Never Ending Stories - Christina Hollis

First of all, I'd like to thank everyone, reviewers and readers allike, who have said such nice things about my latest Harlequin Presents Extra release,  The Master of Bella Terra. We were snowed in for nearly three weeks, and getting so many lovely messages throughout those dark days over New Year and through January really cheered me up. Internet links with so many lovely people around the world really kept cabin fever at bay!

 This week I got the good news that another Christina Hollis book has been accepted by Harlequin Mills and Boon. The Weight Of The Crown will be published in the autumn, and it's  a bit different from the European-based romances I usually write. This book is set in the beautiful little desert country of Rosara, whose regent, Lysander, is drawn to the one woman in the world who fights his animal attraction - she's a challenge Lysander can't resist! Alyssa arrives to work as nanny to Lysander little nephew. Her staid, sensible fiance recently left her for another woman, so she's convinced she'll never  fall for a man with Lysander's playboy reputation in a million years. She won't give in, but Lysander won't give up - so something (or someone!) has to change.

I loved having the freedom to invent my own country for Lysander to rule, but I wouldn't want to live in a desert land like Rosara.  My heart will always be in England, despite the recession and some awful weather here over the last few years.  When it's grey outside and the newspapers are full of doom and gloom,  it's hard to remember that things will improve and the sun will come back one day. At times like that I bring in a few sprigs of winter honeysuckle and viburnum from the garden and settle down in front of the fire with a cup of tea, something sweet and a stack of romances. It's the perfect antidote to real life!