I remember when Kensington's imprint, Brava, first came to my attention. It was years ago, when one of my critique partners, Alison Kent, sold to them with first a Christmas novella and then her SG-5 series. (I LOVE the SG-5 series, btw!)

At the time, the hottest romances I'd read were Blazes, so I really loved Brava's steam and lengthier stories. Authors like Alison Kent, HelenKay Dimon, Sharon Cullars, and Sylvia Day are among those I've read and enjoyed. And sometimes, I'm lucky enough to receive (beg for) an ARC that I can gobble up before it hits the shelves.

A couple of months ago, Sharon Cullars sent me ARCs of The Object of Love and Bad Boys With Red Roses. Having loved her first Brava, Again, I was thrilled.

I've got to hand it to Sharon…she's got guts. She doesn't play it safe with her characters or stories at all. She isn't afraid to pair couples that are not only unlikely, but aren't your standard romance heroes and heroines.

In The Object of Love, she once again features an interracial couple. And the heroine, Lacey, is old enough to be the hero's mother. The hero, Sean, is white–and Lacey's son's former best friend. At the beginning of the story, they are both a bit lost; her son has died, and he's just had a shitty life. There's no sugar-coating anything when it comes to this story, or really, anything of Sharon's that I've read. She lays it all out on the line to create truly angsty and realistic stories despite the paranormal elements.

As usual, her writing is descriptive and gorgeous…and I've told her this personally–I'd LOVE to read what she could do with a historical (and actually, I've had a sneak preview and am dying to read more.) The Object of Love is not a historical, but it is fast-paced, the paranormal element (being the angry ghost of Lacey's son,) adds a creep-factor and darkness to what is already an emotional plot.

I often see people complaining that authors are afraid to take risks in their writing, but Sharon Cullars is not one of them (and while we're talking Brava, neither is Alison Kent.) I admire that, and I'd like to read more authors who aren't afraid to take risks.

Got any suggestions?