2006 ROMANTIC TIMES CAREER ACHEIVEMENT AWARDS

AFRICAN-AMERICAN

AFRICAN-AMERICAN Gwynne Forster

CONTEMPORARY

CONTEMPORARY NOVEL Barbara Taylor Bradford

CONTEMPORARY PARANORMAL Susan Kearney

CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE Susan Mallery

HISTORICAL

HISTORICAL ROMANCE Bertrice Small

HISTORICAL STORYTELLER OF THE YEAR Brenda Joyce

INNOVATIVE HISTORICAL ROMANCE Shana Abe

INSPIRATIONAL

INSPIRATIONAL Karen Kingsbury

MAINSTREAM

WOMEN'S FICTION Barbara Delinsky

MYSTERY & SUSPENSE

FEMALE SLEUTH Tess Gerritsen

MYSTERY SERIES Barbara Parker

SUSPENSE Tami Hoag

ROMANTIC SUSPENSE

ROMANTIC SUSPENSE Karen Robards

SERIES

SERIES ROMANCE Kristin Hardy

SERIES ROMANCE LOVE & LAUGHTER Cara Colter

SERIES ROMANTIC ADVENTURE Kate Donovan

SERIES ROMANTIC SUSPENSE Debra Webb

SERIES STORYTELLER OF THE YEAR Debra Salonen

2006 ROMANTIC TIMES REVIEWERS' CHOICE AWARDS

BEST AFRICAN-AMERICAN NOVELS

AFRICAN-AMERICAN FICTION NOVEL I KNOW I'VE BEEN CHANGED
ReShonda Tate Billingsley Pocket (February 2006)

Denial isn't just a river. . . Raedella Rollins left the dusty town of Sweet Poke, Arkansas, on a Texas-bound bus with four mismatched suitcases, a newsroom job offer, and a promise to herself: never look back. Now, less than a decade later, she's a top-rated talk show host, a celebrity news anchor, and fiancée to Houston's star councilman. The future looks bright for Rae, and Sweet Poke is nothing more than a distant memory. . . . and she's paddling as fast as she can. But now that she's reached the top, her ragtag family comes knocking. Mama Tee, the grandmother who raised her, calls with unwelcome family updates; and Shondella, her jealous older sister, guilts her into sending money. To Rae, nothing could be worse than an unexpected reunion with her over-the-top relatives. But when her picture-perfect life turns out to be an illusion, Rae's family calls her back to Sweet Poke and to the life she left behind. Can Rae let go of the pain of her childhood and open her heart to the healing that only faith and family can provide?

AFRICAN-AMERICAN ROMANCE THROUGH THE FIRE
Seressia Glass Genesis Press/Indigo (March 2006)

Brandt Hughes, the brother of the heroine in Three Wishes, has never been able to forgive himself for the events that caused the death of his wife and young son. He's struggling to get through one day at a time, and losing the battle, when his best friend asks him to come down to Florida, partly to restore an old mission but also to guard his friend's sister. Psychologist Willow Zane has a background full of pain. Using her knowledge, she has written a successful self-help book, and is now turning the mission into a retreat for those needing healing. When she meets Brandt, she recognizes he needs help -- but he doesn't want to accept it. Willow also has to escape her past and allow herself to heal. Wonderful, complex characters are slowly developed so the reader clearly understands them and shares their emotions. The mystery is interesting but never so intrusive that it takes away from the strong relationship growing between Willow and Brandt. (Page Traynor)

FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN FICTION NOVEL A PERFECT PLACE TO PRAY
I.L. Goodwin Genesis/Black Coral (December 2006)

This book takes you into the world of a woman dealing with childhood sexual abuse and the spousal abuse she suffers later in her life. When Ella Mae was a child, she was abused by people who said they loved her. She thinks she's escaped her tormented past when she marries a man who also abuses her. When she decides to break the cycle and leave after many years, Ella Mae discovers her daughter is his next victim. Fleeing her home to find safety, Ella Mae tries to start a new life but quickly finds out that her past may be catching up with her. (Tera Alston)

FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN ROMANCE THE NICK OF TIME
San Culberson Dafina (December 2006)

Food And Drink, Everything's On Me All To Celebrate The Fact That I'm Free. Attorney Fiona Daniels admits it: she married "Mr. Wrong." Newly divorced, she's determined not to make the same mistake twice. To celebrate her newfound freedom, she throws a divorce party where she announces to her best friends and her sister that she's a DFL (divorcee for life). Fiona may talk the talk, but can she walk the walk? At the very same party she meets chef and restaurateur Nicholas "Nick" Nathaniel, a maple syrup man who's so sweet Fiona can't resist a taste, a bite, and a delicious one-night stand...that soon becomes two nights...and more... Although Fiona insists her sizzling affair with Nick is a non-relationship, she's about to discover sex always has strings--and the heart is a very fragile thing. In fact, this smart lady lawyer may have to learn a tough lesson about betrayal, forgiveness, and the redeeming power of love before she can grab the right gold ring...

BEST CONTEMPORARY & PARANORMAL ROMANCES

CONTEMPORARY PARANORMAL ROMANCE JACOB
Jacquelyn Frank Zebra (December 2006)

Since time began, there have been Nightwalkers -- the races of the night who live in the shadows of the moonlight. Love with humans is absolutely forbidden, and one man makes certain to uphold this ancient law: Jacob, the Enforcer…... For 700 Years, He Has Resisted Temptation. But Not Tonight... Jacob knows the excuses his people give when the madness overtakes them and they fall prey to their lust for humans. He’s heard every one and still brought the trespassers to justice. Immune to forbidden desires, uncontrollable hungers, or the curse of the moon, his control is total -- until the moment he sees Isabella on a shadowy New York City street. Saving her life wasn’t in his plans. Nor were the overwhelming feelings she arouses in him. But the moment he holds her in his arms and feels the soft explosion of her body against his, everything changes. Their attraction is undeniable, volatile, and completely against the law. Suddenly everything Jacob has ever believed is inflamed by the heat of desir... Bring on the night.

Dalla notte dei tempi, sono esistiti i Nightwalkers -- razza della notte che vive nelle ombre del chiaro di luna. L'amore con gli esseri umani è assolutamente proibito, e un uomo si assicura di mantenere questa legge antica: Jacob, l'Enforcer...... Per 700 Anni, ha resistito alla Tentazione. Ma non stasera... Jacob conosce le giustificazioni che la sua gente da quando la follia li sorpassa e cadono preda della loro lussuria per gli esseri umani. Le ha sentite tutte e sempre porta i trasgressori davanti alla giustizia. Immune ai desideri proibiti, alla fame incontrollabile, o al maleficio della luna, il suo controllo è totale -- fino al momento in cui vede Isabella su una via oscura di New York City. Salvare la sua vita non era nei suoi programmi. Né erano i sentimenti opprimenti che lei desta in lui. Ma nel momento in cui la tiene nella sua braccia e sente la morbida esplosione del suo corpo contro il suo, tutto cambia. La loro attrazione è innegabile, mutevole e completamente contro la legge. Improvvisamente tutto quello in cui Jacob ha creduto è infiammato dal calore del desiderio... Alle porte della notte.

CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE HURRICANE HANNAH
Sue Civil-Brown HQN (June 2006)

Her plan? Ferry a client's plane to Aruba, play a little poker, get some sun... Not in her plan? An emergency landing on a volcanic island full of lunatics, an approaching hurricane, a dashingly annoying airstrip owner named Buck Shanahan (who seems as fond of poker as she is) and a lonely, lovesick alligator called Buster... Sassy redheaded pilot Hannah Lamont has no time for back-island bumpkins like Buck and his buddies — until the hurricane bears down, grounding her on tiny Treasure Island. Treasure, ha! Aside from a couple of ratty tiki huts, all this flyspeck can boast is a casino — and it's right in the path of the storm. But as Hannah throws her chips in with Buck and the islanders to save the place, the stakes may be higher than she dreamed...and winning brings rewards she never expected.

FUTURISTIC ROMANCE TRUE BLOOD
Patricia Waddell Tor (September 2006)

She's a diplomat...Danna MacFadyen of the League of Planets is assigned to investigate the explosion of a space freighter. She must use her psychometric skills to determine whether this was an accident or terrorism -- but for Danna, the hardest part of this assignment is working with Korcian Enforcer Cullon Gavriel.He's a warrior...Fighting isn't just in a Korcian's blood -- it's in his very soul. Cullon Gavriel already knows the freighter explosion was terrorism -- targeted at the Korcian prince traveling incognito aboard the ship. Cullon's single goal: to discover who is killing Korcian True Bloods. He never expects to become enchanted with a beautiful Terran female who has the ability to step into the past. As the pieces of an explosive puzzle fall into place....Danna and Cullon realize they have uncovered a conspiracy that stretches across the galaxy. The trail leads to the capitol city of the Korcian Empire, where shocking secrets lie hidden-- and where the lines between politics and love cross unexpectedly.

