Sourcebooks has announced that the company has acquired a children’s picture book by Oscar-and-Emmy-winning actress Jessica Lange.

The new book, IT IS ABOUT A LITTLE BIRD, is based on a book the renowned actress created for her grandchildren.  It’s the charming, delightful story about two sisters, Ilse and Adah, and their grandmother, Mem, who lives on a quaint, rambling small farm.  During the visit to the farm, the sisters sneak into the ramshackle barn they’re normally forbidden to play in, and stumble on all kinds of strange and fascinating treasures, including an antique birdcage. The discovery prompts Mem to reminisce, and to tell her granddaughters about time she spent in Paris and Rome as a young woman, where she adopted a pet canary named Uccellino—Italian for “little bird”—that she brought back with her to the United States.

At once moving and joyful, IT IS ABOUT A LITTLE BIRD is an intergenerational, international tale that captures that amazing moment in childhood when a child realizes that there’s a world that exists beyond themselves.  It highlights the revelation that grandparents had lives before they had grandchildren—and that there is a family history and stories that now belong to the grandchildren,too.

The picture books will feature photographs taken and hand-colored by Jessica Lange, who studied photography at the University of Minnesota.  Much like the character of Mem in the story, Jessica herself also owns a small farm in the Hudson Valley and is the grandmother of two granddaughters. IT IS ABOUT A LITTLE BIRD is scheduled for release in the fall of 2013.

Good Afternoon!

Fabulous news—the September 15 issue of Booklist (their annual romance issue) will feature eleven great reviews of upcoming romance and women’s fiction fall titles, including a STARRED review for Kiss of Steel by debut author, Bec McMaster (September). The reviewed titles are:

-          Kiss of Steel by Bec McMaster (September, 9781402270277)

-          In Rides Trouble by Julie Ann Walker (September, 9781402267161)

-          Rev It Up by Julie Ann Walker (October, 9781402267185)

-          Lady Louisa’s Christmas Knight by Grace Burrowes (October, 9781402268632)

-          Savage Hunger by Terry Spear (October, 9781402266928)

-          The Trouble with Highlander by Mary Wine (October, 9781402264740)

-          Sultry with a Twist by Macy Beckett (October, 9781402270369)

-          A Wedding in Apple Grove by C.H. Admirand (November, 9781402268991)

-          From Notting Hill with Love… Actually by Ali McNamara (October, 9781402269486)

-          A Walk in the Park by Jill Mansell (November, 9781402269943)

-          A Royal Pain by Megan Mulry (November, 9781402269974)

Full reviews are pasted below, and will appear in the September15 issue of Booklist. There will also be other features and lists in this issue, so we should expect to see further coverage for some of our romance authors—and we know the big impact Booklist has on the library market. Congratulations!

BOOKLIST – SEPTEMBER 15, 2012 ISSUE

ROMANCE REVIEWS

September

Kiss of Steel.

McMaster, Bec (Author)

Sep 2012. 448 p. Sourcebooks/Casablanca, paperback, $6.99. (9781402270277).

Honoria Todd had a happy, comfortable life until her father was murdered. Now, six months later, she is desperately clinging to the illusion of respectability while at the same time taking care of her younger sister and brother. When Honoria loses her job teaching elocution, she has no choice but to accept the offer of Blade’s protection from her old nemesis, the Duke of Vickers. As the unofficial ruler of Whitechapel, Blade might share the same taste for blood as the Echelon, who live in the posh part of London, but his philosophy of life is nothing like that of the blue-blooded aristocrats who rule over the city. Discovering the secrets Honoria closely guards could provide Blade with the leverage he needs to finally bring down Vickers, but only if Blade’s unexpected love for Honoria doesn’t destroy them both first. Set in an exquisitely imagined, alternative late-nineteenth-century England, McMaster’s wildly inventive plot deftly blends elements of steampunk and vampire romance with brilliantly successful results. Darkly atmospheric and delectably sexy, Kiss of Steel is an extraordinary debut.

— John Charles

In Rides Trouble: Black Knights Inc.

Walker, Julie Ann (Author)

Sep 2012. 352 p. Sourcebooks/Casablanca, paperback, $6.99. (9781402267161).

The second title in Walker’s Black Knights Inc. series features the relationship between Frank “Boss” Knight, a 39-year-old ex-SEAL, and Rebecca Reichart, whose custom motorcycle business is the front for their clandestine activities. Frank and Becky argue with each other all the time, not so subtly masking their mutual attraction from the rest of the group. When Becky is abducted by Somali pirates, however, Frank helps rescue her. Later, a pirate comes after her in Chicago to enact revenge, then leaves a hospital bed to do it again. In between these two events, he Frank comes to terms with the fact that he loves her. But Becky thinks he’s married, and it takes the second rescue attempt to straighten things out. Then someone named Snake appears, no doubt portending another installment in the series. One wonders how, with all the relentless sexual tension, any of Walker’s characters gets any work done. This tale is less tormented

but no less engrossing than Hell on Wheels (2012). Rev It Up is next.

— Mary K. Chelton

October

Rev It Up.

Walker, Julie Ann (Author)

Oct 2012. 352 p. Sourcebooks/Casablanca, paperback, $6.99. (9781402267185).

