ROMANCE EDITION

F E B R U A RY- M AY 2 0 1 3

Enjoy your free magazine subscription from the Harlequin Reader Service

B.J. DANIELS
SHARES THE SECRET TO CREATING INTERESTING CHARACTERS

MOMS THE WORD!

A SPECIAL MOTHERS DAY AUTHOR TALK

SPECIAL VALENTINES ISSUE:

OUR TOP ROMANTIC BOOKS OF 2012

PLUS! A FREE VALENTINES DAY NOVELLA

Contents

Editors Note

2 4 6 8

Robyn Carr introduces her NEW series

The Lure of THUNDER POINT Embracing the Disfunction Spring Reading Guide Raising the Stakes in Texas

B. J. Daniels fondness for flawed characters

A Harlequin Romance Suspense series The author discusses her new trilogy

10 Q & A with Christie Ridgway 12 Introducing Harlequin Kiss

A NEW romance series An exerpt from Pam Jenoffs new book

This spring issue of Simply Books

14 The Ambassadors Daugther

magazine comes from the heart. I hope it touches your heart as much as it touches mine. With Valentines Day just around the corner, this could possibly be our most romantic issue ever.
Inside, B.J. Daniels discusses her upcoming books and Robyn Carr gives us the inside scoop on her brand-new series. Theres a special Q&A with Christie Ridgway and an excerpt from Sherryl Woods latest book. Well introduce you to the new contemporary romance series appropriately called Harlequin KISS.

16 Pet Corner: Peanut the Rescue Dog 18 Sand Castle Bay

An exerpt from Sherryl Woods lastest

20 Steamy Romances for Valentines Day

A selection of great Valentine-themed reads

22 Moms the Word

Authors share fond memories of their Moms

24 Top 10 Romantic Books of 2012

26 The Real Secret Behind Weight Loss
An exerpt from The Virgin Diet by J.J.Virgin

28 Series Spotlight

Harlequin Historical 29 His Cowgirl Valentine

Your FREE Harlequin Romance Novella

As a special treat for Mothers Day, we asked some of our authors to talk about mothers and grandmothers. They discuss what they enjoy about being a mother or grandmother and shared moving memories about their own mothers and grandmothers. Plus, well introduce you to Peanut, a very special dog in this issues Pet Corner. And, weve included two very special reading liststhe top ten romance books of 2012 and a Valentines Day romance round up. So, Happy Valentines Day, Happy Mothers Day and...

45 Bonus Bucks Catalog 54 Meet the Customer Service

Representative

55 Book Order Form 56 The Last Word

Happy Reading,

Mary Ann MacKenzie

The Lure of

THUNDER POINT
Introducing the new series from #1 New York Times bestselling author Robyn Carr

Robyn Carrs new THUNDER

POINT series is something she and I have been talking about and planning for many months. We talked about location ideas and character studies and story lines. But most of all, we talked about wanting to develop a new series that would contain all the things that Robyn is known for: emotional writing, sexy heroes, lots of humor and a great sense of community. I think she has delivered in spades. I hope you enjoy The Wanderer, the first book in the THUNDER POINT series. I have a feeling you will be spending a lot of time in Thunder Point in the months and years ahead. Happy Reading! Valerie Gray, Executive Editor, Harlequin MIRA Books 2

Dear Reader,
Sometimes a man has to accept certain things about himself and for Hank Cooper, his reality was that hed never stayed in one place for long. In fact, since leaving home at the age of nineteen, his longest stint in one place was with the army as a helicopter pilot, and that was saying something, given the fact that the brass in the army seemed to stay up nights looking for excuses to transfer people. But Cooper never minded thathe usually felt restless about a week after getting to a new place. He wasnt the settling-down type; he even pulled a fifth wheel so his very life was lived on wheels. Cooper liked being flexible and ready to roll. Its with exactly that philosophy that he went to attend to the unfinished business of a recently deceased friend and found himself camping out on the ridge

above a still, dark bay on the Oregon coast. From where he sat outside his trailer he could see a small, ordinary town, a long and peaceful beach, a little marina filled mostly with fishing boats and, beyond the bay peppered with tall, haystack rock formations, the crashing, frothing Pacific Ocean. Picturesque, but nothing spectacular. Until storms over the Pacific rolled into the bay, then it was like one of the seven wonders. Cooper had traveled the world. Hed seen beauty in every corner and it had only inspired him to look further. He was a rolling stone and had reached the age of thirty-seven without putting down roots. He had no bills or obligations and life was easy, just as he liked it. Cooper met a deputy who was the law of the town, a man driven to keep a quiet place safe and peaceful. There was a young single mother who served him his breakfast at a little diner who knew everyone and how each one of them liked their eggs. A search-and-rescue pilot who looked more suited for a modeling career, and a teenage boy who was too alone. The town, so ordinary and unaffected, was populated by people who seemed to fit together like the last two pieces of a puzzle. And something bizarre began to happen, something that had never happened to him before. They began to draw him in despite the fact that he was ready to move on. Something snagged at his heart, something he was more than ready to resist. A kindhearted town, a beautiful woman, a fatherless boy. A heart-stopping view. Feelings of responsibility; feelings of desire. In his mind he heard, Run Cooper, run. And he thoughtTomorrow I leave. He knew he couldnt stay because he never had. But that little town and its people tugged at him. The town is called Thunder Point, and youd never know to look at it that dreams are built there.

