Romancing Rakes For The Love of Romance: June 2012

Saturday, June 30, 2012

Studio Smexy Saturdays: It's Real!!!

Oh. Em. Gee. Studio Smexy is totally real and totally smoking hot! Today we bring you images from our time IN Studio Smexy but words could not even begin to describe all the behind the scenes shenanigans so some pictures will have to do...

A note from Jenn: Last week was truly special. RomCon has become a thing, in two short years. Last year I convinced a group of bloggers to come out and play, and play we did. This year Jamie + Kati returned, and we did it all again, bigger and better than ever before. It was a BLAST. We did an honest-to-God studio shoot, shot a bunch of stock and one really beautiful image for the über amazing Delilah Marvelle. But that we can talk about soon. Right now I want to talk about the ladies of RRFTLOR. These two are amazing, and between us and Derek the laughs were epic, I know I have stellar abs now, you just can't seeeee them. ;)

Shooting, traipsing after models, humping gear,
a whole lotta Earl and squished in due to lotsa gear/costumes.

So today's edition of #StudioSmexy is all about the live shoot with these two, which was really THREE shoots, one location, one studio stock, and one studio live action for a book trailer. We mixed it up pretty well. So without further ado, I give you #StudioSmexy live, with Jamie + Kati.

Feature: Sweet Deal by Kelly Jamieson

Today we would like to welcome Kelly Jamieson to the blog. She is sharing an excerpt from her latest release, Sweet Deal.

WELCOME TO THE BLOG KELLY!!!

Meet Kelly:

I'm a married mother of two who lives a very ordinary life outside of my imagination. When I'm not writing I'm usually reading. I also like to cook and that means I like to read cookbooks and cooking magazines. In the summer I enjoy spending time gardening and in the winter I like to read gardening magazines and seed catalogues. I love lying on the beach or on my deck with a glass of wine and a good book. I also love to travel. As you can see, pretty much all my activities involve reading somehow! Although I don't have as much time for it any more, I also love to shop, especially for clothes and shoes. Some think I'm obsessed with shoes but that is not true (although my husband would point out that there is no room left in our closet).

I love to hear from readers.

Connect with Kelly: Author Site | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Blog

Guest Post with Cheryl Holt + Giveaway

Cheryl Holt is here to share her latest release, NICHOLAS, which will be her last book available in paperback. Cheryl has gone through a rollercoaster ride of a journey through publishing but she's powered on through. She is also giving away 10 signed copies of NICHOLAS. Make sure you check out the details at the end of the post.

WELCOME TO THE BLOG CHERYL!!!

Meet Cheryl:

CHERYL HOLT is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of thirty-three novels. She has numerous national writing awards to her credit and is particularly proud to have been named “Best Storyteller of the Year” by the trade magazine, Romantic Times. The magazine also selected her as one of the “Top Twenty-Five Erotic Writers of All Time”. She has been hailed as the “Queen” of erotic romance as well as the International Queen of Villains!

She lives and writes in Hollywood, California.

Connect with Cheryl: Author Site | Facebook | Twitter

Studio Smexy Saturdays: DEFIANT by Pamela Clare

OH.MY.GOD.Y'ALL. Today's Studio Smexy is going to blow your socks off. Pamela Clare (The I-Team series) and Jenn LeBlanc teamed up to bring DEFIANT to life. Yup, the never before published, much anticipated story of Connor MacKinnon (Surrender and Untamed) will release July 3rd and you'll get a live action book trailer. We're featuring stills and outtakes from the shoot. So sit down (specifically in a chair that has arm rests), grab some paper towels to wipe off the drool on your keyboard and get ready to subconsciously pet your screen while we're at RomCon totally petting the abs displayed below. Hopefully we won't scare him away. P.S. Check out Pamela's post earlier this week on her blog.

WELCOME TO STUDIO SMEXY SATURDAYS PAMELA!!!

Meet Pamela:

Colorado author Pamela Clare began her writing career as a columnist and investigative reporter and eventually became the first woman editor-in-chief of two different newspapers. Along the way, she and her team won numerous state and national honors, including the National Journalism Award for Public Service. In 2011, Clare was awarded the Keeper of the Flame Lifetime Achievement Award. A single mother with two sons, she writes historical romance and contemporary romantic suspense at the foot of the beautiful Rocky Mountains.

