Source: USA TODAY

The very busy (and USA TODAY best-selling) Donna Grant, whose Midnight’s Kiss serial kicked off this week, joins us to talk about the four-part serial, writing in medieval times, ballet and her favorite places to travel.

Joyce: Welcome to HEA, Donna! Midnight’s Kiss is part one of a four-part e-serial. Why serialize the story instead of putting it out all at once?

Donna: I get this question *a lot*. lol. Actually, I had nothing to do with the idea of the serials. It was my editor who came to me and told me they wanted to take advantage of how well my e-books were doing by breaking my book into parts and releasing them as serials before the print and full e-book released. It was a combined effort between me, my editor and everyone at St. Martin’s to find the right places in the books to have those “breaks.”

Joyce: What about the Medieval period is so appealing to you?

Donna: I think it’s the idea of that period. The struggle to live was great, but for those who survived they could have fortune fall to them. Then there were the battles. No hiding behind walls and shooting. If you wanted to fight your opponent, you had to meet them head-on with your sword. Men were men, and women were women.

Joyce: Since you wanted to be a professional ballet dancer: What’s your favorite ballet?

Donna: Since I performed in Cinderella, I’ll have to say that one. I like the classical ballets — all of them actually.

Joyce: If you had to describe your writing as a kind of dance (ballet, jazz, tap, waltz, etc.), what would it be?

Donna: Oh, now this is different. I like this! Hmm … I’d have to say a mixture ballet and lyrical — finite sections of a slow build to dramatic, intense pas de deux to a sensual and seductive finale.

Joyce: Nice!

As a lover of travel, what’s your favorite place to visit and why?

Donna: I’ve two favorite places so far — Scotland (any of it!) and Maui. In Scotland I get the history and legend and myth that’s associated with that special land. I can feel it as soon as I get off the plane, and it’s so difficult to leave, even with the weather being cold (which I hate). Then there’s Maui. The constant sun, rainbows and magnificent water are too heavenly to want to leave. There are so many other places I long to see, however, I don’t think my favorites will change.

Joyce: I love Hawaii, too. Wish it wasn’t so expensive to live there.

Read any good books lately?

Donna: I’ve got a huge pile of books to read. I keep buying, because I know I’ll get a lot read while traveling and on vacation. I did recently finish Kresley Cole’s Lothaire, which was fabulous. I’m such a fan of her work.

Joyce: You’re going to be a guest at Comicpalooza at the end of May. What will you be doing there?

Donna: Yes, I’m so excited! My first comic con. They actually have me on fine panels on things like Unexpected Heroes & Heroines, Creating Worlds, and Monster Mash to name a few. I’ll also be doing several signings, and somehow the amazing people at Murder by the Book got St. Martin’s to have my June 4th book available for Comicpalooza!

Joyce: Is there anyone who’ll be there who could turn you into a fangirl?

Donna: Oh, there are several I’d like to meet like Patrick Stewart and Craig Parker, but I have to admit, I don’t really get into the fangirl thing. Unless of course it’s someone like Karen Marie Moning there, and *then* you’d see a fangirl moment. lol

Joyce: I don’t think you’d be alone on that one.

Please tell us more about Midnight’s Kiss.

Donna:MK is book five in the Dark Warriors series, but what some people don’t realize is that the Dark Warriors series is a continuation of the Dark Sword series, so technically this is book No. 11.

This is Arran’s book, and though Arran has stayed in the background a lot, there is more to Arran than anyone realizes. He’s put to the test in MK, and his heroine is his match in every way. Speaking of Ronnie, she is an archaeologist (though I desperately tried to get her to change her mind on this. I had no such luck. ) She uses her magic as a Druid to find items — including magical ones — long buried. It also gets her into some trouble that Arran has to save her from.

MK will also see the Warriors and Druids meet their new nemesis, and they aren’t prepared for what comes at them, even after fighting and winning against two of the most powerful Druids they’ve known. The stakes are certainly higher in this book, and they will only continue to rise with the next ones until the end of the series.

