trueromance

Tall….6’1”….check.

Smart….you bet….check.

Chris Winters is a TV-Film guy/techno-jock who makes the A-list for Borders True Romance, Reader’s Entertainment Group, and Between Your Sheets. Born in Virginia and currently living in LA, this 2008 Mr. Romance can be seen in TV and movie cameos, biking or running around the city, appearing at events, or sometimes on various websites.

What do romance readers want to know about Chris?

Has being Mr. Romance helped you in achieving any of your Hollywood goals?
I think anything you do adds a step to achieving any kind of goals in life. I have had, very interestingly, someone mention it on a red carpet event before. I started recently using it more to bring the awareness.

Has being a cover model added romance to your relationships or has it actually been a detriment?
Well, I do not think being a cover model of anything will add or take away romance from an individual because a person should love someone for who they are inside. I know me just being me adds a lot to romance, or anything else for that matter. Romance is defined on respect, communication, and love for the other person.

Where do you hope to be in your career in the next two years?
Well, I do have a few people pushing me that are successful working actors, so I will be having a great year in the middle or end of 2010. I remember in 2005 a lot of things happened within that year and it was the same time. I’ve done a lot in Hollywood since my arrival two years ago. I have to thank my fans for that as well for keeping up with me.

If you could go back in history and become anyone he wanted, who would that be?
That’s a really tough question. I would imagine the person I could possibly be would be Abraham Lincoln. He has his own personal issues along with doing something really great in his life. One true hero.

If you could choose to be any character in a book for a film, which character would it be?
This is another tough question. Off the bat, I would imagine Darth Vader from the Star Wars movies. I always loved that character!

What Chris wants you to know about him?
I can honestly say I do love life. I thank God everyday for another chance to breathe again. I am the type of guy who you will meet and walk away smiling, knowing that I am down-to-earth.

I am a free spirited individual who believes in living life to the fullest and laughter is the start of everything. I enjoy many things in life. This ranges from eating, running in parks, solving challenging problems, to spending some time with someone. They say life is too short, but I always ask: “What else is longer?” Life shouldn’t be measured in time, but the time you enjoy with it.

Here are the following fun filled facts:

I am very goal oriented and determined but I have a weakness for chocolate and other sugary things.
I like a stimulating conversation, this can range from fractual functions to macrophages; or the uvula!
I love Xbox 360. I only like a few select games that have a storyline.
I like parks– especially Pan Pacific in Los Angeles, next to The Grove (it was featured on Miracle Mile and actor Brian Thompson was on it. I worked with him. The park is pretty cool at night, while running).
I like Peanut butter, and most common things everybody else likes. Ladybugs come to mind.
I DO NOT fold clean laundry. Hate it. I use it for my ultimate Hamster Nest. My Hamster Nest is when you sleep on various clothing articles.
I like snakes, snails, spiders, and scary movies. Yeah, I am NOT AFRAID to get my hands dirty, muddy, or tear up my shoes! I will also rub your feet.
I like various music. However, I really like Indie music that no one else listens to.
I really, super love, swing sets! If you want to feel young again, that is the place.
Midnight blue or blue that resembles late, starry night. Romantic and euphoric.

So let’s give a shout out for this talented, humorous guy who is determined to make it to the top and to take all of his friends with him because success for Chris is all about the heart. Hear him on the March 9th on Canned Laughter and Coffee with Renee Bernard and learn why this is a swinging Mr. Romance, http://www.blogtalkradio.com/circle-of-seven/2010/03/10/canned-laughter-and-coffee.

Update: Here’s the interview!

Learn more about Chris at Between your Sheets.com

Click Here - Exclusive, Too Hot To Handle, By Louisa Edwards

Welcome to my little slice of heaven! True, it’s not quite as heavenly as a slice of dark chocolate mousse cake, but I hope you’ll enjoy the site anyway. There are a few goodies here, actually—yummy treats such as book excerpts, free reads, videos, and of course, all the latest news about my Recipe for Love series!

Check back for updates soon!

Bon appétit,
Louisa

About the Author:
“My favorite thing about romance is that it’s like real life — but the way you wish life could be.”
—Louisa Edwards

Louisa Edwards grew up in Virginia, surrounded by the beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains. By age 11, she was sneaking Harlequins out of her visiting grandmother’s suitcase, making her parents nervous about what, precisely, their little girl was learning from those books. Naturally, they were relieved when Louisa decided to attend Bryn Mawr College, hoping the Seven Sisters vibe might instill the intellectual rigor she thus far seemed to lack.

