IT'S HOTTER IN HAWAII by HelenKay Dimon - she's giving away a copy here!

HelenKay Dimon has a new book coming out and I was extremely fortunate to get an early copy from her for review. (Thank you, HelenKay!) I've never been disappointed by HelenKay's books and I feel certain that most of you probably feel the same. Here's a little chatter and my review for IT'S HOTTER IN HAWAII and in addition, covers and blurbs for upcoming books.

Cassie Montgomery was in no mood for messing around—until she got an eyeful of the sizzling-hot miscreant breaking into her half-brother Dan’s Hawaii home. Turns out he’s not a criminal, but a friend who’s just as suspicious of Dan’s “accidental” death as she is. Cassie’s beyond tired of bashing heads with thick-skulled local law enforcement, so there’s only one thing for it: team up with Caleb Wilson, and try to keep her secrets—and hands—to herself...
Having a gun trained on him is nothing new for Cal. But when said gun is brandished by a goddess sporting short-shorts, a bad attitude, and a hidden agenda? A man should consider his choices very carefully. Option one: Seduce first, ask questions later. Option two: Find out why she’s in his Air Force buddy’s torn-up house, then seduce her. Option three: Let the islands do their work and let the woman behind the weapon seduce him...

MY REVIEW: When Cassie Montgomery’s big brother dies while piloting, and subsequently crashing, a helicopter used in his Hawaiian island-hopping business, she feels certain that his death was not accidental. Finding Dan’s rural Kauai home ransacked when she arrives to clean it out, she begins to search for clues and it isn’t long before she’s interrupted by an intruder trying to sneak in the window. Cal Wilson isn’t truly an intruder, but his work is cut out for him to get Cassie to trust him and allow him to join her investigation. Sparks fly when the two are together and soon their desire for each other is as strong as that to solve the mystery behind Dan’s death.
Caleb “Cal” Wilson was summoned by Dan shortly before his death and he’s incredulous to learn of Dan’s crash. He hadn’t seen Dan for some time and despite the unsettled issues and hard feelings between them, Cal couldn’t refuse Dan’s request for help. Cal can’t resist his attraction to Cassie, just as he can’t help his frustration over her hard-headed, albeit admirable, determination to find the truth behind her brother’s death. Soon the two have joined forces in searching for answers, in butting heads with local police and the DEA, and there’s an attraction that immediately encompasses them both. As the investigation deepens and more truths about Dan are uncovered, Cal knows it’s simply a matter of time before Cassie learns that he and Dan had been estranged and just what his role was in the termination of Dan’s military career.
HelenKay Dimon is consistently creative and always entertains readers with quick-witted characters, settings that come to life in readers’ minds, and vivid sensuality. Cassie’s pain at the loss of her brother seems almost tangible at times, and despite their frequent banter and heated passions, she and Cal never lose sight of the real reason they’ve been brought together. While this book is promoted as contemporary romance, it has a fair amount of suspense and could also, in my opinion, be categorized as a romantic suspense. Secondary characters play an intricate role in the story and two will have their stories told in upcoming books from Ms. Dimon. I give IT’S HOTTER IN HAWAII the highest recommendation to all romance readers.
If you can't get to the bookstore on release day, I suggest that you pop on over to Amazon and toss a copy in your cart.

Take a look at what's coming in October '09: KISSING SANTA CLAUS with Donna Kauffman and Jill Shalvis!
Hawaii’s no paradise for Marissa, who, thanks to a series of unfortunate events, can’t seem to get away from the sand to enjoy her Christmas East Coast style—with plenty of snow and slush. But tall, dark, and serious police officer Ted’s about to give this bad Santa in heels a Mele Kalikimaka she’ll never forget…
Ted plays a key role in IT'S HOTTER IN HAWAII and I think readers are going to be very excited to read his story. I am so pleased that HelenKay is keeping us in Hawaii a while longer!

Also coming in October '09: HOLDING OUT FOR A HERO - what a gorgeous cover, huh? Very sensual, but tastefully so - I think it's especially nice! And having gotten to know Josh a bit in IT'S HOTTER IN HAWAII, I can't wait to see what HelenKay has in mind for him! He definitely deserves a determined woman who will keep him on his toes!

