Sandy M’s review of Immortal Bride by Lisa Childs
Paranormal Romance published by Silhouette Nocturne 1 Mar 09

I’ve not read Lisa Childs before and because she writes Nocturnes, which is my favorite Silhouette line, and I have several of her books in the TBR pile, I opted for this one first since I haven’t read a ghost story in a while. I’m very pleasantly surprised. We get two ghosts, a love of a lifetime, and a twist at the end that keeps you guessing. Just my kind of book.

Damien is still grieving over the loss of his wife during their honeymoon. Her body has never been found, for she rests at the bottom of the Lake of Tears. He doesn’t come back to their lakeside home that often, but when he does he’s drawn to the shore where Olivia died.

And that is where his loving wife is waiting for him, waiting to make him pay for taking her life. Confused as to why her husband would want her dead, she makes her way into their home to take care of her unfinished business, but what she sees and hears makes her question Damien’s guilt.

As these two become aware of each other again, Damien finally seeing his ghostly wife and Olivia seeing Damien as a wife should, they have a very different spirit working against them. An angry, ancient shaman of Damien’s people is out for his own revenge for what he believes he lost to Damien’s ancestor. They must work together to defeat the specter’s evil and finally let Olivia rest in peace.

I like how Ms. Childs slowly works Olivia back into Damien’s life, a flash here, a movement there, a feeling once or twice, until he finally convinces himself she truly is with him. And then his disbelief when he learns Olivia blames him for her demise is also well done. Though Olivia does come close to exacting her revenge, once she spends more time with Damien she realizes he really did and does love her. I think she’s able to see it so clearly so quickly because she always believed it, death just got in the way for a while.

The ending came as a surprise, but when all is said and done, not much else could have happened in unraveling the mystery surrounding the Lake of Tears and the shaman. And there’s also an extra surprise just because this is a paranormal story and romance at its best when it comes to HEA. A solid, enjoyable read, and I’m ready to find the rest of Ms. Childs’ books in that old TBR pile.

Grade: B

Summary:

For generations, local residents have whispered about an evil menace lurking near the shore of the Lake of Tears. The recent murder of landowner Damien Gray’s bride, Olivia, confirms the worst. Now, confused and heartbroken, Olivia’s spirit survives death and seeks vengeance upon the man she desired more than life itself, the man she now suspects was her killer—Damien.

But an angry shaman has his own vicious agenda, one that will bring Damien to understand his Native ancestry. Steamy passion and ancient vendettas will draw them ever deeper into a drama of a family’s legacy, murder and a love so strong it can withstand even death.

Read an excerpt.

Holly‘s review of Magnate’s Make-Believe Mistress by Bronwyn Jameson
Contemporary Romance released by Silhouette Desire 14 July 2009

I don’t believe I’ve read many (if any) book by Bronwyn Jameson before. The name sounds familiar, but I’m not sure if that’s because I’ve heard it from others (most likely Wendy) or from my own experience. Either way, I’ll be looking for more in the future.

I wasn’t sure about Isabelle when the story first opened, but I was won over as we learned more about her. She seemed kind of wishy-washy at first, but it wasn’t long before we were given more insight into her character. I like that she was a family-oriented person and wasn’t willing to compromise herself or her morals for anyone. That really showed strength.

Cristo started out like many category heroes – jaded, cynical and totally arrogant. I was surprised then that his behavior afterward didn’t support my initial opinion of him. He really surprised me with the tenderness and caring he showed Isabelle. In the end, he capitulated way easier than I would have expected. I was pleasantly surprised.

I didn’t really understand his reasoning behind going to Australia himself, however. It seemed incongruous that a millionaire magnate would check something like this out on his own. He’d have lackey’s to do that for him, I think. That part didn’t make sense to me.

I was really interested in seeing how things turned out with the overall storyline. In the end I was surprised at the twist the story took, but can’t wait to read the next book in the series.

My only other complaint was the timeline. I believe the story spans about two weeks from beginning to end. I don’t believe that’s long enough to really make the HEA totally believable. Suspending disbelief I was able to get past that, but it did detract a bit from my overall enjoyment.

Grade B

Her new client was devilishly handsome, superbly charming…and absolutely hiding something. Why else would a man as rich and powerful as Cristo Verón have any interest in the cleaning services of lowly Isabelle Browne? Her suspicions were confirmed when she discovered his real reason for hiring her. And suddenly, she was agreeing to a preposterous proposition….

Cristo would protect his family at any cost—and keeping Isabelle close was key to his plan. Having her pose as his make-believe mistress was step one. But he hadn’t counted on wanting to make the pretense a reality.

