How can it already be March? On Saturday, the sky over the Netherlands was covered by one thick gray cloud and it was just above freezing. Here’s a picture to prove it. Smarty Pants and I were in Delft this weekend, home of the painter Vermeer (The Girl With The Pearl Earring) and of the church where Dutch royals are buried. Here’s the tomb of William of Orange, who was assassinated in Delft in 1584 and was the founder of the current line of Dutch monarchs.
Yesterday, there were a few patchy rain clouds but the temperature had risen a few degrees. I haven’t been outside yet today, but the sun is shining so hard it hurts my eyes – not that I’m complaining! Roll on, Spring!
Anyway, we’re not here to talk about history or the weather. Just like the first Monday of every month, I’m here to celebrate new contemporary romance releases. I’ll tell you below which March contemporary romances I’m most looking forward to. If you leave a comment and tell us which March contemporaries you’re coveting, you could win a $10 gift certificate for yourself AND the author you mention.
Giveaway details are below, but here are the books I’m looking forward to this month.
Thrown by a Curve by Jaci Burton
She thinks she knows this player—but he has a few surprise moves.
For Alicia Riley, her job as a sports therapist for the St. Louis Rivers baseball team is a home run—until she becomes the primary therapist for star pitcher, Garrett Scott. Out of the lineup with an injury, he’s short-tempered, hard to handle, and every solid inch, a man.
Right now, the only demand he’s making on Alicia is that she get him ready to pitch in time for opening day. Except the sexual chemistry between them is so charged, Alicia’s tempted to oblige Garrett just about anything. But both their careers are at stake—one bad move and it’s game over for both of them.
Garrett also feels the hot sparks between them, and the way he figures it, what better therapy is there than sex? Now all he has to do is convince the woman with the power to make the call.
My two cents
I’ve only read one Jaci Burton story – her novella The Best Thing in Carina Press’s 2012 Christmas anthology – but I thoroughly enjoyed it. Plus, as you know I’m a huge fan of sports romances, so this book is at the top of my I-Want list.Release date: March 5, 2013
Read an excerptBuy it in print at: Amazon | B&N | Book Depository | Books-A-Million
Buy a digital copy at: Amazon | B&N | Kobo Books | iBookstore
Uncommon Pleasure by Anne Calhoun
From a “fresh and imaginative” (The Romance Studio) voice in erotic romance come the tales of two women, each daring to challenge the toughest of men…but in these edgy, heated encounters, the greatest thing she’ll risk is her heart.
In Over the Edge, after a tragic incident during Ty Hendricks’ last tour of duty he cut off all connection with anyone he cares about—until a night with Lauren Kincaid draws him reluctantly back into the world. Lauren sees a wounded man in danger of losing everything to his inner demons, but the sensual, no-holds-barred fight for Ty’s soul could cost Lauren her heart.
In All on the Line, Abby Simmons fell hard for Lieutenant Sean Winthrop, but he sacrificed their relationship when he deployed to Afghanistan. Now he’s home, full of regrets and intent on winning back the woman he never forgot. Abby gives Sean her body but holds her heart aloof, until one night of pleasure forces her to choose her U.S. Marine…or life without him, forever.
My two cents
Again, I’ve only read one Anne Calhoun story – and again it was a Christmas novella (Breath on Embers) from Carina Press. It made me cry, even though I’d been warned that it would and so I’d steeled myself against it. Anne Calhoun’s characters snuck past my defenses. I’m looking forward to that happening again.I also look forward to having Anne as a guest on this blog. She’ll be doing an interview and giving away a copy of Uncommon Pleasure on March 25th.
Release date: March 5, 2013
Read an excerpt
Along Came Trouble by Ruthie Knox
Ruthie Knox’s Camelot series continues in this sizzling eBook original novel, featuring two headstrong souls who bump heads—and bodies—as temptation and lust bring nothing but delicious trouble.
An accomplished lawyer and driven single mother, Ellen Callahan isn’t looking for any help. She’s doing just fine on her own. So Ellen’s more than a little peeved when her brother, an international pop star, hires a security guard to protect her from a prying press that will stop at nothing to dig up dirt on him. But when the tanned and toned Caleb Clark shows up at her door, Ellen might just have to plead the fifth.
Back home after a deployment in Iraq and looking for work as a civilian, Caleb signs on as Ellen’s bodyguard. After combat in the hot desert sun, this job should be a breeze. But guarding the willful beauty is harder than he imagined—and Caleb can’t resist the temptation to mix business with pleasure. With their desires growing more undeniable by the day, Ellen and Caleb give in to an evening of steamy passion. But will they ever be able to share more than just a one-night stand?
