Playlist: Maya's Triple Dare

Maya's Triple Dare by Heather Rainier

Kendall has adored Maya from afar for years, but is done being her “go-to guy.” He’s always been her confidante and her husband’s best friend. Now widowed, Maya is through with living life in half-measures and regrets never asking both men for what she wanted. In a posthumous letter, Maya’s husband reveals he knew she loved Kendall and challenges her to follow her heart. During a visit to Kendall and his brother’s ranch in Divine, Maya finds that her heart still longs for a ménage. Attraction blooms between Maya and his brothers: intuitive, dominant Boone and quiet, somber Richard. Maya is determined to not repeat the mistakes of the past, even if it costs her the censure of the Divine Community. Does she dare to build a life with all three handsome cowboys? Can Kendall, Boone and Richard protect her when danger from her hometown knocks on their door?

New Feature at RtB

We're always looking for new features to bring our readers.  A couple months ago, we decided to start showcasing YA books (since it's not our "focus") on Saturdays.  That will start again this coming Saturday after a short hiatus due to our blogoversary.  We do have an open date in September and several in October.  If you're a YA author and want to snag a date, email Jen.

Today, we're starting another new feature.  Playlists.  What, you ask, is a playlist?  Well, in this case, it's a list of music that an author has compiled that they associate with their book.  It could be songs mentioned in the story, what they listened to while writing, or perhaps it's just music they feel goes well with their novel.

We'll be posting these playlists on Sundays.  We're booked for August, but have dates open in September and October.  If you're an author and want us to feature your book and playlist, email Jen.  We'll include the book cover, official blurb, playlist (using an iTunes widget) and purchase links.

In My Mailbox #7

In My Mailbox is weekly meme hosted by Kristi, The Story Siren. This meme lets bloggers socialize and network their blogs, it’s also a great way for bloggers to share upcoming releases! Here's what's new to me these last two weeks:

Review: Temptation of a Highland Scoundrel by Sue-Ellen Welfonder

Temptation of a Highland Scoundrel by Sue-Ellen Welfonder
Series: Highland Warriors (#2)
Publication Date: August 1, 2011
Publisher: Forever
Pages: 416
Source: Netgalley

The second book in the Highland Warriors trilogy, in which three heroes make a pact to insure that a rival clan doesn't take over their glen and cause destruction. At the same time, three women will plot to marry these heroes to help insure peace.

In TEMPTATION OF A HIGHLAND SCOUNDREL, Kendrew Macintosh's reputation precedes him: he wields an ax with deathly precision, strikes fear into his enemies, and lusts after beautiful women. But Kendrew has never met someone whose passion rivals his own-until an unexpected encounter with a mysterious woman. Unfortunately, he soon discovers that the vixen is Isobel Cameron, daughter of an enemy clansman. Their relationship is forbidden and Kendrew breaks away immediately. Isobel has her own scheme. She has lusted after Kendrew for some time and plans to draw the fierce warrior back into her arms. But in the darkness, villainous forces are at play--an enemy is determined to keep the two lovers apart, even if it means death.

Review: Craving Perfect by Liz Fichera

Craving Perfect by Liz Fichera
Publication Date:  July 25, 2011
Publisher: Carina Press
Source: NetGalley (reposted from Shannon's site with permission)

A Life Less...Hers

Grace Mills craves being perfect almost as much as she craves raspberry scones. In fact, her life would be perfect if only she could lose ten more pounds, if only the pastry café she co-owns with her sister would turn a profit, if only the hottest guy at the gym would look her way...

And then "if only" comes true. Grace is suddenly straddling two lives: an alternate reality where she's a size two, weather girl celebrity and being chased by the hot guy. Only Mr. Gorgeous isn't very nice.

In her other life, she's starting to realize her sister is less than happy running the family café, and hunky Carlos, the gym's janitor, seems to have a secret crush on her. Maybe there's more to him than meets the eye...

Grace is living two lives and it's beginning to cost her. Is there a way to pick one...that's perfect?

Review: Blowing It Off by Lexxie Couper

Blowing It Off by Lexxie Couper
Series: Stimulated (#1)
Release Date: June 1, 2011
Publisher: Ellora's Cave Publishing
Page Count: 63
Source: ebook provided by publisher for review

A fire has destroyed the studio of glassblower Phoebe Masters. And she knows what that means—a visit from the arson investigators. The two men who reduced her heart to cinders. Men she’d hoped never to see again.

One wild weekend with Phoebe overwhelmed Will Bradley and Damon Hunt. Like wankers, they blew it off, burning any chance for a future with the talented beauty. The investigation gets them back in her life, but now they have to prove the three of them were meant to be together. Their strategy?

A body-blazing inferno none of them will ever be able to extinguish.

Review: Beach Lane by Sheryl Woods

Beach Lane by Sheryl Woods
Series: Chesapeake Shores (#7)
Release Date: May 2011
Publisher: Mira
Page Count: 368
Source: NetGalley

In the close-knit community of Chesapeake Shores, Maryland, Susie O’Brien and Mack Franklin’s “not dating” claim befuddles everyone, especially since the two spend every spare minute together. Susie’s thrilled when their friendship finally heats up. Then, just when happily-ever-after seems within reach, Mack loses the job he loves and Susie faces a devastating diagnosis.

