Harlequin Presents Blog

February 2012

2012-02-01T00:30:00.000-08:00

The Lone Wolfe by Kate Hewitt

After years lying neglected, the walls of Wolfe Manortremble as Jacob Wolfe returns—the master is back!

Gardener's daughter Mollie Parker has lived amidst thesecret, overgrown garden in her little cottage—waiting…for what, she wasn'tsure…until now.

Reputation in tatters, Jacob licks his wounds alone in theshadows. Mollie knows his ferocious bark is worse than his bite and as shetakes her tentative steps across the threshold, she brings with her the lightmissing from his darkened soul. The lone Wolfe will never be tamed—but sheknows that once he loves, he loves for life.

Fianceé for One Night by Trish Morey

Leo Zamos persuades his virtual PA, Eve Carmichael, to actas his fake fiancée at a business dinner. Thinking he's never met her before,Leo assumes that Eve's appearance will be as neat and professional as the workshe's so efficiently performed for him. But soon he realizes how wrong he'sbeen! With her soft curves, and lips that beg to be kissed, Eve is every bit astempting as her namesake….

Eve has accepted Leo's commission reluctantly—how can she, asingle mom, refuse the fee he's offering her? But will he recognize her as thegirl he once briefly met and for whom he felt a simmering attraction? When Evesees Leo again, she knows that the one-evening masquerade she's signed up foris about to become a whole passionate night…in his bed.

Once a Ferrara Wife by Melanie Milburne

Laurel Ferrara wouldn't know a happy ending if she fell overit—of course her whirlwind wedding was always going to end in disaster. But itwasn't as simple as just walking away. From the moment she is summoned back toSicily, the shivers of unease set in….

The command comes from legendary billionaire CristianoFerrara, the husband she can't forget—but it might as well have come from thedevil himself. The outrageously gorgeous Cristiano's power is a potent reminderof this Sicilian dynasty's unbreakable rule: once a Ferrara wife, always aFerrara wife….

January 2012

2012-01-01T00:00:00.000-08:00

His Poor Little Rich Girl by Melanie Milburne

"Sleeping rough not your thing anymore, little richgirl?"

Alessandro Vallini once made the mistake of proposing to spoiled princess RachelMcCulloch. Her rejection scored his soul. But now the tables have turned:bad-boy-made-good Alessandro now holds Rachel's future in the palm of his hand!He needs a temporary housekeeper, and she needs money—it's a perfectopportunity to taunt her with what she turned down.…

Riches-to-rags Rachel is very different from the glittering socialiteAlessandro remembers. He's laid his trap—with himself as bait!—but who'scatching whom in this web of desire?

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year...

2011-12-19T01:00:00.000-08:00

I love this time of year, although it must be said the winter of 2010/2011 was a trying time here on the border between England and Wales. It started snowing in December in a way it hadn't done for decades. That was lovely for the village children, but not so brilliant for commuters. We were completely snowed in for ten days, and nobody could go anywhere. Then a tractor blazed a trail through from the main road half a mile away, and we were able to get the cars out. We managed to deliver all the Christmas presents and cards to relatives on the other side of the Severn, but it started snowing again as we started for home, and we only just got back before the lanes were blocked again! That was the last time anyone left our part of the village for another couple of weeks.

It's a good job we all get on well as a family. A family of writers in a house with plenty of chimney corners is a lovely combination. The snow made it really romantic, too. Once or twice my husband and I tried a moonlit walk, but with temperatures down to 12 below freezing, we didn't get much further than the field gate. Hot chocolate in front of the fire tasted even better than usual after that but we were all very glad when the thaw finally set in!

We've already had a few snow showers this month, but now the schools have broken up and DD is home from university, I've stopped worrying. The weather can do what it likes. We've got plenty of supplies of everything, including writing paper and printer cartridges. Where we live it's safer not to try and travel when the weather's bad, so we just keep an eye on our neighbours and feed the birds.

I hope all your dreams come true this Christmas. Happy Holidays to Presents lovers everywhere, and here's to a peaceful, productive and passionate 2012 for us all!

December 2011 Release

2011-12-01T00:00:00.000-08:00

The Real Rio D'Aquila by Sandra Marton

Italian by birth, this street urchin lived a life of extreme poverty until he escaped to Brazil—where he cast off his roots, took a new name and pulled himself up from the streets.

Now Rio D'Aquila is beyond wealthy, with a reputation for being uncompromising in business…and incomparable in bed! But on meeting vulnerable Isabella Orsini, he feels something deep within him stir, and he finds himself pretending to be that long-forgotten man.

Passion flares and their affair spirals, but Isabella still doesn't know that her lover has lied to her. Who is the real Rio D'Aquila?

For more information, please visit http://www.harlequin.com/storeitem.html?iid=24856&cid=226

A Touch of Luxury - Annie West

2011-11-07T00:00:00.000-08:00

Have you ever craved a touch of luxury in your life? A rare treat away from the everyday world of juggling responsibilities? I think most of us have.

Personally I think a little indulgence once in a while is a wonderful thing - a memorable chance to relax and experience something completely different. I suspect it could become addictive except real life always manages to intervene. After all, real indulgence costs. I suppose it's partly the novelty that makes indulgence such fun.

I was recently in London (a huge treat in itself given the fact that I live in Australia). As well as catching up with my editor and some wonderful, wonderful British Presents authors, I also managed to fit in an extra special treat: high tea at Claridges, one of London's most prestigious hotels. I'd read about the place in books for years and wondered if it would be up to expectations. Browsing the website it looked terrific but in reality it was even better.

The red brick facade is pleasant but doesn't really give an inkling of what's inside, though the very smart and friendly doorman was a bit of a giveaway. Afternoon tea was served in a lovely, bright, elegant room. Service was impeccable and the staff were fantastic. Nothing was too much trouble. I didn't get to pour my own tea - not once in several hours, and though they were at hand and very attentive, they didn't intrude and were delightfully friendly. The food was superb, the setting fantastic and the result - sheer pleasure.

Whiling away an afternoon indulging in a quintessentially English pastime - afternoon tea, was a perfect way to spend my first afternoon in London. As well as tea there were sandwiches (of course) - Scottish salmon, cucumber, ham, etc, etc. There were perfect scones, both fruit and plain with house-made jam and clotted cream (my fave!). Then there was the tray of...I don't dare call them anything as ordinary as cakes. Yes, there was cake with rich chocolately layers. But there were tarts with fresh fruit, macaroons stacked with raspberries dusted with sugar and the most amazing tropical fruit dessert. The sad thing was that despite multiple offers, we were just too full to have seconds!

As well as being a terrific treat, the experience was perfect fodder for the author in me. Just thinking about the people who take such service in their stride as a matter of course set me thinking about new stories. As for the setting - I suspect something like it is going to appear in a future book.

In the meantime my current book THE SAVAKIS MERGER, is out now in North America as a Presents Extra release. It features a couple who've lived with luxury, though neither is exactly what they seem. I wondered when I wrote my heroine, Callie, if readers might find it hard to identify with a woman who had a wardrobe stacked full of designer gowns. I needn't have worried. So far reader feedback has been terrific. Maybe it's got something to do with the fact that those gowns come with memories she'd rather avoid, and a future she's trying to build which is as far away from A list glamour as she can get. As for Damon, he might look like he was born and bred to a tuxedo but nothing could be further from the truth. It was fun writing a story where the outward trappings of wealth hid so many secrets. Here's a taste:

From untouchable socialite...
Only hours ago she was a wickedly tempting, sexy stranger. Now Damon Savakis knows who she really is - Callie Manolis, society ice-queen and duplicitous niece of his arch enemy.
...to his unwilling mistress!
Yet when Callie's avaricious uncle loses the Manolis money, she becomes the bargaining chip in the Savakis merger. Damon is unprepared for her bravery, poise and purity in a world full of greed. Once she's paid her dues in his bed he'll make her his willing bride for free.

To find out more about the story, read an excerpt or some reviews of it, head over to my website.

In the meantime, since I've been talking about luxury indulgences, I'm wondering what your perfect luxury indulgence would be. Something big or something small? Is there a special treat you've always wanted to try?

November 2011 Releases

2011-11-01T07:00:00.000-07:00

The Man With The Money by Lynn Harris

Notorious gambler Jack no longer gets a buzz from the risks, or the money, he takes at the card table. In fact, it bores him. Until one night he wins more than he ever bargained for.…

His prize is the stunning Cara Taylor—she might be down on her luck but she certainly doesn't need rescuing by a maverick card-shark like Jack! Now she's stuck with him and she doesn't know whether to love him or loathe him. But, cut from the same pack, playing Jack at his own game is the most fun she's ever had!

Visit http://www.harlequin.com/storeitem.html?iid=24668&cid=226 for more information.

The Ice Prince by Sandra Marton

Prince Draco Valenti, known as the ice prince, bears his title reluctantly, and wears his icy exterior like a suit of armor that no opponent can penetrate….

Except Anna Orsini. She isn't any ordinary adversary, she's a high-flying, straight-talking lawyer in a no-nonsense suit and killer stilettos—conflicting signals that perplex, frustrate and attract Draco all at the same time.…

While they're at odds in business, in the bedroom Draco's desire for Anna has the power to melt his defenses. The temptation to play with fire is overwhelming.…

Visit http://www.harlequin.com/storeitem.html?iid=24670&cid=226 for more information.

The Night That Changed Everything by Anne McAllister

Nicholas Savas is tall, dark and too gorgeous for anyone's good. To shield her wild-child sister from Nick's intoxicating gaze, sensible Edie steps into his eyeline instead!

Nick's fascinated by the defiant, beautiful Edie—she's a challenge, and he'll thoroughly enjoy sweeping her down-to-earth feet out of the ballroom and into his bed! But one night with Edie Tremayne is unforgettable, hot as hell—and not nearly enough…

Visit http://www.harlequin.com/storeitem.html?iid=24725&cid=226 for more information.

A Royal Engagement by Trish Morey & Caitlin Crews

The Storm Within by Trish Morey

Dr. Grace Hunter seeks an ancient text beneath the castle of Count Alessandro Volta.

The reclusive count wasn't expecting scientist Grace to be a beautiful woman who stirs his scarred soul. Outside, a media storm is brewing, but inside the count's world the heat between them is sizzling!

The Reluctant Queen by Caitlin Crews

Stolen away years ago, Princess Lara is offered an ultimatum by new King Adel. Return to her kingdom as his queen or pay back the bride price! Feisty Lara refuses, but remembers how Adel used to make her heart race.…

Visit http://www.harlequin.com/storeitem.html?iid=24672&cid=226 for more information.

The Savakis Merger by Annie West

Only hours ago she was a wickedly tempting, sexy stranger. Now Damon Savakis knows who she really is—Callie Manolis, society ice-queen and duplicitous niece of his arch enemy.

Yet when Callie's avaricious uncle loses the Manolis money, she becomes the bargaining chip in the Savakis merger! Damon is unprepared for her bravery, poise and purity in a world full of greed. Once she's paid her dues in his bed…he'll make her his willing bride for free!

Visit http://www.harlequin.com/storeitem.html?iid=24726&cid=226 for more information.

The Man with the Money - Lynn Raye Harris

2011-10-31T00:50:00.000-07:00

I love this video! I think it's so sexy and compelling. Who doesn't want to read about those bad boy Wolfe brothers and their sister, hmm? Harlequin did an awesome job making this trailer, and I'm so thrilled to be a part of the series.

Book 5, The Man With the Money, is in stores now! Jack Wolfe is a hot renegade, a loner, a man who has cut himself off from everyone and who doesn't forgive easily. He gets his thrills by playing for high-stakes--cards, the financial market--but on the night he meets Cara Taylor, he may have bitten off more than he can chew.

When I was writing about Jack, I thought of him as being rather like Daniel Craig's James Bond. No, he doesn't look like Craig -- but he's that tough, that hard and brooding and lonely. Makes me all shivery to think of it!

This is my first continuity, my first time writing to a plot I was given rather than making up everything on my own. It was fun, and surprisingly freeing to be told what to write! I had to include certain elements, and things had to happen a certain way -- but I also had a lot of freedom to make Jack and Cara into the people they are. It was my job to take their flaws and conflicts and make them come alive.