Deana Armstrong needs a hero—not for herself, but for the nephew all her money and time can’t seem to get out of jail. Unfortunately, the best hero in all the Hawaiian Islands is set on turning in his badge and getting his excellent butt into another line of work. If that wasn’t enough, Josh Windsor also has a big-time grudge against Deana herself. But if there’s anything being rich, smart, and stubborn has taught Deana, it’s never to settle for second best…
Josh has had it with saving people. He’s had it with getting hauled into court. And boy, has he ever had it with Deana. Or well, he hasn’t had it. Yet. But the more she pops up sounding infuriating and looking good enough to eat, the more her hot bod and her cold case wriggle into his mind. And there’s only so much even a hero can resist…

How's that for something to look forward to? I hope you'll all check out HelenKay's newly remodeled website and her books. Be sure to let her know what you think, ok? HelenKay truly appreciates her readers and I don't know any author who doesn't enjoy hearing when someone enjoys their work.
And now, even more exciting news! I have an autographed arc of IT'S HOTTER IN HAWAII for giveaway! Thanks to HelenKay, one lucky reader will win a copy just for leaving a comment. Feel free to chat about the usual romance reader stuff - fave HelenKay book, fave HelenKay hero, HelenKay's new website - it's all about HelenKay!! I'll draw the winning name this Friday, 3/27 - good luck, everyone!
Laurie

HOT AS HELL - the latest from HelenKay Dimon!

HelenKay Dimon has a stellar new release, HOT AS HELL and I promise that you won't be disappointed. The cover is just the beginning of goodness in this book - every page from beginning to end is enjoyable.

Here's a little blurb:

Lexy Stuart is nobody's fool...not since she wised up to the fact that her fiancé, Noah Paxton, wasn't just sporting the hardest bod this side of the Ironman competition. No, he was also harboring enough secrets to make a CIA operative blush. Little things he never thought worth mentioning like, oh, a previous marriage. So Lexy gave back the ring—with extreme prejudice—and made sandy tracks straight to a remote desert spa. Problem is, with a man like Noah, a girl can run, but she can't hide. Nor does she particularly want to...
Alexa Annabeth Stuart. The stuffy name couldn't be less suitable for a woman as fiery and free as Noah's Lexy. And Lexy is his—always will be—the tricky part will be getting her to realize it. Of course, Noah's always up for a challenge. Which is a good thing, since between the crazy heat at this god-forsaken “retreat” and the looks Lexy's shooting him (not to mention the shockwaves he's getting from her hot-pink bikini), winning his ex back could be one dangerous mission. But if Noah doesn't survive it, well, he intends to die a very satisfied man...

My review:
When Alexa “Lexy” Stuart breaks her engagement with security specialist Noah Paxton, it isn’t strictly because he has secrets he won’t share, although the fact that he evidently forgot about having been married before remains a bit of a sore spot. She goes to a spa to get away and do some investigative thinking of her own only to have Noah follow, trying to talk her back. When a dead body shows up in Lexy’s room and she finds herself in the middle of a murder investigation, Noah sticks by her. Noah knows about and accepts Lexy’s weaknesses and insecurities from being raised by parents who are hoarders, and he goes above and beyond to make her feel safe and secure. The inexplicable need to be surrounded by her belongings is something Lexy battles constantly, sometimes more successfully than others. If only Noah could see that Lexy needs some truths from him before her mistrust will be completely set aside so they can return to the loving, passionate relationship they had before.
Noah has secrets, yes, but Lexy is being plenty secretive herself, breaking their engagement and then inexplicably bringing some of his work files with her to this Godforsaken health spa, where he’s forced to eat sprouts and go on endless hikes in the scorching sun. When the subject of those files is found murdered in Lexy’s room, Noah’s instincts are to keep her safe while doing his own investigation. Lexy is the most intriguing yet frustrating woman he has ever known and he knows that being the one steady constant in her life is his only hope for recapturing their relationship, despite the craziness surrounding them.
HelenKay Dimon always gives readers the most fascinating characters. Her storylines are always fresh and new and I have yet to not enjoy one of her books. Lexy is a wonderful heroine who is an interesting mix of strength, self-sufficiency and vulnerability and while she may think she doesn’t need Noah, the truth is she’s incomplete with him. Noah, on the other hand, readily admits that he wants and needs Lexy and that his life is empty without her. I find the hoarding issue to be especially interesting and think it goes far in making this story incredibly realistic. Kudos to HelenKay for daring to bring this topic to light in a romance! I highly recommend this book to everyone who enjoys contemporary romance with a touch of humor and mystery.

Thanks to HelenKay for allowing me to review HOT AS HELL for her - I hope you'll all be more than tempted go grab a copy - here's a quick link to Amazon so you can do just that! If you've already read it, please share your thoughts with us (but no spoilers, please)!
The week's half over - I hope it's treating everyone right! I doubt that I'm the only one who's relieved that the election is said and done - I hope our nation will unite now in making the future better for everyone - not to mention that we can return to our regularly scheduled programs (and commercials)!
Laurie

TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT - and a chance to win!

