Book Club discussion

Let's start categorizing our authors here...

All of the Romance authors post here.

Tells us what you've written and what's coming out.

I write what is considered "romantic suspense" although I prefer to think of them as mysteries with relationships. I've got five books out now, with another due in May of 2011.

I also have a number of contemporary romance short stories.

Terry Odell

Nowhere to Hide

Hello again!

I've written:

Voice of Abandon

Before Dawn Breaks

One Evening in London

and the upcoming Rio Sunrise which will be released this fall from Freya's Bower. :-)

Hi
My name is Eve Langlais and I've got a few romances out right now


I do hope you'll take a peek at them or me :) Eve Langlais

Hi all , My name is Paula Phillips and I work by day as a Librarian and by night and in the weekends in between study , I run a book review website called The Phantom Paragrapher. I review all genres and read all books from children’s to adults. My site is what some would call an Eclectic mix and I do like variety. If you have a book that you would like reviewed – I accept both Print and EBooks, or want a bit of promotion for a new release or event, how about an author interview or guest post? If this interests you, send me an email to Paulazone@live.com and check out my site www.thephantomparagrapher.blogspot.com.

I write mystery/romance novels, as well as some contemporary romance short stories. I'd love for you to check them out -- I have print books available from Amazon and other bookstores, as well as digital versions available from Smashwords, the Kindle Store, the iBookstore, B&N, and probably places I'm unaware of! Details at my website-- hope you'll check it out.

Hello everyone. I write contemporary novels with an erotic flair.

My first title, "Who Would Have Thought?" was published June 15, 2010.

My second title, "Time Heals" was released on November 6, 2010.

www.trenicecarter.com

Great Review of by The Romance Review @ www.theromancereviews.com

This introduction to the Men of Adonis has it all—romance, intrigue, suspense, but most of all it's a hot, erotic read that'll have you panting for more of Steve, Alex and Justin.

In this first book of the Men of Adonis series, the focus is on Steve, a doctor in Blaine, MN and Allison, a scrub nurse at the hospital where Steve does surgery. They are both unsatisfied with their lives for different reasons, but they find each other, and it's as if they were always meant to be. But amidst their blossoming relationship, they find out secrets about each other and their future that will change their lives forever.

Although this book is about Steve and Allison, it really was about a group of friends who are more like family, and it follows all of their lives. Steve and his "brothers", Alex and Justin, have been there for each other since they were kids. They do everything together, and they are closer to each other than blood brothers. It was wonderful reading how these strong men love each other and would lay down their lives for one another. And on many occasions, kick butt to get them back on the right track.

There were also some integral characters in Allison's life, such as Jemma the model-turned-gallery owner, who helps Allison through the dark times in her life. The connection between the characters made this book special. I must admit that at first, I wasn't sure who the book was supposed to be about, but I quickly realized that there wouldn't be a "Steve and Allison" without the others. They were just as integral to the story as the main characters. All of their stories became interwoven, and it seemed natural to learning just as much about the "secondary" characters as it was the main characters. Everyone had their flaws, their wonderful attributes, and encountered problems. But underneath it all, they all loved each other, and that was evident throughout the book.

The plot of the book had many twists and turns, and included murder, corporate espionage, poor medical practices, international crimes, and the list goes on. The thing that impressed me the most about that was the fact that the author really addressed all aspects of the plot without leaving anything hanging. It was also very interesting the way all these facets of the plot came together and were interrelated.

Then, there is the erotic component of the book. Whew! It was steamy. I don't know if there really is a Blaine, MN, but I think I need to move. The men in this town are so hot, I thought my underwear would melt off. The sex scenes were sexy and varied, as well as very interesting. I for one think that more men would stay in the hospital after they read this book—it gives new meaning to the term "individualized healthcare" (that's all I'm giving you about that). The men also like to share their lovers. That could become quite the feat going forward. I look forward to seeing the other men fall in love and how they will navigate their love of sharing partners when more people are involved.

So, this is a great introduction to an erotic series that has grabbed my attention. It's a self-published work, and there were some editing flaws, but overall, it was a highly enjoyable and steamy read.

