Lee Child – Vanessa Kelly, Author

I’m pleased to be hosting Barbara Meyers today, the author of the Braddock Brothers Series of stand-alone contemporary romances. Barb has a new book out, and she’s graciously agreed to be my guest blogger today.

Vanessa asked for three to four paragraphs on a reader-oriented subject for this blog and I immediately wondered if I had anything appropriate already prepared. I seem to write potential blogs all the time but mostly they are about my experiences, my thoughts, myself!

But if I were a reader reading this blog what would I want to read about? This part about blogging always seems to elude me. The truth is I don’t know what readers are interested in. Books and reading, obviously. Romance novels, right?

Although I love a good romance as part of the plot in the books I read I don’t seek out romance novels to read. I think I od’d on them in my early twenties. I read and re-read Rosemary Rogers and Kathleen Woodiwiss among others. But as I grew as a reader and became a writer, I wanted more. I do love well-written romantic suspense, especially Tami Hoag and Sandra Brown, as well as straight suspense. Most recently I’ve read Lisa Gardner’s The Neighbor and am almost finished with Fragile by Lisa Unger. Though I once eschewed male writers (too brutal and too graphic) I forced myself to reassess that decision and try reading their stuff. That’s how I discovered the work of James Grippando and Lee Child. Check out my Goodreads list for other authors I’d recommend. (Like Ruth Rendell!)

I have never been a fan of faces on the covers of my books. Yes, they are contemporary romance novels but there’s a bigger story going on around the romance. Authors are given some input on the covers, and Samhain Publishing does its best to make the faces on the cover resemble the characters. With my latest, when I questioned the cover choice I got an interesting response. Something along the lines of “this book is straddling the line between romance and women’s fiction, that’s why we wanted a romantic cover…”

If you like romance novels with a little something more going on, here you go!

Thanks, Barb! Readers, here’s the blurb from Barb’s new book, The First Time Again:

There’s no defense when love blindsides your heart.

Once Trey Christopher was the small-town golden boy. Now he’s just another burned-out, washed-up ex-quarterback with a bum knee, a tarnished reputation, and a simple wish. To be the kind of man he can face in the mirror. Moving back home is a start, as is hiring a down-on-her-luck local woman to help him out around his grandparents’ old homestead.

The last thing Baylee Westring wants is to clean house for a high school crush who barely remembers her name, but Trey’s money will finally top off her get-out-of-Henderson-forever escape fund. Before she hits the road, though, Baylee’s got something for the man she still finds wildly attractive: the virginity he almost—but not quite—took during a drunken teenage party.

Neither is prepared for the emotional impact of that encounter. But just when Baylee dares to believe in happy ever after, an old enemy turns up to even the score. And Trey finds his heart left in the red zone, with his last chance for love ticking down to zero.

Warning: Contains an overeducated housekeeper who’s open to receiving a pass or two, and an ex-football player who can’t seem to stop himself from showing her all his moves.

Vanessa, here. Doesn’t that sound great? Since I write sports romances myself as VK Sykes, I’m a sucker for an athlete hero. Check out details and an excerpt for The First Time Again on Barb’s website.

EXTRA, EXTRA!! I’m visiting Ramblings With This Chick today, giving away copies of my new VK Sykes sports romance, Curveball. Come visit me for your chance to win the latest addition to the USA Today bestselling series that I write with hubby!

Frequent visitors to my blog know I love romantic suspense, which often vies with historical romance as my favorite genre. So I’m really pleased to be featuring the wonderful Dana Marton on the blog today. Dana writes fast-paced, action-adventure romances for Harlequin Intrigue. Her books get great reviews, she’s finaled in many contests—including in the Rita Awards of the Romance Writers of America—and she’s won the prestigious Daphne du Maurier Award of Excellence.

Here’s what Noveltalk had to say about Dana’s books:

I have read nearly every book Dana Marton has ever written and I am amazed by her superb stories that just keep getting better and better with each book she writes. I have not been able to put down any one of her books until I have finished them in a matter of hours. Her stories intrigue me!

RT Book Reviews has consistently given Dana great reviews, including a Top Pick for Sheik Protector, which RT called “action-filled and riveting.”

I don’t know about you, but I love me a good sheik story—especially one with suspense and danger—and Dana is a master at writing these kinds of books. Make sure you check out her Books page to get a full listing of her books, including those with her sexy sheiks!

In addition to her Intrigues for Harlequin, Dana has three new digital novellas she’s recently released, all part of her Agents Under Fire series. The first in the series Guardian Agent.

Here’s the blurb for Guardian Agent:

When Gabe Cannon’s commando team is tasked with bringing down a rogue solider, he doesn’t expect to come face-to-face with the target’s sister at the showdown instead of the man himself.

Jasmine is trying to lead the team away from her injured brother. Recognizing one of the hunters as her teenage crush is definitely a shock to her system. To save her family, she must convince Gabe that her brother was framed. But can she stop from falling in love with him all over again?

Sexy commandos and first crushes—count me in!

The second book in the series is Avenging Agent, and the third book, Warrior Agent, was just released this month.

Here’s the blurb for Warrior Agent:

Troy Hill has been tirelessly working for months to bring down a corrupt congressman. When the man’s goons capture him and lock him up, he knows they can’t afford to leave him alive. His only chance at escape is the congressman’s new security guard, Claire Montgomery. He expects he’ll have to either manipulate her into setting him free or kill her. He doesn’t expect to fall in love with her.

You can’t go wrong with a story that New York Times bestselling author Susan Mallery calls “action packed and breathtakingly romantic!” If you haven’t ever read any of Dana’s books, these novellas are the perfect opportunity to try them out.

For my readers today, Dana will be giving away copies of her novellas. Since we’re talking about suspense books, let’s stick with that. Who are some of your favorite suspense or thriller authors? Do you like Karen Rose or Brenda Novak, or do you go more for the thriller type book by someone like Lee Child or John Grisham? Inquiring minds want to know! Three people who comment will each win one of Dana’s fab novellas.

Guest Author: Barbara Meyers!!

Guest Author: Dana Marton & Giveaway!