Monday, October 22, 2007

Foreign Releases!

One of the very cool thing about writing for Harlequin Romance is seeing titles come out in a variety of languages. Every so often we're going to be showing some of the translations just before they are released, and today I'm going to put up just a few of the great romances coming out in the international market right now.

FROM SPAIN:

24 de Octubre 2007
ISBN: 9788467155150
Precio: 2,90 €

Valoración: Libro sin puntuar
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Mis tres amores

Tenía que hacerse cargo de dos bebés... y de su tutor

La vida de Rachel Adams cambió de repente cuando la nombraron tutora de dos pequeños huérfanos. Resultaba muy difícil convertirse de la noche a la mañana en la madre de dos bebés tremendamente exigentes… que no tardaron en robarle el corazón.
Entonces apareció el otro tutor de los niños, el guapísimo Ford Sullivan. Era evidente que Rachel estaba haciendo un verdadero esfuerzo para cuidar bien de los niños y que no recibía su presencia de buen grado. Pero pronto se dieron cuenta de que lo mejor para los pequeños era que unieran sus fuerzas. Tanto tiempo al lado de Ford hizo que Rachel comenzara a preguntarse si los tutores podrían convertirse algún día en marido y mujer…

From FRANCE:


Le bonheur en jeu
de Jackie BRAUN

Horizon n° 2135
15 octobre 2007

Prix : 3,60 € / Sfr. 6,10

Ajouter au panier

En apprenant que le dossier d’adoption que sa femme Rita et lui ont déposé des mois plus tôt est sur le point d’aboutir, Duncan Newcastle sent une joie mêlée d’amertume l’envahir. Car s’il sent son cœur se gonfler de fierté à l’idée d’être bientôt père, il sait aussi que Rita veut garder cet enfant pour elle, et, le croyant coupable d’adultère, a demandé le divorce. Pourtant, quand il voit le petit Daniel pour la première fois, et surprend dans le regard de celle qu’il n’a jamais cessé d’aimer un reste de la passion qu’ils ont partagée pendant tant d’années, Duncan se prend à rêver. Et s’il essayait de reconquérir Rita, et de construire avec elle une vraie famille ?

From ITALY:



Harmony
Jolly Romance
Ally Blake
October 2007

PREZZO: EUR 2.9
C.T.F.S. 6.2


Non cercavano l'amore, ma l'amore li ha trovati.

Quando Jodie Simpson incontra Louise Valentine, la sorella che non sapeva di avere, è al settimo cielo ed è disposta a fare qualunque cosa pur di starle vicino. La permanenza in Australia di Jodie, però, ha i giorni contati, dato che il suo visto lavorativo sta per scadere. Ma lei ha un piano: un matrimonio di convenienza che duri un anno, senza coinvolgimenti emotivi. Peccato che il marito che sceglie via Internet, Heath Jameson, sia uno schianto. Come farà a non innamorarsi?

LE SPOSE DI BELLA LUCIA Una famiglia divisa dai segreti, riunita dai matrimoni.

And in SWEDEN as a 2 in 1:


Två i en!

I själens djupaste vrår av Lucy Gordon

Evie Wharton fullkomligen älskar sitt jobb som språklärare och tar det på stort allvar. När en pojke börjar utebli från lektionerna söker hon upp honom – och träffar hans pappa, Justin Dane. Att låta någon komma nära är inte Justins melodi, men den levnadsglada Evie lyckas ändå nå fram till honom. Tillsammans bestämmer de sig för att ta tag i saker och ting för att vända allt till något gott. De ger sig ut på en resa som tar dem tvärs över Europa, till skilda världar – och in i själens djupaste vrår.


En sagolik granne av Nicola Marsh

Kommer han någonsin att släppa henne inpå livet?

Brody gör sitt bästa för att uppfostra sin sexåriga dotter Molly på egen hand. Han anklagar sig själv för sin hustrus död och är fast besluten att skydda dottern från allt. När grannen Carissa, som älskar barn, blir god vän med den lilla flickan blir han genast på sin vakt. Men det är uppenbart att Molly behöver en mamma, och hon vill att det ska bli Carissa. Om bara Brody kunde släppa det förflutna, så skulle Carissa kunna finnas där för honom också.

Friday, October 12, 2007

Reviews for the October Books!

Reviews!

The October releases are truly being lauded as WONDERFUL! We thought it would be fun to post some of the great things people are saying about this month's books.

Millionaire to the Rescue - Ally Blake

5 stars - CataRomance
"Millionaire to the Rescue (5) is a beautifully written story of an unrequited love finally coming true after so many years. I enjoyed all of the characters in this book, they were so larger than life that it was like I knew them all personally. Danny and Brooke were the quintessential star crossed lovers... Overall my experience with this book had me laughing, crying and enjoying each and every second of it."

