Ask Five with...TORI CARRINGTON and two books given away!

Ohhhhh...I'm excited! Our blog special guest is none other than Tori Carrington (aka Tony and Lori Karayianni) and....they're giving away not one, but TWO books!

If you ever get a chance to meet Tony and Lori in person, please take the time. They are one of the most generous and friendly people you'll ever meet. Oh, and their writing is fantastic! They write them hot for Blaze and funny mysteries with Sofie Metropolis.

Without further ado...meet Tori Carrington!


1. Tell us a little about FOUL PLAY and TAKEN.

Oh, two of our favorite topics! FOUL PLAY is our latest hardcover, the third book in our Sofie Metropolis, PI series. As promised, in each story we're raising the stakes for our gal Sof, maturing her from the amateur sleuth/pet detective we began with into a kickass, master PI and...well, pet detective. In this title, Sofie's asked by a fellow Astoria homegirl to find out why her husband and new Mets pitching phenom Reni Venezuela has been acting strangely lately. Hold onto your socks, because this is anything but a simple cheating spouse case! Throw in lust for Aussie bounty hunter Jake Porter, and the sudden availability of yummy Greek god Dino and a chocolate torte and...well, you have all the ingredients needed for Sofie to get into all kinds of trouble.

Then there's our July Blaze TAKEN...

Where Sofie is a wannabe-bad-girl-in-training, the heroine of TAKEN is a card-carrying member of The Bad Girls Club...literally. She's a sexy con artist who targets hero Ryder Blackwell's very successful company. While she prides herself on doing her homework, not even she could have known that Ryder is from pretty much the same New York City streets that she is...and that he plans to give her a run for her money, both in bed and out.

This title holds special significance for us because it adds to The Bad Girls Club series we did with buds and fellow authors Leslie Kelly and Julie Elizabeth Leto for Temptation back in 2003 -- and both are on board again! With, of course, a cast of brand, spanking new bad girls to cheer for. Check out more info on all three titles on our website on July 1st.

Ah, yes. Life really doesn't get much better than this.

2. Do you write every day and how do you stay motivated?

Since we write full time our days are pretty regimented. We write from about eight in the morning until one in the afternoon, break for a full Greek dinner including wine -- which pretty much leaves us not good for anything more than a siesta afterward -- then are back in our shared office again by seven or eight at night until about eleven or so most every day. Half our evenings are devoted to keeping our extensive web sites (http://www.toricarrington.net/ and http://www.sofiemetro.com/) updated, responding to email and chatting on line with fellow romance lovers and fans. It’s said that technology and the web serve to further isolate people. We disagree. We've met some of our best friends on line (including you, Patti!). And there’s something uniquely beautiful about meeting someone you've talked to for sometimes years on line in the real world. We have fans we call friends in faraway places like Pakistan, Bulgaria and Australia we probably would not have connected with outside our books. That would be a shame, indeed!

As for motivation...need you ask? Rare is the day that Tony isn't wearing that huge, shit-eating grin ready to take on the world and everything in it. What more inspiration could you want?


3. What's the one thing you love most about being an author?

An fellow reader could probably understand this...the thing we love most about writing is spending time in the company of wonderful and wondrous characters. We were both avid readers before we began writing. Now, take the experience of reading a really good book and multiply that sweet sensation by ten. That's what happens when we write. The characters take over and we have to keep writing to find out what happens next.

4. Is there another genre you would consider writing in?

I think the appropriate question here is whether there is a genre we would never like to try at least once. While we've pretty much stayed true to our romantic roots, veering slightly into humorous mystery territory with Sofie Metropolis, we long for the day when we can write a sweeping saga set in Greece, or a fantasy that takes place in a future wonderland with larger than life characters, or a book of short stories based on mental snapshots we've taken of people and situations we've come across in our journeys. The list is endless.

Of course, doing any of that depends on our having extra time. And we don't see that happening anytime soon. Which isn't altogether a bad thing, because it means we're writing something else we love.

5. What's coming up in the next year from Tori Carrington?

Holy cow, that's a question. Let's see, after TAKEN in July, we have a Blaze Extreme coming out in November entitled DANGEROUS (a story loosely connected to TAKEN), then comes QUEENS NOIR, which features a short story of ours as told by Sofie's uncle Spyros before she signs on at the agency, then another Blaze Extreme out next February (the working title is BETWEEN FRIENDS and, well, the story involves two guys and a girl. We'll let your imagination take it from there). And then there's the next Sofie, tentatively titled WORKING STIFF, out next spring...

Gasp. I got breathless just writing all that. We have been busy, haven't we?

And we wouldn't have it any other way...

Oh! Did someone say something about giveaways? Hmm...what can we come up with? Tony's got a great idea! How about we offer up a signed copy of our original Bad Girls Club title Red-Hot and Reckless, and the first book in our eponymously titled Sofie Metropolis? And, remember, we also host monthly drawings on our site. June's is for a Greek gift basket. Go to http://www.toricarrington.net/ to enter now!

****

Psst.......post away, everyone! That's how I'll draw the names and you never know when Tony or Lori might pop in. ;-)

Sunday night I'll draw two winners and let Lori and Tony know!

HEAT WAVE winner is.....

HEAT WAVE goes to..........Nascarandbeans!!!!!!!!

Congratulations!!!
Email Patti at fisc40pa@aol.com with your name and address!

Tomorrow night....get ready...because not only do we have an interview with Tori Carrington, but they are giving away books!

Guest Blogger: Is it Jane?

Welcome to Romance Reviews Today's first guest blogger...Lucinda Betts!
Her latest book from Kensington Aphrodisia THE SUPPLICANT is just hitting bookshelves. Be sure to check it out!




Last April, a mysterious portrait of Jane Austen went up for sale at Christie's Auction House. What is the mystery, you ask. The artist isn't in question. British painter Ozias Humphry created the oil painting. The owner isn't in question. One of Jane's descendants, Henry Rice, is selling it. The mystery surrounding this portrait involves the subject. Is this a painting of Jane Austen or not?

