Latest Winners!

 

We have new winners!! 🙂 Congrats to everyone who won!

TeresaW.

Wendy (suchalush)

Maureen

Each won a copy of In The Warrior’s Bed by Mary Wine. Many thanks to Mary for her generosity! There was originally going to be one winner of her post but after so many of your commented, she’s offered three copies for three winners.

KaraC.

Won a copy of Here Comes Trouble by Donna Kauffman.

Becky Jean

Won a book off Jennifer Ashley’s backlist. You can find the list here to pick the book you’d like: http://www.jennifersromances.com/NewSite/seriesorder.html

Raelena

Won a copy of Ecstasy Unveiled by Larissa Ione.

Sadly, we have an uncliamed prize from last week. I never heard from the second winner of Courtney Milan’s post so the new winner of Proof by Seduction by Courtney Milan is..

QuiltLady

You all know the drill, email me your address at mad @ romancereaderatheart.com (without the spaces) within 48 hours or new names will be chosen. 🙂

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Larissa Ione: can you believe it?

A Demon Enslaved…

Lore is a Seminus half-breed demon who has been forced to act as his dark master’s assassin. Now to earn his freedom and save his sister’s life, he must complete one last kill. Powerful and ruthless, he’ll stop at nothing to carry out this deadly mission.

An Angel Tempted…

Idess is an earthbound angel with a wild side sworn to protect the human Lore is targeting. She’s determined to thwart her wickedly handsome adversary by any means necessary—even if that means risking her vow of eternal chastity. But what begins as a simple seduction soon turns into a passion that leaves both angel and demon craving complete surrender.

Torn between duty and desire, Lore and Idess must join forces as they battle their attraction for each other. Because an enemy from the past is rising again—hellbent on vengeance and unthinkable destruction.

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Demons. Not everyone loves them… can you imagine?

Yeah, me neither.

But in Ecstasy Unveiled, I took my demons a step further, and created a hero who is not only a demon, but an assassin.

Now, for most people, the word, “assassin,” does not conjure images of a cuddly, gentle teddy bear of a hero.

But I love them. I eat up Anne Stuart novels like popcorn with danger-flavored butter.

I recently said this about the assassin hero:

I love the promise of a dark, dangerous, alpha male who can take care of himself – and the woman he loves. I love how he’ll fight to the death for those to whom he’s loyal. I love how he’s the silent soldier, the highly-trained behind-the-scenes guy who does work others don’t have the stomach to do. He’s the guard dog we tread carefully around because he’s a little scary, but we also respect him because those very traits that make us fear him are the ones that keep the wolves (and, in my hero’s case, werewolves!) at bay.

We might not be able to do his job, but we are thankful that he can.

So yes, he may walk a fine moral line, but that’s what makes him so fascinating.  That’s what makes him the type to fall hard when he finally does fall for the strong heroine who stands up to him.

So, in Ecstasy Unveiled, I bring a demon assassin to the table, a man whose moral line is something he’s struggled with. When Idess, an angel who makes him confront the not the bad person he’s been, but the good person he could be, he sees something in himself he never thought existed.

And he realizes he can finally have something he’d been afraid to hope for; love.

What about you? As a reader, do you enjoy reading about heroes who struggle with their morals. I love them, so I’d love some reading suggestions if you have them!

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Thank you, Ms Ione!

Leave a comment to enter a drawing for a signed copy of Ecstasy Unveiled, the latest in Ms Ione’s Demonica series. You can check the previous titles in Ms Ione’s website.

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Jennifer Ashley: the birth of a series.

Twenty years ago, shape shifters of all kinds banded together and announced themselves to the world, only to be shunted to areas no human wanted (“Shiftertowns”). They are forced to wear Collars that control their hunting and fighting instincts (referred to by Shifters as “Taking the Collar”).

Liam Morrissey is currently liaison between the Shifters of Austin, TX, and the humans of the city. Kim Fraser, attorney, finds herself in the unique position of having to defend a Shifter on a murder charge.