To their dismay, however, even the ivy-covered halls of Bryn Mawr couldn’t distract Louisa from her addiction to romances. Instead, she traded in her Harlequins for longer, juicier single titles, reading everything from Laura Kinsale to Jennifer Cruisie. She also managed to graduate cum laude with a degree in Romance Languages (which is not as sexy as it sounds—mostly she studied Spanish, French, and Italian literature, although some of that French stuff did get fairly racy.)

After graduation, Louisa moved to Manhattan, landing a job as an editorial assistant at Penguin Group (USA), where she worked directly for the smart, savvy president of Mass Market Paperbacks, Leslie Gelbman, who guided Louisa as she built her own list.

Vindication! It was possible to make a living from reading romance novels. Louisa’s parents were equal parts surprised and thrilled. While at Berkley, Louisa was lucky enough to work with some great authors, assistant editing Leslie’s heavy hitters, Nora Roberts and Jayne Ann Krentz. Louisa’s own list included, among others, Lucy Monroe, Jennifer St. Giles, and Shelley Bradley. All of which led to Louisa being promoted to assistant editor.

Then real life romance ensued: Louisa married a journalist and was promptly exiled to Ohio so her husband could work for his family’s newspaper. There Louisa started reviewing romances for FreshFiction.com and took a part-time job at the Culinary Vegetable Institute. Personal interaction with chefs, plus the limited repertoire of local restaurants stoked Louisa’s interest in food. She began critiquing restaurants for the local newspaper, got sucked into Gordon Ramsay’s Hell’s Kitchen, trailed a chef friend at his restaurant in Raleigh, North Carolina, started cooking her way through Julia Child’s Mastering the Art of French Cooking, and decided to bring it all together by writing CAN’T STAND THE HEAT.

Now she awaits the response of the masses to her foodie-inspired romance. Meanwhile, Louisa will continue to eat in as many wonderful restaurants as possible—purely for research, of course.

Louisa will be posting on 3/19/10 - if you’d like to comment below, she’ll review & include answers in her upcoming post

Happy Romance!

Alyssa Day, ATLANTIS REDEEMED, Setting: Atlantis and Yellowstone National Park
Subgenre: Paranormal Romance
Hero: Brennan, an Atlantean warrior who has lived without emotion for more than 2,000 years
Heroine: Tiernan Butler, a human investigative reporter who has the Gift of Truth Telling

One sentence summary:
When 2,000 years of lost emotion hit you all at once—do you fall in love or die?

Scene you like most and would never cut:
When Brennan first re-encounters Tiernan and the curse he has suffered under for so long shatters.

Thing your heroine would never be caught dead doing/saying:
Anything that makes her look, feel, or be helpless. She has a vested interest in bringing the truth to the public and achieving justice for her murdered best friend.

Your hero, is he a boxer or brief kind of guy:
Pure Atlantean silk, baby.

Ancillary character you had the most fun with:
The vampire leader, Devon. He has very interesting goals and the shocking twist at the end almost surprised even me! I’m going to write his book one day.

Your heroine’s favorite hobby:
Walking on the beach, far away from anybody who might be telling lies. Lies hurt her; they feel and sound discordant and screeching against her soul.

Your hero’s favorite hobby:
Can I say it involves Tiernan and nakedness? LOL. He also is having a great time learning to tell jokes now that he has emotion back and can recognize humor.

What you think readers will like best about this book:
The emotion. My editor said this is the most emotional novel I’ve ever written and I think she’s right. Something about Brennan’s almost childlike attempts to cope with 2,000 years’ of lost emotion swamping him all at once; then the way he and Tiernan fight for each other even when they are in so much pain—I admit I cried more than once writing this book.

Reviews: Wow! Everything from “spectacular” and “exemplary” to “a cocktail sauce of awesome.” I’m loving the reviews!

The person that readers want you to write about but you haven’t yet:
High priest Alaric. His path is so tortured, and everyone wants to know what happens with him and Quinn. There is a very emotional scene in Atlantis Redeemed between the two of them; Alaric is starting to crack around the edges a little bit.

What’s next:
Christophe’s book is next – and it’s a heist book! In ATLANTIS BETRAYED, out in September, he encounters a famous British cat burglar and boy, do the sparks fly! Then it’s the first of my new urban fantasy series, also for Berkley. I can’t wait!
For the first time ever, I’m stuck for a title for Denal’s upcoming book. If you can think of a wonderful title (must have Atlantis in it), I’ll put you in the acknowledgements for the book.