But O’Briens always unite in a crisis. Even her cousin Jess, Susie’s rival for most of their lives, becomes her staunchest supporter — especially when Mack’s former lover comes to town. The stakes are higher than ever before, but Susie’s definitely up to the challenge...as long as Mack’s right there by her side.

Review: On Caristo's Watch by Billy London

On Caristo’s Watch by Billy London
Publisher: Beautiful Trouble Publishing
Page Count: 204
Source: Personal Review, reposted with permission from Violette's website

Tony Caristo was just minding his own business, waiting for his selfish bullet-magnet of a best friend to get out of surgery, when the sexiest nurse he'd ever seen walked right up to him, all luscious figured. All she was missing was a fig leaf and a snake around her shoulders. Rather than offering him the knowledge of the gods, she told him off with an Irish-lilted wit.

His interest absolutely piqued, he realised he'd have to do something about her, pretty damn quick. Tony wasn't a man given to waiting around for good things to happen to him. And Lydia was all good, every single, five foot eight, double F-cupped inch of her. When Lydia asks Nick for a favour, Nick reminds him just what a good friend he is by letting Tony handle it. And he can't wait.

Lydia Mills hasn't the time for nonsense, especially being in sole charge of her younger brother. All she needs to do is get him into university without getting him killed. She's spent the last month literally trying to kick some sense into her ex-boyfriend so he wouldn't get back at her through her brother. Now, Lydia decides to use a bigger stick to change said ex-boyfriend's mind. Turning to Nick Da Canaveze for help is a last resort, but it was like someone had gifted her with a nuclear weapon. Nick handed over Tony to do the hard work, completely convinced that Lydia would come through her troubles in one piece. If Tony didn't behave himself, there was no telling the same could be said for him. Always the protector and never the protected, Lydia is surprised by just how much she has in common with the Giant. For all his stealth, intelligence and inappropriate wit, Tony is undeniably, irresistibly unforgettable.

On Caristo's Watch is a tale featuring characters from Windows, now part of the Italian Knights Collection, showing that behind every criminal mastermind is a woman who will drive him to distraction with a look, a quip and a dress made to start all sorts of trouble.

Review: Heartsight by Kay Springsteen

Heartsight by Kay Springsteen
Publication Date: March 1, 2011
Publisher: Astraea Press
Page Count: 201
Source: PDF from author

On a secluded beach in North Carolina, three lonely people find hope in each other.

Trish Evers is an artist and single mother, who has inherited her grandmother's Bed and Breakfast in a North Carolina coastal town. Though she must sell the house, she decides to bring her daughter to the beach for one last summer vacation in her childhood town.

Bella is a six-year-old girl who has Down syndrome. Rejected by her father, Trish is the only parent she's ever known. Bella likes to explore the beach and has a tendency to wander off. One day, Bella goes exploring on her own, and Trish finds her in the company of an intriguing stranger.

Dan Conway is a U.S. Marine, who had been born into a family of Marines. Now blind as a result of combat injuries and unable to "suit up," he feels he no longer has a purpose in life. He's come home to the beach, where he spends his days in solitude. Dan must learn to believe in himself and to love life again, which he begins to do through his interactions with Bella and Trish. When a hurricane strikes and Bella wanders off again, her only hope for rescue is Dan.

Working within the confines of his blindness, he must overcome his fear of failure and recall his training in order to search for the little girl and bring her to safety.

Review: For Love of An Angel by Rosalie Lario

For Love of An Angel by Rosalie Lario
Series: The Fallen Warriors (#1)
Release Date: May 6, 2011
Publisher: self-published
Page Count: 115

In a world where angels rule over humans, twelve outcasts dare to defy expectation, warring with their angel brethren to prevent the extinction of humankind.

They are The Fallen.

Michael is one of twelve angels who have been outcast due to their determination to protect humankind. In order to preserve his immortality and strength, he must find a mate with angel blood. Eva Smyth has never believed the propaganda spouted by the Consortium—the elite system of guards put into place once angels took over reign of Earth—but she never expected to learn the angels plan to eradicate all of humankind, or that she herself is part angel. Joining Michael means living a life on the run, at war against the angels and hunted by the Consortium. Eva must decide whether to risk it all…for love of an angel.

Review: Saving Emma by Cheryl Wright

Saving Emma by Cheryl Wright
Publication Date: 
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Page Count: 241
Source: Book submitted by author for review

Emma Larkin is running for her life-nowhere is safe. Stalked by her husband's killers, desperate to protect her young daughter, Emma must find what the killers are looking for before she becomes their next victim. When undercover cop Gary Bedford planned a relaxing break, he hadn't counted on bumping into Emma. Now he can't resist the temptation to discover all her secrets. ...But should Emma trust her life and heart to Gary Bedford? ...And can they solve the mystery surrounding her husband's death -- and uncover his deadly secret?

