Congrats to Patsy Nelson! She is the winner of the box of books & other goodies for the Endless Love Virtual Tour book & song contest! Patsy submitted a whopping 87 titles/songs! You go Patsy!

Your prize will be mailed to you in the next few days!

Again, congratulations!

Staying in Love

I’ve been married to the same man for more than a quarter of a century. I like to say it that way because it sounds like a longer time than more than twenty-five years. LOL We married in our teens, and have beat the odds. Not only are we still together, we still like each other!

So, how do we stay in love?

We make our relationship a priority. We work together. We are frequently in the midst of one household project or another and we garden. We heat with wood in the winter, so we go out and get the wood, then I split it and he stacks it. (I like splitting it…my arms look better now than they did when I was in my teens! LOL)

But we don’t just work. We geek date.

What’s a geek date, you ask?

Well, anything that makes my kids roll their eyes when I say we had a ‘date’ pretty much qualifies. LOL We walk the dogs together every evening. We grocery shop at Wegmans most weekends together. Now, this might not seem like a big date, but if you’ve ever been to a Wegmans, you get it. They’re a fun grocery store, with tons of new things to try. Coffee. Bagels. Oh, yeah, it’s a great date!

We also antique. I have a lovely collection of Halls China and have recently started collecting stoneware. But the biggest glee has been furnishing our formal living room with antiques. And since we’re out antiquing together, each item comes with a story. For instance, the beautiful Ethan Allen corner cupboard was one of my dh’s best haggles…ten dollars. Not only is it pristine, but it looks as if it was built for the corner.

Over the summer, we did some special outings as well. One of the coolest was spending a day on the Brig Niagara…Erie’s reproduction of the Perry’s ship on the Battle of Lake Erie.

Okay, does any of that constitute a magic recipe for a happily-ever-after? No. Would it work for other couples? Maybe not. I guess my point is, to create a happily-ever-after your own. Find your own inner-geek dates. Something that the two of you can do together. More importantly, something you can enjoy together.

I don’t think that a happy marriage is because of big things. I think it’s more of the little things. Walking the dogs, shopping at Wegmans, an outing on the Brig Niagara… It’s finding what things work for both of you!

Holly Jacobs

So what are some things that help you stay in love?  Share your responses below and be entered to win a book from Holly!

About the author

More than a million and a half copies of Holly Jacobs’ books have sold worldwide. Her category romances have made Walden’s Bestseller List and won numerous awards such as the National Readers’ Choice Award, Holt Medallion, Bookseller’s Best, Golden Quill, Golden Leaf, More than Magic and Madcap Awards. She’s won two of Romantic Times’ Reviewers’ Choice Awards and also won their prestigious Career Achievement Award for Series Love and Laughter. She’s presented more than forty workshops across the U.S. on a variety of writing related subjects from writing romantic comedy to time management. Both subjects frequently come into play in her non-writing life. You see, Holly’s married to a police captain and together they’ve had four children.

Visit Holly online

www.HollyJacobs.com

http://www.myspace.com/authorhollyjacobs

http://www.new.facebook.com/authorhollyjacobs?ref=profile

http://community.eharlequin.com/most-recent-blogpost/1185

About the books – click covers to purchase

Life happens…and then life really happens!

Teacher Eli Cartwright has it all figured out—the career, the reliable boyfriend and the next few dependable decades. But life has quite a sense of humor, it seems, since her perfectly ordered existence has been completely upended. Because now Eli is counseling pregnant teens—with an unplanned pregnancy of her own!

So Eli is single, terrified…and exuberant. And her colleague, Zac Keller, has never been more attracted to her. But can he convince Eli that life sometimes offers more than one unexpected gift at a time?

9 Months Later: It’s not what they’re expecting

********************************************************************

For years, Nana Vancy Bashalde Salo believed that she’d cursed her own family to bad weddings. Now that the curse is broken, she’s bored. Her best friends, the ‘Silver Bells,’ convince her to try her hand at matchmaking. And Nana has just the person in mind, Salo Construction’s new office manager, Eve Allen.

Eve is coming out of a bad relationship and longs for a little quiet and order. That’s definitely not in the cards with Nana Vancy around. And it’s even less possible when Nana tries to hook her up with TC Potter, a boy who broke her heart in kindergarten when he told her there was no Santa, and then broke it again in 9th grade when he stood her up for a dance. Eve’s heart still healing from her last bad relationship, she doesn’t need it broken by TC for a third time.

Freelance writer, TC Potter makes his living by writing articles about Every American Man. His life was pretty much perfect until he was named one of America’s most eligible bachelors last year. He’s spent the last twelve month hiding out from women who’d like to de-bachelor him. Now he’s finally met someone he’d really like to date, but Eve’s not interested. But maybe with a Hungarian grandmother’s help, and a little Christmas magic, he can convince her that they have something too special to ignore?

Rejoin the Salo family in Everything But a Christmas Eve and discover if Nana Vancy really does have some Hungarian magic!

