him for four years. Wait - that’s where the similarities to other books end. Ellie is smart, realistic, and true to herself. Yes, there is a slight issue of her not being in touch with her own emotions, but she stands up for herself. Ellie has a boyfriend, lives her own life, going toe to toe with Keegan. She’s very real, and someone you would like to have as a friend - Ellie’s spunky. She’s satisfyingly pragmatic and it’d be nice if more romance heroines were like her across the board.

Keegan Taber is a fun Diana Palmer hero because, well, he’s not a jerk. I’ll give you a moment to recover from your shock. He was a jerk, four years ago before the story begins, but now, he’s grown and matured. In fact, Keegan is madly in love with Ellie, and trying to get back into her good graces. He’s a bit heavy handed at times, and makes some stupid-man mistakes, but not only is that fiction, it’s how life goes. Keegan is a well-rounded character with depth and humor.

I liked how the heroine was actually the one who wasn’t pushing for a relationship, and is in fact, relatively clueless. It was nice for Ellie to not be depressed and mopey throughout the book, or believing/tricking herself into believing wedding bells were on the way simply because Keegan kissed her. If anything, it was the other way around. Keegan knows it’s not in Ellie’s nature to get close to people, and thinks their encounters mean Ellie is open to a committed relationship.

Ms. Palmer has so many fans, I think, because her writing is so real. It’s frustrating, and some people think the stories are ridiculous - and at times, yes, it does go there- but generally, and especially in this book, the plot, the characters and their reactions are so viable. Misunderstanding a simple issue can have widespread and long lasting repercussions. Events, minor or major can really change a person and greatly impact someone’s life. As much as the reader might not want to, it’s something they can relate to. While reading, even after a frustrating event, I’d think that just makes so much sense. Additionally, the secondary characters are all well written and enjoyable.

I also like her characters for how direct they can be, especially in their dialogue. It’s abrupt and at times awkward, but nice. You don’t normally read “You’re a nice man.” in a book when it means exactly that. Only. The character’s straightforward speech conveys what they’re thinking at the moment, but the plot follows all the convoluted nuances of the past, various reactions, and everything left unspoken.

Then again, there’s the major aspect of hero groveling. I love that. No hero can grovel like a Diana Palmer hero, and Keegan spends pretty much the entire book doing that. Albeit not explicitly. You feel emotionally connected to and invested with both of Ellie and Keegan, but not frustrated with them. I think Ms. Palmer strikes an excellent balance here.

Character driven stories are my favorite, and this book is a great example of that. Even if you’ve read a Diana Palmer book before and didn’t like it - I’d suggest you read this one. (If you can find it - I know it’s hard to get but it’s also available in two anthologies that should be easier to find - Lover Come Back and Heaven on Earth - possibly more.) In fact, I can happily recommend this book to anyone. It truly is one of my favorite Diana Palmer books, and a romance book I really enjoy in general.

Grade: A

She Wanted To Make Him Jealous…
Four years ago Eleanor Whitman had been crazy about Keegan Taber. Crazy enough to let him seduce her-and then find out he was engaged to another woman!

Now Keegan claimed he’d only ever wanted her-but Eleanor was seeing someone else. She and Wade were only friends-but Keegan didn’t have to know that…just yet!

Or

Years ago, Eleanor Whitman had had a furious crush on Keegan Taber - and he’d wanted nothing to do with her! But that was then… and now, four years later, Keegan would give anything to have Eleanor love him again. Could Keegan hope to win Eleanor back before his rival put a ring on her finger?

Limecello’s review of Coltrain’s Proposal by Diana Palmer
Contemporary romance published by Silhouette 1 Aug 95

I recently acquired this book as part of a birthday trade, and I couldn’t be happier. I think I’ve made it clear that I enjoy Diana Palmer’s novels – there’s just something about them. The characters are fun and witty, the plots obvious yet interesting, and the books are simply addicting. I think I’ve read 110 of Ms. Palmer’s novels, and this is one of my favorites.

Lou Blakely is suffering from unrequited love – much like a typical Diana Palmer heroine. However, Lou is a strong character, and has an interesting history. While this seems to be a common affliction found in Ms. Palmer’s heroines, not only was this book written nearly 13 years ago, but Lou’s past isn’t overbearing. She has a lot of baggage, but she’s able to get over it, and I think it’s also important to mention that the way her past is told isn’t maudlin or excessive.

Jeb Coltain also fits the general mold of one of Ms. Palmer’s heroines. He’s a complete jerk to Lou – but he has reasons for doing so. Jeb had history with Lou’s father, and he’s had a hard time getting over it. While not fair, it was believable if not reasonable for him to treat Lou coldly. And then there were also the usual plethora of reasons – because he was attracted to her but thought she shot him down, which upset him, and so on. However he figures out his emotions decently early in the book, and decides to put all of his considerable charm towards carefully wooing Lou.

Once the relationship was more or less established, or at least Lou and Jeb stopped fighting like cats and dogs, the story was quite sweet. Yes, the character said things thoughtlessly, or caused each other some grief, but too often that’s how real life is. Also, as the story unfolds, the characters reveal unexpected depths. I loved how Lou could go toe to toe with Jeb professionally, even though she was clueless emotionally.

While the secondary characters at times didn’t seem to add much to the story, and the main characters relied on gossip a bit too much, there were still a lot of sweet scenes. One of my favorites is when Jeb and Lou go shopping for an engagement ring, but Jeb had to resort to trickery to lure Lou out, and she thinks it’s for a sham engagement. (Complicated, huh?)

For those who are fans of Diana Palmer, most likely you’ve already read this book, but I personally recommend reading it again. I definitely have. For those of you who are looking for a Diana Palmer book to try – I would suggest this one. It’s short, sweet, well written, and interesting. These two characters also make many appearances in Ms. Palmer’s other novels. (One last thing – did anyone else notice the typo in Fearless that said Jeb was Lou’s brother-in-law?)

Grade: A

Rules of Engagement for a Long, Tall Texan!
Louise Blakely, M.D.: Doctor with a heartache    She didn’t want to love Jeb Coltrain. The legendary Texan treated her like the enemy. And Coltrain’s shocking marriage proposal demanded surrender…
Jeb Coltrain, M.D.: Physician on a mission   He aimed to ambush unsuspecting Louise, whose father had so cruelly betrayed him. Yet her provocative innocence lit a fire in him. And now he’d break any rule to win her, to wed her…
Make-Believe Marriage: The arrangement is temporary - love is forever!

I subscribe to the school of thought that all readers have their own personal crack addictions.

Mine?

Mail order bride stories where the bride finds herself getting more than she expected. Oh, like a groom who wasn’t expecting her, or a groom who has the nerve to die before her stagecoach/train arrive. What’s a poor girl to do? Well find herself a more fetching man, of course! Preferably one who is still breathing

The long journey across the West ended in sorrow for one hopeful mail-order bride. Dani Baxter stepped off the train in Colorado, only to learn that her intended had died suddenly, leaving three young daughters behind. And suddenly she knew why God had sent her here-to make this family whole again.

But her late fiancé’s brother, Beau Morgan, a bounty hunter obsessed with vengeance, believed that was his duty. He proposed they marry-in name only- for the children’s sake. But as she came to know him, she realized she wanted more, much more. And she wondered if even this lost man could somehow find peace in a woman’s loving arms.

E-X-C-E-R-P-T

Home.

The word caught in his mind like barbed wire. He didn’t have a home and he didn’t want one. The giggles coming from the bed of the wagon gave him a headache. So did the sun setting over the blue cut of the mountains and the streak of pink in the sky. Dusk usually calmed him. It meant the end of a day, solitude and the peace of sleep. Today the fading sun pressed him to hurry. The cows needed milking. The girls needed their beds.

“Beau?”

Dani’s voice matched the dusk. He hadn’t invited her to use his given name, but it sounded natural.

“What is it?” he asked.

“Supper was nice. I didn’t know you were a lawman.”

He grunted. “Josh talks too much.”

From the corner of his eye, he saw Dani lace her fingers in her lap. “They respect you.”

Beau said nothing. The man they’d known in Denver had died with Lucy.

“I don’t mean to pry.” Her voice dipped low. “But you were good at your work. Do you miss it?”

“I never gave it up.”

“You mean Clay Johnson.”

“And others.” Beau shifted his weight. “Johnson rides in and out of my life. Sometimes I get close and he runs. Sometimes he comes after me, makes a threat and runs again. It can take months to pick up his trail.”

“What do you do in between?”

“I check Wanted posters.”

“How do you choose?” Dani asked.

Mostly Beau got a feeling. “I pick the man with the deadest eyes.”

He heard the soft rush of her breath. “You’re a bounty hunter.”

