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Archive for November, 2008

For Jo Leigh

Saturday, November 29th, 2008
Sylvia Day Icon

Author Jo Leigh lost her husband this year to cancer. Theirs was a story of reunited lovers worthy of a romance novel. The loss of her husband hit her hard, both emotionally and financially. (authors are self-employed, so often have no medical insurance.)

In an effort to raise money to help her pay off those medical debts, the romance community has once again banded together to support one of their own and an auction is being held. This is a wonderful way to purchase gifts for yourself or a loved one. :)

Check out all the wonderful items here: http://www.forjoleigh.com

I’ve donated:

* two Marked series coffee mugs, a Tor Books keychain that lights up when squeezed, an autographed ARC of EVE OF DARKNESS (April 28, 2009), and some surprises

* a tote bag with an autographed coverflat and ARC of IN THE FLESH (June 2, 2009).

Please spread the word about the auction to any loops, forums, etc. that you might be on.

Hugs,
Sylvia

Categories : Sylvia Day
Comments (1)

It’s release time..

Wednesday, November 26th, 2008
Cynthia Eden Icon

It truly seems like I just wrote this book yesterday, but–no, a year has passed and now MIDNIGHT SINS, my second single-title release from Kensington Brava, has hit bookstore shelves.

Here’s the blurb for the story:

Cara Maloan doesn’t look like a monster. In fact, the gorgeous blond nightclub singer possesses heavenly attributes that make Atlanta detective Todd Brooks sure there’s a higher power somewhere. But a twisted killer is leaving a trail of bodies in seedy hotel rooms across town. The male victims show no wounds–it’s as if the life was simply drained from them. And right now, mysterious Cara is Todd’s only suspect.

Cara knows it’s foolish to be so drawn to a man who thinks she’s a murderer. She also knows Detective Brooks would find the truth even harder to swallow. Cara is one of the Other, a race of powerful, paranormal creatures who live among humans. Cara’s particular abilities make men putty in her hands–all except this rugged, sexy-as-hell detective. But now someone, or something, has singled Cara out for serious payback…

As uneasy trust gives way to mind-blowing desire, Cara and Todd will go head-to-head with a killer whose mission is deeply personal, and who’s determined to serve up revenge that’s hotter than hellfire, and just as deadly…

* * *
In conjunction with the release of this book, I’m running a SIN A LITTLE contest on my site. Lots of great prizes–just in time for the holidays. :-)

Sin a little…And Win! www.cynthiaeden.com

Speaking of the holidays…I hope everyone in the U.S. has a great Thanksgiving! And enjoy your Black Friday shopping!

Cynthia Eden
www.cynthiaeden.com
MIDNIGHT SINS–Available now from Kensington Brava
Let your inner demon out…

Categories : Cynthia Eden
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The incredible human spirit-

Tuesday, November 18th, 2008
Mary Wine Icon

 

 

I’m wading through post firestorm in southern California and noticed it was my blog day. As I’m looking at the pile of things to be returned to their normal places, I’m also reading the emails of my sons tae kwon do team. It’s role call time, everyone touching base to make sure we’re here and not in need. The responses are spirit lifting. Tales of pets being recovered from strangers that noticed dogs in yards and no one there to take them out of the path of the flames. Residents that broke into homes that were burning to retrieve essential things like computers, pictures and desk contents. The local fire station is bearing home made posters of gratitude and heart felt thanks.

    I’m amazed at the human effect at work. The pace of life is often so hectic that I forget who lives on the same block. This last week we all worked together, maybe some of the acts were small ones but the genuine smiles on everyones faces today send a warm feeling through me that I normally associate with the holiday season when we are seasonally reminded to count our blessing.

     Normally I detest cleaning but today I’m treasuring every bag I unpack. It’s amazing how much of a privilege it is to have a messy cabinet to restore order to. Among the clutter is a set of Mickey mouse ears that we brought home at some point from Disneyland and dozens of other things that didn’t make it into the car for evacuation. I feel like I’m rediscovering all of those memories. It’s practically like opening presents.

