Lydia recommends: Tasha Alexander's Victorian suspense series

Tasha Alexander has combined all the necessary ingredients for a first rate romantic suspense series: jewel thieves, poison, Turkish harems and a plucky independent Victorian heroine to unravel the mysteries surrounding them. With a glamorous range of locals, fascinating crimes to solve, and a romance which grows deliciously rich and deep as the series progresses, these are novels for a stolen afternoon of luxury; a day to lounge in your pajamas with the cell phone turned off, curtains drawn and a box of chocolates by your side.

Start at the beginning with And Only to Deceive, in which our heroine, Lady Emily Ashton, searches for the truth about her husband’s death and the mystery surrounding stolen antiquities at the British Museum. Her investigation leads Emily through London’s Rotten Row, to Renoir’s cozy Parisian artist studio, and finally to the glittering beaches of Santorini where she discovers which of her handsome suitors has the possibility of becoming more than a mere flirtation.

Proceed to A Poisoned Season, in which, as a woman ahead of her time, Emily performs a balancing act between breaking old codes of conduct while struggling to maintain her place among the highest circles of British society. As she works to unmask a daring cat burglar obsessed with stealing the treasures of Marie Antoinette, Emily must also navigating the romantic interests of a handsome duke, a wealthy but mysterious attaché to Queen Victoria, and the dashing jewel thief who may, or may not, be too dangerous to trifle with.

The third book in the series is set amidst Vienna’s Strauss-filled ballrooms and coffee houses inhabited by disgruntled revolutionaries. In A Fatal Waltz, Emily enters the arena of political and romantic intrigue when she discovers her fiancé has a past as mysterious as any of the cases she has yet unraveled and finds herself drawn into a plot that could shatter her world as easily as it topples the thrones of Europe.

Perhaps my favorite in this series is the most recent installment, Tears of Pearl, which is set in a fabulous Turkish harem. As a newly wed bride on her honeymoon, it is here that Emily must face her ambivalence about motherhood and the very real dangers of pregnancy and childbirth in the Victorian era. She is also called upon to solve the murder of a British diplomat’s daughter, who is found dead in the garden of the Sultan’s Topkapi Palace. As she navigates the labyrinthine twists and turns of the secretive harem, danger lurks around every corner and Emily must use all her skill to uncover a killer so well hidden, she faces her greatest challenge yet.

Enjoy!

Review: Shades of Midnight by Lara Adrian

Something inhuman is stalking the frigid Alaskan wilds, leaving unspeakable carnage in its wake. For bush pilot Alexandra Maguire, the killings stir memories of a horrific event she witnessed as a child and evoke in her the inexplicable sense of "otherness" she has long felt within herself but never fully understood . . . until a darkly seductive stranger with secrets of his own enters her world.

Sent from Boston on a mission to investigate the savage attacks and stop the slaughter, vampire warrior Kade has his own reasons for returning to the frigid, forbidding place of his birth. Haunted by a secret shame, Kade soon realizes the stunning truth of the threat he faces--a threat that will jeopardize the fragile bond he has formed with the corageous, determined young woman who arouses his deepest passions and most primal hungers. But in bringing Alex into his world of blood and darkeness, Kade must confront both his own personal demons and the even greater evil that could destroy all he holds dear.

As a "Midnight Breed Novel" this latest in the series of stories is about one of the newest members of a Boston-based group of vampire warriors who are seeking to find a rogue vampire who has awakened one of the original vampires from centuries before, and who is forcing breed-humans to have children who are then turned into automaton warriors. Obsessed with world domination, the one group who stands between himself and success are these powerful and resourceful warriors, one of whom is the former Alaskan resident, Kade. Born and raised in the northern reaches of that frozen land, he has returned to a land and family who he feels have rejected him and who have withheld their support and approval for what he is now doing. Yet his presence, his powerful skills, and his superior knowledge are needed to find the rogue vampire or whatever is causing the terrible wholesale slaughter of families and outlying villages.