Art historians question the hairstyle and the fashion of the dress worn in the portrait. Were those common when Jane Austen herself was a teenager? Those seem like reasonable questions to me, good reasons to ask whether the painting portrays our beloved mother of romantic comedy.

On the day of the (unsuccessful) auction, NPR's Reneee Montagne interviewed Clive James, author, poet and critic. He offered a strange reason to ask whether the painting depicted Jane. He said the teenager was too beautiful to be her.

"The author of Jane Austen's novels couldn't possibly look like this, or they would very different novels," James said. "Jane Austen was not outstandingly beautiful or she'd be remembered as that," James said. "It's definitely not in the character of the books to be about a beautiful woman. They are about a woman who is not beautiful yet who has other virtues," James said.

I see several problems with this argument. First, although the teenager is the portrait is pretty, she doesn't seem "outstandingly beautiful" to me. For "outstandingly beautiful" I suggest you admire "The Duchesse de Polignac Wearing a Straw Hat," which was painted by Elisabeth Louise Vigee Le Brun in 1782. (Jane Austen was born in 1775.)

If Jane were pretty as a teenager and faded to normality as an adult, would she still be remembered for that fleeting teenaged prettiness? Hard to say.

According to Wikipedia, Jane died of Addison's disease at the age of 41. Addison's disease affects the adrenal gland, usually as a result of tuberculosis. The physical symptoms of Addison's disease include: muscle weakness, weight loss, nausea, irritability, depression, and areas of darkened skin. If Jessica Simpson (who might be considered more beautiful than the teenaged girl in the Humphry painting) died of Addison's disease, would we remember her beauty as an important part of her life? Hard to say. We'd probably remember her pop songs and her acting (which may or may not pan out). If Jessica Simpson creates something as great as "Pride and Prejudice," I suspect her youthful beauty will become even less important in the annals of history.

But here's the part that gets me about Clive Jame's critique. Can't a beautiful woman imagine what it's like to be plain and write about it in a meaningful way? Can't an impoverished person imagine what it's like to be rich and portray that well?

While it's true that Charles Dickens actually worked in a sweatshop for a short period, and F. Scott Fitzgerald flirted along the edges of high-society, Anna Sewell was not a horse and Harriet Beecher Stowe wasn't a black male slave, and H.G. Wells was never invisible.

Novelists imagine themselves all the time in situations in which they've never found themselves--thankfully. Romance is filled with cowboys and millionaires and secret babies, and I would guess that those are rare in real life. Romance is filled with time travel and spaceships and mythological creatures, also rare in real life. Without ever having met a dragon or cast a spell, I myself have written about those experiences. Certainly Jane Austen was capable of the same.

And all the hoopla aside, I personally think the oil painting by Humphry looks a whole lot like the sketch of Jane by her sister Cassandra.

Lucinda Betts


Check out Lucinda's website at: http://www.lucindabetts.com/


PS...if you're interested in appearing as a guest blogger, email Patti at fisc40pa@aol.com

HEAT WAVE Giveaway!

As I promised last week...a book giveaway! One lucky reader will get a copy of the HEAT WAVE anthology by Stephanie Bond, Leslie Kelly, and Heidi Betts!

Here is a blurb from the back cover:

A little con
Investigator Lucy Bell is looking for a runaway groom. Fortunately, the almost-best-man (who's tastier than a double chocolate cheesecake) likely knows where he is. All Lucy needs is a little deception . . . and a whole lot of hot 'n' sweaty persuasion!

A little magic
Single mom Allie Cavanaugh has played nice with others for too long. Then Allie finds herself kissing a powerfully magnetic hypnotist at a carnival in front of an audience! Sure, maybe she's mesmerized, or maybe the "real" Allie is finally waking up . . .

And a little late-night mischief!
Abby Weaver abandons the cool haven of her pharmaceutical basement for a girls-only week of sun, sand and fruity drinks. That was the plan . . . until Abby finds herself going solo. But the beach is a funny place you never know just what (or who!) will wash up onshore...

Hot Hot Hot!!!


What is your favorite summer thing to do? Got any vacation plans?
Post away and I'll announce Wednesday night who the one lucky winner of HEAT WAVE is!!!

The Dakota Cassidy Summer Pack winner is.......

Lots of fun this weekend!

Now it's time to announce the winner. Reaching into my super tight prize picker...
Drumroll...

The winner is....... CaityMack!!!!!!!

CaityMack, email Dakota at dakota@dakotacassidy.com and she'll get your prize out to you. Congratluations!!!!!!!!

As a special treat, I pulled off an old review RRT Erotic did for one of Dakota's books. For those of you who haven't ::gasp:: read Dakota, here's a peek at one this talented author's stories.


JANE'S BLONDE - Dakota Cassidy
Changeling Press - www.changelingpress.com
ISBN-10: 1-59596-434-7
ISBN-13: 978-1-59596-434-2
September 2006
Erotic Paranormal Romance - Short Story

Phoenix, Arizona and Las Vegas, Nevada - Present Day

When her sister goes missing, former NSU -- that's short for No Stone Unturned – agent Jane Blonde is called back into action to find her. Jane retired from the agency several years before after her sizzling hot affair with a fellow agent abruptly cooled and she found herself dumped in Rome. Thinking she needed to make some life changes, i.e. get herself a man as far removed from the men she worked with as was possible, Jane left NSU and married tire heir Conrad Blonde. Alas, Conrad turned out to be a womanizing jerk and after a divorce that left her with a lifetime supply of radial tires and a freezer full of ice cream, Jane is about twenty pounds and a lifetime away from her super agent glory days.

