Urban Fantasy…April takes you to celebrity-mad London, to the boarding school where the students aren’t quite just “normal” and roommates are hard-to-handle. Or take a trip to Georgia, it’s different than expected. All this and more in April Urban Fantasy… Richelle Mead, SUCCUBUS SHADOWS (Kensington, 3/30/2010, $15.00) Georgina Kincaid’s already complicated life just got a whole lot messier. Her new roommate is stirring all kinds of sexual tension. Adding to her angst, she’s being recruited to help plan the wedding of her ex, Seth–and she keeps getting visited by a shadowy force trying to draw her into the dream world. When she finally succumbs, Georgina is captured by dream demons intent on sapping her power. But when Seth turns out to be the only one who can find Georgina and bring her back, all kinds of new questions arise. And the answers will change her world forever. Patricia Briggs, SILVER BORNE (Ace, 3/30/2010, $24.95) (A Mercy Thompson Novel #5) When mechanic and shape-shifter Mercy Thompson attempts to return a powerful Fae book she’d previously borrowed in an act of desperation, she finds the bookstore locked up and closed down. It seems the book contains secret knowledge–and the Fae will do…

The showers of April will probably be required when you take a look at some of the HOT books on sale now. From feral beasts to dangerous rakehells you’ll find a little special treat. Kate Douglas, Kathleen Dante, Devyn Quinn, SEXY BEAST VIII (Aphrodisia, 3/30/2010, $14.00) Kate Douglas headlines a brand-new collection in which fierce, feral men aim to fulfill every woman’s most carnal desires. In “Chanku Spirit,” Anton travels to Florida with Stefan, his lover, and Matt, one of the newest Chanku in a quest to learn more about their sensual shapeshifter history. There they find the goddess who gives their erotic birthright meaning, but only Matt is powerful enough to discover the amazing secrets this mystical woman possesses. Julia Templeton, VICTOR (Aphrodisia, 3/30/2010, $14.00) Rakehells of Rochester In the second book in Julia Templeton Rakehells of Rochester trilogy, a rake without a conscience sets out to seduce a virtuous widow, but realizes it is he who has been seduced, heart and soul. Jean Johnson, BEDTIME STORIES (Berkley Heat, 4/6/2010, $15.00) Jean Johnson doesn’t disappoint with her re-tellings of classics such as Beauty and the Beast, The Frog Prince, Puss n’ Boots, and Sleeping Beauty. Jean Johnson reinvents classic…

Charlotte McNally Mystery #4 February 2010On Sale: February 1, 2010Featuring: Charlotte McNally400 pages ISBN: 0778327973EAN: 9780778327974Mass Market Paperback$7.99 Romance Suspense, Mystery Amateur Sleuth Buy at Amazon.com Drive Timeby Hank Phillippi Ryan Investigative reporter Charlotte McNally is an expert at keeping things confidential, but suddenly everyone has a secret—and it turns out it is possible to know too much. Her latest scoop—an expose of a counterfeit car scam, complete with stakeouts, high-speed chases and hidden-camera footage—is ratings gold. But soon that leads her to a brand-new and diabolical scheme. Charlie’s personal and professional lives are on a collision course, too. Her fiancé is privy to information about threats at an elite private school that have turned deadly. Charlie has never counted on happy endings. But now, just as she’s finally starting to believe in second chances, she realizes revenge, extortion and murder may leave her alone again—or even dead . . . . An exciting and complex plot makes this thrilling mystery a must-read. Excerpt I can’t wait to tell our secret. And I’ll get to do it if we’re not all killed first. We’re ten minutes away from Channel 3 when suddenly the Boston skyline disappears. Murky slush splatters across…

Reading…it’s something I’ve had to do every day since before I can really remember. Reading is so fundamental, to quote a literacy ad campaign, I can’t imagine life without it. In fact when my eyes shut down for a week I remember not the physical pain but the agony of not being able to read. I felt isolated, depressed, and very uneasy with life. So when I got a groaning sensation in my head because I had “mandatory reading” to do this week, it was time to reflect. And also time to think about books…in general I always read at least one fiction book a day. It helps me settle down so I can go to sleep. This is my shut down period and I’m seldom so tired I can’t read a good part of a book. Even if I’m up till 3am to finish some work. So. like so many addicted readers, I have a stash of books in most rooms I use in my house: kitchen, living room, family room, dining room, bedroom, bathrooms, and hall. You never know when you’ll have a moment to read so better be prepared is my motto. And I take advantage of…

Sharon’s Cozy CornerAll about the cozy mysteries: interviews, reviews, books When women have a common interest, it is a delight to gather and discuss elements of that interest with each other. Book clubs, knitting groups, and sewing circles are just a few examples of these types of groups that encourage friendship and companionship. Elizabeth Lynn Casey is the author of a delightful new series of cozy mysteries , the Southern Sewing Circle Mysteries, that features a close-knit of vivacious ladies who stitch and solve crimes when they put their heads together! Elizabeth’s first book, SEW DEADLY, came out in August, 2009 to rave reviews. Her second novel, DEATH THREADS, is due to be released in May, 2010. Elizabeth Lynn graciously agreed to be interview for this humble column as she was hurrying to the Southern Kentucky Book Festival in Bowling Green, Kentucky, and we talked about her books, her writing, and her influences. Sharon: At what age did you know that you wanted to be a writer? Elizabeth: I was just ten-years-old when I got bitten by the writing bug. And by bitten, I mean BITTEN. I was playing at a friend’s house on a rainy day. We’d run out…

Shanna’s Road Journal Shanna Swendson’s Observations … On Line and On the Road It’s 2010, do you have your e-reader yet? The iPad has made its appearance, joining the Kindle, the Sony e-reader, the Nook and a variety of other reading devices. While I’m far from a luddite, I don’t have an e-reader yet, for a variety of reasons. One is price. I don’t generally spend hundreds of dollars easily for much of anything. The other is that I have the kind of luck with technology that means that whatever I buy will turn out to be the equivalent of the Betamax, and it will be discontinued after I have about five books on it. I will likely wait for the next generation of devices to see how things shake out — or until I write a bestseller and can buy lots of fun toys. I generally think about e-readers when I’m packing to go on a trip, as I am today. I can’t travel without at least one book, and for quick trips, I like to pack as little as possible. That means I have to pick just the right book to bring with me, something that will last…