The Romance Reviews 4/5 STAR Review by Rho - Time Heals
December 10, 2010

The Men of Adonis are back, and this time it's Justin's time to fall, but the way down is so much fun. We get new characters, worsening problems, and a whole new way to look at the phrase "family bonding". I must say...I'm HOOKED!

Justin Brooks, the charismatic lawyer and "brother" to Alex and Steve, has problems. He's being blackmailed for something in his past, he's got headaches and nightmares since he witnessed a death that he feels responsible for, and to top it all off, he got on the wrong side of a "school-marm" psychiatrist, who wants him to have anger management therapy in exchange for keeping him out of jail.

Dr. Danielle "Nell" Ratcliff wants to help Justin face his anger, but she can't deny the attraction she feels for him. During the course of the therapy, they explore the attraction and discover much more. But with the blackmailers getting even more dangerous, their relationship may come to an abrupt end before it really gets started.

Time Heals is the second book in the Men of Adonis series. It's deeply linked to the first story, but it's not essential that you read the first story to understand this one. I think though that you would miss out on a lot of background story if you didn't read the first one.

The story pretty much takes place right where the first one left off. It's supposed to be the story about Justin Brooks, the lawyer, but as with the first story, it really follows the lives of all the people connected with Justin, Steve, and Alex. The three men call themselves "brothers" and have been inseparable friends since their teen years.

I really liked the character of Nell, Justin's love interest. She's got this very sedate outer appearance as Dr. Ratcliff, but underneath she's a hellcat. And she's just the type of woman to keep Justin in line. We also catch up with Steve and Allie from the first book and see how they are adjusting to new family life with their son, while Alex is still sticking to his love ‘em and leave ‘em ways. Many other characters that have become a part of "the family" make an appearance in this book as well.

There are a lot of secrets revealed in this book, and to tell you the truth, a couple of them I really didn't see coming. It essentially kept me reading the whole way through. I couldn't put the book down for fear that I would miss something. Justin is such an interesting character with the secrets and guilt that he's harboring throughout this story and even the first one. It was wonderful to see that he got his happily ever after.

The men are still sharing, and I had said before that I was interested in seeing how that would work out going forward with each of the brothers falling in love. Let's just say, they seem to work it out with no problems (wink, wink).

I only have two complaints about the book: one, the reviewers copy needed editing. And two, I felt a little like Justin and Nell got shafted a bit with their romance. There was so much other stuff going on in the book, including stories with other characters, that I felt like they didn't get all that they should have. They are a wonderful couple and I wanted there to be more concentrated time on the two of them.

With that being said, the characters that were introduced or given more in-depth storylines were great, so I loved reading about them as well. And oh the sex. My goodness, there was a lot of it. There's even an M/M scene that was pretty hot in there as well. It wasn't with the brothers but with some of the secondary characters. I can't wait to see what's going to happen there.

Trenice Carter can write a steamy love scene that's for sure. I felt like I could see the steam coming off my kindle a few times. And I haven't even talked about what happens with the sharing when we add Nell into the mix...oh my. One of my favorite things about these books so far is that we have people of all different nationalities, ethnicities and backgrounds, but the author doesn't make a big deal about it. There's no, "I never been with a black person before" or "I never knew white girls were so attractive" kind of thing. It's just that they are people who love each other who happen to be a mixture of races and that's that. It's a refreshing change to a lot of multi-cultural romances.

What a great continuation of a wonderful series! The in-depth plot, steamy love scenes, and fantastic characters came together so well in this book. And while I wanted to see more of Justin and Nell, what I had I loved; and I got so much more as well. I can't wait to see what will come next for the brothers, but I have no doubt I'll devour them just as much as I have with the first two books.

NOWHERE TO HIDE: A Five Heart Review from The Romance Studio:

Terry Odell
Romantic suspense
Available from The Wild Rose Press
ISBN: 1-60154-767-6
July 2010

Colleen McDonald has escaped to Orlando, Florida from Oregon. Post traumatic stress disorder after being shot and seeing her partner killed haunts her days and nights. The citrus state isn't the haven she had hoped for. Her landlord is missing. Handsome Deputy Sheriff Graham Harrigan is investigating. As the two become closer the suspense builds as the two compete and then cooperate to find the bad guy.