Joyce: What can readers expect to see from you for the rest of 2013?

Donna: I’ve got a crazy busy year. After MK is the serials for Midnight’s Captive, then the print/e-book of MC on July 2. I’ll have a bit of a rest in the summer before the serials for Midnight’s Temptation in September leading up to the print/e-book release on Oct. 1. The following week is the serials for the final Dark Warrior book, Midnight’s Promise, leading up to the print/e-book on Oct. 29.

St. Martin’s has asked me to do a Christmas novella for the Dark Warriors series. That will release sometime in either November or December and is titled Midnight’s Surrender.

Then, the print edition of the Dark Kings (a spinoff of the Dark Sword/Dark Warriors series) novellas will be out Dec. 31 and is titled Dark Heat. This will lead right into the first full-length Dark King books in 2014!

Joyce: Wow. Make sure you take time to breathe during all of that!

Is there anything you’d like to add?

Donna: Be sure to find me on Facebook, where I’m always giving hints/clues about upcoming books, sharing snippets and answering reader questions!

Joyce: Thanks, Donna!

You can also connect with Donna at www.donnagrant.com and on Twitter (@donna_grant).

HEA curator Joyce Lamb has 25 years of journalism experience and eight published romantic suspense novels, three of which have been RITA finalists. You can reach her at jlamb@usatoday.com and follow her on Twitter (@JoyceLamb). You can also follow HEA on Twitter (@HEAusatoday).

Copyright © 2013 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Co. Inc.

Source: USA TODAY

Happy Mother’s Day, HEA readers! I hope you’re having the BEST Sunday EVAH and that the offspring are treating you right. In honor of the day (and motherhood), awesome authors (and mothers) Kristan Higgins and Jill Shalvis are here to gift you with some mom-inspired laughs …

KH: Happy Mother’s Day, Jilly Bean! How are the lovely girls today?

JS: Well, no one’s yelled “She’s touching me!” yet, so all is good. How are your darlings, Higgins?

KH: I don’t know; I paid their father to take them somewhere.

JS: Nice!

KH: Later, though, I intend to have them rub my feet. Because, really, that’s what Mother’s Day is all about, isn’t it? Terrifying your children?

JS: It is. That, and guilt. When my babies were little, I’d lean over their cribs and whisper in their ear, “Don’t forget, I gave up my figure for you, so now you have to love me forever, even through your teenage years.” This didn’t work, by the way. I’d like to make a formal complaint, and think I deserve to have my good figure back.

KH: I like to threaten my son as follows: “Clean that closet right now, or I’m whipping out the scar.” The Cesarean scar, that is. You never realize how fast your child can run until you try that one, Jill.

JS: Wow, you are good at psychological torture! I had no idea …

KH: I come by it naturally. My own sainted mother also enjoyed the “fear factor” method. At various times during my childhood, Mom convinced me that our house was haunted, there was a child-eating tree down the street from our house, and that my brother was possessed by the devil (which maybe he was, now that I think of it).

JS: I once told my brother he was found in a trashcan and we felt sorry for him, so we kept him. Goodness, I was evil! And we used to tell our oldest that she wasn’t really our firstborn. Our firstborn irritated us and we pulled over and let her out of the car, never to be seen again. So probably, she shouldn’t irritate us.

KH: Um … hang on one second while I call Child Protective Services for your oldest, Jill … oh, wait, she’s a legal adult, isn’t she? Poor thing. See, I tone it down a notch. My trick is to scar my children by kissing their father on the lips in public.

JS: Listen. They deserve that. And more.

KH: Thank you! We four were out to dinner, I was telling the utterly charming story of how their daddy and I had met, when what to my horrified ears should come but the sound of the children making gagging noises! “Sorry, but this is disgusting,” Princess Daughter said. Dearest Son heartily echoed the sentiment, and they shared some snickering sibling laughter. Oh, the ingratitude! “Where do you two think you came from, anyway?” I asked, and their laughter turned to screams as McIrish and I started making out.

