Fresh FIction Box Not To Miss
Fake Romance Turns Into Real Love
Romance / August 7, 2018

One of my favorite romance tropes is the “fake romance-turned-real” trope. It is often called the “fake engagement” trope, but with contemporary romances it is more common to find characters who are in need of a fake boyfriend or girlfriend. A story with this classic trope can often incorporate other favorite tropes, such as “friends to lovers”, “enemies to lovers”, “marriage of convenience”, and others. I adore the farcical elements in romances that have a fake relationship that turns real. “Only the best for my fake boyfriend. Unless you’re fake breaking up with me, in which case I’ll be taking my gourmet takeout elsewhere.” – ONE OF THESE NIGHTS by Kendra Leigh Castle With traditional fake relationship stories, I put them into three basic categories: The first category typically involves a friends-to-lovers theme, or stories in which the two people involved are friendly and work together in a way that is peaceful and that they enjoy. Another category involves strangers who meet and decide to have a fake relationship out of convenience. Finally, you also have a situation in which two people have a somewhat contentious relationship but for whatever reason decide to put on a ruse of romance. In…

Delish Drummers and the Women Who Love Them!
Romance / June 20, 2018

I blame Fred Astaire. Years of listening to records entranced by the sublime staccato of his tap dancing made me naturally inclined toward a hero who can keep a good beat. There are a lot of romance novels featuring rock stars of every type. While reading Brooklyn Ann‘s recent book TEMPTING BEAT, I began thinking about just how many of my favorite books have diverting and delicious drummer heroes. “For life can be delish With a sunny disposish” Ira Gershwin “You know, you can be kind of intense sometimes, Malcolm Ericson. You come across as this happy-go-lucky-type dude most of the time, but you are in fact a man of many layers.” —PLAY by Kylie Scott I love a charming and witty hero. Mal Ericson, from Kylie Scott’s Stage Dive series, is the first drummer hero I read about. It’s easy to see immediately why Mal, a fan favorite, is still talked about years after his book PLAY came out. Mal’s manic energy, good humor, and highly amusing sexual confidence is vastly entertaining. Anne Rollins is fighting a losing battle trying to resist Mal’s charm once he picks her to be his fake girlfriend. Over the course of PLAY, Anne…

What was in the Fresh Fiction Box Not to Miss – August 2017
Romance / August 8, 2017

August’s Fresh Fiction Box Not to Miss is full of hot new books! All boxes included FUEL FOR FIRE by Julie Ann Walker, as well as a mix of romance, suspense, and women’s fiction. Selection Fuel for Fire by Julie Ann Walker A brooding covert operative and a spunky CIA agent discover a burning passion in the next installment of Julie Ann Walker’s red-hot BKI series Dagan Zoelner has made three huge mistakes The first two left blood on his hands. The third left him wondering…what if Read More » There is plenty of fuel in this fire The world might need him but he needs her. Selection The Pleasures of Passion by Sabrina Jeffries Complete with the signature charm, “delectably witty dialogue…and scorching sexual chemistry” (Booklist) she is known for, New York Times bestselling author Sabrina Jeffries is back with the fourth romance in the Sinful Suitors series! When Niall Lindsey, the Earl of Margrave, is forced to flee after killing a man Read More » Selection So I Married a Sorcerer by Kerrelyn Sparks The second book in one of the freshest, most breathtaking fantasy romance series to come along in years! Growing up on the Isle of Moon, Brigitta…

Hot, Smart Reads from Entangled Publishing
Romance / August 16, 2016

Hot, Smart Reads from Entangled Publishing THE BEST FRIEND BARGAIN by Robin Bielman Kindle Barnes & Noble iTunes Kobo Olivia has a plan guaranteed to get her life back on track. A plan that involves her best friend, Danny. But put best friends under one roof, add house rules begging to be broken, accidental nakedness, and pancakes in bed, and what started as a marriage between friends threatens to turn into the real deal…which would ruin everything. QUANTUM by Jess Anastasi Kindle Barnes & Noble iTunes Kobo Someone wants Captain Admiral Zander Graydon dead. Like yesterday. Zander’s convinced his attractive assistant knows more than she’s willing to say, and if he can stop running long enough, he’ll find out exactly what she’s hiding. Lieutenant Marshal Mae Petros is determined to keep her CO safe. Before she tips her hand, however, Mae has to figure out if the alluring man she’s protecting is the real Captain Admiral Graydon. Or an alien shape shifting imposter. RANDOM ACTS OF MARRIAGE by Boone Brux Kindle Barnes & Noble iTunes Kobo Overly efficient bridesmaid Kinni Corbet has a to-do list for every occasion. When the bride-to-be adds “relax and have some fun” to the schedule,…

Did You See the April Fresh Fiction Box Not To Miss!
News , Readers , Romance / April 6, 2016

Can you believe it’s already spring? Our Fresh Fiction Box subscribers are enjoying the great weather with these latest releases. April’s Print Books: Every box included RELATIVITY by Antonia Hayes plus a random selection of 2 other new releases: Take Me, Cowboy by Maisey Yates A Cowboy’s Claim by Marin Thomas Want Ad Wedding by Cheryl St. John One More Night With You by Lisa Marie Perry A Fool and His Monet by Sandra Orchard Annabel Lee by Mike Nappa Brighton Belle by Sara Sheridan Murder in an Irish Village by Carlene O’Connor April’s eBooks: Everyone received all 4 Dangerous Gentlemen by Beverley Oakley Naked Choke by Vanessa Vale Motion for Madness by Kelly Rey Sugar Daddy by Sawyer Bennett April’s Special Keepsake: First Aid Kits from Sandra Orchard You can sign up for the May shipment and get a box full of new books delivered to your door! What would you want to read first? Let us know on Facebook and Twitter with #FFBoxNOTtoMiss!

