Romance Novels

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by the fabulous ladies at The Broke and the Bookish. This week's topic is my top ten favorite covers of books I've read. Y'all know what a cover whore I am. Here we go!Blood Magic by Tessa Gratton (the hardback!)Graceling by Kristin Cashore (the UK cover)The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin Hourglass by Myra McEntireDefiance by C.J. RedwineWither by Lauren DeStefano The Forsake by Lisa M. StasseJust One Day by Gayle Forman For Darkness Shows The Stars by Diana PeterfreundWicked Lovely by Melissa MarrAnd there you have it! What are some of your favorite book covers?

Well, this has been an unexpectedly busy week! I have two new releases to celebrate. The long-awaited print release of A Taste of Honey (Oberon, book 4) and the hopefully-much-anticipated digital release of Ashes of the Day (Children of Night, book 4). A Taste of Honey is one of my all-time favorite books. I was just talking about that with a friend when I was at RT earlier this month. That’s why I’m thrilled that it’s finally in print! I loved the characters of Lucy and Dan, even if they did disrupt my sleep for months—waking me up and demanding I tell their story. Not that I minded too much; I loved their story, after all. Just like I loved the fact that, since much of their book was set in May, I got to celebrate Spring in California in all its abundant glory. This story isn’t just about two people who love each other very much but still manage to sometimes make mistakes, it’s about a whole family. Considering how much of the sub-plots revolve around teenagers, and food, various business enterprises (not to mention angels!) this still manages to be a very sexy book. Check it out here: http://www.amazon.com/Taste-Honey-Oberon-4/dp/0744307872Ashes of the Day features another of my very favorite couples—vampires Conrad and Damian. They also haunted my dreams for many months. They’re also all wrapped up in family matters. I actually thought I’d gotten the two of them settled way back in book two, Old Sins, Long Shadows, but it’s taken another two books just to tie up all the loose ends. In this story, the Fischer-Quintano family is once again center-stage with flashbacks to the twins’ formative years, struggles as they grapple for independence and, more heartbreak and loss. Hey, they’re vampires—and not the kind that sparkle, either. It can’t always be rainbows and sunshine for them. But at least they have cookies—and you can too, if you enter my giveaway:Ashes of the Day is currently on sale here: http://store.samhainpublishing.com/ashes-of-the-day-p-7402.htmla Rafflecopter giveaway

Nina Douglas – Senior Publicity Manager Hello! My name is Nina Douglas and I head up the PR for Indigo (Orion’s YA list) and Orion Children’s Books. I work with another publicist – to date this has been a press officer, but I’m thrilled that I’m now in the process of recruiting someone with more experience to work for me! We sit within the Orion Group General Division PR team, which is seven publicists in total and also as a part of the Orion Children’s/ Indigo team, which is also around seven people covering editorial and rights working exclusively on those lists. Marketing, sales, export, production and design are all part of the main group departments and cover more than just children’s and YA books within their roles. In short, we’re a small dedicated team, within a larger dedicated team at Orion on Upper St Martin’s Lane. My job changes every day; I’ve been working in books PR almost since I left university (UEA) and have just about reached my ten year anniversary in the industry, which is a frightening thought. Both everything and nothing has changed in that time – we work hard at ensuring that we find the opportunities to get our authors, and their work out there and in front of the right audiences in as many ways as possible. The digital world has really opened up the possibilities for a children’s/ YA books publicist. We work hard at talking to readers where they like to spend time and are constantly looking at new ways to engage. This is especially key as traditional media space – which could be tough to crack for a children’s or YA author anyway –for books seems to shrink away before our eyes (though thankfully there are many outlets that buck that trend). Alongside marketing, and in particular the brilliant Jen who looks after the Indigo list, we currently are building our YA communities alongside our sister list at Gollancz. We have just started a new Tumblr and Pinterest to add to our communities on Facebook has been established for quite some time and we have a growing and enthusiastic army of readers and reviewers there) and Twitter (@the_orionstar, @fiercefiction, @ninadouglas). If I could wish for something, it would be a time turner (Hermione-style) as there never seems to be enough time to do all that we would want to do. Any random day could see us working away (either literally at an event, or for an event) at festivals, launch readings, awards, conferences, special events, press and media pitching, blog tour creation, writing materials, blog posts (I’ve just started guest posting on the Gollancz blog too – www.gollancz.co.uk), planning, budgeting, reporting back, in journalist meetings… the list could go on and on. So if anyone happens to have a time-tuner contact… you know where to find me. 2013 has an amazing list of books to tempt readers. Here are my Indigo (and a Gollancz) picks through to the early summer and one or two later titles to look out for… HALF LIVES – Sara Grant Dystopian settings allow for discussion of big issues wrapped in fast paced adventures, in this highly original second novel from Sara Grant including communication to the future and faith. (May) @authorsaragrant SHADOW & BONE and SIEGE & STORM – Leigh Bardugo Optioned for film by DREAMWORKS and DAVID HEYMAN (say no more!) this epic, Russian inspired fantasy has already captured the hearts, minds and creative instincts of an army of fans. A New York Times bestseller, a coming of age adventure, a wonderful and complete other world, and one of the most compelling villains you will have read in a long time.  Shadow & Bone was previously The Gathering Dark in the UK, but from the paperback will have a global identity (one of my books of 2012) (June) @lbardugo POISON, CHARM and BEAUTY – Sarah Pinborough I truly cannot think of anyone better to twist and subvert a reader’s expectations of fairy tales. Just wait til you read Poison… Sarah Pinborough kept me entirely enthralled; I raced through the first story in one ‘over-far-too