I have enjoyed all the novels in this series. I think Lara Adrian is an exceptional writer who has done her geographical research thoroughly and who has developed this entire series of stories carefully and in exquisite detail. We are introduced not only to Kade but to Alex -- a breed mate who doesn't know why she has always felt "other" and who is a woman who is lonely and feeling "on the edge" of reality. Little does she realize that Kade's world is beckoning to her. Little does she realize that the story of Kade and his reasons for leaving Alaska in the first place are going to stretch her credibility as well as force her to face her own strengths as well as her weaknesses. A woman of skill in her own right, she finds her stride within the challenges her growing love for Kade present to her. She is the stuff of which true pioneer women are made. Living in Alaska has given her the context in which she can grow, but she has brought with her the memories of the massacre of her family in Florida. Her relationship with Kade require that she face not only his unique reality but the horror of her own past.

This story is so very well written and it engages the reader from page one. It is just a bit formulaic--all the stories in this series are really about each warrior finding his true life mate -- but within that formula there is a unique quality to the characters that outweighs the shape and form of the story. If you have read the other novels in this series, you will like this one. There is enough "hair-raising" to keep any paranormal fan happy. And there is love and friendship and forgiveness in abundance. I think you will find this a good read. I give this book a 4.5 out of 5.

What I'm reading now: Sepulchre by Kate Mosse

I’m about to crack open Sepulchre, by Kate Mosse. A fellow suspense addict slipped it off one of the shelves in his fabulously old-fashioned wood paneled library and kindly offered it to me on loan. Thanks Marcus!

Before I even begin, I’m loving the tarot themed interior book lining. I know – don’t judge a book by its interior cover, but I’m a sucker for a beautifully constructed tome. Other things that intrigue me about this book: It’s set in France (which is always a plus in my world), it features a mysterious old country house and there’s a tarot deck which possesses the power over life and death – what’s not to love?

Lydia's List

Looking for a great book to curl up by the fire with on these cold winter nights? Well, I've created a list of my all time favorite romantic suspense novels. Check out Lydia's List below for some page-turners that you will not be able to put down!

LYDIA'S LIST: BOOKS YOU CAN'T PUT DOWN!

• The night villa BY CAROL GOODMAN
• REBECCA BY DAPHNE DUMAURIER
• THE WITCHING HOUR BY ANNE RICE
• THE HISTORIAN BY ELIZABETH KOSTOVA
• AIRS ABOVE THE GROUND BY MARY STEWART
• TEARS OF PEARL BY TASHA ALEXANDER
• THE FORGOTTEN GARDEN BY KATE MORTON
• THE SECRET HISTORY OF THE PINK CARNATION BY LAUREN WILLIG
• INTERRED WITH THEIR BONES BY JENNIFER LEE CARRELL
• THE THIRTEENTH TALE BY DIANE SETTERFIELD
• THE LACE READER BY BRUNONIA BARRY
• SEASON OF THE WITCH BY NATASHA MOSTERT
• THE SECRET HISTORY BY DONNA TART

Kaylea Cross blogs about belly dancing and special ops while researching the military romantic suspence

I’ve always loved romantic suspense, especially if it involves military special ops. I know it’s a bit weird (especially since I’m Canadian), but on my nightstand I always have two stacks of books—one romance, and the other U.S. special ops non-fiction. I started out loving the Civil War and devouring everything I could find about it when I was twelve, and somehow it segued into special ops after that. Hey, I’m quirky, what can I say?

When I decided to start writing romance a few years ago, of course I wanted to write special ops themed romantic suspense. My series with The Wild Rose Press started with Out of Her League (winner 2009 RWA Laurel Wreath award for best romantic suspense), and evolved from there. My second book has just come out in print, and will be available in digital format Feb. 26^th. Cover of Darkness features a SEAL lieutenant and a female social worker named Bryn (from Out of Her League), who also happens to be a belly dancer. Her talents come into play when she’s enlisted to help a CIA contractor catch the terrorist responsible for her father’s death.

