NEW BEGINNINGS FOR A NEW YEAR
By Jaycie Cash
Today, January 2, 2012, was definitely a red-letter day: I wrote the first two pages for the epilogue of my second novel, The Split-Family Robinson. That means I should be writing “The End” by this Friday . . . or sometime over the weekend, at the latest. In the immortal words of Fred Flintstone: “Yabba dabba doo!” I’ve gotta say, this is my favorite way to begin a new year to date.
Now, we’re just talking about the first draft here, so it’s gonna be a little while before this book is ready for publication, but that day feels a whole lot closer than it ever has before.
Here’s to new beginnings.
In my first novel, Mrs. Goodfeller, the heroine was trying to create a new beginning for her family by “custom-painting the truth a bit,” for her fellow residents of Scissortail, Oklahoma. Problem is, her plan worked. She and her whole family ended up in mortal danger as a result.
Some of my fellow authors are celebrating new beginnings this month by releasing their latest novels. These books include . . .
Copper Beach
By Jayne Anne Krentz
www.jayneannkrentz.com 
Released January 10, 2012, in hardcover and as an e-book
A rare book. An ancient code. An all-new novel from the New York Times-bestselling master of passion and the paranormal.
Within the pages of very rare books some centuries old lie the secrets of the paranormal. Abby Radwell's unusual psychic talent has made her an expert in such volumes-and sometimes taken her into dangerous territory. After a deadly incident in the private library of an obsessive collector, Abby receives a blackmail threat, and rumors swirl that an old alchemical text known as The Key has reappeared on the black market.
Convinced that she needs an investigator who can also play bodyguard, she hires Sam Coppersmith, a specialist in paranormal crystals and amber-"hot rocks." Passion flares immediately between them, but neither entirely trusts the other. When it comes to dealing with a killer who has paranormal abilities, and a blackmailer who will stop at nothing to obtain an ancient alchemical code, no one is safe.
In Too Deep: Book One of the Looking Glass Trilogy (An Arcane Society Novel)
By Jayne Ann Krentz
www.jayneannkrentz.com 
Released December 27, 2011, as a mass market paperback and an e-book
The New York Times bestselling author begins a new trilogy set in a secluded coastal town in Northern California-a mysterious place where danger and passion run deep...
Nobody’s Baby But Mine
By Susan Elizabeth Phillips
www.SusanElizabethPhillips.com 
Released in Large Print January 17, 2012, as a trade paperback (a reissue, first published in 1997)
Genius physics professor Dr. Jane Darling desperately wants a baby—but she’s determined to spare her child the suffering that she herself experienced growing up, when her super-intelligence made her feel like a freak. So Jane’s looking for someone very special to father her child. Someone very . . . well . . . stupid. Cal Bonner, the Chicago Stars’ legendary quarterback, seems like the perfect choice. But his champion good looks and down-home ways are deceiving. Dr. Jane learns too late that this good ol’ boy is a lot smarter than he lets on—and he’s not about to be used and abandoned by a brainy, baby-mad schemer.
Hidden Summit
By Robyn Carr
www.RobynCarr.com 
Released December 27, 2011, as a mass market paperback and an e-book
Book 17 of the Virgin River series
Sick of running into her cheery ex-husband and his new wife, Leslie Petruso accepts a job at the Virgin River branch of Haggerty Construction and takes the high road right out of town. Now she's got Paul Haggerty's business running like a well-oiled machine. In fact, things are so busy Paul jumps at the chance to hire an extra set of hands.
Just like Leslie, Conner Danson has been burned by love. But if Leslie was disappointed by her relationship going bad, Conner was decimated. He's got no time for women…although he spends an awful lot of time pretending not to notice Leslie. And she's pretty busy "ignoring" the chemistry between them.
According to Conner and Leslie, they have only one thing in common—they're done with love. But everyone in Virgin River can see that things are heating up at Haggerty Construction. And as far as Paul Haggerty can tell, the best thing he can do is hang on to his hard hat and watch the sparks fly!
Bijoux Magick
By Kaylan Doyle
www.kaylandoyle.com 
Released January 2012
Urban Fantasy
Pavé Fletcher witnesses the murder of her parents by a supernatural horror. The voice living in her mind commands her to unearth a box buried by the old North Church. She flees Massachusetts, driving cross-country, looking skyward, terrified of another attack.
In Seattle, an abandoned bookstore, built upon a hidden ley-lines crossroads, breathes ... "Buy me." Pavé’s mindvoice, Ned, agrees and insists. An evil demon, drawn by the manifested power, decides he will possess the building and Pavé.
With the help of the box’s contents, will Pavé escape his plotting? Will she avenge her parents’ murders? Will she, with help from newfound friends, prevent looming evil from enslaving all Earth’s inhabitants?
Special Agent’s Perfect Cover
By Marie Ferrarella
www.marieferrarella.com 
Released December 20, 2011, as a mass market paperback and an e-book
"What have they done to you?"