See you there. Bring your dreams.

THE WANDERER IS AVAILABLE IN APRIL!
To learn more about Robyn Carr, visit www.RobynCarr.com. Visit www.ReaderService.com/SimplyBooksExtra to read an excerpt from The Wanderer. 3

Christie
Q&A WITH

RIDGWAY
Christie Ridgway opens
and the characters of the Beach House No. 9 trilogy.
emergency emails landed in my in-box overnightand then I slip on headphones up about what inspired her to to listen to the current books playlist and start writing, her morning routine, return to the story in my head.

You started writing your own romantic stories as a young girl, but it wasnt until much later that you decided to pursue your dream of being a published author. What or who inspired you to start writing?
After working in the tech industry for a number of years, I stayed home to care for my first son and immersed myself in reading romances during naptime. One of my best friends from high school came to visit, saw what I was reading and asked why I wasnt writing those books, since Id always aspired to do just that. It was the nudge I needed. Two weeks later Id joined a local chapter of Romance Writers of America and I was invited into a critique group right away. There was no looking back! I was on my way to my dream job.

What inspired the BEACH HOUSE NO. 9 trilogy? I imagine, living in California, theres no shortage for inspiration.
The original inspiration was just the words Beach House No. 9, reminiscent of the song Love Potion No. 9, floating into my head. I was working on something else at the time, so I wrote the phrase down and pinned the paper to the bulletin board in my office. It stayed there for a couple of years, waiting for me to find the exact place to set my beach house. I call it Crescent Cove, but its very much like the real-life Crystal Cove in Southern California. Its now a state park and is a great place to visit for the day, or even overnight in some of the refurbished bungalows.

When starting a new trilogy, is it more or less daunting knowing there are characters and plots to be explored later in following books?
Its definitely worrisome! I live in fear Ill paint myself into a corner, because as Im writing the first book, I dont know every detail of the second and third. But its amazing how a casual insertion in book one turns out to be an important point that I didnt see coming. For example, that

When and where do you most like to write?

Im a morning person! I like to get up early and head downstairs to my cozy office. A few rituals to get goingfeed the pets, make coffee, check that no 10

silent movies were filmed at Crescent Cove in the 1920s was something I knew about the real Crystal Cove and so I put that in the first book, merely as a colorful piece of history. But it became important to the plots of the succeeding stories.

Do you have a favorite character? Is there a character you relate to more than the others?
Oh, boy. Can I just name my favorite child instead? Im going to go a little off the grid here and say my heart really went out to the secondary characters of Beach House No. 9, Tess and David. But the wounded heroes of the trilogy Griffin, Vance and Gageare the kind of tough-on-the-outside, tender-on-theinside men that I adore. The heroines Jane, Layla and Skyeall have wry senses of humor and spines of steel. Id love to have lunch with them.

a song before we married!). Hes the type of man who gives you what you need, such as the birthday when I received a brown paper bag full of greasy car parts. What hed given me was a tune-up and those were the pieces hed replaced. So I was surprised a few years ago to discover a stash of cards he had, filled with loving words in a feminine handmy loving words. Hes saved all the cards Ive given him throughout our marriage.

What are you working on next?

Another book set in California, of course! Im a native Californian and its my pleasure to share with readers the unique beauty of my state, from the wildflower-filled deserts to the tree-covered mountains to the long, golden stretches of sand.

BEACH HOUSE NO. 9 IS AVAILABLE NOW! LOOK FOR BUNGALOW NIGHTS With Valentines Day just around the IN MARCH AND THE LOVE SHACK corner, one cant help but reflect on IN APRIL! their favorite romantic memory. This month, visit www.ReaderService.com/SimplyBooksExtra What is yours?
Speaking of tough-on-the-outside, tender-on-the-inside, my husband isnt a great romantic (though he did write me
to read an excerpt from Beach House No. 9. For more information about Christie Ridgway visit www.christieridgway.com.

