Margaret Mallory's December release, KNIGHT OF PLEASURE, is the Grand Prize Winner as best 2009 cover in the historical category in the "Judge a Book by Its Cover" Contest, run by Houston Bay RWA Chapter and judged by booksellers. Congratulations, Margaret!
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Speaking of covers, Carrie Lofty's SONG OF SEDUCTION, coming in June from Carina Press, Harlequin's new all-digital venture, has just been released. The official cover blurb text will be coming soon, but you can read more about it here.***
Michelle Styles has amassed a few great pieces of news. First, her Regency IMPOVERISHED MISS, CONVENIENT WIFE won the Cataromance Reviewer's Choice Award for best M&B Historical 2009. 
Also, A NOBLE CAPTIVE is now available direct in the US. You can pre-order it here, complete with its lovely new cover!***
Lindsay Townsend's Egyptian-set BLUE GOLD received a wonderful review from the Historical Novel Society.
***The sands of Townsend's Egypt are blood-soaked, and the halls of her palaces echo with lust and intrigue--and yet, the most interesting part of her novel is how real, how human all of her characters feel (even the supernatural ones). Even while you're booing and hissing her villains, you're fully informed as to their motives and might even sympathize a little. Part of this effect can be attributed to Townsend's keen ear for dialogue and phrasing--and the effect is so strong that when all the book's grandstanding and conniving and personal drama has concluded, readers will be mildly shocked to be reminded that the whole delightfully complicated business happened three thousand years ago. That's praise indeed.
Join us Sunday when Unusual Historicals will chat with debut author Erica Ridley. She'll be discussing her Regency-set gothic romance, TOO WICKED TO KISS, and giving away a copy. Don't miss it!***
We'll also draw the winner of MY FAIR VIKING from Sandra Hill's recent guest appearance. You still have time to leave a comment or question for your chance to win.***
And stay with us through the coming weeks when we'll be featuring the best unusual historical authors! Lisa Marie Wilkinson, Elizabeth Lane, Lorelie Brown, and Deborah Schneider will be our guests. We hope you'll join us!
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Have a good weekend! Remember, you don't have to be an Unusual Historicals contributor to submit good news to the weekend announcements. If it has to do with unusual historicals, we'd love to shout it out to the world! Send announcements to Carrie. See you next week...
