Kiss of the Wolf by Morgan Hawke

mine mine mine Steampunk Gothic Erotica KISS of the WOLF Morgan Hawke ~ A Werewolf in the Vampire Court ~ 1877 - The Dead are Walking Someone gave the Turks, a human government, the means of making the dead walk a forbidden magic, and it’s been spreading across the Eastern European countryside like wildfire. The Penumbral Court, the hidden world of magic, has been cleansing the plagued towns by the only known means of stopping the dead from walking – fire. But the source, the maker of the hideous spell, is yet undiscovered. Thorn Ferrell, a courier for the US Secret service, and a werewolf, is sent to Europe at the dawn of the Turko-Russian war. All she has to do is deliver a package and her term of service is finally over. Yaroslav once Prince of Luske during the dark ages, is a vampire. Driven from his home by a plague of the walking dead, Yaroslav is determined to discover who made the dead walk – and why. In a cave high in the Carpathian mountains, werewolf and vampire meet, and embrace for a fleeting moment of peace. She flees in the sunlight to continue her mission, but the vampire is determined to keep his newfound lover. During her journey Thorn comes face to face with her past, in the form of Max, a werewolf made by the same man that made her, the Doctor. However, unlike her, this werewolf is insane. And the Horror has come to town. Fleeing the other werewolf, and the walking dead, Thorn finds her vampire lover in big trouble. It seems that the Penumbral Court thinks thay Yaroslav, a powerful mage in his own right, is the culprit behind the plague of walking dead. Thorn is Fedhor’s only proof that there is another mage, an unknown sorcerer, doing forbidden magic. In the mean time... The sorcerer wants his werewolf back.

Dear Author goes 20/20

From Dear Author: The week of October 2nd through October 8th we will be featuring an interview and several reviews of an author that the Two Ja(y)nes and Janine love. Today marks the first of a three part series on Romance Publishers Promises to Romance Readers. Today’s articles addresses Advertising (the delivery of the promise), next week will feature an article on Branding (the promise), and finally we’ll end with What to Do When a Good Author Goes Bad (or when the promises are broken). First up: Advertising (the delivery of the promise) go forth and read... I could be wrong, but I don't think this is about the never ending debate of 'What makes a Happy Every After'. Is it marriage and a baby makes three? Can a Happy for Now be a HEA? Can a couple end HEA without a ring? So forth and so on... I *think* we are going with: Romance = HEA (YMMV on what that means ) Erotic Romance = HEA with steamy, throw the door wide open sex Romantica = same as ER but trademarked to EC which some people 'get' and know and some choose to ignore Erotica = Fiction story where the plot is driven by sex Porn = sex, sex, sex, and sex no rhyme or reason, plot? what plot? Personally I think all of the above are peachy and all have their fans. What I think the dear ja(y)ne's are addressing is, well, what they say they are addressing... Advertising and the way publishers choose to market their books. Jane please correct me if I am wrong.

And yet again...

Booklist: Core Collection: Erotic Romance, by John Charles and Shelley Mosley from the ever fab Kate Duffy: In 2006 Kensington launched Aphrodisia, an erotic fiction line. Although it can be difficult to distinguish between erotic romances and erotica, Duffy has a simple yet effective way of separating the two kinds of books. "While there is often a lot of really great sex in an erotic romance, the focus of the story is always on the romantic relationship between the two protagonists. In erotica, while there might be a relationship between the two protagonists, the focus of the story is on the really great sex." Thanks jay!

no matter how many times I see this or something like it

It annoys me (again from Karen Fox): Audrey LeFehr buys contemporary romance, historical romance, romantic suspense, women's fiction, thrillers and Aphrodisia. Aphrodisia is actually erotica, not romance. They are called erotic romance for the booksellers. They're always looking for talent. You can query Audrey in email, then send in entire manuscript if requested.

while looking for a blurb on Without a Word...

