Celebrating Best First Books

The Get Lost in a Story crew sends our CONGRATULATIONS to the

THE ANATOMIST'S WIFE
Anna Lee Huber
Scotland, 1830. Following the death of her husband, Lady Darby has taken refuge at her sister's estate, finding solace in her passion for painting. But when her hosts throw a house party for the cream of London society, Kiera is unable to hide from the ire of those who believe her to be as unnatural as her husband, an anatomist who used her artistic talents to suit his own macabre purposes.

Penguin Group USA, Berkley Publishing Group 
Michelle Vega, editor

Kiera wants to put her past aside, but when one of the house guests is murdered, her brother-in-law asks her to utilize her knowledge of human anatomy to aid the insufferable Sebastian Gage-a fellow guest with some experience as an inquiry agent. While Gage is clearly more competent than she first assumed, Kiera isn't about to let her guard down as accusations and rumors swirl.

When Kiera and Gage's search leads them to even more gruesome discoveries, a series of disturbing notes urges Lady Darby to give up the inquiry. But Kiera is determined to both protect her family and prove her innocence, even as she risks becoming the next victim...

Anna is also a finalist in the Novel with Strong Romantic Elements category.

MULTIPLE CHANCES through Rafflecopter to win an autographed copy of Anna Lee Huber's THE ANATOMIST'S WIFE. Start by leaving a comment.
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CRAZY LITTLE THING
Tracy Brogan

If Sadie Turner is good at anything, it’s putting stuff in order. So when she finds her “perfect” life in disarray, she hopes a summer vacation at her aunt’s lake house will help her piece it back together. She wants to relax, reboot, and heal the wounds left by her cheating ex-husband. And that requires time away from men. All men.

Or so she thinks.

Amazon Publishing, Montlake Romance 

Kelli Martin, editor

With two slobbering dogs and two cousins living there—one a flamboyant decorator intent on making over Sadie—it’s hard to get a moment’s peace at eccentric Aunt Dody’s house, especially with everyone so determined to set her up with Desmond, the sexy new neighbor.

Desmond is Sadie’s worst nightmare. Tall, tanned, muscular…and to top it off, he’s great with her kids. But he must have a flaw—he’s a man—so Sadie vows to keep her distance.

As summer blazes on, the life Sadie is trying so hard to simplify only becomes more complicated—a new career presents itself, her evil ex haunts her, and Aunt Dody reveals a tragic secret—but maybe a little chaos is just what Sadie needs to get her life back in order.

MULTIPLE CHANCES through Rafflecopter to win autographed copies of Tracy Brogan's CRAZY LITTLE THING, HIGHLAND SURRENDER, & HOLD ON MY HEART. (north America) Start by leaving a comment.

*Please note, the delivery of Tracy's giveaway will take a couple of weeks. Thanks.

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FIRELIGHT
Kristen Callihan
London, 1881
Once the flames are ignited . . . 
Miranda Ellis is a woman tormented. Plagued since birth by a strange and powerful gift, she has spent her entire life struggling to control her exceptional abilities. Yet one innocent but irreversible mistake has left her family's fortune decimated and forced her to wed London's most nefarious nobleman.

Grand Central Publishing, Forever
Alex Logan, editor

They will burn for eternity . . . 
Lord Benjamin Archer is no ordinary man. Doomed to hide his disfigured face behind masks, Archer knows it's selfish to take Miranda as his bride. Yet he can't help being drawn to the flame-haired beauty whose touch sparks a passion he hasn't felt in a lifetime. When Archer is accused of a series of gruesome murders, he gives in to the beastly nature he has fought so hard to hide from the world. But the curse that haunts him cannot be denied. Now, to save his soul, Miranda will enter a world of dark magic and darker intrigue. For only she can see the man hiding behind the mask.

Kristen is also a finalist in the Paranormal category.
Previously on GLIAS
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FORGED IN FIRE
Trish McCallan
Beth Brown doesn't believe in premonitions. But her recent dream feels too real to ignore: a commercial airliner is hijacked, and a handsome passenger is shot dead. Beth hasn't met the mystery man in her dream; she would never forget a gorgeous face like his. But she can’t deny the bizarre connection she feels. Now awake, and unable to allow for the violence she’s convinced is impending, she races to the airport…and comes face to face with the man of her dreams.

Amazon Publishing, Montlake Romance
Lindsay Guzzardo, editor

Zane Winters lives for his job, using his uncanny psychic powers to carry out missions for elite SEAL Team 7. Yet the constant adrenaline highs can’t drown out the numbness seeping into his life as he yearns to find a woman he can trust. All that changes when he meets a beautiful stranger who sets his soul on fire—and somehow knows he’s about to die.

