RITA-nominated giveaway: Tote #9

[Ed. note: We continue our RITA® giveaway with our next tote. Be sure to leave your comments on the posts for a chance to win. One tote per winner will be awarded, but you can comment on any post throughout the contest period.]

Kathleen Long, Cold Case Connection
2009 RITA® Finalist for Contemporary Series: Suspense/Adventure

“When TJ asked me what my RITA® nomination meant to me, I must admit I drew a rather big blank. I know that sounds odd. When the phone rang early on the morning of March 25, I was sick in bed and my toddler was sleeping in. Hearing the news I’d been named a RITA® finalist was almost as surreal as my first sale call. The past year for me has been one that makes a person stand back and take stock. I’ve reevaluated direction, representation and dedication. So what does my RITA® final mean to me? It means I keep on keeping on—putting one foot in front of the other, putting one word after another after another after another on the blank page—and loving every moment.

Thank you, TJ, for the chance to stop by and say hello this month! And best of luck to all of the RITA® and GH® nominees! Here’s hoping your names sit printed inside the winner’s envelope, waiting to be revealed.”

About Cold Case Connection:

The case may have gone ice-cold, but the connection between a veteran detective and a rookie agent was burning hot! Cameron Hughes never thought he'd meet his match in a determined but inexperienced undercover agent with a heart of gold. Somehow, though, Lily Christides had got under the detective's incredibly thick skin and wouldn't let go. Now, as they worked 24/7 on two unsolved cases, Cam was finding it increasingly difficult to resist taking her to bed and driving her to the point of no return. Then an elusive killer made it known Lily was next on his list, and Cam's passion turned to protection. Cam knew being her personal bodyguard was the best chance they had at containing the threats to her life. But what force was strong enough to contain their barely controlled attraction?

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Anne Mallory, Three Nights of Sin
2009 RITA® Finalist for Regency Historical Romance

“I sold my first novel as the result of being a finalist in the Golden Heart® contest, and found a lovely group of women to share that joy with in the 2003 finalists (the Wet Noodle Posse). The Golden Heart® will always be near and dear to my heart. The RITA® contest, as the GH's sister, is also encompassed in that. It is wonderful to be nominated and to participate.”

About Three Nights of Sin:

Three nights of danger . . .
When her brother was arrested for murder, the ton shut its doors to Marietta Winters. No one would help her save him from the gallows—no one but Gabriel Noble. In exchange for taking the case, Gabriel requests three favors from the desperate young beauty, and Marietta has no other choice but to make a deal with the sinfully handsome devil.

Three nights of pleasure . . .
Searching for clues in the rough underbelly of London, Marietta must masquerade as a shamelessly wanton wench—much to Gabriel's delight. But Marietta swears to herself that her passionate moans are just for show. She could never fall in love with such a maddening, arrogant, seductive stranger . . . could she?

Three nights of sin . . .
Night after night, she satisfies his wicked cravings. But soon Gabriel wants more from Marietta than just three nights of sin—and even a sordid secret in his past won't prevent him from trying to possess her forever.

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Susanna Kearsley, The Winter Sea
2009 RITA® Finalist for Novel with Strong Romantic Elements

“What does being nominated for the RITA® this year mean to me? So much more than anybody knows. The Winter Sea was such a gift for me to write. The story and characters carried me through the worst months of my life while my sister was dying, and I felt her with me each step of the way. When I’d finished the book I was sure (and still am) that it was the best thing I had written. In London my editor, Lara, agreed, as did the foreign publishers who picked it up. So I felt fairly confident my agent would be able to find someone in New York who’d like The Winter Sea enough to take it on. I was mistaken. I’m not bothered by rejection; no book ever pleases everyone. Some found it too ‘romance-y,’ some thought there was not enough romance, some liked the double story-line, some found it too distracting…but more commonly they all dismissed the book as being out of fashion in the States. ‘I am the only person,’ wrote one editor, ‘still reading and loving this sort of book these days.’ You hear that enough times, you start to believe it.