(Amanda will be back with her regularly scheduled Tuesday post next week!  In the meantime, her friend Kae Elle Wheeler has agreed to visit the Riskies again with a look at her new release, The English Lily!  Comment for a chance to win a copy…) Lady Kendra has led a long fruitful life. But as a young woman, and in a major turning point of her life, her time with Charles Thomas was cut remarkably short. To ease her mind, she sends him a heart-filled note. Dear Mr. Thomas, I realize it is most inappropriate for me to send you this letter, but rest assured I have my husband’s utmost approval. It has been many years since I last saw you, and the memory still haunts my dreams I fear. I thought if I could enlighten you to my situation we might each finally move forward, where ever that might be for you now. Since that most fateful day aboard the Cecilé, I married Joseph. True, he was a most successful magician, but I am pleased to say he has proved an even more devoted husband and father. We have four beautiful children. Our eldest and heir to Yarmouth named Charles for you, my dear friend. You would be most proud of Charles, for he is a brilliant scholar and benefactor of The School for the Poor and Unfortunate. The others fell closely in his footsteps in their efforts to realize your dreams. Aaron, our most athletic is an avid hunter and horseman. Our girls, twins, mind, Julia and Jane, followed in their father’s way with his magic. Oh, not that Joseph would allow them to tread the boards! But he taught them all of his silly parlour tricks on which the two took to perfecting and creating with havoc of their own. For many years, I kept in very close contact with your mother, to her very end. I am proud she called me Friend. Finally, you will be most happy to know my husband reads a beautiful poem or story to me each and every night when we retire, and on occasion, I find I quite enjoy reading one to him as well. I hope this note will offer you the peace that is descending on me as I pen it. Yours forever, most devotedly so, Kendra Frazier, Lady Yarmouth From the back cover:  Lady Kendra Frazier is devastated. The love of her life just married another, and now all she desires is to be as far away as possible. Viscount Lawrie, Joseph Pinetti Gray, is facing financial ruin and needs a wealthy heiress. Luckily for him, Kendra’s impetuous nature has handed him the fortuity he requires to save his family’s downfall. But Joseph’s carefully cultivated plans come to a grinding halt when he finds himself falling in love for what should have only been a marriage of convenience. And how can an old cursed doll help? The Oklahoma Romance Writers of America, through The Wild Rose Press, have a series of books. Each Tales of the Scrimshaw Doll book must meet a certain criteria. This criteria includes a tie to Oklahoma in some fashion, portraying the curse of the doll accurately, must be romance and the hero/heroine cannot have been married to one another previously. http://kathylwheeler.com http://klwheeler.com http://facebook.com/kathylwheeler http://twitter.com/kathylwheeler Kae Elle Wheeler has a BA degree from the University of Central Oklahoma in Management Information Systems that includes over forty credit hours of vocal music. As a computer programmer the past fifteen years, she utilizes karaoke for her vocal music talents. Other passions include fantasy football, NBA and musical theatre season tickets, and jazzercise. Because to quote Nora Roberts to a one time question, if she worked out? Her reply, “You have to get off your ass.” Kae began has been a member of the Oklahoma Chapter of Romance Writer’s of America and the RWA since March of 2007. She grew up in the Dallas area and definitely considers herself a city girl. She does not limit her travels to Writer Conferences in San Francisco, Washington DC, Seattle, Dallas, New Jersey, New York City and Atlanta because Jazzercise has fun conferences too (Denver, Palm Springs