To thwart the global crisis the hijacking will unleash, Beth and Zane join forces. But even amid the danger, they can’t deny the powerful force drawing them together. Is it merely attraction…or destiny?

Trish is also a finalist in the Romantic Suspense category.

Website


GHOST PLANET
Sharon Lynn Fisher
A world in peril. A bond deeper than love.

Psychologist Elizabeth Cole prepared for the worst when she accepted a job on a newly discovered world - a world where every colonist is tethered to an alien who manifests in the form of a dead loved one. But she never expected she'd struggle with the requirement to shun these “ghosts.” She never expected to be so attracted to the charming Irishman assigned as her supervisor. And she certainly never expected to discover she died in a transport crash en route to the planet.

Tom Doherty Associates, Tor Books
Whitney Ross, editor

Reincarnated as a ghost, Elizabeth is symbiotically linked to her supervisor, Murphy - creator of the Ghost Protocol, which forbids him to acknowledge or interact with her. Confused and alone - oppressed by her ghost status and tormented by forbidden love - Elizabeth works to unlock the secrets of her own existence.

But her quest for answers lands her in a tug-of-war between powerful interests, and she soon finds herself a pawn in the struggle for control of the planet…a struggle that could separate her forever from the man she loves.


Previously on GLIAS
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THE HAUNTING OF MADDY CLARE
Simone St. James

Sarah Piper’s lonely, threadbare existence changes when her temporary agency sends her to assist a ghost hunter. Alistair Gellis – rich, handsome, scarred by World War I, and obsessed with ghosts – has been summoned to investigate the spirit of nineteen-year-old Maddy Clare, who is haunting the barn where she committed suicide. Since Maddy hated men in life, it is Sarah’s task to confront her in death.

Penguin Group USA, New American Library
Ellen Edwards, editor

Soon Sarah is caught up in a desperate struggle. For Maddy’s ghost is real, she’s angry, and she has powers that defy all reason. Can Sarah and Alistair’s assistant, the rough, unsettling Matthew Ryder, discover who Maddy was, where she came from, and what is driving her desire for vengeance – before she destroys them all?

Simone is also a finalist in the Novel with Strong Romantic Elements category.

Previously on GLIAS
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MY LIFE NEXT DOOR
Huntley Fitzpatrick

“One thing my mother never knew, and would disapprove of most of all, was that I watched the Garretts.  All the time.”

The Garretts are everything the Reeds are not. Loud, numerous, messy, affectionate. And every day from her balcony perch, seventeen-year-old Samantha Reed wishes she was one of them…until one summer evening Jase Garrett climbs her trellis and changes everything. 

Penguin Group USA, Dial Books for Young Readers
Jessica Garrison, editor

As the two fall fiercely in love and stumble through the awkwardness and awesomeness of first romance, Jase’s family makes Samantha one of their own—even as she keeps him a secret from her disapproving mother and critical best friend. Then the unthinkable happens, and the bottom drops out of Samantha’s world. She’s suddenly faced with an impossible decision. Which perfect family will save her? Or is it time she saved herself?

Website

PUSHING THE LIMITS 

Katie McGarry

No one knows what happened the night Echo Emerson went from popular girl with jock boyfriend to gossiped-about outsider with "freaky" scars on her arms. Even Echo can't remember the whole truth of that horrible night. All she knows is that she wants everything to go back to normal.

Harlequin, Harlequin Teen

Margo Lipschultz, editor

But when Noah Hutchins, the smoking-hot, girl-using loner in the black leather jacket, explodes into her life with his tough attitude and surprising understanding, Echo's world shifts in ways she could never have imagined. They should have nothing in common. And with the secrets they both keep, being together is pretty much impossible. 

Yet the crazy attraction between them refuses to go away. And Echo has to ask herself just how far they can push the limits and what she'll risk for the one guy who might teach her how to love again.

Katie is also a finalist in the Young Adult category.

Previously on GLIAS

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Congratulations to all the nominees for the RITA® in the

BEST FIRST BOOK category!

~ ~ ~

JOIN US tomorrow as RITA® week 
continues with the WINNERS of each category. 

Don’t forget to FOLLOW us on Twitter #GetLostStories or LIKE us on Facebook.