Four years after he held her dying husband in his arms in an op gone bad in Afghanistan, former SEAL Jake Sommers is in Chicago, determined to pursue Michelle Carter at last. He is also joining the Black Knights special-ops group run by her brother under the guise of a motorcycle gang. Besides her reluctance to get involved with him again, because he reminds her too much of her womanizing father, an unfair comparison as it turns out, Michelle gets caught up in a revenge hit by a mobster who is after her brother. This means Jake has to save both her and someone he didn’t even know existed. Exciting, tense, and action packed, Walker’s latest sensual romantic suspense ties up some loose ends from In Rides Trouble (2012), the second book in the Black Knights series, and leaves some tantalizing loose ends for the next one.

— Mary K. Chelton

Lady Louisa's Christmas Knight.

Burrowes, Grace (Author)

Oct 2012. 384 p. Sourcebooks/Casablanca, paperback, $7.99. (9781402268632).

Lady Louisa Windham is tired of society’s demanding seasons, and she knows that because of a secret youthful indiscretion, she will not marry. Rather than dance with likely fortune hunters, she enjoys talking with her brothers’ military friend Sir Joseph Carrington. Sir Joseph is embarrassed by his knighthood and wants only to find a wife who will be a mother to his two daughters and secret children. Her brothers ask Sir Joseph to keep an eye on Lady Louisa, then realize that they belong together, despite threatening notes and looming scandals. As Louisa and Joseph try to avoid gossip, love, and their inevitable marriage, Burrowes concocts a fun Regency Christmas romance to add to her sparkling Windham series (The Virtuoso, 2011). Humor, strong female characters, and fresh situations are hallmarks of this award-winning author, and readers will regret that there are only a few remaining Windham siblings. Fans of Amanda Quick and Loretta Chase will enjoy Burrowes.

— Amy Alessio

Savage Hunger.

Spear, Terry (Author)

Oct 2012. 352 p. Sourcebooks/Casablanca, paperback, $7.99. (9781402266928).

Spear has left the werewolves of her past novels (Dreaming of the Wolf,2011) and turned to felines. Connor Anderson and his twin sister, Maya, inherited the ability to transform into jaguars from their parents, the only other shifters they have ever known. In the Amazon, Connor uses both his jaguar and human abilities to save the life of steely army captain Kathleen McKnight. Obsessed with Kat, he returns to the Amazon a year later and is surprised to find that she has returned to the jungle in search of him and his “pet jaguar.” Kat and Maya become fast friends, and the attraction between Connor and Kat is irresistible, even in the face of Kat’s troubled past and Connor’s dual nature. The strength of Spear’s writing lies in her ability to keep the reader emotionally in tune with the characters despite the unfamiliar terrain of both the deep jungle and the supernatural elements. Spear’s lush descriptions of the Amazon, and a few tantalizing loose ends, will leave readers hungry for more time in paradise.

— Amber Peckham

The Trouble with Highlanders.

Wine, Mary (Author)

Oct 2012. 320 p. Sourcebooks/Casablanca, paperback, $6.99. (9781402264740).

In fifteenth-century Scotland, Highland rulers cannot marry for love. In Wine’s sequel to The Highlander’s Prize (2012), heiress Daphne MacLeod and earldom heir Norris Sutherland understand this. Previously, Norris bedded Daphne as a favor when her fiancé wanted to marry another. The one-time deed shouldn’t have affected them, but although they burn with the memory, neither can act on their attraction. After Daphne’s clan has been attacked and left starving, she sees it as her duty to lead until her brother can take over. Norris’ father wants his son to make a politically advantageous marriage, bringing numerous potential brides for him to inspect. When Daphne is captured by a rival clan and Norris rescues her, she becomes a distraction as well as a rival for one determined bridal candidate. How can Norris persuade his father and their people that Daphne is the right woman for him? Wine’s crisp writing, intricate plot, and deep insights into clan politics make this a fun and satisfying read, even for those who aren’t Highlander fans.

— Pat Henshaw

Sultry with a Twist.

Beckett, Macy (Author)

Oct 2012. 320 p. Sourcebooks/Casablanca, paperback, $6.99. (9781402270369).

June Augustine sells her condo and almost all of her worldly goods in order to become co-owner of Luquos, a martini bar in Austin, Texas. Everything is set for a splendid grand opening when June gets word that there’s an outstanding warrant for her arrest. She and Luke Gallagher, teens in love, were caught skinny-dipping by one of Sultry Springs, Texas’ finest. Now old charges of lewd conduct and indecent exposure hang over June’s head, and Sultry Springs’ wily judge has ordered her to stay and do community service before she can get back to the business of opening her bar. Since she’s already failed at mowing the lawn for the Holy Baptism by Hellfire Church, she’s left with her only other option: helping Luke fix houses. There’s lots of unabashed matchmaking going on in Sultry Springs, and there’s no way June and Luke can escape it. Beckett’s clever book is full of both humor and pathos and will appeal to readers of either bent.

— Shelley Mosley

November

A Wedding in Apple Grove.