11 11

PET

PEANUT
THE RESCUE DOG
Hi. My name is Mary and Ive
worked at the Harlequin Reader Service for twenty-five years now. My friends here asked me to share the story of Peanut the Rescue Dog. Until last fall my pack consisted of me, my lovely husband, John, and our two dogs, Barney and Sacha. At eighteen, it wasnt surprising that Sacha was slowly fading until one morning we awoke to find that she had passed away during the night. It was very sad but we had the pleasure of knowing that we had given her as much joy as she gave us. And the silver lining was that Barney, our thirteen-year-old youngster could now have our full time and attention. He had been so great about the adjustments that came with having a senior sister, and now it was his time. And so the next week was filled with longer, faster walks and accompanying my husband on his errands. And a routine visit to the vet for a consultation about something minor. Being thorough, our vet gave Barney a nose-to-tail look. How long has Barneys eye been like this? Then began a whirlwind of visits to specialists until, ten days later, the shocking news that Barney had an inoperable tumor, and the prognosiseight good months. And then, worse still, Barneys condition 16 progressed rapidly and two weeks later we had lost Barney, too. I was in shock. Thank goodness for my wonderful friends here at the Harlequin Reader Service. They were so supportive and understanding. And I sure needed it. As well as my feelings of loss, I felt the burden of knowing that we could have given Barney more. A few weeks later my husband asked me about what type of dog I thought we should get. He had been diligently researching various breeds and keeping me informed about their different qualities. I reminded him of my theory of Dog Kismetthat somehow the right dog finds the right owner. John agreed with me. Hed seen it happen many times. But how, he asked, was Dog Kismet supposed to happen if I didnt start to look. Do

Corner:

you think theyre just going to phone you? The next day the phone rang. A rescue organization had contacted our vet about a seven-month-old puppy that needed a home. And our vet thought of us. One look at Peanut and I knew that our dog had found us. Over the next week, as we spent time together, I noticed something. Was it simply my wishful thinking? It wasnt just me. Our vet had noticed it too. You know, she said, its as if Peanut is a combination of Sacha and Barney. Yes. She has Sachas intelligence and all of Barneys heart and sweetness. I had been given a second chance. Thats when I realizedPeanut IS a rescue dog. She rescued me. Mary Abthorpe, Director, New Member Acquisition and Retention P.S. All of our dogs have had their quirks. Peanut is a bird-watcher. Not to chase. Just to look at and admire. In the picture of Peanut and her chicken friends, you can see from the chickens expression the interest is mutual.

Wed love to hear from you! Send us your pet story and well feature it in the Pet Corner on the Reader Service blog at www.ReaderService.com/SimplyBooksExtra or in an upcoming issue of Simply Books magazine. Email to: ReaderService@harlequin.com with Pet Corner as the subject. Or U.S. Residents Canadian Residents mail to: mail to: Pet Corner Pet Corner 3010 Walden Ave., 225 Duncan Mill Road, P.O. Box 9048 Don Mills, Ontario Buffalo, NY 14240-9048 M3B 3K9

17

Sand Castle Bay

New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author Sherryl Woods takes readers to the North Carolina coast with a new family and her trademark heartfelt emotions.

ENJOY THIS EXCERPT FROM

Of course Samantha would beat the storm! Emily couldnt seem to

again unless they were a lot smarter when they did the repairs after the last storm. Hows Grandmother? Cora Jane Castle was in her mid-seventies, but still going strong and determined to continue operating the beachfront restaurant opened by her late husband even though no one in the family had demonstrated any interest in running it. In Emilys view, she ought to sell it and enjoy her golden years, but the mere mention of such an idea was considered blasphemy. Stoic about the storm, but mad as a wet hen that Dad drove over and picked her up to bring her to Raleigh to ride out the hurricane, Gabi assessed. Shes in my kitchen cooking and muttering a few very bad words I had no idea she knew. I think thats why Dad dropped her here, then took off. He didnt want to be around when she got her hands on my knives. Or it could be he had no idea what to say to her. Thats his way, isnt it? Emily said with a hint of bitterness. Under the best of conditions, her father, Sam, wasnt communicative. Under the worst, he simply wasnt around. Most of the time shed made her peace with that, but

stop herself from frowning. Though shed never totally understood it, the odd competitiveness shed always felt with her oldest sister kicked in with a vengeance. She supposed with three sisters, there were bound to be rivalries, but why with Samantha and not Gabi? Gabi was the driven, successful businesswoman, the one most like her in terms of ambition. Im getting on a flight out of here tonight, Emily said determinedly, motivated by Samanthas plans. If I have to drive from Atlanta, then thats what Ill do.  ather than admonishing her, Gabi R chuckled. Samantha said you were going to say that. From the time you understood the difference between winning and losing, you hated it when she beat you at anything. Okay, fine. Get here when you can. Just do it safely. This storm isnt looking pretty. If it wobbles even the slightest bit to the west, Nags Head will take a direct hit. You can bet the road down to Hatteras will wash out 18

