Celebrating RITA Finalists - Contemporary Single Title

CONGRATULATIONS!

I'm so pleased to share today's list of RITA finalists in the Contemporary Single Title category. This is an amazing group of writers AND stories -- so enjoy. A few of the authors may be able to join us, but they're getting ready for their big night July 28th, and some are already traveling to Anaheim. I wish them all the best of luck. Watch for our celebration of the winners here on July 29th.

SILVER SPARKS

 Starr Ambrose

 Pocket Books

 Abby Zidle, editor

 The Larkin sisters are used to hearing whispers behind their backs. Being raised by hippie parents in the small resort town of Barringer’s Pass, Colorado, they were always considered oddballs, and for a while, they did everything they could to earn the name. But now, older and wiser, they're discovering that it's not so great to be the wild child, and are struggling to earn a new place for themselves in town.

When Maggie Larkin resists the come-ons of a sleazy actor in town to shoot a film, she pisses off more than a pretty boy and his manager. Turns out that Rafe DeLuca isn't just a movie star...he's possibly a killer, and Maggie's landed herself in more trouble than she could imagine. Enter Cal Drummond, cop extraordinaire, who's been trailing DeLuca himself for weeks, convinced that his recently murdered sister is one of Rafe's victims. He's determined not to let another woman be victimized by the dangerous Rafe, and if that means sticking like glue to Maggie, so be it.

Maggie and Cal seem like perfect opposites, but as we all know...opposites attract.
Visit Starr's Website

SLOW DANCING ON PRICE'S PIER

Lisa Dale

Berkley Publishing Group
Cindy Hwang, editor
Thea Celik has devoted herself to running her Newport coffee shop, to parenting her daughter, and to being a meaningful part of her in-law’s loving family. Her life is mild but satisfying—she’s sure of her place in the community and in her family. But when her childhood friend and husband Jonathan uncharacteristically cheats on her, her certainty about her role in the world is shaken.

Now as Thea strives to rediscover herself and remain close with the only family she knows, Jonathan’s brother Garret vows to exile her from their lives once and for all. Garret has never forgotten his history with Thea, and he hopes Jonathan’s divorce from her will mean he can reconnect with his brother at last. But his increasingly frequent encounters with Thea—and his unresolved feelings for her—threaten his relationship with his family now more than ever before.

SLOW DANCING ON PRICE’S PIER is the story of one woman’s determination to rediscover a new life while trying to maintain the old. The book asks, When the bonds of friendship, family, and love are tested, how long will they hold?

Visit Lisa's Website

SUMMER AT SEASIDE COVE

Jacquie D'Alessandro

Berkley Publishing Group
Cindy Hwang, editor
Sisters are known to share many things - but not the same boyfriend. The most basic “girl code” states that you never date a friend’s ex—so wouldn’t it be obvious that a current boyfriend is really off limits—especially to your own sister? Apparently Jamie Newman’s half-sister Laurel didn’t get the memo. Leaving behind New York—and the humiliation—Jamie heads to the tiny barrier island of Seaside Cove, North Carolina, for a quiet summer of healing her broken heart and reassessing her sudden disaster of a life. But instead of solace in a cozy beach cottage, she finds a run-down bungalow complete with stray cats and a leaky roof—and of course it’s raining—and the repairman M.I.A.…

Strays and colorful neighbors are nothing compared to her next visitors. First her drama-prone mother barges in. Then her angst-ridden teenage niece arrives. And the grand finale of the crazy storm is the arrival of Laurel, who’s been dumped by Jamie’s ex. And of course there’s the repairman, who’s finally shown his face—and is way too good-looking for Jamie’s own good. It’s clear there’s more to him than meets the eye, and Jamie would like to know what, but with the family she tried to escape now crammed in her ramshackle cottage, she may never get the chance…  

Visit Jacquie's Website

At Hidden Falls

Barbara Freethy

Pocket Books
Micki Nuding, editor
Mysterious dreams draw costume designer Isabella Silviera to Angel’s Bay, the California coastal town where angels occasionally dance above the waves. Bestselling author Barbara Freethy enchants again in this emotional and compelling tale of family secrets, abiding friendships, and heart-touching romance.

Isabella’s drive to Angel’ s Bay would have ended in tragedy when her car slid off a cliff if she hadn’t been rescued by Nick Hartley. As he helps her to safety, she realizes he is the man who has haunted her dreams. Nick, however, is committed to reconnecting with his estranged teenage daughter, refusing to respond to his powerful attraction to Isabella.
And Isabella’s police chief brother has his hands full with a missing mother, an abandoned baby, and an unknown father. What is Isabella’s role in the mysteries — both past and present — that swirl around the town?