Some people say, disdain dripping from their lips, that romance is written to a formula. All genre fiction, mystery, romance, sci-fi, etc., requires certain elements specific to that genre—else it would be something else. It’s really a matter of reader expectation. Imagine a story that has an alluring sleuth, a dead body, red herrings galore, and a cunning murderer. In the end, the sleuth can’t figure out who the murderer is, and the murderer gets away. That may be a very good book—but it’s NOT a murder mystery. Now, imagine a story with a woman in a pickle, a handsome and moral hero, a conflict between them that is resolved, then the hero dies in a car wreck. That may be a great story—but it’s not a romance. The romance reader is going to be very disappointed.

The elements of a romance novel are: a moral heroine who the reader cares about, a moral hero, a conflict that comes between them, resolution of the conflict, and commitment to each other—the Happily Ever After ending.

I write romantic suspense for the ‘marvelously mature.’ Not exactly the traditional romance. My heroes and heroines have seen more than a few seasons change. Some readers have told me that they love my stories, but they don’t like the HEA ending. That HEA is unrealistic.

Well, of course it is—if you believe that HEA means forever frolicking through the tulips and never another problem you will meet. That’s certainly not what my heroines believe. They’re old enough to know better. Each one knows that her ‘private summers’ will get worse before they go away completely. She knows that at least one of her parents, or her hero’s parents, will probably require care that they will find mentally or financially difficult to give. She knows that melding two families, sometimes including grown kids, grandkids, and ex-inlaws, will bring challenges. But she also knows that she doesn’t have to kiss any more frogs because she has found the man who will stand strong by her side and support her through whatever life throws their way. That’s what Happily Ever After is all about. Now what could be wrong with that?

Evelyn

So do you believe in happily ever after or is it just for the romance novels?  Leave your thoughts below and be entered to win a book from Evelyn!

About the author

EVELYN PALFREY

P O Box 142495

Austin, TX 78714-2495

evelyn@evelynpalfrey.com

Evelyn Palfrey is a native Texan and a lawyer who writes romantic suspense for the ‘marvelously mature’–because romance is just as sweet with a little gray at the temple. She is the author of four novels, Three Perfect Men, The Price of Passion, Dangerous Dilemmas and Everything In Its Place. Her novels deal with issues that are common to the middle passage of life, and reflect her 25 years practice of criminal and family law—and her love of RV travel.

Evelyn began writing fiction in 1995, driven by the realization that although many romance readers were like her—at middle age and starting a new phase of life—they weren’t represented as romance heroines. Three Perfect Men was born as the first book of a trilogy about three women who had been college roommates in the ‘60’s. The Price of Passion, a novel about marriage and betrayal, followed the next year. Her sister’s remark about the absence of full-figured women as romance heroines propelled her to write Dangerous Dilemmas. Her fourth novel, Everything In Its Place, grew out of recognition that many women who thought they had finished raising children, are now raising grandchildren.

Her next venture is a story in the anthology, Cougar Tales, with Sandra Kitt and Laura Parker.

Evelyn’s novels have been on the Essence Magazine bestseller list, the BookSense ’76 list, and have been Black Expressions selections. The Price of Passion was awarded Best Multicultural Book by Romantic Times Magazine.

Evelyn’s story, “The Lady at the Bus Stop”, was published in Chicken Soup for the African-American Soul, and her story, “Mama’s Hands”, was published in Chicken Soup for the African-American Woman’s Soul. She has also been a contributor to Black Issues Book Review.

Evelyn was nominated for a Career Achievement Award by Romantic Times. She has served on the Board of Directors of the Austin Public Library Foundation, Travis County Lawyer Referral Service, Austin Community Radio, Inc., Texas Municipal Courts Education Center, and the State Bar of Texas. She is currently on the Board of the Writers League of Texas and is active with Austin Romance Writers of America.

Vist Evelyn online

http://www.evelynpalfrey.com

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/evelynpalfrey/

http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/EvelynPalfrey

About the book – click cover to purchase e-book

How To Handle A Woman by Sandra Kitt

Geneva Springer is the prize at a charity auction. When a sexy man significantly younger wins her she doesn’t realize that the ultimate goal is her heart.

Stormy Weather by Laura Castoro

In the aftermath of a devastating accident, Beveryly Freeman can only remember the warm smile and honey colored eyes of her youthful rescuer, Will Soloman a decorated Iraq ver and fireman. But with a thirty-something gap between their ages, can this December-May romance overcome the obstacles of age and find true happiness/

Against Her Better Judgment by Evelyn Palfrey

Judge Beverly Polk scoffs at the news that a prisoner has put a contract out on her. Private Investigator, Devon Carter, claims to be hired by an anonymous client to protect her. Judge Polk resents and resists his protection, even as he infiltrates her home, her life, and even her heart.

