Book Releases

Holding On (Colorado High Country #6) —
The Colorado High Country series returns with Conrad and Kenzie's story.

A hero barely holding on…

Harrison Conrad returned to Scarlet Springs from Nepal, the sole survivor of a freak accident on Mt. Everest. Shattered and grieving for his friends, he vows never to climb again and retreats into a bottle of whiskey—until Kenzie Morgan shows up at his door with a tiny puppy asking for his help. He’s the last person in the world she should ask to foster this little furball. He’s barely capable of managing his own life right now, let alone caring for a helpless, adorable, fluffy puppy. But Conrad has always had a thing for Kenzie with her bright smile and sweet curves. One look into her pleading blue eyes, and he can’t say no.

The woman who won’t let him fall…

Kenzie Morgan’s life went to the dogs years ago. A successful search dog trainer and kennel owner, she gets her fill of adventure volunteering for the Rocky Mountain Search & Rescue Team. The only thing missing from her busy life is love. It’s not easy finding Mr. Right in a small mountain town, especially when she’s unwilling to date climbers. She long ago swore never again to fall for a guy who might one day leave her for a rock. When Conrad returns from a climbing trip haunted by the catastrophe that killed his best friend, Kenzie can see he’s hurting and wants to help. She just might have the perfect way to bring him back to the world of the living. But friendship quickly turns into something more—and now she’s risking her heart to heal his.

In ebook and soon in print!


About Me

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I grew up in Colorado at the foot of the Rocky Mountains, then lived in Denmark and traveled throughout Europe before coming back to Colorado. I have two adult sons, whom I cherish. I started my writing career as a columnist and investigative reporter and eventually became the first woman editor of two different papers. Along the way, my team and I won numerous state and several national awards, including the National Journalism Award for Public Service. In 2011, I was awarded the Keeper of the Flame Lifetime Achievement Award for Journalism. Now I write historical romance and contemporary romantic suspense.

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Seductive Musings

Monday, February 13, 2012

BREAKING POINT wins Best Romantic Suspense in AAR Poll


I am delighted and astonished to be able to announce that Breaking Point (I-Team Book 5) won Best Romantic Suspense in All About Romance’s Annual Reader Poll. This is the second year in a row that one of my books has claimed this honor, as Naked Edge won in the same category last year.

As tempting as it is to crown myself reigning queen of romantic suspense, I gave my tiara to an adorable little 3-year-old princess named Taylor. Besides, there are so many fantastic authors writing romantic suspense that any such attempted coronation would be nothing but hubris.

This is the second (or third?) significant honor Breaking Point has picked up, as the editors of Amazon.com named it one of the Top 10 Romance Novels of 2011. 

Thank you to all of you who read the book, who shared your feelings about it through reviews and word of mouth, and who voted in AAR’s poll. You helped make this book the success is has been. It means the world to me.

Other winners I was happy to see this year included Julie James, who won Best Contemporary Romance for the second year in a row, this time with A Lot Like Love, a book I very much enjoyed. A Lot Like Love also tied with Susan Elizabeth Phillip’s Call Me Irresistible for Funniest Romance. Both had to be a tough categories to win.

I was also thrilled to see Jessica Scott pick up Best Debut Author for Because of You. I read her book pre-release and gave it a blurb because I was so impressed with the military authenticity she, as an army captain, was able to bring to the story.

Head on over to AAR to see a list of all the winners, to read author commentary on the poll, and to participate in a discussion of the poll on AAR’s message boards.

In the meantime, I’d love to celebrate this with you. Trouble is, I am sick as a dog with the worst case of bronchitis I think I’ve ever had pneumonia. If I don’t start getting better over the weekend, they’re putting me in the hospital. Given how much I hate hospitals, I need to put all of my energy into getting well. I’ll be back to draw a winner next week!

So to help me celebrate, post your favorite moment or quote from Breaking Point.  I’ll draw one name at random from those who post, and that person will win a signed copy of the book.

Thanks again for your support!

30 comments:

amandakgc said...

My favorite moment was when Zach and Natalie finished their "business" and Zach tasted himself and said you taste better(something like that). I found that CALIENTE!

amandakgc(at)hotmail(dot)com

Congrats on Breaking Point!

I feel so bad for you about the bronchitis. I too have had this this year (not in the past tense). I got it right before Christmas and am still battling it, but no I don't feel like it's life or death. I've never had anything like this.

Take it easy, and rest when you can.

Kaylie said...

So happy for you, Pamela, congratulations! My favorite moment doesn't involve Zach and Natalie, but is between Julian and Marc. I don't want to post any spoilers in case someone reads this who hasn't yet read BREAKING POINT, but the scene shows the depth of love the 2 men share as such close friends, and it is towards the end of the book. Pamela, I'm sure you and those who have read it know what I'm talking about. It was beautiful!
Meanwhile, feel better soon...(((hugs))) sent your way!

Shirley Quick

Hope said...