My two cents
I actually got to read an early copy of this, thanks to Ruthie herself – and it’s fantastic! I love Ruthie’s voice. Her characters are funny and vulnerable, even though they’re determined to kick ass – which, of course, they do in the end once they realize that teamwork is much better than going it alone.Ruthie will be here answering my questions and giving away a copy of Along Came Trouble on March 18th. I can’t wait!
Release date: March 11, 2013
Read an excerptBuy it at: Amazon | B&N | iTunes | Random House
Too Hot to Handle by Victoria Dahl
This good girl’s finally going bad…
Merry Kade has always been the good girl. The best friend. The one who patiently waits for the guy to notice her. Well, no more. Merry has just scored her dream job, and it’s time for her life to change. As the new curator of a museum in Wyoming, she’ll supervise some-okay, a lot of-restoration work. Luckily she’s found the perfect contractor for the job, and even better, he lives right next door.
Shane Harcourt can’t believe that someone wants to turn a beat-up ghost town into a museum attraction. After all, the last thing he needs is the site of his dream ranch turning into a tourist trap. He’ll work on the project, if only to hasten its failure…until the beautiful, quirky woman in charge starts to change his mind.
For the first time ever, Merry has a gorgeous stud hot on her heels. But can she trust this strong, silent man, even if he is a force of nature in bed? When Shane’s ulterior motives come out, he’ll need to prove to Merry that a love like theirs may be too hot to handle, but it’s impossible to resist.
My two cents
RT Magazine named this one of their most anticipated contemporary romances of 2013, and it’s definitely at the top of my list, too! I love everything Victoria Dahl writes, and I can’t wait for this one to come out.Release date: March 26, 2013
Buy it in print at: Amazon | B&N | Indiebound | Powell’s
Buy a digital copy at: Amazon | B&N
Giveaway!
Answer at least one of the questions in bold below. By “contemporary romance” I mean romance between human beings set in the present day. It can be romantic suspense, inspirational, erotic, category-length, novellas or whatever.
I’ll randomly choose one winner on Tuesday March 12th. That person will get a $10 gift certificate to the online book retailer of their choice, AND I’ll send the same to the author they mention.
If the winner mentions more than one author, I’ll ask her to choose which one gets the gift certificate.
This is open internationally.
Questions:
What contemporary romance novel(s) being released in March are you looking forward to? Have you read anything by the authors I mentioned? Which of their books do you like best?
Jaci burton thrown by a curve^^; i’ve read book 1 and i loved it ( got book 2 already and perhaps will get number 3 or four for my birthdéy ( 16th march) ^^ i’m staying with sport romances too^^
thank you once again!
Happy almost birthday, miki!
I am looking forward to Along Came Trouble by Ruthie Knox. I have read and loved several of her stories and I am looking forward to this new story.
I’m a big Robyn Carr’s fan, therefore I’m looking forward to her new Thunder Point series. “The Wanderer” comes out on March 26th.
Have a great week!
I love, love all things Ruthie Knox. I have read all her books. Her books have wonderful characters and dialo. Hard to pick a favorite.
Absolutely loved Anne Calhoun’s “Breath on Embers” and have read everything else she’s written. She makes her characters so real. One could almost believe they truly exist! Loved her tour of NYC. Looking forward to reading “Uncommon Pleasure”.
Too Hot to Handle by Victoria Dahl and Oh My Gosh look at these covers! Va Va Va Voooom! Happy Birthday Miki! You’re a little before me. Mine is March 30th. Thank you Kat for another great contest!
Happy early birthday, Wanda!
I want the Jack Burton book. I have already preordered the Ritchie Knox book. I am very looking forward to the new Ruthie book. I am also looking forward to Carrie Ann ryan’s her lucky love.
I LOVE sports almost as much as I LOVE the romance genre, so naturally I’ve read every book in Jaci Buton’s Play-By-Play series. My favorite was Mick’s story, but that could change after tomorrow’s release =] Super excited and really looking forward to getting my hands on Thrown By A Curve!!
Looking forward to reading, Seeing Is Believing by Erin McCarthy and The Wanderer by Robyn Carr.
I’m most looking forward to UNCOMMON PLEASURE by Anne Calhoun since I recently read On The Edge written under her pseudonym Raine Latimer. I really need to read Ty’s story after getting just that taste of him and his darkness.
I love anything by Jaci Burton!!! Looking forward to those other books listed also.
Looking forward to the following releases in March. Jaci Burton 3/5, Victoria Dahl 3/26, Maya Bank 3/19, Kit Rocha 3/19, Lauren Dane 3/12, Shelly Laurenston 3/26 there are probably of few I am missing but these are my favorites coming out in March 2013.
