The American Library Association’s Booklist has published a list of the “New Stars of Historical Romance,” and its got quite a few gems. I’ve read and loved The Spymaster’s Lady by Joanna Bourne, Proof by Seduction by Courtney Milan, and The Duke of Shadows by Meredith Duran. Joanna Bourne (who is fabulous) called out Katharine Ashe on facebook, so I’m assuming she is equally fabulous. I’ve added her book to my TBR list.

A Big CONGRATULATIONS to all the Greater Seattle RWA members who made the list!

Passionate by Anthea Lawson

Knight of Desire by Margaret Mallory

In for a Penny by Rose Lerner

Which books from the list should I try next? Which have you read?

Title: Bound by Your Touch (advanced readers copy)
Author: Meredith Duran
Publication Info: Avon June 2009
Genre: Regency Historical Romance
Rating: <3 <3 <3 <3 <3

Ms. Duran’s sophomore try is even better than DUKE OF SHADOWS, and that’s saying a lot.

Plot:
Lydia Boyce manages all the affairs for her egyptologist father, so when some of his artifacts are exposed as fakes, she is determined to uncover the true villain and save her father’s reputation. Viscount Sanburne is the man who purchased the fake. Lydia accuses him of perpetrating the fraud. He is just as determined to uncover the truth. When a blue-stocking spinster and notorious rake go head-to-head, someone’s reputation is bound to be ruined.

Sanburne is plagued by guilt over failing to save his sister from an abusive marriage. As he accompanies Lydia to the darkest parts of the city in search of clues, she slowly discovers that the irresponsible rake has a deeper side to him. But she’s been burned before, and she hesitates to become another notch on Sanburne’s long list of conquests. They search the dark streets of London for the missing jewels with assassins hot on their heels. Neither is willing to risk his or her heart again.

Discussion:
An excellent adventure filled with rich prose, sparkling wit, and period details. Ms. Duran’s historic commentary makes this a book you can sink your teeth into. Clever and passionate, with a hero and heroine equally matched in stubborn determination, Bound by your Touch is sure to delight all readers of Historical Romance. (Especially fans of Loretta Chase!) I look forward to watching Ms. Duran’s star hit the New York Times best seller list and capture a RITA or two in the near future. Her third book is due in July: WRITTEN ON YOUR SKIN.

Thanks for all the congrats! I used the random number generator at random.org to select 2 winners for the contest for Meredith Duran’s BOUND BY YOUR TOUCH:

Renee, whose favorite historical is Dreaming of You by Lisa Kleypas (great choice!)

and

Mandi, whose favorite historical is Revealed by Kate Noble (I’ll have to pick that one up!)

Congrats! Please tell all your friends about Duran’s latest book and blog about it. It’s a fabulous read! The book will be released June 30, 2009.

In other fun news, while whiling away a sunny Sunday morning in downtown Ballard, I happened upon this adorable baby tee shirt (photo below left). It comes in a mystery package so you don’t know what occupation Mysterio will predict for your child. If you can’t read it, it says “Mysterio predicts I will be a ROMANCE NOVELIST.” I don’t care so much about the other professions, I just want this one.

Also, I won a contest a few weeks ago at Access Romance and today received a box of books in the mail, including three ARCs. Thank you AR!! The book that immediately caught my attention was THE VEIL OF NIGHT by Lydia Joyce, a debut regency historical romance, because Lisa Kleypas is quoted on the cover as saying the book is “absolutely riveting.” If Lisa Kleypas, goddess of regency romance, thinks it’s good, you know it’s gotta be great. Ms. Joyce debuted in 2005, but she’s new-to-me. Have any of you read these other books? Which should I start with?

Today is my two year blogging anniversary, when I finally decided “if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em” and started my own blog. My sweetie started his world-traveling evangelist job for Adobe three years ago this month–thanks to blogging non stop, usually all night long, coming to bed at 4 in the morning because he just had to write one last blog post. Eek! In the last two years I’ve tagged along with him to New York, San Francisco, Chicago, Switzerland, Ireland, Japan, and New Zealand. I’m still hoping for Scotland, one of these days, but we’ll see.

My favorite part of blogging is meeting the awesome community of book lovers on the internet. To celebrate my 2 year anniversary, I’m going to give away a fabulous book to 2 lucky commenters. Bound By Your Touch is the second novel by brilliant Meredith Duran. No sophomore slump here, Duran’s book is even more captivating than the first. If you want a superbly written romance with complex characters and witty dialogue, look no further. I predict great things from this rising star–a shelf full of RITAs and NYT Best Seller status.

