Saturday Book News

Almost seven years ago they landed on Earth -- thirty-one aliens, fugitives from a lifetime of slavery and cruelty. Now they were dispersed among the populace, unidentifiable because of their shape-shifting abilities.

Simolif knew when his brother Jebaral found his life's mate. The blood lines in his arm had increased by one. And the sight of it had thrilled him like nothing else could . . . unless he, too, could find someone who could accept him for what he was, and who would not scream in fright to see his true self.

He never expected to find Professor Sarah Drumman. As an astronomer, she suspected there were creatures from another galaxy now walking the Earth. And she wanted to prove her theory to the world.

Their meeting would forever change their lives. Too bad hers meant nothing to the creatures who also had landed on Earth looking for their missing cargo.

****

Excerpt:

It was dusk but not dark enough to turn on her headlights. Still, Sarah was stunned to see the elegant figure casually leaning against the polished black motorcycle when she turned the corner and pulled up next to the gate. Staring mutely at his impeccably dressed figure as he unfurled himself from where he had been waiting, she was unaware that the gate’s security system had recognized her car and begun opening for her to pass through. Simon made a gesture for her to drive in. Nodding slightly, Sarah drove into the complex and around to her parking slot. Simon followed on the big shiny Harley.

There was an uncovered space two slots over from hers. Visitors were allowed to park in the uncovered spaces, but he already seemed to know that and pulled into it before she had the chance to tell him. She stood near the trunk of her car and continued to watch in mute fascination as he parked the bike and got off. He was dressed in a pair of creased khaki pants and a long-sleeved shirt. A black helmet and a black leather jacket were tied to the rear of the seat. And on top of them was a dark pink tulip. Her eyes got wider.

A tulip?

Before she could comment, or even give him a hello, Simon grabbed the flower and started to approach her.

Whoa. A flower. The flower was for her.

She couldn’t take her eyes off of the sight of the partially opened bud riding in his fingers. No one had ever brought her flowers before. Least of all a strange man whom she’d just met. And the ones her father had sent her before he died didn’t count.

Sarah raised her eyes to see his nearly turquoise ones staring right at her. Every hope, every wish she had fought and argued against suddenly came back with a vengeance. He approached her slowly, moving closer and closer until she felt inexorably pulled toward him. His body was a magnet determined to dominate her. Determined to guide her toward that precipice and let her go free-falling toward ... what?

What does it matter if he’s right there falling with you?

She had to say something, anything, no matter how bland it sounded. Her panties were getting wetter and her knees shakier with every step he took.

"I thought you were going to call me." The accusation in a pissed-off tone of voice came out of her mouth. Sarah blinked and took one mental step back.

"Forgive me. Although I actually said I would contact you, not call you." Simon stopped less than a yard away and held out the tulip. It was a lovely bud on the verge of opening. The color reminded her of freshly scrubbed lips right after a morning’s tooth brushing. Or baby toes. Blushing pink little baby toes.

"What makes you smile, Sarah?"

Her head jerked up at his question. "Huh?"

Chuckling in that deep, dark way he had that turned her insides gooey, he held out the flower for her to take. "I’m not familiar with your dating customs here. So if I do something wrong, please don’t take it personally. In fact, you would be doing me a favor by correcting me." Giving the tulip a little shake, he mutely urged her to take it. "I was told you might like this. I hope the smile is a result of it."

Not familiar with the dating customs?

Well, crap, Sarah. He’s not from around here, remember? For that blunder you just earned yourself a place in the Idiots’ Hall of Shame.

She reached out to take the flower from his fingers. His hand shifted, taking hers as she accepted the bud.

Warmth poured like a deluge from his body into hers. It shot through her arm and went straight to her heart and lungs, until every breath she took afterwards sent contentment and joy rushing through every vein.

Her fingers involuntarily clutched his hand as these unexpected feelings closed around her. She heard a gasp, then realized it had come from her. A moment later Simon was standing so close to her she could feel the heat of his body through his clothes. He continued to hold her one hand, but his other one was now resting along her neck. Her eyes lifted to find him searching her face.

"Are you all right? You went pale." The tender concern nearly was her undoing.

"I’m ... I’m ..." Oh, damn, she couldn’t think straight! She could barely breathe, but when she did the air was infused with that light, minty aroma. Heaven help her, but the man was intoxicating!

