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A Closer Look |
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Hi and welcome to A Closer Look! This is a new feature at Writerspace and I'm thrilled to have the opportunity to bring you A Closer Look at some of the best Romance novels that simply shouldn't be missed.
I was surfing the web recently and discovered some amazing statistics. Did you know that romance book sales generated approximately $1.37 billion in sales in 2000? And did you know there were ONLY *g* 2,289 romance novels released in 2000? That's approximately 190 books a month!! Now think about how many books You read each month. Mind boggling, isn't it? All those books and authors out there waiting to be discovered....
What are the chances that people like you and me got the opportunity to read even half of them..... okay realisticly, even a quarter of them last year? I know I'm always finding new books and new authors; many of them have been around for years and I've only just discovered them recently and so glad that I did!
If you're a voracious reader like me, you probably can't get enough of romance novels and each time you discover a new author whose work you enjoy immensely, you probably get all excited and rush out to grab her entire backlist. Right?
Sometimes it's an author you've always adored but when her last book came out, you didn't get a chance to buy a copy or you simply didn't realize there was a new one to be on the lookout for. Happens to me all the time. I mean, come on, seriously, how many books do you buy each month without stopping to think about those credit card or utility bills, grocery money or facing up to your own hunky hero at home - who is now your pleasure master and slave - without cringing when he catches you sneaking home with another shopping bag almost bursting with romance books? And if you're anything like me, you're hiding them in every nook and cranny your honey won't go peeking into until you can casually..... innocently...... underhandedly *g* add them to your ever increasing TBR (to-be-read) pile!!
Well, if you can relate to all of the above, A Closer Look is just the right column for you! With the kind and generous support of the publishers and authors of romance, I am pleased to bring you A Closer Look at some of the hottest and unforgettable romances the industry has to offer! Not only can you discover books you may have missed, but sometimes, you can even get a brand new autographed copy, along with some other great goodies, just for the price of postage! That's a pretty good deal, don't you think? And you won't even have to try and be sneaky or underhanded to add it to you tbr pile! *g*
I hope you enjoy this column and if you have any comments or suggestions, please drop me a line!
If you would like to have one of your previous, current or upcoming releases featured in my column, please feel free to email me at anytime. I'd love to take A CLOSER LOOK at some of your books!
A Closer Look
* Karen White
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A few years ago, on the discussion loops, there was a lot of talk from readers who were fanning themselves and drooling all over a new romance novel in the Harlequin Temptation (Blaze) line. I'd never heard of the author and I wasn't very familiar with Harlequin Temptations at that point either, but when talk of that book went on for days and days, I knew I had to go get a copy for myself to see what the fuss was all about. I'm so glad I did. The author was Carly Phillips and that particular book was entitled BRAZEN. Let's just say Carly Phillips' books and I now have an ongoing love-affair - and my sincerest thanks for that goes to Ryan 'Mac' Mackenzie *g* who always pops into my mind everytime I think of bars or the bartending profession! Ever since I read Mac's story, anything Carly Phillips writes, I absolutely adore. Whether she writes sensuous romances that fit in the Harlequin Temptation or Harlequin Blaze lines or the more heart-wrenching romances she wrote as Karen Drogin, Carly has proven again and again that she's a wonderfully prolific and beautifully talented writer. Carly has an excellent ability to inject humor, loads of tantalizing heat and deep emotion into stories. When you look for warm, thoughtful and witty characters and love stories that can leave you deeply moved, or if you look for sass and humor, Carly Phillips delivers the best! To fans like me, for whom Carly Phillips is an auto-buy, it's really no surprise at all that this author has moved so much higher on the success ladder and is definitely poised to scale even greater heights in the future. With her new single title release, THE BACHELOR, Carly Phillips' name is right up there among the stars and definitely shining very brightly!
THE BACHELOR ~
Will this bad boy make it to the altar?
Foreign correspondent Roman Chandler has always prized his freedom above all else. Now losing a coin toss has sealed this youngest brother's fate. Finding someone to escort down the aisle is the easy part-every wannabe bride in sleepy Yorkshire Falls is itching to get hitched to this gorgeous, globe-trotting Chandler man. But Roman still lusts after the woman who got away. Stunning heartbreaker Charlotte Bronson has come home to put down roots and get her erotic lingerie business off the ground. She wants a man that won't go chasing off to the far corners of the earth for a breaking news story. He wants her to say "I do". Will she—or won't she? Can the love of the right woman transform a go-it-alone guy into a stick-around-forever kind of man?
The buzz about THE BACHELOR ~
"THE BACHELOR is everything you have come to expect with a Carly Phillips romance, but she has also shown that she has a talent for suspense ... Carly Phillips has long been a popular author and THE BACHELOR will not only make her fans happy, but will undoubtedly bring her many more new ones. THE BACHELOR is the perfect book to take with you to the beach or on vacation."