Admirand, C. H. (Author)

Nov 2012. 352 p. Sourcebooks/Casablanca, paperback, $6.99. (9781402268991).

In the first book in Admirand’s sexy and fun new series, Welcome to Apple Grove, Meg Mulcahy and her sisters run a home-repair business. Meg loves the small town of Apple Grove, Ohio. She has even kept up a relationship for years with her high-school sweetheart, getting together whenever he comes back to town. Then, at a friend’s wedding, she literally falls into Daniel Eagan’s arms. The new high-school coach is moving to be near his aunt in Apple Grove and trying to escape his old life after his fiancée ended up engaged to his best friend. Dan’s house needs repairs, but so does his heart, and he is scared of his feelings for Meg as their chemistry clicks and their encounters grow steamy. Recipes and vivid minor characters, including Meg’s friend Honey and her online-dating adventures, add to the enjoyable mix. Admirand’s series will be popular, especially with fans of Susan Wiggs and Janet Chapman.

— Amy Alessio

WOMEN’S FICTION

October

From Notting Hill with Love . . . Actually.

McNamara, Ali (Author)

Oct 2012. 432 p. Sourcebooks/Landmark, paperback, $14.99. (9781402269486).

McNamara’s fun tribute to the pictures, cinema lover Scarlett O’Brien doesn’t have anything to run from, exactly. She has a successful fiancé and a business she owns with her father. But lately, her tendency to daydream is worrying those closest to her. Scarlett’s friends and family agree that some time away from sleepy Stratford-upon-Avon could help bring Scarlett back to reality before her imminent wedding to David. Scarlett jumps at an opportunity to house-sit in posh Notting Hill, excited to prove that her love of movies isn’t a hindrance at all, because real life can be just like all her favorite romantic comedies. In London she quickly befriends her colorful neighbors and, before she knows it, loses count of the times her new life mimics a scene from Bridget Jones’ Diary or The Holiday. Complicating matters, however, is neighbor Sean, about whom Scarlett can’t decide how to feel and who helps her unravel the mystery of the mother she never knew. Readers will guess to the end and enjoy the sweet setting and abundant rom-com references.

— Annie Bostrom

November

A Walk in the Park.

Mansell, Jill (Author)

Nov 2012. 448 p. Sourcebooks/Casablanca, paperback, $14.00. (9781402269943).

In popular British comedic author Mansell’s latest, Lara Carson, who was forced out of her home at 16, has now returned to Bath after her father’s death. No one knew she was pregnant when she left, and now she and her teenage daughter, Gigi, take up residence in Lara’s childhood home. She picks right up where she left off with her best friend, Evie, who moves in with them after she breaks up with her philandering fiancé. Then there’s Lara’s first love, Flynn, Gigi’s unsuspecting father. What follows is a fun, lighthearted story about making a family of friends. Though Lara and Flynn’s rekindled romance is inevitable, it’s the sometimes bizarre departures Mansell concocts that make the story interesting. Take a side plot, for example, about the group’s unlikely friendship with a famous American rapper filming a reality show in Britain. Mansell excels at the ensemble romantic comedy, and her quirky but endearing characters shine once again.

— Aleksandra Walker

A Royal Pain.

Mulry, Megan (Author)

Nov 2012. 352 p. Sourcebooks/Landmark, paperback, $14.99. (9781402269974).

Career woman Bronte Talbott never intends for sexy Brit Max Hayworth to be anything other than her TM—transitional man. But as the Duke of Northrop, Max wasn’t raised to be the “love-’em-and-leave- ’em” type that has burned Bronte in the past. The two meet in a Chicago bookstore eight weeks before Max finishes his doctoral work and has to return to England to assume his title. Max is reluctant to reveal his lineage when he discovers that Bronte is obsessed with the royals, but the sudden death of his father reveals his secret, and Bronte realizes that it is she who will be making a transition. Mulry, a newcomer to the romance genre, moves between the perspectives of Max and Bronte with perfect timing, and their relationship is believable in its idiosyncrasies. Though the premise may be that of a fairy tale, the very human characters keep the plot fresh, funny, and engaging, with Mulry’s lavish descriptions of fashion an added bonus.

— Amber Peckham

Julie Ann Walker’s debut military romantic suspense novel, Hell on Wheels (August, 9781402267130) was featured in a romance round up in The Chicago Tribune last Friday, both in print and online:

Fresh start, hidden identity keep these romance books lively

By John Charles

Hell on Wheels" by Julie Ann Walker, Sourcebooks Casablanca, $6.99 paperback

Nate "Ghost" Weller will do anything to keep his old buddy Grigg Morgan's sister Ali safe after she becomes the target of a U.S. senator with a deadly secret. Walker expertly fuses high-adrenaline thrills with high octane romance in this riveting debut.

You can see the entire round up here.

The Chicago Tribune has a daily circulation of 414,590, and ChicagoTribune.com receives 3,212,510 unique visitors a month!

This week’s issue of Publishers Weekly features great review of various romance novels, and includes a wonderful starred review of the first book in a new Victorian romance series by Grace Burrowes, The Bridegroom Wore Plaid (December, 9781402268663)!