LAKESIDE LOVE

When my husband Mark and I first hooked up back in 1971, like most young couples we didn’t have a lot of money for extras like romantic getaways. With that in mind, some of our best times were spent walking the beaches of Lake Michigan. We avoided going in the summertime – too crowded, but chose instead spring, fall and winter when all the tanned and oiled bodies were elsewhere and the beaches were at peace.

Our first stop was always Holland St Park in Holland MI, not too far from his hometown of Grand Rapids, MI. We’d drive in, find a place to park, and the sit in the car and look out over the lake. The water’s look changes with the seasons but there is nothing more visually moving than Lake Michigan in winter. The snow and ice have a raw beauty that is at once primal and overwhelming. Yes, it would be cold; Michigan winters are no joke but when you’re bundled up, coffee in one gloved hand, and your other gloved hand in his – you can’t beat it. The crisp air, the sun sparkling on the snow, and having the occasional snow ball fight made for a great way to start a to a romantic weekend.

After leaving Holland, we’d head for Port Sheldon Road and the long relaxing drive up the coast. Back in the seventies and early eighties, Port Sheldon was a lightly traveled two laner, lined on both sides with trees so tall the canopy blocked the sun. It’s a glorious drive in the spring, but simply spectacular in the fall when the trees turned red and gold. You haven’t seen autumn until you see it in Michigan. .

When Mark and I first started going doing these our drives, we’d go up in the morning and come back home to East Lansing where we were living late that same day. As our circumstances changed, we began driving up for the weekend. At first we stayed in Grand Rapids at the Red Roof Inn, in what we called the Honeymoon suite. To quote my good buddy author Evelyn Palfrey, the room was so small you had to go outside to change your mind, but we enjoyed it. We’d get up early Saturday morning head out and spend the day driving. Then as our circumstances got even better, the two bedroom suites at the Residence Inn became our base of operation. Not only could we cook there, but the fireplaces in the suites created the atmosphere for a more sensual kind of cooking.

But I digress.

Up Port Sheldon Rd, our next stop was a great little place called Tunnel Park. Over the years, the sand dunes that make up the park have been covered by homes, but back in the day, it was one of the most astonishing places I’d ever encountered because you had to walk through a cement tunnel to access the beach. From the parking lot you couldn’t see the water at all. Once inside the tunnel all you could see was the deep blue water up ahead, and when you stepped out of the tunnel there was the lake spread out in all of its glory. I often write about kite flying in my books because that was one of the things Mark and I loved to do. Nothing like sending a kite up over the water and watching it dance in the wind and Tunnel Park was one of the best places to do that.

Back in the car, and again on Port Sheldon Rd for the hour or so ride to our next stop, Grand Haven State Park. This was another hidden treasure. Taking a left onto Grand Ave you ride through a neighborhood of large homes and at the end of the street is the lake. Lake Michigan is not called one of the Great Lakes for nothing. It’s one of the largest bodies of fresh water lakes the world. If you look at a map of my state you can get a sense of just how large it is. In the off season you can sit for hours and not be disturbed. You can check out the gulls, the wind surfers and sometimes the Coast Guard cutters.

After leaving Grand Haven, we head west and north to Muskegon and the state park there. Many a time, no matter the time of day we had the huge lakefront park to ourselves. Great place to take a lunch break, fly our kites, or sit on the dunes and just be together.

An unconventional romantic getaway? You bet, but when you’re young and broke, a cheap weekend date can be the start of something memorable. It certainly was for us.

So what is your favorite romantic destination?  Leave your comments below and be entered to win an autographed book from Beverly!

About the author

The historical romance novels written by Ms Jenkins highlight African/American life in the 19th century. She has 21 published novels to date.

She has received numerous awards for her works, including: six Waldenbooks/Borders Group Best Sellers Awards; two Career Achievement Awards from Romantic Times Magazine; a Golden Pen Award from the Black Writer’s Guild, and in 1999 was named one of the Top Fifty Favorite African-American writers of the 20th Century by AABLC, the nation’s largest on-line African-American book club.

She has also been featured in many national publications, including the Wall Street Journal, People Magazine, Dallas Morning News and Vibe Magazine. She has lectured at such prestigious universities as Oberlin University, the University of Illinois, and Princeton. She speaks widely on both romance and 19th century African-American history.

In 2004 Ms. Jenkins branched out into romantic suspense with the publication of Edge of Midnight. Her first, faith based, women’s fiction, Bring on the Blessings was published in Jan 09. Her newest historical, Captured is set during the American Revolution and will be available in Oct. 09.

Visit Beverly online

http://www.beverlyjenkins.net

http://www.myspace.com/165413673

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/thebeverlyjenkinsfanclub/

About the book – click cover to purchase

Dominic LeVeq, the most notorious privateer ever to command the high seas, has just captured a coveted prize: a British frigate. On a dangerous mission against the Crown, Dominic should be thinking only of his ship’s safety. But the rebel captain is utterly entranced by Clare Sullivan, the stunning slave on board. Consumed by desire, desperate to have her, Dominic offers Clare her freedom in exchange for a forbidden night in his bed—a night he assures her will be most pleasureable indeed.

