Dear Friends and Readers

Happy Spring!  And yes, I know it feels like it’s practically summer already, but I’ve been waiting to send this newsletter to announce the release (today!) of a special project called You Send Me.

You Send Me

What’s so special about You Send Me? Well, it’s a bit different than my usual books in a number of ways. To begin with, it’s a short story e-book being released exclusively through HarperCollins/Avon and their selected e-book vendors. It’s also a prequel to Letters to a Secret Lover, my next sexy Avon novel, which comes out in two short weeks. And, being a prequel, it’s the story of an older character you’ll meet in the book back when she was a young woman, so it’s set in the 1950s, which was a really fun change of pace for me to write. So if you plan to read Letters to a Secret Lover – and I hope you do! – you’ll want to check out You Send Me, as well.

To whet your appetite, here’s what the story is about:
The daughter of an over-protective father, Millicent Anderson has never been permitted an ounce of freedom – her father has kept her completely sheltered from boys, and even quashed her dream of being a teacher. But when a family trip leads her to tiny Moose Falls, Montana and she catches sight of bad boy Johnny Pickett, her heart flips – and before Millie knows it, she’s breaking all the rules to be near him. In Johnny’s arms, Millie discovers passion, and Millie is just what Johnny needs to heal after war. When Millie’s father tries to separate them by dangling her old dreams before her, however, she’s forced to make a choice: Will she choose the love of her family and the opportunity to build a career – or will she leave everything behind for the hot guy she’s fallen for?

In this short story prequel to Letters to a Secret Lover, travel back to 1957 to experience Millie’s first taste of love, desire, and sex, and see the first glimpses of the adventurous soul inside her.

Here's an early review:
“Although a novella, YOU SEND ME is no less poignant for the brief length. We feel the magic between these lovers that binds them more surely in a few weeks than years together could ever do. YOU SEND ME is a wonderful little tryst!” ~Jennifer Ray, CK2S Kwips and Kritiques, 5 CLOVERS

Click here to read an excerpt of You Send Me or click on the link to the right to get your copy!

I'm a RITA nominee!

I have some exciting news to share. Tempt Me Tonight has been nominated for a RITA award!  And if you’re not familiar with the RITA award – well, it’s kind of like the Oscar of the romance industry, and to quote the RWA website, who sponsors the award, it’s “the highest honor bestowed upon a romance novel.”  So it’s quite a thrill and an honor to be a finalist!  The winner will be announced the first Saturday in August in San Francisco at the Romance  Writers of America conference, where, like every year, I will be in attendance.  So there will be dresses, shoes, nervousness, and a good time is sure to be had by all.

What's New

Just a heads up, be sure to enter my new contest, where you can win a Letters to a Secret Lover prize pack!

And you’ll also want to check out the new Letters to a Secret Lover items in my Café Press store! If you love the cover of this book as much as I do, you’ll want to grab up a mouse pad or tote bag to make your summer pretty in purple!

For a Good Cause

Don't miss Brenda Novak's 4th Annual On-line Auction to benefit Juvenile Diabetes going on until May 31st, where you'll be able to bid on over 700 fabulous items, including meet & greets with some of your favorite fiction authors, autographed books (some by me!), baskets, jewelry, trips and stays and much, much more. My mother is a lifelong diabetic, so this is a cause near and dear to me, and Brenda’s auction is amazing – you’ll definitely want to check it out.  For more details, visit BrendaNovak.com!

And for another good cause:  The band, Five for Fighting, is generously donating $0.40 to Autism Speaks for each time this video is viewed. Please visit this link to watch the video and pass it along to your friends and family.

I’m keeping this short gang, because – guess what – I’ll be sending another newsletter in just a couple of weeks to remind you when Letters to a Secret Lover is on the shelves! : )  Until then, I hope your May is filled with flowers and lots of good books.

~Toni

May , 2008

	You Send Me
	I'm a RITA nominee!
	What's New
	For a Good Cause

You Send Me

On sale today, the romantic, sexy prequel to Letters to a Secret Lover.

Letters to a Secret Lover

On sale May 27th.  Read the early rave reviews and an excerpt.

What I'm Reading

I’m in No Mood for Love by Rachel Gibson
Yes, I’m behind on my Rachel books, but trying to catch up!

What I'm Watching

Dancing With the Stars
I never thought I'd like this show, but what can I say - I'm now officially addicted and I have no idea why.

What I'm Listening To

Say by John Mayer
That tricky John tried to sneak a song past me by not putting it on an album, but I caught this one at the end of The Bucket List.  Another delightful John Mayer concoction.

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