January 2007

This new year promises more of the paranormal fiction everyone seems to be clamoring to read, be it vampires, werewolves, angels, demons, witches, warlocks, dragons, gargoyles, djinns, animal shape-shifters, etc. And hot, sexy, erotic fiction is also making a big surge. You'll find that more historical fiction authors are switching to writing contemporary and women's fiction, as well as the above mentioned paranormal fiction and erotica. It looks like there should be something for everyone, just a little less of some genres and a little more of others. So be sure to pay very close attention to the detailed plot descriptions of books when making your choices. And happy reading in 2007!

Readers who love historical romances should check out the debut book by new author Gerri Russell, who was winner of the American Title Contest co-sponsored by Dorchester Publishing and Romantic Times BOOKreviews magazine. On sale January 2, 2007, it's titled THE WARRIOR TRAINER (Leisure) and features a very strong warrior woman as heroine.

Speaking of debuts, if you're a fan of romantic suspense, there's a new author, Shannon K. Butcher, debuting February 1, 2007, with NO REGRETS (Warner Forever). Fresh Fiction reviewer Suzanne Tucker loved this book. Her review will be posted the middle of January, so look for it then. In my research of this author, I found that she lives a little over an hour away from me, belongs to a writers group whose members I know well, and her husband is the award-winning sci-fi author Jim Butcher. Shannon is also delighted that she's sold a second book to Warner, titled NO CONTROL (Caleb's story), which is a spin-off of NO REGRETS (no date yet for its release). And she has her fingers crossed that they'll choose to purchase and publish Grant's story (no title yet).

This month, Regency romance author Deborah Raleigh, whose latest trilogy includes SOME LIKE IT WICKED (Zebra, 9/05), SOME LIKE IT SINFUL (Zebra, 6/06) and SOME LIKE IT BRAZEN (coming in March 2007 from Zebra), joins the ranks of the paranormal authors. Her debut vampire novel, written under the pseudonym Alexandra Ivy, is WHEN DARKNESS COMES (Zebra), and will be the first book in a very hot and sexy trilogy.

HIDE (Bantam hardcover) by Lisa Gardner is the follow-up to her 2005 novel ALONE (Bantam hardcover) and set for release January 30, 2007. Police detective Bobby Dodge is called to investigate a horrific crime scene on the grounds of an abandoned mental hospital where an underground chamber is discovered with six small female bodies buried inside. Could there be a link between past hospital patients and these bodies? As more clues are uncovered, the chilling suspense builds. I'm a big Gardner fan, so I can't wait to read this one.

In February, Amanda Scott takes us once again to 14^th century Scotland in KNIGHT'S TREASURE (Warner Forever) to tell the story of the third Macleod sister, Adela, and more about the Templar Knights. The previous two books in this series include PRINCE OF DANGER (Warner Forever, 11/05) and LADY'S CHOICE (Warner Forever, 8/06), and there's another sister whose story is yet to be told.

Previously, Connie Mason told us that she was going to cut back to one book per year. However, at the urging of her many loyal fans, she'll have two books in 2007. First is HIGHLAND WARRIOR (Leisure), scheduled to be published February 27, 2007. Set in 1400s Scotland, it involves a blood feud between two neighboring clans. In December 2007, look for THE PRICE OF PLEASURE (Leisure). It takes place mostly in England with the first few chapters set in a French prison during the French Revolution. An imprisoned English operative is rescued by a mysterious woman, called the Black Widow by the inmates, since it's rumored she takes men from the prison to use as her love slaves.

February 27, 2007, is the on-sale date for a new paranormal romance, WARRIOR ANGEL (Avon), by the mother/daughter team of Margaret and Lizz Weis. Publisher blurb reads, "New York Times bestselling author Margaret Weis teams up with her daughter for a paranormal series where angels and demons battle for the souls of mortals...and where one angel dares to fall in love." Margaret is well-known by sci-fi readers for her Darksword Trilogy, The Dragonlance Chronicles and the Rose of the Prophet Trilogy. This is her first collaboration with daughter, Lizz Weis, a former novel editor.

Also arriving in stores February 27, 2007, is Marianne Stillings' AROUSING SUSPICIONS (Avon), the first book in her new Darling trilogy. Each book will feature a new-age theme and promises to be as sexy and witty as her previous romance novels.

Susan Mallery brings her delightful Marcelli family series to a close in March 2007 with THE MARCELLI PRINCESS (Pocket Star), which tells Mia's story. Believing her son's father died years ago, Mia is shocked when he turns up very much alive and in her bed, no less. And Mia soon learns that he has other secrets, as well.