There must be prizes! One book to 3 random readers commenting on this blog! Please visit me online at http://www.alyssaday.com for excerpts, a free short story, video interviews, and more. Thank you so much!
Hugs,
Alyssa

Winter Garden by Kristin Hannah was an engaging read. It is not lightweight, frivolous, or funny and definitely not a beach read. Which is good because it’s currently pouring rain at my house. With the stormy weather the ambiance was perfectly cozy to read it until late at night when I should have been in bed sleeping. Two children getting up before the sun rises means a tired mother. Yet Winter Garden kept my attention, my feelings were engaged, I was hooked on the story, and it made me cry. Twice. Any book that makes me cry gets five stars as there have only been a couple of books that I have ever read that have had that kind of power.

The story starts off with two sisters, Meredith and Nina Whitson, and showed how they were completely different and not familiar with each other. Meredith has a husband who was a childhood love and two beautiful grown children. Meredith works for the family business and leads a busy life. Yet she is depressed and closed off from her husband as both of her children have left the family nest to attend college. Nina is a free bird, living the nomadic photography lifestyle while hardly checking in with her family as she wanders around torn countries. Nina has a man that she sees frequently in the course of her travels yet keeps him at arms length emotionally.

The two girls had grown apart years ago as they have had their disapproving mother, Anya, never love or care for them throughout the years and that affected their relationship. Even with their attentive and loving father around to keep the family together, it was never enough. Of course, tragedy strikes as their father becomes ill and forces Anya and her two daughters to be together to learn more about each other and explore Anya’s past so her daughters can finally know about their mother.

The fascinating part about this story is that it features a fairy tale that Anya tells throughout the book. It is shrouded in mystery and takes place in Leningrad, which is now modern day Saint Petersburg. It is a love story and has been a source of tension in the family as Anya has never told the ending. She has finally been compelled to tell the ending and explain her own personal mysteries to her daughters. The fairy tale starts off in a very mystical way and had me a little skeptical at how it was going to continue. This didn’t feel like the type of mystical book I was getting in to. As the fairy tale went on, the details in the story slightly changed and with that change, you will discover some interesting facts about the life that Anya led before she came to America and married Evan Whitson.

The main character of Meredith was a hard read. If you have any personal sadness in your life, Meredith will hit you hard as she has closed herself off and is most obviously severely depressed. Honestly, there were a few times where I wanted to close the book because I couldn’t feel like I could read anymore on how Meredith could show how depressed she was! I’m glad I didn’t seriously think about closing the book, it was a great story. The fairy tale was amazing but very graphic on war related items. It was sad to read and hard to imagine. While a few of the plots in the book were obvious on where they would end, the main plot with Anya and her daughters took many unexpected twists that were thrilling to read and also very tragic.

I can only imagine that Kristin Hannah has a sister, or a large family, and intimately knows rough waters of family life because her past books like True Colors, Between Sisters, or Summer Island are striking family ties in such a heartfelt way. When you feel like your parents don’t love you, or are not proud of you, Hannah describes those feelings perfectly. Hannah is able to guide you through forced family meetings that you feel you have attended in your own life, yet somehow get you through to the end and show you that it is possible to have a happy ending.

If you have family members whom you love yet have had problems in the past with, you need to pick up a Kristin Hannah novel. Winter Garden was remarkable in family issues and the astounding storytelling of Leningrad in the 1940’s. I highly recommend it.

Have you ever had issues with your mother or siblings that you couldn’t work out? Remember that life can be unexpected. Be sure to let your family members know you care about them.

Kristi can be found rambling about life at http://www.KristiBug.com

Lauren Willig writes the acclaimed “Pink Carnation” series for Dutton, and her latest book, “The Betrayal of the Blood Lily” comes out in January ‘10. Cara Elliott (whose real name is Andrea DaRif) debuts her new “Circle of Sin” trilogy in March ’10 with “To Sin With A Scoundrel.”(She also writes historical mystery romance under the pen name Andrea Pickens.)

These best selling authors are teaching a course at Yale U: READING THE HISTORICAL ROMANCE.

