The X Factor for novels & I'm a finalist!

I'm thrilled that one of my self-published novels has made it through to the final 250 out of 3100 entries!

This comp is like The X Factor for novels, where the public are the judges. Exciting!

Fingers crossed I progress further!

Cover reveal: BUSTED IN BOLLYWOOD

I recently had rights reverted to me for this book of my heart, which means I'll be publishing it, along with 2 more books in the Bollywood Billionaires series, BREATHLESS IN BOLLYWOOD and BRAZEN IN BOLLYWOOD (watch for their cover reveals soon!)

Isn't this new cover divine?

#1 FREE Coming of Age & Sports novella!

For a limited time only, grab the Amazon #1 FREE Coming of Age and Sports novella CROSSING THE LINE.
Available free at all retailers.

AMAZON http://amzn.to/115DgDk
B&N http://bit.ly/1qjPhQ1
iBOOKS http://bit.ly/1uk2AkR
SMASHWORDS http://bit.ly/1xW1hrk
KOBO http://bit.ly/1utb4FS 

Cover reveal: BLURRING THE LINE

Check out the cover for book 3 in the World Apart series, BLURRING THE LINE.

It releases next week, can't wait!

New release: TOWING THE LINE

Following hot on the heels of CROSSING THE LINE is the sequel, TOWING THE LINE.

(Grammatically, 'toeing' the line is correct, but Dani's towing a metaphorical invisible weight behind her which leads to some disastrous decision-making, hence 'towing the line'.)

Dani's made some major mistakes in her life. Achieving her happily-ever-after was tough!

Here's the blurb:

I need a new start. Anonymity. In a country where no one will know me, and the havoc I create. 

Not all the rumors about me are true. But I made one mistake too many in LA and attending an Australian college for a few semesters is the perfect solution. 
I plan on avoiding guys. But the part-time tutor and sexy Aussie artist Ashton? Has me re-evaluating the wisdom of being a reformed bad girl. 

Ash is aloof, dedicated, serious, and I must corrupt him. So I seduce him. Not expecting to fall in love for the first time. And the last. 
Because Ash has high standards and when he learns the truth about me, he’ll join the long list of people in my life pretending I don’t exist. 

Available to buy now!

AMAZON US

AMAZON UK

BARNES & NOBLE

iTUNES

Head or Heart. Will Self-Publishing your Novel Make you Money or Cost you Money?

Congrats to fellow Harlequin author Nina Harrington on the release of her non-fiction book!

HEAD OR HEART

Will Self-Publishing your Novel Make you Money or Cost you Money?

Inside "Head or Heart" you'll receive the key information on:

•     What are the Challenges to Self-Publishing your Novel?

•     Is Self-Publishing the Best Business Model for your book?

•     How to Select an Online Publishing Platform

•     Are there any other Options besides going it alone?

•     What Price should you Charge for your Novel?

•     What Royalty Payments should you expect to receive?

•     How Much does it Cost to Self-Publish Your Novel?

Digital publishing is a rapidly changing environment and there is no certainty that your novel will find readers.  But with the information in this book, you will be able to make informed decisions about whether self-publishing is the best option for your work.

                                

AND HERE IS AN AMAZING EXTRA.

As a Bonus Launch Offer, the Special Promotional Price for my eBook is only 99cents – Normal list Price $3.99.

But this deal only lasts for the 7 day Launch Period.

Amazon Link: http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00K3PI6TY?*Version*=1&*entries*=0

Website Page: http://ninaharrington.com/books/head-or-heart/

New release: THE SECOND CHANCE GUY

Release day for THE SECOND CHANCE GUY.

Sexy soldier, secret baby, second chance at first love.

Here's the blurb:

A second chance at first love...

Flynn Logan is a dedicated soldier. The army is his life. Until he returns home and discovers an astounding truth that will turn his regimented world upside down.

Lori Ballantine has only ever loved one guy and he chose the army over her. Now Flynn is back and Lori is wary of letting him into her life, a life she shares with their son. The son she has kept secret from Flynn for the last five years.

As Flynn and Lori come to terms with co-parenting while traversing the minefield of a new relationship, Flynn needs to make some tough decisions: about his past, his future and his role in Lori and Adam's lives.

