Harlequin Blog News Round-Up: May 16, 2013

Each week we post the best news coming out of Harlequin and Carina Press. Usually it means a few sales. ;) But there’s also free books, contests, community spotlights and the latest video-in-convos with our authors and book trailers to check out.

Enter the Linda Lael Miller Contest!

VOTE for your favorite BIG SKY COWBOY for a chance to WIN 1 of 3 Casey’s Necklaces featured in Linda Lael Miller’s BIG SKY SUMMER – crafted by Montana Silversmiths.
HERE ► http://bit.ly/13kRjCo

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HARLEQUIN.COM: Riveting Reads!

Do you (or would you) read Harlequin’s thought-provoking books?
Let us know what you thought of our Riveting reads section!
CHECK IT OUT ► http://goo.gl/iKWjr

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HARLEQUIN COMMUNITY: SPOTLIGHT ~ Harlequin Blaze

community - blaze spotlightcommunity - iconBlaze is Harlequin’s sexiest line and gives readers stories that are fun, flirty and always steamy! This week we’ll talk about what we like most about the Blaze line and what makes us feel oh, so naughty.
JOIN IN ► http://goo.gl/dEOyQ

CARINAPRESS.COM: Get an Adrenaline Rush!

LIVING DANGERIOUSLY is the 4th book in Dee J. Adams, Adrenaline Rush Series – NOW available! PLUS download DANGER ZONE for FREE!
HERE ► http://goo.gl/n8xId

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Harlequin Blaze Brings the Sexy!

by the Harlequin Blaze Editorial Team

If you like your romances smokin’ hot, you’ll love this month’s books from Harlequin Blaze, our sexiest series. We’re doubling your pleasure with four 2-in-1 books – that’s right, you get 8 sexy stories for the price of 4!

9780373797516Waking Up to You is a new steamy Forbidden Fantasy book from Leslie Kelly. Candace Reid is caught between a promise to her best friend and Oliver McKean, a man whose body she just can’t live without! Also included in this volume is Overexposed – when a bad girl hooks up with a bad boy, you know the sex is going to be wicked!

9780373797523For those who love their military men sexy as hell, check out Jennifer LaBrecque’s Northern Rebel from our Uniformly Hot! miniseries. Lars Reinhardt is a demolition expert who’s about to meet his greatest challenge yet – Delphi Reynolds. Once the two of them ignite, they set off a chain reaction that could blow them both away! Turn up the heat with bonus book, Daring in the Dark.

9780373797530Have you ever dreamed of doing something that would shock people if they knew? Corporate financier Courtney Masterson does exactly that – working as a pole dancer at night in My Double Life. Unfortunately, her alter ego has just opened the door to the one man who is completely off-limits to her! Look for the bonus book, Wild and Wicked, both by Joanne Rock.

Congratulations to Tawny Weber on hitting the USA Today bestseller list with A SEAL’s Surrender! (March 2013) This month Tawny brings us Midnight Special, a Wrong Bed story set on a speeding train. There’s murder, mayhem, and lots of steamy sex! Check out the bonus book Coming on Strong to turn up the heat.

Download A SEAL’s Surrender for FREE!

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We’re dedicated to giving you plenty of sexy, sizzling stories from your favorite authors all year long! Look for 4 more books next month from Vicki Lewis Thompson, Jo Leigh, Debbi Rawlins and Janelle Denison.

Enjoy!

Like it a little sweeter? Try Harlequin Romance. Read on.

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Harlequin Romance Brings the Sweet!

by Bryony Green, Senior Editor, Harlequin Romance

High on emotion but low on sensuality, Harlequin Romances is famously known as the series you can happily recommend or pass on to your mum or your daughter or your friends… In Harlequin Romance, you’ll find that short, intense hit of a pure romantic high – stories that will move you, heart-warming stories that will make you laugh and cry – and take you on an emotional roller-coaster leaving you feeling a whole lot better! What’s more, just like Blaze, May is a 2-in-1 month – so you can have twice the reading pleasure for the same price!

9780373742400And, this month in Harlequin Romance we’re celebrating Mother’s Day with the Mothers in a Million series – where all four of our stories explore a different aspect of being a mother. First up we have bestselling Harlequin Romance author, Susan Meier, with A Father for Her Triplets… Every mother has to be a master of multi-tasking…but Missy has to take this to a whole new level, with her 3 young triplet kiddies, a new baking business and a gorgeous new man next door!

