trueromance

My Borders Romance Group

I am very lucky that the Borders I shop at has a wonderful Romance Reader Group. This is a group of about 20 ladies and we are growing. I have been a part of this group for over 8 years. We meet once a month and just talk romance books. When we talk book, we talk books. We talk about what we liked, what we didn’t like. Why did the author do that and what really turns us off of a book. We even went to San Francisco when RWA was there. A whole bus load of us went up and came back with a bus loadof autographed books.

We all have a few pet peeves that we don’t like. Some of them are, if the hero is unfaithful to the heroine after they met. He can do anything he wants before they get together, but once they meet. He better stay faithful to her. Then you have the heroine that is just to stupid to live. You just want to shot her and it can really ruin a book for you. The other biggie is modern language in a historical. I know that one really upsets people. Or the cover does not match the hero or heroine. Here you are reading a book and the cover shows a blond with flowing hair, but in the book she has flowing black hair.

Another big plus in our group is we get ARC’s to read. That is Advanced Reader Copy. This has opened my eyes up to so many new authors and genres. I never read shifter books until I got a ARC for one. After that I was hooked. I love Lora Leigh, Shelly Laurenston, Terry Spear, Nalini Singh. I have found new authors this way. Authors I never would of picked up if I hadn’t gotten the ARC, Anna Campbell, Deb Stover, Nina Bruhns just to name a few. Well also get ARC”S of up coming releases. Brenda Novak, Robyn Carr, Madeline Hunter, you can’t miss her new series, they are outstanding! An ARC is great because it can really open up your eyes to new and old authors.

We are even lucky to have a few authors in our group. Bella Andre, Jasmine Haynes, Mardi Ballou, and Shelly, who has three pen names, Shelly Bates/Shelly Adina/Shannon Hollis . It’s fun to have them because they do tell us some interesting things. It is also nice to know what some of them go through with there books. It’s nice to hear what makes them write, where they get there ideas, and all important when the next book is out.

We have had authors that will come and talk about their new books and then sign them for us. Brenda Novak came and talked about her Last Stand series and the new series that will be out this year. Veronica Wolff and Monica McCarty have come by. Jenny Anderson, who is a member of the group just had her first book published. We have also had Jami Alden, Anne Mallory, Crystal Jordan and others come by.

Because of this group I have met some wonderful ladies, I have read some great books. I have gotten others to read good books, like The Madness Of Lord Ian Mackenzie by Jennifer Ashley. They have gotten me to read books out of my comfort zone like Immortal Sins by Amanda Ashley, I don’t really like vampire books, but this one was Ok.

If you are not lucky and don’t have a group like this around. The next best thing I found has been the Romantic Times web site. It has a wonderful message board and we talk books all day long. It has a bunch of different boards that you can go to. You have a board for your favorites, readers roundtable, book sleuth, a general board and you also have a spoiler one. If you have a question about any book you can post it here and it will be answered. I have met allot of nice ladies here also. Mater of fact I have one lady that we will send books back and forth to each other, thanks Danielle!

Last I would like to wish my mom a Happy belated Birthday. When I first did this post it was to run on her Birthday, but we got bumped!!

Do any of you have a Romance group in your area? What are some of your pet peeves in a book? Do you have someone who encouraged you to read?

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

Something About You by Julie James

Setting: Chicago
Subgenre: Contemporary romance (with a suspense subplot)
Hero: Jack Pallas
Heroine: Cameron Lynde

One sentence summary: When Assistant U.S. Attorney Cameron Lynde witnesses a high-profile murder in the hotel room next to hers, she is reunited with her former colleague, Special Agent Jack Pallas, and the two of them must put aside their past conflicts and work together to catch the killer… before the killer finds Cameron first.

Scene you like most and would never cut: A love scene between the hero and heroine that takes place at a wedding. I think the dynamics and dialogue in that scene show how much their relationship has changed from the beginning of the book, where they *think* they can’t stand each other.

Thing your heroine would never be caught dead doing/saying: “These are lovely, but I already have enough shoes.”

