Karen Foley
Lynn Raye Harris
Ellen Hartman
Diana Holquist
Samantha Hunter
Shirley Jump
Dee Tenorio
Jeannie Watt
Blushing, Blazes, that is.
I might be a little biased, but I think the cover of my January Blaze, DOES SHE DARE?, is beyond HOT!!! I love it, not just the feel of it, but the darling pink dot on it that says Blush.
When I first began writing, I targeted my favorite line - Harlequin Temptation. I loved everything about it. The fun, light tone. The sexy, naughty nature. And best of all, my favorite authors! Blaze was actually a mini-series of Temptation, much like Extreme is a mini-series of Blaze. Then, much to my dismay, Temptation closed here in North America. I was so bummed.
So it was hugely exciting when my editor told me DOES SHE DARE? would be the 2nd in the Blaze Blush mini-series. She explained the Blushes as being fun and lighter, like Temptation, but Blaze sexy. Like Extreme, they aren't a "line" themselves. I'm not sure if there will be one out each month, or if they'll be more periodic, like the Wrong Bed series for example. I do know the launch Blush is in December and I think it'll be Cathy Yardley's book. But they will all have that distinctive pink blushing dot!
To me, this is the best of all worlds. Light, fun humor and super hot sex. My favorite things in a read. And best of all -to write! I'd love to see more of those pink dots on my covers, thats for sure.
How about you? What're your favorite things in a read? Are you more drawn to a lighter story, like Blush, or the more intense like Extreme? If you find a mini-series you like, do you pick up any book in the series as an autobuy? Or do you still read the back cover to see if it clicks for you?
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I'm a Blaze lover all-around
I love ALL of the Blazes and I'm sure I'll love the Blush books, just the same. In fact, I can't wait until December to read one!
I do tend to autobuy the rest of a series if I like the first one. The first series that comes to mind is Sarah Mayberry's Daytime Divas series, which is has taken up permanent space on my keeper shelf.
Can't wait to read Does She Dare, Tawny!! :)
Love and Laughter - A Winning Combination
Tawny, your cover is hot! I had to turn the AC down when I saw it! *gg*
and as to your question, I have always loved light, fun romance as much as the darker, moodier stories. Love and laughter - there is no better combination!
I know I'll be scouring the shelves for the new Harlequin Blush books!
Love the cover!
Isn't it gorgeous?! LOL
I'll have to wait and see the other Blush covers, but I think that rather than trying to make them look lighter (Flipside, Duets funny cartoony comes to mind) they are keeping them hot and sexy, and letting that blushing dot designate them as having the humor.
Like when the industry says "romantic comedy is dead", I am sad to realize that lighter lines like Flipside, Duets and Temptation have gone by the wayside... they were my auto-buys. I remember when one of them closed- cant' recall exactly which - the word was that comedy & lighter stories aren't "dead", just not enough to carry the lines. But that the humorous stories would be found throughout the other lines... I think Blush is the perfect example of that happening.
and thanks so much for scouring shelves. I'll be screaming from rooftops so you'll hear when its out LOL.
YAY
Thanks, Sassa! I can't wait to hear what you think of DSD? *g*
And isn't Sarah's series awesome! I first read her debut, and have been hooked since. Like you, I auto-buy series as well, Actually I'm super thrilled to be included in a fabulously fun mini-series soon!
Hi Tawny
I loved the Temptation line and was sad to see it go. I'm sure if Blush is anything like Temptation that I'll be buying all of them too.
I loved Double Dare and I'm sure that I'll love Does She Dare just as much. You are one of my keeper authors so your Blush book will go right next to my copy of Double Dare. I can't wait to read it.
Are any of the ladies from Double Dare in Does She Dare? They were quite memorable and I'd love to read more about them.
Have a great weekend Tawny. All the best, Mads:)
Now I'm really blushing!
Thank you, Mads!!! That means so much to me :-)
DOES SHE DARE features Audra's best friend, Isabel! I tried to pitch Suzi and Bea, but my editor thought they were a leeetle too bitchy LOL.
I love that little pink dot,
I love that little pink dot, Tawny! It automatically says "fun". Your writing has a spunky little spark to begin with, and this is a clue to your potential readers that it will be hot AND fun. Great cover!