I hope I've done that! For a fun excerpt where Jack tells Cara he wants to play strip poker with her, click here to visit my books page. RT Book Reviews magazine gave this story 4 Stars and said it has, "intense emotional turmoil, a tortured hero and toe-curling intimate encounters." Rawr!

Jack…Red-Hot. Renegade. Restless.

Notorious gambler Jack no longer gets a buzz from the risks he takes at the card table. In fact it bores him. Until one night he wins more than he ever bargained for…

His prize is stunning Cara Taylor – she might be down on her luck but she certainly doesn’t need rescuing by a card-shark like Jack! Now she’s stuck with him she doesn’t know whether to love him or loathe him.

Hope you enjoy this story!

Lynn Raye Harris is a USA Today bestselling author who writes glamorous, sexy romance for Harlequin Presents. You can learn more about Lynn and her books at http://www.lynnrayeharris.com/. You can also follow Lynn on Twitter @LynnRayeHarris or visit her author page on Facebook, http://www.facebook.com/AuthorLynnRayeHarris

THE ICE PRINCE, the newest book in Sandra Marton's THE ORSINI SAGA

2011-10-24T04:00:00.000-07:00

Hello, and welcome to the exciting world of the Orsinifamily!

I began writing about this Sicilian-American family twoyears ago, though the characters had been in my head longer than that.

A Mafioso Don. His seemingly-compliant wife. Their four sonswho despise their father and have made their own ways in the world.

The characters came alive with breathtaking swiftness. Icould see them, hear them; I could hardly wait to get them on paper.

I planned four books, one for each Orsini brother. Almost asan afterthought, I decided to include two sisters, mostly to give this powerfulfamily some feminine counterpoint.

I had no plans for telling their stories—and no idea thatneither Anna or Isabella would tolerate being overlooked! But as I told theirbrothers' stories, the sisters began to elbow their way in. And then you, mywonderful readers, took up their cause.

You e-mailed. You snail-mailed. You stopped me at conferences.You said you'd adored Rafaelle and Dante, Nicolo and Falco… and their sisters. Youwanted to know their stories, too.

I know you'll understand when I tell you that Anna (and Izzy)were starting to tell me the same thing.

Well, I finally got the message.

TheIce Prince is Anna's story.

Anna's a tough, smart New York attorney. She's also a bundleof conflicting signals. She wears no-nonsense business suits and killer stilettos. She has ahealthy attitude about men and sex but she's not interested in love.

Prince Draco Valenti can't figure her out. The only thinghe's sure of is that they're adversaries… and that he wants her more than he'sever imagined wanting a woman. How can that be? Draco is sexy; he's anincredible lover, but he's always been a man in tight control of emotions.

Until he meets Anna.

Their hot, tempestuous affair unfolds in Rome, surely one ofthe most beautiful and romantic cities in the world.

Draco has a villa on the Via Appia. He has a tough timeconvincing Anna to move in with him. He knows he's going to have a tougher timeconvincing her to live with him once they're back in the States. Anna's notinto commitment. She's seen what happens to women when they let themselves fallin love with strong, powerful men.

Draco comes up with a plan he's certain will solve theproblem.

Unfortunately, he neglects to share that plan with Anna.

And, just that quickly, their affair is over. Or is it?

Can a fiercely independent woman and a man accustomed torunning an empire find happiness together?

Find the answer in THEICE PRINCE, available right now!

And when you have time, come visit me at http://www.sandramarton.com where you'llfind news about me and all my books.

Lots of love,

Sandra
P.S. Isabella's story will be on sale next month. It's called THE REALRIO D'AQUIA, and I think you'll find it equally exciting!

European Inspiration - Part 1

2011-10-16T19:48:00.000-07:00

Hi, Trish Morey here, fresh from six weeks travelling around Europe and home with so much inspiration I could burst and I have no doubt that many of the locations I visited are going to become the settings for some Presents reading to come. So here's a first glimpse of a couple of the fabulous places I visited and some of the sights I saw. Maybe you might recognise some of them in a future Trish Morey story?

First stop was London. What isn't there to love about London? Here's a picture of the Liberty of London Building, a gorgeous Tudor revival building built in only 1924, but from the timbers of two old ships, so it really has a much longer and richer history.

I can imagine a heroine from a Presents novel inside, wandering through the rooms, searching for inspiration for that special piece or fabric with which to redecorate some old family pile in the country, for a reclusive and distant billionaire who is as mysterious as he is strangely compelling...

And here's the tiara she might wear on their wedding day once she's found and melted his heart, a tiara spotted in a shop window and which spoke to me.

Of course, it's been in the hero's family for generations, probably via the Austrian Princess connection (it's amazing what a little imagination can do with a shop window display:))

(And no, I didn't buy the tiara. I was actually afraid what the answer might be if I asked how much.)

Next stop was Tuscany and more fuel for the writer's imagination. The best kind of fuel...

Would this do for a hero's family home? Or maybe the home he was never invited to because he was the illegitimate son? Or maybe he was the housekeeper's child, maybe even the love child of the rich owner?

I love Tuscany (gosh, who doesn't?) I loved the misty sunrises and colourful sunsets, I

loved the local sparkling Prosecco we had with dinner on the terrace on warm autumn nights, I loved the discovery of large frozen octopuses in the supermarket freezer section and I adored the flower and plant stall in the nearby market in Fivizzano.

So much to see and this was just my first week! I will have to come back and include some more pictures in a Part 2 post soon. Meanwhile, I should get in a plug for a story I adore, The Storm Within, coming out in Presents in November (but is probably already on shelf now) in a 2-in-1 with the fabulous and talented Caitlin Crews, and called, A Royal Engagement.

The Storm Within is my first Gothic style story, albeit with a happy ending, but still with so many of those Gothic elements that we've come to expect of the genre - a crumbling castle atop a rugged cliff on a storm-tossed island, dark tunnels beneath the castle filled with ancient pirate history, and a reclusive Count, scarred both physically and mentally. Into this world comes a beautiful young conservator, whose presence on the Island is as unwanted by the Count as the discovery of the pages from the ancient book that has brought her to his isolated Island.

I had a fabulous time bringing these two characters together. I hope you enjoy reading their journey too!

With much love,

Trish

Married in Las Vegas! - Jane Porter

2011-10-03T07:30:00.000-07:00

As some of you may know from Facebook and my blog, I gotmarried last month! My surfer guy, Ty Gurney, and I tied the knot on September17^th in an Elvis style wedding in Las Vegas. We’d originally plannedon a small wedding with just a few family and friends but as it happens withthese things, it got bigger and better.

Being a romance writer, I love weddings. I write them in myHarlequin Presents, but also love them in real life. I love dressing up andhaving a party. I love having a reason to celebrate with family and friends andjust rejoicing about all the good things in life.

I had so much fun in Las Vegas. I never would have thoughtI'd do a Vegas wedding but it was perfect! I loved my gorgeous dress and prettyred heels. I loved Elvis singing to us in the little Vegas wedding chapel, andall the fun Vegas themed touches we included for the reception. Ty loves black,and I love red so we combined the colors for a glamorous black and red colorscheme. Our cake was one of my favorite things, as well as the a poolside cocktailswith the sun setting in the background. It was great to have my family andclosest friends there (including the fabulous Caitlin Crews) to help uscelebrate the special day.

There’s one more thing I want to share – my new novella, OneChristmas Night In Venice is featured as one of the stories in the anthologyMistletoe Wishes. It’s a story set in Venice during Christmas and I had suchgreat fun writing it. I love Venice just as much as I love Christmas. Mycharacters, Domencio and Diane find love together for a second time under thestars in this gorgeous city. I hope you’ll look for it and hopefully enjoyreading it!

Jane Porter

www.janeporter.com

October Releases

2011-10-01T11:16:00.000-07:00

Doukakis's Mistress by Sarah Morgan

With her family business in crisis, Polly Prince does her best to keep calm and carry on. But hard work alone can't save her London company from a takeover by the infamously ruthless Damon Doukakis…or her traitorous body from the lethal sensuality of her boss!

As his new apprentice, Polly accompanies Damon to Paris to negotiate the most challenging business deal of her life! Worse still, Polly must at all costs resist Damon in the most dangerously romantic city in the world.…
For more information, visit http://www.harlequin.com/storeitem.html?iid=24488&cid=226

The Kanellis Scandal by Michelle Reid

"It is not wise to make him angry …"
…But Anton Pallis is livid! As the adopted son of the Kanellis patriarch, he's set to inherit the vast family fortune. Until it's revealed there's a true heir—in the rather appealing shape of Zoe Ellis.

Zoe's Greek heritage means nothing to her—and to be involved with the Kanellis dynasty is to be cursed with scandal! Except now, it's pounding on her front door—or rather, Anton is, in all his dark, chiseled glory. And she has no idea what he's going to do next.…

For more information, visit http://www.harlequin.com/storeitem.html?iid=24486&cid=226

The Return of the Stranger by Kate Walker

Standing high on the windswept moors, the lone figure of Heath Montanha vows vengeance on the woman who destroyed the last fragments of his heart…
Lady Katherine Charlton has never forgotten the stable hand with dangerous fists and a troubled heart from her childhood. Now the rebel is back, his powerful anger concealed under a polished and commanding veneer.

When ten years of scandal and secrets are unleashed, with a passionate, furious kiss, Heath's deepest, darkest wish crystallizes: revenge—and Kathy—will be his!

For more inforation, visit http://www.harlequin.com/storeitem.html?iid=24539&cid=226

Stories that Never Leave You - by Kate Walker

2011-09-26T12:50:00.000-07:00

When I was eleven, I was at a very small junior school that was in an old building, where the wiring wasn't very reliable. The was in West Yorkshire where the weather was often wild, and storms could break over the hills with great drama and force. One day there was a huge thunderstorm, great flashes of lightning, and the lights in the whole building fused. We were sitting in darkness, with a lot of the girls getting scared and screaming when the thunder roared and the lightning flashed. (Not me - I have always loved storms and still do.)

To distract us from getting worried and while waiting for the electricty to be restored, the teacher - a Mr Grogan - told us to sit quietly and he would tell us a story. The story he told was a bout a man who returned home to his farm, high on the Yorkshire moors, bringing with him an orphan gipsy boy he has found in the streets of Liverpool . The farmer already had a son and daughter, Hindly and Catherine - and the gipsy boy's name was of course Heathcliff. This story was the beginning of the classic romantic novel - Wuthering Heights.

I never got to hear the end of the story that day because the lights came back on before my teacher had got past the point where Heathcliff and Cathy fight, and Heathcliff runs away, to go and make his fortune. I never learned what happened when he came back - because it was obvious that he did come back - and I always wanted to know. But of course most of the story of Heathcliff's revenge was probably not suitable for young children.

But the story stayed with me and I wanted to know so much about it. It was some years later that I found a book on my mother's bookshelf and, opening it, saw the names I remembered so well. I started to read - and didn't put it down until I had finished. It was an amazing story - but it never had the happy ending that I had hoped for.

I've read Wuthering Heights many times again and again since that day. I've studied it at school and at university and never tired of it. It's a story that never really leaves my imagination, specially as the place I grew up was so close to Haworth village where the Bronte sisters lived and where Emily Bronte wrote Wuthering Heights in the parsonage there.

So when editorial suggested a special mini series where Presents Authors took the themes of classics of romantic fiction - Jane Eyre, Emma, Pride and Prejudice - and Wuthering Heights, I was thrilled to be asked to take part in it. Specially when I learned that the book they wanted me to work on was my own favourite - Wuthering Heights. I've had an amazing time looking back at this great book and honouring it by using it as the inspiration for my own Presents version of this amazing story. I've had to make changes of course - Wuthering Heights isn't really a love story. It's a story about passion and possession and power - so while all those other books had happy endings already set, I had to create one for my characters. I also had to take wild, willful Cathy and dark, dangerous Heathcliff and give them the happy ever after ending that Emily Bronte's story never had.