What celebrity is your hero like: Jason Bourne or a taller, darker version of Jack Bauer. (Technically not celebrities, I know, but that’s who I thought of.)

What celebrity is your heroine like: Eva Green’s character in Casino Royale, Vesper Lynd. (Yep, I even borrowed the last name.)

What is your heroine’s occupation: She’s the top Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois.

What is your hero’s occupation: He’s an FBI Special Agent. And I’m pretty sure he can kill people with his thumb.

What you think readers will like best about this book: The humor and the interplay between the hero and heroine. Jack is basically Jason Bourne dumped into a romantic comedy. He’s all dark and scowling and trying the save the day, while everyone else around him is cracking jokes. As for Cameron, she’s got her act together, and thinks she has her life figured out, until she’s at the wrong place at the wrong time and witnesses a murder that unexpectedly brings Jack back into her life.

The person that readers want you to write about but you haven’t yet: Jeremy, Jason’s best friend in Just the Sexiest Man Alive. The challenge with writing Jeremy’s story, however, would be in keeping Jason from dominating every scene. As the world’s biggest movie star, Jason tends to think the spotlight should be on him.

What’s next: I’m currently finishing up my fourth book, about a wealthy wine store owner who agrees to pose as the girlfriend of an undercover FBI agent (as part of a sting operation) in exchange for her twin brother’s release from prison.

Question of the Day and giveaway: Oh, the pressure to come up with a challenging, thought-provoking question…. how about this: Do you have different expectations of heroes and heroines in contemporary romances versus other subgenres? Two randomly-chosen people who leave a comment below will win a copy of Something About You. And I’ll be dropping by throughout the day to answer any questions!
More information about Julie James and her books can be found at www.juliejames.com.

Check out Borders.com for all of Sophia’s wonderful Historical books, click here - Happy Romance!

Sophia Nash, Secrets of a Scandalous Bride (Feb. 23, 2010)
Setting: London – Regency era
Subgenre: Historical Romance

Hero: Rowland Manning, a hero masquerading as a villain.

Heroine: Elizabeth Ashburton, a widow in the dowager duchess’s secret club—or is she?

One sentence summary:
When Elizabeth Manning is forced to confront the devil from her past, her friends in the dowager duchess’s club can not help her, and she turns to a most unwilling hero . . . Rowland Manning, the most ruthless, enigmatic man in all of England.

Scene you like most and would never cut:
At the end of Chapter 18, Elizabeth reveals that she has done something to make Rowland feel more like he is part of the rest of humanity—not as apart as he thinks. Advance readers mentioned how heart-wrenching it is.

Thing your heroine would never be caught dead doing/saying:
“Let someone else do it.” Elizabeth never stops to think things through. She just steps into the breach and does the right thing at that moment. She is a classic heroine, yet she deplores her rash actions, never considering that real sin occurs when someone has good intentions but ultimately fails to act.

Your hero, is he a boxer or brief kind of guy:
Nothing gets between Rowland Manning and his breeches.

Ancillary character you had the most fun with:
“Ata” or Merceditas St. Aubyn, the Dowager Duchess of Helston, and her stalwart first love, Mr. John Brown have appeared in all of the books in the series. Ata is the name of my French great grandmother. She was a 4’11 ball of fire who loved to laugh and who was saddled with an overbearing 6’2” aristocratic husband. I inserted touches of her life in the series—such as the canary in the gold cage, and her love of riding. Readers will learn Ata’s fate in this story, and the last widow, Sarah Winters’ destiny, too.

Your heroine’s favorite hobby:
Cooking.

Your hero’s favorite hobby:
Not eating.

What you think readers will like best about this book:
The hero in the story, Rowland Manning, was the villain in the last book, “Love with the Perfect Scoundrel.” There was something so mesmerizing about him while I was writing that story that I knew he had to be a hero underneath it all. Rowland is larger than life, and he makes the biggest changes in any book I’ve ever written. I love his jaded wit, his reluctance to play a gallant hero, and his story arc. Elizabeth Ashburton is the only woman brave enough to take him on, and to be worthy of him in the end.

