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Summertime

Just a quick summer update with various bits of cool news.  Firstly, I was delighted when my second Lost Lords book, Never Less Than a Lady, spent three weeks on the New York Times list.  Thanks to all who bought the book and made that happen!

I’ve finished the third Lost Lords book, about Mackenzie.  Nowhere Near Respectable is scheduled for May 2011.  My classic Regency historical, The Bargain,  is set to be reissued in April 2011, and Kensington has given it another sumptuous cover.  (I’ll post that later.)  The Rake,  which is perhaps the best remembered of all my books, will be reissued in 2012.

My first young adult paranormal historical, Dark Mirror, written as M. J. Putney, will be released on March 1, 2011.  I’ll be doing a separate website for those books, but haven’t had time to think of that yet.

In totally cool news—I’m going to be a guest at Officina Italiana Romance, a romance readers and writers conference in Rome on October 30-31!  I don’t even have to give any talks, which is good since I don’t speak Italian.  But I’ll have a chance to meet Italian readers, and see Rome, where I’ve never visited before.  The Eternal City, yessssss! 

I was delighted to learn that the New York City chapter of RWA has given me their Golden Apple award for Career Achievement.  Survival in publishing for over twenty years is no small feat, so I’m really pleased by this. 

For those of you interested in learning more about my most recent, release, Never Less Than A Lady, the story features Major Randall, a prickly army officer, and Julia Bancroft, a widowed midwife in the far north.  And yes, there was a certain amount of tension between them in Loving a Lost Lord.  <g>

Now we find out why, when Randall becomes next in line to an earldom and reluctantly realizes that he must find a wife and get an heir.  He knows the sort of healthy, good-natured girl he should marry—but the woman who haunts his mind is the entirely unsuitable Julia.  When Randall seeks her out to convince himself that she has no interest in him, he finds himself in the middle when Julia’s past catches up with her. 

They are still a most unsuitable match in every possible way.  Yet they have something surprising in common, along with a yearning as undeniable as it is unwelcome.  In other words—I’m back to torturing my characters again. <G>  Here’s an excerpt.

I was delighted to receive a starred review from Library Journal:

“Cleverly plotted, exquisitely stirring, and flawlessly written, (Never Less Than a Lady) is the latest in Putney’s “Lost Lords” series.”
Kristin Ramsdell, Library Journal starred review

Romantic Times gave NLTAL four and a half stars and a Top Pick:

“Putney's latest Lost Lord raises the bar for historical romance. A captivating plot, charming characters with great depth of passion and sensuality combine to make this novel an intoxicating and not-to-be-missed read. “
Kathe Robin

The review in the librarians’ publication, Booklist, made me happy as well:

“The second intensely emotional, lushly sensual addition in Putney’s Lost Lords series is rich in complex, realistically complicated characters, expertly spiced with intrigue, and infused with a wickedly subtle wit.”
John Charles

As for One Perfect Rose, I fondly call it my “death and dying” book since the hero is confronting the very real possibility of death.  Angrily he breaks away from the dutiful life he has always lived, and in the process he discovers joy and love.  (And yes, there’s a happy ending!  I wouldn’t write anything else.)

Here are some of the original reviews for the book: 

“In her superb, inimitable style, Putney takes a pair of magnetic, beautifully matched protagonists, places them in a dark, impossible situation, and makes it work.”
Library Journal

"Poignant, tender, intriguing . . . Sheer pleasure."
Top Pick, Kathe Robin, Romantic Times

“Intelligent, passionate characters flow through this powerful love story . . . Putney delivers another superior story, beautifully written with her penchant for eloquently portraying her heroines as unique individuals filled with life."
Rendezvous

One Perfect Rose was named one of the top five romances of its year by Library Journal,  It was also my first book to hit the New York Times list, so I’m delighted that new readers, or those who missed it the first time, will have a chance to read the story.  Here’s an excerpt.

Keep cool—

Mary Jo

 

 

 

Loving a Lost Lord

by
Mary Jo Putney