I found it a challenge - but I loved doing it. I created the story I had always hoped for all those years ago. I didn't copy or steal from Wuthering Heights, just used the basic themes that are in the book and created a romance that stands on its own. You don't have to have read Wuthering Heights to enjoy The Return of The Stranger - you can read it entirely on its own and enjoy it.

Last week I was back in Haworth village, talking to The Bronte Society about writing The Return of The Stranger. I met a lot of people there who had never been able to get the story of Wuthering Heights out of their minds too - and I was trilled to find that so many of them felt that way about Return of The Stranger too They loved this modernised, Presents version. (I'm going to be sharing some of my pictures of Haworth on my own blog soon - and on the I Heart Presents blog at the begining of October.)

Oh yes - and they loved the cover too. I've posted the Presents Extra cover of The Return of the Stranger because that's the one that will be in the shops in October - but I have to share the UK cover with you as well - because . . . . well - look at it! It's fantastic - isn't it?

I hope you enjoy The Return of the Stranger as much as they all did.

Family - Helen Bianchin

2011-09-21T08:02:00.000-07:00

My last release was"Alessandro's Prize" which came out in July of this year. Northern Italy became the setting of choice ... A little sentimentality on my part as my husband was born in the province of Treviso in northern Italy. I have to admit to admiring the culture, cuisine, fashion; gregarious temperament; above all, famiglia - family.

Our marriage produced three children, who were aged 3, 5 and 8 years of age when I wrote my first book. Consequently they've grown up with a mother who spent a lot of time initially keying words onto a typewriter, then into a computer. Even now, my daughter will 'phone me, sigh heavily as I answer, and offer 'you're in the zone, Mum, I'll ring back later'. She can tell just from the tone in my voice? Really? Even after all these years when I'd thought I'd mastered the smooth switch from writer to mother?

Perhaps I can lean back a little from the slight edge of guilt that while I was always there for them, in truth I was inevitably a little distracted by the current opus and a hero and heroine who refused to comply with my direction. Sound a little familiar?

At the moment I'm currently working on my 61st manuscript, as yet untitled, which should be completed by November. The hero is of Greek/American heritage, the heroine third generation Russian on her mother's side, and the theme is revenge. It's sizzling nicely ...

All the best

Helen

September releases

2011-09-01T00:03:00.000-07:00

Too Proud To Be Bought by Sharon Kendrick

The humble waitress and the Russian billionaire…
Waitress Zara Evans doesn't belong in glittering high society. That is until she finds herself unexpectedly at an exclusive party, and manages to captivate the most sought-after man in the room—Russian oligarch Nikolai Komarov.

For Nikolai, there's something about Zara's beauty that makes her stand out from the first-class crowd. Experience has taught him all women have their price, but he has never encountered anyone like Zara—a young woman who is too proud, too independent, too willful to be bought…

For more information, please visit http://www.eharlequin.com/storeitem.html?iid=24289&cid=226

The Secret Baby Scandal by Jennie Lucas & Kate Hewitt

The Count's Secret Child by Jennie Lucas
Theo St. Raphael summoning Carrie to his castle means only one thing to her—he's finally ready to accept their baby son. So as she walks up the grand steps, the last thing she expects is to discover that all Theo wants is her back in his bed—and a paternity test!

The Sandoval Baby by Kate Hewitt

For Rafe Sandoval, discovering he has a three-year-old son by his late ex-wife is a shock. Max's nanny, quiet, beguiling Freya Clark, is a godsend. One night, the growing tension between them turns to passion, and soon Rafe discovers he's to be a father again.… This child will have two parents from the start—and Rafe wants marriage!

For more information, please visit http://www.eharlequin.com/storeitem.html?iid=24291&cid=226

Maharaja's Mistress by Susan Stephens

Monte Carlo is abuzz with news that Ram Varindha—young, hot and royal—is without a co-driver for the biggest rally event of the year. Though it's been years since she last saw him, Mia leaps at the chance to get up close with the maharaja!

With time to spare before he takes on more serious royal duties, bedding this beauty is top of Ram's list. But Mia has long known Ram's reputation. Is she just in for the hottest few nights of her life, or could her dream of finally taming Ram's playboy ways become reality?

For more information, please visit http://www.eharlequin.com/storeitem.html?iid=24360&cid=226

That First Romantic Kiss - Annie West

2011-08-01T00:00:00.001-07:00

I have a new book out this month. PRINCE OF SCANDAL is a twist on the Cinderella theme. A long lost princess holds the key to inheriting a kingdom. A handsome, ruthless prince is determined to secure his birthright, and the safety of his subjects - by marrying a stranger.

Raul, my prince with a past, is determined to get his own way and can't understand why his chosen bride would object to a marriage that brings her wealth, status, security and all the luxuries of life, not to mention a handsome, charismatic prince into the bargain! But Luisa has other ideas and they don't include tying herself for life to an arrogant if gorgeous aristocrat who's far too used to getting his own way.

As I wrote I began to wonder what sort of first kiss this pair would have. Would it be a chaste salute in front of a huge congregation and the world's cameras on their wedding day? Would it be a tentative caress? Would Raul decide to seduce his bride in order to make her more amendable to his plans? Would Luisa kiss him to prove the point that there was no attraction between them and marriage would be a mistake? Romance writers can spend a lot of time mulling over a kiss. On the left is one of my favourites, from the TV adaptation of 'North and South'. That Richard Armitage definitely knows how to kiss! That kiss was so long coming, so slow in the build up, and full of delicious anticipation. Here's another sort of kiss entirely, not quite so chaste, but with definite possibilities!

In the end Raul and Luisa's first kiss happens in a gorgeous, romantic place: aboard a private boat cruising through Paris at night. Their conflicts haven't been resolved and disagreement rather than romance leads to that first kiss. Luisa takes Raul to task for his high-handed ways, telling him in no uncertain terms that he's not a man she wants to marry. She wants a man she can respect and love. A man who makes her heart race...which is when Raul decides to show her he's exactly to the man to make her heart race and more. But instead of that being a victory for him, it becomes a turning point as he realises what he feels for her is more complex that he suspected.

Raul's mouth claimed Luisa's, pressing, demanding, till on a gasp her lips parted and he took possession.
Too late he realised his mistake.
The spark of indignation that had urged him to silence her grievances flared higher. Hotter. Brighter. He tasted her and heat shimmered, molten in his blood. He delved into her sweet lush mouth and discovered something unexpected.
Something unique.

If you want to read more about PRINCE OF SCANDAL, including background on how I came to write it, reviews and a longer excerpt, visit my website at http://www.annie-west.com/ Or you could buy it at Harlequin, Amazon or the Book Depository.

Is there a screen kiss or a romance book one that stands out for you? Alternatively, do you have a romantic kiss story of your own you'd like to share? Even a suggestion on the perfect location for a romantic first kiss.

Annie will choose at random one person from those who leave a comment to receive a copy of PROTECTED TO THE PRINCE - a linked story to PRINCE OF SCANDAL, or if they already have that book, a surprise gift.

Excerpt from the title: Prince of Scandal by Annie West. The excerpt is posted by arrangement with Harlequin Books SA. ISBN: 9780373130108 Copyright ©: 2011 by Annie West.

August 2011 Releases

2011-07-31T10:40:00.000-07:00

The Disgraced Playboy - Caitlin Crews

Lucas… Playboy. Rebel. Rogue.

No one denies Lucas anything. Women fall at his feet and into his bed at the click of his fingers. His life is charmed, reckless and carefree—he is definitely a bad boy.

Grace Carter knows uncontrollable Lucas could ruin her career, and she won't tolerate his wayward behavior, despite their chemistry. But working with Lucas is thrilling, and after just a small dose of his magic, even Grace's prim-and-proper shell begins to splinter…

For more information, please visit http://www.eharlequin.com/storeitem.html?iid=24099&cid=226.

The Impoverished Princess - Robyn Donald

Prince Charming, or a dark knight in disguise?

Billionaire Alex Matthews's sights are set on penniless "ice" Princess Serina of Montevel. His job is to keep her brother under surveillance, but it's Serina who has caught Alex's eye!

Whisked to his secluded tropical retreat, Serina finds her outer shell of royal decorum crumbling at the power of Alex's presence. Before the impoverished princess realizes, she's drowning in Alex's glacial-blue eyes and…waking up in his king-size bed!

She thinks Alex is her Prince Charming, but has he led her astray under false pretences?

For more information, please visit http://www.eharlequin.com/storeitem.html?iid=24166&cid=226

The Matchmaker Bride - Kate Hewitt

Will love conquer…her boss?

Beautiful, clever, rich—and determinedly single—Emily Wood is the youngest ever head of HR at her company. Whether dousing corporate fires or matchmaking lonely colleagues, Emily's at the top of her game. Only her handsome, sardonic boss, Jason Kingsley, appears to remain immune to her charm…

Jason is used to women falling at his feet, but relationships, with all their illogical demands, are not for him. So why does he find Emily so attractive? She's a highly unsuitable target for his seduction and merger skills—what with her misguided belief in the power of love…

For more information, please visit http://www.eharlequin.com/storeitem.html?iid=24101&cid=226

A Dark Sicilian Secret - Jane Porter

Lethally attractive Vittorio d'Severano was everything Jillian Smith wanted—until she discovered his secret life, and her dreams of a happy-ever-after crumbled into dust… Brokenhearted and terrified, Jill disappeared.

Now Vitt has returned—to claim the tiny son Jill has sworn to keep from him! But to stay with her child, she must put Vitt's ring on her finger. Yet what kind of relationship can they have when it's based on secrets and a heat impossible to resist?

For more information, please visit http://www.eharlequin.com/storeitem.html?iid=24100&cid=226

The Untamed Argentinean - Susan Stephens

What Nero wants, Nero gets—doesn't he?

Reigning polo champion Nero Caracas bows to no man…and certainly not to women! With red-hot Latin blood coursing through his veins, what he wants he gets…

Bella Wheeler has followed in the footsteps of her horse-trainer father—though, determined to eclipse his disreputable legacy, she remains professionally distant from everyone! This aloof beauty has two things Nero wants—the best horse in the world…and a body as pure and untouched as her snow-white ice maiden's reputation!

For more information, please visit http://www.eharlequin.com/storeitem.html?iid=24102&cid=226

Prince of Scandal - Annie West

Ruling prince…

Raul, Prince of Maritz, is furious that an archaic law is forcing him to wed. But scandal and unrest has dogged this prince for years, and a marriage to recently discovered princess Luisa Hardwicke will help bring stability to the monarchy.

…reluctant princess

Only, Luisa is an outspoken, mud-splattered farm girl, who isn't going to come quietly! Even as she's reluctantly transformed into polished perfection, Luisa challenges Raul at every turn—and he finds himself anticipating their wedding night with an excitement he never imagined he'd feel…

For more information, please visit http://www.eharlequin.com/storeitem.html?iid=24103&cid=226

Be Careful What You Wish For...

2011-07-11T01:10:00.000-07:00

...or you might get it, goes the old saying. My grandmother was cook in an aristocratic household back in the nineteen twenties. Her finest moment was when she was presented to the Duke and Duchess of York (later King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, of The King's Speech fame) after a formal dinner. There was no doubt Gran was good enough to be given the title Chef these days, and at one stage I was keen to follow in her footsteps. Then I discovered how long the hours are when you work in the hospitality business. It wouldn't have left me with either the time or the energy to write, so I soon gave up that idea.

In my July Presents Extra release, The Count's Challenge, heroine Gwen has no illusions, but a lot of determination. Despite a terrible setback, she is going to make a success of her restaurant in the South of France if it kills her. Aristocratic Etienne isn't going to let things get that far, but her independent streak means he can be nothing more than a sleeping partner in her business - until a shocking discovery makes them both reassess their lives and dreams. Gwen was only too glad to escape from her large and boisterous family back home in Wales and follow her dreams. Feeling isolated and alone, she is too proud to reveal her true feelings to Etienne until it's almost too late. But he has secrets of his own...
I thoroughly enjoyed working The Count's Challenge as it is sheer, sun-drenched escapism full of nightingales and champagne. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it! For a chance to win signed copies and other goodies, visit my website, http://www.christinahollis.com for details of how to enter my Summer Competition. Good luck!