Also, for those curious about the writing process: I had originally thought that the end of the story was about 100 pages earlier than it turned out to be. And my favorite part of “Secrets of a Scandalous Bride” is those same last 100 pages.

Reviews: Booklist and Library Journal have each given the book a *starred review.* “Expertly spiced with deliciously subtle sense of wit, deftly seasoned with a superbly nuanced cast of characters, and featuring a plot brimming with lusciously sensual romance and a dash of dangerous intrigue, Secrets of a Scandalous Bride, is Nash’s best book yet.~Booklist

The person that readers want you to write about but you haven’t yet:
I’ve had many ask me to write stories for Rosamunde’s brothers from “A Dangerous Beauty.”

What’s next:
I’m delighted to report that I’m working on a brand new, exciting series for Avon/HarperCollins! The first book will be out next year. Readers may check for updates in the coming months at www.sophianash.com.

I’m plotting a number of stories for this new series, and I’d love to hear about readers’ favorite plotlines. For example, do you favor stories that feature: a second chance at love, tortured heroes or heroines, alpha/beta males, Cinderella, governess, secret baby, Beauty & the Beast, or any other type?

There must be prizes! One book to 5 random readers commenting on this blog—winner’s choice of title.

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

Well, because they just are! I mean, men, who have that kind of drive & focus, that want to fight for their country for their families & others, is such an unselfish act that there is no other word that describes them — it is heroism at its grandest!

Ok, here is where I have to tell you - - - I’m NOT a writer, not aspiring to be one, never wanted to be one - - - I’m a reader & bookseller. The reason I am clarifying this now is so when you read this post you’ll have expectations for the writing of an un-published writer - - - now you’ll know what to expect & won’t be disappointed

So, back to my Military men . . . many authors have chosen to write this sub-genre in romance & I salute them for doing so & for doing it so well. Romance authors portray these men as the heroes they are: Robyn Carr in Virgin River - & what about Paradise Valley when Rick returns home from war?

Stephanie Tyler is rockin the romance world with her new series beginning with Hard To Hold, Navy Seals at their finest!

Suzzane Brockmann was one of the authors that really set the stage for me: Unsung Hero with Tom Paoletti; Ken Karmody in Out of Control ; & my favorite with Lt Tom Starrett in Gone Too Far. Suz’s Troubleshooters have all found a spot in our hearts.

Military romances introduce us to a world we don’t even know - - - giving us a glimpse of impossible military situations & an authors point of view of how to get them out of it - - - & makes us think, and maybe even put ourselves into those situations wondering how the heck to get out of it!

When Military heroes come home from war, there is nothing better. Julia London’s, Summer of Two Wishes, was an emotional tear-jerker that delivered all a good romance should. As an escaped POW, Finn comes back from duty to find his wife has remarried during his long absence - - - Julia tells us both sides of the story . . . how Finn decides to get his wife back & how Macy really wants to come back to her first love but is torn by the love of her current husband . . . sigh. . . . this is why we read & love romance!

I also find reading about the Military, especially now, as kind of a tribute to our soldiers, and/or the Military unto itself. I am in awe of those men & women who will put their lives on the line for their country - - - even when at times, I feel like we (collective we) don’t show the appreication they deserve. It makes me more aware of these great men & women so when I see them at the airport on leave, I’ll walk up to them shake their hand, smile & say thank you & God Bless.

Bottom line, putting all that aside, as important as these occupations are & how revered they should be to all American citizens . . . our authors do a darn good job of writing these stories, creating the sexiest of heroes making these books the most fun to read! Thanks ladies!!

So, tell us, why do you read Military romances? Who are some of your favorites?
Thanks for having me blog today & please stop by Borders True Romance Blog, www.bordersblog.com/trueromance and romancerollcall.com & comment today — you may be chosen for a free book!

Happy Romance

Check out this great site where we’ll be posting comments as well — Romance Roll Call

(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!