YAY for Zach, and you of course :)

One of my favorite quotes is..
"...you are under arrest for the distribution and sale of schedule one narcotics, human trafficking, the murders of US nationals on US soil, the kidnapping and attempted murder of and American journalist....and a whole lot of other sick shit."

Please don't enter me in the contest, I just wanted to add my two cents lol.

ClaudiaGC said...

Congratulations, Pamela! And so well deserved! I'm so happy for you.
As for the favourite moment, can I quote the whole book? I think in honour of your win I'll do a reread of Breaking Point. :)

claudigc at msn dot com

Anonymous said...

Hi Pamela Congratz big time on your winning:D. My favourite moment is when zac and Natalie realize for the first time that they love one another :)aretha_zhen@yahoo.com

My absolute favorite scene from BREAKING POINT, and one of my all time favorite scenes ever, takes place towards the end of the book, at the hospital, when pictures are being passed around. I don't want to risk spoilers, but I'll just say that one picture in particular brought me to tears.

Congratulations, Pamela! You so, so deserve this honor!! *hugs*

smiles said...

I have just started it and when Natalie starts with the nursery rhymes gets me.

Shelly
shelly@ledgetoplogistics.com

Aw hope you feel better soon! Congrats on the win :) Was my first book of yours and I loved it. My favorite part was when Zach and Natalie were about to be rescued and things were getting a bit steamy. Her friend's reactions to catching them were fantastic and had me laughing.

Elizabeth said...

My favourite moment was when Zach and Natalie were discovered doing it in the pond type thing by her friends who had came to rescue her!

elizabeth_14@hotmail.co.uk

Na said...

Congratulations on your award! Romantic suspense is one of my favorite genre to read from. I love the action and how engaging the stories are. I've been eyeing this book and I can't say I have a favorite moment as I havent read your books yet. Hoping to discover some.

Cambonified(at)yahoo(dot)com

Cheryl said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Cheryl said...

I don't know if I can pick one single moment that was my favorite... but I can say that this book is one of my all-time-favorite books! This book is the ONLY contemporary book on that shelf! Usually my favorites lean toward Historical Romance but Breaking Point won my heart and soul! Congratulations... it is a well-deserved honor!

My favorite quote (as I love the closeness of this group of friends) is actually a conversation between Marc and Julian: "Want to tell me why....you're sitting here cuddling me hunter?"

Tricia29 said...

I hope you feel better soon Pamela.

Breaking Point delivered everything, no bars held. There were too many favorite moments in this book all absolutely spectacular. My favorite scene in the book was when Zachery was relating his nightmare to Natalie about how he tried to save his team from the Taliban fighters only to hear their screams before they died before he blacked out from being shot, "Then Zach's mask began to crumble. "I arrived the same week as their bodies. I went to their funerals in Arlington. I watched as their wives cried and their kids sat there looking confused and....and asking about Daddy". How could this not affect the reader, send a message to every single reader about how brave and proud we are of our military. This was raw gut wrenching material.

Jane said...

Congrats, Pamela. One of my favorite scenes is when Natalie puts the medal on Zach at their wedding.

Just Jinny said...

Pamela!!! You know I am TOTALLY Team ZACH!!!! WOOT!

My favorite quote from the book is this:

"Zach lowered his voice and switched back to spanish. 'Get your eyes off her if you want to keep them, amigo.'"

Hi, Amanda — I'm so glad you liked that little tidbit and found it hot. I wrote TWO versions of that scene, one that was a bit more direct and a second more tame version, which is what went in the book. I found it caliente, so I'm glad you agreed!


Oh, Booklover, you have my sympathies! I can't remember the last time I was so sick. If you've been dealing with this since December... Major, major drag! I hope you're 100 percent yourself again soon. And thanks! I really have no choice now but to rest.

Hi, Kaylie/Shirley — I know exactly what scene you’ve got in mind, and that was definitely a reader favorite. Thanks for sharing! And thanks for the get-well wishes, too. I need them!

Hi, Hope — I'm glad you liked that. What do say to a man like The Bad Guy anyway? I thought Zach summed it up pretty succinctly. Thanks for adding your two cents. :-)

Thank you, Claudia! I hope you enjoy your re-read! The whole book is a rather long favorite moment, but, sure, you can say that. And thanks! :-)

Hi, Aretha — Thanks! A special moment for sure.

Hi, Blithely Bookish — What's sort of surprising about this book and that scene is how many people said that moment was their fave and one of the favorites of the entire series. It made me happy to hear that because I felt it really showed that people FELT the friendships between the characters. And that matters to me. Thank you so much!

Hi, Shelly — Thanks for posting. I don't really know where that came from — Natalie using nursery rhymes to comfort herself. It's just one of those magic moments where characters take over writing the story and do their own thing. I'm glad you found it touching.


Hi, Red — Thank you! So you've gone through the I-Team backward, have you? And you just won a copy of UNTAMED. :-)

Ha! I'm so glad you enjoyed that. I love how, um... protective the guys get over the women in the series. It's fun to write, and it's fun to "watch" in my head. That probably sounds crazy...