Review: Raven's Kiss by Toni LoTempio

Raven’s Kiss by Toni LoTempio
Series: Raven Grace (# 1)
Release Date: April 2011
Publisher: self published
Page Count: 200
Source: From the author for review

Raven Grace was a college senior with ambitions of a career in law enforcement when she met the demon Aega, whose bite turned her from mortal to Shapeshifter. Now a member of the Recovery Organization, Raven keeps the peace between humans and errant Hellhounds, trolls, wizards and the like while trying to track down Aega and bring him to justice. After a particularly dicey encounter one night with a Hellhound, she goes to the aid of a girl who’s been attacked and near death—and is amazed to find Aega’s bite mark on the girl’s arm. Determined to get to the bottom of this, she revisits the victim’s apartment and there discovers her closet is a portal to a parallel universe, where people she knows lead vastly different lives. She also gets a glimpse of the Recovery Captain there—a six foot, redheaded Scotsman named Finn McPhee, whose sexy accent and even sexier bod sets her senses aflame. Seeking answers, Finn takes Raven to the magickal underworld, where an ancient fae informs them the demon’s quest is rooted in Scottish mythology and magick. As they delve deeper into legend, the truth comes to light—Aega is only a pawn, subservient to another, darker demon…a being who knows the truth about Raven’s heritage, and who orchestrated her return to this parallel universe for the ultimate showdown. Now, Finn and Raven find their passion for one another must take a backseat to Raven’s battle with a dark force who won’t be satisfied until he’s claimed her soul for his very own…

Review: Party Games by Elise Hepner

Party Games by Elise Hepner
Publication Date: May 10, 2011
Publisher: Ellora's Cave
Pages: 46
Source:  ebook provided by publisher for review

William’s boring lovemaking leaves Charlotte unsatisfied. Harboring fantasies she can’t put into words, she longs for a sexual voice but finds herself too stifled by her proper social upbringing.

When a blackout hits their resort hotel and William proposes a sexy version of hide-and-seek, playtime takes on a whole new salacious meaning. Charlotte’s mind races with sexual scenarios. But even her fantasies fail to compare to the titillating adventure her husband has planned for her—with the help of another man.

Soon everything she knows about lust will be irreversibly changed—and she’ll moan for more.

Review: Glazier by Bri Clark

Glazier by Bri Clark
Publication Date: July 12, 2011
Publisher: Astraea Press
Source: ebook provided by author for review

Marie Kincaid is devastated after losing her family in a violent crash...so she runs. One morning, she awakes in an infirmary with total memory loss and a new power: Glazier. The cold frozen mists of Glazier's instincts enable Marie to embark on a new life free of pain but most importantly free of the past. Heightened senses, accelerated strength,speed, and learning abilities make Marie a perfect candidate to be a spy...also a perfect companion for Henry Tenison, the only other known Glazier.

Henry, a loner and proud rogue finds his world upended when his connection to Marie is forged. Unsure of how to progress, he endeavors to keep it strictly professional. As far away missions and romantic surroundings entice him into pursuing his deeper desires, he caves. However, Marie's love changes everything.

Determined to free them both of the spy world and the hold Glazier has over their lives, Henry implements a plot to disappear. However, when things become dangerous in their latest mission and memories of Marie's past surface suggesting another man...will Henry's efforts come too late? If Marie remembers her past, will she still want their future?

Review: Fire on Dark Water by Wendy K. Perriman

Fire on Dark Water by Wendy K. Perriman
Publication Date: June 7, 2011

Publisher: The Berkley Publishing Group
Page Count: 324
Source: publisher for review

Born a despised gypsy and tricked into a life of debauchery, Lola Blaise quickly finds herself at the mercy of the harsh ways of the world and of the men who inhabit it. But in the New World awaits a different fate full of passion, danger, and freedom: a life of piracy.

On the island of Nassau, Lola's slatternly ways pay for her keep until she lands a place on the Revenge, a ship captained by the infamous Blackbeard, a loathsome man with an appetite for pleasure. In the midst of a pirate's life, Lola must use every hard-earned skill in her arsenal to survive. And if she can break free from being a pawn in the games of men, Lola may finally become the master of her own destiny...

Review: Merciless by Diana Palmer

Merciless by Diana Palmer
Series: Long, Tall Texans
Pages: 304
Publisher: HQN Books
Release Date: July 26, 2011
Source: PTA Reviewer Rewards, (reposted from Molly's website, with permission)

Can she convince a man to let down his defenses when he's set on guarding his heart? Tall, dark and eligible? That's all that matters to the women of Jacobsville when it comes to handsome and aloof FBI agent Jon Blackhawk. But if it were up to him, he would never settle down. Luckily, Jon has the best gatekeeper: his efficient and reliable assistant, Joceline Perry. Without her help, he'd be at the mercy of husband hunters—but the more he comes to rely on her, the more he notices how invaluable she really is… While Joceline can't deny that her boss is attractive, as a single mother with responsibilities she's determined to be professional. But when Jon is accosted by a criminal seeking revenge, she comes to his aid—fueling the spark that is growing between them. As the attempts on Jon's life increase, Joceline stands by his side. But when the smoke clears, will the man who avoided love realize that all he ever needed was right there all along?

Review: The Boss's Bedroom Agenda by Nicola Marsh

The Boss's Bedroom Agenda by Nicola Marsh
Publication Date: January 1, 2010
Publisher: Harlequin
Pages: 192
Source: provided by author for review

Hired for the boss's pleasure!
The instant Beth Walker comes face to face with her new boss, tall, tanned and incredibly toned Aidan Voss, they can't take their eyes off one another...