Hi my name is Rosemary Potter and I own an independent Romance Bookstore, Rosemary’s Romance Books, in Brisbane, Australia. We stock and sell only new Romance Books and we are really proud of our range and dedication to stocking the best that romantic fiction has to offer. Even so it was still a surprise and honor to win the Steffi Walker Bookseller of the Year award in 2009.

To be honest I can’t remember the exact date that that I first discovered that I loved Romance books, but I do remember the first book that got me hooked! The book was Green Darkness by Anya Seton and it was and still is one of the most romantic and enthralling books that I have ever read. I actually made the mistake of loaning the book to a friend and never got it back. So this led me to track down another copy. The only problem was, I didn’t own a fantastic well stocked bookstore at that time and the replacement copy set me back US$185. Still it was money well spent and it has pride of place on the “touch and you die” shelf of my bookcase. Anyway I never imagined then that it would inspire me to own my very own romance bookstore.

I am a great fan of Audio Books as I have quite a lengthy commute from home to work. I find that the majority of Audio that I listen to is Crime and Suspense and any new releases that release as a hardcover. For some reason there isn’t a lot of paranormal fiction available on audio which is a shame. I am currently listening to No Mercy by Lori Armstrong, I have been torturing one of my staff members with tidbits of the plot which will eventually force her to buy it. Other Audio titles that have featured this month include Fired Up by Jayne Ann Krentz, A Matter of Class by Mary Balogh, Trial by Fire by J.A. Jance and Sizzle by Julie Garwood.

Having the bookstore, my staff and I are lucky to receive Advanced Reading Copies from some of the best in the romantic genre. I am really excited about the March release of Demonfire, a new paranormal series by Kate Douglas, and the April release of His Darkest Hunger by Juliana Stone which is a great paranormal shifter series in the vein of Lora Leigh’s breeds and I haven’t stopped talking about a historical novel called Pieces of Sky by Kaki Warner which was a January release.

This month my must read list include Bitter Night (Bk#1) Diana Pharaoh Francis, Blood Cross (Bk#2) Faith Hunter, Tempest Rising (Bk #1) Nicole Peeler, Blood Kin (Bk #3) Maria Lima, Beyond the Night (Bk #1) Joss Ware, Three Days to Dead (Bk#1) Kelly Meding, Death’s Mistress (Bk #2) Karen Chance, and The Secret of Everything by Barbara O’Neal.

I must add that I absolutely LOVED the Jayne Ann Krentz reissue, Starfire. In fact I loved it so much I jumped online to see if I the next two books were being reissued. To my horror I found that they weren’t currently available so in my desire to continue the series, I once again forked out an exorbitant amount of money for a used copy of Bk#2 Crystal Flame and was happy to track down and audio copy of Bk #3 Shields Lady.
I am going away on holiday in March and the short list of books that will be in my suitcase are, Flirt and Divine Misdemeanors by Laurell K. Hamilton, The Endless Forest by Sara Donati and Fantasy in Death by J.D. Robb. The list is sure to get longer and the suitcase heavier before I leave but we all have our vices and this is mine.

“Never Be Without a Book to Read”
Rosemary
Rosemary’s Romance Books
www.rosemarysromancebooks.com

Question: As an avid fan of romance books do you appreciate the work and information that authors put into their websites, and is it frustrating when they aren’t kept up to date?

How To Buy A Novel From A New Romance Author
(funny enough, it’s the same way a literary agent decides to sign a new romance writer client!)
By Kristin Nelson www.nelsonagency.com

