Sorry this is a bit late getting posted, but I spent July 29 through August 3
in San Francisco at the Romance Writers of America national conference. After
living for several weeks with temps close to 100º every day, it was a welcome
change to experience the cool days and nights of San Francisco. Of course, I
then had to return to the same sweltering heat I left in Kansas, but it was a
nice respite. I met many wonderful authors and old friends, and I finally got
the chance to meet the rest of the Fresh Fiction staff. Be sure to check out all of our
great photos.
Fresh Fiction Staff in SF
The one thing I heard continually was that the historical romance novel is
making a comeback. Over the past several years, talk of its demise seems to
have been greatly exaggerated, and I found several of your favorites are
returning to their historical roots. Even some authors who haven’t written in
this genre before have signed contracts with publishers to pen historical
romance tomes. Should be quite interesting to see what the next few years bring
us. I’ll be writing more about this subject, as well as other things from the
RWA conference, in future months. (Yes, I’m writing this column as fast as I
can, so it won’t appear too late this month.)
Now, here are some titles to watch for during the month of August.
DIE SMILING
(Pinnacle)
by Linda Ladd is the
third suspense/thriller featuring former-LA-cop-turned-Missouri-homicide-
detective Claire Morgan, who’s current locale is the Lake of the Ozarks region.
Just when Claire thinks she can breathe a sigh of relief and recover from the
last grizzly case of murder in the usually peaceful and placid Canton County,
another dead body is discovered in a most bizarre setting and modus operandi.
Jeez – did all the wackos follow her here from LA or what? I just read this
novel and it’s another spine-chilling thriller that’s next to impossible to put
down.
Cara Summers
revisits
the Angelis family by giving us the story of Philly Angelis and Roman Oliver in
LIE WITH ME (Harlequin
Blaze). Since this book is part of the Lust in Translation mini-series, the
setting is the beautiful beaches of Corfu in the Greek Islands.
The trade paperback release of Robyn Young’s CRUSADE (Plume) is now available. This second book in her
historical trilogy, following BRETHREN, takes place in 1274. The Middle East is finally
experiencing peace after years of war, due to the efforts of the mysterious Brethren. But this group
has many enemies, and it’s feared they’ve been betrayed by one of their own.
Meanwhile, in Egypt, the sultan’s sons are engaged in a power struggle as one
of them schemes against his own family. This novel is rich in historical detail
with three-dimensional characters and an absorbing plot.
Tanzey and Deborah Cooke
The dragon shape-shifters are back August 5, 2008, in Deborah Cooke’s KISS OF FURY (Signet
Eclipse), the second book in her innovative and compelling Dragonfire series.
As a Pyr, Donovan is willing to do whatever is required to stop the Slayers
from taking over the world. Anything that is, but accept the woman who’s
ignited his firestorm. He won’t go through that experience again. Ah, never say
never.
Sherrilyn Kenyon
Also on sale August 5, 2008, is the long-awaited and never-
before-revealed story of the Dark-Hunter leader, ACHERON (St. Martin’s
hardcover), the 12th book in Sherrilyn Kenyon’s stupendous Dark-Hunter series. Eleven thousand
years ago, Archeron was
born a god, then made human in order to escape death. But in death, he was
reborn a god…need I say more. And don’t miss the video trailer for this book –
breathtaking!
Feisty and sexy Boston PI Carlotta Carlyle returns August 5, 2008, after a
two-
year absence, in LIE DOWN
WITH THE DEVIL (St. Martin’s Minotaur hardcover), the 12th installment in
this compelling mystery series by Linda Barnes. This time, the hot-tempered Carlotta is dealing with
the disappearance of her mob-connected fiancé, Sam, and the rumors linking him
to a dead girl. When a woman approaches Carlotta with photos of Sam that cause
her to doubt his innocence, Carlotta becomes a prime suspect when the woman is
killed in a hit-and-run. Things are never easy for this intrepid PI.
