There are few figures in recent American history that are as well loved and recognized as Dr. Maya Angelou. Even though she has departed this world today at the age of 86, Angelou’s vibrant spirit echoes on through her art. Angelou dedicated her life to spreading hope, combating prejudice, and fostering the belief that regardless of race, class, or gender, every person holds the right to live, and live fully. Through her writing, Angelou became a voice for the oppressed, and through her presence, she inspired everyone who knew her. Her poetry and memoirs express her profound resilience and passion for life, encouraging anyone who read them to persevere, cling to truth, and refuse to be broken by adversity. Angelou wrote in her famous poem “Still I Rise”: You may write me down in history With your bitter, twisted lies You may trod me in the very dirt But still, like dust, I’ll rise. Angelou was born Marguerite Johnson in 1928 in St. Louis, Missouri, and grew up among heavy segregation in Arkansas. Before she became recognized as a poet and writer, Angelou was known as a performer, traveling America and Europe as a dancer and singer in the 1950’s….

The sensational third novel in Joan Johnston’s Western Romance Mail-order Bride series is part of her Bitter Creek series. A DESPERATE DECEPTION THE PROMISE OF FOREVER When Karl Norwood’s mail-order bride meets an untimely demise on the way to the Montana Territory, Hetty Wentworth steps in to take her place. Hetty has no idea how she’s going to pretend to be all the things she isn’t—including the mother of two kids. She only knows her deception is necessary if she’s going to save two orphans from the awful fate she suffered as a child. Karl smells a rat when a much younger woman than he was expecting arrives with two children who look nothing like her. But his mail-order bride is so beautiful, he doesn’t object—until he realizes that his charming new wife has been lying . . . about everything. Can a woman forced to keep secrets and a man hindered by distrust ever hope to find happily ever after in each other’s arms? Bitter Creek series Texas Bride Bitter Creek #1 Wyoming Bride Bitter Creek #2 Montana Bride Bitter Creek #3

The application to be an Avon Addict (Group 4!) has just gone live. For those who don’t know, the Avon Addicts program is a “super-reader” program by Avon Romance, and it lasts for approximately six months, during which Avon Addicts get exclusive access to author chats, events, blog tours, books, galleys and more. The application—and more info on the program—can be found here

For a limited time, fans of historical romance will have the opportunity to read Sabrina Jeffries’s charming new short story, “Dorinda and the Doctor,” for free by purchasing an exclusive Walmart version of her latest novel, When the Rogue Returns (Pocket paperback, On sale now!). Doctor Worth made his appearance in What the Duke Desires, the launch book in the New York Times bestselling author’s Duke’s Men series about a Regency-era missing persons agency. Readers who prefer their books in digital format will also have a chance to enjoy “Dorinda and the Doctor,” but they will have to wait until this summer, when it comes out on Kindle, Nook and iBook for only $0.99. For more information on Sabrina Jeffries and her addictive books, visit the author at www.SabrinaJeffries.com, Facebook and Pinterest.  

Our Raffle Chair, Pat Richardson, is pleased to tell us the prizes for our annual Boas & Tiaras have started to arrive. Our 12th Annual Boas & Tiaras will be held on Saturday, June 14th 1pm to 5pm and is one of our bigger fund raisers for Plano Family Literacy, besides giving us the opportunity to polish our tiaras and don them for a fun afternoon visit with readers and  favorite authors enjoy tea with scones and other delicacies without calories (only on special tea days) If you would like to join the fun by contributing a raffle basket or items for a basket, please contact Pat. She’s got all the details! We hope you can join us in June as we celebrate our 12th Boas & Tiaras. Tickets are available. Authors wishing to join us for the tea and signing are welcome too! Sign up today!  