The other titles reviewed in this issue are Untamed by Sara Humphreys (November, 9781402258497), A Wedding in Apple Grove by CH Admirand (November, 9781402268991), and A Walk in the Park by Jill Mansell (November, 9781402269943).

STARRED REVIEW: The Bridegroom Wore Plaid

Grace Burrowes. Sourcebooks Casablanca, $7.99 mass market (384p) ISBN 978-1-4022-6866-3

Burrowes (Lady Louisa’s Christmas Knight) shifts from Regency England to Victorian Scotland with this delightful series kickoff. Highlander Ian MacGregor, the impoverished earl of Balfour, is resigned to marrying an English heiress, Eugenia Daniels, for the sake of his clan. In truth, he’d rather spend time with Augusta Merrick, Eugenia’s spinster cousin and chaperone. Augusta tries to help Ian court her reluctant cousin, but their mutual attraction keeps getting in the way. Hopes for a happy ending are complicated by secrets that put Augusta’s life in danger, requiring the cooperation of both extended families to set things right. Historical details enrich Burrowes’s intimate and erotic story, but the real stars are her vibrant characters and her masterful ear for dialogue. Burrowes is superb at creating connections that feel honest and real, and the side romances for Ian’s siblings, treated with the same tenderness and care as her central pair, makes this tale even sweeter. Agent: Steve Axelrod, Axelrod Literary Agency. (Dec.)

Reviewed on: 09/03/2012

Permalink: http://www.publishersweekly.com/978-1-4022-6866-3 (978-1-4022-6866-3)

Untamed

Sara Humphreys. Sourcebooks Casablanca, $6.99 mass market (320p) ISBN 978-1-4022-5849-7

In the compelling third installment of the paranormal Amoveo Legends series (after Untouched and Unleashed), Humphreys pairs a feisty photographer with an uptight corporate lawyer. Unlike the heroines of the previous books, Layla Nickelsen knows she is part Amoveo and has a fated mate, but is fiercely determined to live life on her own terms (“Fate can kiss my ass,” she snaps when she encounters her mate in the dream realm). William Fleury, previously baffled by love, comes to realize that Layla is his preordained other half, sparking a range of conflicting feelings, including fear over not being in control. Complicating the situation are Purists, who hate “hybrid” Amoveo—those with one human parent, such as Layla—and will stop at nothing to destroy them. Deft world-building and sensuous love scenes make this paranormal romantic thriller an enjoyable journey. Agent: Jeanne Forte Dube, Forte Associates. (Nov.)

Reviewed on: 09/03/2012

Permalink: http://www.publishersweekly.com/978-1-4022-5849-7 (978-1-4022-5849-7)

A Wedding in Apple Grove

C.H. Admirand. Sourcebooks Casablanca, $6.99 mass market (352p) ISBN 978-1-4022-6899-1

Admirand’s small-town series launch lacks conflict but more than makes up for it with raw charm. Fiery redhead Meg Mulcahy needs to let go of her stale hopes for a future with errant pro football player Jimmy Van Orden and open her eyes to the appeal of Dan Eagan, because it’s obvious that the prettiest handywoman in Apple Gove, Ohio, and its new high school phys ed teacher are meant to be. Obvious, that is, to everyone but them. Neither can see anything beyond their own emotional baggage: Dan’s faithless ex makes him reluctant to trust, and Meg stubbornly clings to that on-again, mostly off-again thing with Jimmy. Lucky for them, the town meddlers keep pushing them together. This one is not so much a nail-biter as one to read while the pedicure dries. Agent: Eric Ruben, Eric W. Ruben. (Nov.)

Reviewed on: 09/03/2012

Permalink: http://www.publishersweekly.com/978-1-4022-6899-1 (978-1-4022-6899-1)

A Walk in the Park

Jill Mansell. Sourcebooks Landmark, $14 trade paper (448p) ISBN 978-1-4022-6994-3

Mansell (Nadia Knows Best) charmingly mixes her trademark British chick lit style with a web of poignant love stories. Lara Carson moves back to her Bath hometown 18 years after she abruptly left, with her teenage daughter, Gigi, in tow. Lara’s close childhood friend Evie is about to marry local heartbreaker Joel Barber until she learns he cheated on her; fortunately hotel proprietor Ethan is there to soothe her sorrow. Lara’s dealing with her own explosive news when her high school flame, Flynn Erskine, returns to town and Lara feels obliged to reveal that Gigi is his daughter. Elsewhere, rapper EnjaySeven drags Lara’s longtime friend Harry Wells, a mild-mannered shopkeeper, into his reality TV series, leading the two to embark on their own unlikely romance. Quirky secondary characters add texture to the tale as each couple stumbles along—most, though not all, eventually finding settled happiness. Mansell deftly weaves a sweet and pleasant story. Agent: Jane Judd, Jane Judd Literary Agency. (Nov.)

Reviewed on: 09/03/2012

Permalink: http://www.publishersweekly.com/978-1-4022-6994-3 (978-1-4022-6994-3)

Eric Kester, author of the memoir That Book About Harvard, was featured this weekend in The Boston Globe and on CNN commenting on news of a recent Harvard cheating scandal.