What was the genesis of the course; how did you two come up w/the idea and what was/is your goal in teaching the course?
(to read the syllabus click here)

LW: Two Yalie romance writers find themselves next to an open bar…. There is, as there always is, a bit more back-story to it. Over the past few years, I’ve become involved in the burgeoning romance scholarship movement, as a group of academics have fought to build a critical apparatus around the study of popular romance novels, not just as sociological artifacts, but as texts. It’s a movement that’s been spearheaded by Professor Eric Selinger at DePaul and Professor Sarah Frantz at Fayetteville, both of whom were instrumental in putting together the Princeton conference on popular romance last spring. There are dissertations being written on Heyer, on Cruisie, on Roberts, just as there are on E.M. Forster or Hemingway. (At last year’s Popular Culture Association conference, I got to hear papers on the use of the first person in Mary Stewart’s “Nine Coaches Waiting”, the symbolism of food in J.D. Robb, and inversions of status in American-written Regencies. I gave a paper on the uses and abuses of history in historical romance.) It’s an incredibly rich and interesting field, all the more so because it’s been neglected for so long.

Fast forward to last spring, as Cara and I sipped glasses of wine during the intermission of Lady Jane’s Salon, discussing romance scholarship and how we would structure a class if we had the chance. It suddenly occurred to us—why not?

CE: Oh, right, the open bar definitely came into play! The idea for the seminar began with one of those fun, serendipitous moments . . . Lauren and I ran into each other at Lady Jane’s Salon, a monthly romance reading series in downtown New York City, and as fellow Yale grads, we started comparing notes on our experiences there. As we chatted, we starting joking around, saying, “Oh, you know, we should really propose to teach a college seminar on romance novels and how they should be treated as a serious literary genre—the students would probably love it.”

We both laughed . . . and then a simultaneous spark lit in our eyes. “Oh, let’s go for it!” we both said. And so began the process of putting together a formal proposal and week-by-week syllabus of readings and discussion topics. Lauren’s sister Brooke, a junior at Yale, was a fabulous sounding board for ideas and books, and together we polished up a presentation.

After passing the first few hurdles, we were called to New Haven to interview before a group of twenty students and two faculty members. They asked great questions, and I think our enthusiasm for the subject came through loud and clear (neither of us has any trouble talking about books and why we love them!)

In any case, our proposal was accepted, and received the stamp of approval from the English department, so come January, historical romance will “go Ivy League!”

What was it like to interview in front of a panel of students?

LW: There was something a bit surreal about being interviewed in a college dining hall (the smell of baked scrod brought me right back!), but it was an incredibly invigorating experience. It was a large panel of interviewers, about twenty at a guess, composed of both faculty and students, which meant they brought a very wide range of approaches and questions. We got to speak about everything from how one would define the term “romance novel” to the intricacies of English society in the early nineteenth century.

CE: And we brought down the house with a mention of Sarah Wendell and Candy Tan’s website Smart Bitches, Trashy Books! They loved it (humor is very important in our books) I thought the sherry-colored wood paneling was going to pop off the walls. And that’s exactly what we are trying to do—shake up the old perceptions of romance as mere “bodice rippers.”

Was there a question put to you that stands out as something very astute or that may have caused you to think about romance fiction in a way you hadn’t? In other words, were there moments when you were surprised by how folks saw romance in a good light, but perhaps one you’d never considered?

LW: I don’t know if I’d call this the most astute, but the question that left the deepest impression on me was whether we expected to have only women in the course. When I told them that the scholar on the forefront of putting romance on the academic map was, in fact, a man, I could see the entire room take notice. Although it is a small point, it makes our larger point that this is a literary field worthy of general study by interested and intelligent people of either gender. Should guys study romance novels, too? Hell, yes.

CE: That really was an interesting moment. As Lauren says, you could see something click in both the men and women. The question had been asked half in jest, but I think the answer made them think—and in a very good way.

LW: On top of that, I think the focused nature of the class also caught their attention. We tailored the class around the Regency romance—not only because we both write it and men in knee breeches are always a Good Thing—but because it provides a self-contained field through which we can track the development of a genre in a comprehensive way. Our class starts with Jane Austen’s “Northanger Abbey”, moves through Heyer and Woodiwiss, looks at changing attitudes towards sexuality and heroism in a variety of authors over a thirty year time span, going right up through Regency paranormals and chick lit. Some of the tropes and changes we look at are unique to the Regency romance, but many mirror developments in the romance community as a whole. The fact that there are sub-genres within romance, each with its own traditions and trajectory, rather than just a monolith known as “oh, romance novels”, clearly made the students on the panel stop and think.

What strength/s do each of you bring to the course?

CE: I think one of the great things about this collaboration is that Lauren and I bring a pretty unique set of skills to the course. We both have a good undergrad grounding in history, and I have a Masters degree in Graphic Design from Yale while she has a Masters degree in History from Harvard, as well as a Harvard Law degree. So it’s a fun left-brain/right brain sort of thing—and together we make the complete package! Lauren brings a really impressive formal academic experience to share with the students, while my background in art and visual communication adds a different perspective.