Connect with Pamela: Author Site | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Blog

Gone to RomCon

We've gone to Denver and we're pretty sure Denver isn't ready for us. Again. Don't worry, we'll be tweeting pictures and we'll recap when we get back. Until then, we hope y'all have a great weekend!

Today is the last day to enter to win the GRAND PRIZE BOX of RomCon books and swag.

Road To RomCon Event: Spotlight on Eileen Dreyer

A note from Jamie: Last year at RomCon I had the pleasure of meeting Eileen Dreyer. And by meeting I mean practically knocking her down and rambling on about how much I loved her recent book. Thankfully she didn't take out a restraining order and thanked me for reading them. Her Drake's Rakes series is one of the best historical series I've read.

Meet Eileen:

2012 sees Eileen enjoying critical acclaim for her first foray into historical romance, the Drake's Rakes series, which follow the lives of a group of British aristocrats who are willing to sacrifice everything to keep their country safe. After publication of the first trilogy in the series, she has just signed for the next trilogy, following the graduates of the aptly named Last Chance Academy, who each finds herself crossing swords with Drake's Rakes. Eileen spent time not only in England and Italy, but India to research the series (it's a filthy job, but somebody has to do it).

Dreyer won her first publishing award in 1987, being named the best new Contemporary Romance Author by RT Bookclub. Since that time she has also garnered not only five other writing awards from RT, but five RITA Awards from Romance Writers of America, which secures her only the fourth place in the Romance Writers of America prestigious Hall of Fame. Since extending her reach to suspense, she has also garnered a coveted Anthony Award nomination.

A frequent speaker at conferences, she maintains membership in Romance Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, Mystery Writers of America, and, just in case things go wrong, Emergency Nurses Association and International Association of Forensic Nurses.

Eileen is an addicted traveler, having sung in some of the best Irish pubs in the world, and admits she sees research as a handy way to salve her insatiable curiosity. She counts film producers, police detectives and Olympic athletes as some of her sources and friends. She's also trained in forensic nursing and death investigation, although she doesn't see herself actively working in the field, unless this writing thing doesn't pan out.

Connect with Eileen: Author Site | Facebook | Blog

Road To RomCon Event: Spotlight on Kat Martin

Meet Kat:

Currently living in Missoula, Montana, Kat is the New York Times bestselling author of over fifty Historical and Contemporary Romance Suspense novels. Before she started writing in 1985, Kat was a real estate broker. During that time, she met her husband, Larry Jay Martin, author of more than twenty books, both westerns and mysteries. Kat is a graduate of the University of California at Santa Barbara, where she majored in Anthropology and also studied History.

"I've always loved books. I was an avid reader, with any number of my own stories rolling around in my head. Writing them down seemed a logical step."

"I love anything old," Kat says. "I love to travel and especially like to visit the places where my books are set. My husband and I often stay in out-of-the-way inns and houses built in times past. It's fun and it gives a wonderful sense of a by-gone era."

Kat began with historical romance and is currently writing romantic suspense. She is published in twenty foreign countries.

Connect with Kat: Author Site | Facebook

Today we would like to welcome erotic author Eden Bradley to the blog. She is sharing an excerpt from her recent release, Fallen Angel.

WELCOME TO THE BLOG EDEN!!!

Meet Eden:

Award-winning, best-selling author Eden Bradley aka Eve Berlin has published over 30 contemporary, paranormal and futuristic erotic romance novels and novellas for Berkley Heat, Harlequin Spice and HQN, Samhain Publishing and Bantam/Delta in both print and e-books. Her specialty is writing BDSM and other kinks, as well as complicated characters and lush romantic relationships. This year she is also venturing into self-publishing with the re-releases of her stories SANCTUARY and BREAKING SKYE.

Connect with Eden: Eden's Site | Eve's Site | Smutketeers Blog

Note: The excerpt is very sexy. Read at your own risk...

Road To RomCon with Isobel Carr + Giveaway

Isobel Carr writes delicious heroes, headstrong heroines and has drool-worthy covers (what?! we lurve our covers). We met Isobel last year at RomCon and she is fantastic! We can't wait to see her again in a few days :)

WELCOME TO THE BLOG ISOBEL!!!