She ventures to Shiftertown to seek out Liam’s help, and there stumbles across too many secrets the Shifters want kept secret. The un-mated Liam is forced to protect Kim against the wrath of his clan leader and his own father, and to his surprise he discovers a powerful attraction to the sassy, sexy lady.

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I’m so thrilled this week to launch the first book in a new shape shifter series. Pride Mates started with a germ of an idea I got while driving to the airport to attend the Emerald City conference in Seattle in October of 2008.

What happened was, I saw a couple of good-looking construction workers working on the side of the road (hey, if you’re going to be inspired, what a way to go). I started imagining them as brothers, as a close family that lived together and worked together. All males, several generations of them, but no women. Why? I wondered. What happened in this family?

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Currently Reading?

I have been a slacker in posting what I’m currently reading on the sidebar. Bad me. I’m just about to start NO PRINCE CHARMING by Shiloh Walker. What’re you all reading today?

Her Happy-Ever-After has been a long time coming… 

Elle spent years trying to get over her so-called Prince Charming, and she’s finally getting the hang of it. A Grimm—a guardian angel with unique gifts—she spends her nights trolling for demons and kicking ass, and lately, her days have been spent with her on-and-off-again lover, Ren, a fellow Grimm. But fate has other plans in store for Elle, plans that include Michael, the prince from her youth who broke her heart. 

“What do you choose…live for her? Or would you rather die?” That was the choice Michael was given all those years ago. Although he knew she’d never forgive him, when Michael was given the chance to become a Grimm, he took it. Still, he isn’t so sure Elle needs him in her life. With a lover at her side and a mission before her, Elle looks like she’s doing just fine without him. 

But the not-so-charming prince isn’t going to back off that easily…not if there’s a chance she might need him again. He’d do anything to save her. Kill for her, live for her, die for her… 

This dark, twisted version of Cinderella involves demons, deceit, desire, and debauchery between a princess and two sexy guardian angels, both determined to win the fair Cinderella. 

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Donna Kauffman likes trouble

GET LUCKY

A child of Vegas, Brett Hennessey knows about luck–especially the bad kind. But when this poker superstar hops on his Harley to outrun Lady Misfortune and ends up at a pretty B&B run by an even prettier proprietor, he can’t help thinking he’s stumbled onto a winning streak…

Sure, Kirby Farrell’s new B&B ski lodge opened to the warmest winter in Vermont history, but fate brought her a bad boy on a hot bike and settled him into her best room. She’s still broke, but the view across the breakfast table has definitely improved…

Only now Brett’s past has finally caught up to him. He has two choices: run again–and lose the best hand fortune’s dealt him yet. Or stay and risk everything for something he never thought would come his way…

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I like writing about trouble.  I especially like putting my heroes and heroines right in the middle of it.  However, writing a story about Brett Hennessey, the reigning bad boy rock star of the professional poker world?  Was anything but trouble.  In fact, it was a ton of fun!  But what’s not to love?  Here’s a guy who makes winning look easy, but feels at a total loss when trying to figure out what he’d really like to be doing with his life.  The thrill is gone, if it was ever there, but when certain folks aren’t happy about his pending retirement from the sport, he hops on his Harley and heads east, drawing the attention away from those he cares for the most.   He doesn’t stop until he finds himself winding through the mountains of Vermont where he spots a unique Victorian little B&B that looks like the perfect place to hole up and do a lot of thinking.  Instead, after less than an hour on the premises, he saves the innkeeper from breaking her lovely neck, and finds himself the adoptive father of a feral kitten.  He’s definitely not in Vegas anymore!

But while Brett finds nothing but trouble as the only guest at Kirby Ferrell’s brand new establishment, he does his best to keep trouble from following him.  What do you want to bet he’s not entirely successful at that part?  But he’s found something special in the Green Mountains of Vermont.  Himself.  And, very possibly, the one person he’d like to share his new possibilities with.  Trouble?  Sure.  But worth every minute of it!