**********

Runner’s Moon: Simolif
Book 3 of the "Runner’s Moon" Series
An erotic sci-fi romance novel
by Linda Mooney
Publisher: Whiskey Creek Press Torrid
Buy Link: http://www.whiskeycreekpress.com/torrid/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=290
On Fictionwise: http://www.fictionwise.com/eBooks/eBook67192.htm?cache

Size: 71K (novel)
Genre: sci-fi erotic romance
See the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YH-Ku8d4yHU
Readers' Choice #1 Torrid Bestseller Of The Month

Saturday Book News

Blurb -

Five years ago they landed on Earth. Thirty-one aliens called Ruinos became fugitives from a lifetime of hardship, slavery, and cruelty. Now they were dispersed among the populace, unidentifiable because of their shape-shifting abilities. Forms they were locked into during the day, but not at night. Not while under the light of the moon.

Tiron had found sanctuary in Crescent City as "Roni". But circumstances and her own self-hatred beaten into her by her imprisonment and torture at the hands of the Arra had her earning her living as a common street prostitute. She despised herself and everything she did to survive, knowing she would be spending the rest of her life in misery.

Lt. Thom DeGrassi worked vice for the police department. He had busted prostitutes in the past, but eight years on the force had never prepared him for what he felt when he met Roni. Not only was it impossible, but it went against everything he believed.

To make matters worse, there was some sicko out there getting his jollies cutting up hookers. Now DeGrassi was faced with two impossible situations—keeping Roni off the streets while he sorted out his feelings for this woman, and trying to find the man responsible for the deaths of four other women.

******************************

Excerpt: (adult content)

The light switch wasn’t too difficult to find. He kept his eyes closed for several long moments after flipping the switch, then gradually opened them until he could see.

He was right. The bed was made. But over against the corner sat a narrow chair with a tufted seat. Black garments lay over it, tossed there randomly. DeGrassi walked over and picked one up. It was the black leather vest Roni had worn that day. In that instant, a sense of immense relief washed over him. In the next, he wondered if she had any more of those black-leather thingies.

The closet was within arm’s reach. He opened the bi-fold doors.

The thing was filled with Jekyll and Hyde. One side of the closet held a profusion of color. A rainbow of clothing, ranging from powder blue to brilliant red, pale yellow to green, made up the left side of the small space. Dresses, blouses, pants...DeGrassi held up the sleeve of one blouse in a leafy green. The tags were still on it. In fact, most of the clothing on that side was still tagged. He recognized the name of the department store. It was good quality without the exorbitant price.

The other side of the closet held what he thought of as her hooker wear. All of it was black—bustiers and more pants. Vests. Some sheer things that laced up. All kinds of kinky wear in satin, and fur, and velveteen, and leather. He saw rhinestones and black lace, not to mention a piece that looked like it was made of alligator.

This was crazy. She had bought all this pretty stuff but never worn it. Looking at a long, soft skirt in butter yellow, DeGrassi began to see a side of the woman he had suspected existed. Four years on the street had not made her callous. That part of Roni continued to exist inside her. The part that hid from the sun.

Yeah

. DeGrassi smiled. That was exactly what she was like. She hid her true self from the sun, from the bright, hopeful, uplifting side of life. The clothes, this house. She was never here during the day. That’s when she went on the streets, to separate the person she wanted to be from the person she had no choice but to be. She never wore these clothes because they would reveal that part of herself that was too vulnerable.

But the dark clothes were like a disguise. Anything that would reveal her softer side was kept hidden. She hooked as far away from her home, her sanctuary, as she could so that that part of her life would never intrude upon it.

And the plants. DeGrassi glanced around the room. Sweet heavens, the place would rival any nursery.

His eyes settled once again on the made bed. A made bed. Visions of his own never-made bed came to him. He bet that if he went into the tiny kitchen, there wouldn’t be a single dirty dish in the sink. And the fridge would have food in it.

"Roni, dammit, where the hell are you?" he growled.

His eyes lit on the small bureau. On top was a hand mirror and a brush. A brush. Grabbing the brush, he examined the strands of dark hair caught in between the bristles. Unconsciously, he held the brush to his nose and inhaled.