Read an excerpt

Better late than never, I say.  Here is the first in a new series of columns.  All the latest and best news from Harlequin!  Read on to get the scoop….Harlequin Celebrates – December 2008

Hi everyone! We’re Amy, Aideen, and Malle from Harlequin, and we’re thrilled to be bringing you news through The Good, the Bad, the Unread – especially since 2009 is a big year for us. In 1949 Richard and Mary Bonnycastle of Winnipeg, Manitoba started up a little publishing company—Harlequin! That makes 2009 our 60^th anniversary, and we’ve got lots of special treats for our readers to celebrate. Here’s a sneak peek of what you can expect throughout 2009:

•  16 free ebooks

• New editions of bestselling authors’ very first romance novels (including Debbie Macomber, Jayne Ann Krentz, and Diana Palmer) with the “Famous Firsts Collection”

• An exhibit of 60 years of Harlequin cover art in New York City [Ed. Note: Yay NYC!  I'm goin']
  

• Man of the Month revs up again in Silhouette Desire, beginning with An Officer and a Millionaire by Maureen Child in January (we’ve included a “Browse the Book” widget so you can read the first chapter here, too)

• “Series Spotlight” on a different Harlequin imprint each month, with their own special events and products. Here’s an exclusive look at our spotlight schedule!

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Add to your site

Buy this book

But you’re probably wondering what’s new in December, right? Harlequin does have some new goodies from this month, too!

First, Harlequin Medical Romances are now available in eBooks for the first time—so if you have a thing for hot docs (and really, who doesn’t?), you can get these books (which aren’t available in stores) right away.

Here’s something we’re sure you’d be interested in—from Dec. 23-31^st, we’ll be having a FREE eBook a day in our eBook Store! Just a little holiday gift from Harlequin.  [Ed.note: Now I'm really sorry I didn't get this up sooner]

December also sees the publication of great new titles, including:

Olivia Gates – who writes sheikh books for Silhouette Desire – makes her paranormal debut with Mortal Enemy, Immortal Lover (Silhouette Nocturne Bites). It features an immortal half-vampire, half-demon hero who falls in love with an Eradicator, a breed of human with special powers trained from childhood to eliminate all demons. Gulp!

 Vampires also collide with the holidays in the Holiday with a Vampire II anthology by Merline Lovelace and Lori Devoti. Who says spooky heroes only come at Halloween?

 Some miniseries that are being wrapped up this month: A Holiday Mystery at Jenkins Cove gets tied up in Christmas Delivery by Patricia Rosemoor (Harlequin Intrigue) [Ed. Note: See my review]. The last of the Saxon heirs gets hitched (and a baby) in Tessa Radley’s Pregnancy Proposal (Silhouette Desire), the conclusion of her New Zealand-set series The Saxon Brides. The Billionaire in Penthouse B by Anna DePalo is the sixth and final book in the Silhouette Desire series Park Avenue Scandals, about the sexy secrets and adventures of the residents of a glamorous Manhattan building (and even if you missed the rest, the whole series is also available in the Park Avenue Scandals eBook Bundle). And yet another Desire series is concluding this month: Gifts from a Billionaire delivers its last surprise just in time for Christmas with The Tycoon’s Secret by bestselling author Kasey Michaels.

Need some—ahem—warming up this winter? We’ve collected twelve naughty holiday-themed novellas by authors like Jane Porter, Alison Kent, and Michelle Reid in the Red Hot Holiday Bundle.

Finally, with Christmas just around the corner, here’s a bit of inside scoop: eHarlequin’s top ten Christmas books of 2008…

1. All She Wants for Christmas by Stacy Connelly
2. Christmas Crime in Colorado by Cassie Miles
3. Who Needs Mistletoe? by Kate Hoffmann
4. One Magical Christmas by Carol Marinelli
5. Once Upon a Christmas by Holly Jacobs
6. Holiday with a Vampire II by Merline Lovelace and Lori Devoti
7. The Duke’s New Year Resolution by Merline Lovelace
8. Mistletoe Reunion by Anna Schmidt
9. Yule Be Mine by Jennifer LaBrecque
10. Marry-Me Christmas by Shirley Jump

We hope you all have a fantastic holiday and happy new year! We’ll be back in January to give you more news about a new enriched eBook from Harlequin Presents, more sales and giveaways, and what’s going on for our first Series Spotlight on Silhouette Desire.

 Happy reading!

~Amy, Aideen, and Malle

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!

