Harlequin asked us, along with DearAuthor, to select a few of our favorite books for a limited-time only sale. LIKE WE WOULD SAY NO TO THAT, right?
The biggest problem was narrowing down our list once we started picking out titles. We wanted to feature titles in as many genres and category lines as possible, and some titles that everyone should own because, well, little lizard, you deserve a highly sexed man. We are so excited about this sale, and we’re trying our best not to let the rush of power go to our heads. Any and all of these books would make a lovely gift for a reader you know, too. The sale runs from 10 February until 15 February, so shop early, and shop often!
Stop by Harlequin’s blog for their post about the Smart Bitches/Dear Author’s Valentine’s Day, plus a lead on some of the other books on sale this week!
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Act Like It
Act Like It by Lucy Parker is 99c! Sarah says, “I mean, I could squee at you some MORE beyond my review but I think you’ve heard me already. I loved this book. You should read it. It’s delightful.”
This just in: romance takes center stage as West End theatre’s Richard Troy steps out with none other than castmate Elaine Graham
Richard Troy used to be the hottest actor in London, but the only thing firing up lately is his temper. We all love to love a bad boy, but Richard’s antics have made him Enemy Number One, breaking the hearts of fans across the city.
Have the tides turned? Has English rose Lainie Graham made him into a new man?
Sources say the mismatched pair has been spotted at multiple events, arm in arm and hip to hip. From fits of jealousy to longing looks and heated whispers, onlookers are stunned by this blooming romance.
Could the rumors be right? Could this unlikely romance be the real thing? Or are these gifted stage actors playing us all?
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Back to the Good Fortune Diner
Back to the Good Fortune Diner by Vicki Essex is 99c! Sarah says, “This was a Book Club pick, and at the time I think more than a few readers were surprised by how much emotion can be found in the SuperRomance line. The heroine, Tiffany Cheung, finds herself laid off and evicted, and has to move home to a small town in upstate New York, where her family is not really pleased to have her back. There are so many layers to this story. I still think about this book – and that’s a good thing!”
Everville, New York—it’s the town where Tiffany Cheung grew up, and the last place she wants to be. But after losing her job in Manhattan, that’s exactly where she finds herself. Worse, she’s working at her family’s Chinese diner and feeling like the outsider she once was. The only bright side is that Chris Jamieson, the boy she used to tutor, is still around. Her high school crush is hotter than ever, and he needs her help…again.
Tutoring Chris’s son is the perfect temporary job. Except, Chris finally seems interested in her—and is hinting about a less temporary arrangement. Talk about bad timing! Because Tiffany’s not staying and nothing will stop her from getting back to her real life. But maybe what’s real is about to change….
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Sex, Straight Up
Sex Straight Up by Kathleen O’Reilly is 99c! Sarah says, “Anyone who sniffs downward at Harlequin gets this recommendation. The conflict is pretty simple: the hero is a 9/11 widower, and so the entire nation won’t let him forget his wife, even when he might want to move on.”
She also has a stellar review of the book, where she gave it an A-.
Meeting a handsome loner on a deserted beach in the Hamptons was like being hit by lightning. One steamy weekend in bed with Daniel O’Sullivan and Catherine Montefiore was marvelously woozy from a delicious cocktail of sun, sand and superhot sex.
Abruptly, though, Catherine’s forty-eight hours of fun are at an end when her family’s exclusive auction house is hit by a very public scandal. She’s ready to step in and save the day, but she’s hoping Daniel, her hot Irish hunk, will lend a hand. After all, he’s got the necessary skills and, straight up or not, Catherine wants another long drink of Daniel before another forty-eight hours are up and her legacy is lost forever!
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Chain Reaction
Chain Reaction by Zoe Archer is 99c! Carrie says, “Zoe Archer’s science fiction romance feature hardboiled women warriors who are funny, tough, and sexy, and men who are their equals. Chain Reaction is one of the first science fiction romance novels I read, and it’s still so much fun!”