When she starts helping at the Hartley family theater, all the pieces begin to link together. Loves found and lost, heartbreak and happiness, courage and betrayal are all part of the patchwork quilt of the community — and of life. Isabella’s gift is seeing the patterns …

Visit Barbara's Website

BLACK TIES AND LULLABIES

Jane Graves (Double Finalist)

Grand Central Publishing Forever
Michele Bidelspach, editor

 

A good girl can be bad for one night . . .
Bernadette Hogan doesn’t make mistakes. Not when it comes to caring for her mother, and not at her job protecting Texas’s most eligible—and infuriating—bachelor. Maybe that’s why she’s overcome with guilt after one tiny indiscretion: a passionate fling with her boss that’s left her confused, intrigued . . . and pregnant.

But can a bad boy be good for a lifetime?
To self-made millionaire Jeremy Bridges, women are like fine wine: if held for too long, they sour. But one wild night with Bernadette changed all that. She makes him laugh, she makes him think, and soon she’s going to make him a father. For the first time, Jeremy wants to be a one-woman man. So how can he convince the fiercely independent Bernadette he’s ready to change from partying playboy to dependable dad—and become the loving husband she deserves?

HEARTSTRINGS AND DIAMOND RINGS

Jane Graves (Double Finalist)

Grand Central Publishing Forever
Michele Bidelspach, editor

He's the man of her dreams. . .

In a world full of frogs, Alison Carter is determined to find her prince. Maybe her dating past is more Titanic than Love Boat, but she's seen enough happy marriages to know that true love is possible. No matter what, she won't give up on happily-ever-after. If she can't find Mr. Right, she'll simply hire someone who can.

She just doesn't know it yet
When Brandon Scott inherits a successful matchmaking business, he thinks his prayers have been answered. Set up a few lonely ladies, collect the fee, how hard can it be? No one needs to know he's not really a professional matchmaker--especially not his first client, the beautiful, spirited Alison. Soon he's falling for her--and her dreams of kids and carpools. But Alison is getting close to figuring out his secret, and if she learns he's deceived her too, she'll walk right out the door, taking Brandon's heart with her.

Visit Jane's Website

GLIAS interview

BOOMERANG BRIDE

FIONA LOWE

Carina Press
Charlotte Herscher, editor

Matilda Geoffrey risked it all for love. She left Australia to be with Barry-the man who had swept her off her virtual feet. Now, wearing a wedding dress, she's alone on Main Street in small-town Wisconsin, and things aren't working out exactly as planned...

In town for his annual family visit, Marc Olsen had never seen a bride quite like Matilda-staring into a storefront window, holding a tottering wedding cake, and looking desperately in need of a groom. He may not have any warm feelings for his hometown, but meeting Matilda just as she discovers she's been scammed by her online "fiancé" stirs something in him.

Visit Fiona's Website

THE WELCOME HOME GARDEN CLUB

Lori Wilde

Avon Books
Lucia Macro, editor

 Caitlyn Marsh stopped believing in happily-ever-after when high-school sweetheart, Gideon Garza, left for Iraq. Now she raises her small son while her matchmaking gardening club members drive her crazy. Then Caitlyn's world turns upside-down when Gideon swaggers back to Twilight.

Gideon left town in the middle of the night with threats ringing in his ears. A lot of things have changes since then. This bad boy-turned-Green Beret bears scars from the war, the timid girl he loved is an idependent mother, and the father who refused to recognize his son in life has, in death, left him a vast cattle ranch.

He still aches for Caitlyn, and now there's a dark-haired boy who looks exactly like Gideon did at that age. Could the child be his? And can this war-weary soldier overcome the scars of the past to claim the family he so richly deserves?
Visit Lori's Website

I hope you enjoyed getting to know about this year's finalists in Contemporary Single Title. Please join us tomorrow when Heather will present the nominees in the Historical Romance category. 

Happy Reading!

Lizbeth

JOIN THE RITA® CELEBRATION by leaving a comment for each category between July 11th and 28th (multiple comments = multiple entries, with the exception of Romantic Suspense). GLIAS will be drawing for winners on Sunday, July 29th and posting along with all the RITA® winners announced Saturday evening in Anaheim, California. 

Note: Offer void where prohibited. Prizes will be mailed to North America addresses only unless specifically mentioned in the post. If an INTERNATIONAL name is drawn, mailing the book or supplying an electronic version will be the decision of the donator. Odds of winning vary due to the number of entrants. Winners of drawings are responsible for checking this site in a timely manner. If prizes are not claimed in a timely manner, the author may not have a prize available. Get Lost In A Story cannot be responsible for an author's failure to mail the listed prize. GLIAS does not automatically pass email addresses to guest authors unless the commenter publicly posts their email address.