Gameboard of the Gods by Richelle Mead (Age of X #1) Dutton Adult (June 2013) Ebook, 464 pages Urban Fantasy When I heard that Richelle Mead was releasing a new series, I was ecstatic and couldn’t wait to get my hands on it, even though I had no idea what it was about. Gameboard of the Gods is a sexy and violent adult dystopian novel, with an undercurrent of paranormal activity and mythology, lots of action and a slow-revealed mystery that didn’t disappoint. Written from the point of view of three characters: Mae, a Praetorian super soldier; Justin, an exiled servitor; and Tessa, a teenage prodigy, giving very different and entertaining perspectives of this new world based in a divided America, where religion along with genetic deformation and class division brought about a dystopian society, or the Decline. The RUNA held three things responsible for the Decline: biological manipulation, religion and cultural separatism. All of the early genetic mixing had gone a long way to stamp out group solidarity, and the loose Greco-Roman models the country had adopted had provided a new, all-encompassing culture that everyone could be a part of. I have to admit that I was uncertain of this book at first. Mae is a volatile super soldier, cold and deadly; Justin is a drunk and drugged-up womanizer who hears voices in his head. These voices were distracting at first, me being me, thought it was a person he was having a conversation with, until he was alone and still talking to the voices, Horatio and Magnus, often referring to them as the ravens. However, timing is everything, and just as I was thinking ‘what did I miss, I need to start again’, Mead introduced a hot sex scene quite early on in the book. This was great for a couple of reasons: one, I instantly forgot about the voices and why they were there; two, once they realized who each other were the story became interesting and the sexual tension became intense. I spent the rest of the book waiting for another sexual encounter, whilst trying to work out the mysterious plot. Justin is given a chance to return to the capital despite his exile so he can investigate murders, which may have something to do with a cult or religion. The investigation is dangerous and violent, and his bodyguard Mae may be more linked to the investigation than she ever realized. Mead’s writing is full of humor, excitement, well-timed information release and amazing sexual tension that had me hooked from the off. If you enjoy Mead’s work and a fascinating mystery then this book is for you. With religion banned, the Gods are looking for humans to do their bidding, giving them powers, bringing many old and unknown Norse, Roman and Greek God myths to light. Mead is fantastic at keeping you hooked, one more chapter is never just one more chapter. Each time a chapter comes to a close Mead adds more excitement, making my inquisitiveness get the better of me until my curiosity was piqued so much that I found myself at the end of a 464 page book at 5am, forgoing sleep. After reading Gameboard of the Gods, I’ve again remembered why Mead is one of my favourite authors and, as I have a long wait until the next book in her Age of X series, I will be picking up my TBR copy of The Indigo Spell from Mead’s Bloodlines series to keep me going. VERDICT: I was unable to put Gameboard of the Gods down, Mead sucked me in making me incapable of only reading one more chapter. As each chapter ended my curiosity got the better of me, demanding that I continued on until I found myself at 5am turning the last page. I can’t put my finger on why I felt that way, but mostly I think it’s Mead’s writing. In some ways her style is slow-burning, but it’s the intensity of the burn that grips me - just as you think you can put down her book she gives a slither of information that ignites the flame once again. A wonderful start to her new Age of X series, and I wish it wasn’t such a long wait until the n

