A "new to me" author, LaConnie Taylor-Jones - and a two-book giveaway!

AND THE WINNER IS: Lady_Graeye - Congratulations! I know you're going to be thrilled with LaConnie's books! Please contact me at ljodamron@gmail.com with your mailing information by Sunday, March 28th. If I don't hear from Lady_Graeye by Sunday, I'll draw another name, so stay tuned! Thanks so much to everyone who stopped by and for your wonderful comments - I truly appreciate it! And big thanks to LaConnie for her beautiful romances - you've absolutely gained an adoring fan with me!

I have only recently discovered author LaConnie Taylor-Jones, and I'm so thrilled that I did! When I read the blurb and excerpt for her latest release, IF I WERE YOUR WOMAN, I was very interested. Upon discovering that this was the third in a series, I decided to start off with the first two books in the "Baptiste family" series and ordered them immediately - I've come into so many series late, starting a book or two into it, and wanted to start at the beginning this time. First up was WHEN I'M WITH YOU and the second was WHEN A MAN LOVES A WOMAN. You'll find excerpts and ordering information for this three-book series on Ms. Taylor-Jones's website.


A blurb for IF I WERE YOUR WOMAN:
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. One encounter is all takes with Raphael Baptiste for her to realize 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. Can a quiet Southern belle look beyond his past and capture his heart?


WHEN I'M WITH YOU:
Marcel Baptiste is a wealthy entrepreneur and philanthropist. He meets Caitlyn Thompson, the head of a struggling youth center, when she appeals to his philanthropic foundation for funding. Marcel is smitten and begins wooing her, but she is a hard sell: she has relocated to Oakland after being beaten and raped by Cole, her controlling ex, and is very gun-shy when it comes to men. As Marcel falls more deeply under her spell, he decides that merely loving her isn’t enough: he must also help her vanquish the ghosts of her past.




WHEN A MAN LOVES A WOMAN:
Nursing administrator Victoria Bennett has soured on love. She has sworn off men; they bring too much drama and too much pain into her life. That is, until she meets pediatrician A. J. Baptiste, a single parent who is determined to woo her. A. J. will stop at nothing to have her, and Victoria finds her resolve put to the test…but is this a fight she really wants to win?


I give this series a very high recommendation and hope you'll check it out. The characters are beautifully written, and the heroes are respectful, with morals and heartwarming family values. Ms. Taylor-Jones's heroines are confident and proud, capable of taking care of themselves, but intelligent enough to know that there's no shame in letting a man look out for you. That said, I have to add that while the characters are kind and considerate, there's no lack of steamy passion, and those of you who appreciate an abundance of heat won't be disappointed.
Have any of you read Ms. Taylor-Jones? If not, I'd like to remedy that - every romance reader out there should be reading her work! I've decided to make a personal introduction by offering one copy each of WHEN I'M WITH YOU and WHEN A MAN LOVES A WOMAN to one lucky reader here. (Please note that these are not autographed copies.) Like always, simply leave a comment to get your name in the draw. Tell a friend who mentions your name in their comment and I'll throw your name in an extra time for mention. I'll draw a winner on Wednesday, March 24.
Be on the lookout for reviews for Jill Shalvis's INSTANT TEMPTATION, Kay Stockham's SHE'S THE ONE (there will be giveaways) and the sweetest of the sweet, Patricia Sargeant, will be guesting here in the next couple of weeks to celebrate the release of her upcoming release, HEATED RIVALRY!
Thanks for stopping - I hope you all have a terrific weekend!
Laurie

HelenKay Dimon leaves readers breathless! I have a copy of LEAVE ME BREATHLESS for giveaway!

AND THE WINNER IS - Lynn R! Congratulations, Lynn! Please contact me with your mailing info at ljodamron@gmail.com by Sunday, 3/21. If I don't hear from Lynn by Sunday evening, I'll pull another name, so be sure to check back.
Thanks to everyone for your comments and one more time I'd like to send out a big thank you to HelenKay!


