Romances Coming in May 2013!

Spring is upon us! Or if you live in Australia like I do, then winter is coming (get it? :P). Either way, here are some great new books to help you get through the month! Lots of old favorites releasing books this month so mark your calendars and get your money ready! 😀

1) Out May 1 *Book 1 in The Great Exhibition series* 

Follow the Heart

Summary:

Kate and Christopher Dearing’s lives turn upside down when their father loses everything in a railroad land speculation. The siblings are shipped off to their mother’s brother in England with one edict: marry money. 

At twenty-seven years old, Kate has the stigma of being passed over by eligible men many times—and that was before she had no dowry. Christopher would like nothing better than to make his own way in the world; and with a law degree and expertise in the burgeoning railroad industry, he was primed to do just that—in America.

Though their uncle tries to ensure Kate and Christopher find matrimonial prospects only among the highest echelon of British society, their attentions stray to a gardener and a governess.

While Christopher has options that would enable him to lay his affections where he chooses, he cannot let the burden of their family’s finances crush his sister. Trying to push her feelings for the handsome—but not wealthy— gardener aside, Kate’s prospects brighten when a wealthy viscount shows interest in her. But is marrying for the financial security of her family the right thing to do, when her heart is telling her she’s making a mistake?

Mandates . . . money . . . matrimony. Who will follow the heart?

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2) Out May 6 (E-Novella!)

Ten Reasons

Summary:

A delightful eNovella from New York Times bestselling author Sabrina Jeffries about a young woman who learns that you can’t learn about love from a textbook.

In “Ten Reasons to Stay,” previously published in the anthology The School for Heiresses, lessons go far beyond etiquette and needlepoint. Eliza Crenshawe’s lesson is to look before she leaps. But when she discovers that her new guardian plans to marry her off without so much as a Season, she forgets all that. She flees—on a horse she unwittingly steals (oops!)—from Colin Hunt, a newly minted earl who wants nothing more than for her to go home…or stay forever.

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3) Out May 7 *Book 2 of The Lonely Lords series*

Nicholas

Summary:

Nicholas Haddonfield has something to hide…

After a wild youth, Nicholas Haddonfield, Viscount Reston, has promised his ailing father he’ll finally take a bride, though doing so will force Nick to make impossible choices and face old, painful wounds.

Leah Lindsey is glad to find refuge from her own desperate situation in a marriage of convenience with the gallant viscount. But soon convenience is not enough, and Leah can’t understand why Nick remains so distant. What is he hiding, and will he never allow her into his heart?

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4) Out May 7 *Book 1 in Marriage Mart series*

Wedding in Springtime

Summary:

Five minutes into Miss Eugenia Talbot’s presentation at court, notorious rogue Mr. William Grant made her laugh, ruining her debut. To hush up the scandal, Eugenia’s aunt hires a matchmaker to quickly find a suitor— anyone except the infamous William Grant—to help restore Eugenia’s reputation.

But amiable Eugenia shows a disturbing tendency to follow her heart, and is again caught in the company of notorious Grant.

When a traitor creeps closer, threatening to ruin more than just Eugenia’s reputation, her kindheartedness may be her ultimate undoing…

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5) Out May 7 *Book 4 in Beau Monde Bachelor series*

Defies Duke

Summary:

The Naked Truth

Lady Vivian Worth knows perfectly well how to behave like a lady. But observing proper manners when there’s no one around to impress is just silly. Why shouldn’t she strip down to her chemise for a swim? When her betrothed arrives to finally meet her, Vivi will act every inch the lady—demure, polite, compliant. Everything her brother has promised the man. But until then, she’s going to enjoy her freedom…

A Revealing Discovery

Luke Forest, the newly named Duke of Foxhaven, wants nothing to do with his inheritance—or the bride that comes with it. He wants adventure and excitement, like the enchanting water nymph he’s just stumbled across. When he discovers the skinny-dipping minx is his intended, he reconsiders his plan to find Lady Vivian another husband. Because the idea of this vivacious woman in the arms of another man might be enough to drive him insane—or to the altar.