Now *I'm* blushing
Thanks, Terri!
I love that "spunky little spark" *ggg*
I just might use that ...
New Blush line
I think the Blaze Blush line is lucky to have such a talented new author like you writing for them, Tawny. I read your debut and it was fantastic. I'm so looking forward to Does She Dare.
Carla
Aww
You're so awesome, Carla! Thank you.
I have to say, as much as I loved DOUBLE DARE (and I did... Audra is so my kind of heroine), I love DOES SHE DARE? even more. The hero is... yummy. I can't wait to hear what people think of him LOL.
Love the Pink Dot
I'm curious, Tawny, about the way you went about writing the Blush that was different than what you would do in a regular Blaze?
I've written one Extreme, one Forbidden Fantasy, and I have pitched two other Extremes (one didn't make it, waiting to hear on the second) and there are very specific things that make these two mini-series different than a normal Blaze -- like the superheroine bent in Untouched, or the more intense fantasy angle of the FF. I think the FF is close to what you'd find in a regular Blaze, to be honest, though the Extremes are very different.
So I'm curious about Blush? Are they all romantic comedy, then? I love your cover, too, and it's definitely hot, and more detailed than usual Blaze covers -- really gorgeous! but I don't get "light" from it, as in the old Temp or Duets covers... So I wondered how they were coming at thinking about what's "light" for Blaze?
I've found that these Blaze mini-series are some of my favorite Blaze ever, as a writer and a reader, but as a writer, they can be incredibly difficult to target.... :) Can't wait to pick up your book and see for myself...
Sam
Targeting
Sam - I didn't target Blush. Actually the first time I heard of it was when Brenda called to confirm my release date and mentioned it'd BE a Blush LOL.
I think the main difference in Blush - as I know it - and other mini-series, such as Forbidden Fantasy, is that Blush is tone. Its lighter, its fun... it's Temptation with hotter sex. Most of the mini-series are plot focused, The Wrong Bed, FF, Lust in Translation, etc... are written to the series premise (slipped into the wrong bed, had the greatest sex of my life, ooops, now I want more but...) Blush premises aren't specific at all. DOES SHE DARE? for example, is the follow up to DOUBLE DARE. The tone and voice are the same as my first book, light, somewhat smart ass humor... And that - the lighter humorous voice - is what I *think* classifies a story as a Blush. To my knowledge, which stories are designated for the mini-series so far were chosen by the editors rather than written specifically by the authors to be Blush.
ahhhhh....
Thank you Obi-Wan. ;) I see. The others were lines people targeted from the get-go, so yes, that is a different thing. I have a confession -- I never read Temps. ;) I read Desire and Presents in the early days, and stopped reading romance in my late twenties after I was divorced and when I went back to school, I just never read fiction because I was reading so much every day as it was, and when I returned to romance later in my thirties, it was mostly single titles, Nora, until I picked up Blaze. The rest was history. Or mystory. ;) LOL So I guess I'm a little out of touch with that whole Temptation voice...
Sam
Say it ain't so
You never read Temptations?
OMG (staggering, one hand on my chest like Fred Sanford in Sanford and Son *ggg*)
LOL - Temptations rocked. And many of the Temptation authors write Blaze, which makes sense, because Blaze rocks too. Really, they were lighter - not romantic comedy light, but not heavy. I don't know how exactly to describe it exactly-- Fun, sassy, sexy.
Thats what Blush will be. Fun, sassy and SUPER sexy.
Looking forward to Blush
A story that combines love, laughter and steamy sex is a story I want to read *g* Can't wait to get my hands on Does She Dare? - and not just because of that HOT cover!
Perfect combinations
Beth, those are all my favorite things in a book, too!!
Although the hot cover... that's going on my wall. I doubt my husband will notice the smudge marks on the glass frame from me petting it, right?
I miss the Temptations!!
I, too, loved that line. It was so fun so I'm sure I'm going to love the Blush books!
I was just telling Sam yesterday that I find the more recent Blaze covers beyond hot! Yours fits right in there with her Pick Me Up and Karen's Flyboy. Mmm Mmm Mmmmm
There are certain books in a series (the Wrong Bed books for instance) that I will pick up without thought to the author or the back blurb. I've yet to be disappointed in one of those.