The story made the front page of Friday’s Boston Globe:

“Harvard officials said they could not remember another cheating episode of this magnitude. But in a new memoir, “That Book About Harvard,” 2008 graduate Eric Kester writes that his classmates frequently copied one another’s math and science problem sets and shared test answers in campus bathrooms.”

Kester was also a guest on CNN on Sunday. The video is not available, but you can read a full transcript of his interview: http://edition.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/1209/02/cnr.05.html.

Harlan Cohen and his books, New York Times bestseller The Naked Roommate and The Naked Roommate: For Parents Only were featured in an article in Canada’s The Globe and Mail.

The newspaper asked college students to submit the things their parents do that irks them the most, and then Harlan explained the parents’ behavior and made recommendations on how both parents and students could deal with it.

The Globe and Mail is based in Toronto and is the second largest newspaper in Canada.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/parenting/back-to-school/you-said-it-what-irks-students-the-most/article4510370/?cmpid=rss1

Harlan Cohen, The Naked Roommate and The Naked Roommate: For Parents Only were featured in a Chicago Tribune article that focused on back-to-school spending at the college level.

http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2012-08-28/features/sc-fam-0828-less-is-more-20120828_1_higher-education-america-s-research-group-parents/2

Library Journal highlighted The Dog Lived (and So Will I) by Teresa Rhyne as one of the books included (with cover image) in the publication’s Breast Cancer Roundup (Sept. 1 issue).

At 41, California lawyer Rhyne was twice divorced and had lost two dogs, so she was sure relationships of the romantic and pet variety were off her docket. Still, she couldn’t deny her affinity for a much younger man or the pull of an abandoned (and controlling) beagle, Chris and Seamus, respectively. When Seamus was diagnosed with cancer, Rhyne developed her tough-talking “hospital personality” to deal with medical personnel and situations. Then she herself was diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer, and all bets were off. This delightfully wisecracking memoir (also the title of Rhyne’s blog) will renew the spirits of cancer survivors as well as dog lovers. For health and pet collections.

http://reviews.libraryjournal.com/2012/08/books/nonfic/sci-tech/breast-cancer-roundup-sept-1-2012/

Publishers Weekly said of the book in a July review… “This encouraging tale of finding love and hope in unexpected places is full of small yet valuable life lessons that any animal-lover would appreciate.”

The October issue of RT Book Reviews is now available to subscribers, and we're pleased to report that in addition to the Julie Ann Walker cover story, we also have nine books reviewed in the magazine!

Romance
Rev It Up by Julie Ann Walker, 4 Stars
Savage Hunger by Terry Spear, 4 Stars
Lady Louisa’s Christmas Knight by Grace Burrowes, 4 Stars
Mistletoe Cowboy by Carolyn Brown, 4 Stars
The Trouble with Highlanders by Mary Wine, 4 Stars
Sultry with a Twist by Macy Beckett, 4 Stars
Miss Lavigne’s Little White Lie by Samantha Grace, 3 Stars

Fiction
The Shadowy Horses by Susanna Kearsley, 3 Stars

Young Adult
Stealing Parker by Miranda Kenneally, 4 Stars

Full reviews pasted below. Congrats to all of the authors!

RT BOOK REVIEWS – OCTOBER 2012
SOURCEBOOKS REVIEWS

ROMANCE

REV IT UP
by Julie Ann Walker
Genre: Romantic Suspense, General Romantic Suspense
Sensuality: HOT

  RT Rating: 4 Stars
Review: With its seductive scenes and edge-of-your-seat action, the third installment in the Black Knights Inc. series takes readers on yet another wild and exciting ride through the gritty streets of Chicago. Jake is a surfer dude turned sexy SEAL whose character leaps off the page. Readers will appreciate his patience and determination when it comes to winning Michelle back. It won’t be easy, though, as Michelle is tough as nails. This duo’s spark is hot enough to start a wildfire, so be sure to have some water handy!

The last person Michelle Carter ever expected to see again was Jake “the Snake” Sommers. When he slithered out of town four years ago, she forced herself to move on, but now that he’s back Michelle’s world is once again turned upside down. Jake knows he screwed up in the past and is determined to show Michelle that he’s a changed man. When he’s assigned the task of protecting her from hit men, he sees it as a golden opportunity to prove to her that, whether she likes it or not, he’s here to stay. (SOURCEBOOKS, Oct., 352 pp., $6.99)
Reviewed By: Spencer A. Freeman

SAVAGE HUNGER
by Terry Spear
Genre: Paranormal/Urban Fantasy, Paranormal Romance
Sensuality: HOT

  RT Rating: 4 Stars
Review: This well-written paranormal romance, featuring a couple that sizzles right off the page, is perfect for a relaxing afternoon read. High on sensuality and possessing an interesting shifter mythology, this start to Spear’s new series will more than please fans of the genre.