Terry Odell has penned an excellent suspense that deals sensitively with both PTSD and Alzheimer's disease. Colleen is probably a worst-case example of why police officers dread domestic disturbance calls so much.

Secondary characters help make the tale much better than the average romantic who-done-it. Doris Walters, who seems to be in the early stages of Alzheimer's, varies from sad to funny. Tracy, a dancer who helps feminize tomboy Colleen, is great. Lt. Schaeffer gives Graham the chance to prove himself as a detective. He also shows a sensitivity at times that goes above what many may think is status quo for someone in his position.

There are others but these three really standout as exceptional characterizations. Of course, Graham and Colleen are also great. Neither is perfect which makes them even more human and easy to relate to. Their romance isn't easily built because both are complex personalities. It wouldn't seem true to the story if they strayed out of character to add more sexuality faster.

Odell starts with realism and maintains it throughout without the quick fixes. She doesn't use scenario shifts to cover territory a reader wants to know about. This author continues to be one who meets all my expectations for a great story.
Reviewer: Dee Dailey
November 17, 2010

Nowhere to Hide is also available in Digital formats from most digital outlets. More details here.


Terry Odell

4/5 Star Review of “Who Would Have Thought, first series of “Men of Adonis”” by Brenda Woody & Steve Tindle, Authors of “Best Lover in Town”

“Who Would Have Thought” is an intriguing novel spinning the lives of three men, Dr. Steve Kruz, Justin Brooks and Alexander Moran, who are handsome and sexy as hell, strong willed, career minded and prowlers when it comes to sex. These are the “Men of Adonis”. They are brothers, not of blood, but of the bond they formed at a very young age. The women they encounter are left with wanting more and seek these men out time and again to ride the wave of pleasure.
There are several minor characters that are woven into the story, and will become favorites of readers as are the “Men of Adonis”. We hope these characters are featured in the rest of the series.
We particularly liked when turn of events centered on Steve, Allison, Jemma and Dillon. These four characters spurred our emotions as we learned about their situations and dilemmas.
You will find raw sex, dark emotions, espionage and true friendship.
The story is fast paced and a bit choppy in areas with some grammatical errors. But as we read the story, we both agreed it is written like a movie. This book would be a good screenplay for a mini series when all installments are completed.

I write sweet and sensual romance. My first release is a novella titled The Arrangement, which is an All Romance Ebooks bestseller and has received a couple of great reviews.

Chapter one is on my website under the Books tab. Fellow authors (you don't have to be a romance writer) are welcome to promo on my fan page today, next Friday, and every third Friday starting in February. Promote your blogs and other writing so we can support each other!

Posts must be PG. Read all the rules here: http://delaneydiamond.com/2011/01/13/...

http://delaneydiamond.com

I currently write historical romance and contemporary romance for Carina Press.

My historical romance debut CAPTIVE SPIRIT was published in June 2010. It will be coming out in audiobook too from Audible.com

My second novel, a contemporary romance and tentatively titled RUN FOR YOUR LIFE, will be published in July 2011.

I love connecting with other writers on my blog and web site.
http://lizficherablog.blogspot.com/

Congratulations on your releases. I wish you ladies and gents much success! ;)

Delaney wrote: "I write sweet and sensual romance. My first release is a novella titled The Arrangement, which is an All Romance Ebooks bestseller and has received a couple of great reviews.

Chapter one is on my ..."

I love those sweet, sensual romances so I might have to give your story a try, Delaney.

I did have a question regarding the rules listed on your blog for the promo. It says you can post twice. Is that twice per week or twice ever? It's not clear.

Sherri

Sherri, I'd love for you to check out my book!

To answer you question: on my Facebook page you can post twice on the designated Promo Friday until 8:00 PM EST.

To publicize the opportunity, I've offered Promo Friday three days this month. I'm having another one next Friday. Starting in February, it will be the third Friday of each month.

I look forward to seeing you there later.

http://facebook.com/delaneydiamond

Eureka!

Thanks, John, I was only looking at the first five genres and failed to notice there were more. Now I feel at home. A group without romance is like a day without sunshine :-).