Being a father may just prove to be the toughest assignment he's ever had.

Available from AMAZON now
(Barnes & Noble, iTunes, Kobo, Sony, etc... next week)

Add it to your GOODREADS shelf.

Thanks!

Sign up for October release day blast!

I have a new indie release coming in October...and the cover is TO DIE FOR!

Think super hot guy with dreamiest eyes...

Sorry, I digress.

I'm after lovely peeps to help me do a release day blast/cover reveal.

It involves you posting the cover/blurb/buy links on your blog (FB & Twitter too if you're on there!)

To sign up, please email me at nicola (at) nicolamarsh (dot) com with RELEASE DAY BLAST in the subject line.

As my kids would say, easy-peasy-lemon-squeasy!

Free Blush

In all the excitement of my RBY win last week, I forgot to announce my newest release!

For fans who enjoyed Jess and Jack's romance in BRASH, you can now read about Adele and Reid's tale in BLUSH.

What's even better for you?
BLUSH is free for the next few days on Amazon.

So go grab your copy and tell all your friends.

Nook books

For those readers who've contacted me, asking about the availability of BRASH on other platforms besides Amazon, you can now buy across all e-book retailers.

Nook
Kobo
iBookstore.

Bargain books, dirt cheap!

For 3 days only, check out the amazing books on offer at the BOOK LOVERS' BUFFET, many from bestselling authors, all for only $0.99!

Including BRASH (discounted from $2.99 for 3 days only)

and CRAZY LOVE, discounted from $3.99.
(Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo)

New release: BREATHE FOR ME by Natalie Anderson

I'm thrilled to welcome one of my closest writing buddies to my blog today.

Natalie Anderson writes great contemporary romances for Harlequin Kiss and Entangled Publishing, and BREATHE FOR ME is her first indie release.

I was lucky enough to beta read half this book and it had me hooked!

Now, over to you Natalie...

Thanks so much Nicola for welcoming to your blog today so I can share some details and an excerpt of my newest release.

BREATHE FOR ME, my first indie hot contemporary romance, released this week. It’s the first in a planned series… 

Here’s the blurb for Xander’s story:

The last thing Chelsea Greene wants is to be rescued, but that’s exactly what happens when she’s caught wearing nothing but her swimsuit during a midnight emergency evacuation drill. Turns out her ‘hero’ is a former lifeguard who has no hesitation in offering the kiss of life. So not happening, right?
But for emotionally chastened Chelsea, one touch changes everything. She discovers a desire to satisfy this arrogant, demanding tease. Unable to express her own fantasies, she finds unspeakable pleasure in serving his.

Xander Lawson exudes easy charm. He likes a woman unafraid to match his appetite for unfettered fun. He doesn’t do complicated or emotional. But the raw need emanating from fragile Chelsea compels him closer. He can’t resist spinning a sensual fantasy world around them.
As passion spills outside their carefully selected boundaries, Xander learns Chelsea’s stronger than he first thought. But is she strong enough to handle the intensity he’s always kept hidden?

In this scene, Chelsea’s been caught out in a fire drill just beyond midnight. Her handsome-as neighbor has given her a carry down the stairs. Now that the drill is over she and the other residents are returning to their apartments and her ‘hero’ has oh so kindly loaned her his tee-shirt so she doesn’t feel so exposed in only her swimsuit…

Wearing his shirt was worse than underwear. She saw a few sly looks, and knew just what half the people in the lift were thinking, given most hadn’t seen her in the building before. Same as what she was thinking.

That she’d come from his bed.

The elevator stopped on every floor of course, people taking a painfully slow time to exit. She was awkwardly aware of him standing too close because of the crowd. But even as it thinned he didn’t step away. As she was sandwiched between him and the wall, she couldn’t back away. She grew hotter and hotter as insanely inappropriate thoughts raced through her head. She stared straight ahead.

Get a grip, Chelsea.

It was clear he wasn’t similarly afflicted—not with the joking words he shared with another resident. The heat burned in her cheeks as he walked with her out onto her floor—his hand on her back. Oh so polite. Except for the inordinate amount of skin they were both displaying.