Meet Isobel:

Isobel Carr (aka Kalen Hughes) is a best-selling author of Georgian-set historicals for Grand Central. She formerly wrote the research column for RWA’s eNotes, and currently shares her research on the History Hoydens blog. She lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her Neapolitan Mastiff, Clancy, in a vintage bungalow that she has no time to restore. Her upcoming release, RIPE FOR SEDUCTION (Dec, 2012), is the third book in THE LEAGUE OF SECOND SONS series.

Connect with Isobel: Author Site | Facebook | Twitter

Road To RomCon Event: Sara Ramsey + Giveaway

Sara Ramsey's alter ego has been cracking us up with "Sh*t Romance Writers Say". But today, Sara is sharing what she's looking forward to during her first year at RomCon as well as sharing an excerpt from her latest release, Scotsmen Prefer Blondes.

WELCOME TO THE BLOG SARA!!!

Meet Sara:

Sara Ramsey writes fun, feisty Regency historical romances. She won the prestigious Romance Writers of America Golden Heart award with her second Muses of Mayfair book, SCOTSMEN PREFER BLONDES. Her first book, HEIRESS WITHOUT A CAUSE, was a Golden Heart finalist.

Sara grew up in a small town in Iowa, and her obsession with fashion, shoes, and all things British is clearly a rebellion against her hopelessly uncool youth. She graduated from Stanford University in 2003 with a degree in Symbolic Systems (also known as cognitive science) and a minor in history. After graduation, she worked at Google for seven years in a variety of sales, management, and communications roles. She left Google in 2010 to pursue her writing career full time. Sara is currently living the hip Regency writer life in San Francisco, California.

Connect with Sara: Author Site | Facebook | Twitter | Tumblr |

Weekly Winners

CONGRATS TO:

Artemis

Invitation to Scandal by Bronwen Evans

Aurian

Warrior's Redemption by Melissa Mayhue

Natasha

Anne Fescharek

Love's Portrait by Monica Burns (ebook)

Phoenix Carvelli

bn100

Escape With A Rogue by Sharon Page (ebook)

Sheri Vidal

Saving Hope by Margaret Daley

Lisa Hutson

From This Day Forward by Margaret Daley

Heather Book Savvy Babe

Inked Magic by Jory Strong

Anne Golden

~~Mary Preston~~
Lori Meehan

Undone by Lila DiPasqua

Christine Sheets

Joy Gifford

bn100

Sweet Enemy by Heather Snow

Yadira Alonzo

Seven Day Loan by Tiffany Reisz (Studio Smexy Saturdays)

Phoenix Carvelli

Joy Gifford

Mel Bourn

Sheri Vidal

Patricia Williams

Before Her Eyes by Rebecca Forster (ebook)

lindathum

Aurian

Laurie Evans

How To Please A Pirate by Mia Marlowe (Kindle or Nook book)

Carrie J

Skin Deep by Pamela Clare (ebook)

Debi Anne

Love On The Line by Deeanne Gist

All winners have been contacted via email and have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen.

A huge thank you to all the ladies of Rock*It Reads for sharing their new project with us.

Didn't win? There's still more chances. Check out our giveaway page as well as our Road To RomCon Event.

Romantic Suspense eARC Review: Shades of Desire by Virna DePaul

SHADES OF DESIRE by Virna DePaul
Format: ebook via Netgalley
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Length: 384 pages
Publisher: HQN (May 22,2012)

Natalie Jones is the lucky survivor of an elusive killer who preys on young women and then disappears from view. And since her harrowing ordeal, the once gutsy photojournalist has remained isolated in her home, paralyzed by fear and her failing vision.

Special Agent Liam “Mac” McKenzie has scars of his own. But despite his efforts to ignore the attraction that simmers between him and Natalie, he needs her help to catch a predator. Soon, they will forge a tentative alliance—charged with desire. Through a soft-focus lens, Natalie dares to envision a future with Mac beyond the investigation...never guessing that the clues hidden within her photographs are drawing them into an explosive confrontation with a madman.

REVIEW:

RomCon was such a blur last year that we vaguely remember meeting Hillary. Today, she is sharing what she's looking forward to in a few days and also an excerpt from her book, Desperate Soul. This year, we are most definitely going to hang with her and get our inappropriate on!