Clare believes that Dominic is nothing more than a seductive rogue used to getting what he wants. But she too feels a tantalizing passion between them, and so she submits to just one night of bliss. She’ll soon realize that Dominic has captured more than her body. He’s captured her heart . . . and she doesn’t want him to ever let go.

Top Five Romance Essentials

by Maureen Smith

I married my college sweetheart, Lorrent. Fourteen years and two kids later, I’m happy to say that we’re still going strong. Family and friends often ask me the secret to our relationship. I don’t have a magic answer. I’d have to say it’s a combination of things—things I consider the essential ingredients of romance.

Friendship. I think the basis of any good romance is friendship. My husband and I were the best of friends before we became lovers. Over the years, our friendship has sustained us through life’s ups and downs.

Chemistry. On our very first date, Lorrent and I went to the movies and saw “The Vanishing.” At least, I think that’s what was playing. I had a hard time concentrating on anything with Lorrent holding my hand. The way he stroked my palm sent shivers up and down my spine. It was all I could do not to jump his bones right there in the theater! Over the years, our attraction to each other has never waned. Lorrent can still melt me with a look, a touch, a kiss.

Open communication. I think it’s important to be able to express your needs and concerns, in and out of the bedroom. How can your partner know that something isn’t working for you if you never tell him? Communicating your needs in a loving, respectful manner is the best way to achieve your desired results.

Spontaneity. It’s so easy to get stuck in a routine, especially when you have children. To keep our romance fresh, Lorrent and I make a point of going on dates at least once a month. We also take full advantage of having the house to ourselves. While the kids were away this past summer, I woke up one morning and decided to surprise Lorrent with a romantic candlelight dinner. When he arrived home that evening, I had soft music playing, the table set with candles and a bottle of chilled wine, and the fragrance of pineapple-crusted salmon wafting from the oven. I’ll never forget the look on Lorrent’s face when I met him at the front door dressed in a sexy outfit and heels. And that was before I showed him the chocolate body sauce. LOL! It was an incredibly romantic, memorable evening. Moral of the story: When the mice (kids) are away, the cats (parents) should always play!

Adventurous imagination. It’s fun to take a walk on the wild side and indulge your naughtiest sexual fantasies. Whether you’re into stripteases or whips and chains, variety is the spice of life!

So now it’s your turn. What are your romance essentials?

Answer the question above and be entered to win an autographed book from Maureen!

About the author

Maureen Smith is the author of thirteen novels and one novella. She received a B.A. in English from the University of Maryland with a minor in creative writing. As a former freelance writer, her articles were featured in various print and online publications. Since the publication of her debut novel in 2002, Maureen has been nominated for three Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice Awards, twelve Emma Awards, and has won the Romance in Color Reviewers’ Choice Awards for New Author of the Year and Romantic Suspense of the Year.

Maureen currently lives in San Antonio, TX with her husband, two children, and a miniature schnauzer. She loves to hear from readers and can be reached at author@maureen-smith.com. Please visit her Web site at www.maureen-smith.com for news about her upcoming releases.

Visit Maureen online

Web site: www.maureen-smith.com

MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/maureensmith

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/profile.php?id=1217811303&ref=profile

Yahoo Group: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/maureensmith

About the book – click cover to purchase

Warrick Mayne has spent twelve years blaming Raina St. James for ruining his sister’s life. Now the self-made millionaire has got the perfect opportunity for payback—knocking down Raina’s luxury day spa to build an office complex. But his plan has met a hitch, in the delectable form of Raina herself.

He may be her enemy now, but long ago, Raina had a secret crush on her friend’s gorgeous older brother. And time has only enhanced Warrick’s appeal. When an innocent business trip to Warrick’s out-of-town estate turns unmistakably seductive, they succumb to their electrifying mutual attraction. But it’ll take more than one encounter of sensual healing—no matter how blissful—to open Raina’s and Warrick’s eyes to the passionate, heartbreaking truth.

Love is lovelier the second time around….

Or so the song goes. This concept is the driving theme behind my new, open ended series from Avon Books featuring a small, lakeside community in Texas.

Twilight, Texas (pop. 6,000) is a quaint tourist town on the banks of the Brazos River that feeds in Lake Twilight. With its stately courthouse, surrounded by lovingly refurbished buildings of old west style architecture, Texas Monthly voted Twilight the Prettiest Town Square in Texas. The combination of the pristine blue lake and the intriguing history—Jesse James reportedly used hidden river caves near Twilight as a hideout—lends a magical air to this quirky, but close-knit community filled with warmth and small town camaraderie. In the summer months, tourists flock to Twilight drawn by the water, the odd little curio shops, acclaimed community theatre and lively town events.