I ran across MORE books to read coming out in 2007... Some I have already heard of and some were new to me. These are the few that were of interest. The covers were in black and white and too much trouble to grab. Although it looks like Alison Kent will be posting hers on her blog soon and the first one I have posted already and Sylvia Day has up on her blog. So ten to one if you go google you could find them in color. THE STRANGER I MARRIED by Sylvia Day **Jan 2007** They are London’s most scandalous couple. Isabel, Lady Pelham, and Gerard Faulkner, Marquess of Grayson, are well matched in all things—their wicked wits, constant paramours, and absolute refusal to ever fall in love with one another. Their union is a most agreeable sham, until a shocking turn of events sends Gerard away from Isabel. Four years later he comes back, but the carefree, boyish rogue has been replaced by a brooding, irresistible man who will stop at nothing to win her love. This is not at all the carefree companion Isabel married…but he is the man who may finally steal her guarded heart. THE SEX ON THE BEACH BOOK CLUB by Jennifer Apodaca **Jan 2007** Holly Hillbay loves her job as a P.I. Bringing in cheating pond scum makes her day…men like Wes Brockman, owner of Books on the Beach, who’s apparently slipping between the covers with another man’s wife. Joining Wes’s book club is the perfect way to get close to him, but instead of a creep, Wes turns out to be seriously sexy…and attracted to her. Holly doesn’t think he’s having an affair—not yet, at least—but she intends to find out exactly what he’s hiding…especially when one of the book club members is found dead. Suddenly Holly’s deep into a case that’s riskier, hotter, and more delicious than she ever dreamed possible… DOING IT RIGHT by MaryJanice Davidson **FEB 2007** Dr. Jared Dean can hardly believe he’s watching the woman of his fantasies beating the crud out of the city’s biggest, toughest mobster. Kara never meant for her latest revenge stunt to land the gorgeous doc on a hit list, but there’s only one thing to do: guard Dr. Jared’s extremely fine bod until she can figure a way out of this mess for both of them. When free spirit Kathie Wechter meets car thief Chester “Chess” McNamara, she can’t get the tall, devilish bad boy out of her mind—or her heart. Chess knows that messing with the D.A.’s sister is crazy, but Kathie’s touch burns hotter than a V-6 engine going full-out, and his thoughts are turning downright illegal… SCANDALOUS LOVERS by Robin Schone **Feb 2007** Married at fifteen and widowed at forty-nine, country-bred Frances Hart has known only the duties of a wife and mother, never the joys of a woman. Determined to broaden her horizons at last, she sets out alone to explore London in all its erotic glory. Widowed barrister James Whitcox knows duty but has never known passion. He joins an exclusive society, the Men and Women’s Club, founded to discuss sexual relationships, but talking about pleasure is a far cry from experiencing it. Until Frances accidentally barges into a meeting, enlightening the club about a woman’s needs—and tempting James to finally put his sensual theories into practice. THE ART OF SEDUCTION by Katherine O’Neal **Feb 2007** At the Great Exposition of 1889 in Paris, the last artistic works of Mason Caldwell, an American painter whose savage rejection by the art world resulted in her suicide, are to be unveiled, crystallizing Mason’s reputation and leaving her estate the wealthier for it. One small problem: Mason Caldwell is very much alive. Art expert Richard Garrett suspects something is amiss with the Mason Caldwell myth, but he is captivated by the dead artist’s haunting paintings—particularly a sensual self-portrait fiercely guarded by her sister, Amy. Now, as Richard strives to uncover the truth, he and Mason engage in a cat-and-mouse game that takes them deep into a world of passion and peril... THE GREAT SCOT by Donna Kauffman **March 2007* * With his three youngest brothers spoken for, Dylan Chisholm is at the top of his village’s matchmaking list. Now they’ve sent some impish, forthright American lass to tempt him into a devil’s bargain: he can let them use his Highlands castle to film some daft reality show, and in return he’ll get the money his village desperately needs. Dylan can’t turn away from such a promising offer, but keeping his thoughts off no-nonsense producer Erin McGregor is another matter. She’s everything he never wanted in a woman, and suddenly, she’s everything he craves in every way possible… MOON SHADOW Lucinda Betts Esmenet Sokaris specializes in love spells, and she needs an assistant willing to participate in the most erotic of rituals. Tall, built, and eager to please, Gage Feldspar is perfect. And each phase of the moon brings mistress and apprentice that much closer