Today I’m going to play a game I started this summer. Picking some new releases and several genre novels, I’m going to write what I think the book is about according to its title. Then I’m going to look at the summary and see what these authors have really written about.
Here we go…
New Releases:
The Soul Jar by Jennifer Colgan
Well, I just saw “The Princess and the Frog” this weekend and I noticed how the Voodoo lady had jars hanging from her branches. Perhaps this is a story of a Voodoo priestess and the Cajun stud entranced by her beauty.
The real story: The jar is an artifact and a sexy Australian detective and what I think is a feisty thief are both after it. Plus they were lovers before until Mason “Chance” MacKenzie faked his own death. Nothing like a woman wronged to make a story hot.
Seducing the Sheriff by Marie-Nicole Ryan
Hmmm, possibly a western? Maybe she’s the new saloon gal in town with a secret identity. Her no-good ex-fiancé is after her and the only one who can protect is the hunky town sheriff.
The real story: Wow, I was sort of close on this one! She is on the run, but from a wealthy man AND her mother (who is a Pinkerton – doesn’t that sound fun!). She needs the sheriff, not for protection, but for some reason has to lose her virginity? Sounds like a good ride…
Red Hots:
My Christmas Wish by Ember Case
If this were MY Christmas wish, it would be about having my house cleaned, cookies baked, and all presents wrapped by a few 6 ft male elves with washboard abs! Perhaps this is a story about an exhausted woman who gets some hot, elf help over the holidays?
Oh, I wasn’t even on the same planet with this one! It’s about a superstar singer who goes back to her hometown to say a real good bye to the man who broke her heart. But of course once he has her in his arms again the last thing he wants her to do is go away again. This will probably keep you warm on a cold night!
Historical:
The Forbidden Chamber by Ella Drake
My guess: Love this title! A young girl is brought to a castle to marry a terrible old king, but instead she finds a room where all her fantasies come true – including the love a handsome prince. She and the prince trapped in “the chamber” must defeat the evil king to find their happy ever after.
The real story: I’m just going to give you the entertaining warning found at that bottom of each Samhain title. This one sounds hot! “Warning: This gothic contains heady kisses that lead to ruin, passionate sex on a desk chair, a mysterious husband who may be a murderer, a cursed family of raven shifters, and an unspeakable evil hidden in the closet.”
Romantic Comedy:
The Role of a Lifetime by Jennifer Shirk
Umm…I think this one is probably about an actress. She gets the perfect part only to discover the director is the high school drama king who broke her heart. What is a girl to do?
The real story: I was way off. But the real story sounds super sweet. Sandra’s ex-husband was an actor who left her and her daughter. When another actor wants to observe her preschool to prepare for a class, she has to do it for the sake of the business. The trouble starts when the new guy turns out to have real feelings for Sandra, but she doesn’t want to get burned twice.
Wish I had time to play, but I’ve got Christmas presents to wrap and dishes to wash (my dishwasher broke!) Happy Holidays to All!
Margo Lukas
Half Moon Rising
The Werewolf Romance is a Whole New Beast
Great post.
Sorry about the dishwasher! Merry Christmas.
Thanks for the feedback, Lisa. As for the dishwasher…at least I know what I’m getting from Santa this year
Sorry, but the mother of the heroine in Seducing the Sheriff isn’t a Pinkerton—he’s a sexy fella who’ll be in the next story of the series.
Hey, Margo, I like your premise better than my actual one! LOL!