Weekly Announcements - 3 Jan 09

Carrie Lofty's debut, WHAT A SCOUNDREL WANTS, received a B+ review from All About Romance. Lynn Spencer writes:

While WHAT A SCOUNDREL WANTS is really part-legend and part-historical, the author creates a very convincing England-that-might-have-been. Fans looking for a romance with both a good relationship and a meaty, satisfying story should check this one out. I enjoyed visiting this world, and the emotional payoff at the end was wonderful. There is a sequel that appears to be set in medieval Toledo coming out in 2009. I fully intend to read it.

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Jacquie Rogers' DOWN HOME EVER LOVIN' MULE BLUES received a quality review from Susiq2 of SingleTitles. She writes:

I am so thrilled to discover this book, and the author who wrote it. I adore romantic comedy. Rarely do I locate a story with as much humor, joy, and downright lust spread so thickly on the pages that I am surprised that I could turn the pages. DOWN HOME EVER LOVIN' MULE BLUES is a treasure not to be missed. Thank you, Ms. Rogers, for all of the laughter, and joy that you bring to the reader of your fabulous book.

Also, Jacquie was featured on Book Talk, and she posts weekly on craft over at Texty Ladies. This week's topic is "Write What You Mean."

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Jennifer Mueller has collected a number of updates over the holiday season, including the first look at the cover of A RUINED SEASON, a Regency release schedule for April from Robert Hale.

Sophie Greenwood went to London to have her season hoping to find a husband. If only they had told her father lost all his money and mother claimed her sum was still intact, but gossip spreads quick all of London already knew Baron Canmore's scandal.

Now two years later, will Sophie ruin another season? No one seems to want to make staying scandal free an easy task. Almost everywhere she turns someone is trying to make her the laughing stock. Only the mysterious Mr. Kittridge not caring that no one should want her acquaintance makes the situation bearable. Fleeing London once more is her only option, but after a second ruined season what hope is there for a life of her own?

In other news, two of Jennifer's books have been nominated for a CAPA at The Romance Studio: ANCIENT WALLS in the Romantic Suspense category, and EGYPTIAN DAYS for a special Psyche award.

Among Jennifer's upcoming releases are SAMBURU HILLS, a re-release of her Kenyan historical, on 1/18, TILL DEATH DO US PART, a re-release of her 1600s-set pirate story, on 1/29, and a modern story set in Ireland on 2/5. HAVANA HOLIDAY and ANCIENT WALLS will also go to print soon. Congrats!

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Join us tomorrow when Ryshia Kennie will be here to talk about FROM THE DUST, set in 1935 Saskatchewan.

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We'll also draw the winner of Michelle Beattie's WHAT A PIRATE DESIRES. There's still time to leave a comment for your shot at winning!

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Have a good weekend and a fantastic new year!

If you have an announcement to make for next week, email Carrie. See you next week...

Weekly Announcements - 17 May 08

Bonnie Vanak received a great Booklist review for The Scorpion and the Seducer, which called her writing "splendidly sensual and delightfully different."

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Jennifer Mueller received a "Top Pick" review from Romance Readers at Heart for "Havana Holiday" and a B Review from Dear Author for "Egyptian Days" and "Egyptian Nights." Jayne of Dear Author writes:

One thing I know is that I'll always get something new and different when I begin one of your stories. I realize I mention the unusual settings you utilize in almost every review but I appreciate it so darn much that it just has to be said.

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Join us Sunday when Michelle Moran will be discussing her gorgeous novel NEFERTITI and giving away a free copy!

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We'll also draw the winner of a copy of Jan Scarbrough's My Lord Raven. Leave a comment for your shot at winning.

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Have a good weekend. If you have an announcement to make for next week, email Carrie. See you next week...

Havana Holiday Winner

We have a winner for Jennifer Mueller's Havana Holiday giveaway: Ray Getzinger! Contact Jennifer to get your free e-book. Your prize must be claimed by next Sunday or another winner will be drawn. Please stop back later to let us know what you thought of her novel! Congratulations!

New Release: Jennifer Mueller

Our guest for Sunday Promos this week is our long-time contributor Jennifer Mueller. Her newest story is called Havana Holiday, set in 1930s Cuba, released through Red Rose Publishing.

Is it true, what happens in Havana stays in Havana? Five women are about to find out...or are they?

Five stories, 4 days, 3 nights, 2 times the fun, and 1 heck of a good time. Dahlia, Eve, Nora, Alice, and Marianne; when five women who work together in depression era Boston save up for a trip of a lifetime to decadent Havana, anything can happen. With seductive Latin men and rich vacationers at every turn who wouldn't enjoy dancing till dawn, the parties, the nightclubs, the beach, the gambling, and there’s always more than one side to a story.