Beth is well aware that CEO AIdan has one rule of business: to keep his personal life out of the boardroom! But he has decided that Beth is the exception that proves the rule...He may not be able to offer her any more than a hot and steamy fling, but he's a master of seduction-and he's moved Beth to the top of his 'To Do' list...

Review: Falling by Cecelia Gray

Falling by Cecilia Gray
Series: A Flirty Fantasy of Fallen Idols (#1)
Release Date: July 22,2011
Publisher: The Alpha Division LLC
Page Count: 61
Source: ebook provided by author for review

Alexis isn’t afraid of much. She’s never met a cliff she didn’t want to climb or a waterfall she wouldn’t plunge over. Yet when her fiancé leaves and takes her daring edge with him, she swears off love….

Until one wild night out at San Francisco’s latest hard-to-find, impossible-to-get-into new club where she discovers more than just a stiff drink awaits her inside, because the owner of this club is the sexiest man she’s ever met—and the most dangerous. A few hundred years ago, Jason made a very bad bargain with a very vengeful goddess.

Now it’s time for him to pay up, either with his soul… or his heart. And when one long look at Alexis makes him understand just how hellish a life of unrequited love could be, suddenly the alternative doesn’t sound so bad. Only it turns out, the alternative isn’t just hellish—it is hell… and Alexis is the only one who can spring him loose. If, that is, she’s brave enough to try…

Review: A Questionable Hero by KiKi Howell

A Questionable Hero by KiKi Howell
Release Date: May 2nd, 2011
Publisher: kNight Romance Publishing
Source: from the author for review

Born of a mortal woman but raised in Hell by the demon that sired him, Abdamas is a halfling-proof incarnate of the war between good and evil that exists in each of us. Shaebiel is an angel warrior earning her ultimate salvation in Heaven by fighting demons like Abdamas who are in search of human souls on Earth.
In the heat of a raging battle, Abdamas sees Shaebiel and wants her. When the blade of another demon aims for her, Abdamas is injured while trying to save her. Shaebiel can't believe a demon has rescued her from certain death and takes her questionable hero home with her to heal him.
As they both fight and surrender to their desires, the conflict around them continues, and there is Heaven and Hell to pay for their actions. Through divine intervention they are offered a gift. But Hell is nowhere near finished with either of them, and the stakes are getting higher and higher.
Can a questionable hero sacrifice enough to redeem himself in the eyes of Heaven so that he may claim the love of an angel?

Review: Shameless by Anne Stuart

Shameless by Anne Stuart
Series: The House of Rohan (#4)
Publication Date: June 21, 2011
Publisher: Mira
Page Count: 400
Source: NetGalley (reposted from Shannon's website, with permission)

A long string of tragic loves haunts Viscount Benedick Francis Alistair Rohan. Cool and cynical, he's weary of life's fickle games and wants a prim and proper wife he can ignore while indulging his sensual appetites.

Lady Melisande Carstairs is nothing less than a tornado storming into Benedick's measured life. Possessed of boundless energy and the soul of a reformer, Melisande always conquers, whether it's saving the souls of soiled doves or seducing the man she's inconveniently fallen for. When she informs Benedick that his brother's newly revived Heavenly Host has graduated from simple carnal debauchery to sadistic violence, he's compelled to investigate, undercover. Under those covers, however, is Melisande herself, playing a dangerous game in the name of justice.

And the Heavenly Host has just seen her hand, and more…

Review: Only Yours by Susan Mallery

Only Yours by Susan Mallery
Series: Fool's Gold (#5)
Publication Date:  August 30, 2011
Publisher:  Harlequin
Pages: 384

Source:  Netgalley

Montana Hendrix has found her calling—working with therapy dogs. With a career she loves in a hometown she adores, she's finally ready to look for her own happily ever after. Could one of her dogs help her find Mr. Right… or maybe Dr. Right?

Surgeon Simon Bradley prefers the sterility of the hospital to the messiness of real life, especially when real life includes an accident-prone mutt and a woman whose kisses make him want what he knows he can't have. Scarred since childhood, he avoids emotional entanglement by moving from place to place to heal children who need his skillful touch. Can his growing feelings for Montana lead him to find a home in Fool's Gold, or will he walk away, taking her broken heart with him?

Review: Stilettos and Scoundrels by Laina Turner

Stilettos and Scoundrels by Laina Turner
Series: Presley Thurman (#1)
Release Date: February 23, 2010
Publisher: Five Seas Ink Publishing
Page Count: 326
Source: From the author

Presley Thurman, a sassy, thirty-something red-head, was looking to reinvent herself. She didn’t allow the fact she was recently fired to bother her – she was ready to pursue her lifelong dream of becoming a writer. Presley was a lover of shopping and Starbucks, and even though she sometimes had bad taste in men, she always had great taste in clothes.

Not looking back on corporate America, Presley decided to follow her dream. With her feisty nature and a spirit to not “sweat the small stuff,” she was ready to tackle any challenge (even if she had no idea how she would pay the bills). When her friend Trevor offered her a job with his online magazine to interview public figures, she jumped at the chance.

However, the new job turned into something unexpected when the U.S. Senator she was slated to write about was murdered – in her home town! Presley was excited – she hadn’t seen so much buzz since the spring sample sale at Saks. She was ready for this adventure, even if it didn’t seem to fit neatly into her life. She couldn’t pass up the opportunity to be in the middle of the buzz.

