And the winner is…Taryn R! Congrats to you, Taryn. Just e-mail me with your choice of one of my first four books and your snail mail addy, and I’ll get your prize mailed out sometime next week. Thanks to everyone who commented. May you all receive everything on your Christmas list. 
And don’t forget to scroll down to check out Cindy’s post for today.
It’s been a busy little month for me. And now it’s all culminating in my second release in 30 days. Today, EVERYTHING FORBIDDEN hits shelves.
There are a lot of things that excite me about this book. I really love my hero and heroine, Ethan Hamon and Miranda Albright. I liked creating an innocent heroine, who also had some kind of handle on her own desire. A woman who sacrifices something for her family, but refuses to be a martyr. And then there is Ethan. He’s one of the hottest heroes I’ve ever written, I think. I mean, he’s steamy. LOL He really likes sex, but when it comes to Miranda, he’s lost.
But I think the thing that excited me most about EF is that it’s my first full-length erotic romance. I’ve been writing erotic romance since 2003, when I wrote my first novella, “Ancient Pleasures”. But I’ve always felt like the shorter novellas and short stories fit my voice best. But when Avon asked for a couple of full-length books, I took the challenge.
Now I just hope you like it. 
So have you ever wanted something that was forbidden? Did you get it? Someone who posts a comment today will win a book from my Jess Michaels backlist (SECRETS 11, SECRETS 12 or PARLOR GAMES, your choice).
And scroll down to see the winner of Shana’s contest.
The winner of the signed copy of Blackthorne’s Bride is Helen! Congrats Helen!
Email me at shana@shanagalen.com with your address and who you’d like me to sign the book to, and I’ll pop it in the mail to you.
Thanks to everyone who entered. If you didn’t win, visit my website later today. There will be a new contest up and another chance to won a copy of Blackthorne’s Bride.
It’s here! Almost! I’m so, so excited that Blackthorne’s Bride is hitting shelves tomorrow. I’ve said for a long time that I think this is my best work yet, and I hope you agree.
You’re reading this for the inside scoop, right? So let’s dish.
This is the third in my Misadventures in Matrimony series, and it focuses on Lady Madeleine, daughter of the Earl of Castleigh. Maddie is completely fed up with her overprotective father as well as dowry-hungry suitors pestering her with marriage proposals. She’s decided to solve both of her problems by eloping to Gretna Green with a sweet but bumbling dog breeder. Unfortunately, Maddie’s adventure-starved cousin Ashley figures out the plan and decides to crash the elopement.
In the meantime, Jack Martingale, the Marquess of Blackthorne, is having trouble with his incorrigible brother Nick. Nick has just insulted the powerful Duke of Bleven, and he’s managed to drag Jack into the feud as well. When the Black Duke shows up for retribution, his own private army in tow, the Martingale brothers don’t stick around. They hop in the first carriage they find: Maddie and Ashley’s carriage.
This is a fun, fast-paced story that’s based on a true story of a Gretna Green elopement gone awry. I tell the true story in the Author’s Note at the back of the book, but suffice it to say it involves two couples and a drunk anvil priest.
What else?
I’ve been looking forward to writing Maddie’s story because I’ve always wanted to buck the clichés and write a heroine who did not want adventure. Maddie just wants to be a wife, mother, and philanthropist. She doesn’t enjoy the risky escapades her cousins in The Spinster’s Club cook up. So of course that means Maddie has to have the biggest adventure of them all.
Jack Martingale is one of my favorite heroes. He doesn’t want to care about Maddie or his annoying brother or anyone but himself. He doesn’t want to save anyone. But no matter how hard-hearted he tries to be, he can’t make it stick. Jack’s an unwilling hero—and isn’t that just the sexiest kind?
Think about buying Blackthorne’s Bride tomorrow. I promise you won’t be disappointed. And one lucky reader will win a signed copy. All you have to do is go to the excerpt on my website and answer this question in the comment section below: What is the name of Maddie’s fiancé?
I’ll pick a winner tomorrow and announce it on the blog. Good luck!
…Stefanie D. Congrats, Stefanie! E-mail me with your address and the title of which of my books you want signed and I’ll send it to you ASAP.
Thanks to everyone who participated. And don’t forget to check out Robyn’s blog on being a fangirl below.
I love sneak previews. It’s so much fun to see something before anyone else. Recently I saw the sneak preview of Arctic Tale. It was a good movie, but not one I probably would have jumped to see in theaters. Give me a sneak preview, though, and I’m there.
I have a sneak preview for you. Actually, it’s for everyone, but I’m telling you about it first. There’s an excerpt from my next book, BLACKTHORNE’S BRIDE on my website now!
The book will be out October 30, and it’s fun, fast-paced, and sexy.