JOIN US tomorrow as RITA® Week continues with the best HISTORICAL ROMANCE category. Don’t forget to FOLLOW us on Twitter #GetLostStories or LIKE us on Facebook.

Jane Graves

Black Ties and Lullabies
Grand Central Publishing
ISBN: 978-0446568470

A good girl can be bad for one night . . .
Bernadette Hogan doesn’t make mistakes. Not when it comes to caring for her mother, and not at her job protecting Texas’s most eligible—and infuriating—bachelor. Maybe that’s why she’s overcome with guilt after one tiny indiscretion: a passionate fling with her boss that’s left her confused, intrigued . . . and pregnant.

but can a bad boy be good for a lifetime?
To self-made millionaire Jeremy Bridges, women are like fine wine: if held for too long, they sour. But one wild night with Bernadette changed all that. She makes him laugh, she makes him think, and soon she’s going to make him a father. For the first time, Jeremy wants to be a one-woman man. So how can he convince the fiercely independent Bernadette he’s ready to change from partying playboy to dependable dad—and become the loving husband she deserves?

~ ~ ~ GET LOST IN THE STORY ~ ~ ~

"You're every bit as possessive of me as you are of this baby," Bernie said. "And, for that matter, everything else within the sound of your voice. You need to work on that, Bridges. It's a real character flaw."

"One vice at a time," he said. "Let's deal with my jealousy issues first. Come closer."

The intensity of his gaze drew her in, enticing her to lean toward him.

"Closer," he said.

When she didn't move, he took hold of her arm and pulled her forward until their lips were only inches apart. Suddenly in his space, she felt every bit of the magnetism he held for the women of the world and realized she wasn't immune to it. She'd never be immune to it. No matter how maddening his arrogance could be, no matter now much she protested to the contrary, she'd be drawn to this man until her dying breath.

"Listen up, Bernie," he said softly. "Are you listening?"

He was so close now that she could feel his breath as he spoke, and each second seemed to drag on endlessly. The August heat, even after dark, permeated the car, adding to the feeling that everything was moving in slow motion.

"I'm listening," she said.

"I told you the truth. I was jealous. Don't ask me why, because I'm still not completely sure myself. All I know is that by time I left that museum, I'd already decided that if any man was going to touch you tonight…" His voice dropped to a near whisper. "It was going to be me."

~ ~ ~

Jane Graves is the author of eighteen contemporary romance novels. She is a seven time finalist for Romance Writers of America's Rita Award, the industry's highest honor, and is the recipient of two National Readers' Choice Awards, the Booksellers' Best Award, and the Golden Quill, among others. Jane lives in the Dallas area with her husband of twenty-nine years and a beautiful but crafty cat who rules the household with one paw tied behind her back.

~ ~ ~ QUESTIONS ~ ~ ~
ANGI: How often do you get lost in a story?
JANE: Every day, at least for a little while. I've been a bookaholic since I was four years old. But—here's the problem—my reading habits have changed considerably. I'm a real geek for the craft of writing, and the more I learned about it as the years went on, the more I found it hard to read as a reader instead of as a writer. I've read some great books lately, but instead of saying, "That was a wonderful story," I find myself saying, "That author did a really great job with plot and characterization." Frankly, it's pretty frustrating. I remember the days when I could immerse myself in a book and not come up for air until I turned the last page, and I wish I could get back to that. But maybe my examination of every book I read in minute detail is my own way of getting lost in a story!

ANGI: What’s the first book you remember reading?
JANE: One of the Sally, Dick and Jane books. Am I dating myself? My brother brought one home from his first grade class. Even though I was a year and a half younger than he was, I learned to read that year by sitting on the sofa beside him and watching him learn to read. By the time I hit the first grade, I wasn't just reading stories. I was writing them. You'll find that a lot with authors—we get the burn to write at a very young age.

ANGI: What’s your favorite fairy tale?
JANE: The Ugly Duckling. How many people start out in this life thinking they're somehow not as good as everyone else, only to blossom into somebody wonderful they never expected to become?

ANGI: What turns you off like nothing else?
JANE: People who talk on their cell phones at the top of their lungs as if I'm remotely interested in hearing their entire conversation. I once sat in a Starbucks and listened to a guy arguing with his mother over the phone. Loudly."That's why nobody has anything to do with you, Mother! You're so rude!" Some people just aren't very self aware, are they?

ANGI: Is there a playlist you’d recommend for reading your latest release?
JANE: That's hard to say, because I can't listen to music when I write. I hear about how much it helps other authors get into the mood of a story, but I can't listen to organized sound and write at the same time. And if there are lyrics, my mind goes straight to them and I can't concentrate. That goes hand in hand with the fact that I'm a terrible multitasker. I'm lucky to be able to walk and chew gum at the same time. White noise is fine. Somebody can be running a leaf blower right outside my office window, and it doesn't bother me a bit. A bomb could go off beside me, and I'd keep on writing. But music? It takes me right out of the book I'm trying to write.