JS: That’s beautiful. Nothing like scarring the children young. Or scaring. I can never remember which is which, but in this case it doesn’t matter since they both apply. We enjoy kissing in front of the teens as well, and also, oh the horrors, holding hands in public.

KH: Are the ingrates getting you anything today, Jilly?

JS: I usually ask for coupons. Like One Hour of Being Nice to Each Other. One Hour of Cleaning the Kitchen. One Hour of PEACE AND QUIET. What do you want for Mother’s Day, Higgins?

KH: Jill, it’s funny, because I asked for the same thing.

JS: Think we’ll get it?

KH: No. I’ll have to be happy with the foot rub.

How about you, readers? What are your Mother’s Day plans? Leave a comment (if only to laugh at us) and we’ll be drawing two names to receive a book from our backlists. (To comment, click on the gray comment balloon on the left side of your browser window.)

Between them, Jill Shalvis and Kristan Higgins have six — count ‘em! — kids in varying states of emotional distress. Both authors are USA TODAY and New York Times best-selling authors, and they love their kids like crazy. Visit their websites, jillshalvis.com and kristanhiggins.com or Facebook pages (Kristan’s here, Jill’s here) to stay in touch with them.

Copyright © 2013 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Co. Inc.

Source: USA TODAY

Fellow writing bud Susan Vaughan writes awesome romantic suspense. You should give it a try. I wouldn’t lead you astray, I swear! She makes a really good point in this post: Finding a true romantic suspense movie (other than on cable TV) is a tough job. Much of the time, the love interest bites the dust before the move is done. Or, in the case of The Bourne Identity, the love interest bites the dust at the start of the sequel, The Bourne Supremacy. Dirty pool, people! Dirty pool. Susan has two new romantic suspense novels out now, Never Surrender and Once Burned. And here she explores romantic suspense in the movies …

Susan: I love a good thriller, whether a novel or a movie. Maybe because I write romantic suspense and love that Happy Ever After ending, the thrillers that stay with me, the ones I want to read or watch again and again, tend to be romantic suspense. I have to admit romantic suspense movies have even influenced or inspired my writing. I bet you’re scratching your heads right now trying to think of romantic suspense movies. Tough, right? That’s because there aren’t many that fit the description.

Most suspense or thriller or action movies feature a hero with a love interest, but too often they don’t walk off together at the end. Some people call Die Hard romantic suspense, but I can’t see a happy ending for Bruce W and his ex resulting from the Big Rescue in that film. And as much as I love Daniel Craig’s Bond in Casino Royale (2006) and the romance in that movie, no HEA for the sexy couple. You don’t tend to have sequels in stories where boy gets girl and keeps her, so it was a trade-off (sorry, Vesper) I could accept ’cause it meant more of Daniel Craig as Bond.

A former James Bond, Pierce Brosnan, stars in a true romantic suspense movie, The Thomas Crown Affair (1999), with Rene Russo. He’s a bored executive who steals paintings from museums, and she’s the insurance investigator sent to catch the thief — a conflict sharp enough to cut glass. And the steam generated between the two as they begin their duel, er, romance could fog up an acre of solar panels. Unlike the original movie starring Steve McQueen and Faye Dunaway (which I also love), in this version, boy gets girl and they fly into the sunset together. Sigh.

I can’t count how many times I’ve watched Romancing the Stone (1984). Yes, I know it’s an older movie, but all its disparate parts are wildly entertaining. Part romantic comedy, part adventure, part suspense, with the mismatched couple of Michael Douglas as a swashbuckling bird exporter and Kathleen Turner as a timid romance novelist (see why I love this movie?) trying to ransom her kidnapped sister. She must deliver a legendary emerald to the kidnappers, and he wants the stone for himself. And who couldn’t love a movie with Danny DeVito as a bumbling crook? This movie prompted me to write a book with some of the same elements, a story I’m currently working on. No bumbling crooks, though, only true baddies.