Last week I was chatting with my sister by phone. She’s an avid romance reader but for some reason, she always gravitates for her tried and true favorite authors. This is something I always chastise her about! Sure, it’s nice to support your favorites but how are you going to discover a new writer who might quickly become part of your tried and true list if you don’t buy a novel from someone new?
Sound like you? Well, don’t worry, I won’t chastise you but I am going to encourage you to take a chance and buy a new romance author this week.
But how to go about it? After all, the economy is tight. Who wants to waste money on buying a new author only to discover about a third of the way in that this author simply isn’t your cup of tea. Ack. You could have bought a Starbucks Latte instead and trust me, I sympathize with you. I’ve read any number of novels by published romance authors that I couldn’t finish and wished I had saved my money.
Well, the process of discovering a new author and having a pretty good idea of whether you’ll like the rest of the novel is pretty much the same process that I use as an agent when I’m reading our submission pile and looking to sign a new author.
The test is in a strong beginning. If the opening pages capture you, chances are good it’s a novel you won’t end up putting down and regret buying.
And I’m going to share with you the opening pages of some of my debut romance authors who have newly published in the last four years. What’s even better? These are the opening pages from their unpublished manuscripts before the novels were published. That’s almost never shared!
Don’t forget, Borders Buy 4 Get the 5th FREE promo is going on now so that will help you budget & try these new authors!

Let’s start with newish author Sherry Thomas. Her historical romance debut PRIVATE ARRANGMENTS , came to me on submission under the title Schemes of Love. Here is the opening:
London
May, 1893
Only one kind of marriage ever bore the haut ton’s stamp of approval.
Happy marriages were considered vulgar, as matrimonial felicity rarely kept longer than a well-boiled pudding. Unhappy marriages were, of course, even more vulgar, on a par with Frau Von Teese’s special contraption that spanked forty bottoms at once: unspeakable, for half of the ton having experienced it firsthand.
No, the only kind of marriage that held up to life’s vicissitudes was the courteous marriage. And it was widely recognized that Lord and Lady Tremaine had the most courteous marriage of them all.
In the ten years since their wedding, neither of them had ever uttered an unkind word about the other, not to parents, siblings, bosom friends, or strangers. Moreover, as their servants could attest, they never had spats, big or small, never embarrassed each other, never, in fact, disagreed on anything at all.
However, every year, some cheeky debutante fresh from the schoolroom would point out–as if it wasn’t common knowledge–that Lord and Lady Tremaine lived on separate continents, and had not been seen together since the day after their wedding.
Her elders would shake their heads. Foolish young girl. Wait till she heard about her beau’s piece on the side. Or fell out of love with the man she married. Then she’d understand what a wonderful arrangement the Tremaines had: civility, distance, and freedom from the very beginning, unencumbered by tiresome emotions. Indeed, it was the most perfect marriage.
Therefore, when Lady Tremaine filed for divorce on grounds of Lord Tremaine’s adultery and desertion, chins collided with dinner plates all over London’s most pedigreed dining rooms. Ten days later, as news circulated of Lord Tremaine arrival on English soil, for the first time in a decade, the same falling jaws dented many an expensive carpet from the heart of Persia.
The story spread like a well-fed gut. It went something tantalizingly like this. A summon came at the Tremaine townhouse on Park Lane. Goodman, Lady Tremaine’s faithful butler, answered the bell. On the other side of the door stood a stranger, one of the most remarkable-looking gentlemen Goodman had ever come across, tall, handsome, powerfully built, an imposing presence.
“Good afternoon, sir,” Goodman began placidly. A representative of the Marchioness of Tremaine, however impressed, neither gawked nor gushed.
He expected to be offered a calling card and a reason for the call. Instead he was given the gentleman’s headgear. Startled, he let go of his hold on the doorknob and took the satin-trimmed top hat. In that instant, the man walked past him into the vestibule. Without a backward glance or an explanation for this act of intrusion, he began pulling off his gloves.
“Sir,” Goodman huffed. “You do not have permission from the lady of the house to enter.”
The man turned around, and shot Goodman a glance that, to the butler’s shame, made him want to curl up and whimper. “Is this not the Tremaine residence?”
“It is, sir.” The reiteration of “sir” escaped Goodman, though he hadn’t intended for it to happen.
“Then kindly inform me, since when does the master of the house require permission from the lady to enter into his own domain?” The man had removed his gloves. He held them together in his right hand, and slapped them quietly against the palm of his left hand, as if he were toying with a riding crop.
Goodman didn’t understand. His employer was the Queen Elizabeth of her time: one mistress and no master. Then the horror dawned. The man before him was the Marquis of Tremaine, her long-absent, good-as-dead husband and heir to the Duke of Fairford.