The Amazon jungle holds many dangers, as Kathleen McKnight well knows after her mission to bring down a drug cartel goes horribly wrong, leaving her the only survivor on her team. Determined to find the mysterious man who saved her, she returns to the jungle a year later only to find it holds more secrets than she could have ever imagined. Since saving Kathleen, jaguar shifter Connor Anderson hasn’t been able to get her out of his mind. When she returns to the jungle to seek him out, he only knows one thing: that he must claim her for his own. (SOURCEBOOKS, Oct., 352 pp., $7.99)
Reviewed By: KT Clapsadl

LADY LOUISA'S CHRISTMAS KNIGHT
by Grace Burrowes
Genre: Regency Period, Historical Romance, England
Sensuality: HOT

  RT Rating: 4 Stars
Review: Another lavish and seductive Christmas treat arrives in The Duke’s Daughter series, with a cast of delightfully charming and lovable characters embarking on a journey to love. There’s laughter and wit, holiday charm and poignancy, passion and scandal as Burrowes crafts yet another winning romance.

Louisa Windham should have married some time ago. The only thing stopping her is a teeny secret — 200 of them, actually: small red books that hold a wealth of illicit poetry. Then a nasty fortune hunter puts her and her secret in jeopardy. Sir Joseph Carrington has been a friend of the Windhams for years, but until he defends Louisa’s honor he never considered romancing her. With all the mistletoe and waltzes under the stars, not even his war injuries, or his own secret, can stop the holiday magic. Is Joseph and Louisa’s newfound, snow-kissed love enough to defeat one man’s intense greed? (SOURCEBOOKS, Oct., 359 pp., $7.99)
Reviewed By: Anne Black

MISTLETOE COWBOY
by Carolyn Brown
Genre: Contemporary Romance, General Contemporary Romance
Sensuality: HOT

  RT Rating: 4 Stars
Review: ‘Tis the season for hunky cowboys and Brown has delivered one right to us! Creed Riley is as handsome as he is hardworking, and he certainly knows how to haul hay. The vivid canyon descriptions work in perfect harmony with the snowy Christmas setting, painting an idyllic portrayal of life on a ranch. While Creed is an old-school cowboy through and through, Sage certainly knows how to shake things up with her smart mouth and take-no-prisoners attitude. With its authentic Texan characters and winter backdrop, Mistletoe Cowboy is a holiday treat to be savored.

After Creed Riley buys a ranch from a sweet old lady, he plans to familiarize himself with the place while enjoying some peace and quiet. Instead, what he gets is the old woman’s granddaughter, Sage Presley, a spitfire who’s none too pleased about the recent change of ownership. When the two get stuck in a snowstorm for two weeks, sparks and insults fly as they catch a case of serious cabin fever. However, when combined with a stray cat and dog and a few sprigs of mistletoe, Creed and Sage soon have the makings of their own Christmas miracle. (SOURCEBOOKS, Oct., 352 pp., $7.99)
Reviewed By: Spencer A. Freeman

THE TROUBLE WITH HIGHLANDERS
by Mary Wine
Genre: Historical Romance, Scotland
Sensuality: HOT
Setting: 1488 Scotland

  RT Rating: 4 Stars
Review: Wine’s understanding of the Highlands is fantastic, and she skillfully shares this with readers through her well-developed characters, their dialogue and the descriptions that also propel the story. Her alpha hero is a man who is hard, yet gentle, tamed by a strong-willed heroine romance fans will love. Readers are drawn into their romance, as Wine weaves her wonderful tale around them.

Daphne MacLeod gave herself to Norris Sutherland so her betrothed would renounce her and wed another. When Norris shows up on her doorstep, Daphne doesn’t know whether to be happy or angry. Norris wants her back in his bed and will do whatever he can to convince her. Then, Daphne’s neighbor kidnaps her, attempting to force her into marriage. Norris comes to her rescue, finding her badly beaten. He brings her home, vowing to be her protector. Daphne leaves with Norris for his castle, where their relationship strengthens, but others are determined to ruin them and frame Daphne for Norris’ father’s sudden illness. Will he be able to find the evidence to clear Daphne? (SOURCEBOOKS, Oct., 320 pp., $6.99)
Reviewed By: Jill Brager

SULTRY WITH A TWIST
by Macy Beckett
Genre: Contemporary Romance, General Contemporary Romance
Sensuality: HOT

  RT Rating: 4 Stars
Review: First in the new Sultry Springs series, this second-chance-at-love story has heaping doses of heart, passion and laughter. The well-drawn characters and setting give this story a depth that makes it pop off the page. However, it misses the keeper shelf with a few sour notes, including a rushed ending, a couple of stock characters and some jarring dialogue.

Nine years after running from Sultry Springs, TX, June Augustine is realizing her dream of opening a martini bar — until a trumped-up warrant forces her to spend a month doing community service in her hometown. Then she finds out she’ll be working with Luke Gallagher, the boy who broke her heart.

Luke is a man who has a lot of reasons to be afraid to fall in love. That doesn’t stop him from getting intimate with June — until she says the L word. He tries to drive her away, but she isn’t giving up without a fight. To prove to Luke that he is lovable, June is willing to do anything, because without Luke in her life, nothing else matters. (SOURCEBOOKS, Oct., 320 pp., $6.99)
Reviewed By: M.H. Morrison

MISS LAVIGNE'S LITTLE WHITE LIE
by Samantha Grace
Genre: Regency Period, Historical Romance, England
Sensuality: MILD
Setting: Regency England

  RT Rating: 3 Stars
Review: Gifted writer Grace just misses the mark with the third in her Beau Monde Bachelor series. The characters are colorful, the research on target, but the plot contains few surprises, with a desperate heroine and a rogue captain traveling from New Orleans to London.

