Spring Fever = Great Books in April!

I have Spring Fever! Yes, spring has finally arrived in Kansas, along with the wind and rain. Hey, at least it isn't cold and snowy. I love the green rebirth and awakening of everything that's been brown and drab for so long. This reaffirmation of life is just what I need after a long, cold, wet winter. Even more to get excited about is that I've finalized plans to travel to San Francisco July 29 through August 3, 2008, for the annual Romance Writers of America (RWA) conference. I can't wait to see everyone again! Please let me know if you plan to attend.

In case you missed it, March 25, 2008, was the day FIRST YOU RUN (Pocket Star) by Roxanne St. Claire went on sale. This book launches a new trilogy of Bullet Catcher stories for 2008 with subsequent titles and dates being: THEN YOU HIDE (Pocket Star) on June 24 and NOW YOU DIE (Pocket Star) on August 26. Roxanne has this to say about the books: "Connected by one dark mystery, all three are stand-alone romantic suspense novels that can be read by themselves or in any order, and all three feature the men and women of the Bullet Catchers. And, yes, friends, the rumors are true: the third book in the trilogy features Bullet Catcher owner Lucy Sharpe as the heroine!"

This month, Sandra Schwab gives readers another spine-tingling Gothic romance. In BEWITCHED (Love Spell), Amelia is packed off to London following a magical mishap at her uncle's home. She's to enter into polite society and then pick a suitable husband. But when she meets Fox, the man of her dreams, could it all be an illusion brought about by a magical potion? The two must battle dark forces before finding a suitable solution.

Also in April 2008 is the release of MURDER OF A CHOCOLATE COVERED CHERRY (Obsidian), the 10th mystery in Denise Swanson's bestselling Scumble River series featuring school psychologist Skye Denison. Grandma Sal's Soup-To-Nuts Cooking Challenge is being held near Scumble River, and Skye's mom is set on entering. Then someone starts furtively switching ingredients behind the scenes and before long one of the contestants (named Cherry) ends up dead -- face-down in a chocolate fountain (thus the title). Skye once again finds herself involved in murder.

The 13th (and final) installment in Leigh Greenwood's Cowboys series, TEXAS LOVING (Leisure), lands in bookstores this month. It tells the tale of a Texas beauty dealing with family in London she never knew she had -- and the secret she uncovers there. How will this affect the burgeoning love she's also discovered?

Jennifer Ashley will conclude her fun and sexy Nvengaria historical romance series April 1, 2008, with HIGHLANDER EVER AFTER. Egan MacDonald loved and lost Princess Zarabeth years ago, but she's always been in his heart and mind. When her life in threatened by assassins, she's sent to his castle in the Highlands for safety -- and what she finds there will change both of their lives forever. Fans of Jennifer's Immortals series will be delighted to learn that she's working on the fifth book, which will be Tain's story. Readers first met Tain's heroine in IMMORTALS: THE GATHERING. Jennifer tells me Tain's book, titled IMMORTALS: THE REDEEMING (Love Spell), is scheduled for a September 2008 release, followed by two more books set in the Immortals world by Joy Nash and Robin T. Popp in October and November 2008. And an anthology is also in the works for early 2009. It seems the response to this fascinating series was so overwhelmingly great that Dorchester wanted the authors to do more -- and they were glad to oblige.

April 1, 2008, Signet Eclipse is going to release LOVERS AND LADIES, a trade- size edition containing two early classic Regency romance novels by Jo Beverley. In each story, The Fortune Hunter (1991) and Deirdre and Don Juan (1993), someone seeks a spouse while thinking that love is not important in the arrangement -- until, quite unexpectedly, their hearts become involved. Also hitting the bookshelves April 1, 2008, is the newest Malloren novel, A LADY'S SECRET (Signet). It features the fun-loving Earl of Huntersdown as he attempts to assist a lovely Italian nun who's not exactly what she seems to be.

