News from RWA National and August Reads

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