Project and content management for Contemporary Authors volumes
WORK TITLE: Playing with Desire
WORK NOTES:
PSEUDONYM(S):
BIRTHDATE:
WEBSITE: http://www.reeseryan.com/
CITY: Raleigh
STATE: NC
COUNTRY:
NATIONALITY:
https://www.facebook.com/pg/ReeseRyanWrites/about/?ref=page_internal
RESEARCHER NOTES: N/A
SKETCHWRITER NOTES: In Works, titles 1,2 and 4 need boldface for stories and series in parentheses.
PERSONAL
Female.
ADDRESS
CAREER
Writer.
MEMBER:Romance Writers of America (past president of local chapter), Contemporary Romance Writers, Heart of Carolina Romance Writers.
WRITINGS
SIDELIGHTS
Reese Ryan is a transplanted Midwesterner from Cleveland, Ohio, who settled in North Carolina. She writes romance novels about flawed heroines, dark family secrets, and charismatic “bad boys” on the road to redemption. Much of her work is published by Harlequin Kimani, an imprint of the premier romance publisher that was created to showcase characters and themes relevant to the growing fan base of African-American and multicultural readers. Her first novels were about “bad boys gone good” and the women who love them.
Making the First Move and Love Me Not
Making the First Move is the story of lovers who couldn’t possibly be more reluctant to make a commitment. Melanie Gordon is still nursing her grief over losing her father and the pain of a heart-wrenching breakup. Philanthropist Raine Mason has devoted his life to keeping high-risk young men off the road to disaster, but his own past is tainted with dark secrets that he dare not share, not even with the beautiful Melanie. A night of passion is enough to ignite fires within them, but when Melanie’s job sends her back home to Cleveland, their future seems dimmer than ever.
Love Me Not features artist and part-time bartender Jamie Charles. Her tortured past–abandonment by her addicted parents and a miraculous escape from her own addiction–leave her determined to avoid any emotional entanglement whatsoever. Then she meets Miles Copeland, a handsome, charming advertising executive with demons of his own. Jamie’s tough outer layer is designed to repel affection, but Miles thrives on risk. He is determined to convince her that he is worth the risk of opening a pathway to her heart.
Playing by the Rules
In Playing by the Rules, Ryan introduces the fiction resort of Pleasant Cove, a luxury seasonal community nestled among the popular Outer Banks of North Carolina. Among the local elite are British hotel magnates Hunter and Liam Westbrook. Other stars of the social set include five close-knit female cousins. This prequel to a series introduces management executive Meredith Jane, who achieved her position on the corporate ladder through a lifetime of playing by the rules. She has no intention of risking her hard-won success in exchange for an impulsive moment of passion–until it happens.
Newly single after a failed relationship with Liam Westbrook, “Merrie” attends a Valentine’s Day singles party at which she encounters his older brother Hunter. She never imagined that Hunter has admired her from afar for years, or that she would succumb to a moment of passion that could ruin her career–or open a door to eternal love. Hunter also hovers at the edge of a momentous decision. If he acts on his feelings for Meredith, he could trigger a scandal that would not only alienate his brother, but also destroy the family empire that supports the affluent lifestyle they’ve come to love.
Playing with Desire and Playing with Temptation
Playing with Desire is the first full-length entry in the “Pleasure Cove” series. Readers actually meet Liam Westbrook, still smarting with resentment five years after brother Hunter’s fling with Meredith. Liam remains bitter about what happened, but not too bitter to stay away from Pleasure Cove. There, one memorable moonlit night, He meets Maya Alvarez, a divorced mother of two who is celebrating her birthday at the seashore while her daughters spend summer vacation with their father. A night of passion leads to an exciting summer romance. Maya faces a dilemma when Liam asks for more: she has neglected to mention her parental status to this longtime bachelor who has no interest in children. Liam is shocked by the news, as he must now consider how far he is willing to go for the sake of love. “Trust and forgiveness are at the heart of their dilemmas,” observed a critic in Publishers Weekly; for Liam and Maya, the reviewer explained, it will be a “bumpy ride to their happy ending.”