I have a feeling that you’ll either love this opening and the play of language or it’s not going to be your cup of tea. Sherry has a very strong voice and a beautiful way with words but as you can tell from this opening, the reader has to work just a bit to get all the subtle, dry wit. As an agent, I had just never read a romance novel that had begun in this type of way. I was immediately intrigued and had to read more.

Courtney Milan’s debut PROOF BY SEDUCTION is another great example of a strong opening . Her voice is much more light-hearted. Readers looking for a romp with more complicated characters than the average romance novel will probably be drawn to this opening. If it doesn’t resonate for you, then you probably don’t need to plunk down the cash (which would be much to my dismay!).

Chapter One
London, 1836.
Gareth had lost himself in his naturalist’s journal. The pages were ivory with age and black with rough ink drawings. But in his mind’s eye, the spindly sketches transformed into verdant jungle foliage lit by the scarlet breasts of a family of jungle macaws.
Somewhere, his senses registered the rustle of paper, the play of light and shadow across the pages, and the draft of a door opening. Engrossed as he was in his work, Gareth had no attention to spare for the frivolous details of reality.
That, of course, had never stopped reality.
“Blakely!”
The shout burst through his concentration, puncturing his bubble of scientific enjoyment. Gareth jumped and dropped his pen. Ink spattered all over the chart he’d painstakingly constructed, and he looked up in irritation.
His study reappeared around him with sudden, savage focus. Account books were stacked chaotically along the edge of his desk, and a collection of leather-bound volumes lined the walls. It took Gareth three pounding heartbeats to orient himself to the abrupt appearance of another person. His cousin, Ned, lanky as only a youth just out of adolescence could be, waved a hand in front of Gareth’s face.
Gareth grimaced at the reminder that he was no longer just Gareth.
He was Gareth Carhart, the Marquess of Blakely. And he had responsibilities.
Mr. Edward Carhart was one of them.
“Ned. Why were you not announced?” Gareth blew out an exasperated breath and prodded the inky mess on his desk. “I’ve been working on this for hours.”
“Your butler did announce me,” Ned said. “Twice.”
Had Gareth been that immersed in his work? The sunlight filtering through the gap in his heavy gold curtains was that of late morning. The rays fell on a tray that his housekeeper had left as a not-so-gentle reminder to eat. Gareth hadn’t paid it any attention, and the soup had long since congealed.
“Handkerchief,” Gareth muttered, patting his pockets. “Where did I put my handkerchief?”
Finding no cloth-shaped lumps, he unknotted his cravat and pulled the linen from his neck. He dabbed at the droplets sprayed across the map. Under his efforts, the neat black blobs of ink strewn across the page transformed into smeared black blobs of ink.
Damn it.
He tossed the ruined cloth on the desk and tried to quell his resentment when he looked up at his cousin. “Well? What the devil are you doing here?”
There was no point offering Ned a seat. He could hardly call the chairs crowded around his desk “available,” cluttered as they were with piles of books and papers. Besides, the youth wouldn’t be staying long. Gareth would make sure of that.
Ned drew a deep breath. “We have plans for today.”
Gareth narrowed his eyes to suspicious slits. “We have plans for today? What are we doing? And why was I not informed?”
Ned pulled at his collar and looked away.
Gareth sighed. Ned was officially Gareth’s heir. But if the boy ever had to take over the duties of the estate, British high society would devour him like the swarming piranhas they were. Oh, he had to give his cousin credit. Ned tried to pull off an air of casual indifference. But indifference had never satisfied the responsibilities of the marquessate. The Marquess of Blakely had to be better than everyone else. And on that point, Ned failed utterly.
“Come now, Ned. Stand up straight and stop studying the carpet. There. That’s better. Now, what have you to say for yourself?”
Ned took a few short, shallow breaths, as if for courage. “I came here—I came here to say something to you.” His next words came out all in a rush. “I’ve decided, as befits our stations in life, we are getting married.”
Gareth raised an eyebrow. “We are?”
A tentative answering nod.
Easy enough to dispose of that line of thinking. “Well, Mr. Carhart. I’m quite flattered, but I don’t think we should suit.”
Ned’s mouth fell open, and Gareth nodded with a twinge of satisfaction. But despite the red flush in his cousin’s cheeks, the young man took a step closer and placed his hands on the desk.
“Not to each other! And stop trying to put me off. To women.” Ned thumped the oak desk for emphasis. “Damn it, Blakely. If I have to marry, then you do, too.”