The best RS movie by far in my opinion is another older film, The Big Easy (1987), with Dennis Quaid (love him in Vegas) and Ellen Barkin (wonderful in The New Normal). The story has the perfect romantic conflict. He’s a New Orleans detective taking bribes along with dozens of other cops, and she’s the state district attorney sent to investigate police corruption. The sizzle between them steams up my glasses every time I watch that movie. And the romance between them causes him to change, to want to clean up the corruption. Suspense and a clever mystery plot as well as the happy ending to the tune of Cajun music, make this one of my all-time faves.

The most recent romantic suspense movie I could come up with was from 1999, so I must have missed bunches of newer romantic suspense or thriller movies with great romance.

If anyone can suggest more, I’d love to add them to my faves list. (To leave a comment, click on the gray comment balloon on the left side of your browser window.)

Here’s the blurb for Never Surrender (book one of Task Force Eagle):

In hot pursuit

For years, DEA Agent Ricardo Cruz has pursued El Águila, the gun-and-drug-smuggling cartel that killed his older brother. When Rick finally has a lead in Maine, his suspect goes underground and the sister refuses to cooperate. Beautiful Juliana Paris’ quick wit and loyalty draw him, but he can’t afford involvement with his suspect’s sister.

With no way back

Because Juliana’s father suffered injustice that led to his early death, she intends to find her troubled younger brother and ensure the law treats him fairly. She’s determined not to fall for the sexy agent, even if he is dedicated and honorable. Threats by the cartel, who plan to use her to lure out her brother, force her to accept Rick’s protection.

The only choice is … surrender.

Juliana wants no charmer like the men her mother keeps marrying, and Rick wants no strings. Although attraction sparks between them, the two are at odds and their personalities are polar opposites, but they must work together while evading the thugs. Their hunt for the brother and the cartel’s American connection leads them into each other’s arms and into deadly danger.

The blurb for Once Burned (book two of Task Force Eagle):

Once burned

ATF agent Jake Wescott goes undercover in his Maine hometown of Dragon Harbor to find the local connection to Mexican drug-and-arms cartel El Águila’s New England operation. Who would suspect a local son living on a boat and fixing up his grandmother’s house? On his own time, he can’t resist digging into the old fire that killed his girlfriend. What he finds makes him suspect the cause wasn’t accidental but arson.

Twice shy

Lani Cameron’s return to Maine throws her into a tinderbox of danger. She has no memory of the fire that killed her twin sister and scarred her, inside and out. When she learns Jake is investigating the cause of the fire, she wants in. She couldn’t save her twin, but maybe she can dispel the guilt and nightmares by finding the truth. Seeing Jake again revives attraction she kept hidden, but who does he see when he touches her, Lani or her twin?

And into the fire

Because of his girlfriend’s death and that of a colleague, Jake doesn’t trust himself to protect anyone, especially Lani, as daring and determined as she is sexy. He fears she’ll become a target, but he needs her lost memories of that night. When the arsonist tries to kill her, Jake becomes her reluctant protector. Their shared past and the search bind them together, and intimacy ignites passion. As they uncover secrets, they face danger more explosive than they’d feared.

To find out more about Susan and her books, you can visit www.susanvaughan.com. You can also connect with her on Facebook and Twitter (@SHVaughan).

Copyright © 2013 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Co. Inc.

Source: USA TODAY

In honor of Norway’s Constitution Day (May 17), ST Bende, author of Elsker, offers a twist on some old myths. (And Norsk waffles? I want that. Extra syrup, please.)

ST: Some 200 years ago May 17, the Constitution of Norway was signed, and the country became an independent nation. Ever since, those of us of Nordic descent have marked the day with parades, games, and lots and lots of Norsk waffles.

