Flowers of New York - Kandy Shepherd

Sitting at my desk in front of my computer wearing yoga pants and a cat on my lap, it’s hard to believe just ten days ago I was in New York City. I’ve been from winter to summer and back to winter again in just one week.

Times Square - very busy in July

 It’s a long way to go from Australia for a conference but The Romance Writers of America national convention was worth it. Over two thousand romance writers as well as industry professionals gathered under the one roof—in this case the Marriott Marquis hotel right on Times Square.  It was exhausting and informative and I loved it.

I only had one day free, on the Sunday after the conference ended. I took the opportunity to walk with a friend from Times Square up to Central Park.

This one is so pretty 

In late July with the sun out and flowers everywhere, I marveled at how lovely the city was, with so many beautiful old buildings juxtaposed with streamlined skyscrapers.

I love the bold shapes and colors of this one

I loved all the vibrant potted plant displays I saw in my stroll around Manhattan and took inspiration for my own garden. Trouble is, I never seem to have much luck with these pots myself. I know the idea is you plant a thriller—the main central plant; a low filler to grow around it; and a spiller to flow down the edges. It’ll be spring Down Under before too long and I’m going to try again.

This one doesn't look too difficult to copy!

The heroine of my August release for Harlequin Romance, Hired by the Brooding Billionaire is a horticulturalist working to restore the hero’s overgrown garden—and his damaged heart. I wish I could call on her in real life for some gardening help!

Do you have luck with potted plants or, like me, never seem to get them quite right? Do you have a favorite city you like to visit?  I’d love to know—please share your thoughts with a comment!

Signing at the Romance Writers of America conference

I’m giving away one signed paperback copy of Hired by the Brooding Billionaire. Make a comment to be in the draw. Please include your email address if you want to be included in the draw.

Hired by the Brooding Billionaire is my August 2015 release for Harlequin Romance and is on sale now.

“Beauty and the reclusive billionaire… 

When billionaire Declan Grant decides his estate's enormous garden needs taming, he hires idealistic horticulturalist Shelley Fairhill to take on the challenge. Since losing his wife, Declan has adjusted to a life of self-imposed isolation—he wants Shelley to tackle the weeds, then leave.

But as Shelley gradually restores order and unexpected beauty to his garden, her caring nature also begins to thaw the ice encasing Declan's heart. Can he let Shelley's light in and finally let his second chance at love blossom?”

Kandy Shepherd is an award-winning author of contemporary romance and women’s fiction. She lives on a small farm in the

Blue Mountains near Sydney, Australia, with her family and a menagerie of four-legged friends.

Visit Kandy at her website

www.kandyshepherd.com

Connect with Kandy on Facebook and Twitter

Why Romance?

I’m often asked why I write romance.  And the answer is simple really, I love reading complicated relationship stories that are about the ups and downs of falling in love.  I like seeing two people meet at the wrong time in both of their lives and then start on the journey to falling love.

The truth is few of us (I don’t know of anyone, but just in case!) will find love when we want it.  Love comes unexpectedly into our lives.  And in fiction that makes for some good conflict.  In my upcoming title for Harper Impulse EYE CANDY (AUG 13) Hayley wants change.  But that change can’t come from the outside it really has to come from something inside of her.  And Hayley’s not afraid to go after what she wants.  She’s never taken the easy path.

I’m one of those people who believes that both people have to work at a successful relationship so in my novels I try to ensure both the hero and the heroine are complicated people.  Men and women who don’t need another person to ‘complete’ them or make them happy. But who aren’t opposed to have someone along with them on the journey.

My favorite romances are the ones that have two strong protagonists.  I don’t think I’d be very good at writing someone who needed to be rescued since I’m usually the one who will just do whatever needs doing.  Standing around and waiting for rescue doesn’t appeal to me.  But I do like a man who can see past all that I-can-do-it attitude and can pamper his woman. 

Here’s a little excerpt from EYE CANDY:

She glanced up at him because even in the ridiculous heels he was still much taller than she was.  She saw he was watching her with that steady, even gaze he'd had on the street but also a little bit of amusement.

