A trip to romance headquarters — Kandy Shepherd

Years ago, like many aspiring romance writers, I started off by sending my fledgling manuscripts to Harlequin Mills & Boon in London, England. After all, they’re practically synonymous with romance!

My efforts came back with rejection but lots of encouragement. Eventually, I was published by first a small Australian publisher and then by Berkley Sensation in New York. I had success with self-publishing, too. But I still liked the idea of getting published by Harlequin Mills & Boon and never gave up on that dream.

London in early September-warm, sunny and with masses of flowers like those planted on this pub

A few months ago I got “the call” from the London office to say they would like to publish my reunion romance The Summer They Never Forgot  for Harlequin Romance (Cherish). It comes out in February 2014 in both the US and the UK. You can imagine how thrilled I was!

But wait…there was more excitement to come.

I had planned to fly to London (where I used to live) from my home Down Under in September to visit friends and family. “Why not come in to visit the office?” suggested my editor. Needless to say I said “yes”. 

You know you're in London when you see the red buses-this one heading for the Harlequin Mills & Boon UK office

My visit also coincided with the Association of Mills & Boon Authors annual lunch to which I was invited by my fellow writers. And then I got an invitation to the Harlequin party for authors that same evening. Suddenly my vacation in London was set to become a lot more interesting!

All those wonderful tales of romance are nurtured in this building!

The Harlequin Mills & Boon office—"romance headquarters"—is in Richmond, on the outskirts of London, on the aptly named Paradise Road. So many writers’ submissions have been sent off to that address with high hopes—though these days they’re mostly sent by email. It was such fun to actually see it.

How wonderful to get a welcome like this!

When I got there I was greeted with balloons, champagne and a multitude of warm, friendly smiles. Harlequin author Kimberly Lang from the US was also visiting that day and there was a big sign welcoming us both.

The editors told me they love it when authors visit—they certainly made this first-time Mills & Boon author very welcome. Interestingly, I found the actual office to be very like the magazine editorial offices where I spent many years of my magazine career. Then my editor—who I met face-to-face for the first time that day—took me out to an excellent lunch where we talked romance and, in particular, the details of my next book for Harlequin Romance. What a memorable day!

The Royal Horseguards Hotel is on the Thames  in a beautiful old part of London. (Photo from the hotel website.)

Next day I travelled into the heart of London to the very posh Reading & Writing Room, part of the Royal Horseguards Hotel. 

The Reading & Writing Room where our author lunch was held

It was fabulous to be in the company of so many smart, personable and interesting authors in such awesome surrounds.

The ladies room was by far the grandest I've ever seen-wish I'd got a snap of the chaise-lounge!

Romance writers, no matter where they come from, truly are the nicest people. I felt sad that we lived in different countries and I didn’t know when I might see them again—but I can always read their books!

The marble staircase was mindboggling

A few of us went to the legendary Fortnum & Mason for afternoon tea, silver service and all. Then we crossed the road on London’s famous Piccadilly to the glamorous Meridien for cocktails with the Harlequin Mills & Boon team. I had the best macarons—pistachio and coconut—I have ever had.

With Harlequin authors Katherine Garbera (left) and C.C. Coburn

To writers, editors can sometimes seem scary beings—I can’t say too many times how delightful I found the London team.

My London trip was full of surprises—including the warm, dry weather which I wasn’t expecting at that time of year.

Have you ever had something unexpected happen to you on vacation? Good or bad! (Bad: I came back home from my wonderful vacation with a nasty cold!) 

Please leave a comment—I’d love to hear about it. Add your email address if you'd like to get a free e-book copy of Reinventing Rose.

Kandy Shepherd writes fun, feel-good fiction.

Her new contemporary women's fiction e-book, Reinventing Rose, is available now at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Apple, Kobo, Smashwords, and other e-book retailers. 

Kandy’s romances include the Amazon bestseller The Castaway Bride, Something About Joe, and the award-winners Love is a Four-Legged Word and Home Is Where the Bark Is.

Watch out for The Summer They Never Forgot, her first release from Harlequin Romance in February 2014.

Visit Kandy at her website

www.kandyshepherd.com

Do you dream?