Lei è una diplomatica... Danna MacFayden della Lega dei Pianeti riceve l'incarico di indagare sull'esplosione di una nave cargo spaziale. Deve usare le sue capacità psicometriche per capire se è stato un incidente o un atto di terrorismo, ma per Danna la parte più difficile di questo incarico è lavorare con il soldato Korcian Cullon Gavriel. Lui è un guerriero... Combattere non è solo nel sangue dei Korcian, è parte della loro anima. Cullon Gavriel sa già che l'esplosione della nave cargo è un atto di terrorismo, indirizzato al principe dei Korcian che viaggiava in incognito a bordo della nave. L'unico obiettivo di Cullon: scoprire che sta uccidendo i Puro Sangue Korcian. Non si sarebbe mai aspettato di rimanere incantato da una bellissima donna Terran che ha la capacità di vedere il passato. Mentre i pezzi di un puzzle esplosivo vanno a posto... Danna e Cullon capiscono che hanno scoperto una cospirazione che si dipana attraverso tutta la galassia. Il percorso conduce alla città capitale dell'Impero Korcian, dove sconvolgenti segreti si nascondono, e dove le linee di demarcazione tra politica e amore si incrociano inaspettatamente.

VAMPIRE ROMANCE LOVER AWAKENED
J.R. Ward Signet (September 2006)

Even within the vampire brotherhood, Zsadist is feared. Still bearing the scars from a tortured past, he is renowned for his unquenchable fury. Anger is his only companion, and terror is his only passion-until he rescues a beautiful female from the evil Lessening Society.

Anche all'interno della fratellanza dei vampiri, Zsadist è temuto. Si sta ancora riprendendo dalle cicatrici del suo torturato passato, rinomato per la sua furia insaziabile. La rabbia è la sua sola compagna, e il terrore è la sua unica passione, fino a che non salva una bellissima donna dalla malvagia Lessening Society

WEREWOLF ROMANCE MASTER OF WOLVES
Angela Knight Berkley Sensation (April 2006)

Jim London is outraged over the death of his friend, a fellow cop and werewolf--and wants to get to the bottom of what he thinks was murder. The only way to find out is to go undercover--and, in his wolf form, Jim can do that better than anybody. There's one complication: the new handler, Faith Weston, is sexy enough to bring out the animal in any man.

Jim London è ferito dalla morte del suo amico, un compagno poliziotto e uomo-lupo - e desidera smascherare quello che pensa essere un omicidio. L'unico modo per scoprirlo è andare sotto copertura - e, nella sua forma di lupo, Jim può farlo meglio di chiunque altro. C'è solo una complicazione: la sua nuova padrona, Faith Weston, è abbastanza sexy da tirare fuori la parte animale in ogni uomo.

BEST EROTIC ROMANCE & EROTICA NOVELS

EROTIC FICTION THE SWITCH
Diane Whiteside Berkley Trade (January 2006)

In a small back room in a Seattle bookstore, two strangers make their fantasy come true. But there is still so much further to take it. Beth isn't expecting it-that's what makes it so exciting. But she knows what she wants. And she gets it: complete control over a man. Packing years of military discipline under his belt, Sean is about to give in to his ultimate fantasy: to be thoroughly dominated by a woman. They're not looking for love. They're looking for a night to remember. But where the night takes them is beyond desire, beyond fantasy, and beyond control.

EROTIC ROMANCE MAIDEN AND THE MONSTER
Michelle M. Pillow EllorasCave.com (April 2006)

Vladamir of Kessen, Duke of Lakeshire Castle, is feared as a demon in the land of Wessex. The Kings have granted him a title of nobility in exchange for his part as a political prisoner. Discontent, he bides his time in his new home until war will once again rip through the land. But boredom soon turns to devious pleasure as the daughter of his most hated enemy is left for dead at his castle gate. Now the monster bides his time plotting revenge. Lady Eden of Hawks' Nest doesn't know what to think of the man who saved her life, but she can't wrench her thoughts away. His words are those of a tyrant, true to his vicious reputation, but his touch is that of a man, stirring passion and lust when there should only be fear. It would seem the infamous monster is not as monstrous as he appears.

PARANORMAL/FANTASY/SCI-FI EROTIC ROMANCE A BREATH OF HEAT
Judy Mays Ellora's Cave (June 2006)

A Midsummer Night's Heat:

Belle can finally take a vacation. Her father Artemis is happily married again, and he and her brother Brendan are more than capable of managing the family business without her for a few weeks. Alex has lost the woman he expected to marry to another werewolf, an abomination whose werewolf father had mated a real wolf, then taught the cubs she birthed to assume human form. Abomination!  When Belle found Alex in the woods, bleeding from a gunshot wound, she took him to her cabin and nursed him back to health - and love. But what will Alex do when he discovers the woman he's falling in love with is a sister to the man he hates most, a woman who had a wolf for a mother?

Belle può infine prendersi una vacanza. Il padre Artemis è di nuovo felicemente sposato, e lui e il fratello Brendan sono più che capaci di gestire gli affari della famiglia senza di lei per alcune settimane. Alex ha perso la donna che doveva sposare a causa di un altro licantropo, un abominio il cui padre licantropo si era accoppiato con un vero lupo, e aveva poi insegnato ai cuccioli nati ad assumere forma umana. Abominio! Quando Belle trova Alex nella foresta, sanguinante per un colpo di pistola, lo porta nella sua baracca e lo cura, e lo ama. Ma che cosa farà Alex quando scoprirà che la donna di cui si sta innamorando è la sorella dell'uomo che odia maggiormente, una donna che ha avuto un lupo per madre?

Solstice Heat: "

Solstice Heat" delivers Eileen to Garth years after they mated. Garth can't believe he's found his mate again, and nothing is going to stop them from being together again - even the CIA and Eileen's second mate, the violent man she escaped from.  Unlike his brothers Kearnan and Brendan, Garth didn't fight the urge to find his soul mate. He knew Eileen was his as soon as he saw her and wasted no time claiming her. Too bad her parents wouldn't accept an "Abomination" for a son-in-law and spirited her away. Years later, Eileen escapes the abusive mate her parents forced on her and finds sanctuary with Garth's sister Belle. Finally, in her dearest friend's pack, she feels safe. And then Garth returns to her. But, the man who abused her is hunting her. What's more, the government is hunting Garth.

"Solstice Heat" riporta Eileen a Garth anni dopo che si erano accoppiati. Garth non può credere di aver trovato di nuovo la sua compagna, e niente lo fermerà da stare insieme ancora, neanche la CIA e il secondo compagno di Eileen, l'uomo violento da cui sta scappando. A differenza dei suoi fratelli Kearnan e Brendan, Garth non ha combattuto lo stimolo di trovare la sua compagna. Sapeva che Eileen era sua da quando l'ha vista e non ha sprecato tempo per esigerla. Purtroppo i suoi genitori non avrebbero accettato "un abominio" per genero e l'hanno allontanata. Anni più tardi, Eileen scappa dal compagno manesco che i suoi genitori le hanno fatto sposare e trova rifugio presso la sorella di Garth, Belle. Finalmente, nel branco della sua più cara amica, si ritiene al sicuro. E poi Garth ritorna da lei. Ma, l'uomo che ha abusato di lei la sta cercando. Ancora di più, il governo sta cercando Garth.

BEST HISTORICAL NOVELS

AMERICAN-SET HISTORICAL ROMANCE A REASON TO LIVE
Maureen McKade Berkley Sensation (September 2006)

Sweeping Western historical romance from the author of To Find You Again. After the Civil War, a Confederate nurse seeks to comfort the loved ones of the men she watched die. And the father of a dead soldier-a rugged, weary, ex-gunslinger-will give her the sanctuary she so desperately needs.

Un immenso romance storico western dall'autrice di To Find You Again. Dopo la Guerra Civile, un'infermiera confederata cerca di confortare gli amati degli uomini che ha visto morire. E il padre di un soldato morto - un rude, stanco, ex pistolero - le darà il santuario di cui ha così disperatamente bisogno.

BRITISH ISLE-SET HISTORICAL ROMANCE PROMISE ME FOREVER
Lorraine Heath Avon (April 2006)

On the outside, Lauren Fairfield appears the very picture of cool, contained nobility and blueblood British sophistication. Inside, however, she longs for Tom, the charming rogue she loved-and lost. Now a sinfully handsome would-be gentleman has arrived in London-and Lauren nearly swoons when she realizes it is her Tom, grown to magnificent manhood. He has come to claim his lost title as Earl of Sachse . . .and to fulfill an oath once made by two young lovers beneath a long-ago moon, a scandalous promise no proper lady would dare honor. Lauren could never love a staid and stifling lord, and Tom's future is the aristocracy. So she will teach him their ways before she exits his life forever. But the wildness she adored still lives in Tom's heart-and he will not rest until he proves to the proud, resisting beauty that "forever" is a promise that must be kept . . .

