A group of us, including our lovely prizewinner Melanie, arrived at the studio in high spirits. We were welcomed by Robert,  the fabulous photographer, as well as a very handsome and friendly model named Ross. We watched the crew create the set (the bow of a boat) while Creative Director Tony gave us the lowdown on the day ahead, and a bit of an overview of the evolution of the Harlequin cover (we’ve  come a long way, baby!).  We tried not to be distracted while Ross did pushups in the corner.

And then the action began! We watched from the sidelines as they shot about 500 photos of Ross and Jen (his lucky leading lady).  I must mention, there was a wind machine involved as well as a spritzer (one lucky woman had the job of spritzing Ross and dabbing his brow). We tried not to giggle when the director said things like, “she needs to move down on the wood.”

Then it was our turn!  Melanie needed no second invitation before she leapt into Ross’s arms for her own photo shoot. And I can’t say that I was very reluctant either…

Melanie and Ross (Photo credit: Robert Goshgarian)

Me and my new friend Ross (Photo credit Robert Goshgarian)

It’s a tough job…

In Big Sky Country, meet Sheriff Slade Barlow who instantly inherits one-half of Whisper Creek Ranch, one of the most prosperous in Parable, Montana, and the trouble that comes along with it. Like the fact that his half-brother Hutch is not happy to share with him. Not the ranch and not the affections of Joslyn Kirk, the belle of Parable, whom Slade has not forgotten over the years.

The cover is absolutely gorgeous! It was shot in Montana to capture that true Montana charm that permeates through Linda’s books. The goal was to represent the essence of Linda’s unique storytelling through the cover. The rugged mountains, the sun and wind, the dusty cowboy. I think we nailed it. What do you think?

This isn’t the first time Linda’s covers have been shot on location. Her last series, The Montana Creeds, also featured the Creed brothers and the Montana scenery. Harlequin also produced an exclusive behind-the-scenes glimpse into the photo shoot as well.

Big Sky Country is available May 29, 2012. We’d love to know what you think of the cover! Follow Linda Lael Miller through her website, Twitter and blog!

Does your cat want to be famous?

Give your feline his much-deserved chance at stardom by submitting a picture of him in a Santa hat! Harlequin Nonfiction is creating a book that celebrates all that is chubby and cheery about the holiday season – and we want your best cat portraits! Submit a high resolution photo of your cat doing or wearing something festive, and your furry friend might appear in print in a book to be distributed nationwide. Don’t worry if your cat is small, big, or an in-betweener – we accept cats of all shapes and sizes. The contest is also open to felines of all religions and nationalities, so whether your Maine Coon is posed in front of the menorah or your kitty is decked out for Kwanzaa, send us those snapshots!

Pedro wants to know if you’ve been naughty… or nice

Please send submissions with your email or snail mail address to fatcats@harlequin.ca or Cat Photos c/o Harlequin, 233 Broadway, Suite 1001, NY, NY 10279.

Extended excerpt of Nadia Lee’s The Last Slayer from Carina Press on Facebook

Demons and demon hunters–can they work together to battle dragons and demigods? In Nadia Lee’s The Last Slayer, Ashera del Cid, a talented demon hunter and the sexy-as-hell demon Ramiel must come together so that Ashera can fulfill her destiny as the heir to the Last Slayer. Ramiel has his own reasons for offering Ashera his protection, but can he really save her from the demigods that are trying to kill her?

Read the extended excerpt on the Carina Press Facebook page. It’s a perfect little afternoon snack for urban fantasy readers!

Today’s Harlequin Deal
There have been some amazing deals and gifts at the Santa Tree this year for the Holidays @ Harlequin 12 Days, 12 Deals. Today’s is another way to take a little mental holiday from the stress of the season. Download the Extreme Brain Workout brainteaser!

How Happy Is… Book Trailer!
The How Happy Is…series features 50 actionable, happiness-boosting tips in eye-catching packages from happiness expert, life coach and TV personality Sophie Keller. See the trailer below.

Bespelling Jane by Mary Balogh, Susan Krinard, Colleen Gleason and Janet Mullany

Behaving Badly by Isabel Wolff (available November 2011. For a synopsis, visit Isabel’s website.)