Cold Plains, Wyoming, should be a ghost town. Then why are its once-decaying streets gleaming? And why are there only beautiful, smiling Stepford-like wives in those streets? Hawk Bledsoe wants to know…because the woman who broke his heart seems to be one of them.
Carly Finn is stunned to see Hawk return to town as an FBI agent tracking a serial killer. Hawk doesn't know why she once ended their romance so cruelly—or how much Carly sacrificed for him. But now the two must risk their lives to expose the town's monstrous secret. And danger only revives the desire both try their hardest to resist….
The Daughters of Winston Barnett
By Dara Girard
www.daragirard.com 
Released December 22, 2011, as a trade paperback and an e-book
Pride and Prejudice meets Fiddler on the Roof with a Jamaican-American twist. Meet the Barnett sisters: Faithful, good natured Beverly; headstrong, ambitious Janet; bookish, droll Francine; silly but sweet Trudy and bold, reckless Maxine. They live under the strict rule of their religious, Jamaican father in the small town of Hamsford where they’re content with their sheltered life. But that comfortable life is shattered when Janet tries to leave and the wealthy Jeffrey Farmer returns to town with his foreign friend, Frederick Durand. Soon the Barnett’s world is turned upside down and the sisters find themselves embroiled in scandal, devastated by betrayal and tempted by a forbidden love that threatens to rip them apart. But they fight to stay together and learn the power of tradition, the depth of family, the healing strength of forgiveness and the destiny of love.
Hot and Heavy
By Sandra Hill
www.sandrahill.net 
Released December 27, 2011, as a mass market paperback (a reissue first published in 2005)
In and out . . .
That’s Lieutenant Ian MacLean’s goal. The leader of a team of highly trained Navy SEALs— the toughest, buffest fighting men in the world— the sexy, hard-as-nails bachelor has the brains, guts, and brawn to outthink, outgun, and outmaneuver any enemy. But dealing with a buxom, headstrong, iron-willed Viking maiden from a time a thousand years before Ian was born . . . that’s a whole different kind of warfare.
Madrene Olgadottir has no idea where she is or that she’s landed ten centuries in the future. After bopping the arrogant soldier on his head and tying him up, the stunning hellion gives him a tongue lashing that makes a drill sergeant sound like a kindergarten teacher. Then she demonstrates that she has her own special way of dealing with overconfident males.
Hoo-yah, it looks like Operation Rodent is about to get . . . Hot & Heavy.
Borrowing a Bachelor
By Karen Kendall
Karenkendall.com 
Released December 20, 2011, as a mass market paperback and an e-book
Nikki Fine's debut as an exotic dancer is also her closing act. Because the moment she pops out of the "cake" at a bachelor party, Nikki manages to clock Adam Burke. Fortunately, he overlooks their collision, which leads to a very private—and satisfying—encounter.
But it seems this fling isn't meant to be. It turns out Adam is a conflict of interest at Nikki's new day job—the one she can't afford to lose. Resisting him is easier said than done when he keeps showing up at her office. Maybe she can risk borrowing this bachelor one more time….
Destiny (Serendipity)
By Carly Phillips
www.carlyphillips.com 
Released January 3, 2012, as a mass market paperback and an e-book
Dear Readers,
Welcome back to the town of Serendipity.
DESTINY is the second in my contemporary romance series that I began in SERENDIPITY. In DESTINY, you will learn more about the town of Serendipity, the Barron brothers, and the past they've tried so hard to run from ... and in some cases, to hide.. Like any other town, Serendipity has its secrets, scandals, pain, heartache and love, but there is also an implied promise of fortune and good luck, along with people at changes and crossroads in their lives.
You already met Ethan Barron, the bad boy who has come home to make good and Faith Harrington, the girl who got away. DESTINY is Nash Barron and Kelly Moss's story and coming in May 2012 is Dare Barron in KARMA.
I hope you'll continue to take this new journey with me and enjoy!
Happy Reading,
Carly Phillips
Sleepwalker
By Karen Robards
www.karenrobards.com 
Released December 27, 2011, in hardcover, as a mass market paperback, as an audiobook, and as an e-book
It’s not that Micayla Lange is afraid of the clinking she hears coming from the first floor of the empty McMansion she’s housesitting for her uncle Nicco. She’s a cop, after all. It’s just that finding out her boyfriend was cheating on her was enough drama for one night. Now she’s alone on New Year’s Eve, wearing flannel pajamas and wielding a Glock 22 as she zeroes in on the unmistakable source of the sound: Uncle Nicco’s private office.
Jason Davis steals things for a living, so unexpected developments are a natural part of the job. Getting caught red-handed by a hot, pigtail-sporting police officer in what is supposed to be a gangster’s deserted house is just one more twist in the game. Kind of like finding incriminating photos in Nicco Marino’s safe, only to discover the cop — and the security cameras — have gotten a real good look at his face.