My book is The Diva of Peddler's Creek, a contemporary romance. Always happy to talk about it so smart people should not encourage me to do so or I'll go on for days.

Writers should check out my blog at www.avableu.blogspot.com, "like" my Divas Unite Facebook page, or go to my contact page at www.BooksbyAva.com to join my mailing list.


Like I said, I can go on and on ...

I really came to talk about the hot topic these days about romance readers being unbalanced (or at least that is my take on the article based on feedback from other writers, haven't actually read it myself). My deal is, what is so all-fire irrational about wanting to read some happy endings. To me, it's much healthier to encourage hope and love than to have people running around expecting everything--including relationships--to suck. Anyone with me?

Ava

P.S. Hi Delaney, small world!

Hi Ava! Fancy meeting you here. LOL.

As a fellow romance author, you know I agree with you. I don't understand the passionate dislike for and assumptions against the romance genre.

Furthermore, the genre is so diverse, that just about everyone can find something they like. There's contemporary, historicals, chick-lit, sci-fi--you name it, there's a romance novel written about it.

There are even different heat levels for those who prefer to leave certain acts to the imagination. With so much negativity in the world, it's nice to have books with happy endings.

Rebecca Sinclair

Prairie Angel
Murphy's Law
Forevermore
Wild Scottish Embrace
Perfect Strangers
Passion's Wild Delight
California Caress
Golden Dreams
Heart's Whisper
Sweet Texas Kiss
Forbidden Desires
Scottish Ecstasy



I just joined the group this morning, and am looking forward to diving in to all the messages. Above is all my books to-date. :)

~ Reb
http://wwww.rebeccasinclair.com

Wow, impressive!

Thank you, Ava.

I forgot to mention that MONTANA WILDFIRE and PERFECT STRANGERS will be debuting in ebook on June 10th, with CALIFORNIA CARESS to follow soon behind them ... I'm proofing it now.

I just added my new book here at goodreads. It comes out in July. And although it's not your traditional romance, this is the best category fit.


Stephan has lived the lifestyle of a Dominant for five years. After several rebellious teenage years, it gave him the stability and control he had been seeking after his parent’s death.

As president of a not-for-profit foundation, he knows what his future holds and what he wants out of life. All that changes when a simple lunch with his college friend and Mentor, Darren, leads him to buying a slave.

Thrust into a situation he never thought he’d be in, Stephan can’t walk away. He is compelled to help this girl in the only way he knows how.

Brianna knows only one thing, she is a slave. She has nothing. She is nothing.

Can Stephan help Brianna realize that she is much more than just a Slave?

Living Canvas
I write contemporary romance, usually with underlying supernatural elements. Living Canvas is a new release.


Karla Brandenburg

I write Romantic Fantasy/Paranormal Romance.




GHOSTBOUND - Love is stronger than death:

Can there be hope for love beyond the grave?

Elizabeth is stunned. Daniel, the handsome detective she´s met while researching a mysterious series of murders in London, was killed right in front of her. But she soon learns that Daniel´s ghost is stranded in this world and that she´s the only person who can see and hear him. They team up to find his murderers and come to realise that things aren't what they first seemed to be.

There's only one question that bothers Elizabeth even more: Has fate really given Daniel and her a second chance? Or is this just a brief respite from the inevitable?




GHOSTBOUND - Call from the other side

Who can you trust?

Finally, Elizabeth and her friends have a hot lead. It appears that a secret brotherhood is responsible for the murders, and its roots hark back to a long-forgotten Indian cult.
But it seems they are after Elizabeth now as well, because this invisible society is powerful and will do anything to keep their secret hidden.
As if this isn’t enough trouble, Daniel is being called to the other side at every sunrise, and the ghost can only stay in this world if Elizabeth is there to anchor him to it. But then Elizabeth is kidnapped, and relentlessly the new day dawns…



To be released in October 2013:

GHOSTBOUND - Dark Destiny

I write contemporary erotic romance. My latest book is
Choosing Chase

I'm currently working on the sequel to Choosing Chase, due out in December as well as the first full book in the Shifter Breeds series a paranormal romance due in Jan 2014.