Waiting on Wednesday: March 29th

Three words: Ward, Ione, Showalter. 

Need I say more?

Yes? Well, alright. On March 29th, some of the best of the best in romance have new books coming out. 

For J.R. Ward, March 29th marks the release of the 9th Black Dagger Brotherhood book, Lover Unleashed. Squeee! Having to wait a year for each BDB instalment is pure torture. You can bet I will be first in line at Chapters to buy this book. 

Although Lover Unleashed is at the top of my to-buy list for March 29th, Larissa Ione's Eternal Rider and Gena Showalter's The Darkest Secret are also must-buys. I'm eager to delve into Ione's new series based of the Four Horsemen. Her Demonica books are some of my favorites, so I have high hopes that Eternal Rider will be just as addicting. Also, I can't wait to read Amun's story. After being in the background for so long, I'm excited to see how Amun will measure up to the rest of the Lords. 

While Lover Unleashed, Eternal Rider and The Darkest Secret are my top picks for books being released on the 29th, there are a ton of other great reads out that day as well. If you want a more complete list of all the books being released on the 29th, head on over to Wicked Scribes. 

Waiting on Wednesday: Saddled and Spurred by Lorelei James

I am HUGE fan of Lorelei James. Hands down, James writes the best cowboy/western romances out there. Although her Rough Riders series is number 1 in my books, I also cannot get enough of her new series, Blacktop Cowboys. On March 1st, James releases the second book in the series, Saddled and Spurred. I hope Bran Turner can measure up to those yummy McKay men...

Also, James has 3 lengthy teasers of Saddled and Spurred on her website. Click HERE to check them out. 

Cattleman Bran Turner is left shorthanded during busy calving season when a bull tramples his hired hand. Rural Wyoming isn’t exactly a hotbed of qualified candidates, and the only applicant for the position is the pampered town beauty, Harper Masterson. The curvy cowgirl gets under Bran’s skin at every turn, but with no other options, he reluctantly hires her.

When sexual sparks ignite, down-on-her-luck Harper enjoys convincing Bran that not only is she capable of pulling calves, feeding live-stock, and handling backbreaking ranch chores, but she doesn’t mind getting down and dirty, either. Harper also discovers the hotbodied cowboy isn’t all work and no horseplay…and he’s got more than a few tricks up his sleeve. Bran will learn quickly that Harper is no country mouse—and that she might just have what it takes to stick around for the long haul.

Want to Know the Title of Cat & Bones 6? Well, let me tell you...

"Waiting on Wednesday" is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine. WOW spotlights forthcoming titles that we absolutely can't wait to read.

This week, I'm waiting on...

This Side of the Grave by Jeaniene Frost

Night Huntress #5

Release Date: February 22, 2011

After a full year without any Cat & Bones, I have been suffering from serious withdrawals! While I did like the two Night Huntress World books that were released in 2010, they can’t compete with the original series. Cat &Bones are one of the best couples in para-rom! I’ve also have been hearing some rumours that Chapter 21 of TSOTG is possibly steamier than the infamous Chapter 32 of Halfway to the Grave. GASP!

Also, if you are like me and want to read some TSOTG right now, click HERE to read the first 20% of the book. Thanks Harper Collins.

Frost Fans is also posting quotes from the book daily on their website.

Now for the good stuff. Drum roll please.

The tile for the 6th Cat and Bones novel is...

One Grave at a Time

Release date has yet to be determined, but Jeaniene has said to expect to see it on shelves sometime this fall. There is a teaser chapter at the end of TSOTG. Score!

Happy Reading Everyone!

~Nicole~

Waiting on Wednesday: Last Sacrifice by Richelle Mead

I'm not usually a fan of young adult or YA books, but if something really good comes along that just begs me to read it, well I just can't say no! I first started reading the Vampire Academy series last summer after reading a string of bad romance novels. Sometimes a girl just needs a little breather. To my surprise, Vampire academy soon became on of my favorite YA series. I love me some kickass heroines and Rose certainly fits that category. I also have a huge crush on Dimitri and am eager to see what is going to happen between them. Full of great action, adventure, suspense and romance (the PG-13 kind), the Vampire Academy series is the perfect home away from home for romance readers.