Limecello’s review of Cattleman’s Choice by Diana Palmer
Contemporary Romance re-released by Harlequin Books 1 Jun 00

I discovered Diana Palmer a little more than a year ago, and she’s quickly become a “must read” author for me. I don’t know what it is about her books, because if you’ve read any, they’re quite formulaic. If you aren’t prepared as to what to expect, you might feel unpleasantly surprised. But, forewarned and forearmed, I think there’s a lot to enjoy. I also make it a point to make a quick check of the copyright date as well.

You’ll notice that this book was originally written in 1985, and has been re-released a number of times. I recently re-read it, and felt that it stands as a current read. At times the characters may appear dated, but otherwise there aren’t many aspects of the book that are dated.

Mandelyn is a very interesting heroine. She’s spunky and is rather no-holds barred, yet everyone knows her as being the perfect Southern lady. She even went to finishing school. Mandelyn owns a real estate business, that does rather well, and has a lot of friends, but nothing romantic. She lost someone she loved in the past, and subsequently walled off all her emotions. She’s the one person Carson won’t fight, and she isn’t sure why.

Carson is an interesting Diana Palmer hero. He’s rugged, and handsome, but rather down on his luck and rugged. Unfinished might be a way to describe him. He lives in near squalor, and hates materialism. This is taken to the extreme, considering he has his bachelors degree. However, his uncouth behavior in public embarrasses Mandelyn greatly, although he does it on purpose.

I felt that there wasn’t enough of a reason for Carson’s boorish behavior. Strong dislike to pretense isn’t enough to disregard all social niceties. This book suffered in a way from the typical lack of communication between characters. That and cluelessness. Carson has been in love with Mandelyn since he met her. Mandelyn is also attracted and drawn to Carson, but she’s repressed it. Her reactions are unreasonable, and not entirely believable.

Still, you have to sympathize with and feel sympathy for a man who has suffered from unrequited love silently for a number of years. Due to his circumstances, he becomes angry that Mandelyn can’t see it – even though everyone else knows. The ending is nice, however, and all the interaction between Carson and Mandelyn is entertaining, and at times sweet. The secondary characters are also a lot of fun and serve to forward the plot.

Mandelyn and Carson are both surprising characters, with depth that at times is unexpected. I liked how versatile and layered they were, and while this isn’t my favorite Diana Palmer book, it’s one that I feel is different from the others, and enjoyable. I’m not sure if the secondary characters also have their own books, but I wouldn’t be surprised if they do.

Grade: B-

Carson Wayne had come to Mandelyn Bush with the ultimate request: he needed her to teach him how to treat a lady. N doubt he’d asked the right person – Mandelyn was as polished and feminine as Carson was rough and reclusive. And she was the only person who could reason with him during one of his barroom brawls.

It was too intriguing a challenge to turn down. Mandelyn was curious about what lay beneath the outlaw’s hard shell. She suspected that the renegade was really a caring and sensitive man.

But what she hadn’t counted on were her own feelings for this irresistible rebel.

Sandy M’s review of Return of the Beast (Knights of White, Book 3) by Lisa Renee Jones
Contemporary Paranormal ebook published by Silhouette Nocturne Bites 1 Jun 08

I’m really enjoying this series. I love the beasts inside these Knights they try to control but that they have to let go to claim their mate. I like the idea of each Knight, no matter how old, has a mate out there, someone to love them despite either who they were or who they are now. I, of course, thoroughly enjoy all the alphaness that goes along with each Knight, as well as his sensitivity that he didn’t know he had when it comes his woman until he meets her. Pure sexy, paranormal entertainment and right up my alley.

Ryder is a young Knight, turned only 25 years before. He’s come to the scene of the crime, so to speak, the place where he was attacked and turned into the beast he is today. It’s not until he meets up with Alexis that he knows why he’s been sent back to his former home. A part of it may be to face his inner demons, but the bigger part is to face the demons causing problems for Alexis and her ranch. The biggest part is Alexis herself. His mate. Something he thought he’d have to wait so much longer for, but now that he’s found her, tasted her, loved her, if she isn’t meant to be part of his life, he’ll at least make sure she’s happy in hers, no matter what he has to do.

Taking care of the ranch since her father’s death, Alexis is not having an easy time of it. In fact, things are pretty bad. Livestock is missing and money is tight. It’s taking everything she’s got not to let the men know there’s anything wrong. Then a miracle walks into her life. Ryder is the one that may be able to help her save the ranch. His knowledge and experience he’s gained from the Jaguar Ranch would go a long way in keeping her afloat, if she can afford it. On top of that, there’s something about the man himself that causes her to keep changing her mind and asking him to stay when she should be telling him to be on his way.

