Proof by Seduction by Courtney Milan
Promise Me Tonight by Sara Lindsey
Last summer I pointed everyone toward debut author Tessa Dare, who I first discovered during Avon Books’ FanLit writing contest in 2006. Aspiring authors wrote short chapters that were judged by other contestants. Each week, there were six finalists which went to the final round of judging. I was lucky enough to be one of the judges, and I can’t even begin to tell you how blown away I was by the caliber of the writing.
2010 brings two more FanLit weekly winners to bookstores: Courtney Milan and Sara Lindsey. As an early reader of both, I am thrilled that readers everywhere are finally going to get try out these terrific new authors.
Proof by Seduction by Courtney Milan is a deeply moving, exquisitely crafted tale of a scientifically-minded nobleman and the (fake) fortune-teller he is determined to unmask.
Promise Me Tonight by Sara Lindsey is the first in her series about the Weston series, and when Publishers Weekly wrote: “Fans of Julia Quinn will find much that is familiar and enjoyable in Lindsey’s debut.” I was honored by the comparison.
I am always excited when new historical romance authors make their debuts, and I encourage all of my readers to give them a try!
posted » 1.16.10
Visit Courtney Milan's
website and Sara Lindsey's
site
When Seducing a Duke by Kathryn Smith
I'll confess I was bummed when Kathryn Smith started writing paranormals instead of historical romance—I'll read anything she writes, but historicals are my first love. So you can imagine how thrilled I am to hear that she's going back to her roots with a straight historical romance!
Greyden Kane, the Duke of Ryeton, is a rake through and through. He goes to the club at Saint's Row to find a substitute for the one woman he cannot have — Rose Danvers, the daughter of his best friend. He finds a masked lady who could be Rose's twin, and he immediately begins his seduction. What he doesn't know is that his mystery woman is Lady Rose and that she's determined to make Grey see that they belong together.
Here’s the best part: When Seducing a Duke begins a new 'Victorian Soap Opera' series. Think The Bold and the Beautiful in bustles and beaver hats. Recurring characters, scandal, sex and society in every book!
Note: When Seducing a Duke doesn’t come out until September 29, but you can preorder now!
posted » 9.01.09
Visit Kathryn Smith’s
website...
Tessa Dare's trilogy:
Goddess of the Hunt
Surrender of a Siren
A Lady of Persuasion
A few years ago Avon Books (my publishing house), sponsored a writing contest called FanLit. Aspiring authors wrote short chapters that were judged by other contestants. Each week, there were six finalists which went to the final round of judging. I was lucky enough to be one of the judges, and I can’t even begin to tell you how blown away I was by the caliber of the writing.
Unsurprisingly, a number of the FanLit weekly winners went on to their own book deals, the first one to see her books on the shelves is Tessa Dare, who also happened to be the grand prize winner. Her first three books are being released back to back, with Goddess of the Hunt available now, Surrender of a Siren coming out in September, and then A Lady of Persuasion in October.
I’ve stayed in touch with Tessa, and so I was lucky enough to read her debut novels before they went on sale. All I can say is—I really think that my readers will enjoy her writing. I know that Tessa got her book deal on her own merits (you only have to read her books to know that!) but I can’t help feeling a bit like a proud mother hen. Learn more about her at her website, and stay tuned for more FanLit winners right here at JQ Recommends!
posted » 8.06.09
Visit Tessa Dare’s
website...
Desperate Duchesses series by Eloisa James
For June I was going to recommend Eloisa James's two 
summer releases, This Duchess of Mine and A Duke of Her Own, but then it occurred to me that what I really need to do is recommend her entire Desperate Duchesses series. For although I think they might actually be getting better with every book, they are all delicious, and I do think they are better read in order.
I'm not going to try to review each one, because A) I've already reviewed several and B) I recommend them all, anyway and finally C) Eloisa has a super-fantabulous website where you can get more information on the books than I could possibly provide here.
Here are the books, in order:
Desperate Duchesses
An Affair Before Christmas
Duchess by Night
When the Duke Returns
This Duchess of Mine
A Duke of Her Own
If you haven't read this books yet, you are in for a huge treat.
posted » 6.01.09
Visit Eloisa James’s
website...
It's RITA time again, and I'm thrilled to announce that Mr. Cavendish, I Presume is a finalist in Romance Writers of America's annual contest. 
The RITAs celebrate the best in romance fiction, and the list of finalists is always a good place to find new writers. Herewith, the list of finalists in the two historical romance categories. Enjoy!
