Finally, my local appliance store was having an out of the box sale that was too good to pass up.  I took the day off and hustled down to the store before anyone else had an opportunity to scoop me.  While perusing the stainless steel miracles I ran into my neighbor who was replacing her 25-year-old stove that had recently cooked its last meal.  Being the polite neighbor, I stopped to say hello, and that was all she wrote.  Twenty five minutes later, I had a complete rundown of the “who and what” of the people who live within a 4 block radius of my house – divorces, marriages, babies, and businesses.  It was fascinating.

Since I had the day off, I thought I should take care of a few more errands that never seem to get done, but before I could put the key in my ignition I was stopped by my local bank manager who was waving a friendly hello and had that “Oh, have I got a story for you” look in her eyes.  Well, what was I to do?  I couldn’t pretend I hadn’t seen her – our eyes had already locked.  So I got out of my car and was regaled for the next thirty five minutes with the most fascinating stories of what’s been happening behind the scenes in our upcoming city council elections.

Once I extracted myself from the conversation I drove to Walter’s Upholstery Shop where I learned I that I could not only get a 10% discount on fabrics from Bunny down the road, but that my neighbor Mabel was also getting new slip covers.

Here’s the point – and it’s not a non-sequitur – I have daydreams every now and again of moving away from the hectic pace of New York City life and moving to a small town in Montana where everyone knows my name and there’s sense of community.  But it hit me – kinda like “I could’ve had a V8” – I already live in a small town and have a sense of community – and I think that’s exactly what attracts me to contemporary romances that revolve around ’small communities where everyone knows your name”.

In Bella Riley’s Home Sweet Home, the small town life of Emerald Lake beckons like a beacon.  This is an idyllic town with a capital I.  Set in upstate NY,  just a mere 2 hour drive from NYC with picturesque surroundings, it’s the kind of place that makes even the most harden NYC club hopping fashionista yearn for the ‘simple life’.  Everything about this town screams “I-am-the-brochure-cover-of-the-most-beautiful-lakeside-community-you’ve-ever-seen.”  But idyllic and beautiful weren’t what Andi Powell had in mind after graduation – her only desire was to move to NYC and grab the brass ring.

After making a splash in the real estate development market, her career was on an upward trajectory until the untimely death of her father.  The grief she suffered and then had to suppress, led to one failed deal after another.   When her last ditch pitch to build a condo community at Emerald Lake catches her boss’ interest, she finds herself in the position of having to sell the idea to the town – a town she hasn’t been a part of for ten years.  Getting the town’s agreement won’t  be easy, particularly when the Mayor is her first and only true love.

The author has created a novel that has a tenderness that captured this romance reader’s heart.  The townspeople are filled with a rich history that invites you in like a warm cup of cocoa on a brisk fall day.  The setting is perfect and the romance is sigh worthy.  This is the first in a series – and as I am a series-kinda-gal, I’m looking forward to the next installment in what to mind is a perfect romance.

Originally posted on the B&N Heart to Heart Blog.

I satisfied my need this week with Jill Shalvis.  I love this author.  She has a way of drawing me into a story and tugging on my heart.  She MAKES me fall in love with her characters.  In Animal Attraction  – the 2nd book in her new series, (did I say the word series? Yes! *fist pump*! )- tall, dark sexy Veterinarian Dell Connelly has what it takes to lure any animal into a giving state of mind.  He’s a whisperer, and his ability to talk to animals and make them feel calm, is the same ability he uses to make almost any human feel at ease.  He has all the attributes any woman would put on her this-is-the-man-I-must-have-a-serious relationship-with list.  Even his receptionist, Jade, the queen of lists, has a special note on her spreadsheet; “Stop thinking about Dell.”  But, like every other woman in Sunshine, Idaho, that’s next to impossible.  While Dell and Jade ‘dance’ around each other, we find they’re both hiding something and it’s preventing them from moving forward – in life and with each other.  Why has Jade run from her impressive job and salary in Chicago and settled at the Belle Haven Clinic in the middle of nowhere?  And why does Dell have a string of one-night stands with no hopes of ever having a relationship?  Animal Attraction isn’t as ‘neat’ as all that, there are a several layers and some very hot moments the reader has to get through before we discover what’s keeping these two from a happily ever after.

The hero has all the strength that’s come to define a romance hero – yet he has none of the hubris that turns me off.  He cares first, last and always, and that’s what makes his character irresistible.  Jade, the heroine, doesn’t have a spine at the start of book, but by the end, her backbone and her ability to love makes her the kind of woman I love to read about..