So I will certainly look for that pink dot and I love the font for Blush. I hope they keep that, too!
ani
Beyond Hot
Ani - Temptation Lovers Unite! (well, hmmm, that sounds kinky doesn't it? Lovers of the Temptation line unite is so unwiedly tho LOL)
I hope they keep the pink dot, too - it's just... well, fun :-)
Blush
I always read the back cover blurb and the first sentence to decide whether or not to buy. I'm all for a lighter line -- I love Blaze, but sometimes I do enjoy something lighter. With your breezy fun style it's the perfect fit for you!
First sentence, huh?
GREAT insight, Lisa (and thanks for the perfect fit comment *g*).
As writers, we hear a lot about first lines and how important it is to really snag the reader from the get-go. I admit it, I'm all about the cover and back cover blurb, and have rarely opened the book to check the first line. I'll have to try that and see if it shifts my perception ;-)
Blush cover
There's a pink dot on your cover? Hmmm, must have missed that while ogling your hero's bare chest. :) Seriously, great cover! When buying a book I first check out the cover, then the back cover write up, then the excerpt that's usually found inside the front cover. Humor and heat combined works well for me.
Lindsey
Pink dot?? Where?
Lindsey, to tell you the truth, when I first saw the cover, I wanted to lick it. OMG that guy is HOT!!! And the bike *sigh* yum.
GREAT points on what you look for. Like I said above to Lisa, I don't recall reading first lines when I pick a book --but if I'm on the fence at all, I do read that inside cover blurb to get a feel for the authors voice.
Blaze Lover
I love all the Blaze books. Series books are autobuys for me.
YAY
So glad Estella - I love hearing that LOL
If I find a book in a series
If I find a book in a series I like I always buy the rest of the series. When I find an author I really like I tend to devour everything by them as well. As far as whether I am drawn to a lighter story or the more intense...it depends on my mood that day:)
Kendra
Moody reads
I hear ya, Kendra!
There are definitely days I prefer more intense stories - but I admit it, I do tend to stay away from heavy or scary... I'm a little whimpy that way LOL.
Love a good story
I like 'em hot, I like 'em sweet. I love a good laugh and an author who makes me cry wins me forever. I love a detailed historical that makes me think, and I like what I call the rainy day reads, read 'em in one day like a box of chocolates.
I guess I don't have a favorite as long as the story is strong, but my OHHHH YES book buy is a series. We met Isobel in Audra's story and we get to see her again -- this time she gets the laughs and the hot steamy sex, Tawny Weber-style.
Can't wait!
Let's hear it for chocolate reads!
I hear ya, Sheila! Thats one of the fabulous things about the romance genre, there's something wonderful for everyone!!
and btw... Tawny Weber-style made my mind go all kinds of wild places. I'm still laughing. And going to tell my husband ;-)
I want it all!
I love hot, and funny, and sometimes I like the intense. I always love good stories, and if I do start a miniseries I like, I tend to look for the others. That is a terrific cover, BTW!
Yay
Thanks, Fedora. I am seriously in love with that cover!!
Ohhh... a new line!
I love when new lines come out... I really hate when they take them away though! There are some days when I'm just looking for a quick, fun, sexy read and I know that Blazes always deliver. The covers are hot and the plots are good. And you know that Harlequin finds the best writers because so many of them (you) go on to do bigger things. I always think its funny to read a current best seller and then be browsing at my library and find the author in the romance section on a Blaze or a Duets or a Temptation. And I'll think to myself "I remember reading that!"
Blazes DO deliver!
I think your point about the new lines and how they deliver is a great one, Mendy - and its one of the many reasons I love Harelquin & Silhouette. The lines make a promise to their reader, and they always follow through. Sometimes, with other books, its not as easy to judge simply based on the cover or the blurb... they are definitely marketing devices and the story isn't always what I think from them. With Blaze, I know --always-- I'm getting a hot, sexy read with a satisfactory happy ever after.
and yes... my favorite authors have all written for Harlequin!
It depends on my mood of
It depends on my mood of what I want to read. If Im feeling naughty, then its an extreme novel and if Im feeling just happy, then something light will do.
I know that I am one of those people that won't read a series until I have all the books. It used to bother me to read one, then have to wait until I could get the others to continue my stories.
