Jen's Jewels | Interview with Lou Berney

I’ve always been interested in traveling especially to exotic places. Strange customs and unfamiliar food seem to pique my curiosity. Have I ever been to any, you ask?  If New Jersey qualifies as one, then yes!  All kidding aside, as part of my list of New Year’s resolutions, I plan on venturing outside the USA with my husband and kids in tow. Who knows where we might wind up? I can guarantee it most certainly will be an adventure!

This month’s Jen’s Jewels Lou Berney has been bitten by the same travel bug. In his debut novel GUTSHOT STRAIGHT, he takes the reader on an outrageous ride to the jungles of Panama in a hilarious crime caper that is sure to catch your eye.  From the Armenian mob to a Vegas strip-club, this wild adventure has it all. Even the catchy title draws you in!

As part of this interview, William Morrow Publishers has generously donated five copies for you, my lucky readers, to win. So, don’t forget to look for the trivia question.  And as always, thanks for making Jen’s Jewels a part of your reading adventure.

click to read the interview and learn how to win a copy of GUTSHOT STRAIGHT

Saturday Smackdown: The Doctor's Companion

The Daily Dose
Smattering of Romance, Paranormal, and General Observations

Tonight ends the David Tennant run as Doctor Who. The second episode of The End of Time has already aired in the United Kingdom, but BBC America will air that episode this evening in the U.S. In honor of David Tennant and the magnificent women who served as his companion, we have an extra long Saturday Smackdown for you this week.

Up for your choice, this week is which companion is your favorite: Rose Tyler, Martha Jones or Donna Noble?

Billie Piper

Rose Tyler played by Billie Piper is introduced in the revived series as the ninth Doctor's (Christopher Eccleston). Rose is a working class girl who has a job as a London shop girl. She lives with her mother Jackie and her sometime boyfriend is Mickey Smith (no relationship to Sarah Jane). Rose's enthusiastic embrace of the Doctor's lifestyle leads her to fall in love with him. While the series typically refrained from showing the romantic relationships between the Doctor and his companions, Rose works her way under the Doctor's jaded skin, giving him a new lease of life.

Read the rest of the Dr. Who smackdown...

Sara Reyes | Bring on the Book Resolutions....

A new year and time to put into effect resolutions. Some resolve to become healthier, happier, successful, or more learned. I'd say knowledgeable but I'm fond of the word "learned." I think my fascination with the word "learned" began in my childhood when every year my grandmother resolved to read the entire Bible in a year. Yes, that is the childhood I had, but my grandmother had a different spin on the whole-book-in-a-year resolution. We already read the King James version every single day, but she'd come up with a different version or translation so we'd have our normal chapter or two of the KJV then we'd re-read in some other translation. My most memorable year was the year of the "New News for Modern Man" version. I seriously think she argued every single morning trying to reconcile the versions. But it all was in the quest of being "learned."

Talk about resolutions...read more...

Fresh Pick | FROSTBITTEN by Kelley Armstrong

Women of the Otherworld #10

October 2009
On Sale: September 29, 2009
Featuring: Elena Michaels; Clayton Danvers
384 pages
ISBN: 0553806629
EAN: 9780553806625
Hardcover
$26.00

Fantasy Urban, Romance Paranormal
Buy at Amazon.com

A Fresh Fiction read for 2009!

Frostbitten by Kelley Armstrong

The Alaskan wilderness is a harsh landscape in the best of conditions, but with a pack of rogue werewolves on the loose, it’s downright deadly.

Elena Michaels, the Pack’s chief enforcer, knows all too well the havoc “mutts” can wreak.

When they hear of a series of gruesome maulings and murders outside Anchorage, she and her husband, Clay, journey to Alaska in the dead of winter in order to hunt down the dangerous werewolves. Trapped in this savage, untamed winter realm, she and Clay learn more about their own werewolf heritage than they bargained for, tapping a little more into the wild nature of the beast within. With Elena back in the starring role, this is the book Kelley Armstrong fans have been waiting for.