Man versus Movie Star

2011-07-04T03:08:00.000-07:00

A few years ago when my children were very young we were visiting a theme park when a certain Hollywood ‘A’ list actor turned up with his children. It was early in the morning, out of season and the park was really quiet. In this particular area it was just me….and him (and a couple of muscular security men but let’s forget about them). Being well mannered, I ignored him but I couldn’t help noticing how gorgeous he was with his children and I knew in that moment that I was seeing the ‘real’ man, not the movie star. That encounter stayed with me and when I was asked by my editor to write the opening book for an exciting new series for Harlequin Presents called The Notorious Wolfes and saw that my hero was a world famous actor, I knew instantly what his conflict would be.

Nathaniel Wolfe has secrets. Black, dirty secrets buried deep within his family and kept carefully hidden from the world. He’s the ultimate bad boy, a Hollywood superstar who uses his incredible acting ability to conceal the shocking truth about his past. But secrets, especially nasty ones, have a way of escaping and when his carefully protected world fractures and he realises his past is about to be exposed, Nathaniel needs somewhere to hide. He turns in desperation to the first person he sees, costume designer Katie Field.

Katie lives alone. Coping with family problems of her own, she works hard, spending all her spare time drawing and designing costumes and trying to follow her dream. The closest she comes to glamour is when she dresses other people …….until the night Nathaniel Wolfe begs her for sanctuary. The only red carpet Katie has ever walked on is threadbare and her budget doesn’t allow for meals in expensive restaurants but suddenly she’s entertaining Hollywood royalty in her cramped London flat.

A Night of Scandal is the story of an ordinary girl who finds herself swept into an extraordinary world. Daunted by Nathaniel the movie star, Katie wants to know Nathaniel the man but he fights against revealing that dark, damaged side he’s successfully hidden all his adult life. As their relationship deepens she wants to trust him but how do you believe the words of a man whose greatest skill is his ability to become someone else?

With his past closing in on him, Nathaniel is forced to make a difficult choice. He can continue to hide behind the roles he plays and risk losing the woman he loves or he can finally play the one part he’s always avoided – himself.

I hope you enjoy reading Nathaniel and Katie’s story as much as I enjoyed writing it!

Love Sarah

xxxx

July Releases

2011-07-01T02:46:00.000-07:00

Alessandro's Prize by Helen Bianchin

He'd longed to claim her…
A vacation in Milan sounds ideal to Lily Parisi. Her world was rocked to its core when she found her fiancé cheating on her, but now she is determined to get on with her life—on her own! But not for long… She bumps into someone she knows—Alessandro del Marco—and her plans come a little undone…

Darkly, smolderingly enigmatic, Alessandro has long wanted Lily but never pursued her. He's always kept his cool. However, now that Lily—the prize he's always wanted—is in his reach, he's finding it impossible to keep control… The time has come to stake his claim—especially since the passionate chemistry appears to be mutual!

Visit http://www.eharlequin.com/storeitem.html?iid=23903&cid=226 for more information.

The Count's Challenge by Christina Hollis

Struggling chef Gwen flew to France to fulfill her dreams—she'd rather work herself into the ground than return to her smothering family. But all her determination can't help her resist the intense gaze of Count Etienne Moreau.…

After an explosive night, Etienne wants to keep Gwen by his side, and in his bed—she's the perfect antidote to cold-blooded business deals. But proud Gwen is outraged. In Etienne's world money might buy him anything, but this girl is not for sale!

Visit http://www.eharlequin.com/storeitem.html?iid=23974&cid=226 for more information.

Reckless Night in Rio by Jennie Lucas

"All you need to do is… pretend to love me."
The task should be easy for Laura Parker— after all, Gabriel Santos is outrageously good-looking, it's for one night only and he is offering her a million dollars.…

There are just three things to consider, however:

1. They've already had one steamy, unforgettable night together in Rio.

2. Laura's been in love with Gabriel ever since.

3. Gabriel's never wanted children, but he's not aware he's the father of Laura's baby.

Visit http://www.eharlequin.com/storeitem.html?iid=23969&cid=226 for more information.

The Wedding Charade by Melanie Milburne

Her trust fund is dwindling. If Jade Sommerville is to continue living in the manner she's become accustomed to, she has only one option…make the notorious Nic Sabbatini marry her!
The youngest of the Sabbatini brothers, Nic doesn't suffer fools, or respond well to ultimatums—especially those in his grandfather's will! But when the stunning, willful Jade breezes into his office and announces their upcoming nuptials to the world's media, Nic might have finally met his match.

He's turned Jade down once before. But this time?

Visit http://www.eharlequin.com/storeitem.html?iid=23902&cid=226 for more information.

A Night of Scandal by Sarah Morgan

Nathaniel… Icon. Celebrity. Heartthrob.
But underneath his movie-star good looks, he's battling with the demons of his past. No one knows the real Nathaniel, they only see the pinup, the illusion he pretends to be.

Then one night he is forced to rely on Katie Field, an ordinary young woman from a very different world. She may be starstruck but she isn't blinded by the bright lights of fame. Can Nathaniel trust her enough to reveal the real man behind the mask?

Let the seduction begin….

Visit http://www.eharlequin.com/storeitem.html?iid=23900&cid=226 for more information.

After Their Vows by Michelle Reid

Broken vows don't necessarily mean a broken marriage…
Angie de Calvhos meant every word of the vows she shared with husband, Roque, at the altar. Pity he didn't return her sincerity… Expecting happy-ever-after, instead Angie found herself going through a mortifyingly public separation!

Now Angie has finally built up the courage to put an end to her time as a de Calvhos wife once and for all. But she's forgotten the magnetic pull that devilish Roque possesses. and as the past collides with the present, Angie realizes she owes it to Roque—and herself—to give Roque another chance.

Visit http://www.eharlequin.com/storeitem.html?iid=23901&cid=226 for more information.

Rafe's Redemption by Annie West

For love or money…
Brooding tycoon Rafe Benton sees beautiful Antonia Malleson as a pawn in his plans to avenge his family's mistreatment by his brutish father. He decides to use his wealth and devastating sex appeal to get this delectable ice queen—and his father's newest favorite—into his bed….

Now Rafe has Antonia right where he wants her, but her innocence changes everything. Suddenly he's forced to question his own behavior.and the depth of his feelings for Antonia. Could it be that this dark and dangerous man has finally found the woman to melt his frozen heart?

Visit http://www.eharlequin.com/storeitem.html?iid=23908&cid=226 for more information.

Out on a limb...

2011-06-27T00:00:00.000-07:00

Annie West here. Have you ever felt out on a limb? Stressed by forces you feel you have little control over and forced to consider options you'd prefer to avoid?

If so you'll have some sympathy for Antonia and Rafe in my Presents release this month. They say that writers, particularly romance writers, like to put their characters in terrible situations and then watch how they deal with them. In this case it's true. I confess. Neither Rafe nor Antonia were happy at the beginning of this book. Both faced stressful situations , the sort that bring out the best or worst in people Both found ways to get through them and redeem themselves. Because of that I love the US title RAFE'S REDEMPTION because it really gets to the crux of the story (in the UK this story was called THE BILLIONAIRE'S BOUGHT MISTRESS) .

Rafe is a man behaving badly. OK, I know sometimes we expect alpha heroes to do that, but he has his reasons - a mix of revenge on the man who destroyed his mother and the desire to stop him from ever harming anyone again. He's single minded in his pursuit, so single minded that he doesn't stop to consider the impact of his actions on anyone else. Frankly he's not seeing the big picture and that's what he has to learn before he can be redeemed.

That's where Antonia comes in. She's got problems of her own. Problems she can't walk away from, not if she's to salvage her recently dead father's reputation. As she loved her parents dearly and can't bear to see them wrongly maligned in public, there's no question that she'll turn her back. Then there's the small matter of a debt to be paid.

Rafe makes her an offer that every instinct, every feeling rejects. Yet logic, and the need to do the right thing for those she loves, means she has to consider the unthinkable - living with Rafe while he flaunts her as his lover in order to fulfil his plans for revenge.

I wondered when I began writing this whether Antonia was in such a position of weakness with all her choices taken away from her, that she'd turn into a wimp that no one could like. I needn't have worried. She leapt onto the page and found wonderful, inventive ways to stand up for herself in the face of what initially seemed overwhelming odds. She did it so well that she showed Rafe the error of his ways - absolutely necessary for his redemption.

Here's what a few readers have said:

"...a fabulously sensual Modern Romance that will keep you turning the pages late into the night with its captivating blend of drama, passion, intrigue and romance." (Cataromance review)
"How do you do it - make a man a woman should hate into someone you want?"
"OMG I finished reading Rafe and Antonia on Monday night and I LOVED it. Really, truly I loved it - this story is my idea of what the perfect Presents story should be."

It seems I love a story where hero and heroine have to face the unthinkable - or at least a situation they'd prefer to avoid. Can you remember a story where the hero/heroine had to face the worst scenario imaginable ? If not, could you suggest one? I'll give a copy of one of my backlist books to someone who leaves a comment.

If you're interested in Rafe's Redemption you can find details on my website or even better, order it from eHarlequin (it's only available there - in either paperback or ebook form).

Melanie Milburne: Timing and Second Chances

2011-06-20T02:41:00.000-07:00

If you are anything like me you will spend literally hours of your life wondering: If only I hadn’t stopped to look at that dress I wouldn’t have got that parking ticket. Or: What if I’d done so and so? Or: If I’d only been a minute earlier/ later so and so wouldn’t have happened.

I once missed an international flight connection because I didn’t check my itinerary in time. It was just so frustrating!

If only…

Timing is everything. We think things should happen to our timetable but so often they don’t. Remember John Lennon’s fabulous and so true lyrics: Life happens while you’re busy making plans?

I thought a lot about the issue of timing when writing the second book of my Sabbatini Brothers Trilogy- One Last Night. Maya is in the process of divorcing her rich and powerful husband because she can’t provide him with an heir.

I watched the Royal Wedding in April (who didn’t?) and now it seems every gossip magazine is speculating on when The Duchess of Cambridge will produce an heir and a spare. Give the poor girl a break, already! Maya felt the same pressure and for five years did her level best to succeed but each time it ended in heartbreak.

With the divorce settlement papers just about to be signed Maya attends Giorgio’s brother Luca’s wedding, and after a stolen night of passion with Giorgio, guess what?

Maya looked at the dipstick in shock. Her throat closed over as if a hand had locked around her neck as the two blue lines appeared.

Positive.

Timing, don’t you just love it?

Maya can’t bear to tell anyone about this surprise pregnancy, least of all Giorgio. She wants to set him free because surely this will end in tragedy just like all the other times. But then Giorgio hears news of his grandfather’s ailing health…

‘You can have your divorce, but not right now,’ Giorgio said at last. ‘I want my grandfather to die in peace, believing we have patched things up.’

Maya felt her heart slip like a stiletto on a slate of ice. She spun round and faced him again, her eyes wide with panic. ‘You’re asking me to come back and live with you as your wife?’

What a time to be pretending to be reconciled! Maya had hoped to quietly slip away and let nature decide her future, but life of course, had a different plan. Forced back into Giorgio’s life, pretending to be pretending she is in love, she is given a second chance. And so too is Giorgio who never wanted to divorce her in the first place. During their separation he was learning all about the truth of that adage: you don’t know what you’ve got until it’s gone. This chance to get Maya back is just too good to miss.

Giorgio and Maya are two complex characters who have a lot to learn about themselves and each other. I loved watching them grow and finally embrace what life had in store for them instead of what they had planned.

Happy planning…oops, I mean reading!

Melanie Milburne

Emotional Russian Roulette

2011-06-13T00:00:00.000-07:00

I like that the editors decided to use that phrase in the back cover copy of BEHIND THE PALACE WALLS. I was *thrilled* when I saw it, in fact! Because that's exactly what's going on in the story. Prince Alexei Voronov and Paige Barnes are playing for high stakes and wagering their hearts in the process. Not that either of them realize it, of course.

Alexei is convinced he doesn't have a heart left to wager. He's buried his feelings so deep, and been so focused on his goal of taking over Paige's boss's company, that he can't see how Paige might just be the armor-piercing bullet that shatters all his machinations.

