Geez, it’s August in Texas and in our part it’s been over 100 degrees since sometime in July. If I was feeling crazy, I’d actually track it, but trust me on this one, I’d prefer not to know how long it’s been this hot! And the news keeps coming…migraines go up some kind of percent for every degree over 100° like that is information I wasn’t already aware of! So, the bottom line is, it’s hot, stay out of the mid day sun, do the best you can to stay civilized. Well, for me that means, catch up on a little reading. I got two great books this week: THE RED QUEEN by Philippa Gregory and NEMESIS by Lindsey Davis. A little secret, I know you love those, but I feel in love with Falco when I saw an old Saturday movie with Bryan Brown. I know Ms. Davis loathes that movie, apparently took lots of liberties with her books but it introduced me to Marcus Didius Falco and I went out and bought EVERY SINGLE book I could find in the series, even spent an obscene amount of money on out-of-print editions and then bought them from the UK…

Perennials #1 July 2010 On Sale: July 1, 2010 ISBN: 1601547544 EAN: 9781601547545 Paperback Add to Wish List Women’s Fiction Buy at Amazon.com Summer Iris by M. Kate Quinn At fifty, Iris Stanton’s divorced, out of a job, and her post-marriage condo is for sale and she can’t afford to buy it. So, when her crazy best friend, Yvonne, offers her the use of a beach cottage for the summer, Iris combines the opportunity with a plan to resolve her pending homelessness. At the shore Iris meets two men–flirtatious contractor, Sam Hanratty, whose attention makes her heart mambo, and his hulky foreman, Eddie Morgan, who gives her heartburn. It’s a summer of challenges that reveal her heart’s desire and the discovery of whom and what hold the key. Excerpt The only time in my life that ever turned out like it does in the movies, of course, was now. Eddie put the key into the lock, gave it a good hard twist and it opened easy as pie. Sadly I didn’t have a pie on me, because the look he gave me deserved a pie to be tossed right smack in his face. As he handed the key back to…

My Dragonfire series features heroes who are dragon shape shifters. That means they’re hunky guys one minute, and fire-breathing dragons the next. (And yes, this is tons of fun.) I’ve always been crazy for dragons and always have loved shifter stories. To me, this was a natural combo. Just to give you a bit of background, the idea of the series is that my dragon shifters (the Pyr) defend the treasure of the earth and are the guardians of the four elements. They’ve been around for millennia, and as you might imagine, they’ve had their spats with each other. They tend to be independent, opinionated and often hot-tempered. They are, however, locked into the final battle for the defense of the earth, against the Slayers — which are Pyr who have turned bad. Because these are romances, there needs to be a love story, too: when each Pyr meets his destined mate, sparks literally fly. That meeting, which occurs once in a lifetime and signals the opportunity to create a son, is called the firestorm. It’s not an easy interval for the Pyr hero – he has to romance his destined mate; convince her that when she sees him turn…

I am incredibly honored to introduce you to Carolyn Haines – writer extraordinaire, animal lover, and a pretty good gal all around! Carolyn writes the Sarah Booth Delaney mystery series, and her latest book, BONE APPETIT, continues the adventures of a Southern gal who is tough as nails and smart to boot, and her haint, Jitty, the ghost from Sarah’s family past. Before she began her mystery writing career, Carolyn spent nearly a decade as a journalist, qualities that she brings to her lively who-dun-its now. Now residing in Alabama, where she lives on a farm with three horses, four dogs and five cats. Did I mention that she was an animal lover? Taking a break from a summer tour promoting her new book, Carolyn was kind enough to take some time to answer a few questions. Sharon: At what age did you know that you wanted to be a writer? Carolyn: My parents were both journalists AND story tellers. I grew up in the perfect home for a would-be writer. Although the central focus was on facts and digging out the truth, writing of all types was valued in my home. Writing and reading. I published my first newspaper…

As a writer, I am always looking for ways in which to fine-tune my craft. From professional groups such as Romance Writers of America (which I highly recommend) to educational seminars that teach how to avoid common first-time writing blunders, there are myriads of lessons to be learned, and there is always room for improvement. Not only is having the right tools an essential part of the process, but also having the desire to succeed is critical to a writer’s success. This month’s Corinne Demas touches upon this very topic in her latest release THE WRITING CIRCLE. It’s a fascinating story about a group of eclectic writers who come together on a literary journey like none other. From their diverse viewpoints comes a unique story with an unexpected twist. Emotional yet engaging, this novel is a must- read for every person who has ever contemplated becoming a writer. As part of this interview, Hyperion Voice has generously donated five copies for you, my favorite readers, to try to win. So, don’t forget to look for the trivia question at the end. I hope you are enjoying the last days of summer. Happy Reading! Jen: The path to publication a writer…

