Steph's Favorites Read to date!

I know its September and usually people wait to list their favorites, buy hey, we just had the Emmy's so I figured why not share some of my favorite reads now? ~~grin~~ (I promise a top ten in January)

NOT WITHOUT RISK by Sarah Grimm
Contemporary romantic suspense

Set in San Diego, Paige and Justin must learn to trust each other and love if they want a future together. Excellent! I was on the edge of my seat the entire novel. Romantic with pulse-pounding suspense.

Amazon Link: http://www.amazon.com/Not-Without-Risk-Sarah-Grimm/dp/1601546343/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1316635145&sr=1-2



HIS CONQUEST by Diana Cosby
Scottish historical romance

Set in Scotland, 1297, Lady Linet, an English noblewoman, frees Scottish lord Seathan Grey from a dungeon, but the journey to his keep is rife with peril. Cosby weaves love and danger effortlessly in order to tell a highly romantic, suspense filled story.

Amazon Link: http://www.amazon.com/His-Conquest-Diana-J-Cosby/dp/142010991X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1316635275&sr=1-1




THE ARRIVAL OF LILY CURTIS by Rachel Brimble
Victorian/Historical Romance

Lily wants to find love on her own terms. After convincing her parents to allow her to work as a maid, she meets Andrew, Viscount Westrope and the sparks fly. Dare they follow their hearts despite the conventions of the day? The chemistry between the couple is combustible and the inner conflict that keeps them both at bay is well done!

Amazon Link: http://www.amazon.com/Arrival-Lily-Curtis-Rachel-Brimble/dp/1601547927/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1316635340&sr=1-1





OSIRIS' MISSING PART by Mona Risk
Historical/Egyptian Romance

Isis brings Osiris back to life, but can she tame the womanizer's ways? Rich in history, adventure and love.

Amazon Link: http://www.amazon.com/Osiris-Missing-Part-ebook/dp/B005950KR4/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1316635528&sr=1-1








REDEMPTION FOR THE DEVIL by Jillian Chantel
Vintage Romance

Can a boy from the wrong side of the tracks win an honest woman's love? Part of the novel is set on the Mauretania and I swear I felt like a fly on the wall. A heartwarming read – especially watching Liam and Peg grow as characters.

Amazon Link: http://www.amazon.com/Redemption-for-the-Devil-ebook/dp/B005CQ5VM4/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1316635635&sr=1-2

So, what stories have been your favorite so far?






PS… I just want to gush a little. Peter Dinklage who plays "Tyrian Lannister" from GAME OF THRONES won the Emmy for Best Supporting Actor! Well earned! Games of Thrones is a book I'm reading now and I really like it! The Mini-series is "spot on" with the book. Sign in if you want to give a shout out to Peter!

Guest Author Series -Q&A with Author Sarah Grimm

I'd like to welcome author Sarah Grimm to the blog today. Sarah is the author of "Not Without Risk," a romantic suspense set in San Diego. I just recently read her book and LOVED it!
Smiles
Steph

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STEPH: Sarah, thank you for visiting Romance Under the Moonlight. Can you tell us a little about yourself?

SARAH: Thanks for having me here today, Steph. Let’s see, I live in West Michigan with my husband, two teenaged sons, three miniature schnauzers, and a guinea pig named Lilly. Recently I went from being a stay-at-home mom who kept the books for my husband’s business, to working full time as an Office Manager/Bookkeeper.


STEPH: How long have you been writing?

SARAH I’ve been writing for as long as I can remember. I have notebooks filled with poems, story ideas, and partial chapters from as far back as age five. Yes, thanks to my older sister, I could read and write by age five. And I did. I read everything I could get my hands on, usually re-writing the story in my head as I went.

STEPH: What attracts you to romance writing?

SARAH: I’m a romantic—a die hard romantic. I believe in love, not just as a fundamental part of human relationships, but as a force that really can heal emotional scars. I truly believe there is someone for everyone—the person they are meant to find.
Their other half. Their soul mate. So it makes sense that I chose to write about two people finding each other, falling in love, foiling the villain and living happily-ever-after.


STEPH: What genres of romance do you prefer to write?

SARAH: I write romantic suspense—stories where the romance and the suspense play an equal part—and also contemporary romance, with a bit of suspense woven in. I’ve tried to write without any danger or suspense, but can’t seem to do it. No matter my plans when I begin a story, before I know it, one of my characters is facing an enemy that wants them dead.

STEPH: Where do you find the inspiration for your stories?

SARAH: From everyday life: The stories I read, the music I listen to. Even conversations I overhear while grocery shopping or sitting at the DMV.


STEPH: Not Without Risk is a Nominee for Book of the Year with LASR! Congrats. Can you tell us a little about it?


SARAH: Thanks. Not Without Risk was the first time I saw down and wrote a book from the beginning to the end, so it will always have a special place in my heart. As you can imagine, I’m absolutely thrilled by the great reviews it’s received, even more so when I learned of the nomination from LASR. I didn’t win, but came in third behind Toni Blake and Jill Shalvis respectively. Pretty good for a debut author, I thought.