However, her sister needs her. Who else could possibly know Cindy better than Jane? After all, Cindy has followed in her footsteps going from beauty queen to secret agent. Armed with a lipstick gun, a pink lycra bodysuit and sheer bravado, Jane heads off to Phoenix to track down a lead. It is quickly apparent that she's way off her game but fortunately (or unfortunately, depending on how you look at it), NSU chief Thor Newcastle has been keeping an eye out for her and has sent in reinforcements. The unfortunate part? The backup is none other than Alejandro Estes, the very same man who broke her heart in Rome.

Looking not a day older than when they last parted seven years ago (so unfair for this aging beauty queen) and still as sexy as ever, it's not long before the two are at it like cats and dogs…in heat. But even as Alejandro says he still wants her and always has, he's still not talking about what went wrong and still not making her any promises. He's got secrets and former Agent Blonde is going to uncover every one of them.

JANE'S BLONDE lives up to its name with gusto! Ditzy and daring, you can't help but adore Jane as she tries to get back into the spy game and give the man she loves a piece of her mind. Alejandro's a bit of a dark horse (or should I say wolf?) but the perfect foil for Jane. Lots of passion and drama queens and enough gadgets to even make that *other* super spy green with envy, Dakota Cassidy has written a story that is pure escapist fun.

Isabelle Spencer

Ask Five with...Dakota Cassidy...and a giveaway!

Meet an author who will definitely entertain you...

Dakota Cassidy

She's smart, funny and totally a cool babe.

And she's going to not only spend the weekend chatting with you, but she is giving away a cool prize:

A Summer Pack, a prize package with Yankee Candles, booze mix and books!

Just post a comment and you'll be entered in the drawing to win this fabulous prize. Entering should be easy, since Dakota will be popping in to chat with us!

In the meantime, meet Dakota:


1. What is the title of your latest release and what is it about?


My latest release won't be out until Feb 08 from Berkley Sensation and it's called The Accidental Werewolf. It's about Marty Andrews, a multi-level cosmetic saleswoman (think Mary Kay-but I called it Bobbie-Sue). She's a wee bit rabid about cosmetic color wheels of life and her color aura. Marty's uber-ambitious a little self-absorbed and she's managed to work her way up the color ladder to the esteemed color of lavender when her dreams of cosmetic greatness come to a screeching halt.


One night, while Marty and her two pathetic Bobbie-Sue recruits Wanda and Nina are out walking Marty's teacup poodle, Muffin, the girls spot a big dog. So does Muffin, who, being territorial like small dogs can be, violently attacks what she clearly feels is a threat to Marty.

In the melee, Marty manages to drag Muffin off the poor, unsuspecting beast. However, in the process, she's "accidentally" bitten by what she assumes is a dog. It really is just a little nip

A week later and some crazy stuff is goin' down in her world. Marty's hair is changing color by the day. Immersing herself in a vat of wax wouldn't be enough to control the hair growth on her legs and her anger management skills have gone the way of the Doh-Doh Bird. Her emotions are out of control, something Marty isn't used to.

Enter Keegan Flaherty--The dog who accidentally bit Marty, but really isn't just any old dog. He's a shape shifter. A shape shifter who's delish, by the way. He offers apologies and guidance to the ways of a the lycanthropic. Marty wants nothing to do with the smokin' hunk and his crazy stories about her now being a werewolf. In fact, she doesn't believe any of her troubles can't be cleared up with a bottle of Miss Clairol and a gallon of wax.

That is until she's kidnapped and her emotions, her anger especially leave her with the strength of the Bionic Woman. Oh, and a fuzzy nub of a tail poking out from her backside...


2. How do your stories come to you? Complete with just the details to fill in, or is it a character who starts the whole thing rolling?


Usually it's a title that comes to me first--or an idea/concept. I love, love, love the ironic. My favorite path is the path of the outrageous. Once I have those elements, then I decide what kind of characters would best handle my insanity. LOL



3. Which authors have influenced you over the years, whether for their writing or for their friendship?

Oh, wow--a bunch of them. Mostly they're authors who've sort of taken me under their wings and guided me through this writing thing. Primarily, Sahara Kelly, who encouraged me to send my first book in to an e-pub. Kate Douglas, Angela Knight, Margaret Riley, Michelle Hoppe, Isabella Jordon and Renee George, are just a few who've been supportive beyond words and kept encouraging me.



4. You write such a variety of genres...which is your favorite?

I think it's the one I'm in at the time. LOL. I want to dabble in them ALL and I think I'm pretty close. Though I'd really love to write some pirates, demons and mermaids. Not all in one book (though that could be a real freak-fest, huh?), mind you. LOL



5. Looking in your crystal ball, what can readers look forward to from you?


The Accidental Immortal comes out in July 08 from Berkley Sensation. This book is based on Marty's friend, Nina Blackman. An ex-Bobbie-Sue recruit who goes off to become a hygienist in a government sponsored re-training program. Nina's first day on the job leaves her bitten by a vampire. While Nina knows the paranormal exist because of her friend Marty, she refuses to take the path of denial Marty took and there's no way she's staying a vampire. S she goers on a quest to find the patient that bit her so he can turn her back into a human...

And he's hawt.

And then, all HELL breaks loose.

You can visit Dakota's website at www.dakotacassidy.com


Thanks, Dakota! The winner will be chosen Sunday evening!

The Reader's Corner

Thought I would put myself on the spotlight....

Name: Patti F

What are you currently reading? HEATWAVE by Stephanie Bond, Leslie Kelly and Heidi Betts
I'm really liking it. :)

What is your favorite romance genre (contemporary, historical, paranormal, etc) to read? Contemporary

Do you have a “to be read” pile and if so, how many book are approximately on it?

Hundreds of books. It may be close to a thousand. LOL

If you could sit down and have lunch with five authors, dead or alive, which five would you like to be sitting there with you?

Hmm.....Lori Foster, Leslie Kelly, Rachel Gibson, Linda Howard, and Jane Austen.