This is the kind of story I love the most. A hard-hearted hero, a stoic heroine, an exotic location, and passion spiraling out of control. Call me prejudiced (and I am), but that's why I think Harlequin Presents books are THE BEST romances out there. I've been a fan since I was about twelve or so -- and I'm so honored that I get to write these stories now.

BEHIND THE PALACE WALLS is my first Russian hero, and my first Russian set novel. (In the UK, this book was called PRINCE VORONOV'S VIRGIN and it was the Mills & Boon Book of the Month for January.) I had so much fun writing it that I'm starting to think about another Russian hero. In the meantime, I hope you will enjoy this story!

‘Kiss me,’ he growled… ‘And make it believable.’

Alone and scared on the dark streets of Moscow, staid, bespectacled Paige Barnes has no choice but to comply with the handsome stranger’s command…

Little does Paige know she’s been rescued by Alexei Voronov—a Russian prince and her boss’s deadliest rival. Now he has Paige unexpectedly in his sights, Alexei is prepared to play emotional Russian roulette to keep her close and discover her true motives. But in his splendid gilded palace his game of chance spins out of control and passion takes over…

It’s only when she’s back home that Paige realizes she’s pregnant with the Prince’s baby…

For more information on this story, visit my website for a Behind the Book feature and an Excerpt! When this book was released in the UK, it sold out very quickly, so don't wait if you want a paper copy. If you're reading it as an ebook, then of course you don't have to worry about the store selling out. :)

I'd love to hear from my readers, so please don't hesitate to send me an email at Lynn AT LynnRayeHarris DOT com.

Here are a couple of comments from the Mills & Boon website:

"Really enjoyed this book, the story was great I enjoyed both characters."

"Really enjoyed this book. Alexei was a very sexy alpha male - yummy. Liked the story line and Russian setting made a nice change."

"I loved this book. Strong and exciting story! I couldn't put it down until I have finished reading it! "

A Cinderella Story--or Not!

2011-06-05T16:59:00.000-07:00

A Cinderella Story... Or Not!

When I first started writing The Man Who Could Never Love (titled, incidentally, The Bride’s Awakening in the UK), it was going to be a Cinderella story. The hero Vittorio suggests a marriage of convenience to the heroine Anamaria; he is not attracted to her at all. I couldn’t wait to write about how she is transformed in his eyes from ugly duckling to beautiful swan (I know I’m mixing fairy tales here, but they’re variations of the same theme, right?), planned on showing how stunning she looked in a gorgeous dress with great make up.

Yet as I got into the story, I found my characters had other ideas. The first time Vittorio took Ana shopping, she got mad. I wanted her to swoon over all the gorgeous clothes, but instead she turned them down:

“Ana,” Vittorio murmured, “you will look beautiful in these clothes. Surely you want to look beautiful?”
“Perhaps I just want to be myself,” Ana said quietly. She didn’t add that she was afraid she wouldn’t look beautiful in these clothes, or that she wished he thought she looked beautiful already. It was too difficult to explain, too absurd even to feel. She didn’t want Vittorio to want to change her, even if she was willing to be changed. She shook her head and pushed past him to the door. “I’m sorry, Vittorio, but I’m not going to be your Cinderella project.”

Ana leaves the boutique, much to Vittorio’s frustration and confusion. Yet at that moment he begins to want to understand her, and slowly he awakens to the beauty she already possesses--without any fancy clothes or makeup.

It occurred to me then that I was writing a different kind of fairy tale, one where the Prince starts to fall in love with Cinderella while she’s still in rags; the other ducks see the beauty of that little swan when they still think he’s a strange looking duckling. Ultimately Vittorio falls in love with Ana as she really is, without wanting to change her, and that, for me anyway, became a more powerful story than one of only outward transformation.

Do you enjoy reading Cinderella stories? I have a copy of my Balfour Brides book, Zoe and the Tormented Tycoon, to give away to one person who comments or emails me at katehewitt@kate-hewitt.com! Happy reading,

Kate

June Releases

2011-06-01T00:04:00.000-07:00

The Secret She Couldn't Hide by India Grey

World-famous racing driver Cristiano Maresca always spent the night before a race in the arms of a beautiful woman…

One night three years ago that woman was Kate Edwards, and her time with Cristiano awakened her to unimaginable pleasure. But the following day the untamable Cristiano had a near-fatal crash…and then Kate discovered she was expecting his baby….

Now Monte Carlo is set to celebrate Cristiano's return to the track. Shivering with nerves, Kate braves the paparazzi to find the man who set her body aflame—and tell him her scandalous secret….

Italy's most notorious playboy has a love child!

Visit http://www.eharlequin.com/storeitem.html?iid=23713&cid=226 for more information.

Behind The Palace Walls by Lynn Raye Harris

Alone and scared on the dark streets of Moscow, staid, bespectacled Paige Barnes has no choice but to comply with the handsome stranger's command….

Little does Paige know she's been rescued by Alexei Voronov—a Russian prince and her boss's deadliest rival. Now he has Paige unexpectedly in his sights, Alexei is prepared to play emotional Russian roulette to keep her close and discover her true motives. But in his splendid gilded palace his game of chance spins out of control and passion takes over….

It's only when she's back home that Paige realizes she's pregnant with the prince's baby….

Visit http://www.eharlequin.com/storeitem.html?iid=23774&cid=226 for more information.

The Man Who Could Never Love by Kate Hewitt

Vittorio Ralfino, the Count of Cazlevara, is back in Italy to make a business proposition. He wishes to marry a traditional wife, and Anamaria Viale—sturdy, plain and from a good vintner's family—perfectly fits his bill.

Ana is stunned that Vittorio is offering her—an ugly duckling!—marriage. She'd stoically resigned herself to a career and singledom.

But Vittorio is persuasive and Ana would like a child of her own. Although she's under no illusion that this is anything but a convenient marriage—Vittorio will never offer her love. So when the time comes for him to claim her as his bride, she's surprised—and amazed—at the strength of his passion….

Visit http://www.eharlequin.com/storeitem.html?iid=23773&cid=226 for more information.

One Last Night by Melanie Milburne

When Maya met Giorgio Sabbatini, he married the penniless waif and stray despite her inferior breeding. So her decision to divorce him now is made with a heavy heart. Giorgio belongs to a notorious blue-blooded family, and their duty to maintain its lineage is unquestioning. Unable to give him the heir he craves, Maya knows she has to walk away.

But the ink on their divorce papers isn't given the chance to dry; after one last reckless night of passion, there's a very shocking announcement….

Visit http://www.eharlequin.com/storeitem.html?iid=23712&cid=226 for more information.

For Duty's Sake by Lucy Monroe

Angele has longed for her betrothal to Crown Prince Zahir to be consummated within wedlock. She naively hoped her promised husband would wait for her, as she would him—but compromising paparazzi photos have dashed those youthful dreams….

She cannot become Zahir's wife out of duty and endure a loveless union; she must let him go free…but on one condition. Without taking Angele's hand in marriage, will the proud sheikh agree to give her the wedding night she has long dreamed of?

Visit http://www.eharlequin.com/storeitem.html?iid=23709&cid=226 for more information.

The Heir From Nowhere by Trish Morey

"You don't know me, but I'm having your baby."

Dominic Pirelli's carefully ordered world falls apart when a female stranger phones with staggering news: an IVF clinic mix-up means she is carrying the baby that he and his late wife dreamed of having!

Though he distrusts her motives, Dominic is determined to keep waiflike Angelina Cameron close. Taking her to his luxury home, the hardened tycoon reluctantly begins to admire Angie's strength and gentle beauty as her body swells with the precious life inside her.

But when their baby is born, who will have custody of the Pirelli heir?

Visit http://www.eharlequin.com/storeitem.html?iid=23714&cid=226 for more information.

The Baby Stakes - by Trish Morey

2011-05-22T06:15:00.000-07:00

“You don’t know me, but I’m having your baby.”

Discovering that you are to have a child - is there any moment in our lives more emotionally charged and powerful? Is there any moment - maybe other than when that child is born, that is more precious?

Even for most couples, when nature and desire join forces without too much trouble, this is such a special time. But for those who have to endure the trials of IVF, those couples who have already been put through the emotional mill and beyond, learning their treatment has been successful and that a pregnancy has resulted, is even more precious, more joyously received.

So what happens then, after being through all that IVF involves, after the struggle and the injections and the pain and the resultant celebration when it proves successful, only to discover the baby you are carrying is not your own, and when your husband refuses to support your decision to hand the child over to its rightful parents?

And what happens, when a man across town learns that embryos frozen and long forgotten have been implanted in the wrong woman and resulted in a pregnancy?

I have to admit, a few years ago I would never have believed a story such as this could possibly happen. I always imagined places such as IVF clinics to be faultless in their operation - how could they not be, given the emotional dynamite they played with on a daily basis?

But of course, events of the last few years have shown that mistakes and mix ups can happen anywhere.

The Heir from Nowhere was conceived in this world.

Angie Cameron is determined to give this baby to its rightful parents. Her husband has walked out on her because of her choice, but it is the right thing to do. It’s not her child.

But when billionaire widower, Dominic Pirelli learns of the mistake and meets the sickly woman supposed nurturing his child, his own protective instincts kick in. There is no way he can leave her to live by herself in an unsavoury neighbourhood when she could be looked after in his own home.

A deal is made, Angelina will stay until the baby is born. The cold, business-like deal suits them both.

Except the longer she stays, and the more the baby inside her grows, the harder Angelina finds it to think of this baby as something she can give away. Despite her determination to stay detached, she begins to bond with her unborn child. And the longer she stays, the harder Dominic is finding it to think of her leaving...

Probably the most emotional story I have written to date, readers on millsandboon.co.uk have also had their say -

“The best M&B that I have read in a long time.”

“Another superb Modern Romance from Trish Morey. A must for all those who believe in the adage that beauty is only skin deep.”

“Once I started I couldn’t put it down.”

And from RTbookreviews, a four star review that concludes with, “A great read.”

I hope you enjoy it too!

Covers and Content

2011-05-02T12:00:00.000-07:00

There are lots of exciting moments in a writer's life. Having the book come together just as you'd hoped. Days when the characters spark with life and teach you things you didn't realise about the story you thought you knew so well. Opening your email to find a message from a reader who loved one of your stories. And, seeing the cover of your next book for the first time and (hopefully) falling for it.

Many writers have input to their covers but I'm not aware of anyone who has the final say in what their book will look like. That's in the hands of art departments and marketers. Personally, I find myself holding my breath when I open the box I know has my new title in, after all this is someone else's interpretation of what your story is about. That story you worked on frenetically for so long, and lived day and night.

Recently, when I opened a package with my first (UK) editions of PRINCE OF SCANDAL, I was thrilled. I love the colour scheme (especially the touches of red), I love the intensity of the couple staring into each other's eyes (so like Luisa and Raul, it reminded me of a number of scenes from the story). I particularly enjoyed the feel of elegance and a hint of royal glamour, since this was the story of an ordinary girl (a dairy farmer in fact) who enters of marriage of convenience with a prince. I did wonder for a moment or two how Luisa's blonde hair had morphed into what appear to be lovely long, dark locks. I did ponder the castle so beautifully lit to gold (I'd imagined an alpine setting perched high on a mountain). But the feel of it, and particularly the intensity of that look between Raul and Luisa was spot on.

Then just a couple of days ago, I found the North American Presents cover of the same book. The cover gods must have been smiling on me for I love that cover too. Again, Raul and Luisa are embracing, and Raul is looking darkly handsome. This cover doesn't have the same focus on the royal theme in the book (no castle in sight) but I smiled when I saw it, as the cosy wood panelling and the sense of intimacy in the room, remind me of that intensity between the couple in the story. Even surrounded by courtiers so often, and with the eyes of the public on them whenever they step outside, what sticks in my mind is the intimacy that grew so quickly between Luisa and Raul, and I feel this cover captures that perfectly. Maybe it's coincidence but I enjoyed the fact that it hints that they manage to turn a royal castle into a home. Plus the model for Luisa is just as I'd pictured her!