If you pick up a copy, I hope you enjoy the ride!   And if any of you are Cosmo Girls, check out the excerpt of the book in the March issue!

So… while I’m here, I have some additional advance news for those of you who have been asking me (okay, at times it sounded like whining, but that was particularly effective, so you’re forgiven!) if I’m ever going to head back the hills of heather and kilts.  Well, I have the answer you’ve been waiting so patiently (right!) for.   Coming the end of May, Some Like It Scot will land on the shelves and it will launch a brand new Scots hero series.  I know!  Whining works!   Then, right after my next Christmas anthology hits the stands (The Naughty List, October.  And the title?  Definitely appropriate.) you’ll be able to track down your copy of the next Scottish installment, Off Kilter.  Best play on words ever and so perfect for this story!  And, of course, as soon as I have any information on the next one, you’ll be the first to know.  Check out my daily blog at www.donnakauffman.com/blog for all the immediate and droolable details, including upcoming cover art… and a chance every week to win a free book!

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Thank you for visiting, Ms Kauffman!

Leave a comment to enter a drawing for a copy of Here Comes Trouble.

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For Laughs! Ecstasy Unveiled and Hold On Tight Trailer

A Book video made by Larissa Ione celebrating her book release of Ecstacy Unvieled and Stephanie Tyler’s Hold on Tight.

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Paula Quinn Contest News!

Head on over to Paula Quinn’s website and sign up for her newest contest. Two winners will win an ARC of RAVISHED BY A HIGHLANDER. How yummy is this cover?!

FORBIDDEN LOVE

Davina Montgomery is no ordinary English lady. For her own protection, she’s been locked away from society, her true identity the Crown’s most closely guarded secret. Until a shocking betrayal—and a bold rescue—land her in the arms of a fierce Highlander, a powerful warrior whose searing gaze and tantalizing touch awaken her body and soul.

UNDENIABLE DESIRE

As the firstborn son of a powerful Scottish laird, Robert MacGregor has no loyalty to the English throne, but he’s not the kind of man to leave a woman in distress, even if she is English. He vows to deliver Davina to safety, unharmed and untouched. Yet one stolen kiss leaves them both smoldering with desire…and desperate for more. With Davina’s secret threatening to destroy his clan, Rob must choose between everything he holds dear and the one woman he can’t live without.

RAVISHED BY A HIGHLANDER

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Mary Wine: In The Warrior’s Bed is almost here!

In this irresistible follow-up to her captivating debut, In Bed With a Stranger, Mary Wine revisits the McJames clan–their loves, their battles, their conquests…

Cullen McJames will not have his honor sullied, certainly not by his clan’s nemesis Laird Erik McQuade. So when McQuade tells the Court of Scotland that Cullen has stolen his daughter’s virtue, Cullen steals the daughter instead.

Since his brother wed a fetching lass, Cullen’s been thinking he too needs a wife. A marriage could end the constant war between the clans. And looking on Bronwyn McQuade but once has put her in his dreams for a week…

But Bronwyn won’t go quietly. She won’t be punished for what she did not do. Nor is she eager to live among the resentful veterans of McQuade wars. And however brave and beautiful a man Cullen may be, he has much to learn about a woman’s fighting spirit. But as Bronwyn will discover, he has much to teach her as well.

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Hello Everyone-

I’m tickled to be here. In The Warrior’s Bed is coming your way this week. As I was looking through my files, I realized that I turned the book in last Jan. Getting my hands on the final paperbacks is a little bit like having a baby… you know it’s coming but until you hold it, you don’t feel the true wonder of the moment. In The Warrior’s Bed is a follow up to In Bed with a Stranger and it tells the tale of Cullen McJames. He did a lot of teasing in In Bed With A Stranger and I admit I had fun seeing him fall in love. I hope you all enjoy it and please drop by my website to see what else I’ve got coming this year.

Thanks!