Beau frowned. “I don’t do it for the money. I do it for—”

“Lucy.”

He doubted his wife would approve. “I was going to say justice.”

Dani stared straight ahead. “The Blues respect you. I want you to know. I do, too.”

A woman’s praise shouldn’t have made Beau square his shoulders, but it did. Aside from earning a living, he found satisfaction in his work. He brought peace to widows and orphans. He helped people who couldn’t help themselves. Most of the time, he felt content with his cause, but tonight he missed the things he’d given up.

With dusk settling, he wished he’d never set eyes on Daniela Baxter and her pink dress, his nieces with their blond hair, even the kitten. Parted from its mother and brothers, the poor thing was meowing its heart out. Beau knew how it felt. If the girls weren’t careful, it would bite and scratch out of frustration.

Emma’s voice carried over the rattle of the wagon. “We have to decide on a name.”

“I like Fluffy,” said Esther.

Beau winced. No male deserved a handle like Fluffy. He felt offended on the cat’s behalf but didn’t say anything.

“He’s a boy,” Ellie said, sounding superior. “Let’s call him Prince.”

Beau clenched his teeth. Prince beat out Fluffy, but not by much. The kitten was destined to lose all dignity.

Dani turned to the girls. “How about Boots?”

It fit, but Beau didn’t like it.

“It’s kind of plain,” Emma said.

The females batted around names, each one as unmanly as the last. After a mile, Beau had heard enough. “Name him Fred.”

“Fred?” The females cried out in a horrified chorus.

“Or Hank or Sam,” he said. “Anything but Fluffy.”

He’d stunned the girls into silence. Beau reveled in the quiet until Esther spoke up. “Uncle Beau?”

Until now, no one had called him by that name. His belly flipped. “What is it?”

“What name do you like?” asked the child.

He thought for a minute. “I’d call him T.C. for Tom Cat.”

“I like it,” Emma said.

“Me, too,” Ellie added.

Dani hummed her approval. “T.C.’s an excellent name.”

Beau turned in her direction and saw a shine in her eyes, a longing that matched the pull in his gut. Children … laughter … hope. When she turned to the kitten and smiled, he saw it as an act of defiance. Dani Baxter would grab the rope of happiness, no matter how frayed, and hold on. His belly burned. If Harriet Lange took his offer, that rope would be yanked from her hands. Beau knew how that felt. Her flesh would tear and bleed. He wanted to tell her to let go now, to forget the kitten and the little girls, but he knew she wouldn’t do it.

She must have sensed his gaze, because she turned to him. When her lips tipped into a smile, a sad one but honest, Beau felt it like his own. He jerked his eyes back to the road. T.C. meowed hungrily. Dani stared straight ahead. “We’ll give him milk as soon as we get home.”

Fool that he was, Beau felt happy for the cat.

Wendy the Super Librarian’s review of Western Weddings by Jillian Hart, Kate Bridges & Charlene Sands
Historical romance anthology released by Harlequin Historical 1 May 08

Many readers don’t care for anthologies because they can be wildly uneven affairs. I tend to think of them as my comfort reads. I find anthologies just the ticket for when my brain is mush, my attention span is on par with the life cycle of a fruit fly, and the mere thought of any story over 100 pages causes my blood pressure to spike. Couple that with my love affair for Harlequin Historical westerns, and it’s no wonder that I plowed through Western Weddings in record time.

Rocky Mountain Bride by Jillian Hart

This features the well-worn plot device of the mail-order bride that the “groom” knows nothing about, but Hart makes it fresh by writing a fabulous heroine. Savannah Knowles is a nice Southern girl with nothing left. The Civil War took everything, and after the death of her beloved grandmother, she is without any kin of her own. So she decides to become a mail-order bride, corresponding with Nate Brooks for a year, falling in love with him and his boisterous family, before agreeing to travel to his home in Montana Territory. Too bad Nate had nothing to do with those letters, and the whole thing was orchestrated by his well-meaning, albeit meddling, parents.

This story works well because Savannah has gumption. While she was technically courted by Nate’s parents, she quickly realizes that she actually did fall in love with the real him. Now to convince him of that fact, and salvage what is left of her pride.

Grade: B+

Shotgun Vows by Kate Bridges

Fans of Bridges’ Klondike/Mountie series will recognize characters Milly Thornbottom and Mountie Weston Williams, who get their own romance in this story. Milly used to have a horrible crush on Weston, but is fed up with him treating her like a little girl. So she attends the annual Spring Fever dance in hopes of catching another beau’s eye. Unfortunately, she soon finds herself standing before a preacher after her daddy catches her in an embrace with Weston. Faster than you can say shotgun wedding, these two are married. Now to make the best of it amid the swilling gossip.

I suspect fans of Bridges’ series will get more enjoyment out of this tale than the casual reader. It’s a pleasant enough read, but I felt the conflict was a little too big for an anthology story - and frankly, I wanted Milly to stay hopping mad at her daddy for a good long time.

Grade: C+

Springville Wife by Charlene Sands

Sands’ entry features one of my least favorite plot devices - the precocious child who works overtime to find her daddy a wife. Grace Lander is a widow still haunted by the death of her husband and unborn baby. She returns home to Texas to become the new school teacher, only to run into her childhood nemesis Caleb Matlock. Caleb is the most eligible bachelor in town, but hasn’t remarried even though he’s raising his niece. Sparks fly, and besides the niece, Grace’s darling auntie is determined to have these two hook up.

This story actually worked pretty well for me, even though I tend to dislike precocious matchmaking children. The problem comes later in the story, when the plot morphs into a bad daytime soap opera. Grace’s bereavement is really enough conflict for a story, and the added bit of over-the-top drama left an unsavory taste in my mouth.

Grade: C

I found Western Weddings a pleasant way to spend a lazy afternoon. The stories flew by at a nice clip, were well-written, and were the very definition of comfort reads for this western lover. Hart continues to write interesting characters, and the other two stories were fast reads, even with my minor quibbles.

Grade: B-

Summary:

Rocky Mountain Bride by Jillian Hart
Savannah Knowles arrives in Montana expecting to marry Nate Brooks, but he has never heard of her! Can this quiet man find room in his heart for lonely Savannah?

Shotgun Vows by Kate Bridges
Milly Thornbottom has a crush on Mountie Weston Williams, and one stolen kiss changes their lives! After they’re marched straight to the altar, can her crush possibly develop into more?

Springville Wife by Charlene Sands

Grace Lander returns to Springville to pick up the pieces of her life and become the town’s schoolmarm. Single father Caleb Matlock’s kiss may be just what Grace needs to mend her heart and make a home!

Read excerpts: Jillian Hart, Kate Bridges.

by Blythe Gifford

I confess.  I’ve been unfaithful.

Oh, I still love medieval England and its history. But despite a lifelong love affair with the country and its royal family, I’ve been tempted to stray, to dabble on other shores, with other stories, in other settings.

And so I had a fling.

With Flanders.

You heard me right. Innocence Unveiled, my June book, is set in the city of Ghent, in medieval Flanders.

I can hear your shocked protestations. Didn’t she love England? I thought what she had with the 14th century England was something special. And, most of all:

Where the heck is Flanders?

We’ll start with that last question. During the Middle Ages, there were a handful of duchies clustered where Belgium and the Netherlands now stand. Referred to as the Low Countries, their connections to England were close. Edward III’s wife, Queen Philippa, was from one of them, and trade ties were strong.

But these are excuses. The truth is that I strayed across the channel to follow a story. One that couldn’t take place any where else.

This book was sparked by a true incident, reported by the chroniclers. As King Edward III was trying to gain support for his claim to the throne of France, he sent an “embassy,” or diplomatic mission, to the Continent to recruit allies. Along with the diplomats traveled a number of “bachelor” knights, each wearing an eye patch and swearing not to speak until he had performed some deed of arms in France. My hero is one of those knights, but instead of staying with the group, he rides off alone.

Of course I had to follow him.

So I invite you to come along and explore the charms of unknown shores. You’ll find much that’s familiar: My hero is the bastard son of an English princess and the English king and queen even make an appearance.

So I’m not really unfaithful. I’m just being true to my English royal bastards and following where they lead me. (My next book takes me back to the sceptred isle. Honest!)

So give in to temptation. Enjoy a slight indiscretion and discover how much fun a little fling can be.

Are you ever tempted to stray from a genre or setting you’re loyal to? When you do, how do you “cheat”?

Like a lot of readers I have a tendency to “collect” authors. Being a huge fan of the Harlequin Historical line, it should be no surprise then that I have several lengthy backlists sitting in my TBR pile. One of those authors is Jillian Hart, and it was during a conversation with Sybil a while back that she mentioned how much she enjoyed her HH titles. That was enough for me. I pulled out my copy of The Horseman and fell desperately, hopelessly in love. As part of TGTBTU’s month-long spotlight on Harlequin Historicals, Ms. Hart agreed to sit down to an interview. Enjoy!

