Did everyone else know that Brenda Jackson hit the NYT with a Kimani Romance? In getting caught up on my reading of Romantic Times, I saw this huge fact. Somehow I missed it before now.

And why, you ask, is this a big deal? First, category romance (Harlequin/Silhouette series books) rarely hit the NYT. I think Nora did it first. Maybe Linda Howard did it as well. Point is, not many category romances achieve this goal, so it’s a huge deal. Second, according to the Harlequin press release I found on the subject, Jackson is the “first African-American novelist to achieve such a milestone with a genre romance novel.” Being the first matters, but so does the fact this will never again be a never-happened-before issue.

How many times can I write “huge deal”…well, let’s try one more time: this is a huge deal. So, let’s highlight the NYT bestselling book and her current release, shall we?

IRRESISTIBLE FORCES is the NYT bestseller.

The copy goes like this:

One week of mind-blowing sex on a beautiful Caribbean island. Of all the business proposals financial tycoon Dominic Saxon has heard, Taylor Steele’s is definitely the most tempting. All Taylor wants in return is for Dominic to father her baby. No strings, no commitments…just a mutually satisfying arrangement. Make that very satisfying. For a man with no intention of marrying again, it sounds ideal.

Taylor wants a baby, not a relationship. And sexy, intelligent Dominic seems like a man with perfect genes. Turns out, Dominic has perfect everything. Their “procreation vacation” is a whirlwind of sensual ecstasy. But when it’s over, will either of them be able to say goodbye?

Her current release is JUST DESERTS. This is a July release, which means it’s out now. The copy goes like this:

Learning that her estranged husband has passed away is the biggest shock of Danielle Timberlake—Foster’s life—until she learns that she wasn’t his only wife. Though Danielle and Marc were separated, she believed they were about to reconcile and start a family. Rocked by betrayal, Danielle sees her dreams slipping away. Until her brother’s best friend, Tristan Adams, offers support, comfort—and a chance to have the child she’s always wanted. Danielle is drawn to Tristan’s strong, sensual nature, but she wed Marc in haste and regretted it. Is she about to repeat her mistake? Or will a marriage of convenience turn into the soulful union she’s always longed for?

Mega Congrats to Ms. Jackson!! Well done.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, July 23rd, 2008 at 6:30 am and is filed under About Authors, About Books, Author Spotlight. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.