WELCOME TO THE BLOG HILLARY!!!

Meet Hillary:

Since Hillary had her first encounter with a ghost at age nine she has been obsessed with all things paranormal. Self proclaimed hot mess and lover of the supernatural. Love and survival is part of her debut novella's Desperate Soul and The Amulet, available now from 5 Prince Publishing. She is happily married to her very own chef and they have two amazing dachsunds who leave happiness and chaos wherever they go. Come by and visit her blog and leave a comment at http://hillaryseidl.com

Connect with Hillary: Author Site | Twitter

Road To RomCon with Elizabeth Hoyt + Giveaway

Elizabeth Hoyt is such a fantastic writer. From the first page until the last, she captivates the reader, makes them fall in love with her characters and keeps them coming back for more with her ongoing mystery in each series. Kati thoroughly enjoyed Scandalous Desires as well as Thief of Shadows. We are looking forward to stalking, er, meeting her in person at RomCon!

WELCOME TO THE BLOG ELIZABETH!!!

Meet Elizabeth:

Elizabeth Hoyt is the New York Times, USA Today, and Publishers Weekly bestselling author of historical romance, including reader favorite, The Raven Prince.

Elizabeth has a BA in anthropology from the University of Wisconsin at Madison and, as a result of having no clue what to do with her life thereafter, a career history as a barista, a (terrible) sales clerk, a Wisconsin Revenue Service data entry slave, and an archeological field work grunt. Fortunately, Elizabeth married relatively young and produced two children who kept her busy until her mid-thirties. At about this time, when her youngest was entering Kindergarten, Elizabeth’s mother hinted that perhaps Elizabeth should get a Real Job.

Sadly, Elizabeth was so delusional she thought writing a romance novel might qualify as a Real Job.

But! Five years later, to everyone’s surprise, she actually sold that romance novel (The Raven Prince) and began a rather successful career as a Romance Novelist. This was most fortunate since Elizabeth is singularly unqualified to do anything else but Make Up Stories.

Since then Elizabeth has written eleven books to critical acclaim: The Prince Trilogy (The Raven Prince, The Leopard Prince, and The Serpent Prince); the Legend of the Four Soldiers series (To Taste Temptation, To Seduce a Sinner, To Beguile a Beast, and To Desire a Devil); and the Maiden Lane series (Wicked Intentions, Notorious Pleasures, Scandalous Desires, and the upcoming Thief of Shadows.) All of Elizabeth’s books are set in eighteenth century England and all feature a fairy tale story that serves as a foil to the main story.

Connect with Elizabeth: Author Site | Facebook | Twitter

Angela Waters is a super important lady. She designs cover stunning covers for Carina Press, Samhain Publishing and a few other publishers. Today she's stopping by to answer some questions about the design process as well as sharing two very sexy covers.

WELCOME TO STUDIO SMEXY SATURDAYS ANGELA!!!

Meet Angela:

For me, art has many forms and has been part of my life since my father placed a guitar in my hands when I was 6 years old. I’ve played many different instruments since that time but it was not enough to satisfy my muse. It wanted to express itself in visual form.

I’ve always been fascinated with art from the Renaissance Masters to Anime. My office walls are covered in a mix of art drawn by artists like Joseph Linzner and Anime by my very talented daughter, which fuels my own artistic side.

My eclectic tastes in music, art and books have converged with my fascination with technology. Sleepless nights are filled with hardcore rock playing in the background, strumming the tunes in colors that describe my vision of an author’s words.

My muse is thrilled to finally find a way to cut loose.

Connect with Angela: Site | Facebook | Twitter

Road To RomCon with Marie Sexton + Giveaway

Marie Sexton writes M/M romance which we're semi-virgins when it comes to reading this type of romance. But we're ready to branch out! Today she is sharing two excerpts from two different books and let's just say that we'll be adding Marie to The List.

WELCOME TO THE BLOG MARIE!!!

Meet Marie:

Marie Sexton lives in Colorado. She’s a fan of just about anything that involves muscular young men piling on top of each other. In particular, she loves the Denver Broncos and enjoys going to the games with her husband. Her imaginary friends often tag along. Marie has one daughter, two cats, and one dog, all of whom seem bent on destroying what remains of her sanity. She loves them anyway.