Wendy the Super Librarian: Like a lot of writers, you mention in your bio that you “scribbled stories in your spare time.” When did you get “serious” about your writing, and look towards publication as a goal? How long did it take from when you got “serious” to your first sale?

Jillian Hart: I think it took me about five years after I made the serious decision to work towards publication. Although I do think it was all that scribbling over the years that made a difference when I decided to get serious. I was very fortunate to land at Harlequin Historicals. I am deeply grateful to the editors who bought me and who taught me so much about writing. Those editors and the line hold a dear place in my heart.

WtSL: You have a deep and impressive backlist, with your McKaslin Clan series being a big cornerstone. When you wrote that first book, did you imagine the series would take on a life of its own? Did you plan it that way, or was it a happy accident?

JH: When I wrote that first book, I had no idea that the heroine’s sisters, and, later, cousins would became the McKaslin Clan. I loved writing that book, some books are just closer to your heart than others, and I wanted to go back and revisit that family. When I submitted the proposal for the sisters’s books, Joan Marlow Golan, who is now the executive editor of Steeple Hill books, named the series The McKaslin Clan. I would not have the same backlist and writing opportunities without Joan’s support and guidance, along with my own wonderful editor and the line’s supportive senior editor. I am very grateful to all three of them. So, nope, I had no idea what I was getting in to when I wrote the first McKaslin story, but it was (as you say perfectly) a happy accident.

WtSL: I think you wrote one of the quintessential beta heroes in Dillon Hennessey (The Horseman). That being said, I remember wanting Nick Gray in High Plains Wife to grovel to the point where his knees were bloody stumps! You obviously have no problem creating divergently different characters! Can you tell us a little bit about your process for creating your characters?

JH: My process for creating characters is very simple. I don’t create them as much as I let them come to me. Sounds a little weird, doesn’t it? I mostly start with a kernel or truth - just one that is powerful or defining, let it simmer, add to it, and let it simmer some more. It often takes a couple of these kernels before I begin to truly feel a character and hear their distinctive voice. For Dillon’s character, I liked the idea of a strong, good man who was shy. After letting this mull, I realized a man like that might be gifted with horses; he might work with his heart and not with force and treat others that way too. I let that simmer. And so on. I guess I try to find what makes the character unique and an individual, regardless of type or role, and do my best to get him on the page. And thanks for your kind words.

WtSL: I was blown away by your publication schedule for the rest of 2008 (5 books and an anthology story)! Is this the busiest writing year on record for you or did everything just fall into place for 2008?

JH: It was definitely my busiest writing year at Harlequin on record! Yikes. I’m grateful to my editors for being so enthusiastic in their scheduling, and I had the best time of my writing career. I put in quite a few long work days, but I got to meet some characters I fell in love with and stories I was transported to. Not surprisingly, I’ve taken a few months off completely, and have just started back to work. My 2009 year is much lighter!

WtSL: I have to ask, because Sybil and I are such big fans of your Harlequin Historical writing. Lately you’ve been very busy writing for Harlequin’s inspirational Love Inspired line. Any plans to return to HH?

JH: I actually have never technically left Harlequin Historical, although it looks like it since I haven’t had a book out in ages. I worked myself into burn-out. Not good. I know! I didn’t see it coming and then it was like hitting a wall. There were no words left. I was devastated. My editors were wonderful. They amended my contract giving me time to recover and contracted me for shorter anthology stories, which were meant not to be too taxing. I was able to write contemporary stories, which was a great relief. I was still writing, so I knew the historical words would come back. It was just a matter of resting that part of my writing muscle. When I was asked to write for the new Love Inspired historical line, I couldn’t say no. The editors, knowing of my burn-out, were exceedingly patient and generous when I went past my deadline, but the words were coming, so that was at least good. I feel like I’m through the worst, but I’m keeping my historical schedule very light for the next few years. I have two more anthologies coming out for HH, one scheduled for next spring and one undetermined. Both will be Brooks brothers stories. After I finish my current contract, we’ll see what the future holds. I will always want to write for HH. Like I said, the line is dear to me.

WtSL: Given that you’ve written contemporary inspirational stories, and historical romances, how excited were you when Harlequin announced plans for their Love Inspired Historical line?

JH: Very. I had been hoping for a line like that ever since Love Inspired was launched over ten years ago. I had several stories that felt too sweet for HH that I had never written, but wanted to. It was a perfect fit for those stories.

WtSL: Tell us a little bit about the books readers can expect from Jillian Hart this summer.

JH: I have the continuation of the series 3 McKaslin Clan out in June and August. Her Wedding Wish is Danielle’s story, and Her Perfect Man is Rebecca’s. I loved writing those stories for different reasons. It was a challenge to write Danielle’s story because of her husband’s disabilities and the sadness of a man not being able to remember his wife and his children. Her Perfect Man was fun, taking me back to a time when I worked at a summer day camp when I was a college student. High Country Bride is a July release from Love Inspired Historicals, and I totally fell in love with the hero, Aidan. The sample chapters will be up on my website soon if you want to take a peek.

Thanks for taking the time to interview me.

WtSL: Thank you Jillian!

Wendy the Super Librarian’s review of The Last Rake In London by Nicola Cornick
Historical romance released by Harlequin Historical 1 Jun 08

If one were to only study British history by way of romance novels it would be easy to deduce that all history of the island started in 1811 and ended in 1820. As someone who genuinely loves historical romance, I find this particularly frustrating, because vibrant time periods can be found throughout history - not in just during a period that lasted less than a decade. Thank goodness for Harlequin Historicals and their willingness to publish books outside of Regency England. Reading Nicola Cornick’s latest was not only an excellent way to cleanse my reading pallet, but it was a lovely surprise as well.

What we have here ladies and gentlemen is an honest-to-goodness Edwardian set novel. A time often viewed as the birth of the modern age. Cars were the latest craze, although they frightened the horses, militant suffragists were protesting, and communication picked up a faster pace thanks to telephones. It was also a time when women were enjoying more freedom. Such is the case with our heroine, the refreshingly forthright Miss Sally Bowes.

Sally runs an incredibly fashionable night club in London called the Blue Parrot. She falls asleep at her desk, looking over invoices, when in storms Jack Kestrel, heir to a Dukedom and highly annoyed. He suspects that Sally is blackmailing his frail, elderly uncle and Jack has come to put a stop to it. Of course, it doesn’t take long for him to realize that the beautiful, enchanting Sally isn’t the blackmailer - although she knows very well who is. However by then it’s too late for Jack. It’s lust at first sight.

Sally is a business woman, smart and capable, and not about to have her head turned by a handsome face. One disastrous marriage was enough for her thank you! But even she cannot deny the incredible chemistry that her and Jack seem to share. It’s all very complicated though. What with his scandalous, rakish past, her near-divorce and the fact that she owns a club, not to mention that blackmailing scheme. For while Sally had no part in it, she’s determined to protect the guilty party.

What works so well in this story are the refreshing setting and delightful repartee between Sally and Jack - especially in the early chapters. The chemistry sizzles between them, and leaps off the page. They do fall in bed together rather quickly, but one can hardly blame them! It’s amazing they keep their clothes on as long as they do.

That being said, this story isn’t entirely perfect. Trust isn’t easy to come by for either of these characters, and for a good chunk of the story they share an adversarial relationship. Jack especially is determined to believe the worst about Sally, fearing that he’s managed to be duped by a pretty face and tantalizing figure. In turn, Sally is determined to protect her livelihood, the club, which Jack threatens her with on more than one occasion.

This story moves rather quickly, with the whole thing taking place in one weeks’ time. That might strain the credulity for some readers, especially given the aforementioned trust issues, but it worked better for me in this story than in most because of the palpable chemistry simmering between Sally and Jack.

Cornick fans will no doubt take delight in knowing that the author has tied this book to her earlier Regency-set, Blue Stocking Brides series, but newcomers should have no fear. While past characters are mentioned briefly, this story stands on its own. There aren’t nearly enough historical romances written in the Edwardian period, and lucky for readers that Cornick has written an especially fine one. Snap it up.

Grade: B

Summary: Under a blaze of chandeliers, in London’s most fashionable club, Jack Kestrel is waiting. He hasn’t come to enjoy the rich at play, he’s there to uphold his family name. But first he has to get past the ice-cool owner: the beautiful Sally Bowes. And Jack wants her to warm his bed-at any price!

