Releases: May 3, 2011

Some yummy, yummy releases this week!  Not to mention awesome authors!

BREAKING POINT by Pamela Clare || Romantic Suspense

RT Magazine review says: (Four stars!) Clare consistently delivers! Breaking Point is packed with gut-wrenching tension, tragedy, romance and passion. The characters are riveting and the story of Mexican drug lords, journalists fighting for the truth and marshals seeking justice is timely and effective.

After surviving the loss of her fiancé and family in Hurricane Katrina and an attempt on her life, investigative journalist Natalie Benoit has rebuilt her life and career in Denver. In Mexico for a convention, Natalie is kidnapped and held for a drug lord. The broken whispers of another captive, Chief Deputy U.S. Marshal Zach McBride, give her the strength and courage to fight and they escape. Together, Zach and Natalie race across the land chased by a vengeful drug lord who has a single mission — to kill Natalie.




WARRIOR BETRAYED by Addison Fox || Paranormal Romance

** FELLOW RUBY SISTER: 2009 RWA GH FINALIST **

Millennia ago, the Goddess of Justice created a race of fierce Warriors, each imbued with a special power of the Zodiac, charged with protecting humanity from the darkest of evils.

Forty years ago, Eirene, the Goddess of Peace spurned her position to run away with a mortal. Furious with her daughter, Themis set a curse upon Eirene’s unborn child; to one day replace her mother on Mount Olympus.

Montana Grant lost contact with her mother many years ago. Now as she struggles to lead her late father’s shipping company, she’s also dealing with the sudden reappearance of her mother. The frail woman is spouting nonsense about Mount Olympus, immortal warriors, and long-standing curses. But after suspicious activity puts the company’s future – and possibly Montana’s life – at risk, she decides to take her mother’s last bit of advice…

When Montana asks Quinn Tanner for help, she confronts the sexy security executive about his secret identity: He’s a Taurus Warrior. Quinn denies it, but he can’t deny his powerful attraction to the high-powered heiress. With worldwide peace in the balance, it’s up to Quinn to help Montana rise to her destiny – even as they’re falling in love…

BLOOD LAW by Karin Tabke || Parnormal Romance
 

For all eternity, only one thing shall separate them—until the Blood Law is avenged…

The coming of the Blood Moon will lead two Lycan packs into war, spur two rival brothers into conflict, and spark an act of vengeance so evil that its effects will be felt for generations.

One woman stands at the center of it all…

As undisputed Alpha, Rafael must choose a life mate to preserve the dominance of his Lycan pack. He never suspected, his mate would be a human, the same wounded, girl-woman he seduces from the brink of death. Falon is a dangerous combination of Lycan and Slayer—beings bred to destroy his kind. Even more, she’s a mesmerizing beauty whose sensuality tempts the seasoned warrior to take unnecessary risks. The primal heat between them is irresistible, yet surrendering to it could destroy them both…for a vengeful foe stands ready in the shadows to fulfill what is rightfully his by Blood Law.

THREE TO TANGO by Emma Holly, Megan Hart, Lauren Dane, Bethany Kane || Erotic Romance

RT Magazine review says: (Four stars!) Four red-hot writers take you on a wild ride to the edge of insanity. Each novella centers on a threesome and the passion that rocks such a joining. Kane’s funny story particularly shines, with a strong plot and well-defined characters.

In Dane’s “Dirty/Bad/ Wrong,” Ava Rand returns to her hometown for her mother’s funeral and straight back into the arms of her former lovers, Luca and Angelo. In Hart’s story, Kerry is reunited at her high school reunion with Brian, the one who got away. She gets her current boyfriend’s permission to seduce him, but they’ll need more than “Just for One Night.” Holly’s “Flipping for Chelsea” has adopted brothers Liam and Shay in love and lust with Chelsea, the quintessential girl next door, but Shay is also in love and lust with Liam. In Kane’s “On the Job,” Madeline has hated Walker since he walked out on her. Eleven years later he’s the head of security for her fiancé’s company and her personal bodyguard. The passion between them sparks again and Madeline will have to put her heart on the line when it comes to the men in her life.