"THE BACHELOR, first in a trilogy by the talented Carly Phillips, is sure to please readers. The pages are filled with small town life, rich characterization and sizzling sexual tension. Fast-paced and filled with the passion, humor and warmth associated with Ms. Phillips's writing, THE BACHELOR is a stupendous beginning to what promises to be a mouthwatering and charming trilogy. I can't recommend this story highly enough. If you've loved Ms. Phillips's series books, THE BACHELOR is going to knock your socks off!"
"Phillips gives sensual friction and emotional introspection equal attention, the emotional chemistry between Roman and Charlotte ... simmers - while the sexual chemistry explodes. The first in a Chandler brothers trilogy, THE BACHELOR will encourage readers who enjoy dining on passion to pick up the next book--"
"...fun and fast-paced with a bit of everything -- intrigue, comedy, relationships and romance. For a satisfying read this summer, choose THE BACHELOR."
"Carly Phillips takes the reader on a fascinating journey with Roman and Charlotte as they work their way through the muddle of emotions they find themselves in. Carly writes a story that is light, funny - and very hot! You don't want to miss this first novel in her Warner Trilogy - THE BACHELOR. It will leave you panting for the other two novels in the trilogy - THE PLAYBOY and THE LONER."
"Not only is THE BACHELOR (4) an all around good story, the characters are real and worth rooting for. I enjoyed the bit of mystery with a panty thief on the loose and eagerly look forward to reading Roman’s brothers’ stories."
"Carly Phillips makes an impressive debut into single title contemporary romance with THE BACHELOR. By turns humorous, poignant, and passionate, this well-written, wonderfully wrought, thoroughly entertaining tale will garner Ms. Phillips legions of new fans -- all of whom will eagerly await the next two books in the Chandler Brothers trilogy."
"Carly Phillips always dazzles us with sparkling characters and unique storylines. THE BACHELOR is no exception!"
"Ms. Phillips gives her fans something extra in her scrumptious tales that makes them keeper status!"
Writing romance is a dream come true for me. Why you ask? What could be better than getting up in the morning, being home for my kids and once they're settled in school, walking right into my own office? I no longer travel to work, dress in suits or pen legal briefs. I'm an attorney, licensed to practice in both New York and Connecticut but no longer practice. I'm a strange breed - I loved law school and hated practicing law. Writing hot, sexy stories was never something I planned to do but it's a niche I've found and I'm grateful. My change in careers has taken many people by surprise, including friends who still can't reconcile the stay-at-home mom with the writer of sensual, boundary-pushing stories. I'm often asked where I get my ideas. What can I say? Life is full of inspiration. So instead of answering, I just grin. After all, the imagination is much more potent and arousing than anything I could say in response! But writing about love comes easy for me since I've been married to my college boyfriend for the past eleven years. Luckily he's grown used to the laughs and jokes about *research*!
Family is the most important thing in my life. I have a close relationship with both my mom and dad who've supported me always, even when I left law behind. It's those same positive values I hope to pass on to my children. I want them to know they can achieve anything if they work hard enough and stick with it.
I live in Purchase, New York with my husband, two young daughters and frisky Wheaton Terrier. My favorite pastime is reading and I'm an avid ABC Soap Opera fan.
I had a chance to catch up with Carly and chat about THE BACHELOR. While talking about the days she worked on her manuscript, Carly commented, "While brainstorming THE BACHELOR, I was talking on the phone with Janelle Denison and we were trying to come up with a different premise. She made a joke about a panty thief and we started to play what if. What if the hero were blamed? What if all the women in town wanted them in their beds? What if they were flashing their underwear at him while he walked down the street? Tears were streaming down my face by the time we were through, I was laughing so hard. And in my dedication, I wrote, "To Janelle Denison for her panty thief expertise." Janelle's gotten emails asking what in her past has given her that sort of knowledge.
THE BACHELOR was recently picked as the July selection by Kelly Ripa for her book club, Reading with Ripa. When I asked Carly how she felt when she first heard the news, she replied "Excited, floored, shocked, and completely overwhelmed! I screamed on the phone and let me tell you, I am not a screamer! But I'd sent the book in myself through my publicist and I never imagined anything truly coming of it. So now my life is just surreal!"
Please note autographed copies of THE BACHELOR are only available while supplies last so don't delay! Email me and find out where to send your SASE.
**Only one email entry per person please.**
Carly loves to hear from readers who enjoy her books so if you'd like to, please drop her a note at P.O. Box 483, Purchase, New York, 10577 or Email her.
Please keep in mind that my supply of autographed copies for THE BACHELOR is very limited and this opportunity won't last long! Grab your chance for a free copy of THE BACHELOR right now!! Email me now!
Happy Reading! | |||||||
To help Carly celebrate her latest success, I've got five copies of THE BACHELOR to share with readers at A CLOSER LOOK! If you'd like to receive a copy of this totally delicious book, along with some more goodies from Carly Phillips, please send me a SASE for $2.00 and I'll put it in the mail to you right away.