4 1/2 stars - Romantic Times
"Ally Blake's Millionaire to the Rescue (4.5) has a solid plot with a built-in conflict and features two well-handled characters with a lot of chemistry."

Her Pregnancy Surprise - Susan Meier

4 1/2 stars, Cataromance
"Susan Meier builds her engaging story, HER PREGNANCY SURPRISE, with expertise, providing so many obstacles for her leading characters that there seems to be no hope for their romance to survive. But then her heroine, Grace, is given such consistency and compassion that she is able to break down each barrier. And Danny finally comes to terms with his demons and realizes what he is about to loose. HER PREGNANCY SURPRISE by favorite romance author Susan Meier is a “hold your breath” read that will delight all readers."


The Mediterranean Rebel's Bride - Lucy Gordon

4 1/2 stars, Cataromance
"Wonderfully moving, deliciously tender and totally absorbing, the fifth installment of Lucy Gordon’s spellbinding Italian saga, The Mediterranean Rebel’s Bride, will enchant readers with an intoxicating blend of superb characterization, intense emotion, poignant drama and heart pounding romance."

Found: Her Long-Lost Husband - Jackie Braun

4 1/2 stars, Romantic Times
"Jackie Braun winds up Secrets We Keep with Found: Her Long-Lost Husband
(4.5), a wonderfully written tale with excellent characterizations, great
dialogue and a surplus of sizzle."

And one more important mention: Romance author Natasha Oakley's offering in the NIROLI miniseries is out this month! It's not technically a Romance since the Niroli series is really Presents, but she IS one of ours and is a wonderful testament to the power of emotional, traditional romance! Her book in the series, The Tycoon's Princess Bride scored a 4 1/2 and a TOP PICK at Romantic Times:

"Natasha Oakley's beautifully crafted story shimmers with emotion. The Tycoon's Princess Bride (4.5), the newest addition to the Royal House of Niroli series, is a terrifically poignant tale about looking beneath the surface to the soul and recognizing your soul mate."

If you haven't picked up these books yet, WHY NOT???? Get Shopping!

Monday, October 08, 2007

Spotlight in Six with....Jackie Braun!

This month's spotlight features Jackie Braun, author of Found: Her Long Lost Husband. Let's get right to the questions, shall we????


After writing so many books, where do you find new and fresh ideas?
I’m currently working on books 16 and 17 and, honestly, I have no ideas where my stories come from. It’s one of the great mysteries. Ideas just pop into my head, usually when I don’t have a pen handy or access to a computer. Often, I get the idea for a character first and then find myself fleshing out his/her life and what challenges he/she might face, etc.

Writers often use photos of celebrities as “casting”. Do you do this, and who has inspired some of your characters?

Generally speaking, I don’t do this because then I start thinking of that celebrity’s speech patterns, mannerisms, etc. For my heroes I have been inspired by celebrities’ looks on occasion. I had a character with a Dennis Quaid grin and another with a Brad Pitt jaw, for example. I have loosely -- and I mean very loosely -- based a couple of female characters on celebrities. I started thinking about how people think they “know” these celebrities. What if these people were misunderstood and not at all like what the public perceived? How hard would it be to live down an image under those circumstances? Tempest Herriman, my heroine in the novella “Sex, Lies and a Security Tape” in the book titled EXCLUSIVE! is a Paris Hilton-type, or so she seems. Perception is one of the issues the hero has to overcome for their relationship to work. Likewise, Audra Conlan in A WOMAN WORTH LOVING, the first book in my Conlans of Trillium Island trilogy, is a wannabe actress who had been married to a much older wealthy man who dies and leaves her everything. In the opening scene she’s being strangled nearly to death by her stepson, who is upset about losing his inheritance. Anna Nicole Smith was sued by her late husband’s son rather than nearly killed, but her story (before her tragic death) was a bit of an inspiration for me. Audra was so flawed, so damaged. I wanted to explore how someone like her could rise above her very public past, heal and find redemption.

What are your favourite and least favourite parts of writing a novel? Is there a particular section that you struggle with?

Are you kidding? I struggle with the beginning, the middle and the end of each book! But I absolutely love it when my characters surprise me. When they take off in a direction I didn’t anticipate and I’m forced to scurry after them, those days are wonderful, exhilarating. The worst days are those when I can spend an entire morning at a computer and my characters refuse to come to life. They remain words on paper rather than interesting individuals with conflicts and quirks I want to explore.


When you are not writing, what do you do? How do you pamper yourself?
When I’m not writing fiction, I’m often doing freelance or reviewing children’s books for local newspapers. I’m also a mom. I have a seven-year-old son (and a toddler on the way via international adoption), so I’m busy around the house. I like to putter in my flowerbeds and take bubble baths. I just got some new lavender-scented bath stuff that promises relaxation. Sounds good to me!