Thanks for the get-well wishes.

Hi, Elizabeth — That‘s two votes back to back for the “caught in flagrante” moment. :-)

I suppose some readers might have wanted Natalie to learn that the guys had seen her and Zach, but to me it was a measure of the men they are that to this very day, she doesn’t know. :-)

Hi, Na — Thanks for posting! I hope you get a chance to read it, too. Romantic suspense is a fun genre to write because it requires some complex plots and characterizations. It can be hard to balance romance and suspense, but I try hard to get that balance just right.

Hi, Cheryl — WOW! The ONLY contemp on your keeper shelf? That's amazing! What an honor. I feel like that's another award in itself. :)

I'm so glad you enjoyed it that much. And thanks for your kind words. :-)

Hi, Bibliophilecici1022 — That moment in the story choked me up when I wrote it. I enjoyed being able to show it through Joaquin’s eyes, which enabled readers to really SEE how much Marc and Julian care about each other despite the name calling and macho banter. Thanks for sharing!

Hi, Tricia — I'm glad someone mentioned that moment. Also, I really appreciate what you said about our service personnel and their families who are dealing with things like this all the time. I was very aware as I was writing the story of events that were eerily similar to those I'd written — and the deaths of U.S. forces overseas. It really had me thinking about the price they pay for their service.

Thanks for posting!


Hi, Jane — Oh, that moment was so wonderful to write. I think it was 2 AM or something when I got to it, and I got very choked up. I'm glad it was memorable for you! And thank you! :-)


Hi, Jinny — Yes, we've got Team Zach represented here for sure now! This award should feel like a victory for you all. :-)

I really loved writing the parts of the story set in Mexico. I'm glad that stayed with you.

Thanks for posting!

Anonymous said...

I love so many it is hard to pick!!! When they are in the hospital after Zach wakes up..."So, kissing me makes your heart skip beats, does it?" "Thats hell-to-the-yeah, angel. Now kiss me again."

Love this series!!
Patti F
pfleming913@comcast.net

Andrea Porubiansky said...

Pamela, first Congratulations and second feel better soon. Wish I lived closer, I'd make you a big pot of homemade chicken soup! It really does work.
My favorite part of the book is when Zach could finally reveal who he is. Oh and when Natalie was given the sweet tea on the plane! Cried over that one!

Anonymous said...

I loved this book! Im sure it has already been said, but I love the waterfall scene (dont want to ruin it for anyone that hasnt read the book) all the guys coming together to protect Natalie and thought Hunt and Julian was too sweet (again dont wanna spoil it) all the I-Team series are fantastic books, Breaking Point and Hard Evidence are my favorites! Get feeling better soon Pamela and a BIG congratulations on the win!!

This was my favorite I Team novel so I had so many favorite parts it was hard to choose however this part brought tears to my eyes so I thought I would post it as my fav.
"It was the photo of Marc and Julian. The lighting had been perfect, catching the texture of their skin,the subtlest details of their faces exposing their emotions. Julian lay bloodied and shirtless, against Marc's chest, his eyes closed, pain etched on every feature of his face. Marc looked down at him, pressing gauze to the bullet wound in his shoulder and an ice bag to his hand, his expression fierce, a mix of anger,concern, and-there was no other word for it-love."
Wow is all I can say. I love that part it was amazing and I could see the scene in my head crystal clear as I read. Amazing.

CONGRATULATIONS!!

Does cover to cover count? BREAKING POINT is the kind of book that grabs hold & does not let go. A keeper.

So happy for you, Pamela, congratulations! I can't say I have a favorite moment as I havent read this book yet. Hope to discovered soon.

filiafantasy at gmail dot com

tresa said...

Kinda like was said " the whole book " or " the complete series " don't remember how I found the first book, I know it wasn't the first cause I had to go back and order the first one ( musta been the 2nd) but absolutely love the series & can't wait for the next one ! Team Julian !!!!

Doreen said...

Yay for Breaking Point and your wonderful story telling Pamela! One of my favorite scenes is when Zach has his final "goodbye" with his long dead military buddies. It was his time for absolution and was very touching.

Dalila G. said...

Yaaay!
Big congrats to you on BREAKING POINT! :-D

Sorry to hear you're not feeling good. You're one tough cookie, you'll be back on your feet in no time.

Sending you get well ((((hugs))))!!

Hi, everyone —

I'm finally starting to feel a bit better. Thanks so much for the good wishes, the cards, the Starbucks gift cards. You all are amazing!!!

Your support absolutely brightened my dreary days. Pneumonia is no fun at all.

OK, so the winner of the signed copy of BREAKING POINT is...

Patti F!

Congratulations!

There's no mail going today, but I'll get the book out to you next time I hit the post office.

:-)

Dalila G. said...

Yaaay!
Congrats Patti F.!
Enjoy! :-)

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