While writing my upper YA/NA paranormal romance, Elsker, I dove headfirst into Scandinavian culture. In addition to consuming undignified amounts of Norsk waffles (a true anytime food), I read up on the Norse myths. From John Lindow’s Norse Mythology to D’Aulaire’s illustrated guide for children, I gobbled up every book in my library that touched on the mythology. I was looking for the perfect gods to show my heroine, Kristia Tostenson, that the world beyond her one-stoplight hometown is much bigger than she ever imagined. I fell head over heels for the legitimate gods borrowed from mythology, as well as the ones rooted firmly in my imagination. Three of my favorite characters from Elsker are:

Ull: We all know Thor — God of Thunder, aka He Who Wields the Ginormous Hammer, Mjölnir. But did you know he had a stepson? Thor, Sif — Goddess of Beauty — and her son Ull were the original blended family. Ull grew up to be an accomplished skier, an epic archer and the God of Winter. Who better to sweep a small-town human off her feet? In Elsker, Ull takes a vacation from Asgard and enrolls in graduate school in Cardiff University. He’s stubborn, stoic and controlling. And he’s ridiculously good-looking, if you’re into the whole 6-foot-5 Norse Adonis thing.

Olaug: Ull’s Asgardian grandmother is 100% imaginary, but her Norse roots run deep. She’s got the wisdom of Idunn (Goddess of Life), the warmth of Frigga (Goddess of Marriage) and the purity of Balder (God of Peace). Plus, I named her after my fabulous Norwegian teacher, who is gentle, kind, adventurous, sassy and endlessly patient. She’s waited the better part of a decade for me to say something more substantial than “takk for vaffel.” But, seriously, Olaug, thanks for the waffles. They’re so good.

Inga: Also fictional, Inga is my modern version of Freya, the Warrior Goddess of Love. When the Valkyries collected fallen human soldiers to fight for Asgard, they gave some to Odin and some to the warrior Freya. She was worshipped as a fertility goddess and solidified her rep as the ultimate cat lady by riding into battle on a chariot pulled by felines. Elsker‘s Inga eschews the cats, but she combines fierce fencing skills with otherworldly good looks to stun warriors into submission as fight choreographer for Odin’s Army. Toss in her mad culinary skills and her unwavering loyalty to her best friend, Ull, and she’s Asgard’s unofficial Domestic Goddess.

By staying somewhat true to the stories of the gods, I hoped to give readers a fresh spin on the classic mythologies. And in dropping the world of Asgard onto a girl who’s never ventured beyond her 300-person town, I wanted to show that there’s more than one path to happily ever after. One thing’s for certain — after meeting this crew, Kristia’s life is never going to be the same.

Oh, and those Norsk waffles? I have it on good authority their recipe is on the last page of Elsker. Du er velkommen. Now get ready to buy some bigger pants.

Here’s the blurb for Elsker:

You don’t win the heart of an immortal assassin without making a few enemies along the way.

Kristia Tostenson prefers Earl Grey to Grey Goose and book clubs to nightclubs, but when she transfers from her one-stoplight town to Cardiff University in Wales she falls in love with Ull Myhr. Her new boyfriend isn’t exactly what she was expecting. He’s an honest-to-goodness Norse God — an immortal assassin fated to die at Ragnarok, the battle destined to destroy Asgard and Earth. Kristia’s crazy visions are the only thing that can save their realms.

Her orderly life just got very messy.

ST Bende lives the glamorous suburban life of a domestic goddess. Find out more about ST and her books at her blog or on Twitter (@stbende) and Goodreads. Takk!

Copyright © 2013 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Co. Inc.

Source: USA TODAY

Here are some newer paranormal and urban fantasy romances this week (info provided by publishers and/or their websites):

Predatory anthology by Alexandra Ivy, Nina Bangs, Dianne Duvall and Hannah Jayne (Zebra). Four of today’s most exciting paranormal authors take readers into the thrilling realm of vampires, immortals, and other supernatural beings with a thirst for illicit desire.

• Out Of Control by Alexandra Ivy: Ph.D. student Angela Locke has a crush on her sexy professor, Dr. Nikolo Bartrev. When she learns he’s actually a Sentinel with extraordinary powers, she joins forces with him to catch a psychopath. But soon, their hottest pursuit is of each other.

• Ties That Bind by Nina Bangs: Cassie Tyler agrees to sub for her friend at the funeral home where she works. But she gets more than she bargained for when a group of men attack her and a vampire comes to her rescue.