But most importantly, we both are really passionate about romance and what we write, and I think that comes through when we discuss it. Our goal in this course is to share our excitement in the creative process, as well as to inspire an appreciation and respect for the romance genre. Hey, it’s time for the world to recognize that smart women write romance—and smart women (and even smarter men) read romance! We hope that we can help spread the word.

LW: Both of us bring a passion for the subject, years of experience as readers of the genre, and a nuts and bolts perspective as practitioners. On top of that, we each have our own unique skills. Back in the day, I pursued a doctorate in English history at that Other School (the Crimson one in Cambridge). The doctorate got away from me, but not before I spent several years scribbling endless dissertation notes, teaching undergrad classes, and generally doing the whole academic thing. One of my various teaching appointments was on the tutorial board of Harvard’s History and Literature department, which seems particularly appropriate for a class like this. As a lapsed historian, I contribute the history side of things and lots of war stories about grading papers, while Cara brings in the more textual, literary approach. It’s worked perfectly as a balance.

Why Yale?

LW: It was a combination of affection, opportunity, and geography. Both Cara and I are devoted Yale grads with lots of warm and fuzzy feelings about our alma mater. I live in New York and Cara in Connecticut, so, for a commute to class, Yale lies nicely in the middle. Not to mention those amazing caramel lattes at Atticus, which I will now get to drink regularly.

CE: And Yale has a wonderful undergraduate program where each semester, the 12 residential colleges sponsor courses that are supposed to be a bit “outside the box” and allow students to work with notable professionals in fields ranging from sports and art to music and literature. (One of the highlights of my student experience was the chance to study the art of the children’s book with Maurice Sendak.)

So we thought that this was the perfect place for the course we wanted to create. It’s incredibly exciting to have this opportunity, and we are really looking forward to it.

What questions would you ask these talented, instructors? Would you entertain taking a course about Reading Romance?
Answer below & you may be one of 5 winners to be randomly chosen to win a copy of Cara or Lauren’s books!

46% off online TODAY, click here & save $12.88!

In this heartfelt and incisive new novel, Danielle Steel celebrates the virtues of unconventional beauty while exploring deeply resonant issues of weight, self-image, sisterhood, and family.

A chubby little girl with blond hair, blue eyes, and ordinary looks, Victoria Dawson has always felt out of place in her family, especially in body-conscious L.A. Her father, Jim, is tall and slender, and her mother, Christina, is a fine-boned, dark-haired beauty. Both are self-centered, outspoken, and disappointed by their daughter’s looks. When Victoria is six, she sees a photograph of Queen Victoria, and her father has always said she looks just like her. After the birth of Victoria’s perfect younger sister, Gracie, her father liked to refer to his firstborn as “our tester cake.” With Gracie, everyone agreed that Jim and Christina got it right.

While her parents and sister can eat anything and not gain an ounce, Victoria must watch everything she eats, as well as endure her father’s belittling comments about her body and see her academic achievements go unacknowledged. Ice cream and oversized helpings of all the wrong foods give her comfort, but only briefly. The one thing she knows is that she has to get away from home, and after college in Chicago, she moves to New York City.

Landing her dream job as a high school teacher, Victoria loves working with her students and wages war on her weight at the gym. Despite tension with her parents, Victoria remains close to her sister. And though they couldn’t be more different in looks, they love each other unconditionally. But regardless of her accomplishments, Victoria’s parents know just what to say to bring her down. She will always be her father’s “big girl,” and her mother’s constant disapproval is equally unkind.

When Grace announces her engagement to a man who is an exact replica of their narcissistic father, Victoria worries about her sister’s future happiness, and with no man of her own, she feels like a failure once again. As the wedding draws near, a chance encounter, an act of stunning betrayal, and a family confrontation lead to a turning point.

Behind Victoria is a lifetime of hurt and neglect she has tried to forget, and even ice cream can no longer dull the pain. Ahead is a challenge and a risk: to accept herself as she is, celebrate it, and claim the victories she has fought so hard for and deserves. Big girl or not, she is terrific and discovers that herself.

Although, Danielle was not able to comment today she is graciously offering 3 giveaways! Comment below & tell us what your favorite Danielle Steel book was & why.

Buy now at Borders! Read the first chapter, click here.

Setting:
Begins eight years ago on an island in the South Pacific and then moves to present day New York City
Subgenre:
Romantic Suspense
Hero:
Gabriel(Gabe)Maddox
Heroine:
Skylar James

One sentence summary:
Young lovers, tragically torn apart, reunite years later and work together to save a young girl’s life.