Not Without Risk is a romantic suspense with a wounded hero—the story of Sergeant Justin Harrison, who returns to his job as a San Diego homicide detective after six months of medical leave. Determined to prove he’s fit for active duty, he doesn’t need the self-doubt that plagues him, or his growing feelings for the leggy brunette who is at the center of his homicide investigation.


STEPH: How long did it take to write Not Without Risk?

SARAH: I have at least four different, completed versions of the book, a couple from when I called it by a completely different name. I wrote it, set it aside, went back and rewrote it from the beginning, then set it aside…well, you get the idea. I have no idea how long it took before I was satisfied with it. A long time. ☺


STEPH: How important was setting? Have you been to San Diego?

SARAH: The setting isn’t really important beyond the fact that it’s so far away from Boston, where Paige grew up. Any city in California would have worked. I chose San Diego because of its beauty and history. Have I been there? Unfortunately, no, but the next time I’m in LA visiting my brother, I plan to go.


STEPH: Did you do a lot of research for Not Without Risk?

SARAH: I didn’t do any research for Not Without Risk specifically. It was all things I’ve learned over the years of reading both fiction and non-fiction. Wait, I guess I did quiz a security system installer to make certain what I wanted to do with Paige’s system was feasible.


STEPH: Cast the movie! Who plays the leads Justin &Paige?

SARAH: Paige is easy, from the first draft of the story, I've always pictured Angie Harmon as Paige. I changed her hair and eye color, but the height, build and smile...all Paige.

Justin, hmm…that’s a tough one. I guess I’d have to pick Joe Manganiello.


STEPH: Do you own an ebook reader? If so, which one?

SARAH: I have a first generation Amazon Kindle that I love. Until a few weeks ago I had no plans to upgrade to a newer e-reader, then I saw a special on e-readers and discovered that Barnes and Noble has plans to add Apps to their Nook color. I want one!


STEPH: Do you have an advice for aspiring authors?

SARAH: Don’t let anything keep you from achieving your dream. Anything is possible when you want it badly enough.


STEPH: For fun: Monet, Picasso, or Renoir?


BUY LINK:
KINDLE LINK FOR NOT WITHOUT RISK: http://www.amazon.com/Not-Without-Risk-ebook/dp/B00365FI5I/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2&s=digital-text&qid=1302012249&sr=1-1
SARAH: Monet.


Sarah's Next Book:

Tuesday - What I'm reading: Not Without Risk by Sarah Grimm

I thought I'd share my recent book review for "Not Without Risk," by Sarah Grimm. I LOVED this book. It had everything - romance, heat, sexual tension, a compelling plot, and a twist you wouldn't expect. Tomorrow, Sarah will be with us for a guest interview.

Enjoy!
Steph

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Book Review for: Not Without Risk
Written by: Sarah Grimm
Wild Rose Press
ISBN: 978-1-601-54-634-0
244 pages
5 Stars

Reviewed by: S. Burkhart


Grimm crafts an edge-of-your seat romantic suspense with "Not Without Risk." Photographer Paige Conroy finds an old friend, Leroy St. John, dead in a hotel room. Unknown to her, she's opened up a can of worms. Can Detective Justin Harrison keep her safe?

Set in present day San Diego, CA, Grimm puts the reader right into the action when detective Justin Harrison and his partner are called out to the scene of a murder. As he investigates, he learns the victim, St. John, is a cop from back East. A local photographer, Paige Conroy, found the body. When Justin meets Paige, the sparks fly.

Justin and Paige acknowledge their physical attraction, but each have emotional hang-ups. The danger increases when Paige is sent an email with pictures of her apartment – taken at night when she was sleeping. Spooked, Paige goes to the police – and Justin.

Justin is determined to put the clues together, but remains stymied. When Paige's classic car is blown up, Justin throws professional caution to the wind and insists Paige stay with him for her safety. Justin's partner, Allan, is concerned Justin is blurring the lines between his job and his heart.

Paige holds the key to cracking the case, but can Justin solve it before he loses his heart – and his objectivity?

Grimm's writing is sharp. The plot is tight with several twists and turns that will keep the reader on their toes.

Grimm engages the reader immediately, placing them in the scene with Justin. The dialogue is crisp. The descriptions are spot on, never lingering, and there's the perfect blend to set the scenes.

Both Justin and Paige are compelling characters. Paige has been hurt before. She was once engaged to a police officer who put the job before her. Her fiancé died performing his job, and Paige is reluctant to commit to Justin emotionally. She's uncertain if Justin is worth the risk.

Justin is deeply committed to his job. Unfortunately, he received a bullet wound while off duty and the effects of the injury are still lingering. Justin's never really let a woman into his life. The danger Paige faces easily brings out all his protective instincts, yet letting Paige into his heart is not without risk.

The novel is sophisticated for romance readers. Grimm's love scenes are sensual, full of heat, and capture the intense connection between Paige and Justin.

"Not Without Risk" is a heart pounding suspense that does not disappoint.