Bargain book: NOT THE MARRYING KIND, $0.99 few days

Entangled Publishing has discounted one of my favourite books, NOT THE MARRYING KIND, to $0.99 for a few days only.

You can grab it here:

AMAZON

BARNES & NOBLE

iBOOKS

KOBO

Keeping company with Fifty Shades of Grey

I'm keeping good company at the top of the iTunes Romance bestsellers list in the US for audiobooks.

NOT THE MARRYING KIND is one of my favourite books and being able to listen to it now is a bit of a thrill.

It's at a bargain price at the moment so grab it while you can!

Way behind...

Sometimes life gets in the way.

I've had so many health issues last year that seem to be following me into the new year.
So I apologise for the radio silence.
I'll try to be around more often. Really!

If you're into audiobooks, you can now listen to NOT THE MARRYING KIND, one of my personal favourite books.

You can grab it at all retailers (currently on sale for only $1.95 at iTunes!)

Mad About You

I'm thrilled to welcome my friend JOAN KILBY to my blog today to celebrate the release of her first book for Entangled Publishing, MAD ABOUT YOU.

Joan's Harlequin SuperRomances are wonderfully heartwarming so I can't wait to read her first Indulgence.

Award-winning author Joan Kilby's debut Indulgence, MAD ABOUT YOU, releases March 31 from Entangled Publishing. http://www.entangledpublishing.com/mad-about-you/   http://amzn.to/Pc3duS   

Accountant Cassy Morris knows she’s putting her heart on the line when she agrees to move in with her best friend, multi-millionaire geek Scott Thornton while she manages his nanotechnology lab and finds an angel investor for his revolutionary new product. She’s loved him forever even though he’s only ever regarded her as a friend. But Cassy never could refuse Scott anything…

When Scott is named Seattle’s sexiest man, the attention from women threatens to get in the way of him finishing his pet project and putting it on the market. Cassy steps up once again and pretends to be his fiancé. A lifetime of repressed sexual tension explodes in a passionate affair. Soon Scott is wondering how he can convince Cassy to turn their fake engagement into reality…

Read an excerpt

Visit Joan's website

Join Joan's Blog Tour and enter a contest to win a $15 Amazon gift card giveaway

Last few hours to grab a bargain book!

All Entangled Publishing INDULGENCE books are a Kindle Daily Deal today only, and available for $0.99!

Bargain books, who can resist?

Grab my NOT THE MARRYING KIND while you're there please!

Indulgence cover makeover!

My first book with Entangled Publishing's INDULGENCE series released last July and I was thrilled with sales.

The success of this publisher and series took the publishing world by storm in 2012 and this July, they've revamped all the covers.

Here's mine.

What do you think?

To see all the covers, check them out on Facebook here

COVER REVEAL: Italian Affair

Isn't this a stunning cover?

Congrats Annie Seaton on your upcoming release with Entangled Publishing's Indulgence series (and sequel to Holiday Affair.)

Release date: June 10th 2013 

Blurb:

Free-spirited sex therapist Brianna Ballantine has four days to find a fiancé so she can inherit her birth mother’s Italian villa. Commitment is not on the agenda. Writing her sex therapy book and signing legal papers are. And once all is said and done, she’ll return home to Australia.

For finance guru Tomas Richards, relationships have been a bad investment—give him stocks and shares any day. When Tomas offers a marriage of convenience to help Brianna secure her inheritance, the sizzle between the sheets promises an affair to remember, despite family complications at every turn.

But Tom must convince Brianna to stay, and make this Italian affair a lifelong commitment.

Pre -Order 

Barnes and Noble…link http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/books/1115250853?ean=9781622661374

Amazon link….http://www.amazon.com/Italian-Affair-ebook/dp/B00CNTTEAI/ref=sr_1_10?ie=UTF8&qid=1368016768&sr=8-10&keywords=annie+seaton

I'm a sweetheart

NOT THE MARRYING KIND is up for the 5 Heart Sweetheart over at The Romance Studio.

If you enjoyed my 'marriage of in-convenience!' book, please vote here 

The Romance Studio

The lovely folk over at The Romance Studio have just reviewed NOT THE  MARRYING KIND and given it 5 hearts (which means it'll be up for Favourite 5 Heart Sweetheart voting next week.)

In the meantime, here's the review.

I loved this part: 'The sex scenes were hot and perfect for the story  as they showed the explosive chemistry of the hero and heroine.'

If you want to read those hot scenes for yourself...

AMAZON
BARNES & NOBLE

Blog tour: ANNIE SEATON

Today I'm thrilled to kick off fellow Entangled Publishing author Annie Seaton's blog tour.
I recently met Annie in person at the RWAus awards dinner and she's as vibrant and lovely in person as she is online.

Take it away, Annie!

Amnesiac oil sheikh billionaire, embroiled in a  family feud discovers his best friend’s little sister has had his baby and…

No not really… but it is an example of a possible trope!

Tropes....does anyone who doesn’t write romance know what a trope is?

I have to admit that the word was new to me, the first time my editor and I discussed my second book.  As both a librarian and English teacher in former careers, I was embarrassed when I had to go to the dictionary. I was new to writing and still picking up the lingo!

However the dictionary which defined it as a common or overused theme or device didn’t really help me…so I went exploring. First stop Wikipedia –a trope is figurative language in literature, or a figure of speech, or something recurring across a genre or type of creative work.

Okay, still no wiser and when my editor asks what tropes am I writing and reminds me I need at least two, I scurry off to Google! Okay, same answer as Wikipaeida.

 Help! This is taking time away from my writing. Where to now? Okay ...Google romance tropes.

Yay…success! Thanks to a few romance blogs who tell me that one of the secrets to writing successful romance is to take a well loved trope and give it a twist. Ah…the penny drops. 

Tropes are what I have read and loved for many years—I just didn’t know there was a name for it. Secret babies, accidental pregnancies, amnesia, betrayal, family feuds and friends to lovers.

In Holiday Affair, the trope is a one night stand gone wrong, with a bit of mistaken identity or less than honesty thrown in and a teensy hint of a love triangle.

 Everything that builds the conflict is the trope.

So to answer my wonderful editor…the trope of my next book is a combination of a marriage of convenience and an old family feud, a little bit of opposites attract and a super wealthy hero!

Now when I am asked about trope, I feel rather smug. And not only I can answer knowledgably, I can illustrate by describing my own books and the path of my characters to happily ever after.

So tell me what’s your favorite trope?

Website: http://annieseatonromance.com

Blog: http://annieseaton.blogspot.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/annieseaton26

Twitter: @annieseaton26

Buy on Amazon

Buy on Barnes & Noble

Annie Seaton lives on the beautiful east coast of Australia, where she loves sitting in her writing chair, gazing at the ocean and writing stories. She has always been fascinated by all things historical and has found her niche writing contemporary romance and steampunk, where strong heroines and brooding heroes fight together to make their alternative world a better place.

Her debut novel, Holiday Affair, a contemporary romance set in the South Pacific was released as part of Entangled Publishing’s Indulgence line in March. The sequel Italian Affair is currently underway Watch out for the story of Tom and Brianna the sex therapist who spices up his life!

Winter of the Passion Flower was released through Lyrical Press at the same time. It is also available in print from the Books page of Annie's website. Currently immersed in the creation of Book Two, a full length novel, the adventures of Sofia and her Scottish laird, Annie is already looking forward to the rest of the series, particularly the adventures of Indigo’s four boys: Jago and Jory, Ruan and Kit. Strong sassy heroines and

rebellious heroes have a rollicking good time as they work to make the world a better place--

albeit their own steampunk world.

Blind Lust, a paranormal novella will be released by Musa Publishing on 15th June.

Guest: AMY ANDREWS

Today I'm thrilled to welcome a good buddy to my blog...the delightful Amy Andrews.

Hi Nic and thanks for having me today to talk about my Entangled release, Taming the Tycoon.  I’ve been really happy with reviews that have pointed out both the humour and the sexiness of Nate and Addie’ story because that’s two things I love in romance novels – I like to laugh and get just a little steamed up. My husband likes it too J

Karla(Book Addict) at GR said - “I can´t say how much I enjoyed this book, the story was great the plot was executed flawlessly and OMG the sex scenes are HAWT, I swear I was sweating and squirming in my seat just thinking about it”

I think she may have been talking about this scene …

His blue eyes held hers and it was all she could do to breathe in and out.

“You give a hell of a massage, Addie.”

His voice rumbled around her, breaking the spell. She tore her gaze from his, afraid he’d see how much she wanted him to grind a little harder.

But then she was staring right at his erection. It was thick and long and stretched his clinging boxers and she had to dig her fingertips into his thigh to stop from reaching for it.

She had a feeling it would be as beautiful as the rest of him and she really wanted to see it.

She glanced at him and heat slammed in to her as his knowing, unapologetic gaze claimed hers. “Like I said,” he murmured. “You give a hell of a massage.”

 But his voice was unsteady and there seemed to be a slight glaze to his eyes and it was a turn- on to know that she’d done that to him.

She glanced at his erection again.

And that.

“How does it feel?” she asked, her own voice vying for the top position in the husky stakes.

“It feels—” He stopped and cleared his throat. “Amazing. Everywhere feels amazing. You...” Addie’s eyes widened as he pressed his kneecap hard against her “... feel amazing.”

She shut her eyes as a wave of longing rolled through her. “I do, don’t I?” she murmured as she rotated her hips, her fingers automatically working his thigh again.

Nathaniel’s eyes closed too. “Uh-huh.”

She rotated again then rocked back and forth a little with the motion of her kneading. His knee cap was just the right amount of hard against all her softness and she mewed as it slid against all her sensitive spots. 

Honey and vanilla wafted up from his leg and she wanted to rub it all over him and lick off every last sticky morsel.

“Addie?”

She opened her eyes to his husky question, gratified to see the clench of his jaw, the strain in his neck muscles, his hands gripping the sheet beside him.

“Are you drunk?” he asked.

She rocked into him, meshing her gaze with his and smiled. “Just drunk enough to be very, very easy.”

Nathaniel gave a half laugh. “Having sex with a fake girlfriend would be very...” She watched his eyes shut as she ground down hard. “Very bad,” he muttered, opening his eyes again.

Addie nodded as the image of them entwined and naked on this sinful bed exploded inside her head. “But this isn’t sex,” she said stroking her hand higher on his thigh as she angled her pelvis where the pressure was best. She hit the right spot and it sucked the breath right from her lungs.

“Oh, I think it is,” he muttered.

Although, there are a few more like that J

Jen from Random Jensmit also talked about the sexiness in her review but I was thrilled when she made particular mention of the funny. “What I absolutely LOVE about this book is the humor that shows up all through the pages.  Addie is funny and Nate is just snarky and a little dirty with his double entandras – LOVE IT!”

I’m thinking this is one of the scenes she had in mind!

Nathaniel looked up from the breakfast table when Addie joined them at eight-thirty. He grinned at her and she blushed. She had her hair back in some braid thing and was wearing faded denim jeans this morning that hung loose and low on her hips and a plain navy t-shirt that didn’t quite meet the jeans.

He’d had his hand on that strip of skin he could see. Held it there while she’d wiggled and squirmed against him. Just thinking about it got him hard again.

It hadn’t been what he’d expected—hell, developing a fascination with Addie was one complication he didn’t need—but there were worse ways to wake up.

“Here she is. Morning my pretty,” Eunice boomed her welcome. “Nate said you were wide awake at five for a while, so we just let you sleep.”

Addie faltered as she sat down, glancing at him, and he winked at her as he said, “I do hope that itch I couldn’t quite scratch has settled. Darling.”

So if you like sexy with a few laughs, this may just be the book for you.

Amy is giving away a copy of TAMING THE TYCOON and a keychain!

Answer this question to be in the running:

What are the things you look for in a romance novel?

GUEST BLOGGER: Christine Bell

Today I'd like to welcome Christine Bell.

She's a fellow Entangled Publishing Indulgence author and her book has just released!

Over to you Christine...

First, I want to thank Nicola for having me today! Very excited to be here because I’m a huge fan of her work. In fact, that’s a great segue-way into my post today. On my blog tour for Wife for Hire, I’ve been focusing on indulgences. Not just the Entangled line of books featuring to-die-for alpha heroes and intelligent, fun and spunky heroines, but also other kinds of indulgences that make what can be a sometimes dreary day a little brighter. On this stop at casa de Marsh, I thought I’d talk to you about one of my favorite and long lasting indulgences: the romance novel.