I'm betting that few authors have been as busy as HelenKay Dimon lately. Three new releases between February and June, 2010 mean she was a mighty busy woman in 2009, I'm guessing. I hope you'll all take a moment to check out the chatter below to see what HelenKay's been working on and then be sure to leave a comment for a chance to win an autographed copy of LEAVE ME BREATHLESS.
PERMISSION TO APPROACH
According to Judge Bennett Walker, trying to kill him is a dumb idea. They might make him wear a big black nightgown to work, but it covers a lot of muscles, and he’s definitely packing beneath it. He’s also an ex-prosecutor and an ex-GI Joe. So when his brother brings in Callie Robbins to protect him, Ben has a few issues. First, he doesn’t need a bodyguard. Second, she’s a 130-pound girl—more smoking hot than smoking gun. And third, what if his body wants her guarding the night shift?
Callie has no problem brushing aside Ben’s disbelief. She left the FBI to escape the boys’ club, but she can be deeper undercover and twice as lethal as any beefy John Doe. As for whether someone’s after Bennett or not, the death threats and car bombs look pretty convincing to Callie. Of course, she might get distracted, sitting inches from the sexiest judge in DC for ten hours a day. Keeping him safe is no picnic. Keeping it professional—that might be impossible.
My review:
Bennett Walker isn’t your typical judge. He’s gorgeous, tough, and former military – no hiding behind the robe for him. Callie Robbins is equally gorgeous and equally tough, former FBI – hired to keep the good judge safe and sound. Sparks are guaranteed to fly!

Callie Robbins took the assignment to guard her boss’s brother, the Honorable Bennett Walker, after threats against him have begun to escalate. She didn’t expect him to be pleased about the situation, but she could never have anticipated the instant attraction sizzling between them. Callie had a bad experience with her superior at the FBI and while most women would have been professionally weakened by the experience, it only served to make Callie stronger and more determined than ever to do her job to the best of her ability. Ben Walker proves to be a challenge from the start. He may not want Callie as his “bodyguard” but he can think of several other things he’d like to do with her.
Bennett Walker is taking the threats against him very seriously, regardless of how nonchalant he’s acting around his brother. Dark secrets have hung heavily on them both for years and they owe their every strength and success to their past. Callie is a bit of a wise-ass and Ben, rather than being turned off by it, finds her sarcasm and eagerness to banter with him surprisingly stimulating. Almost as soon as Ben gets used to having Callie around as his protector, the threats expand to encompass Callie and his concerns about his own safety are forgotten.
HelenKay Dimon always delivers hard-hitting emotion. Not necessarily in your face, crying for attention, but more understated in layers that make themselves known little by little. There’s a story within a story in this book, with the romance of Ben’s brother, Mark, and their long-time friend and fellow judge, Emma. I chose not to mention it because it deserves more than a mere mention. Frankly, it almost deserves a review of its own, it’s just that good. Obviously, the secondary characters in this book play a very important part in the telling of Callie and Ben’s story. LEAVE ME BREATHLESS covers every base and will satisfy every romance reader’s need for intrigue, danger, suspense, romance and sizzle, and I highly recommend it.
I know you're going to want a copy - click on over to Amazon to make it happen! At the time of this post, you can practically steal it for $10.08/Kindle version $8.96, so hurry!

Also new from HelenKay - her first Harlequin Intrigue - congratulations, HelenKay! Yep, I've read it and it has my highest recommendation. How many of you read series romance? I love them! I call them "check out books" because I rarely go past the bookstand in my grocery store (it's on the way to the checkout counter) without stopping to take a peek, which usually results in at least one going into my shopping basket. I have to admit to buying fewer books at the grocery these days though. Tim gave me an iPod Touch for Christmas and with the Kindle for iPod app, I get most of my books downloaded directly to the iPod. It's almost criminal, how easy they make it for me to spend money on books!
A little about UNDER THE GUN:
A good agent never lets the job become personal…
Who wanted her dead? That's what Claire Samson wanted to know. On the run and alone, there was only one man she trusted to find her. Recovery agent Luke Hathaway was the best at locating and saving, and she needed the best if she wanted to live. But the handsome agent who promised salvation had some conditions of his own. If he were to help, she needed to stick close by his side. Very close. And the only thing more dangerous than her current situation was the way Luke made her feel. From the protective look in his green eyes, she could tell he felt the same. But every second that brought them closer together was also ticking toward an explosive confrontation that might tear them apart…
Another link to Amazon for your ordering pleasure!