I don't dream much, or if I do, it doesn't "stick". Once, blissfully, I woke with the opening of a book clear as day in my head and rushed straight to my computer and put it down in first person, stream of consciousness mode. It was a couple of years before I actually wrote the book, but I knew the girl in my head, saw her clearly and can still remember that moment when her story started pouring out of the ends of my fingers.

Last night my dream was different. Vivid, one of those that's so real that it's hard to wake up from. It was about a well known author standing for Parliament in the constituency where I grew up. She's American, so this was weird, but the promo was fabulous - glamorous, glossy and gorgeous - like the woman (and her books) and I was telling everyone how great she was even though I hadn't a clue what party she was standing for because I knew she was someone I'd want in my corner. And the public library had posters and flyers everywhere.

I sort of woke once, but the dream wouldn't let me go and the second dip was deeper and darker. I'd left the library and was trying to get some last minute Christmas shopping done - late, in a hurry, getting anxious. And then the spiders came. Dozens of them. Huge and hairy, running about the High Street where I grew up, wanting a chunk of me. I escaped and then someone stopped me to "get my back" and was wrestling with a spider that had its claws into my clothes and would not quit.

She was still struggling when I finally managed to wake up, not sure where I was and still with the spiders very real in my mind. Ugh. Horrible. I'm still a bit shaky, to be honest, but here I am, putting it all down again, although I don't someone think I'll be writing a gothic romance mash-up with a glamorous author politician saving the world from the zombie spiders! That is not an memory I want to live with for three months! However, the imagination is still in full working order and getting on with it even while I sleep and bits of that dream - the panic, the fear, the anxiety will stay with me and power my writing.

Meamwhile I was very glad to see daylight!

Ann Roth: Christmas in October

October seems a little early for a Christmas book. On the other hand, just blink and the season will be here in full force.

A Rancher’s Christmas is the last book of my five-book Saddlers Prairie miniseries. I’m going to miss the friendly town of Saddlers Prairie, Montana, and I know my readers will, too. But never fear–I’m hard at work on a new miniseries in the new fictional town of Prosperity, Montana.

 I had a great time writing A Rancher’s Christmas, which features  Gina Arnett, a high-powered marketing whiz, and Zach Horton, a ranch foreman. Gina likes living in sophisticated Chicago, but when her uncle dies she heads back to her hometown of Saddlers Prairie for the funeral and to put Uncle Lucky’s ranch on the market. She won’t be staying long, and certainly doesn’t intend to find love. But you know how that goes. J

 If you want to know more about the story, pick up a copy. Order from my website, www.annroth.net, or from any e-bookstore. Or head for a brick and mortar store that sells Harlequin Americans.

A RANCHER’S CHRISTMAS

A Holiday Change Of Heart 

Gina Arnett comes home to Saddlers Prairie to say goodbye to her uncle and sell the family ranch she’s just inherited. Her focus is on getting back to Chicago and her high-powered job. Two things change her plans: a sudden blizzard that causes the town to be snowed in, and Zach Horton—the ranch foreman who tries to convince her to stay. 

Gina’s boundless ambition is something Zach understands all too well. He’s kept his past a secret, and to uncover it, she’ll have to reveal her own uncomfortable truths—and her growing feelings for Zach. He’s not the kind of man she dreamed of falling for. But at the Christmas season, all dreams seem possible….

For a chance to win an autographed copy of A Rancher’s Christmas, leave a comment.

This has been fun! 

Before I go, here’s a holiday favorite of mine to kick-start the holiday season.

Chocolate Mint Brownies

Brownies:

2 squares unsweetened chocolate
1/2 cup butter
2 eggs
1 cup sugar
1/2 tsp peppermint extract
1/2 cup flour
dash salt
1/2 cup chopped nuts

 Filling:

2 Tbsp soft butter
1 cup powdered sugar
1 Tbsp milk or cream
green food coloring
3/4 tsp peppermint extract

 Glaze:

2 squares unsweetened chocolate

2 Tbs butter

Brownies: Grease a 9-inch square pan and set aside.  Melt chocolate and butter over hot water.  Beat eggs until frothy and stir in sugar, chocolate mixture and flavoring.  Add flour, salt and nuts.  Mix thoroughly.  Pour into the pan and bake 20-25 minutes.  Cool.

Filling:  Stir ingredients until smooth. Spread evenly over cooled brownies.  Refrigerate while making glaze.