Elite 8th Wing pilot Celene Jur was taken captive after a mysterious device temporarily disabled her ship’s controls. Three solar months later, when Celene receives intel on the man who built the device, she’s ready to get the bastard. Only problem is, the higher-ups think her mission partner should be Nils Calder, a tech-head who can understand the disabling device. The attraction between them is electric, but Celene needs a soldier who can watch her back as she exacts her revenge.
Nils knows his department is nicknamed NerdWorks. Pilots like Celene think the closest tech geeks come to combat is all-night Nifalian chess tournaments. But behind the NerdWorks insignia on his sleeve Nils is an able fighter, ready to prove himself and gain Celene’s trust.
The desire between them is unexpected, but with the fate of thousands hanging in the balance, the hotshot pilot and the tech genius must succeed in their mission—no matter the cost.
43,000 words
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Deep Deception
Deep Deception by Cathy Pegau is 99c! Carrie says, “This book is a f/f noir with characters who are deceptive by necessity but straightforward by nature, a contradiction that allows for plenty of tension and excitement. It’s a smart romance in which the futuristic setting is grounded by the realistic characters.”
Colonial Mining Authority agent Natalia Hallowell doesn’t always play by the rules, but she wouldn’t compromise a case either. Put on administrative leave under a cloud of accusation, with no support from her boss, Natalia seeks a little anonymous companionship at her favorite bar. But she’s surprised when the woman who catches her fancy starts buying her drinks.
Desperate, Genevieve “Gennie” Caine had no choice but to seduce, drug and tie Natalia to the bed to get her attention. With the Reyes Corporation after something she has, Gennie needs Natalia to open an investigation and distract them long enough for her to get off Nevarro.
Natalia doesn’t trust Gennie—despite the growing attraction between them—but the corporation’s suspiciously high profits convince her that they must be hiding something. But she has no idea just how deep the deceptions run….
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His Road Home
His Road Home by Anna Richland is 99c! Carrie says, “I’ll never stop raving about this contemporary, in which a disabled Mexican American vet and a Korean American marine biologist go on a Thanksgiving road trip. There’s a lot of serious content, and you’re going to cry, but it’s also matter-of-fact, sexy, and funny.”
Special Forces medic Rey Cruz needs to find a fiancée, fast, or he’ll end up in a marriage orchestrated by an Afghan warlord. Finding a picture online of a girl he barely knew back home, he fakes an engagement photo, thinking no one else will see it. But when Rey loses both legs and the ability to speak while rescuing a local boy, the image goes viral.
Seattle marine biologist Grace Kim is shocked to find out she’s engaged. When she’s offered a plane ticket to visit her “fiancé,” she takes it, looking for the answer to one question: Why did he lie? Touched by Rey’s funny texts and the determination she sees in him, Grace offers her friendship—a big step for someone who prefers whales to most company.
And when Rey is finally sent home, Grace agrees to help him drive his classic car cross-country over Thanksgiving—a once-in-a-lifetime road trip that leads to what feels like real love. In front of his friends and family, she plays the caring fiancée, but what place will Grace have in Rey’s new life once he’s ready to be on his own again?
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The Superheroes Union: Dynama
The Superheroes Union: Dynama by Ruth Diaz is 99c! Carrie recommended this one, saying, “This f/f novella about a Latina bisexual superheroine, who juggles being a superhero with being a single mom, had me from the very first scene, in which she’s interrupted in the middle of a battle with a bipedal shark by a call from the school office telling her to come pick up her sick kid. The story has some problems with logic and logistics, but it’s portrayal of complex women in a world in which superheroes are beset with problems both mundane and unusual is fun and touching.”
What if your evil ex really was evil?
TJ Gutierrez used to be a superhero. But after the birth of her twins seven years ago, she hung up the yellow spandex. Until the day her archenemy and ex-husband, Singularity, breaks out of prison. When it becomes clear he’s after the kids, she’s forced to call the nanny helpline—and once again become…Dynama!