Harlequin’s and Silhouette’s short stories, the Spice Briefs and the Nocturne Bites, are turning out to be great reads. There’s no pussyfooting around with the back-and-forth, on-again/off-again relationship between the hero and heroine and the story moves right along, still introduces us to other characters, and even though we get a love scene or so less than the usual, I think it’s a good trade off to get that main relationship going and on track for the length of the book. Alexis did try very hard to fight her attraction to Ryder and he certainly didn’t fight it because she is his mate and he’s happy to have found her. The demons are vanquished to return another day and Ryder finds that all he has to do is ask to have the life he wants and never though he’d have.

I know some of you will argue it’s too short, not enough time to know the characters or have a good storyline. As long as you have a good storyteller, I believe it can be done. And Ms. Jones proves it beautifully with this Bite.

Grade: A

Summary:

Saved by an immortal after an attack by a Beast, Chris Avern is doomed to carry that beast within himself. It taints his soul with a darkness that can only be purged by finding his chosen mate. Now, as a Knight of White, a demon fighter caught up in an ancient war between good and evil, Chris must battle the soulless Darkland Beasts intent on reaking destruction upon humanity.

Sent to save the hometown he left twenty-five years ago from an onslaught of Beasts, Chris comes to the rescue of ranch owner Alexis Wright. He is drawn to Alexis with a demanding passion that nearly overwhelms him and he recognizes immediately that Alexis must be his chosen mate. But, while he knows Alexis can be his salvation, he is torn by conflict. For to draw her into his world, he must put her life…and her soul…in unimaginable danger.

Other books in this series:

by Cherie Feather

Is erotica a genre you read? And if so, when did you start reading it? For me, erotica is a wonderfully guilty (or maybe not so guilty) pleasure. I love it in all forms: sensual books, movies, and art.

Some of my favorite erotica authors are Emma Holly, Ann Rice (writing as A. N. Roquelaure) and Shayla Black. Some of my fave erotic flicks are “Wild Orchid,” “The Red Shoe Diaries” Movie and “9 ½ Weeks,” which were all created by Zalman King. As for erotic art, I adore the works of Olivia de Berardinis, Alberto Vargas and Jay Trembly. I’m friends with Olivia and Jay on Myspace. Don’t you just love MySpace for that? Whoever thought there would be a day when we could “friend” people we admire?

Most of the key players in The Art of Desire are involved in the art world. The historical heroine is an artist and the contemporary heroine is a museum director. There is also a famous painting of the historical hero that is an integral part of the book, as well as a hundred-year-old journal.

So far the reviews have been extremely favorable, including a glowing write-up from Romantic Times. If you’re curious, here’s the review:

This story has it all–hot and varied sex scenes, a hunky hero to die for, a tough-yet-insecure heroine to identify with and a diary that links the characters to a tragic Old West love affair from a hundred years ago. The happy-ever-after ending is icing on the cake! Feather is an excellent writer who knows which details will evoke just the right emotion.” Romantic Times, 4 ½ stars, Top Pick!

On this site, Sybil recommended The Art of Desire as a book that “…fucking rocks!”

Oh, how I love that!

The Art of Desire is my first erotica and my first book written as Cherie Feather. I’ve always wanted to write a contemporary story with a historical twist. Have you read Kathleen Eagle’s Fire and Rain? It’s one of my all-time favorite books and the contemporary/historical element is what inspired me to try this fascinating theme. I wondered how an old journal would fare in an erotica, so I gave it a try.

First I wrote a pitch and sent it to my agent. She loved it instantly. From there I wrote a three-chapter proposal, but it took me almost three months because I kept re-writing it, trying to get the level of sensuality just right. After that, it flowed. The words spilled onto the pages.

Since then, I’ve completed my second erotica, a spin off from The Art of Desire. It’s called Submission and features a wildly sexy pin-up artist (the hero), a museum historian (the heroine) and two lovelorn ghosts (the historical characters and subplot). Submission will be released in Feb. 2009.

I am also published as Sheri WhiteFeather. My current Sheri WhiteFeather release is Killer Passion, a Silhouette Romantic Suspense that comes out in July. Killer Passion is part of a miniseries called Seduction Summer with authors Nina Bruhns and Cindy Dees. Nina, Cindy and I were asked to write hot, suspenseful stories, and we had a blast creating romances set in Fiji with a serial killer stalking lovers on the beach.

I just received my authors copies of Killer Passion, and I’ll be giving away some of them here. Leave a comment to enter the contest and winners will be drawn at random. Keep checking back to see if you won. I think you’ll enjoy this sizzling, suspenseful book.

I’m also giving away a copy of The Art of Desire. Once again, leave a comment for a chance to win. Then check back to see if you’re the winner.

For more contests, more news, see pictures of my gorgeous grown kids and read my blog, visit my websites at www.CherieFeather.com and www.SheriWhiteFeather.com

Hugs and Happy Reading!