Glaze:  Melt chocolate and butter over hot water.  Mix well.  Drizzle over brownies.  Refrigerate 5-10 minutes, then cut into squares.

Reading through this recipe… I’m drooling! 

Award-winning author Ann Roth lives in the greater Seattle area with her husband. After earning an MBA, she worked as a banker and corporate trainer. She gave up the corporate life to write, and if they awarded PhDs in writing happily-ever-after stories, she'd have one. In 1999 Ann won the prestigious Golden Heart award for unpublished writers for best long contemporary series. Since then she has sold numerous romance and women's fiction novels, as well as a novella for an anthology, a serialized online romance and many short stories.

Visit Ann on Facebook (Ann Roth Facebook Author page)  and Twitter (@Ann_Roth).

***Penney is the winner!  Please email totebag@authorsoundrelations.com with your mailing address!***

Autumn - the Best Time for Refilling the well -

 I’m at one of my most favourite times of the year –   the start of the  new year (that’s school year) /new term  - with  lots of opportunities to indulge in visits to the stationery store.  I did that this week.  I came back with pencils, highlighters, files (plastic, all different colours), notebooks, labels . . . Who’d have thought labels could cause so much umming and ahhing as I decide which size(s) I needed?

Then there’s the newsagents – a set of brand new magazines, special autumn (or ‘Fall’ )  issues  with all the new fashions and colours. I love the colours that appear at this time of year. I don’t know where they’ve been hiding while we all went about in summer dresses, tee shirts,  shorts. But they’re here now – purples, burgundy, black, gold . . .  I’m not going to buy the clothes  so much, but I do enjoy looking at them, and the shoes/boots to go with them. There’s the makeup shades as well.  I love the ‘smoky’ look that seems so much more fitting in with the changing seasons.

The television stations are all bringing out their new autumn schedules.  Downton Abbey,  Homeland, Dr Who, Strictly Come Dancing (well, that’s here in the UK)  . .  . Lots of great story-telling, or glamour (Strictly)   and plenty of ‘research’ to do as I watch the actors who are starring in up and coming productions.  And even more enjoyable – for me  anyway, there’s a great crop of new and exciting looking books out right now – all there on displays in the bookshops, waiting for me to grab them(or download them on to my Kindle)  and read them .

So I’m particularly pleased that this time of year has coincided with a point where I have a little extra time to indulge and curl up with a good book or film or drama – and I have a great new notebook to record everything I read (and see).  That was something I resolved to do this year and I’m finding it most revealing. I hadn’t realised just how much I read.  And how many different varieties of stories I choose.  The reason I have this time? I just sent in my latest book to my editor and having done the ‘tweaks’ she wanted, I can now relax and  spend some time ‘Filling up the Well’ of my imagination.  The best way to do that is to lose myself in other people’s stories and  let my imagination absorb new things, new ideas. 

This year is a special one for me and my husband, the Babe Magnet. We’ve been celebrating our Ruby Wedding anniversary and so we’ve planned some special trips and treats – theatre treats. More stories.  More great acting. In London we went to see Othello and then Noel Coward’s Private Lives  (starring the lovely Toby Stephens  - more research!) This month it’s West Side Story (great songs, great dancing, great romance ). Coming up is a production of Cabaret.  By the time I’ve enjoyed all these treats my imagination is going to be buzzing.  And that, hopefully will inspire me to get on with a new story, with a new hero and heroine and a plot that really excites me.

That’s when those notebooks will come in – names, character sketches, ideas will all get noted down. And the magazines will inspire me to think about my heroines’ clothes, her hairstyle, makeup . . .

The interesting thing is that in my list of all the things I want to do is that there’s very little actual romance  in there to read or watch.  That’s because when I’m between books I want to spread my wings a bit, open my mind and see what new ideas get sparked off by trying something so very different. Then when I come back to romance I’m raring to go (or at least I hope it works that way.)

So I’m not worried about the evenings drawing in or the weather getting colder – I’m looking forward to curling up by the fire (with a cat or two on my knees). I have a pile of books, a loaded kindle, a bundle of magazines – and the TV schedule!  Research – it’s a hard job but some one’s got to do it! :o)

What about you? Do you look forward to the cooler, longer evenings or do you dread them?  Have you got anything special lined up for the coming autumn - or any great books you plan to read?