Name a book (and its author) that you’ve read recently that went on your keeper shelf.

This week....TANGLED UP IN YOU by Rachel Gibson, which comes out in August. yeah yeah yeah...call me a tease, but you HAVE to get this if you love contemporary romance.

By the way, I will be giving away a copy of HEATWAVE next week on this blog. Stay tuned!

Spotlight Review...Sleeping With Fear

SLEEPING WITH FEAR – Kay Hooper
A Bishop/Special Crimes Unit Novel, Book 9
Fear Series, Book 3
Bantam Books
ISBN: 978-0-553-58600-8
June 2007
Suspense/Thriller

Opal Island, Hazard County, South Carolina – Present Day

Riley Crane is an agent with the FBI’s special crimes unit. The unit is made up of people with an edge -- extra senses. Riley’s specialty is clairvoyance, and a strong “spider” sense, or the ability to be hyper-aware of any situation.

Waking up mid-day with a pounding headache is unusual enough for Riley. She does not take naps and is usually an early riser. It takes her a moment to get her bearings and to realize that the strong scent of blood is not left over from nightmares, but is real. Riley is covered in blood, fully dressed in her bed in the cottage she has rented for vacation. All that is bad enough, but worse...Riley has no memory of the last three weeks. She barely remembers arriving on Opal Island.

Riley’s specialty in the SCU is the occult, and she was sent to Opal Island to unofficially investigate strange activity in the area. But Riley cannot remember what she was investigating or with whom she was working, nor whom she can trust. As Riley tries to put together the pieces of her life for the previous three weeks, she learns one startling fact after another. The most shocking of all is that she was apparently intimately involved with the Hazard County District Attorney, Ash Prescott. Riley also learns that a man was murdered and beheaded in an apparent satanic ritual -- the night before Riley woke up covered in blood. The more Riley searches for answers, the more she suffers from weakness and memory loss. What happened to Riley? Why was she covered in blood, and why are her psychic abilities gone? Could the blood, the memory loss and psychic burnout be linked to the murder?

SLEEPING WITH FEAR is the third novel in Kay Hooper’s Fear trilogy and the ninth book in the Bishop/Special Crimes Unit series. As with each book, SLEEPING WITH FEAR is a masterpiece of criminal investigation and psychic abilities; however, with Riley’s psychic ability on the fritz, the focus is more on regular criminal investigation, and Riley does that well. Her lack of memory puts her at a distinct disadvantage, and places her in danger. Told from Riley’s perspective, except when Bishop and other FBI agents are featured off scene, the reader is forced to learn who can be trusted and who can’t right along with Riley. This makes for a very immediate an intense read.

Secondary characters play key roles in the unfolding mystery and investigation and include: Sheriff Jake Ballard, a man who is too charming to trust completely; Gordon Skinner, Riley’s former military buddy who asked Riley to investigate the strange occurrences; his live in girl friend, Deputy Leah Wells; and the sexy, enigmatic District Attorney, Ash Prescott. From the opening pages to the spine-tingling conclusion, SLEEPING WITH FEAR offers up a thrilling mystery with unusual paranormal elements, and a knockout twist at the end. Suspense just doesn’t get better than Kay Hooper’s novels. I highly recommend SLEEPING WITH FEAR; it’s a one-sitting read that will hold you in its grip from beginning to end.

Terrie Figueroa

What do you want???

Okay, it is late and I realized that I needed to post on the blog. Hmm...what should be the topic?

The first thing that immediately came to mind is what books shall I give away for July? So...I'm asking you. What do you want as a book giveaway for July?

Just post and probably this weekend I'll take a look at your suggestions...

Spotlight Review....COME AND GET ME by Alyssa Brooks

COME AND GET ME - Alyssa Brooks
Berkley Trade Paperback
ISBN: 978-0-425-21594-4
June 2007
Contemporary Erotic Romance

New York City, New York - Present Day

When Sadie’s boyfriend, Dylan, proposes marriage to her in a restaurant, and in front of her parents, no less, she panics. Of course, Sadie loves Dylan to bits, but she is only twenty-seven years old and does not want to get married until she is at least thirty. But Dylan looks so cute and earnest, and Sadie really does love him, so she says yes.

Thirty-nine days before their wedding, Sadie is absolutely and positively sure she can’t marry Dylan. What with her and Dylan’s parents driving her crazy about the wedding details, and her panic attacks, well Sadie can’t breathe. Dylan wants to help, but how many times can Sadie tell Dylan that the thought of marrying him makes her break out in hives and that fifty-pound weights are sitting on her chest, without hurting his feelings. Besides, the sex between Dylan and her lately has not exactly been stellar, not to mention the erotic and nightmarish dreams that she is having about a cop whose face she can’t see. Are these dreams Sadie's subconscious telling her she should not marry Dylan? That is when Sadie decides to run, away that is. She is torn though, how can she love Dylan so much, but still be too scared to marry him? So Sadie decides to issue a challenge to Dylan, ‘come and get me,’ leaving him clues on where she is. Is Dylan up for the chase?

COME AND GET ME is a sharp, funny, and emotionally smart book. Sadie is a free spirit who can’t seem to control her panic attacks no matter how much she loves Dylan, but she can be self-absorbed and annoying. On the other hand, readers will love Dylan. I kept saying, ‘oh, he is so sweet and loves Sadie so much,’ then I just wanted him to grow a pair, and he does, big time. What makes COME AND GET ME such a smart book is that it deals with some very realistic issues and qualms that people actually have about marriage. Despite their love, Sadie and Dylan are hiding their fantasies, fears, and deepest desires from one another. The chase gives them a chance to break down the emotional and sexual barriers between them and create a more satisfying and honest relationship.

During the course of the story, there were times Ms. Brooks almost lost me, but her ability to keep focus on not just the sexual relationship between Sadie and Dylan, but the emotional one, pulled me right back in. The story centers around Sadie and Dylan, but secondary characters add richness to the tale. The conversations between Dylan and Sadie’s father are laugh out loud funny.

