Looking for the hottest newcomers in romantic fiction? We asked five best-selling romance authors to name their favorite rising stars.
MARY JANICE DAVIDSON
Mary Janice Davidson's laugh-out-loud novels about reluctant vampire queen Betsy Taylor [Undead and Unwed and Undead and Unemployed, both published by Berkley] are not to be missed. This is a delightful mix of the chick-lit and horror genres. Lots of fun!
-Review by Jayne Ann Krentz
Jayne Ann Krentz's latest novel is Falling Awake (Putnam).
LORI SOARD
The brightest, and I want to stress the word brightest, rising star in my opinion is a writer named Lori Soard. I met her in, of all places, a chat room. Even though our communication was written as opposed to verbal, I knew she had a new voice. Dialogue and humor are the hardest things to write, but Lori aced it. Her Ph.D. in journalism helped, I'm sure. In my opinion, she was born to be a writer and she proved it with two published books, The Lipstick Diaries and Housebreaking a Husband (Five Star Press). I know that very soon, her books will make all the bestseller lists.
-Review by Fern Michaels
Zebra re-releases Fern Michaels' Picture Perfect this month.
LANI DIANE RICH
I love Lani Diane Rich's 30-something heroine, Wanda, in Time Off For Good Behavior (Warner). The world hands her lemons, and she snarls and throws them back at the world. Fast, funny and always true to herself, Wanda is one of those heroines you want to have lunch with. I'm really looking forward to Rich's next book, Maybe Baby (June 2005), too. She's got a great snarky voice and an equally great career ahead of her.
-Review by Jennifer Crusie
Jennifer Crusie's next book, tentatively titled Don't Look Down, was co-written with author Bob Mayer and will be published by St. Martin's this fall.
HEATHER LOWELL
Every generation offers a handful of new voices that speak to and for their generation, and yet are enjoyed by all ages. Heather Lowell is one of those special voices. Her romantic suspense stories are shaped by today's headlines with an eye to how those headlines affect ordinary lives. Her heroines are smart, funny, vulnerable, and willing to take huge risks for what they believe in. Heather writes about these characters with clarity, wit and a style that is accessible without being insipid. And I can't wait to get my hands on her next book! [Once Burned, July 2005] Yes, I'm her mother. As Heather would be the first to tell you, that doesn't blind me to her virtues or flaws.
-Review by Elizabeth Lowell
Elizabeth Lowell's latest novel is The Color of Death (Morrow).
LESLIE KELLY
For snappy dialogue, characters you root for and earthy sensuality, reach for a book by Leslie Kelly (Killing Time, Make Me Over). Romantic comedy requires good timing, and Kelly's a master at it. Like all great entertainers, she makes it look easy. Her new book, She Drives Me Crazy (HQN), will be published next month.
-Review by Vicki Lewis Thompson
Vicki Lewis Thompson's Nerd in Shining Armor (St. Martin's) was selected for Kelly Ripa's book club.