• In Still Darkness by Dianne Duvall: Immortal Richart d’Alençon can’t forget the woman who rewarded him with a sensuous kiss after he saved her from a trio of vampires. While Richart knows that loving a human can only bring trouble, the taste of forbidden lust is too great to resist.

• High Stakes by Hannah Jayne: When vampire fashionista Nina LaShay’s design contest rival is found dead, she’s the prime suspect. Sexy photographer Pike is number two. He’s the kind of man who makes Nina salivate. But will she have to reveal herself to have him — and to save them both? Or does Pike have a secret of his own?

Time Thief by Katie MacAlister (Signet). Peter Faa is a member of the Watch tracking down a murderer, and unfortunately, all clues seem to point toward his own estranged family of Travellers. Any of his cousins could be guilty: They’re all experts in the art of stealing time. After surviving a lightning strike, Kiya Mortenson is determined to get just one thing in her life right. When Peter discovers his own family is stealing time from Kiya, all bets are off. While she may drive him crazy at times, it’s clear that it’s not just lightning that’s creating some serious sparks between them.

Undone by Sara Humphreys (Sourcebooks). The Amoveo are shapeshifting animal clans who live secretly among humans and must find their pre-destined soul mates while avoiding the enemy that seeks to destroy them all. Party girl Marianna Coltari is an unmated pureblood Amoveo who wants nothing to do with the ongoing war that took her father’s life and continues to consume her brother Dante’s. But when she is targeted by one of the clans, she has little choice but to run and hide in a cabin with Pete Castro, a retired cop from her brother’s security firm.

Fall of Night by Rachel Caine (NAL). The Morganville Vampires. Claire never thought she’d leave Morganville, but when she gets accepted into the graduate program at MIT, she can’t pass up the opportunity. Saying goodbye to her friends is bittersweet, especially since things are still raw and unsettled between Claire and her boyfriend, Shane. Her new life at MIT is scary and exciting. She gets to work on her machine, which is designed to cancel the mental abilities of vampires. But when she begins testing her machine on live subjects, things quickly spiral out of control, and Claire starts to wonder whether leaving Morganville was the last mistake she’ll ever make …

Hearts of Shadow by Kira Brady (Zebra). Book two in the Deadglass trilogy, set in a grisly version of modern-day Seattle, a fierce young woman’s quest entangles her in an apocalyptic endgame and unexpected desire. Grace Mercer’s unmatched wraith-killing ability made her the unofficial defender of a city shattered by supernatural catastrophe. So there’s no way she’ll allow the new regent of Seattle’s most powerful dragon shifter clan to “protect” her from a vicious evil stalking the ruined streets and keep her from the freedom she’s risked everything to earn.

Eternal Demon: Mark of the Vampire by Laura Wright (Signet). When Erion’s son is kidnapped by the evil vampire Cruen, Erion vows to stop at nothing to find his hideaway — including intercepting the traveling party of Cruen’s beautiful bride-to-be. But instead of a vulnerable caravan, Erion is met by a feral band of female demons that includes Hellen, the bride — a creature of dark magic and darker passion. Though the safety of his son is foremost, Erion can’t deny his unexpected connection to Hellen — inflaming a manic desire as primal as it is irresistible.

Nightbound: Lords of the Darkyn by Lynn Viehl (Signet). Beaumaris of York has many secrets. No human can know that he’s an immortal Darkyn assigned to Knight’s Realm, the Kyn stronghold disguised as a medieval theme park. And none of his brethren can discover that he’s a half-breed, rescued from slavery as a child. Brilliant archaeologist Dr. Alys Stuart is infamous for her extraordinary theories — especially those concerning the mysterious Knights Templar — and she is unaware that her research is funded by the Kyn coffers. When the Kyn sends a vexingly good-looking man to assist — and protect — her, she doesn’t expect the surge of attraction she feels for him.