While you're here, you might as well have a look at the cover for HelenKay's NIGHT MOVES, coming in June, '10 - I know I'm not the only one who's excited about it! Oh, ok, I'll make it easy for you yet again - click here to go shopping at Amazon. I don't have any more info for NIGHT MOVES (the cover just went up on HelenKay's blog yesterday) - but keep checking her site for more details.

HelenKay is offering an autographed copy of LEAVE ME BREATHLESS to one lucky reader! Want in the draw? Of course you do! Just leave a comment - you know how this works, let's chat it up about HelenKay's work, characters, covers, blog, etc., ok? I'll draw a winner on Wednesday, March 17, 2010 (evening), so don't drink so much green beer that you forget to check back!
That concludes my "It's all about HelenKay" post - I hope you've enjoyed your visit!
Thanks for stopping! Big thanks to HelenKay for the copy of LEAVE ME BREATHLESS, and equally big congratulations on all of your exciting releases!
Have a great weekend!
Laurie

I believe I've talked about author Jo Davis before, here and possibly at Romancing the Blog, but I wanted to give a shout about the third/most recent release in her "Station Five" series - HIDDEN FIRE. I've just posted a Romance Junkies review for this book and wanted to share it with you. Ms. Davis has a new series as well, The Shado Agency (from NAL Heat), and while I haven't read the first in that series, I SPY A WICKED SIN, you can bet that I'll be getting my hands on it soon - it looks great! More about that once I actually have it in my hands. When I first saw the cover for I SPY... I emailed my pal AlisonKent to tell her that "the rest of " her cover for NO LIMITS was being used - interesting how cover models often do "double duty"! In the meantime, here's some chatter and my review for HIDDEN FIRE:
The scorching hot firemen of Station Five are known for cranking up the heat. Sexy rogue Julian Salvatore is no exception…
He’s more than earned his reputation as a ladies’ man, but chasing women has also been a way to outrun a terrible secret from his past. Then he meets defense attorney Grace McKenna, a beautiful ice queen who’s more than willing to give Julian her body, even if he can’t seem to melt her heart.
In the blazing heat of their passion, Grace and Julian start to let down their guard—just as a series of grisly murders rocks Nashville and Julian is targeted by the killer. As the firefighter comes face to face with his demons, he and Grace must race to uncover the terrible truth—or become the next victims.
Click here for an excerpt!

My Romance Junkies (4.5 blue ribbon) review:
HIDDEN FIRE, the third book in the Firefighters of Station Five series by Jo Davis, gives readers a heated look behind the scenes of the firehouse and the courthouse with firefighter Julian Salvatore and defense attorney Grace McKenna.

Grace McKenna has avoided the advances of firefighter Julian Salvatore because of his reputation as a shameless ladies man. She doesn’t understand Julian’s extreme, almost desperate, concern over her latest client when he sees them together. Julian works with Grace’s brother-in-law, Howard, and while she’s hesitantly interested in spending more time with him, she finds herself incredibly attracted to his irresistible charm. But there are layers to Julian that he’s kept hidden until Grace is drawn into his violent past.
Julian has been doggedly pursuing Grace for some time and can scarcely believe when she agrees to a date. What Grace doesn’t know is that his feelings for her run much deeper than simple lust. Julian has issues from his youth that he would just as soon keep to himself, but threats to Grace require their revelation. Recent, disturbingly violent, kidnappings and murders appear to be connected to Grace’s new client and the terror from Julian’s past. It isn’t long before Julian and Grace, together with many of his co-workers, are caught up in a shocking investigation.
HIDDEN FIRE is a wonderful example of romantic suspense. Readers will find themselves cheering for the relationship between Julian and Grace to work. Secondary characters from previous books in this series are smoothly and successfully woven into the story and it was extremely satisfying to catch up with them. Jo Davis has many fans of her work, this series in particular, and they will be thrilled to know that the next book in the series, LINE OF FIRE, will be releasing in May, 2010.
Want a copy of HIDDEN FIRE? Pop over to Amazon to toss a copy in your cart!