The Juliet Spell by Douglas Rees (Harlequin Teen)

I’m Juliet.

At least, I want to be.
I did something stupid to make it happen.
Well, stupid and wonderful.

I wanted the role of Juliet more than anything. I studied hard. I gave a great reading for it–even with Bobby checking me out the whole time. I deserved the part.

I didn’t get it. So I decided to level the playing field, though I actually might have leveled the whole play. You see, since there aren’t any Success in Getting to Be Juliet in Your High School Play spells, I thought I’d cast the next best thing–a Fame spell. Good idea, right?

Yeah. Instead of bringing me a little fame, it brought me someone a little famous. Shakespeare. Well, Edmund Shakespeare. William’s younger brother.

Good thing he’s sweet and enthusiastic about helping me with the play…and–ahem–maybe a little bit hot. But he’s from the past. Way past. Cars amaze him–cars! And cell phones? Ugh.

Still, there’s something about him that’s making my eyes go star-crossed….

If I Die by Rachel Vincent (Soul Screamers book five, Harlequin Teen)

The entire school’s talking about the gorgeous new math teacher, Mr. Beck. Everyone except Kayleigh Cavanaugh. After all, Kaylee’s no ordinary high-school junior. She’s a banshee–she screams when someone dies.

But the next scream might be for Kaylee.

Yeah–it’s a shock to her, too. So to distract herself, Kaylee’s going to save every girl in school. Because that hot new teacher is really an incubus who feeds on the desire of unsuspecting students. The only girls immune to his lure are Kaylee and Sabine, her boyfriend’s needy ex-girlfriend. Now the unlikely allies have to get rid of Mr. Beck…before he discovers they aren’t quite human, either.

But Kaylee’s borrowed lifeline is nearing its end. And those who care about her will do anything to save her life.

Anything.

Unclaimed by Courtney Milan (HQN Books)

Handsome, wealthy and respected, Sir Mark Turner is the most sought-after bachelor in all of London–and he’s known far and wide for his irreproachable character. But behind his virtuous reputation lies a passionate nature he keeps carefully in check…until he meets the beautiful Jessica Farleigh, the woman he’s waited for all his life.

But Jessica is a courtesan, not the genteel lady Sir Mark believes. Desperate to be free of a life she despises, she seizes her chance when Mark’s enemies make her an offer she can’t refuse: seduce Mark and tarnish his good name, and a princely sum will be hers. Yet as she comes to know the man she’s sworn to destroy, Jessica will be forced to choose between the future she needs…and the love she knows is impossible.

Debbie Macomber’s Christmas Cookbook (Harlequin Nonfiction)

We call her the “Official Storyteller of Christmas”–but Debbie Macomber is more than that. She’s someone who loves the holiday and all its traditions. Now she shares more than one hundred of her favorite recipes to help you enjoy this most joyous of seasons. You’ll also find easy-to-follow instructions for crafts, decorations and gift wrapping–everything you need to create a beautiful and festive holiday.

What makes this cookbook unique is Debbie’s personal memories and observations. Join her as she reminisces about traditions past and present, and discover the craft ideas she herself uses. As she says, “The holidays are about being with others. They’re about celebrating and sustaining our personal community of family and friends.”

In this beautifully illustrated book, she shows you how to serve a memorable meal, whether it’s a sit-down Christmas dinner for a crowd, entertaining a group of friends at an open house or tea, or spending time with your children or grandchildren baking cookies and making gifts.

Seduced by Grace by Jennifer Blake (Mira Books)

When Lady Marguerite Milton is abducted by the enigmatic–and famously insatiable–Golden Knight, it is the stuff of fantasy. Or would be, if Marguerite weren’t pining for her David, who pledged his devotion ten years before…and disappeared. But the only thing more heartbreaking than a man that does not keep his word is one bound by it….

David is the Golden Knight, reaffirming his oath to protect Marguerite and, maddeningly, to love her, but chastely. More infuriatingly, Marguerite has been a pawn–bait to lure David into King Henry VII’s latest intrigue. To divide Yorkist insurrectionists, David is groomed as a rival to their latest pretender to the throne.

Marguerite is desperate. If David fails, the rebels will destroy him; if he succeeds, Henry will not scruple to execute the would-be king he himself created. Suddenly, love and life seem far beyond the reach of any mere curse….

The Kingdom of Children by Rebecca Coleman (Mira Books)

The Kingdom of Children is the story of a boy and a woman: sixteen-year-old Zach Patterson, uprooted and struggling to reconcile his knowledge of his mother’s extramarital affair, and Judy McFarland, a kindergarten teacher watching her family unravel before her eyes. Thrown together to organize a fundraiser for their failing private school and bonded by loneliness, they begin an affair that at first thrills, then corrupts each of them. Judy sees in Zach the elements of a young man she loved as a child, but what Zach does not realize is that their relationship is–for Judy–only the latest in a lifetime of disturbing secrets.

Click on the covers to see full version of them and let me know what you think. Which do you prefer? What is it you like about the one you prefer?

1. We have a winner!

Cowboy Appreciation Week was fab! We’ve given away books for each author’s individual blog post and now we’re giving away a prize pack with ALL of the books to…

Deborah Rudd, who commented on Donna Alward’s blog post. Congrats Deborah! We’ll send out the books to you this week.

2. Congratulations on entering the New York Times bestseller list, Shannon Stacey!

Shannon Stacey’s YOURS TO KEEP, part of the Kowalskis series from Carina Press debuted this week on the New York Times bestseller list at #33. This is a milestone as it is the first Carina Press title to enter the list. Congratulations to everyone involved in this milestone! We hope this is a first of many, many more.

3. Julie Kagawa’s Big Announcement

If you missed Julie Kagawa, author of the Iron Fey series, livestream on Facebook last week, never fear, we’ve got a blog post coming this Friday with all of the details, including a behind the scenes look at the Iron Knight cover shoot AND an excerpt from the book. That’s right, an excerpt from the book. For now, I’m going to tide over your eager little hearts with the back cover copy:

My name—my True Name—is Ashallayn’darkmyr Tallyn.

I am the last remaining son of Mab, Queen of the Unseelie Court.

And I am dead to her.

My fall began, as many stories do, with a girl…

To cold faery prince Ash, love was a weakness for mortals and fools. His own love had died a horrible death, killing any gentler feelings the Winter prince might have had. Or so he thought.

Then Meghan Chase—a half human, half fey slip of a girl—smashed through his barricades, binding him to her irrevocably with his oath to be her knight. And when all of Faery nearly fell to the Iron fey, she severed their bond to save his life. Meghan is now the Iron Queen, ruler of a realm where no Winter or Summer fey can survive.

With the unwelcome company of his archrival, Summer Court prankster Puck, and the infuriating cait sith Grimalkin, Ash begins a journey he is bound to see through to its end—a quest to find a way to honor his vow to stand by Meghan’s side.

To survive in the Iron Realm, Ash must have a soul and a mortal body. But the tests he must face to earn these things are impossible. And along the way Ash learns something that changes everything. A truth that challenges his darkest beliefs and shows him that, sometimes, it takes more than courage to make the ultimate sacrifice.

4. Royal House of Shadows – Nocturne Quartet Book Trailer

Once upon a time there were four royal siblings, lost…cursed… Except that’s not where this story begins. Introducing a new Harlequin Nocturne series from Gena Showalter, Jill Monroe, Jessica Anderson and Nalini Singh. You’ll want to learn all about these fairy tales after you see the trailer below. Hope over to the Paranormal Romance Blog afterwards.

From the link:

SELF PORTRAITS OF ME AND MY BOYFRIEND ROSS.

SOMETIMES WE SIT FOR HOURS STARING AT A SEA SHELL. OTHER TIMES HE’LL HOLD ME BY THE NECK IN FRONT OF THE PYRAMIDS. BUT THERE’S NOTHING WE LIKE MORE THAN NEARLY KISSING EACH OTHER NEAR SOME HORSES. I ALWAYS TRY TO LOOK HOT IN FRONT OF HIM SO HE DOESN’T LEAVE ME.

Last month Alex Holder was asked to submit artwork for International Women’s Day and she decided to recreate some of her favourite Mills & Boon covers. “I have lots of Mills & Boon books that I’d bought purely for the covers, and just thought it would be funny to recreate them with my boyfriend,” Holder told the Toronto Star.

The photos have since flown around the world. When you click the link (and you should because the other photos are golden) you’ll find coverage from the Sun, The Guardian.co.uk, The New York Times and Jezebel.

Yeah, so I’m jumping on the bandwagon a bit late by posting them here on our blog, but I had to share them anyway. After you spend sixty years publishing fiction, we’ve spanned all manner of style–both in cover art and in fashion and hairstyle! Ms Holder and Oli Kellett, who photographed the images, were meticulous in capturing the feathered locks and padded shoulders of 1985 (the year of Dark Obsession‘s publication!) Ms Holder’s boyfriend wasn’t keen on shaving his beard to match exactly. That’s alright, though. It’s a pretty manly beard!

Have you seen the collection? What are your thoughts?

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6. Girl in a Vintage Dress by Nicola Marsh (Harlequin Romance)

Fashions change

Chase Etheridge is organizing the most challenging event of his career—his sister’s bachelorette party. Normally cool under pressure, the situation has Chase hot under the collar, and he knows exactly who to blame: Lola Lombard, party organizer, queen of all things vintage, and absolute bombshell!

But true love is timeless!

Behind Lola’s pin curls and red lipstick hides a girl who’s never believed she amounts to much. It’s up to Chase to convince her that he loves her just the way she is, whether dressed in old-style glamour or as his brand-new bride!

7. The Dark Enquiry by Deanna Raybourn (Mira Books)

Partners now in marriage and in trade, Lady Julia and Nicholas Brisbane have finally returned from abroad to set up housekeeping in London. But merging their respective collections of gadgets, pets and servants leaves little room for the harried newlyweds themselves, let alone Brisbane’s private enquiry business.

Among the more unlikely clients: Julia’s very proper brother, Lord Bellmont, who swears Brisbane to secrecy about his case. Not about to be left out of anything concerning her beloved—if eccentric—family, spirited Julia soon picks up the trail of the investigation.

It leads to the exclusive Ghost Club, where the alluring Madame Séraphine holds evening séances…and not a few powerful gentlemen in thrall. From this eerie enclave unfolds a lurid tangle of dark deeds, whose tendrils crush reputations and throttle trust.

Shocked to find their investigation spun into salacious newspaper headlines, bristling at the tension it causes between them, the Brisbanes find they must unite or fall. For Bellmont’s sake—and more—they’ll face myriad dangers born of dark secrets, the kind men kill to keep….

8. Cowboy Up by Vicki Lewis Thompson (Harlequin Blaze)

“Never fall in love with a cowboy.” These words were drilled into Emily Sterling’s head since her parents divorced over twenty years ago. But now Emily has returned to her father’s ranch…only to find herself face-to-face with jaw-droppingly hot rancher Clay Whitaker.

Clay is the resident stud expert at the Last Chance Ranch and isn’t so keen on “spoiled” city slickers…until Emily arrives. Now he’s showing Emily just what a ranch—and a cowboy—has to offer. And luckily for him, it’s an offer Emily can’t refuse…

9. Baby, Come Home by Stephanie Bond (

The hardheaded Armstrong brothers are determined to rebuild their tornado-ravaged hometown in the Georgia mountains. They’ve got the means, they’ve got the manpower…what they need are women! So they place an ad in a Northern newspaper and wait for the ladies to arrive.…

Sensible yet sexy middle brother Kendall Armstrong penned that ad himself—but there’s just one woman he really wants to answer the call.…

Civil engineer Amy Bradshaw—Kendall’s ex-fiancée—fled Sweetness years ago, taking a precious souvenir with her. She’s back now…but only on a professional level. Really.

Little does she know that old flames always burn the hottest.…

10. Legacy by Cayla Kluver (Harlequin Teen)

In her seventeenth year, Princess Alera of Hytanica faces one duty: to marry the man who will be king. But her father’s choice of suitor fills her with despair.