Donna Kauffman, Jill Shalvis, and HelenKay Dimon, three of the most recognized names in women's fiction, have joined together in a fun holiday anthology, TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT. I have read pretty much everything these talented women have written and trust me, they know how to do romance right - gorgeous, manly men, the sexy, intelligent women they can't live without, humor and sensuality - it all adds up to excellent reading entertainment if you ask me.

I was very fortunate to get a copy of this gorgeous book from HelenKay for review - together with an extra copy for giveaway - try and tell me you're not excited!! The cover shouts Christmas, doesn't it? The red door on the cover looks exactly like the front door on the house where I grew up, which makes it extra special! I always loved that bright red door. I've written a review - try to read it all the way through before going to the contest info, ok? Just kidding, I'd probably rather skip to the good stuff too!

My review:
TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT Donna Kauffman
Emma Lafferty agrees to house sit and pet sit for an eccentric billionaire over the holidays, knowing the pay and references it would generate would be a hefty boost to her new pet sitting business. When she arrives at his country home in the middle of an ice storm, the last thing she expects to find is the gorgeous great-grandson of the CEO, and although she doesn't quite believe the story he's telling about why he's there, she finds his charm irresistible.
Trevor Hamilton knew his great-uncle was going out of the country for two weeks and was certain he could pay off whoever had been hired to pet sit so he could search the mansion for clues to a family secret - a secret that has eaten at him for several years. It immediately becomes clear that Emma isn't budging. It isn't long before Trevor is totally captivated by Emma and he finds himself questioning the importance of the supposed family secret in comparison to his desire to build a relationship with Emma.
Emma and Trevor are absolutely charming together, despite a slightly rocky start. The sparks fly immediately, although they're a little hesitant to trust each other. Trevor's questions and doubts about his place in his family is heartening, as is Emma's gentle persuasion for him to do whatever is necessary to ease his mind and allow him to find the peace he has desperately wanted for several years.
FINDING MR. RIGHT Jill Shalvis
Maggie Bell is a chemistry genius, working extremely long days on what she hopes is the next medical miracle. Maggie seems to be a Mr. Wrong magnet - finding him time and time again. When she decides to just go ahead and find Mr. Wrong right off the bat, who better than her high school crush, Jacob Wheeler, a contractor who is working in her building. The trouble is, once the two start spending time together, Jacob is beginning to look more and more like Mr. Right.
Seeing Maggie for the first time since high school, Jacob is incredulous that he's never noticed how beautiful she is. When he learns that she's decided to "use" him as her Mr. Wrong, he decides to make the most of it and convince her that he wants more than a temporary fling, encouraging her to use her lab for more than test slides.
Jill Shalvis has done a great job with this reunion story. Past familiarity spares Maggie and Jacob time in the "getting to know you" stage and despite their differences in profession, they find that there's a definite attraction that both are eager to investigate and research. Add a little intrigue and danger and Maggie and Jacob's story is especially interesting.
CAN YOU HAND ME THE TAPE? HelenKay Dimon
Natalie Pritchard breaks her engagement to a sleazy, self-centered jerk only to discover that he's unknowingly in possession of a naughty tape she made for him in an effort to boost her self-confidence. She decides the only person she can go to for help is her ex's law partner, Spencer Donovan. To say that Natalie and Spencer don't see eye to eye is an understatement and it takes tremendous courage for her to even talk to him about the tape. Somewhere in the course of their meetings to discuss strategy, the two share their secrets and feelings and soon begin to see each other in a totally different light.
Spencer Donovan would be the first to admit that he had never really noticed Natalie before. As the fiancee of his law partner she was off-limits so he had no reason to check her out as a woman. Now that she's no longer taken and has requested his help, he has checked her out - and plans to continue checking her out. Because Natlie's self-esteem is nearly broken, Spence knows that a soft-touch is needed. He's counting on gentle attentions and the success of a grand gesture to prove to Natalie that she's the perfect woman for him, just the way she is.
HelenKay Dimon has written Natalie with vulnerabilities that are shared by so many women. Spencer sees these vulnerabilities immediately and rather than act on them for his own benefit, he's determined to make Natalie see how very beautiful and special she is. Talk about dreamy! It was a pleasure to see these two gradually move from verbal sparring to passionate whispering!