Lisette Lavigne runs away before her wedding, before her fiancé can commit her brother to an asylum for his inheritance. Captain Daniel Hillary is willing to give passage to the curvy “widow” in return for her companionship during the voyage. A deal is struck, but Daniel proves a gentleman. Lisette is far from safe with a madman in hot pursuit, and though Daniel marries her to protect her, she is still a target. The newlyweds reach London safely but are met by peril. (SOURCEBOOKS, Oct., 416 pp., $6.99)
Reviewed By: Maria Ferrer

FICTION

THE SHADOWY HORSES
by Susanna Kearsley
Genre: Mainstream, General Mainstream Fiction

  RT Rating: 3 Stars
Review: This poetic novel will seduce readers with its beautiful prose and lush, vivid descriptions of the Scotland shore. From the moment Verity arrives in Scotland for the first time, to the very last page, readers will lose themselves in this mysterious ghost story that challenges the darkest secrets of families. Although this novel has an enchanting quality, the plot itself stretches so long and thin that readers may not feel surprised by the end. Overall, a satisfactory read that will leave readers feeling content.

Archaeologist Verity Grey is thrilled to participate in the excavation of a site on Scottish shores that once housed Roman soldiers. Shortly after being hired by the intelligent and slightly eccentric Peter Quinnell, she learns that her excavation team is not so much searching for artifacts and remnants of the Roman campsite, but more specifically, the Roman ghosts themselves who supposedly haunt the site. After experiencing some run-ins with a protective Roman ghost known as the Sentinel, Verity puts her scientific beliefs aside and begins to focus more on the warnings that the ghost is trying to convey. (SOURCEBOOKS, Oct., 432 pp., $16.99)
Reviewed By: Sarah Eisenbraun

YOUNG ADULT

STEALING PARKER
by Miranda Kenneally
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary Young Adult

  RT Rating: 4 Stars
Review: Kenneally has hit a home run! She uses a deft hand to deal with big issues: a complex sexual dynamic, a volatile family situation and a crisis of faith. Solidly developed and lovable characters, a complex plot and some humor make this a great read. With all the romance-based YA out there, Kenneally definitely stands apart.

When her mother came out last year and her parents divorced, it ruined Parker’s life. Her church rejected her, friends distanced themselves and everyone gossiped. Determined to prove she’s nothing like her mother, Parker starts making out with different guys each weekend, ignoring her growing reputation. When she develops a forbidden romance with the 23-year-old assistant boy’s baseball coach, Parker knows she’s in trouble, but she can’t seem to stop herself. When a wake-up call comes in the form of a life-or-death disaster, Parker must find the inner strength and faith to move forward — or collapse under the weight of her own mistakes. (SOURCEBOOKS, 256 pp., $8.99, ISBN: 9781402271878, PB, 13 & Up)
Reviewed By: Raven Haller

An excellent review of Fed Up with Frenzy by Susan Sachs Lipman (August) was featured on Parents.com! Parents.com gets over 1.5 million unique visitors per month, and Parents is one of the top parenting magazines in the nation with a circulation of over 2 million. 

Read More: Fed Up with Frenzy: Slow Parenting in a Fast-Moving World

Time.com interviewed Fed Up With Frenzy author Susan Sachs Lipman to discuss her book and The Slow Parenting Movement in an article titled ‘Slow Parenting’: Why a Mom is ‘Fed Up with Frenzy’.  Time.com receives over 3 million unique visitors per month and Time Magazine has a circulation of over 3 million. Much more to come for this book!

Foxnews.com interviewed 1000 Best Tips For ADHD author Dr. Susan Ashley for an article titled 5 questions to ask before starting your child on ADHD medication! Foxnews.com receives over 22 million unique visitors per month.

Harlan Cohen and The Naked Roommate: For Parents Only were featured in the latest post on Education Week’s College Bound blog (100,000+ unique monthly visitors).

New York Times bestselling author Harlan Cohen was a guest on ABC Chicago Weekend News on Sunday to talk about Tips for the New College Parent from The Naked Roommate: For Parents Only.

School Library Journal's Curriculum Connections e-newsletter on August 7 featured a roundup of 18 resources for college-bound students – and six of those featured were Sourcebooks and Prufrock Press titles!

 COHEN, Harlan. The Naked Roommate: And 107 Other Issues You Might Run Into in College. 4th ed. Sourcebooks. 2011.
Speaking with a just-right mix of humor and authority, Cohen introduces newbie college students to the nitty-gritty of life on campus with advice on dealing with roommates (naked and otherwise), managing finances, going to (and missing) class, navigating the pitfalls of sex and drugs, and other important topics. Parents will want to have the companion volume The Naked Roommate: For Parents Only (2012) on hand, while those planning freshman orientation might want to consider adding The Naked Roommate’s First Year Survival Workbook: The Ultimate Tools for a College Experience with More Fun, Less Stress, and Top Success (2012) to their list of resources.