Twilight was founded in 1875. How the town got its name is a subject of heated debate, but the prevailing legend among romantics involves two teenage sweethearts separated during the War Between the States. Circumstances tore them asunder, but they never stopped loving each other. Fifteen years later, they met again at twilight on the banks of the river in the spot where the town now stands. A statue in their honor has been erected in the park next to the town square. There’s a rumor that if you throw pennies into the park’s fountain you will be reunited with your high school sweetheart.

This set-up has lead me to ponder the question, is love really lovelier the second time around? My contention is yes. Doesn’t everyone occasionally think about their high school sweetheart and wonder “what it”? (Unless of course you ended up with your high school sweetheart, but then that’s a whole other story.)

The trick to writing about reunited lovers is coming up with a convincing reason why they separated if their love was so strong. And if the conflict was big enough to tear them apart in the past, how can that Grand Canyon riff the mended?

While writing about reunited lovers is a challenge, it also has its rewards. The second time around is laden with a much richer emotional landscape than the intense, blinding passion of first love. The slower pace, the depth of understand that an older couple brings, can be even more provocative than the immature passion of teens. But the cool thing is, the reunited couple represents both ends of the love spectrum. The hormonal rush of those tender blooming first feelings and the oxytocin kick of true emotional pair bonding.

The reunited lovers appreciate what they now have precisely because they’ve lost it. They’ve suffered and lost, but to recover that magic…to get a second…well, it’s priceless and they know it.

There’s no more poignant love than that.

So, do you believe love is sweeter the second time around?  Leave your comments below and be entered to win an autographed book from Lori!

About the author

Lori Wilde has written forty-seven novels for four major New York Publishing houses. She holds a bachelors degree in nursing from Texas Christian University and a certificate in forensics. She volunteers as a sexual assault first responder for Freedom House, a shelter for battered women. She has also served as the RWA National conference workshop chair and PAN retreat chair.

She is an instructor for a company who provides online community education to over 1500 colleges and universities. Lori is a past RITA finalist and has four times been nominated for Romantic Times Reviewer’s Choice Award. She’s won the Colorado Award of Excellence, the Wisconsin Write Touch Award, The Lories, The More Than Maggie, the Golden Quill and The BestBooks of 2006 Book Award.

Her books have been translated into 22 languages and excerpted in Cosmopolitan, Redbook, Complete Woman and Quick and Simple magazines. She’s appeared numerous times on the Waldenbook’s bestseller list and Ingram’s Top 50. She lives in Texas with her husband, Bill.

Visit Lori online

www.loriwilde.com

http://www.facebook.com/lori.wilde

http://www.myspace.com/loriwilde

About the book – click cover to purchase

“Throw a penny in the fountain of the Twilight town square

And you’ll be married to your first love…”

Pretty Flynn McGregor has been turning down the same solid, upright man’s marriage proposal for ten years, even as all of her friends at the Sweetheart’s Knitting Club thinks they are a match made in heaven. But when she’s honest with herself she knows there’s only dangerous reason why she keeps saying no: Jesse Calloway. She was just sixteen when he was forced out of town under a cloud of suspicion…but he’s never left her heart.

Now Jesse is back, and every time she turns the corner it seems he’s there—gazing at her with his smoldering eyes and tempting him with his kisses. Jesse has never played by the rules, and he’s made it clear that he’s not going to obey them now, not when it comes to getting Flynn back into his arms…forever.

It was my sophomore year of high school. On the back row of my physics class sat a boy with a killer Afro, wearing wire-rimmed glasses and flashing the shyest smile I’d ever seen. No, he wasn’t the captain of the football team or the boy every girl would give her eye-tooth to be seen with. Yet, the man-child society oftentimes lumps into the category preserved for Black males who are fatherless and being raised by a single mother—‘most likely not to succeed’, made this sista slow her roll for a long, hard, look.

Over the next thirty-five years, this boy, grew into a man. Somehow, he managed to bulldoze his way into my heart to become not only my lover, but my best friend. Six days after celebrating our twenty-fifth wedding anniversary on January 7, 2009, he quietly passed way after an almost year-long battle with colon cancer. Although he’s absent from me physically, his spirit will forever be anchored in my heart.

As a romance author, readers often tell me the only place a woman can meet a beautiful, strong Black man is between the cover of a romance novel. To my dying day, I’ll dispute this argument. Why? I was blessed to meet my spouse live and in living color! Was his appearance like that of a cover model for GQ magazine with a Bill Gates portfolio? Nope, he was far from it. He was an average brother with a twinge of gray at his temples. Thank God, he had the good sense not to listen to his middle school science teacher who told him Black men didn’t have the intelligence to become engineers. He was the one, however, who delivered the valedictorian address to his senior class, and subsequently received a full scholarship to one of the top engineering schools in the country, graduating magna cum laude with a degree in chemical engineering.

