Next-Up Reads

I have to tell you the story of how I was lucky enough to receive the ARC of Hard As Nails. I won a contest on the fabulous HelenKay's blog and won a copy of Right Here, Right Now. I didn't get the book and didn't get the book so I emailed her. From reading her blog I knew she was busy with RT and being out of town for a wedding and other things, so I sent her a nice email asking if she'd sent the book yet. HelenKay replied that she would check into it as soon as she got home.

When she got home, she did absolutely check and realized the book had not been sent and apologized profusely and said she'd put some extras in with the book. She was extremely gracious and wonderful to communicate with. I told her she didn't have to send me anything extra, that I totally know how it is when your life is hectic, that sometimes things get overlooked. I really like HelenKay. She's a nice lady.

Anywho- I get the package and there are goodies! The copy of Right Here, Right Now the ARC of Hard As Nails (which I just noted on her blog is now shipping from B&N), and two cover flats. GORGEOUS cover flats at that of two more of her upcoming releases.

HelenKay, thank you so much!!

And Sara Reinke, she's awesome too! Not only did she send me an ARC of Dark Hunger but because she knows how much I despise reading out of order... well, from me telling her anyway... she sent me the first book in the series as well, Dark Thirst. THEN I look in the envelope and there's goodness! A folder with a hottie on hit from her book cover, book marks, magnets, dude, I hit the mother load!

So, Sara, thank you! You rock! (By the way Sara, my library has a copy of An Unexpected Engagement that you had published with Medallion Press. I shall be checking that out too! Wheeee!)

I've got a couple of the original SG-5 books from Alison Kent, but I don't have this one... awesome! Thanks much Alison!!!!

Right Here, Right Now- HelenKay Dimon
NOW AVAILABLE

IT’S NOT YOU, IT’S ME…
For Gabby Pearson, being dumped in public before the dessert course has to be the lowest of the low—especially when it’s the old, “It’s not you, it’s me” speech. Honestly, how about something original: “I have five minutes to live” (very possible); “It’s not you, it’s the voices in my head” (thanks for the warning); or “I am such a powerful sexual being I could put you into a coma with one kiss” (wishful thinking). Not that Gabby would ever know since Reed Larkin never bothered to take her to bed. Why does a girl bother (to shave)? The only thing left to do is offer the guy a goodbye-forever drink…on his head.

IT’S ME WANTING YOU COMPLETELY…
Damn. Reed did his job—he walked away from Gabby rather than drag her into his unstable life and danger. Now he’s wearing her full glass of wine instead of throwing her onto his sheets. It doesn’t help that the woman is smart as hell and could stop a man’s breath with that wide smile and those shapely curves. Gabby has it all, and Reed wants every inch of her. And now the joke’s on him, because new intel says Gabby has just become his assignment: He has one day to win her back, get information from her she may not know she has, and somehow protect her at the same time.

RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW. PROBLEM?
The stakes are high. The odds are impossible. And the mutual attraction is as hot and strong as Gabby’s anger. And Reed can only hope his next speech—“It’s you, baby, it’s definitely you…”—will be the start of something wild, something crazy, something dangerous, something wonderful…

Available for purchase here and here.
Read an excerpt here.

Hard As Nails by HelenKay Dimon.
AVAILABLE 07/2008

What's better than a man who's good with his hands? Try a trio of hard-bodied hunks who'll be happy to flip your house, your heart...and anything else you have in mind...

THIS OLD HOUSE
Architect Cole Carruthers's mission is simple—visit his company's latest rehab project and cajole the sweet old lady who once owned it into vacating the premises. But the sultry, sledge-hammer-wielding woman he finds is far from old, nor particularly sweet. For reasons she won't reveal, Aubrey Matheson refuses to leave the house she claims is her birthright. As far as Cole's concerned, there's only one thing to do with this squatter: hunker down with her and discover every single one of her sexy secrets...

ALL ABOUT ADAM
The last meeting tough-as-nails Becky Carter took with sharp-witted, wicked sexy real estate rehabber Adam Thomas culminated in a scorching-hot game of kiss-and-run. Becky was the one running, and she's regretted it ever since. Now Adam's back to do some actual business...or so he says. If Becky has her way, this weekend of negotiation will speed from boardroom to bedroom—and stay there...

MAN AT THE DOOR
After finding herself famous for all the wrong reasons, artist Erin McHugh just wants to fix up her house, open her art studio, and settle down out of the spotlight. Then job foreman Ray Hammond walks through her door and Erin recognizes broad-shouldered trouble. Hot, young, and always in the news, Ray is everything Erin wanted to avoid. The challenge is how to resist a guy who can build anything, fix anything—and make Erin feel everything...

You can preorder here or here.
Read an excerpt here.



DARK THIRST
Volume One in the Brethren Series
Paranormal Romance from Kensington Publishing/Zebra

Brandon Noble is one of the Brethren, an ancient clan of
ruthless vampires. Horrified by his birthright, Brandon
shuns the ritual of the first kill, earning his family's lasting
wrath. When he finds love with a human woman named
Angelina -- forbidden among the Brethren -- his fate is
sealed. Can Brandon protect Angelina from his enemies --
and his own dark thirsts?

Buy it here, here, or here.
Read an excerpt here.






DARK HUNGER
Volume 2 in the Brethren Series
Coming September 2, 2008

"Dark Hunger is a paranormal treat to be savored!"
- NY Times and USA Today best-selling author Lara Adrian

Tessa Noble-Davenant will do anything to protect her
brother, Brandon, even if that means traveling across the
country with Rene Morin. A cynical, brooding, yet startling
sexy vampire, Rene seems to take pleasure in finding fault
with Tessa's every move. Despite this, a sensual attraction
begins to develop between the two, one to which neither can
afford to succumb. Rene and Tessa are being followed --
and a single misstep will put them at the mercy of forces
more dark and powerful than they can even imagine...

Preorder it here.
Read an excerpt here.



At Risk by Alison Kent.

AT RISK is the single title novel originally released as THE BANE AFFAIR.

Christian Bane is a man of few words, so when he talks, people listen. One of the Smithson Group's elite force, Christian's also the walking wounded, haunted by his past. Something about being betrayed by a woman, then left to die in a Thai prison by the notorious crime syndicate Spectra IT gives a guy demons. But now, Spectra has made a secret deal with a top scientist to crack a governmental encryption technology, and Christian has his orders: Pose as Spectra boss Peter Deacon. Going deep undercover as the slick womanizer will be tough for Christian. Getting cozy with the scientist's beautiful goddaughter, Natasha, to get information won't be. But the closer he gets to Natasha, the harder it gets to deceive her. She's so alluring, so trusting, so completely unexpected he suspects someone's been giving out faulty intel. If Natasha isn't the criminal he was led to believe, they're both being played for fools. Now, with Spectra closing in, Christian's best chance for survival is to confront his demons and trust the only one he can . . . Natasha . . .

Available for purchase at Walmart for $4.97.

As per Alison's site: AT RISK is the single title novel originally released as THE BANE AFFAIR. IN DANGER combines the two novellas published in 2004 as THE SHAUGHNESSEY ACCORD and THE SAMMS AGENDA. DEEP TROUBLE does the same with the two 2005 standalone novellas THE BEACH ALIBI (a 2005 Quill Award nominee) and THE MCKENZIE ARTIFACT. The series then continues with LARGER THAN LIFE, DEEP BREATH and BEYOND A SHADOW, with additional characters appearing in THE PERFECT STRANGER and the December 2008 release, MAXIMUM EXPOSURE. Two more connected books will follow.