Miranda Owen | The Antihero in Romance: The Most Unlikely Hero
Romance / February 17, 2016

I’m a comic book fan, and that’s where I first heard of a character described as being an antihero – discussed at some length in the pages of multiple comic fanzines. The comic book universe is full of non-traditional, disaffected loner, sometimes morally ambiguous, and often reluctant, heroes. These characters have an appeal for many reasons, but I think largely it’s because they tend to be mavericks. In romance novels, I think of the antihero protagonist as “the most unlikely hero”. “Goes with the whole King of the Badasses. Kind of hard to lead an army of the damned if I’m the King of Nice.” —Sherrilyn Kenyon, NO MERCY About NO MERCY #1 New York Times bestselling author Sherrilyn Kenyon brings us back to the electrifying world of the Dark-Hunters and introduces us to a brazen heroine for whom there is NO MERCY Live fast, fight hard—and if you have to die, take as many of your enemies with you as you can. That is the Amazon credo and it was one Samia lived and died by. But today, in contemporary New Orleans, the immortal Amazon warrior is about to learn that there’s a worse evil coming to slaughter mankind…

Two New Bliss Releases available today
Romance / March 10, 2014

At Entangled’s Bliss line, we’ve always focused on telling amazing stories of modern women and men, finding their happily ever after in a small-town setting and with the help of their families and friends. We love focusing on the emotion, the feelings, and the fun associated with falling in love for the first—and last—time. We’re thrilled to announce two new stories coming in March sure to melt readers’ hearts: HER SUMMER WITH THE MARINE by Susan Meier and STEALING THE GROOM by Sonya Weiss. Susan’s is the story of long-time rivals Finn and Ellie, who are pitted against each other once again when their competing businesses both need new customers in order to survive. Sonya’s is the story of long-time best friends Chad and Amelia, who end up in a precarious situation when Amelia “steals” Chad away from the altar, sure he’s marrying the wrong woman for the wrong reasons. Two stories full of the emotion, humor, heartwarming moments, and relatable characters that have come to define Bliss. We’re particularly excited, however, to announce that Susan’s novel will be the first in an expansion of the Bliss line called Red-Hot Bliss: the same focus on the nice, but with a…

This Week In Romance: Lauren Dane, Ruthie Knox and Kelly Jamieson
Romance / March 25, 2013

This week in romance it feels like spring has finally sprung, doesn’t it? Don’t know about you but we’re feeling the spring fever itch already and that means the time is right to load up with some great sexy-smart romance reads and enjoy them in a favorite outdoorsy spot under the warm spring sun. LOST IN YOU   First up this week is just released LOST IN YOU (Petal, GA #2) by Lauren Dane; a forbidden older brother’s best friend love story with a sure to please hero who’s stood up to his share of life’s demons only to find himself bested by one fast-talking Southern gal. Joe Harris has had to work like the devil to make good and live down his not-so-honorable past, but he knows his time in the military has made him a better man. He’s back in Petal, GA, making up for past mistakes, determined to right his wrongs, and that includes coming home to care for his ailing father. Things are going according to plan until his best friend’s little sister barrels into his life like a one-woman wrecking ball and Joe finds himself defenseless in a way he’s never felt before. She’s quick-talkin,…

Fresh for your After Valentine Reading
Romance / February 24, 2013

With Valentine’s Day still fresh in our hearts, we can enjoy several charming, sexy, new to paperback love stories to help keep the romance flowing. First, there’s a second shot at first love, the much talked about upcoming sequel in Shannon Stacey‘s ALL HE EVER DESIRED (Kowalski Family series #5) due February 26th from Carina Press. ALL HE EVER DESIRED Rather than watch Lauren Carpenter marry another man, Ryan Kowalski decided after college to leave Whitford, Maine, but now his siblings need his help to refurbish the family-owned Northern Star Lodge. Ryan is quickly forced to face the past sooner rather than later when he catches a vandal only to learn the boy is Lauren’s son… The last person Lauren needs back in her life is Ryan Kowalski. She has enough man trouble already with a bitter ex-husband and a moody teenage son. But fact is- her son needs to learn a few lessons about right and wrong. As a result, Lauren finds herself escorting him to Ryan’s door every day to work off his debt and atone for his crime. In close contact, Ryan and Lauren can’t deny the chemistry between them is more powerful than ever. Still, can…

Sizzling in July
Romance , Sensual / July 13, 2011

The weather is hot. . . and reading one of these erotic tales could make it even hotter. WOLF TALES 10, Kate Douglas (Aphrodisia, July 2011 $14.00) Aphrodisia’s bestselling author does it again, with another sizzling, no-holds-barred installment in the unstoppable Wolf Tales series. NEED ME, Shelli Stevens (Aphrodisia, July 2011, $14.00) From the author of Take Me comes a sexy new futuristic romance that pits seductive soldier on a mission against the man guarding the very thing she needs. LEGALLY HOT, Lora Leigh, Cheyenne McCray and Red Garnier (St. Martins Press, July 2011, $7.99) Three of today’s top writers of romantic suspense want you to meet a few good men who are so hot, it’s criminal. HOPE’S KISS, Angela Knight (Red Sage, July 2011) Detective Hope Barton finds the man she loves bloody, naked and locked in a cage. When he lunges for her throat, she realizes Mark Wilder has become a vampire. Worse, he’s dying of the Thirst: a raging need for blood. After Hope is locked in with Mark, she must use all her sensual skills to reawaken the man inside the beast. Only then can they defeat the master vampire determined to make Mark his partner…