Connect with Marie: Author Site | Facebook | Twitter

The lovely ladies of Under the Covers Book Blog and Bona Fide Reflections are bringing you the Lovestruck Giveaway Hop. There are 100+ blogs that are sharing their most loved books, authors or series. We are just one stop along the way.

Ever have a book that you love sooo much, you think everyone should read it? Or maybe an author whose books you eagerly await and have pre-ordered the next book on the first day it is available for pre-order? Yup, you've been lovestruck!

We are featuring two of our favorite authors and both of them will be at RomCon. So hold on those panties ladies, we'll give you the giveaway details at the end of this post :)

Road To RomCon Event: Spotlight on Teresa Medeiros

Teresa Medeiros writes books for everyone. Noble knights, seductive scoundrels, sexy vampires, pirates, highwaymen and oh, the list goes on and on. You must check out her backlist. Her adorable cats Buffy the Mouse Slayer and Willow Tum Tum occasionally make appearances on Twitter. We are beyond excited in meeting her in person in a week. A WEEK!!! Teresa stopped by the blog earlier this year to share a fabulous read, The Pleasure of Your Kiss, which is actually the book Kati chose to spotlight.

Meet Teresa:

New York Times bestseller Teresa Medeiros wrote her first novel at the age of twenty-one, introducing readers to one of the most beloved and versatile voices in romantic fiction. She has appeared on every national bestseller list, including the New York Times, USA Today and Publishers Weekly lists. She currently has over seven million books in print and is published in over seventeen languages.

She was chosen one of the "Top Ten Favorite Romance Authors" by Affaire de Coeur magazine and won the Romantic Times Reviewer's Choice Award for "Best Historical Love and Laughter". She is a seven-time Rita finalist, two-time PRISM winner, and two-time recipient of the Waldenbooks Award for bestselling fiction.

Teresa is a charter member of the Romance Writers of America Honor Roll, Kentucky Romance Writers, and Novelists, Inc. She lives in Kentucky with her husband and her cats Willow and Buffy the Mouse Slayer. THE DEVIL WEARS PLAID, her 20th novel and most recent New York Times bestseller, was released in August 2010. Her first contemporary women's fiction novel GOODNIGHT TWEETHEART, a book about a man and woman who meet and fall in love on Twitter, was released by Gallery Books in January 2011.

Connect with Teresa: Author Site(sign up for newsletter) | Twitter | Facebook

IMMORTAL RIDER by Larissa Ione
FORMAT: Paperback
GENRE: Paranormal
MASS MARKET PAPERBACK: 448 pages
PUBLISHER: Grand Central Publishing (November 22, 2011)

They are here. They ride. The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse.

Arik Wagner, a soldier with the U.S. Army's paranormal unit, the R-XR, kissed a girl and liked it. And then he went to hell as punishment. Where he's spent weeks being tortured…and plotting revenge.

Limos, Horsewoman of the Apocalypse, isn't your average girl. She's immortal, dangerous, and her fiancé is Satan himself. In a moment of weakness, she gave in to her desire and kissed Arik, triggering her fiancé's wrath – and his claim on her. In order to save Arik, and the world, Limos must make a dangerous pact with her recently turned evil brother, Pestilence. A deal that might just cost her her soul…and her heart.

Other Books in Series(click for more):

available now

REVIEW:

Road To RomCon with Gabi Stevens + Giveaway

We actually met Gabi last year at RomCon but with so many authors and activities, we weren't able to hang much with her. Our first memory of Gabi is at the Thursday night dinner and she was giving away sweet RTCs for As You Wish. Fun fact: Gabi mentions Black's Beach in her book Wishful Thinking. *giggle* Black's Beach is a nudie beach below the Glider Port near where Kati lives.

WELCOME TO THE BLOG GABI!!!

Meet Gabi:

Gabi Stevens was born in SoCal to Hungarian parents. After spending time in boarding school, college, and studying abroad, she spent seven years in the classroom trying to teach eighth graders the joys of literature. An award winning author, Gabi writes in New Mexico where she lives with her robotics engineer husband, three daughters, and two dogs. She loves to play games, has a wicked addiction to reading, avoids housework and cooking, and doesn’t travel nearly as much as she would like to. Discover the magic in Gabi’s books: THE WISH LIST; AS YOU WISH; and WISHFUL THINKING.