Who can ask for more--fun, sun and hot men to tempt and tease?

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Where do you find your inspiration for your characters? Your settings? Your storylines?

I tell the story differently than most. It is five stories from the five women all telling about the same four day period. I actually wrote Eve's story as a stand alone, but was told it was too short for a publisher, so I went, well heck! There are four more women and all sorts of things hinted at but never explained because it was all Eve's story. In looking at all the resources, several mentioned the old guide books for Havana and so each of the women ended up with one of the entries as their theme. Eve is dancing, Dahlia is music, Marianne is gambling, Nora is naughty nights, and Alice is seeing the island. Their adventures all mingle together though. You can't read it thinking that they are all separate, characters pop up from one to another, plotlines too. Dahlia for instance is being followed and almost kidnapped, but only by reading the other stories do you find out the whole story.

How did you choose the 1930s for your story's setting?

I never wanted to write about the revolution and all that. With it still in essence being an issue, it seemed a hot topic. But 20 years before that, Havana was a decadent city, full of anything goes. It really is what leads up to the whole revolution in fact. Batista the president let the American mafia in to run the casinos because they had lost so much business due to becoming so corrupt, and no one wanted to go. Batista was living like a king on kick backs and profits from the mafia-run casinos, while most of the country had nothing, and they fought back. By the end of the 1930s, Havana was literally a mafia town. They held big meetings of different families even. It seemed a perfect time to really write a story.

What is the hardest part of setting a story in this time period?

Well there are all numbers of people alive today who would still remember the era. I was worried all the time that I would get something wrong and be told so. I found out I have a half Cuban woman on my Yahoo group and I asked her to look it over for the Spanish. When she was done she told me it sounded exactly like the stories her parents told her about the old country so I think I got it right and my Cuban slang should be authentic too.

What unusual historical is next for you?

I have quite a few but this is the newest:
Ghosts in the Night
Ceylon 1923
Andrew Townsend survived the trenches only to come home to find most of his family had died in their relative safety. When the last uncle dies and leaves him a plantation in far off Ceylon, he drops his life in London and sets out for a new life. Only he finds out the past doesn’t let him go so easily. With a lay about friend tagging along, and not to mention a case of shell shock that brings to mind the war at every turn, he's more ghost than man. But the woman across the way, as much a ghost as he, is able to help the visions of war as everything he knows is falling apart. Digging up long dead secrets is the only option and it's enough to get them killed.

If you weren't a writer, what would you be doing?

I have a degree in forestry and a travel agent certificate. I've been a stay at home mom of the last seven years, so I'm actually looking into a job again now that my daughter is in school. Well see what happens.

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Thank you so much for having me as a guest, and please visit my website to see more about my books.

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Prize Draw: Leave a comment and you're in with a chance to receive a copy of Havana Holiday. The winner will be chosen at random next Sunday. Be sure to check back next week to find out who has won!

Weekly Announcements - 12 Jan 08

Sorry I'm late! Here goes:

Carrie Lofty's short story "Sundial" has received a solid review from The Good, the Bad and the Unread:

It's like Picasso does time-travel romance. I will be sad if it misses the audience who will enjoy it because it definitely isn't for everyone. It will be a gem for those looking for something unusual. I'll be looking for more from this author.

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Jennifer Mueller's novel Samburu Hills has been named one of Dear Author's best ebooks of 2007.

Also, Jennifer's newest release "Havana Holiday," a novella set in 1930s Cuba, was released this week.

5 stories, 4 days, 3 nights, 2 times the fun, and 1 heck of a good time. Dahlia, Eve, Nora, Alice, and Marianne; when five women who work together in Depression-era Boston save up for a trip of a lifetime to decadent Havana, anything can happen. With seductive Latin men and rich vacationers at every turn who wouldn't enjoy dancing till dawn, the parties, the nightclubs, the beach, the gambling, and there's always more than one side to a story.

Who can ask for more, fun, sun and hot men to tempt and tease?

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Michelle Styles' ninth book, A Question of Impropriety has been accepted by Mills & Boon. It's the story of Diana Clare, who fled back to Northumberland after her fiance was killed in an infamous duel, and Brett Farnham, the Earl of Coltonby, a notorious prince of rakes and who has won the neighbouring estate in a horse race.

It will be out in November 08 in the UK, US date tbd.

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Join us Sunday when our guest will be Harlequin Historicals author Elizabeth Lane, whose book On the Wings of Love received a very good review from Dear Author and was one of their January recommended reads. Elizabeth will do a Q&A, and our own Delia DeLeest will offer her review. Don't miss it!

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Have a good weekend. If you have an announcement to make for next week, email Carrie! See you next week...