Presley was determined (not to mention curious) to find the killer and write her story. After all, she couldn’t afford her shoe habit without a job and she was certainly not one to shy away from danger. The only thing standing in her way was an old high school fling, Cooper Sands, head of the Senator’s security. He was not actually standing in her way, but because of his good looks, he was the biggest distraction and one she was having the hardest time overcoming. Cooper felt it was too dangerous for Presley to look for a killer and tried to distract her with reliving the past; which Presley found more dangerous than any killer. While she attempted to resist Cooper’s good looks and charm, Presley was able to discover the Senator’s wife, Helen, had been having an affair… with her best friend’s boyfriend! Did Helen kill the Senator? Or was it the Senator’s love of gambling that got him killed? And what was Cooper’s secret tie to the mob
boss Garrison Palazzo?

Presley’s betting her favorite pair of Manolo’s she will find the killer… but will time run out!

Review: Solstice Heat by Leila Brown

Solstice Heat by Leila Brown
Release Date: December 21, 2010
Publisher: Loose Id
Source: Reposted from Violette's website by permission

After an injury left Jason in a wheelchair he gave up the pack Alpha position, thinking he was no longer fit to lead. But the injury didn’t change his desire for a mate, companionship, a woman’s touch.

Giovanni is furious when she finds secret emails on her computer between her baby sister and Jason. Gio takes her sister’s place and shows up at Jason’s cabin. They've both been duped but before they can sort it out Gio ignites Jason's temper and he snaps and sparks fly.

One little bite and their futures are forever changed. She survived his bite, but will they survive the solstice inferno their lust creates?

Review: Stories from a Lifetime by Hugh Aaron

Stories from a Lifetime by Hugh Aaron
Release Date: September 27th, 2010
Publisher: Stones Point
Page Count: 288
Source: Directly from publisher for review

Stories from a Lifetime carries readers through a widely diverse series of life's peaks and valleys with poignant, clear-eyed vision and understanding that is only gradually gained across the course of a lifetime through endurance and honest appraisal of the emotional rollercoaster that we all ride.

These stories form a welcome, and increasingly rare, honest, grounded, and beautifully written collection that will touch nerves while sympathizing with what it means to be human.

Review: Her Texas Billionaire Oil Men by Kayla Knight

Her Texas Billionaire Oil Men by Kayla Knight
Series: Raw Texas Heat (# 1)
Release Date: April 2011
Publisher: Siren Publishing, Inc
Page Count: 141
Source: Ebook provided by the author for review

Rugged Texas billionaire oilmen Jake McKenna and Brody Quinn head off into the mountains of Montana for a well-deserved month-long vacation. There's plenty of good hunting and fishing around the isolated ranch house to keep them occupied. Things heat up when they decide it's far more exciting to hunt their beautiful personal assistant, Taylor Matthews, instead. Brody and Jake are Alpha males and very demanding. Still hurting from a recent break up with a long-term boyfriend, Taylor has no intention of making it easy for the temptingly rich and very attractive oil barons. But what's a girl to do? Just fantasize about the two gorgeous guys she works for? Or enjoy all they have to offer?

Review: Rosalee Station by Mandy Magro

Rosalee Station by Mandy Magro
Publication Date: May 30, 2011
Publisher: Penguin
Pages:  288
Source:  book provided by author for review

Sarah Clarke's dream is to experience life in the real outback. When her boyfriend Brad offers her a job with him on Rosalee Station, she can't believe her luck. But within days of arriving, her relationship is in tatters, and the dream is fast losing its luster.

Sarah stays on to prove herself in the unforgiving land, earning the admiration of Matt, the station owners' son. Beneath the wide outback skies, the pair are irresistibly drawn to each other, until a stolen kiss leads to disaster. Sarah leaves Rosalee, convinced she'll never see Matt again – but fate has a way of intervening . . .

From the thrill of mustering cattle to the wild adrenaline of a country rodeo, this passionate love story takes you to the very heart of the Australian outback.

Review: Darwin's Children by Natasha Larry

Darwin’s Children by Natasha Larry
Series: Volume One
Release date: June, 2011
Publisher:  Penumbra Publishing
Source: ebook for review from author

Life can get pretty complicated for any seventeen-year-old girl, but for a home-schooled telepathic black girl trying to survive in a prestigious private school in small-town Jonesborough, Tennessee, it can be maddening – especially when her telepathic father keeps eavesdropping on her thoughts!

Jaycie Lerner’s family isn’t the usual mom-dad-kid setup. Jaycie’s mom’s MIA, but Allison, her personal live-in ‘trainer,’ is more than a mom, with her own special abilities, like being able to lift cars and run incredibly fast. And Jaycie’s godfather John is more than persuasive – he can literally convince anyone to do anything.

As far as the rest of the world’s concerned, Jaycie’s on the outside looking in. The townsfolk love Jaycie’s pediatrician father, but she doesn’t fit in with ‘normal’ kids, and she doesn’t really want to. Most of her free time is spent training to keep her telekinetic and telepathic powers under control. But there’s one thing she can’t control – and that’s her feelings, especially when her best friend Matt is nearby. If only he knew what she was truly capable of...

Everything seems to be status quo for Jaycie until she receives a cryptic message from a stranger and meets a very unusual girl new to Jonesborough. Then all hell breaks loose!