That's not always the way. Take Rafiq in THE SHEIKH'S RANSOMED BRIDE. Handsome as he is, the model for this cover lacks one thing Rafiq had - shoulder length black hair (usually hidden or tied back, except in the bedroom). I assume the decision was made to give him short back and sides because that might appeal to more readers. I understand that and it doesn't bother me, though it did make me grin, especially when I saw the Russian edition which had the same illustration, but with the addition of a long mullet - superimposed long dark hair to go with the short cropped sides.

By contrast, here's the same book in manga (comic book) edition. This is my first English language comic book - just out! This Rafiq has long hair and is certainly dashing. The illustrations inside focus a lot on the theme of his pirate ancestry which is lots of fun. I think the cover captures beautifully the whole exotic Arabian Nights feel of the story and I know I'd be tempted to pick it up and browse on the basis of that. For me it's fascinating to see how two such different interpretations of the same characters and situation still manage to evoke certain similar themes.

Do you have a favorite cover? Favorite styles of covers? Do you buy on the basis of a cover? I'd love to hear what other readers think and I'll forward a selection of signed cover flats to one person, chosen at random, who leaves a comment.

If you want to find out more about the books mentioned here, you'll find details and excerpts on my website. PRINCE OF SCANDAL is released in May (UK) and mid July (US), while the comic book of THE SHEIKH'S RANSOMED BRIDE is available now from Amazon in 2 parts.

Thank you everyone who stopped by and who left a comment. I've drawn a prize winner and it's JENNIFER TANNER. Congratulations, Jennifer! If you send me a message at annie@annie-west.com with your postal address I'll send your signed cover flats on to you.

May releases

2011-05-01T00:56:00.000-07:00

The Unclaimed Baby by Melanie Milburne

Billionaire Luc Sabbatini may have ruthlessly cast Bronte from his life…but he'd be lying if he said he'd forgotten this sweet ballerina.

That's why he's back, and ready to reawaken their lost passion. Only this time he finds Bronte isn't quite so biddable!

Her better judgment is urging her to walk away. Bronte has been lured into Luc's lair before…This time, however, the secret she's hiding will have its repercussions!

Visit http://www.eharlequin.com/storeitem.html?iid=23532&cid=226 for more information.

Melanie Milburne: The Unclaimed Baby

2011-04-25T01:52:00.000-07:00

Have you ever had someone ask you to keep a secret? I get asked to do it from time to time and I find it really hard. Not that I would ever betray a friend or anything, but just the fact that someone had begged me, “Don’t tell anyone” makes me feel under enormous pressure. I have to check every word that comes out of my mouth when I’m talking to a mutual friend!

However, I love writing stories about secrets. And one theme that I have revisited a few times now is The Secret Baby Plot. But times have changed and so have readers. While in the past keeping a hero’s child a secret from him worked quite well, these days readers like to have a very good reason why the heroine would not or could not tell him of the existence of or expectation of a child.

In Unclaimed Baby (released in UK/ Australia as Scandal: Unclaimed Love Child) is a story about two secrets. One of course is the baby, but the other is the secret about Luca Sabbatini’s health. He is plagued by a condition that he has told no one about. Not even his family knows. And he has certainly not told Bronte Bennett, the beautiful ballet student he has been seeing.

Facing the prospect of do-or-die brain surgery, Luca comes to the decision he must end his relationship with Bronte. He gives her no explanation. He just cuts her from his life. He blocks all contact. He wants to have a clean break so she can move on with her life. He doesn’t want her to give up her life for him if he was to become an invalid. A heroic choice but sadly it backfires on him terribly.

Two years on from his surgery Luca steps back into Bronte’s life. Unlike Ashleigh in The Secret Baby Bargain who felt she couldn’t risk telling Jake she was pregnant, but just like Scarlet in The Marciano Love-Child, and Charlotte in Bought for Her Baby - (See? I told you I like this theme!) Bronte did everything she could to contact Luca to tell him he was to become a father, but finally gave up in frustration and anger.

When Luca makes it clear he wants to resume his affair with her she is furious. Where was he when she needed him most? Bronte wants to tell him about little Ella, and is working up the courage to do so when he finds out via someone else. What a shock to find he has a child!

Luca is one of my favorite heroes because he really tried to do what he felt was the right thing by Bronte. He was terrified of becoming an invalid and thereby tying her to him. He knew her well enough to know she would never desert him.

This is the first book in my Sabbatini Brothers Trilogy and I wrote the other two books around the premise of this one because Luca, like his older and younger brother, needed to learn that love can truly conquer all.

Warmest wishes,

Melanie Milburne

p.s. Do you find it hard to keep a secret?!!

Kate Walker: Springtime – and New Beginnings

2011-04-03T23:03:00.000-07:00

I’m celebrating today - for a couple of reasons. First of all, I have a new book out – The Proud Wife is released in Harlequin Presents Every new book that I have published is a real thrill. It’s a delight and an excitement that never goes away – no matter how many titles I have in my backlist. This latest, brand-new, beautiful ‘baby’ is one I’ve never seen in the shops before. It’s a ‘first’ for this title and seeing it in all its untouched beauty in a new cover, new title is a very special thrill. A whole new beginning.

It’s one of the best things about being an author. That feeling of seeing your work in print is something that never fades – or it hasn’t for me. I may be heading for my 60^th romance title but I always love that feeling of having a brand new book out there so that readers can find it and - hopefully - enjoy it. So The Proud Wife is one reason why I’m celebrating. I’m so happy to have this book out in the shops and I hope that readers will love my heroine Marina and her estranged husband the Sicilian Prince Pietro D’Inzeo. I’ve been thrilled by the response to this book in the UK – it was at #1 in the bestsellers on the Mills & Boon website for 3 weeks and one reviewer called it a ‘Modern masterpiece’.

But there’s a second reason why this month is very special for me and that involves a past book – one that I had published last year – in March 2010 to be precise. I’m now finally able to announce, The Konstantos Marriage Demand, has just been awarded Best Presents Extra 2010 in the Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice Awards. I just wish I could be at the RT convention this week to pick up the award but I’m in the UK and I’m on a really tight deadline so there just wasn’t the opportunity to be there. I’ll raise a toast to the book – and to everyone who’s going to be there anyway!

Both The Proud Wife and The Konstantos Marriage Demand are about one of the themes I most love to write – and read about - in romance. And that’s the theme of lovers reunited. When a couple have once been lovers - once so very close, intimate in all ways that a man and woman can be, and then are torn apart by some action of Fate, some terrible mistake on the part of one – or both of them – the fact that they once cared so much makes the pain of the break-up so much worse to bear. When my hero and heroine have once felt a deep, passionate love and something comes along to destroy that feeling then where there once was a deep love, now there is a deep, deep pain. The loss of the feeling they once had leaves a real emptiness inside. And they close themselves off from the source of that loss – the person they once loved.

I love writing this theme because there is so much raw emotion in the idea of second chances, of the hope of starting again, building a new future from the shattered pieces of the old one. So this is a really appropriate time of year for these books to come out. Here in the UK, the real signs of Spring are starting to show. The tulips and daffodils are coming into flower, so are the primroses, all making a brave display of colour and brightness after the long dark, cold days of winter. The blossom is blooming in the trees, the birds are singing and building nests and a whole new sense of life and renewal is filling the air .

I always think that this is just like a romance story. We have a saying that March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb – and that’s the way the story of lovers reunited develops. The conflict between them – the reasons why they split up, the lack of trust, the anger and pain that drove them apart are all like the stormy, dark days of winter. Times when the wild winds howl and the nights are cold and bleak. But slowly, gradually that coldness changes and turns into a hope of a new spring – a new beginning. It’s not a just a new calm but a green, golden and fertile peace. One that has the promise of potential for growth and trust – and a whole new future.

That’s why Spring has always been my favourite season and it’s the reason why I love reunion stories so much. In The Proud Wife, Pietro and Marina start out in one of the darkest times in their lives. When the love they once shared seems to have totally disappeared, been destroyed by the tragedy that tore them apart. Both of them believe that there is no future for them together – and they meet up in the lawyer’s office to put the final nail in the coffin of their marriage – and sign the divorce papers. But from their very first meeting, it’s so obvious that there is still so much between them – if only they can work through the pain of the past.

They don’t find it easy. They’re both proud, determined people. Both hurt by the past and scared of going through that pain all over again. But they both know that no one else has ever made them feel the way they make each other feel. So can they find a way to put the past behind them, put right the mistakes they made, and create for themselves a new future – together?

You’ll have to read The Proud Wife to find out! Romantic Times gave this book 4.5 stars and called it “ an emotionally charged page-turner with plenty of tension and passion.” And that sounds to me like ‘coming in like a lion and going out like a lamb’ – just like the month of March merging into April as Spring arrives.

You can find out more about The Proud Wife over on my web site and you can read all my latest news and the most up to date events on my blog. I hope to see you there

April 2011 Releases

2011-04-01T03:41:00.000-07:00

Picture of Innocence by Jacqueline Baird

Lucy Steadman refuses to be intimidated by brooding Italian Lorenzo Zanelli. He may hold the fate of her family's business in his iron fist, but she will not submit to his more personal demands.

As a talented artist, Lucy can see the truth in beauty; Lorenzo may be devastatingly handsome, but he has a soul blackened by his desire for revenge. And to give in to such a man, even for a single kiss, would be to lose her head—and her heart—forever….
For more information, visit http://www.eharlequin.com/storeitem.html?iid=23403&cid=226

The Devil's Heart by Lynn Raye Harris

Francesca D'Oro was just eighteen when darkly sexy Marcos Navarre swept her up the aisle—then fled before the ink on the marriage license had dried. Marcos might have given Francesca a jewel for her finger, but he stole another: the Devil's Heart, a dazzling yellow diamond he believed belonged to his family….

Years later, Francesca, no longer so youthfully naive, is determined to reclaim the precious gem! But she's forgotten that Marcos lives up to the treasure's name—and dealing with the devil is always dangerous!
For more information, visit http://www.eharlequin.com/storeitem.html?iid=23359&cid=226

Not For Sale by Sandra Marton

Lucas Vieira needs a translator to seal a high-profile business deal, and also a woman to pose as his girlfriend to fend off a colleague's overeager wife—so why not kill two birds with one stone?

Linguist Caroline Hamilton jumps at the chance to earn some decent money. But when she meets her client, she realizes she may be out of her league. The powerful Brazilian seems to be interested in more than just her brains….

Is the price of this passion too high?
For more information, visit http://www.eharlequin.com/storeitem.html?iid=23356&cid=226

The Proud Wife by Kate Walker

Marina thought her dreams had come true when her husband placed a wedding band on her finger. But their marriage was not the fairy tale she'd hoped for, and eventually Marina walked away, her heart broken.

Two years later Pietro D'Inzeo no longer haunts Marina's dreams. She knows the time has come to move on, and even a summons to join him in Sicily won't deter her….

However, with his wife standing before him, about to sign on the dotted line of their divorce papers, Pietro wonders why he ever let her go.
For more information, visit http://www.eharlequin.com/storeitem.html?iid=23404&cid=226

Sandra Marton's NEW APRIL PRESENTS!

2011-03-28T01:00:00.000-07:00

Do you love to people-watch? I do. I’m drawn to observing people virtually everywhere. In cafes, in restaurants, in airport lounges…

In the lobbies of elegant hotels.

I was waiting to meet someone in such a lobby a while ago.

Either I was early or she was late. It didn’t matter because I was content to pass the time watching the world go by. The lobby was filled with sophisticated, fascinating-to-watch New Yorkers.

One man, of all the rest, caught my eye.

He was the perfect alpha hero. Well-dressed. Well-groomed. Totally gorgeous in that way only truly masculine guys can ever achieve.

He kept watching the entry, his expression intent. Each time a woman stepped through the door, his eyes narrowed. Then he’d frown, look away from her and check his watch.

And I thought, he’s waiting for a particular woman.

And I thought, he’s irritated because she’s late.

And then I thought, in the way of writers everywhere…..

What if he’s never met her before? What if he’s not sure of how he’ll identify her? What if he needs her for some vital purpose?

What if, what if, what if?

And so my April release, NOT FOR SALE, was born.

HE is raw masculinity in a well-tailored suit.