 

 

Kate's latest  novel is A Throne For The Taking:

Alexei Sarova, the black sheep prince who has to face up to a new and unexpected destiny with his heroine Honoria Escalona (Ria) as the woman he wants as his queen.

A kingdom's safety...
Betrayed by those she loves, Honoria Escalona must now face the only man capable of bringing stability to the Mediterranean kingdom of Mecjoria. A cold, hard man who once called her his friend... Alexei Sarova-the true King of Mecjoria.
In exchange for her happiness

But Alexei's tortuous past has changed him into someone she hardly knows. He blames Ria's family for his bitterness, and his help-when he offers it-comes with a price: he'll take his rightful place as King with Ria as his wife, until she produces a true-blood heir  

A Throne For the Taking  is published in the Royal and Ruthless miniseries in both Harlequin Presents and Mills & Boon Modern

Other up to date news and details of all Kate’s books can be found on her web site and in her blog.

 

 

Jennifer Faye: Digging Deep and then Going Deeper…

Hi. Thanks so much for having me. I’m really excited to share my new release with you. It is a very special story for me in many ways. And I’m thrilled to be able to share this story of love and forgiveness with others.

When I set out to write SNOWBOUND WITH THE SOLDIER, I knew some of the basic facts but not much more than that. I knew it would be a holiday romance. Then I started to think about the greatest gifts at Christmastime. And I’m not talking about the amazing electronic gadgets that Santa delivers or the packages wrapped in bright bows and colorful wrapping paper.

I think the greatest gift is family…love. But for there to be a loving relationship, there has to be room for forgiveness. Because as much I as love to think that I’m perfect (ROFL, gathers self and continues), my hubby could probably disprove this notion in a heartbeat. He keeps me grounded. ;-) So love is give and take, love and forgiveness, as needed.

I also knew that Jason and Kara had been engaged, but then Jason suddenly dumped Kara at a Christmas dance and left town. That’s not something you can easily overcome. There’s a song “Who Says You Can’t Go Home” which got me thinking that a person could go home, but it wouldn’t be easy…not after leaving so abruptly, swearing you’d never come back and being gone for seven years. I had to keep going, digging deeper.

I knew that for there to be a chance for renewed love between Kara and Jason there had to be compassion and understanding. And this meant digging up buried history and unraveling the woven strings of the past. That is never an easy task for anyone, especially with so many emotions and secrets tangled within those old gnarled knots.

Their story was a hot mess of why had this or that happen. And would they be courageous enough to trust each other with the secrets of their pasts…

"When you left Pleasant Valley, you swore you'd never return. So what happened? What finally changed your mind?"

His expression hardened. If he'd been expecting a warm welcome, he'd been sadly mistaken.

He shrugged. "Things change."

Well, most things did, and generally not for the better, but not in Jason's case. He hadn't gained so much as a beer gut or a receding hairline. Even the jagged scar on his face added to his sexiness.

Kara's gaze rose to meet his. At first glance, she thought his intense blue eyes were the same as she remembered, but a closer inspection revealed a hard glint in them. He no longer resembled the warm, lighthearted guy she'd dated for nearly four years. Or had he been that way all along? Had those rose-colored glasses she'd been wearing back then obscured his real character? Had she ever truly known him at all?

Jason hitched his thumbs in his jeans pockets. "I'm sorry about what happened between us. I handled it poorly."

"You certainly did."

"If I could explain, I would, but I can't—"

 

Do you like books that have secrets? As a reader, do you enjoy knowing the secret before the main character? What’s the last book that had a secret that had you flipping the pages to find out the answer?

Leave a comment for a chance to win a copy of Snowbound With The Soldier.

Maybe this Christmas…?  

It has been seven long years since Kara Jameson last saw Jason Greene. Returning home as a wounded war hero, Jason looks a shell of the man she once knew. Yet her heart still skips a beat as if it was yesterday…. 

Stepping back into civilian life, Jason looks to Kara for help. But there's too much water under the bridge—not to mention too much lingering attraction. 

But it seems that the mountain weather has other ideas, and when Kara and Jason end up snowbound together they are forced to confront the ghosts of Christmas past.