Review: One Week by Liz Strange

One Week by Liz Strange
Release Date: May, 3 2011
Publisher: Captiva Press

Source: from the author

It only takes one week to turn your world upside down.

Shannon McCallister gets an unexpected opportunity to advance in her career when her supervisor decides to send her to London to close an important business deal. While there, she has a chance encounter with an attractive and much younger man, which opens the door to the most exciting week of her life.

Each day brings Shannon a sexual fulfillment she has never known before, and that at forty-one she never expected to have. Even more surprising are the feelings being stirred up, which linger long after they’ve left the bedroom and she's returned home.

One week suddenly doesn’t feel long enough--but is it long enough to fall in love?

Review: Emily and Einstein by Linda Francis Lee

Emily and Einstein by Linda Francis Lee
Release Date: March 1st, 2011
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press
Page Count: 356
Source: Library; read for leisure

He was a man who didn’t deserve a second chance. But he needed one…
Emily and her husband Sandy Portman seemed to live a gracious if busy life in an old-world, Upper West Side apartment in the famous Dakota building. But one night on the way to meet Emily, Sandy dies in a tragic accident. The funeral isn’t even over before Emily learns she is on the verge of being evicted from their apartment. But worse than the possibility of losing her home, Emily is stunned when she discovers that her marriage was made up of lies.

Suddenly Emily is forced on a journey to find out who her husband really was . . . all the while feeling that somehow he isn’t really gone. Angry, hurt, and sometimes betrayed by loving memories of the man she lost, Emily finds comfort in a scruffy dog named Einstein. But is Einstein’s seemingly odd determination that she save herself enough to make Emily confront her own past? Can he help her find a future—even after she meets a new man?

Review: Soft Swap by Paisley Smith

Soft Swap by Paisley Smith
Release Date: May 25th, 2011
Publisher: Ellora’s Cave
Page Count: 60
Source: Ebook provided by publisher for review

Jess has always been curious about being with another woman. Soon after her husband Ben gives her the go-ahead to join a swingers’ website, Jess meets another couple interested in a little girl-on-girl swap.
Tina is drop-dead gorgeous and her husband Bradley is equally hot. With Ben’s blessing, Jess is soon experiencing wholly new pleasures at the hands of another woman; pleasures wrought by soft fingers, a feminine tongue…a sexy strap-on. But sex is rarely just physical. As Jess delves deeper into this taboo lifestyle, she wonders how newfound feelings for Tina will affect her relationship with her husband.
Jess quickly discovers she’s not as prepared as she thought for some aspects of her newly defined sexuality—including the fact her darkest, most secret fantasy might finally be fulfilled.

Calling all reviewers

Romancing the Book is always looking for a few new reviewers to join our awesome staff.

• Do you enjoy romance and/or erotica books?
• Can you commit to reading and writing at least one review a month?
• Can you read ebooks?

Then consider reviewing for us.  If you're interested in joining our staff, email Stephanie at reviews.bookblog AT gmail.com.  Be sure to include a sample review (either the actual review or a link to where it can be found online).  If you've never written a review before, try your hand at it.  Pick a favorite novel of yours and review.  Tell us WHY you like the book.  We're looking for a minimum of 100 words (remember, you're trying to sell the book to others).

Here's the small print:
As a reviewer for RtB, you are welcome to repost reviews to your own blog (if you have one), as long as we are credited as providing the book for review.  However, the reviews are the property of RtB and we reserve the right to repost all reviews we assign to our staff to other online sites, such as Amazon and Goodreads.

All ebooks provided are for review, and are yours to keep.  They are not to be sold or shared, as that is a violation of copyright laws.

If you're still interested or if you have any questions, email Stephanie at reviews.bookblog AT gmail.com.

Interview & Contest: Avril Ashton

Jen: We are excited to have Avril Ashton as our guest today. Avril, will you please share a short bio with us?

Avril: Thank you for having me, Jen. I’m a Caribbean transplant, now living in Brooklyn, N.Y with my SO and almost seven year old daughter. My earliest memories of reading involve discussing plot points of The Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew with my Mom. I decided to take my dreams of writing seriously in ’09 and never looked back.

Jen: Tell us about Make Me Sweat and where is can be purchased.

Avril: Sure…

Excerpt: Make Me Sweat by Avril Ashton

A muted knock sounded on his office door. He cleared his throat before bidding, “Come in.”

The door opened, and he turned as she stepped over the threshold. Their eyes met, held, and his heart pounded in his chest.

“You called?” A thin, dark brow lifted as she closed the door quietly behind her.

Dak nodded. “I did. I want to know who you are, what name to call the woman whose face I’ve been seeing in my sleep.” He knew her name, her shoes size, her address, but she didn’t know that.

Interview & Contest: Brooke Moss

Jen: Entangled Publishing opened their doors this week and are kicking off their grand opening with a book tour for Brooke Moss. We're excited to be a part of this tour.  Brooke, will you please share a short bio with us?

Brooke: First off, thanks for having me here on Romancing the Book, I’m a big fan of the blog, and so excited to be here!

Brooke Moss is the name, contemporary romance and women's fiction are the game.