Please leave a comment describing your favorite book by, oh, Sunday June 7. 2 comments will be selected at random to win a copy of this outstanding novel.

BOUND BY YOUR TOUCH by Meredith Duran (June 2009 – so you have to wait a few weeks to get it)

Silver-tongued Viscount Sanburne is London’s favorite scapegrace. Alas, Lydia Boyce has no interest in being charmed. When his latest escapade exposes a plot to ruin her family, she vows to handle it herself. Certainly she requires no help from a too-handsome dilettante whose main achievement is being scandalous. But Sanburne’s golden charisma masks a sharper mind and darker history than she realizes. He shocks Lydia by breaking past her prim facade to the woman beneath . . . and the hidden fire no man has ever recognized. But as she follows him into a world of intrigue, she will learn that the greatest danger lies within—in the shadowy, secret motives of his heart.

Books. How I dream about them. How I lust after them. How I rant and squee passionately over them.  At first, I thought I must be crazy, but then I found the internet and the beautiful women who are just as mad as I am about the heart-wrenching, adrenaline-spiking, mind-bending advenures to be found between the pages of a novel. Hundreds of book lovers are only a click away.

Hello, my name is Ciara, and I’m a bookaholic.

Hello, Ciara!

No longer am I reduced to a solitary existance in a world unfriendly to romance novels. Thanks to book bloggers I am connected to an entire community of obsessed bookaholics. *swoon*

Book Blogger Appreciation Week
My Friend Amy, recognizing the tireless work of book bloggers to connect readers and authors, has put together an entire week to celebrate the book pimp. Check out her site for book givaways and free marketing!

Here at ciaralira, we will be celebrating this week with a book givaway every day. My goal is to introduce readers to new authors that I lurve. If you would like to enter, please leave a comment telling me your favorite book (of all time, any genre) and WHY it is your favorite. Plot? Characters? Style? Theme? I want to know.

Monday: NIGHTKEEPERS by Jessica Andersen
(paranormal romance. Mayan doomsday prophesy. if you like the Black Daggar Brotherhood, this is a great one to try next)
Tuesday: DUKE OF SHADOWS by Meredith Duran
(regency romance, this debut novel is simply smashing, da’ling)
Wednesday: DARK NEEDS AT NIGHTS EDGE by Kresley Cole
(another must-read series for paranormal romance fans. Vampires, werewolves, ghosts, oh my!)
Thursday: SUGAR DADDY by Lisa Kleypas
(contemporary novel with romantic elements, 2008 RITA finalist. emotionally-charged heroine’s journey. Transformative process? Heck yeah!)
Friday: DEMON NIGHT by Meljean Brook
(oh how I heart meljean, let me count the ways. Paranormal romance with fabulous world building. Truly a masterful craft of character. Just remember, Ethan is MINE.)

You are Appreciated

And now for a few shout-outs:

Thank you to Sarai of Thoughts of an Aspiring Writer, the first book blogger to introduce me a whole new world of book pimps. Until she started commenting on my blog, I was just a lonely little book lover blogging for myself. Thank you to Sarai and Tracy for organizing the Desert Island Keeper blog, which has been a fabulously fun experience. We have author interviews galore and book givaways, so check back often. (see sidebar for links to the DIK blog and the DIK ladies personal blogs. Wheee!)

Thank you to KatieBabs (who debuted a wonderful new blog this week!) for taking me under her wing at the RWA National Conference. I was truely shaking in my boots, overwhelmed by all the authors at my very first conference. Kate was a pro. She guided me through the madness and introduced me to all the authors and bloggers she knows.

Me: *pulls on Katiebabs’ sleeve* OMG. Look over there. I think that’s Meredith Duran!!!
Katiebabs: Cool. Let’s go over and talk to her.
Me: *jaw drop* I can’t do that! It’s, like, Meredith Duran.
Katiebabs: *rolls eyes* Follow me.

Me: OMG. OMG. It’s, like, Smart Bitch Sarah.
Katiebabs: Oh, hey Sarah!
Me: OMG. OMG. OMG. She’s coming over here! What do I do? What do I say? AAAAAA!!!!
Katiebabs: Chill biyatch.

So anyways… I’ve met a ton of wonderful women bloggers over the last year and have had the very great pleasure of meeting a few of them face-to-face. I may be a lurker (cuz commenting would be evidence that I’m surfing the internet, not technically writing, doncha know), but I really do love reading the book reviews and author interviews of my fellow book pimps. Which ones do I check? See the links in the sidebar.