    There’s an incredible human effect settling over this town. We weren’t by any means a bad place to live but today while driving my sons to school I saw more smiles…more waves…more courtesy and just over all MORE. Many of the kids bore bags of donations for those that lost everything and sometime in the future we have a few parks to rebuild. But I’m confident that the people around me will be there with drills in hand and that is the silver lining to what the firestorms brought us this weekend…that spirit that woke up.

   Kiss your kids…send a back up of your digital pictures to a family member that doesn’t live with you. It dawned on me as I was racing home and watching a huge plume of black smoke rising up over where my house was that the back up system for my laptop wasn’t going to be much help if I wasn’t there to pull the memory card. A rather terrifying idea when I considered that I had a new book, my third Brava in fact on my system almost ready to call…finished. I shudder as I think of losing it. 

Phone numbers. I was amazed how many important numbers I didn’t have on my cell phone. I was amazed how many of my neighbors I didn’t have any contact information on. We have a small parrot and spent agonizing moments worrying that he was trapped in a fire….He’s fine. The lesson I learned was that, in spite of being well prepared at home…I was not prepared to deal with being away during the disaster. With the busy pace that we keep around here…that was something that could have hurt.

   But I was also astounded by the people that helped others and the fact that we as humans are really quite wonderful things. I’m going to go finish my book today because my heart is defiantly in the mood for a happy ever after.

 

Mary Wine

MaryWine.com….come by and see my new website!

Categories : Mary Wine
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**Contest**

Monday, November 10th, 2008
Karen Kelley Icon

Morning,

I absolutely love this time of the year. It just begs you to curl up with a good book, hot cocoa with melting marshmallows, and a crackling fire. I love it.

The leaves are falling, a slow strip tease, and now I’m starting to see my neighbors. I like my neighbors, but have to admit that I rather enjoyed the secluded feeling of summer. I guess the seasons are a give and take, like everything else in life.

I’m Your Santa was on the USA Today Bestseller list for three weeks in a row! Woo-hoo! Thanks to all who put it there.

I’m counting down the weeks until My Favorite Phantom hits the stores–Dec 30th online, and I think Jan 3rd in stores! Yea!!! It’s a hot romantic comedy about a ghost hunter who’s afraid of ghosts. :lol:

Okay, not really a contest, just make a comment and I’ll pull two names out of the mix and send them each a copy of I’m Your Santa. Now, how cool is that? :smile:

Hugs,
Karen Kelley
Available Now The Bad Boys Guide To The Galaxy/Brava
MM Brava I’m Your Santa 10/08
USA TODAY BESTSELLER!!!
My Favorite Phantom/Brava 01/09
www.authorkarenkelley.com

Categories : Karen Kelley
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Shannon Does it Again

Friday, November 7th, 2008
Kate Duffy Icon

Shannon McKenna does it again with her latest ULTIMATE WEAPON. #20 on the New York Times!



Categories : Kate Duffy
Comments (19)

Post-Election Reading

Wednesday, November 5th, 2008
HelenKay Dimon Icon

The election is (finally) over. I’m not sure how I’ll fill my time now…well, maybe I can finish the revisions on one book and get back to writing the other. While I do that (and panic about how fast the day goes and how little I manage to get done), I thought I’d hold a contest.

I have two new releases – TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT, a Christmas antho with fabulous Brava authors Donna Kauffman and Jill Shalvis, and HOT AS HELL, a single title. Tell me about how much time you spent thinking, reading and working in election-related things over the last few months and you’ll be entered to win your choice of TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT or HOT AS HELL.

And as a little teaser, here’s a short HOT AS HELL excerpt:

CHAPTER 1

“This is your idea of a vacation?” Noah Paxton asked the question with a practiced level of calm he did not actually feel. By the way Alexa Stuart – Lexy to him – jumped up and out of her pool lounge chair, he guessed the fake tone did not impress her either.