He thought she was frivolous.

For a moment the shy girl inside of her withered a little and wanted to retreat but she wasn't hiding any more.  She leaned up and let her breasts brush against his chest as she wrapped one hand around his shoulder for balance before she canted her body forward.

"Is something funny, officer?" she asked in a deep husky voice, making sure her words were spoken right into his ear.

She felt him shudder and his hands came to waist and he drew her off her feet more firmly into the cradle of his body but then everything shifted and she felt them starting to fall.

He cursed and held her tight as he ensured she landed on him with her half on top of his chest and half on the floor.  Hayley started laughing as she realized that maybe jumping from mousy to sexy was too much for her to accomplish in one night.

She glanced down at Garrett to find he was scowling.

"Are you hurt?"

"Just my pride," he said with a wry grin.

"Pride goeth before the fall?" she quipped.

"Definitely," he said.  He grabbed her waist and pulled her more fully on top of him.  She felt his jean-clad legs part and her silk-encased ones slid between them.

There was something almost erotic about the feel of the denim against her thighs and she shivered a little inside.  She put her hands on his chest but his hand on her waist moved up her back and he pushed his fingers into her newly cut hair, his hand shaping her head and drawing her down.

"What are you doing?" she asked on a breathless sort of sigh.

"Regaining the ground I lost," he said, moments before his lips met hers. 

Hayley closed her eyes and then the timbre of the kiss changed as he angled his head and parted her lips with his.  The warmth of his breath as it entered her mouth sent shivers of awareness down her spine.  The smooth glide of his tongue over hers short-circuited her thoughts.

She stopped breathing.

Every nerve in her body was at attention.  As his mouth moved over hers she felt the caresses of his thighs over hers.  The movement of his hands over the back of her head as he massaged the muscles in her neck and she turned to putty.

She melted against him and over him.  The kiss transformed her the same way the clothing had.  He was awakening something inside of her that she'd thought only existed in epic romance books and movies, but not in real life.  Something she'd always longed for, but thought she'd never find.  Something dangerous because though she was ready to change inside she hadn't yet.

She pulled back and looked down at him.  His eyes were half-closed and a subtle flush had spread under his beard-stubbled cheeks.  His lips were moist and swollen from kissing her.  She lifted one hand and rubbed her finger over the stubble on his jaw enjoying the slight abrasion against her skin.

He opened his eyes and she saw how beautiful they were up close.  She would have said they were gray before but at this angle she could see they were flecked with green and blue.  She moved her hand from his jaw and traced the line of one eyebrow and then found a tiny scar at his hairline.  She rubbed her finger over it.

"Ah, bad girl, you are killing me," he said, his voice was deep and sort of husky now.  The words brushed over her senses like a blast of heat from a fireplace on a cold night.  And this was a cold January night.

~

You can pre-order it here

Price $4.99 £2.48

ISBN 9780008142520

Amazon.com * Amazon.co.uk * ibooks * bn.com * Sainsburys.co.uk * Google Play

What’s your favorite kind of romance?  Tell me to be entered to win an autographed copy of my latest release CARRYING THE KING'S CHILD.

Happy reading!

Katherine

I'm off to the beach...

...and this is what I've packed in my Kindle.

Shirley Jump's first Fortune's Island romance AND THEN FOREVER 

I've already started reading this book and it's just wonderful. I love Shirley's voice and Fortune's Island is going to be a favourite. Here's the blurb -

Love is an extravagance Darcy Williams can’t afford. She prefers the simple life, which includes waitressing at The Love Shack and avoiding temptation. But when a forbidden part of her past steps off the ferry, her safe, guarded existence is turned upside down.

Kincaid Foster has never gotten over his first love. When he sees the wild, beautiful blonde again, dancing her way around The Love Shack, the memories of Darcy’s soft skin, gentle touch, and heated kisses come rushing back. As the privileged son of a wealthy family, Kincaid was too young to stand up to his overbearing father when he and Darcy were together. Now, he’s back on the island—free of the family shackles—and the chiseled, big-time lawyer wants a second chance.