One of the very best entries in this talented author's Women of the Otherworld urban fantasy series.

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Joan Johnston | Setting Goals For The New Year

In January this year, my friend Gloria will come to my home for three days while we review the ten personal and ten professional goals we set for 2009 and set our goals for 2010. She'll reassure me that Shattered, my 49th novel and the eight book in my Bitter CreekM series, which hits bookstores on December 29, will sell like hotcakes. I'll drink lots of hot tea, eat lots of Hershey's kisses (with almonds) and angst about whether my readers will like Kate and Jack's story, which they've been waiting to read for two years. (I know, finally!!!!)

Gloria and I became friends at a Romantic Times writing conference and we've shared these sessions--at her house one year and my house the next--for the past fifteen years. It's amazing how much more you accomplish when you write down your goals and check in once a week with a friend to see how you're doing during the year.

Every goal you write should be stated as though it has already occurred. It should also be something within your control and achievable during the year. I'll share a couple of mine from last year with you, so you can see what I mean.


To read more of SETTING GOALS FOR THE NEW YEAR please click here.

Fresh Pick | GODDESS OF THE HUNT by Tessa Dare

Hunting Party #1

August 2009
On Sale: July 28, 2009
Featuring: Jeremy Trescott; Lucy Waltham
384 pages
ISBN: 0345506863
EAN: 9780345506863
Mass Market Paperback
$6.99

Romance Historical
Buy at Amazon.com

A Fresh Fiction read for 2009!

Goddess of the Hunt by Tessa Dare

Ever the bold adventuress, Lucy Waltham has decided to go hunting for a husband. But first she needs some target practice. So she turns to her brother’s best friend, Jeremy Trescott, the Earl of Kendall, to hone her seductive wiles on him before setting her sights on another man. But her practice kisses spark a smoldering passion—one that could send all her plans up in smoke.

Jeremy has an influential title, a vast fortune, and a painful past, full of long-buried secrets. He keeps a safe distance from his own emotions, but to distract Lucy from her reckless scheming, he must give his passions free rein. Their sensual battle of wills is as maddening as it is delicious, but the longer he succeeds in managing the headstrong temptress, the closer Jeremy comes to losing control. When scandal breaks, can he bring himself to abandon Lucy to her ruin? Or will he risk his heart, and claim her for his own?

Fantastic debut historical romance with more to come in the series.

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Terry Spear | Realistic Urban Fantasies

It seems that if a world is a fantasy, anything could go. It’s fantastical after all. But the fun in creating an urban fantasy for me is in making it seem real enough that readers will feel as though werewolves, or vampires, live among us. Just think, the hunky guy who lives in the apartment next door, who helped shovel snow out of your path, could be a werewolf. Or a vampire. He dances, and drinks, and eats, and acts just like a regular guy. With a few exceptions. In both cases, the hero has bite. Either as a wolf-my, what very big teeth you have... Or as a vampire-make my day.


They’re both very adept at fighting the good fight and they stick with a woman in the long run. Both are extremely protective of their kind and of those who come under their protection, can be a bit possessive and bossy, but the heroines have enough starch to get what they want also. I’ve been asked which I prefer-a vampire or a werewolf. And the truth is I love both.

To read more of REALISTIC URBAN FANTASIES please click here.

Fresh Pick | THE SPLENDOR FALLS by Rosemary Clement-Moore

September 2009
On Sale: September 8, 2009
528 pages
ISBN: 0385736908
EAN: 9780385736909
Hardcover
$17.99

Young Adult
Buy at Amazon.com

A Fresh Fiction read for 2009!

The Splendor Falls by Rosemary Clement-Moore

Can love last beyond the grave?

Sylvie Davis is a ballerina who can’t dance. A broken leg ended her career, but Sylvie’s pain runs deeper. What broke her heart was her father’s death, and what’s breaking her spirit is her mother’s remarriage—a union that’s only driven an even deeper wedge into their already tenuous relationship.