There. It was there. The sweet scent of maple syrup.

And then it hit him—what his mind had been trying to tell him all this time. The body. The victim. There had been no scent of her when he’d viewed the remains. None. Yet he knew that he had been able to detect her scent even when she had sat in that chair next to his desk, and that was...what? Two, three feet away from where he’d sat?

He took another whiff of the brush. Her smell still clung to the fine strands, which meant he should have smelled her when he’d lifted the tarp. But the smell had not been there. The victim wasn’t Roni. He would swear to it. The DNA on the hair follicles would prove it wasn’t her. Going into the bathroom, he grabbed a hand towel from the bar to wrap the brush in and left it on top of the dresser.

So where on Earth was she?

Maybe she went to spend the night with a friend.

He started. A boyfriend? No, asshole. One of her girlfriends. Maybe one of those two who worked with her.

But what if it was a boyfriend?

DeGrassi caught himself grinding his teeth at the thought. What kind of man would put up with a woman who had been selling her body all day? He refused to listen to the little voice inside his head—the one that kept prodding him, asking why should he care.

Without his realizing it, his eyes drifted back to the black garments lying on the chair. Taking a mental step back, he slid on his police persona and scoured the room. There was absolutely nothing in the place that even indicated she had a significant other. There were no personal photos, no pictures except for the framed paintings and posters of trees and forest landscapes hanging on the walls. No mementoes. No cutesy stuffed animals. Nothing.

In fact, the place seemed unusually barren of personal effects.

"RONI!" he suddenly bellowed. Pivoting on his heel, DeGrassi strode out into the living room and barreled into the kitchen. Just as he had suspected, the sink was gleaming white. There weren’t even any dishes drying on the counter top. He jerked open the refrigerator door to see all sorts of vegetables and salad stuff sitting on the shelves. A half bottle of orange juice was the only drinkable thing he could see. Angrily, he closed the fridge and walked back into the living room.

After another quick glance around, he re-entered the bedroom, grabbed the wrapped brush, and exited the cottage the same way he had come in, through the window. However, he pulled down the sash until it was nearly closed. She might have left it up for a reason, but he would feel better knowing it wasn’t so blatantly open and inviting.

Roni wasn’t here, but the voice still screaming inside his head told him the Cutter’s latest victim wasn’t her. The brush would provide the evidence needed to prove it. He would take it over to the lab tonight, and later today they would run their tests on it.

Giving the house one last look, DeGrassi pulled the car out of the driveway and headed downtown. Soon, he promised himself. He would find out where she was, and soon. Or else he would come back and sit down on that big comfy couch and wait for her if he had to. He didn’t care how long it took.

Strangely, the idea seemed very appealing.

******

Runner’s Moon: Tiron
(Book 2 of the "Runner’s Moon" series.)
An erotic sci-fi romance novel
by Linda Mooney
Publisher: Whiskey Creek Press Torrid
Size: 58K
Genre: sci-fi erotic romance
Heat rating: sensuous/explicit
Buy Link: http://www.whiskeycreekpress.com/torrid/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=248
On Fictionwise: http://www.fictionwise.com/ebooks/eBook55858.htm

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0A-TlbkfJrs

Readers' Choice #1 Torrid Bestseller Of The Month

Saturday Book News

Book 1:  Jebaral

Blurb -

He was one of thirty-one aliens who had landed on this remote world and dispersed among the populace, unidentifiable because of their shape-shifting abilities.

Jebaral had hoped for a life. A chance to be free after escaping years of slavery and cruelty. But when he met Hannah Pitt, there was no way he could turn away from her or from the feelings she evoked in him. But neither could he accept her offer of a future filled with laughter and promised. After all, she was human; he was nothing remotely human.

Worse, the Arra were out looking for their lost cargo and they wouldn’t stop until every body was accounted for. Could he risk loving this woman? Would she even accept him for what he truly was?

Little did he realize that all his choices would soon be taken away.

* * *

Excerpt - (Warning: Adult Content)

The woods were less than twenty feet from the rear of the motel. Sliding between the trees, Jeb waited until he found a tiny clearing. Once he knew there was no one else about, he shed his clothing and dropped it on the ground.

Naked, he lifted his arms until they were away from his body, and he sighed as the false skin slowly sank into his pores.

