even if society is desperate to call on his skills to solve scandalous crimes. There’s a great mystery plot featuring skulduggery and murder, and low doings in high places. The second book, WHEN GODS DIE, spends less time on the romance but the love story is still a powerful element. It’s fascinating to see the threads established in the first book becoming more and more tangled as St. Cyr juggles the opposing demands of his desire and his duty.

There’s a richness about these stories that’s difficult to convey in a short review. The historical background is vital to the plot so the characters act in a convincing, detailed world that breathes Regency atmosphere. There’s humor and suspense and deep feeling. And the characters have real, substantial conflicts that can’t be…

The Wrap-Up!

Firstly huge apologies that I didn’t get back to blog at the conference. I thought the first two days were busy – until I struck the last two days!

Friday I was on the go all day. Highlights included the Avon free book session where I’m delighted to say I met a whole stack of people and my books sold out. I hope people can read my awful scrawl in the front of their books – I had to write FAST! Then there was Connie Brockway’s wonderful speech at lunchtime where she told us quite sincerely that all romance writers were superheroes! Hmm, not sure underwear on the outside is the look I want, but I’ll try, CB, I’ll try! In the afternoon, I caught up with one of my…

Actually that’s a completely inaccurate heading because, while I’m slightly hungover, it’s definitely tomorrow!

Thursday night is party night at the conference. It’s when a lot of the chapters have their get-togethers and their prize ceremonies and people generally let their hair down. I managed to make four parties which was great, although I think even I have reached my margarita tolerance! How sad – nobody makes a margarita like an American. Perhaps I should just slide one of the waiters into my suitcase to take home as my personal bar man!

First party was an Avon get-together which was great fun. Margaritas! I sat at a table with Susan Elizabeth Phillips so did my usual fangirl squeal and terrified the poor woman to death. Oh, well, can you blame me? It…

Dauntless Roving Reporter Checks in! Hello, RNTVers! How are things? I wish you could all be here. It’s so exciting to have such great talent all together under one roof – and all, as you can imagine, TALKING! I seriously think the decibel level last night at the signing was higher than ten jet planes taking off at the same time!

I’ve been in San Francisco for a couple of days playing the tourist but last night I had to put on my writer hat. It was wonderful to meet all the readers, particularly when I was clutching two large blue flags saying ‘RITA finalist!’. In fact, I believe there may even be a photo or two where I pretend to be King Tut and cross them across my chest.…

Reviewed by Anna Campbell

Pamela Palmer was a Golden Heart finalist with me in 2006 and she’s great fun and a thoroughly good egg. So I really looked forward to reading the sexy paranormals she sold to Silhouette Nocturne.

Her first book in the Esri series, THE DARK GATE, was fantastic. Romantic, suspenseful and featuring one of the creepiest villains I’ve encountered in ages. I’ve just finished her second Esri book, DARK DECEIVER, and you know what? It’s even BETTER than THE DARK GATE. And that’s saying something!

I’m a sucker for stories where the hero is torn between the demands of honor and his love for the heroine. That duty/love conflict is such a powerful hook and it makes DARK DECEIVER a corker of a read.

In Esria, a parallel…

Your Scandalous Ways by Loretta Chase
Reviewed by Anna Campbell

WOW! What a book! Buy it! Read it! Tell your friends!

OK, that’s the May review done. What’s next? Cocktails? Cabana boys? A Mediterranean cruise?

What’s that, Marisa? You want MORE???!!! Sheesh!

Oh, OK, Miss M, but JUST for you, OK?

Loretta Chase is one of my all-time favorite authors and I think she’s one of the best writers ever to grace the romance genre. She has an unerring and unique ability to combine sparkling Regency wit and deeply heartfelt emotion in a blend richer than the best cup of coffee you ever tasted. So a new book from her is always an event in my world.

Then I heard her new story featured a courtesan heroine, a gorgeous half-Italian hero (shades…