Several Romance and KISS books are available for book reviewers on the Net Galley site. If you’re a reviewer and would like a copy, you can request them at the following links:
THE FIRST CRUSH IS THE DEEPEST - Nina Harrington
THE MAN BEHIND THE PINSTRIPES - Melissa McClone
A COWBOY TO COME HOME TO - Donna Alward
THE COWBOY SHE COULDN’T FORGET – Patricia Thayer
THE COURAGE TO SAY YES - Barbara Wallace
If you’re a book reviewer and you’re not registered with Net Galley, you can fill out a registration form and wait to be approved for membership.
Enjoy!
This Month’s Look at some Harlequin Romance from Around the World
PORTUGAL
JAPAN
POLAND
FRANCE
THE NETHERLANDS
GREECE
ITALY
This month the new releases bring a bit of a change! We mentioned a while ago that a new line is launching - KISS. February is launch month, so we’re going to list all three lines in our release post: Romance, KISS, and Cherish in the UK.
We’re going to feature more posts about KISS this month so stay tuned. There’ll be more information about the books, how they differ from Romance, and what you can expect from the new line.
ROMANCE:
HER ROCKY MOUNTAIN PROTECTOR by Patricia Thayer
With his military dog in tow, ex-soldier Grady Fletcher plans to keep his troubled mind occupied while staying on his grandfather’s property—until it’s time to move on again.
Single mom Gina Williams is usually wary around men. Yet she gets the distinct feeling that beneath Grady’s rugged, guarded exterior lies a kind, honest, trustworthy man.
So when Gina’s little boy goes missing there is only one person she’ll turn to for help—a man whose survival instinct is as strong as his heart….
THE BILLIONAIRE’S BABY SOS by Susan Meier
Successful CEO Matt Patterson isn’t called the Ice Man for nothing—he’s built up his multibillion-dollar company through cool decision-making and a ruthless reputation. But now he has a new challenge to face—fatherhood!
Finding himself guardian to gorgeous baby Bella, Matt’s more comfortable in the boardroom than changing a diaper. Lucky, then, that social worker Claire Kincaid agrees to play temporary mom. Happy families might never have been in Matt’s plans, but Claire and little Bella are opening his eyes to a life that money could never buy…
BABY OUT OF THE BLUE by Rebecca Winters
Found: One baby…
Holidaying in Greece, Fran Myers is shocked to discover a tiny baby, swept away by a tornado. As she hugs the precious bundle a protective maternal instinct she thought she’d never experience kicks in.
One bachelor…
Relief is what the baby’s uncle, CEO Nik Angelis, feels when he sees Fran with Demi, and he asks for her help to care for the little girl.
And a little ray of hope?
Dare Fran and Nik believe that their once-crushed dreams of parenthood—and love—might come true at last?
BALLROOM TO BRIDE AND GROOM by Kate Hardy
TV presenter Polly Anna Adams has spent a lifetime living up to her name. Suddenly single, Polly hides behind her cheery facade and enters a celebrity dance competition. Her partner? None other than gorgeous but wary professional dancer Liam Flynn.
Liam has learned the hard way to keep his heart on lockdown, but Polly’s joie de vivre puts a spring back in his polished step. As the competition heats up, so does their unstoppable attraction. If only they could convince themselves their hot tango passion is just for the cameras….
KISS:
HOW TO GET OVER YOUR EX by Nikki Logan
Being rejected is one thing. Being rejected live on radio takes it to a whole new level!
After her on-air proposal is turned down by her commitment-phobe boyfriend, Georgia Stone must learn to survive singledom. Unfortunately, thanks to a clause in her contract, she has to do it under the watchful gaze of brooding radio producer Zander Rush.
And so begins the Year of Georgia! Lurching from salsa classes to spy school, Georgia discovers a taste for adventure. Her biggest thrill so far? Flirting with danger—aka the enigmatic Zander. But admitting she’s ready for more than just a fling…? Definitely Georgia’s scariest challenge yet!
Next month, look for the second book in this duet: The Guy to Be Seen With by Fiona Harper.
HITCHED! by Jessica Hart
Planning the most talked about wedding of the year is enough to make engineer Frith Taylor break out in a cold sweat. She’s used to construction sites, not wedding fairs! But estate manager George Challoner’s offer of help is one that’s too good to resist.
George may be the rebel of the prestigious Challoner family, but his insanely good looks are giving Frith wedding fever! Charm personified, he’s making her feel things she hasn’t dared feel before. Maybe her little sister’s wedding won’t be the only one Frith’s planning…?