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6) Out May 7 *Re-issue*

Beloved Enemy

Summary:

Daring and defiant, Virginia Courtney risks her life by transporting Royalist fugitives to safety. Until Colonel Alexander Marshall seizes her family’s land and takes her prisoner. But the fearless beauty arouses a passionate yearning that the honor-bound soldier has never before allowed himself to feel.

Irresistibly drawn to her handsome captor, Virginia cannot forget that he is also her most treacherous enemy. Yet with each caress, Alexander mounts a delicate assault on her senses, quelling all thoughts of rebellion–leaving her conscious of the perfection of his passion.

Torn between desire and duty, Virginia and Alexander become players in the most dangerous of games…where intrigue and betrayal rule the day and where love carries the inevitability of destiny.

Click cover for author website!

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7) Out May 21 *Book 2 in The Duchess Diaries series*

Pursue Princess

Summary:

An innocent lost in the woods . . .

The sensible solution to her family’s dire financial woes is for Lily Balfour to marry the Earl of Huntley, a wealthy widower handpicked by her matchmaking godmother, the Duchess of Roxburghe. Huntley is pleasant and attractive, the perfect candidate in every way. But Lily knows she’s in big trouble as soon as passionate, unprincipled Prince Wulfinski sweeps a hot, possessive glance over her.

Powerful and sexy, Wulfinski declares he will make her his—no matter the cost.

By his own account, Wulf is a pauper, barely able to afford his own cottage. Yet nothing will stop him from pursuing the elusive beauty with every cunning trick he can muster. But which is more important: power and money . . . or love everlasting? To make the right choice, both Wulf and Lily must trust their hearts, not just their heads, to lead them to the happiness they desire.

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8) Out May 21

Reforming the Viscount

Summary:

To refuse him twice would be madness!

Viscount Rothersthorpe can’t tear his eyes from Lydia Morgan any more than he can calm the raging fury coursing through his veins. Is there no end to the irony? Come to town to find a wife, only to be taunted by the past?

Furtive glances across the ballroom are not helping to ease Lydia’s state of shock—the man who once uttered a marriage proposal as one might remark upon the weather has returned. But when he stuns her with a second, outrageous but now wickedly delicious proposal, it is clear that despite the rumors the rake from her past has not reformed!

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9) Out May 21 *Book 1 in The Masquerade Club series*

Notoriety

Summary:

As the unacknowledged son of the lecherous Lord Westleigh, John “Rhys” Rhysdale was forced to earn a crust gambling on the streets. Now he owns the most thrilling new gaming establishment in London. Witnessing polite society’s debauchery and excess every night, Rhys prefers to live on its fringes, but a mysterious masked lady tempts him into the throng.

Lady Celia Gale, known only as Madame Fortune, matches Rhys card for card and kiss for stolen kiss. But the stakes are raised when Rhys discovers she’s from the very world he despises…The Masquerade Club.

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10) Out May 28 *Book 4 in Spindle Cove series*

Any Duchess Will Do

Summary:

What’s a duke to do, when the girl who’s perfectly wrong becomes the woman he can’t live without?

Griffin York, the Duke of Halford, has no desire to wed this season–or any season–but his diabolical mother abducts him to “Spinster Cove” and insists he select a bride from the ladies in residence. Griff decides to teach her a lesson that will end the marriage debate forever. He chooses the serving girl.

Overworked and struggling, Pauline Simms doesn’t dream about dukes. All she wants is to hang up her barmaid apron and open a bookshop. That dream becomes a possibility when an arrogant, sinfully attractive duke offers her a small fortune for a week’s employment. Her duties are simple: submit to his mother’s “duchess training”… and fail miserably.

But in London, Pauline isn’t a miserable failure. She’s a brave, quick-witted, beguiling failure–a woman who ignites Griff’s desire and soothes the darkness in his soul. Keeping Pauline by his side won’t be easy. Even if Society could accept a serving girl duchess–can a roguish duke convince a serving girl to trust him with her heart?