COME AND GET ME is a great summer book that is entertaining but also has a profundity to it that might surprise readers. Go and get COME AND GET ME; I highly recommend it.

Nickole Yarbrough

Ask Five with.... LORI DEVOTI!!!!

Meet Lori Devoti, who has gone from writing romantic comedy to paranormal romance. You might recall her first two books, Love is All You Need and Love is All Around. June marks the release of her first Nocturne, Unbound.

Sit back and meet the multi-talented Lori Devoti:

What is the title of your latest release and what’s it about?

Unbound is a June 2007 Silhouette Nocturne release. It's a contemporary dark paranormal. The world is based on Norse mythology--if it were real and alive in our world. The hero, Risk, is a hellhound (shape-shifter) and the heroine, Kara, a witch. Risk has been bound to an immortal witch, Lusse, for 500 years. At the beginning of the book he is sent to retrieve Kara so Lusse can drain her of her powers. Kara, however, doesn't even know she (Kara) is a witch. She is trying to find her twin sister who has disappeared. Twin witches possess legendary power and Risk thinks Kara and her sister may be able to help him escape his binds to Lusse. Kara thinks Risk is helping her find her sister. Much chaos and romance ensues.

What is the hardest part of writing?

The hardest part of writing...getting past the doubt, the little voice in your head that says this is crap, what are you thinking, you are going to embarrass yourself. I could go on, but I won't. Seriously, I think all writers have that little demon sitting on their shoulder. You have to just shove a twinkie or something in his mouth (not yours!) and keep writing.


How do you stay motivated?

I am insanely self-motivated. I always have been. I also have a sick love of deadlines. I set my own and then try to beat them.

Which authors have influenced you over the years, whether for their writing or for their friendship?

I have a great group of friends. We call ourselves Romance Unleashed. (www.romanceunleashed.com) All of us started around the same time with Zebra. We write in all different subgenres of romance, and now for different publishers, but our friendship is still strong. Having a group like that where you can be yourself and truly celebrate each others successes is definitely the best support any writer can have. I love them.
On a more direct writing influence, there are a lot of writers. I read the three big genres: mystery, romance and fantasy. I think I put elements of all three in my books.

What’s coming up in the near future for you? What books can readers expect to see?

In January 2008, Guardian's Keep, Kelly's story will be released as part of the Silhouette Nocturne line. Sometime later in 2008 watch for Venge's story. Right now the working title is The Wild Hunt, but that may change. Outside of Nocturne, I'm also working on an urban fantasy with modern day Amazons and a number of light paranormal romances. Readers can stop by my web site http://www.loridevoti.comto learn

Thank you, Lori!

Be sure to check out Lori's website at http://www.loridevoti.comand head on out to a book store and pick up your copy of Unbound.

The Book Winner is....

The winner of Desperate Duchessess is.....PEARL

Congrats Pearl! Contact Patti at fisc40pa@aol.com with your full name and mailing address.




I mentioned earlier in the week that I was giving away a copy of a book in chat...

You can enter the chat room by clicking here -- RRT Chatroom and go into the RRT chat.

Well, the book I'm giving away is Wild, Wild Women of the West anthology! Come join me in the RRT Chatroom at 9:30PM Eastern Time on this Friday (June 15th) and one lucky winner will be drawn to win the book. If you like a hot book, then you're going to enjoy this book.



WILD, WILD WOMEN OF THE WEST – D. Devlin, L. Chase, M. Jackson
Kensington Aphrodisia (Trade Paperback)
ISBN – (10): 0-7582-1981-4
ISBN – (13): 978-0-7582-1981-7
June 2007
Erotic Historical Anthology


A Taste of Honey – Delilah Devlin
1880, West Texas

As soon as Sheriff Joe Tanner sees Honey, he knows she is trouble with a capital T. She rides into his small town selling all types of potions and lotions designed to do who knows what. But, it’s not really Honey’s wares that has him so edgy…it’s the woman herself.

When the meddlesome women in his town decide Joe owes Honey an apology for an incident that hurt her feelings, Joe never expects retribution to be so enjoyable.

What will happen when poor Joe gets a taste of Honey? You have to read for yourself to see. The characterization and well dispersed humor make this a really enjoyable read.

Queen of Hearts – Layla Chase
1880, Mississippi Delta

Lissa is a smooth poker player who does not hesitate to use her feminine charms to her advantage. When she sees Roarke for the first time, she immediately decides to extend to him the privilege of spending the night in her bed. Roarke eagerly accepts, and they both enjoy an orgasmic night together. The next morning, Roarke leaves Lissa, never expecting to see her again. Boy is he wrong! Not only does he see her the next day, but he realizes that she is one of his employees.

A great example of how one night of pleasure can easily turn into so much more.

Touch of Magic – Myla Jackson
1872, Abilene, Kansas

Something definitely has to be said about a woman magician who has the power to hypnotize her audience to do anything she wants. Well, Catarina Novak can do just that and decides to treat herself for a change. What better treat than to hypnotize a hunky cowboy to pleasure you?

Trace Adams’s body knows that something happened the night before with Catarina, but his mind draws a complete blank. Surely, the fake magician didn’t pull the wool over his eyes?

These two are a well matched couple whose chemistry is off the charts when they are together.

WILD, WILD WOMEN OF THE WEST provides an out of the box view of what you would normally envision when thinking of the Wild, Wild West. These stories focus on the naughty women who take fate into their own hands. The outgoing and independent heroine is a constant denominator in these stories and I admire their courage to go after their heart’s desires.

For a great read with highly entertaining plots, the WILD, WILD WOMEN OF THE WEST is an anthology I would recommend in a heartbeat.