As an agent, I just laughed aloud at this opening scene. I have a really clear sense of both Gareth and Ned and I’m interested in why they both need to marry and how exactly this is going to unfold. The published novel actually has a different opening. With the above, readers don’t catch a glimpse of our heroine, Jenny. The published novel opens with a scene that immediately follows this one when Ned introduces Gareth to “fortune teller” Jenny for the very first time. She makes a “prediction” that he’ll marry before the year is out the then the game of wits begins. It’s a bit more dynamic yet still has that fun but sardonic tone.

As contemporary romance goes, nothing beats Jana DeLeon and the opening of her very first romance RUMBLE ON THE BAYOU . This opening scene is so just so fabulous. I’m immediately dropped into a small, Southern Louisiana town with a host of interesting characters. Since I’ve lived in big cities my whole life, I find such a setting irresistibly charming.

Chapter One
“This day just keeps getting better.” Deputy Dorie Berenger stared at the alligator in front of her. It had to be the swimming pool.
Why anyone below sea level and not even a mile from the Gulf of Mexico would install an in-ground pool was beyond her. Even the houses in Gator Bait, Louisiana sat on fifteen-foot stilts. An in-ground pool was just asking for trouble.
And trouble was just what they had.
The pool owner, Maylene Thibodeaux, bulged out of a lawn chair next to the structure of cloudy water, jug in hand, wearing a pink bikini and sitting in stoned silence. Which was rare when you considered her usual mouthiness, but understandable since it was almost evening and she had probably been at happy hour since before noon.
Dorie stepped right up to the pool’s edge and studied the alligator more closely. He was a good-sized one, probably ten or twelve feet and currently floating like the dead in the center of the pool with what looked like a backpack hanging out of his mouth. His eyes were half-closed, as if he would drop off into sleep at any moment.
“What do you think?” Deputy Joe Miller asked. Joe had been the first to arrive at Maylene’s, but had immediately called for backup. This one was definitely out of his league.
Dorie blew out a breath. “I think this is not my usual fare. What about Curtis? This is his specialty.”
“I tried. He’s still on a call at the shrimp house. Turned out to be three gators instead of just one.”
“Damn it, Joe, that’s four times this month. Did Buster get those traps repaired?”
“Not that I’m aware of.”
“Then I’m charging him this time. The taxpayers aren’t paying us to keep his shrimp house running, and trappers like Curtis don’t come cheap.”
“I agree,” Joe said, “but what about the problem we have here?”
Dorie sighed and tossed a sideways glance over at Maylene, who was working her jug like a prize-fighter with a water bottle. “How much homemade wine has Maylene had?”
“She was drinking when I got here.”
It figured. Maylene Thibodeaux was hard enough to please sober. Drunk was a whole different story. “You didn’t let her give you any, did you? That stuff’s worse than drugs.”
Joe looked surprised. “No way, boss. I’m still thinking that’s how she bagged Mr. Thibodeaux.”
Dorie smiled. Joe was probably right. Maylene Thibodeaux had been making her own stash since she was a little girl. Rumor had it Mr. Thibodeaux behaved oddly and had a strange tone to his skin on the day of their wedding thirty-five years ago. Folks around town said his skin was the same exact color when they buried him six months ago, making Maylene the most patient hunter in the parish.
After all, it had taken her only minutes to trap her prey, but thirty-five years to kill it.
Maylene’s ears must have been burning because suddenly she came alive and rose from her chair, kind of. Actually, the chair rose a bit with her, and there were a couple of seconds of detachment necessary. Then she glared at Dorie.
“Damn it,” she said. “I did not have this expensive piece of concrete put in to swim with the gators. I could go down to the bayou to do that. And I’m at least a mile from any water whatsoever.” She hiccupped and staggered a little towards the edge of the water. “What the hell is this one doing in my pool?”
“I don’t know,” Dorie replied. “Did you ask him?”
Maylene shook a finger at her. “Don’t you get smart with me, young lady, or I’ll have a talk with your daddy.” She pointed back at the gator. “Now, just what are you going to do about that?”