FIRST HISTORICAL ROMANCE A LADY'S PLEASURE
Renee Bernard Pocket (November 2006)

Seeking revenge, she discovers how delicious a case of mistaken identity can be.... Merriam Everett has always been regarded as a shy, docile creature. But for one night, Merriam the Mouse has become a temptress who will recklessly take her pleasure with the arrogant earl who once slighted her, and then leave him aching with lust. A fine plan, if Merriam had not just seduced the wrong rogue! Drake Sotherton left England amid dark speculation and has returned to seek vengeance against Julian Clay, the man he believes murdered his wife. Convinced that the masked beauty who seduced him is Julian's pawn, Drake tracks her down and proposes that she become his mistress for the Season. Every sensual desire, every secret longing will be explored...and fulfilled. But keeping his enemy close is a dangerous game. Merriam is an irresistible mix of innocence and abandon, and each encounter proves more soul-searing than the last. With a passion this wild, this wonderful, one Season will never be enough...

Cercando vendetta, scopre quanto delizioso possa essere una caso di scambio d'identità... Merriam Everett è sempre stata considerata una timida, docile creatura. Ma per una notte, Merriam il Topolino è diventata una tentatrice che prenderà senza pietà il suo piacere dall'arrogante duca che una volta l'ha snobbata, e poi lo lascerà a soffrire le pene del desiderio. Un piano astuto, se Merriam non avesse appena sedotto il libertino sbagliato! Drake Sotherton ha lasciato l'Inghilterra lasciando dietro oscure speculazione ed è tornato in cerca di vendetta contro Julian Clay, l'uomo che lui crede abbia ucciso sua moglie. Convinto che la bellezza mascherata che lo ha sedotto sia l'amante di Julian, Drake la rintraccia e le propone di diventare la sua amante per la Stagione. Ogni desiderio sensuale, ogni segreta fantasia sarà esplorata... e soddisfatta. Ma tenere vicino il suo nemico è un gioco pericoloso. Merriam è una miscela irresistibile di innocenza e abbandono, e ogni incontro si rivela più coinvolgente dell'ultimo. Con una passione così selvaggia, così meravigliosa, una Stagione non sarà mai abbastanza...

HISTORICAL BIOGRAPHY ABUNDANCE
Sena Jeter Naslund Morrow (October 2006)

"Like everyone, I am born naked." With this opening line of Naslund's compelling new novel, a very human Marie Antoinette invites readers to live her story as she herself experiences it. From the lush gardens of Versailles to the lights and gaiety of Paris, the verdant countryside of France, and finally the stark and terrifying isolation of a prison cell, the young queen's life is joyful, poignant, and harrowing by turns. As her world of unprecedented royal splendor crumbles, the charming Marie Antoinette matures into a heroine of inspiring stature, one whose nobility arises not from the circumstance of her birth but from her courageous spirit. Marie Antoinette was a child of fourteen when her mother, the Empress of Austria, arranged for her to leave her family and her country to become the wife of the fifteen-year-old Dauphin, the future King of France. Coming of age in the most public of arenas, the young queen embraces her new family and the French people, and she is embraced in return. Eager to be a good wife and strong queen, she shows her new husband nothing but love and encouragement, though he repeatedly fails to consummate their marriage and in doing so, fails to give her the thing she—and the people of France—desire most: a child and an heir to the throne. Deeply disappointed and isolated in her own intimate circle apart from the social life of the court, the queen allows herself to remain ignorant of the country's growing economic and political crises. She entrusts her soul to her women friends, her music teacher, her hairdresser, the ambassador from Austria, and a certain Swedish count so handsome that admirers label him "the Picture." When her innocent and well-chaperoned pilgrimage to watch the sun rise is viciously misrepresented in satiric pamphlets as a drunken orgy, the people begin to turn against her. Poor harvests, bitter winters, war debts, and poverty precipitate rebellion and revenge as the royal family and many nobles are caught up in a murderous time known as "the Terror." With penetrant insight into new historical scholarship and with wondrous narrative skill, Naslund offers an intimate, fresh, and dramatic re-creation of this compelling woman that goes beyond popular myth. Abundance reveals a compassionate and spontaneous Marie Antoinette who rejected the formality and rigid protocol of the court; an enchanting and tenderhearted outsider who was loved by her adopted homeland and people until she became the target of revolutionary cruelty and violence; a dethroned queen whose depth of character sustained her in even the worst of times. Once again, Sena Jeter Naslund has shed new light on an important moment of historical change and made that time as real to us as the one we are living now. Exquisitely detailed, beautifully written, heartbreaking and powerful, Abundance is a novel that is impossible to put down.

HISTORICAL FANTASY THE GRAIL KING
Joy Nash Love Spell (August 2006)

A magic cup from the East, enhanced by Druid spells of Deep Magic, has been lost from Avalon for generations. In the hands of a Keeper of the Light, the Lost Grail is dangerous. Controlled by one sworn to Darkness, the consequences of its use are unthinkable. Who will claim its power? Owein, grandson of a deposed Celtic queen? Clara, an innocent beauty with a guilty secret? Or the unknown Druid shadowing them both?

Una coppa magica dall'Est, accentuata da un'incantesimo dei Druidi, è scomparsa da Avalon da generazioni. Nella mani del Keeper of the Light, il Lost Grail è pericoloso. Controllato dalla spada dell'Oscurità, le conseguenze del suo utilizzo sono impensabili. Chi reclamerà il suo potere? Owein, nipote della deposta regina dei Celti? Clara, una innocente bellezza con un terribile segreto? O lo sconosciuto Druido che si nasconde da entrambi?

HISTORICAL FICTION THE BOLEYN INHERITANCE
Philippa Gregory Touchstone (December 2006)

From the bestselling author of "The Other Boleyn Girl" comes a wonderfully atmospheric evocation of the court of Henry VIII, and the one woman who destroyed two of his queens. The year is 1539 and the court of Henry VIII is increasingly fearful at the moods of the ageing sick king. With only a baby in the cradle for an heir, Henry has to take another wife and the dangerous prize of the crown of England is won by Anne of Cleves. She has her own good reasons for agreeing to marry a man old enough to be her father, in a country where to her both language and habits are foreign. Although fascinated by the glamour of her new surroundings, she senses a trap closing around her. Catherine is confident that she can follow in the steps of her cousin Anne Boleyn to dazzle her way to the throne but her kinswoman Jane Boleyn, haunted by the past, knows that Anne's path led to Tower Green and to an adulterer's death. The story of these three young women, trying to make their own way through the most volatile court in Europe at a time of religious upheaval and political uncertainty is Philippa Gregory's most intense novel yet.

Dall'autrice di "The Other Boleyn Girl" arriva un'evocazione meravigliosamente d'atmosfera della corte di Enrico VIII, e della donna che ha distrutto due delle sue regine. L'anno è il 1539 e la corte di Enrico VIII è sempre più spaventata dagli atteggiamenti del re, ammalato e vecchio. Con soltanto un bambino nella culla come erede, Enrico deve prendere un'altra moglie ed il premio pericoloso della corona di Inghilterra è vinto da Anne di Cleves. Lei ha i suoi buoni motivi per acconsentire a sposare un uomo abbastanza vecchio per essere suo padre, in un paese dove sia la sua lingua che le sue abitudini sono straniere. Anche se affascinata dal fascino del suo nuovo ambiente, percepisce una trappola che si chiude intorno a lei. Catherine è sicura che può seguire i passi della cugina Anne Boleyn per abbagliare il re e conquistare il trono ma la sua parente, Jane Boleyn, tormentata dal passato, sa che il percorso di Anne conduce alla Torre Verde ed alla morte per adulterio. La storia di queste tre giovani donne, che provano a trovare la propria strada attraverso la corte più volatile d'Europa in un periodo di rivolte religiose e incertezza politica è il romanzo più intenso di Philippa Gregory.

HISTORICAL K.I.S.S. HERO Lachlan McLean BELOVED STRANGER
Patricia Potter Berkley Sensation (February 2006)

With Beloved Impostor, Patricia Potter launched a trilogy of three Scottish brothers bound by a dark destiny. Now, she returns with the story of Lachlan Maclean, a man who has lost his past and faces an uncertain present of peril--and an impossible love.