‘Thoughtful Ramblings’ is where we discuss bookish topics. One’s that have us all hot and bothered and we need a good rant to air our grievances or topics that have us all thoughtful and we just need to have a bit of a ramble… Bookish Fandoms: The Pros & Cons Fan bases or “fandoms” are becoming a more and more stickier subject. Comparing the book industry and the music industry, they have Directioners (One Direction fans) or Belibers (Justin Bieber Fans) and the book industry has the equivalent. Here are a few to get the idea: “Nerdfighters”: John and Hank Green and John’s books “Potterheads”: The Harry Potter Series “Twi-hards”: Twilight “Demigods”: Percy Jackson Series “Tributes”: The Hunger Games “Brotherhood Without Banners”: Game of Thrones “The Shadowhunters”: Cassandra Clare’s works I am personally on the fence when it comes to this topic or being part of a fan base in general. I dip my toes in and get a feel for everyone there and jump straight back out again. Due to this happening constantly, I have decided to compile a list of of pros and cons when it comes to fan bases. If I can’t make my mind up, I might as well try and help you form an opinion on the matter. PROS Being part of a fan base is like having thousands of friends at once. It is like in life when you meet someone who enjoys the same books as you and you instantly make friends with them based on that mutual interest. Imagine doing this with thousands of people. There is a certain loyalty around it. This is something that may appeal to many. Imagine having the same taste in books as thousands of others in a fan base. The likelihood is that one fellow fan may have read something that you may have not read. You know what that means? Ready made recommendations and even more reads that you will probably love. Which can’t be a bad thing (except for your piggy bank…) If you look at the corporate side of things, it is no lie that the book industry is shrinking. Last year book sales fell over £70 million. If you take a fan base such as “The Shadow Hunters” who religiously buy each new edition of Cassie Clare’s works, think about how much money that must be generating. Whether you like fan bases or not, they have a huge impact on the book industry and sales. My final pro is that fan bases can do good. Take “Nerdfighteria” for example. Every year they do Project for Awesome and this year they raised nearly $500,000 for chosen charities round the world. This is power in numbers used in the best way. CONS Power in numbers can be a great thing for society. But what if someone sparks a conflict with all those numbers. Some fan bases are just too powerful and this is quite a frightening concept. Take the “Beautiful Creatures” fan base, you would think that they would love the fact that their favourite series was getting made in to a movie? Wrong. They were the reason it didn’t work. Some fans blatantly refused to see it simply because of how different it was from the book. In short they helped destroy a franchise that was “set to be the next Twilight” Have you ever said anything bad about a book series? I sure have. Percy Jackson is one of my least favourite series of all time. I thought this would make a good tweet and the next thing I knew I had a pair of “Demigods” openly firing abuse at me. In short some fans’ fierce loyalty to their author knows no bounds and this means that people get insulted for merely stating their opinion. Who wants to be associated with that? With the example above comes generalisation… People saying that all fan bases are the same and that the people within the fan base are the same. This is when insults are thrown around and “Twitter wars” commence. The obsessives within the group come out to play and the people who are there to have fun and share a mutual interest sit there watching and hanging their heads in shame. My final point regarding the cons of fan bases is the fact t