Check out our feature on Kirkus Reviews: Merry Christmas everyone! I’m confused: Why do people insist on putting the Twelve Days BEFORE Christmas instead of starting on the 25th of December? The twelve days start with the manger and end with presents from the wise men. I want to ask, don’t they read historical romances? Surely, we’d all know the right days if more people read historical romances. Now to be honest, I had to look up Twelfth Night the first or second time I saw it in a novel, and yes, dear reader, that was before Wikipedia, so I used this thing called a dictionary. I know, I know, I age myself all the time, but I love my dictionary. It’s filled with all these interesting facts and a mini history of how words evolved and how they were used over time. But back to the subject: The Twelve Days of Christmas. In Europe and the countries to our south, Christmas Eve just kicks it all off. There should be celebrations and parties and good food, and they should start with Christmas. Not end on the 26th with after-Christmas sales. Really, there should be massive celebrations happening now through…

You know when spring arrives thanks to two things: We lose an hour of sleep, which I’ll always hate, and South By Southwest occurs. But what does “South By” (or SXSW) have in common with books, or even more pertinent, with romance readers? Well, I’m here to provide my thoughts. Romance readers are a curious bunch: We’re different from mainstream readers since we’re predominately women, and we’re also very inquisitive. Romance represents the cutting edge of fiction with stories and tales that push the boundaries of what’s real. Yes, our fiction is considered by academics and others as escapist. But who cares? I love when I’m buried in a great romance. I don’t care if the book’s universe is off-planet or inhabited by shapeshifters or even filled with historical situations and characters that would never have existed according to some know-it-all. I’ve got my real-life feet planted firmly on the ground, but I LOVE my times when I lose myself in a book. Read the rest

This week we’re offering up a healthy dose of romance in the form of hot-blooded cowboys, sensual chefs, and sex club sinners. Not necessarily in that order! ALL THE WAY   First up, Jennifer Probst‘s ALL THE WAY packs a one-two punch in the form of one fired-up, sexy, Italian chef and an unrealized love that got away: What is it about chefs… Food critic Miranda Storme gave up on ever seeing Gavin Luciano again. Nor did she actually want to, not after their steamy, intense affair ended before it could begin three years ago–when he bolted. Now he’s back and Miranda has the pleasure of offering the restaurateur a little well deserved payback…in the form of a scathing review of his restaurant. After all, what is it they say about revenge? Revenge is a dish best served…the first chance you get! Gavin has three months to turn his family’s struggling Italian restaurant around and make it a success. A bad review is his worst nightmare come true. But, Gavin knows this isn’t just about a failed meal, and knows what he must do. Realizing his mistakes, Gavin is determined to spend the next eight weeks proving himself to Miranda…

Yesterday, Harlequin released a press release revealing a seven–figure two–book deal with bestselling author Sylvia Day, which will launch a new line of books, ‘Cosmo Red Hot Reads from Harlequin’. The two books are going to be titled, Afterburn (available August 15, 2013) and Aftershock (available November 15, 2013), which will feature two “fun, fearless Cosmopolitan–type heroines as well as delicious, dangerous heroes,” states Sylvia in the press release. About Sylvia Day: Sylvia is a #1 New York Times bestselling author and #1 international bestselling author of more than a dozen award–winning novels sold in 39 countries. Best known for her erotic Crossfire series (featuring BARED TO YOU), a main competitor against 50 Shades of Grey. Author’s website: www.sylviaday.com Link to Press Release About ‘Cosmo Red Hot Reads from Harlequin’: Harlequin will publish two original ‘Cosmo Red Hot Reads from Harlequin’ per month, beginning in August 2013. The novels will feature strong narratives centering on modern young women living the free–spirited and outgoing lifestyle espoused by the international magazine. The ebooks will bear both the Cosmopolitan and Harlequin logos on their covers and will be shorter in length (approximately 30,000 words per title). Available wherever e–books are sold. Click for…

How have our romances changed in the last ten years? Because tastes rarely stay exactly the same in our reading, television, music and art, and romance fiction is really no different. The basics are still there but what changes? I wrote about the war affecting our characters in this week’s Kirkus Reviews. Check it out! I love to talk about it. I had an interesting and very thought-provoking book club this week–after the tragic sniper shooting in Texas of best-selling writer Chris Kyle, the conversation turned to the heroines in our books. The realization as a nation that we’ve spent over 10 years at war is unsettling. Most of us know at least one family who has been directly affected by one of the wars, and it became apparent that even our reading has changed. Perhaps subtly, but if you look back 10 years you can see patterns. First, our heroines’ occupations are no longer the secretary or assistant, but they are the doctor, the pilot, the police officer or in the case of most urban fantasy or paranormal romances, the woman is the primary protagonist and kicks ass. Our heroes aren’t just covert organization mystery men, but Special Forces…