Ariel Summer

Spotlight Review....INTO THE DARK by Cindy Gerard

INTO THE DARK – Cindy Gerard
The Bodyguards, Book 6
St. Martin’s Press
ISBN-13: 9780312-98118-1
ISBN-10: 0-312-98118-X
June 2007
Romantic Suspense

New York, Florida and Argentina ~ Present Day

Six months ago, Amy Walker had been rescued in the Philippines by Dallas Garrett and his comrades from an unthinkable horror. Amy repaid Dallas by running away. Dallas has not forgotten her, or the effect she had on him. Then, just as suddenly as she left, Amy drops back into his life, on the run from an unknown enemy. She asks for Dallas’s help, but is reluctant to reveal too much, only that someone is out to kill her. Should he risk his life, as well as his heart, to a woman who most likely will run away again?

Amy’s life has been horrific, culminating in her kidnapping and rape at the hands of terrorists in the Philippines. For the past six months, she’s been working in disguise in upstate New York while trying to search for the man responsible for the atrocities. The night she gets a lead on his location, she is run off the road and has to kill a man in self-defense. Realizing that there are likely others out to get rid of her, she heads to Dallas’s home in Florida to seek his assistance. Dallas won’t let her take off on her own again and finally forces out of her that she is after the man responsible for her kidnapping and why.

Once in Argentina, Amy and Dallas work together to locate the compound of former SS agents who want to control the world. They hook up with Jenna, an investigative reporter, and Gabe, an American rebel with a murky past. With nonstop action, these four race against time and the bad guys to defeat the plot. Meanwhile, the passion between Amy and Dallas continues to explode. If they survive, can Dallas keep Amy from running away again?

All of her life, Amy has kept the truth of her family and its history a secret. Dallas and his cohorts from E.D.E.N. Inc., a security firm, accidentally stumbled onto her while working another case in the Philippines. While she’s grateful for the rescue, Amy knew she couldn’t tell them the truth or they would be killed. But now she needs help and only one man can help her...Dallas.

Dallas has his own past to deal with, but he is lucky that he has a supportive family. Once he has Amy back in his life, he knows he cannot let her go. But they might be killed first. The case is dangerous and hard work, and much to Dallas’s surprise, Amy is not afraid of anything. Not even if it means killing another person. She has her reasons for her doggedness, and she won’t rest until the bad guys are stopped.

Cindy Gerard provides another thrilling, edge-of-the-seat romantic suspense tale revolving around the Garrett brothers and E.D.E.N, Inc. Up to this point, Dallas has been the moody brother, and from the first moment he and Amy hooked up in the previous book, TO THE BRINK, you knew they had to get together. It has taken until Book Six of The Bodyguards series for that to happen, and readers will not be disappointed. Plus, Ms. Gerard has left open the possibility of another story to be told with the introduction of Gabe and Jenna in INTO THE DARK.

With real-life characters and chilling tension, INTO THE DARK is a thriller of a book you won’t want to put down.

Patti Fischer

Visit Cindy Gerard's website at www.cindygerard.com

Catch an Interview at Romance Reviews Today!

Have you ever read the longer interviews that Romance Reviews Today does with authors? If not, catch the latest one with Suzanne Forster:

http://romrevtoday.com/Interviews/suzanne_forster_6-10-07.htm

For all the interviews, check out the archives:


http://romrevtoday.com/Interviews/interview_archives.htm

Spotlight Review on DESPERATE DUCHESSES and a book giveaway!

I'm giving away a copy of DESPERATE DUCHESSES to one lucky winner! Just post and you'll be entered to win. But hurry, since I will be drawing the winner on Wednesday night (June 13th) at 11pm eastern time!




DESPERATE DUCHESSES - Eloisa James
Avon Books
ISBN: 978-0-06-078193-4
June 2007
Historical Romance

Georgian England, 1781, 1783

The cartoon in the window of Humphrey's Print Shop depicting Lady Roberta St. Giles as having a hunched back and a single eyebrow spanning a bulging forehead has now been reproduced in Rambler's Magazine. Just in case any potential suitors might have missed the original, no doubt. Not that the artist had ever seen the young lady, but, after all, she's the spawn of the Mad Marquess, isn't she? The poem her father sends in reaction only make matters worse, for the flamboyant, unconventional Marquess of Wharton and Malmesbury is a prolific but bad poet.

Lady Roberta blackmails her father into allowing her to attend Lady Cholmondelay's New Year's ball by threatening to burn his poems, but he insists Mrs. Grope, his resident "good friend," accompany them. He also insists Roberta use the local, though incompetent dressmaker because of her several cold and hungry children. So the stage is set for Roberta's evening to fail, and fail it does, but in one thing she is successful. She sees the man she intends to have as her husband, the Duke of Villiers. The duke is a handsome, dignified, very controlled gentleman guaranteed to stage no embarrassing incidents; in short, the very opposite of the Mad Marquess. Roberta tumbles into love. It takes her well over a year and another cartoon before her campaign can begin. She finally wins her father's consent to go to London without him or Mrs. Grope.

The Duke and Duchess of Beaumont have lived apart for eight years: the duke in London as a powerful member of the House of Lords; the duchess in Paris as a popular member of the Beau Monde. Their Graces were betrothed as children and married for a very short time before an incident sent Jemma running to Paris. Though now home in London, her scandalous reputation has preceded her, but her husband's title, fortune, and influence -- and her own beauty and grace -- will prevent any doors being closed to her. Understandably, the atmosphere in Beaumont House is strained...but courteous. It is this large mansion in Kensington, because of her distant connection to its inhabitants, that Lady Roberta has chosen as a base for her campaign to capture the Duke of Villiers.

Roberta's relatives do, indeed know Villiers, and before long he and her cousin Jemma are engaged in a series of matches to decide which one is the best chess player in England...though gossip hints at another prize. The lady's husband, perhaps with his need of an heir in mind, also challenges Her Grace.

