Land is grand but wetter is better… –Kingsley, Immersed in Pleasure

Writing a story and falling in love have one thing in common – they both can happen anywhere anytime. I fell in love on the roof of a New York City restaurant last year while on a date with someone else. I wrote one of my hottest sex scenes ever while sitting in the vestibule of a church. And one day two summers ago, while singing Part of Your World while taking a shower, I decided to write an erotic retelling of The Little Mermaid.

Immersed in Pleasure comes out March 1^st with Spice Briefs. The story is about Derek Prince (Prince – get it?), a well-to-do attorney who finds himself drawn to a girl he sees one night in a bar. She’s beautiful, young, dressed in white from head to toe, and soaking wet. So fascinated is he by her, he barely notices when his table catches on fire. The girl saves him from the fire just before disappearing into the secret world from whence she came. A river? The ocean? No. The girl, Xenia, belongs to FATHOMS – a nightclub populated by the Manhattan Mermaids. So much more than mere cocktail waitresses, these women swim naked in pools and grottos inside Manhattan’s most exclusive underground club. Not only are these women beautiful, wet, and naked, they are also virgins, every last one of them. And the day a mermaid loses her virginity is the day she leaves the luxurious world of FATHOMS forever.

As you can imagine, being a man in love with a girl who is required by her job to stay a virgin can be hard. I mean…difficult (I mean hard). But what is love but swimming and sinking at the same time? And with a little help from Kingsley, the owner of FATHOMS, Derek and Xenia might discover that love isn’t in the air anymore.

It’s in the water.

Tiffany Reisz is the author of SEVEN DAY LOAN and IMMERSED IN PLEASURE (available March 2012). Her debut full-length novel THE SIREN comes out in August from MIRA Books. When not unconscious or in the shower, she can be found on Twitter (@tiffanyreisz). She lives in Lexington, Kentucky with two cats and her boyfriend who really needs to come to bed because she’s totally in the mood right now.

Anywho! Regardless of the seasonal prognostication, I have a prediction of my own: lots of cowboys. Read on to find out why!

Cover vs. Cover

Hop onto our Facebook page to participate in our cover vs. cover debate. This time it’s a Fortunes of Texas Series Spotlight! Yee-haw! Who’s your pick: Handsome Fortune Scion or Good Looking Cowboy?

Sales at Harlequin.com and Carina Press!

Our Books on a Budget has been refreshed with a new slew of $2.99 book deals. This month we’re featuring Cowboys on a Budget. You can pick up as many men of the West as you’d like–all at 40% off! Cowboys for everyone! Visit Harlequin.com to start browsing the list.

But if you’re not particularly hung up on the Stetson-and-jeans set, Carina Press has a sale on everything from the super-sweet to the super-sexy!

Featured Trailer

HARLEQUIN NONFICTION presents SUGARLICIOUS by Meaghan Mountford!

Professional cookie decorator Meaghan Mountford shows how anyone can transform drab sugar cookies into glowing planets, plain marshmallows into scary zombies, and simple cake pops into blooming flowers. This utterly charming book provides readers with step-by-step instructions to create simple, unique art from affordable and accessible materials.

Watch the exclusive video premier on Facebook!

Valentine’s Day is right around the corner and what better way to celebrate with some free romance reads! Contributors were asked to write to the same prompt, with each story representing a different sub-genre. I was beyond thrilled when I was invited to represent “steampunk”! For those of you not familiar with this hot new sub-genre, let me break it down for you.

The “steam” part is basically referring to the gadgets, machines and/or inventions, which are a staple of the sub-genre. Think mechanical animals chock full of gears, time machines, brass goggles and airships. Then take those machines and put them into Victorian England or perhaps the Wild West in order to create an alternate history. The new Sherlock Holmes movies, The Prestige and Sweeney Todd all have steampunk elements and are wonderful representations of the steampunk aesthetic.

Now for the “punk” part. This refers to the revolutionary aspect of the tale. There will typically be something about the characters or their plight that bucks the social norms of the times.

In Bold as Brass, my “steam” is a pair of brass goggles that can see exactly five minutes into the future. My “punk” is a heroine who is an inventor and scientist with the guts to go after the man she loves, no matter what society thinks.

Here’s a little taste:

Charlotte poked around for some heartache over the betrayal, but all she found was anger. In any case, it wasn’t as if she’d ever loved him or expected his love in return. She wanted a family. He had the title, she had the money, and they got on well. Alistair hadn’t wanted her, so what did it matter who she married?

John slipped the weapon into his pocket and tried to turn her toward the door, jostling her with the cloth covered revolver. She made a silent vow to work on her instincts.

She looked down her nose at him. “I would appreciate if you would not do that again.”

“Not the rest, John. Just you.”

You can read the rest free at Harlequin.com!

Editor’s Note: Psst, you can read more about steampunk on the Harlequin Blog. We’ve had Carina Press authors (including Christine!) blog about the genre before. Check out the steampunk tag for more!

One day, a woman may be going about her normal routine when she encounters unexpected danger – and sizzling romance. This is the promise of Romantic Suspense. The authors begin the story on the first page and take the reader on an unforgettable journey, filled with complex characters, layered stories and suspense that will leave you breathless.

This line, formerly called Intimate Moments, can boast once being the home of many of today’s brightest stars of the genre: Nora Roberts, Heather Graham, Sharon Sala, and Linda Howard. In the past year, we’ve brought two new authors to the line, and we’re always delighted to cultivate new talent.

In 2012, we have some very exciting projects lined up, as well as unforgettable contributions from Carla Cassidy, Rachel Lee, Marie Ferrarella, Cindy Dees, Linda Conrad, Elle Kennedy and many more. Variety is the spice of life as we present stories set overseas, Westerns, medical themes, spies, sheiks, law enforcement and who doesn’t love a good cowboy? We love the stories our authors come up with!

At the beginning of the year, you’ll want to read the 6-book series, Perfect, Wyoming, which features a seemingly perfect town’s infiltration by a dangerous cult. In the last four months of 2012, visit The Coltons of Eden Falls, a family that helps uncover the mystery behind the disappearance of Amish girls.

What do you love most about reading romance suspense in general? Are there any movies or tv shows you like to watch in between the wait for each month’s new Romantic Suspense?

If you’ve resolved to just read good books this year, then we’ve got a round up that you might want to read.

Meet the Fortunes of Texas at Harlequin.com Community

The Fortunes of Texas have landed in bookstores and we blogged about it earlier this week. Now you have a chance to meet these ladies and gentlemen of the Lonestar State in the Harlequin.com Community! Meet the characters and the authors behind them all week!

Harlequin Escape Winter Reads Sale

Oh, that dull winter sun is starting to kill my soul. Thankfully, Harlequin’s having a special sale to rekindle one’s imagination and remind us all what hot sunshine really feels like! Spend $15, save $5 on featured titles in our Escape Reads sale! Enjoy these titles in ebooks, too! Quantities are limited. Escape Reads sale with coupon code ESCJAN12. Expires January 31, 2012, 11:59 p.m. EST.

Carina Press Extended Excerpt

Are you a fan of Carina Press on Facebook yet? Then you probably already know that the new extended excerpt for this week is from Prehistoric Clock by Robert Appleton! Click here access the read. It’s book 1 in the Steam Clock Legacy series.

Airship officer Verity Champlain is well-respected by her crew. But after a vital mission nearly goes wrong, she is having second thoughts about her career.

Lord Garrett Embrey is on the run. The Leviacrum Council, the secretive scientific body that holds sway over the Empire, executed his father and uncle and now they want him dead too.

Professor Cecil Reardon is consumed by grief. Since his wife and son died he’s been obsessed with his work, and now he is on the verge of an extraordinary scientific breakthrough: his machine is about to breach time itself, to undo fate’s cruel taking of his loved ones.

But the time jump doesn’t go according to plan, and part of London winds up millions of years in the past. Verity and her crew—Lord Embrey, Professor Reardon and others stranded with them—must pull together to survive in a world ruled by dinosaurs…and to somehow get home.

Julie Kagawa Video from BEA 2011

Our featured video for this week is a Justine Magazine interview with Julie Kagawa, author of the Iron Fey series!

This month we’re thrilled to be introducing THE FORTUNES OF TEXAS: WHIRLWIND ROMANCE, which introduces readers to the Atlanta Fortunes, a brand-new branch of the family who will bring their Southern charm to their Texas cousins!  WHIRLWIND ROMANCE features some of Special Edition’s most popular authors – including two-time RITA Award winner Karen Templeton, USA TODAY bestselling authors Marie Ferrarella, Susan Crosby and Allison Leigh, and reader favorites Judy Duarte and Nancy Robards Thompson.  The story kicks off with our January title, Fortune’s Cinderella.  Local waitress Christina Hastings has sworn off wealthy playboys, but she’s forced to depend on handsome Southern bachelor Scott Fortune when she’s injured in a tornado that hits Red Rock.  Will he turn out to be her knight in a Stetson?

There are plenty of tycoons, cowboys and, of course, lots of Texas-sized romance in these books, so don’t miss a single installment of this great series! Mark your calendars for these upcoming titles:

January 2012: Fortune’s Cinderella by Karen Templeton

February 2012: Fortune’s Valentine Bride by Marie Ferrarella

March 2012: Mendoza’s Miracle by Judy Duarte

April 2012: Fortune’s Hero by Susan Crosby

May 2012: Fortune’s Unexpected Groom by Nancy Robards Thompson

June 2012: Fortune’s Perfect Match by Allison Leigh

We hope you enjoy these new releases. Have you read the Fortunes of Texas series in the past? Whose story have you enjoyed in the past? Or is there a particular character who you’d like to see get their own story one day?

Harlequin Community Author Spotlight

Our new author spotlight on the Harlequin Community is Carla Cassidy! All week we’re talking with Carla about her books. Carla Cassidy is an award-winning author who has written more than 55 books. In 1995 she won Best Silhouette Romance of 1995 from Romantic Times Magazine for Anything for Danny. Carla has been a professional cheerleader, an actress, and a singer/dancer in a show band before settling into her true love…writing. Find out more on the Harlequin.com Community page.

Health & Wellness Book Sale at Harlequin.com

New Year, New You week on the Harlequin Blog may be over, but our sale continues! Discover our featured Health & Wellness titles and save 30%! Enjoy these titles in ebooks, too!

FREE Chain Reaction (Carina Press) Extended Excerpt

Download the free extended excerpt of Zoë Archer’s Chain Reaction on the Carina Press Facebook page!

Elite 8th Wing pilot Celene Jur was taken captive after a mysterious device temporarily disabled her ship’s controls. Three solar months later, when Celene receives intel on the man who built the device, she’s ready to get the bastard. Only problem is, the higher-ups think her mission partner should be Nils Calder, a tech-head who can understand the disabling device. The attraction between them is electric, but Celene needs a soldier who can watch her back as she exacts her revenge.

Nils knows his department is nicknamed NerdWorks. Pilots like Celene think the closest tech geeks come to combat is all-night Nifalian chess tournaments. But behind the NerdWorks insignia on his sleeve Nils is an able fighter, ready to prove himself and gain Celene’s trust.

The desire between them is unexpected, but with the fate of thousands hanging in the balance, the hotshot pilot and the tech genius must succeed in their mission—no matter the cost.

Organize Your Mind, Organize Your Life Book Trailer

The key to a less hectic, less stressful life is not in simply organizing your desk, but organizing your mind. Dr. Paul Hammerness, a Harvard Medical School psychiatrist, describes the latest neuroscience research on the brain’s extraordinary built-in system of organization. Margaret Moore, an executive wellness coach and codirector of the Institute of Coaching, translates the science into solutions. Organize Your Mind, Organize Your Life is available from Harlequin Nonfiction.

I know what you’re going to say. Wait a minute, Olga. You can’t date the undead.