Edwardian society flocks to Sally’s club, but dangerous Jack Kestrel is the most sinfully sensual rogue she’s ever met. Inexperienced with men, the wicked glint in Jack’s eyes promises he’ll take care of satisfying her every need….

Read an excerpt.

Other Books In Series:

by Patricia Frances Rowell

People are forever asking writers, “Where do you get your ideas?” And we look at them blankly, because we can’t comprehend the question. The reason for that is that we are inundated with ideas. Everything we see or hear or read sets our busy little minds to spinning.

For example, take the idea for my June book, An Impetuous Abduction. For reasons I have now forgotten, I was perusing the list of given names in my fifty-year-old Webster Collegiate Dictionary. I noticed that the English name ‘Demetra’ is derived from ‘Demeter’, the Greek fertility goddess.

Well, duh! But who knew? That put me in mind of the famous myth of Demeter; her daughter, Persephone; and Hades, Lord of the Underworld. You know the one? The one that explains why we have fertile summer and barren winter?

In a nut shell, Hades absconds to his realm with Persephone, and her mother pines so much that she doesn’t do her job of making things grow. Zeus, Chief God, has to get into it and negotiate a deal that allows Persephone to stay with her husband, Hades, for six months of the year and with her mother for six months. Thus winter and summer.

Mother love is a beautiful thing, and it has its place in the world, but can you imagine poor Hades having Demeter as a mother-in-law? Can you imagine being Persephone and being tugged first one way and then the other? How are the honeymoon couple going to live happily ever after?

There is more to this story than just Zeus’s solution!

And I decided to write it.

Thanks, TGTBTU, for letting me join you today!

 Patti

Thanks to the generosity of Harlequin SuperRomance authors Debra Salonen and Ellen Hartman, we had several contest winners to close out our May Spotlight! Winners need to e-mail Wendy with their shipping address to receive their prizes. We hope everyone has enjoyed this Harlequin Spotlight, because we sure did have a great time putting it all together!

The winner of two books from Ellen Hartman is:

 Phyl!

The two grand prize winners of three books from Debra Salonen are:

Ruby D. and Greta!

These three runner-up winners will receive a copy of Debra’s latest book, Baby By Contact:

Virginia H., Jessica and TracyS!

Wendy the Super Librarian’s review of His Secret Past by Ellen Hartman
Contemporary Romance released by Harlequin SuperRomance 01 May 2008

I love it when a book surprises me. Ellen Hartman’s second novel for Harlequin SuperRomance sounds like it’s a fluffy bit of escapist cotton candy. A hero who used to be a world famous rock star? And he falls in love with a documentary filmmaker? Yeah, sure. What makes it all so magical is that Hartman had me believing it could and did happen, all before I was out of the first chapter.

Anna Walsh is documentary filmmaker who owns a production company with her brother, Jake. She lives out of a duffel bag, doesn’t have a permanent address, and has a few meager possessions. She loves it, but Jake - not so much. He’s in love, in a relationship, has bought a house, and wants to settle down. In other words, he wants out of the business, but does agree to do one last film with Anna.

Anna wants to make a film about Five Star, a once popular rock band that hit the skids after a bus accident killed a teenage fan. That teenage fan was Anna’s best friend, and her death has cast a long shadow. The truth has never come out, and Anna is determined to get to it. For that she needs Mason Star, the disgraced former lead singer of Five Star who was fired by the other members.

Mason hit rock bottom after he was kicked out of the band, went to rehab, and got clean. He then started Mulligan’s, a community center that helps down-on-their-luck people get back on their feet. He’s also been a father to his 17-year-old son, Christian, who is on the cusp of hitting the big time with his own rock band. To say Mason is terrified is an understatement. He worked his tail off to give Chris a “normal” life and now the kid wants to travel down the same road as his old man? On top of that, the local townsfolk are working to shut down Mulligan’s. Suddenly his home and work are seen as a drain on community resources and property values.

Then along comes Anna. She wants him in her Five Star movie, the story about the bus crash, and in exchange she’ll help him save Mulligan’s. Mason agrees, but he can’t quite shake the feeling that he’s just made a deal with the devil.

What I loved about this book was all the underlying heartache and the internal struggles of both Mason and Anna. Mason wants nothing more than to forget his past, raise his kid, and “blend in.” He isn’t a rock star anymore, nor does he want to be one ever again. He wants to play golf, help people, and melt into the woodwork. Anna is an intelligent woman, whose quest for the truth is rooted in an upbringing where appearances were everything. Truth has a tendency to be messy, and messy cannot be tolerated. I loved how she transformed over the course of this story. From a determined pit bull, to a woman who finds herself confronted and confounded by Mason Star’s true identity.

Slowly over the course of this story these two people realize how sad and lonely their lives really are. That the whole time they’ve been running, be it towards acceptance, the truth, or the next project, they’ve let life pass them by. This undercurrent of loneliness also ratchets up the sexual tension several decibels. I don’t think I’ve ever anticipated a romantic couple kissing (yeah, just kissing!) so much.

This truly is a great story, about characters that feel like flesh-and-blood people. It’s even more remarkable when one realizes that this is only Hartman’s second published book. Wow.

Grade: A

Read Sandy M’s review here.

 Summary:

Money, women and fame aren’t everything they’re cracked up to be. Former rock star Mason Star should know. He had it all and lost it. Now, years later, he’s about to lose even more: his son and Mulligan’s, the community center he’s poured his heart into.

Returning to the public eye is the last thing Mason wants to do-but Anna Walsh’s documentary is the only chance he has to save Mulligan’s. Besides, Anna won’t take no for an answer…and the beautiful, complicated woman has proved to be very persuasive. Especially on the dance floor…

But what Anna wants may be more than he can give.

Read an excerpt.

When I was asked to contribute to The Good, The Bad, and The Unread this week, my topic was: Why do I love Superromance?

Easy Answer: The men.

Is that shallow? I know it’s shallow. Sorry. I can’t help myself. Have you read a Super? Then you know what I’m talking about.

All romances have heroes, but the men of SuperRomance really hit it for me. I think it’s the reality plus romance. These guys are out there living real lives, doing their best to be dads, businessmen, ranchers, firefighters, etc., and then love walks in and smacks them around and they…fall right for it.

If loving these guys is shallow, I don’t want to be deep.

(I hope my mom doesn’t read this. Or my teachers who instructed me in high-minded literary topics. Because honestly, although I can appreciate a well-developed plot and sterling sentence structure, (Note: That’s alliteration. See, I’m literary…) when I read a romance, it’s all about the men. Oops…all about the man. I better take them one at a time because there’s shallow and then there’s badly behaved. Okay, now I’m really sidetracked. Let me back up.)

Hi. I’m Ellen Hartman and I write funny, heartfelt SuperRomances about men people and their hunt for their heart’s desire. I’m neither shallow nor badly behaved. (Usually.) My characters on the other hand…let’s just say the hero of my current release, His Secret Past started his career playing guitar for a shore band from Jersey.

In case the men aren’t enough to convince you (but seriously, they should be), here are my top five other reasons to love Superromance.

5. Kathleen O’Brien. I read her book, The Homecoming Baby, and I knew I’d found the place I wanted to be published. Kathleen’s books are typical Supers. They’re well written, rich, and extremely satisfying. Oh, and her heroes are really hot. Kathleen was my first but after her I never looked back. Super authors are good at their work and I’m grateful Kathleen brought me into this world.

4. The Supers board on eHarlequin. I lurked there until the month that my first Super came out. Now the Supers board is truly my home on the web. What do we discuss? Everything of importance, including:

• Books: Reading and writing them.
• Husbands: We love them, but we think they may be crazy or that they might make us crazy. Who cares, we love them!
• Tiaras: Why every woman deserves sparkling headgear.
• Dean Winchester: Ellen’s All-Time Favorite TV Character. (Okay, so it’s possible I’m the only who actually discusses Dean on a regular basis. We do cover other hot men, though, including Colin Firth, that guy from Lost, and unanimous board-favorite John Cusack.)
• Help: We assist with plot, prayers, virtual hugs, vacation plans, and are always ready to listen if you need to vent. Plus, there’s a whole group of people who actually like Mondays so if you’re on of those weirdos you should definitely drop by.

3. The Super editors. They’re smart, supportive, and a lot of fun. Heh. Welcome to the sucking up portion of my Top 5. But come on, who wouldn’t love the folks who made her writing dreams come true? For me, SuperRomance is like Craig Hitnr, the guy who gave me a plastic ring complete with purple plastic gemstone in first grade. I’ll never forget Craig or SuperRomance. TLA 4 EVA!