I hope you'll take a minute or two and check out this excerpt for LINE OF FIRE!

Again, I'm making it easy for you to slip over to Amazon to preorder your copy OF LINE OF FIRE!

I'm especially excited for RIDE THE FIRE (Dec '10) which is Sean Tanner's story - Sean is the Captain of Station Five, and Ms. Davis has tortured the poor guy endlessly. lol I so can't wait for him to get his HEA!

Thanks for stopping! By the way, all prizes from last week have been packed up and are ready to go to the post office tomorrow.
Laurie

Welcome, Jules Bennett!

Please help me welcome Jules Bennett! Jules is guesting today to celebrate the release of her latest book and is prepared to answer all of your reader questions, so put your thinking caps on! Scroll down to see my review and ordering information from a couple of days ago. Jules is offering an autographed copy of her new Silhouette Desire, SEDUCING THE ENEMY'S DAUGHTER, to one lucky commenter. I'm celebrating with some prizes too. Because we're all romantics at heart, my prizes are from the American Heart Association's Go Red store and include two "Go Red" totes, a "Go Red" lighted compact and several "Go Red" pens - in addition, I have a handful of Jules' pens and bookmarks. I'll combine mine to make two prizes: one w/a tote, compact, pens and bookmarks and one w/a tote, pens and bookmarks. I'll also pull a few names for pens and bookmarks. Names will be drawn and announced at the end of the day. I hope you'll take time to pop over to Jules' website to learn more about her and her work - but for now, let's have those questions! Can't think of a question? No problem, just leave a comment and you'll be entered.

Thanks for being here today, Jules!
Laurie

Jules Bennett's SEDUCING THE ENEMY'S DAUGHTER

Jules Bennett is a fresh, (fairly) new author face with loads of writing talent. Besides being an author, she's a businesswoman, wife and mother - and cute as a button, to boot! Jules was sweet enough to send me an early copy of SEDUCING THE ENEMY'S DAUGHTER and I'm pleased that she's going to be a guest here on Thursday! Be sure to stop back and get your questions ready for Jules - there will be prizes!

Brady Stone had just learned the new manager of the property he wanted was a woman… and quite desirable. Charming Samantha Donovan into giving away corporate secrets would be even sweeter considering she was the enemy’s daughter.
The business magnate had been planning his revenge for years. Now the only thing standing between Brady and victory was a beautiful, innocent pawn. His head told him to forget about any possible future with Samantha. But his heart knew that in destroying the Donovan empire he would be ruining his last chance at happiness.
My review:
Businessman Brady Stone has had the luxury resort of Lani Kaimana in his sights with an intensity that borders on obsession. Stanley Donovan forced Brady's dying father to sell the resort to him and Brady is bent on regaining possession of the property, hopefully destroying Stanley in the process. Surprised that resort manager "Sam" Donovan is Stanley's beautiful daughter, Samantha, Brady quickly decides that seduction will help get him close enough to obtain inside information. He certainly didn't plan on the emotions stirred by his relationship with Sam, and soon he's left questioning his objectives as well as his priorities.
It seems to Samantha Donovan that she has spent her entire life trying to please her father, seemingly an impossible task. Intent on making the Lani Kaimana resort a success, she's determined to remain focused and professional, regardless of how charming Brady Stone is. The attention he's lavishing on her is irresistibly flattering and it isn't long before she's weakening. Sam's blossoming relationship with Brady goes far to soothe the pain of her failing relationship with her father. Unexpected, exhiliarating news has her on top of the world until truths are revealed that bring her joy crashing down.
Jules Bennett has done a beautiful job in bringing readers Sam and Brady's story. Sam's pain over her relationship with her father is very well written. She is almost stiff with determined professionalism in her efforts to make a success of the resort; her softening under Brady's attentions is especially nice. Brady's persistence for revenge loses steam as his relationship with Sam gains momentum. At the same time he realizes just what is important in life, it becomes clear that his hunger for retaliation has gone too far and he has most likely lost Sam completely. Emotions are handled nicely and I think romance readers will be satisfied with SEDUCING THE ENEMY'S DAUGHTER, Jules Bennett's first contribution to the Silhouette Desire line.