For research, I didn’t just read half a dozen books about SEALs and their training. Nope, I took up belly dance, too. To be honest it was something I’d always wanted to try, but never had the guts to do. See, I’m a former nationally carded fastpitch player. I’m an athlete, not a dancer. I don’t do graceful, and I never liked dancing in general unless I was at a wedding. To say the least, taking up belly dance was a stretch for me. But as it turned out, I loved it so much I started performing with a group, and funny as it might sound, it helped me figure out my heroine Bryn better.

I’m also deathly afraid of flying, but since my special ops heroes would be horrified (and disgusted) that their creator was too chicken to leave the ground, I forced myself to get on a damn helicopter so the pilot could go through the various aspects of flight for me, and talk more about flying military operations. It wasn’t a Black Hawk, but it did have rotors and it did indeed leave terra firma despite the fact I thought my heart would stop. After I lived through that experience, I even studied flight manuals to better understand the challenges of flying a helo at night at high altitudes, such as over the Hindu Kush Mountains in Afghanistan. See the effort I went to for these books? Realism is really important to me. Maybe no one reading my books would notice if I got a detail wrong, but I wanted to make sure I did what I could to “get it right”. I hope I’ve done so, within reason.

After Cover of Darkness, I completed the last three books in the series, each of which featured a special ops hero. I had a great time learning about my heroes’ professions with an awesome list of recommended non-fiction reading. In the end, I wound up researching SEALs, Rangers, Delta Force operators, Green Berets and then Pararescue Jumpers and Combat Controllers. The last two I became interested in while researching the first series (and you should see the awesome resources I’ve obtained on them!), so of course I decided to use them for my current works in progress. Yeah, another series. I love it when that happens!

Bottom line for me, I wanted to do my heroes justice. Yes, it’s fiction, but I wanted it to be good fiction, with enough truth in the story to make it plausible. I wanted to make it as realistic as possible and include certain details to highlight not only the dangerous missions special ops soldiers take on, but also to highlight their incredible skill sets. Not to mention the sheer resolve and willpower they have to even make it through their training in the first place. (I know for a fact I’d curl up like a boiled shrimp after about two days of sleep deprivation, so count me out )

If you enjoy this kind of romantic suspense, I hope you’ll like my books. Okay, and I really hope all my efforts at research comes through in my work .

You can find me through my blog,website, or Facebook, and I’d love to hear from you.

Happy reading!

Kaylea Cross

Cover of Darkness

Targeted by a terrorist cell, Bryn McAllister survives a bombing at the U.S. Embassy in Beirut only to be left to die in a desert cellar. When she is rescued by Navy SEAL Lieutenant Declan McCabe and his team, Bryn must rely on the handsome officer to get her to safety. But just when she thinks the nightmare is over, family friend and legendary CIA operative Luke Hutchinson recruits her and McCabe to help track down the terrorist mastermind responsible for the attack.

With Bryn determined to see the terrorist brought to justice, Dec joins up to protect her, prepared to do whatever it takes to keep her safe during their dangerous mission. Battling the explosive attraction between them, Dec fights to keep his distance from her so he can do his job and keep her alive. But when plans falls apart and Bryn is captured, he must make the agonizing choice between his duty as a SEAL and the life of the woman he loves.

www.kayleacross.com

www.kayleacross.blogspot.com

www.thewildrosepress.com

Romance Author Jax Cassidy shares a moment in Paris

Just in time for Valentine’s, Dark and Stormy turns to the romantic side of fiction. I am lucky enough to have erotic romance author, Jax Cassidy, sharing a luscious little moment of her time in Paris while writing her newest release Brush Strokes.

One fortunate reader will win a copy of Jax’s book, which Romance Junkies gave 4.5 ribbons and Coffee Time Romance called “a sweet and erotic dalliance”. Just leave a comment on this blog entry and the winner will be announced on February 19^th.