2. Variety. I read SuperRomances for the same reasons anyone reads a particular line. I like to know what I’m getting. But SuperRomances have a lot of variation within the line. In the past year I’ve read Supers about a bunch of poker playing guys, a veterinarian and the cowboy she loves (and his eight children), a risk-taking journalist and her risk-adverse lover, and a love triangle that thankfully resolved into two pairs! For me, SuperRomance is like a diner where the food is homemade and I like everything on the menu. I could eat there every night without running out of choices!

1. Deep, rich stories. As a reader, my number one interest is always going to be the story. People ask me if the “super” in SuperRomance means more pages. (They also ask if it means more sex—some people have no boundaries…sigh.) Supers are one of the longer Harlequin lines, but for me, the super part is the depth of the story. Almost any Super is going to give you a romance plus a hometown, plus extended family or friends, plus a satisfying subplot. Supers are like the boxed sets of romance series romance. They have everything you need and Bonus Features too!

Each month SuperRomance puts out six terrific, complex books. I encourage you to pick one up. I think you just might find yourself falling in love!

Wendy the Super Librarian: Thanks for stopping by Ellen! Readers, you can visit Ellen at her web site and her blog.

Contest Alert! Ellen has graciously donated books for us to giveaway to TGTBTU readers during our May HSR Spotlight! I will randomly draw the winner from the comments on this post at the end of May. The lucky winner will receive copies of both of Ellen’s HSR releases, Wanted Man and His Secret Past. Good luck!

Debra Salonen is one of the hardest working writers in the romance genre. Since the publication of her first book in 2000, she’s amassed an impressive back list and garnered a loyal following among Harlequin SuperRomance fans. May marks the publication of the first book in a new five-book series for the line that will keep her and readers busy well into 2009. Debra recently took time out of her busy schedule, and agreed to sit down to an interview. Enjoy!

Wendy the Super Librarian: When you were growing up, your parents owned and operated their own taxi cab company. Most writers have colorful work histories, but this is by far one of the more intriguing ones I’ve come across! What was it like working in the family business, and did it shape you as a writer?

Debra Salonen: My parents bought the taxi company when I was five. I started answering the phone shortly after. Since I didn’t know how to write at that point, I had to take a call and quickly repeat it on the radio so someone in the cabs could log it.

For example:

Taxi phone rings.

Caller: “Send a cab to 314-Lincoln Lane S. Right away. I’m late for church.” (Now, I would probably say, “You should have planned better. This is so not my problem.”)

5-yr old Deb: “3…1…4…Lincoln…Lane…south. Okay.”

5-yr old Deb hangs up the phone, picks up the bulky, gray metal walkie-talkie thing that requires you to press the button on the side to talk and relays the number. I’m told I was rather demanding about making sure someone heard me and intended to pick up the fare.

Numbers. Memory challenges. Early map work. Communication skills. This job was like preschool with a purpose. But the kicker came when my father told me he’d “put me on the payroll” once I learned to write.

5-yr old Deb: Writing equals money?

Can you say subliminal forces at work?

In hindsight, I think the taxi business MADE me a writer. And once I learned to drive, every fare offered a chance to stockpile yet another interesting character.

WtSL: Your first novel, That Cowboy’s Kids, was published in 2000 and in 8 years you’ve amassed an impressive backlist. What is your work schedule like?

DS: I’d always planned to write books, but I was convinced I needed the right amount of open time and most definitely the right space to do my ambition justice. Kids have a tendency to interrupt a lot, so I told myself I’d wait until my two were older before I started writing that novel. Then other things came up, like a full time job that really drained my creativity-newspapers frown on you making things up. But eventually I ran out of excuses. I didn’t have the perfect space-my first office didn’t have heat or AC so in the winter I worked with gloves and a space heater and in the summer I got up really early to avoid dripping sweat on my pages. And time was still a premium because my kids were teens and I’d started my own bookkeeping business.

But here’s what I learned: it’s never going to be the perfect time and it’s definitely not about space; it’s about putting words on paper.

Debbie Macomber typed her first manuscript at the kitchen table with kids scurrying around her. I wish I’d been as brave.

I now have two lovely offices - a right brain and a left brain office. Okay, my right brain office is more of an alcove, but it’s where you’ll find me when I’m on deadline. Every day -a minimum of one new scene or ten new pages—until the book is done. I sit in my recumbent chair, click on my laptop and start typing. In between deadlines, I’m in the other office doing all the stuff that comes with being a published author in this day and age: blogs, interviews, art pages, PR, website updates, MySpace, etc.

And, honestly, some days I give myself permission to play with my three granddaughters, 4, 2, and almost 1. Kids tend to interrupt and I appreciate that a lot more now, but they’re definitely worth the time.

WtSL: While you’ve tip-toed into some other Harlequin lines, you’ve pretty much stuck with SuperRomance. What do you love about the line, and why did you want to write for it?

DS: Before I sold my first book, I was all over the place-writing-wise. Mystery, romance, suspense, comedy. I read it all and loved it all. I wanted to write it all.

But after two or three rejections, I realized the only way to sell was to give editors what they were looking for. So, I went to the book store and picked up a dozen or so new books. I read them all, looking for a publisher or line that would be right for the story I had in mind. SuperRomance was a clear winner.

I had no understanding of the romance genre at the time. I didn’t know the difference between a series, a line and a category. But I liked the stories the SuperRomance authors were telling. They were bigger and more complex. The authors really got into their characters’ points of view. Some were sexy, some weren’t. This was important to me because the story I was writing involved two damaged children and I needed my hero and heroine to put the kids first, even while they were in the process of falling in love. That story became That Cowboy’s Kids. I queried, sent in three chapters, revised upon rejection, resubmitted and sold.

And, although I’ve had a single title, Betting On Grace, with Signature and 3 connected books with Harlequin American, my first love has remained SuperRomance. The editors have always been open to pushing the proverbial envelope. (In Wonders Never Cease my heroine spent time in the body of the hero’s aging police dog, and in Love, By George one of the main characters is a Great Dane.) The book I’m working on now has a shared dream sequence that is slightly paranormal. I’ve always been told: “Whatever works works.” For a writer, that’s like the golden ticket to the chocolate factory.

WtSL: I know your writing keeps you busy, but a librarian has got to ask - what do you like to read? Any favorite authors?

DS: I always forget to put someone on my list and regret it later. You know what it’s like when you walk into the bookstore and promptly forget which book you went there to buy? That’s how I am with lists. But here are a few names that jump to mind: Susan Crosby, Jean Brashear, Brenda Novak, Kathy Shay, Eileen Rendahl, Alisa Kwitney, Elizabeth Berg, Laurell K. Hamilton, Judith Arnold, Randy Wayne White, Barbara Kingsolver, Michael Pollen, Isabelle Allende, Pat Potter, John Irving, Michael Critchton…to name a few.

Here are a couple of books that I’ve enjoyed recently and haven’t had a chance to check out others by the author: A Gentle Rain by Deborah Smith, Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen and The Red Tent by Anita Diamant .

I’m currently reading two books: I Feel Bad About My Neck by Nora Ephron and Three Cups Of Tea by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin.

I belong to a readers group and we have a diverse cross-section of reading likes and dislikes. I think this is an excellent way to expand your reading horizons. My September release, His Brother’s Secret, is dedicated to the members of my book club.

WtSL: The first book in your Sentinel Pass series, Baby By Contract, debuts this month and it looks like this five book series is going to keep you busy through 2009! Tell us a little bit about the series.

DS: Think: “The Bachelor” meets “Northern Exposure.”

Sentinel Pass is an imaginary town in the Black Hills of South Dakota. SOUTH Dakota. That’s SOUTH of North Dakota. (I don’t know why anyone would mix these two up-have you ever seen North Dakota?, but it happens all the time.) Hint: the HBO series “Deadwood” was set here, Mount Rushmore is here, Dances With Wolves was filmed here, it’s just next door to Devil’s Tower…

Anyway, Sentinel Pass is a tiny town that really isn’t ready for its close-up. Then, its favorite daughter makes a teeny tiny mistake-she uses the Internet to offer part ownership in her family’s gold mine in return for viable sperm…”some restrictions apply.” And the delicious hunk who convinces her he’s the right guy to fulfill this contract is Cooper Lindstrom, a Hollywood bad boy with some serious baggage that includes his late mother’s bookie who is out for blood-Coop’s.

I can’t tell you how much fun I had with this book. I’ve been waiting all my life to open a romance novel with the words: “Pay up or die.”

The subsequent books belong to Libby’s “Wine, Women and Words” book club members: Jenna, Kat and Char. And squeezed in there somewhere will be Libby’s brother, Mac’s, story.

I love the Hills and I hope my stories and my characters do justice to the wonderful Black Hills mystique. If you haven’t been there, maybe reading my “Spotlight on Sentinel Pass’ series will encourage you to go. But you can always check out the photos from my research trip on my website.