9780373742417The Matchmaker’s Happy Ending from lively voice Shirley Jump, is more about the mom/daughter bond as adults. Marnie would love for her beloved mom to find happiness again – but her matchmaking attempts backfire when she discovers her mom’s new man has a very handsome son…who is very much her own Mr Wrong…

9780373742424Heart-warming voice Cara Colter brings a new spin with a small town having a Mother’s Day Gala in Second Chance with the Rebel. Lucy was heartbroken when Mac had left town all those years ago – now he’s back but they’re still as different as ever…

9780373742431Finally from deeply emotional voice Michelle Douglas, First Comes Baby… features a heroine who is coming to terms with possible infertility. She has endometriosis and this is her last chance to have a baby and if that means going it alone, then so be it. She approaches her good friend Ben to see if he will be the biological father and when he agrees, they both embark on becoming parents.

So for the sweeter side of Harlequin, enjoy Harlequin Romance – a wide of variety romances you can enjoy, share, talk about and come back to, month after month!

Like it a little spicier? Try Harlequin Blaze! Read on.

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Nominate Someone for Harlequin More Than Words!

by Tiffany Shiu, Assistant Manager, Publisher Relations & Corporate PR

We are so excited to share the latest news about our Corporate Social Responsibility program, Harlequin More Than Words. Last year, we recognized Mindy Atwood from Patches of Light—a nonprofit organization based in Hilliard, Ohio, that seeks to aid families with critically ill children by assisting in the financial burden of providing funding for nonmedical items. The program awarded Mindy $15,000 for her charity and paired her with Cindy Dees, one of Harlequin’s authors. Cindy Dees then donated her time and talent to write a novella inspired by the Mindy’s dedication and compassion.

9781459245693-COVThrough the publicity Mindy and her organization received from our eBook story and program, Mindy received a call last week from a donor who will be giving her an additional cheque for $15,000. Her extraordinary contributions and moving story inspired the donor to turn awareness into action demonstrating that the power of storytelling can drive civic involvement and make a positive difference in the community—the precise purpose of our program.

Mindy would like to thank Harlequin for recognizing her work in the community and helping her with the exposure she has received. Mindy’s story, LIGHT THIS CANDLE is now available free for download.

If this story inspires you, please help us spread the word and tell everyone you know that our 2014 nominations are open through August 9th.

Here’s how the Harlequin More Than Words program works:

  • Log onto www.harlequinmorethanwords.com/nominate/ and readthrough the Contest Rules
  • Fill out the following sections: a) Contact Information; b) Nominee’s Information; c) Nominee’s Story
  • Once completed, click submit in hopes that the nominated recipient receives $15,000 toward her charity
  • Nominations are narrowed down to the top five in November for a public voting phase
  • The online voting phase closes on November 21st
  • Recipients are announced in early 2014
  • Recipients are then paired up with Harlequin authors who will donate their time to write short stories inspired by our recipients’ lives
  • Stories will then be distributed for free as eBooks

For more details, please email MoreThanWords@Harlequin.ca.

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Harlequin Blog News Round-Up: May 9, 2013

Each week we post the best news coming out of Harlequin and Carina Press. Usually it means a few sales. ;) But there’s also free books, contests, community spotlights and the latest video-in-convos with our authors and book trailers to check out.

HARLEQUIN.COM: Harlequin Blaze Spotlight

You like it hot! Harlequin Blaze stories sizzle with strong heroines and irresistible heroes playing the game of modern love and lust. They’re fun, sexy and always steamy.
4 new Harlequin Blaze titles are available each month!
HERE ► http://goo.gl/3krrr

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HARLEQUIN COMMUNITY: Series SPOTLIGHT Discussion!

community - har spotlightcommunity - iconThis month we are featuring Harlequin Romance. They are always a feel-good love story! All of the featured Harlequin Romance are in honor of Mother’s Day and features children. The participating authors include Susan Meier, Shirley Jump, Cara Colter and Michelle Douglas.
JOIN IN ► http://goo.gl/kFuPD

WATCH the Harlequin FEATURED Video!

OCEAN BREEZE: An interview with Sherryl Woods (Book Trailer)
This spring smell the salt in the air and feel the ocean breezes – a new community and three loving sisters in her latest trilogy set on the North Carolina coast.
HERE ► http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zMPsfV-CAS4

Have you read book 1 in the series?

