Archive for March, 2011

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Happily Ever After…?

Thursday, March 31st, 2011

Creating alternate endings by Kat Latham

I hate Gone With The Wind. Hate it.

I know it’s supposed to be one the all-time greatest films, but I’ve seen it once and as God is my witness, I shall never watch it again.

I was 13 when I watched it. No one had spoiled the ending for me yet. My mom told me it was her favorite film, so we watched it together. After investing quite a bit of my heart in the story…after watching the characters’ painful struggle to grow…the film ended sadly?

Uh uh. Not for me, thanks.

The Romance Writers of America defines romance as having an emotionally satisfying and optimistic ending. Perhaps my aversion to sad endings is a sign that I’ve been conditioned by all the romance novels I’ve read. Maybe I’m just naturally someone who loves a happy ending. But in my mind, Rhett and Scarlett stay together in the end. It isn’t a perfect relationship, but they’re perfect for each other and they continue to have a passionate, tempestuous marriage.

They have more children together, not because children are necessary for a happy ending but because Rhett and Scarlett want children again, only this time they won’t use their kids as a weapon against each other. They’ll adore all their kids, but Scarlett will secretly prefer the little boy who takes strongly after Rhett, and Rhett will dote on the little girl who reminds him of Scarlett.

They’ll have to struggle to rebuild their lives, but they’ll rely on each other’s strength and prop each other up when they think they’re going to fail. Their grandsons will fight in the First World War, but they’ll come home safely (and one will bring a sassy French wife with him. Scarlett will hate her.). One of their granddaughters will be an army nurse, and she’ll spend her life fighting for women’s liberation—a cause Rhett supports more vocally than Scarlett.

And, because they’re fictitious, they never die.

What book or film would you give a more optimistic, emotionally satisfying and optimistic ending? Comment and enter to win Erin McCarthy’s THE CHASE because here at The Season happy endings are guaranteed. ;)

Click for review and book details

Kat Latham has been reading romance for a couple of decades. With degrees in English lit and human rights, she loves stories that reflect the depth, humor and emotion of real life. When she’s not writing contemporary romance novels, she can usually be found blogging or tweeting overly personal information. She loves meeting other readers and writers online, so follow her on Twitter or check out her blog and say hello!

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Posted in Berkley, Giveaways, Katrina | 49 Comments »

Review: Falling Under

Wednesday, March 30th, 2011

The Season will start reviewing Young Adult novels on a regular basis in the summer, but here’s a 10 Star teaser from the very talented Gwen Hayes. Comment to enter to win a copy of FALLING UNDER.

Falling Under
Author: Gwen Hayes
Publisher: NAL Trade
Pub. Date: March 1, 2011
ISBN-13: 978-0451232687
Retail: $9.99

Theia Alderson has always led a sheltered life in the small California town of Serendipity Falls. But when a devastatingly handsome boy appears in the halls of her school, Theia knows she’s seen Haden before- not around town, but in her dreams.

As the Haden of both the night and the day beckons her closer one moment and pushes her away the next, the only thing Theia knows for sure is that the incredible pull she feels towards him is stronger than her fear.

And when she discovers what Haden truly is, Theia’s not sure if she wants to resist him, even if the cost is her soul.

~*~*~

Falling Under is a world in which darkness and innocence collide, cleverly crafted and created by Gwen Hayes.

Seventeen-year-old Theia Anderson has had an anything but normal life growing up. With a strict father who has always sheltered her from becoming careless like her mother, who lost her life when Theia was born, she has never had been anything but the perfect daughter. That is until the mysterious dreams start and Theia’s life turns inside out and things become incredibly inexplicable.

Haden Black is Theia’s dreams come true – literally. How or why is anyone’s guess and the smoldering connection between the two is undeniable, no matter how much Haden tries to push Theia away and repulse her. Haden has arrived in Serendipity Falls, California, on a mission. A deep, dark mission that will change lives forever. He is anything but pure, or at least that is what he has been taught to believe.

When the realms of dreams and reality collide, Theia and Haden become intertwined within a dance of pure emotional and physical seduction that cannot be denied, no matter the consequences. Lives will be changed and souls forever stolen, unless temptation can be resisted.