He didn’t drive a luxury vehicle or go head off to work all suited and booted in the latest Dolce and Gabbana collection. He was the father of our four children and the one who occasionally headed out the door sick, but somehow managed to work all day to earn an honest day’s pay in order to support his family. He was the man my children were and still are proud to call “Dad.” He was the one who spoiled me rotten, in spite of my shortcomings. He was the man who honored and respected me with his whole heart and demanded the same from others on my behalf. He was the man who cried with me and for me. He was the man who celebrated my joys and shared my pain. He was the man I entrusted with my darkest secrets and deepest fears, which he safely tucked them away inside his heart and carried to his grave.

What was special about that day? Everything! Little did I realize then, but that chance encounter on a hot, summer day in August 1974 changed my life, forever.

Until next time – stay well and be blessed,

LaConnie

So how did you meet the love of your life?  Leave your answer below and be entered to win an autographed book from LaConnie!

About the author

Award-winning author, LaConnie Taylor-Jones, a native Memphian, is a health educator consultant and holds advanced degrees in community public health and business administration. The mother of four and resides with her family in Northern California.

For over twenty-five years, Ms. Taylor-Jones has been an avid romance reader. In the summer of 2003 a challenge from her husband made her seize the opportunity to blend her enthusiasm for teaching health, social responsibility and social justice with her love for reading the genre. Her experience as a health educator sparked a multitude of storylines and her romance, which she defines as the spirit of adventure, played a pivotal part in her road to publication. In a little over four years, she’s authored three full-length novels. In 2008, Ms. Taylor-Jones was the recipient of the 2008 Romance Slam Jam Emma Award for Debut Author of the Year for When I’m With You.

Ms. Taylor-Jones is an active member of the Contra Costa Alumnae chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., the African American Community Health Advisory Committee, Black Women Organized for Political Action, and the San Francisco Area and Black Diamond chapters of Romance Writers of America.

Visit LaConnie online

Website: http://www.laconnietaylorjones.com/

Blog: http://www.laconnietaylorjones.com/blog/

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/people/LaConnie-Taylor-Jones/1528266571

MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/the_novels_of_ltj

About the book (January 2010 Release date)

Tinsel Town is about to learn a few lessons from a Southern doctor with the courage to win the heart of a man who swore no woman ever would

If it doesn’t have a scientific basis, Dr. Laney Olivia Houston doesn’t believe in it —and that includes love at first sight. But she meets Raphael Baptiste. One encounter is all it takes; and she realizes her life is changed forever.

Jazz musician, Raphael Baptiste is no stranger to women or their beds. When an illness strikes, his life is thrown into turmoil. But the quiet Southern belle sees beyond his past and bitterness. She sees a man who could love. . .

There are varying definitions of romance for the perfect date night. Chances are, if you’re the parent of small children, the best date night in the world might involve dropping the kids at the sitter’s while you return home with you husband and hit the sheets for… sleep. Parents of older kids might simply need some alone time, while the single woman’s perfect date probably requires some thoughtful, quiet getting-to-know-you time.

The biggest must-have for date night, IMHO? It must happen!! No matter how busy you are, how hectic, how over-scheduled, overwhelmed or overtired you are, you need to make date night happen. Often.

I think it’s necessary for a few reasons. It forces communication in a way that the dinner table at home may not. I love dinner with my kids, don’t get me wrong. All of them calling out events from their day between requests for more potatoes or extra gravy is part of the warm fabric of the family home. But those meals don’t really help me connect with my husband. We spend most of our dialogue figuring out who can pick up who from which sports practice the next day. So we go out—away from home, away from the kids, off to remember why we love each other.

When I’m the date night plan-maker, I have to say my preferences run toward quaint, candlelit restaurants or eateries with sprawling decks overlooking the water or something pretty. I’m all about atmosphere, good food and good wine. When the surroundings are beautiful, I feel happy. But I can be just as content with a chili dog and a cold beer at a baseball game.

Still my favorite date recently was a trip to the local ice cream spot and a drive to the local lake to eat our cones on the shore. It was unplanned, unexpected and just perfect.

So what’s your idea of a perfect date night?  Leave your answer below to be entered to win an autographed book from the author!

About the author

Three-time RITA nominee Joanne Rock turned a passion for writing into a career when imaginary characters kept her awake at night, demanding she tell their stories. The author of over thirty romances in a variety of subgenres, she enjoys writing medieval historicals and sexy contemporaries along with the occasional romantic suspense. Joanne traces her passion for all things medieval to an early brush with John Keats’ poem “The Eve of St. Agnes” and a rapt fascination with the Pre-Raphaelites’ depiction of medieval themes. As a writer, she enjoys supplementing her more research-intensive trips to the Middle Ages with faster-paced contemporary stories sparked by the characters she meets in real life. The move back and forth between very different story styles keeps her Muse singing happily.

Visit Joanne online

http://joannerock.com

http://myspace.com/joanne_rock

http://blogs.myspace.com/joanne_rock

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?v=feed&id=618780915

About the book – click cover to purchase

They play the field… but can they play for keeps?