to total surrender—and its soul shattering consequences… CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE SEXY KIND by Karen Kelley **April 2007** On Mala’s home planet, male robots satisfy women’s every desire. Which is nice and all, but Mala craves a real man—like the rugged looking specimen called Sheriff she saw in a video brought back from Earth. Sheriff Mason McKinley is having a hell of a week, what with reports of a UFO landing out near Devil’s Bend. But when Mason rides out to investigate, instead of little green men he finds the sexiest woman he’s ever laid eyes on. Mason doesn’t want to take advantage of a lost soul, but Mala’s pretty clear about what she wants…and it’s only polite to show the lady a little Texas hospitality… SMART AND SEXY by Jill Shalvis **April 2007** Noah Fisher, a bad boy rebel used to going his own way, has worked hard to get Sky High airline off the ground, and he’s overdue for a weekend ski break. His itinerary doesn’t include being hijacked by Bailey Sinclair, the gorgeous widow of a wealthy ex-client—and the woman who’s been his secret crush for years. Bailey is desperate to find the money hidden by her conniving late husband, before the bad guys he owed find her. Forcing Noah to fly her to one of her ex’s old hideouts is a crazy plan, but even crazier is the way being in Noah’s company has her fantasizing about touching, grabbing, kissing…and being kissed right back… THE PERFECT STRANGER by Alison Kent **April 2007** J. Jacksons Briggs’ Smithson Group gig wasn’t supposed to be dangerous, but the woman who drugs him, then knocks him out, then drugs him again, certainly is. She’s also lethally gorgeous. He’s sure the story she gives him about her noble cause in the sweltering wilds of San Torisco is a lie, but he’ll get the truth—and plenty more—from her, one way or another… There’s nothing easy about Jillian Endicott’s mission in San Torisco, and when Jack Briggs—all six-foot-three of him—gets thrown into the mix, things only get harder. Now, under the dark velvet cover of jungle nights, two rebels with a cause are going deep—and falling hard—for the perfect stranger… Lush by Sasha White **April 2007** Agallery showcasing erotic art is the setting for these sensual stories. A take-charge gallery owner find the tables turned by a sexy carpenter…A relationship-shy jewelry designer meets her match in a man devoted to her pleasure…A beautiful massage therapist shows a photographer how much fun candid shots can be… A Taste of Honey by Jami Alden **April 2007** Stripping It Down Kit Loughlin has no qualms about discussing sex in her online column. Using a pseudonym, she keeps her private life private and that includes the intimate details of her first timeno one knows about that but her and Jake Donovan. Now Jake just reappeared in her life with something to prove and a lot of new moves. And his scorching touch sends Kit into meltdown. A Taste of Sin When Dr. Kelly Sullivan comes back to her small home town, Nick Donovan falls in lustand love--all over again. Kelly is beautiful. Super-smart. Utterly sensual. And most definitely his kind of woman in and out of bed. Kiss Me Twice Oh, those memories of Mike. Karen Sullivan can't forget the man. Mike Donovan was hotter than hot. She can't resist just one more night in his loving arms. But his intense sexuality cuts through all her defensesand rocks her world all over again .

Guess that answers that question

From HelenKay's blog: In the never-ending Aphrodisia v. Brava debate, the editors say: Aphrodisia is about sex and Brava is about romance. Hillary Sares (the main Aphrodisia editor) says the term “erotic romance” with the imprint is a misnomer. The books are not really romance and don’t have to be. Use of the title is for marketing - Kensington wants the books in the romance section and wants to reach romance readers. That’s it. And, the only limit on the sex is that it be legal. I have to say this annoys me greatly. Since when is misleading and lying ok marketing? What is next, erotic sex in inspirationals? hmmmm ::see that isn't as much fun without the lil pictures::

Sin by Sharon Page

Love the title and the apple on the cover but is it just my computer color or does his hand look funky? A taste of the forbidden Venetia Hamilton is no stranger to erotic art--her father's lush paintings are one of society's secret pleasures. But Venetia has never experienced true desire. Not until she meets Marcus Wyndam, the Earl of Trent--a powerful man who holds her future in his hands and awakens her curiosity with one searing kiss. His expert touch is only the beginning of her carnal education, but something more dangerous than submission may be the price she pays for such unimaginable delight... Kathryn Smith reviewed Page's first novel, A Gentleman Seduced. I think I have this tbr.