on occasion simmering resentments rose to the surface. He has work to do, Gabi said, immediately defensive, as always. Important work. Do you know the kind of impact these biomedical studies at his company could have on peoples lives? I wonder how many times he said exactly we all are of your accomplishments. that to Mother when he went off and left Youre a top executive at one of the her to cope with raising us. hottest biomed companies in North For once Gabi didnt overreact. It was Carolina, if not the entire country. a constant refrain, wasnt it? Well, were all grown up. We should be over all those I know. You just struck a nerve, thats missed school plays and recitals and soccer all, Gabi said, then added briskly. Let me know when youre getting in and Ill games by now. pick you up at the airport, okay? Says the not-so-well-adjusted woman Before Emily could offer another whos doing her best to follow in his apology for what had obviously been an footsteps, Emily taunted with good insensitive, ill-timed remark, Gabriella had humor. You know youre no better hung up. Not with the sort of clatter that than he is, Gabriella. You may not be a scientist, but you are a workaholic. Thats would mirror Emilys own quick flares of temper, but quietly. Somehow that was why you get so uptight when I criticize much, much worse. him. The silence that greeted her comment was Copyright 2013 by Sherryl Woods deafening. Gabi, I was only teasing, SAND CASTLE BAY Emily apologized, aware that shed crossed IS AVAILABLE IN APRIL! a line. Seriously. You know how proud 19

Real Secret
THE
Earlier this year, as part of a company-wide

BEHIND WEIGHT LOSS

challenge, I tried The Virgin Diet. By day 4, I felt more energetic and less stressed and within one week, I lost 5 pounds. So Im particularly happy to share this excerpt with you. In the book, JJ Virgin explains that many common issuesweight gain, bloating, fatigue and joint painare caused by food intolerance. Shes helped thousands of people feel better with her customizable program and now its your turn to feel the benefits. I hope you enjoy and I wish you happy reading and the best of health.
Sarah Pelz, Senior Editor, Harlequin Nonfiction Books An excerpt from The Virgin Diet by JJ Virgin, CNS, CHFS If you wanted to be your skinniest self and to follow the healthiest diet in the world, what would you eat? Egg-white veggie omelets? Greek-style nonfat yogurt? Whey protein shakes? That sounds like the regimen famous trainers and A-list stars follow, doesnt it? But what if I told you that Ive been a sought-after fitness and nutrition expert for over two decades and worked with thousands of clients, including some of Hollywoods hottest bodies? And what if I told you what I told them, which is that many of these supposedly healthy foods could actually be making you fat? calories. It isnt fat. It isnt protein. It isnt even carbs. You can count them and cut them all you want, but you wont lose weight if youre eating foods that your body cant handle. The key to weight loss is avoiding and overcoming food intolerance.

Food intolerance is a series of physiological responses that your body has to certain types of food. They arent the same as allergies. Food-intolerance symptoms vary from person to person, but the most common include bloating, gas, indigestion, fatigue, mental fog, irritability, moodinessand weight gain. If youre Well, thats exactly what I am going to eating foods that your body cant tolerate, tell you. So listen up, because Im about youre likely to gain weight, feel crummy, to share the secret to weight loss. It isnt and look years older than your actual age. 26

Maybe your daily diet is stressing your body through its high content of sugar, artificial sweeteners, and processed foods, which tend to contain lots of soy, corn, and gluten. Or perhaps youve maintained a seemingly healthy regimen, but have never realized that all your healthy efforts are being sabotaged by foods that commonly cause food intolerance like yogurt (even nonfat), eggs (even Omega-3-rich), and grains (even whole). Either way, if you weigh more than youd like and look older than youd prefer, you are most likely struggling with food intolerances. How can you tell? Let me ask you what I ask my clients:

Have you tried unsuccessfully to lose weight? Is what you used to do to lose weight no longer working? Are you a yo-yo dieter? Do you frequently experience discomfort after Are you feeling and looking older than you should?
If the answer to even one of these questions is yes, youve likely been eating too many High-FI foods, or problem foods that are likely to trigger food intolerance. Whats the solution? Stop eating High-FI foods and replace them with Low-FI foods: foods that are unlikely to trigger food intolerance. If you can cut out the top 7 High-FI foods for just three weeks, youll see weight loss and beauty results that will have you looking and feeling terrific. Hey, if those old low-fat, low-carb, or high-protein diets had worked for you in the past, youd already be at your ideal weight and peak vitality, right? Theres a reason that approach to food doesnt workand theres a reason that the Virgin Diet does.
Copyright 2012 by JJ Virgin

eatingbloating, gas, indigestion?

THE VIRGIN DIET IS AVAILABLE NOW!

For more information about JJ Virgin and The Virgin Diet, visit www.JJVirgin.com. For a recipe from the book, visit www.ReaderService.com/SimplyBooksExtra.

27