Imagine you’re stranded…where are you and who are you with?

Stranded, eh? Hmm, it would have to be with my hubby. He’s the only one I’d wanted to be stranded anywhere with. He’s a pretty smart and resourceful guy. Sexy, too. We spent our honeymoon in Aruba way back when and had a ball lying on the beach and doing next to nothing, so a Caribbean island holds appeal. But can we be stranded in a luxury resort with room service? Now, that’s a fantasy.

Finally, Jackie, please tell us what’s up and coming for you in the months ahead!

Well, I have the last book in the Secrets We Keep trilogy, out in October. It’s titled FOUND: HER LONG-LOST HUSBAND. Liz Fielding wrote the first book, REUNITED: MARRIAGE IN A MILLION, which came out in August. Barbara Hannay’s NEEDED: HER MR. RIGHT was the second book and it came out in September. It was a thrill to work with Liz and Barbara. They are both gifted and generous writers. To recap briefly, our three heroines meet during a charity bike ride through the Himalayas and wind up sharing their secrets, things that have held them back from being happy and fulfilled. In my character’s case, she married young in an attempt to get out from underneath her father’s thumb. The marriage crumbled quickly as a result of secrets and lies, but in addition to feeling guilty about using Ethan Seaver, Claire’s always secretly wondered … what if?

I also have MOONLIGHT AND ROSES coming in January. When wealthy California vintner Zack Holland buys the vineyard Jaye Monroe helped her late father start, she never imagines she’ll also lose her heart to him. EXPECTING A MIRACLE is due out in April. Pregnant and alone, Lauren Seville is looking for peace in the Connecticut countryside. She finds much more than that when she meets Gavin O’Donnell.

Thanks Jackie for being here with us!

Tuesday, October 02, 2007

Awesome October Releases!

Fall is in the air - the days are turning cool - and what better time to curl up with a great book??? This month sees some great offerings coming your way from the Harlequin Romance line.


Married for a day…

Claire Mayfield met Ethan Seaver when she was young and naive. Their whirlwind romance ended in a Las Vegas wedding. It was supposed to be the first day of the rest of their lives together.…

In love for a lifetime…

But secrets and lies tore them apart all too soon, and years later their marriage is a distant memory. Or at least it should be. But Claire has never forgotten Ethan's passion for life, or the way he made her feel. She sets out to find her long-lost husband, and just maybe change their lives forever.
Read Excerpt


From playboy to parent!

Watching her tiny daughter sleeping cradled in her arms, Grace knows she would do anything for her. Even if it means meeting with the man who broke Grace's heart—the man who doesn't even know he has a child....

Danny Carson is Grace's former boss, and he's as gorgeous and brooding as ever. Little does he realize a business trip that turned into a whirlwind affair had a surprising consequence!

Playboy Danny is about to discover he's a father....
Read Excerpt



He had always been there for her…

Brooke Findlay visited agent Daniel Finch, only for him to tell her that her famous and once wealthy late husband had squandered everything. She and the kids were left with nothing.

Danny came to their rescue, giving them a home in his luxury mountain estate. Brooke was shocked to discover the intense attraction simmering between them. It was clear Danny had feelings for her, but after all the heartache she'd been through—her husband's lies, affairs, secrets—would she ever be able to trust a man again? Even a man as gorgeous and honorable as Danny?
Read Excerpt



The French duke's contract bride!

Lance Malbois, Duc du Lac: a hardened military man with a scar that crosses his cheek—and reaches right to his heart. But all he wants is to hold a child in his arms and be called 'Daddy.'

Andrea Fallon: pregnant, widowed and alone, she's determined to give her baby the father and family she never had.

The perfect solution: a marriage of convenience…?
Read Excerpt



Plain Jane and the Italian rebel…

Polly Hanson must go to Naples to find Ruggiero Rinucci, and what she has to tell him will surely end his bachelor ways—he is the father of her late cousin's baby! But nothing quite prepares Polly for Ruggiero's reaction…

Outwardly he's a carefree playboy; inwardly he once loved so passionately it nearly broke him. Polly wants to help him, yet she feels forever in her cousin's shadow. Can plain Polly tame this wild Italian's heart…?
Read Excerpt



Forty days till Christmas…can they open their hearts in time?

Kirsten Morrison runs the Secret Santa Society and loves making others happy. Although she knows opening your heart can be painful, her secret wish is to find a special man to share Christmas with.…
Volunteering to wrap children's gifts isn't something Michael Brewster would normally do. But, facing his first Christmas alone, he finds himself on Kirsten's doorstep.

As they work together, an undeniable attraction flares between them. Is a kiss under the mistletoe the start of their Christmas wish come true?

Read Excerpt