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

by Jayne Hoogenberk, eHarlequin Community Manager

Not only is March roaring in like a lion up here in Toronto and in the Eastern Seaboard, it’s also heating up as we prepare to celebrate the 2,000th Silhouette Desire novel, with a month-long ‘blog bash’ on the eHarlequin Community Desire Author blog.

Fan Favorite author, Bronwyn Jameson kicked off the festivities on Monday the 1st and all of your favorite authors will be popping in to post about writing these sensual, irresistible stories about rich, powerful heroes, strong and sultry heroines and scandalous family sagas. Visit their blog daily for new updates.

As you well know, bestselling author, Brenda Jackson has the honor of being the author of the line’s 2000th release, Hot Westmoreland Nights, delivering yet another highly-anticipated installment of the steamy Westmoreland saga and we can’t wait to read about Ramsey Westmoreland’s dilemma with his delectable new cook, Chloe and how she takes him down! It’s also Brenda’s 15th Anniversary as an author this year, so she truly has a lot to celebrate. Brenda gave us some insider info on her latest Westmoreland story in her Inside Scoop interview and says, “Readers can expect a strong, sexy and handsome hero who thinks he doesn’t need love, and a beautiful and feisty heroine who shows him differently. Readers can also expect a hot and sexy love story.”

Brenda is a die-“heart” romantic who married her childhood sweetheart and still proudly wears the “going steady” ring he gave her when she was 15. Because she began believing very early in the power of love and
romance, she can’t help but write stories with happy endings and we love the Westmorelands so much that we can’t wait for even more beginnings!

Don’t miss Hot Westmoreland Nights, one of six new sensual Silhouette Desire titles on sale this month, and don’t forget to stop by the Desire Author blog to say hello. For all of Brenda Jackson’s currently available titles, see her author page on eHarlequin.com.

To learn more about the author, visit her Web site, www.brendajackson.net.

And tell us, who is YOUR favorite Westmoreland so far?

Jayne

Still reeling from all of the love? Or perhaps it was a quiet long weekend with not much to-do? Whatever your sentiments about the big V day, we know you’re a romantic at heart, so you’ll still appreciate all of the great editorial we have for this month. Here’s Jayne, our Community Manager, with a look at what’s really hot for the month of February (and beyond!)

by Jayne Hoogenberk, eHarlequin Community Manager

You gotta know that Cupid’s in the house, or at least knocking at the door of the Blaze series with a title like Her Sexy Valentine.  And reader-favorite Stephanie Bond proves that love comes when and how you least expect it in this sizzling story of coworkers turned lovers, and if you’re wanting even more sugar and spice, follow it up with ManHunting, a sultry Blaze anthology by New York Times bestselling authors Betina Krahn, Joanne rock and Lori Borril.

 

You might want to check out A Valentine’s Wish by Betsy St. Amant. One of the first Valentine’s stories by Love Inspired AND by an up and coming new author. This is a story of friends who come to realize that they’re really in love with each other. Set in atmospheric New Orleans, it’s a sure pleaser!

For a different kind of Valentine read you’ll want to pick up The Man from Nowhere by New York Times bestselling author Rachel Lee.  This is a very moving page-turner about a “man from nowhere” who watches the heroine from afar to protect her because he “sees” her murder.  Now that’s a Valentine who’s got your back!

May I just say, Ladies ‘Start Your Engines’ with this great NASCAR anthology by Vicki Lewis Thompson and Nancy Warren and Dorien Kelly called Racing Hearts.  As Vicki Lewis Thompson says “I’m a NASCAR convert. I confess that until diving into this story, I knew very little about NASCAR. But as the proud owner of a hot little two-seater sports car, I was more than willing to learn about fast cars and the daredevils who drive them.”  She’s got MY vote and I can’t wait to dive into the stories either!