MULTIPLE CHANCES through Rafflecopter to win
*autographed copy of Anna Lee Huber's THE ANATOMIST'S WIFE
*autographed copies of Tracy Brogan's CRAZY LITTLE THING, HIGHLAND SURRENDER, & HOLD ON MY HEART

Start by leaving a comment.
WHO'S A NEW ACTOR ON YOUR MUST WATCH LIST?
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Celebrating Paranormal Romance

The Get Lost in a Story crew sends our CONGRATULATIONS to the

ANGEL IN CHAINS

Cynthia Eden

As a fallen Angel of Death, Azrael is cursed to walk the earth alone in search of redemption. One night, as he wanders the streets of New Orleans, he discovers a woman surrounded by panther shifters.  No longer able to contain the anger simmering within, Az summons his dark powers and attacks, determined to protect this innocent human from certain death.

Kensington Publishing Corp., Brava

Megan Records, editor

Only Jade Pierce is no delicate flower.  She’s spent years learning to survive and fight the evil forces sent by her ex-lover who refuses to let her go. But after seeing Az in action, she figures she could use a little supernatural help. And so she plans a course of seduction guaranteed to arouse his interest and his angelic passions…

MULTIPLE CHANCES through Rafflecopter to win an autographed or digital copy (winner's choice) of CYNTHIA EDEN's ANGEL IN CHAINS. (international) Start by leaving a comment.

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EDGE OF OBLIVION

J.T. Geissinger

Amazon Publishing, Montlake Romance

Eleni Caminis, editor

There exists a world beyond our own. It is a world of ancient magic and well-guarded secrets, of strict laws and harsh punishments for those who betray them, inhabited by the Ikati, a race of gifted people with unimaginable powers. It is here where two people with dark pasts meet.

Morgan is beautiful, smart, sexy…and about to die. Convicted of treason against her shape-shifting kin, she is given one last chance at redemption; discover the hidden lair of the enemy intent on destroying every one of her kind, or forfeit her life.

Xander is ruthless, heartless, cold-blooded…and assigned to kill her if she fails in her task. Expecting to feel nothing but contempt for the traitor under his watch, the assassin accompanies Morgan on her search, but as the two race through the heart of Italy while the clock winds down to zero hour, he finds himself drawn into a dangerous web of desire as powerful as it is forbidden. Their passion will test everything they believe in, and endanger the future of the tribe itself.

Website

IMMORTALLY YOURS

Angie Fox

IN THE WAR BETWEEN THE GODS…

St. Martin’s Press

Monique Patterson, editor

No one patches up the incoming wounded like Dr. Petra Robichaud. Recruited by the gods for her uncanny medical skills, she’s the best M*A*S*H surgeon in the army. Along with a nosy guard sphinx, vegetarian werewolf, and other paranormal paramedics, she bandages soldiers who are built like Greek gods (literally.) But when one sexy immortal ends up on her operating table—half dead and totally to-die-for—Petra’s afraid she’ll lose her patient and her heart…

NOTHING IS MORE DANGEROUS THAN LOVE
Commander Galen of Delphi is one gorgeous but stubborn demi-god. When his spirit tries to slip out of his fatally wounded body, Dr. Petra has to slip it back in—unwittingly revealing her ability to see ghosts. Now that Galen knows her secret, he’s convinced she’s part of an ancient prophesy. If the oracles are right, Petra could lead Galen’s army to peace. And if he seduces her on the way to hell and back? Heaven knows—all’s fair in love and war…

MULTIPLE CHANCES through Rafflecopter to win an autographed copy of ANGIE FOX's IMMORTALLY YOURS. (north America) Start by leaving a comment.

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LOTHAIRE

Kresley Cole

All Fear the Enemy of Old

Simon & Schuster, Pocket Books

Lauren McKenna, editor

Driven by his insatiable need for revenge, Lothaire, the Lore’s most ruthless vampire, plots to seize the Horde’s crown. But bloodlust and torture have left him on the brink of madness—until he finds Elizabeth Peirce, the key to his victory. He captures the unique young mortal, intending to offer up her very soul in exchange for power, yet Elizabeth soothes his tormented mind and awakens within him emotions Lothaire believed he could no longer experience.


A Deadly Force Dwells Within Her

Growing up in desperate poverty, Ellie Peirce yearned for a better life, never imagining she’d be convicted of murder—or that an evil immortal would abduct her from death row. But Lothaire is no savior, as he himself plans to sacrifice Ellie in one month’s time. And yet the vampire seems to ache for her touch, showering her with wealth and sexual pleasure. In a bid to save her soul, Ellie surrenders her body to the wicked vampire, while vowing to protect her heart.