Beaumont House has two more guests in residence: Jemma's brother Damon, the Earl of Gryffin, an altogether charming and seductive man, and his bastard son Teddy, six, whom he adores. Lord Gryffin has a more serious game in mind to play with Roberta.

As Eloisa James's elegant novels are wont to do, DESPERATE DUCHESSES has an ensemble cast. It introduces a storyworld and some of the characters who inhabit it now and in future works. Ms. James does her usual excellent job of conveying the time and place with attention to authentic detail. The interaction of the characters, the sensuality and the emotions they consent to reveal, and the dialogue and the humor all work together to produce a highly literate and entertaining novel. The chess matches play an important part in the plot, not just in themselves, but also as parallels to the games of seduction.

The world of DESPERATE DUCHESSES is a sophisticated one peopled by those who have very different ideas from most of us about marriage and fidelity. For this reason, as much as I attempt objectivity, it's not easy to like some of the choices the characters make. They seem to be living in individual isolation, so wrapped up in themselves they fail to "see" each other. Or, perhaps it's their own selves they need to examine. However, readers of Ms. James already know that her people are complicated beings capable of change and growth. If not all of the conflicts have yet to be resolved, we'll just have to be satisfied by the happy ending we've been given while awaiting the next episode of Desperate Duchesses.

Jane Bowers

Visit Eloisa's website at www.eloisajames.com

Ask Five with....KATE PEARCE!!!!

If you follow this blog, you know I like to introduce readers to new authors as well as interviewed a lot of the Kensington Aprhodisia authors.

How about combining the two? Kate's first Aphrodisia book isn't out yet, but her Virgin Cheek is. (Virgin Cheek is an imprint of Black Lace...)

But before you think Naughty Kate has been real naughty, well, she writes the good kind of naughtiness. Oh, and Kate has some stories out with Ellora's Cave.

Meet...Kate Pearce!

1. What is the title of your latest release and what's it about?


It's called "Where have all the Cowboys gone?" and its from Virgin Cheek and it comes out May 29th. Here's a little blurb...
What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, unless you're Lauren Redstone. In her case a little klutziness at a hotel bar turns into an unexpected opportunity to indulge in her most erotic fantasy-sex with a real honest-to goodness cowboy. But when Lauren wakes up the next morning, she discovers she's indulged in more than a night of incredible passion-she's wearing a sparkling gold wedding band.

But Lauren's plans don't include a life-time commitment to one man. Not when she has a nice safe life with her retro props business and a firm desire to stay far away from controlling men like her father. Love isn't even a factor in her game plan. But her sexy cowboy isn't ready to fold his hand just yet. Can he convince her that true love always wins in the end?

2. How do you come up with ideas for your stories?


I dunno...it's a good question! I get inspiration from all over the place, a song, a dream, a question. and then luckily, once I get one idea, one of the secondary characters pops up and asks to have his/her story written too!

3. Which authors have influenced you over the years, whether for their writing or for their friendship?

I've been influenced by Georgette Heyer, Rosemary Sutcliff, Diana Galbaldon, Linda Howard, Mary Balogh. Personally I've been helped along the way by Claire Delacroix, JoAnn Ross and my own personal Beau Monde mentor Julia Templeton.

4. You write a variety of genres. Which one is your favorite?

Oh definitely the historicals, because I always think I was born in the wrong century and I'm trying to get back to where I should be. But I still love to write the contemporaries and futuristics as well!

5. What's coming up in future for you?

Lots! I'm hoping to have the second of the "Planet Mail" series accepted by Ellora's Cave soon. I'm also being published by Kensington Aphrodisia next year-the first book is an erotic Regency called 'Simply Sexual'

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Thanks, Kate! You can visit Kate at her website at http://katepearce.com/

Be sure and grab your copy of Where Have All The Cowboys Gone?

Something tells me we're going to need a fan while reading her books!

Spotlight Review....HELL ON HEELS

HELL ON HEELS - Julie Kenner, Kathryn O'Reilly, Dee DavisBerkley Sensation
ISBN-10: 0-425-21527-X
ISBN-13: 978-0-425-21527-2
June 2007
Paranormal Romance Anthology

After untold centuries, Satan is ready to retire. All he can think about is relaxing on a beach somewhere with a drink in one hand and a beautiful woman or two in the other. But he can't just leave the kingdom he's built unmanaged, and whichever of his kids takes over must prove to him that they deserve it. Daddy's little girls have always wanted to make him proud, and he has high hopes one of them will do just that.

Lucia's Story - Julie Kenner
Monaco - Present Day

An assassin, Lucia is the only one of her half-siblings who went into the family business so-to-speak. But centuries of killing have worn her out, and she yearns for something; she is unsure of what. But Daddy dearest has offered her something she can't refuse, his kingdom and freedom. She just has to complete one last assassination and the job is hers. Too bad her quarry has yet to make an appearance. However, the gorgeous guy she meets in the bar is more than enough to keep her busy until her target surfaces. But Dante is not a man to be easily forgotten, and when a one-night stand quickly develops into much more, Lucia will have to choose between love and freedom.

A sexy start to the anthology, Lucia and Dante are only interested in a fling to pass the time in Lucia's Story. However, the instant attraction between them tells another tale, and soon these two are making and hoping for promises they're not sure they can keep. Their secrets, initially because they never expected to see each other beyond their one night together, are big enough to stop any relationship in its tracks. What man is going to accept the Devil's daughter? But fate has something interesting in store for these two, and readers will be enchanted with the outcome.

Jezebel's Story - Dee Davis
Italy - Present Day

Jessie is basically a courier. She takes a product from point A to point B, and if the product happened to be locked in a safe to start with, it's of no consequence to Jessie. Then an unexpected client pops into her life with an offer she can't refuse. It seems Daddy Satan would like Jessie to acquire the Protector of Armageddon, a religious artifact that has just resurfaced, in return for the keys to Hell. Although it's not a prize Jessie has ever aspired to, the opportunity is not one she can pass up. Unfortunately, stealing the box will require Jessie to cross paths with her ex, David Bishop, a man who was too focused on avenging his brother's death to love Jessie. Still, she hasn't exactly been honest with him either. It's not as if she could just roll over in bed and announce her father is the devil and she is immortal. Can Jessie and David make this second chance work?