Rookie Brody Davis has all the right moves. But will they be enough to tempt sexy Naomi back into his bed?

Shortstop hero Lance Montero must prove to a bad-girl heiress that he’s good at everything he does. Very, very good…

Superstar Javier Velasquez is getting a hot ’n heavy workout with Lisa, the team’s trainer. But who’s healing whom?

First baseman Rick Warren is on a winning streak… with the owner’s daughter!

KEEPING IT SPICY ~

After being married for 10 years, spice is sometimes not only hard to come by, we forget we even need it:)

In my opinion, spicy relationships depend on the couple. Some need the whole red pepper and some just need a fleck of pepper. For me, when my hubby says certain things in passing or via text, it sets me off and ignites that flame once again. I can honestly say that he is the one who realizes when we need to relight that fire. I get so caught up in daily life with the kids, work, house…you get my drift.

I can recall one thing in particular he said to me and I completely fell in love all over again. I had gone out of town for a couple of days and he called me on the second day and said, “I miss your footprints on the bath mat.” I mean, it was so simple, yet those words have stuck with me for years. It’s the little sparks like this that keep the spice in our marriage.

Watching him playing the father role really does it for me as well. I mean, come on, is there anything sexier than a man playing with dolls with his toddlers or blowing bubbles so his little girls can catch them?

Maybe I’m too simple, but the spice in my life comes from many subtle things, but the combination is explosive:)

So, how do you keep the spice in your love life?  Leave your answer and be entered to win an autographed book from Jules Bennett!

About the author

When Jules isn’t creating tempting heroes and plotting their happily ever afters, she is taking care of her 2 little girls (ages 4 and 19 months), spending time with her hubby of 10 years and working part-time in a busy salon.

Jules has written contemporary romance and erotic romance (under the pen name Sophia Rae) for The Wild Rose Press and Samhain Publishing.

In March ’10, Jules will have her debut release from Silhouette Desire, Seducing the Enemy’s Daughter and the follow-up in April, The Making of Mrs. Stone. In June, Jules will join fellow author Lori Foster and others in an anthology from Berkley, The Gift of Love.  She loves to hear from readers.

Visit Jules online

www.julesbennett.com

http://www.myspace.com/authorjulesbennett

http://www.julesbennetttalks.blogspot.com/

http://www.facebook.com/people/Jules-Bennett/673273538#/profile.php?id=673273538

About the book – Seducing the Enemy’s Daughter (March 2010)

Trying to pull her family’s resort, Lani Kaimana, which translates to Royal Diamond, out of financial ruins is Samantha DONOVAN’S last attempt to gain her father’s respect and a place in his company.

Brady Stone is out for revenge and he has one agenda…destroy the Donovan Corporation and any Donovan who stands in his way.

But Brady isn’t expecting the sexy, savvy businesswoman Samantha turns out to be.

Now his plans are shot to hell and he must rework his vendetta. But what will win in the end…business or pleasure?

When I write a story, the first kiss between my hero and heroine is even more important than the love scenes, because that first kiss is their initial intimate connection. I love writing steamy kissing scenes. The stories I write are character-driven versus plot driven so I feel that know my hero and heroine personally. And since I truly believe in the theory that no two kisses are the same, I apply that premise whenever I write a kissing scene. The first kiss has to fit the characters that I am writing about, as well as the situation I’ve placed them in. And I based it on a number of things and surprisingly, not on the list is how long they have known each other.

I determine the magnitude of the kiss by 1) the sexual chemistry between the two individuals 2) their attitudes toward each other at the time the kiss takes place (friends or enemies) 3) their location at the time the first kiss take place (public or private 4) length of time in the story have they waited for that kiss to take place (the drum roll effect).

In my very first book, Tonight and Forever, this was Justin and Lorren’s first kiss. … A groan rumbled in Justin’s throat as he closed his mouth over hers. He made sure his kiss was gentle, yet seductive. Her taste was sweet, hot, sensuous. He hungered for her and relentlessly explored her mouth, demanding a response and enticing her tongue to mate with his…

In my November Silhouette Desire, Westmoreland’s Way, Dillon and Pam’s first kiss was… He took another step toward her and heard himself groan low in his throat at the same moment he reached out and pulled her into his arms. And with a hunger that he felt all the way to his toes, he lowered his mouth as she parted her lips. The connection was explosive, and sensations rocked through him as his mouth greedily took hers, desire flooding him for all corners and settling in his body part right below the belt…

During the celebration of my 50th book, I did a survey with my readers on my kissing scenes. I wanted them to rate the top 5 and this is the result:

1. Delaney’s Desert Sheikh

2. Fire and Desire

3. Thorns Challenge

4. Surrender (Christy and Alex’s kiss)

5. Truly Everlasting (Trask and Felicia’s kiss)

On a personal note, I received my first kiss at fourteen and my guy was sixteen. Not a lot of experience on either of our parts. I smile whenever I think of that first kiss because the same guy is still delivering them to me after 42 years (5 years of courtship and 37 years of marriage), and I have no complaints. Just like just like the finest wine, they just keep getting better with time.