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11) Out May 28 *2 in 1 Book Reissue!*

Counterfeit Notorious

Summary:

A COUNTERFEIT BETROTHAL

Lady Sophia Bryant has no intention of marrying anytime soon. Her one desire is to reunite her parents, who have been estranged for fourteen years. Surely, if she happens to announce her betrothal—even a false one—they will be forced to see each other. Devilishly handsome Lord Francis Sutton seems perfect for such deceit, always agreeable to games of passion in which he has nothing to lose. The trap is set—if only Lady Sophia can keep her foolish heart from falling prey to her brilliant snares.

THE NOTORIOUS RAKE

Lord Edmund Waite is everything that Lady Mary Gregg despises: lewd, lascivious, mocking—the most incorrigible and successful rogue around. A bluestocking like her would never tempt a man whose taste runs to pretty playthings—so Mary is startled to find herself the object of Lord Edmund’s desires. Even more surprising is her reaction to his shocking advances. She may be a lady, but this man knows so well how to make her feel like a woman.

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12) Out May 28 *Book 1 in Survivor’s Club series* (US Paperback Edition)

The Proposal

Summary:

Gwendoline, Lady Muir, has seen her share of tragedy. Content in a quiet life with friends and family, the young widow has no desire to marry again. But when Hugo, Lord Trentham, scoops her up in his arms after a fall, she feels a sensation that both shocks and emboldens her.

Hugo is a gentleman in name only: a war hero whose bravery earned him a title, a merchant’s son who inherited his wealth. He is happiest when working the land, but duty and title now demand that he finds a wife. Hugo doesn’t wish to court Gwen, yet he cannot resist her guileless manner, infectious laugh, and lovely face. He wants her, but will she have him?

The dour ex-military officer who so gallantly carried Gwen to safety is a man who needs a lesson in winning a woman’s heart. But through courtship and seduction, Gwen soon finds that with each kiss, and with every caress, Hugo captivates her more—with his desire, with his love, and with the promise of forever.

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13) Out May 28 *Book 2 in Legendary Lovers series*

Lover Be Mine

Summary:

The last thing Sophie Fortin expects at a masquerade ball is a dazzling kiss from a pirate. Her desire quickly falters when she learns that her masked gentleman is devilishly scandalous Lord Jack, a member of the captivating Wilde clan—and a man she’s forbidden to acknowledge. But when Jack begins a breathtaking seduction, Sophie can barely resist.

Jack never imagined that the daughter of his family’s mortal enemy would awaken such fierce passion within him—until one unforgettable kiss changes his mind forever. Soon, Jack is hell-bent on winning Sophie’s hand, going so far as to abduct her to save her from marrying a rival nobleman. Determined to woo Sophie and her unyielding parents, Jack is faced with the one decision he’d sworn never to make. The secret heir to a prince, Jack has spurned his royal heritage for years . . . but for Sophie he’ll risk all to turn a legacy of heartbreak into love ever after.

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14) Out May 28 *Sequel to How to Deceive a Duke*

Secret Life

Summary:

Lady Julia Leighton is engaged to a long-time family friend who doesn’t spark her passion, and at her betrothal ball she meets a seductive stranger who steals hot kisses—and much more—from the beautiful innocent.

Thomas Merritt is a thief of women’s hearts, and their expensive jewels. His steamy encounter with Lady Julia unexpectedly has him rethinking his wicked ways, but in the end, Thomas flees temptation.

When their paths cross years later, Julia has a secret she’s desperate to bury and Thomas is hiding something dangerous, but he needs her help to set things right. Can two lovers with dark pasts overcome their tangled history and rekindle their former love?

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15) Out May 28 *Book 2 in Brides of Redemption series*

Surrender to the Earl

Summary:

She wanted a favor, not a fiancé.

Audrey Blake’s impromptu plan-asking a visitor to help her take ownership of her rightful property-is unraveling in spectacular fashion. Robbed of her sight by a childhood fever, Audrey has been kept in virtual seclusion by her family. And now the enigmatic Robert Henslow, Earl of Knightsbridge, has complicated her scheme to gain independence, insisting they pretend to be engaged.