The air was cool on his freshly-revealed true self. In a minute or two, after the moist residue of the recede evaporated, Jebaral began running. Pushing himself to go faster, pumping his legs until he was almost a blur, he sprinted through the surrounding forest. Leaves and branches slapped against his impervious hide where his natural covering acted as body armor.

There was nothing on this world, outside of their most fearsome weapons, that could hurt him. He had taken some of the worst torture the Arra could devise and he had survived. Now he was free from the horrors he and the others had faced when the Arra had landed on his world and captured them. To force them into a life of servitude with whatever race paid the greatest price.

Servitude. Or perhaps worse. There were many races out there whom the Arra provided flesh for the banquet tables. It was a well-known fact that Ruinos had some of the tenderest meat beneath their tough, protective hides, which was why Barandat Vor had been plundered with gusto for the past ten or so generations.

Jebaral shook his head, hoping to clear away the worst of the memories. His people’s history was vague now. As a race they were nearly extinct. He would not be surprised to learn that the thirty-one escapees to this planet were the last of their species.

The land dipped drastically, opening up to a small valley. He stopped to survey the beauty spread before him. He loved the way the moon bathed its milky glow over the land. The Earth gave up its secrets to him in ways the inhabitants of this world couldn’t begin to understand or appreciate. A big lungful of the night air told him many things. It spoke of creatures large and small scurrying among the foliage and above the trees. There were other humans in the aromatic stream, but they were far away, most of them tucked inside their homes.

Other humans.

Hannah.

He turned to glance over his shoulder. Several miles separated them, but he could still feel her. Hear her breathing slow. Smell her sorrow. Sense her worry and unhappiness. She wanted him with her in that bed that would be his downfall if he gave in to his urges. To this need flooding every cell in his body. Bowing his head, Jebaral groaned at the impact she had on him.

Of the thirty-one Ruinos who had escaped, eleven were female. They were the sum of a civilization that once had numbered up to over twenty million.

Of the eleven females, three had been mated and were past child-bearing. Four were children, not yet old enough to seek, much less take, a life partner.

That left four females. Four, whom the fate of an entire race rested. And their future looked even more bleak. A Ruinos female would not be able to conceive until she had found her true life partner, and their blood had merged.

On the ship he and all the other males had approached the four females, wondering if they would be bonded to one of them. To everyone’s disappointment, nothing had developed. And now with the survivors scattered all over the continent—perhaps all over the world by now—it would be a miracle if any of his race managed to reproduce.

Jebaral sniffed as a large, warm-blooded creature ambled by. It also paused and tested the air to see if the strange creature was worth getting alarmed over. A silent war waged. Tensing, Jebaral prepared himself to run again, when the animal huffed irritably and went on its way.

A smile came over his lips. The lesser intelligent creatures of this world were of no danger to him. Only the natives who walked on two legs would ever prove to be worthy opponents.

Soft rain began to fall. Jebaral lifted his face and reveled in the cold mist. It felt good on his true skin.

His thoughts went back to Hannah and of the moment he realized he was bonding to her. His fork had been dirty, and she had reached over to pluck it from his hand so she could get him a clean one. Their fingers had brushed, and he had nearly fallen onto the floor when the emotion slammed into him with the force of a runaway truck. It had been the first time they had touched. The shock had lasted all day and all night, leaving him stupefied and in denial until he had gone back the next morning to the diner to see if those same feelings came back. They did, and they were stronger.

There was no way he could deny that Hannah was attracted to him. That tangy, lemonade smell surrounded her every time she came over to him. He could hear her heart literally running when she caught sight of him. Or whenever she sat down in the booth across from him to chat for a moment.

She was innocent. Totally trusting. And miserable beyond all description.

Her life essence was pure, which had shocked him. Although she had lived with a man for a couple of years, and they had performed sex numerous times, there was no awakening in her. To Hannah, the act itself was meaningless. Instead, she thrived on the closeness that came afterwards, on the feeling of being cared for and belonging. Of being held and cuddled, and nurtured.

She had never orgasmed, or else her woman scent would be different from what enveloped her. That fact had driven him to her. It had sunk into his blood, tainting him forever, and leaving him hungering for her like a starved man.

