Our hero, former spymaster Christian Hawkes, has just regained consciousness (after an attack) in a strange room—unbeknownst to him, at The Grand Palace on the Thames, a boarding house on the docks—when he notices the room’s doorknob turning, and…   He was just about to shake out his shirt so he could drop it over his head when something glinted moved his peripheral vision.  He pivoted sharply. The doorknob was slowly turning. He realized he’d already subconsciously scanned the room for weapons when he at once seized the lantern as the best likely projectile. He could hurl it or bludgeon with it. His breath suspended, his every muscle locked and cocked like a loaded pistol, he watched that doorknob complete its revolution and the door open soundlessly, because of course the doors wouldn’t creak at The Grand Palace on the Thames. A young woman slipped into the room and gently, slowly closed the door. He noted slim shoulders. A long neck. The way her dress poured in a lyrical line from her shoulders to waist to sweetly flaring hips instantly communicated something primal to his groin. Her brown hair shifted to dark gold when she turned into that beam of…

1–What is the title of your latest release? I’M ONLY WICKED WITH YOU. It’s the third book in the Palace of Rogues series. 2–What is it about? Hugh Cassidy is the battle-hardened son of a bastard, raised in the wilds of New York. Lady Lillias Vaughn is the sheltered, blue-blooded darling of the London broadsheets, destined to marry a duke. Their worlds collide at The Grand Palace on the Thames, a boarding house near the docks—and the war between them ignites when Hugh catches her smoking a cheroot and tattles on her to the Earl of Vaughn, her father. While their mutual attraction is incendiary and unwelcome…they’re absolutely at its mercy. But little by little, spark by spark, they begin to learn truths and vulnerabilities in each other that no one else in the world has ever uncovered. When their inevitable soul-searing indiscretion threatens to destroy their futures, Hugh comes up with a plan to unravel their entanglement…and the brutal truth is the best way to love her might be to break his own heart. 3–What do you love about the setting of your book? Everything! I’m having the best time writing the stories set at The Grand Palace on…

The third book in Julie Anne Long’s critically acclaimed, Rita-nominated, Best of 2016 Hellcat Canyon series is here—and the reviews are extraordinary: from Romantic Times… A RARE Five-Star GOLD review (a book is in a class by itself): “Just when you think you can’t fall deeper in love with Hellcat Canyon, along comes Avalon and Mac. Hilarious and touching…flawlessly executed, DIRTY DANCING AT DEVIL’S LEAP is easily the most romantic read of the summer.” from Publishers Weekly… A STARRED review: “…the best of the series so far…sparkling banter, adorable children and animals, and moments of charming hilarity will gratify both new and returning readers.” from All About Romance… A rare “A” Grade and DESERT ISLE Keeper status: “I started after dinner one evening, expecting to read a few chapters before getting ready for bed. The book gods laughed at that one, y’all, because the next thing I knew it was midnight and I was nearly hugging my Kindle for love of this book.” THE STORY… She was a naive country girl. He was a billionaire’s spoiled son. He was her first crush, her first heartbreak…and now her sworn enemy. As Avalon Harwood’s fortunes soared, Maximilian “Mac” Coltrane’s plummeted, and he…

Julie Anne Long’s latest novel WILD AT WHISKEY CREEK releases today. To make the characters feel real, Long spent time curating the perfect playlist to inspire her writing. She stopped by Fresh Fiction to share her secrets. Long, Long Time — Linda Ronstadt We first meet Glory at an open Mic night in HOT IN HELLCAT CANYON, and this is the song she riveted the audience with…and walked out in the middle of…when she saw Eli standing in the doorway. We learn in Wild at Whiskey Creek that this is the first time they’d seen each other in nearly a year. She knows this beautiful song of unrequited love is one of Glenn Harwood’s favorites, and she loves to make crusty Glenn cry. Hey Hey What Can I Do — Led Zeppelin Pivotal to the story, this Led Zeppelin song is a bit of a paradox—enormously popular on FM radio, it was the flipside of The Immigrant Song but never appeared on any album, so it’s nearly impossible to buy it or own it. It’s the White Whale for many Led Zeppelin fans. Glory catches Eli singing this off key at the top of his lungs in his car when…

Happy Thursday, ladies! Thanks for stopping by to share a few minutes of my WHAT I DID FOR A DUKE release tour with me. 😉 I’ve been having a wonderful time so far—I’m so thrilled and touched by the astonishing reviews—the Perfect 10’s, the Starred Review from the Library Journal, the Desert Island Keeper status from AAR, A grades from Dear Author and other bloggers, the Top Picks….everyone has been incredibly lovely about it. I love the story, so this makes me indescribably happy. 🙂 Let me tell you a little bit about the story, in case you haven’t had a chance to read it yet: WHAT I DID FOR A DUKE, the 5th book in my Pennyroyal Green series, is the story of what happens when the powerful, dangerous Duke of Falconbridge, he of the mystery-shrouded reputation and reputed black heart (he poisoned his wife, they say), embarks on a campaign to avenge a great loss and betrayal, for the one thing London society knows about him for certain: no one crosses him without consequences. When Ian Eversea does just that, the duke believes the punishment should fit the crime—which means the duke has plans for Ian’s youngest sister,…