Rimasta con i Charlton anche dopo la morte del marito, Kimbra è costretta a partecipare al saccheggio dei campi di battaglia tra Scozia e Inghilterra. Imbattutasi in Lachlan Maclean, gravemente ferito combattendo a fianco del re inglese, lo soccorre di nascosto, sfidando le leggi del proprio clan. Lachlan non ricorda nulla, e la sua gentilezza d’animo fa breccia nel cuore della fanciulla. Ma come potrà Kimbra innamorarsi proprio di un nemico?

HISTORICAL LOVE & LAUGHTER JACK OF CLUBS
Barbara Metzger Signet Eclipse (March 2006)

Years ago, Captain Jack Endicott's half-sister vanished after a carriage accident. He now sets out to honor his father's dying wish and find her. Jack plans to open a lavish gaming parlor and hire only beautiful ladies to deal cards, possibly finding his sister. All he needs is a little luck. Instead he finds prim schoolteacher Allie Silver, who needs a guardian for one of her most precocious pupils. With such an unlikely duo, all bets are off in a wild game of romance.

HISTORICAL PARANORMAL TOUCH OF DESIRE
Susan Spencer Paul St. Martin's (October 2006)

My Dearest Reader, For as long as I can remember, my life has been a solitary one. Do not think me a pitiable recluse, for, as the Earl of Graymar, I have taken my place in Society when I must, and enjoyed both the company and pleasure of desirable lovers. But as the Great Sorcerer, or Dewin Mawr, as magic mortals call me, I have always believed that my destiny and the duty I owe to all those who possess unique powers, has precluded love, marriage, and true companionship. I was resigned to my lonely fate. Until now… Sarah Tamony is unlike any mere mortal woman I have ever known. Passionate and bold, she has heard the whispers about my people and discovered that I belong to an ancient Welsh clan descended from magic. Yet the dark secrets of magic mortals seem to hold no terror for her—instead she asks to know more, even seeks to reveal the truth in the popular tales she spins. This I cannot allow. For centuries, my kind has striven to maintain our privacy, fearful of what might happen if our powers should be exposed to the world. Sarah has learned a great deal about magic, but there is still much she does not know, and dangers she cannot fathom…dangers that grow closer every day. Her lightest touch ignites a deep hunger in me, and her love is a prize I would risk my life to own…for she has already stolen my soul… Your obedient servant, Malachi Seymour, Castle Glain Tarran, Wales

HISTORICAL ROMANCE ADVENTURE PENELOPE AND PRINCE CHARMING
Jennifer Ashley Leisure (April 2006)

THE PLAYBOY PRINCE His blue eyes beguiled. His muscular form could have satisfied any fantasy. He had a delicious foreign accent—and to top it off, he was royalty! What woman would dare refuse the most sought-after lover in Europe? Miss Twice-a-Jilt Penelope Trask, that’s who. And, unfortunately for Damien, marrying Penelope was only way to inherit his kingdom. Good thing this enchantingly infuriating woman didn’t seem completely immune to his many charms. The passionate way she returned his kisses told Damien he wasn’t the only one head over heels. But wooing was difficult amid assassination attempts, wild magic, and desire so strong it threatened to overwhelm him every time they touched. Why had no one mentioned the road to happily-ever-after was so difficult?

HISTORICAL ROMANCE OF THE YEAR SIMPLY LOVE
Mary Balogh Delacorte (August 2006)

New York Times bestselling author Mary Balogh returns to the elegance and sensuality of Regency England as she continues the enthralling story of four remarkable women–friends and teachers at Miss Martin’s School for Girls. At the center of this spellbinding novel is Anne Jewell, a teacher haunted by a scandalous past…until she meets a man who teaches her the most important lesson of all: nothing is simple when it comes to love. She spies him in the deepening dusk of a Wales evening–a lone figure of breathtaking strength and masculinity, his handsome face branded by a secret pain. For single mother and teacher Anne Jewell, newly arrived with her son at a sprawling estate in Wales on the invitation of an influential friend, Sydnam Butler is a man whose sorrows–and passions–run deeper than she could have ever imagined. As steward of a remote seaside manor, Sydnam lives a reclusive existence far from the pity and disdain of others. Yet almost from the moment Anne first appears on the cliffs, he senses in this lovely stranger a kindred soul, and between these two wary hearts, desire stirs. Unable to resist the passion that has rescued them both from loneliness, Anne and Sydnam share an afternoon of exquisite lovemaking. Now the unwed single mother and war-scarred veteran must make a decision that could forever alter their lives. For Sydnam, it is a chance to heal the pain of the past. For Anne, it is the glorious promise of a future with the man who will dare her to reveal her deepest secrets…before she can give him all her heart.

Mary Balogh ritorna all'eleganza e alla sensualità del periodo della Reggenza Inglese mentre continua la sua affascinante storia di quattro donne notevoli, amiche e insegnanti alla Miss Martin’s School for Girls. Al centro di questo incantevole romanzo è Anne Jewell, un'insegnante minacciata da un scandaloso passato... fino a che non incontra un uomo che le insegna la lezione più importante di tutte: niente è semplice in amore... Lei lo spia nel profondo crepuscolo della sera gallese, una figura solitaria di forza e mascolinità mozzafiato, la sua faccia affascinante marchiata da una pena segreta. Per Anne Jewell, madre single e insegnante, nuova arrivata con il figlio in un'immensa tenuta in Galles su invito di un influente amico, Sydnam Butler è un uomo la cui pena, e passione, scorre più profondamente di quanto lei avrebbe mai potuto immaginare. Come sovrintendente di una remota magione sulla riva del mare, Sydnam vive un'esistenza da recluso lontano dalla pietà e dal disprezzo della gente. Tuttavia fin dal momento in cui Anne appare per la prima volta sulle scogliere, lui intuisce in questa attraente straniera un'anima affine, e tra questi due cuori prudenti, si agita il desiderio. Incapaci di resistere alla passione che ha salvato entrambi dalla solitudine, Anna e Sydnam condividono un pomeriggio facendo squisitamente all'amore. Ora la madre single e non sposata e il veterano sfregiato dalla guerra devono prendere una decisione che potrebbe cambiare per sempre le loro vite. Per Sydnam, è una possibilità di curare la pena del passato. Per Anne, è una stupenda promessa di un futuro con l'uomo che la sfiderà a rivelare i suoi segreti più profondi... prima che lei gli possa donare tutto il suo cuore.

HISTORICAL ROMANTIC MYSTERY/GOTHIC DARKEST DREAMS
Jennifer St. Giles Berkley Sensation (December 2006)

The stunning sequel to Midnight Secrets by the award-winning author. Visiting her recently wed sister at Dartmoor's End, Andromeda finds herself hopelessly drawn to the estranged twin of her new brother-in-law. But a dark shadow hangs over Alexander, one that may eclipse their hearts forever.

MEDIEVAL HISTORICAL ROMANCE SINFUL PLEASURES
Mary Reed McCall Avon (June 2006)

A Noble Knight... Once, Lady Alissende de Montague and Sir Damien de Ashby were passionate, secret lovers -- until the day Alissende had to turn her back on him, shattering both their hearts and changing their lives forever. Knowing he would never love another, Damien cast off all earthly concerns to dedicate his life to the Templar Knights. But now, his life endangered, he is thrust back into a world he'd left behind...coming face-to-face with the proud beauty who'd once spurned him. A Wicked Promise... Alissende will use her influence to save the man she still loves in exchange for his protection from the detestable, powerful earl bent on claiming her. It is a perilous bargain, forcing Damien to reunite with the one woman who could make him reject his vows for the temptations of the flesh. For their love rekindled will only burn deeper, threatening to consume them in the flames of dangerous intrigue and forbidden desires...

MOST INNOVATIVE HISTORICAL ROMANCE WHAT, NO ROSES?
Marianne Mancusi Love Spell (July 2006)

Unless Dora Duncan can stop it, it's going to be another St. Valentine's Day Massacre. A year ago, her (now ex) boyfriend Nick stood her up at the worst possible moment. That was when she gave up important TV reporting for stories like "Too Stressed for Sex." And though such clips have a certain relevance, things have been a whole lot quieter. Too quiet. Until now. Now she's gotta go back in time (don't ask!) and stop that very same Nick from messing up the time-space continuum. She has to travel back to a place where everybody speaks easy and cuts a rug-and this Chicago ain't no musical. Here, there are tommy guns and torpedoes, guys and dolls, gin joints, flappers, stoolies, rats and a whole lot more; and prohibition means anything but no. It's the 1920s. Time for Dora to roar.