Want a copy? Buzz on over to Amazon for easy pre-ordering!


Up next from Jules is another Silhouette Desire, FOR BUSINESS ... OR MARRIAGE? The story of Brady Stone's brother, Cade. It will be released in April - I can't wait!

She’d always been in love with her boss. Secretly. And it had almost killed Abby Morrison each time magnificent multimillionaire Cade Stone began dating another woman. And now… he wanted her to plan his wedding!
Abby knew Cade was making a mistake— marrying for business reasons a woman equally uninterested in love. For too long she’d been the mousy little secretary. But now she refused to keep quiet. So she had one month to plan Cade’s wedding? That gave her one month to change his mind.
Thanks for taking the time to stop - don't forget to come back on Thursday so you can get acquainted with Jules - and get your name in the draw for a great giveaway!
Laurie

AND THE WINNERS ARE ...

The winner of SLOW HEAT is Sue Hussein. The winner of the Komen mug is Lisa Freeman. Congratulations, ladies! Sue and Lisa, please contact me at ljodamron@gmail.com with your mailing information so I can get your prizes in the mail. If I don't hear from Sue and Lisa by Friday, I'll draw new winning names.
Thanks to all who entered! Look for author Jules Bennett to guest blog next week - she'll have a giveaway to celebrate her upcoming Silhouette Desire release, so I'm hoping you'll all stop back.
My mom's surgery went well yesterday. All of the wires in her kneecap were removed, so she should be back on the road to recovery.
Have a great week!
Laurie

Winners will be named Monday evening

I'll announce the winners of the copy of SLOW HEAT and the mug from the Komen store on Monday evening.
Look for a new review for Jules Bennett's upcoming Silhouette Desire, SEDUCING THE ENEMY'S DAUGHTER, in the next couple of days. This is an especially good book and I'm excited that Jules will be guesting here very soon!
I hope you're all having a great weekend! I'm just happy to have gone four days without any snow!
My mom will be having an outpatient surgery this Monday morning to remove the wires they used to put her kneecap back together. One of them has somehow turned and is poking through the skin. Yes, it's just as awful as it sounds and has been causing her considerable discomfort. Poor Weezy. We're having an 80th birthday party for her next Saturday and look forward to her having a special day with family and friends.
Be sure to come back Monday to see who my winners are!
Laurie

NAKED EDGE by Pamela Clare

I know I've talked before about how much I love the work of Pamela Clare, but my love has grown by leaps and bounds after reading NAKED EDGE. Her romantic suspense series unquestionably tops the list of the best I've ever read. You know the feeling of satisfaction you get when you’ve just finished a great book? The one that won’t let you to start another book for a while, because that would take the sweet taste out of your mouth? Those books are few and far between, but this was one of them for me. I was fortunate enough to review UNLAWFUL CONTACT for Romance Junkies and have been waiting patiently for NAKED EDGE. Imagine how thrilled I was when I was able to snag it from the RJ review list!

What do you do when desire drives you to the very brink?
The day Navajo journalist Katherine James met Gabriel Rossiter, the earth literally moved beneath her feet. Nearly killed in a rockslide while hiking, she found her life in the tall park ranger's hands. Although she can't forget him she thinks she'll never see him again. She is crushed when she recognizes her rescuer among the law enforcement officers raiding a sweat lodge ceremony one night, throwing her and her friends off Mesa Butte, land they consider sacred.
Gabe long ago swore he would never again lose himself to a woman not even one with long dark hair and big eyes that seem to see right through him. But from the moment he first sees Kat, the attraction he feels is undeniable. Appalled by what he has been ordered to do, he's determined to get to the bottom of recent events at Mesa Butte and to keep Kat safe.
But asking questions can be dangerous almost as dangerous as risking one's heart. And soon Kat and Gabe's passion for the truth and each other makes them targets for those who would do anything, even kill, to keep Native Americans off their sacred land.