MY FAVORITE COUNTESS by Vanessa Kelly || Historical Romance

** FELLOW KENSINGTON AUTHOR **

Mired in responsibility, Bathsheba doesn’t have time to convalesce in the country. She should be in London, hunting for a wealthy new lover to pay off her late husband’s vast debts, not dallying with a devastatingly handsome doctor.

But it is only a matter of time until the good doctor and the obstinate countess will have to contend with the sparks that fly between them. Once their bodies surrender, their hearts may follow...

FREE BONUS READ!






DRAGON BOUND by Thea Harrison || Paranormal Romance

RT Magazine review says: (Four & 1/2 stars!) Every now and then a book comes along that blows your socks off — this is one of those books! To say that former category author Harrison makes a stellar foray into the paranormal genre with this Elder Races series starter is truly an understatement. Utilizing vivid characters, edge-of-your-seat danger and an intriguing alternate reality, Harrison crafts a novel that grabs you from the first sentence and makes you bitterly regret that the book must end. Move this to the top of your must-buy list immediately, you won’t be disappointed!

Half-human/half-wyr Pia Giovanni has been blackmailed into a potentially suicidal mission: she must steal something from the hoard of Dragos Cuelebre, one of the most feared and respected of the Wyrkind. Pia is an unwilling pawn in the Dark Fae King Urien’s growing war with Dragos. Dragos’ business empire is centered in NYC, and his ferocious anger is ignited when he realizes that someone has found his hoard and stolen a penny. The fact that Pia left a penny in return along with an apology does not salve his fury. However when Dragos does track down Pia, he finds himself fascinated and intrigued, for gutsy Pia is a mystery he plans to solve.

ENEMY GAMES by Marcella Burnard || Paranormal Romance

RT Magazine review says: (Four & 1/2 stars!) Rising star Burnard takes readers on a second mind-blowing journey into an intergalactic war zone where insidious plots threaten more than one empire. Readers will stay on their toes thanks to plenty of death-defying action, painful loss and burgeoning romance, making this book a definite keeper. The trajectory for Burnard is straight up!

While combating a deadly plague, Jayleia Durante is abducted by Major Damen Sinkrivik, a member of the Claugh nib Dovvyth spy corps. Jayleia’s father, Tagreth Federated spymaster Zain Durante, has been declared a traitor and is in hiding. All sides are trying to locate Zain, as he may hold the key to dismantling the network of traitors allied with the violent Chekydrans. Jayleia will need all her wits if she is to stay ahead of those trying to get at her and her father. As Damen and Jayleia play a dangerous game of hide and seek, dare they take a chance on trusting one another?


ONE WHISPER AWAY by Emma Wildes || Historical Romance
 

RT Magazine review says: (Four stars!) The first in Wildes’ Ladies in Waiting series is a lush and highly sensual love story. Since this is the beginning of a promising series, the author introduces characters we will see in future books, which may distract from the primary love story. Still, Wildes has crafted a romance that is sexy and sweet.

Lady Cecily Francis is set to marry a lord, but she’s looking for a way out, since she knows her sister is the one who truly loves him. She finds it in an unexpected encounter with the Earl of Augustine. An American and half Iroquois, Augustine is in England to settle his father’s affairs and his three half-sisters’ lives before returning to the States. When he innocently wipes spilled champagne off Cecily’s gown and whispers in her ear, he starts quite a number of rumors in the ballroom and sets Cecily to thinking. She proposes an arranged engagement, which would silence wagging tongues and give her sister a chance to hook her man. Augustine already desires Cecily, so he’s more than willing to pose as her fiancé. Despite numerous distractions, Augustine seduces a very willing Cecily and together they are able to face those who could destroy them.