SHE is a woman who wears thrift-shop finds.

HE is incredibly rich.

SHE lives on a scholarship and earns what she can, translating.

HE is powerful, arrogant, and totally self-assured in New York’s most sophisticated settings.

SHE is a small-town girl, a graduate student at home only in academia.

NEITHER is looking for passion.

WHY WOULD HE, when whatever woman he desires is his for the taking?

WHY WOULD SHE, when her sole interest is in getting her degree?

But FATE will bring them together.

HE needs a translator for the evening, one good-looking enough to pass as his lover.

SHE needs the job. She’s wary, she’s definitely NOT FOR SALE, but it’s just a few hours of translating and smiling, and she’ll not only get paid, she’ll get a decent meal.

That she ends up in his bed, that they all but set fire to the night, is unplanned.

But it’s okay. They’ll never see each other again.

At least, that’s what LUCAS VIEIRA and CAROLINE HAMILTON think.

Oh, how wrong they are!

Be sure and visit me at SandraMarton.com and tell me what you think!

Treasures beyond price in The Devil's Heart

2011-03-21T10:58:00.000-07:00

Dear Readers:

My fifth book from Harlequin Presents hits the shelves tomorrow! I'm so excited to be able to share this story with you. First, a little bit about the book:

A diamond, and a deal with the devil…

Francesca D’Oro was just eighteen when darkly sexy Marcos Navarre swept her up the aisle—then fled before the ink on the marriage licence had dried. Marcos might have given Francesca a jewel for her finger, but he stole another: the Devil’s Heart—a dazzling yellow diamond he believed belonged to his family…

Years later Francesca, no longer so youthfully naïve, is determined to reclaim the precious gem! But she’s forgotten that Marcos lives up to the treasure’s name—and dealing with the devil is always dangerous!

While there is indeed a rare diamond at the heart of this story, it's the other treasures that are truly priceless. Marcos Navarre is a scarred man, both literally and figuratively. He had a hard childhood on the streets of Buenos Aires, and then an even harder time once he got tangled up with a guerrilla army as a young man.

But he's escaped that life and built himself into something good and decent. What he lacks, however, is the ability to love.

Or so he thinks.

Enter Francesca d'Oro, a woman he knew when she was younger and more naive. Francesca has demons of her own to fight. Her life is not the privileged existence it once was, and the blind love she'd once felt for Marcos is now gone.

In fact, she hates Marcos for what he did to her. And she's determined to get even with him.

But of course nothing is as it seems, and plans go awry.

Marcos and Francesca learn they have the key to treasures beyond price if they can just get past all the pain and hurt of their pasts and learn to forge a life together. It's not an easy ride, but I do hope it's an unforgettable one.

RT Book Reviews said, "Lots of conflict, hot love scenes and a satisfying ending make this an entertaining read." I hope you'll agree!

You can read more about The Devil's Heart, including an excerpt, here. While you should be able to find the book on your store shelves tomorrow, it's already shipping from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Borders, and the Book Depository. And it will be available for your Kindle or Nook on April 1st -- though you can download now from eHarlequin!

I hope you'll let me know what you think! Happy reading. :)

One commenter will win an autographed copy of The Devil's Heart and a set of my Romance Novel Trading cards that I'm taking to the RT Book Lovers Convention in 2 weeks! Just tell me what your favorite gemstone is and why. ;)

WINNER:

We have a winner! Thanks so much everyone for posting! The winner of the book and trading cards is Laney. Laney, please send me your address at lynn AT lynnrayeharris DOT com.

And now, because I've enjoyed talking with you all, EVERYONE wins a set of romance novel trading cards! (I'll toss in some bookmarks and postcards too.) Send me your info and I'll get everything into the mail. :)

March 2011 Releases

2011-03-01T06:16:00.000-08:00

Katrakis's Sweet Prize by Caitlin Crews

Notorious Nikos Katrakis was looking for a new woman to bed when, out of the blue, heiress Tristanne Barbery offered herself to him. Could satisfaction and revenge really be that easy to obtain?

Tristanne knew better than to play games with a man of such devastatingly lethal charisma as Nikos. But, though she had a good idea of the kind of sacrifice she was offering, she had no choice.

To Nikos's surprise, Tristanne was not the weak, biddable good-time girl he'd expected…and soon his plans for vengeance came crumbling down around him!

Visit http://www.eharlequin.com/storeitem.html?iid=23185&cid=226 for more information.

The Undoing of De Luca by Kate Hewitt

In theory, Ellery Dunant is the last woman you'd expect to find on world-renowned playboy Larenz de Luca's to-bed list. Ellery has met Larenz's type before. There's no way a stallion like him would be interested in a plain-Jane housekeeper like her….

So why does Larenz find himself risking his cool and dropping his guard to spend the night with her?

Just one night…but for Larenz it doesn't turn out to be enough. Is his unworldly housekeeper going to be his undoing?

Visit http://www.eharlequin.com/storeitem.html?iid=23183&cid=226 for more information.

There's No Place Like Home--behind the story of The Undoing of De Luca!

2011-02-27T14:59:00.000-08:00

Homes play an important part in several of my stories. Maybe it's because I grew up in the same wonderful house until I went to college, or maybe it's because I've moved around quite a bit as an adult. In any case, I believe homes have a powerful hold over us, whether happy or unhappy, sprawling houses or tiny apartments (and I've lived in both!) In my current release, The Undoing of De Luca, both Larenz and Ellery, the hero and heroine, have significant ties to the homes of their childhood.

In Ellery's case, she grew up in a manor house deep in the Suffolk countryside, loosely based on Melford Hall, which I visited many years ago.

Ellery has a complicated relationship with her home, which she loves but also resents as it swallows up all her time and money to keep it going on her own.

Larenz, meanwhile, has a painful history with an opulent Italian palazzo--but I don't want to give away his secrets! Suffice it to say, his relationship to the home of his father is complicated as well.

Both Ellery and Larenz have to acknowledge the hold their homes have on their lives and let go of past hurts in order to find happiness and love--and a home--together. What about you? Do you have any special homes, whether from childhood, the present, or a certain time in your life? I leave with you a photo of my parents' cottage in Canada, which is a very special place for both my children and me, with many happy memories from both my childhood and theirs--swimming in the lake, picking raspberries, and generally getting away from it all. Leave a comment about a home in your life and I will draw a random winner to receive a copy of one of my books--either Count Toussaint's Baby or Zoe and The Tormented Tycoon. In the meantime, happy reading!

Jane Porter: Life With The Presents Hero

2011-02-21T00:07:00.000-08:00

I just finished writing the first of two connected royalty books for Presents. I loved the premise and settings, loved creating this wonderful world of powerful kings and intriguing women, but while writing the story I realized yet again that a great Presents hero is more than money and power and success. He requires something extra…something extraordinary…and its not an easy thing to define.

Presents heroes are always masculine, primal males. Inevitably they have the financial means to provide for their women. They also are strong—mentally and physically.

But these men are not perfect. They make mistakes. They may have had painful pasts. They may be a tad too confident at times.

But when they love, oh how they love. Once a Presents hero finds his match…his mate…he will never be content with another woman.

I always write alpha heroes, gorgeous sexy males, whether they are the heroes in Presents or my women’s fiction stories. But the Presents hero is always a little trickier. He’s a little more complex. He demands a little more from his woman. And he’s maybe even more demanding in bed.

And that’s where fantasy also comes into play. In a Harlequin Presents, my heroes are all about pleasuring the woman in bed….giving her what she wants, making sure she’s having the most sensual, erotic experience of her life.

He’s a man that’s gifted in foreplay, has tremendous staying power, and wouldn’t dream of climaxing before she has…often repeatedly.

And I know there are men out there who are like this with their mates, but in real life, a lot of people have truly hectic lives. They’re rushed and tired and have bills and problems, and don’t have the energy or time to make sex unbelievably hot. So thank goodness for the fantasy man who has endless time and energy for pleasuring his woman.

And thank goodness this same hero never leaves his socks all over the floor or asks her where his clean shirt is. Thank goodness in a Presents there is no endless laundry or dishes or grocery shopping trips with screaming toddlers or moody teenagers. Nope. In Presents we get luxury, sophistication, seduction and a virile, unforgettable male without the domestic chores.

Love that.

Love that in Presents I get a man who wants and needs his woman, but doesn’t want her in the laundry room, or need her in the kitchen.

Heaven.

Do you have a favorite hero? Could be from a Presents or a classic novel or even a movie? I’d love to hear what kind of man makes you swoon! I'll be drawing two names from those that comment for a signed Presents from my backlist.

Time Travel to the Sixties.... by Susan Stephens

2011-02-17T00:21:00.000-08:00

When I was asked to write a book set in the 60's with a modern day heroine for Harlequin Presents, my first thought was, wow, how incredible. I love that era. The fashions and music were nothing short of revolutionary, while the 'so called' sexual revolution made possible by the pill before the shadow of aids had been identified, was said to liberate women. It was an era of compelling figures who would open our eyes and our hearts, and technical advances that were both fast and thrilling. And, most crucially for my purposes, women were fighting for equal pay and rights with men.

Women might have been moving forward, but there were some men who had not caught up with the times, and I found the idea of pitting a modern woman against a man like this irresistible.

My second thought was - write a contemporary romance set in the 60's - how does that work?

That's up to you, I was told.

Brilliant - A blank canvas with no rules. And so Gray Quinn was born.

I must admit Steve McQueen was a huge influence as I wrote this book.

Totally gorgeous, and, being a motor bike fanatic he rode a 'monstrous throbbing machine' just like my hero, Gray Quinn!

I had my modern woman meet Gray Quinn in the current day. Magenta then falls asleep and dreams that they have both been transported back to the sixties.

The fun and games begin when Magenta starts to assert herself in this sixties dreamworld. Needless to say, Quinn is not amused. Nor is falling in love with chauvinist Quinn part of Magenta's plan, but fate has other ideas.

Waking up from a deep sleep can be wonderful - Sleeping Beauty receiving that magic kiss, for instance. But when Magenta wakes up in the modern world without Quinn or the baby they were expecting she is thrown out of her beautiful dream into a nightmare.

Will fate be kind to Magenta just one more time?

Susan
www.susanstephens.net

Happy Valentine's Day!

2011-02-14T01:53:00.000-08:00

Happy Valentine's Day!

I’m not sure what I think of Valentine’s Day. Call me demanding (and my husband does, frequently) but I don’t really want romance to turn up just once a year on a specific date allocated by others. And although I love being taken out to dinner, is it right to be charged extra just because it happens to be February 14^th? I’d rather go out for two dinners the day after. That would make me greedy and possibly very uncomfortable but I’m sure you see my point. For me all this ‘it’s Feb 14 so now we must all be romantic’, misses the point.

Having said that, it is true that everyone leads very busy lives (I swear that everyone in my neighbourhood is secretly feeding my laundry basket) and sometimes in the downhill slalom of life we’re negotiating so many twists and turns we forget to show our nearest and dearest that we love them. Which is why I’m not sure what I think of Valentine’s Day because one thing it does do is remind us to show that special someone that we think they’re, well - special.

Which brings me to the question of how. What gesture makes you feel loved? The hopeful dreamers amongst us will even now be picturing a luxury villa with a hammock swinging over turquoise blue sea, but while I’m prepared to be forced onto the Orient Express if someone really wants to take me (kicking and screaming, obviously), I don’t think a romantic gesture has to be extravagant.

What does romantic mean to you? Is it a beautiful bunch of flowers? Chocolates? Or is it more about thoughtful gestures that say ‘I love you’ and ‘I care about making you happy.’ Maybe it’s about noticing what you need at a particular moment and that might be a foot rub or someone to make dinner so that you can finish your book.

Talking of books, if your love life is currently a romantic desert then Valentine’s Day might be the perfect time to turn to fiction. There’s nothing quite like a good escapist read with a guaranteed happy ending to conjure up a warm feeling. And on the subject of romantic deserts, the heroine in my February release for Harlequin Presents, Bella and the Merciless Sheikh, is finding all that sand anything but conducive to romance. She’s trapped with a moody alpha male without so much as a bottle of decent conditioner to smooth things over. Used to relying on her looks, she’s forced to fall back on her wits and soon she’s discovering a whole new side of herself.