In March, Dinah McCall will have a new romantic suspense, titled THE SURVIVORS (Mira). When a passenger plane goes down, the search is on to find two survivors who are missing from the crash site -- a woman and a 5-year-old boy. Miles away, a woman has a vision of these two and sees a hunter moving in for the kill. Racing against time and the elements, the family of the small boy will use any means to locate the survivors before a killer gets to them first and silences his only witness to murder.

MY FAVORITE EARTHLING by Susan Grant, the second book in the series she started with YOUR PLANET OR MINE? (HQN, 8/06), is set for March 2007 publication. This time, confirmed bachelor Jared Jasper becomes the groom of Keira, warrior-queen of the galaxy, to save both their worlds from annihilation. Then the fugitive assassin from outer space, whom we met in the first book, will get his story told in HOW TO LOSE AN EXTRATERRESTRIAL IN 10 DAYS. No publication date for it yet.

Well-known for her very sexy and sensual paranormal romances, Cheyenne McCray makes a genre switch March 6, 2007, with the release of her first novel of steamy romantic suspense with CHOSEN PREY (St. Martin's). This thriller tells the story of a woman, Lyra, running from her past and the ex-cop who becomes involved in protecting her from the leader of a fanatical religious group. It seems this zealot's visions prophesize that he and Lyra are destined to produce the new Messiah, and he'll stop at nothing to make it happen.

The third installment in Mary Balogh's Simply series is set to go on sale March 27, 2007, and titled SIMPLY MAGIC (Delacorte hardcover). The teacher at Miss Martin's School for Girls who's featured in this story is Susanna Osbourne. The final book in this Regency-set series will be SIMPLY PERFECT, scheduled to be published in April 2008.

Set to go on sale March 27, 2007, is the launch titled in Gaelen Foley's Spice Trilogy, HER ONLY DESIRE (Ballantine). This hot new trilogy features three exciting new Knight cousins, cavalry officers Gabriel and Derek and their ravishingly beautiful sister Georgiana, who will be arriving in Regency London from India under the British Raj. Not only are the brothers handsome and deadly soldiers, they are also masters of the Kama Sutra. Subsequent titles and release dates are HER SECRET FANTASY (Fall 2007) and HER EVERY PLEASURE (Spring 2008).

Dee Davis is excited to announce that her first women's fiction novel is set to be released in April 2007. MATCH MADE ON MADISON (St. Martin's trade) is the story of a matchmaker, a no-holds-barred bet and the unwelcome fact that sometimes love has a mind of its own. She'll then have a second women's fiction book coming in 2008 titled SINGLE IN SOHO. But Dee says not to worry, she's still writing romantic suspense. It's just that these new books give her the opportunity to delve into something a little bit lighter. In fact, her next romantic suspense, CHAIN REACTION (HQN), is slated for June 2007 publication. Also coming in June 2007 is the anthology HELL ON HEELS (Berkley Sensation trade), which is a follow-up to HELL WITH THE LADIES and includes novellas by Dee, Kathleen O'Reilly and Julie Kenner.

Coming April 2007 is the newest addition to Roxanne St. Claire's Bullet Catcher series. TAKE ME TONIGHT is the story of Johnny Christiano, who's assigned to stop a kidnapping before it happens. The plot premise involves a reporter who's investigating a fantasy abduction web site designed to lure adventurous women. She's forced to accept Johnny's protection as she uncovers a dark, deadly and dangerous plan of Internet seduction.

Marjorie M. Liu has sold a new urban fantasy series, called Hunter Kiss, to Ace Books about a woman whose body is covered with living tattoos. Marjorie says the first book is titled THE IRON HUNT and is set for release some time in 2008. However, readers will be able to sample this new Hunter Kiss series with a novella found in the anthology WILD THING (Berkley Sensation trade), which will be released May 1, 2007, and also include short stories by Maggie Shayne, Meljean Brook and Alyssa Day. And those of us who love Marjorie's innovative Dirk & Steele series will be pleased to know that the sixth installment, titled SOUL SONG, is scheduled for release July 2007. The story involves a merman who's been enslaved by a witch who wants to use his powers to steal souls -- including the heroine's, who's able to foresee the future. Marjorie tells me that she still has six more books under contract with Dorchester, so readers can expect more Dirk & Steele novels over the next several years.

In my October column, I told you about MURDER IN THE NORTH END (Berkley Prime Crime) by P. B. Ryan, which went on sale November 7, 2006. This was the fifth entry in her Gilded Age Mystery series featuring Boston governess Nell Sweeney, and Ryan tells me that the sixth (and final) installment, titled A BUCKET OF ASHES, is due to come out December 2007. It will take place on Cape Cod where it all began for Nell six years earlier. That book is already written, but she's informed me that she has another new project already in the works. As soon as she gives me the go-ahead, I'll tell you all about it.

'Til next month...
Tanzey