More Suggested Reads Chosen by Editors and Community Members
by Jayne Hoogenberk, eHarlequin Community Manager
I promised I’d be back this week with more suggested reads for the month of May and here I am! 
I’ve been combing our editor recommendations and polling our Community members, and here’s part TWO of my must-read list of books that we’re raving about in our blogs and forums. You might be surprised to note that more than one of these stories were inspired by real life events!
TAKE SIX AUTHORS, EIGHT STORIES, and STIR GENTLY…
From glittering ballrooms to a Cornish smuggler’s cove; from the wilds of Scotland to a Romany camp—join with the highest and lowest in society as they find love in this thrilling new eight-book Harlequin Historical miniseries. Though the “official” series title is Regency Silk and Scandal, Regency co-authors of this new continuity love fellow “continuista” Louise Allen’s slightly longer description of the project: “The Scandals of the Murdered Baron’s Mystery Gypsy Lovechild’s Forbidden Revenge Quest Involving Virgins and at Least One Earl.” This Saga in Eight Books sounds like the PERFECT antidote to a boring day at the office, no?
Want more details on the Regency Silk and Scandal miniseries? Read the author’s blog HERE and check out what editor Joanne Grant had to say right here on the Harlequin Blog.
How about a sexy summer anthology featuring two separate stories for twice the delectable scandal?
From June through August 2010, Silhouette Desire is launching a new miniseries called A Summer for Scandal—6 romance-packed stories in 3 volumes and the good news is that the first volume is available NOW on eHarlequin. This month two stellar authors—USA Today bestseller Katherine Garbera and Yvonne Lindsay—contribute sassy stories to our Secrets, Lies…and Seduction anthology, the first in the miniseries. In July, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Brenda Jackson teams up with Olivia Gates for the second installment: In Too Deep. And topselling authors Catherine Mann and Emily McKay end the miniseries with Winning It All in August. These romances are the perfect summer getaway—powerful, passionate and provocative! But don’t take MY word for it…read an excerpt HERE
And fan-favorite author Merline Lovelace is back with Risky Engagement. Not only is this part of her popular Code Name: Danger miniseries, but also this book is part of Silhouette Romantic Suspense’s “Military of the Month” promotion within the series AND was inspired by a true life story. Merline says, “Have you ever planned the perfect vacation, only to have one disaster after another occur? That’s what happened when we jaunted down to Cabo San Lucas with our best pals, Neta and Dave. But even disasters can turn into fun with the right attitude—and they make terrific fodder for books!” If you’re in the know, you KNOW that Merline always writes a juicy, suspenseful and sexy story and trust me you won’t be disappointed!
Now it also occurs to me that you might be in the mood for a Big Summer Book and lucky for you I have a number of single title suggestions to suit whatever mood you’re in.
Coming in June, we have a gritty debut from author Pamela Callow with Damaged featuring heroine Kate Lange, a struggling lawyer with a twisted family past, whose run-of-the-mill custody case suddenly turns into a murder investigation, with Kate as the murder’s next target. Pam says she was inspired to write Damaged by a criminal case in the United States and says, “drawing on my professional career at blue-chip firms, I wrote Damaged, the first of four planned books in the Kate Lange series. Kate is my everywoman superwoman. The next book in the series, Indefensible, will come out in January 2011. The third, Tattooed, is planned for the Summer of 2011, and the fourth in June 2012.” You can check out the book trailer for Damaged here or on our Harlequin Books YouTube channel and read the first FIVE chapters of this page-turner here!
Author Diane Chamberlain has been hailed as “the southern Jodi Picoult” and is best known for her emotional relationship novels including the international bestseller, The Secret Life of Cee Cee Wilkes. Her latest story also available in June, The Lies We Told, tests the bond between sisters when disaster and love for the same man comes between them. Diane is very proud of the book trailer for The Lies We Told, and you can view it by clicking on this link. Diane says, “In my opinion, it gives the feeling of the book and the central themes (our family stories are not always what they seem and the powerful relationship between sisters) without actually trying to tell the viewer the story.”
A true story of selfless love inspired Debbie Macomber to write Hannah’s List. In this heartwarming story, a young widower named Michael receives a letter from his wife (speaking of remarkable women!) on the first anniversary of her death. In her letter, Hannah urges Michael not to bury himself in his grief but to remarry—and she includes a list of women she’d like him to consider as a second wife. This sweet story is a must-read for fans of uplifting fiction and Debbie’s wonderful storytelling. To celebrate publication of this new Blossom Street novel, you can enter the Hannah’s List contest for a chance to win $10,000 by telling Debbie “What you would do if you had a ’second chance’ at something special in your life? You can enter the contest at the Hannah’s List website and view the book trailer for Hannah’s List here.
Well that about wraps things up for this month, did I miss something? What are YOU reading and loving this month? And were you paying attention? Can you tell me which of my recommended books were inspired by true life stories? I have a treat for you if you can correctly identify them in the comments section below. I’ll be drawing at random from your comments for a chance to win a copy of Debbie Macomber’s Cedar Cove cookbook! Submit your comments by 11:59pm EST Monday, May 31st. Only open to residents of the U.S. and Canada. For full contest details, click here.
Jayne
Community Manager
eHarlequin.com
Hannah’s List is both a “breakout” book for Debbie and one that highlights what I’ve called her trademark strengths—a feeling of community, credible characters whose situations and emotions readers relate to, and a warm-hearted humor.