UNBEARABLE LIGHTNESS OF DRAGONS by Katie MacAlister || Paranormal Romance

Even an ancient dragon can learn how to multitask…

Ysolde de Bouchier is a woman beset with trials. The dragon part of her buried deep for centuries is still making itself known, but in ways that just don’t make sense. She’s continuing to have visions, but now they involve events she wasn’t present to witness.

As if that isn’t enough, she’s caught up in a tangled web of plans that seem to grow more complex each day. Not only does she have to work out peace between her Light Dragon mate Baltic and the weyr, she also has to free his friend, convince an archimage to lift the spell controlling her magic, figure out what it is that the First Dragon expects her to do, rescue a half-dragon damsel in over her head, and once and for all clear Baltic’s name of murder charges that continue to plague him.

No one told Ysolde that dragon love would be so hard…

DARKFIRE KISS by Deborah Cooke || Paranormal Romance

For one woman, he will risk more than his life...

Rafferty Powell has exchanged challenge coins with his arch-nemesis Magnus Montmorency, and their next battle will be their last. But Rafferty never expected to meet a woman whose desire for Magnus’ downfall matches his own—and whose presence sparks Rafferty’s long-awaited firestorm.

Since facing her own mortality, investigative reporter Melissa Smith has resolved to live without fear. She’s determined to make the seemingly untouchable Magnus pay for his role in ending her friend’s life – no matter the price to herself.

When her quest entwines with Rafferty’s, Melissa finds herself risking more than she ever thought possible. Because the heat between them unleashes the darkfire—an awesome force of Pyr legend, one that won’t be sated until everything they know has been tested and remade.

CHOSEN BY BLOOD by Virna DePaul || Paranormal Romance

United by fate. Bound by desire.

Five years after the Second Civil War ends, humans and otherborn— humanlike creatures with superhuman DNA—still struggle for peace. To ensure the continued rights of both, the FBI forms a Para-Ops team with a unique set of skills.

Leader of an Otherborn clan, half-breed vampire Knox Devereaux would do anything to find a cure for the anti-vamp vaccine slowly starving his people into extinction. When the FBI contacts him about leading a team of hand-selected Others on a mission to reclaim the stolen antidote, Knox accepts. His new assignment places him in direct contact with Special Agent Felicia Locke, the beautiful human he’s craved since their very first meeting.





DEAD RECKONING by Charlaine Harris || Paranormal Mystery

With her knack for being in trouble's way, Sookie witnesses the firebombing of Merlotte's, the bar where she works. Since Sam Merlotte is now known to be two-natured, suspicion falls immediately on the anti-shifters in the area. But Sookie suspects otherwise and she and Sam work together to uncover the culprit - and the twisted motive for the attack. But her attention is divided.

Though she can't 'read' vampires, Sookie knows her lover Eric Northman and his 'child' Pam well - and she realises that they are plotting to kill the vampire who is now their master. Gradually, she is drawn into the plot -which is much more complicated than she knows. Caught up in the politics of the vampire world, Sookie will learn that she is as much of a pawn as any ordinary human - and that there is a new Queen on the board . . .




HARD BITTEN by Chloe Neill || Paranormal Romance

Times are hard for newly minted vampire Merit. Ever since shapeshifters announced their presence to the world, humans have been rallying against supernaturals--and they're camping outside of Cadogan House with protest signs that could turn to pitchforks at any moment. Inside its doors, things between Merit and her Master, green-eyed heartbreaker Ethan Sullivan are ... tense. But then the mayor of Chicago calls Merit and Ethan to a clandestine meeting and tells them about a violent vamp attack that has left three women missing. His message is simple: get your House in order. Or else.

Merit needs to get to the bottom of this crime, but it doesn't help that she can't tell who's on her side. So she secretly calls in a favor from someone who's tall, dark, and part of underground vamp group that may have some deep intel on the attack. Merit soon finds herself in theheady, dark heart of Chicago's supernatural society--a world full of vampires who seem to ready to fulfill the protesting human's worst fears, and a place where she'll learn that you can't be a vampire without getting a little blood on your hands...