You'll find a great excerpt here - check it out!

My (5 blue ribbon) review:
When you have an emotionally damaged man who thinks he has nothing to give and who wants nothing in return, and a woman who’s genuinely pure and good; you just know they’ll each be a strength for the other’s weakness. Such is the case with Pamela Clare’s NAKED EDGE. Romantic suspense or action adventure, I don’t care what you call it, it simply doesn’t get any better than this.
All Denver Independent I-Team reporter Katherine James wanted when she set out on a hike was a speck of peace and quiet away from the hustle and noise that is Denver, a little one-on-one time with clean air and sunshine. What she got in return was a tumble with a rockslide that left her terribly bruised and broken. Thank heavens for park ranger Gabe Rossiter who was enjoying the solitude of off-duty rock climbing when he saw Kat’s fall. Shocked that she was still alive, he called for help and stayed with her until the rescue helicopter took her away. Three months later, Kat is mostly healed and participating in a Native American prayer ceremony that is violently attacked by officers in the name of upholding the law. She is greatly disappointed to see Gabe there in uniform – her recollection of her accident didn’t include his telling her he was in law enforcement. It turned out that Gabe is one of the good guys and he quickly takes action to get to the bottom of the violation. When the attacks on Kat and the Navajo community escalate, it quickly becomes clear that Kat’s life is in danger and she and Gabe have a serious fight on their hands to keep her alive.
Gabe becomes more attracted to Kat and her unusual beauty every time he’s near her. She quickly makes it clear that she is a virgin and yes, she intends to remain one until she finds the right man. Unlike most men who would find this absurdly cliché, Gabe respects her decision and understands that she only wants to share her body with the man she’ll share children and the rest of her life with. That doesn’t mean he wants Kat any less, but Gabe is still tortured over the loss of his fiancée three years prior and considers himself undeserving. Part of Gabe’s training as a park ranger included education in decades-old beliefs and traditions of the area’s Native American community. He has the utmost appreciation for those customs and is incensed when he witnesses the cruelty of some of the local police force against the Navajo residents. His deepening investigation serves to further exacerbate the attacks against Kat and he soon becomes her round the clock protector. He quickly realizes that Kat’s pure goodness runs far deeper than her virginity and being with her makes him wish that he could be the man on the receiving end of her love and affection.
NAKED EDGE is undoubtedly one of the most powerful love stories I have ever read. The intrigue and suspense are plentiful as are smoldering passions, but the love story especially is solidly told with a rhythm that slowly and continuously gains momentum. Kat’s genuine goodness and purity are a balm to Gabe’s tortured soul, yet she is unaware of how uniquely special she is. Gabe sees a woman in Kat that she doesn’t even realize exists. Navajo customs are beautifully written and woven into this story without being stereotypical and I feel certain that most readers will find themselves educated and more understanding as a result.
Appearances by previous series’ characters are just part of the rich deliciousness that is NAKED EDGE and catching up with them is an added treat. This book very capably stands on its own but because this is such a strong, wonderfully told series, I highly recommend reading in order.

Want a copy? You should! Here's a link to Amazon for easy ordering!
Because there's no way I'm parting with my ARC, I've decided to do a little different kind of giveaway to celebrate the release of NAKED EDGE. I'm going to embrace Kat’s spirit and strength with the giveaway of a cool mug that I bought from the Komen for the Cure online store. Want it? Leave a comment and your name will be put in the draw for it. I'd love to know if you've read any of Pamela Clare's work - historical or suspense. I have two of her historicals, UNTAMED and SURRENDER, but haven't read either yet so I'd really like to hear your thoughts!
Like the Jill Shalvis contest, I'm going to let this one run for a while and will announce the draw date in a few days. Feel free to enter both contests, ok?
Thanks so much for checking out NAKED EDGE!
Laurie

The latest from Jill Shalvis - SLOW HEAT - she's giving away a copy!