Dark sunglasses hid her eyes, but her dropped jaw suggested he caught her off guard. “Noah?”

She remembered his name. That was something. “Miss me?”

She settled back in her seat and smoothed out the magazine she just crumpled in her fists. “No.”

“I’m going to take that as a compliment.”

She flipped her sunglasses to the top of her head and squinted up at him with intense green eyes. “What are you doing here?”

Funny but the woman did not look at all surprised to see him. Probably had something to do with the fact she ruined their relationship, screwed with his career and then ran. She had to know he would track her down eventually.

“I could ask you the same question,” he said.

“You already know the answer to that one. I’m on vacation.”

“Uh-huh.” That was all he could think to say while trying to ignore the size of her tiny pink bikini. The thing seemed to shrink the longer he stared at it, but maybe that was wishful thinking.

With the burning southern Utah heat bouncing around and searing through his long-sleeve shirt, he understood her less-is-more theory of dressing. Still, there were other resort patrons hanging in the area. As far as Noah could tell, they all had eyes.

He scanned the pool deck to make sure none of those eyes belonged to men and none were staring at Lexy’s incredible shrinking bikini. Only a few other people braved the beating sun on the pool deck. Most of them sat up to their necks in the water. All but one was female.

The male-female ratio qualified as the only positive Noah could find about the high adventure hiking spa Lexy chose as her temporary playground. Not that he knew what the hell a high adventure hiking spa even was. He read the description online three times before jumping on a plane to retrieve Lexy. Once he saw the price of the joint, he seriously considered changing careers from security analyst to spa owner.

He wondered how the folks who ran the place convinced otherwise competent people to shell out a couple grand a week to stay at a no-frills location in the middle of nowhere. The place in question consisted of a few single and two-story stucco buildings painted almost the same color as the towering red rocks ringing them.

Deep in a valley and about two hours from Las Vegas, the spa felt more like an isolated boot camp than an expensive resort. Clean with well-kept grounds but no extras. A bit too much of a throwback to his military days for Noah’s comfort.

“How did you pick this joint?” he asked.

“What’s wrong with it?”

“Aren’t we touchy?”

“Let’s just say I’m waiting for you to tell me whatever it is you came the whole way here to say.”

———-

I’ll post a winner here in the comments section by Friday. Good Luck!

Categories : HelenKay Dimon
Comments (33)

Halloween and Heroes

Monday, November 3rd, 2008
Gemma Bruce Icon

Halloween is over. A lot of romantic heroes came to my door Friday night. Vampires and firemen, super heroes and soldiers, werewolves and cowboys. There was a doctor, a policeman, a native American with a bright feathered headdress he made himself, several karate masters. Some of them were a little short, but hey, who’s measuring. Heroes every one. The best of the alpha males.

Now it’s Monday, the toilet paper has disintegrated, the pumpkins removed from doorsteps, the orange crepe paper pulled from trees.

Tomorrow, flags will wave and whoever didn’t manage to vote early will stand in line at the polling places. And it occurs to me that not one politician came to my door on Friday. (Not even a real one canvassing for his or her candidate.)
Which made me start trying to recall any romances I’ve read where the hero was a politician.

I remember one of Barbara Michaels’ romantic suspense novels was called Smoke and Mirrors and involved a Washington campaign. But I can’t remember if the hero was a politician. Does anyone know?

Jennifer Crusie’s Phineas Tucker was the mayor of Temptation in Welcome to Temptation. Phin doesn’t really fit the politician mold, but Crusie gets some good material from the squabble over family values.

Heroes of historicals may appear in Parliament or champion better working conditions or hospital reform, but their real persona is that of Duke or Knight or just plain Mr.

Can anyone come up with a romance hero who is a politician? To prod your memory cells, I’ll randomly choose one of you to receive a copy of my NEW Brava book, The Man For Me, whose hero is a baseball player, another one of those usually tabooed hero types, a guy who is American as apple pie and just as tasty.

Categories : Gemma Bruce
Comments (19)