COMMENT TODAY TO WIN A COPY OF NIGHTKEEPERS BY JESSICA ANDERSEN

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cEtkrhBQPj0]tr

I met the lovely and delightful Meredith Duran, whose debut novel THE DUKE OF SHADOWS won the gather.com contest (it is teh awesome!), in the hotel bar and asked her to share what six books she would bring if stranded on a desert island. Her next two books come out back to back next summer from pocket. Why do we have to wait so long?

No review quicker
than haiku! More time to read.
How I love to read.

Title: Kushiel’s Dart
Author: Jacqueline Carey
Series: Kushiel’s Legacy, book 1
Publisher: Doherty, Tom Associates, LLC, March 2002
Genre: Fantasy

Politicking whore
Saves kingdom through S&M
Loves chaste soldier priest.

Title: Magic Burns
Author: Ilona Andrews
Series: Kate Daniels, Book 2
Publisher: Penguin, April 2008
Genre: Urban Fantasy

When magic fights tech
Monsters try to conquer world.
Kate saves day again.

Title: Sugar Daddy
Author: Lisa Kleypas
Series: Prequel to Blue Eyed Devil
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press, March 2008
Genre: Literary Fiction or Contemporary Romance (debatable)

Trailer park baby
Pulls herself up by bootstraps
Finds rich grown-up love.

Title: Miss Wonderful
Author: Loretta Chase
Series: Carsington brothers series, book 1
Publisher: Penguin, March 2004
Genre: Regency Romance

Lame Regency fop
Seeks headstrong old maid for love.
Canal or country?

Title: Bitten
Author: Kelly Armstrong
Series: Women of the Otherworld, Book 1
Publisher: Penguin, September 2004
Genre: Urban Fantasy

A werewolf bit me.
Now I hate him but
Can’t resist his luuuurve.

Title: Stray
Author: Rachel Vincent
Series: Werecats, book 1
Publisher: Mira, June 2007
Genre: Urban Fantasy

Werecat seeks freedom.
Resents old pushy boyfriend
Can’t resist his luuuurve.

Title: Slave to Sensation
Author: Nalini Singh
Series: Psy/Changelings, Book 1
Publisher: Penguin Group, September 2006
Genre: Paranormal Romance

Sexy were leopard
Seduces emotional
Psy in sexy dreams.

Title: Caressed by Ice
Author: Nalini Singh
Series: Psy/Changelings, Book 2
Publisher: Penguin Group, September 2007
Genre: Paranormal Romance

Hot blooded werewolf
Heals self, seduces virgin.
Heartless Psy finds love.

Title: Duke of Shadows
Author: Meredith Duran
Publisher: Simon & Schuster, March 2008
Genre: Historical Romance
(Lusty Wenches book club says – fabulous!)

English Miss finds love
During Indian war. But
He abandons her.

Have you read these books?
Leave me a haiku and you
Might win a free book.
(As in a used book from my bookshelves, of which there are many.)

This month I will be Interviewing Regency author Jenna Petersen about her upcoming Lessons from a Courtesan sometime close to the release date of June 24th.

June 16-18, when Mr. Wonderful gets back from his whirlwind tour of Europe, I will be tagging along with him to Chicago. I’m looking for good books that are set in the Windy City in either the romance or urban fantasy genres. So far I have Jim Butcher’s Harry Dresden series and Susan Elizabeth Phillips’ Chicago Stars series. What else should I read? Any restaurant recommendations?

JUNE 2008

• June 4: Mercer Island Library Writing Workshop. Author Bob Mayer presents on “The Original Idea—The Core of Writing and Selling Your Book and Idea“, 7pm Mercer Island Library.
• June 7: Greater Seattle RWA meeting – author Terry McLaughlin presents First Kiss Scenes, 11 am – 1 pm, Shoreline Library.
• June 7: The Lusty Wenches Book Club discusses The Duke of Shadows by debut author and Gather.com winner Meredith Duran.
• June 7: Richard Hugo House Write-O-Rama, workshops on writing, fundraiser, 9:30 am – 5 pm, Richard Hugo House, Seattle.
• June 10: Muli-award winning author Jo Beverly speaks to the Eastside RWA Chapter, 7-9pm, Newport Way Library Bellevue.
• June 16-18: WANDERLUST – Ciara visits the Windy City
• June 17: Elliot Bay Bookstore Science Fiction & Fantasy Book Group discusses Elizabeth Bear’s Dust, 6:30 pm, Seattle.
• June 18: Mercer Island Library Writing Workshop. Paranormal Romance Author Alexis Morgan presents on “Get Organized–Get Writing!”, 7pm Mercer Island Library.
• June 19: PNWA Meeting – Agent Alice Volpe presents on “How to Pitch to an Agent,” 7pm, Chinook Middle School, Bellevue.
• June 23: Author Jacqueline Carey reading and book signing of Kushiel’s Mercy, 7pm, University Bookstore, Seattle. (I just bought Kushiel’s Dart thanks to the overwhelming recommendation by Sarai and the lovely Desert Island Ladies!)
• June 24: Author Jacqueline Carey reading and book signing of Kushiel’s Mercy, 7pm, Powell’s Books at Cedar Hill Crossing, Beaverton, Oregon.