SHADOW'S CLAIM
Kresley Cole

Simon & Schuster, Pocket Books

Lauren McKenna, editor

He Won’t Be Denied

Trehan Daciano, known as the Prince of Shadows, has spent his life serving his people, striking in the night, quietly executing any threat to their realm. The coldly disciplined swordsman has never desired anything for himself—until he beholds Bettina, the sheltered ward of two of the Lore’s most fearsome villains.

She’s Bound to Another

Desperate to earn her guardians’ approval after a life-shattering mistake, young Bettina has no choice but to marry whichever suitor prevails—even though she’s lost her heart to another. Yet one lethal competitor, a mysterious cloaked swordsman, invades her dreams, tempting her with forbidden pleasure.

Website

MARK OF THE WITCH

Maggie Shayne

Harlequin, MIRALeslie Wainger, editor

A lapsed Wiccan, Indira Simon doesn’t believe in magic anymore. But when strange dreams of being sacrificed to an ancient Babylonian god have her waking up with real rope burns on her wrists, she’s forced to acknowledge that she may have been too hasty in her rejection of the unknown. Then she meets mysterious and handsome Father Tomas.

Emerging from the secrecy of an obscure Gnostic sect, he arrives with stories of a demon, a trio of warrior witches-and Indira’s sacred calling. Yet there’s something even Tomas doesn’t know, an inescapable truth that will force him to choose between saving the life of the woman he’s come to love-and saving the world.

Website







MOONGLOW

Kristen Callihan

Once the seeds of desire are sown . . . 

Finally free of her suffocating marriage, widow Daisy Ellis Craigmore is ready to embrace the pleasures of life that have long been denied her. Yet her new-found freedom is short lived. A string of unexplained murders has brought danger to Daisy's door, forcing her to turn to the most unlikely of saviors . . . 

Grand Central Publishing, Forever

Alex Logan, editor

Their growing passion knows no bounds . . . 

Ian Ranulf, the Marquis of Northrup, has spent lifetimes hiding his primal nature from London society. But now a vicious killer threatens to expose his secrets. Ian must step out of the shadows and protect the beautiful, fearless Daisy, who awakens in him desires he thought long dead. As their quest to unmask the villain draws them closer together, Daisy has no choice but to reveal her own startling secret, and Ian must face the undeniable truth: Losing his heart to Daisy may be the only way to save his soul. 

Kristin is also a Best First Book finalist

Previously on GLIAS

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ROGUE RIDER

Larissa Ione

Grand Central Publishing, Forever

Amy Pierpont, editor

Jillian Cardiff came to this remote mountain town to forget the demon attack that almost killed her. Instead, she rescues-and falls for-a gorgeous stranger who has no memory of anything other than his name. Handsome, charming, and protective, Reseph seems like the kind of man whom Jillian can trust. But with hints of a troubling history of his own, he's also the kind of man who can be very dangerous . . .

Reseph may not know why he mysteriously appeared in Jillian's life, but he knows he wants to stay. Yet when Jillian's neighbors are killed, and demon hunters arrive on the scene, Reseph fears that he's putting Jillian in danger. And once it's revealed that Reseph is also Pestilence, the Horseman responsible for ravaging the world, he and Jillian must face the greatest challenge of all: Can they forget the horrors of a chilling past to save the future they both desire?

Website

Congratulations to all the nominees for the RITA® in the

Paranormal Romance category!

~ ~ ~

JOIN US tomorrow as RITA® week 
continues with the NOVEL with STRONG ROMANTIC ELEMENTS category. 

Don’t forget to FOLLOW us on Twitter #GetLostStories or LIKE us on Facebook.

MULTIPLE CHANCES through Rafflecopter
north America
*autographed copy of ANGIE FOX's IMMORTALLY YOURS

international giveaway through Rafflecopter (separate)
*an autographed or digital copy (winner's choice) 

of CYNTHIA EDEN's ANGEL IN CHAINS 

Start by leaving a comment.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE SPOOKY MOVIE?

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Get Lost in darkest London with Kristen Callihan

As long as there is a Moonglow. 

Once the seeds of desire are sown... 
Finally free of her suffocating marriage, widow Daisy Ellis Craigmore is ready to embrace the pleasures of life that have long been denied her. Yet her new-found freedom is short lived. A string of unexplained murders has brought danger to Daisy’s door, forcing her to turn to the most unlikely of saviors...