Uprooting her from her Manhattan apartment and shipping her to Alabama is her mother’s solution for Sylvie’s unhappiness. Her father’s cousin is restoring a family home in a town rich with her family’s history. And that’s where things start to get shady. As it turns out, her family has a lot more history than Sylvie ever knew. More unnerving, though, are the two guys that she can’t stop thinking about. Shawn Maddox, the resident golden boy, seems to be perfect in every way. But Rhys—a handsome, mysterious foreign guest of her cousin’s—has a hold on her that she doesn’t quite understand.

Then she starts seeing things. Sylvie’s lost nearly everything—is she starting to lose her mind as well?

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Sheila Rabe | Resolutions I'm Not Going To Keep

Every year it’s the same old, same old. I resolve to eat less and exercise more, manage my time better, get organized, be a better wife, mother, friend, and person. Be noble, and never get grumpy or lose my temper. In short, be perfect. This year I got in touch with my inner Doctor Phil and asked myself, "How’s that workin’ for ya?"

Well, in spite of my resolutions, my caboose has gotten big enough that every kid in the neighborhood could ride on it - at the same time. I’ve lost many an hour of productivity to Facebook and Twitter. (So why I still can’t figure out how to post pictures on my Facebook fan page or decipher half of the shorthand I read on Twitter is a mystery to me.) My daughter complains that she has to check my FB page to see what I’m doing and as for the better wife goal, let’s just say that it’s a good thing my poor husband Gerhardt is longsuffering.

So, in light of all that, what are my resolutions for the New Year?

1. Buy bigger clothes. That way I can eat and not feel guilty. And I’ll remind my husband that these days a lot of men like women with junk in the trunk. Gerhardt needs to keep up on trends.

To read more of RESOLUTIONS I'M NOT GOING TO KEEP please click here.

Fresh Pick | RED HOT LIES by Laura Caldwell

Izzy McNeil #1

June 2009
On Sale: June 1, 2009
Featuring: Izzy McNeil
420 pages
ISBN: 0778326500
EAN: 9780778326502
Mass Market Paperback
$7.99

Romance Suspense, Mystery
Buy at Amazon.com

A Fresh Fiction read for 2009!

Red Hot Lies by Laura Caldwell

They say bad things happen in threes. When her fiancé, Sam, disappears on the same day her mentor and biggest client is killed, hotshot Chicago attorney Izzy McNeil starts counting. But trouble keeps coming.

Usually I pride myself on my intuition. I listen to that voice that says, “Something bad is happening…” or maybe “Get out. Now.” But on that Tuesday at the end of October, my psyche must have been protecting the one remaining day I still believed life was orderly and the universe liked me. Because I didn’t hear that voice. I never saw it coming.

They say bad things happen in threes. When her fiancé, Sam, disappears on the same day her mentor and biggest client is killed, hotshot Chicago attorney Izzy McNeil starts counting. But trouble keeps coming. Sam is implicated in the client’s death, her apartment is broken into and it’s not just the authorities who are following her.

Now, to find Sam and uncover her client’s murderer, Izzy will have to push past limits she never imagined. Lucky for her she’s always thrived under pressure, because her world is falling apart. Fast. And the trail of half-truths and lies is red-hot.

Excellent start to a new RED HOT series

In a single day, Izzy's life goes from near perfect to an unending nightmare

Excerpt

Chapter One

One day can shift the plates of your earth.

One day can age you.

Usually, I pride myself on my intuition. I listen to that voice that says, “Something bad is happening…” or maybe, “Get out now, you idiot.”

But on that Tuesday at the end of October, my psyche must have been protecting the one remaining day while I still believed that the universe was kind, that life was hectic but orderly. Because I didn’t hear that voice. I never saw it coming.

Day One

“McNeil, she’s not signing this crap.”

“She told me she was signing it last week.”

“She told you she was considering it.”

“No.” I shifted the phone to Read More...