Growing up, I was a voracious reader. Like as in I would read ANYthing I could get my hands on, and in the late seventies, that was a strange collection of materials. There were encyclopedias (yes, the real kind that a door to door salesman came and sold to my mother. Funk & Wagnall, if I recall), and my older sister’s book report selections (I read Of Mice and Men at age 6, but the subtleties were lost on me. I do recall crying when Lennie loved that puppy too hard, though), there were short stories collections (of which I always enjoyed the twisted ones like The Lottery and The Most Dangerous Game) and the magazines my mother used to get with the cloying perfume samples that made me dizzy. We had the Scholastic Book club pamphlet that came from school every month, and my mother would scrape together what she could to get me some, it but never went far enough for my liking. We also had a small library at my grammar school but they couldn’t keep up with me, not to mention that this whole “publishing passels of books specifically for the enjoyment of children” concept hadn’t really taken hold yet. So it was with breathless excitement that I waited for my thirteenth birthday. The day my mother told me I could go to her best friend (and our across the street neighbor) Jeannie’s house and try one of her Harlequin Romance novels.

Jeannie (we called her Bean) had…ALL of them. I kid you not, her entire basement was floor to ceiling bookshelves, lined back to back and contained EVERY Harlequin Romance novel written to that point. She brought me down the stairs and set me loose, with the promise that, if I returned the books I borrowed to their proper place, I could take more the next time. That day changed my whole life. For the first time in my life, I had *enough* books. I didn’t have to “slow down” or re-read those same dog-eared copies. I felt like Charlie in the Chocolate Factory. Bean kept me in books through high school, until I went away to college. But even after I moved away from home and wound up knee deep in academic reading, I would finish my work and lay awake with a flashlight under my blanket reading romance novels. Today, I have a Kindle instead of a paperback, and a book-light instead of a flashlight, and I don’t always read romance, but when I want to escape and indulge, laugh or cry, it’s my go-to genre. Lucky for me there are a lot more publishers who recognize the power of a romance novel now, so I never run out of things to read. Single title, category, novellas, historical romance, steampunk romance, paranormal romance, the list goes on and on. All thanks to Bean (who I dedicated my own first romance novel to in 2010. Love and miss you, Beanward).

Here is the blurb for my Entangled Indulgence, Wife for Hire:

He needs a wife for three weeks…

Owen Phipps is out for revenge. His mission? To expose the man who stole his sister’s money and dignity. All he needs is a “wife” who can play along. Too bad his last best hope is an actress who tries to mace him with perfume when he offers her the role of a lifetime.

Lindy Knight is a real sap. She loves too hard, feels too deep, and often finds herself saying yes when she should be saying “Let me think about it.” She can’t believe her good fortune when Owen offers her more than enough money to hold off foreclosure until she can find a job. Three weeks at a resort, money she desperately needs, and she gets to help bring a criminal to justice? Score.

It seems easy enough until the first time a couples bonding game turns intimate, and they realize how dangerous their mutual attraction could be. Can they keep their hands to themselves long enough to find the evidence Owen needs? Or are the close quarters more temptation than they can handle?

Please check out the Entangled website here for an extended excerpt of Wife for Hire, and readers, stick around to comment, because, to celebrate the release of my new Entangled Indulgence, I’m offering to indulge YOU! 

One commenter on this post will win a $10 Barnes & Noble or Amazon gift card, so she (or he!) can buy a couple (or, if you buy from the Entangled Indulgence line, a few because they’re only $2.99!) new books. 

AND I’m also running a Let Me Indulge You contest. If Wife for Hire gets onto the Amazon OR Barnes & Noble top 500 list by September 18th, I will be giving away a $250 gift card to the salon or spa of one lucky winner’s choice. Check out the link to my giveaway and every comment from my blog tour will be counted as an entry. Follow my whole blog tour? EACH comment = another entry! Extra entries will also be given for tweeting or posting the link to the book on your Facebook page.

So now to you, blog readers! Do tell. What’s your favorite indulgence? How did you get into reading romance?