I have had such a busy couple of weeks with a family reunion in California and my daughter’s college graduation (Yay!) that release day of A Reputation for Notoriety has sneaked up on me. It is tomorrow! In honor of release day, I’m giving away one signed copy of A Reputation for Notoriety to one lucky commenter chosen at random. The back cover blurb of A Reputation for Notoriety Raising the stakes… As the unacknowledged son of the lecherous Lord Westleigh, John “Rhys” Rhysdale was forced to earn a crust gambling on the streets. Now he owns the most thrilling new gaming establishment in London. Witnessing polite society’s debauchery and excess every night, Rhys prefers to live on its fringes, but a mysterious masked lady tempts him into the throng. Lady Celia Gale, known only as Madame Fortune, matches Rhys card for card and kiss for stolen kiss. But the stakes are raised when Rhys discovers she’s from the very world he despises… The Masquerade Club. Identities concealed, desires revealed… The first review! 4 Stars! “…It’s passionate, intense and seductive. The characters are lively with pulsating sexual tension and there are enough secrets, scandals and complications to make a lady swoon with glee!” — Maria Ferrer, RT BOOKReviews (read the whole review) I wanted to write a gaming hell story and a story about a bastard son. Thus A Reputation for Notoriety was born. The question for me was what kind of gaming house did I want? I certainly did not want my hero to run a disreputable gaming house and I wanted one that society ladies could attend. The only way I could think of that a lady could attend would be in a mask, but I’d already used that idea in The Wagering Widow. I couldn’t repeat that idea. Or could I? I decided to use the same gaming house that appeared in The Wagering Widow and to use the hero’s memory of the wagering widow as the idea for his house. I suppose this “proves” that all my Regency people really do live in the same “world.” I like to think of it that way. I like to think that they all really existed and lived the lives I imagined for them. I like to think that they might pass each other on a Mayfair street or choose the same books from Hachards. While characters in one book are enmeshed in conflict, I like to think that others are living their happily-ever-after. The latest of my Regency people will begin their story tomorrow. Look for A Reputation for Notoriety on bookstore shelves tomorrow or for sale from online vendors. The ebook version will appear June 1. Do you like to imagine the people in books are real? What has been keeping you busy these days? Comment for a chance to win a signed copy of A Reputation for Notoriety.

Last week, my news stream was buzzing with the news Kristin Cashore’s bestselling YA book Graceling is the latest novel to have film rights acquired by a studio. Over at Harlequin TEEN, a few of our books may be hitting a theatre near you — film rights for Julie Kagawa’s Blood of Eden series (starting with The Immortal Rules) were sold, and Universal picked up the rights to Julie ‘s next fantasy series, too! Of course there are a TON of paranormal and fantasy books that have been acquired by studios and production companies for movies. Which of these potential book-to-film adaptations looking forward to seeing on the big screen? Feel free to add your own picks and share other options in the comments, too! Take Our Poll

Since the announcement of our three book deal with seventeen-year-old Wattpad sensation Beth Reekles , buzz has only continued to build for her debut novel THE KISSING BOOTH.  The Today Show visited Beth and her friends and family in Wales last week, and their segment aired yesterday morning.  Take a peek here.  The e-book is on sale now (paperback edition to follow on May 14th), and Entertainment Weekly’s “Shelf Life” blog features an interview with Beth: “The teen E.L. James: Beth Reekles talks ‘The Kissing Booth,’ sex in YA, and French Homework”. THE KISSING BOOTH grew out of Beth’s desire to write what she wanted to read.  Tired of stories with “werewolves and vampires,” she wanted to write a love story teenagers like herself would want to have. The result is charming and flirty – a teen romance complete with a pretty, popular but never been kissed heroine, a bad-boy love interest, and the irresistible tension of a forbidden relationship. Since first being uploaded to Wattpad, teens have flocked to THE KISSING BOOTH, and it has generated over 19 million reads and over 40, 000 comments and is the most-viewed, most talked-about teen fiction title on the site. Random House Children’s Publishers UK originally discovered her there, and their e-book, which just went on sale in December, has quickly risen to the top of the sales charts.  Beth first began writing on an old laptop her father had given her for homework, and uploaded her stories to Wattpad without telling her parents what she was up to.  Now, in a whirlwind span of just a few short months, Beth has gone from popular online writer to published author, with book deals on both sides of the pond, and all while simultaneously studying for her A-levels. We are so excited to be publishing THE KISSING BOOTH, and to be working with Beth at the beginning of her career. Buy your copy here – http://www.amazon.com/The-Kissing-Booth-ebook/dp/B00C4BA4E0/ref=sr_1_1_title_1_kin?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1369054719&sr=1-1&keywords=the+kissing+booth

Thanks to the fabulous people at Harper Teen, I'm giving away five fabulous May Harper Teen ARCs. They are...*Reboot by Amy Tintera (goodreads) *Dark Shore (Book 2 of The Atlanteans) by Kevin Emerson (goodreads) *Parallel by Laura Miller (goodreads) *Night School by C.J. Daugherty (goodreads) *Transparent by Natalie Whipple (goodreads)To enter, all you have to do is fill out the Rafflecopter form below. This is only open to US participants and ends June 8th. Good luck, and may the odds be ever in your favor. a Rafflecopter giveaway