There are many bumpy roads in Pleasant Cove. Professional football player Nate Johnston steps onto one in Playing with Temptation, when a ballooning media disaster reunites him with the mother of his son. Media consultant Kendra Williams did not know she was pregnant when she rejected Nate’s wedding proposal seven years ago. Now she regrets the distance she placed between him and his son, and she might be able to make amends.
After the humiliating loss of a championship run, Nate is caught on videotape in a vicious rant against his teammates’ performance. His equally honest self-evaluation is not included when the tape goes viral on the Internet, and Nate’s very career is on the line. His brother claims that only Kendra has the skill to reverse the damage.
Their reunion serves to fan the flames of passion that Nate and Kendra had consigned to the ash heap. Just when redemption seems to move within reach, a jealous former lover appears with revenge in mind. The road to happiness will be fraught with roadblocks.
Playing with Seduction
Playing with Seduction is another transatlantic love story tarnished by secrets from the past. Brianna Evans is a professional beach volleyball player who comes to Pleasant Cove for a lavishly sponsored invitational tournament. If all goes well, she will be able to retire from the limelight in high style.
Event promoter Wesley Adams also entertains high hopes for this event, which is promising enough to lure him back to his native North Carolina. Both are taken aback to realize that they have met before–in London, a year ago, in a passionate one-night stand. Despite their attempts to retain a professional distance, they are are unable to resist the growing magnetism between them. Both Brianna and Wesley are harboring secrets that could ruin everything, unless their love is strong enough to transcend the growing threat.
Savannah's Secrets and Seduced in San Diego
Ryan takes an occasional break from the sizzling escapades of Pleasant Cove. Savannah’s Secrets introduces the new “Bourbon Brothers” series, in which Savannah Carlisle is executing her devious plan of revenge. She infiltrates the Abbott family whiskey empire as an events manager in order to reclaim half of the business, which she believes they stole from her grandfather. When heir apparent Blake Abbott turns out to be irresistibly alluring, her plan goes awry. Instead of stealing from the family, she is on track to contribute to it. After an unplanned weekend of passion, Savannah is stunned to learn that she is carrying Blake’s child.
Seduced in San Diego is Ryan’s contribution to the Harlequin Kimani “Millionaire Moguls” series. Successful artist Jordan Jace is a member of the San Diego chapter. He doesn’t need or want the support of his wealthy family until he meets Sasha Charles. Sasha was hired to shape his public image, and she craves the costly public exposure. Jordan showers her with fancy meals at expensive restaurants and other high-end entertainments. Sasha knows better than to risk a personal relationship with a paying client, but the combination of his charisma and his bank account is hard to resist.
BIOCRIT
PERIODICALS
Publishers Weekly, December 19, 2016, review of Playing with Desire, p. 105; September 4, 2017, review of Never Christmas without You, p. 76.
ONLINE
Reese Ryan Website, http://www.reeseryan.com (October 18, 2017).
Novelist, freelance writer, and hopeless romantic, Reese Ryan, writes sexy, contemporary fiction filled with colorful characters and sinfully-sweet romance. She secretly enjoys torturing her heroines with family and career drama, reformed bad boys, revealed secrets, and the occasional identity crisis, but always rewards them with a happily ever after.
Born and raised in the Midwest, she now resides in Central North Carolina. She treads the line carefully between being a Northerner and a damned Yankee, despite her insistence on calling soda pop. She gauges her progress by the number of “bless your lil’ hearts” she receives each week. She is currently down to two.
Reese is a member of Romance Writers of America; Contemporary Romance Writers; Cultural, Interracial, and Multicultural RWA Chapter; and the Women’s Fiction Chapter of RWA, She is the current president of the Heart of Carolina Romance Writers.