And I have to say that the cover of Does She Dare is giving me some mighty fine ideas, and my oh my does he look fine!
~ Wendy
Oh my...
You are patient! I'm so NOT LOL.
I can't have a book and not read it. Its like... having chocolate and not eating it. But I do know exactly what you mean about having to wait. The Harry Potter series is the extreme example of going nuts for each book, but so many of my fave authors, I get antsy and wish the books would hit faster. I do, I admit, read each and every book in the series right before the new one is out, though - so I'm back in the "mood".
and LOL on those mighty fine ideas ;-) I'm having a few myself.
Depends on my mood
I like the sweet, light and funny....and I like the intense, passionate...and about everything in between. It depends on my mood. What really pulls me in is a good story.
I've never really paid attention to the mini-series, to be honest. I know I generally like Blaze. But that's about the only "line" I've paid attention to since middle school! :-0
Loyal readers
Cathy that is so cool - you've been reading Blaze since middle school?
Oops, not quite! I haven't
Oops, not quite! I haven't paid much attention to what series is what since middle school. I don't think the Blazes were out back them. I just discovered Blaze a couple years ago...they are what started me reading Harlequin again.
SEXY
I need a backlist of some of these, so I can read all of these you're all talking about. I just jump around, so there are alot I need to get.
I too like hot with a mixture of funny! I think that's about the best combo for a book.
That cover is great. I love dark haired guys:)
Red-heads
Me, too!! I don't follow the different series, but some of these sound delicious!
I married a dark haired guy...but I admit to having a thing for auburn hair and chocolate brown eyes. Anybody know of a good book with a hero of that description? ;-)
Backlist and dark haired guys
I'm on the dark-haired guy bandwagon, too! Although ever since the... was it 2004 Olympics when the Hamm Twins took the men's gymnastics US team to gold? Ever since watching that... I have a soft spot for redheads... if they are built LOL.
Which series are sounding good to you, Jibby? The Wrong Bed, for instance, started in Temptation but I know a few have been done in Blaze as well. Lust in Translation just started this year (I think?) I know Jamie Sobrato had one of the first ones, and there are a few more to come.
Another Temptation Fan
I started reading Temptations so long ago I can't remember when. I know I first started with Presents and then moved over to Temptation and when the Blaze line started I believe I switched over.
I use to just pick up all the Wrong Bed series but I am not to into some of the new story lines particularly supernatural. Right now I am into the Bad Girls Club and Million Dollar Secrets.
I can't wait for your new book to come out and the rest of the Blush series to check them out. I will be watching for them.
ahhh, Temptation
Did you read the original Bad Girls Club in Temptation, Lynne? Those were some of my fave books!
Thats one of the cool things about Blaze- with six books a month, if one isn't your thing, four others probably are LOL.
And thanks on being excited for DOES SHE DARE?!!! I am too LOL.
love it too all around. love
love it too all around. love them blazes
Love em too!
Me too, Kim!! Definitely me too :-D
Hot Cover
Tawny, the cover gods smile upon you. The hero is to die for. Ever since Double Dare I've been waiting for the next one.
I'm like the woman in the commercial, "open, open, open." Except I'm, "write, write, write." LOL
Amanda Murphy w/a Jill James
http://www.jilljamesromance.com
Blessings
You're not the first person to tell me that, Jill LOL. I adore my covers and definitely feel blessed.
hot cover
Every time I see the cover for "Does She Dare" I think "I don't know if she does but I sure as heck do!!!" LOL That cover is hot!
I love a light romance with humor. I love the intense ones too, but the light ones are a fantastic way to relax after a bad day at work! I really like some smart-ass humor, I am a smart-ass kind of girl! LOL
My Kind of Gal
Lets hear it for the smart asses!!
LOL
Thanks, Missy - the cover IS hot and OMG wouldn't you just want a chance to dare that?!
Like you, I think there's nothing better than a fun, easy read to unwind after a rough day. Throw in hot sex and I'm one happy camper *g* (hot sex in the book, I mean)
woo-hoo
Just wanted to let you know I ordered Double Dare and I got it in the mail today! I thought I would read it while I'm waiting for Does She Dare to hit the stores. Woo-Hoo, I can't wait to read it!
YAY!!!
Thanks Missy :-D I can't wait to hear what you think.