Duty brought Robert to Audrey’s doorstep. As for what makes him propose marriage…it might be guilt. Compassion. Or something far more urgent and unexpected. Their counterfeit union was supposed to be for Audrey’s benefit. Yet it’s Robert who yearns to prove to the intriguing Audrey how much they both have to gain by making it real-and convincing her to submit to the most blissful passion.

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16) Out May 28 *Book 5 in Eloisa’s Fairy Tales series*

Once Upon a Tower

Summary:

To win her love. . .

As an extremely wealthy laird, Gowan Stoughton, Duke of Kinross, can have any of the maidens at the ball he attends. The only problem is they are all English and Gowan is not so certain they are suitable. He is accustomed to the hard-working lasses from his Highlands, not these dainty noblewomen who spend their days drinking tea or some other such nonsense. But then he makes the acquaintance of Lady Edith Gilchrist. Utterly bewitched by the emerald-eyed beauty with lush golden locks, he knows he must have her.

He must free her from her tower. . .

“Edie” had the misfortune of being dreadfully ill at her debut ball and barely remembers what Gowan looks like. Even worse, she accepted his proposal the following day. Edie’s only true passion is playing music—until Gowan writes a scandalous letter and stirs the most irresistible desire. Yet when they marry, Edie realizes her husband needs a lesson and locks herself in a tower. Somehow Gowan must find a way to enter the tower and convince his new bride that she belongs in his arms.

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17) Out May 28 *Book 1 in Sinful Scoundrels series*

What a Wicked Earl Wants

Summary:

WILL A RAKE’S WICKED WAYS

Andrew Carrington, Earl of Bellingham, believes in being a gentleman, whether it’s fishing a soggy stranger out of the Thames or assisting a fetching lady into his bed. If the stranger becomes a friend and the lady a mistress, all the better. He certainly welcomes the opportunity to help Laura Davenport, a dazzling young widow with a rebellious stepson. Her gratitude, he hopes, will take an amorous form. But from the moment he sets foot in her drawing room, he gets far more than he bargained for… 

LEAD THE LADY ASTRAY?

It was a moment of desperation. On the brink of losing her stepson, Laura turned to the notorious Lord Bellingham for help. Suddenly she, a vicar’s daughter, is in the precarious position of resisting his tantalizing advances. How Bell earned his wicked reputation is clear; the surprise is how much more there is to him than the gossip sheets could possibly reveal. Now every moment with this dangerously desirable man puts Laura’s good name at risk-and promises pleasure unlike any she has ever known… 

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18) Out May 28 *Re-issue!*

The Lady's Tutor

Summary:

Married young to a man hand-picked by her father, Elizabeth Petre is an ideal Victorian lady.  She has borne two sons and endured sixteen years of selfless duty in a passionless marriage.  Craving a man’s loving touch yet loyal to her wedding vows, Elizabeth is determined to seduce her coldly indifferent husband.  She knows of only one man who can teach her the erotic arts of love…

The bastard son of an English countess and an Arab sheik, Ramiel Devington was reared to embrace both Western culture and Eastern pleasure.  Scorned by society and challenged by prim Elizabeth’s request, he undertakes her instruction in the art of sensual delight. 

But when the lessons become a temptation neither can resist, Elizabeth is forced to choose between obligation and forbidden passion…

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19) Out May 28

Diamonds

Summary:

When it comes to diamonds—like their men—some women prefer them rough…

Thanks to her grandfather’s complicated will, Miss Adela Ruffington, along with her mother and sisters, is about to lose her home and income to a distant cousin, the closest male heir to the Millingford title. For Adela, nothing could be more insulting—being denied her rightful inheritance for a randy scoundrel like Wilson, the very man who broke her heart following a lusty dalliance years ago.

Still smarting from the betrayal of his latest paramour, Wilson Ruffington never anticipates the intense desire Adela again stirs within him. Despite his wicked tongue and her haughty pride, their long-ago passion instantly reignites at a summer house party, the experience they’ve gained as adults only adding fuel to the flames.

Wilson and Adela are insatiable, but civility outside of the bedroom proves impossible. Determined to keep Adela in his bed, Wilson devises a ruse—a marriage of convenience that will provide her family with a generous settlement, as well as prevent scandalous whispers. Their plan works perfectly until family rivalries and intrigue threaten to destroy their arrangement…and the unspoken love blooming beneath it.