Thanks, Sheri/Cherie!! Again, to win one of the copies Cherie is giving away, comment here and tell us what you like the most about erotic romance. You must be 18 or over to enter, one entry per household, and you must comment by midnight Central time (according to the blog’s timestamp) Sunday, 8 June (technically, 9 June, but who’s counting). Good luck!

This just in…

Get ready for more steam in your category romances. Maya Banks is a huge fan of Silhouette Desire and Harlequin Presents and her dream of writing for one of the lines has come true.

Maya has just recently been offered a three-book deal with Desire.

• The first book is written and is slated to release in January 2009.
• It’s called The Tycoon’s Pregnant Mistress and it features the oldest of the Anetakis brothers. Theron and Piers’ books will follow in 2009.
• Then the next two books will release at four-month intervals.

Consider yourself flashed.

**CONTEST ENDED** The first installment in Patrice Michelle’s SCIONS series for Silhouette Nocturne, SCIONS: Resurrection, was released in January and reviewed by Devon and Alicia Thomas. Book two, SCIONS: Insurrection, comes out in May, and you can get a sneak preview here. Read on to find out just how an author comes up with new twists on vampire and werewolf mythology.

Read on to the bottom of the post for a contest. Take it away, Patrice!

SCIONS series…the cool idea, then what?
by Patrice Michelle

Many thanks to Devon and Sybil for inviting me to guest blog on The Good, The Bad and The Unread.

If you’ve read the first book in my SCIONS series with Silhouette Nocturne, then you’ve probably read the reader letter in the front where I talked about the fact a vivid dream inspired the idea behind Scions:Resurrection.

When I woke up from that surreal dream and started writing, I was faced with an interesting dilemma…how was I going to make THIS new vampires series different from my Kendrian vampire series. I figured if I was given this super-cool idea via a dream, I HAD to do something with it. The story would be written, but how was I going to set it apart?

Then I started thinking about all the vampire movies I’d seen and the few vampire books I’d read and each of them pretty much started with the premise that vampires “existed” and the story rolled on from there. What I decided to do with my SCIONS series was to back up a few steps and explain, not only where vampires came from, but also address some other aspects of traditional vampire and yes, werewolf lore, too. I liked the idea of creating my own reasons why vampires couldn’t tolerate the sun and why silver was poisonous to werewolves, while at the same time developing these paranormal beings in a contemporary setting and tying them to the human world.

My world building was moving along in my mind, but what made it all fall into place was the idea for a prophesy—that each of the beings in my SCIONS world were intricately locked together, not just because of the government’s secret SCIONS project (that was the catalyst for their existence) but because of decisions they each made in their past.

Working with paranormal beings and giving them very human issues and responses appealed to me on many levels. With SCIONS, I got to build several different societies, their politics and hierarchical organizations, all while linking them all together. Yet, as much as I would like to claim that I had every single plot twist and turn in the SCIONS world planned out in excruciating detail, my characters—with their own motivations, their likes and prejudices, their codes of honor and aptitude for compassion—followed their own romantic paths to happiness, ultimately dictating the outcome. I hope you enjoy each of the SCIONS stories.

What about you? When you read a paranormal book, do you like to know the paranormal hero or heroine’s origin or reason for their existence?

CONTEST! (Contest is over)

Comment here and you could win a signed copy of Insurrection. The winner will be picked from comments made between now and 9am U.S. Central on Saturday, 22 March, according to the blog timestamp. Only one entry per IP address, but you can comment as often as you wish (we’ll use just one of your comments for the contest). Good Luck!

This just in from Harlequin…

Learn from the editors of Harlequin and Silhouette how to hone your writing craft to become a published author!

As mentioned before in one of our TGTBTU Insider posts, Harlequin is airing “Meet the Editors” podcasts, giving the skinny on the writing industry, chock full of information.  Read on for details…

• 20-minute episodes that give listeners the inside scoop on the writing craft, what editors look for in a manuscript and in new authors, common missteps to avoid, how to get published, what makes a successful novel, what books they recently bought, writing tips as well as insights into the publishing and, specifically, romance publishing industries.
• Featuring Melissa Jeglinski, senior editor for Silhouette Desire, and Diana Ventimiglia, associate editor for Silhouette Desire and Silhouette Romantic Suspense.
• The podcasts are designed to demystify the concept of the editor as an inaccessible resource for aspiring authors.
• The podcasts began 20 Feb and new episodes follow every two weeks on eHarlequin.com, iTunes, PodcastPickle.com and others.
• For more information, please visit eHarlequin.com.

Consider yourself flashed!