Welcome to the rapidly growing Southern beach town of Pleasure Cove, North Carolina. Pleasure Cove is the primary setting for my Pleasure Cove series–a sexy, contemporary romance series, published by Harlequin’s Kimani Romance line.
About the Pleasure Cove Series
Pleasure Cove–a fictional beach resort town in Outer Banks, North Carolina–is home to a diverse population of natives and transplants who call the town home. I’m excited to introduce you to the men and women of Pleasure Cove.
The men of this series–a British ex-pat hotelier, pro football player, New York lawyer and two entrepreneurs–are determined and passionate. They live hard and player harder. Each man is willing to take risks when it comes to business and pleasure, but not when it comes to his heart. The deep betrayal each man has experienced in his past has left deep scars. Rather than dealing with the pain, they’ve chosen never to give their hearts to anyone, until each meets the one woman he can’t bear to walk away from.
The women of this series include a non-profit program director, a media consultant, a freelance graphic designer, a beach volleyball gold medalist and a bohemian wedding and event planner. Strong, smart and independent, they, too, have been hurt and are reluctant to take a chance on love again. Each woman deals in her own way with insecurities sown from past relationships. Yet, they discover that letting go can be empowering and that the right man makes love worth the risk.
Also: from Amazon.com
Reese Ryan is a multi-published author of romantic fiction featuring complex, deliciously-flawed characters. She challenges her heroines with family and career drama, reformed bad boys, and life-changing secrets while treating readers to an emotional love story and unexpected twists.
Past president of her local Romance Writers of America chapter and a panelist at the 2017 Los Angeles Times Festival of Books, Reese is an advocate for the romance genre and diversity in fiction.
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Print Marked Items
Never Christmas Without You
Publishers Weekly.
264.36 (Sept. 4, 2017): p76.
COPYRIGHT 2017 PWxyz, LLC
http://www.publishersweekly.com/
Full Text:
Never Christmas Without You
Nana Malone and Reese Ryan. Harlequin
Kimani, $6.50 trade paper (224p) ISBN 978-0373-86517-8
Malone and Ryan deliver a double helping of Christmas romance in these lighthearted novellas. In Malones "Just for
the Holidays," hotel mogul Justin Morrison wants to cheer up his beloved--and sick--Grandma Lucy by bringing his
girlfriend home for Christmas on Catalina Island. If only Justin hadn't made her up to convince his grandmother he
wasn't working too hard. His best friend, artist Alexandra Winters, reluctantly agrees to play the role. But close quarters
at Christmas will challenge them both when they try to hide the passionate feelings they've been keeping secret from
each other. Ryan's "His Holiday Gift" brings lawyer Dashon Williams a real Christmas surprise: a five-year-old
daughter named Madison. Since her mom's death, Madison's been living with her aunt, Mikayla Mitchell--an old friend
of Dash's who's been secretly in love with him for years. Dashon has no intention of letting go of his daughter, and
Mikayla's sex appeal is an even stronger reason to stick close to both of them. Both novellas have equal helpings of
humor, frustration, and romance--just the thing for those looking for heartwarming, fast stories to enjoy during the
holidays. (Sept.)
Source Citation (MLA 8th
Edition)
"Never Christmas Without You." Publishers Weekly, 4 Sept. 2017, p. 76. General OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?
p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA505468104&it=r&asid=210bbf21950d630a4d40ae1b0837a674.
Accessed 3 Oct. 2017.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A505468104
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Playing with Desire
Publishers Weekly.
263.52 (Dec. 19, 2016): p105.