Jebaral knew that when he took Hannah–

Shock like a surge of lightning exploded inside him. When he took her.

He dropped his chin to his chest. He would take her. It was unavoidable. The one act would clear up so many things. One night, one joining, and one of two things would happen. Either there would be no blood mating, cleansing his mind and body of his need for her. Or he would never be able to leave her for the rest of his life.

The nerves running up the insides of his thighs began to quiver with anticipation. He felt his manhood rise and stiffen in the wet, chilly air. It was not uncommon for a Ruinos man to take a female when they both believed theirs was a true joining, only to find out that it was a misconception. Simolif believed his brother’s attention toward the woman was one of those false feelings. Yet, for the sake of Jeb’s emotions, and for the sake of their species, they both hoped it wasn’t.

He turned and began to race back toward town and the lodge motel. Hannah was asleep now. Her body had finally succumbed to the medication she’d taken. When he returned he would slip back into the cabin through the window he’d left open and crawl under the covers with her.

They wouldn’t attempt a joining tonight. But it would have to be soon. He didn’t know how much longer he could keep himself secret from her. Or how much longer he could abstain from claiming the sweet promise of her body.

Above the treetops the moon had risen like a bright coin. It would be full in another couple of nights. A harvest moon, nearly blood-red and pulsing like an imitation sun. Jebaral could feel his blood coursing throughout his body. These next few days would be crucial. But by this time next week either he and Hannah would still be sharing the tiny bungalow, adrift within the sensations of their bodies reawakening, or she would staying there alone. Without him. Because if theirs was not meant to be a true bonding, he would not be able to remain with her. Ever.

The thought was enough to make him flinch in pain.

********
Runner’s Moon: Jebaral
Book 1 of the "Runner’s Moon" Series
An erotic sci-fi romance novel
by Linda Mooney
Publisher: Whiskey Creek Press Torrid
Size: 61K
Genre: sci-fi erotic romance
Heat rating: sensuous/explicit
Buy Link: http://www.whiskeycreekpress.com/torrid/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=205
On Fictionwise: http://www.fictionwise.com/eBooks/eBook50518.htm?cache

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yPmDXtXB1Cg

Linda Mooney : Sandeflay

Title: Sandeflay

Author: Linda Mooney

Author’s website: www.LindaMooney.com

Publisher: Whiskey Creek Press Torrid

Buy Link: http://www.whiskeycreekpress.com/torrid/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=310

Size: 121K (super novel)

Genre: sci-fi erotic romance

Heat rating: sensuous

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AvqFuRo0mWE

And Right Now At 15% Off!

Blurb:

Miranda Sayers's best friend is her wheelchair. It has been her refuge for most of her twenty-six years. But the time has come when her grandmother can no longer help take care of her. Now Randi is faced with having to survive on her own, and unfortunately that future doesn't look promising.

Collin First's job on Earth is to find the Ducts between his world and this one. As an Extinguisher, he has to eliminate those passageways before any of the dangerous creatures from Sandeflay can pass through and harm any humans. The last thing he expected when he took the assignment was to find was the beautiful, crippled woman living one floor below his apartment.

Before either of them can contend with the impossibility of their relationship, Randi and Collin are thrown together, seeking each other's love and help. And when circumstances force Randi to follow Collin to Sandeflay, the greatest miracle of all awaits them both.

*****

Excerpt:

Collin stared out over the roadway but his mind was not on watching the endless parade of people on their way to work or on whatever business they needed to attend. He was recalling the early morning conversation he and his father had shared less than an hour ago. And the news the man had relayed that had chilled him like nothing had since the death of his mother.

"How is Randi doing?" The conversation started out innocently enough. It was daybreak. Dr. Tradi had already come and gone, and Dr. Mendall had signed off on his release. He was free to go home as soon as someone came to pick him up.

"She’s asleep right now, but she had a rough night of it." The moment the words were out of his father’s mouth, Collin sensed something was wrong. There could be any number of reasons why Randi had been unable to get a decent night’s rest. For beginners, being in a strange new world was enough to throw anyone off balance. However, it was Marc’s next sentence that nearly threw him into paralysis.

"I think her body is already starting to reject us."

"No." He didn’t realize he had spoken aloud. It was too soon, his mind tried to argue. She couldn’t be showing signs this early. Not yet. Not yet!