And that’s why being nominated for the RITA®s this year means so much to me. Because it came exactly when I needed it – a valued hug from strangers saying they still read this sort of book, and they believe it’s good enough to stand with work by authors beside whom I feel so honored and amazed. And win or lose, that's all that matters.”

About The Winter Sea:

History has all but forgotten the spring of 1708, when an invasion fleet of French and Scottish soldiers nearly succeeded in landing the exiled James Stewart in Scotland to reclaim his crown. Now, Carrie McClelland hopes to turn that story into her next bestselling novel. Settling herself in the shadow of Slains Castle, she creates a heroine named for one of her own ancestors, and starts to write. But when she discovers her novel is more fact than fiction, Carrie wonders if she might be dealing with ancestral memory...making her the only living person who can know the truth of what did happen all those years ago - a tale of love and loyalty...and ultimate betrayal.

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Nalini Singh, Mine to Possess
2009 RITA® Finalist for Paranormal Romance

“I am incredibly excited and honored to have been nominated for a RITA®. And given that it's my very first nomination, my excitement levels are multiplied several times over!! I think the exclamation marks say it all. :-)”

About Mine to Possess:

Nalini Singh pulls away another dark layer of sheer desire, revealing passions unknown, in her latest novel about the world of the Psy.

A ghost returns from a leopard changeling’s past, making him question everything—even his base animal instincts…

Clay Bennett is a powerful DarkRiver sentinel, but he grew up in the slums with his human mother, never knowing his changeling father. As a young boy without the bonds of Pack, he tried to stifle his animal nature. He failed...and committed the most extreme act of violence, killing a man and losing his best friend, Talin, in the bloody aftermath. Everything good in him died the day he was told that she, too, was dead.

Talin McKade barely survived a childhood drenched in bloodshed and terror. Now a new nightmare is stalking her life--the street children she works to protect are disappearing and turning up dead. Determined to keep them safe, she unlocks the darkest secret in her heart and returns to ask the help of the strongest man she knows...

Clay lost Talin once. He will not let her go again, his hunger to possess her, a clawing need born of the leopard within. As they race to save the innocent, Clay and Talin must face the violent truths of their past...or lose everything that ever mattered.

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Robin Lee Hatcher, The Perfect Life
2009 RITA® Finalist for Inspirational Romance

“It's always an honor to have a book nominated for a RITA® Award (this is my eighth book to be so honored). I'm pleased to know that my peers felt The Perfect Life deserved to be recognized for excellence in the Inspirational category. One thing I've learned over the course of writing 60+ books is that a writer must take encouragement where she finds it. I'm happy when a book is nominated or wins an award, but I don't allow myself to be too disappointed when it doesn't happen because there are so many other books that deserve to be recognized as well.

The Perfect Life was written during a time of transition, and there were moments when I struggled with the story and feared it would never come together to be the book I wanted it to be. So imagine my delight to know that readers and writers have taken to the story of Katherine and Brad Clarkson and came to care about them as much as I do. Thanks, RWA, for the honor of this nomination.”

About The Perfect Life:

Katherine Clarkson has the perfect life. Married to Brad, a loving and handsome husband, respected in their church and the community. Two grown daughters on the verge of starting families of their own. A thriving ministry. Good friends. A comfortable life.

She has it all--until the day a reporter appears with shocking allegations. Splashed across the local news are accusations of Brad's financial impropriety at his foundation and worse, an affair with a former employee. Without warning, Katherine's marriage is shattered and her family torn apart. The reassuring words she's spoken to many brokenhearted women over the years offer little comfort now.

Her world spinning, Katherine wonders if she can find the truth in the chaos that consumes her. How can she survive the loss of what she thought was the perfect life?

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IMHO: That's it for today, folks. Be sure to leave a comment for our authors if you want a chance to win this tote, and tune in Friday for the final featured RITA® nominees!  

TJB