Anything else I should add?

Photo: If Mercy Thompson was a pinup girl.

So you may have noticed that I have a gazillion ideas and sometimes I fail to follow through with them. There simply isn’t enough time to do everything, so sometimes I’ll announce “upcoming” and you will never see anything come of it. It doesn’t mean I don’t try to do everything I say I am going to. Life is what happens when you are busy making other plans.

1. New Design: Most of the pinup girls in the header are by Gil Elvgren. The chick on the broom represents wanderlust. That’s right. My other car is a broom. What do you think?

2. Upcoming Guest Post: I finally got one of my friends to read a romance novel and talk to me about it. My friend Scott has agreed to write us a book review of his impressions of DARK LOVER, the Black Dagger Brotherhood Crack sensation by J.R. Ward. Stay tuned.

3. Aspiring Romance Author Book Club: Our next meeting is June 7, discussing THE DUKE OF SHADOWS by Meredith Duran. I have heard fabulous things about this book and am looking forward to reading it.

4. Mercer Island Library Writing Workshops: Join us for a series of free writing workshops that will spark your creativity, get you organized and guide you through the publishing maze. This series is co-sponsored by Pacific Northwest Writers Association

• The Original Idea—The Core of Writing and Selling Your Book and Idea: Presented by Bob Mayer Mercer Island Library, Wednesday, June 04, 7pm. Can you say what your book is about in 25 words of less? This is essential to both writing a tight book and selling it. We will discuss ways to find and state your original idea so that you stay on course while writing the book and excite those you tell when trying to sell it.
• Get Organized–Get Writing!: Presented by Alexis Morgan. Mercer Island Library, Wednesday, June 18, 7pm. Best selling author Alexis Morgan shares tips on how to get organized to write. Learn how to set both long and short term goals that will help you achieve success in your writing career. Alexis is published in several sub-genres and her paranormal romances feature warriors charged with defending humans from an ancient threat. This August she will release her seventeenth full length book, Dark Warrior Unleashed, the first book in her Talions series, as well as her first short story.

5. Emerald City Writers’ Conference registration is now OPEN! Conference dates are October 10-12, 2008 in Bellevue, Washington.

Scheduled Speakers

• Welcome: Susan Mallery
• Key Note: Julia Quinn
• Closing: Allison Brennan
• “Write the DAMN Book!” Challenge: Cherry Adair

Agents and Editors

• Carolyn Grayson of Ashley Grayson Literary Agency
• Angela James of Samhain Publishing, Ltd.
• Kevan Lyon of Sandra Dijkstra Literary Agency
• Leis Pederson of Berkley Books, Penguin Group (USA)
• Barbara Poelle of Irene Goodman Literary Agency
• Deb Werksman of Sourcebooks, Inc.
• Kim Whalen of Trident Media Group, LLC

Enter The Duke of Shadows Sweepstakes

Prize packages:

Grand Prize: $25 gift card from Barnes and Noble

First prize: $15 gift certificate from Amazon (or online bookstore of your choice)

Runners up: Five more winners will receive a copy of The Duke of Shadows

I love gushing about romance novels. I love even more when people gush about their favorite romance novels to me – that’s how I find my best books. (The deliciousness that is Joanna Bourne’s The Spymaster’s Lady, for example, was recommended by the Smart Bitches – thank you Smart Bitches, I grovel in your general direction!). Ann Aguire is so in love with The Duke of Shadows, she’s giving away prizes. I’ve never read such a glowing review:

The Duke of Shadows was pitch-perfect, not a single wrong note. This book ravished me. The writing is lovely and luminous, bedizened with subtle poetry. It hit me like a fist in the chest, rousing a sudden, shocking ache. In reading this, you will be permeated with yearning. Some sentences are so lovely, they make you say, “Oh,” in quiet, helpless admiration. This book is pure beauty married to elegance and simplicity.

Be still my heart – my blood races to run out and buy this book. I will, of course, give you my two cents when I read it. But until then, check out Ann’s gushing goodness.