Falling Under is a deeply sensual and provocative story that is amazingly vivid and, at times, menacing. Gwen Hayes displays an unforgettable talent for blending paranormal, romance, suspense, loyalty, friendship and forbidden desire into one superb story. Geared toward Young Adult readers, Falling Under easily crosses that barrier into a wonderful and engrossing story for adults as well. The idea of “tortured and forbidden love” is a bit on the Twilight theme side, however that is where the similarities end. I found this to be a unique and incredible story that left me with a sense of yearning throughout, as I read. Nearing the end, I was tortured with the conflict of wanting to see what would happen next and the pain of not wanting the story to end. I adored both Theia and Haden, deeply, and felt wrapped within their story, their torment. Ms. Hayes’ characterization and descriptions were perfection and truly brought the story and each and every character to life, in vivid proportion.

Falling Under is the first in a new series and I desperately cannot wait for the next installment. The ending of the story was perfect and left me with a tinge of satisfaction, as well as a nail-biting yearning for more. I do have to mention, as well, that the cover of Falling Under is exquisite and is absolute perfection for cradling the delightful and unforgettable story within.

I can’t recommend Falling Under enough to readers who love all the qualities mentioned above. This is a book that will forever have a home on my shelf, awaiting it’s companions to join it.

Rating: 10 (Perfect)

Heat Level: 1 (Inspy , no lovemaking, but still incredibly sensual with sizzling chemistry)

VN:F [1.9.13_1145]
RATE THIS BOOK!
Rating: 10.0/10 (2 votes cast)

 

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Posted in Giveaways, NAL, Rate Me Reviews | 22 Comments »

And the winners are…

Wednesday, March 30th, 2011

Congratulations, ladies. Please email your snail mail address to me at contests at theseasonforromance dot com and remember to include the title of the book you won. You have one week to contact to collect your prize.

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Posted in Giveaways, Kensington, self-publishing | 9 Comments »

What’s missing out there?

Tuesday, March 29th, 2011

This going to a very short post. I have a sick child at home with me today. But this is a question I’ve been wanting to ask for a bit now and it’s directed at readers–I don’t care if you’re a published author, an aspiring author because we all do read. What kind of books are you missing? When you browse the book store shelves be it real or virtual, what do you wish you could find there that you just cannot? I’m really interested the answers.

Comment and win Wynonna Judd’s RESTLESS HEART.

Click for review and book details

 

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Posted in Giveaways | 27 Comments »

And the winners are…

Tuesday, March 29th, 2011

Congratulations, ladies. Please email your snail mail address to me at contests at theseasonforromance dot com and remember to include the title of the book you won. You have one week to contact to collect your prize.

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Posted in Giveaways | 7 Comments »

This One’s For You

Monday, March 28th, 2011

I didn’t think I’d be coming back to post about better news and A TASTE OF DESIRE and SINFUL SURRENDER, but by golly I am. I dreamt (secretly of course) about hitting that #1 spot on Amazon for historical romance, but I honestly didn’t think I would ever make it there. Yesterday I did with A TASTE OF DESIRE and with SINFUL SURRENDER currently in the #3 spot. (See image to the right for proof) :)

This goes so way beyond my expectations, I don’t even know what to say except THANK YOU. To all who have supported me, visiting my site and blog regularly, commenting regularly, and those who visit irregularly too. THANK YOU to every single one of you who’ve bought either one or both books and emailed to tell me how much you loved them. THANK YOU to those who recommended my book(s) to others even though my books are not exactly your taste. THANK YOU to everyone who took the time to write a lovely review whether it was on your own blog, or Amazon, B&N, GoodReads or what have you. Without your support, I know I could have never have gotten this far with this book and I certainly wouldn’t be working so hard to get ALL’S FAIR IN LOVE & SEDUCTION and AN HEIR OF DECEPTION out to you this year.

.

Click for Kindle specifications

So to celebrate this very very happy time for me I’m giving away a KINDLE! Yep, all you have to do is comment on this blog. The drawing will be April 15th (tax deadline day).  And in your comments, please don’t congratulate me, you’ve done that enough. This post is to thank you all!