Scene you like most and would never cut:
When Skylar regains consciousness and realizes who rescued her. The reaction she has to seeing Gabe again is one of my favorite parts. In a span of seconds, she goes through a half dozen tumultuous emotions, every one of them so revealing and heartbreaking. As is Gabe’s response.

Thing your heroine would never be caught dead doing/saying:
“I want to write a tell-all book about my life.”

What celebrity is your hero like:
In my mind, Gabe always looked like a blue-eyed Gerard Butler. However, some have told me the man on the NO CHANCE cover looks like Ben Affleck.

What celebrity is your heroine like:
A little like Olivia Wilde (plays Thirteen on the television show House). However, about the time I was writing NO CHANCE, I received a catalogue and on the cover was Skylar, exactly the way I had pictured her in my mind. Just wish I knew her name!

What is your heroines occupation, or if unemployed, what should she be doing:
To the world, Skylar James is a wealthy socialite and celebrity. Part-time model, spokesperson and charity fund raiser. But Skylar has a secret life few know about…

What is your heroes occupation, or if unemployed, what should he be doing:
Gabe Maddox is a covert operative for Last Chance Rescue. He rescues kidnapped victims.

What you think readers will like best about this book:
NO CHANCE is a reunion romance, which I think is a favorite for many. Also, since Gabe and Skylar were so young when they fell in love and then tragically torn apart, I believe readers will root for them to get together again.

The person that readers want you to write about but you haven’t yet:
I’ve been fortunate to be able to write books for most of the secondary characters readers have asked for. However, I’ve had several ask for Rachel’s story. She was Samara’s best friend in RETURN TO ME.

What’s next:
SECOND CHANCE, the second book in this trilogy, releases March 23 and features a reader favorite, Cole Mathison, who was terribly tortured in RUN TO ME. And on April 27, LAST CHANCE releases. Readers will meet McKenna Sloan in NO CHANCE and she’ll get to tell her story in the trilogy ender.

I love reunion romances because they can make for a wonderfully emotional story. What about you? What are your some of your favorite romance themes? And what are your favorite books with those themes?

Three randomly chosen commenter’s below will win a copy of NO CHANCE.

3 Swoon-Worthy Hero Quotes and a Scene
by Michelle of Michelle and Leslie’s Book Picks

I signed up to do this post with no idea what I’m going to write about for this post. I couldn’t think of a topic so I’m just going to let some of my favorite heroes to do the talking and I hope that’s okay. They are better with words (especially swoon-worthy ones) anyway right? I love to read historical and paranormal romances best so I’m going to share with you three of my favorite swoon-worthy historical hero quotes and a scene from one of my favorite paranormals:

WARNING: There may be spoilers if you haven’t read the book!

1. Nathan and Evelyn were married but estranged for years. Evelyn wants nothing to do with him but Nathan was determined to woo his wife and convince her that their marriage was worth saving. Nathan and Evelyn were dining picnic-style in their morning room (which Nathan prepared) and talking about what they remembered from their marriage when he said this:

“In your eyes it seems every bump, every cross word, is the measure. Do you want to know else I remember, Evelyn? Not every cross word. Not every bump. I remember how you look in the morning… the sound of your laughter… how you hair catches the candlelight… flowers in your hair and how beautiful you were the day I married you… the brilliant glow of happiness in your eyes when you told me you carried our child.” –Nathan Grey (page 209 of The Book of Scandal by Julia London)

2. I don’t think this hero needs an introduction but Sebastian was the baddest, most caustic hero I’ve read in a historical romance. I loved reading both this sardonic comebacks and his swoon-worthy ones.

“Evie… during the past few days I’ve had nothing to do but lie in this bed and think about things that I’ve spent my entire life trying to avoid. I once told you that I wasn’t meant for a wife and family. That I wouldn’t have have any interest in a child… the truth is I want you to have my baby. I didn’t know how much until I thought that I would never have the opportunity… Damn it. I don’t know how to be a husband, or a father. But since your standards in both areas seem to be relatively low, I may have half a chance at pleasing you.” –Sebastian, Viscount St. Vincent (page 319 of Devil in Winter by Lisa Kleypas)

3. I love classic Judith McNaught books and all her books have great hero quotes. But if I had to choose one from JM, it will have to be that almost last scene in the cabin with Ian and Elizabeth. It always gets me every time no matter how many times I read it.