WtSL: Debra, thanks so much for joining us for TGTBTU’s HSR Spotlight!

DS: Thank you, Wendy!

Contest Alert! Debra has graciously donated books for us to give away to TGTBTU readers during our May HSR Spotlight! I will randomly draw winners from the comments (from all the HSR Spotlight posts) at the end of May. Two grand prize winners will receive three titles: Baby By Contract, Love By George and A Baby On The Way. Three runner up winners will receive a copy of Debra’s May release, Baby By Contract.

I was introduced to Kathryn Shay back in 2002 when I was assigned to review Practice Makes Perfect. After finishing the story with a contented sigh, I e-mailed the editor I was writing reviews for at the time and asked her, “Where has Kathryn Shay been all my life?” To which she replied, “Oh Wendy! You must read her America’s Bravest series!” What resulted was one of my more serious author gloms, and Shay is now not only my favorite SuperRomance author, but one of my favorite romance authors. Period. As part of TGTBTU’s continued spotlight on Harlequin SuperRomance this month, Shay graciously agreed to sit down for an interview. Enjoy!

Wendy the Super Librarian: Certainly your first few novels were well-received and regarded, but I think it was the arrival of your America’s Bravest series for SuperRomance that really put your name out there for many romance readers. At the time, writing about firefighters wasn’t exactly old hat, and female firefighters? Talk about different! How did you hit upon the idea for this series?

Kathryn Shay: I decided to write about firefighters because I’ve always respected and admired them. They wake up every morning knowing they’re potentially going to put their lives in danger, knowing they may not make it home that night. (Truthfully, I don’t know how their spouses live with that, although I’ve tried to investigate it in my novels.) But I knew very little about their daily lives, their thought processes, their hopes and goals. As you might guess, SuperRomance loved the idea, and wanted a trilogy instead of the two books I proposed. This turned into a total of five firefighter books (so far!) for them.

To expound a bit, I was able to find out about these brave men and women mostly through primary research. I met with them at the fire houses, ate lunches and dinners with them, talked to them until the late hours of the night and heard remarkable stories: how it feels finding a dead victim; how the wear and tear of the job is hard on their families; how devastated they all were during 9/11; how not one of them considers himself or herself a hero. I also got to ride the trucks to fires, stabbings, EMS calls and flooded basements. Though it all, my respect and admiration for them deepened immensely.

WtSL: Your background is in teaching, which I think shines through in many of your stories. How has your work with adolescents shaped your writing?

KS: Definitely. I’ve written several books with heroes or heroines in the teaching profession. My favorite SuperRomance is Cop Of The Year, where the heroine is the kind of teacher I was. Some of the incidents in the book happened to me. But more so, I think my job helped me to really know adolescents, which serves me well when I create teenagers in any books. My lastest Super, Be My Babies, has a great teen in it and I think you can see how much love I have for that age group. By the way, I can always tell when someone writes a book and doesn’t have first hand experience with adolescents. You gotta know those kids to write about them!

WtSL: Like many writers, you went through your fair share of rejections before you sold your first book to SuperRomance. Did you intentionally set out to target that line or was it happenstance?

KS: No, I intentionally set out to get published by anybody! Though it only lasted three years, enduring all those rejections was tough. You have to understand, too, that I was in unusual circumstances. I was older, married with two kids and had a job I loved. My life was great-and then I went and wrote a book. The process of getting published took over our lives and I began to wonder why on earth I had started this. My family was supportive and, when I sold my first book, they were elated. But the process itself was excruciating for a forty year old with a near-perfect life.

Readers should know I received about 60 rejections from publishing houses and agents until a now-retired editor from Super pulled my first successful manuscript out of the slush pile.

WtSL: You have since branched out into contemporary single titles, but have routinely returned to SuperRomance. What makes you keep coming back to the line? What do you enjoy about writing for them?

KS: I love SuperRomance and always have. I feel like I grew up there as a writer. First they give me freedom to write what I want, though I did hear my editor say once in a while, “You want to do what?”

Second, I think the line is varied, allowing readers many different types of stories. I write primarily family drama with lots of emotion, but I’ve also done some romantic suspense for them. And finally, my editors have been wonderful there. I became good friends with Zilla Soriano, now retired, and I love my new editor, Wanda Ottewell, who became senior editor shortly after I was assigned to her.

WtSL: I’m a librarian, so I have to ask - what do you like to read? Any favorite authors?

KS: Absolutely! Nora Roberts, Linda Howard and Susan Elizabeth Philips. I also enjoy John Irving, Margaret Atwood and Jodi Picoult.

WtSL: The latest book in your single title O’Neil series is out this month. Can you tell us a little bit about it, and do you have any HSR titles currently in the works?

KS: Taking The Heat is about widower Liam O’Neil who lost his wife three years ago to cancer and is ready to date again. He meets Sophie Tyler, rough and tumble female firefighter from the FDNY, and is attracted to her. But his sons are still suffering over the loss of their mother and Liam feels he can’t risk getting involved with someone in a dangerous profession. Too bad, though, because they can’t help themselves and sparks fly, emotionally, physically and on the line.

I have two Supers in the works which will be out in January and August of 2009. The first is completed, tentatively titled A Twist Of Fate. It’s the story of a woman who has a car accident and wakes up without her memory. There are two men in her life, the one she dates and her best friend. But as the story unfolds, it becomes unclear who she’s really in love with.

Right now, I’m writing After The Fall, the story of an architect who’s responsible for the collapse of part of a building, and goes to the small town of Carson City to spend time with her college roommate and his family who loves her. There she meets a contractor who, quite frankly, wants to run her out of town.

My editor and I are also planning a trilogy for 2010, but you’ll have to wait to hear about that one!

WtSL: Wow! Lots of exciting stuff in the works! Thanks so much for joining us Kathryn!

They say confession is good for the soul. Despite a brief infatuation when I was a teenager, by the time I got out of college, my lip would curl in distaste if the words “romance novels” were even mentioned to me. Yeah, I was one of those.

I’m not proud of it, but there you have it. I blame my ignorance on the years I spent in academia earning the two college degrees that were necessary for me to get my dream job as a librarian. I got out quicker than most, but the trauma left me slightly warped.I quickly changed my tune when I landed a job buying adult fiction for a small, rural library system. We had a whole lot of romance readers using the library, and none of them looked like pathetic bored housewives who sat around eating bon-bons and wearing feather boas. I decided that it might be possible (just possible mind you) that my opinion of the genre was slightly “off.” So I started frequenting online romance review sites, went clicking through the positive reviews, and started checking out books.

It didn’t take long for me to get hooked.

That being said, my snobbery was still firmly intact. Because while I now admitted to loving romance novels it’s not like I was reading ::gasp:: Harlequins!

What can I say? I’m a slow learner.

I’ve learned over the years that my misguided opinion of the category format was not unique. There are plenty of romance readers out there who love the genre, but the thought of reading a Harlequin is too much for their fragile little minds to handle. The dopey titles, the shorter page count, the “hooks” found in many of the plots - they just cannot get past all that. To which I reply: “Why not try a SuperRomance?”

SuperRomance is one of the longest category lines that Harlequin offers, which means readers not only get a strong, central love story, but there can also be secondary characters and sub plots thrown into the mix. SuperRomance has a little bit more meat on the bone, and are often emotionally charged stories featuring conflict central to the lives of every day women. The characters are what I call “normies.” Normal, real, authentic characters. I often say that the characters in a SuperRomance are people you could see at the grocery store, your son’s little league game, or walking down the street.

All this translates into solid, honest-to-goodness contemporary romance. No vampires. No Dukes. No serial killers. SuperRomance stories give hope to the rest of us that yes, romance is possible. Yes, we too can fall in love. And no, we don’t have to wait for a Greek tycoon to knock on our door in order for it to happen.

So sit back, relax, and join us here at TGTBTU as we spotlight the Harlequin SuperRomance line all during the month of May. If you’re already a fan of the line, share with us why you love it. And if you’ve never read one before? We’re going to pull out all the stops to try and convert you.

Contest Alert! Debra Salonen has graciously donated books for us to give away to TGTBTU readers during our May HSR Spotlight! I will randomly draw winners from the comments (from all the HSR Spotlight posts) at the end of May. Two grand prize winners will receive three titles: Baby By Contract, Love By George and A Baby On The Way. Three runner up winners will receive a copy of Debra’s May release, Baby By Contract.

Karen Sandler has written eight Silhouette Special Editions since 2002. Her March release, His Miracle Baby was read, enjoyed and reviewed recently here at TGTBTU. In May, Her Miracle Man hits the shelves, and I’ll be reading it. In this post, Karen takes on a topic near and dear to romance readers (on the page anyway): Sex.