Available at:

Amazon   |   Amazon - UK   |   Barnes & Noble   |   Harlequin 

Jennifer Faye is a two-time RT Book Reviews TOP PICK author. Maybe that’s partly due to the fact that she has spent most of her life with her nose in one book or another. It was only natural that she dreamed of becoming a romance writer and spinning the tales of the imaginary people running around in her mind. But first life took her on a couple of detours. Refusing to give up on her dreams, she finally succeeded in getting her name on a book cover. She currently resides in Pennsylvania with her very, very patient husband, one amazing daughter (the other remarkable daughter has flown the coop to chase her own dreams) and two spoiled rotten cats. When she’s not glued to her laptop writing another contemporary romance (which isn’t often) or enjoying some family time, she loves to get lost in a good book, cross-stitch, embroider, quilt, knit, watch hockey (go Pittsburgh Penguins!), and garden. Jennifer loves to hear from readers--you can contact her via her website.

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***Jo's Daughter is the winner!  Please email totebag@authorsoundrelations.com with your mailing address!***

Addison Fox: An Unexpected Stop

As a writer, it’s my job to write about life – the big moments, the small moments and the moments that take our breath away. So how can I do that—or keep doing that—if I don’t make sure I get out and experience moments of my own.

I had one of those moments last week. I was traveling on business with several colleagues and we took a small detour in our day and went apple picking in a beautiful Massachusetts orchard. Here I was, dressed in my professional clothes and heels, tromping through the orchard and plucking apples off the tree. We were only there for a half hour at most, but it was thirty minutes incredibly well spent and I loved it!

What I loved even more…. Doing something unexpected and off the beaten path.

When I got back in that car and continued on with my day’s meetings, my heart was lighter, my step had a bit more spring in it and my smile was a little wider. I’d had a few unexpected moments of fun and it was well worth the detour in my day.

What about you? When was the last time you took a detour? And how did it make you feel?

Thanks for joining me today!