REGENCY-SET HISTORICAL ROMANCE IN THE THRILL OF THE NIGHT
Candice Hern Signet Eclipse (February 2006)

Assured of both money and position, none of the five respectable ladies who form the Merry Widows need ever marry again, so they make a daring pact-each will consider taking a lover for the pure pleasure of it. Marianne Nesbitt adored her late husband David, but the racy reminiscences of the Merry Widows make her wonder if she missed something special. Might she find it now through a love affair? Uncertain how to go about it, she asks Adam Cazenove, an old friend and notorious rake, to tutor her in the arts of seduction-a brazen request that turns Adam's world upside down.

SENSUAL HISTORICAL ROMANCE THE RAVEN PRINCE
Elizabeth Hoyt Warner (November 2006)

In 1760 the Earl de Raaf, Edward, returns home for the first time in two decades he has avoided this place he loved as a child because the deaths of his beloved family members made Ravenhill haunted. Still he knows it is time to move on.  Widow Anna Wren needs employment to support her mother-in-law, their “servant” and herself. She learns from Edward’s estate manager Felix Hopple that he needs a new secretary as none stay very long out of fear of his bark. She applies and accepts the job though a female is normally considered unsuited. As she performs her duties exemplary, Anna falls in love with her employer, but he seems not to notice her except as his drudge. Instead he turns to Aphrodite’s Grotto for his pleasure Anna vows to make him take notice that she is a woman in love even if it means meeting him at the brothel he seems to frequent.

Nel 1760 il Conte de Raaf, Edward, torna a casa per la prima volta dopo che per vent'anni ha evitato il posto che ha amato da bambino a causa delle morti dei membri della sua amata famiglia dovuto alla maledizione di Ravenhill. Tuttavia sa che è il tempo di passare oltre... La vedova Anna Wren ha bisogno di un impiego per sostenere la sua matrigna, i loro "servitori" e se stessa. Apprende dal soprintendente della magione di Edward, Felix Hoppe, che lui ha bisogno di una nuova segretaria e nessuna sembra superare la paura di stargli vicino. Lei si candida e accetta il lavoro anche se una donna è considerata inusuale per tale incarico. Mentre porta avanti i suoi compiti in modo esemplare, Anna si innamora del suo datore di lavoro, ma lui sembra non notarla eccetto che come sgobbona. Invece si rivolge all'Aphrodite's Grotto per il suo piacere. Anna giura di farsi notare da lui come una donna innamorata anche se questo significa incontrarlo al bordello che lui sembra frequentare...

BEST INSPIRATIONAL NOVELS

INSPIRATIONAL NOVEL ABRAHAM'S WELL
Sharon Ewell Foster Bethany House (November 2006)

The time is 1838. Armentia pointed to a well on the land their Cherokee master owns. "It seems hard to believe now, son, but someday we'll have our own land. Land with a well just like this one.." Inspired by true events, authentic slave narratives, and other historical accounts, Abraham's Well is the profoundly moving story of the Black Cherokee-African Americans, both slave and free-who, along with native people, walked the Trail of Tears. It is the story of their forced removal from the Southeast to Indian Territory--modern day Oklahoma-and of the courage and faith of one woman as she struggles to overcome her desperate circumstances. And it is the story of an author who, in researching and writing, found her own way home.

BEST MAINSTREAM & CHICK LIT FICTION NOVELS

CHICK LIT NOVEL STUPID AND CONTAGIOUS
Caprice Crane 5 Spot (May 2006)

Twenty-six-year-old Heaven Albright is a failed PR executive turned embittered waitress. Twenty-nine-year-old Brady Gilbert is a struggling independent music producer with no bands and a get-rich quick product idea: Cinnamilka delicious beverage derived from leaving cereal in the bowl too long. What do these two people have in common? Not muchexcept for a shared dislike for one another as neighbors. You see, Heaven has an annoying habit of opening Bradys mail. The tide turns, however, when she rescues Brady from an awkward encounter with his psycho ex-girlfriend, sparking an unlikely friendship and a united quest to pitch Cinnamilk to the founder of Americas biggest coffee chain. But will Brady and Heavens fortune-seeking adventures also brew romance?

WOMEN'S FICTION SANDCASTLES
Luanne Rice Bantam (June 2006)

Painter Honor Sullivan has made a life for herself and her three daughters–Regis, Agnes, and Cecilia–at Star of the Sea Academy on the magical Connecticut shore. Here she teaches art at the convent school’s beautiful seaside campus, over which Honor’s sister-in-law, mother superior Bernadette Ignatius, keeps a benevolent and watchful eye. No one could have foreseen the day rebellious Regis would come home with the stunning news that she was getting married. Nor could anyone have guessed how that sudden announcement would soon change all their lives forever. Eleven years ago, Honor thought she had the perfect home, the perfect love, the perfect life. Then her husband, brilliant photographer and sculptor John Sullivan, broke her heart–and tore their little family apart. Now, hearing of Regis’s impending marriage, John has ended his self-imposed exile and returned to the family he’s always loved more than anything on earth. What he finds is one daughter still hurting over his abandonment, another who barely remembers him, and a third who may be in more trouble than anyone knows. And then there is Honor herself–and a passion that may have been interrupted but that has never waned. Some things, like sandcastles, don’t survive the changing tides. But love, family, and friendship–just as fragile–have a way of standing against anything. It will take nothing short of a miracle to heal the rift between father and daughter, husband and wife, the past and the present–but a miracle is exactly what is in the works at Star of the Sea Academy. The only question is: Do you believe?

YOUNG ADULT NOVEL NICK AND NORAH'S INFINITE PLAYLIST
Rachel Cohn and David Levithan Knopf (May 2006)

It all starts when Nick asks Norah to be his girlfriend for five minutes. He only needs five minutes to avoid his ex-girlfriend, who’s just walked in to his band’s show. With a new guy. And then, with one kiss, Nick and Norah are off on an adventure set against the backdrop of New York City—and smack in the middle of all the joy, anxiety, confusion, and excitement of a first date. This he said/she said romance told by YA stars Rachel Cohn and David Levithan is a sexy, funny roller coaster of a story about one date over one very long night, with two teenagers, both recovering from broken hearts, who are just trying to figure out who they want to be—and where the next great band is playing. Told in alternating chapters, teeming with music references, humor, angst, and endearing side characters, this is a love story you’ll wish were your very own. Working together for the first time, Rachel Cohn and David Levithan have combined forces to create a book that is sure to grab readers of all ages and never let them go.

BEST MYSTERY NOVELS

AMATEUR SLEUTH DEFINITELY DEAD
Charlaine Harris Ace (May 2006)

Sixth in the Anthony Award-winning Southern Vampire series. Spiked with a frothy fusion of romance, mystery, and fantasy, this bestselling series sends the supernaturally gifted cocktail waitress Sookie Stackhouse to New Orleans, where she has to deal with the legacy of one of her own family and a host of potentially dangerous characters.

CONTEMPORARY MYSTERY SNOW BLIND
P.J. Tracy Putnam (August 2006)

When the corpses of three police officers are discovered entombed in snowmen, Grace MacBride and her team of crime-busting computer jocks at the Monkeewrench firm are called in to assist. What they discover is a terrifying link among the victims that reaches beyond the badge and crosses the line between hard justice and stone cold vengeance.

FIRST MYSTERY BLOWN AWAY
Shane Gericke Pinnacle (May 2006)

Financial editor Gericke's rookie cop v. serial killer procedural won't make anyone forget Silence of the Lambs, but his plucky heroine does evoke the spirit of Thomas Harris' Clarese Starling; too bad his brilliant, combat-hardened psycho killer isn't as vivid. Rookie cop Emily Thompson is about to turn 40 when she notices three dead bodies on her morning run: a goose and two ducks, decapitated. When the fowls' heads turn up in her mailbox later that day, it starts a three-day reign of terror by a serial killer with designs on Emily. Gericke gives supporting characters Captain Hercules Branch and Chief of Police Kendall Cross enough attention to bring their gruff veteran act to life, but overuses bland romantic interest Commander Marty Benedetti, who inexplicably melts Emily's hard heart without connecting with the reader. Perhaps that's a symptom of the novel's everyone's-a-suspect plotting-though flashbacks reveal the history between Emily and her stalker, an abused boy who grew up down the street from her, the identity of the killer is kept secret until the over-the-top endgame. Gericke's first act is fresh, and his prologue kicks the story off with a taut, grisly slice of terror; in these you can see the potential for a first-rate cops-and-psychos novelist. (Publishers Weekly)

HISTORICAL MYSTERY NORTH BY NORTHANGER
Carrie A. Bebris Forge (March 2006)

After the intrigues and excitements of their time in the city, the Darcys are more than prepared for a bit of peace and quiet at Pemberley. This is time that they can spend together as Elizabeth settles into her pregnancy. However, such serene solitude is not meant to be. First a letter from Lady Anne Fitzwilliam Darcy, long deceased, is discovered. The contents are both mysterious and prescient for Mrs. Darcy. Then a summons to Northanger Abbey involves the young couple in intrigues that threaten not just the Darcy legacy and good name, but Mr. Darcy’s freedom as well. …and to make matter even worse and more uncomfortable for the expectant mother, Darcy's overbearing aunt, Lady Catherine de Bourgh, arrives on the scene to further bedevil Elizabeth. Add to this rumors of treasure and past scandals, and it becomes obvious that peacefulness is not at home in Pemberley, but secrets and spirits of the past are, and their revelations can have a most a chilling effect on both the Darcys and their family to come.