The final book in the series, Last Sacrifice, comes out December 7, 2010. Make sure to check out Mead's site on November 29th to read an excerpt from the book!

Here's a small blurb (the official description hasn't been released yet):

The astonishing final novel in Richelle Mead's epic series!
Murder. Love. Jealousy. And the ultimate sacrifice. Now, with Rose on trial for her life and Lissa first in line for the Royal Throne, nothing will ever be the same between them.

Waiting on Wednesday: A Holiday Romance Collection (Jaci Burton, Lauren Dane, Shannon Stacey, & Megan Hart)

On December 6th, Carina Press is releasing A Holiday Romance Collection which features 4 short stories from Jaci Burton, Lauren Dane, Shannon Stacey, & Megan Hart. What makes this collection extra special is that you can either buy each story individually or buy the whole collection for a discounted price. They all sound so good that I don't know why you wouldn't want to buy the whole set!

PS: I think it's kind of funny that Jaci Burton named her female lead Riley Jensen. Wonder if she's read any Keri Arthur? Hehe.

Big Star, Small-town Christmas...
Country singer Riley Jensen would never have returned to her small Missouri hometown if her publicist hadn’t come up with the scheme to tape a Christmas special there. So she never would have known that the man who broke her heart at eighteen—causing her to flee to Nashville—was now a widower with a seven-year-old daughter. Riley has ten years of angst-filled hit songs and Grammy awards to prove she doesn’t need Ethan Kent. But suddenly, she can’t help thinking of all she gave up by running away…
Ethan Kent knew Riley had the talent and the drive to make it as a singer. He also knew she wasn’t going anywhere if she stayed in their nowhere town for him. Then one night and one huge mistake sent her running on the road to fame. Which doesn’t mean he ever stopped loving her…
But with so much separating them, can Riley and Ethan find their way back together one magical country Christmas?

Their First Christmas, Bound Together…
All Jude wants for Christmas is Rori, all to himself. It’s their first holiday season as a couple, and staying home, seeing friends and family, means they’ll be surrounded by the memory of Rori’s late husband. It’s time for Jude and Rori to create their own traditions. Time for them to fully explore their most intimate desires to dominate and submit...
Rori is thrilled when Jude whisks her away to a luxury resort in the mountains. Spending Christmas away, just the two of them, is the perfect time to show him she’s ready to give herself to him completely…

Newlyweds Leah and Brandon Long are finally taking a honeymoon. But just two days into their Christmas-in-Vail vacation, Leah gets run down by an out-of-control snowboarder, severely spraining her ankle. Being stuck indoors isn’t so bad though: the luxurious chalet boasts a hot tub and cozy fireplace. Besides, sitting with her feet up while Brandon serves her in every way a man can serve a woman is exactly how both of them like to spend their time...
Leah would be in heaven, if only Brandon didn’t insist on bringing up the idea of a family. She knew that kids were part of the package, but she’s not ready to make any plans just yet. Still, with kinky sex and deep conversation the only things on the agenda for the next week, Leah can’t avoid the discussion for long. Will she be ready to take her marriage to the next level in the New Year?

House-sitting for her parents seemed like a good idea, until the microwave blew up and the lights went out...
Now Chloe Burke thinks upgrading the electrical system of her childhood home while they are away would make the perfect Christmas gift. Fortunately, there’s an electrician in town who can get the job done by the holidays...
Scott Quinn has wanted to get his hands on the Burkes’ wiring for almost as long as he’s wanted to get his hands on their daughter. Chloe didn’t notice Scott back in high school, but she’s noticing him now, and soon they’re indulging in a little festive fun: no strings, no expectations. After all, Chloe plans to get out of this goldfish bowl of a town and back to her real life in Boston by New Year’s...
But Chloe and Scott discover they enjoy each other’s company just as much out of bed. Could their holiday fling turn out to be the real thing?

Waiting on Wednesday: Inside Out by Lauren Dane

I know that Inside Out is out next week but I've been dying to get my hands on this book ever since I finished Coming Undone (the second book in the series) back in January. Lauren Dane's Brown Sibling series is just that addictive! If you are looking to read something that has a little bit more steam and is wonderfully written, I highly suggest this series. It will have you laughing, crying, and wanting to take a few cold showers.