CARINAPRESS.COM: (1 Curious Sub + 1 Dom in Denial) – Inhibitions = 4 Naughty Nights

From Delphine Dryden, author of the award winning novella The Theory of Attraction! Book two in the Science of Temptation, THE SEDUCTION HYPOTHESIS.
SHOP NOW ► http://goo.gl/Pn0FA

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And don’t Delphine’s post for the Harlequin Blog, “How to Kink Your Con“.

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How to Kink Your Con

by Delphine Dryden, author of The Seduction Hypothesis (Carina Press)

If you’re a geek, you’ve probably been to a Con at some point in your life. ComicCon, DragonCon, Comicpalooza. And if you’re a geek who suddenly wants to get kinky at a Con, like my hero Ben from The Seduction Hypothesis, you may find yourself seeing a whole new potential in the many strange objects around you.

Nerdy folk can often be great at thinking outside the box and using items in unexpected ways. Ben turns that trait to his advantage…but in the process, he may forever change the way readers view some items.

Take, for instance, the Gandalf staff. Whether you’ve only seen it in the movies or you have a couple replicas in your garage right now, you’ve probably viewed it primarily as a fancy magic walking stick. And you’re almost bound to run across at least one at a Con. But really, what is Gandalf’s staff but a pole? And what are poles for, if not to tie your girlfriend to?

I disclaim all liability for any reader’s inability to watch The Hobbit or the Lord of the Ring movies without giggle-snorting after reading The Seduction Hypothesis, by the way.

Ben also uses a spare necktie and the rope belt from a buddy’s monk costume to complete his bondage project…but why stop there? Want to do some Master/slave role play? You are in a building rife with Slave Leia costumes! Make it happen! I don’t recommend that any sexual play involve a Jabba the Hutt costume, however. Too hot, limited mobility, and those tiny little arms. Dominate your new gold-bikini clad friend while dressed as a kinky storm trooper or Boba Fett instead, for variety. Those helmets are just as intimidating as any zipper-covered leather hood mask.

Just think of all the nerdy props, giant foam weapons and other wild accessories you see at Cons. Once you start to think of them as pervertibles, the world is your kinky oyster! So follow Ben and Lindsey’s example, and turn your next Con excursion into a BDSM adventure!

About the Book

Seduction Hypothesis, The - Delphine DrydenBook two in the Science of Temptation.

(1 Curious Sub + 1 Dom in Denial) – Inhibitions = 4 Naughty Nights

Wildlife biologist Lindsey thought attending a fan convention with her new boyfriend Ben was a great idea–until their relationship imploded. Lindsey still lusts after her ex–but if he wants her, he’s going to have to prove he can give her what she needs.

Ben will do anything to win Lindsey back, and when he sees her in her skimpy black vinyl convention getup, he realizes what she’s been craving all along. And he’s inspired to finally give in to his own dark desire to take complete sexual control…

Lindsey is surprised by her reaction to Ben’s kinky new seduction techniques, and suddenly sees the brilliant but boring code guru in a different light. After several erotic encounters in hotel rooms and stairwells, she’s falling for him all over again. And wondering if the intimate connection will last once they head home…

Download The Seduction Hypothesis today!

Love smart, sexy heroes & heroines? Check out The Theory of Attraction, available now!

About Delphine Dryden

Delphine tried unsuccessfully to get past being an English major by becoming a lawyer, a special education teacher, and an educational diagnostician. She finally gave up the fight several years ago and began writing full-time. She counts herself fortunate to have two absurdly precocious children, and two delightful if occasionally disobedient mutts. Delphine and her family are all Texas natives, and reside in unapologetic suburban bliss near Houston.

Website: http://www.delphinedryden.com

Twitter: @deldryden

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DelphineDryden

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Working With Your Best Friends

by author Alexandra Sokoloff, author of Keeper of the Shadows (Harlequin Nocturne, The Keepers: L.A.)

“What is it like working with Heather and Harley?” was the question for this post. What can I say to that except—“You call this WORK???”

I often think that whatever I did last lifetime must have been pretty good, when in this lifetime I can get paid to hang out with two of my best friends in this magical Keeper world. I often forget that the three of us never really lived in an old Hollywood magician’s mansion; it feels like something that actually happened.

Writing The Keepers: L.A. series is a lot like having our own theatrical troupe. Heather and Harley and I first bonded when we sang in the all-author Killer Thriller Band at the inaugural ThrillerFest, and since then we’ve performed together in quite a few of Heather’s Vampire Balls at the Romantic Times convention and her fantastic Writers for New Orleans conference. Harley’s the real actress—an actual movie star!—but we all started off as actors. Heather made her bones in dinner theater before she became the bestselling author we now know and love, and I did musical theater and improv before I was a screenwriter and then snapped and started writing novels.