"I’m afraid so, Son."

"But . . . is that normal? I mean, isn’t it unusual for her to be having problems this soon? She hasn’t been here a full day yet!"

"To be honest, I don’t know."

"How can we find out? Would they have record of it at the hall?" The Guild’s Hall of History kept records of every Extinguisher, including those rare liaisons between Earth women. It had been at the hall where he'd learned about the problems Randi would encounter if he was to bring her over. But because of his haste to get back to Earth and back to her, he hadn’t read the entire manuscript.

As if reading his mind, Marc drolly commented, "Didn’t pay attention to the full report, I take it."

No, he wasn’t paying attention. In fact there had been nothing else on his mind since he had awakened to find her leaning over him. Despite every muscle in his body screaming for him to entwine his fingers through her helotus-colored hair and pull her down on top of him, he had forced a smile on his face and promised himself their time would come tomorrow. Tomorrow the doctors would let him go. And tomorrow...was today.

"How bad was it?"

He watched his father’s tiny image on the watch lens shrug. "The house didn’t raise an alarm, but it let me know she had gone into the kitchen. She drank quite a bit of IDA. That’s all I can tell."

Collin frowned in confusion. "She drank the IDA?"

"Yeah." His father seemed just as confused. It wasn’t common practice to give ida to an Earth woman having rejection fits. He remembered reading at least that much. Normally when the time came when the body began to break down, the doctors would inject her with a stabilization compound that would hopefully last until the woman could be taken back.

"And she’s okay now?"

His father nodded. "As far as I can tell. I looked in on her a few minutes ago. She looks like she’s resting peacefully. Oh, and that tygren spent the entire evening keeping her in sight."

That last made him smile. He’d had no doubt the animal would keep guard over her.

"I’ll be staying over at Vesta’s if you need me."

Collin nodded at the small screen on his arm. Other than Marc’s sister and another aunt on his mother’s side, there were no other family members.

"Are you going to tell her about Randi?"

"I’m debating it. Oh, you need to get her a couple changes of clothes since we didn’t have time to send over anything of hers. You won’t need to get much, considering how she’s already reacting to our world."

"I understand." A trip to a women’s clothier, a stopover at the Guild hall, and a tour of the city. But not before they went–

"Sir? Did you need something?"

Collin turned around to see a nurse standing at the door. "Please order me a scootcher since the doctor doesn’t want me doing a lot of walking for a couple of days." The nurse gave a slight nod and left.

Collin gave a final glance out the window, then turned to pace the floor for the fifth or sixth time. He felt restless and full of energy. More importantly, he hurt. No, he burned. He burned to finally hold her in his arms. And to hold her tightly against him—man to woman, skin to skin.

When he had believed they would have a week together, he had planned to take things a bit slower. He wanted to woo her, show her how special she was to him, and finally culminate their time together with a proposal.

Yes. A proposal. He glanced over his shoulder at the sound of footsteps nearing the door, but when they passed by without stopping, he relaxed.

He wanted to marry Randi, despite the objections he knew they would face. He had read and reread the laws governing Extinguishers, and there was nothing that said he couldn’t marry her. That was the fatal loophole in the law. It specifically said he could not be romantically involved with one from Earth, but it did not say he couldn’t marry her. There was no law prohibiting them from becoming husband and wife. Which meant that once they were separated, Randi was sent back to the city, and he was reassigned to another sector, he could legally still help her—financially, if not personally.

And there was nothing the Guild or anyone could do to stop him. In fact, they would become legally obligated to see to her comfort and safety, as was required of the Guild for any family member of an Extinguisher.

*****

Review:

Ms. Mooney doesn’t shy away from the issue of a relationship between a paraplegic and a handsome stud. Instead she lets the story grow with it.

I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know Sandeflay. It parallels our world but some things are so much more advanced just as some things seem primitive in an exotic kind of way. I’m thrilled that I couldn’t predict how this author would work things out. Just when I thought I’d guessed the path she would take she’d veer off on a side path that was much better than the simple storyline I’d envisioned.
This story is rich in characters, love, eroticism and beautiful fantasy. Linda Mooney has done an excellent job of penning a story that will be fun for anyone who likes to get lost in a great book.
- 5 Hearts, The Romance Studio