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.

Sandy M’s reviews of The Return to Troublesome Gulch (Books 1, 2, and 3) by Lynda Sandoval
Contemporary romance 1 Sep 07, 1 Nov 07, and 1 Jan 08 by Silhouette

I received the second book in this series, not realizing it was part of a series until I was finished with it. But after the emotion I went through while reading this book, I had to find the first and third books immediately. I’m glad I did. All three are full of emotion from laughing to crying to being royally pissed off, but at the end you’re cheering for these characters and their triumphs for truly surviving and living again after a tragic night that changed their lives forever. All three stories take place twelve years after that tragic night.

The Other Sister (Return to Troublesome Gulch, Book 1)

Although this first book has some very teary-eyed moments, it’s the laughter that makes it worthwhile, and it starts from the very beginning. Faith is trying to be an adventure-loving adrenaline junkie like her older sister, one of the victims of that long-ago prom night tragedy. Taking a leap of faith, she throws herself down a snowy mountain that is way beyond her skill level on skis. She doesn’t make it far and ends up careening down the mountain instead. Enter Brody, who disppeared twelve years ago and hasn’t told anyone he’s back in town, and the fun begins. The wit, the banter, the teasing, the laughs continue throughout the book, interspersed with some very tough moments for Brody, the first survivor we meet who thinks Faith and her family hate him since that fateful night. This is a terrific start to this series to learn what happend all those years ago and to be introduced to these victims and their families all learning how to live again.

Grade: B+

From the back cover:

You gotta have faith…

Years after a prom-night accident claimed his best friend, Brody Austin decided it was time to stop running-and return to Troublesome Gulch, Colorado, to overcome the pain and guilt. Right away, a chance encounter on the ski slopes brought Brody face-to-face with his best friend’s kid sister, Faith Montesantos. Boy, was she all grown up! And yes, the vivacious high school guidance counselor still missed the older sister she’d lost, but she chose to focus on the joyful memories of their short time together…and seemed determined to teach Brody to do the same. He had hoped to conquer the demons of his past, but in Faith he found the key to his future…

Read an excerpt. 

Deja You (Return to Troublesome Gulch, Book 2)

Of the three books, this one is my favorite. It’s the most emotional of the trio. We’re thrown into Erin’s nightmare immediately as she hightails it out of town after fighting a fire throws her for a loop full of horrific memories and she’s running from and searching for something she can’t name. Her scars seem to go deeper than the other suvivors of that night, she lost a little more than the others. On her meandering quest she runs into Nate and they have a hot and heavy one-night stand. Erin relies on her friends to get her through the resulting pregnancy when she can’t locate Nate months later. It’s fate that brings him to the Gulch and he learns he’s going to be a father. The ensuing emotion between these characters is heart-wrenching. It brought me tears several times, but the turmoil is definitely worth it in getting to know Nate and Erin.

Grade: A-

From the back cover:

Burning out of control…

When a deadly apartment blaze sparked memories of the prom night accident that took her fiancé and unborn baby, firefighter Erin DeLuca ran…and lost herself for just one night. Erin was left pregnant, and the stranger who’d offered solace was nowhere to be found.

Until he showed up in Troublesome Gulch. And irony of ironies, Nate Walker was a pyrotechnics engineer-and when he saw the mystery woman who got away, now very pregnant, his entire being lit up. For Erin, it was a déjà vu moment brighter than any fireworks display-not about reliving pain, but about the joy of being in the arms of a loving man….

Read an excerpt.

You and No Other (Return to Troublesome Gulch, Book 3)

This third book gives us a villain who’s tyranny will make you so angry you want to spit and you can’t wait until he gets what’s coming to him. Cagney’s family has always been dysfunctional thanks to her father, the chief of police. His control over her is what led to her being a victim on prom night. It also led to the love of her life leaving town that same night without a word to anyone, and it isn’t until Jonas comes back to Troublesome Gulch for his own revenge that they both find out what Cag’s father had done to help alter their lives so dramatically. This lawman is one mean, controlling asshole. But when Jonas and Cagney finally overcome their animosity toward one another and the truth comes out, that’s when the fun begins. As they say, payback is a bitch, and it comes none too soon for all of these characters.

Grade: B

From the back cover: 

The boy is back in town…

Twelve years ago, Jonas Eberhardt was run out of Troublesome Gulch on prom night by the jack-booted police chief. Even worse, the chief’s daughter, Cagney Bishop, love of Jonas’s life, seemed to go along with Daddy’s wishes. But the boy from the wrong side of the tracks made millions, and he’s back to fund a youth center for troubled teens…and rub the naysayers’ noses in it. Especially Cagney’s.