XOXO,

Addison

PS

By the way – the apple was delicious!!

~~~~~~~~~~

Despite early ambitions of being a diver, a drummer or a doctor, Addison Fox happily discovered she was more suited to life as a writer. She lives in Dallas and - thankfully - doesn't have to operate on anyone. You can find her at her home on the web at www.addisonfox.com. Her latest book, THE LONDON DECEPTION, is out now from Harlequin Romantic Suspense.

You can visit her at her website at www.addisonfox.com or on Facebook: www.facebook.com/addisonfoxauthor or on Twitter: www.twitter.com/addisonfox

S J Harper: Who is Emma Monroe?

She’s the protagonist in S.J. Harper’s new Fallen Siren Series—CURSED. Samantha Sommersby (aka the “S” in S.J. Harper) and Jeanne C. Stein (aka the “J” in S.J. Harper) began to talk about collaborating on a new series about two years during Comic-Con San Diego. Shortly thereafter, Emma Monroe was born.

Emma is a Siren, one of three sisters born of Gaia, ejected from Mount Olympus by Zeus, and cursed by Demeter for failing to prevent Hades from kidnapping Persephone. Stripped of her wings, she’s been bound to Earth for thousands of years. During that time she’s had many names and saved many lives—but not enough to satisfy Demeter. Sometimes, Emma wonders if it will ever be enough to satisfy Demeter.

But she doesn’t indulge long in second-guessing. Emma can’t afford to. She’s all about the mission and her job as an FBI Agent in San Diego’s Missing Persons Unit is the perfect fit. Every time she finds one of the missing, saves them, the scales tip in her direction. Using her magic, however, incurs a penalty, not to mention risking Demeter’s wrath. Demeter frowns on anything that might draw attention to an Immortal on Earth.

 And, yes, Emma is Immortal. In her true form, she’s a beautiful and powerful seductress, capable of infiltrating the minds of others in order to extract truth. A tempting skill for a detective. Having the power is a burden. Not using it, a constant struggle. As is hiding her real nature. Thank the gods and goddesses for her BFF, Liz, the most gifted witch west of the Mississippi. Liz’s spell-casting abilities are legendary and she works two for Emma—a reverse glamour to hide Emma’s true appearance and a dampening spell to diminish her innate powers of seduction.

Unfortunately, there’s nothing Liz can do about the curse. Guys Emma gets into meaningful relationships with tend to end up dead, courtesy of her favorite vindictive goddess. To make Emma’s life more complicated, she’s just been assigned a new partnering—Zack Armstrong. They have a history no one knows about, after working together for months on a case they slept together. Once. They agreed that after, they’d go their separate ways. There would be no telephone calls. No texts. No e-mails. No contact. Period. With twenty-four hundred miles between them, it seemed safe. Now that Zack and Emma are working together again, they risk a rekindling of whatever was between them. Something that could prove exceedingly dangerous. Even lethal. For Zack.

What’s a Siren to do?

SALVATION TAKES TEAMWORK

Meet FBI Agents Emma Monroe and Zack Armstrong.

She's cursed. He's damned. Together, they make one hell of a team.

Emma Monroe is a Siren, cursed by the gods and bound to earth to atone for an ancient failure. She’s had many names and many lives, but only one mission: redemption. Now that she works missing persons cases for the FBI, it could be just a rescue away. Unless her new partner leads her astray.

Special Agent Zack Armstrong just transferred into the San Diego Field Office. He’s a werewolf, doing his best to beat back the demons from his dark and dangerous past. As a former Black Ops sniper, he’s taken enough lives. Now he’s doing penance by saving them. 

Emma and Zack’s very first case draws them deep into the realm of the paranormal, and forces them to use their own supernatural abilities. But that leaves each of them vulnerable, and there are lines partners should not cross. As secrets are revealed and more women go missing, one thing becomes clear: as they race to save the victims, Emma and Zack risk losing themselves.

READ THE FIRST TWO CHAPTERS FREE

S.J. Harper is the pen name for the writing team of Samantha Sommersby and Jeanne C. Stein, two friends who met at Comic-Con in San Diego and quickly bonded over a mutual love of good wine, edgy urban fantasy, and everything Joss Whedon. Check out their website or sign up for their newsletter here. Follow Sam and Jeanne on Twitter. Friend Sam and Jeanne on Facebook!

Louisa George: Stepping Out of The Comfort Zone

For the last two years I’ve been selling myself as a medical romance writer. And that is what I am- mostly. My heroes and heroines are doctors, nurses, physiotherapists etc. and the settings are always medically based- small town primary care practice, large city hospital, even a sports doctor to a rugby team.

But one day my editor asked if I’d like to try writing something else too. At first I was a little wary- I’d been trying to get published by the Mills and Boon medical line for the previous few years. I was a nurse for 22 years, I’m married to a doctor – basically, I write what I know. 

But fortune favors the brave, so they say- and I was keen to spread my wings a little, so I thought I’d give it a try. Trouble is, it’s a very large world out there beyond my familiar doctors and nurses, I had a little trouble trying to hone down to just one heroine in one career and a hero in another. So I sent a proposal for three sisters (covering all my bases, and yes, one of them is a doctor- just in case I needed to fall back on the comfortable). Luckily, my editor suggested I try writing two linked books and see how I got on. 

How I ended up with a rock star and a music teacher in Backstage With Her Ex I’m not really sure because I don’t know anything about either of those fields (cue lots of lovely research about rock stars and their lives.) But I do know about pushing limits, wanting something so desperately I would absolutely do anything. I know about love, and loss, and those things are all key to a good emotional read.

