I’ve read two books recently that have earned spots on my keeper shelf:

Kiss of a Demon King by Kresley Cole

and

Coyote’s Mate by Lora Leigh

(Both of these books can stand alone, though they are each involved in a series.)

These two books were the kind of awesomely good stories that keep me up at night. I read them as fast as I could (the first time), then re-read slower the second. 🙂  Thank you, Kresley Cole and Lora Leigh!

Does anyone else have any new keepers you’d like to tell me about?

By the way, I’m blogging about exactly what makes a book a keeper over at Divas of the Dark.

Several of my Bradford sister authors have new releases out this month, so I’d like to take a few minutes to talk about them.

The always awesome Anya Bast has a very steamy new story out from Samhain this month:

Anya is such a great author–I love the worlds that she creates.

Shelli Stevens also has a hot release from Samhain Publishing this month:  TEMPTING ADAM.  Want to read an excerpt or watch the trailer?   I love book trailers–and I love the tagline for this book:  “The man she wants is the one she must deceive.”  Ah, Shelli, you’ve got my attention!  Shelli is a busy author this year–lots of great releases!

Do you like sexy western romances? I do-I got hooked on those years ago with Elizabeth Lowell’s “Only” books. Do you remember those?  ONLY MINE, ONLY HIS…great books. Yeah, they made me cry.  But the good cry.

Well, Beth Williamson has a western romance scheduled to release next Tuesday from Kensington Brava. (Congrats, Beth!!  Another Brava gal!)

Want blurbage?

Plum Creek, Colorado 1872

The Right Man Comes Along

Madeline Brewster practically owns Plum City, Colorado. But at thirty-two, she knows she has missed any chance for happiness. Until she finds a tall, strong, handsome Irishman on the wrong end of the hangman’s noose. Suddenly this unconventional woman comes up with an outrageous idea . . .

Teague O’Neal has rugged cheekbones, tousled black curls, and eyes as blue as the sky, even if he is caked in Colorado mud. The men insist they caught him horse-thieving, and there’s something desperate about him that says he’d do anything for a buck.

Maybe it was pure chance, or maybe it was something more that brought Madeline and Teague together. But one thing’s clear, between a woman who has just about everything she could ever want, and a man who’s lost that and more, they might find something in between worth living for.

***

Jodi Lynn Copeland also has a February release.  ESCAPE TO ECSTASY is a Kensington Aphrodisia, and it sure seems like the right book to warm up a cold winter night!:

Sexual healing…there’s nothing like it. And Ecstasy Island is where it happens. Meet two heroes who know exactly how to vanquish a woman’s every fear and teach her to love—and fully live—again. But this erotic escape is by invitation only…

And to round out the Bradford group for February, the talented Denise Agnew has a new Heart of Justice book available:  IN HER DEFENSE.

Blurb:

Celeste Rice’s life has been shattered by terrible violence more than once. Violence threatens to creep back into Celeste’s world when her ex-boyfriend stalks her. When Celeste inherits her aunt’s home, she decides to move back into her childhood neighborhood after long years away. Upon her prodigal return, she encounters old friend and long-time object of her desire, Mick MacGilvary at a charity event and knows that she is finally ready to pursue that heart-stopping attraction. She believes she’ll stop craving him if she has sex with him once and gets it out of her system. She decides to test the wildfire attraction, even though Mick’s violent past and his SWAT position frighten her.

Mick will do anything in her defense…

SWAT cop Mick MacGilvary’s instincts tell him Celeste’s ex-boyfriend has something evil up his sleeve. Mick’s uneasy past with Celeste makes him gun-shy around her. His protective feelings for Celeste have never abandoned him. Ten years ago, Celeste rejected his advances, and he hasn’t forgotten. The heavy-duty attraction he’s always had for her ramps up now that she’s near. Better yet, she’s obviously interested in bedding him.

Danger lurks around the corner…

Caught up in a passion neither of them can deny, Mick and Celeste’s strengths and weaknesses are tested when her ex-boyfriend decides if he can’t have her, no one will.

***

Sounds like another fast-paced, sexy read Denise!  🙂

And Bradford ladies–you are busy!

If you’ve got a book you’re reading that you want me to know about, please, post away!

HOTTER AFTER MIDNIGHT won the CAPA from The Romance Studio!  Wow!  HOTTER AFTER MIDNIGHT was the winner in the paranormal romance category (and there were some absolutely fantastic nominees in this category–actually, in all the categories!). I’m thrilled that my Monster Doctor story won and I just want to send out a big THANK YOU to the folks who selected my book.   You’re sure made me one happy woman!  Thank you, TRS!

CAPA stands for the Cupid and Psyche Award, and The Romance Studio gives out the awards every year on February 14.     What a great day for a romance award!

Happy Valentine’s Day!!!  I hope you have a wonderful day filled with chocolate, roses, and, of course, love.  🙂

And, if you’d like to add a free book to your Valentine’s Day frun, then head over to Amberkatze’s Book Blog!  Amber was kind enough to interview me (thanks, Amber!), and in addition to the interview, there’s a book contest on her blog.  One person will win an autographed copy of IMMORTAL DANGER (Come on–it’s about vampires, dragons!  You want this book!!)  So check out the interview and be sure to read the full contest details (posted just below the interview).

Then go kiss your sweetheart.  Hug your friends. Dance with your kids.  Enjoy your day!!

February 11, 2009:  Romantic Notions Booksigning and Book Talk at the Foley Public Library. Cynthia Eden will discuss writing and sign books with fellow GCCRWA authors Amber Leigh Williams, Allison Knight, and Bess McBride.  The event begins at 6 p.m. For more information, please check out “Foley Happenings” on the Foley Public Library’s website.

In September, I’ll have a paranormal novella in the BELONG TO THE NIGHT anthology. I received a copy of the cover recently, and wow–I love it!

My favorite part? Other than the guy?  The tagline of: “From lust till dawn.”  Every time I read that, I smile.

My contribution to this anthology is “In the Dark”–and if you’re curious, here’s the blurb:

FBI agent and leopard shifter Sadie James’ undead ex, Liam, still arouses her deepest desires, distracting her from tracking the brutal rogue shifter who is terrorizing Miami. By teaming up with Liam, Sadie has a better chance of solving the case, but as passion consumes them, she stands to lose more than just her heart.

***

And if you read “Wicked Ways” in the WHEN HE WAS BAD anthology, you might recognize Liam…

I’m thrilled to be in this anthology with Shelly and Sherrill–and I am so in love with this cover.

Here are the blurbs for the other stories:

The Wolf, The Witch, and Her Lack of Wardrobe by Shelly Laurenston

Jamie Meacham has enough trouble controlling her supernatural abilities. There’s no time for lust, or for Tully Smith, even with his smoldering amber eyes.  But Tully’s grappling with his own animal instincts as a powerful shifter-wolf, trying to protect all his territory–including a certain sassy witch–from vicious rivals.

City of the Dead by Sherrill Quinn

Dori Falcon is a witch with a plan:  get to New Orleans, locate her missing brother, and recover the Eye of Bastet, a mysterious and powerful amulet. Her plan never included falling for sexy Cajun copy Jake Boudreau; but without his help, she may never find the demon who has her brother, and the key to her family’s survival.

***

And one more note, Zoe Winters is a finalist in the Better Sex Erotic Fiction Contest. This is the final round of voting, so if you have a chance, check out her story and vote! Good luck, Zoe!