A test of a good novel is when, even a couple of years later, I can read this opening and I’m dying to read this novel afresh all over again. It just grabs me. If it’s doing the same for you, why not give this author a try?
Obviously as part of this blog entry, I’m giving readers some great suggestions for new romance authors to try. What if you don’t have this luxury? There are a couple of ways to discover these new authors.

1. If you are in the physical store, find the bookseller who enjoys romance. Explain to her the authors you love most and ask for new authors that might have a similar vein. A knowledgeable bookseller can steer you in the right direction.

2. Browse covers and look at the blurbs. Lisa Kleypas calls Sherry Thomas one of the best historical romance authors writing today. Well, if you love Kleypas and she loves Sherry, then you might want to take her recommend. Julia Quinn called PROOF “one of the finest historical romances I’ve read in years.” Well, I think Julia is pretty discerning and doesn’t blurb often. Her opinion might carry some weight.

3. If you hear about a title, scout around to see if you can find a sample chapter online. A lot of authors post the openings on their websites. That way you can get a taste of the writing and the story before you actually buy.

4. There are so many fabulous online review sites for romances. Check them out. Look up some of your favorite titles and see what the reviewer says about them. Then look up some of the romance novels that weren’t your cup of tea. Find the review sites that seem to match your own opinion. Then you know you can probably trust that site to recommend a new writer for you.
And if you are a romance reader who also writes and you want to see if your opening pages are doing the trick, then look into submitting to romance writing contests where you get feedback from the judges.
As an agent, one of my all-time favorite contests is the Toronto Romance Writers Gold Ticket Contest.
http://www.torontoromancewriters.com/contest.html
These ladies don’t pull punches. You’ll get honest feedback from several rounds of judging. I’ve been blown away by the quality of entries in this contest. In fact, just this past fall, our agency did the unprecedented. We asked for full manuscripts from the top 3 entries. We’ve NEVER done that before. And all three entries were so good, it was hard hard hard to pick a winner. In fact, we offered representation to 2 of the 3 winners. That’s a heck of a contest!

So, now your turn — how do you choose to try a new author? Is it the cover, back copy or word of mouth? Comment below - Happy Romance!

“New York Times”-bestselling author Maxwell delivers a wonderful new book in the exciting Scandals and Seductions series.

Dear Readers,

Some books just flow, or at least it seems that way AFTER I write them. THE MARRIAGE RING is one of those. I adore Grace. You met her in IN A HIGHLANDER’S BED and SEDUCTION AT CHRISTMAS. Her story is the follow up to THE EARL CLAIMS HIS WIFE. In fact, her tale begins minutes after THE EARL CLAIMS HIS WIFE ends.

I’m toying here with the idea of opposites attract. I’m not always certain they do. I believe we are a bit fascinated by what is new and different . . . but for a lifetime?

Then again, the people who teach us the important lessons about life are always those who challenge us. Grace does that for Richard Lynsted. Or is it Richard who teaches Grace a thing or two she didn’t know?

Either way, I had great fun telling their story. The MARRIAGE RING hits bookshelves March 2010.

Question of the Day: What was your marriage proposal like? Something Memorable? Comment below & we’ll randomly choose 3 winners to receive a selection of Avon books.

We also have an excerpt up now to give you a taste of the story.