P.I./PROCEDURAL NOVEL THE FINISHING SCHOOL
Michele Martinez Morrow (January 2006)

In a glittering penthouse high above Park Avenue, two beautiful teenagers, students at an exclusive Manhattan girls' school, lie dead under suspicious circumstances. Feeling pressure from the top to solve the high-profile case fast, Melanie breaks all the rules and goes undercover. Teamed with Dan O'Reilly, a hard-to-resist FBI agent with a talent for making her pulse race, Melanie embarks on a wild chase from the rarefied world of New York's elite private schools to the darkest recesses of the city's nightlife. And, ultimately, into a fight for her life against a devious killer who has no intention of getting caught.

SUSPENSE THE KILL
Allison Brennan Ballantine (March 2006)

Her worst nightmare brought back to life, she risks everything for a second shot at justice. For thirty years, FBI scientist Olivia St. Martin has lived with guilt and one abiding certainty - that while she wasn't able to save her sister's life, she did testify and helped to convict the rapist and killer. When shocking new evidence exonerates the man Olivia is sure she saw abduct her sister, she breaks every rule in the book to uncover the truth. Driven by the possibility that she put the wrong man behind bars, Olivia discovers that a serial killer has been at large all these years. Believing that the monster has just struck again in Seattle, Olivia leaves her lab and poses as a field agent, sharing her unofficial investigation with a hardworking Seattle cop. Olivia doesn't want to lie to detective Zack Travis. And she certainly doesn't want to fall in love. But as the investigation intensifies, Olivia and Zack find that they're rapidly losing control - over their hearts, their secrets, and a case that threatens to consume them.

BEST ROMANTIC SUSPENSE/INTRIGUE NOVELS

PARANORMAL ROMANTIC SUSPENSE DEADLY GAMBLE
Linda Lael Miller HQN (November 2006)

She's got an uncanny knack for winning at slots, but her home-sweet-home is Bad-Ass Bert's Biker Saloon. She'd love to go deep undercover with an irresistibly hot cop, but he's got baggage as big as his biceps. She's survived a mysterious tragedy, but Mojo Sheepshanks hasn't quite figured out who she really is or how to get on with her life. And now the wisecracking Mojo is seeing ghosts--the real, ectoplasmic kind--and turning up baffling clues to her real identity. Suddenly a wealthy man is claiming to be her long-lost uncle…and she's being shadowed by an ex-con brother with a talent for killer mind games. As Mojo races to finally uncover the facts, she'll need all her savvy and strange new talent to keep someone from burying her--and the truth--for keeps.

Ha un tocco magico per vincire alle slot machine., ma la sua casa dolce casa è il Bad Ass Bert's Biker Saloon. Ha amato essere sottocopertura con un irresistibile poliziotto molto sexy, ma lui ha tanti bagagli quanti bicipiti. E' sopravvisuta ad una misteriosa tragedia, ma il Mojo Sheepshanks non è riuscito a capire chi lei sia in realtà o cosa debba fare con la sua vita. E ora il Mojo sta vedendo dei fantasmi, del genere vero ectoplasma, e incomincia a mettere insieme degli indizi sulla sua reale identità. Improvvisamente un uomo danaroso pretende di essere lo zio da lungo tempo perso... e lei viene pedinata da un fratello ex carcerato con un talento per i piani assassini. Mentre Mojo si affretta per scoprire come stanno in realtà le cose, lei avrà bisgono di tutto il suo senso pratico e dello strano nuovo talento per impedire che qualcuno seppelisca lei e la verità insieme.

ROMANTIC INTRIGUE CRAZY WILD
Tara Janzen Dell (February 2006)

It’s a long way from the jungles of Colombia to a Colorado library, where Special Forces operative Creed Rivera is staking out one of the world’s most dangerous women. With her prim librarian looks, Cordelia “Cody” Stark doesn’t look like a nuclear arms broker. But nabbing her is Creed’s latest mission–until a trio of thugs shows up and he’s suddenly forced to play hero.... Armed with secrets that could ignite a global inferno, Cody was already running out of places to hide. And now a hotshot government agent has blown her cover by throwing himself between her and certain death. Trusting the hero who just saved her life is not an option. Resisting him is something else entirely. And when bullets start to fly, a man and a woman running out of time are gearing up for the wildest adventure of their lives….

ROMANTIC SUSPENSE SHIVER
Lisa Jackson Kensington (April 2006)

Detective Reuben "Diego" Montoya is back in New Orleans. Thanks to years of working with the dark side of society, his youthful swagger is gone, replaced by straightforward determination. He'll need it, because a serial killer is turning The Big Easy into his personal playground. The victims are killed in pairs -- no connection, no apparent motive, no real clues. Somebody's playing a sick game, and Montoya intends to beat him at it.

BEST SCIENCE FICTION & FANTASY NOVELS

EPIC FANTASY NOVEL THE PRIVILEGE OF THE SWORD
Ellen Kushner Bantam Spectra (August 2006)

Welcome to Riverside, where the aristocratic and the ambitious battle for power in the city's ballroom, brothels and boudoirs. Into this alluring world walks Katherine, a well-bred country girl versed in the rules of conventional society. Her mistake is thinking that they apply. For Katherine's host and uncle, Alec Campion, aka the Mad Duke Tremontaine, is in charge here--and to him, rules are made to be broken. When Alec decides it would be more amusing for his niece to learn swordplay than to follow the usual path to marriage, her world changes forever. Blade in hand, it's up to Katherine to navigate a maze of secrets and scoundrels and to gain the self-discovery that comes to those who master: the privilege of the sword.

FANTASY NOVEL EYES OF CROW
Jeri Smith-Ready Luna (November 2006)

For Rhia was bound to the Spirit of Crow, gifted with the foresight of Death's approach and doomed to the isolation of one feared and set apart. There must always be one whose magic can ease the passage of the people of Asermos to the Other Side. But to be the guide her people require, to truly know the depth of her gift--her curse--Rhia must surrender herself to the wisdom of the Great Forest…and drink deeply of Death itself. And though two powerful men stand ready to aid her, even to love her, the Aspect of Crow demands unthinkable sacrifices from one who walks its path.

MODERN-DAY FANTASY NOVEL WORKING FOR THE DEVIL
Lilith Saintcrow Warner (March 2006)

When the Devil needs a rogue demon killed, who does he call?
The Player: Necromance-for-hire Dante Valentine is choosy about her jobs. Hot tempered and with nerves of steel, she can raise the dead like nobody's business. But one rainy Monday morning, everything goes straight to hell. The Score: The Devil hires Dante to eliminate a rogue demon: Vardimal Santino. In return, he will let her live. It's an offer she can't refuse. The Catch: How do you kill something that can't die?

SCIENCE FICTION NOVEL FARTHING
Jo Walton Tor (August 2006)

Over a summers weekend in 1949 -- but not our 1949 -- the upper-crust "Farthing set," the group that overthrew Churchill and negotiated peace with Hitler eight years before, enjoys a country retreat. Lucy is a minor daughter of two politicians in the group; since her marriage to a London Jew, relations have been strained. So shes surprised when she and husband David are invited for the weekend. Then, overnight, a different member of the set is found murdered, with abundant signs that the killing was ritualistic. As the authorities begin to investigate, it becomes clear to Lucy and David that they were invited in order to pin the murder on David. But whoever devised this conspiracy didnt reckon on the man from Scotland Yard being someone with his own private reasons for sympathizing with outcastsand looking beyond the obvious. As the trap slowly shuts on Lucy and David, they begin to see a way out -- a way fraught with peril in a darkening world. More than an alternate-history story, more than a drawing-room mystery, Farthing is a compelling story of encroaching darkness and the people who ultimately decide to resist it.

BEST SERIES ROMANCE NOVELS

FIRST SERIES ROMANCE DIRTY HARRIET
Miriam Auerbach Harlequin (April 2006)

SOMETIMES, A WOMAN'S GOT TO GET DIRTY TO GET THINGS CLEAN... Leaving the glamorous Boca Raton lifestyle behind wasn't easy for Boca-born Harriet Horowitz. But when she'd asked her physically abusive husband to make her day -- he'd agreed (in front of 500 people) -- and Harriet became single (a widow). Though it had been a clear-cut case of self-defense, she lost everything...yet wound up finding more. Her crash from the heights of society led her to a home in the desolate, haunting Everglades, a job as a private investigator and a new identity as tough cookie Dirty Harriet. It was a new world for Harriet. Until a murder case involving vulnerable migrant women brought her back to Boca Raton and forced her to face a past she'd thought she'd left in the dust....