Another April 1, 2008, release is NIGHTSHADE (Berkley Prime Crime hardcover), the 16th book in Susan Wittig Albert's highly popular China Bayles mystery series. Even though China's herb shop and catering business is thriving, she's still having trouble dealing with her father's death. When her half-brother Miles starts looking into the death, China is forced to become involved. If she doesn't come to terms with the past, it will haunt her forever.

Set to go on sale April 8, 2008, is CERTAIN GIRLS (Atria hardcover) by Jennifer Weiner. This hilarious and moving sequel to GOOD IN BED catches up with Cannie Shapiro and her daughter, Joy, who's almost a teenager. When Joy finally reads the memoir book her mother had published years before, it causes a rift that has Joy intent on knowing the truth concerning her birth and her mom's early life.

In THE CRYSTAL SKULL (Delacorte hardcover), British bestselling author Manda Scott explores one of history's greatest mysteries. According to a true Mayan prophecy, the world will come to an end on December 21, 2012, unless 13 crystal skulls are located and brought together. Chock-full of history, myth and real-life characters, this new thriller goes on sale April 15, 2008.

On April 22, 2008, Iris Johansen brings back forensic sculptor Eve Duncan in QUICKSAND (St. Martin's hardcover). Eve is continuing to search for her missing seven-year-old daughter Bonnie. When a vicious serial killer claims to have murdered Bonnie years earlier, Eve is led on a treacherous journey where she'll either discover the whereabouts of the little girl -- or encounter a psychopath bent on more than just killing.

Cheyenne McCray continues her highly sensual Magic series April 29, 2008, with the release of SHADOW MAGIC (St. Martin's). This fourth book finds a woman fleeing her old life to join the D'Anu witches in Otherworld to fight evil set on destroying the human realm. But the only one who can help her is also someone she can never trust.

On April 29, 2008, Kresley Cole's exciting Immortals After Dark series continues with book four, DARK NEEDS AT NIGHT'S EDGE (Pocket Star). When half-mad outcast vampire Conrad Wroth first sees the ethereal phantom Néomi Renate, nothing will stop him from making her his own. Then watch for the fifth installment in this series, DARK DESIRES AFTER DUSK (Pocket Star), to go on sale May 20, 2008.

Jenna Black's Guardians of the Night vampire series continues April 29, 2008, with the fourth installment, HUNGERS OF THE HEART (Tor). Drake feeds on the blood of humans who truly deserve to die. Realizing there are still some decent human beings who need protecting, he continues to work for the Guardians to do so. When an old enemy takes Guardian Gabriel hostage, Drake finds himself in more trouble than he can handle alone. But will a young female vampire be his downfall or his salvation?

Wendy Corsi Staub's newest supernatural thriller, DYING BREATH (Zebra), is set for release April 29, 2008. A serial killer is terrorizing the tranquil Jersey Shore. A newcomer, who's moved to the area hoping to salvage her marriage, finds she can't outrun the ugly visions she continues to have about missing children. This is the first book of two connected novels. The sequel, DYING LIGHT (Zebra), also has a sinister serial-killer premise and is scheduled for release in spring 2009.

On April 29, 2008, Jeaniene Frost gives readers ONE FOOT IN THE GRAVE (Avon), the second book in her sexy urban fantasy Night Huntress series featuring half-vampire Cat Crawfield, who's now working as a special agent for the government as a vampire hunter. When Cat becomes the target of an assassin, she finds herself having to ask for help from Bones, her sexy and dangerous ex, in dealing with a terrifying evil.

And for more vampire fiction, you'll want to read THE DARKEST KISS, the sixth urban fantasy novel in the Riley Jenson Guardian series by Keri Arthur. Part vampire and werewolf, Riley is hunting a killer whose victims are high-society prostitutes -- and their well-to-do customers. Then another serial killer starts leaving mutilated bodies around town, and Riley has her work cut out for her.

New York Times bestselling author Dorothy Garlock, who began her writing career in 1976 and is regarded as the voice of America's heartland, has signed a deal with Grand Central Publishers to write five new novels for them.

Stayed tuned to learn about more great books to come.....Tanzey