GARTON, Christie. U Chic: The College Girl’s Guide to Everything. updated 2nd ed. Sourcebooks. 2011.
The “Everything” in this title embraces choosing a major and deciding upon grad school, but the decided emphasis is on all things social, including Facebook etiquette, online dating, partying, hooking-up, sororities, keeping fit, and staying safe. This friendly, big-sister-toned advice is packaged with a bright pink cover.

SHAEVITZ, Marjorie Hansen. Admission Possible: The “Dare To Be Yourself” Guide for Getting into the Best Colleges for You. Sourcebooks. 2012.
Chock-full of user-friendly and student-centered advice on extracurricular activities, admission essays, letters of recommendation, test taking, and everything else students and parents need to know about the admissions process, this is the guide a motivated high school freshman will want to own.

HEWITT, Doug & Robin Hewitt. Get Into College in 3 Months or Less. Prufrock Press. 2011.
Written by a husband-and-wife team with personal experience steering their own teens through the college admission process, this slim but information-packed guide completely covers the basics while urging readers along with a cheerful can-do attitude. While geared to teens who’ve arrived at the college decision late in the game, all academia-bound students will find it useful.

SIMPSON, Cynthia G. & Vicky G. Spencer. College Success for Students with Learning Disabilities: Strategies and Tips to Make the Most of Your College Experience. Prufrock Press. 2009.
In order for IEPs to reflect the necessary goals, college planning for students with learning disabilities ought to begin in eighth grade. In a conversational tone, interspersed with lists of tips, tables, and worksheets, the authors guide students (and parents and counselors) through practical considerations while emphasizing that student self-advocacy is essential. Boxes labeled “Learning to Ask the Right Questions” with need-to-know items are especially useful.

TIEDEMANN, Chris Wise. College Success for Students with Physical Disabilities. Prufrock Press. 2012.
As the mother of a son with cerebral palsy and founder of the website, Disability Friendly Colleges, the author offers hard-won insight into planning for college, what to expect, finding a school, preparing for college life, academic achievement, and personal concerns and services in six well-organized chapters, each of which incorporates the first-hand experiences of four students with different disabilities.

“A delightful love story… worth reading again and again.”

A Royal Pain

Megan Mulry. Sourcebooks Landmark, $14.99 trade paper (352p) ISBN 978-1-4022-6997-4

Mulry debuts with a delightful love story between Bronte Talbott and her modern-day duke. Bronte loves everything pop culture, including—perhaps especially—“royal gazing,” mostly because it annoys her intellectual father. After a disastrous relationship with “Mr. Texas,” for whom Bronte moved from her beloved New York to Chicago, advertising exec Bronte meets Max Heyworth, a “lovely young gentleman from England” and doctorial student in economics at the University of Chicago. It’s not long into their whirlwind romance before Max wants to marry Bronte. Only two problems stand in their way: Bronte doesn’t know that Max, who lives like a pauper, is actually the 19th duke of Northrop, and Bronte has some serious issues to work through, not the least of which being, once she does find out, deciding whether she even wants the life of a duchess. This delectable story, a little reminiscent of the movie The Prince and Me, is all about second chances and every girl’s secret fantasy of marrying the perfect guy. Mulry creates a completely fleshed-out character in Bronte, with her insecurity issues and her envious good luck. She and the other characters make this charming book worth reading again and again. Agent: Allison Hunter, Inkwell Management. (Nov.)

Shari Mezrah, sleep expert and author of The Baby Sleeps Tonight, was on FOX News Tampa discussing the topic of co-sleeping.

VIDEO: http://youtu.be/JJkvvEeS0gk

The Baby Sleeps Tonight offers a concise, pocket-sized guide packed with simple effective solutions that rely on a proven model of sleeping success. Sleep schedule specialist Shari Mezrah outlines quick and specific instructions to teach anyone, no matter how sleep deprived, how to create order and happiness in their household by getting baby to sleep through the night by nine weeks.

Sunday’s Sacramento Bee ran a graduation roundup that included short reviews of The Naked Roommate and The Naked Roommate: For Parents Only by Harlan Cohen and U Chic by Christie Garton.

Newsday ran a short review of The Naked Roommate by Harlan Cohen in the Tuesday print edition (cir. 297,000).

What To Read Once You Get In: The Naked Roommate: And 107 Other Issues You Might Run Into in College by Harlan Cohen -“Get the scoop on how to handle some of the issues you might encounter in college – and get a good laugh.”

Nationally syndicated Countdown to College columnist Lee Bierer recommended the Fiske Guide to Colleges in her recent article, “How to Find the ‘Academic Fit’ for You.”

“Do you need or want actively engaged professors and lots of interaction? Check out the Princeton Review, Fiske Guide to Colleges, and College Prowler descriptions and ratings for “Professor Accessibility” as well as the average class size and the student-to-faculty ratio.”

Fiske Interactive is currently one of the featured apps on The Daily App Show!

The Daily App Show features popular and upcoming iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch Applications by providing a video demo of the app. They hold one of the top technology podcast positions in iTunes with over 35,000 daily viewers. Their demo videos are also available through iTunes, Miro, Tivo, AppleTV, and formatted to fit the iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch.