2009 Romantic Novelists' Association Awards

2009 ROMANTIC NOVEL OF THE YEAR AWARD

Winner: East of the Sun by Julia Gregson (Orion)
Shortlist:
Before the Storm by Judith Lennox (Headline)
Sophia's Secret by Susanna Kearsley (Allison & Busby)
Star Gazing by Linda Gillard (Little Brown)
Thanks for the Memories by Cecelia Ahern (Harper Collins)
The Last Concubine by Lesley Downer (Transworld)

2009 RNA ROMANCE PRIZE

Winner: Mistress: Hired for the Billionaire's Pleasure by India Grey (Harlequin Mills & Boon)
Shortlist:
Promoted to Wife and Mother by Jessica Hart (Harlequin Mills & Boon)
Saying Yes to the Millionaire by Fiona Harper (Harlequin Mills & Boon)
Sold to the Highest Bidder by Kate Hardy (Harlequin Mills & Boon)
The Wild Card by Beth Elliott (Robert Hale)
What's Love Got to Do With It? by Lucy Broadbent (Headline)

To read more:

http://rosaromance.splinder.com/post/19817683/

2009 Romantic Novelists' Association Awards

2009 ROMANTIC NOVEL OF THE YEAR AWARD

Winner: East of the Sun by Julia Gregson (Orion)
Shortlist:
Before the Storm by Judith Lennox (Headline)
Sophia's Secret by Susanna Kearsley (Allison & Busby)
Star Gazing by Linda Gillard (Little Brown)
Thanks for the Memories by Cecelia Ahern (Harper Collins)
The Last Concubine by Lesley Downer (Transworld)

2009 RNA ROMANCE PRIZE

Winner: Mistress: Hired for the Billionaire's Pleasure by India Grey (Harlequin Mills & Boon)
Shortlist:
Promoted to Wife and Mother by Jessica Hart (Harlequin Mills & Boon)
Saying Yes to the Millionaire by Fiona Harper (Harlequin Mills & Boon)
Sold to the Highest Bidder by Kate Hardy (Harlequin Mills & Boon)
The Wild Card by Beth Elliott (Robert Hale)
What's Love Got to Do With It? by Lucy Broadbent (Headline)

To read more:

http://rosaromance.splinder.com/post/19817683/

Behind the Cover: Analise Dubner

"I'm a web designer who worked for a large company for 12 years and who got started doing freelance after more and more friends and family and the people they recommended kept coming along.

I actually specialize in personal, smaller projects and branding; although I have done many larger business sites, including large e-commerce sites.



( more pics )

I've been doing graphic design for 16 years and web design specifically for 12 of those years. My style tends to be fairly bold, graphically speaking. I also do my own illustrations much of the time." Analise Dubner

http://dubnerdesign.com/

Behind the Cover: Analise Dubner

"I'm a web designer who worked for a large company for 12 years and who got started doing freelance after more and more friends and family and the people they recommended kept coming along.

I actually specialize in personal, smaller projects and branding; although I have done many larger business sites, including large e-commerce sites.



( more pics )

I've been doing graphic design for 16 years and web design specifically for 12 of those years. My style tends to be fairly bold, graphically speaking. I also do my own illustrations much of the time." Analise Dubner

http://dubnerdesign.com/

Eye of the Storm by Lee Rowan

Two of the dearest heroes of the historical gay romance fiction have in this novel their third adventure. From the discovery of their love under dangerous situation in the first book, passing through the climax of an almost separation in the second, the third book is almost an aftermath. Nor William or David never doubted their love, but the fear is always there and they need to find a way to stay together.

William thought to be able to leave David to a normal life, a wife and possible a son, but David was not of the same idea. And despite the fact that David could seem the weaker of the two, it's upon him to find a way to change William's mind. The bait is a secret mission to rescue a frenchman in French territory; the tool a wonderful and fast little yacht which William has to command with a small crew and with David in the fake role of a canadian trader and yacht's owner.

The book starts in a very nice way, with a much waited reunion between William and David, who finally share a bed in a country inn. But the day after they are separated, even if not physically, since in the narrow space of the yacht, without possible intimacy, they have to restrain themself. And then David, who never doubted William's love, found out soon before their leave, that William was set out to really severe any communication with David; David still doesn't put in question their love, but maybe the wish of Will to commit himself to find a way to work through the odds to stay together. On the other hand, Will can't see a way for them to be together, even if David suggests a marriage of convenience for Will (don't worry, it's only a suggestion, and there is not even a woman around to accomplish it...).

And then Will has the chance to meet "another" man: again don't worry, there is not a betrayal behind the corner, but still, Will has the chance to understand that what he feels for David is not so strange or forbidden, it's something that he could well have felt for someone else if David was not around. It's not that David turned William, it's Willam's nature. I don't know, but in a way, William's mind finds absolution. In all the books I read on this series, I always found that David was the one who was willing to take more risks for their relationship; it's not that Will is a coward, but sometime he is too cautious.

With this book Lee Rowan introduces us to Etienne, a character that I'd like to see in the future, maybe with his own story.

http://www.cheyennepublishing.com/books/eye.html

Amazon: Eye of the Storm (Royal Navy, Book 3)

Series:
1) Ransom
2) Winds of Change
3) Eye of the Storm

Reading List:

http://www.librarything.com/catalog_bottom.php?tag=reading list&view=elisa.rolle

Eye of the Storm by Lee Rowan

Two of the dearest heroes of the historical gay romance fiction have in this novel their third adventure. From the discovery of their love under dangerous situation in the first book, passing through the climax of an almost separation in the second, the third book is almost an aftermath. Nor William or David never doubted their love, but the fear is always there and they need to find a way to stay together.

William thought to be able to leave David to a normal life, a wife and possible a son, but David was not of the same idea. And despite the fact that David could seem the weaker of the two, it's upon him to find a way to change William's mind. The bait is a secret mission to rescue a frenchman in French territory; the tool a wonderful and fast little yacht which William has to command with a small crew and with David in the fake role of a canadian trader and yacht's owner.

The book starts in a very nice way, with a much waited reunion between William and David, who finally share a bed in a country inn. But the day after they are separated, even if not physically, since in the narrow space of the yacht, without possible intimacy, they have to restrain themself. And then David, who never doubted William's love, found out soon before their leave, that William was set out to really severe any communication with David; David still doesn't put in question their love, but maybe the wish of Will to commit himself to find a way to work through the odds to stay together. On the other hand, Will can't see a way for them to be together, even if David suggests a marriage of convenience for Will (don't worry, it's only a suggestion, and there is not even a woman around to accomplish it...).

And then Will has the chance to meet "another" man: again don't worry, there is not a betrayal behind the corner, but still, Will has the chance to understand that what he feels for David is not so strange or forbidden, it's something that he could well have felt for someone else if David was not around. It's not that David turned William, it's Willam's nature. I don't know, but in a way, William's mind finds absolution. In all the books I read on this series, I always found that David was the one who was willing to take more risks for their relationship; it's not that Will is a coward, but sometime he is too cautious.

With this book Lee Rowan introduces us to Etienne, a character that I'd like to see in the future, maybe with his own story.

http://www.cheyennepublishing.com/books/eye.html

Amazon: Eye of the Storm (Royal Navy, Book 3)

Series:
1) Ransom
2) Winds of Change
3) Eye of the Storm

Reading List:

http://www.librarything.com/catalog_bottom.php?tag=reading list&view=elisa.rolle

Telstra & Matthew Mitcham: New Sponsorship

Maybe also thanks to the wonderful article on The Advocate, finally Matthew Mitcham, one of my more recent Man Candy (http://elisa-rolle.livejournal.com/506495.html), finds a sponsor, the Auustralian telecommunication firm Telstra.

Here the corporate news:

OLYMPIC gold medallist and gay icon Matthew Mitcham has finally secured the corporate sponsorship deal that has eluded him since the Olympics.

While it's not in Stephanie Rice territory, Mitcham's year-long contract with Telstra is a "relief" for the diver who has struggled to attract interest from the corporate world despite his perfect-10 dive in Beijing.

He blames the current economic crisis rather than his sexuality for the sponsorship drought but is grateful Telstra has backed him.

"I was a little bit worried... so hopefully this will be a snowball effect, but I don't want to count my chickens," he said.

"If I can get the opportunity where I would be able to train without having to worry about paying the bills, that would be the ultimate goal."

While refusing to reveal the dollar amount of the deal, Mitcham said it would be a "significant" help - without which he would find it difficult to continue the 11-session a week training schedule needed for the 2012 London Games.

Mitcham will represent Telstra at events and product launches, with the company describing him as a "positive role model for all Australians".

The Sunday Mail

Telstra & Matthew Mitcham: New Sponsorship

Maybe also thanks to the wonderful article on The Advocate, finally Matthew Mitcham, one of my more recent Man Candy (http://elisa-rolle.livejournal.com/506495.html), finds a sponsor, the Auustralian telecommunication firm Telstra.

Here the corporate news:

OLYMPIC gold medallist and gay icon Matthew Mitcham has finally secured the corporate sponsorship deal that has eluded him since the Olympics.

While it's not in Stephanie Rice territory, Mitcham's year-long contract with Telstra is a "relief" for the diver who has struggled to attract interest from the corporate world despite his perfect-10 dive in Beijing.

He blames the current economic crisis rather than his sexuality for the sponsorship drought but is grateful Telstra has backed him.

"I was a little bit worried... so hopefully this will be a snowball effect, but I don't want to count my chickens," he said.

"If I can get the opportunity where I would be able to train without having to worry about paying the bills, that would be the ultimate goal."

While refusing to reveal the dollar amount of the deal, Mitcham said it would be a "significant" help - without which he would find it difficult to continue the 11-session a week training schedule needed for the 2012 London Games.

Mitcham will represent Telstra at events and product launches, with the company describing him as a "positive role model for all Australians".

The Sunday Mail