An immortal half-demon falling in love with a human can be a heartbreaking proposition as Jessie discovers in Jezebel's Story. Daniel is still as steadfast in his pursuits as always, and Jessie isn't as over him as she thought. But the race for the religious box has the appeal of completing both of their quests, Daniel for vengeance and Jessie for peace. The one question neither of these two is prepared for is are they willing to give up everything for love?

Lola's Story - Kathleen O'Reilly
Caribbean Beach - Present Day

Lola isn't one of those women who cop to the mantra: "Don't hate me because I'm beautiful." As the Devil's youngest child, she couldn't care less what others think of her. However, after centuries of seducing kings, politicians, and celebrities, Lola would love to wake up one morning next to someone who loves her. Unfortunately, her 'gift' is to steal the soul of anyone she sleeps with, and it looks as if Daddy wants her to take another one. But can she hurt the man who feels like heaven in her arms?

Beauty can be deadly as our heroine aptly shows in Lola's Story, but it can also be lonely. As the baby in the family, Lola knows the only reason her father has given her this opportunity is that somehow her older siblings have failed. But for the chance of getting rid of her gift, Lola is ready to give it a shot. Her target, Christopher 'Crash' St. Clair, is totally unexpected. Just looking at him washes Lola in feelings of safety and security. Crash has his own baggage he's dealing with, a curse that has followed his family for generations. Or is it a gift? Will Lola steal the soul of the man who has already given her his heart?

Three lovely ladies, three risky challenges, and three entertaining tales enchant in HELL ON HEELS. Who will prevail? Lucia, Jessie, and Lola all have varying strengths that make them ideal for the top position in their father's organization, but they all share one weakness...love. Of the three, Jessie's story is probably my favorite if just for the conversation where she explains her father to her boyfriend. Dante, David, and Crash are the alpha males one would expect, but they also show a sensitive side that ultimately deepens the attraction between them and their particular love interests.

A little action, lots of romance, and a bit of fire and brimstone brings HELL ON HEELS to life. Pick up a copy and check it out.

Kathy Samuels

The Reader's Corner

Name:

Renee

What are you currently reading?

Desperate Duchess by Eloisa James


What is your favorite romance genre (contemporary, historical, paranormal, etc) to read?

Historicals, but I will read contemporaries sometimes.

Do you have a “to be read” pile and if so, how many book are approximately on it?

Gosh, yes! I have around 65 on it.

If you could sit down and have lunch with five authors, dead or alive, which five would you like to be sitting there with you?

Eloisa James, because I love love her books! Also Stephanie Laurens, Georgette Heyer, Amanda Quick, and Madeline Hunter.

Name a book (and its author) that you’ve read recently that went on your keeper shelf.

The River Knows by Amanda Quick

Spotlight Review...TEMPT ME TONIGHT!

Sorry this is late, but thunderstorms moved in last night and I got offline....


TEMPT ME TONIGHT – Toni Blake
Avon Red (Trade Paperback)
ISBN-13: 978-0-06-113609-2
ISBN-10: 0-06-113609-3
June 2007
Contemporary Romance

Eden, Indiana – Present Day

Trish Henderson left her hometown of Eden fourteen years ago for college, leaving behind her boyfriend, Joe Ramsey, whom she dumped when she couldn’t give him what he wanted and he sought it elsewhere in the arms of another woman. Now a successful attorney, Trish has returned to Eden to help facilitate the sale of her parents' restaurant. Her intentions are to do it quickly and leave town before she comes face to face with Joe. But fate has another idea.

Joe tried to put his feelings for Trish behind him. He knows what he did was stupid, but he’s matured. When Trish waltzes into the bar, his heart does a somersault. She’s all grown up and sophisticated…and just as beautiful as ever. But why would city girl Trish now want to look at small town guy Joe?

At first, Trish tries to ignore her continued feelings for Joe, but then she changes her mind. She decides, instead, to make up for the night they never had fourteen years ago.

Reunited lovers/friends always makes an appealing story and in TEMPT ME TONIGHT, the couple doesn’t have to go through the discovery phase of getting to know each other. Instead, the smoldering heat between Joe and Trish is real when they meet again. In their case, love never died, it only hibernated. Joe is still as sexy as sin and bad as ever (at least in straight-laced Trish’s mind) so he should be off limits for her. But she can’t resist a little taste of what she missed by not having sex with Joe all those years ago, plus exact a bit of revenge by walking away from him when it’s over. Alas, once may not be enough…

Joe has tried to live down his bad boy reputation, but it’s hard to do with the past providing haunting memories for him. In fact, he’s really respected by those around him, though one look at Trish has him ready to grab her and show her his wild side. Once these two get together, the fireworks shoot off, as the attraction burns hotter than a volcano. Hmm…will they ever get enough of each other…and be able to walk away, their hearts unscathed?

Small town life, teen sweethearts who never got over each other, along with some super spicy love scenes are only a part of TEMPT ME TONIGHT. Toni Blake proves once again she’s a master at blending memorable characters with a page-turning plot in a book I can highly recommend. Just a bit of advice from me: Be prepared to finish this book in one sitting as, once you pick up TEMPT ME TONIGHT, you won’t want to put it down.

Patti Fischer

The winner of TEMPT ME TONIGHT is......

The winner of TEMPT ME TONIGHT is....Nichole I !!!!!!!!!!!!
Congrats!!!

Email Patti at fisc40pa@aol.com with your name and address and I'll get the book out to you!!!!!!!!!!!

&&&&&&

Meanwhile, be sure to check out the latest reviews over at Romance Reviews Today!