Fresh FIction Box Not To Miss
Great Opportunity for Romance Readers – Join Avon Addicts
News / April 2, 2014

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

Read a brand new short story by bestselling Regency romance author Sabrina Jeffries for free!
News / March 13, 2014

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.  

Boas & Tiaras 2014 – Raffle Prizes Arriving Daily!
News / March 10, 2014

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!  

Kirkus Reviews | Twelve Days of Christmas
Author Guest , Kirkus Reviews / December 27, 2013

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…

Kirkus Reviews | SXSW: For Lovers of Film, Music and, Yes, Books!
Kirkus Reviews / March 20, 2013

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

Chefs, Cowboys, Sex Club sinners…Romance This Week
News / March 15, 2013

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…

Seven-figure contract with author Sylvia Day & Harlequin
News / March 13, 2013

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…

Kirkus Reviews | War changes our romances
Kirkus Reviews / February 15, 2013

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…

Time for Vampires Gone Wild!
News / February 15, 2013

Two bestselling paranormal romance authors team up with two hot new, soon-to-be stars in this vampire-filled anthology. Kerrelyn Sparks, Pamela Palmer,  Amanda Arista, and Kim Falconer are all teaming up to give readers what they want—Vampires Gone Wild! V is for VampWoman by Kerrelyn Sparks Pamela decides to shed her prim and proper ways for spandex and a mask to help fight the Malcontents. Now if only she wasn’t so distracted by the sexy vampire fighting by her side… A Forever Love by Pamela Palmer Trapped in Vamp City, Lukas has been unable to return to the beauty who stole his heart. But now that she stumbled into his world, it will take every ounce of cunning he possesses to keep her alive. First Dates are Hell by Amanda Arista Valiance’s first date in a hundred years is going great…until they’re attacked in the parking lot and quiet, unassuming Esme turns out to be way more than she appears. Blood and Water by Kim Falconer Beneath the waves of San Francisco Bay lives a vampire race who wants nothing to do with the “landers” except to feed on them. But when Stellan sets eyes on Angeline, everything changes. *** About…

Kirkus Reviews | Fresh Fiction: The Harlequin Bachelor Cover Competition
News / January 17, 2013

Yes, I got into it. Poor friends, not only did you have to hear me spout off at book club, which by the way was a delightful evening with our guest Julie Ann Walker and filled with forbidden foods (yummy, pancakes!) but it also devolved into a roaring conversation on when authors share TOO MUCH! But sticking today’s topic of the week, what do YOU think about the collaboration of our beloved Harlequin books and the reality show THE BACHELOR? Check it out on Kirkus Reviews and tell me what you think! Read the article