COPYRIGHT 2016 PWxyz, LLC
http://www.publishersweekly.com/
Full Text:
Playing with Desire
Reese Ryan. Kimani, $6.50 mass market (224p) ISBN 978-0-373-86491-1
At the beginning of this well-plotted, even-paced introduction to Reese's Pleasure Cove contemporary series, Maya
Alvarez, a divorced mother of two, tumbles into bed with British executive Liam Westbrook. They agree to continue
seeing each other through the summer. Since Maya expects the affair to end before her children return from visiting
their father, she doesn't mention that she's a parent; however, things get complicated when Liam, who's made it dear
he's not interested in raising kids, asks for more time and hints at a deeper commitment. Liam, a complex chameleonlike
character, is charming in Maya's home of North Carolina but bitter in England, where he's reminded of his brother
and ex-girlfriend's betrayal. Maya's revelation shocks him and leaves him wondering how far he's willing to go for
love. Both characters are strong, and their relationship develops naturally, without any force or pretense. <
Source Citation (MLA 8th
Edition)
"Playing with Desire." Publishers Weekly, 19 Dec. 2016, p. 105. General OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?
p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA475324307&it=r&asid=b9f8a1c85b93e0a1185f33daad08db79.
Accessed 3 Oct. 2017.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A475324307
---
NOT OUR AUTHOR!!!
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Wilde, Jen. Queens of Geek
Jennifer McIntosh
Voice of Youth Advocates.
40.1 (Apr. 2017): p67.
COPYRIGHT 2017 E L Kurdyla Publishing LLC
http://www.voya.com
Full Text:
4Q * 4P * J * S
Wilde, Jen. Queens of Geek. Feiwel & Friends/Macmillan, 2017. 240p. $9.99 Trade pb. 978-1-250-11139-5.
Taylor, Charlie, and Jamie have traveled all the way to the United States from Australia to attend the ultimate fandom
convention, SupaCon. Charlie has a fan base of her own as a vlogger and actress promoting her first movie and was
able to use her new celebrity status to get lifelong friends Taylor and Jamie into SupaCon as well. Charlie's co-star, the
swoon-worthy Reese Ryan, is also her ex-boyfriend and his presence at SupaCon complicates things for the young
actress. She strikes up a relationship with fellow vlogger and super cool girl, Alyssa Huntington, and discovers that her
crush on the Internet star is not in vain. While Charlie and Alyssa are exploring their new relationship, anxiety-prone
Taylor and trusty sidekick Jamie are determined to make SupaCon the best experience ever by meeting their favorite
author. Taylor must overcome her deepest fears in order to get what she wants. Jamie helps her to realize that what she
really wants is him in this geeky romance.
Queens of Geek is full of book and movie references and is a fun look at the fandom convention phenomena. Taylor's
anxiety and experience with Asperger's are treated with sensitivity. The story is told in chapters alternating between
Charlie's and Taylor's points of view, giving the reader a chance to see inside both of their minds. Queens of Geek is a
fun, quick read that will appeal to romance readers and self-proclaimed geeks.--Jennifer Mcintosh.
QUALITY
5Q Hard to imagine it being better written.
4Q Better than most, marred only by occasional lapses.
3Q Readable, without serious defects.
2Q Better editing or work by the author might have warranted a 3Q.
1Q Hard to understand how it got published, except in relation to its P rating (and not even then sometimes).
POPULARITY
5P Every YA (who reads) was dying to read it yesterday.
4P Broad general or genre YA appeal.
3P Will appeal with pushing.
2P For the YA reader with a special interest in the subject.
1P No YA will read unless forced to for assignments.
GRADE LEVEL INTEREST
M Middle School (defined as grades 6-8).
J Junior High (defined as grades 7-9).
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S Senior High (defined as grades 10-12).
A/YA Adult-marketed book recommended for YAs.
NA New Adult (defined as college-age).
R Reluctant readers (defined as particularly suited for reluctant readers).
(a) Highlighted Reviews Graphic Novel Format
(G) Graphic Novel Format
McIntosh, Jennifer
Source Citation (MLA 8th
Edition)
McIntosh, Jennifer. "Wilde, Jen. Queens of Geek." Voice of Youth Advocates, Apr. 2017, p. 67. General OneFile,
go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?
p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA491949523&it=r&asid=b6720705ed4e28a7c0858af657df7cb8.
Accessed 3 Oct. 2017.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A491949523