“If you would take one step forward, darling, you could cry in my arms. And while you do, I’ll tell you how sorry I am for everything I’ve done… And when I’m finished you can help me find a way to forgive myself.” --Ian Thornton (page 501 of Almost Heaven by Judith McNaught)

4. This is not a quote but a scene and it features Zsadist (a bad-ass but very scarred hero) and Bella. It’s one of my all-time favorite scenes in romance. I was bawling my eyes out when I read this scene:

Flipping the spiral notebook to a new page, he bent way over and labored on top of the paper for quite a while. Then he ripped the sheet free. His hand was shaking as he held it out. “It’s messy.”
Bella took the paper. In a child’s uneven block letters there were three words: I LOVE YOU

Her lips flattened tight as her eyes stung. The handwriting got wavy and then disappeared.
“Maybe you can’t read it,” he said in a small voice. “I can do it over.” (page 423 of Lover Awakened by J.R. Ward)

Now your turn to share your favorite swoon-worthy hero quote(s) or scene(s) from your favorite romance.

Maybe some of us will even find a new title to add to our romance to buy list or rediscover an old favorite

This is a continuation from a previous post the RJ’s did for us — there were so many good ideas we just had to break them down into 2 posts — read on . . . .

RJ Reviewer Chrissy has Print and eBooks on her “can’t wait to read” list…

1. INSIDE OUT by Lauren Dane – releases November 2010 – loved the first two books in the series and can’t wait to find out what happens next.

2. SWEET TEMPTATION by Maya Banks – releases April 2010 – loved the other books in the series.

3. THE HELLION AND THE HIGHLANDER by Lynsay Sands – releases February 23, 2010 and 4. TAMING THE HIGHLAND BRIDE by Lynsay Sands – releases January 26, 2010 – I’ve never read this author before but love Highland stories and these look like they’d be fun reads

And for ebooks (because you KNOW I can’t leave those out

SOLD TO THE HIGHEST BIDDER by Donna Alward (Samhain) – releases April 13, 2010

And

2 HOT TO HANDLE by Kelly Jamieson (Samhain) – releases February 2, 2010

When asked if whether she has noticed a trend in her wish-list-making this year, Chrissy commented…

The only trend I really notice in my reading is I’m reading a lot more fun, lighthearted reads. Mostly contemporaries but I throw in paranormals, historical, and whatever else interests me. LOL I’m a mood reader! Oh and let’s not forget…. An eye-catching cover will gravitate me towards a specific book too.

Are you an e-book reader? What are some of your fav’s?

RJ Reviewer Cindy has 4 authors and their 2010 books on her “must have” list!

1. Terri Brisbin- Storm of Pleasure Sept 10: I reviewed Storm of Passion and was mesmerized, I can’t wait for this one.

2. Deborah Cooke- Whisper Kiss Oct 10: Winter Kiss was so epic, I can’t wait for what comes next.

3. Erin McCarthy- Hot Finish Aug 10: This series is so hot, plus I love NASCAR. Plus Erin McCarthy is simply a joy to read.

4. Anything by Sarah McCarty and Beth Williamson.

Both write very hot, emotional and action packed historical romances. They’re both auto-buys and I’ve never been disappointed by either.

When asked if whether she has noticed a trend in her wish-list-making this year, Cindy commented…

Except for sci/fi futuristics, dragons or shifters, I find I am being let down more often by paranormal/fantasy romance.

RJ Reviewer Rosie Bindra is most looking forward to this year…

Larissa Ione’s Ecstasy Unveiled (Jan. 26, 2010) - I reviewed the first three books in this series and completely fell in love. I thought it brought something new and different to the paranormal genre and really stood out.

Patricia Brigg’s Silver Borne (March 30, 2010) - I reviewed the first book in the series and have been in love ever since. It’s one of the few series books that has managed to keep me completely engrossed to the point where I have to read the new book on the day it comes out. Mercy (the lead character) is just a kick-ass girl and I can’t get enough of her.

Kresley Cole’s Pleasure of a Dark Prince (Feb. 16, 2010) - I’ve never reviewed any books from this series but managed to snag a copy of the first book as a freebie and it was the best freebie ever. I love how Kresley combines all different creatures and myths and brings them into one series. I never get tired of her books because they all focus on different parts of the lore.

When asked if whether she has noticed a trend in her wish-list-making this year, Rosie commented…

Oh, as for the trend in my wish list, I’ve noticed I’m starting to lean towards the sci-fi romance books lately. Books like Patricia Brigg’s Mercy series or a new series I just discovered, Faith Hunter’s Jane Yellowrock series.