Brooke writes complex, character-driven stories about kismet, reunited lovers, first love, and the kind of romance that we should all have the chance at finding. She prefers her stories laced with some humor just for fun, and enough drama to keep her readers flipping the pages, and begging for more!

When Brooke isn't spinning tales, she spends her time drawing/cartooning, reading two books a week (ask her who her faves are), watching movies then comparing them to books, and, of course, wrangling four kids, one hubby she lovingly refers to as her "nerd", and attempting to conquer the Mount Everest of laundry that is the bane of her existence.

Excerpt: The "What If" Guy by Brooke Moss

“Did you mean what you said?” His lips brushed against the corner of my mouth.

“When I said what?” I asked in a breathy voice, trembling. Or maybe that was Henry.

“When you said…” He swallowed. “…that you still loved me?”

My heart pitched. “Yes.”

The next few minutes were a blur. His lips came down on mine with such determination that I stumbled backwards. His strong hands caught me. He slid his hand up my back and clutched my neck, leaving a trail of heat in its wake. He tangled his fingers in my hair and deepened our kiss.

Review: The "What If" Guy by Brooke Moss

The "What If" Guy by Brooke Moss
Release Date: August 5th, 2011
Publisher: Entangled Publishing
Page Count: 296
Source: From publisher for review, as part of The "What If" Guy blog tour

What would you do if you're "what if" guy showed up at the lowest point of your life?

(Autumn Cole clocked hers with an encyclopedia.)

After losing her job at a swanky Seattle art gallery and finding out her father has been hospitalized, single mother Autumn Cole reluctantly returns to her tiny hometown of Fairfield, Washington to put the pieces of her life back together.

Her disgruntled twelve-year old son isn’t thrilled about going from hip to hick, but Autumn’s got it worse. She resumes her role as the daughter of the town drunk, promptly facing a crisis with her father that’s been decades in the making.

Running into Henry Tobler, and nearly breaking his nose, is almost more than she can handle, but can rediscovering love–and herself–with her “what if” guy teach Autumn to forgive before it’s too late?

Review: 1105 Yakima Street by Debbie Macomber

1105 Yakima Street by Debbie Macomber
Series: Cedar Cover (#11)
Release Date: August 30, 2011
Publisher: MIRA
Page Count:  400
Source: NetGalley

1105 Yakima Street, Cedar Cove, Washington

Dear Reader, You’ve probably heard that my wife has left me. Rachel’s pregnant, and she says she can’t handle the stress in our household anymore. My thirteen-year-old daughter, Jolene, is jealous of her. Maybe it’s my fault. As a widower I spoiled her — Jolene was reading over my shoulder just now and says that’s not true. She claims Rachel ruined everything. But that’s not true. The real question is: How can I get my wife back? I don’t even know where she is. She’s not with Teri Polgar or any of her other friends from the salon. The other question is... when will Jolene grow up and stop acting like such a brat? Of course, I’m not the only one in town with problems. Linc Wyse’s father-in-law is trying to destroy his business. And you know Charlotte Rhodes? Seems she’s becoming forgetful, and the family’s worried about her and Ben. Lots of other stuff going on — but Rachel is better at keeping up with it than I am. If you have any idea where my wife is, give me a call. Please. Bruce Peyton

Interview and Contest: Susan Mallery

Jen: The Romancing the Book Staff is very excited to welcome Susan Mallery to the blog today. Susan, will you please share a short bio with us?

Susan: New York Times bestselling author Susan Mallery has entertained millions of readers with her witty and emotional stories about women and the relationships that move them. Publisher’s Weekly calls Susan’s prose “luscious and provocative,” and Booklist says, “Novels don’t get much better than Mallery’s expert blend of emotional nuance, humor and superb storytelling.” While Susan appreciates the critical praise, she is most honored by the enthusiastic readers who write to tell her that her books made them laugh, made them cry, and made the world a happier place to live. Susan lives in Seattle with her husband and her tiny but intrepid toy poodle. She’s there for the coffee, not the weather.

Excerpt: Only Mine by Susan Mallery

CHAPTER ONE

“What’s it going to take to get you to cooperate? Money? Threats? Either works for me.”

Dakota Hendrix looked up from her laptop to find a very tall, stern-looking man standing over her. “Excuse me?”

“You heard me. What’s it going to take?”

She’d been warned there would be plenty of crazies hanging around, but she hadn’t actually believed it. Apparently she’d been wrong.

Interview and Contest: Karin Harlow

Jen: Readers, please help me welcome Karin Harlow to Romancing the Book.  Karin, tell us about ENEMY MINE, and where is can be purchased.

Harlow: ENEMY MINE is book two in my high-octane, L.O.S.T. series.

L.O.S.T.

Last Option Special Team

A group of rogue cops, their lives destroyed, rise from the ashes like the mythical phoenix...

Caught acting outside the law, they are given a choice by the enigmatic Mr. Black: Spend their lives in prison. Or break all ties with their past, assume a new identity, and become part of an elite crime fighting team unofficially sanctioned by the U.S. Attorney General’s Office.

Their sole purpose is to close the cases that normal law enforcement channels cannot touch. What they discover is there are no rules--not for them and not for the Others.

Excerpt: Enemy Mine by Karin Harlow

The Gold Coast at midnight had come alive. Like a living, breathing rock star high on cocaine, it pulsated with vitality and energy unlike any other.

