Even the casual Romantic Reader knows of my love for Tuesdays, the day of the week when publishers bestow their best new books upon devoted romance fans. If so, perhaps you've come to look forward to the last Tuesday of summer the way kids anticipate Christmas.The Unfinished Garden by Barbara Claypole White, with its overturned flower pots on the cover and the slight appearance of imperfections, first called my name with the title. Lately, garden-themed novels have been delivering beautifully crafted tales of emotional growth and romantic love - at least the ones I've read have. White's novel didn't immediately grab me, but by the first couple of chapters, the tale of broken-hearted widow Tilly and the man, James, she's trying so hard to avoid, began to take root. By the time Tilly jetted off to England to take care of her mother and her mother's garden, the story had fully blossomed into tale of human foibles and perserverence, served with a side of British-isms and flower-related details. It's a perfect story to say goodbye to summer to.
Anna Randol's debut, Secret in Her Kiss , knocked my socks off last year. With its exotic locale, stiff-upper-lip hero, and ethically divided heroine, Randol catapulted me from my boring Northeast apartment into the romantic world of Constantinople. I enjoyed it so much that her new book, Sins of a Virgin , is at the top of my must-read list for September. Not only does that cover promise a world of delights, but Randol's book is part of Avon's K.I.S.S & Teal event, one that you'll be hearing much more about next week, both here at Heart to Heart and at Romantic Reads.
Stephanie Chong's The Demoness of Waking Dreams is available now, and if you need a reason to read it just check out Caprice Damani's terrific review. Then head on over to peruse Stephanie's answers to my questions, and prepare to fall for this engaging, exciting author. She's creating her own brand of books, with heroines who are technically bad guys and storytelling style that's all her own.Stephanie Chong's Q&A on her new book, THE DEMONESS OF WAKING DREAMS, can be found at Romantic Reads all month!
Melanie Murray is a writer and editor, and the moderator of Romantic Reads, BN.com's all-romance, all-the-time community forum. You can follow her on Twitter at @Melanie_Murray and get all the latest Barnes & Noble book news from @BNBuzz.