But that’s where you’re wrong because if you have Gena and Jill’s guide Dating the Undead you’ll learn how to snag that delicious vampire, werewolf or angel. Here’s a crash course straight from Gena and Jill:

IF YOU WANT TO DATE A VAMPIRE:

Prick your finger and dab a tiny bead of blood on each of your pulse points, the same way you would dab perfume. Make sure you hit all of your erogenous zones! With every beat of your heart, the delicious scent of your blood will tantalize his senses.

IF YOU WANT TO DATE A WEREWOLF:

Remember Little Red Riding Hood? Well, she knew her wolves. The next time you’re going to see your Were, don a bright red cape with nothing underneath. His inner animal will go wild.

IF YOU WANT TO DATE A DRAGON:

Forget borrowing a cup of sugar. Your excuse for stopping by? You’ve run out of matches and need his help lighting your fire.

IF YOU WANT TO DATE A ZOMBIE:

Carry a sweet treat in your purse at all times. His sense of smell is highly attuned, and once he catches a whiff of your dessert, he’ll follow you wherever you go! You might even get a little nibbling out of the deal.

IF YOU WANT TO DATE AN ANGEL:

Th ese sexy wingers can’t resist a damsel in distress. So, the next time you’re feeling blue, head out and get your cry on (while wearing a white corset and stockings). Soon you’ll be wrapped in soft white wings and strong, muscled arms.

IF YOU WANT TO DATE A DEMON:

Break out the Tabasco sauce. Demons love all things spicy, so seeking out scorching new dishes to try will show him you mean business. Pretty soon you’ll be the only scorching new dish on his menu.

Now get your game face on, ladies and snag yourself an undead cutie!

Editor’s Note: For each New Year, New You post we’ve asked our a Harlequin Nonfiction and fiction author to share their New Year’s resolution. For today’s post authors Elizabeth Somer and Robyn Carr have shared theirs!

Elizabeth’s resolution:

“I know my partner finds a strong woman sexy, so my resolution for 2012 is to train hard every week in order to kick his butt in a 100-mile bike ride we’re planning for next summer!”

Robyn’s resolution:

“My resolution rarely changes. Aside from losing the SAME 10 pounds year after year, I also resolve to be relentlessly happy, optimistic and positive.”

***

Even with an iron clad New Year’s resolution, it can be near impossible to eat a perfectly balanced, nutrient-rich diet every day.  Multivitamins are a great way to fill in the gaps and keep you on the path to a healthy, more beautiful you. The general rules for choosing a good multivitamin are:

RULE #1: Choose a multiple vitamin-mineral preparation, rather than several single supplements, unless prescribed by a dietitian.

RULE #2: Choose a preparation that provides 100%, but no more than 300%, of the Daily Value for the following:

Vitamins. Vitamins K, B1, B2, B6, and B12; niacin; folic acid; and pantothenic acid. (Don’t be fooled by large doses of vitamin B1, vitamin B2 and niacin since they’re added only because they are inexpensive, not because extra is better.)

Minerals. Copper, iron and zinc, and 50-200 micrograms of both chromium and selenium, 5 milligrams of manganese and 75-250 micrograms of molybdenum.

RULE #3: Vitamins C, D, and E can be consumed in amounts greater than the Daily Value, but you may need separate supplements to reach these higher doses.

RULE #4: Avoid supplements that contain useless substances, such as inositol, vitamin B15, PABA, or nutrients in amounts less than 25 percent of the Daily Value.

Find out about the best vitamins, healthy foods and new ways to spruce up that gym you’ve always wanted to have in your home (or mind) from Tosca Reno, Elizabeth Somer, Kimberly Snyder and other Harlequin Nonfiction authors.

Plus we’ve asked each non-fiction author and several fiction authors what their new year’s resolutions are. Find out what Robyn Carr, Victoria Dahl, Maureen Child, Shannon Stacey, Rebecca Winters have resolved to do (or not do) this year! That’s all coming next week.

‘Til then, hope you enjoy this first weekend of the new year (last one didn’t count, it was barely the weekend before we had to come back to reality.)