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SARA EDMONDS | A FEW OF MY FAVORITES OF 2009

Towards the end of the year, I inevitably look through the books I have read and remember my favorites. These are only a few that impressed me this year.

Susan Elizabeth Phillips had another good hit with What I Did For Love. In case you missed this one Susan tells the story of Georgie and Bram- Georgie needs an image boost after her husband leaves her for a do-gooder actress and Bram needs any image at all. So they come together and pretend to be the perfect Hollywood married couple to help both their careers. Susan always does a great job of putting a twist on what could have been a cheesy story. Susan's character's always have layers to them that make you keep turning the pages. And of course you will laugh the whole way through.

To read more of A FEW OF MY FAVORITES OF 2009 please click here.

Fresh Pick | THE MATTERS AT MANSFIELD: OR, THE CRAWFORD AFFAIR by Carrie Bebris

Mr. And Mrs. Darcy Mysteries

September 2008
On Sale: September 2, 2008
Featuring: Fitzwilliam Darcy; Elizabeth Darcy
288 pages
ISBN: 0765318474
EAN: 9780765318473
Hardcover
$22.95

Mystery Historical
Buy at Amazon.com

A Fresh Fiction read for 2009!

The Matters At Mansfield: Or, The Crawford Affair by Carrie Bebris

Jane Austen meets Anne Perry in a historical mystery series featuring the hero and heroine from Pride and Prejudice

Following the birth of their first child, Elizabeth and Fitzwilliam Darcy are looking forward to enjoying life at Pemberley, but family commitments draw them away to Mansfield Park. While there, the Darcys get involved with marriage arrangements, star-crossed lovers, deceit, mistaken identity, and even murder.

Once again the Darcys take center stage as the Regency era's answer to The Thin Man's Nick and Nora in this delightful series by the 2007 Daphne du Maurier Award-wining author of North by Northanger.

Previous Picks

Daily Dose | Top Ten Vampire Romance Books

The Daily Dose
Smattering of Romance, Paranormal, and General Observations

Just because I don't read a lot of vampire fiction doesn't mean I don't like it. I have been reading about vampires since I read INTERVIEW WITH A VAMPIRE decades ago. I have read Bram Stoker, the Vampire Diaries, TWILIGHT and many others in between. I remember when finding a book with vampires as main characters was hard to do – thus most that you did find were just really well done novels with engaging stories, great characterizations and worth involving yourself in.

Read all about Heather's top vampires

Robin Kaye | Meet Rich and Becca Ronaldi...

I walked into DiNicola’s Restaurant in Brooklyn, NY, and stopped at the reception desk, the hostess was putting the daily specials inside each menu.

“Hi, I’m Robin Kaye, I’m here to meet Rich and Becca Ronaldi.”

When the woman turned around, I recognized her. She was Mona DiNicola’s cousin Rita. She pointed toward the bar. “They’re waitin’ for ya in the family dining room. I’ll tell Vinny you’re here.”

“Thanks, Rita.” I turned and walked through the small bar toward the family dining room in the back. My stomach growled as the smell of good gravy made my mouth water. I’d driven from Maryland to Brooklyn without stopping so I was well past ready for lunch.

When I walked in, I found Rich and Becca with their heads together, sitting next to each other at a table for four, holding hands. It’s nice to see they still only have eyes for each other, even after a year of marriage. “Am I interrupting?”

Rich got up and gave me a hug and a kiss on both cheeks. “You? Never. How are you?”

“Good, you two look happy.”

Becca gave me a hug. “We are. Things are good. How are you?”

Rich helped me off with my coat and Vinny DiNicola, the owner, chef, and Mona’s husband, came out with a bottle of Chianti and poured me a glass. “Thanks, Vinny.”

More kisses were exchanged and Vinny held my chair for me.

“I’ll make you a nice lunch, eh? Did you bring your appetite?”

“You ever know me to refuse your food?”

Vinny winked at me. “No, though you look like you lost weight.”

“Ha, you’re such a bad liar, but thanks for trying.”