Happiness Key July 2010 On Sale: June 29, 2010 Featuring: Janya Kapur; Tracy Deloche; Wanda Gray 400 pages ISBN: 0778327701 EAN: 9780778327707 Paperback $13.95 Add to Wish List Women’s Fiction Buy at Amazon.com Fortunate Harbor by Emilie Richards When you’ve got friends, anything is possible Join five women connected only by their growing friendship and the road that runs like a lifeline between their cottages in a run-down Florida development called Happiness Key. Tracy Deloche finally gets a chance to swap business for a romantic evening with Marsh Egan, but dinner goes cold when she spots her ex-husband prowling outside her cottage. CJ is supposed to be in prison and out of her life for good. Exactly what is this modern-day pirate seeking and what will it mean for Tracy’s future? Janya Kapur envies every pregnant woman she sees, but Rishi, her husband, is suddenly reluctant to talk about children. Is he disappointed in her inability to conceive? Their marriage was a contract between strangers. Can they ever hope for anything more? Waitress Wanda Gray loses her job after new owners turn the Dancing Shrimp into a tapas bar. Wise neighbor Alice Brooks‘s suggestion that Wanda start her own business…

Fresh Pick is PROMISES TO KEEP by Jane Green http://tinyurl.com/6f9npl # Winston is helping to set up for tonight's DFWTea book club. He's got his seat ready http://twitpic.com/2fyhrb # @SummerSharp you know that is SO Winston. He's starting a stash under the dining room table in case by miracle he's allowed to stay for BC in reply to SummerSharp # @SusanVLewis trust me, Winston knows and loves the book club ladies but he's not allowed out until 9pm Some still save food for him. LOL in reply to SusanVLewis # Powered by Twitter Tools

Calling all wanna-be studs! Have you overheard your significant other say this? “My man is great, but he would be the whole package if only he were more romantic.&mquot; What do you do? Hang your head in shame or beat your chest to prove your prowess? Do you buy a bottle of wine and grill her a lean piece of meat? Maybe pick up a bouquet of flowers in the grocery store? . That’s all well and good, big spender. But I, Gracious Jane Marie, author of historic romantic suspense, have discovered the perfect game plan for growing your romantic muscles. It requires only a pair of eyes, a sports magazine and a paperback romance novel to tuck inside it! Romance novels are the encyclopedia of love. Here you will learn what women want and how to give it to them: a tender word when all seems lost, a nuzzle to comfort a broken heart, perhaps a clever line with which to tease and flirt. So long as she hasn’t read the same book, you’re set. On the other side of the bed, as it were, if your guy imagines himself too macho to actually go to the store and…

June 2010 On Sale: June 15, 2010 352 pages ISBN: 0670021792 EAN: 9780670021796 Hardcover $25.95 Add to Wish List Fiction Buy at Amazon.com Promises To Keep by Jane Green From the New York Times bestselling author-a momentous new novel about a family suddenly thrown together Callie Perry is a successful family photographer living in upstate New York. She adores her two daughters, has great friends, and actually doesn’t mind that her workaholic husband gets home at 9 p.m. every night-that is, when he’s not traveling six months out of the year. Callie’s younger sister, Steff, on the other hand, has never grown up. She’s a free spirit, living in downtown Manhattan and bouncing between jobs and boyfriends. Lately, she’s been working as a vegan chef, even though she can’t cook. Lila Grossman is Callie’s best friend and has finally met the man of her dreams. Eddie has two wonderful children, but also a drama queen ex-wife who hates Lila. And then there are Callie and Steff’s parents, Walter Cutler and Honor Pitman. Divorced for thirty years, they rarely speak to each other. The lives of these colorful characters intersect when they each receive a shocking note that summons them together…

Carly Carson blogs "Austria Has SOOOO Much to Offer … and not just studel" http://tinyurl.com/2aze6tb # Fresh Pick is THE HOUSE ON OYSTER CREEK by Heidi Jon Schmidt http://tinyurl.com/27ownr7 # Just a short ad: if you're in N. Texas, want to improve your blog, this is the weekend for you! http://tinyurl.com/23mwjxc OpenCa.mp # just a thought, gives me a little shiver every time I see another 100 followers. It's exciting, ah the little joys. Thanks all! # RT @sandishilhanek: RT @ReadersNRitas You can book your hotel rooms using the "RNR" code for rooms starting at $79 http://fb.me/BsRrQp8O # DFW Tea Readers Book Clubs was updated, menu additions for Beverly Barton. http://meetup.com/u/f4t # @DakotaCassidy Yup, we're going to Twisted Root. You're not sick are you? Because I saved myself for a Twisted Root burger! in reply to DakotaCassidy # @thehistorychic get better, because you've got book club tomorrow and you CAN NOT BE SICK (or miss the fun, we'll yak about ya) in reply to thehistorychic # After extraordinary wait & loss of my chili burger 2x enjoyed a green chili cheese burg — at Twisted Root Burger Co. http://gowal.la/r/23aYE # @thehistorychic well, not lost as much as some guy took…