Connect with Gabi: Author Site | Blog | Facebook | Twitter

TOO TEMPTING TO RESIST by Cara Elliott
Format: eBook via Netgalley
Genre: Historical
Length: 368 pages
Publisher: Forever (April 24,2012)

Determined to stop her wayward brother from squandering their dwindling fortune, Lady Eliza Brentford decides to follow him to his favorite den of depravity. There, among the candlelight and raucous revelry, she encounters her brother’s role model in debauchery, the notorious Marquess of Haddan, Gryffin Dwight. Staring into his smoldering green eyes, Eliza can’t help but find the rakehell nobleman seductively charming—and sinfully attractive.

When Gryffin appears on Eliza’s estate as a guest of her brother, a stolen kiss among the garden’s blooms leads to a night of unbridled passion. Suddenly the lovely widow feels herself opening up, like the petals of a rose. Could this master of seduction possibly feel true emotion for Eliza? Or is he leading her down the garden path to an Eden of delights no woman can resist—and a fall no woman can escape?

Other Books in Series:

REVIEW:

Rock*it Reads: Interview with Pamela Clare + Giveaway

Pamela Clare. When we hear Pamela Clare, we immediately think I-Team and that abtastically delicious cover of Breaking Point. Well, under the Rock*It Reads logo, Pamela has another abtastically delicious cover and the book ties in with her I-Team series. But before the I-Team, there were the MacKinnon's Rangers which are traditionally published but are a total must read. Today, Pamela is answering some questions about Rock*It Reads and giving away a copy of Skin Deep.

WELCOME TO THE BLOG PAMELA!!!

Meet Pamela:

Kelley is currently writing, writing, writing but she took time out of her busy schedule to share an excerpt from Spell Bound with us. We are looking forward to meeting her at RomCon!

WELCOME TO THE BLOG KELLEY!!!

Meet Kelley:

Kelley Armstrong has been telling stories since before she could write. Her earliest written efforts were disastrous. If asked for a story about girls and dolls, hers would invariably feature undead girls and evil dolls, much to her teachers’ dismay. Today, she continues to spin tales of ghosts and demons and werewolves, while safely locked away in her basement writing dungeon. She lives in southwestern Ontario with her husband, kids and far too many pets.

Connect with Kelley: Author Site | Facebook | Twitter

Road To RomCon Event: Spotlight on Julia Quinn

Today will be our first author spotlight for our Road To RomCon Event. This woman is hard to get a hold of but we think she's the bees knees and we'll finally get to ~~stalk~~ meet her in person in a week and a half. *squee* We promise to take pictures. Even creepy, totally from our room through the window ones. Kidding.

Meet Julia:

#1 New York Times bestselling author Julia Quinn loves to dispel the myth that smart women don't read (or write) romance, and in 2001 she did so in grand fashion, appearing on the game show The Weakest Link and walking away with the $79,000 jackpot. She displayed a decided lack of knowledge about baseball, country music, and plush toys, but she is proud to say that she aced all things British and literary, answered all of her history and geography questions correctly, and knew that there was a Da Vinci long before there was a code. Ms. Quinn is the youngest member of Romance Writers of America's Hall of Fame, her books have been translated into 24 languages, and she currently lives with her family in the Pacific Northwest.

Connect with Julia: Author Site | Facebook

Mia Marlowe writes hot historicals for Kensington as well as partnering with Connie Mason writing sexy historicals for Sourcebooks. Today she's sharing a little bit about her self-pubbed books under the Rock*It Reads log and giving away her latest release, HOW TO PLEASE A PIRATE. Yum!

WELCOME TO THE BLOG MIA!!!

Meet Mia:

Mia writes sensual historical romance with a sparkle of magic for Kensington and Sourcebooks. Her work was featured in PEOPLE magazine’s Best of 2010 edition. One of her books is on display at the Museum of London Docklands alongside Johnny Depp memorabilia. Mia’s most recent release, TOUCH OF A ROGUE, was named a Top Ten Best Romance for Spring 2012 by Publishers Weekly. But the accolades that mean the most to her come from her readers! She loves to connect with other people who also adore books.

Connect with Mia: Author Site | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads