Whetting your appetite

Here's a new review for MISTRESS TO THE TYCOON just in!

ROMANCE READER AT HEART'S THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

MISTRESS TO THE TYCOON by Nicola Marsh is a great sizzling romance from beginning to end.

Gallery owner Ariel Wallace has promised her aunt that she will keep the gallery afloat, one way or another. If that includes painting nudes, then so be it. But when Cooper Vance, a property developer, walks into the studio, she's not certain she can go through with the plan. Ariel brews tea while Cooper undresses. Thus, the two embark on a journey that has its share of paintable moments.

I thought Ariel and Cooper were a perfect match, despite their worlds being so dissimilar. Beneath the surface of the artist and below the money belt they were just two people who deserve love. I especially liked the way Ariel's emotions were a source for her painting. I could see the brushstrokes on canvas as she worked through her issues with Cooper and the gallery. And Cooper, despite his repeatedly telling himself that his connection to Ariel was only business, became more endearing with each kiss.

4 roses for this one. Nice :)

Characterisation

I've had a lovely review for EXECUTIVE MOTHER-TO-BE which I want to discuss further once you've read it.

One Night in Singapore leads to a career girl's nightmare...but will it also lead to love?
Kristen Lewis TV producer sits in a Singapore bar, stood up by a co-worker buddy in favor of a young temp worker. Hard working to the max and driven, Kristen knows the loneliness of hotels and bars. When she eyes the handsome Nate, dark and morose but ever so sexy, she feels like she has met a kindred soul. As the CEO for his own company, Nate seems to understand her long hours and her passion for work. Together they share a fabulous night. Months later, Kristen walks into her first day of work at a new job. Called in to meet her new boss, Nathan boyd, Kristen is shocked to see the face of her Singapore Nate, the man she cannot get out of her heart. Both driven professionals, Kristen and Nate decide to keep things on a professional level --- but their decision chafes at their very hearts. Then the worst thing possible happens to this sigle-minded, focused career girl --- not only is she pregnant but she is pregnant with Nate's baby!
This is my first Nicola Marsh read. Besides being a wonderful light read, interspersed with some tense moments, several areas drew my attention. Nicola Marsh has a lot of skill in setting a scene so that when she writes about the characters, the reader is drawn to them and understands them behind the exterior. Her style is quick, sharp and focused --- in just a few well-chosen descriptions, the reader is right there on the scene an in the hearts of her characters. I also very much enjoyed the way she wrote dialogue --- fun, witty and dynamic. But more, as Nate and Kristen encounter each other and spend time together in Australia, one feels them become more and more comfortable with one another through their dialogue. Interesting hero. As with most HR heroes, a good guy with past hurts. I really do love the way these HR authors write their heroes.
In general and on a personal level, I am less of a fan of baby romances than other kinds of romances but I was very impressed with how Nicola Marsh wrote this one. She added several very done well details that made me understand her and how she could end up in the situation she did and still be an intelligent woman. I grew up when women's lib was gaining ground and the one thing parents drove into their children was don't get pregnant and work hard to be successful in your own right. Some dramatic moments here, especially towards the end. She writes drama well --- quick plot with precise details, allowing the story itself to tell the drama.

Pros: excellent characterization and scene setting, humorous and dramatic
Cons: none
The Bottom Line: A great choice in short light romance reads. Brilliant characterization and scene setting. Emotionally moving

A huge thanks to Merri from Merrimon Book Reviews for this insightful review. (Check out her website, she has loads of fabulous reviews!)

Now, I'm not just saying that because she loved me book :) I'm saying it's insightful because she really understood what I was trying to do with Nate and Kristen's story.

While I was writing the book I wanted to show the character development of Nate, how he struggles with his past grief and is finally able to open his heart again. And with Kris, how a 35 year old career woman comes to terms with impending motherhood, something she never dreamed possible for her. I really concentrated on developing the emotion with both these rather intense characters and I'm absolutely thrilled it came through.

Speaking of emotion, I sniffled for the first time ever writing one of my own books last night.
The Harlequin Romance I'm revising (which ended up having a fairly major rewrite) is a story of second chance love and the hero Blane is to die for.
He's the one who made me cry just a little...how can Camryn resist? :)

Bookscan Top 100!!!

I'm doing a little happy dance around the house.

PURCHASED FOR PLEASURE has made Bookscan's Top 100 in its first 5 days on the shelf. Woo hoo!!!!!

It's an absolute buzz to be alongside names like Nora Roberts, Debbie Macomber, Susan Wiggs, Jayne Ann Krentz, Fern Michaels, Christina Dodd, Stephanie Laurens...I could go on but I think you understand how stoked I am :)

Thanks to everyone who has bought my Navy SEAL Tyler James. I knew I loved this guy for a reason :)

I've just sent out my Feb newsletter late last night so if you're interested in entering the exclusive newsletter-only comp, drop me an email and I'll subscribe you.

Hope everyone has a great weekend. La-la-la, I'm off to do some more dancing :)

To finish your manuscript...or not?

Yesterday I trotted off for another library talk and I was absolutely thrilled to have a few writers in the audience, in particular a lovely lady who is targetting Mills and Boon Modern Heat! (Waving madly to Joanne!!!)

During question time, Joanne asked a really interesting question: should you finish the manuscript you're working on before submitting the partial?

I know most people would answer a resounding yes. Why? It's easier to edit and tighten once you know where the story is going, your story may not fit the synopsis and change as you go along and if you're like me when I first started writing, you can get caught out, thinking it's going to take months and months to hear back let alone get a request for a full manuscript only to find it all happens a lot quicker than you anticipated!

So I answered Joanne's question in the affirmative. Before I remembered what it was like with my first manuscript.

The absolute rush of getting words down.
The sheer joy of actually writing rather than thinking about it forever.
The thrill of completing those magical first three chapters.
The buzz from sending that partial in the post and all the accompanying excitement/angst/nail biting that goes with it.

And I changed my response to Joanne!
I advised her to go for it! Send that baby off with a kiss on the envelope and write like mad while waiting for a response.

I've just handed in my 16th manuscript and the nail-biting doesn't end, let me tell you. How do I cope? By getting stuck into the next! After some much needed down-time tonight, that is :)

Now, check this out!
This is my next Harlequin Presents cover in a special Modern Love series which goes direct to US readers.
Gorgeous, huh?

Blind date

No, I'm not trying to play matchmaker with my friends.

This is further to my goss on library talks. The fabulous librarian at Dandenong, as part of Library Lovers month in Feb, used a great concept to introduce people to the wonderful world of romance: Blind

Date with a book!

She'd wrapped up romance novels in snazzy gold and silver paper, tied them with lovely coloured ribbons and laid them out with the displays.

The idea is you take home the book, unwrap and enjoy. Cool, huh?

In other book news, I hit the shelves in France and Germany again this month. Nice covers, huh?

Very romantic...