And of course I knew about being out of my comfort zone- which is exactly how the book opens… 

Blurb: 

Hiding out in the gents’ toilets backstage is not the way Sasha imagined bumping into her significant ex. Especially when that ex is notoriously damaged, famously wild rock god Nate Munro! She has a massive favor to ask him, but one glimpse of his sinfully dark eyes and all she can think about is that he’s seen her naked! 

Nate’s used to women doing anything to get his attention, but he’s never pictured bubbly schoolteacher Sasha as the groupie type- she’s far too sweet! But when the paparazzi get a hint of their reunion it’s scandal all the way. Now the question on everyone’s lips is this: In this showdown between the girl next door and rock-and-roll royalty, who’s going to come out on top?

Have you ever stepped out of your comfort zone? If so, what was the result?

I’d love to hear your stories and comments and will give away one signed copy of Backstage With Her Ex to one commenter.

 Thanks for having me here!

Louisa xx

***Linda H. is the winner!  Please email totebag@authorsoundrelations.com with your mailing address!***

Romance and Country House Renovations - Annie West

Dial R for Revenge…

Forgiveness is a foreign concept to wealthy investment trader Jonas Deveson. Someone has been stealing from him. He's got a good idea who it is and she's going to pay….

Seeing the harsh lines that bitterness has carved into Jonas's handsome features, Ravenna Ruggiero knows he'll never see the shades of gray in her actions.

Jonas blackmails Ravenna into working as his housekeeper to pay off her debt, but living under the same roof leads to unexpected yet forbidden temptation, and Jonas is no longer sure who is being punished

 

An Enticing Debt to Pay is a  romance about two people drawn and held together not just by revenge but by sizzling attraction and a sense of unfinished business.



It also features Deveson Hall, a crumbling old English manor house in dire need of attention. Romantic Times' 4 star review for the book said 'This is a terrific hate-into-love story, set in a dilapidated old manor that's a character in itself.' Poor Ravenna is blackmailed into becoming housekeeper at the Hall responsible for bringing the interior back from its faded glory - single-handedly. As the Hall is a rambling old place that's been uncared for, Jonas expects she'll give up and admit defeat. But Ravenna is made of stronger stuff.



Haddon Hall, copyright Anna Campbell

As the Hall gradually comes back to life under Ravenna's attentions and those of builders and heritage gardeners, my feuding hero and heroine gradually reach a truce, then an understanding that allows love to blossom. You might even say that the state of the house tells you a good deal about the state of their hearts, as they gradually work towards their happy ending. Or you might just sit back and enjoy the hard work others are putting in to transforming the Hall into a showpiece as well as what will become a family home.

 

I'm sharing here a couple of photos take by my friend, author Anna Campbell, which show the sort of place I had in mind when I wrote AN ENTICING DEBT TO PAY. When I look at these I can imagine Ravenna and Jonas inside, working and fighting and making up.



Calke Abbey, copyright Anna Campbell

As I wrote this book I was soaking up all sorts of renovation shows on television and a few about caring for stately homes. I'm sure a lot of that influenced the book. I have no desire to renovate a stately home myself - I've seen how much work is involved, but I loved the chance to use that as a backdrop for my latest story.

 

If you had a chance for a dream renovation what would it be? A rambling country house, a fisherman's cottage right on the sea, a mountain retreat, maybe an old castle or an upmarket city apartment?

 

To celebrate the release of AN ENTICING DEBT TO PAY I'll give away a signed copy to someone (drawn at random) who leaves a comment here. Come back tomorrow to see who the winner is.

 

Here are a couple of links for you to find the book at the Book Depository (free postage anywhere), Amazon or Barnes and Noble.

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Maya Blake: Secrets - we all have them

Don't we? Juicy secrets that we'd love to share but can't. Scandalous secrets that we only share with our BFFs. Or humongous whoppers that could be potentially life-changing. Those we normally try our hardest to smother in order to protect those we care about.

Of course, secrets have a very funny way of coming out because…well, it's against the laws of humanity to keep things hidden for ever…right?

But when is it a good time to share a secret and when is it better to keep it under wraps?

That's the BIG decision Cesare, my hero, faces in MARRIAGE MADE OF SECRETS.. He's losing Ava, his estranged wife, and could potentially lose his child but he's so set on protecting them both that he keeps this HUGE secret to himself until it's almost too late.

Ava is a feisty, take no prisoners redhead who is determined to fight one last to make her marriage work. But it's a tough gig because, well...SECRETS!

Writing this story was hard. At times, shouted at Cesare – just tell her! The problem was he didn't know from the off how life-changing the secret would be but he KNEW something was very wrong. But he chose the macho way of shouldering all his worries and not sharing his problems with his wife. *rolls eyes*

It takes an earthquake (literally) for him to begin to come to his senses and it broke my heart to see Cesare and Ava struggling so much. But seeing how much those two clearly felt about each other (cue sizzling hot sexy times), I rooted for them to find their own perfect-for-them happy ending.

What about you? Tell me how you feel about secrets big or small and you'll be in with a chance to win a signed paperback copy of MARRIAGE MADE OF SECRETS. Good luck!

***Laurie G. is the winner!  Please email totebag@authorsoundrelations.com with your mailing address!***