Sex and the Special Edition
by Karen Sandler

So, what do you want in your romance novel? A steamy, sexy page-turner where your hero and heroine spend more time in bed than out? A sensual romp so hot that during every scene you’re fanning yourself with the book?

Or would you rather read about the hero and heroine’s emotional journey, where their physical union becomes a soul-deep connection between them? A book where their growing love leads in a natural way to lovemaking,a joyful climax that transcends the physical?

If what you’re looking for is the latter—plenty of emotion, a story that touches your heart, that reaches inside you, then get thee to a Special Edition. If you want to fall in love with the hero, wish the heroine was your own best friend, then SSEs are the books for you. Because although SSEs do contain fully described love scenes, the lovemaking between hero and heroine retains an emotional tone throughout. Sex scenes in an SSE go beyond mere titillation, reaching instead for the heart.

While I’m writing a book, if the scene I’m working on seems flat, the prescription to correct the problem is always the same—add more emotion. Find the emotional spark that’s missing between the hero and heroine, intensify it, layer it with complexity. I firmly believe what truly keeps a romance reader flipping those pages is the emotional content, not the steamy sexy parts. Or rather those steamy, sexy parts have a hundred times the impact when the emotional component is there, when the reader cares so fervently about the hero and heroine they can’t put the book down until the HEA.

And that is exactly what SSEs provide. Whether done with a light touch of humor or with dark and heartrending angst, emotion is the glue that holds the story together. You may need to have a box of tissues ready as you read, but Special Editions will always provide a satisfying experience.

Over to you, readers and commenters. Thoughts, opinions?

Read any good love scenes in a SSE lately? Who would you go to for heat? For sweet?

Karen Templeton is the author of seven Silhouette Special Editions, including April 2008 release Baby, I’m Yours. She has also written for Red Dress Ink and Silhouette Intimate Moments. Among her fans, she can count Sybil and Book Binger Holly. You can see Holly’s Guest reviews here and here. Read on to find out what makes writing for SSE so satisfying.

Real People. Real Life. Real Love.
(or why I write for Silhouette Special Edition)

by Karen Templeton

As a romance author trying to stay in the game in the early twenty-first century, I’m definitely an odd duck. Why? Because I like writing stories about real people finding love in a real world – you know, the one where most of us live?

I’m thinking anyone who hasn’t been hiding out in a cave – alone, with no text messaging capabilities – knows how much drama there is in the average human experience. That scoring happily-ever-after is challenging enough without adding fangs and fur and murder-most-foul to the mix. But for those of us who love to write – and read – these stories (which my grown niece once described as “You know, stories about normal people, where stuff gets messed up, then fixed!”) finding a fang-and-murder-free contemporary romance these days can be problematic. Especially since single title straight contemporary romances aren’t exactly thick on the ground.

However…mosey on over to the category romance racks, and…ta-da! Real people! Real life! Real romance! Not in every line, granted, but in Superromance, Harlequin American and and Romance and Silhouette Special Edition…yep. There they be. Sure, the books may be short reads, but short doesn’t necessarily mean shallow, or that characterization and emotion have been given short shrift – or even that story itself has been sacrificed. Instead, one of the great things about writing for SSE is that I can really focus on the characters’ growth throughout the story, and consequently the developing romance.

Good things in small packages, yaddayadda.

What especially fires my jets about being an SSE author is that there’s virtually no limit on the kinds of characters I can write about – especially the heroes. Betas, blue-collars, guys-next-door…SSE says, “Bring ‘em on.” Which I love, because, you know, what makes a man heroic has nothing to do with his social status or Dun and Bradstreet rating and everything to do with the kind of man he is. The Greek root for “hero” means “sacrifice,” something I keep in mind as I’m developing my guys: It’s not what they have, it’s what they’re willing to give up, that defines their manhood.

That’s not to say I haven’t written my share of rich dudes – Grant Braeburn in Dear Santa, for instance, is a hedge fund manager who describes himself as “insanely wealthy.” Blake Carter (Marriage, Interrupted) and Troy Lindquist (Pride and Pregnancy) are partners in a frozen desserts empire. IOW, they ain’t hurtin’. But my fave characters are those average joes who’re just trying to get by, like their counterparts in real life. Some more than others – Kevin Vaccaro (Baby, I’m Yours) is a recovering substance abuser who, at the beginning of the story, has virtually nothing he can call his own – no job, no home, no bank account – except his recently discovered baby daughter. Hero material?

A man who has to get his rear in gear, like yesterday, to prove – to himself, mostly – that’s he’s worthy of fatherhood?

You betcha.

At the same time, even my well-off heroes are, well, pretty normal. (Most of them, anyway. The aforementioned Grant does have his issues.) Many didn’t start out life rich: they’ve worked their butts off to earn their wealth, and having money hasn’t changed their core personalities or values. They’ll just…men. Okay, maybe not just men, they are romance heroes after all, they’re sexy as hell. Still. These are guys I could actually have a conversation with and not feel weird and self-conscious around. Once I got past that whole sexy-as-hell thing, at least.

But my point is…at heart, SSE is a great place to find stories about real people dealing with real-life situations, stories about family and friends and kids and, yes, babies, because that’s what life is for a lot of readers. That’s not to say those who prefer more escapist category reads won’t find plenty of sheiks and princes and such – another great thing about SSE is the variety within the line, in character types, tones and sensuality level – but when you’ve got a yen to explore romance from a more down-to-earth angle…

Step right this way…

Shannon Stacey is a frequent visitor to the pond and the author of romantic suspense, western historicals, and paranormal erotic romance. Given the diversity of her published work, it shouldn’t be too big of a surprise that Shannon is a big fan of the Silhouette Special Editions. Read on on to find out why Shannon loves SSE. Plus, she’s willing to spread the love (hint, hint)…Take it away, Shannon!

What is that special something that makes Silhouette Special Edition stand out from the other series offerings from Harlequin/Silhouette? The answer can be found right in eHarlequin.com’s series description: A woman in her world—living and loving the magic of creating a family and developing romantic relationships.

Special Editions feature real, practical women already juggling life and family when love comes knocking at the door. While the hero of an SSE definitely lives up to the title of romantic hero, the story is carried by the strength and character of the heroine. She has neither the time nor the patience in her world for grand gestures and she’s not looking for a white knight to sweep her off her feet. She’s looking for a partner to share her life with—a man worth coming home to at night.

That’s not to say Special Editions aren’t romantic fantasies at heart. Within the SSE line a reader will find all of the delicious hooks that have been making readers sigh with contentment for decades—babies (secret or otherwise), cowboys, weddings, billionaires and more. As of right now, the two top-selling SSEs on amazon.com are Susan Mallery’s The Sheik and the Pregnant Bride and The Sheik and the Christmas Bride. The heroes range from the sweet guy next door to the cold and ambitious billionaire, but an SSE man is grounded in a reality that allows him to make a life with a woman who isn’t any man’s doormat. When a reader reaches the end of a Special Edition, she can believe the couple will truly live happily ever after.

If somebody were to twist my arm, hold a match to my TBR pile, and tell me I could only read one series line for the rest of my life, I would have to choose Special Edition. To me, they are romance novels in purest form—straight contemporary stories of a man and a woman trying to balance, as the series tagline says, life, love and family. Sometimes they’re funny, sometimes they’re heartbreaking, but SSEs are always intensely emotional. Mostly I find them real—real women, real men, and real life, with that dash of romantic fantasy that gets us through the day. We know these women. You might even be that woman.

So tell us what you love about Special Editions! And if you haven’t read a Silhouette Special Edition, I hope the Spotlight will shine on one or two that entice you enough to give them a try. Once you do, I hope you love them as much as I do.

Contest Alert!! To help spread the love, at the end of this Spotlight, I’ll randomly draw two names from the comments (of all the SSE Spotlight posts combined) and send each winner the April ’08 Silhouette Special Edition (print) release of his or her choice.

Thanks, Shannon!

I recently discovered that Harlequin has an entire blog devoted to paranormal romance. Seems like a good idea, considering that between Silhouette Nocturne, HQN, Mira and Luna, Harlequin publishes a wide variety of paranormal romance. I contacted JennyB, Harlequin’s Digital Content Manager, to find out more about the blog.

We launched Harlequin’s Paranormal Romance Blog because we saw a steady increase in the number of paranormal romance books our authors were writing and our readers were reading, but didn’t see very many online forums dedicated to this genre where authors could connect with readers to let them know about their books. There are a lot of blogs and websites dedicated to romance books, and a lot of blogs and websites dedicated to paranormal books - and we’re fans of all of them, most are listed in our blogroll, but very very few sites or blogs dedicated exclusively to paranormal romance (and if you can recommend any, we’re always looking to expand our blogroll!).