As soon as the elevator doors shut behind them, she stopped and turned to face him. Oh mamma, it was damn hard to verbalize anything when confronted by that body.

“You really don’t need to see me to my door,” she said huskily.

He merely walked around her, strolling along the corridor before turning back to face her, right outside her apartment. His smile was shameless. “You’re wearing my favorite tee-shirt.”

“Oh,” she glanced down and walked the last few paces to her door—where he already waited.

Suddenly he was standing closer than he had in the elevator. She could feel the raw denim of his jeans brushing the outside of her thigh. Wicked laughter danced in his eyes. Too overwhelming.

She looked down at his bare chest. A sprinkling of hair. Flat brown nipples that she could easily reach with her tongue. And a tan. And she’d already experienced the warmth of it, and the hard strength. It was a chest for touching, admiring, tasting. She’d have it beneath her, above her, his arms around her. He had such sensuality emanating from him—challenging her.

A frisson of aggression rippled through her body. She’d never been challenged this way. Never met anyone so blatantly wanting with just a look and a smile.

She didn’t want blatant. When she got back in the scene, she’d be taking it very, very easy. Not squaring off with some playboy. She lifted her chin and pulled the tee-shirt off in a quick movement, letting it dangle on the end of her finger.

“Thanks,” she said, totally feigning moxie.

With a grin he lifted the shirt from her crooked index finger and hooked it into his belt so it hung like a rag down the side of his leg.

“My pleasure.” The polite rejoinder sounded way too intimate to be all that polite. It sounded dangerous. And tempting. He leaned closer, bracing his arm on her doorway—so he took up even more of her vision. Dominating.

“What are you doing?”

“Making a move.”

Oh my. How was that for blunt? “Isn’t there some code of ethics that stops you superhero rescue guys from getting involved with the people you save?”

“Not that I’m aware of.”

“There should be. Women might mistake gratitude for lu—something else.”

“You think you’re feeling ‘something else’ for me?”

“I… no.” Somehow she held eye contact. The way he was looking at her sent flickers of heat along every nerve cell.

“Anyway, I didn’t really rescue you,” he said. “You’d have slid down the banister or something if you’d had to. Really it was all an excuse to get my hands on you.”

“Oh, so you’ve no ethics then.”

“Guess not.” He had that total ‘whaddaya gonna do about it’ look on his face.

And it was obvious what he was going to do about it. The laughter in his eyes was wicked—and mesmerizing.

It was a game. She got that. Except the sizzle that she felt wasn’t entirely playful. It was intense. And as she stared up at him the smile in his eyes and on his lips faded as a predatory look hardened his expression. She raised her hand. Pressed her fingertips on his mouth. To stop him? To touch him? She didn’t really know.

BREATHE FOR ME is $2.99 at Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Breathe-Me-Be-Xander-ebook/dp/B00CJ3UPTW

USA TODAY bestseller Natalie Anderson writes fun, frisky, feels-good contemporary romance for Harlequin Mills & Boon, Entangled Publishing and independently. With over twenty-five books published, she's been a Romantic Times Award nominee & a finalist for the R*BY (Romantic Book of the Year).
She lives in Christchurch, New Zealand with her husband, four children and what feels like a million ducks. Find out more at her website http://www.natalie-anderson.com and be sure to sign up for her newsletter. You can also find her on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/authornataliea

Wishing you mega sales, Natalie!

Book Lovers Buffet

If you're a book blogger, make sure you sign up for the Book Lovers Buffet to win great gift card prizes.

Entry is simple.
Fill in a short form, then spread the word about the book sale between May 1-3.

Easy!

Sign up HERE

Another indie success story

The publishing world is buzzing with news of another indie success story.

Jennifer Armentrout (YA author with Spencer Hill Press, Entangled Publishing, Disney Hyperion and Harlequin Teen-who has blurbed my paranormal YA SCION OF THE SUN ) also writes contemporary romances for Entangled as J. Lynn.

She recently indie published her first New Adult title, WAIT FOR YOU...that hit the NYT and USA Today bestsellers lists within days and stayed at #1 in the kindle store for a while.

Fast forward a few weeks...and Harper Collins Avon has snapped up print rights to this book and the 2 sequels for a high 6 figure sum.
Very exciting!