You all know that I squee when my good pal Jill Shalvis has a new book out - SLOW HEAT is her current release and it is worth checking out, especially if you're a hopeless romantic! Obviously, it has a baseball theme but trust me, you don't have to be a baseball fan to enjoy it.

After a woman claims she's pregnant with Wade O'Riley's love child, Major League Baseball's most celebrated catcher and ladies' man is slapped on the wrist by management and ordered to improve his image. His enforcer is the team's publicist, the tough and sexy Samantha McNead.
When Wade needs a date for a celebrity wedding, Sam steps up to the plate as his "girlfriend." But given her secret crush on him and that one awkward night a year ago in a stalled elevator with too much Scotch, the whole thing is an exercise in sexual tension.
Wade is thrilled when the pretense turns into an unexpected night of hot passion. But the next day Sam is back to her cool self. As a catcher, Wade's used to giving the signals, not struggling to read them. Now, to win the love of his "pretend" girlfriend, he needs a home run -- even if it involves stealing a few bases...
Jill has an excerpt on her site - you can check it out here.
My review:
Wade O’Riley, catcher for the Santa Barbara Heat Baseball team, has landed himself in PR trouble and corporate sponsors are demanding that he clean up his act. Owners decide that no one can make Wade look better than Samantha McNead, the team's gorgeous, strictly business, publicist. Given their one-time alcohol-fueled tryst in an elevator a year before, Sam isn’t initially open to the idea. Turns out that Sam has no say in the matter and ever the professional, she's determined to make it work. Wade is still attracted to Sam and loves "messing her up" and making her squirm every chance he gets when they’re in public. Wade makes every attempt to appear laid-back and carefree, but there are complex layers to him and he’s surprised when Sam gets close enough to find and understand them.

Sam isn’t at all happy about acting as Wade’s girlfriend. She’s far too serious to act like just another one of his playthings. Not only does she have to “babysit” Wade, but serious family issues have Sam’s young nephew, Tag, being sent to stay with her. Tag is bent on driving her crazy, acting out as a cry for attention, and Sam is seriously stressed. She's in a constant state of sweet frustration between the two "men" in her life, but determined to take good care of Tag and show him the unconditional love that he so desperately needs. When it comes to Wade, her feelings aren’t quite so easy or understandable. It isn’t long before Wade and Sam’s attraction is undeniable and they both discover that there’s much more to the other than meets the eye.

Jill Shalvis writes the most delicious heroes and Wade O’Riley is no exception. Despite being a constant in baseball’s fast lane, Wade has painful secrets that are keeping him from finding true happiness. Sam appears a little starchy early on, but it isn’t long before readers see her vulnerability, just as Wade is finding them for himself. The two are like oil and water at first, but they quickly mix and it’s almost immediately obvious that there’s something powerful going on between them. I don’t typically care for children in my romance, but Tag is beautifully written as a somewhat neglected, emotionally needy little boy and Wade’s interaction with him is priceless, serving to make him even more endearing. Check out SLOW HEAT, I feel certain you'll be glad you did.

Jill is graciously offering a copy of SLOW HEAT to one lucky reader here (once she has copies) - thanks, Jill! If you'd like to be in on the draw, just leave a comment - preferably about Jill, her books, or her blog about family and fun in the Sierras. I'm going to let this contest run for a while and will announce an ending date in the next couple of days. There's plenty of time for you to get your name in and send your friends over - you know how that works, right? For every friend who comments and mentions your name, I'll throw your name in the hat an extra time!
Have a great weekend!
Laurie

Shannon K. Butcher - thank heavens I've found her!