Animal Attraction will make you warm all over, and with two more books in the series it will have you wondering why the heck you haven’t packed up and moved to Sunshine, Idaho.

If you haven’t read Jill Shalvis before – you’ve got a whole lot of romance to fall in love with.

Original Article posted on the B&N Heart to Heart Blog.

One series I’ve yet to read is J.D. Robb’s In Death series – but I was curious so I read Marisa’s blog to find out more. What really surprised me were the comments. Almost everyone was raving about Marie Force’s Fatal Series – Fatal Affair , Fatal Justice, Fatal Consequences and the recently released novella Fatal Destiny; which by the way is now a free e-read for a limited time only

I haven’t read this series, but from the rave reviews I had to quickly download the first book to find out what everyone was talking about. It’s a romantic suspense series featuring Washington, D.C., Metro Police Detective, Sergeant Samantha “Sam” Holland and Nick Cappuano. After reading the blurbs for the later books I realize that Sam and Nick are the thread that holds the crimes/procedurals together; and as they deal with each crime their relationship grows. I’m so in on this one and can’t wait to start reading it.

I also got to thinking about all the other series that I haven’t read but that everyone raves about. I know – I’m opening myself up to the whole “What? You haven’t read that yet?” situation. But I’m going to be a big girl and openly admit – Hi, My name is Maria and I haven’t read:

Sherrilyn Kenyon’s Dark Hunter series – yes I’ve heard all about Ash and Simi and Nick –but I have no context. So when Marisa goes on and on about the immortal ancient warriors with 21st century attitudes who fight creatures that prey on mankind, ancient Gods and Goddesses who enjoy playing games with both the warriors and mortals, the quirky and fun characters, exciting action and interesting mythology, then even I’m thinking, ‘Why haven’t I read this series before?’

Another series Marisa is always going on about is Julia Quinn’s Bridgerton series; it’s one of her favorites. Of course she’s got all eight books and I made her cart them over to my house so that I could start reading The Duke and I. Now I can’t wait to find out about all the Bridgerton brothers and sisters, the Mallet of Death scene in the Viscount who Loved Me and of course the infamous Lady Whistledown.

I really enjoy Angela Knight’s Mageverse series but I’ve yet to read her Time Hunter series – which surprises the heck out me since I’m the go to ‘time travel girl’. So I’m definitely going to start with the first book in the series, Jane’s Warlord . I mean how can I resist a time traveling warrior sent back 300 years to protect an innocent from being killed by a time traveling murderer. I mean let’s face it, the very idea of going back in time to change the future is more then intriguing. Besides, it’s Angela Knight, and she knows how to tell a story.

Article originally published on the B&N Heart to Heart blog.

Don’t be alarmed, I haven’t totally lost my mind. You see, while I was reading Monica Martin’s book Out of Time , Marisa was sitting beside me furiously downloading a new app, and I happeed to ask her if she could find an app that would locate a real life romance hero?

In a romance it’s a pretty safe bet that the hero will be at least 6 feet tall, his eye color will range from blue, to green to grey and his hair color will either be black or sandy.  And we romance readers love them.  But there’s usually more to the man than the exterior. Often, when first introduced to a hero, we learn that he has a painful or troubled past, yet through all his pain and emotion he eventually becomes a man who has the inner strength to embrace his past, move on and learn to love. Now what if we could skip all the pain and angst and move right into the ‘perfect hero’? You know the onee, he usually appears about 10 pages before the HEA and if we’re lucky we get a glimpse of his continued perfection in the epilogue. What if there was an app for that?

The app would act as a ‘zapping machine”.  Zapping out all the undesirable qualities of the men we love?  Or better yet, an app to zap the men we love with the qualities of our favorite romance heroes. Now, that’s something I would even pay for.

The app would have to be tailor made for each reader. In a perfect world mine would allow my dream man to have the qualities of:

• Susan Brockmann’s heroes, who take out the garbage, do their own laundry, go to the market, cook dinner, and know a thing or two about saving the world.

• Or Lisa Kleypas’ heroes who shower their heroines with gifts, protect them from harm, and understand the importance of date night.

• Or a dose of Nora Roberts’ heroes who let the heroines have center stage – a trait I could fall in love with.

• Add in Angela Knight’s heroes who encourage their heroines to be themselves.

• And I wouldn’t mind if he had the sensibilities of Jodi Thomas’ heroes who have a soft spot that melt your heart like butter.

Come on now, they’re busy creating all manner ot downloads, do we really need another versions of Angry Birds?  Couldn’t they move on to inventing an app that would make the men we love a little bit more like the heroes we love. The app that finds the perfect man would be a serious money maker. And, if I was being altruistic, it would also make millions of women happy.