Cynful by Dana Marie Bell (Samhain). Halle Shifters, book two. Julian DuCharme, a rare Spirit Bear with legendary healing powers, is finally free from the threat of death, finally free to claim his mate — but she’s not having it. While his Bear screams it’s time to mate, the love of his life wants to date. Cynthia “Cyn” Reyes, owner of Living Art Tattoos, thinks Julian is the hottest thing on two legs. That doesn’t mean she’s going to roll over for his masculine charm. When the women of Living Art are targeted by a killer, Julian doesn’t think twice about pouring out his last drop of power to keep Cyn safe. But it’s Cyn who’ll give up everything — her independence, even her humanity — to keep a terrifying vision from coming true. One of his death.

Keeper of the Shadows by Alexandra Sokoloff (Harlequin Nocturne). As a crime beat reporter, Barrie Gryffald’s work is risky enough when she’s investigating mortal homicides. But when a teenage shifter and an infamous Hollywood mogul are both found dead on the same night, her Keeper intuition screams, Otherworldly.

Eversworn by Hailey Edwards (Samhain). Daughters of Askara, book three. When an exchange of stolen goods in the Feriana marketplace turns sour, Isabeau stumbles from the encounter bruised and laden with new orders to complete an even larger heist. With her child’s life at stake, there’s no room for error — or allies. Armed with a lethal book of spells, she strikes a dangerous bargain with Roland Bernhard. Steal a shipment of salt from the Feriana colony, and she’ll have her freedom — and her daughter. It’s all she’s ever wanted. At least it was … until she runs into Dillon Preston.

The Tower by Jean Johnson (Berkley). In a fertile valley undisrupted by the aether-shattering death of the old Aian Empire, the Tower and its Guardians have entertained generations of wealthy mirror-scrying mages while adventurers from around the world risk their lives for fortune and fame. But on the one day the Tower stood unguarded, an intruder tried to seize the magic powering the vast structure. Now, locked out of the Tower’s innermost chambers, Kerric Vo Mos must brave the deadly traps keeping trespassers at bay in order to reclaim control. Unfortunately, Kerric wields a pen far better than a sword, and the way into the Tower’s sanctum is treacherous. Only the help of an experienced player like Myal the Mendhite can get him to where he must go. But mutual respect will not be enough. Passion must also be employed.

A Highland Werewolf Wedding by Terry Spear (Sourcebooks). After werewolves Elaine Hawthorn and Cearnach MacNeill almost have a head-on collision on a foggy Highland road, they’re pretty well stuck with each other. It’ll be hours before anyone can get there to pull his car out of the ditch and they both have better places to be. The sexy little American brings out all of Cearnach’s big bag protective instincts. If she thought she was in trouble before, Elaine has no idea what kind of complications a hot Scot can cause.

URBAN FANTASY

Heart of Iron by Bec McMaster (Sourcebooks). Dangerous. Unpredictable. That’s how people know the hulking Will Carver. And those who don’t like pretty words just call him The Beat. No matter how hard Will works to suppress his werewulfen side, certain things drive him beyond all control. And saucy Miss Lena Todd tops the list. Lena makes the perfect spy against the ruling Echelon blue bloods. No one suspects that under the appearance of flirtatious debutante lies a heart of iron. Not even the ruthless Will Carver, the one man she can’t wrap around her finger and the one man whose kiss she can never forget. He’s supposed to be protecting her, but he might just be her biggest threat yet.

Dead Man’s Deal by Jocelynn Drake (Harper Voyager). In a gritty urban fantasy world where elves, faeries, trolls, werewolves and vampires swim free in a sea of humanity, sometimes you need an edge. Looking for a little love? Need some luck? Desperate for revenge? Gage can give you what you need. The most talented tattoo artist in town, he knows the right symbol and the right mix of ingredients and ink to achieve your heart’s desire. One tattoo is all it takes. But remember, everything has its price. The wizards know Gage is using forbidden magic, and they intend to punish him for his transgressions. Too bad if innocent humans and monsters — entire cities — get in the way. They will quell a nascent magical uprising and Gage will be the sacrifice they need. First, though, they have to find him.

Copyright © 2013 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Co. Inc.