But, Darcy made a promise to keep a secret from Kincaid—a secret that is now a six-year-old girl who looks just like her daddy. If Kincaid finds out about their daughter, Darcy could lose everything. But, she can’t resist the man who stole her heart all those years ago. And it doesn’t take long before both of them realize that anything can happen on a hot summer night.

I have all the "Peter Grant" books on my Kindle and I'm waiting for the kindle version of the latest, "The Hanging Tree", but I'll dip into these again in the meantime. Here's a taste -

My name is Peter Grant and until January I was just probationary constable in that mighty army for justice known to all right-thinking people as the Metropolitan Police Service (and as the Filth to everybody else). My only concerns in life were how to avoid a transfer to the Case Progression Unit - we do paperwork so real coppers don't have to - and finding a way to climb into the panties of the outrageously perky WPC Leslie May. Then one night, in pursuance of a murder inquiry, I tried to take a witness statement from someone who was dead but disturbingly voluable, and that brought me to the attention of Inspector Nightingale, the last wizard in England.

Murder, mayhem and a lot of fun.

Milly Johnson is a brilliant, witty writer and a huge bestseller in the UK. I'm not sure if US readers have found her yet, but they're in for a treat when they do. I love her books and this one seems to be perfect for a quiet, shady spot on the sand.

When dynamic, power-dressing Christie blows in like a warm wind to take over their department, five very different women find themselves thrown together at work. But none of them could have predicted the fierce bond of friendship that her leadership would inspire. . .


Oh, and if you're looking for something extra to pack for the beach, my latest,
Vettori's Damsel in Distress, published in July in the UK, US and Australia is a Romantic Times TOP PICK, For a taste test click here or on one of the links to download the book right now!

Amazon
iBooks
Barnes and Noble
Kobo
Harlequin
Mills and Boon 
Mills and Boon, Australia

Addison Fox: My Annual Reward

For romance authors, July is a big month. Every July the Romance Writers of America puts on their annual conference. The conference is an author conference, so the focus is on craft workshops, business networking and discussion about our future. As a writer, this is pretty much heaven.

For me, RWA week always results in several things. First, it’s my vacation week, so it’s a time for me to get away from the day to day and focus solely on my writing. Second, it’s a time of friendship. I connect with some of my dearest friends, stay up way too late with my roommate (who’s also one of my best friends) talking and laughing and I get to connect with my publisher. Finally, RWA week is a time of renewal. I come back refreshed and excited and can’t wait to get back to my work in progress.

While RWA is the week I look forward to, you can talk to anyone and they have an equivalent in their own life that helps them re-center themselves. Whether it’s a vacation spot that speaks to you in the deepest part of our soul, an interest that you get to indulge for a week or just time away from work in a staycation, time off to refresh and recharge is deeply important to our personal well-being.

Now that I’m back, reality and routine has quickly intruded, but I don’t mind. I’ve got wonderful memories, an idea that’s got me fired up to sit down and write and my week in 2016 on the horizon, giving me something to look forward to!

What about you? What do you look forward to each year or is there a special place that speaks to you?

Thanks for joining me today!

