Berkley – Vanessa Kelly, Author

My featured author today is the talented, best-selling writer Trish Jensen. Back in the 90’s Trish escaped from the corporate world to begin her career writing fun, high-energy contemporary romances that both readers and reviewers raved about. She’s written for a number of publishers, including Harlequin, Berkley, Dorchester, and Kensington. RT Book Reviews calls her work “charming and delightfully humorous,” and The Romance Reader said that Trish has “a great comic touch and an ear for dialogue.”

I don’t know about you, but with all the stresses that come with this time of year, charming and humorous sounds just about right!

Like many authors with an established career, Trish has some wonderful books that are not as easy to find as they used to be. Fortunately for her readers, those books will soon be re-released by Bell Bridge Books, starting in January with Stuck With You.

Here’s the blurb for Stuck With You:

As lawyers on opposing sides of a messy divorce case, Paige Hart and Ross Bennett ought to have kept matters purely professional, yet Paige and Ross came to loathe each other with an intensity that was strictly personal. The bad blood between them takes on an unexpected new dimension when the infuriated pair is forced to share a hospital room, when they’re quarantined after being exposed to the rare and highly contagious Tibetan Concupiscence Virus that’s reputed to shift sensual desire into high gear.

When symptoms (which a nonmedical person might mistake for pure and simple lust) start showing up way ahead of schedule, the lawyers’ objections to each other are overruled — and they enjoy every minute of it. But, after the doctors declare that the disease has run its course, Paige and Ross are still feverish with a longing for one another that they hope will never be cured. When the verdict comes in, will they be sentenced to life — in love?

OMG! That sounds like so much fun! RT Book Reviews called this book “a fun-filled romantic comedy that will definitely tickle your fancy.” Readers obviously agreed, because this book hit the USA Today bestseller list. Be sure to check Trish’s website for the books that are currently available, and to find out when her other books will be available in digital format.

While you’re there, check out Trish’s holiday round robin novel that she wrote with acclaimed romance authors Sandra Hill and Kate Holmes. It’s called ‘Twas The Night, and it’s funny, poignant, and uplifting—everything a Christmas story should be!

Here’s the blurb for‘Twas The Night:

The three bad-boy bachelors of Snowdon, Maine, have to make it to the church on time, or die trying. Due at a friend’s wedding on Christmas Eve, the Fearsome Threesome find themselves dashing through the snow in the goofiest bus on Earth — a bright red vehicle filled with a bunch of senior citizens known as The Santa Brigade. Ho, ho, ho!

Decked out in red and serving up holiday cheer to the masses, a Blue Angels pilot, a bounty hunter, and a former pro football player discover ’tis the season for folly as each trips over his heart to capture the love of the one special woman for him. And who is to say what they’ll find nestled in their beds as the stockings are stuffed and the gifts placed under the tree.

RT Book Reviews called it “a delightfully funny, charming, and humorous holiday tale,” so you know you’ll want to read this one. Check out Trish’s website for details.

For my readers today, Trish is donating a lovely trade paperback copy of ‘Twas The Night, signed by all three authors. Wow! Since we’re talking about comedic romance, let’s go with a similar topic. What’s your favorite romantic comedy movie, and why? One person who comments will win a copy of Trish’s holiday book.

I’m very pleased to feature author Kathryn Shay on the blog today. Kathryn has an outstanding romance writing pedigree, having penned twenty-five books for Harlequin and nine mainstream contemporary romances for Berkley. She also has a number of on-line novellas, some of which were subsequently published in print by Berkley.

Kathryn writes very emotional books with powerful, heart-wrenching characterizations. And she’s won tons of accolades, too, including five RT Book Reviews Reviewer’s Choice Awards, four prestigious Holt Medallions, a Booksellers Best Award, and many more.

And here’s an even more impressive statistic – Kathryn has 40 books all told, with five million copies in print. Wow!

Even better, Kathryn now has 16 formerly out-of-print backlist titles available as e-books. For instance, if you haven’t read her well-loved Hidden Cove firefighter’s trilogy, here’s your chance. Originally published by Berkley, here’s what Booklist had to say about the first book in the series, After The Fire:

“Powerful and compelling, this novel reinforces Shay’s well earned reputation as a first rate storyteller.”

And then there’s the popular O’Neil Family series, which garnered a ton of great reviews including this one from Fresh Fiction:

“Shay’s writing trademark is taking seemingly impossible relationships and developing them into classic tales of true love, which is what she does here.”

You can find all of Kathryn’s backlist on her website.

I’m also thrilled to report that Kathryn has a new book out – an indie published, woman’s fiction novel called A Price Worth Paying.

Here’s the blurb:

Nick and Callie Muscato have been lovers since high school. They married at eighteen and Callie gave up Vassar to go on the road with Nick as he builds his major league baseball career. Once he becomes a superstar, their perfect life is marred by their inability to have children. And then a miracle happens and they adopt twin boys.

Both are happy until Nick gets hurt and is demoted to the minors. Instead of going with him, Callie takes the twins and returns to their home town to teach at the high school they both attended.

Eventually Nick is forced to give up his baseball career, gets his college degree and when the story opens, both he and Callie are teaching at their Alma Mater. Then tragedy strikes them with two major blows: Callie confesses she’s pregnant with another man’s child and, only an hour later, Nick is accused of sexual misconduct with a female student; he is suspended from teaching until hearings can be held.

Though this stress might split up a lesser couple, Nick and Callie fight the accusation and try to keep their marriage together.

I have to say, this sounds like a compelling and intense read. I love novels that deal with married couples and the challenges life can throw in the path of a loving relationship. Kathryn has already been receiving wonderful reviews for this book, so I can’t wait to read it!

You can check out Kathryn’s books, read excerpts, and find her buy links on her website.

Kathryn has graciously donated a copy of A Price Worth Paying for my readers today. Just tell me what kind of book you most like to read on a rainy day – historical romance, women’s fiction, a juicy mystery…enquiring minds want to know! One person who comments will win a copy of this wonderful book!

Guest Feature: Trish Jensen & Giveaway!

Guest Author: Kathryn Shay & Giveaway!