When the palace guard captures an intruder–a boy her age with steel-blue eyes, hailing from her kingdom’s greatest enemy–Alera is alarmed…and intrigued. But she could not have guessed that their clandestine meetings would unveil the dark legacy shadowing both their lands.

With this mystical world of court conspiracies and blood magic, loyalties will be tested. Courage won’t be enough. And as the battle begins for everything Alera holds dear, love may be the downfall of a kingdom.

Do you hate me? I’m sorry. But it’s worth the wait! Have a look at the first five and let me know what you think below in the comments. See anything you like?

***

1. The Rebel by JR Ward (writing as Jessica Bird) (HQN Books)

THE FORCE OF THOSE EYES HIT FRANKIE MOOREHOUSE LIKE A GUST OF WIND

But she quickly reminded herself that she had dinner to get ready, the staff of White Caps B&B (such as it was) to motivate. She didn’t have the luxury of staring into a stranger’s face.

Although, jeez, what a face it was.

And wasn’t it just her luck that the owner of that face, Nate Walker–with his rebel attitude and distaste for authority–was the chef her restaurant desperately needed, and he was staying for the summer….

And…it was a bit too tempting to let this breath of fresh air sweep her off her feet. Because all work and no play had been Frankie’s motto for much too long!

2. Spellbound by Cara Lynn Shultz (Harlequin Teen)

What’s a girl to do when meeting The One means she’s cursed to die a horrible death?

Life hasn’t been easy on sixteen-year-old Emma Conner, so a new start in New York may be just the change she needs. But the posh Upper East Side prep school she has to attend? Not so much. Friendly faces are few and far between, except for one that she’s irresistibly drawn to—Brendan Salinger, the guy with the rock-star good looks and the richest kid in school, who might just be her very own white knight.

But even when Brendan inexplicably turns cold, Emma can’t stop staring. Ever since she laid eyes on him, strange things have been happening. Streetlamps go out wherever she walks, and Emma’s been having the oddest dreams: visions of herself in past lives—visions that warn her to stay away from Brendan. Or else.

3. Rustled by BJ Daniels (Harlequin Intrigue)

This Chisholm brother rustles up more than he bargained for, but it’s nothing a rugged cowboy can’t handle.

At his remote mountain retreat, Dawson Chisholm’s peace is shattered by rustlers. To his surprise, the one he captures turns out to be a woman—and not just any woman, but a beautiful firebrand nicknamed “Jinx.” Although she swears she’s an undercover investigator, she has no proof…and Dawson has no other choice but to hold her close.

Brittany Bo “Jinx” Clarke is determined to bring down the leader of the ring. Dawson wants to retrieve his stolen cattle. To get what they both want, they’ll have to work together. But spending their days and nights alone—just the two of them against a band of thieves—presents another problem: resisting the irresistible Chisholm charm. And she’s not sure she wants to.…

4. Her Son’s Hero by Vicki Essex (Harlequin Superromance)

Unacceptable. Fiona MacAvery works very hard to help her son find nonviolent ways to protect himself from the bullying he can’t seem to avoid. She’s never believed in violence. Then along comes mixed martial arts champ Dominic Payette, and that’s who her son turns to for guidance?

Dom clearly has a heart under all those…gorgeous…muscles, but there are shadows, too. He’s fighting his way back toward a champion belt after putting an opponent in a coma. Fiona admires his dedication. She even admits that he’s shown her son how to be more confident. But act on this attraction between them? There’s no way she’s letting her guard down!

5. Guilty as Sin by Joseph Teller (Mira Books)

Did career criminal Alonzo Barnett, in and out of prison since age fifteen, commit the latest drug deal he’s accused of? Yup, he’s guilty as charged. But is he guilty as sin? That’s the question criminal defense attorney Harrison J. Walker, the maverick known as Jaywalker, has to answer as he takes the court-appointed case. As Jaywalker is well aware, one wrong move, even for the right reason, can derail your life—and land an otherwise redeemed ex-con back in the slammer for years.

Up against a team of prosecutors—one a talented, ethical newcomer, the other a sleazy, tightfisted veteran—Jaywalker has almost nothing on his side. Except his unshakable belief in his client…and the very real possibility of redemption for them both.