In The Keepers: L.A. we’re using all of that Hollywood and theatrical experience to create the world of the story: a Hollywood not so very far removed from the real thing, where it’s hard to tell the actors from the paranormals, and people and entities are willing to kill for fame. I love being able to make fun of my city and show off the truly dazzling aspects of it at the same time—like the backstage of the movie machine and, of course, the heart-stopping men.

We are incredibly lucky that Harlequin Nocturne has a vision that allows collaborations like The Keepers series in all its incarnations. Our Nocturne team—Tara Gavin, Ann Leslie Tuttle and Leslie Wainger—has encouraged our cross-genre blend of paranormal romance and traditional mystery and suspense, with a touch of classic big-screen romantic comedy. We’ve had the most incredible fun writing it, and we hope you have the same fun reading.

Alex Sokoloff

http://alexandrasokoloff.com

About the Book:

keepers-of-the-shadowsHuman-paranormal peacekeeping had never been easy…but in Hollywood it can truly be murder!

In their new Keeper roles, these extraordinary women must balance the fate of the world with their desires….

As a crime beat reporter, Barrie Gryffald’s work is risky enough when she’s investigating mortal homicides. But when a teenage shifter and an infamous Hollywood mogul are both found dead on the same night, her Keeper intuition screams, Otherworldly.

Reluctantly, she enlists her secret crush, Mick Townsend, a journalist with movie-star appeal. Together, they dig up eerie parallels to a forgotten cult-film tragedy. But it may be too late. With a cast of suspects ranging from vampire junkies to the ghosts of Hollywood past, no one can be trusted. Least of all Mick, who may well prove to be as unpredictable as the Others Barrie is sworn to protect….

Don’t miss the next title in THE KEEPERS: L.A. miniseries by Alexandra Sokoloff!

Purchase Keeper of the Shadows today!

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Cover Reveal: My Favorite Mistake by Chelsea M. Cameron

We love it when we send an author their new cover and get their reaction.

This is what Chelsea M. Cameron had to say about her cover for My Favorite Mistake:

The first thing I did when I saw the cover of My Favorite Mistake was scream. The screaming was followed by me getting up and doing a scream-y-happy, hand-flail-y dance around my living room, followed by me jumping up and down and more screaming. When I get excited about things, I get REALLY excited about them. I felt like Taylor Swift every time she wins an award. It was so sexy, and steamy and it had my beloved peacock feather and the black and pink just made it jump out and I can’t wait to see it on the shelves. I am so in love with it, I have threatened to marry it. Or maybe I’ll just take the male model…

My Favourite Mistake_Cover

Art Director Kathleen Oudit gave us an explanation behind the process of creating the cover. She said, “[the] black and white image conveys a layer of meaning; there is a serious tone underlying this erstwhile romantic scene – each character has demons to overcome and that dramatically shadows their physical and emotional interactions.”

Plus, the black and white with a punch of pink will instantly draw the eye to the book. The models are also in the New Adult age range and telegraph the intensity of the story via their body language.

What do you think of the cover?

About the Book

Two secrets.
One bet.
Who will break first?

Taylor Caldwell can’t decide if she wants to kiss her new college roommate or punch him.

On the one hand, Hunter Zaccadelli is a handsome, blue-eyed bundle of charm. On the other, he’s a tattooed, guitar-playing bundle of bad boy. Maybe that’s why Taylor’s afraid of falling in love with him, or anyone else. She doesn’t want to get burned, so she needs him gone before it’s too late.

Hunter himself has been burned before, but Taylor’s sexy laugh and refusal to let him get away with anything make her irresistible. Determined not to be kicked out of her life without a fight, Hunter proposes a bet: if she can convince him she truly loves or hates him, he’ll leave the apartment–and leave her alone. The problem is, the more time they spend together, the less she hates him, and the more she moves toward love.

But when the man behind Taylor’s fear of giving up her heart resurfaces, she has to decide: trust Hunter with her greatest secret, or do everything in her power to win that bet and drive him away forever.

Pick up My Favorite Mistake for the first time in print on August 27, 2013!