Now onto Paris…

Sexy Paris

When I think of Valentine’s, I think of love and romance. I also think of Paris, the City of Light, where these emotions seem to be bloom year round. I totally love writing about this city because it will always be a magical place in my heart. Living there was a surreal experience—a dream come true in so many ways—because I was able to really explore and savor the richness of what this city has to offer. I never grew tired of seeing the architecture and would often walk along the streets, mesmerized by the beauty that stretched on for miles and miles. I liked to stop at the quaint cafés, frequent the local shops, and go completely nuts in the intimate bookstores. One of my favorite places was Shakespeare and Company, which has an amazing history, but that’s for another day.

Sensuality spills out from every corner of Paris because they take care in how each and every thing is presented. From the way they set up their window displays, to the way they wrap your pastries before you leave the patisserie, you can’t help but fall in love with the passion and pride they have for presentation. You know that saying, “it’s in the details”? It’s true, Paris evokes sexiness and you can’t help but feel sexy. I could go on and on about my experiences as an American living there but I wanted you to see why I use Paris as a backdrop.

In BRUSH STROKES, my latest release from Amber Heat, I used all the elements found in Paris to help set the mood for the story. It felt natural to write about an exclusive sex club because I wanted to show the sensual and provocative side instead of the normal submissive/dominant clubs that most often come to mind. Sadly, I must confess that I’m not into the lifestyle so I had to do the research. I was able to find information about an existing sex club that catered to the high-profile and affluent crowd so I threw in some embellishments and made it an ideal place for any inquisitive ‘sex club virgins’ to want to visit. This was so much fun to write and I fell in love with the characters. It also gave me a chance to incorporate my love of art and Mr. Darcy. C’mon, who doesn’t love the brooding hero in Pride & Prejudice? Since this is a short novella, I tried to make the chemistry ‘hot’ and as a person who believes in love at first sight and soul mates, I hope that this translated well in my story.

I’ll just wrap up by saying that you MUST visit Paris at least once in your lifetime. The place drips of sexiness and romance…will make you yearn for those naughty things you’ve always thought about and never acted upon. Once you step foot in the City of Light, you’ll understand exactly what I’m talking about….

Interview with Lori Graham, Senior Editor at The Wild Rose Press

Hi Lori, please tell us a little about what you do at the Wild Rose Press.

I am the senior editor of the Crimson Rose line of The Wild Rose Press. This publishing company started 3 ½ years ago and I joined the staff just shortly after they opened their doors. Our goal at TWRP is to work with authors to help them perfect their craft. Yes, we like to publish books, of course, but we want to give authors the information they need. For example, every manuscript gets a response and none of them is a form letter. For me personally, I am blessed to work with a great bunch of authors as I edit their work. In addition, I also get the joy of managing an incredible editing staff. This group of women makes my life a lot of fun.

What makes a query grab you and what are you actively looking to acquire right now?

The thing that grabs me most is an author who I can work with. Someone who takes the time to research their plot and develop their craft. They create characters with depth and reality. This is what grabs me. As far as acquisitions, we have a special submission call going on right now called Jewels of the Night. You can visit our website at www.thewildrosepress.com and go to the crimson submission page or the behind the garden gate blog to get the details. If you have any questions, of course, you can email me directly at lori (at) thewildrosepress.com.

What really makes a suspense novel work for you?

Again, this comes back to a plot that is real. Given that we are dealing with suspense, it is important that certain rules be followed. For example, if the hero is an FBI agent, the way the character develops and acts needs to be somewhat consistent with how a real FBI agent might act. Granted there is some license that fiction can take, but it can’t go too far. So again, the research portion is very important and really polishes the book. The other aspect I look for is the development of those characters. The hero and heroine need to be as three dimensional as the author can get them. The reader wants to be able to know what they are thinking, feeling, seeing, touching, smelling, tasting – the emotions are important.

Who are your all time favorite romantic suspense authors/books?

There are simply too many to count. It all started with Nancy Drew, moved to Phyllis Whitney, and has come up to Cindy Gerard. There are more and I enjoy them all.

Is there a romantic suspense novel at Wild Rose that you're particularly excited about.