If you’re hunting for out-of-this-world romance, Silhouette Nocturne will have you howling for more with a scrumptious and unearthly bonus story in two full-length titles from the Wolf Moons miniseries where werewolves fights against evil and fight for love. Check out Red Wolf and Wolf Trap for two stories for the price of one,  just in time for Valentine’s Day

And rounding out the highlights, I’d be totally remiss not to mention something we haven’t seen in a while with The Fun Factor – a new Romantic Comedy miniseries launching in Harlequin Romance in March with Oh-So-Sensible Secretary by Jessica Hart. It might be a March title, but you can get books a month in advance on eHarlequin.com, just one of the benefits of being an online shopper! Now our editors say they’re really excited about this miniseries, and that it has a real feel good guarantee and that’s good enough for me! The next book is Tipping the Waitress with Diamonds by Nina Harrington (May)

So I hope I’ve given you room for thought if not a passel full of recommendations for Valentine’s reading, enjoy!

by Jayne Hoogenberk, eHarlequin Community Manager

With the New Year comes new series, and I thought I’d share the scoop on some of the exciting, new, not-to-be-missed continuities and miniseries to be found starting up this month.

Starting off the year in American Romance is Kayla’s Daddy by Laura Bradford. This is Laura’s first book for Harlequin! Not only is this a wonderful story about a long-lost letter that kindles one romance and rekindles another, it’s the first book in American Romance’s 12-book, year-long thematic continuity, BABIES & BACHELORS USA. A whole year worth of adorable babies and hunky heroes!

And if we’re not talking babies in American Romance, we’re talking cowboys!! Hill Country Hero by Ann DeFee has a hunky hero who’s a cowboy and a football player! This author’s fun stories always have a sense of humour—and this one is set in everyone’s favourite part of Texas, the Hill Country.

Bestselling author Lynne Graham is back with a fabulous new trilogy in Harlequin Presents with PREGNANT BRIDES. She popped over to the I Heart Presents blog to discuss Book One, Desert Prince, Bride of Innocence and why she loves to make her character suffer…interesting reading! Also available this month from Presents is the all-new AT HIS SERVICE miniseries featuring Cinderella heroines and billionaire heroes, all beginning with the passionate rags-to-riches story Powerful Italian, Penniless Housekeeper by India Grey. I don’t know about you but I LOVE to escape into Presents…glamorous settings, passionate men and more money than you can imagine…. The perfect recipe for romance!

Also, USA Today bestselling author Marie Ferrarella leads an all-new 6-book continuity about a fertility clinic and the romance conceived there with Prescription for Romance in the new THE BABY CHASE series in Silhouette Special Edition.These contemporary romances from the Silhouette Special Edition line will strike a chord with you as heroines find the balance between their work lives and personal lives on the way to true love!

Meet six gorgeous men in Harlequin Romance this month in the new INTERNATIONAL GROOMS miniseries. Each title is set in a different country or setting and the authors have created different tips, travelogues and information on the settings that you can read about in their blog… This month also features a debut author, and Cara Colter’s “proposal” book, which features the winning proposal from the eHarlequin Competition “Diamond Proposal” contest we hosted last year. We are making the romantic month of February…the month of Harlequin Romance!

From Superromance and Romantic Times Career Achievement award winning author C.J. Carmichael, we have a three-book miniseries, THE FOX & FISHER DETECTIVE AGENCY, running from January to March. The titles are: Perfect Partners, The P.I. Contest and Receptionist Under Cover (available in March). I’m told these books have a light mystery element and are solid, satisfying reads. More than a romantic relationship, it’s mainstream romance with the promise of happy ever after!

If you’re in the mood for a little intrigue then check out the BODYGUARD OF THE MONTH, a new 12 month continuity starting off with The Socialite and the Bodyguard by Dana Martin. These stories feature rugged, tough bodyguards who are more than capable of protecting their innocent women. Tune in every month for edge-of-your-seat reads and a new powerful bodyguard adventure available from Harlequin Intrigue.

You can find more spine-tingling reading with Twin Targets by Marta Perry. This book is the first book in a new six-book Love Inspired Suspense continuity series, PROTECTING THE WITNESSES, which focuses on looming danger and forever love in the witness protection program. With a flood of unsolved murders, those connected to the program are running scared.

And if your tastes run to Historical the editors also recommend The Duke’s Redemption by Carla Capshaw, a terrific story about a British nobleman who comes to South Carolina to find his brother’s murderer and falls in love with a young colonial woman—who might just be a spy!

I’ll be back next week with some more series to check out until then, what series are you most looking forward to this year?