XOXO,

Addison

~~~~~~~~~~

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, TEMPTING TARGET, is out now from Harlequin Romantic Suspense. You can visit her at her website at www.addisonfox.com

A PEACH OF A PAIR--A Fabulous Recipe and a Fun Giveaway!

Hello, lovelies! Thanks for stopping in! I’m  SO excited my new book A Peach of a Pair is out, and I'm celebrating this juicy story of sisterhood and betrayal with a fun giveaway and my coveted recipe for peach champagne punch that has people drinking straight from the dispenser at my book launch parties!

A Peach of a Pair is set in 1953. Nettie Gilbert has cherished her time studying to be a music teacher at Columbia College in South Carolina, but as graduation approaches, she can’t wait to return to her family—and her childhood sweetheart, Brooks—in Alabama. Problem is, just days before her senior recital, she gets a letter from her mama telling her that Brooks has to get married . . . to her own sister.

Devastated, Nettie drops out of school and takes a job as live-in help for two old-maid sisters, Emily and Lurleen Eldridge. Emily is fiercely protective of the ailing Lurleen, but their sisterhood has weathered many storms. And as Nettie learns more about their lives on a trip to see a faith healer halfway across the country, she’ll discover that love and forgiveness will one day lead her home.

The Huffington Post says, “A Peach of a Pair is an end of the summer hit… This is the kind of book that makes you want to lock the door, turn off the phone and read every page straight through to the end.” 

I hope you enjoy my recipe and that you’ll check out A Peach of a Pair wherever books are sold, but before you do, COMMENT BELOW to enter my giveaway for a $25 gift card to your choice of Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or Indiebound because can a girl REALLY have too many books?
 

Coveted Peach Champagne Punch

1 30+ oz. bottle of Peach nectar/juice
6 oz. frozen orange juice concentrate
1/4 cup lemon juice
1/2 cup of peach schnapps
1/4 cup of grenadine syrup
1 32 oz. bottle of carbonated water
3 (750 milliliter) bottles of champagne

Chill all ingredients. Combine everything in a punch bowl or dispenser. If you use a punch bowl you can freeze a fresh fruit ring of fresh peaches and strawberries.

CJ Carmichael: Finding Your Happy Place

Four years ago, in a search for a place where we could “get away from it all,” Mike and I stumbled across Flathead Lake, and a charming 3 bedroom cottage on the south side near Polson. When I sat on the deck and looked across at the view of lake, islands, trees and mountains, I said, “I don’t want to leave this place.” The realtor replied, “You don’t have to.”

And so, eventually, after much soul and pocket searching, we bought it. And our cottage in Montana has become my “happy place.” To get here from Calgary, we often drive through Glacier National Park, another one of my “happy places.” Because for me, being in nature, close to mountains, lakes and trees always makes me feel vibrantly alive and at the same time calm and peaceful.

As a writer one of the ways I can get to the heart of my characters is to understand where their happy place is. For the Carrigans of the Circle C novels it was important for me to figure out what this place was for each of the sisters.

For Sage Carrigan, in Promise Me Cowboy, it’s the kitchen of her Copper Mountain Chocolate store where she taps into her creativity and the sensory delights of excellent chocolate, pure ingredients and time-honored technique.

Sage’s oldest sister, Mattie, has bonded to the ranching community of her husband, Wes, and the Tennessee Walking Horses they breed and raise at Bishop Stables. In Good Together, Mattie risks losing everything she cherishes when Wes suddenly announces he’s had enough.

Second eldest sister Dani, with her PhD in psychology, eschews the ranching world where she was raised. For Dani, the hallowed halls of a university, and the cramped confines of the lab where she conducts her research, are what matter most. In Close to Her Heart, however, Dani discovers there are some thing she loves more than her job.

Cousin to the Carrigan sisters, Eliza Bramble isn’t sure where she belongs in this world, and that’s why she comes to Mariette Montana to help her great-aunt keep the family home by turning it into a bed and breakfast. It is only when Eliza takes a backcountry ski trip and is Snowbound in Montana that she discovers more about who she is and what she really wants.

The youngest of the Carrigan girls, Callan, has always loved her home, the Circle C Ranch, and has never wanted to live anywhere else. In a Cowgirl’s Christmas, however, an untimely death and a shocking will, have her contemplating a future much different than she planned.

Where is your happy place? If you’re a fabulous cook, maybe it’s your kitchen. If you love to read, it could be your public library, favorite bookstore, or the comfy couch at home. Perhaps places don’t matter that much to you—as long as you’re with the important people in your life. Tell me your happy place and I’ll chose one random respondent to receive an autographed book from my backlist. The winner will be announced on my website on Sunday August 9.