I am absolutely can’t wait for Jaci Burton’s next Play by Play novel, Thrown By A Curve!!!
Apart from all of the above– I absolutely LOVE Jaci (and have read all the Play By Play books), Ruthie, and Victoria, but haven’t read any Anne Calhoun– I’m a huge romantic suspense fan, so I’m stoked for Allison Brennan’s Lucy Kincaid novella, which comes out right ’round my birthday 🙂
I have to definitely say Jaci Burton. I’ve read her books and enjoyed them. I do have a Ruthie Know book in my tbr pile that I have to get to. The others you mentioned are new to me but look quite interesting.
I’m most looking forward to Vivian Arend’s High Risk. There are many others that I’m looking forward to in the month of March. Thanks.
I am looking forward to reading Jaci Burton’s Thrown By A Curve and Bella Andre’s new book as well.
I am looking forward to reading Thrown by a Curve by Jaci Burton, and i was pre-order this book from TBD. I can’t wait to get this book on my hand!!
It’s very much a toss-up for me between Jaci Burton’s “Thrown By a Curve” and Ruthie Knox’s “Along Came Trouble”. I have been very impatiently and eagerly awaiting both of them! I can’t wait to devour both of them!!
I am looking forward to Emily March’s book REFLECTION POINT. I am really hooked on this series!
Lots of great contemps. this month! Ruthie is one of my favorite authors. About Last Night was one of my best reads of 2012, and I have Along Came Trouble on pre-order. I also loved Liberating Lacey and was lucky enough to win a copy of Uncommon Pleasures from Goodreads, so looking forward to that one also. Let’s see, I’ve also pre-ordered Lauren Dane’s latest Petal, GA book – Lost in You, and I love Victoria Dahl, so I’m sure I will be getting her book also. Oh and High Risk by Vivian Arend – yup, it’s going to be a great reading month.
So many – But Robyn Carr’s latest is my #1 choice.
I’m looking forward to Jaci Burton’s latest as well as Bella Andre’s latest!
I read Breath on Embers by Anne Calhoun late in 2012 and loved it. This is the only book I have read by this author so I am excited to get her new release, Uncommon Pleasure, and her entire backlist!!
I’m looking forward to Shana Galen’s ‘If You Give a Rake a Ruby’ – love her historicals.
I haven’t read the authors noted above yet, but I’ll be looking for them.
I love everything Jaci Burton! Have read all 4 books of the Play-by-Play series and am working my way through her other books. She is fantastic and with an imagination to keep us dreaming! Can’t wait for the next books in the series to hit the stores.
I can’t wait for Thrown by a Curve by Jaci Burton. I’ve only read her Play-by-Play series and have really enjoyed these books 🙂
I love Jaci Burton’s Play-by-Play series! I’m excited to read about Alicia and Garrett. I’m also looking forward to Relentless by Cherry Adair.
Boy! This is a tough one…choosing just one of the authors you mentioned….I am anticipating three out of four…Dahl, Knox & Burton. and I mean waiting…with bated breathe…anticipating…salivating….and every-other-ating. 🙂
If I were to win, I would ask for Victoria Dahl’s Too Hot To Handle. I already preordered the other two.
I am a huge fan of Jaci Burton’s books. Read all of them and look forward to Thrown by a Curve. Also waiting for Julie James and Julie Ann Walkers new ones. Look great
Haven’t read any of these authors’ books. Looking forward to Ruthie Knox’s book
The Heart of A Hero by Janet Chapman. I’m only naming one , the first one that popped into my head.
I am really looking forward to reading Vivian Arend’s new book ADRENALINE. I love her stories, both the contemporaries and her Wolfies books:)
I’m looking forward to Macy Beckett’s A Shot of Sultry, I really enjoyed Sultry with a Twist. I do like a juicy Ruthie Knox book though.
I’m pretty excited about Jaci Burton having another Play by Play book. Even if it does mean that I am behind by two books now! I’m really stoked that Vivian Arend has a new series out. Yippee! The big release that I blew all of my book money on this month was Patricia Briggs new Mercy book. It’s not contemporary but it’s one of my favorite series of all times!
I’m most looking forward to High Risk by Vivian Arend! Can’t wait to read that one. As far as your other question, I’m a HUGE fan of Jaci Burton’s Play by Play series, and have read a Victoria Dahl contemporary (but I prefer her historical romances more). I’ve heard a lot of good things about Ruthie Knox and the new Anne Calhoun. I’ve put both on my wishlist!!!
can’t wait to read Jaci’s book 🙂
I never had read Ruthie Knox, but I won a copy of About Last Night.. I enjoyed it, so I’ll be reading her new one.