Cagney Bishop’s prom night had ruined her chances of happiness-until seeing Jonas reopened a door in her heart she thought was sealed forever. But is Jonas there to get even…or get true love back on track?

Read an excerpt.

I love the emotion of this series. Family and friends stick together no matter what, a town becomes bigger and better, its citizens become closer, and they all learn how to heal and love as a result of tragedy. I also like how Ms. Sandoval intersperses the characters throughout each book. These friends are there for each other and you feel the love between them on every page.

There is to be another book next year, Lexy’s story, and that one can potentially be a real tear jerker. Too bad there’s such a long wait for it. But these three books are a great start. Life and living from tragedy, true friends, love and happiness. How can you go wrong with that?

Holly’s review of Dear Santa by Karen Templeton
Contemporary romance published 01 Nov 07 from Silhouette Special Edition

Do you ever read a book and think, “Wow!”? Ever finish it and sigh and think to yourself, “I loved that book”? That’s what happened to me with this one. I admit to loving category romance, at least on occasion (I feel you can overdose on them, too, if you aren’t careful), but lately they’ve been hit or miss for me. This one was a definite hit.

The story opens with Grant receiving news that his ex-wife – and the mother of his only child – has been killed in a car accident. And that just sets the tone for the entire book. Emotional. This book was an emotional roller coaster ride.

Grant’s character was an extremely compelling one, because although he was emotionally closed off, you could tell he really wanted to do right by his daughter, to be the father she needed him to be, he just didn’t know how. He grew up with emotionally closed off parents, and that was all he knew. Some of the best scenes in the books are the ones that focus on Grant and Haley. I think Karen Templeton did an excellent job of showing us the longing in Grant, his need to be the man his daughter needed him to be, and his frustration when he wasn’t able to fulfill that roll for her.

His heart racing, he stood outside his daughter’s partially open door, steeling himself as he listened to her nonstop chatter. Just like her mother, who’d never been at a loss for words, either. A good trait in a lawyer, Grant supposed. Swallowing sawdust, he knocked softly, then pushed the door open.

Instantly, the chatter stopped. A goofy-looking stuffed lion—Justine’s last present to her, Grant realized with a punch to his gut—clutched in her arms, Haley glanced up at his entrance, her expression a disturbing blend of caution and indifference. Selfishly—and guiltily—Grant had often wondered if perhaps a more outgoing child would have helped him overcome his own ineptitude, would have shattered by now whatever had kept him from feeling what other fathers felt for their children.

Haley, for a three-year-old, displayed some disturbingly adult traits. I found myself wondering at times if those traits were ones I could truly attribute to someone so young. But once I factored in the grief of losing her mother, and her inability at that age to understand exactly what death is (something the author was sure to mention, which helped) I was able to move past my issues and enjoy her character. My heart hurt for her. Losing her mother – her anchor – at such a young age is something I can’t imagine, but we saw flashes of a precocious child and I couldn’t wait to see more of her. My heart broke when she would turn her big, wary eyes onto her father.

The weakest link in this story is Mia, the heroine. She’d been burned by her fiancé some time back, and had no love for Grant after his divorce from her best friend. While I think the author meant to show us that her insecurities and emotional issues were the result of losing her best friend and being hurt by her former fiancé, it didn’t ring true for me. Especially after seeing glimpses of her loving family. As the story progressed and Grant’s true nature was revealed, Mia’s hesitation became tiresome. I wanted her to realize Grant was someone she could lean on, someone she could trust and have faith in, and when she did it came a bit too late for me.

I enjoyed Mia’s interactions with Haley, and the chemistry between Mia and Grant is believable. I think part of my frustration stems from the fact that I truly wanted them to be together. It was obvious to me, as the reader, that they were perfect for each other. And it became obvious to Grant as well. But Mia…well, I suppose it just took her a bit longer to figure it out. And when a secret Grant had been keeping comes out, Mia’s reaction was just a bit too over the top for me. So I was somewhat surprised by her abrupt turnaround after.

But I think the overall story arc, the relationship between Grant and Haley, and the interactions with the secondary characters more than made up for what I found lacking in Mia’s character. I can even understand where her issues stemmed from, so I guess I can’t be too harsh.

If you’re in the mood for an emotional read, one that will suck you in and pull something from you as a reader, this is the book for you.

Grade: A

Blurb:

HIS DAUGHTER’S BIRTH MADE HIM A FATHER. BECOMING A DADDY WOULD

TAKE A BIT LONGER….

Connecticut mogul Grant Braeburn never thought he was father material, even though his nearly four-year-old daughter should have convinced him otherwise. But then his ex-wife’s death made him Haley’s permanent parent. Her only parent. He needed help, in a hurry.