Warmest Wishes,

C.J. Carmichael

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Lucy Monroe Recommends: BIG CITY ROMANCES

I've just returned from a whirlwind tour of New York with my husband and my dear friend Carolyn, where we went to the RWA 2015 Conference in Times Square.  We had adventures, explored and toured.  What fun! This month I decided to share some new romances by some favorite authors, with big cities as their backdrops.

 

Washington, DC is the locale for FATAL SCANDAL by Marie Force.  Lieutenant Sam Holland, married to the Vice President of the United States, is right in the middle of a scandal involving Chief Farnsworth over a homicide.  When two involved civilians are murdered, all fingers point to the police officers.  It's up to Sam to clear her people's names while someone is leaking false information to the press.  Sam is smart, loyal and fierce!

 

"Emotionally charged and yet deliciously romantic, Sam and Nick need to work their way through their jobs, their marriage, and an adoption. I so recommend this book and this series as it's the perfect mesh of mystery and romance." 5 Stars from Terri at Night Owl Reviews.

 

I had the sublime opportunity to sit next to Carole Mortimer at the Harlequin luncheon in New York.  What a great lady!  Carole has been publishing since the 1970's, and her books are always fun and relevant.

Her SHADOW ALPHA takes us to London, where Dair Grayson, owner of a worldwide security company, is hired to find and if necessary, rescue Kat from her ex-husband and possibly from herself. Dair finds it hard to resist the hot and sexy grown-up Kat. Kat is only interested in the here and now, and what she wants now is Dair.  The only problem is that Kat's ex-husband is now looking for both of them . . .

 

"I only know of two other authors who are able to bring that level of action, suspense and kick-ass wonder to romantic suspense reads, so Carole Mortimer you have officially taken a spot on my MUST READ ROMANTIC SUSPENSE AUTHOR'S list, and for those who know me well enough will know that a spot on that particular list of mine is not easily achieved" ~Desere, goodreads.com reader review

 

Sydney, Australia is the setting for Julie Garwood's romantic mystery, FAST TRACK.  Daddy’s girl Cordelia Kane is devastated when her father has a serious heart attack. The shock turns to intrigue as she learns that what she knew about her mother might be false.  She hitches a ride on the company jet of hotel magnate Aiden Madison, her best friend’s brother. Aiden's instinct to help is put to the test by challenges on Cordelia's life.

 

". . . this book is very charming and funny. I've known the character Aiden for a long, long time. I like him and love to know about him in this book. But for Cordie, I simply love her character. She's not a soft, yielding woman. She tries to depend on herself, find her own way but very funny at the same time. It feels like the same old feelings come back again, and that's great!" ~BB, amazon.com reader review

 

Los Angeles is the setting for J. Kenner's SAY MY NAME.  Smoking hot architect Jackson Steele gets what he wants in the first book of this sizzling new Damien Stark series.  He has set his sights on the very self controlled Sylvia Brooks. The heat between Sylvia and Jackson working together on an island development project will steam your glasses.

 

“J. Kenner has done it again! I really liked J. Kenner's Stark trilogy, so when I saw her new trilogy, “Stark International” I had to read it. Say My Name was fabulous! Again, I wasn't disappointed. It's really a well written erotic romance that will surely please her fans. Loved her character Jackson Steele. Sexual intensity that keeps you reading. If you are a fan of erotic novels, then you are going to love Say My Name!" ~Goodreads reader review

You'll get a peek at Seattle and the San Juan Islands in the Pacific Northwest in my book, THE REAL DEAL, now on e-book, and for the summer on sale for only $2.99.

 

The most important thing in Amanda's life is negotiating a successful merger between her company and Brant Computers, a family-held competitor. It should be a done deal: Company president Eric Brant is on board with the idea. But when Amanda arrives in Eric's office, it is his cousin Simon Brant who greets her-and Simon is anything but agreeable. He's not about to give up control of the family company or lay off loyal workers. Squaring off against the sexy, brilliant, sexy, obstinate, sexy, eccentric, not to mention sexy Simon is completely frustrating-and a total turn-on. And when he walks out on her presentation, sidetracked by another one of his brilliant ideas, Amanda is shocked...and intrigued...no, furious!...and...and...and so attracted she can barely enter data into her tablet...

 