What do you remember about your first kiss?

When you’re reading a book, are there any specific points you look for in a first kiss?

Who do you think should initiate the first kiss? Male or female?

Answer the questions above and be entered to win an autographed book from Brenda Jackson!

About the author

Brenda Jackson was born in Jacksonville, Florida. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Jacksonville University and worked in management for State Farm Insurance where she recently retired after thirty-seven years. She married her high school sweetheart, Gerald, thirty-seven years ago and they have two sons, Gerald Jr. and Brandon, ages thirty-two and twenty-nine, respectively.

Her professional writing career began in 1995 with the release of her first book, Tonight and Forever. Since then she has written over 70 titles, which includes a made-for-television movie by BET. She has received numerous national and literary awards and has made many trail-blazing accomplishments, which includes being the first African-American author to make the New York Times Bestseller’s List and the USA Today’s Bestseller’s List in the romance genre.

Inspired by her love of romance and dedication to her numerous readers, Brenda formed her own publishing company, the Madaris Publishing Company. Her readers determine what hero and heroine introduced as secondary characters in her various books that they want Brenda to pen stories about. She is proud of her national book club – the Brenda Jackson Book Club – that has a membership of over 1,800 readers.

Brenda also joins her readers every two years for a Madaris/Westmoreland family reunion cruise to various destinations.

A listing of her books can be found on her website – www.brendajackson.net.

Visit Brenda online

www.brendajackson.net

http://www.myspace.com/authorbrendajackson

http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/profile.php?id=520166584

About the books – click covers to purchase

One mind-blowing kiss. That was all Ellie Weston shared with her neighbor and crush one summer, before he angrily discovered she’d approached him on a dare. Ten years later, Ellie is back at her great-aunt’s lake house, and so is Uriel Lassiter still wildly sexy, single and happy to stay that way. When Ellie finds her great-aunt’s never-completed romance novel, she decides to finish the manuscript but first she needs some real-life inspiration: a sultry summer fling.

Uriel hasn’t forgotten Ellie, and their sizzling chemistry is starting to make him reconsider his tried-and-true bachelor status. But when the truth about her motive emerges, can Ellie convince him that make-believe has turned into sweet reality?

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Mr. November: Dillon Westmoreland, real-estate tycoon

Objective: Pamela Novak, business owner

Strategic Plan: Seduce and rescue

There was a secret to Dillon Westmoreland’s heritage—and Pamela Novak had the key. Though the raven-haired beauty was ensnared by her shifty fiancé, Dillon—eldest of the Denver Westmoreland clan—couldn’t resist a mind-blowing night in her arms. And after that incredible passion… Well, once a Westmoreland claimed the woman he wanted, he wouldn’t let anything tear them apart!

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*This book can only be purchased from Brenda’s Online Store at www.brendajackson.net

Tis The Season…for Romance contains 4 romantic stories to get you into the holiday spirit by sharing plenty of love, passion and promise .

READY FOR LOVE

Barbara Andrews is trying to get her life back together after her divorce while planning her daughter’s wedding. Even with everything she has on her plate she hasn’t been able to forget the man who had entered her life at a very difficult time and had shown her kindness. And when Detective Rick Blair asks her out, she is not sure if she’s ready to put the past behind her and move on, although she can’t deny the attraction between them. Rick intends to prove that she is definitely a woman who is ready for love.

Barbara was first introduced in HER LITTLE BLACK BOOK

THE SECOND TIME AROUND

Peggy Morrison has finally gotten her life together and is happily involved with a man who knows how to treat her like the desired and passionate woman that she is. And when Willie Baker asks her to accompany him to Paris, she has to decide just how far their relationship has come and even importantly, how far she wants it to go. Willie is determined to be the one to teach Peggy a thing or two about love the second time around.

Peggy was first introduced in HER LITTLE BLACK BOOK

CONQUERING HIS HEART

Cathy Bristol has been in love with her boss for what seems like forever, and decides it’s time to take matters into her own hands. She gets the chance to do so on a business trip they take together. While Orin Jeffries focuses on business, Cathy focuses on trying to show Orin that she’s the woman for him and is determined to make the emotionally scarred divorced Orin see her for the woman that she is. A woman intent on conquering his heart.

Cathy was first introduced in TALL, DARK…WESTMORELAND

COREY’S MOUNTAIN

(A Westmoreland Novella)

When Corey Westmoreland runs into the one woman he let get away over thirty years ago, he is determined to keep Abby Winters within his reach. Even if it means taking her up to his mountain. And once he realizes their attraction is still explosive after all this time, he is determined to convince her that it’s not too late for them and that their past and present have now collided for a reason. It was always meant for Corey’s Mountain to be their home.

Abby was first introduced in STONE, COLD SURRENDER