Read the full story here.

Congrats Jennifer!

(I stayed up very late last night to finish Wait for You! Review to come in Weekend Book Club here next weekend.)

Free book! Grab BRASH now

BRASH: Sexy Aussie celebrity chef (I pictured Alex O'Loughlin while writing Jack!) and small town US librarian Jess rekindle their past on an island while planning the burlesque wedding of the year.
Want to read more?

If you enjoy sizzling contemporary romance, go grab a copy of BRASH now.
It's FREE!

Amazon US
Amazon UK

And please tell your friends!

New release: The War Bride Club

There are some stunning indie covers out there and this would have to be one of the best I've seen.

THE WAR BRIDE CLUB is a new release from Harlequin Romance author Soraya Lane and doesn't it look amazing?

Here's the blurb:

When Betty, Madeline, Alice and June depart London for New York at the end of 1945 they are complete strangers. But along with hundreds of other war brides, they are leaving home to be with their American husbands now the war is over. In the days they spend at sea, the four young women become firm friends, and vow to stay in touch no matter what their new lives bring. 

But life in a new country comes with many challenges…

Betty has no family, and she has no intention of being alone in her final stage of pregnancy. Her dashing pilot husband is the man of her dreams, and she can’t wait to be reunited with him, but tragedy awaits her in America. 

Madeline never wanted to leave her family, but she was also in love. She is excited about the ranch her new husband has told her so much about, but the reality of life with his family is nothing like she could ever have imagined. 

Alice fell in love with her soldier husband while she was nursing him in London, but the strong, capable man who returned to sweep her off her feet seems to have disappeared. In his place is a man so haunted by what used to be before the war, that she has doubts their marriage will last. 

It seems that June is the only one of the four friends to find happiness in America. Her husband and his family welcome her with open arms, but her inability to get pregnant makes her feel like a failure. 

The only thing these four brave women can count on is their friendship, but Betty, Madeline, Alice and June didn’t move half way across the world to give up without a fight.


I'm really looking forward to reading this when I get on top of manic deadlines.

You can buy it here.

New release: BRASH

I'm thrilled to let you know that BRASH is now live on Amazon!

I adore this book and by the 5 star reviews within the first few hours, I'm hoping readers will too!

Here's the blurb:

Jess Harper is so tired of being good…

Thrust into the dazzle of Burlesque Bombshells, Vegas’s premier dance venue, the small town librarian has no option but to embrace her inner vixen.
Especially when blast from her past, sexy Aussie celebrity chef Jack McVeigh is still determined to keep their relationship strictly hands-off.

This time Jess isn’t surrendering without a fight and armed with her hot props and Bombshell moves, Jack doesn’t stand a chance.

When Jess and Jack are sequestered on an island to orchestrate the burlesque wedding of the year, sun, surf and sizzling sex are on the menu!

But will the fiery couple come back for seconds?

Buy BRASH here
Add to your GOODREADS shelf here

(And huge thanks to fabulous author Kelly Hunter for reading before publication and providing a cover quote. Much appreciated!)

Cover reveal: BRASH

I can't keep this cover to myself any longer...

BRASH, the first in my Burlesque Bombshell series, releases Feb 12th (1week to go, yay!)

I love this book and I hope readers will too.

If you've read my category romances, it's a similar length, with a little bit more spice!!

(and huge thanks to the brilliant Kelly Hunter for reading the book and providing a cover quote.)

So what do you think?

The ins and outs of indie publishing

After answering many questions offline to interested writers about indie publishing and why I've chosen to follow this path alongside my traditionally published career, I've decided to do a series of articles.

Due to tight deadlines for the entire month of February (& beyond!) I'm not promising when I'll have them done, but if you have any burning questions you'd like answered, now's your chance.

Ask away and I'll do my best to answer in the not too distant future.

Thank you!

Huge thanks to everyone who downloaded CRAZY LOVE late last week.
I was thrilled to see it hit #1 in the overall kindle store again.

If you haven't had a chance to read my 2012 ARRA finalist yet, please grab your copy now.

In the meantime, I'm battling cyclones and mini tornadoes on my holidays.
Check in again later this week!