Dear Author: Romance Book Reviews, Author Interviews, and Commentary

A movie and a couple of Golden Hearts headline this week. Other than that, August continues to be slow, deal-wise.

We missed this one a few weeks back. By reading the pages on Courtney Milan’s website, it sounds like a light-hearted, fun story.

Golden Heart Nominee for Breath of Honor Courtney Milan’s PROOF BY SEDUCTION, about a rigidly logical marquis who uses the scientific method to save his heir from the clutches of a fraudulent fortune teller, only to fall for her and discover that the one hypothesis not susceptible to proof is love, to Ann Leslie Tuttleat HQN, in a good deal, at auction, in a two-book deal, by Kristin Nelsonat Nelson Literary Agency(World).

Emily Giffin goes to the big screen. I’m sure this has something to do in part with the success of the Sex and the City movie.

Emily Giffin’s chick lit bestseller SOMETHING BORROWED and sequel SOMETHING BLUE, optioned to Aaron Lubin and Pamela Schein Murphy at Wild Ocean Films, producing with Hilary Swank and Molly Smith at 2S Films, for Alcon Entertainment. (Rights were optioned previously to Palomar Entertainment.)

The Nocturne line seems to be doing well for Harlequin. They definitely have some eye-catching covers.

Bonnie Vanak’s DEADLY TOUCH, about an outcast hero and heroine who is accursed and a second novel, to Ann Leslie Tuttleat HarlequinNocturne, in a nice deal, by Natasha Kernat Natasha Kern Literary Agency(World).

This totally sounds like a chick flick movie.

Marie Force’s SAME TIME SUNDAY, in which a Baltimore prosecutor set to start the biggest trial of his career, meets a hair stylist in the airport on their way to visit their significant others and after each endures a disastrous weekend, reconnect on the flight home, striking up an unlikely friendship that leads to love, to Deb Werksmanat Sourcebooks, for publication in Fall 2009, by Kevan Lyonat the Sandra Dijkstra Literary Agency(World).

I’m not sure what this one is about. It sounds a bit like a tearjerker but the title keeps throwing me off.

Francis Ray’s AND MISTRESS MAKES THREE, in which two friends overcome obstacles like a spiteful ex and a long-ago tragedy to find love and move on, to Monique Pattersonat St. Martin’s, in a good deal, in a two-book deal, for publication in Spring/Summer 2009, by Elaine Kosterat the Elaine Koster Agency(NA).

No details. I’m going to guess by the title that it’s a Regency Romance. Do I win a prize if I’m right?

Tina Sickler’s SCANDALOUS PROPOSITION, to Audrey LaFehrat Kensington, by Mary Sue Seymourat The Seymour Agency.

Again, not a lot of details. I’m going to guess (by the name of the Brotherhood) that this is a Georgian romance. Wild guess. I think Russell’s previous Dorchester books were medievals, however.

Gerri Russell’s books 1 and 2 in the Brotherhood of the Coeur Du Roi series, to Leah Hultenschmidtat Dorchester, in a nice deal, by Pam Ahearnof Ahearn Agency(world).

I like the concept but the whole ‘Cindys’ and ‘Wickeds’ make me think that this book skews a little younger than YA.

2008 Golden Heart winner Kay Cassidy’s THE CINDERELLA SOCIETY, about a secret girl-empowering society where makeover dreams become reality, and the Cindys must face off against the Wickeds for high school supremacy and more, to Regina Griffinat Egmont, in a two-book deal, by Holly Rootat Waxman Literary Agency(NA).