CHERISH:
A BRIDE FOR THE MAVERICK MILLIONAIRE by Marion Lennox
Rachel Cotton has high hopes for her cruise through the Kimberley region – surely this will be relaxing… But gorgeous shipmate Finn Kinnard seems intent on stirring her up!
Finn might claim to be a heartbreaker, but Rachel soon discovers that there is much more to this man than meets the eye…
THE BILLIONAIRE’S FAIR LADY by Barbara Wallace
Hot-shot lawyer Mike Templeton is intrigued when actress-turned-waitress Roxy O’Brien rocks up to his office with a scandalous inheritance claim that could save his practice…
After an uptown makeover Roxy feels every inch the heiress – but can she resist her intoxicating lawyer or will she be in danger of losing her heart?
THE HEIR’S PROPOSAL by Raye Morgan
Torie grew up as the butler’s daughter on the Huntington estate and she’s back to clear her family name – not to fall for enigmatic Marc Huntington all over again!
But to succeed she must learn to trust this hard, suspicious man, whose years as a Navy Seal have left him wounded and wary…
THE SECRET THAT CHANGED EVERYTHING by Lucy Gordon
Charlotte Patterson’s Roman holiday is her escape! She hopes to throw herself into everything Italy has to offer, but her world is about to change drastically.
Enter wildly attractive Lucio Constello! He’s irresistible, but their one night of shared passion will affect them more than they could possibly imagine…
THE TEXAS RANGER’S REWARD by Rebecca Winters
Travis Stillman is shocked by the orthopaedic therapist working with his son – she is the double of his late wife! A former Texas Ranger, Travis is used to the unexpected, yet Melissa Dalton defies all his training. Then Melissa hires him as a PI and suddenly he’s dealing with more danger…love in explosive proportions!
THE RANGER’S SECRET by Rebecca Winters
No one knows Chase Jarvis is in the CIA witness protection programme. For years his life has been loveless, bleak…and under threat. But now the woman he once loved and the child he never knew existed are back in his life. Keeping them safe is imperative; claiming them finally is his heart’s desire.
As readers who follow me on Twitter (@BarbaraTWallace) will tell you, I’m a huge baseball fan. Check that, I’m a huge Boston Red Sox fan. For that reason, I try to include the occasional Red Sox reference in my books. A heroine might be wearing a Boston Red Sox t-shirt, or, as In the case of Mr. Right, Next Door! the hero will be watching a televised baseball game. (Little side note: in Mr. Right, the Yankees are always losing.)
In The Billionaire’s Fair Lady, my Red Sox love makes its appearance in a far more subtle way.
For those of you who don’t know (or maybe don’t care), Dustin Pedroia is Boston’s All-Star second baseman. He is what we call a dirt dog. He’s scrappy, he’s tough and he gives 110%. He’s also an awesome player. The kind of guy you wish played for your team.
(Writers, by the way, can find a lesson in his perseverance; he spent a lot of time in the minor leagues being told he was too small, had too poor a swing, etc. to make it in the majors. He didn’t listen and ended up, not just making in the majors – he’ won Rookie of the Year and MVP honors. Proof you should believe in yourself, not the critics.)
But I digress. Back to my story. In 2008, when the Red Sox were in the playoffs, broadcaster Chip Caray refer
red to Dustin as El Caballito. “How many times have we heard them talk about Pedroia, el Cabillito?” he asked.
The correct answer was “None.” Far as I know, no one ever called Pedroia Caba-anything until Caray. The nickname became a bit of a joke during the playoffs, especially when Pedroia’s teammate, David Ortiz, pointed out the translation is “Little Pony.”
So what does any of this have to do with The Billionaire’s Fair Lady? In the book, cocktail waitress Roxy O’Brien is struggling to raise her pre-school-aged daughter, Steffi. Steffi is obsessed with horses. Her favorite: a plastic My Little Pony with a purple tail and mane. The pony’s name? You guessed it. Dusty. I couldn’t help myself. Dusty appears so many times he’s almost like a fourth character. He even plays a bit of a role in melting Roxy’s heart toward Mike Templeton. (Hint: The moment involves the famous carousel at Bryant Park. A far more romantic horse reference.)
Anyway, to celebrate the release of The Billionaire’s Fair Lady – as well as the fact that Spring Training starts in a little over a month – I’ve got two books to give away. One is Mike’s and Roxy’s story featuring the notorious Dusty. The other is Mr. Right, Next Door! which features Mike Templeton’s baby brother, Grant. To win the set, all you have to do is answer the following question. Yes, baseball is involved, but don’t worry; even non fans can Google the answer.
Question: In 2004, the Boston Red Sox won the World Series championship, ending an 86 year drought and sending life-long fans like myself into a frenzy. In what year did they win their 2nd championship of the century?