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HAPPY MONTH OF READING! 😀

The Lady Most Likely by Julia Quinn, Connie Brockway and Eloisa James

Setting: Regency

Summary:

Hugh Dunne, the Earl of Briarly, needs a wife—so his sister hands him a list of the very best young ladies on the market. And then, because he refuses to tear himself away from the stables where he trains Arabian racehorses, she invites all those ladies to a house party, along with some other bachelors, of course. So who will Hugh choose? The Botticelli-esque, enchanting Gwendolyn? The outspoken, delightful Katherine? If he doesn’t work fast, he’ll lose those ladies to his closest friends, and then where will he look for a wife? Perhaps, just perhaps, toward a lady who’s not on a market at all, and would require a great deal of persuading…

Click cover to order from Amazon

Review:

I adored this book! It was light, funny, touching and a true Regency romance! As a reader of previous anthologies, I was slightly cautious about touching this one. The thing is, it’s not really an anthology at all but a novel told in three parts by 3 authors and all connected to each other. A very unique idea and pulled off very well!

I loved the idea of a house party designed to find a suitable wife for the earl and I would love to be in this particular one! Everyone was delightful and nice and this is the kind of romance you’ll want to read if you’re feeling down cause it’s cheerful, charming and happy all the way through. There are no villains or any dark conflict-the only conflict is trying to find the earl a wife before they are all snatched! This is really three short romances in one book, naturally with Hugh’s story happening last.

The ‘guest list’ includes the shy but gorgeous Gwendolyn, the outspoken Katherine, the war hero Neill Oakes, the charming new Earl of Charters, the widow Lady Georgina, and of course the earl himself. The hostess is his sister who is a charming, witty and mischievous matchmaker. I really enjoyed every character in this novel, with my personal favourite being Gwen. I wished her story went on a little longer.

Though each author has their different style of writing, with Julia’s being the most distinctive, it still managed to work and not detract from the story. I felt the style of each author suited each story. My favourite was the first one and the last one. I felt the second one to be too predictable and wanted to race over it. The first story was cute and sweet, while the last one was deep and touching.

This book was over all cute and happy, and there were a lot of aww scenes. The sensuality in this book was slightly spicy which suited the mood. All in all, a very sweet and charming romance!

Sensuality Rating: Warm (Short and not explicit scenes)

Final Verdict: Warm, funny and sweet romance-perfect when you’re feeling down

Rating: 4 stars out of 5

More Romances coming in January 2011!

I didn’t realize January 25, 2011 was such a big release day for books! Six new HR novels coming out on one day 😀 Here’s the list including ones I previously mentioned:

1) When Beauty Tamed the Beast by Eloisa James (Avon)

2) Abandoned at the Altar: Scandal of the Year by Laura Lee Guhrke (Avon)

3) The Perfect Mistress by Victoria Alexander (Zebra)

4) Unveiled by Courtney Milan

5) To Tempt a Rake by Cara Elliott

Summary:

Kate Woodbridge has spent most of her life sailing to exotic ports around the globe, acquiring an expertise in botany, along with a few less ladylike skills. So when a deathbed promise to her parents brings her to London to seek reconciliation with her grandfather, the imperious Duke of Cluyne, she feels like a fish out of water. Her outspoken views and fiery temper tend to set off sparks in Society-especially with the rakish Conte of Como.

A devil-may-care rogue, Marco finds the alluring and mysterious Kate a tempting target for his flirtations. But when murder strikes at the duke’s country house party he begins to suspect that she’s hiding a dark secret. He has his own clandestine reasons for offering to help her prove her innocence . . . And so begins a journey of dangerous deception that leads from England to the glittering ballrooms of Vienna, where Marco and Kate must duel with a deadly villain . . . and their own explosive attraction.

Excerpt:

http://www.caraelliott.com/excerptttar.html

6) Notorious Pleasures by Elizabeth Hoyt

Summary:

Lady Hero Batten, the beautiful sister of the Duke of Wakefield, has everything a woman could want, including the perfect fiancé. True, the Marquis of Mandeville is a trifle dull and has no sense of humor, but that doesn’t bother Hero. Until she meets his notorious brother . . .