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7 Ways to Meet People in Bookstores

by Chiara Atik, author of Modern Dating: A Field Guide (Harlequin Nonfiction)

Modern DatingYou love going to your local bookstore to find a good read, but it’s also a great place to find a like-minded date. And with thousands of built-in conversation topics lining the shelves and coffee shops providing an easy place to get acquainted, striking up a conversation in-store is easier than you’d think. Here are some strategies for the next time you find yourself browsing the aisles…

1. Don’t Lurk, or Be Too Obvious

Even if you go to a bookstore hoping to meet someone, you’ve got to at least show as much interest in books as you do in the people browsing the store. (In other words, don’t creepily do laps around the store, “pretending” to pick up a book now and then, when all you’re really doing is stalking cute people.) Better to find a book (one you’re genuinely interested in!), plant yourself in a chair and keep watch from there.

2. Grab a Stack and Sit at the Café

The café is full of people sitting by themselves—working on homework, reading magazines or killing time between appointments—and it’s a perfect place to settle down for a while and scope out potential people to talk to. Also, the café area tends to fill up quickly—the perfect excuse to share your table with someone cute.

3. The “New Releases” Section Is the Best

People are much more likely to go to the new releases tables than “Military History” or any other niche spot you could linger in. It’s also really easy to ask “Have you read this yet?” or, conversely, “Oh, I just read that, it was amazing, you should definitely get it!”

4. Ask for Suggestions

You see someone cute in a particular section, but have no idea how to break the ice. Easy! Just ask for suggestions. “Sorry, this is random, but I’m shopping for a gift for my mom and I have no idea what to get—do you have any suggestions?” Or, “I’m sort of new to cooking/poetry/sci-fi, do you have any recommendations?”

5. Hit Up the Travel Section

It’s incredibly easy to make friends in the travel section—everyone perusing it is either planning a trip, or interested in potentially planning a trip. Ice breakers can be anything from, “Planning a trip to Paris?” to “Oh, I went to Argentina a few summers ago. It was incredible,” to “I’m dying to go to Hong Kong, have you been?”

6. Go to a Reading

Book readings are amazing—because they are free, because it’s something people very commonly, and not weirdly, attend on their own and because there’s a perfect built-in conversation topic. For popular authors, people often get to the readings two hours early: that’s two hours to sit around and easily make conversation with the other people around you! You can also strike up a conversation with the people in line waiting to get a book signed.

7. If It Goes Well…

If you get in a great conversation with someone over a mutual favorite author, it’s easy to invite them to get a cup of coffee if it’s two aisles over. The more casual, the better. If you don’t feel comfortable suggesting an impromptu date, just say something like, “I’d love to get coffee with you sometime and talk about X more!”

Need more advice on navigating the complex world of dating?
Modern Dating: A Field Guide
by Chiara Atik is available now.

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Harlequin Blog News Round-Up: May 2, 2013

Each week we post the best news coming out of Harlequin and Carina Press. Usually it means a few sales. ;) But there’s also free books, contests, community spotlights and the latest video-in-convos with our authors and book trailers to check out.

Harlequin: There’s an App for That

Ever wanted to check up on the latest Harlequin release but couldn’t because you’re out and about? Download the Harlequin App to access new releases, free online reads and much more! It’s available on your mobile device for FREE!
DOWNLOAD NOW!
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HARLEQUIN.COM: Mother’s Day Giftshop!

You know why you’re such a good daughter? Because you know the way to Mom’s heart is through a good book.
SHOP NOW ► http://goo.gl/A8SQn

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HARLEQUIN COMMUNITY: Native American Shapeshifters!

community - jenna kernanApril marks the release of the final book, Beauty’s Beast, in Jenna Kernan’s TRACKERS series in Harlequin Nocturne. Loosely based on a Lakota myth, Jenna added some of her own twists to make this series an exciting glimpse into the Native American world. Join Jenna all this week as she shares information about her books and the legends behind them.
HERE ► http://goo.gl/escWZ

Harlequin Featured Video!

0613-9780778315612#1 NYT bestselling author Debbie Macomber invites readers back to Cedar Cove in a Hallmark Channel USA Original Series starring Andie MacDowell. Watch as the characters come to life to find hope and love in unexpected places.
WATCH HERE ► http://goo.gl/rO3Ax

CARINAPRESS.COM: New Releases!

With new titles available for download every week, visit this page to plan your shopping for the month. You’re sure to find a story you’ll love, all priced at our everyday extra 10% off the ePrice!
SHOP NOW ► http://goo.gl/eIYrO

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