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Posted in Giveaways | 531 Comments »

As the Publishing World Turns

Friday, March 25th, 2011

So have you heard that Amanda Hocking, who is now the face of indie publishing success, signed a contract with St. Martin’s Press worth over 2 million dollars for 4 (four) books? That’s a ton of change to invest in 4 books but Amanda has a proven track record, selling over 1 million copies of her 9 (nine) self-published books, which she sold for $ .99 – $2.99. The larger question is will her fans follow her to that higher price point? St. Martin’s Press–as are all of the Big6 publishing companies–uses agency pricing when it comes to their digital books (this means the ebook price is fixed by them and cannot be discounted by the online retailer. Normally that price is set at the retail print price or higher). Time will tell if St. Martin’s risk–because this is a risk for them–pays off. For Amanda, this is an extremely smart move and a win-win situation for her. Even if her books fail to generate the kind of sales that would make this deal a profitable endeavor for St. Martin’s, she still walks away with a cool 2 plus million dollars and she can continue to self-publish to her heart’s content. Here’s a woman who made some damn fine lemonade with her lemons. Here’s the article announcing the deal, if you’re interested.

And in other news, Barry Eisler, a New York Times bestselling author of thrillers, apparently verbally agreed to publish his next two books with St. Martin’s Press for a reported $500,000 (it appears that St. Martin’s Press has their purse wide open and is spewing tons of cash) but changed his mind and has decided to self-publish his next novel titled The Detachment. During the bruhaha, Writer’s House–a well-respected literary agency–is no longer representing him. I suspect that was not a friendly parting of ways as it denied the agency a nice $75,000 on the deal. Now, of course, the industry is abuzz with the news and while some  may condemn his move as short-sighted, others see him starting a trend for bestselling authors like himself. Here again, time will tell whether Mr. Eisler did the wise and sound thing for his writing career. I know I’ll be interested in how well The Detachment does when he releases it. Click here if you’d like to read his reasons behind his decision as he discusses it with Joe Konrath aka J.A. Konrath, a mystery, thriller author.

And today, Stephanie Laurens, New York Times and USA Today bestselling historical romance author, discusses digital pricing on her blog. Stephanie, like most other authors–new right on through to established–sees the changing shape of the publishing landscape and began writing weekly, very topical posts for all to discuss.

What I see occurring, is that the stigma of self-publishing as what authors do when they’re not ‘good enough’ for New York, going away. Especially, now that established and New York published authors are entering this arena. Don’t get me wrong, I still believe that traditional publishers will always have a place in the publishing marketplace as long as they stop fighting the inevitability that is digital books eventually replacing or quickly gaining parity with–to a large degree–the printed book. I’m not sure in what time-frame this will occur, but like the VHS tapes, vinyl records and even CDs, which are quickly being usurped by .mp3 files, this will happen.  And given the Publisher’s Week article linked here, I believe mass market paperback will be the first format affected.

I’m not sure if readers care about this kind of news but I’m pretty sure authors, from aspiring to bestselling, have their ears peeled for it. What do you think about the changing publishing landscape. Are you ready to dip your toe in the self-publishing pond, lake, ocean? Readers, do you care which publishing house–if any–puts out your favourite authors’ books? Do you even know which publishing house your favourite author writes for?

Comment and enter to win IT HAPPENED ONE SEASON, featuring a novella by the above mentioned Stephanie Laurens.

 

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Posted in Giveaways, self-publishing, St. Martin's Press | 34 Comments »

And the winners are…

Friday, March 25th, 2011

It’s First Come, First Pick for the winners of the post Contemporaries and their covers!

Estella
Chelsea B.
Wendy P.
Kirsten

Congratulations, ladies! Please email the book you want from the 4 titles featured on the corresponding post in preference order along with your snail mail address at contests at theseasonforromance dot com. You have one week to claim your prize.

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Posted in Giveaways | 10 Comments »

The April issue is up!

Thursday, March 24th, 2011

A very quick post to let you know the April issue of The Season is finally up! I’ll be back later to post some more winners. :)

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Posted in The Season Sites | 9 Comments »

The Book for the Good Cause

Wednesday, March 23rd, 2011

A Book with a Cause by Lori Brighton

When I was asked to join a group of self-published authors writing an anthology, I jumped at the chance. Not only would I be writing a short story that would be featured with some well-respected self-published authors, but the money would also be going to charity!