I give this book the highest of recommendations - everyone should have it on top of their stack of holiday reads!
Now for the contest. Please post a comment about holiday romances - do you like them? Love them? Are they just so-so for you? Do you have a favorite? I wrote an article at Romancing the Blog once that discussed holiday romances and the responses were very interesting. The general consensus seemed to be (and I heartily agree) that they are most enjoyable in the fall/winter before the holidays. There were a few who read them year-round, which reminds me of my mother who watches taped Christmas movies all year. If you send a friend who mentions your name, I'll put your name in the draw an extra time for each friend doing the mentioning. I'll draw a name on Sunday evening, the 28th. Good luck, everyone!
TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT is available on shelves now, or if you prefer ordering from the comfort of home, here's an Amazon link.

Thanks to all who stop by and huge, extra special thanks to HelenKay for offering up a copy for one lucky reader!

Laurie

HelenKay Dimon's HARD AS NAILS

HelenKay Dimon has a new book scheduled to release on June 24 - can you hear readers pawing the ground in anticipation? I have read all of her previous releases, but this is the first time I've been fortunate enough to get my hands on one for review. Needless to say, I was thrilled! I was also excited to finally meet HelenKay at the RT booksigning - my HARD AS NAILS arc now bears her autograph!
Take a look at HelenKay's Coming Soon page - there's even more good stuff coming in '08, including a holiday anthology with pal Jill Shalvis and Donna Kauffman! And while you're at it, you might as well check out HelenKay's blog - there's always something interesting and fun going on there.
Here's my (4.5 blue ribbons) Romance Junkies review:
An anthology that takes readers into the lives (and loves) of the characters who were secondary in her earlier novella (Hardhats and Silk Stockings) in the WHEN GOOD THINGS HAPPEN TO BAD BOYS anthology, HelenKay Dimon has written another winner with HARD AS NAILS.

THIS OLD HOUSE
Aubrey Matheson is desperately determined to remain in her aunt’s historic home for just a bit longer. Yes, the beautiful old house has been sold and her elderly aunt comfortably settled into a retirement home, but Aubrey has her own secret reason for staying. When Cole Carruthers shows up, he’s confident that he’ll have Ms. Matheson out on her cute little butt in no time at all. He wasn’t counting on her coming at him with a sledgehammer that weighs almost as much as she does. When Aubrey argues that Cole’s company took advantage of her poor old aunt and refuses to leave until they make it right, Cole wonders what she’s up to. His determination and stubbornness equal hers and he vows to remain in the house with her until she tells him the truth or leaves. What he didn’t count on was an undeniable attraction to Aubrey that packs a punch that’s more powerful than her sledgehammer.
ALL ABOUT ADAM
After a seven day fling that ended with the disappearance of Rebecca Carter, Adam Thomas has unsuccessfully done everything possible to get in touch with her for the past eight months. When he finds Becky waiting in his firm’s conference room to discuss negotiations for her friend’s purchase of the historic home he’s part owner of, he’s excited at the opportunity to reconnect with her. Becky’s experience with men hasn’t always been pleasant though and despite Adam’s dogged resolve to get her back in his life, it won’t be easy to get her to drop her guard. When Becky finally does open up to let Adam in, she tells herself it’s just to prove that he’s a minor distraction, certain that once they’ve been intimate she’ll be able to move on. If only it was that simple. Both of these hard bargaining attorneys are in for the experience of a lifetime - when they finally stop opposing each other!
MAN AT THE DOOR
Erin McHugh, having faced the consequence of her controversial parents for her entire life, simply wishes to live quietly and without incident. When Ray Hammond, the job foreman overseeing the restoration of the historical building she recently purchased, shows interest in her she blows him off, mostly because he’s younger than her. Ray refuses to be dissuaded by a measly seven years and he sets out to win Erin over. But Erin soon discovers that Ray has a secret of his own and fear of negative public attention have her backing away. When she realizes that she’s in danger of losing the most special, solid thing in her life, she knows that nothing short of a grand gesture will do in trying to get him back – but will she be too late?

This anthology will satisfy the romantic notions and needs of even the most seasoned romance reader. The stories are not rushed or incomplete and mesh together nicely, almost giving the feeling of being one full-length story. Ms. Dimon always provides readers with characters who seem like warm-blooded acquaintances rather than simply characters written in ink on paper. HARD AS NAILS has my highest recommendation for all contemporary romance fans.

Thanks for stopping - I hope you're all having a great week! (Don't forget the Jill Shalvis contest running through this Friday - see below)

Laurie