Rich held his wine glass up. “Robin, benovenuto nella nostra casa e fa I nostri amici. Salute!”

We clinked glasses and took a sip of wine.

Becca looked from me to him. “Huh?”

“Rich just welcomed me to your home and your circle of friends. Grazi.”

Rich nodded. “Prego.”

Becca still looked skinny and beautiful, if she wasn’t so nice, I’d really have to hate her. Richie, well, he looked gorgeous in a hot professor sort of way since he was dressed for work. He had this monochrome thing going that really worked for him, me, and just about every other straight woman on the planet. “So, I’m here to interview you two about your romance.”

Read the rest of the interview...

Fresh Pick | BLUE DIABLO by Ann Aguirre

Corine Solomon #1

April 2009
On Sale: April 7, 2009
Featuring: Corine Solomon
336 pages
ISBN: 0451462645
EAN: 9780451462640
Paperback
$6.99

Fantasy Urban
Buy at Amazon.com

A Fresh Fiction favorite read for 2009.

Blue Diablo by Ann Aguirre

Right now, I’m a redhead. I’ve been blonde and brunette as the situation requires, though an unscheduled color change usually means relocating in the middle of the night. So far, I’m doing well here. Nobody knows what I’m running from. And I’d like to keep it that way…

Eighteen months ago, Corine Solomon crossed the border to Mexico City, fleeing her past, her lover, and her “gift”. Corine, a handler, can touch something and know its history—and sometimes, its future. Using her ability, she can find the missing—and that’s why people never stop trying to find her. People like her ex, Chance…

Chance, whose uncanny luck has led him to her doorstep, needs her help. Someone dear to them both has gone missing in Laredo, Texas, and the only hope of finding her is through Corine’s gift. But their search may prove dangerous as the trail leads them into a strange dark world of demons and sorcerers, ghosts and witchcraft, zombies—and black magic…

Previous Picks

Fresh Pick | SWORN TO SILENCE by Linda Castillo

Kate Burkholder #1

July 2009
On Sale: June 23, 2009
Featuring: Kate Burkholder
336 pages
ISBN: 0312374976
EAN: 9780312374976
Hardcover
$24.95

Thriller Serial Killer, Thriller Police Procedural
Buy at Amazon.com

A Fresh Fiction read for 2009!

Sworn To Silence by Linda Castillo

Some secrets are too terrible to reveal . . .

Some crimes are too unspeakable to solve . . .

In the sleepy rural town of Painters Mill, Ohio, the Amish and “English” residents have lived side by side for two centuries. But sixteen years ago, a series of brutal murders shattered the peaceful farming community. In the aftermath of the violence, the town was left with a sense of fragility, a loss of innocence. Kate Burkholder, a young Amish girl, survived the terror of the Slaughterhouse Killer but came away from its brutality with the realization that she no longer belonged with the Amish.

Now, a wealth of experience later, Kate has been asked to return to Painters Mill as Chief of Police. Her Amish roots and big city law enforcement background make her the perfect candidate. She’s certain she’s come to terms with her past—until the first body is discovered in a snowy field. Kate vows to stop the killer before he strikes again. But to do so, she must betray both her family and her Amish past—and expose a dark secret that could destroy her.

A bone-chilling exposé of a sadistic serial killer -- and an excellent start to a thrilling series.

Previous Picks

Sunday Snips and Clips: Kitty, Khristmas and Kibitzing

The Daily Dose
Smattering of Romance, Paranormal, and General Observations

Happy Sunday everyone! Sorry for no Smackdown yesterday, I was sucked in by a story that I couldn't stop writing and when I finally did take a break from that, I got sucked in by a book that I couldn't put down. On our post-holiday trip to the bookstore, what to my wondering eyes should appear but Carrie Vaughn's latest Kitty Norville novel: KITTY'S HOUSE OF HORRORS. The book is scheduled for release January 4, 2010 according to Amazon so I snatched that little Christmas present right up for myself.

Read more including Heather's take on the latest Kitty...