Get ready for another sexy treat from Lora Leigh when NAUTI DREAMS (Berkley Heat
trade), the third book in her erotic romantic suspense Nauti series, goes on
sale August 5, 2008. NAUTI
DREAMS continues the story of Natches Mackay, who grew up with two cousins
after being separated from his family at a young age. When his father re-enters
his life, it’s not for the good. Also re-entering his life is Government Agent
Chaya Dane, and Natches finds himself in big trouble.
August 19, 2008, is the day you can buy IN HER WILDEST DREAMS
(Pocket trade), the second book in Kimberly Dean’s hotly sensual Dream Wreaker series. Dream Wreakers
are spirits of the night who bestow dreams on sleeping humans and watch over
them as they slumber. By day, Shea and Derek work together; at night she
fulfills her desire for him in dreams. But lately Shea has been doing some
weird things while sleepwalking, and Derek knows he’s the only one who can help
her.
Debbie Macomber and Suan Wilson
The eighth book in Debbie Macomber’s extremely popular Cedar Cove series, titled 8 SANDPIPER WAY (Mira),
goes on sale August 26, 2008. What’s a wife to think when she finds a strange
earring in her husband’s pocket? Emily can think of only two options: he’s
either having an affair or stealing jewelry. Even though Pastor Dave has been
visiting the elderly woman whose jewelry is now missing, and he refuses to tell
Emily where he’s been when he comes home so late, she just can’t believe he’s
strayed so far from his beliefs and vows.
On August 26, 2008, sports agent Myron Bolitar is back in Harlan Coben’s FADE AWAY (Delacorte
hardcover), his third mystery (following DEAL BREAKER and DROPSHOT). This time
around, the wisecracking Myron is given a chance to return to professional
basketball after being sidelined by an injury years ago. But the owner doesn't
want Myron to play. He wants him to use his other talents (learned when he was
an FBI undercover agent) to locate a missing player.
Those fabulously sexy Immortals return August 26, 2008, for another round of
heart-stopping adventures with the release of IMMORTALS: THE REDEEMING
(Love Spell) by Jennifer
Ashley. After 700 years of tortured captivity, Tain, the villain bent on
destroying the world in the first four books, does not know how to handle
gentleness. Then it’s a good thing the half-demon woman who sparks his
attention is pretty tough herself. Will she be the one to bring about his
redemption? The three Love Spell titles to round out this four-book adaptation
will include: IMMORTALS:
THE CROSSING (October 2008) by Joy Nash, featuring the Celtic demigod Mac; IMMORTALS: THE HAUNTING
(November 2008) by Robin
T. Popp, featuring the nymph Mia; and the anthology IMMORTALS: THE RECKONING
(February 2009) with the three authors providing novellas that will wrap it all
up.
Get ready to laugh out loud when Leslie Langtry’s third Greatest Hits romance, STAND BY YOUR HITMAN
(Leisure), goes on sale August 26, 2008. Missi Bombay (of the Bombay family of
assassins) is really good at inventing things and coming up with unique ways to
kill a target without leaving a trace. But her love life sucks, so Missi’s mom
enters her in a reality show taking place in Costa Rica where she ends up
paired with the hottest contestant. When Missi is ordered to scope out a
potential victim, things go from bad to worse in a hurry. What’s a girl to do
with a family like this?
Another August 26, 2008, release is the second book in Caitlin Kittredge’s
Nocturne City urban fantasy series, PURE BLOOD (St. Martin’s). The promo description skillfully says
it all: In the shadows of Nocturne City, witches lurk and demons prowl and
homicide detective Luna Wilder must keep the peace – while living life as a
werewolf. Now bodies are turning up all over town, the brutal murders linked by
a cryptic message: We see with empty eyes…
Looks like lots of great reading for everyone’s tastes. And on that
delightful
note, I end another column. ’Til next month…Tanzey
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