(Article originally posted at the B&N Heart to Heart Blog)

Contrary to popular belief NYC doesn’t just comprise the island of Manhattan, it is in fact made up of five boroughs; Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn, The Bronx and Staten Island – each with its own unique flavor and all within a bus, train or ferry ride away.

1. If you’re interested in a behind-the-scenes look at New York City the Mayor’s Office for Film, Theater and Broadcasting offers free do-it-yourself tours that give you an interesting perspective of Manhattan and films that have been shot here.

One tour takes place in Tribeca and is narrated by actor Julianna Margulies. Tribeca is a triangular section of the city located below Canal Street – hence the name TriBeCa (TRIangleBElowCAnal.) The tour features the locations for Ghostbusters, Saturday Night Live, Law & Order, Kramer vs. Kramer, Sophie’s Choice, Annie Hall, Mo Better Blues, City Hall, Spin City and others. After the tour you can enjoy visiting art exhibitions, shopping, or just having a glass of something-something at any number of restaurants in the area.

These tours are fun, and easy to access. Simply go their website and download the podcast and the maps and you’re on your way, this is a fun way to spend an afternoon – and for goodness sakes it’s free.

2. Interested in the medieval? Then The Cloisters is a must see – a treasure of art and architecture from the 12th – 15th century with a most remarkable garden. (Note: each plant, flower and herb is labeled indicating its specific use during medieval times.) While it’s located in the northern section of Manhattan, you feel as though you were hurled back through time and across the ocean. Created through an endowment grant by John D. Rockefeller, Jr. he also purchased the land across the river in NJ known as the Palisades so that no modern structures would be erected, giving visitors the feeling they are actually in medieval times.

3. Another free recommendation is a trip on the Staten Island Ferry. Say what? Staten Island? Why? Well in addition to being a free ride,  films such as Working Girl, A Beautiful Mind, Donnie Brasco and Splendor in the Grass were shot in Staten Island. You actually don’ t have to spend any time there – you just need to take the wonderful ferry ride giving you great views of the Statue of Liberty without having to pay large sums of money or having to stand in line with every other tourist that comes to New York that week. Besides, it’s a long climb to the top or the Statue, where as riding the ferry gives you a bird’s eye view with a front row seat and nice breeze. Bring a picnic lunch and spend an hour riding back and forth – it’s a NY experience.

4. If you’re a foodie (and really who isn’t?) might I suggest taking a trip to the Bronx. The Arthur Avenue Market in The Bronx features delectable food stores and restaurants – from meat, to fish, to pastries. It’s also happens to be a hop, skip and a jump away from The Bronx Zoo and the Botanical Gardens. You can eat at Umberto’s Sea Food restaurant, or just stop and have an espresso with fabulous pastries, or do what many do; stand outside Randazzo’s Seafood and eat freshly shucked raw clams. I love it, and it’s a wonderful experience listed on many culinary tour guides. Google Arthur Avenue restaurants and you’ll have your pick.

5. So you want to see a Broadway show, but the tickets are priced in a range that could feed a family of four for the week. Try TKTS. Half priced tickets. If you don’t mind, not knowing what show you’ll see until the very last minute, it’s a great way to enjoy a New York only experience at half the price.

Here’s a sample of just a few of the shows that were available at TKTS last week: Anything Goes, Arcadia , Baby It’s You! ,Bengal Tiger At The Baghdad Zoo, Billy Elliot, Born Yesterday, Catch Me If You Can, Chicago, Cirque Du Soleil, Ghetto Klown, How To Succeed…, Jersey Boys, Jerusalem, Memphis, Sister Act, The Addams Family, The Normal Heart, Spider-Man

6. Cathedral of St. John The Divine. You really need to put this on your list if only for the fact that they’ve been working on building it for over 100 years. Amazing, no? It’s still not finished, yet the architecture is remarkable. If you take the Vertical tour you’ll climb 124 feet through spiral staircases to the top of the world’s largest cathedral. Get a close look at the magnificent stained glass windows and study the grand architecture while standing on a buttress. Personally, I think it’s worth the trip.

7. Glee fans – if you watched the finale you’ll know they shot several scenes at Lincoln Center. Well, it looks better in person and as a Juilliard graduate, I’m partial to the place – but as a visitor to NYC, it’s a must see. It’s been recently redesigned and the space is impressive. Take the time, spend the money and get the tour, or at least take a look at the fabulous Chagall’s hanging in the Metropolitan Opera house.

We hope you have a fabulous conference and here’s to a great time in New York City!