Their growing passion knows no bounds... 
Ian Ranulf, the Marquis of Northrup, has spent lifetimes hiding his primal nature from London society. But now a vicious killer threatens to expose his secrets. Ian must step out of the shadows and protect the beautiful, fearless Daisy, who awakens in him desires he thought long dead. As their quest to unmask the villain draws them closer together, Daisy has no choice but to reveal her own startling secret and Ian must face the undeniable truth: Losing his heart to Daisy may be the only way to save his soul.

Raves for Firelight and Moonglow

"Top Pick! 4 12/ Stars! Darkest London glows with the light of Callihan's creativity...Callihan sets the mark for a new style of paranormal historical." (Moonglow- RT Book Reviews )

"Compulsively readable...a compelling Victorian paranormal with heart and soul." (Firelight- Publishers Weekly, starred review )

"Beauty and the Beast meets Phantom of the Opera (with hints of Carrie and an abundance of Egyptian mythology) in this gripping, intoxicating story, simmering with incendiary sensuality and featuring a heroine who risks all to save the man she loves. An exceptional debut and the first of what promises to be a compelling series." (Firelight- Library Journal, starred review )

“Dark, violent, and addictively enthralling, this exceptionally steamy tale is a worthy sequel to Callihan’s stunning Firelight and a perfect lure for Winterblaze,” (Moonglow- Library Journal)

More about Kristen

Kristen Callihan is a child of the 80's, which means she's worn neon skirts, black-lace gloves, and combat boots (although never all at once) and can quote John Hughes movies with the best of them. A life long daydreamer, she finally realized that the characters in her head needed a proper home and thus hit the keyboard. She believes that falling in love is one of the headiest experiences a person can have, so naturally she writes romance. Her love of superheroes, action movies, and history led her to write historical paranormals. She lives in the Washington D.C. area and, when not writing, looks after two children, one husband, and a dog -- the fish can fend for themselves.

Jillian: How often to you get lost in a story?
Kristen: Not as much as I used to, unfortunately. Nowadays, work takes up a lot of my time. Still, there is nothing quite like getting drawn into a good book. Hours will slip past and I’m not aware of it. There is so much power in that.
Jillian: I know the feeling...I wish there were more hours in the day just to enjoy reading.

Jillian: What’s your favorite cartoon character?
Kristen: Bugs Bunny. Hands down. He lived great adventures, was witty, devious, and almost always came out on top. But when he failed, he let it go.

Jillian: Where do you read and how often?
Kristen: I read either curled up on my couch or in bed. I’m a bit of a freak when it comes to reading in that I average about 70-100 words per hour. So, when I’m not too busy, I’ll read a book a night. Heh, they help me unwind.

Jillian: Is writing or story-telling easier for you?
Kristen: Hmm… that’s an interesting one. It depends on the story. If we’re talking about the stories I write down, then writing is much easier. It get to delve into a world, discover its dark corners, and play around for a while. However, when I put my kids to bed, I’ll say, okay, give me the character and what he/she is doing at this moment. Then I’ll make up a story from there. That’s a great challenge because I have to make it up on the fly, make it short, have a moral, and a happy ending –it’s a bedtime story after all.

Jillian: Do you read reviews of your books? If so, do you pay any attention to them, or let them influence your writing?
Kristen: I read the ones that pop up in my tweet stream from time to time, but always the reviews people send me. It would be an insult to them not to. There are so many books out there. For someone to chose to read mine and take the time to write a review, be it good or bad, is something I appreciate deeply. But I don’t read the negative ones. Ever. I know they’d hurt me or mess with my head, so it’s just healthier for me to stay away. I also think that trying to please people is a lot like chasing rainbows. I’ll never please everybody, so I just try to write the best story I can and hope readers like it. Then there is the fact that the book is done. I can’t go back and time and change things. So why beat yourself up for that?
Jillian: My agent's advice on reviews: Believe everything the good reviews say and nothing in the bad ones. Lol!

Jillian: What does it mean to love someone?
Kristen: As a romance writer, this is what I explore with every book I write. It’s a hard thing to pin down, isn’t it? We can say, oh love means this, that, and the other thing. But I think it can be different for each person. Love can give you strength, or make you afraid. It can make you feel secure, or unhinged. The only constant I can find in my stories is that being in love wakes you up. Often we sleepwalk throughout life, you know, go through the motions of it. But love is such a powerful emotion that one can’t help but be pulled into the here and now.

Kristen has a question for commenters: Where is your favorite place to read? Two copies of MOONGLOW to commenters chosen at random (can be international).

Kristen's contact information:

www.kristencallihan.com

@Krist10callihan

Facebook: Kristen Callihan 

***Note: Offer void where prohibited. Prizes will be mailed to North America  addresses only. If an 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.