Leslie Larsen, RJ Reviewer, responded about the Romance she’s looking forward to this year…

I noticed that Blood Promise by Rashelle Mead was reviewed this past year. It is a young adult romance novel and is apart of the Vampire Academy Series. I absolutely love these books. The fifth and last installment into this series is Spirit Bound. I can’t wait to read it! This young adult series has romance, adventure, magic, mystery, everything that I love!

What about you? Can you keep your list of Romance books that you’re looking forward to most limited to a top 10 for 2010? Or are you a ‘Junkie’ too and have a list to match ours? Share your lists and why you’re hungering for more books by your favorite authors with us and we’ll build TBR Mountain Ranges together!

Or better yet… let us know if we’ve sparked your interest in a ‘new to you’ author for 2010! Nothing we like better than sharing the love!

Tell us if you see a trend in your reading choices for 2010, because some of ours are changing even though we still have our favorites.

(Hi, my name is Tiffany. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to do a guest blog entry!)

Thinking about the first romance novel I ever read led me to wonder how and why I picked up that particular book when I did. Once I started thinking, I discovered the novel was simply a natural progression in my reading development.

Love and happily-ever-after were elements I always enjoyed in my books long before I knew an entire genre dedicated to them existed. Before I started kindergarten, I would spout out passages from Sleeping Beauty, my favorite story, as I looked at the detailed pictures. When I learned to read, there was no stopping me from attempting to find books that ended with “and they lived happily ever after.” Luckily, the school librarian was amazing and had an excellent and diverse taste in children’s books. Through her selected readings, I discovered something truly astounding; the fairytales I knew and loved could be retold in new settings, with different characters, and fresh elements. To this day, I feel the same awe and happiness remembering the librarian’s animated voice depicting the alternate Cinderella tales of The Rough Face Girl and The Egyptian Cinderella.

It was the beginning of my addiction to reading about different cultures and histories. I started checking out books on Greek and Roman myths, Native America tales, Asian folklore, and Arthurian legend. Meanwhile, my love for fairytales and magic had morphed into a love of fantasy. From The Ordinary Princess by M.M. Kaye to Patricia C. Wrede’s Searching For Dragons (my favorite in the series because of the romance), fantasy novels held a special place in my heart. One element common in all the stories I crowned as my favorites was a strong female character. Monica Furlong’s Juniper in particular sticks out in my head as a story with a truly exceptional princess.

My taste in movies and television were a running parallel to the books I read. Belle was my favorite princess of the Disney movies. Not only did she have brunette hair like me, but she loved to read stories about far away places and longed to know more about life than what simply surrounded her. Then, there was my all time favorite storyline of my mother’s soap, All My Children. A poor princess arrives in town, and marries a man she believes to be rich for money. The man, who is actually poor, marries her, believing she is wealthy. The only people they were fooling were each other, but the rest of the characters in the story had a big laugh, seeing how much the two obviously loved each other. Of course, drama ensued, but I have yet to hear a more endearing “princess” from the lips of any man.
Love was very much in my life of fairytales and stories of make-believe and of strong women made their own decisions and followed through the consequences. So, when I eventually found myself staring at a box of my mother’s old romance novels, it doesn’t really come as a surprise. Having a busy high school schedule, I opted for the smaller books–the ones with the deep red spines and italicized writing. I ended up choosing the following two Silhouette Desire books: Donna Carlisle’s It’s Only Make Believe and Diana Palmer’s Lady Love. The titles almost sounded familiar. I don’t remember exactly why I picked Lady Love first, it could have been the name of the heroine (Merlyn Forrest Steele) or the beautiful girl who looked like a princess on the cover (reminding me of a certain cover of The Ordinary Princess), but whatever the reason I picked Lady Love as my first genre romance.

Ten years later, I am still reading romance. I enjoy many sub-genres and authors. Julia Quinn, Lisa Kleypas, and Meredith Duran are my current favorite historical authors. For my paranormal romance authors, I look for world building as a big key for my enjoyment and found Nalini Singh and Sherrilyn Kenyon have made me want to live in their worlds more than once. Julie James, Jennifer Crusie, and Susan Elizabeth Phillips are my must buys for contemporary. And looking at the authors I love today, I can see traces of the stories I first loved and read–strong (and sometimes stubborn) female characters, adventure, different cultures and worlds, love, detailed side-characters, humor, and, of course, a happily ever after.

Looking back at what first interested you in reading and/or reading romance, can you see how you got to where you were? Or, can you see how what started your love is still present in the books and stories you read now?


Comment below & SueG will choose a random winner for a stash of fun reads! Happy Romance!