Annmarie Smith doesn’t have a superpower. She saves the world by keeping kids safe while their parents fight evil.
She temporarily moves in with TJ, and the way the magnetic mama puts family first captures Annmarie’s respect, and maybe her heart—even though she knows better than to fall for a superhero. Still, it’s hard to resist their wicked chemistry. Kapow!
But they can only hide from the world for so long. When Singularity’s quest for custody puts the kids’ lives in danger, can the two women conquer the evil villain and save TJ’s family—all before their first date?
34,000 words
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Hunted
Hunted by Elizabeth Heiter is $1.99! Elyse says, “The first book in The Profiler series introduces us to Evelyn Baine, an FBI agent who hunts serial killers while trying to solve a mystery from her past. The suspense is creepy (think Criminal Minds), but Heiter adds a romantic subplot to balance it out. I love that Evelyn totally misses all the signals her hot Hostage Rescue Team member is giving her about how much he’s crushing on her.”
Terror stalks a small Virginia town.
FBI rising star, criminal profiler Evelyn Baine, knows how to think like a serial killer. But she’s never chased anyone like the Bakersville Burier, who hunts young women and displays them, half-buried, deep in the woods. As the body count climbs, Evelyn’s relentless pursuit of the killer puts her career – and her life – at risk. And the evil lurking in the Burier’s mind may be more than even she can unravel.
Terror is closer than she thinks.
The Bakersville Burier knows he’s got an FBI profiler on his trail. He knows who she is and where to find her. And he’s biding his time, because he’s planned a special punishment for Evelyn. She may have tracked other killers, but he vows to make this her last chase. This time it’s her turn to be hunted!
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Hidden Impact
Hidden Impact by Piper J. Drake is 99c! Not only should you check out Elyse’s recent review, but here’s what she had to say:
The first book in the Safeguard series is everything I like in romantic suspense–over-the-top heroes, international espionage, things blowing up, but no real threat of violence (physical or sexual) to the main characters. It’s popcorn action movie suspense, lots of fun but no real darkness. Plus the heroine is a chef and OMG this book will make you hungry.
He’s not the hero she’s looking for…
As part of the elite Centurion Corporation team, military-veteran-turned-mercenary Gabriel Diaz is a natural defender. He’ll do anything to ensure a mission is successful. Anything but get emotionally invested—he learned the hard way that can be deadly. Easy bodyguard jobs in between the more challenging missions are all he’s interested in now.
Maylin Cheng is desperate and running out of time. Her younger sister has gone missing but no one seems to take her concern seriously. Her last hope lies in asking an aloof bodyguard for help. He dismisses her outright, but all that changes when she is almost killed in a not-so-accidental hit-and-run right before his eyes.
As Maylin leans on Gabriel, she begins to rely on him for more than just her safety. But as their attraction grows, so does the danger surrounding them. When the elaborate web they’re trapped in unravels, Gabriel will do anything to protect them. Even if that means putting his heart in the crosshairs.
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The Playboy Sheikh’s Virgin Stable-Girl
The Playboy Sheikh’s Virgin Stable-Girl by Sharon Kendrick is 99c! C’mon, of course we were going to include this. It’s a part of Smart Bitches history!
Sarah: Because, little lizard, you must read this book. You must! Trust us on this.
RHG: The review of this book is one of the things that brought me back to SBTB.
Polo-playing sheikh Prince Kaliq Al’Farisi loves his women as much as his horses. They’re wild, willing, and he’s their master!
Stable girl Eleni is a local Calistan. Raised by her brutal father on the horse-racing circuit, she feels unlovable. When her precious horses are given to Sheikh Kaliq, she refuses to be parted from them.
The playboy sheikh is determined to bed Eleni–and when Kaliq realizes she’s a virgin, the challenge only becomes more interesting….