Check out the excerpt and let me know what you think.
The romance community received sad news this weekend when we learned that legend, Kathleen Woodiwiss had passed away. If you ask any historical romance reader how they got started reading and the majority will point this woman. She pioneered love scenes when it was taboo to even consider women reading such material. And she swept us away to far off places full of romance and passion and love. She is the reason I started reading romance and certainly the reason I ended up writing it. I was 17 when I picked up a copy of A Rose in Winter and those first few pages I just felt something click inside me. I just knew, that’s what I wanted to do to. I went on to read Shanna, The Flame and the Flower, Come Love a Stranger and the rest of the Woodiwiss greats and I passed them on to friends. A few years ago before I had sold I was at an RWA National conference and she was there to accept an award. The entire room fell hushed as we all realized her presence and then as she took the stage, we all took to our feet and the room was filled with applause and more than a few of us had to wipe away tears. She was a giant in our industry and she will be sorely missed.
A Rose in Winter is still my favorite romance and though my copy is tattered and torn, it will forever be on my keeper shelf. So what’s your favorite Woodiwiss and what did she mean to you?
I was excited when a friend emailed me that a review for my book, When She Was Bad, had been reviewed in the Chicago Tribune. When I was reading the reviews….I saw a familiar name, fellow Quill Margo Maguire!!
I thought you’d enjoy reading them:
Theme Park: Romance
All wrapped up in love
A TV producer, an accountant, a warrior and a slave feel the heat
By John Charles
Published July 7, 2007
When She Was Bad By Cindy Kirk Avon, 352 pages, $5.99 paper
After dedicating the last few years to her career only to lose out on a promotion she richly deserved, accountant Jenny Carman decides it is time to shake things up in her dull life. Reinventing herself as Jasmine Coret, she hits one of Chicago’s hottest clubs and hits on sexy stranger Robert Marshall. But when one incredible night of passion suddenly turns into a simmering, long-term affair, Jenny has to figure out some way to tell Robert that the wild, unpredictable Jasmine, with whom he is falling in love, is really sensible, practical Jenny.
Cindy Kirk’s sizzlingly sexy, romantic tale of one woman’s efforts to redo her boring life is delightfully fun.
A Warrior’s Taking By Margo Maguire Avon, 384 pages, $5.99
When a tall, dark and sexy stranger washes ashore on the beach one day, governess Sarah Granger had no idea he would turn out to be the solution to all her problems.
Druzai warrior Brogan MacLochlainn traveled 900 years from the past to 19th Century England for one purpose: to find the legendary talisman known as the Blood Stone and return with it to fight the evil sorceress who is trying to take over his world. Instead, Brogan finds himself becoming distracted by the sweetly charming Sarah and her much more down-to-earth troubles.
Margo Maguire gives the classic historical Regency story a fresh, clever new twist by deftly adding some Celtic-flavored magic to the plot of her superbly sensual love story.
The cover for BLACKTHORNE’S BRIDE, the third book in the Misadventures in Matrimony series, is now on my website!
That’s me playing my own horn. You see reviews are starting to trickle in for my upcoming release, Tempted At Every Turn, and so far, so good. And I gotta say, I am so excited about this book that I just can’t wait for all of you to read it. Here’s what I’ve gotten so far.
“Tempted at Every Turn is a bravo good read! The superb dialogue between Willow and James keeps the reader fastened to each page. Once Willow and James get over the rough spots, they are a passionate couple with electric chemistry that weaves wonderfully into the storyline. The customs, and events of the time, really shine in the pages and Ms. DeHart allows the reader to share in the ambience of the complete surroundings. Secondary characters accentuate the story very well. This brilliant romantic story, with a great plot, has all the right elements, and is one rare and extraordinary read, from a talented author.” ~Coffee Time Romance
“TEMPTED AT EVERY TURN is a tender love story involving two polar opposites…fireworks go off between them. It is a whole lot of fun seeing these two people spar and banter and eventually find love with each other. James is a great hero! …wonderfully romantic love story…an easy read that has all the qualities that a good romance should have. It even has a place on my keeper shelf…” ~Romance Reader At Heart
“The whimsical, lively, smart and sassy Ladies’ Amateur Sleuth Society is back in DeHart’s delightfully sensual, humorous and action-packed story. Like Amanda Quick, DeHart has found the perfect duo to keep you up all night. ” ~Romantic Times Bookreviews, 4 1/2 star, Top Pick
Pardon me whilst I squeal a bit. SQUEALLLLLL!!!! It’s my first 4 1/2 stars and I never thought I’d get a Top Pick. Wow. Someone grab onto my shoe before I float too high off the ground. I’m sure more reviews are on their way and I can only hope they’re as positive.
November October
October October