Simon has never met a woman as passionate and driven as Amanda, or as devastatingly attractive. He can't decide if he wants to put her on the next plane home-in the cargo hold-or kidnap her and spend a long weekend showing her exactly the kind of negotiating he likes best. Come to think of it, if the lady wants war, maybe they should engage in full-on battle...in the bedroom...and see who will be the victor. But when intimacy leads to an explosive passion, it might be time to think of a different, more permanent kind of merger...one that's less about business and all about pleasure...

 

If you're looking for more fun, big city romance, don't forget Rand, Carter and Colton from my 3 Brides for 3 Bad Boys trilogy.

 

With more than 7 million copies of her books in print worldwide, award winning and USA Today bestseller Lucy Monroe has published over 60 books and had her stories translated for sale all over the world.  While she writes multiple subgenres of romance, all of her books are sexy, deeply emotional and adhere to the concept that love will conquer all.  A passionate devotee of romance, she adores sharing her love for the genre with her readers.

 

Visit her on the web:

http://www.lucymonroe.com/

http://lucymonroeblog.blogspot.com/

http://www.facebook.com/LucyMonroe.Romance

http://twitter.com/lucymonroe

 

Food and Travel and 'The Sinner's Marriage Redemption' - Annie West

If you know me you'll also know that some of my favourite things are food, travel and romances. What's not to like? So it's with great pleasure that I share the news my latest romance, THE SINNER'S MARRIAGE REDEMPTION, is on sale now. It's one of a collection called the Seven Sexy Sins! Yes a book for each sin. I'm thrilled by this story. Writing it was fun and challenging too as it's different from any romance I've written. it definitely had a different vibe when I wrote it and redeeming a hero with Flynn's particular hangups was a fun challenge. But I fell for him along the way, which made it far easier. One of the great things about this story was the fact that I got to do some wonderful research for the book which included travel to a place I've always wanted to visit, and of course the chance to taste some local treats. What could be better? So strap on your seatbelts ready for a little armchair travelling and tasting.

First up though, here's a taste of what the story is about. 

A merciless mission  

There are three goals self-made magnate Flynn Marshall set out to achieve:

1. A multimillion-dollar business empire

2. Acceptance in the highest echelons of society

3. A wife to make him the envy of all men!

Flynn’s ruthlessly accomplished his first goal and he’s on his way to the second. As for the third, he will rush stunning, well-connected Ava Cavendish to the altar at the first opportunity. A trophy bride should complete his plans, but passionate Ava and the desire she inflames in this untouchable CEO threaten to turn his carefully ordered strategy on its head…

 

And now to the travel. I've posted the Australian cover here as it includes a location shot. It's a bit hard to make out but do you recognise this gorgeous European city?

 

Okay, that was a tough one. The city is Prague in the Czech Republic - filled to the brim with quaint buildings and bridges, spectacular views and a river that turns the red roofed city into something quite special. The first part of THE SINNER'S MARRIAGE REDEMPTION is set in Prague. In fact every scene is based on somewhere I visited! Here's a quick peek of the town hall square from the top of the clock tower.

 

And here's proof that I was there. This is on the long, hot walk up to the citadel. No, that's not red wine I'm drinking, but cherry juice.

 



 

One of the local treats on offer was this spiral of deep fried potato. If only the weather had been cold I'd have been tempted. But I visited in a heatwave. I'll have to go back in winter when I hear the city is just gorgeous too.

 

That didn't stop me from trying the hot dishes on offer at night. Here's my first evening meal in Prague - pork with sauerkraut, two sorts of dumpling and a local beer. The Czechs really love their dumplings!

 



 And of course I needed to try the local version of a kebab in a cellar restaurant! I must admit though that the size of the serve surprised me.

But one of the best things about Prague in warm weather is the ice cream, often with fruit. Sigh. This was at a pavement café in Wenceslas Square and it tasted as good as it looks.

 

Do you have a favourite food or drink treat for summer? I'd love to hear.

It's winter in Australia now but I'll store up suggestions for the warmer months.

 

If you want to see more photos of Prague, drop by my website and you'll find some of the places that inspired the book on the page for THE SINNER'S MARRIAGE REDEMPTION. There's also a contest running till 10th August with chances to win signed books.

 

And if you want to snaffle a copy of my Sinner, here are a couple of links to buy:

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

Book Depository

Kobo

Harlequin