Kiss Me, Kill Me is an Ebook anthology of novellas, all paranormal romance, all by self-published authors and all proceeds go to the GreaterGood.Org, a charity that “funds leading nonprofit organizations around the world in order to alleviate poverty and hunger, promote peace, address cancer and other widespread health problems, foster literacy and provide education, preserve vital habitats in peril, and provide protection and care to vulnerable animals.”

Each story in the anthology is 5,000 to 20,000 words. Not only is the anthology only 99 cents, but it’s a great way to try out a new author. Interested? Read the blurbs below!

A Ghoulish Valentine by H.P. Mallory:
Dulcie O’Neil can’t help her attraction to Knight Vander, much though she tries to fight her feelings. When she begrudgingly accepts his invitation to dinner and a movie, she can’t imagine her evening will be derailed by a cemetery full of hungry ghouls and one incredibly sexy man.

Cat Fight by Zoe Winters:
Cat Fight takes place in Zoe Winters’ “PretVerse”. Greta is a cat therian (shifter). She’s been involved with Dayne, a local sorcerer since she sought his protection from her murderous tribe. After a fight, Greta shifts into cat form and refuses to come back out.

Impulse Control by Susan Bischoff:
In the world of the Talent Chronicles, kids born with supernatural powers are taken from their families and forced into government research facilities called State Schools. At one such school, a group of Talents must work together to stop a dangerous experiment that’s already killed two of their peers and threatens others. If they’re caught they face Detention, and Detention at a State School has a whole different meaning.

Wild Passion by Lori Brighton:
James is a treasure hunter intent on collecting a deadly, priceless statue. Then he meets Adelaide, a stubbornly beautiful and mysterious woman who knows more about the statue than she admits. Suddenly, James is tempted to give up everything for the one treasure he can’t seem to own … Adelaide.

A Fairytale Ending by M.T. Murphy:
An unlucky actress discovers that there is no good and bad when it comes to vampires and werewolves, only bad and worse.

Blind Sight by Kait Nolan:
Isla’s ability as a Seer has made her a life-long captive of a paranormal crime lord. Fae assassin, Ransom, offers her a chance at escape, but when she touches his hand she sees only blood, horror, apocalypse. What reason can Ransom have for wanting to rescue her, and can she possibly trust a man who deals in death?

The Sacrifice by Toni LoTempio:
After a chance meeting with the mysterious Alfred Barstow, Jennifer is swept off her feet by his whirlwind courtship of her, so much so that she accepts his proposal of marriage. Leaving her boyfriend Peter behind, she heads off to start a new life in California, unaware there’s more to Alfred than meets the eye – and a sinister plot behind his proposal. The Sacrifice is a story about what happens when the man of your dreams turns out to be your worst nightmare…and then some!

Until the Breaking of the Day by Daniel Arenson:
The Underground. A realm of flame, blood, and knives in the dark.When its prince returns from exile, a young demon girl will learn his secrets.

If You Leave by Stacey Wallace Benefiel:
Despite their devotion to one another, Gabrielle and Jorge have been living separate lives. That is, until Gabrielle’s life ends. Reunited and it feels so…complicated?

So, to celebrate, we’re giving away 2 Ecopies of Kiss Me, Kill Me.

My short story in the anthology, Wild Passion, is actually the third and final story in my Wild Series. And so to celebrate the release of Wild Desire, my second book in the Wild Series, I’m also giving the winners a signed, printed copy of Wild Desire. Just leave a comment to win an Ecopy of Kiss Me, Kill Me and a printed copy of Wild Desire!

Lori Brighton is a New York and self-published author. Her second book, Wild Desire released March 1, 2011 from Kensington Publishing. She has self-published A Night of Secrets (a historical paranormal), The Ghost Hunter (a contemporary paranormal) and a YA titled The Mind Readers. You can visit Lori on her website at: www.LoriBrighton.com

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Posted in Giveaways, Paranormals, self-publishing | 20 Comments »

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