What’s your idea of romantic?

February 2011 Releases

2011-02-01T00:03:00.000-08:00

Hired By Her Husband by Anne McAllister

Once, Sophy and George Savas were happily married…. Then Sophy woke up and realized that her blissful marriage was a sham. She's never looked back—until the day she learns her husband has been critically injured, and her world is shaken….

Now, though he's stubborn and proud, George wants Sophy's help. He knows she won't come willingly, so he hires her to be his wife for as long as he needs her! But playing happy families is dangerous, and soon George realizes that his need for Sophy runs deep and strong….

Visit http://www.eharlequin.com/storeitem.html?iid=23020&cid=226 for more information.

Bella And The Merciless Sheikh by Sarah Morgan

Sheikh Zafiq Al-Rashid is furious when his week of solitude is interrupted by Bella Balfour, lost in the desert! While his fierce honor demands he rescue her, the willful heiress is a little less grateful than he'd expected. Zafiq is tempted to leave the spoiled socialite wandering the wilderness…but where would be the challenge in that?

He's powerful enough to tame the rebellious beauty. However, when they depart from the seclusion of the oasis, will Zafiq leave the memory of the fiery passion behind or announce to his kingdom that he is taking a queen?

Visit http://www.eharlequin.com/storeitem.html?iid=23016&cid=226 for more information.

Gray Quinn's Baby by Susan Stephens

Magenta knows having a new employer might be tricky. But she isn't expecting the old-fashioned ruthlessness of Gray Quinn! However, plucky Magenta is up for the challenge, and tries to beat the distractingly gorgeous Quinn at his own game….

Quinn is no New Man—he wants temptingly innocent Magenta in his bedroom, not the boardroom. But he can make her no promises. He'll give her the night of her life, but he might not be there when she wakes up…. And he definitely doesn't want her taking maternity leave!

Visit http://www.eharlequin.com/storeitem.html?iid=23019&cid=226 for more information.

Protected By The Prince by Annie West

Prince Alaric of Ruvingia is as wild and untamed as the remote kingdom he rules. Women fight to warm his royal bed, but he ensures that none outstays her welcome. Then reserved, bespectacled archivist Tamsin Connors uncovers a shocking state secret….

Now Tamsin has Alaric's undivided attention—and he finds himself drawn to her burgeoning purity! Duty demands only a temporary arrangement…but soon their powerful passion is enough to fuel a lifetime's love….

Visit http://www.eharlequin.com/storeitem.html?iid=23061&cid=226 for more information.

Perfect Time for a Royal Romance

2011-01-31T00:00:00.000-08:00

You guessed it, my February Presents Extra is a royal romance.

Being Australian, I was particularly fascinated several years ago when an Australian woman, Mary, married a Danish Prince. Now she's Princess Mary of Denmark, leading the sort of life that gets featured in glossy magazines here and, I assume, all over the world.

There's something about the pomp and ceremony of a royal wedding, the glittter and excitement and, above all, the Cinderella factor when an 'ordinary' girl marries a royal, that is absolutely fasincating. There's the dress to ponder over, the pageantry, the guest list of celebrities, the chance to spot any young, handsome, unattached minor royals waiting for their own Cinderella (I know there aren't many but who cares about long odds?).

Imagine my pleasure when I discovered the release of PROTECTED BY THE PRINCE slots in nicely to the approaching royal wedding in the UK. Thank you Kate and William! I couldn't have timed this better. It would be nice to think I had an inkling that wedding bells would be in the air when I planned this story, but it's just serendipity.

Serendipity had a lot to do with this book, with so many wonderful experiences feeding into my research. There was a marvellous day spent with fellow Presents author Abby Green in Dublin, which included a visit to the old library at Trinity College. That place is amazing, and the visit helped me create my heroine, Tamsin, a book curator and expert in old languages. There was a visit to see crown jewels on a day when it wasn't crowded (yes, really!) and the staff were particularly helpful. A visit to a fabulous gothic cathedral full of stunning stained glass just as the clouds cleared and washed the interior with the most gorgeous light. Christmas night markets in Austria and Germany alive with the smells of mouth watering food and the sounds of music and laughter. There were castles perched on high mountains and a fabulous night spent in a tower room looking down on the Rhine. There was even a sleigh ride on the clearest day imaginable, after fresh, deep snow had fallen and the alps looked unbelievable. Well, yes, our sleigh ride wasn't like Tamsin and Alaric's - there were several of us in the sleigh and I wasn't being whisked off to an isolated mountain lodge for royal seduction. But the tinkle of the bells (they really do tinkle) and the swish of the sleigh and the sparkle of the snow were completely magic.

However, it was Tamsin and Alaric who made this royal romance such fun to write. He is handsome, debonair, charming and troubled, weighed down by the ghosts of his past. She's hard-working, almost reclusive and determined to concentrate only on her work of preserving old documents, rather than let herself fall for another charming man who can't be trusted. She's not glamorous. She wears dowdy grey and brown, she hasn't a high heel to her name and she shuns male attention. Fortunately Alaric can see beyond the surface and is intrigued by what he finds. As for Alaric - sigh. Well, let me just say I had a wonderful time with him. Here he is as seen through Tamsin's eyes at their first meeting:

He could have been Prince Charming, standing there in his elaborate hussar’s uniform, her discarded shoe in one large, capable hand. A bigger, tougher Prince Charming than she remembered from her childhood reading. His dark eyebrows slashed across a tanned face that wasn’t so much handsome as magnetic, charismatic, potently sexy. Like Prince Charming’s far more experienced and infinitely more dangerous older brother.

I was thrilled when PROTECTED BY THE PRINCE received a 4.5 star review from Romantic Times: With genuine chemistry and vulnerable characters this modern-day fairy tale delights from start to finish. I hope you enjoy it too, along with the other Presents and Presents Extras this month. For more about the book, visit my website. To celebrate the fact this is my first post on the fabulous new Harlequin Presents Blog I've decided to give away a backlist title to one person chosen at random from those who leave a comment. Just tell us one time serendipity or coincidence gave you or someone you know a lovely surprise.

January Sunshine

2011-01-17T07:58:00.000-08:00

Isn’t this new-look website lovely? It’s just the thing to chase winter woes away. In January, holidays seem a long way off, although I’m still celebrating as this month sees the release of my latest Harlequin Presents title, The Master of Bella Terra. It’s the story of Kira and Stefano, and the setting is loosely based on a beautiful old villa in the Tuscan hills where my family and I spent a wonderful holiday, not long ago.

I love Italy, and doing research there is always such a pleasure. During the cold winter months it’s lovely to think back to days spent lounging in the dappled sunlight of a citrus grove, listening to the gentle hum of bees and breathing in the lovely blend of sharp and sweet fragrances coming from the flowers and ripening fruit that can often be found nestling together, among the leaves. When I look back through the pages of The Master of Bella Terra now, it’s a lovely reminder of those days spent beneath the Italian sun.

Romantic Times awarded The Master of Bella Terra a four star review, saying: “Landscape consultant Kira Banks doesn’t appreciate it when Stefano Albani invades her countryside existence, but she can’t resist his lucrative contract to turn his houses into homes. Kira and Stefano are searching for ways to escape their painful pasts and protect themselves from future hurts. So while their passion is hard to resist, they’re determined not to fall in love. From the Italian countryside to the Caribbean, beautiful surroundings come to life as Hollis does a good job of maintaining tension between the characters.”

I hope you enjoy The Master of Bella Terra, along with all the other great Presents titles available this month.

Happy new year! Happy new Presents!

2011-01-02T23:58:00.000-08:00

There's something special about this time of year - the rush of holiday festivities behind us and the new year still shiny bright and filled with promise. And this year is all the more special to me, because it sees the release of my latest title, Reckless in Paradise.

I visited the paradise that features as the setting in this story some eighteen months ago. In the depths of a southern hemisphere winter, my hubby and I spent a weekend visiting Far North Queensland. We rented a cabin right on the beach, swam in pristine sapphire waters and explored the hinterland and all its treasures.

There were waterfalls, tangled rain forests, tropical flowers and birds in bright exotic colours. There were tiny towns, colourful and vibrant and selling ripe sweet mangoes straight from the tree, while out to sea lie the spectacular coral reefs that form part of the Great Barrier Reef.

Simply stunning!

But of course, every Paradise has a catch and its hidden dangers. Here's one not-so-hidden danger we saw lurking on a slippery river bank...

In Reckless in Paradise, wedding planner, Sophie Turner, is similary struck by the beauty of the region when she arrives to state the case for her clients' wedding. Her brother, Jake, is about to marry the woman he loves and as it happens, Daniel Caruana's little sister. Sophie will do anything to make sure they get the best wedding ever, while Daniel knows it will never happen. Not on his watch.

And that's when Sophie learns that paradise comes laced with danger, and not only in the shape of a man who threatens both her equilibrium and her heart...

Romantic Times Reviews has awarded Reckless in Paradise a 4 star review - saying "Daniel Caruana has gotten rid of all of his sister Monica’s greedy suitors by paying them off, but his archenemy, Jake Fletcher, refuses the money. To make matters worse, the happy couple hires Jake’s sister Sophie as their wedding planner. Daniel refuses to forgive Jake for the car accident that killed his fiancée, but was Jake really responsible? Will Daniel realize his feelings for Sophie before it’s too late? Here’s a sweet story about letting go of the past with a thrilling ending that will make readers say, “I didn’t see that coming!”

Thanks to all those fabulous readers who've already made Reckless in Paradise a Borders Group top 10 bestseller. I hope you enjoy reading Sophie and Daniel's story along with all the other fabulous Presents reading coming your way in 2011!

Happy reading,

Trish

January 2011 Releases

2011-01-01T06:00:00.000-08:00

The Society Wife - India Grey

Infamous playboy Tristan Romero meets ordinary Lily at a lavish ball, and arrogantly predicts that she will wake up the following morning between his designer silk sheets! Powerless to resist this wicked billionaire, Lily knows Tristan is only offering one night. But then she discovers she's pregnant….

Tristan's aristocratic duty demands he take Lily as his bride. However, Lily's shame over accepting a loveless proposal is heightened when she realizes that, as the Spaniard's wife, she'll be expected to fulfill his every need….

Visit http://www.eharlequin.com/storeitem.html?iid=22855&cid=226 for more information.

Master of Bella Terra - Christina Hollis

Kira Banks far prefers plants to people—after a heartbreaking affair, she lives alone in the beautiful Italian Bella Terra Valley. But her peaceful existence is shattered forever when restless, self-made billionaire Stefano Albani arrives home by helicopter.

Notoriously charming but weary of worldly women, Stefano is fascinated by cautious, shy Kira—this seduction will be unforgettable! However, his polished routine goes awry. Could it be that the tycoon, who can have anything or anyone he wants, might need someone for the very first time…Kira?

Visit http://www.eharlequin.com/storeitem.html?iid=22898&cid=226 for more information.

The Bride Thief - Jennie Lucas

If anyone present knows of a reason why this marriage may not lawfully take place, please declare it now…

Xerxes Novros is about to do more than just voice his reasons why Rose's marriage should be stopped… He's hoping to steal this beautiful wife-to-be away and whisk her off to his private Greek island!

But Rose was to be a virgin bride…and Xerxes is determined to give her the wedding night she's been stolen from. Rose is torn; pride dictates that she should refuse Xerxes his pleasure. But, secretly, she can't deny a startling truth—she's fallen for her dark, handsome captor!

Visit http://www.eharlequin.com/storeitem.html?iid=22853&cid=226 for more information.

Reckless in Paradise - Trish Morey

Merciless Daniel Caruana will do anything to prevent his sister marrying his nemesis! It just so happens that her wedding planner is the groom's sister—and in the flesh, despite her prim clothes, Miss Sophie Turner is very tempting.

An eye for an eye, a sister for a sister….

Daniel will have Sophie exactly where he wants her—with him on his private island and willing in his bed! But when Daniel realizes that true love does exist, it's not just his sister who's in trouble….

Visit http://www.eharlequin.com/storeitem.html?iid=22856&cid=226 for more information.