I asked Lindsay to give me a number and she said "one!" - so, the winner is BARB V! Barb, please email me at ljodamron@gmail.com with your mailing info and I'll get your book in the mail. With a snowstorm predicted, I won't promise that it will get mailed over the weekend, but the beginning of the week at the latest.
Thank you all so much for stopping! I'll have another contest in the next couple of days for prizes from the Shop Red! store at the American Heart Association and the Susan G. Komen store! There will be at least three prizes, so be sure to stop back!
Remember, Friday's "Wear Red" day! Have a great weekend - and if you're in the path of the predicted storm, please be careful driving and walking.

Shannon K. Butcher is a new author to me and boy am I happy! My good friend Barb Smith gave me a copy of LOVE ME TO DEATH to borrow, knowing how much I love romantic suspense and that I'm always on the lookout for new suspense authors. Barb's copy got a little dog-eared from being carried in my purse so I replaced hers with a new copy. Soon after I started reading, LOVE ME TO DEATH appeared on the Romance Junkies review list and already having a copy, I spoke for it. This is an amazingly good book and I hope if you're not familiar with Shannon K. Butcher, you'll check her out. She has several other romantic suspense titles including NO REGRETS, NO CONTROL and NO ESCAPE (which I have but haven't started). She also has a paranormal series, The Sentinel War Series: BURNING ALIVE, FINDING THE LOST, and upcoming RUNNING SCARED. I'm not a paranormal fan, but if anyone's familiar with this series, please share your thoughts!
There's a first chapter excerpt from LOVE ME TO DEATH on Ms. Butcher's website, and I'm sharing my Romance Junkies (4.5 blue ribbons) review here:

Spine-tingling intrigue, heated romance and a twisted madman are just a few of the makings of an excellent romantic suspense. Shannon K. Butcher proves unquestionable expertise on the subject with LOVE YOU TO DEATH.
Reporter Elise McBride is terrified when she doesn’t hear from her younger sister, Ashley, for several days. Elise leaves her most recent story in Hong Kong to hurry home to find Ashley. When she breaks into Ashley’s home in the middle of the night, she’s quickly intercepted by Ashley’s neighbor, former cop Trent Brady, and her exasperation grows even more. Repeatedly refusing Trent’s insistence that she allow the police to handle the investigation into Ashley’s disappearance, Elise feels a heartbreaking desperation and has no qualms about placing herself in danger. Once the two join forces and discover angles not being investigated by police, it isn’t long before they’re fully immersed in a dark, dangerous world unknown to most.
Trent Brady’s confidence as a capable cop takes a severe blow and he battles self-imposed demons after accidentally shooting and paralyzing his partner on the job. Despite that, he jumps in to assist Elise and although it would undoubtedly pain him to admit it, it was good for him to be involved with an investigation. When threats are made against Elise, escalating into violent attacks on her life, he has to admit that his feelings for her run much deeper than simply helping a neighbor’s sister.
This was my first time reading Shannon K. Butcher’s work. It won’t be my last. This book is an exceptional example of romantic suspense. The risks Elise takes in trying to find her sister could have appeared foolish but her painful desperation is written so exactly as to be reasonable and understandable. Trent’s sudden realization that he loved Elise was sweet, especially his understanding that her despair over her missing sister is so strong that she doesn’t recognize the same feelings for him. “Bad guy” is far too mild for the serial killer in this book. His evil runs so deep that you could wonder how an author thinks up someone so bizarrely twisted. The suspense is intense and while implications of the most chilling violence are made, it is done so without the most gruesome details. Romance readers will be satisfied with the passions of Trent and Elise. The balance of suspense and romance is just right and I truly don’t think it could have been done any better. LOVE YOU TO DEATH has my highest recommendation.

I want to give someone else the opportunity to read this great book and decided to give my copy to one lucky reader. I feel certain that like me, you'll be running out to get your hands on more!Keep in mind that this copy has been very gently read and it is not autographed. If you'd like your name in the draw, simply leave a comment saying so. If you've read Ms. Butcher's work, please chat it up, ok? I'm thrilled to have found a new (to me) action adventure author and want to know about more of her books. I'll draw a winning name on Thursday, 2/4. Good luck!
Click here to go to Amazon to toss a copy in your cart!
Thanks for checking it out!
Laurie