ANGI: Where do you read and how often?
JANE: Believe it or not, I read the most when I'm sitting at my desk in my office. It isn't very often that I carve out time to go flop somewhere just to read, but throughout the day I'll grab a book or my iPhone where I've downloaded books and sneak in a few chapters. I read a lot of books that way!

ANGI: What sound or noise do you love?
JANE: Last week, our ancient, decrepit dishwasher finally bit the dust. We got a new one. I had no idea they make dishwashers now that make NO SOUND AT ALL. You can't hear them running! After years of listening to all that banging and swishing and squeaking, the sound of dishwasher silence is truly a beautiful thing.

ANGI: What was the first story you remember writing?
JANE: When I was in the first grade, I wrote fun new adventures for Flicka from My Friend Flicka. I loved horses, and I loved to write. I also illustrated my books. The artist in me went by the wayside, but it looks as if I stuck to the writing.

ANGI: What’s your favorite movie of all time?
JANE: I have many, and they're all different. For instance, I loved The Shawshank Redemption. That's probably number one. But I also loved Enchanted. A prison movie versus a fairy tale. But for me, the genre is irrelevant. It's all about whether it draws me in and holds my attention. If I don't look at my watch for two hours, it's a good movie.
Oh—another favorite movie? Snakes on a Plane. People think I'm nuts, but I thought it was hilarious. In that same goofy, campy vein, my daughter tells me Zombies, Zombies, Zombies is worth a look, too. Zombies times three. How could that possibly be anything but a cinematic classic?

ANGI: Be honest, when reading...do you put yourself in the heroine’s role?
JANE: We're back to my frustrating inability to read as a reader instead of a writer. I'm much more likely to admire the author's ability to create a realistic, fully-rounded character than I am to imagine myself as the heroine. Considering some of the wonderful heroes being written today, maybe that's a curse!

ANGI: Is writing or story-telling easier for you?
JANE: Storytelling is way easier. When I'm just telling a story, people will forget my repetition, mundane word usage, and non-linear plot and just remember the guts of the story. Writing, on the other hand, is hard for me. Very hard, and very slow. When my story is set down in ink, copied tens of thousands of times, and distributed all over the world, I don't have the luxury of sticking in all that extraneous stuff I always do when I'm just telling a story.

ANGI: What’s something you’d like to tell your fans?
JANE: The hero of Black Ties and Lullabies is Jeremy Bridges, the womanizing multimillionaire from Hot Wheels and High Heels. I've received more reader mail requesting his story than any other character I've ever written. It's odd, really, because he was a villain of sorts in Hot Wheels, tempting the heroine in ways he shouldn't have. But I think what readers saw was a hint of something deeper inside him at the end of the book, and they were interested in seeing it revealed. When I was trying to decide who his heroine should be, I went with the woman who was right under his nose—his tough, no-nonsense bodyguard, Bernadette Hogan. After a night of totally unexpected passion, what could be worse for a playboy millionaire and a woman who's never even considered motherhood than to find out they're having a baby together?

And I hope you'll watch for

Heartstrings and Diamond Rings,

too, which will hit the shelves on September 27.

ANGI’S GOTTA ASK: So, Jane, if cost wasn’t a factor…is there one place you’d like to travel? What would you do and why THAT location?
JANE’S GOTTA ANSWER: The moon. There I'll weigh one sixth of what I do on earth, so I'll never have to diet again. You did say cost wasn't a factor.

GOT A QUESTION YOU’D LIKE TO ASK YOUR FANS?
What trends do you see on the horizon where romance novels are concerned? What subgenres do you see too much of? Not enough of? If you could tailor a novel to your exact preference, what would it be?

WILL YOU HAVE A DRAWING FROM THOSE LEAVING COMMENTS?
Yes. I'll give away two copies of Black Ties and Lullabies.
Note: Offer void where prohibited. Prizes will be mailed to North America addresses only. If an electronic Advanced Reading Copy (ARC) is available, the author may utilize that option for International participants. Odds of winning vary due to the number of entrants.

FIND JANE AT:
Website: janegraves.com
Twitter: @JaneGraves
Facebook: JaneGravesAuthor

DON’T FORGET to come back tomorrow for a fun interview with Young Adult author Rosemary Clement-Moore. Follow us @GetLostInAStory; Like us on Facebook/Get Lost In A Story and come back daily for your favorite authors and their give-aways. Every day’s someone different with lots of fun. ~Angi