Inside Out is out November 2, 2010. However, I found out last night that Amazon.ca has it in stock already! I bought my copy last night :)

Here's the Blurb:
Ella Tipton is a survivor. In the wake of an attack that left her nearly dead, she’s spent each day putting her life back together. Once vibrant and outgoing, she’s needed to reclaim the best parts of who she was while retaining the hard won lessons. There hasn’t been room for any romantic entanglements, even if she were ready. Still, it didn’t mean she had to stop sneaking looks at Mister Tall, Dark and Tattooed himself.

Security professional Andrew Copeland isn’t quite sure when his jones for the lovely and decidedly skittish Ella developed. He’s known her for years, has watched her triumph over the pain she’d been dealt. Cope is no stranger to women, but he knows the nervous flush he gets every time he talks to her is different than any attraction he’s had in the past. Determined to get Ella to let him in, Andy does the one thing he can think of to get close: he offers her hands-on training in self-defense.

While Ella’s sure he’s just being nice, the prospect of being able to touch him and gain the tools to push away the last vestiges of her fear is more than she can resist. Soon enough, Cope shows Ella his feelings are far more than friendly and re-ignites something deep inside her. Before long desire and love turn them both inside out.

Waiting on Wednesday: The Perfect Play by Jaci Burton

I've been dying to post this cover somewhere! And now I can, hehe. When I first saw this one I had to fan myself a few times. I am so in love with this cover. I adore how publishers are starting to move away from the cheese and giving us some real man meat!

The Perfect Play is the first in Burton's all new series called Play-by-Play, which revolves around the male lead playing some sort of sport. The Perfect Play is out February 1, 2011.

Here's the blurb:
Football pro Mick Riley is an all-star, both on the field and in the bedroom. But a sexy, determinedly single mom just might be the one to throw him off his game…

For years Mick has been taking full advantage of the life available to a pro athlete: fame, fortune, and a different girl in every city. But when he meets and beds confident, beautiful event planner Tara Lincoln, he wants much more than the typical one-night stand. Too bad Tara’s not interested in getting to know football’s most notorious playboy any better.

As the single mother of a teenage son, the last thing Tara needs is the jet-set lifestyle of Mick Riley; even though their steamy and passionate one-night stand was unforgettable. Tara’s life is complicated enough without being thrust into the spotlight as Mick’s latest girl du jour. Tara played the game of love once and lost big, and she doesn’t intend to put herself out there again, especially with a heartbreaker like Mick.

But when Mick sets his mind to win, nothing will stop him. And he has the perfect play in mind.

Waiting on Wednesday: Ecstasy in Darkness by Gena Showalter

This weeks pick is Ecstasy in Darkness by Gena Showalter. Woo! That is one steamin' hot cover. Needless to say, I can't wait to get my hands on this book. Love the whip ;)

Ecstasy in Darkness releases October 26, 2010.

From Goodreads:

"New York Times bestselling sensation Gena Showalter enthralls with a dark, tantalizing world of humans, otherworlders, powers beyond imagining, and a seductive vampire undone by his insatiable hunger for one woman. . . .Growing up poor on New Chicago’s meanest streets, Ava Sans had two options: be the predator or be the prey. No contest. Now, working for Alien Investigation and Removal, she’s been ordered to capture the biggest, baddest warrior of all—a vampire too beautiful to be real, with the ability to manipulate time. Once the leader of the entire vampire army, McKell has been deemed savage and unstable, spurned even by his own kind.To McKell, humans should be nothing more than sustenance. Yet the petite, golden-skinned Ava is a fascinating contradiction—vicious yet witty, strong yet vulnerable, lethal but fiercely loyal. Against his better judgment, McKell craves that loyalty, and much more. When the chase leads to seduction, McKell and Ava will race to discover the truth about his past. But the answers will come at a price, even for a woman who thought she had nothing left to lose. . . . "

Other books in the Alien Huntress series:

Awaken Me Darkly

Enslave Me Sweetly

Savor Me Slowly

Seduce the Darkness