HARLEQUIN AMERICAN SIMPLE GIFTS
Shelly Galloway Harlequin (October 2006)

Tessa McGuiry works hard at S.Y.D., an upscale boutique where she feels under-appreciated. On top of that, she has a neighbor who's a cop, and they just can't seem to get along. But when Tessa asks him to help her, Keaton realizes that he can no longer ignore her, especially when she comes to him late one night, concerned about a homeless boy. This brings these two lonely people together. Will they realize that they each have something the other needs -- love and understanding? Simple Gifts by Shelley Galloway is a very moving and emotional romance. Keaton and Tessa are perfectly drawn characters, and their romance will warm your heart. (Kristi Ahlers)

HARLEQUIN BLAZE IF YOU COULD READ MY MIND...
Jeanie London Harlequin (August 2006)

Lately it seems that sexy spark has left Michael and Jillian Landry's marriage. That is, until a touch of magic leaves Michael with an illuminating gift -- he can hear his wife's thoughts…. Too bad Jillian's pragmatic internal remarks leave Michael shrinking in embarrassment. Is that what she really thinks of him? Fortunately, due to his new perspective, he's privy to her every sexual fantasy. So what can a guy do but bring each one of those naughty thoughts to life? Do you have a forbidden fantasy? Look inside for hot tips from Sue Johanson that might help make those dreams a reality…. Sue Johanson is a registered nurse, sex educator, author and host of The Oxygen Network's Talk Sex with Sue Johanson.

HARLEQUIN INTRIGUE THE SECRET NIGHT
Rebecca York Harlequin (April 2006)

In this dark installment of Rebecca York's paranormal 43 Light Street series, Emma Birmingham is in dire need of the kind of help only the mysteriously enigmatic Nick Vickers can give. As she tries to liberate her twin sister from the hands of a crazed and secretive cult leader, Nick tries to hide his own secrets, especially the fact that he's a vampire, but he can't resist the desperate beauty. Emma had barely escaped from the compound of crazies holding her sister, and the last time Nick tangled with the cult leader, he nearly died. The Secret Night weaves a sensual spell that's impossible to resist. (Pat Cooper)

HARLEQUIN NEXT WHO MAKES UP THESE RULES, ANYWAY?
Stevi Mittman Harlequin (February 2006)

Let ME tell you a story about a girl on Long Island, who always tried to play life by "the rules" - as outlined in the Secret Handbook of Long Island Rules.... That girl, uh, woman, is me, Teddi Gallo. I'm the mother of three kids under the age of eleven, best friend to Bobbie (who denies there's any such thing as a secret handbook, but who knows all the moves by heart) and the daughter of June (who has inside info on the rules, but has a reserved room at South Winds Psychiatric Hospital, as well). And if I don't have enough to send me over the edge, my too-handsome-for-his-own-good husband seems determined to drive me crazy. But why? This is the tale of how I had to rewrite that old, dusty handbook - and while doing so, I suddenly discovered the secret to happiness was living by your own rules. And that has made everything different.

HARLEQUIN PRESENTS THE DESERT VIRGIN
Sandra Marton Harlequin (March 2006)

The Desert Virgin, the first book of Sandra Marton's Knight Brothers trilogy, sizzles as darkly handsome Cameron Knight travels to Baslaam on business and is given beautiful dancer Leanna DeMarco as an offering by the sultan. Thinking she's one of the sultan's many mistresses, Cam treats her as such, until he realizes that there's much more to her than he bargained for. After learning the sultan's nefarious intentions, Cam and Leanna flee for their lives and discover one another in the process, igniting a sizzling passion that neither anticipated. Marton delivers a novel with suspense, intense emotion, steamy scenes and fantastic dialogue. (Autumn Harrison)

Tre fratelli, tre compiti scottanti da portare a termine. Sandra Marton ci regala una trilogia ricca di passione all'ultimo respiro. Cameron Knight è preparato ad affrontare qualunque imprevisto, e quella missione nel regno di Baslaam non fa eccezione. Leanna De Marco è una ballerina classica che è stata rapita, e venduta, per danzare nell'harem di un sultano. Quando Asaad, uomo senza scrupoli, offre la bellissima Leanna a Cameron, come dono per una notte, questi intravede subito la possibilità di scappare con lei. Del resto, non si rifiuta mai il regalo di un sultano.

HARLEQUIN ROMANCE THE MARRIAGE MIRACLE
Liz Fielding Harlequin (March 2006)

Confined to a wheelchair since an accident three years ago, artist Matilda Lang keeps men at bay with her sharp wit. That all changes when she meets banker Sebastian Wolseley at her friend's wedding. Not intimidated by Matty -- or her disability -- Sebastian makes her feel like a woman again. But she's not ready for The Marriage Miracle quite yet. Matty's convinced that Sebastian's interest in her has more to do with business than with romance -- and it's up to Sebastian to change her mind! Liz Fielding's latest is a charming combination of reality and fantasy, liberally laced with humor. Truly excellent. (Catherine Witmer)

Possibile che lo sguardo intenso di Sebastian avesse sciolto immediatamente ogni sua resistenza? La disegnatrice freelance Matilda Lang continua a ripetersi che è stato solo un momento di debolezza, un attimo di attrazione per l'affascinante banchiere Sebastian Wolseley, che ha appena conosciuto per caso al matrimonio di amici comuni. Dopo quello che le è accaduto tre anni prima, infatti, ha giurato a se stessa di non lasciarsi più coinvolgere dai sentimenti, ma è difficile resistere all'insistenza di Seb. All'inizio lui prova a corteggiarla poi, intuendo che le sue barriere stanno per sciogliersi, osa una mossa ancora più spregiudicata: una stimolante offerta di lavoro che costringerebbe "Matty" a vederlo spessissimo.

HARLEQUIN SUPERROMANCE A MAN SHE CAN TRUST
Roxanne Rustand Harlequin (February 2006)

Jill and Grant Edwards have been separated for six months when Grant has to move back to town for a few months to run his dad's law office while his father is in the hospital. Still smarting over the failure of their marriage, the two are forced together by threats from the ex-husband of one of Grant's clients. Dealing with the danger gives them time to put their marriage back together and allows Jill to discover that she really can trust Grant after all. Roxanne Rustand's A Man She Can Trust has great characters and an interesting plot. Rustand makes the book even more interesting with an attraction between Grant's father and a nurse at Jill's hospital. A great read! (Alexandra Kay)

KIMANI ROMANCE MY LOVER, MY FRIEND
Shirley Hailstock Kimani (November 2006)

Dr. Rosamund Albright could never stand by and watch someone in pain without helping. Evan Harper had been her best friend, but now the man was hurting. The Washington, D.C., speechwriter had come home to Lighthouse, Maine, to escape the demons that were chasing him. In doing so he'd reawakened a secret yearning in Rosie that she'd buried long ago. But not even the desire he felt for her or the explosive passion they shared could break through the wall around Evan's heart. A barrier that prevented him from seeing that he was her chance to heal from a painful past.

SILHOUETTE BOMBSHELL DRESSED TO SLAY
Harper Allen Silhouette (October 2006)

Megan's preparing to walk down the aisle with her triplet sisters as her bridesmaids when their long-lost grandfather Darkheart interrupts with staggering news: they are heirs of an ancient vampire-slaying legacy. One of them is a natural-born slayer. One is a healer. One will become a vampire. And they're all in imminent danger from the vamp who murdered their mother. With a fiance out for blood, a bodyguard as wild as he is wolf and a dreamy detective on her trail, Megan is unnerved and deeply conflicted. If the prophecy is true, she may be her sisters' deadliest enemy. But if it's not, who will save them all from a world turned vamp?

SILHOUETTE DESIRE HEARTBREAKER
Diana Palmer Silhouette (September 2006)

J. B. Hammock played by his own rules, and rule number one was never settle down. He treated his women well, but with a no-strings detachment they all accepted. But sweet Tellie Maddox hovered about like a gossamer butterfly, always trying to take care of him, always caring about him. It was enough to make a confirmed bachelor take drastic measures. Then Tellie lost part of her memory. She believed she was J.B.'s faithful sidekick. Even he couldn't be so heartless as to push Tellie aside, and so he played the role of friend…until friendship turned to something else, something so much deeper than a heartbreaker like J.B. ever intended. He was hooked. Then Tellie's memory returned….