Nikko stood across the street from Lost Souls. Scents and sounds swirled around him, blending into an indistinguishable blob. But he didn’t need to be told Selena was inside. He could smell her. Exotic and sultry, her scent overrode all others. He had thought that learning she was alive, then seeing the proof positive in pictures, had elicited a strong reaction from him at the compound, but the reality of it now created an emotional maelstrom inside him. Longing, hate, and betrayal jockeyed for the top spot in his heart. Worming itself between all of those feelings was the unmitigated desire to hold her again, to make love to her—not the cold-blooded killer she was today, but the innocent girl he’d fallen in love with so long ago, before she—Nikko mentally shook himself. He allowed the hatred and his need for vengeance to take control. That would get him through this mission. Keep him sane as his body, his mind, and his soul continued to evolve into something and someone so foreign to him, he would admit only to himself that it terrified him. He was unpredictable even to himself. He battled impulses he had always had control of. His emotions raged. It was becoming unbearable, this thing inside him. He sneered, wanting to bend her to his will, to—he squeezed his eyes shut, not wanting to acknowledge the visions of his taking her until she screamed for him to stop.

Review: Enemy Mine by Karin Harlow

Enemy Mine by Karin Harlow
Series:  Book 2 (L.O.S.T.)
Publication Date:  August 30, 2011
Publisher: Pocket Star
Pages: 384
Source: ARC from author

While tracking uranium-spinning centrifuges in Kyrgyzstan, L.O.S.T. operative Nikko Cruz is ambushed and left for dead. Which means he must be hallucinating when the only woman he ever loved—the woman he was sentenced to death for killing—comes to his rescue.

Half-daemon Selena Guererro has secrets she’d kill for. The most important one, she’s already died to protect. Now she’ll do anything to keep her daughter safe. But she can’t just leave her lost love to perish. She injects Nikko with immortal blood serum, putting herself in grave danger.

When Nikko comes to, he is superhuman and super pissed. The mother of his daughter—the one he thought killed their child—is alive. He wants answers. He wants blood. And despite his best intentions, he wants Selena. He traces her to a mysterious terrorist cell where the spun uranium has surfaced. First, he must retrieve the deadly material. Then he’ll take revenge on his beautiful ex. But when nothing goes as planned, Nikko and Selena find themselves burning with desire . . . and blowing the roof off their separate worlds, human and daemon alike.

Review: I Love The Earl by Caroline Linden

I Love The Earl by Caroline Linden
Release Date: August, 2011
Publisher: Avon Impulse
Page Count: 114
Source: NetGalley for the I Love the Earl book tour

A single lady in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a suitor.

Margaret de Lacey has accepted her unmarried state with dignity, if not delight. She had no suitors when she was young and starry-eyed, though regrettably poor, and it’s unlikely any man will court her now that she’s older, wiser, and still just as penniless. Until, that is, her brother unexpectedly inherits the dukedom of Durham and settles an enormous dowry on her, making her the most eligible heiress in town.

No gentleman in London is more in need of a wealthy bride than Rhys Corwen, Earl of Dowling. He contrives an introduction to Margaret because of her dowry, but she swiftly sets him right: no fortune hunter will win her heart or her hand. Far from put off, Rhys is intrigued. Interested. Entranced. And soon the only thing he needs more than Margaret’s fortune…is her love.

Contest: Susan McCorkindale

Susan McCorkindale charmed her way into readers’ hearts two years ago with her debut memoir, Confessions of a Counterfeit Farm Girl, and now she’s back to do it again. The sequel, 500 ACRES AND NO PLACE TO HIDE: More Confessions of a Counterfeit Farm Girl (New American Library Trade Paperback Original) is on-sale August 2nd and continues Susan’s talk of her crash course in country living. It’s been four years since Susan’s husband Stu dragged her and their two sons from their quaint suburban New Jersey town (full of Starbucks, neighbors, and chic salons!) to the 500 acre beef cattle farm in the middle of Virginia—where there is a serious lack of Café Mochas. Susan gives readers a deeper look at what happens after she adjusts to country living and reality starts to take over. Hens regularly destroy her newly planted window boxes, and she attends weekly Livestock Exchanges and shopping now means a trip to the Tractor Supply. Susan’s Jazzersize classes and glasses of chardonnay help her cope with this new life.

Guest & Contest: Karin Tabke

What’s your favorite dish?

I’m not talking about food here. I want to know what your favorite man dish is?

Do you like smoldering Italians? Or spicy Latinos? Maybe some powerful Polynesian or sultry African? What about the all-American boy next door? Or that sun-kissed surfer with the million dollar smile? Or, wait, a cocky (pun intended) Irishman? How about a little bit of all of them rolled into one, or are you a purist?

As a writer, I do write what I know. My husband is half Italian and half German. The Italian rules. The only clue to his German roots is his coloring. He was raised in a loud Italian household.

Summer Giveaway Hop

We've just finished our blogoversary celebration, but we're still in the mood to give away books.  So, we're participating in another blog hop. Many thanks to I Am A Reader, Not A Writer and BookHounds for hosting the Summer Giveaway Hop.

If you're not familiar with a blog hop, it's when a bunch of blogs band together to gain readers and giveaway cool things.  And in the case of this hop, all the prizes are somehow book related.