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Radio Silence
Off the Grid by Alyssa Cole is 99c! Carrie reviewed this book last April. Redheadedgirl also said, “Based on a rec from Courtney Milan, this is set during an apocalyptic event with a we-all-need-to-work-together and try not to go nutty from the isolation plot – it’s tight, tense, and really good.”
No one expects the apocalypse.
Arden Highmore was living your average postgrad life in Rochester, New York, when someone flipped the “off” switch on the world. No cell phones, no power, no running water—and no one knows why. All she and her roommate, John, know for sure is that they have to get out, stat. His family’s cabin near the Canadian border seemed like the safest choice.
It turns out isolation doesn’t necessarily equal safety.
When scavengers attack, it’s John’s ridiculously handsome brother, Gabriel, who comes to the rescue. He saves Arden’s life, so he can’t be all bad…but he’s also a controlling jerk who treats her like an idiot. Now their parents are missing and it seems John, Gabriel, their kid sister, Maggie, and Arden are the only people left alive who aren’t bloodthirsty maniacs.
No one knows when—or if—the lights will come back on and, in the midst of all that, Arden and Gabriel are finding that there’s a fine line indeed between love and hate. How long can they expect to last in this terrifying new world, be it together or apart?
Book one of Off the Grid
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RIP budget.
I absolutely adore being able to shop a book sale. Nothing better.
Oops that really is a budget killing list. Especially since I am in Europe and the sale is US only :-). I managed to curb my buying some and added most of it to my wishlist.
My one-click finger and book budget are going to suffer today…
I cannot recommend His Road Home or Act Like It enough. Especially His Road, it’s one of my favorite books. Those two slay me every time I read it, and it’s become one of my comfort reads since I first got my hands on it around 2 years ago.
Although the first book in Those Sexy O’Sullivans Blaze Series by Kathleen O’Reilly was only meh for me, the second one raved about here Sex Straight Up is one of my all time Favourite Reads, and I also Loved the third book in the series Nightcap.
Other Harlequin Blaze recommendations that are steamy, romantic and witty and are on my All Time Favourites List: Lesley Kelly’s Santori series, Slow Ride by Carrie Alexander, Daytime Divas series by Sarah Mayberry, Pleasure to the Max by Cami Dalton and Ms Match by Jo Leigh. Enjoy and Happy Valentines Day…
One of those days when I wish I lived in the US instead of Canada…
I just finished reading Back to the Good Fortune Diner. I bought it when it was last on sale and its such a good book. It has all the aspects that make me love a romance; messy characters, real life situations that pull me in but give me hope too. I’ve already picked up Act Like It and I’m considering what else.
I bought His Road Home yesterday as I’d heard so many great reviews and because of this sale; I finished it last night. What a lovely story.
His Road Home won the RITA last year in the novella category!
Add me to the chorus of those who really liked His Road Home. I also enjoyed the Alyssa Cole. Just bought Act Like It, which was on my wishlist! Thank you, bitches!
Yay, Act Like It! Very excited to read. Thank you for the awesome suggestions and great sale!
Love finding new romance books – particularly with PoCs and scifi settings. Excited to read this entire list!
Aieeeeeeeee!!!
Why do you guys keep doing this to me? I am never going to finish my TBRs.
Picked up Deep Deception and Act Like It, yay!!
One question re Alyssa Cole’s book. After watching the movie Blindness, which features an apocalyptic storyline of sorts (everybody all over the world except one person loses their, you guessed it, sight) I am very VERY wary of these type of settings. So, I’d be grateful for comments on how violent/horrifying this is in the book. Thank you!
His road home is 100% Keeper Shelf material.
@Margarita: I don’t think it has much in the way of violence. Carrie reviewed the book and she’s not big on gratuitous violence either.
No Pregnesia? 🙂
I finally gave in and got the Sheikh’s Stable Girl. It has horses (allegedly); what else can I say.
Besides, it was a whole 99 cents.
His Road Home looks SO up my alley. *makes mad dash for checkout*