J.B. Hammock gioca secondo le sue regole, e la regola numero uno è di non sistemarsi mai. Tratta le sue donne bene, ma rendendo chiaro che non vuole relazioni fisse e loro lo accettano. Ma la dolce Tellie Maddox si muove intorno a lui come una leggera farfalla, cercando sempre di prendersi cura di lui, preoccupandosi sempre per lui. E' abbastanza per far prendere ad uno scapolo convinto delle drastiche misure. Poi Tellie perde parte della sua memoria. Crede di essere la fedele amica del cuore di J.B. Neanche lui può essere così senza cuore da mettere da parte Tellie, e così gioca il ruolo del vecchio amico... fino a che l'amicizia di trasforma in qualcosa d'altro, qualcosa di così profondo che un senza cuore come J.B. non avrebbe mai voluto. E' preso al laccio. Poi la memoria di Tellie ritorna...

SILHOUETTE INTIMATE MOMENTS SHADOW FORCE
Linda Conrad Silhouette (April 2006)

Linda Conrad's new series, Night Guardians, is sure to be a favorite among paranormal romance lovers. In Shadow Force Reagan Wilson travels to the Navajo reservation in search of her missing scientist father. There, she's immediately pulled into a world totally unknown to her. Shapeshifting Skinwalkers are wreaking destruction among the people of the reservation, and it's up to the Brotherhood to stop them. Navajo FBI agent Kody Long is a member of the Brotherhood and has made a vow to never get married (again) or have a family that will be targets for the Skinwalkers. Meeting Reagan throws his whole world upside down. In trying to protect her, he finally realizes that she's his soul mate. But Reagan and Kody are from two different worlds: hers is logical, his is mystical. And danger threatens to tear them apart. Fast-paced and filled with fascinating information on Navajo myths and legends, this is a page-turner. The next book in the series, Shadow Watch, is due out in May. (Kari Thomas)

SILHOUETTE ROMANCE IN GOOD COMPANY
Teresa Southwick Silhouette (March 2006)

Seeing Des O'Donnell for the first time since high school catches teacher Molly Preston by surprise. His failure to recognize her doesn't, but it hurts as much as her teenage heart did when he broke it. Now a successful builder, Des is puzzled by Molly's hostility, until he makes the connection -- and then he wants to make amends. In need of a date for her class reunion, Molly's willing to let him step up, but that's before she finds herself "engaged" to Des! Teresa Southwick's second Buy-a-Guy title, In Good Company, is a reunion story with a delicious twist and strong-willed, wonderful characters. (Catherine Witmer)

AFFITTASI FIDANZATO. Ovvero come trovare l'uomo perfetto... solo per un weekend! Ex adolescente bruttina e insicura - Molly Preston - ora sbocciata in tutta la sua seducente bellezza, cerca "fusto" aitante e disinvolto come accompagnatore per il ritrovo degli ex studenti di liceo, scopo prendersi la meritata rivincita dopo anni di pubbliche umiliazioni. Astenersi ex compagni fascinosi, colpevoli di averla illusa da ragazzina e di averla ferita nell'orgoglio. Esperto di ristrutturazioni, bella presenza - Des O'Donnell - offre il proprio aiuto disinteressato per rimediare a errori di gioventù. Disposto a trasferte per partecipare a riunioni scolastiche, è pronto a fingersi fidanzato innamoratissimo pur di riportare il sorriso sulle belle labbra di una cara amica.

SILHOUETTE SPECIAL EDITION DANCING IN THE MOONLIGHT
RaeAnne Thayne Silhouette (May 2006)

Jake Dalton has finally found his place in the world. A family physician in his small hometown of Pine Gulch, Idaho, he enjoys the satisfaction of caring for people he's known all his life -- and he especially enjoys knowing he's more than just the quiet, bookish Dalton brother who never truly felt like he belonged on the ranch. Jake's comfortable life is thrown into tumult by the not-so-triumphant return to Pine Gulch of Magdalena Cruz, battered and broken. He hid it from everyone, especially her, but Jake has always been a little in love with Maggie. He knew it wouldn't have done him any good to show his interest to her. Maggie despises everything Dalton and blames his family for her father's death. Now Maggie has suffered another terrible loss serving her country and has returned to Pine Gulch to recover. She never expects a Dalton, of all people, to work his healing magic on both her body and her heart.

Jake Dalton ha finalmente trovato un posto al mondo. Un dottore di famiglia nella piccola cittadina natale di Pine Gulch, Idaho, apprezza la soddisfazione di prendersi cura delle persone che conosce da tutta la vita - e specialmente apprezza sapere che lui è più che solo il tranquillo, fanciullesco fratello Dalton che mai veramente ha sentito di appartenere al ranch. La vita tranquilla di Jake è sconvolta dal non così trionfante ritorno a Pine Gulch di Magdalena Cruz, battuta e ferita. Lui lo nasconde da tutti, specialmente da lei, ma Jake è sempre stato un poco innamorato di Maggie. Sa che non avrebbe fatto niente di buono dimostrandole il suo interesse. Maggie disprezza ogni cosa dei Dalton e incolpa la sua famiglia per la morte di suo padre. Ora Maggie ha sofferto un'altra terribile perdita servendo il suo paese ed è tornata a Pine Gulch per ristabilirsi. Non si aspetterebbe mai che un Dalton, di tutte le persone, facesse funzionare la sua magia curativa sia sul suo corpo che sul suo cuore.

STEEPLE HILL LOVE INSPIRED AN UNEXPECTED BLESSING
Merrillee Whren Steeple Hill (June 2006)

Many things can happen when two people come together for the first time. In Merrillee Whren's An Unexpected Blessing, the catalyst is a baby boy. Dori Morales is named guardian when her sister and brother-in-law are killed. After only weeks, Dori already feels as if she's the baby's mother. Chase Garrett, her brother-in-law's half-sibling, is at the reading of the will. Dori learns much about the estrangement of the male members of this family and also that Chase isn't going anywhere, especially since he wants to get to know baby Jacob. For readers who enjoy a strong family story, and one that grows as a result of faith, this book will be a delight. (Robin Taylor)

STEEPLE HILL LOVE INSPIRED SUSPENSE ON WINGS OF DELIVERANCE
Elizabeth White Steeple Hill (April 2006)

Owen Carmichael has been in love with fellow missionary Bernadette Malone for quite some time. She purposely keeps him at a distance because of secrets from her past. When a man shows up in Mexico and shoots at her, Owen and Bernadette make a quick escape, which turns into a cat-and-mouse chase across the country. Elizabeth White's third installment in the Texas Gatekeepers series offers a powerfully exciting adventure. On Wings of Deliverance balances love, faith and action and will have readers holding their breath until the tumultuous conclusion. (Melissa Parcel)

BEST SMALL PRESS

SMALL PRESS CONTEMPORARY PARANORMAL/FUTURISTIC ROMANCE INTO A DANGEROUS MIND
Tina Gerow TriskelionPublishing.com (April 2006)

Cassidy James is on a date, but she longs for the moment when she will finally be able to go home. Her inner voice warned her not to date this guy, but would she listen? No. When the date goes south and Brian turns rough, she manages to escape -- or so she thinks. FBI profiler Zach is after a serial killer known as The Reaper, who uses his psychic powers to kill. The Reaper has his sights set on his next victim, Cassidy, and Zach is not prepared for what happens after her date with the killer. And he's really not prepared for the attraction that explodes between Cassidy and himself. Will Zach be able to keep his soul mate alive while he catches a killer, or will The Reaper reap more then Zach ever thought possible? Gerow has penned a page-turner, to be sure. Even though the reader knows who the bad guy is, the author keeps the suspense and tension tight. The chemistry between Zach and Cassidy is top-drawer and very compelling. (Kristi Ahlers)

SMALL PRESS ROMANCE KEEPER OF THE SPIRIT
Ruby Storm Cerridwen Press (March 2006)

Keeper - Keeper of the Spirit By Ruby Storm Book 1 in the Keeper Series Minnesota lumber baron Tyler Wilkins knew he needed to come to grips with the death of his wife. Little did he understand that his business trip to New York would be the beginning of a journey to find peace within himself and a love that sometimes happens twice in a lifetime. Beautiful Emma Sanders has her entire world mapped out. Being the daughter of one of the richest shipbuilders in New York in 1880 guaranteed her a life of leisure. It also guaranteed the option she'd chosen to remain single and manage her father's company someday. That is, until Tyler walked into her father's study and turned her world upside down. Crossing paths with this one sad man would change the course of her life forever. The mysticism of an old Indian brave a forgotten evil that lurks in Emma's past one tragic hour in their lives, will all combine to lead them to a future filled with trust and understanding and the discovery of peace and love that a man and woman can share.

http://www.romantictimes.com/