Unfortunately for Mick, she also got a good look at the damned pictures. Her “uncle” might love her like family, but if he knows she’s seen evidence that implicates him in the murder of a city councilman, she doesn’t like her chances. Which is why she’s having a hard time reconciling her professional instincts with what she is rapidly concluding is an inescapable fact: She’s about to help a criminal get away with a suitcase full of stolen money. And she’s going with him. Mick and Jason’s race for their lives hurtles them through the dangerous Michigan wilderness on speedboat and snowmobile. As their adventure heats up and their enemies close in, Mick is torn between her duty to the force and the combustible passion engulfing her and her unlikely partner in crime. She’ll have to turn Jason in sooner or later . . . if they survive. But will they ever get a second chance at love?
Lara
By Bertrice Small
www.bertricesmall.net 
Released January 2012 (a reissue, first released in 2005)
Welcome, dear reader, to the world of Hetar, a realm of Forest Lords, of Shadow Princes and Coastal Kings. A land of passions, both civilized and savage. Where the social classes know their place, but where anyone can, under the right conditions, advance to the highest pinnacle. This is a place where pleasure is never censured, but encouraged, and where deception and desire may be intertwined. The orderly, elegant veneer of refined Hetar can no longer ignore the rebellion brewing in the Outlands, a dangerous place of both magic and mystery.
From the city that is the very center of Hetar, Lara, the beautiful half-faerie daughter of John Swiftsword, ventures forth on a journey that will awaken her, both body and soul, as she learns the true meaning of love that will last an eternity -- and a searing passion that will change the destiny of Hetar forever.
Creating Hetar and its many characters has been a great challenge for me, but a wonderful and creative endeavor. I hope you will enjoy Lara's tale.
Waking Up in Charleston
By Sherryl Woods
www.sherrylwoods.com 
Released December 27, 2011, as a mass market paperback and an e-book (reissued, first released in 2006)
The moment Amanda defied her rich and powerful father to marry Bobby O'Leary, Big Max disowned her. Even now, with Bobby dead and Amanda mired in debt, he refuses to forgive her.
But Caleb, the new man in Amanda's life, is determined to mend fences between father and daughter. He also has a far more personal mission—to make Amanda and her family his own. But when she learns how close he is to Big Max and the secret Caleb's been hiding, there's every chance she could walk away.
As a pastor, Caleb's used to calling on a higher power for help, and heaven knows it's going to take a miracle to fix this before it's too late.
The Departed
By Shiloh Walker
www.shilohwalker.com 
Released January 3, 2012, as a mass market paperback and an e-book
From the national bestselling author of The Missing comes an all-new novel of romantic suspense about a man who's haunted by regret and consumed by desire...
A LIFELONG OBSESSION
FBI Special Agent Taylor Jones has made it his mission to save those in harm's way by any means necessary-including employing psychic agents like Desiree "Dez" Lincoln, who can communicate with the disembodied spirits of the dead. Taylor is haunted by his own ghost, his kid sister, gone missing at age six. For a quarter of a century he has been tortured by her loss and the mystery of her disappearance.
A NIGHT'S INDISCRETION
When Dez is seriously wounded, Taylor can no longer hide his feelings for her. Getting involved could spell disaster for both of them-not to mention those who rely on them for help-but once Dez lays her hands on him, he can't resist the fierce attraction. But after giving in to his desires, Taylor pulls back, and Dez strikes out on her own.
AN INESCAPABLE PASSION
Responding to the call of another anguished spirit, Dez is led to Taylor's old hometown. As the two are forced to come together to save a girl in peril.
At the King’s Pleasure
(Secrets of the Tudor Court)
By Kate Emerson
www.kateemersonhistoricals.com 
Released January 3, 2012, as a trade paperback and an e-book
Married to one man. Desiring another. Beautiful Lady Anne Stafford, lady-in-waiting to Queen Katherine of Aragon, is torn between her love for her husband, George, Lord Hastings . . . and the king’s boon companion, the attentive Sir William Compton. But when King Henry VIII, amorous as always, joins the men clustering around her, Anne realizes she has become perilously enmeshed in the intrigues of the court. Will she be forced to decide between the two men she desires—and the one she doesn’t?
Kate Emerson charms again with a heroine who steps out of the pages of history to win our hearts in this sumptuous novel of Tudor scandal and intrigue.
Tempted Again
By Cathie Linz
www.Cathielinz.com 
Released January 3, 2012, as a mass market paperback and an e-book
Marissa Bennett needs to start over, but the last thing she needs is a new man in her life. Enter sexy lawman Connor Doyle-the high school bad boy who took her innocence. She knows she should turn the page on her past, but Connor is irresistible. Has she come all the way home just to get her heart broken again?
Legally Hot
An Anthology that includes “Deadly Dance” by Cheyenne McCray
www.cheyennemccray.com 
Released January 3, 2012, as a mass market paperback and an e-book
Jaycie Cash blogs on a regular basis for Writerspace.com. Her debut novel, MRS. GOODFELLER, is available through most major eBook outlets, including Amazon andBarnes and Noble. She’d love for you to like her Facebook Author page.
I can’t think of a better way to kick off a new year than with a new book, and tomorrow, January 3, it’s happening. WILD, WILD DEATH, book #8 in the PEPPER MARTIN MYSTERY SERIES, will hit store (and cyber) shelves.