Griffin Remmington, Lord Reading, is far from perfect – and he likes it that way. How he spends his days is a mystery, but all of London knows he engages in the worst sorts of drunken revelry at night. Hero takes an instant dislike to him, and Griffin thinks that Hero, with her charities and faultless manners, is much too impeccable for society, let alone his brother. Yet their near-constant battle of wits soon sparks desire – desire that causes their carefully constructed worlds to come tumbling down. As Hero’s wedding nears, and Griffin’s enemies lay plans to end their dreams forever, can two imperfect people find perfect true love?

Excerpt:

http://www.elizabethhoyt.com/books/notorious.php

Anticipation-Eloisa James’s new book!

I love, love, love it when new covers are revealed and new books are about to be released from much beloved authors. One case in point, the amazing Eloisa James’ new release which is based on my personal favourite fairytale Beauty and the Beast! 😀

Check out that gorgeous cover (cannot wait for the stepback!) and enjoy the enticing blurb:

Piers Yelverton, Earl of Marchant, lives in a castle in Wales where, it is rumored, his bad temper flays everyone he crosses. He’s a Beast. Miss Linnet Thynne is one of the most exquisite young ladies ever to grace London’s ballrooms. She’s a Beauty. But wait—there’s more! Piers is a doctor: brilliant, lame, and impossible to get along with. There’s a version of him on Fox TV, named after a habitation. Linnet has been involved in a scandalous flirtation with a prince, and everyone in the ton thinks she’s carrying a royal child: she needs a husband.

Linnet estimates it will take two weeks—at the outside—to bring the earl to his knees. Piers knows that he will never fall in love, and definitely never marry.

*Sqeeee* All you House fans better listen up-You’re gonna love this book!

Eloisa’s new book is the second in her Happily Ever Afters series after A Kiss At Midnight and is due out February 2011.

Anticipation-The Lady Most Likely…

What do I love more than a book from a talented author? A book by three great authors!

This one is due out a bit later(December 28) but thought I would preview it now so you can get excited for holiday season 😉

Gentlemen, listen up! This one would make a great Christmas gift for the lady in your life!

Here’s the blurb before I ramble on anymore-

Hugh Dunne, the Earl of Briarly, needs a wife—so his sister hands him a list of the very best young ladies on the market. And then, because he refuses to tear himself away from the stables where he trains Arabian racehorses, she invites all those ladies to a house party, along with some other bachelors, of course.

So who will Hugh choose? The Botticelli-esque, enchanting Gwendolyn?  The outspoken, delightful Katherine? If he doesn’t work fast, he’ll lose those ladies to his closest friends, and then where will he look for a wife? Perhaps, just perhaps, toward a lady who’s not on a market at all, and would require a great deal of persuading…

 

*Sigh* Sounds like a great read and you gotta love that cover!

Busy Busy Little Me

Hey guys,

Sorry about the lack of posting recently-Been pretty busy with uni stuff. Things will get lighter next week so expect more posts then.

Who knew university life could be so tough! And I’m only in my first semester, first year so loads more ‘fun’ coming up hehe… Working on getting more reviews up here for you guys-I have a huge TBR pile and it torments and tempts me daily.

Some of the books to be reviewed in the near future:

Wicked Becomes You by Meredith Duran

A Kiss At Midnight by Eloisa James

Last Night’s Scandal by Loretta Chase

Surrender to a Rogue by Cara Elliott

Too Wicked to Kiss by Erica Ridley

I’ll admit I haven’t been entirely studying hehe-Found some interesting posts on the net that you may want to look at-

 

Funny interview about Miranda Neville’s new novel and signed giveaways!

http://bordersblog.com/trueromance/2010/10/12/guest-author-miranda-neville-giveaway/

Courtney Milan understands her readers sometimes get embarrassed by romance novel covers so she created these two fake, totally BORING covers to help fix that problem, Go check them, they’re a real laugh!

http://www.courtneymilan.com/bookcovers.php