It came in the form of Mia Vaccaro, the lively, lovely party planner who had been his ex-wife’s best friend. Mia was the only one who could touch Haley’s broken heart. And, Grant was becoming increasingly aware, his as well….

Read an excerpt.

Read more from Holly at The Book Binge.

Alicia Thomas’s review of Scions: Resurrection (Scions Trilogy, Book 1) by Patrice Michelle
Paranormal romance published 1 Jan 08 by Silhouette Nocturne (Harlequin)

Book 2 – Scions: Insurrection (1 May 08)
Book 3 – Scions: Revelation (TBA)

Resurrection is the first book in the Scions Trilogy. Jachin Black is a vampire who has been banished from his people. He lives as an assassin to pay for the blood he must consume. He despises the humans who created then tried to destroy his kind.

Ariel Swanson is an author who has just published her first novel. She wrote it as therapy for facing her fear. You see, every other member of her family was killed by vampires. She doesn’t know her “fiction” novel is actually a prophecy that the vampires have hinged their hopes on for years.

This story is fast paced from the word go. Jachin and Ariel are on the run for almost three quarters of the book but I never got bored. The characters are compelling and the world is fascinating. The world was so intricate I expected to plow through flaws and contradictions but I didn’t find any. I may have been too busy enjoying the book, but nothing caught my attention.

Something did pull me out of the story a little. The whole vampire/werewolf thing was based on genetic engineering and breeding. Near the end suddenly there were elements that were pure fantasy. Nothing tacky or anything. It was just a surprise and it made me stop and re-read to make sure I was following correctly.

Also, the end was a bit drawn out. I knew the ends needed tying off but it seemed to drag a little. I also waited for him to have to redeem himself for being a hired gun but it never happened. I closed the book with a warm feeling, though, and that’s what I want from Silhouette. So, very enjoyable but with a few minor problems and one I can’t really forgive.

Grade: C+

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 Sanguinas, a vampire clan, 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 prophesy and passion bind them in ways they could never have imagined. Ways that may heal the past, and change the future.

     Scions: A prophecy reveals hidden secrets and holds the key to fulfilling their ultimate desires.

     Read an excerpt and an excerpt.

Sandy M’s review of Unbound (Unbound series, Book 1) by Lori Devoti
Paranormal romance published 1 Jun 2007 by Nocturne (Harlequin)

For some reason he just couldn’t turn Kara over to the witch and that wasn’t like him. When Risk finds out Kara is a twin, he begins to plan his escape from Lusse, his captor. Twin witches are rare and very powerful, a power that he can use. For so long he hasn’t cared about anything or anyone, so what’s the destruction of a couple of witches to him? But when he discovers how innocent and unaware Kara really is about her power, when he discovers he can’t get enough of her, his plans change to saving Kara and Kelly instead, even if it means his death. He doubts Kara would still want him anyway when she learns what he is.

Kara is grateful Risk offers to help her search for Kelly. She’s run into so many dead ends that she’s totally frustrated and doesn’t know where to turn next. She’s always been the more timid sister, letting Kelly take care of her in urgent situations, but once Kara finds the lead she’s been looking for and survives unbelievable events to finally get to Kelly, she’s not the same person any longer. But the final straw is when it looks like Risk was never on her side at all. Will he betray her even after all they’ve shared?

These Nocturne books are good! I’ve only read a couple of others and thoroughly enjoyed them, and this book has made me a total convert.

Unbound is full of mystery and suspense, love and deception, adventure, and it has a great villain in Lusse, the immortal witch who has owned Risk for 500 years. I hated her, but, boy, she’s fun to read. And Risk is a very tortured hero, one you feel for immediately, one your heart breaks for when Lusse uses her ultimate weapon against him, something he had no knowledge of and now has to protect from her evilness just get to him. It’s also great to watch Kara grow into a confident and proud woman, ready to take on the fights she always avoided before.

A very satisfying read with a great plot and wonderful characters. What more can you ask for?

Grade: A

Blurb:

Risk Leidolf is a hellhound – a legendary, otherworldly creature who is both man and beast. For centuries, he’s been bound to do the bidding of an immortal witch. But after being ordered to destroy novice witch Kara Shane, the man within him rebels. And the beast within him is held at bay – for now.

Fiercely drawn to each other, Risk and Kara soon form a passionate alliance as they set out to find her missing sister – and the key to his salvation. For the power unleashed by the twin witches could free him from the immortal witch’s bondage. But that freedom comes at a steep price. For the fierce battle will put more than one soul at stake – and two hearts on the line.

Read an excerpt.