My Lord and Spymaster by Joanna Bourne
Duke Most Wanted by Celeste Bradley
The Edge of Desire by Stephanie Laurens
Three Nights of Sin by Anne Mallory
Mr. Cavendish, I Presume by Julia Quinn
The Dangerous Duke by Christine Wells
The Spymaster's Lady by Joanna Bourne
In Bed with the Devil by Lorraine Heath
To Seduce a Sinner by Elizabth Hoyt
Duchess by Night by Eloisa James
Seduce Me at Sunrise by Lisa Kleypas
Where the Heart Leads by Stephanie Laurens
The Edge of Impropriety by Pam Rosenthal
Private Arrangements by Sherry Thomas
posted » 4.01.09
At the Bride Hunt Ball by Olivia Parker
I just read this one for the book club over on my bulletin board, and I'm still smiling. Think The Bachelor in regency times. The Duke of Wolverest wants to get his brother married off (and he has said publicly that he will not marry himself, so whoever marries his brother will eventually be the duchess.) So he devises a bit of a competition: seven young ladies will receive invitations to his home in Yorkshire, and his brother will choose one as his bride by the end of the visit.
Madelyn Haywood thinks the whole idea is rot, but she recevies one of the invitations and is forced to go by her ambitious stepmother. She decides not to make a fuss because she wants to keep an eye on her best friend Charlotte, who pines for the duke's wastrel of a brother.
Okay, so we all know what will happen--Madelyn and the duke fall for each other. What makes this story special is the joy and exuberance in the writing. It's fun to watch these two fall in love. Don't miss this one. It's the kind of book that reminds me why I love romance novels.
posted » 9.02.08
Visit Olivia Parker’s
website...
An
Affair Before Christmas by Eloisa
James
Her Secret Fantasy by Gaelen
Foley
The Spymaster's Lady by Joanna
Bourne
How much do I love you guys? I am writing this at
the beach. And not just any beach. I am in Mahabilapuram,
in the state of Tamil Nadu, India, gazing over my balcony
to the gorgeous Bay of Bengal. But I wanted to make
sure I got a few historical romance recommendations
posted to my website for the new year. Why? Because
these three are not to be missed.
First up is An
Affair Before Christmas, by Eloisa
James. Yes, I know
I recommend every single Eloisa
James book that comes
out. But that's because she never ever disappoints
the reader in me. Better yet, she never fails to enthrall.
An Affair Before Christmas reminds me of that old women's
magazine feature: Can This Marriage Be Saved?
As this is a romance novel (and a fabulous one
at that) the answer is, of course, a resounding yes.
Oh, and this book has, in my opinion, one of the most
romantic scenes I've read in ages. (The bathtub scene,
for those of you who have already read the book.)
Note: You don't have to read Desperate
Duchesses to
read this one, but I'd recommend it. Especially as
Desperate Duchesses was one of my favorite reads of
2007.
Okay, on to book number two: Her
Secret Fantasy by
Gaelen Foley. I love Foley's books (her debut, The
Pirate Prince, remains one of my all-time favorites.)
Her Secret Fantasy is the second in Foley's Spice Trilogy,
which moves between India and regency England. I must
confess that I missed the first, Her
Only Desire, but
I've already got it waiting on my nightstand at home
for when I get back from India myself.)
I loved this book for
its marvelous characterization. Lily and Derek
are simply marvelous--romantic, principled, brave (but
not stupid). As I read, I felt that these two characters
were truly falling in love. Which is not as common
as you'd think in a romance novel!
And of course, I am eagerly awaiting Her
Every Pleasure,
which goes on sale at the end of March. (And if you
can read Her Secret Fantasy without absolutely dying
to read Her Every Pleasure, you're a stronger person
than I am!)
Finally, I want to make
sure all of you try a brand new author: Joanna
Bourne. I got to read an early copy of The
Spymaster's Lady, and when I say that I could not put it
down, I am not exaggerating. (Well, except for the
fact that I was reading an electronic file on
my computer in Starbucks, but I did not put my
latte down, that's for sure, and I didn't get
any work done on my own writing, either.)
The title is a bit misleading, because although Grey
is a Spymaster, so is Annique, the heroine of the novel.
In fact, she's far more adept at the world of espionage
than he is. I could not begin to do justice to the
twists and turns of the plot, but suffice it to say,
I was riveted. But what makes this book so unique and
amazing is that the characters are every bit as finely
drawn as the plot. Gray and Annique are amazing real.
They are flawed, they can be distrustful, and they
fall in love despite themselves.
Don't miss this one. I mean it! Don't miss it!
And that's all from
me. Sorry for the shortness of the reviews, but
the beach
beckons... (Well, actually, check-out time beckons,
and my husband is about to forcibly yank me from
the room!)
posted » 1.03.08
Visit Eloisa
James's
website and Gaelen
Foley's
site, as well as Joanna
Bourne's site...
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