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Thank you for visiting, Ms Wine!

Leave a message to enter a drawing for a copy of In The Warrior’s Bed

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Winners, winners and more winners!

 

Congrats to all the winners! Enjoy your books! 🙂

Marelou and LindaH.

Both won a copy of Mr Fitzwilliam Darcy: The Last Man in the World by Abigail Reynolds.

Amy Kathryn

Won a download of TURN IT ON by Vivian Arend. (Email me your preferred format, Amy)

LauraR. and ChelseaB.

Each won a copy of Proof by Seduction by Courtney Milan.

Cecile

Won Carolyn Brown’s Lucky trilogy.

Wanda and Limecello

Each won a copy of Breakfast in Bed by Robin Kaye.

And finally, so sorry for the delay, I completely forgot to do this before I signed off last night. The winners of the three copies of COMING UNDONE by Lauren Dane that I have are —

Edie

Jackie

Incident

and because she rocks in stepping in when I need blog help and because she’s a very dear friend, I’m sending a 4th copy to my buddy,

Azteclady. 🙂

 

You all know the drill, email me your address or preferred format (Amy), at mad @ romancereaderatheart.com (without the spaces) within 48 hours or new names will be chosen. 🙂

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Robin Kaye on wrting heroes and heroines who don’t like each other.

The third funny, sexy, contemporary romance from a fresh new voice in romance fiction

Rich, the epitome of “anti-domestic,” can’t cook to save his life, and his idea of cleaning his apartment is to invite his mother over. But he’s ready to settle down, and he can’t stop thinking about the ex-girlfriend who got away. When he notices that his soon-to-be-married friends cooked and cleaned their way into their women’s hearts, he asks his friend Becca to help transform him into a nurturing man to win back his ex.

Rich is the only guy who’s taken the time to know Becca for herself. She decides she’ll give him the makeover he’s asking for, though she’ll be damned if she’s going to turn him into a domestic god for another woman. She wants Rich for herself, but how can she convince him that her kitchen and her bedroom are the only domestic locales he desires?

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People are like onions­—they have lots of layers. I enjoy removing one layer at a time as I write my characters, discovering their true natures. This process is so much fun for me and hopefully you, the reader, when the characters dislike each other right from the get-go.

Writing heroes and heroines who clash gives me great conflict to work with right from the first page, and enough sexual tension to propel the plot forward. It’s one of my favorite plot devices and allows me to peel away those layers.

In Breakfast in Bed my hero and heroine don’t like each other when they first meet. Okay, Rich Ronaldi has nothing against Rebecca Larsen. But for Becca, it’s definitely dislike at first sight. When she finds out that, through no fault of her own, she’s stuck sharing the same apartment with Rich, all she can think of is how to get rid of him. Her apartment is her sanctuary, her escape from the social demands of family life and Brooklyn. Only now her sanctuary is occupied by a cocky guy who is too handsome for his (or her) own good.

Likewise, Rich isn’t happy that Becca has moved in. But when his girlfriend breaks up with him because he’s not relationship material, and his boss hints that it might be a good time for him to grow up, Rich takes a page from his Brothers-in-law’s books and decides to become a domestic god. He talks Becca into becoming his coach in return for a temporary home. He’s aware Becca doesn’t like him and decides to enjoy himself. Rich takes great pleasure in ruffling Miss prim-and-proper-ice-princess’ feathers and the fun begins.

I’ve always thought that love and hate are two sides of the same coin. You know if there’s enough emotion for people to really dislike the other, there’s enough emotion for the opposite to happen.

When Becca finds herself coaching Rich in the Domestic Arts in order for him to win back his ex, a whole set of new complications arise. She discovers the hero lurking under all those layers of cockiness.

Rich is so busy going after his ex, he is slow to realize that the woman he wants is right in front of him.

Rich and Becca, who seem destined to despise each other, are really a romance ready to happen. The fun is in getting them to realize it. Here is an excerpt:

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