The kind of content we have right now really ranges, from our own musings on the paranormal genre (eg. Is there such a thing as a happy vampire?), to authors’ posts about their books and their ongoing trilogies or connected stories (e.g. Rhyannon Byrd’s Bloodrunners), to writing guidelines and updates on new paranormal lines and imprints Harlequin and Silhouette are launching, like the upcoming Nocturne Bites.

At bottom though, it all comes down to loving the genre, and wanting to share that passion and excitement for paranormal with like-minded readers and fans!

Thanks and happy reading!

JennyB

 Most recently, Lisa Renee Jones, whose March 2008 Nocturne, Beast of Desire, was reviewed by Sandy, was spotlighted on the blog. Another post of interest, is on the popularity of paranormal romance. Check it out!

Hey paranormal fans: what are your favorite sites for reviews, information, and views from authors?

TGTBTU Spotlight:  Harlequin’s Silhouette Nocturne
By Devon

Werewolves and Vampires and Demons…Oh my!

Paranormal romance is everywhere these days, and it seems like you either love it or hate it. I lurve it. Paranormals got me back into reading romance back in late 2003.  Over the next year or so the number of titles featuring broody, leather-clad supernatural heroes (and the ladies who love them) seemed to grow exponentially. We were inundated with vampires, in particular, and suddenly it seemed as though every author was dipping their toes into the supernatural waters. It was only a matter of time before Harlequin entered the fray, and so they did with the launch of the Silhouette Nocturne line in September 2006.

Paranormal romance seems as though it would be a particular challenge for a romance writer. Not only do you have to create likeable characers and a believable romance within 75,000 words, but also a compelling world or mythology to support the whole thing. And I’ve got to admit, the first Nocturne I read was a DNF. My first big success with a Nocturne was Blood Secrets by Vivi Anna. I found myself checking out the new releases each month, and more often than not, trying them out.

The reason I like the Nocturne line is the same reason I like category romance in general: sometimes you just want something short and sweet. Plotlines can play out over three or four books, but that way they don’t get bogged down under the weight of the worldbuilding, the way I think some prominent paranormal series have. And there’s a nice range of the subgenre represented: plenty of vamps and furries, but also witches, demons, sorcerors and fairies. A little bit of everything. There are also a lot of powerful heroines, which I like. For example, the heroine of Michele Hauf’s Familiar Stranger knew a lot more about the supernatural world than the hero.

They’ve got an interesting line up of authors. There are authors who have been writing for Harlequin for years. Linda Howard made her return to category romance with Raintree: Inferno, causing a stir. I didn’t read it, but I quite liked Raintree: Sanctuary by Beverly Barton. Other familiar authors include Caridad Piniero, Lindsay McKenna, Bonnie Vanak and, in April, Merline Lovelace.

In addition, recent debuts were made by authors previously published by Ellora’s Cave. I enjoyed Scions: Resurrection by Patrice Michelle and Last Wolf Standing (Bloodrunners, Book 1) by Rhyannon Byrd. (You can read Nocturne reviews here.)

The line will also be expanding to include short stories, according to our Insider, to be called Nocturne BITES. I also recently found The Harlequin Paranormal Romance Blog, which has topics of interest and many author links.

Ok, now you. Have you read any Nocturnes? What did you think? Any authors I should try out? Let’s hear the good, the bad, and the unread of it.

Holly’s review of Yours, Mine… or Ours? (Guys & Daughters, Book 2) by Karen Templeton
Contemporary romance released 1 Jan 08 by Harlequin Silhouette

After reading Dear Santa, I was anxious to read this book. Not as anxious as I am to read Kevin’s book, but close enough.  Once again Karen Templeton has brought us an emotionally charged novel that gripped me right from the beginning. I think I just found a new auto-buy author.

Rudy was another interesting, three dimensional character. He’s got a strong sense of responsibility, so when he finds out Violet was promised the inn he just bought, he wants to do the right thing and asks her to help him get it ready to open.   I think that right there summed up Rudy’s character…responsible, thoughtful, kind, caring.  He wasn’t a push-over by any means, or even close to a Beta man, but he took his responsibilities seriously and tried to do the right thing.  A wonderful quality in a man.

Violet has been scarred by her ex-husband.  Because he was the one rock in her life, the one man who was willing to do anything to keep her safe and secure.  So when he walks out, with no thought or reason, she’s devastated.   She’s struggling to do the best for her children, but she’s very conflicted about what she really wants.  She’s afraid to hope, to dream, to trust.

I thought about her reactions a lot while reading this book, and even long after I finished it.  I completely understand why she was so reluctant to let go of the past and move on, especially since her ex still sends her letters, confessing his undying love and devotion.  But I think she did the best she could considering the circumstances, and I never felt like she was “too” stuck in the past.  Just a real woman, who was conflicted and afraid to believe in rainbows.

But together, her and Rudy were wonderful.  Their interaction was fun and playful and I love that Rudy didn’t let her get away with anything.  If she was acting blue, or refusing to face the truth of what was between them, he forced her to confront it, and herself.

The secondary characters were wonderful, too.  Violet’s boys, Rudy’s daughter Stacy, Rudy’s brother Kevin.  They all enriched the story.  Stacy especially touched my heart.  It was obvious she was struggling with all the changes in her life - moving away from her family and friends, seeing her dad start a relationship, starting a new school - and my heart hurt for her.  And when she decides to “adapt or die”,I couldn’t stop smiling.

Overall another great, emotionally charged story.  I can’t wait for the next installment.

Grade: A

From the back cover:

     Owning his own country inn is a dream-come-true for ex-cop Rudy Vaccaro, who’s thrilled to finally have a shot at something of his own…and to raise his twelve-year-old daughter without his huge family’s well-meaning, but constant, interference. Except Stacey hates being stuck out in the sticks. And how did he know the inn’s owner had promised the inn to somebody else?

     Violet Kildare feels her life is pretty much a junkyard of broken promises. Two years ago, her husband left her and their two sons with no explanation, and now the inn – her one shot at having something of her own – has been sold out from under her. So does she dare trust Rudy, so determined to right a wrong not even of his own making?

     And more important, how does she trust her own heart, torn between the good man right in front of her…and the one who saved her life so many years ago, now determined to right a wrong or two himself?

     Read an excerpt.

Read more from Holly at The Book Binge.

Devon’s review of Scions: Resurrection by Patrice Michelle
Paranormal romance released by Silhouette Nocturne January 1, 2008

This was a tasty little treat for those of us who enjoy vampires. The first couple of Silhouette Nocturnes I tried were mediocre, but they have gotten better and better. I have now read several that I would recommend to others, and Scions: Resurrection is another to add to the list. It was a fast-paced story with nice chemistry between the hero and heroine.

Jachin, a loner who has been exiled from his vampire tribe, kidnaps Ariel because he thinks she will help fulfill a prophecy and get him back in with his people. From there on out it’s non-stop action, as they dodge baddies and fight their growing attraction. Jachin had overbearing prick potential, but…I liked him. Not even sure why, I didn’t think I would at first. Ariel skirted the edge of annoyingly sassy, but never went over. She was brave, but never TSTL.

In this world, vampires were created by humans to be a kind of superhuman weapon, accounting for their strength, agility and various abilities. The fangs are an unexpected anomaly, and the aversion to sunlight was created by the humans in order to give the vamps a weakness. It was an interesting and unexpected idea. However, there was one issue that nagged at me increasingly. What was with the blood-drinking? Why? Did the scientists want the vampires to suck on human blood? Maybe I missed something, but I didn’t see how the blood thirst fit in. The Lupreda, werewolves created by the vamps, seemed contrived just to throw shapeshifters in there.

The book also suffered from some pacing issues. It was so fast-paced, then after the climax the last few scenes felt oddly tacked on. Despite these issues, this was an enjoyable book. The story and characters overcame my world-building quibbles, and after a couple of days I still liked the book. I will definitely read the next installment.

Grade: B-
 Blurb:

Everyone believed vampires were extinct. Everyone was wrong.

When Ariel Swanson wrote a novel about vampires, she hoped it would exorcise her fear of the creatures that had, not so long ago, terrorized the human population.

Instead, it brought her to their attention.

And to the attention of Jachin Black - a man banished from the Saguinas, a vampire pack, and forced to hunt among the despised humans. For he clung to the prophecy given years ago, of a better way for his kind to live - a prophecy Ariel unknowingly used as the basis of her novel.

Ariel hates and fears vampires. Jachin despises humanity. But the prophecy - and passion - binds them in ways they could never have

imagined. Ways that may heal the past, and change the future.

[Ed. Check out Alicia’s review of this book]